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he, therefore, retorted the neglect without expoftulation and thus all intercourfe between the families was

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at an end.

Eugenio in the mean time was inflexible in his purpofe; and Amelia, in her next interview with Ventofus, acquainted him that she would fee him no more. Ventofus again appealed to her father: but the old gentleman was steady in his principles, notwithstanding his refentment; and told him, that he had exerted all the authority which God and nature had given him in his favour; and that, however provoked, he would never prostitute his child, by compelling her to marry a perfon who was not the object of her choice.

Ventofus, who was extremely mortified at this difappointment, was very inquifitive about Eugenio, for whom he still supposed he had been rejected: he foon learned his fituation and circumstances, and his long intimacy with Amelia; he reflected upon the confufion which both had expreffed, in the accidental interview at which he was prefent; and was willing to believe, that his rival, however contemptible, had been too fuccessful to be fupplanted with honour by a husband : this, however, if he did not believe, he was very diligent to propagate; and to remove the difgrace of a refufal, hinted that for this reafon he had abruptly dif continued his addreffes, and congratulated himself upon his escape.

It happened that about fix weeks ago, Ventofus, as he was walking in the Mall, with a younger officer of distinction, met Amelia in company of feveral ladies and a gentleman. He thought fit to bow to Amelia with a fupercilious respect, which had greatly the air of an infult of this compliment Amelia, though he looked

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him in the face, took no notice: by this calm disdain he was at once difappointed and confounded; he was ftung by an effort of his own malignity, and his breast fwelled with paffion which he could not vent. In this agitation of mind he haftily turned back, and determined, for whatever reason, to follow her. After he had advanced about fifty paces, he faw Eugenio coming forward, who the moment he perceived Amelia, turned into another walk. This was obferved by Ventofus, whofe contempt and indignation had now another object, upon which they might without violence to the laws of honour be gratified: he communicated his purpose to his companion, and hastily followed Eugenio. When they had overtaken him, they burst into a horselaugh, and pufhed fo rudely by him, that he could. fcarce recover his step: they did not, however, go on : but stopping suddenly, turned about as if to apologize for the accident, and affected great furprise at discovering to whom it happened. Ventofus bowed very low, and with much contemptuous ceremony begged his pardon; telling him at the fame time, that there was a lady in the next walk who would be very glad of his company. To this infult Eugenio anfwered, "That "he was not willing to suppose that an affront was in"tended, and that if the lady he meant was a woman "of honour, the ought always to be mentioned with "refpect." Ventofus replied, "That whether the "lady he meant was a woman of honour, he would not "determine; but he believed she had been very, very "kind; and was pleased to see that her favours were not forgotten, though they were no longer accepted." Eugenio was not now master of his temper, but turning fuddenly upon Ventofus, ftruck him with fuch violence

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that he fell at his feet: he rofe, however, in an instant, and laid his hand upon his fword, but was prevented from drawing it by his companion; and the crowd beginning to gather about them, they parted with mutual expreffions of contempt and rage.

In the morning the officer who had been in company with Ventofus at the quarrel, delivered a challenge to Eugenio, which he answered by the following billet.

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"SIR,

"YOUR behaviour last night has convinced me that you are a scoundrel; and your letter this morning "that you are a fool. If I fhould accept your chal66 lenge, I fhould myself be both. I owe a duty to "God and to my country, which I deem it infamous

66

to violate; and I am intrufted with a life, which I "think cannot without folly be staked against yours. "I believe you have ruined, but you cannot degrade 66 me. You may poffibly, while you fneer over this "letter, fecretly exult in your own safety; but rememic ber, that to prevent affaffination I have a sword, and 66 to chastise infolence a cane."

With this letter, the captain returned to Ventofus, who read it with all the extravagancies of rage and disdain: the captain, however, endeavoured to foothe and encourage him; he reprefented Eugenio as a poltroon and a beggar, whom he ought no otherwise to punish than by removing him from the rank into which he had intruded; and this, he said, would be very easily accomplished. Ventofus at length acquiefced in the fentiments of his friend; and it was foon induftriously reported,

reported, that Eugenio had ftruck a perfon of high rank, and refused him the fatisfaction of a gentleman which he had condefcended to ask. For not accepting a challenge, Eugenio could not be legally punished, because it was made his duty as a foldier by the articles of war; but it drew upon him the contempt of his fuperior officers, and made them very folicitous to find fome pretence to difmifs him. The friends of Ventofus immediately intimated, that the act of violence to which Eugenio had been provoked, was committed within the verge of the court, and was, therefore, a fufficient caufe to break him; as for that offence he was liable to be punished with the lofs of his hand, by a law which though difufed was still in force. This expedient was eagerly adopted, and Eugenio was accordingly deprived of his commiffion.

Ne.

No. LXVI. Saturday, June 23. 1753.

Nolo virum, facili redimit qui fanguine famam :
Hunc volo, laudari qui fine morte poteft.

Not him I prize who poorly gains

From death the palm which blood diftains;
But him who wins with nobler ftrife
An unpolluted wreath from life.

MART.

He had concealed his quarrel with Ventofus from his father, who was then at the family-feat about twenty miles from London, because he was not willing to acquaint him with the cause: but the effect was such as could not be hidden; and it was now become neceffary that he should anticipate the report of others. He, therefore, fet out immediately for the country; but his father about the fame time arrived in London: fome imperfect account had been sent him of the proceedings against Eugenio; and though he concluded from his filence that he had been guilty of fome indifcretion, yet he did not fufpect an imputation of cowardice; and hoped by his intereft to fupport him against private refentment. When he found that he had miffed Eugenio in fome of the avenues to town, he went immediately to the gentleman who had procured his commiffion, from whom he learned all the circumftances

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