men's minds to sin, and degraded them in the dust; but when to outward charms are united the sweet, the sacred, inward attractions of virtue, what canst thou not effect? The raising, the ennobling of a fellow creature, who, in the contemplation of thy transcendent worth, thy purity, seeks reformation, and endeavours to emulate thy bright example, in despite of every enticing snare and every powerful resistance he meets with, in the attempt to render himself worthy of thee!
The passion of Douglas seemed heightened by the barrier which now opposed it into uncontrollable ardour. Amongst the many women he had admired, Rosilia alone had been really capable of touching his heart, and of making on it any durable impression. The pleasing novelty arising from the modest sweetness of her manners had greatly contributed to secure her influence over him; for in vain had he sought her prototype in crowds and gay assemblies. If perchance some distinguished beauty attracted his admiration, it was but transient, when he found she could boldly confront his gaze, wholly divested of that engaging charm which ever caused on the cheek of Rosilia a lovely suffusion, as she turned abashed from the eye of observation. Thus it remained for her alone to awaken those finer feelings of his mind, which, till
