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forfook him.) He wandered up and down till he was quite weary and faint, not knowing where to direct his Steps. When he first fet out, he had but half a Crown in his Pocket, a Shilling of which he gave away in his Walk to a Beggar, who told him a Story of having been turned out of doors by an unnatural Brother; fo that now he had but one Shilling and Sixpence left, with which he went into a publick Houfe, and got fomething to recruit his worn-out Spirits. In his Situation, any thing that would barely fupport Nature, was equal to the greatest Dainties; for his Mind was in fo much anxiety, it was impoffible for him to spend one Thought on any thing but the Cause of his Grief. So true is that Obfervation of Shakespear's, "When "the Mind is free, the Body is delicate ;"' that thofe People know very little of real Mifery (however the Sorrow for their own Sufferings may make them imagine no one ever endured the like) who can be very follicitous of what becomes of them. But this was far from being our Hero's Cafe, for when he found himself fo weak he could go no farther, he was obliged to go into a publick Houfe; for being far from home, and an utter Stranger, no private

Houfe

Houfe would have admitted him. As foon as he got into a Room, he threw himfelf into a Chair, and could scarce fpeak. The Landlord asked him, what he would please to drink, but he not knowing what he faid, made answer, he did not chufe any thing. Upon which he was answered in a furly manner, "if "he did not care for drinking, he "could have no great Business there," and would be very welcome to walk out again. This Treatment juft rouzed him enough, to make him recollect where he was, and that he muft call for fomething; therefore he ordered a Pint of Beer to be brought, which he immediately drank off, for he was very dry, tho' his Griefs were fo fixed in his Mind, he could not feel even Hunger or Thirft. But Nature must be refreshed by proper Nourishment, and he found himself now not so faint, and feemed inclined to fleep; he therefore inquired for a Bed, he did not care how coarse it was; and only wanted fome Place to lie down upon. Which his kind Landlord (on his producing Money enough to pay for it) immediately procured for him; and being perfectly overcome with Fatigue and Trouble, he infenfibly funk to Reft.

IN

IN the Morning when he waked, all that paffed the Day before came fresh, into his Mind; he knew not which way to turn himself, but lay in the greatest Perplexity for fome. time: At laft, it came into his head he had an Uncle, who when he was a Boy used to be very kind to him; he therefore had fome hopes he would receive and take care of him. He got up, and walked as well as he was able to his Uncle's Houfe. The good old Man was quite frighten'd at the fight of him; for the one Day's extreme Mifery he had fuffered, had altered him, as much as if he had been ill a Twelvemonth. His Uncle begged to know what was the matter with him; but he would give him no other Answer, but that his Brother and he had had a few Words, for he would not complain; and he defired he would be fo kind to let him ftay with him a little while, till Matters could be brought about again. His Uncle told him, he fhould be very welcome. And there for fome time I will leave him to his own private Sufferings, left it should be thought I am so ignorant of the World, as not to know the proper Time of for faking People.

CHAP.

CHAP. III.

In which is feen the Poffibility of a married Couple's leading an uneafy Life.

T

HE two Servants, who were the Caufe of all poor David's Misfortunes, and the Engines of Daniel's Treachery, tho' their mutual Fondness, and the great Defire they had to come together, prevailed on them to confent to an Action, which they themselves thought they must be d-'d for, had not long lived in the State of Matrimony, before John found out, that Peggy had not all thofe Perfections he once imagined her poffeffed of; and her Merit decreased every day more and more in his Eyes. However, while the Money lafted, (which was not very long, for they were not at all fcrupulous of ufing it, thinking fuch great Riches were in no danger of being brought to an end) between Upbraidings, Quarrels, Reconciliations, kiffing and falling out, they made a

I

shift

-fhift to jumble on together, without coming to an open Rupture. But the Money was no fooner gone, than they grew out of all Patience. When John began to feel Poverty coming upon him, and found all he had got by his Villainy was a Wife, whom he now was heartily weary of, his Confcience flew in his face, and would not let him reft. All the Comfort he had left was in abufing Peggy He faid fhe had betrayed him, and he should have been always honeft, had it not been for her wheedling. She, on the other hand, justified herself, by alledging, nothing but her Love for him could have drawn her into it: And if he thought it fo great a Crime, as be was a Man, and knew better than her, be should not have confented, or fuffered ber to do it. For tho' I dare fay this Girl had never read Milton, yet fhe could act the Part of throwing the blame on her Husband, as well as if fhe had learned it by heart. In fhort, from Morning till Night, they did nothing but quarrel; and there paffed many curious Dialogues between them, which I fhall not here repeat: for, as I hope to be read by the polite World, I would avoid every VOL. I.

C

thing,