LETTER 294
Mr. Lovelace, to John Belford, Esq
LETTER 294Visible text2 paragraphs
Friday, June 30
I am ruined, undone, blown up, destroyed, and worse than annihilated, that's certain! -- But was not the news shocking enough, dost thou think, without thy throwing into the too-weighty scale reproaches, which thou couldst have had no opportunity to make but for my own voluntary communications? at a time too, when, as it falls out, I have another very sensible disappointment to struggle with?
I am ruined, undone, blown up, destroyed, and worse than annihilated, that's certain! -- But was not the news shocking enough, dost thou think, without thy throwing into the too-weighty scale reproaches, which thou couldst have had no opportunity to make but for my own voluntary communications? at a time too, when, as it falls out, I have another very sensible disappointment to struggle with?
I imagine, if there be such a thing as future punishment, it must be none of the smallest mortifications, that a new devil shall be punished by a worse old one. And, take that! And, take that! to have the old satyr cry to the screaming sufferer, laying on with a cat-o'-nine-tails, with a star of burning brass at the end of each: and, for what! for what! -- Why, if the truth may be fairly told, for not being so bad a devil as myself.