Chapter 7
Page 204
CHAP. VII.
Solitude chosen for her present Purpose by Lady Dellwyn.
RETIREMENT seemed to offer Lady Dellwyn little Peace; yet at first View it appeared almost the only Situation to which she could fly, and indeed to which she was almost necessarily reduced. Covered with Shame, and oppressed with Guilt, she knew not how to appear in the World. Her Conduct was not equivocal; she could not hope to impose Assurance (even if she had been Mistress of the largest Portion of it) on the least Suspicious, for Innocence. Every Newspaper contained an Advertisement of the Process in which she had so large a
Share;
Page 205
Share; every Tongue repeated the Evidence against her.
But tho' depressed by Shame and Infamy, her first and last Seducer, Vanity, still kept her Throne. Tho' now the Badges of her Royalty resembled more those of the Furies; she was armed with Whips and Stings; Serpents and Scorpions seemed the Instruments with which she inflicted the cruelest Pains on Lady Dellwyn's Heart. To be thrown from the highest Admiration to the lowest Degree of Contempt, was a Transition much more afflicting to her than the Fall from Innocence to Guilt. Repentance, from a just Sense of the Crime committed, gives an Humility which renders the Grief less turbulent, and makes way for the Rife of some comfortable Considerations, even from suffering the Punishment which naturally follows the Indulgence of violent Passions; amongst which Vanity must ever hold one of the uppermost Seats, in the Eyes of every Per-
son
Page 206
son who hath ever refleted on Mankind and their Manners.
I do repent me, as it is an Evil,
And take the Shame with Joy: *
are the expressive Words Shakespeare puts into the Mouth of the penitent Juliet. But Lady Dellwyn's Vanity was too predominant to suffer her to feel any thing but Rage and Despair. She revolved in her Mind various unsatisfactory Schemes; till at last she imagined that she had found one Method by which she might flatter herself that it was yet possible to regain some degree of Reputation.
She had heard, that, in a neighbouring Nation, one sole and fixed Attachment, when dignified with the Title of une belle Passion, was acquitted by general Consent from Infamy. Upon this she formed her Plan. She hired a
* Measure for Measure.
small
Page 207
small Cottage; she decked it with Symbols of Sorrow and Penitence. Had Lord Clermont been slain abroad, it is probable, she would have endeavoured to obtain his Body, and lamented over it with all the Pomp of Calista in the Fair Penitent.
Tho' Lady Dellwyn chose a small Cottage as most proper for the Execution of her present Plan; yet she was careful that it should be in the Neighbourhood of too many considerable Families to suffer her Conduct to be unobserved ; for she could not bear even the Thoughts of total Obscurity. She scarcely suffered the Light of the Sun to enter her Apartment, and never stirred out of her House but in the Face of the all-conscious Moon. She seemed ever bewailing the fatal Effects of a too tender Passion, and declared her Determination to pass all the Remainder of her Days in Penitence andPrayers for her great Offence.
8 A Mind
Page 208
A Mind and Conscience so ill at Ease could not but make Lady Dellwyn suffer very greatly in the Execution of this Plan: But as she could not endure with any degree of Patience either Obscurity or Infamy, she was enabled to support herself, by believing that this uncommon Conduct would obtain as much Approbation, as the former Part of her Behaviour had incurred Censure.
It is amazing what painful Labours Vanity will enable her Votaries to struggle through, whilst the Imagination is buoyed up by the Hopes of being gratified in any favourite Pursuit; and when Lady Dellwyn was oppressed, and near funk, with the most melancholy Reflexions, she had Recourse, as to a Cordial, to the Opinions she thought the World must now necessarily express concerning her; she could fancy them signing her Quietus in the Words Calista supposes her Father to use. Indeed her Penitence so nearly
resembled
Page 209
resembled that of Calista, that her Mind was naturally filled with the same kind of Meditations; only, to bring on the tragic Catastrophe, the Poet was under a Necessity to force Calista to think and talk more of Death.
Lady Dellwyn now supposed the World wondering at her Love and Penitence, and from them attributing to her a great Share of Virtue; tho', by Excess of une belle Passion, she had a liitle deviated from the thorny Way. But she soon began to adopt the Expression of Rosalind in as You like it, and to think it much properer to say, the lazy Foot of Time, than the swift Foot of Time, according to the common Method; for she grew very impatient to know when the World would think she had expiated her Crime, and washed away her Shame, by Repentance; when, to her utmost Mortification, she received a Letter from a Man of considerable Fashion, who lived much in the polite World, and sup-
posing
Page 210
posing her sufficiently humbled to accept of moderate Terms, he sent her the Offer of a Settlement, plainly expressing a Supposition that Poverty was the Occasion of her Retirement.
As Vanity was the only Vice that had ever actuated Lady Dellwyn's Mind, she felt something that bore a near Resemblance to the Indignation of Virtue itself at this insolent Proposal; but yet; as is customary, was so partial to Self, that she was blind to the just Cause she had given to suspect her of being frail enough to accept it. But what most mortified her, was to perceive that she had not imposed on the World a Belief of either a belle Passion, or true Penitence. She answered the Gentleman's Letter with the utmost Indignation: informing him, that he was much deceived in thinking her Fortune so low, for it was sufficient to afford her every Enjoyment of Life; and that she had fled from a cruel World only to avoid Insults; but her Solitude was now be-
come
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come odious, by his having convinced her that they could reach her even there.
Lady Dellwyn's Answer administered some Disappointment, but no Shame or Concern, to the Gentleman. No Man, I believe, is so insensible or void of Humanity, as not to be shocked when he finds he hath given Offence to a Woman truly virtuous, by presuming on her Distress of Circumstances; but when one of known Frailty assumes the Language of Virtue, it only renders her more despised. The Pride of the Person is in some measure hurt, by an Apprehension that he is intended to be imposed on; and the Woman, who perhaps he before thought only frail, he now esteems imprudent.
Altho' to be careless of Reputation, and despise the Censure of the World, is an undoubted Error, and the Appearance, as well as the Practice of Vice to be earnestly avoided; yet is
the
Page 212
the Mind whose conscious Innocence can bear up against the sharp Tooth of Slander; and there was nothing that Lady Dellwyn would not now have exchanged to have been in such a Situation. She was now convinced she had thrown away a great deal of Mortification on an ungrateful World, who made no account of all she had done, and all she had suffered, to please it; in reality as much as would have answered a much better Purpose; a Reflexion which seems almost impossible to escape her: But yet she so contrived it, that this Disappointment had no other Effect on her, than to make her resolve no longer to punish herself, by acting a Part so contrary to her Inclinations, in which she was an aukward Mimic of what she had no settled Notion.
But when Lady Dellwyn had taken this general Resolution, she was utterly at a Loss what Course to take, in order to get into the World, which might
be
Page 213
be rendered still more difficult by her having left it; and if Repentance consisted in being sorry for having done whatever brings a worldly Inconvenience with it, she was always in that State; and now repented of her Solitude, as it had involved her in yet more Perplexities. One fixed Determination seemed to be the only Result of her considering on her present Situation, which was to kill
Those Foes to Beaux and Fair-ones, Time and Thought.
But out of the various Ways of murdering them (which are more numerous than ever Tyrant invented for his wretched Subjects) which to make use of, she was quite at a loss. She had Modesty enough to be afraid to expose herself to those who had known her in her Days of Innocence, or when Suspicion only hovered over her like a Cloud, which gave Offence to very few.
C H A P.
CHAP. VII.
Solitude chosen for her present Purpose by Lady Dellwyn.
RETIREMENT seemed to offer Lady Dellwyn little Peace; yet at first View it appeared almost the only Situation to which she could fly, and indeed to which she was almost necessarily reduced. Covered with Shame, and oppressed with Guilt, she knew not how to appear in the World. Her Conduct was not equivocal; she could not hope to impose Assurance (even if she had been Mistress of the largest Portion of it) on the least Suspicious, for Innocence. Every Newspaper contained an Advertisement of the Process in which she had so large a
Share;
Page 205
Share; every Tongue repeated the Evidence against her.
