The satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis / translated into English verse by William Gifford.

  • Juvenal.
Date:
1802
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis / translated into English verse by William Gifford. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    recover me, and I awoke in bed the next morning, remembering nothing but the horror I felt, when I first found myself unable to cry out for assistance. This was not my only escape, but I forbear to speak of them. An escape of another kind was now preparing for me, which] de- serves all my notice, as it was decisive of my future fate. On Christmas day (17 70) I was surprised by a message from my godfather, saying that he had sent a man and horse to bring me to Ashburton ; and desiring me to set out without delay. My master, as well as myself, supposed it was to spend the holydays there; and he therefore, made no objection to my going. We were, how- ever, both mistaken. Since I had lived at Brixham, I had broken off all connection with Ashburton. I had no relation there but my poor brother,* who was yet too young for any kind of correspondence ; and the conduct of my godfather towards me, did not intitle him to any portion of my gratitude, or kind remembrance. I lived therefore in a sort of sullen independance on all I had formerly known, and thought without regret of being abandoned by every one to my fate. But I had not been overlooked. The women of Brixham, who travelled to Ashburton twice a week with fish, and who had * Of my brother here introduced for the last time, I must yet say a few words. He was literally The child of misery baptised in tear»; and the short passage of his life did not belie the melancholy presage of his infancy. When he was seven years old, the parish bound him out to a husbandman of the name of Leman, with whom he endured incredible hardships, which I had it not in my power to alleviate. At nine years of age he broke his thigh, and I took that opportunity to teach him to read and write. When my own situation was improved, I persuaded him to try the sea; he did so, and was taken on board the Egmont, on condition that his master should receive his wages. The time was now fast approaching when I could serve him, but he was doomed to know no favourable change of fortune; he fell sick, and died at Cork.