it poffible for any Trim to convince me it is equally fallacious; I am fure while I have my reafon it is not. Talking of widows-pray, Eliza, if ever you are fuch, do not think of giving yourself to fome wealthy Nabob, because I defign to marry you myself -My wife cannot live long-fhe has fold all the provinces in France already; and I know not the woman I should like fo well for her fubstitute as yourself 'Tis true, I am ninety-five in conftitution, and you but twenty-five! rather too great a difparity this! but what I want in youth I will make up in wit and good humour. Not Swift fo loved his Stella, Scarron his Maintenon, or Waller his Sachariffa, as I will love and fing thee, my wife Cleft-all thofe names, eminent as they were, fhall give place to thine, Eliza. Tell me in anfwer to this, that you approve and honour the propofal; and that you would (like the Spectator's miftrefs) have more joy in putting on an old man's flipper, than in affociating with the gay, the voluptuous, and the young-Adieu, my Simplicia. I Yours, TRISTRAM. LETTER X. My dear Eliza, HAVE been within the verge of the gates of death: I was ill the last time I wrote to you, and apprehensive of what would be the confequence-My fears were but too well founded; for in ten minutes after I difpatched my letter, this poor fine-fpun frame of Yorick's gave way, and I broke a veffel in my breaft, and could not stop the lofs of blood till four this morning-I have filled all thy India handkerchiefs with it: it came, I think, from the heart-I fell asleep, through weakness, at fix, and awoke with the bofom of my fhirt fteep'd in tears— I dream'd I was fitting under the canopy of Indolence, and that thou cam'ft into the room with a fhaul in thy hand, and told me; " My fpirit has flown to thee to the Downs with tidings of my fate, and that you was come to administer what confolation filial affection could beftow, and to receive my parting breath and bleffing."-With that, you folded the fhaul about my waist, and kneeling, fupplicated my attention I awoke: but in what a frame, Oh, my God!-But thou wilt remember my tears, and put them all into thy bottle-Dear girl, I fee thee; thou art for ever prefent to my fancy, embracing my feeble knees, Auguft, 1775 And when I talk to Lydia, the word or of Efau, as utter'd by thee, perpetual!nd ring in my ears "Blefs me even alfo, my father"Bleffings attend thee, thou child of my heart-My bleeding is quite ftopp'd, and I feel the principle of life firong within me-so be not alarm'd, Eliza, I know I fhall do well I have eat my breakfast with hunger; and I write to thee with a pleasure arifing from that prophetic impreffion in my imagination "That all will terminate to our hearts content"-Comfort thyself eternally with this perfuafion, "That the beft of beings" (as thou fweetly haft exprefs'd it】 "could not, by a combination of accidents, produce fuch a chain of event merely to be the fource of mifery to the leading perfon engaged in them." The obfervation was very applicable, very good, and very elegantly exprefs'd: I with my memory did juftice to the wording of it Who taught you the art of writing fo fweetly, Eliza? You abfolutely have exalted it to a fcience-When I am in want of ready cafh, and ill health will permit my genius to exert itself, I fhall print your letters as Finish'd Fays, by an Unfortunate Indian Lady -The tyle is new, and would almost be a fufficient recommendation for their felling well, without merit; but their fenfe, natural ease and spirit, is not to be equall'd, I believe, in this fection of the globe; nor, I'll anfwer for it, by any of your country women in your's I have fhow'd your letter to Mrs. B, and to half the literati in town: you thall not be angry with me for it, becaufe I meant to do you honour by it. You cannot imagine how many admirers your epiftolary productions have gained you, that never viewed your external merit-I only wonder where thou could'ft acquire thy graces, thy goodnets, thy accomplishments! fo connected! fo educated! Nature has furely ftudied to make thee her peculiar care; for thou art (and not in my eyes alone) the best and fairefl of all her works And fo, this is the laft letter thou art to receive from me, because the Earl of Chatham (I read in the papers) is got to the Downs, and the wind find) is fair-if fo, bleffed woman, take my last, last farewell! Cheth the remembrance of me; think how I efteem, nay, how affectionately I love thee, and what a Mmm price 44 e I fet upon thee.