classics digests, reflections and reviews
Who Wants to Live Forever [The struldbrugs, or immortals] commonly acted like mortals till about thirty years old; after which, by degrees, they grew melancholy and dejected, .. When they came to fourscore years, which is reckoned the extremity of living in this country, they had not only all the follies and infirmities of other old men, but many more which arose from the dreadful prospect of never dying. They […]
Read more
Reign of the Thirty Tyrants Now at Athens the Thirty had been chosen [by the people] for the purpose of framing a constitution under which to conduct the government, however, they continually delayed framing and publishing this constitution, but they appointed a Senate and the other magistrates as they saw fit. Then, as a first step, they arrested and brought to trial for their lives those persons who, by common […]
Read more
The Song of Troilus If there’s no love, 0 God! What am I feeling? If there is love, who then, and what, is he? If love be good whence comes this sorrow stealing? If evil, what a wonder it is to me When every torment and adversity That comes of him is savoury, to my thinking! The more I thirst, the more I would be drinking. And if so be […]
Read more
I’ve been extremely busy in the past months, and had no time to write a proper blogpost. But a recent event has obliged me to speak up, for “silence gives consent”, and I do not think it right to give consent to a comment made by a pubic health officer concerning my colleagues. “If people are in our healthcare system and not recognizing the importance of vaccination, then this is […]
Read more
How Eteonicus Quashed the Conspiracy of the Reed The troops that were at Chios under Eteonicus subsisted, so long as the summer lasted, upon the produce of the season and by working for hire up and down the island; when winter came on, however, and they were without food and poorly clad and unshod, they got together and agreed to make an attack upon Chios; and it was decided that […]
Read more
The Pains of Hell St. Jerome says, “Every time I remember the day of doom, I quake; for when I eat or drink, or whatever I do, it seems to me the trumpet sounds in my ear, Rise up, you that have been dead, and come to the judgment.” … There we shall all be, as St. Paul says, before the seat of our Lord Jesus Christ; where he shall […]
Read more
Portrait of a Priest A holy-minded man of good renown There was, and poor, the Parson to a town, Yet he was rich in holy thought and work. He also was a learned man, a clerk, Who truly knew Christ’s gospel and would preach it Devoutly to parishioners, and teach it. Benign and wonderfully diligent, And patient when adversity was sent (For so he proved in much adversity) He hated […]
Read more