the Iourney Of the War and Warlike Officers Of Arms. Of Nations Of Beasts Of Birds Of Fishes Of Metals Of Stones Of Gums Of Colours Of Plays and Pastimes Of Exercises Of Coins Of Numbers Nouns Adjectives A Collection of Verbs The Familiar Dialogues A Collection of the Niceties of the French Tongue 1. To pray or desire 2. To complement and give thanks 3. To affirm to consent to deny and to refuse 4. To consult or consider 5. To wish one well or ill 6. To scold to threaten and to abuse 7. To laugh at and call Names 8. To shew ones grief 9. To ask a question 10. To forbid 11. To express joy and sadness Twelve Discourses by way of Conversation 1. Of Religion 2. Of Languages 3. Of Philosophy 4. Of Mathematicks 5. Of History 6. Of Politicks 7. Of Exercises 8. Of Politeness and Civility 9. Of Travels 10. Of Pleasures and Diversions 11. Of Love 12. Of Friendship In the Third Part. A Collection of Iests Repartees and Stories A Collection of Letters upon several Subjects A Collection of Proverbs A Collection of Songs A Short and Plain French-GRAMMAR FOR Ladies and Young Gentlemen that do not yet understand Latin The Introduction NO question but the â—est and surest way for one to Learn French is to joyn Rules to Practice For in this as in all other Arts without a good Foundation the Building will soon decay and fall of it self But because most People especially Ladies and Young Persons who are unacquainted with Latin are cloy'd and puzled by the long intricate Rules which are commonly set down in Grammars I shall endeavour to give in this a plain and brief Account of all those difficulties that use to discourage them from Learning a Language so sweet so fine and so fashionable that it is accounted a piece of Ill-Breeding to be ignorant of it CHAP. I. THE Grammar in general is the Art of Speaking and Writing well a Language and consequently the French-Grammar Teaches one how to Speak and Write well in French The first Principles of Grammar are Letters which are twenty two in French all which together are called Alphabet or Abece and are thus written A B C D E F G H I L M N O P Q R S T U or V X Y Z. Or thus a b c d e f g h i l m n o p q r s t u or v x y z. And which in general may be thus pronounced Aw Bé Cé Dé Ea Ef Gé Aush Ee Ell Em En O Pé Qu Er Es Te U Ex Ee Greac Zed The Letters of the first row are called Capitals and those of the second Common Capitals are used in the beginning of a Sentence and of a Verse of Proper Names of Names of Office and Title and of anâ— thing of Note Letters are divided into Vowels and Consonants The Vowels are five A E I or Y O V and are so called because they form a voice or sound by themselves The rest of the Letters are called Consonants because they cannot make a sound or be pronounc'd without the help of a Vowel either before or after as bé â—é em en c. Now the joining and mingling of Vowels and Consonants together make Syllables Syllables make Words Words make Phrases or Sentences which last make up a Language A Language is the way of expressing ones Thoughts which may be done either by word of Mouth or in Writing Therefore there are two chief things required to that purpose viz. True Pronunciation and Spelling the former is attainable in some measure by Rules but the other only by frequent and diligent Reading * I shall in the next Chapter give you some few Rules about the French Pronunciation tho at the same time I must needs tell you that it is impossible to arrive to any perfection in that without the help of an able Master and the Conversation of those that Speak good French CHAP. II. Of the Pronunciation of Letters ARTICLE I. Of Vowels 1. A. A In French sounds like A in English in these words war Tall as l' Ame the Soul Attaquer to Attack †Exception a before an ï marked with two tittles or before an y sounds like the English a in Make as Paâ—s Country Abbayer to Bark 2. E. The Vowel e hath four several sounds all comprehended in this word E mpe ché e busie or in this e nfe rmé e shut in I. The first e before m and n sounds like an a. Exceptions 1. †In some words that come from other Languages e sounds like a in the English words Face Make as Hymen Amen Ierusalem 2. †En coming after i or y sounds like 〈◊〉 in these English words Then Den as Chien Dog Bien well Moyeâ— means 3. †In the third Plural Person of the Present Tense of the Indicative Mood where n is to be left out e sounds like ea in English as ils parlenâ— they speak ils mangeâ—t they eat II. The second e is called open because to pronounce it one ought to open the Mouth wider than to pronounce the others it sounds like the English a in the words Face Grace III. The third e is called Masculine because it is pronounced clearly and strongly it sounds like ea in these English words Beaft Dream and is commonly marked with an Accent IV. The fourth e is called Feminine because it is but weakly pronounced as in the English words Love Grove 3. I and Y. I is generally pronounced like the English ee in Seen or like the short English i in Visible as Verité Truth Fidelité Faithfulness I before m or n sounds in French like the long English i in Time Fine as Simple Simple Vin Wine * There is in French like in English an i Consonant thus written j which sounds much like a g as Iuger to Judge Y a Greek Vowel has two sounds in French the one simple like an i Vowel as la Syntaxe the Syntax and the other double as in the English words Young Your as Begayer to stutter Envoyer to send 4. O. O sounds in French as in these English words Ore Over as Paroles words Monopole Monopoly †But o before m and n sounds like oo in these words Soon Moon as Homme Man Garçon Boy 5. V. V sounds like the English u in this word Surprize in French Surprise * There is both in English and French an u Consonant thus written v as in Venerable Visible in French Venâ—rable Visible ART II. Of Dipthongs and Tripthongs WHen two Vowels joyn together in one sound they are called a Dipthong and if three a Tripthong * According to that Rule there are few crue Dipthongs and Tripthongs in French for tho' there be a great many words where two or three Vowels meet together yet they often amount to no more than a single Vowel the rest being mute or not heard so in the word Iean e is
