ing at greatness, merry over a christmas-fire, and exercising all the functions of an old Patriarch in charity and hospitality. I will not tell Mrs. B* what I think the is doing; for I conclude it is her opinion, that he only ought to know it for whom it is done; and fhe will allow herself to be far enough advanced above a fine lady, not to desire to shine before men.

Your daughters perhaps may have fome other thoughts, which even their mother must excufe them for, because fhe is a mother, I will not however suppose those thoughts get the better of their devotions, but rather excite them and affift the warmth of them; while their prayer may be, that they may raife up and breed as irreproachable a young family as their parents have done. In a word, I fancy all well, eafy, and happy, just as I wish you; and next to that, I wish you all with

you

me.

Next to God, is a good Man: next in dignity, and next in value. Minuifti eum paullo minus ab angelis. If therefore I wish well to the good and the deferving, and defire they only Thould be my companions and correspondents, I must very foon and very much think of you, I want your company, and your example. Pray make haste to town, fo as not again to leave

us:

us: discharge the load of earth that lies on you, like one of the mountains under which, the poets say, the giants (the men of the earth) are whelmed leave earth, to the sons of the earth, your converfation is in heaven. Which that it may be accomplish'd in us all, is the prayer of him who maketh this fhort Sermon; value (to you) three-pence. Adieu.

Mr. Blount died in London the following Year, 1726. P.

LETTERS

LETTERS

To and from the

Hon. ROBERT DIGBY.

From 1717 to 1724.

I

LETTER I.

To the Hon. ROBERT DIG BY.

June 2, 1717.

a

Had pleas'd myself fooner in writing to you, but that I have been your fucceffor in a fit of fickness, and am not yet fo much recovered, but that I have thoughts of ufing your phyficians. They are as grave persons as any of the faculty, and (like the ancients) carry their own medicaments about with them. But indeed the moderns are fuch lovers of raillery, that nothing is grave enough to escape them.

a Affes.

Let

Let them laugh, but people will still have their opinions as they think our Doctors affes to them, we'll think them affes to our Doctors.

I am glad you are fo much in a better state of health, as to allow me to jeft about it. My concern, when I heard of your danger, was fo very ferious, that I almoft take it ill Dr. Evans should tell you of it, or you mention it. I tell you fairly, if you and a few more fuch people were to leave the world, I would not give fixpence to stay in it.

I am not so much concerned as to the point whether you are to live fat or lean: most men of wit or honesty are usually decreed to live very lean, so I am inclined to the opinion that 'tis decreed you shall; however be comforted, and reflect, that you'll make the better Bufto for it.

'Tis fomething particular in you, not to be satisfied with fending me your own books, but to make your acquaintance continue the frolic. Mr. Wharton forced me to take Gorboduc, which has fince done me great credit with feveral people, as it has done Dryden and Oldham fome dif-kindness, in fhewing there is as much difference between their Gorboduc and this, as between Queen Anne, and King George. It is truly a fcandal, that men should write. with contempt of a piece which they never once faw, as thofe two Poets did, who were igno

rant

rant even of the fex, as well as sense, of Gorboduc b

Adieu! I am going to forget you this minute you took up all my mind; the next I fhall think of nothing but the reconciliation with Agamemnon, and the recovery of Brifeis. I fhall be Achilles's humble fervant these two months (with the good leave of all my friends.) I have no ambition so strong at prefent, as that noble one of Sir Salathiel Lovel, recorder of London, to furnish out a decent and plentiful execution, of Greeks and Trojans. It is not be exprefs'd how heartily I wish the death of all Homer's heroes, one after another. The Lord preserve me in the day of battle, which is just approaching! join in your prayers for me, and know me to be always

Your, &c.

LETTER II.

London, March 31, 1718.

To convince you how little pain I give

myself in corresponding with men of good nature and good understanding, you see I omit to answer your letters till a time, when another

b There is a correct edition of it in that valuable

collection of old Plays published by Dodfley.

man