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 EngravingsC. Cooke, and sold, 1798 - 260 pages |
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Page 17
... certain inference can be drawn from his opinion , efpecially as the plan was never carried into execution . Swift , how- ever mentions , in a letter to a friend , that the Lord Treasurer ( Harley ) talked of the plan very warmly , but ...
... certain inference can be drawn from his opinion , efpecially as the plan was never carried into execution . Swift , how- ever mentions , in a letter to a friend , that the Lord Treasurer ( Harley ) talked of the plan very warmly , but ...
Page 20
... certain that he declined it , though without affigning any other engagement as the reafon . In this fituation he wrote that beautiful Poem , called Cademus and Vaneffa , the principal view of which feems to have been , at once to ...
... certain that he declined it , though without affigning any other engagement as the reafon . In this fituation he wrote that beautiful Poem , called Cademus and Vaneffa , the principal view of which feems to have been , at once to ...
Page 40
... certain relief to the greatest miferies . " Upon a general view of this whimsical and most extra- ordinary production , it appears to add to other incon teftible teftible proofs of the fingularity and originality of the genius 40 LIFE ...
... certain relief to the greatest miferies . " Upon a general view of this whimsical and most extra- ordinary production , it appears to add to other incon teftible teftible proofs of the fingularity and originality of the genius 40 LIFE ...
Page xi
... certain great man then alive , and univerfally reverenced for every good quality that could poffibly enter into the compofition of the moft accomplished perfon . It was obferved how he was pleafed and affected to have that noble writer ...
... certain great man then alive , and univerfally reverenced for every good quality that could poffibly enter into the compofition of the moft accomplished perfon . It was obferved how he was pleafed and affected to have that noble writer ...
Page xxii
... certain names . It will be enough for the author to affure the world , that the writer of that paper is utterly wrong in all his conjectures upon that affair . The author farther afferts , that the whole work is intirely of one hand ...
... certain names . It will be enough for the author to affure the world , that the writer of that paper is utterly wrong in all his conjectures upon that affair . The author farther afferts , that the whole work is intirely of one hand ...
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Common terms and phrases
affigned againſt alfo ancient anfwerer appeared becauſe befides beſt brothers called caufe church clofe confequence confiderable converfation courfe Dean Swift defcription defign defire difcourfe difcovered difpute expofe faid fame farther faſhion fatire fecond feems fenfes fent ferve fervice feven feveral fhall fhew fhort fhould fide fince firft firſt fociety fome fometimes fons foon fpirit friends ftate ftill ftyle fubject fuch fufficient fuppofe fure guife hath himſelf honour houfe houſe humour Irenæus Jack laft leaft learned Lord mankind modern moft moſt muft muſt nature neceffary neceffity never obferved occafion Orrery paffage paffed perfon Peter philofophers pleaſe prefent pretend publiſhed purpoſe racter reader reafon refolved reft ſchool ſeems ſhall Sir William Sir William Temple ſtate Swift thefe themſelves theſe things thofe thoſe tion treatife true critic ufual underſtand univerfal uſeful wherein whereof whigs whofe word worfe Wotton writers
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.