ty; which will be a sufficient Glory, both for her, and,

Madam,
Your Graces most humble,
and most obedient Servant,
A. BEHN.

THE HISTORY OF THE NUN; or, The Fair Vow-Breaker.

Of all the sins, incident to Human Nature, there is none, of which
Heaven has took so particular, visible, and frequent Notice, and
Revenge, as on that of _Violated Vows_, which never go unpunished; and
the _Cupids_ may boast what they will, for the encouragement of their
Trade of Love, that Heaven never takes cognisance of Lovers broken Vows
and Oaths, and that 'tis the only Perjury that escapes the Anger of the
_Gods_; But I verily believe, if it were search'd into, we should find
these frequent Perjuries, that pass in the World for so many Gallantries
only, to be the occasion of so many unhappy Marriages, and the cause of
all those Misfortunes, which are so frequent to the Nuptiall'd Pair. For
not one of a Thousand, but, either on his side, or on hers, has been
perjur'd, and broke Vows made to some fond believing Wretch, whom they
have abandon'd and undone. What Man that does not boast of the Numbers
he has thus ruin'd, and, who does not glory in the shameful Triumph?
Nay, what Woman, almost, has not a pleasure in Deceiving, taught,
perhaps, at first, by some dear false one, who had fatally instructed
her Youth in an Art she ever after practis'd, in Revenge on all those
she could be too hard for, and conquer at their own Weapons? For,
without all dispute, Women are by Nature more Constant and Just, than
Men, and did not their first Lovers teach them the trick of Change, they
would be _Doves_, that would never quit their Mate, and, like _Indian_
Wives, would leap alive into the Graves of their deceased Lovers, and be
buried quick with 'em. But Customs of Countries change even Nature her
self, and long Habit takes her place: The Women are taught, by the Lives
of the Men, to live up to all their Vices, and are become almost as
inconstant; and 'tis but Modesty that makes the difference, and, hardly,
inclination; so deprav'd the nicest Appetites grow in time, by bad
Examples.

But, as there are degrees of Vows, so there are degrees of Punishments
for Vows, there are solemn Matrimonial Vows, such as contract and are
the most effectual Marriage, and have the most reason to be so; there
are a thousand Vows and Friendships, that pass between Man and Man, on a
thousand Occasions; but there is another Vow, call'd a _Sa