the expedition of humphry clinker-第6部分

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rains；　that　render　this　place　to　me　intolerable。　If　these　waters；
from　a　small　degree　of　astringency；　are　of　some　service　in　the
diabetes；　diarrhoea；　and　night　sweats；　when　the　secretions　are
too　much　increased；　must　not　they　do　harm　in　the　same　proportion；
where　the　humours　are　obstructed；　as　in　the　asthma；　scurvy；　gout
and　dropsy？　　Now　we　talk　of　the　dropsy；　here　is　a　strange
fantastical　oddity；　one　of　your　brethren；　who　harangues　every　day
in　the　Pump…room；　as　if　he　was　hired　to　give　lectures　on　all
subjects　whatsoever　　I　know　not　what　to　make　of　him　
Sometimes　he　makes　shrewd　remarks；　at　other　times　he　talks　like
the　greatest　simpleton　in　nature　　He　has　read　a　great　deal；　but
without　method　or　judgment；　and　digested　nothing。　He　believes
every　thing　he　has　read；　especially　if　it　has　any　thing　of　the
marvellous　in　it　and　his　conversation　is　a　surprizing　hotch…potch
of　erudition　and　extravagance。　He　told　me　t'other　day；　with　great
confidence；　that　my　case　was　dropsical；　or；　as　he　called　it；
leucophlegmatic：　A　sure　sign；　that　his　want　of　experience　is
equal　to　his　presumption　　for；　you　know；　there　is　nothing
analogous　to　the　dropsy　in　my　disorder　　I　wish　those
impertinent　fellows；　with　their　ricketty　understandings；　would
keep　their　advice　for　those　that　ask　it。　Dropsy；　indeed！　Sure　I
have　not　lived　to　the　age　of　fifty…five；　and　had　such　experience
of　my　own　disorder；　and　consulted　you　and　other　eminent
physicians；　so　often；　and　so　long；　to　be　undeceived　by　such　a　
But；　without　all　doubt；　the　man　is　mad；　and；　therefore；　what　he
says　is　of　no　consequence。　I　had；　yesterday；　a　visit　from
Higgins；　who　came　hither　under　the　terror　of　your　threats；　and
brought　me　in　a　present　a　brace　of　hares；　which　he　owned　he　took
in　my　ground；　and　I　could　not　persuade　the　fellow　that　he　did
wrong；　or　that　I　would　ever　prosecute　him　for　poaching　　I　must
desire　you　will　wink　hard　at　the　practices　of　this　rascallion；
otherwise　I　shall　be　plagued　with　his　presents；　which　cost　me
more　than　they　are　worth。　　If　I　could　wonder　at　any　thing
Fitzowen　does；　I　should　be　surprized　at　his　assurance　in　desiring
you　to　solicit　my　vote　for　him　at　the　next　election　for　the
county：　for　him；　who　opposed　me；　on　the　like　occasion；　with　the
most　illiberal　competition。　You　may　tell　him　civilly；　that　I　beg
to　be　excused。　Direct　your　next　for　me　at　Bath；　whither　I　propose
to　remove　to…morrow；　not　only　on　my　own　account；　but　for　the　sake
of　my　niece；　Liddy；　who　is　like　to　relapse。　The　poor　creature
fell　into　a　fit　yesterday；　while　I　was　cheapening　a　pair　of
spectacles；　with　a　Jew…pedlar。　I　am　afraid　there　is　something
still　lurking　in　that　little　heart　of　hers；　which　I　hope　a　change
of　objects　will　remove。　Let　me　know　what　you　think　of　this　half…witted
Doctor's　impertinent；　ridiculous；　and　absurd　notion　of　my
disorder　　So　far　from　being　dropsical；　I　am　as　lank　in　the
belly　as　a　grey…hound；　and；　by　measuring　my　ancle　with　a　pack…thread；
I　find　the　swelling　subsides　every　day。　From　such　doctors；
good　Lord　deliver　us！　　I　have　not　yet　taken　any　lodgings　in
Bath；　because　there　we　can　be　accommodated　at　a　minute's　warning；
and　I　shall　choose　for　myself　　I　need　not　say　your　directions
for　drinking　and　bathing　will　be　agreeable　to；

Dear　Lewis；
Yours　ever；
MAT。　BRAMBLE

P。S。　I　forgot　to　tell　you；　that　my　right　ancle　pits；　a　symptom；
as　I　take　it；　of　its　being　oedematous；　not　leucophlegmatic。