But tho' depressed by Shame and Infamy, her first and last Seducer, Vanity, still kept her Throne. Tho' now the Badges of her Royalty resembled more those of the Furies; she was armed with Whips and Stings; Serpents and Scorpions seemed the Instruments with which she inflicted the cruelest Pains on Lady Dellwyn's Heart. To be thrown from the highest Admiration to the lowest Degree of Contempt, was a Transition much more afflicting to her than the Fall from Innocence to Guilt. Repentance, from a just Sense of the Crime committed, gives an Humility which renders the Grief less turbulent, and makes way for the Rife of some comfortable Considerations, even from suffering the Punishment which naturally follows the Indulgence of violent Passions; amongst which Vanity must ever hold one of the uppermost Seats, in the Eyes of every Per-
son
Page 206
son who hath ever refleted on Mankind and their Manners.
I do repent me, as it is an Evil,
And take the Shame with Joy: *
are the expressive Words Shakespeare puts into the Mouth of the penitent Juliet. But Lady Dellwyn's Vanity was too predominant to suffer her to feel any thing but Rage and Despair. She revolved in her Mind various unsatisfactory Schemes; till at last she imagined that she had found one Method by which she might flatter herself that it was yet possible to regain some degree of Reputation.
She had heard, that, in a neighbouring Nation, one sole and fixed Attachment, when dignified with the Title of une belle Passion, was acquitted by general Consent from Infamy. Upon this she formed her Plan. She hired a
* Measure for Measure.
small
Page 207
small Cottage; she decked it with Symbols of Sorrow and Penitence. Had Lord Clermont been slain abroad, it is probable, she would have endeavoured to obtain his Body, and lamented over it with all the Pomp of Calista in the Fair Penitent.
Tho' Lady Dellwyn chose a small Cottage as most proper for the Execution of her present Plan; yet she was careful that it should be in the Neighbourhood of too many considerable Families to suffer her Conduct to be unobserved ; for she could not bear even the Thoughts of total Obscurity. She scarcely suffered the Light of the Sun to enter her Apartment, and never stirred out of her House but in the Face of the all-conscious Moon. She seemed ever bewailing the fatal Effects of a too tender Passion, and declared her Determination to pass all the Remainder of her Days in Penitence andPrayers for her great Offence.
8 A Mind
Page 208
A Mind and Conscience so ill at Ease could not but make Lady Dellwyn suffer very greatly in the Execution of this Plan: But as she could not endure with any degree of Patience either Obscurity or Infamy, she was enabled to support herself, by believing that this uncommon Conduct would obtain as much Approbation, as the former Part of her Behaviour had incurred Censure.
It is amazing what painful Labours Vanity will enable her Votaries to struggle through, whilst the Imagination is buoyed up by the Hopes of being gratified in any favourite Pursuit; and when Lady Dellwyn was oppressed, and near funk, with the most melancholy Reflexions, she had Recourse, as to a Cordial, to the Opinions she thought the World must now necessarily express concerning her; she could fancy them signing her Quietus in the Words Calista supposes her Father to use. Indeed her Penitence so nearly
resembled
Page 209
resembled that of Calista, that her Mind was naturally filled with the same kind of Meditations; only, to bring on the tragic Catastrophe, the Poet was under a Necessity to force Calista to think and talk more of Death.
Lady Dellwyn now supposed the World wondering at her Love and Penitence, and from them attributing to her a great Share of Virtue; tho', by Excess of une belle Passion, she had a liitle deviated from the thorny Way. But she soon began to adopt the Expression of Rosalind in as You like it, and to think it much properer to say, the lazy Foot of Time, than the swift Foot of Time, according to the common Method; for she grew very impatient to know when the World would think she had expiated her Crime, and washed away her Shame, by Repentance; when, to her utmost Mortification, she received a Letter from a Man of considerable Fashion, who lived much in the polite World, and sup-
posing
Page 210
posing her sufficiently humbled to accept of moderate Terms, he sent her the Offer of a Settlement, plainly expressing a Supposition that Poverty was the Occasion of her Retirement.
As Vanity was the only Vice that had ever actuated Lady Dellwyn's Mind, she felt something that bore a near Resemblance to the Indignation of Virtue itself at this insolent Proposal; but yet; as is customary, was so partial to Self, that she was blind to the just Cause she had given to suspect her of being frail enough to accept it. But what most mortified her, was to perceive that she had not imposed on the World a Belief of either a belle Passion, or true Penitence. She answered the Gentleman's Letter with the utmost Indignation: informing him, that he was much deceived in thinking her Fortune so low, for it was sufficient to afford her every Enjoyment of Life; and that she had fled from a cruel World only to avoid Insults; but her Solitude was now be-
come
Page 211
come odious, by his having convinced her that they could reach her even there.
Lady Dellwyn's Answer administered some Disappointment, but no Shame or Concern, to the Gentleman. No Man, I believe, is so insensible or void of Humanity, as not to be shocked when he finds he hath given Offence to a Woman truly virtuous, by presuming on her Distress of Circumstances; but when one of known Frailty assumes the Language of Virtue, it only renders her more despised. The Pride of the Person is in some measure hurt, by an Apprehension that he is intended to be imposed on; and the Woman, who perhaps he before thought only frail, he now esteems imprudent.
Altho' to be careless of Reputation, and despise the Censure of the World, is an undoubted Error, and the Appearance, as well as the Practice of Vice to be earnestly avoided; yet is
the
Page 212
the Mind whose conscious Innocence can bear up against the sharp Tooth of Slander; and there was nothing that Lady Dellwyn would not now have exchanged to have been in such a Situation. She was now convinced she had thrown away a great deal of Mortification on an ungrateful World, who made no account of all she had done, and all she had suffered, to please it; in reality as much as would have answered a much better Purpose; a Reflexion which seems almost impossible to escape her: But yet she so contrived it, that this Disappointment had no other Effect on her, than to make her resolve no longer to punish herself, by acting a Part so contrary to her Inclinations, in which she was an aukward Mimic of what she had no settled Notion.
But when Lady Dellwyn had taken this general Resolution, she was utterly at a Loss what Course to take, in order to get into the World, which might
be
Page 213
be rendered still more difficult by her having left it; and if Repentance consisted in being sorry for having done whatever brings a worldly Inconvenience with it, she was always in that State; and now repented of her Solitude, as it had involved her in yet more Perplexities. One fixed Determination seemed to be the only Result of her considering on her present Situation, which was to kill
Those Foes to Beaux and Fair-ones, Time and Thought.
But out of the various Ways of murdering them (which are more numerous than ever Tyrant invented for his wretched Subjects) which to make use of, she was quite at a loss. She had Modesty enough to be afraid to expose herself to those who had known her in her Days of Innocence, or when Suspicion only hovered over her like a Cloud, which gave Offence to very few.
C H A P.
Chapter 8
Page 214
C H A P. VIII.
A sudden Transition from Solitude to the Love of Rambling.
IN this Dilemma, Lady Dellwyn thought a Tour to Paris might prove the most advisable Step. Summer was near approaching; London would be a Solitude to her; all Persons of Fashion would leave it; a retired Place, now the Scheme was over of imposing on the World by it, would be a dreary Desart to her; and the Whispers that instantly spread round a Room at any of the Summer Places of Resort, upon the Appearance of every new Person, she was sensible would be more dreadful to her, however gentle its Murmur, than the loudest Clap of Thunder. The delightful Sounds she
had
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had overheard spreading through a Company the Moment she graced any Assembly, such as, "The young and charming Countess of Dellwyn, whom her Lord married for her Beauty," she was certain she should now hear no more; but, in their Place, the Words Divorce, Lord Clermont, and many others equally displeasing to her Ears, would most probably be the Result of her Appearance; and all the Lenity the Compassionate could shew might be expressed in these Two Words, 'Tis Pity.
This sudden Thought was confirmed by Consideration. She hoped to find Amusement from Novelty, and at least, by a Variety of Objects, to enjoy the Pleasure of dear Dissipation ; and that her Charms might at Paris be spoken of without being accompanied with any Insinuations of her past Misconduct. Besides, she could not doubt but she shoud find a much better Reception at her Return to England, for
coming
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coming from a Place which, like Venus's Cestus , gives a Charm to every thing with which it is in any manner connected.
Lady Dellwyn was no sooner entirely fixed in this Resolution, than she began to prepare for the Execution of it with great Speed. The World was all before her, and she had no other Person's Consent but her own to consult. A Companion was necessary; and this in her Situation seemed most difficult. She found her own Infamy so great a Burden, that she would not have that of another to bear; and yet what Woman of Character would become a sort of Dependent on her Ladyship ? All her Vanity could not blind her so much, but that she perceived this was not easy to find; another of the happy Consequences of her bewildered Infatuations ! At last she recollected one, who had indeed a tolerable Reputation, but who held it on such precarious Terms,
that
Page 217
that she imagined she should not meet with a Repulse from her.
