The British Essayists, Volume 3

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Alexander Chalmers
J. Johnson, 1808 - English essays

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Page 147 - With thee conversing I forget all time; All seasons and their change, all please alike. Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet, With charm of earliest birds...
Page 113 - Like Niobe, all tears; why she, even she, — O God ! a beast, that wants discourse of reason, Would have mourn'd longer, — married with my uncle, My father's brother, but no more like my father Than I to Hercules...
Page 161 - Come on, sir; here's the place: — stand still. — How fearful And dizzy 'tis, to cast one's eyes so low! The crows, and choughs, that wing the midway air, Show scarce so gross as beetles : Half way down Hangs one that gathers samphire; dreadful trade! Methinks, he seems no bigger than his head: The fishermen, that walk upon the beach, Appear like mice; and yon...
Page 49 - I was in the vigour of youth. Every moment of her life brings me fresh instances of her complacency to my inclinations, and her prudence in regard to my fortune. Her face is to me much more beautiful than when I first saw it; there is no decay in any feature, which I cannot trace, from the very instant it was occasioned by some anxious concern for my welfare and interests.
Page 266 - And Caesar's spirit, ranging for revenge, With Ate' by his side come hot from hell, Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice Cry Havoc, and let slip the dogs of war ; That this foul deed shall smell above the earth With carrion men, groaning for burial Enter a Servant.
Page 60 - Hercules, hearing the lady talk after this manner, desired to know her name; to which she answered. " My friends, and those who are well acquainted with me, call me Happiness: but my enemies, and those who would injure my reputation, have given me the name of Pleasure.
Page 140 - gainst that season comes Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated, The bird of dawning singeth all night long...
Page 50 - Mr. Bickerstaff, do not believe a word of what he tells you, I shall still live to have you for my second, as I have often promised you, unless he takes more care of himself than he has done since his coming to town. You must know, he tells me that he finds London is a much more healthy place than the country ; for he sees several of his old acquaintance and school-fellows are here young fellows with fair fullbottomed periwigs. I could scarce keep him this morning from going out open-breasted.
Page 48 - She hoped, as I was a gentleman, I would be employed no more to trouble her, who had never offended me ; but would be so much the gentleman's friend as to dissuade him from a pursuit which he could never succeed in.
Page 265 - O, for a muse of fire, that would ascend The brightest heaven of invention ! A kingdom for a stage, princes to act, And monarchs to behold the swelling scene ! Then should the warlike Harry, like himself, Assume the port of Mars ; and, at his heels, Leash'd in like hounds, should famine, sword, and fire, Crouch for employment.

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