A Literary Antiquary: Memoir of William Oldys. Together with His Diary, Choice Notes from His Adversaria, and an Account of the London Libraries |
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A Literary Antiquary. Memoir of William Oldys. Together with His Diary ... William Oldys No preview available - 2012 |
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Addit afterwards Anec Anthony Wood antiquary Antiquities Artillery Ground bibliographical Bibliotheca biographical Bishop black-letter bookseller brary British Librarian British Museum Catalogue Charles collection of books College of Arms containing copy curious D'Israeli death Diary died Duke Earl of Oxford edition Edward eminent England English entitled father folio Gray's Gray's Inn guineas hands Harleian Harleian Library Harleian Miscellany Hearne Henry Heralds History honour House Humphrey Wanley Isaac D'Israeli King Knights labour Langbaine late learned lection letter Lives Lond London Lord manuscripts noble Norroy notes Oldys's Osborne pamphlets papers Peter Bales Poems Poets Preface prefixed printed books published purchased quarto Queen reign relating remarkable Richard Robert Royal Sacomb says Shakspeare Sir John Sir John Suckling Sir Thomas Sir Walter Ralegh sold by auction Spenser Strype tion tracts valuable verses Vertue vols volumes Westminster William Oldys writing written
Popular passages
Page xxii - The most accomplished way of using books at present is twofold : either first to serve them as some men do lords, learn their titles exactly, and then brag of their acquaintance ; or, secondly, which is indeed the choicer, the profounder, and politer method, to get a thorough insight into the index by which the whole book is governed and turned, like fishes by the tail.
Page 97 - I must endeavour to keep a margin in my book open, to add here and there a note in shorthand with my own hand. And so I betake myself to that course, which is almost as much as to see myself go into my grave : for which, and all the discomforts that will accompany my being blind, the good God prepare me !
Page xxviii - It has been confidently related, with many embellishments, that Johnson one day knocked Osborne down in his shop, with a folio, and put his foot upon his neck. The simple truth I had from Johnson himself. " Sir, he was impertinent to me, and I beat him. But it was not in his shop : it was in my own chamber.
Page xiii - Busy, curious, thirsty fly, Drink with me and drink as I; Freely welcome to my cup, Couldst thou sip and sip it up: Make the most of life you may, Life is short and wears away. Both alike are mine and thine Hastening quick to their decline: Thine's a summer, mine's no more, Though repeated to threescore. Threescore summers, when they're gone, Will appear as short as one!
Page 44 - A parliament member, a justice of peace, At home a poor scarecrow, at London an asse, If lowsie is Lucy, as some volke miscalle it, Then Lucy is lowsie, whatever befall it. He thinks himself great ; Yet an asse in his state, We allow by his ears but with asses to mate, If Lucy is lowsie, as some volke miscalle it, Then sing lowsie Lucy whatever befall it.
Page 44 - A parliament member, a justice of peace, " At home a poor scare-crow, at London an asse, '' If lowsie is Lucy, as some volke miscalle it, " Then Lucy is lowsie whatever befall it : " He thinks himself greate, " Yet an asse in his state, " We allowe by his ears but with asses to mate, " If Lucy is lowsie, as some volke miscalle it, " Sing lowsie Lucy, whatever befall it.
Page 107 - It hath not been usual here in England to make Sale of Books by way of Auction, or who will give most for them...
Page xxiii - What Wilcox, a bookseller of eminence in the Strand, said to Johnson, on his first arrival in town, was now almost confirmed. He lent our author five guineas, and then asked him, " How do you mean to earn your livelihood in this town ? " " By my literary labours," was the answer. Wilcox, staring at him, shook his head: " By your literary labours ! You had better buy a porter's knot.
Page 99 - THOUGH doom'd to small-coal, yet to arts allied, Rich without wealth, and famous without pride ; Music's best patron, judge of books and men, Belov'd and honour'd by Apollo's train: In Greece or Rome sure never did appear So bright a genius, in so dark a sphere : More of the man had artfully * been sav'd, Had Kneller painted, and had Vertue grav'd.
Page xiii - Busy, curious, thirsty fly, Drink with me, and drink as I ; Freely welcome to my cup, Couldst thou sip and sip it up. Make the most of life you may ; Life is short, and wears away.