ever is beautiful, and whatever is dreadful, must be familiar to his imagination: he must (be conversant 22) with all that (is awfully vast or elegantly little 23.) The plants of the garden, the animals of the wood, the minerals of the earth, and the meteors of the sky, must all concur to store his mind with inexhaustible variety: for every idea is useful for the (enforcement or decoration 24) of moral or religious truth; and he who knows most, will have most power 25 of diversifying his scenes 26, and gratifying his reader with remote allusions and unexpected instruction. All the appearances of nature I was, therefore, careful to study 27, and every country which I have surveyed has contributed something to my poetical powers. In so wide a survey, interrupted the prince, you must surely bave left much unobserved. I have lived, till now, within the circuit of these inountains, and yet cannot walk abroad without the sight of something which I had never beheld before, or never heeded 28. XIII. THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED. The business of a poet, said Imlac, is to examine, not the individual, but the species; to remark general properties and (large appearances 29 :) he does not number the streaks of the tulip, or describe the different shades in the verdure of the forest. He is to exhibit, in his portraits of nature, such prominent and striking features, as 30 recal the original to every inind; and must neglect the minuter discriminations 31, which one may have remarked, and another neglected, for those characteristics 32 which are alike obvious 33 to vigilance 34 and carelessness 35. But the knowledge of nature is only half 36 the task of a poet: he must be acquainted likewise with all the modes 37 of life. His character requires that he estimate 38 the happiness and misery of every condition: observe the power of all the passions, in all their combinations, and trace the changes 39 of the human mind, as they are modified by various institutions, and accidental influences of climate or custom: from the sprightliness of infancy to the despondence of decrepitude. He must divest himself 40 of the prejudices of his age or country; he must consider right and wrong 41 in their abstracted and invariable state 42; he must disregard present laws and opinions, and rise 22 Bien connaitre. 23 Etonne par sa grandeur, ou charme par son élégante petitesse. 24 Fortifier, ou embellir. 25 Ressources pour. 26 Tableau. 27 Etudier avec soin toutes les, &c. 28 Remarquer. 29 Considérer les objets en grand. 30 De ces traits saillans et frappans qui, &c. 31 Ces petits détails. 32 Pour s'appliquer à caractériser, &c. &c. 33 Frappe également. 34 Eil observateur. 35 Esprit insouciant. 36 The half of. 37 Tous les différens aspects. 38 Apprécier. 33 Suivre les viciszitudes. 40 Se dépouiller. 41 Ce qui est juste ou injuste. 42 to general and transcendent truths, which will always be the same; be must, therefore, (content himself with the slow progress of his name 43,) contemn the applause of his own time, and commit his claims to the justice of posterity. He must write as the interpreter of nature, and the legislator of mankind, and consider himself as presiding 44 over the thoughts and manners of future generations, as a being superior to time and place. His labour is not yet at an end: he must know many languages, and many sciences; and, that his style inay be worthy of his thoughts, he must, by incessant practice, familiarize himself to every delicacy of speech and grace of harmony. S. JOHNSON. XIV. First follow nature, and your judgment frame, 2 Some, to whom heav'n in wit has been profuse, Tho' meant each other's aid, like man and wife. 4 'Tis more to guide, than spur the muse's steed, 5 Shows most true mettle, when you check its course. 6 POPE. Abstraction faite de ces divers préjugés. 43 Se résigner à voir son nom percer difficilement. 44 Influer. 1 Light, clear, immutable, and universal nature, which never errs, and shines always with a divine splendour, must impart to all she does, life, force, and beauty. 2 She is at once the source, &c. 3 So in a fair body, unseen itself, but always sensible by its effects, the soul continually acting, feeds the whole with spirits, fills it with vigour, guides every motion of it, and sustains every nerve 4 Some to whom heaven has given wit with profusion, want as much yet to know the use they ought to make of it; for wit and judgment, though made, like man and wife, to aid each other, are often in opposition. 5 It is more difficult to guide than spur the courser of the muses, and to restrain its ardour than provoke its impetuosity. 