This agreeable seat is surrounded with so many pleasing
walks, which are struck out of a wood, in the midst
of which the house stands, that one can hardly ever be
weary of rambling from one labyrinth of delight to another. (20)
To one used to live in a city, the charms of the country
are so exquisite that the mind is lost in a certain transport
which raises us above ordinary life, and yet is not
strong enough to be inconsistent with tranquillity. This
state of mind was I in, ravished with the murmur of waters,
the whisper of breezes, the singing of birds; and whether (134: 5)
I looked up to the heavens, down on the earth, or turned
on the prospects around me, still struck with new sense of
pleasure; when I found, by the voice of my friend, who
walked by me, that we had insensibly strolled into the
grove sacred to the widow. (10)
"This woman," says he, "is of all others the most
unintelligible: she either designs to marry, or she does
not. What is the most perplexing of all is that she doth
not either say to her lovers she has any resolution against
that condition of life in general, or that she banishes (15)
them; but, conscious of her own merit, she permits their
addresses without fear of any ill consequence or want of
respect from their rage or despair. She has that in her
aspect against which it is impossible to offend. A man
whose thoughts are constantly bent upon so agreeable (20)
an object must be excused if the ordinary occurrences
in conversation are below his attention. I call her indeed
perverse; but, alas! why do I call her so? Because her
superior merit is such that I cannot approach her without
awe, that my heart is checked by too much esteem; I am (25)
angry that her charms are not more accessible, that I am
more inclined to worship than salute her. How often
have I wished her unhappy that I might have an opportunity
of serving her; and how often troubled in that very
imagination, at giving her the pain of being obliged!
Well, I have led a miserable life in secret upon her
account; but fancy she would have condescended to
have some regard for me if it had not been for that
watchful animal, her confidante. (135: 5)
"Of all persons under the sun," continued he, calling
me by name, "be sure to set a mark upon confidantes;
they are of all people the most impertinent. What is most
pleasant[95] to observe in them is that they assume to themselves
the merit of the persons whom they have in their (10)
custody. Orestilla is a great fortune, and in wonderful
danger of surprises; therefore full of suspicions of the least
indifferent thing, particularly careful of new acquaintance,
and of growing too familiar with the old. Themista, her
favourite woman, is every whit as careful of whom she (15)
speaks to, and what she says. Let the ward be a beauty,
her confidante shall treat you with an air of distance; let
her be a fortune, and she assumes the suspicious behaviour
of her friend and patroness. Thus it is that very many
of our unmarried women of distinction are to all intents (20)
and purposes married, except the consideration of different
sexes. They are directly under the conduct of their
whisperer, and think they are in a state of freedom while
they can prate with one of these attendants of all men in
general, and still avoid the man they most like.[96] You do (25)
not see one heiress in a hundred whose fate does not
turn upon this circumstance of choosing a confidante.
Thus it is that the lady is addressed to,[97] presented,[98] and
flattered, only by proxy, in her woman. In my case, how
is it possible that--"
[95] Amusing.
[96] Improve the arrangement of clauses here.
[97] Addressed, courted.
[98] Given presents.
Sir Roger was proceeding in his harangue, when we
heard the voice of one speaking very importunately, and (136: 5)
repeating these words: "What, not one smile?" We followed
the sound till we came to a close thicket, on the
other side of which we saw a young woman sitting as it
were in a personated[99] sullenness just over a transparent
fountain. Opposite to her stood Mr. William, Sir Roger's (10)
master of the game. The knight whispered me, "Hist,
these are lovers!" The huntsman, looking earnestly at
the shadow of the young maiden in the stream: "O
thou dear picture! if thou couldst remain there in the
absence of that fair creature whom you represent in the (15)
water, how willingly could I stand here satisfied for ever,
without troubling my dear Betty herself with any mention
of her unfortunate William, whom she is angry with;
but alas! when she pleases to be gone, thou wilt also
vanish;--yet let me talk to thee while thou dost stay. (20)
Tell my dearest Betty thou dost not more depend upon
her than does her William; her absence will make
away with me as well as thee. If she offers to remove
thee, I'll jump into these waves to lay hold on thee;
her, herself, her own dear person, I must never embrace (25)
again. Still do you hear me without one smile?--it is
too much to bear." He had no sooner spoke these
words, but he made an offer of throwing himself into the
water; at which his mistress started up, and at the next
instant he jumped across the fountain and met her in an (137: 5)
embrace. She, half recovering from her fright, said in
the most charming voice imaginable, and with a tone of
complaint, "I thought how well you would drown yourself.
No, no, you won't drown yourself till you have
taken your leave of Susan Holliday." The huntsman, (10)
with a tenderness that spoke the most passionate love,
and with his cheek close to hers, whispered the softest
vows of fidelity in her ear, and cried, "Don't, my dear,
believe a word Kate Willow says; she is spiteful and
makes stories, because she loves to hear me talk to herself (15)
for your sake."
[99] Assumed: notice how this meaning comes directly from the etymology
of the word.
"Look you there," quoth Sir Roger, "do you see
there, all mischief comes from confidantes! But let us
not interrupt them; the maid is honest, and the man
dare not be otherwise, for he knows I loved her father; (20)
I will interpose in this matter, and hasten the wedding.
Kate Willow is a witty, mischievous wench in the neighborhood,
who was a beauty; and makes me hope I shall
see the perverse widow in her condition. She was so
flippant with her answers to all the honest fellows that (25)
came near her, and so very vain of her beauty, that she
has valued herself upon her charms till they are ceased.
She therefore now makes it her business to prevent other
young women from being more discreet than she was
herself; however, the saucy thing said the other day
well enough, 'Sir Roger and I must make a match, for
we are both despised by those we loved.' The hussy
has a great deal of power wherever she comes, and has
her share of cunning. (138: 5)
"However, when I reflect upon this woman,[100] I do not
know whether, in the main, I am the worse for having
loved her; whenever she is recalled to my imagination,
my youth returns, and I feel a forgotten warmth in my
veins. This affliction in my life has streaked all my conduct (10)
with a softness of which I should otherwise have
been incapable. It is, perhaps, to this dear image in
my heart owing, that I am apt to relent, that I easily
forgive, and that many desirable things are grown into
my temper which I should not have arrived at by better (15)
motives than the thought of being one day hers. I am
pretty well satisfied such a passion as I have had is never
well cured; and between you and me, I am often apt to
imagine it has had some whimsical effect upon my brain. For
I frequently find that in my most serious discourse I let (20)
fall some comical familiarity of speech or odd phrase that
makes the company laugh; however,[101] I cannot but allow
she is a most excellent woman. When she is in the
country, I warrant she does not run into dairies, but
reads upon the nature of plants; but has a glass hive, (25)
and comes into the garden out of books[102] to see them[103] work,
and observe the policies of their commonwealth. She
understands everything. I'd give ten pounds to hear her
argue with my friend Sir Andrew Freeport about trade.
No, no; for all she looks so innocent, as it were, take
my word for it, she is no fool." T. (139: 5)
[100] The widow, not the hussy.
[101] What is the force of this word here?
[102] _I.e_. leaves her books to come into the garden.
[103] What is the antecedent?