B w ■ ij;... DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY The Glenn Negley Collection of Utopian Literature % a dextrous management of Vice ; a l ^ Wa nd ,X J bijfimulntion, is fure to carry a Man through, in ^ whatever he undertakes: what hope remains for fo barren, fo airy a Name as mine, of being fo much as countenane'd by Mankind} Valour and Beauty, formerly my two nearer! Companions, do not fo much as remember they were ever ac- quainted with me : I no longer (as in the Morn- ing of the Creation) have Crowns and Garlands at my difpofal, when Kingdoms and Lawrels were merited, and Virtue made the Choice. Quite exploded from Courts and Cities : I was reported to have refug'd among the Villagers, but alas ! they knew left of me there, than in the Ca- binets ( 5 ) 4* nets of Princes, For Mortals being by Katcrc & well as Cuftom corrupt , the Leflons of Phiia-- j opbers and Humanity, only refine and fit 'em for the Study of firtue -, a generous Education illu- minates the Clod-bom-Birtb, without which, Man is the greateft Brute of the Creation -, the Riiftic Soul, looks out in Native Ignorance, Cruelty, Ava- nce, Diflruft, Fraud, Revenge, Ingratitude, Self- Intereft, the whole ignoble Train, that fly be- fore the dawn of Knowledge, and the fweetnefs of Science. Thus may I well (neglecìed as I am) appear Difconfolate, Abandoned, flying to the utmoft Verge, to bewail my Misfortunes in. thofe folitary Clifts, talking of my Woes to the fonorous Waves, who by the refounding of the Rocks eccho to nly Wailings, and fbmetimes out-beat the remembrance of my Mifèries : But you, my lovely Aftrea, that are not ctfndemn'd like me to wander, Exploded and Alone, what again has brought you to the Commerce of this defpicable Race ? Aftrea. You know the Lvnary World, though Inferior to this in many things, yet are Profef- fors of the fame Manners, and are in ftiort, a ^ - Twin-Creation. There was an Emperor, who nJ<*rt?L gave Life to a Daughter, born a Mafter-piece of -^-4 $ Nature for Beauty, Virtue and Sorrows. She was / Married to a Neighbouring Prince, who had more X $*L* Ambition than Succefs : PufT'd up with the vain Hopes and Pride of his new Fathers Empire, he thought nothing too great for him to attempt; he put on the Royal Piadem, and calfd hi mlèlf King of a People, who were Opprefs'd and held in Slavery by a Nation more mighty than themfelves -, the Confequence of it was, his be- ing forfaken, firft by his Imperial Father-in-law, A3 then (6) then by alt his inferiour Allies : He lofi: not only his new affurn'd Sovereignty, but his own Here- ditary Principality. The Queen his Wife, a Mi- racle of fuffeiin^Goodnefs, wandered with her wretched Children from Territory to Territo- ry -, and at length refug'd in the Court where (he was born : How often and how tenderly did this unhappy Queen invoke my Name, how did fhe appeal to Jupicè, whether fhe deferv'd thofe Mif- eries me fufFer d ? How vainly did her Cry s, her Tears and Beauty,, excite her Countrymen to Arm In her Husband's Defence, and to refeat him in his native Rights? Thofe whom fhe im- plore!, were deaf as Rage or Winds j it would indeed have been matter of Splenetica I aughter to Mommy as well as Wonder, if the Queen had fnccecdcd, and that People void of Religion, open Vebs.nchcc^ PAaff.;cmers of Great Jupiter and all the Gods, Gapieftcrs, Vferers y fhouìd have Arm'd in the Defence of Virtue, with which they had no Acquaintance -, it was not to be expecied from them, and therefore my Votary was to fink un- der the Burthen of her Woes, hopelefs of Re- drefs. My Heart melted at the Complainings of this beauteous and upright Princefs. 1 haftned to the héighth of Olympus, where great Jove holds his t ;\v fui Refdcuce \ neither the Splendor of his Palace,nor the glorious brightnefs of his own Di- vinity, fufpeudedin me, tho'fora moment the delire I had ci redreffing the Injur'ck' I reprefent- cd to great Jvpiter, the Wrongs that were wrought in his' Lv.w.ry World. The Father of Gods and Men, feeing me fo nearly concerned, rcceivxl me to his Ambrofial Arms, uip'dofF Wv-f.-Tci.^ which Anguifh had wrung from me, * me be Comforted i that the goocl Queen fhould (7 ) Jhould receive a double Portion of Blifs hereaf- ter in the happy Regions, when her Years of wandring were accomplifh'd \ that fhe was not punifh'd for her proper Crimes, but herHusband's Ambition, and her Fathers Supinenefs ; that, lince her own Country had refus'd to Arm in her Defence, Bellona, and the avenging Furies, Fear and Death, mould take up their Relidence among ^ ~ them, 'till a Prince defcended from the Beau-^y^^ tifulleft of her Daughters, mould obtain the Soveraignty over 'em ; 'till then Poverty and Cap- tivity mould be the Lot of many, yet Pride and Luxury be abated in none -, that they mould La- bour with endlefs Toil to Cultivate the Earth, and gather the Fruits me gave, and fhouMcom- pafs their Lunary Globe for Gain, thro' the uncer- tain dangerous Ocean, and find the Profit la- vifh'd away in War, to fave themfélves from de- fir uttive Violence; that perpetual Terror of Stormì and Plates to the Merchants and Mariners \ of Captivity and Death to the Soldier, the decline of Power in the Statefmen, ever trembling to de-* fcend a heighth were they can fcarce maintain ^hemfelves from precipitately falling : The De- bauches in the Young with Wine and Love, in the Old of Hifpocrify, Avarice and Cruelty, ihoud be the inceflant Plagues, that mould haunt their aching Thoughts, 'till the young Prince put an end to their Sufferings with their Vices , by his bright Example, leading 'em all into the glorious Path of Virtue and Renown, from whence they lhould begin to date their i/Era of being a Happy People. By this Sentence of Jupiter s, I grew well acquainted, that I was impotent of Power to affili: the fuffèring Queen \ fhe dy'd in Exile, the B 4 y°w& C8) young Prince defcended from her, born indeed with generous Inclinations , is in danger of filtering under the greateft of Misfortunes, the want of Royal Education -, tho' Neceffity be thought to be the beft Inftruttor, efpechllv tjy Princes (who, ina flowing Fortune are continu- ally feduc'd, from without by Flatterers, from within by their own Pride, arifing from the Ho- mage of all about them) yet is it too apt to cramp the Soul, and to proportionate their Sen- timents to their Fortune. To avoid either of thefe Extreams (in Gratitude to the Queen who was fo true; a Votary to me) I have refolv'd to be my felf his Guide in Difficulties, his Leader to Renown and Glory, his Guard in War, his Afliftant in Peace: my aim is to make him deferving to be Great, as well as to be fo, and of the Two, rather to be Good than Mighty -, 1 would fit him for all that Grandeur, which the Deftinies have allotted him. I will have him merit the Empire over Mankind, not only fanvd for bru- tal Courage, as was Alexander, for Subtlety and Wifdom as Cefar, for being Invincible as Achilles, Fortunate as the moft Fortunate -, but all their particulars united in one, to render a Hero truly fuch, fond of the improvement of his People's Good, both in War and Peace, cautious of their Safety, and yet, wifely expeniive of his own. In this Task I have undertaken, I have thought it neceilary to vifit this lower Globe, where all the Arts and Virtues are profefs'd with more Oftentation, than in the Lunarary, with my own Eyes to fee the Change of Manners, that I may the better regulate his. I will go to the Courts, where Jufiice, is profefs'd, to view the Mffrate, who prefumes to. hold the Scales in. my ( 9 ) my Name, to fee how remote their profeffion is from their Pra&ice -, thence to the Court* and Ct- Vtntts of "Princes, to mark their Cabal and difinge- nuity, to the AJfcmblies and Akovès of the Young and Fair to difcover their Diforders, and the height of their Temptations, the better to teach my young Prince how to avoid them, and ac- complish him. Virtue. Thedefign is noble and worthy him you intend your exalted Favorite, but alafs what can you do? You may indeed preach to him to avoid Vice, but then you muft teach him to avoid Mankind -, all are corrupt, and you will by this Vifit only furnifh your fèlf with matter of Complaint to Jupiter, from ocular proof, when you have feen how abandon'd they are, it will excite your défire' to deftroy the Race; your cries, the cries of Jujlice, extorted by con- Icious refentment, will of neceffity attack the greateft of all the Gods, even in his gEB& inner- most retreat, and force him to blend the wretch- ed Mortals with the Dull they were original- ly taken from \ to deftroy their very Beings, who dare thus contemptuoufly^ breath in defi- ance of all the Virtues : And fraught with Vice^ fly full in the Face Of the very power that form'd 'em, obeying none of the Precepts of their Wife Creator: Nay, in their proud vain Hearts, daring to queftion, if they and their World had an Original -, or from all Eternity were not independant of, or Coequal with Om- nipotence? Aftrca. I eafily believe what you fay,admirable Mother, but becaufe out of multitudes of Evil ftill fome eoodmay be extrafted,if you pleafe tofavour me ( io ) me with your Company, I will proceed in my intended purpofe. Vir. Alas, Virtue will blulh, and hang the Head, offended, and afham'd of the Pollutions of Mankind. Go on to the Capital, 'tis calfd An*cU\ I will expect, your return upon the Brow of yon afpiring Gift. jiflrea. Mercy ever dwells with Virtue : Your Interceflion may be necefTary, (befides the in- effable Charms of your Converfation) left Juftke be too highly provok'd by thofe audacious Ob- jects we may encounter, and, without waiting for the Sentence of Jupiter, be tempted to Punifh, as well as Condemn -, we will make us Garments of the ambient Air, and be inviiible, or otherways, as we (hall fee convenient. Vir. Tis hard to deny a Perfon fo amiable -, fee, my dear Afiren, here is a Boat that belongs to Fiftiermen, the Sea falls at a little diftance into a pleafant River, twelve Leagues in length, it will (horten our Paflage -, let us go Aboard, and commit our felves to the protection of the Gods. Aftrea. I cannot enough admire the Ingenuity of Mortals, the Art of Navigation is fuperior to all others -, how early muft they inure them- felves to Ha/dfiips-, contempt of heat and cold, hunger, thirft, intrepid in the midft of the molt aftonifhing Dangers, when both the Winds and Seas are at War! Sheets of Light'ning defcending! the Moon obfcur'd ! the Stars as it were extinguinYd! the rattling Thunder bel? lowing thro'out the Heavens ! all things fulj of Horror and Defpair ! the dangerous Rocks, .ma devouring Sands, ready to receive 'em! yet Cuftpmhas rendred all thefe Evils familiar to 'em, Viro Fir. And wou'd you believe, that ev'n in the very moment of deftruclion, when their Veflel ftrikes, and the ròuling Waves rtifh greedily to devour 'em, their very Prayers are mingled with Blafphemies \ a new invented Vice, fince you abandon'd the Earth \ they invoke the 3SIame of Jupiter, and all the Gods, with horror calling on him at every trifling moment, to deftroy and reprobate 'em to Eternity ! You wiil have too many inftances of this in view- ing the Diforders of that Naval Preparation jnft before us, How proudly they Plough the Waves? See, can any thing be more magnifi- cient ? There are three hundred Ships of Bur- then, fome for Defence, and others for Traf- fick ', but even the Merchant is not without her Beauty, the Poop and Stern glitters with Gold, the waving Steamers, and other imitated Or- naments, give Us fcarcely, but by her bulk, and number of her Men and Guns, to diftinguifh her from a Ship of War. ■jljlrea. O my Dear ! Can there be a fight more beautiful ? They all feem to be in a vaft hurry, what are they doing? What ufe is fo much Linen, fa ft 'ned with Cords, that trem- bles in the "Wind, and is but with ftrugling made obedient to the Hand? Fir. To fpeak in Terms proper to the Sea v there's juft fprung a Gale favourable to 'em - 7 they have lain Wind-bound a confiderable time, let us go Aboard the Admiral, fhe feems the Sovereign of the Seas. The Linen which you enquire after, are Sails, they fpread their whi- ten'd CanVafs before the Wind , which fill'd with ah aufpicious Gale, carries 'em fwift, al- moft as imagination, to their defired Port, and, for ( 1* ) for expedition, far exceeds any other mortal Invention of Journeying. Aftrea. Oh my dear Mother ! I am ready to burli at the Pride and Oppreffion of Mortals, at their Riots, and Blafphemy^ never will I go Aboard another Fleet, there is no manner of Entertainment there for us ^ I am glad we are got on more, and releas'd from their Diforders. Good Heaven! how bountiful in Profpect ? how deteftabie in Examination, is that gaudy, guild- ed, magnificent Profped of a Fleet? How proud, how luxurious the Commanders? How diflblute , blafphemous , and fervile , are the Crew ? They bow lower to their Superiors, than ever they did to Heaven j whilft thofe elate and haughty, as if form'd of a peculiar Mould, look down with Contempt upon the fawning Company of Curs beneath 'em. Vir. And which is yet more wonderful, fome of the proudeft, and yet braved of thefe Com- manders, were one day mean as the mqanefl: of the Crew, crouching beneath the Burthen, yet, when once advane'd, none more forward in impofing it upon others. Did you notice that old Seignior, fhetch'd at his full length upon the crimfon Damask Couch? That Youth he feem'd fo fond of, wa$ no other than a Wo- man fo difgujs'd. He was once in an Engage- ment with the Enemy, the young Creatures feats, amidft the Roaring of the Ca,non, the Cries of the Wounded, the Exultings of the Victors, "diforder'd her into Fits. The Admi- ral, carelefs of Glory, or the prefervation of that Renown he formerly had acquired, for r eetrul of his Nation's Intereft, that was in- tmlte4 into Hands fo feeble, forbid 'em, to ad- vance •* A2*zu ( »? ) Vance, and lb loft a confiderable opportunity óf taking or burning molt of the Enemies Ships, and fufièr'd 'em to make off with the reputation of Viftory. So to quiet the fears of" a Miftrefs belov'd how unpardonable was this? What had Venus to do amllft the rough Em- braces of Bellona ? She may indeed have a pre- tence, after the toil of Battle, the Fatigue of Fight, to congratulate the Deliverer, and ap- plaud the Performance of her Warriour, to difrobe him of his cumberfome defenfive and offènfìve Ornaments, to fweeten all his Pains, by the recompenfe of her Smiles -, to lead him * cover'd with flaughter, duft, and deftruction, into the prepared Bath ! but in the midft of danger there is no Bufinefs for her. The next I. CL eminent Commander that we faw, is a great */&&&/). Benefa&or to the Ladies in the Marine Towns %^-aA^ he perpetually entertains them with Balls and Collations, as far as his Credit will ftretch, tho' to the expence of the believing Tradesman, who may wait long enough, if they but wait, till their Bills come in courfe to be paid. Thefe Diforders are generally the Entertainment of the Might, when the Old and the Wife are retired to that repofe which they believe no Diverfion can recompence the lofs of ; mean time the Virgin-Daughters are left an eafie Conqueft, to the flattery and vigour of thefè young Nepttme$\ eager as hungry Hawks upon their prey, they improve the coming moments ; our young Commander, more inconftant than the Element on which he prefides, makes every one of thefe guilty Meetings, fubfervient to the gratifying a frefh Inclination. The deftin'd Damfel, at the breaking up of the AfTembly, is e h) is conducted by him to the place of her own abode - 7 he is all the while pvotefting his never- dying Pafllon,flips in,and goes up to her Chamber with her: She dares make no noife, for fear of awaking her Parents:, he improves the Hints, takes advantage tf the filent opportunity , fwears that he'll marry her, which the credu- lous Fair eafily believes, becaufè he has already two Wives, and does not know but he may as well have toleration to increafe them to two hundred, and, without more difficulty, is robb'd of her Honour , and reputation of Ho- nour. That very handfom Commander, that we vi- - lì ted next, has lately taken a Girl from the - Opera : She it was that fit upon the Eminence on his right Hand, tho' there is none in the Company, but what were more beautiful than fhe: He has been what this Age calls it, a for- tunate Man among the Ladies, they tell a great many pleafànt Stories of him j pleafant I mean to the Ears of the vicious, who ever mould fee him, as we did, in his Marine-room of State, all diflolved in Luxury, would they readily be- lieve, that this Mortal ought every Hour to be apprchenfive of his Fate : Becaufe he is every hour in danger of being Summon'd to pafs in Cha- rons VelTel inftead of riding Triumphant in his own? Did you mark what a profufenefs in eating, how his Table abounded, in what was nice as well as neceflàry -, the extream delicatenefs of his own Tafte, and theaffeded one of his Concu- bine -, the debauch of the Glafs after Dinner ; the variety of rich Wines, and heightning Cor- dials j the double Extenders of their Converfation, where fcarce good MaanetSj or the fàcred Re- fped ( '5 ) fpecì: due to our Sex was preferv'd} but thefe are Creatures that, with the real lofs of their Modefty, have abandon'd the very appearance of it, and are never fo well pleas'd, as when in their Difcourfe and Debauch they confound Diftin&ions, and leave it only to their Drefs to befpeak the Sex ? the obfcene Sports that Suc- ceeded, were but an accumulation of a riotous Life. Thus wafting the ebbing Sand ! thus pro- voking Death ! thus making the hafty Hour- glafs ! neither taught to reflect, by Tempefts, or Thunder, by Canon, or Deft ruction ! to pre- pare themfelves for that dreadful Alteration, that Antipathy to Nature, that Antithefis of Life. You have not heard among thofe ten thoufand Mariners, the name of Jupiter? but to blafpheme it ! he i» only invoked as a Witnels to their Millions of Untruths and Vanities! how they deprecate and devote themfelves, without remorfe, to eternal Deftru&ion? If great Jove be juft-, If yet he have attention for the Affairs of Mortals, will he not take 'em at their Word? Will he not hurl them into never- ending Deftru&ion Ì How can they extenuate a Punifhment themfelves have invoked ? Afirea. With regret I beheld, that they made no Offerings to Jupiter? ev'n Neptune is neglect- ed by them ? Bacchus and Venns ( in their molt criminal Rites) are the only Deities that they reverence. It is my wonder that the Waves do not immediately fwallow them alive! or that their Enemies do not perpetually vanquifh them in Battle ! Vir. Human Nature is univerfally corrupted, thofe that fight againft them, are as wicked as themfelves^ thereis.no fort of Juftice in giving either the preeminence, and therefore generally- Chance ( i6) èhance decides it. Did you mark thro'òut the whole Fleet (after their exorbitant Dinners were paft) how they endeavour'd to wafte the time, not in improving Converfation, reading of me- ritorious Authors, the Sciences, even their own Mathematicks , or any other Entertainment that may better their Lives, Philofopfry and Hu- manity, to foften the rigidnefs of a (tern, cruel Education , or to enable 'em to bear the Fa- tigues and Dangers of their Employment. The Glafs only goes about, which makes 'em noify, vain-glorious , boafting , fevere , unmerciful. That is generally the time for punifhing the Wretches beneath them. Dice and Cards have their turn : In this deteftable Round of Wick- ednefs they wear away their Lives -, omitting no opportunity of defrauding the Seaman, that labours inceflantly for a forry Subfiftance -, they adulterate even their Pulfe and Water, de- puting damag'd in the place of good, which they can have at lower Prices-, provided their Coffers are but replenifh'd, they care not what he endures^ The Difeafes that thro' unwhol- forne Food are contracted, the Enervating of their Youth and Vigour, and thoufand other Inconveniencies that arife from it. Then they are eminent in nothing more than in defraud- ing them of the fweet Enjoyment and Fruit of their Labour , when by the undaunted Courage of the Mariner, their contempt of Death, and warrantable de fire to better their wretched Condition of Life, they attack a rich Prize, and take it, tho' all ought to have an equal fhaie in what they have equally purchafed, at theexpence of their Blood, the Commanders appropriate as well the Glory as the Purchafe. The Wretches dare ( «7 ; dare not murmur, for fear of that Difcipline which was firft defign'd and term'd Martial, but is lince degenerated, as the wild fancy or the cruel Man in Power fuggefts. Afirea. But what remedy is there to all thefe Evils? Virtue. If fbme great good Man mould ftand up and fearlefly regulate thefe Diforders, as is *AQ reported there is now fuch a one at their IJead, */- Jé**< if Corruptions were not above,thelè Inconvenien- ces would not be below. Did only Service and true Merit recommend to Office, were not Bribery, and the Sollicitations of Friends , preferfd tp Duty and Worth ; were fevere Penalties infli- cted upon thefe Blafphemers ( the Commanders ihemfelves firft defifting from the ufe) -, were Dice, Cards, and an exorbitant Love of Wine, and the hotter Liquors taxed \ were faithful Commiffioners appointed to infped the Proviilon of the Navy; were matter of lawful Complaint made free to the meaneft Seamen, provided (upon pain of examplaryPunilhment)he advance nothing but the Truth -, were it made capital to take a Bribe in the Service of their Country: The Re- gulation might be made eafie, if the leading Men and Commanders, gave them but exam- ples of Sobriety , Juftice and Morality ; but all is nothing but Oaths, Drvnkennefs, burning Lvfi i Riots, Avarice, Cruelty, and Diforder ; they have got the better of a bad Reputation, and do not io much as care to diflèmble a good : Hypocri- (ie is indeed banifh'd far from them ; Vice, with her many-headed Train, bare-fac'd and open, fits enthron'd , as in her proper Spheftt;. nay, fo great a propenfion have the meaneft of the Crew, fo educated in harden'd Folly, that there's C not not a Wretch of them, tho' for three years he have gonetatter'dandalmoft: naked, not know- ing the ufe or benefit of Money, but, when he receives his Pay, mail never ftir from the Ca- baret (with a Gang of diflblute Flatterers, and lewd Women about him ) till the laft Denier be expended. Virtue. See, my dear Aftrea, as we approach the Capitol, how bufie Intelligence appears, like a Courtier new in Office! ìhe bullies up and down, and has a World of Bufinefs upon her hands ; me is firlt Lady of the Bedchamber to the Princefs Fame, her Garments are all Hieroglypbickr, we'll flop her as (he goes by, but were we not invifible to her, fhe would not put us to the trouble, nor pafs us without either a good or bad Report, or poflible a medium, and that would be the greateft favour we could expect next to Truth, which {he is but rarely concer- ned with. Pray, Madam , may two Strangers of your own Sex make fo bold with your Lady- (hip, as to enquire what great Affair fits fo bufie In your Face ? Whether you can't afford a few moments of your precious time, to in- form Foreigners of the Temper, Genius, and Hi" fiery of this IJland ? hit ell. You have hit, Ladies, upon my very Bufinefs -, I entertain Strangers with vaft Re- fpeci, they give me the greateft attention ; for all I fay is generally new to Foreigners (when they appear in a Strange Court)-, my Name is Intelligence, I am Groom of the Stole to that omnipotent Princefs Fame, of whom all the Monarchs on the Earth ftand in awe. I would not fail to oblige your curiofity, were I not engag'd m a very prefling Affair ; to be fhort, between ( *9 ) between Friends, the King of this Ifland is Juft X tifi** dead -, 'tis yet a mighty Secret, but I muft make what hafte I can to divulge it, I have already n * been at the new Emprefs's Court, and left her -2. '' hf i to condole with her flie Favorite over {ùfa^fJhrfi Flasks of fparkling Champaign -, fo that you find 'tis not in my power at this time to oblige you, but if you pleafe, Ladies, to let me know where you Lodge, I'll not fail to wait upon you, foon as this Bufinefs is difpatch'd. Virtue. Leave the care of that to your Emifc fades a Power more mighty than your own; controuls you at this time, you (hall walk invi- fible with us • in the Name of Jupiter we Arreft you, to attend upon Juftice and Virtue. You are to inform us of all we Ihall demand -, Truth is fummon'd to attend you on this occafion. Intell. Having firft (as I ought) paid my Duty and Obeyfance to two flich mighty Poten- tates as Juftice and Virtue : I only beg, Ladies^ a fliort abfence of fix moments, and then I will return as full, as proud of my defires to ferve you. Virtue. You are uneafie till you have divulg'd our Secret ; but for once we will excufe the honour you defign'd us, and are contented to pafs unknown and unregarded among the croud of Mortals. Intell. Your Mightinefs has indeed guefs'd at my Thoughts, I wou'd in a moment have diP patch'd your Affair, by a fliort whifper in the Ears of Fame -, the honour of being let into 15 important a Secret fits heavy upon me, till I have disburthen'd my felf, befides it is my Duty faithfully to report to her whatever is new, or of any feeming Importance. C 2 Virtue. * Virtue. We difpenfe you from it at this time, But pray, Madam, how comes it, that a Perfon of your Importance finds Employment at above three Leagues diftance from the Metropolis ? fateli. This is a Villa of the defunti Monarchs , let us ftrike down that Walk , and it brings us to the Palace^ where all either are, or ought to be, in Tears, to fee him lie dead amongft **pU , them -, that Chariot brings rouling on the young m=>-f+ Count Comnsy his Father was Mafter of the Horfc "^007*^0 the King, and the moft accomplifh'd of all 0, . the Foreigners ^ the young Gentleman this >y*#/*m Morning, upon the Death of his Mafter, (whom -nfi/Àatobz anfeignedly lov'd ) fell into Fits, beat his Breaft, tore his Shirt, and laid about fo hand- fomly in his Agony, that his Linen appears all bloody j they are carrying him to the City y he feems not to have recover'd his Senfes, a Ser- vant fupports him ( from finking ) in the Cha- riot \ there is a tinciure of your Ladyfliip, fome finali fhare of Virtue in the compofition of this young Count; but time, and the Air of the Court, will fpcedily deface it. Aftrea. Who is that graceful Perfon that ap- pears upon the high Loll in his Chariot and fix Horfes ? They feem to cut the Air with the fvviftnefs of their motion, fcarce to touch the ground beneath , like flying Clouds, Vcnufs Doves, or Juno's Peacocks. There's fomething of a folemn Joy fits upon his Face, which flalhes out, notwithflanding his endeavours to the con- trary. fateli. That Gentleman is a Hlflory, a Mlg- nlon of fortune ! if your Ladyjlùps pleafe to repofe your fclves a little at the end of this F r ifta y be- fore we afcend the PaUce, I will, In as few words as poflible, fatisfie your Curioiity. His Kame Name is the Count Fortunata rais d by the con'V-- /' l — ' current Favour of two Monarchs, his own, andg,. Aw^Vi his Sifters Charms, from a meer Gentleman to that Dignity he is polling now, to Congratu- late the new Emprefs, who outftrips her Suc- ceflòrs in efteem of him \ his Wife is her She- favourite, all will be manag'd in the new Reign by their Advice ; big with the coming Hopes of being at the Head of the Empire, you can't blame him if fome of that abundant Joy that fills his Breaft, fparkles from his Eyes and brightens o'er his Face. Virtue. I never heard of him before-, alas! what pity 'tis that a Perfon of his graceful Appearance fhou'd make no application at all to Virtue. Intett. Fortune has been his Deity, and entirely propitious to him, when he was at the Age of fixteen. His Friends, out of their narrow For- *j tune, with much ado, purchased him a Standard .£ (-&***■ in one of the Eftablifli'd Regiments of Foot- „ Guards ; his Mother's Sifter was Surintendant of $*/^J the Family of the Dutchefs De Vinconflant, J*Sy $*■ Sultana Miftrefs to Sigifmund the Second: The Cbpfel-* Youth us'd to make Collations, and fill his Belly with Sweet-meats with his Aunt-, the Dutchefs came one day unexpectedly down the Back-Stairs to take Chair, and found 'em to- gether ; he had flip'd away, fcr fear of anger, but not fo fpeedily but fhe" had a glimpfe of his graceful Perfon ^ fhe ask'd who he was} and be- ing anfwer'd, fhe caus'd him to be calFd, and all full of native Love and high Defire, for an Objeft fo entirely New and Charming, fhe bid him attend her after the King's Couchee, who that Night was to lie of his own fide. The C 3 Gover- ( ii ) 'Governefs knowing the Dutchefs's amorous Stir, was tranfported at the happy introdu- ction of her Nephew, not doubting but he was delign'd for her peculiar Pleafures -, fhe caus'd him him to Bath in the Dutchefs' s Bathing- room i Perfumes being then much worn by Peo- ple of Condition, fhe procur'd him the richeft, fcented his fine Linen, and all fweet and charm- ing as an Adonis, introduc'd him to the Bed- ? fide of the expecting Venus. The Dutchefs was enchanted with the pleafures of her new and innocent Lover, a Lover whom fhe had made fuch , and who firffc figh'd and felt, in favour of her, thofe amiable Diforders, and tranfporting Joys, that attend the polfef- fion of early Love -, fhe prefented him with an unlimited Bounty. The lovely Youth knew punctually how to improve thofe firft and pre- cious Moments of good-fortune, whilft yet the Glofs of Novelty remain'd, whilft Defire was unfated, and Love in the high Spring-tide of full V delight-, having an early Forcaft, a Chain of ■ Thought, unufual at his Years, a length of View before him, not born a Slave to Love, fo as to reckon the poflfcffion of the charming ft Woman of the Court, as the Zenith of his Fortune, but rather the firft aufpicious, ruddy Streaks of an early Morning, an earneft to the Meridian of the brighteft Day ; he bethought himfelf of efta- blifhing himfelf at Court, in a Poft fo advan- tagious, that even the Dutchefs herfelf might not be able to hurt him, fhould fhe (as fhe had - often done before) change her inclination. Si- iW. pfmund the Second was then an the Throne, a Prince devoted to Pleafures, but he was Child- loft, and thè Eye?, tho' not the Hearts of the J/Und} (n) IjUnd, were cafl: upon his Brother, the Prince of Jb. «^ Tameran -, he had had feveral Children, but only / two furviv'd, and they Daughters ; the eldeft J?/^L. was marry'd, for Reafons of Religion, to a neighbouring Prince } but as it is not their Hi- ftory that I am now defigning,. I will only tell you that of the Count. The Dutchefs gave fix thousand Crowns for a Place in the Prince's Bed-chamber for him, and, by her favour with the King, procured him a rife in the Army -, v /> Ihe call'd about her own Perfon his fair and for- fit , LM tunate Sifter -, but his Ambition would not reft . ' c there,he never left interceding with the Dutchefs, nor the Dutchefs with Sigifmtmd , till fhe was Keceiv'd into the number of the Maids thatat-^ ... tended the Princefs of Tameran, when, by tonM-Cft/M overplus of Fortune, the Prince caft his Eyes /// upon her, ib much to her advantage, that lhe_ h became his Miftrefs confefs'd, and had feverad^/9/w Children by him. So great an Indulgence for the Brother, accompanied his Paflion for the Sifter,that he either found or fancy'd Merit in him fnperiour to all the Court \ he gave him aeonfider- able command in theArmy,and call'd him into the Nobility -, returning from an Expedition he had made by Sea, the Ship wherein the Prince was, ftruck upon a dangerous Sand , it was inevita- ble Death to all but thofe cou'd fave them lèi ve* in the Long-Boat \ the awe of Royalty is fuch, even in the Breafts of the Vulgar, that the ig- noble Crew willingly devoted themfelves to the Sea-green Deity, to fecure the Life of their Mailer; not one of them, tho* to avoid hafty deftru- &ion, prefTed forward to fecure themfelves by entring the Boat, nor all of 'em together, by *n eager precipitation, attempted, as in fuch C 4 cafes» ( H ) Cafes, to jump by confent into it, by overfetting . * it with numbers, to render their deftiny more inevitable, but one and all calling upon the Royal Brother, put him to defcend, with the good Wifhes and dying Prayers of the remain- ing Wretches. ' No fooner was the Prince feat- ed, but he tenderly call'd for his dear Count, and commanded that not one, upon pain of immediate Death from his own Hand, fhould dare to come down till he was placed by him. How tenderly he embrac'd him! I knew not, my faithful Friend, fiid the Prince, how dear you were to me till this ugly profped of lofing you ! how many have I difoblig'd by the open preference my Heart forc'd me to , in your advantage? Cou'd Life have been valuable to me, when you were out of it ! I never lov'd any fo tenderly as you, nor you i~o much as now ! What can a Creature ( owing all to his great Mailer) return for fuch an ineftimable Diftin- ciion ! anfwer'd the Count, happily bleft in your exalted Favour ! unhappy in defpairing ever to have an opportunity of mowing the leaft grain of my abundant Gratitude ! fince when 1 have return'd you all , even to my Life, it is but what was your Highnefs's before , the beft gift of Nature I have this moment receiv'd from your Royal Favour ; there will be no happinefs for me, nor an equality in my Deftiny, unleft fome means be found to lofe in your Service ( by an eminent Occafion ) that Breath you have befrow'd ' upon me \ but I, more faithful ftokh jhm fortunate, can only wifh, not exped a De- itiny fo Glorious, Aftrca< ( '5 ) jiftrea. Methinks I fhudder with the dread or apprehenfion of the Count's Ingratitude ! How- do I forefee that he deferv'd not that diftin- ciion ? Put me out of pain ; has he not been ungrateful to the Royal Bounty ? Jntell. More than all Mankind, becaufe he was more beloved and trufted} but he has role by it, and will in a moment ( Co favourable are the difpofltion of his Stars) touch the talleit Dignities of the Empire. Afirea. Can Great Jupiter permit it ? Me- thoughts long fince (when in Egypt) I was plea- fed with that ihow of Juftice in the Egyptians^ their contempt of Ingratitude, in which they held all Wickednefs was contained. 'Tis count- ed meritorious to forgive Injuries, but the molt gentle Nature is permitted ( with applaufe) to retain the memory of an ungrateful A& -, it* ought hardly ever to be forgotten, and 'tis as certain, that we fhall find no Goodnefs in him that is ungrateful, as we are fure to find but little Evil in the grateful. Mankind wou'd in part avoid that fhameful Vice, if they did but efteem the Benefits that they receive greater than they are, and thofe which they confer, lefs than inreality they be; but in moralizing I interrupt your Story, let me mark him down the fore- moft in my Pocket-Book, I will claim an efpecial Audience of Jupiter, in relation to the particu- lar good Fortune of the Favourite Count, and refolve to lead my Prince wide of the Road he has travell'd in. Jntell. 'Tis time we mould now return to (hew how he loft the favour of the Dutchefs , the firft ftep upon which he mounted from Obfcn- rity. Fortune, When fhe intends to go through witli" (76) With a Hero , what ever would in an other be a falfe Step, is but in him, an Advance, con- ducing to her end. He fell paflionately in love, > with young Jeanitan, a Companion of his Sifters, '/and in the fame Service about the Princefs: ^k*. Here all his Precaution forfook him, that cool- ttefs of Temper, that allay of Fire , that paffive Mo- deration, ever upper molt, and to which he has ow'd his greateft Succefs ^ by this he has acquired thofe appearances of Virtue, that are found in him j 'tis his eafy Phlegm, that has fuffèr'd hint, when at a Council, either of War or State, to permit, without the leaft fhow of Uneafinefs, even the loweft and worft favour'd Perfon, to deliver his Opinion at length, tho 5 never (b oppofite to his own: He weighs 'em all with ^liberation, and yet remain fix'd to his firft ibrm'd Defigns : Hence it is, that even in the heat of Fight he is not tranfported beyond his «filai Moderation , neither his Griefs upon a Dif- apointment are exceflive, nor the exaltings of his Joy upon a Victory : He neither Cruelly pu- nches nor gen eroujly forgives *, 'tis all a Medium, and confidering the extent of his Power, he has borh done the leaft Mifchiefs, and the fmallefb Goody of any that ever poflefs'd it. His Flatterers cry up his Courage , but it feems to me not to be inborn to him, but acquird , for certainly we may as well learn to be Valiant as Judicious» A proof of what I advance, may be taken from always ducking his Head at the noi fé of a Bullet, th*e firft apprehenfion is in his Nature, and only to be controul'd not prevented by Rea- fon : That immediately comes in for a Second, and carries him fafely through to Glory, whicfy all Hero's mould chiefly aim at j in ftiort he is ( *7 ) Exceflive in nothing, but his love of Riches ; whe- ther Ambition lies fmothered beneath, and that he has feme diftant Views, a depth of DeGgn, which none has yet had Line enough to fathom. Mony is the only means to carry on fucceffively the greateft Enteprize -, perhaps he may one Day, find our Royal Ball,the {port of Fortune, a Kingdom at her difpofal, and to be obtain'd by the higheft bidder -, fuppofé him Canditate for the Crown of Poland, if among the many Vretenders (Foreigners Or others) he have the deepefi Purfe ? 'Tis more than probable, his Succefs will be the highefi,either to conceal'd Ambition, or native Covetoufnefs, we muft attribute his unbounded, unwearied deGre of Wealth -, will he one Day fet it all at Stake upon a Royal Cafi, or an Imperial Squander ? Or defcend to his Grave, choak'd with greedinefs of Gain, and a molt prodigious, accumulated mais of Wealth. But to return to his Amours , what would have ruined' another Man, ferv'd but to advance him -, his Love for a young Girl then without Intereft, or the appearance of any, a Maid of Fortune, that was lent to Court, and plac'd among the Rank of thofe who generally owe their Eftablifhment to their Beauty, from whence the young unthinking Men of Quality and Efiat es^ choofe themfelves Wives of Fancy -, 'tis well enough for thofe , whofe Affairs will permit them to Marry for Inclination, though it furvives not the Hy menial Moon ; but for the Count, who depended for moft of his great Expence upon the Dutchefs, and to whom he ow'd all his For- tune, 'twas Ruin inevitable, 'twas Deftru&icu bare-fae'd ; yet Love, aflifted by his ever pro- pitious Fortune, carried him through ; his Sifter '■' lay ( 28 ) lay in his MafteSs Bofom, to protect him againft the ill Effects of the DutchefTes Refentment, fhould fhe animate Sigifrmmd againft him ) Love gave him this for Reafon, Love is the Mailer of Boldnefsy he carries us fearlefs on to the great- eft Attempts, and is ever moft Fortunate where the Courage is moft Refolute -, Love, finds no- thing difficult that leads to the Poflèffion of what is Beloved. Young Jeanitin had a Mother , whofe Cunning aflifted the Count in the manage- ment of this Affair, fhe forfaw glorious Things For the Hero j the Publick would have it that fhe knew more than the common Race of Mor- tals \ in fhort, that fhe was converfant with a Dtmon, who gave her to underftand the Future. I do not report this as matter of Faith, but ru- mor has it, that fhe foretold the Count's rifing to this heighth, when there was fcarce a profped of it : She bid him to reft there, and be contented to pofTefs Honoiir and Wealth to an extream old Age- but if he advane'd a ftep fur'ther, his Glory fhou'd be jhorty and his Death violent. Time only can determine the Oracle ; but this I believe , the Count will fcarce confult it, or any thing elfe that fcems a ftop ia his way to the Goal of Grandeur. But to return, he got his Matter's Confent for Marrying the young Jeanitin^ and the prom i ft of his Protection againft the Dutch- efs j who when fhe heard fhe was going to lofè her dear Count, or at beft, divide him with a Wife of Inclination, her haughty Soul, confeious of Beauty and fuperior Charms, refolv'd to re- venge the neglect of 'em - 7 he had lately (by quite an other pretence than that of his Marriage) drawn the laft, and moft confiderable Sum from her; 'tisaffirm'd that befides what fhe did for his Sifter, ( 29 ) Sifter, and the Honours and Places of Profit fhe procur'd for him, out of her own Calh, lhe at times had prefented him to the value of One Hundred and Forty Thoufand Crowns ; but what could he do ? He had never lov'd her, cover'd withCharms as fhe was,'tis only to be fuppos'd that he well diflèmbled it, and in that point the falfe Lover, has a thoufand Advantages over the true, they can perfonateall that's necejfary, and are in no danger of the Superfluous -, can imitate the Tranfports, and avoid the Dfeuflive part -, Jea- loujy, Difyuieis, Vpbraidings, are very well ex- change, for perpetual Applaufe, Flattery, Rap- tures, pleafing Sighs, and never-ceafing Joys ; the Dutchefs was a Miftrefs in the Art of Dittinoti- on, as to the Merit of a Lover, and 'tis to be thought, that if the Count had not been a Matter- piece, he could not have tallied her Excellence : But (Ladies) in the purfuit of my Story, per- haps there may be fomethings that are not ve- ry proper for fo nice an Ear as Virtue, and 'till I receive your Commands in that point, how T - ever prompted as you fee, by Truth, I am at a lofs how to behave my felf. Virtue. Oh ! my dear Ajlrea, this I forefaw in returning to the bad World ; and if I did not urge it more to you at firft, it was becaufe I too willingly gave it to the Pleafure of accom- panying you. Aftrea. Juflice mufl* impartially decide, to fit the Perfon for a Judge, he mutt be inform'd of the moft minute particular, neither can we be polluted but by our own, not the Crimes of others. They ttain nor refled back upon us, but in our approbation of them. In the defign I have form'd, 'tis necefTary I fhould be throughly inftrudted, and ( ?o) and you my Lady Intelligence, may if you pleafe proceed, without any other Caution, than avoid- ing Terms unfit for you to explain by, or we to underftand. s Intell. There was a young Cavalier juft then rf^/p come t0 Court (allied to a preceeding Favourite, f -J. ^*uvhich was his Introdu&ion) named Germanica, well Formed, Graceful^ and might very well be Candidate for the manly Beauties with the Count : The Dutchefs had feen him in the circle with Approbation, as yet me had only heard of her Favourite's Marriage, as a thing intended, not refolv'd on : One Day fhe expoftulated thus with her Ingrateful, Is it time, Monfieur U County that in negleft of all my Bounties, you dare to throw away a Heart I efteem, and have fo dearly purchas'd, upon a Girl, who fcorns to receive it at a lefier price than your perpetual Slavery ? have I negle&ed the molt agreeable Monarch upon Earth ! have I beftow'd my Heart intirely upon you ! and brought you in £a Glorious Ri- ' vaY] to divide with him the PofTeflion of a Per- fon, that all the World fays is not unlovely ? Have I call'd you from Obfcurity and Want, to Light and Riches, thus to be rewarded? ahVn- grateful ! Why am I form'd of the fofter Paflions ? "Why is not my Soul fir'd, as it ought, by the rough and bold ì Why has not Anger and Re- venge the afcendant of Love and Joy? Why am I more tempted to Embra.ce than Kill a Mon- ger fo Ingrateful ! Here fhe call her tempting Arms about the Count's Neck, and wet his Cheeks with drops of Love, (the overflowings of De- fire) that fell from her fine Eyes ; the Count over- come by the amorous prefTure, took the Charm- er in his Arms, and by reconciling himfelf to her Re- ( V ) Refentment, made himfelf dearer to her Plea- fures. 