Trembling, weeping, hopefulle, dismaied, here I sit in mine Uncle's hired
House, alone in a Crowd, scared at mine owne Precipitation, readie to
wish myselfe back, unable to resolve, to reflect, to pray . . .
_Twelve at Night_.
Alle is silent; even in the latelie busie Streets. Why art thou cast
down, my Heart? why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou stille in
the _Lord_, for he is the Joy and Light of thy Countenance. Thou hast
beene long of learning him to be such. Oh, forget not thy Lesson now!
Thy best Friend hath sanctioned, nay, counselled this Step, and overcome
alle Obstacles, and provided the Means of this Journey; and to-morrow at
Noone, if Events prove not cross, I shall have Speech of him whom my Soul
loveth. To-night, let me watch, fast, and pray.
_Friday; at Night_.
How awfulle it is to beholde a Man weepe! mine owne Tears, when I think
thereon, well forthe . . .
_Rose_ was a true Friend when she sayd, "Our prompt Affections are oft
our wise Counsellors." Soe, she suggested and advised alle; wrung forthe
my Father's Consent, and sett me on my Way, even putting Money in my
Purse. Well for me, had she beene at my Journey's End as well as its
Beginning.
'Stead of which, here was onlie mine Aunt; a slow, timid, uncertayn
Soule, who proved but a broken Reed to lean upon.
Soe, alle I woulde have done arighte went crosse, the Letter never
delivered, the Message delayed till he had left Home, soe that methought
I shoulde goe crazie.
While the Boy, stammering in his lame Excuses, bore my chafed Reproaches
the more humblie because he saw he had done me some grievous Hurt, though
he knew not what, a Voice in the adjacent Chamber in Alternation with
mine Uncle's, drove the Blood of a suddain from mine Heart, and then sent
it back with impetuous Rush, for I knew the Accents right well.
Enters mine Aunt, alle flurried, and hushing her Voice. "Oh, _Niece_, he
whom you wot of is here, but knoweth not you are at Hand, nor in
_London_. Shall I tell him?"
But I gasped, and held her back by her Skirts; then, with a suddain
secret Prayer, or Cry, or maybe, Wish, as 'twere, darted up unto Heaven
for Assistance, I took noe Thought what I shoulde speak when confronted
with him, but opening the Door between us, he then standing with his Back
towards it, rushed forth and to his Feet--there sank, in a Gush of Tears;
for not one Word coulde I proffer, nor soe much as look up.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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