to her, to wear
the least Aspect of Compulsion or Force. The Word Command, on my Side, or
Obedience, on hers, I would have blotted from my Vocabulary. For this Reason I
should have thought it my Duty to have desired nothing of her, that was not
significant, reasonable, or just; and that then she should, on hers, have shewn
no Reluctance, Uneasiness, or Doubt, to oblige me, even at half a Word.
    I would not have excus'd her to let me twice injoin the same thing, while I
took such care to make her Compliance with me reasonable, and such as should not
destroy her own free Agency, in Points that ought to be allow'd her. And if I
was not always right, that yet she would bear with me, if she saw me set upon
it; and expostulate with me on the right side of Compliance; for that would shew
me, (supposing small Points in Dispute, from which the greatest Quarrels, among
Friends, generally arise) that she differ'd from me, not for Contradiction-sake,
but desir'd to convince me for my own; and that I should, another time, take
better Resolutions.
    This would be so obliging a Conduct, that I should, in Justice, have doubled
my Esteem for one, who, to humour me, could give up her own Judgment; and I
should see she could have no other View in her Expostulations, after her
Compliance had passed, than to rectify my Notions for the future; and it would
have been impossible then, but I must have paid the greater Deference to her
Opinion and Advice in more momentous Matters.
    In all Companies she must have shewn, that she had, whether I deserved it
altogether, or not, a high Regard and Opinion of me; and this the rather, as
that such a Conduct in her, would be a Reputation and Security to herself; for
if ever we Rakes attempt a marry'd Lady, our first Encouragement, exclusive of
our own Vanity, arises from the indifferent Opinion, Slight, or Contempt she
expresses for her Husband.
    That therefore she would draw a kind Veil over my Faults; that such as she
could not hide, she would extenuate: That she would place my better Actions in
an advantageous Light, and shew, that I had her good Opinion, at least, whatever
Liberties the World took with my Character.
    She must have valued my Friends for my sake; been chearful and easy,
whomever I had brought home with me;