'Twas impoffible fhe could part with what fo luxurioufly gave her Joys; no, my charming Count^NQ mult never lofe you, you mult ever thus be renewing your Interelt in my Heart, always be thus intolerably En- gaging ; will you leave me for another? Will you carry my Rights to the detelted Arms of a Rival ? Do I Breath ? Do I Live ? an- fwer'd the County am I infenfible of Beauty or of Benefits ? Do I poflèfs the greateft^ and can I itoop to any feeond? Can I be more than blefs'd ? More than entirely happy ! Wou'd I exchange all this Elyfium of Joys for Ingratitude ? Bafè- nefs, Inconltancy ! never, mycnarming Dutchefs! never believe fo wrongfully of your trueft Vo- tary. Jeanitin is a little Creature I fbme- times divert my felf with at my Sifters, when you are otherways engag'd. Vanity ! for fhe's a perfed Coquet \ has made her report, ( I'm fure lhe can't believe ) that I am her Conqwfl - 7 fhe that more than fufpe&s I am favour'd by you, and mult for ever defpair of gaining fo much as a glance from any Lover that you are pleafed to make happy. »I believe you, my Dear, anfwer'd the Dutchefs, overcome with tranfport, you lhall live only for me,and in return, take, take all that an over-indulgent Monarch has enrich'd me witk ! thefe Jewels ! thefe Bills mult be yours ! I know nothing fo valuable as your felf, all my Treafure is at your Devotion, be you but mine. The King Hunts to Morrow, and will not be in Town till Night, let us pafs the After- noon at your Houfe, in a wafte of Joy, let us live whilft Life is pleafing, whillt there's a poi- nancy in the Tafte, delire at ^eighth, the Blood ia e ?« ) in perfection, and all our Senfes fittcd for thofe Raptures you know fo well how to receive 3nd give. The Count wou'd have very gladly compounded any thing (unlefs it were Treafure ) that the Dutchefs wou'd abate of her fondnefs, but, by a relief of Thought, he quickly guefs'd his only way to come off with honour, was to make her the AggrefTor \ cou'd he but fit her with a new Lover, and catch her in the Embrace, he fhou'd have a good pretence for his Marriage with Jeamth , he had made a Uriel: Friendfhip with GcrmanicM, from his firft coming to Court, as he left the Dutchefs's Appartment, he met the young Gentleman -, happy Count, faid he to him, from what Joys are you come? To polle fs the Heart and Perfon of the fineft Woman of her Age ! What wou'd I not do for one hour Co blefs'd ? Nay, for but one moment of inex- plicable Rapture ! You may have thoufands, my lovely Youth, anfwer'd the Cbvnt, if they are fo neceflàry to your quiet, I'll make you en- tirely eafie, if youì but rely on me. Can you divide ? Can you part with all that Heaven of Beauty I interrupted he«J to a Friend,replied the Count, lean do any thing, to a Friend fomuch belov'd as your felf; but how is it pofTible, you can give away fuch Joys ? I could never do it ! you fpeak the Language of a Lover^ at fwer'd the Count, not yet obtaining, and^that of one in full pofeflion, and cloy'd with ttie too lufci- ous Entertainment, there's a vail difference be- tween De fir e and Enjoyment, the full and vigorous light of the Sun compar'd with the pale Climers of the Moon, is no ill Emblem of what I ad- vance, yet tho' we furely know we mail be Sated ( n ) Sated, we can't help defiring to eat, 'tis the Law of Nature, the purfuit is pleafmg, and a Man owes himfelf the Satisfaction of gratifying tholè Defires that are importunate, and impor- tant to him. Here they debated, and at tail concluded upon a Method to oblige Germanicm ; the Dutchefs went to the Count's the next Day, immediately after (he had Din'd, fhe fcarce allow'd her felf time to eat, fo much more valuable in her Senfe were the Pleafures of Love -, the Servants were all out of the way as ufual, only one Gentleman^ that told her, his Lord was lain down upon a Day-bed that join'd the Bathing-Room, and he believed, was fallen a Sleep iince he came out of the Bath-, the Dutchefs foftly enter'd that little Chamber of Repofe, the Weather violently hot the Vmbrelloes were let down from behind the Windows, the Saihes open, and the Jeffi- mine that cover'd 'em blew in with a gentle Fragrancy ; Tuber ofes fet in pretty Gilt and China Pofis, were placed advantageoufly upon Stands, the Curtains of the Bed drawn back to the Ca- nopy, made of yellow Velvet embroider'd with white Bugles, the Panels of the Chamber Look- ing-Glafs, upon the Bed were ftrow'd with a lavilh Profufenefs, plenty of Orange and Lemon Flowers, and to compleat the Scene, the young Germanicvs in a drefs and pofture not very de- cent to defcribe -, it was he that was newly rifen from the Bath, and in a lofe Gown of Carnation Tajfety, ftain'd with Indian Figures, his beautiful long, flowing Hair, for then 'twas the Cuftom to wear their own tied back with a Ribbon of the iame Colour, he had thrown himfelf upon the Bed, pretending to Sleep, with nothing on D but ( H) but. his Shirt and Night-Gown, which he had fo indecently difpos'd, that Humoring as he ap- peared, his whole Perfon ftood confeiVd to the Eyes of the Amorous Dutchels, his Limbs were cxaciiy fornrd, his Skin fhiningly white, and the Pleafure the Ladies graceful entrance gave him, diffus'd Joy and Defire throughout all his Form -, his lovely Eyes feem'd to be clofed, his Face turn'd on one fide (to favour the Deceit) was obfcur*d by the Lace depending from the Pillows on which he rcfted -, the Dutchefs, who had about her all thofe Dc 'fires, fhe expected to employ in the Embraces of the Count, was fo blinded by 'em, that at firft fhe did not per- ceive the Miftake, fo that giving her Eyes, time to wander over Beauties fo inviting, and which encreafed her Flame ^ with an amorous Sigh, fhe gently threw her felf on the Bed clofe to the defiring Youth } the Ribbon of his Shirt- Keck not tied, the Bofom (adorn'd with the finelt Lace) was open, upon which fhefix'd her charming Mouth, impatient and finding that he did not awake, fhe rais'd her Head, and laid her Lips to that part of his Face that was re- veal'd : The burning Lover thought it was now time to put an end to his pretended Sleep, he clafp'd her in his Arms, grafp'd her to his Bo- fom, her own Defires help'd the Deceit -, fhe fhut her Eyes with a languifhing Swcetnefs, calling him by intervals, her dear Count, her only Lover, taking and giving a thoufand Rifles, he got tbc poflèiTìon of her Perfon, with fo much tranfport, that fhe own'd all her former Enjoyments were imperfect to the Pleafure of this. Still ( 35 ) Still Charnid and Breathlefs with the Joy, he grafp'd her to his ravifh'd Bofom : Glorious De- ftiny, cry'd he, with a tranfported Tone , by what means, Fortune, haft thou made me thy happy Darling? I am in poffeffion v'd him -, I'll be reveng'd, his Life fhall anfwer it : But you ! how came you by the liberty of the Apartment, thus undrefs'd, thus ruinoully tempting? The Count fometimes makes me his Bedfellow, Madam, laft Kight I was fo } the Weather being extremely hot, after Dinner we went into the Bath , he expe&ed your Excellence, and intended to receive you in his own Bed-chamber :> by that means this little Room of Repofe was left to me, where I was to fuffèr the killing Rack of knowing the Count more happy than I could ever pretend to be: Jeanatin ( 37 ) Rematiti fent him a flight Invitation to make one at Ombre this Afternoon } the ill-judging Mad- man preferr'd the dull diverfion of Cards, with a worthlefs Girl, before the moft tranfporting Joys in Nature, with the moft lovely of her Sex : He writ that Letter, and it feems, in the hurry of his Thoughts, (fortunately for me) forgot to fend it. He went down the Back- Hairs, and crofs'd the Gardens to her Lodg- ings, by which means, I fuppofe the Gentleman in waiting did not fee him - 7 all his other Peo- ple, as expecting your Excellence after Dinner, were order'd to depart the Houfe : But how happy have I been made by his neglect? It can receive no addition, but from the ailurance that my lovely Dutchefs does not repent the Favours fhe has fuftèr'd me to take. But what Excufe does the Villain intend to make me at ten a Clock, anfwer'd the Lady, both the King and his Mafier are in the Country, and even their Service ought, in his efteem, to yield to mine ? How blinded have I been? He faid, Madam, that Love wou'd be propitious, ( reply'd Ger~ manicui) and before ten a Clock furnifh him with a current Excufe for your Excellence : Never, never, will I any more hear the Traytor \ you fhall take his place in my Arms ancl Heart. The happy Youth was dazzled at this aflurance, and, after they had lov'd away three or four hours, (he was preparing to depart : The new Lover refolv'd to pufh for the continuation of his good Fortune, and to merit her Favour by excefs of Love, prevaU'd with her for one more tempt- ing Embrace : The Lady yielded with a plea- ding willingnefs, furpriz'd and charm'd by a Lover that then even exceeded himfelf. in that D 3 dan- ( 3») dangerous moment the Count (as they had agreed) with foftly treading fleps enters the Chamber, and fnds the happy Pair at the vltimate of all their Joys. The Scene was admirable-, Germc- nicns counterfeited Confufion, the Count atranf- port of Anger; the Dutchefs, without counter- feiting , was really fo , and, by an admirable Holdnefs and Haughtinefs of Nature, ask'd him how he durft prefume to enter a Place where his Gentleman mull tell him (he was, without giving notice at the Door ? He indeed ask'd her pardon, for, knowing the warmth of her Con- ilitution, he faid, he might well conclude, fhe cou'd not be long in a Bed-chamber, with a hajidfom young Gentleman , without Confe- quences, favour'd by his Difabilly, all tempt- ing, the Bed, and her more favourable Inclination. Be gone, cry'd the Dutchefs, I banifh you for ever -, you that can prefer Jeanatine to me ! I banifh my felf, Madam , anfwer'd the Count, from the moft immoderate of her Sex ; what the fìrfl moment to bellow your felf upon another ! whilfl my Image yet wanton'd before your Eyes! whilfl your Blood yet mantled by thofe defires my Idea had mingled with it! you that know how nice I am in Point of AmouA that for all the Treafurc the Sea and Earth can boafl, wou'd not divide the Heart I adore with any other, I fufrer'd the concurrence òf a potent Monarch (who had a prior right) but with re- gret, and ibmetimes indignation, tho' 1 never fu- fpeàed that he rival'd me in your Heart, but Ver fon ; but this tempting Youth, this pollijlfd Adonis, is too per fed not to have touch'd your Heart, as well as your Defres ; yet it had been Modify, as well as Prudence, to defer his Joy • till r 39 ; till you had given him time to figh after the Blclììng, is too great to be fb eafily obtain'd^ I am undone by your killing Perfidy, I can ne- ver forgive it, neither can I ceafe to love you ! I'll this Night Marry Jeanatine (a Creature I before contemn'd ) to be reveng'd of your Infi- delity if it be true that you have any remains of that Favour you formerly honoured me with, at leali I fhall pique your Pride, when in your turn you fhall findy ourfelf forfaken,for a thing of not the tenth part of your value. Here he flung out of the Chamber. The Dutchefs, ftung with his threatning, and not yet refolv'd to part with him, efpecially to her Rival, attempted to flop him \ but he broke with precipitation from her. Ah, the Traitor ! ftid (he, how glad his Ingratitude is of this occafion ! my lovely Youth, what have we not to fear? He will ruin us with Sigifmund, but I fhall take care to prevent him. What fhe forefaw came to pafs exactly: He took his Meafures fo well ( tho' his Friend were facrific'd by it ) that it was Sigifiuiwd's own fault he did not twice, at her Lodgings, find Germanicus in Bed with her } but he was a a Prince perfe&ly good-natur'd, full of Love and Inconstancy, and made ftrange allowances for the Frailties of Flefh and Blood. Thus In- dulgent he fuffèr'd a great Belly of the Dutchefs ( due to that happy amorous Rancounter of the Bugle-Bed ) to pafs in the efteem of the World (as the reft of hers had done) for his. Indeed he got him another Miftrefs whom he entirely de- voted himfelf to, without quarrelling with the Dutchefs -, he fometimes faw her in turn, but never after with Efteem. Thus you find how grateful the Count was to her, the Foundation Vi of ( 4° ) of all his Fortune. He immediately Marry'd Jeanatine, and from that moment difus'd all Converfationwith the Dutchefs. The new Bride, well inftrucied by her Husband and her Mother, made her Court fo fuccefsfully to the Princcfs of Q)thJr>nr%Jnvcrnefs, that fhe became her profetfed Favo- ] ÙhT,u . rite. The young Princefs had admirable good Inclinations, but without confulting them, they had marry'd her, according to Royal Cuftom, to the Prince of hvcmcfs, before ihe' had ever ìeen ffti**k£> him. Count Lofty, whofe good Senfe was totally h /^wobfcur'd by Pride- call his ambitious Thoughts fo tfjiftL. hl g n , as t0 pretend to pleale the Princefs, whilft yet Ihe was a Maid. The Favorite Coim- tefs, for fo we mail call her now, no longer Jeanatine, took the alarm at his being fo ten- derly receiv'd by the Princefs ; fhe put his Po- etical Declaration of Love into her Husband's Hand -, her Policy fuggefled to her, that Ihe ought not to fuffer a Rival Favorite, efpecial- ly one of the Heart \ in difcharge of Duty pre- tended, but in reality of Interefl, advis'd him to acquaint his Mailer with it. 'Twas done as defign'd, the audacious Lover forbid the Court, -± ^ and the Lady immediately Betrothed to tl:e tJ^vTfc Prince of hrjemefs. Some time after he arriv'd, '&*"»*r^and they were publickly Marry'd. The Princefs has fmce been an Example of Conjugal Happi- nefs, they have lov'd and deferv'd each other j nor cou'd there be any obje&ion againft her, but in fo entirely refigning herfelf up to the Countefs's Management, who introduc'd the Covm to her Miftrefs with fuch fuccefs, that nothing was refolv'd on in that little Court, without firft confultiag and having their appro- bation. Thus ( 4i ) Thus Time roul'd on in an uninterrupted Se- ries of good Fortune for the Count -, Sigifmund dy'd, and he was, by a moft advantagious Re- move, drawn nearer to the Throne. A Natu- ^ . , h* ral Son of Sigifmund pretended to fucceed - \i\\£A*/Mfffi< the Prince of Tamer an, with the Fears, more than Acclamations of the People, was Crown'd. There was no Honours that the Count and his Sifter might not expect in this new Reign -, but he immediately law that the Monarch had not _ the Hearts of his Subjects-, he was a Bigotted^P >M Chriftian, a different Religion from that Efta- bliftVd in Atalantis. The Count dreaded falling ( as a Favorite) a Sacrifice to the incens'd Rab- ble. His Mafter, wholly guided by his too 7$aP:$fa»*" lous Priefts, totter'd in the Throne. Young JL^)^_ Cafario, Sigifmund^ Natural Son, was belov'd : He had been banifh'd by his Father, and was ~ refug'd in Prince Henriquez?s Court, who had^j>, ealoufie in all his Neighbours -, they envy'd him the greennefs of his Laurels, and to put a flop to that Glory, which elfe had known no bounds, they force him to a Treaty with the Enemy. Whiift the Peace was con- cluding, by their dreaming Plenipotentaries, a Peace difplealing to the Prince and his Favorite, and which nothing but their newnefs in Power cou'd force 'em to fubmit to, he let all Europe fee how much in the wrong they were, in im- pofing it upon him now, when he was in a con- dition to force the Enemy to yield the Allies their own Terms. He fell upon their General fo haftily and unexpectedly ( tho' he were the Hero ( 49 ; / / Nero of his Age ) that he put him into an ine- lnx**r*r** trievable Diforder. The Battle was Glorious for Henrique*,, but the lefs fo, for that it was no fooner decided to his advantage, but the repeated Thund'ring of the Canon gave him. to know that the Peace was Publifh'd, and that thofe he had fo lately fought withy were no longer his Enemies. The Difpatch was brought him at the Head of his Army, when he was julc going to engage. The Courier knew nothing of the Contents, or did not report 'em. The Prince wou'd not delay attacking the Enemy : They were then ( knowing the Peace was con- cluded) upon their March , he refolv'd.to fall in with their Rear. Should he have ftaid to open the Pacquet, the opportunity would have been loft \ and pofllbly guelfing what it import- ed, he order'd the Courier to his Tent, there to exped his return. Envy ( that is always bufie in. blotting the A&ions of Hero's) has made ours reflected on, for a Breach of the Law of Nations ; they rob him of the Glory of his Conqueft, by condemning the im'lawfulnefs of the Occafion. After this the young Favorite ( tho' formerly but of his Pleafures ) became his firft Minifter. He was always trufted, and extreme habile in the Affairs of State} he follow'd the wife Ma- xims of Machiavel, who aim'd to make his Prince Great, let what wou'd be the price. He it was-. , ,/ that encourag'd Count Fortunatus, and the I)fà£J.MarfJrn fected Lords o£ Atlantis, to expel their Bigotted &»f^^^- c „4J\fonarch : By his politick Management t hffofa M 2 • »** young, Gefario was facrific'd, and the Prince caWaJfl**'"»'* to take poflèffion of the Government * ? without fuch a Head as his ( cunning to conceal, crafty E to ( 5°) to forefee, wife to project, and valiant to un- dertake) the whole Fabrick had totter'd. He was the folid Foundation upon which the great- eft Hero of the Age has rais'd himfelf to be liich -, tho' in all his Advices the finifhing Stroke ftill came from Hcnriqucz^)^ Now rais'd to be iSETand Peer, General of the Army, in pofTeflion of the Ear and Cabinet of the Prince, whom we muft henceforward (if we have occafion to fpeak of him ) call King. He gave up himfelf to amafs «p^Riches ! his Am- bition was not fatisfied ! he aim'd at fomething more ! 'Twas Glorious to be a Sovereign Prince, tho 7 but of a Petty State \ He oftèrM fixteen hun- dred thoufand Crowns for the SuGceflion, where only a Princefs Dowager was in PoiTcffion, and to become her Husband. Affairs of that Con- fequence, that depend not upon Action but Treaty, are generally tedious : Whilft it was depending, our Duke felt the Sting of a Paflion, which (at the expence of the Ladies ) he had hitherto only play'd with. There was a young Girl, nam'd M.idmolfel Cnarlot, left to his Care v-m/unO by her Father, for whom he had had as great a Friendfhip, as a Statefman can be fuppos'd to have. The young Chariot had loft her Mother •long before : Her Dowry amounted to forty thoufand Qrowns \ the Family was Noble, and • there was almoft nothing but what fhe might pretend to. The Duke had been fome confl- y ' derable time a Widower \ his Wife was of the Uhtj. Family of the Favorites, naturally Born to the Toothing Arts of Courts. Fame is not afraid to fpeak aloud, that Henriepiez. faw what was agreeable in her \ and when wearied with the Fatigues of Hunting, wou'd go to Bed be- tween (5i ) tween her and her Husband j.but you may be fure all very innocent, efpecially where fuch a witnefs was in place. When fhe dy'd, he tranf- ferr'd his Efteem^ with an additional Tender- f , a 1 nefs, to her .Sifter. She affèded firft to be iiUm 6W 1 * Love with the Hero, not the Prince. , Perfona! v *> Lovers are fo rarely found among People of their Station ; lb few are acquainted with the deli- cacy of dividing the Monarch from the Marti that out of gratitude he gave into thole En- dearments that were neceflàry to befpeak a reci- procal Paflion : And as his Temper to his Fa- vorites was magnificiently Lavifh, fhe taftèd aft the Sweets of unlimited Majefty, and the charn> ing Eflèds of unbounded Generality ! . But to return to the Duke. He fpàr'd for no expence in the' Education of young Chariot j Ihe was brought up at his own Houfe with his Children ; but having fomething the advantage in Age of his Daughters, the Precepts were proportionably advanced. He defign'd her (in thofe early Days of his Power) as a Wife for his Son, before the increafe of his ov/n Am- bition, and Riches taught him other defires ; that • * is to fay, to look out a Lady for the young Lord with more than fix times Cvarlofs For- tune: And indeed he was not to blame in that, for certainly all that Fable has ever reported of Adonis, Narcijfus, the molt beautiful of the Hero's, the united Sweetnefs and Graces of/ Mankind, are to be found in his Perfon ! with^y sfó*/* an unknown Ooodnefs of Temper ! an Air of ' perfeft Behaviour and accomplifh'd Courtlhip ! neither has he mown us an Inclination to any Vice, that might balance thefe Perfections ! but as Malice loves to mingle -in the Characters ev'n E 2 of ( 5* ) of the moftVdeferving -, not being able to find a fault from without, have recourfe to the infide, and afllire us there of a Genius no way propor- tionable to theGreatnefs of his Fathers ^ a foft- nefs of Converfation , which they otherways term a weaknefs of Intellects : But the Ladies find no fuch fault with the charming Youth :, he has all things in his Perfon, Voice and Dif- courfe, that prove him indeed irrefiftable ! be- fides, occafion calls not upon hira to exert his Faculties, as they did the Duke ^ his Fortune is made, his Father was Born before him, and fo happily too, as from a meer Gentleman to make himfclf one of the Richeft and molt Potent Sub- jects in Europe. Chariot was no great Beauty, her Shape was the bell -, but Youth and Drefs make all things agreeable. To have prepolTefled you in her fa- vour, I fhou'd, as I was inclined, have advanc'd a Syftcm of her Charms -, but 'Truth, who too well forefaw my Intentions, has repell'd 'em with a Frown -, not but Chariot had many Ad- mirers -, there's fomething fo touching in the agreeable, that I know not whether it does not enchant us deeper than Beauty -, we are often- times upon our guard againft the attack of that, whilfb the unwary Heart, carelefs and defence- lefs, as dreading no furprize, permits the agree- able to manage as they pleafe. The Duke had a feeming Admiration for Vlr- tue, wherever he found it^ Jbnt he was aStatcf- nian, and held it incompatible ( in an Age like this) with a Mans making his Fortune, Ambi- tion, defire of Gain, Diffimulation, Cunning, all the fé were meritorioully ferviceable to him : 'Twas eaough he always applauded Virtue, and in ( 51 ) *n his Difcourfe decry'd Vice \ as long as he ftuck clofe in his Practice, no matter what be- came of his Words, thefeare not times where the Heart and the Tongue do not agree ! How- ever, young Chariot was to be educated in the high road to applaufe and Virtue, he banifh'd far from her Converfation whatever would not edify, Airy Romances, Plays, dangerous Novels, loofe and tnfmuating Poetry, artificial Introducti- ons of Love, well- painted Landskips of that dangerous Poyfon -, her Diverfions were always among the fort that were moft Innocent and Simple, fuch as Walking, but not in publick Aflèmblies -, Mufick in Airs all Divine ; reading and improving Books of Education and Piety j as well knowing, that if a Lady be too early us'd to violent Pleafures , it debauches their Taftes for ever to any others, he taught her to beware of Hopes and Fears *, never to defire any thing with too much eagernefs -, to guard her- felf from thofe dangerous Convulfions of the Mind -, that upon the leaft Difappointment pre- cipitates into a Million of Inconveniencies -, he endeavour'd to cure her of thofe number of Af- fect ions and Averfions £b natural to young Peo- ple, by fhewing her that nothing truly deferved to be paflionately bclov'd, but the Gods, becaufe they alone were perfect, though nothing on the other Hand ought to be hated but Vice, becaufe we are all the Image of their Divinities -, he wifely and early forewarned her, from what feem'd too natural to her, a defire of being ap- plauded for her Wft: , Ihe had a brightnefs of Genius, that would often break out in danger- ous Sparkles ; he fhew'd her that true Wit con- futed not in much fpeaking, but in fpeaking E 3" much ( 54) much in a few Words, that whatever carried her beyond the knowledge of her Duty -, carried her too far ; all other Embclifhments of the Mind were more dangerous than ufèful, and to be avoided as her Ruin :, that the pofTeflion of 'em was attended with Self-Love, Vanity and Co- quettry, things incomparable and never mingled in the Character of a Woman of true Honour; he recommended Modcfty and Silence^ that (he mould mun all occafions of fpeaking upon Sub- jects not neceflary to a Ladies Knowledge, tho' it were true that fhe fpoke never fo well \ he re- membred her, that fo Great, fo Wife a Man as Zeno, of all the Virtues made choice of Silence, for by it he heard other Mens Imperfections, and conceal'd his own -, that the more Wit fhe was Miftrefs of, the lefs occafion fhe had to mow it -, that if want of it gave a difguft, too much does not generally pleafe better, That afluming Air that generally accompanies it, is diitatfteful to the Company , where all pretend an equal right to be heard ; the weaknefs of Hu- man Nature is fuch, the chiefefi: Pleafure of Con- verfatioh lies in the fpeaking,not the hearing part, and if a prefumptious Perfon (though with ne- ver fo grett a Capacity) pretends to ufurp once upon that Priviledge, they look upon her as a Tyrant, that would ravifh from 'em the Free- dom of their Votes. But his ftrongeft Battery was united againft Love, that invader of thcHeart ; he [how'd her how fhamcful it was, fora young La- dy ever fo much as to think of any tendernefs for a Lover, 'cill he was become her Husband -, that true Piety and Duty would inftruci her in all that was neceflary for a good Wife to feel ef that danccrous Paflion \ that fhe mould not - fo ( 55 ) Co much as ever feek to know what was meant by that fhamefiil Weaknefscalfd Jealoufy -, 'twas abominable in us to give others occafion to be Jealous, and painful to be fo our felves -, that 'tis generally attended with Slander and Hatred, two bafe and contemptible Qualities ; That that violent inborn delire of pleafing fo natural to La- dies is the pefl of Virtue, they would by the Charms of their Beauty, and their fweet and in- imuating way of Converfation, allume that na- tive Empire over Mankind, which fèems to be politically deny'd them, becaufe the way to Au- thority and Glory is ftop'd up : t Hence it is that, with their aquir'd Arts and languishing Charms, they rifque their Virtue to gain a little contemp- tible Dominion over a Heart that at the fime time it fùrrenders it felf a Slave ; refutes to be- ftow efteem upon the Victor -, that Friendfhip was far nobler in its Nature, and much to be prefer 'd to Love, becaufe a Friend loves always, a Lover but for a time ; that under the molt flat- tering appearances is conceal'd inevitable Ruin \ the very firft Impreflions were dreadful, and to be carefully fupprefled. Pythagoras, Taught, the ajfaults of Love were to be beaten back at the Jirfi Sight, leaf} they undermine at the fecond. And Plato that thefirfi ftep toWifdom was not to love \ the fe- cond fo to love, 04 not to be perceived. Fraught with thefe, and a number more of fuch Precepts fuch as thefe, the young Chariot feem'd to intend her felf a Pattern for the La- dies of this degenerate Age, who divide their Hours between the Toylet and Bajfet Table j wich is grown fo totally the Bufinefs of the Fair j that even the Diverfions of the Opera, Gallantry and Low, are but fecondar y Pleafures : APerfoa E 4. who ( 56 ) who has once given her felf up to Gaming, neg- lette all her Duties, diforders her Family, breaks her Reft, forgets her Husband, and by her Ex- pence often inconveniences him irreparably, to- gether with their wafte of time : The Paflions of Anger and Avarice, concur to make her odious to all, but thofe who ingage with her at that dangerous Diverfion -, not to inftance, who have compounded for the lofs of Mony, with the lofs of their Chaftity and Honour ; nor is it a new, tho' frequent, way of paying of Play-Debts, In this entirely corrupted Age. lùtrodis The Duke had a magnificent Villa within five Leagues of the Capital, adornd with all that's imaginable Beautiful, either in Art or Nature *, the pride of Conqueft, the plunder of Viftory, the homage of the Vanquilh'd, the prefents of Neighbouring Monarchs, and whatever Curiofi- ty could inform, or Mony recover, were the Ornaments of this Palace. Henrique^ had re- ceived a new Favourite into his Bofom, but it was a Favourite not at all interfering with the Duke, who was ever trufted and efteemed -, by this means he oftner found a recefs from Court • his great Mailer would fometimes in Goodnefs difmirs him to his nila, to tafte a reft from Pow- er, a calm of Greatnefs, a fufpenfeof Biifinefs, a refpiration of Glory - , here it was, that he us'd to confirm the young Chariot in that early love of Virtue that had been taught her, to un- bend her Mind from the more ferious Studies; he fometimes permitted her thofe of Poetry, not loofe Defcriptions, lafcivious Toys or wanton heightnings of the Paflions ; they lung and acled theHiftory of the Gods, the Rape of Proferpwe. the defcent of Ceres, the Chaftity of Diana, and fhr h ( 57 ) fuch pieces that tended to the inflm&ion of the Mind. One Evening at a Reprefentation, where Chariot perfonated the Goddefs, and the Duke's Son A&eon, fhe A&ed with fo animated a Spi- rit, and call fuch Rays of Divinity about her, gave every Word fo twanging, yet fo fweet an Accent, that awaken'd the Duke's Attention, and fo admirably (he varied the Paflions that gave Birth in his Breaft, to what he had never felt before - he applauded, embrac'd, and even kifs'd the charming Diana , 'twas Poyfon to his Peace, the cleaving fweetnefs thrill'd fwiftlyto his Heart, thence tingled in his Blood, and call Fire throughout his whole Perfon •? he Sigh'd with Pleafure ! he wondered what thofe Sighs meant ! he repeats his Kifles, to find if Chariot were the oceafion of his Diforder. Confirm 'd by this new tafte of Joy , he throws the young Charmer haflily from him, folds his Arms, and walks off with continu'd Sighs ! the innocent Beauty makes after him modeft and afraid, infi- nuatingly and with trembling (he enquires, if fhe have not offended ? Begs to know her Fault, 3nd that fhe will endeavour to repair it. He an- fwers her not but with his Eyes, which have but too tender an Afpect j the Maid (by them) im- proving her Courage, comes nearer, fpreads her fond Arms about him, and in her ufual fawn- ing Language calls him dear pappa, joins her Face, her Eyes, her Cheeks, her Mouth clofe to his - y by this time the Duf e was fallen upon a Chair that flood next him, he was fully in her reach, and without any oppofition fhe had leifiire to di- fufe the irremediable Poifon through his Veins : he fat immoveable to all her Kindnefs, but with the greateft tafle of Joy, he had ever been fen* .. ' fibie fible of. Whilfl he was thus dangeroufly en- tertain'd, the young Alteon, and the refi of the Company, join 'em, the Duke was forc'd to rouze himfelf from his Love-fick Lethargy ■•, Chariot wou'd^ave him, tili he wou'd tell hei in what fhe had done amifs ? He only anfwer'd her, that he had nothing to object, (he had acted her part but too well. The young Lady had been taught (in her cold Precepts of Education) that it was a degree of fault to excel, even in an Accomplifhment. Occafion was not to be fought of eminently diftinguifhing one's felf in any thing but folid Virtue \ fhe fear'd fhe had jfhown too great a Tranfport in reprefenting Diana -, that the Duke wou'd poflibly think fhe was prepofTefTed more than fhe ought with that diverfion, and in this defpondence fhe took re- folutions to regulate herfelf hereafter more to his fàtisfacìion. That fatal Night the Duke felt holt ile Fires in hi* Breaft, Love was entred with all hi^ dreadful Artillery -, he took poflèffion in a mo- ment of the Avenues that lead to the Heart ! neither did the refinance he found there ferve for any thin?; but to make his Conqueft more illuftrious. The Duke try'd every corner of his uneafie Bed ! whether fhut or open, doarht was itili before his Eyes! his Lips and Face retain'd the dear Impreflion of her Rifles ! the Idea of her innocent and charming Touches, wander'd o'er his Mind ! he wifh'd again to be fo blefs'd, hnt then, with a deep and dreadful Sigh, he remembred who fhe was, the Daughter of his Friend ! of a Friend who had at his Death left the charge of her Education to him ! his Treaty w'tifa the Princefs Dowager, wou'd not admit him < 59 ; frigi to think of marrying of frer, Ambition came in to refcue him (in that particular) fr< the Arms of Love. To poflefs her without, was a viilanous deteftable Thought ! but not to poflèfs her at all, was lofs of Life ! was Death inevit- able ! Not able to gain one wink of Sleep, he arofe with the firft Dawn, and polled back to Angela. He hop'd the hurry of Bufinefs, and the Pleafures of the Court, wou'd ftifle fo guilty a Paflioa j he was too well perfwaded of his Diftemper, the Symptoms were right, the Ma- lignity was upon him ! he was regularly pof- fèfs'd! Love, in. all its forms, had took in that formidable Heart of his ! he began to be jealous of his Son, whom he had always defign'd for Chariot's Husband -, he cou'd not bear the thoughts that he (hou'd be belov'dby her, tho'all beau- tiful, as the lovely Youth was. She had never had any tender Inclinations for him, nothing that exceeded the warmth of a Sifter's love ! whe- ther it were that he were defigned for, or that the Precepts of Education had warn'd her from too precipitate a liking : She was bred up with him, accuftom'd to his Charms, they made no impreflion upon her Heart ! neither was the Youth more fenfible. The Duke cou'd diftrefs neither of 'em by his love of that fide, but this he was not fo happy to know. He wrote up for the young Lord to come to Court, and gave immediate orders for forming his Equipage, that he might be fent to Travel : Mean time Chariot was never from his Thoughts. Who knows not the violence of beginning Love ! efpecially a Love that we hold oppofite to our Jntereft and Duty ? '"Tis an unreasonable excefs of ÌDffirfi which enters fwlftly , but departs (lowly. Th* ( 6o ) Tfo love of Beauty, is the lofs of Reafon. Neither is it to be fupprcfs d by Wifdom, becaufe it is not to be comprehended with Reafon. And the Em- peror Aurelius ; Love is a cruel Impreffion of that wonderful Pajfion, which to define is impojfible, be- caufe no Words reach to the flrong Nature of it, and only they know which inwardly feel it. The Duke vainly (trugled in the Snare ; he wou'd live without feeing, Chariot, but thgn he muft live in Pain, in inexplicable Torture! he applies the relief of Bufinefs, the Pleafures of Woman ! Chariot's Rifles were (till upon his Lips, and made all others infipid to him. In fhort, he try'd fo much to divert his Thoughts from her, that it but more perfectly confirm'd him of the vanity and the unfucuefsfulnefs of the attempt : He could neither eat or fleep ! love and reftlefsriefs raised Vapours in him to that degree, he was no longer Mailer of his Bufinefs ! Wearied with all things, hurry'd by a fecret Principle of Self-Love, and Self-Prefer- vation, the Law of Nature ! he orders his Coach to carry him down once more 'to his Villa, there to fee his Dear ! this dangerous Chariot ! that little innocent Sweetnefs ! that imbitter'd his Happinefs. She lov'd him tenderly, as a lìcnefa&or, a Father, or fomething more ; that file had been us\l to love without thatfevere mix- ture of Fear that mingles in the love we bear to Parents : She ran to meet him as he alight- ed ; her young Face, over-fprea'd with blufhing Joys! his tranfpprt exceeded hers! he took her in his Arms with eagarnefs! he exchang'd all hU Pains for Pleafures! there was the Cure of his paft Anguifh ! her KifTes were the Balm to ms woundaf Mind ! he wonder'd at the imme- diate ( 6i ) diate alteration! me carefs'd and courted him; fhew'd him all things that cou'd divert or en- tertain. He knew not what to refolve upon ; he cou'd not prudently marry her, and how to attempt to corrupt her ! thofe excellent Prin- ciples that had been early infufed into her, were all againft him *, but yet he muft love her ! he found he cou'd not live without her ! he open'd a Machiavcl, and read there a Maxim, That none but great Souls can be compleatly Wicked : He took it for a kind of Oracle to him : He wou'd be loath to tell himfèlf, his Soul was not great epough for any attempt. He clos'd the Book, took fome turns about the Gallery to digeft what he had read, and from thence concluded, that neither Religion, Honour-, Gratitude, nor Friendflnp, were ties fufficient to deprive us of an efTential Good! Chariot was neceflary to his very Being! all his Pleafures faded without her ! and, which was worfe, he was in torture ! in aciual pain as well as want of pleafure! therefore Chariot he would havej he had ftrugled more than fufficient, Virtue ought to be fatisfied with the terrible Conflict he had fuffered ! but Love was become Matter, and 'twas time for her to abfeond. After he had fettled his Thoughts, he grew more calm and quiet ; nothing fhou'd now difturb him, but the manner how to corrupt her. He was re- folv'd to change her whole Form of Living to bring her to Court, to fhow her the World ; Balls, Ajfemblies, Opera's, Comedies, Cards, and l^fus, every thing that might enervate the Mind, and fit it for the foft play and impreffion of Love. One thing he a little fcrupled, left in making her fufceptible of that Paffion, it fhou'd be for another, and not for him *, he did not doubt, ( 62 ; doubt, but upon her firft appearance at Court fhe wou'd have many Admirers ^ Lovers have this opinion peculiar to themfelves, they believe that others fee with their Eyes : He knew that were fhe lefs agreeable, the glofs of Novelty was enough to recommend her -, but the remedy he found for this, was, to carefs and pleafe her above all others-, to (hew fuch a particu- lar regard for her, that fhou'd frighten any new pretender. Few aie willing to crofs a firft Mi- niiter, efpecially in fuch a tender Point, where all Mankind are tenacious of their Pretentions. He had obferv'd, that Chariot had been, but with difguft, deny'd the gay Part of reading : 'Tis natural for young People to chufe the di- verting, before the inftruciive ^ he fent for her into the Gallery, where was a noble Library in all Languages, a Collection of the moft valuable Authors, with a mixture of the moft Amorous. He told her, that now her Underftanding was increas'd,with her Statuarie refolv'd to make her Miftrefs of her own Conduci \ and as the firft thing that he intended to oblige her inj that Governante who had hitherto had the care of her A&ions, fhould be difmifs'd \ becaufe he had ob- ferv'd the feverity of her Temper had fometimes been difpleafing to her-, that fhe fhou'd hence- forward have none above her, that fhe fhou'd need to ftand in awe of \ and to confirm to her that good opinion he feem'd to have, he pre- fented her with the Key of that Gallery, to improve her Mind, and feek her Diverfion, amongft thofe Authors he had formerly for- bid her the ufe of. Chariot made him a very low Curtfie, and, with a blufhing Grace, re- turn'd him Thanks for the two favours he be- ftow'd (^ ) ftow'd upon her, .She aflur'd him, that no Action of hers fhou'd make him repent the di- ftinction -, that her whole