The virgin in Eden: or, The state of innocency. Deliver'd by way of image and description. Presenting a nobleman, a student, and heiress, on their progress from Sodom to Canaan. With the parable of the shepherd, Zachariah, and Mary ... To which are added, Pamela's letters proved to be immodest roman online

•* of the Wicked prevail fo far as ever to draw them back,
** or caufe their Souls to relapfc, but endue them with thy
*' Heavenly Aid, and give them fufEcicnt Strength to anfwer
** the Atheift and Deift in their erroneous Notions: O
*' thou Father of Light illuminate their Minds by the
** powerful Influence of thy divine Spirit, and make them
*' truly fenfiblc that Holinefs brings Peace and A flu ranee
** for ever. Thefc Prayers and Praifcs we mofl humbly in-
*' treat thee, O thou Jehovahy to accept, for the
*' Mercies of thy dear Son Jefus Chrifty our blefl'ed
♦* Lord and Saviour,"

At the Conclufion of this Prayer there remained a
profound Silence, the whole Audience kept on their
Knees, folemnizing private Ejaculations to the high God
that reigneth in Glory. ;

As foon as they arofe, every one of the Collegians
had delivered to them, by the Servants of the Chappel,
cither a Harp or fome other mufical Inflrument; then
one of the Defcendants of the Royal Prophet David bcr
gun an Anthem with his Voice and his Harp only,
^ when



t 23 ]

when immediately the whole Audience (except FfUx^
the Student and the Virgin) joined in Concert both
with their Inftruments and Voices; in the heighth of
the Hallelujah every Eye was fixed. upon the new In-
habitants, the Converts. I thought the Eccho. founded
fo melodious as if all the Heavenly Hoft had, for a
Time, come down and affifted in the Hallelujahs and
Praifes in AhrahanCs Houfe in the Land of Canaan ;
the Converts even feemed tranflated from Earth to the
Regions of Light; they rcfembled Saint Paul,, as it
were, when carried out of the Body.

The Anthem being ended, the Virgin rofe up; lam,
faid fhe, fo far carried beyond the frivolous Vanities of
this Vale of fenfual Pleafure, that I could willingly fct
me down in one of the loweft Seats in this Chappd,
and, if it were pcflible, fpend the Remains of Life*
in adoring my Sovereign Creator, and fetting forth his
Praife in Pfalms and fpiritual Songs : O fweet Harmo-
ny! to hear every Morning, Noon and Night, thcfe
Angelical Voices, Emblems of the Church Triumphant,
where Saints inhabit to endlefs Ages: This is to mc a
Forctafte of thofe inexpreffible Delights, in the Enjoy-
ment of which we are to fpend our Days, when our
Spirits are glorified and divefled of a Body of Fleih.

As the Virgin was coming from the Houfe of Prayer,
Sarah^ the Wife of Jbrahaniy came up to her, and ad-
dreflcd her in thefe Words; may this Houfe for ever
thus flourifli, and be continually filled with fuch Con-
verts as you : O virtuous and chaft Virgin ! may every
Kingdom and State imitate fuch your glorious « Ex-
ample ; may every Mannor and private Farm be blcf-
ied with fuch fprcading Branches, that {hoot out of a
noble Stock; may the aged as well as young, look
and drefs themfelves by this Virgin's and the Student's
Glafe. •

Let the Hiftory of thefe Penitents be tranflated into
all Languages, and preferved in every Study and Library
as Records to the End of Time.

For what can contribute more to the Glory and
Safety of any Nation than the examplary Lives of
young Students and Virgins. They will find that the
bifcipL'ne of Religion is not fo ftri(Sl and rigid, as re-
prefented by the Atheifls and Deifts; but on the con-
trary, its Burden is eafy, and its Yoke is light: The
Precepts of holy Writ allows all the innocent Plcafurct
that reafonable Creatures can defire; and abridges its

Votaries



f. 24 J.

Votaries of no Enjoyments but thofe that are apparentljr
prejudicial to their Welfare in both Worlds.

To this Addrcfs of Sarah no Anfwer was returned;
the Virgin feemcd to be veiled with the Mantle of Hu^'
inility, as not afluming any Merit at all in herfelf : this
A6t 1 thought added Beauty to ail her other Virtues.

Then I faw that *the Audience feparated, and left
Felixy the Student and the Virgin to contemplate alone,
by themfclves, in fecret Prayer and private Conference.

