Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 1.djvu/365

 Now let us see in what manner this passage has been explained by the noble remarker on Swift's life. Immediately after his quotation of the foregoing lines, he thus expatiates upon them:

"Supposing this account to be true, and I own to you my Ham, I can scarce think it otherwise, it is evident that the fair Vanessa had made a surprising progress in the philosophick doctrines, which she had received from her preceptor. His rules were certainly of a most extraordinary kind. He taught her that vice, as soon as it defied shame, was immediately changed into virtue. That vulgar forms were not binding upon certain choice spirits, to whom either the writings, or the persons of men of wit were acceptable. She heard the lesson with attention, and imbibed the philosophy with eagerness. The maxims suited her exalted turn of mind. She imagined if the theory appeared so charming, the practice must be much more delightful. The close connexion of soul and body seemed to require, in the eye of a female philosopher, that each should succeed the other in all pleasurable enjoyments. The former had been sufficiently regaled, why must the latter remain unsatisfied! — Nature 'said Vanessa,' abhors a vacuum, and nature ought always to be obeyed. She communicated these sentiments to her tutor; but he seemed not to comprehend her meaning, not to conceive the distinctio rationis that had taken rise in his own school. He answered her in the nonessential modes. Talked of friendship, of the delights of reason, of gratitude, respect, and esteem. He almost preached upon virtue, and he muttered some indistinct phrases concerning chastity. So unaccountable a conduct in Cadenus, may " be