The Sir Roger de Coverley PapersSteele, Richard, Sir
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The Sir Roger de Coverley Papers
Steele, Richard, Sir
English essays
At the very upper end of this handsome structure I saw
the portraiture of two young men standing in a river,--the (10)
one naked, the other in a livery. The person supported
seemed half dead, but still so much alive as to
show in his face exquisite joy and love towards the other.
I thought the fainting figure resembled my friend Sir
Roger; and, looking at the butler, who stood by me, for (15)
an account of it, he informed me that the person in the
livery was a servant of Sir Roger's, who stood on the shore
while his master was swimming, and observing him taken
with some sudden illness, and sink under water, jumped
in and saved him.[46] He told me Sir Roger took off the (20)
dress he was in as soon as he came home, and by a great
bounty at that time, followed by his favour ever since, had
made him master of that pretty seat which we saw at a
distance as we came to this house. I remembered indeed
Sir Roger said there lived a very worthy gentleman, to (25)
whom he was highly obliged, without mentioning anything
further. Upon my looking a little dissatisfied at some
part of the picture, my attendant informed me that it was
against Sir Roger's will, and at the earnest request of the
gentleman himself, that he was drawn in the habit in
which he had saved his master. R.
[46] Can you criticise the use of pronouns in this sentence?
VIII. WILL WIMBLE
[No. 108. WEDNESDAY, July 4, 1711. ADDISON.]
Gratis anhelans, multa agendo nihil agens.
PHAED.
As I was yesterday morning walking with Sir Roger
before his house, a country fellow brought him a huge (85: 5)
fish, which, he told him, Mr. William Wimble had caught
that very morning; and that he presented it with his service
to him, and intended to come and dine with him.
At the same time he delivered a letter, which my friend
read to me as soon as the messenger left him. (10)
"Sir Roger,
"I desire you to accept of a jack,[47] which is the best I
have caught this season. I intend to come and stay with
you a week, and see how the perch bite in the Black
River. I observed with some concern, the last time I (15)
saw you upon the bowling green, that your whip wanted
a lash to it; I will bring half a dozen with me that I
twisted last week, which I hope will serve you all the time
you are in the country. I have not been out of the saddle
for six days last past, having been at Eton with Sir John's
eldest son. He takes to his learning hugely.
"I am, sir, your humble servant,
"WILL WIMBLE."
[47] A pickerel, or small pike.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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