marks in Verfe, where my Genius may be more at Liberty, and Vivacity attone for want of Method. Who would not chufe to fhun the gen'ral Scorn, Ere Hitherto we have dwelt only on the Blemishes of Converfation, in order to prevent our Readers committing fuch Offences as abfolutely destroy all Pretences to Politeness. But as a Man cannot be said to discharge the Duty he owes to Society, who contents himself with barely doing nothing amifs; so Lectures on Polite Philofophy, after removing these Obftacles, may reasonably be expected to point out the Method whereby true Politeness may be obtained. But, alas! that is not to be done by Words; Rocks and Tempests are eafily painted, but the Rays of Phoebus defy the Pencil. Methinks I fee my Auditors in Surprise. What, fay they, have we attended fo long in vain? Have we we liftened to no Purpofe? Muft we content ourfelves with knowing how neceffary a Thing Politeness is, without being told how to acquire it? Why really, Gentlemen, it is juft fo. I have done all for you that is in my Power; I have fhewn you what you are not to be; in a Word, I have explained Politeness negatively: If you would know it pofitively, you must seek it from Company and Obfervation. However, to fhew my own Good-breeding, I will be your Humble Servant as far as I can; that is, I'll open the Door, and introduce you, leaving you then at the fingle Point, where I can be of no farther Ufe, id eft, Application. The World is a great School, wherein Men are first to learn, and then to practise. As Fundamentals in all Sciences ought to be well understood, so a Man cannot be too attentive at his first becoming acquainted with the Public: For Experience is a neceffary Qualification in every distinguished Character, and is as much required in a fine Gentleman, as in a Statesman. Yet it is to be remarked, that Experience is much fooner acquired by fome, than by others: For it does not confift fo much in a copious Remembrance of whatever has happened, as in a regular Retention of what may be useful; as a Man is properly styled learned from his making a just Use of reading, and not from his having perufed a Multitude of Books. As foon as we have gained Knowledge, we shall find the best Way to improve it will be Exercife; in which which two Things are carefully to be avoided, Pofitiveness and Affectation. If, to our Care in fhuning them, we add a Defire of obliging those with whom we converfe, there is little Danger, but that we become all we wish; and Politeness, by an imperceptible Gradation, will enter into our minutest Actions, and give a Polish to every thing we do. Near to the far-extended Coafts of Spain, And Months of Labour lead to Years of Eafe. The Duke de Rochefaucaut, who was esteemed the most brilliant Wit in France, fpeaking of Polite nefs, fays, That a Citizen will hardly acquire it at Court, and yet may eafily attain it in the Camp, I fhall not enter into the Reason of this, but offer my Readers a fhorter, pleasanter, and more effectual Method of arriving at the Summit of genteel Behaviour; that is, by converfing with the Ladies. Those who aim at Panegyric, are wont to affemble a Throng of glittering Ideas, and then, with great Exactness, Exactness, clothe them with all the Elegance of Language, in order to their making the most magnificent Figure when they come abroad in the World. So copious a Subject as the Praises of the Fair, may, in the Opinion of my Readers, lay me under great Difficulties in this Refpect. Every Man of good Understanding, and fine Senfe, is in Pain for one who has undertaken fo hard a Tafk; Hard indeed to me who, from many Year's Study of the Sex, have difcovered fo many Perfections in them, as fcarce as many more Years would afford me Time to exprefs. However, not to difappoint my Readers, or myfelf, by foregoing that Pleasure I feel in doing Juftice to the most amiable Part of the Creation, I will indulge the natural Propenfity I have to their Service, and paint, though it be but in Miniature, the Excellencies they poffefs, and the Accomplishments which, by Reflexion, they bestow. As when fome Poet, happy in his Choice Those who, from wrong Ideas of Things, have forced themselves into a Diflike of the Sex, will be apt to cry out, Where would this Fellow run? Has he fo long ftudied Women, and does he not know what Numbers Numbers of affected Prudes, gay Coquettes, and giddy Impertinents there are amongst them?—— Alas! Gentlemen, what Miftakes are theíe? How will you be surprised, if I prove to you, that you are in the fame Sentiments with me; and that you could not have fo warm Refentments at thefe Pecadilloes, if you did not think the Ladies more than mortal? Are the Faults you would pafs by in a Friend, and fmile at in an Enemy, Crimes of fo deep a Dye in them, as not to be forgiven? And can this flow from any other Principle, than a Persuasion, that they are more perfect in their Nature than we, and their Guilt the greater therefore, in departing, even in the smallest Degree, from that Perfection? Or, can there be a greater Honour to the Sex, than this Dignity, which even their Enemies allow them? To fay Truth, Virtue and Women owe less to their Friends, than to their Foes; fince the vicious, in both Cafes, charge their own Want of Tafte on the Weakness of Human Nature; purfue grofler Pleasures because they are at hand; and neglect the more refined, as Things of which their Capacities afford them no Idea. Born with a fervile Guft to fenfual Joy, While thofe mean Wretches, with juft Shame o'erfpread, Live on unknown and are, unheard of, dead. Mr. |