Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]

mon of his, On the excellency of the Chriftian religion, oppofed to Heathen philofophy. "Chriftian "wifdom (faith he) is without partiality. It is 66 not calculated for this or that nation or people, "but the whole race of mankind; not to the "philofophical schemes, which were narrow and "confined, adapted to their peculiar towns, governments, or fects; but in every nation, "he that feareth God, and worketh righteouf"nefs, is accepted with him. Laftly, It is with(6 out hypocrify: It appears to be what it really "is; it is all of a piece. By the doctrines of "the gospel, we are fo far from being allowed "to publish to the world thofe virtues we have not, that we are commanded to hide, even from "ourselves, thofe we really have, and not to let

[ocr errors]

our right hand know what our left hand does; "unlike feveral branches of the Heathen wifdom, "which pretended to teach infenfibility and in"difference, magnanimity and contempt of life, "while at the fame time in other parts it belied "its own doctrines.”

*

*Several other particulars in Swift's character, and various anecdotes concerning him, will be found in the notes throughout all the first eleven volumes of this work, particularly in the Criticifis prefixed to vols. 1. and 8.

Some

Some particulars concerning DR SWIFT,

Taken from MRS PILKINGTON's Memoirs.

M

RS Pilkington's acquaintance with Dr Swift, commenced from fending him the lines on his birth-day, vol. ix. These the Dean received very kindly, and faid, he would fee her whenever the pleased.

A few days after, fhe was introduced to the Dean in Dr Delany's garden at Delville, by a gentlewoman. He faluted her, and asked the lady, if fhe was her daughter? The lady fmiled, and faid, fhe was Mrs Pilkington. "What," fays he, "this poor little child married! God 66 help her, the is early engaged to trouble." The Dean engaging Mr Pilkington to preach for him at the cathedral next Sunday, invited her, with the reft of the company, to dinner. As the communion is adminiftred every Sunday in St Patrick's church, Mrs Pilkington was charmed to fee with what a becoming piety the Dean performed that holy fervice, which he had fo much at heart, that he wanted not the affiftance of the liturgy, but went quite through it without ever looking in the book. He bowed at the table; which behaviour was cenfured, as favouring of Popery. But this circumftance may vindicate him from the wicked afperfion of being deemed

an

an unbeliever, fince it is plain he had the utmoft reverence for the eucharift. Service being ended, the Dean was furrounded at the church-door, by a croud of poor; to all of whom he gave charity, except an old woman, who held out a very dirty hand to him. He told her, very gravely, That though fhe was a beggar, water was not fo fcarce but fhe might have washed her hands. When they came to the deanry, the Dean kindly faluted Mrs Pilkington, and, without allowing her time to fit down, bade her come and fee his library; but merrily told Mr Pilkington, who was for following them, that he did not defire his company. "Well," faid he to her, " I have "brought you here to fhew you all the money I got when I was in the miniftry; but don't ❝fteal any of it." "I wont indeed, Sir," faid fhe. So opening a cabinet, he fhewed her a parcel of empty drawers: "Blefs me,” says he, “the money is flown." He then opened his bureau, wherein he had a great number of curious trinkets of various kinds, fome of which were prefented to him by the Earl and Countess of Oxford, Lady Mafham, and Lady Betty Germain. At last coming to a drawer filled with medals, he bade her chufe two for herself; but he could not help fmiling, when fhe began to poize them in her hands, chufing them by weight rather than antiquity.

At dinner the Dean's behaviour was very huHe placed himself at the head of his table,

morous.

table, oppofite to a great pier glass, so that he could fee in the glass whatever the fervants did behind him. He was ferved entirely in plate, with great elegance. But the beef being overroafted, put the company all in confufion. The Dean called for the cook-maid, and ordered her to take the beef down ftairs, and do it lefs. She anfwered, very innocently, that he could not. Why, what fort of a creature are you," fays he, to commit a fault which cannot be amend"ed ?" And turning to Mrs Pilkington, he said very gravely, "That he hoped, as the cook was

[ocr errors]

a woman of genius, he fhould, by this manner "of arguing, be able in about a year's time to "convince her fhe had better fend up the meat "too little than too much done;" charging the men fervants, whenever they imagined the meat was ready, they should take it' spit and all, and bring it up by force, promising to aid them in cafe the cook refifted. Then turning his eye on the looking-glafs, he efpied the butler opening a bottle of ale; and helping himfelf to the firft glafs, he very kindly jumbled the reft together, that his mafter and guests might all fare alike. "Ha! "friend," faid the Dean, "Sharp's the word, "I find; you drank my ale, for which I ftop 66 two fhillings of your board wages this week ; "for I fcorn to be outdone in any thing, even "in cheating."

Dinner being ended, the Dean thanked Mr Pilkington for his fermon: "I never," faid he, "preached

"preached but twice in my life; and then they

were not fermons, but pamphlets." Mrs Pilkington asked him what might be the fubject of them? He told her, they were againft Wood's halfpence. Having afked Mr and Mrs Pilkington if they could smoke? and being answered that they did not; ""Tis a fign," said he, " you "were neither of you bred in the univerfity of "Oxford; for drinking and fmoking are the "first rudiments of learning taught there and "in those two arts, no univerfity in Europe can "outdo them." Having afked Mrs Pilkington, if she had any faults? "Pray, Mr Dean," said Dr Delany, "why will you be fo unpolite as to fuppofe Mrs Pilkington has any faults?" "I'll "tell you," replied the Dean; "whenever I fee "a number of agreeable qualities in a perfon, I << am always fure they have bad ones fufficient to << poize the fcale." Mrs Pilkington bowed, and told him, he did her great honour; in that copying Bishop Berkeley, whom she had frequently heard declare, That when any speech was made to him, which might be conftrued either into a compliment, or an affront, or that had two handles, he always took hold of the best.

66

The Dean then afked Mrs Pilkington, if fhe were a Queen, what fhe would chufe to have after dinner? She anfwered, "Your converfa"tion, Sir?" Pooh !" faid he, "I mean, what

[ocr errors]

regale ?" "A difh of coffee, Sir," anfwered

fhe.

"Why then," faid he, "I will so far

"make

« AnteriorContinuar »