al
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES

 
 THE 
 
 Invifible Spy t 
 
 B Y 
 EXPLORALIBUS. 
 
 In FOUR VOLUMES. 
 VOL. I. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for T. G A R D N E R, at Cowley's Head, 
 near St. Clement's Church in th Strand,
 
 CONTENTS,/ 
 
 TO THE 
 
 Firft VOLUME 
 
 BOOK I. CHAP. I. 
 TNTRODUCT10N. p. I 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 Contains feme premifes very necejjary to be ob- 
 ferved by every reader ; and alfo an account of 
 the Author' s firji Invijible Vlfit. 21 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 Prefents the reader with fame pajjages which can- 
 not fail tff being entertaining to tbofe nt intt- 
 refted in them, and may be of fervice to thofc 
 iv ho are, 35 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 Concludes an adventure of a very Jingular nature 
 in its confequences. 5 2 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Contains the hijiory of a dijirefs^ which, ac- 
 cording to the Author's private opinion, is much 
 were likely to excite laughter than fommiferation. 
 
 69 
 
 A CHAP. 
 
 1304942 '
 
 C -O -N T E N T S. 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 , that though a remijjnefs of care in the 
 bringing up of children y can fcarce fail of be- 
 .ing attended with very bad consequences ; yet 
 that an over exacJ circurnfyeSlion, in minute 
 things^ may fometimes prove equally pernicious 
 to their future, welfare. 84 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 SVill fully fatisfy alLthe curiojity the former may 
 have excited. 95 
 
 C H A P. VIII. 
 
 ^Contains a very brief account of fome paffages 
 fubfequent to the foregoing jlory.^ with the 
 Author's remarks upon .the whole. j 32 
 
 BOOK II. CHAP. I. 
 
 ?he Author^ fy the help of his Invifibil : <ty, has 
 difcover'd fuch a conirafl in tht behaviour of 
 two married couple of 'dijiinflion, as he tbinkc 
 Mould be the utmojl injuftice to the public to 
 Conceal. 138 
 
 CHAP. n. 
 
 Relates a ftrange and moft unnatural injiance of 
 J>igdry ,and enthujium in a parent. j^6 
 
 C HAP. HI. 
 
 'JJ)e Author finds meuns, tho' with an infinite 
 
 i.W.' rf difficulty, to mi-be a dijccvery of jcme 
 
 feat ef ii:c unhappy CG):j,-qutnces which imme- 
 
 V attended the crue resolution Flaminio 
 
 had, taken .in regard to his daughter. 175 
 
 CHAP.
 
 CONTENTS. ft 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 Contains fome farther and ware int ere fling parti- 
 culars of ibis adventure, and Jhews that people^ 
 by Jiyif.g from one thing which they think would 
 be a misfortune, often run into others of a na- 
 ture much more to be dreaded. 189 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Completes the catajirophe of this truly tragical 
 adventure. 203 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 Gives the account of an occurrence^ no lefs re- 
 markable than it is entertaining ; and Jhews 
 that there is fcarce any difficulty fo great but 
 that it may be got over, by the help of a ready 
 zuit and invention^ if properly exerted. 223 
 
 CHAP.. VII. 
 
 Is a continuance of this merry kiftory, which pre- 
 fents fomething as little expetted by the reader 
 as it was by the parties concern' d in it j and 9 
 if the Authors hopes do not greatly deceive him % 
 will a Ifo afford an equal Jhare of fatisfaclion 
 asfurprife. 342 
 
 CHAP. VIIL 
 
 Prefents fomething as little expetted by the reader 
 as it was by the parties concerned in it ; and+ 
 if the Author's hopes do not deceive him will 
 alfo afford an equal Jhare of fatisfaffion as 
 furprfy. 259 
 
 CHAP.
 
 ir CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 Contains a fuccinft account of fome farther parti- 
 cular s> in fame meafure relative to the fore- 
 going adventure^ and, befides^ are of too agree- 
 able and intcrefting a nature in thetnfelves not 
 to be looked upon as a rightly judg'd, and very 
 necej/ary appendix. 275
 
 THE 
 
 Invifible Spy. 
 
 BOOK I. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 To the PUBLIC. 
 
 Have obferved that when 
 a new book begins to make 
 any noife in the world, as 
 I am pretty certain this 
 will do, every one is de- 
 firous of becoming ac- 
 quainted with the author ; and this im- 
 patience increafes the more, the more he 
 VOL, I. B endea-
 
 2 *Ihe Lmlfible SPY. 
 
 endeavours to conceal himfelf. I expect 
 to hear an hundred different names in- 
 icribed to the Invifible, fome of which 
 J mould, perhaps, be proud of, others 
 as much alhamed to own. Some will 
 doubtlefs take me for a philofopher, 
 others for a fool , with fome I mail pafs 
 for a man of pleafure, with others for a 
 ftoic ; fome will look upon me as a 
 courtier, others as a patriot , but whe- 
 ther I am any one of thefe, or whether I 
 am even a man or a woman, they will 
 find it, after all their conjectures, as dif- 
 ficult to difcover as the longitude. 
 
 I think it therefore a duty incumbent 
 on my good-nature to put an early flop 
 to fuch fruitlefs inquifitions, and alfo at 
 the fame time to fatisfy, in fome meafure, 
 the curiofity of the public, by giving an 
 account of the means by which I attain- 
 ed the Gift of Invifibility I poflefs. 
 
 Know then, gentle reader, that in the 
 former part of my life it was my good 
 fortune to do a fignal fervice to a certain 
 venerable perfon fince dead : he was 
 defcended from the ancient Magi of the 
 Chaldeans, inherited their wifdom, and 
 was well verfed in all the myftic fecrets of 
 thtir art: befides his gratitude for the 
 good office I had done him, he feem'd 
 
 to
 
 Invifible SPY. 3 
 
 to have found fomething in my humour 
 and manner of behaviour that extremely 
 pleafed him , he would often have me 
 with him, and entertain'd me with dif- 
 courfes on things which otherwife I mould 
 not have had the leaft idea of. 
 
 But it was not long that I enjoy'd this 
 benefit , he fent for me one day to let 
 me know he was much indifpofed, and 
 defired I would come immediately to 
 him : I went, and found him not as I 
 expected, in bed, but fitting in an eafy 
 chair ; after the firft falutations were 
 over, and I had placed myfelf pretty 
 near him ; * My good friend, faid he, 
 taking hold of my hand, I feel that I 
 muft fhortly quit this bufy world ; 
 the filver cord is loofen'd, the golden 
 bowl is broken, every thing within 
 me haftens to a fpeedy difiblutien ; and 
 I was willing to fee you once more be- 
 fore I fet out on my journey to that 
 land of fhades, as Hamlet truly fays, 
 
 That undifcover'd country, from whofe 
 
 bourn 
 No traveller returns, 
 
 * As the remembrance of you, con- 
 
 * tinued he, will certainly accompany me 
 
 * beyond the grave, I would wifh, me- 
 
 B 2 thinks,
 
 4 'The Imifible SPY. 
 
 thinks, to hold fome place in yours 
 
 < while you remain on earth, to the end 
 
 < that 1 may not be quite a ft ranger to 
 you when we meet in eternity. I have 
 
 < no land, nor tenements, nor gold 
 nor filver to bequeath, yet am not defti- 
 tute of fomething which may be equal* 
 ly worthy your acceptance.* 
 
 Then, after a little paufe, * Take 
 e this,' added he, giving me a key, * it 
 
 * will admit you into a clofet which no 
 
 * one but myfelf has ever enter'd ; I 
 
 * call it my Cabinet of Curiofities, and I 
 4 believe you will find fuch things there 
 ' as will deferve that name ; chufe from 
 
 * among them any one that mod fuirs 
 
 * your fancy, and accept it as a token of 
 my love. 
 
 He faid no more, but rung his bell 
 for a fervant, who, by his orders, con- 
 ducted me by a narrow winding flair- 
 cafe to the top of the houfe, and left me 
 at a little door, which I open'd with the 
 key that had been given me, and found 
 myfelf in a fmall fquare room, built after 
 the manner of a turret: all the furni- 
 ture was an old wicker chair, with a 
 piece of blanket thrown carelefly over it, 
 J fuppofe to defend the Sage from the air 
 when he fat there to ftudy ; near it was 
 
 placed
 
 he Li'vifible SPY. 5 
 
 placed a table, not lefs antiquated, with 
 t\vo globes , a ftandifh with fome paper, 
 and feveral books in manufcript , but 
 wrote in characters too unintelligible for 
 me to comprehend any part of what they 
 contain'd: juft in the middle of the 
 ceiling hung a pretty large chryftal ball, 
 filled with a mining yellowifh powder, 
 and this infcription palled on it : 
 
 'The ILLUSIVE POWDER. 
 
 " A Small quantity of this powder, 
 
 " JT \ blown thro' the quill of a por- 
 
 44 cupine when the Moon is in Aries, 
 
 44 raifes fplendid vifions in the people's 
 
 44 eyes j and, if apply'd when the fame 
 
 * e planet is in Cancer, fpreads univerfal 
 
 44 terror and difmay." 
 
 I eafily perceived that this was one of 
 the curiofities my friend had mentioned, 
 and a great one indeed it was ; but as I 
 had neither intereft nor inclinaiton to im- 
 pofe upon my fellow creatures, I judged 
 it fitter for the poffeflion of fome one or 
 other of the mighty rulers of the earth. 
 
 I then turnM towards the walls, which 
 
 were all hung round with tellefcopes, 
 
 horofcopes, microfcopes, talifmans, 
 
 multipliers, magnifiers of all degrees. 
 
 B and
 
 6 *Tbe Invifible SPY. 
 
 and fizes, loadftones cut in various 
 forms, and great numbers of mathema- 
 tical inftruments ; but thefe, as I 
 was altogether ignorant of their ufes, I 
 pafs'd flightly t>ver, 'till I came to a 
 hand-bell, which having the appearance 
 of no other than fuch as I had ordinarily 
 feen at a lady's tea-table, I mould have 
 taken no notice of, but for a label pre- 
 fixed to it, on which I found thefe words : 
 
 *fbe SIMPATHETIC BELL. 
 
 ** '"T^HE lead tincle of which not only 
 
 *' A fets all the bells of the whole 
 
 *' country, be it of ever fo large extent, 
 
 " in motion, without the help of men to 
 
 ** pluck the ropes, but alfo makes them 
 
 * c play whatever changes the party is 
 
 ** pleafed to nominate." 
 
 Tho* I thought art could produce no 
 greater wonder than this bell, yet I felt 
 no ftrong defire of becoming the matter 
 of it ; but proceeded to examine what 
 farther rarities this extraordinary cabinet 
 would prefent. The next I took notice 
 of was a phial, not much unlike thofe 
 which are commonly fold in the mops 
 with French hungary-water j it had this 
 infcription : 
 
 SALTS
 
 The 
 
 SALTS cf MEDITATION, 
 
 WHICH held clofe to the noftrii?, 
 for the fpace of three feconcs 
 and a half, corrects all vague and wan- 
 dering thoughts, fixes the mind, and 
 enables it to ponder juftly on any fub- 
 ject that requires deliberation.'* 
 
 This beneficial fecret I alfo rejected, 
 through a mere point of confcience, a.i 
 thinking it would be a much better fer- 
 vice to mankind if in the pdfiefiion of the 
 divines, lawyers, politicians, or phyfi- 
 cians, efpecially the two laft mentioned, 
 as it might prevent the one from e-Ajga^ing 
 in any enterprize they have not abilities or 
 courage to go through with, and the other 
 from falling into thole grofs miftakes they 
 are frequently guilty of in relation to the 
 cafe of the difeafed. 
 
 I mould have ruminated much longer 
 than I did on the excellence of thefe won- 
 derful falts, if another object had not fucU 
 denly catched my fight ; it had the form 
 of a fkull-cap, or fuch a coif as ferjcants 
 at law wear when a new one is called up : 
 what it was made out of I know not, 
 for I am certain it was neither of the filk, 
 woollen, or linnen manufactory , - 
 B 4,
 
 8 tte Invifible SPY. 
 
 was, however, of fo light and thin a tex- 
 ture, that as it hung at fome diftance 
 From the wall the leaft breath of air gave 
 it motion, it was faften'd by a fingle 
 thread to the ceiling, to which alfo was 
 fixed a flip of paper, which contain'd 
 thefe words : 
 
 The SHRINKING CAP, 
 
 put upon the head im- 
 mediately contracts all the 
 *' mufcles and fmews of the whole body, 
 ' fo as to render the pe-rfon who wears 
 * c it fmall enough to enter into the 
 ** mouth of a lady's tea-pot, or a quart 
 * * bottle j but great care muft be taken 
 " no accident happens to the vehicle 
 " while he is in iti for if it breaks du- 
 ** ring that time, the man will never 
 *' more recover his former dimeniions." 
 
 I hefitated not a moment to reject: this, 
 as it feemed calculated for no other pur- 
 pofc than merely to amufe and aftonifh, 
 and could be of no real fervice, either to 
 myfelf or any body elfe : I mould, per- 
 haps, not even have thought of it more, if 
 an accident had not brought it frefh into 
 my head : my readers can Jcarce have 
 forgot, that about fome four or five years 
 ago the town was invited, in a very pom- 
 
 pous
 
 fhe Invtfible S p r. 
 
 pous manner, to fee a man jump into a 
 quart bottle on- the ftage of the little 
 theatre in the Hay-market ; on the fight 
 ef the bills I presently concluded that the 
 perfon who was to exhibit this wonderful 
 perfomance muft certainly be in pofleflioa 
 of my friend's fhrinking cap ; nor was at 
 a lofs afterwards to guefs,. why fo illuf- 
 trious and numerous an afTembly, as 1 came 
 to be fpectators, were difap pointed in 
 their expectations: I doubted not, 
 but fecond thoughts had reminded the 
 man of the danger his bottle would be in 
 from the waggifh humour of fome among 
 the audience, and that an apple, or orange, 
 or even a hazle-nut, darted from a judi- 
 cious hand, might give a fudden crack to 
 the brittle veflel, and fo he would be 
 compelled to continue a liiliputian for 
 his whole life. 
 
 The next, and indeed the firft thing, 
 that raifed in me any covetous emotions, 
 was the apparatus of a belt, but feeined 
 no more than a collection of attoms ga- 
 thered together in that form and playing 
 in the fun-beams. I could not perfuade 
 myfelf it was a real fubltance, till I took 
 it down, and then found it Ib light, that 
 if I fhut my eyes I knew not that I had 
 any thing in my hand. The label annex- 
 ed to it had thefe words : 
 B 5
 
 jo T&e Invffili SPY. 
 
 'The BELT of INVISIBILITY*, 
 
 " "\A7 HICH ' faften'd round the body, 
 " VV next the fkin, no fooner becomes 
 * c warm than it renders the party inyi- 
 46 fible to all human eyes.'* 
 
 A little Farther, on the fame fide of the 
 wall, was placed aTablet, or Pocket book ; 
 which, on examining, I found was com- 
 pofed of a clear glafiy fubflance, firm, yet 
 thin as the bubbles which we fometimcs 
 fee rife on the furface of the waters , 
 it was malleable, and doubled in many 
 foldings, fo that, when fhut, it feemed 
 very fmall ; but when extended was more 
 Jong and broad than any meet I ever faw 
 of imperial paper ^ its ufes were de- 
 cipher'd in the following infcription: 
 
 WONDERFUL TABLET, 
 
 " TT7HICH, in whatever place it is 
 * e fpread open, receives the impref- 
 * fion of every word that is fpoken, in as 
 '* diftinfl a manner as if engrav'd , and 
 ** can no way be expunged, but by the 
 * { breath of a virgin, of fo pure an inno- 
 *' cence as not to have even thought on the 
 ** difference of fexes ; after fuch a one, 
 ** if fuch a one is to be found, has blown 
 
 " pretty
 
 Irrv-ifible S p y. i?i- 
 
 ** pretty hard upon it for the fpace of 
 ** leven feconds and three quarters, fh.~ 
 " muft wipe it gently with the firft 
 * e down under the left wing of an un- 
 " fledg'd fwan, pluck'd when the moon, 
 41 is in three degrees of Virgo j this 
 * done, the Tablet will be entirely free 
 ** from all former memorandums, and 
 *< fit t;o take a new impreflion, 
 
 " Note, That the virgin muft exceed 
 " twelve years of age." 
 
 I was very much divided between thefc 
 two ; the Belt of Invifibility put a thou- 
 fand rambles into my head, which pro- 
 mifed difcoveries highly flattering to the 
 inquifitivenefs of my humour ; but theq 
 the Tablet, recording every thing I fhoulc} 
 hear fpoken, which I confefs my me- 
 mory is too defective to retain, fili'd me 
 with the moft ardent defire of becoming 
 mafter of fo ineftimable a treafure : in 
 fine, I wanted both -, fo encroaching is 
 the temper of mankind, that the grant of 
 one favour generally paves the way for 
 folliciting a fecond. 
 
 While I was in this dilemma a ftrata- 
 
 gem occurr'd, which I hefitated not to. 
 
 put in practice, and found it anfwer to 
 
 my wifhes-, I took both the Belt and 
 
 B 6 Table r.
 
 12 The Invifible SPY. 
 
 Tablet in my hand , and, having careful- 
 ly lock'd the door of the cabinet, return- 
 ed to the Adept ; he faw the Bek, which 
 being long, hung over my wrift, but not 
 perceiving I had the Tablet, ' The 
 choice you have made, faid he with a 
 
 * fmile, confirms the truth of what I al- 
 
 * ways believed, that curiofity is the moft 
 
 * prevailing paffion of the human mind.* 
 
 However juft that pofition may be, 
 reply 'd I, that propenfity is not ftrong 
 enough in me, to make me able to de- 
 cide between the wonderful Tablet, and 
 the no lefs wonderful Belt ; they ap- 
 pear to me of fuch equal eftimation, 
 that whenever I would fix on the one, 
 the benefits of the other rife up in op- 
 pofition to my choice , and I knew not 
 which of the two I mould receive with 
 moft pleafure, or leave with the leaft 
 regret ; I have therefore brought 
 both down to you, and intreat you will 
 determine for me.' 
 
 I foon perceived he underftood my 
 meaning perfectly well ; for, after a little 
 paufe, l When I made you the offer, 
 
 * faid he., of whatever you liked beft 
 
 * among my collection of curiofities, I 
 4 intended not that your acceptance of 
 
 * one thing mould render you unhappy 
 
 through
 
 Inviffile SPY. 13 
 
 through the want of another ; take 
 then, I befeech you, both the Belt and 
 the Tablet, you fhall leave neither 
 of them behind you , nor do I won- 
 der you mould defire to unite them ; 
 they are, in a manner, concomitant ; 
 and the fatisfaction that either of them 
 would be able to procure, would be in- 
 compleat without the afliftance of the 
 other.' 
 
 Thus was I put in pofieffion of a trea- 
 fure, which I thought the more valuable, 
 as I was pretty certain no other perfon, in 
 this kingdom at leaft, enjoy'd the like > 
 after making proper acknowledgments to 
 the obliging donor, I took my leave and 
 returned home with a heart overflowing 
 with delight. 
 
 I was not long before I made trial of 
 my Belt, and found the effects as the 
 label had defcribed ; I alfo open'd my 
 Tablet, fpoke, and faw my words im- 
 mediately imprinted on it-, I then pro- 
 cured fome Swans-down, according to 
 direction, and intreated feveral young 
 ladies to breathe upon it one after another j 
 but tho' I dare anfwer for their virtue, the 
 favour they did me was in vain, the 
 hnprcffion remain'd ftill indelible. 
 
 Indeed,
 
 14 TZ><? Itmj&fe SPY. 
 
 Indeed, when I began to confider ma- 
 turely on the conditions prefcrib'd in the 
 label of the Tablet, I was fenfible that it 
 was not enough for a virgin to be perfectly 
 innocent, fhe rnufl alfo be equally igno- 
 rant, to be qualified for the performance 
 of the tafk required ; and not to have 
 once thought n the difference of fexes, 
 feem'd a thing fcarce poffible after fix or 
 feven years of age at moft, and would 
 have been as great a prodigy as either of 
 thofe had been beftow'd upon me by the 
 Adept. 
 
 What would I not have given for fuch 
 a one as Dorinda in Shakefpear's Inchant- 
 ed Ifland ; but fuch a hope being vain I 
 was extremely puzzled, and knew not 
 what to do *, at laft, however, a lucky 
 thought got me over the difficulty , it 
 was this : I prevailed, for a fmall fum 
 of money, with a very poor widow, who 
 had feveral children,, to let me have a 
 girl, of about three years old, to bring 
 up and educate as I judged proper ; I 
 then committed my little purchafe to the 
 care of an elderly woman, whofe difcre- 
 tion I had experienced ; I communica- 
 ted to her the whole of my defign, and 
 inftructed her how to proceed in order to 
 render it effectual 
 
 The
 
 Invifble SPY. j 5 
 
 The little creature was kept in an up- 
 per room, which had no window in it but 
 a fky- light in the roof of the houfe, fa 
 could be witnefs of nothing that pafs'd 
 below ; her diet was thin and very fpa- 
 ring j me was not permitted to deep 
 above half the time generally allow'd for 
 repofe, and faw no living thing but the 
 old woman who lay with her, gave her 
 food, and did all that was neceflary about 
 her. 
 
 I frequently vifited them in my Invifi- 
 bility, and was highly pleafed and di- 
 verted with the diligence of my good old 
 woman ; fhe not only obey'd my orders 
 with the utmoft punctuality,, but did 
 many things of her own accord, which, 
 though very requifite, I had not thought 
 of. To prevent her young charge from 
 falling into any of thofe diftempers which 
 the want of exercife fometimes occafions, 
 fhe contrived to make a fwing for her 
 acrofs the room, taught her to play at 
 batteldor and fhittlecock, to tofs the 
 ball and catch it at the rebound, and fuch 
 like childifh gambols, which both delight- 
 ed her mind and kept her limbs in a con- 
 tinual motion. 
 
 This,
 
 1 6 The Invffi/e 
 
 This conduct, and this regimen cbn- 
 {tantly obferved, maintained my virgin's 
 purity inviolate, as I did not fail to make 
 an efiay in a few days after flie enter 'd 
 into her thirteenth year, and the fuccefs 
 of my endeavours made me not regret 
 the pains I had been at for fuch a length 
 of time. 
 
 Now it runs in my head that fome 
 people will not give credit to one word of 
 all this ; for as there are many who be- 
 lieve too much, there are yet many more 
 who will believe nothing at all but what 
 their own mallow reafon enables them to 
 comprehend : well then, let them 
 judge as they think fit, let them puzzle 
 their wife noddles 'till they ake, I fhall 
 fit fnug in my Invifibility while they lofe 
 half the pleafure ; and, it may be> all the 
 improvement of my lucubrations. 
 
 But thofe who refolve to purfue me 
 through the following pages, with an in- 
 genuous candour, 1 flatter myfelf will 
 lofe nothing by the chace ; they will 
 find me in various places, though not in 
 fo many as perhaps they may expect ; 
 they would in vain feek me at court-balls, 
 city-feafts, the halls of juftice, or 
 meetings for elections - a nor do I much 
 
 haunt
 
 Invifible SPY. 17 
 
 haunt the opera or play-houfes : in fine, 
 I avoid all crouds, all mix'd affem- 
 blies, except the mafquerade and Vene- 
 tian balls. I am a member of the eftab- 
 lifh'd church ; but as I am not afham'd 
 of appearing at divine worfhip, never put 
 on my Invifiblc Belt when I go there. 
 I revere regal authority, but feldom vifit 
 the cabinet of princes , becaufe they are 
 generally fo filled with a thick fog, that 
 the chriftaline texture of my Tablets could 
 not receive what was faid there, fo as to 
 be read diftinctly ; nor do I much care 
 to venture myfelf among their minifters 
 of ftate, or any of their underworking 
 tools; the floors of their rooms, in which 
 their cabals are held, are compofed of 
 fuch flippery materials that the leaft faux 
 pas might endanger my Invifibility, if not 
 my neck. I mould be more frequently 
 with the military gentlemen, but that 
 they are fo apt to draw their fwords 
 without occafion, that while they think 
 they are fencing in the air they might 
 chance to cut my Belt in funder ; and 
 what a figure I mould make, wlfen one 
 half of me was difcover'd and the other 
 was concealed. I will not mention the 
 confequences fuch a fight might produce 
 in fome of them. 
 
 But
 
 But it would be of little importance to 
 the public to be told where I am not, un- 
 lefs they alfo know where I am : have 
 patience then, good people, and you ihall 
 be fatisfied. 
 
 Sometimes I ftep in at cne or other of 
 thole gaming^houles, which are above 
 law, by being under the protection of the 
 great ; but I feldom flay long in any of 
 them, as I can fee nothing there but what 
 I have feen an hundred times before in 
 thole lefler afiemblies of the fame kind, 
 that have been fo juftly put down .by 
 authority. 
 
 Sometimes I peep into the clofet of an 
 antiquarian, where I find matter enough 
 to excite both my pity and contempt. 
 "What greater inftance can we have of the 
 depravity of human nature than in a rich 
 curmudgeon, who, while he grumbles to 
 allow his family necefTary food, chearfully 
 unties his bags and pours out fifty, or it 
 may be an hundred guineas, for the pur- 
 chafe of a bit of old copper, only be- 
 caufe a fellow of more wit than honefcy 
 tells him it was found under the ruins of 
 an ancient wall, where it had been buried 
 ever fince the time of Julius Caefar or 
 Severus ? 
 
 Some-
 
 tte Itruifible SPY.. 19 
 
 Sometimes too I amufe myfelf with 
 turning over the collection of a virtuofo, 
 where 1 am always filled with the utmoft 
 aftonifhment, at finding fums fufficient to 
 endow an hofpital laviih'd in the purchafe 
 of wings of butterflies, the (hells of fifties, 
 dried reptiles, the paw of fome exotic 
 animal, and fuch like baubles, neither 
 pleafing in their profpecl:, nor ufcful in 
 their natures. 
 
 Sometimes I make one at the levee of 
 a rich heir, juft arrived from his travels 
 to the poflefTion of an overgrown eftate ; 
 where I cannot help trembling for . v .the 
 future fate of the poor youth, on feeing 
 him befieged with a crowd of marriage- 
 brokers, pleafure-brokers, exchange- 
 brokers, lawyers, gameflers, French 
 taylors,- Drefden-milliners, petitioning 
 harlots, congratulating poets; in fine, 
 with Iharpers, flatterers and fycophants of 
 every kind. 
 
 Sometimes I mingle in the route of a 
 woman of quality, fee who wins, who 
 lofes at play, and in what manner ladies 
 are frequently obliged to pay their debts 
 of honour. 
 
 When
 
 20 7/k Iwlible SPY. 
 
 When I have nothing better to employ 
 my time, I loyter away fome hours in St. 
 James*s-park, Kenfmgton-garcens, or at 
 Vaux-hall, Randagh, and Mary-le-bon, 
 and am often witnefs of fome fcenes ex- 
 citing prefent mirth and future reflection. 
 
 But my chief delight is in the dray ing- 
 room of fome celebrated toafts, -whence 
 I often fteal into their bed-chambers j 
 but don't be frighted, ladies, I never 
 carry my infpections farther than the 
 ruelle. 
 
 Thefe are fome few particulars of the 
 tour I have made ; to give the whole 
 detail would be too tedious, I mall 
 therefore only fay, that wherever I am 
 found, I fhall always be found a lover of 
 morality, and no enemy to religion, or 
 any of its worthy profeffors, of what feet 
 or denomination focver. 
 
 And now, reader, having let thee into 
 the fecret of my hiftory, as far as it is 
 convenient for me to reveal, I fhall leave 
 thee to enjoy the advantage of thofe dif- 
 coveries my Invifibility enabled me to 
 make. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 The Invijible SPY. 21 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 Contains feme premifes very necejjary to 
 be obferved by every reader ; and 
 alfo an account of the author's Jirfl 
 Invifible Fifit. 
 
 TT was in the beginning of that feafon 
 * of the year which affords moft food 
 for an enquiring mind, that I had got all 
 things in order to fally forth on my In- 
 vifible Progreffions ; the king was late- 
 ly return'd from vifiting his German do- 
 minions ; the auguft reprefentatives of 
 the whole body of the people were juft 
 ready to afiemble ; Hanover had given 
 back our ftatefmen, and Paris our fine 
 gentlemen ; the expounders of the law 
 were hurrying to Weftminfter-hall, and 
 thofe of the gofpel to pay their compli- 
 ments at St. James's ; the (hips of war 
 were moftly moor'd, and their gallant 
 commanders had quitted the rough ath- 
 letic toil for the foft charms of eafe and 
 luxury ; the land heroes, who having 
 no employment for their fwords had 
 pafs'd their days in rural fports, now 
 hunted after a different fort of game at 
 the theatres and mafquerades ; frequent 
 
 conful-
 
 22 rfhe Lwifible Spy. 
 
 confultations were held at the toylets of 
 the ladies, on ways and means to out- 
 fhine each other in the circle ; former 
 amours were now revived, and new ones 
 every day commenced ; madam Intel- 
 ligence, with her thoufand and ten thou- 
 iand emirTaries, all loaded with reports, 
 fome true, fome falfe, flew fwiftly thro* 
 each quarter of this great metropolis , 
 and had every pore of every human body 
 been an ear, they all might have been 
 fully gratified. 
 
 But tho* I confefs myfelf to have been 
 born with the moft infatiable curiofity of 
 knowing all that can be known, yet I 
 could never depend upon the credit of 
 common fame for the truth of any thing 
 I heard , always remembring mr. Dry- 
 den's words : 
 
 * With wondrous art things done me 
 
 * magnifies, 
 
 * Feigns things not done, and mingles 
 
 * truth with lyes. 
 
 How pleafing therefore muft this Gift 
 of Inviftbility be to a perfon of my inqui- 
 fitive, and at the fame time incredulous 
 difpofition ; a gift which enabled me to 
 penetrate into the moft hidden fecrets, 
 
 and
 
 The Invifibk SPY. 23 
 
 and be convinced of their veracity by the 
 teftimony of my own eyes and ears. 
 
 But befides the gratification of a dar- 
 ling pafiion, I had another, and much 
 more j uft ifiable rcafon for the value I fet 
 upon the legacy of my departed friend ; 
 v/hich is this, I have it in my power to 
 pluck off the mafk of hypocrify from th 
 leeming fa'int v to expofe vice and folly 
 in all their various modes and attitudes ; 
 to (trip a bad action of all the fpecious 
 pretences made to conceal or palliate it, 
 and fhew it in its native uglinefs. At 
 the fame time, I have alfo the means to 
 refcue injur*d innocence from the cruel 
 attacks begun by envy and fcandal, and 
 propagated by prejudice and ill-nature. 
 In fine, I am enabled, by this precious 
 gift, to fet both things and perfons in 
 their proper colours ; and not in fuch as 
 either, thro* malice, or partial favour, 
 they are frequently made to appear. 
 
 I mould be forry, however, if ~any 
 thing I have faid mould give the reader 
 occafion to imagine I am going to prefent 
 him with a book of fcandal ; no, 
 the fecrets of families, and characters of 
 perfons, fhall be always facred with me ; 
 I mail give no man the opportunity of 
 indulging a malicious pleafure of laugh- 
 ing
 
 24 ^be Invifible SPY. 
 
 ing at his neighbour's faults ; my aim 
 in this work is not to ridicule, but reform. 
 I would touch the hearts, not call a 
 blufh upon the face ; and as few people 
 have errors fo peculiar to themfelves as 
 there are not many guilty of the like, if 
 the offender keeps his own council, he 
 may very well pafs undiftinguim'd among 
 the crowd of others equally culpable. 
 
 Let no one therefore pretend to point 
 at his companion, and cry out, c This 
 ' is the man,' on pain of provoking my 
 Invifiblefhip to declare his own faults j 
 but let every one who finds a difagreeable 
 likenefs of himfelf in any of the charac* 
 ters I mall draw, fet immediately about 
 rectifying the blemiflies which give that 
 refemblance ; and, as I infcribe no real 
 name to the picture, he may fafely defy 
 the tongue of cenfure. 
 
 Verramond is juftly accounted one of 
 the moft accomplifh'd gentlemen of the 
 prefent age, the gracefulnefs of his per* 
 fon, the engaging manner of his conver- 
 iation, his fine addrefs and uncommon 
 capacity, make his company defir'd by all 
 the young and gay part of the world, as 
 his great learning and perfect: knowledge 
 of men and things render him the oracle 
 of the more grave and ferious j I had 
 
 fre-
 
 Invifible SPT, 25 
 
 frequently the honour of meeting him 
 at ieveral places where I vifited, and 
 found nothing in him which could in the 
 leaft contradict thofe high ideas fame had 
 given me of him. 
 
 It was therefore natural for me to take 
 the advantage of my Gift of Invifibility, in 
 order to view this great perfon in his molt 
 retired moments -, I mean, when he was 
 alone, and diverted of all thofe modes and 
 ceremonies, which often difguife the real 
 man, and mew him to the public far dif- 
 ferent from what he is. 
 
 Accordingly, the firft vifit I made .in 
 my Belt was to his houfe \ I flipt in ai 
 foon as I faw the door open'd, went up 
 Hairs, and pafs'd fihro* feveral rooms till 
 I came to that where he was fitting; I 
 found him with a book in his hand, on 
 which he feem'd very intent ; I doubted 
 not but it was a treadle of philofophy, or 
 fome other piece of learning or wit, fuit- 
 able to the capacity of fo great a genius ; 
 but how much was I furprifed, when, 
 looking over his fhoulder, I perceived in 
 wasHoyle's method of playing the Game 
 of Whift ! He appeared more than ordi- 
 narily taken up with one page, for he read 
 it over three or four times, then ftarted 
 up from his chair, and throwing the book 
 
 VOJL, I, C from
 
 26 be Invifible SPY. 
 
 from him in a rage, Curfe on this 
 
 * ftufr, cry'd he, it is good for nothing 
 
 * but to teach a man how to undo him- 
 ( felf with more art.' After walking for 
 fome minutes backwards and forwards in 
 the room, with a diforder'd motion, he 
 flung himfelf into his chair, and fell into 
 a profound refvery, in which I knew not 
 how long he might have continued, if 
 he had not been rous'd from it by the 
 approach ef a perfon, who I presently 
 found was his fteward. 
 
 The bufinefs on which this man came 
 into the room was no way pleafing to 
 Verramond ; but becaufe I would avoid 
 the troubkfome repetitions of, - faid he, 
 and reply'd he, and refum'd the 
 other, and fuch like introductions to 
 ever/ fpeech, I lhall prefent all thofe dia- 
 logues, which are proper to be commu- 
 nicated to the public, in the fame manner 
 as in the printed copies of theatrical per- 
 formances. 
 
 Steward. * My lord, the feveral tradef- 
 ' men, whom your lordfhip order'd to 
 come this morning, are below and wait 
 
 * your Lordihip's commands. 
 
 Verramond. ' I have no commands for 
 
 * them at prefent, fo fend them away. 
 
 Steward.
 
 27 
 
 Steward. c Shall I bid them attend 
 your lordfhip to-morrow ? 
 
 Verramond. * Aye, to-morrow fix 
 
 * months if you will ; for [ mall fcarce 
 have arty bufmefs with them before. 
 
 Steward. c My lord, I told them they 
 
 * mould all be paid off this morning, 
 What excufe can I make to them for, 
 c fuch a difappointment ? 
 
 Verramond. * E'en what you will ; 
 
 * if you can invent nothing better, you 
 e may tell them that you ly'd when you 
 
 * made them that promife in my name. 
 
 Steward. Your lordfhip knows it was 
 by your own order I made them that 
 promife -, and that you fent me into the 
 city yefterday for money, which I doubt- 
 ed not [ but was to make good what I 
 had told them : if your lordfhip 
 pleafe to confider it is now a long 
 time fince they brought in their bills, 
 and they have had a great deal of pa- 
 tience. 
 
 Verramond. l Rot their patience. - Do 
 
 c you think to make a merit to me of 
 
 c their patience ? Go, 1 fay, fend 
 
 C 2 * them
 
 28 The Invf/i&le SPY. 
 
 ' them away, and let me hear no more 
 ot them.' 
 
 The tone in which Verramond utter* d 
 thefe words was fo auftere that the honeft 
 domeftic had not courage to reply, but 
 kit the room immediately, probably to 
 receive no fofter treatment below from 
 thofe he was compell*d to difappoint, 
 than he hadjuft met with above for at- 
 tempting to intercede in their behalf. 
 
 Lord Macro was prefently after intro- 
 duced ; the late fullennefs of Verramond 
 feem'd now entirely difllpated j what- 
 ever was in his heart his countenance 
 were only fmiles, and he ran to receive 
 him with open arms and all the teftimo- 
 nies of the moft perfect latisfaction ; 
 and yet, as I foon found by the difcourfe 
 they had together, this very Macro, the 
 night before, had won of him at play 
 Fifteen hundred pounds, which was the 
 fum he had fet apart for the payment of 
 his creditors. Their conversation turn- 
 ing wholly upon gaming, a fubject neither 
 entertaining nor improving, I fhall give 
 my readers no more than a bare fpecimen 
 of it. 
 
 Lord Macro. My dear Verramond, I 
 4 cculd not be eafy 'till I law you this 
 
 * morn-
 
 Invifible Spy. 29 
 
 f morning. I thought you left the com - 
 - pany fomewhac abruptly laft night, and 
 ' was afraid your ill luck had given you 
 fome chagrin. 
 
 Verr amend. ' Not in the leatt, my dear 
 4 Macro, I never think any thing loft 
 * that a friend gains , but 1 remember'd 
 ' that I had fome letters to write, other- 
 1 wife fhould have (laid and trufted for- 
 4 tune with a brace or two of hundreds 
 4 farther. 
 
 Lord Macro. As it is an honour LO 
 get the better of your lord (hip in any 
 thing, fo it will be no difgrace to be 
 overcome by a perfon of fiich fuperior 
 abilities , therefore 1 am ready to give 
 you your revenge when you think fit. 
 
 Verr amend. ' Nay, as for that, 
 c Macro, it muft be confefs'd you know 
 ' the game better than I.* 
 
 Here follow'd a long fucceffion of mu- 
 tual compliments on each other's (kill in 
 play, of which growing heartily tired, I 
 was beginning to think of leaving the 
 place, and fhould have done fo, if the 
 appearance of the fleward a fecond time 
 had not made me expect fome change in 
 the fcene j his errand, and the fuccefs 
 Cj it
 
 30 *Ihe Invtfible SPY. 
 
 it met with, will not perhaps appear fo 
 extraordinary to thofe acquainted with the 
 rnodifh way of thinking as it then did 
 to me. 
 
 Steward. ' Farmer Hobfon is below, 
 * my lord ; the poor man has rode 
 
 * hard all night, on purpofe to reach town 
 this morning and lay his miferable con- 
 
 * dition before your lordfhip. 
 
 Verr amove! . c Pirn, what have I to do 
 
 * with his condition r 
 
 Steward. * He fays, my lord, that his 
 crop prov'd fo bad laft year that he 
 had fcarce wherewith to flock the 
 ground v that mr. Jtlardmeat, your 
 lordihip's fteward in the country, 5s 
 very ienfiblc of his misfortunes, yet, 
 though there are but five quarters due, 
 threatens to ,turn him out of the farm 
 next week , he therefore humbly 
 hopes your lordfhip will take compaf- 
 fion on him, as he has fix fmall chil- 
 dren, and his wife now lying-in of the 
 feventh. 
 
 Verramond^ * What bufmefs have fucb 
 c fellows to get children ? Does he ex- 
 * pet my rent fha!l go for the mainte- 
 *- nance of hi^ brats.. 
 
 Steward..
 
 The Liable S p r. 3 i 
 
 Steward. He begs your lord/hip to 
 
 ' confider, that for thefe eleven years he 
 
 ' has rented the farm he has always paid 
 
 * your lordlhip honeftly, and do-S net 
 doubt, through providence, but to do 
 fo frill, if your Icrdihip is pieaild to 
 
 * have patience till next harveit is over, 
 
 * and not ruin him at once. 
 
 Verramcnd. Let me hear no more of 
 ' this fluff, I leave ail to nir. Hard-- 
 ' meat, he knows what he has to do, and 
 ' I fhail give myfelf no troubk about it/ 
 
 The fteward, with whofe good-nature- 
 I was inlinitely charm'd, had his ITK 
 open to urge fomething farther in behalf 
 of the diftrcls'd farmer, but was prove: 
 by a fervant that inftant coming in ard 
 prefenting a letter to Verramond, wha 
 then bid him go down and tell the un- 
 happy fupplicant he might return home, 
 for there was no- anfwer to be given to 
 his complaint. 
 
 Verramond would not open the letter 
 he had juft receiv'd 'till he knew who 
 lent it , but on his footman's informing 
 him it came from mr. Gamble, he haftily 
 broke the feal and found the contents 2s 
 follows : 
 
 04 ? May
 
 i The Invifibk SPY. 
 
 " May it pleafe your Iordfh!p, - 
 
 46 My ever honoured lord, 
 
 Bridewell. 
 
 IHappen'd to be engag'd laft night 
 at a lioufe where the conftable with 
 his poflee made a forcible entrance, 
 demolifn'd our tables, put moft of 
 the company to flight, and feiz'd the 
 reft j I was unluckily one of this laft 
 clafs, and committed to durance vile, 
 as Hudibras fays, and your lordfhip 
 will perceive by the date hereof. 
 
 " A perfon here has undertaken, for 
 " a fee of five guineas, to procure my 
 " immediate difcharge, and I do not 
 ' doubt, by the method he propofes, but 
 " that he is able to do it. 1 am nor, 
 14 however, at prefent, mafter of as many 
 ** (hillings, nor can any way raife the 
 " money he demands, 'having been 
 " obliged, the day before this accident 
 " befel me, to leave my watch, linnen, 
 and beft apparel at mr. Grub's, in truft 
 " for a fmall fum requir'd of me by the 
 * parim officers, on account of a baftard 
 child, which a wench of the town has 
 44 done me the honour to Ivvear I am the 
 father of. 
 
 Ail
 
 1'he Invijible SPY. 53 
 
 " All my hopes, therefore, of getting 
 " out cf limbo are in your lordfhip's 
 " generofity, which if you vouchfafe to 
 " grant me this one more proof of, I 
 u mall, if poflible, be more than ever, 
 
 " With the moft profound duty, 
 
 " Dear patron, 
 " Your devoted vaffal, 
 
 " RICHARD GAMBLE. 
 
 " P. S. I had forgot to acquaint your 
 " lordmip, that I mail have need of 
 " more than the above-mentioned fum 
 " for difcharging the fees of this curfed 
 " hole, without the payment of which I 
 ct cannot be re leafed." 
 
 Verramond hefitated not a moment to 
 comply with this requeft, nor even whe- 
 ther he mould exceed what was defired 
 of him : he drew out his purfe, put ten 
 guineas into the footman's hands, and 
 order' d him to run directly to Bridewell} 
 Carry that money to mr. Gamble, with 
 his compliments, and let him know he 
 mould be glad to fee him as foon as he 
 had recover'd his liberty. 
 
 C 5 Who
 
 limifllle SPY.. 
 
 Who will fay now that Verramond is not 
 liberal ?: but alas, HOW ill placed an 
 act of benevolence was this ?- was it net 
 rather caprice than true charity, which, 
 induced him to beftow this money to fave 
 a common fharper from the punifhment 
 he juftly merited ; yet at the fame time 
 refufe to an honeft induftrious tenant a 
 fmall refpite of payment, tho* to preferve 
 him and his poor family from fure de- 
 iiruction? but Gamble was a neceflary 
 perfon at a gam ing-table, he was of im- 
 portance to his pleafure that way, and the 
 farmer, being only regarded for the rent 
 he paid, when deficient in that, muft be 
 thrown out like a piece of ufelefs lumber,. 
 3tpd his place cccupy'd by fome one who - 
 promifed to be of greater utility. 
 