Felix fpoke firfl ; fays he, fuppofing there were no Re-
wards or Punifhments, in the future State, neverthelefs,
it is evident that there is more real Satisfaction in one
Day's Converfe in the Converfation of the Righteous,
than in an Age within the Tents of Sodom^ tho' fet
out in all its gaudy Luftre and painted Vanity.

Says the Student, I never as yet found any Plcafure in
a vicious Habit, but what was varnlfhcd over with falfc
Colours, the End Shame and Confufion of Soul.

The Virgin reply'd, where is that particular Vice
that can afford rational Beings any folid Comfort^ or
lafting Tranquility of Mind ? After they had thus given
in their particular Opinions, upon ihefe Subjects, it
was near the going down of the Sun, in the longeft
Day, when the Creation was drefled in her Summer
Habit : The whole Society went into the adjacent Fields
and Meadows, to divert themfclves with an Evening
Repaft, till Supper "was prepared and ready to beforved
up ; when all fat down and jpintly participated of what
Providence had prepared for them. After Grace was
faid, and the Table uncovered, the Servants retired and
•fhut the Door.

Then the Collegians entertained their new Comers
with variety of diverting Difcourfes upon Philofophv,
Arts, Sciences and Hiftorical Records ; thus they fct in
Converfation till the Bell rung to Prayers, and the Cha-
pel illummatcd with Candles, fct in Ciiryflal Branches >
at the End of the Service all the Collegians took up
again, either a Harp, a Lute, or a Dulcimer, and be-,
gun an Hymn joined with their Voices; fo that (the
Luftre of the Scene of the Lights was fo dazzling, and
the Harmony of the Inftruments fo inchanting) I thought
it reprefented the Glories of the invifible World.

Ti:e publick Service of the Day being thus ended, />-
//V, the Student and the Virgin were conducted to their
fcveral Apartments ; all which were hung round with
the Pidures of Mofes^ Aaroriy the Prophets, the Apo-



^, p. ;:.^^.^^-;«:i,..-^.^,.-^^ :.;^';:,_.-^- ■.■.-,^...:..:y^...:»!A^:.-^.,i.t^,i,..,ri>.^.^->i. .



I is 3

files, and the Evahgelifts ; as alfo thofe of ShaJrach^
Mefach aud AbednegOy walking in the midft of a fiery"
Furnace^ without a Hem of their Garments being fmged
by Fire. , . . .

Thefe Images, of departed Saints and Martyh, kept therii'
awake till Midnight j thofe Scences fent their Thoughts
back to the firft original Age, when the Creator, had
finifhed his fix Days Work, and the whole Face of t^e .
Earth appeared in all her new-made Ornaments ; when
the Image of Man had familiar Converfe with his God^
and Abraham talked with him, and heard him anfwer.

I thought, with myfelf, that could I be infpired, but
for one Hour, to converfe with my Creator, and my
Jefus, I (hould think my Soul fafe, and my Aflurancc to
Heaven confirmed.

Then I faw that FellXj the Student and the Virgin^
went to their . private Devotion, to implore Divine Pro-
teflion, during the nightly Shades, that bear the Image of
Death. .

Early in the Morning they all arofe, and put up, their
Ejaculations to their God ; then they opened theCafements
©f their Windows, that looked into the Grove j there they
were entertained with a Choir of Birds, finging on the
Branches of Trees, as if they were bid to welcome them
to Ahraham*s Houfe.

When thefe Matings,-^ of the winged Choir were ovcf,
the Converts walked out of their feparate Apartments into
one of the Gardens, incircled with Borders, decked on
every Side with Flowers, fome blown, others juft peeping
out from the Clifts of their Hoods j at the Sight of thefe
delightful Obje(5ls the Student broke forth, and faidj

" O, how amiable art thou, the Creator, in all thy
*' Works! Who is like unto thee in thy Energies? I have
*' heard of thofe Artifts that could draw the Likene(s of
*' any Thing that appears to their View, but I could nevcr^
*^ as yet, meet with that Mortal whofe Ingenuity crbwn'd
*' him with fuch Succeis as to caufe Flowers to bud and
•* blow, and fpring out of the Earth, without either
*' planting or fowihg Seed."

