Memoirs of Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, and of the Court of Queen Anne Vol. 1 (of 2)Thomson, A. T., Mrs.
History
Memoirs of Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, and of the Court of Queen Anne Vol. 1 (of 2)
Thomson, A. T., Mrs.
Great Britain -- Court and courtiers -- Biography; Marlborough, Sarah Jennings Churchill, Duchess of, 1660-1744
I think I might have expected you should have spoke to me of it. And the
King and I, both believing it, made us stay thus long. But seeing you
was so far from it that you brought Lady Marlborough hither last night,
makes us resolve to put it off no longer, but tell you she must not
stay; and that I have all the reasons imaginable to look upon your
bringing her as the strangest thing that ever was done. Nor could all my
kindness for you (which is ever ready to turn all you do the best way,
at any other time,) have hindered me from showing you that moment, but I
considered your condition, and that made me master myself so far as not
to take notice of it then.
But now I must tell you it was very unkind in a sister, would have been
very uncivil in an equal, and I need not say I have more to claim: which
though my kindness would make me never exact, yet when I see the use you
would make of it, I must tell you I know what is due to me, and expect
to have it from you. ’Tis upon that account I tell you plainly, Lady
Marlborough must not continue with you in the circumstances her lord is.
I know this will be uneasy to you, and I am sorry for it; and it is very
much so to me to say all this to you, for I have all the real kindness
imaginable for you; and as I ever have, so will always do my part to
live with you as sisters ought. That is, not only like so near
relations, but like friends. And, as such, I did think to write to you.
For I would have made myself believe your kindness for her made you at
first forget that you should have for the King and me; and resolved to
put you in mind of it myself, neither of us being willing to come to
harsher ways.
But the sight of Lady Marlborough having changed my thoughts, does
naturally alter my stile. And since by that I see how little you seem to
consider what even in common civility you owe us, I have told you
plainly; but withall assure you, that let me have never so much reason
to talk anything ill of you, my kindness is so great, that I can pass
over most things, and live with you as becomes me. And I desire to do so
merely from that motive; for I do love you as my sister, and nothing but
yourself can make me do otherwise; and that is the reason I chuse to
write this rather than tell it you, that you may overcome your first
thoughts; and when you have well considered, you will find, that though
the thing be hard, (which I again assure you I am sorry for,) yet it is
not unreasonable, but what has ever been practised, and what you
yourself would do, were you in my place.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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