hart could not have sett her seriusly to any thing. Ionely beg you will quickly rite, and I will ceace to troble your eyes with longer scribling. Yr hart, I know, kynd enouf to bear all my defects, and kynder yet, if you beleeve my affection equalls the reasons I fynd for itt. This supposed, I must needs stile my self Your proud sister, WINEFRID THIMBLBY. LETTER LIV. HOND. DEARE BROTHER, Jan. 28. I had receaved most complet satisfaction in my sister's letter, had I not perceaved your suspition that I wanted itt. O God! how longe must I suffer? not being understood by you. Truely, I am neither so blyndly proud in myselfe, nor so uniust to you, as to chalinge your letters, by the number of my owne, no, I understand both too well, and set so due a value upon yours, that, though I receave but won line for a letter, I esteeme itt a ritch purchase; and shuld scruple to aske more as worse then usury; to require juels for counterfeits. But its lawful to receave a boundty, therfore when you please to give it, I gladly take, as poor folckes use to doe, unconcerned to give agayne, because I have itt not. * But thanckes and prayers shall ever waite upon you, and the last knocke at heaven's gate tell we are both lett in, wher my hopes perswade you will owne I ever was Your most affectionat, though unworthy, sister, WIN. O what hopes of having my dear Keat againe ? my want of resignation deserves, I fear, this rod of separation. * Mrs Henry Thimelby has expressed this sentiment in a different way: But if that peaceful kings, of unknowne power, Tixall Poetry, P. 94. LETTER LV. Thes for Mr Herbert Aston, humbly present, HOND. DEARE BROTHER, I am so revived with a poore little glimpse of hope wch my brother Edward gives me of seeing our dear Keat againe, that sylence growes too dull a thinge. I must proclame my ioys, though 'twill discover much of my weaknis to be so esily transported from won passion to a nother, when the bisinis is onely this: My brother has promised he will goe a purpose to Standel, to visit Keat; and if he can find she hath frinds that will contribute to the making of her hapy heer, he also will offer his mite. O any * I suppose Standon is meant, the seat of Lord Aston, near Ware, in Hertfordshire. that it wear possible he could speake with you. I doe not meane for her, but his owne satisfaction; for I shuld not deserve your pardon, had I a thought to begg of you, as beeing certaine you are too good a father to her, too dear and kynd a brother to us, too much a furtherer of good intentions, to need solicitation in that behalfe, as far as yr ability will permit; further wear most uniust for us to desire, and infinitly from the hart of your most affectionat sister, WIN. |