 Yet do I not think fuch a conduct is , 
 always to be afcribed to the fault of nature, ; 
 - Verramond has certainly the feeds of 
 virtue and honour in his foul - t but they 
 are fuflbcated and choaked up by his im- 
 moderate love of play ; ftrange is it a 
 that a inan capable of thinking fo juftly, 
 will not be at the pains- of thinking at all, 
 but fufFer himfelf to be fway'd, . by a. 
 darling propenfity, to a&ions, which if he - 
 once reflected upon, he would be fo far, 
 
 from
 
 The Inviplle Spy.' 3-; 
 
 from perpetrating, that he would defpife 
 the very, temptation of being guilty of. 
 
 I left him and Macro together;- but, 
 myTablets being already full, I can repeat' 
 no more of their convention than what 
 my memory fupplies me with, which is 
 only that an agreement was made between 
 them to try their fortune a fecond time 
 at whift , but whether Verramond either 
 recover'd or added to his lofs the night 
 before, I did not give myfelf the trouble 
 to examine ; nor, indeed, thought it 
 worthy of any part of my concern* . 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 Prefents the reader with fome pa/Jages 
 which cannot fail of being enter- 
 taining to thofe not intenjled in 
 them, and may be of fervice to tbofe 
 who are. 
 
 A Mong the numerous troops of Britifh 
 f*- toafts, there are few who fhine with 
 more diftinguifh'di luftre, in all public 
 places, than the beautiful Marcella; be- 
 fides an exact fymetry of features, a moil 
 delicate complexion,, and a fine turnM 
 iliape, there is fomething peculiarly en- 
 C 6 chanting
 
 36 The Livifible SPY. 
 
 chanting in her air and mien , I never 
 fee her without being reminded of the ele- 
 gant defcription Milton gives of Eve in 
 her ftate of innocence : 
 
 4 Grace was in all her fteps y heaven in 
 
 ' her eyes, 
 c In every geflure dignity and love.' 
 
 She was married very young to Cela- 
 don, and tho' neither of their hearts had 
 been confulted in the march, yet they 
 had the reputation of living well to- 
 gether ;. they behaved to each other with 
 the greateft complaifance in public, and 
 if any caufe of difcontent ever happen'd 
 between them, both had the difcretion to 
 keep it extremely private. 
 
 1 could not, therefore, expect to make 
 any extraordinary difcoveries in this fa- 
 mily ; the door, however, happening to 
 be open one day as I pafs'd by, I ftepp'd 
 in without any previous defign, and now 
 I did fo was rather excited by curiofity of 
 feeing fome fine pictures, which I had 
 been told were in the houfe, than of pry- 
 ing into the behaviour of the owners. 
 
 But it frequently falls out, that what 
 we lead feek we moft eafily find, and that 
 thofe things which we imagine fartheft 
 
 from
 
 Ike Invifible S p y. 37 
 
 from us are in effect the neareft ; in paf- 
 fing through the feveral rooms in this 
 houfe I faw Marcella writing in her clo- 
 fet, and never was I fo much amazed as 
 now to find fo fair a form harbour a 
 mind capable of dictating thefe lines: 
 
 To FILLAMOUR. 
 " Deareft of your fex^ 
 tc /-Tps HANKS to the powers of love 
 
 " A and liberty, that hated bar to all 
 " the happinefs of my life is removed for 
 " a ihort time, Celadon is gone into 
 " the country upon a party of pleafure, 
 " and this night is entirely my own ; 
 " if therefore no more agreeable engage- 
 " ment detains you, come here between 
 " the hours of twelve and one ; I mall 
 <c take care to fend all the family to bed, 
 except the faithful Rachel, who mall 
 " attend to admit you, on your giving a 
 <c gentle rap againft the fhntter of the par- 
 *' lour window next the door^ let me 
 " know by the bearer,- whether I may 
 " expect you, though it is a blefiing i 
 cc fcarce doubt of, if any of that affection 
 " be fmcere, as you have often vow'd to 
 *' The believing, 
 
 ' And paffionate 
 " MARCELLA, 
 
 Having
 
 38 We 
 
 Having fealed this billet, me call'd her 
 chamber- maid, and order'd her to fend it, 
 as directed, by a trufty porter; then 
 threw herfelf upon a couch, took the 
 novel of Silvia and Philander, read a. 
 little in it, fighM, and feem'd all dif- 
 folv'd in the molt tender languimment,- 
 when her emiffary return'd, and brought 
 this anfwer to her fummons : . 
 
 To the charming MARCELLA. 
 " Dear angel, 
 
 " T Am at prefent furrounded with a 
 " * great deal of company, and have 
 " no opportunity to thank as I would 
 " the kindnefs of yours ; I can only 
 " fay, that nothing mall keep me from 
 " flying, with all the wings of love, to 
 ** my adorable Marcella, at the appointed 
 tc hour , till then adieu j be afr 
 fured that I am always, 
 
 " With the utmofl ardency, 
 " Your devoted Vaflal, 
 
 '* FlLLAMOUR." 
 
 The fair libertine now exprefs'd the 
 higheft fatisi r acT:ion, and immediately -fell. 
 into difcourfe with her confidant Rachel, 
 concerning the manner in which this noc- 
 turnal gueft Ihouid be conceal'd, and hov/ 
 
 neither
 
 Iwifible SPY. 3-^ 
 
 Reither his entrance nor his exit be di- 
 cover'd, or even fufpected by any of the 
 family. 
 
 I had no curiofity to know any thing 
 farther of this affair, ib took the firft op- 
 portunity of leaving the houfe, extremely 
 troubled in my mind that a woman, whole 
 beauty had fo much attracted my reipedr, 
 mould prove herfelf fo unworthy of it by 
 her conduit. 
 
 With what boldnefs, faid I whh-in 
 * myfelf, does the lovely wanton run 
 1 headlong to her ruin, fearlefs of guilt, 
 ' and of the punimment which one time 
 * or other muft be the unfailing con 
 *- fequence ; 
 
 
 f As if that faultlefs form could act no 
 
 * crime, 
 
 * But heaven on looking on it mull for- 
 ' give! '; 
 
 I went home and got my Tablets 
 clear'd from the impure contents of the 
 above recited epiftles -, I wilh'd, in- 
 deed, to think no more of this tranfac- 
 tion i and, to fecond my endeavours that 
 way, towards evening fhllied out again 
 equipp'd in my Invifible Belt, like a true 
 
 knight-
 
 40 The I 
 
 knight-errant, in fearch of fuch adven- 
 tures as chance fhould prefent me with. 
 
 For the fake of amufement I flepp'd into 
 a certain coffee-houfe, which I had been 
 told was much frequented by the lower 
 clafs of politicians ; but either I was mif- 
 inform'd, or none of thofe gentlemen 
 happen'd to be there at the rime I was ; 
 I found only a good number of jolly 
 tradefmen, honeft, well-condition'd 
 creatures, who fee no farther than their 
 nofes, take every thing for gofpel that 
 they find in the Gazette, or is told them by 
 their fuperiors \ are very far from wim- 
 ing any hurt to the commonwealth, and 
 not much nearer in abilities to do it any 
 real fervice : in fine, fuch as may be 
 cali'd real paffivcs in human life, who 
 are govern'd by what they think is the 
 judgment of others, without making the 
 ieaft ufe of that with which God has en- 
 dow'd therafelves. 
 
 The king had been that clay at the 
 parliament houfe, being the nrft time of 
 his going there fince his return to Eng- 
 land, and on this joyful occafion artificers 
 had thrown afide their tools, fhop- 
 keepers had leap'd from behind their 
 compters to be fpectators- of the royal 
 pomp i all the converfation among the 
 
 company
 
 The Invifible SPY. 41 
 
 company I now was with, at leaft all I 
 could diftinctly hear, (for it muft be ob- 
 ferv'd there were many fpcakers at the 
 lame time) turn'd on thefe important 
 points : how well his majefty look'd, 
 
 what cloaths he had on, and who 
 were the noblemen that attended him : 
 
 one boafted he had been fo near the 
 ftate-coach that he could with eafe have 
 touch'd the king's garments as he flepp'd 
 in , another, that he had got into the 
 guard-chamber, and faw the proceffion 
 pafs the whole length of the room ; a 
 third, that a friend had introduced him 
 where his majefty put on his robes and 
 crown -, a- fourth, that he had feen 
 him feated on the throne : in fine, 
 there were feveral who had received ho- 
 nours that day fuch as had left a glee 
 upon their countenances, which perhaps a 
 ftatute of bankruptcy the next would 
 fcarce have remov'd. 
 
 But what moft diverted me was a poor 
 grocer, who, on being being afk'd if he 
 had feen the king, fhook his head, and 
 in a very piteous tone made this reply : 
 
 ' Sure never any thing happen'd fo 
 ' curfedly unlucky -, juft as I had taken 
 4 up my hat and cane to go, an imper- 
 * tinent ill-ftarr'd cuftomcr came in for
 
 42 *be Iwvipbk SPY. 
 
 fugar, and oblig'd me to pull down 
 half the loaves in my fhop for her to 
 chufe which me lik'd beft ; then 
 afk'd for fpices of three or four diffe- 
 rent forts ; then half a dozen of jar 
 raifons and a pound of almonds. I 
 told her I would fend the things home 
 immediately to her houfe ; but me 
 would needs fee them all pack'd up be- 
 fore me left the mop ; all this took 
 up fo much time, that before I had 
 quite done the fecond guns went ofFj 
 and 1 knew that if I ran that moment 
 to the Park, his majefty would be at St. 
 James's before I could get to Spring- 
 garden gate.' 
 
 A grave old gentleman, who all this 
 while had fat mute in a corner of the 
 room, on hearing what was faid, rofe 
 from his place, and approaching the 
 grocer with a fort of contemptuous fneer, 
 addrefs'd himfelf to him in the following 
 terms : 
 
 6 You have met with a very .grievous 
 difappointment indeed, mr. Fig , it 
 is not, however,, without its confola- 
 tions j I dare anfwer the profit in the 
 goods you have fold to that imperti- 
 nent ciutomer, will enable you to make 
 a good pudding for your family next 
 
 Sunday,
 
 Tie Invifible SPY. 43 
 
 Sunday,, which is as much, at leaft, as 
 you could have got by the mew, even 
 though you were to have been paid for 
 your huzzas : but if this confidera- 
 tion fhould feem too trifling, I can add 
 another of more weight ; it is this, 
 by being hinder'd from running after 
 the king's coach-wheels, you got fome- 
 thifig towards the payment of your 
 mare of the taxes for the fupport of his 
 government ; and this, as I take it, is 
 the bed proof that you or any good 
 fubjedt can give of your allegiance, 
 except your vote and intereft at an 
 election.' 
 
 He faid no more, nor waited to heaa- 
 what fort of reply might have been made 
 to his reprimand, but threw down two- 
 pence for his dim of coffee and went di- 
 rectly out of the room. 
 
 Every one had flared all the time he 
 had been fpeaking, with their mouths 
 open as tho' they could eat him, though 
 none had offer'd to interrupt him -, but 
 they no fooner faw his back turn'd, than 
 they all at once burft out into a horfe- 
 laugh, and cry'd, c A grumbletonian,, 
 * a grumbletonian, a malt-content, 
 ' a. difaiTected perfon I warrant.' 
 
 I had
 
 44 The In^ljlble SPY. 
 
 I had no inclination to be a witnefs 
 what farther comments would be made 
 on the old gentleman's behaviour, but 
 follow'd his example, and left a com- 
 pany in which I found nothing capable 
 either of improving or entertaining me ; 
 nor mould 1 have made any mention of 
 this incident, but to remind the populous 
 how ridiculous it is in a man of bufmefs 
 to run gadding after every public mew 
 that prefents itfelf, while the neceffary 
 provifion for his family is left neglecled* 
 
 From thence I went to the houfe of an 
 elderly lady, with whom I formerly had 
 been acquainted ; me was at that time 
 look'd upon as a pattern of piety and pru- 
 dence : fathers, hufbands, brothers- 
 all who had any concern for the virtue 
 and reputation of the female part of 
 their family, recommended her example 
 for their imitation , but at laft, after a 
 lone; feries of the moft laudable and be- 
 coming actions, me at once degenerated 
 into the very revefe of what fhe had been , 
 fell into all the fafhionable follies of 
 the times, at an age when others are be- 
 ginning to grow weary of them, and com- 
 menced a coquette at fixty-five. 
 
 I had
 
 The Invifible SPY. 45 
 
 I had been told fuch things, in relation 
 to her conduct, as feemed to me too 
 unaccountable to be believed j and was 
 extremely forry to find, in the vifit I now 
 made her, all thofe reports confirm'd by 
 the teftimony of my own fenfes. 
 
 This lady, whom I mall diftinguim by 
 the name of Lamia, fets an high value 
 upon herfelf for her great (kill at picquet ; 
 me challeng'd Grizelda, another anti- 
 quated belle, who alfo pretends to be an 
 adept in that fcience, to play with her for 
 an hundred guineas the firft four games in 
 fix ; the other loved money, and, noc 
 doubting me mould come off conqueror, 
 readily embraced the propofal ; and the 
 night agreed upon between them for the 
 decifion of this event, happen'd to be 
 that in which I went. 
 
 Grizelda came to the door juft as I did, 
 fo I flipp'd in behind and follow'd her up 
 ftairs, where me was received by Lamia 
 with the Created politenefs and mew of 
 affection: till fupper was ferved up, the 
 difcourfe between them was only compli- 
 ments on each other's beauty and good 
 fancy in the choice of their cloaths, which 
 were indeed very elegant, and would have 
 been no lefs becoming had time flood frill 
 
 in
 
 46 'The Irruifible SPY. 
 
 in his courfe fome forty or fifty years : 
 the cloth was no fooner removed than the 
 card-table was calPd for, and orders given 
 that whoever came that night fhould be 
 deny'd accefs, both thefe ladies having 
 their own reafons, as I foon after per- 
 ceiv'd, that there mould be no witnefies 
 of what they were about to do. 
 
 The ladies fat oppofite to each other, 
 1 placed myfelf at the end of the table, 
 that being between them 1 might have 
 the better opportunity of obferving what 
 both did : they were now very ferious 
 and attentive to the bufinefs they were 
 upon ; play'd, or rather cheated each 
 other with great caution ; for I foon per- 
 ceived that it was in this latter part of 
 the art of gaming that the excellence of 
 either chiefly confifted. 
 
 For a time each was fo taken up with 
 her own petites fourberies as not to have 
 leifure to obferve thofe praclifed by her 
 adverfary , at lad, however, Lamia 
 having retaken in a card me had laid out, 
 Grizelda perceiv'd it, and accufed her of 
 the change : rage and difdain, on find- 
 ing herfelf detected, made the cheeks of 
 the other glow with a deeper fcarlet than 
 the carmine had given them ; and her 
 eyes, even in defpight of age, fparkle with 
 
 fires
 
 The Invifible SPY. 47 
 
 fires which love and youth had never 
 power to fill them with : the other was 
 no lefs enflamed ; but their refentment 
 will bed be fhewn in the expreffions made 
 ufe of by thetnfelves. 
 
 Lamia. ' I am furprifed you can fuf- 
 pe6t me guilty of ib mean a thing as 
 cheating at cards; fure you cannot 
 thiiik I value the trifle we are playing 
 for. What is an hundred guineas to 
 me ? I regard an hundred no more 
 than a pinch of muff. 
 
 Grizelda. ' Madam, I value an hun- 
 
 * dred guineas as little as yourfelf ; 
 
 * out I hate to be impofed upon. 
 
 Lamia. * What do you mean, madam, 
 do you fay- 1 have impofed upon you ? 
 
 Grizelda. * I fay you would have don 
 
 * it, madam, if my eyes had not been 
 
 * quicker than your hands. 
 
 Lamia. e Madam, I fcorn your words ; 
 
 * and if you were not in my own houle 
 
 * mould tell you that you lyed. 
 
 Grizelda f And if it were not in refpecl: 
 
 * to your age, madam, I mould tell you 
 
 ' that
 
 48 Tibs Invijible SPY. 
 
 ' that you were a bafe woman, and had 
 4 invited me hither only to cheat me ol 
 * my money. 
 
 Lamia. My age, good lack, 
 my age, I leave the world to judge 
 which of us two looks the oldeft. I 
 beg, madam, you will not deceive your- 
 felf: it is not your long falie locks, 
 hanging dangling on each fide your 
 face, that hide the wrinkles of it. 
 
 Grizelda. ' I wear no plumpers, madam, 
 Do you not remember when one of 
 yours dropt out of your mouth at lady 
 Betty's drawing-room how all the com- 
 pany were frighted at you, and cry'd 
 out you had loft half your face ? 
 
 I darted on hearing this reproach of 
 Grizelda, being at that time utterly un- 
 acquainted with the meaning of it ; but 
 as it is highly probable that a great many 
 of my readers may be as ignorant in this 
 point as myfelf then was, I mail explain 
 it by giving a direction of the ufe and 
 preparation of plumpers, as I have fmce 
 received it from the waiting-maid of a 
 woman of condition, 
 
 A lure
 
 7be Invifible SPY. 49 
 
 A fure way to help LANK CHEEKS. 
 
 AKE a piece of the fineft, clean- 
 eft fpunge you can get, cut 
 out of it two fmall bolfters, and place 
 them between your cheeks and teeth, 
 if you have any, if not the gums will 
 " ferve to keep them up ; on taking 
 them out of your mouth, going to 
 * bed, throw them into a tea-cup of rofe 
 6 or orange-flower water, and let them 
 foke all night ; this will not only 
 ' cleanfe them from whatever impuri- 
 ties they may have happen'd to have 
 received, but will alfo give a delect- 
 able flavour to the breath. Pro* 
 " batum eft.'* 
 
 Thefe ladies purfued their mutual al- 
 tercations for a confiderable time, in a 
 fafhion which the intelligent reader may 
 eafily conceive by the fample I have 
 given ; I mail therefore only fay, that 
 after having charg'd each other with all 
 the vices arid foibles that either of them 
 could think of, they at laft quarrellM 
 themfelves into a reconciliation, begg'd 
 each others pardon, and went to play a 
 fecond time ; then fell out again, and 
 provocations on both fides being re- 
 new'd, and reproaches ftill growing more 
 piquant, Lamia tore the cards and threw 
 
 VOL. I. D them
 
 50 *TJoe Inwfille SPY. 
 
 them into the fire ; Grizelda call'd for" 
 her .chair and left the houfe in a great 
 fury ; I gladly follow'd her out, be- 
 ing heartily fick of what I had feen be- 
 tween thete fair, or rather unfair anta- 
 gonifts i but had no opportunity of get- 
 ting away before, as the door had never 
 once been open'd. 
 
 It was now near two hours pad mid- 
 night, and I found more fatisfaction in 
 the thoughts of going to my repofe than 
 an thofe clifcoveries my Inviiibility had 
 entertain'd me with. I was making all 
 .the fpeed I could to my apartment for 
 that purpofe, but fate decreed it other- 
 wife, and had contrived an accident which 
 renew'd all my former curiofity : in 
 my way home I pafs'd through the ftreet 
 where Marcella lived, and the fight of 
 her houfe bringing frefh into my mind 
 what the Morning had prefented, I could 
 not keep myfelf from flopping fhort to 
 jnake fome reflections on the conduct of 
 that fair fallen angel. 
 
 * She is doubtlefs by this time in the 
 arms of her beloved Fillamour, faid I 
 to myfelf, and while revelling in the 
 pleafures of a loofe inclination, forgets 
 all fenfe of honour, duty, fame, 
 and even what is owing to the merit of 
 
 * thofe
 
 7 'be Invifible SPY. 51 
 
 thofe charms nature has endow*d her 
 with ; and oh, ftrange paradox of 
 a vicious flame! renders herfelf cheap 
 and contemptible in the eyes of the 
 very man whofe efteem me molt wifhes 
 to prefer ve.' 
 
 How long I mould have remain'd in 
 this refvery I know not ; but I was rous'd 
 from it by the fudden appearance of Ce- 
 ladon, who with a light carry'd before him 
 came haitily down the ftreet and knock' d 
 at his own door : to fee him return at 
 a time when I knew he was fo little ex- 
 pected, made me not doubt but that he 
 had receiv'd fome information of the in- 
 jury done him, and came in order to de- 
 tect and revenge himfelf on the guilty 
 Eair : I trembled for poor Marcella ; 
 ut what grounds I had to do fo, as well 
 as the event of this night's tranfaction, 
 muft be left to the next chapter. 
 
 D 2 CHAP.
 
 52 Ite Invffi/e SPY. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 Concludes an adventure of a very fm- 
 gular nature in its confequenccs. 
 
 TH E anxiety I was under to know 
 what would become of poor Mar- 
 .cella, immediately determin'd me to follow 
 her hufband into the houfe. A man- 
 fervant not having obey'd his lady's com- 
 mands in going to bed, having ibmething 
 or other wherewith to employ himfelf in 
 his own room, on hearing fomebody at 
 the door look'd through the window, 
 and perceiving it was his m after flew 
 down flairs and gave him entrance on the 
 firfl knock. 
 
 Rachel, who had been polled centry in 
 a back-parlour, in order to watch the 
 break of day, and conduct Fillamour out 
 of the houfe before any of the family were 
 Hiring, no;w came running out on hearing 
 the ftreet door open'd ; but fcarce could 
 an apparition have fpread a greater terror 
 through her whole frame than did the 
 fight of Celadon at this juncture. 
 
 Racbel.
 
 'The Invisible SPY. 53 
 
 Rachel. e Lord, fir, who could have 
 c thought your honour would have come 
 
 * home to night ? 
 
 Celadon. I did not defign it, indeed ; 
 but is it fo ftrange a thing that a 
 
 * man fhould change his mind ?* 
 
 In fpeaking this he was paflmg on, but 
 fhe threw herfelf between him and the foot 
 of the ftairs, and catching faft hold of the 
 flceve of his coat, prevented him from 
 going up, with thefe words : 
 
 RacbcL ' Oh, dear fir, I beg you will 
 not diilurb my lady ; fhe is gone to 
 bed very much difcompofed : pray be 
 fo good as to ftep into the parlour, 
 there is a good fire, and I will go and 
 fee if fhe is awake, and tell her you arc 
 here. 
 
 Celadon. M'y wife ill I What is the 
 
 * matter with her ? 
 
 Rachel. ' I do not know, fir, but me 
 was feiz'd with a fort of a I can't tell 
 the name of it,: indeed not I -, but I 
 believe it was fomething like a fir, 
 and fo, fir, me went to bed ; but I will 
 go and let her know you are come. 
 
 D 3 Celadon*.
 
 54 The Invifible SPY. 
 
 Celadon. No, no, me may be 
 afleep, and it would be a pity to wake 
 ' her ; therefore I'll take your advice, 
 ' mrs. Rachel, and fit a little in the par- 
 lour. Tom, do you go to bed, I 
 * mall not want any thing to night.* 
 
 The fellow did as he was command- 
 ed , and I could eafily perceive, by Ra- 
 chel's countenace, that me was upon the 
 wing to be gone too, impatient, I fup- 
 pofe, to apprize Marcella of what had hap- 
 pen'd, and affift her in contriving fome 
 means 'for concealing her gallant ; but 
 whatever her thoughts were, Celadon had 
 that moment got fomething in his head 
 which effectually prevented any fchemes 
 fhe might otherwife have laid for fecuring 
 the honour of her lady -, Tom was no 
 fooner gone than Celadon took hold of 
 both her hands and drew her gently into 
 the parlour, with thefe words : 
 
 Cdadcn. Come, pretty mrs, Rachel, 
 if I am fo complaifant to my wife's dif- 
 order as to refrain going to bed to her, 
 I think that I may very well be allow'd 
 the pleafure of your company, by way 
 of confolation. 
 
 Rachel
 
 Rachel Oh dear, fir, what pleafure 
 ' can you find in the company of fuch a 
 ' one as I ? 
 
 C eld don. * As much as I can wifh ; ' 
 
 * come fit down, nay, you mail fit by 
 ' me -, now we are alone there is no oc- 
 
 * cafion for all this diftance between us, 
 I have a great deal to fay to you ; 
 c nothing fure was ever fo lucky as my 
 
 * coming home to night ; all I could 
 4 have found in the journey I propofed 
 4 would not have afforded me the thou- 
 ' fandth part of the fatisfaction I now en- 
 ' joy in this private interview with my 
 
 * dear girl : in fine, I like you, I love 
 c you, and have long'd almoft ever 
 
 * fmce you came into the family for an 
 ' opportunity to tell you fo. 
 
 Rachel, * Lord, fir, how can your 
 c honour talk fo, who have fo fine a 
 
 * lady of your own ? 
 
 Celadon. f I like my wife very well as 
 ' a wife , but there is fomething in the 
 
 * tyes of marriage whih quite furTocate 
 c and choak up all thofe defires which can 
 6 alone give any relifh to enjoyment. A 
 ' man goes to bed to his wife as he goes 
 ' to court, becaufe it is the fafhion, and 
 
 DA. * a fort
 
 56 be Invifible SPY. 
 
 * a fort of duty which is expected from 
 : him ; and he cannot, without being ill 
 4 look'd upon by the wrld^ be difpenfed 
 ' from ; but flies to the arms of his mi- 
 c ftrefs as to a delicious retreat, the choice 
 
 * of his own fancf, and well ftored with 
 
 * all that can regale the fenfes. 
 
 Rachel. e Lord, fir, how ftrangely you 
 ' talk to one ! I wifh your honour 
 
 * would let me go up flairs to fee how 
 ' my lady does. 
 
 Celadon. c No, indeed, I mall not fuf- 
 fer you to be fo uncharitable as to run 
 away and leave me alone here , if my 
 wife wants any thing me will ring her 
 Bell, in the mean time, let us make 
 each other as happy as we can. Come, 
 none of this coynefs , let me tell 
 you, child, that too much referve in 
 private with a man who loves you, and 
 has it in his power to make your for- 
 tune, is as unbecoming as too much 
 familiarity would be in public , you 
 may depend upon it, that whatever fa- 
 vours you bellow on me mail be re- 
 turn'd with others no lefs agreeable to 
 yourfelf. I know very well how a 
 perfon of my flation ought to behave 
 towards one of yours ia thcfe cafes, and 
 fhall aft accordingly.' 
 
 Rachel
 
 Rachel made no reply to all this j 
 but hung down her head and look'd ex- 
 tremely filly, not that me wanted either 
 wit or affurance on other occafions , but 
 at prefent me was quite at a lofs ; and it 
 muft be own'd, indeed, that fuch a crifis 
 afforded fufficient to perplex her on a 
 double fcore; firft, the improbabi- 
 lity, and even impossibility there appeared 
 of concealing her lady's fecret, which, if 
 difcovered, might prove of the molt fatal, 
 confequence, had thrown her into, and 
 ftill kept her in the utmoft diffraction of 
 mind : and, fecondly, furprifed at the un- 
 expected offer made to her by her mafter, 
 join'd with the uncertainty in what man- 
 ner (lie mould receive it, might very well 
 put her into agitations, fuch as to render 
 her incapable of contriving any thing on* 
 her miftrefs's account, or refolving what 
 to do oh her own. 
 
 Celadon, interpreting her filenceas'a. 
 half confent to his defires, began now to 
 add kifles and embraces to his follicita- 
 tions ; the warmth with which he prefs'd' 
 her foon wrought the effect it was intended 
 for -, though 1 eafily perceiv'd the moft 
 prevailing argument he made ufe of was 
 taking out his purfe and pouring twenty 
 guineas into her lap. 
 
 D 5 The
 
 5 8 %he Invifible SPY. 
 
 The tranfport which fparklcd in the 
 eyes of this mercenary creature, on be- 
 holding the glittering bait r put me im- 
 mediately in mind of what mr. Dryden 
 makes Jupiter fay in his play of Am- 
 phytrion i 
 
 * . , When I made 
 
 * This gold, I made a greater god than 
 
 * Jove, 
 . And gave my own omnipotence away. 
 
 But it is little to be wonder'd at that 
 a girl, fuch as this Rachel,, mould fall 
 proftrate before that reigning idol of the 
 world, who has for its votaries not only 
 men of the greateft parts and abilities, 
 but alfo too many among thofe who make 
 the higheft profeflions of honour, probity, 
 aud virtue ; nay, I am forry to fay, of 
 religion : daily experience, however, 
 and a very fmall obfervation of the cor- 
 ruption of the prefent age evinces this 
 melancholy truth. . But to return, 
 
 The amorous Celadon now rinding her 
 all diflblv'd, and foften'd to his purpofe, 
 proceeded to the greateft familiarities : 
 there was no bed, nor even couch in the 
 room 5 but, as the poet fays, 
 
 Many
 
 The Imnfible SPY. 59 
 
 * Many a nymph has on the floor been- 
 
 ' fprcad, 
 ' And much good love without a 
 
 ' feather-bed.. 
 
 So finding a fcene was likely to enfue,: 
 which it was not agreeable to my inclina- 
 tion, or any way proper that! mould be 
 witnefs of, I withdrew into an adjacent 
 parlour, which having a communication 
 with this, and the door between them nor 
 being quite mut, I open'd wide enough; 
 to gain a paflage, while the lovers backs* 
 were turn'd towards that fide of the 
 room. 
 
 Solitude, darknefs, and the pro- 
 found filence of every thing about me,, 
 here contributed to promote the moft 
 felemn meditations ; I reflected on the 
 extreme folly, as well as wickednefs, of 
 giving way to an inordinate gratification" 
 of the fenfes, and the certain danger, and' 
 almoft certain infamy, which attends the 
 doing fo , on this occafion feveral paf- 
 fages and accidents relating to many of 
 my acquaintance occurr'd frefh to my 
 mind ; and when I remembered how 
 fome, who had been endow'd by heaven 
 and fortune with every requifite, . excep- 
 ting virtue, to complete their happinefs,, 
 D 6. yet
 
 Invijille SPY. 
 
 yet by the want of that alone had expofed 
 themselves to a condition the moft abjecl 
 and contemptible to which a reaibnable 
 being can poffibly be reduced, I could not 
 forbear crying out with the inimitable 
 Cowley, 
 
 * All this world's noife appears to me r 
 ,' But as a dull, ill-acted comedy. 
 
 While I was thus ruminating, and 
 wondering within myfelf what would be 
 the confequence of this night's tranfac- 
 tion, I perceiv'd, through the crevices of 
 the window mutters, that the day began 
 to break, and prefently after heard a cer- 
 tain ruftling upon the flairs , it was 
 occafion'd by Marcella and Fillamour, 
 who, on finding Rachel did not come up 
 as they expected, and the light was pretty 
 far advancing, were creeping foftly down, 
 the noife Marcella made in unfaftening 
 the chain that went acrofs the flreet- 
 door wak'd Celadon and Rachel, who it 
 feems had both fallen afleep ; the former, 
 on hearing the noife, was running out of 
 the parlour to fee what was the matter ; 
 but Rachel prevented him, by faying me 
 was fure it was only one of the footmen 
 who went out more early than ordinary 
 to the ftable ; this excufe might have 
 
 folved
 
 'The Invifible Spr/ 6r 
 
 folved all, if Marcella herfelf had not 
 unluckily been- her own betrayer. 
 
 That lady, incenfed beyond meafure,. 
 pufli'd open the door of the room where 
 I was, and rufh'd through it into that 
 where Rachel was order' d to attend, be- 
 ginning to upbraid before flie fkw her. 
 
 Marcella. c So, minx, you have ferv'd 
 me finely , it is almoft broad day, 
 I have knock'd the heel of my fhoe 
 almoft off, for I would not ring for 
 fear of alarming the family j I fup- 
 pofe you have been afleep : this it 
 is to place any dependance on fervants. 
 
 Celadon, on hearing his wife's voice 
 before me enter'd, had ftepp'd behind a 
 fcreen, either fufpecting fomething of the 
 truth, or becaufe he was unwilling to be 
 furprized v/ith Rachel at that hour ; and 
 Rachel, doubly confounded between her 
 lady's reproaches and the knowledge who 
 was witnefs of them, that (he was utterly 
 unable to fpeak one word for fome time, 
 but fhook her head, wink'd, and poin- 
 ted to the fcreen, thinking, by thofe fig- 
 niftcant geftures, to prevent Marcella 
 from, faying any thing farther, 'till find- 
 ing fhe was again opening her mouth, 
 flie recover'd herfelf enough to cry out : 
 
 Rachel..
 
 6 2 The Invifible S p Y. 
 
 Rachel., e Lord, madam, da not 
 ' ftand talking here, you will certainly 
 6 get cold and make yourfelf worfe ; 
 4 confider you are half naked j pray 
 * go to bed again. 
 
 Marcella. l What does the wench 
 mean ? but I fuppofe you have been at 
 the ratine bottle and ftupified yourfelf, 
 according to cuftom. Well, 'tis your 
 own lofs ; for I dare fwear Fillamour 
 would have given you no lefs a prefent 
 than five guineas for your diligence, if 
 you had come up as you ought to have 
 done ; tis now quite light in the ftreet, 
 and a thoufand to one but fome of the 
 neighbours may have feen him go out. 
 
 Celadon coming forward. e So, madam, 
 4 I find you have been diverting your- 
 ' felf, and Fillamour is the man to 
 ' whom I am oblig'd for giving you 
 ' confolation in my abfence.' 
 
 That perfon mufl know very little of 
 nature, who does not eafily conceive what 
 Marcella felt in fo mocking a juncture , 
 furprife, mame, and vexation for having 
 thus foolimly expofcd her guilt, quite 
 overwhelm'd her heart, me gave a great 
 fhriek, and funk, half fainting, into a 
 
 chair - y .
 
 Tbe LivfflleSrY. 63 
 
 chair ^ Rachel ran to her afiiftance, and 
 at the fame time willing to retrieve, if 
 pofiible, told Celadon that he muft not 
 take any notice of her lady's words ; 
 that fhe went very ill to bed , that ihe 
 was delirious, and knew not what me 
 faid. This, however, had no effect upon 
 him, he was too well convinced of the 
 injury had been done him, and loaded his 
 tranfgrefiing wife with every invective 
 that a hufband, in his circumftances, 
 could invent. 
 
 But certainly it is impoffible for any 
 woman to behave with greater courage 
 and refolution than Marcella now did ; 
 fhe prefently regain* d her fpirits ; and, 
 after having made Rachel leave the room, 
 a moment's reflection ferved her to reply 
 to the reproaches made her by her huf- 
 band, in thefe terms : 
 
 Marcella. * Well, fir, I confefs appea- 
 rances are againft me, nor do I wonder 
 at, nor will refent the afperity of your 
 treatment ; though guilty of no real 
 crime, my vanity has led me into a 
 folly which merits all you have faid to 
 me. I have not,, in fact, dilhonour'd 
 cither myfelf or you, and my behaviour 
 this night has only mortified the pride 
 and arrogance of a man who would 
 
 * have
 
 64 T&e Invisible SPY. 
 
 ' have rival' d you in my efteem and' 
 
 * affection. 
 
 Celadon. e So you went to bed to 
 
 * him, merely to convince him of your 
 
 * efteem and affection for me ? 
 
 Marcella. ' Yes, incongruous as it may 
 feem, I did fo ; I had heard that the 
 vain fellow boafted no woman could 
 refift him, if once he had an opportuni- 
 ty to prefs his fuit : on this I refolv'd 
 to give him one as full as he could afk, 
 or man obtain, I admitted him into 
 my chamber ; nay, into my bed, 
 liften'd to all the arguments he could 
 urge to work me to his will ; and, 
 when his whole flock of rhetoric, on 
 that occafion, was exhaufted, fhew'd 
 him that the wife of Celadon could 
 love no other man : I repulfed him 
 in a manner which made him afham'd 
 of his attempt -, but had he not been 
 fo, and had proceeded to gain by force 
 thofe favours I refufed to grant, Rachel 
 was planted here, in order to come up 
 ^to my afiiftance and prevent his efforts. 
 
 Celadon. ' Excellent, i'faith, beyond 
 
 * unagination , I have been told, in- 
 * deed, that a woman need but look down 
 ' upon her apron-ftring to find an excufe 
 
 fr for
 
 65 
 
 for the moft enormous crime me can be 
 guilty of; but this of yours is fuch a 
 one as cannot fail of giving a good 
 deal of diverfion in a court of judi- 
 cature ; tho' I fcarce think it will fave 
 either Fillamour's eftate from the pe- 
 nalty the law inflicts on an attempt to 
 baftardire an honourable family, or his 
 throat from the juftice of my fword.' 
 
 The boldnefs of Marcella was not to 
 be aw'd by thefe menaces , ilie found 
 he had too much underftanding to be 
 impfed upon by the mallow artifice fhe 
 had made ufe of; that he now heartily 
 defpis'd her, and that fhe had no longer 
 any meafures to preferve with him -, - 
 therefore, collecting ail the courage fhe 
 was miftrefs of, iie threw her eyes upon, 
 him with a contempt equal to that with 
 which he look'd upon her, and made 
 him this reply : 
 
 Marcella. ' J Tis mighty well, fir, 
 you are at your liberty to make ufe of 
 all the weapons you fancy are in your 
 power for revenge ; but I would have 
 you remember, that whether Fillamour 
 cuts your throat, or you cut his, and 
 are hang'd for it, the matter will be of 
 little importance to me : and as for a 
 court of judicature, I believe you will 
 
 * find
 
 66 The Invifibte SPY. 
 
 find it very difficult to make good any 
 accufations you may exhibit againft me 
 there : no one ever faw me in bed 
 with Fillamour, much lefs can prove 
 any criminal converfation between us, 
 fo that the ridicule would turn wholly 
 upon yourfelf; and, perhaps, provoke 
 me, as I have had no child by you, to 
 bring in a bill of impotency, in which 
 cafe I mould have all my fortune re- 
 turn'd, a thing your prefent circurn- 
 flances would not very well bear, as 
 fome part of your eftate is already 
 mortgaged.' 
 
 To all this Celadon was able to make 
 no other reply, than that he flood amazed 
 at her audacity , that he found (he was 
 abandon'd to all fenfe of Ihame ; that fhe 
 was a moniler of impudence, and fuch 
 like; at which me feemed not in the 
 leaft mov'd, but proceeded to reafon with 
 him in the fame determin'd fafhion me 
 had began. 
 
 Marcella. Look you, Celadon, all the 
 fury you can be poffefs'd of will remedy 
 nothing ; let us argue like rational 
 creatures : whatever opinion we may 
 have of each other, the only way to 
 preferve either of our characters is to 
 live well together in the eyes of the 
 
 ' world j
 
 The Invifibk SPY. 67 
 
 world ; I tell you that I am innocent, 
 and it is for your eafe and intereft, as 
 well as mine, that you mould believe 
 I am fo , which if you do, I faithfully 
 promife to regulate my conduct in fuch. 
 a manner as to bring no difreputation 
 on myfelf or dilhonour to you ; but 
 if you fly into extremes you will oblige 
 me to do the fame, and what but our 
 mutual infamy and deftruclion can be 
 the end of fuch a conteft ? I leave you 
 to confider on what I have faid, and 
 wait your cooler moments for an an- 
 fwer.' 
 
 With thefe words me went haftily out 
 of the reom , Celadon offer' d not to 
 detain her, but continued walking back- 
 wards and forwards, teftifying, by feveral 
 difordered geftures, the inward agitations 
 of his mind ; after fome moments pafs'd 
 in the filent expreffions of his rage, he 
 call'd to the fervants, moft of whom 
 were now ftirring, to get a bed prepared 
 for him in another chamber ; but I am of 
 opinion, that when he retired thither, it 
 was lefs to deep than to reflect how it 
 would beft become him to behave under 
 the mocking circumftance he was now 
 involved in, 
 
 Finding
 
 68 The Imlpbk SPY, 
 
 Finding no farther difcoveries were 
 likely to be made at this time, I left the 
 houfe on the firfb opening of the flreet- 
 door and return'd home ; where, fatigwed 
 as I was for want of reft, the aftor.ifh- 
 ment I was in at the behaviour of Mar- 
 cella would not fuffer the leaft flumber 
 to clofe my eyes. 
 
 For fome days I was extremely impa- 
 tient to know the refult of this affair ; but 
 hearing no talk of it about town, began 
 to conclude that the wife's arguments 
 had prevail'd, and the hufband had fub- 
 mitted his refentment to his convenience ; 
 I foon found I was' not deceived in my 
 conjectures, for in lefs than a week I faw 
 Celadon and Marcella taking the air to- 
 gether in their own coach, with the fame 
 appearance of ferenity in both their coun- 
 tenances as if nothing of the adventure 
 I have been relating had ever happen'd. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 Invifible SPY. 69 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Contains the hiftory of a diftrefs, which, 
 according to the author's private 
 opinion, is much more likely to excite 
 laughter than commiferation. 
 
 MELISSA, by all who know her, 
 is accounted one of the moil vain 
 of her fex : true, me is fo , but 
 then her vanity appears to me to be of a 
 fpecies far different from that which other 
 women are ordinarily pofiefs'd of; her 
 glafs, whenever me looks into it, which 
 is not feldom, prefents her with the view 
 of ten thoufand graces ; me fees very 
 well that fhe isiiandfome, finely fhaped, 
 and has fomething peculiarly engaging 
 in her mien and air , yet does fhe not 
 plume herfelf on the perfections {he is 
 miftrefs of, or is at all thankful to nature 
 for having beftowed them on her ; this 
 fome people at firft may think is the 
 very reverfe of vanity, yet is it in effect 
 the quintefTence of it ; the cafe is, 
 that me would be the only fair, the 
 only lovely, the only Venus, the 
 fole object of attracting univerfal love 
 and admiration ; and every fingle charm 
 
 ihe
 
 70 tfhe Invifible SPY. 
 
 {he finds in any other face, gives her 
 more pain than all thofe in her own can 
 give her fatisfaction. 
 
 Every little regard, or aft of compali- 
 fance, paid to another in her prefence, fhe 
 looks upon as a kind of indignity to 
 herfelf, and is a mortal ftab to her pride ; 
 and, as it is impoffible for her not to 
 meet frequently with fuch fhocks, fhe is 
 perpetually racking all the invention fhe 
 is miftrefs of to render herfelf more con- 
 fpicuous, and to force, as it were, that 
 attention which flie finds her beauty alone 
 is infufficient to excite. 
 
 I had heard at full the character of 
 this fine court belle, had been feveral 
 times in her company, and feen verified 
 all I had been told concerning the extrava- 
 gance of her humour -, yet, I know not 
 how it happen'd, but palling by her houfe, 
 and feeing a good number of chairs 
 and livery fervants about the door, I 
 ftcpp'd in and went directly up to her 
 drawing-room, where I found her en- 
 cirlced by about a dozen perfons of 
 diftinction of both fexes. 
 
 It was the evening before the birth- 
 day, and when I enter'd, the converfation 
 among them turn'd wholly on the ode 
 
 com-
 
 The Invffl/e SPY. 71 
 
 compofed by mr. Gibber on that occafion, 
 molt of them having heard the rehearfal 
 of it ; but foon after they fell on the more 
 important fubject of drefs, every one 
 difcanting on the fancies of all her acquain- 
 tance, finding a thoufand faults, and no 
 one thing to approve, each concluding 
 what me had to fay with an, ' I wonder 
 
 * people of fafhion can have fuch vulgar 
 ' taftes.' ^ The gentlemen alfo, in com- 
 plaifance to the ladies, affected to be 
 connoiiTeurs in this point, and ridiculing 
 all that were abfent gave no praifes but 
 to the prefent, as will appear by the 
 fpeeches made by fome of them. 
 
 Beau Civet. c Indeed, ladies, I think 
 
 * drefs is the only true touch-ftone of a 
 ' fine woman's genius ; and me who is 
 indelicate in that, igad, muft be fo in 
 
 * every thing elfe. 
 
 Monfieur La Mot. e I have the honour 
 to be entirely of your opinion, fir, 
 nothing can be more juft than the ob- 
 fervation you have made ; yet cer- 
 tainly an elegance of drefs is a thing 
 fo little underftood, that I believe out 
 of this room there are fcarce three 
 women in the kingdom who know how 
 to fet themfelves off to any advantage. 
 
 Mtli/a.
 
 72 The Jnvlfible SPY. 
 
 Mel'iffa. e As to that, monfieur, a 
 woman who is really agreeable need be 
 at no pains to appear ib , but I de- 
 teft every thing that is common -, I 
 hate your gold and filver (tuffs, 
 your brocades, your velvets, and 
 embroideries ; you fee them upon the 
 backs of every one who has either 
 money or credit to purchafe them. 
 
