The Difficulty, therefore, which he apprehended there might be in corrupting this young Wench, and the Danger which would accrue to his Character on the Diſcovery, were ſuch ſtrong Diſſuaſives, that it is probably, he at firſt intended to have contented himſelf with the pleaſing Ideas which the Sight of Beauty furniſhes us with. Theſe the graveſt Ment, after a full Meal of ſerious Meditation, often allow themſelves by way of Deſert: For which Purpoſe, certain Books and Pictures find their Way into the moſt private Receſſes of their Study, and a certain liquoriſh Part of natural Philoſophy is often the Principal Subject of their Converſation.
But when the Philoſopher heard a Day or two afterwards, that the Fortreſs of Virtue had already been ſubdued, he began to give a larger Scope to his Deſires. His Appetite was not of that ſqueamiſh Kind which cannot feed on a Dainty becauſe another hath taſted it. In ſhort, he liked the Girl the better for the Want of that Chaſtity, which, if ſhe had poſſeſſed it, muſt have been a Bar to his Pleaſures; he purſued, and obtained her.
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