Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1752 edition. Excerpt: ... T HE Female Quixote BOOK I. Chap. I. Contains a Turn at Court, neither new nor surprising.-- DEGREESSome useless Additions to a sine Lady's Education.*--The bad EffeSls of a whimsical Study, which some will say is borrowed from Cer HE Marquis of for a long Series of Years, was the sirst and most distinguished Favourite at Court: He held the most honourable Employments under the Crown, disposed of all Places of Profit as he pleased, presided at the Council, and in a manner governed the whole Kingdom. Vol. I. B ThU This extensive Authority could not sail of making him many Enemies: He fell at last a Sacrifice to the Plots they were continually forming against Jiim; and was not only removed from all his Employments, but banished the Court for ever. The Pain his undeserved Disgrace gave him, he was enabled to conceal by the natural Haughtinese of his Temper; and, behaving rather like a Man who'fears resigned, than been dismissed from his Posts, he imagined he triumphed sufficiently over the Malice of his Enemies, while he seemed to be wholly insensible of the Effects it produced. His secret Discontent, however, was so much augmented by the Opportunity he now had of observing the Baseness and Ingratitude of Mankind, which in some Degree he experienced every Day, that he resolved to quit all Society whatever, and. devote the rest of his Life to Solitude and Privacy. For the Place of his Retreat he pitched upon a Castle he had in a very remote Province of she Kingdom, iri the Neighbourhood of a small ViUage, and several Miles distant from any Town. The vast Extent of Ground which surrounded this noble Building, he had caused to be laid out in a Manner peculiar to his Taste: The most laborious Endeavours of Art had been used to make it appear like