had entreated her in his Letter, and to make particular
Remarks of his Behaviour that Day in the Lists, which should it happen to
Charm her with an absolute liking of his Person, she resolv'd to dress
her self to the best Advantage, and mustering up all her Graces, out of
pure Revenge to kill him down right.

I would not have the Reader now be impertinent, and look upon this to be
force, or a whim of the Author's, that a Woman should proceed so far in
her Approbation of a Man whom she never saw, that it is impossible,
therefore ridiculous to suppose it. Let me tell such a Critick, that he
knows nothing of the Sex, if he does not know that Woman may be taken
with the Character and Description of a Man, when general and
extraordinary, that she may be prepossess'd with an agreeable Idea of his
Person and Conversation; and though she cannot imagine his real Features,
or manner of Wit, yet she has a general Notion of what is call'd a fine
Gentleman, and is prepar'd to like such a one who does not disagree with
that Character. Aurelian, as he bore a very fair Character, so was he
extreamly deserving to make it good, which otherways might have been to
his prejudice; for oftentimes, through an imprudent Indulgence to our
Friends merit, we give so large a Description of his excellencies, that
People make more room in their Expectation, than the Intrinsick worth of
the Man will fill, which renders him so much the more despicable as there
is emptyness to spare. 'Tis certain, though the Women seldom find that
out; for though they do not see so much in a Man as was promised, yet
they will be so kind to imagine he has some hidden excellencies; which
time may discover to them, so are content to allow, him a considerable
share of their esteem, and take him into Favour upon Tick. Aurelian as
he had good Credit, so he had a good Stock to support it, and his Person
was a good promising Security for the payment of any Obligation he could
lie under to the Fair Sex. Hippolito, who at this time was our Aurelian,
did not at all lessen him in appearing for him: So that although Leonora
was indeed mistaken, she could not be said to be much in the wrong. I
could find in my Heart to beg the Reader's pardon for this Digression, if
I thought he would be sensible of the Civility; for I promise him, I do
not intend to do it again throughout the Story, though I make never so
many, and though he take them never so ill. But because I began this
up