What you say is very true when a Man plays deep and sets up for a Gamester For my part I seldom Play but for a small matter most commonly out of Complaisance and always in a Company of Men of Honour who never Play but for diversion sake And so you 'd never see upon our Faces either the greediness of winning the fear of losing or the grief of having lost and as no body Plays foul so no body is afraid of being Cheated DIALOGUE XI Of LOVE Between Philogenes and Clinias Clinias WHence comes Dear Philogenes you are not so jovial and smerking as you used to be You look pensive and melancholy What! has the fair Caelia made you feel the power of her Charms and taken away your good humour Philog I cannot but own that which you may read in my face and if that be Love to feel a Pleasure at the sight of a fine Person and a Discontent when she is absent I confess that I am in Love Clin. Never doubt it Philogenes these are the two infallible Signs of a new-born Love Philog As far as I see my Disease is not yet desperate since it does but begin Clin. Do you call that a Disease which is the most noble of all Passions the Passion of great Souls and which all well accomplisht Gentlemen value themselves upon Philog I confess that having never lov'd before I dont know yet whether I must call Ill or Good But I find you so Learned upon this Matter that you will extremely oblige me to impart me your Instructions and to tell me first what Love is Clin. This general Passion may be referr'd to three Motions viz. To Love To Burn To Languish To Love simply is the first state of the Soul moved by the impression of some agreeable object there arises a secret Sentiment of Complacency in him that loves which becomes afterwards a Passion towards the object loved To Burn is a violent Condition liable to Disquiets Troubles Torments and Despair To Languish is the finest of Love's motions it is the effect of a pure and clear flame which consumes us insensibly 't is a dear and tender Disease which makes us hate the very thought of being cured one keeps it secretly in the bottom of the Heart and if it comes to be discovered the Eyes the Silence a neglected Sigh an unwilling Tear express it better than all the Eloquence of Discourse could do Philog By the description you make of Love who can doubt but that it is a great Evil Clin. And yet 't is quite contrary The torments of a true Passion are Pleasures He that loves well is never miserable And only thinks he has been so when he loves no more Philog Pray what Method must a Man follow with the Fair to be loved again Clin. The Precepts one might give upon this Matter are infinite but when all is done they signifie but little and he that loves truely uses them naturally without knowing them However one may say That this is already a great Merit with Ladies to love theem next to that a Lover must endeavour to get in the confidence of their Inclinations he must flatter all their freaks and humours Make them jealous to see what progress his love has made feign or really be jealous himself to shew his love If nothing of that leads him to their Heart he must win their Mind by Praises and Courtship and cunningly make the best Advantage of all that 's lovely in them for he seldom fails to please Ladies who gives 'em the means to be better pleased with themselves DIALOGUE XII Of FRIENDSHIP Between Dorilas and Philander Dorilas IS it true Philander what they say of you that you never lov'd in your life Philand If by loving you mean to be in love I answer that I never loved but very little but still enough to learn that love is a dangerous Passion and which one ought to shun But if by loving you understand having of Friends I confess that I have lov'd that I love still and that I find nothing that conduces so much to the sweetâ—ess of Life as Friendship Doril. Pray which are the Advantages you find in Friendship Philand Friendship has all the sweetnesses of love without any of its defects it is instead of all things to those that know how to love well of Riches without Cares and of Honours without Vanity It encreases our Pleasures and lessens our Troubles for nothing allays one's Pain so much as the liberty of Complaining nothing renders the Sentiment of Joy so quick as the Pleasure of Telling it Doril. I don't question but Friendship has often great Sweetnesses but I believe too that it has sometimes its Bitterness and I know some to whom Friends have given many a bad Night Philand That may be very true and I confess That as Friendship allays the Miseries of Life so nothing disturbs its Tranquility so much if we want Discretion to chuse Friends Doril. Pray how ought true Friendship to be formed Philand Honesty and Vertue must be the Principles of true Friendship When our Discretion Judgment have made us discover those Qualifications in any Person there arises in us a Sentiment of Benevolence this is not yet Friendship but the Cause that produces it This first