Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
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A54773
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A reflection on our modern poesy an essay.
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Phillips, John, 1631-1706.; Phillips, John.
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1695
(1695)
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Wing P2096; ESTC R31796
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5,058
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14
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a_o reflection_n on_o our_o modern_a poesy_n a_o essay_n fuit_fw-la haec_fw-la sapientia_fw-la quondam_a publica_n privatis_fw-la secernere_fw-la sacra_fw-la profanis_fw-la concubitu_fw-la prohibere_fw-la vago_fw-la dare_v jura_fw-la maritis_fw-la oppida_fw-la moliri_fw-la leges_fw-la incidere_fw-la ligno_fw-la sic_fw-la honour_n &_o nomen_fw-la divinis_fw-la vatibus_fw-la atque_fw-la carminibus_fw-la venit_fw-la hor._n the_o art_n poet._n london_n print_v for_o w._n rogers_n in_o london_n and_o f._n hicks_n in_o cambridge_n 1695._o to_o my_o honour_a friend_n and_o school-fellow_n mr._n a._n owen_n sir_n the_o way_n of_o dedicate_a now_o most_o in_o fashion_n seem_v to_o i_o to_o stand_v in_o as_o great_a need_n of_o a_o reformation_n as_o do_v our_o poetry_n for_o as_o we_o take_v nothing_o to_o be_v true_a and_o genuine_a poetry_n but_o what_o be_v light_n frothy_a and_o have_v a_o wanton_a air_n throughout_o it_o so_o the_o generality_n seem_v to_o stand_v persuade_v that_o a_o epistle_n dedicatory_a lose_v its_o end_n quite_o if_o not_o stuff_v up_o with_o gross_a and_o open_a flattery_n sufficient_a to_o call_v a_o blush_n into_o any_o modest_a reader_n be_v cheek_n but_o here_o it_o be_v a_o hard_a matter_n to_o judge_v whether_o the_o impudence_n of_o the_o author_n or_o the_o vanity_n of_o the_o patron_n who_o believe_v all_o true_a that_o be_v say_v of_o he_o do_v contribute_v most_o to_o carry_v on_o this_o notorious_a piece_n of_o folly_n now_o sir_n though_o our_o early_a friendship_n and_o intimate_v acquaintance_n be_v the_o reason_n that_o prevail_v most_o upon_o i_o in_o present_v this_o small_a essay_n to_o you_o yet_o to_o speak_v truth_n there_o be_v another_o motive_n too_o which_o make_v i_o the_o more_o desirous_a of_o it_o and_o that_o be_v mere_o upon_o the_o account_n of_o run_v counter_a to_o the_o generality_n of_o dedicate_a poet_n to_o try_v if_o a_o particular_a example_n may_v have_v any_o small_a influence_n in_o correct_v the_o poetical_a licence_n they_o take_v upon_o such_o like_a occasion_n for_o here_o i_o be_v satisfy_v that_o i_o may_v come_v off_o without_o the_o least_o flatter_a glance_n with_o one_o who_o though_o young_a have_v experience_n enough_o to_o understand_v that_o personal_a respect_n be_v not_o to_o be_v estimate_v by_o the_o fine_a compliment_n and_o flourish_v of_o a_o fanciful_a pen._n and_o for_o my_o part_n i_o think_v if_o our_o poet_n go_v on_o at_o their_o old_a rate_n but_o a_o little_a long_o we_o shall_v be_v apt_a to_o interpret_v epistle_n of_o this_o sort_n as_o we_o do_v dream_n by_o the_o contrary_a the_o great_a scandal_n that_o poetry_n have_v of_o late_o be_v subject_n to_o together_o with_o the_o respect_n i_o always_o have_v for_o it_o give_v occasion_n for_o the_o follow_a reflection_n for_o as_o i_o be_v consider_v how_o much_o this_o art_n be_v esteem_v among_o our_o forefather_n and_o how_o venerable_n nay_o almost_o sacred_a the_o name_n of_o a_o poet_n be_v then_o surely_n think_v i_o the_o former_a honour_n and_o the_o present_a disgrace_n the_o muse_n lie_v under_o can_v never_o depend_v on_o the_o different_a capriccio_n of_o two_o divers_a age_n but_o there_o must_v be_v some_o more_o reasonable_a ground_n for_o this_o matter_n which_o if_o once_o discover_v will_v give_v a_o very_a fair_a opportunity_n of_o restore_a verse_n to_o its_o primitive_a dignity_n some_o there_o be_v who_o suspect_v that_o the_o want_n of_o genius_n in_o our_o age_n have_v give_v poetry_n this_o deadly_a wound_n but_o they_o will_v soon_o find_v their_o mistake_n if_o lay_v aside_o the_o blind_a veneration_n we_o have_v for_o antiquity_n they_o compare_v the_o ancient_n and_o modern_n in_o any_o sort_n of_o poetry_n except_v the_o epic._n so_o that_o we_o must_v seek_v out_o for_o some_o other_o cause_n more_o probable_a than_o the_o former_a and_o what_o other_o may_v spy_v i_o know_v not_o but_o i_o think_v the_o great_a difference_n lie_v here_o that_o poetry_n be_v now_o no_o long_o the_o fountain_n of_o wisdom_n the_o school_n of_o virtue_n it_o be_v no_o long_o a_o fit_a trainer_n