The School for Women. A Venetian Novel. in the fame inftant with thofe of the courtefan, it was the Senator himself. As foon as he entered the room, NINA threw her arms round his neck, and clafped him for a confiderable time without uttering one word. When the thought her joy fatiated, her next care was to reach him an eafy chair, to take out of a cloaths prefs, a lighter habit than that which he wore, and which the exceffive fummer's heat must have rendered infupportable to him; and while The cooled him with a fan, which in that country is ufed by both fexes, and which the had fnatched from the hands of a fervant who was defirous of faving her that trouble, fhe faid in a paffionate tone of voice: "How much do I hate this fenatorial office, which at the fame time it prefents to me a man of high rank and accomplishment, fubjects me to cares, which by depriving me of your prefence takes from me the dearest thing I have in the world, and on which alone my life, my pleasure, my happiness depends Muft it then be determined, that general, is to be preferred to private good?" "How tender and delicate you are, my dear NINA!" replied the Senator, "I fhould not be ambitious of this high condition of life, but in hopes of appearing more worthy of your love, and I can only complain, because it does not furnifh me, as much as I could wifh, with the means of fhewing how dear you are to me." The wife of the Senator remained concealed in the clofet, the door of which was a little a-jar, and did not lofe a fingle glance or expreffion of the lovers. She had the mortification to fee the delicious moments, when their careffes and enjoyments drew them together. What did the not undergo? She was often tempted to quit her retreat to interrupt them, to go and throw herfelf at the feet of the Senator, and there claim the reftitution of her rights. However, the thought it beft to let him alone, and to forgive him this greatest infringement of conjugal love, left the prefence of her rival fhould be too great an obftacle to the fuccefs of her defign. The Senator, being expected that day to dinner with one of his brethren, 123 He made his vifit fhorter than ufual. The wife of the Senator no fooner faw her husband gone than the quitted her retreat and ran to embrace NINA, . thanking her in the moft paffionate terms for the fervice fhe had done her, and remembring her promife of recompenfe, the prefented her with a golden bracelet to wear, according to the cuítom of the Venetian ladies. It was one of the moft coitly that could be bought, and was worth near fix thousand crowns, on account of its beauty, and the great number of Jewels, with which it was enriched. There needed not many words to perfuade the courtefan to accept this precious gift, befides her natural avidity, the affluent circumftances the giver appeared in, notwithstanding the ill return her love had met with, did not allow her to make the flightest refufal. They quitted each other, and the lady went to the house of one of her friends, whom the acquainted with her griefs and her whole hiftory, and begged her to invite herself to dinner with her hufband the next day, well affured that he would not feek any excufe, or fail to receive her himself at his houfe. Her friend promised to acquiefce in every thing, and went in the afternoon, as by accident, to the place where the knew the Senator had dined, and drawing him a moment afide, acquainted him with the request agreed on between her and his wife. Her difcourfe introduced a converfation on his fpoufe's humour: He said he feared to expofe himself to it that for almoft three years he had feen her but feldom, and that this retreat had procured him an uninterrupted tranqui lity. "You cannot, with any colour of reafon, difpenfe with yourself for not granting me the favour I afk," answered the lady. "How do you know but my prefence may fhelter you from her ill temper Imagine to yourself that it is rather to pleafe me, than to gratify her, that you take this ftep: Is it fo dif > ficult 124 The School for Women. A Venetian Novel. ficult a thing to facrifice to your wife an hour or two of your time once in three years, you who daily pafs fo many with perfons who are infupportable to you? The Senator, overcome by her entreaties and arguments, confented, and caufed his wife to be told, that her friend would dine with her the next day. The exceffive joy of the lady cannot be conceived. She took care to provide an entertainment, with which her two guests could not but be fatisfied. How impatient was the till they came: