Wensday Night
To w^t purpose should I Disguise y^e sentiments I
have in my Heart for you after a thousand painfull conflicts w^th my
self, I am brought to own, you have made your self nessesary to my Peace,
Remember, Madan, that on your Sincereity & Honour I have place’d
every Hope I can possibly Entertain of Future Happiness: I cannot
if {^^I} would Disemble, my Hatred & Indifference, was ever affected, &
the Love, I Fear, I have too plainly shown for you, is as free from Act:
you may believe {^^me} when I repeat y^e assurance I have already given you
with this addition, I am yours sincerely, Faithfully, & Eternaly –
you told me in one of your Letters, y^u hop’d I would believe, y^e regard
you profess’d for me was wholy Disenterested – w^t you shall know in y^e
acquaintance I {^^have} had w^th} you, I never Endeavour’d to let my self into any
Enquiry, than y^t of {^^your Heart – y^t I only there Dreaded to be
Deceive’d – y^e same assurance {^^on} my part, will become needless. I

[f.9v]

prefer y^e single Distinction of Belov’d by you; to every other
the world can afford. that alone can make me (w^t you in hours
of flattery have told me I was) the Object of the Envy of my Sex;
I shall be Deservedly so, if you can continue to prefer me in your
Esteem. O Madan! in vain would I conceal my Heart from you
you see every thought y^t rises in it, you see I more then Esteem
I almost, love you, you triumph over an Indifference, w^ch I once
thought part of my nature, I am chang’d, your were ordain’d to
work this miracle, I begin to fancy you were made on purpose
to subdue my Pride, I own I have every time I converse w^th you
a meaner opinion of my own merit, it can never answer to y^t
Degree of worth I must believe you Master off but let
a freindship w^ch shall be Eternal make up every other Defect.
Will you come here to morrow? Show no mortal this Letter, nor
don’t read it above once.
Ju: Cowper

Wednesday Night
To w^t purpose should I Disguise y^e sentiments I
have in my Heart for you after a thousand painful conflicts w^th my
self, I am brought to own, you have made your self necessary to my Peace,
Remember, Madan, that on your Sincerity & Honour I have placed
every Hope I can possibly Entertain of Future Happiness: I cannot
if {^^I} would Dissemble, my Hatred & Indifference, was ever affected, &
the Love, I Fear, I have too plainly shown for you, is as free from Act:
you may believe {^^me} when I repeat y^e assurance I have already given you
with this addition, I am yours sincerely, Faithfully, & Eternally –
you told me in one of your Letters, y^u hoped I would believe, y^e regard
you professed for me was wholly Disinterested – w^t you shall know in y^e
acquaintance I {^^have} had w^th} you, I never Endeavoured to let my self into any
Enquiry, than y^t of {^^your Heart – y^t I only there Dreaded to be
Deceived – y^e same assurance {^^on} my part, will become needless. I

[f.9v]

prefer y^e single Distinction of Beloved by you; to every other
the world can afford. that alone can make me (w^t you in hours
of flattery have told me I was) the Object of the Envy of my Sex;
I shall be Deservedly so, if you can continue to prefer me in your
Esteem. O Madan! in vain would I conceal my Heart from you
you see every thought y^t rises in it, you see I more then Esteem
I almost, love you, you triumph over an Indifference, w^ch I once
thought part of my nature, I am changed, your were ordained to
work this miracle, I begin to fancy you were made on purpose
to subdue my Pride, I own I have every time I converse w^th you
a meaner opinion of my own merit, it can never answer to y^t
Degree of worth I must believe you Master off but let
a friendship w^ch shall be Eternal make up every other Defect.
Will you come here to morrow? Show no mortal this Letter, nor
don’t read it above once.
Ju: Cowper