Himself a rational pleasurist, as being much too wise to
be asham'd of the pleasures of humanity, loved me indeed, but
loved me with dignity; in a mean equally remov'd from the
sourness, of forwardness, by which age is unpleasingly char-
acteriz'd, and from that childish silly dotage that so often
disgraces it, and which he himself used to turn into ridicule,
and compare to an old goat affecting the frisk of a young kid.
In short, everything that is generally unamiable in his
season of life was, in him, repair'd by so many advantages,
that he existed a proof, manifest at least to me, that it is
not out of the power of age to please, if it lays out to
please, and if, making just allowances, those in that class
do not forget that it must cost them more pains and attention
than what youth, the natural spring-time of joy, stands in
need of: as fruits out of season require proportionably more
skill and cultivation, to force them.
With this gentleman then, who took me home soon after
our acquaintance commenc'd, I lived near eight months; in
which time, my constant complaisance and docility, my atten-
tion to deserve his confidence and love, and a conduct, in
general, devoid of the least art and founded on my sincere
regard and esteem for him, won and attach'd him so firmly to
me, that, after having generously trusted me with a genteel,
independent settlement, proceeding to heap marks of affection
on me, he appointed me, by an authentick will, his sole
heiress and executrix: a disposition which he did not outlive
two months, being taken from me by a violent cold that he
contracted as he unadvisedly ran to the window on an alarm of
fire, at some streets distance, and stood there naked-breast-
ed, and exposed to the fatal impressions of a damp night-air.
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