The British Essayists: Knox's essaysJames Ferguson J. Richardson and Company, 1823 - English essays |
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Page 94 - Latin classic, which he does with no interruption, just as he pleases, and as well as he can. The statutes next require, that he should translate familiar English phrases into Latin. And now is the time when the masters show their wit and jocularity. Droll questions are put on any subject, and the puzzled candidate furnishes diversion by his awkward embarrassment. I have known the questions on this occasion to consist of an inquiry into the pedigree of a racehorse.
Page 234 - He is returned to us a philosopher all at once," and " Whence this supercilious look? " Now, for your part, do not have a supercilious look indeed ; but keep steadily to those things which appear best to you as one appointed by God to this station. For remember that, if you adhere to the same point, those very persons who at first ridiculed will afterwards admire you. But if you are conquered by them, you will incur a double ridicule.
Page 234 - If a person had delivered up your body to any one whom he had met in the way, you would certainly be angry. And do you feel no shame in delivering up your own mind to be disconcerted and confounded by any one who happens to give you ill language ? " Duties are universally measured by relations.
Page 282 - This was all the preferment he had, nor had he this till he was advanced in life. He did not, however, repine. Thus he speaks of himself: " Not to his erudition, but to his constant love and pursuit of it, he owes a situation and a station better than he expected, and as good as he ought to desire.
Page 93 - Sophs 1 ; but not before they have been formally created by one of the regent-masters, before whom they kneel, while he lays a volume of Aristotle's works on their heads, and puts on a hood, a piece of black crape, hanging from their necks, and down to their heels ; which crape, it is...
Page 237 - Measure, there is no Bound. XL. Women from fourteen Years old are flattered with the Title of Mistresses, by the Men. Therefore, perceiving that they are regarded only as qualified to give the Men Pleasure, they begin to adorn themselves ; and in that to place all their Hopes. It is worth while, therefore, to fix our Attention op making them sensible, that they are esteemed for nothing else, but the Appearance of a decent, and modest, and discreet Behaviour -f-.
Page 91 - Whether right or wrong, beautiful or deformed, in the essential nature of things, is of little moment. The pattern is set by a superior, and authority will at any time countenance absurdity. A hat, a coat, a shoe deemed fit to be worn only by a great grandsire, is no sooner put on by...
Page 96 - These he keeps in his pocket, in order to take them out and read away, if a proctor should come in ; but, otherwise, he sits by himself, and solaces himself with a book, not from the Bodleian but the circulating library. The examination is performed exactly in the same manner as before described ; and, though, represented as very formidable, is such a one as a boy from a good school just entered, might go through as well as after a seven years residence.
Page 93 - ... decorated with the names of former disputants, who, to divert the tedious hours, cut out their names with their penknives, or wrote verses with a pencil. Here they sit in mean desks, opposite to each other, from one o'clock till three. Not once in a hundred times, does any officer enter; and, if he does, he hears one syllogism or two, and then makes a bow, and departs, as he came and remained, in solemn silence.
Page 94 - The manner of proceeding is as follows : The poor young man to be examined in the sciences often knows no more of them than his bed-maker, and the masters who examine are sometimes equally unacquainted with such mysteries. But schemes, as they are called, or little books containing forty or fifty questions on each science, are handed down from age to age, from one to another. The candidate to be examined employs three or four days in learning these by heart, and the examiners, having done the same...