Story of Helen was modern, I fhould • think it unnatural. I mean the Behaviour

of Paris, not the Fondness of the Lady; ' for all Women love a Man of Spirit. There is another Story of the Sabine Ladies, and that too, I thank Heaven, is very ancient. Your Lordship, perhaps, will admire my Reading; but I think Mr. Hook tells us they made tolerable. good Wives afterwards. I fancy few of my married Acquaintance were ravished by their Husbands.' Nay, dear LadyBellafton,' cried he, don't ridicule me ' in this Manner.' Why, my good Lord,' anfwered fhe, • do you think any Wo• man in England would not laugh at you in her Heart, whatever Prudery fhe might' wear in her Countenance?You force me to use a strange Kind of Language, and to betray my Sex moft abominably: But I am contented with knowing my In⚫tentions are good, and that I am endeavouring to ferve my Coufin ; for I think you will make her a Hufband notwithstanding this; or, upon my Soul, I would 'not even perfuade her to fling herself a· way upon an empty Title. She should not upbraid me hereafter with having loft a Man of Spirit; for that his Enemies allow this poor young Fellow to be. VOL. V.

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Let those who have had the Satisfaction of hearing Ret.ections of this Kind from a Wife or a Miftrefs, declare whether they are at all sweetened by coming from a Female Tongue. Certain it is they funk deeper into his Lordfhip, than any Thing which Demofthenes or Cicero could have faid on the Occasion.

Lady Bellafton perceiving fhe had fired the young Lord's Pride, began now, like a true Orator, to roufe other Paffions to • its Affiftance. My Lord,' fays fhe, in a graver Voice, you will be pleased to remember you mentioned this Matter to me firft; for I would not appear to you in. the Light of one who is endeavouring to put off my Coufin upon you. Fourfcore • thousand Pounds do not stand in Need ' of an Advocate to recommend them. Nor doth Mifs Western,' faid he, require any Recommendation from her Fortune; for in for in my Opinion, no Woman • ever had half her Charms.' • Yes, yes, my Lord; replied the Lady, looking in the Glafs, there have been Women with more than half her Charms, I affure you; not that I need leffen her on that Ac· count. She is a moft delicious Girl, • that's

'that's certain; and within these few Hours fhe will be in the Arms of one, who furely doth not deferve her, tho' I will give him his due, I believe he is truly a • Man of Spirit.'

I hope fo, Madam,' faid my Lord; though I must own he doth not deferve her; for unless Heaven, or your Ladyfhip difappoint me, fhe fhall within that 'Time be in mine.'

Well spoken, my Lord,' anfwered the Lady. I promise you no Difappointment fhall happen from my Side; and • within this Week I am convinced I fhall 'call your Lordship my Coufin in Public.'

The Remainder of this Scene confifted entirely of Raptures, Excufes, and Compliments, very pleasant to have heard from the Parties; but rather dull when related at fecond Hand. Here, therefore, we shall put an End to this Dialogue, and haften to the fatal Hour, when every Thing was prepared for the Destruction of poor Sophia.

But this being the most tragical Matter in our whole History, we shall treat it in a Chapter by itself.

CHAP. V.

Containing fome Matters which may affect, and others which may furprize the Reader.

TH

HE Clock had now ftruck Seven, and poor Sophia, alone and melancholy, fat reading a Tragedy. It was the Fatal Marriage, and fhe was now come to that Part where the poor, diftreft Isabella difposes of her Wedding-Ring.

Here the Book dropt from her Hand, and a Shower of Tears ran down into her Bofom. In this Situation she had continued a Minute, when the Door opened, and in came Lord Fellamar. Sophia started from her Chair at his Entrance; and his Lordfhip advancing forwards, and making a low Bow faid, I am afraid, Mifs Wef terr, I break in upon you abruptly. Indeed, my Lord,' fays fhe, I must own myfelf a little furprized at this unexpect ed Vifit.' If this Vifit be unexpected,

• Madam,'

• Madam,' answered Lord Fellamar, ' my3. Eyes must have been very faithless Interpreters of my Heart, when laft I had the Honour of feeing you: For furely you • could not otherwife have hoped to detain my Heart in your Poffeffion, without receiving a Vifit from its Owner.' Sophia, confus'd as he was, answered this Bombaft and very properly, I think,) with a Look of inconceivable Difdain. My Lord then made another and a longer Speech of the fame Sort. Upon which Sophia, trembling, faid, Am I really to conceive your • Lordship to be out of your Senfes? Sure, my Lord, there is no other Excufe for 'fuch Behaviour,' I am, indeed, Ma• dam, in the Situation you fuppofe,' cries his Lordship; and fure you will pardon the Effects of a Frenzy which you yourself have occafioned: For Love hath fo totally deprived me of Reafon, that I am scarce accountable for any of my Actions." • Upon my Word, my Lord,' faid Sophia, I neither understand Words nor your Behaviour.' Suffer me then, Madam,' cries he, at your Feet to explain both, by laying open my Soul to you, and declaring that I doat on you to the highest Degree of Distraction. O • moft adorable, moft divine Creature! • what

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