| Citation |
VGW(HU.773.013
4 Feb 1773:11, 12, 13 (1123)
The Folly of Intemperance. A Genuine History. No person can
enjoy the blessing of a good constitution without being
sensible of the inestimable jewel he possesses, yet many
prostitute their health so shamefully, by seeking for
pleasure in the paths of excess, that it would induce one to
think they had taken a lease of life; and might safely put
disease at defiance.
. . . [3 cols. criticising intemperance with an example of a
dissolute friend]
He would then very obligingly entertain Madam Reason with a
song, beginning,
"With women and wine I'll defy every care,
"For life without these is a bubble of air."
. . . he would very bluntly answer them in the words of
Churchill,
"Wound up at twelve at noon, your clock goes right;
"Mine better goes, wound up at twelve at night."
. . . He was fond of singing, but the weakness of his lungs
prevented him from gratifying this vanity in displaying his
harmonious talents.
. . . He had a passion for music, but through his
intemperance and habitual deafness had attacked him, so that
the finest composition of Handel no longer soothed his
anxious breast.
. . . Our worn out rake had another misfortune. He happened
to fall desperately in love with an amiable young lady, . .
. and by the assistance of friends a match was concluded on.
Just before the ceremony, a Ball was given on the nuptials
of a friend. Mr. Frankley could not refuse to accompany his
mistress, and to give her his hand in the dance; but
unluckily for him, he was on the very morning of that day
attacked by a fit of the gout. His pride would not permit
him to confess his recent affliction, and he hobbled a
Minnuet so ungracefully that he became the ridicule of the
whole company. This laugh at his expense touched the
sensibility of his mistress so much, that, not having any
real affection for him, she broke off the match, declaring
she would never be wedded to such an aukward thing.
. . . agreeable to the words of Pomfret,
"---The blundering Sloane,
"Missing the gout, hath often hit the stone;
"The patient does the happy error find,
"He works the cure, but not the cure design'd."
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