endeavour mould be to walk in that Path he made familiar to her ^ and that Virtue fhou'd ever be her only Guide. Tho' this was not what the Duke wanted, 'twas nothing but what he expected: He obferv'd for- merly, that fhe was a great lover of Poetry, efpecially when 'twas forbid her ; he took dowa an Ovid, aud opening it juft at the love of Myrra for herFather, confeious red overfpread his Face; he gave it her to read, fhe obey'd him with a vi- able delight } nothing is more pleafing to young Girls, than in being firft confider'd as Women. Chariot faw the Duke entertain'd her with aa Air of Confideration more than ufual, pffionate and refpectul \ this taught her to refuge in the na- tive Pride and Cunning of the Sex, fhe affum'd an Air more 'haughty. The leaving a Girl juft begin- ning to believe herfelf capable of attaining that Empire overMankind,which they are all born and taught bylnftindt to expect. She took theBookytmd plac'd herfelf by the Duke, his Eyes Feafted Ihemfelves upon her Face, thence wander'dover her fnowy Bofom, and faw the young fwelling Breafts juft begining to diftinguifh themfelves,and whichwere gently fieav'd at thelmpreffion^mz's Sufferings made upon her Heart, by this dan- gerous reading, he pretended to fhew her, that there were Pleafures her Sex were born for, and which me might confequently long to tafte ! Cu- riofity is an early and dangerous Enemy to Vir- tue, the young Chariot, who had by a noble Inclifw*fr>* of Gratitude a ftrong propenlion of Affection for the Duke, whom fhe call d and eftem'd her Papa, being a Girl of wonderful reflection, and confe- quently e 64) quently Application, wrought her Imagination up to fuch a lively heighth at the Fathers Anger after the pofleflion of his Daughter, which ihe judg'd highly unkind and unnatural, that fhe drop'd her Book, Tears fill'd her Eyes, Sobs rofe to opprefs her, and fhe pull'd out her Handker- chief to cover the Diforder. The Duke, who was Matter of all Mankind, could trace 'em in all the Meanders of Diflimnlation and Cunning, was not at a lofs how to interpret the Agitation of a Girl who knew no Hipocrify, all was Artlefs, the beautiful produci: of Innocence and Nature j he drew her gently to him, drunk her Tears with his Rifles, fuck'd her Sighs and gave her by that dangerous Commerce (her Soul before pre- par'd to foftnefs) new and unfelt Defires } her Virtue was becalm'd, or rather unapprehensive of him for an Invader \ he preft her Lips with his, the nimble beatings of his Heajt, appa- rently feen and felt thro' his open Breaft ! the glowings ! the tremblings of his Limbs ! the glo- rious Sparkles from his guilty Eyes ! his fhort- nefs of Breath,and eminent Diforder, Were things all new to her, that had never feen, heard, ov\ read before of thofe powerful Operations, ftruck from the Fire of the two meeting Sex -, nor had lhe leifure to examine his diforders, pof- fefs'd by greater of her own ! greater ! becaufe that Modefty oppofing Nature, forc'd a ftruggle of Diflimulation. But the Duke's purfuing Kifles overcame the very Thoughts of any thing, but that new and lazy Poifon ftealing to her Heart, and fpreading fvviftly and imperceptibly thro" all her Veins, Are clos'd her Eyes with languish- ing Delight ! deliver'd up the pofleflion of her Lips f é 5 ; Lips and Breath to the amorous Invader-, re- turn'd his eagar grafps, and, in a word, gave her whole Perfon into his Arms, in meltings full of delight ! The Duke by that lovely Ex- tafie, carry'd beyond himfelf, funk over the ex- piring Fair, in Raptures too powerful for de- scription ! calling her his admirable Chariot ! his charming Angel! his adorable Goddefs ! but all was fo far modeft, that he attempted not be- yond her Lips and Breaft, but cry'd that fhe fhou'd never be anothers. The Empire of his Soul was hers \ enchanted by inexplicable, irre- iiftable Magick ! fhe had Power, beyond the Gods themfelves ! Chariot return'd from that amiable Diforder, was a new charm'd at the Duke's Words -, Words that fet her fo far above what was mortal, the Woman afTum'd in her, and me wou'd have no notice taken of the Trans- ports fhe had fhown. He faw and favour'd her modefty, fecure of that fatal Sting he had fix'd Within her Breaft, that Tafte of delight, which powerful Love and Nature wou'd call upon her to repeat. He own'd he lov'd her; that he never cou'd love any other j that 'twas impop fible for him to live a day, an hour, without feeing her \ that in her abfence he had felt more than ever had been felt by Mortal -, he begg'd her to have pity on him, to return his Love, or elfe he fhou'd be the moft loft, undone thing alive. Chariot, amaz'd and charm'd, felt all thofe dangerous perturbations of Nature that arife from an amorous Conftitution, with Pride and Pleafure, fne faw herfelf necelfary to the happi- nefs of one, that fhe had hitherto efteemed fo much above her, ignorant of the Power of Love, that Leveller of Mankind -, that blender of Di- F ftin&ion (66 ) ftinftion and Hearts. Her foft Anfwer was, That (lie was indeed reciprocally Charm'd, fhe knew not how ^ all he had faid and done was wonderful and pleafing to her \ and if he wou'd Jtill more pleafe her ( if there were a more ) it ihou'd be never to be parted from her. The Duke had one of thofe violent Pafllons, where, to heighten it, reliftance was not at all necef- fary :> it had already reached the ultimate, it cou'd not be more ardent ^ yet was he loth to rufh upon the pofleflion of the Fair, left the too early pretention might difguft her : He wou'd iteal himfelf into her Soul, he wou'd make him- felf neceffary to her quiet, as fhe was to his. From the Library he led her to his Cabinet, from forth his ftrong Box he took a fet of Jewels that had been herMothers-, he toldher,(he was now of an Age to expeft the Ornaments, as well as Pleafures of a Woman. He was pleas'd to fee her look down, with a Teeming contempt, upon what moli other Girls wou'd have been tranf- portcd with : He had taught her other Joys, thofe of the Mind and Body. She figh'd, fhe rav'd to herfelf, fhe was all charm'd and uneafie! The Duke cafting over the reft of his Jewels, made a Collection of fnch as were much more valuable than her Mothers -, he prefented her with, and wou'd force her to accept 'em -, but Chariot, as tender and gallant as the Duke, feeing his Piciure in little, fet round with Diamonds, begg'd that he wou'd only honour her with that mark of his Efteem. The ravifh'd Duke con- fented, conditionally, that ihe wou'd give him hers in return. After ( é 7 ) After this tender, dangerous Commerce, Chat* lot found every thing infipid, nothing but the Duke's kifles cou'd relifh with her} all thofe Converfations fhe had formerly delighted in, were infupportable : He was oblig'd to return to Court -, and had recommended to her read- ing the moft dangerous Books of Love, Ovid, Petrarch, Tibullo*, thofe moving Tragedies that Co powerfully expofe the force of Love, and corrupt the Mind} he went even farther, and left her fuch as explain'd the Nature, Manner, and Raptures of Enjoyment. Thus he infus'd Poifon into the Ears of the lovely Virgin. She eafily ( from thofe emotions fhe had found in herfelf ) belivev'd as highly of thofe Delights as was imaginable } her waking Thoughts, her golden Slumber, ran all of a Blifs only imagin'd, but never prov'd : She even forgot, as one that wakes from deep, and the Vifllons of the Night, all thofe Precepts of airy Virtue, which fhe found had nothing to do with Nature: She long'd again to renew thofe dangerous Delights. The Duke was an Age abfent from her, fhe cou'd only in imagination poffefs what fhe be- liev'd fo pleafing. Her Memory was prodigi- ous, fhe was indefatigable in Reading. The Duke had left orders fhe fhou'd not be con- troul'd in any thing : Whole Nights were waft- ed by her in that. Gallery ^ fhe had too well inform'd herfelf of the fpeculative Joys of Love. There are are Books dangerous to the Com- munity of Mankind \ abominable for Virgins, and deftrudiive to Youth} fuch as explain the Myfteries of Nature, the congregated Pleafures of Venia, the full Delights of mutual Lovers, and which rather ought to pafs the Fire than F 2 the ( £8 ) the Prefs. The Duke had laid in her way fuch as made no mention of Virtue or Hymen, but only advanced native, generous and undiflembled Love. She was become fo great a Proficient, that nothing of the Theory was a ftranger to her. Whilft Chariot was thus employ'd, the Duke was not idle , he had prepared her a Poft at Court with Henri quczjs Queen. The young Lady was fent for -, neither Art, Money, nor Induftry was wanting, to make her appearance glorious. The Duke aw'd and trembling with his Paflion, approach'd her as a Goddefs -, confeious of his and her own defires, the mantling Blood wou'd fmile upon her Cheeks, fometimes glowing with delight, then afterwards, by a feeble recollection of Virtue, fink apace, to make room for a guilty fucceeding Palenefs. The Duke knew all the motions of her Heart, he debated with himfelf, whether it were belt to attempt the pofleiTion of her whilfb fo young, or permit her time to know and fet a value upon what fhe granted. His Love was highly impatient, but refpectful } he long'd to be happy, but he dreaded to dif- pleafe her. The Afcendant fhe had over him was wonderful :, he had let flip thofe firft Im- preffions, which ftrike deepeft in the Hearts of Women, to be fuccefsful -, One ought never to aU lot» J em time to Tni'k, their vivacity being prodigi' oWj and their for fight exceeding jhort, and limited \ the firji hurry of their Pajfions, if they arc but vi- gor ou fly follow? d 7 is what is generally mo fi favourable \o Lovers. Chariot by this time had inform'd herfelf, that there were fiich terrible things as Perfidy and Inconftancy, in Mankind-, that even the very Favours they receiv'd, often difguit- ed (h ) ed ; and that to be entirely Happy, one ought never to think of the faithlefs Sex. This brought her back to thofe Precepts of Virtue that had embellifh'd her dawn of Life ^ but alas ! thefè Admonitions were too feeble, the Duke was all fubmifHve, pafTionate, eager to obey, and to oblige. He watch'd heruprifings, fcarce cou'd eat without her} fhe was Miftrefs of his Heart and Fortune y his own Family, and the whole Court, imagin'd that he refolv'd her for his Dutchefs :, they almoft look'd upon her as fuch -, fhe went often to his Palace, where all were devoted to her Service -, the very glance of her Eyes commanded their attention, at her leaft requeft, alfoon as her Mouth was open'd to fpeak, before her Words were half form'd, they ftarted to obey her. She had learnt to manage the Duke, and to diftrufl herfelf -, me wou'd no more permit of KilTes, that fweet and dangerous Commerce. The Duke had made her wife at his own coflr, and vainly languifh'd for a repetition of Delight. He guefs'd a$ the Intereft he had in her Heart, had prov'd the warmth of her Conftitution, and was refolv'd he wou'd no more be wanting to his own Happinefs ; he omitted no occaiion by which he might exprefs his love -, preffing her to crown his Longings. Her courage did not reach to ask him that honourable Proof of his Paffion, which 'tis believ'd he woifd not have refufed, if fhe had but infilled of it. The Treaty was ftill depending, he might marry the Princefs Dowager ^ Chariot tenderly drop'd a word that fpoke her apprehenfions of it -, he affur'd her there was nothing in it, all he aim'd at was to purchafe the Succeffion, that he might F 3 mak# ( 7o ) make her a Princefs, as fhe defervM. In- deed the hopes his Agent had given the Lady, of becoming her Husband, was'not the fmalleft inducement to the Treaty \ therefore he dclay'd his Marriage with Chariot \ for if that were but once confirm'd, the Princefs (by relenting, as fhe ought, the abufe that had been lain upon her) wou'd put an end to it, infinitely to his prejudice. Chariot, very well f itisfied with thefe Reafons, and unwilling to do any thing againft the In- tereft of a Man whom fhe tenderly lov'd, ac- cuftom'd herfelf to hear his eager Sollici- tations: He cou'd no longer contend with a Fire that confumed him, he muft be gratified, or die. She languifhed under the fame difqv.i- ets. The Seafon of the Year was come that he muft make the Campaign with the King-, he cou'd not refolve to depart unblefVd 5 Chariot ft ill refus'd him that laft proof of her Love. He took a tender and paftionate Farewel. Chariot, drowned in Tears, told him, 'twas impofnble fhe fhou'd fupport his abfence -, all the Court wou'd ridicule her Melancholy. This was what he wanted :, he bid her take care of that, a Maid was but an ill Figure, that brought herfelf to be the fport of Laughters ; but fmce her Sor- row ( fo pìeàfìng and glorious to him) was like to be vifible, he advifed her to pafs feme days at his Villa, till the height of Melancholy fhou'd be over, under the pretence of Indifpofition \ he wou'd take care that the Queen fhou'd be fatisfied of the necefiky of her abfence*, he advis'd her even to depart that hour -, fince the King was already on his Journey, he muft be gone that .moment,' and endeavour to overtake him. He %* affur'd n$ ) afTur'd her he wou'd write by every Courier, and beg'd her not to admit of another Lover, tho' he was fenfible there were many ( taking trie advantage of his abfence, wou'd endeavour to pleafe her). To all this fhe anfwer'd fo as to quiet his diftrufl and fears, her Tears drowned her Sighs, her Words were loft in Sobs and Groans ! The Duke did not fhow lefs concern, but led her all trembling, to put her in a Coach that was to carry her to his Villa :, where he had often wihYd to have her, but fhe di- itrufted her felf, and wou'd not go with him, nor had fhe venturi! now, but that fhe thought he was to follow the King, who coifd not be without him. Chariot no fooner arriv'd , but the Weather being very hot, fhe order'd a Bath to be pre- par'd for her. Soon as fhe was refrelh'd with that, fhe threw her felf down upon a Bed, with only one thin Petticoat and a loofe Night- gown, the Bofom of her Gown and Shift open ; her Night-cloths tied carelefly together with a Cherry-colour'd Ribon, which anfwer'd well to the yellow and filver Stuff of her Gown. She lay uncover'd, in a melancholy carelefs Poftnre, her Head retting upon one of her Hands, the other held a Handkerchief, that fhe employed to dry thofe Tears that fometimes fell from her Eyes -, when railing herfelf a little, at a gentle noife fhe heard from the opening of a Door that anfwer'd to the Bed- fide, fhe was quite afto- nifhed to fee enter the amorous Duke. Her firft emotions were all Joy, but in a minute fhe re- collected herfelf, thinking he was not come there for nothing : She was going to rife, but he pre- vented her, by flying to her Arms, where, as F 4- we ( 7 2 ) we may call it, he nail'd her down to the Bed with Kiflès:, his love and refolution gave him a double vigour, he wou d not ftay a moment to capitulate with her -, whilft yet her furprife made her doubtful of his defigns, he took ad- '" vantage of her confufion to accomplifh 'em } neither her prayers, tears, nor ftruglings, cou'd prevent him, but in her Arms he made himfelf a full amends for all thofe pains he had fuffèr- for her. Thus was Chariot undone ! thus ruin'd by him that ought to have been . her Protecior ! 'Twas very long before he cou'd appeafe her j but fo artful, fo amorous, fo fubmiflive was his Addrefs, fo violent his Aflurances, he told her, that he mull have dy'd without the Happinefs. Chariot efpous'd his Crime, by fealing his For- givenefs. He pafs'd the whole ISight in her Arms, pleas'd, tranfported, and out of himfelf; whilft the ravifh'd Maid was notali behind-hand in Extafies and guilty Tranfports. He ftaid a whole Week with Chariot, in a Surfeit of Love and Joy ! that Week more ineftimable than all the Pleafures of his Life before ! whilft: the Court believed him with the King , polling to the Army } he neglefted Mars to de- vote himfelf wholly to Venus, abftracied from all Bufinefs, that happy Week fublim'd him al- moft to an Immortal. Chariot was form'd to give and take all thofe Raptures necefTary to accomplifh the Lover's happinefs ; none were ever more Amorous! none were ever more Happy ! The two Lovers feparated, the Duke for the Army, Chariot return'd to Court ; one of the ^-^«^Royal-Secretaries fell in Love with her, but his being ( 7? ) being of the precife Party, and a marry'd Man, it behov'd to carry himfelf difcreetly : He omit- ted no private Devoirs to pleafe her, but her Heart entirely fix'd upon the Duke, negle&ed the Attempt. She had made an intimate Friend- Clip with a young Countefs, who was a lovely- Widow, full of Air, Life and Fire :, her Lord purchas'd her from his Rival, by the Point of his Sword, but he did not long furvive to enjoy the Fruits of his Vi&ory - he made her Circum- fiances as eafie as he cou'd, but that was not ex- traordinary, however, Ihe appear'd well at£ourtj knew the Management of Mankind, and how to procure her felf univerfàl Love and Admiration. Chariot made her the unwary Confidant of her Paffion for the Duke -, the Countefs had theGood- nefs, or Complaifance, which you pleafe, to hear- ken to the oveivfiowings of a Love-fick-Heart : She imparted to her all the Letters fhe receiv'd from him, and took her Approbation for the Anfwer -, that never dying Fire ! thofe racking Vn- eafnefs's ! Languors ! Expectations ! Impatiencics ! that the two Lovers exprefs'd, were all Greek and Hebrew to the Countefs, who was bred up in the fafhionable way of making Love, wherein the Heart hgs little or no part, quite another turn of Amour. She would often tell Chariot, that no Lady ever funer'd her felf to be truly touch'd, but from that moment Ihe was blinded and undone - the firft thing a Woman ought to confult was her Intereft, and Eftablifhment in the World , that Love fhou'd only be a handle towards it } when Ihe left the purfuit of that to give up her felf to her Pleafures, Contempt and Sorrow were fure to be her Companions : No Lover was yet ever known fo ardent, but time (74) time abated of his Tranfport \ no Beauty fo ra- vi filing, but that her Sweetnefs wou'd cloy \ nor did Men any longer endeavour to pleafe, when nothing was wanting to their Wilhes : Love the molt generous, and yet the molt mercenary of all the Paflions, does not care what he la- vifhes, provided there be fomething ftill in view to repay his Expence - 7 but that once over, the Lover pofTefs'd of what ever his Miftrefs can be- Irow, he hangs his Head, the Cupid drops his Wings, and' feldorn feels their native Energy returif, but to carry him to new Conquefts. Chariot knew not how to digeft this Syftem of Amour } Ihe was fure the Gountefs knew the World, but thought (he knew not the Duke, who had not a Soul like other Men : She faid, fhe would, at his return, convince her, ( all Infidel as fhe was ) that he had not the fame Call of Mind as the reft of his Sex ^ the Countefs faid ihe Fhould be glad to fee it, but that he had took exa&ly the fame Methods to make his For- tune: She would advife her as a good Friend, (if it were ftrangely true, that his Ardors were yet unallayed ) tó pufh her Intereft with him, that he might marry her -, advis'd her to beftovv no more Favours, till he paid her price -, made her read the Hiftory of Roxalana, who by her wife Addreft, brought an imperious Sultan, con- trary to the eftabliflfd Rules of the Seraglio, to divide with her the Royal Throne. Chariot faid me would try what fhe could do:, _at the fame time fhe receiv'd certain Advice, that the Trea- ty was droke ofFwith the Princefs Dowager. Char- lot thought it was for her fake, and from thence* ( flatter cl by Love ) took it into her Head, that it e 75 ) it would not be long before fhejhoiild te the_/ Dutchefs of- òn*r>kjj rf (/trrffaj-, *£> The Queen prepar'd a Ball to be danced the King's Birth-Night, Avhich happned to be that of his Return fro m a fortunate Campaign. Char- iot had, fince the Duke's abfence, to render her felf confpicuous to him ) been prafrifing an Accomplifhment, which a certain great Author calls excelling inaMifiakc. She danc'd that Night to the fatisfa&ion of all who beheld her } the Duke's Return and Prefence re-animated her \ fhe feem'd born to new Life, and more Vivaci- ty : He was charm'd with the Performance, and long'd for nothing fo much, as to tell her he was more in Love with her than ever. Thofe Due-no's that guard the fair Maids belonging to the Queen, would not permit him all the Hap- pinefs he wifh'd : How impatient they were to lofe themfèlves in unnumber'd Kiflès and Joys ! the Duke propofed to her to go down to his Villa the next Day 5 that he would ask the King's leave to retire to put his Affairs in order, and immediately follow. There was no Body that wonder'd fhe fhou'd pay her Compliment whilft he was in the Country, her Guardian, the Tru- ftee of her Family } all the Duke's Children ca- refs'd and lov'd her, they even wifh'd their Fa- ther would marry her -, for fo 'twas receiv'd and believ'd at Court, that fhe fhou'd be the Dutchefs of They were no Strangers to his Love \ he never pretended to difTemble :, but not one imagin'd his guilty Paffion had carry 'd him that length it had : He was fo charm'd with her, that he told her, fhe muft refolve to pretend a diftant Journey to her Relations, and remain con- conceàl'd near Angela, where he might have the freedom ( 76 ) freedom of feeing her twice a Day, atleaft, iin-^ known to all the Court ^ that if fhe could de- vote her felf to fuch a Solitude, he would en- deavour to do all things that were in his power to make it agreeable to her \ the Love-lick Maid confented with joy \ then was her time to pufh for what he pofiibly might have confented to, rather than not have poilèflèd her undifturbed \ but fhe was afraid that he fhou'd think her Love was the refult of Intereft, and believ'd fo well of his Honour, as not to diftruft his Care of hers. Behold her then fettled in a pleafing Solitude, within a (hort Mile of the Caditoi \ the Servants that were put about her were all Strangers, her Name chang'd, and not a Mortal fufpe&ed but Chariot was gone into the Country to her Re- lations. The Duke faw her twice or thrice eve- ry Day, fometimes eat with her, and becaufe he could not be fo often loft, without being found by fome body, they reported that he had a new Miftrefs, and had fent Chariot away, not to dif- compofe her wich the Report -, no body could tell wiio flic was, yet many pretended to have feen her, and ev'n gave Defcriptions of her Height , Features , and Complexion , all by guefs", and not likely to agree 5 fome would have her the fair? fome the brunet y and not a few the black Beauty. Every one fpoke of what was molt agreeable to themfelves, but a Beauty to be fure fhe rauft be, becaufe the Duke was fo attaclvd to her. Chariot, tho' Ihe poffefs'd all me cou'd delire in the Duke's Company, yet had many Hours of Solitude upon her Hands, the great Hurry of Affairs, the Bufinefs of the State, which lay hea- vy ( 77 ) Vy upon theDuke, engrofs'd too much of his time : To alleviate the Pains his Abfence gave her, Chariot begg'd the Countefs might be let into the Secret, to help her pafs away, more agree- ably thofe Moments that he was not with her : She urg'd this Co earnellly, that the Duke knew not how to deny her, but bid her take it for her pains, if Ihe one day repented of it ; that if he was not miftaken in the Countefs, fhe was none of tholè few Ladies that pofTefs the reten- tive Faculty \ but fhou'd their Secret not fuffèr by her Tongue, (which indeed wou'd be won- derful ) her being known to vìfìt there, ( as all things of that Nature are quickly known ) wou'd blow the Sufpicion of it abroad, to the preju- dice of Chariot's Honour, which was dearer to him than his Life. She might eafily have be- liev'd this laft AiTeveration, if he had had any Senfe of his own, for there's no body but what would condemn him for corrupting hers. Chariot cou'd not evade her Deftiny 5 lhe wou'd have the Countefs with her. Pride concurr'd with Diverfìon \ lhe long'd to mew the Countefs ( who had fo {lender an Opinion of the Conftan- cy of Mankind ) how much and faithfully fhe was belov'd. The Countefs came, and they met on both fides over-joy'd ; lhe boafled of her good Fortune \ the Widow told her, all that was very fine, .but why did lhe not think of marrying of him, then they might be all Day and Night, and every Day and Night together, without inter- ruption, and hiding j that other Diverfions ought to have their turn with a Lady of her age. Char- lot told her, ihe found all lhe defir'd in the Duke's Love, and her Friendfhip, lhe hid nothing fur- ther to wifli, if lhe wou'd but have the Goodnefs to e 78 ) to fèe her as often as (he cou'd. The Counted pitied the Love- lick Maid, but finding (he was incorrigible, refolv'd to fpeak to her no more of her marrying the Duke: She few, by his Delays, tha? he did not defign it, and look'd upon Chariot as a tauvre Ville trompcz.. Al molt the whole Winter pafs'd away in an agreeable Cabal ; the Countefs had Wit enough, and a pleafant manner of relating things ; her Intelligence was univerfal -, me knew all that was done both at Court, and in the City : The Duke, who came to unbend himfelf with thcfe two fair Ladies, feenfd to relitti the Countefs's Conversion : Not to difgrace Love, he was fometimes beholden to this gay Widow, for keep- ing up the Diverfion. 'Tis not poflible always to love, or to bear up to the extravagant height of a beginning Flame, without new Supplies it nnift decay, at leali: abate of its firft Vigour, when not a Look, or Touch, but are Fuel to it. The Countefs was not difpleas'd at being heard; fhe remark'd his Attention ; faw his Eyes were • lefs on Ùiarlot-, anS more on her -, that he wou'd turn away, with a gentle Sigh, when ihecatch'd him looking at her -, who does not know that undiiturb'd poflefiion makes Delire languidi. Char- iot believ'd nothing of this, but the Countefs knew all the Maxims of Mankind. She pre- fently guefs'd how things went, and was not fupriz'd to hear the Duke tell the young Lady, that the time drawing on to take the Field, he would have her think of returning to Court \ but that fhe might do it with the more Honour, and free from all fufpicion of their Commerce, he advis'd her, in reallity, to take a Journey down to her Relations, from whence me might give notice (79 ) notice of her return, as if Ihe had been there the whole Winter. Chariot look'd tenderly upon the Duke, her Eyes fill'd with Tears ; fome drops f Blood fell from her Nofe upon her Hand- kerchief, as fhe was reaching it to her Eyes, the Omen ftartled her, Ihe was going to with- draw, to weep alone, when her Spirits fail'd lier, and fhe fell in a fainting Fit upon the Countefs's Bofom } the Duke had Affairs that urg'd his departure -, he call'd her Women, and left her to their Care : Nothing is able to ex- prefs the Defpair Ihe was in, when fhe found he could depart and leave her in that Conditi- on. His date of Love is out, fays the unfor- tunate Chariot, Oh Madam ! that I had but be- lie v'd you! What is to be done? Shall I fee my felf complaining, and negle&ed, fcorn'd, and yet fawning upon my Undoer ? tho' my Heart burlt with Grief and Tendernefs, I will never have that little Spirit. The Countefs confirm'd her in thofè Heroick Thoughts, and ev'n advis'd her to depart as foon as Ihe cou'd, and without ta- king her Leave of him -, for if he ftill lov'd her, that Indifterency would diftract him, and caufe him to fetch her back \ if otherwife, prevent her from being his Triumph. Chariot judg'd the Ad- vice good, and order'd all things for her depar- ture on the morrow : She might, and ought to have gone early in the Morning, as the Coun- tefs would have had her, but lazy, lingering Love, made her trifle away the time, till the ufual hour of the Duke's Vifit. As he entred the Chamber, a mortal Palenefs, and nniverfal Trembling was feen in poor Chariot: He ten- derly ran to fupport her-, when fhe was a little recover 'd, he ask'd her what thofe Preparations meant ? ( 8°) meant? She told him 'twas for her Journey, a? he had advis'd her. The Duke told her he was glad of it, 'twas prudently refolv'd, but he wifh'd, for both their fakes, fhe wou'd make no long ftay in the Country, becaufe he hop'd to be thus blefs'd again, before he departed. She burli out into a Paffion of Tears, at his appro- bation of a thing, when fhe thought the fudden- nefs of it would have ftartled him. Let us go, let us go for ever, faid Ihe, fobbing, my Lord Duke, I wifh your Eminence all Happinefs, wretched Chariot fhall never difturb it. Farewel, my dear Conntefs, I was not born to tafte the Sweets of Love and Friendfhip : Here fhe halted out of the Room, and got into the Coach that waited, without taking her Leave in Form, ei- ther of the one or the other. They made after her to the Gate ; fhe briskly order'd the Coach- man to drive on, and with fix good Horfes was prefèntly out of fight. The Duke gave his Hand to the Countefs, to lead her back into the Houfe \ they continued in mutual Silence till the Duke broke it, by Words to thefe eftec?t. u You doubtlefs con- " demn me, Madam, for my IndifFerency to u Afademoifelle Chariot, I would remove fo ftrong u an Evidence as your felf, by making you " equally guilty. I know you are a Woman of " the World, fully acquainted with your own " Charms, and what they can do upon the tc Hearts of others. You have Wit, underftand lt your own Intereft, therefore if you have no ct Averfion for my Perfon, 'tis in your power " to do what you pleafe with me. For your " fiike I have advis'd Mademoifelle to this Jour- u ney : 1 cou'd not fay what I wou'd before lb» il trouble- ( 8i ; " troublefome a Witnefs \ I have good Nature, " and cou'd not fee a Creature who loves me in " pain, when nothing but Efteem and Pity re- " main for her : Not that I am naturally In- " conftant, but your fuperior Charms have im- " perceptibly made their way , I had doubtlefs " lov'd her a longtime, if the Vivacity of your " Wit and Converfation had not interfer'd : " However, I will omit nothing for her Eftab- a lifhment in the World. Her Fault is yet a " Secret between us Two, and that I may bribe " you to keep it inviolably, I offer to fhare In- * the Skies in his Imagination j he depends much upon the merit of his former Admiration for the Emprefs, and does not doubt but to rival the moft fortunate in her Favour. For matter of Entertainment, fhe faid to him this Morning, after he had mad his congratulary Court, that 'twas a very fine Day. He anfwer'd, with pre? fence of Mind, and no ill turn of Thought, Tcs, it was the fine ft Day he ever faw in his Life. Sel- dom are Women renown'd for Conftancy, but . if ihe do perfevere in her former good Opinion of him, now fhe has power, fo to truft and raife him as he expects, 'twill fcarce be grate- ful, to thofè who love Virtue^ or Moderation. He aflè&s to be Head qf a Party, which in a littk ^ G 3 ( 86 ) time, will be found oppofite to the true Intercft of the Court, than his Pride and Narrownefs of Soul, are intolerable. There is no excefs in vicious Love that he has not been guilty of, even to theloweftand moil defpicable part of Woman- ^ '^jjjùnd, and thofe in numbers. Tho' thrice advan- - /> tagioufly Marry 'd, all of 'em Ladies of Beauty •^j A *2? lc * Merit -> nc nas lls '^ two °f ' em w ^ tn ver V MfrfyQXtXt Deference. Ill-nature is his Province, Sar- * $■ caftical Wit his delight, Luxury his Practice, animated by Pride, and devoted to Covetoufnefs. I never yet heard of any good or generous Action perform'd by him. W™ . Virtue. Here lies the departed Monarch, who after a Reign full of Perturbation and Anxiety % applauded by moft, yet condemn'd of many -, is fummon'd by Minos, to give an account of his Adminiftration. By this time he has receiv'd his Sentence, and knows whether he were in . the right or wrong, who can decide, if his am- z * bition or love to Mankind were his chief mo- tive to Good ? Wou'd he have reliev'd the Op- pretfèd, combated Tyranny and Arbitrary Go- vernment? So often hazarded his Life in Bat- tle, if his own particular had not been involv'd with the Publick? Yet (hall his Memory ever be dear to thofe People he has delivered, rank'd amongft their beft and moll: fortunate Monarchs, having fewer of their Vices, and more of their Virtues. War was his Pleafure, War was his employment. Whilft he follow'd the trueln- tcreft of his Country, at the Head of his Ar- AìetoL mic S he Jiifftred two potent and oppofite Fa- -7 ctions to break themfelves againft one another \ *f~' ' fàhn and ferene, like great Jove upon Olimpi top, • ifelv' involv'd himfelf with neither-, free from the "£/' i! ' ( 87; the fervile Arts with which other Monarch shave been forc'd to cajole their People ; he yet found the happy Secret to draw from 'em, with ala- crity and good-will, more Treafure than in fome Ages had been beftow'd upon the whole Series of Kings his PredecefTors, reft in peace, oh glorious Shade ! may all thy defécts,as thou wer t mortal, be atton'd for by thofe Performances of thine, that were more than Mortal. O Aflrea I may your Prince imitate his Conduct, Courage, Fortitude, and Wffdom , and let us pray the, Gods that he have but part of his good for- tune. Aflrea. But, my Lady Intelligence, pray what will become of the late Favourites, in this new Reign ? Intell. Why they will be Favourites Itili \ it is not as in former times, when down go the Kings, down go the Favourites. They take example by their Predeceflòr's Failings, avoid- ing the umbrage of great Crimes, they find lit- tle Villains to fupport the calumny of Male- Adminiftration, who are perpetually facrifie'd to their fafety ; the Servant often dies for his Mafter. This is a new and wife Scheme of Management, whilft the Favourite takes care to get him an Eftate fufficient to make him formidable, and to perfwade the new SuccefTor, and People, to leave him inrepofe, to tifte the Sweets of eafe and pleafure. Virtue. Pray, my Lady Intelligence, let us have fome of your afliftance, to explain to us that Parade that appears yonder. htell. O, my good Ladies, if /ou pleafè to itep into this Balcony, you will fee it at your eafe -, 'tis the Funeral Solemnity of the richeft G 4 Widow J ( 88 ) Widow in all Atdantis, that but fix Months, or thereabouts, fiarviv'd her Husband. Vir. A Widow, and rich, and yet die fo foon ! was it of Love, Grief, or Old-age ? Intell Young and Blooming \ I'll entertain your Divinities with the whole Affair, afibon as the Procefllon's paft. Afire*. There cannot fure be greater vanity, than the Pomp they beftow upon the Dead \ 'tis all fuperfluous. True Grief confiits not in Ce- remony. Intell. There's no fuch thing among thofe that appear in thefe Cavalcades :, there's fcarce any 'em that ever faw the Perfon deceas'd } nay often they don't fo much as know the Name of him whofe Corps they accompany, or whe- ther it be a Man or a Womans. 'Tis none of their Bufinefs, they are paid for what they do ; a formal Cafl of Face, a Down-look, immova- ble and demure, is all that is required of them. 'Tis true, this Pageantry is of no ufe to the deceafed, but it's an Honour to their Memory, and mows the Piety of the furviving Friend ; befides, 'tis Magnificent, and the comfort of many a Lady, who makes the Thoughts of Death lefs frightful to her, when me but thinks of an expenfive Funeral, white Flambeaux's, Chariots, Jlorfes, Streamers, and a Train of Mourners. See ! there are four and twenty that carry Ban- ners before the Body ; eight leading Coaches with fix Horfes } the Herfe comes next. Can any thing be more adorn'd ? Gay with Efcutch- eons, rich in Velvet and Feathers. Methinks *tis no fuch • mortifying Sight , the Coaches and Chariots that follow are numberlefs. * Afire a,; ( 8 9 ) Aftrea. Where are thev conducting the Bo- Of Willow, and the murmuring Poplar made. J Two Nymphs? whofe Form- Divine were lofi in Care"* Widowed of Joy? but wedded to Defpair. Soon as returning Liqht revivd the Earth? With conftant Horrour came to curfe their Birth. Each had a Lover lofi? MelifTaV dyd? The very day the Nymph was made a Bride f , LoveV Altar drefsdfor joy the Bed in view? And Hymen'j wafiing Taper downwards drew. A minta too had( lofi the lovlyft Swain? Then when her Br e aft glow d with a mutual Flame. Here? here? they met to mourn? not feek relief? But to indulge? and to inlarge their Grief. « Meli Ila fir ft this Morn had reach d the Grove? Exclaiming loud on unrewarded Love. , Wioen late kmintljoirid the mourning Fair? O? my dear Sifter ! partner in defpajr ? Woudfa (91 ) Woudfi thou new Griefs, new raging Sorrows hear,*) Tremare thy Breafifor Groans, thy Eyes for Tears ! > Anguijh re find, impoffible to bear! J Our little Woe fear cely deferves the Name, But SacharifTas fills the blafi of Flame. Thy Daphnis was indeed the Shepherd's Love, And my Philander gracd the Rural Grove. But they, alas! were Swains of low Degree, Only in Love claiming Priority. But great O&avio, Sacharifla V Lord, In whom high Birth, bright Fortune do accord / Perpetual fpringing Wit, and ever-pleafing Touth, The rapturous Heights of Love, and its enduring Truth. A Form that caught the Eyes, and feiz^d the Heart y% His own untouched, as byfome Magick Art, > But by tti enchanting Force of SacharifTa *s Dart. J Prop to his Country, and to Liberty. ^ Tet leaving all the native Monarch free, V The Patriot, and the Subjeft, poized in j ufi degne. ì Oh Glorianna ! mourn his early Fall,, With Royal Tears adorn his Funeral ! And let all Nature join th* Imperial Woe -, Swell on, yeFlouds, ye Fountains overflow. Melijfa. What ! Great O&Jvio fnatcWd from Life away ! Oh Tyrant Death ! unbounded in thy Sway. Speak on, A minta, tell the parting fir if e , Tell all the Mournings of a tender Wife. That Task perform d, that difmal Story done, Add thou, a Mothers, for her only Son. Sufpend our own, their Sorrows be thy Scene ', £et whole Creation Ufi en to the Theme. ■ Attend ( 9 3 ) 'Attend ye Mufes, aid this weeding Maid ; Nor with one Blatta ye Zephyrs fan the Glade. Te feathcr'd Quire, forbear a -while your Song, So frveet her Voice, ye cannot think her long : Give Ear ye Eccho's, who in Caverns dwell, Learn hence to fpeak, ye never fpoke fo weU. Ottavio'* Name's like animatine Eire, Apollo s fcarce, can brighter Thoughts infpire ;■ And let whole Nature lifien to thy Moan, Subfide all other Woes, fubfide our own. Aminta. Last Night, tempejFous Boreas feemd to keep, His balful Revels on the roaring Deep ; Thunders augment the horrid rattling Din, And the blue Fires difclofe the dreadful Scene : Tall Oaks, which many raging Gufis have born, ( Imperial ftill) from their broad Roots were torn. The Wood-Nymphs quit with fear the falling Load, And jhrieking fly, to feck fome new Aboad. But 1, whom Grief had wonted to Dcfpair : Explore the fweeping Winds, and waud the Tempest, fliare, Vpon the naked Beach, by the white Lightningsy glare. Fearlefs I tread the Maz.es of the Night, And hunt out Objetls terrible to fight. For as the * Roman Bards, 7 tis fweet to fee, To tts who mourn, others as (ad as we : That they in part, fupport their Weight of Woes, And Fate to m alone, dir ells not ail its Blows. * Seneca, Virgil. Melitta. ( 91 > Melifla. Ceafe tbefe Degrejfions, Nymph, nor now declare] But of O&avio, and his Love's Defpair ; The waiting Tears ft and ready at thy Call, The waitiw Tears attend his early Fall. And let all Nature join th' Unequal'd Woe, Swell on ye Floods, ye Fountains over-flow. Aminta. Fantaftick Boreas ragd himfelf to fleep, LulCd on the Bofom of the ebbing Deep ', And ftruggling Light, beginning to regain Alternate Sway, refum'd his chearfnl Reign» Noto Elves and Fairies, quit the chofen Ground ', No more with little Trips beat fas~i the gaudy Round- The grumbling Thunder, folemnly retires, Attended with Auxilliary Fires: And all the dreadful Rant of Nature oer, Gives us to fee the ObjeBs we deplore. Join all the World in this excefs of Woe, Swell on ye Floods, ye Fountains overflow. Here, the departing Waves, in horrid roar, Enriches, with their numerous Spoils, the Shoar. Planks, Cordage, Sails, are fcatterd all around, And breathlefs Bodies ftrow the conjciom Ground : Some are by rav'ning Fiihes piece-meal torn, For Cruelty's in every mortal Form. Some grafp a Plank, fome to the Mall are tyd, Thm by prolonging Fate, they dottbly dy'd. The various colour d Shells, and yellow binding Sand, No more appear, no more the finning Strand: 'Tis ( n) ^Tis alla. Ship-wreck' d Scene of new-wrought Fate, Dreadful to think, too dreadful to relate : Polluted with the Touches of the Dead, With Steps vnnumber d, haftily I fled, Beyond the Mark, which the proud Sea confines, Where great Ottavio s Seat the Margin joins. But here all Nature weep th' exalted Woe, Swell on ye Floods, ye Fountains over-flow . When warm Favonius, and the Spring invite, With its young Bloom, to tafte the ftejli Delights Of verdant Plains ', the fweetly fmelling Grove , When Venus points out every Swain his Love, Bright Sacharifla, and her Lard repair, (Guiltlefs of Courts ) to tafte the fragrant Air : To tafte the Sweets they to each other give ) Blèsi in themfelves, this part of Life they live : For no Difquiets haunts the Rural Seat : J\ Ambition, Jealoufie, the Tortures of the Great .-> *Tu all Ely Hum, in this J r oft Retreat. J Jt was ! But oh, no more ! 