“ ‘And why not?’

“ ‘But reflect, madam, that a man who loves, pretends to be loved, and alone too. You have too much good sense, to enslave yourself to the jealousies and caprices of a tender and faithful lover. Nothing so fatiguing as these folks. To see but them, to love but them, to dream of none but them, to have no wit, humour, or charms but for them; all this most certainly does not suit you. It would be pleasant to see you stive yourself up in, what is called, the noble passion, and give yourself all the awkward airs of a little female cit.’

“ ‘Well, Amisadar, you seem to be in the right. I verily think it would ill become us to run into fawning love. Let us change then, since it must be so. Besides, I do not see, that those loving women, whom they set us as models, are happier than others.’

“ ‘Who told you so, madam?’

“ ‘No body, but it is easily foreseen.’