work_id,theme,provenance,created_at,text,reviewed_on,id,comments,metaphor,dictionary,updated_at,context
4370,"","Searching in HDIS (Prose); found again searching ""blot"" and ""mind;"" found again reading.",2005-03-10 00:00:00 UTC,"If I have here touch'd a young Lady's Vanity and Levity, it was to show her how beautiful she is without those Blots, which certainly stain the Mind, and stamp Deformity where the greatest Beauties would shine, were they banish'd. I believe every body will join with my Opinion, that the English Ladies are the most accomplish'd Women in the World; that, generally speaking, their Behaviour is so exact, that even Envy itself cannot strike at their Conduct: but even you yourselves must own, that there are some few among you of a different stamp, who change their Gold for Dross, and barter the highest Perfections for the lowest Weaknesses. Would but this latter sort endeavour as much to act like Angels, as they do to look like them, the Men instead of Reproaches, would heap them with Praises, and their cold Indifference would be turn'd to Idolatry. But who can forsake a Fault, till they are convinc'd they are guilty? Vanity is a lurking subtile Thief, that works itself insensibly into our Bosoms, and while we declare our dislike to it, know not 'tis so near us; every body being (as a witty Gentleman has somewhere said) provided with a Racket to strike it from themselves.",2011-07-27,11482,"•I've included four times: Blot, Stain, Stamp, and Banish","""If I have here touch'd a young Lady's Vanity and Levity, it was to show her how beautiful she is without those Blots, which certainly stain the Mind, and stamp Deformity where the greatest Beauties would shine, were they banish'd.""",Impression and Writing,2013-05-31 16:16:53 UTC,Dedication
4375,"","Searching in ""heart"" and 'wax"" in HDIS (Prose)",2005-03-11 00:00:00 UTC,"Said the ingenious Sir John Denham, who learn'd his Lesson from Experience, and paid the highest Price for't too. Deliver me from Cupid's random Shots, and make my firm Resolution a Racket to repel 'em. I wou'd have all those soft-hearted Ladies that are impress'd like Wax, read Quevedo's Vision of Loving-Fools; I dare say, some of 'em wou'd find their own Characters very fairly display'd: but then the dismal Effects of not loving, to be call'd Ill-natur'd, and an old Maid, who wou'd not rather chuse to be undone, than lie under such scandalous Epithets? I have dwelt a little longer upon this Subject than I shou'd have done, because I think and fearArtander seem'd in his last Letter to lean a little that way. When once we approve of a thing, we implicitly act it; and if you be brought to think a Man happy in a fine Wife, the next Work will be to get one yourself: which, if you do, poor Berina may say she had a Friend; for Artander is lost past Recovery. I desire, in your next, you will either make a generous Confession, or give me some Assurance my Thoughts are ill grounded. I own, I grow impatient to be satisfy'd; for as I make but few Friends, I wou'd not lose them I have. You seem not pleas'd I writ no more last time, but you forget Women always talk more than they write, as Men always write more than they think: Your Sex seldom complain for want of Impertinence from ours, it being one of your chiefest Plagues: However, I did design to have fill'd up the empty Space of this Paper, but am interrupted by two or three Ladies who are just come in, and my Correspondence must give place to the Tea-Table; tho' nothing shall ever interrupt the Friendship of
BERINA.