 Leslia. * That is true, indeed, my 
 dear; but if you exclude all thefe 
 * things, what in the name of wonder 
 
 a woman of condition find proper 
 ppear in at court ? 
 
 e can 
 
 * to appear in 
 
 Mellffa. ' Oh there are a thoufand 
 pretty whims ; Do you not remember, 
 that on my firft going to the drawing- 
 room after the Prince's mourning was 
 over ? I had a gaufe mantau and petti- 
 coat, flouriihed with twenty different 
 colours ; every one was charm'd with 
 the oddnefs of the fancy. 
 
 Lesbia. t Yes, I remember 'it very 
 
 * well, and that the weather being pretty 
 
 * cool you got a fore throat which confm'd 
 
 * you to your chamber for ten days atter- 
 4 wards. For my part, I think one 
 
 ' ought
 
 Invifible Spy. 73 
 
 ought always to fuit one's closths ac- 
 4 cording to the feafon of the year. 
 
 Meliffa. * Then I fuppofe you will be 
 c draw'd forth to-morrow in Ibme heavy 
 ' brocade or other. 
 
 Lesbia. * No, I (Kail have only a 
 c rofe- colour* d damafk, flounced with a 
 * point d'efpagne.' 
 
 On this, two or three of the other 
 ladies gave a defciption of the habits 
 they had prepared to do honour to the 
 enfuing auguft day j but MeiilTa men- 
 tion'd not a word of what fhe intended 
 to wear, till being afk'd the queftion, fhe 
 told them that fhe mould have only a 
 flight fattin, not flrip'd, not either 
 flower'd in the loom nor embroider'd 
 with the needle, yet it would be fuch as 
 me doubted not but would attract the 
 eyes of the whole aflembly upon it. 
 
 She had no fooner ended thefe words, 
 than lady Twinckle, who had not fpoke 
 before, cried out, ' Nobody can doubt 
 the excellence of your fancy j but yet, 
 my dear, I believe I {hall have the plea- 
 ' fure of dividing with you the attention 
 6 of the company -, for 1 {hall have a fuit 
 
 VOL. I. E < of
 
 74 Tb? Iivvijible S p Y. 
 
 * of cloaths which will certainly appear 
 
 * the geateft oddity that ever was feen.' 
 
 Every month in the room, except my 
 own, was now open to entreat her lady- 
 fhip to give them fome idea of this cu- 
 rioiity : (he had too much good-nature 
 to refufe their requeil, and prefently 
 made this anfwer : 
 
 Lady Twlnckle. < I will not be fo 
 vain as to affume the merit of the in- 
 vention -, no, it was brought to me 
 on the wheel of fortune, a mere 
 accident, I only improved the hint, 
 as you {hall fee j for I will fend both 
 for the petticoat and the piece of filk 
 from which I took the pattern.' 
 
 She faid no more, but flatting from 
 her feat ran directly to the head of the 
 ftair-cafe, called her fervant, who was 
 waiting below, and ordered him to go 
 home and fetch the things me had men- 
 tion'd ; as her houfe was no farther oflf 
 than the next flreet, the fellow returned 
 immediately with them : the bundle was 
 no fooner brought into the room than me 
 open'd it, and fhew'd the company about 
 a. yard of white fattin, painted in water 
 colours, with cupids, fome flying, others 
 {landing, but all of them with their bows 
 
 extended 

 
 The Invifible Sp Y. 7$ 
 
 extended as if to fhoot at hearts, which 
 were every where fcatter'd, in a carelefs 
 manner, upon the piece. 
 
 There was no time for one fyllable to 
 be utter'd, either in praife or difpraife 
 of this pretty fancy ; the moment lady 
 Twinckle had fpread it on a table Me- 
 lifla fent forth a loud (brick, which, to- 
 gether with the exclamations that enfued, 
 threw every one into the utmoft aftonifh- 
 ment. 
 
 Meli/a. Confufion, diftradion, is 
 it poffible ! What can this mean, ma- 
 dam ? that piece of filk is mine, as well 
 as the invention painted upon it. Pray 
 how came it into your ladyfliip's pof- 
 feffion ? But wherefore need I afk, 
 the cafe is plain enough, that villain 
 Pencil, after the handfome prefent I 
 had made him for fecrecy, over and 
 above paying him for his work, has 
 moft cruelly betray'd me, expofed my 
 contrivance to you, and ruin'd my 
 defign. 
 
 Lady Twinckle. ' I am ftrangely fur- 
 c prifed , fure this is the oddeft thing 
 that ever happened. Indeed, my dear, 
 
 * I little thought that t was (hewing you 
 
 * your own ; -but I would not have you 
 
 E 2 'lay
 
 6 c flw Invtjtble SPY. 
 
 lay the blame on mr. Pencil ; upon 
 my honour the poor man is perfectly 
 innocent in what you accufe him of; 
 for though I was at his {-hop one day 
 Jail week, and bought a five guinea 
 fan of him, he never once mention'd 
 your name, or that he had been em- 
 ploy'd by you in any work: but I will 
 tell you the whole matter , my wo- 
 man, you muft know, wanting ibme- 
 thing to new robe a gown I had lately 
 given her, went among the piece-brokers 
 behind St. Clement's church, where me 
 made a purchafe of this remnant -, on 
 her bringing it home I was vaftly taken 
 with the whim, and refolved to have 
 fomething like it for a birth-day fuit j 
 accordingly I fet a fan-painter to 
 work upon the pattern, only directed 
 him to make fome few alterations, 
 which you fhall be judge whether for 
 the better or not. 
 
 Meliffa. ' Then it is by the mantua- 
 rnaker I have been thus bafely ufed. 
 I could forgive the wretch for ftealing 
 my (ilk ; I know thofe creatures 
 make !t a part of their trade to do 
 fo, and will rather Ipoil one's cloaths 
 
 * than lofe what they look upon as their 
 
 * perquifites , and for that reafon I al- 
 
 * ways allow five or fix yards more than 
 
 is
 
 The Invifible SP Y. 77 
 
 is necefiary , but to be fo hafty i.i 
 the difpofal of her theft, to Jet what I 
 had invented on purpofe to be par- 
 ticular be feen in the mop of a com- 
 mon piece-broker, before 1 had worn it 
 rayfelf, is fuch a piece of impudence as 
 deferves, and mall meet with all the 
 mifchief I can do her,* 
 
 No reply was made to what (he faid ; 
 lady Twinckle had by this time unfolded 
 her petticoat, the fight of which fuffi- 
 ciently employ'd every eye and tongue in 
 the room ; that lady had indeed great- 
 ly improv'd upon Melifik's fancy , for 
 beficks the ground of the fattin being ail 
 over frofted, as it were, with filver, the 
 wings of the cupids and the barbs of their 
 arrows were much better delineated, and 
 the hearts difperfed in a more elegant 
 manner ; MelifTa, at fight of it, was 
 ready to fwoon, and the high commenda- 
 tions me heard given of it by the whole 
 company increafed her diforder. Mon- 
 fieur La Mot, happening to turn his 
 head that way, and perceiving the con- 
 fufion me was in, thought to remedy it 
 by making her the following compliment : 
 
 Monfieur La Mot. ' Well, madam, 
 
 whatever praifes lady Twinckle may 
 
 at firft receive on account of this moff 
 
 E 3 agree-
 
 7 8 We Iwoifibk SPY. 
 
 * agreeable whim, they will afterwards 
 
 * naturally recoil on you, as being the 
 
 * firft inventor. 
 
 Lady Twinckk, Indeed I fhall do 
 Meliffa the juftice to acknowledge it. 
 
 Melifa. ' Oh, madam, your ladymip 
 
 * need not give yourfelf any trouble 
 * about the matter, , for I fhall neither 
 ' go to court to-morrow, nor ever put 
 ' the cloaths upon my back. 
 
 Lady Twlnckle* I am forry, my 
 
 * dear, to find you are fo much difcon- 
 certed, efpecially as I know myfelf the 
 innocent occafion. But fure my having 
 a gown fometiiing like yours will not 
 hinder you from paying your obedience 
 to the royal prefence. 
 
 Meliffa. < Since I am fo unlucky to be 
 fruftrated in my expeclation, I do not 
 chufe to appear in a thing fo exactly of 
 the fame defign, and fo inferior in the 
 execution, to that your ladyfhip will 
 have on , therefore fhall not attempt to 
 divide with you any part of the atten- 
 tion of the alTembly. 
 
 Lesbia. l What a pity it is one has not 
 *- the fame liberty of going to court as to 
 
 a.maiV
 
 Iimfibk SPY. 79 
 
 4 a mafqueradc, in an antic habit, if 
 
 * fo, you might have render'd yourfelf as 
 
 * confpicuous as a certain lady of our ac~ 
 
 * quaincance did at the Venetian Ball in- 
 ' the character of Iphigenia.' 
 
 Here enfaed a general laughter, and 1 
 the conduct of that kdy hinted at by 
 Lefbia gave occafion to many farcafms, 
 which I forbear to repeat on account of 
 their fever ity. Melifla, however, in fpitc 
 of her known talent for fatire, was en- 
 tirely filent on the fubjecr, than which- 
 there could not be a greater proof how 
 much her mind was taken up with the 
 accident that had befallen herfelf. 
 
 It required, indeed, no great mare of 
 penetration to difcover that it was with 
 the utmoft difficulty this difappointed 
 belle reftrained her ill humour within the 
 bounds of decency while the company 
 ftaid , but they had no fooner taken leave 
 than me gave a loofe to all the agitations 
 me was pofTefs'd of, and bur ft into fuch 
 extravagancies of grief and rage, that 
 whoever had feen her, without knowing 
 the caufe, muft have imagin'd fome fatal 
 chance had deprived, her of all the friends 
 and fortune me had to boaft of in trie- 
 world. 
 
 E 4 Awhile
 
 So ne Iiwifible 
 
 Awhile me wept, and utter'd the moft 
 piteous lamentations ; then rav'd and 
 call'd haftily for the unlucky garment 
 that had been the caufe of her prefent 
 woe ; fhe ftamp'd it under her feet 
 upon the floor ; then fnatching it up 
 cry'd, * 1 he fight of it never mall of- 
 4 fend me more / and with thefe words 
 was about to throw it upon the fire , but 
 her maid, who was a quick-witted fpright- 
 Jy girl, catch'd hold of her arm, and pre- 
 vented her from doing what fhe defign'd, 
 with this Remonftrance : 
 
 Maid. * Dear madam, do not quite 
 demolim this pretty gown : if you 
 refclve never to wear it, you may make 
 it into charming furniture : befides, 
 a thought is jiift now come into my 
 head, how fome part of it may afford 
 you an ample revenge on lady Twinckle 
 for ftealing your invention. 
 
 MeliJJa. Revenge ! oh that it were 
 ' in my power : but tell' me how, -- 
 4 by what means can I accomplifli it ? 
 
 Maid. * Firft, let me know, madam, 
 < whether you can remember exactly the 
 alterations made by lady Twinckle ?
 
 Tbe Invifiile SPY. 81 
 
 MeUffa. O, yes perfectly well: < 
 the fight of that detefted petticoat, m- 
 thinks, is ftill- before my eyes. 
 
 Maid. e Well then, madam, if you- 
 approve of the contrivance , I will take 
 as much out of the tail of the gown as 
 will make a robe de chambre for the : 
 monkey , > you rrruft give nlr. Pencil 
 directions to change the pattern juft like 
 lady Twinckle's ; if he fits up all 
 night abont it, a fmall prefent will make' 
 him amends -, and I will undertake to 
 run up the habit, and a head-drefs and 
 three double ruffles, time enough for 
 Pug to make her appearance when the 
 ladies are going into court, 
 
 Meiiffa. ' Thou would'ft not carry her 
 thither? 
 
 Maid. Not into the palace,, madam ;; 
 tho' tis poffible there may be as ill 
 figures there ; -but my intention is to- 
 attend lady Pug into the Mai], faunter-' 
 about with her in SK. James's piazza,, 
 and towards the faot of the great ftairs> 
 where all the company go up : - - I 
 warrant we ihall have eyes enough/ 
 upon us.
 
 Ihvifitte 
 
 Meliffa. ' Sure there never was fuch a, 
 
 charming plot : dear girl, I could al- 
 
 mofl kifs thee for it ; to fee the 
 
 monkey below; and lady Twinckle 
 
 above in juft the fame livery, oh ! it 
 
 will be a Jafting jeft, and turn all the 
 
 admiration me expects iato ridicule ;. 
 
 but no time is to be loft,. let John, 
 
 run this inftant to mr, Pencil's, and 
 
 *-find him wherever he is; a fecond 
 
 * difappoinment would quite break my 
 
 heart.' 
 
 The waiting-maid flew to do as fhe 
 was commanded, and I retired at the 
 fame time, fmiling within myfelf to have 
 feen how much it is in the power of the 
 fmalleft trifle, relating to drefs and orna- 
 ment, to difcompofe a woman whofe fole 
 ambitionis to attract public admiration. 
 
 I: Had the-'Curiofity, Jiowever, to go the - 
 next day about one o'clock to St. James's., 
 where I found the plot J had heard con- 
 certed was carry'd into execution , Me- 
 Ma's monkey, attended by her maid, 
 were there; before me ; and certainly a - 
 more diverting fight could not be feen ; 
 - the girl . had, indeed, , difcover'd an 
 uncommon ingenuity in .the management 
 of this* affair j , fhe had not only deco- 
 
 rated-:
 
 Tie Invifilk S P V. 83 | 
 
 rated madam Pug in all the pun&ilios 
 of a fine lady, but alfo dexteroufly 
 faften'd the fore limbs clofe to its fides, to 
 prevent it either from jumping or affront- 
 ing its new quality by going upon all 
 four ; fo that the little creature walk'd 
 erect and ftately on its hind feet amidft a 
 crowd of laughing fpectators, led by its 
 careful conductrefs by a piece of broad 
 white ribband fixed to the neck of the 
 robe de chambre : moft of the ladies, . 
 and federal gentlemen flopp'd in their' 
 chairs to pay their compliments to the 
 burlefque belle , and no fmall notice was 
 taken of the figures painted on. the gar^ 
 ment. 
 
 On this I could not doubt but the 
 contrivance would have all the luccefs 
 aim'd at by Mel-ifla and her maid, and 
 was afterwards affured of it by a friend i 
 who was that . day at court, and told me 
 that a general whifper, accompanied with 
 a fneer, ran through the whole affemlily 
 on feeing lady Twir.ckle's cJoaths-j her 
 ladyfhip, it fecms, has fince been made 
 fully acquainted with the matter, and is 
 fo incenfed'againft Melifla, that flie will 
 not, come -into, any place wliere.fhe is. 4 
 
 E & CHAP;
 
 InvtfiMe SPY. 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 Shews, that tho* a remiffhefs of care 
 in the bringing up of children, can 
 fcarce fail of being attended 'with 
 very bad confequences ; yet that an 
 over exaff circumfpecJion, in minute 
 things, may fbmetimes prove equally: 
 pernicious to their future welfare. 
 
 VARIOUS were the reports con- 
 cerning Alinda, both while {he was 
 alive and after her deceafe , but all the 
 world could fay with any certainty, either 
 of her affairs or conduct, might be com- 
 priz'd in the following articles : 
 
 That fhe was the only child' of a very 
 eminent- and wealthy merchant in the 
 dry, who, on the death of his wife, left 
 off bufinefs, and having purchafed an 
 eftate of near a thoufand pounds a year in 
 the country, retired thither to pafs the 
 remainder of his days, taking Aii'ada with. 
 him, at that time about ten years of age. 
 
 That through fame peculiarities in his 
 temper flie was educated in a very odd 
 
 fafhion,
 
 85 
 
 fafhion, fecluded from all converfation 
 with the neighbouring gentry, and fcarce 
 fuffer'd to fpeak to any one out of their 
 own family. 
 
 That after his death, which happen'd 
 in her feventeenth year, fhe return'd, with 
 the confent of her guardians, to London, 
 lived in a manner fuitable to her for- 
 tune, and had many advantageous offers 
 of marriage, all which fhe rejeded with- 
 'out giving any reafon for doing fo. 
 
 That at one and twenty fhe fell into a 
 wafting diforder, which was judged to- 
 proceed rather from fome inward grief 
 preying upon her fpirits, than from any 
 diftemper of the body ; it baffled, How- 
 ever, all the fkill of the phyftcians, and 
 fhe expired after a tedious languimment 
 of near three years, leaving the pofifefllon 
 of her eftate to a nephew of her father's, 
 . who was the next of kin. 
 
 All thefe things, I fay, were public ; 
 but as to the motive which made her 
 avoid liftening to any propofals for 
 changing her condition, or the caufe of 
 that melancholy which brought on her 
 death, every one fpoke of them as they 
 thought proper, and according as -the dif- 
 
 pofitlons
 
 86 The Invifible 
 
 pofitions of their own hearts inclined' 
 them to judge. 
 
 Few, however, were charitable enough 
 to put" the beft conflruction on her con- 
 duel i fome fard me was a man-hater ; 
 others, that loving the fex too well fhe 
 eould not think of entering into a ftate 
 which muft confine her to one alone: 
 rhofe who entertain'd the moft favourable 
 opinion, imagined fhe had unhappily en- 
 
 faged her heart where there was no poffi- 
 ility of a return : this laft conjecture 
 feem'd, indeed, moft probable, and gain'd 
 ground after fhe fell into that heavy 
 languor which excluded her from all thofe 
 pleafures fhe had been accuftom'd to par- 
 take, and at length deprived her of life , 
 but all this, to rrake ufe of the vulgar 
 adage, was fpeaking without book, my 
 Gift of Invifibility gave me alone the 
 means of penetrating into the my fiery. 
 
 As I had been acquainted with her, . 
 and vifited her while me continued to fee 
 company, I frequently fent, or calPd, to 
 enquire after her health ; one day when 
 I did fo, a fervant belonging to her kinf- 
 man and heir at law, came to the door at 
 the fame time, and we both received for 
 anfwer, that fhe expired the night .before. 
 
 The
 
 The Invifible SPY. 87 
 
 The fellow ran directly to inform his 
 mafter, to whom thefe tidings would pro- 
 bably be not unwelcome; and I went 
 home, clapp'd on my Belt of Invifibility,. 
 and return'd in a fhort time to the houfe 
 of Alinda , the reader will perhaps won- 
 der for what reafon, and it is not fit I 
 fhould keep him in ignorance.. 
 
 There was a clergyman lived in the 
 houfe with her, and performed the office 
 of a chaplain ; he was a perfon who 
 her father having conceived a high opi- 
 nion of had taken into his family, and 
 fet over her in the manner of a preceptor, 
 and he had ever fince continued with her ; 
 I had feveral times dined with him at her. 
 table, and perceived he profeffed an ex- 
 traordinary fanctity and the extremeft 
 regard for the welfare of his fair patro- 
 nefs ; and this it was that made me de- 
 firous of feeing in what manner he would 
 behave upon her death. 
 
 I expected to have found him either in 
 his own chamber, bewailing the early fate 
 of fo beneficent a friend, or fitting by 
 her corpfe religioufly moralizing on the 
 fhadowy happineis of this tranfitory 
 world ;: but after feeking him in vain, in 
 thefe and feveral other rooms, at laft I 
 
 difcover'd
 
 88 The Invifible SPY. 
 
 difcover'd him in a clofet, where I knew 
 {he repofited her things of greateft value ; 
 he was bufily employ'd in rummaging 
 her buroe, from the little cell of which 
 I faw him convey, as near as I could 
 guefs, between two and three hundred 
 pieces of gold, and feveral bank bills to a 
 much greater amount , he then pull'd 
 out a drawer which contain'd her jewels ; 
 he firft took up one, then another, 
 . furvey r d them with a greedy eye, but 
 laid them down again and mut the 
 drawer ; but, after a moment's paufe, 
 open'd it a fecond time and took- out a 
 ring fet round with large brilliants, ' I 
 may keep this, cry'd he, it will fcarce 
 be mifs'd ; or if it be, I can pretend 
 me made me a prefent of it in her life- 
 time, and nobody will fufpect the con- 
 trary.' -Here he gave over his fearch, 
 lock'd the buroe, put the key into his- 
 pocket, and went into his own room. 
 
 It would be hard for me to determine, 
 whether aftonifhment or indignation was 
 moft predominant in me at this fight ; 
 I wifh'd never to have beheld it, or that 
 I had been at liberty to pluck the facred 
 robe trom off the back of that vile pro- 
 phaner of his- order -, I was going away 
 with a mind more troubled than I can 
 well exprefs, when one of Alinda's maids 
 
 came
 
 The Invifible S p Y. 89 
 
 came running Into the room with a feal'd 
 packet in her hand, and deliver' d it to this 
 difciple of Judas Ifcariot, telling him at 
 the fame time, that it had been found 
 under her miftrefs's pillow juft after her 
 death , but that (he had forgot in the hurry 
 to bring it to him before. 
 
 He reply'd, with an affected indiffe- 
 rence, that it was very well ; that he 
 would look over the papers and take care 
 that whatever injunctions they contained 
 fhould be fulfiU'd, and with thcfe words 
 difmifs'd her. 
 
 The fuperfcription on the cover of this 
 packet was to a lady with whom Alinda 
 had been extremely intimate, but had not 
 feen for a confiderable time, fhe being 
 excluded, as well as the reft of her ac- 
 quaintance, after fhe fell into that deep 
 melancholy which ended her days ; the 
 prieft immediately broke the feal, and 
 found a little letter to the above men- 
 tion'd lady, the contents whereof were 
 as follow : 
 
 ** DEAR MADAM, 
 
 H A T I have not feen yon fo 
 long has not been owing to want 
 of friendfhip, but to a refolution of 
 depriving myfelf of every thing that 
 
 " was
 
 go 'The Irroiflble SPY. 
 
 " was agreeable to me in life ; and that 
 " I do not now, in thefe laft moments of 
 " my life, afk to fee you is only bccaufe 
 " I would not tax your pity with the fight 
 ** of fo fad an objedt ; I am blafted, my 
 " dear friend, wither'd in my bloom, and 
 " fcarce the fhadow of what I was ; the 
 *' enclofed memoirs will inform you of 
 " the cruel caufe, which I entreat you 
 " will publifh to the world after my de- 
 " ceafe ; the mocking tale may perhaps 
 4c be a ferviceable warning to fome pa- 
 " rents as well as children : 1 have 
 " given my coufin ****** orders con- 
 " cerning fome things I would have 
 '* done, among the number of which is, 
 " that he will prefent you with my hoop 
 *' diamond ring ; 1 beg you will accept 
 V and wear it in remembrance of 
 
 Your dying friend, 
 ALINDA. 
 
 He flarted, bent his brows, turn'd' 
 pale and red by turns, and feem'd in 
 great confufion while looking over this 
 little epiftle j but all his emotions were 
 very much increafed on examining the 
 papers that accompany 'd it ; ft ill as he 
 read he tore the leaves afunder and 
 threw them on the fire, which happening 
 not to burn very fiercely, I was quick 
 
 enough.
 
 The Invifibk SPY. 91 
 
 enough to fnatch from the intended de- 
 vaftation and convey into my pocket, 
 while he was taken up with the remain- 
 ing pages, thought himfelf fecure by the 
 tale of his mifdeeds being extinct in all 
 devouring flames. 
 
 He had but juft finifhed, when a fer- 
 vant came running into the room, and 
 told him that mr. ***** was below, and 
 having been informed that Alinda's keys 
 had been delivered to him, demanded to 
 fpeak with him immediately ; on this the 
 artful hypocrite compofed his counte- 
 nance, drew every feature into the at- 
 titude of folemn fadnels, and holding a 
 white handkerchief to his eyes, went 
 down to act the part he thought would 
 beft become him before the kinfman of 
 Alinda. 
 
 I follow'd clofe at his heels into the 
 parlour, where mr. ***** and two other 
 perfons waited for him ; he began, with 
 well difTembled grief, to expatiate on 
 the lols the world had in fo excellent a 
 lady as Alinda : and fail'd not, in his ha- 
 rangue, artfully to intermix fome praifes 
 on himfelf, for the good principles his 
 precepts had ingrafted on her mind. 
 
 Mr,
 
 p 2 *Ihe Invijible SPY, 
 
 Mr. ***** feem'd to take very little 
 notice of all he faid on this occafion and 
 prevented him from gcing fo far as per- 
 haps he otherwife woulu have done, by 
 telling him, in a very grave and referv'd 
 tone, that he was in great hafte at prefent ; 
 that he came thither only to give the 
 necefTary orders concerning his coufin's 
 funeral ; and that till the melancholy 
 ceremony was over, he mould put a friend 
 in pofleflion of the houfe, and whatever 
 effects it contain'd , therfore expected the 
 keys of every thing mould be imme- 
 diately deliver'd. 
 
 To this the parfon reply'd, that he 
 had got them into his hands with no other 
 view than to fecure them for him, who 
 had the undoubted right to all which his 
 dear benefactrefs had been miftrefs of; 
 ' For indetd, continued he, I appre- 
 
 * hended fome foul play might have been 
 ' attempted, as at the hour of her deceafe 
 ' me had none but fervants about her, 
 
 * fome of whom -had been too lately taken 
 ' into the family to have given any great 
 
 * proofs of their integrity.' 
 
 After this they went through every 
 room, examining what was to be found ; 
 all which fcrutiny, as yet, afforded the 
 
 heir
 
 'The Invifible SPY. 93 
 
 heir no reafon for complaint : on open- 
 ing the abovementiou'd buroe, and look- 
 ing over AJinda's jewels, he miis'd not 
 the ring he had been defrauded oi \ but 
 when the other privat drawers preferred 
 him fo little of what he expected, he 
 could not forbear difcovering feme fuf- 
 picion, as it mud be own'd he had fuf- 
 ficient caufe j for the perfon who had 
 been beforehand with him in the fearch, 
 had left no more than eight guineas and 
 one fix-and-thirty piece in fpecie, with 
 three or four bills of an inconfiderable 
 value. 
 
 I am furprifed, faid mr. *****, that a 
 woman of my confin's fortune fhould 
 leave herfelf fo bare of cafh ; and can- 
 not imagine by what means (he diflipa- 
 ted fo large a yearly income.' Alas, 
 fir,' reply'd the pretended zealot, with 
 lis hands and eyes lifted up to heaven, 
 it ought not to appear ftrange to you, 
 that a lady of your excellent kinf- 
 woman's charitable and benevolent dif- 
 pofition fhould refufe nothing in her 
 power, when the cries of diftrefs and the 
 moans of affli&ion call'd for her afiif- 
 tance. If you would know in what 
 manner me difpofed of her money, en- 
 * quire of hofpitals, the prifons, and 
 ' the neceflitous petitioners that every 
 
 c day
 
 94 ?#* Iwijible Spy. 
 
 * day received their fuftenance from her 
 ' bounty, and you will find an eafy ac- 
 count of her expences in her large and 
 
 * numerous donations ' 
 
 Mr. ***** only anfwer'd fullenly, that 
 he mould be better able to judge how 
 he ought to think of the affair after he 
 had fpoke to her fteward , on which the 
 other clapping his hand upon his bread, 
 was beginning to make many afTevera- 
 tions, that till that moment he never 
 knew what fum or fums the lady had by 
 her when me died, or had ever look'd, 
 nor even entertain'd a thought of looking 
 into any place where it might be fup- 
 pofed me kept her money. I (laid 
 not, however, to hear what effect his 
 hypocrify produced, but went home, be- 
 ing impatient to fee -the contents of 
 Alinda's manufcript. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 Tkt Invifibte S p y. 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 Will fully fatiify all the curiofity the 
 former may have excited. 
 
 THE hafte I made in fnatching the 
 following papers from the flames, 
 happily preferv'd them fo entirely from 
 the destruction to which they had been 
 defined, that tho* the edges were in 
 many places much fcorch'd, yet not a 
 fingle word throughout the whole was 
 any way damaged , and the reader may 
 depend on having the ftory as perfect as 
 if he faw it in the heroine's own hand. 
 
 Memoirs of the unfortunate ALINDA, 
 wrote by herfelf, and faithfully tran- 
 fcrifrdfrom the original copy. 
 
 " T Am fenfible that many people have 
 " * been very bufy with my fame while 
 " living, nor do I expect to be treated 
 * with lefs feverity after I am dead -, I 
 * e cannot, however, think of an eternal 
 " feparation from this world, without 
 " leaving fomething behind me which 
 " may ferve to clear up thofe paflages 
 ( * in my conduct, which by their b r ing 
 
 < myfte-
 
 96 The Invijibte S p v. 
 
 " myfterious have given room for cen- 
 t fure ; and I do not this with any 
 * l view of foftcning the afperity of the 
 " ill-natured for the errors I have been 
 " guilty of, or of exciting companion in 
 "the more generous and gentle for my 
 " misfortunes ; but merely to the end 
 ** that if I am condemn'd, I may be con- 
 4X demn'd for real, not imaginary facts. 
 
 " Sorry am I to accufe a father who 
 " fo tenderly loved me -, yet certain it 
 " is, that his over anxiety for my welfare 
 *' has been the primary fource of every 
 " woe my heart has labour'd under , and 
 ' that by his miilaken endeavours to 
 ' make me great and happy, I have been 
 " render' d the moft milerabie of created 
 *' beings. 
 
 " The fortune I was born to be 
 <c poflefs'd of 5 and fome natural endow- 
 " ments his affeflion fancy'd in me, 
 " made him flatter himfelf with the 
 * hopes of feeing me one day blaze 
 * forth in all the pomp of quality ; nor 
 " could he endure the thoughts o: marry- 
 " ing me to any man beneath the rank 
 " of right honourable ; and for fear any 
 partial inclination of my own ftiould 
 <c difappoint thefe high raifed expecta- 
 * c tions, IK kept me from trie conver- 
 
 * l fation
 
 Irruifible SPY. 97 
 
 " fation of every one whom he thought 
 44 capable of attracting a heart unbyais'd 
 84 by intereft, and unambitious ot gran- 
 " deur. 
 
 44 Soon after my mother's death he 
 44 quitted bufmefs, and retir'd to an eftate 
 " he had fome time before purchafed in 
 44 the country : when we removed, I 
 64 was too young to have any tafte for 
 <4 the pleafures of the town, and regret- 
 " ted only the want of thofe play-fellows 
 44 I had left behind ; indeed I wonder 
 44 that I was not quite moped , I was 
 44 fuffer'd to go to no fchool, tho' there 
 44 was a great one very near us , never 
 44 ftirr'd beyond the precincts of our 
 44 garden walls ; went not to church, 
 44 becaufb there it would have been im- 
 * 4 pofable for me not to fee and be feen - t 
 44 no company vifited us ; for my 
 44 father deprived himfclf of the pleafure 
 44 of converfing with any of the neigh - 
 " bouring gentry, for fear that, as I 
 44 grew up, I might take a liking to 
 44 lomc one or other of their fons, none 
 44 of whom he thought a match good 
 44 enough for me, as they were not dig- 
 44 nified with titles : I had learn* d 
 44 ^writing and dancing, but was far from 
 * c being perfect in either , and my fa- 
 44 ther, being unwilling I mould be with- 
 VOL. I. F ' out
 
 ,98 ^he Invifible SPY. 
 
 ^ out thcfc accompliihrnents, took the 
 ** pains himfelf to fet me copies to ini-. 
 *' prove me in the one, and at length 
 " provided a m after, too old and too 
 " ugly to give him any apprehenfions, 
 " to inftrurt me in the other ; beikks 
 " thefe two avocations, I had no amufe-. 
 * s ment except reading, which, as I 
 *' much delighted in, my father con- 
 ** ftantly fupply'd me with fuch books 
 *' as he thought proper for my fex and 
 ** age. 
 
 " Excepting fome treatifes of divi- 
 Al nity, the fubjecls of my entertainment 
 *' afforded little improvement to my 
 *' underilanding, they confifting only 
 ** of romances, and fome few very old 
 " plays j fo that the ideas they infpired 
 *' me with were as antiquated as the 
 et habits worn in the days of queen Eli' 
 " zabeth, and I was utterly ignorant 
 *' of the modes, manners and cuftoms 
 ?' of the age I lived in. 
 
 * l In this ftupid and difpiriting fitua- 
 *' tion did I pafs full nineteen months j 
 4t about the expiration of which time my 
 ** father happen'd into company with a 
 " perfon who wears the facred appea- 
 *' ranee of an Ecclefiaftic ; but is in 
 f 6 reality one of thofe mention' d in holy 
 
 " writ
 
 Invijible SPY. 99 
 
 " writ by the name of wolves in flieeps 
 ct cloathing-, his outward behaviour 
 " feems direct<-d by the minifters of 
 * c grace and goodneis, while in his trea- 
 " cherous heart a thoufand fiends lie irt 
 " wait to bring ruin and deftruction on 
 " the credulous liftner to his wiles ; but 
 " before I proced in my unhappy ftory, 
 " it is fit I mould give a more parti- 
 ct cular character of the wretch who has 
 " fo great a mare in it. 
 
 " Firft for his extraction : his father 
 <c was a frenchman, fervant to a perfon 
 ' of diftinction in Normandy ; but having 
 " more ambition than honefly, found 
 " means to rob his mafter of a confider* 
 ct able fum and came over to England, 
 " where he fet up for a gentleman and a 
 " moft zealous proteftant, told a long 
 " plaufible ftory of the great hardmips 
 " he had fuftain'd on the fcore of re- 
 <c ligion, and found here the fame pity 
 " and encouragement as many others 
 " had done who fly here for an afylum 
 * on the fame pretences. 
 
 " Soon after his arrival he married 
 " a Dutchwoman, by whom he had a 
 " fon who inherits all his father's virtues, 
 " and is the perfon whofe ftory is fo 
 " unhappily interwoven with my own. - 
 F 2 Young
 
 I oo The InvifMe SPY. 
 
 * Young Le Bris, for that is the 
 <* name of this worthy family, difco- 
 ** ver'd in his youth fome indications of 
 
 * a good capacity for learning, info- 
 
 * much that a certain lord taking a 
 c great fancy to him, fent him to Weft- 
 ' rnifter fchool, and afterwards to the 
 4 Univerfity, in order to qualify him 
 
 ** for the pulpit, afiuring him that he 
 ** mould not be without a hand Tome be- 
 *' nefice as foon as he mould be fit to 
 ct receive it. 
 
 <c But he had fcarce completed his 
 cc ftudies for that purpofe, when all his 
 * prefent fupport and future expectations 
 c< vanifh'd on the fudden death of his 
 * noble patron, which was follow'd in 
 ' a few months after by that of his fa- 
 ** ther, fo that he was left entirely def- 
 " titute, his mother not being able to 
 < c afford him the lead affiftance. 
 
 c After many long and fruitlefs fol- 
 " licitations for a living, he was glad to 
 accept of a fmall curacy in one of the 
 ** remoteft counties in England, where 
 ' he refided feveral years -, tnit was at 
 " laft turned out on account of neglecT: 
 ** of duty, and other mifbehaviour ; 
 ** he then came back to London, 
 
 ' gave
 
 The Imifibk SPY. i o i 
 
 * 5 gave "out printed bills for teaching 
 " French and Latin at very low rates j 
 " but rinding little encouragement that 
 " way turn'd Fleet-paribn, earn'd a pre- 
 * k carious fuftenance by cLaddtine mar- 
 44 nages. 
 
 *' It was in thefe wretched circum- 
 <l ftances that my father met with him, 
 " being in town on fome bufincfs, and 
 " being told by fpme one, who it is likely 
 44 knew no more of him than what he was 
 ** pleaied to fay of himfclf, that he was 
 i4 u very worthy, tho* diftreis'd clergy- 
 ' ; man, made him the offer or zf hand- 
 u ibme fallary to come into his family, 
 " by way of ^chaplain , and, withal, to 
 " inftruft me in the French language, 
 11 and whatever elfe was fit for me to 
 *' learn, or he was capable of teaching ; 
 " he readily embraced the propofal, 
 " and on my father's return came down 
 44 with him. 
 
 ** My father prefented him to me as a 
 " kind of Tutor, or Preceptor , told me 
 " I muft fubmit myfelf to his directions, 
 14 be attentive to all he faid to me r 
 " and in every thing treat him with the 
 " greateft refpedl and reverence ; " 
 * For, added he r it is by the leilbns he 
 F a * is
 
 JO2 'The Invisible SPY. 
 
 * is capable of giving you, that you 
 alone can make any mining figure in 
 the ftation wherein I hope to lee you 
 
 * placed. 
 
 " It will, perhaps, afford fome matter 
 
 " of furprife that my father, who had 
 
 " hitherto preferred fuch an extreme 
 
 ." caution in preventing my having the 
 
 " leaft converfation with any man, fhould 
 
 " now fo ftrenuoufly recommend this 
 
 46 parfon to me ; but it muft be con- 
 
 " fider'd, that he was no lefs than fix or 
 
 " feven and forty years of age ; that 
 
 " tho' not deform'd was far from hand- 
 
 " fome ; and, befides, had a certain au- 
 
 " fterity in his manners which could not 
 
 " be thought would be very agreeable 
 
 *' to youth. 
 
 " It was, indeed, fome time before I 
 
 " could be contented with the dominion 
 
 " given him over me , but my obedience 
 
 " to my father obliging me to behave 
 
 *' towards him with efteem, cuflom at 
 
 " laft converted that complaifance, which 
 
 " at firft was rro more than feign'd, into 
 
 *' fincere : a kind of arfeclion, by de- 
 
 " grees, mingled itfelf with the reverence 
 
 *' I was bid to pay him ; I was never 
 
 " fo happy as in the hours fet apart for 
 
 *' receiving his inftruftions ; and the 
 
 " thoughts
 
 Tfo Inwfille SPY. 103 
 
 <{ thought? of the benefits that might be 
 '* fupuofei! ro accrue from them afforded 
 " me Ids pleafure than the praifcs I was 
 " always certain he would bellow on my 
 '-< docility. In fine, I not only lov'cl 
 * the Teacher for the Precept's lake -. 
 ** but, as the poet fays, 
 
 I lov'd the Precepts for the Ttacher's- 
 lake. 
 
 " Nor is it to be wonder' d at that I 
 v< tafted more fatisfaction in his fociety 
 " than I had ever known before -. I 
 ** wanted not ideas, tho' hitherto I had 
 <J notliing to improve them : I h.id 
 ^ been allow'd to convcrie with none but 
 ** the fervants, who could only divert 
 "" me with idle tales of thieves, appari- 
 c< tions, and haunted houfes -, my 
 " tutor, after having finifh'd his graver 
 c * letTons, would frequently entertain me 
 " with fome extraordinary incident or 
 44 other, either taken from hiftory or ro- 
 cc mance ; but, whether real or fidkious, 
 <c I had fenfe enough to know were fuch, 
 " as enlarg'd my underftanding as well- 
 " as charm r d my ears. 
 
 " It is certain, indeed, that he fpar'd 
 
 u no pains to infinuate himfelf into rny 
 
 ." good graces ; and no lefs certain alfb, 
 
 F 4 c thac-
 
 1 04 be Invifible SPY. 
 
 '* that the ungrateful defign he had in 
 
 * doing fo fucceeded to the utter deftruc- 
 ' tion of the whole happinefs of my fu- 
 4 ture lite -, and, at laft, of my life itfelf, 
 4 as will appear by thefe memoirs, which, 
 
 * while I am writing, I know not whe- 
 
 * ther I fhall have ftrength to finifh. 
 
 " I mall therefore reduce my unhappy 
 '* ftory into as fhort a compafs as I can : 
 " in fpite of the little amiablenefs this 
 ". Tutor had in his perfon ; in fpite of 
 " the vaft difparity of years between us, 
 " I conceived the moft tender affe&ion 
 " for him ; alas I was then too young, 
 " too innocent, to know what was 
 " meary: by the word love, any farther 
 " than that love which we naturally bear 
 ** to a father, brother, or fome other near 
 ** rtlation, and thought not that what 
 " J felt for him was any more, or would 
 " be attended with any other conie- 
 " qitences ; and,, as I apprehended no 
 " ftiame or danger in the kindnefs I had 
 *' for him, endeavour*d not ta put a (lop 
 '* to the growth of it, nor even to con- 
 . ceal it. 
 
 ** Bat L Bris faw much better into 
 " my heart than I did myfelf, and dread- 
 *' ing left my father mould be i-larm'd at 
 *' the too open fondnefs of my behaviour 
 
 " to
 
 7 'he Invt/ibk S? v. 
 
 K to him, began to treat me with lefs 
 " familiarity, and exerted the matter 
 " much more than he had done , this 
 " change both furprifed and griev'd me -, 
 " I bore it, however, for two whole 
 *' days, without feemi-ng to take any no- 
 " tice of it ; but on the third, being, 
 *' alone with him in his clofet, where 
 '* I conftantly went every morning to- re- 
 " ceive my leffons," * What is the 
 matter with you, my dear Tutor, faid 
 ' I, I hope- I have done nothing to offend 
 
 * you ? I am fure I would not willing- 
 
 * ly be guilty of deferving that yon 
 c mould irown upon me.' ' No, my 
 
 * precious charge, reply 'd he after a 
 4 paufe, it is not in your nature to give 
 
 * offence -, but I would not mcur your 
 1 father's difpleafiire either towards you 
 
 * or me j men are apt to be jealous cf 
 "* the affections of their children, and I 
 
 * am fometimes afraid that he mould 
 ,* think you love me almofl as well as 
 
 4 you do him.' * Indeed I do fo, 
 
 * quite as well, cry'cl 1 eagerly. But 
 4 why mould he be angry at that, when 
 
 * he bid me ufe you with the fame love 
 4 and refpect as- 1 did himfelf?' 
 
 * People on fome occafions, anfwer'd 
 
 * he, will be difpleafed at a too exact 
 
 * performance of their own commands , 
 
 F 5 * and
 
 ie6 The Invif.blc SPY. 
 
 and if my worthy Patron, your 'father, 
 
 fhould happen to be of this opinion, 
 
 ' the confequence would infallibly be an 
 
 c eternal feparation between us -, he 
 
 ' would drive me from his houfe, and I 
 
 fhould never fee my pretty charge 
 
 ' again.' 
 
 e If you think fo, return'd I, though 
 
 * I hate all kind of ciiTimulation, 1 will 
 make him believe I am weary of learn- 
 
 * ing of you, and that I cannot abide 
 
 * you.* ' Dear pretty angel, cry'd 
 
 * he, tenderly taking me in his arms , 
 
 * there is no need of going to fuch ex- 
 
 * tremes ; I would only have you be- 
 
 * have with more diftance towards me 
 
 * than you have done of late ; and it will 
 
 * not be amifs if you fbmetimes complain 
 ' that I fet you too hard leffons ; becaufe 
 
 * if you mould feem to learn too faft, he 
 
 * may begin to think there will foon be 
 
 * no occafion for a Tutor.' Well, 
 ' faid I, I will do every thing you bid 
 ' me; for indeed it would almoft break 
 
 * my heart to part with you.' " Here 
 " he kifs'd off the tears that fell from my 
 " eyes in fpeaking thefe laft words, and 
 " I return'd all his endearments with the 
 " fame affeftion as the fondeft child 
 " would do thofe of the moft indulgent 
 ** parent. 
 
 "It
 
 The Invifikle SPY. 107 
 
 " It will, perhaps, feem a little ftrange 
 " that a girl turn'd of thirteen, as I then 
 ** was, mould think or aft in the manner" 
 " 1 did ; but the way in which I had'. 
 " been brought up left me in the fame 
 " ignorance and innocence as others of 
 *' fix or feven years old, 
 
 * I obey'd his inftructions- with fo 
 14 much exaclnefs, that my father was far- 
 " from fufpeding either my folly or the 
 * c bafenefs of the perfon he had fct over 
 * c me : the reft of the family were n,o 
 * more quick-fighted, nor it could not 
 < be expected they fliould be fo -, our 
 41 houfe-keeper, tho' a very good, was 
 ' a filly old woman, and knew nothing. 
 " beyond the ceconomy of thofe affairs 
 " committed to her charge ; the maid 
 lt who waited on me was her daughter,. 
 ' and had been bred to think every man 
 14 who wore the habit of a Parfon was to> 
 " be worlhip'd -, and the other fcrvants 
 " were tdb feldom with us to have any 
 " opportunity of making difcoveries. 
 
