of about five and twenty, Sarah Drew might be rather called comely than beautiful, and was about the fame age. They had pafs'd thro' the various labours of the year together, with the greatest fatisfaction; if the milk'd, 'twas his morning and evening care, to bring the cows to her hand; it was but laft fair that he bought her a prefent of green filk for her ftraw hat, and the pofie on her filver ring was of his chufing. Their love was the talk of the whole neighbourhood; for fcandal never affirm'd, that they had any other views than the lawful poffeffion of each other in marriage. It was that very morning that he had obtained the confent of her parents, and it was but till the next week that they were to wait to be happy. Perhaps in the intervals of their work they were now talking of the wedding cloaths, and John was fuiting feveral forts of poppies and field flowers to her complexion, to chufe her a knot for the wedding-day. While they were thus bufied, (it was on the last of July between two or three in the afternoon) the clouds grew black, and fuch a ftorm of lightning and thunder enfued, that all the labourers made the beft of their way to what shelter the trees and hedges afforded. Sarah was frightned, and fell down in a swoon on a heap of barley. John, who never separated from her, fat down by her fide, having raked together two or three heaps, the better to fecure her from the ftorm. Immediately there was heard fo loud a crack, as if heaven had fplit afunder; every one was now follicitous for the safety of his neighbour, and called to one another throughout the field: No answer being returned to those who called to our Lovers, they ftept to the place where they lay; they perceived the barley all in a smoke, and then fpied this faithful pair: John with one arm about Sarah's neck, and the other held over her, as to fkreen her from the lightning. They were ftruck dead, dead, and ftiffen'd in this tender pofture. Sarah's left eye-brow was fing'd, and there appeared a black spot on her breaft: her lover was all over black, but not the leaft figns of life were found in either. Attended by their melancholy companions, they were convey'd to the town, and the next day were interr'd in Stanton-Harcourt Church-yard. My Lord Harcourt, at Mr. Pope's and my requeft, has caused a stone to be placed over them, upon condition that we furnish'd the Epitaph, which is as follows; When Eastern lovers feed the fun'ral fire, On the fame pile the faithful pair expire: Here pitying Heav'n that virtue mutual found, And blafted both, that it might neither wound. Hearts fo fincere th' Almighty faw well pleas'd, Sent his own lightning, and the victims feiz'd. But my Lord is apprehenfive the country people will not understand this, and Mr. Pope fays he'll make one with something of Scripture in it, and with as little of poetry as Hopkins and Sternhold *. Your, &c. I 2 The Epitaph was this, Near this place lie the bodies of were in one inftant killed by Lightning Think not, by rig'rous Judgment feiz'd LET LETTER VII. DEAR GAY, Sept. 11, 1722. Thank you for remembering me; I would do my beft to forget myself, but that, I find, your idea is fo closely connected to me, that I muft forget both together, or neither, I am forry I could. not have a glympfe either of you, or of the Sun (your father) before you went for Bath: But now it pleases me to fee him, and hear of you. Pray put Mr. Congreve in mind. that he has one on this fide of the world who loves him; and that there are more men and women in the universe than Mr. Gay and my Lady Duchefs. There are ladies in and about Richmond, that pretend to value him and yourself; and one of them at leaft may be thought to do it without affectation, namely Mrs. Howard. Pray confult with Dr. Arbuthnot and Dr. Chene, to what exact pitch your belly may be fuffered to fwell, not to outgrow theirs, who are, yet, your betters. Tell Dr. Arbuthnot that even pigeonpyes and hogs-puddings are thought dangerous by our governors; for those that have been fent to the Bishop of Rochefter are open'd and prophanely pry'd into at the Tower: 'Tis the firft time dead pigeons have been fufpected of carrying intelligence. To be ferious, you and Mr. Congrève and the Doctor will be fenfible of my concern and furprize at his commitment, whofe welfare is as much my concern as any friend's I have. I think myfelf a Live well, and fear no sudden fate; Mercy alike to kill or fave. Virtue unmov'd can hear the call, moft ་་་་ most unfortunate wretch: I no fooner love, and, upon knowledge, fix my efteem to any man; but he either dies, like Mr. Craggs, or is fent to imprifonment like the Bifhop. God fend him as well as I wish him, manifeft him to be as innocent as I believe him, and make all his enemies know him as well as I do, that they may think of him as well! If you apprehend this period to be of any danger in being addreffed to you, tell Mr. Congreve or the Doctor, it is writ to them. I am Your, &c. I LETTER VIII. July 13, 1722. Was very much pleas'd, not to fay obliged, by your kind letter, which fufficiently warm'd my heart to have answered it sooner, had I not been deceived (a way one often is deceived) by hearkening to women; who told me that both Lady Burlington and yourself were immediately to return from Tunbridge, and that my Lord was gone to bring you back. The world furnishes us with too many examples of what you complain of in yours, and, I affure you, none of them touch and grieve me fo much as what relates to you. I think your fentiments upon it are the very fame I should entertain: I with thofe we call great men had the fame notions, but they are really the moft little creatures in the world; and the most interested, in all but one point; which is, that they want judgment to know their greateft intereft, to encourage and chuse honeft men for their friends. * Inftead of that they want judgment, propriety of expreffion requires he should have faid-there where they want judgment I 3 I have I have not once feen the perfon you complain of, whom I have of late thought to be, as the Apostle admonifheth, one flesh with his wife. Pray make my fincere compliments to Lord Burlington, whom I have long known to have a stronger bent of mind to be all that is good and honourable, than almost any one of his rank. I have not forgot yours to Lord Bolingbroke, tho' I hope to have speedily a fuller opportunity, he returning for Flanders and France next month. Mrs. Howard has writ you fomething or other in a letter, which, fhe fays, the repents. She has as much good nature as if she had never seen any ill nature, and had been bred among lambs and turtledoves, inftead of Princes and court-ladies. in our By the end of this week, Mr. Fortescue will pafs a few days with me: we shall remember you potations, and wish you a fifher with us, on my grafs-plat. In the mean time we wish you fuccefs as a fifher of women at the Wells, a rejoycer of the comfortless and widow, and a play-fellow of the maiden. I am Your, &c. LETTER IX. Sept. 11, 1722. I my Think it obliging in you to defire an account of health. The truth is, I have never been in a worse state in my life, and find whatever I have try'd as a remedy fo ineffectual, that I give myself entirely over. I wish your health may be fet perfectly right by the waters; and, be affured, I not only wish that, and every thing else for you, as common friends with, but with a zeal not ufual among those we call fo. I am always glad to hear of, and from |