Ceux qui ne sont gens de bien qu'en apparence--sont obliges de
se contraindre, beaucoup, et de garder de grandes mesures, afin
de passer pour se qu'ils ne sont pas.
[Abbe Claude Le Ragois: _Instruction sur l'histoire de France et
romaine_ (1737): Proverbes ou Sentences:
Ceux qui ne sont gens de bien qu'en aparence, sont obligez de
se contraindre beaucoup, & de garder de grandes mesures, afin de
passer pour ce qu'ils ne sont pas....]
Alida ruminated on her lonely situation. She reflected on former days,
and the many happy hours that had gone by for ever, when the roses of
health had arrayed her cheeks, and gay thought had filled her fancy, and
every object was decked with the charms of fascination, when her heart
was unacquainted with sorrow, and experienced serenity and happiness
without alloy. She deplored the loss of a kind father; in him she was
deprived of a friend, who could never be again supplied to her, and in
whose society her mind was in a constant progressive state of
improvement. His filial affection, his kindness, his watchful endeavours
for her welfare, were evinced by a careful anxiety and pains to
enlighten her mind with those qualities and acquirements, that would be
most conducive to enlarge her sphere of usefulness in life, and furnish
her with the means of rational pleasure, and to blend with her personal
appearance the more fascinating charms of a well-improved understanding.
[_NY Weekly_: Essayist No. II:
To review the transactions of former days, the many sportive hours
which have long been past.... 'Twas then health and beauty bloomed
upon the cheek, and every object was decked with the charms of
fascination. 'Twas then the heart ignorant of vice and unacquainted
with sorrow or misfortune, enjoyed every pleasure without alloy.]
[Hannah More: On Dissipation:
.... She who dedicates a portion of her leisure to useful reading,
feels her mind in a constant progressive state of improvement....]
[[This is the only identified passage from Hannah More. The text
may have been reprinted in a periodical such as the New-York
Weekly.]]
[_NY Weekly_: Domestic Felicity:
.... Maria, who has only completed fourteen, to a beautiful
countenance, joins the more fascinating charms of a well-improved
understanding....]
She mourned his loss at a residence where every object recalled him
continually to her remembrance. She was wholly absorbed in melancholy,
and amid these sad ideas that agitated her bosom alternately, Bonville
arrived from the neighbouring village, and her attention was for a time
diverted, and she was relieved from a train of painful reflections. Her
brother had a long conversation with him respecting Theodore, and
wondered how it happened that his friend Raymond had never received any
intelligence from him.
Bonville seemed much embarrassed at these observations of Albert, and it
was some length of time before he made any reply. Then biting his lips,
and putting on an air of displeasure, he said that he had actually
thought of going to England himself, to trace him out, and ascertain the
cause of his strange conduct. Then assuming a look of insignificance,
accompanied with several speeches in double entendre, he remained in
sullen silence.
The conduct of Theodore certainly, thought Alida, is mysterious and
singular, and his long silence is truly unaccountable, and the idea of
ever meeting him again with these different impressions, that at present
bore sway over her mind, agitated her greatly. In happier days, when her
hopes had rested on him in full confidence, she thought herself
sufficiently strong to bear every other evil; but to be assured of his
inconstancy, was an idea she could scarcely endure.
Although Albert might decidedly be called a person of discernment, still
he had not yet fully discovered the deceptive powers of Bonville, whose
many evil propensities were in a manner concealed, by a condescending
courtesy and affability; though his mind inherited ill-nature and
sarcasm in the extreme.
The sprightliness of his manners, mingled with a certain degree of
humour and generous sentiments, occasionally mingling with his
discourse, threw a veil over his imperfections, and excited one's
admiration.
Albert thought him ungenerous for many scandalous assertions concerning
Theodore, and he still hoped he might again arrive on his native shores,
and be able to answer all suggestions to his disadvantage.
Alida had never discerned his real character, therefore she reposed full
confidence in all he said. His behaviour to her was respectful, and his
exterior extremely prepossessing. He appeared all goodness and
benevolence, and ever expressed the most generous sentiments towards
those he pretended to censure.
These deceitful appearances were joined with a semblance of piety; and
he could at any time make himself appear to advantage, by the display of
a variety of superficial knowledge. He was proud to excess, as if he
really possessed qualities to be proud of. One would scarcely suppose
that such a person could be capable of true attachment, but so it
certainly was; that knowing the many imperfections of his own nature,
caused him more deeply to revere the opposite qualities in Alida, and
the idea of shortly gaining her hand, carried his senses to such a pitch
of enthusiasm, that it would not be thought strange to suppose, that the
disappointment of his pride would overwhelm him with lasting dismay.
The superior excellence of Theodore furnished a mark for the calumny of
Bonville, supposing his own success depended on the disparagement of the
other. Thus envy is usually led to asperse what it cannot imitate; and
the little mind scandalizes the pre-eminence of its neighbour, and
endeavours to depreciate the good qualities that it cannot attain to.
Thus the distempered eye is impatient of prevailing brightness, and by
attempting to observe the lucid object, inadvertently betrays its own
weakness; and persons of their unhappy complexion, regard all praises
conferred upon another, as derogatory from their own value. And a person
without merit may live without envy; but who would wish to escape it on
these terms!
[_NY Weekly_: Detraction:
Superior excellence is the general mark for calumny; and envy is
usually led to asperse what it cannot imitate. A little mind is
scandalized at the pre-eminence of its neighbour, and endeavours to
depreciate the virtues which it cannot attain to. Thus the
distempered eye is impatient of prevailing brightness; and, by
attempting to observe the lucid object, inadvertently betrays its
own weakness. Pride is the fruitful parent of Detraction; and it is
the unjust estimate which men set upon themselves, that generates in
their minds this ridiculous contempt of greater worth. Persons of
this unhappy complexion regard all praises conferred upon another as
derogatory from their own value.]
[_NY Weekly_: Moral Maxims:
A man without merit may live without envy; but who would wish to
escape on these terms?]