Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 11.djvu/26

 littleness, nor make you treat me with more distance and respect; and the rather, because I find all your little pretensions are owing to the credit you pretend with two ladies who came from England. I allow indeed the chamber in William street to be little England by their influence; as an ambassador's house, wherever it is, hath all the privileges of his master's dominions: and therefore, if you wrote the letter in their room, or their company (for in this matter their room is as good as their company) I will indulge you a little. Then for the Irish legs you reproach me with, I defy you. I had one indeed when I left your island; but that which made it Irish is spent and evaporate, and I look upon myself now as upon a new foot. You seem to talk with great security of your establishment near the ladies; though perhaps, if you knew what they say of you in their letters to me, you would change your opinion both of them and yourself — A bite ! — And now you talk of a bite, I am ashamed of the ladies' being caught by you, when I had betrayed you, and given them warning. I had heard before of the choking, but never of the jest in the church: you may find from thence that women's prayers are things perfectly by rote, as they put on one stocking after another, and no more. — But, if she be good at blunders, she is as ready at come offs; and to pretend her senses were gone, was a very good argument she had them about her. — You seem to be mighty proud (as you have reason if it be true) of the part you have in the ladies' good graces, especially of her you call the party; I am very much concerned to know it; but,