To　Miss　LETTY　WILLIS；　at　Gloucester

HOT　WELL；　April　21。

MY　DEAR　LETTY；

I　did　not　intend　to　trouble　you　again；　till　we　should　be　settled
at　Bath；　but　having　the　occasion　of　Jarvis；　I　could　not　let　it
slip；　especially　as　I　have　something　extraordinary　to　communicate。
O；　my　dear　companion！　What　shall　I　tell　you？　for　several　days
past　there　was　a　Jew…looking　man；　that　plied　at　the　Wells　with　a
box　of　spectacles；　and　he　always　eyed　me　so　earnestly；　that　I
began　to　be　very　uneasy。　At　last；　he　came　to　our　lodgings　at
Clifton；　and　lingered　about　the　door；　as　if　he　wanted　to　speak　to
somebody　　I　was　seized　with　an　odd　kind　of　fluttering；　and
begged　Win　to　throw　herself　in　his　way：　but　the　poor　girl　has
weak　nerves；　and　was　afraid　of　his　beard。　My　uncle；　having
occasion　for　new　glasses；　called　him　up　stairs；　and　was　trying　a
pair　of　spectacles；　when　the　man；　advancing　to　me；　said　in　a
whisper　　O　gracious！　what　d'ye　think　he　said？　　'I　am　Wilson！'
His　features　struck　me　that　very　moment　it　was　Wilson；　sure
enough！　but　so　disguised；　that　it　would　have　been　impossible　to
know　him；　if　my　heart　had　not　assisted　in　the　discovery。　I　was　so
surprised；　and　so　frightened　that　I　fainted　away；　but　soon
recovered；　and　found　myself　supported　by　him　on　the　chair；　while
my　uncle　was　running　about　the　room；　with　the　spectacles　on　his
nose；　calling　for　help。　I　had　no　opportunity　to　speak　to　him；　but
looks　were　sufficiently　expressive。　He　was　payed　for　his　glasses；
and　went　away。　Then　I　told　Win　who　he　was；　and　sent　her　after　him
to　the　Pump…room；　where　she　spoke　to　him；　and　begged　him　in　my
name　to　withdraw　from　the　place；　that　he　might　not　incur　the
suspicion　of　my　uncle　or　my　brother；　if　he　did　not　want　to　see　me
die　of　terror　and　vexation。　The　poor　youth　declared；　with　tears
in　his　eyes；　that　he　had　something　extraordinary　to　communicate；
and　asked；　if　she　would　deliver　a　letter　to　me：　but　this　she
absolutely　refused；　by　my　order。　　Finding　her　obstinate　in　her
refusal；　he　desired　she　would　tell　me　that　he　was　no　longer　a
player；　but　a　gentleman；　in　which　character　he　would　very　soon
avow　his　passion　for　me；　without　fear　of　censure　or　reproach　
Nay；　he　even　discovered　his　name　and　family；　which；　to　my　great
grief；　the　simple　girl　forgot；　in　the　confusion　occasioned　by　her
being　seen　talking　to　him　by　my　brother；　who　stopt　her　on　the
road；　and　asked　what　business　she　had　with　that　rascally　Jew。　She
pretended　she　was　cheapening　a　stay…hook；　but　was　thrown　into
such　a　quandary；　that　she　forgot　the　most　material　part　of　the
information；　and　when　she　came　home；　went　into　an　hysteric　fit　of
laughing。　This　transaction　happened　three　days　ago；　during　which
he　has　not　appeared；　so　that　I　suppose　he　has　gone。　Dear　Letty！
you　see　how　Fortune　takes　pleasure　in　persecuting　your　poor
friend。　If　you　should　see　him　at　Gloucester　　or　if　you　have
seen　him；　and　know　his　real　name　and　family；　pray　keep　me　no
longer　in　suspence　　And　yet；　if　he　is　under　no　obligation　to
keep　himself　longer　concealed；　and　has　a　real　affection　for　me；　I
should　hope　he　will；　in　a　little　time；　declare　himself　to　my
relations。　Sure；　if　there　is　nothing　unsuitable　in　the　match；
they　won't　be　so　cruel　as　to　thwart　my　inclinations　　O　what
happiness　would　then　be　my　portion！　I　can't　help　indulging　the
thought；　and　pleasing　my　fancy　with　such　agreeable　ideas；　which
after　all；　perhaps；　will　never　be　realized　　But；　why　should　I
despair？　who　knows　what　will　happen？　　We　set　out　for　Bath　to…morrow；
and　I　am　almost　sorry　for　it；　as　I　begin　to　be　in　love
with　solitude；　and　this　is　a　charming　romantic　place。　The　air　is
so　pure；　the　Downs　are　so　agreeable；　the　furz　in　full　blossom；
the　ground　enamelled　with　daisies；　and　primroses；　and　cowslips；
all　the　trees　bursting　into　leaves；　and　the　hedges　already
clothed　with　their　vernal　livery；　the　mountains　covered　with
flocks　of　sheep　and　tender　bleating　wanton　lambkins　playing；
frisking；　and　skipping　from　side　to　side；　the　groves　resound　with
the　notes　of　blackbird；　thrush；　and　linnet；　and　all　night　long
sweet　Philomel　pours　forth　her　ravishingly　delightful　song。　Then；
for　variety；　we　go　down　to　the　nymph　of　Bristol　spring；　where　the
company　is　assembled　before　dinner；　so　good　natured；　so　free；　so
easy；　and　there　we　drink　the　water　so　clear；　so　pure；　so　mild；　so
charmingly　maukish。　There　the　fun　is　so　chearful　and　reviving；
the　weather　so　soft；　the　walk　so　agreeable；　the　prospect　so
amusing；　and　the　ships　and　boats　going　up　and　down　the　river；
close　under　the　windows　of　the　Pump…room；　afford　such　an
enchanting　variety　of　Moving　Pictures；　as　require　a　much　abler
pen　than　mine　to　describe。　To　make　this　place　a　perfect　paradise
to　me；　nothing　is　wanting　but　an　agreeable　companion　and　sincere
friend；　such　as　my
dear　miss　Willis　hath　been；　and　I　hope　still　will　be；　to　her　ever
faithful。

