Quick Excerpts, from a Library of 492 Titles

Generated 2022-07-28 13:25:41

Excerpt #1, from The Merchant of Venice, by William Shakespeare

…Myself, and what is mine, to you and yours Is now converted. But now I was the lord Of this fair mansion, master of my servants, Queen o’er myself; and even now, but now, This house, these servants, and this same myself Are yours,—my lord’s. I give them with this ring, Which when you part from, lose, or give away, Let it presage the ruin of your love, And be my vantage to exclaim on you. BASSANIO. Madam, you have bereft me of all words, Only my blood speaks to you in my veins, And there is such confusion in my powers As after some oration fairly spoke By a beloved prince, there doth appear Among the buzzing pleased multitude, Where every something being blent together, Turns to a wild of nothing, save of joy Express’d and not express’d. But when this ring Parts from this finger, then parts life from hence. O then be bold to say Bassanio’s dead!…

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Excerpt #2, from The Art of Conversation: Twelve Golden Rules, by Josephine Turck Baker

…instances, to quote Carlyle again, “Speech is silvern, silence is golden; speech is human, silence is divine.” He.–Undoubtedly, in many instances, it would be better to preserve a discreet silence than to say that which is disagreeable or untruthful. Of course the tactful person can frequently so turn the conversation as to be obliged to adopt neither alternative. She.–One should always be truthful, and one should never say that which would be displeasing to the listener,–of course, we must except those semi-disagreeable things which we sometimes feel privileged to say to our relatives or our best friends, on the ground that we are champions on the side of truth. He.–I have always maintained that it is only a true friend who will tell the unpleasant home truths. She.–Yes; we can all remember occasions when our expressed resentment at some well-meant criticism offered by a member of the family, for example, was met by the rejoinder that it was the truth. He.–The “truth” is not always pleasing to the ear, and I agree with you that, except in the case of the privileged few, only the pleasing things should be told. She.–That is all–provided, of course, that they are at the same time truthful….

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Excerpt #3, from The Submarine Hunters: A Story of the Naval Patrol Work in the Great War

…Scotland Yard, but Hawke, mindful of a former failure, induced him not to do so. The detective, who had occasion to contrast unfavourably the summary powers of arrest under the Defence of the Realm Act with those allowed by the Civil Power, was eventually allowed to communicate with his brother officer at Parkeston Quay. And then the military authorities required a considerable amount of convincing. It looked as if Detective-inspector Hawke would have to remain under arrest until next morning. While Ferret was losing time and patience in his efforts to release his confrère, Ross and Vernon noticed a man hurrying along the quay. He was short and thick-set. He wore a long mackintosh, the collar of which was turned up and helped, with the peak of his cap, to hide his features. Suddenly the man’s foot tripped over a ring-bolt. He cursed under his breath, but sufficiently loudly for the lads to overhear. Ross gripped his companion’s arm. The fellow was swearing in German. “Von Ruhle!” he whispered. He made a movement as if to issue from his place of concealment, but Haye restrained him. “Hold on!” he cautioned in a low voice. The man paused on the gangway. A partly shaded electric light threw a glare upon his face. He wore a heavy beard and moustache….

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Excerpt #4, from From the Caves and Jungles of Hindostan, by H. P. Blavatsky

…naked travelling monks, but a true Akali; one of the six hundred warrior-priests attached to the Golden Temple, for the purpose of serving God and protecting the temple from the destructive Mussulmans. His name was Ram-Runjit-Das; and his personal appearance was in perfect accordance with his title of “God’s warrior.” His exterior was very remarkable and typical; and he looked like a muscular centurion of ancient Roman legions, rather than a peaceable servant of the altar. Ram-Runjit-Das appeared to us mounted on a magnificent horse, and accompanied by another Sikh, who respectfully walked some distance behind him, and was evidently passing through his noviciate. Our Hindu companions had discerned that he was an Akali, when he was still in the distance. He wore a bright blue tunic without sleeves, exactly like that we see on the statues of Roman warriors. Broad steel bracelets protected his strong arms, and a shield protruded from behind his back. A blue, conical turban covered his head, and round his waist were many steel circlets. The enemies of the Sikhs assert that these sacred sectarian belts become more dangerous in the hand of an experienced “God’s warrior,” than any other weapon. The Sikhs are the bravest and the most warlike sect of the whole Punjab. The word sikh means disciple. Founded in the fifteenth century by the wealthy and noble Brahman Nanak, the new teaching spread so successfully…

