REFLECTIONS 
 
 UPON 
 
 RIDICULE; 
 
 O R, 
 
 What it is that makes a M A N Ridiculous^ 
 and the MEANS to avoid it. 
 
 Wherein are Repiefented 
 
 The different MANNERS and CHARACTERS 
 of Perfons of the prefent AGE. 
 
 In Two VOLUMES. 
 VOL. I. 
 
 ("Unpolitenefs. 
 
 "1 
 
 [Prejudice. 
 
 Indifcretion. 
 
 
 Intereft. 
 
 Affectation. 
 
 1 
 
 Sufficiency. 
 
 . Foolifh Vanity. 
 O/< The bad Tafte. 
 
 \0f< 
 
 Ahlurdities. 
 Caprice. 
 
 Impofture. 
 
 
 Falfe Delicacy. 
 
 The morofe Humour. 
 
 
 Decorum. 
 
 Impertinence. 
 
 J 
 
 L 
 
 By JEREMIAH COLLIER, A. M. 
 The SIXTH EDITION. 
 
 DUBLIN: 
 
 Printed by OH. Netfon, at Milton s-Head in 
 Skitwr-Rawj MDCCLXIV.
 
 
 a I lT I 
 
 J LU.I 
 
 
 
 

 
 BlIrrEc. 
 
 To H. K. Efquirc. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 THE Nature of this little Pre- 
 fent, obliges me to deviate from 
 the common Road of Dedications, 
 and therefore you muft not expect I mould 
 ftrew my Way to you with Incenfe, or at- 
 tempt to make your Panegyrick. You'll 
 find the Defign of it is to prevent or reme- 
 dy Prejudice, Affectation and Vanity, to 
 prune the Excrefcences of Self-Love, 
 and by expofmg all the antick Shapes 
 and apifh Poftures of RIDICULE, mew 
 you what it is to deport yourfelf like a 
 Man in the Commerce of the World ; 
 and under this View, you muft permit 
 me to talk to you with a Freedom and 
 Familiarity, fomewhat like that of your 
 Tutor ; to call your Thoughts and Re- 
 flections home, and open your Eyes to a 
 Profpect which young People feldom 
 care to dwell upon, that is, Themfelves. 
 I muft confefs the Advantages of your 
 Education feem to fuperfede this Labour, 
 and to render it either fuperfluous or pre- 
 fumptuous : For you are now breathing 
 the pure and falutary Air of Parnaffus* 
 A 2 and
 
 DEDICATION. 
 
 and drinking at the Streams of Helicon : 
 You are admitted to the Court, where 
 Learning and the Mufes keep their Refi- 
 dence, and good Manners are taught 
 and pradifed in all their Branches and 
 Extent. You abound in Precepts and 
 Examples, and whatever may contribute 
 to form your Head, and adorn your 
 Mind, and make you Wife and Good : 
 But then, Sir, I mufl remind you, that 
 with all thefe happy Circumftances, 
 there is one Thing little confidered or 
 apprehended, naturally apt to prove a 
 Temptation and a Snare to you, which 
 you cannot be too carefully cautioned and 
 armed againft ; I mean, your too unfor- 
 tunate and too early Succeflion to the 
 Eftate of your Anceftors. That Green- 
 nefs of Age which entitles to Inherit, fel- 
 dom qualifies to Live ; and 'tis a real 
 Hardfhip upon a young Gentleman to be 
 trufted into the Hands of his own Power, 
 before he arrives to the Years, which 
 give Maturity to his Reafon and his 
 Judgment. How ungovernable are the 
 raffions and Sallies of Youth, when li- 
 cenfed and indulged : What Swarms of 
 Caprices and Fancies infeft this Seafon of 
 Life, which would wither and perifh in 
 the Embrio, unlefs enlivened with Wealth, 
 which hatches and fledges the Chimera's ? 
 Thofe Projects of Pieafure and Vice, of 
 
 Folly
 
 DEDICATION. 
 
 Folly and Love, the ufual Objects and 
 Entertainments of juvenile Minds, flart 
 out and flourifh in the Sunihine of a 
 plentiful Fortune, and make the Perfori 
 odious and ridiculous, whom an ob- 
 fcure State might have flickered with 
 the Reputation of Sobriety and Difcre- 
 tion. Your greateft Security in this Par- 
 ticular, is your native Modefly, and ge- 
 nuine Difpofitions to Virtue, improved 
 and cultivated by the Care and Conduct 
 of an Academical Education ; from 
 whence, Sir, you may learn to put a due 
 Value upon thofe happy Minutes you 
 employ in it ; the beft Opportunity to 
 ilore your Soul with found Senfe, and 
 honourable Principles, which will im- 
 prove with Years, and exert themfelves 
 in all the Parts of Life. Here, Sir, you 
 will be furnifhed with a Method, how to 
 fpend your Time, the greateft Incum- 
 brance upon the Hands of untutored Gen- 
 tlemen, without Recourfe to fuch Arts 
 and Amufements, as debafe a Man be- 
 neath himfelf, and make him the moll 
 contemptible Thing in the World. For 
 pray, Sir, a(k yourfelf this Queflion, 
 Whether are the more rational Animals 
 of the two, the Dogs, whofe Nature and 
 Bufmefs it is to follow t>.e Game, or their 
 Mailers, vrho make it their only Bufmefs 
 to follow the Dogs ? Conlider which is 
 A 3 the
 
 DEDICATION. 
 
 the more important Employment, that of 
 a Child playing with Toys and Feathers, 
 or that of a Man continually dealing in 
 Cards and Dice ? He that has not learnt 
 to employ his Hours to better Purpofe, 
 is a Thing that feeems fent into the 
 World like Infects, only to bafk in the 
 Gleams of the warm Day, and be im- 
 pertinent and good for nothing \ and 
 yet, I need not tell you, there are 
 Numbers, who by a ftill more crimi- 
 nal and fcandalous Conduct, fink into 
 Beaft and Prodigy. Your propitious 
 Stars have provided better for you, and 
 iupplyed you with all the Means and 
 Opportunities to raife your Merit, and 
 qualify you for important Services to 
 your Country. 'Tis in your Power to 
 chufe whether you will bury your Talent, 
 and let it ruft in obfcurity and Silence, 
 or whether you will be at the Pains to po- 
 lifh and brighten up your Parts, and make 
 yourfelf Eminent and Confpicuous to 
 the World. You have considerable Ex- 
 amples before your Eyes ; and, could 
 you inherit the Virtues, as you do the 
 Eftate of your Family, you would 
 need nothing more to your Accom- 
 plifhment. Your Grandfather's Learn- 
 ing and Politenefs, your Father's 
 Generofity and good Nature, your 
 Mother's Piety .and Goodnefs, are all 
 
 perfect
 
 DEDICATION. 
 
 perfect Originals in their Kind ; and 
 upon thefe Models, as the Painter drew 
 his Venus from the united Beauties of 
 the Age, you may build and finifh the 
 Gentleman. But what a Tafk wilt 
 you think impofed upon you, when 
 you (hall find that Learning, and Me- 
 rit, and Wit, and Beauty, the chief En- 
 dowments of Mind and Body, may be 
 of little Service to the Pofleflbr, un- 
 lefs he be inftruded in the Art of Liv- 
 ing and the Art of Pleafing ? There 
 are certain curious and fine Touches of 
 the Pencil, which add Life and Charms 
 to the Piece; fome additional Graces 
 to the Mufick, which render the Con- 
 fort fo ravifhing and killing; and there 
 are fome Drefles and Deportments, 
 fome Meins and Airs of Virtue which 
 make it fo powerful and penetrating. 
 The Difficulty confifts in drawing out 
 the glittering Store, and employing it 
 on pertinent Occafions ; in fpreading a 
 Man's Merit, without Vanity and Affec- 
 tation, and in mining in fuch a Man- 
 ner, as not to dazzle and confound, and 
 raite the Envy and Indignation of behold- 
 ers. Happy he that has found the no- 
 ble Secret at once, to deferve and pleafe ; 
 Nature, and Art, and Fortune, and Fa- 
 vour, and a potent Conftellation, mud 
 all combine to furnim. out a Merit thus 
 
 acceptable
 
 DEDICATION. 
 
 acceptable to Mankind. It will require 
 great Commerce, and long Practice to 
 perfect him in this Science ; he muft ftu- 
 dy Men and Books, the World and him- 
 felf, and be able to rife or ftoop to all the 
 different Abilities, and comport with the 
 various Tempers and Humours of Men. 
 He muft, efpecially, penetrate into that 
 Je ne feat ' quoi, which makes fbme fo well 
 received, and others of equal Merit fo dif- 
 guftful, which in the one provokes and 
 encourages, and in the others prevents 
 and forbids RIDICULE. In this, Sir, I 
 muft profefs my felf as unable to direct 
 you in the Theory, as I am to obferve 
 the Practice ; it may be of no little Ufe 
 to you, to read this little Tract of a Per- 
 fon who has travelled the Cpuntry before 
 you, and furnifhed you with Memoirs 
 and Obfervations ; which your own Judg- 
 ment, as you pals, will verify and cor- 
 roborate, and fix deeper in your Memo- 
 ry : When you find your own Sentiments 
 painted to the Life, and the Manners of 
 your Acquaintance delicately touched, and 
 as clearly defcribed as acted, you'll be 
 ftruck with an agreeable Surprize, and 
 cry out with the 
 
 tegio in terns wftri non plena laloris ? 
 
 You'll
 
 You'll woqder to fee your own Secret 
 Thoughts, Defires and Paflions, thus 
 meet you in a Glafs, and be apt to en- 
 quire who it is has flolen your Picture? 
 And by the Collation and Comparifon of 
 Characters, Things and Perfons, you'll 
 extract what is odious and offenlive, "what 
 is charming and delicious in Converfation, 
 and what makes or Spoils the Well-bred 
 Man ! You'll find here a delicate Kind of 
 EtbickS) not taught by the Matters of that 
 Science : Some intelktlual Immoralities, 
 flowing rather from the Head than Heart, 
 which, tho' the Will has little to do in them 
 have as ill Confequences in Life, as thofe 
 of a more malignant }slature. A fingle 
 Word mifplaced or rrfif- timed, a Look, a 
 Gefture, or a Smile, mal a propos, may 
 have troublefome Effects. But, not to an- 
 ticipate you in your Difcoveries, I will only 
 venture to lay in one Precaution againft a 
 foilleffe, your Situation is moft likely to 
 expofe you to, which is, Fondnefs of 
 Praife and Commendation. The Heart 
 has no Avenue fo open, as that to Flatte- 
 ry, which like fome Enchantment, lays 
 all its Guards afleep; and, if this fhould 
 be your weak Side, you'll find it expofed 
 to continual Batteries, which there would 
 be no withflanding. Some would hu- 
 mour your Vanity out of Intereft, and 
 
 others
 
 DEDICATION. 
 
 others out of Raillery and Sport; and 
 the Event would be, the Neglect to ao 
 quire thefe good Qualities that poifoned 
 Incenfe endows you with, and a wonder- 
 ful Fund of RIDICULE. To prevent this, 
 whenever you are fed with the Notions 
 of your Quality and Fortune, your antient 
 Houfe and fine Eftate, your Dependents 
 and Tenants, reflect what a Figure it be- 
 comes you to make, to be equal to thefe 
 Advantages. Think how many Ingredi- 
 ents enter the Conflitution of a Gentle- 
 man, and how the Mixture of one Vice 
 or Folly, depraves and corrupts the whole 
 Compofition. Confider what you owe to 
 the Expectations of your Friends and 
 Country, and how you ought to anfvver 
 them. With the due Influence of thefe 
 Thoughts, you will refolutely puriue the 
 Progrefs you have fo well begun, and lay 
 an early Foundation of good Learning 
 and good Breeding, Virtue and Honour, 
 which you'll have Leifure hereafter to fu- 
 perftruct and adorn in all the Offices of 
 Life. Now, Sir, if you'll pardon this Free- 
 dom, I fhall be the lefs concerned for 
 what will be faid by others, of trifling 
 away Time in the Tranflation. Every 
 Man has his Diverfions, and as there is 
 fomething of Commendation in that Sort 
 of Play which defigns the Stakes for the 
 Advantage of the Poor, there can be no 
 
 great
 
 JD E D 1C A r I N. 
 
 great Difcredit in fpending a few vacant 
 Hours in Charity to the Rich : The Ladies, 
 'as well as Gentlemen, will find fomething 
 here they may improve by j there being 
 nothing more wanting in the World, than 
 a Practice fuitable to thefe Reflections, 
 which would file off the Unevennefs of 
 Tempers, and make Convcrfation much 
 cafier, and more fatisfactory than it is com- 
 monly found to be, I am, 
 
 SIR, 
 
 Tour Faithful, 
 
 
 
 Humble Servant.
 
 
 
 
 CONTENT 
 
 . 
 
 REfle&ions upon Ridicule, and the 
 
 Means to avoid it, Pag* 5 
 Of Unpolftdnefc, 
 
 Indifcretion^ *-* -** 27 
 
 Affectation, 46 
 
 Foolifh Vanity, - 58 
 
 tbe bad Tafte, 72 
 
 Impofture, 82 
 
 tbe morofe Humour, 97 
 
 Impertinence, 109 
 
 Prejudice, 125 
 
 Intereft, 142 
 
 Sufficiency, *- 160 
 
 Abfurdities, 170 
 Caprice, - -182 
 
 Falfe Delicacy, - 193 
 
 Decorum, - 202 
 
 Adver-
 
 (i) 
 
 Advertifement. 
 
 not an extravagant and grofs Ri- 
 JL dicule, that is the Bufinefs of tbefe Re- 
 fledtions, but that nice one, the moft po- 
 lite People fometimes fall into without perceiving 
 it. It often happens, that thofe very Things they 
 pride them/elves in, and affeft to dijlinguijh 
 themf elves by, expofe them to contempt and Rail- 
 lery^ becaufe they can't conceal a foolijh Vanity 
 in their Ways, or an unreafonable Defire of plea- 
 fing and out-doing all the World. Hence pro- 
 ceeds that Reluftance to yield, and go into the 
 Reafons of others^ whilfl an importunate Qbfli- 
 nacy to defend their own Opinions, runs them in- 
 to many Extravagancies and Follies. Moji of 
 the Things fo hotly difputed are Trifles ef no Con- 
 fequence^ and yet People make it a Point of Ho- 
 nour to gain a chimerical Viftory. An Excefs of 
 Sincerity is equally ridiculous with this Obflinacy 
 and Conceitednefs t at when ivt find People of 
 VOL. I. B fuch
 
 Advertifement. 
 
 Juc h a Character, as will be always faying fame- 
 thing difguflful to the Perfons they converfe with. 
 What Reafon have they to turn Counfellors, before 
 their Advice Is ak'd? We don't love thofe that 
 tell us of our Faults ; ovr Defer e is to be flatter' d 
 and applauded. "Tii, especially an Impertinence 
 to blame in others thofe Faults which we are liable 
 to be cenfur'd for ourf elves, and which are more 
 manifejt and grofs in us than in thofe we pretended 
 to reprehend. 
 
 We feel an uneafy Refentment again ft thofe that 
 interrupt us in relating an Adventure, or telling 
 a Story, and think them rude and ill-bred 
 People, and yet if we take not heed, we continu- 
 ally fall into the fame Error. 
 
 In like Manner, we fuffer by the Indifcretion of 
 thofe that lifttn to our fecret Difcourfe, the At- 
 tention they memife/1 to fteal our Secrets from us, 
 provokes us again/} them. We Jhall fee by the 
 Enumeration of the Faults of Mankind, how 
 carefully we ought to watch our -J "elves, to avoid be- 
 ing ridiculous. 
 
 We chofe rather to treat this SubjecJ by loofe 
 and disjointed Thoughts, than by long Chapter 's, 
 and compleat Tratts, which would have been per- 
 haps more tedious and lefs ufeful : The eager and 
 impetuous Genius of the Reader, loves Novelty and 
 diverfify'd Matters, but tires under long Dif- 
 courfe s upon the fame Subjefts ; the Hope ofjeeing 
 MW Countries, tnd making new Difcoveries is a 
 Spur to the Curiofity. 
 
 Thefe
 
 Advertiiement. in 
 
 Ttxfe Refleflions were made at different Seafons 
 and on different Occafions^ by examining the ill 
 Carriage^ the ridiculous Ways and Whimfies of 
 Men^ and the ReafonS why certain Perfons of fuf- 
 ficient Merit have not the Faculty of plea/ing. 
 
 We offer not this to the Publick as a Thing of 
 extreme Confequence ; we can only fay there is not 
 a Page but a Man may profit by ; tht Pifturt 
 of the Vices here criticised will ferue fw a Rule 
 to amend them : A Man that feels hi mfe If f mit- 
 ten in his weak Part^ and fees hi tnfelf painted to 
 the Life^ immediately conceives a fecret Spleen 
 againfi the /father ; in this refembling a deformed 
 Woman when yon Jhew her the Gtafs. 
 
 I am apt ts think, that they who Jpeak in Pub- 
 lick, will find in theje Reflections, as fimple as 
 they appear, fometn ng wherewithal to embeilijb 
 their Difcnurfes^ ivhich for the generality are 
 empty of thought; they go not to the Bott m of 
 Men's Manners ; they are not fujficiently ac- 
 quainted with the Doubles and Foldings of an hu- 
 man Heart> and the ill EffeRs of the Pajfions : 
 *They [peak only indefinite and general '/ hrn%J^ 
 which no Body is concerned in, and which aw < ken 
 not the Auditor's Attention ; you mujl paint him, 
 *f you'll awaken him. 
 
 The Names imply 'd in this Treatife are fic- 
 titious ; the Vices therein expofed are the Infir- 
 mities of Man's Nature, which are difperfed 
 among/I Mankind in general^ but meet in no one 
 Man. In particular. 
 
 B 2 Tou'11
 
 IV 
 
 Adveriiiement. 
 
 You'll find here, perhaps, fome Maxims and 
 Touches thatfeem to coincide, and which the unin- 
 telligent will confound with one another ; the Rea- 
 fon is, that in the Vices and Paffions, there are 
 nice Differences that are only dijiingu'ified by good 
 Judges : To jhow them as they ought, you mujt 
 put them in different Lights, and under fuch Cir- 
 cumftances as difcover the Degree, and brighten up 
 the Folly. Tempers, Humours and Conjunctures, 
 s he new Failures to Vice, if 1 may ufe that Ex- 
 preffton: The Make of the Mind, and Motions 
 of the Heart, Affeftions ant Inter efts, change the 
 Nature of the Paffions, which are different in all 
 Men, which made me think that thofe feeming 
 Repetitions were nece/ary to the Execution of my 
 Defign* 
 
 REFLEC-
 
 ( 5 ) 
 
 REFLECTIONS 
 
 UPON 
 
 RIDICULE, 
 
 AND 
 
 The MEANS to avoid it. 
 
 A Man may fall into Ridicule, tho' endow'd 
 with Parts and perfonal Merit, and fine 
 Qualities, and fingular Talents, if he knows 
 not how to put them in Practice. On the 
 contrary, Men of a moderate Defert make themfelves 
 courted, and by their Charms and Politenefs, eclipfe 
 the brighteil Wits ; becaufe they have, I kr.ow not 
 what Bluntnefs and Rufticity, and ridiculous Ways 
 with them. 
 
 Men are made for Society, and therefore the mod 
 ufeful of all Sciences is the Art of Living, which 
 guards us perpetually againft Ridicule, and teaches us 
 to avoid whatever may difguft the Perfons we converfe 
 with, and diminifh the Pleafure they tafte in our Con- 
 verfation. 
 
 B 3 Good
 
 6 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 Good Qualities fometimes contribute to make a 
 Man ridiculous, when he makes not a good Ufe of 
 them; if he has Wit and Spirit, he'll think to Ihinc 
 in Converfation, and carry every Thing his own 
 Way ; he'll exercife a defpotical Empire over Opini- 
 ons j his Wit will fometimes carry him to extravagant 
 Singularities and dangerous Indifcretions, which will 
 make him fear'd where- ever he comes, becaufe he's 
 Magifterial on all Occafions. 
 
 Let a Man have never fo much Merit, 'tis not beft 
 to mew himfelf too much. There are few People but 
 lefTen otheri Efleem of them, by a long Acquaintance, 
 becaufe they will always be under the Conftraint of 
 concealing their Faults. 
 
 The Ambition to pleafe thofe we at firft are ac- 
 quainted with, keeps us upon our Guard, and makes 
 us put our befl Side outermolt, but proportionably as 
 this Delire abates, the Care of concealing our Imper- 
 fections wears off, and we (hew ourfelves naked, as I 
 may fay. 'Tis almoft the fame as with a Hufband 
 and a Wife ; in the early Days of their Marriage, 
 they take Care to appear to each other with all their 
 Advantages, but at laft they are weary of this Con- 
 ftraint, which is the firll Step towards that Indifference 
 they have for one another all the reft of their Lives. 
 
 'Tis pretty difficult to conceive why fome People, 
 in whom we find uncommon Qualities, don't pleafe, 
 and why we remain unaffected with the Beauty of 
 certain Women : Their extravagant, indifcreet, ill- 
 bred, ftarcht, or giddy Carriage, deflroys the Impref- 
 fions their. Beauty had made : Their moral and intel- 
 lectual Imperfections prevent their external Charms 
 from having their Effect. 
 
 'Tis a Folly to wink againft our own Imperfections, 
 and to feek pitiful Arguments to evade the Thoughts 
 of them ; for though it may be eafy to put a Fallacy 
 upon ourfelves, there's no impofmg upon the Publick, 
 a penetrating and inexorable Judge. Did we take the 
 fame Pains to get rid of our Paflions, as to difguife 
 them, we mould find a Cure of them ; now 'tis hard 
 
 to
 
 Reflections upon Ridicule. 7 
 
 to determine which is beft, an exceffive Care to con- 
 ceal ourfeKes, or that fupinenefs of thofe who are al- 
 ways expofing their weak Part, and giving themfelves 
 entirely up to a lazy Indifference, amongft whom the 
 trouble of conquering a ruling Paffion, or at leaft of 
 diflembling it, often carries it above the Love of 
 Fame or Fortune, notwithftanding the Prevalence of 
 thefe Defires. 
 
 'Tis certain 'haf every Body have their Faults, this is 
 a Mifery inferable from human Nature, but others 
 ougnt not to iuffer by them. The chief Study of a 
 worthy Man ought to be how to be delivered from 
 his Vices, at leaft how to conceal them } that which 
 goes bv the Name of great Merit is fometimei nothing 
 but a great Artifice to hide our Imperfections. 
 
 How many are there in the Wo Id that go for Men 
 of a fublime Genius, becanfe no Body has founded 
 the Depth of them ? How many are there that have 
 the Reputation of modeil and ftrift Women, becaufe 
 they have the Art to conceal their Intrigues, and no 
 Body takes the Pains to track them ? Ilaria died 
 with the Reputation of a Veftal, had me carried her 
 Cabinet into the other World me had been regarded 
 >s a Pattern of Sobriety. She always took Care to 
 conceal her little Correspondences with exfaoidinary 
 CondutSt, but the Love-Letters fhe forgot to burn, 
 have unhappily open'd Myfteries which no Body was 
 let into before. 
 
 Publick Efteem is commonly more owing to Fat3 
 or Fortune than true Merit, and a great Reputation 
 requires both Addrefs and good Luck, for the obtain- 
 ing and preferring it. Man is made up of 'good and 
 bad Qualities, and thefe are the Plans he is to work 
 upon to fit hirafelf for the Palate of the World, in do- 
 ing which he muft'hufband his Talents, and fo time 
 and qualify their Exercife as to difguft no Body by 
 them. That which furprizes at firft, loon after makes 
 lefs Impreffion, and at laft grows diftafteful. We 
 fometimes lofe the Efteem of Men, whilll the good 
 Qualities that defervM it continue iu their full Force. 
 B 4 A too
 
 8 Reflexions upon Ridicule. 
 
 A too frequent Commerce with the fame Perfons, de- 
 grades a Man of a certain Air of Dignity, which Re- 
 tirement and Gravity give to fuch as mew themfelves 
 more rarely. 
 
 We are taken with their firft Addrefs, but the more 
 we converfe with them, the lefs their rare Qualities 
 afFea us. 
 
 The defire of Pleafing is natural ; all Men endea- 
 vour to make themfelves acceptable to the Perfons they 
 fee often, and to merit their Efteem ; even thofe of the 
 meaneft and nioft fordid Occupations would have the 
 Glory of Pre-eminence in them : But tho' all fo ftu- 
 dioufly affect to give themfelves a Politcnefs and Dif- 
 tindlion, very few arrive to it, becaufe they are igno- 
 rant of the Road they ought to take : The fureft and 
 the fhorteft would be that of obferving, in Men of 
 Merit, what it is diftinguifhes (hem from the Vulgar; 
 and in others that are not taking, what it is in them 
 that is difgnftful. The School of the World, if we 
 knew what Ufe to make of it, is bed capable of all 
 Things to form the Mind, and give it that Tincture 
 of Politenefs, which is not obtained but by feeing pcv 
 lite Perfons, and by copying after their Pattern. 
 
 There are few that itudy to know their own Fail- 
 ings, becaufe 'tis a Science that difturbs and wounds 
 their Vanity. They commonly flatter themfelves 
 with the Poffeffion of thofe good Qualities which they 
 are fo far from having, that they have the very reverfe 
 of them; they are infinitely out in their Accounts, 
 whilft they entirely affect to be good-natur'd, com- 
 plaifant and eafy ; they are commonly blunt, rough 
 and difrefpectful. 
 
 Concerning Unpolitenefs. 
 
 UNpolitenefs is not a fmgle Fault, but a Conftel- 
 lation of many Vices. 'Tis fometimes a grofs 
 Ignorance of Decorum, or a ftupid Unconcernednefs, 
 
 that
 
 Concerning Unpolitenefs. 9 
 
 that robs others of the Refpeft we owe them. 'Tis 
 Morofenefs and ill Nature, which fettle a Man in a 
 conftant Difpofition to oppofe himfelf to whatever 
 may pleafe another ; 'tis the Produft of a foolifh Va- 
 nity which throws off all Regard for every Body of 
 a haughty and fantaftick Humour, that exalts itfelf 
 above the Rules of Civil Life ; or of a dark Spirit of 
 Morofenefs, that makes its chief Divcrfion to rebuff 
 People and difoblige them. 
 
 Unpolitenefs is perhaps, of all Vices, that which 
 makes a Man moft defpicable, and intangles him in 
 moft Inconveniencies ; we pardon him in his Infirmi- 
 ties, we even excufe Bluntnefles and Extravagances that 
 efcape him ; but Unpolitenefs is a kind of Habit which 
 a Man continually fuffers by -, it ftrikes to the Quick 
 when it flows mingled with cold Blood, becaufe it then 
 exprefTes Scorn and Contempt ; and 'tis what a Man 
 never forgives, as having always fo good an Opinion 
 of himfeif, as to believe he deferves fair Quatter. 
 
 The unbecoming Rudenefs which Perfons of a dif- 
 tinguifhed Quality fomeumes allow themielves, creates 
 a general Averfion, and befpeak a bad Education ; that 
 Which makes young Gentlemen give themfelves thefe 
 Liberties, is the Eafmefs they find to furnilh out fuck 
 kind of Converfation ; thatEafmefs makes them lazy, 
 but it difgufts nice People, and even fpoils their own 
 Tafte, inuring them 10 fuch bale Familiarities as 
 wound the Refpecl which Perions of Quality owe to 
 one another and themfelves. 
 
 Is it to fnew his Parts, and make himfelf accept- 
 able, that Fatlius fpeaks with fo much Liberty of his 
 own Faults and the Faults of others, that he throws 
 about their Gloves and Hats, that going to fpeak to 
 any body, he falutes him with a knock of his Elbow, 
 "o quicken him, or as a Signal that he has fomething 
 o iay to him : 'Tis true. Faa'iut, }ou are of a great 
 r.miily, and your Name is famous in Hiftory : But 
 can the Virtues of your Ar.ceftors oiempt you from 
 Civ iiit) and good Breeding ? Do they give you aPri- 
 
 ^e o; Leing a Bully, of brutally affronting and 
 
 difybhging
 
 jo Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 difobliging People, and having no Refpedl for all 
 the World ? 
 
 'Tis no wonder that young People are fo Clownifh 
 and Unpolite ; Politenefs being a Combination of Dif- 
 cretion, Civility, Complaifance, Circumfpe&ion, and 
 Modefty, accompanied with an agreeable Air, which 
 expands i:<elf upon whatever you fay or do. Now 
 they are neither Difcreet, nor Civil, nor Complaifant, 
 but have all the oppofite Vices, and have no Thoughts 
 of getting free fiom them ; their Words and Adtions 
 have a kind of harfhnefs and wildnsfs in them ; they 
 have a ibrt of warlike Air, and you would think they 
 were always going to mount the Breach. 
 
 It requires a Guard and Attention over one's felf to 
 avoid the Faults of Unpolitenefs, which is the Reafon 
 that } oung People, who follow only their own Hu- 
 mours and Caprices, and live without Reflection, are 
 Brutifh and Unpolite ; that they have no Complaifance 
 for the Women, that they make it a lort of Merit to 
 affront them, to vilify them, to draw them in horrid 
 Colours againft Reafon and Truth ; Ib far are they 
 from refpeding them as they ought, that they make 
 it a piece of Honour to infult them, and boall of it 
 .as a noble Exploit. What Manners ! What Brutali- 
 ty is this ! 
 
 'Tis a very infipid Charafter, that of fome People, 
 who make it a conftant Practice to fay foft Things to 
 all Women. Indeed we are obliged to be Civil and 
 Genteel on their Regard; but fuch of them as have 
 any Judgment, have nothing but Contempt for thofe 
 iilly Adorers, who confume their Incenfe indifferently 
 on every handfome Face. The young People of this 
 Age, are fufficiently recovered of that ridiculous Va- 
 nity ; their Manners have more of the Field than the 
 Court in them, and they are more in Danger of Un- 
 politenefs and Incivility, than of an Excels of Com- 
 plaifance and an over-firained Courtlinefs for the 
 Women. 
 
 We
 
 Concerning Unpolitenefs. II 
 
 We are to do that Honour to thofe that fpeak, to 
 hear them out and give a pertinent Anfwer. Abun- 
 dance of People, too vifibly, mew the Diftraftion and 
 Difquiet they are under ; you difcover in their Looks 
 the Impatience they have to leave you, and how much, 
 they are tired with your Difcourfe ; inftead of being 
 attentive to what you fay to them, they are only fpy- 
 ing out a Moment to defert you, without giving you 
 time to finifh what you had begun to tell them. You 
 would judge by the Hafle that Theobald is in, that he 
 has always the moil important Affairs upon his Hands, 
 every Moment you fteal from him is precious; he 
 vouchfafes not to anfwer you but in a negligent Man- 
 ner, and has fo little Consideration for you, as to le.t 
 you fee your Company is troublefome, and that he 
 looks upon you as an Jmpeitinent. 
 
 The Country-Squires, and People that wantSenfe, 
 liften in Converfation with a filly Attention, and ha- 
 zard not to fpeak ; we are often obliged to them for 
 their Silence, which is more acceptable than their 
 Difcourfe of their Farmers and their Dogs, their Hor- 
 fes and their Game, the Hares they have hunted, and 
 the number of Partridges they have killed in an Au- 
 tumn, with fo many Particulars of them, as almoft tQ 
 tell you their Names. This Reflection regards only 
 thofe who were never out of their native Soil., and 
 have had no Commerce with the World. 
 
 How is it poffible for Men of Senfe, and who have 
 any Tindture of good Breeding not to be fick of t.e 
 generality of Converfation ? You find in it nothing but 
 infipid Jefters, the Retailers of Fooleries, Dealers in 
 Scandal, who unmercifully tear the Reputation of all 
 Mankind ; barren Wits which contribute nothing tp 
 Society j fuperficial Brains, or turned to trifling, unable 
 to fuflain a polite Converfation founded on ferious Af- 
 fairs ; Perfons prepoflefled with their own Merit* who 
 approve of nothing but what has reference to them- 
 felves. But of all, thofe are the moft troublefome 
 who will be always contradiding, and who imme- 
 diately declare thcmfelves againft what others ad- 
 vance ;
 
 1 2 Refltftions upon Ridicule. 
 
 vance ; they are not always fure of their own No- 
 tions, and they contradict merely for the Sake of 
 an ill-natured Pleafure of being of a contrary 
 Opinion. 
 
 Take heed how you difcover your Opinion before 
 Murfaut has fpoke his, and when he's once fixt, be 
 fure you don't oppofe him, unlefs you are willing to 
 make a Perfonal Quarrel. He was never of the fame 
 Mind with any other Man, always refolved to take 
 the Negative of what others affirm ; he defends the 
 moil indifferent Things with the fame Heat as if the 
 Fate of the Kingdom was concerned ; not that he is 
 at all affected, but only for the fake of Contradiction. 
 They that know his blind-fide and would be diverted, 
 give him time to throw out all his Fire ; prefently 
 after they propofe the fame Subject, as if they were 
 of his Opinion ; but whether he has forgot himfelf, 
 or merely out of Caprice, he takes the quite contrary 
 Side to what he juft before vehemently defended. This 
 is perfect Comedy. 
 
 This is no good Way to make one's Company de- 
 finable, and to gain the Elteem and Affection of Men. 
 Moft of thofe that are fond of themfelves, and Idola- 
 ters of their own Notions, would have you defer to 
 all they fay, and are out of their Senfes, if you are 
 not touched with it, or are fo plain with them as to 
 let them know, that what they fay are Impertinences, 
 not meriting to be heard. For my Part, I confefs, I 
 tremble as often as J am obliged to fpeak, or to ex- 
 pofe my Opinion, or to relate a Story before Lycander ; 
 he bluntly tells me, That is Falje, without flaying till 
 .1 explain my Reafons ; he iniinuates, that my Opi- 
 nion is Ridiculous ; that what I tell is News to no 
 body ; and that he knew it long ago : I prefs him 
 to give fome Circumiiances, bit* fie knows not fo 
 much as what I was going to fpeak of. Lycander and 
 his Fellows ought to have moreRefpect for others, and 
 lefs Prefumption of his own Sufficiency, left they incur 
 the Imputation of Proud, Contemptuous, Haughty, 
 and Ill-bred Pcrfons. 
 
 Tis
 
 Concerning Unpolitenefs. 13 
 
 'Tis an unpardonable Incivility to interrupt a Per- 
 fon that tells a Story ; 'tis much better to let him fail 
 in fome Circumftance of the Hillpry, than to rec- 
 tify him, if he afks not our Advice ; or to fignify 
 we knew long before the News he would acquaint us 
 with. To what purpofe is it to refufe a Man the Plea- 
 fure of believing he informed us of fomething we 
 were ignorant of ? 
 
 Tis not hard to comprehend why the Difcourfe of 
 young People is fo difguftful and infipid ; the Charms 
 that Youth affords them can't bear them out againft 
 the Roughnefs and Unpolitenefs of their Behaviour ; 
 for that agreeable Exterior produces not at length fe 
 much Pleafure, as their Unpolitenefs creates Diftafle. 
 
 Familiarity with Women of Merit and Beauty is 
 dangerous, but notwithstanding, we ought not to be 
 wanting in the Civility that is due to them ; by this we 
 compensate in fome Manner for that Dependance to 
 which the Laws have fubmitted them, and therefore 
 they have a lively Senfe of the Injury we do them, by 
 the Deficiency of our Refpeft ; and they revenge 
 themfelves when ever they find Occafion. 
 
 Women behold themfelves in their Glafles with dif- 
 fere^nt Eyes from what others regard them with j their 
 Imagination prefents a thoufand Charms, which they 
 really have not. 'Tis too ticklifh an Affair to go a- 
 boat to undeceive them. Why would you rob Clari- 
 ana of the Pleafure of believing herielf amiable and 
 pretty ? You'll never perfuade her to the contrary 
 with all your Rhetorick, but you infallibly gain 
 her Hatred. 
 
 I have heard NicomeJes fay of a Woman, loud 
 enough to be heard by her, that fhe was ugly. The 
 fame Perlon talked of Belinda's Gallantries before her ; 
 he cited the Names of her Sparks, and reckoned up 
 theAfiignations (he had made them, as if he had been 
 in the Secret, or had had it by Conjuration. Is it pof- 
 fible People of Quality fhould be fo brutally llupid ? 
 
 'Tis difficult to yield, when a Man thinks he has 
 Reafon on his fide, and yet 'tis better to do it, than 
 
 10
 
 14 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 to difcover an importunate Obftinacy to maintain one's 
 own Opinions. Moft of the Things difputed are fri- 
 volous, and of no Confequence ; Why then fhould it 
 be made a Point of Honour to obtain a Vidlory, and 
 bring all the World over to our Opinions ? Let us in- 
 dulge them the Pleafure of believing they think juft- 
 ly, and have Reafon. 
 
 'Tis a Defedl of Civility and good Breeding to hear 
 what is not faid to us. Thofe Perfons who are fo at- 
 tentive to defire what is induftrioufly concealed from 
 them, are very trOublefome inConverfation, and they 
 incur the Hatred of thofe waofe Secrets they divulge, 
 when they have ftolen them in that Manner. 
 
 But 'tis much worfe when they think they conjec- 
 ture what others fecretly difcourfe of, and vent their 
 Imaginations, as if they were intmfled with the Mat- 
 ter. I have it from good HanJs, fays Balfamon, that 
 fuch a one i- one of Belifa\ particular Favourites, and 
 that fhe'.s blindly fond of him. If I fhould tell you, 
 adds he, in a loud and pofitivi Tone, all I know of this 
 particular, you would fa> I had good Intelligence of 
 all her Marches. 7 he Truth is, B Ifamon never faw 
 Belifa, and knows not one of her Correfpondents. 
 
 We daily meet with People of this Character, who 
 come and tell you Lies in a myfterious way, as if they 
 told you mighty News ; they fail not to confirm their 
 Impofture with the Name of fome confiderable Man, 
 to give Weight to their Report. This Perfon is im- 
 mediately quoted every where, as if he was actually 
 the Author of the News, which is nothing but 
 Chimera. 
 
 Men are naturally ambitious of diftinguifhing them- 
 felves, and eclipfing the reft of the Company, which 
 is the Reafon why they commonly depart from it but 
 ill fatisfyed : Every one thinks on himfelf, and how to 
 make the greateit ihew of his own Pans. They kin- 
 dle againtl iuch as will be Topping and Monopolizing 
 the Conversation, this being a Sort of Tyranny they 
 would exercife over Wit, for which they are equally 
 hated as thofe that would lord it alone in a common- 
 wealth.
 
 Concerning Unpohtenefs. 15 
 
 wealth. The Way is to accommodate ourfelves to the 
 Abilities of the Perfonswe frequent, anddexteroufly to 
 lead the Difcourfe to Subjects proportioned to them. 
 'Tis a fure Method of Pleafingto attend to others with 
 Pleafure, and without Jealoufie, and give them Oppor- 
 tunities to fhew their Parts 
 
 'Tis a Sign of a Sublime Genius, not to care to be 
 thought a great Wit, to talk of trifles with mean 
 People, though he has a thoufand fine Things to fay 
 upon all iorts of Subjects ; fo to proportion himfelf to 
 the Humour and Character of thole he converfes with, 
 as to let them think themfelves upon a Level with 
 him ; they are charmed with you and themfelves when 
 they think they fee this Equality, which infinitely flat- 
 ters their Self-love. It requires a great deal of Senfe 
 to be able to make thefe Condeicenfions and a great 
 Stock ofModefty, not to defire to outfhine others when 
 we can, and mike a bhow of our belt Talents 
 
 When Baldus comes to pay you a Vifit, he begins 
 his Difcourfe in the Ante-Chamber, he talks aloud, 
 and in a continued Nonfenfe, not caring whether he 
 be heard ; all his Delign is to talk : A Man mud be 
 very nimble, to feize the Moment in which he coughs 
 or blows his Nofe, to enter into the Difcourfe, and 
 to be able to crowd in fome Words by Stealth -, I have 
 feen People compound with him, and demand of 
 him at firft:, how long he'll fatigue the Company ; 
 he declares, and they take their Watches and make 
 him ftand to his Articles. 
 
 We can't avoid being angry wi(h thofe that break 
 their Word, but 'tis more genteel and generous to dif- 
 femble our Refentment, than to make a Noife of it. 
 That which firft offers itfelf is the DeCre to quarrel 
 with them, and hence we charge them with the Fault 
 they have committed, in heinous and offenfive Terms: 
 Would it not be better foftly to infinuate, that they 
 failed in theirDuty, and that we are touched with their 
 Proceeding? Too imperious Reproaches, inflead of 
 contributing to reduce People to theirDuty, frequent- 
 ly exafperate them againit you, becaufe a Alan will 
 
 always
 
 1 6 Refleftions upon Ridicule. 
 
 always be in the right, or at leaft, will not be found 
 in a Fault. Our Sell-Love is wretchedly put to it, 
 when we are to juftify ourfelves in a Point which our 
 Confcience condemns us for ; but he muft be extreme- 
 ly rude and cruel, who infults a Man that has been 
 guilty of a Folly, and expreffes a malicious Joy at his 
 Confufion. "Tis like giving a Man a Blow with a 
 Pole that is drowning. 
 
 There are, however, fome Occafions, wherein 'tis 
 fit to infmuate to a Man who has been out of the 
 way, and committed a Fault of Confequence, that he 
 ought to be fomewhat more cautious of his Conduft. 
 This Part demands great Precaution, to avoid offend- 
 ing againft the Character of Civility and good Man- 
 ners. A Man fliould ftudy the Taltc of others, to be 
 able to infmuate into them ; that the Advice he gives 
 them, may have it's Effet without difgufting them. 
 
 Without a good Fund of Senfe, the Change of For- 
 tune begets a Change in Manners, and Alteration in 
 Opinions. They who had no :mbition in a moderate 
 Fortune, grow fometimes infolent upon their Exalta- 
 tion, which ferves only to expofe their Extravagan- 
 cies, and make them defpicable to thofe who have no 
 Expectations from their Credit. Clito had but a little 
 Eftate, and then was good-natur'd, polite, coinpli- 
 mental and carefling ; but fince he has inherited a large 
 Fortune, he is become haughty, proud, difdainful ; he 
 defpiies his old Friends, he does not know them, he 
 does not fee them, he has forgotten their Names and 
 his own too. 'Tis no longer the fame Man, but they 
 are two Clito*. 
 
 On the contrary. Thofe that are morofe, crabbed, 
 and intractable in Ill-fortune, grow Good-humour'd, 
 eafy and affable in a more happy State. 
 
 We do not always oblige People by doing tiiem 
 good Offices, unlefs they be genteelly manag'd. Ci't- 
 ontes has ferved me in an Affair wherein I had need of 
 his Intereft, I was obliged to him for the Zeal he ma- 
 nifefted in my Caufe; but ever fince he talks eternally 
 of what he has dore for rce, and without r*v r Intmii- 
 
 DR
 
 Concerning Unpolitenefs. 17 
 
 On to reproach me, he continually deduces theConver- 
 fation to tnis Topick ; Do you remember what I did 
 for you on /uch an Occajion ? I drenu you out of a tick' 
 lijb Affair. 'Tis lofmg the Price of a Benefit to talk 
 of it, and to applaud a Man's felf for the Advances 
 he has made for his Friends. However, he that has 
 received the Friendfhip ought never to forget it, nor 
 to blufh when he fees his Benefactor. 
 
 A fecret Pride, which is natural to all Men, of 
 what Quality foever, makes it a difficult Thing to beg. 
 'Tis a very great Punifhment to a generous Soul to fee 
 itfelf reduced to the imploring another's Affiftance. 
 We fhould foften therefore, as much as poffible, this 
 Uneafmefs, and take care not to increafe it by a 
 mift and difcouraging Way. 'Tis a Piece of ex- 
 tream Ill-breeding to difcover, in a rugged Counte- 
 tenance, the Regret we have to do a Kindnefs. 
 
 'Tis ridiculous for Men to trick up and drefs them- 
 felves like Wonvn ; 'tis a Fault too to be flovenly and 
 natty. A too negligent Exterior gives ill Impreffions 
 of the Perfon ; and makes him lofe a Part of his Me- 
 rit. A Man that has a good Air and a good Grace, 
 prepares us for a more favourable Reception of what 
 he defires to infmuate ; a good Mien and an handfome 
 Outfide are Prejudices in Favour of the Speaker -, and 
 we hear not with equal Pleaiure a Man negligent and 
 difordered in his Habit. 
 
 To be in a Paffion at every Turn, and always at 
 Dagger's drawing, is the Sign of a little Genius, of 
 Unpolitenefs, or a fordid Education. Noble and fab- 
 lime Souls can't be moved out of theirTemper for tri- 
 fles. The polite eafily excufe the Weaknefles or Rufti- 
 cities of others, and feem not to perceive the little In- 
 congruities that might provoke them, or to hear the 
 difobliging Words that are faid to them. 
 
 'Tis impoflible to live long in the World without 
 having Reafon to complain of the Incivility of Men ; 
 but they that will pafs by nothing, and are too Excep- 
 tious, are commonly more uncivil than thofe they 
 complain of. 
 
 If
 
 I $ Refttftions upon. Ridicule. 
 
 Jf any one brow-beats you, or talks to you in 3 
 proud and haughty Strain, anfwer him not in the like. 
 The befl way to nonplus fucn Perfons is to fpeak to 
 them without Commotion : that Moderation is the* 
 Character of a Soul that commands itfelf ; and befides, 
 this oppofite Conduct beft expofes the Folly and Ex- 
 travagance of thofe that offend you. Give others leave 
 to fay ail the Fooleries they pleafe, but don't you imi- 
 tate them. 
 
 The Misfortune is, no body will yield ; a Man 
 would think he injured and difgraced J.imfelf, if he 
 fliould hear in a fedate and unconcernea Manner, the 
 Rudeneffes that are faid to him, which makes him an- 
 fwer fmartly and provokingly ; thefe Repartees, full 
 of Heat and Paffion, are a very difagreeable Mufick 
 for the Company, who have nothing to do with the 
 Quarrel : People fhould, at leaft, have the Difcretioa 
 to quarrel a-part, and not call all the Street to be Wit- 
 nefs of their Extravagances. 
 
 Not that I pretend we ought to have an infipid 
 Complaifance for all that others (ay, and fulfomely ap- 
 plaud them. Diverfity of Opinions is fometimes ne- 
 cefTary to quicken Conversation, but we ought to be 
 cautious that the Difpute be not inflamed ; as when 
 Enthvtus .propounds his Sentiments as Decifions, to 
 which you muft abfolutely fubnjit or quarrel with 
 him. 
 
 An Excefs of Sincerity is fometimes as dangerous, as 
 a too effeminate and ftudied Complaifance. You be- 
 come the Terror of all Companies, by the Liberty 
 you take to tell all People to their Face, your 
 Thoughts of them : Why do you take upon you to 
 give \ our Advice where it is not afked ? 'Tis a cer- 
 tain Means to make you hated, becaufe no body loves 
 to be corrected, but to be flattered and applauded. 
 
 I know a Man that never accolts others, but to tell 
 them fome ungrateful News. If they have fpoken in 
 publick, he tells them to their Face, that their Difcourle 
 was not well received ; he infinuates, that their Con- 
 duct is complained of, and that fomethLng isdifcovered 
 
 to
 
 Concerning Unpolitenefs. 19 
 
 to their Difgrace : O take keed of that ! (fays be in a 
 miUer Way) the World exclaims and cenfures your A&i- 
 ons. 'Tis not a friendly Zeal that guides him and 
 makes him talk thus, but pure Jealoufy, and a malici- 
 ous Pleafure he takes to vex you. 
 
 But 'tis the very height of Incivility to talk to People 
 of their natural Imperfections. Why mould you tell 
 a Woman that flie is ill made ? one, that fhe is too fat ? 
 Another, that (he is too lean, and all of a Size ? and a 
 third, that fhe paints, and buys her Beauty of the Drug- 
 gift. Thefe Reproaches vex them more than if you 
 accufed them of having poifoned any body. In like 
 Manner, we fhould be cautious of making People fen- 
 fible of their Weaknefs in Point of Parts. There's not 
 fo Mean a Preacher, but flatters himfelf that he charms 
 his Auditors j nor any Advocate fo decried at the Bar, 
 but feeks, in the Eyes of the Hearers, the Applaufes 
 which all the \VorJd denies him. Indulge them in fp 
 fweet an Error that does no Body any Harm, but makes 
 their Life flow more pleafantly on. 
 
 'Tis commonly an Incivility to fpeak low in Con- 
 yerfation, fuch as are excluded from thefe Myfteries, 
 have Reafon to fufpefl you talk of them, or elfe defpife 
 them. Lycas conitantly comes up to Cleander where- 
 ever he finds him, and continually whifpers him in the 
 Ear to cultivate Oleander, from whom he expects good 
 Offices, he runs the rifque of affronting all the Com- 
 pany. 
 
 No Body is obliged to make Feafls and Entertain- 
 ments, becaufe there is no Law that appoints them : 
 but when we do it, it ought to be with good Grace. 
 Suffer not yourfelf to appear inareftlcfs and difcontent- 
 ed Look, for the Uneafinefs you have at the Expence. 
 'Tis abfbrd to keep Account of all that your Guefts 
 eat, and how often they call for a Glafs of Wine. 
 
 A Man's vexed witli a Feaft where Stinginefs is min- 
 gled with Magnificence ; a miftaken and mif-timed 
 Thrift Difhonours the Entertainment, and poifons the 
 Pleafure of the Company. 
 
 At
 
 2O Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 At Table we ought carefully to avoid whatever may 
 give Difquiet to the Company. 'Tis a Point of III- 
 breeding to fpeak of certain loathfome Diftempers, Re- 
 medies, Phyficians ; all thefe Things are apt to raife 
 Ideas that turn the Stomach, and deaden the Appetite ; 
 nor ought we to mention certain Infecls which delicate 
 Perfons can't bear the Sight or Thoughts of. 
 
 The Sick amufe their Melancholy, and alleviate 
 their Illnefs by fpeaking of it j the Attention we give 
 them comforts them, and in fome Sort mitigates the 
 Acutenefs of their Pain, but they ought not to abufe 
 the Complaifance of thofe that liflen to them, nor enu- 
 merate too exaftly the Circumftances of their Difeafe, 
 and the Succefs of Remedies. 
 
 Generally fpeaking, we ought never to allow our- 
 felves Raillery, for they who ieem to take it patiently 
 have a fecret Rage within. It requires great Strength 
 of Mind to bear to beraillied before Perfons veefteem. 
 But what Addrefs, what Dexterity is neceflary fo to 
 feafon our Railleries, as to offend no Body, nor pro- 
 voke thofe they light upon ? They that have their 
 Heads turned to Raillery, can't hope to preferve their 
 Friends. 
 
 They chufe rather to run theRifqtie of their Refent- 
 ment, than keep in a Jed that will make the Hearers 
 laugh for a Moment, but will leave a mortal Wound 
 in the Breaft of the interefted Perfon. 
 
 Humour and Drollery, if not well managed , have 
 almoft the fame Effeft. 'Tis hard to play the Part of 
 a Banterer, he that attempts it, expofes himfelf to 
 Trouble, and makes himfelf ridiculous. It requires 
 Judgment to diilinguifti what is fmart from what is 
 filly. Drollery difgufls when 'tis carryed too far ; you 
 mould never banter People, unlefs you were fure they 
 took it well; and even then, it mould be hardly ven- 
 tured : Often thofe that feem to laugh with the Teeth 
 outward, rage inwardly in their Heart ; a merry Say- 
 ing that efcapes you, gives you great Remorfe, and 
 draws after it a long Repentance. This is, in pure 
 Frolick, making one's felf Enemies for the fake of a 
 Word. 
 
 There
 
 Concerning Unpolitcncfs. 21 
 
 There is no Part harder to be afted, or that demands 
 nicer Regards than that of a Cenfor ; as good a Face as 
 we put upon it, we hardly love thofe who criticife our 
 Conduct and our Works. A Man expofes himfelf to 
 great Vexations, that fets up for a Pedagogue, and is 
 often but ill paid for the Advice he gives to others : For 
 why mould he intrude hi.nfelf to corredl People, with- 
 out knowing whether they {hould take it ? or volunta- 
 rily expofe himfelf to furly Replies, which they have 
 not in their Command, when they feel themfelves at- 
 tacked in the moft fenfible Parts ? 
 
 When our Friends commit Miftakes that may have 
 ill Confequences, 'tis our Duty to admonifh them. 'Tis 
 a nice Attempt, but we muft not refufe our Acivice to 
 thofe that want it. The Way is to fetch a Compafs 
 about, or in paffionate and tender Expreffions to wrap 
 up an Advice, which might provoke them if we gave 
 it in a rugged and uncivil Way ; to advertife a Perfon 
 in an Error of the Danger he is in, or to reprefent to 
 him that he is unwary in his Management, wherein 
 appear Abuodance of Things at which the World mur- 
 murs and is offended. To maintain this Character 
 well, 'tis requifite to know the Temper of People, and 
 to cultivate it. We muft foften a Reprimand, with 
 obliging and diverting Expreffions, or otherwife it will 
 only frighten, inftead of having a gobd Effect. 
 
 'Tis not for any great Defire we have to reform 
 others, or to make them better, that we cenfure them, 
 but to affume an Afcendant over them, and to fignify 
 a Superiority of Genius, and this is precifely what dif- 
 gufts them. Inftead of expreffing our good Nature, 
 and ufing a modeft and infmuating Way, in admo- 
 niming others of their Faults, we difcover a Vanity, 
 or Morofenefs, or a fecret Pleafure of thinking our 
 felves exempt from the Imperfections we reprehend in 
 them. 
 
 We are not much obliged to People who vifit us, 
 only to fall out with us, and all the Time of their ftay, 
 fpeak not one obliging Word, but take an ill-natured 
 
 Pleafure
 
 22 Reflexions upon Ridicule. 
 
 Pleafure in attacking our Conduft, and expofing our 
 Faults. 
 
 Is it not much better to be filent, than to open one's 
 Mouth in Reproach of our Neighbour, and to difplay 
 our Wit at the Expence of another's Reputation ? A 
 well-bred Man fhould neve<- give himfett the Licence 
 to fprak ill of Women : Tis brutifh to tax them with 
 their perfonal Defects, the Lenity of their Mind, or 
 fome unlucky Adventure of their Life, and to let fuch 
 "Words efcape him, as are affronting or contemptuous. 
 'Than oblolete Eloquence to pity their Difgraces, and 
 to teftify a ftudied Compaffion, the belter to ad the 
 Farce, and conceal the Poifon of the Invective. 
 
 Methinks there's a Kind of Cruelty in fpeaking dif- 
 obliging Things befoie People, which difturb them, 
 and put them ouc of Countenance. A malicious Word 
 fometimes vexes a Man more than an Affair of Con- 
 fequence. Thtfe Sorts of Trifles cifturb the Joy, ruin 
 the Pleafure of Society, irrpuiion Life, and have fre- 
 quently mifchievous Effects. 
 
 'Tis hardly poihble to avoid obferving fome Faults, 
 they are fo very obvious ; but we fhould sometimes dif- 
 femble the feeing them, at leaft we fhould not Ipeak 
 of them, nor uncivilly upbraid their Authors with 
 them ; it muft be Impertinence and Affectation, not 
 to be able to bear the Imperfections and Fooleries of 
 others : This pretended Delicacy is often the Sign of 
 a little Underftandir.g, or of a great Prefumption. 
 
 They that are fo clear -fighted as to the leaft Defects 
 of others, and rudely tax them with them, confidet 
 themfelves with wonderful Complacency, and fet up 
 for Patterns, if they were cenfured vith the fame Se- 
 verity, it might perhaps, be done more juftly, but we 
 muft not make Reprifals : Their Incivility in attacking 
 us, does not privilege us to attack them, nor to be 
 rude by their Example. 
 
 A nice way of reprehending thofe who commit Mif- 
 takes, is to do it in general, and without directly ad- 
 drefling to the Perfon who has forgot himfelf, to fpare 
 him the Confufion of it j this indirect Way more ef- 
 fectual ly
 
 Concerning Unpolitentfs. 3 
 
 fe&ually gains it's Point, becaufe it reproves without 
 the fharpnefs of a Reprimand. If the Fault be of no 
 Confequence, 'tis better to feem ignorant of it, than 
 to cenfure it ; but if it be of that Natare, that we are 
 obliged in Duty, Decency and Friendmip, toadmonifh 
 him that's guilty of it, it ought to be done wit!) all the 
 Precautions and Softnefs poffible to be applied. 
 
 Men are in fome Sort obliged to be more Solicitous 
 about making themfelves agreeable than learned. For 
 of what ufe is fo profound Erudition, if their Looks 
 be forbidding, and their Behaviour difguftful ? 'Tis 
 purchafing at too great a Price, fome good Things 
 they drop from time to time, to bear their frantick 
 Humours. 
 
 A Man inebriated with his Science, thinks all the 
 World confiders him as the Phomix of Wit. Every 
 Step he makes, and Word he fpeaks, fhews how well 
 fatisfyed he is with himfelf; and his Contempt of others 
 makes him look upon them with an Air of Pity. Of 
 what ufe now to conveifmg in the Wo'ld, is an Eru- 
 dition fo favage and fo full of Prefumption : Would it 
 not be better to be lefs knowing and more obliging ? 
 
 I have been at a Lofs to conjecture, why People bred 
 in Colleges are commonly uncomplaifant and unpolite. 
 The Science they there imbibe, ought not to have fo 
 ill an Effect upon tneir Mind, as to warp inftead of 
 ftraightning it. I am apt to think, that the Cuftom of 
 Diip'iting, and abufmg one another in Latin, renders 
 them ungovernable, and uncapable of plying and 
 buckling their Sentiments to the Temper and Frame 
 of others. 
 
 The Reafon why the learned by profeffion are fo 
 unacceptable to Men of Breeding, is, that they ftudy 
 not the World, but only confult their Books ; a conti- 
 nual Application to what they have read, diftra&s their 
 Thoughts, and buries them in themfelves. They hard- 
 ly hear what you fay 'o them, and anfwer in a lan- 
 guifhing manner, common Converfation feeming too 
 ignoble to merit their Attention. Were it not more 
 eligible to undcriland a little lefs of Greek and Latin, 
 
 and
 
 24 Reflexions upon Ridicule. 
 
 and not to bury themfelves with the Dead, that they 
 might learn to converfe among tljfc Living ? 
 
 "rts ufual enough to fee the People play the Pedants, 
 when they think they have any Learning ; they are al- 
 always ufmg technical Terms, which they maim and 
 place prepoiteroufly ; if any other undertakes to fpeak 
 to them, they implore him Silence with a Doctor's 
 Gravity and a loud Laugh, to manifeft his Ignorance. 
 This Way of recommending one's felf, at another's 
 Prejudice, is very rude, and procures only Contempt 
 inftead of the defired Praifes. The truly learned make 
 no P retentions. They never fpeak but when their O- 
 pinion is aiked, which they always offer with Referve 
 and a certain Modefty, which gives a great heightening 
 to their Merit, and the ingenious Things they fay. 
 
 A Man lofes more than is imagined by neglefting 
 outward Appearances j that Negligence fometimes 
 ruins in a Moment all the Efteem People had for you 
 before they knew you. Tbeodemut is a Learned and 
 Worthy Man, but he is ruftical and unpolite, and has 
 too little Complaifance for thofe he fpeaks to, and 
 therefore he is (hunned ; the great Reputation his 
 Learning has acquired him, does him lefs Honour be- 
 caufe he wants Agreements and Politenefs. 
 
 Few People get quit of their Unpolitenefs, becaufe 
 they are not fenfible of it; they think themfelves af- 
 fable, eafy, converfant, engaging, and of a fmooth 
 Converfation ; and they can't entertain a Sufpicion 
 that they are regarded, as inconvertible, rough hewn, 
 rude and fantaftical, that keep fair with no body, but 
 fall foul upon all they converfe with, almoft without 
 thinking of it, and even without defigning it. Un- 
 politenefs is a Vice that gives the World a Right to 
 complain of us and our conduct, from our Words, 
 our Aftions and our Ways ; on tke contrary, a Spirit 
 of Politenefs, as a great Mafter on this Subject has de- 
 fined it, // a certain Attention, that both from our 
 Words and Behaviour, makes othtrs /atisfjed ivit& us 
 and themfelvts. 
 
 The
 
 Concerning Unpolitsnefs. 25 
 
 The School of the Woild is the fpeedieft Remedy 
 againft Unpolitenefs ; a Man infenlibly receives a 
 Tinclure of good Breeding and Civility, by frequent- 
 ly fesing polite Perfons : A commerce with thofe we 
 refpeft, infufes Complaifance, good Nature and A- 
 greeablenefs. but then we muft confider them atten- 
 tively. There are Thoufands that fpend all their 
 Lives in making Vifits. without growing more Polite 
 or Genteel, becaufe they make no Reflexion upon 
 what is taking in others, and what is difguftful and 
 clowmlh in themfelves. 
 
 Tbeocrine was born at Court, which was, as we may 
 fay, a CraHle to her ; fhe has always lived in it, and 
 the Rank flie holds, make; her continually vifited by 
 the politeit oartiers. Neverthelcfs flie knows not the 
 Ar of Living, (he is nauhty, intractable, contemp- 
 tuous, and eve-y Sody complain" of her ill Ufage ; 
 and were it not for the Occafion People n<ive for her 
 Jnterdr. and her Hufband's Favour. Ihe would be ieft 
 to keep ner Rudenefles and Inciviliiieb to herielf. 
 
 Were wo but at the Pains to ob.erve the Extrava- 
 gancies ot otrcr?, and the ill Effects of them, we 
 fhoul<i be cautious how \ve fell into them. lie that 
 fees with his Eye , .i->w riciic ;lou^ and impertinent a 
 M.-.n is who n C' ui[ iiunce. will ftudy o be 
 
 complaifan,. Vs L mull ao J' ttice upon ourlelves, and 
 be pen. a h i: our lni(.eifections offend others as 
 muc.. u MC ct o herr otier.n a 
 
 \ t ^tioa and fer. titt iiei: v-oui, are the Effects 
 of U j- icnc'.t; on ; ,,e <: <.':.; r.t; v , Re,e> . Lcneis and 
 D'lcrruon ic;.d eafih to ^clrer.eio ; :nt-, hinaer us 
 from a tven'tM- '..ay of 1 a!k, and inlpire as with 
 fucn j .:L .vK tfu e , as to forget ou ;eives in nothing. 
 
 < .ivih y, Politer.eis, ^ ompliifanc , are \irtues of 
 fo difhcjlt Pradice, becaule th- \ are found in o very 
 few We obferve in the generality of Men fach odd 
 I. regularities, as we know not what to make of. 
 You'll fay, Self-Love and Intereft are the Caufe of 
 them. But this, methinks, is reafoning very ill. The 
 fureft Way to win People to cur Intereils, and to en- 
 
 VOL. I. C gage
 
 26 Reflations upon Ridicule. 
 
 gage them to do us Service, is to prevent them by a 
 courteous and infmuating Behaviour, by Complaifan- 
 ces and Afliduities. On the contrary, Roughnefs, 
 Unpolitenefs, Bluntnefs, exafperate them, and oblige 
 them (bmetimes to declare againft us, however inclina- 
 ble to do us Service. 
 
 The morteft and-eafieft Way to infmuate ourfelves 
 into others Favour, is to adapt ourfelves as much as 
 poffible to their Humours and Caprices ; which re- 
 quires good Senfe 'and Management ; we are often 
 obliged to fubdue our Tempers and renounce our own 
 Judgment, Inclinations and Humour, to adapt the 
 Tatte and Humour of others, and efpoufe all their 
 Inclinations ; when a Man is arrived to that Point he 
 is fure of pleafing. But this Kind of Philofophy is 
 difficultly obtained. 
 
 A Man muft reftrain and manage himfelf, he mu 
 be able to facrifice his Pleafure, and even fomething 
 of his Interefts, to come up to this higheft Point of 
 good Breeding ; for if it be only external, borrowed, 
 -and artificial, it will not be able to fubfift in the In- 
 flances wherein we (hall have moft Occafton for it. 
 
 The World is full of fantaftick Creatures, who a- 
 bufe the Deference and Civilities we pay them, and 
 often put the Complaifance of others to terrible Tefts : 
 A Man ought not to defcend to a flavifh and glaring 
 Complaifance ; there are Bounds and Meafures to be 
 obferved in it as in every Thing elfe. Tis good to 
 know how far Complaifance ought to go, if it be ex- 
 ceffive and creeping, it grows infipid and mocking, 
 inftead of having a good Effect, The Secret confifts 
 in rinding a jull bltdium betwixt the Infipidnefs of 
 Flattery, and the Sovvernefs of Unpolitenefs. 
 
 Some think they are arrived to the Perfection of good 
 Manners, becaufe they make it their Practice indiffe- 
 rently to praife all the World, and even upon Subjects 
 that merit not the leaft Attention. Thefe mifplaced 
 and trivial Praife; make their Stomachs rife to whom 
 they are addreffed, if they have any Remains of Rea- 
 Ibn or Judgment, and are not wholly intoxicated with 
 
 their
 
 Concerning Indifcretion. 27 
 
 their own Merit. If thefe everlafting Panegyrics are 
 not cautious, they run into impertinent Exxefles that 
 make the Hearers fweat ; they are no fooner entered 
 into the Room where the Company is met, but they 
 carefully view it's Situation ; they praife the Ceiling, 
 the Alcove, the Bed, the Elbow-Chair, the Fire-Fan 
 that is offered them, and the little barking Dog. But 
 they are inexhauftible upon the Charms of the Lady, 
 and otten their Encomiums are exadly contrary to what 
 they mould be. I have heard Lycas, in praiiing Lo- 
 rejile, tell her, that me has the prettieft Shape in the 
 World. She's a gigantick Creaiure. taller by half a 
 Foot than fhe ought be, to be well proportioned : 
 Thefe profetfed Praifers, refemble People that are 
 drowning, they lay hold on everv Thing they meet 
 wich ; but that which they think extreme good Breed- 
 ing, is extreme Impertinence. 
 
 Concerning Indijcretion. 
 
 AN indifcreet Man is not Matter of his Words, 
 hi; Adions, or his Motions ; his Secrets efcape 
 him whecner he will or no, and he talks when he ought 
 to hold his Tongue; he is hai' brain'd, rough, with- 
 out Regard either to the Qjaiity of Perfons, or the 
 Nature of Things intruftcd to him ; he intrudes into 
 Places where his Company i^ not defired, and thrufts 
 himfelf into Affairs wherein he has nothing to do ; he 
 imparts his Secrets againft his own Interests, and to 
 the Prejudice of his Friends. 
 
 An indifcreet Man is the Peft of Converfation ; they 
 that fpeak in his Prefence, are always upon the Puncli- 
 lio, and under Torture and Conftraint, for he makes 
 them fpak contrary to their Meaning, and obliges 
 them to be continually explaining themfelves, and ma- 
 king long Apoligies to juftify their Intentions; he goes 
 and tells People the dilbbliging Things that have been 
 faid of them, and quotes his Authors for it. This is 
 C 2 the
 
 28 Reflections tipon Ridicule. 
 
 the way of him; nor does he ever correct himfelf for 
 his Indifcretion, which has drawn him into fo many 
 Faults, and expoied him to fuch fhameful Reproaches, 
 which is the Reafon that he is fhun'd and fear'd as a 
 dangerous Man, who by his want of Brains, ruins 
 his own Affairs and thofe of others too. 
 
 Criao is deliver'd from the Bajlile by die Favour of 
 his Friends, who employed all their Intereft to refcue 
 him from the Precipice, where his Indifcretion call 
 him , fcarce is his Head above Water, but he is ready 
 10 fall back into the fame Ruin, by the fame Indifcre- 
 uon ; he fpeaks with the fame Liberty of Things that 
 ought to be a Myfiery to him, and are above his Ge- 
 nius; he is perfectly incorrigible ; 'tis the Effect of 
 his Stars and Deftiny, his Indifcretion incapacitates 
 him to profit by his own Difgraces. 
 
 Indikretion is an inexhauftible Source of Imperti- 
 nencies, which deitroys the Pleafures of Converiation 
 and civil Society. The indifcreet are tit for nothing, 
 incapable of any Bufmefs wherein Secrecy is required -, 
 they make tbemfelves ridiculous without perceiving 
 h, becaufe they want Judgment, and make not fufla- 
 cient Reflection to obferve their own Extravagancies. 
 Tis, perhaps, a Vice that is hardeft to be cured, be- 
 caufe a Man does not find it out. Jt muft be fome 
 vexatious Affair that can open the Eyes of the indif- 
 creet, and give them more Precaution, as refembling 
 in fome fort Hounds, which nothing difeiplines like 
 good found Beating. 
 
 Fa<vcrinus\ Indifcretion is an Eafinefs, or natural 
 Imbecility, which betrays the Command of himfelf 
 and his Words. If the Secrecies you have committed 
 to him, drop from him continually, 'tis not from any 
 III- Will or Defire of Mifchief he makes this ill Ufe 
 of them, but his eafy and complaifant Temper, and 
 earneftnefs to pleafe the People he converges with, 
 makes him forget the Importance of the Affairs you 
 have repofed in him ; he betrays himfelf and his 
 Friends, and all this without difcerning or reflecting. 
 
 'Tis
 
 Contenting Indifcretion. 29 
 
 Tis a great Indifcretion to mention others Faalti 
 before thofe who are guilty of the fame ; to defpife 
 Celidan, who counterfeits Quality, before Gercnfrs, 
 who is only an upftart Tradefman, and who would be 
 thought Noble ; but 'tis the height of Impertinence 
 to blame in others the fame Faults ourfelves may be 
 juftly charged with, and which are more i'enfible and 
 grofb in us than in thofe w- cenfure. 
 
 How many vexatious Moments might we fave our 
 felves, did we not meddle with others Bufinefs, nor 
 take upon u r - to fet them right, when we fee them 
 make any falfe Strpj ? A Man may fee all, that has 
 good E)es, bur he will divulge notning, if he 13 con- 
 cerned for h s i\epofe ; when a Man has heard all, he 
 ought io ha vi ,;c Difcretion to be filent. 
 
 Self- Love f lifers by this Retention, fo glad we are 
 to find Fault and publifh. others Failings ; for this 
 Cenfure ffi-ms to lower their Sails, and give us a De- 
 gree or Superiority above them : We fhould, how- 
 ever, have the Difcretion to fupprefs our Obfervations 
 on oar Neighbours, when they are not to their Ad- 
 vantage : But where is the Man of that Empire over 
 himfelf, as to keep in a Saying that may fret his Ri- 
 vals, and to deny him lei f the Ill-natured Pleafure of 
 faying all the 111 of them that he knows. 
 
 Be cautious how you engage too lightly in promifing 
 your Pains and Affiibmce to thofe that afk them. The 
 promifed Perfons have Right to demand the Perform- 
 ance of your Word. Some there are, thai in offering 
 their Services, are fully purpofed to do nothing of 
 what they fay, and when you have Occaf:on for them, 
 fly to Subterfuges and bafe Pretences. Tiiis Trick- 
 ing proves frequently the Mifcarriage of very im- 
 portant Affairs, becaufe we depended upon them, and 
 find our Meafures broken. 'Tis a certain Mark of a 
 wretched Mind, or a foolifh Vanity, to promife every 
 Body, and keep touch with no Body. 
 
 Would one not fay, in feeing with what Affurance 
 Florimond promifes to proteft you in an Affair of Mo- 
 ment, that he is in earneft to ferve you, and that you 
 C 3, may
 
 go Reflexions upon Ridicule. 
 
 may depend upon him ? You no fooner turn you r 
 Back, but he makes the fame Offers to all that accoft 
 him, even tho' he is unacquainted with their Names : 
 He burdens himfelf with all your Memories, and ex- 
 preffes Zeal and Warmth for your Interefts ; but after 
 you have been a long Time amufed with Offers of his 
 Services, you are at laft undeceived, and find the Va- 
 nity and Emptinefs of his Profeffions. Some there are 
 that promiie, becaufe they have not Power to deny ; 
 'tis Weaknefs of Mind, or the Effect of a miftaken. 
 Civility. Jt would be more civil and obliging to fay 
 plainly, you can't do what is defired, than to amufe 
 People with fair Words, which often put them upon 
 falfe Meafurcs. 
 
 Polynias, embracing and kifitng you, promifed you 
 his good Offices in a gracious and effedlionate Man- 
 ner j but it was the Kifies and Embraces that charmed 
 you, and rilled you with imaginary Hopes. Brutus 
 told you, with an harfh and forbidding Look, that he 
 could not do what you defired of him, and that 'twas 
 to no Purpofe to importune him any more with your 
 Bufinefs : If I were to chufe, I fhould prefer the 
 blunt and unpolite Sincerity of this Man, before the 
 fruitlefs Careffes of the other. 
 
 Jf you have a Mind to live at reft, let others goon 
 in their own Way, except you are to anfwer for their 
 Conduct. Has any Thing been told you, tell it not 
 again, and rarely give Advice; if it don't fucceed, the 
 Blame is laid on you, and you are to warrant the E- 
 vent. Determine not too rafhly, left you expofe your 
 felf to the Hatred of one of the Parties. 'Tis a great 
 Jndifcretion to condemn highly without being fure of 
 your Matter. If your Cenfure be unreafonable, ex- 
 travagant, or unjuft, 'tis you that incur the Pvidicule. 
 You fhould be equally cautious of approving or com- 
 mending what deferves neither Praife nor Approbati- 
 on, that being commonly a Sign of want of Talle, 
 or of an ill Judgment. - 
 
 General and Publick Things are expos'd to the Judg- 
 ment of all the World, and every one may determine 
 
 of
 
 Concerning Indtfcretion'. 31 
 
 of them a& he pleafes. They that do Things deferving 
 Cenfure, and take no Pains to conceal them, are to 
 blame if they take it amifs that they incur it : They 
 fhouid reafon thus with themfelves, the PubHck will 
 have no Indulgence for us, if we have no Refpecl for 
 ourfelves. 'Tis too late to think of appealing ir, 
 when the Evil is done, and a Man is, as we may fay, 
 running the Gantlet of the Criticks. 
 
 Celimene is conftantly complaining that flie is un- 
 mercifully handled by hideous Lampoons upon her 
 Care. 'Tis her own Fault, (he has no Care of her 
 Reputation ; (he is too indifcreet and giddy to be fub- 
 jec~t to Precaution ; fhe is firft in applauding herfelf for 
 her Intrigues ; fhe talks frankly of her Commerce 
 and Adventures before all Companies. The Publick 
 does but follow her Example, and take the fame Li- 
 berty to talk of her. What Reafoa then has fhe to 
 complain ? 
 
 'Tis a Point of Indifcretion to mix one's felf unci- 
 villy in the Company of Perfons who are dtfcourfing 
 about Buflneft, and would have no Witnefles of what 
 they fay. Why mould a Man make himfelf regarded 
 as an Impertinent ? Tis eafy to read in the Face of 
 thofe we accoft, whether our Company be acceptable 
 or burdenlome. But the good Opinion every one en- 
 tertains of his own Merit, blinds him, and prevents 
 his perceiving that he is troublefome. 
 
 Be not fo indifcreet as to rufh in bluntly upon Wo- 
 men, and without giving them Time to appear witn 
 Advantage; they don't love to be furprized, or eafiiy 
 pardon a Man, who allows them not Lei fare to fet oft" 
 themfelves, by adding to their natural Beauty what 
 they borrow from Art and Invention. 
 
 Tis an ill Way to fecure the Virtue of a Woman, 
 to exprefs a Diftruft of her, and too cautioufly to obr 
 ferve herConduft; that Conftraint does but fharpenher 
 Wit to invent Ways and Means of making off fo heavy 
 a Yoke : Nor ought a Hufband to be fo docile and 
 commodiou.s as to fee without Umbrage, his Wife 
 careflcd by Men of Merit. Let him not" be lulled to 
 C 4 flcep
 
 32 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 fleep with the Maxims of Virtue five is eternally dic- 
 tating. Thofe affefted Appearances, thofe perpetual 
 Difcourfes of Morality and Virtue, are but counterfeit 
 Glaiings to dazzle a too credulous Hufband.- 
 
 I am apt to think that the generality of Women, 
 who write fo freely and familiarly to Men, are no 
 MiftreiTes of Politicks, and that they may be excufed 
 as to their Intentions ; but they ought to be a little 
 more referved upon that Head, and more tenacious of 
 their Letters; tho' commonly they have no ill Mean- 
 ing, they employ tender and paffionate Expreflions, 
 and believe that their Letters, as obliging as thc-y arc, 
 can have no ill Consequence. Heretofore, a Woman 
 who had written in th's Stile, fliould have beer, deem- 
 ed half deflowered : The World is lei's fevere at pre- 
 fent, however, that Itch of Writing denotes a Mind 
 formed to Intrigue?, and a great Fund of C q<,it>y. 
 
 A Woman that is too forward in furrendering, and 
 makes all the Advances, is mightily mistaken, if Ihe 
 thinks to be beloved. Is it to pleafe the Men that the' 
 Women praife their Beauty, their Charm?, and their 
 Merit, and to fay to rhem all ihe fine Thing- that the 
 Men fiiould fay to tneraielves ? Thefe Encomiums 
 are very ill placed; the Women that tli^i throw them- 
 {"elves into 'the Arms of their Lovers meet with no 
 other Recompence but Scorn and Contempt for it 
 
 For fome Years pall, the Women have had the 
 Reproach of making all the Advances, and corrupting 
 the Men ; amongft them the r e have been fome, who, 
 with a great Beautv, and a great deal of Merit, have 
 given themfelves too mil -h Freedom ; thoie of lefs 
 Me-it, who yet would have Admirers, have taken 
 the fame Courfe ; and this is the Ongin of that great 
 Licence which full reigns nmongil the Women. We 
 nd fo few of them mode:! and regular, that we are 
 much obliged to thofe who do their Duty, and ftill 
 maintain the Honour of their Sex, which is fallen in- 
 to Difcredit, by the ill Conduct of rue or fix giddy 
 Creatures, who have given the Shock to the reft.
 
 Concerning Indifcretion. 33 
 
 A Woman is arrived to the higheft Pitch of Impu- 
 dence, when (lie is no longer concerned about what 
 the World fays of her Conduct; there are fome of 
 them To extravagant, as to chufe to have 111 faid of 
 them, rather than Nothing : They that have Infir- 
 mities mould, at leaft, methinks, keep fair with the 
 Public, and obferve Meafures fo far, as to fave Ap- 
 pearances . But Women of a certain Character, would 
 defpife their Pleafures asinfipid, if all the World was 
 not Witnefs of them, and if they did not give Occa- 
 fion to have more ill thought of them than they are 
 really guilty of. Others who have ftill fome Remain- 
 der of Modefty and Difcretion, attempt to excufe 
 themfelves ; 'tis their continual Apology, that their 
 Intentions are good, and they value not Tr.fles : 
 Their Misfortunes are not to be believed, fmce the 
 World will prefer the Evidence of its own Eyes be- 
 fore all that they can fay. To fpend Night and Day 
 fucceffively at Play with Men, who frequent them at 
 all Hours ; to go, as they do, without any Referve 
 into fufpecled Places ; to entertain Familiarities with 
 Perfons of a blemifhed Conduct; to make Confidents 
 only of People of ill Fame, are almoft manifeft Symp- 
 toms of a corrupt Heart, and great Difpofitiou to 
 Lewdnefs. 
 
 The Hopes of Matrimony makes young Women 
 take fuch Liberty as ruins their Reputation ; for their 
 Intentions are not legible, and we judge of them only 
 by their Behaviour and Appearances ; the very Pre- 
 tence they ufe for giving tnemfelves this Loofe, ought 
 to make them more circumfpect and referved ; the 
 Eafinefs they manifeft, and the Liberties they allow 
 thofe that make their AddrefTes to them, are Signs of 
 Folly, tho' they look on them as Characters of Love 
 and Paflion. This miftaken Indulgence deftroys all 
 the Efteem their Lovers might have for them, if they 
 managed more, and were not fo tractable ; this it is that 
 extinguiflies the Defire of Marriage, and makes them 
 cnly confiderod n? Amufements 
 
 C ; Conrerfaticn
 
 34 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 Converfation is a Sort of Commerce, towards 
 which every one ought to furnifti their Quota, that is, 
 to hear and fpeak in his Turn. 'Tis aling againft 
 the Rules of Honefty and the Laws of Commerce to 
 monopolize all, and deprive others of the Share they 
 have in the Gain ; 'tis, in like manner, a kind of 
 Jnjuftice in thofe who compofe the Circle, always to 
 uiurp the Talk. If your Defign by it is to make a 
 Show of your Parts, and to procure Efteem, you 
 quite miftake your Interefts ; for you exafperate thofe 
 againft you, whom you thus force to Silence, who 
 can't bear the Afcendant you give yourfelf j and the 
 Degree of Superiority you affume. 
 
 'Tis no novel Cuftom for a Man to love to talk of 
 himfelf, of his Children and his Family, and to be 
 always full of their Commendation ; but if thefe Pa- 
 regyrifts perceived how wearifome and fatiguing they 
 are, they would, perhaps, have more Difcretion, and 
 greater Regard to the Patience of their Hearers, who 
 luffer them with Pain. 'Tis fomething incomprehen- 
 fible, that they who perpetually praife themfelves, 
 never open their Lips but to fpeak ill of others ; it 
 looks as if they meant to make their own Figures ap- 
 pear brighter by thefe Shades, and to recommend their 
 own Conduft, by ceniuring that of their Neighbours. 
 
 It rarely happens, that they who fpeak much, can 
 for any long Time pleafe Men of Senfe ; great Talk- 
 ers think to diftinguim themfelves and dazzle others, 
 by that inexhauftible flow of Tongue, whereas they 
 difguft every Body by their Babble, it being impoffible 
 alnaoft for them to prevent abundance of Extravagan- 
 cies. It's much eafier to fpeak jtfftly, by fpeaking 
 little ; above all, great Care mould be taken, to fay 
 nothing difobligwig to any one ; 'cis a Law that an 
 honeft Man ought to impofe upon himfelf. Keep in 
 that Jeft within your Teeth, that is ready to burft 
 through ; k will excite Laughter, perhaps, for a Mo- 
 ment, but it will make an eternal Wound in the 
 Heart of him you expofe by it ; and he will 
 never pardon }ou. 
 
 A
 
 Concerning Indifcretion. 35 
 
 A Man can't do the lead Thing before 
 but you fall under his infipid Cenfure. If you drop 
 a Word againft the Accuracy of the Language, he 
 burfts out a Laughing, and expofes the Incongruity ; 
 he cites you all the Criticks to convince you of your 
 Error, and turning to the reft of the Company, tefti- 
 fies how much he pities you, and how well fatisfied 
 he is with himielf. 
 
 Be not eager to blame thofe, who for want of Ge- 
 nius or Ability, fucceed not in what they undertake ; 
 laugh not at their Follies, nor add Confuiion to their 
 Difcontent which their illSuccefs has given them. 
 
 The firft Thought that occurs upon feeing a Folly, 
 is to ridicule it and expofe the Author; if we judged of 
 others by ourfelves, and reflected how odious thole ap- 
 pear to us, who make a Jeilof us on the like Occafionsy 
 we mould be more referved when others are guilty of 
 an Impertinence, and mould not exprefs a malicious 
 Joy at their Confufion. 
 
 'Tis a weaknefs natural to all Men, to give the 
 Narrative to People at firlt Sight, of all their Fortune 
 and Affairs, which they always defcribe with all the 
 Advantages imaginable ; they do it with a Defi^n o* 
 pleafing, and being Efteemed, but 'tis a Foolery that 
 makes them, looked on as Impertinents. 
 
 I travelled in a Stage Coach three hundredMiles to- 
 gether wick Celadan^ during the whole Journey he 
 found Subject of Difcourfe, in talking to me of 
 himfelf, his Wife and his Children, his City and 
 his Country -Houies, his Farms and his Horfes ; what- 
 ever Degreffions I made, he flill reduced the Difcourfe 
 to the fame Subject; had he made any Reflection, he 
 had found in my diftradted Eyes, the little Attention 
 I gave to his tirefome Difcourfe, which, no ways 
 touched or concerned me. But the Pleafure great 
 Talkers take in their run of Tattle, hinders them 
 from feeing how they weary others Patience, and lay 
 them to lleep. 
 
 Sincerity does not oblige us always to fay whitever 
 we think ; if you are too curioufly examined, if you 
 
 are
 
 36 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 are prefled to fpeak upon certain Matters, which you 
 can't explain without injuring a third Perfon or your 
 felf, take heed how you open your Mind; or fuffer 
 your felf to be penetrated ; make ufeof general An- 
 fwers which ferve only to beat about the Bufh, and 
 fay nothing pofitive. Equitable Perfons ought not to 
 take it amifs, that you make a Myftery of Things 
 that demand Secrecy, and which you cannot divulge 
 without betraying your Friends, or without betray- 
 ing yourfelf. 
 
 'Tis an Indifcretion to truft Women with an im- 
 portant Secret, though we find fome of them Difcreet, 
 the generality are not fufficient Miftrefles of what they 
 fay. A Secret efcapes them whether they will or no, 
 without their perceiving it or defiring to difcover it. 
 'Tis much worfe, when they have an Engagement ; 
 their Heart is too ftrong for their Head, and however 
 referved they think they are, they have noc the Power 
 to conceal any Thing from a Lover; their own and 
 their Friend's Intereft falls a Sacrifice to their Paffion : 
 Familiarity with Women can't but be ruinous, unlefs 
 Reafon governs the Heart. 
 
 This Cenfare ought not to offend the Ladies ; 'tis 
 well known there are many who have all the Dilcre- 
 tion and Prudence that can be defiied, and who are 
 even more referved than the Men ; but generally 
 fpeaking, 'cis a blameable Indifcretion to truft them 
 with Things of Importance, before their Character 
 is well known, and they niuft acknowledge it them- 
 felves, if they will fpeak fincerely. 
 
 The Character of a Confident requires a vaft Com- 
 plaiiance; a Man poflefled and full of any engaging 
 Paffion, thinks every Thing to be very important that 
 has any Relation to it ; but thofe who unpaffior.ately 
 hear him regard his Myftery, as importunate Trifles. 
 We can't expect Indifference and coin Blood from a 
 Man under the Influence of a great Paffion, or a grand 
 Affair that he is pierced \vi:h ; but it were to be 
 \vilhed, at lesfi, that he had the Difcrction not to fa- 
 tigue
 
 Concerning Indifcretwn. 37 
 
 tigue his Friends with infignificant Secrets, when he 
 has nothing to confide to them. 
 
 Did we confider the Fatigue they give us, who 
 teize us continually with their Affairs, their Intrigues, 
 their SuccefTes and their Law Suits, we fhould no: fo 
 often importune others with our Narratives, which 
 can't chufe but be difagreeable, by the little Intereft 
 they have in them. How extreme is the Injuitice of 
 Men ! Whatever perfonally relates to them, always ap- 
 pears very confiderable, vvhilft the/ are but fuperfici- 
 ally affected with the molt important Affairs of others. 
 
 What a Torment is it to hear Gamefters eternally 
 talking of their Gains and LoiTes, enumerating all the 
 Turns and Accidents that happened in their Play, 
 as if it were a material Point to know them ; naming 
 all the Perfons they played with, whofe Pictures they 
 draw, handfome or ugly, as the Maggot bites. All 
 Gamefters have the fame Jargon ; That's a. Cut- 
 Throat ! Firji Hand, be has dealt Thrice ; he has won 
 or loft f'wo hundrtd Guineas at a Sitting ! This is the 
 Stile, and all that's wanting is to carry a Pack of Cards 
 about them, to give you an ocular Demonftration of 
 all the Hits they have played, and to fay with the Im- 
 pertinent in the Comedy, in curfing the Divinity pre- 
 fiding over Gaming. A fix of Hearts, Two Points ! 
 Was ever fuch Fortune ? 
 
 'Tis only want of Attention nor to perceive the 
 Uneafmefs of People, to whom our < 'ompany is trou- 
 blefome ; for 'tis eafy enough to obferve that our Vi- 
 fits are unwelcome. 
 
 Every Body has always fo good an Opinion of him- 
 felf, as to believe his Company is every where accept- 
 able, and that he is received with Pleafure j Why is 
 this ? But that a Man is acquainted with himfelf, and 
 views himfelf always on his belt Side. The Profpect 
 of our Faults is ungrateful to us, and we throw off our 
 Eyes for fear we fhould perceive them; there is no- 
 thing Men are more deficient in, than in knowing their 
 own Characters. I know not how this Science comes 
 to befo much negle&ed; \ve fpend a great deal of Time 
 
 in
 
 38 Reflefttons upon Ridicule. 
 
 in learning ufelefs Things, but take no Pains in the- 
 Study of oar felves, and in opening the Folds and 
 Doubles of our Hearts : We mould make fewer falfe 
 Steps, and fhould fall into lefs Extravagancies, if we 
 better underftood ourfelves. 
 
 NarciJ/us comes to Celantis with an afTuming Air, 
 he fmiles upon the Company, he applauds himfelf, 
 he fparkles, he talks of his Finery ; he enters, like 
 any Woman, into the Particularities of his Drefs j he 
 values himfelf upon his Periwig, and the genteelnefs 
 of his Habit : But now, this is the Eufinefs of the 
 Periwig maker and the Taylor } that which is yours, 
 NarciJ/us, are the Impertinences you (peak, and are 
 not aware of, thofe you may reckon wholly to your 
 own Account ; your embroidered Coat does not cover 
 you from being confidered as a Fool. 
 
 Men of Leiiure and no Bufmefs think every Body 
 like them ; they fettle themfelves in an Elbow-Chair, 
 not to quit it the whole Afternoon ; they confider not,, 
 that thofe they fatigue with their tedious Stories and 
 frivolous News, are not at leifure to hear them ; that 
 Bufmefs of Concern calls them another way : But yet 
 we dare not, out of Decency, difmifs Perfons of a 
 certain Character, nor let them fee that we are tired 
 with their Vifits ; 'tis more eligible to bear with 
 them, than to make them our Enemies. Is it not 
 better to live at home, expofed to the Uneafmefs of 
 Solitude, than go to trouble others with Vifits and 
 Difcourfes that enrage them. 
 
 They that are above us by their Quality or their 
 Birth, can't bear vre fhould excel, or even equal them, 
 in the Qualities which they value themfelves upon. 
 Forbear to rival a Man who can humble yoj, or rain 
 you with Impunity ; this Rivalry muft be fatal to 
 you; conceal therefore part of your Talents, and con- 
 fider that 'tis greater Wit than is imagined, rot 
 to fufter all your Wit to appear. Remember 
 what a very ingenious Courtier faid once to his Friends, 
 who upbraided him with his too great Complaifance 
 for the Emperor, who had mnde ill Verfes and yet 
 was charmed with them. Would jou lave me, fays 
 
 he,
 
 Concerning Indifcrction. 39 
 
 he, have more Senfe than a Man who commands live-foe. 
 LtgionS) and can banijb me ? 
 
 If you fuffer your Politicks to be perceived, you are 
 politick to no Purpofe ; you'll be confidered only as a 
 Spy, and your Company will be always upon their 
 Guard, and fo many Precautions will be taken againft- 
 your Artifices, as to difappoint the ufe of them. 
 
 The Commerce of moft People turns only upon 
 Cunning, their Abilities confift only in laying Snare3, 
 and trepanning thofe whom they amufe by the Pre- 
 tences of a falfe Sincerity. 'Tis fo much the harder 
 to arm ourfelves againft their Artifices, becaufe we 
 have no Diftruft of them, nor ftand upon our Guard. 
 We can't fufpeft a Man who talks to us as his Con- 
 fidents, and pretends to entruft us with his Secrets, that 
 he has pitched upon us for his Bubbles. 
 
 The Diftinftions Parents have for fome of their 
 Children to the Prejudice of the reft, are attended al- 
 ways with ill Confequences, if thay have the Indif- 
 cretion to difcover their Thoughts, and 'tis almoft im- 
 poffible to conceal them ; the greater Affection they 
 have for fome, the greater Indifference, or even Aver- 
 fion they have for others j this Difference of Efteem 
 ruins the mutual Friendship, which Children of the 
 fame Family owe each other, as exciting Jealoufies 
 amongft them : Fathers and Mothers have an hard 
 Tafk to keep their Affe&kms evenly poifed^with Re- 
 fpecl to all their Children ; but they ought artfully 
 to diffemble their Preference, and to prevent the Ef- 
 fe&s of it ; that which cannot be pardoned them, is 
 their openly declaring their Averfion for the one, and 
 a blind Paffion for the others whom they have chofen 
 for their Darlings ; they facrifice all to the Fortune of 
 thefc Fondlings, and oblige the others by their repeat- 
 ed Hardfhips, to betake themfelves to ways of Life 
 repugnant to their Natures. 
 
 Celadons Family is abfolutely ruined by the Mif- 
 underftanding rifen amongft his Children ; he had a 
 vaft Eftate, which, he very unequally divided by his 
 Will; he had an extravagant and indifcreet Paffion for 
 
 one
 
 4O Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 one of the younger Sons, to whom he bequeathed the 
 greateft Part of his Fortune. This Diftindtion alarmed 
 all the reft, and united them againft their Brother ; 
 they have been at Law all their Life to make void 
 the Will, chufing rather to ruin all their Eftate, 
 than to leave it to their Brother, arid fee him rich- 
 er than themfelves. 
 
 What do Mafters think of, who talk fo freely of 
 their Affairs before their Servants ? Can they depend 
 upon the Difcretion of thofe fervile Souls formed of 
 Mud ? They can feldom forbear telling all they have 
 heard, and 'tis by this K.afcality, the mod important 
 Secrets of the Mafters are revealed. Servants have a 
 wonderful Curiofity to know all, and as great an 
 Itch to tell it again ; it ieems as if they meant to 
 compenfate themfelves hereby, for the Pains and Mi- 
 fery of their Servitude Vexation, Intereft, and 
 Folly make them fpeak, and iometirnes their Malice 
 and ill Nnture. 
 
 Moft young People are too frothy, and talk without 
 knowing what they fay. Do they fear, that if they 
 fpoke lefs, we mould have bat a bad Opinion of their 
 Parts ? There is a way of hearing, which eafily con- 
 vinces that Stupidity is not the Occafion of our Si- 
 lence : But fuppofe the worft, is it not better to leave 
 People^ubioil:- whether they have Wit, than to 
 convince them by their impertinent Difcourfe that 
 they have none ? 
 
 That which makes us. venture to talk with fuch 
 Affurance, is tne Perfuafion we are under, that what 
 we fay is heard with Pleafure. We la'jgh with thofe 
 that laugh at our Follies, and don't perceive ourfelves 
 to be ;he iidiculous Objtft. What a Service would 
 it be 10 a Mart, too conceited of his Merit, could we 
 undeceive him ? How many Extravagancies would 
 this lave him? But where is the Hand that is delicate 
 and bold cnouv.h to couch this Cataraft ? And v hat 
 Curies might not the Phyfician expect, \\.ho mould 
 fo wondei-ful an Operation ?
 
 Concerning Indifcretion. 41 
 
 That which aj?s haft (ogive, faid a brave Man, is 
 Cdunfcl : 'Tis a very nice Matter, which deferves to 
 be maturely weighed. One comes and confults you 
 upon a Subject that requires great Confideration, yon 
 anfwer him at hazard, he follows your Advice, and 
 unfeafonably embark*- in an Affair, the Succefs where- 
 of is doubtful; what Reproaches are you not juftly 
 obnoxious to, if the ii>ent prove u'ihr.p.py ? 
 
 Without knowing well the Character and docile 
 Temper of thole yoj nave to do with, you (hould be 
 very referred n k'-' n g your Advice. lultead of ren- 
 de. ing \ our felf uecdlar) , you are regarded ar a roa- 
 b; .<o:iie M.in, who n .ve ahvj " -ins unlucky Nevvs 
 to tell, ?nd are alv/av f:v\'--.< : a_i Ti.e Gt-ieralky 
 of Mankind are wrii -no i^n : . .c in their Du'ics ; 
 if rhc .jonuiiit Fad,i, it i. of fgr.nr..''c--, for 
 the kno.v bt.'-cr taan nit-; vua: vou lav to 
 
 them is vr. inilg'iifican'. i ' _ io mnrh '"ir- 
 CiKTi pecuoa to give otlier? v r- t. . ^ .;\^ ' ,1'n 
 fefetom ha*0d to do n. M vr pl< bwti p)n ^hofe 
 Advices as reprima^d^, ai'd i.. v *. ;j t .- i..lleau of cu- 
 ring them ; you become the line iny 01' .iiafe whom you 
 would reduce to tiinir Dut^, anu kve the Regret of 
 pla> r> the Fool 
 
 If ; ou venture to rrake your Rr:Tionftrances and 
 they are ill received, furfer dot .ny I-idignanon to ap- 
 pear, not fall out wi;h them abour it ; you uouk! he 
 very capricious and ill humoured, fhould you think to 
 impofe your Counfels on all the World, and rtfent 
 their taking other Resolutions ; that Chagun is no- 
 thing but a Delicacy of Self- Love; there's nothing ib 
 formidable as a Friend, who takes Advantage of nis 
 Experience, to propofe all his Advices to us as Laws, 
 and with a magifterial Air ; who would deb^.r us of the 
 Privilege of examining what he fays, and force our 
 Afient by his Authority, rather than win it by Infinu- 
 aliens. 
 
 The World is full of People that report whatever 
 the/ hear faid, that disfigure and empoifon it ; 'tis a 
 villainous Part, and a certain Means to be hated and 
 
 defpifed
 
 42 Reflexions upon Ridicule. 
 
 defpifed. You don't much oblige a Man by relating 
 to him the ill Things that have been faid of him ; yoa 
 are quickly paid for yourlndifcretion, and you become 
 the hrft object of his Averfton and Refentment. 
 
 A Man muft be very bold to rally others upon 
 their Faults or Conduct ; 'tis giving them a fort of 
 Right to rally yoa in their turn. The Vexation a 
 Man feels in being expofed to his Face, quickens his 
 Underftanding to perceive the Faults of his Cenfors ; 
 there is no need of long Confideration always, ta 
 find Repartees, fince the fame Reproaches they caft 
 on others, may commonly, with greater Juftice be 
 retorted upon them. Philemon upbraids Sofius with 
 the Meannefs of his Birth, when every one knows 
 that Philemon's Father is a Retailer of Cloath in a 
 Town not an hundred Miles from London. If you 
 are wife and love your own repofe, never attack 
 a Woman upon her Beauty, when fhe fets up for 
 handfome, nor upon her Conduct when fhe affects 
 to be thought difcreet ; thefe are Matters of a very 
 nice Nature, and wound to the very Soul of them*. 
 
 Raillery is a thing of difficult and even dangerous 
 Practice, unlefs it be attempered with certain Circum- 
 ftances which remove its Sting and Gall ; it ought to- 
 divert the Indifferent, without wounding the Interefled, 
 which are two Things difficultly combined. The end 
 of fine Raillery is to quicken Converfation ; if you 
 criticife the Follies or Infirmities of others you offend 
 them ; you are to break off and Change the Difcourfc, 
 as foon as you perceive the Mirth to difconcert, or 
 fowre thofe it is addreffed to ; you run the Rifque of 
 a ferious Trouble, occafioned by a frivolous Thing, 
 ill interpreted, and taken by the wrong Handle. 
 
 How many Quarrels daily happen for Words acci/- 
 dentally dropt ? Jf thePerfon they are addreffed to is 
 affronted, and demands an Explication, we are not al- 
 ways in the Humour to content him, we defpife his 
 Refentment ; if he perfeveres to demand Satisfaction, 
 we laugh at his Threats and Bluftering ; that which in 
 the beginning was only a Jeft and a meer Trifle, grows
 
 Concerning Indifcretwn. 43 
 
 a very ferious Bufinefs, and the Caufe of great Corr 
 tefts that have fometimes very fatal Effefts. 
 
 They that Jeft on others, don't always mean to of- 
 fend them ; they do it rather to have the Pleafure of 
 faying a witty Thing, than any premeditated Defign 
 to difoblige them ; Men of Wit, who underftand 
 Raillery, are always on the Laughter-fide, and con- 
 tribute fomething to the Intention of the Speaker. 
 The Man that's downright and all of a Piece, ful.'enly 
 aggravates what is faid, and by the Difturbance he 
 manifefts, revives the Raillery, which would have 
 died of its own accord. 
 
 We find, in Societies, People of a certain Character, 
 which feem born for nothing elfe but to fay difobliging 
 Things ; a Man muft not trip before them ;.they cri- 
 ticize all the Faults that are committed in their Pre- 
 fence, and droll upon them, even to the fatiguing thofe 
 that hear them. Others are naturally furly ; their 
 Ways, the found of their Voice, have fomething Sa- 
 vage in them, and it feems that they open not their 
 Mouth but to affront one or other. 
 
 Does Dorantes pretend to be an accomplifhed Man, 
 by giving horrible Pout traits of all the Women he is 
 acquainted with ? Will he make every body jealous of 
 him, be the Terror of Hufbands and the Bugbear of 
 Lovers ? If you'll believe the Romance he makes of 
 Women, there are none that are Regular or Modeft ; 
 none that he attacks can hold out a Moment againfl 
 his Charms and admirable Merit. How fottifh and 
 ridiculous is this Sufficiency ? And what an abomina- 
 ble thing is it to boaft of Favours, which no body e- 
 ver thought of (hewing him ? 
 
 Every body knows that 'tis ridiculous to be affected 
 or myfterious, to be conceited or fhy ; but neither 
 ought we, the firft Vifit we pay, to be familiar, as if 
 the Acquaintance had been of long {landing ; to talk 
 of our moft fecret Affairs, or to defire People, whom 
 we hardly know, to make us their Confidents j they 
 are perfectly aftonifhed at this Familiarity, which is 
 grown up in a Moment. 
 
 Tis
 
 44 Reflexions upon Ridicule. 
 
 Tis a Sign of a prodigious Indifcretion to a/Tune & 
 Familiarity with Perfons of an elevated Rank, \vhofe 
 Character commands Refpeft ; thefe Liberties befpeak 
 a fordid Education, which fmells of the Shop, and 
 perfect Ignorance of Decorum. If Perfons of a cer- 
 tain Eminency forget themfelves, and but ill maintain 
 the Honour of their Birth, others ought not to forget 
 it, but Mill to continue in Refpecl. AtrtiiKtti, thefirft 
 Time he fees a Woman of Quality, gives himfelf ri- 
 diculous Liberties ; he takes her by the Hand, and 
 entertains her with Difcourfe frll o ; grof> .Ambiguities,, 
 which are neither becoming him that fpeaks, nor her 
 that hears them. The Spectators can't fufhcier.tly ad- 
 mire the Indifcretion of a Perfon who thus breaks 
 through all the Rules of Decency, to give full fwing 
 to his Humour. 
 
 Handfome Women, of ever fo little Wit, at firff, 
 eclipfe whatever comes before th-.m, becaufe few Peo- 
 ple make Reflection : We are furprifed by their Beau- 
 ty, before we have time to bethink ourfelves ; 'tis on- 
 ly Cuftom that can recover us from this firft Illufion ; 
 the ' retched Things they fay diffipnte the Charm, and 
 we are tired at lad with continual gazing on a fine 
 Picture. A Woman of great Beauty and little Wit 
 ought to keep a politick Silence, if fhe has Senfe 
 enough to underftand her true Interefb. 
 
 Plotina, by her filly Difcourfe, and the Follies that 
 efcape her, effaces the Impreffion her Beauty makes 
 on all that behold her : It feems as if Nature had ex- 
 h.iuled herfelfin all thofe Charm*, (he has lavifhed 
 upon her outward Perfon ; if frie talked leis it would 
 be impoffible not to be captivated by fo accomplifhed 
 a Beauty, but the Misfortune is, fhe will be al- 
 ways talking, and (he feems not to open her Lips 
 but to fpeak childifh and foolifh Things ; fhe fome- 
 times afks fuch impertinent Queflions as make every 
 Bociy fhrug up tneir Shoulder:, amazing them with 
 her Sillinefs. She one Day afked, whether C&far was 
 a Chriftian, becaufe he lived at Rome where the Pope 
 refides. We know indeed that Woman are not obliged 
 
 to
 
 Concerning Indifcretion. 45 
 
 to underfland all the Particulars of the Roman Hifto- 
 ry ; but there are fome Things fo very o.bvious, that 
 they, can't be ignorant of them without the Imputati- 
 on of Simplicity. 
 
 A Gentleman of ttie Sword is diltinguifiied from the 
 Multitude only by his eminent Quality, and a great 
 Courage fupported with an uncommon Prudence ; he 
 muft difcern the Occafions wherein he ought to expofe 
 himfelf. 'Tis not for a Commander to act the Part of 
 a Mufquetier or a Trooper ; let him be Brave, but not 
 Ram and Fool hardy, We don't pity thofe who are 
 acceflary to their own Deaths, in Places where their 
 Duty did not call them ; but when a Man finds him- 
 felf under fuch Circumftances as admit of no farther 
 Precautions, let him then give full Scope and Exercife 
 to his Courage. 
 
 A Man need have but one violent Paffion to ruin the 
 beft eftabliftied Fortune : What then can be expected 
 from thofe who give themfelves up to all the Paffions, 
 and plunge into all Sorts of Pleafures ? In viewing the 
 Extravagance of fome Women, one would think 
 they ftudied to bring their Affairs into Confufion. 
 They hazard vaft Sums at Play, they borrow Money 
 upon exceffive Intereft, they buy very dear, and fell 
 their Goods at a fordid Price, and put every Tiling to 
 Pawn. What's this but a total Diforder, a general 
 Diflipation ! The Countefs of Merlet, after me had 
 loft all her Money at BaJ/et, fold her Plate, her Tape- 
 ftry, her Linen, her Petticoais, and the Bed on which 
 me lay. 
 
 The Ruin of certain Houfes is inevitable, where the 
 Hufband is only a Phantom, under the Shelter of whole 
 Name all is done, whilft he never knows any Thing 
 of the Matter; that Confufion is a certain Prefage of 
 the Ruin of Domeftick Affairs. An Houfe govei ned in 
 that Manner, refembles a Ship that is tolfed at he 
 Pleafure of the Winds, whiiil the Pilot takes no Care 
 of it. 
 
 Expences ill placed, and mifunderflood, do a Man 
 no Honour; to fpend Money feafonably, and thereby 
 to manage thofe you would fecure in your Jnterefts 
 
 require,
 
 46 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 requires Art and Ability. A Man feels for a long 
 Time the counter Blow of indifcreet Expences ; thou- 
 fands of People are ridiculous in their Pleafures, they 
 ruin their Affairs without gaining the hriendmip of 
 thofe who are the Caufe of their undoing. 
 
 'Tis a Point of great VVifdom to proportion a Man's 
 Expences to his Fortune and Poffeffions, for Diffipati- 
 on has very mortifying Reflections ; it goes hard, after 
 having lived in Splendor, to want Nece/laries, and be 
 continually fenfible of the Importunities atcending do- 
 meftick Wants ; they who intoxicate you with their 
 interefs'd Praifes, whilft they find a magnificent Table 
 at your Houfe, pretend they don't know you, and de- 
 fpife you, when tne Dilorder of your Affairs has 
 brought you to have Occalion for their Affiftance. 
 
 Should Florinus live but ten Years longer, he would 
 fcarcc have wherewithal to buy him Bread and ' 'lo.'ths, 
 the Treats he gives, you can't c.ili Dinners he daily 
 furnifhes out Nuptial iFeafto, and he i the Property of 
 his Parafites, who tur his Head with their Praifes, 
 who boaft his Retinue, his Equipage, an?] his vaft x- 
 pence : He has already ioid two fine Estates. h ; s Cre- 
 ditors clamour on all Sides, he is forced to borrow 
 Money at an extravagant Imereft, to have conftantly 
 at his Table a Crowd of Flatterers, who fell him, at 
 too dear a Rate, their mercenary Encomiums. 
 
 Concerning Affe Ration. 
 
 AFfeftation is the faljification of the whole Per/on, 
 f wbich deviates from all that is Natural <where~ 
 by it might pleafe to put on an afcititious dir, <where- 
 ixitbat to become Ridiculous It is the Effect of a cor- 
 rupt Tafte, of an extravagant Imagination, of an im- 
 moderate and miftaken Defire of pleafing and diftin- 
 guifhing one's Self. The other Vices are confined 
 within certain Bounds, and have a particular Object, 
 but 4/i8taion diffufes itfelf over the whole Man, and 
 
 infecls
 
 Concerning djfeflation. 47 
 
 infects the good Qualities both of Body and Mind . 
 People corrupted with this Vice, have nothing natural 
 in their Way of Talking, Walking, DrefTmg, turning 
 their Eyes or Head, thefe are Motions unknown to 
 other Men. In order to fpeak, there needs no more 
 than to open (he Mouth eafily, and without Pains j but 
 they feek a Myftery in it, they feem to be moved with 
 Springs ; it would grieve them to Laugh, Cough, or 
 Spit, like the Vulgar ; their Difguife reaches even to 
 the Sound of their Voice. To exprefs the moft com- 
 mon Things, they ufe a Jargon that it's the hardeft 
 Thing imaginable to underftand, 'tis made up of culled 
 V/ords and Paraphrafes ; their Gravity and their De- 
 votion are tinctured with this predominant Vice ; they 
 commend and difcommend themfelves from the fame 
 Motive ; if they pretend to reject the Elegies you give 
 them, they fuffer their Intentions to appear threugh 
 their ftudied Grimaces ; though they enjoy a perfect 
 Health, they are continually complaining of the Deli- 
 cacy of their Conftitution, and take it amifs if you do 
 not fympathize with their imaginary Ailments, 
 
 The affected and finical Air taints the beft Things, 
 and whatever good Qualities a Man has, he needs but 
 this one Frailty to become Ridiculous. If Emilia 
 would fpeak to be underftood, if fhe did not affect too 
 far-fetched Expreffions, if fhe did not difguife the Sound 
 of her Voice, which is naturally (oft and harmonious ; 
 if, being hale and of a florid Complexion, fhe did not 
 conftamly complain of her ill Health, me would pafs 
 -for a Woman of Sen.e ; but fenfible People can't en- 
 dure her, becaufe of her ridiculous Affectations. 
 
 Take heed how you difguife yourfelf and copy 
 others; flick to Nature if you defire to pleafe, for 
 whatever is fictitious and affected, is always infipid and 
 diltafteful i you need only open your Eyes and behold 
 Lucina, to fee the ill Effects of Affectation. She has 
 Wit, and Beauty, anu Mvrit and yet fhe is not taking, 
 becaufe fhe will counterfeit others ; fhe mimicks the 
 Walk of this Lady, th<- Sound of the Voice of that ; 
 fhe turn 3 her Eyes in a way that is unnatural ; fhe opens 
 
 and
 
 48 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 and (huts her Mouth in Meafure and Time ; (he feeim 
 to be afted with Wheels and Pullies like a Machine ? 
 "Pis a Piece of Clock-work. 'Tis true, fhe imitates 
 good Patterns, but all fhe does is offenfive, becaufe 
 ihe has forfaken her own natural Behaviour for a bor- 
 rowed one of others; in fhort, fhe is a bad Copy of 
 excellent Originals. 
 
 Celimene, where-ever fhe comes, is declaiming a- 
 gainfl Gallantry, and fets up for a virtuous and nice 
 Lady, whilft every Body knows the Number and 
 Names of her Gallants ; no Po. y would trouble their 
 Head, nor think of unravelling her Intrigues, but for 
 her Affectation to be thought a modelt and regular 
 Woman. This it is that fharpens Satyr, to be expati- 
 ating againft ir.e Vices her Confcience upbraids her 
 with, and whereof the Publkk is uot ignorant: This 
 Hypocrify provokes every Body's Laughter, and in- 
 fteaci ot wiping off the Faults, raifes a tiefh Atfent on 
 to obiene iheT ; the Pubick is a clear fit hied and 
 malignant Ju<'ge ; ir is haid to be impofeci on, an it 
 feldom parc-ons the Defign> Ol caz'ing anu furprifing 
 k ; 'ti; more indigent to thoie who deal above board, 
 and cofjtels tntn Weaknefieb. 
 
 L\Jt in^enuc^fly conrefies her Conduct has been bad, 
 and that fhe it foin for it; that her Temper o.er- 
 ruled her, and that fhe pit e^ thHe who t.t-ad in 'he 
 fame Paths; fhe exhorts her Daughter to follow ano- 
 therT'ain, inculcating pe>petualr., vhat Gallantry has 
 nuichievoub Remorlts, and that m v irtpe alone con- 
 fifts the Happincfs of a Womwn. We thank Lyjt for 
 her Sincerity, and a*e ':onttnt to pity ht , \vuhout 
 Jnvctives; but her Features make no gie - Imptefli- 
 on upon her Daifghters, who are more afte&ed wi'h >he 
 Examples fhe has fhewn them than the Dof.:ine 
 which fhe preaches. They refemble the young <^rabs 
 wh follow the retrogade Motion of their Mo ner. 
 
 You would fain feem modeft, but your Modefty 
 has an Air of Aufterity, which comes too near Mo- 
 rofenefs. Honeft Pleafures are not inconfiftent with 
 true Moctefty ; there's more of Affectation than Philo. 
 
 fophy
 
 Concerning tfffeffatiott* 49 
 
 fophy In not daring to laugh, when you hear facetious 
 and diverting Things. 
 
 As mocleft as a Woman would appear, fiie ought not 
 to have a morofe Virtue, nor pretend to be alarmed at 
 Commendation, when fhe is prailed for her Merit, her 
 good Mein, or her Beauty ; (he is more feniible of 
 them than any Body elfe, and 'tis meer AfFedation by 
 a Pretence of Modefty, to rejed with any angry Look 
 the Incenfe that is given her. 
 
 The true Medium is not to manifeft a greedinefs of 
 Praifes, nor to rejed them with an affeded Difdain, 
 when we think we deferve them. Our Intentioni are 
 eafily feen through our Difguife ; let us civilly receive 
 the Compliments that are made us, when the Flattery 
 is not fulibme ; it being a ridiculous Affedation to re- 
 fufe all Commendation, when we have any fort of 
 Merit. 
 
 A Woman makes herfelf fufpeded when me fets up 
 for a fcrupulous Modefty ; this great Affedation of ap- 
 pearing virtuous, is commonh too lludied, but the 
 other Extreme is ftill more dangerous and blameable ; 
 too fawning and careffing Ways, are Indications of an 
 amorous Soul, and 'tis ill reasoning to think to engage 
 Men by lufcious Difcourfes : Whoever has ever lo lit- 
 tle Delicacy, is quickly furfeited with fo ill-managed 
 and profufe a Complaifance : A too viiible Fondnefs 
 and blind Refignation, in a little Time extingi.im the 
 Paflions we think very lively and well grounded. 
 
 Women that are boafting at every Turn, ^hat they 
 are no Coquets, that they pity thofe who take too 
 much Liberty or forget themftlves. are greater Coquets 
 than they imagine ; but they have feme fecret Imerefl 
 to conceal their Motions from thofe that narrowly 
 watch them ; others, whofe Condud is more even, 
 and whofe Confcience does not reproach them, ad 
 more naturally, and don't over-ad the Part of Virtue. 
 'Tis odds, but they that affed thefe Grimaces have 
 only a fuperfkial Virtue; their eternal Panegy ricks 
 upon Modefty, their difdainful Treatment of thofe 
 who guard not outward Appearances, are no great 
 
 VOL. I. D Warrants
 
 upon Ridicule. 
 
 Warrants of their Modefty j but that feeming Refer- 
 vednefs ferves to dazzle Fools ; 'tis a Kind of Veil 
 they threw over their fecret Myfteries ; 'tis a Varnifh 
 that gives Luftre to their falfe Modefty. 
 
 Serenia was always thought to be an accomplifhed 
 Pattern of Modefty and Regularity ; the Publick fuf- 
 fered itfelf to be abufed by the Honefty of thofe Mo- 
 deft Maxims the eternally had in her Mouth ; no Body 
 gave themfelves the Trouble to pry into her Conduft, 
 or difturb her Enjoyment of a falfe Reputation, which 
 {he had artfully ufurped : She has at laft difgraced her- 
 felf by an Intrigue which they made a Noife of in the 
 World and has ruined her. The Blaze of this Difco- 
 very has removed the Veil which concealed her Incli- 
 nation ; fhe is confidered as a Crack, and no reckon- 
 ing is made of all the Pains fhe took to hide her fecret 
 Intrigues. 
 
 Whatever Pretenfions Women make, or fine Max- 
 ims they deliver in behalf of Virtue, the generality 
 are Wantons at the Bottom ; they have an Heart na- 
 turally addifted to Gallantry and Intrigues, and no- 
 thing but a fublime Virtue can correct this Inclination ; 
 buc as this is rarely to be met with, their Bias go- 
 verns them ; we are obliged to them when they'll do 
 fo much as conftrain themfelves, to fave outward Ap- 
 peanxnces. That Conftraint is a Kind of Homage 
 which they pay to Virtue. 
 
 'Tis a pleaiant Scene enough for thofe who know 
 the fecret Intrigues of fome Women, to hear them ha- 
 ranguing and preaching in the Praife of Modefty ; 
 they can't forbear laughing in their Sleeve to fee them 
 vent fevere Maxims in a grave and folemn Tone ; fome 
 Bubbles are wheedled by thefe Appearances, but wife 
 Men know how to judge of them. 
 
