Reflections on Suicide - Hardcover

Stael, Madame De

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0404568386 ISBN 13: 9780404568382

Publisher: Ams Pr Inc, 1975

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1813 edition. Excerpt: ... Here sobs choaked his utterance. "Continue," I exclaimed, "my friend, recollect those meditative sages, who have watched with a steady eye the death even of those who were most dear to them, they knew from whence we came, and whither we go." "Well," replied he, "your sentence must now be executed; but I bring you that succour which has delivered so many illustrious men from the proscription of tyrants." Then did this venerable old man offer me with trembling hands, the poison from which he would have preserved me at the hazard of his own existence. I recollected how often we had admired together, the noble contempt of life, evinced by the heroes and patriots of antiquity, and sinking into deep thought, (as if the light of Christianity had been suddenly extinguished in my soul ) I fell into that feeble indecision, from which in the most simple circumstances of life it is often so difficult to withdraw the mind. Ascham threw himself on his knees before me, bending his silvered head towards the earth, and covering his eyes with one hand, whilst with the other he presented to me the fatal resource he had prepared. I repulsed gently that sacred hand, and having collected myself in secret prayer, found strength to make this reply: "Ascham, you know with what delight I have read with you the philosophers and the poets of Greece and Rome; the masculine beauties of their language, which breathe the simple energy of their soul, are incomparable. Society, as it is now constituted, has filled most minds with vanity and frivolity, and one is not ashamed to live without reflecting, without seeking to know the miracles of the world, which are formed to enlighten man by symbols at once splendid and permanent." We are surpassed by the Ancients since they were...

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Language Notes:

Text: English, French (translation)

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.