her to procure fuch a Quantity, of such an Opiate; he bid her fetch the Bottle, that he might fee how much she had taken; but they were both furpriz'd to find it quite empty. The Husband became truly alarm'd, ran immediately to her, and help'd to put on her Cloaths, and, fenfeless as fhe was, fent for proper Emetick Remedies to make her give up the Drug; and, in fhort, never forbore leading her backwards and forwards, between himself and his Footman, 'till the Operation was over, which was not in feveral Hours; not once permitting her to fit down, or allowing her the leaft Interval of reft. Is not this an ingrateful Wife? Were there no Duty in the Cafe, would' one not be strictly juft to a Husband fo indearing?

I have Spleen and Indignation at feeing that handfome Baron, whofe every Motion is agreeable, and whofe fine Senfe is fo diftinguifhing, lavish away thofe Perfections upon a Woman like Ephelia. But he has had a large Experience of the Sex's Inconftancy, and perhaps thinks he may keep her to himfelf; there will be few at this time of Day of his Tafte; however, fhe happen'd formerly to please, when Youth and no ill Accidents were of her fide. If Appropriation be his Defign, he could not more fuccefsfully have purfu'd it, for there is no furera Defence against the Inconftancy of a Woman, than their Want of Charms, and want of fuch who

may

may make Application to them: Their Taste is fo irregular, that Variety is often their only Director, elfe the Baron's own Lady, had never quitted her young Lord for his older Uncle. He had married her againft his then Intereft, without a Fortune or the Hopes of any. They were both young, his Lordship had given Proof fufficient of his Irregularity, or rather unaccountable Wildnefs, hers was to come. He carried her down to his fine Villa, where he fhow'd an exceffive Regard and Fondnefs of her. When his Affairs recall'd him, he refign'd her to the Care of his Uncle; whom he conjur❜d to make it his Business, to ferve and divert her in his Abfence. The Traytor perform'd the laft Part with no ill Succefs; he corrupted her Principles, though her Education and Temper had not made it a very difficult Work. In a Word, he fupply'd by Night the Abfence of his Nephew, being really fallen in Love with his Niece's Charms, which he purfu'd the Conqueft of without any Remorfe. But having once taught her what it was to make a Breach in her Duty, fhe would enjoy the Benefit of it, without confining her felf to him alone. In effect, fhe coquetted with all the Country, fo greedy of Flattery and Adoration, that fhe fell as low as the Vileft to procure it, even from those that dif honour'd her. At the Baron's Return he quickly faw (being a Man clear-fighted, full

of

of Penetration and Understanding) the libertine Airs the had affum'd: She was yet very dear to him; he could not have a Sufpicion of her Vertue, without mortal Pangs to his Repofe. But not to put her on her Guard, he forbore to complain, yet fo dexteroufly and fuccefsfully purfu'd her, that he had the Mortification to furprize her in her Uncle's Bed, after which he never faw her more. She fell to the Many and the Unworthy, and made her felf fo fcandalous, that an Uncle of hers (juftly incenfed) died, and left her Lord a hundred and forty thoufand Crowns, for no other Merit, as to him, but ufing her as fhe deferved. Confcious of her Crimes, fhe has not dared to fue him for a Penfion. But this Stratagem, as fome pretend, has been found out by her needy Lover of the Divan, to have it. given out, that fhe was caft away in a Storm, coafting the Ifland from one Port to another; upon which she has chang'd her Name, and remains conceal'd, not doubting but the Baron would marry as foon as he was affured of the News; which he could not very well be, becaufe that all the Wretches in that little Veffel, where the Baronefs pre tended to be embark'd, were caft away. 'Tis a moot Point if fhe be really dead or living; if the latter, 'tis fcarce known to any but her Lover. But however, the Ba ron dares not truft the Report, for fear the fhould be alive, and finding him married,

have Power to fue him as the prior Wife, and at leaft fecure to her felf a Confideration, befides the Obloquy that would reft upon his fecond Lady and her Children, if he fhould have any by her. There is in that Lord a prodigious Share of good Sense and exalted Wit. As he is a Favourite of mine, I forbear particularizing the Sallies of his early Years, with this juft Confideration, That none can regret the Memory of them fo much as he does himself.

Oh! that Atalantick Lord, that fhews himself not only to us, but by his Goodwill to the whole Houfe. Obferve his Airs, yet is he handfome, paft the Power of Af fectation to make him otherwise: He fucceeded a Brother of his in a glorious Eftate; a Brother fo like him, but rather more advantagioully form'd and more affected, that I never fee this without calling the other to my Remembrance, who was kill'd by a Fever, the Confequence of a Duel, to revenge an Affront given him by one not fo polite as himself, who aim'd at ridiculing his Manner. There is a certain Lady, who, without having any prodigious Eclat of Charms, has a Mine of Agreeableness, and feduces, with a willing Propenfity, the Hearts of all with whom he converfes. She does this Baron the Honour to have great Condefcentions for him, to the Prejudice of her own Glory, and the Duty fhe ows the Chevalier her Husband. Inconfiderate Fair,

has

has no Friend told you to what Ufe he deftines your Charms and Favours? Have you not been inform'd that he has ridicul'd your Midnight-Walk in the Tuilleries, and expofed your Letters to all thofe that would hear in the publick Chocolate-Houfe? Oh unworthy Lover! Is then a Lady's Reputation of fo little Regard? Is it not enough that you perfuade her to be criminal, but you muft proclaim it? Is then your Vanity of a quicker Senfe than your Paffion for her? Or rather, Does it not predominate over all your Paffions? What Lady fhould truft her Honour to fo weak a Guard? Or rather, to a Traitor; who, as in the Cafe of fome Statesmen, have advised their Sovereign to fuch Actions as muft make him fall under the Odium of the People, from whence he meets that Punishment, which, with much more Juftice ought to be inflicted upon the guilty Advisers!

Obferve that Prince of the Blood, he has fomething very auguft in his Afpect! All his Royal Father is there confpicuous: Like him, he is nicely fhaped; and has inherited his Humour and entertaining Wit, which none of his other Children can boast. What Excurfions of Flame? What wild Flights of Fire, has he not been guilty of? But it was in an Age which beft becomes unlimited Pleasures. He is fome time fince fettled, and has, with the Applaufe of thofe of his own Side, applied himself to the Bufinefs

of