Lady to a Gentleman of superior Fortune, who, after a long Address in an honourable way, proposes to live with her as a Gallant.

SIR,

Aftermany unaccountable Hesitations, and concealed Meanings, that your Mind seem’d of late big with, but hardly knew how to express, you have, at last, spoken out all your Mind; and I know what I am to trust to! I have that Disdain of your Proposal that an honest Mind ought to have. But I wish, for my own sake, (and I will say, for yours too, because your Honour is concerned in it so deeply) that I had had, at my first Acquaintance with you, such an Instance of your Plain-dealing, or rather Baseness: Then I should have had no Regret in letting you know how much I scorn’d the Proposer, and the Proposal: Tho’ I hope, as it is, a little Time and Reflection will make me, for the sake of the latter, abhor the former.

However, Sir, Imust say, you are very cruel to useme thus, after you had, by all the alluring Professions of an honourable Love, inspired me with a grateful Return, and brought me to the Freedom of owning it——Nor yet will I be an Hypocrite, or deny my honest Passion; for that would be to lessen your Guilt. God is my Witness, I loved you beyond all your Sex; yet I loved you virtuously; I loved you because I thought you virtuous. And now, tho’ it may take some Time, and too much Regret, to get over, yet do I hope, your Behaviour will enable me to conquer my fond Folly.

Ungenerous Man! to take Advantage of your superior Fortune to insult me thus, when you had gain’d my Affections! What, tho’ I am not blessed with a worldly Circumstance equal to what you might expect in a Wife, can you think my Mind so base as to submit to be yours on unworthy Terms? Go, unworthy Man, and make your Court to Miss Reynolds, as you seem to threaten. She has a Fortune equal to your own, and may you be happy together! I should have been so, had I never known you. I never deceived you: You knew my scanty Fortune, and yet pretended to prefer me to all my Sex.