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IN TWO VOLUMES. 

** Yc Sylphs add Sylphids, to your chief give ear, 
** Fays, Fairies, Gei\ii, Elves, and Demons, hear I 
'< Ye know the fpheres, and various talks aiTignM 
** By laws eternal to ih* a'erial kyid : 
• ** Some in the£elds of pureft aether play, 
*S And ba/k, and whiten, ih the blaze of day ; 
" Some guide the courfe of wand'ring orbs on high, 
** Or roll the planets thro* the boundl^fe iky: 
** Our hummer province is to tend the Fair, 
** Not a Icfs pleafing, wr Icfs glorious care." 

PopK*8 Rape of the Lock. 

THE SECOND EDITION, 

V O L I. 




LONDON:, 

PRINTED FOR T. LOWNDES, N**. 77, FLEET-STREET. 
M.DCC.LXXIX. 



xcUvucft 



^ 



» 



The S Y L P H. 



I 



LETTER I. 

To Lord Biddulph. 

T. is a certain fign of a man's caufc 

being bad, when he is obliged to 

quote precedents in the follies of othcrsy 

to cxcufe his own. You fee I give up 

my caufe at once, I am convinced I have 

done a filly thing, and yet I can produce 

thoufands who daily do the fame with, 

* perhaps, not fo good a motive as myfelf. 

In fliort, not to puzzle you too much, 

which! know is extremely irkfome to a 

I mah who loves to have every thing as 

jj VoL.L B clear 



2 THE SYLPH, 

ckaras-a propofition in EAiclid -, your 
f\ iend (now don't laugh) is married. '' Mar- 
*' ned V* Aye, why not ? don't -every body 
marry? thofe who have eftatesi to have 
heirs of their own ; and thofe who have 
nothings to get fomething \ fo, according to 
my fyftem, every body marries* Then 
why that flare of aftonilhment ? that look 
of unbelief? Yes, thou infidel^ I am mar- 
ried, and to fuch a woman ! though, not- 
withftanding her beauty and other accom- 
plilhments, I fhall be half afraid to prc- 
fent her in the world, fhe*s fuch a mftic 1 
one of your fylvan deities* But I was mad 
for her. " So you have been for half the 
" women in town/' Very true, my 
Lord) fd I hav€, till I either gained them, 
or faw others whofe image obliterated 
theirs. You well know, love with me has 
ever becn^ a laughing God, " Rofy lips 
*^- and cherub fmiles," none of its black 
defpairing looks have I experienced. 

What will the world fay ? How will 

fome exblt that I am at laft taken in ! 

What, the gay feducive Stanley (hackled ! 

• But, ^ I apprehend, your Lordfhip 

will 



THE SYLPH. 3 

will wifli to be informed how the *' fmi- 
** ling mifchicf * feized me. Well, ,you 
fliall have the full and true particulars of 
the matter how, the time when, and 
place where* I muft, however, look 
back. Perhaps I have been too precipi- 
tate — I might poffibly have gained the 
charming maid at a Icfs cxpencc tham 
" adamantine everlafting -chains."' — But 
the bare idea of lofing her made every 
former refokition- of never being cnflaved 
appear ,as nothing.— Her looks *' would 
" warm the cool bofom of age,'* and 
tempt an Anchorite to fin. 

I could have informed you in a much 
better method, aiid have led you on 
through a Bowery path; but as all my 
elaborate (ketches muft tave ended in this 
difaftrous truth, I am married^ I ihought 
it quite as well to let you into that im- 
portant fecret at once. As I have divided 
my difcourfe under three heads, I will» 
according to fome able preachers, iegin 
ivilb tbefirft* 

I left you as you may remember 

(though perhaps the burgundy might 

B 2 have 



4 THE SYLPH. 

have waflied away your powers of rccol- 
ledion) pretty early one morning at the 
Thatched-houfe, to proceed as far as Wales 

to vifit Lord G . I did not find fo 

much fport as I expected in hts Lordftiip's 
grounds ; and within doors, two old- 
falhioned maiden fifters did not promife 
fuch as is fuited to my ufte, and therefore 
pretended letters from town, which required 
my attendance, and inconfcquencemademy 
conge and departed. On my journey^ — as I 
had no immediate bufinefs any where, favc 
that which has ever been my fole employ, 
amufement — I refolved to make little de- 
viations from the right road, and like a 
fentimental traveller pack up what I could 
find in my way conducive to the chief end 
of my life. I flopped at a pleafarit village 
fome dtftanicc from Abergavenny, where 
I refted fome time^ making little excurfive 
progreflions round the country. Rambling 
over the cloud-capt mountains one morn- 
ing — a thorning big with the fate of moor- 
game and your friend — from* the. ridge of 
a* precipice I; beheld, to me, the moft de- 
jicious game in the hofpitable globe, a 

brace 



THE S Y L P H. 5 

brace of females, unattended, and, by 
the ftile^f their drefs, though far removed 
from the vulgar, yet fuch as did not be- 
fpeak them of our world. — ^^I drew out my 
glafs to take a nearer ken, when^ fuch 
beauties (hot from one in particular, that 
fired my foul, and ran thrilling through 
ievery vein. That inftant they turned from 
me, and feemed to be bending their foot- 
fteps far away. Mad with the wifh of a 
nearer view, and fearful of lofing fight of 
them, I haftily ftrove to defcend. My eyes 
ftill fixed on my lovely objeft, I paid nO: 
regard to my fituation, and, while my 
thoughts and every faculty were abforbed 
in this plcafing idea, fcrambled over rocksr 
and precipices fearlefe of confequences ^ 
which however might have concluded ra- 
ther unfortunately, and fpoiled me for ad- 
venture i for, without the leaft warnings 
which is often the cafe, a piece of earth 
gave way, and down my worlhip rolled to 
the bottom. The height fqprn whence I had- 
fallen, aad the rough encounters I had met 
with, ftunned nie for fome time, but when 
1 came to my recolledion, I was charmed 
B 3 tft 



6 THE SYLPH. 

to fee my beautiful girls running toWards 
me. They had fecn my fall, and, from my 
lying ftill, concluded I was killed ; 4;hey 
expreffcd great joy on hearing me fpeak, 
and nioft obligingly endeavoured to affift 
me in rifing, but their united efforts were 
in vain ; my leg was broken. This was a 
great (hock to us all. In the fweeteft ac- 
cents they condoled me on my misfortune, 
and offered every affiltance and confolation 
in their power. To a genius fo enter- 
prizing as myfelf, any accident which fur- 
thered my wifhes of making an acquaint- 
ance with the objed I had been purfuing, 
appeared trivial, when the advantages 
prefented themfelves to my view. I fat 
therefore like Patience on a monument^ and 
bore my misfortune with a ftoical philo- 
fophy. I wanted much to difcover who 
they were, as their appearance was rather 
equivocal^ and might have pronounced 
them belonging* to any ftation in life.. 
Their d^fs was«xa6lly the fame : white 
jackets'and petticoats, with light green rib- 
bands, &Cv I aflced fome queftions, whidb 
I hoped would lead to the point I wifhed 



T H E S Y L P H. 7 

to be informed in : their anfwcrs were po- 
Kte, but not fatisfadory ; though I can- 
not fay they were wholly evafive, as they 
fcemed artlefsly innocent i or, if at all re- 
ferved, it was the referve which native mo- 
defty teaches. One of them laid, 1 was- 
in great need of inftant affiftance ; and 
Ihe had intereft enough to procure fome" 
from an houfe not very diflant from us :- 
on which, they were both going. I in- 
treated the younger one to (lay, as I 
ftould be the rhoft wretched of all mortals 
iif left to myfclf. '* We go,** faid Ihe^ 
•* in orddV to relieve that wretchednefs.**' 
t fixed my eyes on her with the moft ten- 
der languor I could aflli me ; and, fighing,, 
cold her, '^ it was in her power alone to 
**• give me eafe, fince flie was the caufe of 
** my pain : her charms had dazzled my 
•* eyes,.and occafioned that falfe ftep which 
**^ Md brought me fooner than I expefted 
** at her feet." She fmiled, and anfwered, 
" then it was doubly inckm^eifl^faher tO' 
, ** be as quick as poffible in procarit)g me 
^ every accommodation neceffery/* At 
that inftant they fpied an herfdman, not 
B 4, far 



8 THE SYLPH. 

far off. They called aloud, and talking 
with him fome little time, without faying 
a word further to me, tripped away like 
two fairies. I afked the peafant who thofe 
lovely girls were. He not anfwering, I 
repeated my queftion louder, thinking 
him deaf; but, daring at me with a ftu- 
pid aftonifliment, he jabbered out fome 
barbarous founds, which I immediately 
difcovered to be a Welfh language I knew 
no more than the Hottentptts. I had flat- 
tered myfelf with being, by this fellow's 
afiiftance, able to difcover the real fituatlon 
of thefe fweet girls : indeed I hoped to 
have found them within my reach ; for, 
though I was at that moment as much in 
love as a man with a broken leg and 
bruifcd body could be fuppofed, yet I had 
then not the leaft thoughts of matrimony, 
I give you my honour. Thus difap- 
pointed in my views, I refted as contented 
as I could — hoping better fortune by and 

bye- V, * 

In a little time a perfon, who had the 

appearance of a gentleman, approached, 

with three (Xher fcrvants, who carried a 

gate. 



THE SYLPH. 9 

gate, on which was laid a feather-bed. 
He addrefled me with the utmoft polite- 
nefs, and affifted t6 place me on this litter,, 
and begged to have the honour of attend- 
ing me to his houfe. I returned his civi* 
lities with the fame politenefs, and was 
carried to a- very good-looking hpufe ori 
the fide of a wood, and placed on a bed 
ifl a room handfomely furnilhed. A fur- 
geon cafne a few hours after. Th^ frailure 
was reduced ; and as 1 was ordered to be 
kept extremely quiet, every one left the 
room, except my kind hoft, who fat p- 
kntly by the bed-fide. This was cer- 
tainly genuine hofpitality,.for I wa3 wholly- 
unknown, as yqu may fuppofe : however^ 
my figure,, being that of a gentlcmanr 
and my diftreflfcd fituation, were fufficient- 
recommendations* 

After lying fome time in a- filent ftate,\ 
L ventured to breathe out my grateful ac- 
knowledgements ; but Mr.Grenville (top- 
ped me Ibort, nor wouW fufi^^r me to fay 
one word that might tend to agkate my 
fpirits. I told him, I thought it abfolutely 
ncceflary to. inform him who I was, as the 
B. 5 events 



lo THE SYLPH. 

event of ray accident was uncertain. E 
therefore gave a concife account of myfclf- 
He defired to know if I had any friend to 
whom I would wifti to communicate my 
fituation. I begged him to fend to the 
village I had left that morning for my fer- 
vant^ as I (hould be glad of his attendance- 
Being an adroit fellow, I judged he might 
be of fervicc to me in gaining fome intel- 
ligence about the damfels in queftion : but 
I was very near never wanting him again >; 
for, a fever coming on, Iwas for fome days^ 
hovering over the grave. A good conftitu- 
tion at lad got the better,, and I had no^ 
thing to combat but my broken limb,,, 
which was in a hit way.. I had a mpfb 
excellent nurfe, a houfe-kceper in the fa«» 
mily. My own fervant like wife waited on: 
me. Mr. Grenville fpent a part of every/ 
day with me 5 and his agreeable con ver- 
fation, though rather too grave for a> fel- 
low of my fire, afforded me great com- 
fort during my confinement : yet ftill 
ibmetlung was wanting, till I could hear 
news of my "charming wood-nymphs. 
One morning 1 drove to make my old 

nurfc 



f^J 



THE sylph: II 

mirfe talk, and endeavoured to draw her' 
out ; (he feemed a little Ihy. I alked her 
a number of queftions about my generous 
entertainer ; (he rung a peal in his praifc- 
1 then afl^ed if there were any pretty girls 
in the neighbourhood, as I was a great ad- 
mirer of beauty. She laughed, and told me 
not to Jet my thoughts wander that way yet 
a while ; I was yet too weak. "Not to talk 
** of beauty^ my old girl,'* faid L '• Aye,, 
•* aye,'* (he anfwcred, "but you look as* 
•* if talking would HQt content you." I then 
told her, I had feen the lovelieft girl in the- 
world among the Weldi mountains, not far 
from hence, who T found was acquainted^ 
with this familf^, and I would rc;ward her 
handfomely if (he could procure me an* 
interview with her, when (he (hould judge 
I was able to talk of love in a proper (lyle.- 
I^ then defcribed the girls I had feen, and> 
freely confefled the'impre(rion one of them 
h^d made on me. ** As fure as you are 
*• alive," faid the old cat, " it was my 
** daughter you faw." " Your daughter!'*' 
I exclaimed, " is it po(rible for your daugh- 
** ter to be fuch an angel ?" " Good lack ! 
••why not .^' What, becaufe I am poor, ^i 
Re- **^ afervant,'- 



12 THE SYLPH. 

•* a fervant, my. daughter is not to* be 
" flelh and blood." " By heaven ! but (he 
•' is," faid I, '' and fuch flefti and blood, 
" that I would give a thoufand pounds to 
" take her to town with me, Whit fay 
" you, mother ; will you let me fee her ?" 
*• I cannot tell," faid (he, (baking her head: 
** To be fure my girl is handfome, and 
** might make her fortune in town •, for 
" flic's as virtuous as (he's poor." ** I pro- 
" mife yoii," faid 1, ** if (he is not fooli(h 
** enough to be too fcrupulous about one^ 
" I will take care to remove the other. But, 
** when fliall I fee her ?" '* Lord ! yoi^ 
•* muft not be in fuch a hurry : all in 
** good time." With this a(rurance,; and 
thefe hopes, I was condrained to remain 
fatisfied for fome time : though the old 
wench every now and then would flatter 
my paflions by extolling the charms of 
her daughter •, and above all, commend- 
ing her fwect compliant difpofition ; a 
circumftance I thought in my favour, as 
it would render my conqueft lefs arduous. 
I occafionally a(ked her of the family 
whom (he ferved. She fcemed rather 
referved on this fubje^fc, though copious 

enough 



THE SYLPH. rj 

enough on any other. She informed me,w 
however, that Mr. Grenville had two 
daughters; but no more to be compared 
with her*s, than Ihe was j and that, 2i^ 
foon as I was able to quit my bed-chami- 
ber, they would be introduced to me. 

As my ftrength increafed, my talkative 
nurfe grew more eloquent in the praifes 
of her child; and by thofe praifes in- 
flamed my paffion to the highcft pitch.. 
I thought every day an age till I agaia 
beheld her v refolving to begin my attack 
z% foon as pofiible, and indulging the idea^ 
that my taflc would,, through the interven- 
tion of the mother, be carried on with' 
great facility. Thus I wiled away the 
time when I was left to myfclfc Yet,, 
notwithftanding I recovered moft ama- 
zingly faft confidering my accident, L 
thought the confinement plaguy tedious,, 
and was heartily glad when my furgeon 
gave me pcrmiffion to^ be conveyed into a 
drefling-room. • On the fccond day tf fny 
emigration from my bed*chamber, Mr. 
Grenville informed me he would bring* 
ine acquainted with the reft of his family. 

I alTured 



vi T H E STL P FT. 

Faffured him Ilhould receive fuch an irr* 
dulgence as a mark of his unexampled po-- 
litenefs and humanity, and Ihould endea- 
vour to be grateful for fuch favour, I now 
attained the height of my wifhes 5 and at the. 
fame time^uftained a fenfible and mortify- 
ing difappointmcnt: for,.in the afternoon,. 
Mr. Greriville entered the room, and in 
cither hand one of the Ibvely girls I had 
" fcen, and who were the primary caufe of 
fny accident., I attained the fummit of my 
wifhes in again beholding my charmer 5 
but when flie was introduced under the 
character of daughter to my hoft, myfond. 
hopes were inftatitly cruftied. How could 
Ibe fuch a villain as to attempt the feduc-- 
tion of the daughter of a man to whom V 
was bound by fo many ties ? This reflec-- 
tion damped the joy which flufhed in my 
face when I firft faw her. Ipaid nvy. com- 
pliments to the fair fifters with anembar- 
raffment in my air not ufualto a man of' 
the world; but- which, however, was not- 
perceptible to my innocent companions.^ 
They talked over my adventure, and con- 
gratulated xny recovery with fomiKh good^ 

nature 



THE SYLPH. ts 

nature as endeared thenv both to me^ at" 
the fame time that I inwardly curfed the- 
eharms that enflaved me. Upon the whole,. 
I do not know whether pain or pleafure 
was predominant through the courfe of 
the day ; but I found I loved her more- 
and more every moment. Uncertain what 
my refolvcs or intentions were, I took my.- 
leave of them,, and returned to my room*, 
wifh matter for reflcftion fufficient to keep- 
me waking the belt part, of the night, My^ 
old tabby did not adminifter a fleeping,; 
potion to me, by the converfation I had 
with her afterwards on the fubjcd in de- 
bate. 

" Well, Sir," (he afkcd, "how do you» 
** like my matter's daughters ?'*' "Not fo« 
** well as I fhould your daughter, L can* 
** tell you. What the devil did you meaii' 
"by your ourfed long "harangues about, 
" her beauty, when you knew all the while 
** flie was not attainable ?-* " Why not i 
** (he is difengaged ; is of a family and 
" rank in life to do any nian credit; and 
** you are enamoured of her.** *• True j 
" but I have no inclination to marry/' 

i'And 



96 THE SYLPH. 

" And you cannot hope to fucceed ow 
•* any other terms, even if you could form 
^ the plan of diflionouring the daughter 
** of a man of fome confcqucnce in the 
" world, and one who has (hewn you fuch 
** kindnefs !'* 

'' Your fagacity happens- to be right in* 
** your conjefture.** 

** But you would have had no fcruples 
•' of confcience in your defign on nty 
** daughter." 

'* Not much, Iconfcfs ; money well ap- 
•* plied, would have filenced the worlds 
** and I ihould have left it to her and your 
** prudence to have done the reft." 

"And do^you fuppofci Sir,*' faidlhe,. 
** that the honour of my daughter is not 
" as valuable to me,.becaufe I am placed fo 
*^ much below you, as that of the daughr 
*< ter of the firft man in the world ? Had 
"this been my child,, and j by the various 
" artifices you might have put in pradtice, 
*' you had triumphed over her virtue, do 
" you fuppofe, I fay, a little paltry drofs 
•* would have been arecompehce ? Noj. 
!* Sir, know me better than to believe any 

•^ worldly 



THE SYLPH. 17 

^^ worldly advantages would have filenced 
*' m^ wrongs. My child, thank heaven, is 
" virtuous, and far removed from the dan? 
*' ger of meeting with fuch as I am forry 
*• to fincf you are -, one, who would bafely 
" rob the poor of the only privilege they 
•' poflefs, that of being innocent, while 
*' you cowardly flirink at tht^idea of at- 
" tacking a woman, who,, in the eye of a 
*• venal world, has a fufEcient fortune to 
** varnifli over the lofs of reputation, I 
** confcfs I knew not the depravity of youc 
** heart, till the other day, I by accident 
** heard part of a convcrfation between you 
*• and your fervant ; before that, I freely 
".own, though I thought you not fo ftrift 
** in your morals as I hoped, yet I flattered 
" myfejf your principles were not corrupt- 
" ed, but imputed the warmth of your ex- 
" preflions to youth, and a life unclouded, 
** by misfortune. I further own, I was 
" delighted with the impreflion which my 
*' young lady had made on you. I fancied 
** your paflion dilinterefted, becaufe fovL 
** knew not her fituation in life; butnow^ 
** I know you too well to fufFer her to en^ 



^^ tertaitt 



j8 the sylph. 

•* tertain a partiality for one whofe ftntii- 
** mcnts are unworthy a man of honour, 
** and who can never efteem virtue though; 
" in her lovelieft form." 

*^ Upon my foul ! mother,** cried I,, 
(afiefting an air of gaiety in my manner,, 
which was foreign to my heart, for L was 
curfedly chagrined), ** you have really a 
** fine talent for preaching ; why what a 
•* delegable fermon have you delivered a* 
•* gzm^Jimpk fotnication. But come, come,, 
•* we muft not be encniics. I affure you,, 
•* with the utmofl: fincerity, I am not the 
**/ad dog you think me. I honour and re- 
** vere virtue even in you, who, you muft 
** be fenfible, are rather too advanced in 
•* life for a Venus, though I doubt not in> 
^* your youth you made many a Wcllh 
^ heart dance without a harp. Gome, I 
^ fee you .are not fo angry as you were., 
** Have a little compaffion on a poor young 
•* fellow, who cannot, if he wlfhes^ ir,. run- 
** away from your frowns. I am tied by. 
** the leg, you know, my old girl. But tp. 
•* tdl you the ferious truth,- the caufe of 
•* the air of diffatisfafltion which I wore,. 



" was,. 



THE SYLPH. 19 
" was^ my apprchcnfion of not having me* 
V rit to gain the only woman that ever 
** made any impreffion on my heart ; and 
•* likewifc my fears of your not being my 
" friend, from the ludicrous manner in 
^' which I had before treated this affair."—* 
I added fome more prevailing arguments* 
and folemnly attefted heaven to witne^ my 
innocence of adual fedu&ion, though I had, 
I confeSed with blufixes, indulged in a few 
fafhionabk pleafures, which, though thej^ 
might be ftiled crimes among the Welfli- 
mountains, were nocking in our world. la 
ihort, I omitted nothing (as you will fup- 
pofe by the lyes I already told of my /»/r^- 
cencf of aitual fedukUtiy and fuch ftuff — y 
that I thought co&ducive to the conciliate- 
rng her good opinion, or at leaft a better 
than (he feemcd to have at prefent. 

When I argued thex maiter over in my 
own mind, I knew not on what to deter-- 
mine. Refleftion never agreed with me i I 
hate it confoundedly — It brings with it a 
Gonfumed long ftring of paft tranfaftions,. 
that bore me to death, and is worfe than a^ 
& of the hypochondriac- I endeavoured 

ta> 



'^Hb 



«o- THE SYLPH, 
to lofe my difagreeable companion in the 
arms of flcep ; but the devil a bit : the idea 
of the raptures I ihould tafte in thofe of 
my lovely Julia's,- drove the drowfy God 
from my eye-lids — lyet my pleafurable fen- 
fations were damped by the enormous pur- 
chafe I muft in all probability pay for fuch 
a delightful privilege : after examining the 
bufinefs every way, I concluded it as I do 
moil things which require mature delibera- 
tion, left it to work its way in the bed man* 
ner it could, and making chance, the firfl: 
link in the chain of caufes, ruler of my fate* 
I now faw my Juha daily, and the en* 
crcafe of paffion was the confequence of 
every interview. You have often told me I 
was a fellow of no fpeculation or thought : 
I prcfume to fay, that in the point in quef- 
tion, though you may conceive me run- 
ning hand over head to dedxudiion, I have 
fliewn a great deal of fore-thought j and 
that the ftep I have taken is an infallible 
proof of it.. Charming as both you and I 
think the lady Betty^s and lady Bridget's^ 
and faith have found them too, I believe 
neither you nor I ever intended to take any 

one 



THE SYLPH. 21 

one of them for Utter ^ for worfe \ yet wc 
have never made any jefolutidn againft 
entering into the pale of matrimony. Now 
though I like a little badinage, and fome- 
times fomething more, with a married wo- 
man — I would much rather that my wife, 
like Casfar's, ftiould not be fufpeded : 
where then is it fo likely to meet with a 
woman of real virtue as in the lap of in- 
riocence? The women of our world marry,' 
that they may have the greater privilege 
for leading diffipated lives. Knowing them 
fo well as I do, I could have no chance of 
happinefs with one of their clafs; — and yet 
one muft one time or. other *' fettle foberly 
" and raife a brood.** — And why not now, 
while every artery beats rapidly, and na- 
ture is alive ? 

However, it does not Ggnify bringing 
this argument, or that, to juftify my pro- 
iqedure ; I could not ad otherwife than I 
hiave done. I was mad, abfolutely dying 
for her. By hisavcn ! I never faw fo many 
beauties under one form. There is not a 
limb or feature which I have not adored in 
9S tpany different women ; here, they are 

all 



^< 



aa THE SYLPH. 

all aflcmbled with the greateft harmony : 
and yet (he wants the polifli of the world : 
a/> neffai quoij a tout enfemhU^ which no* 
thing but mixing with people of fafhion 
can give : but, as (he is extremely docile^ 
I have hopes that (he will not difgrace the 
name of Stanley. 

Shall I whifper you a fecret — but pub- 
li(h it not in the ftreets of Aflcalon — I 
could almoft wifh my whole life had paiTcd 
in the fame innocent tranquil manner it 
has now for feveral weeks. No tumultu- 
ous thoughts, which, as they are too often 
excited by licentious cxcefs, muft be loft 
and drowned in wine. No curfed qualms 
of confcience, which will appall the moft 
h^rdy of us, when nature fickens after the 
fatigue of a debauch. Here all is peace- 
ful, becaufc all is innocent : and yet what 
voluptuary can figure a higher joy than I 
at prefent experience in the polTeflion of 
the moft lovely of her fex, ^who thinks it 
her duty to contribute to my pleafure, and 
whofe every thought I can read in her ex- 
preffive countenance? Ohf that I may ever 
ice her with the fame eyes I do at this mo^ 
9 ment I 



THE SYLPH, 2| 

.tnent! Why cannot I renounce a world^ 
the ways of which I have feen and defpife 
from my foul ? What attachments have I 
to it, guilty ones excepted ? Ought I to 
continue them, when I have fworn — Oh ! 
Chrift! what is come to me now ? can a 
virtuous connexion with the fex work mi- 
racles ? but you cannot inform me — hav- 
ing never made fuch : and who the devil 
can, till they marry — and then it is too 
late : the die is caft, 

I hope you will thank me for making 
you my. confidant — and, what is more, 
writing you fo enormous a long letten 
Mod likely I (hall enhance your obligation 
by continuing my correfpondence, as I do 
not know when I fhall, quit, what appears 
to me^ my earthly paradife. Whether you 
will congratulate me from your heart I 
know not, becaufe you may poflibly ima- 
gine, from fome virtuous emanations which 
have burft forth in the courfe of this e- 
piftle, that you (hall lofe your old compa- 
nion. No, no, not quite fo bad neither—^ 
though I am plaguy fqueamifti at prefent, 
a little town air will fet all to rights ag^in^ 

and 



t4 THE SYLPH. 

and 1 ihall no doubt fall into my old track 
with redoubled alacrity from this recefs. 
So don*t defpair, my old friend : you will 
always find me. 

Your lordfhip's devoted, 
W. STANLEY. 



LETTER II. 

To THE SAME. 

WHAT a reftlefs difcontented animal 
is man ! Even in Paradife unblefl*. 
Do you know I am, though furrounded 
with felicity, languiQiing for fin and fea- 
coal in your regions. I ftiall be vapoured 
to death if I ftay here much longer. Here 
is nothing to exercife the bright genius 
with which I am endued : all one calm 
funfliine -, 

*' And days of peace do ftill fucceed 

" To nights of calm repofe." 

How unfit to charm a foul like mine ! 

I, who love every thing that the mo- 

dicrns call pleafure. I muft be amongft 

you, and that prefently. My Julia, I 

am 



THE SYLPH. 25. 
am certain, will make no refinance to my 
will. Faith! fhe is the wife for mc. Mild, 
paflive, duteous, and innocent : I may lead 
ipy life juft as I pleafe; and (he, dear 
creature ! will have no idea but that I am 
a very good hulband I 

And when I am weary of wandering all 

To thee, my delight, in the evening I 
, come. 

I did intend, when firft I began my cor- 
refpondence with your lordfhip, to .have 
infornied you of the whole proceft of this 
affair ; but, upon my foul, you muft excufe 
me. From being idle, I am become per-^ 
ftaiy indolent ; — befides, it is unfalhion- 
able to talk fo much of one*s wife. I fhait 
only fay, I endeavoured, by all thofe little 
aittentions which are fo eafily affumed by 
us, to gain her affedions,— -and at the 
fame time, to make fure work, declared 
myfelf in form to her father. 

One day, when I could hobble about, I 
took occafion to fay to Mr. Grenville, thai: 
I was meditating a return foi: his civiliticst 

Yoh.!. C which ^ 



ir 6 THE SYLPH. 

which was no other than running away 
with his daughter Julia: that, in the whole 
<omk of my life, I had never leen a wo- 
man whom I thought fo capable of mak- 
ing me happy ; and that, were my propo- . 
fals acceptable to him and her, it would 
be my highefl felicity to render her (itua- 
tion fuch. I faw the old man was inward- 
ly plcafed.-— In very polite terms he affur- 
cd me, he Ihould have no objedion to fuch 
an alliance, if Julia's heart made none ; 
4that although, for very particular reafons, 
he had quarrelled with the world, he did 
not wifh to feclude hfs children from par- 
taking of its pleafures. He owned, he 
thought Julia feemed to have an inclina- 
tion to fee more of it than he had had an 
opportunity of (hewing her ; and that, as 
he had for ever renounced it, there was 
no prote£tor, after a father, fo proper as a 
hufband. He then paid me fome compli- 
ments, which perhaps, had his acquaint- 
ance been of as long ftanding as your*s 
tand mine, he might have thought rather 
above my defert : but he knows no more of 
me than he has heard from me, — ^and the. 

•devil 



THE SYLPH. 27 

devil is in it, if a man won't fpcak well of 
himfclf when be has an opportunity. 

It was fome time before I could bring 
myfelf to the pious refolution of marry- 
ing, — I was extremely defirous of prac- 
tifing a few manceuvres firft, juft to try 
the ftrcngth of the citadel ; — but madam 
houfe-keepcr would have blown me. up. 
*' You are in love with my mafter*s daugh- 
" ter," faid fhe, one day, to me ; " if you 
** make honourable propofals, I have not 
** a doubt but they will b? accepted ; — if^ 
" I find'you endeavouring to gain her heart 
*' in a clandeftine manner, — remember 
*' you are in my power. My faithful fer- 
" vices in this family have given me fome 
*' influence, and I will certainly ufe it for 
" their advantage. The belt and loveliefl: 
" of her fex (hall not be left a prey to the 
** artful infinuating praftices of a man too 
*' well verfed in the fciencc of deceit. 
** Marry, her 5 Ihe will do you honour in 
•' this world, and by her virtues ^nfurc 
" your happinefs in the next." 

I took the old matron's advice, as it fq 

perfedly accorded vi^ith my own wifbes. 

C 2 The 



tS THE S Y L P H. 

The gentle Julia made no objcftion.— Va* 
nity apart, I certainly have fomc attrac- 
tions ; efpecially in the.eyes of an innocent 
young creature, who yet never faw a rea- 
fonable being befides her fathers and who 
had likewife a fecret inclination to know a 
little how things go in the world. I (hall 
very foon gratify her wiih, by taking her 
to London.— 'I am fick to death of the 
conftant routine of circumftanccs here-— 
ibe fame to-day^ to-morrcw^ and for ever* 
Your mere good kind of people are really 
very infipid fort of folks 5 and as fuch to- 
tally unfuited to my tafte. I (hall there- 
fore leave them to their pious meditations 
in a Ihort time, and whirl my little Julia 
into the giddy circle, where alone true joy 
is to be rnct with. 

I (ball not invite her fitter to accompany 
her; as I have an invincible diflike to the 
idea of marrying a whole family. Befides, 
fitters fomctimes are more quick-fightcd 
than wives : and I begin to think (though 
from whence ftie has gained her knowledge 
I know not, I hope honcftly !) that Louifa 
is miftrefs of more penetration than my 

rib. 



THE S Y L P H. 2$ 

r/^.*^She is more ferious, confequently 
more obferving and attentive. 

The day of our depa,rture is fixed on.— 
Our fmte will be a Welfh filh dt cbambre^ 
yclep\J Winifred^ and an old male do- 
meftick, who at p'refent afts in capacity of 
groom to me^ and who I forefee will foon 
be the butt of my whole houfci-— as he is 
chiefly conapofed of Wclfh materials, I 
conclude we fhall have fine work with him 
among our beaux d*efprits of the motley 
tribe.— 1 fhall leave TafFy to work his way 
^& be can. Let every one fight their owrv 
battles I fay.'— 1 hate to interfere in any 
kind of bufinefs. I burn with impatience 
to greet you and the reft of your confede- 
rates. Affure them of my beft wifhcs.— ^ 
I was going to fay fcrvices,.— but alasi I 
am not my owa mafter ! I am* married. 
After that, may I vjBQture to conclude my- 
fdf .your's ? 

W. STANLEY. 



LET- 



30 THE SYLPH. 

LETTER m. 

To Mifs Grenville. 

HOW ftrange does it fcem, my deareft 
Louifa, to addrefs you at this dif- 
taocc ! What is it that has fupported me 
through this long journey, and given me 
ftrength to combat with all the fofter feel- 
ings ; to quit a refpeftable parent and a 
beloved fiftcr ; to leave fuch dear and ten- 
der relations^ and accompany a man to 
whom four months Hnce I was wholly a 
ftrangcr I I am a wretched reafoner at beft. 
—I am therefore at a lofs to unravel this 
'myftcry. It is true, it became my duty 
to follow my hufband ; but that a duty fo 
newly entered into Ihould fuperfcdc all 
others is certainly ftraage. You will fay, 
you wonder thefe thoughts did not arife 
fooner -, — they did, my dear ; but the con- 
tinual agitation of my fpirits fince I mar- 
ried, prevented my paying any attention 
to them. Perhaps, thofe who have beep 
accuftomcd to the buftles of the world 
would laugh at my talking of the agita- 
tion 



THE SYLPH. 3,1 

tian of fpirits in the courfe of an affair 
which was carried on with the moft me- 
thodical exa^nefs ^ but then it is their be- 
ing accuftomed to bullies, which coulcl 
infure their compofure on fuch an import- 
ant occasion. I am young and inexperienced 
■—and what is word of all, a perfcdt ftran- 
ger to the difpofition of Sir William. He 
may be a very good fort of man ; yet he 
may have fome faults» which are at prefent 
unknown to me. — I am refolved, howe- 
ver, tQ be as indulgent to them as pofll* 
blc, fhould I difcover any.— And as for 
my own, I will drive to conceal them, un- 
der an implicit obedience to bis will and 
pleafurc.^ 

As to giving you an account of this hur^ 
rying place, ii is totally out of my power. 
I made Sir William laugh very heartily fe- 
veral times at my ignorance. We came 
into town at a place called Piccadiliyt 
where there was fuch a croud of carriages 
of all forts, that I was perfcftly aftonifhed, 
and abfolutely frightened. I begged Sir 
William would order the drivers to ftop 
till they were gone by. — This intreatjr 
threw him alniod into a convulfion of 
C 4 laughter 



S« THE SYLPH. 

laughter at my fimplicity ;— but I was ftil! 
more amazed, when he toW me, they 
would continue driving with the fame ve- 
hemence all night. Far my part, I could 
not hear my own voice for the continual 
rattle of coaches, &c. — I ftill could not 
help thinking it muft be fomc particular 
rejoicing day, from the immenfe concourfe 
of peopk I faw rulhing from all quarters % 
p— and yet Sir William affured nie the town 
was very empty. ^ Mercy defend usi** 
cried Winifred, when I informed her what 
her mailer had faidi ^* what a place muik 
** it.be when it is foil, for the people haV* 
J* not room to walk as it is !" I cautioned 
Win, to difcover her ignorance as little a$ 
j^ffible ;— -but I doubt both miftrefs and 
itiaid will be fubjefts of mirth for fome 
time to con^e. 

: 1 have not yet feen any thing, ai there 
is a ceremony to be obferved among pea* 
pie of rank in this place. No married lady 
can appear in public till (he has been pro-*, 
perly introduced to their majefties. Alas \ 
what will become of tne upon an occaGon 
fo Angular! — Sir William has been fo 
obliging as to befpcak the protedion of a 

lady. 



THE STL P H. 3 J 
lady, who is perfcd miftrf fs of the e//- 
que^es of courts. She will pay me a vifit 
previous to my introdudlion *, and under 
her tuition^ I am told, I have nothing to 
fear. All my hopes are, that I may acquit 
^ myfelf fo as to gain the approbation of 
my hufband. Huiband ! what a found has 
that, when pronounced by a girl barely 
feventeen,~-and one whofe knowledge of 
the world is merely Speculative j— one, 
who, born and bred in obfcurity, is equally 
unacquainted with men and manners. — t 
have often revolved in my mind what could 
be the inducement of my father's total fc- 
clufion from the world j for what little 
hints I (and you, whofe penetration is deep- 
er than mine) could gather, have only 
fcrved to convince us, he muft have been 
extremely ill treated by it, to have been 
conftrained to make a vow never again to 
^nter into it, — and in my mind the very 
formiiig of a vow looks as if hejhiad loved 
itjDo^xcefs, ajodlhercfore made his retreat 
from it mQre_fpJemn t^^^ a bare rcfdii^- 
tion, left he mighCj from, a change of cir- 
cumftanccs.or fentiments, again be fcduce3 

^5 ■ ^^b:: 



34 T H E S Y L P H. 

by its attra6tions, and by which .be Jiad. 
fuffered fo much, .. 

