Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 1).pdf/114

 Mind, and decent Pride, without which we are not worthy the Name of human Creatures, who can bear to level herelf with the lowet Animal, and to acrifice all that is great and noble in her, all her Heavenly Part, to an Appetite which he hath in common with the vilet Branch of the Creation! For no Woman, ure, will plead the Paion of Love for an Excue. This would be to own herelf the meer Tool and Bubble of the Man. Love, however barbarouly we may corrupt and pervert its Meaning, as it is a laudable, is a rational Paion, and can never be violent, but when reciprocal; for though the Scripture bids us love our Enemies, it means not with that fervent Love, which we naturally bear towards our Friends; much les that we hould acrifice to them our Lives, and what ought to be dearer to us, our Innocence. Now in what Light, but in that of an Enemy, can a reaonable Woman regard the Man, who olicits her to entail on herelf, all the Miery I have above decribed, and who would purchae to himelf a hort, trivial, contemptible Pleaure, o greatly at her Expence! For by the Laws of Cutom the whole Shame, with all its dreadful Conequences, falls entirely upon her. Can Love, which always