 * c I arriv'd at my fourteenth year,-^-- 
 " my father kept my birth-day fo far ^s 
 *' to order fomething better than ordi- 
 ** nary for dinner, and dnink my health 1 
 <c feveral times at table ; among other 
 F 6 ** difcourfe
 
 1 o 8 The Invifibk S ? y . 
 
 difcourfe concerning me, he faid to L 
 Bris," Well, Bettor, your pupil 
 will now begin to think herfelf a wo- 
 man, and I muft find a hufband for her 
 who will be able to reward the care 
 you have taken of her with a good fat 
 Benefice ' c< To which the fawning 
 " hypocrite reply'd, That the pleafure 
 " of feeing his worthy patron's daughter 
 " happy, would be to him the beft be- 
 " nefice he could obtain. 
 
 " Nothing farther pafs'd at this time 
 *' on the fame fubjecl ; but the next 
 ** morning, when I was alone with my 
 " Tutor in his clofet," ,' Do you remem- 
 ber, my dear mifs, cry'd he, with a 
 very melancholy air, what your father 
 faid yefterday ? you will be marry 'd 
 foon, and I mall lofe you for ever.' 
 Do not talk fo, replyM I haftily, I do 
 not want to be married -, but if my 
 father mould compel me to ft, all the 
 huibands in the world mould not make 
 me forget my dear Tutor ; no, you 
 fhall always live with me j I would 
 not part from you to be a dutchefs or a 
 lady mayorefs.' ' Nor would I part 
 from you, faid he, taking me in his arms, 
 for an archbifhopric ; and to be plain, 
 continued he, I have received letters 
 fince I have been here, with the oFers of 
 
 feveral
 
 The Invifble SPY. 109 
 
 feveral great livings , but I have re- 
 fufed them all rather than quit my dear 
 pupil.' ' Have you indeed, return'd 
 I, hanging fondly on him ? oh how 
 kind you have been ! I fliould be the 
 moft ungrateful creature upon earth if 
 I did not love you dearly for it.* ' But 
 will you always keep me with you, 
 cry'd he ?' ' As long as I live, 
 aniwer'd I.' * Will you fwear it, 
 rejoin'd he ?* c Yes, anfwer'd I, a 
 thoufand and a thoufand times over, if 
 you defire it.' 
 
 " The wretch did not fail to take me 
 " at my word : I bound myfelf, by 
 " the moft folemn imprecations that 
 " words could form, that when I be- 
 <c came miftrefs of my actions he mould 
 " always live with me. After this,, the 
 < c hours we pafs'd together were em- 
 " ploy'd more in improving the foolifh 
 tc affection I had for him, than in any 
 *' lefibns for improving my underftand- 
 " ing. My father imputed the flow 
 " progrefs I made in my (Indies not to 
 44 any want of ability in my teacher, but 
 44 to my own neglect, and often chid me 
 *' for it, which 1 bore patiently, as I be- 
 ' lieved it the fureft means of keeping 
 " my dear Tutor with me: this he 
 ." took fo kindly, that he told me one 
 
 * day,
 
 i ro The Inviflble SPY. 
 
 " day, he fhtter'd himfelf I lov"d him 
 " almoft as well as I did my father." 
 ' I hope it is no fin, cry'd I childiftily, 
 ' if 1 love you quite as well ?' Far 
 ' from' it, anfwer'd he, you are only his 
 6 daughter by nature, but you are mine 
 by affedtion ; you are the child of 
 my foul, and therefore ought to love 
 me better.' . I am glad of that, re- 
 ' join'd I, for indeed I do love you a 
 
 * great deal better, I am fure I do ; 
 
 * tor I don't feel half the -pleafure when 
 ' he kifles me as when you do ; and 
 ' when you take me in your arms my 
 * heart beats as if it would come out.' 
 " It will fcarce be doubted but that he 
 <c now beftow'd upon me thofe endear- 
 " ments I had declar'd myfclf fo well 
 ' fatisfied with ; and fome minutes after, 
 "as J had turn'd to a looking-glafs to 
 " adjuft fome diforder in my head-drefs^ 
 " he pull'd me to him, and making 
 " me fit upon his knee,' ' You are 
 6 very pretry, my der mils, laid he, and 
 
 * have nodefecl: in your fhap'c, but being 
 
 * a little too flat before ;' " with thefe 
 * c words he thurft one of his hands with- 
 " in my ftays, telling me that handling 
 " my breafts would make them grow, 
 "and I mould then be a perfecl beauty, 
 
 < Not
 
 The Ihvifible SPY. 1 1 r 
 
 " Not confcious of any guilt I was ig- 
 <c norant of mame j and thinking every 
 * 4 thing he did was right, made not the 
 " leaft refiftance; but fuffer'd him, by 
 " degrees, to proceed to liberties, which, 
 " had 1 known the meaning of, I mould 
 " have ftabb'd him for attempting ;," but, 
 " as I have fome where read, 
 
 .By no example warn'd how to beware, 
 My very innocence became my {hare. 
 
 " It will, perhaps, be fuppofed that the 
 c ' perfidious man did not ftop here, but 
 " proceeded yet farther, to the utter 
 " completion of my dimonour , but I 
 " mall do him the juftice to fay he never 
 te offer'd any fuch thing , though I have 
 " good reafons to believe he was pre- 
 " vented only by his fears of the confe- 
 " quences that might have attended it, 
 *' to the ruin of a defign which promifed 
 " him more fatisfaclion than the enjoy- 
 " ment of my perfon. 
 
 <e In the ridiculous way I have been 
 " defcribing did we continue 'till 1 was 
 " in my feventeenth year, about which 
 " time my father being obliged to go to 
 et London on a law affair, he left the 
 *' fole management of the family, as well 
 
 " as
 
 112 3T& Invifibk S p Y. 
 
 " as of myfelf, to his favourite chaplain, 
 " 'till he mould return, which he expect- 
 ** ed to do in two months. 
 
 " He had not been gone full three 
 * weeks before a ftranger came to our 
 " houfe on a vifit to my Tutor; he re- 
 ' ceived him with great marks of civi- 
 ** lity, and told me afterwards that he 
 " was the land-fteward of a nobleman 
 fr who had fent him on purpofe to court 
 * his acceptance of a benefice worth near 
 ' eight hundred pounds per annum : 
 ** as I fufpected not the truth of this I 
 " was terribly frighten'd, and cry'd out,' 
 Then you will leave me at laft !' 
 It would be with an extreme-reluctance 
 I mould do fo, reply'd he j but what 
 can I do ? If I mould hereafter be 
 expofed to any misfortunes, how would 
 the world blame me for having refufed 
 fuch an offer ?* What misfortunes, 
 faid J r have you to fear ? I mail al- 
 ways have enough to fupport my dear 
 Tutor.' 
 
 * My dear child, refum'd he, you for- 
 ' get that when once you are married 
 
 there will be nothing in your power, 
 
 * all will be your hufband's, "who. may 
 
 take it into his head to turn me out of 
 
 * door directly.' - ' No fuch matter,, re-
 
 Invifible Spy. 113 
 
 4 ply'd I haftily, for I will make him pro- 
 4 mife and fwear beforehand to keep you 
 4 always in the family.' ' Few men, faid 
 4 he, pay any regard, after they become 
 4 huibands, to the promifes and vows 
 4 they made when they were lovers. In 
 4 fine, my little angel, continued he,. 
 4 taking me tenderly in his arms, there is 
 4 but one way to fecure our lading hap- 
 4 pinefs, to which if you agree 1 will im- 
 4 mediately refufe the great offer now 
 4 made me, with all my future hopes of 
 4 rifing in the church, and devote rnyfelf 
 
 * eternally to you.' 
 
 " Thefe laft words I thought fo highly 
 44 obliging to me, that I hung about 
 44 his neck, kifs'd his cheek, and cry'd, 
 44 I would do every thing he would have 
 " me ; he then told me that a writing 
 rt mould be drawn up between us r by 
 " which we mould mutually bind our- 
 44 felves, under the penalty of the half of 
 4 * what either fhould be pofiefs'd of, 
 44 never to feparate. 
 
 f * On my ready compliance with this 
 " propofal, he ventured to make a fe- 
 * 4 cond, even more impudent than the 
 4< firft , after feeming to confider a 
 " little within himfelf." 4 I have been 
 
 * thinking, faid he, that if the perfon 
 
 4 you
 
 1, 1 4 ffie Invifible SPY. 
 
 you mail marry fnould happen to be of 
 a crofs, perverfe nature, tho' for his 
 own fake he not will drive me from his 
 houfe, yet he may ufe me fo ill as to 
 compel me to go out of it of rny own 
 accord, fuppofe, therefore, you 
 mould bind yourfelf by the writing I 
 have mention'd, and under the fame 
 penalty, never to marry any man with- 
 out my confent/ 
 
 ' Blefs me, cry'd I, a little furprifed, 
 how can I do this ! you know I mutt 
 obey my father.' c Heaven forbid you 
 mould do otherwife, rejoin'd the art- 
 ful hypocrite, you may be fure I 
 fliall nev^r oppofe either his will, or 
 your own inclination, in the choice of 
 a hufband ; what I fpeak of is only a 
 thing of form, which, when ftiewn to 
 your hufband, will oblige him to treat 
 me with gratitude and refpecl:. 
 
 " I was entirely fatisfy'd with this. 
 " and reply'd, I would do what he defir'cl 
 c as foon as he pleafed , on which," 
 
 * It happens luckily, faid he, that the 
 6 gentleman who came here on the bufi- 
 
 * nefs I told you of was bred to the law, 
 
 * I will let him know as much as is 
 
 * neceffary of our affair, and get him 
 
 * to draw up a proper inftrument.'
 
 tte Invifibk SPY. 1 1 
 
 " In fpeaking thefe words he left me and 
 ' went in fearch of his friend, who at 
 " that time was walking in the garden, 
 " waiting, no doubt, his coming. 
 
 "I had little time allow'd me to 
 ** reflect on what I was about to do, 
 44 Le Bris immediately return'd, bring- 
 44 ing the lawyer with him, the latter 
 ec of vyhom defir'd to receive inftruftions 
 * 4 from my own mouth for what he was 
 " to write, and accordingly I repeated 
 46 the fenfe of the obligation 1 was to 
 44 lay myfelf under, leaving it to him to 
 44 put it in iuch words as he mould find 
 *' proper , if I had been miftrefs of the 
 44 leaft mare of common reaibn, I muft 
 <c have feen that all this fcheme was a 
 " thing previoully concerted between 
 " thele two villains ; for the Lawyer im- 
 ** mediately pull'd out of his pocket a 
 " large parchment, with feals fix'd to it, 
 " and every thing requifite to make the 
 " inftrument firm and valid ; but I 
 *' was inEatuated, all my little under- 
 IC (landing was fubjecled to the will of 
 44 this wicked Tutor ; I gave an implicit 
 " faith to all he faid, and paid an im- 
 44 plicit obedience to all his dictates. 
 
 " The lawyer took his leave next clay, 
 " and nothing material happeu'd till 
 
 4 within
 
 1 1 6 'The Invijible SPY. 
 
 *' within a week of the time my father 
 
 ** was expected home, when, inilcad of 
 
 14 himfelf came the melancholy account 
 
 tc that he had been feiz'd v\ith an apo-' 
 
 " pledlic fit, and tho' he recover' d from 
 
 " it, expired within two hours after j 
 
 ' he had made his will about a year be- 
 
 6 fore, by which he left me ible heir of 
 
 ' every thing he was in poffeffion of, 
 
 * except a few legacies, and in cafe his 
 
 * demife mould happen before I was 
 4 married, or of age, appointed two 
 ' gentlemen for his executors and my 
 4 guardians j they both wrote to me, 
 
 as did alib my coufm ******, a c- 
 " quainting me t^at it was neceffary I 
 " fhould come to London direflly on 
 *' this occafion, and each inviting me to 
 " their refpe6tive houfes, which as they 
 *' lived in different parts of the town, 
 *' I was at liberty to chufe which I 
 " liked beft. 
 
 " My Tutor, however, difiiiaded me 
 " from accepting any of their offers, and 
 " told me he would write to a friend 
 " in London to provide a ready-furnifli'd 
 " houfe for my reception, till things 
 " were fettled, and I fhould refolve whe- 
 44 ther I would refide in town or coun- 
 * 4 try, accordingly he did fo, and 
 " when we came within ten miles of 
 
 " London
 
 The Inviftble SPY. 117 
 
 *' London we were met on the road by 
 ** the lawyer, who, as I have fmce dif- 
 " cover'd, was his chief agent in every 
 M thing , he conduced us to a houfe 
 " in Jermin-ftreet, which was indeed 
 " very neat and commodious. 
 
 ** It was late when we arriv'd, but I 
 " did not fail to fend the next morning 
 * to my two Guardians and coufm ****, 
 <c who all came to fee me the fame day, 
 " and exprefs'd themfelves in very affec- 
 " tionate terms ; I prefented my Tutor 
 " to them, as a perfon for whom my 
 44 father had a high efteem, on which 
 " they treated him with that refpe<5t they 
 " fuppofed him to deferve. 
 
 " I now enter*d into a fcene of life 
 ' altogether new to me ; feveral di- 
 < ftant rela f ions, whom I knew only by 
 " their names-, and many other gentle- 
 " men and ladies, who had been acquain- 
 c ' ted with my mother, came to pay 
 * e their refpets to me -, all my morn- 
 ct ings were taken up with meflages and 
 '* compliments, and all my afternoons 
 " with receiving and returning vifits. 
 *' How ftrange was the transition ? 
 '* from being confined to the narrow pre- 
 " cinfls of a lone country manfion, I 
 ct had now the whole metropolis to range
 
 n8 
 
 44 in ; inftead of the grave leflbns of 
 " two old men, my ears were now con- 
 * c tinually fill'd witih the flattering praifes 
 " of addrefiing beaus ; inftead of ha- 
 " ving nothing to amufe my hours, 
 " new diverfions, new entertainments, 
 < crowded upon each moment, and I 
 " was inceffantly hurried from one plea- 
 *' fure to another, till my head grew 
 " giddy with the whirl of promifcuous 
 44 delights. 
 
 " As I was young, not ugly, and 
 ** look'd upon as a rich heirefs, propo- 
 *' fals of marriage were every day made 
 " to me, all which I communicated to 
 " my Tutor ; but tho' many of them 
 < were much to my advantage, he always 
 " found fome pretence or other for re- 
 tc fufing his confent, and I accordingly 
 *' rejefted them, to the furprife of all who 
 * c knew me, and the great diffatisfac- 
 *' tion of my beft friends. 
 
 ct He was not, however, half pleafed 
 '* with the gay manner in which I lived, 
 " and as foon as the affairs relating to 
 " my eftate were fettled, would fain 
 ** have prev-ail'd upon me to return into 
 " the country ; but I had too high a re- 
 " lifb for the diverfions of the town to 
 " pay that regard to his advice I had 
 
 " formerly
 
 The Iirolpble SPY. 119 
 
 " formerly done; and, inftead of com- 
 <c plying with it, quitted the houfe I 
 " was in, hired another upon leafe, and 
 " furnifii'd it in the moft elegant manner 
 " I could : he grew very grave on my 
 c< behaviour ; but as I kept firm to both 
 " the engagements I had made with 
 " him, he had no pretence to complain 
 " of my actions in other matters. 
 
 " For a time, indeed, my head was 
 v not the leaft turn'd towards marriage ; 
 c I thought no farther of the men 
 *' than to be vain and delighted with 
 " their flatteries ; happy would it have 
 ' been for me had I continued always 
 " in this mind -, but my iil fate too foon, 
 " alas, prefented me with an object 
 " which convinced me, that all the joys 
 " of public admiration are nothing, when 
 " compared to one foft hour with the 
 " youth we love, and by whom we 
 " think we are beloved. 
 
 " I believe there is little need for me to 
 c fay that this object,: fo enchanting to 
 " my fenfes, was the young, the hand 1 - 
 " fome, the accomplifh'd Amafis : the 
 " world, whom he made no fecret of 
 " the paffion he profefs'd for me, was 
 '* alfo witnefs in what manner I received 
 *' it i we appear'd togetlier in all pub- 
 
 " lit
 
 a 2O llje Jnvifible S p y. 
 
 ** lie places ; I treated him in all com- 
 lt panics with a difference which fhew'd 
 * c the efteem I had for him : my friend* 
 " approved my choice, and the union 
 between us was look'd upon as a thing 
 c fo abfolutely determined, that many 
 <c believed the ceremony was already 
 *' over, when, to their great furprlfe, 
 " they faw at once that we were utterly 
 " broke off, and in a very fhort time 
 " after, the ungrateful Amafis become 
 " the hufband of another. 
 
 " My tutor, on perceiving me incli- 
 ** ned to favour Amafis more than \ had 
 c ever done any of thofe who had hi- 
 " therto addrefs'd me, began to rail at 
 * him, and tell me a thoufand ridicu- 
 lous flories he pretended to have heard 
 " in relation to his conduit \ I ftiR re- 
 * tained too much reverence for this 
 ** wielded man to contradict what he 
 * 4 faid, but not enough to enable me to 
 4 * conquer my new paflion; I loved 
 * Amafis, and continued to give him 
 * daily proofs "of it , this fo incenfed 
 <c him that he told me one day, that 
 he wonder'd 1 would encourage the 
 * courtfhip of a man whom I muft never 
 ' expeft to marry." ' Why not, fir, 
 
 * anfwer'd 1, neither his birth rflor for- 
 
 * tune are inferior to mine.' * Siip- 
 
 pole
 
 ?fo Irwljible SPY". 121 
 
 pofe them fo, rejoin'd he, the mod 
 material thing is -wanting, which is 
 my confent.' 4 \Vhen I gave you 
 that power over me, laid I, you pro- 
 mifed never to thwart my inclination.' 
 I did fo, reply'd he ; but, to be plain 
 with you, I then expected all your in- 
 clination would be in favour of myfelf.' 
 Yourfelf ! cry'd I, more furpriied 
 than words can def.ribe.' 4 Yes, 
 Alinda, refumed he, methinks the thing 
 mould not appear fo odd to you ; 
 call back to your remembrance the 
 familiarities that have paf>'d between us, 
 and then juilify, if you can, to virtue 
 or to modefty, the leaft defire of giving 
 yourfrlf to any other man.' 
 
 " Rage, aftonifhment, and mame, 
 " for the folly I had been guilty of, fo 
 44 overwhclm'd my heart at this reproach, 
 " thit I had not power to fpeak one 
 " word, but flood looking on him with 
 " a countenance which, I believe, fuffici- 
 "" ently exprefs'd all thole paflions, while 
 " he went on in thefe terms :'* 
 
 ' Flow often, continued he, have you 
 
 * hung about my neck whole hours to- 
 c gether, and by the warmed fondnefs 
 
 tempted me to take every freedom 
 < with you but tlvj laft, which if J had 
 
 VOL. I. G not
 
 122 The Iwvipble SPY. 
 
 * not been pofTefs'd of more honour 
 
 * than you now fhevv of conftancy, I alib 
 
 * fhould have feiz'd, and left you no- 
 
 * thing to beftow upon a rival ? 
 
 " The ftorm which had been gathering 
 " in my bread all the time he wa:j 
 " fpeaking, now burft out with the ex- 
 ** tremeft violence ; I raved, and load- 
 *' ed him with epithets not very becom- 
 
 44 ing in me to make ufe of, yet not 
 *' worfe than he defer ved ; he heard 
 " me with a fullen filence ; but when 
 * c I mention'd t;he cruelty and bafenefs 
 *' of upbraiding me with the follies of my 
 " childim innocence, he told me, with 
 
 45 a fneer, that he would advife me 
 " not to put that among my catalogue 
 " of complaints.' ' For, faid he, the 
 ' world will fcarce believe, that a lady 
 
 * of fourteen, fifteen, and fixteen, had 
 4 the fame inclinations in toying with a 
 
 * gentleman as a baby has with its nurfe. 
 
 " I would have reply'd, that the man- 
 " ner in which I was educated kept me 
 ** in the fame ignorance as a baby ; but 
 " fomething within rofe in my throat, 
 " flopping the paffage of my br ath, 
 " and I funk fainting in the chair where 
 " I was fitting : - whether he was really 
 " moved with this fight, or only affected 
 
 " to
 
 Tie Itroifible SPY. 123 
 
 " to be fo, I know not ; but he ran to 
 
 " me, ufed proper means to bring me to 
 
 " myfelf,and on my recoyery I found my- 
 
 *' felf preft very tenderly within his arms : 
 
 < his touch was now grown odious 
 
 " to me, I ftruggled to get loofe -," 
 
 Be not thus unkind, cry'd he, holding 
 
 me ftill fafter, you once took pleafure in 
 
 my embraces, you have confefs'd you 
 
 did , oh then recall thofe foft ideas, 
 
 and we mail both be happy.* 
 
 No, anfwered I, breaking forcibly 
 from him, what then was the effect of 
 too much innocence, would be now a 
 guilt for which I mould deteft myfdf 
 as much as I do you.' ' I ftill love 
 you, faid he.' * Prove it then, cry'd 
 I fiercely, by giving me up that writ- 
 ing which your artifices enfnared me to 
 fign, and ceafe to oppofe my marriage 
 with Amafis.' ' No, madam, re- 
 ply'd he, if you perfift in the refolution 
 of marrying Amafis, half your eftate 
 would be a fmall confolation to me for 
 the lofs of you ; and you cannot fare 
 imagine me weak enough to refign my 
 claim to the one, after being deprived 
 ot tne other.' 
 
 " I had not patience to continue this 
 
 difcourie, but retired to my chamber, 
 
 G 2 * e where,
 
 124 The Iwvifibk Spy. 
 *< where, throwing myfelf upon the bed, I 
 << vented feme part of the anguilh of my 
 *' mind in a flood of tears j after which, 
 << rinding fome little eafe, I began to 
 ' reflect, that tormenting myfelf in this 
 " manner would avail nothing, and that 
 * I ought rather to try if any poffible 
 * s means could be found for extricating 
 * c me from the labyrinth I was entangled 
 *' in. 
 
 <c Accordingly I arofe, muffled my- 
 * ; 'felf up as well as I could to prevent 
 " beirig luuwn, took a hackney-coach, 
 "" and went to the chambers of an emi- 
 " nent lawyer ; I related to him all the 
 * 4 circumftances of my unhappy cafe, con- 
 * 4 o.aling only the names of the perfons 
 l! concern'd in it ; he liften'd attentively 
 <c to what I faid, and when I had done, 
 t; afk'd me of what age I was when I 
 Ci enter'd into that engagement I now 
 *' wanted to be freed from j which quef- 
 " tion I anfwcring with (incerity, he 
 * ' fhook his head, and told me that he 
 te was forry to afllire me I could have 
 " no relief from law, and that the beft, 
 ' <c and indeed the only method I could 
 '* take, was to endeavour to compromife 
 u the affair with the gentleman. 
 
 " I re-
 
 rfhe In'cijibk S p r. 12 - 
 
 " I return'd home very difconfolntf, 
 '* and was above a week without be: 
 able to Fetqive on any thing ; but my 
 '"' impatience to b" united to th:; rn.::i I 
 *' loved, and .. I ie ti.r:c cj.'ed Off die 
 
 48 pretence of the man I hr.tecl, at Jp.fi: 
 " determined m: 10 follow the lawyer's- 
 " advice ; I lent for my wicked tutor 
 " into my chamber, talked to him 
 '' \'\ more obliging terms than I had done 
 14 uVice the firO: difcovery c,f his dcfignsr 
 " upon me , but repr^ictited to him the 
 * { abfurdity of thinking of Hiarrying me 
 " himkif -, and concluded with telling 
 c< him, that if he would c^icei the en- 
 t bctv/een us I wcukl make 
 {< hi i:ity of a thoiiKUid pounds, 
 
 tc and alib be ready to do him any other 
 *. c iervice in my power. 
 
 " He rejedled this propofal with the 
 * ! greateft contempt." You are cer- 
 4 tainly mad, Alinda, faid he, or take' 
 ' me to be fo -, a thoufand pounds 
 
 * would be a fine equivalent, indeed, for 
 4 the half of your eflate, jewels, rich fur- 
 < niture, plate, and whatever elfe you 
 
 * are in poffeffion of; to all which your 
 
 * marriage will give me an undoubted 
 ' claim, arid I accordingly (hall ftize ' i 
 4 Suppofe I never marry, cry'd I.' 
 
 G 2 Be
 
 126 We Invifble SPY. 
 
 Be it fo, anfwer'd he, I muft fliil con- 
 tinue to Jive with you -, and what you 
 offer for my quitting you does not 
 amount to five years purchafe of my 
 fallary and board as your chaplain. 
 
 " Thefe words making me imagine 
 ** his chief objection was to the fmallnefs 
 " of the fum I told him I would double, 
 ** nay even treble it, for the purchafe 
 44 of my liberty ^ but he told me it 
 " would be in vain for me to tempt 
 <c him with any offers of that kind ; 
 " that no confideration whatever mould 
 " prevail with him to depart from the 
 " agreement -between us, and he would 
 " always hold me to my bargain. 
 
 " The determined air with which he 
 " fpoke this, made me think it beft not 
 *' to urge him any farther at that time; 
 " the next day, however, and feveral 
 " fucceeding ones, I fail'd not to renew 
 ** the difcourfe ; but tho' I made ufe of 
 " every argument my reafon could fup- 
 " ply me with, tho' I wept, pray'd, 
 " rav'd, by turns cajol'd and threaten'd, 
 " all I could fay, all I could do was 
 *' ineffectual, and the more I labour'd to 
 " bring him to compliance, the more 
 * flubborn his obilinacy grew. 
 
 " To
 
 The In vifibk SPY, 127 
 
 ** To make any one fenfible what it 
 14 was I fuifer'd in this cruel dilemma, 
 " they muft alfo be made fenfible to 
 " what an infinite degree I loved the man, 
 " whom it was now impoflible for me 
 11 to be happy with, and both thefe are 
 " inexpreffible -, I mail therefore only 
 " fay, that I was very near being totally 
 " deprived of that little (hare of reafon 
 " heaven had beftow'd upon me. 
 
 " Amafis, to whom I had cotfefs'd 
 " the tendernefs I had for him, was all 
 " this while continually folliciting me to 
 11 complete our union ; one day, 
 44 when" he was more than ordinarily 
 * c prefiing on this occafion, and my heart 
 " being very full, I cry'd out, almoft 
 <e without knowing what I faid," 
 ' Oh, Amafis, you know not what you 
 
 * afk, when you afk me to marry you !' 
 t{ This exclamation furpris'd him , but 
 " having begun, I now went on." 
 You expect, faid I, an eflate of twelve 
 6 hundred pounds a year , but I will 
 
 * not deceive you, you find me worth 
 ' only the half of what you have been 
 
 * made to hope.' When I made my 
 c addrefles to the lovely Alinda, anfwer'd 
 ' he, I had no eye to the fortune me 
 4 might bring me , but wherefore this 
 
 G 4 4 fruit-
 
 128 ?&? Invijibk Spy. 
 fruitkfs trial of my love ? your 
 guardians have fhewn me the writings 
 of your eftate, and L know to a fingle 
 hundred what you are poffefs'd of.' 
 Suppofe, rejoin'd I, that I fhould have 
 previoufly difpofsd of the one half of 
 what othcrwife our marriage would 
 have given you ?' ' I will fuppofe no 
 fuch thing, reply'd he, it cannot be.' 
 It both can and is, faid I, burfting 
 into tears, I have unwarily enter'd into 
 an engagement, by which I forfeit the 
 moiety of all I am miftrefs of, even to 
 my very jewels, if ever I marry any man, 
 except on certain conditions, which 
 condition I am now well affur'd I never 
 can obtain. 
 
 'Death and hell, cry'd he, darting 
 
 * up in a fury! What condition, 
 
 * when, where, to whom, on what 
 1 account was this engagement made !* 
 ** Shame would not let me anfwer to 
 " thefe interrogatories, and I remain'd 
 44 in a kind of ftupid filence." If by 
 4 any artifices, purfued he, you have been 
 
 * feduced to figa a compact of this wild 
 nature, unfold the whole of the affair, 
 
 * and depend that either the laws or this 
 
 * avenging arm (hall do you juliice.' - 
 " I now repented that I had Ib rafhly 
 ' divulged any part of this fatal ferret, 
 
 " not
 
 Inviftlle S P Y . 129 
 
 tt . not but I mould have been glad to 
 c have feen my wicked tutor punifti'd , 
 ** but I knew that on the leaft attempt 
 " made for my redrefs, he would infal- 
 " libly expofe the follies I had been 
 " guilty of in regard to him ; and when 
 " compared to that the lofs of Amafis, 
 < my fortune, or even my life itfeif, 
 " feem'd a lefs terrible misfortune ; for 
 " this reafon, therefore, I refufed the en- 
 " treaties of a beloved lover, and fcreen'd 
 " the villainy of a wretch who mofi my 
 " foul abhorr'd. 
 
 ** In fine, T would reveal no more 
 " than I had done, Amafis left me in 
 " a very ill humour, and the next morn- 
 " ing I received a billet from him con- 
 * taining thefe ilabbing lines : 
 
 To mifs ALINDA **-***.. 
 ** MADAM, 
 
 tc T Have been confiderlng on tlie amai- 
 " * fing account you gave me lafl 
 <c night j and as you rcfuie to clifcover 
 Lt either the perfon with whom you madfe 
 " this engagement, or the motives which. 
 " induced you to it, can look on it ?.s 
 " no other than a contract with fomf; 
 " gentleman, once happy in your affed- 
 " tions , a fecond-hanci pafilon neither 
 G 5
 
 330- The Jnmftbte SPY. 
 
 *' fuits with the delicacy of my humour, 
 " nor to encroach upon the rights of 
 " another with my honour : I Jhall 
 '< therefore defift troubling you with any 
 ** future vifits, but fhall be always glad 
 te to hear of your welfare, which 1 de- 
 ''. fpair of doing till you prevail upon 
 *' yourfelf to be juft to your firft vows ; 
 '* facrifice the affection you have for me 
 ** to the obligations you are under to 
 '* my rival ; I yield to his prior title 
 " all the late glorious hopes I had con- 
 ** ceived, and wilh you more happy with 
 * c him than it is now in your power to 
 * make 
 
 " Your humble fervant, 
 
 " AMASIS." 
 
 *' Here ended all my hopes of happi- 
 ** nefs ; - all the foft ideas of love and 
 " marriage vanilh'd for ever from my 
 " breaft, and were fucceeded by others 
 *' of the moljt dreadful nature : for fe- 
 '* veral weeks I abandon'd myfelf to 
 " grief and to defpair ; but pride at length 
 " got the better of thefe paffions ; and, 
 " to conceal the real fituation of my 
 * c heart from the enquiring world, I all 
 " at once affected to be madly gay, and 
 ** ran into fuch extravagancies, as, with- 
 l< out being criminal in tact, juflly drew 
 *' upon me the fevereft cenfures. 
 
 u But
 
 The Invifible SPY. 1:31 
 
 " But nature will not bear a perpetual 
 " violence, grief and defpair were the 
 " ftrongeft pafiions in me ; in the 
 " midft of dancing, drinking, revelling, 
 4f tears were ready to flart from my eyes, 
 " and fighs from my bofom, which, 
 " when 1 endeavour'd to fupprefs, re- 
 14 coil'd upon my heart, and fhook my 
 44 whole frame with the moft terrible re- 
 44 vulfions , the marriage of Amafis 
 44 feconded the blow our parting had 
 44 given ; I could no longer diffemble 
 tc what I felt, no longer appear the 
 44 giddy thoughtlefs libertine, but flew 
 " from one extreme to the other ; I 
 44 now would fee no company, fhut my- 
 46 felf up in my chamber, denied accefs to 
 44 my bed friends, and never went abroad 
 " but to vifit the hofpitals and prifons : 
 I never fuffer'd Le Bris to come 
 41 into my prefence ; and I believye, per- 
 ' ceiving me fo refolute, he would now 
 <c have accepted of a fum of money to 
 " have quitted my houfe entirely ; but I. 
 " had now done with the world, hail 
 " loft in Amafis all I valued in it, and 
 " would not give the monfter, whom I 
 ct juilly look'd upon as the fource of all 
 " my misfortunes, any more than I was 
 tf compell'd to do, his bare board and 
 44 fallary, 
 
 G 6 " Behold
 
 " Behold, by thefe memoirs, the begin*- 
 " niug and progrefs or my milcries, the 
 ** end is near at hand, death is already 
 " bufy at my heart, and allows no time 
 " to apologize for the errors ol my con- 
 " dud , pity is ail my allies can 
 expect." 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 Contains a very brief account of fame 
 pajjages fubfequent to the foregoing 
 Jiory, with the author s remarks, upon 
 the 'whole. 
 
 AS I know very well that folidity has 
 but a fmall mare in the compofi- 
 tion of the lady whom Alinda had intend- 
 ed to cotrult with the publication of her 
 memoirs, I thought the fureft way of 
 having the will of the deceas'd perform'd, 
 was not to trouble a perfon of her cha- 
 racter with the perufal of them, but to 
 take the opportunity of my Invifibility- 
 Jfhip to prefent them to the world myfelf, 
 which I accordingly have done. 
 
 And now, as I doubt not but the reader 
 be glad of being infcrm'd of fome- 
 
 what
 
 T'he Irmifible SPY. 133 
 
 what farther concerning Le Bris, I fliall 
 relate fuch particulars as have come to 
 my knowledge. 
 
 It muft be concluded that this un- 
 worthy preceptor, in looking over the 
 papers of Alinda, had either not obferved, 
 or afterwards forgot, that the ring he had 
 juit taken from among her other jewels 
 was the very fame mention'd in her letter 
 to her friend, otherwife he would certain- 
 ly have had cunning enough to have re- 
 placed it where he found it. 
 
 % Mr. ****** foon recolleding what his 
 coufin had faid to him in regard of this 
 little legacy, and miffing it from her 
 other trinkets, made a Uriel: enquiry what 
 was become of it : Le Bris ? having had 
 her keys in his pofleffion, was one of the 
 firft interrogated, and on being fo, bold- 
 ly reply'd, that fuch a ring had been 
 beftow'd upon him, bjr Alinda. ' How 
 
 * can that be, cry'd the other, when 
 e but three days before her death fhe be- 
 c queath'd it to a Ldy of her acquain- 
 
 * tance, and infifted on my promife of 
 ' delivering it to her ?' She muft then 
 ' be delirious f lid the parfon -,but however 
 
 * that might be, heaven forbid I mould 
 
 * detain wnat is even fufpecled to be the 
 
 * right of another ;' and with thefe words 
 
 prefented
 
 314 * we SP Y. 
 
 prefented the ring to mr. *****, who re- 
 ceived it from him without the leaft ce- 
 remony. 
 
 This affair, notwithftanding the hypo- 
 critical manner in which the ring was re- 
 turn'd, gave mr. ***** room to imagine 
 there had been fome foul play in relation 
 to Alinda's effects ; the fteward prov'd, 
 by his books, that he had paid into her 
 hands, a week before her death, two hun- 
 dred and fifty pounds in fpecie, and more 
 than twice that fum in Bank-bills, being 
 arrears he had receiv'd from the tenants ; 
 it feem'd unlikely to them that fhe 
 could have difpofed of the money, much 
 lefs have had any occafion to change the 
 bills in fo mort a time ; orders were 
 therefore fent to the Bank to flop the 
 payment of fuch numbers till further no- 
 tice , but the precaution came too late, 
 the perfon who had fecreted them had 
 been already there, and converted all his 
 paper into cam. 
 
 The heir, however, was confident that 
 he had been defrauded , he confulted 
 council upon it, who all advifed hirn to 
 have recourfe to equity : whether Le 
 Bris had any hint given him ot what was 
 intended to be done againft him, or whe- 
 ther his own guilty confcience made him 
 
 only
 
 The Invifible SPY. 135 
 
 only apprehend it, is uncertain ; but be 
 that as it may, he had not courage to 
 ftand the teft of examination, he fled 
 the kingdom, after having thrown afide 
 that robe, which, had he been known for 
 what he truly was, would long before 
 have been ftripp'd from off his facrilegious 
 fhoulders. 
 
 But Providence would not permit him 
 to enjoy his ill-got fpoils, nor a life he 
 had devoted to fuch wicked purpofes ; 
 defigning to turn trader at Jamaica he 
 embark'd for that place ; but the vefiel 
 being overtaken by a ftorm, was loft al- 
 moft in fight of more, and he with many 
 other, perhaps lefs guilty perfons, pe- 
 rinVd in the wreck : this laft piece of 
 intelligence I received from his mother, 
 who, tho' he had fupported during the 
 life of Alinda, to prevent being expofed 
 by her clamours, he now left pennylefs, 
 deftitute and ftarving, in an extreme old 
 age. 
 
 Thus did the vengeance of heaven at 
 laft overtake the wretch, who, befides 
 his other impieties, had been guilty of 
 the moft cruel ingratitude and breach 
 of truft, in impofing upon the fimplicity 
 of a young creature committed to his 
 
 care.
 
 136 Vfa Iwutfible SPY. 
 
 care, and utterly destroying all the views-* 
 of his generous Patron and Benefactor. 
 
 As for the unfortunate Alinda, tho' it 
 is certain her conduct cannot be wholly 
 juftify'd, yet, according to my opinion, 
 neither ought it to be wholly condem- 
 ned , it would be pafling too fevere 
 a judgment, to impute the fbndnefs fhe 
 exprefs'd for her wicked tutor to a wan- 
 ton incliriation : if we confider "the 
 various ar.ts of her feducer, the com- 
 mands laid on her by her father to love 
 and obey him as himfelf ; the manner 
 in which fhe was brought up ; the per- 
 fect ignorance {he was kept in of thq 
 cuftoms of the world, and how other 
 young ladies behaved, we mall find that 
 thefe are all of them very ftrong pleas in 
 her defence, and not forbear pitying the 
 miflakes of fuch. artlefs innocence. 
 
 I wifh as much could be allsdg'd in 
 her behalf on the fcore of her behaviour 
 after breaking off with Amafis ; the 
 exceffes into which me ran, in order to 
 conceal the difquiets of her mind for the 
 lofs of .that favourite lover, f oo evi- 
 dently mew that me facrifized two oi the 
 molt valuable characteriftics of woman*- 
 hood, h. j r prudence and h?r mccidty, 
 to one ol the very word. her pride.
 
 The Inwjible S p v. 137 
 
 Nor can I offer any thing in vindica- 
 tion of the laft ftages of her life, if 
 convinced of her error, in being perpetu- 
 ally among a promifcuous unielected com- 
 pany, it was flying to an almoft as inex- 
 cufable extreme, to fhut herftlf trom her 
 beft friends, and avoid the fociety of thofe 
 whofe converfation might have diffipated 
 her chagrin, .and at the fame time im- 
 proved her underftanding ; to clo this 
 feems to me, I mail confefs, to have more, 
 the favour of defpair, than of virtue or 
 true fortitude. 
 
 There was, doubtlefs, a certain giddy 
 propenfity in her nature, which wanted 
 to be corrected by reafon, example, 
 precept, authority, and the rudiments 
 of a good education, all which fte was 
 deny'd , and it mufl therefore be ac- 
 knowleged, that both her faults and mis- 
 fortunes were entirely owing to the caprice 
 and credulity of her father, and the bafe 
 defigns of the perfon appointed to be her 
 governor and inftruclor. 
 
 End of tie Firjl BOO K.
 
 SfcCl 
 
 THE 
 
 Invifible Spy. 
 
 BOOK II. 
 
 C H A -P. I. 
 
 &^ o/' ^6; j Invifibi- 
 'd 
 
 Author , y 
 
 lity^ has difcover'd fuch a contrail 
 in the behaviour of two married 
 couple of diftinffiion, as he thinks 
 'would be the utmojl injuflice to the 
 public to conceal. 
 
 Lacentia, after a long and 
 mo ^ paffionate courtfhip, 
 was at laft wedded to Dal - 
 matius ; (lie brought him 
 an ample fortune, a very 
 agreeable perfon, and an 
 unblemifh'd charadler , he had ftudied 
 
 all
 
 The In^lfible S p Y. 139 
 
 all the duties of a wife before (he became 
 fo, and afterwards practifed them in the 
 ftricteft manner : whenever me found 
 him gay, me heighten'd his good humour 
 her own fprightlinefs ; and when fullen 
 and pcrverfe, as was too often the cafe, 
 flie endeavour'd to difiipate his chagrin 
 either by playing on her fpinnet or telling 
 him fome diverting flory : without 
 feeming to confult his palate, fhe always 
 took care to put fuch dimes into her bill 
 of fare as fhe had perceiv'd he fed upon 
 with moft fatisfaclion : whatever com- 
 pany fuited his tafte were fure to be often 
 invited by her, and entertain'd with the 
 greateft marks of efteem and complai- 
 fance: her whole thoughts, indeed, 
 were taken up with obliging and making 
 him happy : fhe had no will, no in- 
 clination of her own, both were entire- 
 ly regulated by his ; and, to add to all 
 this, fhe was an excellent ceconomift, 
 underftood the management of a family 
 perieclly well, and knew how to make a. 
 grand appearance with lefs expence than 
 fome others are at who are accounted 
 contemptibly parfimonious. 
 
 What would fome hufbands give to be 
 blefs'd with fo vir f uous, fo tender, fo en- 
 dearing a companion ? Dalmatius, in- 
 ftcad of placing this jewel next his heart, 
 
 hung
 
 140 The Invifible SPY. 
 
 hung it carelcfly upon his fleeve; either. 
 not knowing, or not regarding the true 
 value of it. 
 
 During the courle of fevcral Invifible 
 Vifitations I made at their houfe, never 
 did I fee him treat her in any degree pro- 
 portionable to her merit; when- in his 
 beft humours, he return'd the carcffes flic 
 gave him only with a cold indifference ; 
 but when any thing abroad had happen'd 
 to thwart his view, either of pleasure or 
 ambition, no man could behave with 
 more churlifhnefs at home : but the 
 manner in which this ceupie behaved to 
 each other will beft appear from their 
 own words,* which I fnail give a fliorf 
 fpecimeri of on two different occafions. 
 
 They were to go out together one day, 
 to call on fome friends who were to ac- 
 company them on a party of pleafure, 
 the landau waited at the door, he had 
 juft finifh'd drefling, -and fent up to 
 know if his wife was ready -, the mef- 
 fage could be fcarce deliver'd before me 
 came flying into the room, on which the 
 following dialogue enfued : 
 
 Placent'ia. c I hope I have not made 
 * you wait for me ? 
 
 Dal*
 
 Th Invifible SPY. i 4. i 
 
 Dalmatius. ' Not at all, - it wants 
 6 fome minutes of our appointment 1 , but 
 ' I know you women are generally io Jong 
 ' in equipping yourfelves, that I was wil- 
 ' ling to lend a meffenger to haften you. 1 
 
 Placentia. ' I Ihould know but little 
 ' of the value of' time, if I wafted much 
 
 * of it in drefling. But pray, my dear, 
 6 how do you like me to day r' 
 
 Dalmatius ' Like yon, that's an 
 c odd queftion - } why as well as ever 
 * I did. 1 
 
 Placentia. e I mould be miferable if I 
 
 * did not think you did ; but I mean, 
 ' how do you like my cloaths ? you fee 
 
 * I am all in new. 3 
 
 Dalmatius. Are you indeed ? I mould 
 
 * have feen nothing of it if you had not 
 
 * told me : I never mind what women 
 ' have on.' 
 
 Placentia. ' Then I am difappointed, 
 my dear , for I aflure you I confulted 
 your fancy more than my own in the 
 choice I made of this filk, as I have 
 heard you fay an hundred times, I be- 
 lieve, that you thought blue and filver 
 
 'the
 
 142 The Inwfible S P Y. 
 
 the moft agreeable mixture that could 
 'be/ 
 
 Dalmatius. < So it is ; but it may not 
 happen to become every body -, how- 
 
 * ever, I muft do you the juflice to fay, 
 
 * you look well enough in it, and I be- 
 lieve every body will think lb.' 
 
 Placentia. If you think fo, my dear, 
 it is all I wifh.' 
 
