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georgiewhoissarahdrew's review
5.0
'Tis but an hour since you went, and I am writing to you already; is not this kind?
Dorothy Osborne (born in 1627) was the daughter of an impecunious Royalist family, who fell in love with Sir William Temple, when the pair were both about nineteen years old. Both families opposed the match, but the lovers remained constant, and carried out a clandestine correspondence for the next seven years. They were finally married in 1654, a marriage that lasted till Dorothy's death in 1695.
I know historians like these letters for the insight they offer into the times, but I love them because Dorothy is real. In spite of some C17th turns of phrase, this letter - descibing how she had given up on hearing from William - is lively, heartfelt and almost contemporary in content.
SIR,–Your last letter came like a pardon to one upon the block. I have given over the hopes on't, having received my letters by the other carrier, who uses always to be last. The loss put me hugely out of order, and you would both have pitied and laughed at me if you could have seen how woodenly I entertained the widow, who came hither the day before, and surprised me very much. Not being able to say anything, I got her to cards, and there with a great deal of patience lost my money to her–or rather I gave it as my ransom. In the midst of our play, in comes my blessed boy with your letter, and, in earnest, I was not able to disguise the joy it gave me, though one was by that is not much your friend, and took notice of a blush that for my life I could not keep back. I put up the letter in my pocket, and made what haste I could to lose the money I had left, that I might take occasion to go fetch some more; but I did not make such haste back again, I can assure you. I took time enough to have coined myself some money if I had had the art on't, and left my brother enough to make all his addresses to her if he were so disposed. I know not whether he was pleased or not, but I am sure I was.
Dorothy Osborne (born in 1627) was the daughter of an impecunious Royalist family, who fell in love with Sir William Temple, when the pair were both about nineteen years old. Both families opposed the match, but the lovers remained constant, and carried out a clandestine correspondence for the next seven years. They were finally married in 1654, a marriage that lasted till Dorothy's death in 1695.
I know historians like these letters for the insight they offer into the times, but I love them because Dorothy is real. In spite of some C17th turns of phrase, this letter - descibing how she had given up on hearing from William - is lively, heartfelt and almost contemporary in content.
SIR,–Your last letter came like a pardon to one upon the block. I have given over the hopes on't, having received my letters by the other carrier, who uses always to be last. The loss put me hugely out of order, and you would both have pitied and laughed at me if you could have seen how woodenly I entertained the widow, who came hither the day before, and surprised me very much. Not being able to say anything, I got her to cards, and there with a great deal of patience lost my money to her–or rather I gave it as my ransom. In the midst of our play, in comes my blessed boy with your letter, and, in earnest, I was not able to disguise the joy it gave me, though one was by that is not much your friend, and took notice of a blush that for my life I could not keep back. I put up the letter in my pocket, and made what haste I could to lose the money I had left, that I might take occasion to go fetch some more; but I did not make such haste back again, I can assure you. I took time enough to have coined myself some money if I had had the art on't, and left my brother enough to make all his addresses to her if he were so disposed. I know not whether he was pleased or not, but I am sure I was.
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