The Person to whom her Ladyship intended the Honour of being her Companion, was Miss Weare, a young Girl well born, with a Person agreeable, tho' not handsome, genteel in her Behaviour, and with Sense enough to render her Conversation pleasing, as she had acquired Politeness and Ease of Manners, by living a good deal in the World.
This young Person had been left at her Parents Death (both of whom she lost before she was Twenty-two Years old) with too small a Fortune to support her with any tolerable Convenience, much less like a Gentlewoman: But she had taken too strong an Attachment for genteel Life to endure the Thoughts of quitting it for a servile State; and therefore determined to spend the little she possessed in the same Rank she had hitherto held. She
V O L. II. L flattered
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flattered herself she might marry well before it was all expended; and if not, thought she should not be much more unhappy in Servitude without a few Hundred Pounds than with them.
As the World was pretty well acquainted with Miss Weare's Circumstances, her living so far above what her Fortune could with any degree of Prudence admit, inclined them to suspect, that either she had some private Assistance, or that she would not be backward to accept any. Curiosity found great Employment in the Neighbourhood where she lived, in making inquiries concerning her; and several Heads were often puzzled with deep Consultations about her. Tho' nothing was spoke out in plain Terms, yet much was signified by Shrugs, Gestures, and Innuendo's.
Thus Miss Weare's Reputation was equivocal; tho' her Conduct, as far as the Public could judge, was perfectly
5 decent.
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decent. And indeed she was entirely free from what she had given such apparent Cause to imagine; as many Gentlemen found, who had been encouraged by all these favourable Circumstances to propose Settlements to her. But this was a Secret between them and her. They did not chuse to confess they had made Offers which were not accepted; and she had too much Sense to think such Refusals did her Honour. Well she knew the World would judge,
He comes too far, who comes to be deny'd.
Most People would only have thought the Gentlemen too early or too sudden in their Application; for they would have believed, that a Woman whose Vanity could lead her into such sort of Imprudence, would be induced by it into others, when no other Alternative should be left her than that and Servitude.
L 2 This
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This young Woman Lady Dellwyn rightly judged would glady accept her Invitation to accompany her in so pleasurable a Scheme and accordingly her Ladyship's Letter, which contained such a Proposal, was received with great Joy. Miss Weare was far gone in her last Hundred Pounds, and no nearer being married than when she began upon the First. Her Conduct could not recommend her to a worthy Man; and, if any other liked her, they hoped to obtain her on easier Terms: Therefore she was never thought on in the Light of a Wife.
Miss Weare was sensible that her Character would suffer by appearing with Lady Dellwyn. She knew that the Reputations of more Women have suffered by keeping Conpany with the infamous Part of their own Sex, than from any real Guilt or Imprudence with the other: But, in short, very consistently with her first setting out in the World, she chose rather the Ven-
ture
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ture of blasting her Character, than the more disagreeable Alternative of relinquishing her Rank. This offered her a Prospect of living in Figure some time longer; and she flattered herself that France might possibly be more favourable to her Views than England.
Thus actuated, Miss Weare assured Lady Dellwyn of her joyful and thankful Acceptance of her Invitation; and that she would punctually wait on her Ladyship at the Time appointed.
The Hearts of both Ladies were too much engaged in this Scheme for either of them to be guilty of any Delay. They proceeded on their Journey together to Dover; and took their Farewel of England, with as many Reproaches to their poor Country, for Ingratitude to their Merits, as Camillus , or Coriolanus , or any other injured Hero, could vent against those who had unjustly banished him. The Weather favoured their Passage; and with as much
L 3 Joy
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Joy they landed on the French Shore, as ever Caesar did when flushed with the Prospect of Victory. They, as well as the Roman Hero, were in search of Conquests and Triumphs; and heartily saluted the Land which they imagined to be the Seat of Freedom, and every other pleasing Delight.
Our Ladies, who had no particular Call at Paris, nor indeed any-where else, but that of Pleasure, stopped whereever they saw any Prospect of Diversion, and were not sorry to improve their French before they arrived at the Metropolis. They both spoke it well ; but Practice only can give that Facility of Utterance which they wished to acquire, and which is very requisite to prevent the Loss of either real or imaginary bright Thoughts, amongst a People who themselves are never at a loss for some Phrase by which they can with great Quickness express their Meaning.
By
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By this Method the Journey took up a good deal of Time; which was not regretted by either of them, as they thought Time was a Commodity of no Consequence; and that it was well spent amongst the provincial Diversions; where Lady Dellwyn flattered herself, not without Reason, that she had spread the Fame of her Charms.
Miss Weare indeed had not the same Hopes of dazling her Beholders. Her Victories were to be gained by flower Degrees; but she thought her Chance improved in proportion to the Numbers she saw. She esteemed every Individual as a possible Prize in her Lottery; and as she wished to prolong their Jaunt, every Delay was agreeable.
At last however they reached Paris, which was the ultimate End of their whole Undertaking; and brought with them a Fluency of Speech sufficient to
L 4 vent
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vent with Speed all that they could possibly imagine would recommend them to that gay Nation.
Lady Dellwyn, during her Journey, recovered her former Beauty, which Vexation had in some measure impaired. The Admiration she read in every Eye restored her to the Vivacity which had always heightened her Charms ; and as it had never proceeded from Thought, it is not strange that Thought should not have suppressed it. What her Complexion wanted of its former Lustre, she supplied by Art; which was so general a Custom in that Country, that it is very dubious whether or no she would have resisted falling into the Pracice of it, had she been at Paris at the Time when the Bloom of her Complexion could have been but faintly imitated by any Art whatever.
Our fair Travellers were too industrious in equipping themselves with
every
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every thing necessary for a splendid Appearance, to be long before they exhi- bited themselves in public. Lady Dellwyn had been in some Doubt, whether to assume a feigned Name, or continue to use the Title which Courtesy gave her, after she had ceased to have any real Claim to it. If she took one of equal Dignity, she feared Disgrace from the Discovery of its Falsehood; if she wore that which really belonged to her, and became once more Miss Lucum, it was returning to her plebeian State. O what a falling-off was there ! How few could endure to sink into an original Obscurity? It would be almost as bad as Annihilation; for to annihilate Rank, is almost as shocking to those who have but newly acquired it, as to annihilate their Existence; and Lady Dellwyn had paid too great a Price to intitle herself to be a Right Honourable, to support the Thought of such a short lived Continuance. It is true,
L5 by
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by bearing her maiden Name she might avoid a great deal of the Danger of having her Actions known; for Infamy might follow Lady Dellwyn across wider Seas than the Engish Channel. The Breath of Rumour reaches Lengths that are astonishing.
A serious Consultation on this most important Subject was held between the Two Ladies: But it was at last agreed, that some Part of her Ladyship's History might be drowned in the Passage; and that a Countess, with half a Reputation, would meet with a more favourable Reception in the Metropolis of many Kingdoms, as well as in that of France, than a plain Gentle woman, of Virtue more unblemished than Lucretia's. Nay, Diana herself, if she appeared in the World without being dignified by a Title, would run a great Hazard of being flared out of Countenance by some Demi-Rep of Quality.
This
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This great Affair being decided, the Title of Lady Dellwyn was used as lavishly as most things are to which People have no just Claim, to the equal Satisfaction of both the Ladies; for Miss Weare would have thought it hard, if, while she was hazarding her Reputation, she could not have enjoyed the Pleasure of addressing herself in the Words Your Ladyship, and of shewing to others that she accompanied Dignity, if she was not so fortunate as to have any of her own.
The Success proved the Decision was founded on just Principles ; for, as Lady Dellwyn's first Appearance excited general Admiration, when her Rank was published, all the Respect that was due to it was shewn her; and very fortunately her Story had not reached Paris. She had never appeared as Lady Dellwyn but at her Lord's solitary Castle, and at Bristol. Her Divorce followed her Marriage so quickly, that there had not been In-
L 6 terval
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terval enough for her to be known out of the Kingdom wherein she lived. She passed at Paris for a Widow; for with Truth she gave out, that she had lost her Lord; and his own Age and Infirmities confined him within so narrow a Sphere of Action, as rendered him little talked of abroad.
La belle Angloise, and la belle Veuve , soon became Names as much appropriated to her as that of Countess of Dellwyn, and were the only ones she could hear with Pleasure substituted in its Place.