She at laft faw them enter the houfe. The Senator, defirous of avoiding being one moment alone with his wife, had thought proper to go himself to fetch the lady, and not to return home without her. His wife, as foon as the faw him, began to act the fame part she had feen fo well performed by NINA, the preceding day. Though fhe was actuated at that time by tenderness, preferable to the motives of the courtefan, fhe could not help perceiving that her behaviour was highly agreeable to her hufband. Dinner-time being come they fat down to table. The Senator remarked, with a kind of fatisfaction, a gaiety hitherto unknown to him in the heart of his wife: he faw in her eyes, with fome emotion, that love which had diftinguifhed the first three years of his marriage. Her conftant affiduity to please him during the repaft, at the fame time aftonished and delighted him: He often faid to himfelf: "How great has been my miftake: Can I deny that I poffefs the handfoment woman in Venice? Has the not charms, wit, humour; in a word, all the accomplishments which pleafe me in NINA" The paffionate delicate lover, the honeft man and the chriftian were all rouzed in him. When the Lady who had been invited, tomplimented her friend on the entertainment, which was very elegant, the Senator, with the greatest fatisfaction, heard his wife's reply," that whatever pleature the found in receiving her as The merited, the could not but own that her husband had as great share as herself in her endeavours to make it agreable, fuppofing both were fatisfied." She befought her to pardon this avowal which was rendered excufable by fo long an abfence as the Senator had made her endure, and the fentiments the now tertained. She faw her husband's happy en fituation: fhe had too much interest in the difcovery to let it efcape her. She feized this opportunity to prefent his children to him, whofe education had been committed to the care of an accomplished Governefs, and who had dined in a feparate apartment. Their natural tendernefs, and the instructions they might have received, previous to this interview, made them run into the arms of their father, who gave them an equally cordial reception. His wife, who did not omit one affiduity, or politenefs, as if the had feared left their fondness fhould be troublesome to her hufband, ordered them to retire. The Senator, who penetrated into the motive of her giving that order, faid in a tender tone of voice: "Why do you force them to leave me thus: You may remember that as it was not with any regret I gave them life, you cannot fuppofe I have any repugnance in feeing them." This anfwer, which infpired the two ladies who were prefent at this moving fcene, with hope that the love for his children would arouze in him that which he had formerly had for his wife, forced them to let fall fome tears, which they could not restrain. The Senator was obliged to bear them company. As foon as they arose from table, a converfation which lafted above an hour enfued. The husband appeared extremely well fatisfied and tranquil. He gave anfwers to every one of his wife's queftions without any apparent irksome nefs. His bufinefs requiring him to go out foon, he took his leave of the two ladies, and having embraced his wife's friend, he with the like complaifance kiffed his fpoufe, to the great aftonishment of both. This fingular favour prompted her to afk him at what hour he would return. After having mufed fome time, he anfwered, in the evening. The joy this anfwer gave his wife was fo great that the fell into the arms of her friend in a fwoon. The two witnelles of this affecting fcene now wept a frefh, and the Senator, as foon as his wife was recovered, took his leave a fecond time, giving her a fqueeze by the hand. He 125 The School for Women. A Venetian Novel. He kept his word, and returned home early. His wife now, not fatisfied with imitatiug the courte fan, endeavoured to the utmost of her power to out-do her, and her husband was forced to give her the fame tokens of affection, as he had the day before given to NINA, and to grant her the enjoyment of one night, which a few hours before he would have yielded his whole life, an entire facrifice to his mistress. haviour while he was at her house." Nothing, "faid the "fhall ever make me reject the idea I have conceived of the fatal power I attribute to it: I am even ready to part with it. NINA, furprized that one day had elapfed without feeing him, was fo unealy, that she sent to him early the next morning to defire his company as foon as poffible. The