Jump to content

Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 13.djvu/109

From Wikisource
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
DR. SWIFT.
97

to let them sink. Divert yourself with Mrs. Worrall, at backgammon. Find out some new country to travel in: any thing to amuse. Nothing can contribute sooner than cheerfulness to your recovery; which that it may be very speedy, is sincerely the thing in the world most wished for by, your ever obliged, &c.





DEAR SIR,
AMESBURY, NOV. 10, 1733.


I HAVE only staid to give time for my letter's getting to you. There is some satisfaction in sitting down to write, now that I am something less in your debt; I mean by way of letter. To speak seriously, I must love contradiction more than ever woman did, if I did not obey your commands; for I do sincerely take great pleasure in conversing with you. If you have heard of my figure abroad, it is no more than I have done on both sides of my ears, (as the saying is): for I did not cut and curl my hair like a sheep's head, or wear one of their trolloping sacks; and by not so doing, I did give some offence.

We have seen many very fine towns, and travelled through good roads, and pleasant countries. I like Flanders in particular, because it is the likest to England. The inns were very unlike those at home, being much cleaner and better served; so that here I could not maintain my partiality with common justice. As to the civilizing any of that nation, it would employ more ill spent time fruitlessly than any

Vol. XIII.
H
one