(pp. 297-8)",,11488,"","""I wou'd have all those soft-hearted Ladies that are impress'd like Wax, read Quevedo's 'Vision of Loving-Fools.'""",Impressions,2013-06-21 14:29:20 UTC,Letter 15
4875,"","Searching HDIS (Prose); Found again reading ""The Problem of Amelia: Hume, Barrow, and the Conversion of Captain Booth."" ELH. 41.4 (1974) p. 637.",2009-09-14 19:37:43 UTC,"It is true, indeed, he seemed not moved equally, either with Booth or the Serjeant; both whose Eyes watered at the Scene. In Truth, the Colonel, tho' a very generous Man, had not the least Grain of Tenderness in his Disposition. His Mind was formed of those firm Materials, of which Nature formerly hammered out the Stoic, and upon which the Sorrows of no Man living could make an Impression. A Man of this Temper, who doth not much value Danger, will fight for the Person he calls his Friend; and the Man that hath but little Value for his Money will give it him; but such Friendship is never to be absolutely depended on: For whenever the favourite Passion interposes with it, it is sure to subside and vanish into Air. Whereas, the Man, whose tender Disposition really feels the Miseries of another, will endeavour to relieve them for his own Sake; and, in such a Mind, Friendship will often get the Superiority over every other Passion.
(III.viii.5)
",2003-10-23,13054,"•Does this record deserve a new category? Stone? Geology?
•I've created a category called 'Mineral' (10/23/2003)
•Note, Battestin cites this passage in his ""The Problem of Amelia: Hume, Barrow, and the Conversion of Captain Booth."" ELH. 41.4 (1974) p. 637.","""His Mind was formed of those firm Materials, of which Nature formerly hammered out the Stoic, and upon which the Sorrows of no Man living could make an Impression. """,Metal,2013-11-01 21:09:50 UTC,""
4351,"",Reading,2011-07-27 13:29:18 UTC,"This was a dreadful Blow to me; tho' I cannot say I was so surpriz'd as I should otherwise have been; for all the while he was gone, my Mind was oppress'd with the Weight of my own Thoughts; and I was as sure that I should never see him any more, that I think nothing could be like it; the Impression was so strong, that, I think, nothing could make so deep a Wound, that was imaginary; and I was so dejected, and disconsolate, that when I receiv'd the News of his Disaster, there was no room for any extraordinary Alteration in me: I had cry'd all that Day, eat nothing, and only waited, as I might say, to receive the dismal News, which I had brought to me about Five a-Clock in the Afternoon.
(p. 62, pp. 88-9 in Penguin)
",,19003,"","""This was a dreadful Blow to me; tho' I cannot say I was so surpriz'd as I should otherwise have been; for all the while he was gone, my Mind was oppress'd with the Weight of my own Thoughts; and I was as sure that I should never see him any more, that I think nothing could be like it; the Impression was so strong, that, I think, nothing could make so deep a Wound, that was imaginary; and I was so dejected, and disconsolate, that when I receiv'd the News of his Disaster, there was no room for any extraordinary Alteration in me.""",Impressions,2011-07-27 13:29:18 UTC,""
5070,"",Reading,2013-01-22 04:54:15 UTC,"From their children, if they have less to fear, they have less also to hope, and they lose, without equivalent the joys of early love and the convenience of uniting with manners pliant, and minds susceptible of new impressions, which might wear away their dissimilitudes by long cohabitation, as soft bodies, by continual attrition, conform their surfaces to each other.",,19959,"INTEREST. BODY but not BODY, what are these soft bodies. Is there a dirty joke lurking here?","""From their children, if they have less to fear, they have less also to hope, and they lose, without equivalent the joys of early love and the convenience of uniting with manners pliant, and minds susceptible of new impressions, which might wear away their dissimilitudes by long cohabitation, as soft bodies, by continual attrition, conform their surfaces to each other.""",Impressions,2013-01-22 04:54:15 UTC,Chapter XXIX
7440,"",C-H Lion,2013-06-14 19:55:41 UTC,"It is easie to imagine the Princess's surprize upon this occasion: Elizabeth's promises had given her some hopes, but she expected not so speedy a performance of them; she had not heard one word of her arrival, and not being able to conceive by what Enchantment she saw her at her awaking. Pardon me, Madam (said she in Saluting her) if I still am doubtful of what I hear, since I doubt even of what I see, and since my eyes dare hardly assure me that you are the Queen. I did indeed imagine (replied the Queen) that you would not easily believe me at the first; but the news I tell you, will for that reason be more agreeable unto you, and it shall be your fault only, if you find them not more true, than unexpected. All these assurances made but weak impressions on the Princess's Spirit, she felt something at the bottom of her heart, which would not suffer her to receive the joy which such news ought to give her, and this beam of hope appeared to her like a Sun shine just before a Storm, which it seemed willing to disperse.