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Excerpt #5, from Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight, by Richard Morris

…Double felde, as hit falle3, & fele kyn fische3; [F] Summe baken in bred, summe brad on þe glede3, 892 [G] Summe soþen, summe in sewe, sauered with spyces, & ay sawes[3] so sle3e3, þat þe segge lyked. Þe freke calde hit a fest ful frely & ofte, [H] Ful hendely, quen alle þe haþeles re-hayted hym at one3 896 as hende; “Þis penaunce now 3e take, & eft hit schal amende;” [I] Þat mon much merþe con make. 900 For wyn in his hed þat wende. [Sidenote A: A chair is placed for Sir Gawayne before the fireplace.] [Sidenote B: A mantle of fine linen, richly embroidered, is thrown over him.] [Sidenote C: A table is soon raised,] [Sidenote D: and the knight, having washed, proceeded to meat.] [Sidenote E: He is served with numerous dishes;] [Sidenote F: with fish baked and broiled,] [Sidenote G: or boiled and seasoned with spices.] [Sidenote H: He calls it a full noble feast,] [Sidenote I: and much mirth he makes, for the wine is in his head.]…

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Excerpt #6, from Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, by Benjamin Franklin

…not likely to succeed, I am obliged to send word to the general in fourteen days; and I suppose Sir John St. Clair, the hussar, with a body of soldiers, will immediately enter the province for the purpose, which I shall be sorry to hear, because I am very sincerely and truly your friend and well-wisher, “B. Franklin.” I received of the general about eight hundred pounds, to be disbursed in advance-money to the waggon owners, etc.; but that sum being insufficient, I advanc’d upward of two hundred pounds more, and in two weeks the one hundred and fifty waggons, with two hundred and fifty-nine carrying horses, were on their march for the camp. The advertisement promised payment according to the valuation, in case any waggon or horse should be lost. The owners, however, alleging they did not know General Braddock, or what dependence might be had on his promise, insisted on my bond for the performance, which I accordingly gave them. While I was at the camp, supping one evening with the officers of Colonel Dunbar’s regiment, he represented to me his concern for the subalterns, who, he said, were generally not in affluence, and could ill afford, in this dear country, to lay in the stores that might be necessary in so long a march, thro’ a wilderness, where nothing was to…

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Excerpt #7, from Symbolic Logic, by Lewis Carroll

…Representing these on a Triliteral Diagram, we get ·—————· |(O) | (O)| | ·—|—· | | |(O)|(I)| | |—|—|—|—| | |(O)| | | | ·—|—· | |(I) | | ·—————· And this information, transferred to a Biliteral Diagram, is ·——-· |(O)|(I)| |—|—| |(I)| | ·——-· Here we get two Conclusions, viz. “All x are y’; All y are x’.” pg063 And these, translated into concrete form, are…

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Excerpt #8, from Japan: From the Japanese Government History, by Kan’ichi Asakawa

…day. The advocates of recourse to arms resigned, and a new cabinet was organized, under Iwakura and Ōkubo, which was the first cabinet change in Japan since the restoration. The immediate effects of this change were important. The revolt of Etō has already been related, and the case of Itagaki and Gotō will soon be heard of. The name of Saigō has been mentioned as one of the two heroes whose mutual trust had resulted in averting the great battle imminent in Edo. A man of overmastering sincerity, his position in the Tōkyō government, in which he was commander in chief of the army, had been unique. When he resigned and retired to Kagoshima in Satsuma, and established a private military school, nearly all the ambitious young men of the province flocked to the school. Many came from other prefectures also, for Saigō’s reputation as the chief agent in bringing about the restoration was immense, and his simple, great personality commanded universal love and respect. These students, little intent on studies, where animated by a desire to raise Saigō to the leadership of a colossal opposition to the new cabinet, whose policy and conduct they honestly abhorred. When the Hagi and Kumamoto insurrections broke out in 1876 these truculent students maintained correspondence with the rebels, but refrained from openly imitating their example. By and by, some officials of the imperial government who visited the province were seized by the students…