Do you know, I have formed the wifh of 
knowing fome of thofe incidents in his hiC- 
tory which have governed his adions ? will ' '*^ .1 
you, my dear Louifa, hint this to him ? He ^^ 
may, by fuch a communication, be very 
fcrviceable to me, ^ho amjuch a novice. 
I forefee I Ihall ftand in need of inftruc- 
tors; otherwife I (hall make but an;ndifie* 
rent figure in the drama. Every thing, and 
every body, makes an appearance fo widely 
oppofite to my former notions, that I find 
myfelf every moment at a lofs, and know 
not to whom to apply for information. I 
am apprehenfivc I ftiall tire Sir William to 
death with my interrogatories; befides, he 
. gave me much fuch a hint as I gave Win> 
not to betray my ignorance to every perfon 
I met with j and yet, without afking quef- 
tions, I (hall never attain the knowledge of 
fome things which to me appear extremely 
fingular. The ideas I poiTefled t^^hile among 
the mountains feem intirely ufelefs to me 
her?. Nay, I begin to think, I might as 
well have learnt nothing-, and that the time. 
and expence which were beftowed on my 

education 



THE SYLPH. 35 
education were all loll, fince I even do not 
know how to walk a minuet propcrlyJ 
Would you believe it ? Sir William has 
engaged a dancing- mafter to put me into 
* a genteel and polite method of acquitting 
ipinyfdf with propriety on the important cir* 
cumftance of moving about a room grace-? 
fully. Shall I own I feltjpyfelf morti*' 
fied when he made the propofition? I 
could eyen have Ihed tears at the humili- 
ating figure I made in my own eyes ; how- 
ever, I had refolution to overcome fuch an 
. appearance of weaknefs, and turned it off 
with a fmile, faying, '* I thought I had not 
•' ftood in need of any accomplilhmentSf 
^' fince I had had fufficient to gain his affec* 
** tions.** 1 believe he faw I was hurt, and - 
therefore took feme pains to re-affure me. 
He told me, " that though my perfon was 
** faultlefs, yet, from my feclufion from it, 
** I wanted an air of the world. He himfelf 
** faw^nothing but pcrfedjkion in me ; but 
** he wiflied thofe, wha were not blinded 
*^ by paffion, fhould think me not only the 
*' moft beautiful, but Jikewife the moft 
*' polilhed woman at court." Is there not 
a little vanity in this, Louifa ? But Sir . 
C 6 William^ 



35 THE SYLPH. 
Witiiam is, I find^. a man of the world ^ and 
it IS my dutjr to comply with every thing he 
judges proper, to make me what he chufes.. 
i Moiifieor Fierville pays me great com- 
pUmcnts. " Who is he ?** you will aik- 
Why my dancing-mafter, my dear. I am 
Hkewife to take fome leflbns on the harpfi- 
chord, as Sir William finds great fault with 
my fingering, and thinks I want tafte ih 
finging, I always looked on tafte as ge- 
nuine and inherent to ourfclves ; but here, 
tafte is to be acquired ; and what is infi- 
nitely more aftoniftiing ft ill, it is variable. 
So, though I may dance and fing in tafte 
now, a few months hence I may have ano- 
ther method to learn, which will be the 
tafte then. It is a fine time for teachers, 
*rhen fcholars are never taught. We ufed 
to think, to be made perfeft miftrefs of 
any thing was fufBcient ; but in this world 
it is very dificrent ; you have a frefti leffoa 
to learn every winter. As a proof, they 
had'laft winter one of the firft\fingers in the 
^orld at the opcra-houfe ; this winter they 
had one who furpajQfed her. This aflerdon 
70U and I (hould think nonfenfe, fince, ac- 
' .. '' - cording 



THE S Y L P h; ir 

cording to our ideas, nothing can exceed 
perfcftion : the next who comes over will 
be ftiperior to all others that ever arrived. 
The reafon is^ every one has a different 
mode of finging ; a tafte of their own,, 
which by arbitrary cuftom is for that caufe 
to be the tafte of the whole town. Thefe 
things appear incomprehenfible to me ; 
but I fuppofe ufc will reconcile me to 
them, as it does others, by whom they 
muft once have been thought ftrange. 

' I think I can difcover Sir William Stan- 
ley has great pride, that is, he is a flave to 
faftiion. He is ambitious of being a lead- 
ing man. His houfe, his equipage, and 
wife— in (hort, every thing which belongs 
to him muft be admired; and I can fee, 
he is not a Iitt4e flattered when they meet 
with approbation, although from per£>»A 
of whofe tafte and knowledge of life he 
has not the moft exalted idea. 

It woujd look very ungratcfulln me, if 
I was to make any complaints againft my 
fituation ; and y^t would it not be more io 
to my father and y.ou> if I was not tofay, 
I was happier whilft with you ? 1 certainly 
was. I will do Sir William the juftice io 

fay^ 



38 THE SYLPH. 

fay> he contributed to make my laft twa 
months refidcnce very pleafant. He was 
the firft lover I ever had, at leaft the firft 
that ever told me he loved. The diftinftion 
he paid me certainly made fome impreflion 
on my heart. Every female has a little va- 
nity •, but I muft enlarge my ftock before 
I can have a prober confidence in myfclf 
in this place. 

My finging-mafter has juft been an- 
nounced. He is a very great man in his 
way, fo I muft not make hrm wait \ be- 
fides, my letter is already a pretty reafon* 
able length. Adieu, my dearcft fifter ! 
fay every thing duteous and affcftionate 
for me to my father-, and tell yourfclf 
that I am ever your'a, 

JULIA STANLEY. 

L E T E R IV. 

To Colonel Montague. 

Dear Jack, . 

IW A S yefterday . introduced to the 
lovelieft woman in the univerfe ; Stan- 
ley's wife. Ycsi that happy dog is ftill 
5 the 



THE SYLPH. 39 

the favourite of Fortune. How does he 
triumph over me on every occafion ! If he 
had a foul of worth, what^a treafure would 
h ejpoffefs in fuch an angel ! but he will 
foon graw tired even of her. What im- 
menfe pains did he take to fupplant me in 
the affcftions of Lucy Gardner, though 
he has fince fworn to you and many others 
he propofed no other advantage to him- 
felf than rivaling me, and conquering her 
prejudices in my favour. He thinks I have 
forgot all this, becaufe I did not call him 
to an account for hi^ ungenerouis conduft, 
and becaufe I ftill ftyle him my friend 5 
but let him have a care 5 my revenge only 
flept till a proper opportunity called ic 
forth. As to retaliating, by endeavouring 
to obtain, any of his miftreffes, that was too 
trivial a fatisfadion for me, as he is too 
phlegmatic to be hurt by fuch an attempt. 
I flatter myfelf, I fliall find an opening 
by and by, to convince him I have nei- 
ther forgotten th« injury, or am of a tem- 
per to let flip an occafion of piercing his 
heart by a method cfieftual and fecure* 
Men, who delight to difturb the felicity 
of others, are moft tenacious of their own. 

And 



40 THE SYLPH. 

And Stanley, ^ho has allowed himfelf fuch 
latitude of intrigue in other men's families, 
will very fenfibly feel any (lain on his. 
But of this in future i let me return to 
Lady Stanley. She is not a perfedb beauty : 
which, if you are of my tafte, you wili^ 
think rather an advantage than not; as- 
there is generally a formality in great regu- 
larity of features* and moft times an infi- 
pidity. In her there are neither. She is 
in one word animated nature. Her height 
is proper, and excellently well proportion-^ 
cd ; I might fay, cxquifitcly formed. 
Her figure is fuch, as at once creates 
efteem, and gives birth to the tendereft 
defires. Stanley feemecl to take pleafure 
in my commendations. " I wanted you 
" to fee her, my Lord,"faid he: ** yoa 
** are a man of tafte. May I introduce 
** Julia, without bluftiiiig through appre* 
•* henfion of her difgracing me ? You- 
*^* knoW my fentiments. I muft be applaud* 
^ ed by the world 5 lovely as I yet think 
** her, (he would be the objed of my hate, 
*' and I Ihould defpife myfelf, if fhe is not 
** admired by the whole court; it Js the 
V pnly apologj;^ I cw makcto mvfelf for 

7 S«?.arfj?^g 



r H E S Y L P H. 41 

^ marrying at all/^ What a bfutc of a 
fellow it is ! I fuppofe he muft be 
cuckolded by -half the town, to be con« 
vinced his wife has charms. 

Lady Stanley is extremely obfervant of 
her hufband at prcfent, becaufe he is the 
only man who has paid her attention ; but 
when fhe finds fhe is the only woman who 
is diftinguiifhed by his indifference, whicb 
will Toon be the cafe, flie will likewife fee, 
and be grateful for, the affiduities paid her 
by other men. One of the firft of thofe 
3 intend to be. I (hall not let you into the 
iplaiv of operations at prefcnt ; befides, it 
is impofiible, till I know^ more of my 
ground, to mark out any fcheme. Chance 
often performs that for us, which the moft 
judicious r€jBe(5tion cannot bring about ^ and 
I have the wh&U canlpaign before me. 
^ I think myfrlf pretty vrtll acquainted 
;^nth th« failings and weak parts in Stan- 
« y ; and you may affure yourfelf I Ihatt 
avail myfelf of them. I do not want pe- 
netration •, and doubt not, from the free 
accefs which I have gained in the family, 
but I (hall foon be matter of the ruling 
paflion of her ladyftiip. She is,, as yet, a 

total 



42 THE SYLPH, 

total (Iranger to the world; her charaAer 
is not yet eftabliflied ^ (he cannot know 
herfelf. She only knows fhe is handfomc ; 
that fccret, I prefunie. Nature has in- 
formed her of. Her hufband has confirmed 
ir, and (he liked him becaufe (he found ii| 
him a coincidence of opinion. But all that 
rapturous nonienfe will, and mud roon» 
have aa end. As to the beauties of mind» 
he has no more idea of them, than we 
have of a fixth fenfe ^ what he knows not, 
he cannot admire.- She wiU-foon find her* 
felf neglected ; but at the fame time 
ihe will find the lofs of a huiband's 
praifcs amply fupplied by the devoirs 
of a hundred) all equal, and many fuperior 
to him^ At firft, fhe may be uneafy 5 but. 
repeated flattery will foon confole herj 
and the man who can touch her hearty 
needs fear nothing. Every thing elfe, ^ ; 
Lord Chefterfield juftly obferves, will theft 
follow of courfe. By which alTertion, 
whatever the world may think, he cer-f 
tainly pays a great compliment to the fair 
lex. Men may be rendered vicious by a 
thoufand methods ; but there is only one 
way to fubdue women. 

Whom 



THE SYLPH. 43 . 

Whom do you think he has. introU^ced 
as chaperons to his wife ? Lady Besford, and 
Lady Anne Parker. Do not you admire 
his choice ? Oh ! they \^ill be charming^ 
aflbciates for her 1^ But I have nothing to 
fay againft it, as I think their counfels will 
further my fchemes. Lady Besford might 
not be fo much amifs ; but Lady Anne I 
think of her, with whom he is belied if he 
has not had an affair. What madnefs 1 
It i* like him, however. Let him then 
take the confequenccs 'of his folly ^ and 
fiich clever fellows as you and I the advan- 
tage of them. Adieu, dear Jack ! I 
(hall fee you, I hope, as foon as you come 
to town. I (hall want you in a fcheme I 
have in my head, but which I do not think 
proper to truft to paper. Your's, 

BIDDULPH, 

LETTER V. 

To Lady Stanley. 

I HAVE loft you, my Julia; and who 
(hall fupply your lofs? How much 
am I alone ! And yet, if you are happy, 

. Imuft 



44 THE SYLPH. 

I nmft and wiU be fatisfied. I (houlds^ 
however, be infinitely noore f<Haf you had 
any companion to guide your footfteps 
through the devious path of life : I wifli 
you fome experienced dir«£ton Have you 
not yet made an acquaintance which may 
be ufeful to you ? Though you are pre- 
vented appearing in public, yet I think it 
fhould have been Sir William's firft care 
to provide you with fome agreeable fcnfi- 
ble female friend ; one who may love you 
as well as your Lou ifa^ and may,, by Imvi^ 
ing lived in the world, have it more in her 
power to be of fcrvice to you. 

My father miffcs you as much as I do : 
I will not repe^ all he fays» left you (hould* 
thinfc he repents of his complying with Sir 
William's importunity. Write, to us very; 
often, and tell us you are happy ; that will_^ 
be the only cpnfol^ion we can receive in_ 
your abfence. Oh,, this vow ! It binds 
my father to this fpot. Not that I wifli 
to enter into the world- 1 doubt faithlelT- 
nefs and infincerity are very prevalent 
there, fince they could find their way. 
among our mountains. But let me not 
overcloud vour funlhine. I was, you know, 



J 



T H E S Y L P H. 45 

always of a fcrious turn. May no acci- 
dent make you fo, fince your natural dif- 
pofition is chearfulnefs itfelf ! 

I read your letter to my father ; hie 
ftemed pleafed "m your wifh of being ac- 
quainted with the incidents of his life : he 
will enter on the ta(k very foon. There is 
nothing, he fays» which can, from the na^ 
turc of things, be a guide to you in your 
pafiage through the world, any farther 
than not placing too much confidence in 
the profpc6t of felicity, with which you fee 
yourfelf furrounded 5 but always to keep 
in mind, we are but in a (late of proba* 
tion here, and confequently but for a fliort 
time : that, as our happinefs is liable to 
change, we ought not to prize the pof- 
fcffion fo much as to render ourfelves mi-' 
ferablc when that change comes ; neither, 
when we are opprefled with the rod of 
affliftion, Ihould we fink into dcfpair, asp 
we are certain our woe, like ourfelves, is 
mortal. Receive the blefling of our only 
parent, joined with the afFeftionate love 
<^ a tender fiftcr. Adieu ! 

LOUISA GRENVILLE. 
LET 



46 THE SYLPH. 

LETTER VI. 
To James Spencer, Efq. 

IT is high time, my/dear Spencer, to ac- 
count to you for the whimfical journey, 
as you called it, which your friend under- 
took fo fuddenly. I cneant not to keep 
that, or even my motives for it, a fecrct 
from you. The efteem you have ^ver 
fliewn me merited my moll unlimited 
confidence. y 

You faid, you thought I muft have fome 
other view than merely to vifit the ruins 
of a paternal eftate, loft to me by the ex- 
travagant folly of my poor father. You 
fai9 tru€5-5 I had indeed fome other view ; . 
but alas ! how blafted is that view ! Long 
had my heart cheriftied the fondeft attach- 
ment for the lovelieft and beft of human 
beings, who inhabited the mountains, 
which once my father owned. My fortune 
was too circumfcribed to difclofe my flame; 
but I fecretly indulged it, from the remote 
hope of having it one day in my power 
to receive her hand without bluQiing at 
my inferiority in point of wealth. Thefe 
thoughts, thefe wilhes, have fupported 

me 



THE SYLPH. 47 

me through an abfcnce of two years from 
my native land, and all that made my na- 
tive land dear to me. 

Her loved id ea heightened every joy 
1 .XfcQSlYSd^^jnd J(^^ every care, f 
knew I poflefled her efteem ; but I never, 
from the firft of my acquaintance, gave 
the lead hint of what I felt for, or hoped 
from, her. I ftiould have thought myfelf 
b afe in the higheft deg ree, to have made 
an intereft in Jier bofom, which I had no- 
thmg^tgu fjig^ fide but the fan- 

guini^wifhes of youth, that.fome turn of 
iE^jtmicls_w^ favour. 

You know how amply, as well as unex- 
pedtedly, I am now provided for by cur 
dear Frederic's death. How feverely have 
I felt and mourned his lofs ! But he is 
happier than in any fituation which our 
friendfhip for Jiim could have found. 

. I could rjun any. lengths in praifing one 
fo dear to me J but he was equally fo to 
jou, and you are fully acquainted with my 
fentiments on this head 5 befides, 1 have 
ipmething more to the puipofe at prefent 
to communicate to you. 

: ^ Alt 



48 THE SYLPH. 

All the fatisfaftion I ever cxpeftcd from 
the acquifition of fortune was, to fharcjt 
with my IpvCj^ Nothing but that hope and 
profpedl; could have enabled me to foftain 
the death of my friend. In the bofom of 
my Julia I fondly hoped to experience thofe 
calm delights which his lofs deprived me 
of for fomc time. Alas! that long-in- 
dulf^ed hope is funk in defpair ! Oh ! my^ 
Spencer ! Ihe's loft, loft to me for ever ! 
Yet what right h^ I to think fhe would 
notbefeen,and, bcuig feen, admired, loved^ 
and courted ? But, from the Angularity of 
her father's difpofition^ who had vowed ne- 
ver to mix in the world ; — a difappointmcnt 
of the tendereft kind which her elder fiftcr 
had met with, and the almoft monaftic fc- 
clufion from fociety in which (he lived, 
joined to her extreme youth, being but 
feventeen the day I left you in London : 
all thefe circumftances, I fay, concurred 
once to authorize my fond hopes,— and 
thefe hopes have nurfed my defpair.^ 
Oh ! 1 knew not how much I loved her, 
till I faw her fnatched from me for ever. 
A few months fooner, and I might have 

* pleaded 



THE SYLPH. 49 

pleaded fome merit with the lovely maid 
from myJong^andjjnremU^^^^^^ attachment. 
My paffion was^ intcpaoso^^ ex- 

iftence.^ with that it grew, and witli that 
only will it^Kpirc, 

My dear-lov'd Julia! from toy youth 

began 
The tender flame, and ripened in the 

man ; 
MLll^~i?' Julia 1 to my lateft age, 
No^hervows^ heart engage. 

Full of the fond ideas which feemed a 
part of myfelf, I flew down to Woodlejr- 
vale, to reap the long-expe£led harvefl: of 
. my hopes.— Good God ! what was the fa- 
tal news I learnt on my arrivali Alas! (he 
knew not of my love and capftancy ;-^lhe 
had a few weeks before given her hand, 
and no doubt her heart, to Sir William 
Stanley, with whom an accident had 
brought her acquainted. I will not en- 
large upon what were my feelings on this 
occafion. — -Words would be too faint a 
yeHcleiO'expreCs the anguifli of my foul. 
Ynyj who know the tendernefs of my dif- 
poGtion, muft judge for me. 

Vox., I. D Yefttrday 



50 T H E S Y L P H. 

Ycftcrday I faw the dear angeUfrom the 
inn from whence I am writing ; Ihe and 
her happy hafband flopped here: for firefii 
iaiorfes. I had a fplt view of her beauteous 
face. Ah ! how much has two years \m* 
.proved each charm in her lovely peiibn ! 
lovdy and charming, tut not for me. I 
kept myfcif concealed from her — I could 

' hardly fupport the fight of her at a dif- 
tanccv my emotions were more violent 

' than you can coned ve. Her drefs became 
her the beft in the world ; a riding habit 
of ftone-coloured cloth, lined with rofe-co- 
lour, and frogs of the fame — the collar of 
her fliirt was open at the neck, arid difco- 
vered her lovely Ivory throat. Her hair 

' was in a little difprder, which, with her 
hat, lerved to contribute to, and heighten, 
the almoft irrcfiftible charms of her fea- 

] turcs. There was a penfivenefs in her 
manner, which 'rendered her figure more 
intertfting and touching than ufual. t 
thought I difcovered the traces of a tear 
en her cheek. She had juft parted with 

• h^r father and fifter ; and, had fhe fhewn 

lefs concern, I fliould not have been fo fa^ 

I tisfied 



T HE S Y.LP H. ,51 

tisfied with her. ' L g^zed till my €ye*)xil|s 

.ached j - but, when .the ^baife dc^Yc frpin 

. the; dpot-— eH what (hen jl^^atne of irie ! 
*' She's gone ! Ibe's gone !" I . ^xc)a)i»f^ 
aloud, wringing my hands, *' and o^Kf r 
** knew how much I Ipyed ^f !'* :I>Mag al- 
moft in a ftate of in^do^rsforjfoqQe^iifS 
— s-at laft, my ftorm /of grief, and dc§)atr,a 
little fubfided, and I, by degrees, be^ap^ 
calm and more refigned to my ill fate. -I 

. took the refolution, which I (hidl put \ti 
execution as foon as poffible, to leave Eng- 
land. I will retire to the remaining part of 

. my Frederic's family—and^ in their friend- 
fhip, feek to forget the pangs which an. ha- 
bitual tendernefs has brought upon me. 

You, who are at eafe, .may have it \n 
your power to convey ibme fmall fatisfs^c- 
tion to my wounded breaft. But why do 
IhyfmdllfatisfaSiwn? To^me it will be 
the higheft to hear that my Julia is happy. 
Do you then, my dear Spencer, eaquiff, 

. among your acquaintance, the charadter of 
this Sir William Stanley- His figure is 

. genteel, nay, rath« handfomc; yet he does 

not look the man I coqld wifh fof .her» 

D 2 I did 



^52 THE SYLPH. 
I did not difcover that look of tended nets, 
that foft impaflioned glance, which vir- 
tuous love excites > but you will notjx- 
•pcft a favourable pifture from a rivaTs 
<[>eii« 

Imenfioned a difappointment which the 
lifter of my Julia had fuftained : it was 
]uft before I left England. While on a 
-vifit at Abergavenny, fhe became acquaint- 
-cd with a young gentleman of fortune, 
who, aft^r taking fome pains to render 
himfclf agreeable, had the fatisfaftion of 
gaining the afFeftions of one of the moft 
amiable girls in the world. She is all that 
a woman can be, except -bemg my Julia. 
Louifa was at that time extremely attached 
to a lady in the fame houfe with her, who 
was by no means a favourite with her lover. 
They ufed frequently to have little argu- 
' tnents concerning her. He would not al- 
* low her any merit. Louifa fancied Ihe faw 
her own image reflefted in the bofom of 
tier friend. She is warm in her attach- 
ments. Her zeal for her friend at laft 
^ awakened a curiofity in her lover, to view 
hcv with more fcrutiny. He had been ac- 

cuftomed 



T BE S Y L P Hv 53^ 
etiftomed to pay an implicit obedience to 
Louifa's opinion ; he fancied he was &.i\h 
acquiefcing only in that opinion v/heti he 
began to difcover flie was handfome, and 
to find fome farther beauties which Louifa . 
had not painted in fo favourable a light 
as he BOW faw them. In (hort, what at 
firft was only a compliment to his miftref?,- 
npw fcemed the due of the other. He 
thought Louifa had hardly done her juf-. 
tice ; and in fceking to repair that faulty, 
he injured the woman who doated on hini. 
Love, which in fome cafes is blind, is in- 
ethers extremely quick-fighted. Louifa 
faw a change in his behaviour — a ftudied 
civility — an apprehenfion of not appearing 
fufficientJy affiduous — freqpent expreffions 
of fearing. to offend — and all thofe meaa 
arts and fubterfuges which a man ufes, 
who wants to. put it in a woman's power 
to break with him, that he may bafely 
Ihelter , himfclf behind, what he flyles, 
her cruelty. . Wounded to the foul with 
the duplicity of his conduft, Ihe, one 
day, infifted oh knowing the motives 
which induced him to z& in fo difinge-* 
D 3 Quous 



54. THE S Y L P H. 

riuous a manner by her. At firft his an- 
fwers v?ere evafive ; but fhe peremptorily 
urged an explicit fat'isfaftion. She told 
him, the moft unfavourable certainty 
would be happinefs to what (he now felt, 
and th^t certainty fh<f now called on him 
in juftice to grant her. He then began 
by palliating the fatal inconftancy of his 
affeftions, by the encomiums Which (he 
had beftowed on her friend ; that hii love 
for her had induced him to love.thofe dear 
tb her ; and fonrie unhappy cii"cumftances 
Had arifen, which had bound him to her 
friendi beyond his power or inclination to 
break' througjj^ f his difappdintmentt in 
fo early a part of L6uifa*s' life, has given 
a'tendernefs to her whole frame, which is 
of advantage t6 moff Women, and her in 
particular. She has, t queftion not, long 
fihce bieheld this urt Worthy Wretch in the 
light he triiiy deferyedj yet, no doubt, it 
was not till (he had fuffered many pangs. 
The heart will n6t recover its ufual tone_ 
in a'ftbrt time, that has long been racked 
\fritil thef agonies of love ^ and even when 
we fancy otirfelvcs' quite recovered, there 

IS 



THE SYLPH. 55 
is an aching V0i d» which ftill ^otn^Q Ja ua 
of Jormc r anguifh * 

I fhall not be in town thcfe ten day a at 
lea{l» as I find I can be ferviceable to a 
poor man in this neighbourhood» whom I 
believe to be an bbjed worthy attention* 
Write m^y therefore, what intelligence you 
can, obtain; and fcruple not tq commur, 
nicate the refult of your inquiry to roe 
fpecdily. Her happinefs 'is th e wiQi next 
my heart.. Oh! may it bc^a s^cxalted and^ 
pernianent as I wifh it J I will not fay 
any thing to you ; you well know hoW: 
dear you arc to the bor pm of^J^ur 

HENRY^WODDLEY. ' 

LETTER Vir. 
To Henry Woodlby, Efq. 

NO, my dear Harry, I can never con- 
fent to your burying yourfclf abroad; 
but I will not fay all I could on that fub- 
jcft till we meet. I think, I (hall then be- 
able to offer you fome very powerful rea*' 
fonjs, that you will cfteem fufEcicnt to in* 
D 4 duce 



ss T H e: s « l p h. 

duce you to remain in your native land^*-* 
I have a fcheme in my head> but which I 
ifaall not communicate at prefent. 

Sir Wilfiam Stanley is quite a man of 
faihion. — Do you know enough of the 
world to underftand all that title compre- 
hends ? If you do, you will fincerely re* 
gret your Julia is married to a man of fa- 
Jhion. His paffions are the rule and guide 
of his adions. To what mifchie& is a 
young creature expofed in this town, cir* 
cumftanced as Lady Stanley is — without 
a friend or relation with her to point out 
the artfuland defigning wretch, who means - 
to make a prey of her innocence and inr 
experience of life ! 

The moft unfafe and critical fituatFoft 
for a woman, is to be young,, handfome, 
and married to a man of fafhion ; thefe are 
thought to be lawful prey to the fpecious 
of our fex. As a man of falbion, Sir Wil-^ 
liam Stanley would blufli to be found too 
attentive to his wife ; — he will leave her 
to feek what companions chance may. 
throw in her way> while he is aflbciatinig 
with rakes of quality, and glorying in 

thofe 



THE ;S Y L P H* 57 

thQ^ licenes in which to be difcovered he 
Ihwld rcfilly bluOi. I am told he is fond 
of deep play — attaches himfclf to women 
of bad character, and feeks to eftablifh aa 
(pinion, that he is quite the ion in eveiy/ 
thing. I tremble for your Julia.— Hej; 
beauty» if (he had no other merits making: 
her faihionable, will induce fome of tholc- 
wretches, who are ever upon the watcbto/ 
enfnare the innocent, to praftife their diai« 
bolical artifices to poifon her mind.^ She • 
will foon fee herfelf neglected by her huC- 
band,-— and that will be the (ignal for them ' 
to begin their attack. — She is totally un« 
hackneyed in the ways of men, and con-~ 
fequently can form no idea of the extreme 
depravity of their hearts. May the innate ^ 
virtue of her mind be her guide and fup-- 
port ! — but to efcape with honour and re- 
putation will be a difficult tafk. I muit 
fee you, Harry. I have fomething in my 
mind. 1 have fcen more of the world 
than you have. — For a whole year I was 
witnefs of the diforder of this great town^ 
and, with bluflies I write, have too fre«« 
qi^ently joined in fome of its extravagances 
D 5 J and< 



5? THE SYLPH. 
and foHies ; but, thank heaven ! my eyes 
were opened before my morals became 
t'orrupt, or my fortune and conftitotion 
ittipiifed. — Your virtue and my Fredc- 
nc's confirmed rhe in the road I wa^ 
then dfefirous of purfuing, — and I am now 
coiivinced I (hall never deviate from the 
pith of reftitude. 

I ekpc&: you in town with' all the impa-» 
tienceof a friend zealous for your happi- 
hefs and advantage : but I wilh not to in- 
tetfcre with any charitable or virtuous em- 
ployment. — When you have finifhed ydur 
affairs, remember jour faithful 

J. SPE^NCER. 



L E T.T E R VIII. 
To Mils Grenville. 

SURROUNDED with mantua-makers, 
milliners, and hair-drelTcrs, I blulh to 
fay I have hardly time to beftow on my 
dear Louifa* What a continual buftle do 

I live 



T H E S Y LP H: 59 
I live in, without having literally any thing 
to do f AU thefe wonderful pjeparationa 
arc makinjg^^% mj appearance at court; 
an37 in confequence of that, oiy .vifiting 
all the places of public amuiemenf. I 
foccfe g my head w ill be turned wjth jtfejs 
whirl of folly, I am inclined to call it, in 
contradidbion to the opinion of mankind* 
-—If the peoplf I am among are of any 
charafter at all, I think I may comprife it 
in few words : to me they feem to be run- 
ning about all the morning, and throwing 
away time, in concerting meafures to 
throw away more in the evening. Then, 
. as to drefs, to give an idea of that, I muft 
reverfe the line of an old fong, 

** What was our Jhame^ is now our 
''pride:' _ 

I have had a thoufand patterns of filk$ 
brought me to make choice, and fuch cq« 
lours as yet never appeared in a rainbow. • 
A very elegant man, one of Sir Williani's 
fki^nds I thought, w^ imroduced to n>e 
ifefiptht^r .mfti?ni#g.r-tJ w^« Pf^PW^g «? 
jicccivie im W ^ fsi^JW j .wh^ ifiuffg,W.t 
D 6 hia 



\ 



60 THE SYLPH. 
his pocket-book, he begged I woukl do 
bitn the honour to infpeA Ibme of the 
moft faihionable patterns^ and of the new* 
eft tafte. He gave me a Hft of their 
names as he laid them on the cuff of his 
coat. This you perhaps will think unne* 
ceflary ; and that, as colours afFeft the vi« 
fual orb the fame in different people, I 
might have been capable of diftinguifhing 
Blue from red, and fo on 5 but the cafe is 
quite otherwifc ; there are no fuch colours^ 
now. " This your ladyftiip will -find ex- 
" tremely becoming,^ — it is la cbeveaux de 
*^la 2?<?g-»^ 5 -— but the cokur de puce is 
*• efteemed before it, and mixed with 
** d^ArtSs^ forms the moft elegant af- 
•* femblage in the world ; the Ponl fang is 
•* immenfely rich i but to luit your lady- 
" fhip*s complexion, I would rather re- 
** commend the feuile mort^ or la nt^fette!^ 
Fifty others, equally unintelligible, he ran 
off with the utmoft facility. I thought, 
however, fo important a point (hould be 
determined by wifer heads than mine j— 
therefore requefted him to leave them 
j^ith me^ a$ I expected fome iadies oa 

whofc 



T HE S Y L P H. 6-« 

tirliafe tafte I had great reliance. As I 
cannot be fuppofed from the nature of 
things to judge for myfelf with any pro- 
priety, 1 fhall leave the choice of my 
cloaths to Lady Besford and Lady Arine 
Parker, two ladies who have vifited me, 
• and arc to be my protedlors in public. 

I- was extremely (hocked, when I fent 
for a mantjua-maker, to find a man was to 
perform that office. I even refufed a. long, 
time to admit him near me — ^and,-thinking 
myfelf perfeftly fafe that I fhould have 
him on my fide, appealed to Sir William. 
He laughed at my ridiculous fcruples, as 
he called them, and farther told me; 
** cuflom juflified every things nothing 
^^ was^ indecent or other wife, but as it was 
" the /^».'* — I was filent, but neither fa- 
tisficd or pleafed, — and fubmitted, I be- 
' licve, with but an ill grace. 

Lady Besford was fo extremely polite to 
I intcreft hcrfclf in every thing concerning 

my making a fafhionable appearance, and 
procured for me a French frizeur of the 
kO: importation, who drefTed hair to a 
miracle, au dernier gmt. I believe, Louiia, 
5 I mufl 



6z THE SYLPH. 
I muft fend you a diftionary of polite 
phrafes, or you will be much at a lofs» 
notwithftanding you have a pretty com* 
petent knowledge of the French tongue. I 
blufh twenty times a day at my own ftu- 
pidity, — and then Sir William tells me, 
** it is fo immenfely iore to blufli " which 
makes me blufh ten times more, becaufe I 
don't underftand what he means by that 
exprefCon, and I am afraid to difcover my 
ignorance ; and he has not patience to ex* 
plain every ambiguous word he ufes, but 
cries, Ihrugging up his fhoulders, ab ! quel 
favage ! and then compofes his ruffled 
fptrits by humming an Italian air. 
« « » 

Well, but I muft tell you what my drefs 
was, in which I Was prefentcd. My gown 
was a filver tiflue, trimmed with filver net, 
and tied up with rofes, as large as life, 
I was going to fay. Indeed it was very 
beautiful, and fo it ought, for it came 
to a moft enormous fum. My jewels are 
fnagnifique^ and in immenfe quantities. 
Do you know, I could not find out half 
their purpofes^ or what I fliould do wic-h 

thcm^ 



THE SYLPH. 63 

them; forfuch things I never faw. What 
fhould poor Win and I have done by our« 
felves ?— Lady Besford tallced of fending 
her woman to affift me in drefling. — I told 
her I had a fervant» to whom I had been 
accuftomed for a long time.-—" Ah ! for 
** heaven's fake, my dear creature !" ex- 
claimed my huflband, *' don't mention the 
^ tramontane. She might do tolerably 
** Well for the Welfh mountains, but (he 
** will cut a moft outre Bguvc in the teau 
** monde. I beg you will accept of Lady 
•* Besford's polite offer, till you can pro- 
" videyourfelf mih^0e de cbambre^ that 
** knows on which fide- her right hand 
*' hangs." Alas ! poor Winifreu Jones ! 
Her miftrefs, I doubt, has but few advan- 
tages over her^ Lady Besford was lavifh 
in the encomiums of her woman, wboh^ 
had. the honour of being dreflTer to oneoC> 
the a<5trefles many years. 

Yefterday morning the grand tafk of 
niy decoration was to commence. Ah ! 
good Lord ! I can hardly recolledt partU 
culars. — I am morally convinced my father 
would have been looking for his Julia, 

had 



• 



64 THE SYL-PH;t 

had he fccn me ;— and wou^ have fpent 
much time before he difcovered me inthcr 
midft of feathers, flowers, and a thoufand 
gcw-gaws befide, too many to enumerate* 
1 will, if I can, difled my head for your 
edification, as it appeared to me when 
Monficur permitted nvc .to view myfelf 
in the glafs. I was abfolutely ready ta 
run from it with fright, like poor Afteoii' 
when he. had fuffcred the difpkafure of 
Diana-, and, like him, was in danger of run- 
ning my new- acquired ornaments, againflr 
every thing in my way* 

MonficuT alighted from his chariot 
about eleven o'clock^ and was imme- 
diately announced by Griffith, who, poor 
foul ! flared as if he thought him one of 
the fiheft men in the world. He was at* 
tended by a fervant, who brought in two« 
very large caravan boxes, and -a flu,mber 
of other things. Monfieur then prepared 
to begin his operations. — Sir William was 
at that time in my drefling-room. He- 
begged, for God*s fake ! " that Monficur 
^ would be fo kind as to exert his abilities, 
!* as'every thing depended on thejuft^inj*.- 

- 1* preffioa 



THE S Y L P tL 6s 

^^^teffion my figure made.'* — Monficur 
hpwed and ihrugged, juft like an over- 
grown monkeyr In a moment I was over- 
whelmed whh a cloud of powdcn. ** What 
** are yoo doing ? I do not mean to be 
** powdered/* I faid. " Not powdered !'" 
repeated Sir William ; *' why you would 
** not be fo barbarous as to appear with-* 
** out — it pofitively is not decent.** 

" I thought,** anfwcred I, "' jau lafcd 
" to admire the colour of my hair— 
" how often have you praifed its glofly 
** hue ! and called me your nuhlrown 

" Pho f pho !** faid he, blirfhing, per-' 
haps left he fhould be fufpeded of ten-- 
dernefs, as that is very vulgar, ** I can 
*' bear to fee a woman . without powder 
** in fummer ; but now the 0%£e is othei^ 
*^ wife; Monfieur knows what heisaboufi» 
** Don't interrupt or didfcate to him. I 
*^ am going to drefs. Adicu> ma cbar^^ 
!^ mante /*• 

Whh a determination of bei«g paflive,. 
I fat down under his hands— -often, I con- 
fef»» wondering what kind of being^ I 

fhould 



66 THE SYLPH* 
(hould be in my metamorphofi^)— and ra-. 
ther impatient of the length of tioie^. 
to fay nothing of the pain I felt under 
the pjuUing and frizing, and rubbing in 
the exquifitely*fcented pomade df VetmSi 
At length the words, " v^«i e$es finis, 
** madame^ au dernier gouty* wcfe prot. 
nounced ; and I rofe with precaution, left 
I fhould difcompofe my new«-buik fa- 
brick, and to give a glance at myfelf in 
the glafs 5 — but where, or in what lan- 
gpage, fhall I ever find worda to expreis 
iny. aftonifhment at the figure which pre« 
fcnted itfelf to my eyes ! what with curjs, 
flowers^ ribbands, featbers» lace, jewels, 
fruit, and ten thoufand other thingsi my 
head wias at leaft from one fide to the 
other full half an ell wide, and from the 
lowed: curl Jiiat lay on my fhoulder, up 
to the top, I am fure I am within com« 
pafs, if I fay three quarters of a yard 
high ; befides fix enormous large feathers^ 
blacky white, and pink, that reminded me 
of the plumes which nodded on the im- 
menfc cafque in the caftle of Otranto,. 
tt Good God 1" I exclaimed, " I can ne- 



*' ver 



THE SY LP H. 67 

*• ver bear this.* • The man aflUred me 
I was drefled quite in taftc. " Let me be 
« drefled as*I will/* I anfwered, " I muft 
** and will be altered. T Would not thus 
"cxpofe myfclf, for'the univerfe.** Say- 
ing which, I began pulling down fomc of 
the prodigious and nionftrous fabrick.— 
The drejfer of tbea£trejfes exclaimed loudlyt 
and the frizeur remonftrated. However, 
r was inflexible : but, to flop the volu- 
bility of the Frenchman's tongue, I in- 
quired how much I was indebted to him 
for making me a monfl:er; A mere trifle V 
fialf a guihea the dreflirtg, and for the 
feathers, pins, wool, falfe curls, cbignion^ 
toquBy pomades^ flowers, wax-fruit, ribband, 
G?^, &c. &?f . he believes about fbur guineas 
would be the difltrence. I was almoft pe- 
trified with aflroiiifhment. When I jreco- 
vered the power of utterance, I told 
him "I thought at leaft he fliould have 
•^informed me what he was about before 
" he ran me to fo much expence ; three- 
*• fourths of the things were ufelefs, as I 
" would not by any means appear in them.** 
*• It was the fame to him,*' he faid, 

•* they 



68 THE S Y L P Vt 

** they were now my property. He had^ 
** run tbe rifle of difobliging the Duchc& 
" of D-r-— , by giving me the preference 
" of the fincft bundles of radiflies that 
*^ had yet come ovcr^ but this it was 
** to degrade himfclf by dreffing com- 
^' moners« Lady Besford had intreated 
** this favour from hinv;. but he muft fay^ 
II he had never ]bcen fo ill-treated fince his 
"arrival in this kingdom." In fliort, he. 
flew out of the room in a great rage, leav- 
ing me in the utmofl: diforder. I begged. 
Mrs* Freeman Cfo her ladylhip's woman^ 
i$ called) to aflifb me a little in undoing, 
what the impertinent Frenchman had taken, 
fuch immenfe pains to effedk. . I had facri- 
ficed half a buftiel of trumpery, when. 
Lady Besford was ufliered into my drefling- 
rpom. " Lord blefs me ! my dear Lady 
" Stanley* what ftill diJhabilU? I thought 
*^you had been ready, and waiting for 
** me.*' I began, by wa^ of apology, to 
inform her ladyfliip of Monfieur*s info- . 
lence. She looked ferious, and faid,." I am« 
*^ forry you ofiended him; I fear he will 
^ reprefent.you at- her grace's r«^//f,.and, 

** ypit 



T tt E S Y L P H. 69 

"** you win be the jeft of the whole court. 
^* Indeed, this is a fad affair. He is the 
** firft man in his walk of life/* "And if 
•** he was the laft,'* I rejoined, ** it would 
•*^ be the better •, however, I beg your lady- 
" ihip*s pardon for not being ready, I IhalL 
" not detain you many minutes/* 

My dear Louifa, you will laugh when 
I tell you, that poor Winifred, who was 
reduced to be my gentlewoman's gentle* 
woman, br6kc two laces in endeavouring 
to draw my new French flays clofe. Ydu 
know I am naturally fmall at bottom. 
But now you might literally fpan m^c. 
You never faw fuch a doll. Then, they 
are fo intolerably wide acrofs the breaft, 
that my arms are abfolutely fore with 
them J and my fides fo pinched !— But it 
is the ion '9 and pride feels no pain. It is 
^ith thefe fcntlments the Jadies of the 
prefcnt age heal their wounds ; to be ad- 
mired, is a fufEcient balfam. 

