GIL BL AS.
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gaged. She always anfwercd it was an uncle or coufin. Heavens, what a croud of relations (he had ! Sure, her family was more numerous than that of king Priam : and the jade did not even confine herfelf to her-uncles and coulins ; but alfo went abroad frequently in order to allure drangers, by a£ling the widow of quality at the houfeof the old womai whom I mentioned before. In fhort, Laura (to give the leader a ju(t and precife idea of her) was as young, as handfome, ancLas much a coquette as her millrcfs, who had no other advantage over her than that of diverting the town in public. I was borne down by the torrent for three weeks, during which, I gave niyfelf up to all manner of debauchery : but at the fame time, I nrull obferve, in the mi dll of my pleafurcs, I was frequently feized with lent intents of rcmoife that proceeded from my education, and embittered all my enjoyments. Vice could not get the belter of thefe warnings, which augmented in proportion as I became more debauched ; and by the effed of a happy difpofition, I began to abhor the diforders ol a theatrical life. “ Ah, wretch ! (laid I to irtyielf) is it thus thou fulfilled the expectation of thy family? Was it not enough to cheat it by chufing another employment than that of a tutor ? Does thy fervilc condition hinder thee from living like an honed man ! or does it become thee to live among fuch (inner* ? fomc of whom are pofTeflfed by envy, rage, and avarice ; while others have banifhed all fenfe of fhame. Thefe are abandoned to intemperance and (loth ; and tlrofe indulge their pride even to an excels of info* lencc. I am refolved : and will no longer dwell with the feveti deadly fins."
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