 Rather modeftly bear the Praifes that are given you 
 and you deferve, than reject, them with a myfterious 
 and affe&ed Roughnefs ; 'tis equally ridiculous to be 
 too fond of Praife, and to refufe it with too manifeft an 
 Affectation ; admit what is civilly and obligingly faid 
 to you, or dexteroufly turn off the Difcourfe, fo as 
 
 they
 
 Concerning deflation. 51 
 
 they that fpeak to you may have no Reafon to repent 
 their Commendation, nor look upon you as an ill-bred 
 and brutal Man. 
 
 'T is a Sign of a ridiculous Vanity to be too covetous 
 of Praife, and to appear to beg it for every little 
 Trifile ; but when you have done any Thing prajfe- 
 worthy, furrcr yourfelf to be told of it, and don't 
 feem to rebuff thofe who do Juftice to your Merit. 
 
 The Country-Ladies, who have had but a bad Edu- 
 cation, think they are obliged to refufe all the Praifes 
 that are given them ; they fillily difclaim all the Com- 
 pliments that are made upon their Beauty, their 
 Shape, the good Air of their Dance, and the Excel- 
 lence of tneir Voice; you would imagine it were an 
 Affront to them to give them the Praifes they deferve, 
 and that they thought themielves difgraced, if they 
 fhould receive without Affectation a Tribute we with 
 Pleafure pay to their fine Qualities. 
 
 Whence proceeds the Affectation of talking conti- 
 nually to your Difadvantage ? Is it out of Modefty ? 
 Would you have all the 111 thought of you, which 
 you fay yourfelf? That can't be jour Meaning, but 
 you love to talk of yourfelf at any Rate ; this is only 
 the Subrility of your Vanity, to engage the World to 
 flatter you, and to prove to you that you have not 
 really the Defects which you modeftiy attribute to 
 yourfelf. 
 
 'Tis from the fame Motive People talk of their good 
 Qualities and their Faults ; who would think it was 
 from a fecret and nice Complacency in herfelf, that 
 Ifmene fays fo often me is not hand fame, and that fhe 
 has a coarfe and a grofs Complexion ? She means by 
 this fmcere Confeffion to engage People to enter into 
 the Particulars of her Beauty, and tell her of her 
 Eyes which are large and fweet ; if (he were not well 
 afTured that her Charms would make amends for her 
 Defects, fhe would not fpeak of them with fo much 
 Freedom. 
 
 D 2 'fis
 
 5- Refietfions upon Ridicule. 
 
 'Tis a wrong Method to think of eflablifhing a Repu- 
 tation upon the Ruin of that of others. I have but an 
 ill Opinion of the Virtue of a Woman, who rigorouf- 
 ly condemns other Worn ens Conduft. The Affefta- 
 uon of thole unmerciful Criticks, who interpret amifs 
 every twinkling. of the Kye upon every Gdture and 
 Step that is made, is almoft an infallible Sign that they 
 do themfelves all that they condemn. 'Tis a Symp- 
 tom of a depraved Heart to fufpect the moft indiffe- 
 rent Acttons to be criminal. 
 
 How is it that Sywene can't bear to hear another 
 Woman fpoken well of in herPrefence ; If one offers 
 to commend the Virtue and good Conduct of any one, 
 (he flies out immediately, gives horrible Descriptions 
 of them, and forges, extempore, a thoufand imagina - 
 ry intrigues that: they are not concerned in ; Symene 
 leems to be very forry there mould ftill be any virtuous 
 and regular Woman in the World. Symcne, and thofe 
 of the fame Stamp, fhould in Policy be filent, when 
 that Subjedl is handled; the Wantonnfs of others 
 does not excufe their iil'Conduft, but they think to ef- 
 cape in the Crowd, and to find their Defence in the 
 great Numbers. . , . 
 
 M0ft Women take for Civility and good Breeding, 
 what they do out of a too forward Complaifance, and 
 which is only the Effeft of a too eafy Humour. If it 
 be to pleafe the Men they relax fo much, they are out 
 in their Account. A ftately Carriage is a furer Way 
 to bring them to the Point they wifh for, that retains 
 them in their Duty and Refpeft before them ; we muft 
 not, however, confound a fpirited Referve with an 
 untradlable and haughty Pride ; the pretended Virtu- 
 ous, affeft fometimes to dazzle thofe that fee not to 
 the bottom of their Defigns. There are Woman who 
 think to aft the Stately, by affronting every Body, and 
 rebuffing thofe that carefs them; this is not Statelinefs 
 but Extravagance. 
 
 Infenfible Perfons, who don't feem to be touched 
 with the moft obliging Things that are faid to them, 
 are very incommodious for Society, they would think 
 
 them-
 
 Concerning Affettation. 53 
 
 themfelves injured to depart one Moment from their 
 Gravity ; the pretendedly Modeft commonly fall into 
 this Fault; fcarce will they venture to laugh, howe- 
 ver diverting are the Things that are faid to them ; if 
 they open their Mouths, 'tis to fpeak two or three 
 Words in an affefted and foftened Tone ; that pretend- 
 ed Shynefs is bu: little fet by ; they would do better to 
 be fociable and to laugh as others do, when the Sub- 
 ject requires it; a genteel Gaiety, mixt with a little 
 Gravity, is very charming to Society. 
 
 They that prepare and learn by Heart what they are 
 to fay in Converfation, feldom pleafe ; Difcourfe mint 
 be raifed occafionally, and Chance and Hazard muft, 
 conduct it ; they who lay down the Plan of what they 
 ought to fay, give no Ear to others ; they are only 
 watching for a Moment to bring in what they have 
 learnt, and it feldom happens that they place it per- 
 tinently. When you have laid a good Thing, don't 
 repeat it, whether the Company heard or loft it. Set 
 not up for a Wit if you would be efteemed or courted, 
 nor take upon you alone to find Laughter for the reft, 
 and furnim Wit for the whole Company. It fares 
 with the Beauty of the Mind, almoft as with that of 
 the Ladies, who never pleafe lefs than when they af- 
 fect to be handfome. This Leffon has been often re- 
 peated to Ciarina, fhe is pretty and amiable, and (he 
 knows it. too well ; whenever you tell her flic is hand- 
 fome, (he bridles and pompouflv expofes her Charms, 
 like a PesUock fpreading his Tail ; Ihe pleafes lefs be- 
 caufe {he would over-pleafe ; her Beauty has not all 
 its Influence, becaufe (he affects too much to fhew it. 
 
 A Mother who is already upon the Decline who be- 
 lieves herfelf to be handfome, and would be thought 
 young, is very careful to put her Children out of the 
 way, the unqueftionable Teftimonies of her Age. The 
 Affectation of appearing Young, in a Woman begin- 
 ning to be in Years, draws only Contempt and Rail- 
 lery from thofe who know her Infatuation, and ex- 
 pofes her Wrinkles and tarnilhed Complexion to Jefts 
 and Infults. 'Tis in Vain for Women to think of 
 D 3 pleafmg
 
 54 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 pleafing by their Charms, when the Seafon of them 
 is over ; there's no impofing upon the Eyes, they 
 are too penetrating Judges. Mothers of this Hu- 
 mour, abandon the Education of their Daughters 
 to Strangers, who by this Remotenefs, lofe the Ef- 
 teem and Affeftion which they owe them ; but they 
 gain by it another way, by not being WitnefTes to 
 their Intrigues and Gallantry. 
 
 LyJtoHe has four marriageable Daughters, which (he 
 fuffers to grow ftale Virgins, without Thoughts of 
 marrying them ; fhe's fo afraid of the Title of Grand- 
 mother, that me immediately difcourages all the 
 Matches that are offered, without fo much as entring 
 Jnto a Negotiation, be they never fo advantageous ; 
 ihe never will think of a Portion for her Daughters, 
 'till fhe is neceflitated to make her Will. 
 
 There are Mothers that are dill lefs good humour- 
 ed than Lyjione, they force their Daughters, as in 
 France^ by affe&ed Cruelties, to veil themfelves in 
 fpight of their Inclinations; they deny them thofe lit- 
 tle Set-offs, that young Maids arefo affefted with, and 
 make them fenfible they have no other Option than 
 the Cloifter, which they efpoufe with Diitra&ion, and 
 lead a very miserable Life in. 
 
 A Woman, who for long time has had the Reputa- 
 tion of Beauty, would at laftdiftinguifh herfelf by her 
 Devotion, when fhe can be no longer handfome. It 
 mortifies her to lofe the Empire fhe obtained over 
 Hearts, and me tries to eftablifh another !;iad of Do- 
 minion over Minds. To fucceed in this, fhe takes a 
 quite oppofite Conducl to what fhe has always ufed. 
 Feafts, Walks, Companies, Plays and Dreffing, took 
 her by turns ; fhe muft now aft another Part, and 
 change her Batteries, when the Fire of Eyes is ex- 
 tinguiihed, and her Face is upon the Decay ; fhe mult 
 have Recourfe to Singularities and Retirement, affume 
 a mytlerious Air, affecl a Severity of Behaviour, ut- 
 ter Maxims of exalted Virtue, with a grave and 
 compofed Countenance, tho' the Heart be in the 
 fame Pofition as before j fhe changes the Objeft with- 
 out
 
 Concerning Affettation. 55 
 
 oat changing the Inclination ; when we pierce through 
 her Hypocrifies, we find in her a fecret and excepfi- 
 ous' Pride, the Quintefience r-i Jealoufy, and all 
 the other Pafiions that poflefled her when (he was 
 addided to the World. 
 
 The Romi/b Votaries would not be fo numerous, if 
 (hey thought themfdves obliged to Reformation, and 
 to get rid of cheir evil Habits to merit the Reputation 
 of Devotees; but it is much caller to lengthen their 
 Sleeves and to bring Sacks full of Medals and Beads to 
 the Church, than to grow humble and modeft, com- 
 plaifant and charitable. As long as we fee thefe Vo- 
 taries flandering all Mankind, more opinionated than 
 other Women, more abounding in their own Senfc, 
 more froward in their Families, lefs complaifant to 
 their Hulbands, more delicate in all that relates to 
 them ; there's no great Reckoning to be made of their 
 fophiftical Devotion. 
 
 That which moft difcredits the Devotees is, that 
 with all the out fides and appearances of Piety, ihey 
 will in nothing be behind-hand with the Women of the 
 World ; they Game, they enter into all the Affignati- 
 ons of Pleafure, they have the fame Care of (heir Beau- 
 ty, as the Coquets themfelves ; the Regards they have 
 for their Perfons proceed even to Delicacy j they can't 
 bear a Word, that has any tendency to an Affront, 
 and under Pretence of an affe&ed Zeal, they cenfure 
 the Conduit of all other Women, and laih them with 
 unmerciful Calumnies, as if they were intrulted with 
 the Charge of Reforming all the City. 
 
 All Affectation is unbecoming, but it is criminal in 
 matter of Devotion, and only belongs to thole Cabal 
 Votaries, whofe whole Virtue confifts in a ftarchcd 
 and affecled Outfide. 
 
 The Reputation of a Virtuous and regular Man, is 
 extremely flattering to Self- Love, as giving an Afcen- 
 dant over others ; but there's Reafon to fear, that a 
 falfe Devotion ufurps the Place of the true, and that 
 the Maflc is taken for the Reality. Men employ eve- 
 ry Thing to make their Fortune, and fome are known 
 D 4 to
 
 56 . Reflexions upon Ridicule. 
 
 to cover an extravagant Ambition under the Veil o* 
 Devotion, who flick not at the greateft Violences and 
 Injuftices, provided they can Ikreen their Reputation ; 
 thefe Abufes being a Reproach on true Devotion, and 
 fome there are fo nice, as to refufe the Appellation of 
 Devout, as a Scandal and Affront. 
 
 How fatiguing a thing is it to hear thofe People, 
 who ufe felect Words in their Difcourfe to exprefs the 
 moft trivial Things ? Is there any need of ftudying for 
 a Periphiafis to call for Drink, or to afk what a Clock 
 'tis ? What's the Reafon, Dorilus, you affect always 
 the ufe of new-coined Words, and will have nothing 
 common with the People ? Are you afraid you fhould 
 not appear fantaftical enough ? Thefe falhionable 
 Words, wherewith you think to embellifh your 
 Difcourfe, . give you an effeminate and ridiculous 
 Air 5 you think you are applauded, when People 
 ridicule and fneer at you. 
 
 Perfons of mean Birth procure nothing but Con- 
 tempt, by the Artifice they employ to conceal the 
 Shame of their Original j they would be kindlier treat- 
 ed, if they ingenuoufly acknowledged what they are j 
 nothing is more defpicable than the Affectation they 
 have to be eternally talking of the Employs of their 
 Relations, and what noble Things they have done in 
 former Ages : This often expofes them to very morti- 
 fy ing Reflections, for the World is not always in Hu- 
 jnour to applaud fo ridiculous a Vanity. 
 
 A Woman, who has a Fancy in her Head to coun- 
 terfeit a Perfon ef Quality, and, though (he rife pure- 
 ly from the Vulgar and the Shop, difmifles every thing 
 that' s natural, and confequemly, all by which 'twas 
 poffible to pleafe ; her Ways, her Language, the 
 Tone of her Voice, her Walk, is all fictitious ; fhe is 
 perpetually cavilling with others upon their Quality, 
 and their Want of Confideration for her Perfon ; fhc 
 renounces all her Relations, whofe Mechanick Em- 
 ploys are invincible Teftimonies of her Extraction. 
 Lyfe carries on the Extravagance fo far, as to make her 
 Hufband pafs for her Steward, before Women ef Qua- 
 lity, who don't know him, and who afk why me keeps 
 fuch an awkward Fellow about her ? 'Tis
 
 Concerning Affe Elation. 57 
 
 Tis a very common Temptation for the Citizens to 
 defire to keep a Commerce with Retainers to the Court, 
 to mingle in their Affignations, to copy them, and ftu- 
 dy their Language and their Ways ; thefe fometimes 
 happen to be very wretched Patterns, which muft 
 needs produce worfe Tranfcripts ; one Man's Air 
 gruffer than another, can't chufe but have a bad Ef- 
 fect. Pronto is born to a plentiful Fortune, he has 
 one of the chief Offices in the Long-rote, which gives 
 him a great Elevation ; he has alfo great Abilities to 
 fucceed in his Employ ; but he fcorns his Dignities 
 and his Equals, and can endure nothing but little 
 Folks; he {wears and grows Drunk like them, and 
 will referable them ; this Affiliation fpoils his Merits, 
 and makes him neither Magiftrate nor Courtier, 
 but a meer Ckim<era. 
 
 Perfons of noble Blood are more eafy, fociable and 
 affected, than others raifedfrom the Dunghill, by their 
 own Skill or Chance; that Air of greatnefs they af- 
 fiime, prevents not our difcovering them through their 
 borrowed Out-fide. What means Dori/a by having 
 her Train born up in her own Houfe, as (he pafles 
 from one Chamber to another; She'll have no Socie- 
 ty but with Countefs and Marchionefs, for fear of 
 keeping mean Company, and for the fame Reafon fhe 
 fees none of her Relations. 
 
 'Tis an affectation that denotes fomewhat extremely 
 finical, to ufe none but the moft excellent Artifts for 
 the moft indifferent Things. Offer nothing to Salinda 
 that comes not from the Shop of laFrenaye, leGras 
 de Haute'ville, le Doyen, &c. Let the Pieces be never 
 fo admirable and well wrought, her Imagination is 
 not fatisfied, if they are not of the bed Hand, and 
 that which is moft in vogue. 
 
 Wife People ought to fubmit themfelves to the Hu- 
 mours of the Mode ; it would be Affectation not to do 
 what's dene by all the World ; a Singularity to make 
 a Man obfer /ed. As extravagant as a Kaftnon feems, it 
 muft be foil )wed when it is'eftablifhed, provided we 
 will not (xc.-ed the Folly of thofe that have invented 
 D 5 it ;
 
 58 Reflexions upon Ridicule. 
 
 it ; what could we fay of a Man that fliould ftill 
 wear an High-crowned Hat, and Breeches as wide 
 as Petticoats. 
 
 Concerning fooli/b Vanity. 
 
 FOolifh Vanity, as Theophrajlut's Tranflator defines 
 it, is a reft left Defire to be efteemedfor little Takings, 
 or to fetk a Name and Dijlinflion in the moji frivolous 
 Subjects. A Man loves to be always talking of him- 
 felf, he praifes or blames himfelf, no matter which, 
 provided he gain his End by it, which is to make 
 himfeif efleemed ; he has the mofl advantageous Idea 
 of his own Merit, but is but little affedled with that 
 of others. A vain Man loves to make Expences 
 to be talked of, but thofe he makes are often foolifh 
 and miftaken, and give him the Reputation of an 
 Extravagant. Foolifh Vanity ruins the right Ufe 
 and good Hufbandry of the natural Talents a Man 
 may have, and renders him as ridiculous for his good 
 Qualities as for his Vices. 
 
 Vain People would fain be confidered for every 
 Thing they do and fay ; there's nothing but they re- 
 tain to ; the leaft things feem confiderable to them, 
 when they believe they are of any Service to raife 
 great Ideas of their Merit : We mould pardon them, 
 perhaps, this Refinement of Vanity, if they had 
 any Indulgence for others, and were lefs attentive to 
 ipy all the Occafions of debafing them. Your Folly, 
 Plautius, confifts in efieeming only yourielf, in be- 
 ing vaftly Contemptuous of all others, however 
 eftimable they appear. 
 
 We could have no way of comforting ourfelves, for 
 the want of a thoufand good Qualities we are confcious 
 of, did we npt believe them to be made up by other 
 Taients, which, we flatter ourfelves to be Matters of; 
 whatever Imperfections we find in ourfelves, we itill 
 have fecret Complacences in our Merit. 
 
 The
 
 Concerning foolijb Vanity. 59 
 
 The Reafon why Men are fo unacquainted with 
 themfelves, i, that they always take their View on 
 the moft favourable Side. 'Tis impofiible, indeed, 
 not to perceive certain palpable Faults, which fly in 
 their very Face, but they folace and flatter themfelves, 
 that their other good Qualities eclipfe them, and that 
 flill prevents their Amendment, becaufe they are not 
 fufficiently touch'd with their Faults, and are content- 
 ed to ballance them by fome good Qualities. Alimene 
 has an ill Shape, and is too grofs, and yet (he thinks 
 her felf handfome enough, and, even that me excels 
 the moft regular Beauties by her fine Complexion, the 
 Colour of her Hair and the Sweetnefs of her Face. 
 There's no Lawyer fo decried at the Bar, but has fe- 
 cret Complaifances in Pleading, and frequently takes 
 the Hifles for Applaufes ; that Infirmity is annext to 
 all the eminent Profeflions, and a Man muft have ex- 
 cellent Parts, and make great Reflections, not to be 
 the Cully of his own Vanity. 
 
 No body ventures to fey in general, that he's upon 
 the Square with Men of a great Merit, but when he 
 enters into the Particulars of his good Qualities, he 
 thinks he ought not to yield to any one. This Per- 
 fuafion is of fome Service, it makes every body con- 
 tent with himfelf, and if a Man has not the firtl Ports, 
 he comforts himfelf becaufe he thinks he dcferves 
 them. 
 
 People that are giddy with this Vanity, think we 
 have never Deference enough for them, and are noc 
 fatisfy'd with the moft retpedlful Devoirs ; the leait 
 Formality that is wanting provokes their Spleen ; the/ 
 make Complaints of thefe little Negligences, as if all 
 was at Stake, and we did them the greateft Injury in. 
 the World ; but in Recompence, they eafily difpenie 
 with the moft eflential Duties, and think that the ieail 
 Regards they pay to others, are a full Difcharge fo; 
 they owe them ; a Bow not low or refpe&ful enough, 
 puts them out of Patience; thefe Punctilio';, thefe 
 Trifles, they expecl as indifpcnfable Duties, -and IK-, 
 . er pardon thofe who fail to pay them. 
 
 Theft
 
 60 Reflexions upon Ridicule. 
 
 Thofe who feem fo well fatisfy'd with themfelves, 
 feldom content other People ; to have every body's Ap- 
 probation we muft not eafily perfuade ourfelves that we 
 deferve it; there's nothing more (hocking and ungrate- 
 ful, than that high Efteem which Come People appear 
 poffefs'd with, for every Thing that relates to them ; 
 they expeft Applaufes when they have faid a filly- 
 thing ; ic feems that every thing muft fubmit to the 
 Sovereignty of theirDecifions, and no one (hall expeft 
 any favour from them ; the way is not to applaud 
 Fooleries, but at the fame time not to withhold our 
 Efteem from that which deferves it. There's a fort 
 of Indignation rifes in one's Mind, againft thofe who 
 think all good Senfe is included in the Confines of 
 their own Brain. 
 
 The defire of making Parade of what one knows, 
 and dazzling the World with a pompous Difplay of a 
 faftuous Learning, is the fign of a foolifh Vanity. A 
 Man of Senfe fpeaks to People according to their Cha- 
 rafter, familiarizes and ftoops to their Capacity ; he 
 will not appear more learned than thofe he talks to, 
 and without making mew of a vain Science, he enters 
 into the Genius of others, and makes them find more 
 Wit than they naturally have ; that Difcovery flatters 
 them, and engages them to a Man fo good humour'd 
 and complaifant j they are much better pleas'd with 
 him, than if he had charm'd them by his Learning. 
 
 The Learned would think themfelves highly injur'd, 
 if others fhould enter into the leaft Parallel with them; 
 that lofty Idea of their own Sufficiency, deftroys all 
 their Regards and Complaifance for others, and the 
 pedamick Air they difcover in every thing they do, 
 Jefiens the Efteem .that would be paid to their 
 Merit, if they were more obliging ; but, by Misfor- 
 tune, thefe fo ingenious Men are commonly very 
 Fools in the Commerce of the World ; they know 
 every thing that was done by the Ancients, and know 
 not how to live with the Moderns; as foon as they 
 leave their Study, they fcem to fall into another World, 
 
 whoie
 
 Concerning foolifb Vanity. 61 
 
 vvhofe Ways and Language they are Strangers to ; 
 every Step they make expofes them to the Laughter 
 of People of lefs Capacities. 
 
 They that would always fhine, and be admir'd of 
 others, feldom procure their Love, becaufe we have 
 a fecret Spight to People that out-mine us : The Way 
 to infmuate into the Minds of Men, is to affift them 
 as much as poflible to difplay their Talents ; they go 
 away fatisfy'd from us, when they are fo with them- 
 felves. What does Damis pretend with his conceited 
 Air, and ridiculous Pride, that Complacency he has 
 for every thing he fays, and Difguft for all that's 
 faid by others ? Does he think to be courted for acl:- 
 ing the finick and conceited ? They that are fo well 
 pleas'd with themfelves, feldom content others j to 
 gain their Approbation, they muft not eafily fancy 
 they deferve it, nor exprefs too much eagernefs there- 
 upon -. Perfons fo fond of Reputation, moft commonly 
 lofe it by the Avarice wherewith they feek it ; nothing 
 throws them farther from their Mark than their ex- 
 ceffive Paflion to arrive at it ; there are few but fink a 
 little in the good Opinion we had of them, when they 
 fhew themfelves too often and too long together ; for 
 if we fee their good Qualities, we difcover alfo their 
 Faults, which are a kind of counterpoife, and com- 
 monly bear down the Ballance ; we ought not at one 
 View to make a {hew of all our Abilities and Deferts, 
 if we would keep People long in Admiration. 
 
 A Woman that thinks herfelf handfome, eafily flat- 
 ters herfelf that all that fee her are touch'd with her 
 Charms ; {he often applauds herfelf for an imaginary 
 Triumph, and puts to her Account thofe Sighs of 
 which me is altogether guiltlefs. . 
 
 Plautia has a Conceit in her Head, that all Men 
 which behold her, are prefently in Love with her ; {he 
 is fully fatisfied of the Influence of her Charms, and 
 believes it fufficient for her Conquetts, only to be feen ; 
 this Perfuafion infpires her with a foolifh Vanity and 
 Contempt for all her Sex, which me thinks me abfo- 
 
 lutely
 
 62 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 lutely eclipfes ; others have not the fame Thoughts 
 of her, and no ways confider her as a dangerous 
 Rival. 
 
 They that are born in Opulence and a great Fortune, 
 if they have not abundance of Senfe, are commonly 
 defective in Civility: they are accuftom'd to hear 
 themfelves flatter'd, and the Complaifance we have for 
 them infpires them with an infupportable Pride, and 
 a ridiculous Prefumption : No body is bold enough to- 
 make them fenfible how impertinent they are, but 
 chufes rather to bear with them ; they live without 
 perceiving how they are hated, and die without the 
 lead Sufpicion of the Ridicule they incur 'd by their 
 foolifh Vanity. 
 
 Argenus 1 * Son was the civileft Perfon in the World,, 
 before his Father's Rife ; his good-natur'd Complai- 
 fance and Civility made his Company generally de- 
 firable ; fmce his Father's coming to fo much Wealth-, 
 there's a general Revolution in his Temper, he's 
 grown haughty, uncivil, intractable ; he defpifes aU 
 his Equals, and is no longer himfelf. 
 
 A Man of Senfe can recover from a falfe Step he 
 has made, or a foolifh Thing he has faid, whereas a 
 Fool never retires, but makes it a point of Honour to 
 perfift in his Error f this Conftancy and miftaken 
 Steadinefs is the Origin of thofe extravagant Dif- 
 putes, wherein a Man obftinately maintains ridiculous 
 Propofitions, becaufe he will not own he has faid an 
 Impertinence, but 'tis a frefh Impertinence to defend 
 it. 
 
 There are few People, but fome time or other hap- 
 pen to fay or do fomething that's Extravagant) if 
 they would honeftly confefs it, it would go half way 
 towards their Apology ; but the Haughtinefs where- 
 with they will defend their Proceedings, though never 
 fo irrational, lets every body againft them - T we com- 
 paffionate the Infirmity of a Man who has committed 
 a Fault, and blufhes for it ; but we fire againft the 
 foolifh Vanity of him who recurs to pitiful Reafons 
 to juftify his Imr eminence. 
 
 Who
 
 Concerning foohjb Vanity. . 63 
 
 Who could forbear Laughing to fee Perfons opi- 
 nionated with their Merit, propofing themfelves as 
 Patterns, and ridiculoufly fancying that all the World 
 has the fame Confideration for them ? We eafily ob- 
 ferve by certain Paffages, and ftudied Geftures, that 
 they are very well fatisfied with their fuppofed fine 
 Qualities, and every body's tired with the Narrative 
 of their great Perfections. I have an Eftate, modeftly , 
 fays Lyfiasy I am of an illuftrious Family, I have Wit, 
 and a Mein that prejudices People in my Favour; I 
 would not change my Fortune with the happieft and 
 moft accomplim'd Man in the World. Lyjtas, me- 
 thinks, has fomething too much a foolifh Con- 
 ceitednefs, which hinders him from knowing him- 
 felf. 
 
 A Man of mean Parts is always content with him- 
 felf, and that ill-grounded Complacency, is a fure 
 Sign of the Mediocrity of his Wit : Having no Idea of 
 what is excellent, his little Talents feem to him emi- 
 nent Qualities, which prepofleflion, unlefs he be very 
 careful, is a great Source of Impertinences. A good 
 Wit, that is clear-fighted, is not fatisfied with excel- 
 lent Talents, becaufe it ftill fees fomething that's a- 
 bove it. You fee here what brings all Conditions to 
 a Balance, and that thofe which have the greateft 
 Share, are not always the moft happy. 
 
 You believe the reft of the World have neither Wit, 
 nor Merit, nor Talents, nor Ability j in recompence, 
 you fancy in your felf whatever can be delired in a 
 perfect and accomplilh'd Man. This double Delufion 
 proceeds from the fame Principle, that Vanity which 
 gives you fuch favourable Notions of your own Merit, 
 and (huts your Eyes againrt your'grofleft Faults, gives 
 you a fcrupulous Attention to obferve the leaft Im- 
 perfections of others. Perfons that were never out of 
 the Country they were born in, are much of this Cha- 
 racter, they admire themfelves, and have an extreme 
 Fondnefs for their perfonal Merit, but pardon nothing 
 in others. 
 
 A
 
 64 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 A Man who has a weak Side, and fome ill Quality 
 he is miftruftful of, ufes a thoufand Subterfuges to 
 conceal it ; if he be meanly born, he is continually 
 citing eminent Perfons, which, he fays, he is related 
 to. He is applauded with a Sneer, and looked upon 
 as an Extravagant; this io all the Fruit of his 
 Politicks. 
 
 They that come from China or Japan, may eafily 
 impofe on us, but People of the fame Province, or the 
 fame City, are known, and 'tis eafy to difcover the 
 Quality of their Anceftors, if they abufe us for fome 
 time, by pretending a Chimerical Pedigree, 'tis not 
 long before we are undeceived, and we laugh at their 
 foolim Vanity and ridiculous Conceit. 
 
 Can People meanly born and educated, be ignorant 
 of their Origin, and forget themfelves fo far, as to 
 believe themfelves Perfons of Quality ? 'Tis an A- 
 tnazement to their Vanity, to entertain fome credu- 
 lous Fools with the Antiquity of their Houfe, and 
 how they are related to the firft Families of the 
 Kingdom. Clarimont talks of nothing but the Alli- 
 ances of his Anceftors, which he deduces from the 
 remcteft Ages, tracing them backward to the firll 
 Crufades: His Father exercifed a very vile Employ, 
 and every one knows the Nature of the Occupation, 
 by which he gained Money enough to buy a fine Poft 
 for Clarimont. 
 
 I can't comprehend the foolim Vanity of fome 
 People, who ftile themfelves Noble, and of a good Fa- 
 mily, before fuch as don't know them : How can they 
 look them in the Face, to whom they have lied in this 
 manner, when they are better inftrucled concerning 
 their true Pedigree ? I have known People of the 
 Country, when they come to Town, give it out every 
 where that they were Gentlemen ; but they fhould 
 have had the Precaution to have obliged their Country- 
 men, not to reveal the Myftery. The Judicious 
 have a vaft Contempt for thefe vain Pretenders, but 
 at laft they find one or other filly enough to be- 
 lieve
 
 Concerning foolljh Vanity. 65 
 
 lieve their imaginary Extraction, and that's their 
 Comfort. 
 
 The Vanity to marry young Perfons of Quality, 
 has made abundance of young Women very ridiculous 
 and miferable; they furrender themfelves with all their 
 Fortunes amafled together, by the Induftry and Thrift 
 of their Friends, to a Man of the Sword, who mar- 
 ries them only for their Money, and to repair the Ruins 
 of his Fortune. A Maid that has Riches, but no 
 Birth, is ambitious to emerge out of the obfcure Con- 
 dition me is born in j the Counter and the Shop are 
 prejudicial to her Vanity ; flie marries a NobK man, 
 who banifhes her to fome remote Part of the Country ; 
 me quits an Houfe where (he lived in Eafe and Plenty, 
 to inhabit an old Caftle and tottering Walls. 
 
 No body pities Clarianas Misfortune, me has re- 
 fufed the moft advantageous Matches of Paris, and 
 the moft eminent Perfons of the Robe ; nothing 
 would ferve her but a Colonel, who was in the way of 
 arriving to the chiefeft Pofts in the Army. Her Va- 
 nity drew her into great Misfortunes ; her Hufband 
 was over Head in Debt before he married her; he 
 has made expenfive Campaigns in the Army, which 
 have fwallowed up Clariand* Fortune ; fhe is forced to 
 live in a diftant Province, where (he wants NecefTa- 
 ries ; and for an amufement to her Vanity, me 
 fometimes calls to mind that fhe is the Widow of 
 a Marefchal de Camp. , ' 
 
 We may fall into Ridicule by thofe very Things in 
 which we excel ; a Man that Sings or Dances with a good 
 Grace, who Talks or Writes politely, who has any- 
 real Qualification, if he applauds his Merit, if he 
 Praifes himfelf, and would have all the World admire 
 him, will expofe himfelf to Laughter and Contempt. 
 We naturally do not like thofe who in any thing excel 
 us ; if we have any eminent Qualities which outfhine 
 others, we mud make them amends for it by a great 
 Modefty ; without this, we mall infallibly difpleafe 
 them by thofe Qualities we difplay to Merit their E- 
 fteem : This is the reafon why an handfome Woman is 
 
 feldom
 
 66 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 feldom acceptable to another Woman who pretends 
 to Beauty. 
 
 We fee fome People fondly hugging themfelves, 
 whofe Outfide conflitutes all their Merit ; they adjuft 
 themfelves with a good Air, they Bow with a good 
 Grace, and this fuffices them, whilft they open not 
 their Lips in Converfation for a while fitting ; they 
 are fo perfuaded that they pleafe with their Looks, that 
 they never take Pains to fpeak. 
 
 'Tis not always the fign of a true Courage to expofe 
 ourfelves to Danger without Neceflity; that vain, in- 
 difcreet, extravagant Raftinefs, which courts Danger 
 for Danger's fake, has no other End than popular Ap- 
 plaufe; a Soldier who is not of a hecloring and huf- 
 fing Valour has a ftaid and regular Bravery, which 
 takes Fire at the Sight of the Enemy ; but he allows 
 nothing to hazard, where Prudence may conduct him. 
 We commonly fee fuch as procure their Deaths by 
 their Cowardice ; fuch as feck Danger beeaufe they 
 have not the Courage to wait for it. 
 
 There are Men naturally ungrateful, not to be won 
 by good Offices ; a fettled crofs-grained Humour, ren- 
 ders them infenfible of Benefits ; we carefs and court 
 them, and watch all Opportunities to oblige them, 
 yet they ftill remain cold and Indifferent ; this Ingra- 
 titude is commonly the Effect of a Secret Pride, be- 
 ing perfuaded that all the Services we do them, are 
 below what they deferve, they are not affecled with 
 all we do for them. Others of a mean and creeping 
 Soul are extravagant in their Acknowledgements for the 
 leaft Trifles, and reckon to the account of Obligati- 
 ons, the pure Juftice that we do them. A Man ought 
 not to be infenfible to Benefits, but Gratitude has de- 
 grees as well as other Virtues, and he fhould not con- 
 found eflential Services with meer Trifles, which are 
 refufed no body in the ordinary Commerce of Life : 
 If Ingratitude be odious, an infinite Acknowledge- 
 ment is troublefome ; I had rather a Man fhould ab- 
 folutely forget the good Offices I do him, than to be 
 thanked for them on every Occafion. 
 
 Tb
 
 Concerning foolijb faulty. 67 
 
 'Tis an harder Tafk than is imagined, to relate an 
 Aftion, tell a Story or a Piece of News well ; to ren- 
 der the Thing more probable, and give it greater 
 Weight, we commonly exaggerate it, which is a very 
 wrong Courfe ; thefe Aggravations are frequently a 
 Sign of the Poverty of Senie in him that relates it, they 
 are alfo the Character of a Secret Pride ; vain People 
 feek always to make themfelves admired by every 
 Thing they fay, and every thing they do. 
 
 The too great Itch of talking and telling all one 
 knows, is one of the Things which moft expofes the 
 Weaknefs of Men, and moft troubles their Repofe ; 
 there's no confiding in Perfons of this Character, they 
 would have it believed they are confulted, that they 
 have the Ear of great Men, that they are intruded with 
 nice Secrets, that they have an Hand in great Affairs ; 
 but their Vanity is not fatisfied unlefs every Body 
 knows it ; they often betray their beft Friends without 
 confidering it, and draw unhappy Troubles upon 
 ihemfelves, by that foolifh Vanity which renders 
 them very defpicable. 
 
 Be fure you fay nothing to Philo, but what you 
 would have known by all the World, and what you 
 truft with him, recommend not under the Seal of Se- 
 crecy ; that Circumftance is an infallible Means to 
 make him talk of it : It feems that the Secret you 
 have committed to him is an infupportable Burthen ; 
 he muft refrefh himlelf under it, and therefore, with- 
 out confidering the Charafter of thofe he talks to, or 
 the Importance of the Bufmefs he talks of, he tells it 
 to the firft he meets. 
 
 'Tis rare to fee People correft trremfclves of any 
 Fault, the Reafon is, they know not themfelves, nor 
 believe they are guilty of it -. If they have ftill fo 
 much Modefty as not to fpeak it alou i, they fpeak it 
 to themfelves very low ; Jf they confeis fome Imper- 
 feftions in Public, they are fuch as it's no Difgrace 
 to own. Thrajo ingenuoufly confefies, that he is hafty 
 and paffionate ; he would thereby infmuate, that he is 
 Brave, and abounds in Courage. Chimene fays of 
 
 herfelf
 
 68 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 herfelf, that (he is the moft unconcerned and la- 
 zy Perfon in the World. Why does fhe not fay, 
 that flic's an affected Finick ? 
 
 If our bad Qualities made the fame Impreffion upon 
 ourieives that they do upon others, we mould fpare no 
 Pains to conquer them. Self-! ove infpires us with 
 great Indulgence for ourfelves, and dwindles our grofs 
 Faults into almoft nothing. Lucia is fenfible enough 
 that fhe is lame, and yet (he is continually talking of 
 Women that are ill-lhaped, and make fuch Jells upon 
 them, as render them moft ridiculous, 
 
 People would be much more taking, if they would 
 be content to pafs precifely for what they are, but they 
 affect to appear with extraordinary Talents, to dazzle 
 thofe they converfe with. How many are there that 
 become Ridiculous through a whimfical Defire to be 
 thought Wits ? The Affectation they difcover, and 
 great Value they have for their extraordinary Merit, 
 gives them the Repute of Fops ; they would be more 
 efteemed, and would have nothing to reproach them, 
 could they confine themfelves within their natural 
 Bounds A pretty Woman would be more amiable, if 
 fhe did not fet up for an accomplifhed Beauty. 
 
 They that pretend to undervalue their good Quali- 
 ties, and leffen the Price of them, do it only to have 
 them more nicely obferved. C/aricia, whofe Eyes are 
 perfectly handfome, is complaining every Momem 
 that they are too little. Every Body is convinced that 
 Gerajlus is a Wit ; who can doubt of it after fo many 
 "Works he haspublifhed, and yet he fays, he does not 
 afpire to theGlory of the fublime Genius's; but you 
 make him mad, if you leave him in that Opinion, 
 and don't prove to him the contrary. 
 
 I make no difference betwixt praifing a Perfon for 
 good Qualities he has not, and malicioufly affronting 
 him ; the Reafon why Men are fo little difturbed with 
 thefe double-faced Railleries, is that they are all Cullies 
 of Commendations ; they think ftill that theydeferve the 
 greateft, and fo far are they from Refentment, they 
 
 thank
 
 Concerning fooli/Jj Vanity-. 69 
 
 'hank you for this poifoned Incenfe Be cautious of 
 Alys, his Defign is to impofe upon you, or make you 
 ridiculous ; he has always fome Myftery in the Praifes 
 he gives you ; he makes Ufe of fly Expreffions, which 
 artfully unveil fome fecret Faults, wnich he durft not 
 openly reproach you with ; thefe are myilical Civilities, 
 which Men of downright Senfe take for fiucere Praifes, 
 but which provoke the Laughter of thofe who enter 
 into his Meaning, or are in Confederacy with him. 
 
 'Tis not always to do Jaftice to others Merit, that 
 we give them exceffive Praifes, but with a By-Defign 
 to be paid by them in the fame Coin ; thofe that we 
 refufe this Tribute to, which their Pride demands, 
 can't help mewing their Indignation. Lyfmene com- 
 mends Ladies for their Beauty, contrary to the Cuf- 
 tom of other Women ; 'tis not precifely to do them 
 Juftice that (he takes this Method, but to have all the 
 Incenfe me gives returned to her, to be flattered upon 
 her Charms, and to be told every Moment that me is 
 handfome. 
 
 What Contempt have we not for thofe who fpend 
 their whole Vifit in the Commendation of themfelves, 
 who perpetually talk of their Family, their Fortune 
 and their Intereft ; The Praifes a Man enebriates him- 
 felf with, have always an ill Effect, and if he had 
 fo much Command, as never to praife himfelf, he 
 would be much more Praife-worthy, the Applaufes 
 he gives himfelf fatigue all the World. Above all 
 Things, a Man ought to avoid fpeaking too advanta- 
 gioufly of his Quality, that's an antiquated Piece of 
 Breeding, Lyjis would be very agreeable in Conver- 
 fation, by his lively Wit, his diverting Behaviour, 
 the delicate Turn he gives to all he fays, but he's con- 
 tinually reducing the Difcourfe to his high Birth ; he 
 tells you without Ceremony, that he is Brave, and 
 gives you the Particulars of an A&ion which he vigo- 
 roufly fuftained; he crowns himfelf with his own 
 Hands, and is his own Panegyrift. 
 
 'Tis
 
 70 Reflections upon Ridicule." 
 
 'Tis a long Time that Men have had Remonftran- 
 ces made to them upon this Head, and have been told, 
 that the Praifes they give themfelves, difguft and turn 
 the Stomach of thofe that hear them, but they have 
 taken their Ply, and will never be fet right ; the fecret 
 Pleafure they take in talking of themfelves, prevails 
 above all theRemonft'ances you can make to them. 
 If you commend any Man of the Sword before Thra- 
 fylas, he immediately falls to the telling you of an Af- 
 fair wherein he was the principal Adtor ; he would 
 thereby infmuate, that he is braver than the Perfon you 
 boaft of. If you talk of the Beauty of a Woman before 
 Clelia (he tells you, without more a-do, that (he fhould 
 be forry not to be more handfome ; this Sincerity is a 
 Sign that me is fully perfuaded of what (he fays. How 
 ridiculous is it to praife one's felf too grofly, and to 
 propofe one's felf at every Turn for an Example ? 
 
 When once a Man's, accuftomed to what's ridiculous 
 he is leldom. if ever, broke off it, becaufe he does 
 not perceive it; they are Faults he carries about with 
 him, and never perceives that he has them 5 the older 
 he grows, the ftronger grows the Foppery To pre- 
 ferve himfelf from it, he muft watch his Condudt in 
 little Things as well as in great. 'Tis in Trifles a Man 
 mod (hews himfelf, becaufe he is apt to neglect them ; 
 he muft, efpecially be upon his Guard againft impoi- 
 foned Praifes, which are rather fly Satyr, than true 
 Encomium. We live in an ill-natured Age, in which 
 every one affedls to make a Jeft of his Neighbour, 
 and turn him into Ridicule. 'Tis often done under the 
 neateft Appearances imaginable, and in the moft flat- 
 tering and carefling Language. 
 
 Every Man that is an Author, unlefs he be modeft, 
 and have a great Empire over himfelf, grows vain- 
 glorious by his Eagernefs to (hew himfelf and to read 
 his Works; thefe Recitals are fatiguing and importu- 
 nate ; 'tis pure Vanity that makes a Writer very con- 
 temptible, and denotes an Heart corrupted with a 
 foolifh Glory. What Occafion is there to teize 
 People with Repetitions, which they hear only in 
 
 Complaifance,
 
 Concerning fooUJb Vanity. 7 1 
 
 Complaifance, and make Pretence of applauding, on- 
 ly to laugh at the Author and his Piece. 
 
 A Man conceited of his Merit, and charmed with 
 the Agreeablenefs of his Work, defires you modeil- 
 ly to cenfure it, and to tell him freely your Opinion, 
 without Favour or Affedion ; but at the very firft 
 Word you would have him ftrike out, he begins to 
 fire, and looks upon you with a fneering Smile, which 
 fufficiently implies, that he pities you and your Cri- 
 ticifm : If you perfift in telling him your Thoughts, 
 he accufes you of Ignorance and Injudicioufnefs, he 
 leaves you discontented with your Advice, and goes in 
 queft of fome more eafy Bubble to flatter his foolim 
 Vanity. 
 
 You would have the World talk of you, Pbilidor, 
 at any Rate, but all you do to make a Figure, ferves 
 but to render you Ridiculous ; Vain-glory is the Rock 
 that all your good Qualities fplit upon ; that grand E- 
 quipage that encumbers the Streets, and makes you 
 pafs for an Ambaflador, is the Thing which makes 
 you looked upon as a Fop ; it feems as if you had con- 
 fined your Merit, to the having a great Number of 
 Horfes and Slaves. 
 
 Seliniac borrows Money on all Hands, that he may 
 live high, and be drawn in a Coach and Six, but his 
 Creditors are ftern and terrible People, and don't un- 
 derftand Raillery ; they are continually at Seleniac's 
 Heels, who is forced to go on Foot, for Fear they 
 {hould feize his Coach. 
 
 He that could forbear talking and praifing him- 
 felf, would find that he feeks, that is, to be erteemed ; 
 I know that vain People take an exquifite Pleafure in 
 vaunting what they do, but they ought allo to have 
 Regard for the Pleafure of others, who fuffer by hear- 
 ing them : Leave the Publick the Liberty of its Suf- 
 frage, to whom it belongs to determine the Glory you 
 deferve. 
 
 'Tis eafy to obferve, from GeJanor's Difcourfe and 
 Carriage, that he is well fatisfied with himfelf; he 
 finds the Art always to reduce the Difcourfe to fome- 
 
 thing
 
 72 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 Thing that relates to him, he boafts his Retinue, his 
 Expences, his Quality; he talks of his Employs, and 
 the Favour of his Prince ; he tells you without Re- 
 ferve, that he has Senfe, and is Handfome; and he 
 fo fully believes it, that he'll perfuade others of it, 
 one Time or other. 
 
 You always talk of yourfelf, Pbilotimus, and of 
 your Wife and Children ; after you have exhauft- 
 ed the Chapter of your Birth, by a long Bead- Roll 
 of your Pedigree, and enumeration of your Ancef- 
 tors, who have done important Services to the State ; 
 you talk of the vaft Riches you poffefs, the great Rate 
 you live at, the Place you have a Mind to buy, and 
 an Eftate in the Country. Do you think that the Pub- 
 lick is much interefled in your Hiftory ? There are 
 Seafons wherein you chufe to fpeak ill of your felf ra- 
 ther than nothing ; this is with not Defign to be be- 
 lieved, but only to talk of your felf; the Pleafure you 
 take in it indemnifies your Self- Love, but you ought 
 to indemnify others for the Uneafmefs you give them. 
 
 The Prepofleflion of Men concerning thei- Repjta- 
 tion, is a great Weaknefs, and has a quite contrary 
 Effect to what they defire ; it expofes them to Contempt 
 and Ridicule. Thofe fplenetick Niceties they have 
 upon the Point of Honour don't render them more de- 
 ferving of it : What Engines don't they play to de- 
 prefs others, and raife themfelves upon their Ruin? 
 That fordid Jealoufy, and ill-natured Envy, is a Sign, 
 but of an indifferent Merit. 
 
 Ofthebadl'afte. 
 
 I S a Kind of Maxim which every Body takes 
 up without Examination, that Taftes are not 
 to be difputed ; mean while, there's nothing more cer- 
 tain, than that there is a good and bad Tafte, and it 
 would be a good Service to the World to make it 
 fenfible of this Difference. He that of all Men has 
 
 penetrated
 
 Concerning lad ajle. 73 
 
 penetrated fartheft into the Folds of an human Heart, 
 has faid, there is in the Works of Art a Point of Per- 
 fiedion, as of Goodnefs or Maturity in , the Produces 
 of Nature ; he that don't perceive it, or places his Ef- 
 teem below or above it, has a deficient Tafte, and 
 therefore 'tis not without Reafon that Taftes are con- 
 troverted and disputed ; but it would be a Sort of Mi- 
 racle to reftify thofe who have a corrupt Palate, be- 
 caufe of the natural Repugnance incident to all Men, 
 to own their want of Judgment ; for no Body will ho- 
 neftly confefs that he is miftaken, or that his Tafte is 
 naught. On this Principle it is that we find Men fo 
 obltinate to maintain the Propofitions they advance, 
 be they never fo extravagant ; this Obftinacy manifefts 
 the little Judgment of thofe who reafon fo extrava- 
 gantly. 
 
 Judgment is one of the rareft Things in the World, 
 and yet every one pretends to judge, without fear or 
 discovering their Blind -Side and perverfe Tafte ; thev 
 would fain, right or wrong, draw all Men to their 
 Opinion, ana run away with the fuffrages, however 
 whimuca'ly they judge of Things, either by Cenfure 
 or Approbation. How pitiable is that Haughtinefs 
 fome People fhew upon our Reading any Piece to 
 them ? Or as thev come from the Play-Houfe, they 
 applaud whatever is naught, and unmercifully con- 
 demn all that is excellent ; they maim fome Terms of 
 Art, which they prepofteroufly place ; all they do to 
 be looked upon as nice Judges, ferves only to make 
 them aft the Fool turned Critick. 
 
 There are very few to be met with, who underftand 
 true Merit, but take the Shadow for the Subilance, 
 and glaring Tinfel for good Gold ; they let their Eyes 
 be dazzled by a fuperficial Luitre, which pleafes only 
 the injudicious, infomuch, that a Man need not de- 
 fpair of having Applauders, though he have no true 
 Defert. A Man may even, fometimes, venture upon 
 Ambiguities, that may be interpreted well or ill ; the 
 Judicious cannot be deceived by them, but there are 
 abundance of Coxcombs. 
 
 VOL. I, E Why
 
 74 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 Why (hould a Man torture himfclf to pleafe an Herd 
 of Fools, whole Judgments are always wrong ? Is it 
 not better to have the Approbation of five or fix wor- 
 thy Men, who diftinguifh true Merit, than by falfe 
 Beauties allure the Voices of the Multitude ? What 
 does it llgnify if you are not approved by People of 
 bad Senle? Is it any wonder if Beafts are miftaken, 
 or reafon ill ? Reft fatisfied with doing well, without 
 being alarmed at the falfe Judgments of the Publick. 
 
 There are in the World a Sort of infipid Flatterers, 
 who make it their Bufmefs to praife every Body, with- 
 out Diftin&ion of true Merit, they make a thoufand 
 Exclamations for the leaft Trifle, and load you with 
 Praifes, without Reafon or DiftincKon. This Vice is- 
 in mighty Vogue, we dare not fpeak to People without 
 flattering them, and faying a thoufand Things we 
 don't believe ; 'tis a Kind of .Farce that is continually 
 afted, which foever Way we turn, we are murdered 
 by thefe trivial Panegyrifts ; there's nothing more ab- 
 furd and ridiculous than this Character, for, unlefs we 
 take care, we become as impertinent by praifing 
 others, as ourielves. 
 
 How many are there that by a ridiculous Vanity, 
 ftill defend thofe filly Things that are exploded by good 
 Senfe ? 'Tis as hard to recommend bad Things, which 
 are generally condemned, as 'tis to depreciate thole 
 Things that have an univerfal Approbation. Ill 
 Judges make it their Glory to refill the Torrent ; if 
 they i were afted the Reafon why they damned iome 
 Pieces, and would fincerely anfwer, they could give 
 no other, but becaufe all the World approves them. 
 You cenfure the beft Places in a Book, which all fen- 
 lible Men applaud, and you equally blame thofe that 
 do well and thofe that do ill ; you laugh at a Man of 
 Merit as a Fool ; thi: muft proceed from want of - 
 quity or Judgment, take your Choice. 
 
 As extravagant as a Man is in his Fancies, he pro- 
 poles them as Models, and would have Admirers. 
 Frcntin has builr an Poufe of an unufual Contrivance, 
 he is charmed with his Defign, and if you would be- 
 lieve
 
 Concerning bad afie. 75 
 
 licve him, all Houfes were to be pulled down to be 
 rebuilt upon this Plan. The Judgment is 'the Tri- 
 umph of Self- Love, they that have it Juft and Excel- 
 lent become famous by their Inventions, even though 
 they invent but Trifles. 
 
 That which makes Women talk fo much, is their 
 want of Underftanding ; this Maxim feems a Paradox, 
 ana yet 'tis very true ; as they are v ery fhalibw and 
 empty, whatever ftrikes their Senfes, takes up their 
 Capacities, and becomes the Subject of their Dif- 
 courfe ; whatever they fee or hear, their Pleafures 
 and Pains, their Doir.eftick Affairs, their Intrigues, 
 their Quarrels, are inexnauftible Topicks, and provi- 
 ded you only talk fiddle-faddle, they are never at a 
 lofs in Conversation. 
 
 We find Women of fo depraved a Tafte, that no- 
 thing will ferve them unlefs they be talked of, be it 
 good or ill, 'tis indifferent to them, provided they be 
 the Subjedl ot Difcourfe, there being nothing fo cala- 
 mitous in their Opinion, as to be forgotten ; they 
 take a good Courfe for that, and commit fo many Ex- 
 travagancies tiiat 'tis impoffible the Publick fhould not 
 mind them. 
 
 The Lady Or/ay is fo felicitous, left any Body 
 fhould be ignorant of her Adventures, that fhe is at all 
 the Pains to recount them herfelf, to all that will give 
 her the hearing ; fhe even makes Additions and Epi- 
 fodes of her own to embelhfh the Romance ; fhe tells 
 the Names of her Lovers, draws their Pictures, and 
 omits no Circumftance. Can it be doubted, after 
 this, whether fhe be beautiful and charming, when fhe 
 has a whole Legion of Gallants ? 
 
 Hejetofore the Men were lefs referved and cautious 
 
 than the Women ; the Mode is turned about, and the 
 
 latter arc now the more feolifli and extravagant, they 
 
 are more regardlefs of Mealures, and at leJs Pains to 
 
 fave Appearances, there are ibme Women of fo fan- 
 
 taltick a Character, that they could find no Kelifn in 
 
 any Thing they did,' if all the World was not informed 
 
 -.heir Adventures ; they make themfelves fufpected 
 
 E 2 of
 
 7 6 Refieftwns upon Ridicule. 
 
 of mare III .than they ar&-a&ually guhty qf in their 
 Practice.,; they delight in Noife andBuftte, and reiqlved 
 to, be taken Nqtice of though it, be. for their Vices. 
 
 "ould. it/be beiieved, Uniefe we fa,w it vvkh our Eyes, 
 that Women eminent for their Quality and their Birth, 
 plumed themfeWes . upoo their Gallantries, and efta- 
 fclifhed their Merh upon the Number and Reputation 
 of their Lovers ? So far. arc they from making a Se- 
 cret of thefe Kind of Affairs, that they talk of them 
 with the fame Freedom as if they were Things indifFer 
 rent ; we fee them in the Mall and in the Park, walk- 
 in g> gigging with their Sparks ; they refort together 
 to the Plays and Gaming-Houfes, and are never apart. 
 Would not fuch a publick ad avowed Fondnefs make 
 any Woman blufh, that had the leaft Senfe o Honour, 
 or any Remains of Reafon ? "Tis an aftonifhing 
 Thing, they have the Face thus to appear in Publick ; 
 the Corruption of the Age, and the fpecious Names 
 I hat are given this Sort of Commerce, don't mitigate 
 the Infamy j if they were called by the. Name they 
 deferve, they would be an Horrour to themfelves. 
 
 Whatever Merit a worthy Man may have, it can't 
 defend him againft the filly Railleries of Buffoons ; 
 Fools applaud them for it, but none but Fools. . Men 
 of Worth, who judge not by Prepoffeffion, do him 
 Juftice, and pity thofe that pretend to turn him into 
 Ridicule. 
 
 It is ufual enough for a Fool that is in Favour, or is 
 Rich, to defpife -a Man of Merit without Fortune ; 
 but all the Fooleries that efcape him, when he goes to 
 jeft, make the fenfible Man amends before the Com- 
 pany, who prefer perfonal Merit before the Wealth 
 of a Banker, if they judge rationally of Things, 'Tis 
 not fo much the Riches of foroe People that make 
 them hated, as the foolifh Vanity that poflefles them, 
 and the haughty Way wherewith they treat others not 
 Jo wealthy as themfelves. I can't conceive, fays Cla- 
 rinetta, very often, how any one can live without at 
 leaft three thoufand Pounds a Year. It is not ten 
 Years ago thac Clarinetta had not wherewithal to buy 
 
 her
 
 Concerning bad Ta/le. 77 
 
 her a Petticoat, and (he went abroad to dine with- her 
 Neighbours to fave Charges. 
 
 A Man of Referve, that talks but little, gives no 
 Handle to the Drolls, who know not where to attack 
 him, but it's eafy to expofe the Folly of thofe Blun- 
 derbufles, that talk loud and long, that decide imperti- 
 nently, that condemn the good Things in a Book and 
 approve the ba"d, without Difcretion and without 
 Rule. 
 
 Don't venture to fpeak your Opinion, unlefs you be 
 fure of your Matter ; thereby you give an infallible 
 Proof, whether your Senfe be juft or otherwife ; that 
 Rafhnefs, which moft People manifeft to fpeak their 
 Thoughts too freely upon all Sorts of Subjects, is a 
 certain Criterion of little Judgment ; thefe odd Deci- 
 fions expofe their bad Tafte, and often are the Confe- 
 quences of a foolifh Pride. 
 
 Profeffed Banterers chufe rather to difoblige their 
 beft Friends, than to lofe the Opportunity of fpeaking 
 their Jeft ; they don't reflect that in making others 
 laugh they make themfelves ridiculous. What Parts, 
 what Addrefs, what Genius, what Acquaintance with 
 Manners, mull not a Man have that will let up for an 
 Humourift ? . 'Tis not a fmall Thing to pleafe Men 
 of Judgment, in making them laugh, we make our- 
 felvesdefpifed : He that fhinks to be agreeable, and 
 to divert the Company by his Wit, cheapens himfelf 
 by his flat and foolifh Drollery. 
 
 Abundance of People think todiftinguifh themfelves 
 by humourfome Singularities, which raife moft dif- 
 advantageous Notions of them ; you are not at the 
 Bottom fo much a Libertine as you appear ; if you 
 would regard Externals and fave Appearances, you'd 
 pafs for an honeft Man. What Pleafure do you find to 
 vilify yourfelf for a Frolick ? Is the Reputation of an 
 honeft, wife and fober Man fo trifling a Thing, that 
 you'll rifque it for a Jeft, and a little dull Raillery up- 
 on Subjects which ought not to be touched but with 
 great Referve ? We judge of Men by their outward 
 E 3 Appearance,
 
 7 8 Reflttlions upon Ridicule. 
 
 Appearance, and we have Reafon to believe their Sen- 
 timents are fuch as they affect to have them thought. 
 
 A Wit, who thinks himfelf fo, and would be 
 thought fo of others, is the Plague of Society. Who 
 can hold in againft the Applaufes he gives himfelf, 
 againfl the Contempt he has for all that others praife, 
 and that deferve moft to be praifed ? He always puts 
 his beft Side outermoft, all his Words, and Geftures, 
 and Twinklings of his Eyes, fignify that he is a Wit, 
 that he is perfuaded of it, and would have others per- 
 iuaded of it too : Your Defign, Deri/as, was to fet 
 up for a Wit, you have fucceeded in it, but this 
 Title has undone the little Merit you had before. 
 The Character of a Wit includes in it I know not 
 what Haughtinefs, Preemption, Folly, and a vaft 
 Magazine of Contempt for poor Mankind, \\hich is 
 refpecled with an Eye of Pity and Self-Complacency 
 in abundance. 
 
 . 'Tis a wretched Thing not to have fufficient Wit to 
 perceive when one talks like a Fool ; but they that 
 obftinately maintain all their Extravagancies are {till 
 more to be pitied, becaufe they are incorrigible. 
 
 What a Fatigue is it for a Man of Senfe to hear 
 thofe Babblers, that talk a long Time together and 
 fay nothing; Women of Parts talk: much* and in 
 handfome Terms, if they could avoid Impertinences 
 their Con verfation t would be very charming ; in telling 
 a Story they omit not .the lead Circumftance ; if they 
 talk of an Affair, they fift it to the minuteft Particu- 
 lars, and when they have faid all, they add fome 
 Epifodes, which give them a fine Career.. 
 
 There's a medium to be obferved betwixt that Itch 
 of imparting Secrets, and a fcrupulous Referve that 
 dares not talk of the leaft Trifles. Damon fome- 
 times makes a Myftery of Things which every Body 
 knows; he defires you to keep the News fecret which 
 he tells you, which you may read as well as he in the 
 Gazette. 
 
 It was the Saying of a Philofopher, Speak that I 
 may knoivjov ; if this be a certain Maxim, moft Ladies 
 
 make
 
 Concerning bad *Jujle t 79 
 
 make k too apparent what their Notions are concern- 
 ing Gallantry ; they are not referved enough upon that 
 Head, they talk too freely of Intrigues, Amours, 
 Adventures, gallanting Stories, kind Miftreffes ; thefe 
 Difcourfes dilgrace them more than they imagine ; 'tis 
 a Sign they are a little too gentle, when they don'c 
 ftart at thefe Sort of Affairs ; there's no Occafion to ap- 
 pear fo knowing upon thefe Subje&s, a laudable Igno- 
 rance would do them much more Honour. 
 
 'Tis a Sign of Wit to be able to proportion one's 
 felf to all Sorts of Characters, to rife or fall, accord- 
 ing as Occafion offers; nothing ought to be above or 
 below the Notice of a Man of great Senfe ; he is ca- 
 pable of the mod exalted Things, and he mult defcend 
 to the leaft Particulars. We know fome People who 
 are moft admirable Authors, and yet feem weak in the 
 Affairs of Intereft j every Body cheats them, and their 
 Servants rob them, becaufe they will not floop to little 
 Things, which they ought to be exaftly acquainted 
 with. 
 
 Agatbo in the Vifits he makes the Sex. talks to them 
 a thoufand learned Things, even to the citing PafTages 
 of Greek ; we ought to proportion what we lay to the 
 Genius and Abilities of thofe we fpeak to, fmce we 
 fpeak only to be underftood. 'Tis eafy enough to im- 
 pofe upon the credulous or the ignorant, and to flua 
 them with bombaft Words. 
 
 Since Turpin has had the Fancy to aft the Learned, 
 he's grown intolerable, he undertakes to determine of 
 every thing, and his Determinations are always wrong; 
 he gapes in the Theatre, and makes wry Faces at the 
 Players ; the moft excellent Pieces of Profe and Verfe, 
 to him feem but indifferent: But he declares himfelf 
 the Patron of thofe that every Body hifics; and you 
 engage in a perfonal Quarrel with him, if you pretead 
 to maintain that they are naught ; his Decifions are an 
 Air of Haughtinefs and Prefumption that there's no 
 withftanding : Turpin would be a much worthier Man, 
 if he did not think himfelf Learned. 
 
 E 4 Little
 
 &o Reflfftions upon Ridicule. 
 
 Little Souls, as Women, the Vulgar Maids that 
 live retired, Country People, are not affected with 
 Things they eafily comprehend ; they are rriore touched 
 with what they don't underftand, as believing there's 
 fomething of Myftery in that which is above their 
 Comprehenfion ; they that preach to the Nunneries, 
 leldcm charm them by rational and intelligible Dif- 
 courfes, and full of Senfe, nothing will do with them, 
 but the fublime, falie Rhetorick and Hyperbole. 
 
 There are few whofe Judgment is good enough to 
 defend them againft the Charms of Novelty ; hence 
 proceed thofe ill-grounded Applaufes, for Works 
 which have no other Merit than that of being new ; the 
 Faults of them agreeably furprize us, and that Sur- 
 prize lefiens our Attention ; the beft Things in Nature 
 weary and fatigue us by a too long Cuftom j that 
 which ftruck us moft, leaves an Habit in us, which 
 renders it flat and dull ; the livelier a Paffion has been, 
 the greater Difguft it leaves, when once it is cured. 
 However, an exquifite Judgment will never be dif- 
 gufted with that which ought to pleafe, nor ever ap- 
 plaud what deferves not to be applauded. 
 
 I have known People complain, that fome Perfons 
 had too airy an Humour ; they that are always laugh- 
 ing, don't always make others merry ; too much 
 Gaiety tires at laft, and grows infipid ; there are fome 
 that can't fpeak the leaft Thing without cackling, and 
 likewife highly applaud whatever's faid to them, Tis 
 frequently a fign of Stupidity and want of Senfe, to 
 admire what is not admirable; great Wits are never 
 '^reat Admirers. 
 
 Weak and irrefolute Minds are always affefting to 
 do what they fee done by others ; incapable of any 
 Refclution of their own, they are governed by the 
 Examples that are before them, and without executing 
 any Thing of their Projects, they are always agitated 
 with infinite Reflections, which deltroy one another. 
 
 'Tis a Miftake to believe there is Greatnefs of Soul, 
 and Courage in hating all the People that have done us 
 ill Offices; that Paflion is a fign of Weaknefs; they 
 
 that
 
 Concerning bad 'Tafte. 81 
 
 that have not Generofity to pardon, nor Courage 
 to revenge themfelves on thofe they hate, never 
 forgive at all. 
 
 It requires Merit and excellent Qualities, not to run 
 into fantaftick Fopperies, when a Man is arrived to a 
 great Fortune ; the Head turns and grows vertiginous 
 upon fo great an Exaltation, but good Fortune is a 
 Veil that hides the Folly ; the Extravagancies of 9 
 Man in Favour are not looked upon as fuch ; that 
 which appears monftrous in a man difgraced, is tole- 
 rated and fometimes applauded in a Man in Place. 
 Roftmons Lips-tierer open but to utter childifh Fol- 
 lies, he infolently boafts his Favour, his Credit and 
 his Station ; every body applauds him, and bends 
 their Knee before this Idol; many are even perfuaded 
 that Rofimon has great Defert, becaufe he has a great 
 Eftate, and is capable of doing a great deal of 
 Good or Mifchief. 
 
 How many People recommend themfelves by their 
 Garb and Equipage ? Have they any other Merit than 
 that of being followed by a numerous Train, and drag- 
 ing every where after their Heels a magnificent Re- 
 tinue ? The World is filly enough to value them the 
 more for this ; an embroidered Coat gives Admittance 
 into Places to a Man that would be thruftout, if he was 
 worfe cloathed. Merit is not engraven upon the 
 Forehead ; a Fool with a glittering Out-fide, tramples 
 upon a Wit, who has no other Portion than that of 
 his own Parts ; a Man muft be a Sot to value himfelf 
 for the richnefs of the Habit he wears, but he mufc 
 have a bad Tafte, that fuffers himfelf to be dazled by 
 an imaginary Merit, which a Man diverts himielf of 
 when he undreffes. Damon complains that he was ill 
 received at the Marchionefs of Araminta's, who 
 (hewed great Regards to Tbrajimot, who is only a 
 fumptuou? Fool, whofe Equipage is an Honour to the 
 Gates he flops at. Demon is to blame, not to be 
 Rich, and to go on Foot. 
 
 That which fhews, more thar. any Thing, ihe bad 
 
 Tafie of our Age, and the Deprivation ot cur Mo- 
 
 F. 5 rals,
 
 82 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 rals, is the Deference we have for Varlets, who have 
 emerged from the Obfcurity of their Condition by 
 their Wits ; the City and Court honours them, the 
 Wretches who wore a Livery are Company for the 
 greateft Lords, they are Partners in their Pleafures and 
 Companions at Play; they entertain Dukes and Peers, 
 who think it no Difgrace to level themfelves with a 
 Man that wore their Livery ; this Confufion makes 
 us looked upon with Aftonifhment, by Nations far 
 remote from our Climate, which we call Barbarous. 
 
 Of Impojlure. 
 
 IS it poflible there fliould be no Sincerity in the 
 World, and that we dare not confide in any body ? 
 Thofe very Perfons that flatter you to your Face, carefs 
 and kifs you ; as foon as they have left you, or your 
 Back is turned, let fly a thoufand Calumnies upon 
 your Conduct ; this is an infamous Procedure, we 
 are to miftruft artificial Words with a double Mean- 
 ing, as the moft pernicious thing in Nature ; fuch fly 
 and elaborate Ways of acling intimate a great Prone- 
 nefs to Deceit, and a great Genius for Impofture. 
 
 Moft Men are only ingenious Cheats, they ftudy to 
 deceive all the World by fair Appearances and flatter- 
 ing Words, which are fo many Flowers they ftrew to 
 cover the Snare they have laid for you. 
 
 We ought never to promife any thing above our 
 Pov.er, nor engage in ChimericalUndertakings, which 
 is the common Fault of vain People, who would im- 
 pofe upon thofe that don't know them : Who would 
 not think, that hear4 them, that they governed the 
 whole Kingdom F They ftun and deafen you with the 
 continual Noiie of their Favour and Intereft; you 
 would imagi/ie the Prince had great Consideration for 
 them, and that he durft refufe them nothing: Some 
 'are eaty tp believe them, but the more Intelligent re- 
 gard them as Vifionaries, or as Cheats. 
 
 We
 
 Concerning Impofture. 83 
 
 We commonly deviate from the Rules of good Con- 
 duct, when we would be over-cunning ; Artifice* 
 Craft and Difllmulation, ufurp the Place of Capacity 
 and good Senfe, and the more confiderable Faults we 
 commit, the more we depart from the common Road ; 
 that is, we become the Fools of our own Farce. 
 
 A Diflembler makes the fir ft Advances, and by that 
 Artifice impofes on others who can't f jfpecl a Man 
 that fmiles in their Face and talks to them, can have 
 any fecret Poifon in his Heart ; he fpeaks in fubmiffive 
 and refpeclful Terms, to pacify thofe that juftly com- 
 plain of the Injuries they have received from him; 
 but his Defign is to give them an Opiate that he may 
 the more effectually deceive them. 
 
 Noble Souls are eaflly caught in this Snare, being 
 above Tricking themfelves, they can't imagine others 
 fhould haverecourfe to Artifice to feduce them, where- 
 by they cafily become the Property of abundance of 
 People, who employ all their Subtilty to deceive iuch 
 as don't fufpect them. 
 
 Sincerity is the Soul of Commerce and civil Society, 
 and yet 'tis a very uncommon Virtue in fo refining an 
 Age as this we live in ; 'tis an Art and a Trade to dif- 
 guife the Sentiments ; that pretended Opennefs of 
 Heart, is only a Lure to attract the Confidences of 
 Men ; we find none fmcere, but thofe that have not 
 Wit enough to play the Impoflor. 
 
 To what Purpole is it to make infignificant Promifes, 
 without Defign or Ability to perform them r You ac- 
 coft J^fander with an humble and fubmifiive Air, you 
 open your Bufinefs to him, and conjure hirn to aflift 
 you ; he readily engages, and with the AfTurance he 
 fpeaks to you, you believe he will afiift you to the ut- 
 moft ; but as foon as he leaves you, he forgets your 
 Name, and the Nature of the Bufmefs you have foli- 
 cited with him, and will never think on't more. Ne- 
 verthelefs he is always furrOunded and refpected by a 
 Crowd of Clients, whom he has long abufed with 
 the,,Offers of his Credit and his Friendlhip. "Tis as 
 
 hard
 
 84 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 hard for a Man to work off an Impofture, as 'tis to be 
 convinced of the Infidelity of a Miftrefs. 
 
 1 he N~cefiities we are under, and the Hopes we 
 have to be affifted by thofe who promife us their Suc- 
 cour, jointly confpire to devote us to them ; though 
 they have deceived us a thouiand times, we continue 
 to pa)- our Court to them. People in Place fhould be 
 more referved in promifing thek favour, and making 
 their Dependants languifh with the Diet of Chimerical 
 Hopes and delufive P; omifes ; all they gain by this 
 Con:!u<5t. is to make themfelves defpifed, and to be 
 regarded as Affronters. 
 
 I can't comprehend the Hardinefs of fome People 
 to be the Author of Lies ; that Vice is fo fordid and 
 difhonourable., that there needs nothing more to ruin 
 a Reputation, whatever Merit a Man may have be- 
 fides. "Pis in vain to lay in Precautions to maintain 
 a Lye ; Truth difcovers it felf, looner or later, whe- 
 ther he will or not ; the beft contrived Impoftures fall 
 to Pieces in fome Part or other that was not forefeen. 
 Fa/via is the prettieft Perfon imaginable, and has the 
 moft diverting way with her, but me isfo addicted to 
 lying, that fhe can't fpeak the lead thing without fome 
 additional Falfhood, and therefore no Credit is given 
 to any thing fhe fays j the moft certain Truths be- 
 come Fables when fhe (peaks them. 
 
 You would think, if you heard Celamon difcourfe 
 amongft thpfe that don't know him, that he has tra- 
 ,veled all over Europe ; he relates with a furprizing 
 Impudence, what he has feen at Rome, Venice, Vien- 
 na, Paris, Madrid-, they that know that he was never 
 out of the Country, can't fufnciently admire his Face 
 of Brafs : He has collected out of Motet-fa Dictiona- 
 ry, the moft confiderable Paffages relating to each 
 City, and has got the principal Circumftances by 
 Heart, which he vents by prodigious Impudence 
 before Fools, who gape and hold their Breaths to hear 
 him, fo incnanted are they with his Story ; but if any 
 Man of Learning happens to drop in, who by unex- 
 pected Queftions throws the Hiflorian out of his Mo-
 
 Concerning Impofture. 85 
 
 re n, there's an end of his Babble, and he difcovers his 
 Ignorance and Impoftures. 
 
 We find in all Converfation, People of a frivolous, 
 lazy and fupine Character, without Application or 
 Attention, who are not fo much as fure of their own 
 Notions, but give their aye or no at once upon the fame 
 Queftion ; be fure not to depend upon any thing they 
 fay, they'll promife the very fame Thing to your 
 Enemy in the fame Affair, but will keep their 
 Word neither with the one nor the other ; they 
 will not fo much as think they have promifed 
 any thing the next Moment, or that any one 
 lias fpoke to them, 
 
 Moft People take lefs Pains to cure their Paffions 
 than to difguife them ; a Knave that knows himfelf, 
 and would pafs for anhoneft Man, conceals himfelf un- 
 der the Veil of Hypocrify but to little Purpofe, for 
 his Vices, in fpight of him, break through the Daik- 
 nefs that furrounds them ; yet he thinks he bubbles 
 the World, which Prejudices, comforts and encoura- 
 ges him ; it would put him befide himfelf to know 
 that all his Artifices were feen through, and all his 
 Subtleties to difguife himfelf difcovered ; but no body 
 lets him know it, he flatters himfelf that his Defigns 
 are unobferved, and this Security emboldens him to 
 proceed in the fame Practices. 
 
 Who can doubt but that religious Hypocrites are 
 fully perfuaded of the Ridicule they Incur by acting 
 the Part they do, fmce they ufe fo many Artifices to 
 difguife themfelves, and impofe upon the World ? 
 Their Life is one perpetual Comedy, and they feem 
 always upon the Stage ; they hardly ever pull off the 
 Mafk ; their Vices don't at all difcourage them, pro- 
 vided they are covered with a fpecious Appearance. 
 You deceive yourfelf, Alidor t if you ftill think to 
 abufe the Public ; believe it you are known, your 
 Grimaces have for fome time mifled fome credulous 
 Creatures, but they are undeceiv'd ; yourBufmefs was to 
 obtain the Preferment you were placed in ; now you 
 have it you need not councerfeit any longer j we excufe 
 
 from
 
 86 Rffkaions upon Ridicule. 
 
 from that Ceremony, which ftill coils you Pains : At 
 prefent aft another Part ; now you have made your 
 Fortune 'tis time to grow devout in earneft. 
 
 All Men boafb of their Sincerity, becaufe every 
 body is confcious that Sincerity it the Sign of a noble 
 Soul. Without this Virtue Society is only a School of 
 Impofture ; Tom-doubles are to be avoided as Ene- 
 mies that would betray you. How many are there 
 that abufe their Ingenuity and Afcendant over others, 
 to feduce them into all the Nets they fpreadfor them, 
 to decoy them with more Certainty and Addrefs i 
 They put on the Maflc of Sincerity, they affect an ea- 
 fy, natural and undefigning Air. That concerted Sin- 
 cerity is a fubtle and delicate Deception, which leads 
 People where they would have them, and betrays 
 them without perceiving it. 
 
 He that is jealous of his Reputation, inviolably 
 keeps his Word, be the Subject never fo light and 
 trifling; n*y there's more need to be exact and cir- 
 cumfpect in little things and of no Confequence, be- 
 caufe it's eafier to neglect them. 'Tis a moil fcandalous 
 Vice to amufe People with fair Promifes, when a Man 
 has neither Ability nor Inclination to accouip !ilh them. 
 
 There's no difficulty how we are to deal with a 
 Man who declares again It us, or hates us openly ; 
 but we eafily become the Property of a fictitious and 
 diflembling Friend, who acts by Treachery and Dif- 
 guife. People of this Character are very dangerous' 
 incivil Lif:, it would be the honefter way to let others 
 know that we are none of their Friends ; and that 
 they ought not to depend upon us, or expect any Fa- 
 vours, than to amufe them by the Shew of an hypo- 
 critical Friend {hip; for at lead they would know 
 what they are to truft to. 
 
 There's nothing commoner in the Commerce of the 
 World, than to meet with fuch as pretend to approve 
 your Conduct, but unmercifully condemn it amongft 
 your Cenfurers. They even expofe thofe Faults which 
 no body elfe is fo well acquainted with, by reafon of 
 the Intimacy you have had with them. Tis an abo- 
 minable
 
 Concerning Itnpoflure. 87 
 
 minable Treachery, a Pra&ice unbecoming a Man 
 of Honour and a Woman of Virtue. 
 
 What Nonfenfe 'tis to make fair Pretences to thofe 
 we neither love nor efteem. 'Tia a mean fpirited 
 thing to curry Favour when we fee them, and to fly 
 out again it them as foon as their Back is turned. You 
 fee a Woman infinitely carefled who comes into any 
 public Meeting, me is celebrated for her Beauty, her 
 Carriage, her Charms, her Drefs, and the good 
 Air (he puts on, not one thing is forgotten ; as 
 foon as {he is gone, me is treated as a ridiculous Crea- 
 ture, that has neither Senfe nor Agreements ; but 
 does every Thing in an aukward Way. Either forbear 
 your exceflive Praifes to her Face, or fpare her when 
 ftie has left the Company. 
 
 An Author that comes and reads his Manufcript ; 
 they that confuit you about any Bufmefs, or enquire of 
 you what the World fays of their Condud, don't al- 
 ways do this with a Defign to be corrected, but to 
 be flattered and applauded. It requires a vail Sincerity, 
 when we know their Intentions to talk freely to them 
 upon fo nice a Subjeft, and let them fee the Folly of 
 their Conceitednefs : In the mean time 'tis a cruel 
 Complaifance to fofter them in their foolifh Vanity, 
 by the falfe Praifes you amufe them with. However, 
 'tis the Praftice of the World, and there's little Hope 
 left of aboliftiing fuch an eftablilhed Cuftom j we 
 fhould become the Scarecrow of all Companies, (hould 
 we mew all People theGlafs, who defire us to admo- 
 nifh them of their Faults. 
 
 'Tis an infamous Proceeding to exafperate thofe who 
 are already provok'd againft one another by iUReports, 
 they are deceived, who think hereby to procure their 
 Intimacy and Friendfhip ; inftead of which, they 
 make themfclves defpifed. There's fomething extream- 
 ly cowardly and mean in theBreaft of a Man, that to 
 make himfelf Friends can refolve to ruin others by 
 mifreprefented Difcourfes. Indeed this is often done 
 without any ill Intention, or defire of doing Mifchief, 
 for want of due Confideration, what ought to be faid 
 
 or
 
 88 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 or omitted before fome People : But that Jnapplicati- 
 on and Negligence is very blameable. A Word acci- 
 dentally dropt, has often very ill Confequences, and 
 we fee People ready to facrifice one another for 
 an indifcreet Expreffion. 
 
 Men are moft commonly unjuft upon the Chapter of 
 Women, very many of them are virtuous, and regu- 
 lar, and unreproachable ; but becaufe fome of them 
 have played them a Trick, they are miftruftful of all 
 the reft. This is an unreafonable Conclufion, if fome 
 of them are Wantons, their Wantonneis ought not to 
 injure the Reputation of Modeft Women ; we ought 
 to be very referved in pafling Sentence upon this Sub- 
 ject, and thofe malicious Satyrs are in no ways to be 
 approved, which accufe all Women in general. It 
 would be an equal Weaknefs to praife them all without 
 Diihndion, we fometimes fee fuch of -hem as are grand 
 Comedians, in Point of Prudence they have a great 
 Reputation for Sobriety, but don't deferve it ; others 
 go for Coquets, but are not fo : Appearances which 
 they don't lufficiently take care of, are all that's cri- 
 minal in their Conduct. 
 
 The Reafon why we fee fo few eminent for their 
 good Qualities, is that they are more indull/ious to dil- 
 guile their Vices than to reform them : They don't 
 take the Pains to be honeil Men but only to appear fo. 
 Artifices and Difguiies ferve inftead of real Virtues, 
 and they that are ni oft. dextrous at deceiving, pals for 
 Men of greateft Merit, tho' .at Uottoro they have no 
 Principles of Probity. 
 
 The Reputation that is not founded upon a true Vir- 
 tue, is but of a Ihort Duration : A Man may blind 
 the World by an artful Conduct; and well managed 
 Affectations ; but that Efteem quickly vanifhes, the 
 Artifice betrays it felf, and unforeseen Accidents 
 take oft the Vizard. A falfe Valour neer (lands its 
 Ground, when the Danger is real ; a counterfeit Vir- 
 tue will not carry a. Man far, becaufe 'tis very difficult 
 always to act to Part, and he's at laft weary of employ- 
 ing Artifices neceflary to impofe upon the Word ; he 
 
 neglects
 
 , Concerning Impofture. 89 
 
 negle&s outward Appearances when he thinks his Af- 
 fairs are i'afe, and takes Liberties he denied himfelf 
 before. Habit frequently prevails over all Precautions ; 
 a Surprize that throws him off his Guard, the Curiofi- 
 ty of a Servant, an unexpected Vilit, an Aftion that 
 had not been concerted, and Time which draws Truth 
 from the bottom of the Well all on a fudden, and, when 
 he leafl thinks on't, expofes to open Day theDefigns 
 he thought wrapt up in impenetrable Night and Ob- 
 fcurity. 
 
 Thus it is that fome People, after they have long iin- 
 pofed on the Publick, by the fpecious Appearances of 
 an affeded Honefty, fall at laft into Difgrace; their 
 Confidents betray them, thofe whom they had engaged 
 in their Inrerefts, and nlenced by great Promifes, which 
 they never performed, reveal this Myftery of Ini- 
 quity, and expole the Shame of thefe Impoftors to the 
 Eyes of all the World. 
 
 The Appearance and Shadow of Virtue, have fome- 
 times the fame Effect, as to Reputation, as the ub- 
 ftance itfelf. How many Women pafs for Veftals, be- 
 caufe they wear the Livery of Modefty, and perfectly 
 act their Parts ? The worft of it is, that in the Cha- 
 racters they reprefent whilft they cheat the Publick, 
 they can't deceive themfelves ; whilft they receive high 
 Encomiums of their falfe Virtue their Confcience gives 
 them frnarting Reproaches, and makes them fenfible 
 of their ridiculous Hypocrify. 'Tis good Comedy for 
 thofe that know them, to hear them extolling Modefty 
 with fuch an Emphafis, and boldly lifting themfelves 
 amongft the virtuous, tho' they are nothing lefs than 
 what they affect to appear : 'Tis true, fome are over- 
 reached by them, becaufe they will not be at the Pains 
 to unveil their Myfteries, but rather believe them up- 
 on their Word. 
 
 The brave Maxims of Virtue which flow from the 
 grave Women, are only an Artifice to amufe themfelves 
 upon the lofs of the Pleafures they regret, and to de- 
 cry the Conduct of thofe who are ftill in a Capacity to 
 enjoy them ; vexed to be no longer the Objects of the 
 
 Addrefles
 
 90 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 AddrefTes and Applications of Admirers, they endea* 
 vour to find a Compenfation for their antiquated Beau- 
 ty, in their forced Modefty, and Jnveftivcs againft all 
 the pretty Women : 7 hey feek for Confolations, to 
 iupport them in their new way of Life, which they 
 are forced politickly to efpoufe, but which they never 
 dreamt on, whilft they had the Crowd about them, 
 and all the Beaus at their Feet : But now, that the Fire 
 of theirEyes is exdnguifhed, and theirGlafs tells them 
 it is time to think of a Retreat ; to compenfate for tfle 
 lofs of prohibited Pleafures, they fall foul upon thofe 
 who conunue in the Scenes, and begin to aft the Part 
 they themfelves played, before thefe their Succeflbrs 
 drove them off the Stage. 
 
 Mod of the Actions we commend are rather the Ef- 
 fefts of Humour and Conftitution than true Virtue* 
 for which Reafon Men aft otherwife in Publick than 
 when they have no Witneffes. Virtue, when 'tis not 
 ambiguous, is always confident with itfelf ; the Plea- 
 fure of doing well i the virtuous Man's Reward, \vhe 
 ther he be approved or cenfured, he ftill goes on in 
 the fame Track. 
 
 I would fain find the Man, who is the fame, and 
 afts by the fame Principles when alone and unobferv- 
 ed, as when he is expoied to the Sight of the Publick ; 
 but moft People are virtuous no farther than they are 
 fearful of Ditgrace. Fear is their only Fetter, which 
 they eafily make off when they find Opportunity to 
 fatisfy themfelves by wounding nothing but their Con- 
 fcience. 
 
 The Life of certain Men is a Kind of Monfter or 
 Chimera, being a motley Mixture of oppofite Quali- 
 ties; their Exterior denoting Modefty, Sobriety, and 
 Ways different from the Converfation of the World, 
 but their Morals are little fuited to Appearances. 
 Thefe very Men, who by their Charafter and Condi - 
 tion are feparate from the World, are more worldly than 
 others, more vain and beauifh, more curious of every 
 thing that can give them any attractive. We could 
 pardon them a thoufand other Things did we not fee 
 
 them
 
 Concerning Impojiure. 91 
 
 them in ad iihonourable Commerce, which they take 
 not fufficient Care to conceal. 
 
 Ought not the Government to regulate the Retinue, 
 and Equipage, and Fxpences of fome Abbots, who 
 appear more immodeft and heftoring than Pages ; 
 their Carriage is Haughtier and more Martial than 
 that of a Colonel of Dragoons ; you fee them drawn 
 in Coaches as pompous and magnificent as an Am.baf- 
 fador's making his publick Entry ; all the Time they 
 mould employ in Study, is 1'pent at plays and Balls, 
 Affignations and Taverns ; they lofe at Play vaft Sums, 
 which are the very Blood of the Poor ; at Church they 
 fcandalize all the World, having neither Refpeft for 
 the facred Place, nor Attention to the Holy Myfteries ; 
 their Life is a perpetual Jmpofture, they are a new 
 kind of Colonels in black fhortCJoaks and littleBands. 
 
 We conftanily hear this Maxim in People's Mouths, 
 that provided a Man has a clear Confcience, he ought 
 not to be concerned at Reports and Slanders ; this is 
 ill Reafoning, Reputation being a juft Tribute we 
 draw from our Virtue : That Indifference for the Ef- 
 teem and Approbation of Men, is commonly a fecret 
 Reproach of Confcience, which does itfelf Juftice, 
 but finds itfelf unworthy of it ; they that are not con- 
 cerned at Scandal, live in fuch a Manner as hardly to 
 be able to avoid it, and they encourage themfelves a- 
 gainfl Cenfure by this feigned Indifference. 
 
 Frontina leads a Life wholly unbecoming a young 
 Lady of Quality, fhe herds with none but Women of 
 a proftitute Character, who take no Care to fave Ap- 
 pearances; fhe can't but know the Reports that are 
 fpread to her Difcredit, and confeffes that her Repu- 
 tation is much mattered. To comfort herfelf, fhe 
 is continually faying, that fhe leaves Fools the Liber- 
 ty of Talking, and, that perhaps they'll let her 
 reft, when they have vented their Spight, and Slander 
 has fpit up all its Venom. This Maxim is not found, 
 'tis not poffible to prevent Obloquy, but it is poffible to 
 prevent the Occafions of it ; and 'tis no fmall Comfort 
 
 to
 
 9(3 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 <0 have nothing to reproadh ourfclv.es with when we 
 are unjuftly cenfured. 
 
 How many are there, that with no great Stock of 
 Merit, make themfe'ves courted, upon the Hopes of 
 their Services and Afiiftance ? They intrigue at Court, 
 at the great Mens and the Minifters ; though they have 
 but little Credit there, yet they are borne with ; and 
 they meet with credulous People, whom they perfuade 
 that they have Intereft in them all ; few there are at 
 the Pains to tract them, chufing rather to take their 
 Word for it, till they are deceived and convinced by 
 Experience, that no great Strefs is to be laid upon their 
 Promifes. If you would purchafe a confiderable Place 
 at Court, if you have any Law-Suit of Confequence 
 depending, they promife you that Poft and the Succefs 
 of your Suit, as if they commanded the Minifters and 
 the judges. The Prince difpofes of the Preferment to 
 another, you are worfted in your Suit, and you know 
 at laft that they are Vifionaries and Quacks that have 
 neither Intereft nor Abilities. 
 
 Is it to conceal the Shame of their Birth, that fome 
 People affume Airs of Greatnefs fo unbecoming them > 
 They for fome time deceive thofe that are Strangers to 
 them, but when they are difcovered, and the Obfcu- 
 rity of their Parentage under flood, this fo mifplaced 
 Haughtinefs is never pardoned them. 
 
 There is not a greater Teftimony of the Corruption 
 of Manners and Perverfenefs of Judgments, than that 
 Preference which is given to Quality, to the Prejudice 
 of Merit and Virtue. Tis an eftablifhed Cuftom, that 
 no Body arrives to certain Degrees of Greatnefs, with- 
 out being of an Extraction that prepares the way to it. 
 The Romans, who judged fo excellently of Things, 
 reaioned very differently from us in this. A Man 
 wanted nothing but Virtue to raife him to the moft e- 
 minent Employs of the Republick, and perhaps it 
 was this Emulation that made Rome fo flourifhing, and 
 produced fo many great Men. The times are changed, 
 and Men of the greateft Merit, at prefent don't grum- 
 ble
 
 . f Coitixttiing Impojiurc . 93 
 
 bleio fee themfdves kept back from. Preferments by 
 Perfons of an high Birth, but loweft Deferts. 
 
 A Man muft be.of a very infolent Complexion, to 
 boaft on all Occafrons.the ancient Nobilhy of his Fa- 
 mily, when he is of a mean tfirth, and has no other 
 Lultrc than what his Wealth reflects, amaffed by the 
 Rogueries of a Father who has robbed the Prince and 
 People. Collin brags an hundred times a Day tha . he 
 is born a Gentleman ; his Father was a Footman, and 
 a thoufand there are at Paris who have feen him in a 
 Livery; His Comrades are (till a live, who are unex- 
 ceptionable Wicneffes of. the Meannefs of his Birth. 
 Content yourfelf, Collin, with being rich, make mer- 
 ry, and enjoy the Crimes of your Father; but let 
 your Nobility alone, and don't oblige People to lye in 
 Complaifance whom you entertain at your Table. 
 
 No Man is the more valuable for living at an high 
 Rate, and much above his Condition. 'Tis better to 
 have Gold in one's Coffers, that in one's Coach or 
 Cloaths; but at prefent. the meer Gentleman, or the 
 Banker, is not diftinguifhed from a Duke and a Peer 
 of the Realm; it being the greater or lefs Quantity of 
 Money that makes all the Difference of Ranks and 
 Families, and 'tis a Mifchief that has no Remedy. > 
 
 'Tis in vain to think of forcing People to remem- 
 ber u-s, who are willing to-forget us, and have fixt 
 their Refolution Inftead of regaining them to ourln- 
 terelts, we only exafperate them againft us, and' redout 
 ble their Refentments. 'Tis much, if in the Difpoft- 
 tion they'are in, they don't do us ill Offices; we ought 
 at leaft, to guard ourfelves againft Treachery, and fear 
 left under their fpecioub Appearances of requiting 
 our Complements and Applications to folicit them, 
 they underhand play us fame flippery Tricks. 
 
 'Tis vaftly miilaking Men, to think to fatisfy them 
 with vain Complements; they are too much interefted, 
 and expect from you real . -ervices. Ariftides embraces 
 and kiffes all that vifit him, h- offers them .his-Credit 
 in the genteeleft way, and moil careffing and 'coaxing 
 Expreffions in the World. 1 he fame. Complement he 
 
 * * 
 
 made
 
 p4 Reftetiiottf upon Ridicde. 
 
 made teHefior, he repeats to Martin y but neither fervej 
 one or the other. We eafily believe what we defire, 
 and yield to an Appearance of Sincerity ; but an Hope 
 freq..entlydifappointed, breeds Contempt for thofe that 
 abufe our Credulity, and makes them' pad's for Impof- 
 tors. An honett Man ought to be failhfull .to his Word, 
 and promife nothing but what he defu_.ns to give Vj . 
 
 T hofe Ambidexters ought to be banifheci Society, 
 that load with their CarefTes and Embraces all they ac- 
 coft, and make them their Jelt a Moment after: There's 
 no Obligation to make great Proteftations of Friend- 
 fhip to thofe we hardly know, but we are bound to fpare 
 them when their Back is turned. 'Tis acling againft 
 the Rules of Honour to treat them otherwife. 
 
 Lyjidor has affronted you, and you every where com- 
 plain of his unkind Proceeding, and yet you court him, 
 and are as much at .his Devotion, as if all was well 
 on his Account ; you are never the fame Man to Ly- 
 Jidor, but when he is abfent. 'Tis a Misfortune to be 
 obliged to break with People that do us ill Offices, and 
 to have it our Intereft to keep fair with them ; but 
 Wheedling is an unpardonable Faulc. 
 
 They that to revenge themfelves of Perfons they 
 don't love, or that have affronted them, fpread Satyrs 
 in Profe or Verfe to decry them, take a bafe and fcan- 
 dalous Method. If they dare not confefs them, they 
 are like thofe that attack their Enemy behind; but 
 have not the Courage to meet him Hand to 'Hand; if 
 they do confefs them, they make themlelves irre- 
 concileable Enemies, thefe being fuch Abufes as arc 
 neve* heartily forgiven. 
 
 .Tne Poignancy .of fine Raillery, affects People that 
 have a Tafte : But how can thofe grofs Ambiguities of 
 obfcene Wits be born widi, who talk before Women 
 upon all Sorts of Subjects, with a liberty which all that 
 .have any Delicacy, fuffer by it? Do they think to fet 
 up for. Wits, by an unmerciful Treatment of Women, 
 commonly very virtuous, .whom they ,decry by fcan- 
 dalous- Stories, recounted to the leaft Particulars, to 
 give them the greater Probability. Tfaefe heedlefs
 
 Concerning Impoflure. 95 
 
 Ways, thefe infipid Jefts, thefe libertine Difcourfes, 
 thefe Impoftures and envenomed Slanders, exprefs a 
 Meannefs of Soul, and a great Stock of Corruption, 
 both in the Authors and Applauders. 
 
 If you'll believe Clindor,- he is well received by all 
 the Women ; he boafts with aa Impudence not pardo- 
 nable in a Page, that he has had Favours from many 
 Ladies, whofe Face?, 'tis moft certain, he never faw. 
 His Vanity once met with a ftrange Mortification, he 
 was glorying that he had given Celanire a Supper at the 
 Blue-Pofts, (he immediately came in as he had ended 
 his Story, and he did not know her : He was fo out 
 of Countenance, that he could not recover himfelf : A 
 Confufion due to his Impofture f 
 
 'Tis a daring Enterprize to go to correct all thofe that 
 have committed Faults ; he that will fuffer nothing in 
 others to efcape him, difturbs his own Repofe *nd 
 theirs too : Suffer Eugenia to pretend to Virtue and Dif- 
 cretion, every Body knows her Hiftory, but {he ima- 
 gines (he deludes the Eyes of the Publick, and looks up- 
 on herfelf as a Pattern of Management. What mat- 
 ters it, if Fauftina affedls a Cant. to make herfelf diftin- 
 guifhed, and repeats twenty times in a quarter of an 
 Hour, a Word that is but jult coming up ? The Patrons 
 of this fort make no Precedent. Lucina, who pretends 
 to the Knowledge of Hillory, every Moment commits 
 Blunders, that provoke the Laughter of all that hear 
 her; me confounds Times and Places, Names and Cha- 
 racters. What are the Greeks and Romans to you, whom 
 ihe maims in this Manner ; give her her full Career, 
 and don't unfeaibnably fet up for a Praceptor. 
 
 'Tis too great a Cowardice, ftllily to approve all the 
 Fooleries of others, and to exclaim when they have 
 faid an Impertinence, Admirably <wtll! Nothing could 
 be more happily hit on ! The other Ex t ream ought to 
 be as carefully avoided. Concur not with ihofe Ban- 
 terers that droll upon their Stupidity, nor applaud their 
 foolitti jefts. 
 
 'Tis fomewhat inhuman, by infulting Railleries to 
 aggravate his Confufion, who has (aid a foolifh Thing; 
 
 and
 
 96 Reflettiom upon Ridicule. 
 
 and yet 'tis the Caftom for fame to laugh at the Coft 
 of others, *ho are the ridiculous Subjects. Expect 
 not that Dorita will pardon you the leaft Word or the 
 leait Gefture ; ail her Attention is employed not to hear 
 the good Things you fay, but to oblerve the Incon- 
 gruities that efcape you, which me catches up with a 
 fneering Laughter j (he's upon the Pinacle of Pleafure, 
 when {he can make you uneafy, or leflen the good O- 
 pinion that was entertained of your Merit. 
 
 The Flatterer indifcriminately falls to work, even 
 upon the moft common and trivial Thing* j he excef- 
 fively commends the Wine and Meat ; he continually 
 repeats, to pleafe the Founder of 'he Feaft, YIJ a moft 
 admirable Dijk, and excellently ivelt done ! 
 
 Great Praifers are commonly fo, from their Weak- 
 nefs or Want of Sincerity ; they dare not tell People 
 what they think, but chufe rather to curry them with 
 obliging > ies, than to make them fenfible of their Er- 
 ror and fet them right by fincere Advice. 'Tib a ve- 
 ry impertinent Character, that of a perpetual Praifer. 
 I haO rather fome People mould give me ill Language, 
 than hear their trivial Praifes, which they profti-ute to 
 all Comers without Choice or Diftintlion. ' Tis a Vice 
 to praife every Thing, but 'tis a great tnjuftice to refufe 
 People the Praifes they deferve. How many are there 
 that can*t prevail with themfelves to approve of any 
 Thing, and that are unaffe&ed with the bed Things ? 
 They have a morofe Delicacy that ftudies only to dif- 
 cover Faults, to have the Pleafure of cenfuring them. 
 
 Offer not to read your Piece to Cleophas he is a Cy- 
 nick who has a Fancy in his Head, that nothing is 
 good but what he publifhes, and that all the Senfe in 
 the World fell to his Share. CUophas knows that your 
 Book has been approved by good Judges, and that's 
 enough to make him fay 'tis naught : The boldeft 
 Strokes will appear to him abominable. He will not 
 fpare* even thofe that a&ually pleafe him, but rather 
 will betray his Confcience than return from his Mijan- 
 throfy. 
 
 ; , 'Tis
 
 Concerning morofe Humour. 97 
 
 'Tis a very wrong Method to gain the Efteem or 
 Men, to go about to depreciate thofe they have a, 
 Kindnefs for. A Man that miflrufts himfelf and his 
 own Merit, has recourfe to Artifice to recommend and 
 put himfelf forward ; if he has any Honour left, thefe 
 Practices ftrike him with Remorfe j but he hardens his 
 Confcience, and the Love of Favour and Fortune 
 ilifles all the remains of Honefty. 
 
 Great Genius's have but little Admiration, becaufe 
 few Things appear new to them ; and 'tis not to be 
 doubted, but Admiration is the Symptom of indiffe- 
 rent Seufe, or extravagant Complaifance. Your Ihal- 
 low Wits referable Children, who think every Thing 
 great, furprizing and extraordinary, and make perpe- 
 tual Exclamations. Men of Judgment, but withal, 
 of an eafy and omplaifant Temper, know very well 
 what deferves to be praifed, and perfectly diftinguifh 
 it from what is faulty and indifferent; but they give 
 way to their Inclination, and chufe rather to praife in 
 Complaifance, than to be fincere and fpeak uawelcome 
 Truths. 
 
 Of tbe morofe Humour. 
 
 IT may be faid in general, that the morofe Humour 
 is the Scourge of civil Society, that it banilhes all 
 the Pleafure of Converfation, that it is the moft trou- 
 blefome of all Vices, and the Poifon of Life. This 
 Morofenefs is the Caufe that a Man's never content with 
 himfelf, nor any Body elfe, that he's perpetually com- 
 plaining without Reafon, and that he brings moft un- 
 happy Troubles upon himfelf by his capricious and 
 odd Ways. A Man of this Kidney always thinks 
 People deficient in their Refpe&s to him, and very 
 fourjy upbraids them for : the leaft Peccadillo's which 
 his Spleen enlarges and reprefents as Monfters. If any 
 one forgets him in any Ceremony or Entertainment, he 
 thinks it an unpardonable Affront,; tl>e mod fubmif- 
 VOL. I, F five
 
 9'8 . Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 five Compliments, and cared) ng Expreffions, he fuf- 
 pecls-of Dtfign ; the greateft Succeffes don't affeft him , 
 and he always views Things on the worft Side, to cre- 
 ate .himfelf Uneafmefs. Tho' a Man has ufed his ut- 
 moir. Endeavours to ferve him in a Bufinefs of Confe- 
 quence, he believes he has acled remifsly, and in con- 
 -cert with his Enemies ; he murmurs, blufters, threat- 
 ens to revenge himfelf, and indeed, 'he's born to no 
 other End but to torment himfelf and others. 
 
 A Man of a fowre Nature indifferently diflikes 
 what's ufeful or prejudicial to him ; the Pleafure he 
 takes in finding Fault, fhuts .his Eyes againft his own 
 Jnterefts -, the Preferment of his Friends does not touch 
 him, but he laments the Difgraces of thofe that are no 
 \vays related to him ; whatever Courfe the State-Mini- 
 Iters take, and whatever Events fucceed their Aftions, 
 he always ill interprets them, to have Occafion for 
 Cenfure ; he accufes them of want of Judgment, when 
 they beftovv Favours, and of Injuftice when they are 
 obliged, for good Reafons, to ufe Severity. 
 
 All the Steps that have been made thefe thirty Years 
 by a Man born to afflift Europe, and who may be cal- 
 led the Scourge of God, \oijerion feero Mailer-pieces 
 of State-Policy. In vain you reprefent to him that 
 Chance, and a lucky Juncture of Times, and the 
 Shiggifhnefs of his Neighbours, have more contributed 
 to his Hero's Succefs than his own Genius and Abili- 
 ties ; he continues obftinately to admire him : Tell 
 him how he has been beaten, and what Battles he .has 
 loft, and he anfwers, that his Defeats give a Luftre to 
 his Glory, and that even in the Field of Blenheim he 
 outlhines the Conquerors. Get rid of this (turn in 
 your Blood, Gerion, if you'll judge well of Things, 
 remove that Jaundice from your Eyes that reprefents 
 all Things of a wrong Colour ; contemplate your,He- 
 ro in his natural Proportions ; ftrip him of his : ufurped 
 and borrowed Feathers, and he'll relemble the Jack- 
 Daw in the Fable. 
 
 In order to take off the keennefs of his Spleen and 
 ill Nature, he ought to frpjpofc that the World is full 
 
 of
 
 Concerning morofe Humcur. 99 
 
 of abfurd aad difagreeable People, that have rcugli 
 and ill-bred Ways, and know not the Rules of Life ; 
 and that he muft either habituate himfelf to the Fool- 
 eries of others, or fequefler himfelf from human Co- 
 merce. 
 
 How quietly would Life flow on, if all Mankind 
 was reafonable ? But the Brutimnefs wherewith they 
 treat one another, deftroys all the Pleafure of it ; it 
 feeming to be their main Intention to make one ano- 
 ther reciprocally difcontented and uneafy. In all Mat- 
 ters of L)ebate, each thinks to make his Party good, 
 though to the Prejudice of Equity and Honefty : If 
 you aflc a Man any Favour, he either denies you, or 
 ftudies how to draw all the Advantage of it to him- 
 felf. There are fome that carry their ill-humour fo far 
 as even to envy you the Benefit they themfelves have 
 procured for you. 
 
 The Morofe and Cenforious are extremely trouble- 
 fome ; but 'tis likewife a contemptible Bafenefs, for- 
 didly to flatter every Body's Opinions. 
 
 'Tis impoffibletolive long with Met. without having 
 frequent Occafion to complain ; the beft way to preferve 
 our own Quiet, is handfomely to aifiemble the Subjects 
 of Uneafmefs that are given us. Has any one done 
 any Thing to difturb you ? You muft not infult him 
 hereupon, nor mame him by taxing him with his Fault 
 in reproachful Terms ; endeavour by Gentlenek to re- 
 duce him to Reafon and his Duty. Chufe your proper 
 Seafons to infinuate yourfelf into him ; if you fay any 
 Thing fevere, foften it with good Nature, and let no 
 Gall or Vinegar appear in you/ Remonftrances. The 
 lead Thing that is faid or done amifs before Marjina, 
 fhe cenfures in a ftrange proud and ill-natured Manner. 
 She racks her Wits to vex you, and to find pretty Ex- 
 preflions to make the Company merry at your Colt : 
 After (he has faid the fame Thing an hundred Times, 
 ihe repeats it again when no Body thinks of it, and 
 when the Subject is worn threadbare. Is it not a fuf- 
 ficient Mortification for one that has commited u Faulr, 
 to have Witnefles of his Folly ? Ought we to add in- 
 falts to his Confufion, and continually lead the Dif- 
 F 2 courfe
 
 ioo Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 courfe to the fame difobliging Topick ? Tis a fign 
 of an ill-contrived Soul, to take a malicious Plea- 
 fure in the Shame and Uneafinefs of others. 
 
 Do not always make believe you fee the Faults of 
 thofe you converfe with; inftead of upbraiding them 
 harihly with them, artfully overlook them, if you 
 defire to pleafe them with your Converfation. There 
 are a fort of People whom you cannot accoft without 
 Trembling, becaufe they have always fome vexatious 
 Thing to fay, or fome ill News to tell, and they ufe 
 DO Addrefs to fave your Blufhes or cultivate your ten- 
 der Part. 
 
 None but thofe whom we are nearly concerned for, 
 or are to anfwer for, mould make us folicitous about 
 their Conduft : Others may fafely commit all the Ex- 
 travagancies and Follies they think fit, whilft we have 
 iio Reafon to be difturbed at them. That's a humour- 
 fome Peevimnefs of fome People, who always find 
 Something to reform in every one's Behaviour. What 
 a bold Undertaking or Prefumption is it to go to cor- 
 rect Abufes eftablifhed by a long Cuftom ? The way 
 to live eafy is to mind our own Bufinefs, and leave 
 others to take Care of theirs. Have we not Difturb- 
 ances enough at home ? Why fliould we overcharge 
 ourielves and admit ufelefs Troubles ? But that which 
 is moft furprizing is, that they that are moft obnoxi- 
 ous, are the forwardeft to cenfure the Conduct of all 
 the World : They are not affe&ed with (heir own 
 Faults, thotrgh never fo grofs, but are alarmed at the 
 leafl Imperfections of their Neighbours ; you would 
 think it was incumbent on them to reform Mankind, 
 and they were perfonally to account for it to the Pub- 
 lick. Leave others their full Liberty, you have need 
 of your whole Attention for yourfelf. 
 
 If the Reprimands that are given you are well 
 grounded, why do you take pet and vex yourfelf as 
 you do ? Profit by the good Advices you receive, 
 though they are not, perhaps, given with a good 
 Grace, nor with all the Softnings you defire. If you 
 are wrongfully found Fault with, you ought ftill to 
 
 be
 
 Concerning inorqfe Humour. 101 
 
 be the lefs difturbed, fmce it is not you, but your Sha- 
 dow that's attacked. 
 
 Though you ought not to be tenacious of your 
 Counfel when you are confulted, yet why fhould you 
 make your Remonftrances to thofe that don't afk your 
 Advice ? Would you be confidered as the Tyrant of 
 your Family ? Tis a mighty Preemption to think 
 ourfelves capable of prefcribing the Rules of others 
 Conduct, and an intoleiable Tyranny to pretend to 
 fubjeft them to our Humours. 
 
 The moft ordinary Folly iiiCident to old Men, is 
 to be perpetually le&uring Youih, which repays them 
 with Raillery. 'Tis not always out of a real Zeal, 
 that they cenfure others Adlnns, but an Effeft of 
 their Malignity, or the Infirmity of Age : Difabled 
 to Pleafures, they are angry that others mould be ca- 
 pable of doing what themfelves did when they were 
 young. Clear.tes often fays, that that which troubles 
 him mod in the Cafe of Mortality, is, that People 
 will frequent the Park, and Balls, and Plays, and en- 
 joy all other Pleafures after he is dead. 
 
 Old Men that have Senfe and Memory, would be 
 very ufeful if they were lefs Ccnforious and Morofe ; 
 but young Folks can't bear the Tedium of their Sto- 
 ries of Times paft, and their infipid Railleries upon 
 the modern Ways which they can't approve ; which 
 is the Reafon that they fhun them, and fo deprive 
 themfelves of the Fruit they might reap from their 
 Precepts and confummate Experience ; which is, per- 
 haps, the only Thing wanting in young People to per- 
 fect and qualify them for important Services. 
 
 'Tis an unreafonable Scruple, or an extravagant Se- 
 verity to pretend to interdict Society all forts of Plays; 
 innocent and moderate Gaming, unites and keeps up 
 Converfation. Perfons of Quality, who have no Hated 
 Employments, are ac a Lofs, moft commonly, how to 
 pafs their Time, feriousDifcourfes being wearifom ; but 
 Play ought to be moderated, and we are to moderate 
 ourfelves in playing ; they that play with Paflion, or 
 Avarice, or Intereft, commonly forget themfelves ; 
 F 3 they
 
 IO2 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 they rage and fwear, and grow extravagant, when 
 they have ill-luck and betray the fordidnefs of their 
 Sentiments. Gaming ought not to be ufed as an Em- 
 ployment, and take up all our Leifure. 'Tis a 
 wretched Profeffion to fpend all one's Life in behold- 
 ing the Cards and throwing the Dice : Play ought 
 to be confidered only as an innocent Amufement to 
 divert us from more ferious Occupations. 
 
 Marriages would be happy and delightful, if the 
 married would compaflionate the Weaknefles, and 
 bear with the Faults of one another. 'Tis a long 
 Life they lead, who are obliged to be together Night 
 and Day, and be they never (b well matched, 'tis 
 hard if they have not fome Things mutually to par- 
 don each other. 'Tis very ftrange these are fo few 
 contented Matches, that People who have excellent 
 Qualities, that are civil and well-bred, come together 
 only to make each other uneafy. They have nei- 
 ther Regards, nor Cautions, nor Complaifance for one 
 another ; they are defired in all Companies abroad, 
 and are as wild Beafts at home ; one would fay chat all 
 their good Nature was exhaufted out of Doors, and 
 they kept only the Dregs of their ill Humour for their 
 Family.. 
 
 I can't comprehend the Politicks of fome Women, 
 that purpofely give their Hufband's Difcontents ; there 
 feems to be fomething of Myftery in all they do, they 
 affect Freedoms of Carriage and Complaifance to thofe 
 that make Court and Application to them; they 
 commend them before their Hufbands, who cannot 
 be over pleafed to hear fuch Sort of Panegyricks. 
 frtntina affects to fhew more Coquetry than me really 
 has ; (he has no Manner of Observance for her Huf- 
 band, and tho' he be very fufceptible of jealous 1m- 
 preflions, me is extravagantly complaifant to the 
 Sparks that carefs her, who have Merit enough to be 
 her Lovers. 
 
 The Sufpicions of Hufbands, and Difquiet they 
 give themfelves to trace their Spoufes Conduct, are 
 
 often
 
 Concerning' morofe Humour. ro j 
 
 often fatal to their Repofe and Honour. A Woman 
 under Conftraint, that is too clofely watched, fome- 
 times takes violcn: Refolutions, however naturally in- 
 difpofcd to them. Too fmart Reproaches on trifling 
 Subjects, and the Peeviflmefs fome Huftxmds exprefs, 
 when they lofe Sight of their Wives but for a Minute, 
 have never gofld Effects ; thefe Mifgivings open a 
 Gate to a thoufand Solicitudes and Debates that de- 
 ftroy mutual Confidence, and exdnguilh conjugal Af- 
 fection. 
 
 Gerr.lenefs is the belt Way to make a Man loved 
 and refpected in his Family. A Perfon of Quality 
 makes himfelf contemptible, when he talks paflionate- 
 ]y to his Servants, and never opens his Mouth but to 
 abufe them. If you exprefs Anger in rebuking them 
 for their Faults, if you are harm and bitter in your 
 Reproaches, you rather confound them, than poflefs 
 them with the Defire of doing better ; but they are 
 too malicious to fuffer this ill Treatment to pafs unre- 
 venged, which their prefent Circumitances permit 
 not to avoid ; though their Sentiments are fordid, they 
 have, however, a fecret Pride, which renders their 
 Injuries infuppor table ; their Prefumption is not crufli- 
 ed by the Weight of Neceffity, they examine their 
 Matters, and cenfure them without Mercy, becaulc 
 they judge of them by the Bafenefs of their own Ge- 
 nius, and by this Means they make themfelves amends 
 for the ill Language and Difcontent they have given 
 them. Spight, which is a Confequen.ce of their ill 
 Fortune, and defire of mifchieving thofe who are hap- 
 pier than they, nquriflies the Averfbn they have for 
 their Commanders : Neverthelefs, the Publick hears 
 them as credible Witnefles, becaufe they affirm they 
 have feen, what only they have imagined ; and fome- 
 times the Impofture of a Servant fcandilizing his 
 Matter, is more favourably judged of, than the Ho- 
 nelty of the Matter himfelf who is falfely abufed. 
 
 In Order to live at Peace with others, we ought to 
 
 be confiftent with ourfelves. A Man of a rettlefs fro- 
 
 ward Temper, who knows not what he would, or 
 
 F 4 what
 
 104. Rtfle&tShs upon Ridicule. 
 
 what he Would not have, pats himfelf upon many in- 
 fignificant Motions, and gives Uneafinefs to thofe about 
 him, who muft bear the Trouble of his Whimfies 
 and ill Humour : The World abounds with this Sort 
 of People, and what need have we to feek any other 
 Caufe of the little Satisfaction we find in human Con- 
 verfation ? People of the beft Reafon have fometimes 
 Moments of Difguft and Uneafinefs, in which they 
 have much ado to fupport themfelves. In my Opini- 
 on, when they find themfelves in this Condition, they 
 ihould confine themfelves at'Home, and fee as few as 
 poSible, left the Publick mould be a Witnefs of their 
 ill Humour and fuffer by it. When Darjina makes a 
 Vilit, (he's no fooner feated in her Elbow- Chair, but 
 Jhe begins to harangue and declaim agaiuft h^r Huf- 
 band, her Children, and her Servants i fte enumerates 
 all the Pranks they have plaid her a and all the Occafi- 
 ons fhe has for Complaint; and foe aflcs the Com- 
 pany, whether {he be not the moir, miferable Woman 
 in the World: What Entertainment is this for People 
 who mean only to be pleafant, and have no Intereft 
 in the Squabbles of Darfina and her. Valets ? 
 
 I would have nothing to do with People, who make 
 a Myftery of every Thing, and give out their Imper- 
 tinences for Secrets. Young {hallow Wits, and they 
 tiiat are over-fond of themfelves, magnify the Objects, 
 and think that every Thing relating to them is of the 
 greateft Confequence : They are always ready to fue 
 you, if you relate again to others thofe Trifles they 
 have intrufted you with, which merit not fo much as 
 bare Attention. 
 
 There's fomething of ill Nature in the faint Com- 
 mendations of the Things which deferve great Praifes ; 
 but they that pretend hereby to lefien the Merit of o- 
 thers, only injure themfelves. It is eafy to perceive 
 their ill Humour, which prevents not our doing. Juf- 
 tice to thofe that excell in any rare and noble Qualifi- 
 cations. 
 
 Lyjimon believes that no Body has fuch a Share of 
 Wit as himfelf; he can't be perfuaded that others can 
 
 do
 
 Concerning morofe Humour. 105 
 
 do any Thing that is tolerable, for which Reafon he is 
 very /paring of his Praife, and pities the Works that 
 every Body elfe applauds j he criticifes them with a 
 Morofenefs that is aDiverfion to Spe&ators, there be- 
 ing a Sort of Comedy in the Motions and Contortions 
 he gives himfelf, to leflen the Efteem famous Authors 
 have merited by their excellent Performances. 
 
 Your denying juft Praifes to Defert does not always 
 ruin the Publick's good Opinion of it j but it makes 
 the Public regard you as an envious or injudicious 
 Man. If you defire to be efteemed, and have Juftice 
 done you, be equitable toothers, and let it not appear 
 that their Merit is your Torture. 
 
 At laft, after many Importunities, you grant what 
 is defired of you ; you keep People languifhing that 
 have Need of your Afliftance, and inflead of obliging 
 them by your Favours, give them Reafon to complain 
 of you, though they have obtained their Requefts. 
 Difcover not in an uneafy Face, the Reluctance yoo 
 have to do them a Pleafure. 
 
 The Life of worthy Men, is a mutual Correfpon- 
 dence of Benefits and good Offices ; 'tis impoffible to 
 live without one another, and he mould banifh himfelf 
 the World, who mould be good for nothing ; but it is 
 not enough to grant what is afked, unlefs it be given 
 with a good Grace : Why would you lofe the Fruit 
 of a good Office, by giving it in a Way of Refufal ? 
 
 If you would have the Acknowledgments of thofe 
 you do a Kindnefs to, do it not in a languiming man- 
 ner, as if it were in fpight ? Don't Say 'til) your 
 Friends explain their Neceffities, and force you to 
 affift them. Benefactions ill-timed and tempered, 
 turn the Stomachs, and raife Indignation inflead of 
 procuring the Gratitude of thofe you difoblige, whilft 
 you would do them Service. 
 
