of Addresses; and that which can strike every body with
Wonder, can never avoid the Praise which naturally flows from that
Wonder: And Heaven is forc'd to hear the Addresses as well as praises of
the Poor as Rich, of the Ignorant as Learned, and takes, nay rewards,
the officious tho' perhaps impertinent Zeal of its least qualify'd
Devotees. Wherefore, Sir, tho' your Merits meet with the Applause of the
Learned and Witty, yet your Generosity will judge favourably of the
untaught Zeal of an humbler Admirer, since what I do your eminent
Vertues compel. The Beautiful will permit the most despicable of their
Admirers to love them, tho' they never intend to make him happy, as
unworthy their Love, but they will not be angry at the fatal Effect of
their own Eyes.

But what I want in my self, Sir, to merit your Regard, I hope my
Authoress will in some measure supply, so far at least to lessen my
Presumption in prefixing your Name to a Posthumous Piece of hers, whom
all the Men of Wit, that were her Contemporaries, look'd on as the
Wonder of her Sex; and in none of her Performances has she shew'd so
great a Mastery as in her Novels, where Nature always prevails; and if
they are not true, they are so like it, that they do the business every
jot as well.

This I hope, Sir, will induce you to pardon my Presumption in dedicating
this Novel to you, and declaring my self, Sir,

Your most obedient
and most humble Servant,
S. Briscoe.

THE UNFORTUNATE BRIDE: or, The Blind Lady a Beauty.

_Frankwit_ and _Wildvill_, were two young Gentlemen of very considerable
Fortunes, both born in _Staffordshire_, and, during their Minority, both
educated together, by which Opportunity they contracted a very
inviolable Friendship, a Friendship which grew up with them; and though
it was remarkably known to every Body else, they knew it not themselves;
they never made Profession of it in Words, but Actions; so true a Warmth
their Fires could boast, as needed not the Effusion of their Breath to
make it live. _Wildvill_ was of the richest Family, but _Frankwit_ of
the noblest; _Wildvill_ was admired for outward Qualifications, as
Strength, and manly Proportions, _Frankwit_ for a much softer Beauty,
for his inward Endowments, Pleasing in his Conversation, of a free, and
moving Air, humble in his Behaviour, and if he had any Pride, it was but
just enough to shew that he did not affect Humility; his Mind bowed with
a Motion as uncon