Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 13.djvu/350

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338
LETTERS TO AND FROM

worn out with disorders of mind and body; a long fit of deafness, which still continues, hath unqualified me for conversing, or thinking, or reading, or hearing; to all this is added an apprehension of giddiness, whereof I have frequently some frightful touches. Besides, I can hardly write ten lines without twenty blunders, as you will see by the number of scratchings and blots before this letter is done: into the bargain, I have not one rag of memory left; and my friends have all forsaken me, except Mrs. Whiteway; who preserves some pity for my condition, and a few others who love wine that costs them nothing. As to my taking a journey to Cavan, I am just as capable as of a voyage to China, or of running races at Newmarket. But, to speak in the Latinitas Grattaniana; Tu clamas meretrix primus; for we have all expected you here at Easter, as you were used to do. Your musterroll of meat is good, but of drink in sup port able. Yew wann twine. My stress Albavia has eaten here all your hung beef, and said it was very good. The affair of high importance in their family is, that miss Molly hath issued out orders, with great penalties, to be called Mrs. Harrison: which caused many speck you'll ash owns. —— I am now come to the noli me tan jerry, which begg inns wyth mad dam. — So I will go on by the strength of my own wit upon points of the high est imp or taunts. I have been very curious in considering that fruitful word ling; which explains many fine qualities in ladies, such as grow ling, ray ling, tip ling (seldom) toy ling, mumb ling, grumb ing, curr ling, puss ling, buss ling, strew ing, ramb ling, quarry ling, tat ling, whiff ling, dabb ling, doub ling. These are but as ample o fan hunn dread mower: they have

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