Epistle IV. To Pompeia Cælerina, his Wife's Mother.
by
Mr. Pelham.
[_]
Having first praised her Hospitality, and the Diligence of her Servants,
he invites her to his Country-Seat.
The short Letter, I wrote to you some Time ago, is enough to convince you,
That I have now no farther Need of yours to acquaint me, what abundance of Delights
are to be met with at your Country-Houses at
Ocriculum, Corsulanum,
Perusinum, and
Narnium, and at your fine Bathing-House there;
nor need I repeat any Thing on that Head. I can assure you, I do not so much enjoy what is my own,
as what is yours. They differ only in this, That your People attend me with greater Care and Diligence,
than my own do; which perhaps may be your Case, if ever you come to see me,
which I beg you to do, not only that you in your turn may enjoy all the Pleasures we can procure you here,
but also, that my People may be awakened by your Presence, who expecting my coming alone,
are, I dare say, secure and negligent enough: For, with an easy Master,
Custom naturally wears off the Awe which his Servants might at first have for him:
But when Strangers come, they exert themselves and take more Pains, to gain the Favour of their Master,
by their Regard to them, than by any thing else that relates to his Service.
Farewel.
