He look'd around him "Harriet, dost thou love?" "I do my duty," said the timid dove; "Good Heav'n, your duty! prithee, tell me now— "To love and honour-was not that your vow? "Come, my good Harriet, I would gladly seek "Your inmost thought-Why can't the woman "No, that's my part, which I perform in vain; "Come then, my children! Watt! upon your knees "Vow that you love me.' please." "Yes, sir, if you "Again! By Heav'n, it mads me; I require "Love, and they'll do whatever I desire: "Thus too my people shun me; I would spend "A thousand pounds to get a single friend; "I would be happy-I have means to pay "For love and friendship, and you run away; Ungrateful creatures! why, you seem to dread My very looks; I know you wish me dead. "Come hither, Nancy! you must hold me dear; "Hither, I say; why! what have you to fear? "You see I'm gentle-Come, you trifler, come; "My God! she trembles ! — Idiot, leave the room! "Madam! children hate me; I suppose your "They know their cue: you make them all my "I've not a friend in all the world-not one: "I'd be a bankrupt sooner; nay, 'tis done; foes; “In every better hope of life I fail, "You're all tormentors, and my house a jail; "Out of my sight! I'll sit and make my will"What, glad to go? stay, devils, and be still; "'Tis to your Uncle's cot you wish to run, "To learn to live at ease and be undone ; "Him you can love, who lost his whole estate, "And I, who gain you fortunes, have your hate e; "Tis in my absence, you yourselves enjoy : "Tom! are you glad to lose me? tell me, boy: "Yes! does he answer?—Yes! upon my soul; "No awe, no fear, no duty, no control! Away! away! ten thousand devils seize "All I possess, and plunder where they please! "What's wealth to me?—yes, yes! it gives me 66 sway, "And you shall feel it-Go!, begone, I say."(1) (1) If I have in this letter praised the good-humour of a man confessedly too inattentive to business, and if, in the one on AMUSEMENTS, I have written somewhat sarcastically of "the brick-floored parlour which the butcher lets; " be credit given to me, that, in the one case, I had no intention to apologise for idleness, nor any design in the other to treat with contempt the resources of the poor. The good-humour is considered as the consolation of disappointment; and the room is so mentioned because the lodger is vain. Most of my readers will perceive this: but I shall be sorry if by any I am supposed to make pleas for the vices of men, or treat their wants and infirmities with derision or with disdain. THE BOROUGH. LETTER IX. AMUSEMENTS. Interpone tuis interdum gaudia curis, Ut possis animo quemvis sufferre laborem. - CATULL. lib. 3. Nostra fatiscat Laxaturque chelys, vires instigat alitque STATIUS, Sylv. lib. 4. Jamque mare et tellus nullum discrimen habebant ; OVID. Metamorph. lib. 1. Common Amusements of a Bathing-place- Morning Rides, Walks, &c. Company resorting to the Town- Different Choice of Lodgings - Cheap Indulgences - Sea-side Walks Wealthy Invalid · -Summer-Evening on the Sands - Sea Productions "Water parted from the Sea". Views serene the River Winter - In what cases to be avoided - Sailing upon A small Islet of Sand off the Coast Visited by Company-Covered by the Flowing of the Tide Adventure in that Place. |