Letter 3972

Sr. I dont presume to say, that the following account is a genuine translation of the chinese manuscript I had the honour to give you but this I can affirm; that I liv’d in asia a long time and was acquainted with a gracious Historian who gives an account of an Emperour in the East that was soe infatuated to the charms of his concubine; that Herod like He granted all she Requir’d soe that whomever this cruell beauty, had any private picque grudge or Resentment against any of her sex she took the opportunity to be Reveng’d on their father; brother; son or Husband such was the malice of this female parricide; that through her ambitious, and bloodthirsty Instigation they: at her cruell Request fell a victim, soe that the nation was almost depopulated of great personages till at last, an ancient Hermitt, willing to Invent some scheme, or other in order to Redress these greviances He approaches the [Emperor?] under the figure of the following dream Great Sir this dream would not bear Hearing was not the life of your Royall person concern’d: last night I thought, my Royall Prince was in a garden where the beautiful Collection of fine flowers allmost inumerable, were suddenly distroy’d, perish’d, and witherd away: at the Rise and progress oft one celebrated fine flower which indeed I observ’d to attract, ye Royall Eyes, but alass I was agreably surpris’d, when ye Royall person seem’d to be shockt with Horrour, and amaze, and ask’d me what Could be the reason of such a totall distruction of all those fine flowers I trembling told my Royall master, t’was plain; noe other Reason than the rise of that one fine flower, for the whole garden seem’d to be in a very flourishing condition before that flower came to that to much Exallted Height and in consequence, but cutting that off, I did Really and Humbly apprehend, the garden would come to its primitive beauty: I dream’t great Sir your Royall person gave me the seymeter, with strickl’y charge to lose noe time, but to cut it down which I noe sooner had Effected, but the garden began to Recover its Beauty and than ye Royall and Imperiall masjety was pleas’d to declare you much [.. th..] Rather those to have a garden with a beautiful Collection of time flowers, than to Enjoy but one notwithstanding that did Surpass in beauty and grandeur, but with all ye [..e.] majesty was pleas’d to apply that this dream could not be worthy ye Royall notice for twas all a mistery but alass Great sir, I dream’t that Imdiately Mahomett appear’d and desird ye attention; that He told my Royall master the garden was ye Kingdom the flowers ye subjects, and that one fine flower ye cruell Concubine; He cut her off he cry’d, and your nation flourish as the Historian says he did with his own Hand, and gave the Hermitt the same; this story if told in the beauty of the originall, would not appear soe troublesome as I have just Reason to beleive this may [soe?] for the which, as for all other [Repuated?] troubles I have presum’d, to give I humbly intreat for pardon and leave to be with the greatest Respect. Sr yr most most dutifull and most [che..i….] humble servant Denis Perronett Monday February ye 22. 1731 P.S. I hope when ye worst goes by the [faded text] The Countess of Harold House [illegible text] you’ll be pleas’d to place me in [faded text]