LETTER X. From Mrs. Elizabeth Montagu to the Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Freind. from me constantly. Lady Oxford, your change; to have passed from I hope, is not entirely cast down. I hope to security, and from admiration am, dear madam, your grace's most to esteem. If you knew the charmobedient, most obliged, faithful, and ing friend I am with, you would not affectionate servant, wonder at my encomiums upon friendE. ROBINSON. ship, which she makes one taste in its greatest perfection. I have greater pleasure in walking in these fine gardens because they are hers; and indeed the place is very delightful. I am sorry to think I have lost so much sunshine in town. Society and coal fires are very proper for Bullstrode, Tuesday 24th, 1741. frost; but solitude and green trees Two so united in my thoughts for summer. Then the care selve shall not be separated in my words; beate* come in season, and Philomel So, my good cousins, accept my sa- sings sweeter than Farinelli. The lutations from the country. I took beasts of the field, and the birds of the leave of our smoky metropolis on air, are better company than the beau Monday morning, and changed the monde; and a butterfly and a magscene for one better suited to the sea-pye, in my opinion, are at all times son. The agreeable freedom I live better company than a fop or a coxin, and the rural beauties of the comb. It is the necessity of the one place, would persuade me I was in to be gaudy, and of the other to chatthe plains of Arcadia; but the mag- ter; but where folly and foppery are nificence of the building, under by choice, my contempt must attend whose gilded roofs I dwell, have a the absurdity. I like an owl, very pomp far beyond pastoral. In one often, better than an alderman; a ✅ thing I fall short of Chloe and Phil- spaniel better than a courtier; and a lis, I have no Pastor fido, no lan- hound is more sagacious than a foxguishing Corydon to sigh with the hunter; for a fox-hunter is only the zephyrs, and complain to the mur- follower of another creature's inmuring brooks; but those things are stinct, and is but a second instruunnecessary to a heart taken up, and ment in the important affair of killsufficiently softened by friendship.-ing a fox. I could say a great deal Here I know Mrs. Freind and you more of them, if supper was not reashake your heads, and think a little dy; so leaving you to balance their bergerie a proper amusement for the merits, and determine their sagacity, country; but, in my opinion, friend- I must take my leave, only desiring ship is preferable to love. The pre- my compliments to Mrs. Freind and sence of a friend is delightful, their the Doctor; if at his years and wisabsence supportable; delicacy with- dom, things so trifling as women and out jealousy, and tenderness without compliments can take any place in weakness, transports without mad- his remembrance. Pray let me hear ness, and pleasure without satiety.-from the writing half very soon ; No fear that caprice should destroy the husband is always allowed to what reason established; but even be the head, and I think in your family time, which perfects friendship, de- he is the hand too. A letter directed stroys love. I may now say this to to Bullstrode, by Gerrard's bag, will you, who, from constant lovers, are be come faithful friends. I congratulate * Dear happy woods. find and rejoice your most faithful profit of remonstrances. friend and affectionate cousin, These in deed are only temporal benefits;— ELIZ. ROBINSON.* but besides, any wife will save you LETTER XI. Rev. Sir, from purgatory, and a diligent one will secure heaven to you. If you would atone for your sins, and do a work meet for repentance, mar From Mrs. Elizabeth Montagu to ry. Some people wonder how Cuthe Rev. Dr. Shaw, F. R. S., &c. pid has been able to wound a per&c.t son of your prowess; you, who wept not with the crocodile, listened not to the sirens, stared the basilisk in You will perhaps think me rather the face, whistled to the rattlesnake, too hasty in my congratulations if I went to the masquerade with Protewish you joy of going to be married, us, danced the hays with Scylla and whereas it is generally usual to stay Charybdis, taught the dog of the Nile till people really are so before we of- to fetch and carry, walked cheek-byfer to make our compliments. But jowl with a lion, made an intimacy joy is a very transitory thing; there- with a tiger, wrestled with a bear, fore I am willing to seize upon the and, in short, have lived like an owl first occasion: and as I imagine in the desert, or a pelican in the wilyou are glad you are going to be derness; after defying monsters so married, I wish you joy of that glad- furious and fell, that you should be ness; for whether you will be glad overcome by an arrow out of a little after you are married is more than urchin's quiver, is amazing! Have mortal wight can determine; and you not beheld the mummies of the having prepared myself to rejoice beauteous Cleopatra, and of the fair with you, I should be loth to defer consorts of the Ptolemies, without writing till, perhaps, you were become one amorous sigh! And now to fall sorrowful; I must therefore in pru- a victim to a mere modern human dence prevent your espousals. I widow is most unworthy of you !