uished by the name of Vanessa, whose
conduct has been already sufficiently discussed, and whose history is
too well known to be minutely repeated. She was a young woman fond of
literature, whom Decanus, the dean, called Cadenus by transposition of
the letters, took pleasure in directing and instructing; till, from
being proud of his praise, she grew fond of his person. Swift was then
about forty-seven, at an age when vanity is strongly excited by the
amorous attention of a young woman. If it be said that Swift should have
checked a passion which he never meant to gratify, recourse must be had
to that extenuation which he so much despised, "men are but men:"
perhaps, however, he did not at first know his own mind, and, as he
represents himself, was undetermined. For his admission of her
courtship, and his indulgence of her hopes, after his marriage to
Stella, no other honest plea can be found than that he delayed a
disagreeable discovery from time to time, dreading the immediate bursts
of distress, and watching for a favourable moment. She thought herself
neglected, and died of disappointment; having ordered, by her will, the
poem to be published, in which Cadenus had proclaimed her excellence,
and confessed his love. The effect of the publication upon the dean and
Stella is thus related by Delany:

"I have good reason to believe that they both were greatly shocked and
distressed (though it may be differently) upon this occasion. The dean
made a tour to the south of Ireland, for about two months, at this time,
to dissipate his thoughts, and give place to obloquy. And Stella
retired, upon the earnest invitation of the owner, to the house of a
cheerful, generous, good-natured friend of the dean's, whom she also
much loved and honoured. There my informer often saw her; and, I have
reason to believe, used his utmost endeavours to relieve, support, and
amuse her, in this sad situation.

"One little incident he told me of on that occasion, I think I shall
never forget. As her friend was an hospitable, open-hearted man,
well-beloved and largely acquainted, it happened one day that some
gentlemen dropped in to dinner, who were strangers to Stella's
situation; and as the poem of Cadenus and Vanessa was then the general
topick of conversation, one of them said, 'Surely that Vanessa must be
an extraordinary woman, that could inspire the dean to write so finely
upon her.' Mrs. Johnson smiled, and answered, 'that she thought that
p