opera; she bids me however tell you, she loves
you _passing the love of woman_, at least of handsome women, who
are not generally celebrated for their candor and good will to each
other.

Adieu, my dearest Bell!
Yours,
J. Temple.

LETTER 127.

To John Temple, Esq; Pall Mall.

Silleri, April 18.

Indeed?

"Is this that haughty, gallant, gay Lothario,
That dear perfidious--"

Absolutely, my dear Temple, the sex ought never to forgive Lucy for
daring to monopolize so very charming a fellow. I had some thoughts of
a little _badinage_ with you myself, if I should return soon to
England; but I now give up the very idea.

One thing I will, however, venture to say, that love Lucy as much as
you please, you will never love her half so well as she deserves;
which, let me tell you, is a great deal for one woman, especially, as
you well observe, one handsome woman, to say of another.

I am, however, not quite clear your idea is just: _cattism_, if
I may be allowed the expression, seeming more likely to be the vice of
those who are conscious of wanting themselves the dear power of
pleasing.

Handsome women ought to be, what I profess myself, who am however
only pretty, too vain to be envious; and yet we see, I am afraid, too
often, some little sparks of this mean passion between rival beauties.

Impartially speaking, I believe the best natured women, and the most
free from envy, are those who, without being very handsome, have that
_je ne scai quoi_, those nameless graces, which please even without
beauty; and who therefore, finding more attention paid to them by men
than their looking-glass tells them they have a right to expect, are
for that reason in constant good humor with themselves, and of course
with every body else: whereas beauties, claiming universal empire, are
at war with all who dispute their rights; that is, with half the sex.

I am very good natured myself; but it is, perhaps, because, though a
pretty woman, I am more agreable than handsome, and have an infinity of
the _je ne scai quoi_.

_A propos_, my dear Temple, I am so pleased with what
Montesquieu says on this subject, that I find it is not in my nature to
resist translating and inserting it; you cannot then say I have sent
you a letter in which there is nothing worth reading.

I beg you will read this to the misses, for which you cannot fail of
their thanks, and for this reason; there are perhaps a dozen women i