July 25, 2025 • 14 mins
Journey into the world of acclaimed writer Sir Richard Steele, as he recounts his intimate experiences living in the household of the intriguing Sir Roger de Coverley for an entire month. This podcast is narrated by Elijah Fisher.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter five of Days with Sir Roger DeCoverly. This LibriVox
recording is in the public domain Days with Sir Roger
DeCoverley by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele, Chapter five The Widow.
In my first description of the company in which I
passed most of my time, it may be remembered that
(00:23):
I mentioned a great affliction which my friend Sir Roger
has met with in his youth, which was no less
than a disappointment in love. It happened this evening if
we fell into a very pleasing walk at a distance
from his house. As soon as we came into it.
It is quoth the good old man, looking round him
(00:46):
with a smile, very hard, that any part of my
land should be settled upon one who has used me
so ill as the perverse widow did. And yet I
am sure I could not see a sprig of any
blot of this whole walk of trees. But I should
reflect upon her and her severity. She has certainly the
(01:10):
finest hand of any woman in the world. You are
to know, this was the place wherein I used to
muse upon her, and by that custom I can never
come into it. Let the same tender sentiments revive in
my mind as if I had actually walked with that
beautiful creature under these shades. I have been fool enough
(01:34):
to carve her name on the bark of several of
these trees. So unhappy is the condition of men in
love to attempt the removing of their passions by the
methods which serve only to imprint it deeper. She has
certainly the finest hand of any woman in the world.
Here followed a profound silence, and I was not displeased
(01:58):
to observe my friend call so naturally into a discourse
which I had ever been taken notice. He industriously voivated.
After a very long pause, he entered upon an account
of this great circumstance in his life, with an air
which I thought raised my idea above him what I
(02:20):
had ever had before, and gave me the picture of
that cheerful mind of his before it received the spoke
which has ever since affected his words and actions. But
he went on as follows. I came to my estate
my twenty second year, and resolved to follow the steps
(02:42):
of the most worthy of my ancestors who have inhabited
this spot of earth before me. In all the methods
of hospitality and good neighborhood for the sake of my fame,
and in country sports and recreations for the sake of
my walth. Twenty third year, I was obliged to serve
(03:03):
as sheriff for the county, and in my servants, officers,
and the whole equipage indulged the pleasure of a young
man who did not think ill of his own person.
In making that public occasion of showing my figure and
behavior to advantage, you may easily imagine to yourself what
(03:29):
appearance I made, who am pretty tall, rid well and
was very well dressed, at the head of a whole county,
with music before me, a feather in my hat, and
my horse well bitted. I can assure you I was
not a little pleased with the kind looks and glances
(03:51):
I had from the balconies and windows as I rode
to the hall where the ausies were held. But when
I came there, a beautiful creature in a windower's hat
sat in court to hear the event of the cause
concerning her dower. This commanding creature, who was born for
(04:11):
the destruction of all who behold her, put on such
a resignation in her countenance, and bore the whispers of
all around the court with such a pretty uneasiness, I
warrant you, And then recovered herself, one eye to another,
till she was perfectly confused by meeting something so wistful
(04:33):
in all she encountered that at last, with a moraine
to her she cast her bewitching eye upon me. I
ate no sooner met it, but I bowed like a
great surprised booby, and knowing her cause to be the
first which came on, I cried like a captivated calf
(04:55):
as I was make way for the defendant's witnesses. This
sudden partiality made all the county see. The sheriff also
was become a slave to the fine widow. During the
next time her cause was upon trial, she behaved herself,
(05:17):
I warrant you, with such a deep attention to her business,
took opportunities to have little billets handed to her counsel.
Then would be in such a pretty confusion occasioned. You
must know by acting before so much company, that not
only I, but the whole court was prejuicided. When her
(05:40):
favor and all that the next heir to her husband
had to urge was thought so groundless and frivolous, that
when it came to her a council to reply, there
is not half so much said, as every one decides
in the court that he could have urged to her advantage.
(06:01):
You must understand, sir, this perverse woman is one of
those unaccountable creatures that secretly rejoice in the admiration of men,
but indulge themselves in no further consequences. Hence is that
she has ever had a train of admirers, and she
(06:23):
removes from her slaves in town to those in the
country according to those seasons of the year. She is
a reading lady, and far gone in the pleasures of friendships.