6 The winged courser is like a generous horse: the more we strive to stop it in its rapid course, the more it shows unconquerable vigour. ON THE PRINCIPAL DIFFICULTIES OF THE FRENCH LANGUAGE. Sur les Collectifs Partitifs. In plupart des fruits verts sont d'un goût austere. La plupart des gens ne se conduisent que par interêt. La plupart du monde se trompe. Il méprise par philosophie les honneurs, que la plupart du monde recherche. Il devait me fournir tant d'arbres; mais j'en ai rejeté la moitié qui ne valait rien. Un grand nombre de spectateurs ajoutait à la beauté du spectacle. Tout sorte de livres ne sont pas également bons. Beaucoup de personnes se sont présentées. Bien des personnes se font des principes à leur fantaisie. Sur quelques Verbes qu'on ne peut conjuguer avec Avoir sans faire des barbarismes. Il lui est échu une succession du chef de sa femme. Il est bien déchu de son crédit. Ne sommes-nous pas convenus du prix ? N'est-il pas intervenu dans cette affuire, comme il l'avait promis? li est survenu à l'improviste. La neige, qui est tombée ce matin, a adouci le temps. Que de neige il est tombé ce matin! Ce propos n'est pas tombé à terre. lis sont arrivés à midi et sont repartis de suile. Ces fleurs sont à peine écloses. Ils est né de parens vertueux, qui n'ont rin négligé pour son éducation. Mademoiselle votre sœur est-eile rentrée ? Madame votre mère n'est-elle pas encore venue ? Sur les Mots de Quantité. Il a beaucoup d'esprit, mais encore plus d'amour-propre. Il a assez d'argent pour ses menus plai On the Collective Partitives. The greater part of green fruit is of a harsh taste. Most people are guided only by interest. The greater part of mankind live in er ror. As a true philosopher he despises those honours which mankind in general court. He was to furnish me so many trees, but I refused half of them which were good for nothing. A considerable number of spectators ad ded to the splendour of the scene, Every kind of books are not equally good. Many people presented themselves. Many persons form principles to themselves, according to their fancy. On some Verbs which cannot be conjugated with the verb Avoir, without making barbarous phrases. An estate fell to him in right of his wife. He has lost much of his credit. Have we not agreed about the price? Did he not interfere in that affair as he had promised? He came up unawares. The snow which fell this morning has softened the weather. How much snow has fallen this morning' All his teeth have fallen out. That remark was not allowed to escape. Have you been to see your friend? They arrived at noon and set out again immediately. These flowers are scarcely blown. He was born of virtuous parents, who bestowed on him the best education. Is your sister returned ?. Is not your mother come yet? On Words of Quantity. He has a great deal of sense, but still more vanity. He has sufficient pocket-money. There were a great many people at the Opera. There were I do not know how many people in the Park yesterday. He drinks as much water as wine. Nobody has more interest there than he. Too much leisure time is frequently the destruction of youth 'amuse point. 38 I am much less concerned in it than you. Go out and retire, withdraw Si vous n'avez que faire de ce livre-là, prétez-le-moi. Je lui avais envoyé un diamant, il l'a refusé, je le lui ai renvoyé. apprend facilement et oublie de même. Je lui pardonne facilement d'avoir voulu se faire auteur; mais je ne saurais lui pardonner toutes les puérilités dont il a jarci son livre. Je me plains à vous de vous même. Si vous ne voulez pas être pour lui, au moins ne soyez pus contre. Quand sera-ce que vous viendrez nous voir ? Sur soi, lui, soi-même et lui-même. Quand on a pour soi le témoignage de sa conscience, on est bien fort. l'estime de toute la terre ne soit de rien à un nomme qui n'a pas le témoignage de sa conscience pour lui, Un homme fait mille fautes, parce qu'il ne fuit point de reflexions sur lui. On fait mille fautes, quand on ne fait aucune réflexion sur soi. Il aime mieux dire du mal de lui, que de n'en point parler. L'egoiste aimera mieux dire du mal de soi, que de n'en point parler. On a souvent besoin d'un plus petit que soi. Un prince a souvent besoin de beaucoup de gens plus petits que lui. C'est un bon moyen de s'élever soi-même, que d'exalter ses pareils; et un homme adroit s'élève arusi lui-même. Sur les Pronoms Reiatifs. Il n'y a rien de si capable d'efféminer le courage, que l'oisiveté et les délices. li faut empécher que la division, qui est dans cette famille, n'éclate." Il y a bien des événemens que l'on sunpose se passer pendant les entr'acles. Je le trouvai qui s'habillait. Qui le tirera de cet embarras, le tirera d'une grande misère. On 391, lui, soi-même and Tui-même. The approbation of our conscience im parts great courage. The good opinion of the whole world is of no use to a man who has not the appro tation of his own conscience. A man commits a thousand faults. because he does not reflect on futare consequences. We commit a thousand faults, when we neglect to refect on ourselves. Ile had rather speak ill of himself than not talk of himself at all. The egotist prefers speaking ill of himself rather