A1r

The
History
Of the
Amours
Of
Bosvil and Galesia.

Written by a Young Lady.

Price 1 S. 6 d. bound.

A1v

Books Printed for E. Curll.

A2r

Love Intrigues:

Or, The
History
of the
Amours
Of
Bosvil and Galesia,

As Related to
Lucasia, in St. Germains Garden.

A
novel.

Written by a Young Lady.

“Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit utile dulci.”

London:
Printed for E. Curll, at the Dial and Bible
against St. Dunstan’s Church in Fleetstreet;
and C. Crownfield, at Cambridge. 1713MDCCXIII.x

A2v A3r

To the Honourable
The
Countess
of
Exeter
.

May it please Your Ladyship,

To send abroad the Composure
of leisure Hours, as at first
I was very timerous, so (had not the
sweet Reflections of Your Ladyship’s
experienc’d Goodness emboldned me
to skreen this little Novel under your
auspicious Protection) it had for ever
lain Dormant; and which indeed,
now it does humbly prostrate it self
before you, can have no other Pretensions,
than to be Half an Hours A- A3v
Amusement to Your Ladyship; I wish
I cou’d say, any Improvement to those
ripening Graces which shine so conspicuosly
in my Young Lady, whilst
they pattern Your Ladyship’s, and so
may justly be esteem’d Hereditary
from your truly Noble Blood; who,
as she is the Darling of Your Ladyship’s
Heart, and the Delight indeed
of all who behold her, so that she may
never intangle her Noble Person in
those Levities and Misfortunes the
ensuing Treatise describes me unhappily
to have struggled with, shall always
be the hearty Wish of,

Your Ladyship’s
Most Obedient,
Humble Servant,

J.B.

A4r

To the Author of the following
Novel.

Condemn me not, Galesia, Fair unknown,

If I to praise Thee, first my Error own;

A partial View and Prejudice of Fame

Slighted thy Pages for the Novel’s Name:

Methought I scorn’d of Nymphs and Knights
to dream

And all the Trifles of a Love-Tale Scheme;

Poor dry Romances of a tortur’d Brain,

Where we see none but the Composer’s Pain.

Thus I, by former Rules of Judgment led,

But soon my Fault recanted as I read.

So by false Seers, misdoubting Men
betray’d,

Are often of the real Guide afraid;

But when by Proof convinc’d they lend an
Ear,

Their Truths Diviner from their Foils appear.

Who now can bear their stiff affected
Vein,

Their Loves, their Cupids, and the idle
Train

Which Fools are pleas’d with, and which
Mad-men feign?

When A4v

When Here he may with juster Wonder view

The Charms of Nature, and those painted
true.

By what strange Springs our real Passions
move,

How vain are all the Disguises when we Love;

What Wiles and Stratagems the Men secure,

And what the tortur’d Female Hearts endure;

Compell’d to stifle what they feign would tell,

While Truth commands, but Honour must
rebel.

All this, so well, so naturally drest,

At once with Wit and Innocence exprest;

So true appears, so just, and yet so plain,

We mourn thy Sorrows, and we feel thy Pain.

None here is like thy false Dissembler found,

All Pity Thee but He who gave the Wound.

And yet the perjur’d Swain, Galesia
spare,

Nor urge on Vengeance with a hasty Pray’r;

Tho’ much he merits it, since all agree

Enough he’s Punish’d in his losing Thee.

London,

S.G.

THE B1r

The
History

Of the Amours of
Bosvil and Galesia,

As Related to Lucasia,
In St. Germains Garden.

Introduction.

It was in the Heat of Summer,
when News is daily
coming, and hourly expected,
from the Campaigns;
which, as it employs the
Heads of the Politicians,
and Arms of the Heroes, so it fills the
Hearts of the Fair with a thousand Apprehensions,B prehensions, B1v 2
in Consideration of their
respective Friends and Relations therein
concern’d. This induc’d Galesia to an
early Walk in St. Germains Garden;
where meeting her Friend Lucasia,
they took a Turn or two by the little Wood,
entertaining themselves on the several
Adventures of the former and late War,
and what they had to hope or fear from
the Success, or Overthrow of either or
both Parties; their dearest and nearest
Relations being equally engag’d on both
Sides. King James’s Affairs having so
turn’d Things in Europe, that the War
between France and the Allies was almost
like a Civil War: Friend against
Friend, Brother against Brother; Father
against Son, and so on. After
divers Disquisitions and Turns of Discourse
on these Occurrences, Lucasia,
being willing to quit this melancholy
Theme, desir’d Galesia to recount to her
the Adventures of her early Years, of which she had already heard some Part,
and therefore believ’d the whole to be a
diverting Novel; wherefore seating
themselves, Galecia related as follows.

THE B2r

The
History
of
Galesia.

My Father (said Galesia)
and all his Family being
of the Loyal Party, in the
Time of King Charles
the First
, is a sufficient
Demonstration of the
Non-existence of Riches among them;
for some were in Battle slain, and some
in Prison died; some were ruin’d in their
Estates, some in their Persons, so that
most of the Adherents to the Royal Cause
were unhappy. My Father, with the
rest, lost a very honourable and profitable
Place at Court; after which he
retir’d into the Country, leading a very
private, or rather obscure Life, just above
the Contempt of Poverty, and belowB2 low B2v 4
that Envy which attends Riches,
of which he laid aside all Hopes, only
contenting himself to give his Children
an Education that might fit them for a
more plentiful Condition of Life, if Fortune
should ever make them her Favourites.

I was about ten or eleven Years old
when my Mother took me from Putney-
School
; finding those Places the Academies
of Vanity and Expence; no ways
instructive in the Rudiments of a Country
Gentlewoman’s Life, for which, in
all Probability, I was destin’d; therefore
reasonably judg’d her own House
a fitter Class to prepare me for that
Station.

Here I had not been long e’er there
came to our House a young Gentleman
of our Neighbourhood, one Mr. Brafort,
a School-fellow and particular
Companion of my Brother’s. This Gentleman
took such a Liking to Miss, (for
I was not yet past that Title) that he
resolv’d to have no other Wife, tho’ he
was already a Man, and I but a Child;
which he not only said but demonstrated,
in refusing all Proposals of that kind,
always alledging that he would stay for
Galesia; and accordingly frequented our House, B3r 5
House, dispens’d with my Follies and
Humours, making himself my Companion
even in my childish Recreations.

I cannot but reflect on this Part of
Life as the Happiest Time we are born
to know, when Youth and Innocence
tune all things, and render them harmonious;
our Days pass in Play and
Health, and our Nights in sound Sleep;
our Pillows are not stuff’d with Cares,
nor our waking Hours incumbred with
Passions: We reflect not on what is past,
nor take a Prospect of what is to come:
we toss our Shittlecock while weary,
and then our Tutor’s Beck chearfully
go to our Lecture: Thus we pass our
happy Days till Reason begins to bud in
our Actions; then we no sooner know
that we have a Being, and rejoice that
we are the noblest Part of the Creation,
but Passion takes Root in our Hearts,
and very often out-grows and smothers
our Rational Faculties. This I experienc’d;
for I was scarce arriv’d to those
Years in which we begin to distinguish
between Friendship and Affection; but
I became sensible of the latter towards a
Kinsman of ours, one Mr. Bosvil, who
came to our House, and notwithstanding
I had arm’d my Thoughts with a thousand B3v 6
thousand Resolutions against Love, yet
the first Moment I saw this Man I lov’d
him; tho’ he had nothing extraordinary
in Person or Parts, to excite such an
Affection; nevertheless, the Moment
that his Eyes met mine, my Heart
was sensible of an Emotion it had never
felt before.

I was now about the Age of Fifteen,
at which time my Mother thought fit
to send me to London, to remain under
the Government of my Aunt, my Lady
Martial, a virtuous Matron, under
whose prudent Conduct, I might learn
a little of the Town Politeness; its Civilities
without its Vanities; its Diversiions
without its Vices, &c. This Journey
was extreamly pleasing to me, which
is usual to any young Country Creature.
London! the Idol of all the World, might
naturally create Longings in a young
female Heart: It was also pleasing to
Mr. Brafort, my reputed Lover: He
supposing this Voyage would ripen my
Understanding and Knowledge of the
World, which was yet very green;
wanting Experience and Conversation
to ripen, and bring to Maturity those
Parts wherewith Nature had endued
me. In the mean time declaring to his Relations, B4r 7
Relations, that he intended to marry
me at my Return; not doubting (I suppose)
my Parents Consent when-ever
he should ask it; his Estate rendering
the Demand too advantagious to be refus’d;
his Person not disagreeable;
therefore concluded he had nothing to
fear, having always found a kind Reception
at our House; not only as a
Neighbour, but my Brother’s Friend
and particular Acquaintance.

The Satisfaction I took, was not only
that I should enjoy a little Ramble,
and Diversions of the Town, always agreeable
to Youth, but knew I should
there see my Cousin Bosvil, who was
then a Student at the Inns of Court.
But alass how was I non-plus’d when
at the first Visit he made me, he let me
know he was inform’d that my coming
to London was to buy me Cloaths, in
order to be married to Mr. Brafort!
This he affirm’d with such an Air as
left me no Room to suppose it Jest or
Banter, letting me know his Authors,
one of which was Mr. Brafort’s Man;
insomuch that I really began to fear
that it was so at the Bottom, and that
such an Affair might have been transacted
between him and my Parents. However, B4v 8
However, I assuring him that I knew
nothing of any such Intention, he believ’d
me with a great Pleasure and Satisfaction;
and from Time to Time
made me understand his Looks and
Gestures, that his Visits proceeded rather
from Passion than Friendship; and
that he was drawn to my Aunt’s House
by other Cords than those of Consanguinity
to me, or Respect to her Ladyship;
which my vigilant Aunt soon perceiv’d,
but (as the Proverb is) look’d
through her Fingers; and under the
Cloak of a Kinsman, gave the Lover
just as so much Opportunity as served to
blow up his Flame, without too far
engaging my young and unexperiec’d
Heart; she knowing that his Estate,
besides his Pretensions to the Law, render’d
him an advantagious Party.

