FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33  
34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   >>  
so much as to call a Man a _Murtherer_: and the Detestation of Antiquity is so plain to this inhuman Kind of Proceeding, that when _Eteocles_ and _Polynices_ had kill'd each other upon the important Quarrel of disputed Empire, the Government order'd the Challenger's Body to be thrown out as a Prey to the Dogs and Birds, and made it Death for any one to sprinkle Dust over it, or give it the least honorary Marks of Interment. The _Duelling_ so much in Fashion for a few late Centuries is so scandalous to _Christianity_ and _common Understanding_, and grounded upon none of those specious Occasions which at first made it warrantable, that it is high Time the Wisdom of Commonwealths should interpose to discountenance and abrogate a pernicious Liberty, whose Source springs alone from Folly and Intemperance. Sir _Walter Raleigh_ has very wisely observ'd in his _History_ of the _World_, that _the acting of a private Combat, for a private Respect, and most commonly a frivolous One, is not an Action of Virtue, because it is contrary to the Law of God, and of all Christian Kings: neither is it difficult, because even and equal in Persons and Arms: neither for a publick Good, but tending to the contrary, because the Loss or Mutilation of an able Man, is also a Loss to the Commonweal_. Yet vile and immoral as this Custom is, it has so far prevail'd as to make way for a _Science_, and is pretended, like Dancing, to be taught By _Rule_ and _Book_. The Advertisements, which are of great Instruction to curious Readers, inform us, that a late Baronet had employ'd his Pen in laying down the _solid_ Art of _Fighting_ both on _Foot_ and _Horseback_: by reading of which Treatise any Person might in a short time attain to the Practice of it, either for the Defence of Life upon a just Occasion, or Preservation of Honour, in any accidental Scuffle or Quarrel. That is, if I may have Permission, without being challeng'd, to divest the Title of its Pomp, this solid Art would soon put one in a Capacity of killing one's Man, and standing a fair Chance of bequeathing one's Cloaths and Neck to the Hangman. It is observable, that Mr. _Bysshe_, in his Collection of agreeable and sublime Thoughts, for the Imitation of future Poets, when he comes to the Topick of _Honour_, ingeniously refers his Readers to the Word _Butcher_; tacitly implying that the Thoughts upon both Heads have a _Coherence_, as the Terms themselves are _synonomous_. In short, your P
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33  
34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   >>  



Top keywords:

Thoughts

 
Readers
 

Honour

 
private
 

contrary

 

Quarrel

 
Treatise
 

reading

 

Horseback

 

Person


Defence

 
Practice
 

attain

 

prevail

 

Custom

 

pretended

 

Advertisements

 
inform
 

Instruction

 

Occasion


Baronet

 

employ

 

curious

 

Fighting

 

Dancing

 
taught
 
laying
 

Science

 
future
 

Topick


Imitation
 

sublime

 

observable

 

Bysshe

 
Collection
 

agreeable

 

ingeniously

 

refers

 
synonomous
 

Coherence


Butcher

 
tacitly
 

implying

 

Hangman

 

challeng

 
divest
 

Permission

 
Scuffle
 

accidental

 

immoral