Page images
PDF
EPUB

PREFACE to the SECOND EDITION.

HE POLITE PHILOSOPHER was printed

TH

originally at Edinburgh, and Part of the Edition fent up to London. The Novelty of the Title, and, to fay Truth, of the Performance itfelf, (for it is written in a Manner never before made use of in our Language) recommended it to fome, and prejudiced it in the Opinion of others; but Time, which is the Touchstone of fuch Productions, did Juftice to this Work, and at last procured it an Esteem, not only here, but abroad. This, together with my great Efteem for its ingenious AUTHOR, who is now in Italy, and who is allowed, by all who know him, to be truly a POLITE PHILOSOPHER, occafioned my fending this Second Edition into the World.

The Intent of the Author (for I very well know his Intent) was, to make Men ashamed of their Vices, by fhewing them how ridiculous they were made by them, and how impoffible it was for a bad Man to be polite. It may be, graver Books have been written on this Subject, but few more to the Point; its Author being equally skilled in Books and in Men, in the dead Languages and the living: I prefume therefore, that his Obfervations will be generally found true, and his Maxims just.

At first fight, it may feem that this Book is calculated only for a few; but I beg leave to observe, that in Truth there are but few to whom it may not be useful. As every Man in his Sta

[blocks in formation]

tion ought to be honest, so every Man in his Beha viour may be polite; nay, he ought to be fo, because he will be fure to find his Account in it; fince it is a Quality easier difcerned, and of confequence fooner rewarded, than the former. We must know and converse with a Man to be convinced of his Probity; whereas we perceive, at first fight, whether he has good Manners; by this we are prejudiced in his Favour: And who then would not strive to learn an Art at once fo eafy, and fo extenfive in its Ufe?

But, if it be beneficial to all, it is peculiarly neceflary to Youth. It is at once a Remedy for Bashfulness, and a Prefervative against the contrary Vice. A polite Perfon ftands in the Middle between a fheepish Modefty, and a diftateful Boldnefs. It is the Habit which adds the last Polish to Education, brightens the Man of Letters, and spreads a Gloss over that Sort of Learning, which would otherwife appear pedantic. The polite Man may not only understand Latin and Greek, but may also introduce them into Difcourfe, provided it be before proper Company, and on a proper Occafion. The unpolished Scholar lugs them in whenever they occur; quotes Ovid to his Miftrefs, and repeats a Paffage from Polyanus to a Captain of the Guards. To our Youth therefore I beg leave to recommend this concife Manual, which will coft them but little Time to read, and no great Pains to practise.

Το

To the Author of the Polite Philofopher.

Velat materna tempora myrto.

W

VIRG.

7 HEN Vice the Shelter of a Mafk difdain'd, When Folly triumph'd, and a Nero reign'd, Petronius rofe, fatyric, yet polite,

And fhew'd the glaring Monster full in Sight;,
To public Mirth expos'd th' Imperial Beast,
And made his wanton Court the common Jeft.
In your correcter Page his Wit we fee,
And all the Roman Lives reftor'd in thee:
So is the Piece proportion'd to our Times;;
For ev'ry Age diverfifies its Crimes ;
And Vice, with Proteus Art, in one conceals.
What in the next more boldly it reveals;
In diff'rent Shapes drives on the lafhing Trade,
And makes the World one changing Masquerade..
The griping Wretch, whofe Av'rice robs the

[Town,
To gain his Point, a holy Look puts on;
To Earth directs his Hands, to Heav'n his Eyes,
And, with a fhew of Grace, defrauds and lyes.
Th' ambitious Courtier, but for diff'rent Ends,
With feeming Zeal the Public Good defends.
Th' Enthusiast thinks to him the Standard giv'n
Of Truth divine, the Mafter-key of Heav'n."
The Pettifogger fee'd, fupports the Caufe,
Howe'er unjust, and wrefts the injur'd Laws.
To Courage, Bullies; Fops to Wit pretend;
And all can prostitute the Name of Friend..
Yet tho' Men want but Eyes to fee the Cheat,
They choofe to wink, and help their own Deceit.:
The Herd of Fools refign themfelves a Prey,
Which every Knave pursues his private. Way.

K. 3

The

The Question, Forrefter, is fomething hard; How fhall the wife the motly Scene regard? While Men curfelves, can we unmov'd stand by? Pain'd while we fmile? or guiltlefs fhall we cry? Humanity to Grief wou'd give the Rule; But ftronger Reafon fides with Ridicule.

Oh! that thy Work, inftru&tive, but refin❜d, The pleafing Image of your easy Mind; (Which, like the Statues wrought by Phidian Art, Is one fair whole, complete in every Part,) May cure the lighter Follies of the Age, Cool Bigot Zeal, and foften Party Rage; Expose Ill-nature, Pedantry o'ercome, Strike Affectation dead, and Scandal dumb; Reftore free Converfe to its native Light, And teach Mankind with Eafe to grow polite. Then round thy Brow thy Myrtle Garland twine, The grateful Recompence of Toils like thine: Secure in all you write or do, to please ; Join Wit with Senfe, with Understanding, Ease. Already here your just Applauses rife,

And the Belles read you with transported Eyes. Some in the sweetest Notes repeat thy Lays; Others harmonious, fpeak the Author's Praife: All to approve, with equal Zeal conspire;

What more can Fortune give

-or you defire ? As Paris, loft in paffionate Surprize, To Love's refiftlefs Queen affign'd the Prize: So while you Beauty treat with fuch Regard, The lovely Theme shall be your best Reward; Venus fhall from the Shepherd's Debt be free; And, by the fav'rite Fair, repay the Debt to thee. THE

THE

POLITE PHILOSOPHER.

M

ETHOD requires, that, in my Entrance on this Work, I fhould explain the Nature of that Science to which I have given the Name of POLITE PHILOSOPHY: And though I am not very apt to write methodically, yet I think it becomes me, on this Occafion, to fhew that my Title is fomewhat à propos. Folks who are skilled in Greek, tell us, that Philofophy means no more than the Love of Wif dom; and I, by the Adjunction of polite, would be understood to mean that Sort of Wisdom, which teaches Men to be at Peace in themfelves, and neither by their Words or Behaviour to disturb the Peace of others.

1

Academical Critics may, perhaps, expect that I fhould at least quote fome Greek Sage or other, 'as the Patron of that kind of Knowledge, which I am about to restore; and as I pique myself on obliging every Man in his Way, I fhall put them in mind of one ARISTIPPUS, who was Profeffor of Polite Philofophy at Syracufe, in the Days of the famous King Dionyfius, in whofe Favour he flood higher than even Plato himself. Should they go farther, and demand an Account of his Tenets ;

K 4

I must

« PreviousContinue »