THE FEMALE QUIXOTE;
OR,
THE ADVENTURES OF ARABELLA.
BY
CHARLOTTE LENNOX
In Two Volumes.
The Second Edition:
Revised and Corrected.
1752
Transcribers' note: The text of this digital edition was preparedfrom printed edition of 1752 (the revised and corrected 2nd edition)with some further standardisation of spelling and punctuation (alsomaking use of the 1820 edition)
PREFACE
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF MIDDLESEX.
My Lord,
Such is the power of interest over almost every mind, that no oneis long without arguments to prove any position which is ardentlywished to be true, or to justify any measures which are dictated byinclination.
By this subtle sophistry of desire, I have been persuaded to hope thatthis book may, without impropriety, be inscribed to your lordship; butam not certain that my reasons will have the same force upon otherunderstandings.
The dread which a writer feels of the public censure; the still greaterdread of neglect; and the eager wish for support and protection, whichis impressed by the consciousness of imbecility; are unknown to thosewho have never adventured into the world; and I am afraid, my lord,equally unknown to those who have always found the world ready toapplaud them.
It is, therefore, not unlikely, that the design of this address may bemistaken, and the effects of my fear imputed to my vanity: they who seeyour lordship's name prefixed to my performance, will rather condemn mypresumption, than compassionate my anxiety.
But, whatever be supposed my motive, the praise of judgment cannot bedenied me; for to whom can timidity so properly fly for shelter, as tohim who has been so long distinguished for candour and humanity? Howcan vanity be so completely gratified, as by the allowed patronage ofhim whose judgment has so long given a standard to the national taste?Or by what other means could I so powerfully suppress all opposition,but that of envy, as by declaring myself,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's
Obliged and most obedient
Humble Servant,
THE AUTHOR.
THE FEMALE QUIXOTE.
VOLUME I.
BOOK I.
Chapter I.
Contains a turn at court, neither new nor surprising. Some uselessadditions to a fine lady's education. The bad effects of a whimsicalstudy, which some will say is borrowed from Cervantes.
The Marquis of ——, for a long series of years, was the first andmost distinguished favourite at court: he held the most honourableemployments under the crown, disposed of all places of profit as hepleased, presided at the council, and in a manner governed the wholekingdom.
This extensive authority could not fail of making him many enemies: hefell at last a sacrifice to the plots they were continually formingagainst him; and was not only removed from all his employments, butbanished the court for ever.
The pain his undeserved disgrace gave him, he was enabled to concealby the natural haughtiness of his temper; and, behaving rather like aman who had resigned, than been dismissed from his posts, he imagined