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Article ORIGINAL LETTER FROM ADDISON TO A LADY. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Letter From Addison To A Lady.
ORIGINAL LETTER FROM ADDISON TO A LADY .
S 1 ADAM , f TT would be ridiculous in rne , after the late intimation you were A pleased to favour me with , to affect any longer an ignorance of your sentiments , opposite soever as an approbation of them must be to the dictates of reason and justice . —This expression , madam , I am hi ghly sensible may appear a little too coarse in the mouth of a polite man ; but 1 hope is no disgrace to the behaviour of a sincere one .
. When we are to talk upon matters of importance , delicacy must give ¦ way to truth , and ceremony be sacrificed to candour : an honest freedom is the privilege of ingenuity ; and the mind , which is above the practice of deceit , can never stoop to a willingness to flatter . —Givs me leave , madam , to remark , that the connection subsisting between your husband and myself , is of a nature too strong for me to think of
injuring him in a point where the happiness of his life is so materially concerned . You cannot be insensible of his goodness , or my obligations ; and suffer me to observe , madam , that were I capable of such an action , at the time that my behaviour might be rewarded by your passion , I must be despised by your reason ; and though I might be esteemed as a lover , I must be hated as a man . ' Flighty sensible , madam , of the power of your beauty , I am determined to avoid an interview where my reputation may be for ever lost . —You have passions , you say , madam ; but give me leave to an *
swer , that you have understanding also : you have a heart susceptible of the tenderest impressions , but a soul , if you would choose to wake it , above an unwarranted indulgence of them ; and let me intreat you , for your own sake , that no giddy impulse of an ill-placed inclination may induce you to entertain a thought prejudicial to your honour , and repugnant to your virtue . ' Imadamam far from being insensible : I too have passionsand
, , , could my situation a few years ago have allowed me a possibility of succeeding , I should have legally solicited that happiness which you are now ready to bestow . I had the honour , madam , of supping at Mr . D—' s , where I first saw you , and shall make no scruple in declaring , that I never saw a person so irresistibly beautiful , or a manner so excessively engaging : but the superiority of your circumstances
prevented any declaration on my side ; and though I burned with a ¦ flame as strong as ever filled human breast , I laboured to suppress , or at least studied to conceal it . ' Time and absence at length abated an unhoping passion , and your marriage with my patron and my friend effectually cured it . Do not now , I beseech you , madam , rekindle that fire which I must never think to fan ; do not now , I beseech you , destroy a tranquillity Ihave just begun to taste , or blast your own honour , which has been hitherto spotless and unsullied , —My best esteem is everyour ' s ; but
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Letter From Addison To A Lady.
ORIGINAL LETTER FROM ADDISON TO A LADY .
S 1 ADAM , f TT would be ridiculous in rne , after the late intimation you were A pleased to favour me with , to affect any longer an ignorance of your sentiments , opposite soever as an approbation of them must be to the dictates of reason and justice . —This expression , madam , I am hi ghly sensible may appear a little too coarse in the mouth of a polite man ; but 1 hope is no disgrace to the behaviour of a sincere one .
. When we are to talk upon matters of importance , delicacy must give ¦ way to truth , and ceremony be sacrificed to candour : an honest freedom is the privilege of ingenuity ; and the mind , which is above the practice of deceit , can never stoop to a willingness to flatter . —Givs me leave , madam , to remark , that the connection subsisting between your husband and myself , is of a nature too strong for me to think of
injuring him in a point where the happiness of his life is so materially concerned . You cannot be insensible of his goodness , or my obligations ; and suffer me to observe , madam , that were I capable of such an action , at the time that my behaviour might be rewarded by your passion , I must be despised by your reason ; and though I might be esteemed as a lover , I must be hated as a man . ' Flighty sensible , madam , of the power of your beauty , I am determined to avoid an interview where my reputation may be for ever lost . —You have passions , you say , madam ; but give me leave to an *
swer , that you have understanding also : you have a heart susceptible of the tenderest impressions , but a soul , if you would choose to wake it , above an unwarranted indulgence of them ; and let me intreat you , for your own sake , that no giddy impulse of an ill-placed inclination may induce you to entertain a thought prejudicial to your honour , and repugnant to your virtue . ' Imadamam far from being insensible : I too have passionsand
, , , could my situation a few years ago have allowed me a possibility of succeeding , I should have legally solicited that happiness which you are now ready to bestow . I had the honour , madam , of supping at Mr . D—' s , where I first saw you , and shall make no scruple in declaring , that I never saw a person so irresistibly beautiful , or a manner so excessively engaging : but the superiority of your circumstances
prevented any declaration on my side ; and though I burned with a ¦ flame as strong as ever filled human breast , I laboured to suppress , or at least studied to conceal it . ' Time and absence at length abated an unhoping passion , and your marriage with my patron and my friend effectually cured it . Do not now , I beseech you , madam , rekindle that fire which I must never think to fan ; do not now , I beseech you , destroy a tranquillity Ihave just begun to taste , or blast your own honour , which has been hitherto spotless and unsullied , —My best esteem is everyour ' s ; but