Chapter 10
Page 92
CHAP. X.
Speaking Truth not only shames the D-l, but prevents us a great deal of unnecessary Trouble.
WHEN Lady Dellwyn finished the new furnishing her Castle, she began to be at a great Loss for Employment; she had now no Refuge from a languid, wearisome Melancholy, which is often called a Fever upon the Spirits; she had no Food from outward Objects, to employ her animal Spirits, and they therefore prey'd at home, and oppressed her own Mind.
This being haunted with Ghosts, dejected with an unaccountable Melancholy, and afflicted with a Variety of Distempers, tho' we are at a Loss to
dis-
Page 93
discover what Appellation to give them, is very often the Result of nothing more than a strong Imagination unimployed; which could be all alive and merry if it was not confined to some Scene of Dullness, which curbs all its Pleasures; and then, rather than be motionless, it chuses to be mischievous, bearing in that respect a strong Resemblance to the Activity of the Monkey, whose chief Glory is to mimick Man, and who, as far as that Mimickry goes, is a most perfect Master of that Branch of Ridicule.
Lady Dellwyn was now as totally incapable of enjoying the Country, as she was, at her first Arrival in London, of tasting the Pleasures to which she had then been wholly unaccustomed.
Lord Dellwyn's distempered State of Body was constantly attended with Peevishness; but yet, to prove that he had the Power of commanding himself when he pleased, and only vented
his
Page 94
his Passions when, and on whom, he thought proper, he confined the Impetuosity of his Rage to his Servants alone, and his Fondness for his young Lady restrained him from bestowing on her any Share of his Displeasure: But this was by no means an Alleviation to her Melancholy; perhaps had it been otherwise, and she had been also a Partaker of his Wrath, an Opportunity of Contention might have raised her Spirits, and relieved her from her Languidness. Her Lord's Fondness was beyond Comparison more odious to her than his Anger; and, if the Choice had been given her, she would greatly have preferred the latter; and have thought she had made a very advantageous Exchange, if by that means she might have been freed from the former.
Lady Dellwyn had now brought herself into a State, in which she was in a manner under an Obligation to live a Lye; not only her Language, but every Look, every Gesture, must indicate
some
Page 95
some Falsehood: She had not been instructed young enough in this Sort of Commerce, to have the Advantage of Custom to lighten such an insupportable Burthen; it was to her lively Imagination more than an Herculean Labour: She fainted under the heavy Load, and consumed away almost to a Skeleton.
My Lord now, as an Aggravation to his Lady's Misfortunes, began to ex- press a great Satisfaction in the Counttry; which he thought better suited to his Time of Life than the Hurry and Confusion of a Town. He was so perfectly happy in his Countess, that it was unnecessary to put himself to the Trouble of long Journies in pursuit of other Pleasures.
Lady Dellwyn was too conscious of the Conclusion which must naturally follow an earnest Sollicitation on her Part for public Places, to dare to undertake importuning her Lord on that
Account.
Page 96
Account. The Pains she was obliged to undergo to avoid the Appearance of Truth, and to conceal her want of Affection to her Husband, rendered it almost impossible for her at the same time to venture to declare she was miserable, unless a Variety of Company might, in some measure, ease her of the Burthen of being continually confined to her Lord's Conversation.
At the Time that Lady Dellwyn lived with her Father Mr. Lucum in the Country, he imputed all his Mortifications to the various treacherous Parts he had acted, and therefore had a kind of temporary Rage against that Vice by which he had suffered so much; which Rage had as long a Continuance as his imaginary Philosophy and Con- tempt of the World; for which Reason he pointed all his Endeavours to breed up his Daughter with a peculiar Hatred to all Manner of Falsehood: It was, therefore, doubly barbarous to
place
Page 97
place her in a Station of Life, for which she was absolutely unqualified.
Ladies have sometimes thrown their whole House into an Uproar, and themselves into Fits, if their Husbands, by any Accident, have been prevented from returning home at the appointed Time, for fear they should have been swallowed up, like Tom Thumb, by a red Cow; and the next Day renewed the fame Confusion, because it was not convenient for them to shew themselves that Season at London, Bath, Bristol, or any other public Place, which chanced at that Time to be uppermost in their Inclinations; nay, and what is still more wonderful, they have expected their Husbands to be convinced, that the Affliction in both Instances was real, and without any Degree of Affectation; and in fact sometimes this contradictory Practice hath succeeded, and they have been perfectly credited.
Vol. 1. F Lady
Page 98
Lady Dellwyn was not adept enough in the new Trade she had undertaken; and unfortunately penetrated so far, that she was truly aukward at this kind of Craftiness: Neither had she any Prompter, who could give her Assistance to perform her Part; for she never thought of the Expedient of making a whispering Party in her Lord's House against him, or of placeing such a Confidence in her Servant, as to reveal to her the inward State of her Mind: Altho' she could not attain an absolute Command over her Inclinations, yet she guarded the Door of her Lips so strictly, that she never suffered herself to give Utterance to any contemptuous Expressions of her Lord; and in this Particular, her Example was then worthy of Imitation.
And now the Lady was again metamorphosed from the gay, fluttering, admired young Woman of Quality (the Form she had last appeared in at London) into a lamenting Niobe; she
wasted
Page 99
wasted herself with weeping; not for any Loss she had sustained, but for the unfortunate Acquisition of the very Husband she had sought with careful Anxiety.
There is perhaps no greater Difficulty, than to enter into Conversation under the Terror of betraying any hidden Secret of the Heart; the Discovery of which may probably be attended with some dreaded Consequence: And Lady Dellwyn was obliged to take every Thought into serious Consideration before she permitted to her Tongue the Liberty of Utterance, left her Indifference, not to say Aversion, to her Lord, should peep out and be discovered unawares.
In fact, whilst the Lady was eagerly pursuing the Fortune and Rank to which it was in Lord Dellwyn's Power to exalt her, she had fixed her whole Imagination on her own favourite Prospect; and overlooking every other Ob-
F2 ject,
Page 100
ject, she had absolutely forgot the heavy Tax she must pay for the Indulgence of her fancied Scheme of Happiness; and even that, by her own Act and Deed, she was bringing herself under an Obligation to spend her Life with her Lord, was a Truth that found no room for Entrance at that time into her Consideration.
This Discovery was reserved for the Time of Leisure. And now in her Retirement from those gay Pleasures, which had dazled her Understanding and turned her Head giddy, it became so glaring in her Sight, that she could no longer shut her Eyes close enough to prevent its being full in her View.
Repentance went hand-in-hand with this Reflexion, and Lady Dellwyn would joyfully have resigned all the Dignity of her Person, to have been again transformed to Miss Lucum in her pleasant rural Retreat.
When
Page 101
When Lord Dellwyn was able to be carried out for the Benefit of the Air, his Lady, under some Pretence of Disorder in her Head or Stomach (for every Part bore its Portion of Falsehood) contrived to be excused bearing him Company, that she might gain some few Hours to herself: Yet those Hours, instead of being spent in her former amusing Employments, were consumed in fruitless Lamentations; but when the loud Rap at the Gate proclaimed the Approach of the Lord of the Castle, then was her Terror again renewed.
