The Parasite (Volume 1-2) (Paperback)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1765. Excerpt: ...: The German Valet set to Flight, the Captain defunct, and the little Frenchman conveyed to his Summer Lodgings in the Marshalsea, there was not one Member of the Ordinary left, except the Mistress, who could converse in the English Language: For the whole Company that now remained consisted of Two Bass-Viols, Three Hautboys, Two Violins, a French Horn, Three Kettle-Drums, and a Violoncello; and as Dick had not a Gusto extravaganza, or the nicest Ear in the World for Music, he was rather tortured than ravished with so much Harmony. CHAP. XVI. A very learned Exordium to a very foalijh Disburse -- which however hecomes more serious. A Mil . SIC AL is conjlrued into a NATIONAL Reflection . A Challenge ensues. Dick fights a Duel with a Scotch Officer--Behaves like himself. The Event. THE Philosopher's Stone has unsuccessfully gravelled the Brain of many pfeudo Philosophers for some Ages. The Perpetual Motion has been in perpetual Agitation, without Cause Ot real Primum Mobile, for as many Centuries. The Longitude has sathomed the Intellects of all our Navigators, and proved the legislative Resolution, if not illegal, at least ill-founded. Nor can all the Disciples of Euclid, in or out of their Elements, square the Circle, and bring Mathematics to a Point. However arduous these Tasks may be, how much soever they may have foiled Alchymsfts, Navigators, and Mathematicians, they are easy, pradticable, demonstrative, when put in Competition with that great Arcanum which so many have attempted, without on- one succeeding, except it were in a resaliative Proof that is, la convince a Man he is, a Fool. Who would have thought that Dick and the Captain would ever mutually have set about so difficult an Attempt ? Yet so it was, Dick having declared his Disgust to so much Music, and accidenta...