nd these ladies in France; whip over
before they can get a passage back, or before Hickman can have recovered
his fright; and so find means to entrap my beloved on board--and then all
will be right; and I need not care if I were never to return to England.

Memorandum, To be considered of--Whether, in order to complete my
vengeance, I cannot contrive to kidnap away either James Harlowe or
Solmes? or both? A man, Jack, would not go into exile for nothing.

LETTER LV

MR. LOVELACE, TO JOHN BELFORD, ESQ.

If, Belford, thou likest not my plot upon Miss Howe, I have three or four
more as good in my own opinion; better, perhaps, they will be in thine:
and so 'tis but getting loose from thy present engagement, and thou shalt
pick and choose. But as for thy three brethren, they must do as I would
have them: and so, indeed, must thou--Else why am I your general? But I
will refer this subject to its proper season. Thou knowest, that I never
absolutely conclude upon a project, till 'tis time for execution; and
then lightning strikes not quicker than I.

And now to the subject next my heart.

Wilt thou believe me, when I tell thee, that I have so many contrivances
rising up and crowding upon me for preference, with regard to my
Gloriana, that I hardly know which to choose?--I could tell thee of no
less than six princely ones, any of which must do. But as the dear
creature has not grudged giving me trouble, I think I ought not, in
gratitude, to spare combustibles for her; but, on the contrary, to make
her stare and stand aghast, by springing three or four mines at once.

Thou remembrest what Shakespeare, in his Troilus and Cressida, makes
Hector, who, however, is not used to boast, say to Achilles in an
interview between them; and which, applied to this watchful lady, and to
the vexation she has given me, and to the certainty I now think I have of
subduing her, will run thus: supposing the charmer before me; and I
meditating her sweet person from head to foot:

Henceforth, O watchful fair-one, guard thee well:
For I'll not kill thee there! nor there! nor there!
But, by the zone that circles Venus' waist,
I'll kill thee ev'ry where; yea, o'er and o'er.--
Thou, wisest Belford, pardon me this brag:
Her watchfulness draws folly from my lips;
But I'll endeavour deeds to match the words,
Or I may never----

Then I imagine thee interposing to qualify my impatience,