Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 174: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

MADLY IN LUVE. 165 right, too. The ideaof my permitting myself to crave domestic bliss—to long for a different life from what I’ve always quoted as the only one free from troubles and com- plications of all kinds! Experience! why, the most callow, insipid youth in his first dress-coat is as wise as I! He could lose his head no more completely than I’ve done. I have preached and warned all these years, considering that IT, myself, was beyond the pale—to what purpose? To my- self fall a victim at last to the very fate I ridiculed! And worse than all, to be scorned, into the bargain. Who would credit it? And the most ignominous part of itis, that I care. Yes, more than my pride is wounded; to my ever- lasting shame, let me confess that I am in love, blindly, madly. I could kiss the print of her little foot in the dust. She has taken such complete possession of my senses that, though she pass out of my life this instant, I shall adore her to my dying day. Were. I younger, hotter blooded, more impetuous, I would probably rush away and seek for- eetfulness in dissipation, or even search for another as fair, though less obdurate, but this expedient is denied me; it is unsuited both to my years and inclinations. At least, I can endeavor to prevent myself from becoming a laughing-stock. No, I cannot turn coward and flee; I must face it out, and be man enough to swallow some of the same medicine with which I’ve doctored so many others. ‘E meglio cader dalla finestre, che dal tetto!’ ”’ EoOmichbooks (E(0) im