mife to my felf; but however, this I may almoft venture to be a Sybil in, my Difappointment fhall never arife from Love; and what young Woman was ever yet known entirely miferable without it?

To be fhort, the gain'd her Point, the Chevalier made her abfolute Mistress of Forty Thousand Crowns, and of her own Conduct, fettled her in a very handfome House, for which he paid the highest Price, I mean his own Life. My Lady grew fo outragious at feeing her Daughter entirely out of her Dominion, that the never ceas'd a Moment from teizing her Husband; who knew her Temper, and the Afcendency the had over himself, fo well, meerly by his Love of Eafe, and refufing to exert himfelf, that he had put it out of his own Power to recal Corinna's Fortune, as he certainly must have done, if it had been to have been done. My Lady would, however, take out her Revenge upon his Quiet, and fo fuccefsfully purfu'd her Point, that he fell a Martyr to her Tongue. A Landmark for Husbands, how they fuffer the Growth of Authority in that tyrannical, unruly Member.

The Gentleman who own'd the House Corinna liv'd in, was a Cadet of Justice, with no large Eftate, but that was then the worst part of him, for his Perfon was agreeable enough, his Temper foft and amorous, exact in his Drefs, and in his Manner not wholly free from Foppery; he could not fee

his fair Tenant without a Tenderness for her. She had many Pretenders, and fome Admirers; but Don Alonzo, fo he was called, proved to be the Man. She had fome Relish of his Converfation, had read a great deal, and much of Love, but was never touch'd with any thing that interfer'd with Intereft; fhe lik'd with her Eyes, but her Heart had ftill a true regard to the World, more than Merit. However, finding her felf Mistress of an eafy Fortune, refolved againft the Marriage-Chain, and entirely at her own Difpofe, fhe wav'd too fcrupulous an Enquiry into what the ow'd her Vertue, and determined not to deny her Satisfaction for a Circumftance. She had an Idea of the Joys of Love from others; all who have ever felt it,fpeak with Rapture of its Delight. Thofe who can write but indifferently on other Subjects, if once they have been truly agitated by Love, write well of that. Her Curiofity taught her to prove whether there was in it that Pang of Pleafure which fhe had been made to believe; but the Affair was a little nice. Don Alonzo had an ho-nourable Opinion of her Vertue, and vifited her accordingly. 'Twas true fhe was a Virgin, but weary of being fuch, and yet fhe did not know how to exchange her Condition, without making her felf that Slave, a Wife, as fhe called it. However, a Lady, or a Lover, must be very dull indeed, in the Freedom of Conversation, if one cannot guefs, and the other explain

their Defires without fpeaking. Don Alonzo was perhaps as long again in gueffing at her Defign,as another lefs prepoffefs'd would have been, because he defired to marry her, and was very unwilling to believe but indifferently of a Lady he had fuch an Intention towards: He prefs'd hard upon the Point, but he was deaf on that fide; but when he would urge the Excess of his Paffion, the Height of his refpective Flame, the Ardour of his Pains, his Impatiency for Happinefs; fhe would fmile him a gracious. Look of Approbation, fuffered him to kneel at her Feet, to grafp her Knees, to meet the Softnefs of her Eyes with greater of his own; would lean her Face to his, where (all Coward, as Love had made him) the kindling Youth could not be fo loft to Native Hope and Inftinct, as not to attempt the hanging Cherry of her Lip that feem'd to floop for Pressure. But oh! which was greater, his Aftonishment or Delight, when he found that an Action which he feared had merited Death, was feelingly received, and repayed with blufhing Ufury? His Heart throbb'd as if 'twould leave his Breaft; he felt ineftimable Pleasures between his Fears and his Defires. Her fparkling Eyes caft a Day of Hope around him to animate his doubting Love. The Virgin-Guard of awful Modefty was willingly thrown by; fhe left the dazzled Youth no time to pause or recollect, but anfwering all his eager Sighs, his Kifles and Defires, the lean'd upon a Bed

was

was near her, whither the amorous Youth in Heat of Extafie purfued her. Then was his Time (he thought) to gain the warm'd, the yielding Maid's Confent; he prefs'd for Happiness, he prefs'd to marry her

him ;ed fhe

to lengthen out his Part of Blifs, and make it durable as great-Corinna paus'dand yawn'd upon the Importunity.Have you ever feen Water thrown upon afpiring Flames that rife to cover all they meet with Ruin? Such, and fo damp'd, feem'd the Burning of the defeated Maid. At length obliged to answer his repeated Propofition, emboldened as he grew by that degree of Favour the had lately fhewn Why ay, Alonzo anfwer'tis true-Marriage is indeed for Life,but who can tell what Sort of a Life?Do you think we can't love without Marrying? At least it should feem rational to us that have our Underftanding about us, to try those nearer Intimacies, which are faid either to ravish or difguft, to make us fonder or more indifferent. Whatever false Nation the World or you may have of Vertue, I must confefs I fhould be very loth to bind my felf to a Man for ever, before I was fure I could like him for a Night; I don't take you to be fo dull, that I need explain my self any farther. I have hinted to you my Inclinations; I think it is now your Bufinefs to convince me of the Extent of

yours.

Don

Don Alonzo, who had an early Taint in his Compofition of Self-conceit, did not fear that Poffeffion could abate of her Inclination towards his fine Perfon; he rather believed it would heighten it: 'Tis a received Maxim, That Women become fonder of whomsoever they admit to thofe Intimacies. He did not doubt his Charms, nor his good Fortune, by a mistaken Notion, concluding it would give him a Right over the dishonoured Fair, and that then fhe would be glad to marry him with the fooneft, at least if she should happen to be pregnant.

But he had to deal with a Lady infinitely more politick, fhe had gratify'd her Curiofity, and became doatingly fond of his Converfation, perpetually teizing and fending after him, when he was never fo little a time abfent from her; but ftill fhe would not, fhe was too wife, or too covetous, to marry him. A Neighbouring Lady, whom he had introduced to her Intimacy, prefs'd her hard on Don Alonzo's Part, to make his Happiness lawful, reprefenting a thousand Things to engage her, among the reft, his vaft Refpect, nay, Adoration for her Perfon. Corinna faid, fhe was indeed obliged to him; but, Madam, fhe purfu'd, why fhould I marry him to make him Mafter of my Self and Fortune, only for a Name? I love his Company, whilft he is thus obliging, infinuating, careful of difpleafing, tender, complaifant, amorous, and ardent;

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