Persian and Chinese Letters |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
acquainted amusement appear beauty believe Betica ceremony charms China Chinese cried dear Usbek dervishes desire dressed England eunuchs Europe eyes fancy father favor fortune France French give Guebre Guienne Gustaspes hand happy heart Heaven holy honor hundred husband IBBEN imagine Jansenists Jews king Koran La Brède Lacedæmonia lady laws live look Louis XIV manner marriage master ment mind monarch Montesquieu moon of Chahban moon of Chalval moon of Gemmadi moon of Rebiab moon of Saphar nation nature never Nicholas Flamel once PARIS passion perceive Persian Letters philosophers pleasure prince prophets punishment religion replied RICA Roxana second moon seems SERAGLIO AT ISPAHAN slaves SMYRNA soon soul Spain subjects talk tell things thought thousand Tibbs tion Troglodites USBEK TO RHEDI VENICE virtue Voltaire whole wife wish wives woman women wretched
Popular passages
Page 355 - By this time we were arrived as high as the stairs would permit us to ascend, till we came to what he was facetiously pleased to call the first floor down the chimney; and knocking at the door, a voice from within demanded, who 's there ? My conductor answered that it was him.
Page 415 - Englishman is able to beat five French at any time ; so we went down to the door, where both the sentries were posted, and, rushing upon them, seized their arms in a moment, and knocked them down. From thence nine of us ran together to the quay, and, seizing the first boat we met, got out of the harbor and put to sea. We had not been here three days before we were taken up by the Dorset privateer, who were glad of so many good hands, and we consented to run our chance.
Page 415 - So up I got, and tied my blanket, which was all the clothes I had, about my middle, and went with him to fight the Frenchmen.
Page 355 - I mean weel enough," replied the other; "she's washing your twa shirts at the next door, because . " — " Fire and fury, no more of thy stupid explanations ! " cried he ; " go and inform her we have got company.
Page 361 - Her father being dead, she lived with her aged mother in their cottage, covered with straw ; and both, though very poor, were very contented. Here, retired from the gaze of the world, by the labour of her hands she supported her parent, who was now incapable of supporting herself. When Catherina spun, the old woman would sit by and read some book of devotion...
Page 293 - It is written in imitation of the Siamese Letters of Du Freny and of the Turkish Spy ; but it is an imitation which shows what the originals should have been. The success their works met with was, for the most part, owing to the foreign air of their performances ; the success of the Persian Letters arose from the delicacy of their satire. That satire which in the mouth of an Asiatic is poignant, would lose all its force when coming from an European.
Page 150 - All we have gained then by our unbelief Is a life of doubt diversified by faith. For one of faith diversified by doubt: We called the chess-board white, — we call it black. "Well...
Page 367 - Here," cried he, in raptures, to himself, ' here it is ! under this stone there is room for a very large pan of diamonds indeed ! I must e'en go home to my wife, and tell her the whole affair, and get her to assist me in turning it up.
Page 414 - I was very happy in this manner for some time, till one evening, coming home from work, two men knocked me down, and then desired me to stand. They belonged to a press-gang...
Page 409 - On the contrary, they seem to lose their temper as they lose their appetites; every morsel they swallow, and every glass they pour down, serves to increase their animosity. Many an honest man, before as harmless as a tame rabbit, when loaded with a single election dinner, has become more dangerous than a charged culverin.