ve been able to be half
so hardhearted as they be, for all my younge master and younge mistress
sayes.

And here is the sad thing; they cannot come to clere up matters with my
deerest young lady, because, as your Honner has ordered it, they have
these stories as if bribed by me out of your Honner's sarvant; which
must not be known for fere you should kill'n and me too, and blacken the
briber!--Ah! your Honner! I doubte as tha I am a very vild fellow, (Lord
bless my soil, I pray God!) and did not intend it.

But if my deerest younge lady should come to harm, and plese your
Honner, the horsepond at the Blew Bore--but Lord preserve us all from
all bad mischeff, and all bad endes, I pray the Lord!--For tho'ff you
Honner is kinde to me in worldly pelf, yet what shall a man get to loos
his soul, as holy Skrittuer says, and plese your Honner?

But natheless I am in hope of reppentence hereafter, being but a younge
man, if I do wrong thro' ignorens: your Honner being a grate man, and a
grave wit; and I a poor crature, not worthy notice; and your Honner able
to answer for all. But, howsomever, I am

Your Honner's fetheful sarvant in all dewtie, JOSEPH LEMAN.

APRIL 15 AND 16.

LETTER XLVIII

MR. LOVELACE, TO JOSEPH LEMAN MONDAY, APRIL 17.

HONEST JOSEPH,

You have a worse opinion of your invention than you ought to have.
I must praise it again. Of a plain man's head, I have not known many
better than yours. How often have your forecast and discretion answered
my wishes in cases which I could not foresee, not knowing how my general
directions would succeed, or what might happen in the execution of them!
You are too doubtful of your own abilities, honest Joseph; that's your
fault.--But it being a fault that is owing to natural modesty, you ought
rather to be pitied for it than blamed.

The affair of Miss Betterton was a youthful frolic. I love dearly to
exercise my invention. I do assure you, Joseph, that I have ever had
more pleasure in my contrivances, than in the end of them. I am no
sensual man: but a man of spirit--one woman is like another--you
understand me, Joseph.--In coursing, all the sport is made by the
winding hare--a barn-door chick is better eating--now you take me,
Joseph.

Miss Betterton was but a tradesman's daughter. The family, indeed, was
grown rich, and aimed at a new line of gentry; and were unreasonable
enough to expect a man of my family would marry her. I was honest.
I gave the youn