By this discreet Proceeding of my
Aunt, he had very little Opportunity to
testify his Affection; still he found some
Moments to assure me of an everlasting
Love, and to sue for the same of me. I,
young and unexperienc’d as I was, had
nevertheless the Cunning to conceal my
Passion, and pretend not to believe
his. The Truth is, I had heard so ill a
Character of the Town Amours, as being C1r 9
being all Libertinism, and more especially
the Inns of Court; that I dreaded
to launch on so dangerous a Sea; thinking
each Sigh a Storm to overset ones
Reputation; which too often proves
true in Fact, especially if the Amour be
secret, or without Parents Consent;
that good Pilot which conducts young
Lovers to the safe Harbour of Matrimony.
Without which, we can hope for
little but Shipwreck of our Fortunes,
and Quiet. This Consideration made
me pretend to take all he said for Banter,
or youthful Gallantry. In fine, I
put him off with one little Shuffle, or
other, which he pretended to hope, was
only the Effect of Modesty, till such
time as we shou’d come into the Country;
and there be authorized by our
Parents to make him happy. In the
interim he resolved to demean himself
so as to merit their Consent. All which
pleas’d not only my amorous, but my
haughty Inclination; for I disdain’d to
be courted thus in hugger mugger. Thus
Crimes, or Folly, mix themselves with
our Vertues, Pride with Honour, Dissimulation
with Modesty, &c. However
as the World now rolls, we are under a
kind of Constraint to follow its Byass.

C Now C1v 10

Now as Pride agitated my Thoughts
in regard of Bosvil, so did Revenge a
little in regard of Brafort; for I pleas’d
my self to think how he wou’d be balk’d,
who, I thought, had been very remiss
in his Devoirs towards such a Goddess,
as the World’s Flatterers had made of
me. Seven or eight Months being past
in this manner, my Mother sent for me
home into the Country, and my Brother,
who was to be my Convoy, carried
me by Oxford, to shew me the Glory
of the University at the time of the
Act, when it shines with greatest Splendor.
The Complements and Civilities
I receiv’d there from the Towns-men of
all Ranks, were so many, and so much
above my Merit, that it would look
like a Fiction for me now to repeat ’em.
Therefore (with Friar Bacon’s speaking
Head) I will only say, “Time is past”, and
for ever keep Silence on that Subject;
for the very naming those bright Encomiums
then given to my Youth, wou’d
be like dressing up a Death’s-Head in
Curls, Point, and Ribbons: However,
all this Vanity did not sequester my
Thoughts one Moment from my beloved
Bosvil, but I returned home into the
Country, full of Longings for his Arrival.

In C2r 11

In the mean time, our Neighbour
Mr. Brafort had got some little Hint
of this Amour; resolved speedily to accomplish
his intended Marriage with
me: but Almighty Providence order’d
it so, that immediately after my Arrival
into the Country, he fell sick of a continued
Fever, which in the space of ten
Days carried him into his Grave, instead
of his Nuptial Bed; to the great
Grief of all his Relations. Thus we see
that Human Projects are meer Vapours,
carried about with every Blast of cross
Accidents; and the Projectors themselves
push’d by the Hand of Death into
the Abyss of Oblivion.

This unlook’d for Death of Brafort,
was no way afflicting to me, more than
as a Friend, and Neighbour; for all my
tender Thoughts were bound up in
Bosvil, whose Absence made my Life tedious,
and every Minute seem’d a Year
till his Arrival. But ah my Lucasia!
what are our Hopes when founded on
any thing but Heaven? My long’d for
Bosvil came, and instead of bringing
with him the Caresses of an overjoy’d
Lover, or at least the Addresses of a
fond Admirer, nothing accompanied his
Conversation but a certain cold Respect C2 scarce C2v 12
scarce surmounting common Civility.
Instead of ingaging my Parents to intercede
on his Behalf with me their Darling
Child, he, in my Presence, consulted
my Father about a certain Neighbouring
Gentlewoman, who was propos’d
him in Marriage. This Discourse
I heard with seeming Tranquility, and
prais’d the young Lady, wishing she
might be so sensible of his Merit, as to
make him speedily happy. Here, my
Lucasia, Truth and Sincerity were supplanted
by a certain Tincture of Modesty,
and Pride; for no Mouth spake
more directly against the Sentiments of
a Heart, than mine did at that time;
but this is one of the finest spun Snares
wherewith the Devil intraps us; when
he makes us abandon one Vertue, to idolize
another: As when the Learned Casuists
contend for Faith, to the Breach
of Charity; and the Enthusiasticks, in
their fantastick Raptures, neglect the
common Duties of Human Life. Thus
I, silly Maid, set up a pretended Indifferency,
to which false Idol I sacrificed all
my Satisfaction.

Now, tho’ in Bosvil’s Presence I
made a shift to keep up this Outside of a
seeming Insensibility of Love; but interiorlyteriorly C3r 13
I was tormented with a thousand
Anxieties, which made me seek
Solitude where I might without Witness
or Controul, disburthen my overcharg’d
Heart of Sighs and Tears. This
Solitude I sought was not hard to be
found, our Habitation being situate in
a remote Country Village; where one
has full Opportunity, to sooth and cajole
Melancholy; till it become rampant,
and hardly to be restrain’d. Sometimes
I endeavoured to divert my Chagrine,
by contemplating in these shady
Walks the wondrous Works of the Creation.
In the Spring methought the
Earth was dress’d in new Apparel, the
soft Meadow Grass was a Robe of
green Velvet, embroider’d with Pearls,
and Diamonds, compos’d of the Evening
Dew, which the Sun’s Morning
Rays made bright and sparkling; all
the Borders curiously laced, by the chequered
Work of Sun and Shade; caus’d
by the Trees and Hedges. It was in
some of these solitary Walks that my
rolling Thoughts turn’d themselves into
these Verses.

Me C3v 14

Methinks these Shades, strange Thoughts
suggest,

Which beat my Head, and cool my Breast;

And mind me of a Laurel Crest.

Methinks I hear the Muses sing,

And see ’em all dance in a Ring;

And call upon me to take wing.

We will (say they) assist thy Flight,

Till thou reach fair Orinda’s Height,

If thou can’st this World’s Follies slight.

We’ll bring thee to our bright Abodes,

Amongst the Heroes and the Gods,

If thou and Wealth can be at odds.

Then gentle Maid cast off thy Chain,

Which links thee to thy faithless Swain,

And vows a Virgin to remain.

Write, write thy Vow upon this Tree,

By us it shall recorded be;

And thou enjoy Eternity.

Looking behind me, I saw a very
smooth-bark’d Ash, under which I sat;
and in the midst of melancholy Whimsies,
I writ those Lines on the Body of
the Tree, having commonly a little Pen and C4r 15
and Ink in my Pocket. This Fancy
joyn’d with what I had lately read in a
little Book of my Lord Bacon’s, that a
wise Man ought to have two Designs
on foot at a time, or according to the
Proverb, “two Strings to one’s Bow”: So
I, finding my self abandon’d by Bosvil,
and thinking it impossible ever to love
again, resolved to espouse a Book, and
spend my Days in Study: This Fancy
having once taken Root, grew apace,
and branch’d it self forth in a thousand
vain Conceits. I imagined my self the
Orinda, or Sapho of my Time, and amongst
my little Reading, the Character
of the Faithful Shepperdess in the
Play pleas’d me extreamly; I resolved
to imitate her, not only in perpetual
Chastity, but in learning the Use of
Simples for the Good of my Country
Neighbours. Thus I thought to become
Apollo’s Darling Daughter, and
Maid of Honour to the Muses. In order
to this I got my Brother (who was
not yet return’d to Oxford)to set me in
the way to learn my Grammar, which
he willingly did, thinking it only a Vapour
of Fancy, to be blown away with
the first Puff of Vanity, or new Mode;
or a Freak without Foundation, to be over- C4v 16
overthrown with the first Difficulty it
shou’d meet with in the Syntax; knowing
it to be less easie to make Substantive
and Adjective agree, than to place
a Patch, Curl, or any other additional
Graces on a young Face; so as to render
it, if not more charming, more gallant:
He not knowing the Foundation
of my Enterprize, laugh’d at my Project,
tho’ he humoured me out of Complaisance:
for I had not let him know
any thing of this Amour, supposing an
Affront of this kind might produce some
fatal Accident; beside, my Pride wou’d
not permit me to let this Contempt of
my Youth and Beauty be known;
these Considerations made me keep this
a Secret from my Brother, and all the
World; tho’ otherwise, he was the Confident
of all my poor Heart was able to
conceive; for he was dear to me, not
only as a Brother, but a Friend; the
Bands of fraternal Love were strengthned,
by those of Choice, and Inclination,
and both united by a Reason; for
never was Man fitter for an Election of
this kind, where Prudence might have
the casting Voice, which indeed ought
to be in all our Actions. But to return
from whence I digress’d

I D1v 17

I follow’d my Study close, betook my
self to a plain kind of Habit: quitted
all Point, Lace, Ribbons, and fine
Clothes; partly (I suppose) out of Melancholy,
not caring to adorn that Person
slighted by him I loved; and partly
out of Pride, vainly imagining, that the
World applauded me, and admired that
a Person, in the Bloom of Youth, shou’d
so perfectly abdicate the World with all
those Allurements, which seldom fail to
please our Sex, in all the Stages of our
Lives, but much more in the juvenile
part of our time: but thus it was, I
sought vain Glory through differing
Paths, I seem’d to scorn (what I really
courted) popular Applause; and hid a
proud Heart under a humble Habit.
The Consideration of this makes me see
how difficult it is to draw a Scheme of
vertuous Politicks, whereby to govern
this little Microcosm but by that Model
of all Perfection, “Deny thy self” &c
and that not only in Deeds, but in the
most secret Intentions: for whilst I
strove to cast out the Devil of Love, I
made room for Pride, with all its vile
Adherents.

