Volume V Part 18 (2/2)

[Footnote 1: The spelling 'Greenvil' 'Greenviel' is incorrect.]

THE UNFORTUNATE BRIDE; OR, THE BLIND LADY A BEAUTY.

TO RICHARD NORTON, OF SOUTHWICK IN HANTs.h.i.+RE, ESQUIRE.

Honour'd Sir,

Eminent Wit, Sir, no more than Eminent Beauty, can escape the Trouble and Presumption of Addresses; and that which can strike every body with Wonder, can never avoid the Praise which naturally flows from that Wonder: And Heaven is forc'd to hear the Addresses as well as praises of the Poor as Rich, of the Ignorant as Learned, and takes, nay rewards, the officious tho' perhaps impertinent Zeal of its least qualify'd Devotees. Wherefore, Sir, tho' your Merits meet with the Applause of the Learned and Witty, yet your Generosity will judge favourably of the untaught Zeal of an humbler Admirer, since what I do your eminent Vertues compel. The Beautiful will permit the most despicable of their Admirers to love them, tho' they never intend to make him happy, as unworthy their Love, but they will not be angry at the fatal Effect of their own Eyes.

But what I want in my self, Sir, to merit your Regard, I hope my Auth.o.r.ess will in some measure supply, so far at least to lessen my Presumption in prefixing your Name to a Posthumous Piece of hers, whom all the Men of Wit, that were her Contemporaries, look'd on as the Wonder of her s.e.x; and in none of her Performances has she shew'd so great a Mastery as in her Novels, where Nature always prevails; and if they are not true, they are so like it, that they do the business every jot as well.

This I hope, Sir, will induce you to pardon my Presumption in dedicating this Novel to you, and declaring my self, Sir,

Your most obedient and most humble Servant, S. Briscoe.

THE UNFORTUNATE BRIDE: or, The Blind Lady a Beauty.

_Frankwit_ and _Wildvill_, were two young Gentlemen of very considerable Fortunes, both born in _Staffords.h.i.+re_, and, during their Minority, both educated together, by which Opportunity they contracted a very inviolable Friends.h.i.+p, a Friends.h.i.+p which grew up with them; and though it was remarkably known to every Body else, they knew it not themselves; they never made Profession of it in Words, but Actions; so true a Warmth their Fires could boast, as needed not the Effusion of their Breath to make it live. _Wildvill_ was of the richest Family, but _Frankwit_ of the n.o.blest; _Wildvill_ was admired for outward Qualifications, as Strength, and manly Proportions, _Frankwit_ for a much softer Beauty, for his inward Endowments, Pleasing in his Conversation, of a free, and moving Air, humble in his Behaviour, and if he had any Pride, it was but just enough to shew that he did not affect Humility; his Mind bowed with a Motion as unconstrained as his Body, nor did he force this Vertue in the least, but he allowed it only. So aimable he was, that every Virgin that had Eyes, knew too she had a Heart, and knew as surely she should lose it. His _Cupid_ could not be reputed blind, he never shot for him, but he was sure to wound. As every other Nymph admired him, so he was dear to all the Tuneful Sisters; the Muses were fired with him as much as their own radiant G.o.d _Apollo_; their loved Springs and Fountains were not so grateful to their Eyes as he, him they esteemed their _Helicon_ and _Parna.s.sus_ too; in short, when ever he pleased, he could enjoy them all. Thus he enamour'd the whole Female s.e.x, but amongst all the sighing Captives of his Eyes, _Belvira_ only boasted Charms to move him; her Parents lived near his, and even from their Childhood they felt mutual Love, as if their Eyes, at their first meeting, had struck out such Glances, as had kindled into amorous Flame. And now _Belvira_ in her fourteenth Year, (when the fresh Spring of young Virginity began to cast more lively Bloomings in her Cheeks, and softer Longings in her Eyes) by her indulgent Father's Care was sent to _London_ to a Friend, her Mother being lately dead: When, as if Fortune ordered it so, _Frankwit's_ Father took a Journey to the other World, to let his Son the better enjoy the Pleasures and Delights of this: The young Lover now with all imaginable haste interred his Father, nor did he shed so many Tears for his Loss, as might in the least quench the Fire which he received from his _Belvira's_ Eyes, but (Master of seventeen Hundred Pounds a Year, which his Father left him) with all the Wings of Love flies to _London_, and sollicits _Belvira_ with such Fervency, that it might be thought he meant Death's Torch should kindle _Hymen's_; and now as soon as he arrives at his Journey's end, he goes to pay a Visit to the fair Mistress of his Soul, and a.s.sures her, That tho' he was absent from her, yet she was still with him; and that all the Road he travell'd, her beauteous Image danced before him, and like the ravished Prophet, he saw his Deity in every Bush; in short, he paid her constant Visits, the Sun ne'er rose or set, but still he saw it in her Company, and every Minute of the Day he counted by his Sighs. So incessantly he importuned her that she could no longer hold out, and was pleased in the surrender of her Heart, since it was he was Conqueror; and therefore felt a Triumph in her yielding. Their Flames now joyned, grew more and more, glowed in their Cheeks, and lightened in their Glances: Eager they looked, as if there were Pulses beating in their Eyes; and all endearing, at last she vowed, that _Frankwit_ living she would ne'er be any other Man's. Thus they past on some time, while every Day rowl'd over fair; Heaven showed an Aspect all serene, and the Sun seemed to smile at what was done. He still caressed his Charmer, with an Innocence becoming his Sincerity; he lived upon her tender Breath, and basked in the bright l.u.s.tre of her Eyes, with Pride, and secret Joy.

