 of
his disposition. There are many young men, who entertain the same expectations,
with half the reason he had to be so presumptuous.
    In the midst of these chimerical calculations, his passion for Emilia did
not subside; but, on the contrary, began to rage to such an inflammation of
desire, that her idea interfered with every other reflection, and absolutely
disabled him from prosecuting the other lofty schemes which his imagination had
projected. He therefore laid down the honest resolution of visiting her in all
the splendor of his situation, in order to practise upon her virtue with all his
art and address, to the utmost extent of his influence and fortune. Nay, so
effectually had his guilty passion absorb'd his principles of honour,
conscience, humanity, and regard for the commodore's last words, that he was
base enough to rejoice at the absence of his friend Godfrey, who being then with
his regiment in Ireland, could not dive into his purpose, or take measures for
frustrating his vicious design.
    Fraught with these heroic sentiments, he determined to set out for Sussex in
his chariot and six, attended by his valet de chambre and two footmen; and he
was now as sensible, that in his last essay he had mistaken his cue, he
determined to change his battery, and sap the fortress, by the most submissive,
soft, and insinuating behaviour.
    On the evening that preceded this purposed expedition, he went into one of
the boxes at the play-house, as usual, to shew himself to the ladies; and in
reconnoitring the company through a glass, (for no other reason, but because it
was fashionable to be purblind) perceived his mistress very plainly dressed, in
one of the seats above the stage, talking to another young woman of a very
homely appearance. Though his heart beat the alarm with the utmost impatience at
sight of his Emilia, he was for some minutes deterred from obeying the impulse
of his love, by the presence of some ladies of fashion, who, he feared, would
think the worse of him, should they see him make his compliments in public to a
person of her figure. Nor would the violence of his inclination have so far
prevailed over his pride, as to lead him thither, had not he recollected, that
his quality-friends would look upon her as some handsome Abigail, with whom he
had an affair of gallantry, and of consequence give him credit for the intrigue.
    Encouraged by this suggestion, he complied with the dictates of love, and
flew to the place where his charmer sat. His air
