but I am almost confident, it would do you a great deal of good. The dragon is just the old man, when he is roused. He is a little deaf, but has all his other good and bad qualities just as of old. Lord B is much improved in knowledge, manner, and every thing else. The shaver[1] is an honest friendly man as before: he has a good deal to do to smother his Welsh fire, which, you know, he has in a greater degree than some would imagine. He posts himself a good part of the year in some warm house, wins the ladies money at ombre, and convinces them, that they are highly obliged to him. Lord and lady Masham, Mr. Hill, and Mrs. Hill, often remember you with affection.
As for your humble servant, with a great stone in his right kidney, and a family of men and women to provide for, he is as cheerful as ever. In publick affairs, he has kept, as Tacitus says, Medium iter inter vile servitium, et abruptam contumaciam. — He never rails at a great man, but to his face; which, I can assure you, he has had both the opportunity and license to do. He has some few weak friends, and fewer enemies: if any, he is low enough to be rather despised than pushed at by them. I am faithfully, dear sir, your affectionate humble servant,
- ↑ Erasmus Lewis, esq., who in Dr. Swift's imitation of Horace, ep. vii, b. I, is so called:
"This Lewis is an errant shaver."
