The Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce, Volume 8

t from whose work, or from what is known of their personal character, we may justly infer an equal aversion to pretty much everything in the way of pleasure that a Christian needs not die in order to

all the variations of its th

ng the accomplishments of the parish clerk, along wi

d he was so

en blood and cl

rtre of land,

ers could he

scole of O

legges casten

re is his pen so joyous as in its description in the well known passage from "Comus" which, should it occur to my memory while deliveri

welcome jo

shout a

ance an

locks wit

odors dro

w is gon

with scru

e and sou

rave saws in

are of p

the star

nightly wat

round the mo

seas with all t

tawny sands

fairies and th

heart in the business. Somewhat to lessen the force of the objection that he puts the foregoing lines into a not very respectable mouth, on a not altogether reputable occasion, I appe

rd and l

ought ye

ld so goo

branches

timely tried

eir patience a

m here throu

wn of deat

in victor

l folly and

ance-in "L'Allegro," are too familiar, I dare

companies since it disposeth the limbs to a kind of souplesse (as the French call it) and agility insomuch as they seem to have the use of their legs, arms, and bodies more than many others who, standing stiff and stark in their postures, seem as

y I do not remember the opinion he quotes from

ed Locke who made virtue the sole end of education, expressly recommends teaching children to dance as early as they are able to learn. Dancing

veller," Go

es dames of

hildren through

andsire skille

eath the burden

soned in the habit, will leave it off directly, or the impenitent old grandsire abate one jot or tittle of his friskin