Volume I Part 29 (1/2)
For the Truth of which he appealed to the Frontispiece of several Books, and particularly to the _English Juvenal_, [3] to which he referred him; and only added,
”That such Authors were the _Larvati_ [4] or _Larva donati_ of the Ancients.”
This cleared up all, and in the Conclusion you were chose Probationer; and Mr. President put round your Health as such, protesting,
”That tho' indeed he talked of a Vizard, he did not believe all the while you had any more Occasion for it than the Cat-a-mountain;”
so that all you have to do now is to pay your Fees, which here are very reasonable if you are not imposed upon; and you may stile your self _Informis Societatis Socius_: Which I am desired to acquaint you with; and upon the same I beg you to accept of the Congratulation of,
SIR,
Your oblig'd humble Servant,
R. A. C.
Oxford March 21.
[Footnote 1: this]
[Footnote 2: At the coming of William III.]
[Footnote 3: The third edition of Dryden's Satires of Juvenal and Persius, published in 1702, was the first 'adorn'd with Sculptures.' The Frontispiece represents at full length Juvenal receiving a mask of Satyr from Apollo's hand, and hovered over by a Cupid who will bind the Head to its Vizard with a Laurel Crown.]
[Footnote 4: Larvati were bewitched persons; from Larva, of which the original meaning is a ghost or spectre; the derived meanings are, a Mask and a Skeleton.]
No. 33 Sat.u.r.day, April 7, 1711. Steele.
'Fervidus tec.u.m Puer, et solutis Gratiae zonis, properentque Nymphae, Et parum comis sine te Juventas, Mercuriusque.'
Hor. 'ad Venerem.'
A friend of mine has two Daughters, whom I will call _Laet.i.tia_ and _Daphne_; The Former is one of the Greatest Beauties of the Age in which she lives, the Latter no way remarkable for any Charms in her Person.
Upon this one Circ.u.mstance of their Outward Form, the Good and Ill of their Life seems to turn. _Laet.i.tia_ has not, from her very Childhood, heard any thing else but Commendations of her Features and Complexion, by which means she is no other than Nature made her, a very beautiful Outside. The Consciousness of her Charms has rendered her insupportably Vain and Insolent, towards all who have to do with her. _Daphne_, who was almost Twenty before one civil Thing had ever been said to her, found her self obliged to acquire some Accomplishments to make up for the want of those Attractions which she saw in her Sister. Poor _Daphne_ was seldom submitted to in a Debate wherein she was concerned; her Discourse had nothing to recommend it but the good Sense of it, and she was always under a Necessity to have very well considered what she was to say before she uttered it; while _Laet.i.tia_ was listened to with Partiality, and Approbation sate in the Countenances of those she conversed with, before she communicated what she had to say. These Causes have produced suitable Effects, and _Laet.i.tia_ is as insipid a Companion, as _Daphne_ is an agreeable one. _Laet.i.tia_, confident of Favour, has studied no Arts to please; _Daphne_, despairing of any Inclination towards her Person, has depended only on her Merit.
_Laet.i.tia_ has always something in her Air that is sullen, grave and disconsolate. _Daphne_ has a Countenance that appears chearful, open and unconcerned. A young Gentleman saw _Laet.i.tia_ this Winter at a Play, and became her Captive. His Fortune was such, that he wanted very little Introduction to speak his Sentiments to her Father. The Lover was admitted with the utmost Freedom into the Family, where a constrained Behaviour, severe Looks, and distant Civilities, were the highest Favours he could obtain of _Laet.i.tia_; while _Daphne_ used him with the good Humour, Familiarity, and Innocence of a Sister: Insomuch that he would often say to her, _Dear_ Daphne; _wert thou but as Handsome as Laet.i.tia!_--She received such Language with that ingenuous and pleasing Mirth, which is natural to a Woman without Design. He still Sighed in vain for _Laet.i.tia_, but found certain Relief in the agreeable Conversation of _Daphne_. At length, heartily tired with the haughty Impertinence of _Laet.i.tia_, and charmed with repeated Instances of good Humour he had observed in _Daphne_, he one Day told the latter, that he had something to say to her he hoped she would be pleased with.--_Faith Daphne,_ continued he, _I am in Love with thee, and despise thy Sister sincerely_. The Manner of his declaring himself gave his Mistress occasion for a very hearty Laughter.--_Nay,_ says he, _I knew you would Laugh at me, but I'll ask your Father._ He did so; the Father received his Intelligence with no less Joy than Surprize, and was very glad he had now no Care left but for his _Beauty_, which he thought he could carry to Market at his Leisure. I do not know any thing that has pleased me so much a great while, as this Conquest of my Friend _Daphne's_. All her Acquaintance congratulate her upon her Chance. Medley, and laugh at that premeditating Murderer her Sister. As it is an Argument of a light Mind, to think the worse of our selves for the Imperfections of our Persons, it is equally below us to value our selves upon the Advantages of them. The Female World seem to be almost incorrigibly gone astray in this Particular; for which Reason, I shall recommend the following Extract out of a Friend's Letter to the Profess'd Beauties, who are a People almost as unsufferable as the Profess'd Wits.
Monsieur St. _Evremont_ [1] has concluded one of his Essays, with affirming that the last Sighs of a Handsome Woman are not so much for the loss of her Life, as of her Beauty. Perhaps this Raillery is pursued too far, yet it is turn'd upon a very obvious Remark, that Woman's strongest Pa.s.sion is for her own Beauty, and that she values it as her Favourite Distinction. From hence it is that all Arts, which pretend to improve or preserve it, meet with so general a Reception among the s.e.x. To say nothing of many False Helps and Contraband Wares of Beauty, which are daily vended in this great Mart, there is not a Maiden-Gentlewoman, of a good Family in any County of _South-Britain_, who has not heard of the Virtues of _May_-Dew, or is unfurnished with some Receipt or other in Favour of her Complexion; and I have known a Physician of Learning and Sense, after Eight Years Study in the University, and a Course of Travels into most Countries of _Europe_, owe the first raising of his Fortunes to a Cosmetick Wash.
This has given me Occasion to consider how so Universal a Disposition in Womankind, which springs from a laudable Motive, the Desire of Pleasing, and proceeds upon an Opinion, not altogether groundless, that Nature may be helped by Art, may be turn'd to their Advantage.