-Adieu, adieu; ho with my adieu, let me give thee one Freight rule of conduct, that thou haft eard from my lips in a thousand forms, but I concenter it in one word, Reverence Thyself. Adieu, once more, Eliza; may no anguifh of heart plant a wrinkle upon thy face till I behold it again; may no doubt or misgivings disturb the ferenity of thy mind, or awaken a painful thought about thy children, for they are Yorick's, and Yorick is thy friend for ever. Adieu, adieu, adieu P. S. Remember, that " Hope fhortens all journies by fweetening them;" fo fing my little ftanza on the subject, with the devotion of an hymn, every morn ing thou arifeft, and thou wilt eat thy breakfast with more comfort for it Bleffings reft, and Hygeia go with thee. May'ft thou foon return in peace and affluence to illumine my night: I am, and fhall be the last to deplore thy lofs, and will be the firft to congratulate and hail thy return Fare thee well, The Progress of Love. (Continued from page 408, and concluded.) NE freedom leads to another; and would often appear confiderable, if compared with the liberties of yesterday. Sophia perceived not her danger till fhe was on the brink of ruin, and incapable of retreat. Her own heart betrayed her. Modeftus henceforth indulged himself in a thousand fooleries and freedoms, which Sophia but feebly refifted. But even thefe refources failed. He grew unhappy in the fight of paradife; though, alas! there was no angel to guard it. Sophia's bofom was no more the feat of refined affection. There the young Defires fluttered, and the lawlefs Wifhes played. Thus, diffatisfied with herself, he was impatient in the abfence, and uneafy in the prefence of her loyer; yet fometimes fhe would forget herself, and gaze upon him with dying languor. Modeftus must have obferved her fituation, had he lefs feverely felt his own. One while he refolved to watch a favourable opportunity, lull her fenfes and confummate his felicity; at another time he determined to fall at her feet, declare the fituation of his heart, and depend entirely on her generofity. The first was difhonourable; the fecond was dangerous. It might put an end to all further intercourfe. In this dilemma he grew melancholy. "Eternal Providence! am I reduced to this?-Ah, fad alternative!-muft I either become abject or bafe?-Must I difclofe my guilty wifhes-muft I run the rifk of contempt from her I love-or abuse that confidence with which I am vefted, by taking advantage of the weaknefs I have caufed, by making the sweet influence of love and tenderness fubfervient to the ruin of their object?—Am I indeed fo low ?-on a level with brutes and infects!—Is this the fruit of my refined affection?-this the termination of my feraphic vifions?--Is it for this, Sophia, that I would devote thee to infamy? No, my angel!-live fecure in innocence and virtue:-I am juftly the fport of my own vicious paffions." Hear him but a moment after, when paffion has inverted the glass of imagi nation. "But why do I think of ruin ?-why dream of infamy?-I am bewildered in the reafonings of fools. Can there be ruin, can there be infamy, in partaking the tranfports of thofe we love?-For what end were the paffions given, if they tafted is furely but an earneft of this. are not to be gratified? All that I have The pleasures of mere mind are too fubtile for mortality. The felicity of man : human blifs ftands ftill, is doubtless the union of fouls by the intervention of the fenfes." Though Sophia was ftill favoured with the vifits of Modeitus, his visits were no more the fame. In vain he attempted to repeat his affiduities:-his very frolics difcovered his diftrefs. He would ftare on her at times with the wildness of frenzy; then check himself, blush, and seem difordered. She was frightened at his looks; and often enquired the cause of his melancholy; but never obtained any fatisfactory anfwer. He appeared only more confused. Sad change!-How lately did he think he could never have a wifh he should defire to conceal from his dear Sophia!