 To be always telling Stories, is a Sign of but an 
 indifferent and fuperficial Wit, or that is fond and 
 conceited of itfelf. But who can bear to hear the fame 
 Thing an hundred Times repeated? What do they mean 
 who thnt ftun the World with their importunate Re- 
 F 5 petitions ?
 
 106 Reflexions upon Ridicule. 
 
 petitions ? Is it that the pleafure of Talking deprives 
 them of their Memory or Reflection, fince they re- 
 member not what they have faid but a Moment be- 
 fore, what they repeat with fo much Emphafis, 
 and give out as a new Thing. 
 
 But 'tis worfe and \vorfe when the Subject is flat 
 and difagreeable } ever fince Felina has loft her Caufe, 
 Ihe can'c talk of any Thing elfe; fhe repeats the en- 
 tire Pleas that the Advocates made fro and con -, fhe 
 computes how much Money this Bufmefs coft her, and 
 reckoning all the Broad-Pieces and Guineas fhe fee'd 
 with, during the whole Procefs , fhe clamours and de- 
 claims vehemently againft theComiption of the Judges, 
 and.efpecially the Rogueries of the Lawyers. Having 
 given a long and tedious Account of her Affair, citing 
 the Days of the Month, and the Perfons that were con- 
 cerned in it, fhe is ready to begin it again, to entertain 
 the next Perfon that appears in the Company. 
 
 'Tis a great Mark of Weaknefs to be eternally com- 
 plaining of our Misfortunes, and deafning all we meet 
 with the Account of them ; we feek to folace and 
 amufe our AfHi&ions by thefe Recitals; but in my 
 Mind, we ought to conceal our Difgraces to all but 
 thofe that can remedy them. 
 
 But we are not to believe that it is always in Cha- 
 grin, that a Man declaims againft his evil Fortune i 
 it often proceeds from a fecret Pride. He would infi- 
 nuate that he has Merit, and that the World does not 
 do him Juftice ; fome Remains of Modefly will not 
 let him fpeak more openly, but he ufes this fub- 
 terfuge to indulge his Vanity, and in fome Sort, 
 fave outward Appearances. 
 
 Thofe Formalifts, who demand Explications of the 
 le^ft ambiguous Word, and always think that they are 
 ridiculed, are confcious of their own Weaknefs, and 
 de!trving to be delptfed. A wretched Temper of 
 Mind I 
 
 If you angrily demand Deferences to be paid you, 
 People will flatter you, perhaps, in (how, but will 
 dleem you never the more. A Man that discovers his 
 
 good
 
 Concerning morofe Humour. 107 
 
 good Opinion of himfelf, feldom procures Efteem, un- 
 lefs his Preemption befupported by eminent Qualities. 
 Men that love Liberty in all Things, would beftow 
 their Incenfe freely. 
 
 There needs no more than a fingle Word mifplaced, 
 to caft a Man puffed up with his Merit, into a Laby- 
 rinth of afflicting Thoughts ; whoever is under this 
 PrepofTeffion can promife little for his own Repofe. He 
 always believes fome People have a malicious Mean- 
 ing, and puts an ill Interpretation upon- all they do, 
 and all they fay ' r their Compliments, Submiflions and 
 Civilities, are looked upon as fo many Affronts. 
 
 They are not always our ill Qualities that create us 
 the moft Enemies, but our Virtues and Deferts. Plait* 
 tina falls foul upon Ancia only becaufe fhe is molefted 
 with the Praifes that are given this formidable Rival : 
 She complains that me has done her ill Offices, which is 
 only a Pretext to conceal her Spight and Jealoufy. 
 Ancias Beauty and regular Conduct, her genteel and 
 engaging Ways that have acquired her fo great a Re- 
 putation, put Plautina out of her Senfes, and have 
 cankered, htr againft her Rival ; fhe cannot tell how 
 to pardon her her Merit. 
 
 If a Man could prevail with himfelf to feem not 
 to hear thofe that fpeak ill of him, he would fave 
 himfelf a great many vexatious and troublefome Dif- 
 putes. We muft not pretend to hinder People from 
 fpeaking their Minds freely, but it is entirely in our 
 Power not to appear difturbed ; this is the fhorteft and 
 fureft Way to baffle Obloquy, and to lenify the ill' 
 Humour of our Slanderers ; they in'fome Sort referable 
 Children, that the more eagerly perfift to vex their 
 Companions, when they are too fenfible of the little 
 Mifchiefs they do them, but ceafe to difturb them, 
 when they only laugh at it. Calumny moft commonly, 
 proceeds, not from a Defign of difpleafing, or affront- 
 ing, us, but from the common Cuffom in the World 1 , 
 of flandering our Neighbour ; but though it fhould be 
 the EfFeft of Malice, yet the fhorrefl V/ay woaid be 
 to diffenvble it, and not complain. 
 
 'Ti*
 
 io8 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 'Tis well known that fome People throw out Jells 
 gnd Calumnies, not with a premeditatedDefign of Mif- 
 chief, but commonly to fhew their Parts. Could they 
 not find fome innocent Subjects to pafs their Time, 
 without exposing tnem&lves as they do, to cutting Re- 
 flections ; Jetters and Detainers frequently fuffer the 
 Smart of their ovvn Jefts, and Satyrs. 
 
 It is not lels cowardly to fpeak ill of the Dead, than 
 it would be to kill an Enemy incapable of making his 
 own Defence : We live in an Age wherein every one 
 takes great Liberties of judging h\ 3 Neighbour ; they 
 feem to fum up the good and ill Qualities of the Dead, 
 and to reprint in their Minds as their Paffion leads 
 them, their Subjects of Complaint, to make their 
 Epitaph according to their Fancy. What a Cru- 
 elty 'tis to ill-treat thofe that are incapable of De- 
 fence, whom perhaps they durft not look in the Face, 
 if they were ftill alive. 
 
 The moft vehement Slanderers and Defamers are 
 fometimes fuch as are obnoxious to the greateft Re- 
 proaches ; thofe very Perfons that feem to applaud 
 them, confider them with Horror, and give them 
 wretched Characters, when they fpeak their Minds. 
 Calumny is the fign of^a light, reftlefs, jealous and 
 malicious Soul, that feems to content itfelf, or pleafe 
 others by fo criminal a Practice. 
 
 A Man cannot forbear laughing openly at Lucilla, 
 who conftantly inveighs againft Women on the leaft 
 Sufpicion of Gallantry. Has Lucitla forgotten that 
 before fhe.was married, me had an Affair that made a 
 great Noife in the World, and difgraced her ? She 
 can't flatter herfelf that the Public is ignorant of this 
 Adventure, when fhe was defamed in open Court ; 
 fince her Marriage, fhe has not changed her-Method ; 
 and yet you would fay, if you heard her talk, that 
 fhe was the only regular Woman, that fhe de- 
 fcended from Lucretia in a right Line, and pof- 
 lefled her Senfe and Virtue, 
 
 Is
 
 Concerning Impertinence. 1 09 
 
 Is it out of Envy, that we blame in others fome 
 Advantages they have, and we have not, but perhaps 
 would gladly have ? Is it fantaftick Morofenefs that 
 difpofes us to find fault with every thing ? Certainly 
 'tis not the love of a ftrift Life that makes us 
 exclaim againft the Profperity of certain People that 
 flow in Riches and Honours ; thofe that have made 
 the greateft Exclamations, change their Sentiments 
 and Language, whenever any glimpfe of good For- 
 tune darts upon them. 
 
 When we compare the Merit of fome Perfons in 
 Favour, and find it inferior to our own, this re- 
 doubles our Indignation againft them : 'Tis very rare 
 to fee Favourites generally approved. They that 
 think they equally deferve thePofts pofleffed by them, 
 look upon their Favour as an Ufurpation. 'Tis 
 much if they have Refer ve enough not to complain 
 openly, and impudently fet themfelves above them 
 by an odious Parallel. 
 
 They lofe their Time and Labour, that fet up for 
 Reformers, fince Men have always lived after the fame 
 Fafhion : 'Tis an obfolete Phrafe to fay, the Age is 
 corrupted ; the fame Vices and Paffions, the feme 
 Dotages and WeaknefTes have always reigned in all the 
 Succeifions of Time. He expofes himfelf to Laugh- 
 ter, who reproaches others with the fame Vices he is 
 confcious of in himfelf. They that by their Place and 
 Miniftry, are obliged to take Care of others Conduct, 
 grow very contemptible, unlefs they lead an unblame- 
 able Life, or have Skill to conceal their Faults, and! 
 hide them from the Eyes of the World. 
 
 Of Impertinence. 
 
 IMpertinence proceeds from want of Attention to 
 our Words and Actions. An impertinent Man 
 talks much, and inconfiderately ; he ads in the fame 
 manner : He knows not what is to be kept in or dif- 
 
 fembled
 
 no Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 fembled, nor has any Tafle to diftinguim \vhat can 
 pleafe or difpleafe reafonable People : His Judgment is 
 not fo much as able to feparate the Qualities that may 
 fet off a Man, from thofe that can lefTen an Idea of 
 his Merit. He is proud, haughty, incivil ; he praif- 
 es himfelf without Difcretion, and defpifes others 
 without Referve, and often applauds himfelf for fome 
 foolifh Thing he has faid. 
 
 Pride is more eafily pardoned in Perfons of a great 
 Merit, but when thofe of but an indifferent one pre- 
 tend to it, th-ey only draw Contempt upon rhemfelves. 
 A littlePride is not mHbecoming a young Woman per- 
 fcdtlv handfome: Youth and Beauty give great Privi-. 
 leges : But would Belija have Homage paid to her an- 
 tiquated Charms, now fhe is pad Forty ? The remem- 
 brance of Beauty paft is a Counterpoife to Pride, and 
 no juft Occafion for Prefumption. Tis vaft Imper- 
 tinence in an old Woman, to think to fet up for Pret- 
 tinefs, to believe me has ftill Attra&ives, to drefs her 
 felf like a Pageant, and affeft all the little Fopperies 
 of wanton Girls ; to flatter herfelf that Ihe is loved, 
 and to talk of her Sparks. 
 
 There is no Man fo foolim and Impertinent, but 
 may have Countenancers and Admirers ; but they muft 
 be greater Fools and Impertinenls than l.imfelf. Hence 
 fo many wretched Writings find Protetlors, becaufe all 
 Readers don't abound with Senfe, 01 Juftice. An Au<- 
 thor mould not value himfelf for feeing his Book ex- 
 tolled by the Croud, but only be touched with the 
 Praifes of the Honeft and Judicious. It is a miferable 
 thing to be admired and praifed by none but Fools. 
 And the ill Confequences thefe Counterband Praifes 
 have, is to flufti the Extravagance of an Author, who 
 is ftill a greater Cully than thofe who ftifle him 
 with their Incenfe. 
 
 An Author who reads his Piece to his Friends, with. 
 Defign to profit by their Advice; who takes theirCen- 
 fures kindly ; who yields to reafon, and corrects the 
 negle&ed Places \vithoat Murmarin, is to be efteemed 
 
 for
 
 Concerning Impertinence. in 
 
 for his docile Temper. But the moft intolerable fort of 
 Men, in my Opinion, are thofe that are conceited of 
 every thing they do, read only to be admired. What 
 a Torture is it to hear a Fool applaud himfelf for a 
 fimple, thread -bare, trivial Thought, and to fee him- 
 felf ravifhed with the Beauties of his Work, wherein 
 the judicious difcover not the leaft glimpfe of good 
 Senfe ! A Man know* not how to behave himfelf to- 
 wards this fort of People, tor they will not be cenfu- 
 red : Nor is it fufficient for their Vanity, that you 
 feem to approve it by your Mein and Geftures, but 
 they muft be cryed up and extolled. Men of Senfe 
 and Sincerity undergo a double Pain, in hearing thefe 
 Impertinencies, and being in fome fort obliged to ap- 
 plaud them out of Complaifance. 
 
 'Tis impoflible to hide one's felf from FaJefs Perfe- 
 cutions ; he ftill finds you out; and has always his 
 Pockets full of Sonnets, Madrigals, Ballads, and Epi- 
 grams ; with one or other of which he attacks you : 
 He declaims in the middle of the Streets, as if he was 
 in the Theatre : In a Moment he is furrounded, like a 
 Mountebank, by the Paflengers, who can not fufficr- 
 ently admire the Extravagance of the Man, and his 
 ridiculous Fondnefs of Commendation. 
 
 To know a great deal, and pretend to nothing, are 
 two things hard to be allied. Profeffed Scholars are 
 commonly extremely foolim and ridiculous, becaufe of 
 their abfurd Paffion to have their Learning known : 
 They difcourfe of fublime Things to People that are 
 unaffefted with them ; and who, inftead of refpe&ing 
 them as Learned, look upon thofe as Pedants, and Im- 
 pertinents, that turn their Brains to hear them. Cli- 
 mon, in his Vifits to the Women, talks of nothing but 
 Algebra, and will force them, whether they will or 
 fco, to comprehend the Properties of the Ellipjis and 
 Parabola : Don't miftake him, that his Defign is to 
 teach them Algebra, he would only be thought a great 
 Mathematician. They take his Word for it, and ex- 
 cufe him his Demonftralions. 
 
 The
 
 H2 Reflexions upon Ridicule. 
 
 The Reafon why the Learned are lefs fit for Con- 
 veifation than Perfons of a meaner Erudition, is, that 
 they are not condefcending enough : They would be- 
 lieve they difhonoured their Science, and but ill main- 
 tained the Character of a Scholar, if they ftooped to 
 talk of Trifles, which make up the Subjeft of Dif- 
 courfe : Unlefs they are cautious, they often aft a foolifh. 
 Part, and are put upon by Perfons inferior to them in 
 Learning, who with a good Grace, and lively Air, 
 fpeak plain and eafy things, which are much more af- 
 fecting than the fublime Difcourfes of the Learned. 
 
 The ignorant, and People of mean Senfes are they 
 that talk moft in Company. They have not Judg- 
 ment enough to know, that what they fay is not 
 worth the hearing : Men of learning, whofe 
 Thoughts are deep in feriout Meditations, fpeak but 
 little ; becaufe they are either too attentive to what 
 they are thinking on, or are not well enough fatisfyed 
 with what they are to fay. Others are more venturous, 
 and prefumptuous, and content with themfelves and 
 their Difcourfe : But they that hear them are of 
 different Sentiments. 
 
 There's nothing more ridiculous than a Man who is 
 conftantly applauding his good Mein, and is one of the 
 firft to talk of it ; who fets up for a Beauty, and a 
 Beau, and courts your Commendation of his fine 
 Shape, and his white Teeth. The Women that are 
 caught by thefe Attraflives, muft be very filly. How 
 can they endure a Man \vho has all the little apifli 
 "Ways and Affectations of the Finicks ; whofe Drefs 
 and Air, Difcourfes and Motions, and Aftions, have 
 nothing of a Man in them ; but all is effeminate, 
 even to the Wink of the Eye, the Motion of the 
 Head, and the Sound of the Voice. 
 
 It has been often told you, PbiUor t that your Be- 
 haviour and Difcourfe have no affinity with your Pro- 
 feffior. They that fee you in the Campaign in the 
 Summer, think they fee another Man in you in the 
 Winter, Why that Profufion of Ribbons, that won- 
 derful
 
 Concerning Impertinence. 113 
 
 derful Care of your Drefs ! You fpend more time at 
 your Toilet than the meereft Loquet in London. You 
 laugh at ferious Matters, only to mew your white 
 Teeth. Did you ever read in the Greek or Roman Hif- 
 tory, that Alexanders, or Ctelar\ Officers wore 
 Patches ? Either quit your martial Profeffion, or be- 
 have your felf more fuitably to your Employ. 
 
 Is ittmo' Haughtinefs or Stupidity, that fome Peo- 
 ple orFend fo much againft Decorum ? During a whole 
 Vi'fit, they do nothing but repeat the Airs of the O- 
 pera, loll in an Elbow-Chair, fwear brutifhly before 
 Women, whine to them their amorous Konfen'e, talk 
 of the Wines and Liquors they drank at their laft Meal- 
 Formerly young Men were ftudious of Complaifance; 
 they were good humoured, genteel, well-bred, offici- 
 ous, but of late their Manners are changed ; they are 
 conceited, peremptory, unpolite, uncomplaifant, 
 prefumptuous, bru&l. You'd think they never open- 
 ed their Mouth, but to difoblige thofe they fpoke to. 
 
 Another Species of Impertinents, no lefs frequent 
 in civil Society, are thofe that defpife what others fay 
 and do ; and are fufficient in themfelves, as to difcover 
 their ill Opinion of it. Puffed up with their own Merit, 
 they can't condefcend to a.'mire any thing whatever. 
 If any one has done or faid any Thing that is rational 
 before them, and is praifed for it, they affirm that it 
 may be done better, and fail not to. quote themfelves 
 for Patterns : The Company laughs at them to their 
 Face, and is not at the Pains to cure them of their Ex- 
 travagance. 
 
 I falute Dorantes with all the Civility imaginable, 
 I pay him my Compliment ; but he neither hears nor 
 fees me ? A Moment after he calls to mind that I have 
 fpoke to him, and I mult compliment him over again. 
 Dorantes feems to have all the Burden of the State up- 
 OJi his Shoulders, and that his vaft Occupations hinder 
 him from thinking of Punftilio's; and difpenfe with 
 the Duties of Civility. 
 
 Lucilia
 
 H4 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 Lucilia is conltantly quarrelling with her Servants, 
 and vvithout Occafion : A broken Gla'.s puts her be- 
 fides herfelf, and throws her of? all Regards to thofe 
 that vifit her; who are forced to endure all the ill - 
 Language me Leftcw upon her Valets. She defcribes 
 their Manners and Inclinations refpe&ively , and is con- 
 tinually complaining (he is a Woman the worft ferved 
 in England. What a Mifery is this to her Vifitants, 
 who have no Curiofity to learn the Squabbles that hap- 
 pen betwixt her and her Domefticks. 
 
 'Tis almoft impoflible for Perfons of the fame Pro-; 
 feffion, or Candidates for the fame Employs, to be 
 void of Jealoufy : If they can keep it from appearing, 
 they will avoid the Shame attending that reftlefs PafTi- 
 on ; if they cannot mafter their Indignations, they'll be- 
 guilty of a thoufand Extravagancies, that will make 
 their Difcontent ftill more and more ridiculous; 
 
 Thofe that have no Complaifance for you, but 
 gruff you upon your good Succefles, do it often from - 
 a fecret Jealoufie, and apprehenfion that you out fliine 
 them ; when a Man h fo unhappy as to be fo mean- 
 fpirited, he ought, at leafl, to conceal it from the Pub- 
 lick ; it being a great Impertinence purpofely to de- 
 cry himfelf. 
 
 'Tis a Pafs-tizne beyond Jelling, to carefs a Man 
 with Blows, to pluck ofrhis Perriwig, to give him ill 
 Names, and to load him with horrid Abufes ; they 
 that take this Method do it only by way of Foolery : 
 But it is a Kind of Diverfam which ought to be left 
 to Porters and Footmtfn. 
 
 'Tis for want of Converfation, or Education, or 
 through a fooliiTi Simplicity, that fome young Women 
 affeft too wild a Shynefs, and too fcrupulous a Mo- 
 dfty : A Man knows not what to fay to them, nor 
 what Subject to put them upon, to make them fpeak ; 
 fo fearful they are of giving themfelves Liberty, Cle- 
 onine, during the whole Converfation, fits with her 
 Arms a-crois like an Innocent, and never anfwers the 
 Civilities and Compliments you pay her ; or if fhe 
 fpeaks, it is with a languishing and filly Tone^ and 
 
 an.
 
 Concerning Impertinence. 115 
 
 an Affedation that makes her ridiculous. Becaufe fhe 
 is handfome enough, ihe thinks it islufficient to (hew 
 herfelf like a Statue of Snow, and that her Red and 
 White give her a preference to all her Rivals. 
 
 Your everlafting Queftioners are a Sort of infupport- 
 able People : They allow you not Time to anfvver the 
 firft Queflion they have aflced, but haftily begin upon 
 a fecond ; and all the Difcourfe confifts in Queries and 
 precipitate Anfwers : Great Talkers who would llill 
 ufurp the Difcourfe, love this rambling Method ; but 
 rational People who always fpeak to theParpofe, don't 
 find their Account in it. What Patience does it not 
 require, to hear a Man that comes with a compofed 
 Look, and afks you an hundred Queftions when you 
 are full of Hufinefs, or are intent upon Things that 
 xvill not fuffer you to think on Trifles ? It is eafy to 
 difcover whether his Prefence be acceptable or unwel- 
 come, provided he make any Refleflion, he can- 
 not be miftaken. But the good Opinion every one 
 has of his own Merit, will not fuffer him to fee 
 that he is looked upon as an Impertinent. 
 
 How hard is it to command Attention any long time 
 in any kind whatever! the beft Things difguft at laft , 
 In a fine Voice juftly managed, in a Lute delicate!/ 
 touched, there are great Charms ; but continual fing- 
 ing or playing upon the Lute tires the Hearer. The 
 Extravagance of thofe who have the'e Talents con- 
 fills in perfecuting you with their Airs, and their new 
 Pieces, which pleaie for the firft Quarter of an Hour, 
 but fatigue afterwards by their Excefs. 
 
 There are fome Seafons wherein you mud have 
 Complaifance and hear Raillery, unlefs you would be 
 thought fantaftick and ridiculous. He knows not the 
 Art of living, nor underftands his own Intereft, who 
 takes Pett at Things that are lightly faid, and 
 without Defign to give Offence. If the Humour 
 be innocent, 'tis brutal to make affrontive Replies ; 
 the fureft Revenge is a quick and fmart Repar- 
 tee, that puniflies the^Humourift, or defeats h ; m 
 with his own Weapons. If the Drollery becxceflive,
 
 n 6 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 a Man may put on a fcrious Air, to fignify that it it 
 not agreeable, and that he has Reafon to take Excepti- 
 on. 
 
 Tis but of late Days that Perfons of Quality of a 
 certainAgehave taken, up Liber ties aiuongft themfelves 
 and a Sort of Behaviour that would not be pardoned 
 in their Footmen : They have no Deference, no Ref- 
 peft for one another, their Language is grofs Abufe ; 
 they unveil the Myfteries of their Debauchery, and 
 defcribe them to the leaft particular : Relations that 
 ftiould cover them with Confufion, if they had any re- 
 mains of Humanity left. This Frank and frolick way 
 of treating one another, is the Reafon that before Wo- 
 men of Merit they are quite thrown off their Bias, and 
 have not a Word to fay; they are put into a preterna- 
 tural State, and by that Conftraint lofe that little Senfe 
 they have. 
 
 Joliniac is a fort of petty Matter, that thinks hitn- 
 felf very Modifti, and that be lays an Obligation on 
 thofe he vifits : He talks of nothing but Bargains, 
 Dogs, Horfes, Stag hunting, and a thoufand chimeri- 
 cal Projects of Diverfion, and all this comes to nothing. 
 He is perpetually citing People of the firft Quality of 
 his Acquaintance, whom he treats in a familiar Way. 
 'Tis impoffible to carry Impertinence farther, and he 
 is not fenfiblethat all the World confiders him as a Fop. 
 
 A Man not born to an Eftate, if he happen to make 
 a great Fortune, unlefs he have good Senfe, grows 
 haughty, contemptuous, and impertinent : The fool - 
 ifh Pride he is pofleft with makes him dildain Perfons 
 of a diftinguiflied Birth and Merit, when they have 
 nothing but Quality and Parts : Every Thing that is 
 not Gold and Silver feems unworthy of his Efteem 
 and Approbation. 
 
 Exceflively and infipidly to dwell upon the Praifes 
 of all the Difhes a Man eats of at a Table, is a Mean- 
 nefs that befpeaks a fordid Education, and the Proper- 
 ty only of wretched Parafites : But neither ought he 
 that makes the Treat to take upon him to commend 
 the Ragoos and the Delicacy of the Meats and Wines 
 
 he
 
 Concerning Impertinence. 117 
 
 lie regales his Guefts with ; that being a filly Vanity 
 unbecoming a Perfon of Quality. There's another Ex- 
 treme to be avoided by thofe that eat at another's Ta- 
 ble, which is an afiefted Squeamiihnefs, and boafting 
 of the fumptuous Treats they have met with in other 
 Houfes, this is a By-way of defpifmg what they have 
 before them. 
 
 To be always in Admiration when we fpeak to Peo- 
 ple, is a Sign of Stupidity or elfe an Affectation of 
 approaching Flattery. The judicious and Sincere ad- 
 mire but little, and are not lavifli of their Praifes. 
 Can't we Compliment a Man when he deferves it, 
 without making Exclamations? Thofe extravagant 
 Praifes do neither Honour to the Giver nor Receiv/- 
 er. 
 
 Admiration is commonly the Effedt, of a grofs Igno- 
 rance : Great Admirers are ufually great Fools, or fil- 
 ly Flatterers, that admire what deferves but moderate 
 Commendation. You are allowed to fay, that a Thing 
 pleafes you, or to fignify by fome Sign, that you are 
 affefted with what you fee or hear ; but intemperate 
 Outcries and violent Motions that denote an extraor- 
 dinary Surprize^ are commonly Signs of Impertinence, 
 of a groveling Soul, foolilhly prodigal of it's Incenfe. 
 
 Men love to be merry and diverted, and prefer the 
 Converfation of Humourifts before that of the Seri- 
 ous ; but they efteem them U-fs : There is in the Cha- 
 rafter of a Jefler fomething mean and affe&ed, that 
 breeds Contempt. 
 
 He that would pleafe, muft be natural in every 
 Thing, even to Trifles, Which is but ill objewed by 
 thofe Tellers of News, which, tho' no Body is con- 
 cerned for it, they amplify with abundance of Circum- 
 ftances, to give i. the more Weight : They relate it 
 with a myflerious Air, as if they were the great Ar- 
 cana of the State. Thefe Exaggerations tire and fa- 
 tigue Men of Senfe : But the Relator's Ddign is com- 
 monly to brighten his Narrative, and to enrich it with 
 wonderful Particulars :. He has little Regard for Truth 
 
 or
 
 1 1 8 Reflexions upon Ridicule. 
 
 or Probability ; his End is to be admired : But in re- 
 quital he is credited in nothing he fays. 
 
 It is requisite in Society, fometimes to difeourfe of 
 News, and the current Reports : But the Character of 
 a Newfmonger leads to Ridicule. 'Tis a Kind of Pro- 
 feffion that degrades a Man beneath himfelf. This fort 
 of People always accoft you with the fame Compli- 
 ment : H<nv goes it in the World noiv ? What Neivs do 
 you bear ? Whatever Bufmefs you have on your Hands, 
 they never leave >ou till they have related all they 
 know, or all they have dream't. 
 
 1 know not upon what Grounds Perfons of Quality 
 think themfelves privileged to fpeak Things againft 
 good Senfe, and right Reafon ; their Quality does not 
 authorize them ; on the contrary, the higher they are 
 raifed by their Birth, the more they are obliged to dif- 
 tinguim themfelves by a real Merit, which they ought 
 to labour for; Nonfenfe is ftill Nonfenfe in the Mouth 
 of a Peer or a Lord-Lieutenant. 
 
 Monder 1 *, magnificent Coach and numerous Train 
 and Equipage, the Gold that fparkles in his Cloaths, 
 and the Diamonds about him, give him the Afcendant 
 over his Rivals, which contents him. He does not 
 perceive that he is biffed by Men of Senfe, as foon as 
 he offers to open his Mouth to fpeak. His infide is 
 not anfwerable to his outfide ; But what Matter is it, 
 provided he can dazzle fome Cullies, that judge only 
 by the Shell and Appearance ? 
 
 'Tis hard enough to comprehend how Women, even 
 of Senfe, choofe rather the Rich, without Merit, for 
 their Lovers, than others excellently accomplished, but 
 incapable of fpending high. 'Tis a Sign thai Intereft 
 is their governing Paffion, and that it was a true Say- 
 ing, that tie<ver any Superintendant met 'with Cruelty 
 from Women. Melanite has lately facrificed dgatbo, a 
 Perfon of an eminent Rank, and thoufands of Charms 
 in Mind and Body, and who paflionately loved her; 
 me has facrificed him to Sotinet, who is of the Scum 
 of the People, and was of the bafeft Employs before 
 his Rife: But he is very generous, and has a great 
 
 deal
 
 "Concerning Impertinence. 119 
 
 deal of Money to fpend : His Difcourfes are ill con- 
 certed, and he explains his Paflion in a moft ridicu- 
 lous Way ; but his Prefents fupply his want of 
 Parts. 
 
 You would fain be the only Speaker in all Compa- 
 nies, \vhilft you have only Impertinencies to lay, 
 which you blockifhly utter ; if you relate a Matter of 
 Faft, you run out into all the moft frivolous Circum- 
 ftances. Do you think you divert the Company by 
 your loud Laughs in the wrong Places, and the Ap- 
 plauds you bellow upon your own Extravagancies ? 
 You depart contented from a Company, where every 
 body is diverted indeed, but 'tis with your Folly. 
 
 "Tis a miferable Way of pleafing, to fcatter Smut in 
 all your Stories, and intermix obfcene Ambiguities ; 
 be they never fo carefully wrapped, they have always 
 a bad EfFeft on the Mind of the Hearers, and denote 
 the corrupt Morals of the Speaker He lofes Refpeft 
 who ufes this Method before Women ; the free'fl of 
 them are offended at k, who demand fome Deference 
 in Publick. Every body knows the Hiltory of Dori- 
 mene ; fhe is hardly at the Pains to conceal her Intri- 
 gues ; nor is (he out of Countenance at the Declarati- 
 ons that are made to her in Private : But yet one loofe 
 Word, though not addrefsed to her,, provokes her, 
 and fhe pretends to blufh at it. 
 
 An hair brained Behaviour can never plea fe, and I 
 wonder fome People affedl it ; 'tis (till' lels becoming 
 Women,, who are never taking without obferving the 
 Decorum of their Character; that Refer ve and Dif- 
 cretion which is their Peculiar. Who can pardon Co- 
 rinna her Paffions, her Extravagancies, her Oaths, all 
 the Snuff-boxes fhe has in her Pockets, and ihe Profu- 
 fcon fhe makes of Snuff? 
 
 Love makes a Man extremely ridiculous, when ar- 
 rived to an Age that ought to infpire him with other 
 Sentiments. There is not a more filly Character than 
 that of an old Dotard, fmirking upon a young and 
 hanufome Woman, who is out of Patience to hear 
 him, and would not endure his Impertinence but for ihe 
 
 fake
 
 1 20 -Refleftiom upon Ridicule. 
 
 fake of fome Decorum. All that People do to make 
 themfelves amiable, when the Seafon of their Agree- 
 ments is over, heightens and redoubles the 1 'tedium and 
 difguft of the carefled Parties who take all their Court- 
 fhips for fo many importunate Fooleries. 
 
 No Body makes himfeif the more efteemed for Fi- 
 nery, and Expences above his Condition: It ferves to 
 provoke the Envy of others, who are not capable of 
 doing the like ; and they lake out their Penny-worths 
 in c atyr or Slander. Turpia, who has but an indiffe- 
 rent Eftate, is over Head in Debt, by running into an 
 exceffive Pomp : His mildeft C enfures are content to 
 fay, that he too much forgot himfeif. 
 
 The Citts, who have Wealth above their Condition, 
 when they have a little Vanity, diidain their Equals, 
 and will converfe with none but Quality, who find the 
 Art of ruining them by the abfurd Expences you en- 
 gage them in : They carefsthem, and embrace them, 
 and put themfelves upon a Level ; which Condefcen- 
 lion turns the E-read of a Citizen, already mifguided by 
 his Vanity : But he pays dearly for his interefted Ca- 
 refles, and when he is exhaufted, he is fent back to his 
 Counter. 
 
 You are ambitious to fet up for a Wit, to be face- 
 tious and agreeable, when you have neither Wit nor 
 Engagements. Thofe Witticifms which you think fo 
 delicate and poignant, are nonfenfical Fooleries that 
 difpleafe Men of Senfe. Learn to know yourfelf bet- 
 ter: It requires more Genius than you are Mafter of, 
 to make judicious People laugh. 'Tis none of your 
 Talent j don't take that Part upon you, you'll eafily be 
 excufed it. 
 
 We live-not in the Age of Buffoonery, Quibbles 
 and Puns, and Words with a double Meaning ; that 
 Nonfenfe and foolifh Way of Jetting is banifhed the 
 Converfation of well-bred Men : The Couritry-Peo- 
 ple, and Tradefmen who think they have Wit, ftill 
 make it their chief Paftiaie : They ought not to 
 
 be
 
 Concerning Impertinence. 121 
 
 be envied that Pleafure ; but genteel People mould no 
 more make ufe of it than old Fashions. 
 
 'Tis good to have a gay and facetious Humour, but 
 a Man muft moderate his Gaiety and his Mirth : 'Tis 
 unbecoming to break out into extravagant Fits of 
 Laughter, that Aim all the Company. The leaft di- 
 verting Thing that is faid before Lucinda, makes her 
 ready to burft, me is no longer Miftrefa of herfelf ; 
 nor is me able to return to her Senfcs ; her Fit of 
 cackling proceeds even to Convulfions. 
 
 He that tells a Story, ought not to laugh at the firft 
 Circumftance he thinks diverting, as if to advertife 
 his Hearers that that is the witty Part ; on the con- 
 trary, he ought then to be the moft ferious : A 
 merry Jelt, told in a grave Manner, has the better Ef- 
 fect ; but you extinguifh the Appetite of Laughter in 
 others, if you prevent them. 
 
 Is there no Remedy to cure People of Imperti- 
 nence ? 'Tis certain all have a predominant Paffion, 
 and a favourite Vice, which they feldom conquer, be- 
 caufe they fcarce percieve it ; their Attention goes r.o 
 farther than to obferve what makes their Neigbours 
 ridiculous, which they draw in it's proper Colours ; 
 nothing remains, but to turn their Attention home* 
 wards : They laugh at the Pifture they have drawn, 
 and do not perceive they have the Original in them- 
 felves. 
 
 Self-Love hinders our Knowledge of ourfelves, 
 whom we fometimes applaud for Things which are 
 real Faults, and offenfive to eve*y Eye. Ariftos Folly 
 is, that being an upftart Tradefman, he would pafs for 
 a Perfon of Quality. He is rich and has a ftately 
 Houfe, and often entertains Perfons of high Birth, 
 who ridicule him, borrow his Money, have theCom- 
 plaifance to hear him twenty Times a Day boaft of his 
 Nobility, and how his Anceftors bore Arms under 
 William the Conqueror : He has faid it fo often, that 
 he at laft believes it, and finds fome Fools enough to 
 believe it too. 
 
 VOL. I. G You
 
 1 2 I Reflections upon Ridicuk. 
 
 You are of an illuftrious Family, and there's no 
 difputing the Antiquity of it ; you have nothing to 
 do but to live conformably to the Rank you bear in 
 the World. The Titles in your Efcutcheon prove, 
 that your Anceftors had Virtue and Courage, and 
 Merit, and well ferved the State ; but if you are a 
 Coxcomb, and lead a lazy and effeminate Life, the 
 .Glory of your Anceftors will not prevent your being 
 defpifed and regarded as a Wretch. 
 
 'Tis not enough to be noble, unlefs your Life and 
 Actions anfwer the Nobility of your Extraction : 
 Vices are much more unpardonable in a Man of 
 Quality, than in the common Herd, that have no 
 Education. 
 
 Perfons not nobly born, who yet would mimick 
 the Great, mimick them very ill ; for they only af- 
 fume falfe Airs of Grandeur, which expofe them to 
 every Body's Laughter. Celia is only a Merchant's 
 Daughter, but is grown a Countefs by her Wealth, 
 and will have nothing but Turks and HuJ^ars in her 
 Service ; difmifiing the Blacks to the Ladies of the 
 Robe. Colina went on Foot, and was meanly 
 cloathed before her Marriage ; her Hufband gave her 
 a Coach and Six, but not contented with that, me 
 would have a Coach and Eight ; Her Extravagance 
 is, that me can go to Court with Eight Horfes, like 
 aPrincefs; but for a Remainder of Modefty, fhe 
 .would (hew herfelf daily in Hide-Park with Six. 
 
 The firft Defire which Riches produce in Perfons 
 of mean Birth, when they have made their Fortune, 
 is, to equal the greateft Lords ; they appropriate 
 their Names, their Lands and Houfes, from which 
 they expel them by dint of Money : At twenty Years 
 end the true Lord is confounded with him that 
 bought the Lordfhip. 
 
 To be of a middling Strain, fluctuating between 
 the Quality and the Mob, and to affeft Altitudes 
 not pardonable in Perfons of the firft Rank, is an 
 Abfurdity that can flow from nothing but a valt 
 
 impertinence,
 
 Confer twig Impertinence, n^ 
 
 Impertinence, or a ridiculous Pride. Who can hold 
 his Indignation, to fee new-vamped Tradeswomen, 
 whole Drefs and Train, tod F urn tare 2nd Table, 
 create Env^ ia Women of tr.e rat Quality : But 
 the Comfort of that is, they incur Rifcw, by rifcg 
 above their Rank, and put diemles to. raft Expen- 
 ces to be laughed at. 
 
 Perfons of obfcore Birth fpoil themfelTcs with the 
 Commerce they afieft to have with Courtiers ; inftead 
 of appearing to Advantage, they expofe the Mean- 
 Bel's of their Birth the more, by the odious Compa- 
 nions that are made of them. If Perfons of Quality 
 fuffer them, 'tis only wjth Views of Intereft, or to 
 -; them! elves with the Holly, of a Citizen, who 
 def;: coals, and would, at any Price, have 
 
 Intimacies with the Great. 
 
 What pretend People meanly bora, who have 
 worked themfelves into an Efbue, to talk fo much of 
 their Anceftors, and to give ou^themfelves for noble ? 
 Do they think to impoie upon the Publick ; or per- 
 iuade themfelves that no Body knows they fold Cloth, 
 or Linen, or Lace ? Did they not oik fo much, it 
 might be forgotten : Bat their Conceit to be thought 
 what they are not, brings the World upon their Back* 
 and makes them take the Pains to rake into their 
 Anceftors Graves, who might otherwise gently fteal 
 into Oblivion. Tis worfe when this imaginary No- 
 bility makes them fo forget themfeives, as to defpife 
 others : Sjfaeva is no longer to be approached ; her 
 vaft Riches poueis her vith fo much Pride, that ihe 
 . fcarce give place to Dutchefles. She fufiers 
 none bat Perfoas of Diibncoon in her Houfe, or ac 
 Table; all her Relations arc excluded, and (he 
 neither knows diem nor herfelf. 
 
 A Man of vulgar Extraction, pretending to be 
 Xoble, regales himfelf with the Pleafure of being 
 thought fo. This chimerical Nobility is the Dil- 
 eafe of thofe that grow rich ; they think their 
 Money ferves for a Varniih to cover the mean- 
 G ^ ' "ijef?
 
 124 RyfkStfato upon Ridicule. 
 
 nefs of their Birth ; their fiflitious Pedigree is every 
 Body's Jeft. What Comedy 'tis to 'fee People raifed 
 from the Dregs' of the Populace, adorning them- 
 felves wifh borrowed Titles, and becaufe they bear 
 the Na(fte of the Lordlhips they have bought, have 
 the Confidence to- put the Arms of thofe Houfes 
 upon their Coaches, which they formerly inhabited 
 as Servants ! Danta has long lived in the Houfe of a 
 great Lord, with the Title of his Secretary ; he is 
 perfectly acquainted with the Genealogy of the Fa- 
 mily, which is extinft for want of Heirs to bear the 
 Name ; he has idfoiently ufurped it, by buying the 
 moil confiderable Lands poffelt from Father to Son, 
 by the Lords of that illustrious Race. Dantes has 
 caufed his Genealogy to be made, and printed, and 
 has deduced himfelf with Impunity from the moil an- 
 cient Lords of the Kingdom. 
 
 He that has gotten a great Eflate, is fometimes 
 Fool enough to think he is grown Noble at the fame 
 Time ; he takes the Train and Equipage of a great 
 Lord ; he is lodged and fed, and ferved like a Perfon 
 of Quality : The Great honour him, cultivate him, 
 refpeft him, court him. Is it any wonder that fo 
 much external Grandeur turns his Head, and makes 
 him think himfelf equal with thofe that treat him 
 \vithfo much Ceremony? Great Wealth is a Kind 
 of Spunge, that wipes off the Filth of the Birth, be 
 it never fo mean and miferable. No Body takes it 
 amifs that a rich Man Ihould have a Number of Ser- 
 vants, a fine Houfe, rich Furniture and a Coach, as 
 being the Appendixes of Riches ; but that he fhould 
 pretend to Quality, and expeft to be confidered up- 
 on that Bottom, is a Folly and Weaknefs, that turn* 
 him into Ridicule.
 
 Concerning Prejudice. 125 
 
 . 
 
 Of Prejudice. 
 
 S Elf- Love has two Effe&s upon u?, which contri- 
 bute not a little to mifgaide us, and are equally 
 dangerous. It leiTens the Idea of our Faults, and ren- 
 ders them imperceptible, and magnifies the Idea of 
 our Merit. Thefe two Prejudices naturally tend 
 to Ridicule. They are capable of Prejudice, judge 
 always favourably of their own Merit, and find a 
 great Inclination to defpife that of others ; which are 
 two great Sources of Impertinence. Men are too ea- 
 fy and carelefs to ftudy as they ought, the Knowledge - 
 of themfelves : They are blind to their moft manifeir. 
 Faults : If they have any good Qualities, they con- 
 clude they have attained the very Pinacle of Perfedi- 
 on : Which is a flattering and deceptious Prejudice, 
 and an Obftacle to their knowing themfelves and o- 
 thers, and doing them Juilice. 
 
 This good Opinion every one has of his Defert. 
 making them unaffe&ed with that of others, is oae 
 of the Things that embitters moft the Pleafore of 
 Convocation and Civil Life. For 'tis hard at long 
 run not to drop fomething or other, that may no- 
 tify their Difpofttion of Mind towards them : Men 
 are too attentive to their own Interefts to be long, 
 in the Dark as to others Thoughts of them : Which 
 Difcovery diftradb them, and inflames them againft 
 thofe who do not, as they imagine, do them Juf- 
 tice. 'Tis impoflible a Correfpondence ftiould lall 
 long, when this is the Temper on both Sides ; 
 and if I miftake not, this is the Principle which 
 cxtinguifhes the faireft Friendmips which were believ- 
 ed immortal. 
 
 The Prepofleffion of Pride is a Kind of Drunken- 
 
 nefs and Madnefs in fome People. They think no 
 
 Body worthy of them, or with whom they vouch- 
 
 fufe a Familiarity. A young Woman educated in 
 
 G 3 this
 
 126 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 this Notion, thinks there's not a Man upon Earth 
 rich enough, handfome enough, and of fufficient 
 Quality, to afpire to the Honour of her Alliance. 
 Their greateft Offers cannot flatter her Ambition : 
 She expevfls a Man fhould drop from Heaven made 
 on purpofe. In the mean Time the Years multiply, 
 and Merit diminimes, and flic is forced at laft to make 
 great Abatements, 
 
 Hortenfe was courted in her fparkling Youth, by a 
 Man of vaft Pofleflions ; but becaafe he was not no- 
 bly born, (he would not give him the Hearing. A 
 Perfon of Quality came next; but his Eftate was 
 not fufficient, and he had the fame Fate as his Rival. 
 Horten/e was young, beautiful and rich, and every 
 Day made new Conquefts ; but the Prepofleflion of 
 her own Merit, would not fuffer her to determine 
 in any one's Favour, nor to fix her Refolution. She 
 ftill found in her Lovers fome Defect which rendered 
 them unworthy of her. During this Time l.er 
 Years are encreafed, and her Croud of Lovers lefien- 
 ed ; and Hortenfe beftows herfelf upon a Man whom 
 {he would not have admitted formerly for her Gentle- 
 man Uftier. 
 
 The Reafon why we are fo indulgent to our Paf- 
 fions, is, that we behold them in fuch a Pofirion, as 
 conceals their Ridiculoufnefs and Deformity. The 
 Mifer difguifes his Avarice under the Name of good 
 Hufbandry : The Voluptuoas calls himfelf good- 
 humoured. A Woman defamed by her Intrigues 
 confefles fhe is a Coquet, and believes (he is no more. 
 But the Publick has not the fame Indulgence. It 
 calls Things by their proper Names, and judges of 
 them with an inexorable Rigour. 
 
 It is an hard Talk to reftify a conceited Fool, 
 and fet him in the right Way ; becaufe his Views 
 are too limited to perceive the Evidence of the 
 Reafons you alledge to him : He pleafes himfelf 
 with his falfe Ideas, and flights whatever has RO 
 Relation to them. Ljjlas is only opinionative be- 
 
 caufe
 
 Concerning Prejudice. 1 2V 
 
 eaufe he wants Senfe, and at the fame time thinks he 
 has more Senfe than others. 
 
 Prejudice hoodwinks People from feeing themfelves 
 as they are : We commonly think them ridiculous, 
 whilft they perceive not tiie Part they aft : The grof- 
 feft Faults efcape them, or if they perceive them, they 
 fhut their Eyes, becaufe the Sight is offenfive. They 
 are glad to deceive themfelves, and do all that's pofli- 
 ble to deceive others. 
 
 If we did but mind the Manner we are received 
 by People, we fhould eafily know whether our Com- 
 pany was acceptable or burthenfome. But we caie 
 not to do ourfelves this Juftice ; being fo far from ima- 
 gining we are troublefome, as always to believe we 
 do them a Pleafure : And therefore to compenfate 
 themfelves for our Importunities, they make us the 
 Subjecl of their Mirth, and turn us into Ridicule by 
 fubtile and delicate Ironies, the Malignity whereof ii 
 undifcerned. 
 
 Would it not be better to make choice of People, 
 that (hew our welcome in their Face, and anfwer our 
 Attendances with Pleafure ; than to go and importune 
 Men with our Vilits, who look afquint upon us, and 
 fuffer us with Conftraint. Guzman will pay no Vifits 
 fave to Datchefles and Princeffes ; he can fcarce con- 
 dfcend to Counteffes and Marchionefles. He fpends 
 all his Life in Places where he is looked upon as an 
 Impertinent, whofe Company perhaps would be de- 
 firable, if he could refolve to vifit fuch as are fuitablc 
 to him. 
 
 Tis a furprizing thing, that Conceitednefs of Au- 
 thors : They reduce all the Difcourfe, and moft com- 
 monly very impertinently, to their Works. No- 
 thing but Flattery will content them ; they praife 
 themfelves without Referve, and drink, like Ntfiar, 
 the ironical Encomiums that are made them : The 
 Prejudice in Favour of their Merit, hinders them 
 from perceiving how they are bantered. Perfons 
 fondly addi&ed to an- Opinion, are extremely per- 
 emptory in defending their Notions : Whether the 
 G 4 great
 
 128 Reflexions upon Ridicule. 
 
 great Efteem of their own Sufficiency inebriates 
 them, or whether they think others obliged to fub- 
 jnit to their Decifions. This violent Fondnefs for 
 rhemfelves, ruins the Delights of Converfation, be- 
 caufe others are not always in a Humour of Con- 
 defcenfion ; and then the Contrariety of Notions 
 breeds a certain Sournefs that begets Averfion, and 
 iometimes Quarrels. 
 
 Whence comes it that generally thofe who dif- 
 ymte upon any Point, or rreat of any Affair, or 
 plead tor any Jntereft, always think themfelves in 
 the right ? Is it in Flattery of their own Abilities ? 
 Or is it not rather, that the Mifts of Prejudice are 
 fo grofs, as to extinguifh the Light of Reafon ? The 
 prejudiced Man hears nothing never fo reafonable : 
 He feems to be afraid of being impofed upon : And 
 never begins to open his Eyes 'till he is fallen into the 
 Ditch ; or, in Ipight of all the Advices that have 
 been given him, has made an abfurd Step, to ruin 
 his Affairs. 
 
 'Tis a Kind of Cowardice, not to defend our Opi- 
 nion when we think it juft : But we mould modeltly 
 propofe our Reafbns, that they that yield to us may 
 do it undifturbed. If your Opinion be indefenfible, 
 do not obflinately maintain a bad Caufe. 
 
 The Character of a Bold Wit is difhonourable in 
 Matters of Religion : 'Tis an Extravagance to think 
 to fubmit Things to our Reafon that are infinitely 
 above it : But neither ought we to have a filly Cre- 
 dulity, for all that feems extraordinary, and all the 
 legendary Miracles that are fo variously and impro- 
 bably taught. 
 
 In the Cenfures the World pafles on our Conduft, 
 \ve are fometimes juftly, and fometimes abftirdly taxed ; 
 If after a gentle J unification the Publick will perfift to 
 blame us, we muft wait till Time mail undeceive it : 
 We provoke it rather than appeafe it by too much Ar- 
 gument in the heighth of its Prejudice. People have 
 naturally a fecret Shame to be deceived in their Judg- 
 ments ;
 
 Concerning Prejudice. 129 
 
 merits ; and there are Moments in which your nice 
 and fpirited People can't bear to bedifabufed. 
 
 A Man that offends us, from that Moment lofes all 
 his Merit, if we believe our own Refentment : His 
 Wit, his Courage, his Eftate, his Extraction, all his 
 Virtues, dwindle and vanifh ; and we vilify ia all Re- 
 fpecls, whom we highly extolled but a Moment be- 
 fore : We employed all our Pains, and Credit, and 
 Friends to oblige him, and at prefent we play all forts 
 of Engines to deftroy him. Whatever relates to him. 
 his Domefticks, his Children, and Friends grow odious 
 to us : This Change is ridiculous, and belpeaks a 
 childim Soul, and the Force of Prejudice. 
 
 Otigny and Fierville were the bed Friends in the 
 World ; their Neighbourhood in the Country cement- 
 ed their Friendfhip, and they fpent their Lives toge- 
 ther, and mutually cryed up one another. They 
 have broke at laft for a Trifle $ and ever fince they 
 rage againft one another with a Violence that would 
 be unpardonable in an Enemy of twenty Years (land- 
 ing. All their Friends have taken great Pains to re- 
 concile them, but to no Purpofe : For no body can 
 conjecture what is the Subject of their Quarrel, nor 
 do they i^now it themfelves. 
 
 Women -ef great Figure look upon Houfewifery 
 as City-Virtue : They can't perfuade themfelves to 
 look into little Accounts to hinder the Robberies of 
 their Servants. Nothing more denotes a want of 
 common Senfe, than the foolifh Expences they are 
 at : They know not what to do with their Mo- 
 ney, when they have it ; it feems to be a cumber- 
 fome Moveable that perplexes them, and they think 
 they mail never fee an End of it. Poverty treads 
 clofe upon the Heels of fo indifcreet a Manage- 
 ment ; after having lived at a great Rate for a few 
 Days, they want for a Jong Time, and fall into 
 Ridicule. Mifplaced Expences do a Man no Cre- 
 dit ; they ought to be managed with Defign and 
 good Oeconomy. The Countefs of S ardan has a 
 mind to every thing flic fees, and fUe buys the 
 '.' ; moft
 
 130 Reflexions upon Ridicule. 
 
 moft ufelefs Trifles at the deareft Rate, If (he fees a 
 piece of Furniture (he has not already, (he immedi- 
 ately orders the like to be made for her.: She tries 
 all the Artifts that are reputed in any kind ; Die 
 has her Cloaths made and unmade twenty times. 
 Still reftlefs and paflionate for what me has not, (he 
 is never fatisfied with what (he poflefles. That 
 which charms her to Day, difgufts her to Morrow : 
 Nothing can fix her Tafte, becaufe me follows only 
 the Whims of her PrepofTeffion. 
 
 Moft Men live without Reflection, and are only 
 governed by their Eyes arid Ears : A fumptuous Suit 
 of Cloaths furprizes them, and they think the 
 Wearer more deferving than another whom they fee 
 inhabited, and accoft not without Reluctance. They 
 never draw afide this outward Curtain, to view the 
 Perfon more diftinclly. A Man on Foot makes lefs 
 Impreflion on the Mind, than another drawn in a 
 Gilt Coach, though he be but a Coxcomb. 
 
 The Multitude is biafled by the Impreffion given 
 by the Great Ones, who carry every thing accord- 
 ing to their Caprice, and fcarce leave their Inferiors 
 rhe Liberty of thinking. A Man in Place is followed 
 in his Cenfure or Approbation of Things, whether 
 he under/land them or not. The Figure he makes, 
 or the Authority he is in, dazles his Dependants, 
 and they judge no longer by their own Reafoo after 
 he has decided : Their Complaifance to him makes 
 him no longer confult his Tafte or Reafon. 'Tis the 
 Irjuftice of the Great, that they'll fubmit all their In- 
 feriors and Expectants to all their Whims and Fancies ; 
 whether they think they have more Senfe, or their 
 Contempt for thofe beneath them perfuades them this 
 Sacrifice is due to them. 
 
 A Young Man that defires to pleafe, muft be Civil, 
 and no great Pretender : For otherwife he would cer- 
 tainly incur the Hatred or Contempt of his Equals. 
 How abfurd would it be 10 diclate upon War or Poli- 
 ticks before Perfons of confummate Experience. It 
 would be a charitable Thing to fet him right, and 
 
 make
 
 Concerning Prejudice. 131 
 
 make him fenfible of his ridiculous Extravagance 
 and Preemption : But no body takes the Pains to 
 undeceive him, and let him know the Raillery he 
 incurs : He grows old in his Conceitednefs, and dies 
 without correcting it. Gerajius in his firft Campaign 
 thought himfelf capable of Lecturing the Generals : 
 He continually quoted to them the Examples of Alex- 
 ander and C&far, and fome fcraps of the Greek and 
 Roman Hiftories he had learnt at School, which he 
 but juft came out of. His high Birth made them 
 feem to applaud him, and they were content to 
 laugh to themfelves. 
 
 ''11s a pretty vain Attempt to go to undeceive 
 People prepofTefled with a good Opinion of them- 
 felves. A Man very feldom fucceeds in it, and he 
 is commonly but ill paid for the good Advice that 
 he gives. 'Tis an irkfome thing to a Man, to 
 find he has not all the Merit he imagines, and he 
 never is well pleafed with thofe who open his 
 Eyes to his own Imperfe&iens. That is a very ticklim 
 Matter, and the Succefs is very dubious. It is fo 
 eafy to incur the Hatred of thofe we would redrefs, 
 that it is more conducive to our Peace to pafs by 
 fome Defects, unlefs they be things of Confequence, 
 and may have ill Effects : In. fuch Irvftances we 
 ought not to- abandon a Man to his bad Conduct : 
 But to what Purpoie is it to difabufe Dorimene, in 
 telling her Ihe is purblind, who is continually faying 
 her Eyes are large and foft r s/minta, who is too 
 plump and too full fhaped, thinks flie is fine and 
 (lender. Caritides is but an half Scholar, and he 
 flatters himfelf that he is the greateft Man of his 
 Age. Cepfjift, tolerably handfome, has fo good an 
 Opinion of her Charms, that me fears no Woman in 
 the World for a Rival. This gentle Madnefs intoxi- 
 cates them with an agreeable Poiion : But if their Pre- 
 judice renders them ridiculous, however nobody is 
 injured by it. , 
 
 There are few People but have their favourite Word, 
 which is ever in their Mouth and has entirely won 
 
 their
 
 132 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 their Heart and Affe&ions; and there are as few but 
 have fome favourite Fault, if I may ufe that Exprefii- 
 on : That is a Fault they feel and know, but 
 will not part with. There are fome that carry the 
 Extravagance fo far, as to congratulate and applaud 
 themfelves for it : And it frequently happens that 
 thefe darling Vices are fuch as are moft unfuitable 
 to the Perlbn, and remote from his Character. 
 Thofe whofe Profeflion indifper.fably obliges them to 
 Modefty and Referve, play the Bullies, and affume 
 Liberty no ways fuiting to their Condition. Wo- 
 men in particular, can't be too Modeft and Referved, 
 and we have a very ill Opinion of thofe who are too 
 free in Public, and neglec\ Decorum. 
 
 Ipbigeiiais eternally boafting her Nobility. Ari- 
 anna thanks her Stars for her fine Shape and delicate 
 Complexion. Pkillis is perpetually talking of the 
 Man that every body knows has a Paffion for her. 
 Clarine leads all the Difcourfe to her Perfon, and is 
 tired in all Companies where no body thinks to 
 compliment her. Sjl--viana talks continually of her 
 Hufband, her Children, her Management and Af- 
 fairs. Thefe Imperfections, tho' fometimes buc 
 trivial, lefien the Merit of our good Qualities, and 
 give others occaiion to turn us into Ridicule. Men 
 naturally Malignant fallen upon what offends them, 
 and pais curiorily over thole Virtues lhat might 
 deferve their Refie&ion. 
 
 'Tis an ESe& of the ill Nature of the Heart 
 of Man, to contemplate others on their worft Side. 
 We are fo glad to find lomething in them that 
 debafes them below us, that we feldom fail to ac- 
 quaint the World with what we find Difguftful in 
 our Neighbours : When we have thoroughly ex- 
 amined them, we magnify the Idea of our own Me- 
 rit, to draw the Parallel between us and feldom fail 
 to give ourfelves the Preference. This is the Rea- 
 ion we are always fo well fathfied with ourfelve;, 
 and fo contemptuous of others.
 
 Concerning Prejudice. 
 
 Tis entertaining a wretched Opinion of a Man to 
 give him the Praifes he does not deferve ; for it 
 muft either be thought that he has a great flock of 
 foolifh Vanity, or that he is ridiculoufly credulous. 
 And yet this i the furefl and readiefl way to infi- 
 nuate into the Hearts of Men : They eafily believe 
 that all the Praifes you give them are fmcere, be- 
 caufe generally they are conceited of their Talents ; 
 and be they never fo extravagant they beheve they 
 ftill deferve greater. Self-love, is a kind of thick 
 Mift, which hides our Faults, and prevents oar 
 perceiving the Extravagance of the Flatteries we 
 are gulled with, 
 
 Aldppvs flatters himfelf that he had a great fhare 
 in the Victory of Hocbjlet : He talks confidently of 
 the Dangers he was expofed to. He delicioufly im- 
 bibes the Elogies that are given him by the young 
 Officers that eat at his Table, and humour his 
 Fondnefs. dlcippus is too full of the Notion of 
 his Merit and Bravery, to be pofEbly undeceived ; 
 but he ought at leart to have fo much Dilcreti- 
 on, as not to deafen Men with the Noife of 
 his Exploits. 
 
 Every Writer, in whatever kind, unlefs he abound 
 in good Senfe, grows conceited with his Piece. It is 
 Foundation fufficient for a Quarrel to cenfure the 
 lead Word of his Writings. It is loft labour to pre- 
 tend to convince him of his Faults, and recover him 
 to right Reafon and true Senfe. He thinks his Inte- 
 reft, and the Reputation of his Wit is concerned to 
 protect all his Expreffions and Thoughts. Sometimes 
 with a fweetned Voice he intreats you to excufe the 
 Places which he owns, to be infirm and neglected : 
 Afterwards he affumes a decihve Air, and magiftenal- 
 ly maintains, that no body writes better in Profe or 
 in Verle ; and, that none are unaffected with his 
 Works, but through Stupidity or Envy : He com- 
 plains of the ill Tafte of Readers that don't per- 
 ceive the fine and lecret Beauties difperfed through- 
 out his Bjck ; and to indemnify himfelf for the 
 
 Indifference
 
 134 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 Indifference and Contempt of the Publick, he ad- 
 mires his own Performance : But he is the only 
 Admirer. 
 
 It is a pleafant Comedy to fee all the Poftures 
 llandrus puts himfelf into, to have the Reputation 
 of a Wit, and a good Author. He repeats you in 
 a grave and myfterious Tone, fome fine Place or 
 other, and makes an Exclamation at every Peri- 
 od. He infolently aflts you whether any one 
 thinks more juftly, or gives a finer Turn to hrs 
 Thoughts ? You don't Efficiently admire, fays he, 
 the finenefs of that Expreffion ; What a noble Stroke, 
 continues he, is that, and delicately touched ? llan- 
 drus, believes as he fpeaks, and is the Property of 
 his own Prejudice. 
 
 I pity their Misfortune who have not true Senfe 
 enough to perceive that they are regarded as Im- 
 pertinents and bufy Bodies, in Places where they think 
 their Company is defired. The good Opinion every 
 one has of his own Merit, hinders them from dif- 
 covering the ill Nature of thofe equivocal Praifes 
 that are given them ; which are nothing but art- 
 ful Raillery, and a By-way of turning them into 
 Ridicule, and trepanning them under Pretence of 
 Applaufe. Thefe ingenious Ironies and Satyrs, 
 with which they play upon us to our Face, whilft 
 we difcover not the Poifon, denote a blind Pre- 
 polTdlion, a ridiculous Conceit, and a kind of Sil- 
 linefs in ourfelves. 
 
 Our Vanity is mortally wounded with that Dif- 
 covery, which acquaints us, that the Efteem of others 
 is not anfwerable to our good Opinion of ouifelves, 
 or lets us fee that they deipife us. Every one is fo 
 prejudiced in his own Favour, as to think his own 
 Endowments give him the Preference above his Ri- 
 vals. Women have the fame Fondnefs for their 
 Beauty. But when they are given to ur.derftami 
 that the World has not the fame Ideas, and that thtir 
 Rivals are prefered to them, they are abfolutely in 
 Defpair, and never pardon it. 
 
 None
 
 Concerning Prejudice. 135 
 
 None but Fools, and People fondly prepoflefled 
 with their extraordinary Merit, give Way to be de- 
 ceived by fi&itious Praifes. 'Tis eafy to diftinguifh 
 a fincere Commendation from a rampant Flattery. He 
 that fpeaks what he thinks, fpeaks modeftly, and with 
 an Air of Simplicity that removes all Sufpicion ; 
 but the contrived Admirations and Exclamations of 
 Tincomiafts, 'muft needs appear taftelefs to Men of 
 Judgment, who will not be obliged and loaded with 
 Applaufe for Things indifferent. Modeft People can't 
 bear thefe illegitimate Praifes, and everlafting Pane- 
 gyrifts, that are ready to cry up the lead Trifle. But 
 as the Number of Fools and vain Creatures is very 
 great, this Sort of People always find enow that 
 greedily fuck in their Poifon, and are caught by their 
 proftituted Flatteries. 
 
 Nothing better manifefls thelnjuftice of Men, than 
 the Pleafure they tarte in hearing themfelves flattered, 
 and the Repugnance they have to flatter others : 
 They would be applauded for every Thing they do, 
 and the moft indifferent Talents ; but are unwilling to 
 do Juftice to the Defert of ocher . 'Tis rifing above 
 the ordinary Sphere of Man to give them gladly the 
 Praifes they deferve, without deliring the fame Re- 
 turns : But 'tis certainly the beft way of procuring 
 the Love of thofe we converfe with, to indulge their 
 Self-love, and frequently mention the good Qualities 
 they think they have, without obliging them to do 
 the fame, or demanding a Tribute which is always 
 unwillingly paid. 
 
 Our Fondnefs for our own Merit, and the diminu- 
 tive Notions of the Merit of others, is that which 
 makes us fo forward to receive Praife, and fo back- 
 ward to give the like : But if any one, over fincere, 
 comes to open our Eyes, he does not much oblige us 
 by his officious Zeal, and from that Moment we rank 
 him in the Number of our Enemies. Lucette has 
 broken with Egina, who was her beft Friend, and 
 was much in her Affections, becaufe (he acquainted 
 her that her FondneU for a Spark of hers was fcurvily 
 
 interpreted,
 
 136 Refleclions upon Ridicule. 
 
 interpreted, and blernifhed her Reputation : She has 
 broke off all Correfpondence, inftead of thanking her 
 for her good Advice. 
 
 A Woman but indifferently handfome, is ravilhed if 
 you compare her with the moft accomplifhed Beauties, 
 is it that ihe does not know herfeif, and is flattered by 
 all her Glaffes ? A Man that has any Talent in Wit, 
 and writes tolerable Verfes, matches himfelf with the 
 moft famous Poets, and muft have fome remnant of 
 Modefty and good Sen'fe, if he does not give himfelf 
 the Preference. Thefe are the Effects of Preju- 
 dice ; which are the fame with thofe of Microf- 
 copes : It prodigioufly enlarges Objects : And in- 
 different Qualities contemplated through Prejudice, 
 feem the moft eminent Accompliflimenla. A paflable 
 Beauty adorned with the Charms of Prepofieflion, ec- 
 lipfes all other Faults. 
 
 I can't conceive why Men are generally fo fond of 
 Praife : Moft of thofe that give it, feafon it fo ill 
 that it rauft needs be naufeous to Men that have any 
 true Palate. A grofs Flatterer unfkilled in the nice 
 Management of Praifes, exclaims upon the leaft Tri- 
 fle. If you read your Work to him, to know his 
 Opinion of it, the moft common Thoughts and Ex- 
 preiTions put him into an Extacy. The grofleil 
 Faults it fwarms with don't offend him. If you have 
 done an indifferent Action, neither wanting Praifes 
 nor Cenfure, he loads you with exorbitant Praifes, 
 and prefers you to the hrft Men of the Age. A Man 
 muft be a perfect Cully to be lured with fo rank 
 Flatteries, and vain fo greedily to court the Encomiums 
 he fo little deferves. 
 
 The Profeffion of a Flatterer is bafe a,nd fcandalous ; 
 but it feems to be a neceffary Profeffion, fince every 
 Body wants Flattery. Mufick is not more agreeable 
 to a mufical Ear, than Flattery to Vain-glorious 
 People. 'Tis a Charm that pleafmgly bewitches them ; 
 and the wildeft of Men give Way to be tamed and 
 foothed by this Inchantment. That which is moft 
 furprizing, is, that fo many delight to be flattered up- 
 on
 
 Concerning Prejudice. 137 
 
 on an imaginary Merit, and Talents not their own. 
 A Man of an obfcure Birth, but faintly puts off the 
 Difcourfe of the Nobility of his Anceftors. A Wo- 
 man betwixt handfome and ugly, finds a fecret Plea- 
 f ure in hearing thofe Charms extolled, which her Flat- 
 terers liberally endow her with. They that are free 
 from all PrepoJTeffion, and do themfelves Juftice, can 
 no more fuffer unmerited Praife, than the Modeft can 
 bear the leaft Infringement upon Modefly : But when 
 Flattery is handfomely drefled, and praifes are finely 
 wrought, they work upon the fevereft Tempers. 'Tis 
 a Weaknefs indeed, and in right, we ought no more 
 to receive the Praifes we don'c deferve, than the Mo- 
 ney that is not due to us: And we ought moreover 
 to intimate to preemptive Pert'ons, that they are the 
 Properties of a fly and delicate Raillery, and the Sub- 
 jedls of the Banterers. PLilaute leaves the Company, 
 charmed with envenomed Commendations : She every 
 where boafts what Elogies me receives from Perfons of 
 great Merit and Reputation. But fuch as could pe- 
 netrate their Defigns, could eafily fee tfiaUhey played 
 upon her Credulity. 
 
 The Reafon why certain People conceal the Mean- 
 nefs of their Birth, and aflume chimerical Pedigrees, 
 is the prefumptuous Opinion of their own perfonal Me- 
 rit, or an Effeft of Pride which their Wealth infpires 
 them with. Such as have Occafion for their Afftftance, 
 countenance their Conceit purely in Complaifance : 
 Others are not at the Pains of examining whether their 
 Titles are legitimate : Thus their Nobility by Degrees 
 gets Footing in the Belief of the World : After they 
 have convinced themfelves of their great Extra&ion, 
 they have the lefs Difficulty to make others believe 
 it. 
 
 Ceraflus can fcarce read : If he ventures to talk of 
 the leaft Matter, he moves your Pity. He has not 
 Senfe enough to perceive he wants it ; and yet he 
 thinks his Parts qualify him for the'greateft Employ ; 
 if you'll believe him, ha may be trufted with the 
 mofl difficult Affairs ; he would accept the Title of 
 
 Embaffador
 
 138 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 EmbafTador in the firft Courts of Europe. What muft 
 Cerafius ftudy to be undeceived ? He need only ftudy 
 himfelf: But no Body cares to view himfelf on his 
 worft Side. You fee the Reafon why it is fo rare a 
 Thing to fee People correft their Faults ; they throw 
 their Eyes off from a Profpeft that difturbs their Va- 
 nity, and caft about to find fomething in themfelves 
 wherewithal to feed their Complacency and Prepof- 
 feffion. 
 
 Nicander with his flaxen Perriwig, his Knot upon- 
 his Sword, his embroidered Coat, and large Diamond 
 on his Finger, thinks himfelf the Charm of all Con- 
 verfation j whilft his infipid Difcourfes, and filly Things 
 he childifhly vents, tire all the Company. Becaufe he 
 is well made, and richly cloathed, he thinks to fet up 
 for a charming and fine Talker : But the Pleafure he 
 gives in feeing him, does not ballance the Pain of 
 hearing him. He refembles the Peacock in the Con- 
 grefs of Birds, which outfhines them when he blazons 
 his Plumes, but is hiffed when he goes to fmg. 
 
 We more 1 eafily bear with a timorous Perfon that 
 talks little, than a Blunderer that talks always with 
 wonderful AfTurance- Ignorance is commonly the 
 Principle both of the Confidence of the Prefumptuous, 
 and the Referve of the Fearful. An Ignorant, con- 
 ceited of an imaginary Merit, talks with Aflurance, 
 becaufe he thinks all admirable that he fays. He that 
 is convinced of his Ignorance, and withal reftrained 
 . h,y his natural Fear, dares not open his Teeth. Igno- 
 rance and Prefumption, which ought to be incompati- 
 ble, are always infeparable. Prefumption is a Confe- 
 quence of Self-Conceit ; this fufficiently makes a Man 
 uneafy to inform himfelf of what he is ignorant of: 
 And as he dares not confefs his Ignorance, he chufes 
 rather to expofe himfelf to Ridicule by playing the Doc- 
 tor, than modeitly own his Weaknefs, and make a- 
 mends for his want of Capacity by that fincere Con- 
 feflion. 
 
 It is but three Months ago that Simonet firft entred 
 into the World, and began to fee Company, and yet 
 
 he
 
 Concerning Prejudice. 139 
 
 he gives Sentence upon every Thing as a fupreme 
 Judge : He talks with equal Prefumption of War and 
 Civil Law, and reverfes the Decrees of Chancery, 
 and enumerates all the Faults our Generals have com- 
 mitted the laft Campiagn, It is but a Week ago that 
 Simonet was ftill lectured in the Civil Law : How comes 
 he by fo vaft a Science ? He talks upon all Subjects 
 with the fame Liberty and AfTurance as if he had ftu- 
 died them. He takes up a Man eminent for his Sta- 
 tion and Merit, and boldly tells him he is miftaken in 
 the Fad he has been relating. Get rid of your Pre- 
 judice, Simosef, and when you have removed that 
 Film, you'll clearly fee how ridiculous you make your 
 felf. 
 
 Ordinary People feem always off the Hooks ; Plea- 
 fures and Bufinefs equally confound them : But Genius's 
 ef a fuperior Order, pafs from Bufmefs to Pleafure 
 without Trouble- Always their own Matters, they 
 lend themfelves to Diverfions and Affairs without be- 
 ing entirely pofleffed by either, and never negleft Bu- 
 finefs for the fake of Pleafure. 
 
 An Excefs of Prefumption renders a Man negligent 
 and lazy, and often ruins the beft Affairs. A Man 
 depends upon his good Fortune, and neglefts the Pre- 
 cautions taken by others of lefs Abilities who miftruft 
 them. Hence Men of Parts that can't condefcend to 
 little Formalities, are commonly over-reached by 
 Fools, that leave no Stone unturned to accomplifh 
 their Defigns. 
 
 It's a great Stupidity to treat a Man as our Cully, 
 who is more fubtile and politick than our felves, but 
 who puts on a Difguife and a ftudied Plainnefs to bring 
 us into the Trap he has laid for us. They that are 
 always upon the Ketch or Stratagem, even to the leaft 
 Trifles, who are ftill adling the Politician how to de- 
 ceive, deferve to be treated as they ftudy to treat 
 others. 
 
 There is generally fome Injuftice in judging of 
 Things only by the Event. For whatever good Con- 
 duel was taken in an Affair, if it don't fucceed, we 
 
 blame
 
 140 Reflexions upon Ridicule. 
 
 blame the Managers, tho' the Fault was none of theirs 
 "We fallen our Eyes upon the Surface, and never dive 
 into thofe fecret Springs that flopped the Motion of the 
 Engines played, when, in the mean Time, fuchMea- 
 fures were taken as promii'ed an happy Event, had it 
 not been for thofe Obftacles in the Way, which human 
 Prudence could not forefee. Hence commonly proceed 
 thofe our abfurd Cenfures of Men of Merit, who have 
 failed of the Succefs that might reafonably be expected 
 from their Endeavours. A few Things are able to dif- 
 appoint the belt concerted Enterprize, Men of Senfe 
 and Equity judge not by Appearances; they go to the 
 Bottom of Things, and can do Juflice to a Man of 
 Honour, who has omitted nothing, but who was ill 
 feconded, or rather was undetermined, by ill-inienti- 
 oned People. 
 
 The Generality of Women, who have any Thing 
 of Beauty, think to out-fhine others : And as they are 
 impatient of Rivals, they decry them as much as pof- 
 fible. 7 hey are at once prefumptuous and timorous, 
 as to the Force of their Charms. A very fantaflick 
 Character ! They don't think they have any Thing 
 to fear from others ; and yet their Jealoafy gives Rea- 
 fou to believe they diead them, by the Pains they take 
 to deftroy them. 
 
 Jf you love your own Quiet, never Piaife any Wo- 
 man's Beauty before Ccliuta. She'll make a perfonai 
 Quarrel on't, and upbraid you with Injudicioufnefs or 
 Prejudice. She always finds fome Fault in the mod 
 Tegular Features. She has an inconceivable Eloquence 
 at heightning or deprefling what is handfome or ugly in 
 a Woman. The foftcft and moil engaging Eyes to 
 her appear gloomy and melancholick. She maintains 
 that a noble and advantageous Shape is gigantick -, 
 that a moderate one, but eafy and proportionable, is 
 pigmy-like. If the fair Helena fhould rife again with 
 all her Charms, fhe would fee herfelf degraded from 
 , her Beauty at CeJixta's Tribunal. 
 
 Tis
 
 Concerning Prejudice. 141 
 
 Tis not fufficient for a Woman to be confcious of no- 
 thing to her felf ; She muft alfo regard Externals and 
 prevent the Publiclc's touching upon her Conduit in 
 any Part whatsoever. A Man is a Thing of ib tender a 
 Cbnftitution, that bareAppearances ill managed wound 
 it. 
 
 Thofe Women that fay they care not what the 
 World fays of them, and that the Teftimony of their 
 Confcience is fufficient, have too little Delicacy. Re- 
 putation is the jufteft Recompence of Virtue, and it 
 ought not to be neglected . 
 
 1 know not whether it proceed from Jealoufy or 
 Spight natural to Men, that they are ever difpofed to 
 judge ill of Women ; whether the great Numbers of 
 ihofe that forget themfelves, prejudice the reft, or 
 whether they really too much negleft the Judgments 
 of thePublick; they can't trip ne'er fo little, bjtthey 
 are treated without Quarter ; the leaft Liberties they 
 give themfelves are made Criminal. I think that in- 
 itead of complaining of the Injuftice of Men, they 
 ought rather to cultivate their Nice"nefs by a great Re- 
 ferve, and fo not give them any Occafion to talk with 
 any Appearance of Reafon. 
 
 Your eafy and credulous People, have continually 
 one Vifion or other in their Brains ; they that know 
 their Temper take Advantage of their weak Side, 
 and promote their Chimera's, inftead of attempting 
 to cure them. What Extravagancies has not the per- 
 fuafion of Sorcery occafioned : Trs the hardeit thing 
 imaginable for a Man to get rid of it : It requires a 
 ftronger Head than fits upon moft Men's Shoulders, 
 not to believe a thoufands things, which come naturally 
 to pafs, to be the Effedls of fome Spirit, or the Pafs- 
 time of fome invifible Power. The cunninger fort ferve 
 themfelves of this Prejudice to decoy the fimple into 
 the Net they fpread for them, and which 'tis next to 
 impoffible to avoid. A Brain infatuated with thefe fu- 
 pernatural "Whimfas is feldom cured of them, 
 
 Of
 
 142 Reflexions upon Ridicule. 
 
 Of Inter efl. 
 
 TH E natural Defire all Men have of a comfor- 
 table Subfiftance, commonly engages them in 
 mean and fordid Aftions. 'Tis a very nice Tempta- 
 tion to be in the Way of getting Money, and to be 
 governed by no Principle but Confcience, and he that 
 does not fall under it muft be of a well-appointed Vir- 
 tue. Moft Men think Indigence the greateft of Evils, 
 and that every thing is allowed them to get rid of it : 
 Stratagems, Shifts, Tricking and Knavery, all Engines 
 are played, and, if they fucceed, the Publick Voice 
 abfolves them. 
 
 There are a Sort of People in the World, that live 
 only for themfelves, and drive at nothing but their 
 own Interefts and Pleafures. They love no Body, and 
 no Body loves them ; they are guilty of Incivilities, 
 and fay the rougheft and mod difobliging Things in 
 Nature, untouched with the Vexation they give others, 
 and not fo much as- reflecting on it. Undifturbed at 
 Contempt, and unconcerned at the ill Reports that go 
 of them, they neglect the Duties that Reafon and 
 Decency demand, and facrifice every Thing, Relati- 
 ons, Friends, and Honour, to their Gain and Advan- 
 tage. In all Dealings and Tranfadions with fuch Peo- 
 ple, a Man muft always be upon his Guard againft 
 Trick and Deceit. If they play, 'tis always upon the 
 Sharp, and they cheat as often as they can, though 
 they only play for Trifles : If youfurprize them, they 
 only make a jeft of it, and value not the Difgrace, 
 provided any Thing can be got by it. 
 
 The Reafon why Men are fo unjufl in their Treat- 
 ment with one another, is, that they always aft 
 through fome Paflion; the Paflions that are generally 
 engaged, feek their own Satisfaction, without obferv- 
 ing Rigjit or Wrong. Whoever is under the Govern- 
 ment of a Paflion, be it never fo irrational, thinks he
 
 Concerning Intereft. 143 
 
 is always in the Right, and his moft extravagant Pro- 
 ceedings give him not the lead Scruples. 
 
 Self- Love is the ruin of Society. Moft Men think 
 only on themfelves, and every thing elfe is very indif- 
 ferent to them ; they never fympathize with others 
 Joys or Griefs. People of this Character are as it 
 were unhinged from the Univerfe, and of no Ufe in 
 the World ; they are crowded and wrapt up in them- 
 felves, and never extend beyond their own Circumfe- 
 rence. 
 
 The Friendfhip that reigns at prefent in the World, 
 is nothing but a Commerce of pure Intereft. This 
 Principle, though extremely fordid, is very much in 
 Practice : 'Tis great Bafenefs to neglect People when 
 they become ufelefs ; and we have no farther Occafi- 
 on for their Affiftance How cruel is it, in their Dif- 
 graces, to refufe them the good Offices in our Power, 
 which we mould gladly offer them were they in a bet- 
 rer Situation ? This is what is to be expected by Per - 
 fons put out of Place. They fee themfelves in a Moment 
 forfaken by all thofe that were moft officious in their 
 Courtfhips; who now will not feem to know them, 
 but ihun them as if they feared the Contagion of their 
 Misfortunes in approaching them. I believe 'tis one 
 of the greateft Pains of their Difgraces, to fee the 
 Ingratitude of thofe they have been generous Patrons 
 to, in the Sun-mine of their Favour: But 'tis a Difeafe 
 there ft no Cure for. 
 
 Celanor, from the Pinacle of Favour, is fallen into 
 the loweft Difgrace, and all his Friends have turned 
 their Backs upon him in a Moment. Thofe that he 
 bad raifed higheft, have abandoned him as the reft : 
 He has often faid in his Imprifonment, that his own 
 Misfortunes lefs afflicted him, than the Treachery of 
 his Friends, who carried their Ingratitude fo far as to 
 do him ill Offices. That which flatters the Vanity of 
 great Minifters, is to fee themfelves furrounded and 
 refpe<fted by a numerous Crowd, that make their Court 
 to them, and wait at their Levees. But if they could 
 read the Sentiments of thole that thus feem to adore 
 
 them,
 
 144 Reflexions upon Ridicule.' 
 
 them, and knew the Motives of the fervile Homage^ 
 they pay them, they would not be fo fond of them. 
 
 The moft unpardonable Madnefs is that of the Co- 
 vetous : Though they overflow with Wealth, the/ 
 are poor and wretched in the midft of it. To what 
 End does Phylargirus heap up fo much Treafure ? He 
 isold, and has no Children : No Body pays any Court 
 to him, nor has he any Affeclion for any Body, or any 
 Acquaintance ; and yet he every where enlarges his 
 Income, and raifes his Rents : He's ill lodged, and as 
 bad cloathed ; and fees not a Fire all the Winter . He 
 fpunges upon his Neighbours, to fave the Charge of a 
 Dinner : Jn a word, he denies himfelf all Neceflaries. 
 What Difference is there betwixt Syrus, who wants 
 every Thing, and Pbilargyrus^ who pofTefTes a vaft 
 Eftate, but makes no Ufe of it. 
 
 The moft Self-interefted. and hardeft Men, that 
 have no Confideration for any Body, would have o- 
 thers full of Refpeft to them. We could more eafily 
 pardon them their Fondnefles for themfelves, if they 
 had the like Indulgence for others. Their rugged 
 Way of treating thofe that deal with them is very un- 
 reafonable : The more you ftoop and condefcend, the 
 more difficult and crabbed they appear : They have 
 nothing but Rudenefs, Aufterity, and Indifference for 
 thofe from whom they expedl Complaifance, Affabi- 
 lity, and good Offices. 
 
 I am not myfelf, when I fee with what an haughty 
 and difcouraging Way the Countefs of Marine treats 
 thofe that have any Thing to do with her. Inflexible 
 to all the Expedients that are propofed to her, me 
 will never depart from the leaft Punctilio of her In- 
 terefts : Her Mouth never opens but in Menaces 
 which make her Debtors tremble : She talks of no- 
 thing but their Imprifonments and Arrefls, and Exe- 
 cutions upon their Goods and Chattels : She is always 
 furrounded with Bailiffs and fuch Sort of Vermin, 
 made for the Ruin of Mankind : She is not foftned 
 with the Tears of Orphans and Widows : She loves 
 nothing but Money, and Ihe rolls in it, 
 
 He
 
 Concerning Intereft. 145 
 
 He that has not the Courage to venture his Life 
 and Fortune for his Friends, when 'tis neceffary lor 
 their Intereft, ought to be regarded as an indifferent 
 and lukewarm Perfon. We find few People in this 
 Age of the Character of that Emperor, who daily 
 thanked the Gods for having given him the Empire, 
 becaufe it enabled him to do Good to his Friends. He 
 was uneafy when a Day paft, without giving him oc- 
 cafion to mew fome Marks of his Bounty ; whatever 
 his Succefles were be/ides, he reckoned them all no- 
 thing, if his own Hand had not been exercifed in Li- 
 beralities. A Man muft be of a generous Conilitution. 
 and a large Soul, to maintain this Character lon^ ; 
 He that is beneficent by Art, feklom goes very far, 
 and infenfibly returns to his Nature ; which is the 
 Reafon that Men fo often defert their Friends when 
 they have molt need of their Affiftance. 
 
 If you expect to be courted, you muft be good for 
 fomething: This is the Rule; you muft play, or 
 lend Money, contribute to the Pleafures, engage in 
 the Interefts of Men, and let them fee that you are of 
 fome Ufe to them. In the good Offices they do you, 
 they would fee your Securities : That is, whether you 
 are capable of repaying them in the fame Coin. 
 Difmtereftednefs and Generofity, are Things which 
 now no Body underftands ; and therefore expecl no- 
 thing from the Liberality of Men, unlefs you are in 
 a Condition to oblige them in your Turn. I would 
 fain fee the Man, who obliged People out of a great- 
 nefs of Soul, and for the mere Pleafure of doing good, 
 without Hopes of a Return. Where is this Phcenix 
 to be found ? 
 
 Intereft has baniflied Friendfhip from the World : 
 There's nothing to be met with but falfe Friends, who 
 offer themfelves with all the Shews of Zeal, and arc 
 profufe in Expreflion ; who amufe you with the moil 
 flattering and obliging DilcouiTe. They profefs to 
 ferve you if ever Occaiion offers ; but if the Occafion 
 comes, they give you the flip and defert you. This 
 ardent Zeal is cooled in a Moment, and changed into a 
 furprizing Coldnefs : Thev are out in their Argument. 
 
 VOL. f, H it'
 
 146 Reflexions tipcn Ridicule. 
 
 if they think to gain the Friendfhip of Men, by their 
 Compliments and vain Offers of Service. This Noife 
 ferves only to ftun the too credulous : We quickly 
 perceive their Infmcerity. 
 
 The Sentiments ef Humanity incline us to comfort 
 the Miferable, . and 'tis failing in the mofl eflential 
 Duties, to abandon them in their prefling Occafions : 
 But it is utmoft Excefs of Cruelty to infult them in 
 their Misfortunes. A Man fallen into any-Difgrace is 
 to; be pitied ; if you have not the Generofity to lend 
 him your Hand to retrieve him, do not add a new 
 Weight to his Difgrace to fink him utterly. And 
 yet Men are fo brutal and unmerciful, as to laftv a 
 Man with the keeneft Satyr, who is dropt and out of 
 Favour. The firft Thought that occurs upon the Ad- 
 venture of a Man difplaced, is to feek the Reafons of 
 his Difgrace in his Conduft. They neither offer in 
 his Excufe the Misfortune of the Times nor the Pof- 
 ture of Affairs, and Conjuncture of Things; but will 
 ablblutely have him guilty, and invent a thoufand 
 Stories to difcredit and ruin him beyond Recovery. 
 This is the make and temper of Mankind. 
 
 A Man that plays the Knave to throw another out 
 of hisPoft, and puts himfelf in it, is abfolved by the 
 Publick Voice if he fucceeds : But for People to fall 
 Jbul upon Perfons of Merit, without any Profpeft of 
 Jntereir, meerly for the malicious Pleafure of doing 
 Mifchief, is a Practice that ought not to be known 
 amongft Men. Such People ought to be banifhed So- 
 ciety, as wild Beafts : But who would efcape, if this 
 Rule was flriclly obferved. 
 
 There ought to be fomething in the Returns of 
 Gratitude that are free and eafy ; when our Acknow- 
 ledgments proceed from Duty, Views of Jntereft, and 
 a Kind of Neceffity, we always difcharge this Duty 
 with an aukward Grace. Benefits impofe a Kind of 
 Yoke, which the ungrateful would, as foon as pofii- 
 ble, be delivered from ; and he muft have a great 
 Soul that can bear it without Uneafmefs. 
 
 We
 
 Concerning Inter eft. 147 
 
 We ought not to make ufe of our whole Power, 
 nor take the Advantage of our Authority to the full 
 Extent of our Rights. There are a thoufand Things 
 we ought to waive in Civility and Decorum, which if 
 demanded would make us thought fantaftical and 
 troublefome. The Laws of Treaties require mutual 
 Conceffions and Abatement for the fake of Peace : 
 This Maxim is not to the Palate of interefted Perfons ; 
 who chufe rather to lofe their Eafe, their Reputation 
 and their Friends, than recede from the lead Particu- 
 lar. 
 
 You fee the Source of thofe eternal Law-Suits, 
 which are perpetuated in Families, from Father to 
 Son, to their utter Ruin. If People underftood them- 
 felves, if they knew their true Interefts, would they 
 give the cleareft and moft unburdened Part of their 
 Revenues, to fatten the greedy Judges, who live by 
 the Follies of Mankind, and inftead of faving them 
 from the Gulf they fall in, plunge them deeper and 
 deeper, by all the Arts of Barretry, wherewith they 
 entangle their Affairs ? 
 
 'Tis a great Misfortune to be born high fpirited and 
 poor : A Soul of this make has much ado to fubmit; 
 but Neceffity forces Nature, and the Encounter is fe- 
 vere. People of this Temper feldom make their For- 
 tune ; they have not {till the Power to fubdue their 
 own Inclinations to the Fancies of thofe they depend 
 on, who fet the Services they can do them at too high 
 a Rate. 
 
 Arcidet has mifcarried in his Fortune, by not being 
 able to conquer and captivate himfelf, and exprefs 
 Complaifance and Submiffion to Sylverian. It went 
 very hard with him, to fee himfelf confined in an Of- 
 fice, under the Authority of a Man, who had neither 
 fo much Brains, nor fo good Blood in his Veins : But 
 he enjoyed a Poft that made him Paramount, and at 
 the fame Time he had very good Intentions for Arcides, 
 who could make no ufe of them. He chofe rather to 
 renounce his Fortune, than purchafe it by fuch Bafe- 
 nefles, as Dependants are obliged to pay to their Supe- 
 H 2 riors.
 
 148 -Reflexions upon Ridicule. 
 
 riors, who continually make them fenlible of their 
 Diftance and Subjection, in a fevere and offenfive 
 Manner. 
 
 When Men have Occafion for other's Services, they 
 cultivate and carefs them ; but after they have receiv- 
 ed the Kindnefles expeded, they are uneafy in their 
 Company, and care not to fee their Faces, efpecially 
 if their Obligations be great. Is this Pride, or In- 
 gratitude, or both together ? 
 
 'Tis from the fame Principle People flatter the Fa- 
 vourites, and blame the Difcarded. They pay their 
 Court to the former, to mare the Influences of their 
 Favour: They are lavifh in their unmerited Encomi- 
 ums: They advance them above others, by com- 
 paring their different Conditions, is if the Preferment 
 bellowed the Merit, or that bad Fortune debafed a 
 Man beneath himfelf. 
 
 Whence is it that Aleippus will not pretend to know. 
 Brutus, who is jufl difplaced ? He cajoled him in his 
 Profperity, and carried his Deference and Refpedh 
 even to Adoration. At prefent he fcarce vouchfafes 
 to fpeak to him ; he muns him where ever he meets 
 him, as if there was fomething of Infection in hi 
 Perfon. Should Brutus come again in Play, Aleippus 
 would have the fame Regard for him as befor;. 
 
 The Benefa&ions People wait to make in their laft 
 Wills, are very infignificant : If they think thereby 
 to obtain the Reputation of Liberality, they ought to 
 know it is too late to Give, when they are no longer 
 capable of Enjoying. The moft fordid at that Seafon, 
 do themfelves a Credit with the Money they are forced 
 to part with ; but which they would be overjoyed to 
 be able to bury along with them. 'Tis a dangerous 
 Thing to divulge the Circumftances of a Man's Will, 
 and the Legacies bequeathed to this and that : This is 
 a Liberality that has often been ill recomperifed. The 
 Legatee fometimes grows out of Patience, at the too 
 long Life of the Teftator; and the>Greedinefs of Suc- 
 ceflion, makes the Heir precipitate the Days of him, 
 whofe Death inflates him in a plentiful Way of Liv- 
 ing.
 
 Concerning Intereft. 
 
 ing. Much like that Emperor, who caufed thcfe to 
 be ftrangled, who gave him any Thing by their Tef- 
 tament 5 for if they recovered, he fent his Guards to 
 aflaffinate them in their Houfes. 
 
 Few People have Souls fo great and noble, as not 
 to love to receive. I would have an honeft Man to be 
 more referved in that Particular ; and to receive no 
 Favours above the Power of Acknowledgment equal 
 to the Benefit. The Giver ought to have very diffe- 
 rent Confiderations, and to expeft no Return for the 
 Kindnefles he does. This would not be Liberality, 
 but a Kind of mercenary Traffick, difguifed under 
 fpecious Names. 
 
 Numbers of People think they are quit for the good 
 Offices that are done them, by referring the Authors 
 to their Wills ; which is a Lure to the Expectations 
 and Hopes of the interefted Perfons ; but 'tis an un- 
 certain and ambiguous Way of fhevving Kindnefs. 
 
 From the fame Principle, we forget at once good 
 Offices and Affronts, <vix. The Radium of being al- 
 ways under the fame Difpofoion of Mind. We are 
 tired with perpetual Gratitude, and perpetual Hatred. 
 Slriana is reconciled to Juflina, not from any religi- 
 ous Motive, or Return of AfTeftion (o her ; her Ani- 
 mofity being ftill the fame; but becaufe {he's tired with 
 acting the Part of a declared Enemy. 
 
 For People obfcurely born to have Sentiments fuit- 
 able to the meannefs of their Extradlion, is no great 
 "Wonder, this being but the Fruits of their ill Educati- 
 on. But 'tis another Thing for you, Eleagenss, that 
 deicend from one of the moft illuftrious Families in 
 Europe, to belye the Nobility of your Blood, by your 
 Actions. You are fond of Gaming, and you play 
 foul : You borrow Money and never pay : Your Do- 
 mellicks dread you as a Tyrant, and conilantly feel the 
 Weight of your Blows : You never open your Mouth, 
 but to throw out Jmpertinencies and Follies : Your 
 Difcourfes favour of the Places you frequent, and are 
 Teftimonies of the Bafenefs of your Sentiments : You 
 H 3 are
 
 150 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 are civil to no Body, but give an equal Treatment to 
 a Woman of Quality and her Chamber-Maid. 
 
 'Tis very hard to be a great Gamefter and a wor- 
 thy Man at once. Your Gamefters are eafily provo- 
 ked ; they are brutal and pafiionate ; they are ill Pay- 
 mafters when they lofe, but rigorous Creditors when 
 they win. They are in continual Miftrufts and Ap- 
 prehenfions of being cheated. A great Eftate loft, is 
 A great Temptation to Fraud and Knavery. 
 
 Dealing in Law-Suits is, in my Opinion, that 
 which, of all Things, moft warps the Mind, and 
 fooneft corrupts Integrity : It is, as I may fay, the 
 Triumph of Intereft and Avarice. A Man embarks 
 in Law at firft with a Principle of Juftice, which 
 would have every one preferve what of Right belongs 
 to him : But when once the Action is commenced, it's 
 made a Point of Honour to maintain it : If your Ad- 
 verfary plays you a Trick, you think there is no In- 
 juftice in Reprifals, and you play him another. If 
 your Plot takes, and you gain any Advantage over him 
 by your Stratagem, you are emboldened by the Suc- 
 cefs, and you go on ; and after a Conteft of many 
 Years, 'tis found in the Conclufion of the Trial, that 
 you have loft your Eftate, your Honefty, your good 
 Sentiments, Integrity, Honour, and Confcience. 
 
 Clito to excufe his Stinginefs and fordid Avarice, 
 alledges the Bafenefs of the Times : If he gives a 
 Dinner, he harangues upon the dearnefs of Provifions, 
 and feems to grudge his Guefts every Bit they eat, 
 and Glafs of Wine they drink. He daily finds out 
 fome new Maxim of Frugality : He retrenches the 
 Number of his Servants, or their Wages, and would 
 have them ferve, as they fay, for a Song. But what 
 they abate him on one Hand, they make up to them- 
 felves on the other; for they never leave him but they 
 rob him. 
 
 Confidering the Make and Complexion of Men, 
 'tis in vain to fpur them with Notions of Generofity, 
 to engage them to declare for us. We muft let them 
 
 fee
 
 Concerning Intercjl. 1-51 
 
 fee their Account in the Advances we would have 
 them make, and convince them that we are not 
 ufelefs Creatures. Intereft is the only Spring that can 
 put them in Motion : 'Tis Hope and not Pity, that is 
 rhe Paffion they are troubled with, whilft, being in- 
 fenfible to others Misfortunes, they only commiferate 
 themfelves. 
 
 They that fondly imagine they are beloved, and 
 attribute the Attendances that are given them -to their 
 cwn Merit, are much miftaken. Thofe very Perfbns 
 that are fo officious, and exprefs fo difinterefted a Zeal, 
 will facrifice them to the firil gufl of Fortune that 
 blows from the orher Qaarfer. This is the Frame and 
 Compofition of Mankind, and he miftakes them who 
 judges otherwife. They love themfelves preferably to 
 all the World, and if they love any Thing befides, 
 'tis only as a Corollary of this firft Principle. 
 
 Some People entitle a fcandalous Parfimony good 
 Hufbandry. Intent upon Gain, they are wonderfully 
 ingenious in turning all their Sayings to Advantage, 
 whilft they deny themfelves the Things they moil de- 
 fire. Every Thing fmells of this fordid Humour ; 
 their Retinue, their Equipage, their Habits, and their 
 Tables. If they give a Treat, they can't help mew- 
 ing their Regret and Uneafinefe at the Coll, and 
 fomething is always wanting in it; the Guefts in the 
 mean Time depart lefs fatisfied with their Entertain- 
 ment, than difgufted with fo ill-placed and miftaken 
 a- Frugality. 
 
 Hejione has fifteen hundred Pounds a Year : She 
 loves play and Company at her Heart, but (he loves 
 Money better; and therefore fhe abfhins from both for 
 fear of Expences. She fpends her whole Life in a con- 
 tinued Conllraint, refufing herfelf what fhe hath the 
 greateft Paffion for, becaufe fhe won't be at a Penny 
 Charge. She turns her Cloaths, and makes them up 
 in five or fix different Fafhions, before fhe fells them 
 to the Brokers. We pardon He/tone her Stinginefs, 
 becaufe fhe is fufriciently punifhed by the want of all 
 H 4 thofe
 
 152 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 thofe Pleafures (he denies herfelf. But that which is 
 unpardonable is her fcandalous Practice of getting 
 Money by indirect Ways, and unworthy a Woman 
 of Quality. 
 
 How fhould we defpife the Covetous, could we dif- 
 cover all thofe Tricks they play, and Artifices they 
 employ, to heap up Wealth. How they trample un- 
 der Foot Laws, Jultice, and Equity, and every Thing 
 that's facred J How Money obtains the Place in their 
 Efteem, of Friends, Relations, and their God ! All 
 their Bufinefs in the World is to enrich themfelves and 
 torment their Debtors. 
 
 He that has but a little Fortune, and a violent Dc- 
 fire to be rich, is very feldom an honeit Man. An 
 indifferent Probity cannot iland againil this Tempta- 
 tion. If fuch a Conjuncture happens, as without 
 rifking his Reputation, he is in a Way to get Riche?, 
 by fwerving a little from an exact Integrity : His 
 Virtue runs great Hazard : They are only Men of 
 roble and refined Sentiments, that do not forget them- 
 ielves on- fuch Occafions. 
 
 All the Ways of growing rich are equal to Souls 
 greedy of Gain : Whilft Men of Hooeity will not 
 amafs Riches by unlawful Means ; which is the 
 Reafon that Men of Honour and Integrity feldom 
 make any great Fortune. I am far from envying 
 thofe People that are opulent and rich at the Colt 
 of their Equity and Confcience. He is rich enough 
 who has nothing to reproach himfelf. What Quiet 
 or Satisfaction is to be enjoyed in Life, after the 
 Commiilion of fo many bafe and unjuft Actions. 
 Could we believe it, unlefs we faw it, that Per- 
 fons of Quality, who ought to have Sentiments a- 
 bove the vulgar mould be guilty of fo many bafe 
 Actions, through a Spirit of Imereft. They re- 
 trench their Servants Wages, and difmifs them with- 
 out paying them. They ruin all thcfe that furnim 
 the Provifions of their Table. The Mercer and 
 the Coal Man are no better ufed than others. 
 Ttoey infinitely carefs an eafy Creditor, to wheedle 
 
 him
 
 Concerning Inter eft. 153 
 
 him out of his Money, and declare themfelves his 
 Enemies, when they have obtained the Sum de- 
 fired : There are no Tricks but they recur to, to pre - 
 vent paying both Intereft and Principal ; but at lad 
 an entire Ruin of their Family, is the juft Fruit of 
 ib much Bafencfs. 
 
 Lov of Gaming quickly corrupts the beft Prin- 
 ciples in the World. Thoufands that are juft in 
 every Thing elfe, make no fcruple to cheat at Play. 
 They confider themfelves as in the Enemy's Country, 
 and think that Rooking is a kind of lawful Profeflion. 
 Is this the lawful Plunder of War ? Or is it not 
 Robbery, by Arts and Subtilties at play to guard 
 againlt the Freaks of Fortune. 
 
 'Tis a criminal Practice for People to fpend mor 
 than they have : They borrow Money on all Hands, 
 to maintain the Magnificence of their Train and 
 Table. The Publick, which fees them wal.ow in 
 Wealth, believes them happy : But they themfelves 
 feel the uneafinefs of that borrowed State, which, 
 undermines them, and at lall will prove their 
 total Ruin. 
 
 What ought we to think of thofe that borrow 
 with defign never to pay ? Who abufe the Sim- 
 plicity of their Creditors, that lend them with an 
 hondt Meaning, not dreaming of the Trap they 
 lay for them. But when they have amafled great 
 Sums, and have fecured their Eftefts-, they de- 
 jfert them, and leave them in terrible Alarms. 
 Tliefe have no Way but to come to Compofi- 
 tion, and lofe one half of the Debt to fave the 
 reft, whilit the others after thefe infamous Pradi- 
 ces, have the Face to appear, and make parade 
 of the Riches they hive gotten by their Rogue- 
 ries ; and the World fuffers them, inftead of ihun- 
 ing them as the Plague, 
 
 Tis an Imprudence to enter into Correfponden- 
 cies and Confidences with People without knowing 
 them ; ior the Covetous are no ways fit for So- 
 ciety or Secrecy. A Man under the Power of In- 
 H '5 tcreft,
 
 154- Refleftions.. upon "Ridicule. 
 
 tereft, has always a Gate open to his Heart, to fur- 
 render to the Charms of Gold. The Glitter of it 
 blinds and feduces him, and when he is once corrupt- 
 ed^ he makes no Difficulty of facrificing both Friends 
 and Friendihips to his Intereft. ' 
 
 It is a very hard Thing to live long in good 
 Intelligence with People of contrary Parties, who 
 have great Intereft to Contefr, : What add rets does 
 it not require to carry it in fuch a Manner, as to 
 teflify an equal Affedlion, without declaring for one 
 or other : The Poife is fo very nice that the Ba- 
 lance moft eafily inclines : In endeavouring to keep 
 them, we make Enemies of them both. On thefe 
 Cccafions there is need of great Sincerity, and a 
 clear Procedure : A fhufrling Condudl throws us 
 into great Difficulties, and expofo us to great 
 Reproaches. 
 
 Where is there to be found a faithful, fincere, 
 <lifcreet, judicious and difinterefted Friend, who has 
 the AfTurance to admonifh us of our Faults, and 
 fears not our Difpleafure in giving us wholefome 
 Counfel ? We commonly are the laft to know what 
 is faid of us ; in which our Delicacy is unconceiv- 
 able, it going for an Affront to be told of the 
 Reports that are fpread to our Difgrace. Our 
 Friends are, for the moft Part, timorous or inte- 
 refted $ and they chufe rather to abandon us to 
 an ill Condudt, than venture to difpleafe us by open- 
 ing our Eyes with fincere Advice. If ditto's 
 Friends had not dealt fo gently with her, fhe had 
 riot difgraced herfelf as {he has done : They had 
 eafily retrieved her from a growing Paflion, in 
 which ihe lightly engaged without forefeeing the 
 J fflcls. Her Friends, that would not break with 
 her, chofe rather to leave her to her Engagement, 
 than give her Counfel s that might vex her, and exaf- 
 perate her againft them ; and thus (he opened not 
 her Eyes till fhe fell into the Precipice. He that 
 hazards an Advice, feels the Pulfe to fee how it is like 
 to be received; if it be well taken, he pufhes on, 
 
 his
 
 Concerning Intereft. 155 
 
 his Point with a conftant Zeal : But there are few 
 fo generous, as to rifk the lofing the Friendmip of a 
 Perfon they have any Dependance on, rather than fee 
 him make a falfe Step. 
 
 They that pretend to reform Abufes, don't always 
 do it with a difmterefled Motive, but commonly 
 intermix the Spleen of their private Paflions. Their 
 Envy to a Man in a confiderable Poft, and his 
 troublefome Authority, makes them fift his Con- 
 dudt with a fcrupulous Rigour. It is hard for any 
 one to be fo Uriel and regular as not to have 
 fome weak Side, which gives an Handle to Perfons 
 jealous of his Reputation : And when his Enemies 
 have discovered it, they clamour that all is un- 
 done, unlefs the Corruptions be redrefied ; and never 
 leave oft bawling till he is removed from his 
 Poft, in which they have the Art to place them- 
 felves, in Recompence for iheir hypocritical Zeal. 
 No-body would have thought of throw-ing CLon 
 out of his Place, and putting Onaphrus in, if 
 the clandeftine Ambition of the latter had not made 
 him aft all forts of Parts, and taught him a thou- 
 fand Stratagems to caft Jealoufy and- Sufpicion up- 
 on the other's Conduft. 
 
 'Tis a bafe and fulfome Complaifancc, to- pvaife 
 in public what we blame in private ; and we 
 hereby expole ourfelves to be thought cowardly 
 or interefted Flatterers. If we have rot the Cou- 
 rage to fpeak oar Thoughts, the only Option is 
 to be filent, and no ways fignify our Applaufe of 
 Impertinence. They that think they have Heads 
 politick enough to out wit all the World, are com- 
 monly others Cullies. They refemble Sharpers who 
 would cheat at Play : When their Tricks are dif- 
 covered, they are turned upon them, and they are 
 led into the Snares they laid. I know no better 
 Way to difappoint the Artifices of thefe politick 
 Gentlemen, than to difiemble the Difcovery of 
 their ill Defigns, who have pitched upon us for 
 their Dupts. 
 
 Men
 
 156 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 Men are not excufable for their Want of Civili- 
 ties to the Ladies : But the Women are commonly 
 the Caufe of the little Refpect that is paid them. If 
 they were ftatelier, Men would be more fubmiffive, 
 Moll of them are Mercenary and Half-witted ; 
 they have no Sincerity nor Honefty , they value 
 not being affronted, provided they be treated and 
 prefented ; nor do they care for being loved, the 
 ihow of it furtices them ; having more Paflion for 
 the Money than the Man. 
 
 If our Grandmothers mould return into the World, 
 how would they be aftonifhed to fee the Licence, 
 the Immodefty, the Debauchery, and Impudence of 
 their Grand-Daughters ! They had in thofe Days 
 the fame Paffins, and Hearts as capable of Love 
 as at prefent ; but at lead they obferved Meafures : 
 They did notfurrenderat the firft Attack of their Lo- 
 vers : They did not follow them to the Taverns, 
 and make all the Advances : Their higheft Fa- 
 vours were a long time a purchafing, and the Men 
 were not allowed to fay they loved them, 'till after 
 a great deal o,f Pains and Affiduities. The Women 
 of this Age complain of the Coldaefs and Indiffe- 
 rence of their Lovers. Where would they have us 
 lay the Fault ? They are ,as amiable, as handfome, 
 as witty as their Grandmothers, who kindled ftrong 
 and tailing Paflions. But how does a Woman turn 
 the Stomach, be me never fo handfome, when all 
 the Woild knows the Hiftory of her Intrigues ? 
 and her Letters and Romance are the Amufement 
 of the Pages and Footmen in the Ante-chamber. 
 
 'Tis the common Temptation of Women, to de- 
 fire to be taken Notice of. The Beauties need only 
 ihew thernfelves : Nature has been at the whole 
 Colt for them. They that are not fo well appoint- 
 ed with Charms, affeft to rnve fomething glaring 
 in their Habits, their Trimings, their Equipage 
 and iheir Behaviour : But they are out in their 
 Reckoning, and mirtake their real Interelts. Thefe 
 borrowed Ornaments are a kind of Varniih, that 
 
 make
 
 Concerning Inter eft. 157 
 
 make their native Uglinefs the more confpicuous 
 Lets Notice would be taken of it, if this Finery 
 did not provoke a fpiteful Curiofity, which takes 
 the Woman to Pieces, and feparates all that is of Art 
 from all that is of Nature, 
 
 The Paflion certain Women have for Play, and 
 infinite Things as ruinous, is not to be conceived. 
 What is it they will not do to have Money ? What 
 Practices and Artifices have they not recourfe to ? 
 They buy Jewels on Tick of the moft rigorous Ufu- 
 rers, and afterwards fell them a good Penny-worth : 
 Some we fee that clear their Houfes of all their 
 Furniture, and pawn their very Neceflaries, Plate, 
 Cloaths and Linen, and continue in thefe Diforders 
 for little Debts, by reafon of their Incapacity to re- 
 trieve them at the Time prefixed by thefe Leech- 
 es, who only lend upon thofe burdenfome Conditi- 
 ons. The Stupidity of the Hufbands is another 
 Thing as unaccountable : They either perceive 
 not thefe Diforders that ruin their Affairs, or, by 
 a ftupid Supinenefs, are witheld from afluming 
 the Afcendant over their hinatick Wives, who are 
 only guided by their Paflions. 
 
 Men are not much wifer in this than Women : 
 It feems that the Love of Play diftrads them, and 
 deprives them of their Senfes ; who are neither 
 cured by Experience nor Misfortunes : Having long 
 groaned under their Lofles, they embark again on 
 a new Bottom, and expofe themfelves to frem Dan- 
 gers and Difcontents. Corbini, enraged with lofing 
 all his Money, flaked his Coach and Horfes, his 
 Coachman and Footmen ; he loft them all, and 
 fo returned home on Foot without either Money 
 or Servants. 
 
 Eetifi is fo complaifant to fit up all Night to fee his 
 Wife play at Lanjquenet : and he punclually pays 
 every Morning the Sums fhe has loft upon Ho- 
 nour. He is fo fearful fhe mould be a Moment 
 uneafy, that he is the firft to make the Matches 
 for the Amufement of his Wife, who knows \vell 
 
 how
 
 158 Reflexions upon Ridicule. 
 
 how to make her Markets of her Hufband's Fol- 
 ly. If this Trade lafts but fix Months longer, 
 he will find himfelf reduced to an Hofpital, and 
 will not have a Shirt left; tho' his Father, \vho 
 many Years handled the Revenues, left him great 
 Riehes when he died. 
 
 What is the Meaning, that Men, whofe EfTence 
 eonfifts in Reaton, fo little follow it's Conduct, and 
 live by Freak and Caprice ? They launch into ex- 
 travagant Mirth, or fall into a gloomy Melancholy 
 without knowing the Reai'on why ; and that which" 
 they mould moft defire y is that which moft offends 
 them. Arnolfe has been at Law this thirty Years 
 for an infignificant Eftate, of a dubious and liti- 
 gious Title : To this Affair he facrifices the Re- 
 pole of his Life and Confcience : He fpends his 
 cleared Rents upon it, and denies himfelt Things 
 neceffary, to be able to maintain the Expence* cf 
 this Suit. He has been caft already in four Courts, 
 but he daily fays he will try it 'till his Death, and 
 will fell all his Lands to have this one or two, 
 which is wrongfully difputed him. 
 
 Time out of Mind, the People have been expofed 
 to- the unjufl Oppreflion of the Great and Rich ; 
 but 'tis abominable, that Perfons eminent for their 
 Quality and Riches, fhould fly to unjufl Methods, 
 and a tyrannical Authority to opprefs the Miferable, 
 who have nothing to oppofe but their impotent 
 Tears, wherewith thefe unrelenting Men are not af- 
 fe&ed : ]t would be but an imperfeft Pleafure to 
 them to be Mailers, unlefs they made the Weight 
 of their Power and Dominion felt. Is it fo great 
 an Happinefs to give Terror and Groans to the 
 Miferable, that Men will buy it at the Expence 
 of their Confcience and Honour, and the Repofe 
 of all that are under them. 
 
 When a Man is grown Rich by his Induflry, 
 no body examines what Means he ufcd ; be the 
 Engines never fo bafe, which he played to raife his 
 Fortune, 'tis all forgotten, andonl/ remembered thai 
 
 he
 
 . . .Qmcernitig Inter eft. 159 
 
 he is Rich, and may be ferviceable in his Perfon 
 or Money, and capable of being a Friend to thofe 
 who are of his Acquaintance. Hence Perfons of 
 Quality floop to court his Friendfhip and Alliance : 
 Was ever fuch Degeneracy and Meannefs.! 
 
 Cejenes continually declaimed againft the Publi- 
 cans and Farmers ; and it was always in his Mouth 
 that thefe Leeches ought to be baniihed the Repub - 
 lick, who fatten upon the Blood of the People r 
 That honeft Families which had their Riches by In- 
 heritance,, ought not to match with thofe elta- 
 blifhed upon the Ruins and Spoils of the Public,, be- 
 caufe an . ill-gotten Eftate diflblves like Salt in, 
 Water. Cefenes grew a Romi{h Votary, and his Aver- 
 fion to this Vermin was heightened much fince his 
 profeffed Devotion : But a Week ago he married 
 Romanes Daughter, who is engaged in all the 
 great Farms of France. 
 
 Great Riches are a Covering for all Faults, and 
 give a Relief to Merit, though never fo fmall. But 
 'tis wonderful that they can folder up theReputation of 
 a Man who is enriched by Roguery, and whofe Cheats 
 are publick. Every body knows that Agenor got 
 his Eftate by Piay : As long as he gamed he was 
 looked on as a Rogue and he run hunfelf into 
 a thoufand Troubles by his Tricks and Sharping. 
 He was often caught in the Fad, and obliged to 
 reltore the Money he had bafely won, and was in- 
 famous to a Proverb. Grown Rich by thefe fcan- 
 dalous Practices, he is refpecled, honoured and court- 
 ed ; Flor antes, the Worthieft Man in Town, of a 
 a known Probity, and unblemifhed Reputation, courts 
 Agenors Daughter, as if he meant to marry all his 
 Rogueries j What an Age is this .' 
 
 I 
 
 Of
 
 160 Refleftiw-s upon Ridicule. 
 
 Of Sufficiency. 
 
 THIS Fault refults from the Perfuafion that 
 we have eminent Qualities. This Perfuafion r 
 fometimes founded upon the Truth, and then that 
 Sufficiency feems excufable ; fometimes it is the Effect 
 of a ridiculous Prefumption, and in that Cafe it dif- 
 gufts all Mankind. For there is nothing fo im-per- 
 tment, and intolerable as a Fool that takes upon 
 him. A Mart puffed up with the Opinion of his own 
 Merit, is nev^r put out of Countenance : He talks 
 loud iu all Companies ; he has an A-ffurattce in his 
 Face, which fbews how well -faftisfied he is with him- 
 felf : The leaft Trifles that he {peaks, he utters with, 
 an Air of Confidence, being convinced that he is 
 heard with Pleafure : Thefe bold Appearances impofe 
 upon the Inconfiderate, and carry away the Suffrages 
 of Fools. A mod eft Man, who fays excellent 
 Things in a Modeft Way, is only admired by ra- 
 tional People. But it requires Axt to recommend 
 one to the Multitude. 
 
 Modefty is ah infallible Sfgn of an extraordinary 
 Merit, whereas the Complaicency in their own Me- 
 rit, is a great Prefumption againft thefe Self-flatterers ; 
 they know not what true Merit is, and they take 
 op with the glimmering Refemblance. 
 
 'Tis aft intolerable Vanity to think we are very 
 Deferving, and the Republick can't fubfift' without 
 our Services. Look upon it as Favour when you 
 are employed, and capacitated to (hew your Talents : 
 but think that your Port might have been 'filled 
 by a thoufand better qualifyed than yourfeif. )t 
 is rare to lee People -content with their Employs, 
 though never fo honourable, they think they de- 
 ferve ftill more confiderable. They parallel them- 
 felVes with thofe in the higheft Stations, and fay to 
 themfelves they are as good, and they muft have 
 fome Remains of Modefty not to think that they 
 excel them. All Men are blind in Point of their 
 
 own
 
 Concerning Sufficiency. 161 
 
 own Merit and Dupes to themfelves. For this Reafon 
 they are fo well fati-sfied with indifferent Talents, and 
 envy not thofe of others. 
 
 No body does himfelf Juftice, nor knows precifely 
 his own Dimenfions; if he has any good Quality, he 
 congratulates himfelf, and endeavours always to fhew 
 himfelf upon that Side. If he be obliged to acknow- 
 ledge fome Imperfections, he places them in a Point 
 of View, which makes them almoft imperceptible : 
 But at the fame Time heightens the leaft Defefts of 
 others. To judge rightly of our Vices, we muft com- 
 pare with thofe that have the fame, without being more 
 indulgent to our felves than we are to others. 
 
 Whatever little Merit a Man has, he frankly com- 
 pares himfelf to the mod accomplifhed Perfons. Is he 
 fo blind ? Has he fo bad a Judgment ? Or is it to 
 dazzle and impofe upon others ? Clearcbus, the fecond 
 Copy of Verfes he wrote, afked fome of his Friends 
 whether his Piece had not the Spirit of thofe of Mr. 
 Addifon ? Whether the Thoughts, the Turn of the 
 Expreffion, had not fomething of an Original ? How 
 many of the fame Temper are there in the World ? If 
 they don't declare themfelves forafhly, if fome remain- 
 ing Modefty hinders them from {peaking aloud, that 
 they defer ve to be ranked amongft the fublimeft Ge- 
 nius's, they whifper it to themfelves, and are pleafing- 
 ly intoxicated with fo kind and flattering a Decepti- 
 on. 
 