—— would not have you imagine I shall What qualities has a woman, that you treat matrimony in a ludicrous man- have not vanquished! Her tears are ner; it is impossible for a man, who, not more apt to betray than those of alas! has had two wives, to look upon the crocodile, she is hardly as deceitit as a jest, or think it a light thing; ful as the Siren, less deadly, I beindeed it has several advantages lieve, than the basilisk or rattlesnake, over a single life. You, that have scarce as changeable as Proteus, nor made many voyages, know that a more dangerous than Scylla and Chatempest is better than a dead calm; rybdis, as docile and faithful as the and matrimony teaches many excel-dog of the Nile, sociable as the lion, lent lessons, particularly patience and and mild, sure, as the tiger! As submission, and brings with it all the her qualities are not more deadly advantages of reproof, and the great than those of the animals you have despised, what is it that has conquer *This letter properly belongs to a former year, and to some previous visit to Bullstrode; but ed you? Can it be her beauty?— having no other date than Tuesday, 24th, the Is she as handsome as the empress year cannot be ascertained. The date 1741, is of the woods? as well accommodatadded to recall to the reader the progress of the series. ed as the many-chambered sailor? This anonymous letter was written by Miss or as skilful as the nautilus? You Robinson, and sent to Dr. Shaw, the traveller, will find many a creature by earth, at the instigation, and for the amusement of the duchess of Portland and her society. air, and water, that is more beautiful than a woman; but indeed she is) composed of all elements, and, "Fire, water, woman, are man's ruin, And great's thy danger, Thomas Bruin." But you will tell me she has all the beauties in nature united in her person; as ivory in her forehead, diamonds in her eyes, &c. "But where's the sense, direct or moral, That teeth are pearl, or lips are coral?" LETTER XII. From Mrs. Elizabeth Montagu to the Madam, Nov. 5. My heart and hand are too much yours to permit me to employ another's to dictate, or write to your grace, when I am able to do it. I had your letter, for which I am obliged to you: I feel all the sensibility of friendship when I reflect you are unIf she is a dowdy, what can you do happy. I hope my lord duke will with her? If she is a beauty, what have no more of the complaint in his will she do for you? A man of your stomach. Lady Oxford really knows profession might know the lilies of her remedy, and I hope you will prethe field toil not, neither do they vail upon her ladyship to go to Bath. spin; if she is rich she won't buy I had not any letter from Dr. Sandys, you, if she is poor I dont see why but you know he has always a very she should borrow you. But I fear, tedious labour when he goes of a letI am advising in vain, while your ter. I wish he was well delivered of heart, like a fritter, is frying in fat this, for I am impatient to know my in Cupid's flames. How frail and doom; whether I am to sit here, like weak is flesh! else, sure, so much Patience on a monument, or may be might have kept in one little heart; allowed, in my quondam character had Cupid struck the lean, or the of a Fidget, to bustle into the busmelancholy, I had not lamented; but tling world. My appetite for the true Jack Falstaff, kind Jack Fal-country is satisfied, and I should like staff, merry Jack Falstaff, fat Jack to see London fine town again; and Falstaff, beware the foul fiend, they I shall be a poor wife (pity, but for call it Marriage, beware on't! As the verse, it were maiden) forsaken, what I have advanced on the subject of matrimony is absolutely unanswerable, I need not tell you where to direct a letter for me, nor will I, in my the last line sets forth the melancholy pride, declare who I am that give you circumstance. As for single ladies, this excellent counsel; but, that you the loss of a lover is nothing; for, as may not despair of knowing where Millamont says, one makes as many to address your thanks for such an as one pleases, and keeps them as extraordinary favour, I will promise, long as one pleases; but it is worth that before you find, a courtier with- while to take care of a good husband, out deceit, a patriot without spleen, for they are reckoned rarities. I am a lawyer without quibble, a philoso- pretty well at present, but I don't pher without pride, a wit without much like this sort of constitution. vanity, a fool without presumption, I believe Sandys would not tell his or any man without conceit, you wife a secret for fear she should go shall find the true name of your well-abroad to tell it; and, you know, he wisher and faithful counsellor, "Yet must bear a contented mind, loves she should sit, like sober puss in the corner, to offend all those who I would annoy the cheese, or other us; it meets us at court, and finds us good things in his cupboard; for, in the country; commends the hero guess it is from some principle of that gains the world, and the philosoeconomy that he keeps her at home. pher that forsakes it; praises the I am, madam, your grace's faithful, luxury of the prodigal, and the pruhumble servant, E. M. dence of the penurious; feasts with the voluptuous, fasts with the abstemious, sits on the pen of the author, and visits the paper of the critic; reads dedications, and writes them ; LETTER XIII. From Mrs. Elizabeth Montagu to the makes court to superiors, receives Duchess of Portland. Allerthorpe, Nov: 19, 1742. homage of inferiors; in short it is useful, it is agreeable, and the very thing needful to happiness; had SoMadam, lomon felt some inward vanity, sweet WHAT prophets are my fears! they sounds had been ever in his ears whispered to me your grace was not without the voices of men-singers, or well, and I find their suggestions were women-singers; he had not then said true. Hard