W ERE it poffible for me to let the World know how intirely Your Grace's Goodness has devoted a poor Man to Your Service; were there Words enough in Speech to exprefs the mighty Senfe I have of Your great Bounty towards me; furely I fhould write and talk of it for ever: But Your Grace K 2 as Grace has given me fo large a Theme, and laid fo vaft a Foundation, that Imagination wants Stock to build upon it. I am one dumb when I would fpeak of it; and when I ftrive to write, I want a Scale of Thought fufficient to comprehend the Height of it. Forgive me then, Madam, if (as a poor Peafant once made a Present of an Apple to an Emperor) I bring this fmall Tribute, the humble Growth of my little Garden, and lay it at your Feet. Believe it is paid You with the utmost Gratitude: Believe that fo long as I have Thought to remember how very much I owe Your generous Nature, I will ever have a Heart that fhall be grateful for it too: Your Grace, 'next Heav'n, deferves it amply from me; That gave me Life, but on a hard Condition, 'till Your extended Favour taught me to prize the Gift, and took the heavy Burden it was clogg'd with from me; I mean, hard Fortune. When I had Enemies, that with malicious Power kept back, and fhaded me from thofe Royal Beams, whofe Warmth is all I have, or hope |