Curiosities of Literature, Volume 1Routledge, Warnes, and Routledge, 1859 - English literature |
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Abbé acrostics admirable amusement ancient anecdote appears Aristotle astrologer beautiful Ben Jonson called Cardinal celebrated century character Charles Cicero collection composed composition critics curious death discovered Duke Duke of Burgundy English eyes fashion father favour favourite folly France French frequently genius George Chalmers give gloves hand Henry Henry VIII honour illustrious imagination imitate ingenious invention Jesuits John Birkenhead king labour lady learned length letters literary literature lived Lord majesty manner manuscript Marforio mind modern monarch monks never observed occasion origin Pasquin pasquinades passion person Petrarch philosopher Plato poem poet poetical poetry Pope Port-Royal portraits present preserved prince printed published queen rabbins reader reign ridiculous Roger L'Estrange Roman Rome saints satire says Scarron Scribleriad singular style Talmud taste tion translated treatise verses Virgin volumes word writers written wrote
Popular passages
Page 336 - I behold like a Spanish great galleon and an English man-of-war. Master Coleridge, like the former, was built far higher in learning, solid, but slow in his performances. CVL, with the English man-of-war, lesser in bulk, but lighter in sailing, could turn with all tides, tack about, and take advantage of all winds, by the quickness of his wit and invention.
Page 81 - It was at Rome, on the 15th of October 1764, as I sat musing amidst the ruins of the Capitol, while the barefooted friars were singing vespers in the temple of Jupiter,* that the idea of writing the decline and fall of the city first started to my mind.
Page 281 - I will take hold of the boughs thereof: now also thy breasts shall be as clusters of the vine, and the smell of thy nose like apples; And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved, that goeth down sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak.
Page 62 - I'm resolv'd to search for thee: The search itself rewards the pains. So, though the chymic his great secret miss (For neither it in art or nature is,) Yet things well worth his toil he gains; And does his charge and labour pay With good unsought experiments by the way.
Page 281 - at the Mount of St Mary's, in the stony stage where I now stand, I have brought you some fine biscuits, baked in the oven of charity, carefully conserved for the chickens of the church, the sparrows of the spirit, and the sweet swallows of salvation.
Page 30 - Full little knowest thou, that hast not tried, What hell it is in suing long to bide: To lose good days, that might be better spent; To waste long nights in pensive discontent; To speed today, to be put back tomorrow; To feed on hope, to pine with fear and sorrow; To have thy prince's grace, yet want her peers...
Page 381 - Je sais ce que je vaux, et crois ce qu'on m'en dit. Pour me faire admirer je ne fais point de ligue : J'ai peu de voix pour moi, mais je les ai sans brigue...
Page 81 - ... forgotten, produce that particular designation of mind, and propensity for some certain science or employment, which is commonly called genius. The true genius is a mind of large general powers, accidentally determined to some particular direction. Sir Joshua Reynolds, the great painter of the present age, had the first fondness for his art excited by the perusal of Richardson's treatise.
Page 4 - I no sooner (saith he) come into the library, but I bolt the door to me, excluding lust, ambition, avarice, and all such vices, whose nurse is Idleness, the mother of Ignorance, and Melancholy herself, and in the very lap of eternity, amongst so many divine souls, I take my seat with so lofty a spirit and sweet content, that I pity all our great ones, and rich men that know not this happiness.
Page 367 - Coquin! ce me dit-il d'une arrogance extrême! Va chercher tes coquins ailleurs, coquin toi-même! Ici tous sont égaux; je ne te dois plus rien : Je suis sur mon fumier comme toi sur le tien.