Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 1.djvu/397

 part of my life to a disagreeable solitude; where I have the misery to reflect upon my folly in making such a perfidious choice, at a time when it was not in my nature to suspect any soul upon earth." In answer to which Swift says — "I own you have too much reason to complain of some friends, who, next to yourself, have done you most hurt; whom I still esteem, and frequent, although I confess I cannot heartily forgive. Yet certainly the case was not merely personal malice to you (although it had the same effects) but a kind of I know not what job, which one of them has often heartily repented."

Nothing could place Swift's friendship in a more conspicuous or disinterested light, than this whole transaction. To have parted with Sheridan at that period of life, when all was gloom about him, when he most wanted such a friend to raise his drooping spirits, and such an associate in the only amusements which he was then capable of relishing, would have been to him like the loss of a limb. Yet when he thought that it was necessary for the interests of the doctor and his family, that he should remove from his settlement in town, to a more advantageous and secure one in the country, he himself planned the scheme of his removal, which was likely to end, with but few intervals, in a separation for life. How different is this from the false representation made of him by lord Orrery. He had said "The affection between Theseus and Pirithous, was not greater than between Swift and Sheridan; but the friendship that cemented the two ancient heroes, probably commenced upon motives very different from those which united the two modern divines." His lordship did not