of love, above all her sex. She not to be drawn aside by art, or to be
made to suffer from credulity, nor for want of wit and discernment, (that
will be another cutting reflection to so fine a mind as her's:) the
contention between you only unequal, as it is between naked innocence and
armed guilt. In every thing else, as thou ownest, her talents greatly
superior to thine!--What a fate will her's be, if thou art not at last
overcome by thy reiterated remorses!

At first, indeed, when I was admitted into her presence,* (and till I
observed her meaning air, and heard her speak,) I supposed that she had
no very uncommon judgment to boast of: for I made, as I thought, but just
allowances for her blossoming youth, and for that loveliness of person,
and for that ease and elegance in her dress, which I imagined must have
taken up half her time and study to cultivate; and yet I had been
prepared by thee to entertain a very high opinion of her sense and her
reading. Her choice of this gay fellow, upon such hazardous terms,
(thought I,) is a confirmation that her wit wants that maturity which
only years and experience can give it. Her knowledge (argued I to
myself) must be all theory; and the complaisance ever consorting with an
age so green and so gay, will make so inexperienced a lady at least
forbear to show herself disgusted at freedoms of discourse in which those
present of her own sex, and some of ours, (so learned, so well read, and
so travelled,) allow themselves.


* See Vol. IV. Letter VII.


In this presumption I ran on; and having the advantage, as I conceited,
of all the company but you, and being desirous to appear in her eyes a