 In fpeaking this me took hold of his 
 hand and kiis'd it with the greateft 
 warmth of affection $ he return'd the 
 favour with a flight falute upon her 
 cheek, then looking on his watch, faid 
 he believed it was time to go, and went 
 down ftairs, ihe following* 
 
 The truth of the affair is this : Dal- 
 matius is not only vain and inlblent in his 
 nature, but alfo amorous and inconftmt 
 to an excefs j tho* he no longer had any 
 eyes for the charms of his fair wife, his 
 heart was but too fufceptible to tl^ofe 
 of other women. Miranda for fome 
 time engrofs'd all his devoirs ; nor could 
 her being married to the moft intimate 
 of his friends reftrain him from making 
 his unlawful addrefles to her ; nor the 
 vow (he had taken at the holy altar, de- 
 ter
 
 The Invijible SPY. 143 
 
 ter her from gratifying an inclination he 
 had found the way to infpire. 
 
 The hulband of this lady is a man of 
 fo much indolence and fo little delicacy, 
 that he never gives himfelf the leaft con- 
 cern about what pleafures his wife may 
 indulge herfelf in, provided me offers no 
 interruption to thofe he takes himfelf; 
 there are fome, indeed, who fay that on 
 their marriage they mutually agreed to 
 allow each other a perfect latitude in this 
 point ; but be that as it may, Miranda 
 ieems under no apprehenfions of her con- 
 duel: being called in queftion by him. 
 
 Her amour with Dalmatius foon be- 
 came fo notorious that it was in the mouth 
 of every one -, Placentia herfelf was the 
 laft that gave credit to it ; that ex- 
 cellent lady would not fuffer her heart 
 to entertain ill thoughts of the man 
 whom Hie was bound to love, nor could 
 any thing but the teftimony of her own 
 eyes have convinced her of the guilty 
 truth. 
 
 Miranda came to vifit her one day 
 when me happened to be abroad ; but 
 Dalmatius being at home the prefence of 
 his wife was little wanted , fhe foon re- 
 turn' d, however, and being told that 
 
 Miranda
 
 144 
 
 Miranda was above ran haftily up to re- 
 ce.ve her , but not finding her in the 
 room where company were ufually intro- 
 duced, ytt think. ng flic heard the mur- 
 mur of voices very near, fhe ftepp'd 
 towards the place whence it feem'd to 
 proceed, and peeping through the key- 
 hole of an adjacent chamber, favv her 
 hufband and the lady in a pofture fuch 
 as could leave her no doubt ot their cri- 
 minal converfation. 
 
 i 
 
 The fudden mock at firft transfix* d her 
 feet-, but prefently recovering herfelf, 
 Ihe retired from the guilty fcenc and went 
 into her own chamber ; wht re, finding 
 her woman at work, fhe order'd her to go 
 immediately down and forbid the llrvant 
 to take any notice of her being come 
 home : * i i ear, faid fhe, that Miranda 
 * is below, and I am not very well and 
 ' would not fee any company at this 
 < time.' 
 
 The woman being withdrawn to do as 
 fhe- was commanded, Placentia threw 
 herfelf into an eafy-chair and fell into a 
 profound refvery-; 1 was prefent all this 
 while, but my Belt of Invifibility did 
 not enable me to penetrate into her 
 thoughts, till feeming as if de ermin'd on 
 fomething (he had been debating within 
 
 herfelf,
 
 Invijible S ? Y . 145 
 
 herfelf, me rofe fuddenly from her feat 
 and burft into thefe words : 
 
 Placentia. ' No, he fhall never know 
 I think him falfe ; much lefs that I have 
 detected him : reproaches would avail 
 me nothing, and might harden him in 
 his crime ; I am his wife, we muft 
 always live together, or be fubjected to 
 the ridicule of a laughing and cenforious 
 world : prudence, therefore, as well 
 as duty, commands me to conceal the 
 fhameful difcovery I have made ; and 
 rather endeavour, by added tenderneis, 
 .if poflible, to reclaim him, and oblige 
 him to fee I am at leaft as worthy of 
 his affection as Miranda.' 
 
 I left her in this refolution, and found 
 that for feveral days fhe flriclly adhered 
 to it ; excepting only that (he could not 
 fo far diffemble her uneafmefs as to be 
 able to receive Miranda in the manner 
 fhe had formerly done ; fhe therefore dc- 
 fifted from making her any farther invita- 
 tions to her houfe, and always excufed 
 herfelf from accepting any fent to her by 
 hat lady. 
 
 This was enough, however, to give the 
 lovers fome apprehenfions that ihe f. f- 
 pecled their intrigue ; but Miranda 
 
 Vot. I. H was
 
 146 The Inwfdle SPY. 
 
 was of too vain and gay a temper to feel 
 any inquietudes on this fcore j and the un- 
 grateful Dalmatius, finding himfelf treat- 
 ed by his wife with the fame love and 
 complaifance as ever, gave himfelf not 
 the trouble either to examine, or be under 
 the leaft concern whether fuch a beha- 
 viour proceeded from her ignorance of his 
 fault, or her difcretion in overlooking it. 
 
 But the fweeteft nature may be embit- 
 ter'd by continual provocations ; Pla- 
 centia, finding that all the efforts me 
 made for regaining the affections of her 
 hufband were ineffectual, began by de- 
 grees to grow more remifs in her cares of 
 pleafmg ; not that me ever departed 
 from the eflential duties of a wife , me 
 only ceafed the practice of thofe which, 
 as the cafe flood between them, might 
 juftly be call*d works of fupererogation. 
 
 Being to have a great route at her 
 houfe, juft as fhe was going to fend cards 
 to invite the company, Dalmatius came 
 into the loom, and having looked over 
 the catalogue of names, on finding Mi- 
 randa's not there, began with an unufual 
 haughtinefs to interrogate her on that oc- 
 cafion ; and me, now, for the firfl time, 
 reply'd to what he laid with as much 
 
 indif-
 
 The Invifible SPY. 1 47 
 
 indifference as (he had formerly done with 
 fubmiflion. 
 
 Dalmatias. ' How happens it, madam, 
 
 * that Miranda is left out among the 
 
 * number of your guefts t" 
 
 Placenlia. * I had forgot her.' 
 
 Dalmatius. ' It is well then that I 
 
 * reminded you j but methinks a lady 
 
 * of her rank and character in the world 
 
 * might well have deferved a place in 
 
 * your remembrance.* 
 
 Placentia* c It may be fo ; but one 
 
 * cannot invite every body.' 
 
 Dalmatius. When any body is invi- 
 
 * ted to our houfe, efpecially on thefe oc- 
 
 * cafions, it would be the utmoit abfurdity 
 
 * to leave Miranda out ; theretore I 
 ' infift upon her coming tor your own 
 fake.' 
 
 Place enlia. e Oh, fir, you need not 
 give yourfelf any trouble on that fcore, 
 I am certainly a judge how to behave 
 to my own acquaintance , but if you 
 are fo defirous of having Miranda here 
 to-morrow, the bed way is for you to 
 fend a card as from yourfelf j I doubt 
 H 2 * not
 
 148 The Irrvifible S p r. 
 
 * not but the invitation will be full as 
 ' agreeable, and as readily comply'd 
 c with. 
 
 Dalmatius. ' You talk in an odd man- 
 4 ner, madam ; and now I think on it, 
 4 I met Miranda the other day in 
 ' the Park, and me complain' d to rne of 
 ' a itrange change in you towards her ; 
 that you have never return'd the laft 
 ' vifit me made you ; have fcarce 
 fpoke to her in any public affembly, 
 '.and feem'd to fhun her prefence as 
 ' much as pofiible. Pray what is the 
 ' meaning of all this ?' 
 
 Placentia. < That, fir, is a qtieftion 
 which perhaps neither you nor me 
 ' would thank me for anfwering directly.' 
 
 * I underftand you, ma- 
 dam, however j you have got notions 
 in your head not becoming in you to 
 indulge, nor worthy any endeavours 
 of mine to expel ; I would only have 
 you be wifer, and confider that of all 
 domeftic animals a jealous wife is the 
 moft contemptible.' 
 
 He fiung out of the room with thefe 
 words, and all the tokens of difdain and 
 indignation in his countenance, leaving 
 
 Pla-
 
 Invifibk SP v. 149 
 
 Placentia in a confufion not eafy to be 
 defcrib'd , I could perceive, however, 
 by the geftures of that unhappy lady, 
 that fhe repented having gone fo far, yet 
 knowing herfelf the only injured, could 
 not yield either to recede from her reib- 
 Jmion on the account of Miranda, or 
 make ufe of any attempts to foften fo ill- 
 founded a refentment in her hufband. 
 
 It is now faid that his amour with Mi- 
 randa is on the decline , that a nc\v flic~ 
 lias utterly eclipfal all the charms he lately 
 found in hers ; and that Placentia has at 
 leaft this confolation under her misfor- 
 tune, to find that no one beauty has the 
 power long to retain the heart fhe has 
 loft ; fo juft are the poet's words : 
 
 When fix'd to one, love fafe at anchor 
 
 c rides, 
 ' And dares the fury of the winds and 
 
 c tides ; 
 
 * But lofmg once that hold, to the 
 
 ' wide ocean borne, 
 
 * It drives at will, to ev'ry wave a 
 
 ' fcorn. 
 
 Marriage, tho j a facred inftitution, 
 tho* ordain'd by heaven to beftow the 
 fupremeft felicity we mortals are ca- 
 pable of enjoying, becomes the fevered 
 H 3 curfe
 
 The Invifible SPY. 
 
 curfe, when fouls ill fuited to each other 
 are join'd in its indifToluble bonds j and 
 it too often happens, that thofe who by 
 nature and education are qualify 'd to give 
 and receive the greateft happinefs, are 
 render'd the moft miferable through the 
 perverienefs of a bad temper'd partner. 
 
 Montelion has been twice married ; 
 he has experienced both all the content- 
 ments, and all the inquietudes of that ftate, 
 with women of humours as widely dif- 
 ferent as light and darknefs ; I had 
 almoft faid, as heaven from hell : his 
 firft lady, as me was excell'd by none in 
 exterior perfections, fo fhe was equall'd, 
 but by very few in the more valuable 
 endowments of the mind ; his life, while 
 in poficilion of this treafure, was one con- 
 tinued fcene of harmony and love -, but 
 foon, alas, the blifsful profpect vanifh'd ! 
 the fair, the virtuous, the tender Er- 
 minia died ; and, to add to the misfortune 
 of her difconfolate hufband, left no pledge 
 behind her of their mutual affection. 
 
 Though in that feafon of life when 
 amorous flames are at their higheft bent, 
 thofe of Montelion feem'd all bury'd ia 
 the grave of his dear Erminia : he re- 
 main'd for feveral years the ionely occupier 
 of a widow'd bed i at laft, however, 
 
 the
 
 Tke Invijibk SPY. ip 
 
 the ardent d.fire of having an heir for" 
 his eiVate got fomewhat the better of his 
 melancholy, and determined him on a 
 fccond venture. 
 
 In the choice he made he confu'tec! 
 neither fortune nor beauty ; the one, 
 indeed, he wanted not ; and as for the 
 other, fmce his Erminia's death, all "wo- 
 men were equal to him, and he regarded 
 the lovely and unlovely with the fame 
 indifference , he therefore marry'd Fe- 
 rocia, merely becaufe fhe was one of the 
 daughters of a fruitful family, and likely 
 to anfwer the only end which induced 
 him once more to become a hiuba;yj. 
 
 Every body was aftoniuYd at thefe nup- 
 tials, and much more fo on the know- 
 ledge of Ferocia's behaviour afterwards y 
 but I fhall prefent my reader with the 
 character of this lady, as it was given by 
 an impartial hand in a letter to a friend. 
 
 Ferocia, now the wife of Montelion, 
 is a woman plain in her perfon, weak 
 in her undeftanding, capricious and fan- 
 taftic in her humour, unpdifh'd in 
 her manners ; and, what is worfe than 
 all, infufferably vain and infolent on her 
 new dignity, without one grain of true 
 H. 4 love-
 
 152 *lhe Invifible SPY. 
 
 love or gratitude for the man who has 
 raifed her to it. 
 
 My Gift of Invifibility affifted me in 
 proving the truth of the above in all its 
 parts ; further I will not pretend to fay ; 
 tor tho* it is a vulgar Adage, that, ' Where 
 6 there is no modefly, there is little fign 
 * of honefly ,' and I have heard ievere 
 cenfures pafs'd upon her virtue -, yet I 
 never could make any difcoveries to her 
 prejudice on that fcore, and am apt to 
 believe, that the rampant airs me gives 
 herfeli' among the men, are, in reality, 
 more owing to a holdenly than an amo- 
 rous difpofition. 
 
 Montelion feems to fee her behaviour in 
 the fame light I do ; yet, for the fake of 
 his own honour, cannot but wifli me 
 would a<5t with more referve. They had 
 not been married above three months 
 when he was feiz'd with a fit of the gout 
 which confined him to his apartment ; 
 Ferocia came in cover' d over with jewels 
 and blazing like a ftar ; and, without 
 exprefling any concern for his indifpofi- 
 tion, told him that fhe was going to lady 
 Primwell's route ; on which enfued the 
 following dialogue between them : 
 
 Mcntelion,
 
 The Invifil k S P y . 153 
 
 Montelion. , I flatter'd myfelf,^ ma- 
 dam, with having the happineis of your 
 ' company at home this evening, as 1 am 
 
 * not in a condition to ftir out.' 
 
 Ferocia. * Oh heavens ! I mould make 
 
 * the worft nurfe in the world : What 
 
 * good would my ftaying do you ?' 
 
 Montehon. ' A great deal, madam, 
 
 * and I hope I need fay no more to err- 
 
 * S a S e y ou not to l eave nle '* 
 
 Ferccia. * Indeed, my lord, I muft 
 
 * go, I have given my promife.' 
 
 Montelion. ' You will be eafily excu- 
 fed ; nobody will expect a wife en a 
 party of pleafure, when they know her 
 hufband is confined by pain. Come, 
 my dear Ferocia, you muft not think 
 that flaykig at home one night is an aft 
 of too much complaifance to a man 
 who would refufe nothing for your 
 fatisfacYion.' 
 
 In (peaking this he drew her gently to- 
 wards him, and gave her two. or 
 very tender kiffes -, but in doing fo a litdc 
 fnuff he had between his thumb and finger 
 happen'd to fcatter- on h:r glcye-, en 
 H 5 which
 
 154 ^ e Jnvtfble SPY. 
 
 which fhe flarted from him and returned 
 his kind exprefiions in thefe terms : 
 
 Ferccla. '. Pirn, how filly this is ? 
 '" you have fpoil'd my gloves with your 
 
 * nafty fnuff. Here John, William, run 
 
 * one of you to my dreffing-room and 
 ' bid Faddle bring me a pair of clean 
 
 * gloves in a minute.' 
 
 Montelior,. ' Don't put yourfelf into a 
 ' paffion, my dear, but fit down and re- 
 ' folve to oblige me j I'll call for cards, 
 ' and we'll have a game at picquet.' 
 
 She made no reply, but hung down 
 her head, and flood counting the flicks of 
 her fan till Faddle came into the room. 
 
 Ferccla. ' Where are the gloves ?' 
 
 Faddle. c Madam, I thought the fel- 
 c low was miftaken when he bid me bring 
 ' gloves, as your ladyfhip had juft now 
 c a clean pair.' 
 
 Mcntelion. 4 Aye, mrs. Faddle, there 
 
 * is no occafion j rather get your lady's 
 
 * night-drefs ready -, for fhe has changed 
 4 her mind, and does not go abroad.' 
 
 Ferocia*
 
 Invifible S P"Y. i -5.5 ; 
 
 Ferocia. ' Indeed I both muft and 
 will, my lord --- Do you imagine that 
 becaufe you are fick I muft mortify 
 myfelf, and be mew'd up with you till 
 I am fick too ? No, no, I am not 
 weak enough to comply with fo un- 
 reafonable a requeft ; therefore adieu 
 till morning, I mail fcarce fee you till-- 
 that time, and hope 1 mall then find 
 your lord (hip better.' 
 
 She waited not for any reply he might 
 have made, but flounced out of the room,. 
 follow'd by her woman. Montelion foon- 
 after heard the footman call'd to attend 
 her ladyfhip and the chariot drive from 
 the door. How would forne hufbands 
 have refented fuch ufage, even from the 
 mod lovely of womankind ? yet Mon- 
 telion bore it without any (hew of impa- 
 tience, from one endow'd withmQ_charms 
 to excite either love or refpect ; his 
 tamenefs, however, is not owing to any 
 meannefe of Ipirit in him, but rather to 
 his good fenfe , he does not care to have 
 his domeftic affairs become the talk of the 
 town, nor to come to an open rupture 
 with the woman he has made his wife ; 
 and having in vain cfiuy'd all the means 
 that prudence and good-nature could 
 fuggeft, to bring her to a more reafon- 
 H 6 able
 
 156 'The Invifible Spy. 
 
 able way of thinking, he has at laft given 
 over the attempt ; feems not to regard 
 whatever (he does, but endeavours to 
 lofe the thoughts of his private difquiets 
 in the toils of public bufmefs, 
 
 raOtf&&9Si&9&^^ 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 Relates a flrange and moft unnatural 
 inflance of bigottry and enthufiafm 
 in a parent. 
 
 N'Othing is fo defirable as religion, 
 nothing fo truly amiable as piety ; 
 what bleffings does it not diffufe to all 
 who are within the reach of its influence ? 
 from it all other virtues are derived, 
 and by it alone are enabled to aft with 
 vigour , yet how often have we feen this 
 heavenly quality perverted into its very 
 oppofite ; and, from the fpirit of meek- 
 nefs, benevolence, mercy, charity and 
 univerfal love, become the fpirit of pride, 
 contention, envy, hatred and perfecution ; 
 like the arch-angel, who, ftanding 
 neareft to the throne of glory, precipita- 
 ted himfelf into the loweft hell. 
 
 Bigotry
 
 *fbe Ininfible SPY. 1 57 
 
 Bigotry and fuperflition are the fureft 
 engines which the fubtle enemy of man- 
 kind makes ufe of for our deftruction , 
 all other crimes carry their flings with 
 them ; confcierfce reproaches us Tor doing 
 amifs, and we fall not again into the like 
 without extreme remorfe and fhame ; but 
 the man poflejs'd of this holy frenzy of 
 the mind glorys in his perfeverance, be- 
 caufe he looks upon it as the higheft 
 virtue. 
 
 But this, indeed, is not an age in which 
 errors of this nature much abound ; it 
 has been much more the fafhion of late 
 years, for people to laugh at and contemn 
 all the duties of religion, than to be too 
 warm in the practice of any of them ; 
 there are, however, fome few examples 
 of the contrary extreme, a melancholy 
 proof of which I am now about to give. 
 
 A gentleman, whom I mail diftinguifh 
 by the name of Flaminio, had attain'd to 
 the age of 50, without having been known 
 to be guilty of any one thing which could 
 call in queftion either his honour, good 
 nature, or good fenfe : he had lived ca- 
 refs'd by his friends, refpected by his ac- 
 quaintance, and almoft adored by his te- 
 nants and dependants ; he had one fon 
 
 and
 
 358 ffie Invlfibk SPY.. 
 
 and one daughter, and having loft his 
 wife in bringing the latter into the world, 
 he never ventured on a fecond bed, but 
 laid out all his cares on the education of 
 thefe two darlings of his foul. 
 
 Adario, for fo I fhall call the fon, ha- 
 ving finifli'd his ftudies to the fatisfaclion 
 of all thofe who ' had the charge of in- 
 flrudting him, in order to complete the 
 fine gentleman, was fent to make the 
 tour ot Europe, under the care of a dif- 
 creet and experienced governor. Ifa- 
 binda, the daughter, remain' cl at home 
 with her father, and being extremely 
 beautiful, and miftrefs of every accom- 
 plifhment befitting her fex and rank, at- 
 tracted the love and admiration of as 
 many as had opportunity to be witnefs of 
 her perfections. 
 
 Being fuch as I have defcrib'd, it may 
 cafily be fuppofed, that, in a town like 
 this, there were not a few who declared 
 themfelves her lovers , Lyfimor was 
 among the number of thofe who had the 
 lead to fear, and the moil to hope for, in 
 his addreffes to her ; he had an agree- 
 able perfon, was defcended of a good 
 family, and was heir to an eftate adequate 
 to his birth : he had been fellow-ftudent 
 with Adario, and though, being fome 
 
 years
 
 Invi/ible SPY. 
 
 years older, he had left the Univerfity 
 before him, they had always kept up a 
 correfpondence j he was introduced to 
 the acquaintance of the fitter by the inti- 
 macy he had with the brother, who fail'd 
 not, before he went abroad, to recom- 
 mend his friend's pretenfions to her in 
 the flrongeft terms. 
 
 He it was, indeed, who alone had the 
 fecret to pleafe her , her young heart 
 prefently diftinguifh'd him from all his 
 rivals ; but her modefty and difcretion 
 would not permit her to give him any 
 marks of the peculiar regard fhe had for 
 him, till authoriz'd to do fo by the per- 
 fon who me had always been taught to 
 confider as the fole difpofer of her fate. 
 
 Lyfimor, who had alfo been bred in 
 the moft ftridl obedience, made not his 
 court to Ifabinda without having firft 
 communicated the paffion he had for her 
 to his father, and received his approbation ; 
 the two old gentlemen had aftewards an 
 interview on this occafion ; and Flaminio, 
 being perfectly fatisty'd with the propofals 
 made by the other, readily gave his con- 
 fent, on condition his daughter, whole in- 
 clinations he faid he would never go 
 about to force, mould have no objection 
 to the match. 
 
 The
 
 1 60 T/je Inwifible SPY. 
 
 The fame evening, as they were fitting 
 together at fupper, Flaminio related to 
 his daughter all that had pafs'd between 
 him and the father of Lyfimor , and 
 added, that he look'd upon him as a very 
 deferving young fellow ; that his birth 
 and fortune were unexceptionable ; and 
 that if fhe had no averfion to his peribn, 
 he mould be heartily glad of an alliance 
 with him. 
 
 Ifabinda blum'd like the fun juft peep- 
 ing from a cloud, on hearing her father 
 fpeak in this manner, and could fcarce 
 recover herfelf from the glad furprize 
 enough to tell him, that fince he was 
 pleafed with fuch an union me mould be all 
 obedience to his will ; fhe faid no more, 
 but 'the foft confufion fhe was in, and the 
 joy which fhe could not reflrain from 
 fparkling in her eyes, fufficiently tefti- 
 fied how much her inclinations corref- 
 ponded with her duty. * Well then, 
 ' refumed he, from this time forward re- 
 * ceive Lyfimor as the per Ton by heaven 
 ' and me ordain'd to be your hufband.' 
 
 I leave it to my fair readers to con-^ 
 ceive what delightful images m-uft fill 
 the mind of Ifabinda, after this fanction 
 to an affection which hitherto fhe had 
 
 not
 
 The Iirvijible SPY. 1 6 1 
 
 not dared to indulge, yet had it not in 
 her power to fubdue , for my own part, 
 ,tho' I was prefent during all the conver- 
 fation me had with her father on this 
 head, I left the houfe when fhe retired to 
 her chamber, which Ihe did more early 
 than ordinary that night, I guefs, to have 
 an opportunity of giving a loole to the 
 Iran fports of her mind. 
 
 As for Lyfimor, the joy he felt on 
 being acquainted with what his father had 
 done for him was very much allay'd by 
 the perfect ignorance he was in of having 
 made any impreflion on the heart of his 
 charming miftrefs ; he went to vifit her 
 the next day, hoping, yet trembling for 
 the event ; but foon the lovely maid put 
 an end to his fufpence, by arTuring him, 
 that for his fake alone me could refolve, 
 without reluctance, on changing her con- 
 dition. 
 
 Not only the lovers themfelves, but 
 both their parents alfo feem'd equally im- 
 patient for the confummation of thefe 
 nuptials , a fhort day was appointed for 
 the c lebration-, the articles of fettlement 
 and jointure were drawing up , new 
 habits, new coaches, new equipages, 
 all n cjffary preparations were carrying on 
 with the utmoft expedition, whca lo ! 
 
 a fv.d
 
 1 6 2 be Invijible S p Y. 
 
 a fudden and unexpected ftorm bore 
 down at once the pleating profpect of their 
 hopes, for ever dafh'd their expected 
 joys, and fpread a lading fcene of defo- 
 lation and defpair. How vainly, alas, do 
 we depend on mortal happinefs ? the 
 gaudy bubble fleets before us like the 
 "wind, eludes our grafp, and mocks the 
 idle chace, as fir Robert Howard juftly 
 expreiles it, 
 
 * Short is th' uncertain reign and pomp 
 
 * of mortal pride ; 
 
 * New turns and changes ev*ry day 
 
 * Are of inconftant chance^ the conftant 
 
 6 arts ^ 
 
 * Soon (he gives, foon takes away, 
 
 * She comes, embraces, naufeates you 
 
 * and parts. 
 
 Flaminio, from being the mod chear- 
 ful, good-natur'd man that could be of 
 his age, became all at once transform'd in- 
 to the moft fullen, gloomy, and difcon- 
 tented; from exprefiing the utmoffc 
 eagernefs for his daughter's wedding, he 
 now appear'd wholly negligent of every 
 thing relating to it : when the father of 
 Lyfimor, and the lawyer employ'd to 
 draw the marriage writings, went to his 
 houfe, he order'd his fervants to fay he 
 was from home ; made feveral tradesmen 
 
 carry
 
 The Inviftble SPY. 163 
 
 carry back the things he had befpoke for 
 the folemnity ; and, in fine, put an en- 
 tire ftop to all he had been fo folicitous 
 in forwarding. 
 
 The father of Lyfimor began to think 
 himfelf affronted by this proceeding ; and 
 both the lovers were amazed and troubled 
 beyond defcription at it 5, but tho' the 
 young gentleman came once or- twice 
 every day to vifit his dear miftrefs, Fia- 
 mimio fo carefully avoided his prefence 
 that he could get no opportunity of com- 
 plaining to 'him, and Ifabinda was too 
 much terrified by the unufual aufterity of 
 of his looks to have the courage tq open 
 her lips to him on this fcore. 
 
 She was one afternoon alone in the 
 fore parlour, waiting the approach of 
 Lyfimor, when her father, who was in 
 a back room, call'd her to him -, me 
 immediately obey'd, and on her entrance 
 was accojfted by him in this manner : 
 
 Flam'mlo. c Well, Ifabinda, I fuppofe 
 4 you expect Lyfimor here prefently ?' 
 
 Ifabinda. * Yes, fir, it is near the 
 * hour when he generally vifits me.' 
 
 Fta-
 
 1 64 The Invifible S p y . 
 
 Flaminio. His company may be 
 fpared at this time ; 1 have fonieth'mn; 
 to fay to you, and would not be inter- 
 rupted ; I have therefore given or- 
 ders to the fervants to tell him, when 
 he comes, that you are gone abroad.' 
 
 Ifabinda. ' He will fcarce believe that ^ 
 becaufe I promifed to take a walk 
 ' with him in the Mall after tea ; but 
 6 if you require my attendance I will dif- 
 
 * mifs him the fame moment he comes.' 
 
 Flaminio. ' No, it mall be as I have 
 ' faid ; if you marry him you will have 
 ' opportunities enough to fee each other ; 
 and if you do not, it will be beft for 
 
 * you not to have fettled your affections 
 
 * upon him.' 
 
 Ifabinda. c Sir, I mould never have 
 e entertain'd the leaft thoughts of marry- 
 
 * ing either him or any other man with- 
 
 * out having firft received your commands 
 to do fo.* 
 
 Flalnimo. ' However that may be, 
 events we think moft near, are often 
 the fartheft from being accomplim'd , 
 and for that reafon a young maid 
 ought never to difpofe of her heart till 
 it is accompany'd by her hand. 
 
 Jfa-
 
 Th Invifd/eSpY. 165 
 
 Ifabinda. < I hope, fir, that Lyfimor 
 f has done nothing to forfeit the good- 
 
 * will you once had for him ?' 
 
 Flamimo. * No, no, I have nothing 
 e to fay againft the young gentleman ; 
 
 * and mould ftill approve of him for a 
 4 fon-in-law ; but .' 
 
 Ifabinda. But what! I befeech you, 
 
 * fir, keep me not on a rack more cruel 
 4 than death.' 
 
 Flamimo. * I am forry to fee you fo 
 much concern'd on his account ; I 
 hoped to have found you more indifFe^ 
 rent; but, fince your inclinations are 
 fo deeply engaged, wiili from my foul 
 there were a poffibility for your union.' 
 
 . Ifattnda. < Ah, fir, what prevents it!' 
 
 Flamimo. c A father's everlafling hap- 
 pinefs or mifery.' 
 
 Thefe words, the emphafis with which 
 he utter'd them, and the horror that ap- 
 pear'd in his countenance, frighted the 
 poor young lady almoft into fits -, me 
 ftarted, trembled ; and, not able to 
 comprehend the meaning of whut- (he 
 
 heard,
 
 1 66 The 
 
 heard, the moft terrible ideas came into 
 her mind, and made her rather dread 
 than wifh an explanation. 
 
 She flood pale as a ghoft, and motion- 
 lefs as a ftatue, while her father, greatly 
 agitated, walk'd backwards and forwards 
 in the room with irregular and diforder'd 
 fteps : both remain'd fpeechlefs for fome 
 time , at laft, I cannot as yet, faid 
 he, bring myfelf to relieve the fufpence 
 I fee you are in ; but will do it foon ; 
 retire therefore, my dear 'Ifabinda, 
 to your chamber, continued he with a 
 deep figh, and invoke the almighty 
 difpenfer of bleflmgs to give you that 
 compofure of mind, which can alone 
 enable you to fupport chearfully what- 
 ever fate he is pleafed to ordain for 
 you.' 
 
 She went to her chamber as com- 
 manded , but whether to pray or weep I 
 will not pretend to inform my readers : 
 ~ I remain'd with Flaminio while he 
 ftaid below, which was not long, then 
 follow'd him up to his clofet, where he 
 flint himfelf in, plucking the door fo 
 haftily alter him I had not time to enter j 
 but, peeping through the key-hole, I faw 
 he had thrown himfelf proftrate on the 
 floor, with his hands and eyes lifted up 
 
 to
 
 IrrvifibU SPY. 167 
 
 to Heaven, feeming very earneft in de- 
 votion i I left him in this pofture, 
 and return'd home much furprifed at 
 what I had feen and heard. 
 
 Impatient, however, to get fome far- 
 ther light into an affair which at prefent 
 appear'd fo myfterious to me, I went the 
 next morning to Flaminio's houfe ; I 
 enter'd Ifabinda's chamber with a fervant 
 who was carrying in a dim of chocolate ; 
 that unhappy lady was fitting leaning 
 her elbow on a table and her head upon 
 her hand, her eyes red with the late 
 fallen tears, and all fymptoms of defpair 
 and grief about her ; but nothing being 
 to be learnt here I went in fearch of Fla- 
 minio, whom I found in his dreffing- 
 room ; he was in a mufing pofture, 
 but had a countenance much more ferene 
 than the day before , I had not been 
 many minutes with him before he rung 
 his bell for a footman, whom he order'd 
 to fetch Ifabinda to him ; me prefently 
 came, and I was witnefs of the following 
 extraordinary dialogue : 
 
 flamimo. * Sit down, my child ; - 
 
 * I was to blame to leave you in the 
 
 * perplexity I did laft night ; but it was 
 
 * occafion'd only by my too great ten- 
 
 * dernefs j I could not eafily refolve to 
 
 tell
 
 j68 The Inwfible SPY. 
 
 * tell you a thing which I fear'd would 
 
 * make you wifli I had lov'd you lefs.' 
 
 Ifabinda. * Sir, I have always Jook'd 
 
 * upon your paternal affection to me as 
 
 * the greateft bleffing of my life.' 
 
 flamin'o. ' I believe you have ; and 
 
 * I had never any caufe to think you did 
 < not return that affection with an ade- 
 4 quate proportion of filial love and duty.' 
 
 Ifabinda. I flatter myfelf, fir, that 
 c $o one of my actions has ever fhewn 
 
 * the contrary.' 
 
 Flaminio. c None, indeed, my deareft 
 
 * child ; I ought not therefore to have 
 ' doubted of your ready compliance in a 
 
 * thing on which my foul's eternal peace 
 
 * depends. Tell me, my Ilabinda, 
 
 * would you not willingly forego a trifling 
 
 * fatisfaclion to aflure your father's happi- 
 ' nefs both here and hereafter ?' 
 
 Ifabinda. I mould elfe, fir, be 
 ftrangely unworthy of the goodnefs you 
 4 have fhewn to me.' 
 
 Flaminio, ' Well then, my deareft 
 
 * Ifabinda, I will no longer hefitate to 
 
 * make thee the confidante of a fecret 
 
 * which
 
 The Inuifible SPY. 1 69 
 
 < which hitherto has never efcap'd my 
 own bofom , it is a (lory will very 
 
 * mach furprife thee ; but fee thou 
 
 * mark me. well, and be attentive to 
 
 * every particular I mall relate.* 
 
 Ifabinda. * You may be certain, fir, I 
 will be fo.' 
 
 Fiaminio. c Know then, that going 
 c into the country to take poffeflion of 
 that eftate which you have heard de- 
 
 * volved on me by the death of my uncle, 
 
 * I fell into the acquaintance of a young 
 ' lady in the neighbourhood, called 
 
 * Harriot ; fhe was handfome, I 
 ' had a heart entirely free, and I became, 
 ' as I then thought, violently in love 
 ' with her j but marriage being a thing 
 
 * of too ferious a nature to be agreeable 
 c to my inclinations at that time, the ad- 
 drefles I made to her were extremely 
 ' private ; fuch as they were, how- 
 ' ever, they fucceeded but too well ; and, 
 1 on my promifing to make her my wife, 
 e obtain'd all the gratification my paffion 
 
 * could require. 
 
 c Having finilh'd the bufmefs which 
 ' had brought me thither, I let out foon 
 4 after on my return to London \ Har- 
 ' riot took leave of me without much re- 
 
 VOL. I. I grct,
 
 170 The Inviftbk SPY. 
 
 c gret, being to follow in a few days, 
 
 * with her father and the whole family, 
 
 * the winter feafon coming on : on her 
 ' arrival (he fent me immediate notice, 
 ' and I provided a proper place for our 
 
 * private interviews, which were not fel- 
 
 * dom, my amorous defires being yet un- 
 fatiated. 
 
 Perhaps her youth, her beauty, and, 
 above all, the extreme tendernefs (he 
 
 * had for me, might have engag'd me 
 ' for a much longer time, had not the 
 
 * charms of your dear mother render' d 
 
 * all thofe of the whole fex befides con- 
 
 * temptible in my eyes : I ador'd her 
 
 * from the firft moment I beheld her, 
 
 * the flame me infpir'd me with was 
 
 * widely different from what I had ever 
 ' felt before ; marriage was no more a 
 
 * bugbear to me ; on the contrary, I 
 
 * burn'd, I languifh'd to be link'd in 
 ' thofe glorious bonds \yith a perfon of 
 ' fuch diftinguifh'd merit, and the means 
 
 * of attaining that felicity engrofs'd all 
 
 * my thoughts. 
 
 ' I now made a thoufand excufes to 
 c avoid meeting poor Harriot, and when 
 
 * her repeated follicitations drew me 
 fometimes to her, my behaviour was fo 
 
 * cool, fo chang'd from what it was, that 
 
 ' fhe
 
 *Ihe Itivifible SPY. 171 
 
 c (he could not but fee into the caufe ; 
 
 * in fine, me grew jealous, inquifitive, 
 ' and foon difcover'd my honourable at- 
 ' tachment. 
 
 e Tears, reproaches, and complaints, 
 
 * now furnifh'd me with a pretence to 
 ' quarrel ; I told her I would fee her 
 
 * no more, and indeed me put it out of 
 
 * my power to break my word ; for in three 
 ' days after we had parted in this manner 
 ' (he died, not without fome fufpicion 
 
 * of poifon, as I have heard it whifper'd j 
 c but whether Ihe had recourfe, in rea- 
 
 * lity, to any fuch defperate method to 
 
 * rid her of a life me was grown weary 
 6 of, or whether grief alone did the work 
 ' of fate, I know not ; but am but too 
 c certain, that however that might be, my 
 
 * ingratitude was the cruel caufe, though 
 ' fhe was too generous ever to declare it, 
 
 * and not one of all her numerous kindred 
 ' or acquaintance had the leaft intimation 
 
 * of the intercourfe had been between us, 
 
 The {hock I felt on the firft intelli- 
 
 * gence of this fad cataftrophe is incon- 
 
 * ceivable, and would doubtlefs have 
 made a lading impreffion on me, if the 
 
 * progrefs I every day made in my court- 
 Ihip to the object of my virtuous affeo 
 
 * tion, the gaining her confent to be 
 
 I 2 4 mine,
 
 172 The Itntfible SPY. 
 
 mine, our marriage, and the hurry of 
 ' pleafures attending that folemnity, had 
 
 * not too much taken up my heart to 
 
 * leave room for any other feniations than 
 
 * thofe of joy and tranfport. 
 
 c Events once obliterated from the 
 < mind, by others of greater confequence 
 ' to our happinefs, feldom or never re- 
 
 * cur to it again : a long fuccefllon of 
 
 * years pafs'd over without any remem- 
 1 brance of the unfortunate Harriot ; and 
 
 * it is but very lately that the thoughts of 
 
 * her have begun to trouble my repofe. . 
 
 * But heaven would not fuffer me to be 
 
 * always dead to a juft fenfibility of the 
 ' crime I had been guilty of ; not many 
 
 * nights ago, whether fleeping or awake I 
 ' cannot pretend to be pofitive, I faw, . 
 
 * at leaft J thought I faw, the figure of 
 
 * that injur'd woman {land by my bed- 
 
 * fide ; I heard her too, with a voice 
 
 * hollow, yet fonorous as an eccho, bid 
 
 * me repent, and attone for my paft 
 ' tranfgreffion.' tC How (hall I attone ! 
 " cry'd I." " Devote to heaven the 
 tc deareft thing you have on earth,' re- 
 ' ply'd the phantom, and in that inftant 
 
 * vaniih'd from my fight.
 
 The In^i/ibfe SPY. 173 
 
 * It is not pofiible for me to exprefo, 
 ' much lefs for you to conceive, the hor- 
 4 rors I fuflain'd after this amazing dream, 
 c or apparition, I know not which to 
 * call it; but am fmce convinced it was 
 4 no other than my guardian angel, who, 
 4 under the form of Harriot, inftructed 
 ' me how to attone for my crime ; 
 
 * and mould I neglect or difobey his 
 4 admonition, it would more than double 
 
 * my trangrcffion and fink mv foul down 
 4 to the loweft hell.' " Devote to heaven 
 " the deareft thing thou haft on earth/ 
 
 * the vifion faid. Now what have I 
 
 * on earth that is truly dear to me, ex- 
 4 cept your brother and yourfelf ? I 
 1 have examin'd well my heart, and find 
 
 * that of the two you fit the neareft there j 
 
 * it is you therefore, my Ifabinda, that 
 is ordain'd to be the facrifice ; and, like 
 4 faithful Abraham, I muft fubmit to lay 
 
 * my darling on the altar.* 
 
 Ifabinda. Oh, fir, you will not kill 
 
 * me!' 
 
 Flaminio. Kill thee, my child, ra- 
 1 ther would I fuffer this flefh of mine 
 ( to be torn with burning pincers, * 
 4 every limb diflocated, my breaft laid 
 ' open, and my panting heart expofed to 
 I 3 * public
 
 174 The Invifible SPY. 
 public view, than hurt the fmalleft part 
 of thy dear precious frame ; no, I 
 mean to prefent thee a living facrifice on 
 the altar of piety ; to confecrate thee to 
 the fervice of heaven, and to make thee, 
 while on earth, a companion for the 
 faints above ; in fine, my Ifabinda, 
 you muft be a nun.' 
 
 Ifabinda. * A nun, oh heavens !' 
 
 This poor young lady feem'd no lefs 
 terrified with the word nun than flie 
 had been with that of facrifice ; but 
 my Tablets being quiet full with the 
 converfation already recited, and my me- 
 mory a little treacherous, as I confefs'd 
 in the introduction to this work, I can 
 prefent the reader with no farther par- 
 ticulars on either fide-, all I can fay is, 
 that not all the obedience Ifabinda had 
 hitherto been praclifed in, nor all her 
 father's authority, nor the arguments he 
 urged, could either reconcile her to the 
 way of life he enjoin'd, or oblige her to 
 fubmit to it with any degree ol willing- 
 nefs ; and that her tears and intreaties 
 being equally in vain to make him re- 
 tede from the refolution he had taken, 
 he difmifs'd her from his prefence, telling 
 her, in a very angry tone, that he had 
 now done with perfuafions, and mould 
 
 take
 
 The Invifwk SPY. 175 
 
 take mcafures to bring her to her duty 
 more becoming his chara<5ter as a father. 
 
 cs*jr&Ri<&szs&^XM^^ 
 
 C II A P. III. 
 
 *fbe author finds mearn, tbo' with an 
 infinite deal of difficulty, to make a 
 difc every of firm part of tbt unhappy 
 conferences which immcdiatly at- 
 tended the cruel rtfelution Flamhiio 
 bad taken in regard to his daughter. 
 
 I '.Went no more to Flaminio's houfe 
 that day, the greateft part of it being 
 pafs'd in tranfcribing the difcourfe inferted 
 in the preceding chapter, and getting the 
 impreffion expung'd from my chriftaline 
 remembrancer : I did not fail, however, 
 to repair thither the next morning -, but 
 gain'd nothing by this vifit ; Flaminio 
 was abroad, Ifabinda alone in her cham- 
 ber, and the fervants, from whofe glib 
 tongues I might have expecled fomething 
 would tranfpire, were all bufied in their 
 feveral occupations, and feem'd to think 
 of nothing out of their own fphere. 
 
 I had never yet attempted to fee how 
 
 Lyfimor brook'd the late delays had been 
 
 I 4 given*
 
 176 'The Iwoifible SPY. 
 
 given to his intended nuptials, .fo 
 took it into my head to go ; a fervant, 
 who was carrying out a wig-box, gave 
 me an opportunity of flipping into the 
 houfe ; I found the old gentleman with 
 a letter in his hand, which feem'd to ex- 
 cite in him very great emotions , but 
 as he had juft nnilh'd the perufal as I 
 enter'd the room, and was putting it in- 
 to his pocket, I could not pofiibly know 
 any thing of the contends j. I was not, 
 however, long tmfatisfied \ Lyfimor was 
 retcrn'd from a morning walk he had 
 been taking, and enter'd a few moments 
 after ; he appear'd in little better hu- 
 mour than his rather, and, when he had 
 paid the ufual falutaion, fpoke in this 
 manner : 
 
 Lyfimor. Certainly, fir, fomething 
 very extraordinary muft have happen'd 
 to occafion this fudden change both in 
 Flaminio and his daughter , I have 
 been to enquire of her health this morn- 
 ing after being difappointed of feeing 
 her kft night, and have a fecond time 
 been deny'd accefs.* 
 
 Palher. ' I could have told you that, 
 * if I had known you had been there i 
 I have juft received a letter from Fla- 
 
 4 minio,
 
 The Invifible SPY. 177 
 
 c minio, fee what the old coxcomb 
 
 With thefe words he drew the letter he- 
 had been reading from his pocket and 
 threw it on a table, Lyfimor fnatch'd 
 it up with the greateft eagernefs, and 
 found the contents as follow : 
 
 "SIR, 
 
 ft A N over-ruling fate deprives me of 
 " -**> the honour of your alliance, and 
 " difpofes of my daughter in a different 
 " manner from what I once intended" j 
 " I muft therefore intreat your fen will 
 " make no future vifits at my houie, 
 " nor take any fteps to traverfe thofe 
 <c defigns which I am oblig'd to purfue 
 (t in relation to Ifabinda. 
 
 c As for yourfelf, fir, I hope you will 
 " impute this alteration in my con duel 
 " to what it really is, an unavoidable 
 ' necefllty, and not to want of refpeft 
 " in him, who in all things elfe wdujd 
 readily fubfcribe himfelf, 
 
 " Sir, 
 
 ** Your mofr humble, and 
 *' obedient fervant, 
 "' FLAM. 
 
 T^ 5 Surprife
 
 Inirifble SPY. 
 