'Tis past, "'tis gone : Cold Death fucceeds, and black Defpair comes on ! All Nature join, to weep the mighty Woe ; Swell on ye Floods, ye Fountains over-flow. This Palace fo renown d., for paff Delight : As near I drew,, with Horror catch' d the fight. The Lares hang their Heads, and inward groan , The drooping Genii cry, their Lord is gone I Virgins, who Garlands wove, his Head to crown 7 Reverfe the Work, and raving tear their own : On Heaps of difmal Greens ; ill-boding Yew, D.irk mournful Cyprefs, and the bitter Rue : ( Thofe Hyroglyphicks of their Woe ) around, / A wither d Plat of Gvafs, their Hair unbound, ? With Garments torn, and feat ter d on the Ground : } Forlorn e 95 ) Forlorn they lay, fireaming their Eyes appear, Directing to this Palace of Defpair. Beyond, two human Forms in mourning Drefis 7 The motionlefs, dumb State of Death exprefs. Like Statues on each fide the well-wrought Gate^ Guard the Afcent, to the fad Scene of Fate : The Walls, which Antick Pi&ures ufie iadorn^ In deepeft Sables fiow their Mafier mourn. Large Rooms of State, all black as lowering Nighty Pale winking Lamps, glim 7 ring imperfeB Light ; In Rank fiand filent Shades, like thofe below, But fix' 'd, not gliding, from this Scene of Woe. Their down-cast Eyes, unheeding thofe who pafis^ Eloquent Grief decyphet'd on each Face. But, O ! what ehange of Pain our Thoughts trnploy^ At the conclufive Scene of our past Joy? Where great O&avio, on the Bed of State., Gave w to think of dead Adonis Fate. So Young, fit Lov'd, fio Mourn'd, fio Dear, htfieil, And Sacharifla fiutes to Venus well : So full of Charms, fo full of melting Griefs So loft to Love, fo hopelefs of relief. All Nature weep, th'inimitable Woe, • Swell on ye Floods, ye Fountains overflow. Hung round with deepe ft Night, the conficiomRoom,'} Efchuteons, Streamers, and the waving Plume, > Proclaim the pomplSm Mourning of the Tomb. j Tall Lights, of whit e ft Wax, their Lufire gave, For Oflentation follows to the Grave : O fiplendid Woe ! O vanity, of State ! ^ In Death's dark Realm, difiinchion 'twoud create, > H^ere all alike are low, where all alike are great. j What means this awful Horror to our Eyes ì Within, within,, the true ft Mournwg lies : O&avioV ( 96 ; Ottavio'* Lofs, firuck the deciding Blow ', There needs no heightning to fupreameft Woe. Delia began to fing the Hero dead ; Delia, had in Apolo'j Court been bred: Nor Afra, nor Orinda knew fo well, Scarce Grecian Sapho, Delia to exel : In Strains that tell the certainty of Fate, And the uncertainty of Human State, Imperfelì tho I am, I will her Song relate. Delia. Oh World ! Oh Fortune! vainly 'tis you charm, Againft the Conqu'ror Death, there's none can arm. Tear your bright Hair, ye Maids in Courts who filine. And you blesi; Nymphs, whom Rural Groves con f ne ; In Confort wring your Hands, in Confort mourn *, Beat your fair Brenfis, from thence gay Thoughts be torn, 'join in repeated Groans, in fragrant Sighs, jind quench with Tears your fparkling jhine of Eyes. See here ! Alas ! Look here what Death has done ! Rend your rich Robes, and put dark Cypfefi/ on. Lament, lament the State of Human Woe : Nor Birth, nor Youth, can ward the cruel Blow. Look on Ottavio, once fo good, fo juFt, How early mingles he with common Duft : From the Fair Book of Life expungd betime, Snatch' d in his Bloom of Tears, whilslr Love wot in its prime. Tho Sacharifla'j moB endearing! Arms, 7 Like (acred Amulets, proteBs from Harms, C Protects him from the force of any other Charm:. Mourn all ye Sons and Daughters of the Bays 7 j Who now foatl hear, who now reward your Lays ? r> For Profit ever minpled with his Praife. ** Howl ( 97 ) Howl ye Diflrefsd, ye rntferable Poor, Cloattid by his Goodnefs, fed from out his Store *. Let Sorrow new? what Wretchednefs had done, Te period all in bis expiring Groan : Vnnumber''d were his Grants, like Ocean'* Sand, Ev^n Bounty took new Beauty from his Hand : But O Annabel / Who can define thy Woes : Alas ! thou doubly feel 7? the Another -Throws. Thro' all the Circle , thy fair Life has run, Tranfporting Fondnefs blest this only Son : ' To thee, more than his Birth, his fame he ow'd, Thy Graces in the Hero'* Bofomglowd. What didsi thou not, his Vermes to improve Ì How early charm d in SachariflTaV Love ? So Toung, fo Beauteous, the Beholders thought, Cupid and Pfyche to their Nuptials brought : The Genial-Bed was fruitful There V thy Car r. Transfer thy Love, and raife Thee from Defpair. Guard thofe fair Blofoms from intruding Harms j O ! Early guard 'em from ttnlucky Storms : View all their Father, in his blooming Race ; See thy dear Son re-lives in cv'ry Face. Whilst Back, to the boundlefs Vniverfe he row Is, E'er this decides, the great difpute of Souls : But his immortal FameJW/ never wafle, Like flill endurinir Time, it musi: to Ages last. Ajlrea. We that are us'd to the genuine Ele- gies of Melpomene, and other Performances of the Daughters of Pamaffits, find but a faint Re- liih of the Mufes in this Poem -, however, lince he has fomething of a Genius, we will be indul- to the Attempt : He has accomplifh'd his H Hero -, ( 9« ) Hero-, I would know, whether he drew him as he was, or as he ought to have been. Intel. Firft, Madam, the better to illuftrate my Story, I beg your Attention for à fecond Performance of the fame Poet, drawn in by the pretended Repentance, and reiterated Promifes of his falfe Friend, who perhaps, ( and that's nip wonder ) may deceive him the fecond time. 'Tis juft warm from the Mufe ; finiftYd but Ye- fterday, and newly communicated to me, to be distributed abroad. A ft rea. Mourn à by Aminta, thus O&avio dyd, A Nymph who had tin Extremes of Sorrow try'd \ A Cavtflje fought, far from the Realm of Light, It feemd the dark Aboad of Genuin Night ; Surrounded by a threatning gloomy Grove, ") Where everlafling Ghofts inccjfant rove, > Pale Spe&res, who had met their Fate by Love., j The Sun, nor penetrates at che ar fui Noon, Nor dt full Night, the gli in rings of the Moon. No pleafing Bird, their warbling Throat employ , War Nymph, nor Swain, e'er tafted here of Joy. y'hefe fly the dreadful Shade, and hafle away ; Thofe leave the Haunt, to Birds of dreadful prey \ The Regions native Horror they partake, *y Wah Vulture Screams, and the dire Pinions fijake,^ They wound the Ear and double Darknefs make. ^ Yet Friendfhip, fearlefs, and alone can trace, The congregated Horrors of the Place. Mellilà, braves the Terrors of the Grove, The' Path feems rofie all, that 'leads to what we love. Stretch d an the Damps of that unwholejom Cave, Ibe Emblem of her faithful Lover's Grave. By ( 99 ) By a dim Lamps imperfect fickly Ray, The poor Forlorn, Dì fir e fid A minta lay, And mourn d j and -wept, and watch' d her Hovrs\ away. When thus MelifFa- MelifTa. Thoufeem'ft a Kiobe of Grief, fio petrid grown, That not one Sigh thy Breafl, thy Voice a Moan Nor other fign of living Woe is fhown- But to re-animate thy finking Trame, If yet thy dying Fire can catch a Flame ; If vital Warmth's not quite extinguish d there? Or thy dear Eyes retain a latent Tear ', The Mufick of thy Voice not fled away, Or thy fiweet Mufe in its extreme decay. Jjut if they were, my Tale can force new Woe, Bound thee from Earth, and every Grief be flow ; New Vigour add to thy expiring Life, New Anguifn to thy Saul, new anxious Strife', As once thou mourn si the Husband, now to weep the Wife.. A minta. Thy Voice indeed is fad, hut deeply moves, Suiting the Horror of cur ruind Loves. Of all thofic Woes, difpensd by Hands divine, Hart thou e'er heard a Talc to equal mine ? Can Angela another Lofis bemoan ; Oh no! There is no fee end Grief, O£tavio£0»e." Melila. Tet I have Woes wotCd damp the Bridegroom sjoy, And the gay Smiles of Conqiirors defray* H 2 Nq No new made Monarchs, eager of the Crown-, This Story told, wou'd put his Glories on. A minta. Speak on my Friend, no more thy Grief refrain, Hive with Horror, and was form d for Vain. Thy brimful Eyes, much vntold Sorrows Jlww y Give me the Caufe ; give me the Theme of Woe. Melitta. Too big for Words, and for Belief too great, I fear ce have fir ength the Story to repeat. Ol Canst thouguefs, the worst ill Fate coud do. That which can ev'n Odavio'^ Lofs out-vo ! Reflect on what's most terriblo to Thought ; The widow 'd World to Defolation brought. Extinguifl? d Beauty, Aferit fled the Earth, *} Youth, Goodnefs, evryV'wtue fatty d forth, r A rude rough Chaos, indigefied worth ; •* Nought cite remains ; but, ! to fum -up all, We need but fpeak o/Sicharifla^ Fall. She, fi);, is folded clofe in Deaths cold Arms, Death riots now in Sacharifla'j' Charms : From her bright Eyes the Lightnings ffiatclo 'd away, No more they blefs the World, no more the Day. Extinguifìà !'Luftrc, Horror, Darknefs, Night, Succeed, alas! there most triumphant Light, the fading Rofes, jlowly quit the Place, J A pale dead Hue, invades the native Face, r That Tyrant difpoffeffes every Grace. ' The Ardor of her Sighs no longer warms, No more her Smiles, no more her Swectnefs charms. In one [a A Hnir, how great a Change is made ! In one fad Hour, Ten thoufand Beauties fade. A minta i ( 101 ) Aminta. This fir ikes indeed, it wounds with firong furprife, But to happy Realms, bright Sachariilà flies. The Storm now pafi, and cruel Death ò'recome, New Joys arife from their vnited Tomb. To blifsful Worlds they fly, they refi from Care j Admired and pointed out (by all) the happy Pair* Melitta. Wloat frame to thee, to me, thus long to mourn^ With latent Tears, to hover o'er an Vrn ? Had Love, or Grief, pojfefs'd, us as it ought, We now had been beyond the pain of Thought. Like Sachariflàs, had our Flame beenflrong, So jiwrt the Torment, and the Triumph long. She ! who had every Bribe that Blifs coita move^ Youth, Beauty, vafl Pojfeffions, fmiling Love. The Tribute of all Hearts, the Wifli of Eyes, Negletling thefe, for her Oftavio dies. O lovely, faithful Wife ! mo fi fublime, Vnccjuafd Fair ! the Mules Theme be thine. All Pens, all Tongues, fiali celebrate thy Fame j And diflant Regions learn to Blefs thy Name. Aminta. This thens the Vifion that I lately faw, Charm d by foft Sleep, which gives evn Sorrow Lav?. Reclin'd, along that melancholy Stream, III tell thee all', 'twas far beyond a Dream. A Touth appear d, divinely Bright and Fair -, His Eyes celefiial Fire, Sun-beams his Hair ! H 3 À ( 'ox ) A Silver Wand did grace his lovely Handy Which waving troice, he gave this five et Command: Come follow me, thou weeding, coiiflant Maid, And, for awhile, be all thy Sorrows ft aid. Away l thrò pleafing Worlds, all beautiful and new, With foftefi eafe, and fwift as thought we flew» Till refling on enamel d flowry Ground, Th:ts fpake my Guide, cafl-thou thy Eyes around : See the kind Palms, how fondly they improve, Their mutual Joys, clasp d by the Arms they love. Behold the wedded Myrtles, and again behold^ The Jhreading Ivy does the Elm infold. The mated Turtles, perch on evry Bough. ' Mark how they Coe and Kifs, and feem to Vow. By the fc fond am reus Emblems that appear, Canfl thou not guefs whofe Palace fiou'd be near ? It mufi be Hymen 7 / fure, 1 weeping faid, Hymen, who all my tendrefl Hopes betray d. See there ! forlorn he is, the Touth reply d, Mourning a lovly Fair, that lately dy'd; A faithful Wire, bright Sacharifla, who, Defpifing Life, flies to her Lord below. See, fee ! his Saffron Robe is found, In pieces rent, andjeatterd on the Ground. Around the pen five GcA, the weeping Cupids lay ) Ear he had thrown tti Hy menial Torch away : Which now, but faintly glim ring, feemd i expire, But that the mourning Loves, as faintly, fan'd the Fire. A River next, my Guide, divides the Flood ', On either fide the crouded Waters flood. Came view the Plains, he faid, the happyGvove, Where faithful Hearts fwell with eternal Love- reach the flùning Strand, the Golden Bow'rs, ere TimesV#<> more ; no counting Days, or Hours: No ( '°5 ) No routing Years, that [natch our Bloom away, With change c/Seafons, bringing Youths dec ay. Like the fir fi Pair, in full Per feci ion forrnd ; For ever. Charming, and for ever CharmM. Whilfi thus intent, on all the glorious Throng, A brighter Beauty, fweep'd the Shades along. New-come jhe feem'd, new-landed on the Plain ', Carefsd and Crown d by all the heavenly Train. Some Garlands brought, and firevod with Sweets her Hair ; The falling Sweets o're-prefs the welcome Fair : Thro' Acclamations of celefiial Voice, They bear her to the Scene of all her Joys. To her Ottavio, who her Heart had fill d 7 For^ oh! 'twas SachariiTa, I beheld. Whilfi, with unbounded Raptures, they care/}, A Radiant Youth, thmfung their Happinefs. The Praifes of the Dead. Strike the harmonious Lyre, andflng aloud ', Sing Sacharifla'j Glory to the Croud. Each Scene jhe finifiid with fo nice a Care, No Mafier-piece of Life was ever half fo fair. Mo fi happy Father, who has livd to fee A Child, offuch unerring Piety. Blefsd Infants, who from fuch a Mother came, \ Tou, fair Born Daughters, imitate her Famej i. As hers may yours, acquire a deathlefs Name. J Te happy Sons, tread in the Pathfiie made ; Keep but the Track, your Laurels »e 9 r can fade, Honour, that Idol, never yet coud fee So fair, andyetfo true, a Votary. When Youth, Wealth, Beauty, all invite to Uve \ What the gay Court, «r gayer Love, coud give : H 4 ?H ( 1 0+ ) That part divided, which enrich' d the whole, Were Bribes too me. in for Sacnai'ifla'j Soul. Deaf to th' Enchantments of a. tempting Age, Deaf to thofe Blandi fments which Touth engage : Excluded from all Joy, to Grief a prey • The eating Viper gnaw'd his fatal way ; Deep funk in Woe, flic fcarce beheld the Light, Never, never, taf ed of Der - Till Death, fo often calCd for, came at lofi ; Death, when intreated, makes but [lower haf. Sullen and proud, he bids the Wretched (lay, But fnatches the mofl profp'rous in a day. Thefe Storms ore-pafl, the happy Pair urate Their Virtues, crown d with nncontrouPd 1 Fix'd in the highefl Orb, they brightefi move ', The Jhining Gods fuch H oppine fs approve. New Coniteli ations they fo grace the Sky, Look up the World, and laud their Memory. Afrea. I doubt this is but your Poet's Com- pliment ; for, as lately as I came from thence, they knew nothing of the matter then. Ititeli, That's no Buhnefs of his, he cares not whether ever they get there or no -, I fee his Flat- tery has not catclVd your Mightinefs's applaufe nor approbation, and yet 'tis well enough, accord- ing to the rate of the prefent Writers. There are fo few in this warlike, illiterate Age, that underftand the true Beauties of Poetry, that the happy few that can diftinguifli themfèlves (in a juft Indignation at its ignorance) are ii- lent ; the Critick is degenerated from his firft Original} 'tis now only underftood as fpeaking of a Pcribn of Spleen and 111 -nature, who pro- fciTes againft being pleafed at any thing but his own Compofitions, or when he can find fault with ( io5 ) with others-, he never applauds, tho' in the right place, but often condemns in the wrong: And thefe (by Faction and Party) are Leading Men among the ignorant, who are fifty to one, the greater number. This filent Refentment, from the real Worthy, (thofe that can refcne declining Poetry ) gives the greater liberty to the Poetafter to pefter the Town, and ovcr- fwarm it with their Bumbaft. A certain Au- thor fays, " That he Tails Verfes like Melons, f^Jtf* Intell. And 1 have yet very much to mow and ftc"'™ 7 !- to inform you of, call'd to fo eminent a Station : I mall endeavour to difcharge my felf as I ought of an Employment honourable and di- ftinguilhing. Mon- ( io6 ) Iji J-7I- ft Mnfitur St. tAmxnt was Mailer of a very great Eftate ; fo far the Poet's Character is right - 7 he found the Wife his Mother beftow'd upon him much to his Mind, being neither nice nor en- terprizing ; he lov d lazy Pleafures, and therefore never gave himfelf the Fatigue of Flattery and Diifimulation to the Ladies, without which you feldom prevail with them, unlefs it be by Dint of Money :, and that he cou'd employ more to his** Mind in the Revels of Bacchus, than the Rites of Vemu \ and that's one more Perfection agreeing with the Hiftorian : But I fliould be at a Lofs to carry the Parallel any further. As to his being a Patriot, I never heard of any thing he performed that way, diffenting but by a No - 7 and encouraging that Party he would fain have it thought he was of, but by a Tes. His Pleafure was in his Appetite, I mean good Eating •> emi- nent for the diftinction of his Tafte, and a nice order'd Table ; Wine, and the hotter Liquors were the occafion of his Death -, the Phyficians vainly forbid him too liberal a life of 'em : He dy'd memorable for nothing, but introducing a Bofom-Friend of his to his Lady's Intimacy and Favour, and leflening his Children's Fortunes to enlarge her Dowry: 'Twas kind and obligingly done of him, he cou'd do no more, but die quickly , oat of the way, to leave her the richeft Widow in all Atalantis. A Donative fo much to her advantage, gave her Parents the Alarm -, her Mother, like a wife and prudent Woman, after the firftGuft ofher Sorrow was blown over, read her perpetual Le&ures of Widows, that were undone and ruin'd by marrying of fecond Ventures -, her Husband's Family w-gre not at all pleas d at the Diftinction ( '«7 )_ Drftin&ion he had made in prejudice to the Chil- »• dren, and probably were then upon the watch, to find what they might have to object againib The young Baron de Mezjsray was of a very '* «''««•* ancient Family, but the too liberal ExceiTes of his Forefathers , had extfemeiy impared the Eftate, he could no more maintain it in its for- mer Splendor - 7 there were who love to concern themfelves in the Affairs of all Men, that won- der'd he did not feek to better his Circumftan- ces, by applying him felf, either to the Court or Army j probably it was not his Principle, or he did not love the Fatigues of the Camp or Cabi- net. Monfleur St. ? Amant lov'd nothing fo tenderly as he did the Baron ; he would not by his good Will have breath d a Day without him , he was the Zest to all his Pleafures. Bacchus, ( as well as he lov'd him ) had not his true Flavour when he was wanting -, and one wou d think he cou'd have e'en fhar'd with him the Delights of Venm, by fo frequently forcing him upon his Lady : He would tell her, that if there were anything (he could more oblige him in than other, 'twould be in tenderly reflecting the Baron, who defer- ved admiration more than all Mankind put to- gether-, that this degenerate Age had nothing elfe to boaft of, had not -Nature put him into the World ; we muft have been at a lofs to have guefs'd at the perfection of our People of Virtue, that were born fo many Ages before us ; when the World was young in Vice, he was indeed a true Copy of 'em, their mining Qualities all centerd in him, his extraordinary Modefty only kept him from univerfal Admiration, a Quality in-born f 108 ) in-born to the moft worthy, that when he plcas'd, 'twas but making himfelf known to receive the firft Dignities and Employments of the Empire, tho' the ill-natur'd will tell you, his grcatcft Merit, according to MonpcurS Gousl agreeable, confifted in being a bonne Companion, in knowing when your Craw-fifi, Soups, olios, Terren, Frica- cies, and other Elegancies of the Table, were in perfection -, which were beft for a Preparative, which for a Digeftive, Spirit of Clary, Tinfture of Saffron, Barbad.nesAVater , Perfico, on Ceau de vit 7 avec le Fleure d 'Orange. Madam de St. VAmant bad been marry 'd fo young, that Love had no- thing to do in that Affair ; he was not at all neceflàry to a Match made up by Friends \ how- ever fhe grew up with great Inclinations to com- ply in every thing with a Husband fo obliging, therefore we muft not think it at all ftrange, that fhe fo readily obcy'd him, in efteeming the Baron. He was by freedom of Converfition let into a thoufind Intimacies, which gave him Op- portunities of diftinguifhing himfelf by a more infinuating Behaviour, than was neceffary to a Husband at eafe, and in full poflcflion of what ever a Wife canbeftow. Love, that dangerous Enemy of our quiet, that fooner or later forces every Heart by Experience, to acknowledge him the Maftcr, had a malicious delire to poyfon that eafie manner of Life, 'between Monfleur and Ma- dam St. Cslmant, he trick'd up the Baron ill all things that couM appear lovely to the Eyes of the Lady: Drefs'd up his Air with killing Smiles ; furnim'd his Eyes from his own Quiver -, begg d fome of his beautiful Mothers Sweetnefs, and her beft Water for Completion -, pilfer'd from every one of the Graces, to adorn his Fa- , vourite, ( io9 ) vourite, and e'en ftole fome of the Ambrofia to diffufe throughout his Perfon, fo that nothing appeared fo charming as he to the Lady: I had forgot to tell you, that Oipid 7 tho' he be not very good-natur'd, in companion to the refi: of the Sex, made thefe Perfections vifible to none but her -, as to the fa per Ornaments of the Mind., they were not necellàry in this cafe. What have Lovers to do with Senfe and judgment ? Wifdom was never fo much as ever made men- tion of in their Court of Requefh 7 brisk Re- partees :, fome fuperficial Sparklings of Wit -, ij well-turn'd Period 7 an agreeable manner of tel- ling a Story, no matter whether the Story be good or bad \ eternal Compliances j inceflànt Flattery 7 never-ending Praifds , perfeft Refig- nation, and continual Importunities, are their Letters of Mart, and pafs better in- Love's- Exchange, than fine Underflanding. . Madam St. rAmant 7 who was no Conjurer in unraveling Myfteries, tho' they were e'en thofe of Nature, wonder'd what fort of new Gueft fhe had entertain'd 7 fhe neither eat nor flept, a fort of languishing Melancholy made her Days and Nights uneafie to her 7 Spleen and Valours were then fafhionable Appellations for Diftempers they cou'd ftrickly give no other Name to -, if a Lady wanted Money for the Baffct-Table, and her Lord refus d her, prefently fhe was troubled with the Flours ^ if a Set of Jewels to go to the Apartment, or Prefents for a private Favourite, itili 'twas the Vapours, if fhe was forbid the freedom of a Hackney-Coach, with her Bofom- Friend the Mantua-maker, the Vapows were in- tollerably powerful, and nothing like a Jaunt in- cognite to allav 'erri j in fhort, poor Vapours was fore ( no ) forced to father abundance of Inconveniencies. Madam St. ? Amaru had recourfe to 'em -, fhe re- fug'd under the title of Vapours, a Diftemper all new and perplexitive : Sigitlor Mbmpetlier the Wo- men's Phyfitian, was order'd to fit in judgment upon my Lady's Indifpofition \ according to his way of rambling, finding it lay chiefly in the Fancy, he began to entertain her with fomc- thing which he thought very diverting, his own Amours, and the Favours that had been be- llow d upon him. Madam St. VAmant had.indeed heard that was his way, but had never prov'd it before ; fhe aflum'd the Tevere Air of a Wo- man of Honour, fhock/d at the extreme Liber- ty the Doctor took in his buffoon Relation : When he faw he had mifs'd of his Aim, and cou'd not divert, he ferioufly advis'd her Hus- band to take care of her , fhe had the height of Vapours, which might degenerate into Lu- nacy •, to prove this, he repeated thofe Stories which her melancholy Spleen had been proof againft \ and becaufe fhe was not entcrtain'd with 'em, and did not burli out into a Laughter at his lefts, he concluded her mad \ and yet this is the firft rank'd Wit of the Age : But fi nee I intend to carry you where your felves fhall be ]udges of his Converfation, I'll not foreflal it by Defcription. Still the poor Lady languifh'd under this name- lefs Melancholy ; Manfuur was good-natured, and made himfelf troublefcmly officious , but all his Ktndnefs but increased her Malady :, every thing he did was difpleafing -, fhe had even a Repug- nancy in her Nature at fpeaking civilly to him-, when he would touch her Hand, it redoubled her Diflemrier, but to kifs her Mouth was Vapours wrought ( ni ) wrought up to Frenzy. She wonder'd more than he did at this apparent Diflike ; he began in good earneft to fear the Doctor was infallible, and that fhe would be mad -, when he offèrd at carrefling, fhe wou'd fqueak out as if fhe were poflèfs'd ; Love for the Baron caus'd her ( with- out her own knowledge ) to hate her Husband ; fhe receiv'd him with Frowns; anfwer'd him perverfly, and from the purpofe ; hated to Eat or Sleep where he was, but when the Baron ap- peared 'twas the Reverfe ; fhe fmil'd whether fhe wou'd or no, mauger her felf, her Eyes ran in- to a Dance of Joy; her Heart rebounded in her Breaft, Spleen and Vapours were no more, her Converfation took a gay turn ; the little affected Arts by which the Fair wou'd infinuate, became natural ; fhe new-ftampt her very Air and Words; all that the Baron faid, all that the Baron did, was delightful to her; fhe cou'd fit at Table, nay ev'n eat, fb he were but one of the Gueft ; fhe cou'd reconcile her felf to Cards, provided he made one ; nay more, her Husband became tollèrable to her, in his company ; there was nothing to be feen but Smiles of perpetual Joy, whilft the Baron was by, but when he departed all was Sun-fet, or worfe, riling Mtfts, and clou- dy Favours : Her Husband, without ^ny Reflecti- on to her prejudice ) fhw that nothing diverted her but the Baron, and therefore begg'd him as earneftly as if he were fuing for the greateft good, to keep his Wife company till her Health was recovered ; he did not in the leaft wonder that fhe fhou'd think well of him ; he had endea- voured all he could to raife a Friendfhip and Efteem in her ; and becaufe he himfelf was ne- ver fo well pleas'd as when he was with him, he *^« ( i-5 ; he eafily believ'd another might have the fame Sentiments, and be as well entertain'd with what he found fo diverting. The Baron was not fo great a Novice in Love- Affairs, but he could guefs himfelf the occafion of Madam's Diftemper ; whether he prided him- felf in the good Fortune, is not very material, or how great the Conteit was between Friend- fhip for his Friend, and Charity for the Lady, at laft he concluded that 'twas height of Friend- ship to have Charity, for by that means he mould preferve, and put out of pain a Creature that was dear to his Friend , but the difficulty lay not in his good Intentions, but the manner of aflwaging the Griefs of the afflicied Fair One. She had been bred up in a perfect referve to all the World but her Husband, the Offers of Love from another might probably (hock her to a vio- lent degree, and mould r fhe once take a Difguft, it might re-call and fix her wandring Heart to its firft Object \ he therefore concluded it bed to redouble, if poffible, his Diligence, and to let Chance determine the reft. The Seafon was come for going into the Coun- try, the Lady's want of Health feem'd to re- quire it, but me cou'd not tell how to part with the B.irorh company \ not that fhe fufpedted the Foulnefs of the Infection -, fhe was pleas'd, with- out knowing what pleas'd her-, the flufhing Blood, obedient to the Dictates of her Love-fìck Heart, wou'd immediately fly into her fair Face and Neck at his approach, a fort of fhivering, an alternative of heat and cold would feize her, but Mill this was but the Lady's friendly Diftem- per, Vapours \ but fuch Vapours, that was not in the cower of Sd-VoUtlU y Salmmaek-y nor Spirit at ( in ; of Hdrts-horn to cure ^ in vain did the Gentle- men of the Faculty fit in confutation , the Ba- ron had more Vertue than all their Medicines» ' and becaufe good Kature and Friendfhip were his Talent, to oblige Monfieur, and ferve his Lady, he ftirr'd from her as little as he could j but the Husband, who lov'd nothing fo well as his Friend, and his Wife, always made a third } the Debauch went round in her company, tho' fhe would not fhare in it, which was her own fault, in not believing this Do&rine of her Ma- ilers, That the Bottle was a Cure for all Diflemfers. Still was the Fair ignorant of the Evil that tormented her. The Baron one Day alone with her, fhe faid to him, What melancholy Hours, my Lord, are Monfieur St. V Amara, and my felf, going to pafs in the Country, unlefs you can have the Goodnefs to go with us ? I do not ufe to ask Favours of any one, but I find you fo % neceflàry to my Diverfion, from this dangerous Melancholy that has feiz'd me, in pity to my felf, I make you this Requeft. By this fine fet Speech, you may guefs at the Lady's Innocence ; flie was not accuftom'd to read Books of Gallan- try ; knew no more of Love than what fhe had gotf xomOf era's and Comtalesjs here unlefs a Lady be in Love before, fhe feldom makes application - ? thofe of the Sex that have that happy Indiffe- rence, go to a Play but when 'tis cry'd up and becomes the faflaion, and then only becaufe the reft of the World goes -, fhe'll go for Company, to fee if any Lady have finer jewels than her felf, to expofeher own, and to obferve the Modes, &c. She even fpoke to her Husband, to entreat the Baron to go along with 'em: He delired no more ; he was over-jov'd at the Sympathy I ' he r."+ ) he found in his WitVs Inclinations -, he bid her be calle, the Baron fhoifd go with them - 7 then he fell to teizing the Be loved , who did not want half that Courtfhip as he pretended, where could he be better regaled ? Where could he live fo well as at Monfieur St. Pjimant ? Befides, the fair Lady's Admiration and Pain for him, made him refolve to pleale himfelf, and oblige her. They were no fooncr got down, but the Lady fancied herfelf much better \ the reafon was plain, the Baron was feldom from her, and her Intervals of Melancholy confequently fhorter:, indeed, thofe Days that they went a hunting it went ill with her } then fhe had nothing to do but to have the Vapours in perfection -, is fhort, fhe de- clared herfèlf a mortal Enemy to that Diverlion, and oblig'd 'em to keep at home more than they would have done. (* St*!** A young Relation of hers, named Berintha^ ' imfti/* divert herfelf and others, came there upon J. a Vifit, with an intent to pafs away the Sum- mer -, fhe was very witty, entirely agreeable, full of Amufement, and Coquet enough : She would have thought it a great Injury to her Charms, if any Cavaliere mould not feem to be fenfible of 'em -, at firft fhe did not give herfelf thought enough to examine the different Intereftsof the People fhe was with. She expe&ed no great good ( as to matter of admiration ) from Mon- fieur St. / Amant^who had never been in Love in his Life, unlefs you'll call it Love to be a good and kind Husband to a Wife, that he had mar- ry\i when he was a Child, and grew up with. Thofe are tender Friendships, free from the Difquiets, the Hopes and Fears for poifeffion ; calm are their Defires-, calm are their Joys; they ( "5 ) they may be well term'd difcharging ones Du* ty with a good grace , wearing your Fetters with no inclination to Freedom :, but the fierce Delights, and ravijhing Sweets of contenting Love, after Toils, Affiduities, Dejpairs, and ardent De- fires, are all foreign to a Hymen impofed upon us before we have either Age or Leifure to delire it. But Parents think their Chidren can never be unhappy, if they do but take care of their Intereft, which is the true reafon that we fo feldom fee People of Condition, fortunate in their Marriages. The Men feek their Diverfions abroad, and the Ladies often are not more inno- cent, at bell their Husbands Inclinations elfe- where never fails to render them miferable. Berintha having fmall Hopes of being adored by one that preferred Bacchus to Venus, thought fhe Ihould have a melancholy time of it, if the Baron did not prove more fenfible. Your true Coquet thinks all Pleafures infipid, that are not mingled with the Pretence of Love :, I fay the Pretence, for their varying Tempers never know what true Love means. What Pains will fuch a one give herfelf, to procure a little Flattery ? How indefatigable will they be, to gain the Of- fer of a vain taudry Heart, which they are fu re to defpife, if once it becomes their real Con- queft ? But if a Man of Senfe ever be fo mife- rable, fhe is fure to make him fufFer all that Ofientation, Pride, and Defire of having the World fee her fovereign Power, can inflid. Berimha, being Coquet in perfection, whenever fhe fpoke to the Baron, fhe foften'd the Tone of her Voice, call'd Smiles to her Mouth, and Dim- ples to her Cheeks-, aflum'd a dying Sweetnefs in her Eyes -, threw out the Bait with all the I 2 Artifice ( '«6 ) Artifice of a skilful hand *, not that fhe lov'd him, any other Man wou'd have ferv'd her bu- finefs as well \ her Pride was this, to be admir'd: She mortally hated that Lady, whom fhe could not rob of her Gallant. Such a Solitude was afrighting to one of her Temper-, if the Baron had immediately furrender'd, fhe had changed her firft Defigns of pafling the Summer there, and gone to the Hot-Baths, where a much more numerous AiTembly promised her much greater probability of Admiration. The Baron, grateful to the Pains Madam de St. VAmant felt for him, wou'd not give in to the Artifices of the Coquet, at lead till he had fuffèr'd her to play all her Tricks over, and was come to the down-right advance, of telling him, that his Indifference difpleas'd her, nay, ( per- haps inflam'd by his Coldnefs, the Antiperiftafis had really warm'd her ) fhe reproached him one Day in the Garden, after fo gallant a manner, that he knew not how to defend himfelf -, fhe told him, 'twas highly unnatural, in a Man of his Age, to let a young Lady pafs fo neglecied , fhe would not believe that thefe were Times for Gentlemen to leave their Hearts behind 'em; that fhou'd a Beauty ( as fhe did not doubt ) have engrofs'd it whilft he was at Angela, he knew better, than not to have it now at Com- mand, lince new Places generally produced new Conquefts, to People of his Merit. Nothing could have been faid more obliging -, he was very near being catch'd with it, at an- other Time, and in another Place, he would not at all have hefitated ; that fair Lady, or any other fair Lady might have commanded him, as far as fhe pleas'd, at leaft to the extent of his Power, ( 117 ) Power, ihó he had ev'n ftrain'd to oblige her. But he knew very well, that Coquets delire no- thing fo much of the Conqueft, as the Repu- tation of it. Twas impoffible to have an Affair with any of that Stamp a Secret % they are the firft themfelves in proclaiming the advantage they have over other Women. He fhould lofe tender Madam St. VAmant, her Virgin-Heart :, her appropriated Kindnefs, for one that had not the leaft part of her value ^ fo that he did not know what to anfwer her. Bermtha was as cunning as a Witch , by the perturbation of his Mind, which fhow'd it felf upon his Face, and the iilence he held-, me had her Eyes open'din a Minute \ fhe recolledted with an admirable fwiftnefs of Thought, all Madam St. t Amant\ Complaifances to the Baron, and his Affiduities to her -, fhe no longer doubted but that was the Myftery, and wonder'd that (he mould be fo long unravelling of it -, (he was fure that Cold- nefs could not be natural to him. Oh poor Ba- ron! continu'd Ihe, with a loud Laugh, 1 pity you j I fee how 'tis with you, you are afraid to make Madam St. CAma?it jealous. Madam St. VAmant, he anfwer'd, with a fé- vere Frown, is not a Subject for us to trifle with, her Virtue is above being cenfur'd by the Standard of others \ if your Thoughts and In- ' clinatioas be gay, you are not to judge of hers by your own. Nothing cou'd have been laid more difobliging \ it confirm'd Berintha in her Sufpicions, therefore to be reveng'd on them both, fhe was refolved not to throw up her Cards, till fhe had fufficiently perplex'd the Game. She feign'd to be of his Opinion -, that what he faid he was in the right of, for Madam I 3 *." ( us ) St. VAmant was a Woinin of undoubted Honour •, what fhe had fpokc was only by way of Rai- lery, to find (if poffible ) fome Excufe, tho' ne- ver fo improbable, for that e\xeflfive Coldnefs, wherewith he receiv'd the Favours, a young Lady, ( not wholly difagreeable ) beftow'd upon him. The Baron fell into her Snare ; he believ'd what ihe faid, and to confirm her, fpoke and did fo many kind things, as would have paci- fied one lefs acquainted with the World \ but ihe was too cunning, and knew whence they were derived. She hated being oblig'd to an- other, for what Ihe thought her own due, yet fhe feign'd to give in to what he faid, but vio- lently, ( with a premediated Defign ) opposed him as he kifs'd and pulFd her. He proceeded neither with the Refpedts nor Tranfports of a Lover : Berhnha was not to diftinguifh, at this time of Day, between the real and the pretended •, Ihe had fo often acled her felf, that fhe foon difcovered the Counterfeit in him. They had left Madam St. P An ant upon a Bed of repofe, in a Banquetting-Houfe, in the Garden, to try to get a little Sleep. Berhnha, did not think her felf Hall enough tumbled, but with her little Graces and Affectations, fhe Hill provok'd the Baron to kifs and teize her, which fhe refitted as much as her ftrength would permit : Warnfd by the foft Flay and Touches of a young wil- ling Coquet, he folio w'd her in good earned, and pnird her down by main force upon a Bed 'of Greens, in an Arbor where they were, till he had almoft kifs'd and ruffled her to CCS, Probably ( "9 ) Probably he had made greater advantages, if Alonfieur St. fAmant had not farpri'z'd him. Oh, Gud Cofen, fays the Lady, getting up from the Baron, who did then let her rife, was there ever fueh a Brute ? He's ruder than a Bear ! h this your modeft Gentleman? I'll never truffc my felf with him again ? Then brufhing briskly by 'em, fhe ran down the Walk, and ftruck up another that led to the Banqueting-Houfe, all difcompos'd and ruffled as fhe was, and quite out of Breath with running, fhe flings open the Door in a pretended fright, and throws herfèlf upon the Marble Floor, by Madam St. Amanis Bed of Repofe, who did not fail very earneft- ly to enquire the occafion of that diforder. It was a long time before fhe pretended to have power to fpeak, at laft fhe told her, the Baron had undoubtedly ravifh'd her, if her Husband had not come in and prevented him. What became of poor Madam St. /' Amant at this mo- ment, this was the worft Vapours of all ! her Blood ran to heart, and left her Face pale as the dying or dead. New-born Jcaloufic met with it in its paifage, and, by a flufh of Rage and Fire, return'd it back in perfed Scarlet : It cover'd her Neck and Breafts, as well as her Face, glow'd all over her Body, and rofe to choak her Words, fhe cou'd not bring out the leaft Syllable. Lord, Cofen, cry'd cunning Be- rintha^ (who had done all this to provoke her) are you out of your Sénfes ? what's the matter with you? I'll lay my Life you are lick of a Diftemper you don't know : 'A my Confcience you are Jealous, and love the Baron. Here the infallible Lady prefs'd the affli&ed to fpeak to her, but fhe cou'd only burffc-out in a greater I 4 paf ( Ho ) paffion of Tears -, and then 'twas all like to be well enough } noWoman overdies of a Diftemper of the Mind, when (lie can once come to cry it out. Berlntha us'd all pofiible arts to pacific her, her Infinuations were almoft irreliftibie. Ma- dam St. r Amant was all generous and fincere, far from fufpectàns; artifice in others, fhe never was herfelf acquainted with any. Berintha had nam'd to her that terrible Difeafe, which fhe had ib long felt, and yet cou'd give no name to. Jea- loupe had difcover'd it to be Love, becaufe he never appears in a place where Love is not. Jealovfte confirm'd it to be Love -, becaufe in a moment fhe pafs ? d to an averiion for her Colin, who before had been very well in her kindnefs. What fhou'd fhe do? That airy Creature was Miftrefs of her Secret, and wou'd infallibly di- vert the Town with it -, what cou'd fhe do ? She faw fhe was in a moment going to lofe that long-valu'd Reputation and Efteem that fhe had been hitherto in pofleflion of; but what moft amaz'd her, was, that fhe coifd be lb many Months ignorant of her own Diitemper. She hopM it was itili a Secret to all the World but Berintha, that even the Baron himfclf was un- acquainted with it, whofe knowledge file more dreaded than her Husbands j he had ever been fo extreme refpe&ful, that fhe had reafon to think him ignorant - 7 for few Men but grow prefuming, when they believe themfelves defi- rable. Berintha favour'd her Modefty, and gave her time to fet her Heart and Mind in order } for as yet fhe had not fpoke one Word. The Coquet had what fhe wanted, and did not care, upon fecond Thoughts, to be made a Confident, for fear ( 121 ) fear it might be fome fort of a Tie upon hef not to blaze abroad the Secret. Seeing her Co- fin had left crying, and was fal'n into a pro- found Frfuery, forgetting her late misfortune, as if fhe had' not been like to be RavifrYd, nor no fuch thing had happen'd -, fhe got up (fing- ing a Tone in the new Opera) to adjuft her- felf at a Glafs 5 but when (he faw what a Fi- gure fhe was, how tumbled and diforder'd, fhe burn: cut in a loud Laughter, tho 1 not able to draw the Lady from her Cogitations. When fhe had rompos'd herDrefs, repeating the fame Opera-Air , fhe went out of the Banqueting- Boufe, and left her to herfelf. The Baron, who had fhifted off Monfieur St. CAmant, under pretence of taking a little Sleep in that Arbor, to recover his amorous Fatigues, no fooner faw him return into the Houfe, but he arofe, and, by a round-about way, got to ano- ther part of the Banqueting-Room , whereiil the two Ladies were. He liftned and heard Berintbavei'y bulie upon his Chapter: This was exaftlv what he expected, but he did not know what to think, whether he fhou'd be fad or joy- ful at her telling her Cofen that fhe was in love with the Baron, and jealous of her : He heard the poor afflicted Lady's