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Article ON COURTSHIP AND COQUETRY. ← Page 2 of 2
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On Courtship And Coquetry.
nor wished , to disguise . He was little indebted to fortune himself , and he did not for a moment consider himself entitled to , norjvas he at all solicitous about , pecuniary advantages with the person whom he might wish to make the partner of his affections . In truth , he considered her friend rather as the protector of Mira ' s person and the guardian of her mind , than as the trustee of her fortune : for he knew not
, nor yet knows , of any she possesses . Into my bosom , which has beaten in sympathy with his from our boyish days , Horatio has lately poured his complaints : ' My friend , ' he has said , ' resolve me this question : Is it candid in a young woman to treat any man in so inconsistent a manner , as to leave it doubtful , whether she feels a partiality for him ; or , that he is hateful to her?—half hour
For one , perhaps , Mira will be charming compa ^ -, every thing that is generous , kind , and pleasing , and in two minutes ( without any apparent or possible cause ) from coldness will proceed to a- behaviour too mortif ying forme to endure . At these times I depart , resolved that I ought not to continue a slave to such a capricious and incongruous disposition : but if , by chance , I see her again the next day , or even a few hours after on the same d-n- Tfind h » r
, free and cheerful—Advise me , my friend : for I know not from such a mixed behaviour , whether her heart be at all interested in my favour , and that she acts thus in order ( as some would say ) to make trial of my temper ; or , -whether her kindness proceeds only from respect for her guardian , considering vie as . bis friend ; and that by the other part of her behaviour I should understand that her affections are elsewhere
engaged , and that my attentions are troublesome and irksome to her . Did I once know the truth of this matter , I could act accordingly . If 1 could believe , that the first were the real state of the case , I would redouble my proofs of sincerity ; but were I once ascertained , that her heart , pre-engaged , could never be mine , I Would suffer any thing , my friendrather than ive her a moment ' pain b
, g s y a continuance of any particular attention . —Can you , in short , think it incompatible with the most refined delicacy , in such a case , for Mira ( by some means or other ) , to relieve my doubts ? It is impossible long to endure such a state of suspence . Ungenerous and uncandid I shall think it on her part , till I am favoured with some explanation , either direct or indirect . '
I-lere Horatio ended , and thus he is at present situated , warmlv and honestly attached to Mira , yet in a state of absolute uncertainty how he ought to act . I know him most sincere in his declaration , that he would endure any pain rather than continue for a moment his attentions , if he were once candidly assured that they were not acceptable or pleasing to her . Itsurery , Mr . Editorbecomes the fair inhabitants of this isle to
, spare worthy men unnecessary uneasiness in affairs of the heart ; and I hope and trust that your insertion of this in your excellent publication will , by stamping a degree of respectability on the appeal I wish to make to the feelings of my amiable country-women , have its proper effect . or
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Courtship And Coquetry.
nor wished , to disguise . He was little indebted to fortune himself , and he did not for a moment consider himself entitled to , norjvas he at all solicitous about , pecuniary advantages with the person whom he might wish to make the partner of his affections . In truth , he considered her friend rather as the protector of Mira ' s person and the guardian of her mind , than as the trustee of her fortune : for he knew not
, nor yet knows , of any she possesses . Into my bosom , which has beaten in sympathy with his from our boyish days , Horatio has lately poured his complaints : ' My friend , ' he has said , ' resolve me this question : Is it candid in a young woman to treat any man in so inconsistent a manner , as to leave it doubtful , whether she feels a partiality for him ; or , that he is hateful to her?—half hour
For one , perhaps , Mira will be charming compa ^ -, every thing that is generous , kind , and pleasing , and in two minutes ( without any apparent or possible cause ) from coldness will proceed to a- behaviour too mortif ying forme to endure . At these times I depart , resolved that I ought not to continue a slave to such a capricious and incongruous disposition : but if , by chance , I see her again the next day , or even a few hours after on the same d-n- Tfind h » r
, free and cheerful—Advise me , my friend : for I know not from such a mixed behaviour , whether her heart be at all interested in my favour , and that she acts thus in order ( as some would say ) to make trial of my temper ; or , -whether her kindness proceeds only from respect for her guardian , considering vie as . bis friend ; and that by the other part of her behaviour I should understand that her affections are elsewhere
engaged , and that my attentions are troublesome and irksome to her . Did I once know the truth of this matter , I could act accordingly . If 1 could believe , that the first were the real state of the case , I would redouble my proofs of sincerity ; but were I once ascertained , that her heart , pre-engaged , could never be mine , I Would suffer any thing , my friendrather than ive her a moment ' pain b
, g s y a continuance of any particular attention . —Can you , in short , think it incompatible with the most refined delicacy , in such a case , for Mira ( by some means or other ) , to relieve my doubts ? It is impossible long to endure such a state of suspence . Ungenerous and uncandid I shall think it on her part , till I am favoured with some explanation , either direct or indirect . '
I-lere Horatio ended , and thus he is at present situated , warmlv and honestly attached to Mira , yet in a state of absolute uncertainty how he ought to act . I know him most sincere in his declaration , that he would endure any pain rather than continue for a moment his attentions , if he were once candidly assured that they were not acceptable or pleasing to her . Itsurery , Mr . Editorbecomes the fair inhabitants of this isle to
, spare worthy men unnecessary uneasiness in affairs of the heart ; and I hope and trust that your insertion of this in your excellent publication will , by stamping a degree of respectability on the appeal I wish to make to the feelings of my amiable country-women , have its proper effect . or