Lady Dellwyn was entirely of the same Opinion with Comus , that
Beauty is Nature's Brag, and should be
shewn
At Courts, at Feasts, and high Solemnities,
Where most may wonder at the Workmanship;
8 and
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and therefore was very assiduous in doing her Duty, by frequenting every Place of public Amusement. But as Pleasure is the universal Profession of the Young, she and her Companion herein gave no Offence, nor yet in their Behaviour. The allowed Gaiety of the Place was all they desired ; and they rather kept within the general Bounds than exceeded them; so that no Whisper was uttered to their Disadvantage.
Lady Dellwyn was the richer for the Time she had passed in her Retirement; as, while she was mimicking Grief and Penitence, she could not possibly spend her Income without detecting herself, unless she had given it away, which happened never to occur to her Thoughts: So that she appeared in Equipage and Attendants equal to her Rank; and few English who go to Paris are qualified to be so agreeable there, as these Ladies were rendered by their natural Vivacity, and their Knowlege in the Language. The
Ignorance
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Ignorance of which must certainly be the Reason why so many of the English go into France, and return again, having only connected themselves there with English, as if their only Curiosity in going thither had been, to see whether there is any Difference in their own Countrymen in another Nation from what they are when at home.
These Advantages introduced the fair Travellers into the best Company, and made them acceptable even to the Ladies: Tho' the Countess eclipsed them all in Beauty; and, having the additional Charm of Novelty, and being a Stranger, occasioned many to Sigh after perfidious Lovers.
Lady Dellwyn was soon followed by a large Train of Admirers; nor was Miss Weare entirely destitute; tho' she appeared placed in the Rear, in order to pick up the Stragglers, and be rather the Receiver of Compliments,
than
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than the Person to whom they were paid as her due.
Lady Dellwyn's Beauty gave a gallant Turn of Mind and Conversation to all who were within Sight of her; and when they could not get near enough to impart it to her Ladyship; the Benefit naturally fell on the next Person. But hereby Miss Weare became possessed of so large a Share of Flattery, that, if she attributed but one Quarter of it as due to her own Charms, she had more than the utmost Ambition of a voluntary humble Companion could possibly hope for. I say voluntary; because those Persons, who, by any unfortunate Combination of Circumstances, are forced into that State, are generally too much oppressed in Mind to have any other Ambition, or even Wish, than to be delivered from their Bondage.
She shone by Reflexion; and tho' the Moon is dim when compared with
the
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the Origin of its Light, the Sun; yet if we consider it simply by itself, we admire its benign Lustre. This was the Case with Miss Weare; many were attracted by her gentle Influence, who had not
Courage sufficient to address Lady Dellwyn ; and, rather than be without any Flattery at all, she was ready to receive it at second-hand, or in any manner she could come at it.
CHAP.
C H A P. VIII.
A sudden Transition from Solitude to the Love of Rambling.
IN this Dilemma, Lady Dellwyn thought a Tour to Paris might prove the most advisable Step. Summer was near approaching; London would be a Solitude to her; all Persons of Fashion would leave it; a retired Place, now the Scheme was over of imposing on the World by it, would be a dreary Desart to her; and the Whispers that instantly spread round a Room at any of the Summer Places of Resort, upon the Appearance of every new Person, she was sensible would be more dreadful to her, however gentle its Murmur, than the loudest Clap of Thunder. The delightful Sounds she
had
Page 215
had overheard spreading through a Company the Moment she graced any Assembly, such as, "The young and charming Countess of Dellwyn, whom her Lord married for her Beauty," she was certain she should now hear no more; but, in their Place, the Words Divorce, Lord Clermont, and many others equally displeasing to her Ears, would most probably be the Result of her Appearance; and all the Lenity the Compassionate could shew might be expressed in these Two Words, 'Tis Pity.
This sudden Thought was confirmed by Consideration. She hoped to find Amusement from Novelty, and at least, by a Variety of Objects, to enjoy the Pleasure of dear Dissipation ; and that her Charms might at Paris be spoken of without being accompanied with any Insinuations of her past Misconduct. Besides, she could not doubt but she shoud find a much better Reception at her Return to England, for
coming
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coming from a Place which, like Venus's Cestus , gives a Charm to every thing with which it is in any manner connected.
Lady Dellwyn was no sooner entirely fixed in this Resolution, than she began to prepare for the Execution of it with great Speed. The World was all before her, and she had no other Person's Consent but her own to consult. A Companion was necessary; and this in her Situation seemed most difficult. She found her own Infamy so great a Burden, that she would not have that of another to bear; and yet what Woman of Character would become a sort of Dependent on her Ladyship ? All her Vanity could not blind her so much, but that she perceived this was not easy to find; another of the happy Consequences of her bewildered Infatuations ! At last she recollected one, who had indeed a tolerable Reputation, but who held it on such precarious Terms,
that
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that she imagined she should not meet with a Repulse from her.
The Person to whom her Ladyship intended the Honour of being her Companion, was Miss Weare, a young Girl well born, with a Person agreeable, tho' not handsome, genteel in her Behaviour, and with Sense enough to render her Conversation pleasing, as she had acquired Politeness and Ease of Manners, by living a good deal in the World.
This young Person had been left at her Parents Death (both of whom she lost before she was Twenty-two Years old) with too small a Fortune to support her with any tolerable Convenience, much less like a Gentlewoman: But she had taken too strong an Attachment for genteel Life to endure the Thoughts of quitting it for a servile State; and therefore determined to spend the little she possessed in the same Rank she had hitherto held. She
V O L. II. L flattered
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flattered herself she might marry well before it was all expended; and if not, thought she should not be much more unhappy in Servitude without a few Hundred Pounds than with them.
As the World was pretty well acquainted with Miss Weare's Circumstances, her living so far above what her Fortune could with any degree of Prudence admit, inclined them to suspect, that either she had some private Assistance, or that she would not be backward to accept any. Curiosity found great Employment in the Neighbourhood where she lived, in making inquiries concerning her; and several Heads were often puzzled with deep Consultations about her. Tho' nothing was spoke out in plain Terms, yet much was signified by Shrugs, Gestures, and Innuendo's.
Thus Miss Weare's Reputation was equivocal; tho' her Conduct, as far as the Public could judge, was perfectly
5 decent.
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decent. And indeed she was entirely free from what she had given such apparent Cause to imagine; as many Gentlemen found, who had been encouraged by all these favourable Circumstances to propose Settlements to her. But this was a Secret between them and her. They did not chuse to confess they had made Offers which were not accepted; and she had too much Sense to think such Refusals did her Honour. Well she knew the World would judge,
He comes too far, who comes to be deny'd.
Most People would only have thought the Gentlemen too early or too sudden in their Application; for they would have believed, that a Woman whose Vanity could lead her into such sort of Imprudence, would be induced by it into others, when no other Alternative should be left her than that and Servitude.
L 2 This
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This young Woman Lady Dellwyn rightly judged would glady accept her Invitation to accompany her in so pleasurable a Scheme and accordingly her Ladyship's Letter, which contained such a Proposal, was received with great Joy. Miss Weare was far gone in her last Hundred Pounds, and no nearer being married than when she began upon the First. Her Conduct could not recommend her to a worthy Man; and, if any other liked her, they hoped to obtain her on easier Terms: Therefore she was never thought on in the Light of a Wife.
Miss Weare was sensible that her Character would suffer by appearing with Lady Dellwyn. She knew that the Reputations of more Women have suffered by keeping Conpany with the infamous Part of their own Sex, than from any real Guilt or Imprudence with the other: But, in short, very consistently with her first setting out in the World, she chose rather the Ven-
ture
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ture of blasting her Character, than the more disagreeable Alternative of relinquishing her Rank. This offered her a Prospect of living in Figure some time longer; and she flattered herself that France might possibly be more favourable to her Views than England.
Thus actuated, Miss Weare assured Lady Dellwyn of her joyful and thankful Acceptance of her Invitation; and that she would punctually wait on her Ladyship at the Time appointed.
The Hearts of both Ladies were too much engaged in this Scheme for either of them to be guilty of any Delay. They proceeded on their Journey together to Dover; and took their Farewel of England, with as many Reproaches to their poor Country, for Ingratitude to their Merits, as Camillus , or Coriolanus , or any other injured Hero, could vent against those who had unjustly banished him. The Weather favoured their Passage; and with as much
L 3 Joy
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Joy they landed on the French Shore, as ever Caesar did when flushed with the Prospect of Victory. They, as well as the Roman Hero, were in search of Conquests and Triumphs; and heartily saluted the Land which they imagined to be the Seat of Freedom, and every other pleasing Delight.