LYDIA　MELFORD

Direct　for　me；　still　under　cover；　to　Win；　and　Jarvis　will　take
care　to　convey　it　safe。　Adieu。



To　Sir　WATKIN　PHILLIPS；　of　Jesus　college；　Oxon。

BATH；　April　24。

DEAR　PHILLIPS；

You　have；　indeed；　reason　to　be　surprised；　that　I　should　have
concealed　my　correspondence　with　miss　Blackerby　from　you；　to　whom
I　disclosed　all　my　other　connexions　of　that　nature；　but　the　truth
is；　I　never　dreamed　of　any　such　commerce；　till　your　last　informed
me；　that　it　had　produced　something　which　could　not　be　much　longer
concealed。　It　is　a　lucky　circumstance；　however；　that　her
reputation　will　not　suffer　any　detriment；　but　rather　derive
advantage　from　the　discovery；　which　will　prove；　at　least；　that　it
is　not　quite　so　rotten　as　most　people　imagined　　For　my　own
part；　I　declare　to　you；　in　all　the　sincerity　of　friendship；　that；
far　from　having　any　amorous　intercourse　with　the　object　in
question；　I　never　had　the　least　acquaintance　with　her　person；
but；　if　she　is　really　in　the　condition　you　describe；　I　suspect
Mansel　to　be　at　the　bottom　of　the　whole。　His　visits　to　that
shrine　were　no　secret；　and　this　attachment；　added　to　some　good
offices；　which　you　know　he　has　done　me；　since　I　left　Alma…mater；
give　me　a　right　to　believe　him　capable　of　saddling　me　with　this
scandal；　when　my　back　was　turned　　Nevertheless；　if　my　name　can
be　of　any　service　to　him；　he　is　welcome　to　make　use　of　it；　and　if
the　woman　should　be　abandoned　enough　to　swear　his　banding　to　me；
I　must　beg　the　favour　of　you　to　compound　with　the　parish：　I　shall
pay　the　penalty　without　repining；　and　you　will　be　so　good　as　to
draw　upon　me　immediately　for　the　sum　required　　On　this
occasion；　I　act　by　the　advice　of　my　uncle；　who　says　I　shall　have
good…luck　if　I　pass　through　life　without　being　obliged　to　make
many　more　compositions　of　the　same　kind。　The　old　gentleman　told
me　last　night；　with　great　good…humour；　that　betwixt　the　age　of
twenty　and　forty；