| Citation |
VGW(HU.751.033
4 Apr 1751:11, 12 (14)
A letter from a statesman retired from court, to my Lord ---
, in commendation of a country life. . . . [3 paragraphs]
Your lordship has been witness to many of those truths
which I recollect in this seat of retirement. . . . I could
thenceforward look upon women, without any temptation to
idolatry.---Balls and assemblies, dancing and dress, were
not longer the subjects of my serious application: And I
yielded an implicit assent to those petit maitres, whose
talents lie in discussing the important controversies who
sings best at the opera, performs best at the play-houses,
entertains us more agreeable at Vauxhall and Ranelagh; or
who supplies the town best with masquerade dresses, when
they are ashamed to turn fools in their usual habit. . . .
[2 paragraphs]
Ye woods and wilds, receive me to your shade!
These still retreats my contemplation aid;
From mortals flying to your chaste abode,
Let me attend the instructive voice of God!
. . . [34 lines follow, then 1 paragraph]
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