To be a well-favourd man is the gift of fortune; but to read and write comes by nature. Shakespeare.Much Ado About Nothing, Act III. Scene 3. (Dogberry to second Watchman.)
Well, for your favour, Sir, why, give God thanks, and make no boast of it; and, for your writing and reading, let that appear when there is no need of such vanity. Shakespeare.Much Ado About Nothing, Act III. Scene 3. (Dogberry to Neighbour Seacoal.)
1. He can write and read, and cast accompt. 2. O monstrous! 1. We took him setting boys copies. 2. Heres a villain. Shakespeare.King Henry VI., Part II. Act IV. Scene 2. (Smith and Cade.)
Their manner of writing is very peculiar, being neither from the left to the right, like the Europeans; nor from the right to the left, like the Arabians; nor from up to down, like the Chinese; but aslant from one corner of the paper to the other, like ladies in England. Swift.Gullivers Voyage to Lilliput, Chap. VI.
At first one omits writing for a little while, and then one stays a while longer to consider of excuses, and at last it grows desperate, and one does not write at all. Swift.To the Rev. Mr. Winder. (Roscoes Ed. of Swift, Vol. II. Page 436.)