sex.

apparel. Prince Shechem cast a languishing look upon my sister, conceived a violent passion for her, and resolved at all events to possess her. His sister Tamer was young and beautiful, but unadorned with that amiable virtue which is the greatest glory of her She contracted an intimacy with my sister Dinah, who, unskilled in amourous intrigues, accepted of an invitation to visit the princess Tamar, in the city of Shechem. The day was spent in innocent pleasantry, only every now and then there was something that bordered upon the profane. As the solar orb descended the western hemisphere, Dinah proposed her return to her father, but was put off from time to time, by the prince and princess, till she was at last convinced of her unhappiness, and too late repented the curiosity that led her forth to see the daughters of the land. She was not to be won with prayers and intreaties, therefore was forced, to a compliance with his lewd desires, and for a time continued a prisoner to the prince's affection, within his palace. Still he loved her with increasing fervour, and his very soul clave to the unhappy damsel. So courteous, affable, and loving was his conduct to her, after he had defiled her, that she half forgave the injury, and conceived something like affection for him. His love grew stronger every day, and finding that he could not live without her company on the one hand, nor his affection permit him to use her like an harlot on the other, he implored the good offices of King Hamor his father, to procure her for him in lawful marriage. From motives of policy, the old king readily complied, proposed to his courtiers the desire of his son, and then made suit unto Israel for his consent. My father called a counsel descended from his loins, to deliberate on the proposal of Hamor; and the issue was, that unless the subjects of that prince, would conform to the laws of the Hebrews, they would not consent, but would rescue their sister by force of arms, or perish in the attempt. This communicated to Hamor and Shechem, they made no difficulty of

complying with the condition. A public festival was appointed to be observed by all ranks of the people to solemnize the marriage of Shechem and Dinah : on the first day of which, every male was circumcised in compliance with the Hebrews, and the carnival greatly inflaming the blood, and enervating their minds, they fell an easy prey to the premeditated revenge of my brethren. Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, selected a choice band out of Israel's domestic retinue, and clad in arms, before the dawn of the third morning of the festival, came intrepidly upon the city, and filled it with fearful carnage. King Hamor and his son hearing the cry of murder from all quarters, alarmed the household troops, but ere they could make resistance, met with death in the gates of the palace royal. The city they reduced to ashes, and slew every man within it. This horrid slaughter and conflagration all arose from the unlawfulness of Shechem's love. Had he observed the rules of virtue, and proposed honourable terms to the Patriarch, he would no doubt have accepted of the alliance. But uncleanness is not to be tolerated in the house of Israel. Now my honourable lady, consider the difference between my lord Potiphar, first of Pharoah's martial train, and these simple Hebrew swains. If they could pour out desolation upon the metropolis of a kingdom, in revenge of their sister's dishonour, what might not my lord do, was any villain to dare audaciously to defile his honourable bed, and violate the chastity of his betrothed lady? Far be it from Joseph, Madam, to entertain a thought so treacherous to either you or my lord."

She replied not, but disappointed in her love, continued the rest of the time full of silent discontent, her troubled mind agitated with different passions, gave place alternately to love, fear, and hateful revenge; but the more that Joseph saw the agitations of her mind, the more steadily was his own heart fortified by virtue.. Arrived at the palace, she retired to her chamber to consult, with her nurse Syrena,

what further should be done; and afflicted Joseph went to his apartment to implore the protection of Jacob's God.