However, I thought I had set my
self in a good, and convenient road, to D pass D1v 18
pass on my Life’s Pilgrimage; but this
my design’d Tranquility was disturb’d
by the frequent Visits of Bosvil, who,
as a Kinsman, and a Friend, had free
Access to our House; and tho’ he made
no formal, or direct Address to me, yet
his Eyes darted Love, his Lips smil’d
Love, his Heart sigh’d Love, his Tongue
was the only part silent in the Declaration
of a violent Passion: that between
his cold Silence, and his Sun-shine Looks,
I was like the Traveller in the Fable;
the warm Rays of his Eyes made me
cast away that Garment of firm Resolution,
which the Coldness of his Silence
had made me to wrap close about my
Heart.

But why my Galesia(said Lucasia)
did you not consult your Parents, and
in particular your Mother, whose Care
and Prudence might have adjusted the
Business to all your Satisfactions? I consider’d
much on that Point (reply’d Galesia)
but I concluded if I discover’d it
to my Mother, she wou’d discourse him
about it, and he perhaps might put it
off with a Laugh, and say, he had only
rallied with his young Cousin during
her Residence in London, to try how
her Heart was fortified against such-like Assaults D2r 19
Assaults. So by this means I should have
pass’d for an ignorant Country Girl, not
capable of judging between Jest and
Earnest; which wou’d have grated
hard upon my proud Humour. Wherefore
I resolv’d (that as long as he remain’d
silent towards my Parents) to
take all he said or did as Railery, or little
Efforts of Gallantry. Thus, Fool as
I was! I conceal’d from my dear Mother
the thing in which I had greatest
need of her Counsel, and Conduct: And
as most young People have too great an
Opinion of their own Wisdom, so I (no
doubt) thought my self as capable to
make, or use a Conquest, as any Town
Lady arm’d Cap a pee, with all sorts of
Embellishments, and who had served divers
Campaigns under Venus’s Banner;
but too late I found my Weakness and
Folly in this my opinionated Wisdom.

Bosvil frequently came to our House,
where he made the outward Grimaces
of a Lover, with an indifferent interiour;
whilst I bore up an outside Indifferency,
with a Heart full of Passion:
Thus a Mask is put on, sometimes, to
conceal an ill Face, and sometimes to
preserve a good one: And the most part
of Mankind are in reality different from D2 what D2v 20
what they seem; and affect to be
thought what they are not; Youth affects
to be thought older, and they of
ripe Years, younger; the sober young
Gentleman affects to talk like a Rake,
and the Town-Miss to pretend to Modesty.
Therefore I wonder not, that I,
silly Country Girl, assum’d to my self
a Discretion, which Time and want of
Experience had deny’d me. But things
were on this footing, when Mr. Brafort,
Cousin to my dead Lover Brafort,
cast his Eyes on me with greater Esteem
than I merited; and as if he had been
destin’d to chuse the Devil for his Confessor,
he chose my Cousin Bosvil for
his Confident, desiring him to introduce
him to me, and make his Proposals to
my Parents. Brafort knew nothing of
Bosvil’s pretended Inclinations for me,
but address’d to him as my near Relation,
and intimate Friend. To this Bosvil
freely reply’d, that he could not
serve him, saying, that he design’d his
Cousin Galesia for himself; and was so
far from introducing any body to her
on that score, that he shoul’d be very
careful to keep off all Pretenders. Upon
which Mr. Brafort remain’d satisfied,
and laid all Thoughts of me aside.

To D3r 21

To an exact Perfection he had brought

The Action Love, the Passion he forgot.

This Transaction, tho’ coming to me
by a third hand, gave me a strong Belief
of Bosvil’s Sincerity; and made me
interpret every little dubious Word,
which he sometimes mix’d with his
fond Actions, to be Demonstrations of
a real Passion; not doubting but a little
time wou’d ripen the same into an
open Declaration to my Parents, as well
as formerly to me, and now lately to
young Brafort. In the mean time attributing
this Delay to his Prudence,
in acquainting himself with my Humour,
and Inclinations, before he gave
himself irrevocably to me; which made
me regulate my Behaviour with the
discreetest Precautions my poor unexperienced
Thoughts cou’d dictate. My
Grammar Rules now became harsh Impertinences,
for I thought I had learnt
Amo and Amor, by a shorter and surer
Method, and the only Syntax I studied,
was how to make suitable Answers
to my Father, and him, when the
long’d-for Question shou’d be propos’d;
that I might not betray my Weakness in D3v 22
in a too ready Compliance, nor ruin my
Satisfaction in too rigid an Opposition.

In the mean time, a Friend of mine
that had married a Sister of my dead
Lover, Brafort; and for that Reason
he and his Wife always call’d me Sister;
This Gentleman, whether out of Kindness,
or Curiosity, or because their Cousin
the young Brafort had discover’d his
Inclinations for me; had a great Desire
to inform himself of the Secret between
me and Bosvil; for he and his
Wife being much in our Company, cou’d
not but remark something in his Carriage
towards me: and being very intimate
with Bosvil, told him, that he
wonder’d that he being an only Child,
and Heir to a considerable Estate, beside
his growing Practice in the
Law, did not fix on a Wife; thereby
to establish his Family, and make his
aged Parents happy. “That Affair is
not undone,”
reply’d Bosvil, “till this time
of Day, for I am fix’d on my Neighbour
Mr. Lowland’s Daughter; and hope
shortly to enjoy your good Company,
with the rest of my Friends, and Relations,
at the Celebration of our Marriage.”
This Answer my Friend little expected
to receive: however believing it con- D4r 23
concern’d me nearly, took the first Opportunity
to tell me, which he did, in a
frank, jocose manner, not seeming to
suspect how great my Concern was,
which indeed was the greatest in the
World. The Notes of a stuttering Cuccoo
are not half so disagreeable, tho’
they sing he Springs Obseqies, and
proclaim Silence to the whole Quire of
chirping Musicians. The Edifice I had
so lately built on the Foundation of that
Discourse between Bosvil and young
Brafort, prov’d a meer airy nothing,
serving only to make my Fall the greater,
by how much I had raised my Hopes
on its Battlements. I spent my Days
in Sighs, and my Nights in Tears; my
Sleep forsook me, and I relish’d not my
Food; nor had I made any Friend or Confident; into whose Bosom I might
discharge my Griefs; or recieve Consolation.
My dear Brother was then at
Paris, to improve his Studies in that
University, where, complaining of his Absence, I also hinted this other Original
of my Sorrows.

Nothing at present wonted Pleasure yields,

The Birds, nor Bushes, nor the gaudy Fields;

Nor D4v 24

Nor Oiser Holts, nor Banks of Glenn are
seen,

Nor the soft Meadow crown’d with tufted
Green,

Are half so pleasant now, or half so fair

As when we mus’d together kindly there,

And thought each Blade of Corn a Jem
did bear!

Instead of this, and thy Philpsophy,

Nought but my own false Latin now I see,

False Verse, or Lover falsest of the three.

Thus I walk’d on in Sorrow, and Desolation,
without reflecting, that my
Vanity deserved a greater Punushment;
for in our Youth we commonly Dress
our Thoughts in the Mirrour of Self‑
Flattery, and expect Heaven, Fortune,
and the World should cajole our Follies,
as we do our own; and lay all Faults
upon others, and all Praise on our
selves: how far I was guilty of this, I
know not; but whatever I deserv’d
from the Hand of just Heaven, I deserv’d
nothing but well from Bolsvil,
whose Scorn (the Cause of my Afflictions)
I endeavour’d to conceal, yet spight
of my Industry, this Melancholy, together
with my plain Dress, was taken
notice of; and it was believed I mourn’d for E1r 25
for Brafort. My Parents fearing this
might prove a Hinderance to my Fortune,
commanded me to quit that plain
Dress, and endeavour to forget Brafort.
This their Fancy of my Affection for
Mr. Brafort I did not much contradict,
it being a proper Cur-feu to that Flame I
had for Bosvil. Thus we see how easily
we are deceiv’d by outward Appearances,
and what Care we ought to
take of censuring, judging, or condemning
Things, or Persons; without knowing
the true, and genuine Cause of
Contingencies; which are often very
hard to be understood; for according to
the Fable, the Ass seems valiant in the
Lyon’s Skin, and the Crow glorious, in
her borrow’d Plumes. We often give
undeserv’d Applause where Fortune
makes a Fool her Favourite; and on
the other side, condemn the wisest Designs
when not attended with Success.
We are Fortunes Machines, and the Alarm
of popular Applause must run off,
as she is pleas’d to turn the Key of our
Affairs. But pardon (Madam) this Digression,
and give me leave to return.

