6 character of a vicious man with greater life, but one of these would immediately cry, Mr. Such a-one is meant in that place." "But the truth of it is, satirists describe the age, and backbiters assign their descriptions to private men. In all terms of reproof, when the sentence appears to arise from personal hatred or passion, it is not then made the cause of mankind, but a misunderstanding between two persons. For this reason the representations of a good-natured man bear a pleasantry in them, which shows there is no malignity at heart, and by consequence they are attended to by his hearers or readers, because they are unprejudiced. This deference is only what is due to him; for no man thoroughly nettled can say a thing general enough, to pass off with the air of an opinion declared, and not a passion gratified. I remember a humorous fellow at Oxford, when he heard any one had spoken ill of him, used to say, I will not take my revenge of him until I have forgiven him.' What he meant by this was, that he would not enter upon this subject until he was grown as indifferent to him as any other; and I have, by this rule, seen him more than once triumph over his adversary with an inimitable spirit and humour; for he came to the assault against a man full of sore places and he himself invulnerable, There is no possibility of succeeding in a satirical way of writing or speaking, except a man throws himself quite out of the question. It is great vanity to think any one will attend to a thing, because it is your quarrel. You must make your satire the concern of society in general if you will have it regarded. When it is so, the good-nature of a man of wit will prompt him to many brisk and disdainful sentiments and replies, to which all the malice in the world will not be able to repartee. No. 243.] SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1710. From my own Apartment, October 27. I HAVE somewhere made mention of Gyges's ring; and intimated to my reader, that it was at present in my possession, though I have not since made any use of it. The tradition concerning this ring is very romantic, and taken notice of both by Plato and Tully, who each of them make an admirable use of it for the advancement of morality. This Gyges was the master shepherd to king Candaules. As he was wandering over the plains of Lydia, he saw a great chasm in the earth, and had the curiosity to enter it. After having descended pretty far into it, be found the statue of a horse in brass, with doors in the sides of it. Upon opening them he found the body of a dead man, bigger than ordinary, with a ring upon his finger, which he took off, and put upon his own. The virtues of it were much greater than he at first imagined; for, upon his going into the assembly of shepherds, he observed, that he was invisible when he turned the stone of the ring within the palm of his hand, and visible when he turned it towards his company. Had Plato and Cicero been as well versed in the occult sciences as I am, they would have found a great deal of mystic learning in this tradition: but it is impossible for an adept to be understood by one who is not an adept. As for myself, I have with much study and application arrived at this great secret of making myself invisible, and by that means conveying myself where I please; or, to speak in Rosicrucian lore, I have entered into the cliffs of the earth, discovered the brazen horse, and robbed the dead giant of his ring. The tradition says further of Gyges, that by the means of this ring he gained admission inte the most retired parts of the court, and made such use of those opportunities, that be at length became king of Lydia. For my own part, I, who have always rather endeavoured to improve my mind than my fortune, have turned this ring to no other advantage, than to get a thorough insight into the ways of men, and to make such observations upon the errors of others as may be useful to the public, whatever effect they may have upon myself. About a week ago, not being able to sleep, I got up, and put on my magical ring: and, with a thought, transported myself into a chamber where I saw a light. I found it inhabited by a celebrated beauty, though she is of that species of women which we call a slattern. Her head-dress and one of her shoes lay upon a chair, her petticoat in one corner of the room, and her girdle, that had a copy of verses made upon it but the day before, with her thread stockings, in the middle of the floor i was 30 foolishly officious, that I could not forbear gathering up her clothes together, to lay them upon the chair that stood by her bed-side; when, to my great surprise, after a little muttering, she cried out, "What do you do? Let my petticoat alone.' I was startled at first, but soon found that she was in a dream; being one of those who, to use Shakspeare's expression, are so loose of thought, that they utter in their sleep every thing that passes in their imagina tion. I left the apartment of this female rake, and went into her neighbour's, where there lay a male coquette. He had a bottle of salts hanging over his head, and upon the table by his bed-side Suckling's poems, with a little heap of black patches on it. His snuff-box was within reach on a chair: but, while I was admiring the disposition which he made of the