Our Ladies, who had no particular Call at Paris, nor indeed any-where else, but that of Pleasure, stopped whereever they saw any Prospect of Diversion, and were not sorry to improve their French before they arrived at the Metropolis. They both spoke it well ; but Practice only can give that Facility of Utterance which they wished to acquire, and which is very requisite to prevent the Loss of either real or imaginary bright Thoughts, amongst a People who themselves are never at a loss for some Phrase by which they can with great Quickness express their Meaning.
By
Page 223
By this Method the Journey took up a good deal of Time; which was not regretted by either of them, as they thought Time was a Commodity of no Consequence; and that it was well spent amongst the provincial Diversions; where Lady Dellwyn flattered herself, not without Reason, that she had spread the Fame of her Charms.
Miss Weare indeed had not the same Hopes of dazling her Beholders. Her Victories were to be gained by flower Degrees; but she thought her Chance improved in proportion to the Numbers she saw. She esteemed every Individual as a possible Prize in her Lottery; and as she wished to prolong their Jaunt, every Delay was agreeable.
At last however they reached Paris, which was the ultimate End of their whole Undertaking; and brought with them a Fluency of Speech sufficient to
L 4 vent
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vent with Speed all that they could possibly imagine would recommend them to that gay Nation.
Lady Dellwyn, during her Journey, recovered her former Beauty, which Vexation had in some measure impaired. The Admiration she read in every Eye restored her to the Vivacity which had always heightened her Charms ; and as it had never proceeded from Thought, it is not strange that Thought should not have suppressed it. What her Complexion wanted of its former Lustre, she supplied by Art; which was so general a Custom in that Country, that it is very dubious whether or no she would have resisted falling into the Pracice of it, had she been at Paris at the Time when the Bloom of her Complexion could have been but faintly imitated by any Art whatever.
Our fair Travellers were too industrious in equipping themselves with
every
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every thing necessary for a splendid Appearance, to be long before they exhi- bited themselves in public. Lady Dellwyn had been in some Doubt, whether to assume a feigned Name, or continue to use the Title which Courtesy gave her, after she had ceased to have any real Claim to it. If she took one of equal Dignity, she feared Disgrace from the Discovery of its Falsehood; if she wore that which really belonged to her, and became once more Miss Lucum, it was returning to her plebeian State. O what a falling-off was there ! How few could endure to sink into an original Obscurity? It would be almost as bad as Annihilation; for to annihilate Rank, is almost as shocking to those who have but newly acquired it, as to annihilate their Existence; and Lady Dellwyn had paid too great a Price to intitle herself to be a Right Honourable, to support the Thought of such a short lived Continuance. It is true,
L5 by
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by bearing her maiden Name she might avoid a great deal of the Danger of having her Actions known; for Infamy might follow Lady Dellwyn across wider Seas than the Engish Channel. The Breath of Rumour reaches Lengths that are astonishing.
A serious Consultation on this most important Subject was held between the Two Ladies: But it was at last agreed, that some Part of her Ladyship's History might be drowned in the Passage; and that a Countess, with half a Reputation, would meet with a more favourable Reception in the Metropolis of many Kingdoms, as well as in that of France, than a plain Gentle woman, of Virtue more unblemished than Lucretia's. Nay, Diana herself, if she appeared in the World without being dignified by a Title, would run a great Hazard of being flared out of Countenance by some Demi-Rep of Quality.
This
Page 227
This great Affair being decided, the Title of Lady Dellwyn was used as lavishly as most things are to which People have no just Claim, to the equal Satisfaction of both the Ladies; for Miss Weare would have thought it hard, if, while she was hazarding her Reputation, she could not have enjoyed the Pleasure of addressing herself in the Words Your Ladyship, and of shewing to others that she accompanied Dignity, if she was not so fortunate as to have any of her own.
The Success proved the Decision was founded on just Principles ; for, as Lady Dellwyn's first Appearance excited general Admiration, when her Rank was published, all the Respect that was due to it was shewn her; and very fortunately her Story had not reached Paris. She had never appeared as Lady Dellwyn but at her Lord's solitary Castle, and at Bristol. Her Divorce followed her Marriage so quickly, that there had not been In-
L 6 terval
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terval enough for her to be known out of the Kingdom wherein she lived. She passed at Paris for a Widow; for with Truth she gave out, that she had lost her Lord; and his own Age and Infirmities confined him within so narrow a Sphere of Action, as rendered him little talked of abroad.
La belle Angloise, and la belle Veuve , soon became Names as much appropriated to her as that of Countess of Dellwyn, and were the only ones she could hear with Pleasure substituted in its Place.
Lady Dellwyn was entirely of the same Opinion with Comus , that
Beauty is Nature's Brag, and should be
shewn
At Courts, at Feasts, and high Solemnities,
Where most may wonder at the Workmanship;
8 and
Page 229
and therefore was very assiduous in doing her Duty, by frequenting every Place of public Amusement. But as Pleasure is the universal Profession of the Young, she and her Companion herein gave no Offence, nor yet in their Behaviour. The allowed Gaiety of the Place was all they desired ; and they rather kept within the general Bounds than exceeded them; so that no Whisper was uttered to their Disadvantage.
Lady Dellwyn was the richer for the Time she had passed in her Retirement; as, while she was mimicking Grief and Penitence, she could not possibly spend her Income without detecting herself, unless she had given it away, which happened never to occur to her Thoughts: So that she appeared in Equipage and Attendants equal to her Rank; and few English who go to Paris are qualified to be so agreeable there, as these Ladies were rendered by their natural Vivacity, and their Knowlege in the Language. The
Ignorance
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Ignorance of which must certainly be the Reason why so many of the English go into France, and return again, having only connected themselves there with English, as if their only Curiosity in going thither had been, to see whether there is any Difference in their own Countrymen in another Nation from what they are when at home.
These Advantages introduced the fair Travellers into the best Company, and made them acceptable even to the Ladies: Tho' the Countess eclipsed them all in Beauty; and, having the additional Charm of Novelty, and being a Stranger, occasioned many to Sigh after perfidious Lovers.
Lady Dellwyn was soon followed by a large Train of Admirers; nor was Miss Weare entirely destitute; tho' she appeared placed in the Rear, in order to pick up the Stragglers, and be rather the Receiver of Compliments,
than
Page 231
than the Person to whom they were paid as her due.
Lady Dellwyn's Beauty gave a gallant Turn of Mind and Conversation to all who were within Sight of her; and when they could not get near enough to impart it to her Ladyship; the Benefit naturally fell on the next Person. But hereby Miss Weare became possessed of so large a Share of Flattery, that, if she attributed but one Quarter of it as due to her own Charms, she had more than the utmost Ambition of a voluntary humble Companion could possibly hope for. I say voluntary; because those Persons, who, by any unfortunate Combination of Circumstances, are forced into that State, are generally too much oppressed in Mind to have any other Ambition, or even Wish, than to be delivered from their Bondage.
She shone by Reflexion; and tho' the Moon is dim when compared with
the
Page 232
the Origin of its Light, the Sun; yet if we consider it simply by itself, we admire its benign Lustre. This was the Case with Miss Weare; many were attracted by her gentle Influence, who had not
Courage sufficient to address Lady Dellwyn ; and, rather than be without any Flattery at all, she was ready to receive it at second-hand, or in any manner she could come at it.
CHAP.
Chapter 9
C H A P. IX.
Lady Dellwyn prevails on herself to believe that she is in Love.
THE greatest Number of Lady Dellwyn's Admirers, were such as followed her to shew, not to gratify, their Taste; as happens in all fashionable Pursuits. But one Gentleman, Monsieur D’Orville by Name, a young Man of considerable Rank, and amiable in Person and Manner, was more seriously attached. His greatest Fault was an Impetuosity of Temper: His Passions were strong; he had habituated himself to indulge the Bent of his own Disposition, and therefore never attempted to controul himself in any Wish of his Heart.
Lady
Page 234
Lady Dellwyn did not quarrel with this Disposition in Monsieur D’Orville; for she attributed it all to his Love; and, for the first Time, began to entertain some Suspicions that she had a Heart to bestow; not that she was actuated by that romantic Passion which creates Indifference to every other Object, and makes all Happiness to consist in pleasing the beloved Person, only overstraining Delicacy so much as to feel it almost a Crime to charm any other.