pleasure he received from his reconciliation with his wife was fo great, that he was almost in need of this metfage to remind him that fuch a woman as NINA exited. Being however firmly determined to put a final period to this commerce, he ordered the emiffary of the courtefan to tell her miftrefs, that he would go to her immediately, As foon as he was dreifed he went to her house. When the ufual careffes were over, he perceived the wore the bracelet which had for a long time adorned his wife's arm---furprized at feeing it in the poffeffion of another, he asked who had made her that prefent. "A female magician, replied the," who with all her cunning has not found out the way of making herself beloved---I have the greatest reafon to think that this ornament entails misfortune on all its wear ers. I begin to feel it. I did not fee you all day yesterday and you receive to day the marks of my love, with an unwonted coldness. The Senator prayed her to be ferious, and to own by what means the came by that chain. She contented herself with faying, that the received it from an unknown lady, as a recompence for fome advice the gave her, not thinking proper to tell him how the had acquired it, fearing left he should take umbrage at her complaifance to an incognita, in making her a witness of her be The Senator, pretending to believe thefe were her real fentiments, preffed her to give him the preferance over all thofe to whom he would chufe to give it." From this moment it is yours, faid fhe, prefenting it to him. He accepted it, and having but a small sum of money about him, he gave her his note for it's value, thinking to trace the bottom of this adventure by his mistress's fincerity. A pretended indifpofition ferved him for an excuse for avoiding an intercourfe fimilar to that, which his wife had been a witness of two days before. He ftaid only an hour with NINA, and during his vifit, he did all he could to hinder her from being certain of her approaching misfortune. He at length quitted her, refolving to see her as feldom as poffible. He returned home immediately---and found all the charms of NINA in his wife, who confeffed to him by what accident the bracelet which he had brought back, had belonged to the courtefan: he was well pleafed with the step she had taken, which was fo ftriking a proof of her love, and the great regret the lofs of him had given her: he fent the money that night for which he had given his note to NINA in the morning, and from that time, perfuant to his refolution, vifited her feldom. As often as he saw her, he always beheld in her his wife: I mean, he felt that forrow his wife had experienced before he was reclaimed, and at length, he finally determined never to vifit her, which refolution he punc tually kept. Our happy pair continued to live in love and harmony, to the end of their days, and heaven crowned their union with five more children, who, like the former, promifed fair to inherit their parents virtues. ( 126 ) To the EDITOR of the OXFORD MAGAZINE. SIR, the beft." T is a vulgar adage, but not the lefs true, "That old things are often It holds good in many inftances, and I am of opinion that in the literary walk much may be faid in its favour. For I know of feveral hundred volumes of old books which are as excellent in their kind as old wine; from thefe I fhould apprehend many a flower might be gathered to enliven and variegate modern parterres. A magazine, like a flower garden, will be beft diverfified with all the beauties that can be collected from the different quarters of the globe; and fometimes antiquity itfelf may give a finished grace to the whole: thus we fee the Roman fculptures adorning modern plantations----Struck with this idea, I have fent you fome wholefome maxims on interesting fubjects of general utility, extracted, with improvements, from a fmall volume, intitled, WITS COMMONWEALTH, printed in the year 1672. It is just one hundred years old, Mr. Editor, and perhaps it may not be thought too encroaching, once in an hundred years, to remind the fashionable gay world, that there is fuch a thing as found WiT, whofe bafis is folid wifdom and pure virtue---Nor to fhew the featherd witlings of the age, the difference between jeux de mots, fmutty repartees, with other indecorous attempts at being witty----and real wit. If this fpecimen is approved, I will felect the best part of the treatise and correct it for future numbers of your magazine. Oxford, April 15. OXONIENSIS. Of USUR Y. Defin. Ufury in the Hebrew is called SURY is compared to Fire, which Us is