state of things, that one of laughter, what is it? and of mirth, may believe one's fears, but cannot re- what doeth it? Vanity, and a good ly upon one's hopes! I imagined con- set of teeth, would have taught him cern would have an ill effect on your the ends and purposes of laughconstitution: I know you have many ing, that fame may be acquired by pledges in the hands of fate, and I it, where, like the proposal for the feared for you, and every thing that grinning wager, was near and dear to you. I am sensible your regard and tenderness "The frightfulest grinner for lady Oxford will make you suffer extremely when you see her ill; Did not we think lady C― would she has therefore a double portion of get nothing by that broad grin but my good wishes, on her own and the tooth-ache? But vanity, profitayour grace's account. When sensi- ble vanity, was her better counsellor ; bility of heart and head makes you and as she always imagined the heart feel all the outrages that fortune and of a lover was caught between her folly offer, why do you not envy the teeth, I cannot say his delay is an thoughtless giggle and unmeaning argument of her charms, or his galsmile? "In Folly's cup still laughs lantry, but she has him secure by an the bubble Joy." Wisdom's cup is old proverb, that what is bred in the often dashed with sorrow, but the ne- bone will never out of the flesh, and penthe of stupidity is the only medi- no doubt but this love was bred in the cine of life; fools neither are trou- bone, even in the jaw-bone. bled with fear nor doubt. What did wonder if tame, weak man, is subduthe wisdom of the wisest man teach ed by that weapon with which Samhim? Verily, that all was vanity son killed the mighty lion. Mr. and vexation of spirit! A painful Montagu got well to London on lesson fools will never learn, for Monday night. I am glad your facethey are of all vanities most vain. tious senator has gone to Parliament, And there is not so sweet a compa- where all his conversation will be nion as that same vanity; when we yea, yea, and nay, nay; and even of go into the world it leads us by the that cometh evil sometimes. Time hand; if we retire from it, it follows will not allow me to lengthen this No epistle with any thing more than my with our new captain. I would give sister's compliments to your grace. madam, yours, &c. I am, LETTER XIV. a great deal for a tête-à-tête with your grace, mais helas! ma pauvre tête E. M. n'est pas une tête ailée. It would have been a strange and unnatural thing that Dr. Sandys' letter should have miscarried; my faith has swallowed his advice, and my throat his From Mrs. Elizabeth Montagu to the pills; so I have endured the country Duchess of Portland. Madam, and taken his physic, very unpalatable things both. I am pretty well, but I Nov. 28, 1742. do not like to sit like puss in the corner, all the winter, to watch what I AM very sorry I have not receiv-may prove a mouse, though I am no ed all the letters your grace has been mountain. I am rejoiced lady Kinso good as to write to me; Fate re- noul, and the young ladies, are with ceived them into her left hand, and I you. I cannot boast of the numbers am deprived of them. I am glad to that adorn our fire-side; my sister hear your spirits are better; may and I are the principal figures! becircling Joys dance round your fire- sides, there is a round table, a square side, skreen, some books, and a work-basket, with a smelling bottle when morality grows musty, or a maxim smells "With Sport, that wrinkled Care derides, And Laughter, holding both his sides!" for life is too short to allow for me-too strong, as sometimes they will in "Expense, and after-thought, and idle care, And doubts of motley hue, and dark despair." lancholy fears and intruding cares, ancient books. I had a letter to-day which are apt to fill up the youthful from Mr. Montagu, in which he flattime, when we are fittest for happi- ters me with the hopes of seeing him ness. Age will bring its solemn train at Christmas. I hear your grace's of woe; let us therefore admit all porter says you will not leave WelYouth's gay company, smiling Joy, beck these two months, and Elias is cheerful Mirth, and happy Hope; life's no lying man. I know, full well, early Hours come dancing along with however he may deny you by parcels, their fair partner Pleasure; but in he will not thus in the gross so, Í the evening of our day they tread a imagine, you will not be in London heavy measure, dragging after them this age, which makes me more conweak Infirmity and sad Regret, tented with being in the country.My lady Croakledom is croaking on the banks of Styx, where, with Cerberus's barking mouths, and TisiI grieve whenever I think your mind phone's belle chevelure she will make is pained; all infirmities and diseas- most pleasant melody: with such a es of the body are nothing compared noise in his ears how glad would Pluto anguish of heart. I am now in to be if Orpheus would give him a the highest content; my little bro- tune once more! Lady Limerick, thers are to go to Westminster as imagining I came to town with Mr. soon as the holidays are over, and Montagu, sent an excuse, that being what adds still to my pleasure in this ill, she had not been able to make is, that Jacky's going is owing to Mr. me a visit. I guess it would raise Montagu's intercession for him with great speculations why I was not my father, who did not design his come up, and had you been within going to Westminster till next year: question-shot, the good countess had our youngest, I believe, is to go out popped off a volley upon you, I make |