's, and never will resist you
more.

Here I arose. I shook myself. The window was open. Always the
troublesome bosom-visiter, the intruder, is flown.--I see it yet!--And
now it lessens to my aching eye!--And now the cleft air is closed after it,
and it is out of sight!--and once more I am

ROBERT LOVELACE.

LETTER XLIX

MR. LOVELACE, TO JOHN BELFORD, ESQ.
TUESDAY, MAY 23.

Well did I, and but just in time to conclude to have done with Mrs.
Fretchville and the house: for here Mennell has declared, that he cannot
in conscience and honour go any farther.--He would not for the world be
accessory to the deceiving of such a lady!--I was a fool to let either
you or him see her; for ever since ye have both had scruples, which
neither would have had, were a woman to have been in the question.

Well, I can't help it!

Mennell has, however, though with some reluctance, consented to write me
a letter, provided I will allow it to be the last step he shall take in
this affair.

I presumed, I told him, that if I could cause Mrs. Fretchville's woman to
supply his place, he would have no objection to that.

None, he says--But is it not pity--

A pitiful fellow! Such a ridiculous kind of pity his, as those silly
souls have, who would not kill an innocent chicken for the world; but
when killed to their hands, are always the most greedy devourers of it.

Now this letter gives the servant the small-pox: and she has given it to
her unhappy vapourish lady. Vapourish people are perpetual subjects for
diseases to work upon. Name but the malady, and it is theirs in a
moment. Ever fitted for inoculation.--The physical tribe's milch-cows.
--A vapourish or splenetic patient is a fiddle for the doctors; and they
are eternally playing upon it. Sweet music does it make them. All their
difficulty, except a case extraordinary happens, (as poor Mrs.
Fretchville's, who has realized her apprehensions,) is but to hold their
countenance, while their patient is drawing up a bill of indictment
against himself;--and when they have heard it, proceed to punish--the
right word for prescribe. Why should they not, when the criminal has
confessed his guilt?--And punish they generally do with a vengeance.

Yet, silly toads too, now I think of it. For why, when they know they
cannot do good, may they not as well endeavour to gratify, as to
nauseate, the patient's palate?

Were I a physician, I'd get all the trade to myself: for Malmsey