Dean Swift and His WritingsA critical biography of Jonathan Swift & a history of the times in which he lived, together with the background of his major literary works. Illus. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Addison answer Arbuthnot bishops Bolingbroke Brobdingnag brother character Church court Dean of St Dean Swift deanery death dined dinner Drapier's Letter Dublin Duchess Duchess of Somerset Duke Earl England English Esther Johnson favour folly France friends give Government Gulliver Gulliver's Travels halfpence Harley Harley's honour Houyhnhnms Ireland Irish John Jonathan Swift Journal to Stella king Lady Laracor live London Lord Bolingbroke lord treasurer lordship Marlborough marriage Masham master ment mind minister ministry Mohocks Moor Park never Neverout night Ormond Oxford pamphlet parliament party Patrick's peace person poem political poor Pope pounds prince Protestant queen refused resolved satire says Swift secretary sent servants Sheridan Sir William Temple soon Steele style tell Temple's things tion told took Tory Vanessa whole wine Wood's writes written wrote
Popular passages
Page 207 - For, in reason, all government without the consent of the governed, is the very definition of slavery ; but, in fact, eleven men well armed will certainly subdue one single man in his shirt.
Page 266 - Those who are more thrifty (as I must confess the times require) may flay the carcass the skin of which artificially dressed will make admirable gloves for ladies and summer boots for fine gentlemen. As to our city of Dublin, shambles may be appointed for this purpose in the most convenient parts of it, and butchers, we may be assured, will not be wanting; although I rather recommend buying the children alive and dressing them hot from the knife as we do roasting pigs.
Page 37 - Last week I saw a woman flayed, and you will hardly believe, how much it altered her person for the worse.
Page 302 - I'll venture for the vole.) Six Deans, they say, must bear the pall : (I wish I knew what king to call.) Madam, your husband will attend The funeral of so good a friend.
Page 265 - I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, backed, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee or a ragout.
Page 187 - But what success Vanessa met Is to the world a secret yet. Whether the nymph, to please her swain, Talks in a high romantic strain; Or whether he at last descends To act with less seraphic ends ; Or, to compound the business, whether They temper love and books together ; Must never to mankind be told, Nor shall the conscious Muse unfold.
Page 229 - ... poor nations are hungry, and rich nations are proud ; and pride and hunger will ever be at variance. For these reasons, the trade of a soldier is held the most honourable of all others : because a soldier is a Yahoo hired to kill in cold blood as many of his own species, who have never offended him, as possibly he can.
Page 265 - A child will make two dishes at an entertainment for friends, and when the family dines alone, the fore or hind quarter will make a reasonable dish...
Page 238 - At ninety they lose their teeth and hair ; they have at that age no distinction of taste, but eat and drink whatever they can get without relish or appetite. The diseases they were subject to still continue, without increasing or diminishing. In talking, they forget the common appellation of things, and the names of persons, even of those who are their nearest friends and relatives.
Page 239 - They were the most mortifying sight I ever beheld, and the women more horrible than the men. Besides the usual deformities in extreme old age, they acquired an additional ghastliness in proportion to their number of years, which is not to be described, and among half a dozen I soon distinguished which was the eldest, although there were not above a century or two between them.
References to this book
Jonathan Swift: A List of Critical Studies Published from 1895 to 1945 Louis A. Landa,James Edward Tobin No preview available - 1975 |