Page images
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

"This field is so spacious, that it were easy for a man to lose himself in it: and if
I should spend all my pilgrimage in this walk, my time would sooner end than my

way."

BISHOP HALL.

1

"This worthy work in which of good examples are so many,

This orchard of Alcinous, in which there wants not any

Herb, tree, or fruit that may man's use for health or pleasure serve,
This plenteous horn of Acheloy, which justly doth deserve
To bear the name of TREASURY OF KNOWLEDGE, I present

To your good worships, once again; desiring you therefore
To let your noble courtesy and favour countervail
My faults, where art or eloquence on my behalf doth fail.
For sure the mark whereat I shoot is neither wreaths of bay,
Nor name of author, no, nor meed; but chiefly that it may
Be liked well of you, and all the wise and learned sort."

GOLDING.

TREASURY OF THOUGHT.

"I pluck up the goodlisome herbs of sentences by pruning, eat them by reading, digest them by musing, and lay them up at length in the high seat of memory-by gathering them together; that so having tasted their sweetness, I may the less perceive the bitterness of life."

QUEEN ELIZABETH.

ABBEY-Cloisters of an.
But let my due feet never fail
To walk the studious cloister's pale,
And love the high embowèd roof,
With antic pillars massy proof;
And storied windows richly dight,
Casting a dim religious light:
There let the pealing organ blow
To the full-voiced choir below
In service high and anthems clear,

As may with sweetness, through mine ear,
Dissolve me into ecstacies,

And bring all heaven before mine eyes.

Milton.

ABBEY-Grandeur of an.
How reverend is the face of this tall pile,
Whose ancient pillars rear their marble heads,
To bear aloft its arch'd and pond'rous roof,
By its own weight made steadfast and im-
moveable,

Looking tranquillity! It strikes an awe
And terror on my aching sight; the tombs
And monumental caves of death look cold,
And shoot a chillness to my trembling heart.

Congreve.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

ABILITIES-cannot be Universal.

The abilities of man must fall short on one side or other, like too scanty a blanket when you are a-bed; if you pull it upon your shoulders, you leave your feet bare; if you thrust it down upon your feet, your shoulders are uncovered. Sir W. Temple.

ABILITY-Proofs of.

An able man shows his spirit by gentle words and resolute actions: he is neither hot nor timid. Chesterfield.

ABILITY-Success of.

The force of his own merit makes his way,
A gift that Heaven gives for him. Shakspeare.
ABSENCE-Happiness after.

The joys of meeting pay the pangs of absence;
Else who could bear it?

Rowe.

[blocks in formation]

Ye flowers that droop, forsaken by the spring; Ye birds that, left by summer, cease to sing; Ye trees that fade, when autumn heats remove, Say, is not absence death to those who love! Pope.

ABSENCE-Pangs of.

In my Lucia's absence Life hangs upon me, and becomes a burden; I am ten times undone, while hope and fear, And grief, and rage, and love rise up at once, And with variety of pain distract me. Addison.

ABSENCE-Return after.

Winds murmur'd through the leaves your short delay,

And fountains o'er their pebbles chid your stay: But, with your presence cheer'd, they cease to

mourn,

And walks wear fresher green at your return.

ABSENCE-Tedium of.

[ocr errors]

ACCUMULATION.

of a virtue. By forbearing to do what may innocently be done, we may add hourly new vigour to resolution, and secure the power of resistance when pleasure or interest shall lend their charms to guilt. Johnson.

ABSTRACTS-Uses of.

Abstracts, abridgments, summaries, &c., have the same use with burning-glasses-to collect the diffused rays of wit and learning in authors, and make them point with warmth and quickness upon the reader's imagination. Swift. ABUSE-Equivocal.

He knew not what to say, and so he swore. Byron.

ABUSE-Retribution of.

There are more abusive to others than they that lie most open to themselves; but the humour goes round, and he that laughs at me to-day will have somebody to laugh at him toSeneca.

morrow.

[blocks in formation]

Dryden. And how his audit stands, who knows, save Heaven? Shakspeare.

[blocks in formation]

ACCOUNT (Final)-Suddenly called to. No reckoning made, but sent to my account With all my imperfections on my head. Ibid.

