| Citation |
NHG-P.768.014
4 Mar 1768:12,13 (595)
Dialogue between Death and a Modern Lady.
Lady, Indeed Mr. Death, I cannot have the pleasure of
waiting upon you now.--I am engaged, absolutely engaged.
Death, I am no stranger to your engagements; but sure, you
need not be told, that even the care of a Kingdom's welfare,
or a nation's glory, will not excuse a person, who has
received a summons to the realms of death.--If the grim
messenger was not as peremptory or unwelcome, Charon would
not get a passenger once in a century.--You must be content
to leave your husband and family, and pass the Styx.
Lady, I did not mean to insist on any engagement with my
husband and family, I never thought myself engaged to
them.--I have no engagements but such as were common to
women of my rank; visiting, dancing, card-playing, &c. and
certainly it would be the rudest thing in the world not to
be punctual to my appointments.--If you will stay for me
till the summer season, I will wait on you with all my
heart. Pray what entertainments have you there? I should
have no objection to drinking the Lethe waters.
Death, Surely you could not like to drink the Waters of
Oblivion, who have made pleasure the business, end, and aim
of your life! It is good to drown cares, but who would wash
away the remembrance of a life of gayety and pleasure!--
Lady, Diversion was indeed the business of my life, but as
to pleasure I have enjoy'd none since the novelty of my
amusements was gone off. Can one be pleased with seeing the
same thing over and over again--Late hours, and fatigue gave
me the vapours, spoil'd the natural chearfulness of my
temper, and even in youth wore away my youthful vivacity.
Death, If this way of life did not give you pleasure, why
did you continue in it? I suppose you did not think it very
meritorious.--
Lady, I was too much engag'd to think at all; and so for
my manner of life was agreeable enough.--My friends always
told me diversions were necessary, and my doctor assured me
dissipation was good for my spirits; my husband insisted
that it was not; now you know that one loves to oblige one's
friends, comply with one's doctor, and contradict one's
husband.--
Death, Then Madam you have wasted your time, faded your
beauty, and destroyed your health for the laudable purposes
of contradicting your husband, and conforming to the modes
in fashion.
Lady, Why, what would you have had me do?
Death, I will tell you what I wou'd not have had you
do.--I would not have had you sacrifice your time, your
reason, and your duties to fashion and folly:--Believe me,
Minos is a sour old gentleman, an utter stranger to modern
politeness: And I am really in a fright for you. The best
thing I can advise you, is, to do in this world, as you did
in the other, keep happiness in your view, but never take
the road that leads to it-- Remain on this side Styx; wander
about without end or aim; look into the Elysian Fields, but
never attempt to enter them, lest Minos should push you into
Tartarus; for duties neglected may bring on a sentence not
much less severe, than crimes committed.
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