Book contents
- Frontmatter
- CONTENTS
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Select Bibliography
- Note on the Text
- The Invisible Spy
- BOOK I
- BOOK II
- VOL. II
- BOOK III
- BOOK IV
- VOL. III
- BOOK V
- BOOK VI
- BOOK VII
- CHAP. I The Author, contrary to his expectation, finds himself under a necessity of making an introductory Preface to this Volume, and at the same time presents the Reader with two letters of a pretty extraordinary nature
- CHAP. II The Author flatters himself will be no unacceptable present to all those of the fair sex, who are either truly innocent, or would preserve the reputation of being so
- CHAP. III Presents the reader with the catastrophe of an adventure very different from what the beginning may have given him reason to expect
- CHAP. IV Contains the rehearsal of a conversation which the Author accidentally happen'd to be witness of, and looks upon himself as bound by an indispensible obligation to make public; though perfectly conscious, from his observations of mankind, that there are a very great many of his readers who will labour all they can to bring these pages into discredit
- CHAP. V Presents the reader with the detail of a very remarkable incident, which, I believe, if consider'd with a due attention, there are but few people, especially of the Fair Sex, who will not find themselves enabled to become better members of society by having perused
- CHAP. VI Which, according to the Author's opinion, stands in no need of a prelude, as it contains only the sequel of an adventure too interesting to all degrees of people not to demand the attention of every reader
- CHAP. VII Is somewhat more concise than ordinary, but very much to the purpose, and will be found not the least worthy of any in the book of being regarded with attention
- CHAP. VIII Presents the public with the account of an incident which cannot but be deeply affecting to the youth of both sexes, and no less remarkable in its event than any the Author's Invisibilityship ever enabled him to discover
- BOOK VIII
- Editorial Notes
- Silent Corrections
CHAP. VIII - Presents the public with the account of an incident which cannot but be deeply affecting to the youth of both sexes, and no less remarkable in its event than any the Author's Invisibilityship ever enabled him to discover
from BOOK VII
- Frontmatter
- CONTENTS
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Select Bibliography
- Note on the Text
- The Invisible Spy
- BOOK I
- BOOK II
- VOL. II
- BOOK III
- BOOK IV
- VOL. III
- BOOK V
- BOOK VI
- BOOK VII
- CHAP. I The Author, contrary to his expectation, finds himself under a necessity of making an introductory Preface to this Volume, and at the same time presents the Reader with two letters of a pretty extraordinary nature
- CHAP. II The Author flatters himself will be no unacceptable present to all those of the fair sex, who are either truly innocent, or would preserve the reputation of being so
- CHAP. III Presents the reader with the catastrophe of an adventure very different from what the beginning may have given him reason to expect
- CHAP. IV Contains the rehearsal of a conversation which the Author accidentally happen'd to be witness of, and looks upon himself as bound by an indispensible obligation to make public; though perfectly conscious, from his observations of mankind, that there are a very great many of his readers who will labour all they can to bring these pages into discredit
- CHAP. V Presents the reader with the detail of a very remarkable incident, which, I believe, if consider'd with a due attention, there are but few people, especially of the Fair Sex, who will not find themselves enabled to become better members of society by having perused
- CHAP. VI Which, according to the Author's opinion, stands in no need of a prelude, as it contains only the sequel of an adventure too interesting to all degrees of people not to demand the attention of every reader
- CHAP. VII Is somewhat more concise than ordinary, but very much to the purpose, and will be found not the least worthy of any in the book of being regarded with attention
- CHAP. VIII Presents the public with the account of an incident which cannot but be deeply affecting to the youth of both sexes, and no less remarkable in its event than any the Author's Invisibilityship ever enabled him to discover
- BOOK VIII
- Editorial Notes
- Silent Corrections
Summary
Among all the various deceptions which are carried on in this great world, I know of none more cruel, and more liable to be attended with the worst of consequences, than those practised in the affairs of love; – yet it is a crime which passes with impunity, and is scarce censured by any but the persons injured by it and their particular friends and confidants.
Even the ladies, generally speaking, for there is no rule without some exceptions, are so little the friends of each other, that we rarely find them taking up the quarrel of their sex in this point; – on the contrary, they are apt to absolve the vow-breaker, and let the whole blame fall on the believer: – a man who has triumph'd over the credulity of an hundred women, sees himself not less respected; and sometimes the number of past conquests shall serve him as a recommendation, and be a means of his attaining new ones.
Perjury is deem'd but a venial transgression in this case; – few think that oaths and imprecations, when dictated by the heat of an amorous inclination, tho' formed in the most binding terms, and utter'd in the most solemn manner, are ever register'd in heaven, – according to the words of the poet, who merrily says,
Jove only laughs when lovers swear.
This vice, as I must take the liberty to call it, is not however wholly confined to the male sex; I am sorry to observe that those of the other, either thro’ pride, vanity, or an inconstancy of nature, are sometimes found guilty of deluding their lovers with fallacious expectations.
I hope also to be forgiven by the more discreet part of womankind, when I say that a propensity to such a behaviour is yet less excusable in them than in the men, as a perfect innocence, a sweetness of disposition, and a simplicity of manners are, or ought to be, the distinguishing characteristics of the fair sex.
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- The Invisible Spyby Eliza Haywood, pp. 408 - 424Publisher: Pickering & ChattoFirst published in: 2014