| Citation |
PP-P.774.007
7 Feb 1774:13 (3/120)
ANECDOTE. When Marshal Tallard was confined a prisoner at
Nottingham, he gave several balls to the ladies in the
neighbourhood, and danced one evening with a lady who was a
parson's daughter; she was extremely amiable, and made a
great impression on the Marshal. His secretary, who was a
man of easy morals, and had observed his master's agitation
of mind, and the cause of it, thinking to recommend himself
to the Marshal's favor, threw out several hints, that there
would be no great difficulty of obtaining the young lady
upon his own terms; but the Marshal replied, with a
magnanimity of soul that did him the greatest honor, "Sir,
if I were one and twenty, and of the same religion as the
lady, I would think it no discredit to offer her my hand in
an honourable manner; but to ruin a virtuous young woman,
for a momentary gratification, I should think a far greater
dishonour, than to be defeated and taken prisoner by the
Duke of Marlborough"
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