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discourse。 I knew that he regarded the present institution of marriage as
a contract of servitude； and the terms of it unequal and unjust。 When my
surprise had subsided； my thoughts turned upon the nature of his scheme。
After a pause of reflection； I answered：
Both law and custom have connected obligations with marriage； which；
though heaviest on the female； are not light upon the male。 Their weight
and extent are not immutable and uniform； they are modified by various
incidents； and especially by the mental and personal qualities of the lady。
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I am not sure that I should willingly accept the property and person of
a woman decrepid with age； and enslaved by perverse habits and evil
passions： whereas youth； beauty； and tenderness would be worth
accepting； even for their own sake； and disconnected with fortune。
As to altar vows； I believe they will not make me swerve from equity。
I shall exact neither service nor affection from my spouse。 The value of
these； and； indeed； not only the value； but the very existence； of the latter
depends upon its spontaneity。 A promise to love tends rather to loosen
than strengthen the tie。
As to myself； the age of illusion is past。 I shall not wed； till I find
one whose moral and physical constitution will make personal fidelity
easy。 I shall judge without mistiness or passion； and habit will come in
aid of an enlightened and deliberate choice。
I shall not be fastidious in my choice。 I do not expect； and scarcely
desire； much intellectual similitude between me and my wife。 Our
opinions and pursuits cannot be in common。 While women are formed
by their education； and their education continues in its present state； tender
hearts and misguided understandings are all that we can hope to meet
with。
What are the character； age； and person of the woman to whom you
allude？ and what prospect of success would attend my exertions to
obtain her favour？
I have told you she is rich。 She is a widow； and owes her riches to
the liberality of her husband； who was a trader of great opulence； and who
died while on a mercantile adventure to Spain。 He was not unknown to
you。 Your letters from Spain often spoke of him。 In short； she is the
widow of Benington； whom you met at Barcelona。 She is still in the
prime of life； is not without many feminine attractions； has an ardent and
credulent temper； and is particularly given to devotion。 This temper it
would be easy to regulate according to your pleasure and your interest；
and I now submit to you the expediency of an alliance with her。
I am a kinsman； and regarded by her with uncommon deference； and
my commendations； therefore； will be of great service to you； and shall be
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MEMOIRS OF CARWIN THE BILOQUIST ＇A fragment＇
given。
I will deal ingenuously with you。 It is proper you should be fully
acquainted with the grounds of this proposal。 The benefits of rank； and
property； and independence； which I have already mentioned as likely to
accrue to you from this marriage； are solid and valuable benefits； but these
are not the sole advantages； and to benefit you； in these respects； is not my
whole view。
No。 My treatment of you henceforth will be regulated by one
principle。 I regard you only as one undergoing a probation or
apprenticeship； as subjected to trials of your sincerity and fortitude。 The
marriage I now propose to you is desirable； because it will make you
independent of me。 Your poverty might create an unsuitable bias in
favour of proposals； one of whose effects would be to set you beyond
fortune's reach。 That bias will cease； when you cease to be poor and
dependent。
Love is the strongest of all human delusions。 That fortitude； which is
not subdued by the tenderness and blandishments of woman； may be
trusted； but no fortitude； which has not undergone that test； will be trusted
by us。
This woman is a charming enthusiast。 She will never marry but him
whom she passionately loves。 Her power over the heart that loves her
will scarcely have limits。 The means of prying into your transactions； of
suspecting and sifting your thoughts； which her constant society with you；
while sleeping and waking； her zeal and watchfulness for your welfare；
and her curiosity； adroitness； and penetration will afford her； are evident。
Your danger； therefore； will be imminent。 Your fortitude will be obliged
to have recourse； not to flight； but to vigilance。 Your eye must never
close。
Alas！ what human magnanimity can stand this test！ How can I
persuade myself that you will not fail？ I waver between hope and fear。
Many； it is true； have fallen； and dragged with them the author of their ruin；
but some have soared above even these perils and temptations； with their
fiery energies unimpaired； and great has been； as great ought to be； their
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MEMOIRS OF CARWIN THE BILOQUIST ＇A fragment＇
recompence。
But you are doubtless aware of your danger。 I need not repeat the
consequences of betraying your trust； the rigour of those who will Judge
your fault； the unerring and unbounded scrutiny to which your actions； the
most secret and indifferent； will be subjected。
Your conduct； however； will be voluntary。 At your own option be it；
to see or not to see this woman。 Circumspection； deliberation
forethought； are your sacred duties and highest interest。
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MEMOIRS OF CARWIN THE BILOQUIST ＇A fragment＇
Chapter VIII。
Ludloe's remarks on the seductive and bewitching powers of women；
on the difficulty of keeping a secret which they wish to know； and to gain
which they employ the soft artillery of tears and prayers； and
blandishments and menaces； are familiar to all men； but they had little
weight with me； because they were unsupported by my own experience。
I had never had any intellectual or sentimental connection with the sex。
My meditations and pursuits had all led a different way； and a bias had
gradually been given to my feelings； very unfavourable to the refinements
of love。 I acknowledge； with shame and regret； that I was accustomed to
regard the physical and sensual consequences of the sexual relation as
realities； and every thing intellectual； disinterested； and heroic； which
enthusiasts connect with it as idle dreams。 Besides； said I； I am yet a
stranger to the secret； on the preservation of which so much stress is laid；
and it will be optional with me to receive it or not。 If； in the progress of
my acquaintance with Mrs。 Benington； I should perceive any
extraordinary danger in the gift； cannot I refuse； or at least delay to
comply with any new conditions from Ludloe？ Will not his candour and
his affection for me rather commend than disapprove my diffidence？ In
fine； I resolved to see this lady。
She was； it seems； the widow of Benington； whom I knew in Spain。
This man was an English merchant settled at Barcelona； to whom I had
been commended by Ludloe's letters； and through whom my pecuniary
supplies were furnished。 。 。 。 。 。 。 Much intercourse and some degree of
intimacy had taken place between us； and I had gained a pretty accurate
knowledge of his character。 I had been informed； through different
channels； that his wife was much his superior in rank； that she p