The British essayists; to which are prefixed prefaces by J. Ferguson, Volumes 1-13

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Page 38 - As one who, long in populous city pent, Where houses thick and sewers annoy the air, Forth issuing on a summer's morn, to breathe Among the pleasant villages and farms Adjoin'd, from each thing met conceives delight ; The smell of grain, or tedded grass, or kine, Or dairy, each rural sight, each rural sound...
Page 268 - Lord; and ever as my worldly blessings were exalted, so secret darts from thee have pierced me; and when I have ascended before men, I have descended in humiliation before thee.
Page 208 - Besides the advantage of his Lordship's ear, The credit of the business, and the state, Are things that in a youngster's sense sound great. Little the unexperienced wretch does know, What slavery he oft must undergo ; Who though in silken scarf and cassock drest, Wears but a gayer livery at best.
Page 123 - So saying, on he led his radiant Files, Dazzling the Moon ; these to the Bower direct In search of whom they sought: him there they found Squat like a Toad, close at the ear of Eve ; Assaying by his Devilish art to reach The Organs of her Fancy, and with them forge Illusions as he list, Phantasms and Dreams, Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint Th...
Page 129 - Filth of all Hues and Odours seem to tell What Street they sail'd from, by their Sight and Smell. ' They, as each Torrent drives, with rapid Force From Smithfield, or St. Pulchre's shape their Course, And in huge Confluent join at Snow-Hill Ridge, Fall from the Conduit prone to Holborn- Bridge. Sweepings from Butchers...
Page 123 - Him, thus intent, Ithuriel with his spear Touch'd lightly ; for no falsehood can endure Touch of celestial temper, but returns Of force to its own likeness : up he starts, Discover'd and surprised.
Page 94 - This reflection has made me of late years very impatient for a peace, which I believe would save the lives of many brave words, as well as men. The war has introduced abundance of polysyllables, which will never be able to live many more campaigns...
Page 94 - ... by some pretty fellows, such as banter, bamboozle, country put, and kidney, as it is there applied; some of which are now struggling for the vogue, and others are in possession of it. I have done my utmost for some years past to stop the progress of mob and banter, but have been plainly borne down by numbers, and betrayed by those who promised to assist me.
Page 250 - Leaning half rais'd, with looks of cordial love Hung over her enamour'd, and beheld Beauty, which, whether waking or asleep, Shot forth peculiar graces; then with voice L 2 Mild, as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes, Her hand soft touching, whisper'd thus. Awake,. My fairest, my espous'd, my latest found, Heaven's last best gift, my ever new delight! Awake...
Page 96 - ... their productions of wit. It is manifest, that all new, affected modes of speech, whether borrowed from the Court, the Town, or the theatre, are the first perishing parts in any language, and, as I could prove by many hundred instances, have been so in ours.

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