630 - Judith Cowper to Martin Madan, 1723
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- Letter Details
- People (2)
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We are at Present ye reverse of ye happy
family you left us, I never spent so melancholy a week in my Life, I
believe I bear it ye worse having lately known so many cheerfull ones. I am
continualy with poor Ldy Sally, whose greif can Only be Express’d, by saying it is
Equal to ye Object of it: nothing was ever so moving! I have too much
Tenderness (I ought to have said weakness) in my own nature for ye office of a
{^comforter} which has been ye task alloted me, all this melancholy week, but such as
I am I cannot forbear going, while it is my power: I think it wrong
to save one self a Pain by keeping from those we love in any Circumstance
of Life – Pitty me if you Will, & Remember me, if you can.
I wish you at this nights assembly, a more agreeable partner then you
had condemn’d your self to - & I believe you might possibly have had, if I
[f.5v]
were less unhappy then I am. Ye Freedome I have ever, I scarce know why
us’d in my conversation with you, may perhaps make you Fancy I have less
reserve in my temper then I have, I can only say I do not use to be so
easily acquainted, you are almost a stranger to me, & if you have as
much artifice in you, as I to be fashionable, ought to have, you will
Laugh at me for answering your Letter with so much Gravity, & think
ye Creature more rediculus then Ever. I never knew a reason yt
could justifie hippocrisy, & am afraid now it is too Late to Learn
If you can be sincere, I can Esteem you – adiue
Hertingfordbury. 1723
J Cowper
family you left us, I never spent so melancholy a week in my Life, I
believe I bear it ye worse having lately known so many cheerfull ones. I am
continualy with poor Ldy Sally, whose greif can Only be Express’d, by saying it is
Equal to ye Object of it: nothing was ever so moving! I have too much
Tenderness (I ought to have said weakness) in my own nature for ye office of a
{^comforter} which has been ye task alloted me, all this melancholy week, but such as
I am I cannot forbear going, while it is my power: I think it wrong
to save one self a Pain by keeping from those we love in any Circumstance
of Life – Pitty me if you Will, & Remember me, if you can.
I wish you at this nights assembly, a more agreeable partner then you
had condemn’d your self to - & I believe you might possibly have had, if I
[f.5v]
were less unhappy then I am. Ye Freedome I have ever, I scarce know why
us’d in my conversation with you, may perhaps make you Fancy I have less
reserve in my temper then I have, I can only say I do not use to be so
easily acquainted, you are almost a stranger to me, & if you have as
much artifice in you, as I to be fashionable, ought to have, you will
Laugh at me for answering your Letter with so much Gravity, & think
ye Creature more rediculus then Ever. I never knew a reason yt
could justifie hippocrisy, & am afraid now it is too Late to Learn
If you can be sincere, I can Esteem you – adiue
Hertingfordbury. 1723
J Cowper
We are at Present ye reverse of ye happy
family you left us, I never spent so melancholy a week in my Life, I
believe I bear it ye worse having lately known so many cheerful ones. I am
continually with poor Ldy Sally, whose grief can Only be Expressed, by saying it is
Equal to ye Object of it: nothing was ever so moving! I have too much
Tenderness (I ought to have said weakness) in my own nature for ye office of a
{^comforter} which has been ye task allotted me, all this melancholy week, but such as
I am I cannot forbear going, while it is my power: I think it wrong
to save one self a Pain by keeping from those we love in any Circumstance
of Life – Pity me if you Will, & Remember me, if you can.
I wish you at this nights assembly, a more agreeable partner then you
had condemned your self to - & I believe you might possibly have had, if I
[f.5v]
were less unhappy then I am. Ye Freedom I have ever, I scarce know why
used in my conversation with you, may perhaps make you Fancy I have less
reserve in my temper then I have, I can only say I do not use to be so
easily acquainted, you are almost a stranger to me, & if you have as
much artifice in you, as I to be fashionable, ought to have, you will
Laugh at me for answering your Letter with so much Gravity, & think
ye Creature more ridiculous then Ever. I never knew a reason yt
could justify hypocrisy, & am afraid now it is too Late to Learn
If you can be sincere, I can Esteem you – adieu
Hertingfordbury. 1723
J Cowper
family you left us, I never spent so melancholy a week in my Life, I
believe I bear it ye worse having lately known so many cheerful ones. I am
continually with poor Ldy Sally, whose grief can Only be Expressed, by saying it is
Equal to ye Object of it: nothing was ever so moving! I have too much
Tenderness (I ought to have said weakness) in my own nature for ye office of a
{^comforter} which has been ye task allotted me, all this melancholy week, but such as
I am I cannot forbear going, while it is my power: I think it wrong
to save one self a Pain by keeping from those we love in any Circumstance
of Life – Pity me if you Will, & Remember me, if you can.
I wish you at this nights assembly, a more agreeable partner then you
had condemned your self to - & I believe you might possibly have had, if I
[f.5v]
were less unhappy then I am. Ye Freedom I have ever, I scarce know why
used in my conversation with you, may perhaps make you Fancy I have less
reserve in my temper then I have, I can only say I do not use to be so
easily acquainted, you are almost a stranger to me, & if you have as
much artifice in you, as I to be fashionable, ought to have, you will
Laugh at me for answering your Letter with so much Gravity, & think
ye Creature more ridiculous then Ever. I never knew a reason yt
could justify hypocrisy, & am afraid now it is too Late to Learn
If you can be sincere, I can Esteem you – adieu
Hertingfordbury. 1723
J Cowper
Details
Judith Cowper to Martin Madan, 1723
A courtship letter from Judith Cowper to Martin Madan, shortly before their marriage in 1723. They are all grieving because of the recent death of her grandfather. She does not remember ever feeling so melancholy, and feels this sentiment may be particularly acute because she has largely been happy recently. Lady Sally is particularly distressed by the death, and Judith is taking on the role of providing consolation to the rest of her family. Contains a discussion of the degree of familiarity they use in their letters to each other.
Madan Family
Eng Lett C.284 f.5
Bodleian Library, University of Oxford
1723
Hertingfordbury [Hertfordshire, England]
[England]
reporting
- metaphorical
- negative
41-60%
People
Person: Judith Madan
View full details of Person: Judith Madan
primary author
melancholy
- grief
- happy
- love (familial)
- low
- sorrow
pain
- courting
- family
Person: Martin Madan
View full details of Person: Martin Madan
primary addressee
- laughing
- thinking
memory
courting