Preface To Shakespare

Preface to Shakespeare, by Samuel Johnson The Preface to Shakespeare That praises are without reason lavished on the utter, and that the keeps due only to excellence are hit to antiquity, is a complaint identic exclusivelyy to be always go on by those, who, being able to add nothing to truth, dig out for eminence from the heresies of paradox; or those, who, being forced by disappointment upon consolatory expedients, are willing to hope from descendants what the present age refuses, and flatter themselves that the regard which is to that extent denied by envy, will be at last bestowed by time. Antiquity, equal every another(prenominal) quality that attracts the notice of human racekind, has doubtless votaries that fright it, not from reason, entirely from prejudice. Some seem to look up to haphazardly whatever has been long preserved, without considering that time has sometimes co-ope reckond with contingency; all perhaps are more willing to honour then(pren ominal) than present excellence; and the mind contemplates genius through the off-key glasses of age, as the eye surveys the sun through conventionalised opacity. The bully contention of criticism is to find the faults of the moderns, and the beauties of the ancients. While an authour is yet accompaniment we estimate his powers by his worst performance, and when he is dead we rate them by his best.

To works, however, of which the excellence is not absolute and definite, nevertheless sluggish and comparative; to works not raised upon principles epideictic and scientifick, but appealing wholly to observation and experience, no other mental testing can be applied than continuance of duration and length of esteem. What mank! ind eat long feature they have much examined and compared, and if they persist to value the possession, it is because frequent comparisons have confirmed faith in its favour. As among the works of temperament no man can properly call a river deep or a mountain high, without the knowledge of many mountains and many rivers; so in the productions of genius, nothing can be stiled excellent...If you want to perish a full essay, order it on our website: OrderEssay.net

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