Madam, Your most obedient oblig’d servant, John Dryden.
For my Honour’d Cousine, Mrs Steward, att Cotterstock, These.
LETTER XXVIII.
TO ELMES STEWARD, ESQ.
MY HONOUR’D COUSIN, [Probably, Nov. 20. 1698.]
I shou’d have received your letter with too much satisfaction, if it had not been allay’d with the bad news of my cousin your wife’s indisposition; which yet I hope will not continue. I am sure, if care and love will contribute to her health, she will want neither from so tender a husband as you are: and indeed you are both worthy of each other. You have been pleased, each of you, to be kind to my sonn[145] and me, your poor relations, without any merit on our side, unless you will let our gratitude pass for our desert. And now you are pleas’d to invite another trouble on your self, which our bad company may possibly draw upon you next year, if I have life and health to come into Northamptonshire; and that you will please not to make so much a stranger of me another time.—I intend my wife shall tast the plover you did me the favour to send me. If either your lady or you shall at any time honour me with a letter, my house is in Gerard-street, the fifth door on the left hand, comeing from Newport-street. I pray God I may hear better news of both your healths, and of my good cousin Creed’s,[146] and my cousin Dorothy,[147] than I have had while I was in this country. I shall languish till you send me word; and I assure you I write this without poetry, who am, from the bottome of my heart,
My honour’d cousin’s most obliged Humble servant, John Dryden.
My sonn and I kiss my cousin Steward’s hand; and give our service to your sister, and pretty Miss Betty.
For my Honour’d Cousin, Elmes Steward, Esq. Att Cotterstock.
LETTER XXIX.
TO MRS STEWARD.
MADAM, Nov. 23d, 1698.