 A Man that too manifeftly fignifies his good Opini- 
 on of his own Merit, fets all the World againft 
 him. The moft certain and ready way to deferve 
 the Efteem of Men, is to appear Modeft, and not 
 infatuated with one's felf. The vain and Sufficient 
 draw upon them 'Envy, Contempt and Obloquy, 
 and are the common Mark for Satyr and Raillery, 
 inftead of meriting the Approbation which they 
 feek. Argenia afked the other Day why the Wo- 
 men could not bear her, and what Reafon they had 
 to inveigh fo horribly againft her r drgtnia has a 
 
 great
 
 ifc Rcfeftions upon Ridicule. 
 
 great Share of Wit, but that's not the Thing that 
 provokes the Women's Emulation moft ; me is but in- 
 differently handfome, and her Fortune is pretty equaV- 
 Jy matched with her Beauty ; fo that in this Combi- 
 nation there's nothing to provoke the Women's Envy ; 
 and yet they will pardon Nothing in Argcnia, but 
 decry her all theyoan : The Reafon is, (he is haughty 
 and prefumptuous, full of the Notion of her own 
 Merit; me thinks to eclipfe the Reft of her Sex, and 
 too vifibly difcovers her Contempt of them. 
 
 Thoufands of People think they are applauded in 
 Places where they are only confidered as Coxcombs, 
 and are only fuffered purely for Diverfion, they are 
 given out beforehand as the Comedy to be a&ed ; and 
 all the Company is prepared to put their Queftions to 
 them in their Turn. P'bilantes every where declares 
 how welcome he is to Gleonice,- who never mentions 
 him but as a Fool. Philantes is fo- blinded with the 
 great Opinion of his admirable Merits, as not to dif- 
 tinguifh Irony and fatyrical Praife, from fincere and 
 unaffefted Commendation. Becaufe he has good 
 Hair and a very white Skin, and keeps a nice Table, 
 he thinks himfelf the Phoenix of his Age. He furfeics 
 all People with his Sufficiency, and is the Property of 
 his Flatterers and Parafites. 
 
 You think your felf a very neceflary Man, and of 
 great Importance, and that is your Folly : Don't 
 flatter your felf that you are fo much as neceflary to 
 your Friends or Family ; they look upon you as a 
 lazy Body whom they would gladly be rid of: What- 
 ever Merit or Talent we think we have, we have ftill 
 fbme weak Part to ballance our good Qualities. 
 
 To avoid the Ridicule of this Sufficiency, let us 
 reflect upon an Inngnificancy in the World. Of 
 what Ufe to the Publick are thefe rare Talents 
 which we are fo extremely fond of? We live for 
 ourfelves, or a little handful of People about us, and 
 when we go off the Stage, our Lofs makes no 
 Vacuum in Nature,, and no Body perceives. They 
 that ought to be moft concerned, impatient-
 
 Concerning Sufficiency. 163 
 
 ]y expeft the Moment that frees them from Depen- 
 dance : Such an one believes his Death will occafion a 
 a great Defolation in his Family, which joyfully de- 
 frays the Expences of his Funeral. 
 
 What Extravagancies are daily committed by vain 
 Creatures, fondly conceited of their own Merit ? 
 What Complacency they take in every Thing they 
 iay, believing that all good Senfe is included in their 
 own Brain ? With what Difdain do they reject what 
 others fay, as if they were Trifles not worth Attenti- 
 on ? With what a rrjagifterial Tone do they impofe 
 Silence on the Company ? With what Arrogance 
 and Affurance do they utter their Fooleiies and trivial 
 Things, which every Body's Ears are tired with r With 
 what Preemption do they court, in trie Eyes and 
 Looks of Hearers, thofe Applaufes which all the World 
 refufes them ? 
 
 The great Idea we have of our own Merit difquiet? 
 us to confider the Merit of others ; we take no Plea- 
 lure in hearing them praifed, but are tortured with 
 the Reflections we make upon their good Qualities. 
 Tis the Weaknefs of Women, who can't bear Rival- 
 ftnp in any Thing whatever. A Woman brimfull 
 with the Notion of her Beauty, is put befide herfdf 
 to hear another's Beauty celebrated, and therefore 
 they that fall upon this Subject muft be very cir- 
 cumfpeft ; they are always in Fear of being eclipfed, 
 and when any Di (grace happens to them in this Matter, 
 they are never able to recover it. 
 
 If any one fails to give you all the Praifes you 
 think you deferve, don't difcover any Symptoms of 
 Refentment; artfully diflemble your Difcontent; 
 Conceal, under the Show of an eaiy Countenance, 
 the fecret Grief that preys upon your Sool, and take 
 heed of making, others merry at your Coft, for 
 probably your Sorrow would afford them a malicious 
 Joy. 
 
 Haughty People have continually a thoufand Mos- 
 tifications to fubmit to. The leaft Sign of Con- 
 tempt, a Wink, or a Smile, where nothing is clan- 
 
 deflinely
 
 164 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 deftinely defigned, fuffices to diftraft them. 
 depart fad and difquieted from the Company where 
 no Body meant to difturb them. They are always 
 perfuaded that one or other has failed in fome Point 
 of that infinite Refpeft which is due to their Merit. 
 People of this Charafter muft never reckon upon 
 their Repofe ; for Men are not always in a Humour 
 to footh them, but are ill-natured enough to attack 
 them frequently upon this Chapter, when they have 
 found out their blind Sides. 
 
 You have refolved upon it, and nothing will fatisfy 
 you but that important Place : Alas ! you are not fit 
 tor it ; your Vanity mifguides you. That Employ- 
 ment requires a greater Stock of Learning and Parts, 
 than you can boaft of, though the fond Opinion of 
 your felf poflefies you with different Notions : You 
 are naturally loofe and libertine, and can't fubdue 
 your felf: That Place demands Afliduity and Pains, 
 to difcharge the Duties of it with Honour. You don't 
 reflect that your Eftate is as mean as your Capacity, 
 which muft hereby be loft; that to purchale that 
 Place you would (heighten your felf for ever, and be 
 ruined paft Recovery. Be wife at the Expence of 
 others? Obferve Meret's {nattered Circumftances ; he 
 carries his Aims too high, and could not live at the 
 Rate required by the Poft he was placed in, contrary 
 to his Friends Advice. He was forced to fell the Place 
 he was fo ambitious of, after it had fwallowed up the 
 greateft Part of his Eftate ; this Fall ftrangely mortifies 
 his Vanity ; but 'tis no longer Time to make Refledti- 
 ons, when a Man is ruined beyond Retrieval. 
 
 Your Vanity or Difquiet can't bear with People 
 that are above you ; and you carry your Cenfures 
 *ven up to the firft Minifters, and all is Place. One 
 would think in hearing your Decifions upon the Go- 
 vernment, that you were to anfwer for it to the 
 World, and that you were to be raifed from your 
 Obfcurity to the firft Employments of State. Get 
 rid of that foolifh Preemption ; keep fair with 
 thoie that are above you by their Birth or Stati- 
 on,
 
 Concerning Sufficiency. 165 
 
 on, Tiowever, without defcending to fervile Complai- 
 fances. 
 
 Why do you undertake for an Affair above your 
 Capacity ? You would have had nothing to anfwer 
 for unlefs you had promifed the Event in fo pofitive a 
 Strain : If it mifcarries, whom would you have us lay 
 the Fault on ? 
 
 The Excefs of Credulity, which is a natural Confe- 
 quence of Sufficiency, makes us the Mark for the 
 Artillery of Importers, and the Railleries of Drolls, 
 who know our Weaknefs. The Vain and Sufficient 
 too lightly believe the obliging Things that are faid 
 to them, in pure Complaifance. A Woman that fets 
 up for Beauty, when (he is praifed upon that Topick, 
 receives the Compliments that are paid her, as an Ho- 
 mage to her Merit ; without examining whether {he 
 be flattered. Tis the fame with a Man in Point of 
 Wit. We ought not to be fo credulous and eafy. 
 Mod Men's Life is nothing elfe but a Commerce of 
 Compliments and Flattery, to ridicule one another. 
 Melina is fufficiently handfome ; but it is not fufficient 
 for her Vanity to be moderately praifed ; nothing but 
 Hyperboles can pleafe her: She is fatisfied, and 
 believes you when you tell her me excels all other 
 Women. This Preemption hinders her from per- 
 ceiving the malicious Ironies of thofe who feem to 
 praife her, and laugh at her ridiculous Prepoffcf- 
 iion. 
 
 Our Attention to obferve the Faults of others, is a 
 delicate Piece of Vanity, to indemnify us of the Re- 
 proaches others make, or we make ourfelves, ia 
 fpight of the Prefumption, infpired by the Idea of our 
 great Qualities. We are in iome Manner comforted 
 for our own Faults, when we fee others fubejft to the 
 fame. 
 
 We live in an Age wherein every Body has Wit : 
 It is difficult todiftmguim yourfelf that Way. You 
 are miftaken in thinking you much oblige others by 
 having a little more Art than they. Make no Preten- 
 fions to any Thing, nor, above all, affeft the Repu- 
 tation
 
 1 66 Refteflions upon Ridicule. 
 
 ration of a Wit, There is fomething of ridiculous 
 adhering to that Character I know not how : 'Tis 
 indeed very odd ; but as odd and ungrateful as that 
 Prejudice is, 'tis hard for a Man that fets up for a Wit 
 to avoid Ridicule. Obferve Florion and all his Gri- 
 maces when he is praifed; fee how he bridles : His 
 Friends have fpoiled him, by telling him too often he 
 has Wit ; and fince he has publifhed a Book, he does 
 not know himfelf, nor on what Ground he (lands. 
 Bleis us ! is it fo wonderful a Thing to write a Book ? 
 Does the Name of an Author, fo exalt the Merit of 
 an honeft Man ? Come down, Florion, to your Equals ; 
 miftruft the Ironical Praifes that are given you : You 
 have always your Book in your Hand, to read the fine 
 Places to your Vifitants, who are amazed at the Ap- 
 plaufes you beftow upon yourfelf. 
 
 'Tis not for want of Parts, if Philip has not the 
 Knack of pleafing in Converfation : He fpeaks good 
 Things enough ; but he is too full of himfelf, and 
 will not wait till he is applauded, but is his own 
 Commender. He talks in too free and familiar a Way 
 to thofe he does not know, and who have never feen 
 him before. 
 
 'Tis Pride or Stupidity, not to approve what deferves 
 Approbation ; and to affect an Indifference to Things 
 furprizing and extraordinary. 'Tis not the Way to 
 be efteemed, to exprefs Contempt of meritorious 
 Works, which have the general Vogue. That falfe 
 Delicacy makes Authors commonly ridiculous. It 
 puts them upon the Rack, to hear any Thing approved 
 but what they have one. A Book that meets with a 
 Character and Succefs, throws them in Defpair : They 
 make Confederacies offenfive and defenfive to decry 
 it ; and brutally fall upon thofe that do Juftice to the 
 Author and his Piece. But who can forbear laughing, 
 to hear them aflert in a Dogmatick Manner, that no- 
 thing was ever more wretchedly performed ? 
 
 Ill
 
 Concerning Sufficiency. 1 67 
 
 111 Fortune is advantageous to fome People, as 
 teaching them the Art of Living. Belifan was unci- 
 vil, proud, and infolent, whilft his Father flourished. 
 He fcarce faluted Perfons of the firft Rank, but made 
 them long wait and danceAttendance in theAnte-cham- 
 ber. Since his Father is difgraced, he is grown polite 
 and courteous, and prevents every Body in good Breed- 
 ing. He has gained by the Lofs of his Fortune : He 
 was flighted and avoided before, now he is pitied and 
 carefled. 
 
 We muft bear with thofe that are above us, 'tis the 
 Puniftiment of Dependance; but we muft bear with- 
 out Daftardy and Bafenefs. Perfons of an inferior 
 Rank, may come up to a Level with others, by the 
 Greatnefs of their Souls : Whereas the Great degrade 
 themfelves from their Authority, by abufing it, and 
 prefling too hard upon thofe below them, who leave 
 no Stone unturned to fhake of fo troublefome a 
 Yoke. 
 
 'Tis certain that an high Birth gives great Privileges 
 and a great Afcendant over thofe of a lower Rank. 
 We pardon Perfons of Quality, for their Rank Sake, 
 a thoufand Things which would not be borne in others. 
 But that Deference we pay them, ought to render 
 them lefs proud and haughty, and lefs addicted to lit- 
 tle Formalities. Let them not think they are privi- 
 leged to fay and do every Thing. The filly Things 
 that efcape them, aremore remarkable than in obfcurer 
 Perfons. 
 
 The Eafinefs and Complaifance the World exprefies 
 to believe the eminent Defcent of certain Perfons, 
 cherifhes and cockers them in fo genteel an Error. How 
 many Women of obfcure Extraction, by marrying Hul- 
 . bands of no birth, but rich, would be confideied as 
 Women of Quality, becaufe their Friends, to flatter 
 them, indulge them in that Notion, and pay the lame 
 Deference to their Wealth, as is due to real Merit ? 
 
 The
 
 1 68 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 The Flatteries and blind Complaifances of Mo- 
 thers to their Daughters, often poffefs them with a 
 ridiculous Pride, which but little comports with well- 
 bred Ladies, corrupts their good Nature, and fills 
 their Heads with a thoufand romantick and extra- 
 vagant Ideas. Celiana has often been told that fhe 
 is handfonie, and amiable, and rich, and that there is 
 no Match above her Merit ; which fhe is fo fully 
 perfuaded of, that all the Hufbands that are offered, 
 meet with nothing but Affronts and Slights, by Rea- 
 fon of her pretended Inequality. She'll die a Maid, 
 or will never be cured of her- Prejudice, 'till fhe is 
 out of Date for Matrimony. 
 
 If you praife one Woman's Beauty before another, 
 fhe calls her Thoughts on what is moft commend- 
 able in herfelf, to compare it with what is leaft 
 handibn e in the other, which Comparifon naturally 
 inclines her to determine in Favour of herfelf. Men, 
 ufe the fame Artifices to give themfelves the Prefer- 
 ence in Wit ; they attentively obferve the weak Part 
 of their Competitors, and behold themfelves on their 
 advantageous Side. 'Tis the Diftemper of indifferent 
 Authors and Poets, who think to fct off themfelves 
 by cenfuring others Works. 
 
 Women are impatient of being rivaled in any 
 Thing whatever, and commonly hate each other on 
 the moft whimfical Occafions; it not being always 
 Competition, or the fame Pretenfions that imbitter 
 them, and fharpen their Satyrs to one another's 
 Ruin. It is very rare to fee Women of any Merit 
 regard each other with a kind Eye when they meet 
 in any Company. They examine one another with 
 an envious Curiofity, and make no Allowances. 
 Scarce can they hinder their Indignation from break- 
 ing through their ftudied and forced Compliments.- 
 She muft be fomething more than Woman, that can 
 hear, without Jealoufy, the Praifes given another. 
 Florinna is the only Perfon that loves to hear others 
 commended for their Beauty, and Charms, and Car- 
 riage; fhe is the firft to fpcak well of them, and de- 
 fend
 
 rflgf Sufficiency. 169 
 
 fend them when they are attacked. This Generofity 
 is an infallible Sign of F/orinxa's Merit. 
 
 Does any one think his Merit the greater for vi- 
 lifying his Rivals ? Does he imagine it gives him. 
 an Air of Diftin&ion, and Authority to regard 
 others with an Air of Contempt ? 'Tis quite mif- 
 taking his Interefts, to aflume the Preheminence a- 
 bove all the World by thefe faftuous Ways. The in- 
 terefted make Leagues and Cabals to oppofe their 
 Tyranny, and ruin the Foundations of that chimeri- 
 cal Empire. 
 
 Perfons that are confcious of any Merit, are jea- 
 lous of a Superiority , and cannot bear Competitors, 
 it puts them out of all Temper to hear others praifed 
 before them who have the fame Talents. How en- 
 raged is a Woman, unlefs fhe has great Senfe, to fee 
 one touched with another's Beauty ? 'Tis not enough 
 to be handfome, unlefs they be handfomer than every 
 Body elfe. 
 
 How many good Qualities foever a Man wants, and 
 miferable he appears, he is not miferable in all Ref- 
 pedb ; he has (till fomething or other not fo diftalteful -, 
 and that fomething or other contents him. W fhould 
 be utterly difconfolate, if we had nothing that was 
 agreeable ; but our Comfort is, that we are not defi- 
 cient in every Thing. We are always very ingenious 
 to deceive ourfelves, confidering our beft Sides, and 
 fhewing only them : But inftead of gaining the Elteem, 
 of the World by thefe fond Complacencies in our- 
 felves, we grow ridiculous by ourover-affe&ing to ap- 
 pear what we are not, and being too fedulous in hiding 
 thofe Faults which fly in People's Eyes. 
 
 I cannot bear the foolifh Sufficiency of thofe pre- 
 tended Politicians, who are criticizing every Thing, 
 and pretend to forefee all Events ; who frame to them- 
 felves a chimerical Syftem of the Way they would 
 have the World governed : Nor the Impertinencies 
 of thofe vain Heads that idolize all their own Imagi- 
 nations ; that entruft you with the moft frivolous 
 Trifles as mighty Secrets, and talk in a myllerious 
 
 VOL. I. I ' Tone.
 
 1-70 Reflections upon 'Ridicule. 
 
 Tone. Do you hear, fays BeralJus in accofting you, 
 the great News ? But this News which he utters 
 with fo great Warinefs and Caution, is nothing but 
 his own Dream. What I tell you, fays he, is a Se- 
 cret I commit to you alone; 'tis a Thing that ought 
 to be buried. But his Impatience to leave you pro- 
 ceeds only from his Itch to communicate the fame 
 Secret to all that will give him the Hearing. 
 
 Of -dbfurditiu. 
 
 O3JR Want .of Application to confider the Con- 
 junftures, and different Pofture, and Face of 
 Affairs, ,of Times and Occafions, of the Characters 
 of Perfons, their Interefts, Motions, Paffions and En- 
 gagements ; this Want of Application makes us guilty 
 of a great many Abfurdities in the Commerce of 
 civil Life. Miftaking Times and Seafons is perhaps 
 a Thing the moft to be avoided, .as rendering People 
 moft troublefome and ridiculous. There is nothing 
 more formidable than thofe Peifons that diftinguifh 
 not your Leifure from your Times of Bufinefs ; that 
 accoft you in a fupine Manner, to intruft you with 
 importunate Trifles, at a Time that your ferious and 
 earned Affairs call you another Way, and refent it, 
 if you any Ways fignify your Neceffity of leaving 
 them, though they have nothing to tell you. 
 
 Such as are not always Mailers of their Paflion, 
 fhould at leaft conftrain themfelves before People, and 
 not feek Witnefles of their Extravagancies. 'Tis ri- 
 diculous enough to be governed by Rage at home, 
 without opening Scenes for the Publick, which loves 
 to divert itfelf with others Follies. The Faults we 
 commit without Witnefles are more pardonable. But 
 the Weakrefs or Folly of fome People is fuch, that 
 they exadlly rhufe the r l ime to adt their Extrava- 
 gances, \\hen the Concourfe is greateft, as if they 
 wanted a numerous Evidence to their Madnefs : It 
 
 feems
 
 Concerning Alfurditits. 171 
 
 feems that the Crowd irritates them the more, and 
 throws them out of their natural Bias. To avoid 
 this Parr of Ridicule, we ought to confider in cold 
 Blood how contemptible a Man grows by his con- 
 tinual Tranfports, and how much we fuffer from thofe 
 that are guilty of them in our Prefence. 
 
 Celanor's Table is always well fpread, and his En- 
 tertainments genteel, and well drefTed. But if his 
 Cook has happened to over or under feafon a Ragoo, 
 he falls into a Paffion that's next Kind to Diftraftion. 
 His Vexation, his Oaths and Reprimands, laft all the 
 Dinner. There is no room for his Friends to talk or 
 be merry. He muft harangue his Servants one after 
 another, whilrt his Viftuals in his Mouth are ready 
 to choak him. He has loft all Command of him- 
 felf, and feems to be mad, and to have loft all his 
 Senfes. 
 
 When People are afflifted and embarafled with 
 Troubles that demand fpeedy Succours, 'tis no Time 
 to moralize and didate grave Sentences. We muft 
 put ourfelves in Adlion, and find out the fhorteft Ways 
 to draw them from the Mire. You go to wait on 
 Celidan ; you tell him that you are perfecuted with 
 a troublefome Creditor that keeps your Nofe to the 
 Grinding-ftone, and reduces you to thejaft Extremi- 
 ties. Celidan makes you a long Difcourfe upon the 
 ill-nature and cruelty of Men ; which moral Lefture 
 is out of it's Place. Celidan is Rich, and might, 
 without any Inconvenience, lend you a Sum to clear 
 you of your Difficulties, which would be of greater 
 Ufe to you, than this unfeaibnable Harangue you 
 are vexed to hear. 
 
 You teize a Man with Compliments and Queftions, 
 who is not at Leifure to hear you : Could you nor 
 read in his uneafy Face his Eagernefs to leave you ? 
 He gives you only ftiort and ilight Anfwers, fuffer 
 him to go, and make Way for him to retire with 
 Decency, and without thinking you importunate and 
 impertinent: Your fedate Looks vex him, and put 
 him out of Patience. 
 
 I 2 Tis
 
 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 'Tis playing the Pedant unfeafonably to criticife 
 Things which indeed deferve Cenfore, but of which 
 your, Opinion was not a/ked, or if it was, with De- 
 fign only to be flattered. Attend patiently to the end 
 of a bad Piece, and neither in your Mein or Geflure 
 exprefs your Difljke, or rather your fecret Pride, 
 which makes you fet up for a good Judge. Keep 
 your Knowledge to yourfelf, fince no Body is in- 
 clined to profit by it; and don't be reputed in the 
 World, as a fevere and inexorable Critick. 
 
 As the beft Things are fpoiled by Excefs and over- 
 doing, fo Actions mif-timed lofe their Value, which 
 would do us Honour .if they were better hufbanded. 
 We fee abundance of People that are officioufly 
 Civil, always ready to do us a Pleafure ; but they 
 do it with too much F.orwardnefs or Affectation ; they 
 render themfelves importunate by their Diligence. 
 The Virtues themfelves require to be well feafoned 
 and retrenched from all their Superfluities. The Way 
 is to be officious without Eagernefs and Affectation , 
 obliging without Uneafmefs, and complaifant without 
 Meannefs, and a fervile Devotion. 
 
 Women that have loved Gallantry, can't refolve to 
 leave the World : It is ftill pleafing to them when 
 they can no longer pleafe. 'Tis ftrangely ridiculous 
 to expofe their faded and wrinkled Faces in Places 
 where they ufed to appear, with fuch a Figure. 'Tis 
 efpecially for them this Maxim was defigned, That 
 the end of- Agreement! ought to be the beginning of Re- 
 treat. Be this Devotion our Politicks, Decency re- 
 quires that they forbear to appear in the World, when 
 it no longer beholds them with the fame Eyes, and 
 they give it Difguft who formerly gave it fo much 
 Pleafure. 
 
 'Tis a Thing that provokes Laughter to fee tooth- 
 lefs, decrepit Women, equally fond of all Sorts of 
 Pleafure as when they were but twenty ; to fee them, 
 mark all the Cadences with their Hands and Head, 
 when the young ones Dance ; to beat Time in Con- 
 fort, and make paffionate Exclamations when an Air 
 
 affefts
 
 Concerning Abfurditiss: 173, 
 
 sffe&s them. FlorinJa, who is fourfcore", never fails 
 to be one at an Affignation, oraFeaft, or a Ball that's 
 given in the Town : She manifefts an extravagant 
 Fondnefs for thefe Things. Would not the Decency 
 of her Age require a lit'tle more Moderation ? Or 
 if (he has fo great Relifh for thefe Fooleries, fhould 
 fhe not conceal her Paffion to avoid falling into Ri- 
 dicule ? 
 
 Herjlilia has been often told that fhe ought de- 
 cently to retire; and has received Mortifications 
 Sufficient to difcourage her, had fhe been fehfible of 
 her Reptuation : But fhe has frill the Misfortune 
 to love the Places where fhe has been adored, though 
 at preferit Ihe gives nothing but Difturbance by the 
 Sight of her. She thinks that her fuperannuated 
 Charms and twinkling Star-light of her Eyes, are 
 ftill able to make Conquefls. 'Tis the Dotage of all 
 Women that have been handfome, though their Body 
 is changed, their Mind continues the fame : They 
 have ftill the fame Paffions arid the fame Defines of 
 Pleafure, when the World has no longer liking to 
 them. If they were wife, they would give Place to 
 thofe who begin to appear in the Scenes, and deny 
 them the Pleafure of infulting them upon the Ruins 
 of their Beauty. 
 
 There are a Sort of incompliant People that are 
 all of a Piece, who cannot fubmit themfelves to the 
 different Seafons and Conjectures, who are facetious 
 and merry in the Company of grave Perfons who 
 talk of ferious Affairs ; on the contrary, they are 
 gloomy and melancholick in Places of Joy and 
 Gaiety. We are unwelcome to others, when we don't 
 enter into their Humour, and divine the exact Situ- 
 ation of their Minds. Don't go to difturb others Re- 
 pofe : Stay at home, if your Difquiet or Ill-humour 
 incapacitates you to contribute to their innocent Pl<:a- 
 fures. If your Friends have met with any Mif- 
 fortune, take heed how you indulge to your Mirth 
 and Humour; that is not the Seafon of faying pretty 
 Things ; it would be the Means to exafperate their 
 I 3 Grief,
 
 174 Refactions upon Ridicule. 
 
 Grief, and provoke them againft you, inilead of 
 giving them any Comfort. 
 
 The Mind has it's certain Moments of Difguft and 
 Langour, wherein it can imagine and produce no- 
 thing that's agreeable. When 'tis benighted with 
 thefe dark Images, let it be others Bufinefs to quicken 
 Converfation, and direft the Company. The Things 
 we offer as facetious and ingenious, are not to 
 ftem infipid and diftafteful. 
 
 If you fpealc often of yourfelf you will infallibly 
 difguft. Self- Love fuffers in hearing others praifed, 
 becaufe their Elogies exalt him they are beftowed on, 
 and deprefs others in fome Meafure. This is a vio- 
 lent State, and you provoke the Spleen of thofe you 
 keep in fo painful a Pofture. 'Tis alio a certain Way 
 of tiring, to fpeak long and often of your own Af- 
 fairs, your Gains and Lofies, your Pleafures and 
 Misfortunes. What is it to thofe who know you but 
 little, to be teized with the Account of a thoufand 
 Impertinencies, which you think Things of Coafe- 
 quence ? 
 
 People that want Brains have always the mod 
 Tongue; as if they were apprehenfive their Stupidity 
 would not be foon enough perceived, which might 
 be concealed under a prudent and myfterious Silence. 
 They talk with this Aflurance, as believeing what 
 they fay is witty and poignant, and that they gain the 
 Efteem of the Perfons they talk to, who are equally 
 offended with their Folly and Prefumption. 
 
 'Tis abfurd to hear a Man with a merry Look, 
 who talks to you of his Misfortunes ; if they do not 
 move you fo much^as-he defires, you cannot at leaft 
 refufe to hear him with a compofed Deportment, and 
 the Serioafnefs that Decency requires : Your inward 
 Sentiments cannot be read, but let your exterior give 
 Content- 'Tis additional Affliction, which is fome- 
 times as cutting as the Misfortune itfelf, to fee others 
 confider it with a fupine Indifference.
 
 Concerning Abfttrdi ties'.- i/'5 
 
 A Man always grows ridiculous by departing from 
 his Chara&er. Sylvain is naturally fad and heavy ; 
 he has a cloudy and fleepy Imagination, and yet he 
 borrowed an apifh and maggotty Carriage, which 
 no Ways fits his Genius and his Temper ; he tries at 
 Humour in every Thing he fays and does, with 
 which forced Mirth no Body is diverted. Syfaai*, 
 with his artificial Merriment, is looked upon as a very 
 tirefome Fellow ; he would difpleaie lefs, if he did 
 not defire to pleafe fo much. 
 
 We ought not to thruft ourfelves into thofe Di- 
 verfions and Appointments, where our Companies ar.e 
 not dffired : Do not bring an importunate Face to 
 dillurb the Entertainment. The Preemption of your 
 Deferts eafily foluces you, and you are very loath 
 to think that you are troublefome : You think your- 
 felf a Phcenix in the Company, and admired of all, 
 who in the mean Time wifh you a thouiand Miles 
 off. 
 
 How ufeful would this Reflection be to a vaft m.i- 
 ny People ! They fatigue the World wkh theiv 
 Afliduities and Vifits; they boaft their Intimacies wuh 
 fuch a Countefs and fuch a Lady, who have twenty 
 Times denied them Admittance, and their Doors 
 would be always fhut to them, but that they are 
 conquered by their Importunities. When Gelatine 
 is told that Beroald is to wait on her ; good God ! 
 fays (he, who will deliver me from the Perfecutions of 
 this Fool ? And yet he enters with a confident Look, 
 and is no froner feated but he monopolizes the Dif- 
 courfe ; and having fluttered a thoufand Impertinen- 
 cies, departs content, and tells it every where that he 
 is Gelatine's moft particular Friend. 
 
 'Tis a very nice Affair to obferve due Meafures with 
 People that have affronted you, when they are recover- 
 ed from their Paflion, and feek an Accommodation. 
 If your Rupture has made no Noife in the World, 
 you may, without more ado, grant them the Favour 
 they demand : But if the Injury has been publick, 
 I 4 you
 
 I *j6 Reflexions upon Ridicule. 
 
 you muft ufe more Precaution, and expect Intreaties, 
 by reafon of the Confequences, without expreffing too 
 much Forwardnefs to be reconciled. 'Tis not for the 
 offended Party to make the Advances, according to 
 the Rules of the World ; 'tis enough if he be in a 
 Difpofuion to forgive, when the Author of the Of- 
 fence is brought to acknowledge it. 
 
 How is it poifible to frequenc much Company, with- 
 out having many Subjects of Complaint ? The too 
 exceptious Gentlemen can never promife themfelves 
 any Quiet ; but they ought at leaft to have the Dif- 
 crction not to diflurb the Repofe of others by their 
 eternal Narratives of the Affronts they have received. 
 They can talk of nothing elfc. But I would as foon 
 be confined to WeflminJier-Hall, as to be always hear- 
 ing thele Complaints, in which 1 have no Intereft. 
 What is it to me if fuch an one faluted you in an auk- 
 ward Way, or did not bow to you fo profoundly low 
 as you expected ? 
 
 It is impoffible to live long in the World without 
 being expofed to feme Difgrace ; and that is the 
 Junclure wherein a Man fhews perfectly what he is. 
 As much as poflibie, we mould avoid difcovering any 
 Weaknefs, and thereby refufe our Enemies the malici- 
 ous Satisfaction of feeing us Miferable, and too fenfi- 
 ble to our Misfortunes. But neither ought we to af- 
 feft a fictitious Conftancy, or a ftoical Indolence, 
 when the Pofture of our Affairs requires us to be Af- 
 fecled. That miftaken Haughtinefs fets every Body 
 againft us, and commonly hinders us from taking the 
 Meafures neceflary to retrieve us from our Confu- 
 iion. 
 
 I faw Frontinias, the fame Day he received the 
 Orders for his Banifhment, counterfeit the agreeable 
 Laugh wirh his Mouth wide open, and entertain his 
 Vifuants with Tittle-tattle of Things indifferent, who 
 came to make their Compliments ot Condolence, and 
 exprefs their great Concern for his Misfortune. I 
 know that a Man of Courage ought not to fink under 
 
 his
 
 Concerning Absurdities. 177 
 
 his ill Fortune ; tut I know alfo thai Decency 
 requires not to aft a merry Part, and the flburifh- 
 ing Talker, when our Affairs demand more fe- 
 rious Meditations. 
 
 A Man that has had any Misfortune loves always 
 to b'e talking of it ; as he is pierced with it riimfejf, 
 and finds fome Satisfaction in venting his Griefs by 
 telling them, he thinks others are alike affected : But 
 tho* they in Corhplaifance exprefs their Concernment, 
 they ought, as milch as pofllble, to be excufed thefe un- 
 eafy Difcourfes, excepting when we have Occafion for 
 their Advice ho\V to behave ourfelves in thofe nice 
 Conjunctures, wherein we are at a Lofs which way to 
 turn. For then both Decency and Charity command, 
 not only to hear the Miferable complain, butGenero- 
 Iky requires we mould fuggeft to him, when we cari, 
 the Means, and lend him the helping .Hand to deliver 
 him from his Misfortunes. 
 
 It is a thing of fo nice a-Confideratfon'to praife 
 Friends, that it is almoft impoffible to obferve all ihe 
 neceflafy Precautions in a Matter' where we can't be 
 too exact. If our Commendations are exceffive and 
 hyperbolical, we fret and difcompofe our Hearers, 
 and by no mean perfuade them, We ought moreover 
 to obferve Places and Circurhftances, and' fpeak mo- 
 deftly of others before thofe we owe a great Refpeft, 
 who take but little Pleafure in Hearing the Praifes 
 wherein they have no Part. 
 
 To make a Trade of fquandering infipid Praifes 
 upon every body, is a ve'ry defpicable Character. 
 Civility demands we fliould be corhplimental upon 
 fome Occafion s ; but 'tis turning Fool, indifcriminate- 
 ]y to beftow our Compliments learnt by heart, upon 
 all Comers, and as foon as we accoft them begin their 
 Panegyricks. There is nothing more naufeous to a 
 judicious Tafte, than thefe fulfoine Flatteries : I had 
 rather have hard Words bluntly faid to me, than hear 
 thefe everlaftingEncomiafts, that arc conftantly giving 
 me an Incenfe that makes me Drunk, and gets into 
 I 5 * n>y
 
 178 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 my Head, Jf you publifh but a Trifle like this, 
 which you confider as an Amufement, they exclaim, 
 'tis all Divine, 'tis a bewitching Piece, the Manners 
 are curioufly treated, and the Ridicule is admirably 
 defcribed. Where fhould a Man hide bimfelf from 
 thefe Perfecutors ? And what can be anfwered to 
 their extravagant Praifes. 
 
 You are advanced in Years, CbryJaliJts, and you 
 marry MeiiJ/a, young, handfome, witty, full of 
 Charms and Agreements : Do you think you don't 
 expofe yourfelf to the greateft Chagrins, and all the 
 IV] iferies of Marriage? I moreover forefee, that you'll 
 be but little pitied for the Difgraces happening, in the 
 fequel : 'Tis an ill-forted Combination, and you can 
 blame no body but yourfelf for all the Troubles you 
 plunge into, Hand over Head. 
 
 A miferly Hufband, who denies every thing to a 
 young Wife, that does not fumifh her wherewith- 
 al to play, and drefs genteelly, hazards both her 
 Honour and his own. '1 is a wretched piece of Po- 
 licy, by an exceffive Harfhnefs, to force a young 
 Wife to feek from Home the Comforts and Advan- 
 tages of an agreeable Life : That is but too favoura- 
 ble an Opportunity for a liberal Lover, who is ac- 
 quainted with the Condition and Inclination of the 
 Woman. She is in Danger of forgetting herfelf and 
 betraying her Honour, if fhe has leis Concern for her 
 Reputation than for Money, Play, or Finery. Felice 
 had not made the wrong Step fhe did, but for the 
 "Whim and Folly of her Hufband : Tho 1 fhe brought 
 him a considerable Fortune, he refufes her every 
 thing fhe moft defired. She found in her Neceffities 
 Ibme compaflionate People, but fhe was over Graieful. 
 There was more of Revenge than Debauch in her ill 
 Conduct ; fhe chofe rather to difhonour herfelf, than 
 not to punilh an Hufband who treated her with 
 an intolerable Severity. 
 
 Oar
 
 Concerning Abjurdities. 179 
 
 Our Importunity to tell all the News we know or 
 think we know, makes us commonly regarded as 
 Impertinents. The generality of News but little in- 
 terefts thofe that hear it, and hinders them from 
 faying things that would more delight them. Thefe 
 News-mongers are commonly barren Wits, incapable 
 of thinking, and furnifhing a Stock out of themfelves 
 for Converfation. 'Tis eafier to relate what a Man 
 has heard or read in the Gazette, than to invent things 
 handfqmely himfelf. 
 
 In relating a Story, or a Piece of News, a Man 
 ought not to amplify the Circumftances which every 
 body knows, and has heard twenty times over. Thefe 
 Repetitions are fatiguing, and make us long for 
 the end of the Story, 
 
 'Tis ill Breeding to interrupt a Man who has be- 
 gun a Story f it rs better to be ignorant of fome Cir- 
 cumftances, than that the Relator fhould be deprived 
 of the Pleafure he has to be heard, 
 
 A Man expofes himielf to great Troubles by- 
 writing certain Things, that create Mifchief when 
 they come to be divulged. How many Interefted 
 Perfons facrifice your Letters, and do themfelves 
 Honour at your Coft ? When the Mifchief is done, 
 it is too late to remedy it, all Apologies are in- 
 vain. The Public is not eafiLy brought o-fF but 
 infills upon what is written. 
 
 What Delight fome People takes hi railing againft 
 the prefent Times ! In Societies where nothing but 
 Mirth is defigned, they come and mingle their impor- 
 tunate Difcourfe concerning the barrennefs of the Sea- 
 fon, the dearnefs of Things necefiary to Life ; how 
 hard it is to get their Money of their Debtors, and of 
 the frequent Bankrupts in the City. They can talk 
 of nothing elfe ; their Minds are wholly taken up 
 with. Lois and Gain : Whereas thefe Difcourfes are 
 very difobliging to lefs interefted Perfons, 
 
 There are no People worfe rewarded than thofe 
 who intrude with their Advice : Men don't love to be 
 made fenfible of their Faults, the Sight whereof trou- 
 bles
 
 1 80 Reflexions upon Ridicule. 
 
 bles and offends them ; they are ftill lefs difpofed to 
 acknowledge them, fmce their Vanity is wounded by 
 that Confeffion. The only way to talk with them is 
 to flatter them, and artfully remove the Profped of 
 the ingrateful Objefts, to fhew them thofe that are 
 .more agreeable and welcome to their Fancies. 
 
 'Tis afting againft good Senfe and the Laws of So- 
 ciety, to make a Myftery to ouf Friends of Thing* 
 that ought to be brought into Conversation, and not 
 be kept as Secrets. One would think that Cleoiulus 
 5s the Repofitory of the Myfteries of State : He dares 
 not venture to fpeak, for fear he fhould drop fome 
 "Word that might be interpreted Treafon or Mifprifion : 
 He conftantly looks about left any body fhould hear 
 him : He whifpers in your Ear the mighty Nothing -, 
 and conjures your Secrecy to every thing he tells you ; 
 all which you knew before by the Public Fame. 
 
 There's no depending upon the Difcretion of Men ; 
 You no fooner have intrufted them with fome important 
 Secret, but they run to impart it to fome other ; 'tis 
 true, they do it under the Seal of Secrecy ; but he 
 that is made the Confident, ufes the fame Liberty that 
 they took themfelves ; and thus an important Affair 
 grows publick in a Moment : But the firft Revealer, 
 who was moft concerned, commits the greateft Fault. 
 
 We fee People that eafily infmuate themfelves, and 
 grow prefently familiar to obtain their Ends. The 
 h'ril Vifit they make you, they take the Liberty to 
 borrow all Things, telling you they deal without Cere- 
 jnony, and con fid er you as their Friend. But they 
 jhould at the fame time examine, whether they are 
 confidered under that Chara&er. There are none 
 but thofe we love, or would oblige, to whom we care 
 to lend or give : And therefore Perfons that bor- 
 row ought to be very referved, and be well acquaint- 
 ed with the Humour and Character of others, be- 
 fore they venture to afk. 
 
 If you would not be burdenfome in the Vifits you 
 pay, try firft to penetrate the Diipofition of the Per- 
 ibns that compofe the Company, that you may enter 
 
 into
 
 Concerning Abfurditits. 1 8 1 
 
 into their Sentiments and Interefts. If the Converfa- 
 tion turns upon Mirth, and you put on too ferious 
 and pMlofOphical a Face, you are looked upon as 
 a Pedant and Impertinent. Don't aft the Cenfor if 
 any thing happens to be dropped that offends your 
 Gravity. People are not always difpofed to hear 
 Remonftrances, whieh have a very bad Effeft when 
 they are ill taken. 
 
 The Reafon why fome People are fo 511 received in 
 moft Houfes where they come, is their want of Atten- 
 tion to confider what is fuitable to the Perfons vifited,. 
 they have neither Condefcenfion nor Docility, nor 
 Complaifance to fuit themfelves to different Cha- 
 racters. Haughty Perfons recpiire Submiflions and 
 Refpefts ; they that fet up for Wit, would be at- 
 tended, applauded and admired for every thing 
 they fay. A Man infatuated with his Rank and Qua- 
 lity, rnuft be flattered upon that Chimera. 'Tis eafy 
 at one Glance to diftinguilh the predominant Paffion 
 of thofe you have to do with ; if you don't confider 
 them in that Particular, they'll Confider you as 
 a troublefome Perfoti. 
 
 Arfennat waits to take his part in a Company 'till 
 all the reft have taken theirs. If Mirth and Gaiety 
 be the reigning Humour, he vents grave and auftere 
 Maxims ; he feems to take it amifs that others 
 fhould think of Pleafure and Diverfion. ' If the Con- 
 verfation be ferious, he is fure to be facetious, to 
 oppofe every body's Seritiments, and to be the Re- 
 verfe of all the reft. People of this Character are 
 the Scare -crows of Society. 
 
 Concert your Meafures better in vifiting your 
 Friends. You precifely chufe the Time when they 
 are over-whelmed with Eufmefs : You fix yourfelf in 
 their Houfes to entertain theTn only with Trifles : You 
 put them upon folliciting for you, at the time they 
 are tired with the Vifits they have made or receiv- 
 ed : They want Reft, and you would expofe 
 them to frefti Fatigues. 
 
 Long
 
 182 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 Long Vifits generally weary thofe that receive 
 them ; their prefent Difpofition, Chagrins, Bufmefs, 
 will not always permit them to give you a fedate 
 Hearing : Tis eafy to know when People are 
 weary of us; but the Reflections of that Nature are 
 mortifying, and leffen the Idea every one has of 
 his own Merit. 
 
 Of Caprice. 
 
 HO W many Diftempers has a ridiculous Man 
 to be cured of? The Things he moft impa- 
 tiently longs for, he loaths a Quarter of an Hour 
 after. He loves and hates the fame Perfons, in 
 the fame Day. He carefles and extolls you, trans- 
 fixed with your Merit, and full with your good Qua- 
 lities. No fooner have you turned jour Back, but 
 he tears you with horrible Slanders, and thinks you 
 the lawful Objeft of his Satyrs. His Inequalities 
 and Whimfies, his Joys and Difcontents, his Com- 
 plaifance and Roughnefs, his furly and infmnating 
 Humour, his good Nature and Brutality would 
 make one think that it is not the fame Man, fince 
 he a&s by fo different Principles. 
 
 The Head is guilty of fewer Faults than the 
 Heart : Ignorance of Duty and Obligation is not 
 the Caufe of fo many Incivilities, fo many rough 
 and difobliging Anfwers, fo many ill Offices Men 
 mutually do one another, and fo many ill-natured 
 Pradlices : But 'tis a perverfe Heart ; People delight 
 to vex, offend, and difoblige the Perfons they con- 
 verfe with. He that is faulty in Point of his Heart, 
 fins in Principle, and has in him the Foundation 
 of all Vices. 
 
 Don't nflc Bcroald any thing you mightily defire : 
 If you intimate that he would do you an. extra- 
 ordinary Pleafure by granting it, you take the fu- 
 
 refl
 
 Concerning Caprice. 183 
 
 reft Way to be denied. He would be perfuaded, 
 if the Thing was more indifferent to you ; there- 
 fore don't folicit him nor prefs him ; wait for the 
 Moment of his Caprice : He'll come to you, when 
 you lead think on it, and when his Affiftance 
 will be too late. 
 
 The Maggottry of fome People is inconceivable. 
 Every thing vexes and offends them. A Man knows 
 not what Meafures to take to enter into their 
 Sentiments, becaufe they have none fixed and fettled. 
 Their contradictory Humour runs counter to all 
 other Defires and Pleafures. Enemies to Divertife- 
 ments they hate every thing that taftes of Joy ; 
 and that which gives others Mirth, puts them into 
 ill Humour. Such People mould, at leaft, have 
 the Dilcretion to flay at Home, and not enter 
 into Company, to poifon it with the Rancour of 
 their Spleen. 'Tis a fufficient Intimation to Ly- 
 fander, that you defire fomething, when you oblige 
 him to oppofe it all he can. You put him to a 
 ftrange Non-plus, by engaging him to declare him- 
 felf the firft, fo fearful he is left his Choice Ihould 
 agree with others. 
 
 'Tis prodigioufly fantaftical to be ftill contrary 
 to the Opinion of all the World. People of this 
 Character never open till others have declared their 
 Intentions, to have the Pleafure of impugning them. 
 It becomes us to be always of the Side of Truth 
 and Senfe, and not expert that others mould be 
 fo Docile and Complaifant, as to admit our Capri- 
 ces for good Arguments. 
 
 The whimfical unevennels of fome People ruins 
 the Pleafure of Converfation. We know not what 
 Meafures to obferve with thofe, who pafs all of 
 a fudden from one Extream to another, and from 
 having diverted the Company by their good Hu- 
 mour and Facet ioufnefs, fall into a Gravity and 
 Melancholy that no body can comprehend. From 
 Mirth and Gaiety, they grow fad, without know- 
 ing the Reafon why ; and keep a penfive and flu- 
 
 pid
 
 184 Reflexions upon Ridicule. 
 
 pid Silence after they have faid a thoufand agree- 
 able Things. 
 
 What De"pendaric is there upon thofe People, 
 who can't keep in the fame Mind a Quarter of 
 an Hour together: To Day they make you a 
 thoufand Offers of Service, and to Morrow they 
 will not fo much as know you. Their belt 
 Friends can't reckon upon their good Intentions. 
 Strange Effeft of their odd Humour! That hin- 
 ders them from knowing their own' Thoughts. 
 People of this Character are very urie'afy to others 
 and themfdVeif. 
 
 To bring others over to your Opinion, you muft 
 ftudy t'heir Te'mpef, arid get into theni by a for- 
 ced Condtefcehfion, without difcovering the Artifice. 
 If you prrftdrid by an high Hand to carry the Suf- 
 frages of the World, and to decide by an Air of 
 Authority, be your Reafon never fo good, your Ar- 
 guments will hive no Force. Every one is tenacious 
 df his Opinions : They that yield to yours, muft 
 periuade themfelves tliat they are led by nothing but 
 their own Intelligence'. 
 
 Perfons infatuated with their own Deferts, or that 
 
 have had a mean Education : The Lady 
 
 Dainties^ and Women that fa'lfely pretend to Qua< 
 lity, never think that your Civilities are refpedful 
 enough. In vain you footh, compliment, and 
 carefs them : They are on the Houft-tbp for the leaft 
 Word that accide'ntly efcapes you. With fuch Peo- 
 ple you muft : ahvays be upon your Guard, and at 
 Dagger's Length ; and therefore avoid them if you 
 love your oWri Repofe ; for you muft be conftantly 
 apologizing for what you have faid, and be forced 
 to ungrateful Explications. Rojind goes away difla- 
 tisfied from all the Companies (he comes in ; fhe 
 ftill thinks you don't do fufficient Juftice to her 
 Merit, nor flatter her enough ; She complains that 
 all Women envy her Charms, and make Confede- 
 racies to ruin her Reputation. 
 
 Your
 
 Concerning Caprice. 185 
 
 Your ftarcht and affedled Wits endeavour to be 
 taken Notice of for Singularities, becaufe they have 
 not a right Notion of true Merit, nor know what is 
 acceptable to Men of Senfe. They love nothing but 
 what is exceffive and extraordinary ; whereas the Ju- 
 dicious are touched only with what's natural. Phenice 
 would think fhe loft a Part of her Reputation, if fhe 
 condefcended to talk like other People. She feems to 
 be afraid of being underftood, and fecks Periphrafes 
 and bombaft Words toexprels the moft fimpleThings ; 
 Her Servants muft have Recourfe to Interpreters to 
 decypher her Commands. 
 
 We fee People whofe whole Life is a continual 
 Round of whim and Caprice, and that are naturally 
 Enemies to Order. The greateft Pleafures dori'f affec~'t 
 them, unlefs they be phantaflical and extravagant, 
 wherein they take Delight, which no Body could ever 
 think of. They neither eat, nor drefs, nor lodge like 
 other Folks, but deviate, in all they do, from the 
 common Ways of Mankind, defiring to fignalize. 
 themfelves by the Extravagance of a capricious and 
 particular Fancy. There's no Fafhion fo humourfome 
 but they ftill out do it ; but generally their Intentions 
 have the fame Character as their Wit. They don't 
 tend to a better or more commodious Way of living, 
 but only to make them taken Notice of at any Rate 
 
 Jealoufy is a Source of a thouland Impertinences : 
 The Vapours of this dark Paflion obfcure the Light 
 of the Mind, which is perpetually framing Chi- 
 meras, and raifing Difturbances to itfelf from eve- 
 ry Thing in the World. That which gives others 
 any Pleafure, puts them into inconceivable Difor- 
 der. Some even carry their Jealoufies to their 
 Miftf effes Lap-dogs and Monkies, and are ouf of Pa- 
 tience to fee them laugh and play with thefe Crea- 
 tures. The beft Remedy to cure this Humour, 
 would be to fhew them all the Extravagancies and 
 
 Follies
 
 1 86 Reflexions upon Ridicule. 
 
 Follies this black and fantaftical Paffion makes then* 
 guilty of. 
 
 Inexorable and exceflive Criticifm has commonly ill 
 Effefts, and does but little Credit to thofe who aim to 
 diitinguifh themfelves by an affefted Diflike, and Sub-- 
 tilities overftrained. I had rather modeftly praife 
 what is but indifferent, than blame what is good. 
 Provided there be an Handle to excufe the doubtfu-l 
 Adions of People, who had no premeditated Defign of 
 Mifchief, or the carelefs Places of a Book, a Man had 
 better incline to the good natured Side. 
 
 They that think they have Parts above the common 
 Standard, fall eafily into this Fault. They fancy they 
 are obliged to iliew their &elicacy, to give a great Idea 
 of their Genius. They give no body Quarter but 
 unmercifully treat all Sorts of Authors . They would 
 think it a Detriment to them, if they fuffered a Book 
 that was not their own to have the publick Approbati- 
 on. 'Tis your Extravagance BerH/us, to be always 
 different from the common Opinion j you leave the 
 Play-Houfe with a morofe Look, where every body 
 has been pleafed. You were feen to caft infulting 
 Glances on the Pit, and give thofe a pitying Look 
 who indulged their Laugh. Do you think that no bo- 
 dy dares laugh without afking your PermifHon. 
 
 Have no Commerce with thofe of fo ill a Fame that 
 you can't fee them without lofing fome of your Repu- 
 tation. 'Tis a ftirewd Sign that a Man begins to relax 
 in Virtue, when he prefers agreeable Perfons, of a 
 fufpefted Probity, before others, whofe Integrity is 
 univerfally acknowledged. When Sylverina is taxed 
 with vifiting Women of a loofe Life, all the Reaforx 
 fhe gives is, that me had rather divert her ftlf with 
 the Coquets, than be tired nvith the Auftere. This is 
 an unfound Maxim ; for we run the rifque of quickly 
 refembling thofe whofe Companv is fo agreeable 
 to us. 
 
 The
 
 Concerning Caprice. 187 
 
 The infincere Praifes we give thofe that are in the 
 wrong, indulge them in their Caprices, as perfuading 
 them they are in the right. This makes them proud 
 and infolent ; they exaggerate all the imaginary Af- 
 fronts they have received, and teize all they meet with 
 the Account of their Quarrels. 
 
 Do fo much Honour to thofe that fpeak to you, as 
 to hear them out : Scarce have they begun, but you 
 interrupt them with precipitate Anfwers, before you 
 know diftinclly what they have to fay. 'Tis an unpar- 
 donable Incivility that proceeds from a great Fund of 
 Pride, Stupidity, or the good Opinion of your own 
 Sufficiency, that makes you think you take Things at 
 half a Word, or elfe from a rertlefs Itch of Talking. 
 
 That vvhich makes the Converfation of Women to 
 be generally infipid and diftafteful is, that they will be 
 always Talking, without giving the leaft Attention to 
 what is faid to them : They gaggle all at a Time ; as 
 if it was for a Wager, who mould make the greateft 
 Noife. If People of another Climate, where they 
 talk with more Refer ve and Circumfpeftion Ihould be 
 prefent, they would take them for Mad -women, and 
 would be infinitely furprized at the Extravagance of 
 our Manners. The Rule is, to give him that has be- 
 gun the Relation, time to make an End of it at his 
 Leifure. You'll always find fome Opportunities of a 
 Paufe, in which you may make your Objections, with- 
 out breaking the Thread of the Narration. 
 
 You have always, Dorimon, a.fowre Ferment with- 
 in you, which troubles your own Repofe, and makes 
 you trouble that of others : You are conftantly re- 
 proaching them without Foundation. At the Time 
 they do you Service you complain of being neglefted : 
 And would ftill have them do fomething further, after 
 they have done their utmoft for you. 
 
 Singularities
 
 1 88 Refiefims upon Ridicule. 
 
 Singularities of any Kind, are always offensive- 
 What a whimfical Fancy have thofe that love to alter 
 the Famion of their Cloaths ? We ought to go as 
 others do, and not feck to be admired for an unufual 
 Drefs-. However, there are Proportions and Deco- 
 rums to be obferved. Old Women ought not to fol- 
 low the Caprices of Youth. Tiberina, who is upon 
 the Decline, renders herfelf ridiculous by her Patches, 
 her high Head, and the Gawdery of Ribbons, that 
 fit none but the younger Sort. 
 
 The Mode in France, is the very Triumph of Ca- 
 price : That which charms the Eye Today, To- 
 morrow is exploded by pure Whimfey. If a Man 
 lived an hundred Years, and carefully preferved all the 
 different Garbs he wore, he would have a Wardrobe 
 for the moft fantaftical Mafquersde. The other Na- 
 tions of Europe reproach the French Incercainty in this, 
 but perhaps without juft Reafon. Thefe frequent 
 Changes employ Abundance of Workmen, who could 
 not otiierwife tell how to live, and are of great Ad- 
 vantage to Trade. We fee too, that o:her Nation;, 
 with all iheir Phlegm, ftudy thefe Fafliions, and fub- 
 ihit to thefe Caprices, wherein there always appears 
 fomething that is genteel, and well imagined. 
 
 They that appear fo compofed and fedate, are fome- 
 times as much agitated in their Soul, as the moft tu- 
 multuous Perfons. But for all this, we are obliged 
 to them for this feeming Tranquillity, whereof 
 they have all the Pain, and others all the Profit. 
 When a Man knows himfelf; and is not Maf- 
 tdr of his Paifiorts, he ought to avoid all the Occafi- 
 ons of expofmg-his ill Humour. Eraflus is the 
 genteeleft Man imaginable, provided he does not play. 
 He growls, he rages, he fvvears, as long as his ill 
 Luck lafts : He has no Regard for Women of Quali - 
 ty he plays with : He brutifhly taxes them with their 
 Intrigues and Amours, to be revenged of his bad 
 Fortune, and in fome Sort repay himfelf, by thefe 
 Rudenefles,. the Money they win of him. Tho' 
 
 it
 
 Concerning Caprice. 189 
 
 It be the Mens Part to give Way to the Ladies, they 
 are forced to recede firft, to avoid his Caprices and 
 odd Humours. Eraftus, and others like him, ought 
 never to game. 
 
 The Character of a Lyar is odious and contemptible : 
 Some have contracted fuch a Habit of Lying, that 
 they can't forbear it even in the molt indifferent Things. 
 They are laught at to their Face, and are not credited, 
 even when they fpeak Truth. 
 
 There's no reckoning upon the FriendQiip of Peo- 
 ple that deal in Slander, becaufe that Inclination con- 
 tinually over-rules them. The Pleafure they take in 
 Abufe, makes them forget that their Friends are con- 
 cerned in their ill Stories : They neglect all Decorum, 
 and, not confidering how they incur the Contempt of 
 thofe that hear them, who are Witnefles of fo extra- 
 vagant a Proceeding, they facrifice their Reputation 
 and their Friends to a Jeft. 
 
 Take care to conceal better your Jealoufies and 
 Miflrufts. You have a Fancy that every Body has a 
 Defign to deceive you, and you difcover your Uneafi- 
 nefs thereupon. They that are fufpicious of all Man- 
 kind, are not always the honefteft Men. You fay that 
 your Servants rob you, that your Wife ruins you, 
 that your Children carry from your Houfe every thing 
 they meet with. They don't fo much as think of it; 
 but you'll prompt them to it by your ill grounded 
 Sufpicions. 
 
 'Tis not Science that fpoils the Mind ; but the Fault 
 of thofe that make an ill Ufe of it. A Man who has 
 his Head turned to Pedantry, the more learned he 
 grows, the more ridiculous he becomes. His Difpo- 
 fition, Ways, Manners, and Difcourfes, are infecied 
 with the Difeafe of Pedantry. He is intraftable, 
 proud, incivil, unpolite, opinionative. On the con- 
 trary, a Mind well turned receives the finishing Stroke 
 and poliming from Science. There's nothing rude, 
 nor wild, nor difguftful in his Behaviour. 
 
 You
 
 1 90 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 You feem reftlefs and diflurbed at others Commen- 
 dations : That Indignation you {hew, is a Sign of the 
 Littlenefs and Malignity of your Soul. 
 
 The fame Principle that gives us fo much Pleafure 
 to hear ourfelves praifed, makes us hear others com- 
 mended with fo much Pain. We ought to be fo 
 much Matters of ourfelves, as to conceal our Vexati- 
 on, if we would not have others merry at our Coft : 
 They take a malicious Pleafure to fee the Confufion 
 of vain People, and to give them fome fenfible Mor- 
 tification. 
 
 'Tis a Sign of the Caprice and Maggotry of Wo- 
 men, to Delight in Diforder, to abandon the Care of 
 their Houfes, and fuffer their Affairs to run to Riot by 
 pure Negligence : This Libertine Life has a thoufand 
 Difgufts attending it. Their domeftick Necefiities 
 give them cutting Refle&ions every Moment, but they 
 are pail all Difcipline, when they are ufed to this irre- 
 gular Life fpending the whole Night in Play, fleeping 
 all the Day, obferving no Order, no Decency ; this 
 is the Syftem of their Life. This diforderly Conduft 
 is ftrangely relifhing, which makes a more even and 
 regular Life irkfome and diftafteful. 
 
 Adriajlus refolves and unrefolves in the fame Mo- 
 ment ; his reftlefs and defultory Soul fluctuates from 
 one Thought to another : What pleafed him in the 
 Morning difpleafes him at Night: He promifes and 
 refufes the fame Thing to the fame Perfon in the fame 
 Moment. He began building an Houfe in the City, 
 which remains unfiniflied, becaufe he had laid out the 
 Money defigned for it upon a Piece of Land . He vva s 
 firlt or" the College, but he changed his Gown and 
 Band into a Cravat, and Equipage of a Mufqueteer. 
 The Army, the firft Campaign, feemed too tumultu- 
 ous a Bufmefs ; at prefent therefore he prefers the 
 Quiet of the Bar, and thinks of buying an Office of 
 the Robe : but he waits firft to determine whether he 
 mail not take a Gown and Caflbck. 
 
 For Men of the Sword and Gown reciprocally to 
 flight and difefteem one another, is a Cuftom pretty 
 
 much
 
 Concerning Caprice. 191 
 
 much eftabliftied, though it cannot precifely be faid 
 upon what Foundation. But for a Man of the Robe 
 to defpife thofe of his Profeffion, is a Whimfey that 
 one would think fhould have no Example. This 
 Maggot, perhaps, proceeds from hence, that no body 
 is content with his Condition ; and yet the only Means 
 of an happy Life is to keep within our own Dimenfi- 
 ons, and confider our State on its moft favourable Sides. 
 The natural Inconftancy of Men, and Hopes of being 
 more happy in another Profefilon, makes them often 
 take wrong Meafures. A rich young Abbot renoun- 
 ces the JRepofes of an Ecclefiaftick Life, to throw him- 
 felf into the Tumult of Arms. Young Magiftrate.s 
 tired with dragging their Robe after them, abandon 
 the Magiftrature for a Poft in the Army. How whim- 
 fical is this ! 
 
 They that are always tormenting themfelves, can 
 feldoin fufrer thofe they live with to be at reft, but 
 make them bear the Pain of their ill Humour ; when 
 their Difcontents are reafonable, they are more eafily 
 borne with : But who can fufter the FaritalHcalnefs of 
 People whom Fortune fmiles upon, who live in Wealth 
 and Eafe, who have no Trouble upon their Hands, 
 and yet are preyed upon by a gloomy Melancholy, 
 without knowing the Reafon why ? They are conti- 
 nually making lamentable Complaints of their ill For- 
 tune : They are well cloathed, well houfed, well fed, 
 well ferved, and have nothing wanting, and yet they 
 are unhappy ; but they are to thank their fantaftical 
 Humour for ir. 
 
 Jealoufy is an infallible Sign of an ill-turned Mind, 
 and a bafe and groveling Soul. 'Tis a fecret Reproach 
 a Man makes to himfelf of his Want of Merit ; he 
 diftrufts himfelf, and fears to be outfhone by others of 
 a more fubftantial Worth. People tainted with this 
 Poifon, fpitefully behold others Succefs. The Luftre 
 of their Virtue dazzles their jealous Eyes, and they 
 cabal and ufe all forts of Artifice to diminifh it. 'Tis 
 a wretched Thing to eftablifh our felves upon others 
 Ruin ; aud a very fcandalous Way to Fame. 
 
 We
 
 1 92 Reflexions upon Ridicule. 
 
 We fee People of fo whimfical a Temper, that they 
 cannot fuffer any Thing above them. The Merit of 
 others dazzles and confounds them. They fear their 
 Competitors Advancement, and cannot pardon For- 
 tune the Favours which fhe (hews them. 
 
 Rancour, Spight and Jealoufy are the Caufes of 
 the little Pleafure Men take in one another. They 
 make it a Point of Honour to defend their extravagant 
 Opinions, which, when they have once advanced, 
 though never fo unreafonably, all the Arguments in 
 the World can never cure them of their Obftinacy. 
 
 There's more Honour than is imagined in receding 
 from an Opinion : A worthy Man, who is fenfible of 
 hisMiftake, takes another Road, and fairly acknow- 
 ledges his Error. A heady and prefumptuous Fool, 
 thinks his Glory is interefted to maintain his Point, 
 and not own himfelf in the wrong ; but whatever 
 he fays to confirm his firft Pofitions, betrays his Igno- 
 rance and ill Nature. Is it fo rare a Thing for Men 
 to be deceived, that they muft think it a Difgrace to 
 make a Blunder ? 'Tis more difhonourable to defend 
 it with an obftinate Conceitednefs. 
 
 There's no Remedy to the Whims and ill Humour 
 of fome People, the leaft Trifle puts them into a 
 Fury that there is no appeafing. They magnify 
 Objecls to feek out Reafons for their ill Humour, 
 and blacken all Things with their Spleen. They 
 think we always defign to vex and affront them ; 
 and when once the Fire of their Paflion blazes, they 
 can no more recover their Senfes. The Way to pre- 
 vent falling into thefe whimfical Extravagancies, 
 would be to confult their Reafon in the Intervals, 
 when 'tis difengaged from the gloomy Melancholy 
 that overcafts it. 
 
 To be angry on frivolous Occafions, is a Sign 
 of Rufticity or a bad Education. Well-bred People 
 are not eafily difturbed ; they do not feem to hear 
 every Thing that is faid ; they make Allowances 
 for the Freaks and Caprices of Men with whom, 
 they converfe. Proud and haughty People, if they 
 
 have
 
 Concerning Falfe Delicacy. 193 
 
 have but indifferent Senfe, or are but iitlle con- 
 verfant with the World, can fuffer nothing, and 
 think us always wanting in our due Refpech. 
 Hence they are always in the plaintive Strain, 
 and we are commonly obliged to bear very keen 
 Reproaches. 
 
 If they are impertinently angry, and one takes 
 upon him to make them fenfible of their unjuft Pro- 
 ceeding, they forget their firft Quarrel, to make a 
 perfonal one with him who attempts to bring them to 
 Reafon. We have feen People break with their beft 
 Friends who did their utmoft to retrieve them from a 
 fcurvy Affair, or hinder them from plunging deeper 
 in the Mire. Men are fuch Idolaters of their own 
 Notions, and they are fo ftrangely fantaflical, as to 
 chufe rather to expofe themfelves to eternal Vexati- 
 ons, than to confefs they are in the wrong, in 
 Things wherein they are moft unreafonable. 
 
 Of Falfe Delicacy. 
 
 >"T"MS not always the Teft of Wit, to be over- 
 X fqueamifb. ; that falfe Delicacy generally 
 grows upon a Stock of ill Humour, or ill Breeding. 
 Well-bred and polite Perfons, eafily excufe or difTrm- 
 ble others little Faults : Not that they are infei fible 
 of them ; but they tolerate and excufe them by good 
 Nature, to fpare the guilty the Confufion of them. 
 
 To what Ufe in human Converfation are thofe 
 People to be put, that always run counter to the 
 reft, and cenfure what every Body approves ? They 
 can find nothing that can touch and pleafe them, 
 and they think by that affefted Nicenefs to get 
 the Reputation of an exquifue Tafte. But inrtead 
 of it, they are regarded as Mifanthropifts that ought 
 VOL. I. K to
 
 -Refieclkns upon Ridicule. 
 
 to be banifhed Society, or as Fools that want com- 
 mon Senfe, and would affume a Superiority, by pre- 
 tending to be nice and difficult. 
 
 That ftudied Delicacy you affect in every Thing, 
 makes you confidered in the World as a conceited Fop. 
 There's no Body, of what Merit Ibever, can content 
 you. The moft regular Features of the fined Faces, 
 to you are un proportionate and deformed. All the 
 %vittiefl Things you hear cannot make you fmile : 
 The .fineft Scenes of the belt Comedies, make you 
 gape and nod ; and when every Body burfts with 
 laughing, you ieem fplenetick and tired. Are theie 
 "Vapours ? Or the Effect of your bad Judgment, or 
 Capricioufnefs ? 
 
 The Choice of the Company we keep 'is one of 
 the Things we ought moil to ftudy : But it would be 
 a falfe Delicacy or a ridiculous Vanity, to be familiar 
 with none ,but Perfons of Quality, and reject thofe 
 of meaner Birth. Perfonal Merit fhould take Place 
 of Titles in our Efteem. The Convention with 
 great Lords is not the moft agreeable ; their Manners 
 are not always anfwerable to their Extraction. Thofe 
 that wear the Titles of Vifcounts and MarquefTes, 
 have commonly a great deal of the Vulgar in their 
 Souls. 
 
 The common Infatuation of People meanly born 
 who have made their Fortune, is to put themfelves 
 on a Level with thofe of the firft Quality, and dif- 
 dain their Equals. They prefently forget what 
 they were before their Rife. Their Train, and 
 Table, and high Play, with the Deferences that 
 , - e paid them, infenfibly accuftom them to believe 
 that their Wealth equals them with Peers, and 
 make them defpife thofe that are not able to live 
 ib Great. 
 
 One Kind of Impertinents that I find very trouble- 
 fome, are thofe that relifh nothing that is faid to 
 them: 'Tis in vain you endeavour to divert them, 
 and rccompenfe them for the Trouble of their Vi- 
 fit. Nothing touches them, and their Wearinefs 
 
 appears
 
 Concerning Falfe Delicacy. 195 
 
 appears upon their uneafy Face. They do nothing 
 but rub their Eyes and continually ak what a Clock. 
 it is, even as foon as they are entered. Thofe that 
 are fo fqueamifh, have Reafon to apprehend that 
 others are as weary of their Company. 
 
 How many Troubles and Difquiets might we fave 
 ourfelves, if we were not nettled at what others fay 
 of us ? How many uneafy Moments does a falfe 
 Delicacy give us ? 'Tis true, this great Moderation 
 is a Virtue of difficult Attainment, and very fevere 
 Practice; but the Repofe it brings with it is a fuffici- 
 ent Recompence for the Pains we take in the Con- 
 queft. I would as foon bawl at the Bar, as be expo- 
 fed to perpetual Edaircijemtnts. If what we are 
 charged with be true, we muft illence Obloquy by 
 reforming it : If it be falfe, 'tis not our Perfon that's 
 attacked, but our Shadow, and we ought not to be 
 difturbed : The flighting fuch Difcourfes pulls out 
 all their Sting, and deprives the Authors of the ma- 
 licious Pleafure they take in Slander. When we are 
 too tender, we cannot promife ourfelves much Re- 
 pofe, but are made the Mark for all that love to 
 vex us. 
 
 'Tis this falfe Delicacy that renders Womens Con- 
 verfation fo generally- incommodious. The leaft 
 Word that is faid to their Difadvantage, which they 
 always interpret to the worft Senfe, gives them ftrange 
 Difturbance ; and they make lamentable Complaints 
 of it wherever they come. The moft intimate 
 Friends cannot pardon one another any Thing : 
 Moft of their Conventions pafs in Explications and 
 Apology, to give a good Meaning to what is fa'.d 
 or thought concerning them. It requires to be fonn.-- 
 thing more than Woman to be above this pettiih 
 Delicacy, and not to take Fire on fo impertinent 
 Occafions. 
 
 To meet with Satisfaction in the Commerce of 
 
 the World, we muft ufe ourfelves to live with 
 
 r.ll Sorts of People, and never give any prcmedi- 
 
 K 2 tate
 
 196 Rfaflion! upw Ridicule, 
 
 rate Affront: There's not fo little an Enemy but 
 may hurt ui, and make u^ fpertd fome uneaiy 
 Hours. 
 
 Tis not always by Apologies, and making the 
 moft Noife, that we beft juftify aurfelves. A Man 
 of Honour, \vhofe Confcience has nothing to re- 
 proach him, when he is unjuftly accufed, modftly 
 gives his Reafons: If they are not admitted, he 
 refts fatisfied with the Teftimony of his own Heart, 
 compenfating himfelf by the Pleafure of his Innocen- 
 cy, for thelnjuftice that is done him; and by his 
 Tranquillity, giving a new Luftre to the clearnefr 01 
 his Virtue. Delicate People cannot flifle their ile- 
 fentments: But retort their Affronts by tart and 
 injurious Replies, which are but doubtful Proofi of 
 Innocence. 
 
 Varnes in (Mentation of his eminent Science and 
 nice Palate, cannot refolve to own any Thing good 
 that others do. He never approved a Sermon, a 
 Plea, or a Comedy. Is this Want of Judgment, or 
 Jealoufy ? Tis one of the two. He has too little 
 Senfe, and too great an Opinion of himfelf to praife 
 the excellent Works of others : Bnt in Recompence, 
 he continually boafts of his own, which are abomi- 
 nable. 
 
 The Ufe of Ceremonies is almoft out of Date, 
 and I think there was Reafon to repeal thefe Laws of 
 Conftraint : And yet there are fome Formaliils who 
 think themfelves neglected, if you do not pay them 
 certain Devoirs they demand. You mult content 
 them : The great Rule being to humour the Tafte 
 of thofe we are obliged to live with. Why fhould 
 we go purpofely to offend them, for the Sake of a 
 Bow not made to their Humour, or not fubmiffive 
 and refpe&ful enough. 
 
 If you {land too much upon Formalities, and are 
 over exceptions with thofe of your own Society, 
 you will be avoided as a Mifanthropiji. We fee fuch 
 as to be thought delicate, carry their Delicacy even 
 toMorofenefs. They like nojiing and admire nothing, 
 
 concent
 
 Concerning Falfs. Delicacy. 197 
 
 content only to admire themfdves. Thfe Misfortune 
 that they have no other Admirers. Intoxicated 
 ui:h their own Complacency in their own rare Qua- 
 lities, they can fee nothing in others deferring their 
 Attention. 
 
 The \V;:^ are svondroufly out, in thinking we arc 
 obliged to them. Wit in the prefent Age, h not fit 
 c\:raordinary a Thing, as to give any great Dif- 
 tinction. Thefe People are not always the beft Com- 
 pany, being never faiisfied \vhh what others do : But 
 they commonly affect only a falfe Delicacy, to af- 
 Aime an Air of Authority, and to determine fove- 
 reignly of all the Product of the Mind. 
 
 Men would quickly be perfect, if they had the 
 feme Penetration and Zeal to correct their own 
 Faults, as they have to reform others. We fuffer by 
 the ill Qualities of our Neighbours, and therefore 
 would have them part with them. But do they fuffer 
 lef; by our Imperfections, and fitOttld we not fat* 
 them that Pain by correcting ourfeSves. 
 
 How attentive and quick fighted are we, to 
 ebJenre all that is offenfive in others ? How fevere 
 are the Roles we lay down for thdr Behaviour ? 
 How indulgent are we to ourfelves ? How cardefs 
 to get rid of our ill Habits ? We commonly grow 
 grey without perceiving them, or if we are infenfible 
 of our Faults, we are too lazy to take all the necef- 
 fary Cautions to get free of them ; at leait let us not 
 exclaim againft thofe who have the fame Faults and 
 Lazinefs with ourfelves. 
 
 The only Occupation of fome People is to find 
 Fault, and cenfure whatever they fee or hear. They 
 might, perhaps, be excufed that falfe Delicacy lead 
 whimfical Morofenefs, if they kept their Thoughts to 
 themielves, and did not publifc them too lightly. 
 Tis a Miftake to think to pafs for a good Judge, 
 by being fo ferere a Critick. The continual A- 
 verfions of the Mind, are Symptoms of it's Indifpo- 
 K 3 fition,
 
 198 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 fition, as the diflike of Food is a Sign of the ill 
 Temper of the Body. 
 
 tt is not to be expefted that Women fliould have 
 the leaft Complaifance for one another ; whether it 
 be Delicacy, or the Effedl of their Spleen, they give 
 no Quarter, efpecially if there be any Rivalfhip, or 
 fecret Interest in the Cafe. They ought, however, 
 to keep in their Reflections, without imparting to 
 the Publick, the Difcoveries they have made to the 
 Difadvantage of their Rivals. 
 
 Men are willing enough to be raillied for fome 
 Vices, and fometimes are the firft to fpeak of them. 
 But it diftrafts them to have their bodily Defeds ri- 
 diculed, which are obvious to all the World. He 
 that will give you leave to laugh at his Gallantries, 
 will be horribly affronted to hear of his Squinting or 
 Lamenefs, though it be none of his Fault. Whence 
 proceeds this falfe Delicacy for natural Imperfedlions, 
 whilft moral ones, which we might reform, are 
 reckoned as nothing at all ? 
 
 The Reafon why Men fo little profit by others 
 Directions, is, that their Advice is not afked with a 
 fmcere Defign to follow it. They would have the 
 Refolutions they have taken approved, the Springs 
 whereof they conceal with a great deal of Myftery 
 and Difguiie. 
 
 Human Prudence is feldom Proof againft the Trea- 
 cheries of our Friends, becaufe we do not diftrulr. 
 them. But a Man muft be a Cully with a Witnefs, 
 who is deceived by his Enemies, becaufe he ought to 
 be always in Sufpicion of them. The more eafy 
 they feem to be reconciled, and the more fpecious are 
 their Pretences, the more we ought to ftand upon 
 our Guard. An able General is never more vigilant 
 to obferve the Motions of the Enemy, and to avoid 
 Surprize, than when Peace is in Agitation. 
 
 That which makes common Con verfation fo naufe- 
 ous, are the Applaufes beftowed on Follies. Nar- 
 row
 
 Concerning Falfe Delicacy: 
 
 row Souls admire every Thing, and cry up the leaft 
 Trifles that ought to be let pafs. That which be- 
 comes a well-bred Man on thefe Occafions, is, to fay 
 nothing. It would be a criminal Complaifance to 
 applaud offenfive Fooleries ; it would be likewife a 
 faulty Delicacy to bear with nothing but what is 
 exquifite, and to exprefs Contempt for every Thing 
 that is flat and trivial. 
 
 In giving Counfels we are lefs concerned for the 
 Event of the Thing, than the Succefs of our Advice : 
 We would have it taken, and commonly make a per- 
 fonal Affair of a Thing that no Ways relates to us. 
 Modertly propofe your Arguments that your Opinion 
 bottoms on, and do net difcover a prefumptuous and 
 fufficient Air, that denotes your fecret Complacency 
 in your Merit. Confider that your Advice is con- 
 fulted for the Succefs of an Affair, and not for the 
 Sake of fhewing the brightnefs of your Parts. 
 
 A fufpicious Man is hard to be converfed with, 
 becaufe we mutt have great Precautions, not to give 
 him Umbrage. Perfons of fmall Merit are a! ways 
 upon Thorns : They may take every Thing by 
 the wrong Handle; they think there is fome My- 
 ftery and politick Meaning in every Laugh ; the 
 leaft Sign or Gefture wounds their Imagination ; 
 they Hill think others talk of them, and that not 
 ro their Advantage. They take you brutally to 
 Tafk, and demand Explication for Affronts you ne- 
 ver defigned them. 
 
 'Tis fometimes out of Policy that fome People 
 complain, as though we did not do Juftice to th^ir 
 Merit. Their Confcience commonly gives them 
 fmart Reproaches, and they endeavour by their 
 continual Complaints, to make it thought that they 
 are opprefled unjuftly, at leaft to move their 
 Pity, who are not at the Pains to trace their 
 Conduct nearly, but rather take their Word for 
 it. 
 
 K 4 I
 
 2oo Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 I cannot divine what Pleafure Come People take 
 in complaining conflantly they are miierable. They 
 have fome fecret Pride in it, to let us know, that 
 their Merit is ill-ufed or ill-rewarded. But thefe per- 
 petual Lamentations are very tedious to thofe that 
 hear them ; for the fame Principle that gives us Plea- 
 fure in bemoaning our Misfortunes, gives others 
 Pain to pity us. Julia is a very amiable Woman, 
 but me is continually lamenting, and you cannot be 
 one of her Friends, unlefs you fympathize in her 
 IWiferies. Having enumerated all the Diftempers fhe 
 thinks fhe is attacked with, fhe falls foul on her per- 
 fecuting Fortune, the Injuftice of her Enemies, the 
 Indifference of her Friends, who have not all that 
 Warmth for her Intereft fhe defires. Laftly, fhe 
 xvould move Companion, and that is her Folly. We 
 fee her in a good Plight, fufficient to make us think 
 Ihe enjoys a perfect Health; and yet fhe continually 
 retreats to the Delicacy of her Complexion, to the 
 Vapours and Head-ach, and fatigues all the World 
 with the Account of her Infirmities. Thefe Ideas, 
 which put us in Mind of Medicines and Doflors, 
 are difguflful : Our Diftempers mould be talked of 
 as little as poflible. As Julia is always complaining, 
 the World is even with her, and t find no Body that 
 pities her. 
 
 People of but indifferent Senfe, have feldom Com- 
 plaifance; they pride .themfelves in their Difgufts 
 and inflexible Cenfures. They put on a difdainful 
 Look, when you commend any Thing that is good 
 before them. They have no Command of their In- 
 dignation, but carry their ill Humour fo far as to 
 affront thofe who are juft to others Merit, and fen- 
 fible of the Beauties of a Work. 
 
 Avoid, as you tender your own Repofe, thofe 
 People that are fo circumfped and fcrupulous to 
 have all their Refpefts paid them even to the leaft 
 Punctilio's. The leaft Decorum that fhall have been 
 omitted unawares, makes them fret and fume, as 
 if they were wounded to the Quick. The fame 
 
 Principle
 
 Concerning Falfe Delicacy. 
 
 Principle that perfuades them every Thing is their 
 due, poflefles them that they owe nothing to o- 
 thers ; and they, without more ado, difpenfe 
 with the moft eflential Duties. Aminta com- 
 plains that no Body vifited her, the Day me had 
 the Head-ach ; but me never fo much as fent an 
 How do ye ? to one of her Friends that was dan- 
 geroufly 111. 
 
 'Tis an Error to believe that the Works of for- 
 mer Ages excelled thofe of ours. That affefta- 
 tion always to praife the Antients, is fometimes a 
 fly Way of cenfuring the Moderns ; and 'tis a morofe 
 Nicenefs or fecret Jealoufy, that makes them ex- 
 pofe an Opinion againft their own Reafon. Eudoxut 
 would never rack his Brain for fine Expreflions to 
 commend the Ancients, if the Applaufes Titus\ 
 Works deferved did not provoke his JeaJoufy. He 
 cares not a Farthing for the Ancients ; but would 
 humble, and if poffible ruin this Modern, that he may 
 {hare of his Spoils, and enrich himfel with the Ruin 
 of his Credit. He makes it a meritorious Thing 
 to defpife every Thing that is new, to have it un- 
 derflood that he has the Tafte of Antiquity ; when ' 
 at the fame Time it is certain he knows not an 
 Author of Augujlui\ Age. To pafs aright Judgment 
 of a Piece, it ought to be confidered ieparately, all 
 Prejudice apart. Jealoufy, Party-Strife, and Factions 
 warp the Underftanding, and hinder it from receiving 
 the true Idea of a Favourite. 
 
 Subtilizing over much in Point of Authors, is not 
 always the Sign of a good Wit; but commonly of a 
 fordid Jealoufy. You are mad to hear others Works 
 commended, and there is no Artifice but you afe to 
 vilify them, efpecially when you pretend to the 
 Glory of a fine Pen : But if you are infeded with 
 this Diitemper, be cautious how you difcover the 
 leaft Symptom of it. Your Affectation and Dif- 
 likes, the Contempt you exprefs for your Rivals 
 and their Work?, will contribute nothing to your 
 Reputation, but will only ferve to make you con- 
 iidcred as an envious Man. 
 
 K S Of
 
 202 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 Of Decorums. 
 
 TH E Science of Refpeft is, as I may fay, the 
 Soul of Society, which teaches us to pay every 
 one what belongs to them ; and fo difpofes our Acti- 
 ous that no Body may be offended with them. The 
 Obfervance of Decorum, fuffices to guard off Ridi- 
 cule, and prevent all jult Complaints of us. Wemuft 
 make great Reflections, to diftinguifti what is con- 
 venient, from what is to be avoided. Decencies are 
 of an infinite Extent. Sexes, Ages, Profcflions, 
 Characters, Times and Places, demand different De- 
 voirs ; which Differences muft be known and prac- 
 ticed, if we would be acceptable to the World : 
 "Whatever Merit you have, if you are negligent 
 of Decorum you will pafs for an unpolilhed Perfon ; 
 deftitute of the Art of living, and infenfible of 
 what can pleafe. 
 
 How is it poflible for People grofly ignorant of 
 Decorum to pleafe the Genteel and Well-bred ? 
 Their Actions, Words, Geftures, Walks, are fo 
 many Impertinencies. Decorum ii learnt in the 
 School of the World, which is the Fountain of 
 Politenefs and Agreements. 
 
 If we would pleale, we muft fludy the different 
 Refpects we owe to all Sorts of Perfons according 
 to their different Characters : For there is no De- 
 cency in treating every Body alike, and paying 
 the fame Deference to a Wretch, as to a Man 
 of Merit. 
 
 'Tis certain that the Exterior conftitutes the lead 
 Part of a worthy Man's Merit : Yet he that is of 
 a Profeflion that requires Gravity and Referve, can'C 
 neglect Externals, without fome fort of Degradati- 
 on and Diminution of his Dignity. A great Ma- 
 giftrate would not venture to appear in Publick, 
 in coloured Cloaths and a Cravat. If fome of the 
 younger Sort take a Liberty herein, they are no: 
 
 the
 
 Concerning Decorums. 203 
 
 the more efteemed for it. 'Tis juft as if an Ec- 
 clefiaftick fhould wear a different Kabit from what 
 belonged to his Profeflion. 
 
 You will fee Cliim, a young French Abbot, of two 
 thoufand Pounds a Year, pretend that his Richer 
 ought to fuperfede the Modefty of a Clergyman. 
 You find him commonly in a red Coat, becaufe 
 Black feems too folemn and grave for him j and he 
 fays he won't be condemned to Mourning all his 
 Lire. His Library confifts of Romances ana Novels. 
 He has the Look, the Deportment, the Head, and 
 Heart of a Trooper ; and is forry he can't make 
 Campaigns, The Time he fpends at his Toilet and 
 vifiting the Ladies, gives hkn not Leifure to lay his 
 Prayers, and recite his Breviary : But however be 
 orders it to be faid by his Vatet de Chambre. 
 
 Complaifance is the moft charming Thing for So- 
 ciety, and the fureft Way to the Friendfhip of Men ; 
 but then it muft be moderated ; when it is ex- 
 ceffive it growvinfipid ; therefore we muft confider 
 what Reafon fll Decency require of us. 'Tis not 
 Complaifance implicitly to eipoufe every Caprice, 
 but Flattery and Folly. 
 
 It requires but litcle Pains to be civil and com- 
 pkifant, whh good natured People, who conform to- 
 all our Caprices, and fubmit to all -our Defires ; but 
 it requires a great Stock of Addreis and Condefcer.fion, 
 to live with thofe Maggots, who follow only the 
 Torrent of a proud and irregular Humour. 
 
 He ean* be an honeft Man who is not a faith- 
 ful Guardian of the Secrets intruded to him by his 
 Friends ; even after he has broke all Commerce 
 with him. We are not privileged to difpofe of- .1 
 Thing which we are only made Truftees of : If 
 their diforderly Conduft will not permit us to fee 
 them, our own Duty commands us to be faithful. 
 
 The hrft Thought that occurs in any Rupture with 
 .1 Friend, is to lay all we know in Difparagement 
 of his Conduft, and juftirkation of our own. We 
 T.u 'ioufl/ expolc all his ill Proceedings ; difcover Se- 
 cret*
 
 204 Refltftions upon Ridicule. 
 
 crets to his Difgrace committed to as in the Time 
 of his Friendship. 
 
 This is an infamous Method of Revenge, and com- 
 monly the Caofe of great Remorfe ; for upon Re- 
 conciliation, we are vexed and confounded at our Le- 
 vity, when the injured Perfon is made fenfible 
 of the ill Tarns we have ferved him. In thefe tcm- 
 peftaous Seafons, we ought to be very circumfpect, 
 that nothing efcape us which we fhall have Rea- 
 fon to repent of. 
 
 Nothing better demonftrates the Folly and Va- 
 nity of an human Mind, than that Impatience to 
 tell every Thing we know. Tis Nats to vain Peo- 
 ple to declare what Confidents they are made ; and 
 to leave no doubt of it, they rehearfr their Se- 
 crecies j unconcerned for the Interefts of thofe that 
 gave them, with pure Indulgence to their own Va- 
 nity : Bat they don't forefee that it is the direclt Way 
 to be defpifed, and looked on as weak, giddy, 
 indifcreet People, that can't be tufted with the 
 leaft Trifle, and ought to be banifA Converfarion 
 as the Pefts of Civil Society. 
 
 We fee fuch as make no Scruple to fay and do 
 the moft fcandaloos Things > who obferve no Mea- 
 fores, and keep fair with no one; Reputation feems to 
 be the laft Thing they are concerned for. 
 
 An excefi of Familiarity fuits with none, but thofe 
 who are ignorant what 'tis to obferve Decorum. Not 
 that we ought to affect a Stiffnefs. and too melancho- 
 iick a Cooftraint. Good Breeding is no Ways in- 
 confiftent with a certain Freedom, which pleafes 
 and becomes every Body : But fometirnes this Li- 
 berty is carried to an Extreme : And the fame 
 Perfons, when in Company of venerable Men, fall 
 into a ferioos and phlegmatick Homour, fometbing re- 
 fembling Stupidity itfelf. 
 
 The Ufe of Thee and Tbtu, is taken up by the 
 AfFeded of both Sexes, who ufe one another very 
 frankly : I don't abfolotely condemn this Cuftom ; 
 bat 'tis extremely finical: The Commerce of polite 
 
 People
 
 Concerning Decorums. 205 
 
 People demands more Referve, Caution and Refpecl. 
 Mutual Deference contributes much to a reciprocal 
 Elleem, whereas too much Familiarity generally 
 breeds Contempt, and fometimes ends in Quarrels. 
 
 There is a Seafon for every Thing j what fuits wkh 
 young People does not comport with a more advanced 
 Age. We pardon a Page what would be unpardon- 
 able in a Magiftrate, or a General in an Army. 
 Women far in Years, who would be attractive by 
 their Finery, ad againil Decorum. Celixta is near 
 Forty, and yet me imitates Juntas little Affectation?, 
 \vho is but Sixteen. 
 
 Precepts are not fo ufeful to make us acceptable 
 to the World as Practice and Experience. We ihould 
 ufe ourfelves to refleft upon the charming Behaviour 
 of fome, and the offcnfive Ways of others : If we 
 would pleafe the Judicious, we muft always fup- 
 port the Character of an bonelt Man, without 
 betraying it 
 
 They that are niceft in Point of Decorums, don't 
 always deterve the moil Refpeft : They are only 
 fo fcrupulous about little Formalities, becaufe their 
 Reputation is attacked : And as their Conscience up- 
 braids them with Things that deferve Reproach, they 
 always fufpecl fome fly Meaning and Defire to affront 
 them. Refentment, hard Words, tnd Bluilering, 
 are not proper Means to prevent the World's believing 
 the 111 that is laid of us. 
 
 They are to blame, who have too little Deference 
 for the Public, to complain they are too feverely 
 cenfured. We judge only by Appearances. Your In- 
 tentions may be good, but w hat we fee is odious. We 
 are not obliged to dive into the fecret Motives of your 
 Aftions : 'Tis your Bufmcfs to take fuch Meafures, 
 that no Aftion eicape you to be cenfured. 
 
 All Excefs is vicious, and offends nice Perfons, who 
 have a juft Difcernment : Exceflive or too elaborate 
 Civilities are troublclbme ; and over-ftrained Haugh- 
 tinefs as offenhve : The great Art of pleafing con- 
 fills in a due Mtaiutn, between loo little and too much : 
 
 Which
 
 206 Reflexions upon Ridicule. 
 
 which Temper is the EfTence of human Virtues, 
 and that which diftinguifhes the well-bred Man 
 from the Coxcomb, who is governed only by his 
 Caprice. 
 
 Tradefmen, Country -Folks, and Pedants, are won- 
 derfully full of Ceremonies : They teize you to Death 
 with their eternal Compliments and Starched Civili- 
 ties : They make a Buftle at every Door, and muft 
 difpute an Hour who (hall go out laft. The Englijb 
 by Degrees wear off all that is forced and formal. 
 \Vhat Occafion is there to make fuch long Com- 
 pliments, and fpeak fuch ihidied Things as make 
 the Heroes fweat 2 
 
 The Reafon why fo many People are difagreeable 
 to us, is their Neglect to cure themfelves of a cer- 
 tain je ne- fcay quei, which mingles with every Thing 
 they do. We judge of Men by Appearance, and 
 feeing them to take a Liberty to do fuch Things 
 as offend us, we cannot chufe but efteem them the 
 lefs for it. 
 
 Is it enough, think you, for a Woman to da 
 nothing to wound her Glory, when her external Con- 
 duct contradicts that Notion of Virtue where flic takes 
 Sanctuary ? Platings Reputation is attacked in an 
 hundred weak Parts, which fhe is juftly reproached 
 with :- But becaufe me abftains, perhaps, from the 
 groffeft Part of Vice, me regards herfelf as a Pat- 
 tern of Virtue, and neglects Appearances, which fhe 
 calls Trifles and Formalities. 
 
 Do young Women imagine it fufficient to have a- 
 modeft and compofed Outfide, and that under this 
 their Difguife they can cherifh vicious Paflions in 
 their Hearts, without incurring Ridicule, when the 
 Myfteries of their Hypocrify are discovered ? Of 
 late Years they have laid afide that fcrupulous Se- 
 verrty^ which was a grand Security to Virtue, and 
 appear toa good-natured and complaifant, too gentle 
 and familiar. In a Word, they have not a fufficient 
 Dofe of Difcretiotv, though this is one of the moft ef- 
 gredients, that belong to them. 
 
 'Tis
 
 Concerning Decorums. 207 
 
 'Tis ill Reafoning for a Man to fay, he is fatis- 
 fied with a clear Concience, and that he is not in an 
 Humoar to conftrain himfelf to conform to the Ca- 
 price of the World. He that will not be at the 
 Pains to fave AppearanceSr-iraliates Satyr, and there 
 is no way to tye up Slander when it is once broke 
 loofe. 'Tis too late to take Meafures, when one 
 has loft his Reputation. 
 
 Young Women take a Liberty now a Days on 
 certain Subjects wherein they ought to manifeft more 
 Referve and Circumfpeftion : That wanton and au- 
 dacious Deportment renders them contemptible It 
 ill becomes them to talk on certain Chapters, and 
 amazes us to fee them fo early learned in Things they 
 ought to be utterly ignorant of : On which Occafions 
 they forget that Bafhfulnefs and Modefty is their Pro- 
 vince ; if they are defective in that Point, they are 
 paft pleafing well bred People. Too free Difcourfc 
 in the Mouth of a Maid, however cleanly wrapt, 
 has ^ways an ill EfFeft. If thefe Flatterers praife 
 them to their Face for their good Humour, they de- 
 fpife them to themfelves. 
 
 Mothers too great Indulgence to their Daughters, 
 is commonly the Corruption of their Morals. For 
 when a Maid is young and handfome, (he is con- 
 tinually expofed to the Flatteries of Admirers, and 
 therefore this too eafy Youth mould be ftridly reined 
 by the Hand of a vigilant Mother, and buckled to 
 its Duty. Flavia, who is at prefent fo decried, 
 had Virtue and Modefty when me firft began to ap- 
 pear in the World : She owes her ruin to her Mo- 
 ther, who, infatuated with her Daughter's Charms 
 and Beauty, made her the Sabjeft of her Difcourfe, 
 and could talk of nothing elfe : She thought her 
 an Original of Beauty, and would have every Body 
 admire her. It ravifhed her to fee her furrounded 
 with a Crowd of Lovers, which adored her like an 
 Idol. She even was fedulous to obferve to them her 
 Daughter's graceful Air and Mein, and heighten all 
 the pretty Things foe faid. Young Women's Souls 
 
 Hand
 
 2o8 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 ftand too much bent towards Love and Wantonnefs, 
 and there is no need to add Fewel to the Fire, and 
 give Licenfe to the Inclination. 
 
 A chance Word dropt fometimes does abundance 
 of Mifchief, and occafions long Repentance. He 
 that can wave giving his Opinion of others when 
 'tis to their Difadvantage, has found out a noble Se- 
 cret to fave himfelf many Quarrels. So far, at leaft, 
 we fliould prevail upon ourfelves, as not to fpeak 
 Things to a Man's Difcredit, before People that would 
 tell him again. This would be making ourfelves 
 Enemies on Purpofe. 
 
 The Indifcretion of talking too freely of one ano- 
 ther, is the Source of thofe fo many Differences that 
 embroil the Quiet of Mankind : Such as having 
 heard difobliging Difcourfe, repeat it again to the 
 Perfons concerned, are much miftaken if they think 
 to oblige them by thofe indifcreet Confidences. It 
 grates us at the Heart to hear a Man who is fo impu- 
 dent to tell us to our Face vexatious Things, dfcugh 
 he only repeat what others have faid of us. 
 
 To pleafe in Converfation, we muft hear what is 
 faid to us, and give an Anfwer to the Purpofe ; 
 which is a Maxim obfervcd by very few : They 
 that think they have more Wit than others, negledt 
 to hear, and would fpeak all. Unattentive to what 
 is faid to them, they watch for a Moment to interrupt 
 the Narration, that they may vent their own 
 Thoughts, which take up all their Application. 
 
 'Tis not enough to (nine ourfelves, but we muft 
 give others Time to {hew their Parts and fpeak in their 
 Turn. Converfation is a Sort of Commerce, to 
 which every one is to contribute his Proportion to 
 render it agreeable. 
 
 Tis not enough to be well qualified to pleafe rea- 
 fonable People : But we muft join an obliging 
 Carriage, which iniinuates into their Tempers, and 
 a certain Complaifance that plies and yields to theh 
 different Characters with whom we are obliged to 
 live. This Obligingnefs I fpeak of mufl not be arti- 
 ficial
 
 Concerning Decorums. 209 
 
 fkial or hypocritical : They that are civil againft their 
 Inclination, are not fo on all Occafions, or with all 
 Sorts of People. 
 
 Your haughty People fometimes familiarize, and 
 grow courteous and good-natured, in Contradiction to 
 their Temper : Whilft you natter them, and indulge 
 their Vanity, you have nothing to find Fault in them : 
 But the leait Word that feems to affront them pulls off 
 the Mafk, and brings them to their natural Character 
 and Complexion. Their Reproaches, fcornful Looks, 
 and proud infulting Ways, ihew what they are, and 
 render them very ridiculous. 
 
 'Tis a moft odious and contemptible Character, 
 that of playing the Wit at the Expence of Religion 
 and Things facred; Such as talk jeftingly of Myile- 
 ries they ought to reverence, don't fo much difcover 
 the Beauty of their Parts, as the Deformity of their 
 Morals. Women efpecially mould not take the Liber- 
 ty of maintaining particular Opinions in Point of Re- 
 ligion. 'Tis odds but they that difcover their Indif- 
 ference to its Maxims, are of an irregular Conduct, 
 and have a fecret Interefl to doubt of the Truth they 
 conteft. 
 
 What Notion can we have of Celione, who eagerly 
 difputes in all Companies about the Immortality of 
 the Soul, and always maintains the Negative ? Had 
 we no other Argument of her Lewdnefs, her Senti- 
 ments in this eflential Point of Religion were a con- 
 vincing Proof of it. Were People in the Right upon 
 fuch Subjects, they ought, at lead, to talk foberly of 
 them ; for what need is there to inftruct the Publick 
 in fuch Things as a Man ought to keep to himfelf ? 
 
 There is no Virtue fo perfect, but that our particu- 
 lar Actions contradict the Habit of doing Good. 
 The greateft Application of a worthy Man, mould 
 be fo to conceal his Infirmities, as that no Body 
 might perceive them, or fuffer by them. Let no Man 
 flatter himfelf, he has always a worft Side, which 
 
 he
 
 210 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 he ought not to expofe. The Reafon of Co many 
 People's ill Fame, is not always that they have lefs 
 Virtue than thofe that have Reputation ; but becaufs 
 they take no Pains to conceal their Faults and Weak- 
 neffes objected to them, from the Eyes of the World. 
 
 To confider the Life of fome of the French Prelates, 
 you would fwear they did not take themfelves for the 
 Apoftles Succeflbrs : Their Train and Equipage, 
 great living, Magnificence of their Table, and high 
 Play : Their Deportment and Employments, are no 
 ways fuitable to- the Profeffion they have embraced. 
 Their whole Life is confumed in effeminate Sloth : 
 The care of their Flocks is the leaft Concern to them, 
 which you would think given up to their Diocefans- 
 Reprobation : Hence we raay well fay, with one of 
 their modern Poets, 
 
 EJl-ce four tra<vailler que vous etes Prelat ? 
 
 De i)otre dignite foutenez mieux /' 'eclat. 
 
 Men of the long Robe, when they are young, un- 
 lefs they take Care, grow too airy and volatile : The 
 Court-ways, whkh they ftudy ro copy, and copy ill, 
 throw them off their Character, and give them a falfe 
 Air, which commonly makes them ridiculous. Young 
 Clean, difgufted with his Band and Gown, will always 
 appear in a Cravat and Coat. He talks always of 
 Hunting, Dogs, and Horfes, and very rarely of the 
 Code and Digtfl. He is the whole Da^y at Table : 
 grows drunk, and fwears like a Captain of Dra- 
 goons. 
 
 The Reafon why we find fo few perfeft in the Art 
 of Pleafing is, that they don't carefully obferve what 
 'tis diflinguifhes accompli (lied Perfons from the vulgar, 
 and that makes others fo offenfive. Nothing forms 
 the Mind like the Ufe of the World ; this gives it 
 that Tindlure of Politenefs, which is only obtained by 
 the frequent Sight of polite Perfons, and copying 
 from their Plan. They that begin to appear in the 
 World, mould be above all Things follicitous to gain 
 the Efteem of Men of Worth. 
 
 We
 
 Concerning Decorums. 211 
 
 We have found the Knack of pleafmg, when we 
 know how to adapt ourfelves to the Genius of thofe 
 we converfe with. People naturally love to fee their 
 TafteS and Inclinations approved by others, and can't 
 avoid fome Complacency for thofe that conform to 
 their Humours. If the Perfons you vifit are in a dark 
 and cloudy Temper, you muft compofe your Counte- 
 nance, and not accoft them with a free and chearful 
 Air : On the contrary, if they ate gay, don't difturb 
 them with an auftere Mein, which feems to difap- 
 prove their Mirth : You would be looked on as a 
 troublefome Perfon ; befides that it is uneafy to acl 
 fuch a difagreeable Part. 
 
 We are obliged in the Commerce of the World, to 
 fee People of all Sorts. 'Tis a greas Art to be able 
 to accommodate our ielves to all Characters ; and the 
 moft certain Sign of a Superiority of Wit, is to know 
 how to comply with others, fo as to rife or ftoop as 
 Occafion ferves. 
 
 Profeiied Scholars know not how to entertain the 
 Ignorant. Well bred People are uneafy in the Con- 
 verfation of Clowns. People that are gay would al- 
 ways laugh, but that Merriment does not compromife 
 with thole that have any Trouble. The too fericus 
 who never defcend from their Gravity, are very un- 
 eafy to thofe who would give a Looie to their Mirth. 
 
 What a Plague to Society is a Man who has writ- 
 ten a Book, or any Piece of Learning ? You muft have 
 the Complaifance to hear and admire him. An Au- 
 thor charmed with his own Work, thinks others have 
 the fame Pleafure in hearing, as he in fpeaking the 
 Scraps of it. Intoxicated with the Prailes of fome 
 Women pretending to Wit and judgment, he is in- 
 fenfible of his Folly, and that Men of Senie regard 
 him as a Pedant and an Impertinent. 
 
 To know hovvfcandalous fome Engagements are, we 
 muft confider them in others. Self-Love is a Kind of 
 Veil, that covers the Ignominy of tho(e Paifions that 
 are dear to us. In feeing what Pictures are drawn of 
 thofe who have the fame Vices, we may conclude 
 
 that
 
 212 Reflections upon Ridicule: 
 
 that we are not more favourably treated. A young 
 Woman that fees how they are handled that give 
 themfelves great Freedoms, may learn an ufeful Lef- 
 fon, and fay to herfelf that Difcretion and Modef- 
 ty ought to be her favourite Virtues. 
 
 ThcPublick is an inexorable Judge, that ought to be 
 more cultivated than it is. Tis in vain to fly to the 
 Excufe of Infirmity, and the Age's Relaxation from 
 this great Severity ; thefe pitiful Reafons are never 
 heard. Whatever Merit a Women has, it all goes for 
 nothing without Virtue and Difcretion ; fince 'tis 
 owned that Love is a Stain that fullies the faireft Life. 
 If a Woman be not modeft, 'tho (he have a thoufand 
 orher good Qualities, and Birth and Beauty, fhe is 
 never the more efteemed. Every Body knows it. All 
 the World fays it. Thefe are the firft Leffons inftilled 
 into young Virgins ; and yet they'll go on in their 
 own Way. 
 
 It was no Advantage to Planttna to be the hand- 
 fomeft Woman in England: Never wa? feen a nobler 
 Air or greater Agreements : And the Beauties of her 
 Wit ftill heightned the Charms of her Perfon : But her 
 Moral Infirmities poifoned all her Merit. She was 
 made to be adored if fhe had been more proud : But 
 file received Laws from her Lovers, inftead of com- 
 manding them with the imperious Severity me might 
 have ufed, had fhe not been too weak. Though her 
 Fortune was confiderable, few People would venture 
 on her for a Wife, becaufe of the Wantonnefs of her 
 Temper, and Addition to Intrigues and Gallantry. 
 Her Beauty, Wealth and Birth, could not fecure her 
 from being confidered as a Crack. 
 
 I can't conceive how Women that game high, and 
 fee no other Women but as fcandalous as themfelves, 
 that fpend Nights and Days with Men in Publkk 
 Houfes, would be thought modeft, and take it ill to 
 have their Virtue fufpecled. So irregular a Life is a 
 Sign of a depraved Mind, and a corrupted Heart. 
 
 They
 
 Concerning Decorums, 2 1 3 
 
 They that are flill fond of the World, when the 
 World has no Kindnefs for them, are much to be pi- 
 tied. A worn-out and furrowed Face, makes but an 
 ill Figure amongft fuch as fparkle with the Fire of 
 Youth. 'Tis not the Seafon to give way to Frolick 
 and Mirth,, when one is old ; and if one put on a feri- 
 ous and referved Look, 'tis a Conftraint to Youth, 
 who think only of Diverfion, and breathe nothing buc 
 Gallantry and Gaiety. 
 
 Generally fpeaking, Perfons advanced in Years 
 feem troublefome and formidable to Youth, becaufe 
 of the Difproportion of Sentiments, unlefs they ftoop 
 and condefcend to Juvenilities, unbecoming the Cha- 
 rafter of old Age. They mould learn how to recede 
 and to keep Company with their Equals, and no long- 
 er pretend to be agreeable and diverting, when the 
 Seafon of thofe Things is over. 
 
 Is there any Reafon for an old Woman that marries 
 a young Hufband, to complain that he does not care 
 for her ; I know he is obliged to fomc Complaifance 
 and Officioufnefs, to recompence her for the Charge 
 {he is at for him ; But if {he demands any Thing elie, 
 if me requires Love, and Ardour, and Tendernefs, 
 me is much out in her Accounts. Dorinta is fifty, 
 who has married Philiftus of thirty ; an handfome and 
 genteel Man, who loves high living and play. Do- 
 rinta is wonderous fond of this young Spoufe ; me 
 furnilhes him with gaming Money, and fine Equipage, 
 and a noble Table. He loves not Dorinta, but flights 
 and difrefpe&s her ; 'tis an uncivil Man. Decency 
 would oblige him to make up his Want of Love to 
 hisold Wife, by fome outward Shows, as whofurnifh- 
 es him with liberal Sums, to fupply all his extravagant 
 Expences. 
 
 The Defign a Woman has formed to marry a Man 
 with whom me keeps up an intimate Co rrefpon deuce 
 for a long I ime, does not juftify her to ihe World ; 
 No Body penetrates her Intentions: And fuch-a'long 
 eftaolifhtd Commerce :s a t'-fficient Ground for Scan- 
 dal, though there was nuiiung criminal in it. Reputa- 
 tion
 
 214 Reflections upcn Ridicule. 
 
 f ion is a Plant of fo tender a Growth, Infirmity is ib 
 over-ruling, the Inclination to judge ill of our Neigh- 
 bour fo natural, that we can't be too precautious, nor 
 over diligent to keep fair with the Publick, and ftop 
 the Mouth of Slander. 
 
 'Tis an odd Conjunction, an old Man matched 
 with a young Woman : Such Alliances expofe Wo- 
 men to great Temptations. The Carefies of an old 
 Hufband muft needs be difguftful to a young Wife : 
 The Difproportions of Age breeds an Antipathy, 
 becaule naturally we love our Like, and the cold and 
 Phlegm of Age, do but ill comport with the Flame 
 and Charms of Youth. 
 
 Does a Man advanced in Years, naufeous, diflem- 
 pered and over-run with Rheum and Defluxion, pre- 
 tend to fix the Heart of a young Girl that's briflc and 
 amiable, and fond of Pleafure r He argues ill, if he 
 flatters himfelf that his Riches will be much available 
 to procure her Love, or that his little Afliduities and 
 Complaifances will leflen her Difguft for his Perfon ; 
 that Officioufnefs, Defire of Pleafmg, and Affectati- 
 ons, render him ftill more difagreeable : The Carefles 
 of a Man that is not loved or infipid, turn the 
 Stomach of a young Wife, who fometimes feeks to 
 indemnify herfelf with more agreeable Company, for 
 the Tedium an old Hufband gives her. 
 
 'Tis a Miltake in an old Man to think to bear up, 
 by the Charms of his Behaviour. If his Employs, 
 and Services, and perfonal Merit recommend him, he 
 is refpeftedand courted for the Succour that is expect- 
 ed from him : But if he affefts to be agreeable, departs 
 he out of his Character and lofes Part of his Merit. 
 The more he tricks up and fweetens to pleafe People, 
 the more he makes himfelf defpifed ; and tho' he be 
 cultivated, he is commonly regarded as a ridiculous 
 old Fop. 
 
 Hulbandsare obliged to be civil and complaifant to 
 their Wives; but not to Dotage and Stupidity. The 
 Women fometimes abufe it, and when they get the 
 Afcendant, their Empire is Tyrannical. One would 
 
 fay,
 
 "Concerning Decorums. 215 
 
 lay, to fee fome Womens Conduct, and how terma- 
 gantly they treat their Hufbands, that they only look- 
 ed upon them as their Bailiffs, or Stewards of their 
 Houfho'.d, who have all (he domeftick Cares and 
 Troubles upon their Shoulders, in which their Wives 
 have not the leaft Part. 
 
 Avarice is a Counterpoize to Merit, and which 
 weighs down the Ballance. This fingle Vice is fuffi- 
 cient to make Men ridiculous, who might diftinguilh 
 themfelves by their other good Qualities. Nothing is 
 more defpicable than a covetous Lover, an interefted 
 Devotee; and one that build;, and fpoils his Defign 
 by an ill placed Thrift ; he has a fluttered Reti- 
 nue, and denies himfelf the moft neceflary and agree- 
 able Things. 
 
 The Outrage of Parents is not a good way to bring 
 Children to their Duty. When they are in Fault, 
 you are to punifh them with Moderation, and let 
 them fee your Affe&ion for them even in your Chaf- 
 tifements. Children on their Part, ought never to be 
 deficient in their Refpecfts to their Parents, whatever 
 rigorous Treatment they receive from them. The 
 Harfhnefs of the one does not authorize the Rebellion 
 of the other. 
 
 We don't always get the Love of People, by doing 
 them great Services. I know not by what Caprice it 
 is, we are naturally under a Conftraint with thofe to 
 whom we are much obliged ; and we incur the Sight 
 of them with fome Uneafmefs and Reluctance. 
 
 A mifplaced Liberality does a Man no Credit : We 
 muft be liberal with Diftinc~Uon, and difpofe of our 
 Bounty with Difcretion. What would it coft to accom- 
 pany our Prefents with fome obliging Word, which 
 would heighten the Price of them ? 
 
 Few People delight in Liberalities, or behold the 
 Aflcers without fome kind of Repugnance. This is a 
 fordid Sentiment, and ought by no Means to appear. 
 If you yield to the Intreaties of your Friends, let an 
 obliging Look accompany the Kindnefs, and convince 
 them you ftncerely defire to do them Service. 
 
 Benefits
 
 2i 6 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 Benefits increafc or diminifh Friendfhip according 
 to the diffeient Circumftances that accompany them : 
 A Man's Blood rifes againft thofe that difcover their 
 Regret to do him a Pleafure. There's as much Art 
 required in giving as refuting : A Denial qualified 
 with fome Softnings, andagreatDemonftration of Sin- 
 cerity, does not offend rational Perfons. 
 
 To adapt our felves to the good liking of the 
 World, we muft give to every one what they are pri- 
 vileged to demand of us. Our Superiors demand Ref- 
 pect and Deference, and ubmifiion: Our Equals Ci- 
 vility and good Nature : Our Relations Friendfhip : 
 Our Friends Affection and Confidence : Every Body 
 Sincerity and the Services in our Power when they 
 have Occafion for our Affiftance. We muft help the 
 Miferable by our Charity, and our Enemies by Gene- 
 rofity. But let it be without Oftentation and Flattery, 
 without Sordidnefs and Intereft. 
 
 'Tis violating all the Laws of Decorum, to treat 
 Perfons fuperior to us by their Quality and Station, 
 Employs or Age, in a familiar Way. Familiarity is 
 not fufferable but amongft Equals ; and tho' People 
 fometimes wave their Privileges, yet ought we not to 
 forget our Duty, and treat them otherwife than their 
 Character demands. Urafylus has been a Mufqueteer 
 fix Months, and he talks with the fame Liberty, Fa- 
 miliarity, and Jocofenefs to the Captain of the Com- 
 pany, as if he was talking to his Comrades. He en- 
 tertains him with his Love Intrigues, and gives him a 
 Narrative of all his Adventures, with an Air of Aflu- 
 rance only incident to a Fool, that does not perceive 
 he is laughed at, and that he offends Decorum. 
 
 The Dotages of theUnderftanding are eafier cured 
 than thofe of the Will : For the Will where it fallens 
 will not eafily lofe its Hold : TheUnderftanding 
 is more defultory and volatile. Our Reflections in- 
 ward upon our felves, help to correct the Extravagan- 
 cies of the Mind, but the Engagements of the Heart 
 hinder us from reflecting. 
 
 The
 
 Concerning Decorums. 217 
 
 The Defeft of Underflanding is commonly the 
 Caufe, that many hand(ome Women are not loved 
 to the Degree they appear amiable. Their Beauty 
 is attractive, and their Carriage is forbidding : Tis 
 a Kind of Counter-Charm, to difpel the Fafcination, 
 of their Beauty. 
 
 Modefty fo efferitially belongs to fome Characters 
 and Profeffions, that the leaft Remiflhefs therein de- 
 ftroys all the Elteem a Man has acquired. It afto- 
 nifhes the Publick, to fee fome People live with a 
 Licence and Indulgence fo unbecoming them. Eu- 
 genius has a thoufand good Qualities : He has Senfe, 
 and Government; his Perfon is pliant and infinuating : 
 He would be an accomplifhed Man, if he could rid 
 himfelf of one Fault, which poifons, as I may fay, 
 all his Merit, and renders his fine Talents the lefs ta- 
 king : He has too debonair and free a Deportment 
 with the Women, though his Profeffion and Employs 
 demand more Referve and Circumfpedlion. 
 
 'Tis a great Cruelty to defpife People under Mif- 
 fortunes : Have they not already particular Troubles 
 enough, unlefs you add Raillery and Infult ? The 
 offensive Names of Wretch, Scoundrel, Beggar, ought 
 not to enter into the Difcourfe of the Well-bred, nor 
 any other injurious Terms that raife an Idea of Con- 
 tempt. 
 
 7 he Ladies that fpend the greateft Part of their 
 Time in the Country, are commonly more unpolifhed 
 than they that live in great Towns ; becaufe they 
 fludy lefs to pleafe : Being taken up with their 
 Houfewifry and domeftick Affairs, they negleft thofe 
 Agreements that are not of much Ufe to them. 
 There's no Occafion to take much Pains, when they 
 are only obliged to pleafe their Hufoands. 
 
 The Women have for fome Time complained that 
 the Men are uncivil, uncomplaifant and brutal. 
 Whom do they blame for it ? If they were not fo 
 very traflable, the Men would be more fubmifllve and 
 refpedtful. No Body can efteem .your light and \van- 
 
 VOL. I. L ton
 
 It * .-. : ;;;;;; Ridicule. 
 
 ton Creatures, 
 
 Tiey -. . :e cc: 
 
 .-.-.-. .:..:=:: r.o krag 
 
 : . 
 
 ' -~e6, wKen theyjjsu: ; parti- 
 Viewi,. asd .this Defire conduces 
 
 Hufsaod that obferres in his WKe's Conduct any Ic- 
 clicacion fhafs injurious to him, may exprefs : 
 {enfment, without making a Noife of it ; That is the 
 uuermoa Mifcty .j^H^naaL.?nd : of Af- 
 
 f*ftioc, which (hoold be it's chief Cote: 
 
 The Ladies Morals are fallen a little to Decay ; 
 \L*J do cot fcajefficaHj enough maictam the Empire 
 .K iuch tLeir Beacty acd Merit naturally give them 
 over Men. Formerly co Body dorft take Libenies 
 before then : Bat Men at "prefect are not fo fcrapu- 
 loos, but difcocife to them in a Manner that {krone* 
 of the Loofenefs of tire Age. The difcreetefl of them 
 are not alanned, provided they talk in ambiguous 
 Terms, and dean linen. -Thofe that feem to be ex- 
 ceptions, have fo aficded a Way with them, as lets 
 their title Sentiments appear through it, 
 
 Can a Woman, of an irregular Condofi be ignorant 
 of the Satyr and Scandal that is fpread of he: 
 ihebenot, how has (he the Face to appear ? As good 
 a Look as (he fas opon it, xhe Lofs of her Repatati- 
 on gives her many uogratefol Moments. The loofeft 
 of the Set hare fifllfome Remains of Modefly: They 
 COHROC forbear praifing and efieeming Women whofe 
 Virtue does Hoooor to their Ser. Though they aban- 
 don thenlelTes to their profthuie Temper, they have 
 now and Uretr feme Intervals of Reafbn, wherein they 
 cannot pardon their own Drforden. 
 
 The idk Life of Women is the firft Soorce of their 
 Difbrders: They know not how to fpend their Time 
 to keep off that frkfcmenefe of Thought, which 
 tfrey dread above all Things : Hence they recur to 
 , Play, and otter fHH more crimfoat Diverfiocs. The 
 Generality love not Reading ; and tfaoie Books they 
 
 ft.dv,
 
 Concernitg Decorums. 219 
 
 ftudy, corrupt their Imaginations, and form their 
 Heads to Amours and Intrigues. *Tis not for Inftruc- 
 rion they have Reconrfe to Books, but to learn the 
 Adventures of other Women, and all the Artifices 
 necefiary to the Saccefs of an Intrigue. 
 