After my foresaid Discourse with my
Friend, that he had told me of Bosvil’s
intended Marriage with Mrs. Lowland E there E1v 26
there pass’d many Weeks that I neither
saw, nor heard from him; he keeping
close at his Father’s House (which was
about twenty Miles from us) where I
thought he pass’d his time at the Feet of
his fair Mistress Lowland, who lived in
his Father’s Neighbourhood: But the
Truth is, he was detain’d by a light,
but a lingering Sickness; in which time
I gain’d much upon my distemper’d
Mind, and thought my self so perfectly
cured, as never more to relapse by the
Infection of any Lover, how contagious
soever Youth, Gallantry, or Riches,
might render him. But alas! I had not
yet pass’d the Dog-days of Bosvil’s hot
Pursuits, but at his Return he entertain’d
me in another manner than ever;
for if before he admir’d, esteem’d, or
had a Passion for me, he now doted,
ador’d, and dy’d for me! Vow’d a thousand
times, that he cou’d not live without
me, that his Passion had been the
Cause of his late Indisposition; and
wou’d be of his Death, if he did not
apply the Salutary Remedy of Hymen’s
Rites. In order to which he had brought
a License with him; and therewithal
took it out of his Pocket, and shew’d it
to me. All which so astonish’d, pleas’d, and E2r 27
and confounded me, that I knew not
what to reply! But, with Tears in my
Eyes, told him, that I was wholly nonplus’d,
and knew not what Interpretation
to make of all that had pass’d between
him and me! “’Tis true”, reply’d
he, “I have been extreamly remiss in my
Devoirs towards you; for which I deserve
the utmost Punishment your Scorn
can inflict, nor shou’d I dare to ask Pardon
of a Goodness less perfect: Be not
cruel then to your Penitent, but forgive
him who now asks it, with all Submission;
him, who vows never to offend
you; him, who swears to suffer
any thing, rather than deserve your Anger;
him who dedicates every Action
of his Life to love, please, and serve
you.”
“Cease”, said I, “these Asseverations;
I never pretended to be displeas’d
with you; and as you have done nothing
to offend me, so I have done nothing
to deserve your Love, beyond
that of a Kinswoman or a Friend;
which I hope I shall never lose; but as
such I shall and will for ever love you.”

“Friend”, reply’d he, “testify the same in
saving my Life, which as a wretched
Criminal I beg; and as a faithful Lover E2 hope E2v 28
hope to receive from your Goodness, in
consenting to a speedy Marriage: for,
without that, you cannot pretend to either
Friendship, Love, or Charity it
self; my Life, and Love being now inseperable.”
“Sure, dear Cousin”, said I,
(with a Tone wholly confus’d) “you forget
in whose Company you are, and
believe your self with fair Mrs. Lowland:
If such an amorous Slumber has
cast you into this Delirium, pray awake,
and behold before you, your Cousin Galesia.”
“I need no Monitor” (reply’d he)
“to tell me it is my Cousin Galesia, with
whom I converse at present: Her reserv’d
Behaviour, with which she treats
me her faithful Lover, is a sufficient Demonstration,
that it is the prudent, vertuous,
chast Galesia! It is this reserved
Mein, Madam, which has often deter’d
me, and commanded my Tongue to a
respectful Silence; whilst my poor
Heart, over-charg’d with Passion, only
eas’d it self with Sighs, and my Looks
were the only Language whereby to express
my interiour Thoughts”
. “How
far your Silence has been guilty of your
Suffering”
(reply’d I) “is not easie for me
to penetrate; but I believe the Insincerity
of this Declaration, might prove very E3r 29
very obnoxious to my Quiet, if my preingaged
Resolution of a single Life, did
not secure me from those Dangers, to
which my Youth, and your Merit
might betray me”
. “Ah Madam”! reply’d
he, “and it is possible you shou’d
doubt the Sincerity of what I now assert?
The great God of Heaven that
created us, knows what I say is true,
when I say I love you above all things
in this World! That I will never marry
any Woman but your self; that I never
did, can, or will, place any Beauty
or Interest in competition with you;
that I have thought of nothing but you
since the Moment I beheld you; that I
deny’d my self all of the Diversions of the
Town for your sake; and when I tug’d
the Oar of Coke upon Littleton, and other
harsh Studies, it was to arrive safe at
the Harbour of your Embrace! This
Heaven knows to be true, and not Heaven
only, but there is not a Person on
Earth, with whom I have convers’d
that has not been entertained with Galesia’s
Perfections, and my Passion;
there is not a Person of my Acquaintance
but has heard that I love Galesia.
Ah Madam! This is true, Heaven that
inspir’d me with this vertuous Affection,on E3v 30
knows it to be true! Earth, which
adores you, knows it to be true! And
even you your self know it to be true!
Look into your own Conscience, and
it will bear witness to this Truth, that
I have lov’d you since the first Moment
that I saw you. Remember (Madam)
how, after the first Salutations, I sat
and Gaz’d on you with such a deep Surprize,
that there was little Difference
between me, and a Statue, except sometimes
a stolen Sigh, which call’d the
Blood into your Cheeks, and made me
know (that young as you were) you
understood that Language. Moreover,
Madam, that when I sat at Table, I
could not eat for looking on you, insomuch
that your charitable Mother
thinking me indispos’d sent to her Closet
for a Cordial: Then it was I gaz’d
that Life away, you know refuse to save,
and have ever since labour’d under
deadly Pangs; and after thus suffering
Martyrdom, to have the Truth of what
I profess call’d in Question, is downright
Tyranny.”
“Those” (reply’d I) “who
have once swerv’d from the Faith they
profess, ought always to be suspected;
you have lov’d Mrs. Lowland”
--and so
stop’d with a stolen Sigh. With that he call’d E4r 31
call’d to mind what he had said to my
Friend; and told me all he had
then said, was only to put a stop to his
Curiosity, not thinking it proper to
name me as the Object of his design’d
Espousals, without my Leave; and then,
again and again, call’d Heaven to witness
that he lov’d me above all terrestial
Beings: “And if you believe me not”
(continu’d he) “I hope you will believe
my Father, who intends to be here next
Week, to bear witness of this Truth:
He will tell you how often I have avow’d
it to him, when he has propos’d
Matches to me; telling him nothing but
my fair Cousin, the vertuous Galesia,
cou’d make me happy. My fond Mother
also, when she hears me sigh, knows
it is for you, and then blames your Cruelty.
If you persist in this Rigor, you
will not only cause my Death, but theirs
also whose Lives are bound up in mine.
When my Father comes, I hope you
will Compassionate his Years, when he
courts you for his only Child; think
how much your tender Mother loves
you, and then consider mine; and as
your Tenderness extends to them, ’tis
hoped you shall have little Beauties of
your own to do the same one day for you.”

In E4v 32

In this kind of Discourse, My Lucasia,
we pass’d some Hours, and it was
with great Difficulty that I restrain’d
my foolish Tongue from telling the
Fondness of my Heart, but the Restraint
was with such broken Words,
stolen Sighs, suppress’d Tears, that the
meerest Fresh-man in Love’s Academy,
cou’d not but read and understand
that Language; much more he, that
had pass’d Graduate amongst the Town
Amours. What Interpretation he made
I know not, but I thought my self safe
landed on Love’s Shore, where no cross
Wind, unseen Accident, cou’d oppose
my Passage to Hymen’s Palace, or wrack
me in this Harbour of true Satisfaction:
For, since he assur’d me of his Parents
Consent, I know him to be too advantagious
a Party to be refus’d by mine:
Now my Thoughts swam in a Sea of
Joy, which meeting with the Torrent
of the for esaid Vexations, made a kind
of a dangerous Rencounter, ready to
overset my Reason. I pass’d some Nights
without Sleep, and Days without Food,
my reason of this secret Satsfaction. At
last, I fell asleep in a Corner of our
Garden, and dream’d, that, on a suddain,dain F1r 33
an angry Power carried me away,
and made me climb a high Mountain:
at last brought me to that Shade where
I had heretofore writ those Verses on
the Bark of an Ash, as I told you, in
which I seem’d to prefer the Muses,
and a studious Life, before that of Marriage,
and Business. Whereupon, ――My uncouth Guardian said “―― Unlucky Maid! Since, since thou hast the Muses chose, Hymen, and Fortune are thy Foes. For Thou shalt have Cassandra’s Fate, In all thou say’st, unfortunate, The God of Wit gave Her this Curse, And Fortune sends Thee this, and worse. In all thou dost, tho’ ne’er so good, By all the World misunderstood! In best of Actions, be despis’d! And Fools, and Knaves, above thee priz’d! Foes like Serpents hiss and bite thee, All thy Friends agree to slight thee! Love and Lovers, give thee Pain, For they, and thou shalt love in vain! Either Death shall from thee take ’em Or they thee, or thou forsake ’em! Thy Youth and Fortune vainly spend, And in thy Age have not a Friend! F Thy F1v 34 Thy whole Life pass in Discontent, In Want, in Woe, and Banishment! Be broken under Fortunes Wheel, Direct thy Actions ne’er so well. A thousand other Ills beside Fortune does still for them provide, Who to the Muses are ally’d” At this Harangue, my Grief was so
extream,
That I awak’d all Joy it prov’d a Dream.

But it has prov’d so true in the Event,
that I think one can hardly call
it so, but a real Vision, as may appear
by the Sequel of my Story, to which I
return.

