The British Essayists, Volume 7 |
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able admire appear beautiful body carried character comes common consider conversation court creature desire dress eyes face fair fall figure fortune frequently give greatest half hand head hear heard heart honour hope human humour ideas imagination JUNE kind lady learned letter live look lover manner master means meet mention mind nature never night observe occasion ordinary particular party pass passion person Pharamond piece pleased pleasure present proper reader reason receive rest seems sense servants shew short side Sir Roger sometimes soul speak SPECTATOR taken tell temper thing thought tion told took town true turn virtue walking whole woman women writing young
Popular passages
Page 193 - HAVING often received an invitation from my friend Sir Roger de Coverley to pass away a month with him in the country...
Page 195 - I have observed in several of my papers that my friend Sir Roger, amidst all his good qualities, is something of a humorist ; and that his virtues, as well as imperfections, are, as it were, tinged by a certain extravagance which makes them particularly his, and distinguishes them from those of other men. This cast of...
Page 220 - As Sir Roger is landlord to the whole congregation, he keeps them in very good order, and will suffer nobody to sleep in it besides himself; for if by chance he has been surprised into a short nap at sermon, upon recovering out of it, he stands up and looks about him, and if he sees anybody else nodding, either wakes them himself, or sends his servants to them.
Page 196 - Greek at his own table ; for which reason he desired a particular friend of his at the university to find him out a clergyman rather of plain sense than much learning, of a good aspect, a clear voice, a sociable temper, and, if possible, a man that understood a little of back-gammon.
Page 268 - ... monstrous face, under which, notwithstanding it was made to frown and stare in a most extraordinary manner, I could still discover a distant resemblance of my old friend. Sir Roger, upon seeing me laugh, desired me to tell him truly if I thought it possible for people to know him in that disguise. I at first kept my usual silence ; but upon the knight's conjuring me to tell him whether it was not still more like himself than a Saracen, I composed my countenance in the best manner I could, and...
Page 122 - Of nuptial sanctity, and marriage rites : Grace was in all her steps, Heaven in her eye, In every gesture dignity and love.
Page 196 - found me out this gentleman, who, besides the endowments required of him, is, they tell me, a good scholar, though he does not show it. I have given him the parsonage of the parish ; and, because I know his value, have settled upon him a good annuity for life. If he outlives me, he shall find that he was higher in my esteem than perhaps he thinks he is.
Page 220 - ... mind what he was about, and not disturb the congregation. This John Matthews it seems is remarkable for being an idle fellow, and at that time was kicking his heels for his diversion. This authority of the knight, though exerted in that odd manner which accompanies him in all circumstances of life, has a very good effect upon the parish, who are not polite enough to see any thing ridiculous in his behaviour; besides that the general good sense and worthiness of his character make his friends...
Page 237 - So flew'd, so sanded ; and their heads are hung With ears that sweep away the morning dew ; Crook-knee'd, and dew-lapp'd like Thessalian bulls ; Slow in pursuit, but match'd in mouth like bells, Each under each.