 It feems a Paradox to fay, that the more a Woman 
 abounds in Wit, the lefs rcafonable, and, common- 
 ly, lefs amia!^ fhe is. Her Head is inftrumeniai to 
 the Corruptions of her Heart. Vivacity renders her 
 Inconffamt : Penetration gives her more Artifice and 
 Malignancy. Experience daily demonftrates that the 
 moft Slanderous, the moft Satirical, die moft Deceit- 
 ful, the moft Wanton, and moft Extravagant among 
 them, have more Wit than the Generality of Wo- 
 men. Their Vices increafe in Proportion to their 
 Wit, which they make a bad Ufc of. 
 
 Moft Women are I&comprehenfible : Their Cha- 
 racter is Dark, and Myftenoos, and a Kiddie. The 
 lame Woman is lavifh in all her Hummers, and Co- 
 vetous in all her Thrift. Unable to keep a juft Me- 
 mm i fhe hates to Day, even to Fury, him that fhe 
 loved Ycfterday to Excels. She violently defires a 
 Thing, which fhe defpifes the very Moment that fhe 
 has it. But what is ftUl more unaccountable is, that 
 Men, who know Womens Faults and Infirmities, 
 who are Witnefles of diem, and fufler by them, can- 
 not break off from them. Men that are fb wife, and 
 Heads that are fo ftrong, give Way to be confounded 
 by a Glance of an Eye, and the Luftre of an hand- 
 fame Face. 
 
 Commendations mifgnide Women, and prevent 
 their Information. They would hare fewer Faults if 
 they had lefs Incenfe given them. Tis their Flatter- 
 ers dot make diem uncivil, proud, contemptuous and 
 haughty, by placing diem above all other Women ; 
 and they are unwilling to Affc***l from this im^gina- 
 if Superiority. 
 
 Tis from a delicate Pride or Self love, that moft 
 
 Women in frrev pat on die Mafk of Devotion, 
 
 L z after
 
 22O Reflexions upon Ridicule. 
 
 after they have afted another Character. This af- 
 ledted Devotion is a very convenient Tranfition from 
 a moft licentious, to that moft auftere Life, which 
 does them fo much Honour in the World ; there's no 
 need of changing the, Principles, but only changing 
 fhe Habit. "1'is not to be more humble, modeft, 
 pallive, and mortified that they lengthen their 
 Sleeve, and fill their Bags with Primmers and Beads : 
 But only more conveniently to enjoy all the Pleafures 
 of Life, without being cenfured by the World. The 
 Decorum of Gravity is due to a certain Age which 
 ihey cannot difpenfe with, without making them- 
 felves ridiculous : They dare not permit themfelves 
 P leal u res that make a Noife, but they find Ways of 
 Secrecy and Silence to fatisfy themfelves. 
 
 A Woman of Wit, who thinks herfelf fo, and is 
 fully perfuaded of her Superiority of Genius, regards 
 all the reft of her Sex with Pity. It will not be be- 
 lieved, perhaps, but Experience is a convincing Proof 
 of it, that the more Wit a Woman has, the lefs (he 
 has of common Senfe : If we examine the Charac- 
 ters of thofe who have ruined their domeftick Affairs, 
 who have fallen into Dilgrace by the Dii'order of 
 their Conduct, who can agree with no Body, nor no 
 Body with them ; we lhall find, without more ado, 
 that all thefe Women had a great deal of Wit and 
 little Judgment. 
 
 Clorir.a reads all Sorts of Books, good and bad, 
 without Diftindion or Taftc. She does not read for 
 Inftru&ion, but only to have the Glory of a great 
 Reader, and to cite the Names of many Authors, 
 which is all that (he retains of her Reading. But 
 fhe has got by it a great Prefumption, which appears 
 by her fevere Cenfures of all, even the moft excellent 
 Works, which fhe miferably decries. Clorina would 
 be thought judicious at any Price; even at the 
 Expence of her Judgment, which fhe betrays the 
 Weaknefs of. 
 
 The wife Man has faid, that a prodigal Woman 
 ruins the beft Houfe : Which is an unrealonable and 
 criminal Difiipation, but moft Women are more ob- 
 noxious
 
 Concerning Dtcorums* 22 1 
 
 noxious to the other Extreme. They are naturally 
 Thrifty, and fo far from Superfluities as to retrench 
 NecefTaries. They themfelves firft furFer by their 
 Sordidnefs, and every Body elfe after. If they add 
 Habit to their Inclination, they are incorrigible. 
 This Excefs of good Houfewifry renders them very 
 contemptible, perverts their natural Equity, and fpoils 
 their good Sentiments : And they need only this 
 Weaknefs to ruin their Credit* whatever Merit they 
 may have. 
 
 What Confufion does not a Woman caufe in a Fa- 
 mily who is addicted to Play, and hazards great 
 Sums ; Difcord, domertick Difcontents, and abfo- 
 lute Ruin, are the inevitable Confequences of this 
 Pafllon, which at lafl turns to Fury and Diltraftion. 
 It is rare to fee Women weaned from this vicious 
 Paffion ; nothing, but Poverty and Ruin can banim 
 them from Gaming. Mtlantine, after Ihe has loll all, 
 begs an Alms to game with. One of her Relations 
 has compaflionately taken her to her Houfe : She 
 gives her Diet and Cloaths, and all Things neceflary 
 to her Subfiitence. But the Wreck of her Fortune 
 has not been able to extinguifh her Fondnefs for Play. 
 She mingles with the Rafcality, to fport the little 
 Money Ihe has got, which fhe has the Sordidnefe to 
 beg. If Fortune happens to look upon her with a 
 more favourable Eye and make her a Winner, fhe 
 ventures in one Day all her Profits for many Months. 
 Incapable of being converted by her paft Misfortunes, 
 and itill flattered with the Hopes of emerging, though 
 me be funk beyond Retrieval. She leads a Life that 
 moves the Pity of thofe that have feen her in fo dif- 
 ferent a Condition. 
 
 The natural Temper of Women ought to keep 
 them out of Law-fuits : As their Indifference, natural 
 Lazinefs, love of Diver/ions and Pleafures, the Concern 
 for their Adjuftments and their Beauty. But when 
 they are once embarked, they have other Qualities to 
 retain them to the Courts : They are more unteachable, 
 more heady, more interefted, and more opinionative 
 L 3 than
 
 222 Reflections upon Ridicule. 
 
 than Men ; and will lefs hearken to Reafon. Pride, 
 Indignation, and a Shame of yielding, makes them 
 continue a Suit, wherein they have no Intereft, but 
 to fatisfy their Vanity and Revenge. Nothing is 
 more pitiable than a Woman flcilled in the Subtilties 
 and Quirks of the Law, by a long ufage of the Bar. 
 You find an entire Revolution in her Temper : The 
 hurly-burly of Bufmefs ferves her inftead of Walks, 
 and Pleafures, and Intrigues. Women are not natu- 
 rally Enemies to Difputes, Quarrels, Broils and Va- 
 riance ; fo that the Tumult of Trials grows at laft 
 an agreeable Occupation, becaufe it indulges their 
 Inclination to Diflention, Hatred and Slander, and is 
 an inexhauftible Source of Complaints, Reproaches 
 and Invectives : And they even find in it wherewithal 
 to fatisfy their deareft and niceft Paffions. Their 
 Charms are a wonderful Loadftone to attract the 
 Judges and engage them in their Intereils ; they ftu- 
 dy to pleafe, and leave no Stone unturned to miflead 
 them ; Art feconds their Beauty, and when their 
 Artifices have fucceeded, they applaud themfelves for 
 the Triumph. Hatred hardly gives a Woman lefs 
 Pkafure and Pain than Love : It feems to be the more 
 lively and animated Palfion, and gives the moft vio- 
 lent Motions; Law-Suits are the Triumphs of this 
 Paffion which awakens all the reft, becaufe Glory 
 and Intereft are the two Springs that move the Souls 
 of the Litigants : You fee what makes Suits everlaft- 
 ing, efpecially when Women are concerned in them. 
 They feldom come to an Accommodation : Prejudice 
 bereaves them of the Liberty to hearken to good Ad- 
 vice: The more Arguments you offer to convince 
 them, the more fubterfuges their Obftinacy finds to 
 elude their Force : The End of their Life precedes 
 the End of the Suit, and the laft Breath of a Woman 
 of this Character is caft out by the Regret fhe has to 
 leave her Enterprize unfinilhed. 
 
 We find Women that have a Strength of Genius, 
 and a moft exquifite Judgment, that are capable of a 
 generous Refolution, and great Undertakings. But 
 
 generally
 
 Concerning Decorums. 223. 
 
 generally fpeaking, they are of a weaker and nicer 
 Conftitution than Men : Which makes them fo indul- 
 gent to themfelves, and fo denrous to be flattered. 
 Their Heads are filled with Prejudices, and turned to 
 Trifling : When they have fixed their Refolution they 
 obftinately maintain it, though they are naturally vo- 
 latile and inconftant. 'Tis hard to bring them off 
 from their Amufements, to engage them in any Thing 
 more ferious, unlefs they have fome violent Paflion 
 that prevails over their Temper. This new Intereft 
 that engages them, draws 'them, as I may fay, out 
 of themfelves, and difcovers in their own Bottom, 
 fuch Recruits as they never thought on : They grow 
 bold and enterprizing : Pains, Perils, and Difap- 
 pointments do not diihearten them. Oppofitions whet 
 their Courage, and teach them to bear up againft all 
 Obflacles : They repine not at the longed Fatigues, 
 to purchafe an infignificant Pleafurq. 
 
 
 L 4 AN
 
 
 
 1 
 
 71 U Hlli'l J^.itt 
 
 v.\. ii:n 
 1 Jr.-sfoi'/ o 
 
 JteT9-.. 
 
 Itoo .<*;' > 
 
 .ucjJeH two -.' 
 
 won-' '(SilT trioadguod: 
 
 'sU' 
 
 ^i. -
 
 A N 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 PRINCIPAL MATTERS. 
 
 A. 
 
 Page, 
 
 A Blots more immodefl: than Pages, 91 
 
 Abilities ought not to be displayed all at 
 once, 6 1 
 
 Alfurditiis the Effect of want of Application, 170 
 dbufes reformed out of Intereft, 155 
 
 Acknowledgment of Favours received mud obferve a 
 Mediocrity, 66 
 
 A.-yuaintance abates the Care of concealing Imper- 
 fecXions, 6 
 
 damirativn the Symptom of indifferent Senfe, 97. 
 The EfFeft of grois Ignorance, 117. The Judicious 
 and Sincere admire but jiule, ibid* 
 
 .Zfa-ici' introduced meets with a forry Reward, 179. 
 Why k takes ib feldom, 198 
 
 I. 
 
 dfefiation
 
 INDEX. 
 
 AJfeQation defined, 46. Its Effefts, 47 
 
 Ajf rants forgotten through Intereft, 1 48. The Nice- 
 ty of obferving Meafures with People that have 
 affronted you, 175 
 
 Agreeable, why fo many People are not agreeable 
 to us, 205 
 
 Mine, Men do not aft alone as they do in Public, 
 
 90 
 
 Ancients, their Works did not excel ours, 200 
 
 Anger on frivolous Occasions a Sign of Rufticity, 192. 
 
 The Danger of endeavouring to reclaim the Per- 
 
 fon thus angry, il. 
 
 Antiquity of Extraction affefted, 64 
 
 Apologies are not always the beft way of Juftification, 
 
 196 
 
 Appearances (outward) biafs moft Men, 85 
 
 Arddes mifcarries in his Fortune through Pride, 147 
 
 Ajjurance in Talking cenfured, 40 
 
 Attendance the Effeft of Intereft, not Refpeft, 1 5 i 
 
 Attention^ 'tis hard to command it long, 115 
 
 Avarice a Counterpoife to Merit, 2 1 4 
 
 Authors apt to grow Vain-glorious, 70, and defpife 
 
 all Cenfure, ibid. They (hould not value them- 
 
 felves for being read by Fools, 110. Their 
 
 Conceitednefs is furprifmg, 127. They never 
 
 ceafe to admire their own Writings, 1 34 
 
 ( noi B. 
 
 BEauty, its Charms often diffipated by idleDif- 
 courfe, 44 
 
 Eenefaftions to be made in Laft Wills, are very in- 
 fignificant, 148 
 
 Benefits, how to grant them, 105 
 
 Borrowing (Money) cenfured, 153 
 
 Calumny,
 
 INDEX. 
 
 c. 
 
 CAlumny, what Temper it argues, 108 
 
 Caprice* why Men live fo much by it. 158 
 
 Reprefented at large, 182 
 
 Cenfor's Part hard to aft, 2 1 
 
 Cenjures, how to be received, 1 28 
 
 Cenfurt, oftentimes indifcreet, 33 
 
 Cenfurers (the greateft) not affected with their own 
 Faults, 1 01 
 
 Cerajlus affects greatnefs, 137 
 
 Ceremonies exploded, 196 
 
 Ceremonies, Tradefmen, Country-folks and Pedants 
 moft full of them, 206 
 
 Char after forced ridiculous, 175 
 
 Cits (Prodigal) how ruined, I 20 
 
 Civilities, exceflive are troublefome, 206 
 
 Company, Choice of it ought to be our chief Study, 
 
 194 
 
 Complai/hnce, how far it ought to go, 26. 'Tis the 
 fureft Way to the Friendfhip of Men, 203 
 
 Comprebenfion, fome admire moft what is above their 
 Comprehension, 80 
 
 Concea/iag\Vit, fometimes great Wit, 38 
 
 Conceited fool-hardinefs to be rectified, 1 26 
 
 Catdefcenfvn in proportioning one's felf to the Hu- 
 mour and Character of thofe we converfe with, 
 211. A Sign of a fublime Genius, 1 5. Its great 
 Defect in Men of Learning, 1 1 1, 113 
 
 Confidents, their Character, 36 
 
 Conversation, the Generality of it infipid, n. Mo- 
 nopoly in it a Tyranny over Wit, 14, 34. The 
 Pleafureof it luined by the whimfical Unevennefs 
 of fome People, 188. Conversation with difrepu- 
 table Perfons cenfured, 1 86. Why the Converfati- 
 on of Women is infipid, 187. And incommodious, 
 195. Why costimon Converfation is fo naufeous, 
 
 199 
 Coqvitrj,
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Cofuetrv, familiar Letters a great Fund of it, 32 
 
 Couafefto be cautioufly given, 41 
 
 Country Squires Men with a filly Attention, 1 1 
 
 Courage, -how to feafon it, 45. The Vanity of 
 
 rafh Courage, 66 
 
 Co'vetoufnefi the moft unpardonable Madnefs, 144. 
 
 Scarce confident with Honefty, 152. It renders 
 
 Men unfit for Society or Secrecy, i 54 
 
 Credulity the natural Confequence of Self-fufficiency, 
 
 165 
 
 Qharafler, 'Theocrind's, 25 
 
 Criticijm, inexorable, has ill Effects, 1 86 
 
 Cunning, moft People's Commerce runs upon it, 
 
 i..:?:' 5 
 
 D. 
 
 ', 'tis cowardly to fpeak ill of them, 108 
 Decorums, the Soul of Society, 202. Their 
 Source and feveral Branches, ib. 
 
 Delicacy (falfe) the EfFeft of ill Humour or ill Breed- 
 ing, 193. Its feveral Steps, ib. 
 
 Dependence, the Ptinifhment of it, 167 
 
 Devotees, AfFeciation in them cenfured, 55, ib. 
 
 Difcourfe, Formality in it and Starchnefs cenfuredj 
 
 5 2 5 6 
 Difcretion of Men not to be depended upon, 1 80 
 
 Difgrace, not to be infulted, J 46 
 
 Dijffimulation expofed, 83 
 
 Drollery, when it difguils, 20, 26 
 
 E 
 
 Cclejlafiick$ in France fcandaloufly Prodigal, 
 
 210 
 
 Equipage of Ecclefiafticks ought to be regulated by 
 the Government, ib. 
 
 EJleem
 
 INDEX. 
 
 EJieem oftentimes owing to Fate of Fortune, 7. 'Tis 
 leffened, and fometimes quite loft, by too frequent 
 Conversation, ib. 
 
 Event, the Injuftice of judging of Things by the 
 Event, 1 39 
 
 Excellencies without Modefty are difpleafing to others 
 
 65 
 
 Expences, Indifcretion in them, 45, 46, 129 
 
 Experience makes us more acceptable to the World 
 than Precepts, 205 
 
 Extravagancies ought to be without Witneffcs, 1 70 
 
 F. 
 
 FAcetioufnefs. See Gaiety. 
 Family the beft way to govern it, 103 
 
 Familiarity with Women of Merit and Beauty dan- 
 gerous, 13. Familiarity at the firft Vifit cenfur- 
 ed, 44, 1 80. Familiarity With Persons of a 
 high Rank cenfured, 44, 216. Excefs of it 
 fuits with none, 204 
 
 Faults infeparable from Human Nature, 7. We 
 fhould fometimes diffemble the feeing them, 22. 
 Cautions relating to thd Faults of others, 28, 42. 
 Vain Men never own a Fault, 62. Why Peo- 
 ple correct themfelves of any Fault, 67. -We 
 mult not pretend to correct all that have commit- 
 red Faults, 95, 100. The Vanity of obfer- 
 ving the Faults of others, 165, 197 
 
 Favor T/, his Character, 28 
 
 Favourites rarely approved, 109 
 
 Feajls, how to be managed, 20 
 
 Ficklenejs expofed, 183, 190 
 
 Finical Affectation, 57 
 
 Flattery a Vice mightily in Vogue, 74. How to di(- 
 tinguilh it from fincere Praife, 134, 136. 'Tis 
 fcandalous, it. 
 
 Fools perfift always in their Error, 62 
 
 1 increafes with Age, 70 
 
 Formalijls
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Formalins expofed, 106, 196 
 
 Fortune, Change of it begets a Change of Manners 
 
 and Opinions, 16, 116. Why Men of Integrity 
 
 feldom get any great Fortune, 153 
 
 Friend/hip fhewn will not oblige People if we talk 
 
 much of it, 17. True Friendfhip requires Courage, 
 
 145. "Tis baniihed the World by Intereft, ib. 
 
 G. 
 
 Gdiety overdone grows infipid, 80. It fhould al- 
 ways be moderate, 121 
 Gam eft en can hardly be worthy Men, 1 50 
 Gaming corrupts the beft Principles, 153. Neither 
 Experience nor Misfortunes will cure it, 1 57 
 Generojity ftifled by Intereft, i 5 1 
 Genoa's Character of the Hero of France expofed, 
 
 98 
 
 Gratitude ought to be free and eafy, 146 
 
 Greatneft affe&ed by Inferiors is expofing, 57, 92 
 Great Mens Caprices command the Multitude, 130 
 
 H. 
 
 HAir-lrained Behaviour can never pleafe, 119 
 Head guilty of fewer Faults than the Heart, 
 
 182 
 
 Havgbty Strain beft anfwered without Commotion, 
 
 17. Haughty People muft fubmit to a thoufand 
 
 Mortifications, 163 
 
 High Birth no Foundation of Pride, 167 
 
 High Living does not make a Man valuable, 93 
 
 Hocbflet Battle, 133 
 
 Home-bred People very fond of their Pcrfonal Merit, 
 
 63 
 
 Hujband miferly to a young Wife, hazards both 
 
 her Honour and his own, 178 
 
 Hypocricy expofed, 78 
 
 Hou/ctw/ry
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Houfeivifry defpifed by Women of great Figure, 
 
 192 
 
 I. 
 
 IDlenefs of Women the firft Source of their Dif- 
 orders, 2 1 8 
 
 Jealoufy in Hufbands, cautioned, 3 \ . 'Tis oftentimes 
 fatal to their Repofe and Honour, 103. 'Tis a 
 Source of a thoufand Impertinencies, 185. Jea- 
 loufies fhould be well concealed, 189, 'Tis the 
 infallible Sign of an ill-turned Mind and a gro- 
 veling Soul, 191 
 
 JeJIs, Cautions about them, 54, 43. Some would 
 rather difoblige their beft Friends than lofe them, 
 
 77 
 Jejier, his Character, 1 1 7 
 
 Ignorant People talk moil, 112 
 
 Impatience to tell every thing we know, a certain 
 
 Sign of Vanity, 204 
 
 Impatience when People are fpeaking difcovered in 
 
 the Looks, a Vice, 1 2 
 
 Imperfe&ions, natural, 'tis uncivil to mention them, 19 
 Impertinence arifes from want of Attention, 109. Its 
 
 Definition, it. 
 
 Impertinent s y feveral fpecies of them, 113, u6 
 Impoflures, their Effects, 82 
 
 Incompliantnefs of Humour reprefented, 173 
 
 Indifference to Things furprifing, cenfured, 166 
 
 Intiifcretion the Effect of Unpolitenefs, 26. Indifcre- 
 
 Oion defined, 27. 'Tis hard to be cured, 28 
 
 Ingratitude natural to fome, the Effect of a fecret 
 
 Pride, 66 
 
 Infignifcancy in the World reprefented, 162 
 
 In/ulting a Man guilty of Folly, and expreffing a 
 
 malicious Joy at his Confufion, is extremely tude 
 
 and cruel, 15, 96 
 
 Interruption in Conversation an unpardonable Inci 
 
 vility, 12, 179, 187 
 
 its various Eft\fts, 142 
 
 Laughing
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Laughing at others Follies cenfured, 3.5 
 
 Lu<w-Suits Hereditary, 147. They warp the 
 
 Mind moft, and fooneft corrupt Integrity, 1 50 
 Learned Men why unacceptable to Men of Breeding, 
 
 23, in. They have a lofty Idea of their own 
 
 Sufficiency, 60 
 
 Learning pompoufly difplayed a Sign of foolifh 
 
 Vanity, ib. 
 
 Liberality mifplaced does a Man no Credit, 216 
 
 Living (Art of) the moft uieful of all Sciences, ;. 
 
 Learned fometimes by ill Fortune, 167 
 
 M, 
 
 MAggotry expofed, 1 84 
 
 marriage the Inconveniencies of it, 102, ef- 
 pecially of matching Youth with old Age, 213, 
 
 214, 215 
 
 Majlers indifcreet in talking before their Servants, 33 
 
 Matrimony, the hopes of it make Women take too 
 great a Liberty, ib, 
 
 Meanneji of Birth not to be concealed, 56. People 
 of mean Extraction apt to be vain in pretending 
 Antiquity, 64. And that very infolently, 93. 
 They expofe themfelves to Ridicule in affecting to 
 equal and converfe with Courtiers, 122, 123, 
 124, 194. They have a great Opinion of their 
 own perfonal Merit, 137 
 
 Melancholy, why Men fall into it without knowing 
 the Reafon, 158 
 
 are ever difpofed to judge ill of Women, 
 
 
 Why Men take fo little I'leafure in one another, 
 
 192 
 
 Merit (Great) is fometimes nothing but a great Arti- 
 fice to hide imperfections, 7. Merit no Defence 
 againft the Raillery of Buffoon?, 76. Fondnefs of 
 
 one's
 
 / N 2> E X. 
 
 one's own Merit, leads to many Extravagancies, 
 163. It difquiets us when we fee the Merit of 
 others, ibid. Confcioufnefs of Merit bears no 
 Competitors 168 
 
 . Merltt (Counters of) her Chara&er 45 
 
 Mifantbrofy, reprefented 96 
 
 Misfortunes, a great Mark of Weaknefs and Pride to 
 be always complaining of them, 177. Efpecially 
 with a Gaiety, 174. The Cruelty of defpifing 
 People under them, 217. A Pleafure taken in re- 
 lating them >77, zoo 
 Mode, the Change of it confidered iS8 
 Modejly mould not be fcrupulous, 48. Modefly af- 
 fedled a Sign of foolim Vanity, 68. Modefty a 
 Sign of Merit 109 
 Wonder's Character i a 8 
 Moro/e Humour defined, 97. It (huts a Man's Eyes 
 againft his own Intereil, 98. Its other Effe&s, ibid'. 
 "Tis a Diverfion to Spectators . 105 
 Mathers, their Complacency makes their Daughters 
 proud, 1 68. And immoral 207 
 Murfant, his Character 12 
 
 N. 
 
 NArciJfus charafterifed ~ 
 
 Natural Relations mod pleafmg 14 
 
 Nevofmonger, his Characler, 118. Importunity 
 tei! News is Impertinence i 
 
 Nice:_t of Tafte expofed, 193, 196. Nicety in Point 
 of Dtcorura 202 
 
 Nobility, Chimerical, is the Difeafe of thofe (hat grow 
 Rich 19$ 
 
 Krtrky gains upon the Judgment 80 
 
 O 
 
 O 
 
 : 
 
 Bloquy beft baffled by feemiflg not to hear it 
 
 107 
 Obfctnity
 
 / N- D E X. 
 
 Qlfcenity, though ambigupns, is very impertinent" 
 
 1*19 
 
 Objlinaty, though 'in Vindication of the Truth, ^it- 
 pi eafes 14 
 
 Old Men are always le&uring Youth, 101. They 
 would be very ufeful if lefs morofe, ibi-d. Love in 
 them is very ridiculous, 214. The ridiculoufnefs- 
 of old Woriren courting all Pleafures, I72j 212, 
 
 213 
 
 Opinion of one's felf, not to be removed, 131. Opi- 
 riion of bur own Merit hinders the Difcovery of 
 fi&itious Praifes, 133. And makes us' backward 
 to praife others, 135. It fets all the World againft 
 us, 161. Ta oppofe the Opinion of all the World 
 is prodigioufly fantaftical, 183, 186. The Honour 
 of receding from an Opinion iga 
 
 Opulence without Senfe infpires Men with Pride 6z 
 
 Order, whimfical People Enemies to it 185 
 
 Out /Me handfome, a Prejudice in Favour of the 
 Speaker 1 7 
 
 Outward Appearance not to be neglected 23 
 
 P. 
 
 Parents indifcreet in not diflembling the Inequality 
 of AfFedion towards Children, 39. Their 
 
 Outrage is not a good Way to bring Children to 
 
 their Duty . . 215 
 
 Paffions, why we indulge them fo mucby 1 26. They 
 
 are the Caufe of injuftice . , 142 
 
 Pedantry very rude, 24. Its Unfeafonablwiefs, ibid. 
 
 It proceeds not from Science, but the ill Ufe of 
 
 Science 1 89 
 
 Plays or Gaming not to be quite interdicted, 101 
 
 But moderated 102 
 
 Pleaftng, the Defire of it is natural, 7. How to 
 
 pleafe in Converfation 20$ 
 
 Pleafure (malicious) in the Shame and Uneafinefs of 
 
 others TOO 
 
 Phaje,
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Pleafe, the beft Way to pleafe is to be Civil and no 
 great Pretender, 131. Why fo few are perfect in 
 the Art of pleafing. 210 
 
 Politenefs, a Combination of Virtues, 10. Politenefs 
 defined, 25 
 
 Politicians, (pretended) their foolifh Sufficiency in 
 pretending to iorefee all Events, 169 
 
 Poverty joined to a high Spirit a Misfortune, 147 
 
 Praije! equivocal are but ingenious Satyrs, 1 34 
 
 To Praife Friends, is a nice Taflt, 177 
 
 Praifes, how to be received, 49, 50, 51. The Cha- 
 racter of a perpetual Praifer, 96, 178 
 
 Praifes mifplaced naufeous, 26. To praife a Man 
 for Qualities that he has not, is to affront him, 68. 
 And yet it takes, 133 
 
 Prdfes given to others, in Expectation of the like 
 from them, 69 
 
 Prejudice divided and defined, 125. Its Effects, 
 
 ibid. fcfr. 
 
 PrepoJ/eJ/ton of eminent Qualities, a great Source of 
 Impertinence, 63. And of Uneafinefs, 106 
 
 Prefumption a Companion of Ignorance and Self-con- 
 ceit, 139. It makes a Man negligent and lazy, 
 
 ibid. 
 
 Pride (fecret) natural to all Men, 17. Where 'tis 
 becoming, and where not, no. 'Tis a Kind of 
 Drunkennefs and Madnefs that ruins young Women 
 
 125 
 
 Prodigality cenfured 120, 129 
 
 Profejfion (Perfons of the fame) always jealous, 1 1 4. 
 The Whimfey of delpifmg one another, 191 
 
 Promifes to be cautioufly granted, 29. There's a 
 foolifh Vanity in promifing every one, 30. Falfe 
 Promifes expofed, 84, 86 
 
 Prudence uncommon required in a Gentleman of the 
 Sword, 45 
 
 Publick, an inexorable Judge, that ought to be more 
 cultivated than it is, 212 
 
 Quality,
 
 INDEX. 
 
 aUality (Perfons of) are of late too familiar with 
 one another, 116. They have no Authority 
 for Nonfenfe, 1 1 8. Vices more unpardonable in 
 them than in others i 22 
 
 Quality (Perfons of) Young Women vainly affecl to 
 be married to them, 65. Quality preferred before 
 Merit and Virtue, a great Corruption of Manners 
 
 92 
 $ueflioners, a Sort of infupportable People 1 4, 
 
 R. 
 
 RAillery^ how to feafon it, 20, 42, 94. Thix 
 mull be borne with forr.etimes 1 15 
 
 Reformers are a needlefs Office i eg 
 
 Religion, the Odioufnefs of playing the Wit at the 
 Expence of Religion 209, 
 
 Relijh, fome Impertinents relifh nothing that's faid to 
 them 1 94 
 
 Reputation, Indifference about it y in Women the 
 higheft Impudence, 33. To think to eftabiifh 
 their Reputation by condemning others is in vain, 
 52. Reputation not founded on Virtue is not du- 
 rable 88 
 
 R(/tTi>e, Medium between a fcrupulous Referve and 
 Opennefs 78 
 
 Referred, Women were formerly more referred than 
 the Men, but now 'tis otherwife 76 
 
 Retirement gives an ^ir of Dignity 10 
 
 Retreat ought to begin where Agreements end 172 
 Revenge, an infamous Method of it 203 
 
 Ricbei once got never examined how they came, ibid. 
 They cover all Faults 159 
 
 Ridicule in general, 5. We may fall into it by thofe 
 very Things in which we excell, 65. Ridiculous 
 Cuftoms feldom parted with, becaufe not perceived 
 
 70 
 Rivaling
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Rivaling a Superior, dangerous 38 
 
 Rudenefs creates a general Averfion, and fpeaks a bad 
 
 Education 10 
 
 S. 
 
 SCandal flighted by thofe who are not able to avoid 
 it 91 
 
 Scholars apt to be' foolifh and ridiculous 1 1 2 
 
 Secrets not to be imparted to Women 36 
 
 Secrecy, injoined, fpurs Come to Difcovery, 67. He 
 that does not keep his Friend's Secret can't be an 
 honeft Man 204 
 
 Sedateneft (apparent) not inconfiftent with inward 
 Difquiet 1 88 
 
 Self, to talk of one's felf and his own Affairs, naufe- 
 ous, 34, 36, 37, 72, 174. Self conceit in Men 
 of Learning, the Source of their Unpolitenefs, 23. 
 We ought to ftudy our felves, 38. To talk much 
 to one's own Difadvantage is a criminal Affe&ation 
 
 51 
 
 Self -conceit. See Faulty, and 107. It hinders repoie 
 
 ibid. 
 
 Self-love hinders our bad Qualities to make any Im- 
 preflton upon us, 68. Its Effects 124, 142 
 
 Self-prai/e expofed 69, 70, 72 
 
 Services (great) do not always procure Love 215 
 Shynefs cenfured 53, 114 
 
 Silence, there's a Way to be filent without the Imputi- 
 on of Stupidity 40 
 
 Sincerity, to Excefs, dangerous, 18. Sincerity, tho' 
 blunt, preferable to fruitlefs Carefles, 30. Cautions 
 about Sincerity, 36. 'Tis the Soul of Civil Soci- 
 ety, 83. Every one boafts of it 86 
 Singularity ridiculous, 57 Some affeft humourfomc 
 Singularities, 78. They are always offenfive 
 
 1 88 
 Statelincfs in Women, when criminal 52 
 
 Stinginef:
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Stitiginefs expofed, 150, i,t 
 
 Story, the Difficulty of telling a Story well, 67, 179 
 
 To be always telling Stories is fuperficial Wit, 105 
 
 A merry Story fhould be gravely told, 121 
 
 Subtilijing too much no Sign of good Wit, 201 
 
 Sufficiency, its Source and its Effefts, 1 59 
 
 Sufficioui Men hard to be converfed with, 1 99 
 
 T. 
 
 TAlle, how to behave at Table, 20 
 
 To commend all the Meats at Table is infipid, 
 
 116 
 
 Talkers (Great) can't pleafe long, 34. The Itch of 
 Talking expofes the Weaknefs of Men, 67. The 
 Talkativenefs of Women proceeds from their Want 
 of Underftanding, 75. Ignorant People talk moft, 
 1 74. The ill Conference of Talking too freely 
 of one another, 208 
 
 Tafle (Bad) defined, 72. It appears moil in our De- 
 ference for Varlets raifed by their Wits, 81 
 Temper of People to be ftudied, 1 84 
 Thee and Thou, the Ufe of it very finical, 204 
 Time, Aftions mif-timed lofe their Value, 1/2 
 Tradefmen pafling for Perfons of Quality, 121. Their 
 Wives expofe themfelves to Ridicule, 123 
 Treachery cenfured, 86. To be guarded againft, 94 
 Trouble (prefent) requires fpeedy Succours more than 
 moral Advices 171 
 
 V. 
 
 VAnlty (fbolifh) defined, 58. The Reafon of it, 
 59. It feldom procures Love, 61. The 
 Extravagancies it leads to 1 64 
 
 Virtue ought not to be Morofe, 49. Nor affedled, 
 ibid. Virtues create Enemies, 107. The greateft 
 Virtue is to conceal our Infirmities, 209 
 
 Vice,
 
 / N & E X. 
 
 Jfice, .all Men have a favourite Vice, 121 
 
 Vifans. haunt credulous Perfons, 141 
 
 yifits, Obfervations upon them, 114, 127, 175, 180, 
 
 181, 182 
 
 Uneafinefs within .makes others Uneafy, 191. To be 
 uneafy at what others fay of us, a Source of per- 
 petual Difquiet 195 
 Vneafenefi in Company foon perceived, 37 
 'Unpolitenefs, what it is, 9. 'Tis that, of all Vices, 
 which m.akes a Man moft defpicable, ibid. 'Tis 
 the Caufe of the Infipidnefs of Young People's Dif- 
 courfes, 1 2. Why People bred in Colleges are un- 
 .polite, 23 
 
 W. 
 
 WEaltb, its EfFecls, 138 
 
 Whims of fome People not to be remedied, 
 
 192 
 
 Whi faring in Company uncivil, 19 
 
 Will, the Dotage of it not fo eafily cured as that of 
 
 the Understanding, 216 
 
 Wit ftarcht and affe&ed, expofed, 185 
 
 Wit (Bold) dimonourable in Matters of Religion, 128 
 
 Wit fometimes expofes a Man, 6. The Defire of 
 
 being thought witty makes many ridiculous, 68, 
 
 78, 120. Every one's a Wit in this Age, 165, 
 
 '97 
 
 Wives, their Politicks incomprehenfible, 102, 104 
 Women, to fay foft Things to them all, is infipicl, 10. 
 They ought not to be furprized, 31. They (hould 
 not be too forward in furrendering, 32. 'Tis the 
 higheft Imprudence in them not to be concerned 
 about their Reputation, 33. Women not to be 
 trufted with an important Secret, 39. Not to be 
 rallied upon, 42. To boaft of Favours rrom Wo- 
 men is ridiculous, 43. Generality of Women 
 wantons, 50. Young Women made ridiculous and 
 
 miferable
 
 INDEX. 
 
 miferable, by marrying Perfons of Quality, 65. Wo- 
 men are fond of divulging their Adventures, 76. We 
 ought to be very referred in paffing Sentence on the 
 Virtue of Women, 88. Intereft is .their governing 
 Paflion, 1 1 8. Themfelves are the Caufe of the little 
 Refpeft paid them, 156, 217. The Licence, Im- 
 modefty, &c. Of Women expofed, 156, 157. 
 Women impatient of being Rivaled in any Thing, 
 168, 198. TheMaggotry of fome Women who 
 delight in Diforder, 183. The modern Liberty of 
 Young Women, 206, 209. 'Tis natural for Women 
 to defire to pleafe, 218. Several Obfervations up- 
 on their Conduct, 218, &c. 
 
 World, the beft School to form the Mind, 7. That 
 School the fpeedieft Remedy againft Unpolitenefs 
 
 2 5 
 Words, accidently dropt, the Caufe of Mifchief, 42 
 
 208. Moft People have a favourite Word 131 
 
 Y. 
 
 YOung People Unpolite, 13. J ndifcreet in Talk- 
 ing too much, 40. See Pleafe. They are apt 
 to think themfelves capable of great Things 131 
 
 i ,liK i 
 
 . 
 
 F I N I S. 
 
 '- 
 ' 
 

 
 REFLECTIONS 
 
 UPON 
 
 RIDICULE; 
 
 O R, 
 
 What it is that makes a M A N Ridiculous, 
 and the MEANS to avoid it. 
 
 Wherein are Repiefented 
 
 The different MANNERS and CHARACTERS 
 of i'erfons of the pieftnt AGE. 
 
 In Two V o L u MRS. 
 VOL. II. 
 
 Politenefs. V f Comphifance. 
 
 Moiieft, Sentiments. ( o/'< ^ en ' ee ' Bihavimir. 
 
 Diicrt-tion, &c. \ / ^' nt r '' V< 
 
 MixJeraitun, i/. J C Maxims for Civil So: 
 
 icty. 
 
 By JEREMIAH COLLIER, A. M. 
 The SIXTH EDITION". 
 
 DUBLIN: 
 
 Printed by Oli. A^//;, at Milton s-Head in 
 L'.inn:i-'F^ MDCCLXIV.
 
 3 J i J 
 
 _JL w.fc. v --^ 
 
 
 -
 
 T O 
 
 Sir PHILIP SYDENHAM, 
 OF 
 
 B R I M P r N 
 
 IN THE 
 
 County of Somerfet^ Baronet, 
 
 THIS 
 
 TREATISE 
 
 Is Humbly Dedicated. 
 
 A 3 AD-
 
 VI Ci'"5 
 
 H H T 

 
 Advertifement 
 
 WHEN I pubHmed my Reflec- 
 tions upon Ridicule, and the 
 Means to avoid it ; Tome 
 Gentlemen, pretending to be good 
 Judges, found Fault with the Imper- 
 feflicn of the Work. They faid, I 
 had not executed all that the Title 
 promiled ; that I only had defcribed the 
 common Vices of Men, without fhew- 
 ing the Method of acquiring the op- 
 pofite Virtues. 
 
 I queftion whether this Accufafion 
 be well grounded, and their Criticifm 
 be reaibnable. I. (hould think a Man 
 had acquired a Virtue, when he avoid- 
 ed all the Imperfections repugnant to 
 it. Is it not to be Polite, Difcreer, 
 A 3 Genteel,
 
 Genteel, Regular, not to be guilty of 
 any of the Faults incurred through Im- 
 politenefs, Indifcretion, Sufficiency and 
 Extravagance. 
 
 I muft add, that moft of the Max- 
 ims I eflablifh, in expofing Vice and 
 Ridicule, declare what is- to be done 
 to avoid it, ard to obtain the oppofite 
 Virtue. When, for Example, I cen- 
 fure their Impertinence, who give no 
 Attention to thofe that fpeak to them r 
 is it not teaching them their Duty, to 
 fay, We muft do thoie that direct 
 *' their Difcourfe to us, the Honour 
 " to hear them, ard give them a per- 
 " tinent Anfwer? That Abundance of 
 ** People do manifeftly dtfcover their 
 " Diftraction of Thought, and the 
 44 Uneafinefs they are under : You fee 
 " in their Looks the Impatience they 
 e * have to leave you, and ho\v tired 
 " they are with your Difcourfe. In- 
 44 {lead of being attentive to what 
 *' you fay to them, they are only vi- 
 ** gilant to fpy out an Opportunity, to 
 '* defert you, without giving you Time 
 ' to finifh what you had begun to 
 *' fay. " So again, wlicn I blame their 
 
 Indifcretion,
 
 Jndifcretion, who filence a Man that 
 is fpeaking, to continue the Difcourfe 
 he has begun i and fay, " 'Tis an un- 
 " pardonable Incivrlity to interrupt the 
 " Relator of a Story ; that it is beuer 
 " to fuffer him to err in fome Circum- 
 " fiance of the Hiflory, than to rectify 
 " him, (unlefs he afk our Advice) or 
 " to fignify, that we knew long before, 
 " the News he is going to tell us : 
 " Why fhould we deny a Man the 
 " Pleafure of believing he informed us 
 " of (bmething we were ignorant of?" 
 I think nothing can be added to this 
 Maxim. 
 
 However, to content, if poflible, the 
 Perlons who have done me the Ho- 
 nour to advife me, I have thought fit 
 to write fomething upon Potitenefs : 
 Which is, as it were, the fecond Parr, 
 and a natural Confequence of the 
 Volume upon Ridicule. Man has fo 
 many Weaknefles to be reformed, and 
 fo many Vices to be extirpated, to 
 make him perfect, that we cannot too 
 often bring him to the Glafs, to mew 
 him his Extravagances. Did we take 
 the fame Pains to examine our own 
 
 Faults
 
 Faults as thofe of others, we mould at 
 lafl arrive to the juft Knowledge of our- 
 felves, and mould not be fo foolifhly 
 vain, as to think ourfelves moft ac- 
 complifhed, when perhaps we are moft 
 ridiculous : Or, if reading a Book of 
 Morals, reprefenting the Vices of Men, 
 we honeftly apply Things to ourfelves, 
 without leeking Refemblances to draw 
 the Pictures of this Man, or that Wo- 
 man j we fhould find Advantage in fo 
 profitable a Ledure. 
 
 You fee the End I propofed in treat- 
 ing upon Ridicule and Politeness Thofe 
 that will read this Book with a Refolu- 
 tion to do themfelves Juftice r and fe- 
 rioufly to fet about the correcting the 
 Vices I condemn,, when they diicover 
 them in my Dcfcriptions, will find in 
 it very ufeful Maxims, and learn what 
 is to be d,ne or avoided, to fucceed in 
 the Commerce of the World. 
 
 CON-
 
 ' 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 /"\F Politenefs, p. 2 
 Modeft Sentiments, 29 
 
 Difcretion andReferve, 58 
 
 ' 
 
 Moderation tnd Difintcreftcdnefs, 81 
 Complaifance, too 
 Genteel and Generous Behaviour, 115 
 Sincerity, .. 
 Maxims for Civil Society, 
 
 R E-
 
 ( * > 
 
 REFLECTIONS 
 
 P O N THE 
 
 Politenefs of Manners. 
 
 $ c{ - 
 
 
 W f T H 
 
 . .:2i 
 
 Of Politenefs. 
 
 f. ^ O define Politenefs, we may fay, it is all 
 Moral Virtues in Epitome : 'Tis a Com- 
 bination of Difcretion, Civility, Com- 
 *^ plaifance, and Circumfpeflion, to pay 
 every one the Refpefts they have a Right to demand 
 of us : And all this muft be drefs'd and fet off with an 
 agreeable and infinuating Air, diffufed thro 1 all our 
 Words and Actions. This Virtue confifts not merely 
 in Surface and Exterior, but mud have it's Principle 
 in the Soul, as being the Product of an accomplished 
 Mind, centring on itfelf, and Matter of it's Thoughts 
 
 and
 
 Reflexions upon Politenefe. 3 
 
 and WoJs ; that delights to do every Body Juftice, 
 and to lacrifice its own Intereft, rather than wound 
 thofe of another Man: A Mind fituated above 
 vul^a-- Reports ; neither Exc.ptious nor Diffi- 
 cult, nor requiring Explications of a Thing ever 
 fo littl-: ambiguoufly fpoken. Who fees not that this 
 denunds a ftiong Fund of Re fon, and great 
 Comme ce w.th the World; befides an exact 
 Knowledge of D,co urn. and of what every one 
 owes to his reffxc ivc Quality, duly to maintain 
 its Character a^ becomes him ? 
 
 It can't be denied, that Ptiiteneft is the moft 
 charming Thing for civil ^ociety : A Virtue, that 
 teaches us to bear with (he infirmities of Come, to en- - 
 dure patiently the Freaks anr 1 Extravagancies of 
 others : To enter into their Sentiments, in order to 
 fet toem right, by loft and infmuating Ways ; and 
 to gain an universal Good-liking, by a fincere De- 
 fire of pleafing. Under this View a Man puts on 
 all Appearances, and transforms himfeif into all 
 Shapes, the better to gain nis Point And tho' a 
 continued Complaifance to Perfons of a certain Cha- 
 ra&er, carries with it a great deal of Uneafinefs and 
 Conftraint, yet he conquers his Reluctance, and will 
 not be biaffed from his Road by their difguftiul Con- 
 duct. Be they never fo fantaftical, 'tis hard if they 
 are not won by thofe that cultivate their Humour 
 with fo much Patience an Affiduity. 
 
 Politenefs farther Inftrudls us to refufe the Incenfe 
 that is offered us, and to throw it liberally upon others, 
 by an ingenuous Acknowledgment of their Excel- 
 lencies and Accomplishments. Thus you fee the 
 Reafon why we tafte fo exquifite and delicate a 
 Pleafure in the Converfation of the Polite, who have 
 good Senfe and Reafon, and Complaifance and 
 Skill, to adapt themielves to our Tempers and 
 Underftandings. 
 
 'Tis no: common to find fo great a Confederacy 
 of Perfections ; and therefore 'us no wonder if the 
 
 Number
 
 4 Refteftion* upon Politenefs. 
 
 Number of the Polite be fo fmall. Women, who 
 are naturally more good-humoured, complaifant and 
 gracious, than Men, have alfo more Politenefs ; 
 and 'tis chiefly by our Commerce with them, we 
 Jearn to be Civil and Polite, through the Ambition we 
 have to pleafe them. 
 
 Polite Behaviour is what renders Merit amiable 
 and agreeable j and, on the contrary, the Want of 
 it deltroys the Efteem that is due to the finelt 
 Qualities. Some are obferved to have a very particu- 
 lar Talent a.: expofing others to Ridicule, aud giting 
 new Heightnings to their Impertinences ; but this 
 Faculty is very oppofite ;o Polittnefi, which keeps 
 fair with all People, and ever finds Arguments to 
 falve their Cotiduft, or at leaft to juftify their In- 
 tentions. The Polite have alto a wonderful Addrefs 
 at entring into the TaAe and Genius of People, by 
 taking the Height and Elevation of their Under- 
 ftandings, and .adminiftring Occafions of difplaying 
 their Parts; as being lefs add'cled to fhine in Con- 
 verfation, by drawing it wholly to themfelves, but 
 to kt others (hew themielves, and have their Share of it. 
 
 Many pafs for Foli'-e, who have but a fuperficial 
 Tin&ure of this Virtue, concealing themfelvei under 
 the dazzling Plumage of a borrowed Exterior ; but 
 no fooner you convene with them, than you eafily 
 perceive the Hypocnfy of this Counterfeit Politenefs. 
 As long as you applaud them, make all Conceffions 
 they defire, and give them no Kind of Diilurbarice, 
 they are good-natured, obliging, and complaifant 
 Sorts of People; and you would tal<e them for Pat- 
 terns of Good-Breeding : But the leaft Difguft you 
 givethem, or a Reverence perhaps forgotten, unhinges 
 tae Machine, throws off the Mafic, and (hews them 
 in their Original. You fee them exclaim, and tofs, 
 and ftorm, and throw out in hundred Impertinences ; 
 forgetting the Part they a&ed, and the Viitor they 
 had put on : Which whimfical Unevennefs of Tem- 
 oer, makes them confulered with Contempt. 
 
 When
 
 Reflections upon PoliteneCs. 5 
 
 When you accoft Ftontin, he feigns the Well- 
 natured and Agreeable : He ofFers you, with an Air 
 of Zeal, unrequf fled Services ; he tries you with his 
 Carefles and Embraces : But the leaft Word dropped 
 againft his Opinions, or his Interefts, fires him like 
 Gunpowder, and you come off well, if you efcape 
 only with ill Names and Abufes. 
 
 There's no great Strefs therefore to be laid upon 
 this fuperficial Politenefs, which confifts merely in 
 certain concerned and affecled Ways ; it ought to be 
 well roo:ecl in the Heart, and founded upon 
 timents- Moll Men content them ierves \\i:i. - ,ng 
 Appearances ; their curn-at L.OIU i.. goo - Look-. s.hu 
 Inflexion of the Voice, a G<.-ilu r e and a Smile. -.'uch 
 as prncLate no far.htr, are uazz'ed with this Gild- 
 ing ; I '' ill hir -vcarsoffin a long-fpun Converlation ; 
 and L^-. .iioi,:. Contradictions, l-itereir., dutovcr the 
 falfe Metal of this counterfeit P-.lite.te/s. 
 
 The Politesufs I fpeak of, confiits not in Gri- 
 maces ; but is a Quality of the Soul, and ferves to re- 
 gulate her Motions. We fometimes obferve the 
 bafeft People to have the beft Appearances imagina- 
 ble, others have goou Meanings under an ill-com- 
 pofed Outlide, and a carelefs and forbidding De- 
 meanour. 
 
 Men fometimes fondly flatter themfelves that they 
 are wonderful Polite, becaufe they live with People 
 that cultivate and refpecl them ; that have an impli- 
 cit Complaifance for them, and dare not difoblige or 
 contradifl them in any Thing. The Way to know 
 themfelves, would be to fall fometimes into the 
 Hands of the (hatter-brained, the Clowns, and the 
 ill-bred ; and be obliged to comport with their Ca- 
 prices and ill-Humour. That's the Touchitone of 
 Politenefs. If we have a fufFicient Fund of Com- 
 plaifance, to bear with their Frolicks and Maggotirr, 
 without venting any Symptoms of Impatience or 
 Animofity; if we ufe them gently in their Paflior.s, 
 and anfwer not their Extravagancies in the fame Tone ; 
 
 VOL. IF. B we
 
 6 Refleclions upon Politenefs. 
 
 v e may from hence conclude, that our Politenefo is 
 not hypocritical. 
 
 There's a vaft Difference betwixt true Politenefs, 
 and thofe little mimicking Affectations the finical 
 Ladies put on, to give themfelves'an Air of Diftincti- 
 on. Their ftudied Grimaces, and affected Meins, 
 with the pretended Delicacy they afTurne, tickle rati- 
 onal People with Laughter. Lucctte thinks to fet 
 up for Coynefs, by anfwering in a filly and negligent 
 Tone, to all the Queftions that are afked of her : Her 
 continual Affectations make the whole Syftem of her 
 Politenefs: She cries out upon .the leaft Accident that 
 happens to her, as if fhe were ruined, or her Life 
 was in Danger. She fancies a Cold as contagious as 
 the Small-Pox; and you give her a fenfible Mortifi- 
 cation, if you cough in her Prefence. 
 
 Is it not to be thought more Polite and Well-bred, 
 that the Women are grown fo tractable and conde- 
 fcending of late ? Do they fear they mould be lefs 
 amiable, if they had a greater Dofe of Pride ? 1 af- 
 fure them, it is not by thefe affected Flatteries, that 
 they will fix the Inconltancy of Men. They fhould 
 ftudy to merit their Efteem, which is attainable only 
 by Referve. This careffing Way, which opens their 
 Arms to embrace every Body ; this exceflive Solici- 
 tude to be admired, and have the Crowd at their 
 Feet, is an Obftacle to their being refpected by Men 
 as they deferve. 
 
 Poiitenefs demands an exquifite Knowledge of it's 
 Duties, and a punctual Fidelity to discharge them. 
 A Man muft conftrain himfelf and bridle his Tem- 
 per, becaufe he will find himfelf continually engaged 
 with Perfons of moil difficult Converfe : He muft 
 have great Confideration for their Weakneffes, and 
 pretend to fubmit to their Opinions. Be they never 
 fo fantaftical, they have one Side that is practicable, 
 whereby you may take them and conduct them to the 
 Point you defire ; at leaft you will have no Subject of 
 
 Reproach
 
 Reflexions upon Politencfs. 7 
 
 Reproach againft you if you cannot over-rule the Ob- 
 llinacy of their Natures. 
 
 Do not think you are entitled to the Character of 
 Polittnefs, by rendering every one their due, unleis 
 you do it in a free and eafy Manner, and without a 
 certain Constraint, which has always an ill Grace. 
 This Freedom is infinitely becoming, and gives a 
 Luftre to the moft trifling Things ; whereas the Stiff- 
 nefs and Conftraint of tho/e Perfons that are all of a 
 Piece, has conftantly an ill Effect, and blafts Part or 
 their. Merit. 
 
 People naturally fweet-tempered and Polite, have 
 no more to do but to give the Reins to their Inclina- 
 tion : But Potitenefs is not always born with them ; 
 being a Thing that requires Practice, Experience, Ap- 
 plica.ion and Study. 
 
 The Reflections we make upon the Impertinences 
 of others, help us to correct our own ; and are of 
 mighty Ufe to fleer our Conduct on nice Occafions, 
 wherein we might eafily forget ourfelves, but for this 
 Afiiftance. 'Tis the moft agreeable Gate to make an 
 happy Entrance into the World; 'tis that which 
 gives the firft Flower of Reputation, which fcatters a 
 flagrant Odour upon all the Parts of Life. 
 
 The great Secret confiits in making ourfelres re- 
 liQied by thofe People we converfe with : It requires 
 Judgment to conjecture thei prefent Difpofuion, and 
 to enter into their Character. But 'tis utterly impcl- 
 iible, \vi:h all the Delicacy of Wit, and Flexibility 
 of Temper, to fuit one's feif to all the Humours of 
 fome People. However, we ought not to enilavc 
 ourfelves to their Caprices, nor renounce common 
 Senfe by ftriking in with their particular Tafte, when 
 it is depraved. 
 
 Perfons of too rigid and unpardoning Tempers, 
 
 commonly treipafs upon the Laws of Politencft ; 
 
 others, affecting an excefiive Complaiiance, and who 
 
 are ever of ths Opinion of thofe they talk with, 
 
 B 2 grow
 
 8 Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 grow naufeous and infipid. Complaifance is in- 
 finitely taking in Converfation, but it ought to be well 
 managed. A genteel Liberty, that has nothing too 
 baughty or too biting, awakens the Converfe, and 
 gives it a Sort of delightful Poignancy. 
 
 A Man is not fecure of pleafing with a great Wit, 
 excellent Talents, and majeftick Carriage ; but 
 there's no withftanding the Charms of tine Pdite- 
 nejs. The Polite make themselves univerfally court- 
 ed by their Complaifance. They know when 'tis 
 proper to yield, and how to wind and infinuate them- 
 felves into thole they converie with ; aud to excufe 
 the Bluntnefs and Extravagancies that efcape them. 
 As Men naturally afflcT: Pre-eminence, they are in- 
 fenfibly won by the Polite, who fubmit to that afpi- 
 ring Temper. ThL is an Habit in oft difficult ;o at- 
 tain ; and when once a Man has fixed upcn this con- 
 xlefcending Courfe, he muft be fure to lay in ;, great 
 .Stock of Docility, becaufe he will every wheie find 
 a fort of fantaftick and crabbed People, who will put 
 his Patience to the niceft Tefts. 
 
 There are certain Circumftances wherein Politenefs 
 makes it requifite to underrtand Raillery ; as a good 
 Means to avoid Differences, and preferve a IVIan's 
 Repofe : On the contrary, 'tis a falfe Delicacy to be 
 difturbed on Occafions that are beneath our Notice. 
 "When the Raillery is innocent, and turns upon in- 
 different Subjects, it muft be brutifli to take fire, and 
 to complain of it. If it be too catting, 'tis enough 
 to fignify that we feel it. If the Drolling Perfon 
 after this purfues his Jeft, it manifefts he is a Wretch 
 that is defe&ive in Brain and Breeding. I have feen 
 Clarinda put herfelf in a Paffion, becaule fhe was 
 told me made an atikward Curtfey, and entered a 
 Room with an ill Grace. Thofe that rallied her upon 
 that Score, did it without the leaft Defign of affront- 
 ing her ; and inftead of making a Quarrel of it, as 
 fhe did, fhe ought to have thanked them for the Ad- 
 vice they gave her. 
 
 Tis
 
 Reflections upon Politenefs. 9 
 
 'Tis certain we have too commonly jufl Occafions 
 to complain of People's ill Demeanour ; but if \ve 
 rigoroufly aflerl this Right, we mult take leave of the 
 Commerce of the World. The better Way is, art- 
 fully to difTcmble fome Incivilities have been offered 
 us, or a fuppofed Neglect we have received. 'Tis a 
 fuffkient Recompence that the Fault lies at the Offen- 
 der's Door, and that the World does us Juftice. If 
 you demand a rigorous Satisfaction, or take it out in 
 Reproaches and Abufes, befides lofing the Eileem 
 would be paid you, and which Polite People rarely 
 fail of beflowing, you will deprive yourfelf of ano- 
 ther much fweeter Satisfaction, which is felt when a 
 Man deals genteelly with another, in return for his 
 difobliging Carriage. 
 
 The punctilious Delicacy of fome People that are 
 difturbed at every Thing, proceeds from a ridiculous 
 Pride, that fwells their Hearts : Be you ever fo afli- 
 duous in your Refpefts to them, they think you have 
 never done enough. Nay, tho 1 you go beyond the 
 Bounds that Decorum and Civility prefcribe, they 
 are not yet content. The fhorteft Method with Per- 
 fons of this Character, is to break off all Correfpon- 
 dence with them ; for if you ufe Complaifance to 
 them, they'll treat you as a Slave, and make no 
 Acknowledgement of all the Services you have done 
 them. 
 
 The little Differences that now and then happen, 
 occafion great Breaches upon Politenefs, through the 
 ill Difcourfe and imprudent Proceedings we lall into. 
 If a Quarrel happen to arife, the only Way is to 
 fupprefs it the fame Day ; for the longer we defer it, 
 the more rancorous our Spleen grows, and the lefs 
 capable we are of Recovery. 
 
 Is it not better, think you, fometimes to yield, 
 than always obftinately toconteft a Thing? Moft of 
 the Matters difputed on, are not worth the while, 
 and we do but expofe our ill Humour On the moil 
 frivolous Occafionj. If exceptious and quarrel fome 
 B 3 People
 
 io Reflections upon Poliienefs. 
 
 People were but fenfible how troublefome and intole- 
 rable they are, they would perhaps apply them- 
 felves lo the Correcting a Vice which is every Body's 
 Torment. It cannot be called Living, to fpend our 
 Lives with People that are continually fnarling, with- 
 out knowing for what Reafon. 
 
 Tell me, what Occafion can you have purpofely 
 to difoblige People ? Is it fo delightful a Thing to vex 
 and affront them for a Jeft ? This Liberty you take, 
 privileges them to treat you after the fame Manner, 
 and aniwer you in the fame Strain. Thus Converia- 
 tion grows commonly difagreeable, by the fmart Re- 
 parteeb which are made to provoking Expreffions. 
 
 'Tis farther trefpaffing upon Politenffs, to be con- 
 tinually fpeaking ill of every Body, and running 
 down all Perfons of Merit. There are People whofe 
 Heads are of fo (curvy Turn, (whether they do it 
 Out of Ill-nature, or judge of others by themfelves, I 
 won't determine) as to give the worft Conftrudion to 
 the moft innocent and regular Actions ; rendring 
 them fufpected by the Poifon they mix with them, 
 and criminal by their Addition of falfe Circumftan- 
 -ces. This commonly proceeds from a fecret Pafllon 
 of mifchieving thofe they do not love ; and the fame 
 Principle puts them upon Enquiry into every Thing 
 that may give the"m Trouble. One would think, 
 Aminta had an infpired Knowledge of all the moft 
 particular and fecret Tranfaftions of a Family : When 
 Fadls are wanting, (he invents extempore Stories, and 
 has the Art of embellilhing them with fuch Circum- 
 ilance-, as deceive the moft Judicious, and perfuade 
 the moft Incredulous. Her Diary is full of nothing 
 but fcandalous Adventures ; for (he never fpeaks well 
 of any Body herfelf, nor fuffers it to be done by 
 others : To flop their Mouths fhe ha? always a 
 Satyr ready at Hand, which fhe vents with a malici- 
 ous and envenomed Pleafure. Is not this a pretty 
 Character ? 
 
 Tis
 
 Reflections upon Politenefs. 1 1 
 
 'Tis a Rule never to difoblige any Boly ; but 
 when we have unfortunately given an Offence, we 
 ought to make all the neceffary Advances we can to 
 oblige the Perfon to forget it : This is one of thofe 
 Things the World is moft defeftive in. Whether it 
 be Modefty, or Fride, or Shame to confefs we are in 
 the Wrong; or a Refolution not to move a Step to- 
 wards pacifying People ; every one ftands upon his 
 Punctilio's, and refolves rather to break off all Com- 
 merce, or lofe a Friend with whom he has always 
 had a fair Underflanding, than honeftly to own his 
 Fault, and repent of his ill Treatment. Is it fo 
 painful a Thing, or would a Man think himfelf dif- 
 honouied to fpeak a civil Wor'd, or make the nrft 
 Bow? 
 
 What I am moft at a Lofs to comprehend, is Mens 
 harm and diibbliging Way of living with one ano- 
 ther. They have a Kind of Wildnefs that renders 
 them unt r ac\able ; one knows not how to accoft them 
 or on what Side to lay hold of tnem, being perfect 
 Porcupines in every Part. How many Compares 
 mull -.va fetch ? How many Soothings muft we ufe, 
 to treat wi.h them on the leaft Affair ? Is it not a very 
 exquifite Pleafure, to be able to oblige People, and 
 be ufeful to them iir fornewhat ? Is it poffible Men 
 fliould renounce all Sentiments of Humanity ? 
 
 'Tis a wretched Character that of fome People, 
 who explore, with a malicious Curiofity, whatever 
 others do, to cenfure it. Nothing can efcape the 
 Viv.icity of their jealous Eyes, nor the Ran- 
 their envenomed Tongues : Thefe Creatures are the 
 Bane and Terror of Mankind and of Civil So- 
 ciety. 
 
 There's nothing more diametrically oppofi-e to 
 Politenefs, than Slander : If the Women, that are 
 moft addifted to this Vice, were capable of reflect- 
 ing how burdenfome they render themfelves by it ta 
 reafonable People ; they would not be fo forward ta 
 aft fo fcandalous a Part. The Balenefs of their Flat- 
 B 4 terers
 
 32 Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 terers animates them in it ; but worthy Perfons de- 
 fpife them not the lefs for the Suffrages of Fools. 
 That which gives me an high Idea of .Aricia\ Merit, 
 is, that fhe cannot bear to have any one flandered in 
 her Prefence : She has a thoufand Artifices to drop 
 the Difcourfe, when it turns upon Obloquy, or elie 
 to divert it. If the Scandal-mongers are Perfons of a 
 Rank above her, fhe lets it appear by her difTatisfied 
 Countenance, and her Silence, that the Subject is un- 
 grateful j and fhe never wants Reafons to juftify 
 thofe that are accufed. 
 
 Perfons elevated by their Rank and Dignities, 
 nflume great Liberties, with refpeft to their Inferiors ; 
 nevertheless, they ought always to be upon their 
 Guard, that they do not mortify any one whatever 
 with too {mart Railleries. Their Quality is no Dif- 
 pecfation from Politenefs. The Contempt they ex- 
 prefs for otjiers, makes lafling Impreffions on their 
 Souls : A Sally of Paffion, or an Extravagance, is 
 forgiven ; but Raillery in cool Blood, which is a lign, 
 of Difcfteem, is never pardoned. 
 
 The firft Thought that prefents itfelf, when we 
 jneet People whom we think we have reafon to com- 
 plain of, who have done us ill Offices, or talked of us 
 difrefpedfully, is to tax them openly with their ill 
 Demeanour, and that in fevere and opprobrious 
 Terms ; whereby we fall into the fame Fault we con- 
 demn in them. If it be proper to let them know 
 they have injured us, it ought to be done in a gentle 
 and infiiiuating Manner j without Noife, or Bitter- 
 nefs. or Rage, or the lead Deviation from the Rules 
 of Politenefs. A Man that can prevail with him- 
 felf in this, and has futficient Command of his Re- 
 ientinents, to moderate them in fo nice a Conjecture, 
 has greater Strength of Mind than the Generality 
 of People have, who moft commonly fall violently 
 upon the Occafions of Difcontent they think are 
 given them. 
 
 Thofe
 
 Reflexions upon Polite nefs. 13 
 
 Thofe that break off' a long continued Friendfhip, 
 fall fouled upon one another ; as if the Conteft 
 wa;, v> ho would fpeak moft 111 to juftify his Con- 
 dud, and DC acquitted by the Publick. Experience 
 fumcviuly p OVPS, thai the mod violent Haired flames 
 out bs-twixt Perlons that were the greateft Friends, 
 when once they come to cnange their Minds. The 
 Motive:, or their Love now join with thofe of their 
 Hatred to in\ igorate the Paiuon. 
 
 'Tis want of Politenefs to divulge Secrets upon 
 a Rupture, uhich were committed to you during 
 the Courfe of an eftabliflied Friendship. This In- 
 difcretion is ofcen the Occafion of great Quarrels, 
 and a Provocation to unlucky Reproaches. They 
 that are thus betrayed, have juft Reafon to com- 
 plain of thofe that piay them thefe 111 Turns; and 
 have, moreover a fair Pretence for defpifing them ; 
 for this is a \Veaknefs that is only pardonable in 
 Women, who have not always a retentive Faculty. 
 A Secret intrufted to them, is an heavy Burden 
 which they can't long bear, before they eafe them- 
 felves of it. Tell not Ardelifa, when you intruil 
 her with any Affair, that you engage her to Se- 
 crecy ; that one Circumftance makes it impoffible 
 for her to keep it : The Impatience flie will be in 
 to leave you, proceeds only from an Itch to di- 
 vulge what you have confided to her, which fhe 
 relates, from beginning to end, to the next Perfon 
 fne meets : This fomewhat refembles thofe that have 
 Fire dropped on their Hands, which they will make 
 the utmcft Hafte to make off. 
 
 One of the moll tirefome Things in Converfa- 
 fation, and which is ieaft avoided, are Repetitions ; 
 for we have no Relifh of what we have heard be- 
 fore : But 'tis much worfe, when People relate with 
 an Emphafis, and give out for Novelties, what our 
 Ears are tired witn. Merhinics it fhould be eafy 
 to obferve, from the Manner of the Reception, 
 that the Narrative is difagreeablc : But the Pleafure 
 B 5 People
 
 14 Reflections upon Polite nefe. 
 
 People take in talking, and' being the Chair-men 
 in Converfation, prevents their perceiving the Ttedium 
 they give their Hearers. 
 
 Difcourfe relating to the Court, to great Men, 
 and Perfons diftinguifhed by their Employs, or Births, 
 is not fo apt to tire ; for as Men are naturally cu- 
 rious, Things fublime and extraordinary give a 
 Whet to their Curiofity ; whereas thofe that are 
 trivial, feem infipid and unworthy their Applica- 
 tion : They therefore that are fond of talking, and 
 defire to be heard with Pleafure, ought to feek 
 Subjects proper to regale the Curiofity of others, 
 and always keep them in Expectation. Alizon did 
 not the other Day obferve this Rule in all its Cir- 
 cumftances, when fhe vifited her good Friend Ariana, 
 who had then with her three Dukes, and five or fix 
 "Women of the firft Quality. Allzcn who is the Wife 
 of a Magiftrate, was no fooner feated in her elbow 
 Chair, but (he wholly monopolized the Converfaticn, 
 which fhe turned into a fort of Dialogue between 
 herfelf and a Daughter flie had brought along with 
 her. This fine Difcourfe was fpent in Queftions 
 and Anfwers, wherein the reft of the Company had 
 no Share but for a Recompence, they learned how 
 many Children fhe had ; that her eldeft Son was at 
 School, and was the Captain of his Clafs j and that 
 her Huir-and had fix Dozen of laced Shirts. Was 
 ever fuch Impertinence as this ? The poor Ari- 
 ana fweat at every Pore for the Folly of her 
 Friend, who at the fame Time was not fenfible 
 that every Body laughed at her. She did all fhe 
 could to break off the Converfation, but the other 
 would not be induced to interrupt the Thread of 
 fo fine a Hiftory. 
 
 The Defire People ha\ r e to fpeak to fhew their 
 Parts, makes their Want of Judgment obferved, by 
 the Impertinent Difcourfes they hold before Perfons 
 of Senfe and Tafte. A Man conceited of his Me- 
 rit, and who thinks himfelf Handfouie and finely 
 
 ftiaped,
 
 Reflections upon Politenefs. 15 
 
 fhaped, talks of nothing but his kind Miftreffes, 
 which he does with that affurance, as if the .Com- 
 pany believed, or were interefted in what he delivers. 
 A Man of the Sword, gives Particulars of all the 
 Opportunities he has had to fignalize his Courage ; 
 and tells the Names of all the Enemies he has bea- 
 ten : Others inform you of the great Treats they 
 have made or given, and feldom fail of making a 
 Panegyrick on their Cook j nay, exaftly enumerate 
 all the Bottles of Chatnpain they drank. Difcourfes 
 of this Nature, are ftrangely naufeous to thofe 
 who have no Curiofity to be acquainted with 
 fuch Trifles. 
 
 The moft exquifite and poignant Pleafure that 
 can be tafted by refined Perfons, is that of Con 
 verfation ; but then they fhou'd be very circum- 
 fpeft in the Choice of thofe they convcrfe with: 
 Great Companies are fatiguing, where we can only 
 talk of general Things, which are neverthelefs molt 
 commonly tirelome, and intereft no Body in them : 
 And yet, moil are taken with the Crowd ; a cer- 
 tain Sign of their ill Tafte ; or elfe diftruft them- 
 felves, and think they are not able to bear up in 
 a fingle Match. They fhould likewife be on their 
 Guard againft a falfe Delicacy, which meets with 
 no Body to it's liking ; they ought not to flatter 
 themfelves, that they fliall find People univerfally 
 pleafmg ; Uis enough for Converfation that they have 
 fome Agreements. 
 
 In a numerous Company, the Converfation can 
 only proceed upon indefinite Subjefts ; News, cur- 
 rent Reports and fuch-like Trifles, neither meriting 
 to be fpoken nor heard. No wonder then that Men 
 of Senfe and Tafte don't find their Account in ir, 
 and depart unfatisfied. However they ought not 10 
 fhew their Squeamifhnefs, nor let their Difcontenc 
 appear ; that Delicacy would be affrontive to the 
 Company, as fignifying their Contempt of it, and 
 good Opinion of themfelves. 
 
 A
 
 1 6 Reflexions upon Politenefs. 
 
 A Man that fets up for a Polite Speaker, unlefs 
 lie takes great Care, grows impertinent and tirefome, 
 by his over-much Caution in rne Choice of Words ; 
 whilft every Body fuffers by the Coiiftraint he puts 
 pon himfelf The Generality of Things that make 
 up Converfation, ought to be fimply exprefled and 
 wichout many Words ; a Man ought not to torture 
 himfelf to give a Clinch of Wit, much lefs fondly 
 hug himfelf when he has faid any Thing fine 
 and delicate, that excites the Applaufes of the 
 Company. 
 
 If the Talk in Conversation feems Trifling and 
 childifh, take no Notice of it ; neither caft a pity- 
 ing Look on the Authors of fuch Impertinences. 
 How would you have Women entertain themfelves, 
 if you deny them a little tittle tattle ? But be their 
 Difcourfes never fo trifling, condefcend to anfwer 
 them, whithout fear of demeaning yourfelf, or debafmg 
 that profound Erudition you think you are Matter of. 
 jlrifto is one of the Company, yet none of the Con- 
 verfation ; he gives no Attention to what is faid ; 
 if he opens his Lips, 'tis only to criticife on a Word 
 inadvertently dropped, or that does not pleaf him. 
 He talks fometimes of things fo fublime and out of 
 the Way, that no Body can underftand him. This 
 pompous emblazoning of Science, with Defign to 
 dazzle, makes him but confidered as a troubldome 
 Pedant. Men are made for Society, therefore the 
 Principle of all the Sciences, is that which teaches 
 how to live. What is {hocking and offenfive iu 
 the Learned, is, that they are not always the 
 genteeleft People in the World ; and are generally 
 deficient in Pditenefs and Complaifance : They think 
 they are obliged, by dint of Argument, to maintain 
 all the Proportions they advance, and to bring every 
 Body over to their Opinion. 
 
 One of the moft common Faults in Converfation, is, 
 that no Body will yield to another's Opinion, but 
 reckon it a Point of Hoaour to defend their own, even 
 
 in
 
 Reflections upon Politenefs. 1 7 
 
 in Trifles v, ita a StirTnef- amounting to obftina- 
 cy No me wbai you e^e like to gain by it, 
 
 \ chimerical Point, which is rhe Object of 
 
 your D:i~pute ; ihail be TV \- you ? Tiiey leave you 
 exasperated, and are ;h. i^ieives enrage-' againt! you; 
 . a little Oomplaifance might have won \ou 
 every Body's Aflefiic.. and Liceem. 
 
 Infult not, nor deipife a worthy Man, tho' he be 
 fallen in;o Difgrace and ill handled by Fortune ; nei- 
 ther applaud a Fool, tho' he be never fb riehand opu- 
 lent ; nor whatever Afliflanccs y^u might expert from 
 his Intereft and Poft. This is .' LefTon of great Im- 
 portance, but ill praftifed. ehoiu Agatbon; fee with 
 what Haughtinefs and Contenip- he treats Arjennus y 
 the molt worthy Man in Englard, the Politej], wit- 
 tied, and moft agieeable Company : But he is not rich, 
 and is moreover out of Place. Yet obfcr ve what Com- 
 p'aifance, what Refpeft and Submiflion the fame Aga- 
 tbon pays to Bete/:, who is r.everthelefs a Coxcomb, 
 whole Father and Grandfather were not known, and 
 who is the firft Man of his Family : But he is rich, 
 and in Authority ; he difpofes of Employs and 
 Pofts by Sea and Land, which are the Fountains of 
 Wealth and Plenty. Bafe mercenary Souls ! There's 
 your Idol, make your Court to him; ftoop to the 
 moftfhameful and fervile Compliances, to infinuate in- 
 to his Favour : What matters it, if you vilify and de- 
 grade yourfelves to Beafts and Slaves, provided it be 
 in the way to Riches. 
 
 'Tis not from a Spirit of Polltenefs, that fome 
 People are fo courtly and obliging, but rather from 
 a mercenary '! emper ; and were not Men dull of Ap- 
 preh"nfion, they might eafily perceive their Defigns, 
 and would make no reckoning of that Profeffion of 
 hyperbolical Praifes. Miftruft a Man that flatters 
 you : Either he has already deceived you, or defigns 
 to do it : Swallow not the Incenfe he offers you ; 'tis 
 only a Snare to entrap you, which vain People run 
 headlong into. 
 
 Tis
 
 1 8 Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 'Tis the unhappinefs of thofe that are born to a mo- 
 derate Fortune, 10 be expofed to the Contempt and In- 
 fults of the Great, and Men that have got Eftates ; 
 and this becaufe they often abufe the Authority and 
 Power that Riches gave them. Polite Perfons exprefs 
 no Contempt for thofe beneath thtm, but on the con- 
 trary, {both them with civil and careffing Language-. 
 This obliging Procedure attracts the Efleem, and wins 
 the Hearts of all the World. That which gains Ali- 
 dor fo general an Efleem, is his not appearing haughty 
 on account of his Quality, great Birth, Bravery, or 
 perfonal Merits. He never brow-beats thofe that have 
 any Thing to controvert with him ; and is of eafy Ac- 
 cefs, and Addrefs to all Perfons of whatever Cha- 
 racters. He fends them ftill away charmed with his 
 Civilities and obliging Offers, and thro' fuch Polittncjs 
 wins the Hearts of all. 
 
 That -which moftdiftinguifhes thePo/ite from other 
 Men, is, that even and eafy Conduct they obferve in 
 all the different Conjunctures they meet, whatever fort 
 of People they have to deal with. They are not 
 eafily difturbed at thofe Occafions of Dilturbance, 
 which are continually thrown in their Way. They 
 make as if they did not fee and hear all that is faid 
 and done. They know how to yield feafonably to 
 divert the Storm ; and allow fomething to the Extra- 
 vagances and Caprices of thofe they have to do with : 
 Whereas an unpolite Man, little practiced in the 
 World, is always complaining of the ill Proceedings 
 of other People. He brutifhly throws them in their 
 Teeth, without any regard to Decorum; he torments 
 himfelf about Trifles, and heigthens the leaft Pecca- 
 dillo's and Occaflon* for fpleen, into unpardonable 
 Crimes : In fhort, he difturbs his own Repofe, 
 and that of other Men. 
 
 The Neceffity of a Man's Affairs, or of hisProfef- 
 fion or Emplo) ment, often obliges him to do an hund- 
 red Things that diipleale People : But he muft endea- 
 vour to foften their Refentments with fair Words. If 
 
 unlucky
 
 Reflections upon Politenefs, 19 
 
 unlucky Conjunctures engage you whether you will or 
 not, to make fuch Steps as others have no reafon to 
 be content uith ; your Politenefs muft help to juftify 
 the Sincerity of your Intentions, by giving them to 
 underftand, it is neither out of a Frolick nor Ill-hu- 
 mour; nor thro' a Defire to difoblige them by a pre- 
 meditated Defign, that you take this Method. 
 
 'Tis aMifery in Life, to be acquainted and converfe 
 with rough-hewn and untrattable People, who have 
 ever fome Occafion or other for quarrelling with you 
 upon the leaft Trifles. Jf they are Perfons whom you 
 refpect, and ought to keep fair with, you muft obferve 
 Meafures, and ufe Artifices to break ofF fo troublefome 
 a Correfpondence ; but this without wounding the 
 Rules of Politenefs or giving Manifeft Occafions for 
 Complaint. You muft fee them as feldom as poffible ; 
 you muft dexteroufly avoid them j without letting them 
 perceive you mun them : At other times, you may 
 excufe yourfelf upon prefiing Bufmefs, that can't 
 be deferred to another Opportunity. By this Means 
 you'll difufe them from feeing you, and by degrees 
 be delivered from their importunate Vifits. 
 
 There is no hope of finding, in the Commerce of 
 this World, any perfeft and accomplifhed People. 
 Every one has his Infirmities ; and we muft excufe 
 or diffemble Faults, when they are not attended with 
 unhappy Confequences. Allow others the fame Indul- 
 gence you yourfelf would expecl from them. 'Tis 
 unpardonable ill Breeding to exaggerate a Fault, and 
 give Confufion to the Perfon guilty of it. Is he not 
 fufficiently punifhed by the Shame and Indignation 
 which refults from his Folly ? 
 
 When you are obliged to keepCompany with People 
 deftitute of Politenefs and Complaifance, who afFeft 
 to infult and contradict you at every Turn, you can't 
 help -feeling the Emotions ?f Indignation and Difdain, 
 and your Blood rifes at the very Sight of them. Per- 
 fuade yourfelf, that thefe Vices, if you are guilty of 
 them, have the fame Effeft upon others ; and that 
 
 they'll
 
 2O Reflefiions upon Politenefs. 
 
 they'll no iiiore pardon I'lt-rn in you uun you par- 
 don 'ei.i in :i,em. 
 
 'Tis 'Jefect of pc,'t ;:/' M k-L W^'mv/i perc/.ve 
 the Indifference or CJu-niijf v/ AaAe&r (jjfi Ry 
 this y-A 1 c,u'te UH'7i t.- i liK-f/MnJ //iey arv /, /d -~r 
 hanciiMue trr ainL>Je, anJ fa t<. jtuin '.,>,- ,oft 
 Ideas, t:xu >. v ; , oiv'y rfjitcr ineir Se'i-1 ve Why 
 fhouid yu tell ti^t/a, to hei Face, thai ihe is of 'he 
 wiong Side of Forty , fhe every where prod. .in: fhe 
 is but rour and Twenty ; the White and Red which 
 flie difpofes with Art and Nicenefb, new vamp the 
 Decays of her Face, and fervc her in fit ad of real 
 Charms. She comforts herfelf whilft flie oeholds, 
 in her GlalS; the Vivacity of her Complexion, which 
 fhe neverthelefi conltantly buys of the honeft Milliner. 
 
 'Tis not true Politenejs, that of certain People, who 
 promife their Intereft and good Offices to all Cor~er : 
 They depend upon their Words, but the O a fion 
 manifefts the Vanity of their Promifes. People are 
 not to be amufed with fruitlefs Carcffes, when the 
 Pofture of their Affairs demands effential Services. 
 They would be much more obliged to you, if you 
 told them plainly, you were incapable of doing for 
 them, what they defire of you j for then they would 
 take other Meafures. 
 
 Men love not to do one another Juflice : Being un- 
 affefted with the good Qualities of their Rivals, they 
 are only attentive to find out their Infirmities. They 
 ftill contemplate them on their worft Sides, and re- 
 fufe them their Efteem for the leaft Imperfection they 
 can difcover in them, tho' otherwife they have ve- 
 ry efteemablc Talents. 
 
 Some People fet up for Politenefsy by carefling 
 equally all Mankind, and paying Civilities to the 
 firlt Comer, tho' they hardly know his Name. They 
 make Offers of Service with the fame Warmth, to 
 a Coxcomb, as to a Man of Honour; but there they 
 Hop, and make no farther Advances, either for one 
 or the other. What do they mean by thefe prottitu- 
 ted Compliments and CarefTes ? 
 
 Whatever
 
 Reflections upon Politenefs. 21 
 
 "Whatever Advances you make for Perfons of a 
 certain Chara&er, they (till find one Reafon or other 
 to blame and cenfure you. In vain you ftudy to 
 pleafe them ; you will never fmooth their rugged 
 Foreheads : When you have exceeded all they could 
 reasonable expeft from your Complaifance, they are 
 friJl unfatibfied : Nay, what is yet more odd and 
 \vhimfical, they are fo rude as to complain of your 
 Indifference, and the little Zeal you exprefs to do 
 them Service ; whereas if you require from them 
 the leaft Part of what you have done on their Behalfs, 
 they would think you unfufferable. 
 
 In communicating Secrets, we mould not bring un- 
 der that Name Trifles, confidered as Myfteries. "Pis 
 derogatory to good Senfe to over-rate fuch Affairs as 
 defer ve not fo much as a bare Attention ; but 'tis 
 importuning our Friends to give them Nothings under 
 the Seal of Secrecy, which are not worth the Hear- 
 ing. 
 
 'Tis eafier to find Men of Parts and Learning, 
 than fuch as are Polite and Agreeable. The Reafon is, 
 Science is contracted in the College by dint of Read- 
 ing and Study, to which nothing is wanting but Eyes 
 and Ears, and a moderate Genius ; but Politenefs is 
 not to be obtained but by the Commerce of Polite 
 People : Nor is that fufficient without Judgment and 
 Reflection. How many are there that fpend all their 
 Lives at Court and among Great Men, and yet re- 
 main rough and unpolimed ? Country People, with 
 all their Pains, can never get rid of a certain Earthi- 
 nefsand native Ruft that's moft oppofite to Politenefs^. 
 They may pleafe at firft by their Agreements ; but if 
 the Acquaintance lads, we fail not to difcover in 
 their Manners and Behaviour, fomething infinitely 
 difguflful to nice Perfons, who have the leaft Notion 
 of true Politenefs. 
 
 What would be hardly thought credible, is, that 
 the Travels our Country -Gentlemen make Abroad, 
 
 render
 
 22 Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 render them but more foolifti and impertinent ; and 
 that the approaching the Air of the French Court, 
 does but give a new varnifh to their Ridicule. They 
 think it a great Addition to their Merit to have feea 
 the Tuilteries, Luxemburg'Horfe, and the Brazen- 
 Hor/es, and look down with Contempt on thofe who 
 have, been in no other Country but their own. They 
 fatigue all Companies with everlafting Accounts of 
 what they have obferved in France, or read in the 
 Collection of the Curiojities of Paris. 'Tis not 
 fufficient to vifit this City, to view its Bridges, and 
 the Hotel des Invalids ; it is only the Converfation 
 with the genteel Part of its Inhabitants, that can 
 file off their ruftical Adhefions. The Sight of the 
 Streets and Houfes, and the Difcouife of the People 
 where you lodge, contribute little towards Pditcncjs : 
 And what is frill worfe, you fee Country-Sparks, 
 when they come to Town, unlefs they have a good 
 deal of Senfe, afiume a falfe and afcititious Air, 
 wh : ch fpoils all that is good in them, by travelling 
 thsir Temper. 
 
 If we faw none but Perfons of Merit that we ref- 
 pe&ed, we fhould infenfibly receive a Tincture of Po- 
 litenefs which would greatly contribute towards the 
 Formation and Regulation of our Manners. Our 
 Complaifance for Men of this Character, and a Oe- 
 fire of pleafing them, infufes certain Charms and 
 Graces, which we mould flight in a Commerce with 
 People we have no Confederation for, nor Care to 
 cultivate. There's lefs Pains in fubmitting to the 
 Sentiments of. thofe we -efpeit, and 'tis this Complai- 
 fance that carries us to a great Degree of. Politencj's. 
 
 The Polite have an Art to diffemble any Thing 
 that's harfhly or offenfively fpoke to them, to avoid 
 a Quarrel; whereas he that's all of a Piece, takes 
 Fire, and calls for Eclaircificments upon the leaft Tri- 
 fles. Such Sort of People are Enemies to their own 
 and others Quiet. 
 
 They
 
 Reflections upon Politenefs. 23 
 
 They are much to be pitied who are born with ill 
 Qualities. There are People naturally Clownifh, Im- 
 polite, DHbbliging, Brutal, Difrefpe&ful to every 
 Body, and purpofely AfTrontive in Difcourfe. Men 
 -of this Make and Complexion have a long work to 
 arrive at Politenefs; and will never attain to it, unlefs 
 they condefcend to fome prudent and underftanding 
 Friend, who may take their Cure upon him ; or unlefs 
 they have a long Commerce with Polite Perfons, 
 whom they (hall endeavour to pleale and imitate. 
 
 I can hardly guefs the Reafon, why Peribns of the 
 greateft Knowledge are commonly the ieaft Polite. 
 We obfcrve in their Ways and Manners, fomething 
 that's wild and ruflick ; and they have neither Infinu- 
 ation, nor Agreeablenefs, nor Complaifance. In the 
 mean Time, Science ought to contribute towards 
 foftning and poliihing their Minds ; whereas Experi- 
 ence unluckily teaches, that it has a quite contrary 
 Effec"l on the Learned by Profefiion. Whether they 
 difdain to be iociable with the reft of Mankind, and 
 to make ufe of rhcir Underftanding in common Con- 
 verfation ; o<- elfe that -hey negleft to be tied to thofe 
 little Particulars required by the Offices of Civil Life; 
 or that they are re/ 1) ignorant of them ; they have 
 a Stiffnefs ird Harftvi^fs in their Behaviour, wr.ich 
 makes them fomidabk to the Polite. 
 
 Poiittnefs is not iearned like Mufick, or any other 
 Science. Tis acquired by the Converfe of well-bred 
 Men. Perfoni born and educated at Court have fome- 
 thing about them that's eafy, natural and Po li te, which 
 is not to be acquired by Art, whatever Pains is taken 
 for it. 'Tis true indeed, Nature contribute;- much 
 towards a, and that many are indebted to their happy 
 Tempers for that Fund of Poiitenefs which renders 
 them fo amiable. 
 
 It requires a great Talent, and a fingular Merit, 
 together with a large Stock of Politenefs, to be able 
 
 to
 
 24 Reflections upon Politcnefs. 
 
 to maintain a long Commerce with the fame Perfons, 
 and to continue ftill agreeable. There are Moments 
 wherein we relax, and are not in an Humour to con- 
 ftrain ourfelves, to conceal our Faults and Imperfecti- 
 ons. This View wounds the Eyes of thofe we con- 
 verfe with, and undeceives them. Thefe new Difco- 
 veries deftroy the Refpect they had for our Merit : In- 
 difference fucceeds their Zeal for us; and this is pro- 
 perly what is the Ruin of Friendfliips, which can't 
 furvive the Deftruclion of a reciprocal Efteem. 
 
 Such as are rich, or have made their Fortunes, 
 naturally defpife thofe that continue Indigent, in 
 fpight of all the fine Qualities they may be Matters 
 of: The Talents of the Mind are but little valued by 
 the Generality of People, when a Man has no other 
 Merit to recommend him. In my Opinion, the 
 Rich mould exprefs fome Mark of Efteem to thofe 
 that are not foj as a Means to lenify in fome Sort 
 their Difcontent, and comfort them at a little Charge. 
 'Tis Misfortune enough to be in Want j ought you to 
 redouble their Uneafinefs, and infult them for their ill 
 Circumftances? 
 
 Could we believe it, unlefs we faw it with our 
 Eyes, that in an Age fo Pclife, witty, and refined as 
 ours, young People fhould grow fo unaccountably 
 wild and brutal, as to hold the fame Difcourfe with 
 Women refpeftable for their Birth and Character, as 
 with vulgar Girls ? And what is wonderful, the 
 niceft Ladies ftart not at it, provided it be wraped in 
 ambiguous Terms. Polltenefs teacues us to treat Peo- 
 ple fuitable to their Condition, and to have Defe- 
 rence and Refpect for thofe that merit them. Young 
 Clean the other Day made a Vifit to Celanire: he 
 found five or fix Women of the firft Quality in 
 her Company. He was half-drunk, and had juft 
 bolted from a Tavern, where he had made a notable 
 Treat. Was this a plight fit for him to fhew him- 
 felf in to Women of high Birth ? He entertained 
 
 them
 
 Reflexions upon Politenefs. 25 
 
 them with his Intrigues and Miftrefles : He mewed 
 them Love-Letters with which his Pockets were full : 
 he made horrible Satyrs on all the Sex, and their ill 
 conduct, without Referve, or Diftinuion, or any 
 Refped to tlit Ladies he fpoke to. After all this im- 
 pertinent Stuff, he departed well fatisfied with him- 
 felf, linking aloud upon the Stair-Caie, absolutely 
 unconcerned at all the Extravagances he had been, 
 venting. What Idea can >v^ have of a Man of Qja- 
 lity's juft entering u^iori tne vVorld, that lets out at 
 this rate ? 
 
 Young Pf-ople feldom luit themfelve*-. to :he Con- 
 verfatiyn of the Old, who are naturally morofe and 
 imperious. Tho' they have lived long, they have 
 not learnt the Art of Living ; being defirous to fub- 
 ject eve; Body's Conducl to their Caprices, and odd 
 Humoiirs. Were they more converfable and Pclite, 
 their Society might be a good School for the Young, 
 who might reap the Profit of their long Experience. 
 Old Age has of itfeif too many Faults and Difagree- 
 ments, without the Addition of Chagrin and ill Hu- 
 mour. I would fain have Perfons of an advanced 
 Age refemble Cleobulus. Old Age in him is neither 
 morofe, diflafteful, nor magifterial. Without conde- 
 fcendin^- to a jiavenileChjirader, he accommodates his 
 Behaviour to all Sorts of Tempers : If he does not 
 give himfelf to Diverfions ; if he preferves the Deco- 
 rum and Serioufnefs which his Age infpires ; at leaft, 
 he is no troublefome Cenfurer, nor finds Fault with 
 others Pleafures. The Employments he has had in 
 the Court and Army, the Sciences he has fludioufly 
 cultivated, furnifn him with a thouland curious 
 Things, which render his Converfation as pleafant as 
 inftruclive. People always depart fatisfied from his 
 Company, charmed with his Politeneft, and inibucled 
 in an hundred Fads he was Witnefs of, which he 
 communicates without Pride or Intreaty, to all that 
 are defirous to hear him, and willing to profit by his 
 Information. 
 
 The
 
 z6 Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 The Reafon why young People fhun the Company 
 of the Old as much as poffible is, that they can't en- 
 dure the Conftraint they find in their Society. The 
 Chagrin of old Age, diffuses icfelf thro' the Perfons of 
 old Men, and gives a JDiflike to every Thing they fay 
 or do. Being incapacitated for Pleafure, they would, 
 as it were, make themfelves amends, by cenfuring in 
 others, what they themfelves did when young. This 
 mif-timed Reprehenfion has but little Effeft on Youth 
 which flicks rather to the Examples they have given, 
 than to the fine Maxims they now dictate. Acajlo 
 pronounces the handfomeft Lectures imaginable to his 
 Son upon the Miichiefs of Gallantry : He tells him 
 with an angry Look, that 'tis the Wreck of a Man's 
 Fortune, and that he who is eagerly engaged in Love, 
 can never think ferioufly on any Thing elfe. Perhaps 
 Acafio\ Maxims might have made fome Impreflions 
 on the Mind of his Son, if the ill Examples he gave 
 with .them did not baffle their Effedt; or if he had 
 more foftened and infinuated his Inftruftions. 
 
 The antique Gentlemen are more formal, ftarched 
 and ceremonious than die Modern, who can't conform 
 to thefe iludied Rules and Grimaces. True Politenefs 
 does not confifl herein ; the Mode at prefent demands 
 a little more Liberty ; but fuch as obferves Meaiure 
 and Decorum. Without this Salvo, the Liberty dege- 
 nerates into a Licenfe no ways fuitable to Polite Per~ 
 fcns, and even unpardonable in Pages. But the Me- 
 dium betwixt the Excefs of Conftraint and Liberty, 
 is hard to be found, and requires Attention to what is 
 capable of difgufting or pleafing Men of Judgment. 
 Whoever has hit upon this Temper, is in the ready 
 Road that leads to Politenefs. 
 
 Is it to pafs for Polite, that a certain Sort of Men, 
 make a Trade of faying lufcious and pretty Things, 
 to all the Women they meet ? The fair and the Brown 
 have the fame Treatment ; neither Quality nor Me- 
 rit makes any Diftin&ion in their Compliments, 
 
 which
 
 Re flc films -upon Politenefs. 27 
 
 which they repeat like Parrots, to all alike ; as if they 
 had learned a Part by Heart, and were playing it on 
 the Stage. Women of Tafte and Senfe, have no Re- 
 lifh for thefe Impertinences, which make their Sto- 
 machs rife } but there are Fools every where to be 
 found, that imbibe the Poifon as if it were Neclar, 
 and are ravifhed with being incenfed thus like Idols. 
 You are of a Profeffion Belani, that excufes you from 
 acting the gallant Part. Your Band and Gown im- 
 pofe on you certain Rules, which you can't in Decen- 
 cy diipente with. Yet 'tis you alone, that in all Pla- 
 ces where you come, are fo vigilant to pay little Affi- 
 duities to Women : Leave that officious Part to 
 Sparks and Beaux, and put your felf upon Employ- 
 ments more corffiftent with your Ckarad>er. You'll 
 meet with never the more Efteem for beiag fo genteel, 
 fo adiduous, and fo complaifant. 
 
 The Politenefs that .becomes an Officer of the Ar- 
 my, is of a different Kind from that which fuits with 
 a Dean of a Church, whofe Character is more ferious, 
 and requires more Caution and Referve. A Magistrate 
 is obliged to be grave, modeft. and circumfpect, but 
 fhould not, however, fuffer his Gravity to degenerate 
 into Aufterity, fo as to forbid Accel's to him. The 
 boldeft Sollickers tremble when they are to accoft 
 Farlius. His Forehead ftands always bent with 
 Wrinkles. He is harm and inacceflible on every 
 Side; he affects the Laconick Pithinefs of an Or,; ; 
 his Mouth opens and (huts with Puliies, and he lu.ns 
 his Eyes like a Pagod. This ArTeftation throws him 
 oat of his Temper, and expofes him to Laughter, in- 
 flead of procuring him Reipett. 
 
 The Politenefs of Women cpnfifts not in thofe 
 ftarched and affedted Airs they put on, to feerh more 
 precife. Of whatever Character they are, they 
 fhould not appear fo wild_ and feared when certain 
 People pay their Civilities, and fay obliging Things 
 to them. Tis an antiquated Piece of Policy, to 
 counterfeit the Severe, and aflume a fcrupulous Coy- 
 
 nefs
 
 2& Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 nefs on the leaft Service that is offered them : 'Tis ten 
 to one but thofe that take pet at this Rate, and grow 
 more wild and untra&able, the more you try to looth 
 and tame them with Carefles and Complaifance, are 
 not fo modeft as they afleft to be thought. But this 
 Management of theirs is infignificant enough to 
 them. 
 
 The Politefl Women, who have merit, and think 
 themfelves handfome, hive a h r: ^ ktep in 
 
 their Indignation when others are pr heir 
 
 Company who have more 
 Th.y examine with *. raalirious Ct'.rlofi- 
 Feature in t, -cri'srie; Faces, thar :h;y may n d 
 
 fome Irr^u.i- . : Defeft in them, -vliirh gives 
 th-.-r. r. . .v ecu/s^e and Comolation. This Difcovery 
 is a iynti ot Triumph, and they can't prevent fome 
 Signs of tne'r ill r.atured Joj, upon the flattering 
 Hope- of ec'.pfing their Rivals. Bat al' -he difoblig- 
 ing Thin^- trsy can fay, inftead of railing their own 
 Merit, doc;, out make them defpifed ; thev think they 
 are applauded, when they are laughed at to their 
 Faces. 
 
 Women have been a long Time le&ured en the 
 Subject of Slander, but without Succefs. The moft 
 moving Arguments do but ferve to afford them a 
 larger Field. They have taken their Ply, and it is 
 grown an eftablifhed Cuftom with them, to tear Peo- 
 ple's Reputations, to cenfure their moft innocent Acli- 
 ons, and to expofe them in fuch Lights and Colours 
 as may make them monftrous. In the mean Time, 
 this Practice denotes a great Want of Pclitenefi^ and 
 as great a Fund of ill nature. 
 
 Handfome Women reft fatisfied wiih being fo, and 
 eafily flatter themfelves, that fuch as have only a great 
 deal of Wit, without external Charms, can't (land be - 
 fore them. They are fo intoxicated with the Fumes 
 of Incenfe offered by their officious Admirers, that 
 they infenfibly contract Airs of Pride and Haughti- 
 nefs, very oppofite to Politenefs and Civility, that 
 
 would
 
 Of Mode/I Sentiments. 29 
 
 would become them, and give a new Luflre to their 
 Beauty. Tbefe Altitudes make the reft of the Sex 
 defperate, who engage in cffenfive and defenfive Con- 
 federacies to bumble and deftroy them. They nar- 
 rowly watch their Conduct, and give no Quarter, up- 
 en the firft falfe Step they make. Tis a nice and- 
 hazardous Affair, to offer to ufurp the Empire of 
 Beauty -. The Ladies that think themfelves interefted, 
 grow dangerous Rivals, and play all Sorts of En- 
 gines to maintain themfelves in their Privileges, and 
 {hake off an Ufurpation fo hateful and oppofite to 
 their Glory. 
 
 Of Modefl Sentiments. 
 
 }* 8"M'S impoffible to arrive at Politenefs without 
 J^ MyJeft i>ftiments, becaufe Pride, and a haugh- 
 ty Demeanour, are the moft natural Source of 1m- 
 politenefs. Motiejij diffipates that Charm and Mill, 
 which Pride infpires into the Mind of Man, and 
 which hides him from hi ml elf. This Deception mag- 
 nifies the Idea of his own Merit, and leflens that 
 which he ought to have of his perfonal Failings. 
 Maj-jly is a Kind of Varnifh, wh.ch fets off* our na- 
 tural Talents, and gives them a Luftre : And 'tis cer- 
 tain, a great Merit is more penetrating, when attend- 
 ed with MeJefl Notions. 
 
 On the contrary, whatever Merit a Man may have, 
 he fets the World againft him, when he prefumes too 
 much upon it. Why are we moved with Indignati- 
 on againft thoie who have admirable Talents ; but 
 t'.iat they are too conceited of them, and appear too 
 well (atisfied with themfelves ? A pretty Woman, 
 who is not oftentatious of her Defert, is much more 
 amiable than a haughty Beauty, who prefumes that 
 all the World ought to pay Homage to her Charms. 
 And as our Excellencies are not to be boafted, fo nei- 
 VOL. II. C ther
 
 BO Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 ther (hould we counterfeit a Contempt of them. This 
 is nothing but a Refinement of Pride, and a By-way 
 of befpeaking Commendation. 
 
 . A Mode/I Perfon afts evenly, and wi hout Forma- 
 lity. He feeks not to recommend himieif; ntT courts 
 eleemofynary Applaui'es. When they are given him 
 for Things that don't deferve them, he is but flightly 
 touched with them ; nor do his Spirits boil, when they 
 are unjuftly refufed him. I;e ha* no high Idea of his 
 perfonal Merit; and 'tis a Pleasure to him, to do 
 Juftice to that of others. He praifes them without 
 Reiudtance, when they have done any Thing praife- 
 worthy ; and never invidioufly hear the Elo b ies that 
 are given rhem ; which are Things not incident to 
 Souls but of a noble Make. 
 
 He never complains of the Want of Deference and 
 Refpedl due to him ; nor cavils with People, if they 
 forget to perform fome little Formalize , or are too 
 fliff injheir Bows. He refufes to ake Place of his 
 Equals ; and complains not of the Preference is given 
 fometimes to his Prejudice. 
 
 If he has any good Qualities, he knows withal 
 they are balanced with Imperfections -, which he cafts 
 not out ot Sight. This View renders him more 
 eafy, when on iome Occafions he is denied the Praifes 
 he deferves. If this injullice give him iome Morti- 
 fication, he is fo wife as to Itifle his Difcontent, and 
 not to fatigue the World with eternal Complaints of 
 the Injuries have been done him. 
 
 Fine Talents, and eminent Qualities, are not fuffi- 
 cient of themfelves, to purchafe the Efteem and Af- 
 fedlion of Men. 'Tis moreover requilite, not to ap- 
 plaud ourfelves for them, nor make a pompous Show 
 of them. If you difcover, in a contemptuous Look, 
 your ("mail Eileem of others, and your high Opinion 
 of yourfelf ; or if you affume too great an Afcendant 
 over them, you'll bring all the World upon your 
 Back. Your Merit will become a Rock of Offence, 
 and be more to your Prejudice than Advantage; be- 
 
 caufc
 
 Of Modcfi Sentiments. 3 1 
 
 caufe we feel a fecret Indignation againft thofe that 
 eclipfe us, and fpare nothing to excufe ourfelves from 
 fo ungrateful a Superiority. 
 
 Whatever Parts, Underltanding or Merit, you fan- 
 cy you have ; if you would be acceptable to rational 
 People, be fure you pretend to nothing, nor make a 
 vain Shew of \our Knowledge: That ferves only to 
 dazzle Fools, whofe Approbation muii be very indif- 
 ferent to Men of real Merit, who can be only affected 
 with the Efteem of intelligent People. 
 
 This Maxim is very little practiled : For the Way 
 now-a-days is, when a Man has any Abilities, to put 
 himfelf forward at any Rate : And he takes a lecret 
 Pleafu'e in expofing his Wares ; no Matter whether 
 to the Judicious, or to Coxcombo of neither Skill 
 nor I igenuity. 
 
 Damon cannot be denied to have Wit, and fine Qua- 
 lities ; but the Fault is, he knows it too well. He is 
 full of it on all Occafions ; and is his own Panegy- 
 rift, where others will not be at the Pains to praife 
 him. He has a wonderful Faculty for Poetry ; but 
 he ftuns all that come near him, whh the Recital of 
 his Verfes. He mews how he relifhes them himfelf, 
 when he reads them, and every Word purs him into 
 anExtafy: But the Pleafure he takes, hinders tnat 
 of others ; and the Applaufes he beftows on himfelf, 
 excufe them from the Trouble oi applauuing him. 
 That which would make him courteu, if he made a 
 good Ufe of it, is die Caufe of his being fhunned as 
 an impertinent Scribbler 
 
 There's fo great a Correfpondence betwixt thofe 
 Springs that move the Heart, and thofe that move the 
 Countenance ; that we may judge by this outward 
 Dial-Plaie, now the Clock-Work goes in the Soul. 
 A Woman of too ftately a Gait, too haughty and 
 prefumptuous a Look, and a Forehead that never 
 blufhes, ha* no great Fund of Modejly, generally 
 fpeaking. Whereas a foft and Modtft Air, that has no- 
 C z thing
 
 3 z Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 thing wild or over free in it, is almoft a certain Sigrii 
 that all is regular within. 
 
 Thofe that are deliberating about the Choice of a 
 Wife, may with the greateft: Eafe difcover their Tem- 
 pers; provided they apply themfeU'es to the examin- 
 ing certain Motions, that efcapethem unawares. 
 
 Thofe that defign to dazzle Mankind, make a gla- 
 ring Shew at firft of all their Merchandize : Which 
 Method is mightily miftaking their own Fnterefts. To 
 keep People long in Sufpenfe and Admiration, 'tis 
 fomedmes convenient to fhewlmt a Sample of the 
 Piece, and lay it open by Degrees. ' F is Art and 
 good Management, fometimes to difguife our good 
 Qu; lities ; and greater Wit than is imagined, to con- 
 ceal our Wit; being a fure Means never to be the 
 Property of others. 
 
 Artifice grows ufelefs, when it becomes fufpefted ; 
 becaufe it puts People upon their Guard, who avoid 
 a Man of Stratagem, as a Spy. 
 
 The continual Politicks our Neighbour Datys em- 
 ploys in every Thing, make him mifcarry in all the 
 Affairs he undertakes. He ufes the fame Subterfuges, 
 Infmuation and Cunning, in Trifles, as if the Matter 
 were of the greateft Confequence : And as every Bo- 
 dy is perfuaded he has ftill fome little Trick in his 
 Head ; fo he is always miflrufted, and no Body cares 
 to treat with him, for fear of being deceived. 
 
 Mudejly is the moil convenient Veil, to fkreen from 
 the cleareft fighted People, f-ich Things as we mean 
 to keep fecret from them. Modcjl Perfons bear fome 
 Reiemblance with thofe Rivers that flow under 
 Ground ; they lie hid to the Eyes of the World, 
 having the fame Addrefs to conceal the-ir good Quali- 
 ties, as vain People have to expofe them. 
 
 Men have for fome Time neglected to do fufficient 
 Juftice to Women, upon the Score of Madefy : For 
 'tis certain there are abundance that are djicreet and 
 regular ; and the Number of thofe that forget thera- 
 felves, is not fo great as is imagined. For twenty 
 that difparage themfelves by their ill Conduft, we 
 
 might
 
 Of Mideft Sentiments. 33 
 
 might find a thoufand that are to be eileemed for 
 their Virtues. The Deception confuts in this ; that 
 Coquetry makes a Noife, whilft no Body is at the Pains 
 to bring the virtuous Woman upon the Stage ; who is 
 content to difcharge her Duty, without publifhing it 
 to the World. 'Tis a farther Piece of Injuftice, to 
 accufe thofe of being Formalifts, who have a Bias to- 
 wards Severity ; and to call their Virtue nothing but 
 Grimace. 
 
 That which hinders us from Modefl Notions, is our 
 Unacquaintance with ourfelves. A Woman but mo- 
 derately handfome, fancies wondrous Conquefls ; and 
 vainly perfuades herfelf, all that fee her, are capti- 
 vated by her Charms. A Man, who has the leaft 
 Pretenfions to Wit, prefumes he is one of the moft 
 fublime, and the firft-rate Wits. He that harangues 
 in Publick, thinks he fpeaks wonderfully well; and 
 is amazed to find the Applaufes refufed him, which 
 he fancies are due to him. 
 
 Obferve now your Folly, Dorilas : Your Pleas are 
 filled with trivial Things ; and yet you fpeak in the 
 Tone of an Oracle. You imagine, you eclipfe the 
 Glory of all the Ancient and Modern Orators, and 
 are iurprized you are not hummed at the End of every 
 Period. You fometimes complain of the Injuftice of 
 your Age; and appeal from it to Pofterity, to judge 
 of your Defert. This Illufion, however, is a good 
 Amufement to your Vanity. 
 
 * Tis a rare Thing, to find a Man poflHTed with a 
 juft Notion of his own and others Abilities and De- 
 lerts. Whatever little Merit he has, he thinks him- 
 felf qualified for great Employs; and if they fall not 
 to his Share, he complains that he has not Juitice 
 done him. This Prefumption is a certain Sign of an 
 indifferent Merit, 
 
 Dartimon is not content with being a Colonel, but 
 would be a Major General : He is always complain- 
 ing of his Fortune, and preferring himfelf to the firft 
 Officers in the Army. What Method of Cure is 
 C 3 there
 
 34 RefleflipMs upon Politenefs. 
 
 there for Men of Dartitnens Character ? They court 
 nothing bin their Prejudice; and think themfelves in- 
 jured, \vhen you have done for them even what was 
 beyond your Duty. 
 
 Is it want of Eyes, or Brains, or Reflexion, that 
 makes Men fo opinionated with their own Merit ; Or 
 rather, Is it not want of Mode fly ^ that throws off 
 their View from their perfonal Faults, for fear the 
 1 J olpect fhould offend them ? Thofe very Men, that 
 are fo quick -fighted, as to the minuteft and moft im- 
 perceptible Faults of their Neighbours, and pur! tic 
 them with bitter Raillery and Satyr, are blind to the 
 grofTeft Vices in themfelves, which render themdei'pi- 
 cable, and are obvious to all the World. 
 
 The Countefs of Sarlac is horribly fhaped, and 
 halts downright; and yet (he does not perceive it, 
 but raillies (on all Occafions) the Countefs of Syret, 
 her Friend, who has one Shoulder a little out of Place. 
 This is the Frame and Make of the whole Sex, ftill 
 full of themfelves, and the Power of their Charms. 
 They cenftire all others, but who are not behind- 
 hand with them in their Satyr. 
 
 'Tis to be finical rather than difficult, to be always 
 finding Fault, and fo prone to cenfure as People com- 
 monly are. True Delicacy is always on the fide of 
 good Senfe, and approves whatever is good wherever 
 it finds it : r l hole unjuft Difgufts you manifeft for 
 what is Excellent, betray the Folly of your Caprice, 
 and depreciate you with juft Reafoners. 
 
 We ought to do Juflice to all Men, and to be glad 
 when others have Merit and are praifed for it ; it be- 
 ing a malignant Bafenefs to attempt to lower thofe 
 Sails the Publick has hoifted, and refufe to throw in 
 cur Suffrage with all the World. Do you think 
 your Merit will be the greater, when by Obloquy you 
 have deftroyed that of your envied Competitor ? The 
 good Eiteem a Man has of himfelf, makes him im- 
 patient of Rivals , the Competition of the fame Abi- 
 lities raife; our Spleen and Indignation againft the Pof- 
 
 feffors,
 
 Of Motieft Sentiments. 35 
 
 fefibrs, who difpute us this Kind of Superiority, fo 
 extremely grateful to Self-Love. 
 
 It does not become any Body magifteriaHy to de- 
 termine upon Matters that are fubject of Converfad- 
 on. The Leamed are confidered as Impertinents and 
 Pedants, when they pretend to tutor others, and ufurp 
 a Sovereignty of Senfe. A prudent Man that fpeaks 
 only to the Purpofe, makes no Oftentation of his 
 Knowledge, nor is ambitious to be admired for it, by 
 this Referve he actrads the Efleern and AfFe&ion of all 
 the Company. 
 
 'Tis very rare for thofe that doat on their own Me- 
 rit, to fee any in others, or do them Juftice. They 
 think their imaginary Worth fets them above all 
 Rules, and difpenfes with all Decorum ; as if every 
 Thing was their due, and they owed nothing to any 
 Body elfe. This P resumption is a Kind of Drunken- 
 nefs that deftroys Self-confcioufnefs, and makes them 
 blind and infenfible to themfelves. Like intoxicated 
 People, that fee every Thing double. Men infatuated 
 with their Merit, magnify and multiply their good 
 Qualities. When any Woman's Beauty is commend- 
 ed before Betina, me fubilitutes herfelf in the Place 
 of the Perfon praifed. If Amarante be celebrated 
 for the Largenefs and Sprightlinefs of her Eyes, {he 
 acknowledges it, but adds, (he mould be forry if her 
 own were not finer. When Angelia* fine Shape and 
 Agreements are mentioned, fhe difcovers the Faults 
 of her, and fets herfelf up for a Pattern of what the 
 other wants. 
 
 Men of the greateft Wit and rnoft extenfive Views, 
 are often guilty of notorious Errors ; but their Re- 
 gret to bs miitaken, makes them obftinately defend 
 their Extravagances, and vilify thofe that let them 
 fee their Follies. The ridiculous Pride they are pof- 
 fcfled with, taints and depreciates all their Talents. 
 A few Grains more of Madefy would not a little let 
 them off. 
 
 C 4 'Tis
 
 36 Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 'Tis a common Infirmity with thofe that think therr*- 
 felves deferving, to envy fuch as fet out with a grow- 
 ing Reputation ; and they feldom pardon a Mail his 
 fine Qualities, that procure a general Efteem. Pro- 
 fefled Wits can't bear to fee a young Man diftinguifh- 
 ing himfelf, and begin to attract the Approbation of 
 worthy Perfons. What an heart breaking is it to a 
 "Woman, who is reckoned handfome, to have a young 
 Beauty come in play, and out-mine all that come 
 near her ? But I can't conceive why Clarinda, who 
 is neither young nor handfome, is fo mortifyed with 
 the Applaufes given to Julias blooming Face, or 
 \vhy Burdus, who has neither Wit, nor any Intention 
 of publifhing any Thing, mould rage, like Wild-fire, 
 againft all that Dorimon prints, and the World reads 
 with" fo much Pleafure. 
 
 I think a Man very unhappy, who has not fuffici- 
 cnt Judgment to know the Price of Things, and dif- 
 tinguifh what's excellent from what is bad or indiffe- 
 rent : But 'tis grand Impertinence obftinately to de- 
 fend one's Opinion, and to reject all the Arguments 
 that arc offered to (hew the Caprice of an irregular 
 Tafle. Here you fee the Reafon why we often heark- 
 en to fuch ridiculous Difputes in Converfation, and 
 bear the Dotage of People for their own Opinions, 
 be they never fo extravagant. A Man of juft Senfe 
 and Penetration, knows, at firfl Sight, what's good 
 and ought to pleafe, and fticks to that, without fuffer- 
 ing himfelf to be mified by falfe Appearances, which 
 only dazzle Fools : But fmall is the Number of thefe 
 nice Judges, which is the Reafon fo many bad Things 
 meet with Approbation, and have a Vogue in the 
 World. People eminent for their Quality and Polls, 
 rule the Suffrages of thofe beneath them, command- 
 ing Deference of Judgment, as well as outward Ref- 
 peft and Complaifance. Dependants are not to be 
 of a contrary Opinion ; mean time, 'tis a fervile Sub- 
 miffion, and only purchafes Contempt, feemingly t 
 approve what we inwardly condemn. 
 
 The
 
 Of Mods ft Sentitwnts. 37 
 
 The mofl judicious are fometimes at a Lofs how 
 to manage themfelves in nice Affairs, and make 
 no Scruple to confefs it : Wits of a lower Size are not 
 fo timorous in giving their Opinions. Confult Celi- 
 don upon a knotty -.rgument, that demands deep Re- 
 fleftions, and he'll give you his Refolution, without 
 hefitating, and with a wonderful Aflurance. If Celi- 
 don had more Senfe, he would be lefs venturous in 
 his Decifions : His Prefumption is no ambiguous fign 
 of the Short-fightednefs of his Underftanding. 
 
 'Tis a great Source of Impertinence to have too 
 fond an Opinion of ourfelves and our own Perfor- 
 mances. We ought not to be the firft to admire any 
 of our own Exploits, but are to leave that part to 
 others. What fignifies a vain Complaifance for our 
 own Works, if others are not affe&ed with them, 
 nor perceive the Beauties which fo charmingly ftrike 
 us ? Let us not fuffer our Eyes to be puffed up 
 with the Fumes of Incenfe that is given us purely 
 out of Complaifance ; and let us be ever upon 
 our Guard againft thoie ill-natured Ironies, employ- 
 ed by fuch as know our blind Side, and how to 
 fport with our Credulity. 
 
 There's no Body without fome particular Vanity ; 
 but that which is the leaft pardonable, is the ridicu- 
 lous Pride of certain People, who think they have 
 fublime Merit, and will allow no body elie a Share 
 with them. All that behold Cleottice without an en- 
 vious Eye, honeftly confefs, there is hardly a more 
 accomplimed Woman to be found : They obferve fe- 
 cret Graces, and certain delicate Agreements in her 
 Perfon, which there is no withftanding. She has a 
 certain graceful and airy Character which infpirits 
 every Thing Ihe fays, and what would have no Ef- 
 feft in another's Mouth. They admire the Delicacy 
 of her Wit, and the Flexibility of her infmuating 
 Temper, which gives her what Form fhe pleafes, ac- 
 cording to the Diverfity of Occasions. Now aflc 
 Barfma what me thinks of Cleanice, and ihe'll tell 
 you, The Woman i vjfll enough. 
 
 C 5 Fine
 
 38 Reflexions upon Politenefs. 
 
 Fine Women can hardly withftand that Compla- 
 cency and Self-fatisfaftion which their Beauty in- 
 fpires ; and no Body goes about to prohibit them fo 
 tender a Pleafure. But that which we would begot' 
 them, is to tafle this Satisfaction in fecret, and not let 
 their Sentiments appear; that they would take Care or" 
 a certain finical and affected Deportment, which has 
 always I know not what "Ridicule in it. Beautv has 
 but half its Effect, when 'tis not fupported with the 
 Charms of Wit. We fometimes wonder handfome 
 .Women make fo few Conquefts ; but the Reafon is, 
 the Maggotry of their Carriage, which difpels the 
 Charms of their Beauty, and creates difttlle in the 
 very Garden of Delight. Celianas Flatterers tell 
 her, (he is the handfomeft Woman in England; and 
 yet Perfons of good Tafte have long ceafed to admire 
 her. becaufe (he is too ftupid to fupport a Convena- 
 tion long. The Eyes are tired with gazing on fine 
 Colours ; and Pleasures which the Mind can't par- 
 take of. grow languid and infipid. Celiana not only 
 wants Wit, but is fo exceedingly ridiculous, as to think 
 fhe abounds with it. She admires the Fooleries 
 that efcape her at every turn, and thinks fhe fpeaks 
 pretty Things when even fhe fays little or nothing 
 to the Purpofe. 
 