(pp. 120-1)",,20710,"","""All these assurances made but weak impressions on the Princess's Spirit, she felt something at the bottom of her heart, which would not suffer her to receive the joy which such news ought to give her, and this beam of hope appeared to her like a Sun shine just before a Storm, which it seemed willing to disperse.""",Impressions,2013-06-14 19:55:41 UTC,""
7447,"",Searching in Project Gutenberg,2013-06-17 15:56:53 UTC,"§ 6. On the other hand, those who affirm that Hai Ebn Yokdhan was produced in that Island without Father and Mother [18], tell us, that in that island, in a piece of Low ground, it chanc'd that a certain Mass of Earth was so fermented in some period of Years, that the four qualities, viz. Hot, Cold, Dry, Moist, were so equally mix'd, that none of 'em prevail'd over the other; and that this Mass was of a very great Bulk, in which, some parts were better and more equally Temper'd than others,and consequently fitter for Generation; the middle part especially, which came nearest to the Temper of Man's Body. This Matter being in a fermentation, there arose some Bubbles by reason of its viscousness, and it chanc'd that in the midst of it there was a viscous Substance with a very little bubble in it, which was divided into two with a thin partition, full of Spirituous and Aerial Substance, and of the most exact Temperature imaginable. That the Matter being thus dispos'd, there was, by the Command of God, a Spirit infus'd into it; which was join'd so closely to it, that it can scarce be separated from it even so much as in thought; which did as constantly influence this Mass of matter as the Sun do's the World. Now there are some Bodies from whence we perceive no Reflection of Light, as the thin Air: others from which we do but imperfectly; such are thick Bodies which are not smooth (but there is a difference in these, and the difference of their Colours arises from the different manner of their Reception of the Rays); and from others we receive the Reflection in the highest degree, as from Bodies which are smooth and polish'd, as Looking-Glasses and the like; so that those Glasses when ground after a particular manner will Collect so much Light as to kindle a Fire. So that Spirit which comes by the Command of God, do's at all times act upon all Creatures, in some of which notwithstanding, there appears no Impression of it, but the reason of that is, because of their Incapacity into whom it is infus'd; of which kind are things inanimate which are fitly represented in this similitude, by the thin Air. There are another sort again; in which there does appear something of it, as Vegetables and the like, which are represented by the thick Bodies we mention'd, which are not polish'd. And then lastly, there are others, (represented by those Glasses, in our last comparison) in which the impressions of this Spirit are visible, and such we reckon all sorts of Animals. But then, as these smooth and polish'd Bodies which are of the same figure with the Sun [i.e. Spherical] do receive the Rays in a more plentiful manner than any other whatsoever, so also do some Animals receive the Influence of that Spirit more than others, because they are more like to that Spirit and are form'd after his Image: such is Man particularly, which is hinted before where 'tis said that God made Man after his own Image[19].",,20834,"","""So that Spirit which comes by the Command of God, do's at all times act upon all Creatures, in some of which notwithstanding, there appears no Impression of it, but the reason of that is, because of their Incapacity into whom it is infus'd; of which kind are things inanimate which are fitly represented in this similitude, by the thin Air.""",Impressions,2013-06-17 15:56:53 UTC,""
7475,"",C-H Lion,2013-06-18 16:24:15 UTC,"Your Florentine Cupid is certainly (said he) the most Expert in the World. I have since I saw you beheld the most Beautiful of Women. I am faln desperately in Love with her, and those Papers which you see so blotted and scattered, are but so many Essays which I have made to the Declaration of my Passion. And this Handkerchief which I so zealously Caress, is the Inestimable Token which I have to make my self known to her. O Leonora! (continued he) how hast thou stamp'd thine Image on my Soul! How much dearer am I to my self, since I have had thy Heavenly Form in keeping!