Many Days, and Weeks Pas’d; and
several Visits he made me, with repeated
Assurances of his Passion; still expecting
the Coming of his Father. How
far my Looks, or Gestures, might betray
my Thoughts, I know not; but
I kept my Words close Prisoners, till
they shou’d be at Liberty by the Desire
of his Father, or the Command of
mine; or at least convey’d into the
Mouth of my prudent Mother. Thus
I thought I planted my Actions in a good
Soil, in the Ground of Vertue; and wateredtered F2r 35
them with the Stream of Discretion:
But the Worm of Pride, and Selfesteem
was at the bottom, and gnaw’d
the Root I did not enough reflect on
the Author of all Good; but thought
perhaps I trod the Path of Vertue, by
the Clue of my own Wisdom, and without
due Reflection and Thanks to the
Donor. Which is, as if one shou’d
daily wind up a Watch, and keep it clean,
but never set it to the Hour: By which
means the little Machine is useless, tho’
it go never so well; so if we perform
all moral Vertues, without directing
them to Heaven, they prove little available
to our Happiness.

Whether Bosvi knew, or was inform’d
that his Father wou’d not come,
or was impatient of his Delay, I know
not; but he dispos’d himself to go to his
Father, who liv’d twenty Miles from
us, as before remark’d tho’ my Lover
had establish’d himself in our Neighbourhood,
both for his Health, it being
a more serene Air, and more convenient
for his Practice, being nearer London.
When he took his Leave of me, he
beg’d me a thousand times to remember
him when absent. “How is it possible”
(said he) “that I shall pass this tedious F2 time F2v 36
time without you. Every Minute that
I am from you, seems an Age; nothing
is grateful, nothing satisfactory without
you; my Senses take Pleasure in nothing
but you, even Reason loses her
Regency; and I rave on nothing but
my absent Galesia. Ah! that I might
call you truly mine: However, let me
flatter my self, that I am so far yours;
that you will not quite forget me when
absent; but pity my Banishment; pity,
and promise to think on me; promise
but that, and I shall consolate my self
with that Thought; our Souls have
subtle ways of corresponding, they will
converse, when these terrestrial Organs
know nothing of the Matter: Then
breathe a Sigh, and bid it go to your
Bosvil, it will meet whole Legions of
mine, which will surround it, and bring
it safe to my Heart unmix’d with common
Air; and, when you are in your
solitary Walks, whisper that you want
your Bosvil’s Company and some little
waiting Spirit appointed by my good
Genius, to attend you, shall quickly
bring it to his Master, and I shall in a
Moment, by a secret Inspiration, know
my Galesia’s Desires; and so be happy
at a Distance! Then promise me, my Sweet, F3r 37
Sweet, my Fair, my Bright Charmer!
this small Consolation; this is the way
by which Souls converse, independent
of these heavy Tenements in which
they are imprison’d: Promise this, and
your Bosvil shall not be quite unhappy
in this three Weeks Absence; which
otherwise will be a Tedium to me.”
In
this manner he took his leave of me. All
which I answer’d with alternate Smiles,
Sighs, and broken Words, scarce containing
common Sense.

When he was gone, I thought on
him perpetually; I sigh’d every Moment,
I counted the whiling Hours and
Moments of his Absence; wish’d this
tedious three Weeks cut out of the Records
of Time, often repeating to my
self his Vows, and Assurances of everlasting
Love, resolving to be no longer
cruel to my self, and him; but let him
know what mighty Sums of Love I had
been hoarding up for him, since the
Moment of our first Interview. “O my
Bosvil”
(said I to my self) “I will let
thee know, how true a Master thou
hast been of my Affections; I will beg
thy Pardon for the Pains I have made
thee feel, by my seeming Indifference;
and kindly reproach thee for thy feigned Neg- F3v 38
Negligence; and then repair all with
infinite Testimonies of everlasting Fidelity:
Tye my self to thee in Nuptial
Bands, and ratify all by a constant Obedience.”
Thus, a thousand rambling
Thoughts, a thousand fond Fancies agitated
my poor young Head, and Heart!
Sometimes I busied my self, with thinking
what I was to say to his Father,
whom I concluded he wou’d bring along
with him. I said, and unsaid a thousand
things. This Speech I fear’d betray’d
too much Fondness, that too little
Kindness: This seem’d too submissive
to the Son, that not respectful enough
to the Father. Now I study’d
what Excuse to make to my Mother,
for having so long conceal’d from her a
Matter of such Importance; then what
to say to my Father, for being so ready
to leave him for a Husband. Thus I
pass’d my Hours in perpetual Agitation
of Mind, part of which was, what
Clothes, what Friends, what Ceremonies
shou’d be at this my approaching
Marriage.

The tedious three Weeks being elapsed.
Bosvil arrives, but not my Lover:
He came with greater Coldness, and
Indifferency than ever! No Ray of Love F4r 39
Love darted from his Eyes, no Sigh from
his Heart, no Smile towards me, nothing,
nothing, but a dusky cold Indifferency,
as if Love had never shin’d
in his Hemisphere! The Truth is, I
took it for Disguise, but cou’d not imagine
what shou’d make him put it on;
I thought the Mumming went too far,
when the Masqueraders murther’d those
they pretended to divert; but to convince
me that this was no feign’d Indifference,
he stay’d several Days at our
House, acting this Scene of Inconstancy
to Perfection. Much I studied, but
cou’d think of nothing that cou’d have
disoblig’d him; I examining my Words
to find if I had said any thing that might
have been affronting at his Arrival. I
consulted my Glass to see if my Person
was changed in that fatal three Weeks:
I reflected on all things, from the beginning,
to the end; but cou’d find nothing
whereof to accuse my self; sometimes
in my Thoughts I confronted his
past Kindness, with his present Coldness;
his passionate Speeches, Looks,
and Gestures, with his Neglect, Coldness,
and Indifferency; one rais’d my
Hopes above Ela, the other cast my Despair
below Gamut. Thus I ran Divisionssions F4v 40
in my Fancy, which made but
harsh Musick to my Interiour: Methoughts
I resembled the Sisters in Hell,
whom the Poets feign to catch Water in
a Sieve.

Now whether this Affliction was
laid on me by the immediate Hand of
Providence, or that Fate, or my Constellations
produced it by secondary Causes,
I know not; but Innocence was my
Consolation; for I had nothing wherewith
to reproach my self; I had acted
justly, and honourably towards him;
he cou’d not upbraid me either with
Coyness, or Kindness; for tho’ I had
squar’d my Actions, by the exact Rules
of Vertue, and Modesty; yet I did not
exclude Civility, and good Nature; for
I always stay’d in his Company, heard
him, laugh’d, fool’d, and jested with
him; yet not so freely as to transgress
good Manners, or break Respect on either
side; all which might assure a Person
less judicious than himself, that neither
his Person, not Proposals, were disagreeable.
All these Considerations served
to render his Coldness the more surprizing;
but it pleas’d God to have it
thus; Bosvil perhaps was my Idol,
and rival’d Heaven in my Affections, that G1r 41
that I might say to him, as Cowley to his
Mistress. “Thou even my Prayers dost steal from me, For I with wild Idolatry, Begin to God, and end ’em all in Thee.”

This Vicissitude in my Affairs, made
me reflect on those Verses, or Vision,
which said, “Hymen and Fortune are thy
Foes,&c.”
In which I endeavour’d to be
resign’d, saying, “It is the Lord’s Doing,
tho’ marvellous in my Eyes.”
Tho’ nothing
cou’d be harsher, than to be thus abandoned
in the Flower of my Youth, and
that by my own Relation, who ought
to have sustain’d me against any false
Pretender: I endeavour’d to detach my
Thoughts from him; or if it was so that
I must needs think on him, I resolved it
shou’d be on his Crimes, Falshood, and
Cruelty.

Thus by degrees his Company became
troublesom, and his Presence ungrateful.
Yet cou’d I not avoid either,
for I had no Reason to quarrel with
him, unless for not courting me, as formerly:
And that was turning the Tables,
and making my self the Lover, instead
of the Person beloved; which was G not G1v 42
not only contradictory to my haughty
Humour, but seem’d in a manner to
invert Nature; nevertheless I forc’d my
self to bear it, with a seeming Equality
of Mind, till a fit Occasion wou’d offer
it self to my Revenge. Like the Quaker
that is smitten on the one Cheek,
turns the other also; but after that having
(as he thinks) fulfill’d the Law,
can beat his Adversary as well as any
carnal Man: so I waited but for a left
Cheek-blow; some ungrateful Action,
that might give at least a seeming just
Cause to quarrel, so as to take occasion
to banish him; his Presence being as
disagreeable to me as a Specter; for it’s
natural enough, that the Cause of Grief,
shou’d be the Object of Aversion.

I remain’d full of this Wish many
Months; at last Fortune was a little
propitious to my Desires, at least I wrestled
an Occasion to my Caprice, which
was thus.

