![[SWIFT, Jonathan]. A Soldier and a Scholar: or the lady's judgement upon those two characters in the persons of Captain ---- and D--n S---T. London: J. Roberts, 1732.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2015/NYR/2015_NYR_12435_0198_000(swift_jonathan_a_soldier_and_a_scholar_or_the_ladys_judgement_upon_tho121350).jpg?w=1)
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[SWIFT, Jonathan]. A Soldier and a Scholar: or the lady's judgement upon those two characters in the persons of Captain ---- and D--n S---T. London: J. Roberts, 1732.
4° (239 x 173mm). (Some browning and spotting, slight tears to upper margin of A2.) Modern dark blue morocco, spine directly lettered in gilt. Provenance: William Rees-Mogg (1928-2012).
FIRST EDITION, unauthorised, published 22 January 1732, composed in September 1728 during Swift’s stay with the Achesons at Market Hill. The majority of lines are spoken by Hannah, Lady Acheson’s maid, who thinks the great advantage of turning a disused “bawn” into a barracks will be the arrival of an army officer, “daubed in gold lace”. Hannah relives a dream in which a finely-dressed Captain fulfills all expectations and usurps Swift’s privileged place next to Lady Acheson at dinner. His physical charms are so great that his aversion to study, his attempt to seduce his teacher’s wife, and his robbery of a parson on the highway, all revealed in his dinner time conversation, are treated as matters of “so much wit.” Swift, the usual provider of humour, cannot hope to compete, and the “merciless Hannah” ends her account by telling Lady Acheson, “Madam, I laughed till I thought I should split.” Bowyer’s ledger reveals that there was an initial impression of 500 copies, of which 300 were used for the first and 200 for the “second” London edition. Third and fourth quarto editions quickly followed. There was also a Dublin printing under the alternative title: The Grand Question Debated: Whether Hamilton's Bawn should be turn'd into a Barrack or a Malt-House (see next lot). Foxon S904; Rothschild 218-9; Teerink 713; Williams 863.
4° (239 x 173mm). (Some browning and spotting, slight tears to upper margin of A2.) Modern dark blue morocco, spine directly lettered in gilt. Provenance: William Rees-Mogg (1928-2012).
FIRST EDITION, unauthorised, published 22 January 1732, composed in September 1728 during Swift’s stay with the Achesons at Market Hill. The majority of lines are spoken by Hannah, Lady Acheson’s maid, who thinks the great advantage of turning a disused “bawn” into a barracks will be the arrival of an army officer, “daubed in gold lace”. Hannah relives a dream in which a finely-dressed Captain fulfills all expectations and usurps Swift’s privileged place next to Lady Acheson at dinner. His physical charms are so great that his aversion to study, his attempt to seduce his teacher’s wife, and his robbery of a parson on the highway, all revealed in his dinner time conversation, are treated as matters of “so much wit.” Swift, the usual provider of humour, cannot hope to compete, and the “merciless Hannah” ends her account by telling Lady Acheson, “Madam, I laughed till I thought I should split.” Bowyer’s ledger reveals that there was an initial impression of 500 copies, of which 300 were used for the first and 200 for the “second” London edition. Third and fourth quarto editions quickly followed. There was also a Dublin printing under the alternative title: The Grand Question Debated: Whether Hamilton's Bawn should be turn'd into a Barrack or a Malt-House (see next lot). Foxon S904; Rothschild 218-9; Teerink 713; Williams 863.