The Best of the Worlds Classics, Restricted to Prose | Page 6

cross the country, and wait
upon her. As soon as I thought my retinue suitable to the character of
my fortune and youth, I set out from hence to make my addresses. The
particular skill of this lady has ever been to inflame your wishes, and
yet command respect. To make her mistress of this art, she has a greater
share of knowledge, wit, and good sense, than is usual even among
men of merit. Then she is beautiful beyond the race of women. If you

will not let her go on with a certain artifice with her eyes, and the skill
of beauty, she will arm herself with her real charms, and strike you with
admiration instead of desire. It is certain that if you were to behold the
whole woman, there is that dignity in her aspect, that composure in her
motion, that complacency in her manner, that if her form makes you
hope, her merit makes you fear. But then again, she is such a desperate
scholar, that no country gentleman can approach her without being a
jest.
"As I was going to tell you, when I came to her house, I was admitted
to her presence with great civility; at the same time she placed herself
to be first seen by me in such an attitude as I think you call the posture
of a picture, that she discovered new charms, and I at last came toward
her with such an awe as made me speechless. This she no sooner
observed but she made her advantage of it, and began a discourse to me
concerning love and honor, as they both are followed by pretenders,
and the real votaries to them. When she discust these points in a
discourse, which I verily believe was as learned as the best philosopher
in Europe could possibly make, she asked me whether she was so
happy as to fall in with my sentiments on these important particulars.
Her confidant sat by her, and upon my being in the last confusion and
silence, this malicious aid of hers, turning to her, says, 'I am very glad
to observe Sir Roger pauses upon this subject, and seems resolved to
deliver all his sentiments upon the matter when he pleases to speak.'
"They both kept their countenances, and after I had sat half an hour
meditating how to behave before such profound casuists, I rose up and
took my leave. Chance has since that time thrown me very often in her
way, and she as often directed a discourse to me which I do not
understand.
"This barbarity has kept me ever at a distance from the most beautiful
object my eyes ever beheld. It is thus also she deals with all mankind,
and you must make love to her, as you would conquer the sphinx, by
posing her. But were she like other women, and that there were any
talking to her, how constant must the pleasure of that man be, who
could converse with a creature--but, after all, you may be sure her heart

is fixt on some one or other; and yet I have been credibly informed; but
who can believe half that is said! After she had done speaking to me,
she put her hand to her bosom, and adjusted her tucker. Then she cast
her eyes a little down, upon my beholding her too earnestly. They say
she sings excellently; her voice in her ordinary speech has something in
it inexpressibly sweet. You must know I dined with her at a public table
the day after I first saw her, and she helped me to some tansy in the eye
of all the gentlemen in the country. She has certainly the finest hand of
any woman in the world. I can assure you, sir, were you to behold her,
you would be in the same condition; for as her speech is music, her
form is angelic. But I find I grow irregular while I am talking of her;
but, indeed, it would be stupidity to be unconcerned at such perfection.
Oh, the excellent creature! she is as inimitable to all women as she is
inaccessible to all men."
I found my friend begin to rave, and insensibly led him toward the
house, that we might be joined by some other company; and am
convinced that the widow is the secret cause of all that inconsistency
which appears in some parts of my friend's discourse; tho he has so
much command of himself as not directly to mention her.

IV
THE COVERLEY FAMILY PORTRAITS[3]
I was this morning walking in the gallery, when Sir Roger entered at
the end opposite to me, and, advancing toward me, said he was glad to
meet me among his relations the de Coverleys,