hen how amply rewarded, and rewarding, by the
rapture-causing return! Such a passion as this keeps love in a continual
fervour--makes it all alive. The happy pair, instead of sitting dozing
and nodding at each other, in opposite chimney-corners, in a winter
evening, and over a wintry love, always new to each other, and having
always something to say.

Thou knowest, in my verses to my Stella, my mind on this occasion.
I will lay those verses in her way, as if undesignedly, when we are
together at the widow's; that is to say, if we do not soon go to church
by consent. She will thence see what my notions are of wedlock. If she
receives them with any sort of temper, that will be a foundation--and
let me alone to build upon it.

Many a girl has been carried, who never would have been attempted, had
she showed a proper resentment, when her ears, or her eyes were first
invaded. I have tried a young creature by a bad book, a light quotation,
or an indecent picture; and if she has borne that, or only blushed, and
not been angry; and more especially if she has leered and smiled; that
girl have I, and old Satan, put down for our own. O how I could warn
these little rogues, if I would! Perhaps envy, more than virtue, will
put me upon setting up beacons for them, when I grow old and joyless.

TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

If you are in London when I get thither, you will see me soon. My
charmer is a little better than she was: her eyes show it; and her
harmonious voice, hardly audible last time I saw her, now begins to
cheer my heart once more. But yet she has no love--no sensibility!
There is no addressing her with those meaning, yet innocent freedoms
(innocent, at first setting out, they may be called) which soften others
of her sex. The more strange this, as she now acknowledges preferable
favour for me; and is highly susceptible of grief. Grief mollifies,
and enervates. The grieved mind looks round it, silently implores
consolation, and loves the soother. Grief is ever an inmate with joy.
Though they won't show themselves at the same window at one time; yet
they have the whole house in common between them.

LETTER LXII

MR. LOVELACE, TO JOHN BELFORD, ESQ. WEDN. APRIL 26.

At last my lucky star has directed us into the desired port, and we are
safely landed.--Well says Rowe:--

The wise and active conquer difficulties,
By daring to attempt them. Sloth and folly
Shiver and shrink at sight of toil and h