The rumbling of the Servants on the Stairs, to convey his Lordship back to his Apartment, was so dreadful in his Lady's Ears, that it almost threw her into a shivering Fit of an Ague; and often on the melancholy Reflexion that she was doomed for Life to endure the Company, and even the Fondness, of a Man utterly disagreeable to her, she wanted Words to express herself, and was ready to exclaim, with Hamlet,
F3 Oh!
Page 102
Oh! horrible, horrible, most horrible!
The more she considered, the more Reason she perceived for Self-condemnation: She had no longer any Relish for her once favourite Amusement of Reading; and mostly she disliked those Authors who have penetrated deeply into the intricate Paths of Vanity in the human Mind; for in them her own Folly was continually brought to her Remembrance, and presented to her View, that, like the Clown in the Play, whenever any Person was to be set down an Ass, she could not help saying, tho' perhaps only inwardly (That's I); but such an Acknowlegement was always accompanied by a very unpleasing Sensation.
Writings of Humour, by their Oddness or Peculiarity of Characters, excite Laughter; Histories of Wars and Politics, with which the Generality of Mankind have nothing to do, give an
Enter-
Page 103
tainment of another kind: but to peruse, with pleasure, true pictures of nature, requires either a clear or a hardened conscience; which Shakespeare has manifested to be his opinion, by Hamlet's method of discovering whether the ghost of his father had related the truth concerning being murthered by his uncle; making his uncle's behaviour, at the Representation of a murder, the test of that truth.
Lady Dellwyn could not persuade herself that she was innocent, whilst she found it necessary to lead a life of Deceit, altho' she had glossed over her actions with the sanction of matrimony; and reading was like setting a glass before her, which represented her to herself in so many deformed lights, that she could not bear the disagreeable view; and if Lady Fanny Fashion would now have condescended to have accepted of her Lord, she would have been heartily welcome to all that Gran-
F 4 deur
Page 104
deur and magnificence, which Lady Dellwyn was at length convinced she had purchased at a price greatly above its value.
CHAP.
CHAP. X.
Speaking Truth not only shames the D-l, but prevents us a great deal of unnecessary Trouble.
WHEN Lady Dellwyn finished the new furnishing her Castle, she began to be at a great Loss for Employment; she had now no Refuge from a languid, wearisome Melancholy, which is often called a Fever upon the Spirits; she had no Food from outward Objects, to employ her animal Spirits, and they therefore prey'd at home, and oppressed her own Mind.
This being haunted with Ghosts, dejected with an unaccountable Melancholy, and afflicted with a Variety of Distempers, tho' we are at a Loss to
dis-
Page 93
discover what Appellation to give them, is very often the Result of nothing more than a strong Imagination unimployed; which could be all alive and merry if it was not confined to some Scene of Dullness, which curbs all its Pleasures; and then, rather than be motionless, it chuses to be mischievous, bearing in that respect a strong Resemblance to the Activity of the Monkey, whose chief Glory is to mimick Man, and who, as far as that Mimickry goes, is a most perfect Master of that Branch of Ridicule.
Lady Dellwyn was now as totally incapable of enjoying the Country, as she was, at her first Arrival in London, of tasting the Pleasures to which she had then been wholly unaccustomed.
Lord Dellwyn's distempered State of Body was constantly attended with Peevishness; but yet, to prove that he had the Power of commanding himself when he pleased, and only vented
his
Page 94
his Passions when, and on whom, he thought proper, he confined the Impetuosity of his Rage to his Servants alone, and his Fondness for his young Lady restrained him from bestowing on her any Share of his Displeasure: But this was by no means an Alleviation to her Melancholy; perhaps had it been otherwise, and she had been also a Partaker of his Wrath, an Opportunity of Contention might have raised her Spirits, and relieved her from her Languidness. Her Lord's Fondness was beyond Comparison more odious to her than his Anger; and, if the Choice had been given her, she would greatly have preferred the latter; and have thought she had made a very advantageous Exchange, if by that means she might have been freed from the former.
Lady Dellwyn had now brought herself into a State, in which she was in a manner under an Obligation to live a Lye; not only her Language, but every Look, every Gesture, must indicate
some
Page 95
some Falsehood: She had not been instructed young enough in this Sort of Commerce, to have the Advantage of Custom to lighten such an insupportable Burthen; it was to her lively Imagination more than an Herculean Labour: She fainted under the heavy Load, and consumed away almost to a Skeleton.
My Lord now, as an Aggravation to his Lady's Misfortunes, began to ex- press a great Satisfaction in the Counttry; which he thought better suited to his Time of Life than the Hurry and Confusion of a Town. He was so perfectly happy in his Countess, that it was unnecessary to put himself to the Trouble of long Journies in pursuit of other Pleasures.
Lady Dellwyn was too conscious of the Conclusion which must naturally follow an earnest Sollicitation on her Part for public Places, to dare to undertake importuning her Lord on that
Account.
Page 96
Account. The Pains she was obliged to undergo to avoid the Appearance of Truth, and to conceal her want of Affection to her Husband, rendered it almost impossible for her at the same time to venture to declare she was miserable, unless a Variety of Company might, in some measure, ease her of the Burthen of being continually confined to her Lord's Conversation.
At the Time that Lady Dellwyn lived with her Father Mr. Lucum in the Country, he imputed all his Mortifications to the various treacherous Parts he had acted, and therefore had a kind of temporary Rage against that Vice by which he had suffered so much; which Rage had as long a Continuance as his imaginary Philosophy and Con- tempt of the World; for which Reason he pointed all his Endeavours to breed up his Daughter with a peculiar Hatred to all Manner of Falsehood: It was, therefore, doubly barbarous to
place
Page 97
place her in a Station of Life, for which she was absolutely unqualified.
Ladies have sometimes thrown their whole House into an Uproar, and themselves into Fits, if their Husbands, by any Accident, have been prevented from returning home at the appointed Time, for fear they should have been swallowed up, like Tom Thumb, by a red Cow; and the next Day renewed the fame Confusion, because it was not convenient for them to shew themselves that Season at London, Bath, Bristol, or any other public Place, which chanced at that Time to be uppermost in their Inclinations; nay, and what is still more wonderful, they have expected their Husbands to be convinced, that the Affliction in both Instances was real, and without any Degree of Affectation; and in fact sometimes this contradictory Practice hath succeeded, and they have been perfectly credited.
Vol. 1. F Lady
Page 98
Lady Dellwyn was not adept enough in the new Trade she had undertaken; and unfortunately penetrated so far, that she was truly aukward at this kind of Craftiness: Neither had she any Prompter, who could give her Assistance to perform her Part; for she never thought of the Expedient of making a whispering Party in her Lord's House against him, or of placeing such a Confidence in her Servant, as to reveal to her the inward State of her Mind: Altho' she could not attain an absolute Command over her Inclinations, yet she guarded the Door of her Lips so strictly, that she never suffered herself to give Utterance to any contemptuous Expressions of her Lord; and in this Particular, her Example was then worthy of Imitation.
