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ther he does not admire the little Carelessnesses which are beautifully interspersed in these pretty Compofitions. If these 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 Obfervation, that nothing has fpoiled more Authors than the affected Imitation of another Man's Diction. Every one has fome 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 C: but nobly disdains all fervile Imitation. His Language is Original: It is his Own and I defy the fnarling Critic to produce any thing like it. I fpeak only of the Style; for I will not deny, that fometimes he will condefcend to fleal an Hint from another, as may be feen in the Specimens I have given. But how does he fleal it? No otherwife than like thofe, who (as Garth fays of Dryden) steal Beggars Children, only to cloath them the better.

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Another Object of this Mimic's Raillery is, that fweet Placability of Temper, which obliges a refined Gentleman to put up even repeated Injuries and Affronts, rather than avenge them by the ufual Method of demanding Satisfaction.

I am not apprehenfive that this Part of his Charaeter is lefs defenfible than the rest. I could pro

duce

duce fome tolerable Arguments against Duelling, drawn from certain Principles, which were once looked upon to be the Rules of Human Conduct. I could eafily prove, that the fingle Combat is derived from Gothic Manners, and is abfolutely inconfiftent with the Character of a Gentleman, But fuch Reafonings as these are neither fo well adapted to the Times, nor fo pertinent to the Caufe I have undertaken. Waving then this kind of Defence, upon this fingle Argument I lay my whole Strefs-"The Pretty Gentleman will not fight, becaufe-He is not able."

And can any Man produce a better Reafon for not doing a Thing, than to make it manifeftthat he cannot ?

Behold that tender Frame! Thofe trembling Knees! Thofe feeble Joints! Obferve that fine Complexion Examine that fmooth, that Velvety Skin! View that Pallor which spreads itself over his Countenance ! Hark, with what a feminine Softnefs his Accents fteal their Way through his half opened Lips! Feel that foft Palm! Thofe fender Fingers, accustomed only to handle Silks and Ribbons, the eafy-piercing Needle, or foftgliding Shuttle; but unpractifed in the rough Exercifes of Warlike Weapons! Mark all thefe, and a Thousand other gentle Imbecillities, and then tell me, impartial Reader, whether fuch a Being is formed for Battle? You cannot think it: You will not fay it. I will therefore venture to affirm, that He is fo far from deferving Contempt and Ridicule, when he declines the Combat, that he merits our Efteem and Applaufe. He there

fore

fore who is fo bafe as to affront, or fend a Challenge to fach a Perfon, is an arránt Coward. For would a Man of Honour draw his Sword upon Lady And to fay the Truth, The Pretty Gen tleman is certainly formed in a different Mould from that of Common Men, and tempered with a purer Flame. The whole Syftem is of a finer Turn, and fuperior Accuracy of Fabric, infomuch that it looks as if Nature had been in doubt, to which Sex she should affign Him.

-Now this Contexture of his Organs, and the Tone of his Spirits approaching so very near to That of the Fair, has rendered Him liable to the fame gentle Impreffions, and Alarms of Fear. Does Calia fet up a Scream at the Apprehenfion of the leaft Danger? Delicatulus is as easily intimitated, and screams with as pretty an Accent. Do the Weakness of Lady Betty's Nerves fubject her to Fits and Swoonings? Tenellus likewife has his Hyfterics, and dies away with as soft a Grace. It is to attain thefe and fuch like Accomplishments, that they make frequent Vifits to the Ladies; though fome flanderous Perfons would make us believe, that they have another Motive, and inti mate I know not what, vitious Defigns, that are too indecent even to be mentioned. But I can aflure the World, there is not the leaft Foundation for the bafe Suggeftion. This Attendance, I know, takes its Rife from Canfes, with which the Appetite for That Sex has no Manner of Connexion. So pure are their Morals! So inviolable their Modefty! Amazing Continence! And yet, our Wonder is leffened, when we confider what

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Methods

Methods they purfue to fence against the Allurements of Female Charms. They are certainly the most fober and temperate Beings that ever exifted. It is an inviolable Maxim with them, to refrain from every Indulgence, which is apt to irritate the Blood, and excite the Pruriency of Defire.

Old Englife Roaft-Beef is, indeed, properly adapted to Old English Manners; fince, as all Phyficians obferve, the Quality of our Food communicates itfelf to the Mind. Therefore at the Table of a Pretty Gentleman, you never fee the Flesh of a full-grown Animal. Chickens of a Week old, Veal Sweet-breads, or a Leg of Lamb, and now and then Pigs-petitoes, are their highest Indulgence. But the usual Food is Cheese-cakes, White-pot, Tanzeys, and Flummery. And can it be thought that this abftemious Restriction is a proper Subject of Raillery, when a certain celebrated Writer, amidst the Praises he bestows on his noble Patron, mentions this as his finishing Excellence; "That he lived upon Panada and Water

gruel [c]." I mention this, because it is the Obfervation of one who never fhewed any Favour to Modern Elegance.

As to Wine, it is abfolutely their Aversion. And indeed, fo Delicate is their Frame, that even the Moderate Indulgences of the Fair would ill agree with these more tender Males." The First "Glafs, faid a Pretty French Author, I may "drink for myself; a Second for my Friend; but

[c] Middleton's Life of Cicero. Dedication.

66 if

* if a Third, it is for my Enemy." Our Youths feldom go fo far as a Second; and whenever That happens, 'tis fure to be followed with bitter Reflections. "What do you think? (faid Um"bratilis to Lord Molly.) I was the most abo"minable Rake laft Night! Do you know? I "drank Two Glaffes of Claret after my Flum"mery.

"Oh fie! you naughty Child! what a Paw "Trick was that! as I hope for Mercy, you de"ferve to be foundly Wh-t, fo you do.”

Two Glaffes only! No more! And yet merited fuch a rigorous Animadverfion. But, perhaps, even that small Quantity might be too much for the Infantine Conftitution; to which Nature points out a more suitable Liquor, of a Soft and Delicicious Kind, emulged from the falutiferous Cow, or the thin Juices of the Gentle Afs; the Temperament of whofe Fluids is productive of a correfpondent Temperament in the Ffon, who accustoms himself to thefe aflimilating Draughts.

I have already detained the Reader' fo long, that I fhall not trefpafs upon his Patience, by giving a Detail of the numerous Artifices, which are exhibited in the important Hours that are employed in decorating their Perfons. Were you to behold Narcissus at his Toilet, how would you be charmed with the Order and Difpofition! Did you view this lovely Youth whilst he takes his exterior Form into a moft exact Adjuftment, you' must stand amazed at all the Pretty Wonders of his Art. What Pains! What Care! What Stu

dy! What Addrefs! To arch that Eye-brow!

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