Perhaps the grave may think I have made Politeness too important a Thing, from the Manner in which I have treated it; yet, if they will but reflect, that a Statesman, in the moft august Assembly, a Lawyer of the deepest Talents, and a Divine of the greatest Parts, muft, notwithstanding, have a large Share of Politenefs, in order to engage the Attention, and bias the Inclinations of his Hearers, before he can perfuade them; they'll be of another Opinion; and. confels, that fome Care is due to acquiring that Quality which must fet off all the rest.

The gayer Part of Part of my Readers may probably find Fault with thofe Reftraints which may refult from the Rules I have here laid down; but I would have these Gentlemen remember, that I point out a Way whereby, without the Trouble of Study, they may be enabled to make no defpicable Figure in the World; which, on mature Deliberation, I flatter myself they will think no ill Exchange. The Ladies will, I hope, repay my Labours, by not being difpleafed with this Offer of my Service. And thus, having done all in my Power towards making Folks agreeable to one another, I please me with the Hopes of having procured a favourable Reception for myself.

When gay Petronius, to correct the Age,
Gave Way, of old, to his fatyric Rage;
This motley Form he for his Writings chofe,
And chequer'd lighter Verfe with graver Profe.
When, with juft Malice, he defign'd to show
How far unbounded Vice, at last, would go;

In

In Profe we read the execrable Tale,

And fee the Face of Sin without a Veil.

But when his Soul, by fome foft Theme infpir'd,
The Aid of tuneful Poetry requir'd;

His Numbers with peculiar Sweetness ran,
And, in his eafy Verfe, we fee the Man :
Learn'd, without Pride; of Tafte correct, yet free,
Alike from Nicenefs, and from Pedantry;
Careless of Wealth, yet liking decent Show:
In fine, by Birth a Wit, by Trade a Beau
Freely be cenfur'd a licentious Age:

And him I copy, though with chafter Page;
Expofe the Evils in which Brutes delight,
And fhew how eafy 'tis to be polite;
Exhort our erring Youth-

-to mend in Time,

And Lectures give for Mem'ry's Sake, in Rhyme;
Teaching this ART-to pass thro' Life at Eafe,
Pleas'd in ourselves, while all around we please.

THE

PLAN of an ESSAY

UPON

DELICACY.

WITH A

SPECIMEN of the WORK.

In TWO DIALOGUES.

By NATHANAEL LANCASTER, LL. D.

Aggrediar, non tam perficiundi fpe, quam experiundi voluntate.

CICERO.

First Printed in the Year 1748.