The pleasing transport. An old world courtship. A rustic tragedy. Richard Steele (1672-1729) Lady Mary Montagu (1689-1762) Alexander Pope (1688-1744) "What a dishclout of a soul hast thou made of me! THE PLEASING TRANSPORT Dick Steele to his Molly Smith Street, Westminster, 1707. MADAM,-I lay down last night with your image in my thoughts, and have awak'd this morning in the same contemplation. The pleasing transport with which I'me delighted, has a sweetnesse in it attended with a train of ten thousand soft desires, anxieties, and cares; the day arises on my hopes with new brightnesse; youth, beauty and innocence are the charming objects that steal me from myself, and give me joys above the reach of ambition, pride or glory. Believe me, fair one, to throw myself at your feet is giving my self the highest blisse I know on Earth. Oh hasten ye minutes! bring on the happy morning wherein to be ever her's will make me look down on thrones! Dear Molly, I am tenderly, passionately, faithfully thine, RICHARD STEELE. AN OLD WORLD COURTSHIP Lady Mary Montagu to Mr. Wortley Montagu, her hus band to be.1 March 28, 1710. Give me leave to say it (I know it sounds vain), I know how to make a man of sense happy; but then that man 1Lady Mary Wortley Montagu was the daughter of Evelyn Pierrepont, Esq., who afterwards became the Duke of Kingston. Her brilliant mental parts first attracted the attention of her future husband when she was but fourteen years of age. He was very much her senior. A correspondence grew up between must resolve to contribute something towards it himself. I have so much esteem for you, I should be very sorry to hear you was unhappy; but for the world I would not be the instrument of making you so; which (of the humour you are) is hardly to be avoided if I am your wife. You distrust me I can neither be easy, nor loved, where I am distrusted. Nor do I believe your passion for me is what you pretend it; at least I am sure was I in love I could not talk as you do. Few women would have spoken so plainly as I have done; but to dissemble is among the things I never do. I take more pains to approve my conduct to myself than to the world; and would not have to accuse myself of a minute's deceit. I wish I loved you enough to devote myself to be forever miserable, for the pleasure of a day or two's happiness. I cannot resolve upon it. You must think otherwise of me, or not at all. I don't enjoin you to burn this letter. I know you will. "Tis the first I ever writ to one of your sex, and shall be the last. You must never expect another. I resolve against all correspondence of the kind; my resolutions are seldom made, and never broken. herself and Miss Anne Wortley, Mr. Wortley Montagu's sister, wherein she repeatedly asked for guidance in her studies, criticism and advice, answers to which questions it fell to the lot of the brother to dictate. After the death of Anne, the letters passed to Mr. Wortley Montagu direct. An affection sprang up, and matters were finally settled between the lovers; all that remained was a request for the lady's father's consent. The Marquis of Dorchester, as he had now become, conditioned his approval with a form of settlement to which Mr. Wortley Montagu refused to agree. Matters were at a halt. In Lady Mary's twenty-fourth year, her father chose out for her another suitor with whom he insisted she should wed. She appealed to Mr. Wortley Montagu, who settled the difficulty by eloping in her company. They were married August, 1712. |