up_o of_o youth_n a_o bridler_n of_o the_o passion_n and_o exorbitant_a desire_n but_o on_o the_o contrary_a he_o be_v reckon_v the_o able_a poet_n that_o be_v most_o dextrous_a at_o conjure_v up_o these_o evil_a spirit_n to_o disturb_v the_o calm_a and_o quiet_a of_o the_o soul_n and_o this_o if_o i_o mistake_v not_o be_v that_o which_o have_v deform_v so_o great_a a_o beauty_n and_o cast_v a_o odium_n on_o that_o most_o excellent_a art_n which_o be_v once_o the_o pride_n of_o conqueror_n and_o envy_n of_o philosopher_n what_o i_o have_v transient_o remark_v in_o the_o follow_a verse_n will_v i_o doubt_v not_o be_v dislike_v by_o many_o of_o our_o rhyme_v spark_n for_o take_v but_o the_o liberty_n of_o write_v immodest_o from_o they_o and_o you_o have_v quite_o dismount_v they_o off_o their_o pegasus_n they_o be_v quite_o tongue-tied_a it_o be_v with_o they_o as_o horace_n say_v it_o be_v in_o the_o reign_n of_o the_o old_a comedy_n chorusque_fw-la turpiter_fw-la obticuit_fw-la sublato_fw-la jure_fw-la nocendi_fw-la what_o i_o have_v say_v against_o love_n upon_o the_o stage_n i_o will_v not_o have_v apprehend_v so_o as_o if_o i_o will_v have_v that_o passion_n quite_o explode_v for_o i_o think_v it_o one_o of_o the_o fit_a passion_n for_o poetry_n and_o capable_a of_o very_o great_a ornament_n but_o then_o i_o will_v have_v it_o very_o nice_o and_o delicate_o handle_v and_o what_o may_v give_v the_o least_o offence_n to_o the_o severe_a modesty_n always_o cast_v in_o shade_n for_o it_o be_v then_o only_o that_o this_o passion_n be_v not_o to_o be_v allow_v when_o it_o go_v beyond_o its_o bound_n and_o that_o be_v when_o the_o poet_n be_v stroke_n be_v too_o bold_a and_o his_o colour_n too_o glare_v i_o be_v tell_v which_o i_o myself_o afterward_o find_v to_o be_v true_a that_o a_o great_a part_n of_o my_o design_n be_v already_o perform_v in_o the_o preface_n to_o prince_n arthur_n however_o that_o do_v not_o trouble_v i_o in_o the_o least_o for_o i_o be_v very_o glad_a to_o see_v so_o eminent_a a_o author_n of_o the_o same_o opinion_n with_o i_o since_o i_o have_v lay_v a_o rude_a draught_n of_o my_o reflection_n the_o last_o summer_n which_o i_o then_o show_v several_a of_o my_o acquaintance_n however_o the_o world_n may_v think_v this_o a_o shame_n and_o i_o be_o very_o willing_a to_o be_v think_v indebt_v to_o so_o creditable_a a_o person_n for_o what_o i_o have_v say_v i_o shall_v make_v no_o apology_n for_o the_o tediousness_n of_o my_o epistle_n since_o you_o be_v too_o often_o guilty_a of_o the_o contrary_a vice_n in_o write_v to_o your_o real_a friend_n and_o very_o humble_a servant_n a_o reflection_n on_o our_o modern_a poesy_n if_o poet_n be_v as_o they_o pretend_v inspire_v with_o heat_n divine_a and_o sacred_a fury_n fire_v how_o come_v it_o then_o that_o each_o poetic_a piece_n give_v nowadays_o encouragement_n to_o vice_n each_o line_n or_o else_o we_o think_v it_o will_v not_o do_v with_o wanton_a love_n and_o flame_n unchaste_a must_v glow_v that_o scribble_a fop_n that_o will_v a_o poet_n be_v first_o bid_v adieu_n to_o all_o his_o modesty_n invoke_v not_o phoebus_n but_o the_o god_n of_o wine_n crown_n his_o hot_a temple_n with_o the_o inspire_a vine_n the_o glass_n dull_a sot_n must_v make_v his_o thought_n sublime_a for_o in_o a_o sober_a mood_n what_o bard_n can_v rhyme_n but_o sure_o great_a homer_n get_v not_o thus_o a_o name_n nor_o lofty_a maro_n his_o eternal_a fame_n their_o muse_n chaste_a as_o vestal_a virgin_n be_v stately_a not_o proud_a reserve_v but_o not_o severe_a the_o flame_n that_o through_o their_o work_n so_o bright_a do_v shine_v be_v sure_o kindle_v by_o a_o breath_n divine_a no_o cupid_n puff_n nor_o frenzy_n cause_v by_o wine_n but_o that_o our_o folly_n we_o at_o large_a may_v see_v let_v we_o close_a view_n our_o modern_a poesy_n what_o place_n so_o much_o debauch_v as_o be_v our_o stage_n which_o next_o the_o pulpit_n shall_v correct_v the_o age_n what_o ancient_o devotion_n do_v begin_v we_o have_v convert_v to_o the_o use_n of_o sin_n and_o on_o our_o theatre_n we_o daily_o see_v vice_n triumph_v over_o deject_a honesty_n but_o happy_a athens_n who_o more_o splendid_a stage_n be_v moralize_v by_o sophocles_n wise_a rage_n who_o ever_o he_o do_v pretend_v to_o poetry_n search_v the_o grave_a precept_n of_o philosophy_n hence_o it_o be_v he_o teach_v but_o what_o he_o learn_v before_o and_o practise_v those_o sound_n rule_v his_o write_n bore_v he_o double_o charm_v his_o modest_a audience_n by_o good_a example_n and_o wise_a eloquence_n philosopher_n far_o short_a in_o teach_v come_v their_o naked_a virtue_n maim_v be_v and_o lame_a the_o pearl_n they_o represent_v to_o the_o view_n unpolished_a as_o