[Pg 128]
in Norfolk; when the health of Mr. Burney being re-established, and his rising reputation demanding a wider field for expansion, a sort of cry was raised amongst his early friends to spur his return to the metropolis2.
Fully3, however, as he felt the flattery of that cry, and ill as, in its origin, he had been satisfied with his Lynn residence, he had now experienced from that town and its vicinity, so much true kindness, and cordial hospitality, that his reluctance4 to quit them was verging5 upon renouncing6 such a measure; when he received the following admonition upon the subject from his first friend, and earliest guide, Mr. Crisp.
“To Mr. Burney.
* * *
“I have no more to say, my dear Burney, about harpsichords7: and if you remain amongst your foggy aldermen, I shall be the more indifferent whether I have one or not. But really, among friends, is not settling at Lynn, planting your youth, genius, hopes, fortune, &c., against a north wall? Can you ever expect ripe, high-flavoured fruit, from such an aspect? Your underrate prices in the town, and galloping8 about the country for higher, especially in the winter—are they worthy9 of your talents? In all professions, do you not see every thing that has the least pretence10 to genius, fly up to the capital—the centre of riches,
[Pg 129]
luxury, taste, pride, extravagance,—all that ingenuity11 is to fatten12 upon? Take, then, your spare person, your pretty mate, and your brats13, to that propitious14 mart, and,
‘Seize the glorious, golden opportunity,’
while yet you have youth, spirits, and vigour15 to give fair play to your abilities, for placing them and yourself in a proper point of view. And so I give you my blessing16.
“Samuel Crisp.”
Mr. Crisp, almost immediately after this letter, visited, and for some years, the continent.
This exhortation17, in common with whatever emanated18 from Mr. Crisp, proved decisive; and Mr. Burney fixed19 at once his resolve upon returning to the capital; though some years still passed ere he could put it in execution.
The following are his reflections, written at a much later period, upon this determination.
After enumerating20, with warm regard, the many to whom he owed kindness in the county of Norfolk, he adds:
“All of these, for nearly thirty miles round, had their houses and tables pressingly open to me: and, in the town of Lynn, my wife, to all evening parties, though herself no card player, never failed to be equally invited; for she had a most delightful21 turn in conversation, seasoned with agreeable wit, and pleasing
[Pg 130]
manners; and great powers of entering into the humours of her company; which, with the beauty of her person, occasioned her to receive more invitations than she wished; as she was truly domestic, had a young family on her hands, and, generally, one of them at her breast. But whenever we could spend an evening at home, without disappointing our almost too kind inviters, we had a course of reading so various and entertaining, in history, voyages, poetry, and, as far as Chambers’ Dictionary, the Philosophical22 Transactions, and the French Encyclopedia23, to the first edition of which I was a subscriber24, could carry us, in science, that those tête à tête seclusions25 were what we enjoyed the most completely.
“This, of course, raised my wife far above all the females of Lynn, who were, then, no readers, with the exception of Mrs. Stephen Allen and Dolly Young. And this congeniality of taste brought on an intimacy26 of friendship in these three females, that lasted during their several lives.
“My wife was the delight of all her acquaintance; excellent mother—zealous friend—of highly superior intellects.
“We enjoyed at Lynn tranquillity28 and social happiness—”
Here again must be inserted another poetical29 epistle, written, during a short separation, while still at Lynn; which shews that, with whatever fervour of passion he married, he himself was “that other happy man,” in the words of Lord Lyttleton, who had found “How much the wife is dearer than the bride.”
[Pg 131]
“To Mrs. Burney.
“To thee, henceforth, my matchless mate,
My leisure hours I’ll dedicate;
To thee my inmost thoughts transmit,
Whene’er the busy scene I quit.
For thee, companion dear! I feel
An unextinguishable zeal27;
A love implanted in the mind,
From all the grosser dregs refined.
Ah! tell me, must not love like mine
Be planted by a hand divine,
Which, when creation’s work was done,
Our heart-strings tuned30 in unison31?
If business, or domestic care
The vigour of my mind impair32;
If forc’d by toil1 from thee to rove,
’Till wearied limbs forget to move,
At night, reclin’d upon thy breast,
Thy converse33 lulls34 my soul to rest.
If sickness her distemper’d brood
Let loose,—to burn, or freeze my blood,
Thy tender vigilance and care,
My feeble frame can soon repair.
