He finds, moreover, a ready and specious pretext in the greater lightness of the work as compared with hand labour, for keeping the labourer employed beyond the normal limits of human endurance.
"Contemporary Socialism"
John Rae
"It's a specious argument, Davey," he said, "but I wish to heaven you'd kept clear of the whole business."
"The Pioneers"
Katharine Susannah Prichard
The answer, which he frankly quotes, is by no means "specious" in the sense in which it is made; and Mr. Browning cannot believe that a man so inspired by the true artistic passion as those words imply, could in any circumstances become ashamed of the acts to which they refer.
"A Handbook to the Works of Browning (6th ed.)"
Mrs. Sutherland Orr