LETTER LIX
MR. BELFORD, TO ROBERT LOVELACE, ESQ.LONDON, OCT. 26.
I cannot think, my dear Lovelace, that Colonel Morden has eitherthreatened you in those gross terms mentioned by the vile Joseph Leman,or intends to follow you. They are the words of people of that fellow'sclass, and not of a gentleman--not of Colonel Morden, I am sure. You'llobserve that Joseph pretends not to say that he heard him speak them.
I have been very solicitous to sound the Colonel, for your sake, and forhis own, and for the sake of the injunctions of the excellent lady to me,as well as to him, on that subject. He is (and you will not wonder thathe should be) extremely affected; and owns that he has expressed himselfin terms of resentment on the occasion. Once he said to me, that had hisbeloved cousin's case been that of a common seduction, her own credulityor weakness contributing to her fall, he could have forgiven you. But,in so many words, he assured me, that he had not taken any resolutions;nor had he declared himself to the family in such a way as should bindhim to resent: on the contrary, he has owned, that his cousin'sinjunctions have hitherto had the force upon him which I could wish theyshould have.
He went abroad in a week after you. When he took his leave of me, hetold me, that his design was to go to Florence; and that he would settlehis affairs there; and then return to England, and here pass theremainder of his days.
I was indeed apprehensive that, if you and he were to meet, somethingunhappy might fall out; and as I knew that you proposed to take Italy,and very likely Florence, in your return to France, I was very solicitousto prevail upon you to take the court of Spain into your plan. I amstill so. And if you are not to be prevailed upon to do that, let meentreat you to avoid Florence or Leghorn in your return, since you havevisited both heretofore. At least, let not the proposal of a meetingcome from you.
It would be matter of serious reflection to me, if the very fellow, thisJoseph Leman, who gave you such an opportunity to turn all the artilleryof his masters against themselves, and to play them upon one another tofavour your plotting purposes, should be the instrument, in the devil'shand, (unwittingly too,) to avenge them all upon you; for should you evenget the better of the Colonel, would the mischief end there?--It wouldbut add remorse to your present remorse; since the interview must end indeath; for he would not, I am confident, take his life at your hand. TheHarlowes would, moreover, prosecute you in a legal way. You hate them;and they would be gainers by his death; rejoicers in your's--And have younot done mischief enough already?
Let me, therefore, (and through me all your friends,) have thesatisfaction to hear that you are resolved to avoid this gentleman. Timewill subdue all things. Nobody doubts your bravery; nor will it be knownthat your plan is changed through persuasion.
Young Harlowe talks of calling you to account. This is a plain evidence,that Mr. Morden has not taken the quarrel upon himself for their family.
I am in no apprehension of any body but Colonel Morden. I know it willnot be a mean to prevail upon you to oblige me, if I say that I am wellassured that this gentleman is a skillful swordsman; and that he is ascool and sedate as skillful. But yet I will add, that, if I had a valuefor my life, he should be the last man, except yourself, with whom Iwould choose to have a contention.
I have, as you required, been very candid and sincere with you. I havenot aimed at palliation. If you seek not Colonel Morden, it is myopinion he will not seek you: for he is a man of principle. But if youseek him, I believe he will not shun you.
Let me re-urge, [it is the effect of my love for you!] that you know yourown guilt in this affair, and should not be again an aggressor. It wouldbe pity that so brave a man as the Colonel should drop, were you and heto meet: and, on the other hand, it would be dreadful that you should besent to your account unprepared for it, and pursuing a fresh violence.Moreover, seest thou not, in the deaths of two of thy principal agents,the hand-writing upon the wall against thee.
My zeal on this occasion may make me guilty of repetition. Indeed I knownot how to quit the subject. But if what I have written, added to yourown remorse and consciousness, cannot prevail, all that I might furtherurge would be ineffectual.
Adieu, therefore! Mayst thou repent of the past! and may no newviolences add to thy heavy reflections, and overwhelm thy future hopes!are the wishes of
Thy true friend,JOHN BELFORD.