Nature boil'd over in her at that time when it had so fair an Opportunity
to show it self: For Leonora it seems was a Woman Beautiful, and
otherwise of an excellent Disposition; but in the Bottom a very Woman.
This last Objection, this Opportunity of perswading Man to Disobedience,
determined the Matter in Favour of Aurelian, more than all his
Excellencies and Qualifications, take him as Aurelian, or Hippolito, or
both together.

Well, the Spirit of Contradiction and of Eve was strong in her; and she
was in a fair Way to Love Aurelian, for she lik'd him already; that it
was Aurelian she no longer doubted, for had it been a Villain, who had
only taken his Name upon him for any ill Designs, he would never have
slip'd so favourable an Opportunity as when they were alone and in the
Night coming through the Garden and broad Space before the Piazza. In
short, thus much she resolv'd, at least to conceal the Knowledge she had
of him, as he had entreated her in his Letter, and to make particular
Remarks of his Behaviour that Day in the Lists, which should it happen to
Charm her with an absolute liking of his Person, she resolv'd to dress
her self to the best Advantage, and mustering up all her Graces, out of
pure Revenge to kill him down right.

I would not have the Reader now be impertinent, and look upon this to be
force, or a whim of the Author's, that a Woman should proceed so far in
her Approbation of a Man whom she never saw, that it is impossible,
therefore ridiculous to suppose it. Let me tell such a Critick, that he
knows nothing of the Sex, if he does not know that Woman may be taken
with the Character and Description of a Man, when general and
extraordinary, that she may be prepossess'd with an agreeable Idea of his
Person and Conversation; and though she cannot imagine his real Features,
or manner of Wit, yet she has a general Notion of what is call'd a fine