Page:Susanna Wesley (Clarke 1886).djvu/32

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SUSANNA WESLEY.

St. Dunstan's Church, in Fleet Street; and Benjamin Motte, Aldersgate Street." In truth, Dunton did not think it would improve its author's reputation, and denounced it as "intolerably dull," an opinion shared by Pope. The present generation would certainly endorse their views ; yet it went through a second edition in 1697, and was reprinted in a revised and abridged form a century later. The most interesting passage, and the only one it is desirable to quote here, is Mr. Wesley's sweet and appreciative portrait of the wife to whom he had then been married about four years :-

"She graced my humble roof and blest my life,
Blest me by a far greater name than wife;
Yet still I bore an undisputed sway,
Nor was 't her task, but pleasure to obey:
Scarce thought, much less could act, what I denied.
In our low house there was no room for pride;
Nor need I e'er direct what still was right,
She studied my convenience and delight.
Nor did I for her care ungrateful prove,
But only used my power to show my love:
Whatever she asked I gave without reproach or grudge,.
For still she reason asked, and I was judge.
All my commands requests at her fair hands,
And her requests to me were all commands.
To other thresholds rarely she'd incline:
Her house her pleasure was, and she was mine;
Rarely abroad, or never but with me,
Or when by pity called, or charity."

In 1694 the Marquis of Normanby did his best both with the Queen and Archbishop Tillotson to recommend Mr. Wesley for the Bishopric of an Irish