several parts of his dress, his slumber seemed interrupted by a pang that was accompanied by a sudden oath, as he turned himself over hastily in his bed. I did not care for seeing him in his nocturnal pains, and left the room. I was no sooner got into another bed-chamber, but I heard very harsh words uttered in a smooth uniform tone. I was amazed to hear so great a volu. bility in reproach, and thought it too coherent to be spoken by one asleep; but, upon looking nearer, I saw the head-dress of the person who spoke, which showed her to be a female, with a man lying by bar side broad awake, and as quiet as a lamb. I could not but admire his exemplary patience, and diseg vered by his whole behaviour, that he was then lying under the discipline of a curtain lecture. I was entertained in many other places with this kind of nocturnal eloquence; but observed, that most of those whom I found awake, were kept so either by envy or by love. Some of these were sighing, and others cursing in soliloquy; some bug. ged their pillows, and others gnashed their teeth. The covetous I likewise found to be a very wakeful people. I happened to come into a room where one of them lay sick. His physician and his wife were in close whisper near his bed-side. I overhsam the doctor say to the poor gentlewoman, he cannot possibly live until five in the morning.' She received it like the mistress of a family, prepared for all events. At the same instant came in a servantmaid, who said, 'Madam, the undertaker is below according to your order.' The words were scarce out of her mouth, when the sick man cried out with a feeble voice, Pray doctor, how went bank-stock to-day at 'Change? This melancholy object made me too serious for diverting myself further this way. As I was going home, I saw a light in a garret, entering into which I heard a voice crying, and, hand, stand, band, fanned, tanned. I concluded him by this, and the furniture of his room, to be a lunatic; but, upon listening a little longer, perceived it was a poet, writing a heroic upon the ensuing peace. It was towards morning, an hour when spirits, witches, and conjurors, are obliged to retire to their own apartments, and, feeling the influence of it, I was hastening home, when I saw a man had got half way into a neighbour's house. I immediately called to him, and turning my ring, appeared in my proper person. There is something magisterial in the aspect of the Bickerstaffs, which made him run away in confusion. As I took a turn or two in my own lodging, I was thinking that, old as I was, I need not go to bed alone, but that it was in my power to marry the finest lady in this kingdom, if I would wed her with this ring. For what a figure would she that should have it make at a visit, with so perfect a knowledge as this would give her of all the scandal of the town? But, instead of endeavouring to dispose of myself and it in matrimony, I resolved to lend it to my loving friend the author of the 'Atalantis,' to furnish a new 'Secret History of Secret Memoirs.' No. 244.] TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1710. Will's Coffee-house, October 30. Ir is no easy matter, when people are advancing in any thing, to prevent their going too fast for want of patience. This happens in nothing more frequently than in the prosecution of studies. Hence it is, that we meet crowds who attempt to be eloquent before they can speak. They affect the flowers of rhetoric before they understand the parts of speech. In the ordinary conversation of this town, there are so many who can, as they call it, talk well, that there is not one in twenty that talks to be understood. This proceeds from an ambition to excel, or, as the term is, to shine in company. The matter is, not to make themselves understood, but admired. They come together with a certain emulation, rather than benevolence. When you fall among such companions, the safe way is to give yourself up, and let the orators declaim for your esteem, and trouble yourself no further. It is said, that a poet must be born so; but I think it may be much better said of an orator, especially when we talk of our town poets and orators: but the town poets are full of rules and laws; the town orators go through thick and thin, and are, forsooth, persons of such eminent natural parts, and knowledge of the world, that they despise all men as inexperienced scholastics, who wait for an occasion before they speak, or who speak no more than is necessary. They had half persuaded me to go to the tavern the other night, but that a gentleman whispered me, 'Pr'ythee, Isaac, gc with us; there is Tom Varnish will be there, and he is a fellow that talks as well as any man in England.' I must confess, when a man expresses himself well upon any occasion, and his falling into an account of any subject arises from a desire to oblige the company, or from fulness of the circumstance itself, so that his speaking of it at large is occasioned only by the openness of a companion; I say, in such a case as this, it is not only pardonable, but agreeable, when a man takes the discourse to himself; but when you see a fellow watch for opportunities for being copious, it is excessively troublesome. A man that stammers, if he has understanding, is to be attended to with patience and good-nature; but he that speaks