She is always accompanied by a confidant, who is witnessed
to her daily protestants against our sex, and consequently a
(06:46):
bar to her steps towards love. Upon the strength of
her own maxims and declarations. However, I must needs say,
this accomplished mistress of mine has distinguished me above the rest,
and has been known to declare, Sir Roger de Coverley
was the tamest and most humane of all the brutes
(07:07):
in the country. I was told she said no, by
one who thought he railed me. But upon the strength
of this slender encouragement of being thought least detestable, I
made new liveries, new paired my coach horses, send them
all to town to be bitted and taught to throw
(07:28):
their legs well and move altogether. Before I pretended to
cross the country and wait upon her. As soon as
I thought my retinue suitable to the character of my
rotrian and youth, I set out from hence to make
my addresses. The particular skill of this lady has ever
(07:49):
been to inflame your wishes and yet command respect to
make her mistress of all this act. She has a
greater share of knowledge, wit and good sense, and is
usual even among men of merit. Then she is beautiful
beyond the race of women. If you won't let her
(08:10):
go on with a certain artifice, with her eyes and
the skill of beauty, she will arm herself with her
real charms and strike you with admiration instead of desire.
It is certain that if you were to behold the
whole woman, there is that dignity in her aspect, that
(08:34):
composure in her motion, that compleasancy in her manner, that
if you form makes you hope her merit makes you fear.
But then again she is in such a desperate scholar
that no country gentleman can approach her without being a jest.
(08:56):
As I was going to tell you when I came
to her house and was admitted to her presence with
great civility. At the same time, she placed herself to
be the first scene by me, in such an attitude
as I think you call the posture of a picture,
that she discovered new charms, and I at last came
(09:19):
towards her with such an awe as made me speechless.
This she no sooner observed, but she made her advantage
of it, and began a discourse to me concerning love
and honor, as they both are followed by pretenders, and
the real buttaries to them. When she discussed these points,
(09:41):
in a discourse which I verily believe was as learned
as the best philosopher in Europe could possibly make, she
asked me whether she was so happy as to fall
in with my sentiments on these important particulars her confidence
and sat by her, and upon my being in the
(10:03):
last confusion and silence this malicious aid of hers, turning
to her, says, I am very glad to observe. Sir
Roger pauses upon this subject, and seems resolved to deliver
all his sentiments upon the matter when she pleases to speak.
(10:23):
They both kept in their countenances, And after I had
sat half an hour meditating how to behave before such
profound casuts, I rose up and took my leave. Chance
has since that time thrown me very often in her way,
and she as often has directed a discourse to me
(10:46):
which I do not understand. This barbarity has kept me
ever at a distance from the most beautiful object my
eyes have ever beheld. It is thus also she did
with all mankind. And you must make love to her
as you would conquer these sphinx by poising her. But
(11:08):
where she like other women, and that there were any
talking to her, how constant must the pleasure of that
man be, who could converse but the creature. But after all,
you may be sure her heart is fixed on some
one or other. And yet I have been credibly informed
(11:29):
you can believe half that is said. After she had
done speaking to me, she put her hand to her
bosom and adjusted her tucker. Then she cast her eyes
a little down upon my beholding her too earnestly, they say.
She sings excellent. Her voice in her ordinary speech has
(11:51):
something in its inexpressibly sweet. You must know. I dined
with her at a public table the day after I
saw her, and she helped me to some tansy in
the eye of all the gentlemen in the country. She
has certainly the finest hand of any women in the world.
(12:12):
I can assure you, sir, were you to behold her,
it would be in the same condition. As her speech
is music, her form is angelike. But I find I
grow irregular while I am talking of her. But indeed
it would be a stupidity to be unconcerned at such perfection. Oh,
(12:37):
the excellent creature. She is as inimitable to all women
as she is inaccessible to all men. I found my
friend beginning to rave, and insensibly led him towards the
house that we might be joined by some other company.
And am convinced that the widow is a secret cause
(13:00):
of all that inconsistently which appears in some parts of
my friend's discourse, though he has so much command of
himself as not directly to mention her. Yet, according to
that marsh which only one knows not how to render
into English dumb casset hank low quittor. I shall end
(13:24):
this paper with that whole epigram, which represents with much
humor my honest friend's condition. Quick wid agit rufous nihil
aste nevilla rufo see godet ce flet c tacit hank
low quittor k not pro in that poset negat and
(13:46):
nuit yunast nevilla ce non set nevilla mutus herit squiberet
esterna parbumlose salutum nevilla looks in Navilla neuman aw he
pig sixty nine one, the triefless sweep, rejoice, stand, sit,
(14:11):
or walk still. He can nothing but of Navia talk,
let him eat, drink, ask questions, or dispute. Still he
must speak of Navia or be mute. He writ to
his father, ending with this line, I am my lovely
(14:31):
Navia ever thine. End of Chapter five, read by Elijah
Fisher
Chapter five of Days with Sir Roger DeCoverly. This LibriVox
recording is in the public domain Days with Sir Roger
DeCoverley by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele, Chapter five The Widow.
