■258 the temple of Hymen. -^^ug.ll. 



and when fee had nearly arrived at the gate were I stood, 

 he tore himself from her, and fled precipitately, with a 

 degree of apparent pleasure. 



I felt a sincere sorrow for the lady, who appeared to be 

 overwhelmed in the utmost consternation, grief, and an- 

 ger ; but my sympathy considerably abated, when the in- 

 telligent person from whom I had my information respec- 

 ting the dome, told me, that fhe was a lady of great 

 wealth, but small accomplifliments. " She has been 

 «ought after," said he, " in her earlier years, by many 

 who were her superiors in point of merit : but because 

 they were inferior in fortune, flie treated them with 

 the most insolent contempt ; in consequence of which (he 

 ^vas forsaken by the sex, till this youth, falling into diffi- 

 cult circumstances, addrefsed her from pecuniary motives : 

 .and though his addrefses were cold and inanimate through 

 want of affection, flie afsented, and this was the appoint- 

 ed day for celebrating the nuptials : but as he approached 

 the temple, a weight of anxiety pervaded his breast, aira 

 « struggle between the laws of honour, and a regard for 

 'his own felicity, rent his troubled heart with torture ; till 

 at length, his feelings overcame every other consideration. 

 He violated the laws of honour, — he opposed the impulse 

 .of interest, rather than be bound in the lasting tyrannical 

 ichains of an unhappy matrimonial union." ' She is not to 

 ■be pitied,' said I, 'fhe has slighted the offers of generous 

 love : — fhe has sported with th; feelings of her real ad- 

 Tiiirers : flie has trifled with human happinefs j and 



has met with her reward : yet had I been her judge, I 

 .ihould, from a delicacy for the sex, inflicted a smaller pu- 

 Kifhment.' 



The crowd that had entered the temple, were unitel! 

 .■by words,— —but not Ui heart; and then they, returned 



