Preeson Bowdoin to William Short, 11 April 1785

Every thing you have said, or may say respecting the Belle of S. Germain, you may rest assured, shall remain a profound secret. Yes, I have been too often a Lover myself not to know the value of such a confidance, What, every Disposition every wish to sway you happy,— and is cupid si mal a droit [so clumsy], as not to find one five minutes, favorable to his intentions— no more is necessary, But Love like <...> other things requires Practice as well as Theory, & you I make not doubt will <...> pluck the first flower of her little <...> Garden, a maiden head is a valuable thing in france, made so from the scarcity of the article, Do you remember what Voltaire says on that subject.—

Heureux cent fois qui trouve un pucelage!

C'est un grand bien. Mais de toucher un cœur,

C'est à mon sens, le plus cher avantage —

Se voir aimé, c'est là le vrai bonheur.

Qu'importe, hélas d'arracher une fleur

C'est à l'amour à nous cueillir la Rose,

[Happy the man whose smiling destiny

Rewards his wishes with virginity;

Great is the blessing, but to touch the heart

Is to my mind a far more pleasing part;

To be beloved is bliss beyond compare,

What matters it, alas! the flow'r to tear;

To cull the rose, my friend, to love is due], ansi soit-il <...> il n'y a point de Rose sans épine [so be it <...> there is no rose without thorn] but the <...>ns enhances the Value of it— A conquest without conflict, looses it's glory for me—

"Qui ne seant pas qu'un peu de Resistance

"Vaut cens fois mieux que trop de complaisance

[Who does not feel that a little resistance

is worth hundred times more that too much complacency]

I sincerely wish you may have both the Pucelage and the Rose— But above all things think not of Hymen— no, no, a Mistress but no wife in france Without a person could wear horns will gilded, that alters the case But a man to mary for Love in france would be as much out of fashion as he that wears velvet in Summer. I expect to be in Paris in about 15 days, shall continue there as many shall go from thence to Amsterdam, then to London and in July shall bid adieu to Europe for Virginia 

Have you hear any thing of the Major and Thé— they will soon be in Paris— You will be much pleased with the little watch maker. I wish the husband was as polite as the husband of Yorick's Marchande de Gands— but I think he will <...> very cuning if is wife Does not outwit him 

Do you remember Gricourt's sStory of the Bottle of water— after that the women can do any thing Volume. 2^d. page 24— read it, it will amuse you

Adieu

                   & believe me with sincere regard

                                             Your friend