Sir William had met with the affronted 
Frenchman, and, like Lady Besford, was 
full of apprehenfions left he ftiould expofc 
inc 5 for my part, I was glad to be frofm 

under 



TO ; T HE S Y L P y. 
under his hands at any rate ; and feared 
nothing when he was gone 5 only (till vexed 
at the ftrange figure I made. My hiaif- 
band freely condemned my behavidur as 
extremely abfurd ; and) on my laying I 
would have fomething to cover, or at leaft 
fhade, my neck» for that I thought it 
hardly decent to have that intirely bare, 
while one's head was loaded with fuper- 
-fluities*, he exclaimed to Lady Besfor^, 
clapping his hands together, ^^Ohl God! 
** this ridiculous girl will be an eternal 
" difgrace to me !" I thought this fpeech 
very cutting. I could not rcftrain,^ tear 
from ftartio^g. *' I ho^t not. Sir William," 
faid I ; *' but, left I fhould, I will ftay at 
** home till I have properly, learnt to fubmit 
*' to infult and abfurdity without emotion.** 
My manner made him a(hamed ; Jhe took 
my hand, and, kiffing it, begged my par- 
don, and added, ^^ My dear creature, I want 
" you to be admired by the whole world ; 
^^ and> in compliance with the tafte of the 
^^ world, w'e muft fubmit to fome things, 
•* which, from their novelty, we may 
J* think abfurd J but ufc will reconcile 

" them 



THE SYLPH. 71 
•* them to you." Lady Besford encoH- 
raged me 5 and I was prevailed on to go, 
though very much out of fpirits. I muft 
break off here, for the prefent. This let- 
ter has been the work of fomc days al- 
ready. Adieu! 

IN CONTINUATION. 
MY apprehenfions increafed each mo- 
ment that brought us near St. James's : 
but there was nothing for itA;ib I endea- 
voured all in my power to argue myfclf 
into a fercnity of mind, and fuccecded be- 
yond my hopes. The amiable condefcen- 
fion of their Majefties, however, con- 
tributed thore than any thing to compofe 
my fpirits, or, what I believe to be nearer 
the true ftate of the cafe, I was abforb«d 
in refpeft for them, and totally forgot 
myfclf.. They were fo obliging as to pay 
Sir William fome compliments j and the 
King faid, if all my countrywomen wefe 
like me. he fliould be afraid to truft his 
fon thither. I obferved Si^ William with 
the utmoft attention ; I faw his eyes were 
on me the whole timej but, myLouifa, 

I can- 



ft THE SYLPH. 

I cannot flatter myfclf fo far a§, to fay they 
were the looks of love j they feemcd to qac 
rather the eyes of fcrutiny/ which were on 
the watch,, yet afraid they (hould fee fome- 
thing unpleaflng. I longed to be at home, 
to know froni him how I had acquitted 
myfelf. To my queftion, he anfwered, by 
prefling me to his bofom, crying, '* Like an 
** angel, by heaven ! Upon my foul, Julia, 
•* I never was fo charmed with you in*my 
** life." And upon my honour," I returned, 
•* I could not difcovcr the leaft fymptom 
** of tendernefs in your regards. I d^readed ' 
** all the while that you was thinking I 
•* (hould difgrace you.'* 

*' You was never more miilaken. I 
•* never had more reafon to be proud of 
** any part of my family. The circle 
** rang with your praifcs. But you mull 
•* not expefi: tendernefs in pubiicy^ my 
** love 5 if you meet with it in private, 
•' you will have no caufe of complaint.** 

This will give you but a ftrange idea 
of the world I am in, Louifa. I do not 
above half like it, and think a ramble, 
afm in arm with you upon our native 

mountain$» 



THE SYLPR 73 
mountains^ worth it all. However, my 
lot is drawii i andt perhaps, as times and 
htiibaiids go, / have no taufe of c$mplaini^ 

Your^s moft fincercly, 

JULIA STANLEY. 



• \ nm^v 



To Lady STANtEY. 

MydeareftChUd^ 

THE ta(k you fet your father if a hea-^ 
vy one; but I chearfuUy comfA^ 
with any requeft of my Julia's* However, 
before I enter upOn it, let me fdy a little 
to you t Are you happy, my child? Do 
you find the world fuch is you thought it 
white it was unknown to you ? Do tho 
pleafures you enjoy, preftifit you with an 
equivalent for your renunciatioo of a fond 
fiither, and tender fifter? Is their afieftiois 
amply repaid by th^ love <^ your huft»nd ? 
All thefe, and a thoufaiid other equally 
important queftbns, I l(Mig to put to my 
beloved. I wifli to know the true ftate of 
your heart. I then fhould be Able to judge 
5 V01..L E whether 

i 



?4 T H E^ iSc'.Y L R.a 
ivbecher I ought to mourn or rejoice in this 
feparation from you. Believe me» Julia, 
I wi not fo fclBlh to wtfli you here, merely 

to augment my narrow circle of felicity, if 
you can convince me you are happier where 
you are. But can all tbe buftle, the con- 
fufion you dcfcribe, be produdbive of hap- 
pinefs to a young girl, born and eddcated 
in the lap of peaceful fc^ifement ? The 
novelty may ftrike your mind ; and, for a 
while, you may think yOurfelf happy, be- 
caufe you are amuA?d, and have. not. time 
tQ define what your rcfleftions are : but in 
^he fober hgurj when ftillnefs reigns, and 
the 'ifo.uil unbends itfelf'l^rqin the fatigues 
of tht d'ay ; what judgment then does cool 
reafonfprm? Are you fatisfied ? Are your 
numbers peaceful and calm f Do you ne- 
ver figh after tihe (hades : of Woodley,.and 
fokir riiral friends ? Anfwer thtjfe queftions 
fairly ciod -candidly, n?y Julia — prove tp me 
^au.are happy, and ycfur h^art as good and 
inhocentas ever; and I fliill defcend to 
the dknti tomh with peaceful fmiles. 
*1, Perhaps tb^ refplijtipn I formed of ytr- 
tiriug frpm a ymU Ul which I had mht 
•!.: . *.; :. ♦ .. with 



.E KEY S Y^^ :? H. u 

mth idifguft) wasT tpQ haftily cc^cluded oq. 
>Bcthat,a8 jt may — it was facred# and as 
iiihh t have, and ^ill, fccep- it. I loft iny 
icQofideo^e! r.io . fnaj^ncl^, .^nd X cfauld hnd 
•nojDQiae ^ofej'j^^rtucs;fCoul^ rede^;n/it. 
•Many years have e]apfed fince ; and the 
Imanner^ and cuftoms change. fo frequent- 
ly^ that i I (bpuj^ be a total ftranger among 
.ihe.inhabttaD4f$<Mf this prelent age* . 
-njyoii hiyierbflvd me % J^was ma!:r»c4 
Ibefore^Ii bad ihe happinefs of.. being unif- 
ied tq.juiwr.J9fni;^k mother. . I fhall begirt 
4i^y nairaiive frpm thr ccHnmencement of 
!t||at>|ypn i^o^y.prernifing, that I waslche 
i(wio(' t\^ jy^ungej; bf ajQch of a noble fa« 
':WJ!yii.wlTpfe nagjelj bear^, I inherited tHe 
rbk^of), bu; very ^^ttlc o^r^» of my ancef- 
;torsr' t^ovf^v^cr^ a tafte for pleafuret^ and 
<^n[j||idvilgenc^of fome.of the then fafhion* 
^^hle £oUies, which iq aU ages and ail tixniefs 
•W^,^ prevalent,. conf^iccd to ipake my 
•liStl/B- fortune ftill ,morc contrafted. Thus 
•fituated, J became acquainted with a young 
^ladyofljicgp fortune.; My figure and ad- 
^d|^efs flVjOTv^.her hear^ j^hcr perfon.was agree- 
j^) ,and.ajUI^9ag]^ Ii^oighjt Aot be what 
., :... ' ' ' *e'2' ' •the 



76 THE SYLPH. 
che world calls in love, I cdmunljf wit at^ 
cached to her. Knowing che iirferioricy of 
my forcune» I could not prefmne co offisr 
her my hand, even after 1 was cowincDd 
Ihe wifhed I fhbuM ; but fome ^rcum- 
ft^ces arifihg, which brought ua more in- 
timately acquainted, at length conquered 
my fcrupks ; and, without coitfulung anjr 
other guide than our paffions, we married^ 
My finances ^ere how extremely ftraiten* 
ed ; for although n^ wife waa heirefs of 
upwards of thirty thoufand pounds, yet, 
CiU Ihe came of age, I could reap no ad*"^ 
^vantage of it| and to .dn^t period fins 
wanted near fotr years* We were both 
fond of pleafure, artd fboltlfafy lived is if 
we were in aftual pcfftSon of double that 
income. I found tnyfetf deeply involved i 
butthi time drew near that was to fee all to 
rights I and I had prevailed 6n my wife to 
Cbnfeht to a retrenchment. Wi had fbhn* 
ed i plan of retiring for fome rime in die 
country, to look iafter her eftate ; and, by 
way of taking a polite leave of our friench 
(or rather acquaintance; for, when they 
were put to the teft, I found them unde- 

ferving 



THE ^YLPH. Tf 
fag jng of tliat appcUatlo n) ; by way, I 
fay, of qvncdng ihp town with icht, my ' 
wife propofed giving an elegant enter** 
tfonment on her binh^day, which was on 
the twenty-fourth of December^ Chrift- 
masHday Ml that year upon a Monday : 
unwitting to protraft this day pf joy till 
the Tuefd^, my wiCc defired to antici* 
pate her naial fei^ivaj, and accordingly 
Saturday was appoiiifed. She had fet her 
heart ixm dancing in the evesn^^ and was 
eittremely mortified pn adding an ei^Ofcifie 
p^nift ter nock, mbi^ 9\9.mt^^x^ v> 
alflanun. tt was ih Tielentduriog di^^iy 
thm^ that .{he was conftfai^ to ^ye tb^ 
table. AUdy^ who rettred with her»toid 
her» tbeifureft remedy fw^ ftrain, yf^ to 
plunge the leg in $old '^^^^r^ gnd wqu|^ 
proouceinftant relief* Ifn^atient ^ the 
diiippojatment and anguifh^ fiie tpc^ fa* 
talfytconfcnted* I knew nothing of what 
was doing in my wife^s dreffing-room, tUl 
my attention was rouzed h^ repeated crif s» 
Terribly alarmed— I flew thither, and 
found her in the 4^oies of death. Good 
God! whM was my diftraffcion at that 
£ 3 momentt 



ifi' the' s y l vn: 

irtomcnt ! I thch recoHcftfed^what (he had 

often told me, of all her family being >fub- 

j^ft'to^the gout at a very early ag^. Every 

medical affiftance N^ras procured -with all 

fpecd. The phyficitm, however, gave but 

fmall hopes, unlefs the diforder could be* 

removed From her head ' and ftomaoh, 

which ir had attacked with thcgfeatefl: 

violence. How'was all'oiir mirth ia one; 

lad'mdm'ehtovefthiWrt j The lidyi-iirhicft 

ted riftti with ftniles, now profnifed to fet 

ii? tears; * In tfifr few Tu(5id iAterV^ls Which > 

lAf unhapp^^ife'COiiildde fuidtd Jia(ire,[ 

ihe ihceOamly jprayed^ to iiv6 mit (he 'Cdddn 

fefcute her fdrtutic to fny ufe; i^hidi-toeld : 

be done no other way thto making, her' 

will; fincej having had no children, the ^ 

cftite, fhould (he die before (he can^ie of { 

a^e — or even then, withoula 'beqtreft-'-^l 

would devolve upon a coufin, with w:hpfe'^ 

family we had prcferved no iritimacy, ow- » 

ing to the illiberal refleftions part of them 

had caft on my wife, for marrying a man 5 

without an anfwerable fortune. My being^ 

allied to a noble family was nd recortmfln*^t 

ditiifti -to ^ihofe who had acquiitd their ^ 

• • . . wealth 



THE S Y L P H. 79 

wealth by trade, and were poffeflfed of the 
moft fordid principles. I would not lifteii 
to the pcrfuafion of my friends, who «rged 
me to get writings executed, to which .my 
wife might fet her hand : fuch meafurcs 
Uppcar^d to me- both felfifli and cruel •, pr,» 
rather, my mind was too much* abforbed 
in my prefent affliftion, to pay any att^n- 
tioa to my future fecurity, - 
i In her greateft agonies and moft fev^r^ 
paroxyfms, flic knew and acknowledged 
her obligations to nte, for the unremitted 
kindnefs I bad fliewn her during bur union; 
*^Oh! my God!" (he would exclaim^ 

V Oh 1 my God ! let nnie but Hire to re-i 

V ward him ! I aik not length of years—-' 
** though in the bloom of life, I fubmM 

V with chearful refignation to thy wilJi 
** My God ! I afk not length of days*, I 
" only petition for a few fliort hours of 
•* fenfe and recoUedion, thatkl may, by 
**-the difpofition of nay affairSj^ remove' all 
*' other diftrefs from the bofom. of my 
** beloved hufband, iave what he will feel 
" on this feparation,'* 

JE 4 Dear 



8o THE S Y n P H- 

Dear foul ! (he prayed in vain. Nay* 
I doubt her apprehenfion and terrors^ left 
flie (hould die, encreafed the agonies of her 
body and mind. 

Unknown to me, a gentleman, l^ the 
requeft of my dying wife, drew up a deed i 
the paper lay on the bed : Ihe meant to 
fign it as foon as the clock ftruck twelve* 
1 ill within a few minutes of that tinie> ibc 
continued tolerably calm, and her head 
perfedlly clear ; fhe flattered herfelf, an^ 
endeavoured to convince us, £he fhould 
recoifer»*^but, abs ! this was only a lictle 
gleam, of iiope^ to fink us deeper In de- 
ipain ; Her pain returned with redoubkd 
violence from this fhort recelsi and her 
knk$ never again refumed their feiat. ^e 
fufiiere^ the moft excruciating agonies till 
two in the morning ---'then winged her 
Bight uilieaven-^leaving me the cpod for- 
lorn and diibonfolate of men. 

I continued in aftateof ftupefadion for 
ieveral days, till my friends- rouied me, by 
aiking what courfe I meant to purfue. I 
had the whole world before me, and faw 
myfdf, as it were, totally detached from 

any 



THE STLFB. U 
unf part of it. My own rehdons I had 
difi)b]iged, by marryiirg the daughter of a 
tradefman. They w(ere» no doubt^ glSid 
of an excufef to rid theinfelvcs of an in* 
digeat: perfon^ who might rcfleA diflionoiir 
on their odbility— of them I had no hopes.^^ 
I had as litde probability of fuccefs in my 
application to the friends of my late wife ; 
yet I thought, in jufiice, they ihould not 
refufe to make me fome albwanccs for 
the expellees our manner of living bad 
brought 00 me — as they well knew they 
were occalioned by . my compliance with 
her tafte^^-^at kaft & far as to difcbarge 
feme of my debts. 

I waited on Mr. Maynard, tbe. father 
of the lady who now pofle0ed the ellate, 
to lay before him the fituation of my af- 
fairs. He would hardly bear me out with 
patience. He upbraided me with ftealing 
an heirefs \ and with meanly taking every 
method of obliging a dying woman to in- 
jure ho* reladonsr In (bort, bis behaviour 
was rude> unmanly» and indecent. I 
Jcorne^ to hold copyerijb with A> fordid a 
wcf tch^ and wa» leaving his boufe with 
E 5 the 



8r^ T:H E S Y L T Ur 

the utmoft difpkafure, when his datighter ^ 
flipped out oF the room. She begged^ 
mc, with many tears, *^ not to impute 
•*hcr father's incivility ^to:her—-wflicd )^ 
^^ the time was come when rihe fhould be ^ 
*^her own miftrcfs ; but hoped flic fhould > 
•* be able to bring her father to fomc terms 
^^ of accommodation ; and afiured me» (he.. 
•^- would ulb allhcr inftqence with hini to- 
*• induce him to da me.juftice." 
; Her influence over the mind of fuch a 
man - as her father had like to have' little 
height— as it proved. She ofed all 'her 
dft(^uerice in my favour, which only fervcd 
to inftigate him againfl:* mle« He fent ai 
•?try fude and abrupt meflfage to mct to 
deliver up feveral articles of houfliold fur-? 
jiiture, and> othei* things^ which had be-*' 
longed to my wife; which, however, I 
tefufed ta do, unlefs I wacf honoured witl? 
tJie order of Mifs Maynard. Her father 
could not prevail on her to make the re^ 
quifitibn ; and, enraged at my irifolcnce^ 
and her obflinacy, as- he politely ftylcd out- 
behaviour, he fwore he would be reveng;^ 
ged. In order to riiakc his words good, 

. he 



THE "S Y L P^ H- 83^ 

he went fevcrally fo each of the trades- 
people to whom I was indebted, and, col-' 
letting the fums, prevailed on them to 
make over the debts to him; thereby be- 
coming the fole creditor ; and how merci-; 
ful I Ihould find him, I leave you to judge,, 
from the motive by which he afted. .i 
In a .few days there, was art execution* 
in my howfe, and I was conveyed to. ithe 
KingVBf nch. -At firft I took the refolu- 
tion of continuing there contentedly, till 
either my cruel creditor (hould relent, or 
that an a<9: of grace (hould take, place. 
A prifon, however, is dreadful to a free 
mind ; and I folicited thofe, who had, in 
the days of my profpcrity, profeffcd a 
friendftiip for me : fome few afforded me 
a temporary relief, but dealt with a fcanty 
hand ; others difclaimed me — none would 
bail me, or undertake my caufe : many, 
who had contributed to my extravagance, 
now condemned me for launching into cx- 
pences beyond my indomc ; and. thofe, 
who refufcd their afliftance, thought they 
had a right to cenfure my condu6t. Thus 
did I find myfclf deferted and negleft^d 
E 6 by 



U THE SYLPH, 
by the whole world *, and wj» twrhf uughe^ 
how little dependence * we ought to place 
om the goods of it. 

When I trad been an inmate of tire houle 

of bondage fooie few weekS) I received a 

note ftoKti Mjfs Maynard. She deplored, 

in the mod pathetic cerms^ ^' the fteps her 

^ father bad taken, which Ihe had nerer 

^ ^ifcovered till that morning ; and ia-- 

•^treated my acceptance of a trifley to 

** render my confinement kfs intolerable ; 

*^ and if I could devife any methods, 

V wherein Ihe could be ferviceable, ihe 

♦* fiiouM think hcrfclfmoft happy." Ther^ 

'Was fuch a delicacy and noblenefs of ibu) 

ran through the whole of this little tsBeiy 

as, at the £ime time that it (hewed the 

writer in the moft amiable light, gave birth 

to the livelieft gratitude in my bofom* I 

had, till this moment, confidered her only 

as the daughter of Mr» Maynard ; as one, 

whofc mind was informed by the iame 

principles as his own. I now beheld her 

in another view $ I looked on her only 

in her relation to my late wife, whofe 

virojes ihe inherited with her fortune. I 

felt 



THE SYLPH. 85 

felt a veneration for che'geherofity of a 
young, girl, whot from the narrow fenti- 
ments of her father^ could not be n^iftrefs 
of any large fum % and yec (he had, in the 
politeft manner (making k a favour dont 
to herfelf X oMiged n^ to accept of a 
twenty-pound-note» I hadta thoufiind 
conflicts with myfelf» whether I (hould' 
keep or return it ; nothing but my fear 
of giving her pain could have decided it, 
I recollefted the tears Ihe fhed the laft time 
I law her : on reading over her iHKe again» 
I difcovered the paper bliftered in feveraf 
places ; to all this, let me add» her image 
ieemed to ftand confefled before me. fier^ 
perfon, which I bad hardly ever thought 
about, now was prefent to my ima- 
gination. It loft nothing by never hav- 
ing been the fubjeA of my attention be* 
fore. I fat ruminating on the pidurd 
I had been drawing in my mind,^ til^ he^ 
coming peifeftly enthufiaftic in my ideas^ 
I ftartedup, and, claffHngmy bamd^ U}g<a* 
ther, — ** Why,** exclaimed I aloudr "why 
** have I not twenty thoufand pounds t<k 
f beftow on thb adorable creature !*' The 

ibund 



86- THE SYLPH. 

found of my voice brought me to mylelf, 
and I inftantly recollected I ought to make 
fomc acknowlcclgmcn^ to my fair bene- 
fadtrefs. I found the talk a difficult one. 
After writing and rejeding (everal, I at 
laft was refolved to fend the firft I had 'at- 
tempted, knowing that» though lefs ftu« 
died, it certainly was' the genuine effu (ions, 
of my heart. After faying all my grati- 
tude didated, I told her, ** that, next to her 
" fociety, I fhould prize her correfpon- 
*' dence above every thing in this world ; 
•* but that I begged (he would not letcom- 
<> paflion for an unfortunate man^lead her 
** into any inconveniencies, but be guided 

V entirely by her own difci-erion. I would^ 
•* in the mean time, intreat her to fend mc 

V a f?:w books — ^the fubjcft I left to her, 

V they being her tafte would be their 
•f ftrongeft recommendation." Perhaps I 
faid more than I ought to have done, al- 
though at that time I thought I fell in* 
finitely ftiort of what I might have faid ; 
and yet, I take God to witnefs, I did nof 
mean to engage her affedUon^ and no- 
thing 



T'H lE^ S Y L P H:- 87 

thiri^ was lcf$ ftom my intention than' 
bafely CO pradife on hei* paflions. 

^In one of her letters^ fhe alked me, if 
my debts were difcharged, what would be 
my dependence or fcheme of life : I freely 
anfwered, my dependence would be either 
to get a fmall place, or elfe ferve my king 
in the war now. nearly breaking out, which 
rather fgitedthe aftivity of my difpbfition. 
She has fince told me, fhe Ihed floods o£^ 
tedrs over that exprcffion— /i>^ aJSivify* of. 
fjty difpofition\ fhe drew in her imagination* 
the moft aiFcAing pidure of a man, in: 
the bloom and vigottc iof .life, cxcluded> 
£rom the cdpfimoa benefits^ of .bis fellow- 
creatures^ by. the mercilefs rapacity of aa 
inhuman creditor. The cfFeft this rtidan-. 
Choly reprefcntatiori had on her mind, while 
pity endeared theobjed of it to her, made: 
hel" uk^ the jefoJutioniof ' again ^ddrcff? 
ing Jicr father in my behalf. He. accufc4 
her of ingratitude, in. thus rcpayifig his 
care for her welfare. Hurt by the many 
^arfh things he faid, fhe told him, " th? 
ppfjeflaon of;teR timeis the eftate could 
can^^y no plc^fur^ to her bofom, while ip 

was 



89 T H jE $ T L P H. 
wffi tpr(|ir«4 vkh t^c idea, chat Jie, who 
had the beft right t^ it, wa$ f^rclvided fVoofr 
CHrye^mhn of iifp $ wd ibut, whcocwr 
it Ao<:d4 be to h^r ^wef» ihc would nor 
fail to make crery reparacion (be could,, 
for the yiokoce ofiered to an innoccnc^ 
iigorcd, man.'* This brought down her 
father's faeayieft dt^Icafure. He rerited 
her io th|3 grofieft t^ois ^ aflerted, ^ (hr 
hod been fafcinattd 1^ me, as her ridicu.^ 
Idua caufin liad beea before ; ibut diat he 
wouid take care his family ihould not r\m 
the rifle of being again beggared by foch^ 
a fpenddirift ^ and chat he &ould ufe fucb 
precautioiia, as to fraftrate any fcheme I 
might form of leckieing her from her 
duty.^ She fought to exculpate me from 
she charges her father had brought agaioft 
me ; btat he paid no regard to her afie$?e« 
rations, and remained deaf and inexoi[*abl<r 
io all her HKrea^ies. Y?hen I karat thi$, t 
i99tqxb to Mifs Maynard^ intreatiog her, for 
her own fake, to refign an unha|>py man> 
to his evil deftiny, I begged her «> beliew,: 
I had fufficicHt refolution to ftppwt con- 
finement» or any^th^ 9}| but ttiatit was 

aa 



A 



THE SYLPH, 99 
M aggratation to my jRi£^}^ (whidh to 
firiiban vm ycry /diSBiCvk) to. find her zeal 
fqr me had driSLiitn 00 her the iU*ilfiige ti 
her father. I further requefted^ (he woold 
never sigain nsention ne to him ; .and if 
goflible, .never thi nks o iL.JBe>.i^if tfaofe 
thoughts WW prot^^^ the leaft 

dift}uiet to her. I iikewiie xneotidned my 
hearing an aft of grace would loon releafe 
sim: frpm ipy bonds ^ and then I was deter-* 
Plined to offer myfclf a volunteer ip the 
fsrvic^e, whoret perhaps* I soight find a 
CMi]on4>alLmy beft friaod. 

A life;, fo different to what I h^d beto 
itfedy 1)fought on a dilbrder, whkih the 
agitation of my %>irits increafed ^ much 
as to reduce me almoft to the gates 4>f 
death. < An old fdaiale (ervant of Mi& 
Maynard^Scpaid me a vifitf bringing me 
ibme little nutritive delicacies, which her 
kind,miftre<s.thpught|iPould be ferviceabte 
to me. Shocked at the deplorable fpec« 
tacle I made, for I began to negleft my 
appearance^ which a man is too apt to do 
when not at peace with himfelf : (hocked^ 
I fay, ihe reprefented me in fuch a light to 

her 



90 THB S Y L P^H: 

bcr tid^, as HMod her gentle foul «rUh tbi 
utmoft terror for my (afcty. . Guided alorte 
by t^ partiality. (he ^ honoured in^ with, 
ihe formed the' refolution of coming to 
ice me. . She howev<ft gave me half art 
hour's notice of her intention. *I cm- 
ployed the intermediate tirtie in- putting 
myfelf: into .a= condition of .receiving her 
'with more decency.' The Kttte ekertibn I 
made had nearly eathaufted my I'emaiBing 
ftrengthi and I was more dead than alive, 
when. the trenibUng, paje^ arid to^ftring 
gueft made her approach in the houfe of 
voe,; W€ wUW neither of ui fpeik^fot 
feme tittle. The benevolence of iter blearc 
badfuppqrted her during her journey thi* 
thcr ; but now the native »K)defty of her 
fcx fcemed to point out the impropriety, 
of vifuing a man, unfolicited, in priibn. 
Weak as I was, I faw the ncccffity of ^cn-^ 
coiiraging the droopirtg fpirits of my'ftur 
vifitor. I paid her my grateful acknow-* 
ledgments for her ineftimable goddnefs. 
She begged me to. be filent oji that head, 
as it brought reflei^lions flie could ill (up- 
port. In obedience to her, J gave the 

convcrfation 



CM Verfatidff aftotHer turn •,43Ut*ftiil I cDitld' 
nop-hrfp rtveiiting tsD^tte 'irtdfobjea. She 
thenttbpptftf'!rt«,-*by'^lhg, i"^hat wa^ 
*^ th^W' fo e3ttt-a(3*diBai^'»iii her condu<9k ? 
**^«ii *whfethin'in1ie» ficoiftion,. would ^ 
"Hot I * hive done ^i§ muoh :for her f'*^ 
**^ Oh ! y*s!'? I tried, with eagcrncfs, 
•'^thai' r l^oiuld, iiid ten tfmes ■ more.** 
I mfhinriy ftlt» the 'impropriety of my • 
fpeechi " Thdfi I ihave been ftrangelyi 
*'« deficient," faid (he, looking at me withv 
a gentle fmile. ** I aflc a thopfand par"- 1 
^^^nsi^' faid I, .•*fortll€»abriiptiicfs^*ofI 
"my 2ekp^flibm> 1 meafrflr to'bvincc my ' 
**'Value^for'76*u, andiny fcnfe of what I f 
"thought you defcrired. You rauft ex-"* 
*^tfafe my method^ 1 hiave been long un- ' 
^*'u(rd to the aflbciationof human beings,*' 
•^ at leaflr fifdi .as reftnable you.. You'i 
**)iav^ akeady; conferred more favodrs - 
"than, I c*6uld merit at yourliand»v" Mils 
Maynard fcemed difconcertcd— Ihe look- * 
cd grave. "It' is a fign you think fo/*' 
fold 0ie, ifn a tone oft v<»cwhatftiewed fhe ' 
wasf piqued, **.as yQuiiiwvc tikew fuch ' 
** pains to explain away an ihvblumary * 

"compliment 



91 THE SYLPFT. 
^ OQaipUnBm.r*-^Btt I tove alicady ex* 
"* ceedcd thcbm^ids.I ^nksiboitQmykii 
^ io this vtfic— ft k one fa ]ai?e jfou.** 

I lUc aMIiad, .a9d fcwxl myfe Jf iii<»pa« 
lie of fryjog My Ijii^ to dour mylclf fineoi 
the imputttiQO of ktfcefihiliqr or ii^^^ 
tgde» without hetnjmg the teiKieiii6& 
which I really poflW«i&r.hcr» yet wUdi 
Ithought, cireiio»aaDQed as I.wiLfe^ wmdd 
be nageoecous to*, the: hift dcgiee to difeo- 
ver> as it wouM he tap^Jayiiig cUiiD to 
hcr!s« The cQcmiioa :r«ile3 Af poUtcacfe 
howemrt^^caUed MHieto'f^ fttnethifl^iii-r* 
I rcfpcfifolly took iwr {lamL whifdiitfrm- 
bled :iM much iHs miae; ^ ^* /Dear Mifi 
^'Majpnaid/' IkidJ^ <«how fliaUJ rb^ 
*Vyou for the plftafiire your ^cmpaoj.bss 
*\cpawycd to my ibofom ?^ Even then 
thiokiogd had fatd tooinuchi el|ie<iallf 
as I by an tftmluiitary limpulfe found my 
fingers compre&.h^Ht I.adkkd, ^^ I plain- 
*^ ly fte;the improiirkty lOf aiking you to 
•* renew yowr goodnefe-^I. tnuft not be 
*'fclfi(hf OT urge you to take rany jptcp. 
^^ for which you imy hereafter xioodcmn 
!* yourfelf/' 

••I find. 



t tt fi SYLPH. 95 

« I find, SiV flie rgplifedr ^ your pn%. 

•* dcncc is greater itHin mine. I ntedncf 

** vcr apprehend danger from fuch a mo- 

** niton'' 

" Donft miftifcfe mti" fai4 I*^ with a 
figh I cbuld fiot repre& ^' L doubt I 
•* have/* returned Ihe^ *• but I will endea^ 
•* vour to devdop your character; Perhaps» 
•• if I do hot find myfelf quite perfe<Et» I 
V may run thi rifk of taking another leHbn, 
** tinlefs youihduld tell me it is imprudent.*' 
So fay ingt Ihe l<ift me. There Was rather^ 
an aflb£latiion of gaiety in her laft fpeech^ 
wfaidi wot^ have offended me, had I not 
feenr it was only put on to conceal her real 
feelings from a rmhf who feemed coldly 

^ infenfible of her, invaluable perfedioht 
both of' mihd and body^^-Tet how vfras I 
toa&? Ijbyed herwk^^^ 
and yet fervour. My heart chid me for 
43iro#tng cold wtiter o» the tehdemefs of 

^ this aoliable girl ^— but my reafon told 
me* I ifaoqld be a villain to flrive to gab 
luer aflS^Abns in fuch a fituadon as I . was^ 
Had I rbeefi lord of the aniverie> I would 
)bave iharcd it with tof Maria. You will 

alkt 



^4 THESY1.«IL 

aft» hcfw I could lb eafity Ibrgct the low- 
Bds erf* my forcane in my cu oji c a ion with 
-ker coofin ? I aofwtry the cafe was widdy 
different. — I then made a figure in life 
^rqusd to my birch, thoagh my drciim. 
fiances were contraAed.*'— Now, I .was 
^poor and in prilbn :«-tfaen, I liftenedonly 
to my paflions— now, rralbn and.prodenee 
had ibme Iway with me^ . My loye for iny 
late wife was the Jove of: a boy y^rflgn^ 
tachment to Maria the fentiments txf *a 
man,' and a man vificed by, and a prey 
to, misfortune. • Qn reflection, I frntqc} I 
loved hereto the greateft^ihdghc Afirer 
paflihg a fleeplefs iftgbt of anguifl^ Icame 
to the refolution' of^ csDcnlpQcing myfdf 
from the charge of itifenfibiUcy, though 
at the expeAce of loGng fight of her I 
iovcd'for ever. I wr<ite hcralettbf, Whene- 
in, 1 fredy c6nfefled4he danger' lappr^ 
hertdcd from the renCwat 'of * her:'vifit.—^ 
I opened my whole foul before her, but 
at the^ fame tiine tt)ld her, *^ I laid 
•* rro claim to any mdrc from ber^than 



^ conipaffionf (hewed' her* the* ratk-iif 
'^ fcoMfaint'^i pilfr oh niyfelf, 40* cbuceA *! 



2 •« the 



^.thc eoiotiOTs of ^y heart, left the ge* 
V ncrpfity of her*& might involve her in a 
'•* tQo ftrpng pafrtiality for fo: ih^edt a 
*• wretch, t hp^ed :flie vdyld /do mfe ^the 
*' juftice tp Wi?t^ ;t|[2y)^^^^^^ 
** loved more, fo no^fiiie. pn^ em 

** fcl^ fince tothofe fentiptients I facrificed 
*'^vefy thing d^ar to me-",: GtodiGirid'! 
what tears did.this;iett^.f coft me ! . 1 fome- 
times condemned myfcjf^ ;aod:tbdught it 
falfe.gencrofity.— WJirAouJll^j^^^ 
myfelf, vfhy Ihould I thus:^c;aft. ha^kiefe 
aw|if ff om two^ who fecm formed tofcoo4 
ftitute all the world to each other?;* How 
ri^jous are. thy mandates, O Virtuje !; haw 
fevere thy decreej and oh ! how much do 
rfeel in obejingthee:! Nb.fodner was* the 
ktt;er:gbne, tl^ah I repenbd the ftepr [Jiacf 
pOTfucd*rr-I Called imyfelf urigratefoll td 
the bounty of iieaverij who. thos,* tfs> it 
Wfire^'hadinfpired the inpft lovely of 'wo- 
men withannndination to relieve my^dif- 
tmfs ;: and .had likewife put the means, in 
her hands.f-T'hefe cbgitati6iis.contributed 
neitlieir' to ieftabl^;nay health, or- comspofe 
c : '• c my 



9« THE SYLPII. 
my ffniits. Z had no TctUrti to iriy letter i 
indeed ! had not ut^ one. Several d^yi 
I pafied in a ftitc of mind which can be 
only icnown to thofe who have ex^rienced 
the fame. At laflr a patquet was brought 
me. It contained an enfign's codmtflion 
in a regiment ^otng to Germany ; and a 
paper iealed up, on whkh waa wrkten, 
•* It Is the reqaeftof M. M- that Mr. 
** Grenville doea not open iJbis till he has 
** croffed the leas/* 

There was another paper folded in the 
form of a letter<» but not fealed ; that I 
haftily opened, and found it contained 
only a few words» and a bank bill of 
an hundred pounds. The contents were 
as follow ; 

" True love knows not the nkc dif- 
*^ dnAions you have made^ — ^at leaft, \£ 
^^ I may be albwed to judge &(nn\my 
" ownieelingt, I think it does not I 
^ may, howcfver, be miftaken; but the 
*^ error is too pleafing to be relinquifh*- 
*' ed; and I would much rather tn- 
*' dulge it, than ' fiften at prefent to 
^* the cold prudential arguments which a. 
6 *• too 



THE SYLPH. 97 ' 
•* too refined and iii-placedgenerofity points 
•* ouCr When you arrive at the place of 
** your deftination, you may gain a farther 
*^ knowledge of a heart, capable at the 
^* fame time of the ^nderelt partiality, and 
•' a firm refolurion ^i eonfquering iti** 

Every word of this billet was- a dagger 
to my fouL I then ceafed not to accufe 
. myfdf of ingratitude to the' lovelieft of 
women, as guilty of falfe pride inftead 
of generofity. If fhe placed her happi- 
nels in my fociety, why fhould I deprive 
her of it ? As (he faid my (entiments . 
were too refined, I afked myfcif, if it 
would not have been- my fuprcme ddight 
tOJ have raifed her from the dregs of the 
people to {hare the moft exalted ficuation 
with me ? Why (hould I then think lefs 
highly of her attachment, of which I had 
received fuch proofs, than I was con- 
vinced mine was,c?ipable of ? For the fu- 
ture,- I was determined to facrifice thefe 
nice pun(5^ilios, which were ever oppofing 
my felicity, and that of an amiable wo- 
man, who clearly and repeatedly told me, 
. by her looks, actions, and a thoufand litde 
Vol. I. F nameleis 



98 THE SYLPH. 

namelefs atcentions I could not miftake^ 
that her whole happinefs depended on mc. 

I thought nothing could convince her 
more thoroughly of my wi(h of being 
obliged to her, than the acceptance of 
her bounty : I made no longer any hefi- 
tation about it. That very day I was re- 
leafed from my long confinement by the 
grace-aft, to the utter mortification of 
my old profecutor. I drove immediately 
to fome lodgings I had provided in the 
Strand ; from whence I inftantly difpatch- 
ed a billet-doux to Maria, in which I faid 
thefe words : 

** The firft moment of liberty I devote 
** to the lovely Maria, who has my heart 
" a flave, I am a convert to your afler- 
•* tion, that love makes not diftindlions. 
*' Otherwife, could I fupport the rcflec- 
*' tion, that all I am worth in the world I 
** owe to you ? But to you the world p>Ye3 
•• all the charms it has in my eyes. 
** We will not, however, talk of debtor 
** and creditor, but permit me to make 
** up in adoration what I want in wealth. 
•• Fortune attends the brave. — I will there- 
in fore 



re 



THE SYLPH* 99 

^ fore flatter myfdf with returning loaden 
with the fpoils of the enemy, and infuch 
a fituation, ihatyo umay openly indulae 
5ll^£artiality^^hlSiSes the" happinels 

I! &rt^' ^S^Qlltieiiluc to the 

" I fhall obey your mandates the more 
^chearfully, as XthiDk-Ufli^Eerfcaiy 

a£aH2intei)«it^ 

tea" 5 judge then how Jjauft value it. 
"Before I quit England, I fhalTJetition 

for the honour of kiffing your hand — - 
" ^t how fhall I bid7^1 dreu~r» -^-^ 

The time now drew nigh when I wa» 
to take leave of my native Jand-and. 
what was dearer to me, my Maria.— I 
was too afieaed to utter a wordj-her 

foul had more heroic greatnefs «' Go '» 

faid flie, "purfue the paths of glory, 
"have confidence in Providence, and 
" never diftrufl: me. I have already ex- 

perienced fome hazards on your ac- 
« count i but perhaps my father may be 

eafierinhis mind, when he is affurcd 
? you have left England." 

