recise truth, her anger, to be so taken
in, would never have let her forgive me.

Had I been a military hero, I should have made gunpowder useless; for
I should have blown up all my adversaries by dint of stratagem, turning
their own devices upon them.

But these fathers and mothers--Lord help 'em!--Were not the powers of
nature stronger than those of discretion, and were not that busy dea
bona to afford her genial aids, till tardy prudence qualified parents to
manage their future offspring, how few people would have children!

James and Arabella may have their motives; but what can be said for a
father acting as this father has acted? What for a mother? What for
an aunt? What for uncles?--Who can have patience with such fellows and
fellowesses?

Soon will the fair one hear how high their foolish resentments run
against her: and then will she, it is to be hoped, have a little more
confidence in me. Then will I be jealous that she loves me not with the
preference my heart builds upon: then will I bring her to confessions
of grateful love: and then will I kiss her when I please; and not stand
trembling, as now, like a hungry hound, who sees a delicious morsel
within his reach, (the froth hanging upon his vermilion jaws,) yet dares
not leap at it for his life.

But I was originally a bashful mortal. Indeed I am bashful still with
regard to this lady--Bashful, yet know the sex so well!--But that indeed
is the reason that I know it so well:--For, Jack, I have had abundant
cause, when I have looked into myself, by way of comparison with the
other sex, to conclude that a bashful man has a good deal of the soul of
a woman; and so, like Tiresias, can tell what they think, and what they
drive at, as well as themselves.

The modest ones and I, particularly, are pretty much upon a par. The
difference between us is only, what they think, I act. But the immodest
ones out-do the worst of us by a bar's length, both in thinking and
acting.

One argument let me plead in proof of my assertion; That even we rakes
love modesty in a woman; while the modest woman, as they are accounted,
(that is to say, the slyest,) love, and generally prefer, an impudent
man. Whence can this be, but from a likeness in nature? And this made
the poet say, That ever woman is a rake in her heart. It concerns them,
by their actions, to prove the contrary, if they can.

Thus have I read in some of the philosophers, That no wickedness is
comparable to the