In my first description of the company in which I
passed most of my time, it may be remembered that
(00:23):
I mentioned a great affliction which my friend Sir Roger
has met with in his youth, which was no less
than a disappointment in love. It happened this evening if
we fell into a very pleasing walk at a distance
from his house. As soon as we came into it.
It is quoth the good old man, looking round him
(00:46):
with a smile, very hard, that any part of my
land should be settled upon one who has used me
so ill as the perverse widow did. And yet I
am sure I could not see a sprig of any
blot of this whole walk of trees. But I should
reflect upon her and her severity. She has certainly the
(01:10):
finest hand of any woman in the world. You are
to know, this was the place wherein I used to
muse upon her, and by that custom I can never
come into it. Let the same tender sentiments revive in
my mind as if I had actually walked with that
beautiful creature under these shades. I have been fool enough
(01:34):
to carve her name on the bark of several of
these trees. So unhappy is the condition of men in
love to attempt the removing of their passions by the
methods which serve only to imprint it deeper. She has
certainly the finest hand of any woman in the world.
Here followed a profound silence, and I was not displeased
(01:58):
to observe my friend call so naturally into a discourse
which I had ever been taken notice. He industriously voivated.
After a very long pause, he entered upon an account
of this great circumstance in his life, with an air
which I thought raised my idea above him what I
(02:20):
had ever had before, and gave me the picture of
that cheerful mind of his before it received the spoke
which has ever since affected his words and actions. But
he went on as follows. I came to my estate
my twenty second year, and resolved to follow the steps
(02:42):
of the most worthy of my ancestors who have inhabited
this spot of earth before me. In all the methods
of hospitality and good neighborhood for the sake of my fame,
and in country sports and recreations for the sake of
my walth. Twenty third year, I was obliged to serve
(03:03):
as sheriff for the county, and in my servants, officers,
and the whole equipage indulged the pleasure of a young
man who did not think ill of his own person.
In making that public occasion of showing my figure and
behavior to advantage, you may easily imagine to yourself what
(03:29):
appearance I made, who am pretty tall, rid well and
was very well dressed, at the head of a whole county,
with music before me, a feather in my hat, and
my horse well bitted. I can assure you I was
not a little pleased with the kind looks and glances
(03:51):
I had from the balconies and windows as I rode
to the hall where the ausies were held. But when
I came there, a beautiful creature in a windower's hat
sat in court to hear the event of the cause
concerning her dower. This commanding creature, who was born for
(04:11):
the destruction of all who behold her, put on such
a resignation in her countenance, and bore the whispers of
all around the court with such a pretty uneasiness, I
warrant you, And then recovered herself, one eye to another,
till she was perfectly confused by meeting something so wistful
(04:33):
in all she encountered that at last, with a moraine
to her she cast her bewitching eye upon me. I
ate no sooner met it, but I bowed like a
great surprised booby, and knowing her cause to be the
first which came on, I cried like a captivated calf
(04:55):
as I was make way for the defendant's witnesses. This
sudden partiality made all the county see. The sheriff also
was become a slave to the fine widow. During the
next time her cause was upon trial, she behaved herself,
(05:17):
I warrant you, with such a deep attention to her business,
took opportunities to have little billets handed to her counsel.
Then would be in such a pretty confusion occasioned. You
must know by acting before so much company, that not
only I, but the whole court was prejuicided. When her
(05:40):
favor and all that the next heir to her husband
had to urge was thought so groundless and frivolous, that
when it came to her a council to reply, there
is not half so much said, as every one decides
in the court that he could have urged to her advantage.
(06:01):
You must understand, sir, this perverse woman is one of
those unaccountable creatures that secretly rejoice in the admiration of men,
but indulge themselves in no further consequences. Hence is that
she has ever had a train of admirers, and she
(06:23):
removes from her slaves in town to those in the
country according to those seasons of the year. She is
a reading lady, and far gone in the pleasures of friendships.
