The Life of Richard Porson, M. A.: Professor of Greek in the University of Cambridge from 1792 to 1808

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Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts, 1861 - Classicists - 431 pages

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Page 169 - ... of one opinion, and making that opinion a truism which is accepted by all enlightened men, even though they have not themselves examined the evidence on which it rests. Thus, if any one in a company of ordinarily educated persons were to deny the motion of the earth, or the circulation of the blood, his statement would be received with derision, though it is probable that some of his audience would be unable to demonstrate the first truth, and that very few of them could give sufficient reasons...
Page 130 - To each his sufferings : all are men, Condemn'd alike to groan ; The tender for another's pain, The unfeeling for his own. Yet, ah ! why should they know their fate, Since sorrow never comes too late, And happiness too swiftly flies? Thought would destroy their paradise. No more ; — where ignorance is bliss, 'Tis folly to be wise.
Page 351 - ... expression : sometimes it lurketh under an odd' similitude : sometimes it is lodged in a sly question, in a smart answer, in a quirkish reason, in a shrewd intimation, in cunningly diverting, or cleverly...
Page 300 - I hoped you had got rid of all this hypocrisy of misery. What have you to do with liberty and necessity? or what more than to hold your tongue about it?
Page 260 - The Germans in Greek Are sadly to seek ; Not five in five score, But ninety-five more ; All, save only Hermann, And Hermann's a German.
Page 27 - Hear how learn'd Greece her useful rules indites When to repress and when indulge our flights : High on Parnassus' top her sons she show'd, And pointed out those arduous paths they trod; Held from afar, aloft, th' immortal prize, And urged the rest by equal steps to rise.
Page 50 - Read Homer once, and you can read no more ; For all books else appear so mean, so poor, Verse will seem prose : but still persist to read. And Homer will be all the books you need.
Page 351 - ... from a lucky hitting upon what is strange ; sometimes from a crafty wresting obvious matter to the purpose. Often it consisteth in one knows not what, and springeth up one can hardly tell how. Its ways are unaccountable, and inexplicable ; being answerable to the numberless rovings of fancy, and windings of language.
Page 346 - Let greatness of her glassy sceptres vaunt, " Not sceptres, no, but reeds, soon bruis'd, soon broken; " And let this worldly pomp our wits enchant, " All fades, and scarcely leaves behind a token. " Those golden palaces, those gorgeous halls, " With furniture superfluously fair, " Those stately courts, those sky-encount'ring walls, " Evanish all, like vapours in the air.
Page 348 - If you can look into the seeds of time, And say, which grain will grow, and which will not, Speak then to me, who neither beg, nor fear, Your favours, nor your hate.

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