The Spectator, Volume 2

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J. and R. Tonson, 1739 - English essays - 313 pages
 

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Page 154 - Upon this my friend with his usual cheerfulness related the particulars above-mentioned, and ordered the head to be brought into the room. I could not forbear discovering greater expressions of mirth than ordinary upon the appearance of this...
Page 285 - I discovered one in the habit of a shepherd, with a little musical instrument in his hand. As I looked upon him, he applied it. to his lips, and began to play upon it. The sound of it was...
Page 102 - ... himself. He now and then presents a pair of garters of his own knitting to their mothers or sisters ; and raises a great deal of mirth among them, by inquiring as often as he meets them
Page 87 - Now the best way in the world for a man to seem to be any thing is really to be what he would seem to be. Besides, that it is many times as troublesome to make good the pretence of a good quality, as to have it...
Page 116 - Sunday in the dignity of his order, and insinuates to them in almost every sermon that he is a better man than his patron. In short, matters are come to such an extremity, that the squire has not said his prayers either in public or private this half year; and that the parson threatens him, if he does not mend his manners, to pray for him in the face of the whole congregation.
Page 286 - I see multitudes of people passing over it," said I, " and a black cloud hanging on each end of it.' As I looked more attentively, I saw several of the passengers dropping through the bridge into the great tide that flowed underneath it ; and, upon...
Page 287 - ... on trap-doors which did not seem to lie in their way, and which they might have escaped had they not been thus forced upon them. 'The Genius seeing me indulge myself on this melancholy prospect, told me I had dwelt long enough upon it. Take thine eyes off the bridge...
Page 286 - ... them into the tide, and immediately disappeared. These hidden pit-falls were set very thick at the entrance of the bridge, so that throngs of people no sooner broke through the cloud, but many of them fell into them. They grew thinner towards the middle, but multiplied and lay closer together towards the end of the arches that were entire.
Page 95 - ... as the knight is the best master in the world, he seldom changes his servants; and as he is beloved by all about him, his servants never care for leaving him : by this means his domestics are all in years, and grown old with their master.
Page 286 - What is the reason, said I, that the tide I see rises out of a thick mist at one end, and again loses itself in a thick mist at the other? What thou seest...

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