he reasons there were for his present leaving me; on
which, though reluctantly, he put on his clothes, with as little
expedition, however, as he could help, wantonly interrupting himself,
between whiles, with kisses, touches and embraces I could not refuse
myself to. Yet he happily returned to his master before he was missed;
but, at taking leave, I forced him (for he had sentiments enough to
refuse it) to receive money enough to buy a silver watch, that great
article of subaltern finery, which he at length accepted of, as a
remembrance he was carefully to preserve of my affections.
And here, Madam, I ought, perhaps, to make you an apology for this
minute detail of things, that dwelt so strongly upon my memory, after
so deep an impression; but, besides that this intrigue bred one great
revolution in my life, which historical truth requires I should not sink
from you, may I not presume that so exalted a pleasure ought not to be
ungratefully forgotten, or suppressed by me, because I found it in a
character in low life; where, by the by, it is oftener met with, purer,
and more unsophisticated, than among the false, ridiculous refinements
with which the great suffer themselves to be so grossly cheated by their
pride: the great! than whom, there exist few amongst those they call
the vulgar, who are more ignorant of, or who cultivate less, the art of
living than they do; they, I say, who for ever mistake things the most
foreign to the nature of pleasure itself; whose capital favourite object
is enjoyment of beauty, wherever that rare incaluable gift is found,
without distinction of birth, or station.
As love never had, so now revenge had no longer any share in my commerce
in this handsome youth. The sole pleasures of enjoyment were now the
link I held to him by: for though nature had done such great maters
for him in his outward form, and especially in that superb piece of
furniture she had so liberally enriched him with; though he was thus
qualified to give the senses their richest feast, still there was
something more wanting to create in me, and constitute the passion of
love. Yet Will had very good qualities too: gentle, tractable, and, above
all, grateful; silentious, even to a fault: he spoke, at any time, very
little, but made it up emphatically with action; and, to do him justice,
he never gave me the least reason to complain, either of any tendency to
encroach upon me for the liberties I allowed him, or of his indi
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