Monsieur D'Orvile, by the Warmth of his Addresses, shewed Lady Dellwyn, as in a Glass, the great Power of her own Charms to inspire the most violent Passion, and this at a Time when the great Mortifications she had suffered rendered such a Cordial more particularly pleasing. She might with more Propriety be laid to have a small Degree of Partiality to Monsieur D'Orville, than to love him. Like Miss Biddy, she loved him the best of them all; for, " like the Sun, she shone on
all.
Page 235
all alike." She loved as a Coquet might love: Nothing gave her so much Pleasure as Monsieur D’Orville's Conversation, except general Admiration.
Those who have affirmed that Love will conquer all things, should have considered that there is no Rule without an Exception; for Vanity is not to be so baffled, and still claims the Honour of being unconquerable.
Love hath taught an Hercules to spin, hath made an ambitious Man resign the Sweets of Empire, hath tamed the Fierce, changed Wisdom into Folly, Virtue into Vice, and sometimes Vice into Virtue; but Vanity into Humility is a Metamorphosis it never made.
Monsieur D’Orville could have wished Lady Dellwyn as violently enamoured as himself: But, as that was beyond his Hopes, he was as contented as a Lover can be, with perceiving she
preferred
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preferred him to her whole Train of Admirers; and his Vanity, or his Inclination that it should be so, persuaded him the Preference was still greater than it appeared. He had lived in the Land of Coquetry, and was ignorant that any Lover could be so unreasonable as to fay to his Mistress,
Be mine, and only mine; take care
Your very Thoughts and Looks to guide;
Nor go so far
As liking any Youth beside.
This was an impertinent Request, ill-suited to French Politeness. And so far are we influenced by the Custom of the Country we live in, that it not only directs the Form of our Head-dresses, and the Cut of our Clothes; but even shapes our Passions, till they are as unlike those of another Nation, as the Circumstances which seem most subservient to Fashion. The original Seeds of the human Passions are indeed the same; but they are as variously modi-
fied
Page 237
fied by different Climates and Customs, as the Fruits of the Earth are. Thus Spanish Love differs more from that Passion in France, than the Dress of the one Kingdom doth from that of the other; and true English Love varies as much from what is so called in both those Nations, as they do from one another.
Monsieus D’Orville saw nothing in Lady Dellwyn's Conduct to deter him from seeking in Marriage that Happiness, which his Passion was lavish in promising him that he should find in the Indulgence of it ; but a Lady who had been the Object of his Gallantry rather than of his Love, before the Countetss of Dellwyn had appeared in Paris, made a more exact Scrutiny. And it is not strange, if Jealousy, which can magnify the smallest Objects into a giant-like Bulk, and even see what is not visible, should find out Truths so well known as Lady Dellwyn's former Behaviour. This Lady having Friends
in
Page 238
in England, no sooner was piqued by Monsieur D’Orville's Neglect, than she wrote to them to inquire who this impertinent Countess was.
Such Curiosity could not fail of being easily gratified. Lady Dellwyn was not so fortunate as to have her Name already buried in Oblivion. A full Account of her was thus transmitted into France, and put into such good Hands, that it was in no Danger of being hid. The first Person whom she acquainted with it was Monsieur D'Orville himself, flattering herself that she should enjoy great Pleasure from his Confusion: But, to her great Disappointment, he treated it all as the Invention of Malice and Envy. His good Opinion of Lady Dellwyn was founded on the great Amiableness of her Person and Conversation; and he had not accustomed himself constantly to give way to every Passion and Imagination that was uppermost to so very little Effect, as to suffer a Legion of Evidence
to
Page 239
to convince him of any Fact against the whole Force and Bent of his Inclinations.
This ill Success did not discourage the Lady. She could not fear finding a Lover's Incredulity in most of her Hearers, especially as she was resolved to impart it chiefly to her own Sex, who she was sure would listen with willing Ears, many having received the same Cause of Offence with herself; and the others, who sympathised with Lady Dellwyn, in flaking their Happiness on the Breath of Flattery, thinking themselves sufficiently injured by any Woman who so entirely eclipsed them.
Such Ladies, as they had now obtained the Knowlege of such Facts as could depreciate Lady Dellwyn, were lavish in the Praises of her Beauty, and extolling her Charms: But when they thought they had by this means sufficiently baffled the Suspicion of Envy,
the
Page 240
the purposed End appeared. The Words, But 'tis Pity, were ready for Utterance; and many Shakings of the Head, and Gestures of Sorrow, introduced the whole History of her erroneous Conduct.
Thus, by Female Industry, Lady Dellwyn's History soon became a general Topic; and was implicitly believed by every Woman who was not so happy as to escape the painful Stings of Envy. But amongst the Men it had a different Effect. Some gave no Credit to it; others looked upon it as a Recommendation, and therefore received it as a Truth, indulging Hopes by that means which they had never hitherto seen any Reason to cherish.
It was difficult to trace from what Hands the Story first came; for the Lady who imported it chose to conceal her having done so, lest the true Reason should be suspected. The Authority therefore was doubtful; and every
one
Page 241
one thought himself at liberty to believe or disbelieve it, as best suited his Inclinations.
Monsieur D’Orville was most incredulous, in proportion as he was most seriously enamoured; and his Assiduities rather increased than abated, as some Reparation for a Scandal of which he thought himself in a degree the Cause, by his Infidelity to the Lady whom he suspected to be its original Inventor.
Lady Dellwyn was not ignorant of the Reports to her Disadvantage; and was sensible the Truth, when once surmised, must in a short Time be confirmed. The Triumph of her Vanity she plainly perceived must soon have an End; and, from being the Object of Admiration or Envy of all who beheld her, she should become the Subject of general Contempt. In this Situation she was perplexed what Part she should act. Sometimes she thought it would be best to leave the Kingdom,
VOL. II. M before
Page 242
before she received any of the Mortification which seemed so imminently to threaten her: But then, to what Place could she go, where Shame would not pursue her!
In this Dilemma there was one Circumstance which had great Weight towards detaining her Ladyship in France. To leave Monseius D’Orville, was to quit the Man whom she thought more amiable than any other had ever appeared to her. She had no Doubt but Marriage was his View; a Prospect which flattered both her Love and her Vanity. She hoped to bury all her Misconduct in this Change of Name; and that the Faults of Lady Dellwyn might be forgiven Madam D'Orville, as she was resolved never again to give the least Occasion for Censure.
Lady Dellwyn had, it is true, a natural Aversion to Deceit. But whatever may be said of Misfortunes, it is certain that Crimes seldom come alone
and
Page 243
and there is scarcely any wrong Action which doth not lead to a Deviation from Truth in many Instances.
Reduced as Lady Dellwyn was, it would have been difficult for her not to have caught at any Means that seemed to offer her an Asylum from Contempt, or at least from public Neglect. And how was it probable, that a Woman should relinquish so flattering a Prospect, rather than be guilty of Deceit, when she had before violated both her Honor and the most solemn Vows? She hoped Monsieur D’Orville's Love would plead for her Forgiveness, more effectually than any Arguments she should have to urge in her Defence, when he should come to the certain Knowlege of her Character; and blinded herself with a vain Plea, that Justice obliged no one to condemn themselves; not considering, that in this Cafe Generosity should weigh more than the scanty Justice which is the only Foundation of that Assertion.
M2 While
Page 244
While the Lovers were so well disposed to enter into a lasting Union, the Lady whose Views had been so cruelly frustrated by the Violence of Monsieur D’Orville's Passion for the Lady of whom he was enamoured, took a surer Method of Success, by writing to his Father, to inform him what Infamy his Son was in danger of bringing on himself.
Monsieur D’Orville had acquainted his Father with his Passion, and been more circumstantial in describing the Lady's Rank and Fortune than her Beauty; knowing those were Particulars to which he would be most sensible.
The old Gentleman, with all the Circumspection of one on whom Age hath laid its frozen Hand, exhorted his Son to be very cautious and certain of her Estate, before he engaged too far to retreat; and referred him to a Person of Business, who was well able to make the Inquiry; and if it answered
his
Page 245
his Expectations, and the Lady consented to accept him, he would come to Paris, and do a Father's Part.
