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 |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 20
Page 3
... equals , he feemed to mix with those of a lower clafs , and therefore lived in a reclufe manner , pursuing his ftudy of history and poety , or ruminating on his un- fortunate fituation ; yet fuch was the force of his ge- nius , that ...
... equals , he feemed to mix with those of a lower clafs , and therefore lived in a reclufe manner , pursuing his ftudy of history and poety , or ruminating on his un- fortunate fituation ; yet fuch was the force of his ge- nius , that ...
Page 11
... equal to it . Swift main- tained the contrary , and being urged , peremptorily averred that it was not written by Burnet , upon which Bishop Sheridan asking , who wrote it ? Swift replied , " My Lord , I wrote it . " Johnson , in his ...
... equal to it . Swift main- tained the contrary , and being urged , peremptorily averred that it was not written by Burnet , upon which Bishop Sheridan asking , who wrote it ? Swift replied , " My Lord , I wrote it . " Johnson , in his ...
Page 31
... equal to any task whatever . His manner was without cere- mony , but not ruftic , for he had a perfect knowledge of all the modes of politenefs , which he practifed in a manner peculiar to himself ; and the refpect that was due to him ...
... equal to any task whatever . His manner was without cere- mony , but not ruftic , for he had a perfect knowledge of all the modes of politenefs , which he practifed in a manner peculiar to himself ; and the refpect that was due to him ...
Page 38
... equal candour and juftice . He fays that the name of VIRGIL is introduced in it only for an opportunity of comparing his tranflator , DRYDEN , to the Lady in a lobster to a mouse under a canopy of fate : and to a fhrivelled beau , with ...
... equal candour and juftice . He fays that the name of VIRGIL is introduced in it only for an opportunity of comparing his tranflator , DRYDEN , to the Lady in a lobster to a mouse under a canopy of fate : and to a fhrivelled beau , with ...
Page 74
... equal authority , with the canon , to Apocrypha , called here a codicil annexed . It is likely the author , in every one of these changes in the brother's dreffes , refers to fome particular error in the church of Rome ; though it is ...
... equal authority , with the canon , to Apocrypha , called here a codicil annexed . It is likely the author , in every one of these changes in the brother's dreffes , refers to fome particular error in the church of Rome ; though it is ...
Other editions - View all
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.