to do him the good Office. It is not impossible
that Escalus might also resent that the Husband
was particularly negligent of him; and tho he gave
many Intimations of a Passion towards the Wife,
the Husband either did not see them, or put him
to the Contempt of over-looking them. In the mean
time Isabella, for so we shall call our Heroine,
saw his Passion, and rejoiced in it as a Foundation
for much Diversion, and an Opportunity of indulging
her self in the dear Delight of being admired, addressed
to, and flattered, with no ill Consequence to her
Reputation. This Lady is of a free and disengaged
Behaviour, ever in good Humour, such as is the Image
of Innocence with those who are innocent, and an Encouragement
to Vice with those who are abandoned. From this
Kind of Carriage, and an apparent Approbation of
his Gallantry, Escalus had frequent Opportunities
of laying amorous Epistles in her Way, of fixing
his Eyes attentively upon her Action, of performing
a thousand little Offices which are neglected by
the Unconcerned, but are so many Approaches towards
Happiness with the Enamoured. It was now, as is
above hinted, almost the End of the seventh Year
of his Passion, when Escalus from general Terms,
and the ambiguous Respect which criminal Lovers
retain in their Addresses, began to bewail that his
Passion grew too violent for him to answer any longer
for his Behaviour towards her; and that he hoped
she would have Consideration for his long and patient
Respect, to excuse the Motions of a Heart now no longer
under the Direction of the unhappy Owner of it.
Such for some Months had been the Language of Escalus
both in his Talk and his Letters to Isabella; who
returned all the Profusion of kind Things which
had been the Collection of fifty Years with I must
not hear you; you will make me forget that you are
a Gentleman, I would not willingly lose you as a
Friend; and the like Expressions, which the Skilful
interpret to their own Advantage, as well knowing that
a feeble Denial is a modest Assent. I should
have told you, that Isabella, during the whole Progress
of this Amour, communicated it to her Husband; and
that an Account of Escalus’s Love was their usual
Entertainment after half a Days Absence: Isabella
therefore, upon her Lovers late more open Assaults,
with a Smile told her Husband she could hold out
no longer, but that his Fate was now come to a Crisis.
After she had explained her self a little farther,
with her Husbands Approbation she proceeded in the
following Manner. The next Time that Escalus
was alone with her, and repeated his Importunity, the
crafty Isabella looked on her Fan with an Air of
great Attention, as considering of what Importance
such a Secret was to her; and upon the Repetition
of a warm Expression, she looked at him with an Eye
of Fondness, and told him he was past that Time
of Life which could make her fear he would boast
of a Lady’s Favour; then turned away her Head
with a very well-acted Confusion, which favoured
the Escape of the aged Escalus. This Adventure
was Matter of great Pleasantry to Isabella and her
Spouse; and they had enjoyed it two Days before Escalus
could recollect himself enough to form the following
Letter.
MADAM,