Memoirs of the Forty-five First Years of the Life of James Lackington, the Present Bookseller in Chiswell-Street, Moorfields, London: In Forty-seven Letters to a Friend ...

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Page 498 - Yes ! let the rich deride, the proud disdain, These simple blessings of the lowly train, To me more dear, congenial to my heart, One native charm, than all the gloss of art...
Page 278 - Here will I hold. If there's a power above us — And that there is, all nature cries aloud Through all her works — He must delight in virtue; And that which He delights in must be happy.
Page 265 - If I am right, thy grace impart, Still in the right to stay; If I am wrong, oh teach my heart To find that better way...
Page 219 - Since every man who lives is born to die, And none can boast sincere felicity, With equal mind, what happens, let us bear, Nor joy, nor grieve too much for things beyond our care. Like pilgrims to the appointed place we tend; The world's an inn, and death the journey's end. Even kings but play, and when their part is done, Some other, worse or better, mount the throne.
Page 425 - Be even cautious in displaying your good sense. It will be thought you assume a superiority over the rest of the company.— But if you happen to have any learning, keep it a profound secret, especially from the men, who generally look with a jealous and malignant eye on a woman of great parts and a cultivated understanding.
Page 420 - The poorer sort of farmers, and even the poor country people in general, who before that period spent their winter evenings in relating stories of witches, ghosts, hobgoblins, &c., now shorten the winter nights by hearing their sons and daughters read tales, romances, &c.
Page 81 - Still they are sure to be i' th' right. 'Tis a dark lantern of the Spirit, Which none see by but those that bear it ; A light that falls down from on high, For spiritual trades to cozen by ; An ignis fatuus, that bewitches, And leads men into pools and ditches...
Page 52 - Till out of breath he overtakes his fellows ; Who gather round, and wonder at the tale Of horrid apparition tall and ghastly, That walks at dead of night, or takes his stand O'er some new-open'd grave; and, strange to tell! Evanishes at crowing of the cock.
Page 41 - That drives the torment to a knowing heart. But, as thou sayst, we must give way to need, And live awhile asunder; our desires Are both too fruitful for our barren fortunes. How adverse runs the destiny of some creatures ! Some only can get riches and no children ; We only can get children and no riches : Then 'tis the prudent'st part to check our wills, And, till our state rise, make our bloods lie still.
Page 89 - Oh ! would mankind but make these truths their guide, And force the helm from prejudice and pride; Were once these maxims fix'd, that God's our friend, Virtue our good, and happiness our end, How soon must reason o'er the world prevail, And error, fraud, and superstition fail! None wou'd hereafter then with groundless fear Describe th...

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