• Then Felix came out of his Apartment, and went to'
the Student and the Virgin; as they were viewing thefe
glorious Contextures of Nature, fays he, what a wonder-
ful Work was the firfl founding of all thefe Vegetables that
we now behold and wonder- at with Aflonifhment^ not tcr
be cxprefTed in Words or conceived by Thought ?
.1 . ^ -^^'/



t' W Hj HiP iPJl* '



i i 26 ]

FeVix^ the Student and the Virgin continued thus, till
called to receive their Morning Rcfrefliment, of Goo's
good Creatures : Here they ftaid near an Hour, conveHing
with the Collegians upon innocent and inofFenfive Points,
entertaining to the Body, and not hurtful to the SouL

From thence all the Family went to the Morning Service,
and the Inftruments and human Voices broke forth into
high Strains of Praifes ; there was not one jarring Sound
heard in all their Times ; their melodious Notes were fo
fwect and mufical that the very Animals, the Deer in the
Park came up to the Terras Walk, under the Windows
of the Chapel, and liftned attentively to hear the Sound
eccho from above, and in the adjacent Thickets. The a£-
fcmbling together of thcfe Animals, as it were into a
united Company, looked as if they underftood how to pay
their early Tribute to the firft Caufe of all Beings.

From thefe holy Exercifes the Collegians, Felix^ the Stu-
dent and the Virgin went into the Vineyards and Grove,
and feparated into fmall Companies.

The Converts took a bye Path to themfelves. Says the
Student, whenever I look over my Books, in my Study,
it brings to my Mind, that good Men, without ftirring from
their Books, may make great Difcovcries of the
Beauty and Deformity of Nature: For the reading ancient
Authors, and looking back to paft Ages, gives a Hiftory,
or properly fpeaking, a Colleftion of the Crimes and Mif-
'fortunes of Mankind : Tho* thefe Evils do not fill up the
Pages in Record, and include all the Experience of private
Perfons, yet there are every where foraething that is mo*
rally good; fome Examples of Virtue and Happinels ; and
this is that which makes the Difficulty ; for if there were
none but evil and unhappy Men, there would be no occa-
Con of making Remarks between Virtue and Vice ; it is a
Mixture of Happinefs and Virtue,' with Mifery and Vice,
which gives a Scope to Authors to treat upon fuch variety
of Subje^,

Says FeliXy I have often taken an Obfervation of the
Affairs of Mankijid, and conlidering, a litrie, that good
Things are fometimes beftowed upon a Nation, and after-
wards that People are often afflifted for their Offences com-
mitted within themfelvc9.

. The Student aqfwered ; fays he, if we perufe paft Rc«
cprds ever .fo little, we (hall find tho Truth of this Affer-
tiori : I have, read the Obfervations given by the Ingenious,
and there I apprehend that the fame Jupiter, tawhom Sa*
q-^ficqj were offered for a *Vi6lory gained, was honoured

upon



-t rifc'iiim iHhii iiiii â– iriti inmrli *i mWtiiii nin'nii ii ir .



f 27 3

upon bther Occafions, to the end he fhould cdafe to affli^
the People of Heme', and tho' there was one Fejovis^ much
• more inclined to do Evil than to do Good> neverthelefs it
was believed that Dijovis^ or Diefpiters i, e, the God Ju*^
piier^ darted the Thunder Bolts. JuliusGallius explains him*
felf in fuch a manner, that he clearly diilinguifhes Jupitwr
from T^efc^s.

Says Felix^ I apply thcfe Fi<flions of the Poets to the oc»
cafion of our arrival in the Land of Canaan^ from the
Tents of Sodom. Providence has given us from out of her
Fountain of rich Wine, large Portions to drink; and out of
the Fountain there is nothing but bitter Dregs ; fhe has
given full Bowls into the Hands of thofe that dill remain in
Sodoniy and will not make a Progreis to Mount Skn^ .the
New JerufaUm, The Student faid j

I have taken Notice how the Engine of the World run«
round, ibmetimes Profperity points towards the Wicked^
and fometimcs towards the Virtuous. Felix anfwered^

Should a curious Artift undertake to paint the Linea-
ments of Virtue and Vice, and hang Pictures at the Doo^
of our Temples, I am fure ex'ery Peribn, who beheld the
Portraiture, would fay, as they come to divine Worfhipi,
what are Sinners doing? every Figure dcfcribcs them an
Athcift, a Delft, or a Reprobate.

