her musical talents, which She possessed in perfection, had lost
the power of amusing him; Or if He deigned to praise them, his
compliments were evidently forced and cold. He no longer gazed
upon her with affection, or applauded her sentiments with a
Lover's partiality. This Matilda well perceived, and redoubled
her efforts to revive those sentiments which He once had felt.
She could not but fail, since He considered as importunities the
pains which She took to please him, and was disgusted by the very
means which She used to recall the Wanderer. Still, however,
their illicit Commerce continued: But it was clear that He was
led to her arms, not by love, but the cravings of brutal
appetite. His constitution made a Woman necessary to him, and
Matilda was the only one with whom He could indulge his passions
safely: In spite of her beauty, He gazed upon every other Female
with more desire; But fearing that his Hypocrisy should be made
public, He confined his inclinations to his own breast.

It was by no means his nature to be timid: But his education had
impressed his mind with fear so strongly, that apprehension was
now become part of his character. Had his Youth been passed in
the world, He would have shown himself possessed of many
brilliant and manly qualities. He was naturally enterprizing,
firm, and fearless: He had a Warrior's heart, and He might have
shone with splendour at the head of an Army. There was no want
of generosity in his nature: The Wretched never failed to find
in him a compassionate Auditor: His abilities were quick and
shining, and his judgment, vast, solid, and decisive. With such
qualifications He would have been an ornament to his Country:
That He possessed them, He had given proofs in his earliest
infancy, and his Parents had beheld his dawning virtues with the