 7 he Reafon of Men's having fuch advantageous 
 Notions on their own Behalf, is the want of Atten- 
 tion to uncierftand themfelves. Every one has his 
 particular Infirmities and Follies; but the wonder is, 
 we (hould upbraid others with Faults which we our- 
 felves are more grofly guilty of. We take it very 
 ill if they don't correcl them, becaufe we i'uffer by 
 tf'em ; but they on their Part make no lefs Com- 
 plaints. Datiny taxes Celanor with his Spirit of 
 Contradiction, which makes him always take the op- 
 pofite Side to whatever is advanced, without any 
 regard to the Rank and Dignity of the Speaker : 
 Mean Time there's not a more uncomplaifant and ex- 
 
 ceptious
 
 O/ Mode ft Sentiments. 39 
 
 ccpttous Man than Datiny t who is a Stranger to 
 hin)felf, and yet thinks he is fociable and good- 
 natured. 
 
 If %ve did but refled it would be ealy to obferve, 
 that the too great Defire of out-ihining and dazziing 
 o'hers, renders Converfation difagreeable. We are 
 willing, at any rate, to give a great Idea of our 
 Merit. This Defire puts us upon a Flow of Talk, 
 without giving others the Leifure or Opportunity to 
 exert their fmall Talents ; and fo they depa~t foured 
 and provoked againft thofe that have thus kept them 
 in Amufement. The Day that Celanttne has been at 
 a Play, or other Diverfion, woe be to fuch as (hall 
 fall inio her Company ; for they muft not hope to 
 fpeak a Word, {he being a Torrent that will carry all 
 before her, She criticifes on every V'erfe, and gives 
 the Defcription both of all the Adors, and all the 
 Auditors : Here is a fpacious Field for her to walk in, 
 and when the Matter is exhaufted, flie introduces Ef.i- 
 fodes, which ftill keep her in Play, and furnifh her 
 wherewithal to teize the Company to death. 
 
 Whence come thofe fcandalous Diforders we fee in 
 Marriages, but fro.Ti the bad Education Young Wo- 
 men have received ? Never were known fo mar.y 
 Divorces ; nor fo many Law-Suits about them. All 
 Young Women are eagerly folici'ous to be married, 
 and all marrieJ Women as demons lo be Widows. 
 Scarce have they Patience to wait 'till a natural Death 
 delivers them from their Hufbands, whom they look 
 up:n as Tyrants, or rather as their greateft Enemies. 
 'Twouid not be credible, unlefs we faw it with our 
 Eyes, to what Remedies they have Recourfe, and 
 into what a Gulph of Miferies they plunge them- 
 felves, to be freed from fo tyrannical a Yoke. 
 
 We fee Men put on all forte of Forms to make 
 themfelves efleemed j but commonly they millake 
 their Aim, and do juft the contrary to what they 
 pretend. The firft time we fee a Man, we make the 
 utmoft Effort to prejudice him in Favour of our 
 
 Merit :
 
 40 Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 Merit : We difcourfe to him of our Birth, our For- 
 tune, our Employs, and the admirable Qualities we 
 fancy ourfelves endued with. We exhauft this 
 Topick, and infinuate we have Wit, but modejllj, 
 and with fome remains of Shame-facednefs. As for 
 our other Talents, we amplify them without Ce- 
 remony, and leave nothing unfaid. This is miftak- 
 ing our Interefts , the great Art confifts in not fuf- 
 fering ourfelves to be fathomed at firft fight, and giv- 
 ing Time to others to obferve the good Qualities we 
 are Matters of. 
 
 Men that are prepoflefled with their own Merit, 
 always contemplate themfelves on the bed fide, and 
 never admit any humbling and mortifying Reflefti- 
 ans. In the mean time be aflured, that whatever 
 Accomplifhments you fancy you have, they are 
 jningled with a Thoufand Imperfections, which make 
 a conliderable Counterpoize. 
 
 I would fain know why we mould be difturbed and 
 overgrown with Spleen, becaufe we are denied the 
 Praifes that are heaped on lefs deferving Perfons. Our 
 Reputation depends not on the fantaftick Humours of 
 Men, and the vain Praifes they beftow on us. What 
 fignifies it, that Argejlluij who is but a Coxcomb^ 
 publifhes every where that you want Senfe ? Will the 
 impertinent Stuff he vents to your Difadvantage, rob 
 you of your Excellencies, or hinder Men of Worth, 
 from doing you Juftice ? 
 
 'Tis not always the good Fortune of a great Merit 
 to carry the Suffrage of the Publick. How many 
 are efteemed, becaufe they are not fufficiently known ? 
 And becaufe they put on fo artful a Difguife, as 
 makes it imj:oflible to penetrate the Recefles of their 
 Souls ? The Vulgar are eafily dazled with the 
 Glimpfes of a fictitious Virtue, but Men of good 
 judgment and Refietfion are not to be over-reached. 
 They fee clearly, but take no notice, referving their 
 Difcoveries to themfelves, and fuffering a Fool to 
 enjoy hii pretended Reputation. 'Tis much, when 
 
 People
 
 Of Mode ft Sentiments. 41 
 
 People of this Character have diffident 
 
 not to flatter themfelves with the Notions of 
 
 mighty Merit. 
 
 There are a Thoufand Complainants of the 
 World's Injuftice, which heighthens their Imperfe&i- 
 ons, and finks the Price of their good Qualities. 
 This is often owing to themfelves, in not taking all 
 the Precautions to conceal their Faults, or making a 
 right ufe of the Motives to Efteem. I know this 
 depend^ upon good Fortune and a propitious Planet ; 
 but I alfo know, that we often ruin it, by a fort of 
 Supinenefs that expofes our weak Sides. 'Tis common 
 for one Affair well managed, to create us a great Re- 
 putation, and as frequent for one falfe Step to de- 
 ftroy it beyond Recovery. For when once our Fame 
 has but a Wing clipt, 'tis impoffible for it to foar 
 again ; and all the Pains we take to that purpofe, 
 make us but flutter in the Dirt. 
 
 'Tis no fure and infallible way to gain the Efteem 
 of Men, to convince them of our Qualifications ; on 
 the contrary, this exafperates them againft us, as be- 
 ing mad to think we defign to out-ftiine them. The 
 beft way is to allow them to have Wit, and let them 
 fee that we are perfuaded of it. This Complaifance 
 is more engaging than all our other Pretenfions, and 
 they will be willing to grant us their Efteem, when 
 they believe they merit ours. 
 
 They that fet up for extraordinary Learning, are 
 very untraftable on that fcore ; they believe all Me- 
 rit confined to their own Perfons, and fo have but 
 little Confideration for that of others : They would 
 be much more worthy, if they had a lefs Share of 
 Erudition. The Fault lies not in the Learning, 
 which is moft proper to form and fafhion the Mind, 
 but in the Learned who make not a good Ufe of it. 
 This confufed Knowledge gives them a whimfical De- 
 meanour, and a haughty and fupercilious Carriage ; 
 infomuch that they look down with CompaFion on 
 thofe that underftand lefs Greek and Latin than them- 
 
 felves.
 
 42 Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 felves. But in requital, they are treated as Pedants, 
 difmifled to their Colleges, and manned as Creatures 
 of a moft infipid Converfation. 
 
 Nor is the other Extream to be lefs avoided j for 
 there are People to be met with, that make their 
 Ignorance meritorious, and think that Application to 
 any ferious Study will difgrace them. Our Age is 
 tolerable retrieved from this Illufion ; iince the great- 
 eft Princes apply fo much to Learning, that there are 
 no Arts or Sciences unknown to them: And they even 
 excel in many kinds of Knowledge. 'Tis certain too, 
 that our Court abounds with Men of a learned Rank, 
 who can fig"nalize themfelves in the fine Arts, like 
 Ctffar, who was able to difpute the Empire of Elo- 
 quence with Cicero : But he preferred the Glory of 
 Arms, and the Mattery of the World, before min- 
 ing at the Bar. 
 
 No Body pretends to lay an Embargo on Womens 
 Wit, or to prohibit their Difplay of it, when they 
 have it ; all that we would advife them to, is a little 
 Eafmefs and Condefcenfion ; that they would vouch- 
 fafe to fpeak naturally, and not to ufe fo many Con- 
 torfions and Grimaces, when they have a mind to ac- 
 quaint the World that they have Wit. Thofe Af- 
 fedlations difparage them more than they imagine, 
 and give an Air of Ridicule to the beft Tilings 
 they fay. 
 
 How uncommon a thing is it not to envy Men, 
 their extraordinary Accompliftiments .' And what a 
 Soul muft a Man have to over-rule fo natural an In- 
 firmity ! She muft be more than Woman, that envies 
 not the Merit of another's Beauty, and can. patiently 
 bear the Encomiums that are given her. Women 
 can't fufFer Rivals in this particular, no more than 
 Men can bear Competition in Point of Wit. We 
 have often recourfe to very fordid Arts to deftroy that 
 importunate Merit, which the Publick owns to be 
 extraordinary. There are no Moments of Life, 
 wherein a Man ihould have a greater Guard on him- 
 
 felf,
 
 Of Mode/I Sentiments. 43 
 
 felf, than when Perfons are praifed before him for 
 thofe very Qualities he pretends to excel in. Were 
 not this Dorafds Weaknefs, he would be an accom- 
 plifhed Pcrfon. His fine Wit it. aniwerable to his 
 graceful Mien, and there is neither Art nor Science 
 but he is acquainted with it. fie is of a Rank that 
 gives him an extraordinary Afcendant, and he might 
 well wave the Dtfcrt that accrues from the Belles 
 Lcttres. Notwithftanding this, y< u put him upon 
 the Rack, and he can't keep in his Indignation, when 
 you commend any one before him, for any Accom- 
 plifliment whalfoever. One would think 'twere rob- 
 bing him of fometiiing, to do JuiHce to another's 
 Merit. He departs penfive and difquieted from all 
 Companies, where an honourable Mention has been 
 made of ibme extraordinary Man. He wears a 
 h'word, and has no Thoughts of afpiring to the Glo- 
 ry of a fine Preacher ; yet it's Death to him to hear 
 Lucas's grand Faculty extoll'd, who has fo long 
 charmed the Court and City : And he fometimes 
 bluntly takes to tafk fuch as undefignedly commend 
 him, who being unacquainted with Dorajlo"* Weak- 
 nefs, are aftoniihed at his Rudenefs. 
 
 Madefy prevents our falling into a common Fault 
 with Men of Merit, which is valuing only what's 
 our own. This Prejudice is commonly a mighty 
 Source of Impernnencies : They let you fee by their 
 Eyes, Words and Aftions, how much they are 
 charmed with their prefumed Deferls, and how def- 
 picably they look on thofe of other Men. This 
 Contempt is extremely torturing, and puts the un- 
 dervalued Perfons on all the Methods of Raillery and 
 Satyr, to leflen thefe Gentlemen's fond Opinion of 
 themlelves. Self-love is a kind of blindfold, which 
 Modcfiy removes, and clears our Eye-fight from ; for 
 the Modejl love not to have their Imperfeftions com- 
 plimented, nor can bear being loaded with extrava- 
 gant Elogies for Trifles. 
 
 Hardly
 
 44 Reflections upon Politenels. 
 
 Hardly any Body admires common Virtues, tho 1 
 never fo admirable } but Men love to be ftruck with 
 fomething dazzling and extraordinary, tho' the Com- 
 merce of Life does not always adminifter Occafions 
 for the Practice of thefe extraordinary Virtues, efpe- 
 cially to thofe that maintain an even Courfe, and are 
 not in great Pofts, which demand at great Qualifi- 
 cations. 
 
 Some People deviate from their Character out of a 
 fecret Pride, and fpoil themfelves by a dcfire of plea- 
 fing. If fuch as cffeft thefe Airs of Singularity, 
 could perceive how offenfive and difguftful all Af- 
 fectations is to judicious Perfons, they would be care- 
 ful to avoid it. The Rule to pleafe, is to conform 
 to the Ways and Manners of others, and not to 
 court Admiration by Things out of the way , which 
 are always difagreeable, when they are borrowed 
 and affecled. 
 
 If Celimene could be contented with the Charms 
 that Nature has given her, (he would be the prettied 
 "Woman in England : But me contradifts the Max- 
 im, that Art embeili/hei Nature : She is myfterious 
 all over, and does nothing in a natural Way. You 
 would think me danced when me mould go ; or 
 that fhe moved by Springs and Clock-work. Others 
 fpeak, and aft, and cough, and fpit in a natural 
 way : But fhe, for her Part, has particular Cere- 
 monies for all thefe ; and it makes me ready to burft, 
 to obferve her conceited Poflures. 
 
 Now what can People mean, to thwart the com- 
 mon Ways by thefe fingular Affectations ? Why fo 
 unwilling to talk, or walk, or drefs like other Peo- 
 ple ? Why that affeded Gaudinefs of Cloaths ; ftill 
 {training to out-vie the Extravagance of the Fafhion ? 
 They never confult what is fit or decent, but what 
 ftrikes the Eye, and commands Spectators ; what 
 Novelty oi Garb and Accoutrements elevates and fur- 
 frizes, in Mr. Sajfs Phrafe. 
 
 If
 
 O/ modeft Sentiments. 45 
 
 If People knew themfelves better, they would 
 flick to Nature, and their genuine Talents :' But a 
 Man difdaining what he knows, muft needs talk of 
 what he knows not, and make a Parade of a ridicu- 
 lous Ignorance. 
 
 Obferve the juft Punifhment of Pride. The very 
 Means we employ to purchafe Applaufe?, only bring 
 us into Contempt, and occafion-us the Reputation of 
 Fools. Damys, with a great Stock of Politenefs, and 
 Knowledge of the World, knows a thoufand pleafant 
 and curious Things ; which he fets off in a very 
 charming Drefs : But the Fault is, he will be talk- 
 ing (right or wrong) of the fublimeft Points of Divi- 
 nity, whiltl he knows not the very Principles of Reli- 
 gion. When he has charmed the Company with a- 
 greeable Stories, related with a great Vivacity and 
 Humour; provided he goes out of his own Sphere, 
 he falls into fuch Impertinencies, as move Compaf- 
 fion. 
 
 A modell Man fets not up for mining in Converfati- 
 on, by furprizing Narratives. He relates what he 
 knows with a natural Simplicity, and courts not vain 
 Applaufes in his Hearers Eyes. A Braggadocio, 
 bloated with his own Merit, has more bluftering Ways, 
 and courts Applaufe from the Trifles he vents with 
 fuch an Air of Sufficiency, as mews how poffeffed he 
 is, that what he fays is wonderful : But, to his Misfor- 
 tune, the Company is of another Opinion. 
 
 'Tis no Sign of Modejty, to be complaining at every 
 Turn, that we are miferable; On the contrary, thefe 
 Complainers are full of the Notions of their own 
 Merit, as what expofes them to Envy. They feek 
 the Solace of their Misfortunes in their Vanity ; where- 
 as, if they retired into themfelves, and were imparti- 
 al, they would find the Foundation of their Difgraces 
 in their own ill Conduct. 
 
 Deri fa
 
 46 Reflexions upon Politenefs. 
 
 Dorifa repeats, in all Companies, that fiie is the 
 moft unfortunate Woman in England ; that fhe is en- 
 vyed and torn, and croifed by all the World ; That 
 the Women cannot bear her, but handle her unmer- 
 cifully. By this, Dorifa, )ou would infinuate, that 
 you have a fuperior Merit, which provokes their En- 
 vy, to make inch Havock of your Reputation. 
 Know your felf better, Madam. That ridiculous 
 Pride, thole Elevations vou give ypurfeif ; your Con- 
 ceit of an high Birth, and the Contempt you exprefs 
 for all your iniulced Sex, as having Weaknefles not 
 incident to your Ladyfhip, as you fay. Thefe are 
 the Sources of the Perfecution you complain of. 
 
 'Tis hard to determine what Notions People have 
 of Gallantry in this Age. Do they confider it as a 
 Crime and Infamy ? Heretofore the Women ufed all 
 Precautions, to conceal their Commerce from Publick 
 Notice : At prefent, they make no Myllery of it. 
 
 Sylverina, inftead of bluming at the Devotions the 
 Men pay to her, talks of them with an aikmiming 
 Freedom, without minding the Talk of the World, 
 or having any Regard for her Hufband. She is hour- 
 ly furrounded with a greater Crowd of Lovers than 
 Penelope was : And all the Reafon (he alledges for it 
 is, that {he is tired with the Women 1 ;) Company. A 
 very pretty Apology ! 
 
 There's no Hope of curing People of that invete- 
 rate Habit they have contracted, of talking always 
 of themfelves, their Adventures and Riche5. And 
 yet thefe Accounts are fo ungrateful to difmterelted 
 Perfons, that we ought to impofe on our felves a Law, 
 never to fptak of our felves, either good or bad. To 
 Praife our ielves is ridiculous Folly and Vanity ; and 
 the fame Thing would it be, to talk to our own Difr 
 paragement. 
 
 Dorina often fays fhe's not handfome; and that 
 {he's abfolutely disfigured with the Small- Pox. 
 Mean time file's fully fatisfied of the Power of her 
 
 Charms j
 
 Of mode/I Sentiments. 47 
 
 Charms ; and 'tis to make them more taken notice of 
 that (he pretends to be not content. She was once 
 well enough caught by Dennis, a Man of no Cere- 
 mony ; who innocently confefled, he thought her 
 grown very ugly. The Blufh he brought into her 
 Face, betrayed her, and manifefted her Indignation ; 
 and the fmait Repartee me fired upon the Poor Poet, 
 was a certain Conviction to the Company, t<ut me 
 meant to be flattered upon her Beauty. 
 
 What's ri,e Reafon People of but indifferent Merit 
 are corr.monly the moft tenacious of their Praifes ? 
 Is it. that they don't know vshat deferves Commenda- 
 tion ? Or mud we charge it to the. Account of their 
 perverle Natures ; who can't find in their Hearts to do 
 Juflice to an extraordinary Man who diftinguimes 
 himfelf from the Crowd ? 
 
 Colinct writes bad Verfes. The Comedies he pub- 
 lifhes, won't bear Acting above two or three Nights ; 
 and yet if you'll believe him, the Faults fwarm in 
 Percind's Plays, which are Mailer Pieces. He finds 
 fome Objections againft the Juftnefs of the Characters, 
 and others againft the Contrivance and the Plot. He 
 fays, the Paffions are not nicely touched, that the 
 Characters are tortured ; and he would focner part 
 with tiis Teeth, than grant that thefe Comedies are 
 gcod. Colinefs Intellect is too weak, to perceive the 
 Beauties of an excellent Piece. He wants Tafte and 
 Judgment; and oat of an ill-natured Jealoufy, refufes 
 publickly, to the Matters eminent in the fame Art, 
 thofe Praifes he is forced to give them in private with 
 himfelf. 
 
 'Tis from the fame Principle a Man loves to praife 
 himfelf, and is averfe to another's Commendation. 
 Tell me, Sjlvefier, why won't you approve in Clcan- 
 tbes, what deleves your Approbat : on ? Every body 
 extols to the Skies the noble Action he lately per- 
 formed : You only are difturbed, and alarmed, 
 and not Mafter of your Indignation and Animofity. 
 Does your Reputation fufFer, b/ the great Fame he 
 
 has
 
 48 Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 has obtained ? Do you think any Prejudice is done 
 you, by giving him the Praifes he has fo well de- 
 ferved ? 
 
 Men have been for a long Time told, they ought 
 not to commend, or talk of themfelves : Which 
 Point, if they could once gain, they would be more 
 to be commended. But in vain you attempt to con- 
 vince them, that this one Foible is fufficient to leflen 
 our Idea of their Merit, and has a quite contrary Ef- 
 fect to their Defign of procuring Efteem. The Ha- 
 bit is grown inveterate, and too obflinate to be recti- 
 fied. An Author will talk eternally of his Works, 
 and (without Scruple) facrifice to himfelf. A Man 
 of the Sword will be vaunting his Exploits; and a 
 Woman muft have a great Fund of Difcretion, not to 
 celebrate her own fuppofed Accomplishments : The 
 Reafon why the World abounds with fuch as talk of 
 themfelves, and always determine in Favour of their 
 own Merit, is, that they are convinced of it, and 
 would have others fo too. But 'tis a wretched Mif- 
 take, to fet up for one's own Panegyrift. 
 
 Talk not of your felf, your Birth, Eftate, or Parts. 
 If you have any extraordinary Qualities, leave it to 
 others to difcover and commend them. All the 
 Good or ill you can fay of your felf, will not remove 
 People's Prejudices concerning you; but will rather 
 effectually convince them you are fond of Praife. 
 
 If Men could rid of their Paffion to be praifed 
 for all they do, they would be lefs expofed to the De- 
 ception and Railleries of thofe everlafting Encomi- 
 afts, who fpy out their blind Sides, and treat them as 
 their Cullies. 'Tis not for want of being often cau- 
 tioned, that thefe concerted Praifes are pure Irony, 
 and a by-kind of Satyr on their Faults, that they 
 don't perceive, or in the leaft fufpect it. But as they 
 are the firft to blind themfelves, 'tis no hard Tafk 
 for others to naiflead them, by thefe illegitimate itu- 
 
 pifying
 
 Of mode/I Sentiments. 49 
 
 pifying Praifes, which they think they but too much 
 delerve. 
 
 Be ever upon your Guard againft the Applaufes 
 given you to yo \r Face ; for Men have generally 
 Ibme Dc-fign, or fec.ret Intereft, in fuch Praifes : Ei- 
 ther they mean to laugh at you, and divert themfelves 
 at your Expence ; or eli'e to engage you in their In- 
 tereft, and anticipate your Recompence with this pre- 
 vious Incenfe. 
 
 We are not fillily to give Credit to thofe that flatter 
 us, nor yet rudely to rejeft the Compliments they 
 make, when we think we dcferve them. This faHe 
 Modejly is little lefs difguftfui than a foolim Vanity. 
 It requires great Art and Delicacy, to feafon Praifes 
 well ; but there's alfo a Way of receiving tnem, when 
 they are juft, that does not offend Modejly. 
 
 Praife is a Sort of Tribute paid to real Worth : 
 And 'tis neither affeftedly to be rejected, nor too ea- 
 gerly courted, if we would not be the Property of 
 thofe that give it, who prepare their Way by this Al- 
 lurement, to obtain whatever they defire, when once 
 you are intoxicated with their Incenfe. 
 
 If we don't flatter our felves, the Praifes given us 
 will neither infpire Pride nor Prefumption : We fhould 
 not futfer our felves to be enchanted by the Voice of 
 thefe bewitching Syrens, that fo agreeably decoy us. 
 Thefe Praifes, fo artfully managed, are a kind of 
 Coin the Cunning ufe to compafs all their Intentions. 
 
 Unlefs a Man be ftupid, or over-run with a ridicu- 
 lous Vanity, he can't avoid perceiving another's Inten- 
 tions, who flatters him grofly and openly. But there's 
 need of great Attention, to ward off the Blows of a 
 politick Infinuation, and more cleanly Flattery. How 
 many Women, who thought themfelves very ftately, 
 and paramount to the common Infirmities, have been 
 feduced by thefe Counterfeit Praifes, and paid great 
 Favours for a few obliging Words ? 
 
 Methinks
 
 50 Reflexions upon Politenefs. 
 
 Metflinks Praifes are not of fo uncommon or va- 
 luable a Kind, as to be fought after with fo much 
 Paffion ; fince we find them proftituted, wichout either 
 Choice or Diftinftion. They that are fo fond of 
 them, mould therefore ftudy to do Actions meriting 
 fubftantial Praife. 
 
 But I caution them far her, to cure themfelves (if 
 poffible) of that Itch, of quoting their own Names 
 at every Turn. 'I hey h ve ftill a wonderful Facul- 
 ty at reducing the Difcourfe to their own Perfons a<,d 
 A6tions, be it never 10 rtirxne ; which is a ridiculous 
 Weaknefs they -re not of themfelves aware of. They 
 think, by praifing themfelves, to procure the World's 
 Efteem ; while they do b >i make themfetve.- dclpica- 
 ble and impertinent We feci a doub'e Pain, in hear- 
 ing People talk to their own Advantage; in tnat the 
 Praife they give tnemfelves, feems to humble tuofe 
 that hear it; and again, that they endure the Con- 
 llraint af not daring (in Decency! to contradid them. 
 To what Perfecu ions do they expoie themfelves, who 
 prttend to Complaifance ? 
 
 What Torture 'us, to hear Fa<vorinus impudently 
 boaft his Defcent from a Family diftinguifhcd by the 
 Sword ; and cite the Names of his Anceitors, figna- 
 lized in the firil Employ of the Kingdom ; whereas 
 his Extraction was extren.ely mean, and all his Fore- 
 fathers (in a Succeflion) have meafured Cloth and 
 Ribbon. 
 
 We can't deny bat Faujlina has Merit, yet (he 
 fpoils it by herGreedinefs of Praiie. She very affect- 
 edly alks you, what you think of her Shape and 
 Wit ? Whereupon me enters on a dilagreeable De- 
 tail; and tells you, without more ado, fhe has a 
 Tafte and Dt licacy, Eyes large and killing, a Shape 
 fine and eafy. If (he has any Faults which fhe is 
 obliged to own, me leflens tnem ; and makes them 
 up by fome fine Part or other. 
 
 How are we to anfwer People of this Character ? 
 We laugh at them in our Sleeves : We make as if 
 
 we
 
 Of modejl Sentiments. 51 
 
 We applauded them ; referving to our felves the Pri- 
 vilege of expofing them aloud in private. The Va- 
 nity they d;fcover, who praife themfelves without 
 Shame or Referve, difgufh all Mankind. Glory's a 
 Portion every one lays Claim to. We have all natu- 
 rally an Ambition, that can't fuffer any Thing above 
 u? ; whereas we have naturally an Indulgence, for 
 all that truckle and ftoop to us. 
 
 The Tafk is difficult, to retain modeji Sentiment$ in 
 an exalted Sta ion. Great Poftf, the Luftre of Rich- 
 es and Favour ; Things of this Sort naturally infpire 
 Pride and Prefumption, and make People believe they 
 are not obliged to Abundance of little Refpeds, and 
 fo they eafily difpenfe with them. Thole that folli- 
 cit -.hem, and have Occafion for their Credit, pafs by 
 theie Incongruities without complaining. The Cuf- 
 torn they contract, ot treating every Body without 
 Rei^eu, and lining in Independence, by degrees ef- 
 faces all the Srntiminn of Modefty they poffeffed in a 
 leis profperuus Fortune. 
 
 Unlefs we be very watchful over our felves, propor- 
 tions bi_y as we increaie in Wealth and Favour, or ar- 
 rive at great Preferments, we cm indie in Efteeni, thro' 
 the haughty Den.eanour we affurne, and the Notions 
 of Pride ihofe Pofts poflefs us with. 
 
 That which gives me fo much Admiration for Li- 
 wia, is, that her great Exaltation has not changed 
 her Sentiments. Being ftiil Miftrefs of her felf, and 
 of her Thoughts and Paflion, fhe continues much 
 above her Fortune. We find not in her Looks that: 
 unwelcome Pride, which in others daunt:, the Ap- 
 proaches of their Votaries. Her eafy and encouraging 
 Accefs, emboldens the moft timorous with a Degree 
 of AfTurance. She is the freeft Women of her Inte- 
 reft ; which me never employs, but to oblige fuch as 
 make their Application to her, or are in a helplefs 
 Condition. 
 
 It ought to be proclaimed, in Houfes and Publick 
 Places, in Lities and Countries, in Churches. and on 
 
 the
 
 52 Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 the Houfe Tops, to inculcate into Youth, That the 
 Lofi of Reputation and Innocence, is of the Nature of 
 thofe Things that can never be retrieved. Let them 
 be circumipeft, to avoid the Snares laid for their 
 Virtue, and the Flatteries that only do betray them. 
 The Precipices that are dug under their Feet, are co- 
 vered with Rofes, but their Fall is accompanied with 
 Difgrace and Defpair. 
 
 Modcfty becomes all Sorts of Characters ; but 'tis 
 fo effential to fome Profeffions, that 'tis degrading 
 one's felf, and abfoluteiy fluinking from one's Digni- 
 ty, to relax in this F Articular. What Contempt have 
 we not for a certain Sort of Men, upon hearing them 
 difcourie of their Love-Intrigue , and giving the Hif- 
 tory of their Adventures, with an Air of Aliurar.ce 
 incident only to Sots, who obierve no DecoKum, and 
 difgrace themfelves with Difcourfe fo inconlillent with 
 their Conditions. 
 
 A Man of Honour fliould never give himfelf the 
 Liberty of too free Difcourfe, favouring of Lewdnefs 
 or Libertinifm, nor utter ambiguous Words, ofFe;<five 
 to good Breeding, tho' the Looleneis of the Age 
 has but too much encouraged that Pradice. 'Tis 
 failing in the Refpecls we owe to Women, to ufe 
 fuch Talk before them ; but it would become the 
 Ladies themfelves, to be more referved upon this Sub- 
 ject, and not fuffer any Thing too free or inconfi- 
 derate to efcape them, from whence we might draw ill 
 Confequences as to their Conduct, 1 fuppofe Enone 
 does not underftand Delicacy } and 'tis rather the 
 Fault of her ill Breeding, than a Sigri of Lewdnefs 
 in her, that me indulges too grofs Difcourfes of a 
 double Meaning. She Talks too freely before every 
 Body of certain Particulars relating only to her felf 
 and her Hufband, which there's no Occafion the 
 Publick fhould be informed of. She was once fuffici- 
 ently mortified with an Anfwer Evandcr gave her. 
 She defired him to conduct her to the Italian Come- 
 dy , he mildly told her, that Comedy was too lo fe 
 
 for
 
 Of Mode/I Sentiments. 53 
 
 for Men, and that at prefent none but Ladies durft 
 Ihew their Faces there, and laugh heartily at the Ob- 
 fcenities that appeared there without the Covering of 
 clean Linen. Enone was in no Expectation of fuch 
 an Anfwer ; and though fhe be not naturally Shame- 
 faced, fhe was totally Difconcerted, and all the Com- 
 pany flood amazed at her Confufion. 
 
 That which fhould be chiefly recommended to a 
 young Lady, juft entering upon the World, is, the 
 Choice of the Company fhe ought to keep. A Maid 
 that has fpent all her Youth in Retirement, as in a 
 Nunnery, is all at once expofed to the wide World, 
 as to the Sea full of Shelves and Rocks : She has 
 neither Practice nor Experience, and the firft Impref- 
 iions that are given her, determine her either to good 
 or Evil. If fhe falls into ill Hands, the Examples of 
 Vice before her Eyes, fcandalous Difcourfes, libertine 
 Companies, all thefe infenfibly ruin her Virtue, and 
 by Degrees embolden her in Vice. 
 
 Let a Woman be never fo handfome, if flie be not 
 Mode/}, her Beauty will have little Effeft. Madefy 
 fets off Merit with a new Luftre, and 'tis probably 
 the Defect of this Virtue, that of late has brought 
 Women into fome Difcredit, and degraded them from 
 that Authority, which a little Referve might have 
 continued over the Minds of Men; they dill, out of 
 Decency, preferve fome Meafures 'till they are pro- 
 vided for : But it feems Marriage difpels the Re- 
 liques of Shame. 
 
 A Young Maid, weary of Domeftick Difcipline, 
 feeks to fhake off the uneafy Yoke, and perluades 
 herfelf that Matrimony is a commodious Tranfition 
 to a more libertine Life. She only waits for this Op- 
 portunity to declare herfelf, thinking then to be 
 emancipated from the Servitude of a Maiden Cha- 
 racter ; and upon this Bottom, fhe no longer is at the 
 Pains to conftrain herfelf with Demurenefs and Puncti- 
 lio's. 'Tis certain, Women after Marriage are a* 
 much obliged to Modejiy as before ; and yet upon the 
 
 VOL. II. D Change
 
 54 Reflections upon Poiitenefs. 
 
 Change of their Condition, they take great Liberties. 
 What Diforders has Matrimony introduced inco Feli- 
 cias Condudt ? We find an uoiverfal Revelation in 
 her Temper ; me fcarce durft life up her Eyes, whiift 
 um'er her Mother's Wing, and all her Anfvvers to 
 what was {aid to her, were in Monofyllables. 
 
 Her Modeft Air, accompanied with a genteel Re- 
 ferve, procured her Refpect even as young as me was : 
 A\l of a fudden (he's grown bold and iniolent, and 
 carries the Humour even to Impudence. Her Dif- 
 courfes, and Songs, andTable-talk, caufe the kail fcru- 
 pulous Men to biufh. She takes a great Quantity of 
 Snuff, and drinks more Wine than theftauncheft Dra- 
 goon, regardlefs of her Rank and Birth, which me 
 leflens by the Liberty me takes. She ftoops to Con- 
 verfations unbecoming her, and is no Ways concerned 
 that the whole Town is acquainted with the Hiftory 
 of her Gallantries. 
 
 'Tis inconceiveable that Women can refolve to 
 proftitute their Reputation as they do, by their fcan- 
 dalous Conduct. What Tranquillity attends the Life 
 of a good Woman ? What Luilre and Eminence 
 does Virtue give her ? But then it is not enough 
 that this Virtue is merely mperrkiai ; it mull be well 
 principaled and rooted in the Soul. A Woman not 
 well refolved of her own Sentiments, makes no long 
 Refiftance againft the Applications of a Man, who 
 .knows the Situation of her Heart. Some Motives of 
 Fame and Pride fupport a little of Woman's Weak- 
 efs, .who wavers about the Refolution (he fhoulJ 
 take, like an undermined Iron betwixt the Loadilones 
 .of Virtue and Inclination. We live not in an Age 
 >vherein Women, fufpedted of Debaucheries, were 
 condemned to walk upon Red-hot Coals; thofe that 
 efcaped the Teft uninjured by the Fire, were jullified j 
 but thofe that the Fire had no refpeft for, were 
 looked on as guilty. 'Tis a great Happinefs for 
 many in our Days, that this Ordeal Trial is entirely 
 laid ailde. 
 
 That
 
 Of Modejl Sentiments. 55 
 
 That great Affe&aiion of Virtue a certain Sort of 
 Women make a (how of, to dazzle the World and 
 conceal their Motives, inilead of gaining them 
 Itfteem, renders them but more fufpected ; and we 
 defpife them yet the more, when we come to unravel 
 the fecret Myftery of their pretended Modejly. If 
 Florida had taken care to burn her little Cabinet be- 
 fore me died, me had preferved her Reputation, and 
 even been remembered as a Modeft and Regular Wo- 
 man. She had managed her little Correfpondences 
 with that Secrecy, the Publick mould not in the 
 leaft have fufpefted them ; nor durft have imagined 
 the leaft Weaknefs in her; in fo great an Efteem was 
 (he for a virtuous Reputation. What Surprize was 
 occafioned by the opening this fatal Box, which pro- 
 duced convincing Evidence of her Intrigues and In- 
 clinations ! 
 
 'Tis no Ingredient of Modejly, to fcratch the Faces 
 of People that tell you foft Things, that proftrate 
 themfelves before you, or let you fee their Paffions. 
 The Mcdefty I contend for, has nothing wild and ex- 
 travagant in ft. Old-faftiioned Gentlewomen pre- 
 tending to good Morals, think they cannot be un- 
 tra&able enough ; that a Woman, to be (lately, muft 
 be fmart and fevere on fuch as take any Freedom in 
 her Prefence. 
 
 Modejly is of mighty Ufe to fecure all the other Vir- 
 tues ; when once we leap the Bounds of that, we fall 
 into Infolence, and often abandon ourfelves to great 
 Diforders, becaufe we have loft the Bridle that reftrain- 
 ed us. The Cafe is much like that of a Town be- 
 fieged ; the Outworks are firft to be taken before we 
 can aflault the Fortrefs. Thus a Woman when attack- 
 ed, if me has virtuous Inclinations, will make a long 
 Defence : She does not furrender upon the firft Ap- 
 proach. But if me grows tame and traclable, and 
 quits the Counterfcarp of a becoming Pride, (he'll 
 quickly find herfclf ftraitened in her Poit, and redu- 
 ced to farther Inconveniencies than (he at rit ima- 
 gined. 
 
 D 2 If
 
 56 Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 If we can't entirely get rid of our Paffions, wo 
 ought, at leaft, to be very careful to conceal them. 
 The Eyes of the World are inquifi tive and intent upon 
 us, and when once it can difcover a weak Part to 
 break in upon us, it gives no Quarter. 
 
 We muft not wait for the Dregs of Age to be 
 virtuous, if we expedl the Acknowledgments of the 
 Publick. Your Wantons grow virtuous when they 
 can't beotherwife: Toofpeedy old Age brings Wrin- 
 kles and Remorfe all at once : Paint, inftead of mak- 
 ing them more beautiful, renders them but the Loath- 
 foraer : Their Cullies are undeceived, and no longer 
 caught by their borrowed Charms. 
 
 A Woman that has been Handfome, and whofe 
 Beauty begins to tarnifti and decay thro' Age, flatters 
 herfelf {he is ftill paflable : Though her too faithful 
 Glafles reprefent the Ridges and Furrows in her 
 Cheeks me Satisfies herfelf with her fair Complexion, 
 which (he ftudioufly cultivates with all the Art 
 Ihe can ; but all her Precautions will be of little 
 ufe to her. 
 
 I can't comprehend the Politicks of fome Women, 
 who finding themfelves deftitute of Charms, think 
 to make up in Ornament what Nature has denied in 
 Beauty. An ugly Woman in fine Trappings and 
 Accoutrements, is doubly fo. When the Deformity 
 is by itfelf, it is lefs obferved ; but being fet off with 
 Gaudy Drapery and Gold Garniture, it receives an 
 additional Difagreemertt from the Luftre of this Equi- 
 page. The Fire and the Brilliant of a Diamond 
 makes the black hue of the Complexion more Confpi- 
 cuous. which was, as it were, hid and benighted in 
 its own Darknefs. 
 
 We don't pretend abfulutely to condemn in Women 
 the Care of their Adjuftments: 'Tis what is pardon- 
 able, provided it be moderate; as being a kind of 
 Amufement comporting with their Character, and 
 giving them fome Motion in that great Inactivity of 
 their Lives ; But the Expences they are at for it, 
 
 ought
 
 Of Mode ft Sentiments. tf 
 
 ought to bear proportion with their Quality and For- 
 tune. "Pis ridiculous for Tradefmens Wives to be 
 tricked up like Dutchefles. In well-regulated Go- 
 vernments, every one is known by his Habit ; no Bo- 
 dy dares wear a certain Colour, nor exceed the Price 
 allotted to his Condition. The Licenfe of Cloaths in 
 England is prodigious. Every Body follows his own 
 Caprice, and governs himfelf only by his Ability. 
 Some even go beyond the Limits of their Power, 
 and injure their Fortunes by their immoderate Pomp. 
 Women of a mean Degree ought to be employed in 
 other Thoughts, who are neverthelefs more folici- 
 tous about their Drefs, than the niceft Players ; and 
 aflume a Deportment that wounds the Rules of Mo- 
 defty and Decorum. 
 
 I think that Solicitude of fome People to appear 
 younger than they are, is very ridiculous : 'Tis a 
 childifh Vanity to difguife our Age : 'Tis more eafily 
 pardonable in Women than in Men : Their Youth 
 makes a Part of their Merit, but do a few Years, 
 more or lefs, deftroy the Merit of a Man of Worth ? 
 Ftlir.a, who is Forty Years old at leaft, repeats it 
 Fifty times a Day, that fhe is but Eight and Twenty : 
 We fneer at her for her Pains, fmce the Wrinkles of 
 her Forehead are unexceptionable Teftimonies to the 
 contrary. Princefles in this are more unfortunate 
 than other Women : They cant conceal their Age, 
 becaufe their Birth-Days are fpecified ia all the 
 Almanacks. 
 
 The Glory of a Woman confifts not in the Noife 
 her Beauty makes, but rather in the Regularity of 
 her Conduft ; for what Contempt have we for certain 
 Ladies who are full of Charms ? Yet whofe licentious 
 Carriage deprctiates the Merit of their Beauty, and 
 who, in fpight of it, are conildered but as fo many 
 Cracks ; whereas a little Modejly would make them 
 icverenced and efteemed. 
 
 Thofe Women that appear fo ftarched and prim, 
 
 are always fufpe&ed by me : The truly virtuous un- 
 
 D 3 derftand
 
 58 Reflections upon Politeneis. 
 
 derfiand not fo much Nicety. They Talk and Aft 
 fincerely, with a becoming Freedom ; while the 
 others have more Myftery and Defign. 'Tis moft 
 certain, that Modeft Ways embellilh all Things ; and 
 .we cannot withrland the loving and eileeming 
 Modeft People. This Sentiment has fomething of 
 i'eil-Love comprized in it ; for as thofe that would 
 nfe above us and their own Condition, provoke our 
 Animofity and Indignation ; fo thofe whofe tyodef.y 
 retains them in due Bounds, and gives us the Prece- 
 dence, eafily poffefs our Inclinations and Efteem. 
 We muft not abufe and crufh thofe Perfons who 
 thus Hoop to us out of pure Civility ; it being 
 but ]ultice to return Complaifance for Complai- 
 fance. 
 
 Of Difcrelhn and Referve. 
 
 J~ | M S impofllble to be Polite unlefs you are Dif- 
 JL creet. Difcreti9n puts a Man in Poflefiion of 
 himfelf, and makes him Matter of his Words and 
 Aftions, the Cafts of his Eyes and Motions of his 
 Face : So that nothing efcapes him repugnant to De- 
 corum, or offenfive to the Company he keeps. The 
 Difcreet Man p?rfec~Vy diftinguifhes the Rank, Cha- 
 racter and Genius of People, the Situation of their 
 Souls, their Interefts ; what is proper to impart to 
 them, or conceal from them, without giving them 
 Pretenfions of Complaint : Efpecially he avoids pry- 
 ing into their Secrets, or meddling with their Affairs, 
 any farther than they are pleafed with him. This 
 Precaution is of mighty Advantage to the preferving 
 his own Quiet, and avoiding the Reproaches the In- 
 difcreet commonly incur by being over-bufy in Mat- 
 ters where they are not defired. Without Dijcretion, 
 Civil-Society is nothing but Fatigue and Hurly burly ; 
 for we ought ever to keep a Guard over ourfelves, 
 that nothing drop before indifferent People, which they 
 
 rnake
 
 Of Difcretion and Referve. 59 
 
 make an ill Ufe of; either by revealing a Matter of 
 Truft, or circumftantiating it by our Invention, with 
 Particulars never thought of. We may reckon it a 
 difcovered Treafure in Life, to find a Diferect Man, 
 to whom we may fafely open our Souls in Things of 
 greateft Secrecy and Importance. Happy we pro- 
 nounce him who has found this Pbanlx ! He ought 
 to be thankful to Heaven for fuch a Difpenfation of 
 it's Bounty, yet which fo feldom happens. 
 
 The Way to live happily with all Sorts of People, 
 is to be attentive to whatever we fay or do -, to carry 
 ourfelves eafily betwixt contrary Interefls, without 
 engaging in their Difputes any farther than Decency 
 requires. We are careful to prevent any Words ef- 
 caping, that may be ill-interpreted by a Sort of Peo- 
 ple ufed to impoifon every Thing they hear : Much 
 2efs are we to take the Liberty of talking of the falfe 
 Steps and ill Managements of others, or of hryrizing 
 their Impertinencies. It often happens, that a Jeft 
 makes a Man your irreconcileable Enemy, who might 
 ctherwife have done you efiemial Services, had you 
 but known how to cultivate his Friendfhip. 
 
 When People fail to pay us thofe Refpefls and Ci- 
 vilities we have a right to, we ought not bluntly to 
 tax them with fuch an unfeemly Demeanour j for 
 thefe Omiffions proceeding not from Malice, or a pre- 
 meditated Defign, (hould be excufed on Confederation 
 of their good Intentions. The Noife and Bluftering 
 we make under thefe Circumftances, brings the Fault 
 to our own Door, and apologizes for thofe we had 
 reafon to complain of. 
 
 The defire of mifchieving People we hate, makes 
 us ftudious to difcover whatever may give them 
 Trouble : But 'cis much worfe when we peremptori- 
 ly upbraid them to their Faces with mortifying 
 Reflections. Such Kind of Inciifcretions have com- 
 monly unlucky Refults ; they provoke fierce Re- 
 pfk, which cut us to the Quick. The Perfon af- 
 D 4. fronted
 
 60 Reflections upon Poll ten efs. 
 
 fronted hearkens only to his Refentment, and breaks 
 through allMeafures to his Revenge. 
 
 Difcretion, which keeps us upon our Guard and 
 Good Behaviour, contributes towards forming our 
 Minds ; it retains us under a certain Diffidence of 
 ourfelves, which makes us vigilant, and cautious to 
 do nothing obnoxious to juft Cenfure : Whereas thofe 
 Blunderbufles who are extremely confident of them- 
 felves, live without Precaution, as not the leaft (uf- 
 peding they have any Handle for Reproach. They 
 cocfider themfelves as accomplifhed Creatures ; and 
 think -'tis a pity but the Publick faw them with 
 the fame Eyes. 
 
 The Generality of Men live not by Reafon, but 
 by Prejudices and the Movements of their Paifions, 
 which is the Caufe they are fuch Delinquents againit 
 Equity and juilice. Every Thing appearing thro' a 
 Palfion, feeais Lawful, or of little Confequence: And 
 this is rhe Source of thofe Reproaches and Quarrels 
 that arife fo often in the Commerce of the World, 
 and banifh all Satisfaction out, of it. This makes 
 Reconciliation fo difficult; becaufe every one fancies 
 he has a Right to quarrel, and throws all the Blame 
 upon his Neighbour. 
 
 The Difcretion I fpeak of, aflifts us to do Jaftice, 
 both to ourfelves and others. We expeft Submiffi- 
 on and Complaifance, whilft we treat People with 
 Pride, Severity, and Rudenefs : We have a violent 
 Fondnefs for ourfelves, and require Deference from 
 all the World. Should we not therefore refpect 
 others, and treat them as we would be treated our-, 
 felves. This is the fundamental Law of Commerce, 
 the Breach whereof occasions fo many Injuries we fee. 
 in the World, and fo many Complaints. We daily 
 hear of the ill-dealing of fome People, who feem. 
 born only for themfelves, and reckon all the reft of 
 Mankind as Cyphers. 
 
 When
 
 O/ Difcretion and Referee. 61 
 
 When People, from a Friendly Acquaintance come 
 to a Rupture, 'tis theCuftom to fall Tooth and Nail 
 upon one another. Each attempts to juftify his Pro- 
 ceedings and filly Pretences, and expofe the other 
 to all the Blame ; and to fucceed the better in this 
 Defign, ftrives to lay what load of Odium he can 
 upon his new-made Enemy : Nay, what is yet more 
 Criminal, he abufes the Confidence repofed in him 
 in the Days of Amity, and reveals the Secrets which 
 ought to be buried in eternal Silence, in Confideration 
 of former Friendfhip. Here you ought not fo much 
 to regard this Perfon's prefent Difpofition towards 
 you, as the reciprocal Endearments of Efteem and 
 Friendfhip which cemented your Acquaintance. 'Tis 
 a kind of Treachery to take Advantage of a Secret, 
 when you cafe to be the Author's Friend. 
 
 If you have not Genius and Smartr.efs enough to- 
 repartee, upon the Spot, to an artful and keen Rail- 
 lery that runs upon indifferent Sub;ets, have a: lea r t 
 ihe Ddjcfttiat to keep in your Refentment. Seem to 
 be diverted, and to laugh at it one of the firft : Thofc 
 that are diHurbed with Innocent Wit, pals for odd- 
 humoured and ill-natured People. Commonly inge- 
 nious Raillery makes deeper Impreffion, and goes 
 farther to the Cure of an Infirmity, than ferious and 
 argumentative Dilcourfe. Emilia has been fo often 
 lajghed at for her Conceited nefs, that (he is at laft 
 recovered from it. She no longer quotes, on all Oc- 
 cafioiis. the Dutcheffes and Marchioneffes her Cou - 
 fins. She has been given to underfland, that that 
 foolifh Vanity rendered her defpicable. She is now 
 one of the firft to ridicule herfelf, well-fatisfied that 
 this Itch of talking of her noble Birth was ridicu- 
 lous, and infinitely ungrateful to thofe that were 
 obliged to endure fuch kind of Difcourfe. 
 
 1 here are no Circuraftances of Life wherein we 
 
 have greater need of Diftretien, and ought to be 
 
 more on our Guard, to fay or do nothing againft Po- 
 
 litenefe, than when we are unjuflly reproached, and 
 
 D 5 impertinently
 
 6 2 Reflexions upon Politenefs. 
 
 impertinently cenfured. 'Tis hard to govern our- 
 felves in fo delicate a Conjuncture. Our Blood rifes 
 at the Folly or Ill-nature of thofe that deny Juftice to 
 our Merit and Virtue ; and a Man rnuft have a 
 great Command of himfelf, not to fay Something 
 harfh, to let them fee we are affronted : But 'tis a 
 kind of Triumph, tc bridle our Paflion, and fpare 
 People that are difrefpe&ful and undeferving. 
 
 "What Moderation was obferved in FJavia, whilft 
 the Countefs of Maigret lafhed her Conduct with 
 fuch unfufferable Reproaches ? The Company was 
 very numerous, and that one Circumilance would 
 naturally have increafed her Spleen : For all that. 
 (ftill Miftrefs of her Paffion,) ihe let not one angry 
 Word efcape her, tho' the other talked molt bitter 
 and vexatious Things : Contenting herfelf with a 
 roodeft Juftification, to clear off fuch unjuft Sufpici- 
 ons, fhe thanked her Ladylhip for her Pains. This 
 Condudt nettled her more fennbly, than if (he had 
 replied to her in her own Strain. All the Company 
 was convinced of Flavian Innocence, and offended at 
 the Infolence and Indifcretion of the Countefs. 
 
 Women can't be over felicitous to prevent Scan- 
 dal. Tis no very good Sign, to fet up for Bravery 
 in thi* Particular, and to defpife vulgar Report. 
 Muft the Caprice of the World (fay they fomecimes) 
 be our Rule to live by ? What Occafion for all this 
 Noife ; fince there is nothing in our Commerce, that 
 can wound the tendereft Eye ? They imagine, per- 
 haps, that fuch like Sentiments are a full Juftificati- 
 on : But the World is not tradteble and credulous e- 
 nough, to take up with thefe falfe Reafonings. 
 
 He that could teach himfelf fo much Re/trw, as 
 net to meddle in others Affairs, nor talk of their 
 Faults, would fare himfelf a great many Mortifica- 
 tions, and unhappy Troubles. Don't curioufly ex- 
 amine what your Neighbours do. Don't be witty 
 upon them for -their falfe Steps ; nor fo much as feem 
 to perceive them, fince you arc not accountable to 
 
 the
 
 Of Difcretion and Refers. 63 
 
 the Public for what they do. "Why muft you take 
 upon you the Charge of reforming the City ? 
 
 The rft Thought that occurs upon Sight of a de- 
 ferving Book, is to find Fault with it, and feek 
 Arguments to leflen its Reputation. This firft Mo- 
 tion is not always free, but efcapes us whether we 
 will or not : Becaufe Self-love makes us fpitefully 
 behold whatever gives others a Pre-eminence, and 
 fets them above us. But at leaft we fhould have the 
 Difcretion to conceal our Sentiments, and not be 
 too fevere on a Piece that prefentj us with 
 great Beauties. 
 
 'Tis a common Infirmity with moft People, to de- 
 termine upon every Thing, in order to convince the 
 World of their Wit and Judgment. But theRafh- 
 nefs of their Decifions has a quite contrary Effect to 
 what they deCgn. They would not be thought igno- 
 rant of any Thing ; and yet difcover grofs Ignorance 
 upon the Subject in Debate. Befides, Inclination 
 (or Intereft) throws them upon a wrong Bias in their 
 Determinations. They judge of an Affair, accord- 
 ing as they are well or ill inclined to the intereiled 
 Perfon. Mean Time, it fhould be every Body's En- 
 deavour to do all People Juftice. 
 
 'Tis impoffible to have Difcrttlon, while we are in- 
 fluenced by any powerful Paffion ; and yet that's the 
 Time vre have moft Occafion for it. How many 
 Follies is a Hufband put upon, by an indifcreet jea- 
 loufy ? How many falfe Steps, that ferve only to ex- 
 afperate his Mind, and augment his Misfortune ? A 
 Man of this Complexion, is equally afraid of his 
 Friends and Enemies, his Relations and Servants ; 
 becoming fufpicious of every Thing that comes near 
 his Wife. What Torture does he give himfelf, to 
 difcover a Secret he dreads the knowing of, and which 
 gives him indurable Wounds, when he has throughly 
 explored a Myftery he ought not to have dived into, 
 for the Sake of his own QJet. ? 
 
 We
 
 64. Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 We ought not to enquire into others Secrets, far- 
 ther than they are willing we (hould ; nor take it ill, 
 if they refufe to open their Hearts to us. 'Tis much 
 worfe, when we ufe Cunning and Artifice to fteal 
 thofe Secrets our Friends are not willing to part 
 with. This indifcreet Curiofity fets them often 
 againft us ; and makes them look upon us as un- 
 fociable Creatures. 
 
 'Tis flattering and deceiving ourfelves, to caft the 
 ill fuccefs of an Affair upon our Siars, or ill Fortune, 
 when Indifcretion is at the bottom of it ; and we are 
 only to blame our irregular Conduft, Imprudence, or 
 miftaken Statelinefs. We have failed in our Complai- 
 fance to thofe whom the Bufmefs depended on, and 
 have not cultivated them at the Time we had rooft 
 need of their Affiftance. 
 
 Carlos. -is ever complainiag that the World is un- 
 kind to him ; and that as foon as he undertakes any 
 ASair, he finds a Legion of ill-defigning People in 
 the way, to crofs it. 'Tis his own Fault : He pur- 
 pofely makes Enemies, who take Vengeance of his 
 cutting Scorn and bitter Taunts, which he fcatters in 
 all Companies. Neither Men nor Women, the 
 Court nor City, the Sword nor Gown, are fpared by 
 him. 'Tis a miferable Talent, to ruin one's Fortune, 
 for the Sake of pleafing the Company by a Jeft. 
 
 You are furprJ7ed with the illSuccefs of an Affair, in 
 which you giddily embarked : Who do you blame 
 for it ? If you had taken your Meafures better, you 
 could not have failed in your Expectations. 
 
 When a Man has done all that Reafon, Prudence, 
 and the beft Intelligence could fuggeft, he ought to 
 comfort himfelf, when the Succefs proves amiis : 
 But when the Bufinefs receives an unlucky Turn thro' 
 <nir own Imprudence, we hive no Body to blame but 
 ourfclves ; and the Misfortune is not to be imputed 
 to the Malice of our Neighbours, who commonly 
 have no Hand in the Matter. 
 
 Tis
 
 Of Dijcretion and Rcferve. 65 
 
 'Tis to little Purpofe, to make great Apologies af- 
 ter the Mifcarriage of an Enterprize. Ill Succefles 
 can only be accounted for, to a few Intelligent and 
 equitable People : The Herd judges merely by Ap- 
 pearances ; and the fame .\c~tions are generally blamed 
 becaufe they were unfortunate, which would have, 
 been cryed up, if the Evenc had anfwered the Mca- 
 fures that were taken. 
 
 Faujius has loft his Reputation, in an Affair that 
 ought to have been attended with Glory. He did all 
 that a prudent and brave Man was obliged to, either 
 in refpecl to himfelf, or the Public. Jealous and 
 ill-meaning People being intrufted with the Execution 
 of the Projeft, have played Counter-Engines, to 
 break his Meafures ; but he being the only Perfon 
 that had undertaken the Bufinefs, and warranted the 
 Event ; he alone fuftains all the Envy and Shame, 
 that are the ufual Refults of a great Enterprize 
 when unfuccefsful. 
 
 The beft Things, when they are unduly managed, 
 are offenfive and difliked. Don't be over-prodigal 
 of your fine Accomplifhments, if you would have 
 them always acceptable. Great Treats, too often 
 repeated, fatigue and blunt the Appetite ; and fo 
 your chiefeft Excellencies grow infipid, if you con- 
 ftantly produce them. Whereas if you frugally ma- 
 nage your Talents, they'll always have the Recom- 
 mendation of Novelty, which infinitely lets oft 
 the leaft of Things. 
 
 No Body can deny Lyjimtn to be a Man of Merit 5 
 but it makes the lefs Impreffion, becauie at the firft 
 Vifit he expofes all he knows, and wearies the Com- 
 pany with his unreasonable Eagernefs to {hew his 
 Parts. He falls into irkfome Repetitions, which arc 
 equally naufeous with the fame Dimes ferved up at 
 different Meals by (he Help of fome Di:guife. This 
 is an important Leflbn for thofe that leek to mine 
 in Converfation ; who neverthelefs fatigue delicate 
 Perfons with a Tautology of Stories, in all the Houfes 
 they come into. 
 
 That
 
 66 R^f^flizns upon Politenefs. 
 
 That violent Itch of fome People to be talking at 
 all, and upon all Subject, is an infallible Sign, how 
 fufficient they think themfelres : But it is commonly 
 as certain Conviction to others of their Poverty cf 
 Wit. by Reafon of the Impertinences (hat Impercep- 
 tibly efcape them, yet give them not the leaft Dif- 
 turbafice. 
 
 Silence is the fafer Option, for fuch as mean to pre- 
 ferve the Efletm and Reputation they have acquired. 
 We are often obliged to People for faying not a Word : 
 That Referee is at leaft a Foundation of a Doubt, 
 whether they have Senie, or not : But we are pad 
 doubting, when we have heard their Imperti- 
 nences. 
 
 Know yourfelf better, Celiaun : Yon love to talk 
 of what you don't underftand, for fear of feeniicg ig- 
 norant of any Ting ; bat yon otter Impertinences, 
 that move Compaffion in Men of Senfe. Had you 
 not opeted your Mouth, they would ftill have doubt- 
 ed of your Ignorance : But you muft needs convince 
 the World of it, and you have done it effedually. 
 
 A Man fhould even have the Difcretio*, to fpeak 
 little of Things he underftands beft. Thofe that are 
 ignorant of them, feel a fecret Indignation to fee 
 themfelves eclipied : and uneanly bear that kind of 
 Superiority, which fhews them their own fable. If 
 you dcfire to be loved and courted, conceal thofe un- 
 grateful Accomplishments, that make you confidered 
 as a troublefome Pedagogue. 
 
 I can't fuffidently admire the Countefs of Savory s 
 Jteferve. She knows all that's know-able by Woman : 
 Nothing dcapes her, even to Hiftory, Philofophy, 
 Mathematicks : Bat thefe are Pans of Knowledge 
 flte rderves to herfclf, without importuning the Pub- 
 lick. Scarce will her Indifference permit her to pat 
 in a W&rd, when in Company with Perfons, who 
 love to talk of more ferioas Things than Gowns and 
 
 The
 
 Of Difcrelton and Referve. 67 
 
 The greateft Talkers are not always befi efteemed. 
 Tha: wondrous Babble only dazzies Fools, that ad- 
 mire theie everiafting Tongues ; but rational People 
 are not to be llunned with Noife. They expert you 
 mould utter reafonable Things, and rail: fcnfibh, 
 and to the purpofe ; which is a harder Talk than 
 is imagined. 
 
 Some People difcover more Wit by their Silence, 
 than others do by their long Harangues ; giving fucli 
 an Attention, as lets us fee they nicely take whatever 
 is faid to them. Be fure rot to imitate the Lady 
 Meih'ft, who makes an horrible Noife btfore (he has 
 well entered the Room, and fat down. Without Re- 
 gard to the Perfon that is fpeaking, (he interrupts his 
 Difcourfe, to fputter out her frivolous News, which 
 none of the Company cares to hear. She conteih 
 every Thing that oihers advance ; and alledges a 
 hundred Reaions, to prove they underftand not what 
 they fay. They are perfectly afloniihed, to fee with 
 what Warmth me contends for the moft trivial and 
 indifferent Matters. 
 
 We know not what Name to give the Indifcreti- 
 on of thofe, who delight to difparage themfelves, 
 and ftupidly publifli Things that taint their Reputati- 
 on. How many Women do we fee as fooliih as {he 
 that faid, H*m delicious a Thing it it, to triumph cvfr 
 tbe Vigilante f a jemlau) H*Jba*a? What Hagt 
 Mculd tbe Knowledge &f tvr Happinefs give him ? 
 Mttbinki there is fmething ivanting, ivbilji nut txcuft 
 him the Pain of knowing bow he is impijid en. Let 
 HI tell it to be revenged cf bin. Twas indeed a 
 moft carious Hillory, for her Hulband to be informed 
 of all the Particulars of the Affignations {he had 
 made her Gallants ! 
 
 *Tis a Sign of great Vanity, rather than good 
 Senfe, to be fond of talking much, The more In- 
 genious hear, and give Fools leave to prattle. People 
 of little Brains have naturally a great deal cf Tongue ; 
 and they think to make up that Deficiency, by per- 
 
 fuadiog
 
 68 Refletti'jns upon Politenefs. 
 
 fuading others they have Senfe ; but they deceive none 
 but their Fellow- fools j and 'tis miftaking their Inte- 
 refts, to [ ubljfh themfelves in this Manner. . 
 
 Dt/crction is an admirable Veil, to hide manifeft 
 Imperfections ; and a politick Silence fkreens thofeun- 
 perceived WeaknefTes, which are betrayed by the filly 
 Difcourfes that efcape us. We ought to be very cau- 
 tious of talking before judicious People, left we tread 
 awry. A Grave and Myfterious Mein may, at leail 
 make it probable that we are (killed in theBufinefs 
 treated on, and give us an Appearance of Ability, 
 
 By fpeaking little, we may gain fome Eiteem with 
 an indifferent Merit. It was the Saying of a wife 
 Mat), That ive Jhould fpeak, if ive would be knmvn : 
 But it is eafy to difgrace ourfelves by fpeaking. A 
 Word inconfiderately blurted out, ruins the great Idea 
 we had of a Man, who afrefted a referred Way, and 
 fpoke in the Strain of an Oracle. 
 
 Alcidtn was always thought to have had an exten- 
 five Knowledge in all Kinds of Learning, whilft he 
 vented only Monofyllables j but fmce he has fet up 
 for a Critick, and will determine like a Doftor upon 
 all Sorts of Books, he has difcovered the Weaknefs 
 of his Judgment. He approves the worft Parts 
 in a Piece, and damns all that's good in it ; and fo 
 has undeceived the Publick, which before thought 
 him a firft-rate Genius. 'Tis not always the beft way 
 to fuffer ourfelves to be feen thro', and difcovered to 
 be what we really are. 
 
 Your Blockheads fpeak commonly more freely and 
 cafily, and with a more fatisfied Air, than Men of 
 Senfe. The former have a fccret AfTurance that what 
 they fay is admirable, and well received, and that 
 their Difcourfe charms thofe that hear them ; And fo 
 it does Fools. The others, who talk with more Re- 
 ferve, Difcretion and Reflection, are lefs venturous ; 
 and as they are feldom latisfied with what lies upper* 
 moft, they give the others leave to beat the Bufh, and 
 throw out all their Fellies. A Man that has no re- 
 gard
 
 Of Difcretion and Referve. 69 
 
 gard to Time, Place, or Perfons, boldly interrupts 
 the Difcourfe another has begun, pretends to dictate, 
 and maims every Thing he meddles with, talking in 
 a loud and pofitive Strain which every Body is amazed 
 at ; he alone making more Noife than a Dozen Wo- 
 men that fquable and difpute at once. He is not fen- 
 iible however, how contemptible his want of Difcre- 
 tion makes him, as having but an ordinary Stock of 
 common Senfe, and applauding himfelf for wretched 
 Things uttered with a great deal of Affurance. 
 
 The Reafon why we fee fo many felf-conceited 
 Coxcombs in the World, who fancy they merit Com- 
 pliments and Applaufe, whilft they are the Object of 
 Raillery is, that they don't perceive what Character 
 they are made to ad : They are a People that live 
 without Reflection, or reflect only to magnify the Idea 
 of their pretender l<fcrit : If they have, by Chance, 
 any good Qualities intermixed with infinite Faults, 
 they Terve only to render them more ridiculous and 
 defpicable, by the foolifh Confidence they .jjoflefs 
 them with. Here you fee the Reafon why fo" many 
 Wretches fprung up from the Dregs of Populace, but 
 who by their Induftry, and commonly bafe Arts have 
 gotten Eftates, think that the Luftre of Wealth ef- 
 faces all Stains and Imperfections, and hides the Spr- 
 didnefs of their Origin from the Eyes of the 
 World. 
 
 It's a very odd Thing that Men who are fo fqueam- 
 ifh about their Reputation, and take fo much 
 Pains to fet off their good Qualities, fhould take fo 
 little Care to difguife their Faults. They are very vi- 
 gilant at making the beft of all their Advantages : 
 which Attention deprives them of another they ought 
 to have, of keeping their Imperfections out of Sight, 
 which render them ridiculous, and corrupt all their 
 Merit : And what is ftill more incomprehenfible is, 
 that thefe Imperfections are commonly fuch as are 
 leaft fuitable to them, and moft remote from their 
 Profeflion and Character. Balzamon, an Ecclefiaftick. 
 
 fet s
 
 70 Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 fefs up for Beauetry and Foppery : He talks of no* 
 thing but his kind Miflrefles, holds long Difcouifea 
 with Women of Defert, about Matters of Beaftlinefs 
 and Lewdnefs, but who are amazed at his Indifcretion 
 and want of Breeding. George is only a Merchant's 
 Son : His Father left the Shop fome few Years ago 
 to be a Courtier, to file off a little of the Rufl of his 
 Extraction ; and yet George boafts of his Anceftors to 
 Sparks that Borrow his Money, and have the Com- 
 plaifance to hearken to him ; nay, he is inexhauftible 
 upon the Topick of his Genealogy. He leads you 
 fr.-m Geoffry to King Arthur, with all the Hiftory of 
 their Exploits, which makes every Body yawn but 
 thofe that borrow his Pence. 
 
 Lively People fhould ever beware of a Fault they 
 naturally fall into. They would always fparkle in 
 Conversation, and fcarce allow others T. i me to fpeak a 
 Word. Thofe that have not this bright Talent, im- 
 patiently bear their Vivacity, which keeps them un- 
 der Conftraint, and flops their Mouth. 
 
 I know not whether of the two Faults is tnoft 
 blameable in a Young Man, a filly Timoroufnefs, 
 .-.trended with a Sheepiih and awkward Look, which 
 keeps him from opening his Month ; or an Impudent 
 Preiumption that defines with a bold Air, cenfures 
 right or wrong, attacks the Conduft of all the World, 
 vents a Thoufand Fooleries, and then carefles himfclf 
 for them : Both are equally foolifh ; but 'tis eafier to 
 endure the Silence of the one, than the Frothinefs and 
 Vanity of the other. 
 
 Have the Difcretion in yonr Vifits to time them 
 well, that you may not be unwelcome to the vifited 
 Perfon. You ftart from Home, which you are tired 
 of, to vifit People that have important Bufinefs or do- 
 meftick Troubles, which require no Witnefles : They 
 have no Leifure to attend to inftgnificant Tattle, which 
 you neverthelefs vent with an Unconcernednefs that 
 diftra&s them. Can't you read in their Faces how 
 burdenfomeyouare to them ? If you do, why fhould 
 
 you,
 
 Of Difcretion and Rejerve. 71 
 
 you, by the unfeafonable Length of your Compli- 
 ments, make them think you an impertinent ? But 
 Men are too vain and full of their own Merits to do 
 themfelves Juftice in this Particular. 
 
 Don't fliew your Face in Places where you are not 
 welcome, nor appear at certain Hours when your 
 Company is unfeafonable : Tis a Lamentable Charac- 
 ter, that of an Impertinent. Stay at home, and 
 trouble not People \virh your Vifits that don't care for 
 them. Is any one fo dull of Apprehenfion, as not to 
 perceive the Difpofitions of thofe Perfons towards him 
 where he goes ? If we perceive our Company to be 
 t'ifre lifted, we muft be loft to all the Sentiments of 
 Honour, if we fpare them not the Uneafmefs our Im- 
 portunate Prefence gives them. Keep at home Arge- 
 lifa, and bear the T<tdium of your Solitude. Why 
 will you trouble Luc inda any more ? She has Twenty 
 Times (hut the Door againft you : fhe dreads you and 
 your fatiguing Vifits : Your Face gives her the Head- 
 Ach and the Vapours. 
 
 Di/cretion is never more required than in the Choice 
 of Perfons to converfe with ; the moft Part of Con- 
 verfations being ungrateful, becaufethey are ill forted 
 and contrived. Don't unbofom yourfelf the firft 
 Vifit you make, nor confide your Secrets to People 
 that hardly know you : But if you have a Difcreet 
 Friend, of an experienced Probity, make noMyftery 
 of them to him, give yourfelf up wholly to his Sin- 
 cerity, and exprefs an unreferved Confidence in him, 
 if you would preferve hisFriendihip. 
 
 If People were wife, they would make their Choice 
 betimes, and leave the World before the World leaves 
 them. The Young are amazed to fee fuch as have 
 grown grey, and f pent all their Days inPleafure, ftill 
 affeft to aft the agreeable Part, and make a Figure 
 amongft Youth, with their battered and furrowed 
 Faces. 'Tis a forlorn Part they aft. But thofe that 
 ridicule it when they are young, aft the fame over in 
 their Turn, unable to refolve to follow the Advice 
 
 they
 
 72 Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 they have given, and take the Refolmion of a Re- 
 treat, tho' they have no other Opinion left. Lyfitnne, 
 at Seventy Six Years of Age, can't live a Quarter of 
 an Hour without a Crowd about her. Is it not time 
 to quit the Stage, and entertain more ferious Thoughts, 
 when People have only a few Days to live ? The 
 Entrance on a retired Life is irkfome, after a long 
 Courfe of Years fpent in the grand Monde : but 'tis a 
 fort of Decorum the Publick oblige us to, which refents 
 Old Age's living after the Mode of Youth. 
 
 'Tis want of Discretion, and miflaking a Man's 
 true Intereft, to think of Pleating, when the Seafon 
 of Agreeablenefs is over. A Man or Woman, whom 
 Age has disfigured, make themfelves ridiculous, by 
 affe&ing to be confidered for their Qualifications, and 
 mimicking the Airs of Young People. Thefe Affec- 
 tations expofe them to the Railleries of the Youthful, 
 who have always the Laughter on their Side. The 
 Old may preferve a Fund of Refpeft, by the Supplies 
 of their Afliftance, their Counfel, or their Credit ; 
 and this they ought to flick to : But they {hould leave 
 to Youth the Merit of Pleafing, as being a Preroga- 
 tive that can't be fafely difputed them, nor withou: 
 bringing troublefome Opponents on their Backs. 
 
 You miftake in your Reckoning, if you think to 
 find only Choice and agreeable People in the World ; 
 for I muft tell you, you will oftner meet with Fools 
 and Impertinents of all Sores and Sizes, with whom 
 you muft familiarize, or banifh yourfelf Converfation. 
 'Tis a pleafant Confideration enough, that we (hould 
 have Indulgence for thofe that tire us : We excufe 
 their Rafticity, their Bluntnefles, and want of Com- 
 plaifance : But we pardon not thofe that gape in 
 our Company, becaufe our Vanity fuffers by it : The 
 Reftleflhefs we give them, is a Sign of their Contempt 
 of our Perfons or Difcourfe. 
 
 There
 
 Of Dijlretion and Referve. 73 
 
 There are a Sort of troublefome, unconverfable 
 People, who are always upon their Guard, and be- 
 lieve every one has a Defign upon them. Their Ser- 
 vants and Friends, their Wives and Children are fuf- 
 pefted. They tell you, 'tis Difcretion to obferve this 
 Method j and that thefe Precautions are necefiary, 
 unlefs you would be every Body's Property ; but with 
 their Pardon, I think 'tis rather an Extravagance, 
 and a Sign of ill Breeding : When we have juft 
 Occafions for miflrufting People, we fliould effeftual- 
 ly let them know our Diffidence, that they may not 
 prefume to deceive us, nor make Choice of us for 
 Bubbles. Bat I would advife you to manifeft no Suf- 
 picion of thofe that mean no Harm, becaufe your bad 
 Efteem of them, may probably provoke them to play 
 you fome flippery :Tr ick, -which they otherwife never 
 defigned. How many Hufbands have, as it were, 
 compelled their Wives to: be unfaithful to them? 
 How many Mailers has fhewn their Servants the Way 
 to Falfhood, by unjuft Miftrufts and ill-grounded Jea- 
 loufies I 
 
 Either we ought not to truft our Secrets with our 
 Friends, or elfe truft them without Referve ; If you 
 confide in them, why do you ufe Subterfuges and 
 DiiTimuIation ? If you don't, why do you reveal your 
 Secrets, and difcover an Opennefs of Heart, which 
 you may afterwards repent of? 'Tis fatiguing and 
 uneafy to keep Company with fuch as you are obliged 
 10 difguife yourfelf from, left they mould penetrate 
 into you ; but 'tis vaft Indifcretion and Extravagance 
 to communicate Matters of Importance to them, 
 when you are not fecure of their Honefty or Reten- 
 tion. 
 
 'Tis one of the moft common Weaknefles in Men, 
 to make Offers of Service to all People alike, tho' 
 their Infignificancy and Inability are well known : 
 The meaning is to make a Figure for fomething or 
 other, and to allure the Crowd with vain Expectances : 
 But the Cullies are undeceived, and find, when the 
 
 Occafion
 
 74 Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 Occafion ferves, how their Credulity has been a- 
 bufed. 
 
 Thofe yo have made a Promife to, have a juft 
 Title co the Performance of it : And indeed a Man 
 fhould promife nothing beyond his Power, or unlefs 
 he be very confident he can make it good : But inte- 
 refted Perlbns don't ufe to be fo exaft : To engage 
 others to do them good Offices, they promife mutual 
 Returns, the Hope of Retribution being a mighty Spur 
 to quicken them : But having obtained their Defues, 
 the Engagements they made are forgotten, and 'tis 
 much if they even remember thofe that ferved them. 
 There is a Time, when People more readily promife, 
 without thinking of keeping their Words ; which is, 
 when the importunate Solicitor wearies them with his 
 Afiiduities. To get rid of this Conftraint, they pro- 
 mife what they have no Defign to perform. He that 
 has any Difcretion will retire when he finds himfelf fo 
 often disappointed. 
 
 'Tis not always with an Intention to benefit by 
 your Inftru&ions, that your Opinion is fo earneftly 
 demanded, "fis Commendation and Applaufe you 
 are courted for; and 'tis eafy enough to penetrate 
 thro' fuch a Difguife, and into the Sentiments of him 
 that fpeaks to you. You have feverely criticifed Cla.' 
 nan's Piece that he has read to you ; but you clearly 
 miilook his Sentiments ; he is perfuaded his Verfes 
 are fo excellent, that neither Boileau nor Dryden could 
 make better. He feeks to content his Vanity, by 
 reading his Poetry to his filly Admirers, who applaud 
 him, and intoxicate him with their Incenfe. To deal 
 with fuch Sorts of People, we have need of Difcre- 
 tion and Sincerity : We ought not to tell them blunt- 
 ly to their Faces, that their Verfes are good for no- 
 thing ; nor mould we be fo cowardly as to excufe their 
 Extravagances. 
 
 What Pretence have you to fet up for a Cenfurer 
 of Mankind ? Give others leave to live after their 
 own Way, and keep your Refte&iom to your felf. 
 
 Don't
 
 Of Difcretion and Refervc. 75 
 
 Don'c go about to oppofe your felf to the Torrent ; 
 they have always lived in the fame Fafhion, and you 
 can't put them out of their Road. Why mould you 
 be concerned at all the Impertinences they utter, and 
 Fooleries they do, if you are not to anfwer for them ? 
 Be fatisfied with not being guilty of the like, and leave 
 the World to it felf. Herein Clorinis Difcretion is 
 not to be fufficiently admired. She has a tranfcen- 
 dant Wit, and makes fo good Ufe of it, as to find 
 her Account with all Sorts of People : She rifes or falls 
 in Proportion to the Capacity of thofe (he Converges 
 with. Men of great Wit pleafe her with their charm- 
 ing Converfation, and Fools divert her by the Fooleries 
 that efcape them ; fo that (he ftill finds an Expedient 
 to be delighted with all Companies, of whatever Cha- 
 rades they confift. Thus .all People mould behave 
 themfelves, to like and approve one another, which 
 would remove thofe frequent Complaints of the Un- 
 eafmefs we find in converfirig with the World. 
 
 I am at a lofs to know why we feel a fecret Reluc- 
 tance when others give us their Advice, and a kind of 
 Averfion to them for it. 'Tis a Sign of great Merii, 
 mtdejlly to bear Remonftrances, on what Side foevtr 
 they come ; but fome are fo Proud and Tender, trui 
 the lead Thing wounds them j they would be approv- 
 ed for every Thing they do, tho' we have juft Reafon 
 to reprehead them. Mean time they mould be thank- 
 ful to People that would prevent their running into 
 Miilakes, and are fo friendly as to open their Eyes in 
 refped to the Irregularity of their Condudt. 
 
 'Tis Cowardice to defer t our Friends, when they 
 are abufed in their Abfence , we ought to omit nothing 
 for their Vindication, and endeavour to ftop the Mouth 
 oi unjuft Reproach. But we mould not paflionateiy 
 take their Parts in frivolous Things, that neither inte- 
 reft their Reputation nor their Fortune; according to 
 the whirnfical Methods of fome People, who wanton- 
 ly occafion themfelves perfonal Quarrels. 
 
 Difcrttiua
 
 76 Reflexions upon Politenefs. 
 
 Difcretion fliould qualify the Reprimands a Father 
 gives his Children, if he would have them prevail. 
 Is a Matter the better ferved for his Paffion to his Ser- 
 vants when they commit a Fault ? If to retrieve your 
 Friend from his erroneous Conduct you expoftulate an- 
 grily with him, your Remonftrances provoke inftead 
 of correcting him. Thus a Hufband might eafily 
 prevent a Young Wife, unpradtifed in the World, 
 from taking bad Meafures, and engaging in a Com- 
 merce deftructive to domeftick Peace, if he had the 
 Difcretion to diflemble his Refentment, and to reduce 
 her to her Duty by ways of Gentlenefs and Good- 
 nature : But his fevere Treatment, and unfeafonable 
 Noife and Clamour, determine and compel her to 
 Refolutions Die would never have taken, if he had had 
 more Regard for her. Of" what ufe was all that 
 Uproar Felibien made upon his Spoufe's Conduct ? If 
 ftie ftrayed a little from the Exadtnefs of her Duty, 
 'twas rather out of Levity, than determined Malice. 
 Some Difcreet Remonftrances, feafoned with Tender- 
 nefs and Confidence, would have won his Young 
 Bride's Heart, by confulting her Reputation, which he 
 has abfolutely loft by the Noife he has made, and his 
 ever-violent Proceedings ? 'Tis the Hufoand's Duty 
 to admonifh his Wife, if flie b guilty of Faults, or 
 too carelefs of her Conduct ; but more effectually to 
 reduce her 10 her Duty, his Reprimands fhduld not be 
 over-fharpned with Reproach, which have always a 
 bad Effect : Much lefs fliould he have Recourfe to 
 practical Remonftrances, as is the Method of fome 
 Hulbands, who are not always Mafters of their Paffi- 
 on, in fuch nice Conjunctures as require the greateft 
 Prefence of Mind. 
 
 What, can we think, is in the Heads of fome 
 Women, who take no Care to conceal their Intrigues, 
 and who have fo depraved a Tafte, as to pride them- 
 felves in Things that abfolutely difgrace them ? Do 
 they mean by this to gain the Mens Affections ? 
 'Twould be a ftrange Fetch of Politicks, to difgrace 
 
 themlelves
 
 Of Difcretion and Refcrvi. 77, 
 
 themfelves on purpofe to get Lovers. Love that is 
 not founded on Efteem, is neither folid nor lafting ; 
 but 'tis delicious with them to make themfelves con- 
 temptible and ridiculous; and there's no Remedy but 
 to give them over to their Paflion. Lerina feems to 
 have forgotten that (he's of one of the beft Families 
 in England $ that flic's Young and Handfome, and 
 would be adored if me had the Art to make ufe of all 
 her Advantages. Her giddy and libertine Conduct 
 corrupts her Merit : Were Ihe more Itately and re- 
 ferved, {he would fire with other Notions thofe that 
 now confider her only as a Jilt , 
 
 The Referee of a Woman of Merit is a fort of 
 Bridle to contain Men in their Duty : The boldeft 
 dare not take their fwing before a Woman that 
 maintains her Character, but are difconcerted and in- 
 timidated by her modeft Pride. If the Ladies were 
 careful to preferve this Behaviour fo well becoming 
 them, they would not only be full as amiable, but 
 rather more refpeded by the Men, who then durft not 
 forget themfelves before them as they are accuftomed 
 to do. 
 
 They ruin all their Tntereft by that Liberty they 
 have for fome time aflTumed of too debonnaire a Car- 
 riage ; and lofe the Empire they have naturally over 
 Men. This giddy Behaviour is only fuitable to thofe 
 wretched Creatures that give us Horror, and poflefs 
 us with Loathing and Contempt. Have Women of 
 this Character Reafon to complain of the Mens ill 
 Carriage to them ? That they are grown uncivil and 
 brutal, without Refpedl, Submiffion or Complaifance 
 for them ? If they obferved in their Conduct a Re~ 
 fer<ve and fcrupulous Severity that cenfured the leaft 
 Liberties, the Men would keep within the Bounds of 
 Refpeft that's due to them. Too great an Eafmefs 
 renders them familiar and hardy. 
 
 'Tis a difficult Province for a Woman, who is de- 
 firous to pleafe, and yet willing to fave Appearances, 
 to preferve that juft Medium that is the Perfection of 
 
 VOL. II, E her
 
 7$ Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 her Chara&er. Too much Severity difcourage?, and 
 an over- {trained Complaifance grows infipid. Thefe 
 two Virtues fhould be fo combined, that Complai- 
 fance may be an Alcali for the Sowernefs of Severity, 
 and Severity give Poignancy to Complaifance. This 
 ^Equilibrium is hard to be kept : The Balance in- 
 clines to the Excefs of -one or other of thefe Virtues, 
 which is the Reafon thofe who are ever fo fond of 
 pleafing, hit not upon the Knack -of it. 
 
 Referve ihould have nothing in ir, either Wild 
 Termagant, or Difguftful : 'Tis a very different 
 Thing from the Affectation of the Mimicks and Apes 
 of Modefty, who treat all alike with a ftudied Seve- 
 rity, to make People believe they have no Favourite. 
 They pretend to be alarmed in publick at too free a 
 Word ; but in private -defcend to moft fhameful Li- 
 berties. 'Tis the Way of Hypocrites to cenfure the 
 Hghteft Things in others, whilft 'their Confcience up- 
 braids them with certain Matters- very repugnant to 
 their Appearance and'Grimaces. 
 
 Moft Women, - that tmbark in difhonourable Con- 
 federacies, ,fo flatter themfelves with the Secrefy of 
 their little Intrigues, and their nice Politicks to dif- 
 guife their Conduft, that the Publick muft be a 
 Stranger to them. They would not run the rifque 
 they do, if they forefaw the fatal Confequences of 
 their Gallantries and Engagements : But they are 
 abufed by their very Confidents ; and are ever for- 
 wardeft to betray thofe whofe Diftretion they leaft 
 fufpedled. 
 
 The more Merit a Woman has, the more cautious 
 flie ihould be to do nothing derogatory to her Charac- 
 ter. Women of Beauty are conftantly beleaguered 
 with Ambufcades. There are fome nice Conjunctures 
 wherein the moft refolv'd Virtue can't ftand it's Ground. 
 'Tis the Part of Prudence to forefee thefe dangerous 
 Cccafions, and avoid them at any Rate, when a 
 Woman's refolved to ftick to her Duty ; though this 
 ;nay fcem a very fevere and difficult.Tafk. They that 
 
 have
 
 Of Dif cret ion and Re/ervf. 7^ 
 
 have parted the Fire of their Youth, or make a Pro- 
 feffion of an auftere Virtue, are not fo expofed to the 
 Importunity of Lovers ; which is an excellent Reme- 
 dy to fave the Virtue of a Woman. 
 
 A Woman attack'd, if Severity be not her Armour, 
 is half vanquiflVd, and lets you fee (he thinks of capi- 
 tulating. 'Tis eafy to defcry in her Eyes, her Face, 
 and by the found of her Voice, the Effect that bold 
 Difcourfe has upon her. If fhe anfwers with Refolu- 
 tion or Contempt, be a Man never fo Refolute and 
 Enterprizing, he changes his Language j but if her 
 Anfwer be equivocal or affected ; or if fhe gives but 
 weak Teftimonies of her Difpleafure, he'll not fail to 
 draw Confequences very injurious to her Glory. The 
 Referve of a Woman that refolves to be regular, re- 
 tains People in Refpect, without the Affiflance of 
 many Words, or a Volley of Paffion. 
 
 Is it the Women's Fault their Hufbands don't love 
 them, or is it the Fault of both ? That which is very 
 unaccountable, is, that our Love for a Maid, when, 
 courted, is fo foon extinguifhed when a Wife, 
 tho' fhe be actually very amiable, and lofe no Degree 
 of her Merit. 'Tis true, there are ftrange Whimfies 
 in the Heart of Man. The defire he has to pofTefs a 
 Thing, gives it an additional Worth, which finks as 
 foon as the Defire is over : Befides, the Ardency 
 wherewith he fought it, makes it appear more valu- 
 able ; fo that when this Zeal begins to cool, the Thing 
 is not found fo amiable as before. We may add, that 
 what is poffefled, is lefs relifhed than what is defired, 
 becaufe we are always in queft of new Objects to 
 amufe us, whereas Cuilom leaves in us a certain Dif- 
 guft or Languor, that renders the Things taflelefs 
 which we can difpofe of. But the moft natural Rea- 
 fon why Hufbands and Wives have fo little Love for 
 each other, is becaufe they know one another too well. 
 They have not the Discretion, or will not be at the 
 Pains to conceal their Weakneffes and Imperfections, 
 becaufe 'tis a tedious Conftraint ; and they chufe 
 E 2 raihcr
 
 8p Reflections upon Politenefs, 
 
 rather to appear in their proper Colours, than put on 
 any Difguife. 
 
 Young People, who want Experience, and com- 
 monly Underftanding to fee clearly their own Interefis, 
 reafon very differently from their Parents, who have 
 more Experience and mpre Difcretion. A young 
 Maid, whofe Heart is already prepoffefTed, hears with 
 Pain the Remonftrances of a prudent and underftand- 
 ing Mother, who would provide her Daughter a more 
 fuitable Match, tho' not fo much to her Inclination. 
 The Daughter confiders nothing but the Perfon ; the 
 Mother, who has other Views, and reafons in cool 
 Blood, regards only the Eftate : And this is one of 
 the Sources of the Miferies of Marriage. 'Tis en- 
 gaged in againil Inclination ; the Troubles that infal- 
 libly attend it, make the Lofs of that Match regret- 
 ted, that was before fo agreeable. A Woman per- 
 fuades herfelf, fhe fhould have been more happy by 
 following her own Bias. The Heart that is livelily 
 touched, turns naturally to the amiable Object, as the 
 Magnetic Needle does to the Pole. The Difguft, or 
 Averfion for a Hufband, taken only upon Family- 
 Confiderations, redoubles flill the Vexation. Is there 
 need of any Thing more, to perfuade her fhe is moil 
 miferable ? And would it be amifs, to have a little 
 more Regard for the Perfon, than the Eftate ? 
 
 A Woman of the World is not obliged to renounce 
 all Sorts of Attire and Ornaments ; but may make ufe 
 of fuch as are fuitable to her Condition, Age and 
 Character : But when fhe has gone fo far as to turn 
 Devotee, to lengthen her Sleeves, and take a Religious 
 and regular Habit ; the reft of her Conduct fhould 
 conform to her reformed Outfide : For if fhe will flill 
 be a Woman of Pleafure, if fhe'll play the fame Game, 
 have the fame Care of her Beauty, the fame Delicacy 
 for all her Charms ; the World will fet but little by 
 her Devotion, which is merely fuperficial, and con- 
 jfifts in ftudied Affectation and Grimace. 
 
 The
 
 Of Moderation, &c. 8r 
 
 The Ladies of this Age don't much approve of that 
 korifm of the ancient Sage ; who faid, Women were 
 made only for Reft and Retirement : That all their 
 Virtue confijled in being unknown, without incurring 
 Blame, or deferring Commendation. That jhe ivas 
 the mojt virtuous* that ivas leaft Jpoken of. And there- 
 fore he abfolutely forbid them the Commbn-wealth, 
 and confined them to the Obfcurity of their Families ; 
 sffigning them only one Employment, which was the 
 Education of their Children, to make them ufeful 
 Subjects to the State. 
 
 Lo ! here's a fuperannuated Piece of Morality f 
 The Ladies have found the Art of making off thefe 
 uneafy Fetters : They love Noife and Buftle: The 
 greatefl Intrigues are managed by their Miniftry. 
 They will have a Hand in every Thing ; and think 
 themfelves capable of Reforming boih Church arid 
 State. They don't as yet defire the Heading of Ar- 
 mies ; but bating this, they would willingly fubmit 
 their Shoulders to all the Burdens of the Republick. 
 Mofl of them are more enterprizing than Men ; more 
 refolute, mo.e ferule in Expedients, and more dex- 
 trous at the happy Management of an Intrigue. 
 
 Of Moderation and Dijlntereftednefs. 
 
 y "V"* I S not to be hoped, that the Generality of 
 X Men will quit their ruling Principle of Ca- 
 price, to be governed by Reafon. They float along 
 the Torrent of a whirling and impetuous Humour, 
 which obferves neither Laws nor Meafures. Their 
 Pafllons drag them along ; and Intereft warps all their 
 Notions. Their perpetual Outrages render them in- 
 docible, and incapacitate them to command them- 
 felves. Here you fee the Source of the irreparable 
 Faults they commit, and of the Irregularity of their 
 Conduft. 
 
 E 3 I
 
 9z Reflections ufon Politenefs. 
 
 If we well confider, we fliall eafily obferve, that 
 ir.oft of the Difcontents, Difputes, and great Com- 
 motions that infeft the Lives of Men, proceed from 
 the want of Skill to moderate themfelves, and snalter 
 their Paflions. 'Tis certain, Moderation is a Virtue of 
 very extenfive U/e ; and we have frequent need of it 
 in ail the different Situations we are placed in. 'Tis 
 continually neceffary to bear the Misfortunes that befal 
 u?, without Daftardy and Complaints ; to adapt our 
 felves to the Magottry aod Capricioufnefs of thole very 
 iroublefome People we are obliged to live with ; poli- 
 tickly to diffetnble the difmgenuous Treatment of ill- 
 defigning Men. 'Tis commonly more prudent not to 
 ieem to fee all, than make our Discoveries inftrumental 
 ro thole violent ClaOies, that have always vexatious 
 Confequences. Few People are fofficient Matters of 
 their Refentment, or their Spleen, to moderate them- 
 ielves when they fee they are defpifed, or heai ai>y 
 Difcourfe prejudicial to their Glory. 
 
 He that could prevail fo far over himfelf, as to be 
 undifturbed at affrontive Language, would find an ex- 
 cellent Preservative for his own Repofe. This is a 
 Thing of very difficult Practice; but which, neveF- 
 thelefs, produces a good ErFec~l. If what we are up- 
 braided with be true, 'tis fitter for us to correct our- 
 felves, than for others to forbear us : If the Matter be 
 falfe, we (hall give it the Credentials of Truth, by the 
 Anguifh we exprefs. The fafeft Method is to fet our- 
 felves above thsfe Sort of Reports : The flighting of 
 fuch Difcourfe difcredits it, and robs the Author of 
 the malicious Pleafure he takes in Scandal. 
 
 'Tis impoflible to fecure ourfelves from accidental 
 Difappointments and Difgraces; but the Man of Mo- 
 deration eftablifhes a Kind of Happinefs on the word 
 Events. Ill Succefles, which confound and throw im- 
 patient People off the Hinges, ferve only to brighten 
 the Virtue and Courage of moderate Men. It re- 
 quires great Strength of Mind, to fuftain fome Shocks, 
 thac cxhauH aH our Recruits, and feem remedilefs : 
 
 And 
 < v.
 
 Of Moderation, 8rc. % 
 
 And at this JunQure, a Man finds his Moderation a 
 Refuge againft the Malignancy of Fortune. 
 
 Men of Honour and Honefty fometimes forget 
 themfelves in Misfortunes, and the Diforder of their 
 Affairs ; the Neceffities they are under, provoke them 
 to Adions of Regret, and which they blufli the firft 
 for. A Man fometimes finds himfelf in fuch uneafy 
 Circumftances, that he is obliged to force his Temper, 
 and buckle to the Weight of his oppreffive Fortune. 
 Ingenuous Difpofitions fuffer infinitely in thefe Con- 
 junctures ; feeing themfelves, in fpite of their Cou- 
 rage, forced to comply with over-powering Neceffity. 
 In thefe Seafons of Adverfity, they muft have R~- 
 oourfe to their Moderation, for Expedients to foften 
 and abate the Miferies that can't abfolutely be avoided. 
 
 If People would, or could moderate themfelves, 
 they might eafily be happy in every State; but they 
 often form imaginary Caufes of Difcontent, when 
 they have no real ones. There is fuch a Magazine of 
 Whims in the Heart of. Man, that he turns Tyrant 
 to himfelf, when no Body elfe diflurbs him. 
 
 Front* wants nothing in Nature to be happy, but 
 the Power to enjoy his Fortune. There's no Body in 
 greater Favour with his Queen, which is an infallible 
 ISign of his Merit. He pofTefTes a Poft, that makes 
 him the Envy of all the World. His Eftate is an- 
 fvverable to his Birth and Employments ; and yet he 
 is melancholy, and diflatisfied in the midft of all his 
 Profperity. Without confidering what he has, he 
 carries his Ambition to what he has not ; and wears 
 out his Life in Chagrin, Reftleflhefs and Difcontent, 
 which poifon all the Sweets and Comfort of his For- 
 tune. 
 
 It would be advantageous to fome People, not to 
 h-.ve fo great Fortunes. We find in them innume- 
 rable good Qualities, and efteem, love and caret's 
 them, when in a lower State ; bat we (at the fame 
 time) fee their Merits fink, in proportion to their Ele- 
 vation. The Change of Fortune for the better, changes 
 4 tfie
 
 84 Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 the Manners for the worfe. The Vices that had been 
 palliated out of Neceffity, then fhew themfelves with 
 greater Licence. 
 
 Lenix was complaHant, moderate, humble and a- 
 miable, before he became rich ; but fince his Father 
 came into the Treafury, and he reckons his Eftate by 
 Thoufands, he is grown haughty, proud, contemp- 
 tuous, fcoHfli, and what not He has loft by his 
 Rickej, all the Efteem he had before pui chafed by his 
 Virtue. 
 
 What Wonder 'tis, that People meanly born, and 
 cf a bad Education,- fhould (when raifed to Eftates) 
 forget tbemfelves, and grow felf fufficient and pre- 
 fuming ? Their Origin is not remembered : and the 
 Wealth they fwim in, makes their Favour courted by 
 Great Men. Thefe mean Condefcenfions in them, 
 ard the Occafions the World has for their Afliftance, 
 tarn their Heads, and make them commonly fo fool- 
 ifh and infolect, as to prefer themfeives to thofe that 
 borrow their Money, or fell them their Lands and 
 
 I queftion whether Women, who are too fond of 
 Finery, will underftand their Interefts. Inflead of 
 heightning their native Beauty, they obfcure it, and 
 hinder its whole EfFcft. An ugly Woman fhculd be- 
 ware of drawing People's Eyes upon her, v by her At- 
 tire. When the Uglinefs is alone, 'tis not fo much 
 minded; it remains (as I faid) hid in its own Ob- 
 fcurity. 
 
 Old Clarlnda, whh her Rofe coloured Suit, and all 
 the reft of her Accoutrements, attracts the Railleries 
 of all that view her. It provokes one's Indignation, 
 to fee her Skeleton adorned with Diamonds, Bracelets 
 and Lockets ; and when (he afks whether the Colour 
 of her Ribbons be not fine, one can't forbear laagh- 
 ing in her Face. 
 
 There's no body without their Infirmities : The 
 great Art coniiih in concealing them fo nicely, that 
 ihe World may not find them out, Thofe that fhew 
 
 thercfelves
 
 Of Moderation, Sec. 85 
 
 themfelves too much, and have not fufRcient Com- 
 mand and Self-Government on certain Occafions, are 
 conftantly expofed to the Slight and Railleries pf 
 fuch as know them, and who think themfelves not 
 obliged to fpare them. 
 
 'Tis not the Seafon to talk much, when a Man is 
 agitated with violent Paffion, and not fufficientlyMaf- 
 ter of himfelf. Vexation commonly makes us vent 
 fuch Fooleries in hafte, as we repent of at leifure. 
 We mould therefore never be more watchful of our- 
 felves, than when we are fplenetick or enraged. This 
 Paffion diforders us, be we never fo temperate, if we 
 give way to its tumultuous and extravagant Mo- 
 tions. 
 
 J was fenfibly touched the other Day with a fine 
 Inftanceof Moderation in Dorantes. H found him- 
 felf abufed by a Perfon of much inferior Quality- : 
 He had a Cane in his Hand ; and, at his firlt Com- 
 motion, was tempted to ftrike the Man who had 
 thus failed in Refpedt. He entered his Chamber, to 
 let his PafTion cool, before he would hnifh the Affair 
 that occaiioned his Diibrder. A Perfon of lefs Tem- 
 per would have reeked his Spleen, by Caning the 
 lenfelefs Coxcomb j but I am perfuaded, a Man of 
 Honour is much afhamed of himielf, when he con- 
 fiders in cool Blood, what Violence his Anger has 
 led him to. 
 
 They that feek their Repofe and Satisfaction in the 
 World, are always "reftlefs, becaufe they can't find 
 what they fo earneftty purfue. They -muft not even 
 reckon much on their Fore-fsght, -which is often 
 baffled and furprized by treachery ^ -againft which. 
 Prudence, Strength and Courage, have no Preferva- 
 tive. When, with all the Care and Pains we art 
 capable of, Things fucceed ill, we muft do as we do 
 at Play, (which depends on the Freaks of Fortune) 
 endeavour to rempdy by Patience, what we lofe by 
 Chance. 
 
 E 5 Reft
 
 86 Refietlions upon Polite nefs. 
 
 Reft fatisfied with your good Intentions, if you 
 would preferve your Quiet, and be contented with 
 the fecret Pleafure that refults from a Confcioufnefs of 
 : good Actions : For 'tis in vain to flatter ourfelves with 
 the Hopes of every body's Approbation. Tho' equi- 
 table People praife you, and do you Juftice, you'll 
 find a greater Number to difapprove your Condudi. 
 . The Generality of Men make no RefaBion, even, on 
 Actions deferving immortal Praife ;. their Supinenefs 
 not permitting them to trouble their Heads about 
 what has no Relation to them. Others, more mali- 
 . cious and fantaftical, will cenfure the Nobleft and 
 . moft Heroick Exploits, that dazzle their jealous Eyes. 
 Acquiefce in the Teftimony of your Confcience, and 
 proceed in your own Way. 
 
 You fee how the Opinions of the World are divi- 
 ded about Fa<vorina. Sound Judges of Things agree, 
 no body can have greater Virtue, finer Wit, a more 
 real Merit, or Modeller Sentiments, in fo high a For- 
 tune : Whereas others of fmall Infight and Penetra- 
 tion, or of a capricious Judgment, fay, She is a 
 Hypocrite that plays a Part, and conceals (under an 
 humble Exterior and pretended Modefty) an im- 
 meafurable Fund of Pride. To leflen the Merit of 
 . the Great Things (he does, and which are too manir'eit 
 to be denied, they give her finifter Intentions, which 
 {he never had. They endeavour to infinuate, that 
 /he aims at nothing but her own Dignity and Fortune, 
 even when flie acts from the moft iublime and exalted 
 Motives. Such is the Malice and Extravagance of 
 the Heart of Man. 
 
 A Man mould be vejy fecure of his Point,, thit 
 
 . takes the Liberty to reproach People. 'Tis hard for 
 
 ; a Perfon that is unjuftly accufed, to contain himfelf: 
 
 , His Blood rifes at the Extravagance, or Malice of 
 
 thofe, that deny juftice to his Virtue : But when the 
 
 Reproaches are weU grounded, the Man has nojhing 
 
 to fay, becaufe his own Confdence ftill urges him 
 
 inure feverely. 
 
 Perfon s
 
 Of Moderation , &c, , 87 
 
 Perfons of Quality need not to be apprehenfive of 
 being too courteous and familiar ; their Rank and 
 Dignity fufficiently maintain their Refpeft ; and the 
 Ambition of pleafing them, makes us eafily fubmit 
 to their Defines. They mould therefore, by a popu- 
 lar and eafy Behaviour, endeavour to foften the Yoke 
 of this Dependance : Hereby they would gain the 
 Confidence and Friendship, of thofe that have to do 
 with them : Whereas too great State, and a haughty 
 and impertinent Carriage, difcourage . and rebuff 
 them. 
 
 There is a Sort of Correfpondence betwixt the 
 Subject and his Prince. The Subjeft is obliged to 
 Obedience and Submiflion ; the Prince to Care, Pro- 
 tedlion, Bounty, and Eafmefs of Accefs. When 
 Things are in this Pofition, every body is content. 
 The inferior Perfon finds a Pleafure in obeying, and 
 is not fenfible of theClog^of his Dependance. 
 
 In your Converfe with haughty People, put on fo > 
 much Moderation and Referve, as never to let them 
 fee you have an eminent Merit, oul-fhining theirs. 
 If Perfons much above you, afk your Advice, don't 
 give it like a Pedagogue, or pretend to tutor them. 
 Modeftly lend them your Inftruftions, as if you only 
 mingled Counfels with them. Thefe Ihfinuations 
 will make you more agreeable than all you can fay 
 or do in their Behalf. 
 
 Such as love difputing in Converfation, and al- 
 ways ufe the Negative to what others advance, fre- 
 quently make a Perfonal Quarrel of a frivolous Mat- 
 ter that is concerted. Oppofition heats them, and 
 makes them obftinate in defending their Opinions. If 
 they want good Arguments to fuppprt them, the 
 ordinary Recourfe is to Invedives and Reproaches, 
 which are commonly fmartly returned by the offend- 
 ed Perfon. This Reply pafTes for the Rancour of an 
 infulting Enemy ; and thus a Trifle grows into a fe- 
 rious Biifinefs, and Arbitrators are called in to deter- 
 mine. the jnagetty Diffute.
 
 88 Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 'Tis almoft impoffible to carry on a long Acquain- 
 tance with the generality of Men, without Occafion 
 of Complaint. But the Fault is, that our Com- 
 plaints are too ftrong and bitter. The means we 
 take to reduce People that offend us, fets their recon- 
 ciliation at an impracticable Diftance. An obliging 
 Procedure, genteel and tender Reprehenfions, have a 
 much better effeft to fmooth and foften the moft 
 favage Difpofitions. Lenity and Moderation are the 
 apteft Rerrfedies we can "apply to bring back fantafti- 
 cal and unreafonable People to their Duty. In the 
 mean Time, this is a Method very feldom taken -, it 
 being a vulgar Notion, that Reputation is concerned 
 to give fuch Thunder-Claps as may call up every 
 Body's Attention. 
 
 I know not whether it may be reckoned a Para- 
 dox, That greater jlrcngth of Mind is rcquijite to bear 
 good Fortune than bad. Vulgar iiouls bend under the 
 weight of their Profperity ; their Joy burfts out of 
 them whether they will or no, and we read their 
 moft fecret Thoughts in the Lines of a fatisfied Coun- 
 tenance. They can't help difcovering their Pride 
 that flows from Wealth, and their Contempt for 
 thofe that want it. 
 
 Men of greateft Depth and Wifdom have no infal- 
 lible Security againft making falfe Steps : But -when 
 this Misfortune happens, you are not obftinately to 
 maintain an abfurd Choice by a miftaken Bravery, 
 or the Afperity of Refentments that plunge you into 
 frefh Precipices. Try to recover your Error ; there 
 .being commonly more Merit in a dextrous difenga- 
 ging from a Labyrinth, than in the firfl avoidance of 
 the Fault. We pity a Man, whom the wretched- 
 nefs of his .Affairs, or unhappy Circumftances have 
 difconcerted, but we don't pity thofe that by an un- 
 feafcnable Obftinacy give the finifhing ftroke to their 
 own Ruin, when they might eafily reftore tbeir Mat- 
 ters by following another Conduft, 
 
 Temper
 
 Of Moderation, &c. 89 
 
 Temper is never more neceffary in Conversation, 
 than when it turns upon Raillery. 'Tis very hard to 
 govern one's felt" in a Run of Mirth and Humour, 
 which has the Applaufe of all the Company. Con- 
 verfation is indeed more lively and agreeable for it ; 
 but it feldom happens that thofe that rally, and the 
 rallied Pci Tons, depart good Friends Delicate Peo- 
 ple fometirr.es feel themfelves more wounded and of- 
 fnded at a Jeft than an Afnir of Confequence, be- 
 caufe every Body dreads Ridicule, and hates to fee 
 others merry at their (3 oft. 
 
 Whence is it we have not the fame Indulgence for 
 others, that we exped f;om therr ? Such is the In- 
 juftice of Men, that they require perfection in every 
 body elfe, whilft the World has a thoufand juft In- 
 dictments againft themfeives. Lucretia is every 
 where complaining of Ifmenes contradicting Hu- 
 mour : She fays file's a forward Creature, and that 
 you know not where to have, nor how to live with 
 her : Yet the World has not a more unconverfable, 
 whimfical, finical Piece than Lucretia herfelf is. Tis 
 common enough for thofe who have palpable Enormi- 
 ties, which every body fuffers by, to tax others with 
 Peccadillo's, which they heighten into Prodigies. 
 
 It feems to be the Law of Reprifals, that we ob- 
 ferve no Meafures with thofe that infult us with harm, 
 and offerifive Language ; and 'tis an eftablifhed Luftom 
 to anfvver People in the fame ftrain ; but yet it muft 
 be owned, that this is the very Peft of Converfation, 
 and that whoever has fufficient Command of himfelf 
 not to be paflionate on thefe Conjunctures, and tore- 
 ftrain a cutting Exprefllon ready to efcape him, is 
 much to be commended, for fpaiing, out of pure 
 Generofity, People undeferving fuch nice Regards. 
 
 What fignifies it to vent one's felf in Clamour and 
 Pafiion againft thofe that drop you after a long Ac- 
 quaintance, whilft you have given no Occafion for 
 fuch ill Treatment ? Thefe Hurricanes and Tranf- 
 ports are very ufelefs, and never reduce them to their 
 
 Duty.
 
 90 Reflexions upon Politenefs. 
 
 Duty. The beft Expedient we can ufe with fuch as 
 defert us, is to give them Liberty to do it : IF this be 
 an Affliction to us,, we Ihould not let them have the 
 pleafure of" perceiving.it. 
 
 When a Man has done us an iH Office, or treated 
 us ill in Difcourfc, which our imprudent Friends re- 
 late to us,, the firft Thing that occurs is a defire of 
 Revenge, and of feeking all Occafions to give Proofs 
 of our Refentment. We rail at him in all Conapa- 
 nies, and would have every body engage in . our 
 Quarrel, and approve our Procedure : This is the 
 common Practice of Mankind. But it would be 
 much more generous to fuperfede thefe fort of Affairs, 
 and only, by fome gentle Reproofs to fhew we are 
 not Infenfible, or lo ftupidly indoierit as to be touch- 
 ed with nothing. If we took this Method, inftead of 
 that of Calumnies and Inveftives, we fhouJd find 
 the Secret of giving them all the Blame, and preferv- 
 ing our own Rep.ofe and Reputation. Why will 
 you commit the fame Fault, and furniuV the Aggref- 
 for with as juft Materials of Complaint. 
 
 Temper and Moderation are at all Times necefla- 
 ry, becaufe we every where meet with humourfome 
 and untraclable Feopje, that afford a noble Subjeft for 
 our Patience. A Man happens to be tied to an ill- 
 humoured Wife, who is alwa>s quarrelling and fcold- 
 ing : His clownifh and brutifh Servants don't ferve 
 him to his Mind : His falfe Friends betray or aban- 
 don him when he. has moft Occafion for their Affift- 
 ance : His Enemies, bent on his Ruin-, create him 
 unlucky Troubles, What Refolution fhould he take 
 under thefe Confufions ? Muft he be always bidding 
 Battle to thofe that play him, thefe ill Turns, to force 
 them to be reafonable in fpight of their Natures ? 
 This would be a very vain and fruitlefs Undertaking. 
 The fureft and fhorteft way, were to arm one's felf 
 with Pbitofopby, and retire within the Fort of Mo- 
 deration, 
 
 We
 
 Of Moderation, &c. <^r 
 
 We find a fort of Men very much of the Nature 
 of wild Beaib; always ready to tear you in Pieces, 
 and devour you. They place to the account of Be- 
 nefaclions, tke Mifchiefs they don't do you. Expert 
 no good Offices from them, nor hope, by the Rec.tal 
 of your Misfortunes, to move and (often them to 
 Compafllon. Think it rather a Mercy if they don't 
 pulh you off the brink of the Precipice to finiih your 
 Defbudion. By the Malice of their Natures, they 
 are always in a Difpofition to do all the Mifchief they 
 are capable of;, and they feel an ill-natured Joy, when- 
 ever they exafpeiate and plague you. Ought fuch Men 
 to have come into the World? Or ought not the 
 Laws of well regulated Governments to banifli them 
 human Converfation ? 
 
 There's in Man fuch a Fund of Gall and Maligni- 
 ty, as makes him behold with Envy the Talents and 
 fine Qualities of others. He can't refolve to com- 
 mend them when they are mentioned, his whole na- 
 tural Bias leaning to Slander and DifparagemeiK. 
 People love mutually to criticize one another ; The 
 Soldier talks freely of his Captain ; the Captain cen- 
 fures the Field Officer, who likewife thinks he can 
 ledlure his General :. The General throws upon the 
 Court the Mifmanagement of the Campaign. Let 
 every one take care to difcharge his own Duty with- 
 out enquiring into others Obligations, depending on 
 them for the Succefs of the Enterprize, or charging 
 the Blame on them when it proves abortive; 
 
 Sordid and groveling Souls, reduce every Thing 
 to their own Ihterefts. There's no treating on the 
 fquare with this Sort of People; they'll one way or 
 other hook you into their Advantage. The other 
 Day I heard Nonan-vilie venting Maxims favouring 
 of the Climate he was born in. He openly declared 
 he always kept his Eyes fixed on lhat part by w hich 
 a Man might be beneficial to him in fomething ; that 
 he employed him. according to his Talent and de- 
 
 ferted
 
 92 Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 ferted him whenever he had fprung all the Services 
 out of him he could. Avoid thefe Earthborn Crea- 
 tures, that cultivate you like their Cattle, only for 
 the ufe they make of you. 
 
 We have all naturally a great Inclination to Injuf- 
 tice, and give but too much Scope to that Inclination ; 
 which, perhaps, is one of the Things that poiion 
 moft the Fleafure of Society and Civil Life. This 
 is the Origin of all thofe Complal-i's fo often heard, 
 fometimes juft and fometimes otherwife, by Reafon 
 of a Man's extreme Tendernefs for his own Intercfts, 
 and Indolence for thofe of others. Tis certain eve- 
 ry one thinks only on fjimfelf, and counts for nothing 
 whatever refpecls his Neighbour. Mean time, if we 
 would be happy ourfelves, we fhould contribute all 
 we can to the Happinefs of othen ; for otherwife we 
 fhould daily be encountred with Oppofnion ; whereas 
 if we acled in fuch Sort, that other Men might be 
 jointly happy with us, they would not obftrucl our 
 Defigns, becaufe they would find their own Account 
 in them ; and thus our Lives would be lefs preverted 
 in their Courfe, and flow more uniformly, and with 
 greater Tranquillity. 
 
 If you can't diveft yourfelf of your bad Qualities, 
 endeavour, at leaft, to flmnvd them from publick 
 Notice. Why will you have others fuffer the Chagrin 
 of your 111 humour, and that impertinent Authority 
 you affume of cenfuring all Mankind r Do you think 
 to recommend the Nicenefs of your Tafte by your 
 Squeamifhnefs and Difficulty ? Or do you propofe to 
 pafs your Dictates for Decifions, which are the Pro- 
 duels of your Caprice and Extravagance ? 
 
 Violence and Paffion are not capable of doing Bu- 
 fmcfs ; that requires a Man fhould be Matter of Him- 
 fclf, and PofleiTor of his Reafon, fo far as wifely to 
 confult the Meafures conducing to the'End propofed. 
 'Tis for want of Precaution the beft Affairs mifcarry, 
 which would have had a better Iffue, if they had been 
 better managed ; fo that we are not always to exclaim 
 
 againft
 
 Of Moderation, &c. ..^3 
 
 againft the Injuftice of Men, when our Enterprizes 
 fail of the defired Succefs ; but muft fornetimes charge 
 it to our own Imprudence. In this Cafe, we have the 
 Advantage of an After-game : We muft corrfcl our- 
 felves by the Experience of the Faults we have fallen 
 into, and make ufe, for the future, of the falfe Steps 
 we have made in Times palt. 'Tis a general and moil 
 approved Maxim, That Patience ripens the mofl diffi- 
 cult Dejtgs, and renders the Execution of them eafy ; 
 whereas Precipitation fpoils the belt concerted Enter- 
 prizes. 
 
 If Difcretion does not moderate our indifcreet Zeal, 
 we (hall do more Injury to our Friends than Ser- 
 vice by it. Whatever well-meaning a Man may have, 
 his Imprudence commonly does more harm, than his 
 Warmth does good. If Realon don'c govern the Mo- 
 tions of the Heart, we fhall foon ruin the beft Affairs 
 by over-ading them. 
 
 If your Zeal to retrieve your miftaken Friends be 
 not difcreet and moderate, they'll think you trouWe- 
 fome; your eternal Documents make the Sight of 
 you formidable, and put them under perpetual Con- 
 ftraint. You can't fay any Thing before Lycos, but 
 you provoke his Spleen and ill Humour. The moft 
 indifferent Actions, and harmlefs Pleafures, are to 
 him unpardonable Crimes. He makes Giants and 
 Monfters of Windmills and Chimsera's, on purpofe to 
 fight, and have Occafion for quarrelling : And when 
 once the Stum of his Blood ferments, he makes long 
 Declamations, with equal Earneftnefs and Fire, as if 
 the Ruin of the three Kingdoms were at Stake, pure- 
 ly for a Fancy, which he tricks up into a Reality, to 
 have the greater Pretence for his Out-cries. What is 
 moft perplexing with People of this Character is, that 
 if you feem to hear and approve their Remonftrances, 
 they tutor you like affiduous Pedants always at your 
 Elbow. If you are negligent and unattentive to 
 their Advice, they rage and fly out into irreconcila- 
 ble Enmity.
 
 94 Refteftions upon Politenefs. 
 
 If People were as diligent to prevent the Judgment 
 of the Publick, before the embarking in an Affair, 
 as they are to pacify it after they areabfurdly engaged, 
 they would fave this infignifkant Trouble. Apologies 
 are of no Ufe, when the Conduft gives the Lie to the 
 Difcourfe. What gets a Woman when her Intrigues 
 are known, by all the Reafons fhe urges, to prove 
 the Uprightnefs of her Intentions ? The Judge that 
 fuffers himfelf to be corrupted by Cabal, and Solici- 
 tation, can't prevent the Difrepute of Difhonefly, 
 by all his Sophiftry to evade it. But when a Man has 
 done his Duty, he ought not to be difturb^d at the 
 Voice of the Publick, which is not always on Virtue's 
 Side. He that can i'o moderate himfelf as not to be 
 galled with Difcourfe to his Difadvantage, has found 
 out the Art of Living at Reft, and avoiding unhappy 
 Contefts. The Slights we exprefs for difobiiging 
 Difcourfe, extracts Part of its Sting and Venom, and 
 cools the envious Perfon's Paffion for Obloquy and 
 Slander. Whea Favorita firft entred upon the World, 
 her Perfonal Merit, Beauty and Charms, alarmed the 
 whole Sex, who all took the Field with Leagues offen- 
 five and defend ve, to ruin fo formidable a Rival; and 
 they made horrible Ravage on her Reputation. But 
 by good Fortune Favorita had Temper and Modera- 
 tion equal to her Beauty, (he feemed not to hear all 
 was faid againft her ; her Politenefs, fweet Difpofiti- 
 on and Infinuations, calmed the moft Outrageous, 
 who were all amamed of their 111 -Doings, and after- 
 wards earneftly courted the Friendmip of a Perfon fo 
 good humoured,, who returned the Envy of ill Offices 
 with Carefles. 
 
