Madam De Villesache by Eliza Haywood Lyrics

Clermont was young, vigorous, and doubly armed with Law and Inclination; the Marchioness was weak, timorous of offending and, perhaps, not without some little Emotions of the nature of those with which he was so violently agitated. In short, he was determined to obtain, she unable to refuse. He triumphed in his turn over the Marquiss; and she, a second time, made a Forfeit of her Vows. But, oh! how unlike to their former ones was this Enjoyment! Before, as they met only on Terms consistent with Virtue and Religion, their Endearments were pure, and left no Shame, no Remorse on the Spirits: But now, the Hurry of wild Delight once over a heavy Melancholy, by Starts, awakened the Stings of Guilt, took possession of their Faculties, especially on those of the doubly offending Marchioness: She blushed and wept, and would have reproached him for the little Consideration he seemed to have of her Honor, but durst not, lest he should think she had yielded not so much through Love as Fear, and by harboring such an Opinion, convert the present Tenderness he had for her into a Resentment which might tempt him to undo her. Clermont, on the other hand, felt nothing of that true Satisfaction which arises from having the entire possession of the beloved object. The Joy was now pall'd by the knowledge that he possessed, but what was common to another, and who, he could not assure himself did not enjoy it with the same degree of Transport which was permitted him. They concealed, however, from each other what their Thoughts were on this Occasion, and if they had not a real Fondness, each of them dissembled it so artfully, that the other could not discover it from the Reality.

Before they parted, Measures were laid for their frequent Interviews; which, as a place less liable to Suspicion, was ordered should be at the House of Person, who by having received many Favours from the Marchioness, was entirely attached to her.