She stood like Mercury new lighted on a heaven-kissing hill. She placed her foot upon the ground, as she might put a hand upon her lover's shoulder. We indent it with our eleven undisguised stone.
Such was Sir Harry Wildair, who stood by Mr. Vane, glittering with diamond buckles, gorgeous with rich satin breeches, velvet coat, ruffles, _pictcae vestis et auri;_ and as she bent her long eye-fringes down on him (he was seated), all her fiery charms gradually softened and quivered down to womanhood.
“The first time I was here,” said Vane, “my admiration of you broke out to Mr. Cibber; and what do you think he said?”
“That you praised me, for me to hear you. Did you?”
“Forgive me. It is just what I should have done, had I been courting an actress.”
“I think you have not met many ingenuous spirits, dear friend.”
This was a phrase she often applied to him now.
“The old fellow pretended to hear what I said, too; and I am sure you did not--did you?”
“I am afraid I must plead guilty. An actress's ears are so quick to hear praise, to tell you the truth, I did catch a word or two, and, 'It told, sir--it told.'”
“You alarm me! At this rate, I shall never know what you see, hear or think, by your face.”
“When you want to know anything, ask me, and I will tell you; but nobody else shall learn anything, nor even you, any other way.”
“Did you hear the feeble tribute of praise I was paying you, when you came in?” inquired Vane.
“No. You did not say that my voice had the compass and variety of nature, and my movements were free and beautiful, while the others when in motion were stilts, and coffee-pots when in repose, did you?”
“Something of the sort, I believe,” cried Vane, laughing.
“I melted from one fine statue into another, I restored the Antinous to his true sex.--Goose!--Painters might learn their art from me (in my dressing-room, no doubt), and orators revive at my lips the music of Athens, that quelled mad mobs and princes drunk with victory.--Silly fellow!--Praise was never so sweet to me,” murmured she, inclining like a goddess of love toward him; and he fastened on two velvet lips, that did not shun the sweet attack, but gently parted with a heavenly sigh; while her heaving bosom and yielding frame and swimming eyes confessed her conqueror.