 When we don't think ourfelves obliged to fpeak 
 advantageoufly ot fome People, whofe Proceedings W e 
 don't like, we ought at leaft to havefo much Temper 
 as to fpare them, and not divulge their Faults and 
 Infirmities, to turn them into Ridicule, or do them 
 Prejudice. Since we. ourfelves are fo tender, and ex- 
 peci to be cultivated, let us have the fame Equity for 
 
 oihers
 
 O/ Moderation^ Src. 95 
 
 thers. A difobliging Word often caufes more catting 
 Reflections, than ill Offices done with lefs Defpight. 
 
 'Tis a hard Matter to preferve People any long 
 Time, and to take fuch juft Meafures, as to be able 
 always to reckon upon their Friendship. The leaft 
 Indifference^ expreffed without Defign, makes them 
 forget all the Services we have done them. An inno- 
 cent Raillery, about Trifles and indifferent Things, 
 provokes them ; and they confider it as a fenfible In- 
 jury, tho' you meant not to offend them. Unable to 
 forgive, they feek all poffible Occafions to give you 
 Teltimonies of their Refentment, and thwart you in 
 your mod necefiary Affairs. 
 
 We ihould be cautious how we abufe the Kindnefs 
 of our Friends. 'Tis their Duty to be felicitous for 
 our Interefts, and maintain them warmly ; to do us 
 Service when we have need of thtir afliltance, not 
 to make an ill Ufe of our confiding in them, and to 
 be tenacious of our Secrets : But hen they have done 
 all they are capable of, we ought to demand no more. 
 Moft Men are fo unreafonable, that all ihey do for 
 others feems to be of great Conftquence : But ihey are 
 fo little affefted with the good Offices of their Friends, 
 as to reckon them ilill in their Debt, when they have 
 .{acrifked all to ferve them. 
 
 Moft Men think they ought to be rough and fevere, 
 to be refpe&ed ; whereas this Harfhnefs and Morofe- 
 nefs difobliges every Body. Clemency and Goodnefs 
 advance their Affairs more than inflexible Rigour, be- 
 caufe People ill treated do every Thing as it were in 
 fpight. Hortenjiuj would think himfelf degraded 
 from his Authority, if he gave the leaft obliging 
 Word to his Expeftants and Dependants: His fevere 
 Air makes him confidered and fhunned as a Pedant : 
 and People tremble when they have anv Thing to 
 treat with him about, or Intereft to follicit. Is it fo 
 hard a Thing to put on a fmiling Look, and to ex- 
 prefs a little Complaiiance to thofe that uccoft us, 
 
 who
 
 96 Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 who are already under Pain enough to be obliged to 
 alk it of us ? 
 
 Men in eminent Pofts, the Principals in Corporati- 
 ons, and chief Minifters in the State, fhould civilly 
 treat the Perfons that apply to them. They are o- 
 bliged to refufe a great many, but yet ought to fend 
 them away fatisfied; at leaft, with Words and Looks 
 to foften their Denials, when they can't fatisfy them 
 by Effects. 
 
 'Tis certain, with the Generality of the World, 
 Intereft carries it above Glory. They ftickle for great 
 Employs rather to get Wealth than Fame. But 'tis a 
 fhameful Traffick to proftitute a glorious Poft, to the 
 Sordidnefs of amafling Riches, and which a Man 
 ought to be content with, for the Honour that's an- 
 nexed to it. 
 
 Confidering the Make and Complexion of Man- 
 kind, there's no reckoning upon their Generofity. 
 Self love and Intereft have fo warped their Sentiments, 
 they draw all the Lines of Profit to their own Center. 
 They have ftill fome Regard to themfelves in the good 
 Offices they do you, and would have lefs Confiderati- 
 on for you, but for the hopes of reciprocal Services. 
 In the Mean Time, it muft be reckoned a Bafenefs to 
 cultivate our Friends only for their Ufefulnefs ; to 
 give them up to their ill Fortune, and to break all 
 Commerce with them, when the Diforder of their Af- 
 fairs, incapacitates them for future Ufe to us. 
 
 True Friends and difinterefled Friendfhips, are 
 Things no longer to be met with. The Friendfhip 
 that's pra&ifed now-a-days, is only a Difguife for Self- 
 love, which unmafks on Occafions, where our Inte- 
 refts, and thofe of oar fuppofed Friends, come into 
 Competition. What is very odd and unaccountable, 
 is, that the Happinefs of our Friends, is fometimes 
 our Mortification ; proportionably to their Advance- 
 ment, or Acceflion of Happinefs, they decline in our 
 Affections. We fee them with Uneafinefs and a Sort 
 of Afflicting Conftraint : Our Confidences abate, and
 
 Of Moderation, &c 97 
 
 we can't pardon Fortune the Favours (he (hews the 
 Perfun we love. It would be lefs affli&ing and invi- 
 dious, if her Bounty had flowed on Perfons unknown 
 or indifferent to us. What Giddinefs and Prepofter- 
 oufneis is this ! 
 
 Envy and fordid Jealoufies put us upon ftrange Ex- 
 travagancies in Civil Life. We are enraged at the 
 Succeis and Elevation of fome People we fee failing 
 with a full Gale and Torrent of Favour. We for- 
 give them neither their Endowments of Nature nor 
 Fortune. We give our Malice a Swing, and recur to 
 a thoufand Artifices, to ruin a troublefome Merit that 
 eclipfes our own, and is beheld with Difquiet and 
 ]ealoufy. We mould, at leaft, be fo much Matters 
 of ourfelves and Indignation, as to difguife thefe 
 fordid Sentiments, fo unbecoming a Man of Honour. 
 Shall you have more Merit, think yon, when you 
 have lowered that of your fancied Rivals ? Yet this 
 is the Politicks of moft People, of all Ranks and Con- 
 ditions whatfoever. Old Men envioufly behold the 
 growing Fortune of the Young : A Proficient in Sci- 
 ence, or in War, is almoft in Defpair, to fee another 
 diftinguJfhed by an extraordinary Merit. Young Peo- 
 ple of the fame Pretenfions can't bear one another, 
 and hardly abftain from open Rupture. Women are 
 impatient of Rivals upon the Chapter of their Beau- 
 ty, and fly to all Kinds of Stratagems to decry their 
 Competitors. Angelica is to be excepted from this 
 common Rule. Tho' me be perfectly Handfome, 
 and it be fo rare a Thing for a handfome Woman to 
 commend another for her Beauty, fhe talks of it with 
 Pleafure. She is the firft that obferves their Graces, 
 and impofes Silence on Detractors. In my Mind, 
 thefe obliging Ways do her as much Honour, as her 
 fine Qualities and perfonal Merit. 
 
 Decorum does not always permit us to do for our 
 felves what we are allowed to do for others : We praife 
 them without referve ; and 'tis even a Piece of Merit 
 fo to do : We beg and folicit, and make bold Ad- 
 vances :
 
 9'S Reflexions upon Politenefs. 
 
 vances: We are importunate, and all this is decently 
 performed, for the Affairs and Interefts of our Friends ; 
 but we fhould with an ill Grace do as much for our 
 own. Here a little more warinefs and Circumfpecli- 
 on is becoming. A great Difintereflednefi adds much 
 to a Man's Character ; perhaps becaufe 'tis fo rare a 
 Virtue and out of date. 
 
 We are not always qualified, by thefituation of ovrr 
 Affairs, to do People effential Services : But when we 
 do them, let it be in pure Generofity, and without 
 Views of Intereft. However, it depends upon us to 
 deport our felves genteelly, with Refpeft and Compla- 
 fance to them. This Polite Treatment has commonly 
 the fame Effect as our good Offices, and engages Peo- 
 ple to ferve us with as much Zeal, as if we had been 
 their Benefactors. What would it coft us to be cour- 
 teous, when our Circumftances don't permit us to in- 
 tereft them by Dependance ? 
 
 Perfons naturally generous and difinteref.ed, expei 
 no Return for their good Offices : They don't put their 
 Benefits to Ufe : Nor feed their Friendfhip with the 
 Diet of Hope and Intereft, the pure Pleafure of Friend- 
 fhip being all they feek in the Commerce of their 
 Friends : A Virtue rarely to be found, and which 
 ftrongly befpeaks its own Antiquity. 
 
 'Tis a Littlenefs of Soul that's very common, to 
 love to receive ; and it requires a great Mind and ve- 
 ry noble Sentiments to give, without fome fecret felf- 
 confideration ; but he that is befriended by a good 
 Office, mould have an eternal Acknowledgment pro- 
 portioned to the quality of the Benefit. 
 
 In the Age we live, there's hardly any Honefty 
 tenable againftGold; the Temptation is extremely 
 taking, and thefevereft Women are fometimes caught 
 by this Allurement ; nay even Men of ftaunchefl Pro- 
 bity are not always impregnable, efpecially when born 
 Indigent, or feeling the Preffures of Domeftick Want ; 
 but yet a Man of Honour fhould never fwerve from, 
 his Duty to accommodate his Affairs. The fafeft 
 
 Way
 
 c Of Moderation, &c. 99 
 
 Way in fach a Conjunfture, is to diftruft one's felf ; 
 if we once begin to capitulate, we are gone. When 
 a Man is once arrived to the Contempt of Money and 
 Riches, he has no farther obftacle in his Way to an 
 exalted Virtue. This Spirit of DiftntcreJIednefi, is 
 an infallible Sign of a Soul well made, and raifed a- 
 bov the Vulgar. But where is this Phoenix to be 
 found ? 
 
 A covetous and felf-interefted Woman is obnoxious 
 to all the falfe Steps which thofe that know her Weak- 
 nefs and Difpofition, can wiflv Here lies the Origin 
 of thofe ridiculous Engagements obfervable in fome 
 Women. They prefer, without more ado, their 
 Rich and pecuniary Lovers, tho' never fo great Fools, 
 to Men of Merit, uncapable of fupplying their vain 
 Extravagancies. 
 
 If we have a generous and difinterefled Heart, our 
 Friends will grow the dearer to us when they fall into 
 any Misfortune ; then is the Time to reanimate our 
 AfTeclion, our Zeal and good Offices, and mew that 
 'tis their Perfons and not their Fortunes that engage 
 us. Unlefs we be barbarous, we can't mean evil to 
 People perfecuted. by their Misfortunes ; nor cherilh 
 our Hatred againft a miferable Enemy. 'Tis great 
 Cruelty to be bent upon tormenting a Man groaning 
 under the Weight of his ill Fortune ; and yet, unlcfs 
 we watch our ielves, that's exaftly the Seafon we chufe 
 to create him Difturbances, and take Advantage of 
 the bad Circumftances he is under. 
 
 Intereft and Pleafure are as the two Springs of Hu- 
 man Life : None but fome privileged Souls are deter- 
 mined by the Motives of Glory. Thofe that are 
 fwayed by the Love of Intereft, give way to bafe and 
 fcandalous Aftions: Women that are generally more 
 tender or weak, are mifled by Pleafure. This is the 
 Reafon we find fo many too little concerned for their 
 Fame : Pleafure carries it above the Precautions they 
 floould take to preferve their Reputations. 
 
 Of
 
 ioo Refleftion* upsn Politenefs. 
 
 Of Complaifance. 
 
 WHEN a Man is arrived at Complaifance, 'tis no 
 long Journey to Politenefs: But Complaifance 
 fhould be well managed and underftood, neither ex- 
 cefllve nor fneaking, but proportioned to the Quality, 
 Merit, and Character of Perfons, with a juft Diftinc- 
 tion. It ought not to degenerate into fordid Flattery, 
 nor have any thing infipid or befpeaking a fervile and 
 interefted Soul in it. 
 
 We may fay in general, that Complaifance is the 
 Soul of Civil Society : 'tis that which gives the Charms 
 and maintains the Pleafure of Converfation. 'Tis 
 that which accuftoms us to all Sorts of Humours, and 
 makes us neither troublefome, nor exceptions ; nor 
 does it make us querulous for want of Refpecl paid 
 to cur Dignity or Merit : nor litigious for every Tri- 
 fle. If our Neighbours Conduit gives us offence in 
 any Thing, this teaches us to chufe a proper Time 
 dexteroufly to infinuate what Injury he does himfelf, 
 and to advertife him of the Scandal the World takes 
 at it ; and all this in a Manner that's free from Severi- 
 ty and Pride, that we may not exafperate him by 
 difcouraging Advice. Complaifance is a gentle and ea- 
 fy Virtue, it makes us content with every body ; or 
 if not, fo artfully to conceal our Refentments, that 
 no body may perceive our ill Humour, or fuffer by 
 it. A cotnplaifant Man hardly ever complains he has 
 been failed on important Occasions, or not fo zealouf- 
 ]y ferved as he ought to be : On the contrary, he ea- 
 fily perfuades himielf he has been obliged beyond all 
 Obligation ; and heightens the Idea of the good Of- 
 fices he has received, to heighten his Acknowledg- 
 ments. He tries to find Reafons to palliate the Faults 
 committed to his Prejudice ; and when thefe fail, he 
 endeavours to excufe People upon their Well-mean- 
 ings.
 
 Of Complaifance. 101 
 
 ings. Had Men but a mutual Complaifance, their 
 Conveffation would be much more agreeable, their 
 Lives would pafs with greater Eafe and Tranquillity, 
 they would have no Occafion for thofe furious Con- 
 tefts or Explications, which always leave fome Afpe- 
 jity behind, and make them uncapable of feeing one 
 another with the fame Pleafure and FreeJom. 
 
 There's a Sort of Charm in Complaijance which 
 there's no refitting. Our Affections eafily ftream to- 
 wards the gentle and good-humoured, that rnter into 
 our Sentiments, applaud all we fay, and arc not dif- 
 heartned with our Caprices and ill Humours. How- 
 ever, thefe good-natured Folks are to be advifed, that 
 an ext.avagant Complaijance breeds Wearinefs and 
 Contempt. 'Tis rather Flattery and Folly, than 
 Complaijance, not to dare to contradict People ftupid- 
 ly venting their Extravagances, and making them- 
 felves ridiculous by the Fooleries that efcape them. 
 Complaijance has iis Boundaries as well as other Vir- 
 tue. , and 'tis turning Fooi to appiove Impertinencies, 
 and exioi the Foil es of a Man we art making court 
 to. A Perlon weii known in the Woi id by his Poft 
 and Quality, turns all his Difcourfe into Hanegyrick. 
 He commends the Elbow -Chr.ir, and the Hand- Skreen 
 you give him he admit e the Situation of chc Cham- 
 ber, praifes the inlaid Floor, the BeJ, the Alcove, 
 the Ceiling; he dwells upon the Riches and [Magni- 
 ficence of the Owner, his Equipage and Expences ; 
 nay, 'tis much if he does not make the Panegyriclc 
 extend even to the Horfes : I heard him once com- 
 mend the good Grace of a one-ey'd crooked Child. 
 He has the fame Indulgence for the Produ&ions of 
 Wit ; every Thing charms ani tranfports him ; the 
 Jingle of a trivial Epigram, is, with him, preferable 
 to all the fine Sentences in Juvenal. He counterfeits 
 Rapture to pleafe the Author, who takes all his hy- 
 perbolical Praifes for current Coin ; but by Misfor- 
 tune he beftows it as liberally on a Coxcomb, as a 
 
 Vox,. II. F Man
 
 IO2 Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 Man of Honour. This is nt the Complaifance be- 
 coming Men of Worth. 
 
 Nothing renders a Man more agreeable, nor makes 
 him more earneftly courted, than a Imuoih Com- 
 plaifance, difpenfed with a neceffary Deportment $ 
 that is, having nothing of Affedation in its Manner, 
 or favouring of the Ranknefs of Flattery. When 
 People have Occafion for our Afliftance, we mould 
 exprefs our readinefs to ferve them ; but we mould 
 .not have the fame Complaifance, when they require 
 unreasonable Services, contrary to the Rules of Ho- 
 nour, Conscience and Honefty. 
 
 As there are Vices or Imperfeclions which feem to 
 have no Foundation in our Natures, but are the pure 
 "Effects of a contracted Habit, refulting from an irre- 
 gular Underftanding ; fo there are fome Virtues that 
 don't a! ways depend on Cenftitution, but are acquired 
 'by Means of Art, and the.Ufage of the World. Com- 
 puufatueis one of theie; it being certain that Educa- 
 tion contributes n-.uch to it ; and that the Commerce 
 .of polite Perfons we defire to pleafe, files off a certain 
 Roughnefs that is bom with us, and jjrows up with 
 us, by the Converfe only of clownifh People, whom 
 we take no Pains to pleale, nor Care to cultivate. 
 
 A Man natural!) Complaifant, has a great Dexte- 
 rity to inunuate himlelf into the Tempers of Men, 
 which is commonly the beft Means of obtaining what 
 we defire ; for they love to oblige thofe good humour'd 
 People that itudy their Tafle, and condefcend to pleafe 
 them. But I don't approve of the Complaifance of 
 thofe groveling Souls, that expofe themfelves to every 
 Thing for mercenary Views, and would facrifice their 
 Repole and Reputation to conform to the Caprices of 
 fuch as can nuke their Fortune. 
 
 He that has a great Fuud of natural Complaifance, 
 unlefs he be wary and attentive to himfelf, degenerates 
 to a flat and infipid Converfe, except he fupplks the 
 Dcfedl by a great deal of Wit ; becaufe by approving 
 Thing that's faid, and being ever of che Opi- 
 nion
 
 Of Complaifance. 103 
 
 won of the Speaker, Converfation can't be long kept 
 up with him, and the Difcourfe continually drops for 
 want of Matter. 'Tis not properly failing in Caw- 
 fltijance, or infringing the Rules of Politenteft, to 
 contradidl another, and be of an oppofite Opinion, 
 when 'tis only to quicken the Difcourfe, to give him 
 occafion to fpeak in Defence of his Aflertion, provided 
 on both Sides juft Meafures be observed, and they are 
 not carried away with the Heat of the Difpute, which 
 often makes Men forget that reciprocal Complaifance 
 is nece/fary in Converfation. As Difputes are not to 
 rife to this Excefs, fo neither ought we to approve 
 Things that merit no App;obation. This extravagant 
 Indulgence and Facility, offends Perfons of good 
 Senfe, and is reasonably fufpcfted by them : They 
 miftruft thefe fo compl ifdnt Gentlemen, that are dri- 
 ving on their own Defigns, by a fervile Tourtfliip of 
 thofe they have Occafion for, and a wonderful Addrefs 
 to extol the moft trivial Thing- they do, as if they 
 were extraordinary and furprizmg. If you have any 
 Sentiments of Honour, forbear to purcaafe rhe Ser- 
 vices or Favour of Men. by fuch fordid Camflai/dnret 
 as are only befitting Wretches ; and who are oommon- 
 !y but ill paid for them, for generally we defpile thofe 
 too humble Fawners, as knowing to what Degree 
 they ought to carry the Refpect is due to us j and 
 have greater Regard for fuch as refute to flatter us in 
 fo glavering a Manner. Women are ftill more fufcep- 
 tible of thefe Sentiments than Men ; they treat with 
 an infupportabie Haughtinefs their cringing humble 
 Slaves ; and pay more Regard to fuch as have a more 
 manly Courage, and will not adore their Caprices and 
 Chimsra's. 
 
 It would be Cowardice rather than Complaifanee, 
 to refolve to fuffer all the Affronts that People have a 
 mind to put upon us. The World is full of whimii- 
 cal People, whofe mean Birth or Education renders 
 them Infolent and Haughty, efpecially if they have 
 jnade any Fortune ; a Sort of Animate that have no 
 F 2 regard
 
 104 Reflections upon Poll tends. 
 
 regard to Merit, or Quality, that does not glitter 
 svith the Luftre of Riches. 'Tis proper to humble 
 the Strain of this Sort of People when they forget 
 themfclves, to take down their Infplence, and make 
 them fnrink and retire into their Primitive No- 
 thing. 
 
 "Tis a noble Prefent Nature makes us, when fhe 
 brings us good-humojred, genteel, and compiaifant 
 into the World ; for 'tis very rare to fee People get i id 
 of their Vices of Conltitution. There are fuch as are 
 naturally untoward, that have a Fund of Ill-humour, 
 capable of foweiing all the Joys of Life ; that are 
 ib whimfical and morofe you know not how to ap- 
 proach them, nor by what handle to lay hold of them 
 to bring them to Reafon. If }ou have any Thing to 
 contend with them, you muft make all the Conctfli- 
 ons they del; re j for they'll make no Abatements ; 
 and when you have facrificed r.ll to pleafe them, they 
 Hill complain they are ill-treated. Could thefe People 
 underftand how hateful they are, pe-h.ips they would 
 attempt fomething of Humanity, and not fet up, as 
 they do, for Petty-Tyrants, formidable to all that 
 have to do with them. 
 
 If People, that have no Comflaifance for any Body., 
 knew what a Difeafe their 111 humour was to all the 
 World, or at leaft had the Discretion to {cay at home, 
 and not mingle in Companies that mean nothing but 
 Diverfion, we fhould not fuffer bv their Mifantbrrfy 
 as we do, but abandon them to their peevim Spleen : 
 But they feem to envy others Joy, cenfuring and con- 
 trouling them for what they do, and reproaching them 
 for the moft innocent Pleafures ; whilft every one goes 
 on in his own Way, and all they get by their Ani- 
 madverfions, is to be (hun'd as the Bane and Pert of Ci- 
 vil Society ; for nothing fo much poifons Life, as thefe 
 troublefome, uncomplaifant and untradtable Creatures, 
 vho defend, with an inflexible Stiffnefs, all the Pr6- 
 pofitions they advance, and never quit their Hold on 
 ^ny Confideration whatfoever. 'Tis a wretche'd T^or- 
 
 men't
 
 Of Complaifance. 105 
 
 cnt to be obliged to endure the'foolHh Vifits of Peo- 
 ple of this Complexion. Thole that fet up for Civi- 
 lity and Complaifance, have frequent Indignities to un- 
 dergo, becaufe others abuie their Eafinefs and Con- 
 defcenfion : But they fhould exaftly know how far 
 Complaifar.ee is to be carried with People of a certain 
 Character, with whom an implicit Submiffion would 
 'degenerate into Elockifhnefs and Stupidity. Tis good 
 to know the Genius of People we have to deal with, 
 in o-der to make them fenfible it is out of pure Gene- 
 rofity and Complaifance we abate of our Rights, and 
 grant them all they can wifh, to the End they may 
 bear the Blame of the Refufal. 
 
 Men of Letters are feldom guilty of an Excefs of 
 Ccmplaifance ; on the contrary, they would have all 
 the World ftoop to their Opinions, and do Homage 
 to their Learning. What an obftinate Battle have we 
 feen of late, fought by thefe literate Gentlemen about 
 the Preference of the Ancients and the Moderns ; and 
 a perfonal Quarrel made of an imaginary Difpute ? 
 A Man is allowed to p;opofe his Opinion, and confirm 
 it with the ftrongeft Arguments he can ; but he ought 
 not to take it ill that others are of another Mind, nor 
 give abufive Language to bring them over to his Sen- 
 timents. 
 
 It requires the Conjunftion alfrioft of all Virtues, 
 to be Polite and Complaifant. A Man muft be Matter 
 of Himfelf, and his Words, his Geftures and Paffions, 
 that nothing offenfive rnay efcape him, to give others 
 jufl Occafion to complain of his Proceedings. Com' 
 plaifi.nce comprizes in it I know not how much Good- 
 nature, .Humanity and Qbiigingnefs : Its principal 
 Dtfign, is to conform to all Sorts of Tempers at any 
 Rate : Is it any Wonder then, fo few are to be found 
 that are truly Complaifant ? 
 
 The great Secret of happy Living with all the 
 World, is to take Men as we find them ; we mult 
 bear fomething of the Freaks and Follies of thof* -o 
 great Things from. Don't rum, by Want of 
 F 3
 
 io6 Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 Complaifance, or a mif-tim'd Ill-humour, any gcoa 
 Deiigns to oblige you. Cherifh, by your Infinuati- 
 ons, all good Dii'pofitions towards you, and efpeciaily, 
 let not fuch People fee the Difguft which the Rough- 
 nefs and Capricioufnefs of 'heir Behaviour gives you. 
 How many have feen their Fortune ruined by a mif- 
 taken Loftinefs and an unfeafonable Pride ? They had 
 but a Moment longer to fuffer, and they had not the 
 Patience to wait. Men are to be fatisfied with good 
 Looks, and why will we not then content them at fo 
 cheap a Rate ? An obliging Word, pertinently utter'd, 
 a gracious Smile, a little Deference for their Senti- 
 ments, fome Advances made at their Requeft, to pleafe 
 them, make them entirely yours ; \vhereas a little 
 Coldnefs, a frozen Countenance, fome difobliging Ex- 
 preflions, loie them beyond Recovery ; and 'tis much 
 if you find no ill Offices from their Refentment. la 
 our Applications to Marte//a, we never fail to find her 
 always difpoled to do us Service. Nothing difcourages 
 her; neither the Nature of the Bufmefs you propoie, 
 nor the Difficulty of the Things you defire, provided 
 they are within her Capacity. She does not give you 
 Time to finifh your Compliment ; flie guefles and 
 prevents you ; and one fees in her eafy Look, the 
 Pleafure (he feels in obliging thofe that have Occafion 
 for her. She never lets her Expectants languifh thro' 
 troubleforoe Delays, which make the Benefit dear- 
 bought The Head-Ach, Intereft of her Health, 
 Confufion of her Affairs, and a thoufand other frivo- 
 lous Excufes an unobliging Woman would ufe, to 
 exempt her from doing the Favour afk'd of her ; thefe 
 are Artifices Marietta is ignorant of. She is not fatif- 
 fied with herfelf, but when fhe has carried her Zeal 
 even beyond your Wifhes ; and when fhe has fucceed- 
 ed, ihe thinks herfelf over-paid for her Pains, by the 
 Pleafure fhe takes in that fhe has given you. 
 
 Many are miltaken in their Notions of Ccwplaifance, 
 knowing neither its Character, Degree, nor Extent : 
 They confound a fulforjoe Fawning, which degenerates 
 
 into
 
 Of Complaifance. 107 
 
 into Infipidnefs, with a regular Complaifance that 
 never applauds Fooleries. 'Tis not Politenefe or Com- 
 flaifance to fay fofc Things to every Body, and lavim, 
 out Praifes upon People without Choice, Judgment or 
 Difcretion. When their A&ions rather deferve Re- 
 primand than Applaufes, 'ris making one's felf con- 
 temptible to commend them. Thefe ili-plac'd Enco- 
 miums do neither Honour to the Giver nor Receiver ; 
 and yet this Pradice has infe&ed the Court as well as 
 the Country. A Man is continually exposed to the 
 Perfecution of thofe infipid Flatterers, who watte their 
 Panegyricks upon all Comers, and make rational 
 People ftck. Woe to the Man that has any Merit, or 
 has publifti'd any Book, when he falls into the Hands 
 of thefe everlaiing Praijen: They give him no 
 Quarter, but ftifle him with the Fumes of their falfe 
 Incenfe. 
 
 Others we find innocent of this extravagant Com- 
 plaifance, yet guilty of the oppofite Extream 5 carry- 
 ing it fair with no Body and negligent to conceal their 
 Difrefpefl ; untouched with every Thing but their 
 own Performances : All befides appears flat and un- 
 deferving their Applaufes, of which they are wonder- 
 fully tenacious. The firil Thing they open their Lips 
 for, is to teil you what you read to them is naught, 
 without giving themfdves leifuie to hear or underftand 
 it. 
 
 Tis not to be hoped, to meet with none but agree- 
 able and converfable People in Society ; but we ought 
 to excufe their Weakness and impertinent Difcourfe. 
 We muft expert many tirefome Vifits, when we fee 
 up for vifitir.g Days. Amongft fome reafonable Peo- 
 ple, Abundance of Impertinents will flip in, that will 
 make Solitude to be regretted ; but the worft is, thefe 
 Perfons won't believe themfelvcs fo troublefome, nor 
 entertain the lead Sufpicion that their Company is 
 tirefome. Thofe that have the mofl Merit, and Ac- 
 corn plilhments to acquit themfelves well in Conver- 
 fation, will ibmetimes grow infupportable, becaufe 
 F 4 they
 
 io8 Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 they will always (hine. We feel a fecret Indignation 
 in feeing People excel and eclipfe us ,- fo that tis not 
 enough to have line Qualities, unlefs we have the Art 
 to manage them, and fuk ourfelves to the Tempers, 
 Charatlers and Abilities of the People we converfe 
 with. 'Tis a Sort of Tyranny to keep every Body 
 in Stifpence by long Narratives, and fuffer no Body ta. 
 fpeak but ourfelves. Great Talkers only furprize the 
 Vulgar, and the Ignorant are admired by none but 
 Fools. Their Noife and Froihinefs impofes on no 
 fenfible Perfon : If the Sots that diftinguifti not falfe 
 Merit from true are dazzled by them, 'tis only be- 
 caufe they are Sots, and tis no Wonder that fuch 
 ihould be deceived. I could wifli all Perfons of Merit 
 \\cre of Elviras Char?.ter and Humour : No Body 
 fpeaks lefs in Converfation, when file is not prefTed to 
 it; no Body fpeaks jufter or more charmingly, when 
 the Difcourfe is direded to her. She affeds not to be 
 m) fterious or fliy, giving her Opinion on all Sorts of 
 Queftions propofed, be -'hey never fo frivolous ; but 
 file exprefles no Eagernefs to difplay her Knowledge 
 when the Difcourfe turns on fublimer Subjects. She 
 has a wonderful Faculty to level herfeif with the 
 People (he converfes with, and to bring down her 
 Wit, though fo noble and exalted, to an equal Size 
 with that of others ; who always depart fatii-fied from 
 her Company becaufe they are pleafed with themfelves,. 
 and foe has given them Opportunities to unfold and 
 difplay their little Talents. 
 
 If a Woman, now antiquated, and no longer at- 
 tractive by her Charms, was not fo outrageous againft 
 thofe that take her Place ; if fhe had a little more 
 Indulgence for the Infirmities of her Sex, and did not 
 exprefs fuch a bitter Zeal when others give therr.felves 
 fome Liberties, we mould forget, perhaps, the Dif- 
 orders of her Youth, and be obliged to her for her 
 Demurenefs. But her Spleen is only owing to the 
 Lofs of her Beauty, fhe is vexed to the Heart to find 
 herfeif fo defperatety forlorn and defertcd, whilft the 
 
 young
 
 Of Complaifance. tog 
 
 young fhine and are adored, and doprecifely the fame 
 Things me did when young, yet which now fhe cen- 
 fures fo feverely. 
 
 'Tis commonly feen, that thofe who have the leaft 
 C-.mpluifance for others, have yet a great deal for 
 themfelves : But the Way to lead a quiet and plea- 
 fant Life, is mutually to pardon each other. Such as 
 cavil againft every Thing, neither give themfelves 
 nor others Quiet. 
 
 The Spirit of Contradiction is, perhaps, one of 
 the Things that moft incommodes Converfation. We 
 find People of Character to take an ill-natured Satif- 
 iaction in approving nothing ; all Things are difguft- 
 ful and infipid to them. You no fooner open your 
 Advice, but they exclaim againft it, purely to be of a 
 contrary Opinion, without examining whether it be 
 reafonable or not. 'Tis not for Information, that 
 they alledge a Multitude of Arguments true or falfe ; 
 but they would have their Advice taken, be it ne- 
 ver fo extravagant. 
 
 W r.cri a Thing is generally liked, 'tis a flirewd 
 Sign that 'tis good ; and it would be flrange Prefump- 
 tion co go to oppofe the Torrent, and prefer one's par- 
 ticular Judgment to the Suffrage. Neverthelefs, we 
 find bjt too many People oi fo capricious a Taft, as 
 to i, Jcavour to difparage what all the World com- 
 mends. Whether u.is contradi&ary Spirit proceeds 
 frcT. a large Fund of Ill-nature, a fordid Jealoufy, 
 or the Glory fuppo:ed to redound frorh the impugning 
 another's Opinion, 'tis certain, generally fpeaking, 
 thefe Singularities befpeak an indifferent Genius, that 
 tries to raife its own Merit, by the Depreffion of an- 
 other Man's ; or elfe lii want of Complaifance ', which 
 makes it delicious to confront the univerfal Opinion. 
 Perfons of this Temper pretend to an exquifite Nice- 
 nefs in departing out of th? common Road 3 but 'iis 
 however, a Symptom of their 'bad Judgment. If you 
 woui'd have Marittus ^. ; ve you clearly and un-ambigu- 
 oufly his Opinion of 'he Cafe you propofe, let him 
 F 5 know
 
 i ro Reflexions upon Politenefs. 
 
 know fuch and fuch have given theirs thus and thus ; 
 for that would be the ready Way to put him on the 
 Reverfe of that Advice. He knows the Perfons you 
 fpeak of, are Men of 'great Underftanding and Expe- 
 rience ; but that is ftill a Reafon to determine him to 
 oppofe their Opinions, to give himfelf an Air of Su- 
 periority. Make him diftinftly underftand he is the 
 Jrft you confulted, and that you'll ftand to his Deci- 
 fions, and you'll be fure to charm him by this Defe- 
 rence. He will impart his Counfel with great Soli- 
 dity, and give you a thoufand Overtures and Expedi- 
 ents, to bring your Bufinefs to a happy Conclufion. 
 
 Moft Men have fo good an Opinion of themfelves 
 as to think they are capable of dire&ing their own 
 Condudl without any others Afliftance or Advice; but 
 the Misfortune is, when they have made any falfc 
 Steps, they have all the Difficulty in the World to> 
 retrieve themfelves, becaufe they would never own 
 their Blunders. The Counfel Intelligent People give 
 them for their Redrefs, infiead of fetting them right, 
 makes them but more obftinate in the Wrong. They 
 fancy they ihould in fome Sort degrade themfelves, 
 if they did honeftly acknowledge their Miftakes, 
 or own they were capable of facing or doing any 
 Thing amifs. 
 
 'Tis great Advantage to have an exquifite and refin'd 
 Tafte ; but whoever pretends to fet up for judging, 
 Ihould purge himfelf of a conceited Delicacy, which 
 makes every Thing difliked ; Neither would he dif- 
 cover his Sentiments to Perfons concerned, when they 
 are not Advantageous, however felicitous they may 
 appear to know his Thoughts of them. You often 
 lofe their Friendfhip, by your Complaifance in talking 
 \vith them too fincerely and freely. 
 
 We ought not to carry a cloudy melancholy Face 
 into Companies we are obliged to go into, nor an Hu- 
 mour incompatible with others Defires and Pkafures. 
 Jn civil Society Gravity and Gaiety fliould be com- 
 bined, becaufe we feek Company to refrelhand unbend 
 
 our
 
 Of Complaifanci. rir 
 
 pur Minds, when fatigued with Cares and Bufinefs* 
 'Tis a miferable Punifhment to fall into the Hands of 
 fome Sorts of People, of a peculiar Make, whofe dif- 
 mal and auftere Humour poifons the Pleafure of So- 
 ciety ; they having no Compiaifance for any Body, nor 
 any regard to any Thing but themfelves : A People 
 riiat live only for their own Satisfaction, loving no 
 Body, nor beloved by none. Expeft not any the leaft 
 Complaisance from fuch Perfons, efpecially where 
 their Intereft is concerned. They value not being 
 defpifed, or difgraced, provided they may but find' 
 their Account in it. 
 
 It figmfies little to have Merit without the Art of 
 Pleaung ; at leaft, Merit without that will not have 
 its entire Effeft. Thoufands of People, even with 
 admirable Qualities, have become tirefome and im- 
 pertinenf, and their Company has proved ungrateful 
 t'o all Mankind. Tis much the fame as with thole 
 Faces whofe Features are good, but not taking, yet 
 we know not the Reafon why. Their Conjunction, 
 fome Way or other, rains the Proportion that mult 
 neceflarily go towards the forming a regular Beauty. 
 
 Moll People envioafly behold the Merit and good 
 Fortune of their Neighbours ; as therefore we mult 
 expect ill Treatment, difobliging Difcourfe, and all 
 Manner of bad Offices from them, we ought fo to 
 precaution ourt'elves againft it, as to let nothing efcape 
 us unbecoming the Character of an honeft Man. 'Tis 
 not difEcult to be Polite and Comfrlaijant, when all the 
 World applauds, flatters and carefies you; the Difn- 
 cuky lies in being fo when you aredifobliged, affronted 
 and ill-ferved. If you are impertinently blamed, a 
 mo-deft Juftification 'will become you, without expref- 
 fing any DiiUrbance, Indignation, orPaffion: But if 
 Jurfice be not done you when your Reafons are heard, 
 make not fuch a Noife of it, as fhail throw you off 
 your Character. Wait patiently for People to be un- 
 deceived, and think not by a high Hand, to brinjg 
 the World to Reafon, and over to your Side, Thi* 
 
 Maxim,.
 
 112 Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 Maxim, I confefs, is difficult to Pradtife ; but the 
 Moderation a Man mows in fuch nice Conjunctures, 
 will give a great Luftre to his Merit. 
 
 The little Complaifance Men have for one another, 
 proceeds from the Want of a due Efteem. A Man 
 forces Complaifance for thcfe he defires to pleafe ; but 
 he cares not for pleafirfg a Perfon he difrefpe&s, and 
 treats at Arm's Length, and in Defiance. 
 
 Take heed of ill treating a Man that has had any 
 ill Succefs, or mifcarried in an important Affair. Say 
 nothing harm to him in thofe dolorous Moments : 
 The leaft difobligingWord would open all his Wounds 
 afrelh. A Man grows more Senfible and 7 ender, in 
 Proportion to his growing Mife'able. When all 
 Things fmile upon us, and we have no Caufe of Dif- 
 content, wearelefs vulnerable by Affronts and difref- 
 peftful Behaviour ; the Joy of our good Fonune 
 agreeably taking up our Thoughts, and preventing 
 the ill Effect. But when we are unfortunate, end 
 have our Minds full of the Idea of fome frefh Difafter, 
 Reproaches are intolerably grating; they fire our 
 Blood, and whet our Indignation sgainft thofe that 
 obferve no Meafures, at a Time we have Occafion to 
 be foftly handled. 
 
 Before you vex yourfelf, Nor/tus, at a fuppofed 
 Affront, examine well the Difpofuion of the Perfon 
 you complain of. A random Word, let fly without 
 Aim or Defign, puts you in a Fury, and you confider 
 not whether it proceeded from prepcv/e Malice and cool 
 Blood. The Man you flame fo violently againft, had 
 no Intention to difturb you, and yet you are become 
 IMS implacable Enemy. You feek all Means to ruin 
 him ; you bring all the Woild upon his Back ; Stra- 
 tagems, Slanders, Calumnies, all Engines are played 
 in the reeking of your Revenge. His Submiffion, 
 Pioteftations all he can offer can't pacify your Rage ; 
 and one would think from your Cruelty and Inhuma- 
 nity, you had always lived among Savages, and had 
 nothing of a Man in you but the Form. You have 
 
 no
 
 Of Complaifance. 113 
 
 no Regard to the Remonftrances or Chamber of thofe 
 that would reconcile >ou. You think, perhaps, this 
 Outrage is a Sign of your Conftancy and Courage ; 
 but let me tell you, it makes the World confidet you 
 as a Churl. 
 
 Is it to give themfelves Airs of Diftinclion that 
 fome People make it their Bufinefs to find Fault -with 
 every Thing ? There is no Beauty fo perfect, not 
 Work fo compleac, as to efcape CriJcks. They 
 fancy, perhaps, by this rigorous Ceafure, to pafs 
 for Pe.fons of an exquifiie Tafte and profound 
 Penetration; whilft :his Squeamiflinefs makes them 
 despicable to worthy Men, who look up^n them as 
 Invidious, Dainty, or prepofTefTed with their o.\n 
 Merit. V\e queftion not, mtri4or ) but you have a 
 great deal or vV'it ; but if you would fometimes have 
 the Complaif.;n:e to approve what deferves your Ap- 
 probation, you would be more efteemed, and nor e,x- 
 poie youifelf, as you do fo often, to fevere Curfes 
 and Invectives. MdiJJa thought herfelf an accom- 
 plifhed Beauty, yet you give out every where fhe has 
 too large a Nofe, and one Eye not fo big as the other. 
 Thefe little Irregularities were paffed over j but you 
 talk of them asa confiderable Deformity, for which 
 fhe will never forgive you. 
 
 You have, by your critical Niceties, difpoflefTed 
 Morin of his ufuiped Reputation of a Wit : You have 
 aever the Complaijcnce to give him the leaft Refpedl 
 for all the Poetry he fo emphatically recites to you ; 
 but on the contrary, hears his Verfes with fuch a Chil- 
 nefb and Indifference, as denotes \ our Difregard for 
 them. Do you think an enraged Poet, in fo nice a 
 Matter, will handle you refpecuully in return ; and 
 ^o >ou fancy you can flicker yourfclf from his faty- 
 rical Epigrams ? 
 
 'Ti^ an over-acted Delicacy, to exprefs Complai- 
 fance to a Sort of boorifh and clownim People, who 
 are too dull to be touched with any Thing, and not to 
 be moved either by Carcffes or Affronts. 'Tis not on 
 
 the
 
 U4 Reflections upon Polkeneis. 
 
 the Score of Virtue, that they are fo Stoical and In- 
 fenfible ; but rather from a flupid Indolence, that 
 makes both Civilities and Injuries thrown away 
 upon them. 
 
 That rigid Sincerity which gives no Quarter, is 
 fufficiently bammed Converfation : \Ve trantg/efs thro' 
 an Excefs of Complaifance, chafing ratherto contradict 
 our Knowledge, lhan fpeak ingenuous Truth. The 
 Cuftom of Flatteiy feems a Trade ; or to fay better, 
 a Tiibute we give, to be repaid in the fame Coin. 
 *Tis difficult to diftinguifh when Commendation is 
 fincefe, and when Ironical. Our Prejudice for our 
 perfonal Merit, makes us think the Pra.fes beftowecT 
 lu pure Comp/aijance, to be due to us. To be unde- 
 ceived, let us fancy ourfelves the Comedy that is acted. 
 As we make Sport with others, on* whom we lavifli 
 our Incenfe in pure Flattery, and againft our Confci- 
 ence, we fneer afide at the Perfon we loudly ex.'ol and 
 commend with an Emphajis. By thefe counter band 1 
 Praifes, we mean to excite the Compliments made to 
 us in pure Favour, and without Defert. Is not this a 
 pleafant Sort of Game ? Why are we fo greedy after 
 thofe infipid' Flatteries, that only wheedle and decoy 
 us ? Think never the betterof youifejf for the Praifes 
 Melito beftows on you : He does not believe a Word 
 he fa-vs -, all his little Politicks terminating in this 
 View, to make himfelf commended in his turn ; and 
 he is totally dafhed and difappointcd, when you refufe 
 him the Incenfe he fo meanly delights in. if you'd 
 flop his Mouth, and avoid the Perftcution of his 
 Compliments, you have no more to do, but to lay an 
 Embargo on your Commendations. 
 
 Kindnefles and Praifes proceed almoft upon the 
 fame Foot. Such as Have the Complaisance to grant 
 our Requefls, do it commonly with Defigns that have 
 no other aim than their own Intereft : They would, 
 at leaft- have every Body know it, and are only Be- 
 nencenc out of Vanity. They have no fmcere Defire 
 to do us gooJ, to relieve a Friend in Niceffity, or help 
 
 him
 
 Of genteel Behaviour. P i c 
 
 him out of the Briars. They confider another's Mif- 
 fortune as an Opportunity of fignalizing themfelves, 
 and eftablffhing their Reputation : But he that is thut, 
 as it were, facrificed to their Vanity, is but flighily 
 affected with the good Offices are done him, and 
 hardly thinks himielf obliged to make Acknow- 
 ledgments. 
 
 Generally fpeaking, Camplaifance fuirs with all 
 Sorts of People, in all Conditions and Circnmftances 
 whatever Mean time, there are fome Subjects, 
 where Severity fhould take Place of Complaijunce. A 
 Woman when attacked and tempted to be leduced, 
 ought to let go all Points of Civility and Behaviour : 
 Complaijance on that Occafior. would be ill-timed. If 
 Ihe ufes Put-offs and Subrcrtu^cs, if flie gives Way to 
 the Propofals made her, if (he Parley ; and Capitu- 
 late?, ftie is loft : At this Juncture, Difdain, Sharp- 
 nefs, and an afErontive Pride would be very becoming. 
 Thofe that pretend to exprefs Refentment, but do it 
 in a languilliing and affected Way, and with a ficti- 
 tious Air, and a ftudied Tone, embolden the Hopes, 
 and heighten the prefuraption of their Agreffors, 
 
 Of Genteel and Generous Behaviour. 
 
 TH E moft certain and infallible Way to win 
 the Efteem and Affection of Men, is to delight 
 in doing them good, and to obviate their Neceflities, 
 provided it be done with a good Grace, and in an en- 
 gaging and generouo Manner. 'Tis net fufficient to 
 oblige People, but it muft be done properly both in 
 Time and Place. There is an Art in fea^oning Bene- 
 fits, but the greateft Difficulty is to give ; and as In- 
 
 tereft
 
 n6 Refieflfons upon Politenefs. 
 
 tereft is the great Spring that moves Mankind, the 
 ufual Way is. to keep them in fiifpence, with Hopes. 
 That which is moft to be feared, is the forgetting our 
 Dignity, and defcending to mean and unworthy 
 Actions, through certain Views of Ihtereft. That 
 which no\v-a days goes - for Greatnefs and Generofi- 
 ty of Soul, i, nothing but a 1 raffick of pure Intereft : 
 You will nd no Body care for or refpedl you any 
 farther than you are ferviceable to them, or they 
 have Occafion for }our Affiftance. If you expect 
 People mould ferve you afliduoufly : you muft convince 
 them, you on your Part, are good for fometh'ng j 
 and if you hope to receive good Offices at their Hands, 
 you muft give them to underfland they run no rifque 
 by obliging you. 
 
 When you have done for People all that Honoury 
 Duty and Decency require, you muft expeft to be 
 frequently repaid with Ingratitude. This is the Plan 
 you are to propofe. Thole very Men that flatter and 
 carefs you while they have Occafion for you, ui!l be 
 weary of you, when they have obtained iheir Ends: 
 They never look you in the Face bat vvith reluftance ; 
 and they fancy they read in your Countenance the 
 Reproaches their Ingratitude deferves. 
 
 'Tis a threadbare Cuflom to load People with barren 
 Compliments, or Offers of Service, and p etei.d a 
 Zeal and Earneftnefs when there's no occafiou for y our 
 Affiftance, and the Eufmefsis at an End. You affect 
 Ignorance of the Matter, when the Danger is eminent 
 and preffing; and you &y nothing, nor make any 
 Advance, for fear you mould be taken at your Woid : 
 But when you are certain of the Succefs, and run no 
 Hazard, you fhevv a wonderful Officioufnefs, which 
 you have little Thanks for. 
 
 'Tis im,poffiblc to be always able to do effectual Ser- 
 vices to our Friends, though we are never fo much in- 
 clined ; becaufe we are not always in CircumiUi ces 
 to affift them with real Courtefies j but there is no 
 
 Obflacle
 
 Of genteel Behaviour. 117 
 
 Obftacle againft teftifying our Friendfhip, compaffio- 
 nating their Misfortunes, and making them fenfible of 
 our Concern for them. If you can't draw them out 
 of the Mire, help them at leaft with your Advice, 
 and let the Heart fupply what's remaining to do them 
 good. Try to lenify the Anguifh of their Misfor- 
 tunes, by the fmootheft Torches of an obliging Hand : 
 'Tis an Addition to their Miferies, to fignify any In- 
 difference for them. 
 
 Jf you'll do nothing for a Man you're much obliged 
 to, you ought, however, not to declare againft him 
 when he's no longer your Friend : Tho' the Corre- 
 fpondence be broken, you mould always have refpeft 
 for the Friendmip, which difference of Time and 
 Circumftance has difringuifhed : This is a Maxim 
 tranfgreffed by many, who fall foul on their Friends 
 upon a Rup'ure, and feem willing to juflify their Dif- 
 guft or Change, by their ill Treatment and thofe ever- 
 kfting Complaints they make of the bad Offices they 
 have done them. 'Tis, farther, a great Bafenefs to 
 abufe their Confidence, and publifti their Secrets of 
 Importance, to give them Uneafinefs and Mortifi- 
 cation. 
 
 Where are thofe People to be found that oblige you 
 oat of pure Genrofity, and have only your Intereft 
 in view, without imputing to themselves the Services 
 they do you ? 'Tis not fufficient for their Vanity to 
 enjoy the Pleafure of a good Action, and to have ex- 
 tricated their Friend from his Confufion ; they are not 
 fatisfied, unlefs all the World be privy to it. They 
 make Proclama f ion of it in all Places, in Houfes, in 
 Churches, in the RuelLs and Publick Places. 
 
 Yes, Gerontes, I know very well you obliged me 
 highly; but 'tis not enough that 1 am affefted with 
 it, and have al! the Gratitude you can defire. Why 
 mud you every where divulge the KindnefTes you've 
 done me ; your Vanity makes known the ill Poiture 
 and Diforder of my Affairs ; and you do me, by 
 
 yo r
 
 ii 8 Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 your Indifcretion, a greater Injury than all yourgcod 
 Offices can make amends for. 
 
 Mod of thoTe that pretend to Liberality and Mag- 
 nificence, have at bottom a fecret and delicate Intereft ; 
 tho' they would fain be thought generous, and in eve- 
 ry Thing give Marks of a difmterefted Soul. Don't 
 be deceived with this Appearance ; their Prefects are 
 a kind of Bait to hook in thofe that are more confider- 
 able. They think they have hereby a Right to im- 
 portune you every Moment, and to demand Eflential 
 Things for Trifles. They have always their Views 
 in giving, and never open their Fand, but where 
 they expecl to have it filled. People of this Character,, 
 whatever Face they fet upon it, and however generous 
 they fiem, are covetous and fclf-interefted at the 
 Bottom. 
 
 Y~ou are not to expect from the Generality of Men 
 an unblemiihed Virtue, and pure and difmterefted Ser- 
 vices. Nor is it more to be hoped, to keep up with 
 them a long Acquaintance, without having frequent 
 Caufes of Complaint, and juft Accufations againft 
 them. Their particular Actions fometimes contradict 
 the general Principles they act by. This Inequality is 
 the refult of an Infirmity in the Heart of Man, and 
 a". vicious Appendix of Humanity; but provided Vir- 
 tue is the prevailing Principle, we ought not to defpifd 
 the Man for forgetting himfelf on fome Occafions ; 
 and confequently 'tis a Piece of great Injuftice to ceaie 
 to efteem him, becaufe he relaxes never fo little in his 
 Kindnefs for us, or fails in a Trifle. 
 
 We fometimes offend People by doing them great 
 Services, becaufe we do them with an ill Grace, and a 
 Hern and imperious Air, which makes them too 
 ienfible of their Neceflity and Dependance. It looks 
 as if we took Pie? fure and Delight, in brow-beating 
 fuch as expect AffiHance from us. What Trouble 
 would it be to us to let them fee, in a fmooth and 
 obliging Countenance, that 'tis a Satisfaction to us tQ 
 grant what they uefire I Why fhouhl we lofe the 
 
 Merit-
 
 Of genteel Behaviour. 1 1 g 
 
 Merit of a good Aftion, by a haughty anddifcoura- 
 ging Manner of doing it ? Gerion hardly ever rcfufes 
 the good Offices are afked of him ; nay ferves People 
 with Zeal and Warmth enough j yet in reality he fells 
 at a dear Ra^e the Services he does. He humbles them 
 with terrible Rebuffs, and fuch haughty Infults, as 
 are very ungrateful to thofe that want his Jntereft. 
 He makes them bite long upon the Bridle, before he 
 ftoops to theii Intrigues. But at length, after all thefe 
 Formalities, if you are not difcountenanced by his 
 Whims, he embarks might and main in your Intereft, 
 and fpares neither Pains nor Charge, to expedite the 
 Bufmels you have recommended to him. 
 
 'Tis a common Complaint, that we are not ferved 
 wfrh fufficient Alacrity and Vigour ; felf-lore magni- 
 fies the Idta of our Neceffities, and leffens that of the 
 Affiftance which is given us ; whereas we ought to be 
 thankful for Services done us, without complaining 
 of thofe that are not done. And we are by no Means 
 to perfuade ouifelves chat People are obliged to have 
 more Ardour than they exprefs for our Interefts. 
 
 Is it to be thought a Man of Bufmefs and Impor- 
 tance, that Gtrion tell you he is, fo overwhelmed 
 whh Affairs, that he has not Time to live and breathe ? 
 He actually believes what he tells you ; and yet he 
 fpends all his Days in ranking and pofturing his 
 Book? which he never reads,, and cleanfmg the Duft 
 from hisFurnitnre : Propofe a Pleafu re-Match and he 
 looks on you xvith a deriding Smile, expreffing great 
 Picy for ihofe that wafte their Time on Trifles. Gerion 
 is exactly the Original of the Picture the Poet 
 gives us. 
 
 The* without Bfjjne/s, yet in full Employ. 
 
 The unfortunate are not to look for Generofity 
 from their Friends. Ill Fortune is a Sort of Contagi- 
 en that keeps all at a Diftance- 'Tis in vain to 
 
 preis
 
 J20 Refttftions upon Politenefs. 
 
 prefs them, and make advances to draw them 
 your Intereft ; they have fixed their Refolutions, and 
 all your Submiflions will not prevail with them to 
 break them. Inftead of re- kindling their Zeal, you 
 redouble their Animofuies by your eagernefo, which 
 they confider as a troublefome Importunity. No Bo- 
 dy in London had more Friends than Sylverius. They 
 thought it an Honour to be of his Acquaintance, they 
 vifited him afliduoufly, and with Pleafure. 'Tis true, 
 he has a great deal of Wit, and all the Charms can 
 be defired in a worthy Man ; yet upon a Kind of Dif- 
 grace that has happened to him, all thefe officious 
 Friends of his have fcandaloufly abandoned him, and 
 hardly feem to know either his Perfon or Name. 'Tis 
 much if they reftrain themfelves from ill Offices and 
 abufive Treatment In all this Crowd of difguifed 
 Friendfhip, one only ftuck by him, who is, however, 
 equal to all the reft, for the Zeal he exprefies, and 
 fubflantial Services he does, with a Conftancy hardly 
 to be paralleled in fo Politick and Corrupt and Age as 
 this is. 
 
 What a noble and elevated Soul muft a Man have, 
 not to defert his Friends when Fortune has fo'faken 
 them? The Friendthip and Averfion of moft Men, 
 is meafured by no other Rule than that of Intereft. 
 This is the firft Spring that puts all their Wheels in 
 Motion, and attracTts their Good-liking or Contempt. 
 If they find you capable of ferving them, they'll car- 
 ry their Complaifance and Refpedl even to Adulation; 
 but if they confider you as an unufeful Perfon, you 
 muft think it well if you come off with rudenefs, and 
 without ill turns. 
 
 'Tis difficult to avoid Envy in Competition for the 
 fame Employs. Men naturally love themftlves bet- 
 ter than their Neighbours ; therefore they feel a fecret 
 Indignation, if they fee an Office or Ellate fall into 
 another's Hands, which they would gladly have 
 tiiemfelves. This is a natural Notion ; but to envy 
 
 others
 
 Qf genteel Behaviour. 121 
 
 others Preferments, not within our Sphere, is fuch an 
 odd Bufinefs, as one would think there was no Exam- 
 ple of. To do this, is as ridiculous as it was in that 
 Colonel, who envyed one of his Friends the great 
 Biflioprick the King had given him ; or in that Abbot., 
 who fell into the bpleen, becaufe a Perfon of his Ac- 
 <juaintance, was made Lieutenant General in the 
 Army. 
 
 We judge of others Merit, rather by their Affefti- 
 ons than Underftanding, have different Notions of it, 
 upon doing us aDifcourteiy, from what we had upon 
 their doing us aKindnefs: In the mean Time, this 
 Circumftaiice does not alter their perfonal Qualities, 
 We difcover Senfe and Judgment in them, when they 
 are ftuuious to obferve our Excellencies, and obliging 
 to e<cufe our Imperfections, and fet them in iuch a 
 light as removes them out of fight. 
 
 We illdom do jurtice to our felves, and rarely to 
 Other Men. The extreme Fondnefs we have for our 
 own i'erfons, makes us impute all things to our felves. 
 Jf the Queftion be about a .Reconciliation, our felf- 
 .efteem magnifies the Injury, and leffens the Defert of 
 the Satisfactions that are offered. We are vexed to 
 find the Excufes good, and tafte a fecret Pleafure in 
 hearing the Perfons we don't love, ab ifed : Their Ele- 
 vation gives us painfi) Reflections, when we fee them 
 raifed above us by their perfonal Merit, or Fortune. 
 
 'Tis a high {light of Generofity, in a Man, to ven- 
 ture to commend the extraordinary Talents of another, 
 when he believes himfelf to excel in them. Tis raie 
 to hear a Poet praife fine Verfes he was not the Author 
 of. A handf -me Woman mentions another's Beauty 
 either with Rjicrve or Envy, never fetting it off with 
 with due .Expreflions, to heighten the Idea of it. 
 Soldiers commonly have more J jftice for each other ; 
 for they will take Delight in recounting one another's 
 noble Adtions whereof they were only Spectators. 
 
 A Man
 
 f 22 Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 A Man of any admirable Accomplishment, or ex- 
 celling Quality v ought not to exprefs a greedinets of 
 Applaufe, nor a Contempt for the Fools that don't do 
 him J'jftice. 'Tis a wretched PuniuSment to fhew 
 one's Abilities before fenfelefsflupid People, that judge 
 prepofleroufly, that perceive not the Beauty of a 
 Piece, nor diftinguifh the flat and indifferent Part 
 from the excellent and fublime. But 'tis not, howe- 
 ver, the Author's Bufmefs, to expofe the ill Judgments 
 they make on his Performance. 
 
 If a Man co.'ld prevail fo far with himfelf, as not 
 to ridicule People for their ill Sucrefles, it would be 
 a very eiUmable Virtue ; but this is rarely to be met 
 with, the World is fo very cenforious and ill-natured. 
 1 could heartily wifh People had a little more ot the 
 Referve of that brave Man, who upon reading an 
 obfcure Book, not without its Beauties, faid, What 
 be under fwid in it, he thought admirably Jine \ and 
 doubted not .hut ivhat be did not uaderjiand^ ivas of the 
 tike gosantfs. How amiable and generous was fuel) a 
 Carnage, and how fweet would the Commerce of 
 Humane Life be, if all Men formed their Conciuft 
 upon this Model ! 
 
 A Man may conquer his Animofity that is founded 
 on a real Caule : He may forgive thro' Generofity 
 and Greatnefs of Soul, if he pofitively knows upon 
 \vhat his Complaints are grounded : But when the 
 Qnnrrel has no Foundation, 'tis more durable, be- 
 caue Reafon knows not how to correft what it can't 
 comprehend. Perhaps 'tis on this fcore we find it 
 harder to appeafe the Squabbles of Women, whofe 
 Quarrels have commonly the moil trivial and chi- 
 merical Occafions : Their Pride or Conceitednefs will 
 not fuffer (hem to own they are in Fault ; fo they per- 
 fift obftinatdy in their Notion?, which makes their 
 Hatred fo lulling ; and if their flattering or interefted 
 Friends perfuadethem never fo little that their Relent - 
 mnts are juft, 'tis odds but they are never cured of 
 them. 
 
 Tis
 
 O/ genteel Behaviour. 123 
 
 'Tis not always the befl Method to wed People to 
 our Intereft, by loading them with Benefits. They 
 are affiduous and zealous fo long as they are in hopes, 
 but fo foon as ever they have obtained their Dcfires, 
 their Ardour cools. Promifes put the Wheels in Mo- 
 tion, but Prefenis are a Clog to them ; whereas the 
 courfe Ihould be juft contrary ; Gratitude mould re- 
 double our Fervour, and give an additional Zeal to 
 our Bepefaclors, who were fo generous and obliging, 
 as to declare for us in fuch Inltances as wanted their 
 Afflflance. 
 
 Great Benefactions are fometimes inftrumental to 
 Ingratitude, and difengage the Client from his Patron, 
 inftead of retaining him in his Intereft. Thefe fort 
 f People are only ungrateful, becaufe they have 
 been over much obliged, and they are willing, at any 
 rate, to catt off fo troublefome a Burden. Bonefoy 
 ingenuoufly confeffes, the fight of Martel makes him 
 tremble ; and yet it was he that put him into a con- 
 fiderable Poft in which he has got a great Eftate ; 
 and maintained him againft the Faction of Court-Fa- 
 vourices, who defigned to difgrace and reduce him to 
 his primitive Condition. 
 
 A Man takes great Delight in obliging Perfons of 
 Honour and Gratitude ; but it requires a vaflly great 
 nd generous Soul, to do good to People of known 
 Ingratitude, and which one already has had the Proof 
 of. Acknowledgment is a kind of Tribute due to 
 the go ->d Offices we receive, provided jhey come not 
 from an Enemy : For fuch Favours inftead of affeft- 
 ing us, ought erer to be fufpeded. 
 
 Ill-natured People are never won by Benefits ; re- 
 fembling certain wild Beads, which we endeavour to 
 tame by careffing them ; whofe Paws are neverthe- 
 lefs always to be dreaded, and who fometimes tear 
 thnfc that feed them. Whatever a generous and 
 zealous Friend was capable of undertaking for a Per- 
 fon dear to him, Ljfander has done for Maricour. He 
 
 lent
 
 124 Reflections upon Pol itenefs. 
 
 lent him great Sums of Money, to refcue him from 
 the Tyranny of his Creditors. He gave him the Op- 
 portunity of (hewing himfelf, and pu chafing a fine 
 Poft, of confiderable Incoir.e, which furnimes him 
 with Eafe and Plenty, Muricour notwithltanding, 
 has betrayed this Benefactor of h ;, by baiely cheat- 
 ing him of the Money he borrowed, and unjultly ac- 
 cufing him of an Affair that has irreparably wounded 
 his Reputation. 
 
 Good Fortune is the frequent occafion of Ingrati- 
 tude. A Man pretends not to know People that have 
 feen him in IMI happy Circumftances, or helped him 
 out of them. He even fometimes hates the very Per- 
 foni that have cone him important Services, keeping 
 them at a Diftance, to be rid of the Obligation of an 
 Acknov.ledgmerr. An infallible Argument of Olim- 
 pia\ wondrous Merit, is, that in her great Exaltation, 
 ihe protects thole that vifited her in a 1-fs happy State, 
 and mew ^dr Friendfhip at a Time, when her Riches 
 were unequal to her ;>dmrab!e Qualities. 
 
 We eafny forge, pad services, and leldom conflrain 
 our felves to make our Court to thofe that are no lon- 
 ger capable of doing us any. 'Tis Hope alone that 
 keeps us in Heart, and devotes us to thofe, whole 
 Credit or Fortune may be of any ufe to us. 
 
 Ingrati'ude is Ib bafe and fcandalous a Vice, that 
 to punim it, we need only abandon the Ungrateful 
 to cheir own Malignity, without troubling oui felves 
 about any other Revenge. With whatever Colours 
 we palliate Ingratitude, whatever Daabings we ufe to 
 blot out fo infamous a Stain, 'tis impoffibie to juftify 
 it to rational People. We have been obliged and we 
 ought to be grateful, is a Rule without Exception. 
 
 The Reaibn of the World's abounding with Ingra- 
 titude, is the Giving with an ill Grace. Nothing 
 captivates the Heart fo much, as a Prefent obliging- 
 ly made ; and on the contrary, nothing is fe difguft- 
 
 fL
 
 Of gsnted Behaviour. 125 
 
 ful, as a Favour granted in a fnarling way. No won- 
 der then, we fometimes difoblige People by gratify- 
 ing their Defires. 
 
 'Tii ridiculous to infult a Man with a Benefit, or 
 mention it too often ; and 'tis a wretched Perfection 
 to be told continually of the Services we have done 
 us. Thele Repetitions turn one's Stomach, and pro- 
 voke our Averfion to the Authors of fuch Difcourfes 
 \vbich are looked upon as Abufes and Reproaches. 
 
 Every Body is full of Complaints againft the un- 
 grateful, and Ingratitude ; but fev apply themfelves 
 to the cure of fo odious a Vice. 'Tis eafy to forget 
 the Obligation of a Benefit ; the hopes of receiving 
 new Favours, difpofe to Ingratitude*, when thofe 
 Hopes are fruftrated. We have the fineft Thoughts 
 imaginable on the Receipt of a Bounty ; but at laft our 
 natural Biafs prevails, and we feel a ftrange Fund of 
 Indifference for our Benefactors, nay, are ungrateful 
 in our Returns for important Services. The leafl 
 Fault they are guilty of, in Relation to us, turns the 
 Scale, and bears it down to Ingratitude. 
 
 One of the moft common, as well as moft fatal 
 Effects of Ingratitude, is the exciting the Hatred and 
 Indignation of our Patrons; their Miltaken Choice 
 diflurbs and enrages them ; and they omit nothing 
 to revenge themfelves on the Perfons that have abufed 
 their Kindneffes. 
 
 Men who are naturally felf-interefted, proportion 
 their Gratitude to the Services they expect ; but there's 
 no greater Demonftration of what little Strefs there is 
 to be laid on their Affection, than the Indifference 
 they exprefs for thofe they formerly adored, when, 
 they ceafe to be ufeful, and Fortune, good or bad, 
 has changed the Situation of their Affairs. 
 
 We ought not to carry our Reflections home to 
 our felves, in the Things our Friends defire of us. 
 We fhould endeavour to pleafe and ferve them to 
 their Minds, without even thinking of their Acknow- 
 ledgments : A rational Soul is well-enough paid, by 
 
 VOL. II. G the
 
 1 2.6 Reflexions upon Politenefs. 
 
 the Pleafure it receives in obliging a beloved Perfon, 
 who is well deferving of our Zeal. 
 
 Our Flatteries or Contempt never keep a Mean, 
 with refpect to Men in Place. Whilft they are up- 
 held by Fortune, we proftitute our Praifes, and carry 
 our Devotions even to Adoration; but no fooner do 
 they begin to decline and become verging towards 
 Difgrace, but all the World abandons them, rends 
 their Reputation without Mercy, and fails not to 
 impute the Caufe of their Mifery to their ill Con- 
 duel. 
 
 Frequent Inftances hereof are to be met with in the 
 Courts of Princes. 'Tis certain this is a Sort of in- 
 chanted Ground, where a Man is not fecure of main- 
 taining his Pott, with never fo great Talents, vaft 
 Merit, or effential Services. The Luftre of great 
 Virtue dazzles the jealous Eyes of Ambitious People, 
 who can't bear being out-mined, nor pardon an impor- 
 tunate Defert. This puts them upon playing all 
 forts, of Engines, and recurring to the n.oft fordid 
 and infamous Means, to worm them cut of their Pla- 
 ces, that they themfelves may fkrew into them. 
 
 'Tis a rare thing to fee People fo difinterefted, as 
 not to warp with the bent of their Inclination, whea 
 Occafion fhall offer. Their Virtue is not fo perfect as 
 to be Proof againft the Temptation of gain, though 
 not to be come at, but by fufpefted Means, and Ways 
 Indirect. If in Play, they can ui'e Legerdemain, 
 they neglect not the Advantage. In Dealings we 
 may have with them, they commonly ufe Artifice 
 and Tricking to fecure their own Stakes, without 
 troubling themfelves how others fhall get off. 
 
 Have no Converfation with People delighting in 
 Satyr and Raillery : Neither expect any Kindncfles 
 from them after many Years Friendfhip, whatever 
 Occafions you may have for their Afliftance. If you 
 make any falfe Steps, they will be fure to laugh at 
 you the .firft, and turn you into Ridicule. Thefe 
 
 People
 
 Of genteel Behaviour. i z 7 
 
 People refemble fome Sorts of wild Beafts, whom 
 there's no poffibility of taming ; but they'll ftill re- 
 turn to their favage Natures, and claw their Keep- 
 ers. 
 
 People often think they aft upon generous and 
 difinterefted Motives j whilft the Ferment of fome 
 Paflions intermingles, and deftroys the Merit of a 
 feeming virtuous Action. 'Tis not always from a 
 true Zeal we exclaim againft the Conduct of Perfons 
 that furnifli us an handle for Reproach. 'Tis Envy 
 that opens our Mouths againft the Luxury of State- 
 Minifters; their lofty Houfes, rich Furniture, - gilt 
 Coaches, and magnificent Entertainments, or againft 
 the Credit and Power of Favourites, A Woman that 
 cenfures another whofe Conduct is attacked, is feldom 
 concerned for her Reformation, but out of a more 
 ticklifh Intereft, or a fecret Jealoufy of her Beau- 
 ty, endeavours to ruin her, as fhe thinks, dangerous 
 Rival. 
 
 Men alter their Politicks according to the different 
 turn People's Affairs take to whom they are devoted. 
 Generally fpeaking, we may venture to fay, thac 
 grateful People are Perfons of true Senfe, and worthy 
 of the Favours they receive. It commonly happens, 
 that Men leaft deferving Benefits, are the moft Un- 
 grateful, and think themfelves never fuf&ciently re- 
 quited. Becaufe Frontin has done Lyjion fotne Ser- 
 vice, who has neverthelefs got him a Place of a Thou- 
 fand Pounds a Year by his Intereft, he complains he 
 is hardly ufed, and really thinks his Pains but ill-re- 
 coropenced. 'Tis likely he would ftill complain, if 
 Lyjian ihould quit his own Eftate and Preferment to 
 him. 
 
 Gratitude fliould have fomething free in it, and 
 nothing forced or Conftrained. When a Man is only, 
 thankful out of a Kind of Duty, and repays good. 
 Offices purely becaufe he has received them, he al- 
 ways difcharges them with an aukward Grace. It 
 requires a great Stock of Generofity and Honour to 
 G 2 be
 
 ia8 Refle fli<ms upon Polite nefs. 
 
 be glad to fee People we are extremely obliged te 
 the Ungrateful are always under Conftraint in the 
 Company of thofe that have loaded them with Bene- 
 fits. 
 
 People that have vaft Notions of their own Merit, 
 are commonly ungrateful, becaufe they think every 
 Thing their due, that they are above taking Notice of 
 any Body, and that the leaft Advances, on their Part, 
 are a competent Difcharge for the grcateft Services 
 People have done them. They compare themfclves 
 with the Perfons they are obliged to, and finding fo 
 great a Difproportion, they are not in the leaft affedt- 
 ed with the moft effential Kindneffes. Lucilia pre- 
 tends, becaufe fhe is handfome, that me merits the 
 nobleft Sacrifices, and that the bare PJeafure of feeing 
 her, is fufficient Recompence for all that's done for 
 her : This is her peculiar Frenzy. She fcarce vouch- 
 fafes to thank thofe Friends that have moved every 
 Stone to ferve her : And when fhe does it, 'tis with fo 
 unconcerned a Look and languiming a Tone, as makes 
 It manifeft {he has little or no Acknowledgment 
 in her. 
 
 There's very little Difference betwixt the Morals of 
 Women of this Age, and thofe of honeft Heathens. 
 They acknowledge no other Laws than thofe of their 
 Pleafbres, and refer all Things :o this Point. Being 
 entirely taken up with the thoughts of pleafing, they 
 have no other Care than to make their Days roll on 
 pleafantly, whilft eflential Duties make but a weak 
 Impreffion on them. We fometirr.es hear Women of 
 this Character declare, they have no mind to be cano- 
 nized ; and that w hen they are upon the Declenfi- 
 on, they'll think of growing grave, like others, 
 who politickly make that choice, when they have 
 fpent all their beft Years in Mirth, Jollity and Plea- 
 lure. 
 
 Conceited and prefumptive People are naturally 
 Exceptious ; there muft be no Orniffi on in the Devoirs 
 (hat are paid them; the lead Irregularity offends 
 
 them,
 
 Of genteel Behaviour. 1 29 
 
 them, and expunges the remembrance of all paft Be- 
 nefits. When you hare done all that is poffible to fa- 
 tisfy them, if you fail in the leaft Circmnflance, 
 they reckon all the reil as nothing, and think this 
 little Negligence acquits them from all Manner of 
 Obligations. 
 
 Don't hope to have always Juftice done you, bnt 
 content yourfelf with the Glory and Reputation that 
 are due to your good Actions. Don't be difcou- 
 raged, nor give way to your Indignation, tho' Men 
 make but ill Returns to your Ooligations. Our Duty 
 K always to be done, without depending en the Ac- 
 knowledgments of the World. What Glory has 
 not Paulinus acquired by his heroical Proceedings on 
 the behalf of Francion ? He difengaged him from an 
 unhappy Affair, by his Interefl and his Money. The 
 Wretch, inftead of being touched with it, declared 
 himfelf againft Paulinys, and did sll he couid to pro- 
 voke him. His Magottry or Deftiny plunged him 
 into frefh Confufions, and he found himfelf necefr- 
 tated to make new Applications to his abafed Friend. 
 But Paulinui forgetting hi.. Ingratitude and ill Turns 
 attempted againit him, ferved him with the fame 
 Zeal and Vigour, as if he had been the gra'efulleft 
 Perfon alive. How glorious was this Conduft ! How 
 fubiime this Virtue ! But of how rare, and aloioft 
 inimitable a Practice f 
 
 ' fis commonly a miftaken Piece of State, to refufe 
 the Prefents of cur Friends : 'Tis fometimes likewife 
 tie Apprehenfion of being obliged to acknowledg- 
 ments and Reciprocal Returns ; or elie the difefteem 
 ef the Things they offer : In all Cafes 'tis a bad ac- 
 knowledgment of their kind Intentions. Thefe dif- 
 Gainful and difobliging Ways, jaftly exafperate 
 them, and infallibly cooi the fervour of their Friend- 
 ihip. 
 
 Moil Men have a wondrous Faculty at Insinuation 
 
 to gain their Point; they load you wr.h Civilities and 
 
 G 3 Prete-
 
 130 Reflections upon Politenefi. 
 
 Proteftat'ons of eternal Services ; but when they have 
 no farther hopes, they inllantly forget both the Bene- 
 fit and the Benefaclor : Nay, 'tis much if they for- 
 bear to do ill Offices to their Patrons, or at lead to 
 complain of them. 
 
 'Tis an ill-contrived Generofity to plunge one's felf 
 into Debt, to appear Magnificent. AH Excefs is 
 vicious and blameable, and we can't forbear cenfuring 
 their Condudl, who impertinently fquander away 
 their Money, and labour to make a Figure at their 
 Creditors Expence : But yet their ridiculous Dotage 
 is more to be condemned, who abounding in Wealth 
 deny themfelves the Satisfaction of enjoying it, as if 
 they were Farmers to their own Heirs. Avarice is 
 the moft miferable of Paflions, and we can have no 
 other Notion of the Covetous, than of People under 
 a divine Malediction : They refufe themfelves Necef- 
 faries, to leave others wherewithal to live in Splendor. 
 One would think they confidered their Ellates, as if 
 they did not belong to them, fo fearful are they of 
 ufing them. They daily make new Acquifitions, and 
 multiply their Bags of Gold and Silver, which to 
 them, are but a Heap of Flints or Hob-nails, fmce 
 they make no ufe of them. They fufter all the In- 
 conveniences of Poverty, to have the whimfical 
 Satisfaction of poficffing immenfe Riches. What a 
 Madnefs is this ! Every Body knows that Harpagon, 
 by marrying, had Two Thoufand Pounds a Year. 
 He chofe a Wife out of the Lees of the People, 
 whofe Father had made his Fortune. 'Tis Twenty 
 Years fince he married, and has faved almoft all his 
 Revenue ever fmce. Scarce has he Valets to ferve 
 him. He lived in a very convenient Houfe, which 
 he has now fold, to take another of lefs Rent, more 
 tfrait and incommodious. He loves the Country, 
 where he had a pretty Eftate, in a very pleafant and 
 healthy Situation. He has parted with it for ready 
 Money, which he rolls in. Harpagcn lives like ano- 
 ther Timon, or filthy Cynick in his Tub, to have his 
 
 Coffers
 
 Of Sincerity. 131 
 
 Coffers fluffed with Crown Pieces when he dies. 
 Here's a fine Expedient ? 
 
 If thofe who can't prevail with themfelves to be 
 genteel and generous, could at leaft abftain from 
 fcoundrel and fordid Ways, and from living in 
 Greafe and Naftinefs, we fhould have fome Indul- 
 gence for them, and pity them for the malignity of 
 their Stars and ConfUtution. 
 
 'Tis a Cuftom much in Practice, to ridicule a Man 
 that commits a Fault, and to augment his Confufion 
 by Reproaches : The moft moderate affeft malicious 
 Smiles, that are as provoking, as keen Reflections. 
 All this proceeds from a fecret Pride, becaufe we are 
 glad to fee others guilty of fuch Things as place them 
 beneath us, and deflroy their Reputation with the 
 World. 
 
 Of Sincerity. 
 
 TH E Knowledge of the Heart of Man is not 
 attainable but by long Experience and much 
 Reflection. Men are fo Ingenioir- at difguifing them- 
 felves, and fo Induftrious at concealing their Thoughts, 
 that it is impofiible to penetrate into their true Inten- 
 tions. They mod commonly aft by Freak and Ca- 
 price ; what pleafes them To-day, difgufts them To- 
 morrow ; and a Man had need be very politick to 
 find out what they like, and very pliant to comply 
 with them. Molt Men are unintelligible; they 
 ta'k and ad~fe directly contrary to their Meaning. 
 You rouft always interpret their Difcourfe by the 
 Rule of Contraries, fmce their Hearts and Mouths 
 keep no Intelligence betwixt them. -They have 
 neither good Faith nor Sincerity, are always maflced, 
 and have nothing natural. Such People are the Bane 
 G 4 of
 
 132 Refoftimu upon Politeness. 
 
 of civil Society, againft whom yon araft always be 
 on yoor Guard, if yon would not be deceived. 
 
 Looks and Grimaces contribute nothing towards fo- 
 lid Vime. 'Tis not fufficiem to appear an honcft 
 Man, nnkfs yoa effectually are ia But die way is 
 to pnt on the Out-fide and Livery of Virtue, with- 
 oot being concerned for die Sabflance and Reality : 
 Nay, what u very ftrange, People commonly take 
 more Pains to difgciie thexnfrlvcs, and deceive the 
 World, than it would coft diem to acquire thofe fine 
 Qualities that produce a fnbftantial Merit. 
 
 Tis a very common Cuftom to flatter die Perfons 
 we refpect, and applaud all dey iay and do; but 
 Simcrriu rafters by foch PrafUces, and is not confif- 
 tent wkh an cndiefs Fawning and Adubtkm. We 
 :>.;-li r.r.:-;- indulge BUI '.. t\ in cer.f-.vr.g v.i:h 
 coo much Freedom and Prefumption ; for if codling 
 be more pernicious than a Rank or envenomed Flat- 
 tery, nothing is more pefiering and trouUefome than 
 a blonc Simceritj, that ays every dung wichoac Cau- 
 tion or Regard. 
 
 According to die prcfcnt State and Situation of our 
 Morals, there is be* (mall hopes of reviving the **- 
 frity So cherifited by oar Anceftors, which was, as it 
 were, die very Soul of their ConreriaUoci . All now 
 confiJb in rain Compliments, Artifice and Tricking, 
 to difcover the real Sentiments of Men, you muft 
 give their Words die exacl contrary Meaning. So 
 perfed is their Knack and Cuftom of DiJuemblmg, 
 that dey ofe Difguifci even in dsekaft Trifies. Such 
 Maxims are very repognant to die Character of an 
 :.:-:." Mi: 
 
 Tu great Polly, as well as Cowanike, to fpeak 
 agziaft one's Coddecce to pZeaie tboic People we 
 mean tocnhJrate and draw into ogrTncrrefo. A Man 
 of Honour oughc nerer to counterfeit, deceive, or 
 lye, nekher mould he dkeft bimfclf of his own Sen- 
 timents to put on borrowed Notions, when they are 
 He mould not be otfiaately SaSsmd
 
 O/ # 
 
 Aftrontive in indifferent Things, where a littte more 
 Compliance would ucite People to 1iis Inferdb. 
 How often have Men raifcarried in their Affairs by a 
 mif- timed Simcm'ty which only ferves to (our and ex- 
 afpeiate People's Minds again* them ? The Politici- 
 ans, who hare na ,/fcuv* MU* bat their Inte- 
 r efts, and prefer the Utile before the Hmgfaw, fry, 
 There is no Security in the World withoci Hypocrif jr, 
 and that a Man moft certainly be rained that can't 
 diffcmble. They are but yt Managers, lay they, 
 that fland upon a rigorous and inflexible Snctri/y. 
 We ought to cards the People we hate and defign 
 to deftroy ; and experts Efteem and Refpeft, where 
 we have nothing but Contempt. If tbefe Subter- 
 fuges and Difgai:es are aWblurdy neceffiuy to make 
 one's Fortune, die honeft Man maft bid farewel to 
 it : And in this I can't bat infinitely admire Akuttr* 
 Character. He is placed in a nice PoftV where he has 
 a thou&nd People to cultivate, whom he depends 
 epon ; People crabbed and difficult, and, by the Si- 
 tuation of their Fortunes grown peevim and imprac- 
 ticable. Mean time, he has not the Dafiaray fervfle- 
 ly to flatter them, nor to applaud their frequent In- 
 joibces and Extortions. He tells them plainly what 
 'he thinks, and proposes his Advice with fo much 
 Art, I&nauation and Integrity, that they bear with 
 him, and are forced to fabmit, in ipight of the con- 
 trary Maxims fasgefted by their Proremon. 
 
 A Man of Honour (hould make it a Law to kirn- 
 ferf, never to (peak what be does not think, and to 
 avoid whatever h falfc, and too concerted. J[f you 
 
 J not ceceive acrBody, why all tbefe footer- 
 fages ? A& and fpeak nararaUy, and rack not your 
 
 -. to pozzie yoorfelf as you do. Artinces, Dtf- 
 
 e and canghty Polidcks," get you but Hide Cre- 
 
 anii are die Signs of an ill Temper. If we 
 
 banifh Sitrtriti* te muS renounce the World : For 
 
 without ir, civil Society a kd of Kidnaping ; 
 
 :ry all Praaiccs to abuTe, guU ind iurpnxe die 
 G 5 People
 
 134 Refit 5tions upon Politenefs. 
 
 People we converfe with. A Man flatters and ca- 
 reffes you to your Face, whilfl his Thoughts are quite 
 contrary to his Words. He tells you, in your uiif- 
 fortunes, that he is concerned for your Mifcry, and 
 that your Merit deferved a better Deftiny ; but as 
 foon as your Back is turned, the fame Perfon rails 
 againft you, and infults you, faying, Fortune has 
 done Juftice to your Want of Merit, and that your 
 irregular Conduct is the Caufe of all your bad Suc- 
 cefi'es. There is I know not what Cowardice and 
 Bafenefs in his Treatment ; and a Man that has any 
 Notions of Honour, can't be guilty of this fraudu- 
 lent Dealing. What do you mean, Moricet, by your 
 barren Embraces ! You load Lifedor with Careifes and 
 Praifes, and cry him up to the Stars, nay put him in 
 parallel with the fublimeft Genius's : Yet as focn as 
 you leave him, you tell me he is a Simpleton and 
 Enthufiaft, that fancies himfelf a Wit, but has not 
 common Senfe. If you have not the Power to unde- 
 ceive him and open his Eyes, at lead don't feed his 
 Folly, by applauding his Extravagances. You tell 
 him, with an Air of Zeal, you are one of his 
 Friends, and lie believes you. You praife the Pub- 
 lick Aclion he has done, and lull him afleep by your 
 Praifes, as by the Song of the Syrent. Your Flatteries 
 poffefs him with a new Degree of Prefumption, and 
 give an additional Luftre to his Ridicule, which he 
 will never be cured of. 
 
 A Man of Integrity with excellent Ser.fe, \- com- 
 monly made the Property of a crafty Knave of but 
 indifferent Understanding, yet who has the Art to 
 difguife himfelf, and boggles at no Bafenefs to come 
 at his Ends. Alcippui is univerfally known to have 
 a fine and nice Wit, with an exact Judgment ; and 
 has been trufted with Bufmefs of great Importance, 
 which he has managed with admirable Skill In the 
 mean Time he has been tricked by Onufer, who is 
 but a Fool ; yet has his Eye intent upon his Intereft, 
 
 without
 
 Of Sincerity. 135 
 
 without any Regard to the Rules of Honour or 
 Juftice. 
 
 Wheedling and decoying are Stains to civil Socie- 
 ty, and the Signs of a weak Soul. How wretched 
 are you to carefs People you hate, and wifli them a 
 thouiand Miles ofF you. It would be lefs dimonour^ 
 able to let them underitand your true Sentiments ; for 
 hereby they would know what to truft to, and might 
 precaution themselves againft your ill Defigns. There 
 is no Prudence can be Proof againft the Impoftures of 
 a Man that tells you, with a fallacious Air, you may- 
 depend upon him; that he will always be ready to 
 facrifice himfelf for you ; that his Fortune, Friends 
 and Intereft are all at your Service ; If under this 
 fine Show there lurks a Serpentine and double Mind, 
 and out of fome fecret Refentmem he is refolved to 
 ruin you. How is it poffible to miftruft fuch treache- 
 rous Pretences ? How is it poffible to avoid the Snares 
 of one, that employs the very Ch.irac~lers of Friend- 
 fhip. to deceive you ? That makes pretended Confi- 
 dences to fteal your Secret from you, and promifes 
 you all kinds of Affiftance at t!;e Time he is feeking 
 the Means of your Deftruclion ? 
 
 In our Promifes to our Friends, we ought not to 
 ufe fubterfuges, Equivocation, or mental Refervati- 
 on ; for by failing in Sincerity and our Words, we 
 lofe our Reputation, People generally promife haftily 
 whatever is defired of them, without being fure they 
 have either Power or inclination to perform it. This 
 Levity expofes them to the Contempt of thoie they 
 thus abufe. When a Promife is made, it ought to be 
 difcharged as foon as may be, without making the 
 Expectants languilh. It is giving doubly, to give 
 with a good Grace. It looks as if we repented of 
 our Obligation, when we are backward to accom- 
 plifh it. If you defire Polyglot taaffift you in a Mat- 
 ter of Confequence, he promifes you without any 
 Hefitation ; he likewife promifes Nicaife and Deuji 
 in the fame Manner. You return, to his Lodgings, 
 
 to
 
 136 Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 to enquire what Advances he has made in your Br.fi- 
 nefs ; he has not fo much as though: of you ; he vill 
 amufe you a long while ; be \vill regale you with 
 Kifies and Embraces ; but that is all the Recompence 
 you muft have for the Journies you make, and the 
 .Attendance you pay to him. Why mould you, 
 Polyglot, amufe People with barren Compliments, 
 when you have neither the Defire nor Capacity to 
 do them real Services ? 
 
 There is a vaft Difference between Sincerity and an 
 itching Defire of talking, that makes us open our- 
 felves to all Sorts of People in indifcreet Confidences. 
 Sincerity mould have nothing ram or foolifh in it : It 
 does not oblige you to tell fillily all you know, or to 
 expofe your Infide to inquHitive Perfons, that endea- 
 vour to fift you, and fteal your Secrets. Maintain a 
 refolute Referve before People of this Character, who 
 often abufe the Secret you impart to them. Efpecial- 
 ly take great Care to avoid the Snares laid for you by 
 certain Women 'that have Merit, and ufe aThoufand 
 Artifices to make you difcoVer. The Natural Weak- 
 nefs we are under with refpecl to that Sex, the Am- 
 bition to pleafe a Woman we love, or to obtain what 
 we defire, are all apt to expofe us to the Commiffion 
 of great Faults, and long Repentances. 
 
 The Confiding in a Woman he loved, has coft Cla- 
 rimon his Liberty and Fortune : The deceitful Gipfy 
 betrayed him, and divulged his Secrets, that were in- 
 jurious to Perfons of high Birth ; who omitted no- 
 thing to be revenged on Clarimoris fatyrical Strokes, 
 and affrontive Descriptions. A Man muft be under 
 great Solicitude, that has intruded Women with a 
 very important Secret ; as being neither Miflrefles 
 of their Hearts nor Tongues. To day they are your 
 Friends ; To-morrow they will rail biuerly at you j 
 but yet for all that, you cannot withhold your Se- 
 crets f;om ihem ; a Fault not incident to, nor par- 
 donable in, a wife Man. 
 
 Sincerity
 
 Of Sincerity. 1 37 
 
 Sincerity is, perhaps, one of the fhorteft Cuts to 
 arrive at the Efteem of Men. 'Tis better honeftly to 
 eonfcfs one's Infirmities, than to ufe fo many Subter- 
 fuges in concealing them from the Publick, that knows 
 well enough what it ought to believe. What Ad- 
 vantage to the Women, pretendedly vi'tuous, is that 
 Artifice they employ to deceive the World : They 
 have but liule Thanks for all their Politicks. In 
 Publick they feem to be alarmed, and uke Fire at a 
 Word ever fo little free ; but in private they are more 
 familiar and tame, and aflame great Liberties. 
 
 Korine has long adled the Farce fo artfully, as to 
 pafs for a modeft Woman, though fhe was a Wanton 
 in her Soul. Ry Misfortune (he fell into the Hands 
 of a Hare-brained Spark, who has betrayed her, and 
 {hewn her Letters to all that had the Curiofity to read 
 them. Never was feen fo much Coquetry, and fo 
 corrupt a Heart, under fo compofed a Countenance. 
 What is not a Woman capable of, under the Influence 
 of a violent Pafiton ? 
 
 I can't conceive the Reafon, why Men fhould love 
 fo much to clifguife themfelves : They feem ttill to be 
 upon the Stage ; their Geftures, Words, and Mo- 
 tions of their Eyes and Gait, are all conceited. Do 
 they think to pleafe, by departing thus from Nature ? 
 A Man naturally melancholy and heavy, would a<ft 
 the agreeable and merry Part, but that mirth andDi- 
 verfion, which are the Refult of fo much Labour, are 
 very flat and infipid. Another on the contrary, na- 
 turally volatile and mercurial, affefts a ftudied Gra- 
 vity, that throws him off his Temper. They reafon 
 prepofteroufly : They put on thefe borrowed Airs to 
 pleafe ; whereas they direftly flifle all they may have 
 pleafing in them ; which can have no Effedl, any far- 
 ther than it follows Nature, which muft never be 
 forced. All that is extravagant, is difguflful to 
 People of good Tafte. 
 
 Sincerity
 
 138 Reflexions upon Politenefs. 
 
 Sincerity fometimes paffes for RufHcity and Rude- 
 acfs. We fee People of a fine and delicate Judgment, 
 and a jult Penetration, who, notwithftanding all their 
 Knowledge, are the Cullies of Fools who have no 
 Sincerity, and who apply all the little Wit they have, 
 to deceive thofe they converfe with, who yet have no 
 Sufpicions of their Shams. 
 
 We find People of a particular Country that have 
 all the Difficulty in the World to fpeak theirThoughts ; 
 they have ftill ibme Ambiguity and Referve in 
 their Difcourfe, and give you the moft frivolous 
 Trifles under the Seal of Secrecy. There are a 
 Thoufand Things we ought to truft to the Difcrecion 
 of the People we converie with, and ought not to be 
 made Myfteries ; and it would be ridiculous, to be 
 Ihy of them to our Friends. From this Rule mufl be 
 excepted, the Secrets that may be prejudicial to a third 
 Perfon ; for thofe are not to be mentioned to our 
 Friends ; and they can't take it ill, if they come to 
 anderftand they have not been trufted with them. 
 
 Whatever Merit a Man has or Afcendant he fup- 
 pofes himfelf to have over others, he ought to fubmit 
 to Reafon, hearken to Perfons of good Senfe, to profit 
 by their Advice, and recover from his Errors. He 
 ought likewife to have the Uprightnefs and Sincerity, 
 to lay open the State of his Affairs, without Difguife 
 and Subterfuge. How can you expect they mould 
 fpeak juftly to an Affair, when you hide from them 
 the main End, and decifive Point ? The Advices they 
 give you, can only beat the Bum, and never tend to 
 the Head of the Bcfinefs you confult about. 
 
 There are People that place all their Politentfs in 
 paying Civilities to all Comers, without Diilinction of 
 Quality or Merit. They lure them on with frivolous 
 Compliments, and indefinite Offers of Service, and 
 for feme Time impofe on them by thefe Appearance*. 
 They are applied to, as long as there is any Hopes of 
 
 Service;
 
 Of Sincerity. 139 
 
 Service ; but they are defpifed at laft, when the Va- 
 nity of their Promifes appears by their frequent Dif- 
 appointments. Is it not better ingenuoufly to confefs 
 to our Solicitors, that what they defire is beyond our 
 Power, and that we- are forry we are incapable of 
 granting their Requeils ? This Plain-dealing is a 
 Mortification to vain People, who are afraid of de- 
 grading themfeives from the great Opinion the 
 World has of their Interefl ; but it is much worfe, 
 when it is foand by Experience, how fhort and 
 limited is the Tender. 
 
 We are under no Obligation to love all Sorts of 
 People ; that being a Matter which requires both 
 Choice and Judgment. But it's a bafe Way of deal- 
 ing, to load People we don't love with barren Carefles, 
 and to arauie them with Demonflrations of a falfe and 
 deiufory Friendmip. They depend upon your Word ; 
 they rely on the AfUftance you have promifed ; but 
 you'll fail them in their Neceffity ; and they at laft 
 difcover the Impofture of your Pretenfions. 
 
 The Reafoo why there are fo fe*v fincere People in 
 the World, is, that all Men love to be flattered ; and 
 Complaifance is ^certain Means to gain their Friend- 
 fuip. 'Tis almoft an infallible Way to win them, to 
 feem to applaud them, approve their Methods and 
 Management, and to praUe them pertinently and in 
 Seafon. The moft fevere are touched with a well- 
 managed Commendation ; and they receive pure Flat- 
 tery as a lawful Tribute, becaufe they don't know 
 themfeives, but are mifguided by the Prejudices of 
 an imaginary Merit. 
 
 Perfons of great Worth are often expofed to the 
 Slanders and Abufes of thofe that envy them, who ca- 
 lumniate them as much as poflible. to ruin them. 
 The indifferent Auditors approve by their Looks and 
 Geftare the dishonourable Things they fay ; which is 
 a cowardly and mifplaced Complaifance. A. Man 
 Ciould have fo much Sincerity and Generofity as to 
 
 declare
 
 140 Re/fo$fobt upon Politeneis. 
 
 declare on the Side of an honeft Man, wrongfully at- 
 tacked, and deferred by every Body : And it is a 
 fhameful Piece of Cowardice, to decry People out of 
 Complaifance, and only make Court to Fools in Place, 
 tvho declare againit them. 
 
 There's nothing more dangerous in the Commerce 
 of the World, than a Friend who talks unjinccrety. 
 We naturally miftruil an Enemy, and guard ourfelves 
 againll his Stratagems and ill Defigns. But we don't 
 fufpecl one we fancy in our Interelts; we govern our 
 felves by his Advice, and confequently are expofed to 
 falfe Meafures in our Conduct, if he be fo treacherous 
 as to betray us. 
 
 'Tis a rare Thing to have People correct their 
 Faults. The Reafon, if Imiflakenot, is, they don't 
 ccnfider them as fuch, and fo are lefs affeded with 
 them, therefore are not at the Pains of feeking Reme- 
 dies. But it is much worfe, when they applaud and 
 boaft of certain Things they ought to blum for. A 
 Man practiced in fraudulent Devices, and aiming to 
 accomplifh his Defigns by ambiguous Means does 
 not think himfelf a Knave ; but conceives his Cun- 
 ning to be a lawful Induftry. A Gallanting Woman 
 flatters herfelf, 'tis allowable to make ufe of her Ad- 
 vantages, and difplay her Charms for Conquefts, 
 either to make her Fortune, or fucceed in her Intrigu- 
 ing Projects. People under this Difpofition, are far 
 from correcting their Faults, in which they take a 
 Sort of Pleafure and Delight. 
 
 Women upon the Declenfion, endeavour by all 
 Kinds of Arts to repair and make up the Decays of 
 Age ; nay, fancy the Grimaces of a fcrupulous Mo- 
 defty, will make Amends for the Lofs of Merit and 
 Beauty. Others, who will not yet quit the Poft of 
 Handfomenefs, entrench themfelves within Drefs, Fi- 
 neryv and the Luftre c-f their falfe Complexion ; 
 which they flill buy of the honefl Maker, to repla- 
 
 fter
 
 Of Sincerity. 141 
 
 iter (as well as may be) the Cracks and Flaws in their 
 Beauty. 
 
 The Men are not extremely obliged to them for all 
 thefe Pains they take for them. For what can be 
 more difguftful and loathfome, than an old Women 
 daubed and plaftered ; and who has filled up the 
 Wrinkles of her Forehead with Pomatum and Ccru- 
 ft? 
 
 Who could forbear laughing, to fee old Emilia's 
 glaring Cheeks ? Her Face refembles a Death's Head, 
 painted white and red ; and yet (he thinks of pleafmg ; 
 and will Hill fee the World, on wh'ch me doats now 
 more than ever. How much to be pitied is this Do- 
 tage, in an Age fo decrepk as Emilia's ? 
 
 I think a Woman much to be pitied, who has not 
 the Power to become ftaid and regular, after (he has 
 played a younger Part ; when the Fire of her Eyes no 
 longer Sparkles, when her Charms are worn out; in 
 fine, when (he is forfaken of the World, me ought to 
 quit it out of Policy. 'Tis a Shame for her, and a 
 Triumph to the Young, to expofe in all Companies 
 the Ruins of a mattered Beauty. Let it be Choice or 
 Neceflity, it becomes a Woman to put on Sobriety 
 when (he's no longer Palatable. 'Tis a wretched 
 Character that of an antiquated Coquet, whofe Paffions 
 are toll as fprightly and vigorous as ever, tho' in a 
 worn and decrepit Body. 
 
 Impofrures are ufually as fatal to Cheats, as to thofe 
 that are cheated by them. All the Gain that com- 
 monly refults from a Piece of Knavery, is the Shame 
 and Guilt of having acted a Part wholly unworthy the 
 Character of an Honeft Man. 
 
 Of all Deceivers, there are none we can lefs ward 
 againft, than Importers and Cheats in Matters of Re- 
 ligion ; becaufe the Mind being prejudiced, confults 
 not Reafon, nor even gives itfelf Time to practife any. 
 People fhut their Eyes fo as not to perceive their ma- 
 nifeit Dilbrdcrs, and cxcufe their Violences and moft 
 
 unreafonable
 
 142 Reflections u^n Politends. 
 
 unreafonable Extravagancies. Tis a Religious and 
 Good Man, fay they, that will be far from doing any 
 Thing againft his Confcience. They dive not to the 
 Bottom of this Myftery of Iniquity, and fo the Man 
 is absolutely juftified. If he happens to be engaged 
 in any troublefome Affair, then the whole Faction 
 flies to his Refcue : 'Tis an Affair (fay they without 
 more ado) that God is concerned in. 'Tis doing him 
 Service to engage in it, and all good People are oblig- 
 ed to take his Part ; and what is ftrange, Perfons of 
 this Character won't flick to decry all their Opponents 
 with envenomed Calumny and Slander. 
 
 A Man that puts on the Vizor of Religion, takes 
 all Meafures to perfuade the Worl of his Devotion, 
 affecting all the diftinguifhing Characters, the Ways, 
 the Language, and Means of Reformation ; tho' at 
 the Bottom he wants the Effentials, and has his Pafli- 
 cns as relllefs and \iolent as any other s can have. He 
 has no other Aim, in his pretended Fondnefs for Vir- 
 tue, than to eftablifh his Reputation, and obtain his 
 Ends. He would find no Relifh in practifing good 
 Works, if he had not the Art to make the moil of 
 them. In a Corner of a Popifi Houfe you find an 
 Oratory, with a Magazine of Relicks : But in the 
 reft of the Apartmentt you meet with all the Marks 
 of Heathen Vanity, Sumptuous Furniture, and Pictures 
 not very apt to infpire Devotion. The Conduit of 
 thefe People is one perpetual Forgery, and there's no 
 Sincerity in their Profeffion. But this Trade is very 
 unprofitable,, in vain they difguife themfelves ; they 
 kt flip now and then fome Marks to know them by ; 
 a Piece of Knavery nicely palliated, but difcovered in 
 the End ; an Affair they have fhuftkd in, or an eflen- 
 tial Injury done their Neighbour : Ail this opens a 
 Prolpect to the Bottom of their Hearts, and manifefts 
 their Infincerity. 'Tis much the fame as with Mi- 
 fer.-, w ho would fometimes counterfeit the Magnificent 
 Pcrfoa, to \\aih off the Stains of iheir Avarice. In 
 
 the
 
 Of Sincerity. 
 
 the Things (hey do fey their J unification, they always 
 leave fome Strokes oftheir Character, which undeceive 
 us. The Religious Hypocrites always flatter them- 
 ielves, that they act their Parts fo well, and fo impofe 
 on the World, that no Body can perceive their Sleight 
 of Hand. And as they have the Art of flreightnlng 
 or loofening the Ties of Confcience, they form to 
 themfelves Principles fuitable to their Pafiions, and 
 want no Pretences to excuie the grofTeft and blacked 
 Crimes. All the Scandal they raife to ruin thofe they 
 don't love, is Charity, they fay, in difcrediting Vice 
 and perfecuting vicious People. If any one that is 
 not their Friend, or in their Faclion, has any eminent 
 Quality that gives them umbrage, immediately their 
 pretended Zeal for the Glory of God fuggefts to them 
 the breaking his Meafure ; , and oppofing him in all 
 he fays or does ; for they have no Inclination that any 
 Good mould be done, unlefs they or their Friends 
 have all the Glory of it. Hence proceed thofe De- 
 vout Factions, and Offenfive and Defenfive Leagues, 
 to raife or fink the Reputation of whom they pleafe, 
 whilft no body dares complain of them ; fince all thofe 
 fine Politicks and Subterfuges they nfe to difguife bad 
 Intentions, fkreen them from all Cenfure. 
 
 Without Si?icerity, we find noPleafureor Security 
 in Convention. We ought not to ufe double-deal- 
 ings with our Friends, if we would long preferve 
 them. Confidence is the Cement and Charm of 
 Friendmiy : and we have no Referve for a Friend we 
 believe to have Sincerity and Difcretion. We difcover 
 to him without cruple, our Defigns and Infirmities, 
 and hide nothing from hisPrivacy, becaufe we depend 
 on his Prudence and Fidelity: But we ought to be 
 more retentive with indifferent Perfons ; for 'tis afting 
 agaLnft good Senfe and our own Interefts, to go and 
 give a Hiftory of all our Affairs to People we hardly 
 know, and who are aftonifhed at our Familiarity 
 crown up in a Moment. Tis the weak Sice of vain 
 
 People,
 
 344 Reflections upon Politencfs. 
 
 People, who are wonderfully fond of publifhing and 
 producing themi'elves ; but they are very tirefome and 
 fatiguing in imparting their myfterious Trifles. 
 
 Men at prefent make no pretenfions to Sincerity, 
 nor trouble their Heads about the Want of it ; and 
 indeed are too carelek in that particular : JnRead of 
 Honefty and Sincerity, we find nothing but Artifice, 
 Diiguifej, and oftentimes Treachery in the Commerce 
 of the World. "We are amazed to find ourfeives be- 
 trayed by People we entirely trufted, who declare 
 againft us on ail Occafions wherein we have moft need 
 of their Affiltance. Thefe are Blows we never reco- 
 ver, for they leave mortal Wounds in our Souls. 
 We feldom pardon this Want of Fidelity, whatever 
 Pretenfions we may make. The Heart always retains 
 a fecret Bitternefs ; and if we ever make a falfe Step 
 of this Nature, we muft no longer reckon on the Be- 
 nevolence of our Friends. 
 
 Thofe who feem ib much afflicted with the Lofs of 
 their Relations, have commonly inward Sentiments 
 very oppofite to their outward Appearances. A good 
 Wit among the Ancients has very well defcribed Peo- 
 ple of this Character. He (fays that Perfon) 'who was 
 refolded to ex fire vpoti the Tomb of his Wife, appears 
 in a Ban^uetting- Hull : He plucks cff his Hair, and 
 croivns himfelf with Flowers : He makes a Show of 
 abhorring Life ; and nnu he is feen to comb and adorto 
 himfelf y nay, fmile upon all the World <wit& the fame 
 Eyes that appeared before drowned in Tears. 'Tis cer- 
 tain we often fee grand Comedians in this particular. 
 The Joy of the Inheritance extinguifhes the Grief 
 that was due to the deceafed. 
 
 I have a lamentable Opinion of thofe Mechanical 
 Sort of People that always fpeak by Weight and 
 Meafure, and ufe a thoufand Difguifes to conceal their 
 Sentiments. Moft of the Matters that enter into the 
 Commerce of Life, don't deftrve fo great Precauti- 
 on, and luch tnyftcrious Aitings. We have a much 
 
 better
 
 Of Sincerity, 145 
 
 better Opinion of thofe, who would not feem more 
 Politick than the People they have to deal with. 
 When you aflc Barrus how he does, or what a Clock 
 'tis, he feeks Expreffions to give you a precife Anfwer ; 
 fo fearful he is any Word fhould efcape him, from 
 which you might draw Confequenees to his Prejudice. 
 In the Narrative he gives you of the mod frivolous 
 Matters, he is under fo great a Torture and Conllraint, 
 as puts his Hearers in equal Pain, who would be glad 
 to be delivered from his impertinent Secrets. 
 
 Few People apply themfelves to get rid of their 
 Faults, and plant real "Virtues in the room of them. 
 Contented with Appearances, they would have the 
 Honour and Reputation of Virtue, without the Trou- 
 ble and Merit of it ; and are more careful to difguife 
 their Vices and ill Qualities, than to cure them. Ar- 
 tifice, Difguife, and feeming Virtues, ferve initead of 
 rtal ones : and the moft dexaous Irnpoftors pafs for 
 the moft meritorious Men, tho' at the Bottom, they 
 want the common Principles of Honefty. Thefe 
 People bear a great Refemblance to Comedians, who 
 aft feveral Characters in Maiks, and change their Ha- 
 bits according to the different Parts they play. Thefe 
 arc the Politicks of Knaves, whofe whole Care and 
 Contrivance is to difguife themfelves, fo as to dazzle 
 weak People that believe them honefl Men, tho 1 their 
 Honefty be nothing but Grimace. How many Peo- 
 ple has Darimon feduced by delufive Appearances ! 
 The World would ftill queftion his being a Rogue, 
 had he not made a Break that almoft interefted all En- 
 gland in it. People were fo fully perfuaded of his 
 Honefty and Sincerity, and the good Condition of his 
 Affairs, that they depofited great Sums in his Hands 
 on his bare Word ; but they q~ickly changed their O- 
 pinions, upon the Noife of his going off with their 
 Money. 
 
 Women are more ingenious than Men, at difguifmg 
 their Sentiments and Inclinations. Many of theip 
 
 pafs
 
 146 Refleftions upon Politenefs. 
 
 pafs for Modeft, becaufe they have the Art to put on 
 an affected Gravity to conceal their little Correfpon- 
 dences. The moft Politick amongft them often pafs 
 for Innocents ; they feem to blum in Publick for the 
 Freedom of a Word, but in private they are not fo 
 fcrupulous ; they haughtily reprehend the moft incon- 
 fiderabie Peccadillo's in others, whilft their own Con- 
 fciences give them fmart Reproofs. They enjoy this 
 falfe Reputation, till fome glaring Adventure breaks 
 forth, and betrays the Myfteries they have concealed 
 with fo much Artifice. Then the Publick, being dif- 
 abufed, opens its Eyes upon their Conduct, and ob- 
 ferves a thoufand Things that were forgiven them up- 
 on their prefumed Mod eft y and Regularky. 
 
 'Tis too extravagant a Satyr to fay of Women, 
 that their Souls are no lefs painted than their Faces ; 
 that they have Artifice in all their Words, and moft of 
 their Actions, but efpecially in their Tears, which 
 flow as often as they have Occafion for them. 'Tis 
 certain, generally fpeaking, Women are more Arti- 
 ficial and Politick than Men, and have more Addrefs 
 to difguife their real Sentiments : This is the Reafon 
 that Men are fo often their Cullies, and take the De- 
 monftrations of a Counterfeit Paffion for real Kindnefs 
 and Affedion. 
 
 A Man muft be Sincere beyond the Standard of our 
 prefent Manners, to talk ingenuoufly to People who 
 afk Advice upon certain Matters to court our Flattery : 
 for 'tis eafy to obferve acrofs all their Grimace, that 
 it is rather Praifes than Counfel they confult us for. 
 A Man comes to mew you his Book, which he thinks 
 a Mafter piece. He proteib, at firft, he'll ftand to 
 your Decifions, as to fo many Oracles : But he takes 
 Fire at the firft Word you criticife, and leaves you in 
 Difcontent, tp feek fomebody elfe more eafy and more 
 foolim, to applaud him thro' Stupidity and Complai- 
 fance. 'Tis not with a Define of Reformation, that 
 certain People afk your Counfel about their Conduft j 
 their Refolution is taken before you are confulted : 
 
 But
 
 Of Sincerity. 147 
 
 But their Defign is to have your Approbation, and 
 engage you in their Interefts ; for if you are Sincere, 
 and tell them what difadvantages Rumours are fpread 
 concerning them, the Alteration of their difconcert- 
 ed Looks betrays them, and difcovers their true Sen- 
 timents, with the Vexation your Sincerity gives them ; 
 and yoa come off very well, if they don't recompenfe 
 your charitable Advice with fome blunt Remonftrances, 
 or keen Reproach. 
 
 How many Faults would be avoided in Converfa- 
 tion with the World, if we loved rather to be adviied 
 than flattered ? But a tender Delicacy for our felves 
 renders the Name of Cenfor odious ; whereas they 
 that flatter us, and feem to approve our Sentiments, 
 are thought much more agreeable People. Thus you 
 fee the Reafon of our growing gray, with all thofe 
 Im perfections that poifon our Merit; whether we 
 don't perceive them, or that the Complaifances of our 
 fawning Friends make them appear inconfiderable, 
 and prevent our neceffary Cautions for the Cure. 
 Thefe illegitimate Praifes, abfurdly bellowed, have 
 another ill Effect, which is, that when our fincere 
 Friends endeavour, by good Advice, to bring us to 
 Confideration, we look upon them as fevere and im- 
 portunate Criticks, that exaggerate Matters, and take 
 a malicious Pleafure in unmercifully cenfuring what 
 deferves no Cenfure. 'Tis a miftaken Delicacy, to 
 refufe the Advice of all but Perfons of great Merit ; 
 for what matters it from whence it comes, provided 
 it be ufeful ? A Fool is not a Fool in every Thing, 
 and he may fome.times rectify People wifer than hini- 
 felf. The clear-fighted don't always fee what the lels 
 illuminated perceive, becaufe Self-love mifleads us, 
 and makes us take faife Meafures. 
 
 'Tis an ill Method of making Friends, to fet up 
 for a publick Cenfor ; it makes a Man regarded as a 
 Mifanthrope. How comes it then, that we find fo 
 many Perfons always ready to give Advice ; fqueam- 
 iih, uneafy People, diffatisfied with and diflatisfying 
 
 ever/
 
 148 Refleftiom upon Politenefs. 
 
 every Body ? If you'd live at Peace with all Man- 
 kind, concern your felf with no Body, but yourfelf 
 and your own Affairs. Leave others at Liberty to 
 live after iheir own Fafhion, provided you have not 
 undertaken for their Conduft, nor are anfwerable for 
 it to the Publick. 
 
 We often draw upon us very ungrateful Repartees* 
 by being too Sincere; but neither ought we to have 
 the cowardly Complaifance of forae People, who 
 praife in Publick what they blame in Private ; who be- 
 tray their own Sentiments, and have not the Courage 
 to ipeak what they think, for fear of angring the 
 People they would pleafe. Would it not be better to 
 give them feme little Diflurbance by fincere Advice, 
 than abandon them to their ill Fate? It becomes a 
 faithfu 1 and difmterefted Friend to fet his Friend right, 
 who has not always Light enough to guide him. ' Tis 
 a nice Matter, 1 confefs, and demands great Precauti- 
 ons ; becaufe we meet with few but are difgufted 
 with our Counfels, and exprefs a Coldnefs for thofe 
 that meddle with their Affairs, unlefs they efpoufe their 
 Sentiments. This ought not to difcourage us from 
 giving them our Advice, when they want it ; and 
 they always want it, when they are in Danger of 
 committing any confiderable Fault. If they exprefs 
 any Indignation when we take upon us to redrefs 
 them, we muft endeavour to infinuate into their Hu- 
 mours by gentte and engaging Ways ; it being not al- 
 ways the Counfel that difturbs, but the Manner of 
 fiving it. The Way is artfully to infinuate, that the 
 ublick is offended at their Conducl : That their In- 
 tentions are, perhaps, the beft in the World ; but 
 they have not fufficient Care to fave Appearances, 
 which are the ground of judging. When we ufe all 
 thefe Precautions, and make Men fenfible our Dif- 
 courfe is founded on pure Friendfhip, unlefs they be 
 whimfical to the higheft Degree, or ridiculoufly nice, 
 'tis impoGible they mould take the Advice amifs. But 
 tbo' they fhoald exprefs any Refentment, a Sincere 
 
 Friend
 
 Of Sincerity. 149 
 
 Friend can never refolve to be unjaflly filent upon the 
 Faults of his Friends, when they may render them 
 ridiculous* or be very prejudicial to their Character. 
 We are always the laft to perceive our own Failings. 
 The fame Perfons that give others very falutary Coun- 
 fels are blind to what refpects themfelves, and fancy 
 they have nothing to be blamed in them. They don't 
 difcover the Precipice till they are fallen into it, and 
 there's no Recovery. 
 
 The cuftomary Fault of People pretending to Com- 
 plaifance, is to want Sincerity ; they chufe rather to 
 applaud Impertinencies than fpeak their genuine 
 Thoughts. This rampant Complaifance grows infipid, 
 and does little Honour to the Author, who would in- 
 iinuate into another's Mind by it. 'Tis not Reafon 
 they confult in their Difcourfes ; they give in their 
 Yes and No according to the Caprice of the Speaker, 
 and have not the Afllirance to oppofe the moft irrati- 
 onal foolifh Thing. The Spirit of Contradiction is 
 alfo very difagreeable in Converfation, and no Body 
 cares to have to do with People that make a perfonal 
 Quarrel about every Thing they fay. The grand Rule 
 to pleafe, is to accommodate yourfelf to the Genius 
 of People, to fludy their Inclinations, and fafliion 
 your own accordingly ; to commend them when they 
 do any Thing commendable. But Sincerity ought not 
 to fuffer by it ; nor fhould you intoxicate them with 
 Flattery, when they do Things meriting Reproof. 
 
 Vou II. H MAXIMS
 
 M A X I M S 
 
 FOR 
 
 WE can't be too carious in die Choice of 
 Company we keep, whereas the gene- 
 rality of Men embark in Acquaintance 
 without Reflection or Diftmciion, giving 
 themfelves op to the fiift they meet, without examin- 
 ing whether he be fit for them or not. He that would 
 reap any Benefit from Civil S*dtty, and tsfte die Plea- 
 fores of Converfation, ought only to converfe with 
 rational Perfons. Such as tbde cor .ribate mightily to 
 the forming a Gentleman, who inlenGbly imbibes, 
 from this Ccrreriatica, a certain Tinduie of P&tite- 
 meft t which gives an infinite Luftre to his Merit. We 
 are naturally inclined to imitate the Behaviour of Per- 
 fons we confer fe with, which makes k of great Im- 
 portance to flrike up an Acquaintance iih Men of 
 H x Worth,
 
 Refleftfoxs 'upon PdUtenefs. 
 
 Worth, whom we may take for our Models. 'Tis 
 true, we are often deceived in this particular. How 
 many Blockheads pa(s for fine Gentlemen, becaufe we 
 are not at the Pains to fift them to the Bottom ? But 
 provided we converfe with them, 'tis impoflible to be 
 miftaken. It is not to be hoped to find People fraught 
 with all Perfections, without any Mixture of Vice and 
 Folly ; if there be any pretending to this Delicacy, 
 they ought to refolve upon an early Renunciation of 
 the Commerce of the World, becaufe in reality there 
 is no Man fo perfeft, but has his weak Sides and Ine- 
 qualities. Thofe that have the leaft Share -of them, 
 or fo politickly conceal them, that no Body perceives 
 or fuffers by them, ought to be confidered as the moft 
 accomplilhed Perfons. 
 
 I very much approve the Method of that Gentle- 
 man, who fpeaking of himfelf, faid, t( I confefs I 
 was formerly more difficult than at prefent in Point 
 of Converfation, and I think I have loft lefs on 
 the Part of Delicacy, than I have gained on the 
 Side of Reafon. I formerly fought for Perfons 
 that could pleafe me in every Thing ; I now feek 
 for fomething in all Perfons that may be capable 
 "' of pleafing me." The ConmCmon of a Man of 
 unirerfal Merit, is too great a Rarity to meet with, 
 and good Senfe will not allow the curious Search of a 
 Thing fo difficult to be found. For one delicious 
 Pleafure always imagined, and hardly ever enjoyed, 
 the Mind fick with Delicacy, grows out of conceit 
 with thofe it might poflefs every Day. Nor, indeed, 
 that it is impoffible to find fome Matter-pieces fo ab- 
 folutely finiihed ; but it is next to a Miracle for Na- 
 ture to form them, or for Fortune to favour us with 
 them. In the Plan you form to yourlelf for Civil 
 Society., lay it down for a Maxim, That good Things 
 are to be infeparabiy met with, and propofe to your 
 felf the diftinguifhing the folid from the frothy, the 
 agreeable from the disagreeable, and the knowing; 
 from Ihe ridiculous. You'll find thefe Qualities com- 
 bined
 
 Maxims far Civil Society. 153 
 
 bined not only in Perfons you are at Liberty to chufe 
 or avoid, but in thcfe with whom you will have Ties 
 of Interefts, or other as neceflary Relations. When 
 you are fully acquainted with the World, you'll fee 
 abundance of People recommendable for their Ac- 
 compliihments, and moft defpifable for their Foibles. 
 Don't expect that they will always make a good Ufe 
 f their Merit, and have the Difcretion to conceal 
 their Fault?. You'll often find them out of Conceit 
 with their good Qualities, and have a natural Com- 
 
 S'aifance for their bad ones. 'Tis the Part of your 
 ifcretion, to make the Choice which they do not; 
 aad you'll have more exercife for your Addrefs, to : 
 extract the Metal from the Drofs, which its fo diffi- 
 cult for them to do. 
 