I preffed her to explain hcrfpjf. SJje 
^ « did 



loo T H E S Y L ? H. 

did fo, by Informing me, *' hier father 
'* fufpcftcd her attachment and, to prevent 
** any ill confc(g[ucncc3jifing, had propo fed 
** a gentl.cmanjo herjor a hufband, whpni 
^* Ihe had rgefted wi;^^ No ar- 

*• tifice, or ill ufagc>'* continued (he, 
*' Ihall make any change in my refolu- 
^* tion i — but I fhall fay no more, the pac- 
•* quet will more thoroughly convince* 
** you. of what I an> capable/* 

*• Good, God!'* /aid I, in an agony% 
** why ftiould your tcndernefs be Jncom- 
•* patible with your duty ?'* 

•* I do not think it,** fhe aDfwiere4 i*-^ 
•* it is ray duty to.dojpftiqe ; and I dp nO) 
*' more, by ft^king. to reftore to you youf. 



" own/* 



We fettled the mode of our futgrei 
correfpondence ; and I tpre myfelf frorn: 
the only one I loved orT^grcJh. When I 
joined the regiment, I availed myfqlf of 
the privilege given, me to infpfift the pa- 
pers. Ohl how was my. love,, cllcem, 
and admiration^ increafed ! The contents 
were wi-itten at a tim^ when Ihc thought- 
me infenfijble, or at; Icaft tqo fcrupulous- 
9 ' She 



THE SYLPH. im 

She mad« ^ fotemn^vGw never jx> ttiarfyi 
hot tSs foon as ibe cathe of arget to dWidb 
the cftatc with mc, -making over the re- 
mainder to any children I might hs^ve*, 
b»t the wliole ^ was couched m terms of 
fuc h dclicace te ndemefs, as drew floods of 
tears from my eycs^ and riveted my foul 
TOwe firw]yjoJi?^-* ^ inftantly wrote ta 
fcer J and c gyceale d not a thought or fenti- 
»™t of Ttvf htm^^-^i^t d^ d iftated 
emjjfee. In the letter ftc rctiarned^ 
Ihe fcnt mt her pi^'^re in a tocket) and 
on the reveHc a device with her hair t^ 
this was an ineftimable prefent to me.-** 
l*jS^§JSlOotlX?!£l^^ whife off ducy^ 
to gage on the ioj^ljr^js^fcm bla^^^^ pf xbt 

For finnc months lotir cotreipobdence 
was uninterrupted. — However, fix wbekt 
had now pafled fi^ce I expe<£bed a letter. 
Lov e is ind uftrious in^ tormenting itfelf*^ 

Lf2n?l?4JS!l ?!^?5^^ images in 

imy own niindj and funk into defpair front 
each, 1 wrote letter after, fetter, but bad 
ftill no return. 1 had no other correfpon- 
^nt in £ngiand««^Difli»6U^ feized me* 
F 3?' She's^ 



J 



iM THE SYLPH. 

"She's dead!" cried I to myfelf, "Ihe'^s 
" dead! I have nothing to do but to follow 
•* her." At laft I wrote to a gentlemto 
who lived in the neighbourhood of Mn 
Maynard, conjuring hinfi, in the mod af« 
fcfting terms, to inform me of what I yet 
dreaded to be told. — I waited with a dying 
impatience till the mails arrived.— A letter 
was brought me from this gentleman. — - 
He faid, Mr. Maynard's family had left 
i,. fome time ; — • they propofed going 
abroad; but he believed they had re- 
tired to fome part of Effex ; — there had a 
report prevailed of Mils Maynard's being 
married ; but if true, it was fince they had 
left L. This news was not very likely to 
clear or calm my doubts. What could I 
think ? — My reflexions only ferved to 
awaken my grief. I continued two years 
making every inquiry, but never received, 
the leaft fatisfadory account. 

A prey to the moft heart-felt affliftiont 
life became infupportable to me. — Was 
ihe married, I revolved in my mind all 
the hardfliips Ihe muft have endured be- 
fore £be would be pr^evailed on to falfify 

her 



T H E S Y L P H. 103 

lier vows to me, which were regiftered in 
heaven. — Had death ended her diftrefs, I 
was convinced it had been haftened by the 
feverity of an unnatural father.-*- Which- 
foever way I turned my thoughts, the moft 
excruciating rcfledions prefentcd ihem- 
ielves, and in each I faw her fufferings 
alone* 

In this frame of mind» I rejoiced tp 
hear we were foon to have a battle, which 
would in all probability be decifive. I 
was now raifed to the rank of captain* 
lieutenant. A battalion of our regiment 
was appointed to a mod dangerous poft'» 
It was to gain a pafs through a narrow de* 
filet and to convey fome of our heavy ar- 
tillery to cover a party of foldiers, who 
were the flower of the troops, to endeavour 
to flank the enemy. I was mortified to 
find I was not named for thiis fervice. I 
fpoke of it to "the captain, who honoured 
me with his friendfliip.— " It was my care 
** for you, Grenville," faid he, " which 
•* prevented your name being inrolled[* 
** I wifli, for the fakes of fo many brave 
•* fellows, this manoeuvre could have been 
F 4 ** avoided^ 



104 THE SYLPH. 
^' avoided. It will be next to a m trade 
*' if we fucceed j but fuccefs muft be mom 
•* with the lives of many 5 the firft &}ua* 
^^ dron muiit lode on^ thenafelves as a 
*' facrificc/' " Permit me then/* faid I» 
♦* to head that , fquadfon ; I will do my 
•• duty to fupport my chjbrge ; but if I 
^* fall, I (hall blefs the blow which rids me 
•• of an €xiftence intolerable to roc«" 

•• You are a young man, GrenviUc,** 
replied the captain : *^ you may exper^oioe 
•' a change in life, which will repay ytta 
*' for tbc adverfities you at prefent ttun- 
'^ plain of. I would have you courageous, 
** and defy dangers, but not madly rufli 
*^ on them : that » to be defpairlng, jMt 
^ brave i and confcqucntly difpleafing 
^* to the Peicy, who appointfi us our t£^ 
** and Inwards us according to cur acquic^ 
*• tal of our duty. The fevercft wiater 
*^ is followed ofteotiines by the moflr 
•* blooming fpring :** *• It is true," laidi : 

^ But when will fpring vifitihe monUeriog urn f 
**AhJ when will it dawa on thi? gloom of th^ 
'• grave I** 

« WiU 



T H E S T L P K 105 

•* Will you, however, allow me to offer an 
•• exchange with the commanding officer?** 
My captain con fenced ; and the lieutenant 
was very glad to exchange his pod, for one 
of equal honour, but greater fecurity* 

I was fitting, in ray tent the evening of 
the important day, ruminatingQn the pa{b 
events of my life i: and then naturally 
fell into reflexions of what, in all pro*- 
bability, would be the cqnfcquence of the 
morrow's attack. 'We looked on ourfelves: 
as devoted m'en v and though, I dare fay,, 
not one in the whole corps was tired of 
his life, yet they all expreffed the utrooft 
eager nefs to be em ploy td* Death was 
the ultimate wifti of my foul. *' I fliall,/ 
** before to-morrow's fun goes down,'* 
faid I,, addrefldng myfelf to the refem« 
blance of my Maria ; " I (hall^ moft 
** lovely of women, be re-united to thee i 
** or, if yet thy fufferings have not ended 
^^ thy precious life, I (hall yet know where 
" thoU art, and_bc_£ermitted, perhaps, 
** to hover over thee,- to guide thy foot* 
" ftepsj^^a^d conduft thjpe^to .th^^^ 
** of lightj whofe jpysjwilljbc jncomple^^ 
F 5 ** without 



lo^ THE SYLPH. 

**^]thout thee/* With thefc rhapfodics 
I was amufmg my mind, when a fcrjcant 
entered, and acquainted me, there was, 
without, a young man enquiring for me, 
who faid, he muft be admitted, having let- 
ters of the greateft importance fromJEng- 
land. My heart beat high againfl: my 
breaft, my refpiration grew thick and dif- 
ficult, and I could hardly articulate thefe 
words, — *' For God's fake, let me fee 
*• him ! Support me, Oh, God ! what is 
" it I am going to hear ?" 

A cold fweat bedewed my face, and 
an univerfal tremor pofftflcd my whole 
frame. 

A young gentleman, wrapped up in a 
Huflar cloak, made his appearance. •* Is 
•* this Lieutenant Grenville ?" I bowed. 
•• I am told. Sir," faid I, in a tremulous 
voice, *' you have letters from England ; 
•* relieve my doubts I befecch you.**^— 
*' Here, Sir^ is one," faid the youth, ex- 
tending his hand, which trembled exceed- 
ingly. — I haftily fnatched it, ready to de- 
vour the contents ; — what was my agita* 
lion, when I read theie words \ 



.« 



THE SYLPH. * 107 

* your Maria is ftili dear to you, you will 
" rejoice to hear ftie fliiil lives for you alone. 
" If her £refence is wifhed for by you, you 
^ ** will rejoice on finding her at no great 
** oiftance from you. But, if you love with 
** the tendcrnefs Ihe does, how great, how 
. " extatic, will be your felicity, to raife 
** your eyes, and fix them on her*s !" 

The paper dropped from my enervate 
hand, while I raifed my eyes, and beheld. 
Oh ! my God ! under the difguife of a 
young officer, my beloved, my faithful, 
long-loft Maria ! 

" Great God !" cried I, In a tranfport 
of joy, clafping my hands together, 
** have theh my prayers been heard 1 do 
** I again behold her!" But my fituation 
recurring to my imagination -, the dangers 
which I had unneceflarily engaged myfelf 
in for the morrow 5 her difguife ; the un- 
protefted ftate in which I ftiould leave her, 
in a camp, where toO/much licentioufnefs 
reigned 5 all thefe ideas took inftant poC- 
fcffion of my mind, and damped the 
rrfing joy her loved prcfcncc had at firfl:- 
F 6 excited. 



V 



io8 THE SYLPH. 

excited. The agonizing pangs which ieized 
me are paft dcfcription. ** Oh ! my God P* 
I exclaimed in the bitternefs of ibul, 
•' why did we thus meet ! Bctter,-*-Oh ! 
•* how much better would it have been* 
** that my eyes had clofed in death, chaa^ 
'* to fee all they adored thus expofed to the 
** horrid mifery and carnage of dcftruc^ 
** live war." The conflift became too 
powerful ', and in all the energy of woe 
I threw myfcjf on the ground. Poor 
Maria flung herfelf on a feat, and covered 
her face in her great coat. — Audible 
lobs burft from her bo&m -— I faw the 
convul0ve hearings, and the fight was 
« daggers to me. — I crawled on my 
knees to her, and, bending over her,--* 
*' Oh! my Maria!" feid I, ?' thefe 
"pangs I feel for you i f^ak to me, my 
♦* only love; if poffible, eafe my fuf- 
•* ferings by thy heavenly welcome 
•* voice.**— She uttered not a word ; I 
fought to find her hand ; flie pulbed me 
gently from her, then rifing, — "Come, 
** thou companion of my tedious and 
t* painful travel^ come» my faithful Han^ 



j 



THE S Y L F H. tog 

•• nah," faid flic, to one I had not before 
taken notice of, who flood in the entrance 
of nhe tent, " let us be gone, here we are 
" unwelcome viGtors. Is it thus,** con- 
tinued flie, lifting up her hands to heavenr 
*' is it thus I am received ? Adieu! Gren^ 
*' ville ! My love has ftill purfued you 
" with unremitting conftancy : but it fliaU 
*' be your torment no longer. I will no 
" longer tax your compaflion for a fond 
** wretch, who perhaps deferves the fcor^ 
** flie meets." She was leaving the tent, 
I was immoveably rooted -to the ground 
while ftie fpake. — I caught her by the 
coat. *• Oh !_ leav e me not, deareft of 
*' wornen, leave me not ! You know no5 
" the love and dift refs which tear thi« 
*' wretched bofom b^iarQi*^ Injure mc 
** not, b y doubti,ng th e firft^"^and if jpu 
•• knew the ktter, j^u. woii^Id_^ 
•^ objeft intitled to your utmoft pity. Oh! 
" that my h eart was laid , open to your 
•* yirw j then would you fee it had wafted 
•* with anguifli on the fuppoCtion of your 
*' death. Yes, Maria, I thought you dead. 
5* 1 had a too exalted idea of your worth 

*Mo 



no THE SYLPH. 

" to aflign any other caufe ; I never called 
** you cruel, or doubted your faith. Your 
** memory lived in my fond breaft, fuch 
*• as my tendernefs painted you. But you 
*• can think" meanly of me, and put the 
" mod ungenerous conftruftion on the 
** fcvcreft affliftion that ever tore the heart 
•* of man/' 

" Oh ! my Grenville,*' faid flie, raifing 
me, ** how have I been ungenerous ? Is 
•' the renunciation of my country, rela- 
** tions, and even fex, a proof of' want of- 
** generofity ? Will you never know, or, 
•• knowing, underftand me ? I believe 
** you have fuffered, greatly fuffered ; 
•• your pallid countenance too plainly 
•* evinces it; but we fhall now, with the 
" bleffing of heaven, foon fee an end to 
"them. — A few months will make me 
** rriiftrefs of my fortune. In the meaa 
•* time, I will live with my faithful Hanr 
" nah retired ; only now and then let.rafi^ 
•* have the confolation of feeing you, 
** and hearing From your lips a confir- 
•* mation that I have not forfeited your 
JVaffeaion/* 

I faid 



THE SYLPH. Hi 

I faid all that my heart diftatcd, to re- 
aflurc my lovely heroic Maria, and calm 
her griefs. I made her take feme refrelh- 
ment ; and, as the night was now far fpent, 
and we yet had much to fay, we agreed to 
pafs it in the tent. My dear Maria be- 
gan to make me a little detail of all thai 
had paflcd. She painted out the perfe- 
cutions of her father in the livelieft co- 
lours ; the many artifices he ufed to wea« 
ken her attachment to me ; the feigning 
me inconftant j and, when he found her 
opinion of my faith too firmly rooted, he 
procured a certificate of my death. As 
Ihe was then rcleafcd from her engage- 
ment, he more ftrongly urged her to mar- 
ry ; but Ihe as refolutcly refufed. On his 
being one day more than commonly ur- 
gent, fhe knelt down, and faid, in the moil 
laltmn manner ; '* Thou knoweft, O God I 
** had it pleafed thee to have continued 
••^ him I doated on in this. life, that I was 
** bound, by the moft powerful affcvera- 
** tions, to be his, and only his : — hear me 
** now, O God ! v^bile I fwear ftill to be 
** wedded to-his memory. In thy eye, I 

!' WW. 



112 THE SYLPH. 
•• was his wifc^ I att cfl: thccto w itncis^. 
•' that^I wUJ[jicjer be aiy;^ qt^ In his 
^^ grav€ ihall all my tendernefs be buried,. 
** and with hiai Ihall it rife to heaven/* 
Her father became outrageous v and fwore,. 
if (he would not give him a fon, he would 
give her a mother ; and, in confequence^ 
married the houiekeeper^^a woman fordid 
as himfelfy and whofe principles and fen-p 
liments were as low as her birth. 

The faithful Hannah had been dif- 
charged fome time before, on finding out 
ibe aided our correfpondence. My let- 
ters had been for a long time intercepted. 
Maria, one dayr without the lead notice,, 
was taken out of her chamber,, and coni-^ 
veyed to a fmaU houfe b the hundreds of 
Efiex, to fome relations of her new mo- 
ther's, In hopes, as (he found, that grief,, 
and the unhealcbinefs of the place, might 
make an end of her before (he came o£ 
age. After aferies of ilUiaiagc and mis- 
fortunes, ihe at length was To fortunate as« 
to make her cfcape. She wrote to Han* 
nah, who came inftantly to her ; from her 
flie learnt I was Hill living. She then 

formed 



THE SYLPH. 113 

ibrmed the .rcfoludon of coming over ta 
Gcrmzxty, dreading ^ain falling imo the 
hands of her cruel parent. The plan was 
£>on fixed oa, and put in execution* To 
avoid the dangers of travellkig, cfacy a- 
greed to put on men's do^idis ; and Maria, 
to enfupe her fafety, dreflfcd herfelf like an 
Englrfti officer charged with difpatchcs to 
thefiricifli army. 

Wfeifc £he was proceeding in her n^r- 
4atr¥)e, I heard the druno beat to arnrs. 
I ftarted, and turned paie. Maria haftily 
demanded the caAjfe of this alteration ! I 
informed her, " We were going to pre- 
** pare for battle. And wh«t, oh ! what 
•* is to becottie of you t Ohi Maria! the 
^ fenricb I am igolng on ^ liazardom to 
* -^ the lai!t degree. I Ihall £i31 a fiicrifice v 
** but whit will become of youf** 
. ** Die with you,** ftid ^Ihc, firmly, rifing, 
aild drawing her Iword. ** When I raife 
'^^ my arm,** continued flic, ** who will 
**know k is a wotnaa's. Natunc has 
^' {lamped me with that &x, but my ibui 
*^ (brinks 4iot at danger. In what am I 
^* dtfierent from the Romans, or tvcn 

** from 



114 THE SYLPH. 

**from fomc of the ancient Britons? 
** They coald lofc their lives for lefs caufe 
*^ than what I fee before me. As I am 
*' firmly refolved not to outlive you — fo 
** I am equally determined to (hare your 
** fate. You are certainly dcfirous my fcx 
** fhould remain concealed. I wifh the 
** fame — and, believe me, no womanifh 
" weakncfs on my part (hall betray iu 
^^ Tell your commander, lam a voluhteer 
** under your diredion. And, a(rure your- 
*• felf, you will find me po(re(red of iufi5k 
** cient courage to bear any and every 
** thing, for your fake.** 

I forbore not to paint out the horrors 
of war in the mod dreadful colours, ** I 
" (hudder at them," faid (he, " but am 
•• not intimidated." In (hort, all my ar- 
guments were in vain. She vowed (he 
would follow me : *• Either you love me, 
•' Grcnville, or you love me not— if the 
** firft, you cannot refufe me the privilege 
" of dying with you — if the laft fad fate 
" (hould be mine, the fooner I lofe my_ 
*' life the better.'* While I was yet ufing 
diiruafives^. the Captain entered my tent. 

« Come^ 



THE SYLPH. 115 

^^ Come, Grcnville,** faid he, " make pre- 
•* parations, my good lad. There will be 
•' hot work to-day for U3 alfc I would 
**• have chofen a lefs dangerous fituatioii 
** for you : but this was your own defirc* 
*• However, I hope heaven will fpare you.** 

" I could have almoft wiftied I had not 
** been fo precipitate, as here is a younjg 
*' volunteer who will accompany me/' 

" So yo^ng, and fo courageous !'* faid 
the captain, advancing towards my Maria. 
*' I am fure, by your looks, you have 
** never feen fervice.** 

•* But I have gone through great dan* 
•* gers. Sir," Ihe anfwered, blulhing — 
•* and, with fo brave an officer as Lieute- 
** nant Grenville, I fihall not be fearful of 
** meeting even death.** 

** Well faid, my little hero,** rejoined 
he, " only, that as a volunteer you have 

a right to chufe your commander, I 

(hould be happy to have the bringing 
*• you into the field myfelf. Let us, how- 
** ever, as this may be the laft time we 
" meet on earth, drink one glafs to our 
?.* fuccefs. Grenville, you can furnifh us.** 

Wc 



u 



ii6 THE SYLPH. 

We ibon then bid each other a folemn 
adieu \ 

I prevailed on Maria and poor Hantiah 
{who was almoft dead wich her fears) to 
lie dowB on my palkt-bed» if pofitUe, to 
procure a little reft. I retired to the out^ 
fide of the tent, and^ kneeling down, put 
up the mod fervent prayers to heaven that 
the heart of noan could fV^nfie. I then 
threw myielf on fome baggage, and ikpe 
with §6tac compoibre tiU the fecoad drum 
beat. 

Hannah hung round her miflre(s ^ but 
fuch was her refpeA and deference^ ^at 
. ihe opooed not her Jip&. We beg^a our 
march, my brave heroine clofe at my iidoy 
-with all the dillneispoflibte. We gained 
a narrow part of th« wood, where we want- 
ed to make good our f>afs*; b^it iwrei»ei« 
ther by the treachery of our own people^. 
Qr the vigilanceof our enemy, our fcheme 
was intirely defeated. We marched oa 
without oppofititMi, and, fluihed with the 
appprance of fuccefs, we went boldly on^ 
till^ too far advanced to make a retreat^ 
we found ourielves fuirounded by a party 

of 



THE sylph; 117 

of the enemy V troops. We did all in our 
power to recover our advantage, and loft 
feveral men ia our defence. Numbers, 
however, at lafl? prevailed ; andthofe who 
were not left dead On the field were made 
'prifoners, among whom were my. Maria 
and myfelf. I was wounded in the fide 
and in the right arm. She providentially 
^aped unhur-t. We were conveyed to, 
the camp of the enemy, where I was re- 
ceived with the refped that' one brave 
man fliews another. I was put into the 
hofpital/where^myfaithful Maria attended 
me with theutmoft diligence and tender- 
nefs. 

When the event of this day's difafter 
was^jarried- to the Fritiflt camp, it flrruck 
a- damp on all. But poor Hannah, in a 
phreii2(y of'diftrefi, ran about, wringing 
he^ hands^ pfoclaMnifig her-fex, and that- 
of the f«pppfed vol unteer, and intrpatmg 
the captain to ufe his intereft to procure 
cur releafe. She-gave him a brief detail 
of our adventures-— and» concluded by ex^- 
tQJiiing the cbara^er' of her beloved' mif- 
trefSv The capl^i),; who had at that time 

a great 



u8 THE SYLPH. 

a great regard for me, was touched at the 
diftrefsful (lory ; and made a report to the 
commander in chief, who, after getting 
the better of the enemy in an engagemeoc^ 
propofcd an exchange of prifoners, which 
being agreed to, and I being able to bear 
the removal, we were once more at liberty. 

I was conveyed to a fmall town near our 
encampment, where my dear Maria and 
old Hannah laid afide their great Huflar 
cloaks, which they would never be pre- 
vailed on to put off, and refumed their 
petticoats. This adventure cauied much 
converfation in the camp ; and all the c^- 
ficers were] defirous of beholding fo mar- 
tial a female. But, notwithftanding the 
extraordinary ftep Ihe had been induced 
to take, Mifs Maynard poflefled all the 
valued delicacy of her fex in a very emi* 
nent degree •, and therefore kept very re- 
clufe, devoting herfelf entirely to her at- 
tendance on me. 

Fearful that her reputation might fuf* 

fer, now her fex was known, I urged her 

to complete my happinefs, by confenting 

to our marriage. SkCy at firft> made fome 

7 difficulties^ 



THE SYLPH. 119 

difficulties, \diich I prefently obviated ; 
and the chaplain of the reginiem perform- 
ed the ceremony, my Captain ading as 
father, and, as he faid, beftowing on rpe 
the greateft hlefling man could deferve, 

I was now the happieft of al l earthly 
creat ures \ nor did I feel the leaft allay, 
but in fometimes, on returning from duty 
ip the field, finding my Maria uncommon- 
ly grave. On enquiry fhe ufed to attribute- 
it to my abfence ; and indeed her melan- 
choly would wear ofi^, and fhe would re- 
fume ail her wonte-d chearfulnefs. 

About three months after our marriage, 
my dear wife was feized with the fmall- 
pox, which then raged in the town. I 
was almoft diftra£bed,with my apprehen- 
fions. Her life was in imminent danger. 
I delivered myfelf up to the moft gloomy ^ 
prefages. " How am I marked out for 
** misfortune !" faid I, " am I deftined to 
** lofe both my wives on the eve of their 
" coming of age ?" Her diforder was at- 
tended with fome of the moft alarming 
fymptoms; At length, it pleafed heaven 
tx) hear my prayers, and a favourable crifis 

prcfented 



lao THE SYLPH. 

prefented itfelf. With joy I made a Sa- 
crifice of her beauty, happy in ftill- poffaff- 
ing the oiental perfedions of this moil 
excellent of women. The f ear of lofing 
her had endeared: her fo much t he more 
to me, th^ every aiark of hfer diftempcr, 
reminding me of my danger, fe rvcd ta 
render her morej^aUiable in my jeye|. My 
carefles and tendernefs were red oubled ; 
and the lofs of charms, which could not 
make her more engaging" to her hufband; 
gave my Maria. no concern.^ 

Our fears, however, were again alarm- 
ed on Hannah VaccoiAnt. That good and 
faithful domeftic caught? the infe&ion. 
Her fears, and attenrion on her belova* 
miftrefs, had irqured her conftitution 
before this bakful diftempcr feized her. 
Sl)e fell a facrifice to it. Maria wept 
over the remains of one who had ren- 
dered herfelf worthy of the utmoft con- 
fideration* It was a long time before fhe 
could recover her fpirits. When the re- 
membrance of her lofs had a little worn 
QfF> we paflfcd our time very agreeably ; 
and I), one- day,, remarking the fmiles I 

always 



THE SYLPH. in 
always found on my Maria's face^ prelTed 
to know the melancholy which had for- 
merly given me fo much uncalinefs. *^ I 
" may now,** faid fhe, ** refolvc yout 
^^ queftion^ without any hazard ; the cauie 
" is now entirely removed. You know 
** there was a tinae when I was thought 
*' handfomei I never wiflicclfe) appear 
*' fo in any other eyes than fo^fs ; unfor- 
^* tunately, anothec thought fo, and took 
"** fuch meafures to make me fenfible of. 
** the impreffionmj beauty had madCft 
** aTrendered me truly miftrable. Since 
** I am as d e ar to you as ever, I^am happy 
" iji^having loft charms that we^^^ to 

^* infpire an impious paffion in one, whp^ 
*• but for me, might havcJWl contiiuied 
•* j^our friend." 

I afked no more, I was convinced fhe 
meant the captain, who had fought to 
do me fome ill offices i but which I did 
not refent, as I purpofcd quitting the 
army at the end of the campaign. By 
her defire, I took; no notice of his perfidy, 
only by avoiding every opportunity of be- 
ing in his company. 

Vot.I. G One 



A I 



na THE SYLPH. 

One day, about a fortnight after Maria 
came of age, I was looking over fome 
Englilh news-papers, which a brother of- 
ficer had lent me to read, in which I faw 
this extraordinary paragraph : 

** Laft ive'ek was interred the hod) of 
« Mfs Maria. Maynard, daughter of James 
« Maynard, Efq; of L. in Bedfordjhire, 
" aged twenty years, fen months^ and a 
•» fortnight. Had fhe lived till fhe at- 
*» tained the full age of twenty-one, Jhe would 
** have been poffeffed of an ejlate worth up- 
«* wards of forty thoufand founds, which 
« now comes to her father, the above-mett- 
le tioned James Maynard, Efq. 

*'Bya whim/teal and remarkable dejire 
** of the.deceafed, a large quantity of quick- 
*' lime was put into the coffin.** 

This piece of intelligence filled us with 
aftonifhment, as we could not conceive 
what ehd it was Wcely to anfwer : but, 
on my looking up to Maria, by way of 
gathering fome light from her opinion t 
and feeing not only the whole form of her 
face, but the intire caftof her countenanc* 
changed j it immediately ftruck into my 
° mind, 






T H E S Y L P H. 11^ 

jpiod) that it would be a difficult matter 
to prove her identity — cfpecially as by the 
death 9f Hannah we had loft out only 
witncfs* . XWs rn^y appear a very trivial 
cirqjmftance to misft ppopk 5 but, when 
;we confid^r w,ha;tJ^ind.of ^Ofian we had to 
d^al with, . it will Mrear la more ferious af- 
pe6t. It was plain he would go very ^rcat 
Jengths to. Tenure the eftate, fince he had 
takep fuch extraordinary meafures to ob- 
.t§in it : He hiad iikewife aneth^ motive ; 
fs^^ky this fecond marriage he had a foQ«> 
It i$ ^U .known that tte property of 
.quick-lime, is to deftroy the features in a 
very (hort fpace ; by which means, fliould 
we infift on the body's being taken up, no 
^doUbt be ^ad ufcd the precaution of get- 
ting, a fuppoiiticious one i and, in all pro* 
.bability, the corrofive quality of the lime 
-would have left it very difficult to afcer- 
tain the likencfs after fuch methods being, 
ufed to deftroy iti We had certainly fome 
^eafon fdr our apprehenfions that the father 
would difdwQ his child, when it was fo 
♦much his intereft to fupport his own afler- 
.tion of her death, and when he had gohe 
■ . ' G a to 



124 THE SYLPH. 

fofar a« adually to make a (ham-funeral; 
and, above all, when no one who had been 
formerly acquainted with could poffibly 
know her again, fo totally was ihe altered 
both in voice and features^ However, 
the only ftep we could take, was to fet off 
for England with all expedition — ^which 
axxrordingly we did. 

I wrote Mr. Maynard a letter, in which I 
inclofed one from his daughter. He did 
not deign to return any answer. I then 
conAilted fome able lawyers; they made not 
the leaft doubt of my recovering my wife's 
fortune as foon as I proved her identity. 
That I could have told them ; but the 
difficulty arofe how I fhould. do it. None 
of the officers were in England, who had 
fcen her both before and after the fmall-pox, 
and whofe evidence might have been ufeful. 

Talking over the affair to an old gentle- 
man,, who had been acquainted with my 
firfl: wife's father — and who likewifc knew 
Maria: " I have not a doUbt,** faid he, 
** but this lady is the daughter of old 
>* Maynard, bccaufe you both tell me fo-~ 
tl otherwiie I could never have believed it. 

• J- rBut 



THE SYLPH. las 

•*But I do not well know what all this 
*^ difpute is about : I always underftood 
" you was to inherit your eftate from your 
** firft wife. She lived till fhc came of . 
" age ; did (he not ?*' 

" According to law," faid I, " (he cer- 
" tainly did •, fhe died that very day ; 
*' but fhe could not make a will/' 

" I am ftrangely mifinformcd," re- 
plied he, " if you had not a right to it 
*• from that moment. — But what fay the 
*' writings V* 

" Thofe I ncvcrfaw/* returned I. " A* 
** I marrfed without the con&ntof my 
** wife's relations! I had no claim to de-^ 
*^ mand the fight of them ; andt as fhe 
*^ died before fhe could call them her'sy I 
•* had no opportunity." ^ 

^' Then you have been wronged) take 
•' my word for it. I affert, that her fcr- 
^* tune was her's on the day of marriage^ 
^^ unconditionally. I advife you to go to 
^* law with the old rogue (I beg your par* 
^^ don. Madam, for calling your father (6)% 
** go to law with him for the recovery, 
^* of your firft wife's eftatc} aad let him ^ 
'<5 3 !!tkwk 



126 THE SYLPH. 

•* thank heaven his daughter is fo well 

•* provided for.** 

This was happy news for us. I changed 
my plan, and brought an adlion again!): 
him for detaining my property. In fhort, 
^ter many hearings and appeals, I had 
the fatisfadlion of calling him. But I be- 
came father to your fitter and yourfelf 
before the caufc was determined. We 
were driven to the utmoft ftraits while it 
was in agitation. At laft, however, right 
prevailed ; and I was j)ut in poffeffion of 
ati eftate I had unjufWy been kept out of 
many years. - ; . 

Now I thought myftlf perfeftly happy.' 
** Fortune,'* faid I, *' is at length tired ot 
**'pcrfccutihg'm:ei and I have before me ^ 
** the mod felicitous profpeft.'* Alas ! 
hbw Ihort^fighted is man ! In the midft of 
my promifed fcene of permanent delight, 
the moft dreadful of miijfortunes overtook 
me. My loved Maria fell into the moft 
violent dilbrder, after having been' delivered 
of a dead ^ chHd.*— Good Gad ! what was 
my fituation, to be reduced to pray for the 
dfeath of her who made otJ irty whole fchehie 

of 



THE SYLPH. 127 

of happinefs ! " Dear, dear Maria ! thy 
^' image ftill lives in my remembrance j 
'' that, 

•* —Seeks thee ftill in many a former fcene ; 
'* Seeks thy fair form, thy lovely beaming tyt^^ 
"♦Thy pleating converfe, by gay lively fenfc 
*^* Ififpir'd : whofe moral wiiHom mildly (hone, 
' •* Without the toil of art ; and virtue glow'd 
^ ** la aJl her fmilesj without forbidding pride," 

Oh I my Julia, fuch was thy mother ! 
my heart has ocver tailed happinefs fince 
her lamented death* Yjet I ceafe not ta 
thank heaven for the bleffin^ k has^vea 
me ia thee and way Louifa^ May I fee 
]K>ii boi2h happy in a ivorid that i»ine has 
loft its charms! ! 

Thcideaitb of nry Marift feemed to de- 
tach n)e from aU fodety. I had met with 
too many bad people in it to have any re- 
gard for it 5 and now the only chain that 
held me was broken. I retired hither i 
and, in n^firft paraxyftns of grki^ vow<d 
fievqr t9 qwt thiis reclufe fpot -, where, for 
the $rft years of your infancy, I brooded 
my misfor^nes, till 1 became habituated 
and enured to noeUncholy. I was always 
happy when either you or your fitter had 
G 4 an 



128 THE ^5 Y L P H. 

an opportunity^^bf feeing a little of the 
world. Pe^aps my vow was_a jalh-fin^* 
buyt^il^lcrecl^ 

As your inclination was not of a rctirccjl 
turn, I confented to a marriage, which, I 
hope, will be conducive to your felicity. 
Htaven grant It may ! Oh ! moft graciou* 
Providence, let me not be fo curft as to 
fee my children unhappy ! I feel 1 could 
not fupport fuch an affliding ftroke. But 
I will not anticipate an evil I continually 
pray to heaven to avert. 

Adieu, my child ! May you meet with 
no accident or misfortune to make you 
out of love with the world ! 

Thy tender and afiedionate father, 

E. GRENVILLE. 



L E T E R X. 

. To Mifs GREKVItLB. 

I HAVE juft pcrufcd my father^s long 
packet : I (hall not however comment 
upon it, till I have opened my whole mind 
to you in a more particular manner than 

I yet have done. 

The 



THE S Y L P Hr i2j. 

The firft part of my father's, letter has 
given me much concern, by awakening 
iGbme doubts, which I knew not fubfifted 
in nny bofom. He alks fuch queftions re- 
lative to my real ftate of happinefs, asdif- 
trefs me to anfwen I have examined my. 
moft inward thoughts, ^ball T tell you, 
my Louifa, the examination does not fa-- 
tisfy me ? I believe in this life, and par- 
ticularly in this town, we muft not fearch 
too deeply— to be happy, we muft take both, 
perfons and things as we in general find 
them, without fcrutinizing too clofely. 
The refearches are not attended with that 
pleafure we would wilh to find. 

The mind may be amufed, or, more 
properly fpeaking, employed, fo as not 
to give it leifure to think •, and, I fancy, 
the people in this part of the world cfteem 
refleftion an evil, and therefore keep con-» 
tinually hurrying from place to place, tp 
leave no room or time for it- For my 
own part, I fometimes feel fome little 
compun£tion of mind from the diflipated 
life I lead ; and wifh I had beea cad in a 
Icfs tumultuous fcene. I even fometimes 
G 5 venture 



136 T H E SYLPH. 

venture to propofe to Sir William a 
fcheme of fpending a little tnore time at 
home — telling him, it will be more for 
our advantage with refpeft to our health, 
as the repeated hurries in which we are 
engaged muft, in futui-e, be hurtful to 
us. He la'ughs at my fober plan, '* No- 
*• thing," he fays, ** is fo ferviceable to the 
•* body, as unbending the mind — as' to 
** the reft, my notions are owing to the 
•* prejudices of education ; but that in 
•• time he hopes my rufticity will yield to 
** the ton. For God's lake,'* he contmues,* 
** make yourfelf ready — you know you 
** are to be at the opera — ^* or fomewhere 
or other. So away goes refleftion ; and 
nye are whirled away in the ftreani of difli- 
Ration, with the reft of the world. This 
fcems a very fufiicient reafon for every 
thing we do. The rejt of the world does Jot 
that's quite enough. 

But does it Qonvey to the heart that in- 
ward fccrct pleafure which increafes on 
refleftion ? Too fure it does not. How- 
ever, it has been my invariable plan, from 
which I have not nQr do intend to recede, 

to 



THE SYLPH. 131 
to be governed in thefe matters by the will 
of my hufband : be is feme years older than 
sue, and has had great experienoe in life* 
Ic (hall be my care to preferve my health and 
morals ; — in the reft, be muft be my guide. 
My mind is not at the fame time quite 
at eafe. I forefee I fliall have Ibme things 
to cornmunicate to you which I ifaall be 
unwilling ftiould nieet my father's eye« 
Perhaps the world is altered fince he re* 
fided in it ^ and from the novelty to him, 
the prefent modes may not meet his appro^ 
bation. i would wilh carefully to conceal 
every thing from him wiiich might give 
him pain, and which it is not in his power 
to remedy. To you, oesy Louifa, I fliall 
€v«r ufe the moit unbounded confi* 
dence. I may fomctimes tell you I am 
diffaysfij^i i^^t^ w^ I do fo, it will not 
be fo much out of a defire of complaint^ 
as to induce you to give me your advice. 
Ah ! you would be ten times fitter to live 
in the- world than L Your folidity and 
excellent judgment would point out the 
proper path,^and how far you might ftray 
in it unhurt 5 while my vivacity impels 
G 6 me 



L.' 



ija THE SYLPH, 
me to follow the gay multitude ; knd when^ 
I look back, I^m aftoniflied to behold the 
progreis I have made. But I will accuf- 
tom myfclf to relate every circumj^ance to 
you : though they niay . ia thcmfclvi es be 
trivial, yet I know your afieflion to mc 
will find them interefting^ Your good 
fenfe will point out to you what part of our 
corrcfpondencc will be fit for my father's 

J mentioned to you two ladies^ to whofe 
protedion and countenance I, had been in- 
troduced by Sir William. I do not like 
either of them, and wi(h it had fuited him 
to have procured me intimates more adapt*' 
cd to my fentiments. And now we are up- 
on this fubjefl, I mud fay, I (hould have 
been better pleafed with my huiband, if he 
had propofed your coming to town with 
me. He may have a high opinion of my in- 
tegrity and difcretion ; but he ought in my 
mind to have rcfleded how very young I 
was^ and, he fcruples not frequently to {^y^ 
how totally unlearned in polite life.— 
Should I not then have had a real pro- 
.cc£tor and friend [ I do not mention my 

early 



THE S y L P H. 133 

early years by way of begging an excufe 
for any impropriety of condu6t ; far from 
it : there is no age in which we do not 
know right from wrong ; nor is extreme 
youth an extenuation of guilt : but there- 
is a time of life which wants attention, 
and Ihould not be left too much to its 
own guidance. 

