The Pursuits of Literature: A Satirical Poem in Dialogue

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J. Owen, 1797 - 122 pages

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Page 14 - The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power, And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave, Await alike the inevitable hour: The paths of glory lead but to the grave.
Page 48 - Roscoe's genius and erudition, or my gratitude for the amusement and information I have received. I recommend his labours to our country as works of unquestionable genius and uncommon merit. They add the name of Roscoe to the very first rank of English Classical Historians."— Matthias, Pursuits of Literature.
Page 97 - ... nothing will supply the want of prudence; and that negligence and irregularity, long continued, will make knowledge useless, wit ridiculous, and genius contemptible.
Page 6 - First in his east the glorious lamp was seen, Regent of day, and all the horizon round Invested with bright rays, jocund to run His longitude through heaven's high road ; the gray Dawn and the Pleiades before him danced, Shedding sweet influence.
Page 96 - 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 68 - Nobody ever saw a dog make a fair and deliberate exchange of one bone for another with another dog. Nobody ever saw one animal by its gestures and natural cries signify to another, this is mine, that yours : I am willing to give this for that.
Page 68 - So, when two dogs are fighting in the streets, With a third dog one of the two dogs meets, With angry teeth he bites him to the bone, And this dog smarts for what that dog had done.
Page 47 - But hark ! what solemn strains from Arno's vales Breathe raptures wafted on the Tuscan gales ! LORENZO rears again his awful head, And feels his ancient glories round him spread ; The Muses starting from their trance revive, And at their ROSCOE'S bidding wake and live.
Page 92 - History of Hindostan ;" its Arts and its Sciences, as connected with the history of the other great empires of Asia, during the most ancient periods of the world; with numerous illustrative Engravings,
Page 39 - What has Dr Parr written? A sermon or two, rather long; a Latin preface to Bellendenus (rather long too), consisting of a cento of Latin and Greek expressions, applied to political subjects; another preface to some English Tracts; and two or three English pamphlets about his own private quarrels: and this man is to be compared with Dr Samuel Johnson!!

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