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Dear Miss
Pardon the Boldness which prompts me to lay these few lines at your Feet. If confirmed Thoughts of you & a disrelish to every thing besides may be consider'd as Arguments of Love surely I experience the Passion & if the greatness of a Persons love will make up for Want of Wit, Wealth & Beauty, then may I humbly lay claim to your Favour - Since I had the happiness of seeing you How often have I thought of Milton's beautiful Descriptions of Eve Book 8, Line 471
So lovely fair! |
That what seem'd fair in all the World seem'd now |
Mean, or in her summ'd up, in her contain'd, |
And in her Looks; which from that time infus'd |
Sweetness into my heart, unfelt before: etc. |
Madm give one leave to tell You that these Words speak the very Experience of my Soul, nor do I find it Possible to forbear loving You. Would you but suffer me to come & lay before You those Dictates of a confused Mind which cannot be represented by a trembling Hand & Pen. Would you but permit me to cast my self at your Feet & tell You much I love. Oh What an easement might you thereby afford to a burdend Spirit, & at the same time give me an opportunity of declaring more fully that I am in Sincerity
Your devoted Serv:
Benjm Beddome
Dec: 23 1742
He also wrote the following in 1742:
The Wish
Lord, in my soul implant thy fear,
Let faith, and hope, and love be there;
Preserve me from prevailing vice,
When satan tempts, or lusts entice!
Of friendships's sweets may I partake,
Nor be forsaken, nor forsake!
Let mod'rate plenty crown my board,
And God for all be still adored!
Let the companion of my youth
Be one of innocence and truth;
Let modest charms adorn her face,
And give her they superior grace;
By heavenly art first make her thine,
Then make her willing to be mine!
My dwelling place let Bourton be,
There let me live, and live to thee!
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But she turned him down. In 1749, he married Elizabeth Boswell of Bourton.
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