Davys, Mary (1674-1732)

Familiar Letters betwixt a Gentleman and a Lady [from The Works]

London

Printed by H. Woodfall

1725

"I ever been a Disciple of Artemedorus, I shou'd have been very uneasy at my last Night's Dream, which made so dreadful an Impression upon my Fancy, that I have hardly yet recovered it."

I ever been a Disciple of Artemedorus, I shou'd have been very uneasy at my last Night's Dream, which made so dreadful an Impression upon my Fancy, that I have hardly yet recovered it. I thought I saw Artander blind; and when I wou'd have led him, he pull'd out my Eyes too. Pray Heaven avert the fatality of it, if there be any depending. I had a young Relation came this Morning to breakfast with me, who is just at Age, but so deeply engag'd in an Amour, that poor Coz languish'd over his Tea, and sigh'd over his Bread and Butter like a School-Boy going to face a whipping Master in a Morning without his Exercise. The Lady he dies for, is turn'd of Fourteen, and has left off her Bib and her Babies a considerable time. Her Father is lately dead, and left her 8000 Pounds, which, with herself, is put into the hands of two Guardians, who have each a Son design'd for pretty Miss: they have made Proposals about the Matter to one another, and have offer'd each other a thousand Pounds for his Consent; but they are so much of a mind, that 'tis impossible they should agree, which you will call a Paradox. However, the careful young Lady, who neither lov'd to lose her own time, or see her Guardians fall out, is, to prevent both Misfortunes, just ran away with her Father's Butler; who is a very well bred Man, drinks, whores, and games, and has just as much Estate as will qualify him for a Vote. Of all the Gods, either Heathens or Poets ever made, there is none so silly as this blinking God of Love: he makes mere Idiots of Mankind, and puts them upon such ridiculous Actions, that one wou'd think we were made for nothing but to laugh at one another.
(pp. 296-7)

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Text from The Works of Mrs. Davys: Consisting of, Plays, Novels, Poems, and Familiar Letters. Several of which never before Publish'd, 2 vols. (London: H. Woodfall, 1725). <Link to ECCO>

06/21/2013