Languages & literature > Key to the drama

( iSi )
under the hofpitable roof of the noble
Angus, till I found myfelf in the hands of
preceptors, well chofen, not to inftruft me
fimply in the knowledge of languages and
fciences, but to form my mind to the moft
genuine notions of virtue and philofophy ;
and in place of being trained, agreeable to
the bafe purpofe of Macbeth, to a tame fub-
je&ion to meafures of flavery and oppref-
fion, my leflbns were fuch as infpired me
continually with an abhorrence of lucli
fatal dodtrines.
* That afllduity and pleafure with which
I applied mylelf to ftudy, and the paternal
fympathy of my guardian, left me no room
to imagine I was in confinement; and as in
intervals I had opportunities of relaxing my
mind with the engaging prattle of the little
charming Eugenia, then but ten years old,
my time was unencumbered with any fort of
heavinefs. We were then both too young
to be fufceptible of amorous imprefTions j
yet in that, the very dawn of her beauties,
there was a fomething that foretold my fu¬
ture enjoyments. It is with pleafure I do,
even now, recoiled: that eagernefs, with
which, in the beginning of defires to be a*
greeable to each other, we haftened to meet
our dancing mafter in the hall, where a
mutual difpofition to pleafe, promoted
greatly the perfedion to which we foon ar-
R rived