"P. S. Burn my letters, as I do yours the moment I receive them; but lay the contents of this up in your heart; that if you swerve in any point from the injunction it lays you under, you. may not plead forgetfulness. Adieu! As you persevere in virtue you shall continue to be dear to me."
Fool that I was, and vain of the power of my own persuasion, I doubted not but this letter would make a convert of him, and longed for my messenger's return, which I was perfectly allured in my mind would bring me an answer such as I wished; nor was I greatly deceived: he had too much of the artifice of his sex in him to contradict what I said, till he had an opportunity to benefit himself by it; at least I judge so by what I have since been told: the contents of what he wrote ran thus:
"VIRTUE, fair angel! has many branches, nor is chastity always the most shining one it bears; gratitude and compassion are allowed to be the prime graces of humanity; and when opposed to these, the other degenerates to a vice. Is it to be of a piece with Heaven, to destroy the man who adores you, to inflict curses where blessings are implored, and be cruel to a wretch who throws himself upon your mercy? Oh consider, Anziana! nor let a too strict adherence to one virtue make you become guilty of injuring all the others. Even justice too you forfeit, since you were mine before you were Caprera's: how often, dear perjured beauty! have you called Heaven and every saint to witness, that you never would be another's! and if compelled by arbitrary power to falsify those vows, must you also join in the wrong? You might be forced into the arms of the count, but by your own will are only debarred from mine. I solicit you, therefore, not to an act of shame, but