With the bed propenfitics in the world, 
we may be led, either by the force of ex- 
ample, or real want of judgment, too far 
in the flowery path of pleafure. Every 
ftene I engage in has the charip of novelty 
to recommend it. I fee all to whom I am 
introduced do the fame; befides, I am 
following the tafte of Sir William ; but I 
am (if I n>ay be allowed to fay fo) too 
artlefs. Perhaps what I think is his in- 
clination, may be only to make trial of 
my natural difpoIition« Though he may 
choofe to live in the higheft fon^ he may 
iecretly wifh his wife a more retired turn. 
How then {hall I ad ? I do every thing 
with a chearful countenance; but that 
proceeds from my defire of pleating him. 
I accommodate myfelf to what I think his 

tafte; 



134 THE SYLPH. 
%^&t ; but, owing to my ignorance &( man- 
kind» I may be defeating my own pur- 
poie. I once (lighcly hinted as much to 
Lady Besford. She burft out into a fit of 
laughter at my duteous principles. I fop- 
pofed I was wrong, by exciting her mirth : 
this is not the method of reforming me 
from my errors ; but thus I am in general 
treated. It reminds me of a character in 
"the SpeSator, who, being very beautiful, 
w:as kepc in perfefl: ignorance of eveiy 
thing, and who, when (he made any en- 
quiry in order to gain knowledge, was al- 
ways put by, with, " You arc too hand* 
•* fome to trouWcr yourfelf about fuch 
•* things/' This, according t« the prefent 
fafhion, may be polite -, but I am fure k 
is neither friendly nor fatisfaftory. 

Her ladyfeip, the other day, Ihcwai m« 
a very beautiful young woman. Lady T« 
•* She is going to be feparated from her 
" hufband,'* faid (he. On my expreffin^ 
my furprize,— " Pfliaw ! there is nothing 
•* furprizing in thofe things,'' (he added : 
** it is cuftomary in this world to break 
?^ through ftone^walls to get together ihi& 

*' year 5 



THE SYLPH. 135 

•* year ; and break a commandment the 
'• iiext to get afunder.'* ** But with re- 
** gard to her ladyfliip, I do not know that 
** fhe has been imprudent i the caufe of 
" their difagreement proceeds from a pro- 
^ penfity fhe has for gamihg ; and fny 
* lord is refolved hot to be any longer an- 
*^* fwerable for her debts, having more of 
•* that fort on his own hands than he can 
•* well difcharge," Thus fhe favours me 
with fketches of the people of fafhion. 
Alas ! Louifa, are thefe people to make 
<Jompanions of?. — ^They may, for want of 
better, be acquaintance, but never can be 
friends. 

By her ac£»unr,_the]ne is not a happy 
couple that frequehts St. James's. — Hap- 
pinefs in her eflimate is not an article in 
the married ft^te. ** Are you not happy?** 
I alked one day. ** "Happy ! why yes, pro- 
** bably I am ; but you do not fiippofe my 
** happinefs proceeds from my being mar- 
*' ried, any further thah that flate allowing 
** greater latitude and freedom than the 
** fingle. I enj6y title, rank, and liberty, 
!f by bearing l/ord Bcsford-s name. We 

« do 



1^6 T H E S Y L P H- 

** do not difagree, becaufe wc very fcldonx 
** meet. He purfucs his pleafures one way, 
** I feek mine another 5 and our difpod- 
** tions being very oppofite, they are furc 
** never to interfere with each other. I am, 
** I give you my word, a very unexception- 
** able wife, and can fay, what few women 
*^ of quality would be able to do that fpoke 
** truth, that I never indulged myfelf in 
** the leaft liberty with other men, till I 
*' had fecured my lord a lawful heir." I 
felt all horror and aftonilhment. — She faw 
the emotion fhe excited. " Come, don't 
*• be prudiih," faid fhe : " my conduit in 
** the eye of the world , is irreproachable. 
** My lord kept a miftrefs from the firft 
** moment of his marriage. What lay 
** allows thofe privileges to a man,.,jnjj 
** excludes a woman from enjoying the 
•* fame ? Marriage now is a neceff^ry kind 
•* of barter, and an alliance of families ; — 
*' the heart is not confulted ; — or, if that 
** {hould fometimes bring a pair together, 
«• —judgment being left far behind, love 
** feldom lafts long. In former times, a 
t^ poor foolilh woman might languifh out 



T H E S Y L P H. 137 

*• her life in fighs and tears, for the infide- 
** delity of her hufband. Thank heaven ! 
" they are now wifcr •, but then they (hould 
** be prudent. I extremely condemn thofe, 
•* who arc enflaved by their paffions, and 
•^ bring a public difgrace on their families 
•* by fuffering themfelv^s to be detected j 
•* fuch are juftly our fcorn and ridicule; 
** and you may obferve they are not taken^ 
*^ notice of by any^body. There is a de- 
•* cency to be obferved in our amours y 
•* and I Ihall be very ready to offer you 
^ my advice, as you are young and incx- 
" perienced. One .thing let me tell you 5 
•* never admit yoiJr Cicijbeo to an unli- 
" mited familiarity j they are firftfufpeft- 
** ed. Never take notice of your favourite 
*' before other people ; there arc a thou- 
•* fand ways to make yourfelf amends in 
•* fecret for that little, but ncccffary, fa- 
•* crifice in public.** 

" Nothing/* faid I, " but the convic- 
•* tion that you are only bantering me, 
^ (hould have induced me to liften to you 
** fo long ; biit be alTured, madam, fuch 

^vdifccnu-fet 



13$ THE sylph/ 

** difcourfcs are extremely difagrecable to 
'' me/* 

« You are a child/' faid (he, " in thefc 
** matters ; I am not therefore angry or 
** furprized i but, when you find all the 
*^ world like myfclf, you will cealc your 
" aftonifliment.'* 

" Would to heaven," cried I, « I had 
** never con>c into fuch a depraved world! 
•* How much better had it been to have 
^^ continued in ignorance and innocence io 
" the peaceful retirement in Ayhich I wai 
** bred ! However, I hope^ with the fcedi 
** of virtue which I imbibed in my infan* 
** cy, I iball be able to go through lifis 
•* with hojiour to my family, and integrity 
** to myfelf. I mean never to engage io 
** any kind of amour, fo ftiall never ftajid 
" in need of your ladyQiip's advice, whicbt 
" I muft fay, I cannot think Sir William 
"would thank you- for, or can have the 
" leaft idea yoii would offer." 

" She. affured me. Sir William knew 
*' too much of the world to expeft, or 
"even wi(h, his wife to be different from 
!' mofl women who compofcd it 5 but that 

"flic 

I 






tHE SYLPH. 139 

•* Ihe had nofhirrg further to fay.-^I might 
" fdmc time hence Want a confidante^ and 
*^ I fhould not be unfortunate if I met' 
** with no worfe than her, who had ever 
*' condufted herfelf with prudence and 
" difcretion." 

I then faid, ** } had married Sir William 
^^ becaui(e . I Ffr^ferred him,'^and that my 
*' fentimen ts would not aiter>^ 

** If you can anfwer for your future fen* 
** timehts,** replied Lady Besford, " you 

havcl a greater knowledge, or at Icaft a 

greater cohfld^n'c'c', in yourfeif than^iioft 
•^ pebple ha^^Ci — As to yotfr pf efertnce o^ 
*^^ir Williami i own I am inclined to 
** laugh at your To ptettiiy deceiving your* 
** felf. i— Pray iiow many men had you 
**I?een, and beeh addrefltd by,' before 
**yodr acquaintJt'nce With Sir William? 
" Very few, I fancy, that were Kkely to 
*• make an iftipreflion on youf heart, or 
** that eould be put inVo a competition^ 
•* with him, without an afffo!it from the 
cortiparrfon. So, becaufe you thought 
•• Sir William Stanley a handfome man, 
" ahd genteeler in his drcfs than the boors 

" you 



cc 



HO THE SYLPH- 
*• you had been accuftoroed to fee— ^dd to 
^^ which his being pafiionately enamoured 
** of you— you dire6kly conclude, you have 
" given him the preference to all other 
" men, and that your heart is devoted to 
** him alone: you may think fo; nay, I 
" dare fay, you do think fo j but, believe 
•* me, a time may come when you will 
"think otherwifc. You may poffibly 
Vlikewifc imagine, as Sir William was fo 
" much in love, that you will be for ever. 
" pofleiTed of his heart: — it is almofl: a^ 
•' pity to overturn fo pretty a fyftem •, but, 
^ take my word for it. Lady Stanley, Sir. 
** William will foon teach you another 
*' leiTon ; he will foon convince you, the 
•• matrimonial Ihackles arc not binding 
*• enough to abridge him of the falhion- 
** able enjoyments of life ; and that, wheor 
** he married, he did not mean to feclude 
^* himfelf from thofe pleafures^ which, as 
" a man of the world, he is intitled ta 
•• partake of, becaufe love was the princi- 
^* pal ingredient and main fpring of your 
** engagements That love may not laft 

.** foi^ 



THE SYLPH. i4f 
^' forever. He is of sugaydifpoficions and 
*Vhis taftc muft be fed with variety.** 

^^ I cannot imagine»*' I rejoinedt inter- 
Tupting her ladylhip, *^ I cannot imagine 
*^ what end it is to anfwer, that you ieem 
^^ defirous of planting difcord betweeA my 
^^ hulband and me.—- 1 do not fuppofe you 
^^ have any views on him ; as, according 
** to your principles, his being married 
^* would be no obftacle to that view.— « 
** Whatever may be the failings of Sir 
'^ William, as his wife, it is my duty not 
^ to refent them, and my intereft not to 
'* fee them. I fliall not thank your lady- 
" Ihip for opening my eyes, or feeking to 
^* develope my fentiments refpefling the 
^^ preference I have (hewed him ; any more 
*^ than he is obliged to you, for feeking to 
** corrupt the morals of a woman whom . 
^* he has made the guardiw of His honour. 
^* I hope to prcferve that and my own un- 
^* tainted, even in this nurfery of vice and 
" folly. I fancy Sir William little thought 
' «* whatlnftrudions you would give, when 
" he begged your protedion. I am, how- 
^' ev^r, indebted to you for putting me on 

. « my 



142 THE SYLPH. 

** my ggard i a»4> be aflurcd,. I fliaU be 
** careful to 'aa with ali the difcretion and 
** prudence yoii.youffclf wodld wifti me." 
'St)rne doftypMiy coming, in, put an^iend to 
our comfcifitfioti. I need not- tdl you, I 
fcall be very iby of k^ lady (hip in future. 
Good Giod ! are aH the^orld, as (be calls 
the- circle of hdr acquaintance, like her- 
felf? If fo, how dreadful to be caft in 
fueh a lot L But I will ftill hope, detrac- 
tion is among the catalogue of her fail- 
ings, and th4t Jflie vi^ws the world with 
jaundiced eyes. 

As to the male acquaintance of Sir 
William^ I cannot fyy they are higher in 
my eftirhalion than the oth^r ftx. Is it 
tecaufe I anfi young and Ighorent, t^at 
they, one and aH, tak€ the liberty of al- 
moft making lovd tame? Lord Biddulph, 
in particular, I diflikc ; and yet he is Sir 
"William's moll approved friend. Colonel 
Montague is another who is^ eternally 
here. The only unexceptionable one is 
a foreign gentleman, Baron Tonhaufen* 
There is a modeft diffidence in his addrels, 
which intercftsone much m his favour. 
lo I declarci 



THE S Y L PH. 143 

i declare, the only bluftiJ have feen (uicc 
I left Wales was on his cheek when he was 
introduced. I fancy he is as little ac- 
quainted with the vicious manners of the 
court as myfelf, as he feemed under fome 
confufion on his firft converfation. He is 
btut newly known to Sir William ; but» 
being a man of rank, and polit;ely received^ 
in the beau mon4ef he is a*welcome vifitor 
fit our hpufe. But though he comes often, 
he is ^not obtrufive like the reft. They 
will never let me beat quiet — ^forever 
propofing this or the other fcheme — 
which, as I obfcrved before, I comply 
with, more out of conformity to the will 
of Sir Wijliara, than to my own t^e. 
Not that I would have you fuppofe I do 
not like any of the public places I fre- 
quent. 1 am charmed at the opera ; and 
receive a very high, and, I think, rational, 
delight at a good play. I am far from 
being an enemy to pleafure — but then I 
would wifti to have it under fome degree, 
of fubordination ; let it be the amufementt 
Bot the bufinefs of life. 

Lord 



"1 



144 T H E SYLPH. 

Lord Biddulph is what Lady Besford 
ftiles, my Cicijbeo — that is, he takes upon 
him the taflc of attending me to public 
places, calling my chair — handing me rc- 
frefhmencs, and fuch-like; but I afiure you^ 
I do not approve of him in the leafl: : and 
Lady Besford may be aflbred, I fhall,^ at 
leaft^ follow her kind advice in this parti* 
cular, not to admit him to familiarities % 
though hisLordihip feems ready enough to 
avail himfelf of all opportunities of being 
infinitely more afliduous than I wifh him. 

Was this letter to meet the eye of my 
father, I doubt he would repent his ready 
acquiefcence to my marriage. He would 
not think the fcenes, in which I am in- 
volvedf an equivalent for the calm joys I 
left in the mountains. And was he to 
know that Sir William and I have not 
met thefe three days but at meals, and 
then furrounded with company, he would 
not think the tendernefs of an hu{band a 
rccompence for the lofs of a father's and 
filler's affeftion. I do not, however, (k> 
.well to complain, I have nojtift reafons^ 
and it is a weaknefs to be unealy withpui 

* acau&t 



r ti E S Y L P H. 145 

'« caUfe. Adieu then, my Louifa ; be af- 
farcd, my heart Ihall never know a change, 
either in its virtuous principles, or in its 
tender love to you. I might have*. been 
Iwppy, fuperlatively fo, with Sir William 
in adefeiti but, in this vale of vice, it is 
impoffible, unlefs one caa adapt one's fen- 
timents to the ftyle of thofe one is among. 
I will be every thing I can, without for- 
getting to be what I ought, in order to 
merit the affeftion you have ever fhewcd 
to your faithful 

JULIA STANLEY. 



LET T E R XI. 

To Lady Stanley. 

THREE days, my Julia, and never 
♦ttiet-but at Weals \ Good God! to 
Tvhsit c^ this flrfafnge behaviour be owing? 
-You fay, you tell me every circumftance. 
Have you had any difagreement ; and iS 
«his -The Aiethod.jrour hufband takes to 
ftew his refentment ? Ah ! Julia, be not 
Vi)L. I. H afraid 



145 THE S Y LP H. 

afraid of my (hewing your letters' to Ofif 
father ; do you think I would precipitate 
liim with forrow to the grave, or at leslft 
woumI Ws reverend bofom with fuch an- 
guiln ? No, Julia, I will bur ft my heart in 
filcnce, but never tell my ^Tief^^/Ah^l 
my filler, friend of my foul, wiiy are we 
Separated ? The lofs of your loved fociety 
I , would facrificc, could_I but hear yog 
were happy. But can you be fo among 
fuch wretches? Yet be comforted, my 
Julia > have confidence in the reftitude of 
your own aflions^nd thoughts ; but, above 
all, petition heaven to fupport you in all 
trials. Be affured, while you have the 
proteftion of the Almighty, thefe impious 
vile wretches *rill not, cannot, prevail 
againft you. Your virtue will ihine out 
more confpicuoufly, while fur rounded 
with their vices. 

That horrid Lady Besfprd! lam furc 
you feel all the d^eftation you ought for 
fuch a charafter* As -you bcconac ac- 
jquainted with other people, (andth^y 
cannot be all fo bad)-^you may take aa 
opportunity oflhaking her off. D^ar crca- 



. -liJH E S Y L F H. 147 

fwe I^ bow art thouljefet ! Surely, Sir Wil- 
limt) ;is very thoyghtkfs : with his expe- 
rience, he ought to have known how im- 
' proper fueh a woman was for the protec- 
tpri^f his wife. ,:And why muft|thii|Lord 
•-T^what's his <x3i6us name ?— why is he to 
be your efcorte? Is it not the hulband^ 
• province to guard and defend his wife i 
What a world are you caft in ! 

I find poor Win has written to her aunt 
Bailey, and complains heavily of her Stua- 
tion, . She fays, Griffith is ftill more dif- 
contented than herfelfj fince he is the jeft 
of all the other fervants. They both wifti 
themfclves at home again. She likewife 
tells Mrs. Bailey, that (he is not fit to drefs 
you accordiag to the fa(bion, and gives a 
whimfical account of the many diflFercnt 
things you put on and pull oflF when you 
are, what (he calls, high-dreffed. If (he 13 
cif no ufe to you, I wi(h you would fend 
•her back before her mft-als are corrupted. 
Con&ler, (he ha3 not had the advantage of 
.'education, as you have had ; and, being 
without tho(e refources within, may the 
more eafily fall a prey to fome in(idiou8 
bftrayer \ for, no doubt, in fuch a place^ - 

H 2 •« Clown* ^- 



:i48 T H E : S Y L P «. 

*' downs as wtil can l£b the r&6» 
«* As thofe in higher fphere." 

Let her return, then, if (he is wiUn^t 
as innocent and artlels as (he left us. Oh ! 
chac^ could enlarge that wiih ! I Ihould 
• have been glad you had had Mrs. Batkjr 
with you ; flie might have been of fomc 
fervice to you. Her long rcfidence in our 
family would have given her fome weight 
in youths J which I doubt is fadly managed 
by Win*s account. The fefvants arc dif- 
orderly and negligent. Don't you think 
of going into the country ? Spring comes 
forward very faft ; and next month is the 
faircft of the year. 

Would to heaven you were here!— -»i 
long ard^htly for your company ; and, ra- 
ther than forego it, would almoft confent 
to fhare it with the diffipatcd tribe you a« 
t)bliged to aflbciatc with ;^ — but that pri- 
vilege is not allowed 'me. I cotjld- not 
ieave my father. Nay, 4 muft further 
■fay, I fhould have too much pride to comfe 
'linall^ed ; and you know Sir.Williirti ne- 
ver gave me an invitation. ■ 
^ I (bed tears oven f be htttr part of yd'tir 
letter, wherfe-yoir fay, / ^ould bf iJippyi-fu- 
* perlatively. 



mn E S: Y t P H, 149 

perhiiveiy /09 wUb ^r William in a defert \ 
hff here it is impqffiile^ Whatever he may 
dstiftk, he would be happy top; ac leaft he 
af)peared (o whil^ with us. Oh I that be^ 
could have been fatisfied with ourc^^ltnjo^ya^,- 
viWich mend the hearty and left thofe faJfe- 
ddiulive ocbS9, which corjupt and vitia^ k ! 

Dcareft Julia, adieu ! 

]@k;)i<tve me your faithful 

» LOUISA GRENVLLLE, 

LETTER XIL 

To Mifs Grenvj,lle. 

LOUISA! my deareft girH wko da 
you think I have met with ? — No 
other than Lady Mclford ! 1 faw her this 
day in the drawing-room. I inftantly re- 
cognized her ladyfliip, and, catching her 
eye, made my obeifance to her. She re- 
turned my falute, in a manner which fcetn^ 
cdf to fay, *l I d#i*t know you \ but I wifti 
" to recolleft you/^ — As often as I locik- 
cd up, 1 found I engaged her attention. 
H 3 When 




J50 T H E S Y £i ?%► - 

When their majeftics were^ithdra^nv I 
was fitting in one of the windov^s with 
Lady Anne Parker, and foine other folkt 
about me. — I then faw Lady Melford 
moving towards me. I rofi?/^ and prefihd 
her to take my place. "You arc V^ 
*• obliging,'' faid (he: "I will, ^f 
** pleafe, accept part of it, as I wifli^ 
** informed who it is that is lb polite J 
•* pay fuch civility to an old w6^ 
Lady Anne, finding we were cntfefJ 
converfation, wilhed me a good day, and 
went ofi; 

*' I am< perfedljr well acquaiated with 
•* your features," faid her ladyfliip ; " but 
•* I cannot call to my memory what i^ 
•• your nam€." 

" Have you then quite forgot Julia 
** Grenville, to whom you was fo kind 
•* while fhe was on a vifit with your grand- 
*• father at L. ?" 

*' Julia Grenville ! Aye, fo it is-, but» 
♦• my dear, how came I to meet you in 
** the drawing-room at St* James's, whom 
^' I thought ftill an inmate of the moun- 
'* tains ? Has your father refcindcd his 

" refolution 



fpiuaon 



E SYLPH. 151 

^ reTpi&cion ..of. fpending his lifq there ? 
•* and where is your fiftcr ?'* 
• " My father/' I replied, "is ftill in his 
•• favourite retreat ; my filler rcfides with 
**, him. — I have been in town fome time^ 
*^ and am at prefent an inhabitant of it.*' 

- *'To whofe protedion could your fa* 
^\ ther confide you, my dear ?" 

• ** To the beft protcftor in the world, 
*^ noadam,'' I anfwered, fmiling— " to an 
.^Vhulband." 

" A hufband !*' fhc repeated, quite 
aftoniftied, " What, child, are you mar- 
*' ried ? And who, my dear, is this hut 
*' band that your father could part with 
" you to ?" 

. *• That gentleman in the blue and filver 
** velvet, acrofs the room,— Sir William 
*^ Stanley, Does your iadylhip know 
*^ him ?'• 

** By name and charafter only,** (he an- 
fwered. " You arc very young, my dcar^ 
** to<bc thus initiated in the world. Has 
** Sir William any relations, female ones 
•' I mean, who are fit companions for 
*^you.^~This is a dangerous place for 
H 4 ** young 



152 THE S Y L P 1^1^ 

*• young inexperienced girls to be left to 
•' their own guidance." 

I mentioned the ladies to whom I had 
been, introduced. " I don't know them,** 
faid Lady Melford ; ** no doubt they arc 
•' won^en of charafter, as they are the 
** friends of your hulband. I am, how- 
*' ever, glad to fee you, and hope you are 
" happily married. My meeting you. here 
^* is owing to having attended a lady who 
** was introduced ; I came to town iron 
*^ D> for that purpofe." ^" 

I afked her ladyfhip, if fhe would per- . 
mit me to wait on her while (he remained 
in. town. She obligingly faid, " fhe took 
" it very kind in a young perfon (hewing 
•^ fuch attention to her, and fhould always 
•' be glad of my company." 

The counfel of Lady Melford may be ' 
of fervice to me. I am extremely happy 
to have feen her. I remember with plea- 
furc the month I pafled at L. I reproach 
myfelf for not writing to Jenny Melford. 
I doubt flie thinks me ungrateful, or that ' 
the bufy fcenes in which I am immerfed 
have obliterated all former fond retaem- 

brances. 



J 



7 H E SYLPH. 153 

brances. I will foon convince her; that 
the gay infignificant crowd cannot wear 
away the icnpreflion which her kindnefs 
Jhcart in early childhood* 



Your letter is juft brought to my hands. 
Yes, my dear Louifa, I have not a doubt bujc 
that, while I deferve it, I Ihall be the irpf 
mediate care of heaven. Joir^your prayers 
to mine ; and they will, when offered witb 
heirt-fek fincerity, be heard. 

I have notlvag to apprehend from Lady 
Besford, — Such kind of women can never 
feduce me. She fuews herfelf too openly •, 
and the difcoyery of her char after give.s 
me no other concern, than as it too evi- 
dently mariifelis in my eyes the extreme 
cartleffnefs of Sir Williaip : I own there I 
am in fqme degree, piqued. - But^if be is 
ijjdi.fferent about my morajs and well-dof ng 
in Ijfe,^ it; will more abfolutely bffcoir^e my 
bufinefs to t^ke c^r^ of. myfelf, — an a^- 
4iiOiis. tafli for a yoqng girl, furrounded 
with lo mai?y incitepient^ to quit the ftrajt 
\ ' W 5 / . » . pathi, 



154 THE SYL,?a 
paths, and fo many dimples of tbofe that 
do. 

As to the (Economy of my family, I fear 
it is but badly managed, — However, I do 
not know how to interfere, as we have a 
houfc-keeper, who is empowered to give 
all orders, &c. If Win is defirous of re- 
turning, I ihall not exert my voice to op* 
pofe her inclinations, though I own rlhall 
be very forry to lofe the only domeftic in 
xny family in whom I can place the leaft 
confidence, or who is attached to me from 
any other motive than intereft. I will ne« 
veri notwithftanding my repugnance to 
lier leaving me, ofier any objeftions which 
may influence her conduct-, but I do not 
think with you her morals wril be in any 
danger, as (he in general keeps either in my 
apartments, or in the houfe-keeper's. 

I do not know how Griffith manages ; 
I Ihould be concerned that he Ihoutd be. 
ill-ufed by the reft of the fervants; hts 
dialeft, and to them lingular manner^^ 
may excite their boifterous mirth ; and I 
know, though he is a worthy creature, yet 
he has all the irafcibility of his country* 

men; 



T H E S Y L P H; 155 

men 'y zvid therefore they may take a plet*-. 
fure in thwarting and teafing the poor 
Cambro-Brhort 5 but of this I am not 
likely to be infornrcd, as being fo wholly 
out of my fphere. 

I could hardly hel'p fmiling at that part 
of yourfctterr wlierein you fay, you think 
the hu0)and the proper perfon to attend 
his wife to public places. How different 
a« your ideas from thofe of the people of 
this town, or at leaft to their pradtice !— 
A woman, who would not blulh at being 
convifted in a little affair of gallantryt 
would be ready to fink with confuGon, 
fhouW ftie receive thefe tendres from an 
huibatid in public, which when offered by 
any othkt man is accepted with pleafure 
and complacency. Sir Willi^am never goes 
with me to any of thcfc fafliionable move- 
ments. It is true, we often meet, butvery 
feldom join, as we are in general in fcparate 
parties. Whcin God bath joined^ let no man 
put afunder^ is a part of the ceremony j 
but here it is the bufihefs of every one to 
endeavour to put a man and wife afundcr ; 
H 6 — falhioii 



156 THE SYLPH- 

*— fa(hion not making it decent to appear 
together, 

Thefe etiquetta^ though lb abfoluteljr 
neccflary in police life, are by no means 
reconcileable to reafon, or to my wifhes. 
But my voice would he too weak to be 
heard againft the- general cry, or, being 
heard, I Ihould be thought too infignife- 
cant to be attended to. 

^* Confcience makes cowards of us all,** 
fome poet fays •, and your Julia fays, faftloQ 
makes fools of us all; but fee. only whtf- 
pers this to the dear bofom of her friend.^ 
Oh ! my Louifa, that you were with me! — 
It is with this wife I end all my letters v 
mentally fo, if I do not openly thus ex* 
prefs myfelf.— Abfence feems to.incre^ 
my affe^ion. — One reafon is, becaufc I 
cannot find ai?y one to fupply me the lofs 
I fuftain in you^ out of the hundreds I vi* 
fit, not one with whom I can forrn.afriendly 
attachment. My attachment toSir William^ 
which was ftrong enough to tear me from 
your arms, is not fuffieient to fupprefs the 
gufeing tear, or hufe the rifing figh, when- 
I fit and ccfied on wliat I once pofifefifed* 

and 



THE SYLPH. 157 

and what I fo much want at this moment. 
Adieu, my dear Louifa ! continue your 
tender attention to the beft of fathers,-^ 
and love me always. 

JULIA STANLEY, 

LETTER XIII. 

TO THB SAME. 

I SPENT a whole morning with Lady 
Melford, more to my fatisfaftion than 
any one I have pafled fince 1 left you. 
But this treat cannot be repeated; her 
ladyfhip leaves town this day. She was 
fo good as to fay, ftie was forry her ftay 
was ff) (hort, and wiflied to have had more 
time with me. I can truly join with her* 
Her converfation was friendly and paren- 
tal. She cautioned me againft falling into 
the levities of the fex — which unhappily, 
fbe obferved, were now^ become fo pre- 
valent ; and further told me, how cautious 
i ought to be of my female acquaintance, 
jBnce the reputation of i young woman 
rifes and falls in proporribA to the merit 
of her aflbciates. 1' judged (he had Lady 

Besford 



158 THE S Y L P H. 

Bcsford in her mind, i anfwer«d, I 
thought myfelf unhappy in not having 
you with me, and likcwifc pofleflTng * fb 
little penetration, that L. could not difcorer 
who were, or who were not, proper com- 
panions -, that, relying on the experienGC 
of Sir William, I had left the choice of 
them to him, trufting he tvould not intro- 
duce thofe whofe charafters and morals 
were reprehcnfible •, but whether it pro- 
ceeded from my ignorance, or from the 
mode of the times, I could not adtT)tre 
the fentiments of either of the ladies with 
whom I was more intimately connedled^ 
butwiihedto have the opinion of one whofe 
judgment was more matured than m^e* 
Lady Meiford replied, 'the circle** of 
her acquaintance was rather confined ;— 
gnd that her fhort refidences at a. time in 
town left her an incompetent judge : 
^^ but, my dear,*' fhe added, " the vir- 
^^ tuous principles inftilled into you by 
^* your excellent father, jpined to the iii- 
^* Date goodnefs of your heart, muft guide 
" you through the warfare of life. Nc- 
!* ver for one moment liften to the fcduc- 

V tivf 



THE sylph: tS9 

•^ tive voice of folly, whether its advo* 
^* cate be man or woraan.— If a man h 
** profufe in flattery, believe him an in- 
** fidious betrayer, who only watches a 
** favourable moment t© ruin your peace 
" of n)ind for ever. Suffer no one to 
** leflen your hufband in your efteem : 
** no one will attempt it, but from finifter 
^^ views ; difappoint all fuch, either by 
** grave remonftranccs or lively fallies^ 
•* Perhaps fomc will officioufly bring you 
** informations of the fuppofed infidelity 
•* of your hufband^ in hopes- they may 
** induce you to, take a faftiioriable re- 
** venge. — Labour to convince fuch, how 
•• ,j|i| detcft all informers ; fpeak of your 
*' ctiBndencc' in him, — and that nothing 
" (hall perfuadd you but that he aifts as 
' " he ought. But, fincc the heart of man 
*• naturally loves variety, and, from the 
■ " depravity of the age, indulgences, which 
•* I call criminal, are allowed to them, 
*• Sir William may not pay that ftrid 
•* obedience tg his part of the marriage 
•* contract as he ought j remember, my 
** dear, bis condUift can never exculpate 

** any 



i6o THE SYLPH. \ 
" any breach in your's. Gentlencfs and 
" complacency on your part are the only 
** weapons you fliould prove to any little 
*' irregularity on hi^^ By fuch behaviour^ 
" I doubt not, you will be happy, as you 
*' will dcfcrve to be fo," 

Ah ! my dear Louifa, what a lofs fhall 
I have in this venerable monitrefs ! I will 
trcafure up her excellent advice,, and hope 
to reap the benefit of it, 

if I diflike Lady Besford, I think I have 
more reafon to be difpleafed with Lady 
Anne Parker. — She Ijas more artifice, and 
is confequcntly a mORC dangerous compa- 
nion. She has more than once given^binlfi 
of the freedoms which Sir William aMpws 
in himfelf. — The other night at th«^era- 
ihe, pointed out one of the dancers, and 
affured tiie, " §ir William was much en- 
.*' vi,ed for haying fuhducd the^ virtue of 
** that girl That,'* continued flie, ''was 
*• her vis a vis that you admired this- 
V morning; ihe lives 'in great tafte-^I 
/• fuppofeher albwance is fubcrb/* It is 
quite the; ton to keep opera-girls, though^ 
perhaps,^ the (PW wUq fupport tjhem ney?r 

pay 



THE S Y L P H. i6i 
pa(y them la. vHiri-~I Acrefore concluded 
Hhis affair was one of that fort. Such cfea- 
tupes ca«' nerer deprive me of- my huf- 
band*s heart, and I fhould be very weak- 
to be uneafy about fuch connexions. 

Laft night, however, a clrcumftance* 
happened, which, I own, touched my heart 
more fcnfibly. Lady Anne ipfifted on my 
accompanying her to the opera. Sir Wil- 
Iiam> dined out; and, as our party was 
fudden, knew not of my intention of being 
thtvi. Towards the end of the opera, I 
, obferved myhuftand ih one of theupper- 
boices^ with a very elegant- looking wo- 
man,* dreflfed in the genteeleft tafte, to 
whom he appeared very aflMuous-— 
« There k Sir William," faid I.— '^Yes,*"^* 
faid Lady Anne, " but I dare fay, he did 
*• not expeft to fee you here.** - 

'• Poffibly not," I anfwered. A little 
female curioflty urged me to afk, if Ihc 
knew who that lady was ? She fmiled, 
and anfwered, ** fhe believed fhe did." 
A very favourite air being then finging, 
I dropped the converfation, though I 
could not help now and then ftealing a 

look 



i«2 T H jE S Y t PK- 

look n my hufr^nd. I.\vas xrof^viiue^ tie 
muft fee and know me, as n\y Biwt^n \tk 
the houfe wa9 very confpicMOUs ; but I 
thought he feemed induftriouQy to avoid 
meeting my eyes.—- The opera being end- 
ed« we adjourned to the coiFee-room ^ and, 
having miffed Sir William a little tinac be- 
fore, naturally cxpefted to fee him there ;. 
as it is cuftomary for all the company to 
affemble there previous to their going to 
their carriages. 

A great number of people foon jqlned 
us. Baron Ton-baufen had juft handed 
me a glafs of orgeat ; and was chatting 
in an agreeable manner, when Lord Bid* 
dulph came up. ** Lady Stanley," faid 
• ke, with an air of furprize, ** I thought 
'* I faw you this moment in Sir William's 
^ ** chariot. I little expeded the happineis 
" of meeting you here." 
' " You faw Sir William, my Lord, I 
" believe," faid Lady. Anne ; *' but as to 
** the Lady, you are raiftakeft — thoijgh I 
** fhould have fuppofed you migfi't have 
** recognized your old friend Lucy Gardi- 
•* ner j they were together in one of the 

" boxes* 



vnn SYLPH. 16^ 

^^ boltie8f»-i*^Sly» wretch ! he thought* we 
^^ did not fee him." 

' -^* Oh ! you ladies have fach pewtnatitig 
^^ eyes,*' replied his Lordlhip, ** that m^<j 
"' poor men— and efpecially the married 
•* ones, ought to be careful how we conduiii: 

V oui^felves. But, my dear Lady Stanley, 
** how have you been entertained ? War 
*• not Rauzzini exquifite ?" 

V " Can you alk how her Ladyftiip haf 
** been amufed, when you have juft in- 

V formed her, her Caro Spofi was feen 
** with a favourite Sultana ?'* 

' "PlhawP'faidhisLordfhip, "there is 
** nothing in that — tout la mode de Fran* 
** fois. The condud of an husband can- 

V not difcompofe a Lady of fenfe. -What''* 
^* fays the lovely Lady Stanley ?** 

*' I anfwer,? I replied very ferioufly, 
" Sir William has an undoubted right to 
** a6l as he plcafes. I never have or 
" ever intend to prefcribe rules to 
'* hi/p;. fufficicnt, 1 think, to condudt 
*• felf/t 

" Bravo P* cried Lord Biddulph, 
" fpoke like a heroine: and 1 hope mjj 

'• dear 



>64 THE SYLPH. 

^^ dear Lady Stanley will a6t as flie plcafes 

« too/' 

" I do when I can,** I anfwered.*— 
Then, turning to Lady Anne, *^ Not to 
" break in on your anoufement,** I con-' 
tinued, ^^ will you give me leave to wait 
*^ on you to Brook-ftceet ? you know 
y you have promiied to- fup with 'me.*^ 

" Moft chcarfully,** faid (he j— *• but 
^ will you not afk the beaux, to attend 
** us?** 

Lord Biddulph faid^ he was niefl: un* 
fortunately engaged to Lady^ D — *s route. 
The Baron refufed, as if he wifhed to be 
intreated. Lady Anne would take no 
denial ; and, when I aflured him his com- 
pany would give nne plcafure, he con* 
fented. 

' i was handed to the coach by his 
Lordfhip, who, took that opportunity of 
conderrming Sir WilHam's want of tafte ; 
^nd lavilhing the utmoft -encomiums on 
your Julia-^with whom they pafled as no- 
thing, ir Sir William is unfaithful. 
Lord Biddulph is not the man to recon-. 
cile me to the fex. I fee his motives in 

too 



T H E S Y L P H: r^ 

tO0 .glaring colours. No, the foft timi- 
dity of Ton-haufen, which, while it in- 
dicates the profoundeft refped, ftill be- 
trays the utmoft tendernefs — he it is alone 
who could reftore the charader of man- 
kind, and raife it again in my eftimation. 
But what have I faid ? Dc^ar Louifa, I 
blufh at having difcovered to you, that 
I am,' pad all doubt, the objed of the 
Bar6n*s tender fcntiments. Ah! can I 
iiiiftake thofe glances, whip h modeft re- 
ferve and deference urge him to correft ? 
Yet fear me not. I am married. My 
vows are regiftered in the book of hea*^ 
ven ; and as, by their irreverfible decree, 
I. am bound to honour and cbey my huf- 
band, fo will I ftrive to /(?w him, and 
him alone •, though I have long fincc 
ceafed to be the objeft of his ? Of what 
confe'quence, however, is that ? lam in- 
diflblubly united to him ; he was the man 
of my choice— to fay he was the firft man 
I aimoft ever faw — and to plead my youth 
and inexperience-^oh ! what dcres that 
avail? Nor does his ne^ied juftify the 
leaft on my tart. 
^. ' f«For 



iS6 mtit $ Y iL P H. 

•" For man the lawlcfir libertine may rove.** 

But this is a ftrange digreflion. The 
Baron accompanied us to fupper. During 
our repaft. Lady Anne made a thoufand 
Tallies to divert us. My mind, however, 
Teemed that night infefted by the demon 
of defpair. I could not be chearful — and 
yet,. I am fure, I was not jealous of this 
JLucy Qardiner. Melancholy was contagi- 
ous :'Ton-ha.uren caught it^ — I obferved 
"him fomecimes heave a fupprefled figh. 
Lady Anne was determined to diflipate 
the gloom which inveloped us, and began 
drawing, with her fatirical pen, the cha- 
radters of her acquaintance. 

