Love in Excess; or, the Fatal Enquiry

Fain wou’d I here my vast Ideas raise, To paint the Wonders of ELIZA’s praise; But like young Artists where their Stroaks decay, I shade those Glories which I can’t display. Thy Prose in sweeter Harmony refines, Than Numbers flowing thro’ the Muse’s Lines; What Beauty ne’er cou’d melt, thy Touches fire, And raise a Musick that can Love inspire; Soul-thrilling Accents all our Senses wound, And Strike with softness, whilst they Charm with sound! When thy COUNT pleads, what Fair his Suit can flye? Or when thy Nymph laments, what Eyes are dry? Ev’n Nature’s self in Sympathy appears, Yeilds Sigh for Sigh, and melts in equal Tears; For such Descriptions thus at once can prove The Force of Language, and the Sweets of Love.

The Myrtle’s Leaves with those of Fame entwine, And all the Glories of that Wreath are thine? As Eagles can undazzl’d view the Force Of scorching PHŒBUS in his Noon-day Course; Thy Genius to the God its Luster plays, Meets his fierce Beams, and darts him Rays for Rays! Oh Glorious Strength! Let each succeeding Page Still boast those Charms and luminate the Age; So shall thy beamful Fires with Light divine Rise to the Sphere, and there triumphant Shine.

RICHARD SAVAGE.

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By an unknown Hand.

To the most Ingenious Mrs HAYWOOD, on her NOVEL Entitled,

Love in Excess:

A Stranger Muse, an Unbeliever too, That Womens Souls such Strength of Vigour knew! Nor less an Atheist to Love’s Power declar’d, Till YOU a Champion for the Sex appear’d! A Convert now, to both, I feel that Fire YOUR Words alone can paint! YOUR Looks inspire! Resistless now, Love’s shafts new pointed fly, Wing’d with YOUR Flame, and blazing in YOUR Eye. With sweet, but pow’rful Force, the Charm-shot Heart Receives th’ Impression of the Conqu’ring Dart, And ev’ry Art’ry huggs the Joy-tipt Smart!

No more of PHŒBUS, rising vainly boast, Ye tawny Sons of a luxuriant Coast! While our blest Isle is with such Rays replete, BRITAIN shall glow with more than Eastern Heat!

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VERSES

Wrote in the Blank Leaf of

Mrs. Haywood’s NOVEL.

Of all the Passions given us from above, The Noblest, Truest, and the Best, is Love; ’Tis Love awakes the Soul, informs the Mind, And bends the stubborn Temper to be kind, Abates the Edge of ev’ry poi’nant Care Succeeds the Wishes of the trembling Fair, And ravishes the Lover from Despair. ’Tis Love ELIZA’s soft Affections fires, ELIZA writes, but Love alone inspires; ’Tis Love, that gives D’ELMONT his manly Charms, And tears AMENA from her Father’s Arms; Relieves the Fair one from her Maiden Fear, And gives MELLIORA all her Soul holds dear, A generous Lover, and a Bliss sincere.

Receive, my Fair, the Story, and approve, The Cause of HONOUR, and the Cause of LOVE; With kind Concern, the tender Page peruse, And aid the Infant Labours of the Muse. So never may those Eyes forget to shine, And bright MELLIORA’s Fortune be as Thine; On thy best Looks, an happy D’ELMONT feed, And all the Wishes of thy Soul succeed.

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LOVE in EXCESS:

OR, THE

FATAL ENQUIRY.

PART the FIRST.

In the late War between the French and the Confederate Armies, there were two BROTHERS, who had acquir’d a more than ordinary Reputation, under the Command of the great and intrepid LUXEMBOURGH. But the Conclusion of the Peace taking away any further Occasions of shewing their Valour, the Eldest of ’em, whose Name was COUNT D’ELMONT, return’d to PARIS, from whence he had been absent two Years, leaving his Brother at St. OMER’s, ’till the Cure of some slight Wounds were perfected.

The Fame of the Count’s brave Actions arriv’d before him, and he had the Satisfaction of being receiv’d by the KING and COURT, after a Manner that might gratify the Ambition of the proudest. The Beauty of his Person, the Gayity of his Air, and the unequal’d Charms of his Conversation, made him the Admiration of both Sexes; and whilst those of his own strove which should gain the largest share in his Friendship; the other vented fruitless Wishes, and in secret, curs’d that Custom which forbids Women to make a Declaration of their Thoughts. Amongst the Number of these, was ALOVISA, a Lady descended (by the Father’s Side) from the Noble Family of the D’ LA TOURS formerly Lord of BEUJEY, and (by her Mothers) from the equally Illustrious House of MONTMORENCY. The late Death of her Parents had left her Coheiress (with her Sister,) of a vast Estate.