CHAPTER IX.

THE man who believes that his honour depends upon that of his wife is a fool who torments himself, and drives her to despair; but he who, being naturally jealous, has the additional misfortune of loving his wife, and who expects that she should only live for him, is a perfect madman, whom the torments of hell have actually taken hold of in this world, and whom nobody pities. All reasoning and observation on these unfortunate circumstances attending wedlock concur in this, that precaution is vain and useless before the evil, and revenge odious afterwards.

The Spaniards, who tyrannize over their wives, more by custom, than

from jealousy, content themselves with preserving the niceness of their honour by duennas, grates, and locks. The Italians, who are wary in their suspicions, and vindictive in their resentments, pursue a different line of conduct: some satisfy themselves with keeping their wives under locks which they think secure: others in ingenious precautions outdo whatever the Spaniards can invent for confining the fair sex; but the generality are of opinion, that either in unavoidable danger, or in manifest transgression, the surest way is to assassinate.

But ye courteous and indulgent nations, who, far from admitting these savage and barbarous customs, give full liberty to your dear ribs, and commit the care of their virtue to their own discretion; you pass without

alarms or strife your peaceful days, in all the enjoyments of domestic indolence!

It was certainly some evil genius that induced Lord Chesterfield to distinguish himself from his patient and good-natured countrymen, and ridiculously to afford the world an opportunity of examining into the particulars of an adventure, which would perhaps never have been known without the verge of the court, and would every where have been forgotten in less than a month; but now, as soon as he had turned his back, in order to march away with his prisoner, and the ornaments she was supposed to have bestowed upon him, God only knows, what a terrible attack there was made upon his rear: Rochester, Middlesex, Sedley, Etherege, and the whole band

of wits, exposed him in numberless ballads, and diverted the public at his expence.

The Chevalier de Grammont was highly pleased with these lively and humourous compositions; and wherever this subject was mentioned, never fail ed to produce his supplement upon the occasion: It is strange,' said he, 'that the country, which is little bet ter than a gallows or a grave for

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young people, is allotted in this land only for the unfortunate, and not for the guilty! poor Lady Chesterfield, 'for some unguarded looks, is imme'diately seized upon by an angry hus 'band, who will oblige her to spend 'her Christmas at a country-house, ́ à 'hundred and fifty miles from London'; ' while here, there are a thousand ladies 'who are left at liberty to do whatever 'they please, and who indulge in that

'liberty, and whose conduct, in short, deserves a daily bastinado. I name

no person, God forbid I should; but 'Middleton, Denham, the queen's and 'the duchess's maids of honour, and a 'hundred others, bestow their favours to the right and to the left, and not 'the least notice is taken of their con'duct. As for Lady Shrewsbury, she

is conspicuous. I would lay a wager 'she might have a man killed for her every day, and she would only hold

' her head the higher for it: one would

suppose she imported from Rome ple

nary indulgences for her conduct. There are three or four gentlemen 'who wear an ounce of her hair in bracelets, and no person finds any fault. And yet shall such a crossgrained fool as Chesterfield be per'mitted to exercise an act of tyranny,

altogether unknown in this country,