Boswell's Life of Johnson: Including Boswell's Journal of a Tour of the Hebrides, and Johnson's Diary of A Journey Into North Wales, Volume 1 |
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Page xvi
... when it first appeared are now read only by the curious . Allusions and
quotations which once fell upon a familiar and a friendly ear now fall dead . Men
whose names were known to every one , now often have not even a line in a
Dictionary ...
... when it first appeared are now read only by the curious . Allusions and
quotations which once fell upon a familiar and a friendly ear now fall dead . Men
whose names were known to every one , now often have not even a line in a
Dictionary ...
Page xxvii
Some hundreds of these were published by Mrs. Piozzi ; many more are
contained in Mr. Croker's edition ; while others have already appeared in Notes
and Queries ' , Not a few , doubtless , are still lurking in the desks of the collectors
of ...
Some hundreds of these were published by Mrs. Piozzi ; many more are
contained in Mr. Croker's edition ; while others have already appeared in Notes
and Queries ' , Not a few , doubtless , are still lurking in the desks of the collectors
of ...
Page 1
If there be a pleasure in celebrating the distinguished merit of a contemporary ,
mixed with a certain degree of vanity not altogether inexcusable , in appearing
fully sensible of it , where can I find one , in complimenting whom I can with more
...
If there be a pleasure in celebrating the distinguished merit of a contemporary ,
mixed with a certain degree of vanity not altogether inexcusable , in appearing
fully sensible of it , where can I find one , in complimenting whom I can with more
...
Page 34
Instead of melting down my materials into one mass , and constantly speaking in
my own person , by which I might have appeared to have more merit in the
execution of the work , I have resolved to adopt and enlarge upon the excellent
plan of ...
Instead of melting down my materials into one mass , and constantly speaking in
my own person , by which I might have appeared to have more merit in the
execution of the work , I have resolved to adopt and enlarge upon the excellent
plan of ...
Page 35
... biographer writes from personal knowledge , and makes haste to gratify the
publick curiosity , there is danger lest his versations , is the most perfect that can
be conceived , and will be more of a Life than any work that has ever yet
appeared .
... biographer writes from personal knowledge , and makes haste to gratify the
publick curiosity , there is danger lest his versations , is the most perfect that can
be conceived , and will be more of a Life than any work that has ever yet
appeared .
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Common terms and phrases
acquaintance Aetat afterwards appeared asked believe Boswell Boswell's called character College common considered conversation dear death describes desire Dictionary doubt edition English Essay evid excellent expected expressed father favour formed Garrick gave Gent give given hand happy heard honour hope John Johnson July kind King knowledge known Lady language late learning less letter lines literary lived London Lord Magazine manner March master means mentioned mind Miss nature never night observed once opinion original Oxford passage passed perhaps person pleased pleasure poem poet Preface present publication published Rambler reason received remarkable Reynolds says seems shew soon suppose talk tell thing thought tion told truth University whole wish writing written wrote
Popular passages
Page 305 - The notice which you have been pleased to take of my labours, had it been early, had been kind; but it has been delayed till I am indifferent, and cannot enjoy it; till I am solitary, and cannot impart it; till I am known, and do not want it. I hope it is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received, or to be unwilling that the public should consider me as owing that to a patron which Providence has enabled me to do for myself.
Page 261 - Whoever wishes to attain an English style, familiar but not coarse, and elegant but not ostentatious, must give his days and nights to the volumes of Addison...
Page 481 - I was drest, and found that his landlady had arrested him for his rent, at which he was in a violent passion. I perceived that he had already changed my guinea, and had got a bottle of Madeira and a glass before him. I put the cork into the bottle, desired he would be calm, and began to talk to him of the means by which he might be extricated. He then told me that he had a novel ready for the press, which he produced to me. I looked into it and saw its merit; told the landlady I...
Page 304 - I waited in your outward rooms, or was repulsed from your door ; during which time I have been pushing on my work through difficulties, of which it is useless to complain, and have brought it at last to the verge of publication without one act of assistance, one word of encouragement, or one smile of favour. Such treatment I did not expect, for I never had a patron before. " The shepherd in Virgil grew at last acquainted with Love, and found him a native of the rocks.
Page 304 - Is not a patron, my lord, one who looks with unconcern on a man struggling for life in the water, and, when he has reached ground, encumbers him with help? The notice which you have been pleased to take of my labours, had it been early, had been kind ; but it has been delayed till I am indifferent, and cannot enjoy it; till I am solitary, and cannot impart it; till I am known, and do not want it.
Page 303 - I might boast myself le vainqueur du vainqueur de la terre, that I might obtain that regard for which I saw the world contending, but I found my attendance so little encouraged that neither pride nor modesty would suffer me to continue it.
Page 451 - When a man eminently virtuous, a Brutus, a Cato, or a Socrates, finally sinks under the pressure of accumulated misfortune, we are not only led to entertain a more indignant hatred of vice, than if he...
Page 524 - He thinks in a peculiar train, and he thinks always as a man of genius; he looks round on Nature and on Life with the eye which Nature bestows only on a poet...
Page 235 - Somebody talked of happy moments for composition, and how a man can write at one time and not at another. "Nay," said Dr Johnson, "a man may write at any time if he will set himself doggedly to it.
Page 460 - I'd as lief pray with Kit Smart as any one else. Another charge was, that he did not love clean linen ; and I have no passion for it.
Bibliographic information
| Title | Boswell's Life of Johnson: Including Boswell's Journal of a Tour of the Hebrides, and Johnson's Diary of A Journey Into North Wales, Volume 1 Boswell's Life of Johnson: Including Boswell's Journal of a Tour of the Hebrides, and Johnson's Diary of A Journey Into North Wales, George Birkbeck Norman Hill |
| Author | James Boswell |
| Editor | George Birkbeck Norman Hill |
| Publisher | Bigelow, Brown & Company, 1799 |
| Original from | the University of Michigan |
| Digitized | 14 Nov 2006 |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |