Choice Specimens of English Literature: Selected from the Chief English Writers, and Arranged ChronologicallySheldon, 1869 - 477 pages |
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Common terms and phrases
Atheism beauty behold blessed blood breath bright Cæsar CHAUCER clouds cofres cried dark dead dear death deep delight doth dream earth Erle eternal eyes fair father fear flowers give glory grace grave hair hand happy hast hath head hear heard heart heaven heerd helmet of Navarre Henry of Navarre holy honor Ivanhoe Jhesus John John Anderson king Lady Teaz land LAYAMON light live look Lord Manual Mayenne mighty mind moch moon nature ne'er never night noble numbers Nymph o'er passion Persè pleasure poet praise prayer pride rest Robert Mannyng sayd SEJANUS sigh sight sing Sir Patrick Spens Sir Pet sleep song soul spirit stars sweet tears tell tethe thee ther thine things thou thought Twas unto virtue voice weary wild wise wold wyll youth
Popular passages
Page 110 - Like little wanton boys that swim on bladders, This many summers in a sea of glory ; But far beyond my depth ; my high-blown pride At length broke under me ; and now has left me, Weary, and old with service, to the mercy Of a rude stream, that must for ever hide me. Vain pomp and glory of this world, I hate ye ; I feel my heart new open'd : O, how wretched Is that poor man that hangs on princes...
Page 5 - There was a sound of revelry by night. And Belgium's capital had gathered then Her beauty and her chivalry ; and bright The lamps shone o'er fair women and brave men : A thousand hearts beat happily ; and when Music arose with its voluptuous swell, Soft eyes looked love to eyes which spake again ; And all went merry as a marriage-bell, But hush ! hark ! a deep sound strikes like a rising knell.
Page 12 - Keen as are the arrows Of that silver sphere, Whose intense lamp narrows In the white dawn clear, Until we hardly see, we feel that it is there.
Page 6 - And there was mounting in hot haste: the steed, The mustering squadron, and the clattering car, Went pouring forward with impetuous speed, And swiftly forming in the ranks of war; And the deep thunder peal on peal afar; And near, the beat of the alarming drum Roused up the soldier ere the morning star; While thronged the citizens with terror dumb, Or whispering, with white lips - 'The foe! they come! they come!
Page 106 - Since once I sat upon a promontory, And heard a mermaid, on a dolphin's back, Uttering such dulcet and harmonious breath, That the rude sea grew civil at her song, And certain stars shot madly from their spheres, To hear the sea-maid's music.
Page 89 - Of law there can be no less acknowledged, than that her seat is the bosom of God, her voice the harmony of the world ; all things in heaven and earth do her homage, the very least as feeling her care, and the greatest as not exempted from her power...
Page 116 - Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been So clear in his great office, that his virtues Will plead like angels trumpet-tongued against The deep damnation of his taking-off; And pity, like a naked new-born babe, Striding the blast, or heaven's cherubim horsed Upon the sightless couriers of the air, Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, That tears shall drown the wind.
Page 111 - Love thyself last: cherish those hearts that hate thee; Corruption wins not more than honesty. Still in thy right hand carry gentle peace, To silence envious tongues. Be just, and fear not: Let all the ends thou aim'st at be thy country's, Thy God's, and truth's...