Tale of a Tub: Written for the Universal Improvement of Mankind. To which are Added, An Account of a Battle Between the Ancient and Modern Books. In St. James's Library. And A Discourse, Concerning the Mechanical Operations of the Spirit. With the Author's Apology, and Explanatory Notes, by W. Wotton, B.D. and Others. Cooke's Edition. Embellished with Superb Engravings |
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againſt allowed alſo ancient anſwer appeared becauſe Beſides body brain brothers called certain character church coats common critics deſign diſcourſe effect equal eyes fall farther firſt fome force friends gave give given hand hath head himſelf honour houſe human immediately invention Jack kind laſt late learned leaſt leave letter light lived look Lord mankind manner matter means mentioned method mind moſt muſt nature never obſerved occaſion original particular party perſon Peter piece pleaſe political preſent pretend proceed produce publiſhed reader reaſon received reſt ſaid ſame ſay ſeems ſet ſeveral ſhall ſhould ſome ſpirit ſubject ſuch Swift themſelves theſe things thoſe thought tion took treatiſe true turn univerſal uſe wherein whole wholly whoſe wonderful writers written
Popular passages
Page 190 - As when a skilful cook has trussed a brace of woodcocks, he with iron skewer pierces the tender sides of both, their legs and wings close pinioned to the ribs; so was this pair of friends transfixed, till down they fell, joined in their lives, joined in their deaths; so closely joined that Charon would mistake them both for one, and waft them over Styx for half his fare.
Page xxxvi - I do therefore affirm, upon the word of a sincere man, that there is now actually in being a certain poet called John Dryden, whose translation of Virgil was lately printed in a large folio, well bound, and, if diligent search were made, for aught I know, is yet to be seen.
Page 114 - The most accomplished way of using books at present is two-fold: either first, to serve them as some men do lords, learn their titles exactly, and then brag of their acquaintance. Or secondly, which is indeed the choicer, the profounder, and politer method, to get a thorough insight into the index, by which the whole book is governed and turned, like fishes by the tail.
Page 31 - It may be justly supposed that there was in his conversation, what appears so frequently in his letters^ an affectation of familiarity with the great, an ambition of momentary equality sought and enjoyed by the neglect of those ceremonies which custom has established as the barriers between one order of society and another. This transgression of regularity was by himself and his admirers termed greatness of soul.
Page 173 - So that, in short, the question comes all to this ; whether is the nobler being of the two, that which, by a lazy contemplation of four inches round, by an overweening pride...
Page 175 - 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.
Page xxxv - If I should venture in a windy day to affirm to your Highness that there is a large cloud near the horizon, in the form of a bear; another in the zenith, with the head of an ass; a third to the westward, with claws like a dragon; and your...
Page 60 - It is a sackposset, wherein the deeper you go you will find it the sweeter. Wisdom is a hen, whose cackling we must value and consider because it is attended with an egg. But then...
Page 68 - To conclude from all, what is man himself but a micro-coat, or rather a complete suit of clothes with all its trimmings? As to his body there can be no dispute; but examine even the acquirements of his mind, you will find them all contribute in their order towards furnishing out an exact dress: to instance no more; is not religion a cloak, honesty a pair of shoes worn out in the dirt...
Page 127 - ... the very same principle that influences a bully to break the windows of a whore who has jilted him, naturally stirs up a great prince to raise mighty armies, and dream of nothing but sieges, battles, and victories.
Bibliographic information
| Title | Tale of a Tub: Written for the Universal Improvement of Mankind. To which are Added, An Account of a Battle Between the Ancient and Modern Books. In St. James's Library. And A Discourse, Concerning the Mechanical Operations of the Spirit. With the Author's Apology, and Explanatory Notes, by W ... Eighteenth century collections online |
| Author | Jonathan Swift |
| Publisher | C. Cooke, and sold, 1798 |
| Original from | Oxford University |
| Digitized | 21 Sep 2006 |
| Length | 260 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |