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The sole condition is your consent to receive them。 Not even the airy obligation of gratitude will be created by acceptance。 On the contrary； by accepting them； you will confer the highest benefit upon another。
I do not comprehend you。 Something surely must be given in return。
Nothing。 It may seem strange that； in accepting the absolute controul of so much property； you subject yourself to no conditions； that no claims of gratitude or service will accrue； but the wonder is greater still。 The law equitably enough fetters the gift with no restraints； with respect to you that receive it； but not so with regard to the unhappy being who bestows it。 That being must part； not only with property but liberty。 In accepting the property； you must consent to enjoy the services of the present possessor。 They cannot be disjoined。
Of the true nature and extent of the gift； you should be fully apprized。 Be aware； therefore； that； together with this property； you will receive absolute power over the liberty and person of the being who now possesses it。 That being must become your domestic slave； be governed； in every particular； by your caprice。
Happily for you； though fully invested with this power； the degree and mode in which it will be exercised will depend upon yourself。 。 。 。 。 You may either totally forbear the exercise； or employ it only for the benefit of your slave。 However injurious； therefore； this authority may be to the subject of it； it will； in some sense； only enhance the value of the gift to you。
The attachment and obedience of this being will be chiefly evident in one thing。 Its duty will consist in conforming； in every instance； to your will。 All the powers of this being are to be devoted to your happiness； but there is one relation between you； which enables you to confer； while exacting； pleasure。 。 。 。 。 This relation is ~~sexual~~。 Your slave is a woman； and the bond； which transfers her property and person to you； is 。 。 。 。 ~~marriage~~。
My knowledge of Ludloe； his principles； and reasonings； ought to have precluded that surprise which I experienced at the conclusion of his discourse。 I knew that he regarded the present institution of marriage as a contract of servitude； and the terms of it unequal and unjust。 When my surprise had subsided； my thoughts turned upon the nature of his scheme。 After a pause of reflection； I answered：
Both law and custom have connected obligations with marriage； which； though heaviest on the female； are not light upon the male。 Their weight and extent are not immutable and uniform； they are modified by various incidents； and especially by the mental and personal qualities of the lady。
I am not sure that I should willingly accept the property and person of a woman decrepid with age； and enslaved by perverse habits and evil passions： whereas youth； beauty； and tenderness would be worth accepting； even for their own sake； and disconnected with fortune。
As to altar vows； I believe they will not make me swerve from equity。 I shall exact neither service nor affection from my spouse。 The value of these； and； indeed； not only the value； but the very existence； of the latter depends upon its spontaneity。 A promise to love tends rather to loosen than strengthen the tie。
As to myself； the age of illusion is past。 I shall not wed； till I find one whose moral and physical constitution will make personal fidelity easy。 I shall judge without mistiness or passion； and habit will come in aid of an enlightened and deliberate choice。
I shall not be fastidious in my choice。 I do not expect； and scarcely desire； much intellectual similitude between me and my wife。 Our opinions and pursuits cannot be in common。 While women are formed by their education； and their education continues in its present state； tender hearts and misguided understandings are all that we can hope to meet with。
What are the character； age； and person of the woman to whom you allude？ and what prospect of success would attend my exertions to obtain her favour？
I have told you she is rich。 She is a widow； and owes her riches to the liberality of her husband； who was a trader of great opulence； and who died while on a mercantile adventure to Spain。 He was not unknown to you。 Your letters from Spain often spoke of him。 In short； she is the widow of Benington； whom you met at Barcelona。 She is still in the prime of life； is not without many feminine attractions； has an ardent and credulent temper； and is particularly given to devotion。 This temper it would be easy to regulate according to your pleasure and your interest； and I now submit to you the expediency of an alliance with her。
I am a kinsman； and regarded by her with uncommon deference； and my commendations； therefore； will be of great service to you； and shall be given。
I will deal ingenuously with you。 It is proper you should be fully acquainted with the grounds of this proposal。 The benefits of rank； and property； and independence； which I have already mentioned as likely to accrue to you from this marriage； are solid and valuable benefits； but these are not the sole advantages； and to benefit you； in these respects； is not my whole view。
No。 My treatment of you henceforth will be regulated by one principle。 I regard you only as one undergoing a probation or apprenticeship； as subjected to trials of your sincerity and fortitude。 The marriage I now propose to you is desirable； because it will make you independent of me。 Your poverty might create an unsuitable bias in favour of proposals； one of whose effects would be to set you beyond fortune's reach。 That bias will cease； when you cease to be poor and dependent。
Love is the strongest of all human delusions。 That fortitude； which is not subdued by the tenderness and blandishments of woman； may be trusted； but no fortitude； which has not undergone that test； will be trusted by us。
This woman is a charming enthusiast。 She will never marry but him whom she passionately loves。 Her power over the heart that loves her will scarcely have limits。 The means of prying into your transactions； of suspecting and sifting your thoughts； which her constant society with you； while sleeping and waking； her zeal and watchfulness for your welfare； and her curiosity； adroitness； and penetration will afford her； are evident。 Your danger； therefore； will be imminent。 Your fortitude will be obliged to have recourse； not to flight； but to vigilance。 Your eye must never close。
Alas！ what human magnanimity can stand this test！ How can I persuade myself that you will not fail？ I waver between hope and fear。 Many； it is true； have fallen； and dragged with them the author of their ruin； but some have soared above even these perils and temptations； with their fiery energies unimpaired； and great has been； as great ought to be； their recompence。
But you are doubtless aware of your danger。 I need not repeat the consequences of betraying your trust； the rigour of those who will Judge your fault； the unerring and unbounded scrutiny to which your actions； the most secret and indifferent； will be subjected。
Your conduct； however； will be voluntary。 At your own option be it； to see or not to see this woman。 Circumspection； deliberation forethought； are your sacred duties and highest interest。
Chapter VIII。
Ludloe's remarks on the seductive and bewitching powers of women； on the difficulty of keeping a secret which they wish to know； and to gain which they employ the soft artillery of tears and prayers； and blandishments and menaces； are familiar to all men； but they had little weight with me； because they were unsupported by my own experience。 I had never had any intellectual or sentimental connection with the sex。 My meditations and pursuits had all led a different way； and a bias had gradually been given to my feelings； very unfavourable to the refinements of love。 I acknowledge； with shame and regret； that I was accustomed to regard the physical and sensual consequences of the sexual relation as realities； and every thing intellectual； disinterested； and heroic； which enthusiasts connect with it as idle dreams。 Besides； said I； I am yet a stran