Sentiment we feel for the Vertuous Person makes us wish him well and after that the mutual Esteem and resemblance of Humour tie the Knot of true Friendship which shews it self by the share we take in our Friend's Pleasures and Troubles by that we wish him to take in ours and by the forwardness we ought to shew of serving him Doril. I take notice that you allow no other Principle of Friendship but Vertue and yet methinks that most Friendships arise from the Communication of Diversions and Pleasures Philand These things may serve indeed to get Acquaintances and even to entertain Friendship but Merit and Vertue only ought to be the Foundation of it for when all is done if the sole Interest of Diversion ties the Knot of Friendship Absence Employments or the Griefs of Life may easily break it And it falls out often that the new Delight we relish with new Friends blot out the remembrance of Contentments past Doril. Do you approve of the Maxim That one ought to have many Friends and that one can never have too many Philand I am so far from approving of it that I think that nothing is so troublesom as having too many let them be never so honest and discreet besides one cannot rely but weekly upon those who are for a great many Friends A Heart that 's divided can't but love by halves And I believe I may apply here the Saying of the Wisest Man of Greece Friends said he are no Friends Signifying that this Word ought to be restrain'd to one ENTRETIEN I. Sur La RELIGION Entre Le Comte de C Monseigâ—eur L'Evêque de L LE Comte Ie reconnois Milord que la persuasion
or three days you may go abroad Do but endeavour to rest XXXV Dialogue Between a Gentlewoman and her Woman WHo waits Did your Ladyship call Madam Bring me my Hoodâ— and Tippet Let me see hold the Glass Lord I look wretchedly to day Why don't you help me How awkward you are How can I help it Is not my Head wry No Madam it sits very well Give me a clean handkerchief Go now to the Foot-man and bid him get a chair with a high roof or a very low seat I run Stay Mistress sue you are so ready to go the Footman What will you be pleased to have Madam Go first and see whether my Sister be ready and if she be willing to go to the Princess with me Well what says she She is gone out already Truly that 's very handsome to disappoint me so Did she not send me word that she would not go out before five a clock Yes Madam What a clock is it then now 'T is hardly Five Bid the Footman call for a Chair Madam there is below Is there a Chair No Madam there is Master L. to wait upon your Ladyship Did they tell him I was at home I believe yes Then I can't go out take all that again How do I look Very well You may tell Master L that I am ready to receive him XXXVI Dialogue Of LOVE Between a Lover and his Mistress SO Fortune be prais'd for the blessing I have to find you at home 'T is no Miracle I think It is not I confess very extraordinary to find you at home but hitherto Madam I had never the happiness to see you there alone Sir you puzzle me I cannot imagine what you may have to say to me Many things my dear Angel wrept up in a Word I Love You love Yes I love That is not so impossible but I think you would do much better to entertain her with your 〈◊〉 who influences it for besides that she might give you some relief you would free me from the trouble which is caused by the recital of other peoples misfortunes to those who are not in a capacity of helping them Oh! how ingenious you are to dissemble Is it possible that my looks and actions have not convinced you a thousand times that your sparkling eyes influence the torment I endure The amorous Looks and Civilities of men are too uncertain proofs of a true passion and they seldom make use of them but to try our Sex's Weakness and laugh at our Credulity Oh! do not wrong me so much as to judge of me by others I was never a lover by profession or a general Lover I never knew the power of Love before the moment I saw you Suspect any thing in me but dissimulation I swear my charming Caeâ—ia I love you more than my self and my love shall be as lasting as my life Every body speaks the same all men are alike in their Language and the Actions only make them appear different Since nothing but Actions can shew what we are the only favour I beg of you is â—o judge of my heart by them and to give me the occasion of convincing you of the sincerity and pureness of my flames Alass How easily we are persuaded what we wish for Yes Lisidor I believe you love me with a true love and I have no other trouble than the fear of the blame I may incur if I encourage it Oh! my dearest Caelia you so transport me out of my self that I don't know where to find expressions to shew you my Gratitude But pray what do you ground your fâ—ars upon I cannot tell it you know It is time for us to part my mother will be here presently and I should be sorry she should find us in a private Conversation Alas what a blow you strike in my heart when you speak of parting and with how much grief am I forced to leave you We shall find the way to meet again mean while be faithful and I shall not be ungrateful XXXVII Dialogue Between two Couzens Of VISITS HOw now Cozen is no body come to visit you to day No body in the world Truly I wonder we have both been alone all this day I wonder at it too for we are seldom so and your house thank God is the Sanctuary of all the idle Courtiers To tell truth this afternoon has been very long to me And I found it very short Great Wits Couzen Love solitude What do I care for wit you know wit is not what I pretend to For my part