The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL. D.: The Adventurer. Philological tractsJ. Buckland [and 40 others], 1787 |
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Page 6
... fuffered the most exquifite torture . By the inftigation and encouragement of my friends , I became at length ambitious of a feat in parliament ; parliament ; and accordingly fet out for the town of 6 N ° 34 ′ THE ADVENTURER .
... fuffered the most exquifite torture . By the inftigation and encouragement of my friends , I became at length ambitious of a feat in parliament ; parliament ; and accordingly fet out for the town of 6 N ° 34 ′ THE ADVENTURER .
Page 31
... when famili- arity shall have enabled me to recount their stories without horror , you may expect another narrative from , SIR , Your most humble fervant , MISARGYRUS , NUMB . 58. SATURDAY , May 25 , 1753 . N ° 53 . 31 THE ADVENTURËR .
... when famili- arity shall have enabled me to recount their stories without horror , you may expect another narrative from , SIR , Your most humble fervant , MISARGYRUS , NUMB . 58. SATURDAY , May 25 , 1753 . N ° 53 . 31 THE ADVENTURËR .
Page 32
... most enlightened intellect , was afraid to decide haftily in his own favour , or to conclude that an author had written without mean- ing , because he could not immediately catch his ideas ; he knew that the faults of books are often ...
... most enlightened intellect , was afraid to decide haftily in his own favour , or to conclude that an author had written without mean- ing , because he could not immediately catch his ideas ; he knew that the faults of books are often ...
Page 38
... most elegant compliment that was paid to Addijon , is of this obfcure and perishable kind : When panting Virtue her laft efforts made , You brought your CLIO to the virgin's aid . Thefe lines muft pleafe as long as they are un- derftood ...
... most elegant compliment that was paid to Addijon , is of this obfcure and perishable kind : When panting Virtue her laft efforts made , You brought your CLIO to the virgin's aid . Thefe lines muft pleafe as long as they are un- derftood ...
Page 47
... most part feem lefs to expect the ftroke of death , than when every other eye fees it impend- ing ; or are more busy in providing for another year than when it is plain to all but themselves , that at another year they cannot arrive ...
... most part feem lefs to expect the ftroke of death , than when every other eye fees it impend- ing ; or are more busy in providing for another year than when it is plain to all but themselves , that at another year they cannot arrive ...
Common terms and phrases
affiftance againſt almoſt arife becauſe caufes cauſe cenfure character compofition confidered criticks curiofity defign defire difcovered diftinction diligence eafily eafy endeavoured fafe faid Falstaff fame fcarcely fcenes fcience fecure feems feldom fenfe fent fentiments fhall fhew fhewn fhould fince fingle firft firſt folicit fome fometimes foon fpeech ftand ftate ftill ftory ftudies fubject fuccefs fuch fuffered fufficient fupply fuppofe furely happineſs Harleian library Henry VI hiftory himſelf honour increaſe inferted inftruct intereft juft king knowledge labour laft language learned lefs likewife loft mankind mind moft moſt muft muſt myſelf nature neceffary neceffity obfcure obferved occafion ourſelves paffages paffed paffions perfon perhaps play pleafing pleaſe pleaſure poet praife praiſe prefent preferved publick purpoſe racter raife raiſed reader reafon reft ſcenes Shakespeare ſhall ſkill ſtate thefe themſelves theſe thofe thoſe thought tion truth underſtand univerfal uſe virtue whofe words writers
Popular passages
Page 232 - Nothing can please many, and please long, but just representations of general nature. Particular manners can be known to few, and therefore few only can judge how nearly they are copied. The irregular combinations of fanciful invention may delight awhile, by that novelty of which the common satiety of life sends us all in quest; but the pleasures of sudden wonder are soon exhausted, and the mind can only repose on the stability of truth.
Page 289 - I have indeed disappointed no opinion more than my own ; yet I have endeavoured to perform: my task with no slight solicitude.
Page 243 - He carries his persons indifferently through right and wrong, and at the close dismisses them without further care, and leaves their examples to operate by chance. This fault the barbarity of his age cannot extenuate, for it is always a writer's duty to make the world better, and justice is a virtue independent on time or place.
Page 263 - ... whether from all his successors more maxims of theoretical knowledge, or more rules of practical prudence, can be collected, than he alone has given to his country.
Page 285 - In restoring the author's works to their integrity, I have considered the punctuation as wholly in my power; for what could be their care of colons and commas, who corrupted words and sentences?
Page 232 - Shakespeare is above all writers, at least above all modern writers, the poet of Nature; the poet that holds up to his readers a faithful mirror of manners and of life.
Page 245 - His declamations or set speeches are commonly cold and weak, for his power was the power of nature...
Page 251 - If there be any fallacy, it is not that we fancy the players, but that we fancy ourselves unhappy for a moment; but we rather lament the possibility, than suppose the presence of misery, as a mother weeps over her babe, when she remembers that death may take it from her. The delight of tragedy proceeds from our consciousness of fiction ; if we thought murders and treasons real, they would please no more.
Page 249 - There is no reason why a mind thus wandering in ecstasy should count the clock, or why an hour should not be a century in that calenture of the brains that can make the stage a field.
Page 246 - A quibble is the golden apple for which he will always turn aside from his career, or stoop from his elevation. A quibble, poor and barren as it is, gave him such delight that he was content to purchase it by the sacrifice of reason, propriety and truth. A quibble was to him the fatal Cleopatra for which he lost the world, and was content to lose it.