the governor of a citadel, that he was defending himself in the wrong place, being in more hazard of being betrayed within, than conquered from with

out.

In fine, by rating at their juft value those sentiments to which women have annexed fuch fublime ideas, and by making known the true intention, of even the most refined lovers, you may perceive, that I pique their vanity to be lefs ambitious of being beloved, and their hearts to receive lefs felf-approbation, in loving. And be affured that whenever we can oppofe pride to pleafure, fome advantage will generally be gained, on the part of virtue.

I have had lovers myfelf; but they they never could impofe on me. I well knew the whole fcope of their addreffes.

-I was certain, that if my fenfe or character had any fhare in the motives

which determined them to throw themfelves at my feet, it was meerly because thofe merits flattered their vanity. They loved me becaufe I was handfome, and they had defires. For which reason they never obtained more than the fecond place in my esteem-the first being always occupied by my friends. For friendship I have ever preferved that deference, that conftancy and refpect, which fo noble a fentiment defervesone fo worthy of poffeffing the generous mind. In a word, I have always conceived a diffidence of those hearts, where love appeared to be the principal gueft. This weaknefs degraded them in my eyes; and I regarded thofe perfons. as incapable of exalting their fouls to fentiments of true esteem, toward a woman whom they had principally wished. to enjoy.

You fee then, Marquis, that the confequences to be drawn from my premiffes,

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miffes, are by no means dangerous. All that can be faid to me by perfons of of any fenfe, is, that I have taken a great deal of idle pains to prove to you a propofition, that was obvious enough before. But your inexperience and curiofity must be my apology, for what I have written, or may hereafter fay to you, upon this fubject.

Farewel

The END of the Firft P ART.

THE

THE

LETTERS

Ο Γ

MademoiselleNinon de l'Enclos

TO THE

Marquis de Sevigné.

PART II.

LETTER XXVIII.

OU are certainly right, Marquis.

You

The taste and talent that the Coun-tess has for mufic, will bring a great addition both to your love and happinefs. I have frequently told women, the infinite advantages they might reap, from the due improvement and exercise of their accomplishments. There are very

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very few occafions, upon which they would not be ferviceable to them.

Women generally imagine, that they have nothing to fear but the presence of the lover. True indeed, that they may have then, two enemies to contend with, at a time; their paffion, and the party. But when the lover has retired, the love still remains; and the progress it makes in folitude, though lefs perceivable, is not the lefs dangerous. At fuch intervals as thefe, the playing on a harpsichord, painting a flower, or reading some work of genius, may turn aside the thoughts from ideas too alluring, and fix the attention upon fafer objects. All these occupations then, which employ the mind, are fo many countermines to temptation.

A lover Shakespear has a fine poetical moral, upon this fubject, in his Midfummer Night's Dream. "Yet mark'd I where the bolt of Cupid fell."It was upon a little western flower,

"Before milk-white--now purple with love's wound; “And maidens call it Love in idleness.”