But the force of truth and sense of honour suppressed
whatever would have risen beyond the bounds of fair and virtuous
friendship; for I easily foresaw that if I should have attempted
anything in a dishonourable way by force or fraud upon her, I should
have thereby brought a wound upon my own soul, a foul scandal upon
my religious profession, and an infamous stain upon mine honour;
either of which was far more dear unto me than my life. Wherefore,
having observed how some others had befooled themselves by
misconstruing her common kindness, expressed in an innocent, open,
free, and familiar conversation, springing from the abundant
affability, courtesy, and sweetness of her natural temper, to be the
effect of a singular regard and peculiar affection to them, I
resolved to shun the rock on which I had seen so many run and split;
and remembering that saying of the poet,
Felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum,
Happy's he
Whom others' dangers wary make to be,
I governed myself in a free yet respectful carriage towards her,
that I thereby both preserved a fair reputation with my friends and
enjoyed as much of her favour and kindness in a virtuous and firm
friendship as was fit for her to show or for me to seek.
Pages:
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223