says St. Jerome.  We have, doubtless, resigned to the ladies the most difficult and most vigorous of all human endeavours, and let us resign to them the glory too.  This ought to encourage them to be obstinate in it; ’tis a brave thing for them to defy us, and to spurn under foot that vain pre-eminence of valour and virtue that we pretend to have over them; they will find if they do but observe it, that they will not only be much more esteemed for it, but also much more beloved.  A gallant man does not give over his pursuit for being refused, provided it be a refusal of chastity, and not of choice; we may swear, threaten, and complain to much purpose; we therein do but lie, for we love them all the better:  there is no allurement like modesty, if it be not rude and crabbed.  ’Tis stupidity and meanness to be obstinate against hatred and disdain; but against a virtuous and constant resolution, mixed with goodwill, ’tis the exercise of a noble and generous soul.  They may acknowledge our service to a certain degree, and give us civilly to understand that they disdain us not; for the law that enjoins them to abominate us because we adore them, and to hate us because we love them, is certainly very cruel, if but for the difficulty of it.  Why should they not give ear to our offers and requests, so long as they are kept within the bounds of modesty? wherefore should we fancy them to have other thoughts within, and to be worse than they seem?  A queen of our time said with spirit, “that to refuse these courtesies is a testimony of weakness in women and a self-accusation of facility, and that a lady could not boast of her chastity who was never tempted.”

The limits of honour are not cut so short; they may give themselves a little rein, and relax a little without being faulty:  there lies on the frontier some space free, indifferent, and neuter.  He that has beaten and pursued her into her fort is a strange fellow if he be not satisfied with his fortune:  the price of the conquest is considered by the difficulty.  Would you know what impression your service and merit have made in her heart?  Judge of it by her behaviour.  Such an one may grant more, who does not grant so much.  The obligation of a benefit wholly relates to the good will of those who confer it:  the other coincident circumstances are dumb, dead, and casual; it costs her dearer to grant you that little, than it would do her companion to grant all.  If in anything rarity give estimation, it ought especially in this:  do not consider how little it is that is given, but how few have it to give; the value of money alters according to the coinage and stamp of the place.  Whatever the spite and indiscretion of some may make them say in the excess of their discontent, virtue and truth will in time recover all the advantage.  I have known some whose reputation has for a great while suffered under slander, who have afterwards been restored to the world’s universal approbation