— But when the heart departs from virtue, it lofes its pious confidence, from a confcioufnefs of its own guilt. They were now a mystery to themselves, and to each other. Sophia, waked in fome measure from her delirium, grew afraid that Modeftus was jealous, and neglected nothing to remove his doubts. Senfible, however, fhe had given no cause for such fufpicion, and finding his thoughtfulness fill continue, the at lait began to refolve it into his approaching departure, and foon be came came as dejected as he; but never once fufpected that his difquiet proceeded from the fame caufe with her own. Her modefty would not permit her the thought. Happy ignorance! had it continued.] Love, like madnefs, has its moping, and its frantic fits; its ecftatic vifions, as well as its gloomy horrors. One evening, when Mrs. Lovebond was from home, Sophia, in a tranfport of tenderness, retired to her chamber. Though the hour was not come, fhe difplayed the fignal; and, either through accident or defign, the left open the window, the air being deliciously mild, tho' the middle of September; and, to enjoy the filver beams of the moon, that feemed" to fleep" upon her bed, fhe placed the candle behind a screen. Virtue and Pride, the guardians of her honour, were charmed to reft, and "Love alone was waking." Overcome with foft ideas, the fair Sophia threw herself on the bed, and funk into a gentle flumber. Modeftus had spent the evening in company, and was now a little warmed with claret; but, as he knew Sophia was alone, he made a pretence to retire; and was punctual to "the moment fworn." Though he had not hitherto met with any interruption, there is a particular pleasure in the thought of fecurity; and perhaps he had other thoughts. It is certain, at least, that his heart fwelled with uncommon emotion, when he perceived the handkerchief difplayed, and the window open. But what was his joy when he entered the chamber-Sophia reclined on the bed! He kneeled down, in filent tranfport, and kiffed the floor. His former enthufiafm returned-the fweet delufion of love. Every object seemed infpired, every fense was ravifhed!-Soft mufic warbled, rich odours exhaled; and his paft delights fluttered about, like fo many Genii come to behold the completion of his wifhes while the Loves and Defires frolicked round the bed, where the Venus lay. He ftood for fome moments is unutterable rapture. Forgetting it was the language of fleep, he threw himfelf on her breaft. Her arms closed around him, and for a moment the vifion continued. But only for a moment; for though the pleasures of imagination equal, if not exceed, thofe of fenfe, their caufes are diffimilar, and they will not mingle without conscioufnefs. Nor are fuch illufions, either on the fleeping or the waking fancy, fo much a proof of the difpofitions of the heart, as of the warmth of the paffions. A real object often rouses very different ideas. Sophia waked; and frightened to find herself in the embraces of a man, fhe fhrieked aloud, and ftrove to get loofe. Modeftus endeavoured to quiet her, but in vain; fhe dreaded the reality of her vifion, and was almoft diftracted to think her lover fhould be guilty of such violation. He was obliged to retire. No fooner did Sophia find herself at liberty, than fhe broke out in the bittereft exclamations, and moft fevere reproaches. "O ungrateful man!-is this the reward of my generous confidence?-my warm, my unlimited affection! - To break in upon my unguarded virtue!to take advantage of my flumbers!--Was this the aim of all thy feeming fondnefs? -thy tender affiduities, and delicate refpect!-Falfe, perfidious Modeftus !" and the diffolved into a flood of tears. Modeftus was prepared for fuch a fpeech. He undeceived her with regard to her dream:-he urged every alleviating circumftance :-he leant his cheek to her's, and mingled his tears: then, falling at her feet, he poured out his foul with all the devotion of love. "O Sophia!-life of my foul !--fpirit of my exiftence! divine difpofer of my fate! will you for ever oppofe my felicity-Muff I ftill be wretched ftill be doomed to languifh, the hapless victim of despair!-You fee my foul a prey to melancholy the bloom of youth decayed, the firength of manhood blafted: 'tis you alone can fave me from the grave! The fair enchantrefs was now enjoying more ravishing delights than even thofe The conferred. Her fleeping fancy had almost realized her waking ideas, when Modeftus feized the candle, and foftly "Start not, adorable Sophia!