 Surprife and refentment now feemed to 
 ftrive which fhould be mofl predominant 
 in the countenance of Lyfimor , he 
 ftampt, bit his lips, paufed a while, 
 then fpoke. 
 
 Lyjimor. This muft be madnefs, 
 
 * no man in his fenfes could pofiibly aft 
 
 * thus. What, after expreffing the 
 
 * higheft iatisfadion in the intended union 
 
 * between our families, after the war- 
 
 * meft profefiions of refpecl to you, fir, 
 
 * and of love to me, to affront both in fo 
 
 * grofs a manner, without the leaft caufe 
 ' given on our part > tis unaccountable, 
 
 * tis monftrous ; but I cannot think 
 
 * Ifabinda (hares in her father's frenfy.* 
 
 Father. ' Whatever (he does, it be- 
 
 * hoves you not to think on her at all ; 
 ' fooner would I have my family ex- 
 4 tincl, and my name perifh to eternity, 
 
 * than have a branch of that flem grafted 
 
 * on a tree of mine , and I fhould be 
 ' forry to find you mean-fpirited enough 
 
 * to retain a wifh that way.' 
 
 What reply Lyfimor would have made 
 I know not, tor the old gentleman was 
 call'd haftily out of the parlour to one 
 \yho waked for him in another room. 
 
 Lyfimor^
 
 The Invifible Se-'iT. 
 
 Lyfimor, when alone, fell into a deep' 
 mufing, in which he figh'd and frown'd 
 alternately, and feeni'd divided between 
 his love and his refentment ;- but what- 
 ever his thoughts were, he had not op- 
 portunity to indulge them ; a fervant 
 prefented him with a letter, which he faid 
 was brought by a porter, who defired it 
 might be given to his own hands, and 
 waited for an anfwer. 
 
 Lyfimor no fooner faw the characters 
 on the fuperfciption than the late palenefs 
 in his cheeks was converted into the moil 
 lively red ; he broke the feal with 
 trembling impatience and found it con- 
 tain'd thefe lines : 
 
 " DEAR SIR, 
 
 ^ at ^ er ' * n an unaccountable ca- 
 price, tears me from your arms,- 
 < and is refolutc to make me a nun , or 
 " rather a martyr of me. Prayers and 
 " tears are inefieclual to move him from 
 " his purpofe, I have try'd both in 
 * vain, and it is by flight alone I can 
 " avoid a fate more 'dreadful to me than 
 " all I can fuffer by abandoning his pro- 
 *' tection ; if you have compafiion, I 
 * c ir.uft not now fay love, aflift me in 
 " my efcape : 1 have made no inti- 
 ** macies, have no confidants on whom 
 I 6 I dare
 
 1 go 'The Invifible SPY. 
 
 " I dare rely in this diflra&ing exigence, 
 " and there remain not four and twenty 
 " hours between me and the impoffibility 
 * f of averting the doom that threatens me : 
 " I am at prefent a clofe prifoner in 
 66 my chamber, and to-morrow, early in 
 " the morning, am to take coach for 
 " Dover, thence to embark for Dunkirk, 
 " under the care of a pcrfon whofe vigi- 
 " lance I cannot hope to elude, and who 
 ' is not to quit my fight one moment 
 " till I am, beyond redemption, lodged 
 <c within the walls of a convent. A girl 
 " lately taken into the houfe, pitying my 
 ** diftrefs, has promifed to get this con- 
 vey'd to you, and alfo to greafe the 
 c hinges of the ftreet door, that I may 
 " go out with lefs noife when the family 
 " are all in bed, which I believe will 
 " be pretty early, as my father is too 
 f< much out of humour to fee any com- 
 " pany ; if you will take upon you the 
 " trouble to wait for me at the end of 
 " our ftreet, next the fquare, between 
 " the hours of twelve and one, and con- 
 *' duft me to fbme place where I may 
 * * be fecreted till the fearch, which doubt- 
 le lefs will be made after me, is over, I 
 *' iliall endeavour to earn a fubfiftence by 
 " fuch ways as I am capable of and for- 
 " tune mail prefent : if you ever truly 
 M loved me, you will not think this re- 
 
 * queft
 
 Invifible SPY. 181 
 
 <e qlieft too prefuming, but rather be forry 
 " for the fad accident that compels me 
 " to make it. I beg a line, in anfwer to 
 <s this, may inform me what I have to 
 ** depend upon from your good- nature, 
 " and what hope- remains, 
 
 " For the forlorn, 
 
 c And molt wretched 
 
 <c ISABINDA. 
 
 The lover appear' d extremely touch'd 
 with this melancholy epiftle, and when 
 he had finiJh'd threw his arms acrofs his 
 breaft, and cry'd out, 
 
 Lyfimor. Poor Ifabinda, what das- 
 mon has taken pofleffion of her father's 
 brain ! but I fhould be even yet 
 more cruel to refufe the affiftance (he 
 implores. No, love, honour, and 
 generofity forbid it ; whatever fhall 
 be the confequence I muft, I will 
 defend her from the fate fhe dreads.' 
 
 He then call'd his footman, and bid 
 him order the perfon who had brought 
 this letter to wait for an anfwer at fome 
 diftance from the houfe, left his father 
 Ihould happen to fee him, and be inqui- 
 fitive from whom, and on what bufmefs 
 he came* 
 
 Having
 
 182 We Invffile SPY. 
 
 Having given thefe inftructions, he ran 
 haftily up into his chamber, where I 
 follow'd, and faw him fit down to his 
 buroe and write in thefe terms : 
 
 To ISABINDA. 
 
 " My for ever dear ISABINDA, 
 
 " VI /Hatever are my fufFerings in this 
 VV unexpected turn of our affairs, I 
 " cannot be wholly unhappy while I 
 " know you have had no part in the in- 
 " fiicting them. Why do you unkindly 
 " make that a requefl, which you ought 
 *' to be convinced you might command 
 '* from my affection ? 1 have devoted 
 ** myfelf entirely to your lervice ; and 
 " no change of circumftances can ever 
 " make me withdraw a heart attracted 
 " by fo much beauty, and confirm'd in 
 ' its choice by fo much merit. r Yes, my 
 " charming Ifabinda, I am unalterably 
 *' yours; and you may depend upon my 
 ** love and honour for every thing you 
 * either do, or mail hereafter {land in 
 <c need of: I (hall employ this day in 
 " procuring a proper place for your re- 
 44 ception , and mail anticipate the hours 
 * l you mention to watch for your en- 
 64 largement, which I pray heaven to 
 
 " facilitate,
 
 Invifilh SPY. 183 
 
 " facilitate, and bring you faie to the 
 " arms of, 
 
 " My dearefl Ifabinda, 
 *' Your ever faithful and 
 *' Moft conftant adorer, 
 " LYSIMOR. 
 
 He had but juft difpatch'd this when 
 his father came into the room, and with 
 a voice and air vaftly different from what 
 lie had a few minutes before affumed, 
 fpoke to him in thefe terms : 
 
 Father. c I believe, fon, I have inter- 
 rupted your drefling ; but no matter, 
 I bring you news to confole you 
 for the lofs of your late miftrefs , my 
 old friend, mr. Countwell, the banker, 
 has been with me ; his fair charge, 
 Emilia, comes to town next week, and 
 he has ofFer*d, for a fmall premium, to 
 make up a match between you ; he 
 afllires me me is a moft lovely young 
 creature, is entirely independent of 
 any one, and has twenty thoufand 
 pounds in her pocket, which is more 
 than double the fortune you mould 
 have had with the daughter of that foal 
 Flaminio/ 
 
 Lyftmcr*
 
 "i 84 The Invifible SPY. 
 
 Lyjimcr. c I am greatly indebted to 
 your goodnefs, fir, and to the confidc- 
 ration mr. Countwell has of me , but, 
 fir, you know I have long lov'd Ua- 
 binda, and you muft give my heart 
 feme time to wean itfelf from its former 
 attachment.' 
 
 Father. Pfhaw, one woman, like 
 
 * one nail, will drive out the thoughts of 
 
 * another , your heart muft be ftrange*- 
 ly ftupified, if it does not dance to the 
 mufic of twenty thoufand pounds : 
 
 * remember, fon, the eftate you are to en- 
 
 * joy at my deceafe does not amount to 
 ' quite fixteen hundred pounds per an- 
 num ; and that I have been obliged to 
 4 mortgage fome part -of it, to difcharge 
 the debts your extravagant elder brother 
 contracted before he died 5 Emilia's 
 'fortune will retrieve all. Well, the 
 
 * breaking off your match with Ifabincla 
 4 is the moft lucky thing that could have 
 
 * happen'd. 
 
 * But, fir, we cannot be fure 
 ' that the young lady will approve my 
 fuit.' 
 
 Father. Mr. Countwell' will manage 
 . ' that, he is a ftirewd man, he 
 
 4 knows
 
 Invtfible SPY. 185 
 
 knows what he does, and will under- 
 take nothing without performing it : 
 you have only to fay a few fine things 
 to Emilia, which you know well enough 
 how to do, when once you get Ifabinda 
 out of your head.' 
 
 Lyfimor. ' Sir I mall ufe my beft en- 
 deavours to obey you in every thing.* 
 
 Father. c That is well faid ; I want 
 no obedience but what is for your own 
 intereft, and will leave you to reflect 
 how many charms there are in twenty 
 thoufand pounds, and then you will 
 fall in love with the fortune, whether 
 ever you do fo with the lady or not.' 
 
 This converfation being ended, I re- 
 collected that I had fome affairs of my 
 own to difpatch, and began to think of 
 retiring , but was prevented by Lyfimor, 
 who walking in a continued and very 
 hafty motion about the room, obliged 
 me to keep clofe in the corner where I 
 had placed myfelf, and not venture to 
 flir left he mould rum againft me : at 
 firft I was a little vex'd at this confine- 
 ment ; but afterwards rejoiced heartily at 
 it, as it gave me an opportunity of 
 making a difcovery which otherwife, per- 
 haps,
 
 1 86 
 
 haps, I mould have found much mere 
 difficult to attain. 
 
 Lyfimor, after ruminating for a confider- 
 able time, rung the bell for his footman, 
 who, on his entrance, received for his firft 
 command to (hut the door , that done, 
 he made no fcruple to inform the fellow, 
 who I foon found was in all his fecrets, 
 of the concern he was in for Ifabinda ; 
 the promife he had given of taking her 
 under his protection , and the vexation 
 he was in to find a proper lodging for 
 her, fo that his father might r.ot fufptct 
 he had any hand in her efcape, nor her 
 own be able to difcover where flie was 
 concealed. 
 
 To this the man, after a pretty long 
 paufe, reply'd, that he had a fitter who 
 was a widow, and lived in a very remote 
 and obfcure part of the town -, that her 
 houfe was clean, tho' fmall ; that her 
 family confided only of herfelf, an infant 
 fucking at her breaft, and a country girl 
 who did the bufmefs of a fervant -, and 
 added, that if the lady could content her- 
 felf with fo mean an abode, he was cer- 
 tain me might remain there concealed as 
 long as Ihe mould think fit. 
 
 Lyfimor
 
 tte Invffilt Sf*. 187 
 
 Lyfimor feem'd overjoy'd at this pro- 
 pofal, and bid him go directly to his 
 fifter, apprife her of the affair as far as 
 it was necefiary, and give her a find 
 charge to prepare every thing in as decent 
 a manner as me could for the reception 
 of her fair gueft. 
 
 The fellow went to execute his com- 
 miflion, and I flid foftly round the room 
 till I got to the door and follow'd him j 
 but not to the place where he was going v 
 for having already found, by the difcourfe 
 he had with his matter, the name an-d fi 
 tuation of the ftreet, I had no bufmefs to 
 take fo long a walk, till ibmething more 
 material than the bare fight of it excited 
 my curiofity. 
 
 Lyfimor himfelf, however, was not 
 more punctual to the time appointed by 
 Ifabinda than I was to know the iffue of 
 this adventure ; it wanted fome minutes 
 of twelve when I arrived at the corner of 
 the fquare, and had but juft pofted myfelf 
 under a lamp, when I faw Lyfimor come 
 muffled up in his cloak, and attended by 
 his fervant. 
 
 We had not waited above a quarter of 
 an hour before we faw Ifabiuda fleal out of 
 
 her
 
 1 88 
 
 her father's houfe, with a bundle under 
 her arm almoft as big as herfelf ; Ly- 
 fimor, perceiving how fhe was loaded, 
 made his man haften to eafe her of it ; 
 after which fhe rather flew than ran into 
 the arms of her deliverer, for ib fhe call'd 
 him, adding, ' Oh can you pardon 
 ' the trouble I have given you ! To 
 which he reply'd, ' Ca-11 not that a 
 ' trouble which I mall always look upon 
 * as the greateft happinefs of my life/ 
 
 I could hear diftinctly little more of 
 what they faid to each other, the foot- 
 man being between us : they walk'd 
 very faft through the fquarc, and down a 
 ftreet which turned from it, where a 
 hackney-coach waited to receive them, and, 
 as foon as they were enter'd, drove away 
 with all imaginable fpeed : I had neither 
 the will nor the power to purfue them, 
 return'd home to reflect at leifure on the 
 paflages I had been witnefs of. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 Tloe Invifible SPY. 189 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 Contains feme farther and more inte- 
 rejling particulars of this adventure, 
 and flews that people, by flying from 
 one thing 'which they think would be 
 a misfortune, often run into others 
 of a nature much more to be dreaded. 
 
 MUCH as I had condemned Fla- 
 minio for his bigotted fuperftition, I 
 could not wholly abfolve Ifabinda for the 
 flep fhe had taken ; I wonder'd not 
 that fhe was fearful of being forced into 
 a ftate of life which few ladies of her 
 years would chufe ; but I wonder'd that 
 fhe was not alfo fearful of putting herfelf 
 into the power of a man who loved her, 
 and whom fhe paflionately loved ; fhe 
 muft certainly either not have confider'd 
 the dangers to which fhe might be ex- 
 pofed, or have depended too much on 
 the ftrength of her own virtue. 
 
 Befides, fhe could not be fo ignorant as 
 not to know that no woman can be made 
 a nun, any more than fhe can be made a 
 wife, againft her will ; and a kfs fhare of 
 
 courage
 
 190 3*be Iwvifille S p Y. 
 
 courage than me fhew'd in this midnight 
 elopement would have enabled her, on 
 her entrance within the walls of the con- 
 vent, to declare fhe had neither call nor 
 inclination to receive the veil, on which 
 neither the abbefs nor the bifhop of the 
 diocefs could have confented to her ad- 
 miflion into holy orders. 
 
 It is true, that her father might have 
 confined her there a penfioner as long as 
 he thought fit ; but as this would not 
 have anfwer'd his end in devoting her to 
 the fervice of the church, by way of pro- 
 pitiation for his offences, there is no 
 doubt to be made but that he would 
 fhortly have recall'd her home ; and, 
 perhaps too, been convinced of his folly in 
 attempting a thing fo abfurd in itfelf, as 
 well as cruel to his daughter. 
 
 I am fenfible that many of my fair 
 young readers will be apt to quarrel with 
 me for my animadverfions on Ifabinda's 
 conduct in this point, and cry out, if 
 they were in her place they would do the 
 fame ; it is very likely, indeed, that they 
 would do fo, and full as likely that they 
 would meet with fomething to make them 
 heartily repent of their inadvertency. 
 
 There
 
 The Invifible SPY. 191 
 
 There are others again, who will fay, 
 that they can have no companion tor 
 whatever misfortunes may befal a girl 
 who thus ralhly throws herfelf under the 
 protection of a man not akin to her , but 
 I believe the number of thofe who are 
 fo hard-hearted will be very few, except 
 fome profeft prudes, who exclaim violent- 
 ly againft the lead mifconduct in public, 
 yet make no fcruple of giving themfelves 
 the greateft loofe in private. 
 
 However, as people never were, nor 
 ever will be all of the fame way of think- 
 ing, it would doubtlefs have been the 
 moft prudent in me, not to incur the 
 ill-will of any, to have conceal* d my 
 fentiments on this matter, and left every 
 one to judge as they pleafed : I have 
 been fomething too open, I confefs, and 
 tho' my difmclination to wafle paper will 
 not permit me to blot out what I have 
 already faid, I promife to be hereafter 
 more circumfpect, and confine myfelf to 
 the bare recital of fuch facts as mail come 
 within my cognizance, without preten- 
 ding to intrude my own opinion on the 
 motives which occafion'd them. 
 
 To return, therefore, to the melan- 
 choly detail I am now upon j having 
 
 little
 
 192 The Trruifible SPY. 
 
 little to do with my time the next morn- 
 ing, I went to the houfe where I knew 
 Ifabinda was placed for flicker from her 
 father's power ; I gain'd an eafy accefs, 
 the door being open, as is generally the 
 cuftom in mean houfes : on my going 
 up flairs I found the unhappy beauty 
 fitting in a very penfive pofture, leaning 
 her head againft the corner of a cup- 
 board, which I fuppofe ferv'd her for a 
 larder, for I faw a fmall flice of butter 
 and the remains of a halfpenny roll lying 
 on a coarfe earthen plate ; frequent fighs 
 ifTued from her breaft, and fome tears 
 fell from hfr lovely eyes : ftrange, in- 
 deed, would it have been if a young lady, 
 bred up in all the delicacies of life, could 
 have worn a chearful countenance in fuch 
 a change of fituation -, tho' as the fellow 
 had told his mafter, the room and all the 
 furniture it contain'd was extremely clean, 
 and fhew'd the houfewifry of the owner, 
 yet nothing could have more the face of 
 poverty. 
 
 She feem'd buried, as it were, in a pro- 
 found contemplation, when the found of 
 fomebody coming up the (tairs made her 
 raife her head a little, probably guef- 
 fing from whom it proceeded, Lyfimor 
 pKefently appear'd, and, on fight of him, 
 a dawn of joy overfpread her face ; he 
 
 ran
 
 Invijille SPY. 19} 
 
 ran to her, embraced her, and faid the 
 rooft tender tilings, intermix'd with fome 
 expreflions of concern, that the neccflity 
 of her being conceal'd left him not the 
 power of providing a place for her more 
 iuitable to her merit and his affection ; 
 fhe could not now reftrain her tears from 
 flowing, which occafion'd the following 
 difcourfe : 
 
 Ifabinda. * Ah, Lyfimor, I beg you 
 will not talk to me in this manner ; 
 but rather ufe all your rhetoric to affift 
 my weak endeavours to fuit my humour 
 to my condition : to be eafy, I muft 
 forget what I have been, and wifli to 
 be no more than what I am.' 
 
 Lyfimor. You never can be other 
 than the moft charming and moil 
 worthy of your fex.' . 
 
 Jfabinda. * Alas, I have no longer any 
 pretence to compliments like thefe ; I 
 6 have now, as the poet fays,' 
 
 No name, no family to call my own, 
 But am an out-caft, and a vagabond. 
 
 e As fuch I mud hereafter live-, and 
 "* that I may lole all remembrance of my 
 * former ftate, I have brought away my 
 
 VOL. L K iewels
 
 1-94 ^e Invifible SPY. 
 
 * jewels and beft apparel, for no other 
 -* end than to difpoie of them, and pur- 
 
 4 chafe others more conformable to my 
 <* future circumftances.' 
 
 Lyfmor. ' Torture not thus a heart to 
 which you are dear.er than the vital 
 biood that gives it motion. Can you 
 believe I would fuffer you to part with 
 any of thofe appendixes to your birth 
 and rank ? no, I would rather add 
 to them. Do you not know that my 
 whole fortune is .at your devotion ?' 
 
 Ifabinda. ' I muft not, fir, accept it.' 
 
 fyfimor. .' Why not accept ? too fcru- 
 
 ' pulous Ifabinda ! But if you are 
 
 * above receiving the tribute of a lover, 
 
 * command whatever you may have oc- 
 
 * cafion for on the fcore of a brother ; 
 
 * my dear Adario, I know, will readily 
 * discharge the obligation.' 
 
 Ifabinda. * I am fure he will ; and, 
 
 * on that condition, if Providence pre- 
 
 * fents no other way for my fuppoit, 
 *" will not refufe your generous offer.' 
 
 Lyfimor. ' Think then no more of 
 
 * -fubmitting to any thing unworthy of 
 f your character -, I flatter myfelt our 
 
 * mis-
 
 Ibe Itrvtfible SPY. 195 
 
 misfortunes are not of long contiunance -, . 
 that your father will repent him ot" 
 his cruel refolution, and mine forge-t 
 the affront ofter'd to his family, and 
 we may yet be happy.' 
 
 Ifabinda. ' I dare not entertain a hope 
 fo diftant.* 
 
 Lyfimor. < You know not how pro- 
 
 * phetic my paffion may prove -, in the* 
 c mean time I mould be glad, methinks, 
 ' to be made acquainted with the motive 
 6 that has caufed this fudden revolution 
 
 * in our fate.' 
 
 Ifabinda. c Tho' I am loth to expofe 
 e the fecrets, I might fay the follies, of 
 
 * a father, yet I can refule you no- 
 ' thing.' 
 
 Perceiving now that me was prepariog 
 herfelf to make a detail of thofe particu- 
 lars I had heard before, and in a prece- 
 ding chapter have communicated to the 
 reader, I would not flay to hear a fecond 
 repetition, but came away and left the 
 lovers together for that time. 
 
 From thence I went to the houfe of 
 
 Flaminio, where I found, as I expected, 
 
 every thing in diffraction ; meflengers 
 
 K 2 running
 
 a g6 *Fbe Invifbk SPY. 
 
 ^running backwards and forwards j fomc 
 .returning from their fruitlefs fearch of 
 liabinda, others going to places where 
 they had not before been fent ; and the 
 ~oJd gentleman himfelf fb- overcome with 
 jage and grief, that he was fcarce capable 
 .ot giving the .necefiary orders for what 
 'Jie.moft defired. 
 
 Some 'Other adventures, winch I fnall 
 thereafter publiih, then falling in my way, 
 "I had no -leifure to ./make a fecond vifit 
 to Ifebinda for the fpace of near three 
 -weeks ; . but how mail I exprefs my 
 .concern for that unfortunate 'young lady, 
 when on my going thither I found her in 
 che manner I did ; and that all the ap- 
 
 frehenfions I had been in on her account 
 a,d but too folid a foundation ? 
 
 When wild defire prefides over the 
 'heart of man, what is his boafted ho- 
 nour ?. what his virtue? what his re- 
 gard for the .happinefs and reputation of 
 the woman -he pretends to love ? all 
 ihadowy nothing, vain ideas, which, 
 like the Sybil's words wrote on the leaves 
 of trees, are blown off and fcatter'd 
 thro' the air with every guft of paffion ; 
 fcxut to proceed, 
 
 No
 
 Invifilk S P v. 1 97' 
 
 No obstruction being in rriy way, I 
 pals' d directly up to Ifabinda's chamber ; 
 but, finding the door faft Jock'd, began 
 to imagine Hie was either removed or had 
 ventured out to take the air, and was' 
 going down again, when I was prevented 
 by the murmuring found of peribns talk- 
 ing within ; I then put my car clofe to 
 Che key-hole; and" eafily knew the voices 
 to be thofe of Lyfimor and Ifabinda ; on 
 which I refolved to wait till the door 
 mould be open'd, and in about three or 
 four minutes after the woman of the houfe 
 came up with two dimes of chocolate and 
 fome bifcuits on a plate ; me had the 
 key in her pocket, and immediately gave 
 entrance to me as well as herfelf, 
 
 It was now more than pan; mid-day, 
 yet Ifabinda had not left her bed, Ly- 
 fimor was fitting on the fide of it as 
 lately rifen, having both his feet on a 
 chair, without either fhoes or flippers : 
 I was a little furprifed at feeing him in? 
 this pofture, till the" chocolate being fer-- 
 ved, he faid to the woman, 
 
 Lyfimor. ' Has Jeffery prepared my 
 * boots,, as I directed laft rright ?' 
 
 K 3 Woman \
 
 198 T'he Invifille SPY'. 
 
 Woman. ' Yes, an pleafe your honour, 
 
 * he has fo befplafh'd them, and made 
 ' the horfe's heels To dirty, that one 
 ' would fwear they had come a journey 
 
 * of twenty miles at leaft this morning. 
 
 r. * That's right ; it would 
 c have been ridiculous, after telling my 
 ' fs^b^r tlint I Vi'iiS ^013 ** en a, Huntins* 
 ' match with fome gentlemen, to have 
 
 * come home as clean as out of a lady's 
 ' bed-chamber, and perhaps made the 
 ' old gentleman fufpeft fome part of the 
 c .truth : but go and bid Jeffery bring 
 
 * up the boots,* 
 
 Ly Timor fpoke this with a very gay 
 air ; but Ifabinda hung down her head, 
 and on the fellow's coming in hid her 
 face behind the curtain, nor utter'd a 
 fyllable while he was in the rcom, which 
 was no longer than to equip his mafter 
 for departure. 
 
 Lyfimor was no fooner ready, and his 
 fervant withdrawn, than he approach'd 
 the bed and began to take his leave of 
 ' Jfabinda with a very tender embrace, ac- 
 company'd with fome loft words ; me 
 made no other reply for a confiderable 
 
 time
 
 The Invifible SPY. 199 
 
 time than returning his carefTes , but ac 
 laft broke out into thefe expreffions : 
 
 Ifabinda. ' Ah, Lyfimor, fhoufd you 
 
 * forget your vows, defpife the con- 
 c ' queft you have gain'd, and leave me to 
 ' lament my eafy faith, how miferable, 
 ' how abandon'd beyond the power of 
 
 * words to exprefs, would be the condi- 
 ' tion of your Ifabinda!' 
 
 Lyfimor. < Unkind and caufelefs ap- 
 
 * prehenfion ! My deareft love> let not 
 4 the thoughts of fuch impoffibilities 
 ' difturb your gentle breaft ; could I 
 
 * be ungrateful, after being made happy 
 f in this proof of your affedion, I muft 
 be loft to all fenfe of honour, un- 
 c worthy of the name of man, and even 
 
 * to breathe vital air.' 
 
 Ifab:nda. Well then, I muft, 
 c I will believe you, nor repent what 
 1 I have done ; but tell me, when will 
 ' you come again ?' 
 
 Lyfimor. ' To-morrow, if I can ; 
 4 if not, you may depend on feeing me 
 ' next day ; be afiured that every hour 
 
 * will feern an age to me till 1 renew my 
 joys : farewel, thou fofteft, lovelieft 
 
 * of thy fex.' 
 
 K 4 H&
 
 coo ?&e Imifible 
 
 He went, but, as I then fancy'd, with 
 more the air of triumph than of real 
 tendernefs or refpcct in his deportment ; 
 Ifubinda then call'd for the woman of 
 the houfe to afTifl her in rifing, and I left 
 the place with a heart full of forebodings 
 for her future fate ; indeed I truly pitied 
 the ruin'd maid, and wifti'd fhe never 
 might have occafion to cry out with Mo- 
 nimia in the tragedy : 
 
 . How often has he fwcrrr 
 
 *- Nature mould change, the fun and 
 
 * ftars grow dark, 
 
 * E'rc he would falfify his vows to me ? 
 * Make hafte, confufion chen i fun 
 
 4 lofe thy light, 
 4 And ftars drop down with forrow to 
 
 6 the earth, 
 4 For he is falfe ; 
 
 * Falfe as the winds, the water,, or the 
 
 * weather ; 
 
 * Cruel as Tigers o'er their trembling 
 
 * prey : 
 
 ' I feel him in my breaft, he tears 
 
 * my heart, 
 
 1 And at each figh he drinks the gufh- 
 4 in blood.' 
 
 
 My curiofity having received this pain- 
 ful fatisfaction, I imagined not that any 
 
 farther
 
 Tie Invifille SPY. 201' 
 
 farther difcoveries, at leaft that would be 
 material enough to compcnfate for the 
 trouble I mould take, could be made in 
 relation to thefe lovers, and therefore 
 thought of returning no more, either to 
 the apartment of Ifabinda, or to the houie 
 of Lyfimor. 
 
 I mould, indeed, have endeavour' d to ; 
 lofe all memory of this unhappy tranf- 
 action, if the talk of the town 'had 'not 
 continually reminded me of it j every 
 one was full of Ifabinda's flight ; few, 
 if any befides myfelf, were acquainted 
 with the motive of it ; and none knew to 
 what place me was retrr'd : and the 
 perfect ignorance people were in on both i 
 thefe fcores occafion'd various conjectures, . 
 and rendered the wonder much more lafi> 
 ing than otherwife it would have been. - 
 
 But this was not all; Flarninid, ' 
 pierced through with grief and ind igni- 
 tion on not being able to find his daugh- 
 - ter , and perhaps too with fome- m'mure 
 of remorfe for the caufe he had given her 
 to leave him, fell into a violent fever, of 
 which he died, after languiming fome 
 days. 
 
 By his laft teftament he bequeath'd to- 1 
 his daughter, if ever me mould be found, 
 K 5 the--
 
 202 Ihe Invifible 
 
 the fum of three thoufand pounds, in 
 order, as he caufed it to be exprefs'd in 
 the writing, to keep her above the con- 
 tempt of the world ; and likewife, by the 
 fmallnefs of the portion, to keep her in 
 perpetual remembrance of the falfe ftep 
 ihe had taken. 
 
 Soon after this I received certain in- 
 telligence, that Lyfimor was making his 
 public a. dreffes to a fine young lady with 
 a very large fortune -, I doubted not 
 but this was that fame Emilia whom I had 
 heard his father fo ftrongly recommend, 
 .and was fired with the utmoft impatience 
 to fee how poor Ifabinda would behave 
 on both thefe events ; accordingly I went 
 once more to the houfe where Ihe had 
 been concealed ; but, to my great difap- 
 pointment, found me was gone from 
 thence ; nor could all my fearch, joined 
 with the ailiftance of my Invifible Belt, 
 enable me, for fome time, to difcover to 
 what part of the town or country me was 
 removed. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 The Iwwflble Spy. 20 v 
 
 C II A P. V. 
 
 Completes the cataftrophe of this truly 
 traical adventure. 
 
 
 AD A R I O had proceeded on his 
 travels no farther than Paris, when 
 the account of his father's death oblig'd 
 him to return to England with all poi- 
 fible expedition : foon after his coming 
 J made an unfeen vifit at his houfe, where 
 I found him, not like mod young heirs, 
 exulting in being the entire matter of him- 
 felf and fortune, and contriving in what 
 kind of luxuries he mould difpofe of 
 both, but full of the mod fincere and un-? 
 affected forrow. 
 
 He was, indeed, one of thofe few fons 
 who look on the porTeffion of an eftate as 
 no equivalent for the lofs of a good pa- 
 rent, fuch as Flaminio ever had been ro 
 both his children, till that fatal caprice 
 which drove his daughter from his pro- 
 tection, had brought on her undoing, 
 his own death, and was the fource of 
 other calamities of a yet more dreadful 
 nature, as will prefently appear, 
 
 K 6 Tlfe
 
 2O4 *& Iimflbk S P r. 
 
 The fcory of Ifabinda's elopement, and 
 the uncertainty what fate had fmce at- 
 tended her, was a matter of great affliction 
 to this young gentleman ; he loved his 
 fiftvr with a very tender affection, and had 
 hoped to have feen her by this time mar- 
 ried to Lyfimor ; but as his efteem for that 
 friend was no way leffen'd by the match 
 being broke off; and befides, expecting 
 to be better inform'd by him of the par- 
 ticulars of that affair, than he could be 
 by any other perfon, he was impatient to 
 fee him, and I found had fent him that 
 morning notice of his arrival ; for a letter, 
 in anfwer to his mefllige, was delivered to 
 him while I was there, the contents where- 
 of were thefe : 
 
 To ADARIO. 
 
 S 1 R, 
 
 * T Congratulate your fafe return to 
 ' <* England, and mould gladly have 
 ** paid my compliments to you in perfon, 
 * if that honour had not been prohibited 
 '* by an authority which I mult not pre- 
 ** fume to contend with ; my father, 
 * c refeming the affront given by yours, 
 44 which you cannot but have been in- 
 ** form'd of, has forbid me, usder the 
 "penalty of his eternal difpleafure, to 
 
 " converfe
 
 Invijible SPY. 205 
 
 c * converfe with any of your family ; 
 *' he was at home when your fervant 
 " came, and heard the meflage you fent 
 " deliver'd to me, on which he repeated 
 t{ his former injunction, and exadled a 
 " folemn oath of my obedience to it ; 
 " you will therefore pardon my not wait- 
 " ing on you, and believe that the difcon- 
 " tinuance of our acquaintance will al- 
 " ways be extremely regretted by him 
 " who is, 
 
 " With all due refped, 
 
 " SIR, 
 
 Your moft humble and'. 
 46 Moft obedient fervant; 
 " LYSIMOR." 
 
 ' Alas,' cried Adario, throwing the 
 letter from him as foon as he had read it, 
 how cold, how difcant is the air of this 
 letter, how different from thofe I have 
 been accuftom'd to receive from Ly- 
 fimor ! I find that by one unlucky 
 accident I have at once loft a father, a 
 fifter, and a friend.' 
 
 This epiftle feem'd to increafe his me- 
 fancholy, and he fat in a deep refvery till 
 the entrance of fome perfons roufecl him 
 from it, and I quitted the houfe, per- 
 ceiving
 
 2o6 The Iwolfible S p v. 
 
 ceiving they were only tenants, and came 
 on bufmefs relating to the eftate, into 
 which I had no curiofity to enquire. 
 
 I thought that I had now entirely 
 done with this family j for as Ifabinda 
 was not to be found, I expected nothing 
 of confequence could be learn'd either at 
 the houfe of Lyfimor or Adario, ib in- 
 tended to make no more vifits to thofe 
 gentlemen j chance, however, about 
 five months afterwards, changed my re- 
 folution, and threw fomething in my 
 way which no diligence of my own could 
 ever- have attain'd. 
 
 As I was going one morning on my 
 Invifible Progreflion 1 happen'd to pafs 
 by the houfe of Adario, he was at the 
 door, and about to flep into a hackney- 
 coach which waited for him, when a fel- 
 low, who had the appearance of a groom, . 
 came running towards him, almoft breath- 
 lefs with the hafte he had made, -and 
 cry'd out, 'Oh, fir, I have joyful 
 c news for you ; I beg your honour 
 
 * will turn back and hear it,' Thefe 
 
 words reviv'd all my former curiofity, 
 and, finding Adario comply'd with his 
 fervant's requeft, I follow'd them into the 
 parlour, and was witnefs of the enfuing 
 difcourfe : 
 
 Groom,
 
 The Invlfible SPY. 207 
 
 Groom. * Oh, fir, I have feen my 
 
 * young lady.' 
 
 Adarlo. ' What young lady ? Not 
 my fitter i' 
 
 Groom. ' Yes, indeed fir ; as I 
 ' was going to fetch the horfe your ho- 
 
 * nour fent me for, I faw madam Ifabinda 
 
 * looking through the window of a houfe 
 
 * at the corner of a little lane jult by 
 ' Iflington.' 
 
 Adarlo. ' Are you fure it was me ? 
 
 Groom. c As fure as I am alirc, fir ; 
 though, poor lady, fhe is much 
 
 * alter'd, very thin and pale. 
 
 Adar'n. I fancy you are miftaken ^ 
 if my fitter were fo near London, 
 fhe would certainly either have fent or 
 come to claim the legacy left her by 
 my father, which I fuppofe fhe has 
 need enough of by this time ; I am 
 refolved to be convinced notwithftand- 
 ing. Do you think fhe lodges there ? 
 
 Groom. * Yes, fir, for fhe was all un- 
 
 * drefs'd, and look'd as if fhe was juft 
 out of bed.' 
 
 Adarlo,
 
 'so 8 Vhe 
 
 Adario. < And can you know the 
 houfe again ?* 
 
 Groom. ' O, yes, fir , I took par- 
 ' ticular notice of it ; there is a pretty 
 ' big area before it, with a hatch painted 
 * brown, and an high tree on each fide.' 
 
 Adar'w. * Well then, I will only 
 fend an excufe to the gentleman I was 
 to meet this morning, and go directly 
 thither ; you Iriall get up in the 
 coach-box and order the fellow where 
 to drive , but let him flop fhort of 
 the houfe, that my fifter, if it be fhe, 
 may not be apprifed of my coming be- 
 fore fhe fees me.' 
 
 While Adario was calling one of his 
 footmen to fend on the mefTage he had 
 menticn'd, I ran to the end of the ftreet, 
 went into a narrow dark paflage, and 
 pluck' d off my Belt ; then, having re- 
 covered the appearance of what I am, a 
 real fubftance, I popt into an empty 
 coach that had juft let down a fare, bid 
 the driver to follow wherever that went 
 which he faw (landing at Adario's door. . 
 
 Both the coaches drove with fuch fpeed 
 that we foon rcach'd the end of onr little 
 
 journey -,
 
 'The Irwifible S p V. 209 
 
 journey ; I quitted my vehicle the mo- 
 ment I faw the other preparing' to flop ; 
 but tho* I made all imaginable hafte to 
 put on my Belt, I could fcarce have re- 
 gain'd my Invifibility time enough to' 
 have enter'd with Adario, if he had not 
 met with an obftruclion in his pafTage 
 from the woman of the houfe, who at 
 firft deny'd me had any lady lodgM" with* 
 her i then faid, me had none of the 
 Rame he cnquir*d for ; orr which he 
 peply'd with ibme heat, that the lady 
 might have reafbns for concealing her 
 real name; * But tell her, cry'd he, 
 
 * that mine is Adario ; that I am her 
 
 * brother, and muft needs fee her.' On 
 this me feem'd fomewhat more compli- 
 able, and faid me would go and acquaint 
 the lady ; accordingly me went up 
 ftairs j but Adario was too impatient to 
 wait her return, and follow'd her directly, 
 1 was but one ftep behind him, and 
 we were both in the room before fhe 
 could deliver any part of her meifage. 
 
 Ifabinda was adjufting fomething about 
 her drefs before a looking-glafs ; but hap- 
 pening to turn her head juft as Adario 
 was within the door, fhriek'd out, 
 
 * Oh heavens, my brother ! ' and with 
 thefe words fell back in her chair. 
 
 The
 
 2 1 o The Invifble SPY. 
 
 The woman went to fetch fome water, 
 Adario ran to fupport the fainting 
 fair ; but happening to can: his eyes upon 
 the table faw a letter lying there, the fu- 
 perfcription of which was in Ifabinda's 
 hand, and addrefs'd to Lyfimor j emo- 
 tions more flrong than pity at this time, 
 made him quit his fitter to examine the 
 contents of this furprifing billet, which 
 were thefe : 
 
 To LYSIMOR. 
 
 Q My dear, dear LYSIMOR, 
 
 JC7 O R fuch you are, and ever mud 
 
 be to my fond doating heart ; tho* 
 
 '". I have too much caufc to fear the ten- 
 
 " der epithet is now no longer pleafing 
 
 to you. Ah, Lyfimor, how fad is 
 
 ;( the reverfe of my condition ! from 
 
 : feeing you twice or thrice every week, 
 
 * I now fee you not once a month , 
 
 <c and even then how cold is your be- 
 
 " haviour ? how fliort your vifits ? 
 
 c how cruel is this to one who neither 
 
 c< can, nor wifbes to enjoy any convcr- 
 
 '' fation but yours ? For pity's fake, 
 
 ' if not for love, render my life more 
 
 " eafy, at lead for the prefent, whatever 
 
 :< you do hereafter ; the infant I carry 
 
 ** within me fimpathifes in its mother's 
 
 ' " anguiih,
 
 The Invifible SPY. 211 
 
 5< anguift), and continually upbraids you 
 tc ,,\vith convulfive heavings : even if 
 t; your vows of everlafting conftancy 
 ct Ihould be forgot, let fome confidera- 
 " tion of the unborn innocent, the pledge 
 " of our once mutual loves, oblige you 
 " to treat with lefs indifference its un- 
 " happy mother, 
 
 The ruin'd 
 
 ( P P. S. I can no longer bear your ab- 
 ..-^ fence, elie would not have troubled 
 " you with this complaint." 
 
 a letter was this to fall into a 
 brother's hands ! Never did I fee a unan 
 in fuch diftraclion. ' Villain, villain 
 Lyfimor ! wretched Ifabinda, cry'd 
 he out ; then turning towards her ; -^ 
 but there needed n ot this proof in thy 
 own hand, auded he, thy fhame is but 
 too vifible.' 
 
 Ifabinda, who by the affiftance of the 
 woman was now recovei-ed from her 
 fwoon, but not enough to hear what her 
 brother faid, threw herfelf at his feet, 
 and with ft reaming eyes addrefs'd him in 
 thefe terms ; 
 
 Tfabinda. ' Oh, fir, can you forgive 
 ' my concealing myfelf from you ?' 
 
 Adario.
 
 212 
 
 Adario. Would to God that thtTer 
 ' were equal reafon to forgive the caufe.' 
 
 Ifabinda, at this inftant turning up her 
 eyes., beheld her letter in his hand, and 
 cry'd out with the greateft vehemence, 
 
 Ifabinda, * I am now undone, indeed, 
 
 * irrecoverably loft to all hope of par- 
 
 * don or of pity ! my fhame expofr-)- > o 
 
 * him from whom of all the won 1 ^- 
 
 * ihould have moft been hid.' 
 
 Adariol * Rtf e fi^ er > and ceafe thefe 
 imavaliflg exclamations ; your mameY' 
 * will receive no addition by my know- 
 ' ledge of it ; -^ rather, perhaps, be re- 
 medied. _ But te^. and tel1 me trul y 
 hasLyfimor ever-pomifed marriage 
 to you ?' 
 
 Ifabinda. ' A thoufand and a thoufancl 
 ' times, and bound himielf to the perfor- 
 mance by the moft folemn impreca- 
 e tions.* 
 
 Adario. * Then he is doubly a villain * 
 ~- and, if you believe him, you are 
 c doubly deceived j he courts another 
 * woman,' 
 
 Halinda.
 
 The Invifible SPY. 
 
 Indeed, of late, I have 
 fufpected this, and often accufcd him 
 * of it i and he as often has forfworn it.* 
 
 * Mere words of courfe : 
 * but fay, have you no teftimony under 
 ' his own hand of the promife he made 
 
 * you, either by letter or by formal obli- 
 
 * gation ?' 
 
 Ifabinda^ ' None, none, alas !' 
 
 On this Adario bit his lips, walk'd 
 two or three times about the room, then 
 paufed and feem'd as if debating within. 
 himfelf in what manner he mould behave j 
 at laft fat down, and taking the ftill 
 weeping Ifabinda by the hand, endea- 
 vour'd to aflwage her grief. 
 
 Adario. * Come, Ifabinda, dry your 
 tears ; love and credulity have feduced 
 your innocence ; great has been your 
 fault , but yet I cannot forget you are 
 my filler, and that you have no friend 
 but me on whom you can depend for 
 confolation : what is pad cannot be 
 recall'd, but it may be redrefs'd : be 
 affured you mail one way or other have 
 juftice.' 
 
 Ifabinda.
 
 214 tfb* lnwjible SPY. 
 
 * Ifabmcla. Ah, fir, I befeech you 
 ' proceed not to extremities; if by my 
 4 crime you fliould be involved in any 
 '* danger or perplexities, it would fink 
 * me quite.' 
 
 Adario. ' I hope there will be no occa- 
 iion ; Lyfimor was once a man of 
 honour, and may yet return to his firfl 
 principles : on this you may rely, 
 that I mall do nothing rafhly nor in- 
 confiftent with your intereft and reputa- 
 tion.' 
 
 After this they fell into fome difcourfe 
 concerning the ftrange refolution Flaminio 
 had taken of fending her to a monaflery, 
 the particulars of which the reader being 
 already acquainted with a I mall pafs over 
 in fiJence. 
 
