The English Reader: Or, Pieces in Prose and Poetry, Selected from the Best ... - Lindley Murray - Google Books

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Cicero against Verres,

against Jugurtha,

2. Speech of Adherbal to the Roman Senate, imploring their protection

3. The Apostle Paul's noble defence before Festus and Agrippa,

4. Lord Mansfield's speech in the House of Lords, 1770, on the bill for pre-

venting the delays of justice, by claiming the privilege of Parliament, 126

2. Letter from Pliny to Geminius,

137

3. Letter from Pliny to Marcellinus, on the death of an amiable young

6. On the evils which flow from unrestrained passions,

7. On the proper state of our temper, with respect to one another,

8. Excellence of the Holy Scriptures,

9. Reflections occasioned by a review of the blessings, pronounced by

13. The influence of devotion on the happiness of life,

14. The planetary and terrestrial worlds comparatively considered,

15. On the power of custom, and the uses to which it may be applied,

16. The pleasures resulting from a proper use of our faculties,

17. Description of candour,

18. On the imperfection of that happiness which rests solely, &c.

19. What are the real and solid enjoyments of human life,

2.2. Virtue, when deeply rooted, is not subject to the influence of fortune, 171

24. The speech of Fabricius, a Roman ambassador, to king Pyrrhus, who

attempted to bribe him, to his interests, by the offer of a great sum

25. Character of James I, king of England,

26. Charles V, emperor of Germany, resigns his dominions, and retires

PART H.

PIECES IN POETRY..

SELECT SENTENCES AND PARAGRAPHS.

Sect. 1. Short and easy sentences,

2. Verses in which the lines are of difierent length,

3. Verses containing exclamations, interrogations, and parenthesis,

Eect. 1. The bears and the bees,

2. The nightingale and the glow worm,

3. The trials of virtue,

4. The youth and the philosopher,

5. Discourse between Adam and Eve, retiring to rest,

191

191

192

194

PIECES IN PROSE.

SELECT SENTENCES AND PARAGRAPHS.

NARRATIVE PIECES.

Sect. 1. No rank or possession can make the guilty mind happy,

2. Change of external condition often adverse to virtue,

3. Haman; or the misery of pride,

4. Lady Jane Gray,

5. Ortogrul; or the vanity of riches,

6. The hill of science,

7. The journey of a day; a picture of human life,

3. On forgiveness,

4. Motives to the practice of gentleness,

5. A suspicious temper the source of misery to its possessor,

Diffidence of our abilities a mark of wisdom,

8. On the importance of order in the distribution of our time,

9. The dignity of virtue amidst corrupt examples,

11. On contentment,

13. Patience under provocations our interest as well as duty,

14. Moderation in our wishes recommended,

15. Omniscience and omnipresence of the Deity, the source of consolation

10. The mortifications of vice greater than those of virtue,

12. Rank and riches afford no ground for envy,

ARGUMENTATIVE PIECES.

Sect. 1. Happiness is founded in rectitude of conduct,

2. Virtue and piety man's highest interest,

3. The injustice of an uncharitable spirit,

4. The misfortunes of men mostly chargeable on themselves,

DESCRIPTIVE PIECES..

2. The cataract of Niagara, in Canada, North America,

3. The grotto of Antiparos,

4. The grotto of Antiparos, continued,

5. The earthquake at Catanea,

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2. An eminent instance of true fortitude of mind,

3. The good man's comfort in affliction,

4. The close of life,

5. Exalted society, and the renewal of virtuous connexions, two sources)4

of future felicity,

6. The clemency and amiable character of the patriarch Joseph,

; how

neettu

ine should be c

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Seet. 1. Cicero against Verres,

2. Speech of Adherbal to the Roman Senate, imploring their protection

against Jugurtha,

3. The Apostle Paul's noble defence before Festus and Agrippa,

4. Lord Mansfield's speech in the House of Lords, 1770, on the bill for pre-

venting the delays of justice, by claiming the privilege of Parliament, 126

5. An address to young persons,

PROMISCUOUS PIECES.

Sect. 1. Earthquake at Calabria, in the year, 1638,

2. Letter from Pliny to Geminius,

3. Letter from Pliny to Marcellinus, on the death of an amiable young

6. On the evils which flow from unrestrained passions,

7. On the proper state of our temper, with respect to one another,

8. Excellence of the Holy Scriptures,

9. Reflections occasioned by a review of the blessings, pronounced by

13. The influence of devotion on the happiness of life,

14. The planetary and terrestrial worlds comparatively considered,

15. On the power of custom, and the uses to which it may be applied,

16. The pleasures resulting from a proper use of our faculties,

18. On the imperfection of that happiness which rests solely, &c.

19. What are the real and solid enjoyments of human life,

2.1. Virtue, when deeply rooted, is not subject to the influence of fortune, 171

24. The speech of Fabricius, a 'Roman ambassador, to king Pyrrhus, who

attempted to bribe him, to his interests, by the offer of a great sum

25. Character of James I, king of England,

26. Charles V, emperor of Germany, resigns his dominions, and retires

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2. Verses in which the lines are of different length,

3. Verses containing exclamations, interrogations, and parenthesis,

Lect. 1. The bears and the bees,

2. The nightingale and the glow worm,

3. The trials of virtue,

4. The youth and the philosopher,

5. Discourse between Adam and Eve, retiring to rest,

4. Cruelty to brutes censured,

5. A paraphrase on the latter part of the sixth chapter of St. Matthew, 203

6. The death of a good man a strong incentive to virtue,

7. Reflections on a future state, from a review of winter,

8. Adam's advice to Eve, to avoid temptation,

9. On procrastination,

10. That philosophy, which stops at secondary causes, reproved,

11. Indignant sentiments on national prejudices and hatred; and on

DESCRIPTIVE PIECES.

Sect. 1. The morning in summer,

2. Rural sounds, as well as rural sights, delightful,

4. Care of birds for their young,

5. Liberty and slavery contrasted,

6. Charity. A paraphrase on the 13th chapter of the first epistle to

9. The pleasure and benefit of an improved and well directed imagina-

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5. Verses supposed to be written by Alex. Selkirk, during his solitary

abode in the island of Juan Fernandez,

7. A man perishing in the snow; from whence reflections are raised on

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9. Providence vindicated in the present state of man,

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23. On solitude,

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DILIGENCE, industry, and proper improvement of time, are material duties of the young.

The acquisition of knowledge is one of the most honourable occupations of youth.

Whatever useful or engaging endowments we possess, virtue is requisite, in order to their shining with proper lustre....

Virtuous youth gradually brings forward accomplished and flourishing manhood.

Sincerity and truth form the basis of every virtue. Disappointments and distress are often blessings in disguise. Change and alteration form the very essence of the world. True happiness is of a retired nature, and an enemy to pomp and noise.

In order to acquire a capacity for happiness, it must be our first study to rectify inward disorders.

Whatever purifies, fortifies also the heart.

From our eagerness to grasp, we strangle and destroy pleasure.

A temperate spirit, and moderate expectations, are excellent safeguards of the mind, in this uncertain and changing

state.

There is nothing, except simplicity of intention, and purity

NOTE

In the first chapter, the compiler has exhibited sentences in a great variety of construction, and in all the diversity of punctuation. If well practised upon, he presumes they will fully prepare the young reader for the various pauses, inflections, and moduJations of voice, which the succeeding pieces require. The Author's "English Exer vises," under the head of Punctuation, will afford the learner additional scope for improving himself in reading sentences and paragraphs variously constructed.

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