was a natural action, and what he would have certainly
done for his horse, if he had been in the same situation. Neither am
I of opinion, that their sudden death was a reward of their mutual
virtue. You know the Jews were reproved for thinking a village
destroyed by fire, more wicked than those that had escaped the
thunder. Time and chance happen to all men. Since you desire me to
try my skill in an epitaph, I think the following lines perhaps more
just, tho' not so poetical as yours.

_Here lies John Hughes and Sarah Drew;
Perhaps you'll say, What's that to you?
Believe me, friend, much may be said
On that poor couple that are dead.
On Sunday next they should have married;
But see how oddly things are carried!
On Thursday last it rain'd and lighten'd,
These tender lovers sadly frighten'd,
Shelter'd beneath the cocking hay,
In hopes to pass the time away,
But the_ BOLD THUNDER _found them out,
(Commission'd for that end no doubt)
And seizing on their trembling breath,
Consign'd them to the shades of death.
Who knows if 'twas not kindly done?
For had they seen the next year's fun,
A beaten wife and cockold swain
Had jointly curs'd the marriage chain:
Now they are happy in their doom_,
FOR POPE HAS WROTE UPON THEIR TOMB.

I CONFESS, these sentiments are not altogether so heroic as yours;
but I hope you will forgive them in favour of the two last lines.
You see how much I esteem the honour you have done them; though I
am not very impatient to have the same, and had rather continue to be
your stupid _living_ humble servant, than be _celebrated_ by all the
pens in Europe.

I WOULD write to Mr C----; but suppose you will read this to him, if
he inquires after me.

LET. LIII.

[Footnote: This and the following letters are now first published.]

TO LADY ----.

_January_ 13. 1715-16.

I FIND, after all, by your letter of yesterday, that Mrs D---- is
resolved to marry the old greasy curate. She was always high-church
in an excessive degree; and, you know, she used to speak of
Sacheveral as an apostolic saint, who was worthy to sit in the same
place with St Paul, if not a step above him. It is a matter,
however, very doubtful to me, whether it is not still more the _man_
than the _apostle_ that Mrs D---- looks t