Paflion of Tears, thè Coquet: endeavours to appeafe, and draw from her the confirmation ("by Words as well as Actions) of that dangerous Secret ; and, in fhort, all that pafs'd till Ber'mtha went out. He lean'd againft a Tree, as if it were to weigh and de- termine with himfelf what to do, whether he fhou'd leave the Lad/ to recover her Diforderj by time and reflection, or offer his mediation ,; Heguefs'd the worft of her Diftemper (if fii i really ( 122 ) Really lov'd him as he believ'd) mufl; be Jea- lonfie -, therefore he thought it but Chanty to cafe her Mind in that particular. He fetch'd a little compafs to bring him into the Walk which fronted the Door Berimha had left open, be- caufè he would not have her think he had over- heard 'em. So profound was her Contempla- tions, that fhe faw him not, tho' her Face was that way, till the noife he made in entring rais'd her Eyes, which were heavy, and weiglrd down with weeping. He appear'd fo lovely to her Imagination, and fo refpediful to her Sight, that 4he had no inclination to receive him roughly. In the molt infinuating and pallonate Terms, he beg'd (without interruption ) a fhort Audience of her^ and tho', as he faid it was, what no Gentleman ought to do, to betray the advances that were made him by any of the fair Sex, -yet he had fo ardent a defire to vindicate him- jfelf to her, that he would facrifice his very De- voir to compafs it. Then he told of his whole Affair with Berimha. Coquets do not always ap- pear fuch to their own Sex, their free-behaviour are generally attributed to Youth and Gaiety, -which poflibly may be innocent. This is what Madam St. tAmant always believ'd of her Colin , but when fhe heard the Baton report of the advances fhe had made him, and of her telling him that he durft not take advantage of 'em, /or fear of making her jealous, the apparent de- -ilgji fhe had to get him to tumble her in that manner, only that fo? might the better draw the Secret from her, by her pretended difcovery gì the Baron's Rudenefs. That Air of Truth with which he fpoke, and her own powerful In- .'li nations to believe well of him ? made her no. longer ( in) longer doubt any part of the Relation. He durfl not take notice to her, that he thought (by her Eyes) that fhe had been crying, but contented to juftifie himfeif -, which , if there had been no Jealoufie in the cafe, he woud have thought himfeif oblig'd to do. No Man wou'd delire to be found guilty of fuch a breach of Manners, as to attempt to Ravifli a young Woman of Condition in a Relation's Houfe. The greateftfpart of Madam St. CAmant'% un- cafmefs, vanifh'd with her Jealoufie -, her Heart adunici its former Tranquility, if there can be any tranquility in a place where Love refides -, and yet undoubtedly there may be a calm, when compar'd to the tempeftous Sea of Jealoufie. She beg'd him not to difquiet himfeif for what fiich an unthinking Creature as Berimha faid; (he thought fhe ferv'd him well enough to report what fhe did of him, lince he wou'd kifs and teafe her againft her will - 7 fhe found it belt to turn the Matter into Railery \ but did not once repeat what had been faid of her felf, that was too tender a Point. They walk'd back to the Houfe in a perfect good Intelligence -, Be- rintha met 'em With fome Country Ladies that were come to Vifit : She fwell'd almoit to burft- ing to find her mifchief had no better effect, no longer doubting but fhe was made the Sacrifice, and that the Baron was. as happy as Madam St. fAmant cou'd make him. The ill luck fhe had at Cards that Evening, gave her a good pre- tence to vent her Spleen and Ill-nature. The Baron won, and did not fail (contra ryJ:o the exact Decorum of Good-manners ) to infult a little: Berimha cou'd not bear it 3 there were a ( 124- ) great many fecret Reproaches thrown out,which were underftood by none in the Company but Madam St. CAmant and themfelves. Berintha faw the beft of her Market was over at that place^ and therefore thought it high time to remove to another - befides, ihe long'd to be ruining her Cofin's Reputation, and pro- claiming her Amour with the Baron. The World is fo uncharitable to Lovers, they never will believe that they fee one another without Confequences, tho' nothing cou'd be more in- nocent than Madam St. ? Amant, nor refpectful than the Baron. Berintha fbon made it be thought otherwife. The firft of thefe Ladies, warn'd by what (he had found of her wicked Temper, had repented to her Heart thofe dan- gerous Proofs of Difquiets and Jealoulic in the Banqueting-Houfe } becaufe her Tongue had been filent, Ihe wou'd have had it thought, that fhe was- only agitated by a prodigious Fit of the Vapors, fo that fhe knew not what fhe did. Berintha was too cunning a Baggage to let this pafs upon her, tho' fhe had too much Manners to contradici: her Cofin. The Ladies parted with a world of indiffèrency on both iidesl 3 Twas woiTc between this and the Baron -, he goes a Hunting, and frays at a Country-Gen- tleman's Houfe two days before fhe went away, that he might be fure not to fee her depart, becaufe of being oblig'd to take his leave of her. Ailbon as Berintha was got to Angela, fhe I about her very handfomly , in refpeci: to her Gofcn 5 £ Honour, and not only made a Confidence ofher Affair with the Baron to all fhe met, but [t%*tv* even toU Madam St» fAmanrs Mother (who waà her ( 125 ) her near Relation, and enquired of her why fhè left her Daughter before the Seafon was over ?) That for her part, fhe did not love to flay in a place where People grew uneafie } fhe cou'd. not help it, if the Baron thought her younger and more agreeable than her Colin ; but that fhe thought again fhe was not over-prudent to publifh her Refentment and Concern to all the World \ neither did fhe find it was fafe for her to flay in a place where her Honour had been attempted with fuch Impunity. Thefè Reports were highly fcandalous in the Ears of the old Lady, fhe did not fail to write a large Sheet of Paper to her Daughter, flufF'd full of Reproaches for her pafl, and Admonitions for a better future Behaviour. Neither did Berin- thas Malice flop here, fo effectually fhe purfu'd it,thatanold bluntGentleman (highly fcandaliz'd at what he heard ) by her Agent's infligation, wrote to Monfieur St. VAmant, whofè Friend he was, to advife him to take care of the Baron and his Wife. This fatal Letter found the Husband ill at eafe, by the return of a Diflemper which, young as he was, us'dto afflici: him. He cou'd not be- lieve what he read -, the pain of his Body then became little, compar'd to that of his Mind -, it feem'd to him as if he awak'd from a Sleep of Popies *, he cou'd not but wonder how he ihou'd thus long be blind, to what was fo clear- ly feen by the World. His Lady and the Ba- roa, had before employ'd their endeavours to make him return to Angela, for better Advice, but this Letter only determin'd him, he fhou'd have an opportunity of getting rid of that dread- ful Friend from under his Hofpitable Roof. The ( né ; The Baron did not fail to accompany *em to their own Palace, where he took his leave at the Gate, with a Behaviour fo tender and re- fpe&ful, that St.CAmant almoft -juftify'd him, in his Thoughts. He kept this anguifh clofe con- fin'd to his own Brealt, not without a Million of times accufing himfelf, for fo imprudently prefling his Wife to efteem the Baron, and vet he knew not how to condemn 'em, fince herfelf had been acquainted with her own Diftemper ; fhe had more avoided the Lover, and fought her Husband, there was nothing omitted by her that an honeft Woman cou'd do in the like extremity % fhe mafter'd herfelf as to thofe dif- gufts fhe formerly fecm'd to receive from his Carelfes, and declin'd being Entertain'd by the Baron -, lhe prefcrib'd herfelf a perfect Rule of Behaviour, from which (he was refolv'd rather to die than depart -, and endeavour'd to juftifie herfelf to her Mother, by informing her of Ber rinthas Malice. Since the Baron knew nothing of all this, he was as affiduous as before, and the World, who knew he was perpetually there, did not difcon- tinue their cenfure. Manfieur St. Amante Diftemper redoubled, he cou'd not confine himfelf to Wine and Water , or Tijfanes, as the Phyfician wou'd have him, his Troubles of Mind feem'd rather to call upon him for higher Cordials, that he might drown their memory : One day, after a dreadful Fit, he caus'd his Lady to be call'd, and ask'd her, if he had ever fail'd in a tender Husband's Du- ty ? She anfwer'd him in Tears, that he had net only exceeded all others, but even her own ex- pectations and defert, however partial fhe might be ( 1*7 ) he to her felf : He then ask'd her, ( fomcthing abruptly ) how fhe could excufe her felf for fo ill performing hers? at the fame time he gave her that Letter to read, which the old Friend had fent him into the Country: She threw her felf upon her Knees, at his Bed-fide, and fell a weeping : He ask'd her whether fhe were really guilty ? he cou'd forgive her if fhe would be in- genuous. Madam St.-fJmant, who was bred to hate a Lie, and held it unworthy of that ge- nerous Confidence her Husband had put in her, to abufe it, tòld him all ihe had fufFer'd, from the beginning to that prefent moment; BerlnthcC% Malice, her own Innocence and the Haron\ who had never attempted any thing but what might have been heard and fèen by all the World -, there's fomething fo perfuafive in Truth, that he was convinced : She begg'd him to pity what he could not approve; it was not in her power to mafter the Paffion fhe had for the Baron, but it had been ever fo from giving him any Teftimonies of it. He told her, he did with all his Heart; and he forgave her, nay, even return'd her Thanks for fo well dis- charging her Duty, when it was fo powerfully oppos'd by her Inclinations : He wifh'd that he had fpoke fboner of it to her, that he might fooner have receiv'd that fatisfaàion, which he was now afraid came of the latefc to him ; that he believ'd it had precipitated his Death, which he found coming very faft upon him ; but to con- vince her, that his Efteem was ftill the fame for her, he would have his Will remaining as it was before this had happen'd, that he would ev'n have alter'd it, if it could poffibly have been made more for her advantage; but having left ( i*8 ; left her all he could leave her, tho' to the pre- judice of their common Children -, he begg'd her to be contented with being the richcft Wi- dow in all Atalantis, without ever bellowing her felfor her Fortune upon the Baron -, not but he eminently deferv'd every thing, but upon the Score, that it would confirm the bad World of thofe Reports the bafe Berintha had fpread abroad. Madam St. CAmant promised him more, never to marry again, tho' it were much to her Honour or Advantage. 'Tis poflible he might not be- lieve her in that point, becaufe all Women a (Ture their Husbands of as much. He feem'd only to accufe himfelf for fo indifcreetly introducing a Man of the Baronh Merit to his Wife, anddy'd foon after, an eminent Warning to all Husband's from falling into the like Inadvertency. He was no fooner interr'd, 3nd his Elegy publilh'd, but all the Town gave her to the Ba- ron for a Wife , they ev'n laugh'd to think how much out of Countenance the Poet would be, when his Mourning, Conflant Sacharijfa, fhould take the Comforts of a new Bridegroom. Thus they entertain'd themfelves at her cofl, and Be- rintha did not fail, in all Companies, to report the Bufinefs as good as done. Poor Madam" St. VAmant, Heart-broke with inward Paffion, ftruggling between Lovt and cruel Decency -, full of Veneration and grateful Ten- dernefs to her departed Husband -, aw'd and ter- rified by her Mother's perpetual Remonftrances ; rack'd at the remembrance of the Bar ens Charms, and the Promife fhc had made Monjicur St. VA- mam, forfook the Town, to retire to a fmall Villa, where (he gave up her felf to perpetual Melanchollv -, her Health was much impaired by thefe ( 1*9 ) fchetè Confli&s of the Mind. She would fonie 3 times think that fhe was deftin'd by Fate, to re- trieve and draw the Baron's, low Fortune from, obfcurity, by her abundance } that he was rich enough in Merit to deferve all things; When he came to condole with her the lofs of their common Friend, he allow'd much to Decency^ and in feveral Vilits fpoke nothing of his own Pretentions, but at length, having found the time favourable, he began with an elegant DiP courfe, of what he had fo tenderly fuffer'd for her j he pleaded Merit from the Refpe&ivenefs of his Flame, and unwearied Silence, to hinder her from thofe Formalities that might retard his Happinefs, he cut her fhort, by telling all that happen'd in the Banquetting-Houfe, and the knowledge he had of that éfteem fhe had honour'd him with, but appeal'd to her felf, if from thence he ever affum'd any merit from it, foas to prefume to declare it to her. The Lady, in return, told him, with the fame Sincerity* the whole State of ner Heart } Monfieur St. I A* manth Difcourfe } the Promife fhe had made him, and her Refolution to adhere to it : She begg'd him to fee her no more, fince it could not be fignificant to either, but hurtful to both j affur'd him, that as fhe did not marry him 7 fhe never would marry any other -, but whatever was in her power to ferve his Fortune, he might not only depend upon, but command. Her Mother taking the Alarm from the Ba* ronh Vifits, never left teizing her, till fhe fell down-right fick: She was continually remembring her what fhe ow'dher Children, and the memory of her Husband, to keep her from marrying a Beggar, as fhe eall'd him -, how poor and fcan-* K dalouS '7 ( l 3° ) dalons it would appear to the World -, that fhe would rather follow her to her Grave, than fee her in the Nuptial-Bed, with one, whofe very acquaintance had been the Death of fo dear a Husband, and the only Blot of her own Life. Unable to bear up under all thefe Difquiets, fhe was not long in giving the World a very lin- gular Proof of Love and Conftancy, tho' the Enemies of the Sex do not fail to interpret it thus, Crofs a Woman in her Will, and you take away her Life. Vir. And this has given occafion to the fecond Elegy. I think the Poet has been miftaken in his Theme \ 'twou'd have been fomething very new, if inftead of making her die for her Hus- band, he had taken 'the Story as it was, and fhew'd her refolv'd upon any Extremeties, ra- ther than be wanting in her Devoir. Intel There 1 mult beg your Mightinefles Pai* don, for, with fubmiffion, Madam, its much a newer thing to have a Lady die for Love and Grief for the lofs of her Husband, than at any other thing under the Sun. Aftrea. Tho' what my Lady Intelligence has told us in this Story, be entertaining, yet I find nothing in it of ufe to my Prince, at lealt not till he be marry'd, unlefs it be, that betake care before-hand, to make his Wife in love with him, becaufe fhe will elfe fall in love with fome- body, and fo far the Moral may hold good. Fir. We are far advanced in our Journey : Behold that goodly Temple that ftands open : Shall we not go in, and pay our Adoration to Juno, to whom it is dedicated ? Intel. The Fabrick is noble : Cart your Eyes urxm the elevation, .what a raajeftick height it bears, ( M 1 ) bears, it fccms to lofe its Spire in the Clouds : Mark thofe curious Images ! the Carving, the whole Architecture, is admirable : As you enter you (hall pafs thro' Columes of Marble-Pillars, numerous as the Hours in a revolving Year : Mark the beauty of the Windows ; how various and lively are the Colours 5 how fanciful are the Works of Mortals ! They alio are numbred by the Days that fhcehm counts in his Solar Courfe, and to compleat the Syftem, equivalent to the number of the Moons, are the Gates of this magnificent Structure-, the Founder was ordered ( in a Dream ) by Juno, to erect this Temple to her Honour, which has a Promife annex'd to it, of enduring till the end of time, that Creation take a new Form, or be no more. The Foun- dation, (to make it more wonderful) is laid in Water, which is perifhable to all things, but this divine Fabrick ; there is not above fix Foot depth of Earth, all beneath is of the more li- quid Element. Aftrea. Methinks I am not half To much fatis- fied with the Devotion offer'd in the Temple, / as with the Temple it felf: The High-Prieft,^//X«"» fupine and drowzy, fcarce attended to the Duty %urrté/f 9 of the Place : He has a majeftick Appearance:, is clad in becoming Ornaments, but ftill he feem'd to be little at eafe, drowzy, and rather fitted for a Bed of repofe at home, than his Devotion here. Intel. That is, becaufe it was not now his time for declaiming to the People, then none more vigorous, fuller of -motion, vehement In Speech andGeiture:, he is admird and follow : d for his Oratory, but the Snares of Beauty, (againft which he has not been able to defend hinafelf ) Pride, and fome other Vices, have dared K z to ( ni ) to mingle with his Character -, the refpeft I have for all that attend the fervice of the Altar, makes me chufe rather to conceal than publifh their Defects. Aftrea. Methinks little of Devotion mingled among the behaviour of the other Priefts \ the nu- merous Train caft their Eyes upon the Fair -, they perform'd their Hymns as things they had by rote, without folemnity, as if the Heart, nay the Mind, had no part in it -, in fhort, I am diJP- gufted at the Coolnefs of their Behaviour ^ they feem rather to be paid for what they do, than to be pleas'd or aflècìed, I will not fay tranfpor- ted, as if the Service were only eflèntial to their Body, not their Soul. Vlr. Night has overtaken us, it will be in- convenient traveling, till Aurora, return, Cynthia, is already mounted for her Journey, fhe is feated in her Car, behold her taking the Reins of Night, and adminiftring to the World in the abfence of her Brother. This lovely Walk of Trees, that leads to that Houfe before us ^ this Arbor and Bench will ferve us to repofe, till we can re-afliime our Travel. ) /*rfa fecretly figh'd at her good fortune, nor cou'd ft»*^ the guiltinefs of her Amour (for fhe was mar- ry'd) hinder me from envying her being belov'd by the Prince. I did, I knew not what I did, I ran upon my deftrueiion, by making a particu- lar Friendship with her, where I had an oppor- tunity ( IJ7 ) trinity often to behold that dangerous Prince. After once or twice, methought he receiv'd me ■with quite another Air:, that Face which he had neglecied whilft I was a Maid, and no lefs a price fet upon it than Marriage, became his care and admiration now I was^ Marry'd. It was not long before he found an opportunity to tell me fo. I never till then knew the true pleafure of Words ! how in lipid had my Life pafsd before ? The whole extracted to a point, . cou'd not have made the leaft part of that joy I ; felt by his enchanting Declaration. I had ever a native Sincerity, whether I did not enough endeavour to diflemble, or that my love was too powerful for Diffimulatioii. The Prince iaw I was eafily Charm'd, and perhaps feeretly con- demn'd me for it, not allowing for his own fu- periour Merit, nor the firft wound of a tender Heart, but this laft he was then ignorant of. In fliort, he immediately (when he faw he was ♦fo well in my efteem) prefs'd me for the Ef- fects of it, This he woud not have fo early prefum'd to do, if he had not had an opinion, of my Levity, by the apparent Tranfport with which I receiv'd his firft confeffion of Love. I knew not how to be angry when he fpoke, left he fhou'd fpeak no more -, I contented my felf calmly to refufe him, without forbiding him to hope that he might one day be fuccefsful: he left -nothing undone that wasnecefTary to make a Lady's excufe, for yielding to the affiduities of a belov'd Lover } all was pleafing to me that he either faid or did} our opportunities were few, and never alone 'twas that he requefted ; I had the courage to refift all his Efforts \ I dreaded the confeqtience of fiicb a meeting, till tired e 138) tired with that perpetual conftraint I put upon my Inclinations, and weary 'd by his Importuni- ties, I promis'd him within two days, and we took our meafures not to be difappointed nor difcover'd \ but the day after this conceflion, the Baron fell dangeroufly 111 \ 1 never ftirr'd from iiis Bed-fide, gave him all that was necefiary with my own Hands \ he dy d foon after, in a perfed good Opinion of me, and, as you know, left me in poflèffion of a Fortune confiderable enough to raife my pretentions, even to the Prince of Sir a. The real Honour and Friend- Jhip I had for my Husband, even before he was fuch, my Duty (which the fweetnefs of his Be- haviour, and extreme Kindnefs, had made eafie, if not pleafant to me) gave me a true Concern for his lofs -, had not my Heart been prepoffefs'd for the Prince, I doubt not but 1 fhou'd have been much more inconfolable. All the Court came (aifoon as I was vifible) to Condole my lofs. I receiv'd 'em with a decent Sorrow, without any Salleys of that exceflive Mourning fo naturally affèdìed by young Widows -, and this gave the World no ill opinion either of my Senfe or Sin- cerity. I was furpriz'd and touch'd that 1 found not the Prince among thofe who pretended to comfort me. Six Weeks, two Months pafsd, but no News of my Lover. I eaiily condemn d iny felf for that fatal Promife I had made him, which might give him too bad an opinion of my Virtue, tho' I concluded with my felf, that it wou'd have been proof againft all his attempts. I had in my mind call about how to regain his Eftcem, by an Air of Virtue reafiìim d ^ but his not coming broke all my Meafures j I coudno longer bear to live in the uncertainty of his Sen- timents,, ( M9 ) timents, I writ him three Lines to intreat him to fee me, at an Hour when he knew there wou'd be leaft Company with me. He came according to my defire, the Moments were favourable :, we were alone and after the ufual Compliments were paft, I gently reproach'd him for leaving me fo long in my Affliction, without attempting to alleviate it, tho' he knew that it was in his and no ones Power befides, to do it. I found his Pride had been a little piqued at my not meeting him according to my promife -, but I immt di* ately clear'd my felf, by proving to him how ill the Baron was at that time. We were reconcil'd, and he renew'd his Pretentions to me, tho', had I not been wilfully blind, I muft needs have con- cluded he cou'd not love me very muclj, who cou'd live fo long and not tell me of it : How- ever my Heart was for him, and Reafon wou'd in vain have attempted to have made a Party againft him. When he prefs'd for Favours, I infifted upon Marriage : He feenfd really fond of me, and I was refolv'd not to ftoop to him upon lower Terms, now I had a Fortune to de- ferve him. He came over to mine, feeing he cou'd not gain me to his. There was no delays for a Paffion fo ardent as his feem'd to be. I had been but three Months a Widow, the time was indecent, what fhou'd we do? A private Marriage, in an Age like this, wou'd not long have been fuch : I was afraid of being ridicul'd at Court, for one of thofe hafty Widows that fecure themfelves of a new Husband, before the old one is fcarce cold. Oh how foolifh were my Scruples ! how much wifer had I been, to have rifqucd a little Tattle, than have loft my whole Repofe ( Ho ) Repofe and my Honour together? The Prince was eager for what he call d Happincfs -, my own defires pleaded for him, a curfed Medium was found to prevent the Difcourfe of the World, and undo me :, we were folemnly Con- tracted by Words and Writing, before a Wo- man of my Bed-chamber, who was faithful to me ; that done, I recciv'd him without fcruple to my, Arms*, but long I cou'd not hold him there -, a Difguft he both gave and receiv'd at Court, ( of which it is not neceflary I fhou'd inform you ) made him refolve to Travel. I was all in Confufion (fucceeded by Defpair) when he mentioned it to me as a thing refol- ved on. In fhort, amidft my Sorrows, Swoon- ings, Exclamations, unfeigned Tears, and bit- ter Anguifh, he took his leave of me, with a promife to return before my years of Mourn- ing were expired. Bafe and perfidious Hus- band ! it was not fo much from the Court, as me, that he ran away. Pierced to the Heart by his unkindnefs ! Diftrafted by flighted Love and Defpair ! I retir'd to this folitary Houfe, where Time and Reafon, together with his In- gratitude, in never writing to me in years, has reftor'd me a little to my Senfes. The only thing that difturb'd my Tranquility, was your AddrcfTesj I faw you as a Neighbour and a Friend, you haveSenfe, your Converfation is Polite, I thought my felf happy intheFriend- lhip of a Perfon of your Merit \ you put an end to my pleafure, by declaring your felf my Lover -, I was alarm'd at your Alìiduities j you did more than was neceflary to convince me of your Sin- cerity - r I chofe to ufe you nobly, as you had done #c, to free mv felf from the cenfure of having fo ( hi ) fo ill a Tafte, as to refufe a Perfon of fuch ac- complifh'd Merit. I have let you fee all my Weaknefs -, I have told you the important Se- cret of my Life, whilft all Angela is feeking in vain for ReafOns, why ( in my Bloom of Youth ) I mould retire from the Court, and Conversa- tion, tó bury my felf here, in Melancholy and Obfcurity : You are the only Perfon that is ac- quainted with the true Caufe of an Action, which by moft is condemn'd, and but by few- applauded. Count. Tho' you have told me too much, Ma- dam, have you no more to tell me ? or will you tell me no more? 'tis indeed enough to drive me into Defpair, but not to compleat your Relation. Bar. Alas ! What can I fay more ? My own Misfortunes-, my Tears ; my Difqniets } mylofs of Kelt, and perpetual Exclaimings, are what I have contracted, for fear of wearying of you with 'em : Of the Prince I can give you no other Account, than what we have from the publick 5 he made the Tour of Germany, Great-Brit ain^ France, and Italy, and our laft Advices fpoke him at Brujfels, poffibly upon his return for An- gela. Oh Heav'ns ! Why do I flatter my felf with fuch pleafing Hopes ? He that left it only to avoid me ! me ! who he hates to fuch a fu- perlative degree, as to live a banifh'd Man, an Exile voluntary, from his Country, rather than make happy by his prefence, a Wife that adores him : A Wife, whofe Heart was never fenfible but for him -, a tender Wife, who waftes her Bloom in perpetual Solitude, and Tears, regret- ting his ablèace. Count. ( H 2 ) Count. And is this all the Relation you think fit to give me of the Prince ? How little fin- cere are you? or perhaps, indeed, you may be ignorant of your Misfortunes. Bar. What mean you, my Lord ? Do you be- lieve I have left any thing material untold ? O I perceive you ! You know well the Jealoufie of my Temper, and would alarm it ; you have fuc- ceeded, at this moment the Furies are enter'd \ myBreaft i's glowing with Doubts, Sufpicions, Jealoufies, «nd horrid Diftruft \ but iince Uncer- tainty is the worft of Torments, I conjure you, ( by all your former Kindnefs ) to relate to me what you have heard of the Prince. Count. Is it poflible you can be ignorant of what Rumour has fo confidently proclaim'd He is married Bar. O Heavens ! But go on : I wonder at nothing villanous in Mankind : My Solitude, and Refignation to the Gods, has taught me to receive all things with moderation, my Heart is in a moment becalm'd, my Paffion funk into an abfolute Contempt, for a Prince fo void of Gratitude.^ Principles, or Religion. Count. I am pleas'd to fee you receive as yon ought fo terrible a Stroke j but you will more defpife him, when you know who he has mar- ry'd, and how fufficiently you are reveng'd: 'Tis a Lady without any Advantges, but Birth j pair, her Youth ^ never a Beauty -, no Fortune, and had been long in vain endeavouring to make her felf one, by her Addrefs and Converfation, wherein confifts all her Charms, tho' there is neither Judgment nor Depth found in it:; a flafhy Repartee, a Wit that permits it felf to fay every thing, mult fometimes fay fomething to ( 14? ) to the ptirpofe, and eafily finds Applaufe amongft- the young unthinking Men of Quality, who hav- ing in themfelves no foundation, never look for it in others. She had in vain (for more than thirty Years together ) fat every Night at the Bajfet-Table at her Aunt's, ( who is a Woman of Quality, that holds Aflemblies for noble Fo- reigners, and others of the fame Rank of her own Nation ) without having the good Luck to engage any to her advantage, till the Prince of Siro, came amongft them :, there are who want to give themfelves Reafons for, all things, ( not considering Men often aft without it) and report that the Prince only deiìgn'd a Gallantry with her, but was over-reach'd by her, and her two Brothers, and forced to marry her - 7 but I find no other ground for this Story, but the Lady's want of Youth and Fortune : He is exceluvely fond of her; they are upon their Voyage for Atk- Untis j notice is already given for his return, and 'tis only to your Solitude that I muft attribute your Ignorance of an Affair, that has found matter of entertainment for the whole Court ; the new Princefs, it is faid, careflès all of our Nation, whom fhe meets abroad, and by her Induftry and Intelligence has furnifli'd her felf with the Hiftory of all our People of Conditi- on ; fhe pretends only to be fhow'd a Perfpn, and then immediately to difcourfe "him, with that Knowledge and Addrefs, as if ihe had been born and bred in the fame Family with him j this is all that I find wonderful in her Cha- racter, but whether this exceffive Curiofityand Addrefs be an Ingredient of Vertue, I leave to others to determine, who perhaps may place a Woman's ( 144 ) Woman's Merit more in in her Wit and Tongue^ than her Modefty and Silence. Bar. Does the Traitor with Impunity dare to think he may live in a Place where he has fo po- tently injur'd a Woman like me ? Help me, my Lord, I am undone with this laft Shock : How neceflàry is a faithful Friend's Advice ! Paflion mifguides me -, that Calmnefs I boafted of is vanifh'd j my Heart is upon the hurry $ all things are in utmoft Confufion and Diforder within; I would keep my Glory, and yet be reveng'd, punirti him, yet prefefve my Repu- tation. Count. Your beft way will be to do nothing: You can pretend but to a Contra&,which tho' pri- or, is not fo binding as the Ceremony it felf: He will undoubtedly oppofe your ■ Pretentions,- to the prejudice of your Fame } for unlefs he can wound rW, he mult himfelf be wounded ; the World that are not in Paflion, when they are Judges of yours, will condemn you for to hafti- ly believing what you defir'd, and for trufting a Man upon his Promife : There's fomething unaccountable, 'tis one of the Arcana 's of Nature, not yet found out, why our Sex cool and neg- lect yours, after pofleflion, and never, if we can avoid it (and have our Senfes about us) chafe our felves Wives from thofe who have moft obliged us; 'tis, I confefs, the ^rand Specifick of Ingratitude, but it feems fo in-born in all, that I wonder there are ftill found Women that confide in our falfe Oaths and Promifes, and that Mothers do not early, as they ought, warn their Virgin-Daughters from Love and Flattery, the Rocks upon which the moft deferving are generally loft -, ChaiHty is recommended as the greateft ( H5 ) greateft Ornament of your Sex, as Valour is of ours, becaufe of the difficulty there is in main- taining 'em, tho' I do not think the Compari- fon equal, becaufe Courage we fee in-born to many, whilft Chaftity muft beacquir'd, becaufe it moves dire&ly againft the prior Law of Na- ture, and has the whole Artillery of Venta to contend againft. I count you extremely happy in the midft of your Misfortunes-, that your Secret is unknown. What pity 'tis Inclinations fo noble as yours, wanted the firft Principle to fupport 'em i, that your Education did not enough arm you againft the too hafty Impreffions of Love : Of Love ! 'till Gratitude, and true Merit in the Perfon that you mould be belov'd by, might make your Flame not only warrantable, but meritorious : But thefe Refle&ions are of the lateft ^ I much more wonder, (confidering your Infancy) that your Errors have been fo few, than that you have had any. If you will be advifed by me, con- tinue in this Place, but abate of your Solitude ^ fuffèr your felf to tafte of the Diverfions that you may find in the Converfation of thofe Neigh- bours who are feated round about you, and who have an unfeigned Refpeft and Admiration fiw you. Lofe your Cares in little Amufements 7 put the Ax to the Root j ufe your own<*h L deavours (powerfully) to tear this corroding Anguifh from your Heart \ go to the innner- moft RecefTes of it ^ deteft Perfidy and Ingra- tude in all its Forms, and then you will quick- ly deteft the Prince , have all unlawful Paffion in an utter abhorrence, fo fhall you foon extin- guifh that, which you feel for one who can no longer be yours, fince he is by the moft ficred L Cere- ( >4* ) Ceremony made anothers -, but, above all things, practice Moderation ; learn Patience in Adver- iity -, think that the juft Gods, who perpetually chequer the Lives of Mortals, left they mould lofe in Profperity the remembrance of their Creation, has given you a gentle Stroke, to re- call you to themfelves -, fix there your Thoughts -, transfer the warmth of your Paffions to their great Originals -, you cannot love too much*, you cannot too much adore them, who are all Virtue, all Goodnefs, and will give you what- ever is neceflary for your Happinefs -, they have already divided you from a Husband, with whom* (his Principles being fuch as they are) you could never have tailed of any true Happinefs. Aflrea. We cannot hear what Anfwer the Btronefs gives to the Count -, they are gone down the Walk -, fee they are entring the Houfe *, her Tears and Sighs, I believe, are her only Lan- guage -, methinks, for her fake, I am incenfed againlt the Prince, and could with a very good Will revenge her Caufe -, there is fomething of Ingenuous in her Relation *, what pity 'tis lhe was fo itijurM -, the Count muft himfèlf have worth, that can fo worthily inftrutt and admo- liifh her. ; **~*»4U. \. Intel. He has indeed the appearance of it *» wmm'-, all this fine Advice tends only to his own Intereft *, he does not defpair of getting the Baronefs for his Wife, and can you blame him then for making her vertuous -, her Fortune is convenient for him -, • a concealed Morgage eats up the Profits of his whole Eftate -, he will not be long in a Condition to fupport his Title with- out a Dowry -, this Lady is by much the richeft in all the Province *, fhe will do his Bufinefs, if he ( '47 ) he can accomplifh her, and has let him into à dangerous Secret, if Ihe be wife, fhe will never marry him after, left he upbraid her with it: See her Indifcretion, he will be provoked at her Refiifal, as Ihe will ftill refufe him, becaufe fhe has an Averfion to his Perfon, and would rather chufe a favourite Domeftick for her Ma- tter j and confequently he'll divulge her Secret at the expence of the World's Opinion, .both of her Conduci: and Honour. Vir. Her feeming Ingenuity has made a Par- ty for her in my Breaft ; I will do all that is poffible to recover her to Virtue -, I'll try if the Maxim be not.falfe; That a Woman once de- parting from me, never returns, till old Age and Wrinkles have fitted her for nothing elfe. I will endeavour to warm her with my Precepts, and fo render her as renown'd for her return to Virtue, as fhe is for Beauty. Intel. The Count who declaims fo well, keeps two Women for his debauch \ he vifits 'em by turns ^ who would believe it ! but Hypocrifie is not the leaft reigning Vice among the Illuftri- óus. Afirea. I will have my Prince avoid it, as the poyfon of all other Virtues-, warn him a?ainft the perfidy of the Prince of Sir a ; he has robb'd a Woman of her Honour upon a fpecious Pre- tence : He has not been afraid to play with Oaths v how criminal is this ! A Man of true Honour would deteft fuch a Praftice. I will have my Prince renown'd for his Chaftity «, I will have him introduce the fafnion amongft the Men j let the Reformation begin but there, and the World will be modeft, if it were but held a Crime in the efteein of the Great, to L 2 folliate ( «4« ) i0 Uicite a Lady with unlawful Love, all would b e vertuous. Women feldom are, and never 6ll ght to be the Agreflòrs -, if they were, and f u re to be refus'd, with that fcorn that they de- ferve, would it not retort a Blufh to the Face °f the moll Impudent? Vir. The Morning dawns upon us :, let us re- turn to our Travel : Converfation fweetly be- guiles the Time, fhortens the length of Way, and foftcns the Ruggednefs - — See, my dear Aftrea, what a multitude of People are a£- fembled upon yonder Heath ! Alas ! they are feeing a Criminal executed } they muft have a Fiercenefs intheirNature, that can bepleas'd with Objefts fo terrible ! Not One in a Hundred of thele People go for Edification, and true Morti- fication, but Pleafure ! Methinks they mould with Abjecinefs of Mind, refleft upon the wretched State of Mortals, that like a perpetual Flux fub T je&s them to Evil. What barbarous Soul can find Diver lion in fuch a Profped ! There's a Woman nail'd dead to the Gibbet ; fhe feems a Perfon of Condition } drefs'd in white, with the Veil of white Taffàty over her Face: Who can unriddle to us this Scene of Death ? Methinks I want to be inform^ of what led to this Ca- tailrophy. Miftrefs, you that feem all in Tears, returning from this doleful Execution, if you can make truce with your Sorrows, pray inform us Strangers of what you know concerning this Affair. Country-W.om. With all my Heart. I have a little Habitation near at hand, if you pleafe to walk in and repoie your felves, you fhall be obli- ged to the utmoft of my Capacity. The f '4P ) The Lady who fbffèr'd was a Gentleman's Daughter of this Province ; (he permitted her felf to be abus'd by a young Soldier of Fortune, ( quarter'd near her Father's Villa ) whom fhe fell in love with. Thefe Soldiers are the perfeft Bane of all Country-Gentlewomen; their fine Words, and their fine Cloaths, bear down all before 'em -, they never go to the Temple to fu- crifice, not they truly ; that's the leaft of their Bufinefs \ they mind Ogling, as they call it, of the Madams, inftead of minding better things. Well ! they fingle out one that feems bell to their Fancy -, their Rogue of a Landlord gives 'em, at their firft coming, the Hiftory of all the People in the Parifh, and then to work they go, (have and powder, and on goes the Blue, or the Scarlet-Coat, every Day \ Cards and Balls are nothing to 'em ; they'll fquander away their Month's Pay in one Night, when they had better by half be in their Beds, fore- cafting how to pay their Debts \ but no matter for that, they never trouble their Heads about it. 