ACCUMULATION-Vice of.

There is not a vice which more effectually contracts and deadens the feelings, which more completely makes a man's affections centre in himself, and excludes all others from partaking in them, than the desire of accumulating possessions When the desire has once gotten hold of the heart, it shuts out all other considerations but such as may promote its views. In its zeal for the attainment of its end, it is not delicate in the choice of means. As it closes the heart, so also it clouds the understanding. It cannot discern between right and wrong it takes evil for good, and good for evil: it calls darkness light, and light darkness. Beware, then, of the beginnings of covetousness, for you know not where it will end. Bishop Munt.

ACCUSATION-Affording Proof of.

Give me good proofs of what you have alleged :
"Tis not enough to say-in such a bush
There lies a thief-in such a cave a beast;
But you must show him to me ere I shoot,
Else I may kill one of my straggling sheep:
I'm fond of no man's person but his virtue.
Shakspeare.

ACHIEVEMENT.
Achievement is command; ungain'd, beseech!
Ibid.

ACQUAINTANCE-Annoyances of.

If we engage into a large acquaintance and various familiarities, we set open our gates to the invaders of most of our time; we expose our life to a quotidian ague of frigid impertinences, which would make a wise man tremble to think of. Now, as for being known much by sight, and pointed at, I cannot comprehend the honour that lies in that. Whatsoever it be, every mountebank has it more than the best doctor. Cowley. ACQUAINTANCE-Caution in forming. It is good discretion not to make too much of any man at the first; because one cannot bold out that proportion. Bacon.

ACQUAINTANCE-Difference of.

Twixt us thus the difference trims-
Using head instead of limbs,

You have read what I have seen:

Using limbs instead of head,

I have seen what you have read-
Which way does the balance lean?

ACQUIREMENT-Retention of.

Butler.

That which we acquire with most difficulty, we retain the longest; as those who have earsed a fortune are usually more careful of it than those who have inherited one. Colton. ACTION-Causes of.

Actions rare and sudden do commonly
Proceed from fierce necessity; or else
From some oblique design which is ashamed
To show itself in the public road. Davenant.

ACTION-Consequences of.

There is no action of man in this life which is not the beginning of so long a chain of consequences, as that no human providence is high, enough to give us a prospect to the end.

Thomas of Malmesbury.

ACTION-Decision in.

[blocks in formation]

The most trifling actions that affect a man's credit are to be regarded. The sound of your hammer at five in the morning, or nine at night, heard by a creditor, makes him easy six months longer; but if he sees you at a billiard-table, or hears your voice at a tavern, when you should be at work, he sends for his money the next day; demands it before he can receive it in a lump. Franklin. ACTION-Intent of.

Of every noble action, the intent
Is to give worth reward-rice punishment.
Beaumont and Fletcher.

ACTION-Lawfulness of.

Wouldst thou know the lawfulness of the action which thou desirest to undertake, let thy devotion recommend it to Divine blessing: if it be lawful thou shalt perceive thy heart encouraged by thy prayer; if unlawful, thou shalt find thy prayer discouraged by thy heart. That action is not warrantable which either blushes to beg a blessing, or, having succeeded, dares not present a thanksgiving. Quarles.

ACTION-Man designed for.

The end of man is an action, and not a thought, though it were the noblest. Carlyle.

ACTION-Motives to.

I will suppose that you have no friends to share or rejoice in your success in life,—that you cannot look back to those to whom you owe gratitude, or forward to those to whom you ought to afford protection; but it is no less incumbent on you to move steadily in the path of duty for your active exertions are due not only to society, but in humble gratitude to the Being who made you a member of it, with powers to serve yourself and others. Sir Walter Scott.

ACTION-Necessity for.

Id'ers cannot even find time to be idle, or the industrious to be at leisure. We must Zimmerman.

be always doing or suffering.

ACTION-the perfection of Man's Nature.

Action is the highest perfection and drawing forth of the utmost power, vigour. and activity of man's nature. God is pleased to vouchsafe the best that He can give, only to the best Colton. that we can do. 1 The properest and most

Deliberate with caution, but act with decision; and yield with graciousness, or oppose with firmness.

« ՆախորդըՇարունակել »