![[Header#^header-embed]] > [!SUMMARY] > [[Hester Thrale née Salusbury]]'s account of: > - the song written by Herbert Lawrence in her praise; > - her earlier admiration of him; and > - their estrangement due to his behaviour after the sudden death of her 10-year-old son. > [!QUOTE] [[Hester Thrale née Salusbury|Hester Thrale]]'s wrote in [[Thraliana]] Aug/Sep 1777: > Herbert Lawrence[^1] is a Man of great good Sense, much Knowledge, sound Morality and rather agreeable Address: his Principles with regard to Religion are some what loose I fear, his Temper is peevish, and his Affections cold. I once had an extremely strong regard for him, but his Behaviour on the Illness and Death of my [[Henry Salusbury Thrale|Son]] in the fatal Year 1776. shut my heart against him suddenly, and I could never open it to him more. he wrote some pretty Verses and said some clever Things and I have a Loss of his Acquaintance. > > The following Song he wrote in my Praise forsooth is not a bad one. > > > If all that I lov’d were her Face, > From looking I sure might refrain; > In others her Likeness might trace > Or her Absence might ease all my Pain: > > > Content from her Charms I retir’d > Nor knew I till then how I lov’d; > What present my Passion admir’d > When absent my reason approv’d. > > > Then how should I hope for relief > When all I can see is Disdain; > No Pity in her for my Grief, > No merit in me to complain; > > > Yet will I not Fortune upbraid, > Though robb’d of my Freedom and Ease; > Still proud of the Choice I have made > Though hopeless it ever can please. In August 1778, Hester Thrale wrote [verses in appreciative response](http://www.thrale.com/herbert_lawrence)to Herbert Lawrence. ## See also ![[hester-lynch-thrale-1741-1821🔎#^hester-lynch-thrale-infoblock]] #history/person/SALUSBURY/hester-lynch-born-1741 #history/person/LAWRENCE/herbert-died-1797 ![[Footer#^footer-embed]] [^1]: A surgeon and apothecary (1722-1797).