Riperdá, Juan Guillermo, Duke of, 1680-1737 -- Fiction; Wharton, Philip Wharton, Duke of, 1698-1731 -- Fiction
"Eight years elapsed before I saw my ill-directed nephew again.--Having
established a truly Christian minister at Bamborough, I henceforth
passed the winter months at Morewick-hall with Mrs. Coningsby. And
how different from the society of the castle was that which visited
our residence, and assisted to develope the opening minds of our
young charges! Sir Richard Steele, Mr. Craggs, and Mr. Addison, were
severally our guests. In short, my dear sir, I drew around me a kind
of college for my pupils; and besides the persons named, many others
of humbler note, but equal merit, were our constant visitors. One half
of the year I devoted to the inspection of my curate's ministry; and
for that purpose fixed my summer residence in this island. Louis always
accompanied me to Lindisfarne; as I considered it my duty, as well
as my delight, to share with his various tutors, the anxious task of
turning to good account the rich soil of his mind. His nature is so
enquiring and ambitious, we had rather to restrain than to stimulate
his abilities; and they have ever pointed to a military career. I
tried to incline him to the calmer paths of life; but it was stemming
a torrent. His spirit is determined to excess. And having fixed his
heart on the reputation of a Nassau or a Marlborough, he directs
his studies with an undeviating aim to that point. If he begin any
language, science, or art, he pursues it steadily till he gains either
a perfect knowledge of its principles; or at least acquires as much as
his teacher can give him. He will not hear of a slight knowledge of any
thing; therefore, what he does not wish to master, he never attempts at
all. In short, his talents take the form of passions; and are not to be
exhausted by the continuance or impetuosity of their course."
From strong interest, the Marquis had hitherto forborne to interrupt
Mr. Athelstone; but he could not now help exclaiming--"Oh, Sir,
what a perilous character have you described!--How great is the
responsibility of the man who is to guide and impel this youth! Virtue
and vice contend alike for the direction of such spirits:--and you are
answerable to his father and to heaven, that these powerful impulses
should not be turned to evil!"
"I know it," replied the Pastor, devoutly bowing his head to the
Almighty Being to whom he especially owed this responsibility; "and
at present, I trust, those impulses are blameless. His heart overflows
with good-will to every created thing; and, (as he often says with a
gay smile,) he seems born with no other concern but to be happy, and to
do his best to make others as happy as himself. Dear child!" exclaimed
the old man, with glistening eyes;--"if that be his commission, he
knows he fulfils it here!--For the sound of his voice, or the tread of
his foot in the passage, is sufficient at any time to raise my head
from my severest studies; and to make his aunt and cousins start from
their chairs, to welcome their gladdening Louis!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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