I have begun another letter to thee, in continuation of my narrative:
but I believe I shall send thee this before I shall finish that. By the
enclosed thou wilt see, that neither of the correspondents deserve
mercy from me: and I am resolved to make the ending with one the
beginning with the other.
If thou sayest that the provocations I have given to one of them will
justify her freedoms; I answer, so they will, to any other person but
myself. But he that is capable of giving those provocations, and has
the power to punish those who abuse him for giving them, will show his
resentment; and the more remorselessly, perhaps, as he has deserved the
freedoms.
If thou sayest, it is, however, wrong to do so; I reply, that it is
nevertheless human nature:—And wouldst thou not have me to be a man,
Jack?
Here read the letter, if thou wilt. But thou art not my friend, if thou
offerest to plead for either of the saucy creatures, after thou hast
read it.