252 [=254]

[252]

[Letters Historical and Galant. Vol. 4.]

relate the sad adventure of her Lover. It was given out in the Country, that falling from his horse one of his Pistols went off,
and Shot him through the head; but this was only in Common discourse; people knew how it was well enough, tho' they made as
if they did not. The Father then repented of his too great Severity, and afterwards endeavored to Comfort himself with his
younger Children for the Loss of this Eldest. This Scene happened in one of the Provinces I have been in since I left you, and
as I was telling this story the other day in our little Society, a Gentleman of Bravant told us, that he recollected something
parallel in his own Neighbourhood.

"The Marquis of **, said he, whose Good Conduct is so much admired at present, was not near so wise when he
"was but fifteen or Sixteen Years of Age. He was more beautiful than the God of Love, and thought that all the Belle's he
"should ever speak to, could not but fall in love with him. An Errour our Young people generally fall into, when they are
"once persuaded of all their merit. This one in Question, thought proper to have a passion for one of his friends Sisters.
"The Lady spared him one half of the Difficulties that one meets with on such occasions: he had the liberty of seeing his mis
"tress at all hours, of making parties of pleasure with her, and his passion had a thousand Conveniences under the Auspices
"of friendship. But our Galant was not contented with this, he would be loved in another manner: so one day, when he had ob-
"tained leave to carry his Mistress behind him on horseback to the Sambre side; for this scene passed in the County of Namure, he
"took his time to let her know his real Sentiments ---- "Madamoiselle, said he to her, I am the happyest man in the World! I
"love you! I have the pleasure of telling you so without giving you offence! Nay I every day receive obliging Marks of your
"favours; however, I am not so content as another might possibly be in my place, and the Delicacy of my heart, makes me de-
"sirous to obtain from yours, what I am afraid I owe to the Intimacy between your brother and me: In short, I want a
"passion independant of friendship! and do you see whether you be in the humour to Answer my tenderness? I proposed
"the Party we are now upon, to know upon what footing I am with you, and to act accordingly ----" The Lady answered
"him in the tone of the Clelia's and Cassandras, and received this first declaration almost in the same terms: he could never
"bring her to consent to the Correspondence of Billetdoux, and our Marquis was so incensed at the bad reception his Vows
"met with, that he answered this cruel one, that He was in despair that ever he addressed them to her, and to punish himself
"for his weakness, was resolved to throw himself with her into the Sambre; at the same time, He spurr'd his horse towards the
"River; but the Animal would not take his advice, and his disobedience, saved the life of one of the honestest men we have in
"Paris. The Poor Mistress in a tremble made him a thousand protestations of tenderness as long as they were near the
"River; but as soon as she saw her self out of danger, she leaped from the horse, retracted all that fear made her say, and
"swore never to expose her self to such an adventure again. The Marquis at first was highly incensed, but it was not his fate
"to meet with cruel ones always, he had soon an opportunity to console himself for the bad success of his first passion, and I
"wold venture to lay a Wager, that this moment, he would neither hang nor drown himself, for the Rigours of the finest Wo-
"man in the world. ---

"This is the way one ought to behave, says a Dane who was one of our Company, and I love those lovers that find the
"secret of keeping themselves always safe and sound, notwithstanding the Violent Resolutions we see them make: for as the Opera
"says, In Love No greater Crime can be, than Lovers in despair." This Reflection of the Dane drew some Railleries
upon him: we told him that the Climate of his Country had without doubt an influence over him, that Love was not to go in quest
of Martyrs to the North, and that it was not surprising that one should love with more vivacity in places less frozen than those where
he first saw the day. We ask'd him if he was not related to the Danish Chevalier that helped to force away Reinaud from the Pa-
lace of Armida. He bore all our pleasantries very well, and always insisted upon what he siad, which, as it was very reasonable,
could not be long contested. We changed the Conversation, and as we had been a little free with his Country, he told us several
thigns, that undeceived me of the prejudices I formerly had about it; for I thought, for Example, that at a certain time of the Year it
was always night in Copenhagen the Capital of Denmark, but find tis all false. This is one of those prejudices which Ig-
norance and too great Credulity make us fall into, and which I have no great trouble to be disabused in. I also learned several
particulars of that Country which I never heard mentioned before: for instance, one very particular Circumstance, that when a
Dane marries his daughter, after specifying in the Contract the fortune he gives her, he adds, item such and Such a Castle
situated in such a place in Ireland, which they describe, and name as if it was in their disposal; and this because Ireland
formerly belonged to the Danes, and they think they ought to preserve their rights by keeping up those vain titles. I don't know
whether they are right or wrong in this, but I know very well that this is their Constant practise.

You see Madam, how I transport you to places I never was in my self, and give you as it were the Map of Erope, I
may possibly carry you farther some time or other; but for this time, I must get into bed, for I am almost dead for want of
Sleep. I am apt to think, at the hour it is, you ought to be so too, for tis reasonably late. Adieu then madam, let us all
Go to sleep. --- Ah, how comfortable a Nap is. I am, Madam, Your &c.

[Letter. lxviii. From Paris.]

You are right Madam; No misfortunes are greater than those that are the Consequences of Guilt. In this