Judith Drake

“ To oppose such Fellows their own way, were like quarrelling with the common Scavengers, and throwing Filth about to bewray themselves and annoy the Neighborhood. Such immoral Swine ought to be submitted to the Ecclesiastical Censure, and do Pennance in one clean sheet, for the filthy Rheams they’ve abus’d the World with. ”

“ This Advantage however I reap by being unknown, that I frequently hear unsuspected, the unbiass’d Opinions of those that criticize upon me, and scarce, without Scorn, hear most Men pronounce it a Performance upove the Ability of a Woman, yet none Answer the Arguments in it to the contrary. ”

“ But it has laid fresh Obligations upon me, since it lessens not their Respect, tho’ you suffer in the Inputation, and lets me see that you can with all the Gallantry of a Courtier engage in a Friends cause, and scorn the Court Trick of deserting it, when it grows troublesome, or difficult. ’Tis no small comfort to me, that I have such a Champion against such petty Adversaries; for tho’ a Man can’t decently draw his Sword upon e’ yelping little Cur, that barks at him in the street, yet if they snarl too near his heels, he may spurn ’em without offence to his gravity. ”