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LETTERS

ΤΟ

Several Ladies.

LETTER L

I

Madam,

Send you the book of Rudiments of Drawing, which you were pleas'd to command, and think my felf oblig'd to inform you at the fame time of one of the many excellencies you poffefs without knowing of 'em. You are but too good a Painter already; and no Picture of Raphael's was ever fo beautiful, as that which you have form'd in a certain heart of my acquaintance. Indeed it was but juft, that the finest lines in nature fhou'd be drawn upon the moft durable ground; and none cou'd ever be met with that wou'd fo readily receive, or fo faithfully retain them, as this Heart. I may boldly fay of it, that you will not find its fellow in all the Parts of the Body in this book.

But

But I must complain to you of my hand, which is an arrant traitor to my heart; for having been copying your picture from thence and from Kneller these three days, it has done all poffible injury to the finest Face that ever was made, and to the livelieft Image that ever was drawn. I have imagination enough in your abfence to trace fome resemblance of you; but I have been fo long us'd to lofe my judgment at the fight of you, that 'tis paft my power to correct it by the life. Your Picture feems leaft like when plac'd before your eyes, and contrary to all other pictures, receives a manifeft disadvantage by being fet in the faireft Light in the world. The Painters are a very vain generation, and have a long time pretended to rival Nature; but to own the truth to you, fhe made fuch a finifh'd piece about three and twenty years ago, (I beg your pardon Madam, I proteft I meant but two and twenty) that 'tis in vain for them any longer to contend with her. I know You indeed made one fomething like it, betwixt five and fix years paft: "Twas a little girl, done with abundance of fpirit and life; and wants nothing but time to be an admirable piece; but not to flatter your work, I don't think 'twill ever come up to what your Father made. However I wou'd not difcourage you: 'tis certain you have a ftrange happiness in making fine things of a fudden and at a stroke, with incredible cafe and pleasure.

Madam, I am, &c.

LET

IT

LETTER II.

T is too much a rule in this town, that when a Lady has once done a man a favour, he is to be rude to her ever after. It becomes our Sex to take upon us twice as much as yours allow us. By this method I may write to you moft impudently, be-. cause you once answered me modeftly; and if you fhou'd never do me that honour for the future, I am to think (like a true Coxcomb) that your filence gives confent. Perhaps you wonder why this is addrefs'd to you rather than to Mrs. M-- with whom I have the right of an old acquaintance; whereas you are a fine Lady, have bright eyes, &c. First, Madam, I make choice of you rather than of your Mother, because you are younger than your Mother. Secondly, because I fancy you spell better, as having been at school later. Thirdly, because you have nothing to do but to write if you pleafe, and poffibly it may keep you from employing your felf worfe: it may fave fome honeft neighbouring Gentleman from three or four of your peftilent glances. Caft your eyes upon Paper, Madam, there you may look innocently. Men are feducing, books are dangerous; the amorous ones foften you, and the godly ones give you the fpleen. If you look upon trees, they clafp in embraces; birds and beafts make love; the Sun is too warm for your blood, the Moon melts you into yielding and melancholy. Therefore I fay once more, caft your eyes upon Paper, and read only fuch Letters as I write, which convey no darts, no flames; but proceed from Innocence of foul, and fimplicity of heart. However, I can allow you a Bonnet lin'd with green for your eyes, but take care you don't tarnish it with ogling too fiercely: I am told, that

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hand you shade your self with this fhining weather, is tann'd pretty much, only with being carried over thofe Eyes --- thank God I am an hundred miles off from them Upon the whole I wou'd fooner truft your hand than your Eyes for doing me mischief; and tho' I doubt not fome part of the rancour and iniquity of your heart will drop into your pen, yet fince it will not attack me on a fudden and unprepar'd, fince I may have time while I break open your letter to cross my felf and fay a Pater-nofter, I hope, Providence will protect me from all you can attempt at this diftance. Mr. B--tells me you are at this hour as handfome as an Angel; for my part I have forgot your face fince two winters: I don't know whether you are tall or fhort, nor can tell in any respect what fort of creature you are, only that you are a very mifchievous one, whom I fhall ever pray to be defended from. But when Mr. B------- fends me word you have the small pox, a good many freckles, or are very pale, I will defire him to give thanks for it in your Parish Church; which as foon as he shall inform me he has done, I will make you a visit without Armour. I will eat any thing you give me without fufpicion of poifon, take you by the hand without gloves, nay, venture to follow you into an arbour without calling the company. This Madam is the top of my wishes, but how differently are our defires inclin'd! You figh out, in the ardour of your heart, Oh Playhouses, Parks, Operas, Affemblies, London! I cry with rapture, Oh Woods, Gardens, Rookeries, Fish-ponds, Arbours! Mrs. Betty M------- ̧

at

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10

"

LET'

LETTER III.

To a Lady, written on the oppofite pages of a Letter to her Husband from Lady M.

THE

"HE Wits would fay, that this must needs be a dull Letter, because it is a marry'd one. I am afraid indeed you will find what Spirit there is must be on the fide of the Wife, and the Husband's part as ufual will prove the dulleft. What an unequal Pair are put together in this sheet? in which tho' we fin, it is you muft do penance. When you look on both fides of this paper, you may fancy that our words (according to a Scripture expreffion) are as a Two-edg'd Sword; whereof Lady M-----is the fhining blade, and I only the Handle. But I can't proceed without fo far mortifying Sir Robert as to tell him, that the writes purely in obedience to me; and that it is but one of thofe honours a Hufband receives for the fake of his Wife.

It is making court ill to one fine Woman, to fhew her the regard we have for another; and yet I muft own there is not a period of this Epiftle, but fquints towards another over-againft it. It will be in vain to diffemble. Your penetrating Eyes cannot but discover how all the letters that compose thefe words lean forward after Lady M----'s letters, which feem to bend as much from mine, and fly from them as faft as they are able. Ungrateful letters that they are! which give themselves to another man in the very prefence of him, who will yield to no mortal in knowing how to value them.

You will think I forget my felf, and am not writing to you; but let me tell you, 'tis you forget

your

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