An Essay on History: In Three Epistles to Edward Gibbon, Esq. with Notes. By William Hayley, Esq

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J. Dodsley, 1780 - History - 159 pages
 

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Page 156 - Nothing could have funk this author in obfcurity, but the remotenefs and barbarity of the people, whofe flory he relates. It feldom happens, that all circumftances concur to happinefs or fame. The nation which produced this great hiftorian, has the grief of feeing his genius employed upon a foreign and uninterefting...
Page 77 - ... infidelity. Think not my verse means blindly to engage In rash defence of thy profaner page ! Though keen her spirit, her attachment fond, Base service cannot suit with friendship's bond. Too firm from duty's sacred path to turn, She breathes an honest sigh of deep concern, And pities Genius, when his wild career Gives Faith a wound, or Innocence a fear.
Page 157 - ... and admirable quicknefs, to vindicate tyranny, and to deftroy the rights of his nation. With no lefs pertinacity, but with an air of greater candour, and with the marks of a more liberal mind, Mr Hume has employed himfelf...
Page 152 - ... as the face of one well disposed. But it was to the disadvantage of the painter, for it was best when he spake. His worth may bear a tale or two, that may put upon him somewhat that may seem divine. When the Lady Margaret his mother had divers great suitors for marriage...
Page 90 - Koran) or it is not: if it be, then the Koran is sufficient without them; if otherwise, it is fit they should be destroyed." Amrou, in obedience to the caliph's command, distributed the books throughout all the city, amongst those that kept warm baths (of which there was at that time...
Page 34 - A faithful Chronicler in plain FROISSART ;* As rich in honefty as void of art. As the young Peafant, led by fpirits keen To fome great city's gay and gorgeous fcene, Returning, with increafe of proud delight, 140 Dwells on the various fplendor of the fight ; And gives his tale, tho...
Page 87 - This vessel is managed by a pilot, called, in the Egyptian language, Charon ; and hence they say that Orpheus, travelling in old times into Egypt, and seeing this ceremony, formed his fable of the infernal regions, partly from what he saw, and partly from invention. The vessel being launched on the lake, before the coffin, which contains the body, is put on board, the law permits all, who are so inclined, to produce an...
Page 50 - Yet Public Favour, ever hard to fix, Flew from thy page, as heavy and prolix. For foon, emerging from the Sophifts...
Page 65 - And thus indignant, from the depth of earth, Checks your vile aim, and vindicates their worth : " Hence ye ! who buried excellence belied, " To footh the fordid fpleen of living Pride ; " Go ! gild with Adulation's feeble ray 155
Page 48 - FALKLAND'S friend? Nor flow his praifes from this (ingle fource; One province of his art difplays his force: His Portraits boaft, with features ftrongly like, The foft precifion of the clear VANDYKE : Tho', like the Painter, his faint talents yield, And fink embarrafs'd in the Epic field, Yet (hall his labours long adorn our Ifle, Like the proud glories of fome Gothic pile: They, tho...

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