orders the Horses to be put in the Coach and then she goes to bestow a visit upon some Assembly of Ladies that she may not altogether lose the pains she hath taken in her attiring after they have done complementing their discourse is generally about the Habit and if one Woman among them hath any new thing on that hath not been formerly seen by the rest they will seldome pass without taking notice of them all and make a strict examination of them and will express themselves during their observation in this manner Lord How this Stuff doth please my phancy How Neat is the Trimming and well chosen I vow I like those Colours their order and place Besides Madam you have a stately Lace What cost it Thirty Guinnies No not so Yet I had much adoe to get it though It is the best that e're I saw of late Would I had such an one at such a rate And so they turn her round to see if her Robes are well made every one considers of it and delivers her opinion and though they sit as exactly as ever Garment did they will always find some fault and then it runs the hazard of being sent back to the Taylor more than once nay there are none but those that bear one another a spleen but will advise one with another when they perceive any defect and on the contrary 't is then they speak most in commendation But let this suffice as to the Predicameâ—◠〈…〉 â—abit All things that are in the Universe are contained under these ten Categories or Predicaments which I have made use of to assist me in the framing all sorts of amorous Propositions or Enunciations which go to the Composition of my Arguments But it is not sufficient to have considered them in themselves abstracted from all manner of Subjects we must also look upon them as fit instruments to frame an Argument and as things depending upon Persons of which we desire to discourse and as the way to understand throughly the nature of every Subject is to examine it in general and in particular to know its Difference Property and Accidents we will explain all these things before we frame our Arguments Of the five Predicables Genus Species Differentia Proprium and Accidens Of the Genus or Gender THe Genus is a Term that contains many things differing in Kind as Beauty is a chief and universal Genus which comprehends within it self all kinds of Beauty as well those that appertain to the Soul as those which are annexed to the Body as you may see in the Division before mentioned Of the Species or Kind THe Species ought to be considered two ways the former respects the Genus that over-rules it and the latter the Individuals that are subjected thereunto insomuch that to give it a true Definition you must say It is a nature compris'd under the Genus which comprehends within it self several Individuals As for instance The comely Stature is a Species that falls under the summum Genus of Beauty and which may be communicated to several distinct Persons and yet no necessity that they be endowed with all other Beauties for one Person may have excellent Eyes that hath no good Mouth and she may be of a good Stature that hath a very deformed Look Men in their Walks frequently do ' Oretake one single Lady or two Whose comly Stature and Majestick grace Makes them desire much to see their Face Yet they a Lady seldom meet That is in every thing complete There are some sorts of Species that may sometimes admit of the name of the Genus because they contain several other Species though contain'd under a summum Genus There are others that are very particular altogether made up of Individuals but because they help to complete the Species 't will not be amiss to explain what Individuals are The Individuum is properly a Subject distinct from all other which cannot be divided without being destroyed Thus Phillis is separated from Aminta and they between them both have nothing in common though they both of them have the same Species of Beauty I my self that am communicated to every Being in Nature that am a summum Genus under which are contained an infinite number of Loves yet I cease not to be an Individuum not but that a fair Lady may bestow me upon many at once but she can never receive me but from one single Person When I make a Lover affect any Person it is in vain for others to pretend to find room in his heart unless he expels the first Object and the Spirit of man though of so large a capacity as to be able to comprehend the whole World cannot love two different Persons with one and the same affection at one and the same time So that I cannot divide my self but I must be ruin'd yet I can easily unite two Hearts with so strong a tie that they will seem to be but one provided they be of a different Sex For as to those obligations between Man and Man which they call Friendship they are so weak that the smallest inconsiderable Interest in the World is able to cancel them When Thyrsis Amarantha lov's you find His heart 's so link't with hers I being come That of the Lover and his Love so kind I only make one Individuum Of Difference DIfference is a Word by which we understand all the distinct parts of a Subject as well in regard of the Genus as the Species and Proprium As for instance when they ask me What is a Woman I answer she is an amiable Creature who by her external form which is Beauty differs essentially from Man and so of the other Differences which it is not convenient to mention here If I into this Deep should farther wade The true distinctions give you that are made Between the Lover and his Mistris I I fear should spoil my amorous Mystery And those things which in me most charming are Therefore 't is better to be silent far I will content my self with acquainting you that I ow my being to that distinction of both Sexes and there is a certain Lady known by the name of Modesty who commands me to instruct you no farther in this subject therefore I leave you to guess at the rest Differences are of several kinds but the greatest of all is when two Persons meet in two contrary Predicaments as when Climene is in the Category of Beauty and Callisto in that of Deformity When Thyrsis is in that of Riches and Silvander in that of Poverty The essential Difference is between subjects that differ in nature as Thyrsis and Climene the accidental in persons that differ only by accident as in that which is met with between Thyrsis and Silvander 't is by this that the same Individual person may differ from it self by reason of the various Accidents that may happen being quite another thing in Plenty than what he is in want and in Youth than
