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 Wisdom; and I, by the Adjunction of polite, would be understood to mean that Sort of Wisdom, which teaches Men to be at Peace in themselves, and neither by their Words or Behaviour to disturb the Peace of others.

Academical Critics may, perhaps, expect that I fhould at leaft quote fome Greek Sage or other, as the Patron of that kind of Knowledge, which I am about to reftore; 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 ftood higher than even

Plate

Plato himself. Should they go farther, and demand an Account of his Tenets; I must turn them over to Horace, who has comprifed them all in one Line.

Omnis Ariftippum decuit color, et ftatus, et res.
"Secure his Soul preferv'd a conftant Frame,
"Through ev'ry varying Scene of Life the fame."

In the Court of the King of Sicily, this wife Man enjoyed all the Delights that would have satisfied a fenfual Mind; but it was the Ufe of these which fhewed him a true Philofopher. He was temperate in them, while he poffeffed them; and eafy without them, when they were no longer in his Power. In a Word, he had the Integrity of Diogenes, without his Churlifhness; and as his Wisdom was useful to himself, fo it rendered him agreeable to the reft of the World.

Arifippus had many Pupils; but, for the regular Succeffion in his School, it has either not been recorded by the Greek Writers, or, at leaft, by any of them that came to my hand. Among the Romans, indeed, this Kind of Knowledge was in the highest Efteem; and that at the Time when the Reputation of the Commonwealth was at its greatest Height. Scipio was lefs diftinguished by the Laurels he acquired from foreign Conquefts, than by the Myrtle Garland he wore as a Profeffor in this Art. The familiar Letters of Cicero are so many short Lectures in our Science, and the Life of Pomponius Atticus a Praxis only on Polite Philofophy.

I would

I would not be fufpected to mention these great Names with an Intent to display my Learning; far be it from me to write a Satyr on the Age: All I aim at is, to convince the beaux efprits of our Times, that what I teach, they may receive without Difparagement, fince they tread thereby in the fame Road with the greateft Heroes of Antiquity; and, in this Way, at least emulate the Characters of Alexander and Cæfar. Or, if thofe old-fashioned Commanders excite not their Ambition, I will venture to affure them, that, in this Track only, they will be able to approach the immortal Prince Eugene; who, glorious from his Courage, and amiable from his Clemency, is yet lefs diftinguished by his Rank, than by his Politeness.

After naming Prince Eugene, it would debase my Subject to add another Example. I fhall proceed therefore to take Notice of fuch Qualities of the Mind as are requifite for my Pupils to have, previous to the Receipt of these Inftructions.

But as Vanity is one of the greatest Impediments in the Road of a Polite Philofopher; and as he whọ takes upon him to be a Preceptor, ought, at leaft, not to give an ill Example to his Scholars; it will not be improper for me to declare, that, in compofing this Piece, I had in my Eye that Precept of Seneca, Hæc aliis dic, ut dum dicis, audias; ipfe fcribe, ut dum fcripferis, legas. Which, for the Sake of the Ladies, I fhall tranflate into English;

and

and into Verfe, that I may gratify my own Propenfity to rhyming:'

Speaking to Others, what you dictate hear;

And learn yourself, while teaching you appear.

Thus you see me ftript of the ill-obeyed Authority of a Pedagogue; and are, for the future, to confider me only as a School-fellow playing the Master, that we may the better conquer the Difficulties of our Talk.

To proceed then in the Character, which, for my own Sake, as well as yours, I have put on, let me remind you, in the first Place,

That Reason, however antique you may think it, is a thing absolutely neceffary in the Compofition of him who endeavours at acquiring a philosophical Palitenefs; and let us receive it as a Maxim, That, without Reason, there is no being a fine Gentleman,

However, to foften, at the fame Time that we yield to this Constraint, I tell my blooming Audience with Pleasure, that Reafon, like a Fop's Underwaistcoat, may be wore out of fight; and, provided it be but worn at all, I fhall not quarrel with them, though Vivacity, like a laced Shirt, be put over it to conceal it; for, to purfue the Comparifon, our Minds fuffer no lefs from Indifcretion, than our Bodies from the Injuries of Weather.