This Answer might have satisfied a colder Lover: But Inquiries that might be Months before they brought Satisfaction, were but ill-suited to the Vehemence of Monsieur D’Orville's Passions. He had not indeed expressed all his Impatience to his Father, fearing to excite in him Apprehensions of being too strongly prepossessed in the Lady's Favour, to be sufficiently cautious in his Proceedings concerning what the old Gentleman would think more essential than all the Charms that ever adorned the whole Sex.
Another Circumstance rendered this Advice still more unacceptable; for, before Monsieur D’Orville received it, he had perceived that the Rumours to Lady Dellwyn's Disadvantage began to spread; and he was sensible, that, if they reached his Father's Ears, the
M 3 old
Page 246
old Gentleman, who had no Warmth left in his Temper, but where the Honour of his Family was concerned, would put an absolute Negative on all his most ardent Hopes. This threatening Circumstance made him resolve to compleat the Union without waiting the Result of any farther Transactions with his Father. It was not customary with him to imagine it possible for him to outlive the contradicting any earnest Pursuit, on which he had fixed his Inclinations. He never suffered himself to have any Experience on that Side of the Question, having always used his utmost Endeavours to indulge his utmost Wishes; and therefore judged, perhaps rightly, that it would be easier to obtain his Father's Forgiveness for a rash Action before; than after he should have received his positive Commands to the contrary.
Tho' 'Monsieur D’Orville had, thro' the Medium of his Inclinations, closely shut up every Passage of his Mind from
the
Page 247
the Admittance of any evil Belief concerning Lady Dellwyn;. yet he would have been glad to have heard what she would say on the Subject. But that Respect which always attends true Love, deprived him of Courage to signify such his Desire to her; and she esteemed it more prudent not to mention what she could so ill deny; and chose therefore to appear entirely ignorant that any Report concerning herself was propagated; but the Fear of its being confirmed, rendered her as ready to comply, as he was earnest in soliciting her Hand.
Persons so well disposed, and actuated by such mutual Sympathy, were not likely to take much Time for adjusting Preliminaries: Two Days were thought sufficient for the necessary Preparations; and therefore the Completion of their Wishes was not fixed at a great Distance.
M4 CHAP.
Lady Dellwyn prevails on herself to believe that she is in Love.
THE greatest Number of Lady Dellwyn's Admirers, were such as followed her to shew, not to gratify, their Taste; as happens in all fashionable Pursuits. But one Gentleman, Monsieur D’Orville by Name, a young Man of considerable Rank, and amiable in Person and Manner, was more seriously attached. His greatest Fault was an Impetuosity of Temper: His Passions were strong; he had habituated himself to indulge the Bent of his own Disposition, and therefore never attempted to controul himself in any Wish of his Heart.
Lady
Page 234
Lady Dellwyn did not quarrel with this Disposition in Monsieur D’Orville; for she attributed it all to his Love; and, for the first Time, began to entertain some Suspicions that she had a Heart to bestow; not that she was actuated by that romantic Passion which creates Indifference to every other Object, and makes all Happiness to consist in pleasing the beloved Person, only overstraining Delicacy so much as to feel it almost a Crime to charm any other.
Monsieur D'Orvile, by the Warmth of his Addresses, shewed Lady Dellwyn, as in a Glass, the great Power of her own Charms to inspire the most violent Passion, and this at a Time when the great Mortifications she had suffered rendered such a Cordial more particularly pleasing. She might with more Propriety be laid to have a small Degree of Partiality to Monsieur D'Orville, than to love him. Like Miss Biddy, she loved him the best of them all; for, " like the Sun, she shone on
all.
Page 235
all alike." She loved as a Coquet might love: Nothing gave her so much Pleasure as Monsieur D’Orville's Conversation, except general Admiration.
Those who have affirmed that Love will conquer all things, should have considered that there is no Rule without an Exception; for Vanity is not to be so baffled, and still claims the Honour of being unconquerable.
Love hath taught an Hercules to spin, hath made an ambitious Man resign the Sweets of Empire, hath tamed the Fierce, changed Wisdom into Folly, Virtue into Vice, and sometimes Vice into Virtue; but Vanity into Humility is a Metamorphosis it never made.
Monsieur D’Orville could have wished Lady Dellwyn as violently enamoured as himself: But, as that was beyond his Hopes, he was as contented as a Lover can be, with perceiving she
preferred
Page 236
preferred him to her whole Train of Admirers; and his Vanity, or his Inclination that it should be so, persuaded him the Preference was still greater than it appeared. He had lived in the Land of Coquetry, and was ignorant that any Lover could be so unreasonable as to fay to his Mistress,
Be mine, and only mine; take care
Your very Thoughts and Looks to guide;
Nor go so far
As liking any Youth beside.
This was an impertinent Request, ill-suited to French Politeness. And so far are we influenced by the Custom of the Country we live in, that it not only directs the Form of our Head-dresses, and the Cut of our Clothes; but even shapes our Passions, till they are as unlike those of another Nation, as the Circumstances which seem most subservient to Fashion. The original Seeds of the human Passions are indeed the same; but they are as variously modi-
fied
Page 237
fied by different Climates and Customs, as the Fruits of the Earth are. Thus Spanish Love differs more from that Passion in France, than the Dress of the one Kingdom doth from that of the other; and true English Love varies as much from what is so called in both those Nations, as they do from one another.
Monsieus D’Orville saw nothing in Lady Dellwyn's Conduct to deter him from seeking in Marriage that Happiness, which his Passion was lavish in promising him that he should find in the Indulgence of it ; but a Lady who had been the Object of his Gallantry rather than of his Love, before the Countetss of Dellwyn had appeared in Paris, made a more exact Scrutiny. And it is not strange, if Jealousy, which can magnify the smallest Objects into a giant-like Bulk, and even see what is not visible, should find out Truths so well known as Lady Dellwyn's former Behaviour. This Lady having Friends
in
Page 238
in England, no sooner was piqued by Monsieur D’Orville's Neglect, than she wrote to them to inquire who this impertinent Countess was.
Such Curiosity could not fail of being easily gratified. Lady Dellwyn was not so fortunate as to have her Name already buried in Oblivion. A full Account of her was thus transmitted into France, and put into such good Hands, that it was in no Danger of being hid. The first Person whom she acquainted with it was Monsieur D'Orville himself, flattering herself that she should enjoy great Pleasure from his Confusion: But, to her great Disappointment, he treated it all as the Invention of Malice and Envy. His good Opinion of Lady Dellwyn was founded on the great Amiableness of her Person and Conversation; and he had not accustomed himself constantly to give way to every Passion and Imagination that was uppermost to so very little Effect, as to suffer a Legion of Evidence
to
Page 239
to convince him of any Fact against the whole Force and Bent of his Inclinations.
This ill Success did not discourage the Lady. She could not fear finding a Lover's Incredulity in most of her Hearers, especially as she was resolved to impart it chiefly to her own Sex, who she was sure would listen with willing Ears, many having received the same Cause of Offence with herself; and the others, who sympathised with Lady Dellwyn, in flaking their Happiness on the Breath of Flattery, thinking themselves sufficiently injured by any Woman who so entirely eclipsed them.
Such Ladies, as they had now obtained the Knowlege of such Facts as could depreciate Lady Dellwyn, were lavish in the Praises of her Beauty, and extolling her Charms: But when they thought they had by this means sufficiently baffled the Suspicion of Envy,
the
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the purposed End appeared. The Words, But 'tis Pity, were ready for Utterance; and many Shakings of the Head, and Gestures of Sorrow, introduced the whole History of her erroneous Conduct.
Thus, by Female Industry, Lady Dellwyn's History soon became a general Topic; and was implicitly believed by every Woman who was not so happy as to escape the painful Stings of Envy. But amongst the Men it had a different Effect. Some gave no Credit to it; others looked upon it as a Recommendation, and therefore received it as a Truth, indulging Hopes by that means which they had never hitherto seen any Reason to cherish.
It was difficult to trace from what Hands the Story first came; for the Lady who imported it chose to conceal her having done so, lest the true Reason should be suspected. The Authority therefore was doubtful; and every
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one thought himself at liberty to believe or disbelieve it, as best suited his Inclinations.
Monsieur D’Orville was most incredulous, in proportion as he was most seriously enamoured; and his Assiduities rather increased than abated, as some Reparation for a Scandal of which he thought himself in a degree the Cause, by his Infidelity to the Lady whom he suspected to be its original Inventor.