(p. 52)",,20938,"","""O Leonora! (continued he) how hast thou stamp'd thine Image on my Soul! How much dearer am I to my self, since I have had thy Heavenly Form in keeping!""",Impressions,2013-06-18 16:24:15 UTC,""
4375,"",Searching in C-H Lion,2013-06-21 14:48:59 UTC,"All Men have Follies, which they blindly trace
Thro' the dark Turnings of a dubious Maze:
But few, my Friend, in spite of all their Care,
Retreat betimes from Love's inviting Snare:
The eldest Sons of Wisdom were not free
From the same Failings you condemn in me;
They lov'd, and by that glorious Passion led,
Forgot what Plato and themselves had said:
My Faults, you too severely reprehend,
More like a rigid Censor than a Friend.
You own'd my Delia once divinely fair,
When in the Bud her native Beauties were:
Your Praises did her early Charms confess,
Yet you'd persuade me now to love her less;
Since to her Height of Bloom the Fair is grown,
And every Charm in its full Vigour shown:
Her whole Composure's of so fine a Frame,
Pride cannot hope to mend, nor Envy blame.
My Delia's Words still bear the Stamp of Wit,
Impress'd too plainly to be counterfeit:
Which, with the Weight of massy Reason join'd,
Declare the Strength and Quickness of her Mind;
Her Thoughts are noble, and her Sense refin'd.
Why then, Dear Thirsis, wou'd you strive to move
A Heart like mine from its Commander, Love?
The very last Word of this Poem, will, I dare say, give you a Disrelish for all the rest: I will not byass your Opinion by giving mine, but leave it wholly to a Judgment which cannot err: Let me know in your next how you like it. And pray let me have a little London News: I mean, such as the Tea-Table affords; for the rest, I refer myself to the publick Prints, and expect nothing from Berina, but what she can answer to Justice and Good-nature; and what I may, without a Breach in either, read.
(pp. 284-5)",,21089,"","""My Delia's Words still bear the Stamp of Wit, / Impress'd too plainly to be counterfeit: / Which, with the Weight of massy Reason join'd, / Declare the Strength and Quickness of her Mind; / Her Thoughts are noble, and her Sense refin'd.""",Impressions,2013-06-21 14:48:59 UTC,""
6808,"",Searching at OLL,2013-08-09 16:17:09 UTC,"A Thirst after glory is not different from instinct, which every creature hath for its own preservation. We seem to extend our existence, when we can make it to be remembered by others; this is a new life which we acquire, and which becomes as precious to us as that which we received from heaven.
But as all men are not equally fond of life, neither are they equally sensible to glory. This noble passion is indeed always engraved upon their hearts; but imagination and education mould it a thousand ways.
This difference, which is founded between man and man, is more perceivable between nation and nation.
[Le désir de la gloire n'est point différent de cet instinct que toutes les créatures ont pour leur conservation. Il semble que nous augmentons notre être, lorsque nous pouvons le porter dans la mémoire des autres: c'est une nouvelle vie que nous acquérons, et qui nous devient aussi précieuse que celle que nous avons reçue du ciel.
Mais comme tous les hommes ne sont pas également attachés à la vie, ils ne sont pas aussi également sensibles à la gloire. Cette noble passion est bien toujours gravée dans leur cœur; mais l'imagination et l'éducation la modifient de mille manières.
Cette différence, qui se trouve d'homme à homme, se fait encore plus sentir de peuple à peuple.]
(Letter LXXXIX, Usbek to Ibben, at Smyrna.)",,22125,"","""This noble passion is indeed always engraved upon their hearts; but imagination and education mould it a thousand ways.""",Impressions and Writing,2013-08-09 16:17:09 UTC,"Letter LXXXIX, Usbek to Ibben, at Smyrna."