Syrena gave it as her opinion, that fear or modesty must needs be the cause of Joseph's refusal, of an offer that did so much honour to a favourite menial; alledging, that her mistress's graces, were sufficient to thaw the frigidity of even old age itself: and advised that a further trial should be made ere she gave up her hopes. Pharoah's birth-day was now at hand, and the general must repair to court, to compliment his Majesty, and assist upon the grand occasion, but Sabrina was taken extremely ill in the morning, with a palpitation of heart, and great depression of spirits, and therefore could not attend him to the court. Her lord no sooner gone with his retinue, than she sends Syrena to command Joseph to attend her pleasure in her chamber. Slow of pace, and with a reluctant heart, he came and stood at a formal distance from her, while in thoughtful silence she sat, her eyes intently fixed on his blushing face. "And are you at last come," said she, "ungrateful youth, to scorn and slight your over fond mistress. Come nearer, Sir, and let me speak with freedom to you, for you and I must be better acquainted before we part. It would have been better for you, and more becoming your character and station, to have complied at once, with my former request, if it had only been out of respect to the dignity of my station, and the violent excess of my passion; and not have suffered me to undergo the shame of repeating my solicitations, and condescending to express myself in terms too strong for female modesty to utter without a blush. But I am willing to put the most favourable construction upon your conduct, and will not only make all possible allowances for it, but endeavour to remove out of the way, every thing that would protract our pleasure. Perhaps, Joseph, you might entertain some suspicion, whether I was really in earnest at our last interview, or if I did not make that humble prostration of myself to you, on

purpose to try your virtue. But assure yourself that I was in earnest, as my repeating of the same request, might abundantly serve to demonstrate. But I'll tell you more Joseph, and what would undo me, was it known to any but ourselves. This day I feigned myself sick, on purpose to be at home with you, The jollity of courtly parade is nothing to me compared to your sweet company. Now you may if you will, see that I can part with the company of nobles, and princes, for the love I bear to your amiable person, my Joseph. And shall I languish and pine without any hope of comfort, when it is in your power, my dear friend, to relieve me? Do not talk any more to me of those holy ties of religion, those severe rules of virtue. Virtue is a mere imaginary thing, that can bring no pleasure, but only distract the heart with terror. And what is religion, but a dream, as the lives of all our priests testify; for however they cry out against the sins of the times, when in the pulpit, there are none that relish gay delights better than they in private? Could thy God, my Joseph, delight in making thee behave cruelly to one that loves thee, he were to be detested instead of adored? Beware, Joseph, and not father thy indifference to me upon the gods; rather own that some happy unstained nymph has captivated your affections, and that for her sake you cannot, you dare not oblige your mistress. But cannot you be her's and mine too? But oh! your honour is concerned. Pray where is my honour in thus humbly suing to you my friend? but what is honour? merely fantastic and precarious. Honour is certainly to ease the pains of those that love us."

"Oh Madam!" returned he, with a sigh sufficient to rend his loins, "what avails a momentary pleasure that soon must be devoured by keen remorse? Once done it cannot be recalled, let the repentance be ever so poignant. Concealed by these curtains, will not secure us from the fears of discovery and disgrace, I might indeed join with you to dishonour my lord, and for a moment we might riot in the pleasures of

sense. But alas! what would this be in comparison of the solid pleasures of a good conscience? Equal if not superior delights are lawful to you in your mar riage relation with him, to whom you gave yourself, And where can a man be found more amiable, and more desirable for a bosom companion, than my lord? Think my lady how far what you propose would debase you below your rank, to come to a level with your poor servant, whom you may at all times command in every thing lawful. No, Madam, I assure you I cannot consent to a deed so base, as wilfully to injure the benevolent Potiphar, dishonour the God of my fathers, and bring an indelible stain on the family of Israel. Far from being like idols of stocks and stones, my God sees our most secret actions; he hears our softest whispers, and tries the deepest recesses of thought. Urge me not, Madam, for I cannot commit this great wickedness in the sight of my God." He ended here, and she full of resentment replied.

"It might have been sufficient, modestly to have refused the offer which the excess of my passion urged me to make, without upbraiding me with my shame. This argues impudence, joined with an unrelenting heart; but I leave it for you to choose, whether you will kindly embrace your own happiness, and render happy her that loves you to distraction; or to stand the shock of my revenge, for revenged will be; these charms for which princes have sighed in vain, are not to be slighted with impunity. No, Sir, never think of it. I shall certainly accuse you to your master of having attempted my dishonour, and a dry ostentation of virtue, the most solemn protestations of innocence, will not then deliver you from the fangs of punishment."

O Joseph! never was virtue assaulted like thine. Never did youth more gloriously triumph over temptation. Neither prayers, tears, nor threatenings, upon her part, compassion nor terror upon thine, could alter the purposes of thy determined virtue, and make thee yield to the importunity of a dishonest ap