more than he needs, has no right to such an indulgence. The man who has a defect in his speech takes pains to come to you, while a man of weak capacity, with fluency of speech, triumphs in outrunning you. The stammerer strives to be fit for your company; the loouacious man endeavours to show you, you are not fit for his. With thoughts of this kind do I always enter into that man's company who is recommended as a person that talks well; but if I were to choose the people with whom I would spend my hours of conversation, they should be certainly such as laboured no farther than to make themselves readily and clearly apprehended, and would have patience and curiosity to understand me. To have good sense, and ability to express it, are the most essential and necessary qualities in companions. When thoughts rise in us fit to utter, among familiar friends there needs but very little care in clothing them. Urbanus is, I take it, a man one might live with whole years, and enjoy all the freedom and improvement imaginable, and yet be insensible of a contradiction to you, in all the mistakes you can be guilty of. His great good-will to his friends has produced in him such a general deference in his discourse, that if he differs from you in his sense of any thing, he introduces his own thoughts by some agreeable circumlocution; or, he has often observed such and such a circumstance that made him of another opinion. Again, where another would be apt to say, this I am confident of, I may pretend to judge of this matter as well as any body;' Urbanus says, 'I am verily persuaded; I believe one may conclude.' In a word, there is no man more clear in his thoughts and expressions than he is, or speaks with greater diffidence. You shall hardly find one man of any consideration, but you shall observe one of less consequence form himself after him. This happens to Urbanus; but the man who steals from him almost every sentiment he utters in a whole week, disguises the theft by carrying it with a quite different air. Umbratilis knows Urbanus's doubtful way of speaking proceeds from good-nature and good breeding, and not from uncertainty in his opinions. Umbratilis, therefore, has no more to do than repeat the thoughts of Urbanus in a positive manner, and appear to the undiscerning a wiser man than the person from whom he borrows: but those who know him, can see the servant in his master's habit; and the more he struts, the less do his clothes appear his own. In conversation, the medium is, neither to affect silence nor eloquence: not to value our approbation, wench of about twenty-nine years of age, her eyes and to endeavour to excel us who are of your com- small and bleared, and nose very broad at bottom pany, are equal injuries. The great enemies there- and turning up at the end, her mouth wide, and lips fore to good company, and those who transgress of an unusual thickness, two teeth out before, the most against the laws of equality, which is the life rest black and uneven, the tip of her left ear being of it, are, the clown, the wit, and the pedant. A of a mouse colour, her voice loud and shrill, quick clown, when he has sense, is conscious of his want of speech, and something of a Welsh accent, withof education, and with an awkward bluntness, hopes drew herself on Wednesday last frour her ladyship's to keep himself in countenance by overthrowing the dwelling-house, and, with the help of her consorts, use of all polite behaviour. He takes advantage of carried off the following goods of her said lady: the restraint good-breeding lays upon others not to viz. a thick wadded calico wrapper, a musk-coloure offend him, to trespass against them, and is under velvet mantle lined with squirrel skins, eight nightthe man's own shelter while he intrudes upon him. shifts, four pair of silk stockings curiously darned, The fellows of this class are very frequent in the six pair of laced shoes, new and old, with the heels repetition of the words rough and manly. When of half two inches higher than their fellows; a these people happen to be by their fortunes of the quilted petticoat of the largest size, and one of canrank of gentlemen, they defend their other ab- vas with whalebone hoops; three pair of stays surdities by an impertinent courage; and, to help bolstered below the left shoulder, two pair of hips of out the defect of their behaviour, add their being the newest fashion, six round-about aprons with dangerous to their being disagreeable. This gentle- pockets, and four striped muslin night-rails very litman (though he displeases, professes to do so; and tle frayed; a silver pot for coffee or chocolate, the knowing that he dares still go on to do so) is not solid much bruised; a òroad-brimmed flat silver plate painful a companion, as he who will please you against your will, and resolves to be a wit, for sugar with Rhenish wine; a silver ladle for plumb porridge; a silver cheese-toaster with three prongs, an ebony handle, and silvering at the end; a alter posnet to buller eggs; one caudle and two cordial water cups, two cocoa-cups, and an ostrich's egg. with rims and feet of silver, a marrow-spoon with a scoop at the other end, a silver orange-strainer, This man, upon all occasions, and whoever he falls in company with, talks in the same circle, and in the same round of chat