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The fertile Samuel Johnson furnishes lovers with suitable asperities to exchange during tiffs. There is an admirable letter from a lady in reply to her jealous lover's accusation that she showed too much partiality in public to a Mr Careless:
Dear Sir, I received your unkind letter which I must declare I could not comprehend. No circumstance of my life I presume can prove me guilty of any impropriety or indecorum. I certainly thought proper to disguise our partiality; and therefore last night, at Lady Riot's, to endeavour to conceal my real ' love, for fear of incurring the sarcastic ridicule of our friends. In my opinion nothing is more imprudent, nothing more offensive, than for lovers to appear lovers in company; it is both disagreeable and disgusting to society. 1 trust I have said sufficient to remove all your groundless fears and assure you how I am, Yours sincerely. The gentlemen come off badly in most of these lovers' exchanges. One of them writes, in dignified strain, to a coquette: The proposals I made to you were not only honourable but sincere; and whilst you seemed inclined to listen, you was at the same time encouraging the addresses of several idle fops and vain witlings, who not only bring disgrace on their own sex but too often bring reproach on yours. ... If these Hints are taken as they are meant and effect a happy reformation I shall be proud both to repeat my visits and renew my professions; but if vanity and conceit close your ears against the friendly admonition of a lover, pardon Mm, Madam, if for the future he disclaims that title. I am, Your very humble servant. The lady, far from accepting this in the spirit in which it is offered, accuses her admirer of vanity and conceit, and says, 'If I... amuse myself with a train of empty admirers (amongst whom perhaps I rated you) for the gratification of punishing their arrogance, am I, pray, responsible to you for those whims? ... I therefore request that you will keep your hints and admonitions to yourself. .. .' A letter 'From a Father to a Son Respecting Seduction' owes nothing in inspiration to Lord Chesterfield: I should be unwilling, nay exceedingly mortified, that you should stain the credit of your family and sully your name by an improper union. I must suspect, with some reason, that a lady who admits the clandestine visits of a gentleman and is only to be seen with him when the dusky shadow of night adds to her concealment is guided by no honourable views or at least is so weak and imprudent that she may be guilty of the same after marriage. I hope I have said enough to banish from your breast such vile designs, if there be any.... So much for a father's solicitude. What is the duty of an aunt who has heard that her niece has become engaged to a bad character? Samuel Johnson has anticipated just such a contingency as this. After a disclaimer of 'officious impertinence', the aunt is made to say: I am informed that you have imprudently given encouragement to the addresses of that insignificant coxcomb Mr Buck-nail and absolutely admitted him as a suitor.... The accounts I hear of the young man are exceedingly alarming; he has been the ruin, I understand, of two unguarded females in the country, who, after he seduced, he abandoned to their misery. . . . Your education has been good; therefore I cannot think you destitute of understanding; you have been from your infancy taught ways of virtue; therefore I cannot think you will wilfully swerve from the path of rectitude. Reflect seriously, then, on the evil tendency of this unthinking behaviour.... |