Nature Has Given You Talents Which
Lie Dormant, Or Are Wasted In Ignoble Pursuits.
You will rouse
yourself and shake off the vile dust that obscures you, or my
understanding, as well as my heart, deceives me egregiously - only
tell me when.
But to go farther afield.
Madame la Fayette left Altona the day I arrived, to endeavour, at
Vienna, to obtain the enlargement of her husband, or permission to
share his prison. She lived in a lodging up two pairs of stairs,
without a servant, her two daughters cheerfully assisting; choosing,
as well as herself, to descend to anything before unnecessary
obligations. During her prosperity, and consequent idleness, she
did not, I am told, enjoy a good state of health, having a train of
nervous complaints, which, though they have not a name, unless the
significant word ennui be borrowed, had an existence in the higher
French circles; but adversity and virtuous exertions put these ills
to flight, and dispossessed her of a devil who deserves the
appellation of legion.
Madame Genus also resided at Altona some time, under an assumed
name, with many other sufferers of less note though higher rank. It
is, in fact, scarcely possible to stir out without meeting
interesting countenances, every lineament of which tells you that
they have seen better days.
At Hamburg, I was informed, a duke had entered into partnership with
his cook, who becoming a traiteur, they were both comfortably
supported by the profit arising from his industry. Many noble
instances of the attachment of servants to their unfortunate masters
have come to my knowledge, both here and in France, and touched my
heart, the greatest delight of which is to discover human virtue.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 182 of 189
Words from 48671 to 48954
of 50703
