The British Essayists, Volume 5Alexander Chalmers J. Johnson, 1808 - English essays |
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Page 41
... fortunes , which are not always the greatest beauties . I have often looked upon it as a piece of happiness , that I have never fallen into any of these fantastical tastes , nor esteemed any thing the more for its be- ing uncommon and ...
... fortunes , which are not always the greatest beauties . I have often looked upon it as a piece of happiness , that I have never fallen into any of these fantastical tastes , nor esteemed any thing the more for its be- ing uncommon and ...
Page 41
... fortunes , which are not always the greatest beauties . I have often looked upon it as a piece of happiness , that I have never fallen into any of these fantastical tastes , nor esteemed any thing the more for its be- ing uncommon and ...
... fortunes , which are not always the greatest beauties . I have often looked upon it as a piece of happiness , that I have never fallen into any of these fantastical tastes , nor esteemed any thing the more for its be- ing uncommon and ...
Page 42
... fortune , and their own confidence , had thought fit to pin themselves upon a gentleman who had owned to them , that he was going to meet such and such persons , and named us one by one . These pert puppies immediately resolv- ed to ...
... fortune , and their own confidence , had thought fit to pin themselves upon a gentleman who had owned to them , that he was going to meet such and such persons , and named us one by one . These pert puppies immediately resolv- ed to ...
Page 44
... fortunes or their talents , when they are in company . Or if any reflection to the contrary occurs in their thoughts , it only strikes a delight upon their minds , that so much wisdom and power is in possession of one whom they love and ...
... fortunes or their talents , when they are in company . Or if any reflection to the contrary occurs in their thoughts , it only strikes a delight upon their minds , that so much wisdom and power is in possession of one whom they love and ...
Page 45
... fortunes or merit , are mean and unworthy . The true and high state of conversation is , when men communicate their thoughts to each other upon such subjects , and in such a manner , as would be plea- sant if there were no such thing as ...
... fortunes or merit , are mean and unworthy . The true and high state of conversation is , when men communicate their thoughts to each other upon such subjects , and in such a manner , as would be plea- sant if there were no such thing as ...
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Common terms and phrases
acquaintance advertisements agreeable Apartment appear astrology beauty behaviour body Censor character coffee-house common consider conversation Court of Honour Daniel Burgess Dathan desire discourse distemper doctor dress DRYDEN entertainment Esquire faults figure fortune gentleman give grammar Great-Britain hand hassock heard heart Hudibras humble servant humour imagination indicted ISAAC BICKERSTAFF jury lady late learned letter lived look lover Lucubrations man's manner matter mention mind mountebank Muscovy nature never nose November November 22 observed occasion October OCTOBER 21 ordinary OVID paper passion persons petitioner pleasure Plutarch Pre-Adamite pretend prosecutor racter reader reason Richard Newman sense shew speak talk Tatler temned temper thing thought tion told tongue town trained bands TUESDAY turn VIRG whole woman words writing WYNNE young
Popular passages
Page 29 - 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 106 - While rain depends, the pensive cat gives o'er Her frolics, and pursues her tail no more. Returning home at night, you'll find the sink Strike your offended sense with double stink.
Page 74 - Sir Robert Naunton, Osborn, Daniel the Historian, and several others who writ later ; but, being men of the court, and affecting the phrases then in fashion, they are often either not to be understood, or appear perfectly ridiculous. " What remedies are to be applied to these evils I have not room to consider, having, I fear, already taken up most of your paper : besides, I think it is our office only to represent abuses, and yours to redress them. " I am, with great respect, " Sir, " Yours,
Page 146 - I found that our words froze in the air before they could reach the ears of the person to whom they were spoken. I was soon confirmed in this conjecture, when, upon the increase of the cold, the whole company grew dumb, or rather deaf; for every man was sensible, as we afterwards found, that he spoke as well as ever ; but the sounds no sooner took air, than they were condensed and lost. It was now a miserable spectacle to see us nodding and gaping at one another, every man talking, and no man heard....
Page 192 - Hung over her enamour'd, and beheld Beauty, which, whether waking or asleep, Shot forth peculiar graces; then with voice Mild, as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes, Her hand soft touching, whisper'd thus: ' Awake My fairest, my espoused, my latest found, Heaven's last, best gift, my ever new delight!
Page 29 - I accepted the offer, and immediately found that they had been talking in terms of gardening, and that the kings and generals they had mentioned were only so many tulips, to which the gardeners, according to their usual custom, had given such high titles and appellations of honour. I was very much...
Page 164 - The next to her was a figure which somewhat puzzled me : it was that of a man looking, with horror in his eyes, upon a silver bason filled with water. Observing something in his countenance that looked like lunacy, I fancied at first that he was to express that kind of distraction which the physicians call the Hydrophobia : but considering what the intention of the show was, I immediately recollected myself, and concluded it to be Anabaptism.
Page 106 - tis fair, yet seems to call a coach. The tuck'd-up sempstress walks with hasty strides, While streams run down her oil'd umbrella's sides. Here various kinds by various fortunes led, Commence acquaintance underneath a shed. Triumphant Tories, and desponding Whigs, Forget their feuds, and join to save their wigs.
Page 73 - I have done my utmost for some years past to stop the progress of mobb and banter, but have been plainly borne down by numbers, and betrayed by those who promised to assist me.
Page 154 - Let others, who such meannesses can brook, Strike countenance to every great man's look ; I rate ray freedom higher. This author's raillery is the raillery of a friend, and does not turn the sacred order into ridicule ; but is a just censure on such persons as take advantage, from the necessities of a man of merit, to impose on him hardships that are by no means suitable to the dignity of his profession. • In ' A Satire addressed to a Friend that is about to leave the University,