less attemptable than any the rarest of our ladies in France. That lady is not now living, or this gentleman's opinion by this worn out. She holds her virtue still and I my mind. You must not so far prefer her 'fore ours of Italy. Being so far provoked as I was in France, I would abate her nothing, though I profess myself her adorer, not her friend. As fair and as good--a kind of hand-in-hand comparison--had been something too fair and too good for any lady in Britain. If she went before others I have seen, as that diamond of yours outlustres many I have beheld. I could not but believe she excelled many: but I have not seen the most precious diamond that is, nor you the lady. I praised her as I rated her: so do I my stone. What do you esteem it at? More than the world enjoys. Either your unparagoned mistress is dead, or she's outprized by a trifle. You are mistaken: the one may be sold, or given, if there were wealth enough for the purchase, or merit for the gift: the other is not a thing for sale, and only the gift of the gods. Which the gods have given you? Which, by their graces, I will keep. You may wear her in title yours: but, you know, strange fowl light upon neighbouring ponds. Your ring may be stolen too: so your brace of unprizable estimations; the one is but frail and the other casual; a cunning thief, or a that way accomplished courtier, would hazard the winning both of first and last. Your Italy contains none so accomplished a courtier to convince the honour of my mistress, if, in the holding or loss of that, you term her frail. I do nothing doubt you have store of thieves; notwithstanding, I fear not my ring. Let us leave here, gentlemen. Sir, with all my heart. This worthy signior, I thank him, makes no stranger of me; we are familiar at first. With five times so much conversation, I should get ground of your fair mistress, make her go back, even to the yielding, had I admittance and opportunity to friend. No, no. I dare thereupon pawn the moiety of my estate to your ring; which, in my opinion, o'ervalues it something: but I make my wager rather against your confidence than her reputation: and, to bar your offence herein too, I durst attempt it against any lady in the world. You are a great deal abused in too bold a persuasion; and I doubt not you sustain