The sexagenarian; or, the recollections of a literary life (Volume 2 of 2)Beloe, William
General
The sexagenarian; or, the recollections of a literary life (Volume 2 of 2)
Beloe, William
Authors, English; Beloe, William, 1756-1817; English literature -- Anecdotes
Of the rest, of all of whom it is well known how much their skill and
experience have contributed to sooth and soften the calamities of their
contemporaries, it is impossible not to be a little out of humour with
that surly old fellow, Cato the Censor. Till his time the Romans knew
nothing of physicians or physic. They were introduced when he was in
office, and after a trial banished at his interposition. Here (says the
veteran) have I lived to be fourscore and five, and here too is my wife
in extreme old age, and we neither of us ever had or wanted physician or
physic. Let them go about their business.
CHAP. XLVIII. P. 324.
To this part of the work, and to this, and some of the subsequent
chapters, the title of one of the comedies of Aristophanes might
not unaptly be applied, viz. The Ecclesiazuræ, or Women assembling
themselves together. Here they will be found assembled of all ages,
ranks, conditions, and talents, in almost every variety of that various
sex: Widows, Matrons, Virgins, Philosophers, Politicians, and Poets.
The Sexagenarian was a well-known advocate for the sex, the reader
must not therefore expect any of those hard, wicked, and abusive
adages about them, such as the three greatest evils, are Fire, Water,
Woman. There are three things which are good for nothing without much
beating, a walnut-tree, an ass, and a woman. A man of straw is worth a
woman of gold. Three women and a goose make a market. Fie on such vile
slanderers!!!—No! no! different opinions will be found here: the maxim
here prevalent is, that there is no paradise without women, and that
England is the paradise of women. But here a paradox occurs. There is no
country in which women have so much influence, nor any language which
contains such numerous and abusive reproaches upon women as our own.
CHAP. XLIX. P. 334.
Striking contrasts to the Portrait exhibited in the former chapter.
CHAP. L. P. 339.
The same subject, with a representation of similar virtues exemplified in
such trials,
As may startle well but not astound
The virtuous mind, that ever walks attended
By a strong siding champion Conscience.
CHAP. LI. P. 344.
Might not she who is concisely characterized in this chapter have
exclaimed,
Mortals that would follow me,
Love Virtue, she alone is free;
She can teach you how to climb
Higher than the sphery chime;
Or if Virtue feeble were,
Heaven itself would stoop to her.
CHAP. LII. P. 348.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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