When in some doubtful maze35 I stray,
’Tis thou point’st out the unerring way;
If judgment36 float on wavering wings,
In notions vague of men and things;
If different views my mind divide,
Thy nod instructs me to decide.
[Pg 132]
My pliant37 soul ’tis thou can’st bend,
My help! companion! wife! and friend!
When, in the irksome day of trouble
The mental eye sees evils double,
Sweet partner of my hopes and fears!
’Tis thou alone can’st dry my tears.
’Tis thou alone can’st bring relief,
Partner of every joy and grief!
E’en when encompass’d with distress38,
Thy smile can every ill redress39.
On thee, my lovely, faithful friend,
My worldly blessings40 all depend:
But if a cloud thy visage low’r, }
Not all the wealth in Plutus’ power, }
Could buy my heart one peaceful hour. }
Then, lodg’d within that aching heart,
Is sorrow’s sympathetic dart41.
But when upon that brow, the seat
Of sense refin’d, and beauty sweet,
The graces and the loves are seen,
And Venus sits by Wisdom’s queen;
Pale sadness takes her heavy flight,
And, envious42, shuns43 the blissful sight.
So when the sun has long endur’d
His radiant face to be obscur’d
By baleful mists and vapours dense44,
All nature mourns with grief intense:
But the refulgent45 God of Day
Soon shews himself in bright array;
[Pg 133]
And as his glorious visage clears,
The globe itself in smiles appears.”
“Lynn, 1753.”
The last act of Mr. Burney in relinquishing46 his residence in Norfolk, was drawing up a petition to Lord Orford to allow park-room in the Haughton grounds, for the rest of its life, to his excellent, faithful mare47, the intelligent Peggy; whose truly useful services he could not bear to requite48, according to the unfeeling usage of the many, by selling her to hard labour in the decline of her existence.
Lord Orford good-humouredly complied with the request; and the justly-prized Peggy, after enjoying for several years the most perfect ease and freedom, died the death of old age, in Haughton Park.
LONDON.
In 1760 Mr. Burney, with his wife and young family, returned to London; but no longer to the city, which has the peculiar49 fate, whilst praised and reverenced50 by the many who to its noble encouragement owe their first dawn of prosperity, of
[Pg 134]
being almost always set aside and relinquished51, when that prosperity is effected. Is it that Fortune, like the sun, while it rises, cold, though of fairest promise, in the East, must ever, in its more luxuriant splendour, set in the West?
The new establishment was in Poland-street; which was not then, as it is now, a sort of street that, like the rest of its neighbourhood, appears to be left in the lurch52. House-fanciers were not yet as fastidious as they are become at present, from the endless variety of new habitations. Oxford-road, as, at that time, Oxford-street was called, into which Poland-street terminated, had little on its further side but fields, gardeners’ grounds, or uncultivated suburbs. Portman, Manchester, Russel, Belgrave squares, Portland-place, &c. &c., had not yet a single stone or brick laid, in signal of intended erection: while in plain Poland-street, Mr. Burney, then, had successively for his neighbours, the Duke of Chandos, Lady Augusta Bridges, the Hon. John Smith and the Miss Barrys, Sir Willoughby and the Miss Astons; and, well noted53 by Mr. Burney’s little family, on the visit of his black majesty54 to England, sojourned, almost immediately opposite to it, the Cherokee King.
[Pg 135]
The opening of this new plan of life, was as successful to Mr. Burney as its projection55 had been promising56. Pupils of rank, wealth, and talents, were continually proposed to him; and, in a very short time, he had hardly an hour unappropriated to some fair disciple57.
Lady Tankerville, amongst the rest, resumed her lessons with her early master, obligingly submitting her time to his convenience, be it what it might, rather than change her first favourite instructor58. Ere long, however, she resided almost wholly abroad, having attached herself with enthusiastic fervour to the Princess Amelia, sister to Frederick the Great of Prussia. The Countess even accepted the place of Dame59 d’Atour to that accomplished60 princess; whose charms, according to poetical record, banished61 for a while their too daring admirer, Voltaire, from the Court of Berlin.
This enterprising Countess retained her spirit of whim62, singularity, and activity, through a long life; for when, many years later, she returned to her own country, quite old, while Dr. Burney had not yet reached the zenith of his fame, she again applied63 to him for musical tuition; and when he told her, with regret, that his day was completely filled up,
[Pg 136]
from eight o’clock in the morning; “Come to me, then,” cried she, with vivacity64, “at seven!” which appointment literally65, and twice a week, took place.
