The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 73: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ROSE FOSTER AGAIN 55 rudely in the embrace of unhallowed lust, sooner than thy purity and thine innocence shall be sacrificed to the passions of thy persecutor, ay, and sooner than thou, with thine own consent, shall become the mistress of the royal profligate, we would see thee dead, laid in the cold grave, and we would ourselves exclaim, ‘‘ Back, back to the realms of heaven, thou ray from Jehovah’s brow! ”’ Yes, the prince was indeed amazed and staggered by the words and the demeanour of the young orphan; and before he could recover from the state of feeling into which he was thus thrown, she addressed him with a solemn and touching earnestness which would have evoked a generous response from any other individual. ‘No words, Prince of Wales,” said Rose Foster, ‘‘ can describe the indignation with which I reject, nay, scorn and recoil from, the proposal which you have dared to make me. The ladies of the aristocracy may deem it an honour to become notorious as the prince’s favourite wantons; but the humble daughter of the people turns in loathing and wrath from the bare idea of such ignominy. Oh, well does the nation know that the higher the grade, the less virtue is to be found in it; and the despised, scorned, tyrant-ridden, and starving millions may take to themselves credit for virtues unknown amongst their titled oppressors. Go, Prince of Wales, go amongst your duchesses, your marchionesses, and your countesses, and pay your court to them: you know full well that they will not refuse your love-suit, but will deem it an honour to surrender up all purity, innocence, and virtue at the shrine of royalty. Yes, go to them, but dare not to breathe the same tale in my ears. The daughters of the people know that shame and infamy, however highly gilded, are shame and infamy still, and that the tarnish of a frail woman’s reputation shows through the costliest veil with which the bounty and profusion of a royal lover may seek to conceal it. Now then, Prince of Wales, be generous, be great, be good, and allow me to depart in safety. I will thank you for this act of mercy, if you will concede it; for though I may more properly call it a deed of justice, yet will I speak of it and regard it in the light of a bounteous and humane con- ~ cession from a mighty prince toward an obscure and friend- less orphan girl.” “By Heavens! I know not how to answer you, how to (C(O) Anyi } KS {