第 20 节
作者:雨来不躲      更新:2021-02-25 00:09      字数:9322
  d at others of Vivacity the most striking。  She appears to have infinite Wit and a good humour unalterable; her conversation during the half hour they set with us; was replete with humourous sallies; Bonmots and repartees; while the sensible; the amiable Julia uttered sentiments of Morality worthy of a heart like her own。  Mr Millar appeared to answer the character I had always received of him。  My Father met him with that look of Love; that social Shake; and cordial kiss which marked his gladness at beholding an old and valued freind from whom thro' various circumstances he had been separated nearly twenty years。  Mr Millar observed (and very justly too) that many events had befallen each during that interval of time; which gave occasion to the lovely Julia for making most sensible reflections on the many changes in their situation which so long a period had occasioned; on the advantages of some; and the disadvantages of others。  From this subject she made a short digression to the instability of human pleasures and the uncertainty of their duration; which led her to observe that all earthly Joys must be imperfect。 She was proceeding to illustrate this doctrine by examples from the Lives of great Men when the Carriage came to the Door and the amiable Moralist with her Father and Sister was obliged to depart; but not without a promise of spending five or six months with us on their return。  We of course mentioned you; and I assure you that ample Justice was done to your Merits by all。  〃Louisa Clarke (said I) is in general a very pleasant Girl; yet sometimes her good humour is clouded by Peevishness; Envy and Spite。  She neither wants Understanding or is without some pretensions to Beauty; but these are so very trifling; that the value she sets on her personal charms; and the adoration she expects them to be offered are at once a striking example of her vanity; her pride; and her folly。〃 So said I; and to my opinion everyone added weight by the concurrence of their own。 Your affectionate Arabella Smythe。
  THE FIRST ACT OF A COMEDY
  CHARACTERS Popgun                   Maria Charles                  Pistolletta Postilion                Hostess Chorus of ploughboys     Cook  and                      and Strephon                 Chloe
  SCENEAN INN
  ENTER Hostess; Charles; Maria; and Cook。
  Hostess to Maria) If the gentry in the Lion should want beds; shew them number 9。
  Maria) Yes Mistress。 EXIT Maria
  Hostess to Cook) If their Honours in the Moon ask for the bill of fare; give it them。
  Cook) I wull; I wull。  EXIT Cook。
  Hostess to Charles) If their Ladyships in the Sun ring their Bellanswerit。
  Charles) Yes Madam。  EXEUNT Severally。
  SCENE CHANGES TO THE MOON; and discovers Popgun and Pistoletta。
  Pistoletta) Pray papa how far is it to London?
  Popgun) My Girl; my Darling; my favourite of all my Children; who art the picture of thy poor Mother who died two months ago; with whom I am going to Town to marry to Strephon; and to whom I mean to bequeath my whole Estate; it wants seven Miles。
  SCENE CHANGES TO THE SUN
  ENTER Chloe and a chorus of ploughboys。
  Chloe) Where am I?  At Hounslow。Where go I?  To London。  What to do? To be married。  Unto whom?  Unto Strephon。  Who is he? A Youth。 Then I will sing a song。
  SONG I go to Town And when I come down; I shall be married to Streephon* '*Note the two e's' And that to me will be fun。
  Chorus) Be fun; be fun; be fun; And that to me will be fun。
  ENTER Cook Cook) Here is the bill of fare。
  Chloe reads) 2 Ducks; a leg of beef; a stinking partridge; and a tart。I will have the leg of beef and the partridge。 EXIT Cook。 And now I will sing another song。
  SONG I am going to have my dinner; After which I shan't be thinner; I wish I had here Strephon For he would carve the partridge if it should be a tough one。
  Chorus) Tough one; tough one; tough one For he would carve the partridge if it Should be a tough one。 EXIT Chloe and Chorus。
  SCENE CHANGES TO THE INSIDE OF THE LION。
  Enter Strephon and Postilion。 Streph:) You drove me from Staines to this place; from whence I mean to go to Town to marry Chloe。  How much is your due?