** Baron/' faid Ihe, " did you hot ob- 
** ferve Lord P— , with his roiind un- 
•* thinking ifacc — how aflidubus he was to 

*' Mifs W , complimenting her on 

*^'the brilliancy of her complexion, though 
•* he knows flie wore more rouge than al- 
^* moft any woman of quality -Extolling 
^* her for eft of hair^ when moft likely he 
'" faw it this morning brought in a band- 
" box-T-and celebrating the pearly whitc- 
" nefs of her teeth, when he was prefcot 



/r H E S Y L P H. 167 

•* at' their tranfplanting ? But he is not 
** *a flave to propcicty, or even common 
'•^ fenfc. No, dear creature^ he has a foul 
*5 above i€. But did you not take notice 
^' of Lady L— ~, how (he ogled Capt. F^. 

-** when her booby Lord turned bis head 
** afide ? What a ridiculous, fop is that 1 
" The mdft glaring proofs will not convince 
" him of his wife's infidelity. — * Captain 

.:**^ F.* faid be to me yefterday at court -, 
**^/ Captain F. laflureyou. Lady Anne, 
** is a great favourite with me.* It is a 
•* family partiality/ faid I ; * Lady L. 
•* fcems to have no averfion to him.* 

- ^* * Ahi there you miftake, fair Lady. I 
•* want my Lady to have the fame affcc- 
•* tioD for him 1 4iave. He has done all 
** he can to plcafe her, and yet (he does 
•' not feem fatisfied with him.* * Uncon- 
" fcionablel* cried I, ' why then (he- is 

. ** never to be fatisfied.* ^ Why to I fay-; 

■ f .btit Jtiproceeds from the violence of her 

; *f' attachment to me. Oh ! Lady' Anne, 
** fhe is the mpft virtuous and difcreeteft 

^ ** Lady. I fhould be the happieft^man in 
** the Wjorld, if flie would but ftic#:a Httle 

** more 



:i€8 THE S Y L P H. 
** more confideration tx> my frienA^— ^ 
^* think it a pity he does not know his 
** happinefs, as I have noc the feaft doubt 
" of F-.and her Ladylhiphavbgaprettir 
*^ good underftanding together/* Thus 
was the tboughtle(s creslture ruhning Oh 
\inheeded by either of us,* whefhhenlia- 
rangue was interrupted by nn alarming ac- 
cident happening to me. I had fat ibm^ 
time, leaning my head on my haind ^ 
though, God knows ! paying very Htdte 
attention to Lady Anne's flcetcbes, when 
fome of the luperfluous ornannents of my 
head-drefs, coming rather, too near thfe 
»candle» caught fire, and t-he wbble f;ii?- 
rago of ribbands, lace, and gewKgaw^, 
were inftantly in flames. . I (hrieked ootin 
the utmoft terror, and (houid have been 
a. very great fufFerer--*-pcrhaps been bufnt 
to death — had not the Banon bad the pre- 
fence of mind t<5 roll ;my head, flatnes 
.and .all, «p in my (hawl, )wlajichJfdrtU- 
natcly hung on the back of my chaiF; 
an4». hy,fuqb precaution,. preferved the 
fUipM. How f idiculdus. are thefafibfens, 
. whijcti render ;us Kabk ti> Sv^h accidents ! 
.! ;..»* I My 



Mji fyi^h4s;^mmv&rj ^roif^^ Arare than 
the^Mim^ fuftakied.^^^ V^n the flanHes 
WMd eiEflnguiih^d, I tboeght Lady Anne 
#»uldihdf«^iex|iiWd ^h^ttAthj owhtg to 
«heq;li£iftrD&i flgeift^iE^Sdfe witW<my fing^ 
<*fca/rf*ir^, :&c. irirc whunfkal diffrefrf 
«f thfe'fteprfWe- df-'tKfe Ete«idn Ball prc- 
ftntsed itfitftaitr* imagination', and the 
pale face of the affrighted Baron, during 
thfe> conflagration, hcighten*d the pifttire. 
^- Even foth a man,'^ ihe cf^, ^* fo dead 
•^ in look, fo woe-be-gonef EKufe me, 
** dear Ton*haufen— The danger is over 
** now, I rouft indulge my rifible facul- 
*ftics;^ ' ■' ' 

** ^ Will moft readily join with your 
*^ Ladyihtp,*^ anfwered^ thc^Bkron, "as 
** my jcf is in proportion to what were 
♦^'-niy ap^jrehenfions. BRjeF imultViilon-^ 
*•* demn-'iflaftften whtcR is fo^lj&ribuS I8f 
^'iht feftty^Ae ladite/*^^ '^ \^ ^^ t 

T^^e ^cfeidenf, howive?rj difconterted^ 
me'fiot'^little, and'nftdfe -me quite unfit^ 
for company, « They faw ^the cliagriir 
pShicif 6H* itrf^'Biixmsi ind foon^ook 
ite-tifmt.^'-'. -''' '- *■'"*' '* • -•* ;'* 

V Vol. I, I ^ retired 



gyo THE SYLlRilL 

I fettrod CD mf ditSRB^nmok ^ff»t 
for WiOi CO lofpeft the dtnoft riwiaasdl 
fabrick » but fuch is the cooftru&iq^ wrn^ 
t-dayss th«t t hMd might bum &r.mii 
hoar widiou( daqnagiiig the. gjenuioc part 
cf it. A lucky circumftance ! I fiiftained 
but little damtge-^in lhort» nochix^ wiitch 
Mon&tur Orr0fs could not remedjr ia a 
few hours* 

My company (laying kte, and this event 
|)erideSf retarded my retiring to ft& (iU 
near three in the morning* I had not jbfc 
my dreiiing-room when Sir William en* 
tcred. i. 

^ Good God ! not gone to bed yet^ 
^* Julia ? I hope you did not iit up for me. 
^ You know that is a piece of eeren^ony 
** I would chuiie to difpenie with i as it 
^* always omies a tacit reproach undcr.aa 
^ appearance of teiuler folicitude." I 
£uicied I (aw in his countenance aycoa|«i* 
oufiiefs that he deferved reproach^ ito^ n 
decerminatioa to b^in firft to find faulb 
I was vexed) and aafwered* 

** You might have waited for the r^ 
?* proach at lcaft» before you pre-judgni 

^ . if nqr 



T if^EV S YL Pit i7f 

^Wjr cbndiiift^ N6f can you fcavc any ap- 
^^^^nf^s that I fliould tiiake fucb^ 
•* having never taken that liberty, Nei- 
^^thtr cb you do me jufticc i& fuppofing 
^ ific capaUe of the hieanncfs you infinu- 
^^ ite^Xfti finding me up at rfiis late hour,' 
** That circlimftancc is owing to an acci* 
^ dent, by which I might have been a 
*^ great fufferer ; and which, though yoit 
**fo unkindly accufe me of being ioipro- 
*• perly prying and curious, I will, if ywi 
^^permit me, relate to you, in order t6 
; ~ ^^ juftlfy myfclf." He certainly ^xpedled 
I (hould afk fome queftions which would 
be difagreeable to him; and therefore^ 
finding me totally filent on that head, hia 
features became more relaxed i heenquir'^ 
edt with fome tendemefs, what alarming 
acddent I hinted at. I informed him g£ 
every circumftancc.— My account put hici 
ioco good humour; and we laughed over 
tl^ droU fcene very heartily. Obfervii^ 
hiowever, I was quite en dijbatille^ ^^ My. 
^ dear girl,'* cried he^ throwing his arnv. 
round me» ^^ I doubt you will catch col4»\ 
tt QOtwithftuiding you fb lately reprefeae* 
' J 2 f!e4 



xn THE SYLPH. 
" cd a burning-mountain. Come/* con- 
tinued he, ^ will 70U go to bed f " Whije 
he fpoke, he prelied me to his bofom \ 
and exprefled in his voice and manner 
more warmth of aflre£tion than he had 
difcovered (ince I forfook the mountains. 
He kiflcd me fcveral times with rapture \ 
and his eyes dwelt on me with an ardor 
I have long been uriufed to behold. Jhe 
adventure at the opera returned to my 
imagination. Thefe carcflest thought I, 
have been beftowed on one, whofe profti* 
tuted charms are more admired than mine. 
I fighed — "Why do you figh,Julia?*'alked 
my hulband. " I know not," I anfwered. 
** I ought not to figh in the very moment 
•' I am receiving proofs of your affe£tion, 
*' But I have not lately received (uch 
*' proofs, and therefore perhaps I fighed*** 
' ** You are a foolifh girl, Julia, yet a 
*'good one too"— cried he, kiffing me • 
again : *' Foolifli, to fancy I do not love 
** you 5 and a good girl, notto aflc imper- 
***tinent queftions. That is, your tongue 
** is filent, but you have wicked eyes, * 
"Julia, that feck to look intojny inmoft 
^ i * « thoughts.*! 

3 



THE S t L P H. 173 

••thoughts.*'—** Then I will Ihut them/' 
ikid I, afic6ltng to lai^h — but added> in 
a more ferious tone—** I will fee no fur- 
**-thcr than you would wifli me } to please 
** you, I will ie bHndy infenfible and Hind '^ 

•* But, as you are not deaf, I will tell 
•* you what you well know — that I was at 
*^ the opera— ^nd with a lady too.—- Do 
•* not, however, be jealous, my dear: the 
•* woman I was with was perfcdlly indif* 
** fetent to me. I met her by accident— 
^ but I had a mind to fee what effeft fuch 
** a piece of flirtation would have on you. 
•* I am not difpleafed with your behaviour j 
** nor would I have you fo with mine.** 

•* I will in all my beft obey you," faid 
l.~** Then go to bed/* faid he— ^* To 
** bedy my love^ and I will follow tbee.''^ 

You will not fcruple to pronounce thm 
a reafonablc long letter, my dear Louifas 
for a modern fine lady. — ^Ah ! (hield me 
from that character I Would to heaven Sir 
William was no more of the modern fine 
gendeman in his heart ! I could be happy 
with him. — Yes, Louifa— -was I indeed 
the objed of his afiedions, not merely fo 
I 3 of 



174 T H E S Y L P &.\ 
cf his paffions^ which, I fear, I ami } could 
indeed be happy with him* My perfoQ 
Aill invites his careifeis^bttt for the foftor 
fentiments of the fou^^that ineffable ten* 
deroefs which depends not on the tindhm 
of the fkin--'**of that> alas ! he has no idea. 
A voluptuary io bve, he profoffes not that 
delicacy which refines all its joys. His is 
^11 paffion; ientiment is left out of the 
catalogue. Adieu I 

JULIA STANLEY^ 



LETTER XIII. • 

•J 

TotheSamb* 

I hope; my deareft Louife will nor be 
too much alarmed at a whole fort- 
night's fiience. Ah ! Louifa, the event 
which occalioned it may be produ&ive of 
▼cry fatal confeqiiences to me— yet I will 
not defpair. Not I wilt truft in a good 
God, and the virtuous educ|lten I have 
had. They will arm me to fubdue incfi* 
nations^ irreverfible fate has rendered im* 
proper. But to the point. 

Two 



THE SYLPH. 175 

: ' Twa or three nights after I wrote wy 
laft, I vitnt to the play. — hsidy Anne^ Co- 
lonel Montague^ and a Mifs Finch, wem 
the part jr. Unhappily^ the afier-piece re- 
prefented was one obtruded on the public 
Jby an author obnoxious to fome of them » 
and there were two parties formed, one to 
condemn, the other to fupport. Wholly 
unacquamted with a thing of this kind, I 
foon began to be alarmed at the clamour 
ivhichj-ang from every part of the houfe; 
The glafs chandeliers firft fell a vi<5lim to 
a hot-headed wretch in the pit ; and part 
of the (hattered fragments was thrown in« 
to my lap. My fears increafcd to the 
higheft degree— No one feemed to intcreft 
themfelves about me. Colonel Montague 
beio^ an admirer of Mifs Finch, his at^^ 
temion was paid to her. The ladies were 
ordered out of the houfe« I was ready 
enough to obey the fummons> and was 
rufliing out, when my pafiage was (lopped 
by a coocDurfe of people in the lobby* 
Th^ women fcreaming— -men fwearing— 
altogether — I thought I fliould diewitli. 
terror. ^* Oh ! let me come out, let me 
I 4 ** come 



176 THE SYLPH. 

•' come out!** I cried, with uplifted 
hands,— No one regarded me. And I 
might have ftood fcreaming in concert 
with the reft till: this time, had not the 
Baron moft ieafonably come to my alSft- 
9ncc. He broke tbnteigh the croud with 
tncfedible fopce, and flew to me. ** Deasreft 
*' Lady Stanley^^ cried he, ^ recover your 
•• fpkits— you arc in no dasiger. I will 
•* guard you to your carriage.** Ocber4 
were equally anxious Wbout their compa^ 
ny, and every one ftrivihg to get out fir ft 
increaied the difficulty.^ |^ny ladies 
fainted in the paf&ges, which, being ck)S:» 
became ahnoft fuffbcating. Every mo* 
mentour difficulties and my fears' increas- 
ed. I became almbft infenfible, The-Ba-* 
ron mod kindly fapported me with one 
arm—- andwith the other ftroveto make 
way. The men even pufhed with rudee* 
nefs by me. Ton-haufen expoftulated and 
raved by turns: at kngth he^ drew -his 
fword, which terrified me to fwch* a de- 
gree, that I was -finking to thcearch— 
and really gave myfclf up totally to de- 
fpair. The efforts he made at laft gained 

, us ^ 



THE SYLPH. 177 

us a paflagc to the great door — and, with- 
out waiting to jnfk any queftions, he put 
zne into a coach that happened to be near : 
as to my carriage, it was not to be found 
—or probably fome others had ufcd the 
fame freedom with that we had now with> 
one unknown to us. 

As fbon as we were ieated, Ton-haufen 

expreffed his joy in the ftrongeft terms,, 

that we bad fo happily efcaped any danger. 

I was fo weak, that he thought it neceflary 

. to fupport me in. bis arms ; and though I 

had no caufe to complain of any freedom 

in his manner, yet the warmth of his e** 

.preflioq, joined to my foregoing fright, had 

fuch an effed on me, that, though I did 

not wholly lofe my fenfes, I thought I Was 

dying — ^I never fainted in my life before;.^ 

.€0 my ignorance, then, mail be imputed 

. my fears and fooHlh behaviour in confe- 

. quence. ** Oh ! carry me fomewhere,** 

cried I, gafping ; *^ do not let me die 

** here ! for God*s fake, do not let me die 

" in the coach P' ; 

** My angel,** faid the Baron^ " do not 
f* give way to fuch imaginary terrors. I 
I 5 wiU', 



tit r^iiE $ Y L i^ri^ 

••will let down the ^tiflfes-^ycib ^IH W 
*^ better prcfcntly.*^ But fihiftng^ mf litettfi' 
#hfch I could no longer ftippor t, dMp^m' 
his fhoiildcr, and 9 cold damp bcdcW^y 
face, hegavealoofctohts tcndcrnefs^wbidt' 
Ihcwcd itfclf in his attention to my ^li' 
fare. He prcffcd me almoft frantic to htf 
boforh, called on me in the moft ende^ing 
tetms. He thought me infenfiblc. Hie 
knew not I could hear the efFufions of hii 
heart. Oh \ Louifa, he could have 00 idea 
how thejr funk in mine. Among the>effj 
thefe broken fcntences were diftinft^ **Ohi 
** my God,! what will become of met 
*' Deareft, moft loved of women, how i3 
•*my heart diftrafted I And fhall I lofe 
*< thee thus ? Oh ! how fcaU I fupport 
•• thy lofs ! Too latefound-r-cver beloved 
** of my foul ! Thy Henry will die with 
** thee !*' Eifture to yourfclf, my Louifa, 
what were my fenfations at this time. I 
have no words to exprefs tl]iem — or, if I 
could, they would he unfit for me to ex- 
prefs. Thp fenfations thenifelves ought 
not to have found a paflage in my bolbm. 
1 will drive them away, Louiiai 1 wHI 

not 



WHE S y L B Hi t79 

^gi?^«i?llfa^M?l>pWf'^ J no. longer H WW* 

to ailjiBReaiaincci - T|ic B^rpf), in, a iUt# 
qf ^i^ca^ioni called co the coachman, xa 
flop 5^y. .wljcit^ where I cquld receive af- 
fi|tv»cp,.i , Fortunately we were near t 
^hf tpift'5% r XoD-baufen carried me in h|9 
^m3 tp a Im(^ room — ^ud^ by the appli^ 
QaJ^on of drops, fire I was reftored to life* 
|fo^nd the Baron kneeling a( my feet;, 
^gfj^ flippprting rac. It was a long ti^p 
l^foripjie could make me fenfible where. I 
wa.8> . My fituation in a ftrange place, and 
ihe fingularity of our appearance, afiefted 
x)^e^extremely — ^I burft into tears, and ety- 
tij^ated the Baron to get me a chair to con« 
vey nxc home. " A chair ! Lady Stanp^' 
;•' ley i will not you then permit me to at;^ 
, " tend you home i Wpuld you place your- 
** felf under the prote6tion of two ftrangers, 
" rather than allow me thathonour ?'* 

'* Ah ! excufe me, Baron," I anfwepcd, 
. •* i hardly kDO\f( what I.faid* Do as you 
^ * .** pleafe, only Jet me go home/' And 
f yft, Louifa, I felt a dread on. going into 

5 the feme cajrriage, with him. .1 thougljtt 

[ / * 16^ myfelf^ 



i8b t ft E S Y L P a 

myft^f extremely aWurd and foolrfhi y^t 
i could not get the better of tny appre?- 
henfions. How rain they were! Never 
fcoirtd any man behave with tnore delicate 
attention, or more void of that kind of 
behaviour which might havfe juftified miy 
fears. His defpair had prompted the dif- 
covefy of his ftntiments. He thbught me 
incapable of hearing thefecret of hisfoulj 
«nd \i was abfurd to a d^glte'for me, by 
an unneceljary circumfpeftkxn, to let hiiTk 
fee I had unhappily befen ypiftipipater of 
bis fecret* There ^as, however, an auk- 
ward conlciioufnefs in my condaft towarSlB 
him, i coufd'itot diveft mylelf oif. I wifiit' 
ed to be at homb. I even expreflcd'my 
impatience to be alone. He fighed, but 
made no remonllrances againfl: my ebildifh* 
behaviour, though his penfive manner 
made it obvious hefaw and felt it. Thank. 
God ! at'laft we got home. ^ It would 
*' be rude," faid he, ** after your ladjr- 
•* fhip has fo frequently exprefled your 
•* wifli to be alone, to* obtrude my com«- 
•* pany \ moment longJir ihan abfoluttly 
*' necdTary 5 but, if you WrH allbw me to 



!* remain 



THE S^Y L P ». ISt 

^** remain ih 'your dfbwrng-room till I hear 
^ you are a little recovered, I ftall eftecm 
^ It a favour .^* ' 

• • *'* I have not a doubt of being much- 
*^ <>cttei**, -1 returned, "when I have had 
•* a little reft. I am extremely indebted 
*< to you for the care you have taken. I 
** muft repay ir, by defirrr^ you to have 
^^ fome confideration foryourfclf : reft^ill 
j ** be falutary for both ; and I hope t6 r^ 

** turn you a meffage in the morning, 
I ** that I am not at all the worfe for thfe 

[ •** difagreeablc adventure. Adieu, Baron, 

•^ take my advice.'^ He bowed, and caft 
*pn me fuch a bbk— 'He ftemcd to torrcA: 
liimfelf.— k)hr ! that look* \ what was nbt 
cxpTcflcd in it! Away, away, all fuch 
remembrances*. 

" ' The conlequences, however, were not-fo^ 
^lidhere. I foon found other circuriiflances^ 
i 'which I had not thought on. Iri-lhortf. 

my dear Louifa, I muft now difcover to* 
you a fecret, which I had detei^mined <Or 
keep fome time longer at feaft. Not 
fcven Sir William knew of it. ' I* intended 
to have ferprized you alh but. this vile 

play- 



iSf T H E ^ Y L P H* 

phfrhduft affair putjln eodlomf bopch' 
and very . near tj) my Jife* For . twa daf s^'' 
my fituatton was very critical* Aa £boaaif 
the danger was over^ I recovered apace.* 
The Baroa was at my door feveral ti'mes ia 
the day^ ta enquire after me. And Will 
faid, who once faw him, that Jxe betrayed 
more anxiety than any one befidt* 

.Yefterday was the firft of my (eeing wf ; 
company. The Baron*^ name was the firft 
announced. The found threw me into a* 
perturbation I laboured to conceal. Sir, 
William prefented him to me. I received 
his complimeat with an auk ward coor 
fufion., My embarraffmcnt was impucedy 
by my huibandt to the fimple baflifulnefi 
of a country ruftic--?a baihfulneis he ge« 
nerally renders more infupportable by the 
ridiculous light he chufes to make me ap* 
'pcar int, rather than encouraging in me a 
better opinion of myfelf* wbichj fooiCr 
Simcs^ he does me the honour of faying^ 
I pught to entertain*. The Baron had 
taken my hand in the/mofl: refpedl&l 
manner. I fuffered him to lift it to hjs 
lips* !! la it thus*.- faid Sir WiUiiyB, 

" yott 



rm E SYLPHi lir 
«*,'yQaJthank«yaur deliverer ? Had I been * 
**,4itfc^<jut'place, Juliat I (hould have re- 
**. iceivcd my cisampion with open arms-^ 
^^ at leaft have allowed him a faluce. Bat 
^^ (the BaroB is a modeft young mam 
*^.:Corticv I will fet you the ^examplc/'*-** 
Saying which, he x^aught me in bis arms* 
and kiflfed me; I was extremely ch^ 
jyriaed, and felt my cheeks glow, not ottif 
with jhame, but anger. *^ You are too 
•• violent, 5ir William,** feid I ytvf 
gravely. " You have exctffively difeon^ 
V certcd me." ** I will allow,** iaid he, 
^f I might have been too eager : now jmti 
^\ (hall ezperimce (be difference b^ween 
^^ theextatic ardor of aa adorkig httf« 
*V band, and the cool complacency of a 
" friend. Nay,, nay,'* continued be, fee- 
ing a diilenting look, *' you muft rewasd 
** the Baron, or I (ball think you' either 
" very prudifli, or angry with me/* Was 
there ever fuch inconfiderate bebUvieur ? 
Ton-baufcn feemed fearful of ofiending*— 
yet not willing to lofe fo fair an opporcu- 
. uity. Ob ! Louila, as Sir William faid, I 
^expecieuceadifference. ButSirWil- 

lian» 



itfl 



b84 the sylph. 

Ram is no adoring hufband. The Baron's 
Kps trembled as they touched mine ; and 
Ifelt an emotion, to which I was hitherto* 
a ftrangcr. 

I was doomed, however, to receive ftlll 
more fliocks. On the Baron's faying he 
was happy to fee me fo well recovered af- 
ter my fright, and hoped I had found no 
Viiftfgl*e«aWe Gonfequcnce— ^" No difagree^ 
•* ^able <onfcquenCc !** repeated Sir Wil- 
liam, with the moft unfeeling air ; •* Is 
" the lofs of a fon^nd heir then nothing? 
'^' It may be repaired," he contin6ed, 
laughing,' ** to be fure; but I am ex- 
** tr*inely difappointed;** Are you not 
tttlragcd with your brother-in-law, Louifa ? * 
How indelicate ! I really could no longer 
fupport thefe mortifications, though I 
knew I Ihbuld mortally ofFeird him; I: 
could not help leaving the room in tears ; 
*nor would I return to it, till fummoned 
by the arrival of other company, I did not, 
TTcover my fpirits the whole evenings. 

Good God ! hovr different do men ap- 
pear fometimes from themfelves ! I bften 
am induced toafk my felf, whether I reaHy 

gave 



THE' S Y L P H. il85 
gave my hand to the man I now fee in my 
hufband. -Ah ! '^e^ 4s he -ehanged ! I 
reflect for hours together on the unac- 
countablencfs of his condudt. How.ije 
is carried away by the giddy multitude* 
He is fwayed by eyery paOion, and tTie 
laft is the ruling one— 

*' I« every thing by ftarts, and nothii^g loxig*'* 

*A time iMf cormj when he may fee 
h}$ fo%^ I hope, before it he too late to 
Wfmr k. Why fliould fuoh a man mari^ ? 
Or -^y did fatt lead Wm to our itisocent 
repeat i Oh;! why 4id I tfooUflily mifl»ke 
a :SiftnAUi0g«<4ifpc^tioii) «nd a'tranfie^^lik-' 
iDg, for a perm^ent attachment? But 
why do I run on thus ? Dear Louifa, yoti 
will think me far gone in a phrenzy. But^ 
l^eUe^e me, I will cv^r 4eierve your tend^p 
a^^^ion^ , ^ 

■ JULIA STANLEY. 



L E T- 



in T H E S Y L P H. 

LETTER XIV. - 
To Lady Stakley. 

GOOD heavens! what a variety of 
emotions has your laft letter ex« 
cited in my bread ! Surely, my Julia did 
not give it a fecond perufal ! I <:an make 
allowance for the expreffions of gratitude 
which you (in a manner lavifh, not) be* 
ftow on the Baron. But oh ! beware^ my 
beloved filler, that your gratitude become 
not too warm *, that fentiment, fo laudable 
when properly placed, fliould it be an ki^ 
trodudion to what my fears and tend^<^ 
nefs apprehend, would change to the moft 
impious. — You already perceive a vifible 
difference between him and your hu(band 
-—I aflerc, no woman ought to make a 
comparifon, — 'tis dangerous, 'tis fatal 
Sir William was the man of your choice •,•-* 
it is true you were young i but ftill you 
ought to refpedt your choice as facred. — 
You are ftill youngs and although you 
may have feen more of the world, I doubt 
your fentiments are litde mended by your 

experience. 



T H E S Y L P H; ^87 

experience. The knowledge of the world 
•i— at leaft fb it appears to me— is of no 
further ufe than to bring one acquainted 
with vice, and to be lefs (hocked at the 
idea of it. Is this then a knowlec^e to 
which we fhould wifh to attain?— Ah! 
'believe me, it had been better for you to 
have blufhed unfeen, and loft your fweet- 
nefs in the defart air, than to have^ in tBc 
biify haunts of men^ hazarded the privation 
of that peace which goodnefs hofoms even 
Think what I fuffcr ; and, conftrained to 
■treaftire up my anxious fears in my oWti 
i)ofBm, I have no one to whom I can 
vent my griefs : and indeed to whom could 
I Impart the terrors which fill my foul, 
when I reflect on the dangers by which 
my fitter, the darling of my afFcftions, is 
furr6unded ? Oh, Julia ! you know how 
fatally I have experienced the intereft a 
beloved objcft has in the brcaft of a ten- 
der woman ; how ought we then to guard 
againft theadmiflion of a paffion defiruc- 
tive to our repoie^ even in its moft inno« 
cent and harmlefs ftate, while we are fuiglef 
•-^But how much more fliould j^^i* keep « 

• ' ftria 



i88 THE S Yi.i^ H. 

ftrift watch over ^verjr outlet of. the hcart». 
l^fl it ffiould fall a prey to the mfidious 
enemy i— you refpcdt his filence; — you 
pity his fuffcrings* — Reprobate tcfpea!— 
abjure pity !— they are both in your cir- 
iGUmftances dangerous; and -a wcU-ejcpe* 
rienced writer has obferved, niorewomerk 
have betn ruined by pity, than have fallen 
a facrifice to appetite and palTion. Pity 
is a kindred virtue, and from, the innOi- 
cence and'complaccncy of her appearance^ 
we fufpedt no ill ; but dangers inexplica-** 
ble lurk beneath the tear that trembles in- 
her eye; and^ without even knowing that vre- 
do foy we make a fatal transfer to our ut« 
ter and inevitable difad vantage. From hav- 
ing the power of beftowing cooipaflioni 
we become objeds of it from others^ 
.though too frequently, inftead- of receiv- 
ing it, we find ourfelves loaded with the 
cenfure of the world. We look into our 
own bofbms for confoltaion : alas !i it is 
^flown with our innocence ;. and in its room* 
we feel thclharpeftftings of f^lf-r^prpofv 
•My Julia, my tears obliterate each.nwurn.. 
fulpaOageof my pen,. 

L E T* 



TIH'E- S^ L-PSH. 189- 

L E T T E R XV, 

TdMifs Grehv^i LLE. *"'^ 

ENOttIGH, my. deareft fiftor* enough, 
. lwiV)tf you. Xuficijcfi cthrough . your jjn-,^ 
remit tqd tendcrjiefe to,, y9ur Julia 5-^yct 
believe her,, w^ile IhP, yoiwi to. the ^eair ' 
bf|ibm of fricndibipK no!,aftioi).af her's- 
fl^ cali4>bki4i oa, youf chej^l^ .C^ood 
God ! what, a . wxetcfe ftiould. I be,, if I 
could abufe fiich fifteriy love! if, after 
iiich friendly admom;ioos, «fQrced with- 
fo much; rnqvii^ ^loquencei^ yojar Julia. 
Should degener^t/s^frooi her^bktji^^apd for- . 
get thoiele^flTo^aof yi/tueearl^ inculcated 
by the bcft of fathers ! . If,^; after aJI thefe, 
ihs fluould fqflfer' hwfelfr to. be immerfed 
in .tl)c wiw^ -of fqllji and. vk:^, what ^ 
vwHild ihc npt.djeferve ! Ohi reftaf^urcd, 
my. deiu^ d^^r Louif^ befatMe^r/your . 
fifltcr cannot be ib yile^r^reinember the 
f^mie blood flows through our veins ; one 
parefftftock. we fpr^g fromt nmtured by 
Qm»^ h995l i:.liilening^ai ti^ fanaei urns X9 
. ' , ' ' ' tlie' 



ipo THE SYLPH; 
the famevoice of reafon *, learhing^<^aihe* 
pious Icflbn-~wby theri thefe^ppiiefiefiffililttl 
of my degeneracy ? Truft mij^Eduffai^I 
wiH not deceive you; and God grailtl mt^ 
never deceive myfelf ! The wifeft of ni^ 
has fatdi ^ the he^rt of man is ded^t^Fuit^ 
«• above all things.'^ I however willlftriaif 
examine mine ; I will fearch intoit nar- 
rowly ; at prefent the fearch is not pain- 
ful ; I have nothing to reproadi myfelf 
with ; I have, I hope, difcharged my 
filial and fraternal duties i my matri- 
monial ones are inviolate : I have ftudied 
the temper of Sir WiUiam» in hopes I 
ihould difcover a rule for my a£lk)n$ ; 
but how can I form a fyftem from one fp 
variable as he is ? Would to heaven he 
was more uniform ! or that he would 
fufier himfelf to be guided by his own 
underftandingf and not by the whim or 
caprice (^ others fo mudi inferior to 
himfelf! All this I have repeated fre- 
quently to you, together with my wifh 
to leave London, and the objefts with 
which I am daily furrounded* — ^Does foch 
a wifli look as if I was improperly ae^ 

tacfaed 



^9»IMfl!f>^^h^P«^^ partictjlar 

]^^4i|it ? Tou vc J»a icvcre, my Iqvc > 
^eat ir|tf;a I fifloft. thar your rigicjity pro-. 
Qff4»fffmyovir ^ofiyaJikd 2^(tacbmcnt» I 
]^,^ «)d ^^ my ch?iilifi5incpt ir-I long 
tikf<M <A)y 4ear Ieifturfr:lii my armsi, and 
ecHKKiiSPft ber, t)i«t one, whof^ heart is 
GScdmi^ «be afFefiioni that, glows ia 
mim^ t(^m &id no room for a^y fentiment 
i|160fDptf il^ ^ith virtue, pE which (he is 
t^eiigi^s iaage. Adieu I 



».:h 



LETTER XVl. 

To Mifs G R E N V I L L E. 

If*. It^K J^^* falls,* my beloved fifter, 
\ how great will be her condemnation I 
With fuch fupports, and I hope I may 
9dd with an inward reAitude of mind^ 
I.thinli; tkc can 4)ever deviate from the 
rlglit path. You fee, my Louifa, that 
not you alone are interefted in my well- 
doing. I have a fecret, nay I may fay, 
cclefl;ial friend and monitor,-^a friend it 
^rtainly is, though unknown r~all who 



^ve good counleP m\Ht be rny tt-uc and^ 
fincerc friends. Fhirti whohi- V hfc^ rd- 
ceivedat, I know, not ; but * it Ulatt ke 
my ftudy to merit the favour df thiS^ 
eiifthly or heavenly conduftor thrdugb 
the iatricate mazes of life^ L Svtil nd^ 
longer keep you in ignorance bf mf 
meanings but without deliiy will copy 
for you a letter I recefved \km morning ; 
the original I have too much veneration 
for to part with, even to. yon, who are 
dearer to me thjaa. almolL alLthg world, 
bcfide* 

T HE L.E.T T B R. . 

. " I cannot help" anticipating dte Aii^ 
prize your lady (hip will be under, from^ t%^ 
ceiving a letter from an unknown hand i 
nor will the fignatureccmtribate to dc*- 
velop the cloud befeind vy^hi6h-P:hufo to^ 
conceal myfelf. « »; . ^ - 

My motives, I Jiope, will extenuate the* 
boldnefs oi my talk; and I rely likewife' 
on the amiaWe qualities you fo cmi-^ 
jicntlyT>oflc6, to pardoa the temerity ^ 

arty 



T M B S<Y L P H. 19 J 

kny -one who ihali prefuaie ta critidfe the 
conduA of one of the moft lovely of God^s 
works. 

I feel for you as a man, a friend^ or, to . 
fum up all, a guardian angel I fee you on 
ibe brink of a fteep prcciptoe. I (hudder 
at the danger which you are not 'fenfiWc 
of. You will wonder at my motive, and 
the intercft I take in your concerns.— It 
is from my knowledge of the goodnefs of 
your lieart : were you icfs -amiable than 
you are, you would be below my fiJici- 
tude ; I might be charmed with you as a 
woman, but I ftiould not venerate you;— 
nay, (hould poffibly — enchanted as every 
one nmift be vmh^our pcrifonal attrailions^ 
-join with thdfe who fcek.to fcduce you to 
thcrr own purpofes. Tfae fentiments I 
profefs for you are fuch as a tender father 
would feel— fuch as your own excellent 
father cf crifhes ; but they are accpmpa* 
!med by a warmth which can only be 
rqoaU'cd by their plkrity ; fuch fentiments 
ihall I ever experience while you continue 
ilo deferve them, and every fervice in my 
•power fliali be exerted in your favour. I 
•Vol. I. K have 



194 THE S Y L P H. 

have long wtfhed for an opportunity of 
exprefilng to you the tender care I take in 
your conduft through life. I now fo fcii" 
fibly feel the neceffity of apprizing you of 
the dangers which furround you, that I 
wave all forms, and thus abruptly intro* 
duce myfelf 1X5 your acquaintance — un- 
known, indeed, to you, but knowing you 
well, reading your thoughts, and feeing 
the fecrec motives of all your a(5tions. Yes, 
Julia, I have watched you through life. 
Nay, ftart not, I have never fccn any adion 
of your*s but what had virtue for its guide. 
«-^But to remain pure and uncontaminated 
ifl this vortex of vice, requires the utmoft 
ftrength and exertion of virtue. To avoid 
vice, it is neccfiary to know its colour and 
complexion ; and in this age, how many 
various (hapes it aflumes ! my talk (hall be 
to point them out to you, to (hew j^u the 
traps, the fnares, and pitfallsi which the 
unwary too frequently fink into ; — to lead 
you by the hand through thofe intricate 
paths befet with quickfands and number- 
lefs dangers •,— -to diredl your eyes to fiich 
objedts as you may with fafcty conteoi- 
6 .platet 



THE SYLPH. 195 

plate, and induce you to (hut theni for 
ever againfl* fuch as may by their dire faf- 
cination intice you to evil ;r-to conduft 
you to thofe endlefs joys hereafter, which 
are to be the reward of the virtuous ; and 
to have myfelf the ineffable delight of 
partaking them with you, where no rival 
(ball interrupt my felicity. 

I am a Roficrufian by principle; I need 
hardly tell you, they are a feft of phiJo- 
' * fophers, who by a life of virtue and felf- 

denial have obtained an heavenly inter- 
courfe with aerial beings;- — as my inter- 
nal knowledge of you (to ufe the expret 
fion) is in confequence of my connexion 
with the Sylphiad tribe, I have aflumed 
the title of my familiar counfellor. This, 
however, is bgt as a preface. to what I mean 
. to fay to you j — I have hinted, I knew 
^^Jf^ou well; — when I thus exprefied my- 
['&^ felf, it fhould be underftood, I fpoke in 
f the pcrfon of the Sylph, which I (hall 
occafidnally do, as it will be writing with 
more perfpicuity in the firft inftance 5 
and, as he is employed by me, I may, 
without the appearance of robbery, fafcfy 
. K 2 . appropriate 

i ' - '. 



196 THE SYLPH. 

appropriaec to myfelf the knowledge he 
gairvs. 

Every hutnai) being has a guardian an- 
gel ; my ikill has difcovered yow r's ; my 
power has made him obedient to my will ; 
I have a right to avail myfelf of the intel- 
fligcnccs he gains ; and by him I have learnt 
«very thing that has paffed fince your birth; 
— what your future fortune is to be, even 
he canfiot tell ; his view is circumfcribed 
to a fmall point of time ; he only can tell 
what will be the confequence of taking this 
or that ftep, but your free-agency pcevents 
.his impelling you to a<5t otherwife than as' 
you fee fit. I move upon a more enlarged 
fphere •, he tells me what will happen -, and 
as I fee the remote, as well as immediate 
confequence, I fliall, from time to time, 
give you my advice. — Advice, however, 
iwhen alked, is feldom adhered to; but 
when given voluntarily, the receiver has 
no obligation to follow it. — I fliall in a 
moment difcover how this is received by 
you ; and your deviation from the rules I 
Ihall prefcribe ^ill be a hint for me to with- 
draw my coianfcl where it is not gcceptable. 
• . . 5 All 



T H E^ SYLPH. igj 

All that ihen will remain for me, will be 
to deplore your too early initiation in a 
vicious world, where to efcape unhurt or 
uncontaminated is next to a miracle. 

