The Complaint: or Night-Thoughts on Life, Death, & Immortality

The Complaint: or Night-Thoughts on Life, Death, & Immortality (1755)
by Edward Young

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Generally referred to as 'Night-Thoughts', the work began to appear in 1742, with each of the nine 'Nights' being issued separately. Night the First was published in May 1742, followed by Second (November 1742), Third (December 1742), Fourth (March 1743), Fifth (December 1743), Sixth (March 1744), Seventh (July 1744), Eighth (March 1745) and Ninth (January 1746). The first six Nights were collected in March 1744, and Seven to Nine, effectively 'Volume II.', in January 1748.

A single volume edition containing all nine parts did not appear until January 1750. This transcription is of what is effectively the 2nd edition, from 1755.

Based on A Bibliography of Young's Night-Thoughts (1973), by Henry Pettit, pp. 13-41.

For works with similar titles, see Night Thoughts.

THE

COMPLAINT:

OR,

Night-Thoughts

ON

LIFE, DEATH,

AND

IMMORTALITY

To which is added,

A Paraphrase on Part of the Book of JOB.

A New Edition, Corrected by the Author.

Sunt lacryma rerum, & mentem mortalia tangunt. Virg.

LONDON.
Printed for A. Millar, over-against Catharine Street
in the Strand; and
R. and J. Dodsley, at Tully's Head in Pall-Mall.

M.DCC.LV.

Contents (not listed in original)

The Complaint

Preface.
Night the First: On Life, Death, and Immortality.
Night the Second: On Time, Death, and Friendship.
Night the Third: Narcissa.
Night the Fourth: The Christian Triumph.
Night the Fifth: The Relapse.
Night the Sixth: The Infidel Reclaimed.
Night the Seventh: Being the Second Part of the Infidel Reclaimed.
Night the Eighth: Virtue's Apology; or, The Man of the World Answered.
Night the Ninth and Last: The Consolation.

This work was published before January 1, 1927, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.