After thefe Conferences, between the Student and Filix^
I obfervcJ, at a diftance, Sarah, Jhraham's Wife, and the
Virgin, fet alone on a Bench in the Grove, difcourfing^to^
gethcr ; I went up to them, their Subjeft was on Death^
the Period of all Mortals.

Says Sarah to the Virgin, this folitiry Retreat puts me
in mind of Mortality, and our fhort continuance here
on Earth : We come into the World with a Cry, and de-
part with a Groan : Our fliort Abode in this Vale, may
well be compared to that of Flowers, which fuddcnly ipring
up in a fruitful Soil : Some appear more gay -and beautiful
than others ; fome begin to blow in the Morning, and o-
thcrs to take their Turns when the Day is farther advanced,
difcovering themfelves by an iiifenfiblc growth ; but a Fate
attends tbem all : For fome are nipt in the Bud ; othets
when a buding; fome are blown to their utmoft extent
before they arc gathered ; others are crc^t off as foon as
their Colours are difplayed: Some die away by the iharp*
nefe of the Air; others by the heat of the Sun: ^ome for
want of Refrefbroent, whilft others continue till the Root is
*<iuitc dried up for want of Moifturc : However, in the ipace

0» of



[28 3

of a few Months there is nothing to be feen but a
Bundle of dry Kecks, or withered Stalks.

To this folemn Relation the Virgin made anfwer ;
fays {he, our firft Parents were created in the infancy
of the World, and ever fince the Generation of Men
have taken their Turns in the feveral Ages of it: Some
depart in their Mother's Womb, and never fee the Light
of the Day : Some come into the World juft to die ;
and others only live fo long in it as to fend forth a few
mournful Cries: Some give their Parents a few Months
Trouble, and depart as foon as weaned from the Breafl :
Some live to hear thcmfelves utter a few intricate Words,
which they do not underfland, and then expire as if
they had never been: Some continue five or fix Years,
anci then fink into the lower Shades : Some ftand the
Shock till fifteen, and then are turned to Dufl : Some
l)are it out to the flower of Youth, and then go down
with Sorrow to the Grave : Some having attained to
the middle Age bid adieu to all their Pleafures, and fall a
Vi6lim to unrelenting Death : Some get up above the
feventieth Year, and leave the World in a good old
Age: Some weather the Storm for ninety Years, and
at lafl die like a Child : So that the Generations that
were formerly living in the World, as we are at pre-
fent, are all dead and gone : And in a fhort Time we
ihall follow the Steps of our Fore-fathers, and Men will
ceafe to be born.

I obferved, that all the Time the Virgin was deli-
vering this Le<5lure of Mortality, Tears diftillcd from her
Eyes like Drops of Water from a Fountain. I was
highly delighted to fee Virtue thus P.ow and fpring up
in the Breaft of a young Virgin : What Philofopher,
what Divine, could deliver himfelf in a more elo-
quent and florid Stile than fhe did ? a Language out of
the common Level of Mankind : Her Voice, her Speech,
conveyed my Thoughts to the Tombs and Charnel Houfe
of Death, the End of all Flefh. No fooner had I cal-
led back my Thoughts from the Habitation of the Dead, but
I heard the Harps, the Lutes and the Dulcimers, tu-
jiing their Notes in the Grove: Here I fencied myfelf
tranflated out of the Body, and carried up into the Regions
-above ; for the Mufick feemed to dye in a diflant Sound,
land its Notes raifed up beyond the Airy Regions.
' Thefe, and fuch like, arc the Amufements of every
Day, within the Verge of Abraham's Houfe: One Porr
iion of Time is fpent to converfe and talk with God;
"'•' ' •/ . . another



[ 29 }

another Part is allotted for Prayer, and fome for PleafureV '
So that the Body is refrefhed as well as the Soul, with fuch
Diverfities and Changes of Duties and Exercifes. At other
Seafons of the Day and Night fome adjourn to their Clofets,
fome to the Vineyards, or wherever virtuous or innocent
Diverfions leads them : No Vice or Irregularities arc feca '
or heard within this Retreat fronj Sodom.

