1

bracing me again, when I thank'd him for his Remark, lead me down Stairs. After Dinner we took a Difh of Tea, Mr. B being tired lay down, and flept about two Hours, which Time I employ'd in reading Dr. Sherlock upon Death.

When my dear Mafter had taken his Nap he fat him down to amufe himself with the trifling Minutes I wrote you, on which he was pleas'd to make me fome agreeable Compliments. Afterwards he faid, my Pamela, I beg you won't on what I have faid alter your Paraphrafe of the hundred and third Pfalm; for by that, which I affure you excels what I have hitherto feen of your Verfification, we fhall fee what Strength your Muse gathers with Time. I promis'd him I would

let it ftand without Alteration.

Well, Madam, faid my dear Mafter to my Mother, what may you have earn'd to-day by your Wheel? Really, Sir, anfwer'd my good Parent, your exceffive Bounty has made me in a manner contract a Habit of Idleness; I cannot boaft of the Work I have done. Madam, replied he, Providence has made me the happy Inftrument to reward your laudable Refignation, and exemplary "Humility and Piety. Look on me as your Son, and what I do the Effects of filial Duty, and if you will indeed oblige me, you will never more mention your being obliged by me.

Mr. Andrews, I fancy you, Langman and I could cope with a Bottle of Burgundy. Ay, faid I, and fomebody else would not be angry if fhe was ask'd to drink a Glafs. Say you fo? then, Longman, fee if you have Intereft enough with Jonathan to get us a couple of Bottles. No, no, faid I Yes, yes, faid he, I would not have my Boy baulk'd, 'twould be hard he thould meet with Difappointment from the World before he comes into

M 3

it:

it: This Anfwer fet my Face in a Glow, for he had hit the Nail on the Head; I had an Hour before eagerly wifh'd for a Glafs of Burgandy. When a Bottle was uncork'd he fill'd me a Bumper, I drank it with fuch Greedinefs, that not only Mr. B, but my Parents, and Mr. Longman took notice of it; and my Mother faid, my Dear, I am fure you would not be difpleas'd if Mr. B help'd you to just such another Glafs: Answer me without Evafion. Madam, I replied, I am furprized at myself, for I fhould only find Fault that the Glafs is too little. Mr. B embracing me faid, now, my Pamela, you are obliging, and calling Jonathan, order'd a Beer Glafs, fill'd it up, and bid me drink just so much as I liked. I clapped it to my Mouth, and left not a Drop, tho' it contain'd a Pint. Mr. B laughing faid, well perform'd, my Girl, why thou art a boon Companion; every Day brings to light fome new Virtue in thee; e'en make an End of thy Bottle. Truly, Sir, faid I, a very little Perfuafion would induce me to follow your Advice. To make short, my dear Jervis, I drank out the two Bottles before I was fatisfied, and tho’ all this Wine had no Effect on my Head, as I apprehended it might, by way of Precaution I went to my Room, and having perform'd my Duty to Heaven, hurried into Bed, where I flept without (I believe) ftirring Hand or Foot.

Mr. B call'd Jonathan to bring more 'Wine, and ordered him not to forget to put a Couple of Dozen Bottles of Burgundy into Sir Simon's Coach on Monday for his Miftrefs. Think you, Friend Jonathan, we have not tafted a Drop of these two Bottles? this my Mother told me next Day. Jonathan anfwer'd, much good do her fweet Heart an it were a Hogfhead. What Time

Mr.

Mr. B
ver heard him.

came to Bed I know not, for I ne

Saturday we faw nobody, and nothing pafs'd worth fending you an Account, except my drinking a whole Bottle of Burgundy at Dinner, and two at Supper to my own Share, without finding any Alteration by this large Quantity of strong Wine....

I would fain have one of these Men of Reason, who are for calling upon the Creator to account to their Reason for his Decrees, and refufe Belief to whatever is not demonftrable as a Ploblem in the Mathematicks, to affign a Reason why a pregnant Woman fhall not be affected with fix times the Quantity of Wine, which at another time would deprive her of Senfe and Motion; or why, if her Appetite is not gratified, the Child fhe goes with fall bear the Mark of the Thing fhe longed for. Alas, how limited is our Knowledge of Nature, and how great our Vanity in thinking we can penetrate the Reafons why the eternal Will has enjoined fuch a Faith, or the Performance of fuch Duties! Well, faid the Philofopher, all that I know is, that I know nothing; and, indeed, the Knowledge of our own Ignorance is, in my Opínion, knowing a great deal.

