Oh, Author of my being!-far more dear To me than light, than nourishment, or rest, Hygeia’s blessings, Rapture’s burning tear, Or the life-blood that mantles in my breast! If in my heart the love of Virtue glows, ’T was planted there by an unerring rule; From thy example the pure flame arose, Thy life, my precept,-thy good works, my school. Could my weak pow’rs thy num’rous virtues trace, By filial love each fear should be repress’d, The blush of Incapacity I’d chace, And stand, Recorder of thy worth, confess’d: But since my niggard stars that gift refuse, Concealment is the only boon I claim; Obscure be still the unsuccessful Muse, Who cannot raise, but would not sink, thy fame. Oh! of my life at once the source and joy! If e’er thy eyes these feeble lines survey, Let not their folly their intent destroy; Accept the tribute-but forget the lay.
CONTENTS
ORIGINAL INSCRIPTION: TO DR. BURNEY
LETTER I - LADY HOWARD TO THE REV. MR. VILLARS Howard Grove, Kent.
LETTER II - MR. VILLARS TO LADY HOWARD Berry Hill, Dorsetshire.
LETTER III [Written some months after the last]
LETTER IV - MR. VILLARS TO LADY HOWARD Berry Hill, March 12.
LETTER V - MR. VILLARS TO LADY HOWARD March 18. Dear Madam,
LETTER VI - LADY HOWARD TO THE REV. MR. VILLARS Howard Grove.
LETTER VII - LADY HOWARD TO THE REV. MR. VILLARS Howard Grove, March 26.
LETTER VIII - EVELINA TO THE REV. MR. VILLARS Howard Grove, March 26.
LETTER IX - MR. VILLARS TO EVELINA Berry Hill, March 28.
LETTER X - EVELINA TO THE REV. MR. VILLARS Queen Ann Street, London, Saturday,
LETTER XI - EVELINA IN CONTINUATION Queen Ann Street, April 5, Tuesday Morning.
LETTER XII - EVELINA IN CONTINUATION Tuesday, April 5.
LETTER XIII - EVELINA IN CONTINUATION Tuesday, April 12. My dear Sir,
LETTER XIV - EVELINA IN CONTINUATION. Queen Ann Street, April 13.