Lady Dellwyn was not ignorant of the Reports to her Disadvantage; and was sensible the Truth, when once surmised, must in a short Time be confirmed. The Triumph of her Vanity she plainly perceived must soon have an End; and, from being the Object of Admiration or Envy of all who beheld her, she should become the Subject of general Contempt. In this Situation she was perplexed what Part she should act. Sometimes she thought it would be best to leave the Kingdom,
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before she received any of the Mortification which seemed so imminently to threaten her: But then, to what Place could she go, where Shame would not pursue her!
In this Dilemma there was one Circumstance which had great Weight towards detaining her Ladyship in France. To leave Monseius D’Orville, was to quit the Man whom she thought more amiable than any other had ever appeared to her. She had no Doubt but Marriage was his View; a Prospect which flattered both her Love and her Vanity. She hoped to bury all her Misconduct in this Change of Name; and that the Faults of Lady Dellwyn might be forgiven Madam D'Orville, as she was resolved never again to give the least Occasion for Censure.
Lady Dellwyn had, it is true, a natural Aversion to Deceit. But whatever may be said of Misfortunes, it is certain that Crimes seldom come alone
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and there is scarcely any wrong Action which doth not lead to a Deviation from Truth in many Instances.
Reduced as Lady Dellwyn was, it would have been difficult for her not to have caught at any Means that seemed to offer her an Asylum from Contempt, or at least from public Neglect. And how was it probable, that a Woman should relinquish so flattering a Prospect, rather than be guilty of Deceit, when she had before violated both her Honor and the most solemn Vows? She hoped Monsieur D’Orville's Love would plead for her Forgiveness, more effectually than any Arguments she should have to urge in her Defence, when he should come to the certain Knowlege of her Character; and blinded herself with a vain Plea, that Justice obliged no one to condemn themselves; not considering, that in this Cafe Generosity should weigh more than the scanty Justice which is the only Foundation of that Assertion.
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While the Lovers were so well disposed to enter into a lasting Union, the Lady whose Views had been so cruelly frustrated by the Violence of Monsieur D’Orville's Passion for the Lady of whom he was enamoured, took a surer Method of Success, by writing to his Father, to inform him what Infamy his Son was in danger of bringing on himself.
Monsieur D’Orville had acquainted his Father with his Passion, and been more circumstantial in describing the Lady's Rank and Fortune than her Beauty; knowing those were Particulars to which he would be most sensible.
The old Gentleman, with all the Circumspection of one on whom Age hath laid its frozen Hand, exhorted his Son to be very cautious and certain of her Estate, before he engaged too far to retreat; and referred him to a Person of Business, who was well able to make the Inquiry; and if it answered
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his Expectations, and the Lady consented to accept him, he would come to Paris, and do a Father's Part.
This Answer might have satisfied a colder Lover: But Inquiries that might be Months before they brought Satisfaction, were but ill-suited to the Vehemence of Monsieur D’Orville's Passions. He had not indeed expressed all his Impatience to his Father, fearing to excite in him Apprehensions of being too strongly prepossessed in the Lady's Favour, to be sufficiently cautious in his Proceedings concerning what the old Gentleman would think more essential than all the Charms that ever adorned the whole Sex.
Another Circumstance rendered this Advice still more unacceptable; for, before Monsieur D’Orville received it, he had perceived that the Rumours to Lady Dellwyn's Disadvantage began to spread; and he was sensible, that, if they reached his Father's Ears, the
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old Gentleman, who had no Warmth left in his Temper, but where the Honour of his Family was concerned, would put an absolute Negative on all his most ardent Hopes. This threatening Circumstance made him resolve to compleat the Union without waiting the Result of any farther Transactions with his Father. It was not customary with him to imagine it possible for him to outlive the contradicting any earnest Pursuit, on which he had fixed his Inclinations. He never suffered himself to have any Experience on that Side of the Question, having always used his utmost Endeavours to indulge his utmost Wishes; and therefore judged, perhaps rightly, that it would be easier to obtain his Father's Forgiveness for a rash Action before; than after he should have received his positive Commands to the contrary.
Tho' 'Monsieur D’Orville had, thro' the Medium of his Inclinations, closely shut up every Passage of his Mind from
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the Admittance of any evil Belief concerning Lady Dellwyn;. yet he would have been glad to have heard what she would say on the Subject. But that Respect which always attends true Love, deprived him of Courage to signify such his Desire to her; and she esteemed it more prudent not to mention what she could so ill deny; and chose therefore to appear entirely ignorant that any Report concerning herself was propagated; but the Fear of its being confirmed, rendered her as ready to comply, as he was earnest in soliciting her Hand.
Persons so well disposed, and actuated by such mutual Sympathy, were not likely to take much Time for adjusting Preliminaries: Two Days were thought sufficient for the necessary Preparations; and therefore the Completion of their Wishes was not fixed at a great Distance.
M4 CHAP.
Notes to Vol. 2, Book 4, Chapters 7-9
Notes to Chapter 7
une belle Passion: French for "a great passion."
Calista in the Fair Penitent: The Fair Penitent was a stage adaptation by Nicholas Rowe of the tragedy The Fatal Dowry.
Votaries: One who has made, or is bound by, a special vow. OED.
Quietus: A discharge granted on payment of a debt, a receipt. OED.
the lazy Foot of Time: Shakespeare's As You Like It III.ii. line 335.
Beaux: French for "beautiful."
Notes to Chapter 8
Desart: An
uninhabited and uncultivated tract of country; a wilderness: (OED) The first
recorded usage was in 1484.
Divorce, Lord Clermont: Divorce
was an act allotted to the wealthy, for they were the ones who could afford the
expenses. The husband could only initiate the divorce, since the wife did not
have a legal status of personhood. The process of divorce was complicated and
intrusive, meaning that divorce often led to scandal and judgment from peers.
It was an act that was highly frowned upon.
Lenity: Mildness,
gentleness, mercifulness (in disposition or behaviour) (OED)
Dissipation: The
action of dissipating or dispersing; a scattering; the fact of being dispersed;
dispersed condition. (OED)
Shoud: Potential Editor's typo
Venus's Cestus: In
mythology, Venus, the goddess of love, was given a cestus (girdle) by her
husband, Vulcan. It is said that any time she, or anyone else, wore this
girdle, they would be surrounded by an aura of beauty, love, and light. Maybe
of the other goddesses were known to borrow this cestus from Venus.
Camillus: Camillus
was a Roman soldier and statesmen who helped besiege the land of Falerii. After
peace had been made with Rome and Falerii, Camillus was impeached from his post
on the grounds of embezzlement. Rather than paying the fine, Camillus chose
exile and was subsequently banished from Rome.
Coriolanus: Coriolanus
was a Roman general in the 5th century. After dismissing the idea that
“plebeians” could run positions of power that were usually reserved for the
patricians. Impeached for his sentiments, Coriolanus chose exile from Rome
rather than change his belief. Coriolanus is
also a play written by Shakespeare about the same general.
Caesar: Refers
to the Gallic War, which Julius Caesar led. This war ended with the Battle of
Alesia, with the Romans coming through victorious.
Lucretia: Lucretia
was the wife of Roman Commander Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus. She was known for
her beauty, morals, and faithfulness. Raped by Sextus Tarquinius because of her
beauty and faith, Lucretia makes her husband and father swear to get revenge
before killing herself.
Diana: Roman
goddess of the hunt, the moon, and birthing. Is a figure closely connected to
chastity and the woodlands.
La belle Angloise: means "The Beautiful English" in French
La belle Veuve: means "The Beautiful Widow" in French
Comus: A
shortened term for the mask written by John Milton, which was officially
titled A Mask presented at Ludlow
Castle, 1634: on Michelmas night, before the right honorable, Iohn Earl of
Bridgewater, Viscount Brackly, Lord President of Wales, and one of His Majesties
most honorable privie council.
Cf. Scene 1 of A Mask presented at Ludlow Castle
Notes on Chapter 9
Coquet: 'To
act the lover' (Johnson); to practise coquetry, to flirt with. (Formerly used
of both sexes, now only of a woman.) to coquet it : to play the coquette.
(OED)
Hercules: Roman
hero who was the son of Zues and Alcmene. He is known primarily for his
strength.
'Tis Pity: Echoes
the sentiment, "'Tis Pity She's a Whore," a title that comes from
John Ford's scandalous play by the same name. It was performed between
1629-1633.
Compleat: Potential editor's typo, should be complete
Farther: Potential editor's typo, should be further