which he has learned at one of the tables of this coffee-house. As poetry is in itself an elevation above ordinary and common sentiments: so there is no fop so very near a mad-eight sweet-meat spoons made with forks at the end, man in indifferent company as a poetical one. He an agate-handle knife and fork in a sheath, a silver is not apprehensive that the generality of the world tongue-scraper, a silver tobacco-box, with a tulip are intent upon the business of their own fortune graved on the top; and a Bible bound in shagreen, and profession, and have as little capacity as cu- with gilt leaves and clasps, never opened but once. riosity to enter into matters of ornament or specu. Aleo a small cabinet, with six drawers inlaid with lation. I remember at a full table in the city, one red tortoise-shell, and brass gilt ornaments at the of these ubiquitary wits was entertaining the com- four corners, in which were two leather foreheadpany with a soliloquy (for so I call it when a man cloths; three pair of oiled doy-skin gloves, seven caket talks to those who do not understand him) concern-of superfine Spanish wool, half-a-dozen of Portugal ing wit and humour. An honest gentleman who dishes, and a quire of paper from thence; two pair of sat next to me, and was worth half a plumb, stared bran new plumpers, four blacklead combs, three pair at him, and observing there was some sense, as he of fashionable eyebrows, two sets of ivory teeth, little thought, mixed up with his impertinence, whispered the worse for wearing, and one pair of box for comme, Take my word for it, this fellow is more knavemon use; Adam and Eve in bugle work, without fig than fool.' This was all my good friend's applause of the wittiest man of talk that I was ever present at, which wanted nothing to make it excellent, but that there was no occasion for it. leaves, upon canvas, curiously wrought with her ladyship's own hand; several filligrane curiosities; a crotchet of one hundred and twenty-two diamonds set strong and deep in silver, with a rump-jewel The pedant is so obvious to ridicule, that it would after the same fashion; bracelets of braided hair, be to be one to offer to explain him. He is a gen-pomander and seed pearls a large old purple velvet tleman so well known, that there is none but those of his own class who do not laugh at and avoid him. Pedantry proceeds from much reading and little understanding. A pedant among men of learning and sense, is like an ignorant servant giving an ac count of a polite conversation. You may find he has brought with him more than could have entered into his head without being there, but still that he is not a bit wiser than if he had not been there at all. No. 245.] THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1710. From my own Apartment, November 1. THE lady hereafter-mentioned, having come to ine in very great haste, and paid me much above the usual fee, as a cunning-man, to find her stolen goods, and also having approved my late discourse of advertisements, obliged me to draw up this, and insert it in the body of my paper. ADVERTISEMENT. Whereas Bridget Howd'ye, late servant to the ady Fardingale, a short, thick, lively, hard-favoured purse, embroidered, and shutting with a spring, containing two pictures in miniature, the features visible; a broad thick gold ring with a hand-in-hand engraved upon it, and within this poesy, While life does last, I'll hold thee fast;' another set round with small rubies and sparks, six wanting; another of Turkey, cracked through the middle; an Eina beth and four Jacobus's, one guinea, the first of the coin, an angel with a hole bored through, a broken. half of a Spanish piece of gold, a crown piece with the breeches, an old ninepence bent both ways by Lilly the almanac-maker, for luck at langteraloo,-*and twelve of the shells called blackmoor's teeth; one small amber box with apoplectic balsam, and one silver gilt of a larger size for cashu and carra way comfits, to be taken at long sermons, the ide enamelled, representing a Cupid fishing for heari with a piece of gold on his hook; over his head this rhyme, Only with gold, you me shall hold... ZİRA the lower drawer was a large new gold repeating =<; watch made by a Frenchman; a gold chain, and s all the proper appurtenances hung, upon, steek. » swivels to wit, lockets with the hair of dead and diately altered, and the word imperfection would not living lovers, seals with arms, emblems, and devices carry an unkinder idea than the word humanity. cut in cornelian, agate, and onyx, with cupids, It is a pleasant story that we, forsooth, who are the hearts, darts, altars, flames, rocks, pickaxes, roses, only imperfect creatures in the universe, are the thorns, and sun-flowers; as also a variety of inge-only beings that will not allow of imperfection. nious French mottos; together with gold etuys for Somebody has taken notice, that we stand in the quills, scissars, needles, thimbles, and a sponge middle of existences, and are by this one circumdipped in Hungary water, left but the night before stance the most unhappy of all others. The brutes by a young lady going upon a frolic incog. There are guided by instinct, and know no sorrow; the was also a bundle of letters, dated between the angels have knowledge, and they are happy; but years one thousand