'Ads me ! if I were a Gentlewoman's Fa- ther or Mother, and had Daughters, they fhould as foon eat the Fire, as come near one of thofe deluding Red-Coats. They can all fing, Forfooth, wanton Ditties is all they mind ; you mail ne- ver hear any thing good come out of their Mouths, but Oaths : And then a great many of 'em ( this was one of the Gang ) can toot, toot, toot, it upon a Pipe ; they have another Name for it, but the thing is the fame -, and this ra- viihes the young Gentlewoman's Ears \ then they have Plays, and dying Love-Speeches at their Fingers-ends-, thefe are generally, befides the cutting of a Caper, their whole Eftate-, if you L 3 look ( «5° ) look into their Portmanteau (except their Regi- mental Cloths, you fhall find fcarce any thing but a dnrty Plod-Morning-Gown, two or three Pair of Shooes, four old Shirts, and as many Neckcloths ^ fine they muft be, forfooth, out worn ( with often Warning ) as thin as a Cob- web-, for fall out what will, they muft have a clean Shirt every day. Some of their beggarly Soldiers Trulls does nothing but Launder for 'em, they'r always at the Wafh-Tub, and, I be- lieve, feldom enough paid for what they do. Then they kifs and complement the Country Milliners, to truft 'em with Sword-knots, and clean Gloves, Ribons for their Sleeves, to hang ftreaming down, and to dangle their Canes in j and thus fet out, they go a Tutoring to fome young Gentlewoman or another. But (he you faw, yours had fixteen thoufand Crowns for her Portion, her Mother was dead -, fhe read Romances (Romances I think you call 'em) and Plays, and was counted to have a notable Wit as any, let the other be who fhe wou'd, in a great way of her. Her Father's an old cur- mudgonly Cur, and wou'd never let her go to Angela our chief City, nor wou'd he give her any of her Portion till hedy'd, or fhe marry'd to his liking :, but yet he never look'd out for a Husband for her. Now my mind gives me, that if he had but let her go into fine Company (as other brave Ladies do) me wou'd not have thought a ranting Officer fnch a God-a-migkty : But he was too covetous for that, leaft fhe fhou'd treat 'cm again when he came to his Houfe. So ihe was e'en afham'd to go to theirs. The young Efquire, her Brother, is as com pleat a -tan (tho' 1 fay it) as any the Sun ever fhon up- on» ( w ) on. He was gone abroad into ftrange Coun- tries, to learn their Linguo, when this Rogue of red and blue Coat, courted her, or elfe he had never got his will of her -, he wou'd have watch'd his Waters for him to fome purpofè, he's afraid of ne'r a Officer of 'em all. But, the more's the pity (poor Gentlewoman) 'twas not her luck. The Rogue wou'd not Marry her \ becaufe he knew her Father /wou'd not give her a Groat with him, but befpoke her very fair. He us'd to be let in a Nights at the Back-gate in the Garden, and carry'd up to her Chamber. I know all their Intriegue (poor Soul) you con'd not have lit upon one that cou'd tell you bet- ter. He fo be-prais'd her, and invegled her, that, the fhort and the long on't, in plain, down- right Terms, he took her Maidenhead from her, and left her nothing in the room but a big Bel- ly. Well, this pafs'd on, no Body perceiv'd it. Our Officer wanted to be gone, and go he did j their Company march'd away, but left I know not how many unborn Baftards, behind 'em. Joy go with 'em, I hope they'l never come here again. From the higheft to the loweft, a young Girl cou'd not go about her Bulinefs, but they kept a killing and teafing of her. I reckon the poor Soul that fuffèr'd cry'd her Belly-full, when her loute Hat and Featber-IBeWow march'd off. I know nothing of that, but, as I guefs ; only this I know, that the Efquire came home juft as fhe was at her Time. He was hugely fond of his Sifter j fhe fell into Labour when he was in the Room with her, but had provided no verfal Thing for the Child. She told her Brother fhe was tormented with the Tooth-ach, and want- ed to go to Bed. His Chamber was next tq L 4 hers ( r*i ) hers, away he went, andto't fhe goes-. Pain a r- ter Pain, Tear after Tear, Cry after Cry. The Efquire heard her, and wondred what was the matter:, he came twice to the Door, but fhe wou'd not let him in, but faid (he was up in her Shift and almoft Mad with her Teeth. Well, to Bed 'he goes, and after a few more Labour-pains, fhe is Dcliver'd all-alone by her felf of a brave Boy. Left he fhou'd cry, Ihe tore out his Bow- els in the Birth. Twas the Lord's Mercy fhe did not murther herfelf by it -, but fuch have befl luck, an honelt Woman can fcarce be brought to Bed without a Midwife. Well, up fhe wraps Child and Bowels, and altogether, in one of her Gowns, and to Bed fhe goes ^ in the Morning fhe rings for Mrs. Alice ( that's ^ìsc Chamber- maid) and orders her to fetch a little Plague- Water, for fhe was very 111, and horribly trou- bled with the Vapours : After a great many Good-morrows, and round-about Stones, fhe gives Alice an old Gown and Petticoat \ to be fhort, makes her fwear to be true, and not re*- veal her Truft, as fhe hop'd not to die in her Sins, rnd then tells her all about it, but conceal d her part of the Murther, and beg'd her to carry the Corps upon the top of the Houfe, and there lay it in a Leaden Gutter, that feldorn or never was vifited, till fhe was got well enough to help her to dig a Grave to bury it \ for the Maid durft not do it alone. The Girl, with much fear and trembling, did as fhe was order'd. Some two or three days pafled on, Alice was prick'd in Confciencc, or, may be, like a right Chamber-maid, fhe long d to tell all fhe knew ; and fo flie reveals it to Doll the Dairy-maid, that washer Bed-fellow. Thefe two Wencjies, after this. ( '5? ) this, fancy'd, when they were a-Bed a-Nights, that a cold little Hand ftrok'd 'erri over their Faces } they fo corrupted one another with thefe Figuaries, that at laft they believ'd, nay and fwore to it, that the Child Walk'd} who, if it had been alive, cou'd not yet have ftood. This Ghofl: frighted 'em out of their Wits -, they lov'd their Miftrefs, and was unwilling to difgracè her, for as yet they did not know of the Mur- ther ; but Doll had a Sweet-heart, one Criffin^ a Shoomaker, in our Town, as honeft a Fellow as ever livM } him fhe open'd her Mind to. The Fellow fmelt a Rat prefently, and was refolv'd to difcover it to the next Cadet or Judge. Away goes he, makes Oath of what Doll had told him. This Magiftrate mortally hated the young Lady's Father -, a Warrant was granted, the Houfe fearched, and the Child found. She was try'd for her Life, and condemn'd for wilful Mur- ther } but died very Penitent. She was a hand- fom Gentlewoman : I wifh all young- Women may take warning by her fall, The loquacious Country-woman had the thanks of her new Guefts for the pains fhe had taken to oblige 'em. She fet before 'em Curds new prefs'd, Cream frefh from the Cow, excellent brown Bread, and defired them to refrefh themfelves. The two Divinities, (who in all things were re- folv'd to appear as Mortals) did not difdain her Bounty. She added to her Entertainment a Basket of Strawberries juft gathered, a Pitcher of Wine from her own Cow flips of the Mea- dow, and Butter fragrant from the Churn. Finding themfelves fo clean and heartily regal'd, they omitted nothing to exprefs their Gratitude. After ( «J4- ) After they were fufficiently refrefh'd, they pro- ceeded in their Journey to Angela^ which lay not far before them. They were to crofs a Mea- dow where a numerous Congrefs of Coaches pre- sented themfelves , Beauties refplendant, both by Art and Nature, Cavaliers drefe'd y en Cam- fai^n^ and well mounted, befides a fwarm of Po- pulace of both Sexes, a ridiculous Medly of Human-kind, fantaftically Habited in Fafhions of all Ages, and Airs of none : They feeirfd to have forgot, or rather to be ignorant, of the King's dangerous Illnefs, for as yet the News mm * of his Death was not publickly divulg'd. The occafion of that Bell-Ajfembly was a Chariot-Race. The Prize confifted in two Gold Goblets, and eight hundred Crowns in Gold. The fair Mar- ,y Jf£+rJd*dnoMfs du Gtwr was to bellow it. The Gen- tleman who inform'd the Divinities, was well- fafhioned, talkative, and vain: He made 'em remark the number ofPriefts, that fwarm at all Races, and are the formoli in the Diverfions of the Place : Some mounted upon lean lank Horfes, others ftarch'd up (them of the better fort) in little Chariots, with an appropriated holy Air, cram'd with Women and Infants, Gazing and Betting, and more earneft than any of the Ra- cers themfelves. The Beam faw thefe ftranger Ladies ( for that time they were pleas'd to be vifible) gracefully Charming, he had too great a tendre for the Sex not to oblige them with all things in his power \ he gave himfelf Airs of Scandal, as well as Gallantry, and aftecfed to appear knowing in all the Intriegues of the p Place -, he fhow'd them a Prince of the Empire >>:J Face and Eyes in a terrible manner: He re«- turn'd 'em a thoufand Thanks for their Civili- ty: They took their Leaves very courteoufly, often regretting the Miferies he feem'd to fuf- fer with fuch a Fury of a Wife. Intel. You are now, Ladies, very near Angela^ but juft at hand is the Prado, a Place eminent//'/ a/e 6%?, for what's either Illuftrious or Confpicuous ; here the Rich, and the Fair, adorned in their moft diftinguifhing Habits, come to take the Duft, under pretence of Air. If a Lady be new marry'd, and longs to fhow her Equipage, no Place fo proper as the ?raào\ a Beauty juft come to Town, that has a mind to beaToaft, expofes her felf firftupon theiW his Princefs in the fame Coach with him- She come down deep to his French Valet de Chambers for this Favour : My Lady Venue, fhe is cei'- taiuly of your Court, and the greatefl Ornament of that of Angelas \ is not her Perfon graceful, her Air fweet and modeit \ would not one be- lieve her Charms are fufficient to conquer a thoufand Hearts ? yet they make no impreffion upon that only One fhe defires to touch , hev^ Birth is moll illuftrious, defcended from a ^ SLCt 2f k ^ 2/ of Heroes, neither has Scandal, (which fcaxzsf* -"*]*'** fpares your very Ladyfhips) tainted her Cha- racter, but when they objed, they tell us fhe loves Cards too well, which was a Diverfion fhe probably took up, to amufe her trouble of Mind from her Lord's repeated Inconftancy : How great and how little is that Man? Ibmcthing fo very high, and yet fo very low in his Cha- racter, even his Generality is a Virtue too much extended, and borders fo intimately upon Ex- travagancy \ that one knows not how to di- vide 'em, then the Merit of his Courage is fo allay'd by his want of Conduci:, that in praifmg one, it always puts us in mind how much we pught to blame the other ; fo ambitious in his M 3 Principle, ( 1 66 ) Principles-, fo humble in his Co nverfe-, fo mana- ged by his Favourites, and fo miftaken in his unworthy Choice of 'em -, in his Amours only there's no Contradiction, there 'tis all of a piece, Vice without any allay -,he has corrupted more Women than a Grand-Seignor -, his Pleafure confifts in Variety^ he leaves nothing undone to compafs his Ends, and becaufe Money makes the belt difpatch, he is lavifh of that to pro- fufenefs -, the Traders in Amour no fooner fee a handfome young Girl come to Town-, a Citizen marry'd to a pretty Wife -, a beautiful Daugh- ter expos'd to the Frowns of Fortune by the death of her Parents, but they run with their Intelligence to his Highnefs-, the Trench-Valets introduce 'em, one is very well rewarded, and the other, by thefe Services, keep themfelves in favour \ yet has he this of Magnificent in his Temper, he turns none of his Women to ftarve when he has done with 'em -, there are feveral, (that fometimes mine in the Prado ) to whom , he has given large Cantons of his Eftate -, his fy/j^T^now favourite Miflrefs is a Woman of exalted PfA&rÀrBìrth, he purchas'd her of her Mother, (and re i: trf- that was molt abominable ) by a confiderable \frrj~. Sum toherfelf, and a Settlement of Two thou- fand Crowns a Year upon her Daughter -, the reverend Matron did not blufh to fell the Prince's Favour to all that would purchafe \ ( a wretched Principle) fhe was not afham'd to take fixty Pieces of a poor Poet, ( all the Profit that his Brains had ever been able to prefent him ) to make him only a Subaltern , the French-Valets rejoie'd at her death, becaufe fhe was very like, during her Daughter's Reign, to run away with their Profit, the Bribes having all found the way -to .Jt-u 'U*l ■ ( 1 67 ) to her. When the Prince went to his Vice- _ y Royalty in the Indies, the Princefs, his Wife, was JJ**&/5 forced to give $P*r an incredible Sum to thofe rafcally Fellows, or fhe had been left behind j yet had fhe the new Mortification, to find her Lord fo wholly negle&ful of her, and of all Bafinefs, as to fhut up himfelf whole Days, to write long tedious repeated Aflurances of Love to his then reigning Miftrefs , neither was he ever eafie till flie arriv'd, but thofe Tranfports are pretty well abated of their firft violence , he has return'd long fince to his darling love of Variety } 'tis pity no kind Hand is found to refcue him from this continu'd Vice, to paint oalhis Lady's fuftèring Merit, that, if poffible, he may, tho' late, do juftice to it. He's now no longer in his Youth -, 'tis time thefe Follies fhou'd pafs away, but I doubt there's fmall hopes of it, whilft he is in thofe Hands, that manage him -, but by the continuation of his Frailties, and will not, in all probability, fo much to their own prejudice, awaken him from that Le- thargy he appears fo many Years to have been buried in: He's pofitively good-natur'd, all the Errors of his Life feem not to proceed fo much from himfelf, as his Flatterers, who have cherifh'd and encourag'd 'em in him *, had his Choice firft light upon Men of Honour, and true Principles, how eminent might he now have been? neither is it yet too late, if he ftrive to redeem his Character, it will appear, as if thofe ill Habits had been rather acquir'd than natural to him. Be pleas'd to look into the Coach that fol- lows next the Prince, there fits the proudeft i ry-Jy Woman in Atlantis (if you can tell for what>£

t^f*+-^ rying the Lady to a Mount, whence they had WJJ h the profpcft of Men making Bricks in the neigh- rfJltlt'»mfao\\r\n% > Fields. He affur'd her thofe were his Slaves, the People he held in Captivity, for he was the King of E«\pr. This tumbled the La- dy and all her Wealth into his Arms, fhe want- ed to be a Queen, but having once pofleflèd himfelf of that, he (hut her up of her own fide for a Lunatiek j holding a large Eftate by her Life, it's thought (by mod People) he won't find it convenient for her to die , fo long as he lives. This Sifter of hers, that jnft pafs'd us, car- ries her pretty Daughters to the Opera-Market and Fradoy for Husbands \ her own has out-liv'd five Brothers of his to come to the Eftate, and there's yet one remaining that hopes he fhall be the feventh that furvives the fixth. The Lady herfelf, tho' never handfom or diftinguifhable, (for any thing but Pride) believes fo well of herfelf, fhe fcarce does any one below her the favour to rife when they come in. There feems nothing in her fo commendable, as her value for that fourth Perfon which was with them in the Coach. The Lady once belong'd to the Court, but marrying into the Country, fhe made it her bufinefs to devote herfelf to the Mufes, and has writ a great many pretty things : Thefe Verfes of the Progrefs of Life, have met with abundance ofApplaufe, and therefore I re- commend 'em to your Excellencies perufal. The ( i6 9 ) The Progrefs of Life. i. HOw gaily is at firfl begun Our lives uncertain Race, Whilfl that fprightly morning Sun, With which we firfl fet out to run-, Enlightens all the place ? II. How fmiling the World's Profpetì lies ! How tempting to look thro'! Parnaflus to the Poet'* Eyes, Nor Beauty with a fweet furprize, Does more inviting Jhow. III. How promifings the Book of Fate, , i Tillthro > ly -under flood! Whilfl partial Hoyesfuch Lots create^, That does the youthful Fancy che at ^ With all thats great and good. IV. How [oft the firfi Idea's move, That wander in our Mind ! How full the Joy, how fair the Love ', That does that early Seafon move ! Like Flow'rs the Weflern Wind* V. ( 170 ) V. Our Sighs are then but vernal Air^ Bin April drops our Tears \ Which fwiftly pajfing, all grows fair y Wbilft Beauty compenfates our Care y And Touth each Vapour clears. VI. But oh ! too foon, alas y we clhnby Scarce feeling we afcend 'The gentle rifing Hill of Time ; From whence with grief we fee that primi* And alt in fweetnefs end. VII. The die once cafi-, our Fortune known. Fond expectation pafi y The Thorns that former Tears have fown y To crops of late Repentance grown , Thro' which we toil at laft. VIII. Then every Cares a driving harm y That helps to bear m down \ Which fading Smiles no more can charm. But every Tear's a Winter's Storm, And every Look a Frown. IX. TU with fucceeding Ills opprefs'd, For Joys wc hop'd to find By ( »7« ) By Age fo ritmpl'd and undrefs'd, We gladly fini us down to reft? Leave following Crouds behind» Aftrea. The Lady fpeaks very feelingly, we need look no further than this, to know foe's her felf pad that agreeable Age Ihe fo much re- grets. However I'm very well pleas'd with the Thought that runs thro' -, if Ihe had contracted fomething of the fecond and third Stanza, it had not been the worfe. I prefume (he's one of the happy few, that write out of Plea- fure, and not Neceifity : By that means its her own fault, if fhe publifh any thing but what's good -, for it's next to impoftible to write much and write well. „ r fateli. See that beautiful Gentleman at Loll ?. ^ Lt^ in the next Chariot, born from as beautiful a o ' Mother ! he has made a dreadful Havock among the Ladies, I can name you three (all of Rank) that have had dangerous Compliances with him j v and yet an indifted Girl, with four hundred TU. ,$**& thoufand Crowns, has refiftted his Charms, and- . the Grandeur he cou'd raife hereto , to bellow her i- - felf, ( as 'tis thought fhe will ) upon a Perfon ffl - P&»^ who has more of his Vices, and lefs of Quality and Eftate. How likes your Excellencies that goodly ha-Jg/L* %*, dy that rolls on next in courfe ? Has not fhe Fat enough to have prevented any Wife in An- gela from running mad, thro' Jealoufie of her * ., Lord and her ? The Wife came in one Day very 1 7 L4/A. inopportunely, to vifit at a Woman of Condi- tion, where {he had the misfortune to furprize her Husband, and the Perfon before us, in very convincing Circumftances j the poor Lady fell into ,"//, . ( 172 ) into fuch an ill Habit of Mind, that fhe coold never recover her Peace, but led the Count fo very difagreeable a Life, lb outragious andjea- toM, that unable to bear the continuance, and jhopelefs to reform her, they are parted, and fhe has the Mortification of lamenting alone her too warm Refentraents, which all prudent Women will difiemble, if they do but conlider that Husbands have often been reclaimed by gentle Methods, never by rough, unlefs they depend upon their Wives Fortune for the belt part of their own, and that, I mull confefs, va- ries the Cafe -, yet notwithftanding her known tnrtlf Gallantries, an honeft Gentleman has lately ^ ventur'd to make a Wife of her. 1 jf^ s» Look what a grave Seignior comes next, he ittYnqharnWaS once in the Government, and the Head of * a Party, but he too much neglected both, to admire a finging Creature at the Opera, whom no body elfè could admire, and yet he gave her Four thoufand Chequim for her Favour, and the like Sum repeated to keep it fecret-, but as there are few things fuch in the Prince's Court to whom I belong, you may depend upon Dame Intelligence, for what you hear. . ,»% -» j See that gay Lady, that laughs aloud, and • /t*.ma» j o |j s U p Qn j ier Q 0m p an i on . h er £ VCS by Inter- vals thrown abroad infearchfor Gazers \ eager to be admird , fhe has lately prefented her Hus- band with a confiderable addition to her For- tune, tho 1 fhe had a large one before } a Rela- tion has been fo kind to die, and leave her the power of fuch a Compliment, which is no more than is neceifary to foften her ill Conduci: -, at this very minute fhe receives a Billet from the Orange-Wench, under the pretence of buying that i tri y that Basket of Cherries :, Coquet as (he is, 'twont be eafie to her, unléfs the whole Prako know fhe is admir'd-, at the next round we mail find her reading on't, that the World may fee how well things go with her , the Husband of this airy Lady is as great a Libertine as her felf ; he has always diftinguifh'd himfelf by his Humi- lity, and good Nature, in carelli ng defpicable poor Creatures, abandon'd by all things but the Extremes of Vice , thefe he can with pleafure re- vel away his Time, and large Eftate upon, tho' he be reported to have Underftanding[-, the Lady had r j an Affair with one of the young Sons of the Sea- «/- J&&m green-Deity ; handfome, and of an eminent Ex- traction-, Lady Bertha, his Sifter, was intimate U-fXifaL with Clarrffa, fo's the Lady named that we wexzGermJfi% fpeaking of} they wou'd often wonder together' at the Caprice of the Men -, how Qarljfas Hus- band neglecting her, could doat as he did upon the Iaft and low eft of Womenkind ; (he fcorn'd however to revenge thefe Abufes upon her felf, and lb to be a fufferer both ways -, fhe knew bet- ter than to take up with the folitary Reliefs of Prayers and Tears, there were other Comforts better fitted to her Genius ; fhe would not vain- ly wafte her Youth in Retirement, expecting a Reformation that might never happen, but Drefiès, Rambles, Plays, Intrigues, is managed by her Woman, and a Mantua-maker is her chief Favourite. Lady B-erthas lovely Brother pur- fu'd his good Fortune, and was even put into Clafijfas. Bed, in his Sifter's Night-Drefs j 1 be- lieve Lady Virtue, they did not confult your Ex- cellence, fo much as Convenience, when the fa- fhionable Eftablifhment was made of Xeparate Beds. Qarijfa us'd to have whole Nights to her felf, e '7+ ) fèlf, and therefore did not fa much diftruft her ill Fortune, that (he mould be difturb'd now \ but as fhe was throwing off her Cloaths, to fly to Lady Berthas Bofom, her Husband comes in- to the Room, to pafs the Night with her ; (he runs to the Door to flop him, fawns and fmiles, throws her Arms- about his Neck, and with a Kifs, whifper'd in his Ear, that Lady Bertha, was gone into his Bed, very ill of the Head-ake, and he lhould take heed how he made a noife to difturb her. Monfieur lov'd the Ladies too well to be indifferent on that Chapter -, he could not hear fo handfome a one was laid in his place, but he refolv'd he would be paid for his Conceflion, therefore he tells Gar if a, a Kifs he mult and would have of Lady Bcrtha 7 and half a Dozen good Hugs;s, or (he mud not expect. to lie there. Clarìfa begg'd he would return to his own Apartment -, Lady Bertha would never forgive her, (he did not ufe to be kifs'd and tumbled -, that was all one, (he muft begin now then, what did (he do in his Bed? The Plot thicken'd, guefs at their Confufion : As to the Hero in Pinners, I fuppofe he fcorn'd to trem- ble, unlefs it were for the fake of hisMiftrefs-, however, he left the matter to the Woman, who are always readily affifted by Fortune, when their ill Conduct precipitates em into Dangers % he only hid himfelf in the Pillows, and pull d the Bed-cloaths over him, left his Chin fnould not be quite fo foft as his Sifter's \ the Husband threw himfelf upon her, (as he imagined) hugg'd and embrae'd her as (he lay cover'd up, endea- vour'd to get at her Face, pull'd the Bed-cloaths with all his might, a ari fa him, but both in vain, tiil he rofe of himfelf, and fwore Lady Bertha ( m ') Bertha was the ftrongeft Woman ever he met with in his Life } begg'd but one Kifs, and he would be gone ^ French Mademoifelle cry'd Lady Bertha would never come again } fhe was certain- ly provok'd, and would fpeak to none of 'em, whilft he was in the Room. CUriffa gave her felf violent Airs, and ask'd him if he would ne- ver have done being a Brute, did he know no diftin&ion ? Was a Woman of Quality, ( who did her the honour to pafs a Night with her ) to be us'd in that manner ? Fie upon him ! he might be alham'd of himfelf for ever : Thus fhe taunted the kind Husband to his own fide, but not without threatning how many Kifles he would have in the Morning, when her Head was better j and begging Clarijfa not to let her go, till he had made her pay fufficiently for robbing him of his place \ but the Lady durfb not ftand the Encounter, when he came there to drink his Chocolate by her Bed-fide, as he thought, he found the Bird flown : Mademoifelle Friffery y the Suivante told him, Lady Bertha. was fo very angry at his Rudenefs, and Co afraid of him, that fhe could not fleep all Night long, left he fhonld come in, by virtue of his Mafter- Key, to difturb her, which made her Head ake ten times worfè than it did before^ and fènt her away, at Five in the Morning, to her own Houfe, to recover the Fatigue fhe had fufièr'd that Night for want of fleep. Your Divinities having naturally a regard to the Ingenious, be pleas'd to direft your Eyes towards that Pair of Beaus in the next Chariot - 7 the Equipage belongs to him that fits of the left-hand, by boafting of an intimate Friend- (hip with the other, he has got himfelf en- roll'd flirti ( 176 ) enroll'd among, and in the Catalogue of Wits, not forgetting a very neceflary Ingredient, a good Eftate^ as large as you fee him, his Fa- ■ ther and Grandfather are both profefs'd Sparks, and fpruce up in Cherry, and other gaudy co- lour'd filk Stockings -, he talks of Rochefoucauld Fontenelle, la Bruyere, as his intimate Acquain- tance, and ev'n gives the latter the preference } when I can't but find what feems mod; eminent in him, is but borrow'd from the other two. If a Man of Eftate has a mind to be thought to have a Genius, he has but to fall in labour of fome little Trifle, a Prologue, Eplogue, Song^ or Flour ip to Geli a, and be generous, to the next Poet he can ( get his Friend ) to advife to de- dicate to him, and prefently he's Virgil and Me- cen.v too ^ the Gentleman looks indifpofed at prefent, his native Fire quench'd in unnatural Tiffane, elfe nothing fo gay and fo coquet, par- don the Expreflion, it may not be thought fo proper to the Sex, but they of late feem to put in for an equal Claim -, he angles not without a Strain of Affè&ation for Hearts-, catches at Applaufe -, foftens his Eyes and Voice, gives Snuff to the Ladies upon his Knees, that his fair Perfoa may appear to advantage, with that graceful and fubmiffive Turn-, his bufinefs ('till of late ) his rather been to make Love than take it -, but a certain Military's Wife has had more Darts for him than is neceflary y he was too nice to divide her even with her Husband^ far from fufpeciing Partnerfhip with another, and therefore tookher to fubiift upon his Fortune, which was lavifh'd with the prodigality of a new_ and true Lover -, he had a troublefome Place of profit in the Government, a thing quite out of his ( 177 ) his Road -, he lov'd writing, indeed, but not that fort ^ it engrofs'd too much of the Time he could not fpare from his fair Miftrefs, and the Mufes, but to quit it with the better Grace, he took the laudable and lingular pretence, of be- ing difgufted, becaufe a Friend of his, who pro- curai it him, was difcharg'd from an Office upon which his, in fome meafure depended, tho* the truth is, himfelf had made fuch Difcoveries againft the ill Management of the Minifter, that it was but vain for him to hope to keep it after. They tell you that his Miftrefs, not content- ed with all the Love that handfomc Perfon of his could beftow, went in fearch of other Ad- ventures, the confequence of which, is fending him to the DoBors for Tifane. They fay he loves her even to a forgivenefs of that, and all other Faults. I can but fmile to think, whilft the height of the Love-fick-Fever lafts, the Women have their turn of revenging the Inju- ries that are done to others of their Sex. A Per- fon, whilft fhe is belov'd, can commit no Crimes, for as Rochefovcault-, As long as we love we can for" give. That Friend of his On the right, is a near Favourite of the Mufes, he has touch'd the Dra~J ma with truer Art than any of his Contempo- raries -, comes nearer Nature and the Ancients, unlefs in his laft Performance, which indeed met with molt Applaufe, however leaft deferring j but he feem'd to know what he did, decending from himfelf, to write to the many, whereas before he wrote to the fkw : I find a wonderful deal of eood Senfe in that Gentleman ; he has N Wit, s ( «r* ) Wit, without the Pride and Affectation, that generally accompanies, and always corrupts it. (^^1. HisMyra is as well celebrated as Ovists Cori- v na, and as well known. How happy is he in the favour of that lovely Relation ? She too de- ferves Applaufe, ( bedded her Beauty ) for her Gratitude and Scnfibility, to fo deferving an Ad- mirer. There are few Ladies, when they once give in to the Sweet of an irregular Paffion, care to confine themfclves, even to him that firft endear d it to 'em -, not {o-, the charming Myra, fhe loves the Pleafure but in regard to the Lover, not the Lover for the fake of the Pleafure. 'jftsjej Would you believe that Weather-beaten Equi- /&j P a S ei °f tvv0 Years {landing, belongs to the 2£^ richeft Prince in. At al ant is ? nay, almoft as rich as all the Princes put together, with as narrow a Soul -, nothing feetns to me to be a truer Em- blem of it, than the Entrance into his own Pa- lace, the large magnificent Gate is entirely made up, there's no Paffage that way \ you go in by a fmall Poftern, or Back-Door, an exact Refem- blance of that narrow Channel by* which. Gene^ / rollty is conveyed to his Heart -, a certain Poet . ùt/Jtv&Aud occalion to name him in a Panegyrick, not doubting of a very good Reward, prefented one of 'em to his Highnefs : He order'd two Pieces for a forry Gratuity, but before it could be receiv'd, the Poet was oblig'd to leave a Receipt with the Steward, for fo much in Silver, Gold not happening to be in the Treafury at that time. -I would fain know if there's to be found upon the File at any other Princes in Europe, a Cer- v *• tifica te of that Nature ? That fyty That opulent Heirefs, his Daughter, makes & the Prìncttfmiìe, whom I ferve \ flie will give her ^ occafion, in a little time, to make ufe of her thoufand Ears, and her thoufand Tongues. • Behold the Reverfe of what laft pafs'd us : fee that magnificent, young and graceful Prince, 3. JJ- tne Duke de Beaumond, his Horfes are, in their#**/y/^ kind, almoft as well call; as himfelf, and all / from his own Breed: He claims a Defcent from a long Race of Kings, and an untainted Loy- denv d from his gloriousPredeceflbrs: He is votine you fee, juft ftep'd upon the Stage of the Worldj his Inclinations are adequate to his Birth -, he will mow what it is to be a Prince, that is, what a Prince ought to be, Magnificent, Hu- mane, Sedate, free from all thofe Vices that ruffle the Calm of Youth, and coil the befl part of their Time to reform from, if ever they re- form i -, he's an encourager of the real Ingenious, not tond of Applaufe, nor yet with Prìde and òullennefs rejecting it from thofe who know where to give if, he will, imitate his illuftrious Grand-father in his pradice of all the Flrtues. OhAJlrea ! We mult lead you to his /V^,where both your Divinities will be fatisfied, will be charm'd, to find fo perfect a Refemblance of your felves. Does your Excellencies behold who fills that large handfomcCoach? People thatfeem to be very merry, and infinitely at eafe,butmany aHeart-ake has gone to the forming of that Equipase \ a no- torious Gamefter, who for his Excellency in that Faculty, has a Mòck-Title given hi ili ; hes j:S/su& calld Mo-nfieur le Coevdiert, by thofe Fools htf&nvJ rf has cheated out of their real Eftatcs} no bodyv*k^W£ N x lives ( <8o ) lives greater than he does } luxurious Dinners ; Quails, Hortolam, Terrene, Pheafant'fi-Eggs, China- Birds-Nefts, Hermitage, Champaign; whatever is to be bought or procur'd. Thè jolly Woman on the left-hand pafles for his Wife, tho' the Lady,- I have the honour to ferve, not only whifpers, but fpeaks aloud, notwithstanding her Demure- nefs} her appearing in all Places of Credit-, haunting the publick } vifiting, and being vifi- >> z te< ^> me nas a lawful Husband alive. Obferve Jéi/Àa/. but the Widow on the right-hand ; becaufe he loves Niceties, he has got her to live in the Houfè with 'emi (he's a Lady of the belt In- telligence in the World } fhe knows what's done at all the Aflemblies } who goes to the Chocolate- Houfe for Letters ^ whence they come} what Anfwers are return'd -, who wins at the Races -, who lolès at Hazjcard and Baffct ; when fuch a Lady granted the Favour } how long before 'tis probable that fuch a one may be brought to do the fame^ fhe's very near being one of the young- eft Grand-mothers in Atalantis, and yet ftie's older than fhe looks for \ that artificial Face of hers is Uri 11 the fame, for how can that be faid to wear out, that's made new, or renew 'd every Morning ? She's handfome by Nature, but loves Money too well} her Admirers are infinite, has been the fafliion thefe twelve Years, and that's a long time in this varying Age, efpecially when \uf! A - *-- we confider Le Grand Maiftre du Hoflel-Royale rfjfapè, furnifhes great part of her Expence, and up- f holds her Chariot for the Prado, where this faux Prude fet at gaze, fcorns to own the leaft Acquaintance in publick, nor will return a civil Salute to thofe, whofe lefi'er Vices are not crown'd as eminently with Fortune's Favours as her e 181 ) her own, tho' fhe make no ìcruple in private at Cards, to manage 'em out of their Money. As to the Chevalier e , by Whim and Cuftom fo call'd, he rofe, ( if it may be call'd riling ) 'from the very Dregs of the People, a Waiter at a Bow- Ung-Green, from the moft abject Slavery, to the greateft Profufion of Wealth and Pleafnre - y had either of your Divinities aflifted his Afcent, it would have been Glorious, but in his practice he has nothing to do with Juftice, or any other of the Virtues : Fortune only is pleas'd to (how how prepofteroufly lhe can work, to make the gaudy Gamefter fhine in the Circle, whofe original Place was among his Livery -Companions, at the Gate, Jhe makes 'em acceptable to, and Companions of the greateft } thofe eminent both for Quality and Beauty, hug thefe Scoundrels to their Bo- fom, fet 'em glaring in the Face of Day, for the well-managing a Die \ but if a Man be but once Mailer of Money, this complaifant Age never Icruples how they came by it. tedia- Vir. Who is that alone in yonder Chariot ?'*^~s4fe his Equipage is handfome, but his Perfon needs ft Own no fetting-off, he appears much a Gentleman, his Eyes are continually in the next Coach, which is adorned with a wonderful gay Lady: She either lings well, or fancies Hie does, for I've obferv'd, that Itili as fhe came round, fhe was humming an Air ; fare fhe was at the Chariot- Race } he feems to fteal his Glances, and be up- on the referve. Intel. I muft take leave to anfwer your Migh» tinefs, ( without power ) by a Leer, and a ma- licious Smile, becàufe 1 am infinitely pleas'd at your Query, it borders fo much upon my be- loved Diverfion, Scandal, and lets me into a N 3 vei T ( '82 ) very ample Theme : 'Tis the Chevalier e Bcllair, of an ancient Family, and a considerable Eftate, yet fond of Honour ^ he has lilted himfelf un- der Bellona, and moll part of the Year expofes himlèlf (that fine Perfon of his) to the Fa- tigues of the Campaign, the reft of his Time he PÌart*3& YOtes wholly to the Lady you ice in that L^oach - at firft he was as happy as Love and Opportunity, with the help of the favourite Mantua-maker, ( for thofe People are now migh- tily the fafhion ) could make him, but the Lady foon grew inconftant, and has left him to wait whole Days together at the Chocolate-Houfe, in expectation of the happy Moment for her calling of him, according to her Promife, whilft (he drown'd in the loofer Revels of Wine, and new Love, forgets that he is upon Duty, impatient, and fretting at her Delay : One of his Rivals s a Perfon of Poetical Dignity, he firft made her a Mufe, and me in return made him a For- ^ tune } hisBounty was imaginary, hers fublldiitial i ■ UnfUni beautiful Youth of Quality ,whom 1 have already ' mown you in the Prado, is another, but Itili the Chevdllere is the Handing Diih, and may very well go down, when in the Country, where her Hus- band is going to confine her, their VilWs are not far diftant from each other : Her Lord has what he wanted, an Heir, to deprive the next SuccelTor, whom he mortally hates, and thinks it J-iigh time, by banifhment, to put an end to her • publick Indifcretions. The Vrado empties apace \ 'tis almoft Night -, the King's Deceafe has put all things out of Frame \ at another time you fhould have feen f twenty times the number of Coaches. View that fj &» i/beaitfifiil black Lady, fhe has the killingft Eyes ; 1**tvujb ( «8? ; in the World, me firfb brought the bright Oliver Beauty in requeft, but weary with her own native Charms, fhe chang'd her Complexion, andturn'd Fair} the Town would not be imposed upon, they could not fo fuddenly lofe their Memory, they would attribute to Art what the Lady endeavour'd to pafs upon ; em for Nature:, to her it is that we owe the firft Aiìèmbly and Invention of giving Muiick in the King 's-G 'arder*. ,y ., A certain Minifter," renown d for Wit, and call'd l./tafy a Poet by all the Poets, ( for fathering one Copy of Verfes, by whom ever wrote ) the Mecenas of the Age, an honour acquired with little Expence, where few or none are found to conteft it with him, they fcorn to be guilty of that unfafhionafrle ' Vice, Generality to the Ingenious: He was in love with this Lady, and wanting opportunity to declare his Paflion, bethought himfelf of giv- ing the Royal-Mufick, and belt Voices, in a manner, where the whole Court would not fail to come, becaufe they were fure to find only themfelves, the Cits being either ignorant of the Aifembly, or excluded 5 it fortunately anfwer'd his Expectations, after the Mufick was over, the Lady was feen to walk with him down a clofe Walk, where fome that belong to my prince's Court, do not ftick to report, (he gave him the Promife of a more fortunate Rendezvous. m n See that dapper fquat Gentleman, with a to-J/l. b*L\ lerable Face, poring on a Book, and feigning^ fAamk to read, tho' it be too dark to fee: He would tiku . willingly be thought a Wit ', not one of the Writers, but brisk" at Repartee, by large Pro- mifes, he has often bubbled the common Wo» men out of what they had to bellow, but is now with his own confent (ufficienti y bubbl'd N 4 himfelf: .«/*~r-«**dùmfclf: Laurentia, a young Courtezan, who owes her Birth to the free-born Joys "of Love, has had the good fortune to captivate him in fuch a manner, that he renounces the whole Sex for her fake, and 'tis thought he may be fuch a Fool as to marry her, which is more than ever her Mother could perfuade her Father to do for her, tho' (lie be a Woman of an intriegning Brain, but having profited by her own Miftakes, fhe inftru&s her Daughter in the Art of Manage- ment -, this feems to me a fort of lengthning of Life, or of living one's time over again: at this rate àCourtez.an, (the Daughter of a Gurtezjin} mu ft be much too cunning for any Man in the World : She joins her Mother's Experience to her own Youth and Charms, and fo fot out, might pretend to out-wit the Devil himfelf, if he once appear'd in the fhape of a Gallant. r ' L %./e-r. Laurentias Mother afFe&ing Quality-Airs, in / all what fhe fays or does, drew in a pretty Boy to marry her Girl, while they were very yonug, the Boy had Friends at Court, that might have provided very well for him, but this unlucky Marriage put 'em out of Hopes -, they fait him among the Marines \ in a little time he grew in fo great Dillike of what he had done, but was either kill'd, or elfe lie dyM, lb foon after, that fhe was left a young Widow, and a moot Point whether not a Virgin-, io the Mother would have had it believ'd, by all that were not likely to make Experience of the contrary, their Cir- cumftances were very low, lomething to better 'em -, fhe could not refufe the privilege of her ^XiffflzHoufe to a declining Coquet, who was her into / mate Friend, and had made her many Prefents, This Lady, after a long P*un of Love and Gal- lantry ( i8 5 ) lantry, having rather increas'd than diminifiVd the Fortune her Father left her, found a young Gentleman Fool enough to marry her, tho' he had a pretty Eftate in hopes, depending on a pretended Uncle, or a real Father, one would have thought it was an Obligation to her, to prove a good Wife, but like the Cat, metamor- phos'd into a Lady, ihe muft run at the Mice y tho' Ihe were fure to lofe her Preferment by it, and be turn'd into a Cat again :, fo Cards and Gallantry were not things fo eafily renounced, but becaufe Ihe had fomething more to manage than before fhe was marry d, fhe met her Lo- ver incognito at this Houfe, 'till at laft Lauren- da's Mother, by her Artifice, and extolling her Daughter's Charms, drew the Chevalier e to coil- J' •%£■%. fider 'em } he became falfe to his old Miftrefs, $h*Taù and as 'tis fuppos'd, paid his price for his new. Then was the Girl fèen in a Gold-watch, that had fcarce before a Shoe to her Foot \ thus was fhe introduc'd, till from one degree to another, Ihe arofe to the honour of pleafing this Gentle- man, who has One of the belt Eftates, beneath the Nobility in Angela. He parted with a very confiderable Employ- ment for ready Money, to put his Miftrefs in- to repair --, from a narrow Compafs, and poor Education, fhe is rifèn to the height of fcxpence and Delicacy, nothing almoft is nice enough to pleafe either her Mother, or her felf ; the old Ones difcourfe trolls all upon Virtue , that her Daughter would fooner die than do an ill thing ; fhe can anfwer for her Daughter's Honour : I wonder fome Macilente (when he hears her thus exclaim ) does not ask, whence then are derived thefe fine Lpdgings, Wax-Lights, Card-AfTem V n i Hies, ( '86 ) Mies, nice Eating, and rich Cloaths? we live no longer in an Age when Fairy Kings and Queens bring Riches to Mortals : People are feldom feen to change into fuch Extremes, without a viable irbcrcfore. The Spark, I think, does not pre- tend to diiTemble, or elfe whence comes thofe paflionate Raptures ? that heMl never love ano- ther Woman, Laurcrttia \\i\\ never fufter another Man ; they have made a reciprocal Vow, not to jtifs, touch, or fcarce to come near any of the Sex but themfelves -, hence 1 fuppofe it is that »• . that we find him reading in the Prado, for fear he mould be thought to take a pleamre in look- ^ T ing at any Woman but his Miftrefs. 'a/il*' That difagreeable Woman, that whisks away (' next, is always dirty, when me 7 s fet out with Jewels ; me loves Cards better than any thing but Money, and for the fake of Money (he loves Cards : Being firft upon the Place appointed, the Day that fhe was going, ( within the Year ) to ,. rf bellow her fèlf in fecond Marriage, fhe told the JfiU* Gentleman, fhe hop'd 'twas lucky, forfbithap- / pen'd with her other Husband, who fortunately dy'd firft, and left Iter very rich : One would have thought this Compliment would have diforder'd the Bridegroom:, but he wanted nothing of her but her Money, and therefore made her this Re- partee ; the Omen was not lefs aufpicious to him, for exactly fo it happen'd with his othef Wife, who more fortunately for him, dy'd firft, and left him the pohTnility and honour of be- coming her Husband. ' '}j']{eu,tf. Shelters a Brother of hers want Bread, in a (/common Prifon -, 'tis true he has loft to Game- fters an incredible Sum of Money, and a very great Eftate-, but ftill, let one's Relations be never ( i8 7 ) never fo abandon'd, I think they ought to re- ceive bare Subfiftance from fo near a one as a Sifter, efpecially when it is fo much in ones power, as it is in hers. let me eafe my Spleen ! I mall burfl with Laughter -, thefe are profperous Times for Vice -, d'ye fee that black Beau, ( ftuck up in a pert Chariot) thick-fet, his Eyes loft in his Head, hanging Eye-brows, broad Face, and tallow Complexion, I long to inform my felf if it be his own, he cannot yet fare pretend to that : - ,. r He's call'd Monfieur Le Ingrate ; he fhapes his //I . J fa / Manners to his Name, and is exquifitely fo iaj?