go for fome papers, I had forgot, and defigning to furprize agreeably my wife, came in by a key I had, at the wash-house door, and unfeen went foftly up to my chamber, where I expected to find my beloved in a fweet fleep. Gently I touched the lock, and intended, as my charmer flumbered, to give this idol of my heart a kifs: But, as I opened the door without being heard, I faw a man by my bed-fide, and my fond faithful wife, buttoning up his breeches. Amazement feized me, but I was not in a rage. I only faid, is that Louifa I fee, and fhut the door. Down ftairs I went immediately, and out again the fame way I came in. I was done with love for ever, and from that time never faw my wife more. A fhip being to fail the next day for Conftantinople, I went a paffenger in it, and refolved to live abroad fome years.. ...Six years I refided in Greece, and vifited every curious place: Four I fpent in Afia minar, and two in Italy and France. I diverted myself with noting down the extraordinary things I faw, and I purchased several fine antiquities by the way. When done, I came back to my country again, and this little feat I now live at, being to be fold, I bought it immediately, and have refided here ever fince. My ftudy, my garden, and my horfe, divert me fully and finely every day. I I have all I defire in this world, and reign more happily over my few fubjects, in this airy, filent, fecret spot, than the greatest monarch can do on a throne. My people are only one young man, who is my gardener, my footman, and my groom, and two old women, my maids. These are ever attentive to my will, and by their good behaviour and management, make my lodge as agreeable, and life as pleafing, as can be expected in this fyftem of things. Monckton's story pleafed me much, and I wondered greatly at his happy temper, when he faw his beloved wife buttoning up the breeches of the man. But did you ever hear what became of her after?-And faulty as fhe was, may there not be found an ho neft charming woman, to render your hours more delightful than study and contrivance can make them, without a foft partner thro' life? Come into the world with me, Sir, and I will engage to find out for you a mere primitive chriftian of a woman, with all the beauties of body that Lucian gives his images. You are very good, Sir, (Monckton replied) in offering to look out for another wife for me, and I thank you very heartily, for your wellmeant kindness; but as I never enquired what became of my first wife, from the morning I left her, and know only that she is dead, as 1 as her jointure has not been demanded for feveral years paft; fo fhall I never be concerned with a fecond. Perhaps there are fome honeft women in the world. I hope fo: but I have had enough of marriage. Befide, I think it time now to turn my thoughts a better way. In the forty-fifth year of my age, it cannot be weak, to begin to confider the great change before me, and fix my hopes on a good remove into fome better and happier region. If I was unfortunate with a wife when a young man, I have little reafon to expect better days with one, as age comes on. I might find myself again moft fadly miftaken. But there can be no difappointment in making it the principal work of life, to prepare, in fuch a retirement as this, for that approaching hour, when we muft fubmit to the power and tyranny of death and corrup tion. By this means, the greatest happiness may be fecured. In every thing elfe, there is uncertainty and vanity. I fpeak principally in refpect of my time of life, who am haftning fast to fifty: but at every time, it is my opinion, that men, as rationals, and beings' who take on themselves the honourable profeffion of the chriftian religion, fhould not comply with the criminal liberties allowed in the world, and give into the illicit ufages and customs of place and company, for fear of ridicule, or to avoid giving offence; but keep I Atrialy and the ar rival of ner of ftrictly to the will and laws of their higher country, and in all things have a special regard to holiness, and truth, and purity. I do not fay this by way of preaching, but that you may thereby have a truer idea of the man you chanced to find in a lone house on this vaft common. Seven years have I now lived here, and in all that time, have not been once in London: but fometimes I ride to a neighbouring village, and if on the road, or at an inn, I can pick up a fenfible agreeable man, I love to dine with him, and drink a pint of wine. Such a man I frequently ride in queft of, and if he be intirely to my mind, (which is very rarely the cafe,) I invite him home with me, to pass at my lodge two or three days. Far then am I from being unfocial, though I live in folitude, but I left the world, because I was illufed in it, and happen to think very differently from the generality of men. Here Monckton ended his story, and a little after we parted. A bait at a §. 5. I rid for fix hours without meeting lone inn, with any thing remarkable; but as I baited about three o'clock at a lone inn, the fituation Mifs Tur- of which was fo fine in foreft and water, that Skelmore I determined to go no further that day, there arrived a little after, a young lady, her maid, and two men fervants. They were all well-mounted, and the lady's beast in par ticular. vale. ticular, as great a beauty of its kind, as its But fee! Emilia rifes to the fight And form'd thee like fome fav'rite feraph there. * See the Life of John Buncle, Vol. I. p. 404. Where The pic ture of Mifs Tur ner. |