Not a sovereign on earth, if he be not a good man, and if he be of a
warlike temper, but must do a thousand times more mischief than I. And
why? Because he has it in his power to do more.

An honest man, perhaps thou'lt say, will not wish to have it in his power
to do hurt. He ought not, let me tell him: for, if he have it, a
thousand to one but it makes him both wanton and wicked.

In what, then, am I so singularly vile?

In my contrivances thou wilt say, (for thou art my echo,) if not in my
proposed end of them.

How difficult does every man find it, as well as I, to forego a
predominant passion! I have three passions that sway me by turns; all
imperial ones--love, revenge, ambition or a desire of conquest.

As to this particular contrivance of Tomlinson and the uncle, which
perhaps thou wilt think a black one; that had been spared, had not these
innocent ladies put me upon finding a husband for their Mrs. Townsend:
that device, therefore, is but a preventive one. Thinkest thou that I
could bear to be outwitted? And may not this very contrivance save a
world of mischief? for dost thou think I would have tamely given up the
lady to Townsend's tars?

What meanest thou, except to overthrow thy own plea, when thou sayest,
that men of our cast know no other bound to their wickedness, but want of
power; yet knowest this lady to be in mine?

Enough, sayest thou, have I tried this paragon of virtue. Not so; for I
have not tried her at all--all I have been doing is but preparation to a
trial.

But thou art concerned for the means that I may have recourse to in the
trial, and for my veracity.

Silly fellow!--Did ever any man, thinkest thou, deceive a woman, but at
the expense of his veracity; how, otherwise, can he be said to deceive?

As to the means, thou dost not imagine that I expect a direct consent.
My main hope is but in a yielding reluctance; without which I will be
sworn, whatever rapes have been attempted, none ever were committed, one
person to one person. And good Queen Bess of England, had she been
living, and appealed to, would have declared herself of my mind.

It would not be amiss for the sex to know what our opinions are upon this
subject. I love to warn them. I wish no man to succeed with them but
myself. I told thee once, that though a rake, I am not a rake's friend.*

* See Vol. III. Letter XVIII.

Thou sayest, that I ever hated wedlock. And true thou sayest. And yet
as tr