midnight
Let not thy breeches be too tight , or hang too loose about thy thighs , like the trunk-hose of our ancestors . -- A just medium prevents all conclusions . Whatever thou hast to say , be it more or less , forget not to utter it in a low soft tone of voice . Silence , and whatever approaches it , weaves dreams of midnight secrecy into the brain : For this cause , if thou canst help it , never throw down the tongs and poker . Avoid all kinds of pleasantry and facetiousness in thy discourse with her , and do whatever lies in thy power at the same time , to keep from her all books and writings which tend thereto : there are some devotional tracts , which if thou canst entice her to read over -- it will be well : but suffer her not to look into _ Rabelais _ , or _ Scarron _ , or _ Don Quixote _ -- -- They are all books which excite laughter ; and thou knowest , dear _ Toby _ , that there is no passion so serious as lust . Stick a pin in the bosom of thy shirt , before thou enterest her parlour . And if thou art permitted to sit upon the same sopha with her , and she gives thee occasion to lay thy hand upon hers -- beware of taking it -- thou canst not lay thy hand on hers , but she will feel the temper of thine .