The Cosmopolite, a periodical paper of essays on men, manners, and literature

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1812
 

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Page 278 - The wits of Charles found easier ways to fame, Nor wish'd for Jonson's art, or Shakspeare's flame. Themselves they studied; as they felt, they writ: Intrigue was plot, obscenity was wit. Vice always found a sympathetic friend ; They pleas'd their age, and did not aim to mend. Yet bards like these aspir'd to lasting praise, And proudly hop'd to pimp in future days.
Page 284 - Ah ! let not censure term our fate our choice, The stage but echoes back the public voice; The drama's laws, the drama's patrons give, For we that live to please, must please to live.
Page 277 - Then Jonson came, instructed from the school, To please in method, and invent by rule...
Page 277 - WHEN Learning's triumph o'er her barbarous foes First rear'd the stage, immortal Shakespeare rose; Each change of many-colour'd life he drew, Exhausted worlds, and then imagin'd new: Existence saw him spurn her bounded reign, And panting Time toil'd after him in vain.
Page 278 - And proudly hop'd to pimp in future days. Their cause was gen'ral, their supports were strong, Their slaves were willing, and their reign was long : Till Shame regain'd the. post that Sense betray'd, And Virtue call'd Oblivion to her aid.
Page 278 - Then, crush'd by rules, and weaken'd as refin'd, For years the pow'r of tragedy declin'd; From bard to bard the frigid caution crept, Till Declamation roar'd whilst Passion slept; Yet still did Virtue deign the stage to tread, Philosophy remain'd though Nature fled.
Page 278 - But forc'd, at length, her ancient reign to quit, She saw great Faustus lay the ghost of wit ; Exulting Folly hail'd the joyful day, And Pantomime and Song confirm'd her sway.
Page 286 - The stage but echoes back the public voice. The drama's laws the drama's patrons give, For we that live to please, must please to live. Then prompt no more the follies you decry, As tyrants doom their tools of guilt to die; 'Tis yours this night to bid the reign commence Of rescued Nature and reviving Sense; To chase the charms of sound, the pomp of show, For useful mirth, and salutary woe; 60 Bid scenic Virtue form the rising age, And Truth diffuse her radiance from the stage.
Page 109 - Then said he unto me, Go thy way, weigh me the weight of the fire, or measure me the blast of the wind, or call me again the day that is past.
Page 282 - Song confirm'd her sway. But who the coming changes can presage, And mark the future periods of the stage? Perhaps if skill could distant times explore, New Behns, new Durfeys, yet remain in store ; Perhaps where Lear has rav'd, and Hamlet died, On flying cars new sorcerers may ride : Perhaps (for who can guess th' effects of chance ?) Here Hunt may box, or Mahomet may dance.

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