The Journal to Eliza and Various letters by Laurence Sterne and Elizabeth DraperSterne, Laurence
General
The Journal to Eliza and Various letters by Laurence Sterne and Elizabeth Draper
Sterne, Laurence
Draper, Elizabeth, 1744-1778; Novelists, English -- 18th century -- Correspondence; Sterne, Laurence, 1713-1768 -- Correspondence
July 13. Skelton Castle. Your picture has gone round the Table after
supper—& y^r. health after it, my invaluable friend!—even the Ladies,
who hate grace in another, seemed struck with it in You—but Alas! you
are as a dead Person—& Justice (as in all such Cases) is paid you in
course—when thou returnest it will be rendered more sparingly—but I’ll
make up all deficiences—by honouring You more than ever Woman was
honourd by man—every good Quality That ever good heart possess’d—thou
possessest my dear Girl; & so sovereignly does thy temper & sweet
sociability, which harmonize all thy other properties make me thine,
that whilst thou art true to thyself and thy Bramin—he thinks thee worth
a world—& w^d. give a World was he master of it, for the undisturbed
possession of thee—Time and Chance are busy throwing this Die for me—a
fortunate Cast, or two, at the most, makes our fortune—it gives us each
other—& then for the World, I will not give a pinch of Snuff.—Do take
care of thyself—keep this prospect before thy eyes—have a view to it in
all y^r. Transactions, Eliza,—In a word Remember You are mine—and stand
answerable for all you say & do to me—I govern myself by the same Rule—&
such a History of myself can I lay before you as shall create no
blushes, but those of pleasure—’tis midnight—& so sweet Sleep to thee
the remaining hours of it. I am more thine, my dear Eliza! than ever—but
that cannot be—
* * * * *
July 14.
dining & feasting all day at M^r. Turner’s—his Lady a fine Woman
herself, in love w^{th}. your picture—O my dear Lady, cried I, did you
but know the Original—but what is she to you, Tristram—nothing; but that
I am in Love with her—et cætera——said She—no I have given over
dashes—replied I——I verily think my Eliza I shall get this Picture set,
so as to wear it, as I first purposed—ab^t. my neck—I do not like the
place ’tis in—it shall be nearer my heart—Thou art ever in its
centre—good night—
* * * * *
July 15—From home. (Skelton Castle) from 8 in the morning till late at
Supper—I seldom have put thee off, my dear Girl—& yet to morrow will be
as bad—
* * * * *
July 16.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account