six hundred and seventy, and men are governed by opinion, which is I know not one thousand six hundred and eighty-two, most of what mixture of instinct and knowledge, and are them signed Philander, the rest Strephon, Amyntas, neither indolent nor happy. It is very observable, Corydon, and Adonis; together with a collection of that critics are a people between the learned and receipts to make pastes for the hands, pomatums, lip the ignorant, and by that situation enjoy the transalves, whitepots, beautifying creams, water of tale, quillity of neither. As critics stand among men, so and frog spawn water; decoctions for clearing the do men in general between brutes and angels. complexion, and an improved medicine to procure Thus every man, as he is a critic and a coxcomb, abortion. until improved by reason and speculation, is ever forgetting himself, and laying open the faults of others. Whoever can discover the aforesaid goods, so that they may be had again, shall have fifty guineas for the whole, or proportionably for any part. N.B. Her ladyship is pleased to promise ten pounds for the packet of letters over and above, or five for Philander's only, being her first love. My lady bestows those of Strephon to the finder, being so written, that they may serve to any woman who reads them.' P.S. As I am a patron of persons who have no other friend to apply to, I cannot suppress the following complaint: SIR, I am a blackmoor boy, and have, by my lady's order, been christened by the chaplain. The good man has gone further with me, and told me a great deal of good news; as, that I am as good as my lady herself, as I am a Christian, and many other things but for all this, the parrot, who came over with me from our country, is as much esteemed by her as I am. Besides this, the shock-dog has a collar that cost almost as much as mine. I desire also to know, whether, now I am a Christian, I am obliged to dress like a Turk, and wear a turban. 'I am, sir, 'POMPEY.'. No. 246.] SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1710. Qui minimus urgetur. Francis. At the same time that I am talking of the cruelty of urging people's faults with severity, I cannot but bewail some which men are guilty of for want of admonition. These are such as they can easily mend, and nobody tells them of, for which reason I shall make use of the penny-post (as I have with success to several young ladies about turning their eyes, and holding up their heads) to certain gentlemen, whom I remark habitually guilty of what they may reform in a moment. There is a fat fellow, whom I have long remarked wearing his breast open in the midst of winter, out of an affectation of youth. I have therefore sent him just now the following letter in my physical capacity. 'SIR, 'From the twentieth instant to the first of May next, both days inclusive, I beg of you to button your waistcoat from your collar to your waistband. I am your most humble servant, ISAAC BICKERSTAFF, Philomath.' There is a very handsome well-shaped youth that frequents the coffee-houses about Charing-cross, and ties a very pretty ribbon with a cross of jewels at his breast. This being something new, and a thing in which the gentleman may offend the He. ralds' Office, I have addressed myself to him as I am 'Was that ensign of honour which you wea given you by a prince, or a lady, that you served? If you bear it as an absent lover, please to hang it on a black ribbon; if as a rewarded soldier, you may have my license to continue the red. Your faithful servant, BICKERSTAFF, Censor.* These little intimations do great service, and are very useful, not only to the persons themselves, but to inform others how to conduct themselves towards them. From my own Apartment, November 3. WHEN one considers the turn which conversation takes in almost every set of acquaintance, club, or assembly, in this town or kingdom, one cannot but observe, that in spite of what I am every day saying, and all the moral writers since the beginning of the world have said, the subject of discourse is generally upon one another's faults. This in a great measure proceeds from self-conceit, which were to be endured in one or other individual person; but the folly has spread itself over almost all the species; and one cannot only say, Tom, Jack, or Will, but in general, that man is a coxcomb. From this source it is, that any excellence is faintly received, any im- Plumbeus and Levis are constantly in each perfection unmercifully exposed. But if things other's company: they would, if they took proper were put in a true light, and we would take time to methods, be very agreeable companions; but they consider, that man, in his very nature, is an imper- so extravagantly aim at what they are unfit for, and fect being, our sense of this matter would be imme-each of them rallies the other so much in, the wrong TATLER.--Nos. 43 & 44. Instead of this honest private method, or a friendly one face to face, of acquainting people with things in their power to explain or amend, the usual way among people is to take no notice of things you can help, and nevertheless expose you for those you cannot. 