Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Extracts From The Memoirs Of The Life And Writings Of Edward Gibbon, Esq.
EXTRACTS FROM THE MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF EDWARD GIBBON , ESQ .
COMPOSED BY HIMSELF . JUST PUBLISHED BY JOHN LORD SHEFFIELD . ( CONTINUED FHOM r . 232 . )
\ A /" - ^ resl ! me with pleasure the continuation of this article ; cony » vinced that an account of the Life and Writings of a character , so high in the republic of letters , must be entertaining to our readers . In the year 1758 , during his residence in Switzerland , Mr . Gibbon became acquainted with Voltaire , then in his retirement near Lausanne . ¦ Before I was recalled from SwitzerlandI had the satisfaction of
, seeing the most extraordinary man of the age ; a poet , an historian , and a philosopher , who has filled thirty quartos , of prose and verse , with his various productions , often excellent , and always entertaining . Need I add the name of Voltaire ? After forfeiting , by his own misconduct , the friendship of the first of kings , he retired , at the age of sixty , with a lentiful fortuneto a free and beautiful countryand resided
, , two winters ( 1757 and 1758 ) in the town , or neighbourhood , of Lausanne . My desire of beholding Voltaire , whom I then rated above his real magnitude , was easily gratified . Pie received me with civility as an English youth ; but I cannot boast of any peculiar notice or distinction , Virgilium vidi tantum . ¦
" 1 he ode which he composed on his first arrival on the banks of the L em a 11 Lake , 0 Makon d'Aristippe ! O Jar din d 'Epicure , & c . had been imparted as a secret to the gentleman by whom I was introduced . He allowed me to read it twice ; I knew it by heart ; and as my discretion was not equal to my memory , the author was soon displeased by the circulation of a copy . In writing this trivial anecdote , I wished to observe whether my memory was impairedancl I have
, the comfort of finding that every line of the poem is still engraved in fresh and indelible characters . The hi ghest gratification which I derived from Voltaire ' s residence at Lausanne , was the uncommon circumstance of hearing a' great poet declaim his own productions on the stage . He had formed a company of gentlemen and ladies , some of whom were not destitute of talents . A decent theatre was framed
at Monrepos , a country-house at the end of the suburb ; dresses and scenes were provided at the expence of the actors ; and the author directed the rehearsals with the zeal and attention of paternal love . In two successive winters his tragedies of Zayre , Alzire , Zulime , and
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Extracts From The Memoirs Of The Life And Writings Of Edward Gibbon, Esq.
EXTRACTS FROM THE MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF EDWARD GIBBON , ESQ .
COMPOSED BY HIMSELF . JUST PUBLISHED BY JOHN LORD SHEFFIELD . ( CONTINUED FHOM r . 232 . )
\ A /" - ^ resl ! me with pleasure the continuation of this article ; cony » vinced that an account of the Life and Writings of a character , so high in the republic of letters , must be entertaining to our readers . In the year 1758 , during his residence in Switzerland , Mr . Gibbon became acquainted with Voltaire , then in his retirement near Lausanne . ¦ Before I was recalled from SwitzerlandI had the satisfaction of
, seeing the most extraordinary man of the age ; a poet , an historian , and a philosopher , who has filled thirty quartos , of prose and verse , with his various productions , often excellent , and always entertaining . Need I add the name of Voltaire ? After forfeiting , by his own misconduct , the friendship of the first of kings , he retired , at the age of sixty , with a lentiful fortuneto a free and beautiful countryand resided
, , two winters ( 1757 and 1758 ) in the town , or neighbourhood , of Lausanne . My desire of beholding Voltaire , whom I then rated above his real magnitude , was easily gratified . Pie received me with civility as an English youth ; but I cannot boast of any peculiar notice or distinction , Virgilium vidi tantum . ¦
" 1 he ode which he composed on his first arrival on the banks of the L em a 11 Lake , 0 Makon d'Aristippe ! O Jar din d 'Epicure , & c . had been imparted as a secret to the gentleman by whom I was introduced . He allowed me to read it twice ; I knew it by heart ; and as my discretion was not equal to my memory , the author was soon displeased by the circulation of a copy . In writing this trivial anecdote , I wished to observe whether my memory was impairedancl I have
, the comfort of finding that every line of the poem is still engraved in fresh and indelible characters . The hi ghest gratification which I derived from Voltaire ' s residence at Lausanne , was the uncommon circumstance of hearing a' great poet declaim his own productions on the stage . He had formed a company of gentlemen and ladies , some of whom were not destitute of talents . A decent theatre was framed
at Monrepos , a country-house at the end of the suburb ; dresses and scenes were provided at the expence of the actors ; and the author directed the rehearsals with the zeal and attention of paternal love . In two successive winters his tragedies of Zayre , Alzire , Zulime , and