*

Now Moll laughs because I speak wisely, and now Hessy murmurs again. Well: I had a charming handsome cousin here twenty years ago. I was to see her to-night, and, in my conscience, she is not handsome at all; I wonder how it comes about; but she is very good-natured, and you know, Moll, good-nature is better than beauty. I desire you will let me know what fellows Hessy has got to come to her bed-side in a morning, and when you design again to hobble to Chelsea, if you did not tell me a lie, as I must suspect. My head is something better, though not so well as I expected by my journey. I think I have said enough for a poor weary traveller. I will conclude without ceremony, and go to bed. And, if you cannot guess who is the writer, consult your pillow, and the first fine gentleman you dream of is the man.

So adieu.

FROM MISS VANHOMRIGH TO DR SWIFT.

SIR,

London, June 6th, 1713.

Now you are good beyond expression, in sending me that dear voluntary from St Albans. It gives me more happiness than you can imagine, or I describe, to find that your head is so much better already. I do assure you all my wishes are employed for the continuance of it. I hope the next will tell me they have been of force. Had I the power

*The French custom of ladies' receiving visits at the toilette or ruelle was then general.

I want, every day that did not add as much to your health, till it was quite established, as Monday last, should be struck out of the kalendar as useless ones. I believe you little thought to have been teazed by me so soon; but when Mr Lewis told me if I would write to you, that he would take care of my letter, I must needs own I had not self-denial enough to forbear. Pray why did not you remember me at Dunstable, as well as Moll? Lord! what a monster is Moll grown since. But nothing of poor Hess, except that the mark will be in the same place of Davila where you left it. Indeed, it is not much advanced yet, for I have been studying of Rochefoucault to see if he described as much of love as I found in myself a Sunday, and I find he falls very short of it. How does Bolingbroke* perform? You have not kept your promise of riding but a little every day thirty miles I take to be a very great journey. I am very impatient to hear from you at Chester. It is impossible to tell you how often I have wished you a cup of coffee and an orange at your inn.

FROM THE SAME.

June 1713, London. [No day of the month.] 'Tis inexpressible the concern I am in ever since I heard from Mr Lewis, that your head is so much out of order. Who is your physician? For God sake don't be persuaded to take many slops. Satisfy me so much as to tell me what medicines you

* Swift's horse, so called.

have taken, and do take. How did you find yourself while a ship-board? I fear 'tis your voyage has discomposed you, and then so much business following so immediately before you had time to recruit; 'twas too much. I beg you make all the haste imaginable to the country, for I firmly believe that air and rest will do you more good than any thing in the world besides. If I talk impertinently, I know you have goodness enough to forgive me, when you consider how great an ease 'tis to me to ask these questions, though i know it will be a great while before I can be answered;-I am sure I shall think it so. Oh! what would I give to know how you do at this instant. My fortune is too hard, your absence was enough without this cruel addition. Sure the powers above are envious of your thinking so well, which makes them at some times strive to interrupt you; but I must confine my thoughts, or at least stop from telling them to you, or you'll chide, which will still add to my uneasiI have done all that was possible to hinder myself from writing to you, till I heard you were better, for fear of breaking my promise, but 'tis all in vain, for had I vowed neither to touch pen, ink, nor paper, I certainly should have had some other invention; therefore I beg you won't be angry with me, for doing what is not in my power to avoid. Pray make Parvisole write me word what I desire to know, for I would not for the world have you hold down your head. I am impatient to the last degree to hear how you are. I hope I shall soon have you here.

ness.

* The reader must observe, that, at this early period of their affection, Swift seems to have imposed upon her the very same restraints of which she afterwards complains so heavily.

MR Lewis assures me that you are now well, but will not tell me what authority he has for it. I hope he is rightly informed. Though 'tis not my usual custom, when a thing of consequence is in doubt, to fix on what I earnestly wish, but I have already suffered so much by knowing that you were ill, and fearing that you were worse than you have been, that I will strive to change that thought, if possible, that I may have a little ease, and more, that I may not write you a splenetic letter. Pray, why would not you make Parvisol write me word how you did, when I begged it so much? and if you were able yourself, how could you be so cruel to defer telling me the thing of the which I wished the most to know? If you think I write too often, your only way is to tell me so, or at least to write to me again, that I may know you don't quite forget me; for I very much fear that I never employ a thought of yours now, except when you are reading my letters, which makes me ply you with them: (Mr Lewis complains of you too.) If you are very happy, it is ill-natured of you not to tell me so, except 'tis what is inconsistent with mine. * But why don't you talk to me that you know will please me. I have often heard you say, that you would willingly suffer a little uneasiness, provided it gave another a vast deal of pleasure. Pray re

*This is the only phrase in the whole correspondence which intimates jealousy on the part of Miss Vanhomrigh.

member this maxim, because it makes for me. This is now the fourth letter I have wrote to you: they could not miscarry, for they were all under Mr Lewis's cover, nor could you avoid opening them, for the same reason. Pray what have you done about the two livings? Have you recovered them or no?* You know I love law-business. I have been with lawyers since I saw you, but have not yet had their answers, therefore won't trouble you with what I have done, till I can tell you all. Pray let me know when you design coming over; for I must beg you to talk to Mr P. and settle some affairs for me. Pray let me hear from you soon, which will be an inexpressible joy to her that is always

FROM THE SAME.

London, June 23, 1713.

HERE is now three long weeks passed since you wrote to me. Oh! happy Dublin, that can employ all your thoughts, and happy Mrs. Emerson, that could hear from you the moment you landed. Had it not been for her, I should be yet more uneasy than I am. I really believe, before you leave Ireland, I shall give you just reason to wish I did not know my letters, or at least that I could not write;

Laracor and Rathbeggan. The Dean, on his promotion, talked of recommending Dr Raymond as his successor, in case of his removal. He retained them, however. Vol. III. p. 104,

210.