And now the Lady was again metamorphosed from the gay, fluttering, admired young Woman of Quality (the Form she had last appeared in at London) into a lamenting Niobe; she
wasted
Page 99
wasted herself with weeping; not for any Loss she had sustained, but for the unfortunate Acquisition of the very Husband she had sought with careful Anxiety.
There is perhaps no greater Difficulty, than to enter into Conversation under the Terror of betraying any hidden Secret of the Heart; the Discovery of which may probably be attended with some dreaded Consequence: And Lady Dellwyn was obliged to take every Thought into serious Consideration before she permitted to her Tongue the Liberty of Utterance, left her Indifference, not to say Aversion, to her Lord, should peep out and be discovered unawares.
In fact, whilst the Lady was eagerly pursuing the Fortune and Rank to which it was in Lord Dellwyn's Power to exalt her, she had fixed her whole Imagination on her own favourite Prospect; and overlooking every other Ob-
F2 ject,
Page 100
ject, she had absolutely forgot the heavy Tax she must pay for the Indulgence of her fancied Scheme of Happiness; and even that, by her own Act and Deed, she was bringing herself under an Obligation to spend her Life with her Lord, was a Truth that found no room for Entrance at that time into her Consideration.
This Discovery was reserved for the Time of Leisure. And now in her Retirement from those gay Pleasures, which had dazled her Understanding and turned her Head giddy, it became so glaring in her Sight, that she could no longer shut her Eyes close enough to prevent its being full in her View.
Repentance went hand-in-hand with this Reflexion, and Lady Dellwyn would joyfully have resigned all the Dignity of her Person, to have been again transformed to Miss Lucum in her pleasant rural Retreat.
When
Page 101
When Lord Dellwyn was able to be carried out for the Benefit of the Air, his Lady, under some Pretence of Disorder in her Head or Stomach (for every Part bore its Portion of Falsehood) contrived to be excused bearing him Company, that she might gain some few Hours to herself: Yet those Hours, instead of being spent in her former amusing Employments, were consumed in fruitless Lamentations; but when the loud Rap at the Gate proclaimed the Approach of the Lord of the Castle, then was her Terror again renewed.
The rumbling of the Servants on the Stairs, to convey his Lordship back to his Apartment, was so dreadful in his Lady's Ears, that it almost threw her into a shivering Fit of an Ague; and often on the melancholy Reflexion that she was doomed for Life to endure the Company, and even the Fondness, of a Man utterly disagreeable to her, she wanted Words to express herself, and was ready to exclaim, with Hamlet,
F3 Oh!
Page 102
Oh! horrible, horrible, most horrible!
The more she considered, the more Reason she perceived for Self-condemnation: She had no longer any Relish for her once favourite Amusement of Reading; and mostly she disliked those Authors who have penetrated deeply into the intricate Paths of Vanity in the human Mind; for in them her own Folly was continually brought to her Remembrance, and presented to her View, that, like the Clown in the Play, whenever any Person was to be set down an Ass, she could not help saying, tho' perhaps only inwardly (That's I); but such an Acknowlegement was always accompanied by a very unpleasing Sensation.
Writings of Humour, by their Oddness or Peculiarity of Characters, excite Laughter; Histories of Wars and Politics, with which the Generality of Mankind have nothing to do, give an
Enter-
Page 103
tainment of another kind: but to peruse, with pleasure, true pictures of nature, requires either a clear or a hardened conscience; which Shakespeare has manifested to be his opinion, by Hamlet's method of discovering whether the ghost of his father had related the truth concerning being murthered by his uncle; making his uncle's behaviour, at the Representation of a murder, the test of that truth.
Lady Dellwyn could not persuade herself that she was innocent, whilst she found it necessary to lead a life of Deceit, altho' she had glossed over her actions with the sanction of matrimony; and reading was like setting a glass before her, which represented her to herself in so many deformed lights, that she could not bear the disagreeable view; and if Lady Fanny Fashion would now have condescended to have accepted of her Lord, she would have been heartily welcome to all that Gran-
F 4 deur
Page 104
deur and magnificence, which Lady Dellwyn was at length convinced she had purchased at a price greatly above its value.
CHAP.
Chapter 11
105
CHAP. XI.
Not Venice preserved, but a Venus betrayed, and a Plot discovered.
Lady Dellwyn one Evening, having had an Opportunity of relieving the Oppression of her Spirits by a flood of Tears, entered into Conversation with her Lord more unreservedly than was customary; which so opened his Lordship's Heart, that he freely confessed her father's carrying her to London, his Pretence of marrying Lady Fanny Fashion, and every Transaction from the time of her Arrival in London, were nothing more than the Effects of a Stratagem, concerted between himself and Mr. Lucum, to prevail with her to consent to be his Countess.
F 5 Lady
106
Lady Dellwyn at first could not smother her Indignation; but answered, with an uncommon Warmth, It is an Honour worthy of mighty Triumph, my Lord, for Two great men to conquer One weak woman *; but then, suddenly recollecting herself, and considering the Appearance any Vehemence from her on that Occasion must have, she endeavoured to drag a Smile into her countenance; so aukwardly indeed, that a Third Person would easily have distinguished it from the joyous Smile, which is the result of an elated
* Perhaps Lady Dellwyn had in View June's speech to Venus, in the Fourth Book of the Aeneid; in which are these Lines:
A high Exploit indeed, a glorious Name,
Unfading Trophies and eternal Fame,
You, and your Son, have worthily pursu'd!
Two gods a single woman have subdu'd.
But whether it was Memory, or sudden Thought, that prompted her to this Expression, is uncertain; for mortal Women and poetical Goddesses are so like each other, that they cannot easily be distinguished.
8 Heart:
107
Heart: My Lord however graciously accepted it, and was satisfied with her good Intentions.
Lady Dellwyn, since her Retirement, had often reflected with Astonishment, on her Father's unaccountable behaviour; which, during the Time that her Spirits were in too great Agitation for her to know her own Mind, had passed unobserved: But now her Lord had given her a Clue, whereby she could naturally trace every Step by which she had been duped into her own Misery.
Mortifying as this was, yet Pride, by a strange Turn, made it yield a small Degree of necessary Comfort. Her Ladyship hitherto had pointed all her Anger and Contempt at her own folly; but now other Objects started up, on whom she could throw Part of the Burthen; and she began to admit many alleviating Arguments, and to convince herself that she was not so very culpable as she had before ima-
F 6 gined:
108
gined: Youth, Inexperience, with a great Number of plausible Excuses, stood ready at hand to plead her Cause before her own Tribunal, and were all heard with the most lenient Candour. She had hitherto only felt a Disgust to her Lord; but now she added Indignation against the Man who was capable of acting a treacherous Part. Many epithets of Abuse were annexed closely to her Lord's name; but this was all inwardly, for she suffered none of them to escape through the Door of her Lips.
Lord Dellwyn was not however, even in Thought, accused by his Lady of being any thing more than an humble Instrument to execute her Father's Designs; for the last accusation she would have alleged against him, was that of laying a Plot that required the least Consideration.
It belongs to the Avocation of a great Politician, to know how to form
and
109
and execute the lesser, as well as the greater Schemes and Intrigues; and Mr. Lucum exerted as much Art in the bringing about this domestic Stratagem, as if he had been managing some great Wheel of State-policy; for whilst he was betraying his Daughter to her own Misery, he was also deceiving Lord Dellwyn into an Opinion that Miss Lucum had no other Reason for her Refusal of such Honours, but an effeminate Bashfulness concerning being married; which Assertion the young Lady's Behaviour, when the Dread of Lady Fanny Fashion's being his Countess had alarmed her Vanity, confirmed perfectly to my Lord's Satisfaction.
On the Outside of Lord Dellwyn's Castle, a Lover of Milton would naturally be induced to remember his Description of Paradise, when Satan was first beholding the envied Happiness of our First Parents:
Beneath
110
Beneath him, with new Wonder, now he views,
To all Delight of human Sense expos'd,
In narrow room, Nature's whole Wealth; yea more,
A Heaven on Earth.
Where the calm Mind undisturbed with restless Passions, when the glowing Morning Sun gilded the charming Prospect, might enjoy that innocent Pleasure which is to be felt alone; for no Description can reach the Height or Depth of its Joy, or convey an Idea any thing adequate to its Excellence, to those unfortunate Persons, who have ever been accustomed to think all Pleasure consists in a constant Attendance on Crouds, and a gay Dissipation of the Senses.
In Lady Dellwyn's Apartment, on the Consideration that she was Owner of the Castle, the Lines of Milton, which are placed immediately before these Words, would be applicable:
-So
111
-So little knows
Any, but God alone, to value right
The Good before him; but perverts best Things
To wost Abuse, or to their meanest Use.
There were present many of the Disorders which Virgil so finely and poetically personifies, and places at the Gates of the infernal Shades. There revengeful Cares, inward Strifes, and pale Diseases, had taken up their Habitations; but refreshing Sleep found no Entrance. A small Voice issued from a Bed placed in utter Darkness, where no Ray of Light was admitted; complaining of bad Nerves, low Spirits, and terrible Dreams. The Servants, with the utmost Care, could not approach her Ladyship at the Summons of her Bell, but her disordered Head was disturbed; and several of her Women were dismissed her Service, because they were not possessed of the Power ascribed to Ghosts, of creeping through the Key-hole. Imaginary
Distem-
112
Distempers, which arise from the Perturbation of the Mind, are, in the Language of the Grave-digger in Hamlet, as whoreson Decayers of the human Body as Fevers, or any other Disorders whatever.
Lady Dellwyn, from restless Days and sleepless Nights, at length looked so ill, that her Lord was afraid she was falling into a galloping Consumption. He daily enquired what was the Cause of her Disorder; but as she dared not for the World let the Truth appear, she was under some Difficulty to find a proper Answer to his Question. In fact, she was Husband-sick, in a Manner the very reverse of what is generally termed Mother-sick; for Girls are so called, when they pine on being separated from their Mothers: And, if she had been admitted to have spoke her Mind, she would have used an Expression of this Import: " My Lord, you are my Disease."
This
113
This melancholy Life reduced Lady Dellwyn to such a languid State of Health, that her Lord sent for Doctor Small, a neighbouring Physician; who had spent great Part of his Youth in London, and was full-fraught with all such Knowlege as generally passes under the Denomination of, The Knowlege of the World, Doctor Small immediately discovered, that the Bristol Water was so necessary for her Ladyship, that nothing else could save her Life. Lord Dellwyn was very averse to so long a Journey; but yet was not willing to omit taking any Method which the Doctor pronounced would be an absolute Restorative to his Lady; with whom the Doctor was become so great a Favourite, that she was continually sending for him, and seemed always the better for his Presence, having discovered that he was the best Physician and the most sensible Man in the World.
Pre-
114
Preparations were now made for their Journey, and the Lady seemed greatly revived, even before they put their Purpose into Execution; insomuch that my Lord once hinted as if there was Reason to hope that she might recover without the Trouble of travelling so many Miles; but in that Moment, a sudden Shivering and Pain in the Head seizing her, my Lord gave up all such Thoughts for the future: And as soon as possible they set forward for Bristol.
C H A P.
CHAP. XI.
Not Venice preserved, but a Venus betrayed, and a Plot discovered.
Lady Dellwyn one Evening, having had an Opportunity of relieving the Oppression of her Spirits by a flood of Tears, entered into Conversation with her Lord more unreservedly than was customary; which so opened his Lordship's Heart, that he freely confessed her father's carrying her to London, his Pretence of marrying Lady Fanny Fashion, and every Transaction from the time of her Arrival in London, were nothing more than the Effects of a Stratagem, concerted between himself and Mr. Lucum, to prevail with her to consent to be his Countess.
F 5 Lady
106
Lady Dellwyn at first could not smother her Indignation; but answered, with an uncommon Warmth, It is an Honour worthy of mighty Triumph, my Lord, for Two great men to conquer One weak woman *; but then, suddenly recollecting herself, and considering the Appearance any Vehemence from her on that Occasion must have, she endeavoured to drag a Smile into her countenance; so aukwardly indeed, that a Third Person would easily have distinguished it from the joyous Smile, which is the result of an elated
* Perhaps Lady Dellwyn had in View June's speech to Venus, in the Fourth Book of the Aeneid; in which are these Lines:
A high Exploit indeed, a glorious Name,
Unfading Trophies and eternal Fame,
You, and your Son, have worthily pursu'd!
Two gods a single woman have subdu'd.
But whether it was Memory, or sudden Thought, that prompted her to this Expression, is uncertain; for mortal Women and poetical Goddesses are so like each other, that they cannot easily be distinguished.
8 Heart:
107
Heart: My Lord however graciously accepted it, and was satisfied with her good Intentions.
Lady Dellwyn, since her Retirement, had often reflected with Astonishment, on her Father's unaccountable behaviour; which, during the Time that her Spirits were in too great Agitation for her to know her own Mind, had passed unobserved: But now her Lord had given her a Clue, whereby she could naturally trace every Step by which she had been duped into her own Misery.
Mortifying as this was, yet Pride, by a strange Turn, made it yield a small Degree of necessary Comfort. Her Ladyship hitherto had pointed all her Anger and Contempt at her own folly; but now other Objects started up, on whom she could throw Part of the Burthen; and she began to admit many alleviating Arguments, and to convince herself that she was not so very culpable as she had before ima-
F 6 gined:
108
gined: Youth, Inexperience, with a great Number of plausible Excuses, stood ready at hand to plead her Cause before her own Tribunal, and were all heard with the most lenient Candour. She had hitherto only felt a Disgust to her Lord; but now she added Indignation against the Man who was capable of acting a treacherous Part. Many epithets of Abuse were annexed closely to her Lord's name; but this was all inwardly, for she suffered none of them to escape through the Door of her Lips.
Lord Dellwyn was not however, even in Thought, accused by his Lady of being any thing more than an humble Instrument to execute her Father's Designs; for the last accusation she would have alleged against him, was that of laying a Plot that required the least Consideration.
It belongs to the Avocation of a great Politician, to know how to form
and
109
and execute the lesser, as well as the greater Schemes and Intrigues; and Mr. Lucum exerted as much Art in the bringing about this domestic Stratagem, as if he had been managing some great Wheel of State-policy; for whilst he was betraying his Daughter to her own Misery, he was also deceiving Lord Dellwyn into an Opinion that Miss Lucum had no other Reason for her Refusal of such Honours, but an effeminate Bashfulness concerning being married; which Assertion the young Lady's Behaviour, when the Dread of Lady Fanny Fashion's being his Countess had alarmed her Vanity, confirmed perfectly to my Lord's Satisfaction.
On the Outside of Lord Dellwyn's Castle, a Lover of Milton would naturally be induced to remember his Description of Paradise, when Satan was first beholding the envied Happiness of our First Parents:
Beneath
110
Beneath him, with new Wonder, now he views,
To all Delight of human Sense expos'd,
In narrow room, Nature's whole Wealth; yea more,
A Heaven on Earth.
Where the calm Mind undisturbed with restless Passions, when the glowing Morning Sun gilded the charming Prospect, might enjoy that innocent Pleasure which is to be felt alone; for no Description can reach the Height or Depth of its Joy, or convey an Idea any thing adequate to its Excellence, to those unfortunate Persons, who have ever been accustomed to think all Pleasure consists in a constant Attendance on Crouds, and a gay Dissipation of the Senses.
In Lady Dellwyn's Apartment, on the Consideration that she was Owner of the Castle, the Lines of Milton, which are placed immediately before these Words, would be applicable:
-So
111
-So little knows
Any, but God alone, to value right
The Good before him; but perverts best Things
To wost Abuse, or to their meanest Use.
There were present many of the Disorders which Virgil so finely and poetically personifies, and places at the Gates of the infernal Shades. There revengeful Cares, inward Strifes, and pale Diseases, had taken up their Habitations; but refreshing Sleep found no Entrance. A small Voice issued from a Bed placed in utter Darkness, where no Ray of Light was admitted; complaining of bad Nerves, low Spirits, and terrible Dreams. The Servants, with the utmost Care, could not approach her Ladyship at the Summons of her Bell, but her disordered Head was disturbed; and several of her Women were dismissed her Service, because they were not possessed of the Power ascribed to Ghosts, of creeping through the Key-hole. Imaginary
Distem-
112
Distempers, which arise from the Perturbation of the Mind, are, in the Language of the Grave-digger in Hamlet, as whoreson Decayers of the human Body as Fevers, or any other Disorders whatever.
Lady Dellwyn, from restless Days and sleepless Nights, at length looked so ill, that her Lord was afraid she was falling into a galloping Consumption. He daily enquired what was the Cause of her Disorder; but as she dared not for the World let the Truth appear, she was under some Difficulty to find a proper Answer to his Question. In fact, she was Husband-sick, in a Manner the very reverse of what is generally termed Mother-sick; for Girls are so called, when they pine on being separated from their Mothers: And, if she had been admitted to have spoke her Mind, she would have used an Expression of this Import: " My Lord, you are my Disease."
This
113
This melancholy Life reduced Lady Dellwyn to such a languid State of Health, that her Lord sent for Doctor Small, a neighbouring Physician; who had spent great Part of his Youth in London, and was full-fraught with all such Knowlege as generally passes under the Denomination of, The Knowlege of the World, Doctor Small immediately discovered, that the Bristol Water was so necessary for her Ladyship, that nothing else could save her Life. Lord Dellwyn was very averse to so long a Journey; but yet was not willing to omit taking any Method which the Doctor pronounced would be an absolute Restorative to his Lady; with whom the Doctor was become so great a Favourite, that she was continually sending for him, and seemed always the better for his Presence, having discovered that he was the best Physician and the most sensible Man in the World.
Pre-
114
Preparations were now made for their Journey, and the Lady seemed greatly revived, even before they put their Purpose into Execution; insomuch that my Lord once hinted as if there was Reason to hope that she might recover without the Trouble of travelling so many Miles; but in that Moment, a sudden Shivering and Pain in the Head seizing her, my Lord gave up all such Thoughts for the future: And as soon as possible they set forward for Bristol.
C H A P.
Chapter 12
115
C H A P. XII.
Contempt or Indignation against ourselves
of but a short Continuance, and
very easily mitigated, or totally appeased.
IT was that Year a very full Season at Bristol; and Lord and Lady Dellwyn were welcomed there with great Respect by all the People of Fashion. My Lord himself appeared but little abroad; but as he had taken this long Journey entirely on the Account of his Lady, he was pleased at her partaking of the Diversions in a moderate Manner. The Variety of Objects continually passing before her Eyes, together with the Power of being in Company whenever she pleased, somewhat abated her Melancholy. His Lordship was in hopes that this small Amend-
116
Amendment was the Effect of the Waters, and indicated a perfect Cure; but her Ladyship well knew that the being less confined to her Lord's Company was the only Source whence flowed her apparent Revival; for their tête à tête Conversations, where Hums and Ha's, and Gapings, composed the greatest Part of the Sounds, did not seem calculated to incite any Degree of Liveliness.
There was then at the Hot-wells a young Nobleman (Lord Clermont by Name) who immediately singled Lady Dellwyn out as a proper Objet of Admiration; and assiduously watched every Opportunity to entertain her to the utmost of his Power. This Accident seemed to awake her as from a Dream, and her Mind was roused as from a Lethargy, by having discovered a new Employment. Lord Clermont's particular and continual Pursuit of her was remarkable to the whole Company; but yet he could by no means
raise
117
raise in Lady Dellwyn the least Partiality towards him. It is certain he employed her Thoughts greatly; but in a very different Manner from that which would have been any Gratificatidn to his Wishes: He was considered by her as a proper Objedc on which to exert her Prudence, but had no Share in her Affection. She was continually balancing with herself whether she should avoid or go to the Places where there was most Probability of meeting with him; and often resisted her Inclination to hear his Flattery, from a Motive very adequate to its Purpose; namely, that of having a Claim to a little of her own Approbation.
From the Time that Lady Dellwyn had thoroughly imbibed the Infection of Vanity, and that Passion had got the uppermost Seat in her Mind, she had lost all Relish for every other Gratification, but what in some measure contributed to the satisfying this her insatiable Tyrant. Lord Clermont's Ad-
dresses
118
dresses gave her abundant Opportuninities of enjoying this Pleasure. The resisting the Addresses of an agreeable Man, altho' it must be confessed that she had not any particular Liking to him, was yet a sufficient Foundation, when she was her own Judge, whereon to build a Self-admiration, and attribute to herself a very estimable Virtue. No sooner had she got Possession of this gay Feather, than she began to plume herself on her own good Qualities. That humble Light, wherein she had appeared to her own Reflexions, had hitherto been an almost insupportable Mortification, but was now put to flight in a Moment; her Indignation and Contempt were all plentifully bestowed on Lord Dellwyn, and her whole Stock of Esteem was confined at home, and travelled no farther than her own Bosom.