-though approached the bed.-What a delightful my fenfes are intoxicated, I am all refpect diforder! what a voluptuous negligence! to thee. Be not alarmed at the fond re-A luftre broke from her eyes that over- queft:-plead not the vulgar excuses, or powered the heart like lightning. Her I am eternally undone. They are infults cheeks were fuffufed with a beautiful to a paffion like mine. True love conM m m 2 fults triumphant. A new fource of pleafure was now opened; and the enamoured couple, loft hearts to the intoxicating luxury. The to every other thought, yielded up their he was animated with fecond life. gaiety of Modeftus' temper returned; But the moit voluptuous dainties foon-" eft cloy. fults only the felicity of its object: all But love will conquer both and reign other concerns it regards with difdain. What are the ties of idle culiom, what form, what ceremony-what the world to those who love?-They follow the dictates of nature, and are happy Their wants, their wiflies, centre in themfelves: fortune can neither give nor take. Does Sophia love her Modefius? —Alas, my angel!-thou art filent:—I dare not reply. All things are common to those who love; affection knows no referve. Can Sophia love, yet delight to torment? I have loved, indeed loved even to madness; but what is my return? Is there a defire I would not fulfil a mifery I would not thare-a good I would not beltow on the part ner of my foul? Let Sophia demand my life, and it is her's. O that the would put me to the glorious proof! My request is of a gentler kind, and pleafing to the ear of love. Will Sophia bid me die or unite our fouls for ever. After walking fome minutes through the room, in a kind of frenzy, Modeftus again advanced; he threw himself on his knees, and feized the hand of the almost expiring Sophia. Alas, Sophia! it must be fo: we must part-part for ever!-I cannot fee you and live. The effects of abfence I muft "But, O thou delight of my heart! how fhall we part-My better felf! life of my life! foul of my foul! how can I feparate my existence ?-Let me die, Sophia, let me die!" Sophia, unable any longer to contain her eraction, buift out in rapture. But foon Sophia abandoned herself to grief. "When once the throbbing of the heart has broke "The virgin-zone," the female bofom melts With foft defire, and hugs the guilty joy. Reefon and grief may, in their turns, prevail, Before the dear-bought mem'ry of the And ardour to repeat the burning blifs, Mo licious viands; and a thousand frivolous But Modeflus is not fingular in this : it is a peculiarity of human nature, however ungenerous it may feem. Enjoyment is fucceeded by fatiety, or difgult :-difguft is the parent of hate. O improvident maid! to lavish, in a few minutes, what, frugally managed, might have perfumed the nuptial bower, and, unexhaulted, have fweetened the evening of life! Sophia, as is common, was sensible of her imprudence when too late. She faw her lover grow indifferent, like a voluptuary over the feaft of yesterday. Her heart was diftreffed, and the wept in fecret. Modeftus perceived the bursting ftorm: -he abfented himfelf. Now only was the fpell of imagination completely diffolved. His prefence ftill had the power in fome meafure to continue the enchantment. But, the magician gone, the paradife vanished. Not the traveller, deferted by his guide, in the middle of the Arabian wafte, who lays himfelf down-overcome with toil, unknowing where to go-and dreams of flowery fields and refreshing fprings, when roufed from his vifion by the yell of the tyger, looks with more horror on the defart that lies around him, than Sophia when waked to a fenfe of her condition. The prefent was one barren spot of mifery; the past was all anguith; and the future was all defpair. Abandoned by the man in whom he had placed an unlimited confidence, whom the had trusted with her little all, and on whom the had comforter!-what can fhe expect from refted every hope!-ftung by reflection thee but infamy? Can guilt comfort within, and without in danger of the guilt?-Begone, deceiver ! nor drag to murdering cenfure of a malicious world! hame, whom thou haft robbed of virtue. -what could fhe do ?