Nothing was ever so stupid on both sides. Had I acted as became me, and resisted as virtue and honour require, this gentleman had either desisted his attacks, finding no room to expect the accomplishment of his design, or had made fair and honourable proposals of marriage; in which case, whoever had blamed him, nobody could have blamed me.
Jamais rien ne fut si stupide des deux côtés; si j'avais agi selon la convenance, et résisté comme l'exigeaient l'honneur et la vertu, ou bien il eût renoncé à ses attaques, ne trouvant point lieu d'attendre l'accomplissement de son dessein, ou bien il eût fait de belles et honorables propositions de mariage; dans quel cas on aurait pu le blâmer par aventure mais non moi.