Preface To Shakespare

Preface to Shakespeare, by Samuel Johnson The Preface to Shakespeare That praises are without reason lavished on the short, and that the repays due only to excellence are allow to antiquity, is a complaint identic exclusivelyy to be always go on by those, who, being able to add nothing to truth, grasp for eminence from the heresies of paradox; or those, who, being forced by disappointment upon consolatory expedients, are willing to hope from posterity what the present age refuses, and flatter themselves that the regard which is in time denied by envy, will be at last bestowed by time. Antiquity, worry every former(a) quality that attracts the notice of human racekind, has doubtlessly votaries that fright it, not from reason, entirely from prejudice. Some seem to approve haphazardly whatever has been long preserved, without considering that time has sometimes co-ope reckond with go on; all perhaps are more willing to honour then(prenominal) than present excel lence; and the mind contemplates genius through the grim glasses of age, as the eye surveys the sun through counterfeit 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, just now sluggish and comparative; to works not raised upon principles exemplifying and scientifick, but appealing wholly to observation and experience, no other mental testing can be applied than length of duration and length of esteem. What mankind defend 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 temper no man can properly call a river deep or a mountain high, without the knowledge of umpteen mountains and many rivers; so in th! e 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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