Bosvil and another young Gentleman
his Friend, met my Father at a certain
Place over a Bottle; here Bosvil proposed
his Friend to my Father as an Husband
for me, all Conditions of Portion
and Joynture were there propos’d, and
approv’d on both sides, and the Day appointedpointed G2r 43
on which the Gentleman shou’d
come to visit me, which was to be the
Week following. This my Father told
me with Satisfaction, withal minding
me, how much I was obliged to my
Cousin Bosvil: To which my Answers
were few, dubious, and obscure; which
pass’d with my good Father, for a little
Virgin Surprize; which Discourses of
this nature are apt to raise in the Hearts
of young Creatures. But, O my Lucasia!
I cannot tell you what I suffer’d
when I was alone, Rage and Madness
seiz’d me; Malice, and Revenge were
all I thought on: I inspired an evil Genius,
resolv’d his Death, and pleas’d my
self in the Fancy of a barbarous Revenge:
I shall delight my self, to see
the Blood pour out of his false Heart;
In order to accomplish this detestable
Freak, I went towards the Place of his
Abode, supposing a Rapier in my hand,
and saying to my self; “The false Bosvil
shou’d now disquiet me no more, nor
any other of our Sex; in him I will end
his Race, no more of them shall come
to distrub, or affront Womankind; this
only Son, shall dye by the hands of me
an only Daughter; and however the
World may call it Cruelty, or barbarous;G2 rous G2v 44
I am sure our Sex will have reason
to thank me, and keep an Annual
Festival, on which a Criminal like him
is executed: The Example perhaps will
deter others, and secure many from the
Wrongs of such false Traitors; and I be
magnified in future times; for it was
for ridding the World of a Monster, that
Hercules was esteem’d so great a Hero,
and George a Saint. Then sure I shall
be rank’d in the Catalogue of Heroines,
for such a Service done to my Sex: for
certainly the Deserts of Arabia never
produced a more formidable Monster,
than this unaccountable Bosvil.”
Behold
what Sophisms one can find to justify
any mad Attempt, and how for the gratifying
our Fancy, we are ready to affront,
if not quite reverse the Laws of
Nature: that, if the Feebleness of our
Hands did not moderate the Fury of our
Heads, Woman sometimes wou’d exceed
the fiercest Savages; especially,
when affronted in her Amours: which
brings into my Mind a Vese or two on
such an Occasion. A slighted Woman oft a Fury grows, And for Revenge quits her Baptismal Vows, Becomes a Witch, and does a Fiend espouse. In G3r 45
In these wild Thoughts I wander’d, till
Weariness made me know my own
Weakness, and Incapacity of performing,
what Fury had inspir’d; and forced
me to seek Repose under the first
Shade; where my flowing Tears mitigated
the Heat of my Rage, washing
away those extravagant Thoughts, and
made me turn my Anger against my
self, my wretched self, that woful and
unworthy thing; the Scorn of my Kinsman,
Lover, Friend, &c. A thousand
times I wish’d tha some kind Serpent
wou’d creep out of its Hole, and sting
me to Death, or that Thunder wou’d
descend, and strike me into the Earth;
and so at once perform my Death, and
Funeral! “O no” (said I) “that wou’d render
Bosvil too happy. I must go home
and write the whole Scene of his Treachery,
and then on my self act the last
part of the Tragedy.”
With these
Thoughts I bubled my froward Fancy,
and so returning home very weary, I
threw my self on my Bed, where all
my Resentment became a Prey to gentle
Slumbers; which much refresh’d my
weary Body, and more weary Mind;
rendering me a little capable of acting
according to the Dictates of Reason; but G3v 46
but not without a large Mixture of Passion;
that when I awak’d, I writ to
him after this Bizar manner.

“Cousin; I Thought you had been so well acquainted
with my Humour, touching
a Married Life, as to know it to be my
Aversion, therefore wonder you shou’d make
such a Proposal to my Father on your
Friends Behalf: perhaps you will say it
was but in jest, and I believe it was no
more; but I beg you to make something
else the Subject of your Raillery, and
leave me out, till Misbehaviour render
me the proper Object of Ridicule, which
has not hithero; for I have done nothing
dishonourable to my self, nor disobliging to
you; therefore ought rather to be the Object
of Civility than Banter, which perhaps,
Distance and Absence may accomplish;
therefore I beg you will see me no
more, til Fortune commission you by the
Change of your Condition; in the mean
time I shall remain,
Your Kinswoman,
and humble Servant,
Galesia.”
In G4r 47

In the Simplicity of these Words
were a great deal of Cunning, and
under the Shadow of Frowardness, lay
cover’d much Kindness, which I knew
he must discern, if we had any real Affection
for me in his Heart; for Love is
like Ghosts, or Spirits that will appear,
to those to whom they wou’d speak,
and to others are quite invisible. I
pleas’d my self I had taken this Occasion,
at once to command his Absence,
and in a covert manner testify my Affection;
for I knew that was the natural
Interpretation of my Words, “See
me no more”
. For nothing but a real
Mistress cou’d pretend to use them; and
nothing but a fond Mistress cou’d pretend
to be displeas’d at the Presence of a
Kinsman, or a Friend; for having offer’d
an advantageous Marriage in the
Person of his Friend. Here was now no
Medium left, no Space between open
Lover, and open Enemy; here was
now no more Love-Frolicks to be acted
under the Disguise of a Friend, or
Kinsman; if he came to me after such a
Prohibition, he must come upon the
Pikes of my Anger, which he cou’d
not pretend to appease by any other Atonement,
but that of his everlasting Love G4v 48
Love in Marriage-Vows. If he stay’d
away, I had my Ends I had long sought,
the being rid of one that gave me so
much Disquiet. Thus I satisfied my
self in expectation of his Answer, which
came next Day in these Words.

“Madam, I Am extremely astonish’d, to find you
so displeas’d at what pass’d the other
Day, which was no way meant to your
Prejudice, but on the contrary, much to
your Advantage. However, Madam, I
shall not justifie what you are pleas’d to
condemn; but add also to the Testimony of my
Obedience, in submitting to your Prohibition,
and not presume to see you more,
tho’ in it I sequester my self from those
Charms I have so long ador’d; and only at
a Distance admire what your Rigor forbids
me to approach, and so rest,
Madam,
Your Kinsman,
and humble Servant,
Bosvil”
This H1r 49

This his complying with seeing me “no
more”
, gave me the same Satisfaction, that
a Patient has, when his Limbs are cutting
off, the Remedy, and the Disease being
both grievous; however, I know now
what I had to trust to, and therefore
study’d to make a Virtue of this Necessity,
and consolate my self with patient
suffering what I cou’d no ways avoid.
I experienc’d amply the Word of the
Sage, that was all Vanity and Vexation
of Spirit, and every Act of our Lives
Folly, except offer’d to the Glory of
God. I reflected on my late extravagant
Rage, when I design’d his Death,
and knew I ought to cry earnestly to be
deliver’d from Blood-Guiltiness. I retir’d
into my self, and return’d to my
Studies, the Woods, Fields, and Pastures
had the most part of my time;
by which means I became as perfect in
Rural Affairs as any Arcadian Shepherdess;
insomuch, that my Father
gave me absolute Power and Authority
over his Servants and Labourers; it
was I that appointed them their Work,
and pay’d them their Wages; I put in
and put out who I pleas’d; and was as
absolute over my Rusticks, as the great
Turk over his Subjects; and tho’ this H was H1v 50
was a great Fatigue, yet it gratified
my Vanity, that I cou’d perform things
above my Age and Sex; and tho’ it
was an impediment to my Studies, yet it
made amends, it being it self a Study,
and that a most useful one: The Rules
to sow and reap in their proper Seasons,
to know what Pasture is fit for Beeves,
and what for milch’d Kine, with all
their Branches, being a more useful Study
than the exactest Grammar-Rules,
or Longitude, or Latitude, Squaring
the Circle, &c. The Farmer, according
to the Utility of his Occupation,
deserves to hold the first Rank amongst
Mankind: that one may justly reflect
with Veneration on those times, when
Kings and Princes thought it no Derogation
to their Princely Dignities. The
Nobles in ancient times, did not leave
their Country Seats, to become the Habitation
of Jack-daws, and the Manufactory
of Spiders, who in reproach to
their Mistress, prepare Hangings to supply
those the Moth has devoured, thro’
her Negligence, or Absence. But to return
from whence I digress’d. This Rural
Business was so full of Employment, that
its continual Fatigue contributed very
much to the Ease of my Thoughts touch- H2r 51
touching Bosvil. The constant Incumbrance
which attended this Station, left
no space for Love to agitate my Interior.
The Labour of the Day was recompenc’d with sound sleep at Night:
Those silent Hours being pass’d in
Sleep’s Restorative, the Day provided
new Business for my waking Thoughts,
whilst Health and wholsome Food repay’d
this my Industry. Thus in a
Country Life we roll on in a Circle,
like the heavenly Bodies, our Happiness
being seldom eclipsed, unless by the Interposition
of our Follies, or Passions.
Now finding my self daily to get
ground of my sickly Thoughts, I doubted
not of a perfect Recovery. I reflected
on those Words of the Poet, and
with good Reason made their Application.
“Fac monitis fugias otia, &c.” Ovid Remed. Amoris.

Fly Sloth if thou wilt Cupid overthrow,
breaks his Bow,

Sloth points his Darts, but Business

Imployment to his Flames is Ice and Snow.

H2 Cupid H2v 52

Cupid and Venus are to Sloth inclin’d,

From both, in Business, thou may’st safety
find,

For Love gives place, where Business fills
the Mind.

Morever, that which contributed
much to this Victory over my self, was
the Return of my Brother from France;
his dear Company which I had long
wanted, fill’d my Heart with Joy, and
exerminated that Melancholy, which
had too long perplex’d me: the little
Rarities he brought adorn’d my Person
and garnish’d my Closet; he frequently
entertain’d me with the Description of
Places, and Customs of France, in particular
Convents, and their way of
living, which I so admir’d, that I
wish’d for such Places in England,
which if there had been, ’tis certain I
had then become a Nun, and under a
holy Veil buried all Thoughts of Bosvil.
In this my Brother’s dear Company
I daily improv’d my Studies, so as
to begin to understand an Author, and
none pleas’d me more than those of Physick,
all which serv’d to fill my Head with
Notions, and perhaps my Heart with
Pride, at best but a mispending of time; Learn- H3r 53
Learning being neither of Use not Ornament
in our Sex. Some counting a
studious Woman as ridiculous as an effeminate
Man, and learned Books as
unfit for her Appartment, as Paint,
Washes, and Patches for his. In fine,
the Men will not allow it to be our
Sphere; so consequently, we can never
be suppos’d to move in it gracefully;
but like the Toad in the Fable, that affected
to swell it self as big as the Ox,
and so burst in the Enterprize: But let
the World confine, or enlarge Learning
as they please, I care not; I do not regret
the time I bestow’d in its Company,
it having been my good Friend, to
bail me from Bosvil’s Fetters, tho’ I am
not so generous, by way of Return, to
pass my word for its good Behaviour in
our Sex always, and in all Persons.