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Excerpt #9, from The Beetle: A Mystery, by Richard Marsh

…‘Then for what did you come?’ I do not know what there was about the question which was startling, but as soon as it was out, she went a fiery red. ‘Because I was a fool.’ I was bewildered. Either she had got out of the wrong side of bed, or I had,–or we both had. Here she was, assailing me, hammer and tongs, so far as I could see, for absolutely nothing. ‘You are pleased to be satirical at my expense.’ ‘I should not dare. Your detection of me would be so painfully rapid.’ I was in no mood for jangling. I turned a little away from her. Immediately she was at my elbow. ‘Mr Atherton?’ ‘Miss Grayling.’ ‘Are you cross with me?’ ‘Why should I be? If it pleases you to laugh at my stupidity you are completely justified.’ ‘But you are not stupid.’ ‘No?–Nor you satirical.’ ‘You are not stupid,–you know you are not stupid; it was only stupidity on my part to pretend that you were.’ ‘It is very good of you to say so.–But I fear that I am an indifferent…

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Excerpt #10, from Emma, by Jane Austen

…I understand the sort of mind. Vigorous, decided, with sentiments to a certain point, not coarse. A better written letter, Harriet (returning it,) than I had expected.” “Well,” said the still waiting Harriet;—“well—and—and what shall I do?” “What shall you do! In what respect? Do you mean with regard to this letter?” “Yes.” “But what are you in doubt of? You must answer it of course—and speedily.” “Yes. But what shall I say? Dear Miss Woodhouse, do advise me.” “Oh no, no! the letter had much better be all your own. You will express yourself very properly, I am sure. There is no danger of your not being intelligible, which is the first thing. Your meaning must be unequivocal; no doubts or demurs: and such expressions of gratitude and concern for the pain you are inflicting as propriety requires, will present themselves unbidden to your mind, I am persuaded. You need not be prompted to write with the appearance of sorrow for his disappointment.” “You think I ought to refuse him then,” said Harriet, looking down. “Ought to refuse him! My dear Harriet, what do you mean? Are you in any doubt as to that? I thought—but I beg your pardon, perhaps I have been…

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Excerpt #11, from Phrases for Public Speakers and Paragraphs for Study, by Grenville Kleiser

…If I mistake not the sentiment of If I must give an instance of this If I read the signs of the time aright If I were asked what it is that If other evidence be wanting If, perchance, one should say If such a thing were possible If such feelings were ever entertained If such is the fact, then If there is a man here If we accept at all the argument If we are conscious of If we find that If we resign ourselves to facts If you want to find out what If you wish the most conclusive proof In a broader and a larger sense In a sense, and a very real sense In answer to this singular theory In like manner In order to carry out…

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Excerpt #12, from The Communist Manifesto, by Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx

…You must, therefore, confess that by “individual” you mean no other person than the bourgeois, than the middle-class owner of property. This person must, indeed, be swept out of the way, and made impossible. Communism deprives no man of the power to appropriate the products of society; all that it does is to deprive him of the power to subjugate the labour of others by means of such appropriation. It has been objected that upon the abolition of private property all work will cease, and universal laziness will overtake us. According to this, bourgeois society ought long ago to have gone to the dogs through sheer idleness; for those of its members who work, acquire nothing, and those who acquire anything, do not work. The whole of this objection is but another expression of the tautology: that there can no longer be any wage-labour when there is no longer any capital. All objections urged against the Communistic mode of producing and appropriating material products, have, in the same way, been urged against the Communistic modes of producing and appropriating intellectual products. Just as, to the bourgeois, the disappearance of class property is the disappearance of production itself, so the disappearance of class culture is to him identical with the disappearance of all culture. That culture, the loss of which he laments, is, for the enormous…

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