128 GILBEET WHITE OF SELBOENE 1734 



turn, who often put him on whimsical experiments, such 

 as feeling my pulse, putting me in a tub of water to try 

 if I can swim, &c. ; and twice in the year I am carried 

 to the grocer's to be weighed, that it may be seen how 

 much I am wasted during the months of my abstinence, 

 and how much I gain by feasting in the summer. Upon 

 these occasions I am placed in the scale on my back, 

 where I sprawl about to the great diversion of the shop- 

 keeper's children. These matters displease me; but there 

 is another that much hurts my pride : I mean that contempt 

 shown for my understanding which these Lords of the 

 Creation are very apt to discover, thinking that nobody 

 knows anything but themselves. I heard my master say 

 that he expected that I should some day tumble down 

 the ha-ha; whereas I would have him to know that I 

 can discern a precipice from plain ground as well as himself. 

 Sometimes my master repeats with much seeming triumph 

 the following lines, which occasion a loud laugh — 



" Timotheus placed on high 

 Amidst the tuneful choir. 

 With flying fingers touched the lyre." 



For my part I see no wit in the application; nor know 

 whence the verses are quoted; perhaps from some prophet 

 of his own, who, if he penned them for the sake of ridiculing 

 tortoises, bestowed his pains, I think, to poor purposes. 

 These are some of my grievances; but they sit very light 

 on me in comparison with what remains behind. Know 

 then, tender-hearted lady, that my greatest misfortune, and 

 what I have never divulged to anyone before is — the want 

 of society of my own kind. This reflection is always upper- 

 most in my own mind, but comes upon me with irresistible 

 force every spring. It was in the month of May last that 

 I resolved to elope from my place of confinement ; for my 

 fancy had represented to me that probably many agreeable 

 tortoises of both sexes might inhabit the heights of Baker's 



