174 Life of the Duchess of Newcastle 



tedious, when I am alone, so I be near my Lord, and know 

 he is well. 



But now I have declared to my readers my birth, breeding, 

 and actions, to this part of my life (I mean the material parts, 

 for should I write every particular, as my childish sports and 

 the like, it would be ridiculous and tedious) ; but I have been 

 honourably born and nobly matched ; I have been bred to 

 elevated thoughts, not to a dejected spirit, my life hath been 

 ruled with honesty, attended by modesty, and directed by truth. 

 But since I have writ in general thus far of my life, I think it 

 fit I should speak something of my humour, particular practice 

 and disposition. As for my humour, I was from my childhood 

 given to contemplation, being more taken or delighted with 

 thoughts than in conversation with a society, insomuch as I 

 would walk two or three hours, and never rest, in a musing, 

 considering, contemplating manner, reasoning with myself 

 of everything my senses did present. But when I was in the 

 company of my natural friends, I was very attentive of what 

 they said or did ; but for strangers I regarded not much what 

 they said, but many times I did observe their actions, where- 

 upon my reason as judge, and my thoughts as accusers, or 

 excusers, or approvers and commenders, did plead, or appeal 

 to accuse, or complain thereto. Also I never took delight in 

 closets, or cabinets of toys, but in the variety of fine clothes, 

 and such toys as only were to adorn my person. Likewise I 

 had a natural stupidity towards the learning of any other 

 language than my native tongue, for I could sooner and with 

 more facility understand the sense, than remember the words, 

 and for want of such memory makes me so unlearned in foreign 

 languages as I am 1 . As for my practice, I was never very 

 active, by reason I was given so much to contemplation ; 

 besides my brothers and sisters were for the most part serious 

 and staid in their actions, not given to sport or play, nor dance 

 about, whose company I keeping, made me so too. But I 

 observed, that although their actions were staid, yet they would 

 be very merry amongst themselves, delighting in each other's 

 company : also they would in their discourse express the 



i In the preface to her Philosophical Letters the Duchess says : ' The authors 

 whose opinions I mention I have read, as I found them printed, in my native 

 language, except Des Cartes, who being in Latin, I had some few places translated to 

 me out of his works.' And again, in the same place : ' My error was I began to write 

 so early, that I had not lived so long as to be able to read many authors.' 



