Yes, sir, Heaven hath lent me grace to struggle with my guilty
passion, and henceforth to avoid the dangerous sight of him,
who inspired it. I therefore conjure you, by the regard you
ought to have to the eternal welfare of us both, as well as by
the esteem and affection you profess, to war with your unruly
inclination, and desist from all attempts of frustrating the
laudable resolution I have made. Seek not to invade the peace
of one who loves you, to disturb the quiet of a family that
never did you wrong, and to alienate the thoughts of a weak
woman from a deserving man, who, by the most sacred claim,
ought to have the full possession of her heart."
This billet, without either date or subscription, banished all
remains of discretion from the mind of our hero, who ran instantly
to the landlord in all the ecstasy of madness, and demanded to see
the messenger who brought the letter on pain of putting his whole
family to the sword. The innkeeper, terrified by his looks and
menaces, fell upon his knees, protesting in the face of Heaven that
he was utterly ignorant and innocent of anything that could give
him offence, and that the billet was brought by a person whom he
did not know, and who retired immediately, saying it required no
answer.
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