2 S place, that, instead of doing each other the offices| of friends, they do but instruct the rest of the world to laugh at them with more knowledge and skill. Plumbeus is of a saturnine and sullen complexion; Levis of a mercurial and airy disposition. Both these gentlemen have but very slow parts, but would make a very good figure did they pursue what they ought. If Plumbeus would take to business, he would, in a few years, know the forms of orders so well as to direct and dictate with so much ease, as to be thought a solid, able, and at the same time, a sure man of dispatch. Levis, with a little reading, and coming more into company, would soon be able to write a song, or lead up a country-dance. Instead of these proper pursuits, in obedience to their respective geniuses, Plumbeus endeavours to be the man of pleasure, and Levis the man of business. This appears in their speech, and in their dress; Plumbeus is ever egregiously fine, and talking something like wit; Levis is ever extremely grave, and, with a silly face, repeating maxims. These two pardon each other for affecting what each is incapable of, the one to be wise, and the other gay; but are extremely critical in their judgments of each other in their way towards what they pretend to. Plumbeus acknowledges Levis to be a man of great reach, because it is what Plumbeus never cared for being thought himself, and Levis allows Plumbeus to be a rake for the same reason. Now, were these dear friends to be free with each other, as they ought to be, they would change characters, and be both as commendable, instead of being as ridiculous, as their capacities will admit of. Edenburgh, Oct. 23. 'I presume to lay before you an affair of mine, and begs you'le be very sinceir in giving me your judgment and advice in this matter, which is as follows:: dowed with all the good qualities that can make a 'A very agreeable young gentleman, who is enin the most passionate manner that was posable. man complete, has this long time maid love to me He has left nothing unsaid to make me believe his affections real; and in his letters, expressed himself so hansomly and so tenderly, that I had all the reaWere it not too grave, all that I would urge on son imaginable to believe him sincere. In snort, he this subject is, that men are bewildered when they consider themselves in any other view than that of positively has promised me he would marry me: strangers, who are in a place where it is no great tion was put to him, he would not; but still would but I find all he said nothing; for when the ques matter whether they can, or unreasonable to expect continue my humble servant, and would go on at the they should, have every thing about them as well as ould rate, repeating the assurances of his fidelity, at their own home. This way of thinking is, per- and at the same time has none in him. He now haps, the only way that can put this being in a pro-writs to me in the same endearing style he ust to do, per posture for the ease of society. It is certain, would have me speak to no man but himself. His that this would reduce all faults into those which estate is in his own hand, his father being dead. proceed from malice or dishonesty: it would quite change our manner of beholding one another; and My fortune at my own disposal, mine being also nothing that was not below a man's nature, would dead, and to the full answers his estate. Pray, sir, be be below his character. The arts of this life would ingeinous, and tell me cordially, if you don't think I be proper advances towards the next; and a very corospondance any longer with this gentleman. I shall do myself an injury if I keep company, or a good man would be a very fine gentleman. As it is now, human life is inverted, and we have not hope you will faver an honest North-Britain, as I learned half the knowledge of this world before we solved just to follow your directions. Sir, you will with your advice in this amour; for I am reare dropping into another. Thus, instead of the do me a sensable pleasure, and very great honour, raptures and contemplations which naturally attend a well-spent life from the approach of eternity, even if you will please to insert this poor scrole, with we old fellows are afraid of the ridicule of those your answer to it, in your Tatler. Pray fail not to who are born since us, and ashamed not to under-give me your answer; for on it depends the happiness of disconsolat stand, as well as peevish to resign, the mode, the fashion, the ladies, the fiddles, the balls, and what not. Dick Reptile, who does not want humour, is very pleasant at our club when he sees an old fellow touchy at being laughed at for anything that is not in the mode; and bawls in his ear, Pr'ythee do not mind him; tell him thou art mortal.' am, 'MADAM, ALMEIRA." I have frequently read over your letter, and am of opinion, that, as lamentable as it is, it is the most common of any evil that attends our sex. I am very much troubled for the tenderness you express towards your lover, but rejoice at the same time that you can so far surmount your inclination for him, as to resolve to dismiss him when you have my brother's opinion for it. His sense of the matter he desired me to communicate to you. Oh Almeira! the common failing of our sex is to value the merit of our lovers rather from the grace of their address, than the sincerity of their hearts. He has expressed himself so handsomely! Can you say that, after you have reason to doubt his truth? It is a me * |