choose for a wife; and though the cunning sharper of the town may have a cheat put on him, yet it must be cleanlier carried than this which you think I am going to top upon myself. And truly, if you knew how metaphysical I am that way, you would little fear I should venture on one who has given so much occasion to tongues: for, though the people is a lying sort of a beast (and I think in Leicester above all parts that I ever was in) yet they seldom talk without some glimpse of a reason, which I declare (so unpardonably jealous I am) to be a sufficient cause for me to hate any woman any farther than a bare acquaintance. Among all the young gentlemen that I have known who have ruined themselves by marrying (which I assure you is a great number) I have made this general rule, that they are either young, raw, and ignorant scholars, who, for want of knowing company, believe every silk petticoat includes an angel; or else these have been a sort of honest young men, who perhaps are too literal in rather marrying than burning, and entail a misery on themselves and posterity, by an overacting modesty. I think I am very far excluded from listing under either of these heads. I confess I have known one or two men of sense enough, who, inclined to frolicks, have married and ruined themselves out of a maggot; but a thousand household thoughts, which always drive matrimony out of my mind whenever it chances to come there, will, I am sure, frighten me from that; beside that I am naturally temperate, and never engaged in the contrary, which usually produces those effects. Your hints at particular stories I do not understand; and having never heard them but so hinted, thought it proper to give you this, to show you how I thank you for your regard of me; and I hope my carriage will be so as my friends need not be ashamed of the name.* I should not have behaved myself after that manner I did in Leicester, If I had not valued my own entertainment beyond the obloquy of a parcel of very wretched fools, which I solemnly pronounce the inhabitants of Leicester to be; and so I contented myself with retaliation. I hope you will forgive this trouble; and so with my service to your good wife, I am, good cousin, Your very affectionate friend and servant, TO THE ATHENIAN SOCIETY. † GENTLEMEN, Moor-Park, Feb. 14, 1691-2. SINCE every body pretends to trouble you with their follies, I thought I might claim the privilege of an Englishman, and put in my share among the rest. Being last year in Ireland (from whence I returned about half-a-year ago), I heard only a loose talk of your society; and believed the design to be only some new folly just suitable to the age, which God knows I little expected ever to produce * This sentence is very inaccurate; it ought to be either and I hope my carriage will be such as,' &c.—or- and I hope to carry myself so as that my friends need not be ashamed of the name.' If the noun be used, it should have its corresponding pronoun; if the verb, its adverb.-S. + This letter seems written to introduce the Ode to the Athenian Society, which the reader will find, Vol. XIV. p. 23. and in a note on the same page, some account of the association to which it was addressed. any thing extraordinary. Since my being in England, having still continued in the country, and much out of company, I had but little advantage of knowing any more, till about two months ago, passing through Oxford, a very learned gentleman there first shewed me two or three of your volumes, and gave me his account and opinion of you. A while after I came to this place, upon a visit to Sir William Temple, where I have been ever since, and have seen all the four volumes with their supplements; which answering my expectation, the perusal has produced what you find enclosed. As I have been somewhat inclined to this folly, so I have seldom wanted somebody to flatter me in it. And for the ode enclosed, I have sent it to a person of very great learning and honour, and since to some others, the best of my acquaintance (to which I thought very proper to enure it for a greater light); and they have all been pleased to tell me, that they are sure it will not be unwelcome, and that I should beg the honour of you to let it be printed before your next volume (which I think is soon to be published); it being so usual before most books of any great value among poets: and before its seeing the world, I submit it wholly to the correction of your pens. I entreat, therefore, one of you would descend so far, as to write two or three lines to me of your pleasure upon it: which, as I cannot but expect from gentlemen who have so well shewn, upon so many occasions, that greatest character of scholars in being favourable to the ignorant; so, I am sure, nothing at present can more highly oblige me, or make me happier. I am, gentlemen, your ever most humble, and most admiring servant, JON. SWIFT. SIR, TO MR WILLIAM SWIFT.* Moor-Park, Nov. 29, 1692. My sister told me you was pleased (when she was here) to wonder I did so seldom write to you. I hope you have been so kind to impute it neither to ill-manners or disrespect. I always have thought that sufficient from one who has always been but too troublesome to you. Besides, I know your aversion to impertinence; and God knows so very private a life as mine can furnish a letter with little else, for I often am two or three months without seeing any body besides the family; and now my sister is gone, I am likely to be more solitary than before. I am still to thank you for your care in my testimonium; † and it was to very good purpose, for I never was more satisfied than in the behaviour of the University of Oxford to me. I had all the civilities I could wish for, and so many substantial favours, that I am ashamed to have been more obliged in a few weeks to strangers, than ever I was in seven years to Dublin College. I am not to take orders till the king gives me a prebend; and Sir William Temple, though he promises me the cer *The uncle of the author. + For the certificate of his degree, in consequence of which he was admitted ad eundem at Oxford, June 14, 1692.-D. S. I may be observed from this passage, that he does not speak of going into the Church as a point of news to his uncle. -D. S. tainty of it, yet is less forward than I could wish,* because (I suppose) he believes I shall leave him,† and, upon some accounts, he thinks me a little necessary to him. If I were affording entertainment, or doing you any satisfaction by my letters, I should be very glad to perform it that way, as I am bound to do it by all others. I am sorry my fortune should fling me so far from the best of my relations; but hope that I shall have the happiness to see you some time or other. Pay my humble service to my good aunt, and the rest of my relations, if you please. JON. SWIFT. TO MR DEANE SWIFT. ‡ Leicester, June 3, 1694. I RECEIVED your kind letter to-day from your sister; and am very glad to find you will spare time from business so far as to write a long letter to one you have none at all with but friendship, which, as the world passes, is perhaps one of the idlest things in it. It is a pleasure to me to see you sally out of your road, and take notice of curiosities, of which I am very glad to have part, and desire you * Here are the grounds of a quarrel which happened between him and Sir William Temple in 1694.—D. S. + Which at last was the cause of much anger in Sir William Temple.-D. S. ‡ A cousin of Dr Swift's, then at Lisbon. |