I love Company I confess it I love it too but I love a choice one and the great number of nauâ—â—ous 〈◊〉 one is obliged to entertain among the others makes me often love to be by my sâ—â—f That niâ—â—â—ness is too great that cannot bear with none but chosen persons And thaâ— complaisance is too general that bears with all manner of persons I relish those that are reasonable and laugh at Fops and Impertinents Truly Fops grow soon tedious and most of them please no more at the second Visit. Madam there is Climene that comes to wait on your Ladyship Oh Lord what a Visit You was grumbling for being alone so heaven punishes you for it Quickly go and tell that I am not at home They have told her already that you were Who is that block-head as told so 'T is I Madam Deuce take the little Booby I 'll teach you to make Answers of your own self Madam I 'l go and tell her that you have a mind to be gone out Stay beast and let her come up since the Folly is done already Why do you fall a laughing I laugh at your little Lack eys Simplicity Ah Couzen how this Visit troubles me now No matter it must go down with you XXXVIII Dialogue Of Puppet Shows WHere went you yesterday in the Afternoon I went to give my Attendance to the Duke of Gloucester How does he do He is very well He always shews a great deal of wit and Liveliness Did you play with him Yes Sir we play'd a little whilst the Puppet-playeâ— was getting his Puppets ready How was there a Puppet-Shew Yes Sir Was that very diverting Was his Highness well pleased with it Extreamly he fell a laughing now and then What Country man was the Puppet-Player He was a French-man How do you know it Because he spoke broken English and made Punchinello speak French most â—ommonly How could then the lookers on understand what he said The Puppet-players Wife was his Interpreter Was there a great deal of company Yes Sir How long did the Shew last About an hour and a half At what hour did you take your leave of the young Prince At Eight a Clock What had you rather to see Puppet Shews or Iugglers I admire the dexterity of Iugling Tricks but I find Puppet-Shews more diverting and pleasant XXXIX Dialogue Of MARRIAGE Between a Father and his Daughter DAughter your good nature and tractableness haâ—e not
little contributed to increase that love I ever had for you and seeing you are of an 〈◊〉 fit to be married I have 〈◊〉 my eyes upon Sir N. 〈◊〉 be your husband How Father a Maid 〈◊〉 my age marry Sir N. Why not he is a sober stâ—â—l prudent and wise man not above Fifty and who is cry'd 〈◊〉 for his great Estate Marriage is a business of 〈◊〉 great consequence to be so quickly resolved upon and since 〈◊〉 happiness of my whole life is 〈◊〉 stake I beg of you to give 〈◊〉 some time to think on it I know what is good for you better than your self and therefore I tell you that you shall marry him to morrow Since you urge me so far I must tell you my true Sentiments and confess to you that I 'd rather throw my self into a Nunnery than to marry S. N. since a Marriage cannot be happy where there is no inclination That 's a thing Daughter which may be will come afterwards and they say that Love is often the fruit of Matrimony But Sir there is a great hazard on the womens side and I shall never forget what I have heard my Grandmother say That a Womans Vertue is never so much in danger as when she is marryed to one she does not like Without so many Reasons I am Resolved you shall marry S. N. he is rich and that must satisfy you And I protest to you with all the Duty and Respect I owe you that I won't be â—acrificed to Interest since that great unequality of Age Humour and Sentiments cannot but render â— Marriage lyable to many dismal accidents Did any body ever see a Daughâ—ter speak so to her Father But did any body ever see a Father marry his Daughter so 'T is a match which nothing can be said against and I lay that every body will approve of my choice And I lay that it cannot be approved by any reasonable person Will you yield to your Brothers Iudgment I 'll yield to no bodys Iudgment my heart cannot submit to such a Tyranny and in a word I 'll rather marry Death thâ—â— S. N. XL. Dialogue Of Country Diversions SIR I am very glad to see you where do you live now We have been these two months at a Country house Are you come to Town for good and all No Sir I go back to morrow morning How do you enjoy your self in the Country How do you pass away the time I bestow part of it upon Books But which are your Diversions after your serious Occupations I go sometimes a Hunting What do you hunt Sometimes we hunt a Deer and sometimes a Hare Have you good Dogs We have a Pack of Hounds Two Grey-hound Dogs two Grey hound Bitches four Terriers and three-Sâ—tting-dogs Do you never go a Fowling Pardon me What do you shoot at All manner of Game as Partridges Pheasanâ—s Wood-cocks Wood-hens Quails Thrushes c. Do you shoot flying or ruâ—ring I do both How do you catch Rabbits Sometimes with Purse-Netts and a Ferret and sometimes we kill them with a Gun And Quails Most commonly with a Net and a Setting-Dog Do you also fish sometimes Very seldom Why Because we are a great way from the River But we have a Fish-Pond where we take Carps with a Line What do you do when you neither Hunt nor Fish We Bowl Are you a good Bowler I make a shift to cope with another Have you a good Bowling-green Is it even Is it well kept It is pretty good It is none of the roughest Do you sometimes play at Billiards Yes Sir Do you not play at Nine-Pins too I do not love much to play at Nine-Pins and I never do it but out of Complaisance As â—ar as I see your time is so well employ'd that you cannot be tired with being in the Country You think so and yet 't is quite otherwise I begin already to long to be in Town so true it is that men grow weary of every thing A COLLECTION OF SOME NICETIES OF THE French Tongue Whereas the French Tongue excells above all living Languages by the fineness and Nicety of some Expressions I thought it most necessary to my purpose to Print this Collection which comprehends most of these Expressions Divided according to the variety of Circumstances I. Pour Prier ou Demander MOn Cher Monsieur faites moy ce plaisir Accordez moy cette faveur Je vous prie Madame faires moy cette grace Mon amour Ma Vie Ma mignonne Eh je vous conjure Faites moy cette amitié Je vous en supplie Je vous le demande par grace Obligez moy de cela Ma mie Ma petiâ—e poupone Ma chere fanfan Ma cheâ—e Enfant Mon bel Ange. Mon petit Coeur Mon tout II. Poâ—r faire Civilité pour remercier Vôtre serviteur Monsieur Vôtre tres humble serviteur Je suis tout à vous Je vous suis obligé Je vous suis infiniment obligé Je vous rends graces Je vous remercie Je vous rends mille graces Faites fond sur moy Commandez moy Honnorez moy de vos commandemeus Voyez si je puis vous êtâ—e utile en quelque chose Disposez de vôtre serviteur Vous n'avez qu'à commander Je n'attens que vos commandemens Vous n'avez qu'à dire Puis que vous le voulez ainsi Vous me faites trop d'hon neur Laissons ces Ceremonies Tréve de compliments je vous prie Vous étes trop obligeant Je ne sai comment je pourâ—rai reconnoître tant d'obligations que je vous ay Faites je vous prie mes baisemains à Monsieur Je ne manquerai pas Je vous prie dassurer Madame B de mes respects Je vous prie d'accepter Vous l'ofâ—rez de fi bonne grace que je ne sauroiâ— le refufer Je souhaiterois bien d'avoir l'honneur de joüir plus long tems de vôtre agreable compagnie Si je n'etois pas extremement pressé vous pouvez bien croire que je serois ravi moi-même de vous posseder Je suis confus de toutes vos civilités Brisons la dessus laissons ces compliments Monsieur s'il vous plait de passer devaut je fuis prêt à vous suivre Aprés vous Monsieur Je sai trop bien ce que je vonâ— dois Je ne m'oublierai pas jusques là Vous voulez donc que je commette une incivilité Je le fâ—rai pour vous obeâ—r Pour vous complaire Je ne suis point fassonnier III. Pour affirmer pour Consentir pour Nier IL est vrai Il n'est que trop vray Pour vous dire la verité A ne vous poiut mentir En effet il est ainsi Qui en doute Il n'y a poinr de doute Je crois qu'oüy Je crois que non Je gage qu'oüy Je gage que non
be of great Use to you â—n all the course of your Life which is that it is not enough to have known the Truth of our Religion since it consists more in the Practise of Precepts than in the speculation of Tenets and so I exhort your Lordship to lead a Life answerable to the worthy Name of Christian you bear Above all things to fly from Drolls and Libertines with as much caution as from an infectious Disease for tho some of these Libertines speak with little respect of Religion and Droll on those things they should Reverence only by an extravagant and ridiculous Vanity and to shew their wit by maintaining particular Sentiments yet most of them are plunged in Lewdness and Vice and their Manners are no less disordered than their wit DIALOGUE II. BETWEEN Lisidor and Dorantes About a Gentleman's STUDIES And First Of LANGVAGES LIsidor Sir 'T is a little while since I design'd to beg a Favour of you Dorantes What is there dear Lisidor wherein I may be useful to you Lisidor The Favour I must beg of you is to tell me what Sciences a Gentleman ought to apply himself to to appear with Honour in the World Dorantes You have too good an Opinion of me to think I am so learned as to be able to give my Advice upon so nice and so important a Matter However without more intreaty nor pretending that you should submit your judgment to my Opinion I shall tell you that the Scienences which I think the most suitable and necessary to a Man of Quality are Languages Philosophy Mathematicks History and Politicks Lisidor You will oblige me to tell me how much one ought to know of each of these Sciences For in my Opinion a Man's Life would not be enough to learn them all perfectly Dorante You say very right Neither do I mean that a Gentleman should thoroughly learn Languages Philosophy c. but only that which is most necessary either for his own satisfaction or the Commerce and Society of Life Lisidor If you was so kind Sir as to tell me wherein you make that Necessary consist and to begin with Languages Dorantes I am going to satisfie you You know that Languages are commonly divided into two sorts viz. the Dead and the Living Of the first Latin is the most necessary it is the Language of the Learned it gives us the entrance into all the fine things of Antiquity several modern Authors write in Latin and in some Courts all the Negotiations are perform'd in that Language To the study of Latin I would advise one to joyn that of the Greek since it can't be a small advantage to one to understand the Language of the most refined Nation that ever was and from which all others have drawn their Arts and Sciences Lisidor And which of the Living Languages are necessary for one to know Dorantes As for Living Languages I would have one first to be Master of his Mother-Tongue to know its different Ways and Delicacies It is not enough for one to be born in France to speak good French Nor had Sir Roger L'Estrange Mr. Dryden and some others ever got so much Reputation