All the first friends of Mr. Burney were happy to renew with him their social intercourse66. Mrs. Greville, when in town, was foremost in eagerly seeking his Esther; and Mr. Greville met again his early favourite with all his original impetuosity of regard: while their joint67 newer friends of Norfolk, Mrs. Stephen Allen and Miss Dorothy Young in particular, warmly sustained an unremitting communication by letters: and Lords Orford, Eglinton, and March, General Lord Townshend, Charles Boone, and many others, sought this enlivening couple, with an unabating sense of their worth, upon every occasion that either music or conversation offered, for accepting, or desiring, admission to their small parties: for so uncommon68 were the powers of pleasing which they possessed69, that all idea of condescension70 in their worldly superiors seemed superseded71, if not annihilated72, by personal eagerness to enjoy their rare society.
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1
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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metropolis
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| n.首府；大城市 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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verging
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| 接近，逼近（verge的现在分词形式） | |
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6
renouncing
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| v.声明放弃( renounce的现在分词 )；宣布放弃；宣布与…决裂；宣布摒弃 | |
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harpsichords
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| n.有键竖琴，羽管键琴，大键琴( harpsichord的名词复数 ) | |
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8
galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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9
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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10
pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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fatten
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| v.使肥，变肥 | |
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brats
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| n.调皮捣蛋的孩子( brat的名词复数 ) | |
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14
propitious
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| adj.吉利的；顺利的 | |
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15
vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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16
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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17
exhortation
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| n.劝告，规劝 | |
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18
emanated
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| v.从…处传出，传出( emanate的过去式和过去分词 )；产生，表现，显示 | |
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19
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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20
enumerating
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| v.列举，枚举，数( enumerate的现在分词 ) | |
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21
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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22
philosophical
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| adj.哲学家的，哲学上的，达观的 | |
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23
encyclopedia
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| n.百科全书 | |
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24
subscriber
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| n.用户，订户；（慈善机关等的）定期捐款者；预约者；签署者 | |
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25
seclusions
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| n.隔绝，隔离，隐居( seclusion的名词复数 ) | |
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26
intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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27
zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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28
tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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29
poetical
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| adj.似诗人的；诗一般的；韵文的；富有诗意的 | |
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30
tuned
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| adj.调谐的，已调谐的v.调音( tune的过去式和过去分词 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调 | |
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31
unison
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| n.步调一致，行动一致 | |
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32
impair
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| v.损害，损伤；削弱，减少 | |
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33
converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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34
lulls
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| n.间歇期（lull的复数形式）vt.使镇静，使安静（lull的第三人称单数形式） | |
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35
maze
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| n.迷宫，八阵图，混乱，迷惑 | |
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36
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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37
pliant
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| adj.顺从的；可弯曲的 | |
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38
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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39
redress
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| n.赔偿，救济，矫正；v.纠正，匡正，革除 | |
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40
blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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41
dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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42
envious
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| adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的 | |
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43
shuns
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| v.避开，回避，避免( shun的第三人称单数 ) | |
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44
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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45
refulgent
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| adj.辉煌的，灿烂的 | |
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46
relinquishing
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| 交出，让给( relinquish的现在分词 )； 放弃 | |
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47
mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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48
requite
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| v.报酬，报答 | |
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49
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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50
reverenced
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| v.尊敬，崇敬( reverence的过去式和过去分词 )；敬礼 | |
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51
relinquished
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| 交出，让给( relinquish的过去式和过去分词 )； 放弃 | |
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52
lurch
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| n.突然向前或旁边倒；v.蹒跚而行 | |
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53
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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54
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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55
projection
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| n.发射，计划，突出部分 | |
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56
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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57
disciple
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| n.信徒，门徒，追随者 | |
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58
instructor
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| n.指导者，教员，教练 | |
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59
dame
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| n.女士 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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61
banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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62
whim
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| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
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63
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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64
vivacity
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| n.快活，活泼，精神充沛 | |
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65
literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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66
intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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67
joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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68
uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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69
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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70
condescension
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| n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人) | |
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71
superseded
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| [医]被代替的，废弃的 | |
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72
annihilated
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| v.（彻底）消灭( annihilate的过去式和过去分词 )；使无效；废止；彻底击溃 | |
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