For indeed were it not for such free entertainers, such nourishers, such encouragers of them, slanderers commonly would die in the womb, or prove still-born, or presently entering into the cold air, would expire, or for want of nourishment soon would starve.

It is only ill-natured and ill-nurtured, unworthy and naughty people that are willing auditors or encouragers thereof.

He was one of the great encouragers of Greek learning, and particularly applauded Ascham's lectures, assuring him in a letter, of which Graunt has preserved an extract, that he would gain more knowledge by explaining one of Æsop's fables to a boy, than by hearing one of Homer's poems explained by another.

He was very hospitable and a generous encourager of all public designs.

But King Charles II being of an humour more sprightly than his father, was a professed encourager of poetry, and in his time a race of wits sprung up, unequalled by those of any other reign.

We cannot help regretting on this occasion, that Dryden's fortune was not easy enough to enable him, with convenience and leisure, to pursue a work that might have proved an honour to himself, and reflected a portion thereof on all, who should have appeared his encouragers on this occasion.

And for that cause he would have women follow the camp, to be spectators and encouragers of noble actions: upon such an occasion, the [5500]Squire of Dames himself, Sir Lancelot or Sir Tristram, Caesar, or Alexander, shall not be more resolute or go beyond them.

the French were the protectors and encouragers, and by no means the destroyers of the works of art; and this ridiculous story of the picture being used as a target was probably invented by the priesthood, who seemed to have taken great delight in imposing on poor Eustace's credulity.

It would be a great addition to our pleasure to hear that those encouragers of the fine arts have offered him fifteen hundred or two thousand guineas for it....

For the present, however, even Tom Davies was a welcome encourager to one who, for the rest, was not easily rebuffed.

while you, with night for your accomplice, lust for your encourager, and wages for your compeller, were let down through the roof.

" And again, in a letter to his mother, he says, "I am engaged in several poetic effusions, one of which I dedicated to you, who have always been the patron and encourager of my youthful muse.

Francis I. was a great encourager of the fine arts, and the artists themselves were liberally paid for their productions, until that king was unfortunately taken prisoner at the battle of Pavia, in the year 1525.

A gentleman, a few days ago, observed that Fielding was a great encourager of thieving.

Live, then, thou great encourager of arts!

The expression perhaps applies rather to his lordship's want of ability than inclination; and Dryden says indeed, in the dedication, that it is in his nature to be an encourager of good poets, though fortune has not yet put into his hands the power of expressing it.

It was the general belief in Paris that many apaches were shot pour encourager les autres.

Art was then no adjunct of sentimentalism, no encourager of idleness.

'I have no great timidity in my own disposition, and am no encourager of it in others,' iv.

Yet the text is right in making Bruce one of the patrons and encouragers of Scottish Freemasonry.

He met with the patronage of the duke of Newcastle, who was a great encourager of polite learning; and we find that our author had a very competent place in the Ordnance-Office.

Honoured Sir, 'Having heard that this Nation is a great Encourager of Ingenuity, I have brought with me a Rope-dancer that was caught in one of the Woods belonging to the Great Mogul.

Cambridge, April 26. Mr. SPECTATOR, 'Believing you to be an universal Encourager of liberal Arts and Sciences, and glad of any Information from the learned World, I thought an Account of a Sect of Philosophers very frequent among us, but not taken Notice of, as far as I can remember, by any Writers either ancient or modern, would not be unacceptable to you.

His lordship is not the only person disposed to give the clergy the honour of being the sole encouragers of all new improvements.

We may be secret encouragers of the contraband, but surely we are not to be suspected of any greater familiarity with their movements.