by their Pen had they never learnt English but at their Nurses Next to ones Mother-Tongue one ought to know that which is most in Vogue in that Age he lives in for you must observe that Fortune exercises her Caprichio's in Languages as in other human Things 'T is about Thirty Years ago that the French Tongue by a surprising Revolution is become the general Language of all Courts and Gentlemen in Europe and so you see how necessary it is for one to understand it well Lisidor As far as I see the French have a great advantage over other Nations since they need not be troubled to learn any other Language but their own Dorantes 'T is very true However most Courtiers and Scholars in France make it their business to speak Italian and Spanish and most Officers in the Army learn the German Tongue which is mighty useful to them in their frequent Wars upon the Rhine and in Flanders Lisidor Do you not think it fit for an English man to learn all these Languages Dorantes I think that an English-man who is Master of his Latin and French except he have private Business either in Spain or Germany may very well make shift without them But I would have him to learn a little of the Italian Tongue A well Educated Gentleman commonly finishes his Studies by the Travels into France and Italy and no body questions but that it is extremely necessary to understand a little of â—he Language of that Country one finds himself in DIALOGUE III. Between the same Of PHILOSOPHY LIsidor Sir shall we now come to speak of Philosophy Dorantes With all my Heart The Word Philosophy is Greek and signifies the Love of Wisdom This was formerly the first of all Sciences or rather it comprehended them all Philosophers among the Antients determined the Worship of the Gods they prescribed the Laws of Society they studied Nature and were in so great esteem that in many places Statues were erected to them Since the World has been enlightned by the Gospel Philosophy was confined within narrower Limits and it is now little used but to direct the Mind in the Inquiry of Truth and the Knowledgâ— of Natural Things ' sis commonly divided in Schools in four Parts viz. Logick Metaphysick Physick or Natural Philosophy and Morals I. Logick is that part of Philosophy that teacheth us to Reason and to direct the Understanding in the enquiry of Truth II. Metaphysick treats of Things supernatural or merely spiritual III. Physick or Natural Philosophy explains the Principles of Natural Things and the Proprieties of Bodies IV. Morals treat of Felicity and teach Men how to rule their Passions Lisidor Do you think it necessary for a Gentleman to study these four parts of Philosophy Dorantes There is but Lâ—gick which I think necessary because of the great use it may be in all the rencounters of Life but I could wish it were taught in an easier shorter and plainer Method than it is commonly As for Metaphysick it is too painful if not above the reach of our capacity Natural Philosophy is too uncertain to be worth our application and my Advice upon this matter is that one should read as an History the Abridgment of the Opinions of the most eminent Men that have treated of it scuh as Plato Aristotle Zeno Epicurus Descartes Gassendi For then he will see that they agree upon nothing and he will admire how any thinking Man can spend his Life to seek after unprofitable Things As for Morals no question but they are very necessary since they aim to direct us towards Happiness but those of Philosophers are no true Morals because they only draw their Principles from Reason when the Morals of Christians ought to be grounded not only upon Reason but also upon the Will of God revealed in his
thing that seems very troublesom to me is To know how one must use what they call Complements or Ceremonies Courtier My Opinion in that Matter is That one must not be either too nignardly or too prodigal of them If one makes too little he is look'd upon as Unmannerly if too much he is Troublsom So that the general Rule which Judgment gives us in the different Occasions of Complements is to use those Distinctions which Decency prescribes to observe the Age and the Quality of Persons and the Condition they are in Men of War or Magistrates do not love to waste Time in useless Ceremonies A Great Lord would think a petty Tradesman who would use Ceremonies no less insipid than his Man should be ridiculous to proffer him his Service And if one finds the Persons he makes a Visit to either Sick or Busie the more Ceremonial he is the more Troublesom He ought upon such Occasions to be short and signifie his Sentiments rather by some respectful Action than by fulsom Complements DIALOGUE IX Of TRAVELS Between Philoxenes and Dorimant Philoxenes WEll Dorimant what do you design to do now you have made an end of your Studies and Exercises Have you not a mind to Travel Dorimant I long for it mightily I fancy already a thousand Pleasures to my self and my Curiosity enjoys before hand the Delight of the Variety one meets with in Travelling Philoxenes If nothing but Pleasure and Curiosity promt you to it I dare say That Travelling is not only Useless but very Dangerous besides Dorimant Tell me then I beseech you which ought to be the chiefest Aim of one that travels Philoxenes He must make it his Business to know the Government of the Country he travels in its Policy Laws Customs Religion and Manners its Pretensions its Forces both by Sea and Land to know the Names and Genius of the Ministers of every Court to enquire into the Antiquities and to know exactly the Situation of Places and the Course of