"The first English Writer who compos'd a regular Tragedy and infus'd a Spirit of Elegance thro' every Part of it, was the illustrious Mr. Addison. His CATO is a Master-piece both with regard to the Diction, and to the Beauty and Harmony of the Numbers. The Character of Cato is, in my Opinion, vastly superiour to that of Cornelia in the POMPEY of Corneille: For Cato is great without any Thing like Fustian, and Cornelia, who besides is not a necessary Character, tends sometimes to bombast. Mr. Addisons Cato appears to me the greatest Character that was ever brought upon any Stage, but then the rest of them don't correspond to the Dignity of it: And this dramatic Piece so excellently well writ, is disfigur'd by a dull Love Plot, which spreads a certain Languor over the whole, that quite murders it."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Politicians from EnglandEssayists from EnglandPoets from EnglandPlaywrights from EnglandUniversity of Oxford faculty
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Voltaire, Letters Concerning the English Nation (1733), pp. 178-179
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Joseph_Addison
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Joseph Addison
1672 – 1719
englischer Schriftsteller und Politiker
239 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Joseph Addison →
Related Quotes
"A quem sabe esperar ensejo, tudo vem a seu tempo e desejo."
"Let echo, too, perform her part, Prolonging every note with art; And in a low expiring strain, Play all the concert o…"
"Better to die ten thousand deaths, Than wound my honour."
"Consecrate the place and day To music and Cecilia. Let no rough winds approach, nor dare Invade the hallow'd bounds, …"
"When time itself shall be no more, And all things in confusion hurl'd, Music shall then exert it's power, And sound s…"
"Every star, and every pow'r, Look down on this important hour: Lend your protection and defence Every guard of innoce…"
"Music religious heat inspires, It wakes the soul, and lifts it high, And wings it with sublime desires, And fits it t…"
"If the following day he chance to find A new repast, or an untasted spring, Blesses his stars, and thinks it luxury."
"Music, the greatest good that mortals know, And all of heaven we have below."
"On you, my lord, with anxious fear I wait, And from your judgment must expect my fate."