Godhelphim，whoyetmakeslightofthis！Thereisgreatertemerityrequiredinthisageofours，whichouryoungmenexcuseunderthenameofheat;butshouldwomenexamineitmorestrictly，theywouldfindthatitratherproceedsfromcontempt。Iwasalwayssuperstitiouslyafraidofgivingoffence，andhaveeverhadagreatrespectforherIloved:besides，hewhointhistraffictakesawaythereverence，defacesatthesametimethelustre。Iwouldinthisaffairhaveamanalittleplaythechild，thetimorous，andtheservant。Ifnotthis，IhaveinotherbashfulnesswhereofaltogetherinthingssomeairofthefoolishPlutarchmakesmention;andthecourseofmylifehasbeendiverswayshurtandblemishedwithit;aqualityveryillsuitingmyuniversalform:and，indeed，whatarewebutseditionanddiscrepancy？IamasmuchoutofcountenancetobedeniedasIamtodeny;anditsomuchtroublesmetobetroublesometoothersthatonoccasionwhendutycompelsmetotrythegood—willofanyoneinathingthatisdoubtfulandthatwillbechargeabletohim，Idoitveryfaintly，andverymuchagainstmywill:
butifitbeformyownparticular（whateverHomertrulysays，thatmodestyisafoolishvirtueinanindigentperson），Icommonlycommitittoathirdpersontoblushforme，anddenythosewhoemploymewiththesamedifficulty:sothatithassometimesbefallenmetohavehadamindtodeny，whenIhadnotthepowertodoit。
’Tisfolly，then，toattempttobridleinwomenadesirethatissopowerfulinthem，andsonaturaltothem。AndwhenIhearthembragofhavingsomaidenlyandsotemperateawill，Ilaughatthem:theyretiretoofarback。Ifitbeanoldtoothlesstrot，orayoungdryconsumptivething，thoughitbenotaltogethertobebelieved，atleasttheysayitwithmoresimilitudeoftruth。Buttheywhostillmoveandbreathe，talkatthatridiculousratetotheirownprejudice，byreasonthatinconsiderateexcusesareakindofself—accusation;likeagentleman，aneighbourofmine，suspectedtobeinsufficient:
\"Languidiorteneracuipendenssiculabeta，Numquamsemediamsustulitadtunicam，\"
[Catullus，lxvii。2，i。——Thesenseisinthecontext。]