 When Adario took his leave, he did it 
 with a great deal of affection ; but I was 
 much divided in my thoughts, whether 
 I fhould flay with Ifabinda, or follow 
 Adario home ; the latter feem'd moft 
 flattering to my curiofity, .as by many 
 tokens I perceived he had fomething in 
 his head which he was impatient to put 
 in execution, 
 
 I was
 
 The Invifible SPY. 215 
 
 I was not deceived in my conjectures, 
 Adario was no fooner in his own houfe 
 than he flew to his buroe, and without 
 taking any time for deliberation wrote 
 this epiftle : 
 
 To LYSIMOR. 
 "SIR, 
 
 " /"^Onfcious guilt, without thofe com* 
 " ^-^ mands you feem fo zealous in ob- 
 " ferving, might well make you avoid 
 *' the prefence of a perfon you have fo 
 " greatly injured : when I recommend- 
 " ed you to my fifter, it* was in order to 
 " become her proteclor, not her undoer ; 
 " how cruelly you have abufed this 
 " confidence, let your own heart remind 
 " you ; but I have fome hope, how 
 " much foever appearances at prefent are 
 " to the contrary, you ftill intend to do 
 * 6 juftice to your promifes to Ifabinda, 
 " and the claim me has to your affecl:ion : 
 " I need not tell you that you can re- 
 " pair the misfortune you have brought 
 " upon her no otherwife than by an ho- 
 * c nourable marriage ; I am ready to 
 " fulfil the agreement made between our 
 " fathers on that fcore, and give my fifter 
 " the fum of eight thoufand pounds, as 
 <s was then ftipulated ; if you comply 
 
 " with
 
 2i 6 The Invisible S P v. 
 
 ' with this propofal I mall be glad to 
 " fee you at her lodgings, there to fettle 
 *' every thing j if not, mall expert you 
 " will meet me in another place, and 
 '*' give me that fatisfaclion which every 
 *' gentleman has a right to demand when 
 <c he finds himfelf ill ufed : - I attend 
 c your determination, and am 
 
 " Yours, &c. 
 
 " ADARIO. 
 
 He fent this by one of his fervants, 
 with a charge to give it into Lyfimor's 
 own hands, and wait his anfwer , after 
 which, being told dinner was ready, he 
 went down and placed himfelf at the 
 table, tho' I believe with very little ap- 
 pttite -, for his countenan: e had upon it 
 all the marks of the greateft inward dif- 
 twbance, which was not at all leffen'd 
 when his man returned with this from 
 Lyfimor .: 
 
 To ADARid. 
 
 " S I R, 
 
 " O I N C E I find you are fo well ac- 
 
 " ^ quainted with a fecret, which, for 
 
 *' the lady's fake, 1 could wifh had been in* 
 
 " violably kept, i think my felf obliged to 
 
 ** deal fincerely with you on ,the occaiion , 
 
 *' ^- you
 
 Tie Inwfible SPY. 217 
 <* you may be allured I can behave 
 " to no woman, much lefs your fifter, 
 * e otherwile than becomes a man of ho- 
 <c nour; but marriage is a thing quite 
 " out of the queftion, as I am certain 
 " my father never would confent to it : 
 " if any promifes on that account ever 
 " -efcaped my lips, I remember nothing 
 " of them, and could make them with 
 *' no other view than to give her modefty 
 " an excufe for yielding : I am lorry, 
 ' ' however, for what has happen'd, but you 
 " cannot be infenfible of the frailties of 
 " tiefli and blood, and mud know, as- 
 " well as I, that when two young people, 
 " who like each other, are much alone 
 " together, fuch accidents will naturally 
 " occur. The refentment you threaten, 
 " on my non-compliance with your pro- 
 ** pofal, appears therefore to me a little 
 <c unreafonable ; I mail, notwithiland- 
 " ing, be ready to give you the fatisfac- 
 " tion you defire, at any time or place 
 <c you mail. appoint. 
 
 " Yours, &c. 
 
 " LYSIMOR. 
 
 All the blood now fecm'd to have for- 
 fook the heart of Adario to rum into his 
 face ; his lips trembled, his very eye- 
 balls flartt'd with excefs of pafiion -, he 
 
 Vot. I. L hefitated
 
 2 1 8 The Invifible Spy. 
 
 hefitated not a moment on what he fhould 
 ,do, but in this tempeft of his mind wrote 
 .as follows : 
 
 To LYSIMOR.. 
 * S I R, 
 
 *' T Want words to return the infoJence 
 " * and ingratitude of your reply ; but 
 " have a fword at your fervice, which I 
 * c expect you will try the metal of to- 
 " morrow morning about feven, in the 
 * c field behind Montague-houfe : as the 
 * 4 difpute between us will admit of no 
 " witnefles, pray come alone, to 
 
 " ADARIO. 
 
 Tho* I knew my own dinner waited 
 for me, I could not prevail on myfelf to 
 go home, till Adario had difpatchM this 
 billet to Lyfimor, and the fervant who 
 carried it was come back from that gentle- 
 man with a fmall flip of paper tied up, 
 containing only thefe words : 
 
 To AD A RIO. 
 S I R, 
 
 c< \f O U may depend that I fliall not 
 " A fail to meet you as defired. 
 
 ^ LYSIMOR. 
 
 I now
 
 *Ile Invifible SPY. 219 
 
 I now quitted the houfe of Adario; 
 but after having related the pains I had 
 already taken, 1 believe nobody will fup- 
 pofe I neglected going the next morning 
 to the field, to fee the iflue of this com- 
 bat : - I found Adario was there firft ; 
 but tho' he waited only a very few mi- 
 nutes for Lyfimor, his impatience made 
 him not forbear faluting him in this 
 manner : 
 
 Adario. * I began to think, Lyfimon,, 
 
 * that the fhame of having done a bafe 
 
 * action would not fuffer you to defend it.' 
 
 r. * Sir, whatever I dare do s 
 
 * I always dare defend.' 
 
 Adario. < Then, fir, this is no time 
 
 * for words.' 
 
 Lyfimor. { I am ready for you, fir.' 
 
 Here ceafed all farther fpeech between 
 them, and on the part of Lyfimor for 
 ever j on the fecond pufh Adario ran 
 him quite thro' the body ; he fell that 
 inftant, and expired with only a Tingle 
 groan , his fuccefsful antagonift ap- 
 proach' d the body, and finding life was 
 totally extinguifh'd, gave a figh or two 
 L 2 to
 
 220 Yhe Im'ifible SPY. 
 
 to the memory of a man he once had 
 call'd his friend, then made the beft of 
 his way home, in order to provide for 
 his own fecurity, which the likelihood 
 there was of the challenge he had lent to 
 the deceaied being found, render'd highly 
 
 The meafures he took, indeed, were 
 very prudent , he lent immediately to 
 hire a poft-chaife, which was to wait for 
 him in a ftreet he mention'd, at fome di- 
 ilance from that in which he lived ; 
 carry'd no baggage with him, but order'd 
 a fervant to follow him with it to Calais ; 
 .- ftaid no longer at his own houfe than 
 to write two fhort letters ; the one to a 
 gentleman who had been one of the exe- 
 cutors of his father's will, which being 
 only on family-affairs need not be here 
 jnferted ; the other was to his fitter, 
 arid contain'd thefe lines : 
 
 To ISABINDA, 
 <c SISTER, 
 
 " "p Ailing to repair your wrongs by 
 ." A the way I hoped, I have reveng'd 
 64 them by the death of your feducer, 
 " for which I am obliged this moment 
 " to leave my native country, perhaps 
 . for ever > I have done what the ho- 
 
 nour
 
 The Invlfible SP Y. 2 1 r-' 
 
 <{ nour of our family exacted from me , - 
 " it belongs to you to regulate your fu- 
 *' ture conduct fo as to attone, in Tome 
 *' meafure, for the errors .of the pail : 
 <{ to enable you ro do this, you ought 
 <e to keep in eternal remembrance, that 
 u the follies of your fatal paffion has no2 
 <6 only brought the object of it to an nn- 
 *' timely grave, but alfo drove from all: 
 '* the focial joys of life, into an irklbm<J 
 u banifliment in a foreign lancl him who 
 " might have been happy, if he had 
 ** not been 
 
 " Your brother, 
 
 " ADARIO. 
 
 Thinking, perhaps, Ije had been fome- 
 what too fevere in the above, he added 
 this poftfcript by way of cordial : 
 
 " P. S. I (hall conftantly write to mr. 
 
 < D n? he will be able to inform 
 
 " you how to direft for me ; you may 
 '* be affured I mall receive with pieafure 
 <c any letters that bring me an account 
 " of your welfare, and, in fpite of all 
 " that has happen'd, to do you erery 
 ** fervice in my power." 
 
 After having fent this, by the groom 
 
 who had firft difcover'd the place of her 
 
 L 3 abode,
 
 222 The Imifible SPY. 
 
 abode, and given fome neceflary inflec- 
 tions to his other fervants, he hurry'd 
 away to meet the poil-chaife,. and 1 faw 
 him no more. 
 
 As I had truly pity*d Ifabinda, I could 
 not forbear going to fee in what manner 
 flic fupported this laft dreadful accident ; 
 on my entrance me was in bed, and 
 furrounded by women and phyficians ;- 
 I gathered from their difcourfe, that the 
 furprife and grief me had been in had 
 eaufed an abortion, accompany'd with 
 fits of a very dangerous nature : on my 
 next vifit, however, I found her youth and 
 the ftrength of her conftitution had got 
 the better of her difeafe \ but though the 
 pains of her body were removed, thofe 
 of her mind flill remain* d -, fhe was ex- 
 tremely melancholy, had a thorough 
 contempt for the world, and the thoughts 
 of a monattery were now fo far from being, 
 mocking to her, that fhe refolved to fly 
 to one, as the only afyium from ceniure 
 and from care. 
 
 Accordingly, as I was afterwards in- 
 form'd, fhe went, on the re-eftablilhment 
 of her ieakh, to Paris, and enter'd herfelf 
 into the fociety of the Benedicline nuns,, 
 where 1 duU.bc not but fhe often fees her 
 
 brother
 
 Invisible S p Y. 223 
 
 brother through the grate, as he ftill 
 continues to refide in that city. 
 
 I have now finifh'd all the account" 
 I am able to give of this melancholy 
 tranfa6t.ion, in which the j Lidice of Pro- 
 vidence feems to me to be diftinguim'd 
 in fomewhat of a peculiar manner , and 
 may fcrve as a warning to our gay amo- 
 rous iparks, not to become the feducers 
 of unwary innocence ; especially if they 
 will be at the trouble of reflecling, how 
 the perfidy and ingratitude of Flaminio, 
 to the believing Harriot, was afterwards 
 retorted on his own darling daughter. 
 
 ffc^srwrttif^s^fid^^ 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 Gives the account of an occurrence^ 
 no lefs remarkable than it is enter- 
 taining; and Jhews that there is 
 fcarce any difficulty fo gr-eat but 
 that it may be got over, by the help 
 of a ready wit and invention^ if 
 properly exerted. 
 
 TO make fome attonement for my lad 
 melancholy recital, to thofe of my 
 readers who may not care to have their 
 heads fili'd with fubjefts of too lerious 
 L 4 a nature,
 
 224 Vbe Invifibk SPT. 
 
 a nature, I (hall now prefent them with 
 one more likely to put in motion the 
 rifible mufcles of the face, than to extort 
 the falling of unwilling tears. 
 
 A gentleman, whom I mall call Con- 
 rade, had lived to the age of near feventy 
 without ever teftifying the lead inclina- 
 tion to marriage , he had been a man 
 of pleafure in his youth, and probably 
 the too great fuccefs he then found among 
 the fair had deterr'd him from entering 
 into an honourable engagement with any 
 of the fex ; but there is no account for 
 change of fentiment in this point, an 
 accident fometimes puts that into our 
 heads which before we never thought of, 
 or perhaps had an averfion to, as it fell 
 out in the cafe of the perfon I am fpeak- 
 ing of. 
 
 A long friend fhip had fubfifted be- 
 tween him and Murcio, a gentleman, who 
 though not fo far advanced in years, had 
 made a better ufe of his time, had been 
 married, and was the father or three fine 
 daughters, two of whom had always 
 lived with him , but the youngeft, after 
 the death of his wife, was taken from 
 him, and brought up under the care of an 
 aunt in the country. 
 
 The
 
 Invifible SPY. 225 
 
 The eldeft of thefe ladies being now 
 about to be difpofed of in marriage, Con* 
 rade received, and accepted an invi-ation 
 to the wedding ; Melanthe, lifter to the 
 bride, was a fine fparkling girl of nineteen'; 
 but whether it were that me appear'd 
 itt reality more lovely than ufual at this 
 time, or that the mirth and pleafantries 
 common at fuch folemnities rekindled 
 the long fmother'd embers of amorous 
 defire in the bread of Conrade, fo it was, 
 that he, who had been in the company of 
 this beautiful maid without ever taking 
 any notice of her charms, now, all at: 
 once, became extremely fmitten with 
 them, infomuch that from this moment 
 he refolved on acquainting her father 
 with his new paffion, and afking his con- 
 fent to make his addrefTes to her , which 
 he did not at all defpair of obtaining on 
 the terms he intended to propofe. 
 
 Murcio had a pretty country-houfe aft 
 a village about ten or twelve miles up the 
 nver, where he constantly went every Sa- 
 turday, and ftaid till Monday or Tue'fday, 
 and fomttimes longer ; it was while he 
 was in this retirement that Conrade chofe 
 to comm ni at, to him the bufinefs he 
 ha,i in nis head ; accordingly he went 
 thither, and found him entirely alone -,- 
 L 5 Melanthe
 
 2 6' 3%'e Inwfible Spy. 
 
 Melanthe having been prevented from 
 going, as me was accuftom'd to do, by a 
 violent fit of the tooth-ach ,- this our old 
 lover look' d upon as. a good omen,, being 
 defirous to engage the father in favour of 
 his paflion, before he made any declaration 
 of it to. the daughter, 
 
 He began with faying, that he now 
 repented having lived ib long a batchelor -, 
 that having a very large eftate,. he 
 fhould be glad of an heir, of his own body 
 to enjoy it ; that if he could prevail on 
 a young lady whom he liked to marry- 
 him, he would endeavour to attone for 
 the want of youth by all the indulgences 
 in the power of a fond hufband ; and 
 having thus prepared the way, told him, 
 that if he thought proper to beftow his 
 daughter Melanthe on him, he would de- 
 fire no other fortune than her perfon ;.- 
 yet would fettle a dowry upon her fupe- 
 rior to what might be expected if Hie 
 brought him ten thoufand pounds. 
 
 It -is not to be imagined with what 
 greedinefs Murcio fwallow'd this pro- 
 pofal.. he did not even affect to hefitate, 
 or make the leaft, demur, on accepting it ; 
 on the contrary, he reply'd, that nothing 
 couid afford him a greater facisfaction 
 tlun fuch an alliance, and that he doubted 
 
 not
 
 Irrvifible S p Y; 
 
 not but Melanthe would receive the ho- 
 nour he intended her as a woman who 
 knew her own intereft and happinefs. 
 
 Both parties being equally tranfported, 
 every thing was immediately agreed upon 
 between them ; but Murcio not being 
 able to affure himielf that his daughter 
 would fo readily comply as he had made 
 the lover hope me would, and fearing 
 that if me mould give the old gentleman 
 a rebuff on his firft onfet, it might dif 
 courage him from making a fecond, and 
 perhaps overturn the whole affair, re- 
 folved not to hazard the lofs of fo ad- 
 vantageous a match by leaving it to her 
 own choice, fent a fpecial meffenger to 
 her with a letter, the contents whereof 
 are thefe : 
 
 To MELANTHE. 
 " DEAR CHILD, 
 
 worthy friend Conrade has 
 
 taken a great liking to you, 
 " and will make you his wife on fuch 
 ' terms as fhould but little prove the 
 " paternal anVdion I have for you to 
 '* reject ; be not you lefs thankful 
 " to heaven for fo unhoped a bleffing 
 <c than I am ; nor, on any foolifh pre- 
 ** tences, either flight, or fcem to 
 L 6 * flight,
 
 228 7&? Invifi'ble Spy. 
 
 ** flight, the good prefcnted to you. If 
 *' you confider the vaft advantages of 
 *' this match, a difparity of years can be 
 *' no objection : I fay thus much be- 
 " caufe I would convince your reafon, 
 *' not enforce your action ; for. I mould 
 '* be forry to find myfelf obliged to, 
 ** make ufe of the authority I have over. 
 '* you in a thing which you ought, and I 
 ** hope will receive with the iame fatis- 
 faction I propofe it : know, how- 
 ever, that I have already agreed on 
 every thing for your marriage, that 
 your future hufband is now here, and 
 we mall both be in town either to* 
 morrow or the enfuing day : I fend 
 this on purpofe to. prepare you to be- 
 have towards him in a proper manner, 
 ** and as it is the abfolute command of 
 ^ him who is 
 
 '" Your affectionate father, 
 
 ' c MURCIO. 
 
 I flood behind Melanthe's chair while 
 me was reading this epiflle, and never did 
 I fee a poor young creature in fuch terrible 
 agitations -, fcarce had me come to. the 
 end of tht? firfl period before me cry'd out, 
 * His wife! his wife ! what terms 
 4 can the old letcher propofe to compen- 
 '- fate for the odious title of wife to fuch 
 
 ' a wretch!*-
 
 Invifible S p v*. 229 
 
 a wretch !* then going a little farther, 
 Jufliy, indeed, faid fhe, does my father 
 fufpe<5t my obedience in this point , - 
 death itfelf would not be fo dreadful to 
 me as compliance.' The more me pro- 
 eeded, the higher her diffraction grew. 
 What,, fix'd my doom at once! raved 
 me out , at once refolve to cut me off 
 from all the joys of life, and condemn 
 me to everJafting mifery ! Is this a 
 parent's love ! oh 'tis mofl cruel, 
 moft unnatural!' 
 
 I know not to what extravagancies fhe 
 might have been hurry'd, by the fudden 
 rum of grief and defpair, if tears now 
 had not afforded their relief ; but tho* 
 they a little foften'd the afperity of her 
 paflion, they had not the power to fub- 
 due it , her tongue, indeed, ceas'd from 
 exclaiming againfther tate ; but t' -ago- 
 nies of her countenance difcover'd how 
 much me inwardly regretted it. 
 
 While fhe was in this diftrtfsful and 
 pity-moving fituation, the gay, the lively 
 Florimel came in ; this young lady 
 was the moft beloved and intimate com- 
 panion that Melanthe had , fhe-faw her 
 almoft every day, and always enter'd 
 without ceremony , flic fe^m'd a little 
 furpriied at firft fight to- fiiid her thus, 
 
 but
 
 230 jfife Irmifible S p y . 
 
 but immediately recovering herfelf, ap- 
 proach'd her with her accuftom'd fpright- 
 linefs, 
 
 Florimel. Heyday, Melanthe, what 
 in the name of wonder makes you in 
 this pickle ? is your favourite fquirrel 
 -dead ? or has any accident happen'd to 
 your laft new peit-en-i'air ? or what 
 other misfortune of equal importance 
 has befallen you ?' 
 
 Melantke. ' O Florimel ! what would 
 
 * I not give to be in thy condition ?* 
 
 Florimel. * My condition ! why 
 
 * -what do you find to envy in my con- 
 
 * dition ? 
 
 Melantbe. * To have no father to con- 
 
 * trole your actions by an unreafonable 
 
 * exertion of his authority.* 
 
 Fhrimel. ' Why truly, as you fay, 
 thefe old dads are troubiefome enough 
 fometimes*, yet, for all that, I fhould 
 be heartily glad mine were alive again. 
 But pray what has yours done to 
 " make you wifh yc^urfelf an orphan ?' 
 
 Melantbe. R^ad that, and fee if I 
 have not caufe.' 
 
 In
 
 Invifible SPY. 231 
 
 In fpeaking thefe words fhe pointed to 
 her father's letter which lay open on the 
 table ; Florimel took it up and read it 
 as defir'd ; . on examining the contents, 
 fhe could not help looking a little grave ; 
 hut having finifh'd, refum'd the difcourfe 
 with her former vivacity. 
 
 FlorimeL * As fure as I am alive both 
 4 thefe old gentlemen are crack'd-brain'd, 
 
 * -~ the one in thinking of you for a 
 
 * wife, and the other in consenting to 
 6 -give you fuch a hujflband. 9 
 
 Melantbe. * One would, indeed, ima-. 
 ' gine they .were not in their fenfes.* 
 
 ' For my part, I am fo 
 * aftonifh'd that I can fcarce believe I am 
 s - awake. But what will you do ?' 
 
 Melantbe. * Nothing.' 
 
 FlorimeL ' Nothing can come of no- 
 
 < thing, as king Lear fays in the play. 
 
 I am lefs furpris'd, howevei at 
 
 your ftupidity in fo perplexing a di- 
 
 lemma, than I am at ttie folly of . .1 )fe 
 
 who have involved you in it. . :ls 
 
 me, what can ^ithrr your lover or richer 
 
 propofc to theinfeivcs by fuch a diipro- 
 
 * portiCi'uble
 
 232 The Iwoifible SP YY 
 
 * portionablc alliance, but horns on the 
 < one fide, and difgrace to his family on 
 the other.' 
 
 Melanthe. e No, Florimel, it fhall 
 6 never come to that ; I will rather 
 work, or ftarve, or beg.' 
 
 Florimel. ' Look'ye, my dear, neither 
 * working nor ftarving, or begging, as I 
 ' take it, will agree with your conftitution ; 
 ' fomething elfe muft be thought on. 9 ' 
 
 Melantbe. What elfe ? 
 
 Florimel. ' Do you think, that when your 
 c father comes to: know what an impla- 
 ' cable averfion you have to this match, 
 
 < he will not be prevail'd upon to recal 
 
 * the promife he has made to Conrade ?* 
 
 Melantbe. ' Tmpoflible ; I know his 
 
 < temper too \vell to flatter myfcL v;ith 
 4 fuch a hope : you might as well. 
 - think to blow St. Paul's cathedral from 
 
 * its foundation with a finale breath, as 
 - move him to recede from any thing he 
 ' has once refolved.' 
 
 Flor met. ' Well then fuppofe fome 
 c way could be contrived to make Con- 
 *- rade himfcli fly off ?'
 
 233 
 
 Melantbe. ' That would be a happy 
 
 * turn indeed , but, dear creature, 
 
 * how can it be brought about ?' 
 
 fkrimeh ' I have a project in my 
 ' head that promifes fair for it, if you 
 ' will agree to join in the execution.' 
 
 Melanthe. ^ You may be fure I mall.' 
 
 Florimel. * It is this : you muft ad- 
 mit a fpruce young gallant to lie with 
 you all night ; Conrade muft b^ in- 
 form'd of the amour, in fuch a manner 
 as to make him convinced of the truth 
 of it ; and the duce is in him if after- 
 wards he infifts on marrying you.' 
 
 Melantbe. ' Fye, Florimel ; how 
 c can you be fo cruel to rally the misfor- 
 c tunes of your friend ?' 
 
 Florimel . ' No, I proteft I am as fe- 
 4 rious as a judge upon a criminal caufe ; 
 ' and would fain have you make the ex- 
 * periment I mention. 
 
 Melantbe. ' What, would' ft thou 
 have me turn proftitute to avoid mar- 
 ria^c!'. 
 
 florimsl,
 
 234 The Invifible SPY, 
 
 Florimel. * No fuch matter ; I will 
 8 engage that the gallant I mean Ihall lie 
 
 * as harmlefs by your fide as an infant.' 
 
 Melanthe. < Prithee do not torture 
 
 * me with fuch riddles. 
 
 FlorimeL I mall prefently explain 
 them ; the gallant I am fpeaking of, 
 and who is to be your bedfellow, is no 
 other than my own individual felt : I 
 Ihall put on a fuit of my brother's 
 cloaths, and do not doubt but that 
 when I am drefs'd, and equipp'd in all 
 my accoutrements, I fhall be a figure 
 
 han fome enough to make an old man 
 
 jealous. 
 
 Melantbe. * Sure never was fo wild a 
 fcheme ; but yet I cannot conceive how 
 ' it is to be conducted, or which way it 
 
 * can anfwer the end you propofe by it.* 
 
 plorlmel. ' Lord, you are ftranse- 
 4 ly dull, or affect to be fo -, but T will 
 
 * fhew you what I mall write to Conrade, 
 c and that may help to enlighten your. 
 ' underftanding.' 
 
 This witty lady waited not to hear 
 what reply her friend would make, but 
 
 ran
 
 The Iwuifible Spy. 235 
 
 ran to a defk and immediately wrote the 
 following lines : 
 
 To HUGH CONRADE, Efqj 
 
 "SIR, 
 
 " P V E R fmce I heard of your in- 
 " X-> tended marriage with Melanthe I 
 " have been divided in my thoughts, 
 <c whether the treachery of betraying a 
 44 fecret entrufted to me, or by concealing 
 " it expofe a gentleman of your character 
 " to the word of mifchiefs, would be the 
 " molt difhonourable action : the latter 
 " confideration has at laft prevail'd ; and 
 " I think it my duty to inform you, that 
 " the lady you are about to make vour 
 44 wife has neither heart nor honour to 
 <c beftow upon you, both are already 
 44 difpofed of to a perfon fhe thinks more 
 " agreeable to her years : not content 
 44 with the many private affignations fhe 
 " has with him abroad, me frequently 
 44 makes pretences, when her father goes 
 *' into the country, to be left at home, 
 44 where her chamber-maid, who is in the 
 4: fecret, admits this happy lover at mid- 
 " night, and lets him out early in the 
 " morning, before the other fervants of 
 14 the houfe are ftirring, Murcio being 
 44 gone to *****, I am well affured it 
 4< ~ will be in your power to convince 
 
 " your-
 
 236 The Invifbk S p Y. 
 
 " yourfelf of the certainty of this intelli- 
 *' gence, by fending any one on whom 
 " you can depend to watch about the 
 " door, either for the entrance or exit of 
 " the favourite gallant: act as you 
 " pleafe, however, I have difcharged 
 * c the dictates of confcience in giving 
 " you this timely warning, and am, 
 
 " SIR, 
 
 " Your moft humble, tho* 
 " Namelefs fervant." 
 
 This me gave Melanthe to read, and, 
 as foon as me had done, was going to 
 afk her how me approv'd of the contri- 
 vance, when the other prevented her by 
 crying out, 
 
 Melanthe. e Oh the wicked lying letr 
 
 * ter ! Dear Florimel, if this mould be 
 
 * fent, and Conrade mould mew it to 
 
 * my father, I believe he would kill me.' 
 
 Florimel. Tis poflible he may not 
 
 * mew it ; but if he does, you have 
 ' only to prepare yourfelf for a little 
 ' fcolding and fwearing ; the worft he 
 ' can do is to turn you out of doors ; 
 
 * and then, to ufe your own words, it 
 
 * can be but working, ftarving, or 
 begging. 
 
 Melanthe,
 
 The Invifible SPY. 237 
 
 Melanthe. * Oh, but my reputation, 
 
 * Florimel ! 
 
 ForlmeL * A fiddle of your reputa- 
 -* tion , would you hazard nothing to 
 
 * avoid being tack'd, till death do you 
 ' part, to fuch a lump of decay'd mor- 
 
 * tality as Conrade ? befides, when the 
 
 * affair is all over, and you are once got 
 
 * free from this curfed engagement, it 
 
 * will be eafy, by unravelling the plot, 
 ' to clear your reputation and reconcile 
 f you to your father into the bargain.' 
 
 Melantbe. * Oh, Florimel, if I was 
 f fure of that]' 
 
 Florimel f Truft to fortune ; I will 
 
 * lay my life, that if you behave accor- 
 
 * ding to my directions, every thing will 
 go right.' 
 
 Melanthe. < Well then, tell me wfcat 
 
 * I am to 'do.' 
 
 Florimel. * In the firft place, when 
 your father comes home you muft feem 
 to be as well pleafed with the match as 
 he would have you be, and pretend 
 that you are mightily in love with Con- 
 rade's eftate, whatever you are with the 
 
 ' manj
 
 .238 *The Jnvifible SPY. 
 
 k man ; then, as for the old wretch 
 himfclf, you have nothing to do but 
 to fimper and look filly when he makes 
 his addreffes, and tell him that you are 
 all obedience to your father's will.' 
 
 Melanlhe. ' This is a hard talk, and 
 I am a very ill duTembler ; I will try, 
 however, what I can do : but Flo- 
 rimel, there is one thing that neither 
 you nor I as yet have thought upon ; 
 - fuppofe Conrade mould take it into 
 his head to watch the door himfelf, 
 and draw upon you in his pafiion ?' 
 
 Florlmel. What if he does, I mall 
 < have a fword as well as he.' 
 
 Melanthe, 'But not underfland fo 
 well how to ufe it ?' 
 
 FlorimeL ' I don't know that ; but 
 if I can't fight as well, I am fure I can 
 
 * run much better ; * fo pray do not be 
 
 * under any concern on my account.' 
 
 Thefe fair friends parted not till the 
 night was pretty far advanced ; il which 
 time was taken up with fettling fome 
 farther particulars in relation to their de- 
 fign. Molly, the waiting-maid, was 
 call'd in, and, after a vow of fecrecy, in- 
 
 trufted
 
 The Invifible SPY. 239 
 
 trufted with the whole affair ^ {he feem'd 
 a good fmart girl, highly proper for the 
 bufmefs fhe was to be employ'd in, and 
 readily promifed her afliftance. 
 
 As I was very near as impatient as 
 themfelves for the fuccefs of this whimfical 
 enterprize, I went every day to Murcio's 
 houfe, and found that Melanthe acted 
 the part (he had been taught by Florimel 
 fo as to give the utmoft fatisfadion both 
 to her father and lover ; who now talk'd 
 of nothing but to have the wedding fo- 
 lemniz'd as foon as the necefTary prepara- 
 tions for it could be made. 
 
 Saturday being arrived, I made it my 
 bufmefs to enquire whether Murcio was 
 
 tone, as ufual, to his country feat, and 
 nding he was fo, and that Melanthe 
 ftaid at home, concluded that this was 
 the day on which the firft wjieel of the 
 machine was to be put in motion, there- 
 fore hurried away to the houfe of Con- 
 rade, were I luckily came time enough 
 to fee him receive the letter from Flo- 
 rimel. 
 
 The wrinkles of this old gentleman's face 
 were greatly agitated while he was reading 
 this epiftle : at firft his eye-lids extend- 
 ed themfelves, and his brows were elated 
 
 with
 
 240 *fbe Invifible S p y. 
 
 with furprife, then were contracted into 
 a frown of anger ; fometimes a fneer of 
 contempt and unbelief lengthen'd the fur- 
 rows round his wither'd lips j but the at* 
 titude of longeft duration, was a penfive 
 hanging down of his head, accompany'd 
 with counting the hairs upon his little 
 finger, out of which at laft he ftarted, and 
 cry'd to himfelf, ' Many reafons may 
 be urged both for and againft my gi- 
 ving credit to this flory ; but whether 
 built upon truth or malice, I have no 
 need to be at the pains of confidering, 
 the author has pointed out the means 
 of being convinced, and I will take 
 his counfel.' 
 
 As I could not be certain that he would 
 continue in this refolution, and much lefs 
 fo, that if he did what the event of it 
 would be, I went by break of day the next 
 morning and pofted myfelf over-againft 
 Murcio's houfe , in a few minutes after, 
 Conrade came, wrap'd in a cloak, but: 
 flood more aloof, yet near enough to fee 
 every thing that pafs'd ; we had not 
 waited above a quater of an hour, before 
 the door we watch'd was foftly open'd, 
 and a well-drefs'd beau rum'd out j 
 Conrade advanced as faft as his gout 
 would let him, in order, I fuppofe, to 
 fee the face of this invader of his hoped 
 
 for
 
 Imifibk S p r. 241 
 
 for happinefs , but the pretended gallant 
 was too nimble for his purfuit ; but 
 dropt a piece of paper, as if by acci- 
 dent flirted out with his handkerchief; - 
 Conrade immediatly fnatched it up, and 
 found it was a billet ; the fuperfcrip- 
 tion feem'd to have been tore off, but the 
 contents were thcfe : 
 
 ** Deareft of your fex, 
 
 *' 1\/f "^ ^ at * ltr * s g ne mto the country, 
 tc 1* A anc i i } iave m ade an excufe to b2 
 *' left behind ; corne at the ufual hour, 
 ' and Molly will admit you to the 
 " arms of 
 
 " Yours." 
 
 I eafily perceived that this was a fecond 
 plot of the young ladies to corrobate the 
 rirlt , and it had all the effect they could 
 wifli, and was alib produclive of fome- 
 thing elfe, which neither of them at that 
 time imagined ; as will appear in the fuc- 
 .ceeding chapter. 
 
 VOL. I. M CHAP.
 
 /j. 2 The Iirvifibk Spy. 
 
 I 
 
 CHAP. VJI. 
 
 rf continuance cf this merry hijlory t 
 which prefmts fometbing as little ex- 
 peffied by the reader as it was by the 
 parties concern' din it ; and, if the 
 author's hopes do not greatly deceive 
 him, 'will alfo afford an equal Jhare 
 offatisfaffion as furprife. 
 
 T is not to be doubted but that Con- 
 rade, after having received this double 
 confirmation of Melanthe's tranfgreflion, 
 gave over all intentions of becoming her 
 hufband ; yet, by what 1 could gather 
 from bis looks, and fome expreffions he 
 let fall, the manner in which he mould 
 .quit his pretenfions was the occafion of 
 a very great conflict in his mind : he 
 was a good-natured man, and loth to ac- 
 cufe this young lady to her father j yet, 
 to break off a match fo far advanced, and 
 which he had fo earneftly lollicited, with- 
 out affigning any caufe for the change of 
 his refolution, he thought v/ould not only 
 rnake him appear ridiculous, but alib 
 put a final period to all converfation be- 
 tween him and his old friend ; and he 
 
 probably
 
 Invlfibk SPY. 245 
 probably continued undetermined in this 
 matter till he found himfelf obliged to 
 talk upon it to Murcio himfelf, who had 
 appointed to come to town the next day, 
 in order to fign the marriage-writings. 
 
 That gentleman was at home, and ha- 
 ving expected him ibme hours before he 
 came, began, in a pleafant manner, to 
 reproach his tardinefs ; to which Conrade 
 reply'd very gravely, c I am, indeed, 
 
 * fir, fomewhat beyond my time, yet, I 
 
 * believe, foon enough for the bufmefs 
 ' which now brings me.' Murcio feem'd 
 very much furprifed on hearing him fpeak 
 in this manner ; and poor Melanthe, who 
 was prefent, well knowing that this alte- 
 ration in her lover's behaviour was the 
 effect of the plot concerted between her 
 and Florimel, trembled for the event,- 
 and was no lefs fhock'd at the thoughts 
 how much her innocence fufTer'd in hi 
 opinion. 
 
 It is uncertain what return Murcio 
 would have made, for the other prevented 
 him from (peaking by adding to what he 1 
 had faid betbre, that he had form-thi.-'g 
 of a very extraordinary nature, and whit !i 
 required no witnefles, to communicate to 
 him-, on which he made a flc^n to Me- 
 lanthe to leave the room, and ihe was no 
 M 2 fooncr
 
 244- ^ e -Invifible SPY. 
 
 fooner withdrawn than Conrade pro- 
 ceeded, tho' not without a good deal of 
 hefication, to declare himfelf in thefe 
 
 Conrade. 4 Dear, Murcio, we have 
 ' 'long been friends, and I fhould be 
 6 heartily forry that what I have to fay 
 
 * fheiild occafion a rupture between us ; 
 4 for my own part, there is no man 
 ' living for whom J mail always preferve 
 a greater efteem than for yourfelf.' 
 
 Murcio. f I cannot think, fir, that 
 4 you have any thing in your mind mould 
 
 * give me reafon to regard you lefs.' 
 
 Conrade. * Reafon is too frequently 
 
 * milled by paffion, I know it by expe- 
 4 rience, and mail be glad to find yours 
 4 is more flrong , tho' I coniefs I have 
 ' been to blame, -and am forry things 
 
 * have gone fo far: but, fir, I have 
 
 * confider'd that it is now too late in life 
 
 * for me to think of marriage, efpicially 
 ' with fo young a lady as Melanthe.' 
 
 Murcio. ' This is an odd turn, indeed ; 
 4 methinks, fir, you mould have con- 
 
 * fider'd this before you made any pro- 
 4 pofals of that fort, either to me or my 
 ' daughter, A treaty of marriage, fir, 
 
 * when
 
 Tfo Irscifible S'p r. 245- 
 
 * v Y I;cn concluded on and confented to by 
 4 both parties, is a thing of too mi;c!y 
 ' confequence to be broke off by either, 
 
 * without putting the mofr grofs affront 
 
 * upon the other.' 
 
 Ccnradi. * Net, fir, when it can be 
 proved thit the confuirmation wouU 
 1 be equally inconvenient for both.' 
 
 Murciv. ' As how for both ? my 
 4 daughter, has never made the leall ab- 
 ' jechcn.' 
 
 Ctnrade. c It may be r o \ yet I am 
 'well a fit: red fi:e neither dors nor i 
 4 can regard rne with that afH-irion whirli 
 
 < alone could make either me or hcTieif 
 ^ happy in being united.' 
 
 Murclo. e A mere whim ; a c;iprice 
 ' of your own, founded only on the dif- 
 
 * parity of years ; and I am amazed you 
 ' fhould think of flying off from your 
 c engagement on fo fhallow a pretence.' 
 
 Conrade. * Perhaps I may have others: 
 
 < fuppofe I know me loves another ?' 
 
 Murcio. c Sir, I will fuppofe no fuch 
 
 * thing ; me love another! no, fir, 
 
 * me has been bred up in principles too 
 
 M 3 ' virtuous
 
 246 *I'be Invifib'le Srr. 
 
 ' virtuous and too modeft, to place her 
 
 * ai7eclions on any OL'J, till my com- 
 4 mands and the authority of the church 
 fc make it her duty to do fo -, and \ muft 
 ' tell you, fir, it is bafe in you to add to 
 
 * the ill ufage you are about to give her 
 4 by traducing her reputaion.' 
 
 Conrade. ' I fcorn the unmanly 
 
 * thought : be allured I have proofs of 
 
 * what i fay.' 
 
 Murcio, ' Produce them then.' 
 
 Conracle. < I will, fince I find the 
 
 * jufcification of my own honour depends 
 
 * upon it. There, fir, read that, and 
 
 * be convinced.' 
 
 In fpeaking this he gave Murcio the 
 letter that had been fent by Florimel, 
 v.hich the other, after having carelefly 
 perufed, threw from him, and looking on 
 Conrade with the utmotl fcorn, faid to 
 him, 
 
 Murcio. ' A notable proof, indeed, 
 there are few people without fome 
 enemies , but this is a piece of fcan- 
 dal too grofs, too ftupid, and the in- 
 vention too ill concerted to pafs even 
 on the moft weak and credulous mind ; 
 
 ' and
 
 The Invisible SPY. 247 
 
 6 and feems rather a poor low contri- 
 
 * vance of your own, to evade iiilfil- 
 ' ing an engagement you have taken it 
 ' into your head to repent of. 
 
 Conrade. * You are free in your ex- 
 c preffions, fir, but I believe it will pre- 
 
 * iently be my turn to retort that con- 
 
 * tempt you fo unjuftly treat me with. 
 
 * Do you know the hand-writing of 
 
 * your daughter ?' 
 
 Murclo. Yes, certainly I do.' 
 
 Conrade. e Then judge of the con- 
 
 * tents of this, and take ihame to your- 
 
 * felf for the injurious treatment you have 
 
 * given me.* 
 
 The reader will eafily imagine, that it 
 was Melanthe's little billet he now put 
 into his hands ; but no one can con- 
 ceive, much lefs am I able to defcribe 
 the rage, the horror, the diftraction, that 
 fhook the whole frame of this aftonifh'd 
 parent, on finding himfelf no longer able 
 to refufe giving credit to fo terrible a 
 misfortune. Death and furies ! cry'd 
 'he, infamous, abandon'd wretch !' 
 Then, after loading her with all thd 
 fouleft names that language could af- 
 fbrd, he turn'd to Conrade, Pardon 
 M 4 6 me-
 
 248 Ihe Iwuifible S?V. 
 
 * me, dear Conrade, faid he v had an 
 
 * angel told me what you did, without 
 
 * this curfed teftimony, I Ihould not 
 
 * have believed the ftery , but you 
 
 * mail have ample fatisfaction ; I'll turn 
 
 * this fcandal to my family, this de- 
 
 * ceiver both of you and me, out of my 
 
 * doors this moment , never own her, 
 
 * never fee her more, but leave her to 
 
 * the miferies {he merits.' 
 
 He was running out of the room, and 
 'tis probable, in the firft emotions of his 
 paffion, would have done as he had 
 threaten'd, if Conrade had not withheld 
 him ; and partly by force, and partly 
 by perfuafion, made him fit down while 
 he reaibn'd with him in this manner : 
 
 Conrade. Dear Murcio, compofe- 
 yourfelfV and be not raihly guilty of a 
 thing you hereafter may repent of ; 
 confider that the errors of one branch 
 of a family reflect difhonour on the 
 whole ; you have other daughters, 
 who, tho' pure as innocence itfelf, yet, 
 being of the fame blood, may be fuf- 
 pected liable to the fame faults ; for 
 their fakes, therefore, rather fmother 
 than expofe the crime of this fair 
 offender.
 
 The Invifille S p r. 249 
 
 6 What ! would you then 
 
 * have me to forgive, encourage, and 
 ' fuffer her to continue in this (hameffl 
 1 proftitution under my own roof ! 
 
 Conrade. ' No ; but I would have 
 you remember that me is ftill your 
 child, and that it is your duty, as a 
 father, to ufe your utmoft efforts to re- 
 trieve her from perdition, not fink her 
 deeper into it. 
 
 Murc'w, ' As how retrive her ! is fhe 
 'not already loft, irrecoverably loft t6> 
 * reputation as well as virtue!' 
 
 Cf,nrade. * Not fo, I hope , all yet" 
 
 * may be well, if her feducer can be pre- 
 
 * vail'd upon to repair the injury he h^s 
 
 * done her by an honourable marriage.* 
 
 Murcio. * A vain expectation.* 
 
 Ctnrade. 'Tis worth attempting, at 
 Jenft ;- but firft you muft oblige her to 
 difcover the name of this too happy 
 man ; for you fee, that either by dr- 
 fign or accident, the direction to him 
 is torn off the letter.' 
 
 Z'nrch. l I proteft, in th? c'iflraclrori . 
 '-of my thoughts, I had forgot th.it cir- 
 M-5 * cumibncs-,.
 
 *Ihe Iwoifibh Spy. 
 
 ' eumPtance ; and alfo to afk you by 
 * what means this infamous icrawl came 
 4 into your pofleflion.' 
 
 On this Conrade related to him all the 
 particulais he had obferved while he had 
 been watching his rival's coming out of 
 the houfe ; and when he had done, in 
 order to encourage Murcio to take the 
 ; dvice he had juft given to him, added 
 this defciption of the fuppofed gallant : 
 
 Conrade, * I was very much vex'd that 
 I had not an opportunity of feeing his 
 face , but his back being towards me, 
 and, befides, having the advantage of 
 fome twenty paces before me, I in vain 
 endeavour'd to overtake him, but I 
 took great notice of his drefs and air, 
 and do aflure you he has all the ap- 
 pearance of a man of fafhion, and fuch 
 a one as to whom you could not reafon- 
 ably have refufed your daughter, even 
 if this accident had never happen'd.' 
 
 Murcio. * He mould have afk'd her of 
 
 * me then ; but I will call her down, 
 
 * and hear what me has to fay. No, I 
 4 cannot, will not fee her > I know not 
 
 * whether the fight of her might not pro- 
 4 voke me to fome -defpcrate action.' 
 
 Comrade,
 
 The Invifible SPY. 
 
 Conrade. I think it is bed you fhould 
 refrain feeing her, 'till you are more 
 the matter of your pafllon ; but as thz 
 affair \ve have been fpeaking of admits 
 of no delay, fuppofe you write to 
 her.' 
 
 Murcio. 'The advice is good. Oh,, 
 ' what a curfe it is to have a difobedicnt 
 child !' 
 
