Jonathan Swift: SelectionsC. Scribner's sons, 1924 - 448 pages |
From inside the book
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Page xv
... mean to do so . In fact we have no evi- dence that he broke any hearts at all . Another eighteenth - century harvest bids fair to be forgotten , that harvest of anecdotes so tenderly gathered by his Irish biographers . Have we forgotten ...
... mean to do so . In fact we have no evi- dence that he broke any hearts at all . Another eighteenth - century harvest bids fair to be forgotten , that harvest of anecdotes so tenderly gathered by his Irish biographers . Have we forgotten ...
Page 7
... means warrant : however , I beg you to accept it as a specimen of our learning , our politeness , and our wit . I do there- fore affirm , upon the word of a sincere man , that there is now actually in being a certain poet , called John ...
... means warrant : however , I beg you to accept it as a specimen of our learning , our politeness , and our wit . I do there- fore affirm , upon the word of a sincere man , that there is now actually in being a certain poet , called John ...
Page 17
... means any new innovation by this word , or whether it be only to introduce the new methods of forcing and perverting scripture . - ORIG . NOTE . 1 brother aforesaid had read " Aristotelis Dialectica , " A TALE OF A TUB 17.
... means any new innovation by this word , or whether it be only to introduce the new methods of forcing and perverting scripture . - ORIG . NOTE . 1 brother aforesaid had read " Aristotelis Dialectica , " A TALE OF A TUB 17.
Page 25
... means be received , before that operation were performed . Now , from this heavenly descent of criticism , and the close analogy it bears to heroic virtue , it is easy to assign the proper employment of a true ancient genuine critic ...
... means be received , before that operation were performed . Now , from this heavenly descent of criticism , and the close analogy it bears to heroic virtue , it is easy to assign the proper employment of a true ancient genuine critic ...
Page 27
... mean no other than the true critic , is , I think , manifest enough from the following description . He says , they were a race of men , who delighted to nibble at the superfluities , and excrescencies of books ; which the learned at ...
... mean no other than the true critic , is , I think , manifest enough from the following description . He says , they were a race of men , who delighted to nibble at the superfluities , and excrescencies of books ; which the learned at ...
Common terms and phrases
able allowed already ancient answer appeared began believe body called carried church common continue conversation court critics death desired discover Edited Emperor England English eyes fall father fear foot force fortune four friends gave give ground half hand happened hath head honour hope human hundred Italy kind King kingdom language late learning least leave letter live look Lord Majesty manner matter mean mind nature never NOTE observed occasion offer opinion perhaps person politics poor present prince Professor reader reason received religion rest seems side Swift tell things thought thousand tion told took town true turn understand University walked whole wholly write young
Popular passages
Page 391 - While the first drizzling shower is borne aslope; Such is that sprinkling which some careless quean Flirts on you from her mop, but not so clean: You fly, invoke the gods; then, turning, stop To rail; she singing, still whirls on her mop.
Page 436 - I have ever hated all nations, professions, and communities ; and all my love is towards individuals. For instance, I hate the tribe of lawyers; but I love Counsellor Such-a-one, and Judge Such-a-one. It is so with physicians. I will not speak of my own trade, soldiers, English, Scotch, French, and the rest. But principally I hate and detest that animal called man, although I heartily love John, Peter, Thomas, and so forth.
Page 157 - I have consulted the star of his nativity by my own rules, and find he will infallibly die upon the 29th of March next, about eleven at night, of a raging fever; therefore I advise him to consider of it, and settle his affairs in time.
Page 369 - There is likewise another great advantage in my scheme, that it will prevent those voluntary abortions, and that horrid practice of women murdering their bastard children, alas! too frequent among us! sacrificing the poor innocent babes I doubt more to avoid the expense than the shame, which would move tears and pity in the most savage and inhuman breast.
Page 371 - A child will make two dishes at an entertainment for friends; and when the family dines alone, the fore or hind quarter will make a reasonable dish, and seasoned with a little pepper or salt will be very good boiled on the fourth day, especially in winter.
Page 141 - I hope I shall be forgiven a hard word, if I call this a perfect cavil. I readily own there has been an old custom, time out of mind, for people to assemble in the churches every Sunday, and that shops are still frequently shut, in order, as it is conceived, to preserve the memory of that ancient practice; but how this can prove a hindrance to business or pleasure is hard to imagine. What if the men of pleasure are forced, one day in the week, to game at home instead of the...
Page 132 - Love of flattery, in most men, proceeds from the mean opinion they have of themselves; in women, from the contrary.
Page 98 - ... which, yielding to the unequal weight, sunk down to the very foundation. Thrice he endeavoured to force his passage, and thrice the centre shook The spider within, feeling the terrible convulsion, supposed at first that nature was approaching to her final dissolution ; or else, that Beelzebub, with all his legions, was come to revenge the death of many thousands of his subjects whom his enemy had slain and devoured.
Page 408 - Without regarding private ends, Spent all his credit for his friends ; And only chose the wise and good ; No flatterers ; no allies in blood : But succour'd virtue in distress, And seldom fail'd of good success ; As numbers in their hearts must own, Who, but for him, had been unknown.
Page 405 - I'll venture for the vole.) Six deans, they say, must bear the pall : (I wish I knew what king to call.) Madam, your husband will attend The funeral of so good a friend.