He saw his Rivals languish for that Bliss, those Charms, those Raptures and extatick Transports, which he engrossed alone. But now some eighteen Months (some Ages in a Lover's Kalendar) winged with Delights, and fair _Belvira_ now grown fit for riper Joys, knows hardly how she can deny her pressing Lover, and herself, to crown their Vows, and joyn their Hands as well as Hearts. All this while the young Gallant wash'd himself clean of that s.h.i.+ning Dirt, his Gold; he fancied little of Heaven dwelt in his yellow Angels, but let them fly away, as it were on their own golden Wings; he only valued the smiling Babies in _Belvira's_ Eyes. His Generosity was boundless, as his Love, for no Man ever truly loved, that was not generous. He thought his Estate, like his Pa.s.sion, was a sort of a _Pontick_ Ocean, it could never know an Ebb; But now he found it could be fathom'd, and that the Tide was turning, therefore he sollicits with more impatience the consummation of their Joys, that both might go like Martyrs from their Flames immediately to Heaven; and now at last it was agreed between them, that they should both be one, but not without some Reluctancy on the Female side; for 'tis the Humour of our s.e.x, to deny most eagerly those Grants to Lovers, for which most tenderly we sigh, so contradictory are we to our selves, as if the Deity had made us with a seeming Reluctancy to his own Designs; placing as much Discords in our Minds, as there is Harmony in our Faces. We are a sort of aiery Clouds, whose Lightning flash out one way, and the Thunder another. Our Words and Thoughts can ne'er agree. So this young charming Lady thought her Desires could live in their own longings, like Misers wealth-devouring Eyes; and e'er she consented to her Lover, prepared him first with speaking Looks, and then with a fore-running Sigh, applyed to the dear Charmer thus: '_Frankwit_, I am afraid to venture the Matrimonial Bondage, it may make you think your self too much confined, in being only free to one.' 'Ah! my dear _Belvira_,' he replied, 'That one, like _Manna_, has the Taste of all, why should I be displeased to be confined to Paradice, when it was the Curse of our Forefathers to be set at large, tho' they had the whole World to roam in: You have, my love, ubiquitary Charms, and you are all in all, in every Part.' 'Ay, but,'

reply'd _Belvira_, 'we are all like Perfumes, and too continual Smelling makes us seem to have lost our Sweets, I'll be judged by my Cousin _Celesia_ here, if it be not better to live still in mutual Love, without the last Enjoyment.' (I had forgot to tell my Reader that _Celesia_ was an Heiress, the only Child of a rich _Turkey_ Merchant, who, when he dyed, left her Fifty thousand Pound in Money, and some Estate in Land; but, poor Creature, she was Blind to all these Riches, having been born without the use of Sight, though in all other Respects charming to a wonder.) 'Indeed,' says _Celesia_, (for she saw clearly in her Mind) 'I admire you should ask my Judgment in such a Case, where I have never had the least Experience; but I believe it is but a sickly Soul which cannot nourish its Offspring of Desires without preying upon the Body.' 'Believe me,' reply'd _Frankwit_, 'I bewail your want of Sight, and I could almost wish you my own Eyes for a Moment, to view your charming Cousin, where you would see such Beauties as are too dazling to be long beheld; and if too daringly you gazed, you would feel the Misfortune of the loss of Sight, much greater than the want of it: And you would acknowledge, that in too presumptuously seeing, you would be blinder then, than now unhappily you are.'

'Ah! I must confess,' reply'd _Belvira_, 'my poor, dear Cousin is Blind, for I fancy she bears too great an Esteem for _Frankwit_, and only longs for Sight to look on him.' 'Indeed,' reply'd _Celesia_, 'I would be glad to see _Frankwit_, for I fancy he's as dazling, as he but now describ'd his Mistress, and if I fancy I see him, sure I do see him, for Sight is Fancy, is it not? or do you feel my Cousin with your Eyes?' 'This is indeed, a charming Blindness,' reply'd _Frankwit_, 'and the fancy of your Sight excels the certainty of ours. Strange! that there should be such Glances even in blindness? You, fair Maid, require not Eyes to conquer, if your Night has such Stars, what Suns.h.i.+ne would your Day of Sight have, if ever you should see?' 'I fear those Stars you talk of,'

said _Belvira_, 'have some Influence on you, and by the Compa.s.s you sail by now, I guess you are steering to my Cousin. She is indeed charming enough to have been another Offspring of bright _Venus_, Blind like her Brother _Cupid_.' 'That _Cupid_,' reply'd _Celesia_, 'I am afraid has shot me, for methinks I would not have you marry _Frankwit_, but rather live as you do without the last Enjoyment, for methinks if he were marry'd, he would be more out of Sight than he already is.' 'Ah, Madam,'

return'd _Frankwit_, 'Love is no Camelion, it cannot feed on Air alone.'

