Days with Sir Roger de Coverley | Page 7

in the country, are very fatal
to the ordinary people; who are so used to be dazzled with riches, that
they pay as much deference to the understanding of a man of an estate,
as of a man of learning; and are very hardly brought to regard any truth,
how important soever it may be, that is preached to them, when they
know there are several men of five hundred a year who do not believe
it.

THE WIDOW.
In my first description of the company in which I pass most of my time,
it may be remembered that I mentioned a great affliction which my
friend Sir Roger had met with in his youth; which was no less than a
disappointment in love. It happened this evening that we fell into a very
pleasing walk at a distance from his house. As soon as we came into it,
"It is," quoth the good old man, looking round him with a smile, "very
hard, that any part of my land should be settled upon one who has used
me so ill as the perverse widow did; and yet I am sure I could not see a
sprig of any bough of this whole walk of trees, but I should reflect upon
her and her severity. She has certainly the finest hand of any woman in
the world. You are to know this was the place wherein I used to muse
upon her; and by that custom I can never come into it, but the same
tender sentiments revive in my mind, as if I had actually walked with
that beautiful creature under these shades. I have been fool enough to
carve her name on the bark of several of these trees; so unhappy is the
condition of men in love, to attempt the removing of their passions by
the methods which serve only to imprint it deeper. She has certainly the
finest hand of any woman in the world."
Here followed a profound silence; and I was not displeased to observe
my friend falling so naturally into a discourse, which I had ever before

taken notice he industriously avoided. After a very long pause he
entered upon an account of this great circumstance in his life, with an
air which I thought raised my idea of him above what I had ever had
before; and gave me the picture of that chearful mind of his, before it
received that stroke which has ever since affected his words and actions.
But he went on as follows:
"I came to my estate in my twenty-second year, and resolved to follow
the steps of the most worthy of my ancestors who have inhabited this
spot of earth before me, in all the methods of hospitality and good
neighbourhood, for the sake of my fame; and in country sports and
recreations, for the sake of my health. In my twenty-third year I was
obliged to serve as sheriff of the county; and in my servants, officers,
and whole equipage, indulged the pleasure of a young man (who did
not think ill of his own person) in taking that public occasion of
shewing my figure and behaviour to advantage. You may easily
imagine to yourself what appearance I made, who am pretty tall, rid
well, and was very well dressed, at the head of a whole county, with
musick before me, a feather in my hat, and my horse well bitted. I can
assure you I was not a little pleased with the kind looks and glances I
had from all the balconies and windows as I rode to the hall where the
assizes were held. But when I came there, a beautiful creature in a
widow's habit sat in court, to hear the event of a cause concerning her
dower. This commanding creature (who was born for the destruction of
all who behold her) put on such a resignation in her countenance, and
bore the whispers of all around the court with such a pretty uneasiness,
I warrant you, and then recovered herself from one eye to another, till
she was perfectly confused by meeting something so wistful in all she
encountered, that at last, with a murrain to her, she cast her bewitching
eye upon me. I no sooner met it, but I bowed like a great surprised
booby; and knowing her cause to be the first which came on, I cried,
like a captivated calf as I was! 'Make way for the defendant's
witnesses.' This sudden partiality made all the county see the sheriff
also was become a slave to the fine widow. During the time her cause
was upon trial, she behaved herself, I warrant you, with such a deep
attention to her business, took opportunities to have little billets handed