ingular in his
expectations of a wife's purity, though not pure himself.

As to my CLARISSA, I own that I hardly think there ever was such an
angel of a woman. But has she not, as above, already taken steps, which
she herself condemns? Steps, which the world and her own family did
not think her capable of taking? And for which her own family will not
forgive her?

Nor think it strange, that I refuse to hear any thing pleaded in behalf
of a standard virtue from high provocations. 'Are not provocations and
temptations the tests of virtue? A standard virtue must not be allowed
to be provoked to destroy or annihilate itself.

'May not then the success of him, who could carry her thus far, be
allowed to be an encouragement for him to try to carry her farther?'
'Tis but to try. Who will be afraid of a trail for this divine creature?
'Thou knowest, that I have more than once, twice, or thrice, put to the
fiery trial young women of name and character; and never yet met
with one who held out a month; nor indeed so long as could puzzle my
invention. I have concluded against the whole sex upon it.' And now, if
I have not found a virtue that cannot be corrupted, I will swear that
there is not one such in the whole sex. Is not then the whole sex
concerned that this trial should be made? And who is it that knows this
lady, that would not stake upon her head the honour of the whole?--Let
her who would refuse it come forth, and desire to stand in her place.

I must assure thee, that I have a prodigious high opinion of virtue; as
I have of all those graces and excellencies which I have not been
able to attain myself. Every free-liver would not say this, nor think
thus--every argument he uses, condemnatory of his own actions, as some
would think. But ingenuousness was ever a signal part of my character.

Satan, whom thou mayest, if thou wilt, in this case, call my instigator,
put the good man of old upon the severest trial. 'To his behaviour under
these trials that good man owed his honour and his future rewards.'
An innocent person, if doubted, must wish to be brought to a fair and
candid trial.

Rinaldo, indeed, in Ariosto, put the Mantua Knight's cup of trial from
him, which was to be the proof of his wife's chastity*--This was his
argument for forbearing the experiment: 'Why should I seek a think I
should be loth to find? My wife is a woman. The sex is frail. I cannot
believe better of her than I do. It will be to my own loss,