s thou even gloriest) upon the
preparative stratagem, that upon the end of conquering.

See we not the natural bent of idiots and the crazed? The very appetite
is body; and when we ourselves are most fools, and crazed, then are we
most eager in these pursuits. See what fools this passion makes the
wisest men! What snivellers, what dotards, when they suffer themselves
to be run away with by it!--An unpermanent passion! Since, if (ashamed
of its more proper name) we must call it love, love gratified, is love
satisfied--and where consent on one side adds to the obligation on the
other. What then but remorse can follow a forcible attempt?

Do not even chaste lovers choose to be alone in their courtship
preparations, ashamed to have even a child to witness to their foolish
actions, and more foolish expressions? Is this deified passion, in its
greatest altitudes, fitted to stand the day? Do not the lovers, when
mutual consent awaits their wills, retire to coverts, and to darkness, to
complete their wishes? And shall such a sneaking passion as this, which
can be so easily gratified by viler objects, be permitted to debase the
noblest?

Were not the delays of thy vile purposes owing more to the awe which her
majestic virtue has inspired thee with, than to thy want of adroitness in
villany? [I must write my free sentiments in this case; for have I not
seen the angel?] I should be ready to censure some of thy contrivances
and pretences to suspend the expected day, as trite, stale, and (to me,
who know thy intention) poor; and too often resorted to, as nothing comes
of them to be gloried in; particularly that of Mennell, the vapourish
lady, and the ready-furnished house.

She must have thought so too, at times, and in her heart despised thee
for them, or love thee (ungrateful as thou art!) to her misfortune; as
well as entertain hope against probability. But this would afford
another warning to the sex, were they to know her story; 'as it would
show them what poor pretences they must seem to be satisfied with, if
once they put themselves into the power of a designing man.'

If trial only was thy end, as once was thy pretence,* enough surely hast
thou tried this paragon of virtue and vigilance. But I knew thee too
well, to expect, at the time, that thou wouldest stop there. 'Men of our
cast put no other bound to their views upon any of the sex, than what want
of power compels them to put.' I knew that from one adv