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dryad, & the Spirit of my Father; but these two invisible Guardians, being perhaps better employed, left their poor sleeping Votary unprotected — I suffered for some Time after this idle Frolick a very uncomfortable State of Existence between Sickness & Health, & they tell me I should have had a severe Fever, had not Nature exerted herself in my Favour, & presented me (God help her) with a rich necklace of Carbuncles - in plain English I have been vilely pestered with a set of Boils succeeding each other on my Throat - They are not yet departed — my neck is so enlarged at this instant that I look like a stag in the season of his amours – But be not afraid, my chaste & gentle Muse, I have only the tumour of the Animal, without anything of his furious disposition either to Love or War — Having one of Job's Plagues I am endeavouring to learn a little of his Patience–