Lord Dellwyn immediately perceived the Alteration, and imputed it to her being too much pleased with the
Ad-
119
Addresses of a young and amiable Nobleman; whereas in reality the Change of her Behaviour arose from a new-acquired Liking to herself: Her Lord however absolutely forbad her having any farther Intercourse with Lord Clermont; with which Injunction she, without any Hesitation, and with a Smile of Good-humour, instantly promised an unreserved Compliance; only desiring his Lordship would permit her, whilst she was endeavouring to avoid Lord Clermont, not to be so particular as to render herself the Observation of the whole Company by her uncommon Behaviour; for Lord Clermont was himself at that time so much the Objet of Attention, that he was not accustomed to be treated with any sort of Neglect.
Hitherto when Reflexion intruded itself forcibly on Lady Dellwyn, she was dissatisfied with her own Conduct, and saw a Reason for condemning herself; which was greatly and painfully
alarming
120
alarming to her Pride: This rendered her humble enough to endeavour to conceal from Lord Dellwyn the inward Dislike she harboured against him; and the only Shadow of a Virtue she could make herself hope she was possessed of, was the patiently suffering, and making the best of the Situation, in which she had been pleased to place herself. She had indeed received some little Comfort, by Lord Dellwyn's Confession of the Stratagem contrived between himself and her Father to allure her to her Marriage; this assisted her to admit her Lord into the Participation of a large Share of her Anger; yet the Consideration of the Manner by which she had been made a Dupe to her own ungovernable Vanity, and an Instrument in the Hand of others to play upon at Pleasure, till she even courted her own Unhappiness, confined great Part of her Contempt at home, and it fell in great abundance on her own Head.
The
121
The readily avoiding the Conversation of Lord Clermont at her Lord's Desire, was the first Transaction that had passed from the Time of her accompanying her Lord to his Seat in the Country, which had given her any true Pleasure, without the annexing of any one Circumstance to alloy it by piqueing her Pride: For tho' in fact she had not Inclination enough for Lord Clermont, to boast any great Self-denial on this Occasion; yet, as she searched not so minutely, as to penetrate her real Motive, her Compliance with her Husband gave her great Consequence in her own Eyes.
One fancied Virtue is more dangerous than many acknowleged Vices; for the former is cherished as the most deligltful of Friends; whilst the latter, however tempting at first Sight, is always attended with Shame on Reflection. Self-admiration, like Virgil's Fame, from the smallest Beginnings soon spreadeth and enlargeth itself, till
VOL. I. G it
122
it reacheth the Clouds; and the elated Imagination can nourish a Thousand gay pleasant Ideas in its extended Branches.
Lady Dellwyn now delighted her Fancy with erecting a Pair of mental Scales; in One Balance placing her own newly-discovered Merits, and in the other all such Virtues as she allowed her Lord to be possessed of. Her Memory was faithful to the minutest Circumstance that could give Weight to her own Side; and, when this last Compliance with her Husband was added to the other numerous Articles, the Balance which contained the whole load of her Virtues struck the Ground with its Force; whilst that in which her Fancy had placed Lord Dellwyn's Merit, flew upwards with its Lightness; and all the Trifles therein, like Half the Prayer to Jupiter, in Homer, were lost and scattered in the Air.
This
123
This healing Balsam of Self-flattery again transformed the weeping Niobe into one of the gayest Figures in the Creation. Nature adorns the Peacock with various coloured Beauties; but hath left the Choice in the Bird's own Power, either to drop down its Feathers in almost One undistinguishable Lump, or to open and display .their Lustre in the Sun.
Lady Dellwyn's Beauty had been long veiled under the louring Cloud of Discontent; but now, instead of a reserved, melancholy, down-cast Look, her Eyes sparkled with Vivacity, and her whole Countenance became enlightened. A Stranger, and a Foreigner to her Bosom (Self-applause) was joy- fully welcomed home, and embraced, Her Dress, tho' rich in itself, had hitherto been greatly neglected in its Form and Fashion; but now the utmost Elegance of Taste was visible in her Choice; her fine Hair, which wanted no Art, was yet carefully dressed
G in
124
in the newest Mode, no envious Cap presuming to cover any Part of it; nothing of less Value or Beauty than Diamonds, being admitted to come near its shining Lustre: Her well-turned white Neck was covered with a Veil so transparent, that, instead of concealing, heightened all its Beauties: Her long flowing Train alternately brushed the Ground while she passed on with Dignity, or was tucked under her left Arm, with a Grace and Air altogether inimitable: Dimpling Smiles play'd around her Lips whenever she spoke, and rendered her Conversation doubly engaging.
Lady Dellwyn kept her Word in avoiding Lord Clermont; nor was she particular in her Behaviour to any other Man. Her Lord therefore was greatly pleased, and imputed the Recovery of his Lady's Health to the Benefit she had received from the Waters. She was was now so generally in Good-humour, that a small Share of it shed its Influence
on
125
on her Lord; altho' whenever her Temper was any way ruffled, it unfortunately happened when he was her only Companion; insomuch that it became very visible to the whole Company, when- ever Lady Dellwyn appeared, whether or no my Lord was in the same Party; for then the fixed Posture of her Eyes proved they had nothing agreeable to declare: and there seemed to have been a Confederacy entered into between her Eyes and Tongue, in which they had mutually made a Vow of Silence. Her Charms were all so lowered for want of Animation, that probably, had she never been seen but in her Lord's Company, her Beauty had passed almost unregarded.
There is no Person living, who, in their Commerce with this World, doth not shut their Eyes up very close, but must have observed how much it is in a Woman's Power to enliven and heighten her Beauty to her Beholders, or to command her Charms into a languid
G 3 Dull-
126
Dullness, whenever the Absence of Pleasure, or the Presence of a disagreeable Object, hath such an Effect on her Humour as to take from her the customary Desire of pleasing. Perhaps we might hence derive one Reason why it is so often said of a fine Woman, That all the World is sensible of her Beauty, except her Husband.
Lady Dellwyn's slow Pace, whilst she accompanied her Lord, was suddenly changed, when she left him and joined her young Companions, into a lively and spirited Motion; and as she contrived to be as little with her Lord as possible, the greatest Part of her Time rolled on with Pleasure, and gave her an Opportunity of exerting all those Charms, with which her elegant Form was naturally endowed.
One shocking, though unavoidable, Consequence of Lady Dellwyn's visible Amendment, on which she had hither-
to
127
to never reflected, now disagreeably intruded itself into her Remembrance; but the irksome Talk of disturbing her short-lived Tranquility shall be reserved for another Chapter.
G4 CHAP.
C H A P. XII.
Contempt or Indignation against ourselves
of but a short Continuance, and
very easily mitigated, or totally appeased.
