The antient Ruler of this Mansion died, And Blaney boldly for the Seat applied : Sir Denys Brand, then Guardian, join'd his Suit, They half complied, they gave the wish'd Retreat, But rais'd a worthier to the vacant Seat.. Thus forc'd on ways unlike each former way, In vain, by Fortune's Smiles, thrice affluent made, Still has he Debts of antient date unpaid; Thrice into Penury by Error thrown, Not one right Maxim has he made his own; And all abhor his Principles and Prate; Save a frail Sister in the female Row. LETTER XV. INHABITANTS OF THE ALMS-HOUSE. CLELIA. She early found herself mistress of herself. All she did was right: all she said was admired. Early, very early did she dismiss blushes from her cheek: she could not blush, because she could not doubt; and silence, whatever was the subject, was as much a stranger to her as diffidence. Quò fugit Venus? heu! Quòque color? decens Quò motus? Quid habes illius, illius Quæ spirabat amores, Que me surpuerat mihi ? Richardson. Horatius, lib. iv. od. 13. CLELIA. Her lively and pleasant Manners.-Her Reading and Decision.Her Intercourse with different Classes of Society.—Her kind of Character. The favoured Lover.-Her Management of him: his of her. After one Period Clelia with an Attorney: her Manner and Situation there.—Another such Period, when her Fortune still declines.-Mistress of an Inn.-A Widow.-Another such Interval: she becomes poor and infirm, but still vain and frivolous.-The fallen Vanity.—Admitted into the House: meets Blaney. LETTER XV. INHABITANTS OF THE ALMS-HOUSE.' CLELIA. WE had a sprightly Nymph-in every Town Arch was her Look, and she had pleasant ways Novels and Plays, with Poems, old and new, Were all the Books our Nymph attended to; Yet from the Press no Treatise issued forth, But she would speak precisely of its worth. She with the London-Stage familiar grew, And every Actor's Name and Merit knew; She told how this or that their Part mistook, And of the rival Romeo's gave the look; Of either House 'twas hers the Strength to see, Then judge with candour- Drury-Lane for me.' What made this Knowledge, what this Skill complete ? A Fortnight's Visit in Whitechapel-Street. Her Place in Life was Rich and Poor between, 'Her Reputation?' That was like her Wit, And seem'd her Manner and her State to fit ; Something there was, what, none presum❜d to say, Clouds lightly passing on a smiling Day,Whispers and Hints which went from ear to ear, And mix'd Reports no Judge on Earth could clear. But of each Sex a friendly number prest |