an active and unfatiable Element, for it burneth and confumeth all the wood that is laid upon it: fo the Ufurer, the more he hath, the more he defireth, and, like Hell-gate he is never fatisfied. An Ufurer is a filching and corrupt Citizen, that both tealeth from his neighbour, and defraudeth himself. The intent of Ufury bewrays the Ufury is the nurfe of Idlenefs, and Amafis King of Egypt made a law, that the Pretor fhould call every one to account how they lived: and if by Ufury, they should be punished as Malefactors. There was a law amongst the ancient Grecians and Romans, which forbad all Ufury furmounting one penny in the hundred by the year, and they called it Unciary Ufury. This law was fince that brought to a half-penny a year among the Romans: and not long after,Ufury was clean taken away by the law Genuntia, because of frequent feditions which rose through the contempt of laws concerning Ufury. Ufury makes the Nobleman fell his Land, the Lawyer his Juftinian, the Phyfician his Galen, the Souldier his Sword, the Merchant his Wares, the World its Peace. Money engendreth Money, contrary to nature. An Ufurer is a more wicked man than a Thief, who was condemned but in double as much---CATO. Ufury is an ancient mifchief, and cause of much civil difcord. A little, lewdly come by, is the lofs of a great deal well gotten. Ufury is like a Whirl-pool, that fwalloweth whatsoever it catcheth----CRATES. He that with his Gold begets Gold becomes a flave to his Gold. Inordinate defire of wealth is the fpring of Ufury, and Ufury fubverteth credit, Obfervations on Lying. credit, good name, and all other vir tdes. Covetoufnefs feeketh 'out Ufury, and Ufury nourisheth Covetousness. An Ufurer can learn no truth, because he loatheth tl truth. Ufury taketh away the title of Gentry, because it delighteth in ignobility. Ufury oftentimes deceives the belly, and altogether lives carelefs of the foul's fafety. As the greedy Ravens feek after carrion for their food, fo doth the covetous Ufurer hunt after Coin to fill his Coffer---PHILO. No kind of people in the world are fo notorious livers, nor ufe fo much to falfify their faith in all pactices, as Ufurers. .Of LYING. YING is a member of injuftice, turning topfey turvey all human fociety and the amity due unto our neighbour. As certain it is to find no goodness in him that useth to lie, as it is fure to find no evil in him that telleth truth. "The Liar is double' of heart and tongue, for he fpeaketh one thing, and doth another. From Truth depraved, are ingendred an infinite number of Abfurdities, Herefies, Schifms, and Contentions---SoCRATES. The Thief is better than a man accuftomed to lie. In Almain a lie hath been always extremely hated, and fhunned as it were a plague: and Baftards could never obtain the price of any Occupation whatsoever; nor take degree in Art or Science---XE NOPHON, Thou canst not better reward a Liar, then in not believing what he fpeaketh--ARISTOTLE. Within thyfelf behold well thyfelf: and to know what thou art, give no credit to other men. Pope Alexander the fixth never did what he said, and his fon Borgia never faid what he meant to do: pleafing themfelves in counterfeiting and diffembling to deceive and falfify their faith---GUIC, 127 It is the property of a Liar to pur on the countenance of an Honest man, that fo by his outward habit he may the more fubtilly deceive---BIAS. Lying is contrary to nature aided by reafon and fervant or hand-maid to truth---Plotin. As the worms do breed most gladly in foft and fweet woods: fo the most genthe and noble wits inclined to honour are foonest deceived by Liars and Flat The Scythians and Garamantes followed the fame Law, and condemned them to death that prognofticated any falfe thing to come. Cyrus told the King of Armenia, that a Lie deferved no pardon. The Parthians for lying became odious to all the world. There is no difference between a Liar and a Forfwearer: for whomfoever, faith Cicero, I can get to tell a Lie, I may easily intreat to forfwear himself. An honeft man will not lie, although it be for his profit. Lying in doctrine is moft pernicious. He that dares make a lie to his Father, feeking means to deceive him, fuch an one much more dareth to be bold to do the like to another. Liars are the caufe of all the fins and crimes in the world---EPICTETUS. left he be quickly found falfe in his A Liar ought to have a good memory, tale.---PLINY. It is a double lie for a man to belie himfelf.---STABIUS. A lie is the more hateful, because it hath a fimilitude of truth.---QUINTI LIAN All |