My dear Jervis, I pray the Almighty to have you under his Protection; believe me this Prayer is from the Bottom, the very Bottom of my Heart; for I am with great Sincerity, and a thorough grateful Senfe of what I owe your Friendship, your devoted Friend.

Sunday Evening. Mr. Brown this Day gave us two very edifying Sermons, for which he had the Thanks of our Family. When we return'd from Church in the Afternoon, I retired to my Chamber, and opening the Bible at the the 37th Pfalm,

was

was prompted by a strong Inclination to paraphrase Part of it in Verfe, or more properly to make an humble Imitation of it in Rhime, of which I fend you a Copy.

WH

PLALM XXXVII.

"HAT, tho' the Wicked profper in their Ways,
And Health and Riches crown their latest
Days;

Though Plutus with his Gold a Suppliant waits,
And Fortune asks Admittance at their Gates,
Obfequious to perform what they require,
And, inftant, gratify each fond Defire:
Indulged in Eafe, altho' they Strangers are,
To all the Ills in Life, to ev'ry Care;

Shalt thou be vext? grieving, shalt thou repine,
Or
envy'ing wish their Bappy Lat were thine?
Shoud'ft thou God's Providence impeach for this
Or of the Rules of Virtue think amifs?

Woud'
ft thou, enamour'd with their Pomp and State,
Dare to be wicked, that thou might'ft be great?.
What caufes now thy Anger or Surprize,
Or thou mayft view with wishing envious Eyes;:
Of bort Duration is, fball pass away
Like the fort Sun-fbine of a Winter's Day:
Like verdant Grafs, or the gay-vary'd Flow'r,
(Whofe Beauties, unregarded, by the Mow'r,)
Promifcuous falls, and levell'd with the Earth,
Is wither'd by the Heat which gave it Birth.
Make thou thy Happiness in this confift,
To truft in him, by whom thou doft exist.
Precarious Riches are; as vain is State;
The Good, alone, are truly rich and great:
In God confide; and from, whate'er's thy Store,
Relieve with chearful Heart th'induftrious Poor.

Feed thou the Hungry, and the Naked cloath, Nor let thine Eyes the naufeous Prison loath;

Give

there

Give Charity thine Hand, fhe'll lead thee
Wilt thou fee enthron'd, the Fiend Defpair.
Drive thence the Fury, and do thou impartido,
With lib'ral Hand, and with a tender Heart,
Comfort to Captives, who no Comfort know;
But labour under complicated Woe.
Vifit the Sick, nor be deterr'd by Fear
Of his Diftemper, or contagious Air,
Is not th' Almighty prefent ev'ry where?
Comfort the Man on whom Afflictions fall,
And be thon good, in doing Good to all.

}

Shoud'st thou thy felf fevere Misfortunes prove.
(E'en God's Chaftifements are th' Effects of Love ;)»
Be not dejected, or deprefs'd with Care,
But have Recourfe to God in fervent Prayer:
Delight thou still in him, and in his Ways,
Nor do thou ceafe the Tribute of thy Praife.
Do thou perform the Duty he requires,
And he will grant thee all thy Heart deftres
Shou'd envious Calumny attack thy Fame,
And vile Detraction odious make thy Name;
Yet will thy God thy Innocency clear,

And all thefe fland'rous Clouds fball difappear;
Nay, as the Sun just breaking from a Cloud,
Which for a while its Glories did enshroud,
Seems to have gather'd Force, and fhines more bright,
So fball thy Innocence be Sight to Light:
Yet in the Interim do thou refign,
Confide in God, and dare not to repine;
Say not, fuch thrive whofe Dealings are unjust,
Yet I'm opprefs'd who place in God my Truft.
Wait thou with Patience, on Omniscience reft,
Who made the World, knows how to rule it beft..
If profp'rous Villainy excites thy Rage,
Reafon confulted, will the Storm affwage:

But