I faid, i fhould foon difcover whether 
my advice would be taken in the friendly 
pare it is offered: Ifhall perceive it the 
next time Lhavc the happinefs oi behold- 
ing you, and I fee you every day; I am 
r>ever one moment abfent from you m 
idea, and in my mind's eye I fee you each 
' moment ; only while I conceal myfelf from- 
you, can I be of fervice to you ;— prefe not? 
then to difcover who I am ; but be con- 
vinced — nay, I fbatt take every oppoirtu* 
aity to convince yous that I am the moflr 
fiocere and difmterefted of your friends v 
i am a friend to your foul, my Julia, andl 
I flatter myfelf mine is congenial with 
yourV i 

I told your you were furroandcd withr 
dangers ; the greatefl pechaps comes from 
^ quarter leaft fufpeded ^ and for that 
wry reafon, becaufe, where- no harm \% 
expected, no guard is kept» Againft fuch 
a man as Lord Biddulpb, a watchful cen« 
K 3 tinel 



198 T H E S Y L P H. 

tincl is planted at every avenue. 1 caution 
you not againft him ; there you are fe- 
cure ; no temptation lies in that path ^ no 
precipice lurks beneath thofe footfteps,. 
You never can fall, unlefs your heart takes 
part with the tempter ; and I am morally 
certain a man of Lord Biddulph's call can 
never touch your*s ; and yet it is of him 
you feem moft apprehenfivc. Alk your* 
fetf, is it not becaufe he has the charaAer 
of a man of intrigue ? Do you not feel 
within your own bread a repugnance to 
the affiduities he at all times takes pains 
to fcew you ? Without doubt, Lord Bid- 
dulph has defigns upon you; — and few 
men approach you without. Oh ! Julia> 
it is difficult for the moft virtuous to be* 
hold you daily, and fupprefs thofe feelings 
your charms excite. In a bread inured 
to too frequent indulgence in vicious 
courfes, your beauty will be a confum- 
ing fire i but in a foul whofe delight is 
moral rectitude, it will be a cherifhing 
flame, that animates, not deftroys. But 
how few the latter I And how are you to 
diftinguilh the infidious betrayer from the 

open 



T H E SY L PH. 199^ 
Opcni vb^ton To you they arc equally 
Culpal;>le » but only one can be fatal. Afk 
your own hearl>^thc' criterion, by which 
I would have you judge— aflc your own 
heart, which is intitled to your deteftation 
moft^ t-he man who boldly attacks you, 
and by his' threats^ plainly tells you he is' 
a robber; or the one, who, under the 
femblance of imploring your charity, de- 
prives you of your moft valued property ? 
WUl it admit of a doubt ? Make the ap* 
plication : examine yourfelf, and I conjure 
you examine your acquaintance*, but be 
cautious whom you truft. Never make 
any of your male vifitors the confidant of 
aoy thing which . paflcs between yourfelf 
and hu{band. This can never be done 
without a manifeft breach of modeft de* 
corum. Have I not faid enough for the 
prefent ? Yet let me add thus much, to 
fccure to myfelf your confidence. I wilh 
you to place an unlimited one in me; 
continue to do fo, while I continue to 
merit it ; and by this rule you (hall judge 
of my merit — The moment you difcover 
that I urge you to any thing improper, 
K 4 Qt 



aoo THE SYLPH, 
or take advantage ^of wy^ klf-^umtd of- 
fice, and mfolehtiy pf^cribe when Iftould 
only point out, or that i fliould ftetn ta. 
degrade others in your eyes, and particn- 
larly your hufband, believe me to be an 
impoftor, and treat me ae' fuch *, dtfregard 
my finifter counfe}, and confign me to that 
fcorn and derifion I &all fo much deferve# 
But, while virtue infpires nrjy pen, afford 
me your attention ^ arid may that God» 
whom I atteft to prove my truth, ever be 
indulgent taydu, and fisar ever and ewr 
protcdi you !' So pr^ys 

Your SYLFH.** 

Who can it be, my Louifa, who takes 
this friendly intcreft in myweffere? It* 
cannot be Lady Melfordj the addfeis be- 
fpeaks it to be a marr; but what man is 
the queftion -, one too who fees me every 
day : it cannot be the Barorr, for he frems 
td fay, Ton-haufen is a more dangerous 
ptrfon than Lord Biddulph. But why 
dol perplex my^lf with gueffing? Of • 
what confequence is it who is my friend, 
fince I am convinced he is finccre. Yes ! • 

thou 



T H E S Y L P H. aoi 

tfrou frieacHy. monitor, I will be ciireAed 
by thee ! I ifea]l mw sA with more con- 
fidenee, as my . Sylph tolk me he will 
watch over and apprise me of every dan-^ 
ger. I hope his. tafk will not be a di^ulc 
ones for, though ignoranti I am not ob-* 
ftinate— on the contraryy even Sir Wil- 
liam, whom I do not fufpeft of flattery,^ 
allows me to be extremely docile. I am^. 
my beloved Louifa, moft afFedtlonatelyt. 
your's, . 

jiDLiA Stanley:: 



LETTER XVIU 

To Lady Stanley. , 

BLES&EDi forever blcffcd, be th» 
friendly mopitor f Oh ! my JuHia^ 
how^ fortunate are ywi,. thus to become 
the care of heaven, which has /aifed yovi 
up a guide, with all the difpofitions, but 
with more enlarged abilities than thy poor 
Louife ! And much did you. ftand in need 
of a guide, my fifter : be not di^leafed 
that I write thus, Bot why do I dcpre-! 
K 5 cate 



act THE SYLPla. 
cate jour anger ? you, who were ever Cf 
good, fo tender, and induigent tothe ap^ 
prehenfioQS of your friends. Yet, indeedi. 
my dear, you are repreheniible in many 
paflages of your letters, particularly the 
laft# You fey, you cannot fufpeS: Sir Wil- 
liam of flattery v would you wiih him to 
\>e a flatterer? Did you think him fuch,. 
when hefwore your charms had kindled the 
brighteft flames in his bofom ? No, Julia, 
you gave him credit then for all he faid t 
but, allowing him to bt changed, are you 
quite the fame ? No ; with all the tender** 
nefs of my aflt^dion, I cannot but think, 
you are altered fincc your departure from- 
the vale of innocent fimplicity. It is the 
knowledge of the world which has de- 
prived you of thofe native charms, above 
all others. Why are you notrefolpte with 
Sir William, to leave London ? Our ac- 
qujefcence in matters which are hurtful 
both to our principles and conftitution is 
a weaknefs. Obedience to the will of 
thofe who feek to feduce us from the right 
road is no longer a virtue ; but a repre^ 
Jtenfible participation of our leader's faults. 

Be 



THE SYLPH; 203 

Be aifured, your hufband will lifien to 
yoor perfuafive arguments. Exert all your 
eloquence: and. Heaven, I bc^feech thee, 
grant fuccefs to the undertaking of the 
deareft of all creatures to, 

LOUISA GRENVILLE. 



LETTER XVIII; 
To Mifs Grenville. 

AH 1 my dear Louifa, you are fingle, 
and know not the trifling influence 
a woman has over her hufband in this part 
of the world. Had I the eloquence of 
Demofthenes or Cicero, it would fail. Sir 
William is wedded—I was going to fay, 

. to the pleafures of this bewitching, place. 
I' correfted myfelf in the inflant ; for, was 
be wedded, nioft probably he would be as 
tired of it as he is of his wife. If I was 
to be refolute in my determination to leave^ 

,Lond9n, I muft go by myfelf j arid, not* 

withftanding fuch a cjrcumftance might 

accord with his wilhes, I do not chufe to 

begin the Reparation. All the de terminal- 

K d tion 



204 THE SYLPH, 
tion I can make is to- ftrive to» ad: fo as te 
dcferw a better fate than has follefi to mjf 
lot. And^ befet as 1 am on all fid^s^ I 
ihall have fome Imle merit in fo dteisg; 
But you, my love, ought not eo Wame me 
fo livcrcly as yoa do* Indeed, Louifa, if 
you knew the flights I hourly receive from 
, my huflDand^ and the conviftion which I 
have of his infidcrity, you woald not cri- 
ticife my expreffionsu fo hatflily. I could 
add many more things, which would juf 
tify me* in" the eye of tRe world, wepe I fefs 
caudous than J am ; but his f^iling^ w^uld 
not extenuate any on* my ^de. - 

Woiald you believe that any m^n, whd 
iBi^iflied to preferve the vircue of his^ wife, 
would intsoduce her to- the acquaintance 
and protection of a< woman \^t?h whom 
he had had. an intrigue ? What an opi- 
nion one muft have in ftiturje of fuch a^ 
m^r\ 1 I am indebted for this piece of 
intelligence to Lord Biddulph. I am 
grateful for the information, though 1 
defpife the motive whifeh induced him; 
Yesy Lduifa! Lddf Anne Parker is even 
more infamous than Liady Besford—Nay; 
^ Lord 



T^H E S:y L ph. 205 

tord BWAilpFi offered to conrince mc 
rfrcf ftiir Irarf thrrr priVate affignationsi 
My pricfe, fawn hi was more woonded 
than my iove, from this difco^ery, as 
it ferved to confirm me in my idea, that 
Sir William n«ver bad a proper regard 
for me t but that he married rpe merely 
becaufe he could! obtain me on no othci: 
terrris.' Tet, aTth'ough I was fenfibly 
pained with this news, "I endeavoured to 
ronreaf mf emotions 'from ^ the' difagree- 
able prying eyes of my informer. T af^* 
ifefted to^ dilbelTeve fiis' aflTertions^ arid ri- 
diicuied his ill-pbKcy i'n'flrlvirig to fouAd 
Yrk mierir on'firch bafc and. deteftable 
grounds.' He had too mucft effronterie to 
be chagrined with my raillery. I there- 
fore aflPumed i' m^re ferious ah"V arii} 
prairfly told him,' no man would .d^e tQ 
endeavour to tbnvipce a \xoraan of tlie 
infidelity of her hulband,! biit frop the 
bafeft aiid moft injurious riiotives'; andi 
ais fuch; wai ihtiUed'to'my' utmofl:!cion* 
tempt; that,^ fiiom my' foul, I defpife4 
both th^yinfTir^ation* a^ inforjm€;ri ' and 
ihould give ixim pxQbt% ' of It, ' If ever ne 
' ^ ' ihould 



zo6 THE SYLPH. 

Ihould again have the confidence to re^ 
peat his private hiilories to the deftruo- 
tion of the peace and harmony of famU 
lies. To extenuate his fault,, he poured 
forth a moft elaborate fpeech,. abounding 
with flattery ; and was proceeding to 
convince me of his adoration ; but I 
broke off the difcourfe, by aflfuring 
him, *' I faw through his fcheme from 
die firft; but the man, who fought to 
fteal my heart from my hufband, muft 
purfue a. very- different couHe from that 
he had followed ; as it was very unlikely 
I fhould withdraw my affedions from one 
unworthy objed, to place them on an« 
other infinitely worfe/' He> attempted a 
juftification, which I would not allow 
him opportunity of going on with, as 1 
left the room abruptly. However, his 
, Lordfliip opened my eyes, refpcfting the 
conduct of Lady Anne. I have men- 
tioned, in a former letter, that (he ufed 
to give hints about my hufband. I am 
convinced /it was her jealoufy, which 
prompted hiSn^to give me, from time to 
time, little anecdotes of Sir William's. 



THE, S Y L P H. 207 

>l^ imowrs. But ot^ght I to pardon him for 

ns- intiodocing mt to fuch a woman ? Oh I 

a» * Liouifa ! am I to 'blame> if I no longer 
ltd jre%e& fuch a man ? 

flf . Yefterday I had a moft convincing^ 

tt proof, that there arc a fort of ped|^' 

; I who have all the influence over the heart 

flg of a nuin which a virtuous wife ought. 

to to have— *but feldom has : by fome acci« 

D dent, a hook of Sir William's waiftcoat 

A caught hold of the trimming of my fleeve.^ 

It He had juft received a meflagc, and, bc- 

^ ing in a hurry to difengage himielf, lift** 

I ed up the flap of the waiftcoat eagerly, 

, \ and fnatched it away ; by which means^ 

- two or three papers dropped out of the 

pocket ; he feemed not to know it, bur 
flew out of the room, leaving them on 
the ground. I picked them up ; but, I 
uke heaven to wicnefs,. without the lead 
intention or thought of feeing the con- 
tents — when one being open, and feeing 
my name written in a female hand, and 
the fignature of Lucy Gardener^ nay curi- 
ofity was excited to the greajrft degree-— 
j yet I had a fevere conflid: firit with my<- 

I fclfi 



2o8 THE S Y L P K , 

fcif;. but femakifm prevaifed; a:nd 1 txz^ 
mined the contents, which were as^ fot 
low, for r wrote them down: 

*^ Is k thus. Sir William, 70U repay 
•* my tendernefs in your favour ? Go^ 
^^ thou bafeft of alt wretches ! am E 
*^. to be made continually a lacrificc to* 
'* every'new face thar ftrrkes thy incon- 
** (tant heart ? If I was contented to- 
** (hare^ you with a wifr, a;id calmly ac- 
^^ quieljced, do not imagme I fliall reft 
•*' in peace til* you have given ap Lady 
•^ Anne. How have you fworn you 
** would fee her no more I How have yoa 
" falfified your oath ! yaa fpent feverai 
^' hours tete a tete with her yeftcrday^ 
^' Deny it not, I could tear myfelf to 
*' pieces wHen I refleft, that I left Bid^ 
** dulph, who adored me, whofe whole 
*' foul was devoted to me, — to be flighted 
** thus by you. — Oh ! that Lady Stanley 
*.* knew of your bafenefs ! yet (he h only 
" your wife. Her virtue may confole'het 
*^ for the infidelity of her hulband j biTt 
*! I have facrificed every thing, and how 

V am 



THE SY L m. 9^9 

*' am I repaid ! Either btinine alone, or 
f * never again approacfi 

■ " LtrCY GARDENER." 

The other papers were of littk coirfc- 
qir^ice* I dislibd^eed fometarn^wbat I. 
AiattM::4o with thh pnecious^ m&tfesm % »e 
ktiir i rsfobcd ta bum iif' stid giivoe the 
r^tmaixfeder, with- as m«tch compcdqre a& 
pcpflSbky tO' Sir WilHacni's valet^ to reftore 
tor bis maftcr. I landed he woisid ivardty 
cbdkogc toe abom thciittUi as Ik is cld^ 
mo& caDek6> mqa m the unimrfe^ TcM 
wtU percdye tlere is anocbev csmfc for. 
l!^oni,BiiAdvclpk.leckiog to dfeprcrdate cnf 
hmfllattd; He has privoee. rerenge fo 
gr^%^ £or the^hiis oA bis miftref^* cOh-!' 
vriiar v^ntchear^srb thefe men ! Isthtt whoi^ 
world cbntpofed of Tilch- ?— No \ tvtn in. 
tfcis valley of vice I fee feme exceptions; 
fame, who do honour to the fpecies to 
which they belong. But I muft not 
whifper to myfelf their perfeftions-; and- 
it is- fefs dahgerou* for me to di^ell' upon 
the vices of the one than the virtues^of 
thot other. Adrei?! \.. ' ^ 

L E T- 



flio THE SYLPH. 

LETTER XiX. 
To Mifs Grenville. . 

TO keep my mind conftantly employ-^ 
ed upon different obje^, and pre^ 
venc my thoughts attaching themfelves 
to improper ones, I have lately attended 
the card* tables. From Jbeiag an indif-^ 
ferent fpedator of the various falhion- 
able games, I became an ador in them ^ 
and at length play proved very agree- 
able. As I was an utter novice at games- 
Qf Ikill, thofe of chance prefented them- 
felves as the beft. At firO: I riiked only^ 
trifles/, but, by little and little, my party 
encroached upon the rules I had laid' 
down, and I could no longer avoid play-r 
iag their ftake.. But I have done witb 
play for ever. It is nq longer the inoo^ 
cent amufement I thought it ; and I mu(fc 
find out feme other method of fpending; 
my time— :fince this might in the end be 
deftruftive. 

The other night, at a party, we made 
up a fet at bragg, which was my favou- 
rite game. After various vicilTuudes, h 

loft 



THE SYLPH. im 

loft every 0iiUing I had in my pocket; and, 
being a broken-merchant, fat lilently by 
the table. Every body was profufe 
in the offers of accommodating me with 
ca(h ; but I reitifed to accept their con- 
^ibution. Lord Biddulph, whom you 
kntow to be juftly my averfion, was very 
earneft; but I ivas equally peremptory. 
However, (bn)e time after, I could not 
rcfift the entreaty of Baron Ton-haufcn, 
vrho, in the genteeleft manner, intreated 
jne to make ufe of his purle for the even* 
ing ; with great difficulty he pretEaUed on 
me to borrow ten guineas— ^nd was once 
more fet up. Fortune now took a fa« 
vourable turn, and when the party broke 
lip; I had repakl the Baron, replaced my 
original ftock, and brought off ninety-five 
guineas. Flufiied with fuccefs, and more 
attached than ever to the game ; I invited 
the fet to meet the day after the next an 
my houfe. I even counted the hours tilt 
the time arrived. Reft departed from my 
eye-lids, and I felt all the eagernefs of ex^ 
pe£tation. 

About twelve o'clock of the day my 
company were to meet^ I received a pac* 

que^ ^ 



£12 THE SYLPH. 

qoet, ii^hrch i itiftaxidy knew to be from 
my cvci-watchful Sylph* I will give yoa . 
the tranfcript. 

To Lady Stanley. 

. ** I ftiowld be laaworday the chara^er 
I, have «ffunijcd> if my .pen was to lie 
dotmeoBA while l^axn itaCibit oi the un- 
hsppy -prtdileiBiion which your kdyfhip 
has^ diftovered for'' gaming, Play,^ un-- 
dcr proper reftriftionS',— which however 
ifi. tbb Ircentiom. town ca^ never take 
fittoe^-'*^fiiaf not be akogethev prejiordidat 
to^tibemoiraib oi tbofi: who e«g»ge iniir 
for twfling fu«M- Yoor Lad^^rip, findh- il^ 
no€ pra^kabte atway'S fo feUow your-own 
inclinspciotns) ' eficn. m that poiticulapr. The 
triumphant joy whlck fpsrkled in youi^ 
eyies ^^ben ibccrfe crowned your endea>- 
vours, plakrJy indicated y©u took no com- 
rnon fetis&^SliJOn in the game. You, be- 
ing a pairty h deeply incrrefted, could no€ 
dfiiEav«rtBte» famine appearances ei joy and 
mampfik m the coantemnces o£ fi^me c^ 
thofe you played with ; nor, had you mad^ 
tiie ob&rvairion^* could yovi have guefled 
the caufc • It has been faid, by thofe; who 
e ' ( will 



•THE S Y L f H. dis 

mriil fay any thing to. carry oa-aaargumeoc 
which cannot be fupported by wa£cm, that 
cards prevent company falling upon topics 
of fcandal; it i^ a fcandal to hucnah na^ , 
ture, that it (bould waat fuch a rclburcc 
from fo hateful and detefted a v^ce. But 
be it lb* It can only be fo while the finn 
played for is of too trifling a concern to^e3£- 
cite the anxiety which avaricious minds e3&* 
pcriience ; and every one is more or lefs a^ 
varicious who gives up his time to .<:ards. 

If your ladylhip could fearch into the 
caufes of the unhappinefs which prevails 
in too many families in this metropolis^ 
you would fiod the fourceto be gaming 
^ither on the one fide or the other. What- 
ever, appears licentious .or vicious in men, 
ia.yourfex becomes fo in a tenfold de>- 
gree. The paflionate exclamation — the 
half-uttered imprecation — and the gloomy 
l^allldnefs of the lofing ganaelk^ ill ac- 
cords with> the female delicacy* But the 
evil rcfjts not here. W^*^ *. woman has 
been drawn-in to lofe laj;ger £ums than her 
allowance can defray— even if fhe can fubr 
«nit^ <o let her trades- people fuffer from 

her 



214 THE SYLPH. 

her extravagant folly;— -it moft commonly 
happens, that they part with their honour 
to difcharge the account ; at leaft, they 
arc always fufpeftcd. Would not the con- 
fideration of being obnoxious to fuch fuf- 
picion be fiifficient to d^ter any woman of 
virtue from running the hazard ? You made 
a firm refolution of not borrowing from 
the purfes of any of the gentlemen who 
wilbed to ferve you ; you for fome time 
kept that refolution ; but, remember, it 
lafted no longer than when one particular 
pcrfon made the offer. Was it your wi{h 
to oblige him ? or did the delire of gam- 
ing operate in that inftant more powerful 
than in any other ? Whatever was your 
motive, the party immediately began to 
form hopes of you ; hopes, which, being 
founded in your weakncfs, you maybe 
certain were not to your advantage. 

To make a more forcible imprefiion on 
your mind, your Ladyftiip muft allow me 
to lay before you a- piece of private hif- 
tory, in which a noble family of this town 
was deeply involved. The circumftances 
are indubitable fa6ts~-their names I ffaaH 

conceal 



THE SYLPH. 215 
iCx^Kcqal under ii&itious ones. A few years 
fince. Lord and Lady D. were the happieft 
of pairs in each ocher. Love had been 
the fole motive of their union 5 and love 
prefided over every hour of their lives. 
Their pleafures were mutual^ and neither 
knew an eiyoyment, in which the other 
did not partake. By an unhappy mif- 
chance, Lady D. had an attachment to 
cards — which yet, however, (he only 
looked on'a^ the amufement of an idle 
houn Her perfon was beautiful, and a& 
fuch made her an objedt of defire in the. 
eyes of Lord L. Her virtue and affec- 
tion for her hufband would have been 
fufficient to have damped the hopes of a 
roan lef$ acquainted with the weaknefs of 
human nature than Lord L* Had he 
paid her a more than ordinary attention, 
he woqld have awakened her fufpicions, 
and put her on her guard ; he therefore 
purfued another method. He availed 
himfelf of her love of play— and would 
now and then, feemingly by accident, en- 
gage her in a party at picquet, which was 
her favourite gjwne. He contrived to 
lofe trifling . fums, to increaie her incli* 

natioi} 



»i5 T H E S Y L PR 

f>ation for play. Too fotalfy hefecceeS* 
od. Her ppediieftion gathered ftrcngth 
everyday. After -feafving been very'un* 
fuocefsful for fomc bo'ups at pkqu^t. 
Lord L. propofed a change of- the game ; 
a propofal which Lady D. ojuld not ob- 
ject to^ as havtng'won fo much of his 
money. He p^'oduced a pair of dice. 
Luck ftill ran againft him. A generous 
tnotive induced Lady U. to offer him his 
:reveng« the next evening at her own 
^o«fe. ' In the mdrning preceding the 
<Jeftifle<i evening, her lord Dgnified bis 
tSiilike of ganiirtg with dice-, and in- 
iftanced fOme families to whom it had 
xpmved deftruftlve. Elatei however^ with 
-good fortiine -^-^Jimi' iookir^- on herfelf 
engaged in honiour to gi\^ Lord L. a 
• chance of recovering his tefles, flie liftencd 
etKM:, tb the hints of her hulband, nor did 
xhey 'recur to her choughts till too late to 
ibeof any fervice to her. 
' Tha timfe fo ardently expected by 
•Lord ,L. now arrived, the devoted time 
'Which was to put the k>ng-deftined viftim 
into the pojver of her infidious betrayer. 
Fortune, which had hitherto favDured 
rci • :• Lady 



THE SYLPH. %ij 

Lady D — , now d^ferted her — in a (hort 
time, her advcrfary rcimburfed himfclf, 
and won confiderably befides. Advcrfity 
only rendered her more dcfperate. She 
hazarded ftill larger ftakcs \ every throw» 
however, was againft her •, and no other- 
wife could it be, fince his dice were loaded, 
and which he had the dexterity to change 
unobfcrved by her. He lent her money, 
only to win it back from her ; in fhort» 
in a few hours, (he found berfelf ilripped 
of all the caih (he had in poflefllon, and 
two thoufand five hundred pounds in debt. 
The difapprobation which her hufband 
had exprefled towards dice-playing, and 
her total inability to difcharge this vaft de- 
mand without his knowledge, contributed 
to make her diftrefs very great* She freely 
informed Lord L. (he muft be his debtor 
for fome time — as (he could not think of 
acquainting Lord D. with her imprudence* 
He offered to accept of part of her jewels, 
till it (hould be convenient to her to pay 
the whole — or, if (he liked it better, to 
play it off. To the firft, (he faid, (he could 
not confenti as her hu(band would mifs 
yoL. L ' L them 



2i8 THE SYLPH- 

them — and to the laft fhe would by ho 
means agree, fince fhe fufFercd too much 
already in her own mind from the impru- 
. dent part fhe had aftcd, by rifking fo much 
more than flic ought to have done. He 
then, approaching her, took her hand in 
his 5 and, aflTuming the utmofl tendernefs 
in his air, proceeded to inform her, it was 
in her power amply to repay the debt, 
without the knowledge of her hufband — 
and confer the highefl: obligations upori 
himfclf. She earneflly begged an expla- 
nation — fince there was nothing fhe would 
not fubmit to, rather than incur the cen- 
furc of fo excellent a hufband* Without 
further preface. Lord L. threw himfelf 
on his knees before her— and faid, *' if her 
heart could not fuggefl the reftitution, 
which the mofl ardent of lovers might 
cxpeft and hope for — he mufl take the li- 
berty of informing her, that beflowing 
on him the delightful privilege of an huf- 
band was the only means of fccuring her 
from the refentment of one.** At firfl, fhe 
fccmed thunder-ftruck, and unable to arti- 
culate a fentence* When 0ic recovered 

the 



THE SYLPH. 219 

the ufe of fpeech, fhe afked hitn what he 
had feen in her conduit, to induce him 
to believe flie would not fubmit to any ill 
confequences which might arife from the 
juft refentment of her hufband, rather 
than not fhew her dcteftation of fuch an 
infamous propofaL ** Leave me,*' added 
fhe ; *' leave me,'* in perfed aftoniftimcnt 
at fuch infolence of behaviour. He im- 
mediately rofe, with a very different af- 
peft — and holding a paper in his hand, 
to which fhe had figncd her name in ac- 
knowledgment of the debt — " Then, Ma- 
** dam^" faid he, with the utmoft fang- 
froid — " I (hall, to-morrow morning, take 
•' the liberty of waiting on Lord D. with 
*' this " " Stay, my Lord, is it pofliblc 
*' you can be fo cruel and hard a credi- 
'^ tor ? — I confcnt to make over to you 
'* my annual allowance, till the whole is 
*' difcharged," " No, Madam,'* cried he, 
(baking his head, - ** I cannot confent 
*^ to any fuch fuBfcerfugcs, when you 
*' have it in your p«er to pay this mo- 
" ment.'' " Would Ipi heaven I had!'* 
gnfwered (he. — " Ohi that you have^ 
/• moft abundantly !" faid he. — ** Con- 
L2 irfider 



120 T H E S Y L P H. 

•* fidcr the hours wc have been tete i 
*• tete together ; few people will believe 
*• we have fpcnt all the time at play. 
• ' Your reputation then will fufFer \ and, 
** believe me while I atteft heaven to 
" witncfs, either you muft difcharge the 
** debt by blcffing me with the poffef- 
" fion of your charms^ or Lord D. 
** (hall be made acquainted with every cir- 
*' cumftance. RefleA," continued he, 
** two thoufand five hundred pounds is 
^ no fmall fum, either for your hufband 
** to pay, or me to receive. — Come, 
•' Madam, it grows late. — In a little time, 
•* you will not have it in your power to 
** avail yourfelf of the alternative. Your 
" hulband will foon return — and then 
*' you may wiQi in vain that you had 
" yielded to my love, rather than have 
" fubjeded yourfelf to my refentment." 
She condefcended to beg of him, on her 
knees, for a longer time for confideration ; 
but he was inexorable, and at Idft fhe , 
fatally confented co her own undoing. 
The next niomeni) the horror of her 
fituation, and the facrlHce (he had made* 
rulhed on her tortured imaginatton. 

«* Give 



T H E S Y L P H. 2^x 
** Give me the fatal paper/' cried fhe. 



r» 



wringing her hands in the utmoft agony, 
** give me that paper, for which I have 
*' parted with my peace for ever, and 
*' leave me. Oh! never let me in fu- 
*• ture behold you. — What do I fay ? 
** Ah ! rather let my eyes clofe in ever- 
•• lafting darknefs j — they are now un- 
** worthy to behold the face of heaven t** 
** And do you really, imagine. Madam, 
*' (all-beautiful as you are) the life- 
** lefs half-diftrafted body, you gave to 
** my arms, a recompence for five-and^ 
** twenty hundred pounds ? — Have you 
"agreed to your bargain ? Is it with 
** tears, fighs, and reluftant ftruggles, 
** you meet your hufband*s careflcs ? Be 
** mine as you are his, ana the bond is 
** void — ^otherwife, I am not fuch a fpend- 
** thrift as to throw away thoufands for 
** little lefs than a rape/' 

** Oh ! thou moft hateful and perfidi- 
•' ous of all monfters ! too dearly have 
*' I earned my releafe — Do not then, da 
*' not with-hold my right." 
** Hufti, Madam, hufli,** cried he with 
the moft provoking coolnefs, '* your rav-^^ 
L 3 inf^ 



422 THE SYLPH. 

" ing will but expofe you to the ridicule 
" of your domeftics. You are at prefcnt 
. ** under too great an agitatiorf of fpirits 
** to attend to the calm didlates of reafon» 
** I will wait till your ladylhip is in a more 
** even temper. When I receive your 
** commands, I will attend them, and 
'* hope the time will foon arrive when you 
*• will be better difpofed to liften to a 
^^ tender lover who adores you> rather thai^ 
" to feek to irritate a man who has you \a 
. " his power.'* Saying which, he broke 
from her, leaving her in a ftate of mind,. 
6f which you, Madam, I fincerely hope, 
will never be able to form the fligbteft 
idea. With what a weight of woe (he 
ftole up into her bed-chamber, unable ta 
bear the eye of her domeftic ! How fallen 
in her own efteem, and ftill bending un* 
der the penalty of her bond, as neither 
prayers nor tears (and nothing clfe was (he 
able to offer) could obtain the releafe from 
the inexorable and cruel Lord L. 

How was her anguifli increafed, when 
(he heard the found of her Lord's foot- 
ftep ! How did flie pray for inftant death ! 
To prevent ay converfation, (he feigned 

fleep— 



THE SYLPH. 223 

flcep— deep, which now was banilhcd 
from her eye-lids. Guilt had driven the 
idea of reft from her bofom. The 
morning brought no comfort on its 
wings — to her the light was painful. 
She ftill continued in bed. She framed 
the refolution of writing to the deftroyer 
of her repofe. She rofe for that pur- 
po(e -, her letter was couched in terms that 
would have pierced the bofom of the moft 
obdurate favage. All the favour (he in- 
treated was, to fpare the beft of huf- 
bands, and the moft amiable and beloved 
of mei), the anguifh of knowing how 
horrid a return (he had made» in one fatat 
moment, for the years of felicity fhe had . 
tafted with him : again offered her alimo- . 
ny, or even her jewels, to obtain the return 
of her bond. She did not wifli for life. 
Death was now her only hope 5 — but (he 
could not fupport the idea of her huf* 
band's being acquainted with her infamy* 
What advantage could he (Lord L.) pro- 
pofc to himfelf from the poflTcfBon of her 
perfon, fince tears, fighs, and the fame 
rcludtance, would ftill accompany every 
L 4 repetition 



224 THE SYLPH. 

repetition of her crime — as her hearty 
guilty as it now was, and unworthy as 
(he had rendered hcrfelf of his love, was, 
and ever muft be, her hufband's only. 
In Ihort, (he urged every thing likely to 
foften him in her favour. But this fatal 
and circumftantial difclofure of her guilt 
and misfortunes was deftined to be con- 
veyed by another mefienger than (he de- 
figned. Lord D — , having that even- 
ing expefbed fome one to call on him, 
on his return enquired, ** if any one }rad 
*' been there." He was anfwered, " Only 
" Lord L.'* **Did he ftay?" *• Yes, 
•* till after eleven." — Without thinking 
of any particularity in this, he went up 
to bed. He difcbvered his wife was nor 
afleep-— to pretend to be fo, alarmed him. 
He heard her frequently (igh ; and, when 
(he thought him funk in .that peaceful 
(lumber (he had forfeited, her diftrefs in- 
creafed. His anxiety, however, at length 
gave way to fatigue; but with the 
morning his doubts and fears returned j 
yet, how far from gueffing the true caufe ! 
He faw a letter delivered to a fcrvanc 

with 



T H E "SYLPH. 225 
ivith fome caution, whom he followed, 
and infifted on knowing for whom it 
was iiitended. The fervant, ignorant of 
the contents, and not at all fufpicious 
he was doing an improper thing, gave i; 
up to his Lordlhip. Revenge lent him 
wings, and he flew to the bafe deftroyer 
of his conjugal happinefs. — You may fup- 
pofe what foUowed. — In an hour Lord 
D. was brought home a lifelefs corpfe. 
Diftradlion feized the unhappy wife 5 and 
the infamous caufe of this dreadful ca- 
lamity fled his country. He was too har- 
dened, however, in guilt, to feel much 
remorfc from this cataftrophc, and made 
no fcruplc of relating the circumftances 
of it. 

To you. Madam, I furely need make 
no comment. Nor do I need fay any 
more to deter you from fo pernicious a 
pra&ice as gaming. Sufped a Lord L. 
. in every one who would induce you to 
play, and remember they are the worfl: 
feducers, and the mofl: deftru6tive cne-. 
mies, who feek to gain your heart by 
ruining your principles. 

L 5 Adiefii 

\ r 



%t6 THE SYLPH. 

Adieu, Madam ! Your cvcr-watchful 
angel will ftill hover over you. And may 
that God, who formed both you and me> 
enable me to give you good counfel, and 
difpofc your heart to follow it ! 

Your faithful SYLPH.** 

Lady Stanley in Continuation. 

ALAS, my Louifa ! what would be- 
come of your Julia without this re- 
ipeftable monitor ? Would to heaven 
1 knew who he was ! or, how I might 
confult him upon fome particular circum- 
ftances ! P examine the features of my 
guefts in hopes to difcover nvy fecrec 
friend ; but my fenfes are perplexed and 
bewildered in the fruitlefs fearch. It is 
certainly a weaknefs ; but, abfolutcly, my 
anxiety to obtain this knowledge has an 
efFed on my health and fpirits ; my 
thoughts and whole attention reft folely 
on this fubjed. I call it a weaknefs, be- 
caufe I ought to remain fatisfied with 
the advantages which accrue to me from 
this correspondence, without being tnqui- 
iitively curious who it may be j yet I 

wifli 



THE SYLPH. 22f 

wifli to aflc fome queftions. I am uncafy, 
and perhaps in fomc inftanccs my Sylph 
would folve my doubts ; not that I think 
him endued with a preternatural know* 
ledge ; yet I hardly know what to think 
neither. However, I blefs and praife the 
goodnefs of God, that has raifcd me up 
a friend in a place where I may turn my 
eyes around and fee myfelf aeprived of 
every other. 

Even my proteftor-!— he who has fwori^ 
before God and man ; — but you, Louif% 
will reprehend my indifcreec expreffions. 
In my own bofom, then, fhall the fad re- 
pofitorybe. Adieu ! 



L E T T E R XX, 
To Mifs Grenville. 

AS you have entertained an idea that 
Sir William could not be proof 
againft any occafional exertion of my elo- 
quence, I will give you a (ketch of a ma* 
trimonial tete a teU^ though it may ten4 
to fubvert your opitiion of both ptrtia^. 
L6 Ycfterdajf 



22» THE SYLPH, 

Yefterday morning I was fitting in my 
drefling-room^ when Sir William, who 
had not been at home all night, entered 
it : He looked as if he had not been in 
bed ; his hair difordered ; and, upon the 
whole, as forlorn a figure as you ever 
beheld, I was going to fay; but you 
can form very little idea of theie rakes 
of fafhion after a night fpent as they 
ufually fpend it. To my inquiry after his 
health, he made a very flight or rather 
peevilh anfwer *, and flung himfelf into 
-a chair, with both hands in his waiftcoat 
-pockets, and his eyes fixed on the fire, 
bcifore which he had placed himfelf. As 
ht feemed in an ill-humour, and I was 
unconfcious of having given him caufe, 
I was regardl9& of the confequences, and 
purfued my Employment, which was look- 
ing over and fettling fome accounts re- 
lative to my own expences. .He Con- 
tinued his pofl:ure in the firi^eft filence 
for near a quarter of an hour; a filence 
I did not feel within myfelf the leafl: in- 
clination to break through : at laft he 
burit forth into this pretty foliloquy. 

!* Damn 



THE S Y L P »• M9 

" Damn it ! furc there never was a more 

** unfortunate dog than I am ! Ev«rf • 

*• thing goes againft me. And then to be 

** fo fituated too !" Unpromifing as the 

opening founded, I thought it would be 

better to bear a part in the converfation. 

— ** If it is not impertinent^ Sir Williano^ 

•* faid I, may I beg to know what occa- 

>* fions the diftrefs you fcem to cxprefs ? 

** or at Icaft inform me if it is in my 

" power to be of fervice to you."— ^* No, 

"no, you can be of no ufe to me— 

** though," continued he, " you are in 

" part the caufe." — " I the caufe ! — for 

" God's fake, how ?" cried I, all aftonilh- 

ment. ** Why, if your father had not 

** taken advantage of my curfed infatua- 

** tion for you, I fliould not have been 

** diftrefled in pecuniary matters by mak- ' 

*^ ing fo large a fettlement." 

" A curfed infatuation ! do you call it ? 
" Sure, that is a harfli exprelfion ! Oh I 
** how wretched would my poor- father 
*' feel, could he imagine the affedion 
" which he fancied bis uhbappy daughter 
.^ had infpired yoa with) would be^ ftiled 



230 THE SYLPH, 
** by yourfelf, and to her face, a curfed 
* " infatuation /" Think you, Louifa, I wai 
not pained to the foul ? Too fure I was—* 
r could not prevent tears from guftiing 
forth. Sir William faw the efFeft his cruel 
fpecch had on me ; he ftarted from his 
fear, and took my hand in his. A little 
re fen t men t, and a thoufand other reafons, 
urged me to withdraw it from his touch. 
— **' Give me your hand, Julia,** cried he, 
drawing his chair clofe to mine, and look^ 
ing at my averted face — ** give me your 
'* hand, my dear, and pardon the ralhnefs 
** of my expreflions v I did not mean to 
** ufe fuch words; — I recall them, my 
** love : it was ungenerous and falfe in me 
" to arraign your father's conducS):. I 
^* would have doubled and trebled the 
V fettlement, to have gained you ; I 
** would, by heavens ! my Julia. — Do not 
** run from me in dilguft ; come, come, 
** you (hall forgive me a thoughtiels ex- 
" preffion, uttered in hafte, but feriouQ/ 
•* repented of.'* • 

*' You cannot deny your fentiments. Sir 
V^ William \ nor can I eaJSly forget them. 

