nce, had I aimed at making myself too white. But what
necessity can there be for hypocrisy, unless the generality of the sex
were to refuse us for our immoralities? The best of them love to have
the credit for reforming us. Let the sweet souls try for it: if they
fail, their intent was good. That will be a consolation to them. And as
to us, our work will be the easier; our sins the fewer: since they will
draw themselves in with a very little of our help; and we shall save a
parcel of cursed falsehoods, and appear to be what we are both to angels
and men.--Mean time their very grandmothers will acquit us, and reproach
them with their self-do, self-have, and as having erred against
knowledge, and ventured against manifest appearances. What folly,
therefore, for men of our character to be hypocrites!

Be sure to instruct the rest, and do thou thyself remember, not to talk
obscenely. You know I never permitted any of you to talk obscenely.
Time enough for that, when ye grow old, and can ONLY talk. Besides, ye
must consider Prisc.'s affected character, my goddess's real one. Far
from obscenity, therefore, do not so much as touch upon the double
entendre. What! as I have often said, cannot you touch a lady's heart
without wounding her ear?

It is necessary that ye should appear worse men than myself. You cannot
help appearing so, you'll say. Well, then, there will be the less
restraint upon you--the less restraint, the less affectation.--And if
Belton begins his favourite subject in behalf of keeping, it may make me
take upon myself to oppose him: but fear not; I shall not give the
argument all my force.

She must have some curiosity, I think, to see what sort of men my
companions are: she will not expect any of you to be saints. Are you
not men born to considerable fortunes, although ye are not all of you
men of parts? Who is it in this mortal life that wealth does not
mislead? And as it gives people the power of being mischievous, does it
not require great virtue to forbear the use of that power? Is not the
devil said to be the god of this world? Are we not children of this
world? Well, then! let me tell thee my opinion--It is this, that were it
not for the poor and the middling, the world would probably, long ago,
have been destroyed by fire from Heaven. Ungrateful wretches the rest,
thou wilt be apt to say, to make such sorry returns, as they generally do
make, to the poor and the middling!

This dea