THE
VILLAGE CURATE.
A TALE.
"The good, for Virtues' sake, abhor to sin."
Creech.
At an age when the human mind is most susceptible of, and too often imbibes, a passion for voluptuous pleasure; ere yet experienee the sage precepts had impressed, Lord Belfont inherited splendid fortune. His levees were crouded with the most fashionable part of the world; the void of flattery incessantly sang his praise, and bestowed on him every virtue that could ennoble man. His rank in life, and extensive fortune, introduced him into the first families in England; and overtures of marriage were made to him by the parents and guardians of the greatest beauties of the age but Belfont, though not insensible to the charm of beauty, was not yet become the vassal of the power.
The attention which he invariably received from the whole circle of his acquaintanee, it might reasonably be supposed, was very aeeeptable to the inexperienced Belfont: but, notwithstanding his extreme youth, and ignoranee of men and manner he suspected the sincerity of these encomiums which flattery bestowed on him; and pliant voice of adulation had made little impression on his mind.
