The Book of the Courtier from the Italian of Count Baldassare Castiglione

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D. Nutt, 1900 - Courtesy - 377 pages

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Page xlviii - This form of feeding I understand is generally used in all places of Italy, their forks being for the most part made of iron or steel, and some of silver, but those are used only by gentlemen. The reason of this their curiosity is, because the Italian cannot by any means endure to have his dish touched with fingers, seeing all men's fingers are not alike clean.
Page xii - The generall end therefore of all the booke is to fashion a gentleman or noble person in vertuous and gentle discipline...
Page lxxvi - The meanes, therefore, which unto us is lent Him to behold, is on his workes to looke, Which he hath made in beauty excellent, And in the same, as in a brasen booke, To reade enregistred in every nooke His goodnesse, which his beautie doth declare ; For all thats good is beautifull and faire.
Page xii - I call therefore a complete and generous education, that which fits a man to perform justly, skilfully, and magnanimously all the offices, both private and public, of peace and war.
Page lxxxvi - Buy good books, and read them ; the best books are the commonest, and the last editions are always the best, if the editors are not blockheads ; for they may profit of the former.
Page lxxii - What is your substance, whereof are you made, That millions of strange shadows on you tend? Since every one hath, every one, one shade, And you, but one, can every shadow lend. Describe Adonis, and the counterfeit Is poorly imitated after you ; On Helen's cheek all art of beauty set, And you in Grecian tires are painted new: Speak of the spring and...
Page lxxvii - Vouchsafe then, O Thou most Almightie Spright ! From whom all guifts of wit and knowledge flow, To shed into my breast some sparkling light Of Thine eternall Truth, that I may show Some little beames to mortall eyes below...
Page xlii - I am of this opinion that our own tung shold be written cleane and pure, unmixt and unmangeled with borowing of other tunges, wherin if we take not heed by tijm, ever borowing and never payeng, she shall be fain to keep her house as bankrupt.
Page lxxxi - It lies not in our power to love or hate, For will in us is overruled by fate. When two are stripped, long ere the course begin We wish that one should lose, the other win. And one especially do we affect Of two gold ingots like in each respect. The reason no man knows; let it suffice What we behold is censured by our eyes. Where both deliberate, the love is slight: Who ever loved, that loved not at first sight? He kneeled, but unto her devoutly prayed. Chaste Hero to herself thus softly said, "Were...
Page xvii - To teach the minuter decencies and inferior duties, to regulate the practice of daily conversation, to correct those depravities which are rather ridiculous than criminal, and remove those grievances which, if they produce no lasting calamities, impress hourly vexation...

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