 He appear'd in the moft bitter anguifh 
 of mind while uttering thefe lad words ; 
 but, having recover'd himfelf a little, 
 took pen, ink, and paper, and wrote the 
 following lines : 
 
 To MEL ANT HI. 
 " Thou fcandal to my blood and name, 
 
 AT you ftill live to receive this, 
 thank the gentleman whom you 
 " would have wrong'd by carrying pol- 
 " lution to his bed ; he has obtain'd 
 " a reprieve for you on this condition, 
 " that you declare the name and quality 
 " of ycur undoer, to the end that I may 
 " take iucli rncafures as I (hall jud^o 
 ** proper, to oblige him to do jullice to 
 " the honour of a family of winch you 
 " are the only blemilh. Think not to 
 M $ " deny;
 
 252 c flx Invifible S?r. 
 
 " deny your crime, I have the infamous 
 ** witnefs of it under your own hand ; 
 " but be plain and open in your con- 
 "- feflion, if you hope ever to- obtain 
 " mercy either from heaven or 
 
 " Your offended father; 
 
 " MURCIO. 
 
 After having fliew'd this to Conrade; 
 he call'd for the waiting maid, and with 
 a ftern voice and countenance, bid her 
 give that letter to her miftrefs, and bring 
 him an immediate anfwer : I follow'cl, 
 and faw with what agonies poor Melanthe 
 read, this cruel mandate ; between the 
 fears of what her father's indignation 
 might inflict upon her, and the fhame of 
 appearing guilty of a crime her foul dif- 
 dain'd, Ihe was fo much overwhelmed, 
 that for fome minutes fne had not power 
 to fpeak , and when flie did, it was only 
 to utter this exclamation : 
 
 Melantbe. * What will become of me \ 
 oh this vile plot of Florimel's-!' 
 
 Molly.. * Lord, madam, do not put 
 * y our felf into this flurry; you know 
 ' your father's temper well enough, and 
 ' could not expect he would be lefs fe- 
 vere , but it will be all over in time, 
 
 6 and
 
 Spy. 253 
 
 r and' you muft refolve to bear it- for a 
 e while.* 
 
 Melanthe. ' I cannot, will not bear 
 e it ; I will go down this inftant and 
 difclofe all,, and clear my innocence !' 
 
 Molly. c Sure, madam, you would not 
 be fo mad. What would you undo 
 6 all fo much pains has been taken to 
 4 bring about, and be forced to marry 
 Conrade at laft ? 
 
 Melanthe. < Was there ever fo terrible 
 e a dilemma ! what anfwer can I give 
 to my father I* 
 
 Molly. * Dear, madam, fay any thing ; 
 6 tell him you are in love with the 
 
 * man in the moon, the Great Mogul, 
 ' fay any thing bat the truth,' 
 
 Melanthe. ( How filly am I to afk 
 
 * advice of fuch a giddy creature ! but 
 < I will try what I can do.' 
 
 With this me turn'd herfelf towards a 
 table whereon flood a flandifli, fat 
 down, paufed a while, then began to 
 write; but had fcarce finifh'd two lines 
 before (he left off, tore the paper , 
 mu fed again, and then began afrefh ; 
 
 the
 
 Invifibk SPY. 
 
 the fecond efTay met with the fame fate 
 as the former, and fo did feveral fuo 
 ceeding ones, till at laft fhe threw the 
 pen out of her hand, ftarted up and 
 laid, 
 
 Melanthf. ' 'Tis in" vain to attempt 
 ' it, I cannot write ; can find no- 
 * thing to fay that will abate my father's 
 rage/ 
 
 Molly. e Why then, madam, fay no- 
 thing, e'en let him think as he pleafes 
 at prefent ; if you will but pluck up 
 a fpirit we mail do well enough -, he 
 will not kill you for his own fake ; and 
 as for any thing elfe you muft content 
 yourfelf to fubmit to it ; nothing can 
 be fo bad as marrying Conrade. 1 will 
 go to Florimel prefently ; if I am fo 
 lucky as to find her at home, 'tis ten 
 to one but fhe puts fomething into our 
 heads.' 
 
 Melantke. ' Do fo 5 I wifh me were 
 here/ 
 
 While they were fpeaking Murcio 
 call'd very loud at the bottom of the 
 flairs for Molly to come down, on which 
 fhefaid-: 
 
 Molfy'.
 
 Invifible Spy. 255 
 
 ' Do you hear, madam ; but 
 6 I mufl face the ftorm for fear it fhould 
 c come hither and terrify you worfe. 
 4 I wifh you had as much courage as I 
 ' have.' 
 
 She faid no more, but ran haftily down 
 into the parlour, where I with no lefs 
 fpeed attended her foot-fleps, quite im- 
 patient to hear how the pert baggage 
 would behave. 
 
 Murcio. What is the reafon, minx, 
 6 that I have no anfwer to the letter you 
 * carry'd up ? 
 
 Molly. * Lord, fir, there were fome- 
 what or other in that letter that has 
 frighted my poor lady almoft out of her 
 w its ; flie does nothing but cry and 
 wring her hands, it would make your 
 heart ake to fee her. She write an an- 
 fwer ! no indeed, fhe is not in a 
 condition to give an anfwer.' 
 
 M*rcio. If fhe can't you muft, hufley. 
 < Who was that ftllow you let out of 
 ' my houfe yefterday morning ?' 
 
 6 MoUy. ' I, fir, -I let out no fellow, 
 not I. 1
 
 256 *Tbe Invifible SPY. 
 
 Murc'io. e Tis falfe , my friend here, 
 happening to pafs through the flreet 
 
 < at that time, faw him come out.' 
 
 Molly. ' Why then, fir, your friend is 
 ' no better than a pickthank for bringing 
 
 * you fuch idle ftories ; and I am not 
 " afraid to tell him fo to his face. I 
 
 * fay again, I let out no fellow.' 
 
 Murcb. Was there ever fuch impu- 
 
 * dence !' 
 
 Conrade^ c Come, come, mrs. Molly, 
 ' you had better confefs the truth, it 
 
 * will be for the good of your lady, and. 
 
 < yourfelf too.' 
 
 Molly. Sir, I (hall not tell a lye for 
 the matter , I let out no fellow ; 
 there was a fine gentleman, indeed, 
 that fat up all night playing at cards 
 with my lady, that I let out; ; but 
 no fellow I allure you.' 
 
 * Well, and pray mrs. bra- 
 e zenface, what is the name of this fine 
 ' gentleman ?' 
 
 Molly. * Lord, fir, do you think I 
 
 men 
 that 
 
 * know the names of nil the gentlemen
 
 Invifible Spy. 257 
 
 * that come to vifit my lady ? indeed 
 ' I am not fo impertinent as to afk.' 
 
 Murdo. No equivocation ; tell me 
 
 * this moment or I lhall be your death.' 
 
 Molly. < Blefs me, fir, how can you 
 
 * fright a body fo for nothing ! but ir 
 ' you would be my death twenty times 
 
 * over I can fay no more than I have 
 ' done.' 
 
 Conrade. ' Dear Murcio, this girl is 
 
 * not worth the pafiion you are in -, I 
 ' hope the young lady herfelf will fatisfy 
 '- you, when once me confiders how 
 
 * much it is her intereft to do fo.*" 
 
 T^urclo. c Not while (he has fuch a 
 harden'd wretch to encourage her obfti- 
 nancy. HufTey, pack up all your 
 trumpery, and get out of my houfe di- 
 rectly, or I mail provide a place for 
 you in Bridewell.' 
 
 Molly. 6 Oh, dear fir, I mall not give 
 you that trouble -, there are places 
 ' enough to be had without your pro- 
 { viding.' 
 
 After me had left the room, and Mur- 
 cio had vented his paflion in two or three 
 
 hearty
 
 258 'The Invifible SPY*. 
 
 hearty curfes, he turn'd to Conrade, and, 
 with a tone of voice which exprefs'd the 
 deeped trouble of mind, utter'd 'thefe 
 words : 
 
 Murcio. < You fee, my dear friend, 
 that both miftrefs and maid are alike 
 incorrigible. What now remains for 
 me to do, either to preferve my family 
 from difgrace, or this degenerate girl 
 from everlafting ruin ?* 
 
 The other, who doubtlefs condemn'd 
 Melanthe more in his heart than he would 
 let her father know he did, could find 
 nothing to fay in her defence ; but that 
 he hoped, when the firlt confufion of 
 this diicovery was a little over, me would 
 be brought to reafon , and therefore in- 
 treated he would allow her fomc fmali 
 time to recollect herfelf. 
 
 As the converfation now began to con-" 
 lift only of railings on the one fide, and 
 perfuafions to moderation on the other, 
 I eafily perceived that nothing of impor- 
 tance would be the refult, fo refolved to 
 leave the two old gentlemen together, 
 and accordingly laid hold of the firft op- 
 portunity to get out of the houfe. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 The Invifible SPY. 259 
 
 !*Btt8ttdtlG|EnftMj&^ 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 Prefentt fometbing as little expefted by 
 the deader as it was by the parties, 
 concern 1 din it -, and, if the author's 
 hopes do not deceive him, will aljo 
 afford an equal fo are of J'atisfadion 
 asfurprife. 
 
 BEING very anxious for the fiCua- 
 tion of poor Melanthe, I fully de- 
 fign'd to make another vilit to Murcio's 
 houfe early the next morning j but I had 
 no fooner got my Tablets clear* d of the 
 impreffion made en them the preceding 
 day, than fome company coming in de- 
 tain'd me at home till the hour in which 
 I ufually dined, and then being told the 
 table was fpread, I fat down , but made- 
 a very fhort repaft, being always more 
 eager to gratify the cravings of my mind 
 than my fenfual appetite. 
 
 I came to Murcio*s door when Conrade 
 had juft alighted from his coach and was 
 ftepping in, fo I had an eafy accefs, and 
 follow'd him up into the dining-room, 
 where Murcio was then fitting, and ex- 
 
 prefs'd
 
 26 o T^x Invifible S p r. 
 
 prefs'd the fatisfaftion he took in feeing 
 him in words to this effect : 
 
 Mitrcio. My dear friend, I am glad 
 4 you are come to give me your opinion 
 
 * in a thing I am about to do \ -my un- 
 
 * gracious daughter has given .^ne. nc 
 ' anfvver, made me no fubmifiions ; 
 4 I eannot fuffer her in my houfe , and, if 
 
 * I turn her out of it, am in danger of 
 
 * having my whole family fcandaiized-by 
 ' her behaviour ; I am therefore re- 
 
 * folved to fend her down to the farthefb 
 
 * part of Cornwall, where I have a near 
 
 * kinfman ; I was going to write to 
 ' him on that occafion when I heard you. 
 
 * were here.* 
 
 Conrade. * I flatter myfelf, fir, that 
 
 * the intelligence I bring will fave you 
 ' that trouble, and the young lady fo 
 
 * long a journey : - I have difcover'd 
 
 * her favourite lover.' 
 
 Murcio. Is it pofilble! for heaven's. 
 c fake who, what is he !*" 
 
 Conrade. c One you little fufpecl:, tho 9 
 c I have feen him often here , tis Do-*
 
 261 
 
 Mttrcw. c Doriman ! yes, fmce his 
 
 * return from his travels he vifits here 
 -* fometimes ; his fitter, Florimel, and 
 
 * Melanthe were 'brought up together 
 
 * at the boarding- fchool, and fmce they 
 
 * lefc it have fcarce been two days afun- 
 * der : but I cannot think Dorlmon 
 
 * has been her feducer : /he is neither 
 
 * above his hopes nor below his expefta- 
 ' tions : if he had any inclinations to- 
 
 ' wards her, I know of nothing fhould 
 
 * 'hinder him from making his honour- 
 
 * able addrefies. But what grounds 
 4 have you for fuch a fuppofition?* 
 
 Conrads. ' You fiiall hear : you 
 know I told you that I did not fee the 
 
 * face of the gentleman that came out of 
 
 * your houfe on Sunday morning j but 
 
 * as I follow'd him a good part of the 
 
 * ftreet I took notice of his habit, which, 
 
 * indeed, had fomewhat particular in it, 
 ' and would have attracted my obferva- 
 - tion had I feen it on any other perfon ; 
 it was a dark olive colour' d French 
 
 * barragon, laced with a very rich Point 
 
 * d'Efpagne down the feams ; he had 
 
 * alfo a fine flaxen wig, with a bag and 
 
 * folitair of an uncommon dimenfion ; 
 I then took him either for a foreigner,. 
 ' or one lately come from abr.ad j in 
 
 the
 
 262 rfhe Itrvifible Spy. 
 
 the fame drefs, and as exactly as I faw 
 him then, did I fee him within this half 
 hour at the chocokte-lioufe : I can- 
 not, indeed, fwear to the man, but I 
 think may fafely do fo as to the cloaths ; 
 efpecially as 1 heard himfelf fay, on 
 fome gentleman's praifmg the fuit, and 
 telling him they believed there was not 
 fuch another in England, that he was 
 pretty fure there was not , for he had 
 befpoke it at Paris, according to his 
 own tafte, and it had not been come 
 over long enough for any one to take 
 a pattern by it. 
 
 Murcio. * I muft own that there is a 
 
 * ftrong probability in what you fay, but 
 
 * yet, without a certainty, know not .what 
 
 * meafures I can purfue.* 
 
 Conrade. ' If you will take my advice, 
 fend for him ; I heard him fay he 
 Oiould dine at home, fo is fcarce 
 gone out; . give fome diftant hints, at 
 firlt, concerning a marriage with your 
 daughter , and, according to the anfwers 
 he makes, you will be inftrudted how to 
 proceed.' 
 
 Murcio. It mall be fo , I will nor. 
 
 * let him fee I have any fufpicion of my 
 
 * daughter's fault ; and, whether there 
 
 be
 
 The Invifible SPY. 263 
 
 6 be any thing between them or not* a 
 
 * propofal of the nature you mention can- 
 
 * not feem ftrange to him, as our families 
 
 * have always lived together in a perfect 
 c harmony and good underftanding.' 
 
 He had no fooner faid this than he 
 call'd a fervant and fent him with his 
 compliments to Dorimon, and to let him 
 know he dcfired to fpeak with him im- 
 mediately, if not otherwiie engaged. 
 
 After this the two friends had fume 
 farther difcourfe, concerning what fteps 
 the father of Melanthe mould take in 
 this affair-, when the fellow, who had 
 been fent on the above meflage, rerurn'd 
 and told his mafter, that Dorimon faid 
 he would not fail doing himfelf the ho- 
 nour of obeying his commands in a few 
 minutes , on which Conrade took his 
 leave, and Murcio fat down, endeavou- 
 ring to frame his temper and counte- 
 nance fo as to be fuitable to the bufinefs 
 he had in hand. 
 
 DC rim on appear 'd in a In or t time, and 
 the ftrft compliments being pafb, Murcio 
 began to open what he had to fay, by 
 telling him that he had a great regard 
 for his family ; that he was a fine young 
 genthman -, and that being now five and 
 
 twenty,
 
 264 
 
 twenty, he much wonder'd that he had 
 not heard of his addreffing fome lady on 
 the fcore of marriage , to which Dori- 
 mon reply'd, that marriage was a thing 
 he had not as yet much thought upon ; 
 and that having a fitter who took care of, 
 the affairs of his houfhold, a wife was 
 the lefs necefiary to him. Murcio then 
 demanded, if he found any averfenefs in 
 himfelf to changing his condition in fa- 
 vour of a woman of equal birth and for- 
 tune, and who would approve of his prc- 
 tenfions. Dorimon fcem'd a little fur- 
 prifed at thefe interrogatories ; but an- 
 fwer'd in the negative, with this provifo, 
 that the perfon of the lady were equally 
 agreeable. Murcio, thinking this reply 
 a proper cue for explaining himfelf, did 
 fo in the following manner : 
 
 Murcio. * What think you then of my 
 
 * daughter Melanthe ?' 
 
 Dorimon. * As of an angel, fir, above 
 ' my hopes.* 
 
 Murcio. c No fine fpeeches, Don- 
 
 * mon j deal fincerely with me. Do 
 
 * you like her well enough to marry her ?' 
 
 Dorlmcn.
 
 The Lroifible SPY. 265 
 
 Dorimon. Yes, fir, upon my foul ; 
 and ihould blefs the hand that gave 
 
 * her to me.' 
 
 Murcio. * Sir, I take you at your 
 
 * word, and give you mine that you mall 
 ' have her, and fix thoufand pounds, if 
 
 * you think that a fufficient dower.' 
 
 Dorimon. I do, fir, and though Me- 
 
 * lanthe is a fufficient fortune of her- 
 
 * felf, (hall accept your offer as a father's 
 blefling, and make a fettlement accor- 
 dingly. 1 
 
 Murcio. ' Then there remains no more 
 than to get the marriage-articles drawn 
 1 U P> which* if you pleafe, mail be ta- 
 ' morrow morning.' 
 
 Dorimon. It cannot be too fcon. 
 But, fir, may I not have leave to fee 
 the lovely Melanthe, to throw myfelf 
 at her feet, and be aflfur'd fhe will not 
 regret the happinefs you beftow upon 
 me?' 
 
 Murico, Oh, fir, you have nothing 
 4 to apprehend on that account ; for, to 
 * -be plain with you, I dcfign'd her for 
 another j fhe rejected the propolal, 
 
 VOL. L N fqg
 
 266 The Invlfible SPY, 
 
 for which (he has been under fome 
 difgrace with me ; but as I have fince 
 difcover'd her difobedience was occa- 
 fion'd by the affection fhe has for you, 
 I was the more eafily induced to par- 
 don it : fhe does not yet know that I 
 confent to gratify her inclinations ; but 
 you fhall have the pleafure of telling 
 her yourfelf.' 
 
 He then went to the door and order' d 
 a fervant to bid Melanthe come down ; 
 after which he turn'd back and faid to 
 Dorimon, 
 
 Murcio. ' My daughter will wait on 
 you prefently ; I know you will excufe 
 my leaving you together, I have bu- 
 finefs calls me abroad ; but expect to 
 fee you to-morrow morning, and fhall 
 have a lawyer here.' 
 
 Dcrimon. ' You may be certain, fir, 
 I fliall not fail/ 
 
 The other faid no more, but went 
 haftily away to avoid feeing his daughter } 
 he had not left the room above half a 
 minute before Melanthe enter'd, but with 
 a confufion impoffible to be exprefs'd j 
 fhe had expected no other, on being call'd 
 down, than to meet fome terrible effects 
 
 of
 
 Jbe Irwifible SPY. 267 
 
 t*f her father's difpleafure \ her eyes, 
 yet red with tears, were now caft down 
 upon the floor, as {he advanced with 
 flow and and trembling fteps ; nor faw 
 me who was there, till Dormion fprung 
 forward, and took her by the hand with 
 thefe words : 
 
 Dorimon. ' Charming Melanthe, how 
 am I tranfported at the goodnefs of 
 your father ! how incapable of ex- 
 prefling my gratitude for the permiflion 
 he has juft now given me of telling you 
 how much, how truly I adore you !' 
 
 Melanthe. ' Blefs me, Dorimon, what 
 
 is the meaning of all this ! Where is 
 ' my father!' 
 
 Dorimon. c Gone, to give me the 
 happy opportunity of endeavouring to 
 4 infpire you with fentiments in favour of 
 
 my pafiion, and conformable to his 
 ' will.' 
 
 Melantbe. * Your pafTion, and his 
 
 < -will ! .1 Certainly, Dorimon, you muft 
 either be mad, or I not in my lenfes. 
 
 < For heaven's fake explain this 
 
 myftery!' 
 
 N 2 He
 
 268 The Invi/ible SPY. 
 
 He w.as going to reply when his lifter 
 F.loj'imel came tripping in, that young 
 Jady having been inform'd by MoJly of 
 ail that had pafs'd at Murcio's houfe, was 
 extremely impatient to know how her 
 fair friend behaved afterwards on- that oo 
 cafion , Melanthe no fooner faw her 
 than (he flew into her arms, and cry'd, 
 
 Melanthe. * My dear, dear Florimel, 
 
 4 what would I not have given to have 
 ' fee.n you laft night !' 
 
 Florimsl. ' I was no lefs eager to be 
 
 * with you ; but I find that things have 
 ' quite chang'd their face fince then ; I 
 
 * met your father at the door as I enter'd j 
 the old gentleman feems to be in 
 quite good humour, defir'd me to walk 
 
 * up, and told me I fliould, find you and 
 
 * my brother together.' 
 
 Dorimon. * Ay, my dear fitter, we 
 
 * are together, and I hope mall foon be 
 
 * joined to feparate no more.' 
 
 Florimel. * Separate no more ! as how I 
 
 Dorimon. * By the'folemn and indif- 
 
 5 foluble ties of marriage -> Murcio, 
 
 the
 
 The Invifble SPY. 
 
 4 the generous Murcio, has bcftowed her 
 ' on me.' 
 
 Florimel. What, is it agreed upon ! r 
 
 Dirimon. ' Abfolutely , to-morrow 
 
 * the articles are to be drawn between us, 
 and there will, then be nothing wanting 
 4 but my angel's confent for the con- 
 ' fummation of my blifs. 
 
 Florimel. * And was this the bufinefs 
 
 * on which he fent for you in fuch hafce ?* 
 
 Dorimw. ' The fame.' 
 
 Here Florimel burfl into fo violent a 
 fit of laughter as rendered her unable to 
 fpeak for fome time j in vain Dorimon 
 afked feveral times over the cau/e of this 
 extravagant mirth ; and it was bwt by de- 
 grees me recovered herfelf enough to 
 make this reply : 
 
 florimel. ' I have found out the riddle j 
 < _ it was I, brother, that have made 
 this match.' 
 
 Dorlmcn. You !' 
 
 FiorimeL ' Yes, with the affiftance of 
 that fuit of cloaths you have on.' 
 
 N 3 Then,
 
 270 The Invtfible SPY. 
 
 Then, addrefiing herfelf to Melanthe, 
 proceeded thus : 
 
 Florimel. * You mufl know, my dear, 
 that it was Conrade himfelf that watch'd 
 me coming out of your houfe, I faw 
 him ftand perdu under fir Thomas 
 *******> s p 0rcn; he has certainly 
 feen my brother in thefe cloaths, and, 
 miftaking him for me, has pafs'd him 
 upon your father for your fuppofed 
 gallant." 
 
 ?/!elar,the. * It muft be fo, indeed ; 
 
 * there is no other way of accounting for 
 
 * this odd event.' 
 
 Dorimon was now as much confounded 
 in his turn, as the two ladies had been in 
 theirs, till his fifter, having firft obtain'd 
 Melanthe's leave, related to him the whole 
 hiftory of their contrivance to break the 
 match with Conrade ; this repetition 
 occafion'd fome pleafantry between the bro- 
 ther and the fifter ; but Melanthe was too 
 much afham'd to bear any great part in 
 it ; her new lover, obferving her fe- 
 riOufnefs, fpoke in this manner : 
 
 Dorimon. ' I have got nothing, Flori- 
 
 * mel, by the account you have given, 
 
 but
 
 'The Invifible S p y. 271 
 
 but the mortification of that vanity 
 Murcio had inlpired me with j and 
 dare not now flatter myfelf that Me- 
 lanthe will fo readily, as I once hoped, 
 acquiefce in the agreement made be- 
 tween us.' 
 
 Flcrimel. ' If fhe does not all will 
 come out , and if fo, Murcio will cer- 
 tainly return to his firft engagement to 
 give her to Conrade. ' "What fay you, 
 Melanthe, have you averfion enough 
 for my brother to run fo great a rifque ?' 
 
 This demand made Melanthe blufh 
 exccffively ; me paufed, hung down 
 her head ; but at lad made this return :* 
 
 Melanlbe. * So fudden a change in 
 
 4 my fortune, might well excufe me from 
 
 giving a dired anfwer to fuch a que- 
 
 ftion : of this, however, you may be 
 
 * aflur'd that I have not courage to dif- 
 
 * obey my father a fecond time, and that 
 < I love the fitter too well to have any 
 
 * averfion to the brother.' 
 
 On this Dorimon kifs'd her hand with 
 a great deal of warmth, and faid many 
 tender and pafiionate things to her, which, 
 as the reader will eafily conceive, I think 
 it needlefs to repeat , and fhall only add, 
 N 4 that
 
 272 We Invjfbk SPY. 
 
 that between the brother and the fitter 
 Melanthe was at laft prevail'd upon to 
 confefs, that it would be without the 
 lead reluctance fhe fhould obey her father 
 in the choice lie had now made for her. 
 
 Tho' there now was little caufe to ap- 
 prehend any difappoinment in thefe nup- 
 tials, yet I refolved to fee the thing fully 
 concluded on j accordingly I went the next 
 morning to Murcio's houfe, where I found 
 him very bufy with his lawyer; Dorimon 
 came in foon after, and the writings were 
 prdcntly fili'd up, fign'd, feal'd, and 
 duly executed by both parties : the 
 lawyer flaid no longer than to receive his 
 fees, and he had no fooner left the room, 
 than Murcio fpoke to Dorimon in thefe 
 terms : 
 
 * Well, Dorimon, I think 
 
 * there is nothing now wanting for the 
 
 * making you my fon, except the cere- 
 
 * mony of the church ; and I did not 
 
 * care how foon that alfo was perform'd ; 
 ' I do not love to fee affairs of this na- 
 ' ture kept long in hand ; befides, you 
 muft know, that on my daughter's re- 
 filling to marry the perfon I firft pro- 
 ' pofed to her, I fwore in my pafiion 
 
 * that I would never fee her face again 
 
 * till me was a wife.' 
 
 Dorimon.
 
 'The Invisible SPY. 273 
 
 Dcrimon. You may be afilired, fir, 
 I (hall think every moment an age till 
 I can prevail upon the lovely Melanthe 
 to take that name ; and I do not doubt 
 but her knowledge of the vow you have 
 made will very much expedite my 
 wifhes.' 
 
 Murcio. I am going directly to my 
 little country feat, and fliall leave you to 
 confult with her about the day ; but 
 will write to the re&or of ****, who is 
 my kinfman, and defire he will perform" 
 the office of tacking you together ; 
 when that is over, would have you both 
 come down to *****, where you may 
 depend on meeting with a fatherly re^ 
 ception.' 
 
 Nothing farther of any confequence 
 was faid by either of them, Murcio 
 took coach for the country, and Dorimon 
 went to the appartment of his miftrefs, 
 where (trenuoufly preffing her for the 
 fpeedy confummation of his happinefs, 
 her father's pretended vow ferv'd as an 
 excufe for her compliance, and fhe con- 
 fented that the wedding mould be folem- 
 nized on the next Sunday alter. 
 
 N 5 No
 
 274 
 
 SPY. 
 
 No accident retarded the fulfiling this 
 agreement, and they were married on the 
 day appointed, by the reverend gentleman 
 recommended by Murcio; after which 
 they fet out, accompany'd by Florimel, 
 for *****, in order to receive the blefling 
 he had promifed to beftow upon them. 
 
 As no one of this company had any 
 reafon to be difcontented at what had 
 happen'd, it is not to be doubted but 
 the goddefs of chearfulnefs accompany'd 
 them in their little journey ; I fay jour- 
 ney, becaufe the fitter of Dorimon having 
 an averfion to the water, efpecially in 
 rough weather, as it was that day, they 
 went in a landau, in complaifance to 
 her ; but the fubjeft of their converfation 
 is not in my power to relate, as 1 had 
 no opportunity of being witnefs of it. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 7be Invtfble SPY. 275 
 cfcjrTsPat^ifa??jay^^ 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 Contains a fuccinft acccount of feme 
 farther particular s, in feme meaftire 
 relative to the foregoing adventure, 
 and t bejtdes % are of too agreeable, 
 and interring a nature in themfehes 
 not to be looked upon as a right fy 
 judged, and very necejjary appendix. 
 
 HAving married my two new made 
 lovers, the reader will pofiibly ima- 
 gine, that the laft aft of the play is 
 ended, and that I mould now drop the 
 curtain, to prepare for fome frefli fubjeft 
 f entertainment ; but he muff wait 
 awhile, I have not yet done with any of 
 my characters , and befides, that there 
 are many things which feem to require a 
 farther explanation, I cannot think of 
 parting with my favourite Florimel with- 
 out giving her thofe praifes which her wit 
 and good humour may juftly claim. 
 
 It is not unlikely, indeed, but that 
 
 there may be fome over fcrupulous ladies 
 
 in the world who will be fo far from 
 
 approving the character of this charming 
 
 N 6 girl.
 
 2j6 We Ini'ifible SPY. 
 
 girl, that they will highly contemn her 
 for afTiiming the air and habit of a man, 
 tho' for never fo fhort a fpace of time ; 
 and even rail at Melanthe for confcnting 
 to put in execution the ftratagem me had 
 contrived for her deliverance from an evil 
 fo juftly dreaded by her j fuch as thefe 
 will certainly think I have faid enough, 
 if not too much on the occafion, and per- 
 haps throw afide the book, and cry they 
 will read no farther : well, be it fo, 
 the lofs will be entirely their own, I am 
 pretty confident neither my reputation,, 
 nor the profits of my publifher, will, 
 fbffer by their ill-nature in this point. 
 
 It is for the entertainment of the gay 4 
 the witty, and the truly virtuous, .who, 
 by the way, are never cenforious, that 
 thefe lucubrations are chiefly intended ; 
 and if I am fo fortunate as to pleafe 
 them, mould give myfelf no great painv 
 what may be faid of me by thofe of the 
 abovemention'd .clafs. 
 
 In defiance, therefore, of thefe fair, or- 
 rather unfair critics, I mall proceed in- 
 what I have farther to relate concerning 
 the principal fubjecls of this narrative. 
 
 On their arrival at ***** they were re- 
 ceived by Murcio with a (hew of the: 
 
 greateft
 
 7 he Livifible Spy. 277 
 
 greateft ikisfa&ion, yet I, who took care 
 to be there before them, in order to be 
 witnefs of what Ihould pafs at this firft 
 interview, could eafily perceive that he 
 embraced his fon-in-law with more cordi- 
 ality and lefs conftraint than he did his 
 daughter ; the remembrance of her fup- 
 pofed fault it was that doublefs render'd 
 him unable to treat her with his ac- 
 cuftomM tendernefs j he fcarce totich'd 
 her cheek in faluting her, and when he 
 gave her his bleffing added, ' Pray 
 4 heaven your future conduct may de- 
 ' ferve it.' 
 
 It could not be otherwife, but that all 
 the company muft comprehend the full 
 meaning of thefe words , but poor Me- 
 lanthe was fo much affected by them, 
 that me burft into a flood of tears, and 
 throwing herfelf a fecond time at her 
 father's feet, addrefs'd him in thefe pa- 
 thetic terms :' 
 
 l Oh, fir, I beg, I be- 
 feech you, by all the love you once had 
 for me, to forgiv- the only act o r dif- 
 obcvJience I was ever guilty of; par- 
 don but the averfion I had to the match 
 you ; rft propofed to me, aiid you will 
 eafily abfolve the reft.' 
 
 Vorimon.
 
 278 T-le Itwifibie SPY. 
 
 Dorimon. * Yes, fir, my dear,- my 
 charming wife, is as innocent of every 
 thing that can deferve your blame, as I 
 am from even the moft diftant wifh of 
 violating her purity or dimonouring 
 your family. 1 
 
 Plorimel. ' Ay, ay, it is poor me 
 that am alone in fault ; but fince the 
 mifchief I have done has been produc- 
 tive of fo much good, J fcarce doubt 
 of being excufed by a gentleman of fo 
 much good fenfe as Murcio. I have 
 deliver'd your daughter, fir, by my con- 
 trivance, from the horrors of a forced 
 marriage ; I have procur'd a wife for 
 my brother, with whom, if he is not 
 the moft happy, I am certain he de- 
 ferves to be the moft miferable of all 
 mankind j and 1 have got you a fon- 
 in-law who I hope will merit that ho- 
 nour by his future behaviour.' 
 
 Murcio, who could not form even the 
 moft diftant guefs at the meaning of all 
 this, look'd fometimes on the one and 
 fometimes on the other, with all the tokens 
 of the utmoft amazement, without being 
 able to fpeak one fyllable; which gave 
 Florimel the opportunity of unravelling 
 the whole myftery of the affair, as (he 
 
 had
 
 The Invifible SPY. 279 
 
 had before promifed Melanthe to take 
 upon herfelf to do. 
 
 In fpite of the little refentment Mur- 
 cio at firft conceived for the trick had 
 bc:en put upon him, he could not forbear 
 fmiling within himfelf at the invention 
 of the contriver ; and the wit and fpirit 
 with which that young lady talk'd to 
 him upon it, very much contributed to 
 bring him into good humour -, but that 
 which entirely reconciled him to the 
 wedded pair, was the confideration that 
 Dorimon was wholly ignorant of the plot 
 till after the marriage was concluded, 
 and the ailunmce Melanthe gave him, 
 that fhe was far from any intention to 
 deceive him, but had flatter'd herfelf 
 with the hope thai Conrade would have 
 broke the engagement, without men- 
 tioning to him the reafons he had for 
 doing fo. 
 
 Though to have married his daughter 
 to Conrade would have faved him fix 
 thoufand pounds, yet the many ill con- 
 fequences which would probably, have 
 attended fo difproportionate a match now 
 occurring to his mind, which before he 
 had not thought upon, made him not 
 only contented, but rejoiced that this 
 change of hands had happen'd, and he 
 
 could
 
 280 The Inviftble SP v. 
 
 could not forbear kifllng and hugging; 
 Florimel for being the chief author of it. 
 
 Every one now endeavouring to outvie 
 the other in giving teftimonies of their 
 good humour , among the many gay and 
 gallant things faid by Dorimon on this 
 occafion, he protcfted to keep his French 
 cloaths as long as he lived, for a perpe- 
 tual Memento of the good they had done 
 for him, and never wear them but on the 
 anniverfary of that happy day which gave 
 his dear Melanthe to his arms. 
 
 On falling afterwards into fome dif- 
 courfe concerning t^e oddnefs of the acci- 
 dent which had brought about a marriage, 
 fo little thought of by either of the par- 
 ties, yet fo agreeable to both, as well as 
 to their Iriends, Murcio exprefs'd himfelf 
 in this manner : 
 
 * I cannot help, thinking that 
 there is fomething peculiarly remarkable 
 in this tranfadtion, and looks as if the 
 hand of Heaven had directed the accom- 
 pli Ib men t, whiJi makes me hope the 
 coiiicquence will make good the old 
 proverb, that 
 
 Bkflel
 
 The Invifible SPY. 2 8i 
 
 Ble fifed is the wooing 
 That's not long a doing. 
 
 FlorimsL * I dare almoft engage my 
 own life for the mutual happinefs of 
 theirs -, their humours are fo exactly 
 fuited to each other, that neither of 
 them are fit for any body elfe-, and 
 and now I confider on it, am amazed 
 that in the long acquaintance they had 
 together, this bufinefs never came into 
 either of their heads till chance put it 
 < there/ 
 
 Dorimon. e Nay, fifter, I am now con- 
 ' vinced, by the tranfport and the plea- 
 fing flutter at my heart, on the otter 
 ' Murcio made of his daughter, that I 
 
 * was then pafiionately in love with her, 
 c tho' without knowing I was fo.' 
 
 Melanlbe, * And if you had been as 
 indifferent to me, as I then thought 
 ' you were, I mould not certainly have 
 
 * been fo foon and fo eafily perfuaded to 
 fc be yours.' 
 
 Murcio. Well, all things have 
 ' happened for the bed, and there is no- 
 ' thing now wanting to complete my 
 
 * fatisfaction, but the clearing up Melan- 
 
 4 the's
 
 282 The Inv'ifible SPY. 
 
 ' die's innocence to Conrade. I fliould 
 ' be glad he were here.' 
 
 The word was fcarce out of his mouth, 
 when a fervant came into the room and 
 informed him, that the perfon he had 
 mention'd was below, on which heorder'd 
 he ihould be immediately introduced. 
 
 The old gentleman, who had heard 
 nothing of what had happened, nor feen 
 Murcio fince the converiation with him, 
 repeated in a former chapter, had been 
 impatient to know the fuccefs of his pro- 
 pofal to Dorimon, and finding he did 
 not return to town as ufual, made him 
 this vifit at *****, in order to gratify 
 his curiofity. 
 
 He had not advanced above half way 
 into the room, when Murcio prefented 
 the bride and bridegroom to him ; and 
 told him he had been juft wifhing for 
 him to congratulate the nuptials. 
 
 Conrade endeavour*d to compofe him- 
 felf enough to falute them with the ac- 
 cuftom'd forms , but as he had not in 
 his heart believed that Dorimon would be 
 preval'd upon to marry Melanthe, . tho* he 
 had advifed her father to make the expe- 
 riment, was fo much furprifed on finding 
 
 the
 
 The Invifible SPY. 283 
 
 die affair concluded, that he could ftot 
 forbear teftifying it in his looks, as well 
 as by crying out, 
 
 Gonrade. What married !' 
 
 FlcrimtL ' Yes, fir, they are mar- 
 f ried, the indiffoluble knot is tied ; , 
 
 * for which all due thanks be given to 
 
 * your fortunate miftake,' 
 
 Conr&ds. My miftake, madam ; 
 
 * pardon me if I do not comprehend 
 
 * your meaning.' 
 
 Dor t men. 6 I believe you do not, fir ; 
 yet it is to your miftaking another 
 for me, that I am indebted for being put 
 in pofTeflion of a happinefs which other- 
 wife I muft have follicited for a long 
 feries of time, and perhaps at lad never 
 have obtain'd : I do afliire you, fir, I 
 never prefumed to entertain one wilh to 
 the difhonour of Melanthe, and was 
 fleeping in my own bed when you ima- 
 gined me juft rifen from her arms.' 
 
 Murcio. He tells you nothing but 
 the truth ; he is innocent, fo is Me- 
 ' lanthc ; but here ftands her gallant -, 
 here is the author of this engima.' 
 
 In
 
 2 84 the invifible SPY. 
 
 In concluding thefe words, which he 
 had utter'd, with the mod cheartul air 
 he patted Florimel upon her cheek and 
 gently puhYd her towards Conrade ; but 
 that gentleman was now in fuch a con- 
 fternation, that he fcarce knew where he 
 was, much lefs had the power of diftin- 
 guifhing the fenfe of any thing he either 
 law or heard, till Florimel related to 
 him, in her fprightly faihion, every par- 
 ticular of that ftrat;igem which had oc- 
 cafion'd the breaking off the intended 
 march between him and Melanthe ; 
 JVJurcio alfo, and Dorimon, averring the 
 truth of what (he faid, he began, at laft, 
 to fee dearly into the whole affair ; after 
 which Melanthe, with a great deal of 
 modefty and fweetnefs, addrefs'd herfelf 
 to him in thefe terras : 
 
 Meltntbe. ' I hope, fir, you will par- 
 don the deception put upon you, as I 
 was conflrain'd to purfue ib extrordinary 
 a method, to avoid a thing which, in 
 the end, muft have been no lefs dif- 
 agreable to you than to myfelf : I mall 
 always acknowledge my obligation to 
 the generous offer your affection made ; . 
 but love, fir, is not in our power, if 
 it were, my gratitude to you, the con- 
 fideration of my own intereft, and the 
 
 duty
 
 Lmifible Spy. 
 
 * duty owing to my father, would cer- 
 4 tainly have inlpired me with it.' 
 
 Conrade. e Say no more, fweet lady, 
 I am afhamed of my pad folly, and 
 only wifh you would exert all the influ- 
 ence you have over your witty Hie gal- 
 lant, not to expofe this ftory in print; 
 I mould be forry, methinks, to fee 
 myfelf in a novel or play.' 
 
 Florimel, * No, no, fir, you need be 
 under no apprehenfions on that fcore, 
 I would not, for my own fake, have 
 the world know J put on breeches, 
 left my hufband, when I get one, fhould 
 be afraid I would attempt to wear them 
 afterwards.' 
 
 This reply of Florimers fet the whole 
 company into a fit of laughter, and would 
 doubtlefs have been the occafion of many 
 pleafant repartees, if the butler had not 
 that inftant given them a fummons to the 
 next room, where was a table elegantly 
 fpread with every thing fuitable to the 
 feafon , but as I could not partake with 
 them of any of the delicacies I faw before 
 me, I thought it beft to leave the houfe, 
 fo accordingly I Qipt out, pluck'd off my 
 Belt, went into a boat, and order'd the 
 waterman to row as faft as pofiible to Lon- 
 don ;
 
 286 The Tnvifible SPV. 
 
 don , where being arrived, I contented 
 myfelf with fuch tare as my own homely 
 board afforded. 
 
 Not many weeks from this adventure 
 had elapfed, before I heard that Florimel 
 was married to a young gentleman who 
 for feveral years me had loved, and by 
 whom fhe was equally beloved ; -my in- 
 fatiate curiofity, on this information, led 
 me to enquire into the hidden caufe which 
 had fo long delay'd the completion of 
 their mutual wifhes , and by ways and 
 means too tedious to be here inferted, I 
 at laft difcover'd it to be fuch as attracted 
 my higheft efteem and admiration. 
 
 Dorimon had been a little extravagant 
 in his equipage and way of living while on 
 his travels y her whole fortune lay in his 
 hands, and if call* d out, which in all pro- 
 bability would have been the cafe if me 
 had married, he muft have been obliged 
 to mortgage fome part of his eflate for the 
 payment ; it was therefore to fave her 
 brother from fo great an inconvenience, 
 that this generous young lady had been 
 deaf to all the follicitations of a beloved 
 lover, and the foft pleadings of her own 
 heart, till Melanthe's fortune coming into 
 the family removed the only impediment 
 to her wifhes* 
 
 Thus,
 
 The Invifible S P Y. 287 
 
 Thus, by the mod unfecn, undreamt 
 of means, does Providence difpofe every 
 thing for the advantage of its favourites : 
 Florimel, by her wit and contrivance 
 to ferve her fair friend, without propo- 
 fing the lead intereft to herfelf, or even 
 imagining me could have any, not only 
 brought about her brother's happinefs, 
 but met her own reward in the accom- 
 plifhment of her felicity. 
 
 Thefe two families lived together in 
 the moft perfect harmony, and Murcio, 
 who is little lefs fond of Florimel tLan of 
 his own daughter, pafles moft of his time 
 among them i Conrade alfo is extremely 
 intimate with both, infomuch that it is 
 thought he will, at his deceafe, divide a 
 good part of his large fortune between 
 them. 
 
 End of the Firji VO L UME.
 
 Juft pubKJhed, 
 Bj T. GARDNER in the Strand. 
 
 HE FEMALE SPECTATOR, Com- 
 pleat. In Four Pocket Volumes. Price 
 bound 1 2 s. 
 
 II. E P I S T L E S for the LA DIES. By flic 
 Authors of the FEMALE SPECTATOR. The Se- 
 cond Edition. In Two Volumes, Octavo. Price 
 bound i os. 
 
 The Charafter of this Work is in general fo well 
 known, as not to need a Recommendation ; but 
 as fome particular Perfons may be unacquainted 
 with it, it is hoped it will not offend the Mo- 
 defly of its Authors, juft to cite a few of the 
 Epithets given to it by fome of the moil diftin- 
 guifhing Judges of the prefent A g?. As 
 That it is the beft adapted for improving the 
 Morals, and refining the Taiie. That a juft 
 and proper Spirit breathes through the Whole. 
 That it imperceptibly makes its Readers 
 wifer. That it exalts the Ideas. That it L a 
 polite and elegant Advocate for private Virtue. 
 Thattho' itfeems by the Title to be princi- 
 pally intended for the Service of the Fair Sex, 
 yet there is not a Man of the greateft Genius 
 but may be pleafingly arnufed, That its Lan- 
 ' g ua g e i s elegant, clear, and conipicuous. 
 ' That its Stories are fo affeitingly related, that 
 ' whoever reads them will find the Paffions fm- 
 ' gularly moved. That it is judicioufiy b!end- 
 ' ed with Inftru&ion and Entertainment. That 
 " it infenfibly difcovers the Means of being 
 *' happy in ourfelves. That it is an admirable 
 ". Leffon for the Young and Unexperienced. 
 " That it points out fuch Foibles in ourfelves, as 
 " for want of being obferv'd, frequently entail 
 " the greateft UneafmefTes. That it is peculiar- 
 ' ly adapted to the reigning Habits of the prefent 
 ? Times, &c. &c."
 
 University of California? 
 
 SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 Return this material to the library 
 
 JUL 101992 
 
 ._ 
 
 RCH 
 
 * mil
 
 7603 
 
 PR 
 3506 
 
 v.l 
 
 A 000 005 683 8 
 
 i