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BOOK THE FOURTH
SONG IN HONOUR OF THE FAIR SEX.--HYPOCRISY OF THE MAGICIAN.--THE TRIUMPH
OF IMOGEN.--DESPAIR AND CONSOLATION OF RODERIC.
So much was Roderic discouraged by the apparent spirit and firmness of
these declarations, that at the conclusion of them he abruptly quitted
his captive, and released her for a moment from his unjust persecutions.
His pride however was too strongly piqued, and his passions too much
alarmed to permit her a real respite. "Where ever," cried he, as he trod
with hasty and irregular steps the level green,--"where ever were found
such simplicity, and so much strength of judgment, and gaiety of wit in
union? Is it possible for the extreme of simplicity and the perfection
of intellect to meet together? These surely are paradoxes, that not all
the goblins of the abyss can solve, and which, had they been related
instead of seen, must have appeared to constitute an absurd and
impossible fiction.
"Well then it is in vain to attack the inexorable fair one with
allurements that address themselves only to the understanding. She is
too well fortified with the prejudices of education, and the principles
of an imaginary virtue, to be reduced by an assault like this. The pride
of her virtue is alarmed, the little train of her sophistries are
awakened, and with that artless rhetoric, of the value of which she is
doubtless sensible, she set[s] all her enemies at defiance.
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