am I am still the same Love 't is true that every one cloath's me according to his own phancy and makes me deliver my self in what Language he pleaseth but I change not my Nature though I do the Country and though I am now in England and at present speak to you in English yet I am nevertheless at the same instant in all the corners of the Earth and speak a thousand several Languages Subject to my Laws is the whole World's frame All things that breath feel my inspir'd flame I with my fire fill though a Child the World And am at once to thousand places hurl'd Of the Predicament When. WHen is not time it self but it is a designation or remark of time as for example if the Question be When is it proper to love The Answer is in Youth When are Lovers happy In the Critical Minute When doth that happen Oftentimes when you least think of it Of the Predicament of Situation SItuation denotes the posture of the Subject As when one would know whether Climene lies extended on a Couch or stands upright Whether a Ladies Lover is kneeling standing or in some other posture more advantageous to him as you may say incircled in her arms There is another kind of Situation that is worthy observation viz. Whether the Lover or his Mistress are rich or poor for my Situaiion often depends upon that of Fortune Heretofore I did discharge my self very well without her and I could unite two Hearts without any regard had to the inequality of their conditions How many Kings have been captivated with Shepherdesses and how many lovely Gentlemen have assum'd the boldness to raise their thoughts up to the very Thrones of their Sovereinesses and have prospered in subjugating of their Wills But this time hath made it self Wings and is flown away and ambition hath so strongly seized the empire of Hearts in this latter age that I am not permitted to act but when I can contribute to her promotion she is an imperious and cruel Dame that enrols none in the List of her Retinue but such as can aggrandize her and looks upon one with no other eye but as a person that can satisfie her Coveteousness If I propose a person to her whom Fortune hath rancked in a lower Sphere she looks upon me as ridiculous and despiseth him though he be the absolute Model of perfection and vertue Of the Predicament of Habit. BY the Habit we understand all sorts of external Ornaments as well for Men as Women as Garments of fine Stuff enriched with gold-plated Buttons curious Venetian Points and other toyes which make the accoutrements complete but here are certain Maximes to be observed First That all the Garments worn be a la mode that they be always new and that you have variety for change to avoid all extremes and extravagant Fashions and not to be concern'd with the introducing of new ones but follow these that are most generally approv'd to change when others change and never to have any thing that is extraordinary or affected If at the same time different Garbs are in Fashion in that Case it argues Prudence to make use of those that are most commodious be it either to shrowd some imperfection of the body or to shew some perfection which others have not E. g. If a man hath a handsome well-shap'd Leg let him shew it as much as he can and let him wear a silk Stocking drawn up straight without pestring himself with large Tops as the major part of young Courtiers do who had rather expose their expences to the publick view than the advantages that Nature hath bestowed upon them If they have a good head of Hair that is somewhat brown they will not scruple to hide it under a very light Perruque but this is not the use that should be made of it for a person should never make use of those advantages that may be drawn from Art unless it were to repair the defects of Nature Not but that Habillements are very advantageous especially to Women for that Lady may be judg'd an extraordinary Beauty whilst she is seen in a noble Dress who will lose the greatest part of her charmes when devested of her Apparel And those that are experienc'd do not love to be seen in a careless Garb and when they are surpriz'd will take sufficient notice of it and as they know the advantages of a Dress and their other accoutrements they make it their most important and ordinary business In the Morning as soon as they are up the first thing they do is to salute their Glass and consult with it to know whether they have gain'd or lost any Graces since they last convers'd with it And as the Meroir naturally hates dissimulation and flattery it never masques the truth for if their Eyes be sunk it freely gives them notice of it though this doth not much please them No flowry Compliments or other expressions are so acceptable as what comes from hence the ambition they have to attract them makes them attire themselves in their Glass 't is true they make many strange Faces before the Mirvir gives a pleasing Representation Then they immediately bridle in their Chin and make horns upon their heads with their Hair the Looking-glass that is like an Ape counterfeits them and shews them the horns also when they smooth their Hair the Looking-glass smooths it also and when they raise it it raiseth it likewise and generally doth every thing they do After that they have spun away the Morning in ordering their Hair and their Pendents and making little rings upon their Fore-heads which they fasten with mouth-glew and rightly placing their Ear-rings and other Toys and that the Glass acquaints them their Head is well drest then they begin to commit their Body to a close imprisonment and pinch it in so narrow a compass that the best part of it's plumpness is forced to rise toward the Neck to emancipate it self from such hard captivity and being proud of her liberty appears with a kind of pleasant briskness which becomes her infinitely As for her fair Breasts they are half imprisoned and half free and do their utmost endeavour to procure their absolute liberty by shooving back that which veils the one half but they are too weak to effect it and whilst they strive to free themselves they cast over a Veil which perfectly hides them The desire they have to be expos'd to view makes them beat it back continually and not being able to remove that small obstacle they look quite through it there is nothing constantly free but the upper part of the Neck which is also more vain-glorious than all the rest and is adorn'd with a Neck-lace of great value which addes to its vanity When the fair one is thus accoutred she turns on all sides before the Glass as if she would ask the question What it thinks of her And when he likes it she takes her leave and
