Scotland/Scots > Man of feeling

24 the man of feeling.
Harley faw this; for though he was
a child in the drama of the world, yet
was it not altogether owing to a want
of knowlege in his part * on the con¬
trary, the moft delicate confcioufnefs of
propriety often kindled that blufh which
marred the performance of it: this
raifed his efteem fomething above what
the moft fanguine defcriptions of her
goodnefs had been able to do j for cer¬
tain it is, that notwithftanding the la¬
boured definitions which very wife men
have given us of the inherent beauty of
virtue, we are always inclined to think
her handfomeft when ihe condefcends to
fmile upon ourfelves.
It would be trite to obferve the eafy
gradation from efteem to love : in the
bofom of Harley there fcarce needed a
tranfition; for there were certain feafons
when