Here every Hour fecms to be a Thankfgiving, or a Co-
ronation Day : All are inftru(^ed in facred Writ ; every
Text is truly explained, and expounded ; as alfo Philofo-
phy. Arts and Sciences, Voyages and Travels : Thefc Re-
cords are depofited in jibrahanCs Library,

/V//>, the Student and the Virgin, frequently retire to the
Park, and walk round the Canals, viewing the Robes of
State with which " the divine Being clothes the fpacious
Plains, Fields and Meadows, in the Spring of every Year;
and undrcfTes them again in the Autumn and Winter^
Thus the Loom of Nature is ever working, it never (bmds
unimployed; it is a perpetual Motion, >*

If we do but fearch, ever fo little, into the Secrets of
natural Produ(5tions, we may obferve feveral Sorts of Trees
and Plants, that are no fooner ftript of their old Vefturcs,
but the God of Nature is working new ones out of their
own Subflance.

Then is it not highly reafonable to believe that Man, the
Image of his Creator, will be fet off in the Morning of the
Refurrcclion with everlafling Ornaments, and made fer
more lovely than the Rofes and Pionys now appears to our
View,

How tranfcendent, glorious and feraphick, will our Spi-
rits appear, when we come to enter within the refplendenC
l^cgions. There is not a fingle Plant or Weed, in anj
Park, but the more we look on it, the more its wonderfiil
Contexture difcovers itfelf to our Eyes. Sweet Jefus I
how ought we to be filled with Admiration, when we be-
hold thy Wonders, and feel thy fwcet enamulation of that
inward Peace, which infenfibly flows from Virtue and In-
nocency, b»::almed with olivine Contemplation in Re-
tirement.

Virtue and Innocency is a continual Fcaft ; it is made
for the Entertainment of the Soul, and the Soul ordained
for the' everlafling Enjoyment of it : The Guilty are
Strangers to it : It is truly known to none but the Regene-
rate. There is a feeming Virtue and Innocency, which
for a while, may attend the Hypocrite or ^le-hearted
Profeflor^ who thinks himfclf happy by reafon of the

fuddea



Tnr'iiiitfrlitf%rr-':;^,firT|ii%tii<ttfiitVitf^^^ I, ii -. ^ ^

I so 1

flicWcn Fhflics of Peace that dart^ ihfd his Mind, at
fomc uncertain Seafons : But alafe ! it falls (hort of thofe
Rivers of well-grounded Satisfadion that continually
flow from Virtue and Innocency. The Peace of the
Wicked is much broken, but the innocent Mind con-
tinues in Tranquility, and ftands like a Rock of Ada-
mant. The Sinner's Peace is counterfeit ; his Virtues
arc withered : But tbe truly innocent and inofFenfivc
Soul is continually blooming frefli and green : The
Sinner's Eafe is (hort and tranfitory, but the Joys of
the Righteous are evcrlafting: The Sinner's Thoughts
are variable; but the Virtuous are durable, and not
fubje^l to change. The Sinner's Mind is clouded with
Ftars, but the Virtuous are always Compofed and Calm: The
Sinner's Hope will perifh with him, but the Righteous
will remain in the Day of Adverfity, and in the Hour
of Death.

Let none deceive their Souls in expe^Sbtion of arri-
ving at Mount Sion by the Means of carnal Security^
a ftcadinefs of Mind, "built on a fandy Foundation;
but examine the State of their own Heart, and bring
it to the Touchllone of the Divine Law; For what
win a falfe Hope avail, when the Tr}'al is called on
at the creat Day of general Aflize.

As Jv/;>, the Student and the \nrgin, were con-
templating upon what had been thus delivered to them,
Ijpon the Subject of Saints and Sinners, Virtue and In-
liocency, one of the Servants of the Houfe came and
told them there were Coaches at the Gate, attended
with a large Retinue, who defired to fpealc with them.

The Converts were ftruck with no fmall Surprize,

as not knowing the Meaning of fuch a Viiit; they

• went to them, and who ftiould they be but the Duire

»f Worldly Honour, the Marquefs of Mafquerades, Plays,

&c. with the young Countcfs of Senfual Pleafurc.

Thefe Vifitors pretended they had travelled Day and
Night, out of fingular Love and Refpc<St they hid for
Felix^ the Student, and the Virgin : The Converts could
do no leis than to take them into their Apartments to rc^
fre{h themfelves, and to walk put with them Into the Gar-
dens and Groves, to hear the Reafon of their Vifit.