IT was that Year a very full Season at Bristol; and Lord and Lady Dellwyn were welcomed there with great Respect by all the People of Fashion. My Lord himself appeared but little abroad; but as he had taken this long Journey entirely on the Account of his Lady, he was pleased at her partaking of the Diversions in a moderate Manner. The Variety of Objects continually passing before her Eyes, together with the Power of being in Company whenever she pleased, somewhat abated her Melancholy. His Lordship was in hopes that this small Amend-
116
Amendment was the Effect of the Waters, and indicated a perfect Cure; but her Ladyship well knew that the being less confined to her Lord's Company was the only Source whence flowed her apparent Revival; for their tête à tête Conversations, where Hums and Ha's, and Gapings, composed the greatest Part of the Sounds, did not seem calculated to incite any Degree of Liveliness.
There was then at the Hot-wells a young Nobleman (Lord Clermont by Name) who immediately singled Lady Dellwyn out as a proper Objet of Admiration; and assiduously watched every Opportunity to entertain her to the utmost of his Power. This Accident seemed to awake her as from a Dream, and her Mind was roused as from a Lethargy, by having discovered a new Employment. Lord Clermont's particular and continual Pursuit of her was remarkable to the whole Company; but yet he could by no means
raise
117
raise in Lady Dellwyn the least Partiality towards him. It is certain he employed her Thoughts greatly; but in a very different Manner from that which would have been any Gratificatidn to his Wishes: He was considered by her as a proper Objedc on which to exert her Prudence, but had no Share in her Affection. She was continually balancing with herself whether she should avoid or go to the Places where there was most Probability of meeting with him; and often resisted her Inclination to hear his Flattery, from a Motive very adequate to its Purpose; namely, that of having a Claim to a little of her own Approbation.
From the Time that Lady Dellwyn had thoroughly imbibed the Infection of Vanity, and that Passion had got the uppermost Seat in her Mind, she had lost all Relish for every other Gratification, but what in some measure contributed to the satisfying this her insatiable Tyrant. Lord Clermont's Ad-
dresses
118
dresses gave her abundant Opportuninities of enjoying this Pleasure. The resisting the Addresses of an agreeable Man, altho' it must be confessed that she had not any particular Liking to him, was yet a sufficient Foundation, when she was her own Judge, whereon to build a Self-admiration, and attribute to herself a very estimable Virtue. No sooner had she got Possession of this gay Feather, than she began to plume herself on her own good Qualities. That humble Light, wherein she had appeared to her own Reflexions, had hitherto been an almost insupportable Mortification, but was now put to flight in a Moment; her Indignation and Contempt were all plentifully bestowed on Lord Dellwyn, and her whole Stock of Esteem was confined at home, and travelled no farther than her own Bosom.
Lord Dellwyn immediately perceived the Alteration, and imputed it to her being too much pleased with the
Ad-
119
Addresses of a young and amiable Nobleman; whereas in reality the Change of her Behaviour arose from a new-acquired Liking to herself: Her Lord however absolutely forbad her having any farther Intercourse with Lord Clermont; with which Injunction she, without any Hesitation, and with a Smile of Good-humour, instantly promised an unreserved Compliance; only desiring his Lordship would permit her, whilst she was endeavouring to avoid Lord Clermont, not to be so particular as to render herself the Observation of the whole Company by her uncommon Behaviour; for Lord Clermont was himself at that time so much the Objet of Attention, that he was not accustomed to be treated with any sort of Neglect.
Hitherto when Reflexion intruded itself forcibly on Lady Dellwyn, she was dissatisfied with her own Conduct, and saw a Reason for condemning herself; which was greatly and painfully
alarming
120
alarming to her Pride: This rendered her humble enough to endeavour to conceal from Lord Dellwyn the inward Dislike she harboured against him; and the only Shadow of a Virtue she could make herself hope she was possessed of, was the patiently suffering, and making the best of the Situation, in which she had been pleased to place herself. She had indeed received some little Comfort, by Lord Dellwyn's Confession of the Stratagem contrived between himself and her Father to allure her to her Marriage; this assisted her to admit her Lord into the Participation of a large Share of her Anger; yet the Consideration of the Manner by which she had been made a Dupe to her own ungovernable Vanity, and an Instrument in the Hand of others to play upon at Pleasure, till she even courted her own Unhappiness, confined great Part of her Contempt at home, and it fell in great abundance on her own Head.
The
121
The readily avoiding the Conversation of Lord Clermont at her Lord's Desire, was the first Transaction that had passed from the Time of her accompanying her Lord to his Seat in the Country, which had given her any true Pleasure, without the annexing of any one Circumstance to alloy it by piqueing her Pride: For tho' in fact she had not Inclination enough for Lord Clermont, to boast any great Self-denial on this Occasion; yet, as she searched not so minutely, as to penetrate her real Motive, her Compliance with her Husband gave her great Consequence in her own Eyes.
One fancied Virtue is more dangerous than many acknowleged Vices; for the former is cherished as the most deligltful of Friends; whilst the latter, however tempting at first Sight, is always attended with Shame on Reflection. Self-admiration, like Virgil's Fame, from the smallest Beginnings soon spreadeth and enlargeth itself, till
VOL. I. G it
122
it reacheth the Clouds; and the elated Imagination can nourish a Thousand gay pleasant Ideas in its extended Branches.
Lady Dellwyn now delighted her Fancy with erecting a Pair of mental Scales; in One Balance placing her own newly-discovered Merits, and in the other all such Virtues as she allowed her Lord to be possessed of. Her Memory was faithful to the minutest Circumstance that could give Weight to her own Side; and, when this last Compliance with her Husband was added to the other numerous Articles, the Balance which contained the whole load of her Virtues struck the Ground with its Force; whilst that in which her Fancy had placed Lord Dellwyn's Merit, flew upwards with its Lightness; and all the Trifles therein, like Half the Prayer to Jupiter, in Homer, were lost and scattered in the Air.
This
123
This healing Balsam of Self-flattery again transformed the weeping Niobe into one of the gayest Figures in the Creation. Nature adorns the Peacock with various coloured Beauties; but hath left the Choice in the Bird's own Power, either to drop down its Feathers in almost One undistinguishable Lump, or to open and display .their Lustre in the Sun.
Lady Dellwyn's Beauty had been long veiled under the louring Cloud of Discontent; but now, instead of a reserved, melancholy, down-cast Look, her Eyes sparkled with Vivacity, and her whole Countenance became enlightened. A Stranger, and a Foreigner to her Bosom (Self-applause) was joy- fully welcomed home, and embraced, Her Dress, tho' rich in itself, had hitherto been greatly neglected in its Form and Fashion; but now the utmost Elegance of Taste was visible in her Choice; her fine Hair, which wanted no Art, was yet carefully dressed
G in
124
in the newest Mode, no envious Cap presuming to cover any Part of it; nothing of less Value or Beauty than Diamonds, being admitted to come near its shining Lustre: Her well-turned white Neck was covered with a Veil so transparent, that, instead of concealing, heightened all its Beauties: Her long flowing Train alternately brushed the Ground while she passed on with Dignity, or was tucked under her left Arm, with a Grace and Air altogether inimitable: Dimpling Smiles play'd around her Lips whenever she spoke, and rendered her Conversation doubly engaging.
