The Works of Samuel Johnson, Volume 05 - Miscellaneous Pieces by Samuel Johnson
page 87 of 591 (14%)
page 87 of 591 (14%)
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Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself
Unto our gentle senses. _Ban_. This guest of summer, The temple-haunting martlet, does approve, By his lov'd mansionry, that heaven's breath Smells wooingly here. No jutty frieze, Buttrice, nor coigne of 'vantage, but this bird Hath made his pendent bed, and procreant cradle: Where they most breed and haunt, I have observ'd, The air is delicate. In this short scene, I propose a slight alteration to be made, by substituting _site_ for _seat_, as the ancient word for situation; and _sense_ for _senses_, as more agreeable to the measure; for which reason likewise I have endeavoured to adjust this passage, --heaven's breath Smells wooingly here. No jutty frieze, by changing the punctuation and adding the syllable thus, --heaven's breath Smells wooingly. Here is no jutty frieze. Those who have perused books, printed at the time of the first editions of Shakespeare, know that greater alterations than these are necessary almost in every page, even where it is not to be doubted, that the copy was correct. |
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