1792' Nina, a story. "jj 



lay the following story before the married gentry of 

 our days, hoping, by this Jiieans, to bring back to the 

 duties of the married state, such persons as neglect or 

 violate them ; — to aboliih, or at least to bury in OL.livi- 

 on, that disgraceful title, which is with reason bestowed 

 on so many hulLands ; — to insure to them the pofieision 

 which the religion and the laws seem to have, reserved 

 for them alone ; — to reinilate peace and union in fami- 

 lies, from which they are too often banilhed by incon- 

 stancy ; — and to restore the gifts of fortune to those 

 to whom they properly belong, which we see frequent- 

 ly laviflied on wanton strangers. 



A senator descended from one of the most noble 

 families of Venice, married the daughter of a man of 

 his own rank, equal to himself in birth and fortune. 

 This marriage was at first like most others j it was ce- 

 mented as strongly by mutual affection, as by the au- 

 thority of their parents ) for three years they bore each 

 other a tendernels worthy of the most delicate lovers, 

 and two children were the happy fruits of their nup- 

 tials. 



The fourth year was scarcely begun, when their fe- 

 licity was disturbed by some disgusts. The wife, 

 though remarkable for the most distinguiihed virtue 

 and fidelity, insensibly lost that regard and afsiduity (he 

 had formerly (hewn to please her hufband, and did not 

 lavilh on him her wonted marks of affection. Their 

 frequent intercourse begat a certain familiarity between 

 them, which the hulband regarded as a mark of indiffe- 

 rence ; he therefore sought in another woman for that 

 affection, which he imagined himself unable to obtain 

 from his wife. 



The time at length arrived which seemed to crown 

 his wifhes. Nina, a celebrated courtezan of those days, 



