Chapter LXXII: Letter LXX: To Mr. K

July 23, 1778.

I RECEIVED yours with satisfaction, as it gave me a certainty of your being (upon the whole) much better. As to your saying you are not girlishly inclined--why, I give you credit for it.--Thou must watch--and pray--for Satan is artful, and knoweth all our weak parts--and that dirty little blind feathered-shouldered scoundrel of a boy, master Cupid--lurks couchant--in the pupil of an eye--in the hollow of a dimple--in the cherry-ripe plumpness of a pair of lips--in the artfully timid pressure of a fair hand--in the complimentary squeeze of a farewell--in short, and in one word, watch--watch.

So you forgot all I said about Charles the Fifth--well, you gave your reasons--but when you have got through your sugar-works--I hope you will give due attention to Robertson:--his first volume is the most learned, and the dryest, yet absolutely necessary to be read with great attention--as it will render the other much more easy, clear, and intelligible--make yourself tolerably acquainted with the feudal system of Europe, which you will find explained in his first volume--the rest will amply reward you.--I recommend to you to make extracts upon the passages which strike you most--it will be of infinite use to you--as I trust you will find it as much a history of Europe during two centuries, as of Charles the Fifth.--After all, I shall fume and scold if you do not read this work--and abuse you if you do not relish it.--You flatter my vanity very agreeably--in ever supposing that any hints of mine should conduce to the culture of your little farm:--be that as it may--I am happy in the certainty of never intentionally misleading or misadvising any male youth--I wish I could say, Virgin!--Farewell! read, reflect! then write, and let me have your opinions.

Yours sincerely,

I. SANCHO.