Rivers A Man that Travels in this manner will reap a great Advantrge from it He will form his Understanding and Judgment and when he comes Home be able to serve his own Country Dorimant I take it to be very hard to put in execution all that you speak of and you wil infinitely oblige me to tell me what Course a Man must take to do it Philoxenes He must get good Acquaintances and manage them cunningly Dorimant But to do this must he not understand the Languages of the Country Philoxenes Yes without doubt for that 's the only means to get into Companies and acquainted with those that may satisfie him about what he designs to learn Dorimant How must one carry himself to manage the acquaintance he has gotten among Strangers Philoxenes He must endeavour to make them his Friends embrace their Sentiments caress them praise the Manners and Customs of their Country never preferring those of his own speak little and hearken much Dirimant Are those all the Maxims to be observed in Travelling Philoxenes There are an infinite number besides according to the diversities of Times and Places but I leave it to your Judgment and the Prudence of yoâ—r Governour to prescribe you the Use of them I shall only add That you must shun with a special Care the common Rocks of Travellers viz. Love of Women Gaming and extravagant Expences for if you give your self over to any of these Vices it had been much better for you to have staid at Home DIALOGUE X. Of PLEASURES and DIVERSIONS Between Philemon and Clitander Philemon NO Body is a greater Lover of Mirth than I I will have it in my Family I endeavour to inspire it where-ever I go and maintain every where That Pleasures and Diversions are the best and the most universal Remedies we may apply to our Ills. Clitander I am no Enemy to Pleasures but methinks one must enjoy them with much Soberness and Moderation Phil. I dare say too That no body has a greater Aversion for Excess and Debauchery than I I look upon them as Rocks to be avoided and I fly from Libertines and Debauchees as from People infected with a contagious Disease Cli. You are very much in the right for when all is done Excess in Pleasures even in lawful ones does not only bring one under Infamy but under Pain too A Man that loses his Credit by Debauchery loses most commonly his Health also and hurts no less his Constitution than his Honour Piil Besides Reputation and Health we may add That Excess in Pleasures and Diversions ruins infallibly any one's Fortune and Business So that in my mind one ought to enjoy Plâ—asures only as a Refreshment after serious Employments and we should imitate the Great Man among the Ancients whose Leisure was voluptuous but by a just husbandry of his Time with a facility of the Work of which he had got the Mastery never was any Business put off by his Pleasures Cli. Pray which are the Pleasures that take up your spare Time Phil. Besides good Cheer Walking and Conversation I love to see a Play I like Musick and I Play sometimes Cli. I think your Choice is very reasonable but wherein do you make good Cheer consist Phil. In a delicious way of eating and Drinking managed by Niceness and temperated by Sobriety And I love good Cheer so much the better that I find it does not only keep ones Body in health but contributes more than any thing else to the liveliness of the Mind Clit. Walking contributes no less to ones health than good Cheer it dissipates those humours which commonly trouble sedentary People and renders our Bodies hardy and vigorous Phil. As for Conversation it is in my mind the most agreeable enjoyment of Life 't is the knot of Society 't is by it that Minds communicate their Thoughts to one another that the Hearts express their Affections and that Friendships are both begun and entertained Finally if Study increases the Endowments of Nature 't is Conversation that uses and polishes them Clit. I know very well the advantages of Conversation but which are those you find in Plays Phil. Comedies are you know the representation of the ordinary life according to the variety of Humours and if the different Characters of Cheating Simplicity Avarice Gallantry Affectation Fantastical Humour c. be wittily framed they are no less instructive than delightful Clit. I will not trouble you about Musick I am very sensible of its Charms and my Ears are always tickled with delight by good Voices acd Instruments but as for Gaming which you reckon among your Recreations methinks 't is a very dangerous one Anger Passion and Quarrels do commonly attend it it disturbs many a Night's rest and at the long run puts always one to hard shifts And besides a Man must always be upon his his Guard to prevent being Cheated and 't is a very troublesom thing to tread always as if it were upon an Enemy's Ground Phil.