-On whom could "O Sophia, how I am funk in my The repose her forrows?-To whom ap- own eyes!-Your opinion of me cannot ply for relief-More chance would the be lower. But in whatever light you traveller have of pity from the heart of may confider me, have more regard for the tyger, than fhe from her own fex- yourself. I am only to blame.-You than the from the mother in whofe bofom have forfeited one virtue, it is true; but fhe was nurfed. Nature warns us of where is the woman who could have made our danger: to a deer once chased from fuch resistance ?—You have yielded to the herd the knew there was no return. the impulfe of paffion, but the principles Where then to fly for protection!-To of your mind are as upright as ever." rapacious man!-Should the lamb whofe With how many amiable qualities are blood has glutted the fox take fhelter you ftill adorned!-Your fenfe of hoamong wolves-O helpless ftate !-O nour, your admiration of chastity is no! hapless maid !—Have recourse to her be- the lefs; you are not lefs charitable, lefs trayer-Humiliating thought!But benevolent, or lefs juft. Be just then to affliction brings down the proud. "Twas yourself; be fenfible of your own value. her fole refource. As you till furpafs in virtue, beauty, and accomplishments the rest of your fex, affert your fuperiority. Let not your excellencies be obfcured by melancholy: fhine forth in your native loveliness, like the moon from behind a cloud, to the admiration of all hearts-but that of the guilty Modeftus; which muft ever be humbled with the facrilegious consciousness of having dared to pollute fo pure a fanctuary. A letter from Modeftus, however, faved the diftreffed Sophia from this laft act of debasement. His moral feelings were awakened :-he faw Sophia in her original lovelinefs :-a tender innocent, robbed of her virtue by a cruel fpoiler! -He was hateful in his own eye. But fo intimate is the connection between our phyfical and moral fenfations, that there is reafon to believe disgust fharpened the ftings of remorfe. To SOPHIA. "What a mystery, O Sophia, is the human heart? Full of wild and impetuous defires, it hurries us on to blifs: but fcarce have we tafted of the inebriating draught, when it dafhes the cup with woe. Though favoured with all the delights of love, though in the poffeffion of that beauty which abforbed my existence, I am a prey to the deepest forrow. I am become my own tormentor. The ftings of felf-accufation dart from the bofom of love. O heaven! can I be happy, while the who communicates my delights is miferable ?— "In vain, Sophia, would you difguife the grief of your heart; your eyes difclofe what your tongue labours to conceal. Love has taught me to read their meaning; and your mute forrow, though veiled beneath a fmile, affects me more fenfibly than all the eloquence of fpeech. "But why am I deprived of my fhare in your affliction-Can Sophia have a grief, and not pour it into the bofom of Modeftus My heart too would over flow; I would catch the mournful drops as they fell, to me more dear than my blood; I would infufe into thy wounded mind the balm of comfort. Ah, fad 66 Your prefence would only rouse that remorse, which must laft till death: -and, O kind heaven, that it may terminate there!—Impute not therefore my abfence to a careless neglect, but to an awakened fenfe of duty, to a sense of my own bafenefs-of my unworthiness to approach, what I cannot touch without profaning." From SOPHIA. "Alas, Modeftus! what a bad omen is it of the affection of lovers, when their fentiments become unintelligible to each other?-You have obferved my grief:-you imagine you have discovered its caufe, and endeavour to combat its force. But while you endeavour to miflead me, you are yourself mifled; you are bewildered in your own dreams, and fighting with a phantom of your own creating. Had you attended to the motives of fuch reafoning, you would perhaps have been lefs confcious of the fource of my forrow. They can scarcely be thofe of affection. "That I have facrificed my virtue is, alas! too true. But you fhould have been the last to remind me of my fhame. Was you afraid my own heart did not tell me of it fufficiently-Was you concerned for my foul's welfare:-Why then did you not fend your chaplain -He could not have canted in a higher strain |