'No but,' rejoyn'd _Celesia_, 'you Lovers that are not Blind like Love it self, have am'rous Looks to feed on.' 'Ah! believe it,' said _Belvira_, ''tis better, _Frankwit_, not to lose Paradice by too much Knowledge; Marriage Enjoyments does but wake you from your sweet golden Dreams: Pleasure is but a Dream, dear _Frankwit_, but a Dream, and to be waken'd.' 'Ah! Dearest, but unkind _Belvira_,' answer'd _Frankwit_, 'sure there's no waking from Delight, in being lull'd on those soft b.r.e.a.s.t.s of thine.' 'Alas! (reply'd the Bride to be) it is that very lulling wakes you; Women enjoy'd, are like Romances read, or Raree-shows once seen, meer Tricks of the slight of Hand, which, when found out, you only wonder at your selves for wondering so before at them. 'Tis Expectation endears the Blessing; Heaven would not be Heaven, could we tell what 'tis. When the Plot's out you have done with the Play, and when the last Act's done, you see the Curtain drawn with great indifferency.' 'O my _Belvira_', answered _Frankwit_, 'that Expectation were indeed a Monster which Enjoyment could not satisfy: I should take no pleasure,' he rejoin'd, 'running from Hill to Hill, like Children chasing that Sun, which I could never catch.' 'O thou shalt have it then, that Sun of Love,' reply'd _Belvira_, fir'd by this Complaint, and gently rush'd into Arms, (rejoyn'd) so _Phbus_ rushes radiant and unsullied, into a gilded Cloud. 'Well then, my dear _Belvira_,' answered _Frankwit_, 'be a.s.sured I shall be ever yours, as you are mine; fear not you shall never draw Bills of Love upon me so fast, as I shall wait in readiness to pay them; but now I talk of Bills, I must retire into _Cambridges.h.i.+re_, where I have a small Concern as yet unmortgaged, I will return thence with a Brace of thousand Pounds within a Week at furthest, with which our Nuptials, by their Celebration, shall be worthy of our Love. And then, my Life, my Soul, we shall be join'd, never to part again.' This tender Expression mov'd _Belvira_ to shed some few Tears, and poor _Celesia_ thought herself most unhappy that she had not Eyes to weep with too; but if she had, such was the greatness of her Grief, that sure she would have soon grown Blind with weeping. In short, after a great many soft Vows, and Promises of an inviolable Faith, they parted with a pompous sort of pleasing Woe; their Concern was of such a mixture of Joy and Sadness, as the Weather seems, when it both rains and s.h.i.+nes. And now the last, the very last Adieu's was over, for the Farewels of Lovers hardly ever end, and _Frankwit_ (the Time being Summer) reach'd _Cambridge_ that Night, about Nine a Clock; (Strange!

that he should have made such Haste to fly from what so much he lov'd!) and now, tir'd with the fatigue of his Journey, he thought fit to refresh himself by writing some few Lines to his belov'd _Belvira_; for a little Verse after the dull Prose Company of his Servant, was as great an Ease to him, (from whom it flow'd as naturally and unartificially, as his Love or his Breath) as a Pace or Hand-gallop, after a hard, uncouth, and rugged Trot. He therefore, finding his _Pegasus_ was no way tir'd with his Land-travel, takes a short Journey thro' the Air, and writes as follows:

_My dearest dear +Belvira+,_

You knew my Soul, you knew it yours before, I told it all, and now can tell no more; Your Presents never wants fresh Charms to move, } But now more strange, and unknown Pow'r you prove, } For now your very Absence 'tis I love. } Something there is which strikes my wandring View, And still before my Eyes I fancy you.

Charming you seem, all charming, heavenly fair, } Bright as a G.o.ddess, does my Love appear, } You seem, _Belvira_, what indeed you are. } Like the Angelick Off-spring of the Skies, With beatifick Glories in your Eyes: Sparkling with radiant l.u.s.tre all Divine, } Angels, and G.o.ds! oh Heavens! how bright they s.h.i.+ne! } Are you _Belvira_? can I think you mine! } Beyond ev'n Thought, I do thy Beauties see, Can such a Heaven of Heavens be kept for me!

Oh be a.s.sur'd, I shall be ever true, I must---- For if I would, I can't be false to you.

Oh! how I wish I might no longer stay, } Tho' I resolve I will no Time delay, } One Tedious Week, and then I'll fleet away. } Tho' Love be blind, he shall conduct my Road, } Wing'd with almighty Love, to your Abode, } I'll fly, and grow Immortal as a G.o.d. } Short is my stay, yet my impatience strong, Short tho' it is, alas! I think it long.

I'll come, my Life, new Blessings to pursue, } Love then shall fly a Flight he never flew, } I'll stretch his balmy Wings; I'm yours,--_Adieu_. }

_Frankwit._

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