purpose, and tell you that 'tis not discreet to refuse a good offer, nor
safe to trust wholly to your own judgment in your disposal. I was never
better provided in my life for a grave admonishing discourse. Would you
had heard how I have been catechized for you, and seen how soberly I sit
and answer to interrogatories. Would you think that upon examination it
is found that you are not an indifferent person to me? But the mischief
is, that what my intentions or resolutions are, is not to be discovered,
though much pains has been taken to collect all scattering
circumstances; and all the probable conjectures that can be raised from
thence has been urged, to see if anything would be confessed. And all
this done with so much ceremony and compliment, so many pardons asked
for undertaking to counsel or inquire, and so great kindness and passion
for all my interests professed, that I cannot but take it well, though I
am very weary on't. You are spoken of with the reverence due to a person
that I seem to like, and for as much as they know of you, you do deserve
a very good esteem; but your fortune and mine can never agree, and, in
plain terms, we forfeit our discretions and run wilfully upon our own
ruins if there be such a thought. To all this I make no reply, but that
if they will needs have it that I am not without kindness for you, they
must conclude withal that 'tis no part of my intention to ruin you, and
so the conference breaks up for that time. All this is [from] my friend,
that is not yours; and the gentleman that came upstairs in a basket, I
could tell him that he spends his breath to very little purpose, and has
but his labour for his pains. Without his precepts my own judgment would
preserve me from doing anything that might be prejudicial to you or
unjustifiable to the world; but if these be secured, nothing can alter
the resolution I have taken of settling my whole stock of happiness upon
the affection of a person that is dear to me, whose kindness I shall
infinitely prefer before any other consideration whatsoever, and I shall
not blush to tell you that you have made the whole world beside so