$fiji*ri all he does -, has an inexhauftible Fund of Diffi- mulation, and does not bely the Country he t y was born in, which is fam'd for Falfhood and W*!tJ Infincerity \ has a world of Wit, and gentile Repartee - 7 he's a Poet too, and was very fa- vourably receiv'd by the Town, efpecially in his firft Performance, where, if you" 1 !! take my Opinion, he exhaufted moft of his Stock ; for what he has fince produe'd, feem but faint Co- pies of that agreeable Original, tho' he's a molt incorrect Writer, he pleafes in fpight of the Faults we fee, and own \ whether Application might not burnilh the Defedi, or if thofe very Defeds were brightned, whether the genuine Spirit would not My off, are Queries not fo eafily refolv'd ? 1 remember him almoft t'other Day, but a wretched common Trooper -, he had the luck to write a fmall Poem, and dedicates it to a Perfon whom he never faw, a Lord that's fince Mr J CU& dead, who had a fparkling Genius, much of Humanity -, lov'd the Mufes, and was a very- good Soldier j he encourag'd his Performance, tooB ( 188 ) took him into his Family, and gave him a Stan- dard in his Regiment -, the gentile Company that he was let into, affilled by his own Genius, wip'd off the Ruft of Education-, he began to polifh his Manners, to refine his Convcrfation, and in fhort, to fit himfelf for fomething bet- ter than what he had been us'd \ his Morals were loofe ^ his Principles nothing but pretence, and a firm Refolution of making his Fortune, at what rate ibever, but becaufe he was far from being at eafe that way, he cover'd all by a moft profound Dilli mulation, not in his Practice, but in his Words, not in his Actions, but his Pen, where he affected to be extreme religious, at the fame time when he had two different Creatures lying-in of bafe Children by him. The Perfon who had donefo much for him, not doing more, he thought all that he had done for him was below his Defert -, he wanted to rife taller than he did -, there was a Per ion who pretended to the great Work, and he was fo vain as to believe the illite- rate Fellow could produce the Philofopher's-Stonej and woujd give it him j the Quack found him a Bubble to his Mind, one that had Wit and was fanguinc enough to cheat himfelf, and (ave him abundance of Words and Trouble in the purfuit : Well, a Houfe is taken, and furnilh'd, and Fur- naces built, and to work they go^ the young Soldier's little ready Money immediately flies off, his Credit is next flaked, which foon likewife vanifhes into Smoke: The Operator tells him, 'twas not from fiich fmall Sums as thofe he mufl expect perfection, what he had had hitherto was m lignifica nt, or minute, as one Grain of Sand, CDmpar'd to the Sea-fhore, in value of what he pnght allure 'himfelf of in the noble Purfuit of Kature ; (189) Nature ; that he would carry him to wait upon a Gentleman very ingenious, who had fpent more than ten times that Sum, in the Hands of the igno- norant, yet convinc'd of the Foundation, was rea- dy to join with him for theExpence to go on with a new Attempt ^ accordingly Monfieur is introdu- ced to One, who was indeed a Friend to the Quack, but did not abfolutely confide in his Skill, tho' he ftill believ'd there was fuch a thing as the Philofo- fhers-Stonei yet hearing how illiterate this preten- ded Operator was, he could not imagine he had attained that Secret in Nature, which was never yet purchas'd, if ever purchas'd at all, but with great Charge and Experience : This Gentleman had an airy Wife, who pretended to be a fort of a Director in the Laws of Poetry, believ'd her. felf to be a very good Judge of the Excel- lencies and Defects of Writing \ fhe was migh- tily taken with Monfieurh Converfation, pray'd him often to favour her that way \ being in- form'd of the narrownefs of his Circumftances, fhe gave him credit to her Midwife, for affiftance to one of his Damfels, that had fworn an un- born Child to him - the Woman was maintain'd till her lying-in was over, and the Infant taken off his Hands, par la [age Femme, for filch and fuch Considerations upon Paper } he had no Mo- ney to give, that was before-hand evaporated into Smoke : Still the Furnace burnt on, his Credit was ftretch'd to the utmoft - 7 Demands came quick upon him, and became clamorous -, he had negle&ed his Lord's Buiinefs, and even left his Houfe, to give himfelf up to the vain Purfuits of Chymiftry : The Lady who had ta- ken a Friendfhip for him, upon the Score of his Wit, made it her buiinefs to inform her feif from ( >9° ) from her Husband, of the probability of their iuccefs*, he gave her but cold Comfort in the Cafe, and even went fo far as to tell her, he believ'd that Fellow knew nothing of the mat- ter, tho' there was a great City-Hall taken, and Furnaces order'd to be built, that they might have room enough to tranfmute abun- dantly : The Operator had perfwaded the young Chymift to fell his Commiffion, which he was very bude about, and even repin'd that he met not a Purchafer as foon as he defir'd, for he thought every Hours delay kept him from his imaginary Kingdom % but it was to be fear'd, when he had put the Money into the Do&or's Hands, to be laid out in Mercury ^ and other Drugs, that were to be tranfinuted into Sol y ( as fmall a Sum as it was ) he would give him the Slip, and go out of the Nation with it : The Lady was good natur'd, and detefted the Cheat j me begg'd her Husband that he would give her Ieave to didover it : He advis'd her againft it, it might do 'em both a mifchief ; but fhe infill- ed Co much upon it, that he bid her to do what me would j the Lady was then in Childbed, among a merry up-litting of the Goffips, Mon- ficur made one his Genius fparkled amongft the Ladies, he made Love to 'em all in their turn, whifper'd foft things to this, ogled t'other, kifs'd the Hand of that, went upon his Knees to a fourth, and fo infinitely pleas'd 'em, that they all cryd he was the Life of the Company, the lick Lady was gone to repofe her felf upon her Bed, and fent for Morfiew to come to her alone, for fhe had fomething to fay to him \ vain of his Merit, he did not doubt but {he was going to make him a paflionate Declaration of Love, ( «*1 ) Love, and how fenfible fhe was of his Charms; he even fancy'd fhe withdrew, becaufe pofiibly fhe was uneafie at thofe Profeflions of Gallantry he had been making to others } he approach'd the Bed-fide with all the Softnefs and Submiflioa in his Air, and Eyes, all the Tendernefs he well knew how to allume ; the Lady defir'd him ta take a Chair, and afford her an uninterrupted audience in what fhe was going to fay ^ this con- firmed him in his Opinion, and he was even weighing with himfelf, whether he mould be kind or "cruel, for the Lady was no Beauty, but lay all languifhing in the becoming Drefs of a Woman in her Circumftances. She entertain'd him very differently from what he expe&ed ; in fhort, fhe difcover'd the Cheat, and advis'd him to take care of himfelf, and to withdraw from that Labyrinth he was involved in, as well as he could k 7 he was undone if he fold his Commiffi- on, all the World would laugh him to fcorn, and he would hardly find a Friend to help him to another : A Thunderbolt falling at the Foot of a frightful Traveller, could not more have confounded him than this did our Chymilt : What ! all his Furnaces blown-up in a moment, all evaporated into Smoke and Air - 7 he could never believe it, the Plumes ( all elate and haugh- ty as he appear'd before ) funk upon his Creit 9 who would have believed there could have been fuch a fhrinking of the Soul ? fuch a contrafted- nefs of Genius ; fuch a poornefs of Spirit j fo abject a Fall from fo towr ing height } he was not able, in half an Hour's time, to fpeak one Word ^ his Addrefs was departed, he knew not what to fiy, only begg'd leave to retire. 'Twas JiecefTary that he muft go thro' the Chamber where ( m ) where the Ladies were, to go to the Stairs ; he pull'd his Hat over his Eyes, without feeing era, and away he went. The Lady was fatisfied with doing the friendly and honcit part, let him re- ceive it how he would } the Coquets fell upon her with violence, andask'd her what (he had done to Monfiewr, what (he had faid to him had cer- tainly bewitch'd him \ never was fuch an Alte- ration, for they had eafily ìqqìì his change of Countenance and Air ^ (he defended her felf as well as fhe could, and they were forced to con- elude the Entertainment without him. The young Chymift was fo bafe, ( as he after- wards told the Lady) to believe this only an Artifice of her Husband, to keep the learned Doctor to himfclf, and deprive him of his fhare of Philofophical Riches, in thisThought he mor- tally hated the Difcoverer, but his Eyes being open'd, and his Sight clear'd, he quickly faw the Fallacy as plain as the Sun at Noon -, he was already undone, or very near it -, they had con- tracted abundance of Debts \ the Do&or was a fort of an infolvent Perfon, the Creditors knew that, and did not trouble their Heads about him. Monfieur was forc'd to abfcond, all he could pre- ferve from the Chymical-Shipwrack, was his CommifTion : This Lady engag'd her Husband to ferve him in his Troubles, and fenthim per- petual Advices when anything was like to hap- pen to him - 7 fhe prevented him feveral times from being perfecuted by the implacable Mid- wife-, he us'd to term her his Guardian- Angela and every thing that was Generous and Hu- man. But Fortune did more for him in his Adver- fitv, than would have lain in her way in Profpe- rity, ( m ) rity, fhe threw him to feek for refugé in à Houfe, where was a Lady with very large Pof- feffions, he marry 'd her, fhe fettl'd all upon him, and dy'd foon after. He re-married to an Heirefs who will be very confiderable after her Mothers deceafe, has got a place in the Govern- ment, and now as you fee, fparks it in the Prado. The Lady who had ferv'd him, loft her Hus- band, and tell into a great deal of Trouble y after (he had long fuffèr'd, fhe attempted his Gratitude by the demand of a fmall Favour, which he gave her afliirances of ferving her in j the demand was not above ten Pieces, to carry her from all her Troubles to a fafe Sanctuary, to her Friends, a confiderable diftance in the Country } they were willing to receive her if fhe came, but not tofurnifh her with Mony for the Journy : He kept her a long time (more than a Year) in fufpenfe, and then refus'd her in two Lines, by pretence of incapacity -, nay, refus'd a fecond time to oblige her with but two Pieces upon an extraordinary Exigency, to help her out of fome new Trouble fhe was involv'd with. It is not only to her, but to all that have ever ferv'd him he has fhew'd himfelf fo ingrateful r the very Midwife was forc'd to fue him \ in fhort he pays nor obliges no Body, bnt when he can't help it. Aftrea. I think you have dwelt much too long upon fo bad a Subject, we may find perpetual iuftancesof Ingratitude, but very few Specificks againft it. A Man, whofe Principles are cor- rupted by Hypocrifie and Covetoufaefs, can never be either good or grateful -, it is a great misfor- tune to the Generous -, they judge others by them- fclves, and are never undeceiv'd till at their O own ( >H ) own coft, and when it is too late to remedy it. Intel. There's a demure Lady in that Coach, and of Quality too, who had a comical Adven- ture happen'd to her fome Nights ago :, her J Gallant fhe has chofe is neither Young, nor Rich, ^ nor Sweet, nor Handfom ! all fhe cou'd find to induce her muft be his Impudence, and the re- putation he has of pleafing the Lady that fa- vours him ^ befides, he's a Drunkard, and in his deep tells all that he does, and a&s over again i the bufinefs of the Day. This old Stallion of the Senate-Houfe, had a Note fent him by the Lady that her Husband was gone into the Coun- try, and wou'd not return that Night, confe- quently fhe invited him to pafs it away with her \ he fent her word he wou'd not fail to obey her Commands, butftay'd too long at the Bottle af- ter Supper, believing the Dofe wou'd heighten his Spirits ^ when he came to the Lady it was two Hours beyond the time fhe had appointed him, Gay, and flufter'd with Drinking. He's one of , thofe that intend ever to be Young tho' in de- fpight of time, let his Looks contradid his Tongue never fo much -, this laft depends upon him, and that will always be youthful. Whilft he was pacifying the Lady's Choler, juftly rais'd againft him, for baulking her of two Hours Di- verfion, her Husband with Authority knocks at the Door, the Lovers were in the drefììng- Room over the Bed-Chamber, fhe begg'd the Senator to ftay there in the dark -, her Husband us'd to fall afleep as foon as fhe was in Bed, and then fhe wou'd come up to him, for 'twas im- poHible to get out now, whilft their People were about, orders the Woman to blow out the Candles, and ( *95 ) and down fhe goes into the Bed-Chamber. Th Husband "was return'd fooner than he defign'd, and very weary, fo to Bed they went : She wait- ed but the found of his Nofe to rife and go to her Lover, who by this time, being in the dark, and the fumes of the Wine beginning to work, was fallen afleep himfelf. He put his Hands up- on his Cane, and relting his Forehead upon his Hands, refolv'd to take a little Nap } there was a Couch and eafie Chair in the Room, but he wou'd not indulge himfèlf there, left he fhou'd fieep too long, and the Lady finding him in that pofture might be fcandaliz'd at his fecond neglect. In his deep he fell into a fit of talking, and act- ing over again what he had been doing at the Tavern whence he came ^ it feem'd (according to cuftom) he had been quarrelling with the Drawers, who knew him fo well, till he had call'd and knock'd twenty times, they never car'd to come to him. Being thus agitated in his fleep, he baul'd as loud as he cou'd, Rkardo y TomafiO) iVillielmns, and knock'd with all his might with his Cane over the Husband's Head, never waking himfelf with all that A&ion \ the Lady immediately hear'd him, and was frighted out of her Wits, fhe cou'd not think what he fhou'd knock for, in that dangerous place, un- lefs he were a dying. Nothing, no not even giving up the Ghoft, fhou'd have forc'd him to make a Noife there -, whilft fhe was making thefe Reflections, he redoubles his Efforts, he dreamt himfelf very angry at the Fellows for not com- ing, and knocks and calls again \ this quite awaken'd the Husband, who had heard the firft attempt imperfectly, he flarts up in the Bed feels for his Night-gown to rife, and fee what O 2 was ( 6 ) was the matter. Thieves were in pollefTion of the Houfe, and were knocking down the things over head. His Lady cling'd to him, not ina pretended but a real fright, and begs of him for the Lud\ fake not toexpofe himfelf 5 they wou'd fhoot him dead upon the fpot, for they were apparently Mailers of the Houfe (juft at that inftant the knocking and bauling was repeated) they were calling of their Rogues together, and they fhou'd be all killYi. At the fame time fhe rung her Bell for her Woman, who was gone down Stairs for fomething-, when fhe was come into the Chamber the Senator renew'd his Bat- tery over-head, which was information enough to the Chamber-maid how things went} fhe pretended to let fall the Candle in her fright, the Husband animated with the fight of the Light (notwithstanding his Wife's Efforts) was got half out of Bed , the Woman pretends to be bereav'd of her Senfes with fear, runs out and double locks the Door after her, goes to the noify Gallant, wakes him, and tells him the Mif- chief he has done - there needed not many Ar- guments to indjee him to withdraw, which he was fo lucky to do, before the Houfe rofè } the Woman had the prefence of Mind, to throw open the drefling-Room Window which an- fwer'd upon a Garden, and conveying away her Lady's dreflmg-Plate, and fome fmall Jewels that were left upon the Toilet, ran and call'd the Footmen, and other Servants, telling 'em there were Thieves in the Houfe ^ meantime her Mailer made a terrible battery to burfl opentheChamber- door: the Lady rung the Bell inceflantly, the Family came together, the Houfe was fearch'd, but no Thief ; the things mifs'd, and the Winr dovv ( '97 ) dow found open. It was not doubted but at the hazard of their Neck, bing difturb'd, they were gone that way ^ the Lady had opportunity to fell or beftow, as fhe pleas'd, her Set of Plate and Jewels, for her Husband prefented her with new : However, fhe tells her Woman, it ought to be a warning how People make choice of a Debauchee for their Lovers, for if all were like Jiers, they can neither keep Counfel awake nor afleep. The next departing Coach brings us the famous laft Years Toaft (a modern Title for a reigning 9/ Beauty ) her Health was drunk by the Name /w - '""* of the Blojfom ; She had pafs'd all her Life be- fore in her own Country, without any fuch re- putation of Charms, they even diftinguifh'd her not at all \ but after the prodigious eclat (he had made here, Heav'ns ! how they there throng'd to admire her :, they could fcarce believe they had ever feen. her before, or any thing fo beau- tiful ^ accus'd their own blindnefs ! Sure they were infatuated ! and a thoufand fuch Exclama- tions ^ fo true it is, that, we often borrow from others, even to our very opinion of Things and Perfons. N I fee but two Coaches remaining ^ the laft is a Hiftory, and therefore to be told at leifure. If your Divinities pleafe to remove a little out of the Duft they have rais'd :, the Moon begins to dance upon the Water in the Canal, we will repofe our felves near the Bank, and then I'll tell you, That the laft Coach but one holds a young Lady, whofe Mother had fomething par- ^* ticular in her Fortune. Her Husband wasa^-^M** Chevalier, but under fome Circumftances that '^rpY* had impair'd his Eftate : He refolv'd to abfentf* O 3 hin- ( »9* ) himfelf till time had redeem' d the Misfortune -, his Lady knew little of the Matter, or io pre- tended : She had a young Son and a Daughter by him. The Chevalier had made a flight Ac- WUmt quaintance with a Gentleman of fo confiderable an Eftate, that few ( who are not Noble ) had better, and even many of them not fo good. He takes his Wife and two Children with him ionie fixty odd Miles into the Country to this Gentleman, under pretence of making him a Viilt: The Gentleman, whofe Name was Ra- mires, entertain'd him according to his Temper, not only with Hofpitality, but Generofity -, his Soul was large, he lov'd Ex pence, and to live up to that mighty Fortune he poffefs'd. After a while, the Chevalier takes his leave of him, and begs that his Wife and Children may re- main there till his return, which you may be fure he told 'em fhou'd not be long. His Lady was not handfom, but had a prodigious deal of Wit and Management. Some think fhe was let into the Secret by her Husband, or at lead cou'd not but guefs at their indifferent Circumftances. She apply'd her felf with all poffible Artifice to gain Ramires's Efteem, knowing that a Friend of his Capacity could do her no harm. As much a Country-Gentleman as he was, he lov'd Magnificence, and a well-order d Table. The Lady Laurentina, that is her Name, had a very- good Genius for that, and every thing elfe \ fhe knew one certain Maxim, That to be well re- peiv'd, it is indubitably neceflary, to make our felves ufe fui to thofe we wou'd recommend our felves to \ no matter whether to their Bufinefs, °7 ) the Tautalogy, 'tis his own Phrafe, which with a mediocrity, but none excellently, except it be ^ the Cabal, of which the Lord Giraldo has the-/-*w* Honour to be an eminent Member : They pro-' duc'd, indeed, one taking Comedy, and let an inferior Perfon try for the reputation of it, tho' %he Town was not fo complaifant to give it him. The next that came out, was too ftu- died, it fmelt of the Anvil, 'twas neither Tragedy nor Comedy, tho' fo call'd, thro' the whole it cou'd not force a Smile *, yet cou'd he magifrerially, from his Throne of Criticifm, condemn and look down with Contempt, upon all that did not think as well of it as the Fa- thers who begot it. The Lord Giraldo is indeed a Man of Wit and pleafant Converfation, and wou'd much more deferve Praife, were he lefs Partial -, he takes too many things upon Truft, and often condemns a Book for the Author, as if either Genius or Expreflion were always the fame, they that generally creep may fometimes foar \ at leaft it feems to me to be an Injuftice to believe the contrary, till they have prov'd it : a later Author has produc'd two very diverting Volumes, and promifes us two more -, I doubt not but if he had carefully conceaFd his Name, they wou'd have been applauded from the Lord Giraldo^ Quarter, but having a prejudice to the Man, they condemn the Work, and without reading, cry they wou'd not give two Cbeq-uins for whole Reams of his Writing, tho' it be never fo corredi. If you ask any one their Opinion of fucha Poem, Play or Book, they immediate- ly anfwer, 'tis cry'd down at the Lord Giraldoh -, they don't like it at the Lord Giraldo'*, \ what fhou'd you fee it ? what fhou'd you buy it for ? 'tis ( >o8 ; 'tis condemn'd at the Lord Giraldo 1 * : Not that this fo much quoted Lord Giraldo, can be fup- pos'd to fpare fo much time from the Publick, and the Duties of his Charge, to read all thofe Books whofe Reputation he deftroys ; but his Levee is too open to little under-Criticks, even to the very Women-Wits, who fives him the labour, and gives the detail according to their* Prejudice, or miftaken narrow Underftanding 7 and then his Lord fhip does them the Honour to report it as his Senfc, tho' in a thing he knows nothing of ; and at that rate how fhou'd the Au- thor avoid being cry'd down at the Lord Gi- raldo** ? When you have fufEciently diverted your felf there, for I can't pretend your Excellency, if you wanted it, wou'd gain much Inftruction from that Quarter, I'll lead you to the Covncil- Board, and the Senate-Houfe ; it wou'd take up a great deal of time to report you the feveral Hi- ftories of each particular Member, that of the Nobles and others, but I fhall have care to omit nothing that has happen'd extraordinary, together with their Foundation, Inftitution, real and pretended Interefts : The Arts of Govern- ment, which are here elegantly difplay'd to the Sight of a nice Obfervator -, Reafons why a place of no feeming Profit fhou'd have fo much Mony expended in the purfuit of it -, by what means they find their Account in this Lottery of For- tune, where (as 'tis now manag'd by the Wife) none but Fools draw the Blanks. You filali fee the Arfenal, the Stores, and ma- nagement of thofe that prehde over the Marine Affairs, the abufes and unheeded detection there- of j from thence I'll condud you to .the Army, into ( 10 9 ) into thè very Tents of their General \ report to yon how much he has done, and how much might have been done - 7 fhew you the Interefts and Inclination of the Officer, the wrctchednefs of the Soldier, and the debauchery of the whole \ their inceflant Endeavours to prolong the War, their Arts to prevent or retard a Peace, which will level the Power of fome, and anni- hilate the exorbitant Expence of the whole. For a change of Scene, it may not be amifs to take the Tour of the Opera and Theatre, you'll find the fame Injufticc in their little Common- wealth as in greater: The favourite Poet (in concert with the Mailer) has of courfe the read- ing of all new Pieces brought to him for his approbation, which he is fure never to give, to what feems more meritorious than his own, left he mould put their Reputations upon a level. Hence the poor Poet is fore'd with infinite Pa- tience and Humility (tho' he be deem'd in the beginning) to dance attendance for two or three Years together -, they refer him to one, then to another, fo to a third, till they have run the whole round with him, and then difinif; him with an, It wont do, when they have already plunder'd it of all that was either new or well exprefs'd, to drefs up their own Collections ; you may judge there's no appearing for him, if they wou'd permit it, when his Market has been fo foreftal'd. The very Women are not incourag'd and paid according to the merit of their Performance (certainly their value, confifts in well Speaking and true Action, in a juft imitation of Isaturc, a capacity of varying and reprefenting the Pac- tions \ and thole other Excellencies appropriated P to ( ^o ) to the Chara&er of a true Comedian) but the whim and liking of the Superiour advances his own Favourite" to the Profits that are due to others -, for if {he have the luck but to pleafe him, no matter what becomes of the Audience ; he pays thofe for Speaking who never knew how to Speak, even to the imitation of a Parrot. If this had not been obvious, they wou'd never » , .have fufìèr'd, by their Injuftice, the admirable ujjtma-Bracillia, to leave 'em, who in fome tilings cou'd |l-/„ , be only excel'd by the incomparable Berenice, in J % moll but by her felf, and in all, was the ufefulleft, as well as the moft agreeable Women, of the Stage. If you fhoifd have any further inclinations Ch i to Gallantry, we will make the Tour of the T«- : Scutx^ tileries, where Vice and Vanity appear in their own Kingdom ! I wonder the Women of con- dition do not leave to walk there, fince it is become fo profefs'd a Market for the Bad ! it will raifeatonce your Pity and Indignation, to iit , fee fo many very hand fome, young, well-fa- fhion'd Women, abandoned to Deftru&ion : They come to be bought after the molt deteftable man- ner, for an Hour or a Day, or as the Cuftomer pleafès ; and when once their Folly and Poverty has reduc'd 'em to fuch an ebb, they are pollu- tion to all that touch 'em, not only in regard to their Health and Body, or lofs of Chaftity (which is not ftri&ly numbred among the Vir- tues) but their Souls become a fink of Abomi- nation, a harbour for Lying, Revenge, Jilting, Deceit, Slander, Theft \ Mony is their Deity, Interefr their Heaven ; in their acquaintance is the deftru&ion of all Principles, the bane of Converfation, and fomething of more Wicked- ( 311 ) nefs than is to be found in any other Specie of the Creation ! But that the City may not complain Afirea does not rtfit there, we will lead her to the Bourfe, to fee at once the magnificence of their Biiilding, and the deceit of the Merchant, the whole myftery of Artifice and Trade, the im~ menfnefs of their Riches, and the means by which they have acquired 'em, the opulency of the whole, and the parcimony of the particular, fome great Ones excepted \ where are to be found the Vices of the Court with a worfe Air, and more Oftentation, the Citizen's ambitious Wife, giving thofe Laws in her Drawing-Room fhe has taken from above, with alarne imitation of that Splendor, Luxury, Cards, and Gallantry, which feems appropriated to the Great, and but for- cibly ravihYd, and never can appear natural to thefe. You may likewife have a view of the City- w/-^~$^* Phyfician, who negle&ing the favourable Inclina- Jifnt&fn tions of Efculaplm, runs mad after Apollo, who as carefully avoids him, forbidding the fmallelt of his Rays to glance that way, and even warn his Daphne from bellowing a branch of her Lau- rel upon one who fo little underftands his own In- terest or Talent ; had he contented himfelf in- deed with Writing, not much, but well, or only given a Specimen of what he cou'd do, in his Epifode of the Creation, we had lamented the future lilence of an admirable Poet -, but to prefcribe in Verfe, to Eat, Drink, Sleep, Walk and Ride,has jaded his Mufc, and fent him back to Galen and Hippocrates, fufficiently humbl'd, one wou'd think, and convine'd of his Error, when he preferred the airy praife of Pamafus to the fubftantial Fame of being a good Phyliciau. P 2 Kot r/3 P ( 2X1 ) , jmr/h- Not fo his Brother, Signior Momfelier, who ' wrote not much, but well, he feems to under- fband the difficulty to maintain an acquir'd Re- putation, and is therefore wifer than to hazard the lofing of it by a new Attempt. Thefe Dcgreflions have carry'd me from my firft Subject, I fhall conclude 'em with but ad- vancing one Curiofity more, and that feems to be where Afirea is principally concerned, the Courts of Juftice: What would you fay, to fee ^»**2_*^ as * nave done, two People ( eminent for Dig- /tiZ^.nity and Fortune) contending Years together, /■■a'^L.for an Eftate, to which neither of 'em have a right : One pretends to a Will, another to a Deed, when, in truth, the lawful Heir dies a Prifoner, tho' under the fpecious pretence of afliiting him^ the Suit is profecuted to the height, till both Parties pretty well tir'd, lay down their Animofities, and conclude the Peace, by dividing the Eilate between themfelves, leaving the Heir, and his Children, to feek their Bread where they can get it. What would Aftrea have faid, to have feen «•. ., in one Caufe, and at oneTryal, feventy Wit- -.„» ': nelTes go away perjur'd, molt of them fo well manag'd, as to believe themfelves in the right ? Would fhe not have exclaimed at the Impudence, as well as the Injuftice of Mortals ? And yet the Redrefs they pretend to give us for the Grie- vances of the inferior Courts of Juftice, is in its Nature the higheft Grievance. We have an Appeal from written Statutes, and known Laws, made by the wifeir. of our Legifiators, prov'd and confirm'd by the Senate and Sovereign ^but what is the Appeal ? why truly to one Man's Opinion, whether influenc'd by Prejudice, Re- venge, ( *»3 ). vengc, Avarice, Love, Ambition, or any of thofe Paffions, that byafs the Bread: of Mortals - 7 and this is call'd the Perfection of Jufiice \ there have been but few, very few, that have born this _ q great Office uprightly. A certain Chevalier feem'd»/ n-J**>> to underftand Mankind perfectly well, when he refus'd to fue for a great Eftate that was de- . tain'dfrom him, whiìft the Grand-Prefident, that/ X^ then was, officiated } he knew he mortally hated him, and could not enough confide in his Prin- ciples, to iecure himfelf from being oppreffied by his Refentment and Power \ therefore he * *«. let the Caufe deep till he was remov'd, and a new one put in his room, by which means he is poffiefled of the Eftate, and the late Prcfida.t bears yet his Animofity unfated. The laft Coach that we beheld in the Prado, belongs to the fecond Wife of one that was «/ é Grand-Prcfident in the Reign of Scgifmvnd the Se- eh tv/fa* cond. I will acquaint you with fome PafTages of his Life, before he enter'd upon that exalted Dignity. p Volpone, the elder, was poflèfs'd of a large J- J- Ua Eftate^ he had two Sons, Hernando Volpone -, whou /> ó^«; was afterwards Grand-Preftdent, and Mo fro the X^> [at younger. Volpone was of the Party oppofite to the Court \ an old Debauchee, given to irregular Pleafures, not fuch as the Laws of Nature feem to diciate : After marrying Hernando to a Wife he hated, and Mofco to one that had been his own Miftrefs, he dy'd fuddenly in the midft of his Exceilès -, whether it were that he were fo covetous, or could not fpare fo much from his own Expences : He did not bellow a liberal Education upon his Son, but bred him to the practice of the £«n>, in that manner that is the P 3 leaft ( 11+ ) leaft generous, and moil corrupt, but Hernando had natural Parts, that furmounted all thofe Inconveniences, together with a good paternal Eilate, that his Father could not hinder him of -, all the great Succeflès he has met with, is due to the brightnefs of his own Genius, he ow'd much more to his natural, than acquired Parts :, his Memory was good, fo was his Luck ^ to thefe were join d a great deal of Wit , a vo- lubility of Tongue -, ready Sentiments, and a molt plaufible Addrefs -, Religion in pretence, none in reality \ he held it lawful for a Man to at- tain by any Methods, either Pleafure or Riches -, he was violent in the purfuitof both:, quitting his Interefl for nothing but Pleafure, and his Pleafure, for nothing but Interefl. A Man compos'd of fuch Elements, wanted nothing but to be known to be advanced, but becaufè he was yet too young to poflcfs thofe Employments and Dignities he afpired to, he fupprefs'd his tow'ring Thoughts, and was con- tented to plod on, in the necefTary Tracis that all mull follow, who aim to be one Day confi- dcrable by the Gown. There was an Orphan left to his care, her For- tune not large, but heir Perfon very agreeable : Hernando was amorous \ he hated his Wife, tho' he liv'd civilly with her, and had the Art of diifembling fo natural, that it colt him nothing to appear a good Husband. Lovlfa was the Name of his beautiful Ward :, fhe was brought- in the Houle with his Lady, who had a great kindnefs for her. Hernando had none of thofe terrible Conflicts, 1 before defer ibed in the Cafe of the Duke, and Madewoifelic Chariot \ he was not 'acquainted with thofe violent Airs of Ho- nour, r ^«5 ; nour, nor fcarce in his narrow Education con- verse with any who travelPd that Road - 7 how- ever their precife Party, held it a violent Scan- dal for a marry'd Man to corrupt a young Wo- man, efpecially under his Ward, therefore care was to be taken that it mould not be known, and then it would be as it were undone. Her Mind had taken a natural bent to Orizons and Devotion } his Lady encourag'd the good Spirit "m her, and laid the Foundation of a Virtue not eafily fhaken, tho' Hernando was indefatigable in his Purfuits, yet he would rather have had it in Ambition than Love -, he did not care how ealie he came by his Plea fu re, nor how dearly he paid for 'em, as appear'd afterwards bv a Taint he receiv"d, the ufual Prefent that lewd Women beftow uponfuch, who do themfelves the injury to converfe with 'em. Mademoifelle Louifa found nothing fo obliging as her Guardian, what ever (he requefted was granted j what ever (he but fcem'd to wifh, ftie enjoy'd, but was at a lofs how to begin with her, if by a formal Declaration, it was teaching her to deny. My Lady had inftrufted her in all that was neceflary to make a young Maid fet a value upon her Chaftity, (he feem'd to bear an incorruptible Defire of preferving hers ; their daily Conversion, nay Diverlions, rolFd upon nothing that was loofe or amorous ; all Appearances Were againft him, and yet, in fpight of Appearances, he refolv'd to proceed, and un- dermine that feemingly invincible Chaftity \ it would be a fort pf Triumph over his Wife, whom he hated, as well as over Louifa, whom he lov'd, but how to attempt her firft was the Point ; he favv nothing of an amorous Conftitp- P 4 lion* ( i\6 ) t ; on -, nothing of the native Coquet, all was re- gular, all was cool and innocent -, how much to blame was he to make her-otherways ? Are there fuch violent Deiires that Reafon cannot fupprefs? Is Love fuch an irrefiilableTyrant? Will he tram- ple upon all Oblhcles?' Are the molt facred Ties of no obligation in his Senfe ? O no ! for if it were but true Love., 'twould feck the good of the Perfon belov'd -, but ffernkndo was in his Temper a Friend to noneVut himfelf ; amorous, and convers'd every Day with a young hand- fome Woman, which was impoffible for him to do, without ..defiling of her. The little Free- doms that were permitted inflam'd him \ he could not pafs near her without trembling; when he did but touch her Hand, his Blood fiufii'd in his Face :, fometimes he would ravifh a Kifs, in the way of play, but then he was loft in pleafure -, he took all occalions for thofe pret- ty Liberties -, her Bed-fide was not refusd him when he us'd to view her there in a- IVlorning, he would fix his fparkling wifhing Eyes, crofs his Arms, and iigh in fuch a tender -manner, that Loulfa mnft have been verv ignorant, not to have difcerr/d a Mvftery in fuch a Behaviour :, he would. -al way affect to fit near her, to take the Place (he had quitted •■, to touch what fhe had but touch'd, and when his Lady was not prefent, her Glove, her Handkerchief, was Ex- tacy to him :, yet with nothing of a fulfome Ad- drefs ; he had a native becoming Gallantry. Louifa thought her felf oblig'd by thefeDiffin- ctions vthey even created a fort of Gratitude, that warnfd it felf to Tendernefs: She was pleas'd to fee, to hear him -, his Company fee m'd more diverting than others; fhe knew, no harm h: it, fhe thought no harm. At ( 2T7 ) At that time there was a young Gentleman ?! "JLu from the Country, a Relation of Hernando's, Lady that fell in love with Mademoiselle Lovijfa ; hisCir- cumftances were advantageous for her, and his Perfon very agreeable. Mr. Wilmot bcgg'd the honour to wait upon his Coufin, and the young Lady to the Of era. Hernando s Blood fiafh'd in his Face ; he immediately guefs'd that Mr. Wilmot was engag'd ; he thought it now high time to declare himfelf ^ he had fool'd too long :, there was an audacious Lover, by the Rites of Marri- age, going to pretend to take her from his very Table -, he confefs'd 'twas advantageous to her-, he was his Lady's Relation-, fhe lov'd Louifa, and would not fail to prefs it to oblige both -, nay Louifa her felf might approve of him, he was handfome, he was young, he was amo- rous : She was innocent and unengag'd ; nothing oppos'd Wilmoth feeming Happinefs- but all things feem'd to beagainft his-, thefe things re- volv'd in an inftant thro' his Mind : He law 'em rife to the Opera, with a concern he was not able to fnpport. Wilmot, by the Laws of Civility, was to lead the Lady Volpone, to put her firft in the Coach, Louifa was preparing to fol- low -, Hernando catch'd her in fuch a Tranfport, that was highly favourable to his Eyes and Air, he never look'd fo handfome as then : No Ma~ demoi [elk, fays he, Wilmot fhall never touch this Hand whilft I am alive ; they were too near to fay more. Hernando agreeably furpriz'd his La- dy, when 1 he ftept into the Coach to 'em, and faid he would go to the Opera. 'Twas known he had appointed bufmefs of mighty confe- quence, that would fuftèr by being delay'd, like 3 good Wife, (he did not fail to reprefent it to him. ( 2.8 ) him, for fear he mould have forgot it, that was all one *, no bufinefs could come in ballance with Louifa -, he fàw that mud be the time to defend her Heart from the firftimpreflionsof a young affiduous Lover. He fat over-againft her in the Coach, and without knowing what he did, prefs'd her Knees with his, till he pained her \ (he won- der'd at the Excefs, becaufe 'twas what he was not us'd to ; but (he durft not complain, for fearof his Lady. The Story of the Opera chanc'd to be of a Woman that had marry'd a fecond Husband, her firfl: yet alive, tho' unknown to her -, after feven Years abfence he returns, the lecond Night after their new Hymen \ difcovers himfelf to her -, (he knows and owns him ; falls in- to extreme Defpair at the Misfortune ^ runs mad, and in her Lunacy ftabs her felf : The Play was wrought up with all the natural Artifice of a good Poetv Louifa? who did not often feefuch Reprefentations, became extremely mov'dat this: Her young Breafts heav'd with Sorrow -, the Tears filFd her Eyes, and me betray'd her Senfe of their Misfortune with a Tendernefs that Her- nando did not think had been in her-, he was infinitely pleas'd, and employ'd a world of pains to applaud, inftead of ridiculing, as his Lady did, that fenfibility of Soul ; when they came away, he took care that her Hand mould fall to his (hare: As they were going home, he fot over againft her, in the fame manner as before. At Supper, the Play was their Subjed: His Wife was rea foiling about the Accident of the Jouble Marriage, and laid it was neceiTary the Poet (hould difuatch her out of the way, for loaded with fuch a Misfortune, 'twas impoflible Jhe fliould live without being infamous, and con- ( 2l 9 ) consequently detefting her felf. Hernando was not of the fame Opinion, and upon that Head, in his eloquent manner, introduced a learned Difcourfe of the lawfulnefs of double Marriages; indeed, he own'd that in all Ages, Women had been appropriated, that for the benefit and di- ftinction of Children, with other necelfary Oc- currences, Polygamy had been juilly deny'd the Sex, fi nee the coldnefs of their Conftitution, the length of time they carry'd their Children, and other Incidents feem'd to declare againffc them \ but for a Man who poflèfs'd an uninter- rupted. Capacity of propagating the Specie, and muft neceflarily find all the Inconveniencies above-mention'd, in any one Wife :, the Law of Nature, as well as the Cuftom of many Nati- ons, and moft Religions, feem'd to declare for him -, the ancient Jews, who pretend to receive the Law from an only God, not only indulg'd plurality of Wives, but an unlimitted ufe of Concubinage ; the Children were bred up toge- ther without diftinction^ as being all the Sons of one Father, nay their Land of Vromife was v divided by equal Portions among a Mans (whom they call "Jacob) twelve Sons, tho' fome of 'em were born of his two Concubines, and the reft not from one Wife, but two, living at one time in and of the fame Family. The Turks, and all the People of the World, but the Europeans, itili preferved the privilege-, that it was to be own'd, their Manners in all things were Jefs adultera- ted than ours-, their Veracity, Morality, and Habit of living lefs corrupted ? that in preten- ding to reform from their Abufes, Europe had only refin d their Vices j Pleafares that were for- bidden had a better Gvfto 7 and tho' they had ( 220 ) ty'd themfeives out of Policy to one Wife, to make particular Families great, and maintain diftin&ion -, yet there was fcarce a Man ( but himfelf ) that had Capacity to uphold his Plea- fures abroad, but went in fearch of 'em ^ that; true, he condemn'd a promifcuous purfuit, be- caufe it was irrational and polluted, but if one or more Women, whether marry'd or not, were appropriated to one Man, they were fo far from tranfgrefling, that they but fulfilFd the Law of Nature -, it was agreeable to the practice of great Jupiter himfelf, and therefore could only in a political, not religious Sente, be accounted infamous-, that the lofs of the World's Efteem was very well recompene'd, by the true and va- luable Joys of Love ;, that a young Lady ought never to oppofe thofe good Inclinations me might find in her felt" towards a marry'd Man, becaufe fhe was gratifying at one time, both her Paflion and her Duty. You may be fure this .Harangue did notrelifh very well in his Lady's Ear, but it was not for her he intended it. Hernando appeal'd to Mr. Wilmóti if 1 he had faid any thing but what was rational^ he, who did not know the other's "DeHgn, and like a right Man, was for uphold- ing the Sex's Charter, did not fail to applaud it, tho' it were but an ill Mode of making his Court to .a Lady he pretended to marry. Louifa very well cbferv'd it, in being his Wife, fhe found me mult prepare her felf for the Morti- fication of one or more Rivals, and that he would plead Cuitom, and bring Prefidents for it \ this difgufted her extremely of that fide -, Hie prefum'd thet no unmarried Man ought to advance fuch Doctrine, before a Woman he lov d \ 'twas ( 211 ) v Twas only to be look'dupon as the Husband's refuge, when he was fo unfortunate to meet with a Wife he did not like-, and how firm foever was the Foundation, mould not be built upon but in Extremity. Next Morning Hernando beg'd the favour of his Lady, that me wou'd take Louifa down with her to their Villa, near fix Leagues from Angela^ and endeavour to divert themfelves, as well as they cou'd, for two or three days, at which time he would be fure to wait upon them \ this was to fend her out of IVilmofs way -, he cou'd not reft while he thought another pretended to her. Their departure was fo fudden, that the Lover had not time to interelt his Relation in his Caule ; he wou'd ev'n have follow'd em, but Hernando gave him fuch a cold reception, and told him, his Wife, fatigu'd with the Hurry of the Town, retir'd to avoid Company, and wou'd very well fpare the extraordinary Complement, that he refolv'd to delay it till their return. Mean time, Hernando weigh'd with himfelf how he fhou'd declare himfelf: Paper is never out of Countenance, and tho' he did not ufe oft- en to blufh, yet the natural Timidity of a Lov- er, taught him to defpond when he was near his Miftrèfs : He knew many things were loft, not becaufe Men cannot attain to 'em, but becaufe they don't attempt 'em. He did not well know whether a Letter wou'd efcape his Wife's hands, and fall into Louifa\\ nay, ev'n whether Loui- fa wou'd not her fell" expofe it ^ he thought the hazard was too great, and therefore refolv'd to depart that very Night, within two Hours of Twelve, when he was expected of none. He had a Mafter-key that open'd all Dcors and .. . Gates ( 222 ) Gates \ he tool^no Servant with him, but mount- ing his Horfe, he flew away with the fpeed of a Lover, little at ealè till he be with his Belo- ved : A Surtout and riding Periwig futficiently difguis'd him ; he alighted at the Garden back- Gate ; the Moon was at the full, and lent him more light than he had occafion for. 