Page:The Adventures of David Simple (1904).djvu/340

 all the rest whenever he came to see her; for she could not so easily impose on him as on the others, and the least suspicion would have excited him to the highest degree of rage. She durst not play many tricks with him, only she would now and then just tease him enough to make his passion return with the greater violence. "As to the vain man, he easily believed she preferred him to all mankind; and it is incredible how vast a pleasure he took in reflecting on the joys he should feel in being reputed to have the handsomest wife in all France. The possession of so fine a woman was the least thing in his consideration; for if he had been obliged to have lived a recluse life with her, all her charms would have immediately vanished, and his relish would have been totally lost for them; but whilst his vanity was gratified, he thought her possessed of every accomplishment any woman could be adorned with. Thus mankind go further than Pygmalion in the fable; for he, indeed, fell in love with a statue, but still kept his senses enough only to pray to the gods to give her life and motion; but they, if once a woman's form pleases them, not only wish her possessed of every tiling else, but believe and swear she is so. "I once visited Corinna when all her lovers happened to be there together. I suppose Le Vive was let in by some accident she could not avoid. The grave man of sense appeared diffident of himself, and seemed afraid to speak to her. The artful man sat silent, and seemed to be laying some very deep plot. The man who was so apt to be hurt by the behaviour of others could hardly forbear breaking out in reproaches. The gay, good-humoured spark capered and sung, and was never better pleased in his life. The Balancer attempted to speak several times, but broke off with half a sentence, as not having considered enough whether he was going to