Now Bosvil having been sometime
absent, our Family, Friends, and
Neighbours, began to take notice of it;
and more especially at my Brother’s Return,
when every body came to bid him
welcome, not only the Gentlemen, but
even the Ladies, at least to congratulate
my Mother, on his safe Arrival.

Now, it was that his pretended Mistress,
the fair Lowland was marry’d, which H3v 54
which you will believe was a certain
Satisfacrion to me, as Mischief is to
Witches, though they get nothing by
it; much as I long’d to banter, and insult
him on this Occasion; but his constant
Absence depriv’d me of that Pleasure.
However, I cou’d not pass over such a
Field of full ripe Content, without
cropping some few Ears. Wherefore I
writ him a Letter in a counterfeit Character,
and withal sent him a Willow‑
Garland, to crown on the forsaken Lover,
which indeed was so well made of Gumwork,
that one might take it for a real
Branch of that forsaken Tree. This,
with divers other Emblems, and Motto’s,
I sent him to London by the Carrier.

How he receiv’d this, I know not,
neither did I care; but I was told afterwards
that he laugh’d, and told his
Friends what a pretty Present he had
receiv’d from an unknown Hand; and
withal that he wou’d secure himself
from the like Attacks, by his speedy
Marriage; and accordingly proceeded
with a young Gentlewoman at London:
And at his Return acquainted his
Friends, and in particular, a young
Gentlewoman of our Relation, who, with H4r 55
with many others, mistrusted him of
an Amour with me; but I not having
told her of it, who was in all things
else my Confident, she laid aside that
Thought, especially now since he declar’d
to her this his approaching Nuptials.
However, she and every body of
our Acquaintance was amaz’d at his
long Absence from our House, and ask’d
him the Cause; to which he answer’d
indirectly, and with divers Shuffles;
but the virtuous Towrissa (our said
Cousin) press’d him from time to time,
till he, no longer able to resist her Importunities,
told her, that his Cousin
Galesia had forbid him; at which she
was much surpriz’d, but said it shou’d
not rest so; for (said she) “I will have
you go to her with me this very Day,
that I may obtain the Blessing of a Peacemaker.”
He comply’d with her, and
came to make me a Visit; our Interview,
after a whole Year’s Absence,
was surprizing to us both, for we
trembl’d, blush’d, and flatter’d in our
Words, that it was with utmost
Difficulty we perform’d the Civilities
of the Occasion. Ater being
seated, I remember he gaz’d with all
the Eagerness, or rather Distraction of youth- H4v 56
youthful Eyes, instigated by a tender
Passion; which so dazled and confounded
me, that I was every moment afraid
that I shou’d sink down in the
midst of the Company, who sat talking
of things indifferent. Having for some
time thus planted the Batteries of our
Eyes against each other’s Hearts; he
gave the first Shot by a deep Sigh, saying,
“O cursed Love, that will never
leave a Man”
; and rose from his Seat,
as it were, to disperse those Vapours
which seem’d to oppress him; to which
I reply’d (foolisshly enough, with a
feign’d Laugh, to stifle a real Sigh)
that I hop’d he had no reason to complain
of Love’s Tyranny; “yes, yes”, said
our Cousin Towrissa, “know you not,
that our Cousin Bosvil is shortly to be
marry’d, so thinks every Moment a
Martyrdom till the Day arrives; therefore,
dear Cousin”
(continu’d she) “get
your self Dancing-Shoes, if you mean to
be a Bride-Maid, &c.”
to which my
Mother gravely answer’d that it must
needs be a great Satisfaction to his Parents,
to see him their only Child well
settled.

What a Shock this Discourse gave
me I cannot describe, but ’tis certain I never I1r 57
never felt any thing like it; behold now,
my Lucasia what was become of all
my Resolutions, and fancy’d Indifferency;
see what all my Anger, Fury,
Scorn, Revenge, prohibiting him to see
me, the fancied Satisfaction I took in
his Absence, behold, I say, what all
this came to, even just as much as the
Lord Rochester says of Court Promises,
and Whores Vows, which all “End in
Nothing”
; so these my Resolutions were
all meer Gossomers, compos’d of Vapours,
and carry’d about with an airy Fancy,
and next Day reduced to Nothing; but
thus it is in most things of Human Life,
we know not our selves, nor our own
Incapacity; we think our selves able to
perform this or that, or look even Death
in the Face; and when we have most
need of our imaginary Fortitude, we find
our selves most destitute, and feeble, as
I experienc’d in this Rencounter: for I
was ready to die in the place, but durst
not remove, fearing my Legs shou’d
fail me; which I perceiv’d all in Convulsions,
and trembling; I was like a
Horse in a Stable on fire, burnt if he
stays, yet dares not go out; at last
holding by the Tables, and the Chairs,
with feign’d Smiles in my Face, and I jocose I1v 58
jocose Words in my Mouth; I made a
shift to pass this Gantlet, and get into
my Chamber, where God only was
Witness of my Complaints and Succour.
In the midst of my Sighs and Tears, I
threw my self on my Bed, roll’d on the
Floor, hop’d that every Cramp I felt
wou’d be my Death’s Convulsion, utter’d
a thousand Imprecations against
him, and my hard Fortune; and contrary
to that Philosopher, who thank’d
the God that had made him a Man, and
not a Beast, I say quite contrary to
him; I wish’d my self unsprung of Human Race, Rather than feel so piercing a Disgrace; For what is more disgraceful to a Maid, What Pangs so sharp her tortur’d Soul
invade,
As this sad Curse——Deserted and
betray’d
Thou Heav’n alone my Innocent can’st
know,
The World will ne’er believe that I am so, ’Tis contradictory to Human Thought, That Love from vertuous Principles is
wrought,
That I2r 59 That nobler Passions are from Sense refin’d,
And Reason over-rules the youthful Mind, But Heav’n knows all, and knows my
higher Soul,
Did ev’ry meaner End of Love controul, Knows the just Schemes of my intended
Life,
The Chast, the Chearful, and the Vertuous
Wife.
To be a Matron, to my Houshold Good, A helpful Neighbour in my Neighbourhood,
With hospitable Table, open Door, One for my Friends, the other for the Poor: Then teach my Family to lead good Lives, And be a Pattern unto other Wives; In doing which a general Good I do, When Wives are good, they make good
Husbands too,
Thus by degrees might all Mankind be so.
But Fate, or Fortune, call it what you
please,
Takes cruel Sport in baffling Schemes like
these;
Thus all my secret Plots and Mines are
crost,
The Babel ruin’d, and the Builder lost; I2 The I2v 60 The tow’ring Notions from their airy
Height,
Are fall’n, and Scorn is added to the
Weight.
Methinks I hear the People pointing say, That, that’s the fond, but scorn’d Galesia. That’s she whose Beauty once the Youth
inspir’d,
She whom the gazing Scholars Eyes admir’d,
For whom the flutt’ring Gallants of the
Gown,
Despis’d their Idol Beauties of the Town. Behold her now abandon’d and forlorn, The idle Object of each Rustic’s Scorn; O thus to live, what Female Heart can
bear,
No, no, I’ll first my self in pieces tear, And first begin with this dishevel’d
Hair.

After this Hurricane, and divers
Gusts of Sighs and Tears, I began to
flatter my Fancy, that all this might
be a Composition, like that of Lowland,
and no more of Truth in this his London
Mistress, than in that of Mistress Lowland;
who was now actually married
to another Man: And when by this
means the Torments of my distorted Mind I3r 61
Mind was a little appeas’d, I endeavour’d
to clear my Countenance, wash’d
my Face, took Air at the Window, and
so went down again to the Company;
some time pass’d in Discourse of things
indifferent; then Bosvil took leave,
and went that Night to his Father’s
House.

Towrissa stay’d to bear me Company,
and was my Bed-fellow that Night,
the greatest part of which we pass’d in
Discourse of Bosvil, she relating to me
how seriously he had told her, and her
Mother of his intended Marriage, together
with all the Circumstance of Portion
and Jointure, Description of the
Lady’s Person, and Family, &c. that
there was no place left for doubt, for any
one but me, who had the Eyes of
my Understanding shut, and seal’d up
by the former Farce he had acted about
Mrs. Lowland. Nevertheless, I suffer’d
great Distractions in my Mind; and
when length of Prattle had lull’d Towrissa
asleep, I only refresh’d my weary
Spirits with weeping.