'Twas then pall Midnight -, he knew Lout fa's Chamber was on the Ground-floor-, two large folding- Windows open'd into the Garden, which the extreme Heat of the Weather might poflibly caufe her to keep open: He believ'd the whole Family was ( if not afleep, at leaft ) in Bed -, his Lady's fide was on the other part of the Houfe ; avoiding the Gravel, for fear the Noife fhou'd difcover him : He fetch'd a compafs by the graify Walks, to come to Loulfas Chamber -, where he found the lovely Maid, in a melan- choly Poiture, leaning with her Arms upon the Window, and gazing at the Moon : His Heart beat violently at the fight; he was afraid of mowing himfelf, left he fhou'd frighten her, and in her furprife fhe fhou'd cry out *, neither was he fu re her Attendant, was difmifs'd, for the Lights were ftill burning \ but Boldnefs being ever a Friend to Love, he advanc'd, and cal- ling foftly Madmoifd Louifa, charming Louifa, are you alone ? The Tone of his Voice was fweet and particularly foftned -, Louifa only ftarted, but did not cry out : She ask'd him in a Mi- nute, having prefcntly known him, When did you come ? How long have you been here ? Have you any body with you ? Dear Madmaifcl, he interrupted : No, (he faid, all the Houfe is in. Bed -, I've juft fent away my Maid, am all un- dreft, even to my very Night-gown \ not bein^ dif- ( "? ) difpos'd to go to Bed, nor in the leaft fleepy, I thought it was cruelty to keep her upj but I'll call her to bring Lights to let you in, and wait upon you up to my Lady's Chamber : Hold, hold, Madmoifcl, and with that he gave but one jump into the Room, and then another to catch her in his Arms : She fell a trembling, and rea- dy to fink as he held her, being taken with a Paflion of Fear and Surprize 5 fhe fear'd, but fhe knew not what : Hernando, with all the fiibmifc lion of a Lover, taught by Nature more than Education, fell upon his Knees clofe to the Chair where he had plac'd her \ dear Madmoifel y I muft beg you to recover your Diforder ; what are you apprehenfive of? Are you afraid of fo fubmiffive a Lover ? He ftopM here to fee how fhe would receive the Declaration, but her trem- bling and fright continuing, he faw fhe was jult going to have a fit of Swooning -, he had heard in thofe Cafes, that the bell Remedy was to lay her at her length -, fo that taking her without refiftance, in his Arms, he carry'd her to the Bed, and flipping off her Night-gown, with as much Modefty as the Circumftance would per- mit, he threw the Bed open, laid her in, and cover'd her up very handfomly, then caff, him- felf down upon the Bed-cloaths, his Face to hers, where he could not refift the Pleafure of paying himfelf in KifTes for his pains ; this, and what was done before, recall'd the young Beauty ; fhe remov'd him gently with her hand, and turning that way, Oh Sir, fays fhe, what are you about? Do you mean to ruin me ? I mean to love you, Madam, to adore you, to die for you, I mean to marry you, if you will make me fo happy : preams, anfwer'd the Lady, are not you mar- ry 'd ( 2 *4 J ry'd already? Oh, Madam, if you did but love me with but a grain of that Paflion I have for you, it would be more than a Dream, 'twould be reality :, but that is my Misfortune, all I ask of you at prefent is, that you will difmifs your Fears, for upon my Faith and Honour, I en- gage you fhall have no occafion for 'em ; all wild as I am, with extremity of Love and eager De- llres, you fhall command me as you pleafe^ I will not fo much as pretend to the liberty of a Kifs without your leave :, let me have but one of your fair Hands, that I may proteft upon it my never-dying Paflion -, I have long and def- perately iov'd you -, 1 believe, fmother'd by Pain, 1 mould have dy'd rather than have reveal'd it to you, if that Country-Booby's Pretenfion had not alarm'd me, and gave me Courage to fpeak. For you only I am come hither alone -, for yoi^ only I mail return folitary and dying with Grief, at leaving my better part behind , 'tis too dan- gerous a Secret to be fliar'd with any but our felves, upon the Road I would have given my Life for this fair, this filent, happy Opportu- nity ; don't make it of no effect by groundlefs Fears -, reaiYurc your felf, Madmoifel -, banifli, Madam, that treacherous Enemy to Love :, Oh that you would but permit me to give you on- ly a Taft of what I feel -, that you would once but admit of fo much Curiofity in my Favour, to prove but a glimmering of that Delight, that mutual Lovers beftow upon one another. Here he fought her Lips, and preft 'em fo tenderly, and fo^refpedively, that he could not fail of in- finuating, by that dangerous Contact, fomething new and tender into the Breafl: of the unexpe- rienc'd Virgin ^ he purfu'd her fo artfully, that fhe ( "5 ; fhe confented he fhould flay there till Morning -, and before they parted, promis'd to hear him again upon the Article of Marriage. She con- fefs'd, (he preferr'd him to all Mankind ^ fhe wihYd he were fingle, fhe mould never like ano- ther fo well, but her Honour and Chaftity were above her Life : The Battery was renew'd againft that piece of Fortification } he told her, 'Twas only a Dream, a Notion, that fcarce any Lady who had been fo happy to love, had any more of it than the Pretence % good Management and Conduci were Honour and Vertue too -, he was pleading for nothing criminal ^ fhe was unen- gaged, un-marry'd, and had a' defpotick Power in favour of any one fhe had a mind to make happy \ then he urg'd Arguments innumerable, all to the fame purpofe as the Night before, to perfwade her to the lawfulnefs of Poligamy, he found that muft be the Mine that was to blow up her Chaftity : She liftned, fhe enquir'd, and where fhe doubted, made Objections, which with his Sophiftry he immediately anfwer'd^ till at length he almoft convinc'd her, that the Law of Nature was prior, and ought to take place -, one was ordain'd by the Gods, the other inftituted by Man, and therefore the firft was undoubtedly to be preferr'd : He begg'd fhe would permit him to fee her in the fame manner every Night ; there was no danger of a Difcovery - 7 he woud pretend the great Heat made him defire to lie alone, and have his Bed made in a low Room in the other Wing, anfwering to the Garden, as that did, by which means he might get out of his own Window, and come into hers. O When ( 12 & ) When once a young Maid pretends to put her felf upon the fame Foot with a Lover at Argument, (he is fure to be caft : Louifa had no very ftrong Head } his fuperficiai Reafons might quickly take place, efpecially when they were feconded by Inclination: Unknown to her felf me lov'd him, elfe all his Attempts would have been infignificant -, he fhow'd her (he was a Wo- man at liberty, had her own Fortune at com- mand, and his with Advantage: What could (he expect in another Husband that was not to be found in him ? Why truly the Opinion of the World \ but that not being a part of her Duty, might very well be exchange for thofe incomparable Delights, that are feldom or never found in mercenary Marriage -, fince (he already lov'd him, (he could contract none with any other Man, that would not be fo ; therefore all they were to fence againft was, left it fhould be difcover'd : It was not neceflary lhe (hould Iole Efteem, as long as (he could preferve it -, but in thefe repeated dangerous nightly Converfa- tions, Love had arm'd her with Fortitude, (he was become bold, as to Opinion, contented with- in her felf, that (he did nothing againft the Laws of God and Nature, which he had taught her, it was her Duty to fulfil. Having, with a world of pains, fix'd this immoveable Principle in her Breaft, (he conten- ted to marry him -, (he could admit of Poligamy, but would not hear a word of Concubinage , whe- ther the difference be fo material I leave to the Qsfwflà\ but the difficulty was, how they (hould be marry v d unknown. Mofco ( Hernando's Bro- ther, much about the fame pitch in Devotion, and ( **4 ) and very well match'd for their Morals ) was ingag'd in a fort of an Amour very like this, only the Lady feem'd rather to be the Aggref- for : He was call'd to Council. Hernando told him, he could not carefs his Wife, the Rites of Love were naufeous to him \ and fince it was a folly to pafs away that idle time of Life with- out Pleafures, he had fought it with eafe and fafety in Louifah foft Bofom : But becaufe (he would not condefcend to make him happy with* out a Prieft, he did not know how to procure one that would be fecret. Mo fio anfwer'd, that he fuppos'd all that he pretended to by mar- rying the Girl, was to pleafe her ; and fince that might as well be done by a falfe, as a true Prieft, their belt way was, to let him procure the Habit, and officiate to their Content : By that means Hernando mould fcreen himfelf from, her Perfections, when he was grown weary of her j as that would be no wonder, to his know- ledge^ for he was fick at heart of young ZaraJn^jAn and did not know how in the Worìd to get rid/^u -&* of her. This was applauded as a notable Ex^ pedient -, he gain'd the Lady by it } and mould ihe ever take a fancy to put in her Claim, 'twas impoffible for her to find the Prieft, and there- fore 'twould be in vain to pretend it : They only demurr'd, left; (he mould know him, maUarehis Difguife, or fufped the Tone of his Voice: As to that, they did not doubt but the Drefs, to- gether with another colour'd Wis;, would makd him quite another thing t, his Voice fhould be aiterd with a Bullet, or Plum-ftones in his Mouth, and fpeaking a Li Francoifi, he mi^ht Very well pafs for a Refugee ^ a People that are Q. i m ( 2^8 ) to be found in fwarms thro' all Parts of Europe, efpecially the /(lands. Hernando would not have it deferr'd -, he cau- fed her to come to Angela, upon a flight Pre- tence : His Lady remain d in the Country, they durft not ihare their Secret with any other, few of the Servants being in Town, and thofe that were, fent out of the way. After Supper, this pretended Prieft comes upon a vifit to Hernando \ he took care there fhou d be but little Light in the Room, the Ceremony being only to quiet the Ladies Confcience (who thought fhe did no ill, fo thoroughly had he wrought upon her) there was no Witnefs requir'd \ fo marry d they were-, the falfe Prieft receiv'd his Fee, made his Legg, and brufht into a Coach that waited for him. The new marry'd (I mean the Bridegroom^) was very impatient to go to Bed, the Lady as Du- tiful as Obliging, did not let him wait long ^ when the Servants were difpos'd to their reft, he was introdnc'd into her Chamber, where he pafs'd the guilty Night, I fuppofe, to both their fatisfa&ions. The next Day they return'd into the Country, but Hermando was too much in Love to pafs a Night without the Joys of his young Wife, the Invention of the Window Itili held good ; but what fhou'd they do when the Seafon calFd 'em to Angela? when they fhou'd be forc'd to aban- don that dear £7//9 ) fo very amiable \ fiie devoted all her Thoughts and Wifhes, her whole Days and Nights to him -, the fame unaccountable thing that cools the Swain, more warms the Nymph : Enjoyment (the death of Love in all Mankind) gives Birth to new Fondefs, and doating Extafies in the Women -, they begin later, with-held by Mo- defty, and by a very ill tim'd Oeconomy, take up their Fondnefs exactly where their Lover leaves it. m * This was fufficiently prov'd by the young J/l . Jh* Zara, a very pretty Girl, whofe Mother Hy'd**-^*^ in the fame Villa with Hernando, but fb great a-*' ti*rf Bigot, that Zara had feen nothing but their owa forbidding Crew of Sectaries : Her felf was born with genteel Inclinations, and had fome- thing jantie in her Mien and Converfation ; they did nothing but teize her for not conforming her felf enough to their Manners. Her For~ tune was confiderable for one of her rank \ (he had eight thoufand Crowns in her own Hands, which was more than three times as much to Ladies that drefs and live in the World. Her Father was dead, and fhe went often to Heman- do's and his Brothers to converfe, which were the principal People of the Villa. Mofco, who never faw a Woman he con d not have beitow'd fome of his Favours upon, let her be hand- fome, or indifferent, was mightily taken with pretty Zara, he had not the command of Mony as his elder Brother had ; all things mov'd in a much narrower . Sphere than at Hernandohj his Lady had been his Fa- ther's Miftrefs, and his Mother never forgave him his Marriage with her, it wouM be no q. 3 .. air- ( i3° ) difadvantage to him to have the command of Zaras : The young Creature took a fatal Paffion for him, which was not in her Power to conceal, not even from his Wife. If fhe were at the Table at dinner with her, and he return'd un- expectedly, her Surprize and Joy were ufually fo great, that all the World might read in her Face the difbrders of her Soul. The Lady did not love her the lefs for it^ fhe believ'd her fick of a Diftemper fhe couM not help \ and did not imagine it wou'd arife to any guilty Com- merce between her and her Husband. Mean time fhe put all her little Matters in Mofco's Hand -, he it was that difpos'd of her Fortune, and made what wafts or improvements he faw good, when fhe had affairs at Angela \ if he were there, fhe took up her conftant refidence at his Houfe; perpetually put her felf in the Road where fhe might meet him : He faw this Em~ frcjfment, and was not at all difpleas'd with it ; his Soul wasalmoft as Amorous, and hisPerfon almoft as handfome as his Brothers : I've alrea- dy told you their Principals were the fame, tho' perhaps quite fo much may not be faid of his Addrefs and Natural Parts ^ however he had a great deal of Wit and Attempt ; underftood very well his Bufinefs, but had not the good Fortune to be born an elder Brother. By the pretence of Bulinefs, he cou'd often fee Zara at her Mothers Houfe : Thofe oppor- tunities were not loft \ fhe was of an Opinion that Cohabitation makes a Marriage :, fhe wou'd have given ten times her Fortune, if flie had had it, that Mofco, as he fometimes gave her hopes, wou'd leave his Wife aud cohabit with her> „é> ( *ji ; her \ not that he ever intended it, bnt Men do not ufe to fay difagreeable things to thofe that "they came to be happy with \ he cou'd have been very well contented if me had lov'd him fome- thing more difcreetly, her fondnefs began to be very tirefome to him. She was one Day at dinner at Hernando's, Mofco arriv'd unexpected- ly -, fhe was fore'd to withdraw to the Air of the Window in the next Room, or fhe had fwooned away *, tender Louifa follows to aflift her, fhe even leaves her dinner to adminiJter what was in her Power towards her recovery ; they got together into the Garden, where, ha- ving no Witnefles but themfelves, Zara no longer reftrain'd her felf, but gave way to a great Paffion of Tears: when that was over, and Louifa had intreated her to let her know the caute of her Affli&ions, and afTur'd her of fe- crefie. She began thus, You fee here, my dear Louifa, the molt loft undone Maid that ever livd. I love Mofco to that height, that nothing bnt his Love can fa- tisfie me ! alafs ! that's a thing impoffible to gain from founconftant a Perfon ! yet hasheathou- fand, and a thoufand times perfuaded me, that his Paflion was mutual ! 1 coft him none of thofe Cares and Troubles, by which other Women are brought to oblige their Lovers j the Work was all done to his Hand , I even lov'd him be- fore he diltinguim'd me: I was the Agreffor ! 1 am the Sufferer ! how dear am I going to pay for thofe few Moments of Delight I havepaf>'d with him? Thofe charming Pleafures are no more! I camiot bear to live without him! Donbtkfs, Louifa vou wonder to hear me en- Q. 4 certain ( *B* > tertaìn you at this rate , but it is not with us, as with you -, we think mutual Love and Confent makes a Marriage :, we (land not in need of the Prieft's Ceremony ^ when once we give our Faith, it is inviolable -, it wou'd be a mortal Crime to fwerve from it : And tho' Mofco was marry'd before, leaving, his Wife to cohabit with me, (as he has a thoufand times promis'd) is fufficient Ceremony , all that we require to make a Marriage and render Zara happy : but he's cool'd ! his fainting Ardors retain nothing of their firft Sweetnefs ! he ev'n avoids me ! whilft I love him to that tranfporting height, I am not Miftrefs of my felf ! You faw it was not in my Power to fupprefs thofe Diforders his prefence gave me. What muft all the World think of my Folly ? am not I mad ? 'tis impoffi- ble I fhou'd live under this Difeafe of Soul! I mull put an end to all my Uneafinefs : But alas! that is not to be done without putting an end to my Life. Louifa hearing a Story fo very parallel with her own, wept in Confort-, (he was afraid of the fame Inconltancy, tho' Hernando was Itili kind and Generous. Zara had Beauty, Youth, and Fortune -, yet were not thefe any Articles towards her Happinefs : The capricio of Men carry 'em above all confìderation , Lóuifa y s Love- 1-ck Heart was languifhing with the fame Di- llemper. Zara had found out a Confident who iov'd as much as fhe, and therefore was not like to giv r e her any good Advices towards her recovery : however, (he faid and did all that was in her power to comfort her, (he ev'n ad- d her to abfent her felf from Mofco, if it were were true, that he was really become unwind, a generous Difdain ought to be her Cure ; but probably Ihe might miftake, Bufmefs, unlucky crofs Affairs, might make her mifinterpret him ; Men were not always difpos'd , Love .feldom. was confider'd in them after a time, but as a ieifure Employment, an unbending of the Soul, a fweetning of fatigue, and 'twas Wifdom in Women to give way to thofe Cruel Hours, and wait with patience for the Tender. Hernando and Mofco appear 'd in the fameWalk-, Zara beg d the favour ofLovifa to entertain the former, whiift (he got a moments Difcourfe with the other ^ this was a Service no way disa- greeable to her, nor Hernando, but 'twas not the fame with Mofco, he wou'd have his Brother not to leave him to be baited by Zara?s fondnefs - 7 he laugh'd, and told him he had much hurt done him, now he had an opportunity to entertain Lonlfa he wou'd not lofe it, let him look to him- felf as well as he cou'd. Thus Hernando and his Miftrefs, having both the famedefign, quickly ftruck into another Walk, and left that to the difconfolate Zara. She came up to t her Lover, who inquire! of her Health, and what had occa- fion'd her fudden ilnefs ? As if you are a Stran- ger to it, Sir, there are fome Perfons who fo wholly poflèfs our Souls, that we can't hear their very Name without Perturbation ! their fight, unexpefted, influences 'em as yours did me : But what mall I fay ? alas ! I give you none of thofe Diforders ^ if all be not calm within you, it is becaufeHate, and not Love, difquiets you: Why did you encourage the Follies of a Maid '"hat might have been happy, had tye never feen you? e **4 ) you ? Alas ! I was Innocent ! I knew none of thofè Arts by which, I am fince inform'd, the Women of the World prolong and heighten their Lover's Paffion ! I thought it was a Merit in me to love what feem'd fo meritorious : I fhou'd have believ'd it a fault unpardonable to have di£- lèmbl'd it : I was bred in the plain road of Since- rity my Heart correfponds with my Manners : I know nothing fo bafe and guilty as diffimulation j therefore, fpeak to you for the laft time -, things are come to that height, I can't bear to live and not poflfefs you all. Will you do as you pro- mise ? Will you live with me ? Shall I have that Sanétion for my Paffion? my Fortune may be wholly at your difpofal : I will ev'n do all that's neceflary to pleafe my Mother, in whofe Power it is to double it -, fhe will no longer oppofe my Inclinations, when fhe finds you give me that proof of yours. You have but to cohabit with me to make you Matter of hers, as well as mine: I am asking you no new thing: 'Twas but what your felf, firft, propos'd } the Artifice by which you drew me to give you the laft Proof of my Love, and without which I fhou'd have believ'd that Conceflion highly criminal. Per- fons of our Perfuafion, promife nothing but what they are fure to perform ; you well know their very Word to them is a Law *, I was ne- ver ufe to converfè with any Deceivers, there- fore you need not wonder I took fo little precaution againft you: Upon the whole, if you acquit your felf as you ought, there is none 1 wou'd change Conditions with. You have fcrewd me, by your delays, up to the ve- ry height: vou muft now flop, or I break and fell ( *?5 ) fall to pieces : To morrow carries yours, and your Brother's Family from our Villa for the whole Winter. I can't fupport your abfence, unlefs you'll totally deftroy my hopes: Tell me you hate me, that I may ceafe to love you. Rettore my Affairs to the pofture they were, when I firft ingag'd with you j give me back my Writings and my Effects \ let me fee that you will have no further Correfpondence with me, and I will endeavour either to be eaiie or die. To this long Speech, Mofco re- turn'd as long an Anfwer^ Stuflt with falle aflùrances of Love, and performance of his Promifè , he wou'd but put his Affairs in a pofture, not to fear his Wife's anger, and then he'd devote himfelf wholly to her ^ mean time he'd often take opportunities to fee her, they were difcharging their own Lodging, and he wou'd henceforth take up his at her Mo- thers. By this, the other (as fantaftically marri- ed) People had join'd them, Zara became a little lefs Splenetick-, fhe itay'd late that Night, becaufe it was the laft, which neither Hernando nor Louifa thank'd her for in their Hearts \ becaufe they were apparently going for a long time, to take their leaves of meet- ing in the fame Bed together. Louifa prov'd with Child, which alarm'd 'em both \ fhe grew apparently big 5 Hernando bid her not difquiet her felf, he wou'd take a Houfe for her, and fhe fhoifd be accountable to none but him for her Conduci. This ( i^6 ) This Lady undone with Love, confented to the Propofal ; fhe valu'd not the World's Opi- nion which fhe was going to lofe, nor being abandon'd by all the good, to fhut up her felf in Infamy, to devote her fèlf to a Pa£ iion, that poflibly might quickly meet its dofe in too full Poffeflion -, but fhe doating on to the extremety, found Fame and Honour, Riches and Content, in his Arms. Mr. W'dmot renew'd his AddrefPes } he had engag'd his Coufin to propofe him to Louifd for a Lover. She had been much furpriz'd at her intended Separation, nor could imagine what a young Creature mould take a Houfe to live alone by her felf } fhe fancy'd fome Myftery, but far from the right -, however, having, to fpeak in favour of Mr. Wllmot\ Paffion, fhe came foft- ly and unexpectedly to Louifd *> Chamber, there was no body there ^ fhe heard fome talking m the little Dre fling-Room, which being upon the jar, fhe faw her falle Husband upon his Knees, killing Lonifah Hand, and heard him entreat her, that fhe would admit him to her Chamber when the Houfe was at reft-, he would pretend to lie alone, and tho' there was not the fame conveniency of Windows, as at the Villa, yet fomething ought to be hazarded for fo great a Happinefs : Louifd was apparently consenting, when Lady Volpone made a third -, you may guefs how acceptable was her Company : She lofi her ufual Moderations: Tears, Grief, Rage, Re- proaches, all that could agitate a Wife jealous and convince : She upbraided Loulfa of breach of Hofpitality ; of violating the Laws of Friend- ship , fhe that had been as a Mother to her \ 'twas ( ^7 ) 'twas more than Adultery, 'twas Inceli, and Paracide} Ihe not only feduc'd her Husband, but would murther her, lìnee 'twas impoffible ihe could furvive the lofs of his Affècìion. Fernando would not fuffèr Louifa to reply, leali the Ecclarciffement of the double Marriage mould be a double Scandal to him : But taking her by the Hand, he bow'd to his Lady, and told her his Ward Ihould wait upon her at another time, when her Temper was better, and Ihe more fen- fible of the Honour Ihe reeeiv'd by fo deferving a Perfon's Converfation. So leading her down Stairs, he went with her into a Coach, and dif- pos'd her to her fatisfa&ion, in a Friend's Houle of his, 'till her own was fitted-up. Throughly convine'd of the Doctrine he had taught her, that Plurality of Wives were law- ful : She manag'd her felf no more as to the World's Opinion, forfaking that, before it could abandon her. She lay-in at her own Houfe, and no longer pretended to keep her Commerce with Hernando a Secret : She confider'd her felf as his Wife, and perii fling ftill in her beloved Opinion, indulg'd the enchanting Poyfon, which deftroy'd her Fame, and intoxicated her Reafon. Mean time the afflicìed Zara wrote feveral Letters to Mofco^ to fummon him to the perfor- mance of his Promife} Ihe fatigu'd } Ihe perfe- cted him } he * heartily wilh'd any favourable Accident would tranfport her to a more happy Region ^ neither her height of Paflion, Youth, nor Beauty, could rettore loll Appetite, or pre- vent a loathing. She perpetually talk'd of dy- ing, but he knew that very few deceas'd of that Diftempex*. The Flower of Beautv apparently faded, e *?« ) faded, neither the Rofe nor Lillies retain'd their native Colour : Her Drefs fhe negle&ed ; Diver- fions were no more ; Sorrow, nay Defpair, were her infeparable Companions ; all fhe hoped and wifh'd was, that they would quickly terminate her pain. In this manner fhe entertain'd thofè who pretended to comfort her: They found her deplorably Melancholy, but could not divine the Caufe, and vainly ftrove to divert her, but that was beyond their Sphere. She argu'd with her feif, that could fhe fee him but once more, to know his final Refolution, it would deter- mine hers-, to obtain that fatisfa&ion, fhe re- folv'd to write again ^ but whether to move him, by her fubmiffion, to companionate her Sufferings, or to threaten him into a compliance-, the former method had not been fuccefsful, therefore in Words that refemble thefe, fhe re- fblv'd upon the latter. f T*Ird out with Love and Difdain, too cruel Friend and Husband, I have refolv^d to fujfer no more in Private, but will proclaim my Woes, and your De* lujions, even to the Woman the World believes your Wife, tho' I only am fuch, and will not fail to make my Claim within two Days, at Angela ; if before that time be expired, thou dosi not comfort and re- lieve thy affezionate, and most defpairing, ZARA. Mofco could by no means relifh a Viiit oi that nature ^ he rais'd not any great Ideas of delight from fuch a Scene -, he had too much VVifdom to let it work up to that height, there- fore ( *39 ) fore fince he faw Promifes were no longeT a Specie that would pafs current with Zara, he refolv'd to undeceive her, tho' it might poffibly take her Affairs out of his Hands, and with it inconvenience his} yet her Perfecutions were more intollerable, and he would be at reft from io troublefome an Amour. Twas in vain to wifh that he had not engag'd her fo far ; thefe are among the things, which when once done, cannot fo eafily be repair'd, he took Horfe, and arrìv'd the fame Night at the Villa. She was all Joy, and new Tranfport to fee him -, 'twas as if me had never been in pain. She told him he mult lie there that Night : He faid nothing to contradict her. They fupp'd with her Mo- ther, who afterwards withdrew to order the Linen for his Bed. All the good Nature he was Matter of could not force him to Ihew Ten- dernefs where he had fo ftrong an Averfion. He ask'd himièlf whence it came, that a Perfon of her Youth and Charms, with all that's et* dearing in the Sex, excefs of Truth, and excefs of Love, could not in the leaft fway his obdu- rate Heart to a return ? He found the fatal Se- cret, he had been happy, and that prevented him from being ft i 11 fo } Satiety and Loathing fucceeded *, his Rea fon could not prefide over his Appetite \ he could eat no more however deli- cate was the Banquet, and therefore it muft be remov'd : Twas hard to tell a Lady fo that had oblig'd him, but it was ten times harder for her to fuftèr in continual torture. Therefore having fummon'd all his Refolution, he ask'd her if they ihould take a Walk by the River-fide. The Ser- vant was above ordering his Bed, but he was a-fraid ( H° ) afraid what he had to fay would make her fa oiltragious, that the Family would hear her, and he, in the firft Gull of her Paflion, mould bé ex- pofed as well as her felf. Zara confented to every thing that was agreeable to him. . They began their Walk by the pale GlimmVings of the Moon, and the agreeable nofe that arofe from the gentle Dafhes of the Water. Leaning of his Arm, which Ihe eagerly prefs'd, with the Raptures of a Paflion over-joy'd, Thou fttalt ne- ver, my Dear, fays Ihe, forfake me again: I have told my Mother of my defign to take you for my Husband : We will begin this very Night to co-habit together , my Defpair and Melan- choly has drawn her at length to confent : Do but utterly forgo that Woman you call your Wife, and we require no more for making mine, (in our opinion) a lawful Marriage: We are above the little Cenfure of others -, the Law nor Magiftrates do not frighten us : I make you ab- folute Mafter of my Fortune, only upon thefe Conditions— My Dear ! Why do you not fpeak ? Thou art not come here to difappoint me : I befeech you to anfwer me. Alas ! beautiful Za- ra! What can I anfwer? nothing, I fear, but will be difagreeable to your Expectations. You don't know the World -, you are ignorant of Mankind : 'Tis in our power to marry our felves but once, that is a fundamental eftablifh'd Law, as long as that Wife lhall live -, I did not doubt but you knew this, and when I firft gain'd the Pleasures of your Love, faid the contrary, only to allow your Virtue that pretence for yielding ^ but we mult be both utterly void of common Sen fé, to go to pafs fuch a Marriage upon the World -, ( Hi ) World j me to abandon a Lady by whom I bav " fo many Children, and other Benefits, to ruin my own Reputation and yours, for an airy Ko- tion, by which we make our felves obnoxious to the Laws, and hated by Mankind. You will object, the Promifes I made you, it would be much greater Madnefs to perform 'em, neither did I think you ferioufly expecled it - no wife Woman reckons upon the performance ofthofe extravagant things that are laid to gain her : Be contented with my Love -, there's nothing I fhall omit to pleafe you j I will lofe no Oppor- tunity to entertain you with it, provided you are difcreet, and do not expofe us both : He was going on, when Zara not able to hear any more, funk upon her Knees, and catching hold of his Coat, with both her Hands, interrupted him thus, Kill me upon the inftant \ I have fome- thing more than the Pains of Death upon me j whatfoever are call'd the Pains of Hell and Dam- nation, I feel yet more, Words cannot exprefs 'em. O ! if ever you intend to meet Mercy, (as certainly you'll oneDayftand in need of it) have mercy upon me, a Creature undone by Love (agoniz'd by Paflion) and tortur'd by Deipair : Kill me, or comply with my Requeft. I fhall never live, I cannot live to fee another Day : Pity me, pity the loft the expiring Zara -, Zara that adores you ^ Zara enchanted by your too powerful Magick -, Zara that even now dies, and can be no more without fome kindnefs. Here her Sobs choak'd her Words. He ftriving to get loofe from her ^ fhe grafping to retain him, Spleen join'd his Averfion -, he faw he could not bring her to Reafon, and therefore fince R they ( H* ) they mult quarrel, the breach had belt be made in the open Fields, where no body could hear 'em : He would take the pretence, and burlt from her, never to be plagu'd with her Impor- tunity again. You would do well, Madam, fays he, aiming to unlock her Hands, to leave me in peace, and go home to compofe your Brain, by fleep: You happen to be amorous, and fantaftically mad, and I muft be the fuffèr- er. True, you have oblig'd me, I promis'd to make a Marriage after your fafhion, by Co- habitation : I do not think fit to perform it - 7 what of that ? Are you the firft Woman that have gone upon a wrong Principle ? My Fa- mily and Reputation are not to be flaked for Trifles : Be more moderate, or affare your felf I'll never, from this inftant, fee you more. Here he threw abroad her Hands, and broke from her ; fhe fell her length upon thè Ground, then getting up as raft as (he could, ftrove to follow him, but he was at too great a diftance. Revenge and Defpair work'd her up to the height of Lunacy: She tore off her Hood, her Coif; her Gown that hung loofly about her, trampling it under Foot, and calling after him, Turn, turn but a moment ; turn and fee what Love and Rage can do; return and behold what Zdr'k can perform : Frantick, loft to Hope, and Love, loft to Life ; Ruin, Defpair, peftructi- on, Death, eternal Mifery, overtake me: Hea- ven, Earth and Hell revenge me; Heaven, Earth and Hell are confeious of my Wrongs. I devote my felf to Mifery eternal, in view of returning in the molt afrighting Form to haunt this Barbarian : Let me mingle among all the Traitor's (Hi ) Traitor's Pleafures ; let him attain to no Ho- nours, but what may be blafted by the remem- brance of Zara; let him reproach himfelf^ may the World for ever reproach him ; let me, a Ghoft, purfue the Traitor with never-ending Reproaches : Receive me, Oh hofpitable Flood ! into thy cold Bofom \ receive a devoted Wretch whofe Flame thy Waters can only quench Here (he flounc'd, with all her ftrength, into the River, to the laft moment perfiftlng in a delire of fpeedy Death : She held her Breath, and was immediately ftifled, without fwallow- ing any of the Water. Tis very much a Que- ftion if he did not hear the fall of the Body ; poffibly not believing a Woman's Love could work her to fuch a prodigious height of Fren- zy and Refentment. He had made the belt of his way to jus Lodging ^ or take it for granted that he both fufpecied and heard her Deftiny -, it was fcarce fafe for him to return, unlefs he could have propos'd to have flung himfelf in foon enough to fave her Life, which the confequence has afTur'd, had been impoffible, for fhe was ftifled in a minute, even before a Gulph of Water could be fwallow'd. Next Morning the Body was found down the River, where the Stream had carry'd it, and Mofco upon the Road, in his return to Angela .- The Truth hath been thus reported by many of ~ his Friends, without finding Credit, becaufethe World oftner condemns than acquits. Hers have advanc'd, That he had the Improvement of her Fortune in his Hands, which amounted to a confiderable Sum, and was not known to any bue her felf: That his Affairs wou'd not then permit R 2 hiiu ( M4 ) him to rettore it ^ which, if (he had liv'd, and they had became Enemies, he mutt have done j and therefore to appropriate that, and rid him- felf of a troublefome Amour, in conjunction with two more of his Friends, they had firft ftrangled, and then thrown her into the Ri- ver. But we cannot fee a fwifter inttance of Di- vine Vengeance, than in the Punifhment that here on Earth befell Zara, for bellowing her guilty Affections upon a Perfon marry'd to an- other. By this time Loulfa had two Children: nor can fhe be call'd much more happy than Zara \ for tho' Ihe did not furvive her Lovers Kind- nefs, (he fuffèr'd by it : Neither her Charms, nor the Obligations me had laid upon him, could confine him wholly to her Arms : He got but an ill Prefent among fome of his Women, which not knowing himfelf tainted, he imparted to both his Wives. The firft ( recover as fhe could) was not to be made acquainted with it *, her Temper would never fuffèr her to live eafie with him afterwards: But for Louifa, all Remedies were vainly apply'd ^ {he was Heart-broke at his Inconftancy, and tho' by her Brother's Death fhe was become a confiderable Heirefs, yet her Melancholy would fuffèr her to take no Pleafure in Life : Not that fhe ever had any Remorfe for abandoning her felf to a marry'd Man, becaufe Pollgamy was an unfhaken Article of her Faith ; but in her Tafte of Love fhe was nice and delK cite-, for as fhe had wholly devoted her Heart and Perfon to him, fhebeliev'd his, both by Me- rit» and by Promife, were wholly due to her ; but ( 145 ) but having receiv'd fo fatal a Proof of his wan- dering from both, me took it to Heart, which joining to an ill Habit of Body, carry'd her from this Life, a Martyr of that Paflion to which me had been devoted -, perfifting to the laft mo- ment in anOpinion, that in regard to Hernando^ me had done nothing but her Duty. His firlt Lady, ignorant of ^ her Diftemper, yet longer furviv'd : But when it was come to a Crifis, and that Death was apparent, he fèem'd to attone for all his former Irregularities by an exact Behaviour : One would have thought that he had been inconfolably afflided \ he law no Company but in her Chamber -, he receiv'd that little Suftenance that was abfolutely neceflàry for Life, by her Bed-fide : Whether he really had, or only feenfd to have Remorfe, he.faid and did things that was necefTary to approve him- felf a tender Husband -, and departed not from that Behaviour, till her Death moll; obligingly fet him free, and left him at full liberty to pur- fue, without controul, his Amours and his Anv bition. Thefe two Brothers, renown'd for their Af- cendency over the Ladies, have this in their Cha- racter, That they only defire to be heard : In their Tongues there is fuch Delufion, that 'tis impolfible for any Women they attempt, not to be inchanted and undone by 'em. Hernando made a Truce with Love, and ap- ply'd himfelf mote clofely to Bufinefs : He pan: all the Preferments of the Long-Robe, till he had attain'd to the greateft } when once Grand Prefìdent, by an infinite Natural Capacity, and but a fupcrficial Knowledge of the Laws, he ac- ( M ó ) acquitted himfelf with Applaufe. That Lady who Iaft left the Prado (though but an incon- flderable Fortune) he marry'd amidft all his Grandeur -, the Charms of her Wit and Con- vention attach'd him to her. She had the good fortune to fix, as well as to furvive this wan- dering Star-, though it muft be ow.n'd, That there are Follia like fame Stains^ that wear out of themfelves, among which y Love is generally reckon d to be one. FINIS.