**What 



THE S Y L P H-^ 23T 

^ What my fettlcment is, as I never wi(h* 
*' ed to out-live you, fo I never wifhed to 
*' know how ample it was. Large I might 
•* fuppofe it to be, from the eonvi^Sion 
** that you never pay any regard to con- 
*' fequencea to obtain your defires, let 
*• them be what they will. I was the 
** whim of the day ; and if you have paid 
** too dearly for the trifling gratification, 
** I am forry for it^ heartily forry for it, 
** indeed. Sir William. You found mc 
•• in the lap of innocence, and in the arms 
** of an indulgent parent i happy, peace- 
^' ful, and ferene ; would to heaven you 
** had left me there !*' I could not pro- 
ceed ; my tears prevented my utterance. 
•* Pftiaw !** ci;ied Sir William, clapping 
his fingers together, and throwing his el- 
bow over the chair, which turned his face 
nearer me, "how ridiculous this is ! Why, 
" Julia^ I am deceived in you ; I did not 
*• think you had fo much refentmcnt in your 
.** compofition. You ought to make fome 
** allowance for the derangement of my af- 
*^ fairs. My hands are tied by making a 
J* larger fettlcment than mv prcfcnt for- 
5 ;* tune 



232 THE SYLPH- 
^* tune would admit ; and I cannot raife 
*^ money on my eftate, becaufe I have no 
** child, and it is entailed on my uncle, 
•* who is the grcateft curmudgeon alive. 
" Refledt on all thefe obftacles to my re* 
** leafe from fome prcfent exigencies ; and 
*^ do not be fo hard-hearted and inexorable 
" to the prayers and intreaties of your 
" hufband."— During the latter part of 
this fpeech» he put his arm round my 
waift, and drew me almofton his knees^ 
ftriving by a thoufand little carelTes to 
make me pardon and fmile on him j but» 
Louifa, careffcs, which I now know came 
not from the heart, lofe the ufual effe& 
onr me ; yet I would not be, as he faidtin- 
exorable* I therefore told him, I would 
no longer think of any thing he would 
wifti me to forget. — With the utmoft ap- 
pearance of tendernefs he took my handr 
kerchief, and dried my eyes; laying hts 
cheek clofe to mine, and prefling my 
hands wittfVarmth, — in Ihort, aAing over 

- the fame farce as (once) induced me to 
believe I 'had created the moft permanent 

* Bame in his bofom. I could not bear the 

reflcdtion 



THE SYLPH, 233 

reflc<5bion that he fhould fuffer from his 
former attachment to me ; and L had 
hopes that my generofity might rouze 
him from his lethargy, and fave him from 
the ruin which was likely to involve 
him. I told him, " I would with the 
** greateft chearfulnefs relinquifti any part 
*' of my fcttlement, if by that means he 
** could be extricated from his prefent and - 
•' future difficulties." — " Why, to be fure, 
*^ a part of it would fet me to rights as 
" to the prefent ; but as for the future, 
" I cannot look into futurity, Julia.'*— 
^* I wifli you could. Sir William* and re- 
^* flea in time."-^" Refleft ! Oh, that ii 
^^ {o outre ! I hate reflcdion. Reflcftion 

*' coft poor D ^r his life the other 

. •* day : he, like me, could not bear re- 
^^fleaion.** 

• ** I tremble to hear you thus lightly 
*' fpeak of that horrid event. The more 
•' fo, as I too much fear the fame fatal 
** predelidion has occafioned your diftrefs : 
" but may the chearfulnefs with which I 
•* refign my future depend ancc awaken in 
•* you a fcnfc of your prefent fituation, 
- . **and 



234 THE S Y L P rt. 

•• and fecurc you from frcfli difficult 

" Well faid, my little momtrefi I whf 
•* you are quite an orator too. But ypu^ 
^' fhall find I can follow your lead, and be 
^juft at leaft, if not lb generous as your- 
" fclf. I would not for the world accept 
^ the whole of your jointure* I do not 
*^ want it ; and if I had as much, as I could 
*^ raife on it, perhaps I migl^t not be 
** much richer for it* Riches make t& 
" fbemfelws wings, and fy away, Julia. 
" There is a fentence for you. Did you* 
<^ think your rattle-pated hufband had 
^^ever read the book, of books fromr 
•* whence that fentence is drawn ? '* I 
^ really had little patience to hear him 
** run on in this ludicrous and trifiing 
'*^ manner. What an argument of his in- 
" fenfibility ! To ftop him, I told hkOf 
*' I thought we had better not lofe time, 
•* but have the writings prepared, which 
** would enable me to do my duty as an 
*• obeditnt wife, and enable him to pay 
** his debts like'a man of honour and in« 
•* tegrity \ and then he need not fear his 

" trcafure 



THE SYLPH. 235 

•^ trcafure flying away, fincc it would be 
•' laid up where neither thieves could 
^** break through, or ruft dcftroy/* 

The writings are preparing, to difpofe 
of ai) eftate which was fettled on me ; it 
Tarings in at prefent five hundred a year; 
which I find is but a quarter of my join- 
ture. Ah ! would to heaven he would 
take all, provided it would make a change 
in his fentiments ! But that I defpair of, 
without the interpofition of a miracle* 
You never faw fuch- an alteration as an 
hour made on him. So alert and brilk } 
and apilhly fond ! I mean aflFe&edly fo 1 
for, Louifa, a man of Sir William's caft 
never could love fincerely, — never could 
experience that genuine fentimental paC 
fion, 

•* Which, felfifh joy difdaining, feefcs alone 
" To blefi the dearer pbjca of ita foul." 

No, his paflions are turbulent — the/ 
madnefs of the monrent — eager to pleafe 
himfelf — regardlefs of the fatisfaftion of 
the objed. — x^nd yet I thought he loved 
■^I likewife thought I loved* Oh ! Loui- 
fa ! how was I deceived ! But I check my 

pen. 



«36 THE SYLPH. 

pen. Pardon me, and, if poffible, excufe 
your lifter. 

JULIA STANLEY. 



I 

LETTER XXI. 
To Colonel Montague; 
HAT arc we to make of this 



w 



divine and deftruftive beauty ? 
this Lady Stanley ? Did you not obferve 
with what eager avidity Ihe became a 
votary to the gaming-table, and bragged 
away with the beft of us ? You muft: you 
was witnef^ to the glow of animation that 
reigned defpotic over every lovely fea- 
ture when (he had got a pair-royal of brag- 
gars in her fnowy fingers. But I am con-^ 
foundedly bit! She condefcended to bor- 
row of that pattern of Germanic virtuct 
Baron Ton-haufen. Perhaps you will fayt 
why did not you endeavour to be the 
Little Premium ? No, 1 thought I played 
a better game : It was better toJ[>e the fe- 
cond lender *» befides, I only i^anted to 
excite in her a pafiion for play ^ and, or I 

am 



THE SYLPH. 237 

tm much deceived, never woman entered . 
into it with more zeal. But what a turn 
to our affairs ! I am abfolutely caft off* the 
fcent •, totally ignorant of the doubles (he 
has made. I could hardly clofe my eyes, 
from the pleafing expe£tations I had formed 
of gratifying the wifhesof my heart in both 
thofe interefting paffions of love and re- '^ 
venge. Palpitating with hopes and fears, 
I dcfcended from my chariot at the ap- 
pointed hour. The party were affembled, 
and my devoted viflim looked as beautiful 
as an angel of light 5 her countenance wore 
a folemnity, which added to her charms by 
giving an irrefiftible and perfuafive foftnefs 
to her features. I fcrutinized the linea-r 
ments of her lovely face ; and, I affure 
you, (he loft nothing by the ftrift exami- 
nation. Gods ! what a tranfporting crea- 
ture (he is i And what an infenfible brute 
is Stanley ! But I recall my words, as to 
the laftt — he was diftradtedly in love with 
her before he had her 5 and perhaps, if 
(he was my wife, I (hould be as indifferent 
about her as ke is, or as / am about the 
fijumberlefs women pf all ranks and condi- 
tions 



238 THE SYLPH. 

dons with whiM I have ** trifled away the 
^ dull hours." — While I was in contem- 
plation anticipating future joys, I was 
ftruck all of a heap, as the country-girls 
fay, by hearing Lady Stanley fay, — *'It is 
4i in vain — I have made a firm refolution 
*' never to play again ; my refolution is 
•* the refult of -my own reflexions on the 
** uneafincfs which thofe bits of painted 
** paper have already given me.^ It is al- 
*' together fruitlefs to urge me 5 for from 
** the determination I have made, I fliall 
** never recede. My former winnings are 
" in the fweepftake-pool at the commerce- 
** $alfley which you will extremely oblige 
** me to fit down to ; but for me,. I play 
** no more. — I (hdl have a pleafure in fec- 
*• ing you play ; but I own I feel myfelf 
^^ too much difcompofcd with ill fortune \ 
•* and 1 am not unreafonaWe enough to be 
** pleafed with the misfortunes of others. 
** I have armed my mind againft the (hafts 
" of ridicule, that I fee pointed at me ; 
** but, while I leave others the full liberty 
•* of following their own fchemes of di- 
** verfion, I dare fay, none will refufe me 

•*the 



THE S Y L P H. tij 

^' the fame privilege.^' — We all ftared 
Mrith aftonifliment ; but the devil a one 
offered to fay a word, except againft fitring 
•down to divide her property ;--Hhcrc we 
entered into a general proteft; fo we fct 
^own, at leaft I can anfwer for myfelf, to 
an infipid gatpe. — Lady Stanley was mark- 
ed down as a fine pigeon by Tome of our 
ladies, and as a delicious morfeau by. the 
men. The gentle Baron feemedall aghaft* 
I. fancy he is a little difappointed in his 
•expcflations too. — Perhaps he has formed 
^ope« that hisvfoft fighs and refpedtful 
behaviour may have touched the lovely 
Julia*s heart. He felt himfclf flattered, no 
doubt, at hei* giving him the preference in 
borrowing from his purfe. Well then, 
his hopes are derange^ as well as mine.-—* 
But, courage^ mi Lor^ I (hall play another 
ganr>e now ; and peradventure, as fafe a 
one, if not more fo, than what I planned 
before. — I will not, however, anticipate a 
pleafure (which needs no addition fhould 
I fuccced) or add to my mortification 
ftiould I fail, by expatiating oft it at pre- 
ftnt- 

\ Adieu! 



240 THE SYLPH. 

Adieu! dear Montague! Excufe my^ 
boring you with tlicfe trifles; — ^for to a 
man in love, every thing is trifling except 
the trifle that poffcflcs his heart % and to 
one who is not under the guidance of the 
Jfr// deity^ that is the gnatejl trifle (to ufe 
a Hibernicifm) of all. 

1 am your*s moft cordially, 

BIDDULPH. 



LETTER XXII. 

. * 'i 
To Mifs Grenville. "" 

WELL, my dear Louifa, the impor- 
tant point I related the particulars 
of in my laft is quite fettled, and Sir Wil- 
liam has been able to fatisfy fome rapa- 
cious creditors. Would to heaven I could 
tell you, the butcher, baker, &c. were in 
the lift ! No, my fitter; the creditors area 
vile fet of gamblers, or, in the language of 
the polite vfOvld-^Black-legs. Thus is the 
purpofe of my heart entirely fruftrated, 
and the laudably induftrious tradeiman 

defrauded 
9 



THE SYLPH. 24f 
defrauded, of his due. But how long 
will they remain fatisficd with being re- 
peatedly put by with empty promifes, 
which are never kept ? Good God ! how 
is this. to end ? I give myfelf up to the 
moft gloomy rcfleftions, and fee no point 
of time whtfn we (hall be extricated from 
the cruel dilemmas in whfch Sir Wil- 
, liam's imprudence has involved us. I 
vainly fancied, I Ihould gain fomc ad- 
vantages, at leaft raife myfelf in his 
opinion, from my generofity -, but ffind, 
on the contrary, he only laughs at mc 
fpr being fuch a fimpleton, to fuppofe 
the fale of five hundred a-year would 
fet him to rights. It is plain, I have got 
no credit by my condefcenfion, for he has 
not fpent one day at hQme fince ; and 
his temper, when I do fee him, feems 
npiore uncertain than ever. — Oh ! Louifa ! 
and do all young women. give up their 
families, their. hand, and virgin-afFedions, 
to be thus recompenfed ? But why do 
L.let fallr.thefc .expreflions? Alas! they 
fall < with my tears 5 and I can no miore ; 
fttppref$ the one than the other ; I ought, 
however, and indeed do endeavour againft 
Vot.;L M both. 



242 THE SYLPa 

both. I fcek to arm my (bul to fupport 
the evils with which I fee myfelf for^ 
rounded. ! befeech heaven to ^afford me 
ftrength, for 1 too plaitily fee* i am de>- 
privcd of all other itfowrcet* I forget 
to caution you^ lAy deAr fift^r, ^aitlff 
acqunintifig my ftther » that I fea<^e given 
up p*art of my joibture -, atJd left, ^hen 
I am unburthemng the weight of my 
over-charged Ijofom to you, I (hould in 
future omit this caeti^nary tefcf^e, do 
you, my Louifa, keep ihofe little pbflkgfes 
a fecfet within yo«r own kind fympathifc- 
i»g brcaft ; and add hot to niy affli<aiol^, 
by plarnring fcch daggers in the heaft ^f 
my dear — more deafr ^han ev^r'^parent. 
Yoti know I have pledged my hdiioO'r to 
ybuy I will never, by my own conduft, ac- 
draiuht^ the diftrefies'this fatal union has 
iM-ought on die. Tiiocighievety Vowon 
bis part is brot^en «bfOtighv y<t I will re* 
member I 3m bh wife,-i--^and, what is 
more, y&ur fittcu _W<HfW /ma 4Jfelieve it ? 
he--Sir William I ifie^-^is qtiitfe iJif- 
plcafed.thac i hstve giveii Xi^^ardSj-and 
voy polifelyi told nofe, UihOQld be \odktti 
oi as a fool by kH^hdi> acquaintance,^— atid 
6 .Ihitt^ielf 



T.H E SYLPH. 243 

himfelf not much better, for marrying fuch 
an ignorant uninftrufted riiftic. To this 
tender and hu(band-like fpeech,! returned 
no other anfwer^ tiian *** that my confciencc 
^ Ihould be the rule and guide of my 
" aftions ; and ibaS^ I was certain, would 
^ never lead me to difgrace him." I 
kft the room, as I found feme difficulty 
in ftifling the refentment which rofc at 
bis indignant treatment. But I fliall grow 
callous in time ; I have (o far conquered 
my weaknefc, as never to let a tear drop 
in his prefence. Thofe indications of felf- 
forrmv have no cfifeft on him, unlefs, in- 
deed, he had any point to gain by it 5 and 
then he would feign a tendernefs foreign 
(o his nature, but which might induce the 
ignorant uninftrufted fool to yield up 
every thing to him. 

Perhaps he knows it not •, but I might 
have inftrudtors enough-, — but he has 
taught mc fufficient of evil — thank God ! 
to make me defpife them all. From my 
unhappy connexions with one, I learn to 
hate and detcft the whole race of rakes ; 
I might add, of both lexes. I tremble 
M 2 . to 



144 THE S Y L PH. 

to think what I might have been, had I 
not been blcfled with a virtuous, education, 
and had the beft of patterns in my be- 
loved filler. Thus I was early initiated in 
virtue ; and let me be grateful to my kind 
Sylpbj whofe knowledge of human nature 
has enabled him to be fo fcrviceable to 
me : he is a fort of fecond confcience 
to me : — What would the Sylph faly ? I 
whifper to myfelf. Would he approve ? 
I flatter myfelf, that, infignificant as I am, 
I am yet the care of heaven ; and while I 
depend on that merciful Providence and 
its vicegerents, I (hall not fall into thofe 
dreadful pits that are open on every fide : 
but, to ftrengthen my reliances, let me 
have the prayers of my dear Louifa j for 
every fupport is neceffary for her faithful 
Julia. 

LETTER XXIII. 

To THE Same, 

I HAVE repeatedly mentioned to my 
Louifa, how earneftly I wifhed to 
have more frequent communications with 
lo my 



THE SYLPH. 245 

my Sylph« A thought ftruck me the 
other day, of the prafticability of effeft- 
ing fuch a fcheme. I knew I was fafe 
from detedtion, as no one on earth, your- 
felf excepted, knew of his agency in my 
affairs. I therefore addreflcd an advcr- 
tifement to my invifible friend, which I 
ient to the St. James's Chronicle, couched 
in this concife manner. 

To THE SvLPa. 

*' Grateful for the friendly admonition* 
fhc receiver of the Sylph's favour is de- 
firousof having the power of expreffing 
// more largely than is polEble through 
this channel. If ftill mtitled to protec* 
tion, begs to be informed, how a private 
ktter may reach his hand." 

I have not leifure nor inclination to 
make a long digreffion, or would tell you» 
the St. James's is a news- paper which is 
the fafliionable vehicle of intelligence i 
and from the circumflance alone of its 
admiflion into all families, and meeting 
all eyes, I chofe it to convey my wiflics 
to the Sylph. The next evening I had 
M 3 thf 



24$ THE SYLPH. 

the fatisfa<5lion of finding tbde wifhes 
anfwered •, arid the forthcr pleafcire (a3 
you will fte by the enclofed copy) of be- 
ing ajQTured of his approbation of the-ftep 
I iiave taken. 

And now for a Httlc of family-affairs. 
You. know I have a certain allowance^ 
of what is called pin-money ;-— my quar- 
ter having been doc for fomc time, I 
thought I might as well have it in my 
own pofleffi6n,-^hat that 1 ^rii poor, for 
lafTure you, on the contrary, I have ge- 
nerally i quarter in hand, though I ittl 
not in debt. I fent Wih to Harris's the 
fteward, for my ftipend. ShereturWd, 
with his duty tb mt^ acquainting mCf 
k was not in his power at prefent to ho-^ 
nour my note, not having any cafli- ifi^ 
hind. Surprized at his inability of fur- 
Bifhlng a hundred and fifty pounds, 1 dc^ 
fired to fpe^k with him i whert he gave 
rtfie fo melancholy a detail ef his maftert 
circumftahces, as makes me dread the 
confequcnces* He is furrdunded with 
Jew-brokers ; fbr^ in this Chriftiart latid^ 
Jews are • tht itioney^negotiators j and 

fuch 



THE SYLPH. 247 
fu^h Yiretcbes as you would treaible to 
behold, ace admitted into the priv:at^ re- 
M0e& of the GreaCt and carefied a$ their 
betterotngels. The& bfernai agents pro* 
CW9 then money ; for which they pay 
$fty, a faimdredt and.lbaietimes two hunt 
dxtdpef! Cent* Ami nrrpiE^ in ftyHng them 
mfnnal I Do ihey bet make the fiUy peor 
pte wha truft m diem, pay very dear for 
the means of ac<:ompkfliHig tKeir qw^n 
deftru^ioa I Like thofe miferable beings 
tb^y uf^d to call Wiubesj who v^ere faid 
toicW their ibula tp the Devil for ev^laft-i 
ing^ to have the power of doing tem^ 
pomry mifefaief upon earth. 

fbijfs now form th^ bofom*4tfibciates 
^f : my buibaftd. Ah I wonder . nae the 
image, of thy fiftpr is baniAed thence I 
Kadier sejeice with me, that he pays that, 
Fesereftceito Tsiitniei^aiid :de€ency As ta 
diftinguifli mp from thac dreadful herd of 
wfaick l^is chief companions^ are cempofed* 

I go very little froin homj3.T--frn truths 

I have. no croatune to go witfa.rt-I avoidl 

Lord Biddulphy becaufe I hate him \. and 

M 4 " gdare 



248 THE SYLPH. 
(dare I whifper it to my LouiTa?) I 
cftraoge myfelf from the Baron, left I 
(hould be too partial to the numerous 
good qualities I cannot but fee, and y^t 
which it would be dangerous to con* 
template too often. Oh,.Louifa! why 
are there not many fuch men ? His merit 
would not fo forcibly ftrike me^ if I 
could find any one in the circle of my 
m:quaintance who could comeincompe* 
tition with him ; for, be affured, it is 
not the/tinfture of the Ikin which I ad* 
mire i not becaufe fairtfi^ but b^i But 
where fliall a married*woman find exci^ 
to feek for, and admire, merit in any 
other than her huflband ? I will baniflh 
this coo, too amiable man from my 
thoughts. As my Sylph fays, fuch men 
(under the circumftances I am in*) are 
infinitely more dangerous than a Bid^ 
dulph. Yet, can one fall by the hand o% 
virtue ? — Alas ! this is deceitful ibpbiftry. 
If I give myfelf up to temptation, how 
dare I ^ttcr myfelf I ihaU be delivered 
from evil i , \ ■ 

.^ Could 



THE SYLPH- U9 

Could two men be more oppofite than 
what Sir William appeared at Woodley- 
vale, and what he now is ? — for too furely, 
ibat was appearance — ibis reality, Thiitk 
of him then fitdng in your library, read- 
ing by turns with my dear father fome in- 
firudive and amuQng author, while wt 
liftened to their joint comments ; what 
lively Tallies we difcovered in him ; and 
how we all united in approving the natu- 
ral flow of good fpirits, chaftened as wc 
thought with the principles of virtue ! See 
him now— But my pen refufes to draw the 
pain-infpiring portrait. Alas J* it -would 
Jbut be a copy of what I have fo repeated- 
ly traced in my frequent letters; a copy 
from which we (hould turn with difguft, 
bordering on contempt. This we (houkl 
do, were the charadker unknown or indif- 
ferent to us. But how muft that woman 
fcclri-who fe^s in the piifture the well* 
known features of a man, whom (he is 
bound by her vows to love, honour, 
and obey ? Your tendernefs^ my filter, 
will teach you to pity fo unhappy :a 
wretch* I will; not,, however* tax that 
M 5 tendcrncii 



«50 T H E S Y h r H. 
tcndern^ifl too much. I will not dwetton 
the melancholjr theme. 

But I lofe figfe of my purpofe, in thu^ 
ccntrafting Sir W31i«n fo hmfelf\ I meant 
to infer, from theiotal change ivhich feems 
to have taken place in Itim^ that other 
men may be the farne^ could* t)^ feme op- 
portunity of devetoping tliieir characters 
;prcfent itfelf. Thus, though the Baron 
wears this feroblancc of an angel'—yct it 
niay be aifumed. What will not men do 
to cany^ favourite point? He faw the 
open and avowed principles of libertinifm 
in Lord BiddiHph difguiled me from the 
firft. He, therdfore, may conceal thfc 
fame invidious intsention under the feduc- 
ing form of every virtue. The fimilc of 
the robber and the beggar, in theSylpMs 
firft letter, occurs oo:my recolfeaion; Ifet, 
perhaps, 1 am injtkring the Baron by tny 
fafpicion. He-mfay haveh^ virtueenough 
tofupprefs thoffe 'feelmgs in niy favour^ 
which my fituation (hould certainly de- 
ftroy in a virtuous breaft.— Nay, I be- 
lieve, I may make n^fclf t^hoUy eafy on 
that head. H-e has, for fonie' time, paid 
^ • great 



THE SYL^H. ^^r 
^jPeit attention toMilV Finch, who, I find,, 
iias totally broke wkh Colonel Montague. 
Cettainlyt if we fliould pay ^ay deference 
to af{3earance» 6ie wiil^nake 9 much bet- 
ter ekdiion by chufing Baton .Toa*bau&n, 
than the Colonel. She has lately — Mils 
Finch, I Ibould fay — has lately fpent more 
time v^ifb lOt thji^i ^nj other Ijdy — for 
my two firft companions I have taken an 
opportunity of civilly dropping. I took 
care to be i^^m home wbepQver they called 
by accident'-'^nd always to have feme prior 
-engagement when they propofed meeting 

-^sMife'Pmch/is by touch the leaft repre- 
Jk€nflble'chara49:er I have met with.— -But,,, 
^as Lady Besford- once &id, one can form 
?iM c^panion of what a WonKin is wh^e (he 
t)j^ fingilcv Ske muft keep within^ the rules 
^^ttfldecoruin. T|i{S ibgleftate is not a 
ctftate:bf j^eedDrt)* ^ On{)r*^e,married ladies 
'ham 4hit-pfM\igc>. Sut, as far as one 
• !€an judge,' there is -fto danger in the.ac- 
^clM<ii4U^tl€eLbf jMifs^Finch. I awn, I like 
•Jfhei; for. bawug *efufed Coloncf Monta- 
^8«ie^,tWKltyet,-(<b*'4 Jipman nature fj en 
^'' M 6' lookiiyi 



tst THE SYLPH. 
looking or»cr what I hdve written, I have 
cxprfffed myfeif difre^ftfuUy, on the 
foppofition that Ihc faw TenJiaufcn widi 
the fame eyes as a ccrtm foolilh creature 
that ihaU be namelels. 



LETTER XXIV. 

Enclofc^ in the, foregoing.,. 

To Lady Stanley. 

THE fatisfaftion of a benevolent be»ft 
will ever be its own rccompencei; 

. but not iti ^fffy reward, fts^du have fvsfeet- 
ly affurcd me,, by the . advertjffriT^cnt. th|t 
bkffed my eyes laft night. I beheld, willx 
pleafure, that my admonicioi^: hare awt 
loft their intended efieft. , I fhouW JIaxe 
been moft crqelly tdirap|3pinted^ aiidf)ha«e 

, given up my knqwljsdge of the faumitn 
heart as impcrfefl:, had I fottnd you inwr- 

. rigible to my advice. But I have hereto- 
fore told you, I was thoroughly acquaialod 
with the excelleftcies of your mind. Your 
renunciatioAi^yOiA'. favourite game^ and 

cards 



H'WEl vs Y L^P H. 153 
caeds ia^gitafiiiaU give every re»fis)ftto juf- 
t'rfy my fishtifneota of you. , I have^fbraacd 
the^xsioft exaitied idea of yoaTt^-AiH^ you 
alone caci defiroy the ahar I haMC raifed 
to your divinycy* Ali the mceofe.r da« 
hope to receive from you, is ajuft and 
•implicit ohfervance of my dictates, while 
-fbey arc influenced by virtue, of which 
-none biit you can properly jnadge, fince 
xonpne but your fcif they arc addrefled. 
Doubts, I am convinced, may arife in 
your mind conorriiing this invtfible agen- 
^« As. far: as i is neceiiary, I will fatisfy 
diofe :ddubts. .Bvit tcr'be.for ever con- 
-eeaiedfrbm your knowledge .as to idea- 
'fityv pcmr own good fenie will Tee too 
idearly the necdHty of, to need any iliuf. 
tration from my pen. If I admired you 
bdbre-^how much has tl^at admiration 
encrtta&d.froin tke chearfuhacqiiiefceiide 
*: ]fop^.have paid tb nsy ihjundtions i ^Gaira,* 
then, my beloited chaise 1 Purfue the 
road q£ virtues and be affufed, however 
rugged the path, aiid< tedious the way, 
\ you ii'ill,t«)ner dAy,^ arri^ at th« go^l, ixA 
' find i&tfr ,**.'in hdrown form*— how lovely l^* 
r I had almoft faid, as lovely as youHelf.^ 

Perha; 



«54 T W E S Y L P HI 

Perhapfiy you will think this laft expref^ 
fion toawarro, and fayourii^ more of ^ha 
man-^thMthe Rxxficmiiaii pdiilofophen^rrF 
But be not: alarmecL By the m^ rigid 
crib&nrajioe j9f virtue it is >we attain this 
fuperiority o!i^er the reft of maokind ; and 
only by this tourfe xao we maintain Id**^ 
!wc are not, however^ divcftcd of our fcflb- 
iibilituss; iD^ay, I beHeve» as th^y have noc 
Jbeen vitiated by contatninaciqn, they ace 
more trembH^^fy Swi than other mortals 
•ttTually are. In the humam xhaorafter^ I 
could be o£no u& fio you \ in die Sylphiadr 
-of the uftmoft. liookjon me, ^tben, cnd^ 
in the light of a .pceteroatural . :beiog«-*» 
(a]Kl» if my featUneots fbould ioimet^mes 
fiow in a more earthly ftilc'-T^yet, take my 
VQfd as ar &]rlt>h« they ih^U ne\^er befadi 
as ihall icormpt your hsajau Xb-guard Jt 
d&i0m ibe iContiptiDns of morta&s, is.. my 
,&de)\[lew in cheJjsdiiiresdi haitf ^vm^^^t 
:ltell;ff!Qm tiilie to itimie ;gl>le you, , .- ; . 

I 'ikiir fixA admii!ed ihe : budai>ltDntctti»e 
;whi/ch inclw»d jfoftt© g?frf>;i|Rpiirtaf gour 
ihtlflmcni* Wpiild , tp l»«tM, i!for 90|ir 
fakes it had ^wnxattzended iwitih the happy 
confequeoces you flatbed yourielf ..with 

feeing. 



T H & S'Y L P I* »55 

feeing. Alas ! all the produce of that is 
fquandered aefter the rrft. Bcwtrc how^ 
you are prevailed on to refign any more ^ 
for, I queftion «not, yoii ^wttl 'have appli* 
cation 'inade you very ibaQibr.tbt;rreni#ii|» 
der, or at lead pare of it: but take this 
advice of your true and difintereft^ 
friend. The tim^ may conoe, and fron» 
the unhappy propetiQties of Sir )^iUiaav 
I much fear it vfill not be long ere it xloes 
conte, when both bje and you may hsivi^ 
4u> other refourcexhan what ye^ur jointure 
•affords y.au. 3y this iU-placed Jbenevor 
ienoe you will deprive^ yaurfetf q^ thf 
imeans of fuppocti^igfluni, when all other 
means will have .totally jfailed. . Let th|# 
be your plea to4-cfift.his4mpCH'i!unitiQ6» 
When yau iball be dii^pofed to makein^ 

^theTepoi2iK)]y:ofyourconB4eAtiamifi&lgbf^» 
-yo^ iMj^draeia to A* B.^at Aii(^e;;^pn'f3,cojf- 
'hc>^o^. J.wly on your; {)fin^c/?> t^ 
take no meafofies 40 difcouer me. May 
you be as feippy^as :yQu defers pr, m 
one word> asi wilh {ypu ! 

Your caffefal : 

LF 



t56 THE SYLPH. 

LETTER XXV. 

To THE Sylph. 

IT IS happy for mc, if my aftions have 
flood fo much in my favour, as to 
make any return for the obligations, which 
I feel I want words to exprcfs. Alas ! 
\^hat would have become of rac without 
the friendly, the paternal admonitions of 
my kind Sylph ! Spare mc not, tell me 
all my faults ^for, notwithftanding your 
partiality, I find them numerous. I feel 
the neceKfity of having thofe admonkiom 
often inforced ; ' and am apprchenfive I 
ihall grow troublefome to you. 

Will, then, my friend allow me to have 
recourfc to him on any important occa- 
fion— or what may appear fo to me? 
'Surely an implicit obfervancc of his pre- 
'cepts will be the leaft return I c^n make 
for his difinterefted intcrpoGtion in my 
favour-^and thus, asitwere,' fteppii>g in 
between me and ruin. Believe me, my^ 
heart overflows wilh a grateful fenfe of 
thcfe unmerited benefits— and feels the 

ftrongcfl 



THE SYLPH. 257 

ftrongcft fefolution to pcrfeverc in the 
paths of rcdtitudc fo kindly pointed out to 
me by the hand of Heaven. 

I experience a fincere affliftion, that the 
rentanciation of part of my future fubfift- ' 
ance fliould not have had the dcfired ef- 
fect 5 but none that I have parted with' it. 
My4iu{band i« youngs and bleft with a 
mt>ft exceHent conftitution, which even 
his iffegulanties have not injured. I ^tt% 
yoking likewife, but of a more delicate 
frame, which the repeated hurries I have 
for mapy months pad lived in (joined to 
a variety of other cadfes, from anxieties 
and inquietude of mind) have not a little 
impaired; fo that I have not a remote 
idea of living to want what I have already 
bellowed, or may hereafter refign, for the 
benefit of my hulband's creditors. Yet in 
this, as well as every- thing elfe, I will 
fubmit to your more enlightened judg- 
ment — and abide moft chearfuUy by your 
decifion. 

Would to Heaven Sir William would 
liften to fuch an advifer ! He yet might 
retrieve his affairs. We yet might be 
* happy 



258 T H E S Y L P H. 

happjr. Buc> zhs ! he wUl not ihfftt hi$ 
reafon to have any fway over bts adliods. 
He hurries on .to ruio wkh faafty ftrides-^ 
nor ever caih one look behind 



The perturbaiioii thef<i fad r^flicftipi^ 
create in my bofctp wil] applpgi?!? t9 mt 
worthy guide for the aferuptpcfe of thi% 
conclufion^ 4ft well 9fi, cbe. inOQri^P^ «C 
the whole, Mgy I^Atep Mw^nd you^l 
prayi your ©«r gfiiefttl^ 



JULIA STANLEY: 



.ElfD OF Vt>l^ U 



Juji puhli/hed^ 
In Twelve Volumes, Thirty-fix Shillings bound. 

Containing: Sixty of the beft tLAYS wludi fuppbrt 
the Bnglifli Stage, 

With fcv«Btf-two ornamcnUl Engrarftgt, mady <*f 
them Amic at twenty Guineas a Plate, and the WQW 
at the Expence of Two Thoi^nd Ni«e Hundred 
and Fifty Pounds, - ' 

LOWNDES'S New Englifli Theatre, printed as 
written by the Authors, fn.a fine Paper ; the 
parages omitted at the Theati«.|nafirlied with in^rtcd 
Commas, and thofe added by the Managers pointed 
out by Italics. The Platts to «ach Play arc el^antf 
Shewing fi^.ynly ^he Aftory drawp from life* but the 
Scenes to each^lay ; and Vignettfs to each Volume, 
dnnwc by Mad«m AaageJtca Kauffman, Meff-Weftf 
Mortimer; Edwards and Dodd j with the Engravings 
hy-ftarwlow^Hdil, fiheiwtn, Taylor, Hyf ftc, Walkw* 
Collier, and others the moil emtnent| 

Frint«d for T. Lowmdbs, iA Plcet-Strect. 

^4-* Proof impreilions on French Paper may be had 
with the Large Paper Sets. 

Pl^Ars w^ch Gon^»oft theNaw Thiat&i. 

I Bttfy Body: Mr. Woodward in Marplot, V^- 

nette by Hall. 
z Bold Stroke for a Wife j Mr, Shuter in Obadiah 
Prim. 

3 Conicions Lovers ; Mrs. Abingdop as Phyllis* 

4 Mifer \ Mr. Yates as the Mifer. 

' 5 Su^icions Hnihandi Mrs. Baddel^ as Mrs, 
Strickland. 
6 Tlie Orphan ; Mifs Young as Monimia. 
. . 7 Fair Penitent ; Mr. Aikin as {foratio. 
^ Phasdra and Hippolitus ; Mr. Lewis as Hippolitns. 
9 TaBcred and Sigffinunda; Mr. Garnck.asTar 
cred* 

10 Rever 



PLAYS frinted fir T. Lowndes. 

10 Revenge ; Mr. Reddilh as Alonzo, Vignette b7 

Taylor. 

11 Spanish Fryar J Mn Dunftall as Fryar.. 

12 Rule a Wife; Mr. King as Perez* 

13 Old Batchelor; Mr. Poote as Fondlewife. 

14 Recruiting Officer; Mr. Smith as Plnme. 

15 Provok'd Wife ; Mr. Garrick as Sir John Brote,. 

Vignette by Barralet and Collier. \ 

16 Merope; Mifs Yonng as Merope. 

17 Mourning Bride; A^. Garrick as Ofmyup 

18 Jane Sbore ; Mrs. Yates as Jane Shore. 

19 Rival Qneehs ; Mrs. Melmoth as Roxana. " 

20 Gamefter ; Mr. Reddifli as Beverley, Vignette hf 

Lowe and Hall. 

21 Way of the World; Mrs. Pitt as Lady Wilhfor't. 

22 Every Man in his Humour; Mr. Woodward as 

Captain Bobadil. 

23 Committee ; Mr. Woodward as Teague, and Mr% 

Parfbns as Obadiah. 
«4 Beaux Stratagem ; -Mrs. Leffingham at Mrs. 

Sullen; 
^5 Love.ferLove;;Mr. Wilfoo a^ Ben» and Mrs. 
' Mattocks as* Mifs Pruc, Vignette by Edwards 
and Byrne. 

26 Oroonoko. ; Mr. Savigny as Oroonoko. 

27 George Barnwell { Mr. Brereton, as Barnwell. 
28^ilmerlane; Mr. Palmer and Mifs Hopkins in 

Bajazet and Selima. 
29 V^ice Prefcrv'd ; Mr. Benfley asPicrre. 
* 30 Diftreft Mother; Mrs. Hartley as ADdromache, by 
Sherwin, Vignette by Signora Angelica Kauff- 
man and Signior Bartolozzi. 
31 Provoked Hufbaod ; Mr. Macklin and Mr. Dnn- 
ftall as Sir Francis Wrpnghead and John Moody. 
^2 Loves makes a Man ; Mr. Dodd as Clodio. 

33 Drummer ; Mr. Farfons^ and Mifs Pope as Vellum 

and Abigail. 

34 Carelefs Hulband ; Mrs. Abingdon as Lady Betty 

Modiih^ «. 

35 Funerals 



r 



PLAYS priniidfor T. LowvDSS. 

35 Funeral ; Mr. Clarke and Mr. Qaick as Lord 

Brompton and Mr. Sable, Vigftette hj Weft 
and Byrne* 

36 Earl of EiTex; Mrs.Melmoth a9 Qaeen Elisabedi* 

37 Barbarofla; Mr. BenHey and Mifs Macklin as 

Barbarofla and L«ne« 

38 Mahomet ; Mr. Benfle/ as Mahomet. 

39 All for Love; Mrs. Yates as Cleopatra* 

40 Jane Gray ; Mrs. Hartley as Jane Gray» hj Sher» 

win. Vignette by Edwards and HaU. 

41 Amphytrion ; Mr. Woodward as Sofia* - 

42 Double Dealer ; Mr. Palmer and .Mrs. Gardiner 

as Carelefs and Lady Pliant. , 

43. Inconilant ; Mr. Wilfon as Old Mirabelr 

44 Doable Gallant ; Mrs. Abingdon as Lady Sadlife. 
4j Conflant Conple ; Mrs. Barry as Sir Harry Wild- 

air; Vignette by Signora Angelica Kauffman 
and Mr. Collier. 

46 Siege of Damafcus ; Mr. Smith as Phocyas. 

47 Tbeodofias ; Mr. Wroughton as Theodoiius. 

45 Cato ; Mrs. Hartley as Marcia. 

49 Douglas ; Mr. Lewis as Douglas. 

50 Zara ; Mifs Young and Mr. Gariick as Zara and 

Lufi^nan, Vignette by Weft and Byrne. 

51 City Wives' Confederacy; Mifs Pope as Corinna. 
5* Country Wife ; Mifs P. Hopkins as Mifs Peggy. 

53 Minor; Mr. Foote as Mrs. Cole. 

54 Wonder; Mr. Garrick as Don Felix. 

55 Chances ; Mr. Garrick as Don John, Vignetleby 

Mortimer and Walker. 

56 Medea ; Mrs. Yates as Medea* 

57 Grecian Daughter; Mr. J. Aikin as Phocion. 

58 Koman Father; Mr. Henderfbn as Hor^tius. 

59 'B'rothers ; Mr. Garrick as Demetrius. 

60 Ifabella, or the Fatal Marriage ; Mr. Henderfbn 

as Count Biron, Vignette by Mortimer and 
Hall. 



h'