es, both of whom have also easie Access to you at your
own House: But the Matter is adjusted between them, and _Damon_, who
so passionately addresses you, has no Design upon you; but _Strephon_,
who seems to be indifferent to you, is the Man, who is, as they have
settled it, to have you. The Plot was laid over a Bottle of Wine; and
_Strephon_, when he first thought of you, proposed to _Damon_ to be
his Rival. The manner of his breaking of it to him, I was so placed at
a Tavern, that I could not avoid hearing. _Damon_, said he with a deep
Sigh, I have long languished for that Miracle of Beauty _Gloriana_,
and if you will be very stedfastly my Rival, I shall certainly obtain
her. Do not, continued he, be offended at this Overture; for I go upon
the Knowledge of the Temper of the Woman, rather than any Vanity that
I should profit by an Opposition of your Pretensions to those of your
humble Servant. _Gloriana_ has very good Sense, a quick Relish of the
Satisfactions of Life, and will not give her self, as the Crowd of
Women do, to the Arms of a Man to whom she is indifferent. As she is a
sensible Woman, Expressions of Rapture and Adoration will not move her
neither; but he that has her must be the Object of her Desire, not her
Pity. The Way to this End I take to be, that a Man's general Conduct
should be agreeable, without addressing in particular to the Woman he
loves. Now, Sir, if you will be so kind as to sigh and die for
_Gloriana_, I will carry it with great Respect towards her, but seem
void of any Thoughts as a Lover. By this Means I shall be in the most
amiable Light of which I am capable; I shall be received with Freedom,
you with Reserve. _Damon_, who has himself no Designs of Marriage at
all, easily fell into the Scheme; and you may observe, that where-ever
you are _Damon_ appears also. You see he carries on an unaffecting
Exactness in his Dress and Manner, and strives always to be the very
Contrary of _Strephon_. They have already succeeded so far, that your
Eyes are ever in Search of _Strephon_, and turn themselves of Course
from _Damon_. They meet and compare Notes upon your Carriage; and the
Letter which, was brought to you the other Day, was a Contrivance to
remark your Resentment. When you saw the Billet subscribed _Damon_,
and turned away with a scornful Air, and cried Impertinence! you gave
Hopes to him that shuns you, without mortifying him