She is always accompanied by a confidant, who is witnessed
to her daily protestants against our sex, and consequently a
(06:46):
bar to her steps towards love. Upon the strength of
her own maxims and declarations. However, I must needs say,
this accomplished mistress of mine has distinguished me above the rest,
and has been known to declare, Sir Roger de Coverley
was the tamest and most humane of all the brutes
(07:07):
in the country. I was told she said no, by
one who thought he railed me. But upon the strength
of this slender encouragement of being thought least detestable, I
made new liveries, new paired my coach horses, send them
all to town to be bitted and taught to throw
(07:28):
their legs well and move altogether. Before I pretended to
cross the country and wait upon her. As soon as
I thought my retinue suitable to the character of my
rotrian and youth, I set out from hence to make
my addresses. The particular skill of this lady has ever
(07:49):
been to inflame your wishes and yet command respect to
make her mistress of all this act. She has a
greater share of knowledge, wit and good sense, and is
usual even among men of merit. Then she is beautiful
beyond the race of women. If you won't let her
(08:10):
go on with a certain artifice, with her eyes and
the skill of beauty, she will arm herself with her
real charms and strike you with admiration instead of desire.
It is certain that if you were to behold the
whole woman, there is that dignity in her aspect, that
(08:34):
composure in her motion, that compleasancy in her manner, that
if you form makes you hope her merit makes you fear.
But then again she is in such a desperate scholar
that no country gentleman can approach her without being a jest.
(08:56):
As I was going to tell you when I came
to her house and was admitted to her presence with
great civility. At the same time, she placed herself to
be the first scene by me, in such an attitude
as I think you call the posture of a picture,
that she discovered new charms, and I at last came
(09:19):
towards her with such an awe as made me speechless.
This she no sooner observed, but she made her advantage
of it, and began a discourse to me concerning love
and honor, as they both are followed by pretenders, and
the real buttaries to them. When she discussed these points,
(09:41):
in a discourse which I verily believe was as learned
as the best philosopher in Europe could possibly make, she
asked me whether she was so happy as to fall
in with my sentiments on these important particulars her confidence
and sat by her, and upon my being in the
(10:03):
last confusion and silence this malicious aid of hers, turning
to her, says, I am very glad to observe. Sir
Roger pauses upon this subject, and seems resolved to deliver
all his sentiments upon the matter when she pleases to speak.
(10:23):
They both kept in their countenances, And after I had
sat half an hour meditating how to behave before such
profound casuts, I rose up and took my leave. Chance
has since that time thrown me very often in her way,
and she as often has directed a discourse to me
(10:46):
which I do not understand. This barbarity has kept me
ever at a distance from the most beautiful object my
eyes have ever beheld. It is thus also she did
with all mankind. And you must make love to her
as you would conquer these sphinx by poising her. But
(11:08):
where she like other women, and that there were any
talking to her, how constant must the pleasure of that
man be, who could converse but the creature. But after all,
you may be sure her heart is fixed on some
one or other. And yet I have been credibly informed
(11:29):
you can believe half that is said. After she had
done speaking to me, she put her hand to her
bosom and adjusted her tucker. Then she cast her eyes
a little down upon my beholding her too earnestly, they say.
She sings excellent. Her voice in her ordinary speech has
(11:51):
something in its inexpressibly sweet. You must know. I dined
with her at a public table the day after I
saw her, and she helped me to some tansy in
the eye of all the gentlemen in the country. She
has certainly the finest hand of any women in the world.
(12:12):
I can assure you, sir, were you to behold her,
it would be in the same condition. As her speech
is music, her form is angelike. But I find I
grow irregular while I am talking of her. But indeed
it would be a stupidity to be unconcerned at such perfection. Oh,
(12:37):
the excellent creature. She is as inimitable to all women
as she is inaccessible to all men. I found my
friend beginning to rave, and insensibly led him towards the
house that we might be joined by some other company.
And am convinced that the widow is a secret cause
(13:00):
of all that inconsistently which appears in some parts of
my friend's discourse, though he has so much command of
himself as not directly to mention her. Yet, according to
that marsh which only one knows not how to render
into English dumb casset hank low quittor. I shall end
(13:24):
this paper with that whole epigram, which represents with much
humor my honest friend's condition. Quick wid agit rufous nihil
aste nevilla rufo see godet ce flet c tacit hank
low quittor k not pro in that poset negat and
(13:46):
nuit yunast nevilla ce non set nevilla mutus herit squiberet
esterna parbumlose salutum nevilla looks in Navilla neuman aw he
pig sixty nine one, the triefless sweep, rejoice, stand, sit,
(14:11):
or walk still. He can nothing but of Navia talk,
let him eat, drink, ask questions, or dispute. Still he
must speak of Navia or be mute. He writ to
his father, ending with this line, I am my lovely
(14:31):
Navia ever thine. End of Chapter five, read by Elijah
Fisher
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