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upon as the Marks of favage Manners. A governed Smile, or fo-they judge to be not at all ungraceful. Nay, an Half-Laugh upon a very extraordinary Occafion, is not esteemed a Departure from Decorum. But then, the utmost Caution imaginable is taken, that it proceed no farther. And it is pleafant enough to fee the little Difficulties they ftruggle with in fuppreffing the Inclination. The tickling Sense of the home-felt Conceit, puts the rifible Features into Motion; but then it is inftantly checked by the quick Impulse of fine Senfation. The one prompts to give full Vent to the rifing Joy; the other bids-forbear. It is this pretty Altercation, which produces that tempered Laugh, which plays with such a Grace on the Countenance of a Pretty Gentleman.

By what I have already advanced, the Reader may probably perceive, that their Language and Diction has the most effential Requisite of Style, and that the Sound always ecchoes to the Senfe. But fince this Part of the Character has been a Subject of our Mimic's Raillery, I fhall produce fuch Inftances, as will ine contestably demonftrate the Truth of my Affertion.

Some Time ago, four or five of these elegant Youths were invited to dine at Lady Betty's. The first Dish that was ferved up happened to be a Leg of Lamb and Spinage; at the Sight of which Fannius inftantly fainted away.

"Oh Lard! fays Timidulus, fetch fome Draps."Take away the Dish, cried Molliculo-Perhaps he VOL. I.

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"has fome 'Tipathy to Lamb. No, no, replies “Tenellus, he has evermore his Hyfterics at this "Time of the Year.-Let him alone, for He'vns

Sake! don't croud about❜m ;—he'll come to him"felf prefently.-Fetch a little Pepper-mint-water, "fays Cottilus, it is

By this Time, Fannius finding his Spirits return, gently lifted up his Head,-and after half a Dozen Sighs" Heigh! Hoh! Where am I?-Well"I protest-I am quite-afhamed to-to-But— "do you know, whenever I fee a Leg of Lamb and "Spinage, it is fo like-that it puts me in mind of— "[Here he burst out into a Flood of Tears]—It puts "me in mind of my dear,-dear Bitch Chloe-fun"ning herself upon a Grafs-Plot! What a dull Cre"ter was I, replied the Lady, that I could not think "of this! But upon my Veracity! I never heard "a Syllable that Chloe was. It was fure the "moft engaging Company! And had the foftest "Coat! Well! It was an infinitely pretty Creter!

"Oh dear Me'me! replied Fannius-Not a Word "more, I entreat you. Your Favor is an Antidote "against all Misfortunes." Upon this he dried up his Tears; the Company fat down again, and all was well. I have given this Narrative not only as a beautiful Specimen of their Language, but as an exemplary Inftance of great Humanity of Temper.

Nor are they lefs excellent in what is commonly called the Epiftolary Style, but more properly Miffive Converfation: The Reader will be fully convinced

of

of this, if he gives his Attention to the following Specimens.

A CAR D.

"Lord Molliculo's Compliments to Sir Roley Te"nellus hopes did not ketch Cold laft Night when "he went from th' Oppera-shall be proud of his "Cumpany at Cards nex Wensday fennit,-to meet Lady Betty, and begs will not fail."

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When the Sentiments are committed to Paper, the Diction rifes to an higher Pitch, preferving at the fame time, a great Degree of the kindred Form.

COPY of a LETTER from Sir Thomafin Lepidulus, to Narciffus Shadow, Efq.

Mi Dere NeЛy,

Expected yu wud ha' retorted upon that brootal Monftir, who atak'd yu laft Nite at Lady Betty's.—Yu certinly had it in yure Pour ;—but upon matuer D'liberation, I vew, I think yu was in the Right to turn it off, and treat the Retch wi' good Manners. Yu fine Geniusses who 'clypfes every body, certainly for that Refon ows every body inf'nite Civility. Pour Pufs is better this Morning-Fever pretty much abated. Pray, mi Dere, how is yure Cold? I tho't yu was vastly boarfe laft Nite. Better not tir abroad-Weather's extremely piercing. I hate this deteftable Climate, as much asYu will fupply the rest—

Adieu, dere Neffy,

Yours infinitely,

T. LEPIDULUS.

Narciffus read this Letter to his Valet; and haying talked the Subject over with him, not perhaps to borrow any of the Fellow's Sentiments, but to give Rife to fome in himself, wrote the following Answer

I Proteft to you, my dear Leppy, I was feveral

Times upon the Point of breaking out with the Sharpness of Rebuke. Was there ever fuch a nauseous Creter? To confefs the Truth,-I shud certainly have been fevere upon him, but that it is much more becoming a Gentleman, not to fay any thing fubject to inconvenient Interpretations. The Fellow is what you call fprightly but has not the leaft Tincture of Delicacy about him. Pray, have you feen the New Play? I fhe'n't be efy till I have yure Opinion.

My Sufpicions are confirmed. Amoriculus (wud You believe it?) the abominable Man is, bona fide, become a Parent by his Criminal Gratifications.

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And what now have the Sons of Momus to object against the Style of a Pretty Gentleman? Here is every Requifite in Fine Writing: Here is Brevity, Softness, Propriety, and Eafe. Happily freed from the Shackles of connecting and reftraining Rules, the Diction roves and wanders, now here, now there ; and, with a wondrous Facility, glides fo impercep tibly from one Flower to another, that the most fubtile Penetrator would be at a Lofs to find, where This ends, and where That begins. Some Negligences there are indeed; but they are fuch as muft be allowed the trueft Ornaments of Speech.-Let any Man examine the Letters I have here faithfully transcribed, and tell me whether he does not admire the little Careleffneffes which are beautifully interf perfed in these pretty Compofitions. If thefe are Faults, it must be owned that they are truly charming: One cannot but delight in the lovely Errors, and fay of this Style what Quintilian did of Seneca's,

Abundat Dulcibus Vitiis.

It is a common Observation, that nothing has fpoiled more Authors than the affected Imitation of another Man's Diction. Every one has some natural Bent, fomething peculiar in his Genius, which if he does not follow, he will never be able to speak or write with any Succefs. The Pretty Gentleman carefully avoids this Error, and follows his natural Genius. He neither writes like Addifon, nor talks like G: but nobly difdains all fervile Imitation. His Language is Original: It is his Own: and I defy P3

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