Friar. You will have the bridegroom follow, Where he generally leads; 'Stead of hymeneal flowers, He will wear sepulchral weeds: I to Romeo will quickly Write a letter by the post; He will wake you, and should Paris Meet you,—say you are your ghost!
Juliet. 'Tis an excellent arrangement, As you bid me I will act; But within the tomb, dear friar, Place a basket nicely pack'd;— Just a loaf, a tongue, a chicken, Port and sherry, and some plums; It will really be a comfort Should I wake e'er Romeo comes!
CHAPTER IN THE LIFE OF A STATESMAN,
BEING INEDITED LETTERS OF ADDISON.
NOW FIRST PRINTED FROM THE AUTOGRAPH ORIGINALS.
The following letters, which have never before been published, are exceedingly curious, as exhibiting Addison in a new point of view, and as displaying traits in that celebrated man's character, differing very materially from those which his biographers have recorded. They are addressed to Charles Montague, Earl of Halifax, and to Monsieur Robethon, secretary to the Elector of Hanover, afterwards George the First of England. They represent Addison as eager for place and pension, yearning after pecuniary reward, dwelling upon services unrequited, urging his utmost interest to procure some new emoluments, and discontentedly comparing his own condition with that of other more fortunate placemen. Leaving the letters to speak for themselves, it is only necessary to add that they are accompanied by a few notes which furnish some new data in the family history of the writer.
TO CHARLES MONTAGUE, EARL OF HALIFAX.
Dublin Castle, May 7, 1709.
My Lord,—I am glad of any occasion of paying my duty to your lordship, and therefore cannot but lay hold of this, in transmitting to your lordship our Lord Lieutenant's[71] speech at the opening of the parliament, with a couple of addresses from the House of Commons upon that occasion. Your lordship will see by them that all parties have set out in good-humour, which is entirely owing to his excellency's conduct, who has addressed himself so all sorts of men since his arrival here, with unspeakable application. They were under great apprehensions, at his first coming, that he would drive directly at repealing the Test, and had formed themselves into a very strong body for its defence; but, as their minds are at present pretty quiet upon that head, they appear willing to enter into all other measures that he would have them. Had he proceeded otherwise, it is easie to see that all things would have been thrown into the utmost confusion, and a stop put to all public business. His excellency, however, gains ground daily; and I question not but in a new parliament, where parties are not settled and confirmed, he will be able to lead them into any thing that will be for their real interests and advantage.