oy ® 
CH a RAC TLE R's: 
all the force of argument to prevail 
on Vanefla to fmother the deftruc- 
tive flame fhe had fo long nourifhed 
in her bofom, and which, he wifely 
apprehended, would at fome future 
eriod kindle a conflagration, from 
which effects the moit fatal were 
juftly to be dreaded. Dazzled at 
Jirft by the fplendor of his conquett, 
he was prevented from feeing his 
own conduét in a proper point of 
view ; but when the death of the 
Queen reminded him that Ireland 
was to be the fcene of his remain- 
ing years, the thought of wounding 
her whom he had invited to that 
country, by the prefence of her ri- 
val, fhocked the delicacy of his 
feelings; whilft the idea of Stella, 
neglected and forfaken, returned 
with redoubled force, and once 
more pofleffed itfelf of his mind. 
Yet at the moment when he re- 
commended to Vanefla forgetful- 
nefs of the paft, it is certain he 
fenght what he could not prattife, 
and that what was right was pre- 
ferred to what was plea/ant. In the 
eye of juftice, the claims of Stella 
were highly forcible. She had, at 
an early period of life, yielded 
her affections to the affiduities of 
Swift. To enjoy his fociety, fhe 
had facrificed her country and her 
connections, and had fixed her 
abode in a part of the world where 
people were by no means inclined 
rig the beft conftruétion on the 
e of things. 
In circumftances like thefe, to 
have finally deferted Stella was a 
piece of cruelty and of villainy 
of which her lover was utterly in- 
capable. His return to Ireland 
certainly leffened her anxiety, and 
rendered her fituation more tolera- 
ble than it could be during his ab- 
fence. Whatever fhe might think 
37 
of-the ftate of his affections, fhe was | 
at leaft in a fituation to attempt the 
recovery of them; and though dif- 
appointment had killed the rofes of 
youth, yet her converfation was ftill | 
attractive, her mind cultivated, and 
her manners gentle. But the ar- 
rival of the unfortunate Vanefla 
foon violated the tranquillity of 
Stella. The anxiety. infeparable . 
from fuch a fituation as hers preyed 
on her fpirits, and materially af- 
fected her health. 
Swift, fhocked at the effects his 
own inconflancy was likely to pro- 
duce, requefted Bifhop Ash, the 
common friead of doth, to inquire 
from Stella what could reftore her 
former peace of mind. Her an- 
fwer was to this effect, “ That for 
many years fhe had patiently borne 
the tongue of flander; but that hi- 
therto fhe had been cheered by the 
hope of one day becoming his 
wife: that of fuch an event fhe now 
faw no probability ; and that, con- 
fequently, her memory would be 
tranfmitted to pofterity branded 
with the moft unmerited obloquy.’’ 
Swift, in his reply to this decla- 
ration, obferved, that “in early 
life he had laid down two maxims 
with refpeét to matrimony: The 
Jirft was, never to marry unlefs pof- 
feffed of a competency: the /econd, 
unlefs this was the cafe at {uch a 
period of life as afforded him a 
probable profpect of living to edu- 
cate his family ; but yet, fince her 
happinefs depended on his marry- 
ing her, he would direétly com- 
ply with her wifhes on the follow~ 
ing terms: That it fhould .remain 
a fecret from all the world, unlefs 
the difcovery were called for by 
fome urgent neceffity ; and that they 
fhould continue in feparate houfes,”” 
To thefe terms Stella readily ac- 
D3 ceded; 