d'amis un coeur partagé ne sauroit aimer qu' a demi ja croïs que je puiâ— appliquer icy le mot du sage de le Grece Les Amis dit il ne sont point Amis Voulant dire que ce mot ' ne doit s'étendre qu'à un seul The Compleat FRENCH-MASTER PART III. CONTAINING Four COLLECTIONS I. Of Jests Repartees and Stories II. Of Choice LETTERS upon several Subjects III. Of PROVERBS IV. Of SONGS A COLLECTION Of Jests and quick Repartees Of several Illustrious Persons both Modern and Ancient WITH Some little Stories or pleasant Tales 1. A Chymist having dedicated a Book to Pope Leo X. wherein he pretended to teach the way of making Gold expected from him a magnificent Present The Pope sent him a great empty Purse with this Complement That since he knew how to make Gold he wanted but a place to put it in 2. A Gentleman of the Court of France went to see one of his Friends to wish him Joy of a new Dignity he had gotten This Man puffed up with his Preferment ask'd who he was the other without discomposing himself in the least shifts his dicourse and tells him That he came to shew him his grief for the misfortune that had befallen him and was very sorry to see him both Deaf and Blind since he did not know his best Friends 3. An Italian that was a sorry Preacher Preached one day the Panegyrick of a Saint and being in the heat of his Discourse asked with a great motion Where shall I put my Saint where shall I put my Saint A Joking Man who was in his Auditory tired with his Sermon resolved to go out and ery'd to him in a loud Voice Here is my room for him 4. Moliere being dead many petty Rhymers made Epitaphs on him One of those presented one of his own making to a Prince very famous for his wit Would to God Sir said the Prince receiving the Epitaph that Moliere presented me yours 5. A young Prince having made an end both of his Studies and Exercises One of his Servants was ask'd what he had learnt best To Ride the great Horse answered he because his Horses have not flattered him 6. A French Courtier was suspected to be impotent but would never own it One day meeting the Poet Benserade who had often jeer'd him about it Well Sir said he for all your Drolleries my Wife was brought to bed two days ago Lord Sir reply'd Benserade We never questioned your Wife 7. A petty Prince of Italy being inform'd that a French Gentleman that was at his Court had Jok'd him and his designs sent him word to go out of his Territories within three days He does me too great a Favour answered the French-man to grant me so much time I don't want above three quarters of an hour to obey him 8. The Mother of a wanton Young Lady had a mind to send her to the Convent of the Repenting-Maids I am not of that opinion said a Lady of her Relations and why ask'd the Mother Because she is neither quo ' the t'other 9. Some body found fault with the Emperour Sigismond that instead of putting to death the Enemies he had Conquered he bestow'd many Favours on them and so put them in a Condition to do him mischief Why said the Emperor don't I put them to death by taking away their Hatred and making them my Friends 10. A Lord had pitcht upon an Ignoramus to be his Library-keeper That 's the Seraglio said a very witry Lady committed to the Custody of an Eâ—â—uch 11. Thomas More a famous Chancellor of England being in Prison by king Henry the Eighth's Orders let both his Hair and Beard grow A Barber coming to him to Trim him Friend said he being the King and I are at Law for my Head I will lay out nothing to set it off till I know which of us is to dispose of it 12. Henry the Eighth King of England having some differences with Francis I. King of France resolved to send him an Ambassador with many haughty and threatning Speeches he chused to that purpose a Bishop in whom he had a great deal of Confidence That Bishop represented him the danger his Life would run if he kept such a Language to a King so high-spirited as Francis the First Fear nothing said Henry the Eighth to him for should the French King put you to death many a Head of the French that are in my Power would answer me for yours I don't question it answered the Bishop but of all those Heads added he with a Smile none would fit me so well as this pointing to his own This witty Answer so pleased the King that he Reformed the Instruction of his Ambassador 13. Bacon a Renowned Chancellor of England was visited by Queen Elizabeth in a Country-House which he had built before his Fortune How is it said the Queen to him that you have built so little a House Madam reply'd the Chancellor I made not the House too little but your Majesty made me too great for my House Besides the Wit and Genteelness of this Answer it shews so much Modesty and Gratefulness as makes it to be esteemed 14. In Spain they only live to Love in France what they call Love is most commonly nothing but to speak of Love and add to the Sentiments of Ambition the Vanity of Intrigues Hence it is that a Spanish Lady reading not long since the Romance of Cleopatra and after a long recital of tedious Adventures being come to a nice and tender Conversation of a Lover and his Mistress equally in Love Bless me said she how much Wit lost what are all these fine Discourses good for when they are together and alone 15. The Count of Orgaz a Grandee of Spain had a mind to have a Scholar with him for Conversation sake one of his Friends presented him one whom he ask'd at the first sight whether he could make Verses The Scholar answered that he should judge of it himself by the Composures he would shew him of his own making The next day he brought him many Romances and other Spanish Poesys of all sorts The Grandee having cast his Eyes upon them told his Friend that this Scholar did not fit him Why ask'd his Friend because reply'd he that Man is a Dunce that can't make two Verses but he is a Fool that makes four The Spanish runs thus Tengo por necio al que no sabe hazer una copla y por loco al que haze dos 16. A Spanish Lady Young and Beautiful went to Confess to one of her Country Friars The Father Confessor after many questions about her Confession was curious to be better acquainted with her and craved her Name The Lady feeling no Temptation to satisfie his Curiosity answered him Father my Name is no Sin 17. Alexander the Great having gotten the Victory over Darius King of Persia his Army Darius begg'd a Peace and profered him half the