The British Essayists; with Prefaces, Historical and Biographical,: The SpectatorE. Sargeant, and M. & W. Ward; and Munroe, Francis & Parker, and Edward Cotton, Boston., 1810 - English essays |
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Page 14
... actions , would only influence virtuous minds ; there would be but small improvements in the world , were there not some common principle of action working equally with all men . And such a prin- ciple is ambition , or a desire of fame ...
... actions , would only influence virtuous minds ; there would be but small improvements in the world , were there not some common principle of action working equally with all men . And such a prin- ciple is ambition , or a desire of fame ...
Page 15
... action . For we may farther ob . serve , that men of the greatest abilities are most fired with ambition ; and that on the contrary , mean and narrow minds are the least actuated by it : whether it be that a man's sense of his own ...
... action . For we may farther ob . serve , that men of the greatest abilities are most fired with ambition ; and that on the contrary , mean and narrow minds are the least actuated by it : whether it be that a man's sense of his own ...
Page 16
... actions should be thrown away in private , lest his deserts should be con- cealed from the notice of the world , or receive any disadvantage from the reports which others make of them . This often sets him on empty boasts and ...
... actions should be thrown away in private , lest his deserts should be con- cealed from the notice of the world , or receive any disadvantage from the reports which others make of them . This often sets him on empty boasts and ...
Page 17
... action , to ascribe it to vain- glory , and a desire of fame in the actor . Nor is this common judgment and opinion of mankind ill - founded for certainly it denotes no great bravery of mind , to be worked up to any noble action by so ...
... action , to ascribe it to vain- glory , and a desire of fame in the actor . Nor is this common judgment and opinion of mankind ill - founded for certainly it denotes no great bravery of mind , to be worked up to any noble action by so ...
Page 18
... action , or derogate from the worth of the present , that they may still keep him on the same level with themselves . The like kind of consideration often stirs up the envy of such as were once his superiors , who think it a detraction ...
... action , or derogate from the worth of the present , that they may still keep him on the same level with themselves . The like kind of consideration often stirs up the envy of such as were once his superiors , who think it a detraction ...
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The British Essayists, with Prefaces, Historical and Biographical ..., Volume 37 Alexander Chalmers No preview available - 2017 |
Common terms and phrases
above-mentioned acquainted action Adam and Eve admirer Æneid agreeable appear Aristotle beauty behaviour character CHARLES DIEUPART circumstances consider consul represented Cottius critics desire discourse dress endeavour entertainment Enville epic poem fable fame father faults favour fortune give greatest happy head heart Homer honour hope humble servant humour husband Iliad innocent Julius Cæsar kind lady language late learning letter lived look lover mankind manner marriage ment Milton mind mistress nature never obliged observed occasion Ovid paper Paradise Lost particular pass passage passion person PETER MOTTEUX pin-money pleased pleasure poet pray present prince proper racters reader reason sentiments shew speak SPECTATOR spirit sublime Suetonius tell Thammuz thing thou thoughts tion told town ture turn utmost VIRG Virgil virtue whole woman words young
Popular passages
Page 246 - Through optic glass the Tuscan artist views At evening from the top of Fesole Or in Valdarno, to descry new lands, Rivers, or mountains, in her spotty globe. His spear, to equal which the tallest pine, Hewn on Norwegian hills to be the mast Of some great ammiral, were but a wand...
Page 246 - He scarce had ceased, when the superior fiend Was moving toward the shore ; his ponderous shield, Ethereal temper, massy, large, and round, Behind him cast ; the broad circumference Hung on his shoulders like the moon, whose orb Through optic glass the Tuscan artist views At evening from the top of Fesole Or in Valdarno, to descry new lands, Rivers, or mountains, in her spotty globe.
Page 248 - Thrice he assay'd, and thrice, in spite of scorn, Tears, such as Angels weep, burst forth: at last Words, interwove with sighs, found out their way.
Page 251 - Anon, out of the earth a fabric huge Rose like an exhalation, with the sound Of dulcet symphonies and voices sweet, Built like a temple...
Page 133 - For joy of offer'd peace: but I suppose, If our proposals once again were heard, We should compel them to a quick result.
Page 250 - Though without number still, amidst the hall Of that infernal court. But far within, And in their own dimensions like themselves, The great seraphic lords and cherubim In close recess and secret conclave sat, A thousand demigods on golden seats, Frequent and full.
Page 218 - Milton's sentiments and ideas were so wonderfully sublime, that it would have been impossible for him to have represented them in their full strength and beauty, without having recourse to these foreign assistances. Our language sunk under him, and was unequal to that greatness of soul which furnished him with such glorious conceptions.
Page 284 - Man, about this time To be created like to us, though less In power and excellence, but favour'd more Of him who rules above ; so was his will Pronounced among the gods, and by an oath, That shook Heaven's whole circumference, confirm'd.
Page 247 - His sentiments are every way answerable to his character, and suitable to a created being of the most exalted and most depraved nature. Such is that in which he takes possession of his place of torments : -Hail horrors ! hail Infernal world ! and thou profoundest hell Receive thy new possessor, one who brings A mind not to be chang"d by place or time. And afterwards : , Here at least We shall be free ! th...
Page 247 - What matter where, if I be still the same, And what I should be, all but less than he Whom thunder hath made greater? here at least We shall be free ; th...