The firft that fpoke was the Duke of Worldly Honour:
He addrefs'dhimfelf to the Student; fays he, I admire that
a Man of your Parts and Learning ihould be fo ftrangely
led away by a Pack of crazy Dotards, with the fimple No-
tion of the fuprcmc Power and a Rcfurio^ion-Day^ fince

there



{ jt 3

can he no more in it than there b in a Dafe Ihat grow*
in the Fields, a filly fort of Flower which ferves only to a-i
mufe Children and Fools. Be wife and go back with mc to
the Tents of SoJom ; there are Preferments to crown you
with which will abundantly (ktiate yovir Defires, and
yaife your Grandeur. ' '

The Student returned for anfwer ;' alafe! do you think
to bring me over to your Party by repeating an old Atheifv,
tical Aphorifm, which is fcarce of fufficient Force to pro*
vail with a JiW, a Turky or a Tagan^ that there is no fuch
thing as a fupreme Being and a future Day of Reckoning.

Sir, fays he, if you defign to prevail with mc, yt>u mu^
produce more cogent Reafons, and offer me greater Hoa.
nours ; for no lefs Reward than a Crown will be able to
draw me out of Ahraham\ Houfe, in my Progreis toMount
Ston ; and it mufl be alfo an Imperial Diadem, purchafed
from above, or elfe it will not ferve my Turn.

Ygu tell me that the divine Power and the Truth of % â– .
Refurre£lion, is no more viflble than it is in a Dalie Flowery
I'll grant it, and fliall prove the Reality of botl?, by the ad-
mirable Curiofity that appears in the Texture of that dcf-*
picable Weed : For how many pretty Leaves, diverfifyed
with curious Colours, (hoot out of the Top of that littla
Stalk ? Tell me, if thou can'ft, by what Art it is fo wonderfuUjr
wrought, and by what Force it fprings out of the Ground?^
Thy want of Ability, to refolvethis Qucftion, afiuresma
of the immenfe Power of God, and the Certainty of my
Body arifing again ; fo that 1 am refolved to ftay in Soli"
tude, till thou can*ft fummon up ftronger Arguments to
prove thy prefumptuous Aflertion.

As for thy Preferments in Sodom^ I do not value them,
there is nothing in it but an empty bbft of Air, that is
foon blown over, and difperfed in the thick Mift of Obli"*
vion. As for my Part,

Whofoever may be enamoured with fleeting Shadows, I
dcfire not to be dandled in fuch flippery Arms, which raiies
up in a Trice, to make Fools look and think it a fine thin^
to be advanced to a high Station, and then to be let fallen,
on a fudden,and fo become a LaughingrStock to the Crowds
of gazing SpecEiators ; which is frequently the fad CataC*
trophe of thofe who ambitioufly afpire to the higbeft Pia« •
nacle of Preferment, either in Church or State.. - . :
. I fhall think myfclf fufEciently rewarded if I can but b6«
come a Favourite of the Sovereign Monarch of Heaven,
and be raifed to his Kingdom, .where I {hall never be in
danger of falling into the Valleys of Difgrace^ but admired



rmmmmmmmummim*



ii'TrM i lft"i ii W <i tiai i M ii r .i . i â–  â– <â–  â–  i i m ii nn i i ii Mi i n i ftf .. .. - ...r. l.^miwit,. .h. .,.

C 3» ]

by all the Citizens of Mount Stony to the cndlefs Agbrof
Eternity.

The Duke of Worldly Honour, perceiving his Defigns
to be fruftrated, retired and fent up the Marquefs of Maf-
querades. Plays, Wf. This Vice-chancellor of Satan's
Univerfities addreflcd himfelf to Felix; moft worthy Feiixy
fays he, and well-beloved Friend, What ftrange Fancy hath
led thee hither to fo difmal a Solitude, incirded with me-
lancholy Groves and wild Wildernefles? This is no proper
Habitation for the Frequenters of my Houfes, efpecially a
Ruler of the People, a generous Soul who ufed to be my
conftant Gueft every Evening, either to fee a Mafquerade,
Ball, Tragedy, or Comedy.

It is not theLofs of part of my yearly Revenues, to which
thou haft fubfcribed with great Liberality, that caufcs me
to be fo much concerned, as the Abfence of thy noble Perfon
and that of thy Companions ; for if my Houfe were defer-
ted by Men of thy Quality, my Traffick would altogether