Lady Dellwyn kept her Word in avoiding Lord Clermont; nor was she particular in her Behaviour to any other Man. Her Lord therefore was greatly pleased, and imputed the Recovery of his Lady's Health to the Benefit she had received from the Waters. She was was now so generally in Good-humour, that a small Share of it shed its Influence
on
125
on her Lord; altho' whenever her Temper was any way ruffled, it unfortunately happened when he was her only Companion; insomuch that it became very visible to the whole Company, when- ever Lady Dellwyn appeared, whether or no my Lord was in the same Party; for then the fixed Posture of her Eyes proved they had nothing agreeable to declare: and there seemed to have been a Confederacy entered into between her Eyes and Tongue, in which they had mutually made a Vow of Silence. Her Charms were all so lowered for want of Animation, that probably, had she never been seen but in her Lord's Company, her Beauty had passed almost unregarded.
There is no Person living, who, in their Commerce with this World, doth not shut their Eyes up very close, but must have observed how much it is in a Woman's Power to enliven and heighten her Beauty to her Beholders, or to command her Charms into a languid
G 3 Dull-
126
Dullness, whenever the Absence of Pleasure, or the Presence of a disagreeable Object, hath such an Effect on her Humour as to take from her the customary Desire of pleasing. Perhaps we might hence derive one Reason why it is so often said of a fine Woman, That all the World is sensible of her Beauty, except her Husband.
Lady Dellwyn's slow Pace, whilst she accompanied her Lord, was suddenly changed, when she left him and joined her young Companions, into a lively and spirited Motion; and as she contrived to be as little with her Lord as possible, the greatest Part of her Time rolled on with Pleasure, and gave her an Opportunity of exerting all those Charms, with which her elegant Form was naturally endowed.
One shocking, though unavoidable, Consequence of Lady Dellwyn's visible Amendment, on which she had hither-
to
127
to never reflected, now disagreeably intruded itself into her Remembrance; but the irksome Talk of disturbing her short-lived Tranquility shall be reserved for another Chapter.
G4 CHAP.
Notes to Vol. 1, Book 1, Chapters 10-12
Chapter 10
Distempers: Derangement or disturbance of the 'humour' or 'temper.' Being out of humour; ill humour, ill temper; uneasiness; disaffection. (OED)
unimployed: 1759 misspelling of "unemployed."
chuses: 1759 spelling of "chooses."
Mimickry: 1759 spelling of "mimicry."
Lye: 1759 spelling of "lie."
Herculean: pertaining to Hercules, son of Zeus and the mortal woman, Alcmene, known for his extreme strength.
Burthen: burden. (OED)
barbarous: Uncultured, uncivilized, unpolished; rude, rough, wild, savage. (OED)
Tom Thumb: Tom Thumb is a character of English folklore. Tom is no bigger than his father's thumb, and his adventures include being swallowed by a cow, tangling with giants, and becoming a favourite of King Arthur.
Niobe: Greek mythology: Mentioned in Homer's The Iliad, Niobe had fourteen children who were killed by Artemis and Apollo after she boasting to Leto who only had two children. Definition: An inconsolably bereaved woman, a weeping woman.(OED)
Ague: A state or bout of distress, fear, or other strong emotion; a fit or spell of shaking or shivering. (OED)
Oh! horrible, horrible, most horrible!: Cf. Act 1, Scene 5 of Shakespeare's Hamlet
"Oh, horrible, oh, horrible, most horrible!
If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not.
Let not the royal bed of Denmark be
A couch for luxury and damned incest."
"Oh, horrible, oh, horrible, most horrible!
If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not.
Let not the royal bed of Denmark be
A couch for luxury and damned incest."
Chapter 11
June's: June: Also Juno
Cf. Virgil. "Virgil's Aeneid the Fourth Book." The works of Virgil in Latin and English. Trans. Christopher Pitt. Vol 2. London: printed for R. Dodsley, 1753. Eighteenth Century Collections Online. Gale. California State Univ. Northridge.
A high exploit indeed! a glorious name,
Unfading trophies and eternal fame.
You, and your son have worthily pursu'd!
Two gods a woman have subdu'd!
Cf. Virgil. "Virgil's Aeneid the Fourth Book." The works of Virgil in Latin and English. Trans. Christopher Pitt. Vol 2. London: printed for R. Dodsley, 1753. Eighteenth Century Collections Online. Gale. California State Univ. Northridge.
A high exploit indeed! a glorious name,
Unfading trophies and eternal fame.
You, and your son have worthily pursu'd!
Two gods a woman have subdu'd!
Avocation: "The calling away or withdrawl (of a person) from an employment; diversion of the thoughts." (OED)
Paradise: Cf. The Fourth Book from John Milton's Paradise Lost
"Beneath him, with new wonder, now he views/ To all Delight of human Sense exposed,/ In narrow room, Nature's whole Wealth; yea more-/ A Heaven on Earth"
"Beneath him, with new wonder, now he views/ To all Delight of human Sense exposed,/ In narrow room, Nature's whole Wealth; yea more-/ A Heaven on Earth"
So little knows: Cr. The Fourth Book in John Milton's Paradise Lost
So little knows
Any but God alone, to value right
The good before him; but perverts best things
To worst abuse, or their meanest use
So little knows
Any but God alone, to value right
The good before him; but perverts best things
To worst abuse, or their meanest use
Gates of infernal Shades: Cf. Virgil, "Virgil's Aeneid the Sixth Book." The Works of Virgil in Latin and English. trans. Christoper Pitt. Vol 3London: Printed for R. Dodsley, 1753. Eighteenth Century Collections Online. Gale. California State Univ. Northridge
At hell's dread mouth a thousand monsters wait;
Grief weeps, and Vengeance bellow in the gate:
Base Want, low Fear, and Famine's lawless rage,
And pale Disease, and slow repining Age,
Fierce, formidable fiends! the portal keeps;
With Pain, Toil, Death, and Death's half-brother sleep
At hell's dread mouth a thousand monsters wait;
Grief weeps, and Vengeance bellow in the gate:
Base Want, low Fear, and Famine's lawless rage,
And pale Disease, and slow repining Age,
Fierce, formidable fiends! the portal keeps;
With Pain, Toil, Death, and Death's half-brother sleep
Chapter 12
Half the Prayer to Jupiter: May refer to the moment in Book XXII in Homer's Iliad when Jupiter (also Zeus or Jove) weighs the fates of Achilles and Hector against each other on a balance scale. The side of the balance representing Achilles' fate rises very high while Hector's side drops incredibly low.
Niobe: In Book XXIV of Homer's Iliad, Achilles recounts the legend of Niobe to comfort Pram as he buries his father. Niobe's hubris over having six sons and six daughters makes the goddess, Latona (Leto), who only has two children, jealous. Latona's twinds punish Niobe by having Diana (Artemis) kill her daughters and Pheobus (Apollo) kill her sons. After mourning her children and fasting for nine days, Niobe retreats to the land Sipylum where she turn into stone. Niobe's grief remains so great that the stone still sheds tears as water.
