The British essayists; to which are prefixed prefaces by J. Ferguson, Volumes 14-26 |
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Page 38
... and I could wish you would take some other opportunity to express further the
corrupt taste the age is run into ; which I am chiefly apt to attribute to the
prevalency of a few popular authors , whose merit in some respects has given a
sanction ...
... and I could wish you would take some other opportunity to express further the
corrupt taste the age is run into ; which I am chiefly apt to attribute to the
prevalency of a few popular authors , whose merit in some respects has given a
sanction ...
Page 76
These treat mankind as if we were all deaf ; they do not express but declare
themselves . Many of these are guilty of this outrage out of vanity , because they
think all they say is well ; or that they have their own persons in such veneration ,
that ...
These treat mankind as if we were all deaf ; they do not express but declare
themselves . Many of these are guilty of this outrage out of vanity , because they
think all they say is well ; or that they have their own persons in such veneration ,
that ...
Page 116
I am very much at a loss to express by any word that occurs to me in our
language that which is understood by indoles in Latin . The natural disposition to
any particular art , science , profession , or trade , is very much to be consulted in
the ...
I am very much at a loss to express by any word that occurs to me in our
language that which is understood by indoles in Latin . The natural disposition to
any particular art , science , profession , or trade , is very much to be consulted in
the ...
Page 132
There appears something nobly wild and extravagant in these great natural
genuises that is infinitely more beautiful than all turn and polishing of what the
French call a bel esprit , by which they would express a genius refined by
conversation ...
There appears something nobly wild and extravagant in these great natural
genuises that is infinitely more beautiful than all turn and polishing of what the
French call a bel esprit , by which they would express a genius refined by
conversation ...
Page 147
It is impossible to express to you the distress I am in upon this occasion . I can
only have recourse to my devotions , and to the reading of good books for my
consolation ; and as I always take a particular delight in those frequent advices
and ...
It is impossible to express to you the distress I am in upon this occasion . I can
only have recourse to my devotions , and to the reading of good books for my
consolation ; and as I always take a particular delight in those frequent advices
and ...
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Common terms and phrases
according acquaint actions admired affection answered appear AUGUST beauty behaviour believe body carry character common consider conversation creature death desire expect express eyes fall father fortune genius give given greater greatest hands happy head hear heard heart honour hope human humble servant humour imagination keep kind lady learning leave letter live look mankind manner matter mean meet mentioned mind nature never obliged observe occasion once opinion pain particular pass passion person pleased pleasure possible present raised reason received rest seems sense shew short speak SPECTATOR suffer taken tell thing thou thought tion told town turn virtue whole wish woman women write young youth
Popular passages
Page 145 - A man so various, that he seemed to be Not one, but all mankind's epitome : Stiff in opinions, always in the wrong, Was everything by starts, and nothing long; But, in the course of one revolving moon, Was chemist, fiddler, statesman, and buffoon ; Then all for women, painting, rhyming, drinking, Besides ten thousand freaks that died in thinking.
Page 221 - The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me : and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me : my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. I was a father to the poor : and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
Page 130 - ... that were covered with fruits and flowers, and interwoven with a thousand little shining seas that ran among them. I could see persons dressed in glorious habits with garlands upon their heads, passing among the trees, lying down by the sides of fountains, or resting on beds of flowers; and could hear a confused harmony of singing birds, falling waters, human voices, and musical instruments.
Page 221 - OH THAT I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me; When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness...
Page 128 - As I looked more attentively, I saw several of the passengers dropping through the bridge into the great tide that flowed underneath it ; and upon further examination perceived there were innumerable trap-doors that lay concealed in the bridge, which the passengers no sooner trod upon but they fell through them into the tide and immediately disappeared. These hidden pit-falls were set very thick at the entrance of the bridge, so that throngs of people no sooner broke through the cloud hut many of...
Page 222 - ... if I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering : if his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep : if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate; then let mine arm fall from my shoulder-blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.
Page 129 - Look no more, said he, on man in the first stage of his existence, in his setting out for eternity; but cast thine eye on that thick mist into which the tide bears the several generations of mortals that fall into it.
Page 130 - I gazed with inexpressible pleasure on these happy islands. "At length," said I, "show me now, I beseech thee, the secrets that lie hid under those dark clouds which cover the ocean on the other side of the rock of adamant.
Page 134 - There is another kind of great geniuses which I shall place in a second class, not as I think them inferior to the first, but only for distinction's sake as they are of a different kind. This second class of great geniuses are those that have formed themselves by rules and submitted the greatness of their natural talents to the corrections and restraints of art.
Page 158 - ... as superintendents of our language, to hinder any words of a foreign coin from passing among us; and in particular to prohibit any French phrases from becoming current in this kingdom when those of our own stamp are altogether as valuable.
Bibliographic information
| Title | The British essayists; to which are prefixed prefaces by J. Ferguson, Volumes 14-26 The British essayists; to which are prefixed prefaces by J. Ferguson, James Ferguson (advocate) |
| Author | British essayists |
| Editor | James Ferguson (advocate) |
| Published | 1819 |
| Original from | Oxford University |
| Digitized | 12 Jun 2007 |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |