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justly culpable. And such is always the case with those
who embrace error. The vice does not lie in assenting to the proofs
they see; but in being blind to many of the proofs that offer. So
that, though our erroneous opinions be involuntary when formed, yet
as we have been wilfully corrupt, or very negligent in forming
them, we deserve punishment for our vice, or contempt for our
folly.' My wife now kept up the conversation, though not the
argument: she observed, that several very prudent men of our
acquaintance were free-thinkers, and made very good husbands; and
she knew some sensible girls that had skill enough to make converts
of their spouses: 'And who knows, my dear,' continued she, 'what
Olivia may be able to do. The girl has a great deal to say upon
every subject, and to my knowledge is very well skilled in
controversy.'
    'Why, my dear, what controversy can she have read?' cried I. 'It
does not occur to me that I ever put such books into her hands: you
certainly over-rate her merit.' 'Indeed, pappa,' replied Olivia,
'she does not: I have read a great deal of controversy. I have read
the disputes between Thwackum and Square; the controversy between
Robinson Crusoe and Friday the savage, and I am now employed in
reading the controversy in Religious courtship'—'Very well,' cried
I, 'that's a good girl, I find you are perfectly qualified for
making converts, and so go help your mother to make the
gooseberry-pye.'

CHAPTER 8
    An amour, which promises little good fortune, yet may be
productive of much
    The next morning we were again visited by Mr Burchell, though I
began, for certain reasons, to be displeased with the frequency of
his return; but I could not refuse him my company and fire-side. It
is true his labour more than requited his entertainment; for he
wrought among us with vigour, and either in the meadow or at the
hay-rick put himself foremost. Besides, he had always something
amusing to say that lessened our toil, and was at once so out of
the way, and yet so sensible, that I loved, laughed at, and pitied
him. My only dislike arose from an attachment he discovered to my
daughter: he would, in a jesting manner, call her his little
mistress, and when he bought each of the girls a set of ribbands,
hers was the finest. I knew not how, but he every day seemed to
become more amiable, his wit to improve, and his simplicity to
assume the superior airs of wisdom.
    Our family dined in the field, and we sate, or rather reclined,
round a temperate repast, our cloth spread upon the hay, while Mr
Burchell gave cheerfulness to the feast. To heighten our
satisfaction two blackbirds answered each other from opposite
hedges, the familiar redbreast came and pecked the crumbs from our
hands, and every sound seemed but the echo of tranquillity. 'I
never sit thus,' says Sophia, 'but I think of the two lovers, so
sweetly described by Mr Gay, who were struck dead in each other's
arms. There is something so pathetic in the description, that I
have read it an hundred times with new rapture.'—'In my opinion,'
cried my son, 'the finest strokes in that description are much
below those in the Acis and Galatea of Ovid. The Roman poet
understands the use of contrast better, and upon that figure
artfully managed all strength in the pathetic depends.'—'It is
remarkable,' cried Mr Burchell, 'that both the poets you mention
have equally contributed to introduce a false taste into their
respective countries, by loading all their lines with epithet. Men
of little genius found them most easily imitated in their defects,
and English poetry, like that in the latter empire of Rome, is
nothing at present but a combination of luxuriant images, without
plot or connexion; a string of epithets that improve the sound,
without carrying on the sense. But perhaps, madam, while I thus
reprehend others, you'll think it just that I should give them an
opportunity to retaliate, and indeed I have made this remark only
to have an opportunity of introducing to the