Selections from Boswell's Life of JohnsonCharles E. Merrill Company, 1912 - 93 pages |
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Page 12
... observed to me that " Johnson knew more books than any man alive . " He had a peculiar facility in seizing at once what was valuable in any book without submitting to the labour of perusing it from beginning to end . He had , from the ...
... observed to me that " Johnson knew more books than any man alive . " He had a peculiar facility in seizing at once what was valuable in any book without submitting to the labour of perusing it from beginning to end . He had , from the ...
Page 14
... observed her to be in tears . " This , it must be allowed , was a singular beginning of connubial felicity ; but there is no doubt that Johnson , though he thus showed a manly firmness , proved a most affectionate and indulgent husband ...
... observed her to be in tears . " This , it must be allowed , was a singular beginning of connubial felicity ; but there is no doubt that Johnson , though he thus showed a manly firmness , proved a most affectionate and indulgent husband ...
Page 22
... observed , " He durst not do such a thing . His wife would not let him ! " Vol . I , p . 199 . 1754 - At . 45 TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF CHESTERFIELD " February 7 , 1755 . " My Lord , I have been lately informed , by the ...
... observed , " He durst not do such a thing . His wife would not let him ! " Vol . I , p . 199 . 1754 - At . 45 TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF CHESTERFIELD " February 7 , 1755 . " My Lord , I have been lately informed , by the ...
Page 33
... observation now and then , which he received very civilly ; so that I was satisfied that though there was a rough- ness in his manner there was no ill - nature in his disposition . Davies followed me to the door , and when I complained ...
... observation now and then , which he received very civilly ; so that I was satisfied that though there was a rough- ness in his manner there was no ill - nature in his disposition . Davies followed me to the door , and when I complained ...
Page 35
... observed to Mr. Malone , that " though he made no figure in mathematics , which was a study in much repute there , he could turn an Ode of Horace into English better than any of them . " He afterwards studied physic at Edin- burgh , and ...
... observed to Mr. Malone , that " though he made no figure in mathematics , which was a study in much repute there , he could turn an Ode of Horace into English better than any of them . " He afterwards studied physic at Edin- burgh , and ...
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Common terms and phrases
acquaintance Addison Amen appeared Arthur Lee Beauclerk Bennet Langton bless bookseller Boswell BOSWELL'S Burke caulay Cawston character compliments conversation critical Davies dear sir death desire Dictionary Dilly Dilly's dine dinner Edinburgh endeavour English entertained fancy father favour Garrick gayety gentleman give Goldsmith hand happiness head heard Hebrides hope House of Hanover house of Stuart humour hundred pounds Jack Wilkes JAMES BOSWELL Jesus Christ King knew labour ladies Langton letter Lichfield literary live London Lord Lordship Macaulay's Madam manner mentioned merit Miss morning mother never obliged observed Pembroke College pension pleased Poets Pray prayer Raasay received recollect Robertson Samuel Johnson Scotch Scotland seemed servant Sir John Hawkins Sir Joshua Reynolds smile soon style suppose talk thought Thrale tion told Tory violent Whig William wish write
Popular passages
Page 22 - Dictionary is recommended to the public, were written by your Lordship. To be so distinguished, is an honor, which, being very little accustomed to favors 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 overpowered, like the rest of mankind, by the enchantment of...
Page 26 - Hear what comfortable words our Saviour Christ saith unto all that truly turn to Him. COME unto me all that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you.
Page 31 - At last, on Monday the 16th of May, when I was sitting in Mr. Davies's back-parlour, after having drunk tea with him and Mrs. Davies, Johnson unexpectedly came into the shop ; and Mr.
Page 18 - What he attempted, he performed ; he is never feeble, and he did not wish to be energetic ; he is never rapid, and he never stagnates. His sentences have neither studied amplitude, nor affected brevity : his periods, though not diligently rounded, are voluble and easy. Whoever wishes to attain an English stile, familiar but not coarse, and elegant but not ostentatious, must give his days and nights to the volumes of Addison.
Page 64 - Notwithstanding the high veneration which I entertained for Dr. Johnson, I was sensible that he was sometimes a little actuated by the spirit of contradiction, and by means of that I hoped I should gain my point. I was persuaded that if I had come upon him with a direct proposal, 'Sir, will you dine in company with Jack Wilkes?' he would have flown into a passion, and would probably have answered, 'Dine with Jack Wilkes, Sir! I'd as soon dine with Jack Ketch.
Page 52 - Goldsmith tells you shortly all you want to know ; Robertson detains you a great deal too long. No man will read Robertson's cumbrous detail a second time ; but Goldsmith's plain narrative will please again and again. I would say to Robertson what an old tutor of a college said to one of his pupils, "Read over your compositions, and wherever you meet with a passage which you think is particularly fine, strike it out.
Page 36 - He had no doubt a more than common share of that hurry of ideas which we often find in his countrymen, and which sometimes produces a laughable confusion in expressing them.
Page 33 - I am willing to flatter myself that I meant this as light pleasantry to soothe and conciliate him, and not as an humiliating abasement at the expense of my country. But however that might be, this speech was somewhat unlucky; for, with that quickness of wit for which he was so remarkable, he seized the expression, "come from Scotland...
Page 40 - Sir, in my early years I read very hard. It is a sad reflection, but a true one, that I knew almost as much at eighteen as I do now.
Page 35 - ... readers in some degree acquainted with his singular character. He was a native of Ireland, and a contemporary with Mr. Burke, at Trinity College, Dublin, but did not then give much promise of future celebrity.