  Post:) Eighteen pence。 Streph:) Alas; my freind; I have but a bad guinea with which I mean to support myself in Town。  But I will pawn to you an undirected Letter that I received from Chloe。
  Post:) Sir; I accept your offer。
  END OF THE FIRST ACT。
  A LETTER from a YOUNG LADY; whose feelings being too strong for her Judgement led her into the commission of Errors which her Heart disapproved。
  Many have been the cares and vicissitudes of my past life; my beloved Ellinor; and the only consolation I feel for their bitterness is that on a close examination of my conduct; I am convinced that I have strictly deserved them。  I murdered my father at a very early period of my Life; I have since murdered my Mother; and I am now going to murder my Sister。  I have changed my religion so often that at present I have not an idea of any left。 I have been a perjured witness in every public tryal for these last twelve years; and I have forged my own Will。  In short there is scarcely a crime that I have not committedBut I am now going to reform。  Colonel Martin of the Horse guards has paid his Addresses to me; and we are to be married in a few days。 As there is something singular in our Courtship; I will give you an account of it。  Colonel Martin is the second son of the late Sir John Martin who died immensely rich; but bequeathing only one hundred thousand pound apeice to his three younger Children; left the bulk of his fortune; about eight Million to the present Sir Thomas。  Upon his small pittance the Colonel lived tolerably contented for nearly four months when he took it into his head to determine on getting the whole of his eldest Brother's Estate。  A new will was forged and the Colonel produced it in Courtbut nobody would swear to it's being the right will except himself; and he had sworn so much that Nobody beleived him。 At that moment I happened to be passing by the door of the Court; and was beckoned in by the Judge who told the Colonel that I was a Lady ready to witness anything for the cause of Justice; and advised him to apply to me。  In short the Affair was soon adjusted。  The Colonel and I swore to its' being the right will; and Sir Thomas has been obliged to resign all his illgotten wealth。  The Colonel in gratitude waited on me the next day with an offer of his hand 。  I am now going to murder my Sister。 Yours Ever; Anna Parker。
  A TOUR THROUGH WALES in a LETTER from a YOUNG LADY
  My Dear Clara I have been so long on the ramble that I have not till now had it in my power to thank you for your Letter。 We left our dear home on last Monday month; and proceeded on our tour through Wales; which is a principality contiguous to England and gives the title to the Prince of Wales。  We travelled on horseback by preference。 My Mother rode upon our little poney and Fanny and I walked by her side or rather ran; for my Mother is so fond of riding fast that she galloped all the way。  You may be sure that we were in a fine perspiration when we came to our place of resting。 Fanny has taken a great many Drawings of the Country; which are very beautiful; tho' perhaps not such exact resemblances as might be wished; from their being taken as she ran along。  It would astonish you to see all the Shoes we wore out in our Tour。  We determined to take a good Stock with us and therefore each took a pair of our own besides those we set off in。  However we were obliged to have them both capped and heelpeiced at Carmarthen; and at last when they were quite gone; Mama was so kind as to lend us a pair of blue Sattin Slippers; of which we each took one and hopped home from Hereford delightfully… I am your ever affectionate Elizabeth Johnson。
  A TALE。
  A Gentleman whose family name I shall conceal; bought a small Cottage in Pembrokeshire about two years ago。  This daring Action was suggested to him by his elder Brother who promised to furnish two rooms and a Closet for him; provided he would take a small house near the borders of an extensive Forest; and about three Miles from the Sea。  Wilhelminus gladly accepted the offer and continued for some time searching after such a retreat when he was one morning agreably releived from his suspence by reading this advertisement in a Newspaper。
  TO BE LETT A Neat Cottage on the borders of an extensive forest and about three Miles from the Sea。  It is ready furnished except two rooms and a Closet。
  The delighted Wilhelminus posted away immediately to his brother; and shewed him the advertisement。  Robertus congratulated him and sent him in his Carriage to take possession of the Cottage。 After travelling for three days and six nights without stopping; they arrived at the Forest and following a track which led by it's side down a steep Hill over which ten Rivulets meandered; they reached the Cottage in half an hour。  Wilhelminus alighted; and after knocking for some time without receiving any answer or hearing any one stir within; he opened the door which was fastened only by a wooden latch and entered a small room; which he immediately perceived to be one of the two that were unfurnishedF