Bell's British Theatre, Volume 14

Front Cover
John Bell
J. Bell, 1797

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Page v - I have heard That guilty creatures, sitting at a play, Have by the very cunning of the scene Been struck so to the soul that presently They have proclaim'd their malefactions; For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak With most miraculous organ.
Page 18 - Melvil to interest himself in this affair. He may mention it to Lord Ogleby with a better grace than I can, and more probably prevail on him to interfere in it. I can open my mind also more freely to Sir John. He told me, when I left him in town, that he had something of consequence to communicate, and that I could be of use to him.
Page 42 - Ay, or a bowl of punch, or a can of flip, Mr. Sterling! for it looks like a cabin in the air. If flying chairs were in use, the captain might make a voyage to the Indies in it still, if he had but a fair wind.
Page iv - If princes, &e. were alone liable to misfortunes arising from vice or weakness in themselves or others, there Would be good reason for confining the characters in tragedy to those of superior' rank ; but since the contrary is evident, nothing can be more reasonable than to proportion the remedy to the disease...
Page 9 - But let me tell you both, you must leave off your soft looks to each other, and your whispers, and your glances, and your always sitting next to one another at dinner, and your long walks together in the evening. For my part, if I had not been in the secret, I should have known you were a pair of lovers at least, if not man and wife, as Fanny.
Page 22 - You ? — You're above pity. — You would not change conditions with me. — You're over head and ears in love, you know. — Nay, for that matter, if Mr. Lovewell and you come together, as I doubt not you will, you will live very comfortably, I dare say.
Page 74 - What are your laws, of which you make your boast, but the fool's wisdom and the coward's valour; the instrument and screen of all your villainies, by which you punish in others what you act yourselves; or would have acted; had you been in their circumstances. The judge who condemns the poor man for being a thief, had been a thief himself, had he been poor. Thus you go on deceiving and being deceived; harassing and plaguing and destroying one another: but women are your universal prey.
Page 44 - Twill be well worth your pains to study it as a science. See how it is founded in reason, and the nature of things; how it has promoted humanity, as it has opened and yet keeps up an intercourse between nations, far remote from one another in situation, customs and religion; promoting arts, industry, peace and plenty; by mutual benefits diffusing mutual love from pole to pole.
Page 23 - BARN. If you mean the love of women, I have not thought of it at all. My youth and circumstances make such thoughts improper in me yet. But if you...
Page 72 - .all professions I have known, yet found no difference but in their several capacities; all were alike wicked to the utmost of their power. In pride, contention, avarice, cruelty and revenge, the reverend priesthood were my unerring guides.

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