-
Articles/Ads
Article BRIEF HISTORY OF NONSENSE. Page 1 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Brief History Of Nonsense.
BRIEF HISTORY OF NONSENSE .
^ O j F all the mighty empires that have engaged the pen ofthehisto-^ - ^ rian , not one , perhaps , is more entitled to notice than the aged a nd widely extended dominion of the Empress ycleped NONSENSE . Her throne has been of a very long duration , and her power has at least equalled , and in many respects surpassed that of the most puissant monarchs who have ever swayed a sceptre over crouching millions . But it would be a tedious and almost endless task to trace the
annals of her reign through the windings of antiquity to the period when she first gained a footing in the world : nor would it be a matter of less difficulty or prolixity to describe her very extensive territories , and to enumerate the principal exploits of her ministers in various countries . Such a work would , doubtless , be extremely interesting , and highly entertaining , especially to those readers who are blessod with a . nonsensical taste . For the improvement and delight of such
persons , one might dwell copiously on the oracles of the antient nations , the various arts of divination , all the varieties of the heathen mythology , and even the curious systems of the philosophers to account for the formation of the universe , and to explain the first principle of things . From thence we might-range among the barbarous nations , and trace the progress of their superstitions . The different eastern tribes would merit particular attention , and one might make
out wonderful things indeed from their religious boo-ks , so delightfully obscure ; and their institutions , so mystically sublime . But we must content ourselves with a more confined space , and limit our observation , both in respect of time and place . Long had this venerable and renowned Empress swayed her sceptre , made up of equal parts of lead and iron , with an undisturbed dominion over Europe , when two persons , who , by their , education , profession , and vows , were the most strongl j' bound to obey her with an implicit submission , burstat once from their allegiance into a high
act of rebellion against her authority . From the gloom of the cloister , these men issued forth at the beginning of the sixteenth century , and endeavoured to undermine the seat of the sovereign Queen , and to provoke all her subjects to renounce her authorit }' . These , men were Martin Luther , and Desiderius Roterodamus , betterknowa by the name of Erasmus . Nothing can picture the astonishment and confusion which agitated the whole empire of NONSENSE at the
attempts of these men . Those who had been resting securely under the dominion of the mighty potentate , began to enquire into the grounds of her pretensions to an authority over the minds and . manners of mankind . This , indeed , was an arduous and perilous task , as times then were , for she had contrived to get all the distinguished situations , both . in church and state , as well as the seats of judicature , and , what was of still more consequence , the seminaries of learning ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Brief History Of Nonsense.
BRIEF HISTORY OF NONSENSE .
^ O j F all the mighty empires that have engaged the pen ofthehisto-^ - ^ rian , not one , perhaps , is more entitled to notice than the aged a nd widely extended dominion of the Empress ycleped NONSENSE . Her throne has been of a very long duration , and her power has at least equalled , and in many respects surpassed that of the most puissant monarchs who have ever swayed a sceptre over crouching millions . But it would be a tedious and almost endless task to trace the
annals of her reign through the windings of antiquity to the period when she first gained a footing in the world : nor would it be a matter of less difficulty or prolixity to describe her very extensive territories , and to enumerate the principal exploits of her ministers in various countries . Such a work would , doubtless , be extremely interesting , and highly entertaining , especially to those readers who are blessod with a . nonsensical taste . For the improvement and delight of such
persons , one might dwell copiously on the oracles of the antient nations , the various arts of divination , all the varieties of the heathen mythology , and even the curious systems of the philosophers to account for the formation of the universe , and to explain the first principle of things . From thence we might-range among the barbarous nations , and trace the progress of their superstitions . The different eastern tribes would merit particular attention , and one might make
out wonderful things indeed from their religious boo-ks , so delightfully obscure ; and their institutions , so mystically sublime . But we must content ourselves with a more confined space , and limit our observation , both in respect of time and place . Long had this venerable and renowned Empress swayed her sceptre , made up of equal parts of lead and iron , with an undisturbed dominion over Europe , when two persons , who , by their , education , profession , and vows , were the most strongl j' bound to obey her with an implicit submission , burstat once from their allegiance into a high
act of rebellion against her authority . From the gloom of the cloister , these men issued forth at the beginning of the sixteenth century , and endeavoured to undermine the seat of the sovereign Queen , and to provoke all her subjects to renounce her authorit }' . These , men were Martin Luther , and Desiderius Roterodamus , betterknowa by the name of Erasmus . Nothing can picture the astonishment and confusion which agitated the whole empire of NONSENSE at the
attempts of these men . Those who had been resting securely under the dominion of the mighty potentate , began to enquire into the grounds of her pretensions to an authority over the minds and . manners of mankind . This , indeed , was an arduous and perilous task , as times then were , for she had contrived to get all the distinguished situations , both . in church and state , as well as the seats of judicature , and , what was of still more consequence , the seminaries of learning ,