 'Tis a harder Thing, by far, than is imagined, to 
 find out that juft Temperature and Medium, wherein 
 confifts the Agreeablenefs of Humour. A too ftern 
 Severity is terrible ; a too effeminate and fneaking 
 Complaifance, offenfive : A Man mould be neither 
 too Indulgent, nor too Auftere : To be over-officious 
 is difpleafing, and to be continually difdainful, is pro- 
 voking. That genteel Poife and Mediocrity that has 
 nothing too fharp, yet degenerates not into infipid, is 
 hard to be hit upon. 
 
 The Poignancy of fine Raillery, is the delicious 
 Seafoning of Society; but then you ought not to 
 mirtake your Men. Fools and Rufticks, the Con- 
 ceited of their Merit, the Haughty and Proud, who 
 would always be refpected, underftand not Raillery, 
 but expect to be treated with lefs Freedom and more 
 Refpeft ; and to fay Truth, it is better to crufh a Jeft 
 betwixt one's Teeth, than to let it efcape to the af- 
 fronting of any one .whatfoever. I don't examine 
 whether the ground of their Offence be imaginary, 
 or juft-, don't involve yourfelf in Trouble, in pure 
 Frolick for a witty Saying, which often leaves mor- 
 tal Wounds behind, and makes you regarded as a 
 dnneerou- Mm thr.t gives no quarter. 
 
 H i 'Til
 
 154 Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 'Tis a rare Thing to find People of agreeable Con- 
 veriatior. ; when Men of Wit and Knowledge of the 
 World, ray even of PoHtetif/s, are fometimes found to 
 bs as tirefome as the reft. But this proceeds from their 
 Contempt for, or Diflike to thofe they talk with. 
 They vouchfafe not to open and difplay their Charms, 
 b'..'t when in Company of thofe they love, ordefire to 
 pleafe. We have known People lofe in a Moment all 
 the Eileem we had for them, by their Negligence to. 
 bear a Part in the Converfation. 
 
 The People that fhine rnoft, are not always mod 
 courted for Civil Society: As they are moft taking,. 
 vye dread their Wit, and fear to be eclips'd. But we 
 are infinitely tir'd with thofe indolent Creatures, that 
 contribute nothing towards Converfation, that are not 
 fer.fible of Wit or Raillery, and can anfwer nothing 
 but ay or no. On the other Hand, great Talkers are 
 the Tyrants of Society, and the Babble of fome People 
 is an infapportable Plague to Men of Senfe. You 
 muft refolve to keep perpetual Silence, if you have 
 the Misfortune to light into Company with Rofaline. 
 She is no fooner feated but (he frames her Mouth to 
 begin the Difcairfe : She runs herfelf out of Breath,. 
 in telling you all (he has read, and all that (he has 
 feen ; (he gives you the Pictures of all the People fhe's 
 acquainted with, and draws them in horrid colours. 
 She gives you an exadl Account of all her Expences 
 in her Houfe-keeping ; me tel's you what her Com- 
 modes and Manteau's coft her, the Name of her Man- 
 tea u Woman, the Stfeet (he lives in, and advifes you 
 to make Ufe of her as a good Work-woman, bhe 
 does not mind whether (he be heard or confidered as 
 an Impertinent : She refolves to talk, and talk (he 
 will everiaftingly, unlefs fome unforefeen Accident 
 happens to lay an Embargo on her Tongue, for the 
 Eafe and Benefit of the Company. 
 
 In order to pleafe always in Converfation, the 
 grand Rule is, not to depart from your Charafter, 
 and to obferve all the Decorum fuitable to your Con- 
 dition.
 
 Maxims for Civil Society. 155 
 
 dition. We pafs over a thoufand Things in a young 
 Woman full of Charms and Agreements, which \ve 
 would not pardon in a more advanced Age. Thofe 
 that have patted the Prime of their Days, mould have 
 fomewhat more Gravity and Aufterity, nay abate 
 fomewhat of the Frolickfomenefs and Gaiety of their 
 Tempers. They ought to grow politickly grave, 
 when they ceafe to be young and handfome, and the 
 St-aion of pleafing is over. This is a forrowful Situ- 
 ation, and renews the doleful Remembrance of fome 
 Women, whofe Beauty has long been celebrated : But 
 for their Comforts let them reflect, that Wit can com- 
 penfate for the Lofs of Beauty, and that they may 
 ttill retain the Crowd as much about them, by their 
 fine Carriage, Complaifance, and Well-bred Dif- 
 courfe, as they did formerly by their Charms. A 
 Woman of Wit will be always courted, and every Bo- 
 dy prides himfelf in vifiting her, and being of her 
 Acquaintance. Beauty decays, and our Eyes are wea- 
 ry of conflantly beholding fine Colours ; but we are 
 never tired with hearing fine Things fet off with all 
 the Agreements which witty People are able to give 
 to ail they fay. Arthenice in a toothless Age, fees 
 hcrfelf daily fu,.ounded with ail the genteeleft People 
 in London : Scarce has fhe Breath and Strength left to 
 aufwer all the Q^cftiorii are aflted of her ; but yet her 
 Difcourfe has irrefiftible Charms for People of fine 
 B.eeding. Her Memory furnilhes her on the Spot 
 with whatever fhe has feen in the Courfe of a long 
 Life ; and the Accounts flie gives of it, inftruft us in, 
 a thouland curious Circumitances. Her Wit has 
 preferved all its Sprigh lir.efs, in fpight of the Decre- 
 pitnefs of her Body, worn out with Age ; fo that it 
 may be faid of this Lady, that fhe is ftiii young in 
 the better Part of her, tho' fhe be as old and crazy as 
 a 3ytil. 
 
 Civility makes us glad to do every Body Juftice ; 
 
 'tis trefpafling againft this Virtue, to give cold Com- 
 
 fiiendations to Things deferving a warm Applaufe : 
 
 H 4 But
 
 156 Refactions upon Politenefs, 
 
 Bat neither {hould we overftrain our Praifes upon 
 Things of indifferent Defert. This extravagant Praife 
 often happens to be Reproach, which does more In- 
 jury than Honour to the Giver. 
 
 Tis a great Advantage to have Infight and Pene- 
 rration enough to diflinguifh well the Character and 
 Intentions of People we are obliged to live with. But 
 when we difcover their Faults, we /hould have the 
 Discretion not to fpeak of them, nor even to feem to 
 perceive them, in order to fave the Owner's Blufhes. 
 It would abate their Confidence in us, and make 
 fhem more fhy of approaching us, if they certainly 
 knew we had difadvaatageous Opinions of their Per- 
 fons. 
 
 Peoples Fondnefs for their own Opinions, makes 
 them aft and fpeak many foolilh Things in the Com- 
 merce of the World. They have no Coroplaifance 
 for any Body of different Notions, and they obftinate- 
 ly difpute and maintain the Negative to what others 
 advance, fancying to make their Wit ftnne and fpar- 
 kle by that clafhing of Sentiments. But if they be 
 too forcibly refifted, and can't immediately find Ar- 
 guments in their Defence, the next Recourfe is to 
 Inveclives, and they infolently throw their Advcrfa- 
 ries Ignorance in their Teeth. 
 
 Before we vex and difturb ourfelves, when we think 
 we have jufl Occafion, let us examine the Character 
 of the Perfon, to difcover the Motives of his acting. 
 It was not with defign to affront you Orujimut fpoke 
 thof difobliging Words, but he has a Fund of Ma- 
 gotry, which makes him infupportable even to him- 
 felf : Every Thing difgufts him, and he is not Matter 
 of his Spit en : The ofFenfive Language he utters, 
 efcapes'him without thinking of it. All Things muft 
 be tolerated in People of this Complexion, without 
 minding the rude Things they fay. 
 
 Thofe haughty and fufficient People, who have fo 
 hfgh an Idea of their Merit, and fo much Contempt 
 ;ind Pity for the reft of Mankind, reafon ill if they 
 
 think
 
 Maxims for Civil Society'. $57 
 
 think to procure the Efteem of the World, by -the 
 perpetual Applaufes they give themfelves, and the 
 unmerciful Satyrs they bellow on every Body elfe. 
 Men refufe their Suffrage, when you would force it 
 from them. The Way you mult take, if you woul.4 
 have the Efleem of all, is gently to infmuate into 
 their Minds, and prepare them by a modeft and 
 genteel Behaviour. 
 
 Tis a Sign of but indifferent Senfe to be obftinate in 
 Opinion, as if a Man were infallible, and to be im- 
 patient of Cenfure. A Man of a weak Intellect, 
 thinks nothing efcapes his Comprehenfion, and ,dc- 
 fpifes the Advice of all others. Is it any wonder, 
 that a: I the Advances he makes are fo many falfe 
 Steps ? He is never undeceived, 'till after the Ruin of 
 his Affairs. Thrice happy he, if ill Succefles make 
 him wifer for the future. 
 
 The StifFnefs wherewith every one defends his Opi- 
 nion, inftead of a complaifant Submifficn to another's 
 Judgment, even when we are in the wrong, is one of 
 the moil poiionous Weeds that infers the Pleafure of 
 Society. We are net always in the Humour to fuffer 
 fuch Constraint ; efpecially when we have to do with 
 fant.iitick Creatures, who nonplus our Complaifance, 
 as afting only by their Caprice, and paying no 
 Body Refpea. 
 
 We find in all Sorts of Companies fome one or 
 other, who will be afpiring, and engroflino; theCcn- 
 verfotion. This commonly proves the greatefl Fool 
 in the whole Circle, as taking upon him to divert the 
 reft, and fupply Wit for the Company. If any one 
 offers to begin a Difcourfe, or relate a Story, he im- 
 mediately interrupts him, and defcribes all the Circum- 
 flances of the Matter. He fafficiently m an i felts, by 
 his Countenance, his Noife, his Laughter ; and, by 
 the Applaufes he gives himfelf, how well fatitfied ho 
 is with his own Peribn, and all he fays. He dees net 
 confider that every Body ftirug up their Shoulders. at 
 him, and looks upon him as a Pool. 
 
 H 5, rt
 
 158 Kfjfcffiotis upon Politenefs. 
 
 It can't be denied but the Engiifo have a great deal' 
 of Wit, a taking Carriage, nnd a valt Fund of Pa- 
 litenefs : And yet moft Cbnverfations here are tirelome 
 and diftaffeful. The Subjects pitched upon are com- 
 monly too trivial, inconfiderable, and unproportioned 
 to the Characters of the Hearers. To droll before a 
 Man o'erwhelined with Troubles; to llun People with 
 Jong Narratives, not at Leifure to hearken to them ; 
 to talk of Bnfinefs and Law-Suits to young Folks, 
 that defire nothing but Merriment and Laughter, is 
 the certain Way to tire them. 
 
 I heard lately Dorititts give a large Defcription of 
 a famous Siege, to a young Bride, and a great Com- 
 pany of Ladies, that came to complimen* her on her 
 Marriage. He named all the Regiments that mounted 
 the Trenches, and all the Soldiers that were wounded ; 
 nay, wQuld needs inform them, how many Men were 
 Jolt in the attack of each Baflion and Half-Moon, 
 and in all the Sallies were made. This Difcourfe 
 was (as it were) adapted to tire the Company, which 
 would have taken more Pleafure in exanvning the 
 Ladies Toilet, than in hearing a Difcourfe of fpringing^ 
 of M-'nes, and theLofles of Legs and Arms. 
 
 'Tis an incivility not nncomnvon in Conventions,. 
 to addrefs the Difcourfe always to the fame Perfon, ta 
 be extremely officious to one, but to exprefs a Cold- 
 jiefs for the reft, even to Contempt, ^carce will fuch 
 Creatures give themfelves the Trouble to anfwer us, 
 when we fp^ak to them ; whereas to the other Perfon, 
 they will be infinitely obliging and Complaifanr. 
 'Tis alfo a ridiculous Ci'ftom, to fhew Mirth and 
 Gaiety, even to Fits of Cackling and Laughter; and 
 immediately to fink into a fuL'en Silence, fo as not to 
 be ab'e to open one's Mouth, or be moved with all 
 the Wit and Pleafantry imaginable for a good while. 
 'Tis no lefs blameable, to be civil and difrefpeftful to 
 the fame Perfons ; to load them with CarefTes, and 
 a Quarter of an Hour after, to make as if you 
 did not know them. 
 
 We
 
 Maxims for Civil Society. 159 
 
 We rnuft net hope to recommend ourfelves to the 
 Relilh and Approbation of" all the World, tho' \ve 
 fhould do nothing but what deferved it. Men are too 
 envious, to pardon a Merit that debafes them ; but 
 whtn they make abfurd Complaints of our Conduft, 
 we ougnt to fupport ourfelves upon our good Inten- 
 tions, and proceed in our own Road. Provided a 
 Man's Confidence has nothing to reproach him with, 
 he oug,ht not to be diverted from his Method by iil- 
 grounded Complaints, nor abate or repent of his Vir- 
 tue, for the tboliih Clamours of the World. 
 
 Tis a whinifical thing to love Perfons of no Me- 
 rit, in w om fenfible and judicious People can fee no- 
 thing amiable ; but yet 'tis more extravagant, to ceafe 
 t -i love fuch as are extremely good, becaufethey have 
 ail importunate Merit that eclipfes us. 'Tis true, 
 Friendfh'p requires feme Equality ; but this is no 
 Reafon for oar Indifference to thole, whofe excellent 
 Qualities raife them above us. Our Acquaintance 
 With them, is aa Honour to us ; and initead of re- 
 piiiing at their Excellencies, we ought to fnare in 
 them, and congratulate ourfelves upon the wife 
 Choice we have made. Bat mere is a Sort of Ma- 
 lignity in ti e Heart of Man, which cannot bear che 
 extraordinary Merit of others. We Ijm-jtl.nes re- 
 ceive a fecret Mortification upon the Profperity of 
 our Friends, and reproach Fortune wich the Favours 
 fhe has done them. We ihould more eafi I y pardon 
 her, if fne favoured fuch as were indifferent, oc 
 mere Strangers to us. 
 
 Nerlne has broken with Urania, fince the latter's' 
 Marriage has raifed her Co the Quality of a Datchefs. 
 They Ipent their youthful Days together, SntheirFathers 
 Snops ; who having g jt Money by their Trades, fe: up 
 for Bankers, where tiiey have differently managed their 
 Affairs. Urania's Father, either more cunning or more 
 fonunate, got We.i'th enough to marry his Daughter to 
 a Duke ; whillt NeriaS* beir.g ftill confined to a mo-
 
 160 Reflt&tons upon Politenefs. 
 
 derate Fortune, and which did not lift him far above 
 his former State, could not raife his Daughter (when 
 he matched her) much above the Counter. Now 
 when fhe accidentally fees the Triumphal Chariot 
 Urania 's drawn in, that Train of Slaves that hang 
 about it, the Ducal Coronet on all Sides, together 
 with the fplendid Furniture of her Equipage ; her 
 Heart finks within her, and her Weaknefs proceeds, 
 even to Convulfions. 
 
 I have no good Opinion of thofe that neglect their 
 Reputation, as being contented with the Suffrage of 
 their Confcience. This Maxim is not found. Re- 
 gardlefs of the Rumours that are fpread to their Dif- 
 credit, we tnuft (lay they) give the World leave to 
 talk, and go on in our own Way. This is ill Rea- 
 foning. Reputation is the worthieft Recompence of 
 Virtue j and tho-' we fhould not theatrically difplay 
 our good Actions, yet the Efleem that accrues from 
 them, is a kind of Tribute not to be neglected. 
 
 Thofe that pofitively affirm, they trouble not their 
 Heads about the Reports the Publick fcatters to their 
 Prejudice, are not always the moft virtuous People. 
 There are Times, wherein they do themfelves Juftice; 
 and their Confcience flill urges them with keener Re- 
 proaches. When we have not fufficient Empire over 
 ouifelves to cure our Infirmities, we ought, at leaft, 
 have the Discretion to conceal them as much as 
 pofiible, and not make a Parade of thefe Sorts of 
 Matters. Why mould a Man wantonly decry hiin- 
 felf ? And what would it coft him to fave Appearances, 
 and hinder the Clamours of the Publick ? 
 
 The Virtues. ought to be proportioned to the Cha- 
 racter of thePerfon, Every Body is obliged to be 
 virtuous : But not in the fame Degree, nor after the 
 fame Manner. There is an Air in fiaibning Virtues,, 
 anJ obferving the neccflary Meafures. 
 
 A young Gill need not be as ferious, referved and 
 grave, as her Grandmother. It does not become a 
 
 Woman,
 
 Maxims for Civil Society. i6r 
 
 Woman turned of Fifty, to fet up for Gaiety, nor to 
 patch and deck herfelf in flaming Ribbons. A Man 
 of the World is not ob'igcd to the Virtues of an Her- 
 mit. A Lady, \\hofe Quality obliges her to fee the 
 World, need not be retired as a Nun. But it often 
 happens, that People rniftake in the Practice of Vir- 
 tues. A married Woman will prefcribe herfelf all 
 the Hide Superftitions of Nuns, and Nuns would have 
 all the Liberties of Women of Pleafure. Nay, it is 
 rare for any Woman to take up with the Temper and 
 Character of her Condition. 
 
 We mould not have fo many Diforders in the 
 World, if a good Bent was at firft given to Youth, 
 and their Minds were provided with Maxims of Duty. 
 Fathers and Mothers, that fancy they can reduce their 
 Children to Virtue,, after all the Liberties they have 
 taken, are out in their Accounts ; and are commonly 
 the hrll that fuffer by this mifplaced Indulgence, which 
 always has bad Effefts. 'Tis impoflible to ftraighten a 
 Tree that has been warped for many Years ; but there 
 is no Difficulty in rectifying a young tender Plant, 
 which eafily admits the Ply you pleafe to give it. 
 
 'Tis an unaccountable Thing, to fee fo few Marri- 
 ages well forted, and People of fo many admirable 
 Qualities, that afford. Delight and Charms for all Com- 
 panies, met together only to make one another mad. 
 Their fmall Complaifance for each other, is one of 
 the firft Sources of their Difcontent and mutual Dif. 
 dain. Marriage is a Society, and not a Tyranny. 
 A contemptuous Carriage, an imperious and furly 
 Conduct, quite turns a Woman's Heart, who is en- 
 raged to find her Marriage, which promifed her more 
 Liberty, engage her but in a feverer Bondage. To 
 be delivered from this Tyranny, and revenged of the 
 ill Ufage of a jealous and Troublefome Hufband, they 
 have often Recourfe to very fatal and dilhonourable 
 Expedients. Now a little Reciprocal Complaifance 
 would ftoo the Current of all thefe Diforders. 
 
 Tis
 
 Reflections upon Poll ten efs. 
 
 'Tis a very fcandalous Practice, that of feeking all 
 Occafions to do ill Offices to thofe that have given us 
 any Difturbance. 'Tis a Bafenefs not to be tolerated 
 bat in Women, who have little and vindictive Souls. 
 They direfully declaim againft thofe they think ihey 
 have Reafon to complain of; they endeavour to raifc 
 all the Pcfft of toe World againft them. In vain > ou 
 exclaim againft this Cuftom, and fhew the ridiculous 
 Folly and Vici^ufnefs of it : You gain nothing by 
 your Remonftrances : All Companies ring with Ca- 
 lumny and Reproaches, which muft needs be ad- 
 mirable Mufick. 
 
 Attention to our Words and Actions, gives us a 
 Spirit of Regul rty. and prevents our making any 
 Ficapej againft the Riiles of Decorum. A legular 
 Perfon always fpeaks with Relerve and Circuiulpcc- 
 tion ; and he afts fo too. He underftands \vhatisdue 
 to every one's refpedlive Rank and Character ; and 
 never difpenfes with that Juftice. If any Thing be 
 defired of him, (in his Power to grart'i and he er.gages 
 in it; you may depend on his Word, and entirely 
 acquiefce in his Piomifies Being move a'tentive to 
 others Interefts th*n hii own, he never fwcrves from 
 the Rules of Integrity and Equity, whatever the Dili- 
 charge of his Duty cofts him. 
 
 Civility demands we fliould be attentive to what is 
 faid to us ; and that we be not dreaming of other 
 Things, when People do ui the Honour to talk to us. 
 We inuft not only lay nothing to People, to difpleaie 
 rhem ; but alfo give them to underilard, we are 
 affeded and pleafed with what they fay, that we 
 enter into their Sentiments, and think them highly 
 reafrnable. 
 
 'Tis Incivility, or want of Difcretion, to divulge 
 what is imparted to us, without knowing whether 
 thofe who df pofit their Secrets with us would take it 
 well. We ought even fomstimes to make Secrets of 
 Things confided to us, though they were not recom- 
 mended by that Cha"ater. 
 
 D. faction
 
 Mnxtins for Civil Society; 
 
 Discretion is as it were the Soul of Politentfs ; it 
 puts a Check on the Rafhudb of our Tongues, and 
 covers us from vexaroub Accufa'ions. 'Tis likcvvifc 
 an Incivility, to lend an attentive Ear to others pii~ 
 vate Difcourfes, which they would debar us the 
 Knowledge of. We have naiuially a Curiofity to 
 divine what others fay, and feel a fecret Indignaiion 
 to be fhut out of ihc Intelligence. 
 
 Some Remains of Modeit> forbid us to receive fe- 
 datciy the Praifes that are given us to our Faces, and 
 \ve nj -3. them, as if we thought ourfelves uiiwo.-lLy; 
 yet this is nothing but Afiedatiuu, to 'ng;>ge our 
 F.ncomiafts to coujnje a Difcourfe that tickles our 
 Self-love. Now to wha<: Pu-pofe are thefe Pcli- 
 ticks? Unlefs we are vifiLh ridiculed, we ought mt 
 to make ftich a Stir about bein-r p r aifed for Thing? 
 thai are tiuly laudable. Our Reputation does not 
 depend on thr Caprices of Men, and the Commen- 
 dations they beftow on u?, but upon our own perion- 
 al Merit, a.~d our reputable Actions. 
 
 Tis rot ..1 ways convei.ient to know v hat People 
 fay, of us : When \ve are the '^opck of Difcourfe, 
 it is not always in our Praife Commonly fuch Dif- 
 courfes, were we privy to them, woald but trouble our 
 Repofe, and give us ftrange Uneafineffes. But yet a 
 good Ufe may be made of the difreputable Things 
 reported of us. Every Bod, knows Cornelius'* Ad- 
 venture. He flipt fecreily into a Clofet, to hear what 
 Threo or Four Women of hi: Acquaintance faid of 
 him : But he was foundly puniflit-d for his Curiofity, 
 for there he was. informed of all the Particulars of his 
 Wife's Amours and Intrigues, whom before he had 
 not the lenft Sufpicion of. As they were his Lady's 
 Friends and Confidents, they were acquainted with 
 the lead ^ ircumftances of her Affairs ; and not 
 dresming. they were over-heard, they talked of them 
 very freely. What a Scene was here for a Man, who 
 bad alv ys been exceeding eafy upon this Subjeft, 
 znd thought his Wife a Pattern for virtuous Women ? 
 
 How
 
 164 Refleflbns upou Politenefs. 
 
 How many Hufbands might this Example be of U(e 
 to, to difluade them from a Curiofity that muft needa 
 be fatal to their Repofe ? 
 
 'Tis not the Tjine to aft the Bravado, and pre- 
 tend to a lofty Carriage, \\hen you are attacked on 
 every Side, and an enraged World breaks loofe upon 
 you. Then is the Seafon to be more fupple than ever, 
 and to cultivate the Perfons you have Occafion for ; 
 who may efpoufe your Jnterefts, fince they are won 
 by a little Complaifance : But you e.xafperate them, 
 and Icofe them irrecoverably, by your Indifference, 
 and a mif- timed and miftaken Pride. 
 
 Silence is an excellent Remedy againft Detraction ; 
 Complaints, Reproaches and Ecla:rriffeme9ts % are 
 rather Corrofives than a Cure for it. We let a Maty 
 alone, when we fee he is not to be moved by the dif- 
 obliging Things we fay of him. 'Tis a Virtue of 
 great Value, though it cofts but little, to return Can- 
 dor and Civilities for Impertinencies. As 'tis fre- 
 quently our hard Fortune to live with fantaftical, trou- 
 b.'efome, and paflionate People, we muft compafllo- 
 nate their Extravagancies and Weaknefles, if we 
 would live at Peace. That undifturbed Temper we 
 manifeft when we are affronted, is more provoking 
 riian a (mart Reply. 
 
 If jealous and invidious People knew but how def- 
 picable they render themfelves by all the Care, they 
 take to humble others Merit, they would be at yet 
 greater Pains to get rid of fo wretched apaffion, or 
 at leaft to conceal it. In what Confufion does a Wo- 
 Kian, dreaming of her Beauty, find herfelf, when 
 another Woman's Beauty is praifed before her ? What 
 Artifices does flic fly to, to <Mroy her Rival ? 'Tis 
 good Comedy for rhe indifferent Sunders by, wl.o 
 can't forbear laughing, fo fee what Alarms and Ago- 
 nies her Jealoufy occafions her. 
 
 If Women did but employ themfelves a little 
 more, they would not have io lively Paffions : But fo 
 it i?, if they are of any eaiio^nt Quality, they fpend
 
 Maxims for Civil Society. 1 65 
 
 all the : r Lives in doing juft nothing ; or elfe their 
 Bufinefs is ftill fomething even below Idlenefs itfelf. 
 This Lazinefs opens a wide Gate to infinite Diforders. 
 A Mind unbufied, admits multitudes of Chimeras, 
 and feeks Consolations to fill up tlhl Vacuum of a 
 lazy tirefome Life ; but commonly the Remedy is 
 worfe than the Diieafe ; for, if I mifhke not, 'tis 
 thss has corrupted the Morals of the Ladies, and in- 
 troduced thofe Liberties they have of late indulged. 
 
 The Women complain of the Mens Injuftice, who- 
 have excluded them from grand Employments and 
 Eufmcfs : And indeed they have Reafon to com- 
 plain, iince they are as well qualified for every Thing, 
 as the moil underftanding Men. It muft, however, 
 be acknowledged that their Bias naturally difpofes 
 them to Trifling : They employ their Heads about 
 Toys and Impertinencies ; amufe themfelves with 
 Drefling, Finery and Intrigues, and exhauft all the 
 Activity of their Souls on fiich frivolous Objecls. 
 The Care of their Beauty carries it above the moft 
 important and neceflary Concerns, unlefs the Situati- 
 on of their Affairs awakens them from this Lethargy 
 and Supinenefs. We daily fee Widows, who thought 
 of nothing but their Diverfions fo long as their Huf- 
 bands excufed them from Domeftick Cares, but who 
 being deprived of this Affiftance, ferioufly apply 
 themfelves to folid Bufinefs, difentangle the moft in- 
 cumbred Affairs, bear the Fatigue of numerous 
 Law-fuits, and reftore their ruined Eftates and Fami- 
 lies, ready to fink under the Perfection of their 
 Creditors. 
 
 Moft Mafters complain of being ill ferved by their 
 Domefticks, becaufe, generally fpeaking, they have 
 neither Zeal, Affeaion, nor Fidelity. Thefe Com- 
 plaints are fometimes juftly grounded : But are not 
 the Mafters likewife oftentimes in fault, and can they 
 excufe themfelves for the harm Treatment of thefc 
 poor Wretches ? They make them but too fenfiblc 
 of their Yoke, by thofe Marks of Contempt, and 
 
 ^>ir-
 
 1 66 Refleelions upon Politenefs. 
 
 injurious Language they give them, as alfo by their 
 {harp and never-ceafing Reprimands, in conjunction 
 with ill LJiage. This Oppofition and Tyranny be- 
 gets a mutinous Spirit in their Servants, who com- 
 monly revenge theinfelves on their Mailers by Ca~ , 
 lumny and Id lent ft. 
 
 Every Body has fufficient Juftice done them by the 
 Publick : Thofe that complain of it, have not always 
 Reafon for their Complaints. If you defire a good 
 Reputation, be actually the Man you are willing to 
 be thought. Men in Place find it difficult to conceal 
 themfelves, and their Aftions are but more expokd to 
 Cenfure; therefore the vafter Scope their Fortune 
 has, the ftrider Bounds fhould they prefcribe to their 
 Paffions. 
 
 We judge of Men only by the Surface and Exteri- 
 or, which is the Reafon that a Ralcal is fo often con- 
 founded with an honeft Man We fee very abomi- 
 nable Knaves, that make the bell Appearances in the 
 World ; others, with very good Inclinations, obfervc 
 not Meafures, and are Ftlos de fe in Point cf Repu- 
 tation. Thofe that are heft acquainted with Clerione t 
 univerfally agree (he has Mocieily and Virtue; but 
 yet me has disparaged herfelf by the ill Company {he 
 keeps. We find none but Women of a bac: Li.arac- 
 ter about her; {he admits them to her Table, -{he 
 coaches them to Hyde-Park, to the Op-ra's and Co- 
 medies, nay, to the Places wleie (he plays: She pe- 
 remptorily declares, that Women of Gravity lire her; 
 and thus fhe has loft her Reputation. 
 
 The Singularities obf< rvable in fome People, who 
 affcdt to diftinguifh themfelves all Manner of Wa)s, 
 proceed generally from an aukward Wit, which puts 
 the Change upon them. They fancy they dilparage 
 themfelves, if they approve what every Body likes, 
 ard would be very forry to give in their Suffrage to a 
 Piece that's generally applauded: But this particular , 
 Talle makes them but looked n as Fops, or wretched - 
 Judges. 
 
 When
 
 Maxims for Civil Society. 
 
 When you fee the Impertinencies of others, think 
 but wich youri'elf, that if you are guilty of the fame 
 Faults, you'll likewife pafs for the fame Coxcomb. 
 The haity Sallies and Traniports of Paflion which 
 fometimes efcape your Friends before you, lliould be 
 a Lecture to teach you Temper. You find yourfelf 
 frunned with lhat impetuous Flow of fuperfluous 
 Words they utter, without giving any Man whatever 
 Time to put in a Word. Rage fo ftrangely transports 
 them, as to disfigure and confound the Features of 
 their Faces, and to diftort their Mouths by Dint of 
 Bawling. But 'tis {till worfe, when being confcious 
 of their FolLy, inftead of recollecting thetnfeives, 
 their fecret Indignation calls them into frefh Extra- 
 vagancies. What is wonderful, is, that all this Thun- 
 der and Lightning, proceeds mod ufually from no- 
 thing, or from fuch inconfider sb!e Subjects, as a 
 Man is attiamed to acknowledge to himfelf. A Ma- 
 iler that has no Government, flies upon his Servants 
 with the fame Fury for a broken Glafs, as if they 
 had fet his Houfe on fire 
 
 Perfons raifed to a vaft Supe iority above others, by 
 their Qualities and Employ,, Should be very referved 
 in Point of Raillery ; becaufe what they fay wounds 
 to the Quick. The Refpec! their Rank infpires, and 
 the Deference is paid to them, prevents our anfwering 
 them in the fame Strain ; which is a painful Conft.aint j 
 befides that, their Crowd of Sycophants and Flatterer! 
 about them fail not to he ; j?h'en ihefe Railleries, and 
 to mingle with them the Poifon of their own Re- 
 fleftions; which flill rtncers them mere bitter and 
 intolerable. 
 
 'Tis dangerous na .king a Bra vadV Sally, w hen we 
 have neither .strength nor Courage to fupport it. 
 How many People are c'ifgraced by thofe ipecious. 
 Retreats, which they, neverthelefs, pride thcmfcives 
 m ? They only pr< fen : to q'lit the World, in order 
 tobeint-odaced a :.i . with greater Pompand Glory : 
 They fpread Reports of .th.ti intended Rciufal of 
 
 cere ia
 
 1 68 Refefl/ws upon Politenefs. 
 
 certain Pofts ; but 'tis to fix them more fecurely by 
 this hypocritical Moderation. On the firft Glimpfe 
 of Fortune they leap from their Retirement, and, 
 more devoted to the World than ever, betray their 
 ridiculous Hypocrify. Thrafilus was unable to bear 
 but a few Months the Melancholy of his Retreat, 
 which he made fo much Noife about. A Procedure 
 of this Kind ought not to be made with fo much Stir 
 and Orientation. When God alone is all we are con- 
 cerned for, we are not felicitous about Human Appro- 
 bation, nor defirous to draw the Eyes of the World 
 upon us, when in earneft we are retired out of it. 
 
 Vifits, purely Ceremonial, have been banifhed So- 
 ciety ; and there was great Reafon fo to do, as being 
 only Offices of Conftraint, which 'tis neceflary to dif- 
 penfe with both in our felves and others. We ftill 
 meet with certain formalizing Folks, who have re- 
 tained a fmattering of Eaflern-T'imes, and love to 
 conftrain both themfelves and others. Are we to call 
 Life our Time fpent in this Reftraint, the being ftill 
 upon the Stage, as if we were Comedians ? 
 
 Are bombaft and far fetched Expreffions neceflary 
 to exprefs the moil trivial Thing*? And yet there are 
 People to be met with of fuch a Character ; as to 
 a/Turne a myfterious manner to vent the meanelr. Tri- 
 fles. 'Tis ridiculous to be loud and clamorous, 
 when there are few in Company, the Tone of the 
 Voice being to be proportioned to the Ears of our 
 Auditors, and to the Subject we treat of. What Oc- 
 calion for a declamatory Strain , to fay 'tis exceffive 
 Bot, 'tis wretchedly cold, or that the Streets are very 
 dirty ? 
 
 A Man may venture upon Drollery and Banter 
 with People of Senfe and Breeding, who underftand 
 Raillery, and enter into the Intention of the Speaker. 
 But we ought never to hazard Jefts, tho' the moft 
 allowable and good-natured, with Country-Folks and 
 Fools, who take every Thing literally, and think 
 they are always laughed at. Caution alib is to be 
 
 had
 
 Maxims for Civil Society. 1 69 
 
 had with lofty Perfons, who think we can't have too 
 much Refpeft for their Rank, perfonal Merit, and 
 admirable Qualities. Treat this kind of People 
 with a great deal of Circumfpeftion ; their Dotage 
 confifts in fondnefs of Applaufes and Refpe&s ; and 
 if you mean to pleafe them, you cannot be too 
 nice in your Regards. 
 
 I can't imagine what People can mean, to obtrude 
 their Advice where they are not afked. The leaft 
 Fault a Man commits, alarms and gives them great 
 Difturbance. They make a terrible Sputter upon it, 
 .and vehemently reproach the Author. But this is 
 not the Method we mould ufe, if we mean to cu-e 
 People of their Errors. If you would have your 
 Counfel and Reproofs ufeful and effectual, chufe well 
 your Opportunity ; and wrap up your medicinal Re- 
 monftrances in the lufcious Vehicle of friendly and 
 careffing Words, which ufually difguft thofe they 
 are applyed to, unlefs you make it manifeft by the 
 Demonftrations of a fuwrere good Will, it is purely 
 their Intereft you are concerned for. 
 
 One of the moft incomprehenfible Things I can 
 think of, is the Licenfe People take to cenfure in 
 others the very fame Faults they are guilty of them- 
 felves. Is it that they are not fenfible of their own 
 Infirmities, or do they think they are privileged 
 Perfons ? Every Body is acquainted with Nerinis Life 
 and Intrigues, even to the very Names of her Gal- 
 lants. In the Park, the Mall and the Play-Houfe, me 
 is pointed at ; and yet me everlaflingly difclaims a- 
 gainft the Coquet'ing Ladies, defcribes them in hor- 
 rible Portraits, and unmercifully befpatters them with 
 Inveclives. What means (he by thefe Satyrs ? Would 
 {he authorize her own Diforders, by Examples and 
 Numbers ? Or would me not rather hereby ilifie the 
 Reproaches of her Confcience. 
 
 Politenefi does not always allow reprehending 
 thofe that commit Miftakes : But there are certain 
 Conjunctures, wherein Honour, Duty and Friend- 
 
 ihip
 
 170 Refleffieiu upon -Politenefs. 
 
 fhip abfolutely require it. 'Tis a very hard Part to 
 aft, and demands a great deal of Nicenefs to deal with 
 our Friends who have done amifs ; but it would be a 
 kind of Crueity, to abandon them to their ill Ton- 
 dud. We ougiit to let them fee the Condition they 
 are in, without creating tnem too much Confufion or 
 Vexation. Few are capable of an Employ, that re- 
 quires to much Precaution : Mean Time every Body 
 pretendj IM ic. There's nothing in the World cofts 
 iefs than Counfcl, and the givers of it are every 
 \vhere found cheap enough. 
 
 A Man engaged in the Commerce of the World, 
 ought to accommodate his Virtue to his Condition j 
 and not fet up for fuch a rigid Courfe, as to grow fan- 
 taflical and impertinent. What is luitable to a Monk 
 or an dncbortt, would no ways comport with a Trea- 
 furer or Lord Mayor, who can't always be on i.is 
 Knees. But it happens, I know not how, that every 
 Body diflikmg hi^ own Condition, miftakes his ( ue, 
 and practices Virtues incompatible with his Char;, 
 Thus in Popery, a married Women laden w:th L-hil- 
 dren, abandons the Cares of hf-r Family to retire i; o 
 a Cloifter; and a Nun mingles Intrigues, and fpendj 
 the whole Day in frivolous Difcourle, out of the 
 Difguft (he has to her Retirement. 
 
 There's no need of a great Stock of Politenefi to 
 live amicably with good humoured Peop'e, who are 
 always of our Opinion, and ftudy to pleafe, flatter 
 and carefs us contmually. We have naturally an In- 
 clination for Perfons of this Character ; we difcover 
 Wit and Merit in them, becaufe they have the Art 
 t to fet off ours, to excufe our Faults, or fet them in 
 fuch Lights, as to make them unperctivable Bat it 
 requires a very tame and traftable Temper to l.ve 
 with thofe odd humoured Creatures who are always 
 taking pet at every Trifle, and demandiag Explica- 
 tions; nay, a Man had need have Addrefs to divert 
 the Storm, and Patience to bear the Jkunt ot their 
 
 diiobliging
 
 Maxims fir Q'l'il Society. 171 
 
 difobliging faying*. If Women who hare trouble- 
 fome and crabbed Huibands, would but praAife this 
 Doftrine, we mould not fo often fee thofe Diftur- 
 bances in their Oeconomicks, as banim all Joy and 
 Pleafure from their Houfes. But the way is, if one 
 harfii Word ba laid to hem, to return four for it, and 
 to ftrike up in fuch (hrill and eager Strains, as to deaf- 
 en the Neighbourhood with the Dilcord. 
 
 To me no Character feems more formidable, than 
 that of the Makers of infignificant Vifits : Lazy loi- 
 tering Drone-, who not knowing how to fpend their 
 Time, run about to waile chat of other People, who 
 could put it to a much better uie. Is it no: egregious 
 Folly to gad abroad, falig-iing People with imperti- 
 nent Vifits, when you have no:hing good to fay to 
 them, nor any Thing to talk of but rainy or fair 
 Weather, the good Dancers in the Opera, or good 
 Adlors in the Play. Houfe? Would it not be better, 
 think you, to ftay at home, and weary \ ourfelf with 
 your ungrateful Company, than teaze and tire your 
 Neighbours after this Rate ? Tnere are People of fuch 
 cloudy and heavy Tempers, tha: a Man knows not 
 what Topicks to put them upon to make them Tali : 
 They will enter upon nothing, the moft curious and 
 diverting Subje&s can't awaken their ftupid Indolence : 
 The Converfation falls into a Kind of Lethargy, and 
 one knows not what to go upon, after we have run 
 over their Coach and Horfes, their High Heads, 
 the Price of their Siik:, and afked the Name of their 
 Ta>lor. ^ / 
 
 Every body has a Right to give his Opinion of 
 things fubmitted to the Publick ; to talk of a Preach- 
 er, who ventures to embark in fo difficult a Profeul- 
 on ; to judge of a Piece in Prole or Verfe, which 
 the Impreflioa has delivere 1 inio every one's Hands. 
 But I think we ough: to be indulgent both to the 
 Preacher and Author; and I have no extract Jinary 
 Opinion of thofe People's Wit, who always feek out 
 the weak Places of a Sermon or Book, to expofe 
 
 them
 
 1 72 Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 them. I cannot approve Zelidis extravagant Nicety, 
 who feverely criticizes every Scene and Vcrfe: She 
 cenfures the Defign, the Epifodes, the Plot : Her 
 Criticks laft longer than the Flay, but don't give the 
 fame Delight, if (he modeftly gave her Opinion 
 of it, and allowed others Opportunity to throw 
 in their Obfervations, fhe would be excufable : 
 But you would think (he was haranguing at the Bar, 
 and that her Honour was concerned to have all the 
 Verdicts on her Side. 
 
 According to the way of the WorW, Men feem 
 to make it their Study, and employ all their Wit to 
 deceive one another. 'Tis come to that pitch of 
 Refinement, and a Man is fo often taken for a Cully, 
 when he deals fincerely, that he is fometimes obliged, 
 in fpight of his Inclination, to difguife himfelf and 
 ufe Artifice to avoid the Snares that are laid for him. 
 Mean time, Cunning ought to be banifhed the Soci- 
 ety of honeft Men : 'Tis an amphibious Quality, 
 floating betwixt Vice and Virtue; but generally 
 warping the Sentiments and corrupting Probity, cf- 
 pecially where a Man is engaged with lefs confcienti- 
 ous Perfons than himfelf, that recur to Artifices. He 
 makes Reprrfals, and combats them with their own 
 Weapons : But there is little Credit in aJl this 
 Management. 
 
 Fair Dealing is never more neceffary than at Play, 
 efpeeially where it is for great Sums. 'Tis a very 
 ticklifh Temptation to be able to win much Money 
 by Dexterity ; and Men in other Refpeds of the 
 greateft Integrity and Honefty, are not always Proof 
 againft this Temptation : But why will they coaie 
 within its reach ? Can any Man of Honour, whofe 
 Confcience pricks him for a Piece of Rookery, for- 
 give himfelf? Nor does any Thing demand greater 
 Temper and Difcretion than High-Play, either to 
 prevent the Gamefter's unfeafonable Paffion, and 
 hazarding all his Money, or to hinder him from fuch 
 ridiculous and childifh Adttons as render him con- 
 temptible i as clamouring, fwearing, tearing the 
 
 Cards
 
 Maxims for Civil Society. 
 
 Cards in a brutal manner, throwing the Dice into the 
 Fire, rolling his Eyes like a poffefled Perfon, and 
 playing the Mad-Man for Trifles he is afhamed of 
 when he comes to his Senfes. Moricette borrows vaft 
 Sums to throw away at Play. She has a Thoufand 
 Arts to induce People to lend her Money ; but when 
 Die has obiained what (he defired, and is in no hopes 
 of more, (he inveighs bitterly again ft her Creditors, 
 Calling them Rogues and Rafcals, as if it were the 
 greateft Injury in the Wo-ld, to re-demand what they 
 had (o obligingly lent her. 
 
 He that makes an Entertainment, and is charmed 
 with his (plendid Reception of his Guefts ought not 
 to be the firtt in commending the Excellence of his 
 Dimes, and fine Flavour of his Wine; nor mould he, 
 with an affeded Modefty, defire them to excufe his 
 pitiful Dinner. This antiquated Compliment is good 
 for nothing but to denote his foolifh Vanity. An eafy 
 and natural Look in a Perfon, not impertinently ap- 
 plauding the Noblenefs of the Treat, nor befpeaking 
 trivial Praifes by Ixcufes out of Seafon, is the Cha- 
 ra&er of a noble Soul, not concerning itfelf about 
 little Things. 'Tis the fureft way to pleafe the Guefts 
 to eaie them of all Conftraint, and leave them that 
 genteel Liberty every one ought to have at Table, and 
 which is the moil delicious Viand there. 
 
 People feel a fecret Satisfaction in talking of them- 
 felves and their ill Fortune. This regales their Self- 
 love, as infmuating hereby that their Piofperity is in- 
 ferior to their Defert : But generally thefe Relations 
 are painful to their Hearers, who are not always dif- 
 pofed to pity them. They ought therefore to in- 
 dulge their Delicacy, and only mention their Mif- 
 fortunes to particular Friends, or fuch as are capable 
 Of redrefluig them. Men of fufficient Zeal to i'erye 
 their Friends in their Exigences, ought to mew it, 
 and fpare them the fecret Pain they always feel in ex- 
 plaining their Wants. True Friends are better known 
 
 VOL. It. i by
 
 74 Reflections upon Politenefc. 
 
 fcy what they do, than by what they fay. A thou~ 
 fand People offer you their Services, xvhen you have 
 no need of their Affifhnce, but if any plunge of 
 .your Affairs obliges y.ou to apply to them, you'll find 
 .them different Men, and in a different Language. 
 
 You call yojrfelf the Friend to a Perfon whom 
 .you hear abufed behind his Back You are Witnefs 
 ,of all the Slander is .f poke of hjn: Inftead of frien- 
 ding his Detractors, you approve, by your Mein and 
 Gefture, all they fay. You have not the Courage to 
 defend him whom you overwhelm with LarefTes when 
 .you'fee him, snd with daily protections of an invi- 
 .olable Friendfhip. Now, is this a Part becoming 
 your Character ? 'Tis the Duty of an honeft Man 
 to declare himfelf for his Friends, to run the Rifque 
 ,of their Fortune, and .to .do all .that's poffible on their 
 Behalf confident with Honour and Confcience. Nor 
 is it enough to ferve our Friends, but it muft be done 
 sealoufly and genteelly. We are then arrived at the 
 utmoft Pinacle of Friendfhip, when we have the fame 
 pervour for our Friends .deferted by the World, as 
 .when in their moft flourifhing Condition. In my 
 Mind, 'tis .one of the richeft Pleafures of Life, to 
 .be able to do any confiderable Service to a Friend, 
 .to be capable of lifting him to a better Fortune, and 
 ,of fuccouring him in a prefiing Neceffity. 
 
 TJie Reafon why there are no more true Friends in 
 ihe W.orld, is, that every one refers every Thing to 
 .himfelf, and refpe&s others no farther than they are 
 Ajfeful to him. Mean Time, Difmtereftednefb is, as.it 
 Wre, the Soul of Friejidihip ; B.'Jt where do we find 
 th'fmtcrefted priends ? The Giver ftill enlarges, and 
 4he Receiver lefTens the Benefit, and throws into the 
 Balance the lighteft Difpleafure to counterpoize 
 .fhe weightieft Seivjce. 'Tis a Sign of Ingratitude to 
 Buffer our Friends to folicit us for any Thing in our 
 Power. Whatever Reluclance we may have, we 
 can't decently refufe them ; but without Cauticn this 
 i caufes us ta fcjrvc them with an ill (---''.
 
 Maxims for Civil Society'. 1)5 
 
 They that don't heartily grant the good Offices defired 
 of them, would, perhaps, do better to refufe them 
 al;ogether : The vifible Ccmftraint in their Faces con- 
 founds the Perfons they think they do a Pleafure to. 
 
 Thofe that talk eternally of what they have done 
 for their Friends, lofe the Reward of their Benefit, it 
 being a perfedt Refumption to be reproached with 
 them, be they never fo confiderable. A Man of 
 Honour ought by all Means to diveft himfelf of the 
 childifh Vanity of recounting his Benefactions : But 
 is it to be hoped, that Men of this Make can be per. 
 fuaded to it ? 
 
 We are fometimes obliged, for juft Reafons to 
 break off all Commerce with our cleared Friends ; 
 but before it come to that, we are to obferve all due 
 Meafures and Precautions, and, at leaft, take Time 
 for a mutual Defence and Explication ; a Rupture 
 fometimes happening, without knowing the Reafon 
 why. Yon fay your Friend has not that Freedom 
 snd Opennefs for you, and that endearing and divert- 
 ing Way he was wont to have. But you don't reflect 
 that he is incumbred with uneafy and vexatious Bufi- 
 nefs, which robs him of Part of his Liberty, and 
 caufes that Indifference in his Face you complain 
 of. 
 
 Nothing difturbs a Man of Honour more, than to 
 find that lome Perfons, to all outward Appearances 
 his Friends, betray him > and underhand confederate 
 \vith his declared Enemies : A Treachery not uncom- 
 mon ; and a Man mult have a vaft Command of him- 
 felf, not to feek Opportunities of Revenge : But, 
 what a glorious Victory would it be, to be able to 
 ftifle all the Refentments arifing in his Breaft, upon 
 fo bafc a Treatment ? How noble is it to forget art 
 .Injury genteelly ? And how ought we to congratulate 
 Otirfelves. our Temper and Moderation on fuch fple- 
 netick Occafions ? But at leaft, we ojght to be far 
 'from imitating the Conduft of molt Men, who fly 
 1 2 /torn
 
 176 Reflections upon Politenefs. 
 
 from one Extreme to another ; falling foul upon their 
 bed Friends on theleaft diflatisfadiion, and doing them 
 all the ill Offices they can. 
 
 /When you hear any one ill fpoken of in your 
 Company, which happens but too often, mingle not 
 the Poifon of your malignant Reflections, nor bid 
 higher than the reft in the Auction of Slander ; but 
 efpecially take Care not to go and report to the Per- 
 fon concerned, the Abufes he fuffered. Never be car- 
 rier of ill News, which is the daily Caule of infinke 
 Vexations. You oblige not thofe you bring fuch Sort 
 of Errands to, and you infallibly -incenfe the Authors 
 .of the Reports. If you would find Pleafure in Civil 
 Society, endeavour to keep fair with all People, and 
 never offend any body in a Frolick. An Enemy of 
 whatever Size or Character, may be able to give you 
 great Diflurbance, which you (hould be wifer than to 
 incur for the fake of a Word's fpeaking. 
 
 If Women of the prefent Age, can't bring them- 
 felves to more Sobriety, and live a more regular and 
 modeft Life, they ought, at leaft, to talk with more 
 Referve of their Gallantries and Lovers, and not have 
 ihe Impudence to be feen with them in every publick 
 Place. Does it become :hem, think you, to talk of 
 thefe Affairs with a Licence, that makes Men of the 
 lead Modefty blufh.? Ought young Women to enter 
 into Difcourfe, when it turns upon Points they mould 
 be entirely ignorant of? Let them not be afhamed 
 .to appear lefs learned in the Science of Gallantry ; 
 Thofe free fayings that efcape them, have always an 
 ill Effect, and give fcurvy Imprefiions of their Con- 
 duct. Above all, let them not applaud themfelve.>, 
 nor burfl out into violent Laughter after uttering thefe 
 Abfurdities. If their Flatterers cry up their good Hu- 
 mour in publick, they make ftrange Pictures of them 
 in private, where they freely fpeak their Minds. 
 
 We
 
 Maxims for Civil Society. 177 
 
 We obferve in the Generality of People, a Fund 
 of ill Nature, which exerts it felf to the decrying a 
 Man of Honour and Reputation : They can't pardon 
 his Merit, nor bear hearing the obliging Things that 
 are every where faid to his Advantage. What Preju- 
 dice is it to you, that fuch a one has a general Appro- 
 bation ? Does his Merit dazzle your jealous Eyes ? 
 Do you fear he'll eclipfe you ? What Gainer will you 
 be, when you have deftroyed his Reputation by your 
 Detra&ion ? Would you raii'e your Fame on the 
 Ruins of his ? Perfuade yourfel*', that all the III you 
 fay of him, redounds moft to your own Defamati- 
 on ; it makes you confidered as an invidious Perfon, 
 which is fcarce confident with the Character of an ho- 
 neit Man. 
 
 Let it be your Defue to pleafe People of good 
 Tafle, and get rid of that ridiculous Vanity, and- 
 Air of Sufficiency, which accompanies all your 
 Words and Aftions. You would hereby be thought 
 a Man of exquifite Nicenefs, but you make your 
 felf really ridiculous. Thofe that feem fo fatbfied 
 
 unfli tk*rof*-l7PB Cf* fi\\\ r\( t \\a\v MU IWIif < ^a.v/ep 
 
 admired by Men of Senfe. He that would have an 
 univerfal Approbation, muft not eafily fancy himfelf 
 deferving. If you had a lefs Eileem of your Perfon, 
 you would yet b6 more eftimable. Ufe the fame 
 Maxim for every Thing that belongs to you. Don't 
 be too much upon the Commendation of your Chil- 
 dren, but rather fuffer their Panegyrick to be made 
 by others. Don't quote them for Patterns of Perfec- 
 tion ; but having j jit mentioned them enpajfant, and 
 let them pay their Refpefts to the Company, remand 
 ihe:n to their Tutor, or thdr Governefs. 
 
 Whence is it, that Women of the worft Fame, 
 and whofe Hiftories are pub!ick, make it their Buft- 
 i;e!s to difparage the Conducl of all their Sex ? They 
 make a terrible Noife, raging againft thofe whofe 
 Conduft is attacked, as if they were obliged to an- 
 fwer for it. They fancy perhaps, by this means to 
 J 3 divert
 
 j-7^ Reflection s upon Politenefs. 
 
 divert the Courfe of Obloquy, and fave themfelves in 
 the Crowd : But they are out in their Accounts, if 
 they think to give themfelves Liberties with the 
 Hopes of concealing thtir Intrigues, and impofing on 
 the Publick. The World is not to be culled, but 
 fooner or later unravels their Myfteries. When things 
 go off without Noife, they think themfelves happy ;. 
 but the Crafh and Confequences of a Rupture, are 
 Matters of a fatal Kind. Reproaches, Outrages,. 
 Letters facrificed to Rivals, or publilhed, occaiioa. 
 bitter Remorfe, and long Repentance. 
 
 Methinks Mothers, for fome Time, have ufed too 
 remifs a Complaifance for their }oung Daughters ; 
 and that inftead of infufing Principles of Modefty and 
 Difcretion into them, they train them up quite ano- 
 ther way. Is it any wonder then they fhould fo for- 
 get themfelves, and that we meet with fo many Co- 
 quets ? They are indulged with too great a Liberty ; 
 and where they have taken their Ply 'tis impoffible to 
 refume again your loft Authority. 
 
 To find Satisfaction in Gi//V Society, we fhould nei- 
 ther conftrain ourfelves nor others. We muft not 
 take it ill that others are of different Opinions, much, 
 lefs make a perfonal Quarrel of their advancing Pro- 
 pofitions we diflike. The way is always to obferve 
 an equal Medium ; that is, never to conteft with an 
 importunate Obftinacy, nor yield with a cowardly 
 Imbecility, when the AfTertion is repugnant to good 
 Senfe. 'Don't fet up for fqueamimnefs, nor think it 
 the Touchftone of an exad Judgment to approve of 
 nothing. Who can forbear Laughing, to fee the 
 fupercilious and difdainful Look of fome People, 
 when any witty Thing is faid which every Body ex- 
 tols ? Inftead of being diverted like the reft, they dif- 
 cover their Indignation, and fometimes carry their 
 peevifh Humour to affronting the Laughers and 
 Applauders. What is inconceivable is, to fee polite 
 People foxnetioies fall into thete Extravagancies. A 
 
 Principle
 
 Maxims for Civil Society'. 
 
 Principle of Vain-Glory gets the better of the Prin- 
 ciple of a good Education. Can they be infenfible of 
 the Ridicule they incur by thefe Abfurdities ? 
 
 If any one fays a Thing before you childifli, mean, 
 or belpeaking a profound Ignorance, don't infult the' 
 Author of the Foolery ; rather compaffionate his 
 Weaknefs and his Ignorance, and fet him right, by 
 fparing his Confufion. Be far from laughing at him 
 with the Company : Tis a Kind of Cruelty, by ill- 
 natured Jells, to make a Man doubly ridiculous, who- 
 already is but too contemptible for his Folly. Why- 
 do People rejoice at others Faults ? They ftady to 
 difcover every Thing that can give them Trouble ; 
 and fome there are fo rude, as brutally to cafl it in 
 their Teeth. 
 
 I think it the beft Way to flay at Home, and not 
 vifit People when in Chagrin and ill Humour. There 
 are gloomy Minutes, when every Thing difgufts us, 
 and we are butdenfome to ourfelves. In thefe Seafons, 
 we run the Rifque of being difagreeable to others ; 
 and we ought not lightly to expofe ourfe'vec- to the Im- 
 putation of troublefome and impeuinent People. 
 
 An Excefs of Gaiety and Merriment, is another 
 Fault to be avoided in Civil Society. This Maxinv 
 feems a Paradox j and that Mirth and jollity never 
 fporled a Feaft. 'Tis however true ; fober and ratio- 
 nal People can't bear that perpetual, empty, fenfeleis 
 Mirth, that is always burfting with loud Laughter, 
 without knowing wherefore. 'Tis good always to be 
 Mailer of our Tempers ; and 'tho we ought not (lilt 
 to interrogate our Rcafon, whether it be proper to 
 laugh when we hear a witty Jefr, yet we ought not to 
 have our Mouths ready opened and tun'd for laughing; 
 like fome that we never fee in a fober fettled Humour, 
 but always bubbling up with frothy Joy. Gcod Hu- 
 mour is the Charm of Civil Society, when it keeps 
 \viihia the Limits of Decorum. 
 
 14
 
 i8o Reflections upon Politeneis. 
 
 What I dread moft in Gonvcrfations, are thofe gree- 
 dy Cormorants of Praife, who try all Shapes and Pof- 
 tures to invite your Compliments ; and you muft al- 
 ways have an incenfePot in your Hand, if you would 
 be their Friend. If they aflc your Opinion of any 
 Piece of (heir Compofition, which they read with an 
 Emphafis, you can't find flattering Expreffions enough 
 to content their Vanity. What a fatigue is it for a 
 Man that has common Senfe, and an exquifite Relifh 
 of good Things, to be obliged (in Complaifance) to 
 commend Trifles ? For you muft either applaud, or 
 quarrel. They'll brutifhly tax your Want of Tafte, 
 Delicacy and Judgment. This Maxim is of very 
 large Extent, and belongs to all Sorts of Profeffions. 
 A Woman tolerably handfome, but who thinks her 
 felf an accornplifhed Beauty, is out of all Patience to 
 hear her Charms but faintly commended. Thofe that 
 have a good Faculty at Dancing, Singing, or Mufick, 
 will be applauded ; and a Man knows not where to 
 fly from the Persecution of thefe Self-Admirers. 
 They that have fo much Complacency for themfelves, 
 and all that belongs to them, have ufually a wonder- 
 ful Contempt for all the Performances of others. If 
 Uiey dare not Jpeak their Opinions out, yet their 
 Mein, their Eyes, their Tone of Voice, a malicious 
 Stnile, a myfterious Silence, or equivocal and ill-mean- 
 ing Expreffions, betray them, and difcover their in- 
 ward Thoughts. 
 
 Infinite Numbers of People think it is Politenefs, 
 to approve every Thing without Diftinftion, or giving 
 themfelves Time to examine into what is faid or done. 
 They make a Thoufand Exclamations upon the leaft 
 Trifle, and are perpetually loading you with Com- 
 mendations. They have not the Courage to fpeak 
 to you without Flattery; but thefe trivial Praifes 
 leave a Flatnefs and Infipidnefs on the Tafte, which 
 is infinitely difagreeable to judicious Perfons. 
 
 When
 
 Maxims for Civil Society. 1 8 1 
 
 When we are fo unhappy as to be engaged with 
 odd and whimfical Tempers, the (horteTt Way to 
 Peace, is to grant them their Demands ; it being 
 better to make fome Abatements of our Right, than 
 difpute for ever. Tis a great Maftery artfully to 
 diffemble our Caufes of Discontent. This is the 
 fureft Means to preferve our Repofe ; and if this 
 Rule were but always obferved, we mould not fee fo 
 many Quarrels every Day. Befides, we ought not 
 to feem to hear the 111 that People fay of us. We 
 cannot pretend to hinder them from fprakingj but 
 it is in our Bread, not to exprefs Refentment at what 
 they fay. 'Tis not always with Defign to injure 
 or affront us, that they talk of us in difobliging 
 Terms ; but from aCuftom fo habitual to the World 
 of flandering our Neighbours ; without which Sup- 
 ply, Converfation would feldom be able to fupport 
 itfelf. But if they treat us thus through Malice 
 and ill Defign, inftead of revenging ourfelves by 
 reciprocal Detraction, (fo cuftomary with Women, 
 and weak People) the Way is to exprefs more Civilt- 
 ties than ever. This fair and generous Deportment, 
 will impofe Silence on them, if they have any Prin- 
 ciples of Honour. 
 
 When you are told of a Man of Merit, that is 
 raifing a fair Reputation in the World, don't be fo 
 ill natured, as to deny him your Approbation. The 
 Affectation of a falfe Delicacy, renders a Man odious 
 or ridiculous ; and 'tis a Mark of a perverfe Temper, 
 and a wretched Malignity, not to be toached with 
 true Merit, and not to admire what is really ad- 
 mirable. The civil and obliging Things you fay to 
 People, encourage them to do better. But deal not 
 like thofe Importers, who commend in Appearance, 
 but neverthelefs ufe ambiguous Terms, and double 
 Meaning*. Thefe corrupt Praifes are nothing but fly 
 Satyr ; and fuch ambodextrous Artifices are no Ways 
 1 5 comporting
 
 1 82 Rtfleflions upon Politeness. 
 
 Comporting with an honeft Man, who ought never 
 to fpeak but what he thinks. 'Tis no hard Matter 
 to be deceived in Point of Commendation. We are 
 fo dazzled with our own Merit, and think we fo well 
 deferve the Praife that is given us in pure Compliment, 
 that 'tis difficult to perceive when we are ridiculed, and 
 when we are fmcerely fpoken of. 
 
 If you find you have any good Qualities, don't 
 Value yourfelf upon them, nor be the firft to fpeak 
 of them : don't appear invidious againft thofe that 
 have the fame Advantages, nor refufe them the Cha- 
 rafter they deferve. Thefe are Uvo eflential Ingre- 
 dients in the Com portion of an Ingenious Gentleman * 
 That he fpeak not of himfelf, whatever his Merie 
 be ; that he be of humble and modeft Sentiments : 
 And in the next Place, that he do others Juftice, with- 
 out AfFeclation and Conftraint. 
 
 It often happens, that our Friends have need cf 
 our Advice ; whether they are engaged in unhappy 
 Affairs, or have not all the Prudence or Experience 
 necelTary for their Conduct. On thefe Occafions, it 
 always becomes us to be fmcere ; and 'tis afting againft 
 Jill the Principles of Honour, to be unfeafonably com- 
 plaifant and to flatter them in their Errors, inftead of 
 redreffing them by fincere Advice. I know that thofe 
 who admonifh us of our Faults, or inform us of Sto- 
 ries fpread to our Difparagement, commonly vex us, 
 and we fee them with a fort of Reluctance. But it is 
 not the Part of a good Friend, not to venture to fay 
 a Word to a Perfon that forgets himfelf, and makes 
 not all the neceflary Reflections on his Conduft. His 
 fore Part ought not to be fo nicely handled. Men of 
 an implicit Deference to all our Opinions, are but 
 little concerned at our commiting Errors : Nay, there 
 are fome fo wretched, as to give bad Counfel, when 
 they know our Inclinations ; chufing rather, in fome 
 Meafure, to humour ou; Extravagance by agreeable 
 
 Things,
 
 Maxims for Civil Society* J 83 
 
 Things, than by the Afliftance of good Advice, to 
 help us to mafter our Paffion. 
 
 The Reafon why the generality of People don't 
 amend their Faults, is their living without Reflection; 
 They converfe all their Lives with Polite Perfons, ami 
 yet are never the more Polite : Whereas they ought to 
 turn every Thing to account, and carefully obierve 
 the different Ways of acting in well bred Perfor.s. 
 This Study teaches us the Knowledge of Men, which 
 is what feparates Perfons of Merit from the Herd, 
 and diftinguifhes a Man of Honour from a Wretch : 
 For that ftill is one confiderable Fault, to have the 
 fame Refpect and Complaifance for a Fool, as for a 
 Man of Senfe. 
 
 As much as poffible, we ought to make a good 
 Choice of Perfons to converfe with. The Commerce 
 of Men of Merit is an excellent School, and their 
 Words and Actions more inftrudtive than the beft of 
 Books. We ought not to content ourielves with 
 feeing them, but endeavour to tranfcribe them. 
 When we are miftaken in our Choice, which is but 
 too common, we muft break off, as foon as may be, 
 a Converfation that can't but be difagreeable or 
 pernicious. 
 
 The Ladies are fomewhat too much relaxed from 
 their Severity ; They, were . formerly more (lately, 
 and knew how to"make themfelves more refpected ; 
 and Men durft not take the leaft Freedom in their 
 Prefence. At prefent they are not fo fcrupulous and 
 referved, but Men-entertain them \vi:h Difcourfes 
 fomewhat favouring of the Licence of the Age, And 
 provided they have a cleanly Covering, the Coyell 
 Dames don't feem to take Exception. "Tis true, they 
 ought not to behave themfelves like wild Indians, nor 
 fly in People's Eyes upon the leaft ambiguous Saying. 
 Thofe that affect fo much Grimace, are not alwaj s 
 the moft modeft : But if they fuftained their Charac- 
 ter
 
 184 Reflexions upon Politenefs.' 
 
 (er a little better, and knew how to employ their 
 Afcendant over Men, thefe would be more fubmiflive 
 and refpe&ful, would give them greater Efteem, and 
 be more regular in their Obfemnce of all the Rules 
 jgf Civility and Decorum. 
 
 1 N 1
 
 A N 
 
 INDEX 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 PRINCIPAL MATTERS. 
 
 A. 
 
 Abilities. To (hew one's Abilities before a 
 ftopid People, is a wretched Punilhmcnt, 
 121 
 
 Abufes fpoken in Company, not to be reported, 1 76 
 
 Accomplijbments always mingled with Imperfections, 
 40. Accomplishments unduly or prodigally ma- 
 naged, areoffenfive, 65 
 
 'Acquaintance can't be long carried on with the Gene- 
 ralit/ of Men, without Occafion of Complaint, 
 
 88 
 
 'Advice to be given modeftly to Perfons of a fuperior 
 Rank, ibid. Advice afked in Expectation of 
 Praife, 146. A love of Advice rather than Flat- 
 tery, would correft many Faults in Convention, 
 147. The obtrudipg of Advice, where it is not 
 a&ed. ccnfurcd;
 
 ? N D E X. t 
 
 to fcrfftr all, would be Cowardice ratlier 
 than Complaifance, 103. We are leaft fenfible of 
 'em in Profperity, 112. How to meafure and 
 judge of Affronts, i 56 
 
 .^advancing loofaft, brings Wrinkles and Remorfes 
 all at once, 56. The ridiculous Arts of repairing 
 the Decays of Age, 140 
 
 dgreeabhnejs of Humour; 'tis hard to find the Me- 
 dium in which- it conMs, 153 
 
 4Jfefiation of the Mimicks and Apes of Modefty, 
 very different from the virtuous Refer ve. 78 
 
 Apologies are of no Ufe, when the Conduct gives the 
 Lye to the Difcourfe, 94 
 
 ; the Means employed to purchafe it, often- 
 times bring us to Con empt, 44. Applaufe given 
 to one's Face always to be fufpected, 48. Greedi- 
 ne&of Applaufecenfured,- 121 
 
 Approbation of every Thing without Distinction, cen- 
 fured, i Si 
 
 Attention to what we fay 01 do, is the way to live 
 happy with all forts of People, 59. It gives a 
 Spirit of Regularity, and keeps up Decorum, 162. 
 Civility demands Attention to what is faid to u$, 
 
 ibid. 
 
 dttire attracts People's Raillery upon an ugly Face, 
 which alone would pa's not minded, 85 
 
 Jtvarice, the mofl miferableof Paffions, i?6 
 
 B. 
 
 BEnefts, to load People with them, is not always 
 the beft Way, 123. ib. Ill natured People are 
 never won by Benefits, 116. To talk eternally 
 of Bftiefts given, is a childifh Vanity, 175- 
 
 Eeauty, to ufurp the Empire of it, is very hazardous, 
 29. Women can fuffer no Rivals in that Particu- 
 lar, 43. Beauty without Modefty, has but little 
 Effect, 53, 57. Natural Beauty loft or decayed, 
 can't be made up in Ornament, 56. Women- of 
 
 Beauty
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Beauty are continually beleaguered with Ambiif- 
 
 cades, 7 g 
 
 Blockheads fpeak commonly more freely and eafily, 
 
 and with a more Satisfied Air than Men of Senfe, 
 
 68 
 
 Braggadocio, in Converfation defcribed, 45 
 
 Bravado (thejiKK to be acled when one's attacked on 
 
 every Side, 164. 'Tis dangerous to do it, when 
 
 we have neither Strength nor Courage to fupporc 
 
 it, i63 
 
 Bufinefe, Women juftly excluded from it, . 16^ 
 
 C. 
 
 Caprice, a ruling Principle in Men, 81, 131. 
 'Tis the Source of the irreparable Faults they 
 commit, and of the Irregularity of their Conduct, 
 
 81 
 
 Cenfsriovfnefs is finical, 34 
 
 Cenfures (impertinent) when offered, require great Dii- 
 cretion in the Perfon cenfured, 61 
 
 Cenfures of Mankind are indifcreer, 75 
 
 Cenfures (everlafling) expofed, 112, 113 
 
 Cenfuring in others the fame Faults we are guilty of 
 ourfelves, a mod incomprehenfible Thing, 169 
 Civil Treatment due from Men in eminent Ports to 
 the Perfons who apply to them, 96. Civilitits 
 thrown away upon fome People, 113. Some place 
 all their Politenefs in paying Civilities to all Com- 
 ers without Diitinflion, 138. Civility makes us 
 glad to do every Body Juftice. 155 
 
 Commendation ; 'tis hard to diftinguifh when 'tis fm- 
 cere, and when Ironical, 114. To Commend ano- 
 ther for what we believe ourfelves to excel in, is a 
 high Flight of Generofity, i z \ 
 
 Companies (great) are fataiguing, 15. Thofe who 
 covet them, have either an ill Tafte, or elfe diftruft 
 their own Parts upon a fingle Match, 15. Why 
 Men of Senfe do not like 'em, 15. Choice of 
 
 Company
 
 I N D E X. 
 
 Company to be inculcated to young Ladies, 53. 
 We can't be too curious in it, 151. Rational 
 Company contributes mightily to the forming of a 
 Gentleman, ibid. Virtuous People difparage 
 themfelves by keeping ill Company, 166 
 
 Competition. In Competition for the fame Employs, 
 'tis difficult to avoid Envy, 120 
 
 Complaints, ill grounded, ought not to divert us from 
 our good Intentions, 1 58 
 
 Compliments (barren) a threadbare Cuftom, 1 1 6 
 
 Complaifance (genteel and well managed) a neceffary 
 Ingredient in Politenefs, 8. But Ccmplaijance ex- 
 ceffive, grows naufeous and infipid, ibid. Com- 
 plaijance the moft proper Means to procure Efteem, 
 41. Complaifance pointed with a little Severity, 
 is the Perfection of a Character of a virtuous Wo- 
 man, 78. Complaifance is a great Step to Polite - 
 ncfs, 100. 'Tis the Soul of Civil Society, ibid. 
 It has a fort of Charm in il, which there's no re- 
 fitting, 100. The Character of a Camplaifant 
 Man, ibid. Complaifance extravagant, breeds 
 Wearinefs and Contempt, 101. A flattering 
 Complaifance does not become Men of Worth, to. 
 If it has nothing of Affectation in its Manner, nor 
 favours of the Ranknefs of Flattery, nothing ren- 
 ders a Man more agreeable, 102. Mercenary 
 Complaijance cenfured, ib. Natural Complaifance 
 apt to degenerate to a fiat and infipid Converfe, 
 it. Why fo few are found that are truly Ccmplaifant 
 1 05 . Thofe who have leaft Complaijance for others 
 have a great deal for themfelves, 108. Complai- 
 fance fuits (generally fpeaking) with all Sorts of 
 People ; in all Conditions and Circumftances what- 
 ever, 115. Comflaifanct ill timed, when a Wo- 
 man is attacked, ib. Complaifance cowardly and 
 mifplaced, 140 
 
 Cvnceittd Perfons feldom fee any Merit in others, 35. 
 Why we have fo many felf- conceited Coxcombs 
 in the World, 69. Cyaceitft/ People naturally ex- 
 cepuous, 128 
 
 Confdeact >
 
 INDEX, 
 
 Conjcience; to fpeak againft one's Confcience is Folly 
 as well as Cowardice, 133 
 
 Conftraint of any Sort, the Bane of Satisfaction in 
 Civil Society, 178 
 
 ContradiQion not inconfiftent with Gomplaifance, 103 
 The Spirit of Contradiction, one of the Things 
 thac moft incommodes Converfation, 109, 149 
 
 Converfutiott, Evennefs of it with all Sorts of Peo- 
 ple, the mod diftinguifhing Character of Politenefs 
 1 8. To Converfe with rough-hewn People, a Mi- 
 fery in Life, 19. Converfation rendered difagree- 
 ab!e by endeavouring to out fhine others, 39, 40. 
 To return harfh Language for harfh Language, the 
 very Peft of Converfation, 89. We ought to have 
 no Converfation with People delighting in Satyr 
 and Raillery, 166. Without Sincerity, we End 
 no Pleafure or Securhy in Converfation, 143 Se- 
 veral Maxims relating to CsK<ver/aticn, 151, & 
 fif. 
 
 Coquetry, takes Plac* of Modeiiy, 33 
 
 Civetoui Perfons; We have no other Notion of them, 
 than of a People under a divine Malediction, 130. 
 
 Covetoufnefi expo fed. ibid. 
 
 Countenance. Ste Modify, 
 
 Ccuntry-bpa ks expofe t.iemfelves by traveftying their 
 Temper when they -me to Town, 23 
 
 Court* of r-i';ce& aifofd irequent Inftances of bound- 
 lefs F attery or C ontempt, 126 
 
 nninz f ught to be bamfhed the Society of honeft 
 Meil, 174. 'Tis an Amphibious Quality, floating 
 betwixt Vice and Virtue, i*& 
 
 u'iofity -of enquiring after whatever others do, with 
 intent to ceofure it, is a wretched Charafter^ 1 1 
 
 D. 
 
 DElt. See 
 Decorum does not always allow as to do for 
 lelves, what we arc ' allowed to do for ot'icri, 97 
 
 D.ticar,
 
 I N D X. 
 
 Delicacy (falfe) the Affeflation of it renders a Mart 
 ridiculous, and fpeaks a perverfe Temper, ' 181 
 
 Defert, The beft expedient we can ufe with fuch as 
 det'ert us, is to give them Libeity to do it, 90. 
 Deferring Fiiends, expofed, i zo. It fpeaks a 
 noble Soul not to defert one's Friends when For- 
 tune has forfaken them, ibid, i 2 1 
 
 Detraction, Silence an excellent Remedy againft ir, 
 
 164 
 
 Diffidence ought not to be concealed, 73 
 
 D;fappointm,nts (frequent) will diredl a difcreet Man 
 to retire, 74. Accidental Difappointments are un- 
 avoidable, 8z 
 
 Difcontint from imaginary (not real) Caufes, frequent 
 
 . 8 * 
 Difcourfe, addrefled always to the fame Perfon, a 
 
 common Uncivilly in Converfation, 158 
 
 Difcretion, a neceffary Ingredient in Politerefs, 58. 
 The Charadler of a dijcreet Men, it id. Dijcretjon 
 of great Ufe, to preferve one's own Quiet, ibid Ic 
 contributes towards forming our Min:'s, 60. It 
 aflifts us to do Juftice, both to our felves and others, 
 ibid. 'Tis inconfiftent with any Powerful Paflion, 
 63. Tis an admirable Veil to hide manifeit Im- 
 perfections, 68. 'Tis never more required, than 
 in the Choice of Perfons to converfe with, 71. A 
 faifeSort of Difcretion cenfured, 73. Difcretion is 
 the ?oul of Politenefs, 163 
 
 rtifgrc.ce, fome Women take Pleafure in difgracing 
 themfelves, 76 
 
 Dtfguife; 'Tis unaccountable, why Men mould love 
 fo much to difguife themfelves, 137. Women 
 are more ingenious than Men, at difguifing their 
 Sentiments and Inclinations, 123 
 
 Difintfreflednefs, an infallible Sign of a Soul well 
 made, and raifed above the Vulgar, 99. Difin- 
 serefted Services, not to be expected from the Ge- 
 nerdity of Mankind, . 1 1 8 
 
 B if oblige, -
 
 INDEX. 
 
 'Tis a Rule never to difoblige any Body, 1 1 
 Men's harih and difobliging way of living toge- 
 ther, is a very ftrange Thing, ibid. 'Tis difficult to 
 be Polite and Complaifant, when difobliged, 1 1 1 
 iluting in Convention, its bad Confequence5, 87 
 Divulging of Things imparted to us, though not 
 under the Character of Secret, is want of Difcreti- 
 n 162, 163 
 
 Drefs adjufled, 
 
 E. 
 
 E Duration. See Marriages. Education (proper) of 
 Youth, would correct many Diforders in the 
 Wo; Id, 161 
 
 Encomiums ill placed, do neither Honour to the Giver 
 nor Receiver, 107 
 
 English, their Character with Reference to Converfa- 
 tion, 158, ibiJ: 
 
 Entertainments ought to be managed, by him that 
 makes them, without the Vanity of commending or 
 difcommending his Fare, 173 
 
 Envy hard to be over-ruled. 42. Envy and fordid 
 Jealoufie.% put us upon ftrange Extravagancies in 
 Civil Life, 97. 'Tis difficult to avoid Envy in. 
 Competition for the fame Employs, i 20. To Envy 
 others Preferments, not within our Sphere, is highly 
 ridiculous, and yet praclifed, 121. 
 
 Efeem, we are not fure to procure it, by convincing 
 Men of our Qualifications, 41. The little Com-? 
 plaifance Men h:ve for another, proceeds from the 
 want of a due E/lerm, 112, 113. The moft cer- 
 tain way to win the Eftctm of Men, is to delight 
 to do them good, 115. Sincerity is, perhaps, one 
 of the ihortefl Cuts to anive at the Ejteem of 
 Men, 137. 
 
 Exceptitufaejs is a Torment to every Body, 9 
 
 Exprejfions, (fimpleft) the bed in Converfation, 16. 
 Eombaft and iar--fetih.d Expreffions to exprefs the 
 moil, trivial Things, ccnfurcd,
 
 D E 
 
 F. 
 
 FAlfenefs. See Sincerity, 
 familiar. Perfons of Quality can't be 
 miliar, 87 
 
 Fantajlical. Men that are moft fuch, have ftill a 
 Side that's practicable by a Polite Hand, 7. They 
 are brought to their Duty belt, by Lenity and Mo- 
 deration, 87, 88 
 
 Fault in Converfation ; to exaggerate it is unpardona- 
 ble ill-breeding, 17. Tis odd that your Nice 
 Men take fo little care to difguife their Faults, 69. 
 People feldom correft their Faults, becaufe they do 
 net con fid er them as fach, 140, 145. If we dif- 
 cover Faults in Company, we ought not fpeak of 
 them, 155, ibid. 
 
 Fawning expofed, 103, 104. It degenerates into 
 Infipidnefs, 107. 'Tis inconfiftent with Sincerity, 
 
 '3!, 
 
 Finical Ladies, how diftinguiftied frcin th'6 Polite, o 
 
 Flattery, sf?rf:rd in Women, does not fix the Incon- 
 
 ftancy of Men, 6. A Flatterer always to be dif- 
 
 trufted, 17. Flattery or Contempt never keep a 
 
 Mean, 126, ibid-- Love of being Flattered, is the 
 
 Caufeof the Infincerity of Mankind, 139 
 
 Fool, to applaud a Fool when rich and Opulent, is 
 
 an Argument of a mercenary Temper, 17, 1 8 
 
 Fortune (low) expofed to the Contempt of the Great 
 
 and Rich, but not of the Polite, 1 8. Moderation a 
 
 Refuge againft the Malignancy of Fortune, 82. 
 
 Change of Fortune for the better, often changes 
 
 Manners for the Worfe, 33. Ill Fortune is a fort of 
 
 Contagion, that keeps all at a Diftance, 120 
 
 Freedom and Eafinefs (without Stiffnefs and Conftraint) 
 
 a neceffary Ingredient of Politcnefs, 7. Becoming 
 
 Freedom an Argument of a Virtuous Woman, 58 
 
 Fi-ienJs of the longeft (landing, fall fouled upon one 
 
 another, when they break off, 13. To divulge 
 
 Secrets,
 
 7 AT D E X. 
 
 Secrets, upon inch a Rupture of Friendihip, is 
 want of Politenefs, 13. Friendihip generally ru- 
 ined, by the Indifference that fucceeds to a long 
 Commerce, 24. 'Tis Cowardice not to vindicate 
 Friends abufed in their Abfence, 75, 174. 'Tis 
 an hard Matter to preferve Friendftiip, fo as to be 
 able to reckon upon it long, 95. We fhould be 
 cautious how we abufe the Kindnefs of our Friends, 
 95. The Friendfhip that's pradiied now-a-days, 
 is only a Difguife for Self-Love, 96. Friendlhip, 
 tho' extinguilhed, ought to keep off Enmity, 1 17. 
 Friendihip not to be expected from thofe, who 
 delight in ?atyr and Raillery, 126. An infincere 
 Friend, is the moft dangerous ihing in the Com- 
 merce of the World, 140. Friendship requires 
 fome Equality, 1 59. W hy there are no mor 
 true Friends in the World, 174. Difmterefted- 
 nefs is the Soul of Friendship, 175. Sometimes 
 we are obliged by juil Reafons, to break of all 
 -Commerce with oar deareft Friends, ibid. The 
 Treachery of a Friend, is the greateft Difturbance 
 a Man of Honour can meet with, ibid, 
 
 frugality^ requiiste in managing the greatefl Excel- 
 kncies, 6^ 
 
 G. 
 
 GAlity. See Gravity. Excefs of Gaiety, or 
 Merriment, a Fault in Civil Society, 179 
 
 Gallantry, what Notions People have of it in this 
 Age, 46 
 
 Gallanty to be talked of with JReferve, by Women, 
 
 176 
 
 Gaudy Trappings, upon an ugly Women, make her 
 doubly fo, 5 6 
 
 Gtnerofity of Mankind is fuch, that there's no reck- 
 oning upon it, 96. See Liberality. See Commend. 
 An Inftance of uncommon Generofity, 122 
 
 Gfaerouj
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Generous Perfons expert no return for their good Of- 
 fices, 91. Motives that feem Generous flow fome- 
 times from Paflion, 126, 127 
 
 Gen feel 'Behaviour defcribed at large, 115, & feq. 
 
 Giving wi.h an ill Grace, makes the World abound 
 with Ingratitude, 124, 125. To give vuth a good 
 Grace, is giving doubly, 135 
 
 Glory, none, but fome privileged Souls, are deter- 
 mined by it's Motives, 99 
 
 Cold, in the Age we live, there's hardly any Hone- 
 (fy tenable againft it, 98, The fevereft Women 
 are iometimes caught by it 161 
 
 Goid. To delight to do good, the moft certain way 
 to win the Efteem of Men, 1 16. To do good to 
 People of kno\vn Ingratitude, requires a very great 
 Soul, 1-3. Good Things are to be infeparably 
 met with, i 52 
 
 Gratitude for Services done, impaired by Self Love, 
 j 19. Gratitude Ihould be free, and not forced, 
 
 127, 128 
 
 Gravity and Gaiety mould be combined in Civil So- 
 ciety, 1 1 1 
 
 G'-eatncfs of Soul, now-a-days, is a TrafHck of pure 
 Intereft, \ \ 6 
 
 H, 
 
 HAndfome Women apt to grow haughty, and to 
 provoke the reft of their Sex to confederate to 
 ceilroy them, 29. Why handibme Women make 
 fo few Conquefts, 38 
 
 Hapjiinefs of our Friends, is fometimes our Mortifi- 
 cation, which is very odd and unaccountable, 96, 
 The Secret of happy living with all the World, is 
 to take Men as we find them, 1 06, ibid. 
 
 HarJLnefs and Morofenels, are not the proper Me^ns 
 for obtaining Refpedt. 95 
 
 lit art of Man ; the Knowledge of it is not attainable- 
 La; by long Experience, 'and much Refle&ion, i 31 
 
 Honour
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Honour (Mea of) particularly found to avoid lewd 
 Difcourle, ;z. Honour of Birth forgot, by Wo- 
 men of a depraved Tafte, 77. A Man of Honour 
 fhould never fpeak what he does not think, 113. 
 Men of Honour and Reputation fhould not be de- 
 cryed, 177. Tho' the Envious World is apt to do 
 it, ibid. 
 
 Hopes retain People to our Intereft, better than a load 
 of Benefits a. ready conferred, 123, ibid. 124 
 
 Humour (Good) is the i.harm of Civil Society, when 
 it keeps wi h n the Limics of Decorum, 180 
 
 Hypocrites. See Religion. 
 
 I. 
 
 Dlenefs makes the Paffions of Women fo lively, 
 
 164 
 
 'Jealoufy (indifcreet) expofed, 63. A Jealous Huf- 
 band how ferved by fome, 67 
 
 Jf.ft ofcentimes makes a Friend an irreconcileable 
 Enemy, 59. Jejlt never to be hazarded with Coun- 
 try-Folks and Fools, 169 
 
 Ignorance taken by fome to be meritorious, 42. Ig- 
 norant Expreffions not to be infulted, but pitied, 
 
 178, 179 
 
 Ignorant, they are admired by none but Fools., 
 
 108 
 
 Impertinences. The Reflexions we make upon the 
 impertinences of others, teach us to correct our 
 own, 7, 167. The Character of an impertinent, 
 7 1 . Impertinent; will always creep in among rea- 
 fonable People, 108 
 
 Impertinences; to. return Candor and Civilities for 
 Impertinences, is a Virtue of great Value, 164 
 
 Importunity makes a Man promife, without thinking 
 to perform, 74. Importunity in Diflrefs does not 
 re-kindle the Zeal of ancient Friends, 120 
 
 Impoftures are ufually as fatal to Cheats, as thofe 
 that are cheated by them, 141 
 
 tnclinatiy*
 
 / N D E X. 
 
 IntKnatlm warps Virtue, 1 26 
 
 ladifcrttim (naonllroui) in delighting to difparagc 
 one's felf, 6H 
 
 Indolent Creatures tirefome Company, 147 
 
 Indulgence due to a Preacher or Author, 1 7.2 
 
 Jtyirfr.ities, the great Art of Life confifts hi conceal- 
 ing them, fince no Body is without them, 84 
 Ingratitude, the frequent Reward of generous Aflions, 
 116. Great Benefactions are fometimes inftru- 
 mental to it, IZ3. See Good. Good i ortune the 
 frequent Occafion of Ingratitude-, ikid. Ingrati- 
 tude a bafe and fcandalous Vice, 124. To punifh 
 it, we need only abandon the Ungrateful to their 
 own Malignity, ib. Why the World abounds with 
 Ingratitude, .ib. The kail deferving are moil on- 
 oiatduJ, 1Z7 
 
 /uj>ji:ce, we have naturally a great Inclination to it, 
 
 9 2 
 Jnjuriet magnified by Self-Efteem, 121 
 
 injitit. Not to inful: a worthy Man in Difgrace, a 
 LefTon of g r eat Importance, 1 7 
 
 I*l*ijltive Peribns to be ufed with a refolute Referve, 
 
 136 
 
 Jnttg'ity. See Saife. 
 
 Intertfied Perfons not very exa& in their Promifes, 74 
 
 Jntereji carries it, with the Generality of the World, 
 above Glory, g6. Inter eft and Pleafure, are the 
 Springs of Human Life, 99. Mean Actions from 
 Views of hterefl, mod to be feared, 1 16. Gene- 
 roi!:y is nothing now but aTraffick of laterejf, ib. 
 Friendfhip is generally meaiured by Inter fji, 120 
 
 Jnf.l;e. We feldom do Juflice to our felves, and 
 rarely to other Men, Hid. We mud not hope to 
 have always Juftice done us. 129 
 
 Kin in (ft
 
 K 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 K. 
 
 Indntft and Praifes, proceed almofi upon tUe 
 fame Foot, 1 1 4. 
 
 L. 
 
 LAugt-ter, a.nd Cackling by Fits in Company, ri- 
 diculous, 18 
 Learned (Men) why they are not the genteeleft Peo- 
 ple in the World, 16, 20. Why Learning is 
 fooner acquired than Politenefs, 2 1 . Thofe who 
 fei up for extraordinary Learning, are very un- 
 tructable, 41 
 Lit;ers (Men of) are feldom guilty of an Excefs of 
 ohifance, 105 
 Libti^iifj has oftentimes a fecret Intereft at Bottom, 
 
 118 
 
 Lil-'r-'imfm in Women, the Confeqoence of Matri- 
 mony, 53 
 Liberty taken by Women, lofes them the Empire the/ 
 have na:urally ov?- Men, 77 
 Lii. ly People fhoui.i always beware of their natural 
 Fault, of f ; leavouring to fparkle in Converfation, 
 
 70 
 
 Lwe, Why a Man's Love for a Maid, cools when (he 
 becomes his Wi'e, 79. We are under no Ohli- 
 
 faf : on to love?.;; Sorts of People, 139. To love 
 cribns of no Merit, is a whimfical Thing, 159. 
 
 M. 
 
 MAchinal Sort of People, always fpeak by weight 
 and meafure ; what a pitiful Character they 
 have, 144 
 
 Magiflerial Determination, upon the Subject ofCon- 
 verfation, is unbecoming, 35 
 
 VOL. II, K MagnifUtnce.
 
 / N D E X. 
 
 Magnificence. See Liberality. Magnificence that 
 plunges one into Debt, is an ill contrived Genera- 
 fity, 1 29 
 
 Jdagtttry of Carriage, difpcls the Charms of Beauty, 
 
 38 
 
 Malice forgives neither the Endowments of Nature 
 nor Fortune, 97 
 
 Man turns Tyrant to himfelf, when no Body elfe dif- 
 
 turbs him, 83 
 
 .Manners. The Standard of our prefent Mannerj, 
 
 docs not come up to Sincerity, 146 
 
 Marriages, the fcandalous Diforders in 'em, proceed 
 itom the bad Education of Young Women, 39. 
 Marriage now-a-da) * diipels the Relicks of Shame, 
 54. "Women take great Liberties after Marriage, 
 tho' their Obligation to Moderty, is the lame as 
 before, Hid. One of the Sources of the Miferies 
 of Marriage, is the Daughter's minding only the 
 Perfon, and the Mother only the Eftate, 80, 81. 
 ''I is unaccountable that fo few Marriages are fo 
 well forted, 161 
 
 Mafier's and Servants, their refpe&ive Duties and 
 Faults, 165, 1 66 
 
 Maxims for Civil Society, 151 
 
 Mean and unworthy Adtions mod to be feared, 1 16 
 
 Men can bear no Competition in Wit, no more th m 
 Women in Beauty, 43 Moft Men are unintel- 
 ligible, 131. We judge of Men by the Sm face, 
 
 166 
 
 Merit (great) -does not always carry the Suffrage of 
 thp Publick, 40. Moriefty fets it off with a new 
 Luftre, 53. Indifferent Merit may gain fome 
 Efteem by fpeaking li tie, 68. People that nave 
 vaft Notions of their own Merit, commonly Un- 
 grateful, 128 
 
 Mii^nihrof,y expofed, 104 
 
 ria^es : "Tis to little Purpofe to make great 
 Apologies for 'em, 65 We ought to lay nothing 
 haiih to a Man that has mifcarricd, i < 2 
 
 Mitfcrtvnrs ;
 
 / N D E X. 
 
 ; to complain of 'em at every Turn, is * 
 Sign of Vanity rather than Moclefty. 45. They 
 are generally o*ing to our own ill Conduct, 46, 64. 
 They render a Friend dearer to a generous ami dif- 
 ir.terefted Heart. 99 They ought to be treated 
 \vihC_ompaffion, not Indifference, 117 
 
 Perfon; unconvertible, 73. They place a 
 falfe Difcretion of iiiiitrufting every Body, Hid. 
 
 Moderation, a \ irtue of very extcnfive Ufe, 82. It 
 make; Men happv in every State, 83. And is 
 nece>.r\ at al! Times,. go 
 
 McJ.-jtj, adds a Loftre to great Merit, 29. It adb 
 evenly and without Formality, 30. The Charac- 
 ter of a m.d 3 Perfon, ibid. Modtjly of Senti- 
 ments read in the Countenance, 31. MoJefy, the 
 moil convenient Veil for what we mean to keep 
 fec;et, 32. Why we neglect to do Jaitice to Wo- 
 men, upon the Score of Modefty, 32, 33 Mo- 
 iti-Jiy removes Self-love, or valuing only what's 
 our own, 43. A model! Man does rot let up for 
 fhining in OonverilKT>, by lurprizin^ Narratives, 
 45 Tjs a : vy rn't-ly to reject Com- 
 
 pliments wl.eo vve u'ltnt we deferve 'em, 49. 'Tis 
 difficult '> retain modiji Sentimencs in an ei^' ed 
 Station, 51 Modejiy becomes all Sorts of Cha- 
 racters, bat is higr.i/ eifenticti to fome Prott-lTions, 
 52. Roughnefs and Severity againlt ail tnat take 
 any , is no true lngreUietof Madefy, 55. 
 
 Moueicy ii of mighiy Ule to fecare all <'ue other 
 Virtues', ihid ^Ldeil Perfons eafily poffefs our In- 
 clinations and Eileetn, 58 
 
 Morals of Vv'omen oj th's Age differ but little from 
 thole of honeit Heatnens, i 20 
 
 Mot ben give cheir Daughters too greai Liberty, 177, 
 
 178 
 
 Mourning ijeign'd) e.tpofed, HI-
 
 INDEX. 
 
 N. 
 
 Narratives (long) cenfured, 108 
 Nfcefitty throws People upon many Things that 
 
 difpleaie others, 18. Self-love magnifies the Idea 
 
 of our Necefllcies, 1 19 
 
 News (HI) not to be carried, 176. 
 Nicety. See Starched. 
 
 
 -O. 
 
 " 
 
 OBIfgations ought to be dene in proper Time and 
 Place, lib. .Overdoing Obligations make 
 People ungrateful, 123 
 
 OkftinOey, the moft common Fault in Converfaticn," 
 16, 17. TJs grand Impertinence, 36. r^/.-/- 
 nacy in Opinion, a Sign of but inairiercnt Senfe, 
 
 J 57 
 Offcioufnffs cenfured, 1 1 6 
 
 Old Men, were they more converfable, their Society 
 xvould be a great School for the Young, 25. 'Tis 
 ridrculous to conceal C ki Age, 5-. Perfors may 
 pretend a Kind of Refpedl, but expole then 
 in thinking to pleafe, 72 
 
 Qpennefs (indilcreet) vaftly difFerent from Sincerity, 
 
 136 
 
 Opinion of Self-merit, cenfured, 33, 39, 36, & fe- 
 quent. 'Tis a great Source of impertinence, 37. 
 Opinion oftentimes afked, not for JnfhuSion, but 
 in Expectation of Applaufe, 74, 75. To differ 
 ^n Opinion, in the Way of Conv,?ifation, does not 
 break in upon the Meafures of C omplaifance, 103. 
 Men's Fondnefs of iheir ovtj; Opinions makes 
 them aft and fpeak many fooiilh Things, i.. the 
 Commerce of the World, f 56. Stiffnf Is in Opi- 
 nion, the moft poifonous Weed that infects the 
 Pleafure of Civil Society, 157. Every Bony has 
 a Right to give his Opinion of Things fubmitted 
 to the Publick. 171, 172 
 
 Ojieniatlon
 
 INDEX. 
 
 OJientattcn cenfured. 29, 30, 31. 
 
 P. 
 
 dins. People take more Pains to deceive the 
 
 World, than it would coft them to acouire a 
 
 fubfiantial Merit, 152 
 
 faint ufed by Old Women, ridiculed, 140. The 
 Souls cf Women are no leis pair.ted than their 
 Faces, , 4 G 
 
 Tarts (great) not fufF.cient to parchafe the Efteem 
 and Affeftion of Men of themfclves, 39. Often- 
 tation of Parts cenfured, 31, 32' 
 
 ffani; if we can't get rid of 'em, we ought to 
 conceal: them, 56. What is not a Woman capable 
 of, under the Influence of a violent Paflion ? 137 
 
 Patrons, their Hatred the moft common Effect of In- 
 gratitude, i2v "WJien they ceafe to be ufeful-, 
 they are treated with Indifference, 126. If not 
 \vorfe, I2Q 
 
 Peace, the fhorteft Way to it, is to grant whimfical 
 . People their Demands, i8t 
 
 Pedagogue, troubleiome, C6 
 
 PettijJy, peevifh People defcribcd, 170 
 
 Play, fonie Reflections upon it, \qz 
 
 riicfe. To think of Pleafing when the Seafon of 
 Agreeablenefs is over, is want of Difcretion, and 
 Miftaking a Man's true Intereft, 72. The Merit 
 of pleafing, bel ngs to Youth, Hid. Merit, with- 
 out the Art of Pbafing, fignifies but little, in 
 
 Pleajure and Intereft, the two Springs of Human 
 Life. 99 
 
 P/ea/e. The grand Rule to pleafe, is to accommo- 
 date one's felf to the Genius of People, 1 49. And 
 in Converfalion not to depart from your Character, 
 155. We ought to endeavour to pleafe People of 
 good Tafte, 1/7 
 
 jifene/s defined, i. It demands a ftrong Fand of 
 Reafon, great Commerce with the World, and an 
 E 3
 
 INDEX. 
 
 ^ 
 
 x?.fl Knowledge of Decorum, 2. Why the Num- 
 ber of the Polite are b {mall, 3. "Women have 
 more Politenefs than Men, ibid. A Counterfeit 
 Polkenefs discovered by Occafions, Contradictions 
 and Intereft, 5. Politenfjs is not always born with 
 People, 7, 8. The grtat Secret of it, confiils in 
 making ourfelyes relifhed by thofe we converfe 
 with, 8. Why Poliie Men are fcarcer than Men 
 of Parts and Learning, 21. Politenefs teaches us 
 to treat People fukably to their Condition, 24 It 
 cor.fifb in a Med.um between the Excels of Re- 
 ftraint and Liberty, 26, 27. 'Tis impoflible to be 
 Polite without Modefly, 29. Po/itenejj and Com- 
 plaifiRce, require the Conjunction of almefr. all 
 Virtues, 10;. There is ro great Stock of Po- 
 litenefs required, to live amicably with good Hu- 
 moured People,. 170 
 *} have s;O Summum Itnum, but their Inte- 
 reftf, 133 
 
 Politicks alter, according to the different Turn of 
 Affairs, 127 
 
 'rat fen (everkfting} expofed"', 107 
 
 fraifes, why People of indifferent Merit, are com- 
 nionly the moft tenacious of them, 47. Self-praife, 
 from what Principles it flows, ibid. To talk of 
 ourfetves either good or evil, argues that \ve are 
 fond of Praife, 48. There is a Way of receiving 
 Praifts when jufl, that does not offend Modefty, 
 49. Praiffi artfully managed, are a Kind of Coin, 
 the Cunning ufe to compais all their Intentions, ;b. 
 Praifes not fo uncommon, as to be paffionately 
 fcught after, 50. Kindnefics find Praifes proceed 
 almoft upon the fame Foot, 114. The greedy 
 Cormorants of Praife are moft to be dreadeci in 
 Converfation, 1 80 
 
 Precaution ; the beft Affairs iifcarry for want of it, 
 
 93. 
 
 Pre/<nfs of Friends, to refufe them is a miftaken Piece 
 f State, n 9
 
 / N D E X, 
 
 tion of great Capacity, a ceruin Sign of in- 
 different Merit, 33, 37. Impudent Preiumption, 
 a great Fault in a \oung Man, 74 
 
 frlde the mod natural Source of Impolicenefs, 29. 
 Its jafl Punifhment in meeting with Contempt when 
 it courts Applaufe, 44. Pride fomeiimes guards a 
 Woman's Virtue, 54, 56, 115 
 
 frigate Difcourfe of others, to liften to them is 
 Incivility, 163 
 
 Promi/et made to all, no true Politenefs, 20. Thoie 
 we have made a Promife to, have a jaft Title to 
 the Performance, 74. In Promifes to Friends, we 
 ought not to ufe Subterfuges, 135. The Perfor- 
 mance of Promija ought not to be delayed, ib, 
 
 PrinccJ/es more unfortunate than other Women, in 
 that the Almanacks will not permit them to difguife 
 thrirAge, 57 
 
 Prodigality. See M.igmfcencc. 
 
 Pro/peritj, the frequent Occafion of Ingratitude, 123 
 
 Proud Perfons, that (land much upon PunAilio's, the 
 fhorteft Method with them, is to break off all Cor- 
 refpondence, 9 
 
 Prudence, no Prudence can be a Proof againft a treache- 
 rous Pretender of Friendlhip, J 35 
 
 Publick t unjuiHy complained of, 166 
 
 aUa/itj, no Difpenfation from Politenefs, 1 2, 
 Good Qualities diiplayed all at firft Sight, ill 
 Policy, 40. If we can't throw off bad Qua/itieit 
 we fcould endeavour to conceal them, 9* 
 
 Quarrels, the longer deferred, the more rancorous is 
 the Spleen, 9, Quarrels that have no Foundation, 
 are moft durable, and why, 122 
 
 K 4 Raitttrj
 
 INDEX. 
 
 R. 
 
 aillery, the Knowledge of it requifite upon fame 
 
 Occafions, 8. Ingenious Raillery not to be 
 
 refented, 61. Fine Raillery the delicious Seafon- 
 
 ing of Society, 153. Perfons of a Superior Rank, 
 
 fhould be very referved in that Point, 167 
 
 Recfcv, the Generality of Men live not by it, but by 
 Prejudices, and the Movements of their Paffions, 60 
 
 jRafcai, often confounded with an honeft Man, be- 
 caufe we judge of Men only by the Surface, 166 
 
 Refaction, want of it upon ourfelvej, the Caufe of 
 Self-conceit, 38. Humbling Reflections not ad- 
 mitted by Men that are prepoffefied with their own 
 Merit, 40. Your Conceited Coxcombs live with- 
 out Reflection, 69 
 
 Religion ; Cheats in Matters of Religion, are the De- 
 ceivers we can leaft ward againft, 141. The Vi- 
 2or of Religion defcribed, 142, 143 
 
 Rtfnonftrancet, to bear them modeftly, is a Sign of 
 great Merit, 75 
 
 JRepetifioxj one of the moft tirefome Things in Con- 
 verfation, 1 3 
 
 Rtfofe, an excellent prefervative for it, is to be un- 
 difturbed at afFrontive Language, 82. They that 
 feek their Repofc in the World, are always reftlefs, 
 
 85 
 
 Jbproack. He that takes the Liberty to reproach 
 People, Ihould be vety fecure of his Point, 86 
 mif -timed, has but little Effed, 26. Repress 
 fhoaid be qualified with Difcretion, if we would 
 have them prevail, 76. How to make Reproofs 
 effectual, 169. There are certain Conjundures in 
 \vhich Reproof is abfolutely required, 1 70. Tho 1 
 Politenefs does npt always allow of it, ibid. Re- 
 proof a hard Part to aft, ibid. 
 Refittafita depends not on the fantaflick Humours of 
 40. ReputatKn once dipt, not eafily rc 
 
 tficved,
 
 INDEX. 
 
 trieved, 41, ;z. Oftentimes n.i; - i by Supinity, 
 40. Reputation h the worthRlt Ht^ompence of 
 Virtue, 160. Indolence as to Reputation, not 
 the greatefl Sign of Virtue, 160 
 
 Refrrve, as to the Affairs of others, prevents many 
 Troubles, 62, 63. TheRefir<ve of a Woman of 
 Merit is a Sort of Bridle to contain Men in their 
 Ihity, 77. Her Referve fhould have nothing in 
 it wild, termagant, or di/guftful, 78. True Re- 
 ferve retains Refpedt without any Words, 7 9, 79 
 
 Refpetl, Oimflions of it not defigned, ought to I ex- 
 cufed, 59. Refpefl difcontinued when we are no 
 longer Serviceable, 1 1 6 
 
 Revenge moderated, 90. Groundlefs Revenge ex- 
 pofed, 112, 113 
 
 Riches and Greatnefs efface the Sentiments of Modcfty, 
 5 1 . They make a Man lofe the Efteem he had 
 before purchafed by his Virtue, 84. When a 
 Man arrives at the Contempt of Riches, he has no 
 farther Obftacle in his Way to exalted Virtue, 99 
 
 Ridicule is dreaded by every Body, 89. 
 
 S. 
 
 SAtyr, thofe who delight in it can never be true 
 Friends, J 26 
 
 Say. ' Tis not always convenient ta know what Peo- 
 ple fay of us, 163 
 Scandal can't be too folicitoufly prevented by Women, 
 
 61 
 
 Sffrett, the Difcovery of them after a Rupture of 
 Friend/hip, is only pardonable in Women, who 
 have not always a retentive Faculty, 13. To teJI 
 a Woman that what you (peak is a Secret, is -the 
 Way to make her difcover it, 13. To give trifling 
 Things under the Seal of Secrecy, is derogatory to 
 good Senfe, 21. 'Tis a kind of treachery, to take 
 Advantage of a Secret, when you ceafe to be the 
 Author's Friend, 61, 117- Secrm of others not 
 
 to
 
 INDEX. 
 
 to be enquired into, 64. Secrett not to be kept 
 from a difcreet Frisnd, 7 1 We ought cither not 
 to r<uA our Secrets with our Friends, c r el-'e to truft 
 them without reierve, 73 What Secrets are proper 
 to be communicated, and what not. 158 
 
 Self-Satisfaftion mfpired by Beauty, 38. Why Men 
 have fuch advantageous Notions of themfelves, 38. 
 Self Love a kind of Blindfoldneff, which Modefty 
 removes, 43. We ought not either to fpeak good 
 or evil of ourfelves, 47. See Conceited. Self Love 
 magnifies the Idea of our Ntceffities, and lefiens 
 that of the Affiitance given us, 1 1 9. SelMaffici- 
 ency cenfured, i 56. People feel a Secre: Satisfac- 
 tion in talking of themfelves, and their ill Fortune, 
 
 i/3 
 
 Senfe. A Man of Integrity with excellent Seti/e, is 
 commonly made the Property of a Crafty Knave 
 of but indifferent Underftanding, 134 
 
 Sjf/vja, Offers of it to al> Men, one of the moft com- 
 mon Weakneflies in Men, 73 When we do People 
 Services, we ought to do them without Views of 
 Imereft, 98. Proclamation of Services cenfured. 
 
 118 
 
 Services difinterefted, not to be expefled from the 
 Generality of Mankind, ibid. SuvKts done with 
 an ill Grace offend People, Hid. Service) paft, 
 eafily forgot, 123. Tis a wretched Perfection 
 to be told continually of the Set vices we have 
 done us, 125 
 
 Severity ftudied, no fure Sign of Virtue, 78. There 
 are fomc Subjects, where Stverity mould take 
 Place of Complaifance, 1 1 5 
 
 Severity (ftern) in Converfation, cenfured, 153 
 
 Silence, an ex client Remedy againft Detraction, 164 
 Sincerity (rigid) banifhed Converfation, 114 
 
 Sincerity difcourfed of at large, 131, & feq Blunt 
 Sincerity cenfured, 132. Sincerity mil-timed, ferves 
 only to iour People, ibid. Without Sincerity, Ci- 
 vil Society is a Kind of Kidnapping, ibid. Since- 
 rity
 
 INDEX. 
 
 rity ftiould have nothing ra(h or foolifti in it, 136. 
 Tis perhaps one of the fhorteft Cuts to arrive at 
 the Eftetm of Men, 137. It iometimes paffcs for 
 RulV.c'.ty and Rudenefs, ibid Why there are fo 
 few fincere People in the World, 139. Without 
 Sincerity we find no Pleafure or Security in Conver- 
 fation, 144. By being too fincere we oftentimes 
 draw very ingrateful Raparteesupon us 148. Want 
 of Sincerity i? the cuitomary Fault of thofe who pre- 
 tend to Comphifance, 149 
 Singularity affeded,- very difguftful to judicious Per- 
 fons, 44. 'Tis a Symptom of a bad Judgment, 
 109. It proceeds generally from an aukward Wit, 
 
 167 
 
 Slander, nothing is more diametrically oppofite to 
 
 Politenefi, 1 1 . Women cannot be taken oft" from 
 
 it, 28. It denotes a great Fund of HI nature, 
 
 ibid. The natural Bias of Man, is to Slander and 
 
 Di paragement, 91. Cautions about Slander, 176 
 
 Slighting of ordinary Difcourfe, an Argument of a 
 
 Pedant, 16 
 
 Sfftilei (maficious^ as provoking, as keen Refle&ions, 
 
 181 
 
 Society, (civil) without Difcretion, is no-hing but Fa- 
 tigue and Hurly-burly, 58. The Pleafure of it 
 is poifoned moft, by giving too much Scope to our 
 natural Inclination to Injulhoe, 92. 'Tis not to 
 be hoped, to meet with none but agreeable and con- 
 verfable People in society, 107. Infmcere Peo- 
 ple, the Bane of Civil Society, i j i . See Sincerity. 
 Maxims for Civil Society, I 5 1 
 
 Sots do not diflinguifii falfe Merit from true, 108 
 Sp t aking ill of every Body, is a Trefpafs jpon Polite- 
 nefs, 10 He that fcts up for a Polite peakir, 
 grows impertinent and tirefo ;1 jt by overmuch cau- 
 tion, onlefs he takes great Care, 16. To fpeak 
 of what we don't know, is to make a Parade of 
 ridiculous Ignorance, 44. By Jpeaking little, we 
 may gain (omeEfteero, with an indifferent M.-rit, 
 
 68.
 
 / N D E X. 
 
 68. Blockheads {peak more freely and eafily 
 
 than Men of Senfe, 68 
 
 Starched and affeded Airs in Women, no Argument 
 
 of Politenefs. 27. Nor yet of Modefty, 58 
 
 Suaeffes (iil) 'ruculd bean it; eftimable Virtue, not 
 
 to ridicule People for them, 122 
 
 T. 
 
 TAlk. The Pleafore Men take in talking, makes 
 them infenfible of the TW/a.v? they give rheir 
 Hearers, 14, Exccflive Defireof talking difcovers 
 a Want of judgment,. 14. We ought never to 
 talk of ourfclves, 48. Why the World abounds 
 with fuch as do, Hid. A violent Itch to talk on- 
 all Subjects, a certain Conviction of Selt-fufficiency, 
 and the Poverty of Wit, 66. The gieateft Talk- 
 en are not always befr efteemed, 67. To te fond 
 of talking much, is aSigrr of great Vanity,, rather 
 than goodSenfe, 67. 'Tis not the Seafon to talk 
 much when a Man's agitated with violent Pafiioa, 
 84, 85. Great Talien> only (urprize the Vulgar, 
 
 108 
 
 7-afle (exquifite and refined) a great Advantage, 1 1 o 
 
 <tmper never more necefiary in Conveifation, than 
 when it turns upon Raillery, 83, 89 
 
 Timor cMjneft, Silly and Sheepifh, a great Fault in a 
 Young Man, 7 1 
 
 TTAOV// of Country Gentlemen render them more 
 foolifh and impertinent than before, 21, 22. "'Tis 
 not feeing of fine Things, b it converging with po- 
 lite People, that refines a Traveller, 22. 
 
 V. 
 
 VAluing only what is our own, a common Fault 
 with Men of Merit, 43. 'Tis commonly a 
 mighty Source of Impertinence, ibid.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Vanity. See Oftentation. There's r.o Body wuhoat 
 ibme particular Vanity, 37. Vanity expofed. 577 
 
 Virtues it common, fcarce admired, 44. y it tut in 
 Women gives Tranquiilt a Rcipecl, 54 Great 
 Affectation of Virtue renders a Woman but more 
 fufpecK'd , 54, 5^. Modefty is of mighty Uie to 
 
 fecure all the other Virtues, cj. Virtue does not 
 procure Reputation, if delayed to the Dregs of 
 Age, 56. The moft rtlbived Virtue can'tiland its 
 Ground in Come nice Conjunctures, 99. An ex- 
 cellent Remedy to fare the Virtue of a Woman, 
 itiJ. Some Virtues are acquired by Art. <uch a* 
 G>mf/ai/ancf t 1 10. Virtue warped by Inclination. 
 Looks and Grimaces contribute oocaing to- 
 wards folid Virtue* 131. Virtues ought to be 
 proportioned to the Character of the Perion, 161. 
 There's an Art in feafoning Vjrtmt t ibid. 
 
 Vtxatisn makes as vent Tuch fooleries in Hafte, as we 
 
 repent of at Leifure, 85 
 
 . and Paiiion are not capable of doing Buiinefs, 
 
 9 2 > 93 
 
 Vindiai'verrft cenfured, 161. Women have little 
 
 vinJigi've Souls. ibid 
 
 to Lv difcreetly timed, 71. We ought not ;o 
 
 ^o free at the firll Vifit, itiJ. V:J:ts purely 
 
 ceremonr.l ought to be bar.iQied Society, 168. No 
 
 Crm.v".er feeems mrre formidable than that of the 
 
 crs of inilgnifccant \ ,.;s 171. \ i:its not 
 
 to be payed when one's out of Humour, 19 
 
 Unacqviintar.ee with ourfelves, the Hindrance of 
 
 modcil Notion?, 33 
 
 Uafortumatt- (the) are not to look for Generofu'y fr*ni 
 
 their Friends, 120 
 
 -Marfkfi's ;naniral) defcriScd, 104. 
 
 w 
 
 Amttat grow \;rt:ous when they can't be 
 
 5^ 
 
 Wheedling
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Wheedling and Decoying, are Stains to Civil Soci- 
 ety, 134 
 WhimCcal Tempers how to manage them, 181 
 Wit concealed, is oftentimes good Management, 3 2. 
 Men of the greateft Wit often guilty of the moft 
 notorious Errors, 38. We can't lay an Embargo 
 on Womens Wit, 42. Men of Wit fometimes 
 tirefome in Converfatipn, 153, 154 
 Women have naturally moiePolitenefs than Men, 10. 
 'I hey have not always a retentive Faculty, 13. 
 'Tis a Defect of Politenefs to let them perceive the 
 Indifteience you have for them, 19. Their Po- 
 liter.efs does not confift in ftarch and affe&ed Airs, 
 24, 28. The Politeft Women take it ill to hear 
 others praifed in their O-rupany, 28. The whole 
 Sex is ftill full of themfelves, 34. All young 
 Women are eagerly felicitous to be married, and 
 all marred Won.en to be Widows, 39. Women 
 ought in a particular Manner to be icierv.d upon 
 k-wu Subjects, 52. They have loft their Atrho- 
 rity over Men by a Defect of Modefty, 53. Their 
 PI fs ought 10 fuit their Condition, 57. J he 
 G:ury of a Woman confifts not in the Noile her 
 Beauty makes, but in the regularity of her Con- 
 duel, 57. Your ftarched prim Women always 
 fufpeded, 58. The Perfedion of a Woman's 
 Character, 78. Women afFeft nil the Offices of 
 the Republick, 81. They are more enterpr.zing 
 than Men, ibid A covetous and ielf-interefted 
 Woman is obnoxious to all the fa'fe Steps, which 
 thole who knovv her Weaknefs and Difpofitiou can 
 vvifh, 99. ico. Women are more (waved by 
 Pleasure than Pain, too. See Squabbles Warner. 
 acknowledge no otrrer Law* than thole of their 
 Pieafures, 128. Confidence in a Woman cen- 
 fured 136. Women have little vindictive Souls, 
 80, 1 6 1. Their Bias naturally ciifpofes them to 
 trifling, 165, Some Women love to expofe their 
 own Sex, 177
 
 1 N- D E X. 
 
 IfailJ, Injuftice of the World oftentimes blamed 
 when Supiruty's the Cafe, 41. The World abounds 
 with Fools and Impertmrnts that can't be avoided 
 in Conversation, 72. Some People difparage what 
 all the World commends, 109. The World is 
 very cenforious and ill na'ured, 122. Wo'ld com- 
 pared to ;he Actors of a Comedy, 145. The Way 
 of the Wo:i i defended, 172 
 
 Worth (Men of) expofed to Envy and Calumny, 
 
 140. 
 
 Y. 
 
 YOung People feldorn fuit themfelves to ihe Con- 
 veriation ;if rhe Old, 25. V/riy tney fhun ic, 
 it \ he Solicitude of tome People to appear 
 younger than they are, is v.ry ridiculous, 57. '1'he 
 great fr'aulc^ in a Young Man, 70. Yojng People 
 realon difterentl* from their Parents, 99, 100. 
 Youth makes Par: ot ihe Meric of a V."o;nan, but not 
 of a Man, 57. The Merit of Pleafin^ belongs 
 to Youth, 72. 
 
 Z. 
 
 ZEaL indifcreet, does our Friends more Injury 
 than Service, 93. 
 
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