Illustrations of Sterne: With Other Essays and Verses, Volume 2

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Cadell and Davies, By J. and J. Haddock, Warrington, 1812

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Page 82 - Whose midnight revels, by a forest side Or fountain, some belated peasant sees, Or dreams he sees, while over head the moon Sits arbitress, and nearer to the earth Wheels her pale course ; they, on their mirth and dance Intent, with jocund music charm his ear ; At once with joy and fear his heart rebounds.
Page 198 - We retrench the superfluities of mankind. The world is avaritious, and I hate avarice. A covetous fellow, like a jack-daw, steals what he was never made to enjoy, for the sake of hiding it. These are the robbers of mankind, for money was made for the free-hearted and generous, and where is the injury of taking from another, what he hath not the heart to make use of?
Page 173 - And wipe the tears for ever from his eyes. Now, Lycidas, the shepherds weep no more; Henceforth thou art the Genius of the shore, In thy large recompense, and shalt be good To all that wander in that perilous flood.
Page 68 - Wise men have said are wearisome; who reads Incessantly, and to his reading brings not A spirit and judgment equal or superior (And what he brings, what needs he elsewhere seek) Uncertain and unsettled still remains, Deep versed in books and shallow in himself, Crude or intoxicate, collecting toys, And trifles for choice matters, worth a sponge; As children gathering pebbles on the shore.
Page 205 - At ev'ry auction, bent on fresh supplies, He cons his Catalogue with anxious eyes : Where'er the slim Italics mark the page, Curious and rare his ardent mind engage. Unlike the Swans, in Tuscan Song display'd, He hovers eager o'er Oblivion's Shade, To snatch obscurest names from endless night, And give Cokain or Fletcher back to light. In red morocco drest he loves to boast The bloody murder, or the yelling ghost ; Or dismal ballads, sung to crowds of old, Now cheaply bought for thrice their weight...
Page 203 - If niggard Fortune cramp his gen'rous mind, And Prudence quench the Spark by heaven assign'd ! With wistful glance his aching eyes behold The Princeps-copy, clad in blue and gold, Where the tall Book-case, with partition thin, Displays, yet guards the tempting charms within : So great Facardin view'd, as sages* tell, Fair Crystalline immur'd in lucid cell.
Page 198 - We are for a just partition of the world, for every man hath a right to enjoy life. Matt. We retrench the superfluities of mankind. The world is avaritious, and I hate avarice. A covetous fellow, like a Jack-daw, steals what he was never made to enjoy, for the sake of hiding it. These are the robbers of mankind, for money was made for the free-hearted and generous...
Page 217 - Me rigid Fate averts, by tasks like these, From heav'nly musings, and from letter'd ease. Such wholesome checks the better Genius sends, From dire rehearsals to protect our friends : Else when the social rites our joys renew, The stuff'd Portfolio would alarm your view, Whence volleying rhimes your patience would o'ercome, And, spite of kindness, drive you early home. So when the traveller's hasty footsteps glide Near smoking lava on Vesuvio's side, Hoarse-mutt'ring thunders from the depths proceed,...
Page 45 - He used often to say, that if he were to choose a place to die in, it should be an inn; it looking like a pilgrim's going home, to whom this world was all as an inn, and who was weary of the noise and confusion in it.
Page 204 - ... classic Muse, The keen Collector meaner paths will choose: And first the Margin's breadth his soul employs, Pure, snowy, broad, the type of nobler joys. In vain might HOMER roll the tide of song, Or HORACE smile, or TULLY charm the throng; If crost by Pallas...

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