all times, however singular my Humour, and I would as soon, my Wife gave her Person to another Man, as her little finger, with the Idea of a Momentary Preference to myself—start not Lydia—nor think yourself subject to a Jealous Husband—for such I neither am, or ever can be—but I _am_ Nice—so nice, that I could much sooner forgive your want of love for me, than your want of Delicacy, in any of the Punctilios, which are not only peculiar to the Feminine Character, but highly graceful in it when properly maintain’d. My dear Girl—I mean to deal quite upon the Square with you, My Prudence will occasionally restrain your lively Powers—and those will constitute my Happiness, judiciously exerted—for nothing but yourself that I know of—has a chance of the Power, to make me animated or even visibly chearful—We shall be mut[u]ally assisting & obliged to each other—I wish to banish the Word Obedience from our Compact—and to substitute that of _We_ for the letter _I_ & _Word You_—I will never arrogate on the score of Masculine Prerogative—I am ashamed of those Men, who have recourse to it, when they have a sensible mild companion to deal with, & do not you my Lydia, ever mistake, your real Interest so much as to be induced to take advantages of the Easiness of my nature. You may, I tell you, you may, succeed in many Points by attempting it, for I cannot contend with those who are even Indifferent to me, but my Dear, you would by such means injure my opinion of your Generosity—& this would pave the way to various uneasiness’s with the Woman I loved—We must in that case part, for I would owe nothing, but to her Love, Gratitude, or kindness—the Tye of Duty without these—is to me, a mere cobweb—tell me your Thoughts, on every subject, as they arise my Lydia—& I will either conform to them, or satisfy your reason by giving the preference to my Own; our joint Stock of Wisdom is the Property of one or both as one or both as either may happen to have occasion for more than their immediate supplies—let us use it as such, my Lydia—and never think of valuing ourselves occasionally, more than each other, for this, or that advantage—when all our good Qualities ought to be in common to both, and so they must, if we mean to promote each others Happiness, on a principle of Love, Wisdom, or mere Policy for there’s no such Thing, in Fact, as a separate Interest in Marriage, between Persons of Reflection—or good Morals—they must each, occasionally, advance their whole Quota of Worth, in order to please or assist the other, if they wish to live Peaceably or be Respected—and this every thinking Man & Woman must wish—My dearest Lydia, would you gain my soul, & reign for ever the Mistress of it, do not teaze me with Menial Adventures—never let me hear your voice rais’d or see a frown lowering on your Brow—these requests complied with on your Part—I will engage to second all your Wishes, while you seem desirous of promoting mine—and I doubt not but we