than not be the subject of bis own conversation. We frequently want the assistance of one who is below ourselves. A prince frequently needs the assistance of many persons inferior to himself. It is an excellent method of exalting our selves to exalt our equals, and a man of address by this means exalts himself. On the Relative Pronouns. Nothing is so calculated 1 enervate the mind as idleness and, pleasure. The dissention in that family must be prevented from becoming public. There are many events in a piece which tre supposed to happen between the acts. I found him dressing. Whoever extricates him from this diffi culty will relieve him from much distress, 1 Ceur là sont véritablement heureux, qui oroient l'être. Il n'y a que la vertu, qui puisse rendre. un homme heureux en cette vie. règle si générale, qui n'ait son Il n'y a exception. C'est un orateur qui se possède et qui ne se trouble jamais. Il n'y a pas dans le cœur humain de repli que eu ne connaisse. On n'a trouvé que quelques fragmens du grand ouvrage qu'il avait promis. La fante, que vous avez faite, est plus importante que vous ne pensez. Les premières demarches qu'on fait dans le mande, ont beaucoup d'influence sur le reste de la vie. Cette farce est une des plus risibles qu'on ait encore vues. Amassez-vous des trésors que les vers et la rouille ne puissent point gater, et que les voleurs ne puissent point dérober. L'incertitude, où nous sommes de ce qui doit arriver, fuit que nous ne saurions prendre des mesures justes. Je m'étonne qu'il ne voie pas le danger où il est. -L'homme dont vous parlez, n'est plus ici. Celui le cui je tiens cette nouvelle ne vous est pas conn'. Celui, à qui ce beau château appartient ne l'habite presque jamais. Ce sont des événemens auxquels il faut bien se soumettre. C'est ce a quoi vous ne pensez guère. Sur les Pronoms Demonstratifs. Ne point reconnaître la divinité, c'est renoncer à toutes les lumières de la raison. Mentir, c'est mépriser Dieu et craindre les hommes. a y des epilémies morales, et ce sont les plus dangereuses. Je crois que ce que vous dites est bien éloigné de ce que vous pensez. Les hommes n'uiment ordinairement que ceux qui les flattent. Celui qui persuade à un autre de faire un crime, n'est ruere moins coupable que celui qui le commet. Penser ainsi, c'est s'aveugler soi-même. Ce qui m'afflige, c'est de voir le triomphe du crime. Connaissez-vous la jeune Emilie ? c'est une enfant dont tout le monde dit du bien. Imitez en tout votre amie: ele est douce, appliquée, honnête et compatissante. Sur le Verbe avoir employé à l'Impersonnel. Remarque. Quand le verbe avoir s'emploie à l'impersonnel, c'est dans le sens d'être, et alors il se joint toujours avec y. Il y a un an que je ne vous ai vu. Yu-t-il des nouvelles ? Non, il n'y en a pas, du moins que je sache. Those are really happy who think themselves 30. Virtue alone can render a man happy in this life. There is no rule so general but it admits of exceptions. He is an orator who is master of him. self, and who is never embarrassed. There is no recess of the human heart but God perceives it. Only some fragments of the great work he had promised have been found. The error you have committed is of more consequence than you imagine. The first steps we take on entering the world have considerable influence on the rest of our lives. That farce is one of the most truly comic that ever was seen. Lay up for yourselves treasures which neither moth nor rust can corrupt, and which thieves cannot steal. Our uncertainty as to what shall happen makes us incapable of properly providing against it. I am astonished he does not see the dan ger he is in. The man whom you are speaking of is not here now. The person from whom I received the in telligence is not known to you. The proprietor of that beautiful seat sel dom resides there. These are events to which we must submit. It is what you seldom think of. On the Demonstrative Pronouns. Not to acknowledge the divinity, is totally to renounce the light of reason. To lie is to despise God and to fear man. There are moral contagious disorders, and these are the most dangerous. What you advance is, I think, widely dif ferent from your sentiments. Men in general love only those who flatter them. He who persuades another to the commission of a crime, is hardly less guilty than he who commits it. To think in this manner is to be wilfully blind. The reports concerning him are hardly conceivable. What distresses me is to see guilt trium phant. Do you know little Emily? she is a child of whom every body speaks well. Imitate your friend in every thing; she is. mild, assiduous, polite and compassionate. On the Verb avoir, to have, employed impersonally. When the verb avoir is used impersonally it signifies être, to be, and in this sense it is always accompanied by the adverb y. It is a twelvemonth since I saw you. Is there any news? No, there is none, at least that I know. |