Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 1.djvu/192

 BOYSE 181 idleness and dissipation. : In this course too (it is said) he was unhappily encouraged by his wife! who, while she imposed upon the good old man, by a shew of decency and even sanctity, became in fact both dissolute and vicious, and at length unblushingly shared her favours with other men, and that not without the knowledge of her husband, who is said either to have wanted resolution to resent her infidelity, or was reconciled by a share in the profits of his dishonour. We will hope, however, for the sake of human nature that this was not the case, and that the hand of some obscure biographer inserted this anecdote for the purpose of rendering his memorial amus- ing, and thus sacrificed fact on the altar of fiction. His father died in the year 1728, and his entire pro- perty having been exhausted in the support of his son, the latter repaired to Edinburgh, where his poetical talents procured him numerous friends, amongst whom were some patrons of considerable eminence, particularly the lords Stair, Stormont, and Tweedale. In 1731 he published a volume of poems, which gained him reputation ; and to which was subjoined a translation of the Tablature of Cebes, and a Letter upon Liberty, which had been pre- viously published in the Dublin Journal. This volume was addressed to the Countess of Eglinton, a lady of dis- tinguished excellencies, and so much celebrated for her beauty " that it would be difficult," says Cibber, " for the best panegyrist to be too lavish in her praise:" she was the patroness of all men of wit, and greatly distin- guished Mr. Boyse while he resided in that country. It is likewise recorded of this damsel, that she was not totally exempt from the lot of humanity, and her conspicuous accomplishments were yet chequered with failings: the chief of which was too high a consciousness of her own charms, which inspired a vanity that sometimes betrayed her into errors. The following short anecdote was frequently related by Mr. Boyse. The countess one day came into the bed-