Contents ( 59)
- THE BATTLE OF THE BOOKS
- * * *
- JONATHAN SWIFT
- *
- Contents
- *
- Introduction
- *
- The Bookseller to the Reader
- *
- The Preface of the Author
- *
- The Battle of the Books
- *
- The Episode of Bentley and Wotton
- *
- A Meditation Upon a Broomstick
- *
- Predictions for the Year 1708
- *
- The Accomplishment of the First of Mr. Bickerstaff's Predictions
- *
- Baucis and Philemon
- *
- The Logicians Refuted
- *
- The Puppet Show
- *
- Cadenus and Vanessa
- *
- Stella's Birthday, 1718
- *
- Stella's Birthday, 1720
- *
- Stella's Birthday
- *
- Stella's Birthday, 1724
- *
- Stella's Birthday, March 13, 1726
- *
- To Stella
- *
- The First He Wrote Oct 17, 1727
- *
- The Second Prayer was Written Nov 6, 1727
- *
- The Beasts' Confession
- *
- An Argument Against Abolishing Christianity
- *
- Hints Towards an Essay on Conversation
- *
- Thoughts on Various Subjects
- *
- A Modest Proposal
- *
- * * *
- Endnotes
- *
Then Aristotle, observing Bacon advance with a furious mien, drew his bow to the head, and let fly his arrow, which missed the valiant Modern and went whizzing over his head; but Descartes it hit; the steel point quickly found a defect in his head-piece; it pierced the leather and the pasteboard, and went in at his right eye. The torture of the pain whirled the valiant bow-man round till death, like a star of superior influence, drew him into his own vortex Ingens hiatus . . . . hic in MS. . . . . . . . . when Homer appeared at the head of the cavalry, mounted on a furious horse, with difficulty managed by the rider himself, but which no other mortal durst approach; he rode among the enemy's ranks, and bore down all before him. Say, goddess, whom he slew first and whom he slew last! First, Gondibert advanced against him, clad in heavy armour and mounted on a staid sober gelding, not so famed for his speed as his docility in kneeling whenever his rider would mount or alight. He had made a vow to Pallas that he would never leave the field till he had spoiled Homer of his armour: madman, who had never once seen the wearer, nor understood his strength! Him Homer overthrew, horse and man, to the ground, there to be trampled and choked in the dirt. Then with a long spear he slew Denham, a stout Modern, who from his father's side derived his lineage from Apollo, but his mother was of mortal race. He fell, and bit the earth. The celestial part Apollo took, and made it a star; but the terrestrial lay wallowing upon the ground. Then Homer slew Sam Wesley with a kick of his horse's heel; he took Perrault by mighty force out of his saddle, then hurled him at Fontenelle, with the same blow dashing out both their brains.