After two or three Days, the News
arriv’d that Bosvil was sick of a continu’d
Fever, even so bad, that all despair’d
of his Life. This was a new Stroke I3v 62
Stroke of Fortune, and she was arm’d
with a Weapon, against which I had
never contended; and at the same time
was angry at my self for grieving. Ah
foolish Galesia (said I to my self) ah
silly Girl, to grieve for him who deserves
thy Scorn, and Hatred, for him that
has robb’d thee of thy Quiet three whole
Years, for him that swore to love thee,
that languish’d, and dy’d at thy Feet,
expressly to make thee miserable; for
him that obstructed the Amours of the
first and second Brafort, that thy Ruin
might be the more compleat; for him
that was treated by thy hospitable Parents,
more like their own Child than
an adventitious Guest, by which the
Traitor had Opportunity to steal away
the Heart of their only Daughter! and
is it possible that thou shou’dst grieve
for such a Wretch as this? one that
Heaven has now mark’d with its just
Vengeance, and has sent this Sickness as
a Scourge for his Falshood
. But not withstanding
all this, I must grieve and
pray for him, which I am sure I did
with more Eagerness than ever I pray’d
for my own Soul; in which I did but
pay a Devotion which he had advanc’d,
for he has often assur’d me, that he offer’dfer’d I4r 63
me daily in his Prayers. The Consideration
of which holy Kindness made
me redouble my Request to Heaven to
spare his Life; tho’ at the same time I
had much rather he shou’d have dy’d,
than not live mine: However, I did
not pretend to capitulate with the Almighty,
but ask’d his Life in general
Terms, without including or excluding
her Person, which by Intervals, I hop’d
might yet one Day be mine; for I still
bubled my Fancy that he loved me,
and that the Sight of me, after so long
Absence, was the genuin Cause of this
his Illness, and then made wild Resolutions
to visit him, fancied my self
there, figured to my self the Transports
of Joy he wou’d be in to see me so
kind, imagin’d his Father and Mother,
embracing me as their proper Child;
then immediately drawing the Curtain,
behold my self rejected by them as
the Plague of their Family, perhaps refus’d,
and slighted by him, rebuk’d and
wonder’d at for my coming, scorn’d
and laugh’d at by all the World, severely
treated by my Parents, or perhaps
out of hopes of ever seeing them again;
for I very well believ’d there was no
Medium after such an Exploit, between being I4v 64
being receiv’d by his Parents, and abandon’d
by my own; and for me to
have propos’d this Visit to them, I
knew was vain, having no Pretence to
justify the Request, the whole Amour
having been one continu’d Act of Folly
on the one side, and Treachery on
the other; and the last Scene a Declaration
of Scorn instead of Kindness; he
having own’d in presence of my Mother,
and other Friends, his Design of
marrying another. And then repeat in
my Thoughts all his Crimes, and with
my best Malice enlarge upon his Treachery,
Falshood, Cruelty, &c. look
upon him Dead by the Hand of Heaven,
just and good in taking him away, from
a Possibility of accomplishing his Perjury
in his pretended Marriage; then
in an instant, turn over the Leaf, and
read him dead as my faithful Lover,
recount all the tender Words and Actions
that had pass’d in our three Years
Conversation; blame all my feign’d Indifference,
and forc’d Coldness towards
him; I fancy he thought on me in his
Agony, and named me with his dying
Breath; conceit I saw his much grieved
Parents cursing me as the Author of
their Affliction; and after a thousand of K1r 65
of these tragical Notions, which presented
themselves to my distracted Imagination,
my Fancy wou’d open another
Scene, and make me think I saw
him alive, and happy in the Arms of
his London Mistress, living in all the Felicities
that a happy Espousals cou’d
procure. Thus my Thoughts play’d at
Racket, and seldom minded the Line of
Reason, my Mind labor’d under a
perpetual shaking Palsy of Hope and
Fear, my whole Interiour was nothing
but Distraction and Uncertainty. At
last I resolved to send a Messenger secretly
to see how he did, in which I did
a vast Penance for all the proud Actions
of my Life; for nothing cou’d be
harder, than to be obliged to such a
Person, in making him the Confident
of my Affection. However, at this
time I did Violence to my Nature, and
order’d one of my Father’s Men to go
secretly on this Errand; but first I order’d
him to go to my Cousin Bosvil’s
own Dwelling, which was near us,
and there enquire after his Health, and
if there be heard of his being better, then
to go no farther, otherwise, to go on his
way to Bosvil’s Father’s House. The
Man perform’d my Orders exactly, and K hearing K1v 66
hearing at this Place that he was somewhat
better, went no farther; with
which I remain’d satisfy’d, till time
brought him to our House perfectly recover’d.
But ah! this Recovery was a
Death to all my Hopes, for the first Use
he made of his new restor’d Health, was
to go marry his Mistress at London, making
our House in the way, and me the
Auditor of that horrid News, which at
first shock’d me; but I had been so often
put upon by false Alarms, that I was
now grown like the Country-men to
the Shepherds in the Fable, who, when
the Wolf really came, stir’d not, having
been often deluded by the Shepherds,
and call’d without Occasion; for
I thought it impossible that he cou’d
come to tell me such News to my Face.
But what is most astonishing, I have
been told since, that in his Sickness he
gave all he had to me, and recommended
me to his Parents as their proper
Child; and they promis’d to receive
me as such. Now after all this,
to go directly after his Sickness and be
married to another, is a Transaction
most unaccountable. However, I knew
nothing of this at that time, for I was
told it afterwards, and that he had been ex- K2r 67
extreamly concern’d on my Account in
this his Sickness. However, ignorant as
I was of these Circumstances, I did
not in the least believe, that his going
to London (when he pass’d by our
House) was to be married, but look’d
upon it as a meer Jest or Banter, such
as was that of Mrs. Lowland and others;
wherefore I cou’d not pass over
this Subject of Frolick or Mirth, without
adding to the Jest; as I had sent
him a Willow-Garland upon the Marriage
of his pretended Mrs. Lowland; so
now I sent him a pretty Pair of Horns,
neatly made of Bugles, by which I
meant to joke and banter him on this his
pretended Marriage; but alas! it proved
more than a Pretence, and the
Horns came to him just upon his Wedding
Day, in the Presence of his Bride,
and all the Guest; as also several roguish
Emblems and Motto’s, the Horns being
fastned to a Head-band, as a most sovereign
Remedy for the Head-ach, to
which marry’d Men are often very subject,
especially those that are wedded to
Coquets; and all which, I protest, was
without the least Design of Malice, of
thinking in the least, that he was really
to be married, but thought I only render’dK2 der’d K2v 68
Jest for Jest, believing his Discourse
of Marriage had only been a Banter or
Amusement, such as that of Mrs. Lowland,
and the rest before-mention’d.

Now though all this came from an
unknown Hand, no Question but he
believ’d it came from me; and by his
Behaviour I concluded as much, for he
always avoided my Presence, and
shun’d my Company as much as possible,
almost to the Breach of common
Civility; by which I fancied I was the
Object of his Aversion, but a Confident
of his assur’d me the contrary, and that
Bosvil had told him, that Love had taken
such firm Root in his Soul, that in
spight of all his Efforts, even Marriage
it self, he cou’d not eradicate it; and
therefore avoided my Presence, because
he cou’d not see me with Indifferency.
Moreover, he told him what Conflicts
he underwent during his Sickness; but
at his Recovery, finding that I had taken
no notice of him, he resolved to
shake off his Fetters, and abandon one
who had never shew’d any Kindness
to him, but treated him always
with such an Air of Indifference, as
was rather the Effect of Prudence than
Affection; and that he had invented that K3r 69
that Story of Mrs. Lowland, to try if
Jealousie wou’d work upon me; but all
my Conduct had been with so much
Caution and Circumspection, quite different
from Passion or Tenderness, that
he thought (with others) that all amorous
Inclinations were bury’d with
Brafort, and that he cou’d never hope
farther than for a second Place in my
Affections. How far all this was sincere
or pretended, I know not, I rather
think he made it a Handle for his
own Falshood; for Love is apt to interpret
things in its own Favour; and
Men believe Women to be forwarder
than they really are, taking even Complaisance
and Civilities for Affection;
but he thought fit to take hold of another
Handle, the better to stifle his own
Falshood, and hide it from the sight of
my Friends, by laying the Blame on
me. But to return; he was marry’d at
London, and brought home his Bride.
Now it was that I was forc’d to act the
Part of Patient Grizell, and go with other
Relations to bid her welcome,
throw the Stocking, eat Sack-posset,
and perform all the Farce of a wellpleas’d
Kinswoman; invite her to our
House, prepare Dinners and Treats for her, K3v 70
her, and in all things seem easy and satisfy’d;
all this I was constrain’d to do,
or lay my Disgrace open to all the
World.

Thus, my Lucasia, I have brought
you to the Confines of my Story; how
far I stand justify’d or condemn’d in
your Thoughts, I know not, but I remember
nothing in which I can accuse
my self, even now that I am free from
Passion, and capable to make a serious
Reflection.

“The only thing” (reply’d Lucasia)
“that I blame you for is, that you did
not consult your Mother, whose Wisdom
might have found out a way to have
accommodated things to all your Satisfactions.”
“Alas” (answer’d Galesia) “I often
reflected on that, but thought
it his Business, or his Parents, to discover
it to mine, and always expected such
an Address; for if I had told my Father
and Mother, I shou’d but have embarass’d
them in a disagreeable Business,
for it ill befitted them to proffer their
Daughter in Marriage; however, I
now believe it the safest and most commendable
way in any the like Case, and
if I was to act the Part over again, I
shou’d certainly proceed on that footing, and K4r 71
and in so doing my Duty, find a good
Event from the Hand of Providence;
for I believe wiser Heads than mine
wou’d have been nonplus’d in a Case so
Bizar, and found enough to do a pass
thro’ such a Labyrinth as Bosvil’s subtle
Turnings had compos’d. Thus I
have impartially pointed out to you this
unhappy Scene of my Life, which the
Bell now ringing to Prayers shall put a
Period to.”

Finis.

K4v

Books lately printed for E. Curll.