The Wits and Beaux of Society, Volume 1 |
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admiration afterwards amusing Anne of Austria Bath Beau beauty Brummell Buckingham called celebrated character Charles Charles II charming Chevalier club coach Congreve Countess court daughter death disgusted dress Duchess Duke Earl England English Evremond Fairfax famous fashion father favour fool fortune France gentleman George II George Selwyn George Villiers give grace Grammont Ham House hand handsome heart Hervey's honour Hook Horace Walpole House James's king king's Kit-kat Lady Castlemaine Lady Mary letter lived Lord Chesterfield Lord Hervey Lord Rochester Madame Majesty married Mazarin mistress mother Nash never night once Paris Pepys perhaps play pleasure poet political poor Pope Prince Princess Caroline Queen Caroline replied royal Selwyn sent Sheridan Sir Robert Walpole society soon talk thought told took Wharton whilst Whitehall wife William Congreve Wits and Beaux woman write wrote York House young youth
Popular passages
Page 4 - A man so various, that he seemed to be Not one, but all mankind's epitome : Stiff in opinions, always in the wrong, Was everything by starts, and nothing long; But, in the course of one revolving moon, Was chemist, fiddler, statesman, and buffoon ; Then all for women, painting, rhyming, drinking, Besides ten thousand freaks that died in thinking.
Page 223 - When upon some slight encouragement, I first visited your lordship, I was overpowered, like the rest of mankind, by the enchantment of your address ; and could not forbear to wish that I might boast myself Le vainqueur du vainqueur de la terre...
Page 224 - 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 publick should consider me as owing that to a patron, which Providence has enabled me to do for myself.
Page 223 - Dictionary is recommended to the public, were written by your lordship. To be so distinguished, is an honour, which, being very little accustomed to favours from the great, I know not well how to receive, or in what terms to acknowledge. When, upon some slight encouragement, I first visited your lordship, I was over-powered, like the rest of mankind, by the enchantment of your address, and could not forbear to wish that I might boast myself...
Page 457 - They are so imbued with metaphysics that they even make love metaphysically. I overheard a young lady of my acquaintance, at a dance in Edinburgh, exclaim, in a sudden pause of the music, "What you say, my Lord, is very true of love in the aibstract, but — " here the fiddlers began fiddling furiously, and the rest was lost.
Page 36 - Shrewsbury and love; Or just as gay, at council, in a ring Of mimic'd statesmen and their merry king. No wit to flatter left of all his store! No fool to laugh at, which he valued more. There, victor of his health, of fortune, friends, And fame, this lord of useless thousands ends.
Page 269 - ... in my idea. At first I was contented with tending a visionary flock, and sighing some pastoral name to the echo of the cascade under the bridge. How happy should I have been to have had a kingdom only for the pleasure of being driven from it, and living disguised in an humble vale ! As I got further into Virgil and Clelia, I found myself transported from Arcadia to the garden of Italy ; and saw Windsor Castle in no other view than the Capitoli immobile saxum.
Page 493 - The first time I was in company with Foote was at Fitzherbert's. Having no good opinion of the fellow, I was resolved not to be pleased ; and it is very difficult to please a man against his will. I went on eating my dinner pretty sullenlyj affecting not to mind him.
Page 147 - Grown all to all, from no one vice exempt; And most contemptible, to shun contempt; His passion still to covet gen'ral praise, His life, to forfeit it a thousand ways; A constant bounty which no friend has made; An angel tongue which no man can persuade; A fool, with more of wit than half mankind...
Page 223 - The shepherd in Virgil grew at last acquainted with Love, and found him a native of the rocks. 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?