LETTER. XLIX.

You never imagined Marquis, that

it might be fometimes more diffi cult to difengage one's felf from a miftrefs, than to gain one. However, you have experience of it in your own cafe, at prefent. Your disgust at the financiere, furprizes me only in this, that it did not happen fooner. Can it be poffible, that acquainted as you are with her character, you can be fo far impofed upon by her, as to miftake the defpair fhe affects at your indifference, for the symptom of a real paffion? That you should still remain the dupe of her intrigue, not only raifes my wonder, but compaffion too. Yet, is it not your own vanity that helps to carry on the illufion? And in truth, it is one of a very peculiar nature, which can be able to flatter you with the love of fuch a woman. But men are really, fo felffufficient,

fufficient, that they would be puffed up with the fondness of the most abandonéd courtefan.

But, prithee undeceive yourself. A woman that you quit, who is of the character of your amorous fair, has, be affured, no manner of concern in her misfortune, except for her own fingle interest. She would endeavour, by her emotions and her tears, to perfuade you, that your merit and accomplishments are the fole caufes of her regret: that the failure of your affections is the only lofs fhe has to lament and that he knows no perfon upon earth, who can be capable of repairing her damage.

But, all these pretexts are truly dif ingenuous. It is not an afflicted miftrefs, who implores you. 'Tis a vain woman, mortified at having her own inconftancy anticipated; piqued at the

weak

weak prevalence of her charms, diftracted how to supply your lofs, on the fudden; proud to affume an air of fenfibility, and to appear deferving of a better fate. In a word, fhe only seems to juftify that maxim of Monfieur de la Rochefaucault, that women lament not their lovers for forfaking them, so much as to be thought more worthy of being beloved.

It is quite ridiculous for the financiere to make an harangue on fentiment; and indeed she must have a very flight opinion of you, to think of imposing it on you. But, let us join iffue on this point. The Chevalier is at prefent, difengaged. Get him to replace you with her; and I dare answer for it, that in a letter or two, at the fartheft, you will let me have the fatisfaction to hear, that her despair has been perfectly confoled.

A woman, at her time of life, begins

to

to apprehend left fhe might not be able to make herself amends for the lofs of a lover, and may be obliged to undervalue her charms, by being reduced to accept the firft offer. Her concern may perhaps be real; but you may more probably, mistake the fources of it. Break then, her bonds afunder, without remorse. In a punctilio of conftancy or delicacy for fuch an object, you must certainly appear as ridiculous, as you were truly criminal in your deficiency in both these refpects, upon a late occafion.

Do you remember Marquis, what Monfieur de Coulanges faid to us one day, upon a general topic; that constancy was a virtue, in perfons of ordinary merit only. Have they had the fortune to win the favour of fome capricious. fair, the consciousness of their own flight worth, fixes their attachments, and intimidates from adventure; in

3

despair

defpair of fucceeding on fuch another crifis. Sufficiently happy in having taken a beart by furprize, they fear to lose a subStance, by grafping at afhadow. And as the smallest interval of consideration, might afford the miftrefs leifure, to reflect upon the flight value of the lover, what is their policy? They make a virtue of neceffity; they found a fuperftition upon love; and employ reason to preferve a heart, which they owe meerly to ca price, to accident, or furprize.

Prithee do not rank yourself in fo infignificant a clafs. Hearts are the coin of galantry amiable perfons the commodities of this commerce: circulation is the life of trade, and equally benefits the community. A conftant perfon then, is as blameable as a mifer, who arrests the medium of traffic, and hoards up a treafure ufelefs in itfelf, unless fet free* for the emolument of others.

. Besides,