
Night, was so extraordinary a Proceeding, that it could be accounted for only by
imagining that young Nightingale had revealed the whole Truth, which the
apparent Openness of his Temper, and his being flustered with Liquor, made too
probable.
    While he was reasoning with himself, whether he should acquaint these poor
People with his Suspicion, the Maid of the House informed him, that a
Gentlewoman desired to speak with him. - He went immediately out, and taking the
Candle from the Maid, ushered his Visitant up Stairs, who in the Person of Mrs.
Honour acquainted him with such dreadful News concerning his Sophia, that he
immediately lost all Consideration for every other Person; and his whole Stock
of Compassion was entirely swallowed up in Reflections on his own Misery, and on
that of his unfortunate Angel.
    What this dreadful Maller was, the Reader will be informed, after we have
first related the many preceding Steps which produced it, and those will be the
Subject of the following Book.
 

                                    Book XV

                 In which the History advances about two Days.

                                   Chapter I

                          Too short to need a Preface.
 
There are a Set of Religious, or rather Moral Writers, who teach that Virtue is
the certain Road to Happiness, and Vice to Misery in this World. A very wholsome
and comfortable Doctrine, and to which we have but one Objection, namely, That
it is not true.
    Indeed if by Virtue these Writers mean, the Exercise of those Cardinal
Virtues, which like good House-wives stay at home, and mind only the Business of
their own Family, I shall very readily concede the Point: For so surely do all
these contribute and lead to Happiness, that I could almost wish, in Violation
of all the antient and modern Sages, to call them rather by the Name of Wisdom,
than by that of Virtue: For with regard to this Life, no System, I conceive, was
ever wiser than that of the antient Epicureans, who held this Wisdom to
constitute the chief Good; nor foolisher than that of their Opposites, those
modern Epicures, who place all Felicity in the abundant Gratification of every
sensual Appetite.
    But if by Virtue is meant (as I almost think it ought) a certain relative
Quality, which is always busying itself without Doors, and seems as much
interested in pursuing the Good of others as its own; I cannot so easily agree
that this is the surest way to human Happiness; because I am afraid we must then
include Poverty and Contempt, with all the Mischiefs which Backbiting, Envy, and
Ingratitude can bring on Mankind in our Idea of Happiness;
