The Works of Jonathan Swift: Tale of a tub. Battle of the books. Polite conversationA. Constable, 1814 |
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Page 26
... wherein it cannot be denied that he hath some service to the public , and hath giv fair conjectures towards clearing up some passages ; but it is the frequent error men , ( otherwise very commendable for t bours , ) to make excursions ...
... wherein it cannot be denied that he hath some service to the public , and hath giv fair conjectures towards clearing up some passages ; but it is the frequent error men , ( otherwise very commendable for t bours , ) to make excursions ...
Page 30
... wherein the world , with all its wise conjectures , is yet very much in the dark ; which circumstance is no disagreeable amusement either to the public or himself . The author is informed , that the bookseller has prevailed on several ...
... wherein the world , with all its wise conjectures , is yet very much in the dark ; which circumstance is no disagreeable amusement either to the public or himself . The author is informed , that the bookseller has prevailed on several ...
Page 37
... wherein I think we dedica- tors would do well to change our measures ; I mean , instead of running on so far upon the praise of our patron's liberality , to spend a word or two in admiring their patience . I can put no greater ...
... wherein I think we dedica- tors would do well to change our measures ; I mean , instead of running on so far upon the praise of our patron's liberality , to spend a word or two in admiring their patience . I can put no greater ...
Page 46
... wherein I in- tend to write a character of the present set of wits in our nation : their persons I shall describe particularly and at length , their genius and un- derstandings in miniature . In the mean time , I do here make bold to ...
... wherein I in- tend to write a character of the present set of wits in our nation : their persons I shall describe particularly and at length , their genius and un- derstandings in miniature . In the mean time , I do here make bold to ...
Page 51
... wherein I speak the sentiment of the very newest , and consequently the most orthodox refiners , as well as my own . However , being extremely solicitous , that every accom- plished person , who has got into the taste of wit calculated ...
... wherein I speak the sentiment of the very newest , and consequently the most orthodox refiners , as well as my own . However , being extremely solicitous , that every accom- plished person , who has got into the taste of wit calculated ...
Common terms and phrases
Æolists Æsop affirm allowed ancient and modern answer body bookseller Boyle brain brothers called church Church of England church of Rome coat colonel conversation DIGRESSION discourse dispute Dr Bentley ears eyes fanatics farther favour friends gentlemen give hand head honour humour invention Irenæus Jack JOHN OZELL John Perrot king labour Lady Answ Lady Smart ladyship Lord Peter lordship madam mankind Martin matter mean ment Miss Modern Learning Momus nature never Neverout noble nose observed occasion panegyric Paracelsus person Phalaris piece Pindar poet polite Pray preface present pretend reader reason religion satire Scythian SECT Sir John Sir William Temple Sparkish spirit spleen sure tain taste tell Temple ther thing thor thought tion treatise true critic turn wherein whereof whole wholly word Wotton writers
Popular passages
Page 231 - The avenues to his castle were guarded with turnpikes and palisadoes, all after the modern way of fortification. After you had passed several courts you came to the centre, wherein you might behold the constable himself in his own lodgings, which had windows fronting to each avenue, and ports to sally out upon all occasions of prey or defence.
Page 77 - On their first appearance, our three adventurers met with a very bad reception ; and soon, with great sagacity, guessing out the reason, they quickly began to improve in the good qualities of the town : they writ, and rallied, and rhymed, and sung, and said, and said nothing: they drank, and fought, and whored, and slept, and swore, and took snuff...
Page 220 - SATIRE is a sort of glass wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own; which is the chief reason for that kind reception it meets with in the world, and that so very few are offended with it.
Page 233 - Not to disparage myself/ said he, 'by the comparison with such a rascal, what art thou but a vagabond without house or home, without stock or inheritance, born to no possession of your own, but a pair of wings and a dronepipe ? Your livelihood is...
Page 162 - For the brain, in its natural position and state of serenity, disposeth its owner to pass his life in the common forms, without any thought of subduing multitudes to his own power, his reasons, or his visions; and the more he shapes his understanding by the pattern of human learning, the less he is inclined to form parties after his particular notions, because that instructs him in his private infirmities, as well as in the stubborn ignorance of the people.
Page 236 - As for us the Ancients, we are content with the bee to pretend to nothing of our own, beyond our wings and our voice; that is to say, our flights and our language. For the rest, whatever we have got, has been by infinite labour and search, and ranging through every corner of nature.
Page 316 - ... had all the speeches been printed without the very names of the persons, I believe one might have applied them with certainty to every speaker.
Page 169 - I myself, the author of these momentous truths, am a person, whose imaginations are hard-mouthed, and exceedingly disposed to run away with his reason, which I have observed, from long experience, to be a very light rider, and easily shook off; upon which account, my friends will never trust me alone, without a solemn promise to vent my speculations in this, or the like manner, for the universal benefit of human kind...
Page 147 - At other times were to be seen several hundred linked together in a circular chain, with every man a pair of bellows applied to his neighbour's breech, by which they blew up each other to the shape and size of a tun ; and for that reason, jvith great propriety of speech, did. usually call their bodies, their vessels.
Page 404 - And the best doctors in the world are doctor Diet, doctor Quiet, and doctor Merryman.