Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 1.djvu/372

 secret a manner, that not a tittle of it ever transpired during the lady's life time; nor was there the least suspicion of it, till it was at once blazoned to the world, by the publication of the poem. As to the other parts of her character, "her being fond of dress, impatient to be admired, setting up for a wit, and affecting always to keep company with wits," &c. we find the direct reverse of this to be true, as she led a most recluse life, avoiding as much as possible all society, and indulging her unhappy passion in solitude, which gave rise to that passage in Swift's letter before quoted, where he says, — "but by concealing yourself as you do, the world knows you not, and you lose the eulogy of millions."

But his lordship, not satisfied with drawing this odious picture of poor Vanessa, thought there were some finishing strokes still wanting, to render it more deformed; he therefore adds, upon the circumstance of Swift's last interview, in which he broke with her, the following traits: "She had long thrown away the gentle lenitives of virtue, which, upon this occasion, might have proved healing ingredients to so deep, and so dangerous a wound. She had preferred wit to religion; she had utterly destroyed her character, and her conscience; and she was now fallen a prey to the horrour of her own thoughts." Now, if he were giving an account of the most abandoned profligate wretch, that ever disgraced her sex, just ready to expiate her crimes at Tyburn, could he possibly have expressed himself in stronger terms? Let the reader only look over the passage once more, and judge. And what were the crimes committed by the tunate