e forbear writing once more in behalf of this admirable woman:
and yet am unable to account for the zeal which impels me to take her
part with an earnestness so sincere.

But all her merit thou acknowledgest; all thy own vileness thou
confessest, and even gloriest in it: What hope then of moving so hardened
a man?--Yet, as it is not too late, and thou art nevertheless upon the
crisis, I am resolved to try what another letter will do. It is but my
writing in vain, if it do no good; and if thou wilt let me prevail, I
knowthou wilt hereafter think me richly entitled to thy thanks.

To argue with thee would be folly. The case cannot require it. I will
only entreat thee, therefore, that thou wilt not let such an excellence
lose the reward of her vigilant virtue.

I believe there never were libertines so vile, but purposed, at some
future period of their lives, to set about reforming: and let me beg of
thee, that thou wilt, in this great article, make thy future repentance
as easy, as some time hence thou wilt wish thou hadst made it.

If thou proceedest, I have no doubt that this affair will end tragically,
one way or another. It must. Such a woman must interest both gods and
men in her cause. But what I most apprehend is, that with her own hand,
in resentment of the perpetrated outrage, she (like another Lucretia)
will assert the purity of her heart: or, if her piety preserve her from
this violence, that wasting grief will soon put a period to her days.
And, in either case, will not the remembrance of thy ever-during guilt,
and transitory triumph, be a torment of torments to thee?

'Tis a seriously sad thing, after all, that so fine a creature should
have fallen into such vile and remorseless hands: for, from thy cradle,
as I have heard thee own, thou ever delightedst to sport with and torment
the animal, whether bird or beast, that thou lovedst, and hadst a power
over.

How different is the case of this fine woman from that of any other whom
thou hast seduced!--I need not mention to thee, nor insist upon the
striking difference: justice, gratitude, thy interest, thy vows, all
engaging thee; and thou certainly loving her, as far as thou art capable
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 n