one without the other As for example I cannot phancy to my self that there is a Lover without concluding he hath a Mistress nor a Mistress without imagining she hath one or more Lovers There are several sorts of Relatives some are perfect the other imperfect the perfect are the party Loving and the party Loved because these two are so linked together that the one subsists by the help of the other and seem to make but one and the same though they are two distinct things The imperfect Relation is that which is between the Lover and his Mistress for 't is probable that she may not answer the passion of the former and the Lover can have but one Mistress but she may have several Lovers who will be related to her as many several ways as the punctum in the Center of a Circle which is made as often as you draw a Line from this point to the Circumference One and the same thing may have the name of two Relatives but in several respectts as she can be but Mistress to one person that is Lover to another There are also some other Relations that are contrary and opposite As Beauty and Deformity Wealth and Poverty Youth and Old-age Of Action MOst amorous Actions are subject to the Government of the Spirit that imprints its virtue upon the Object which I present and sooner finds out the Art of pleasing that person that hath pleased her There are several sorts of tempers some are serious the other jovial some are full of fire and others attended with languishing and yet come to the same end though they make use of different means to attain thereunto At first I have no small trouble to insinuate my self into him that is Melancholick but when I once have admission I make so strong an impression that time it self finds all the difficulty in the world to wear it away And these are the persons I make constant Lovers When charm'd with rays shot from a lovely eye And that they once have sworn fidelity Their faith and life we coextensive find Nor for fair objects do they chang their mind As they are naturally apt to conceive things of great moment so they manage their Passion after a more lofty and stately manner than others do as if it were an important affair for the good of the State If they declare their Love 't is done With very great precaution Stanza's or Elegies they write in Verse And every word 's a Sentence they reherse Those that are of a Jovial Spirit do steer a quite contrary course they proceed in their most weighty concernments as if they were but bagatels They laugh in the midst of their sufferings and make it their business to jest with all things not but that they have their hours of disturbance as well as others but their natural propensity to jollity soon buries all things in oblivion They oftentimes accomplish their desires more successfully by playing the Buffoons than others by their passionate Complaints for I naturally avoid grief and sadness and love to live and be among divertisements and pleasures The Fiery Spirit usually comes short of the success of the Languishing The fiery temper cannot endure a repulse he is dayly transported against those impediments that oppose his felicity And because he usually undertakes so much he seldom succeeds in any thing unless he attaque such Places as are taken by Parly and yield at the first Summons Then a rash Lover better far succeeds In his designs than one that 's circumspect For to be happy and to please there needs Not constantly a durable respect 'T is my usual custom to confer my favours upon those that are bold as well as Fortune's but sometimes I inflict punishments upon those that are too impudent for by this means it falls out that a person might have gain'd a Ladies favour who loseth it by a precipitate attempt So a man may also work his own ruin upon the accompt of his Mistress for letting slip a favourable opportunity offered and for not making advantage of that happy moment which they call the Critical Minute yet the first way of procedure is far less dangerous than the last and I should advise a Person to incline rather to boldness than fear for 't is the former discovers this fortunate hour though it seems but short in comparison of an eternity Yet he who meets with it must not trouble himself with others provided upon the discovery he find himself dispos'd to make a right use of it But let us return to the Spirit 't is this then that acts well or ill as it is well or ill inclin'd there is besides another kind of malicious Spirit yet artifieial that creates a great deal of business to it self that others may not want it it is naturally supple complaisant and very fruitful in Invention He that is so qualified leaves nothing unpractic'd to obtain his designs and he is forced ordinarily to make use of Obloquy and Flattery as he finds the one or the other favours his Undertakings The latter is very proper to ingratiate him into the Ladies favour and the former renders him a redouted Enemy to all his Rivals But if his crafty wiles come once to be discovered it serv's to unite them more firmly and he seeks his own ruin in the destruction of others he becomes the Object of his Mistresses hatred and his Rivals revenge and then is the time that he stands in need of Valour to repel the affronts that may be thrown upon him For if they know he is destitute of this quality he runs the risque of leading an ill life 't will be to no purpose for him to hover about with his accustomed adresses he will ever encounter with some person or other who will take off this vizard which will not happen if he be valiant They will deliberate upon it more than once before they resolve to offend him they pretend ignorance of those things they certainly understand and he hath the power to make himself fear'd though he cannot make himself belov'd But it fares otherways with the Spirit that is no sooner hated than rifled and as there is no great hazard in encountring it so they crowd after it to attaque it not but that it hath Arms defensive and offensive but they are not so dangerous as those that belong to Valour for the one aims at the life and the other endeavours only the shipwrack of honour and reputation but though the world is of opinion that the latter is more acceptable than the former yet they are noâ— so careful in the preservation thereof the reason is because it is easier to repair the injury done to them than to cure great wounds and those that love to sleep in a whole skin will tell you that Reputation like the hair on the Head soon returns again To conclude this point they agree that it is better to have the Spirit your Enemy than Valour and