There was another reason for my stupidity. Seamstresses,
chambermaids, or milliners, never tempted me; I sighed for ladies!
Every one has his peculiar taste, this has ever been mine; being in
this particular of a different opinion from Horace. Yet it is not
vanity of riches or rank that attracts me; it is a well-preserved
complexion, fine hands, elegance of ornaments, an air of delicacy
and neatness throughout the whole person: more in taste, in the manner
of expressing themselves, a finer or better made gown, a well-turned
ankle, small foot, ribbons, lace, and well-dressed hair: I even prefer
those who have less natural beauty, provided they are elegantly
decorated. I freely confess this preference is very ridiculous; yet my
heart gives in to it spite of my understanding. Well, even this
advantage presented itself, and it only depended on my own
resolution to have seized the opportunity.
How do I love, from time to time, to return to those moments of my
youth, which were so charmingly delightful; so short, so scarce, and
enjoyed at so cheap a rate!- how fondly do I wish to dwell on them!
Even yet the remembrance of these scenes warms my heart with a
chaste rapture, which appears necessary to reanimate my drooping
courage, and enable me to sustain the weariness of my latter days.
The appearance of Aurora seemed so delightful one morning that,
putting on my clothes, I hastened into the country, to see the
rising of the sun. I enjoyed that pleasure in its utmost extent; it
was one week after midsummer; the earth was covered with verdure and
flowers, the nightingales, whose soft warblings were almost concluded,
seemed to vie with each other, and in concert with birds of various
kinds to bid adieu to spring, and hail the approach of a beautiful
summer's day: one of those lovely days that are no longer to be
enjoyed at my age, and which have never been seen on the melancholy
soil I now inhabit.
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