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WIT and DELICACY.

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HE character of wit is alike affected by both fexes if learning adorns it in men, beauty gives it as much grace in women; and makes it more dangerous to thofe that poffefs it. Ladies of a lively active fpirit are very apt to turn it to intrigue, which, perhaps, may begin in frolick only, but too of ten ends in fhame. An affectation of wit, where it is not, ferves only to render folly more ridiculous; it makes both men and women forward in fpeaking; they fancy they fhew their wit when they fhew their ignorance, and expofe themselves to be the jeft of the company, when they endeavour to be the admiration. This talkative forward humour fets fuch as have little wit on a level with thefe that have none, and spoils talents which are capable of improvement. Give them a relifh of delicacy, they will.foon be ashamed of that vain humour, and avoid the thelves which are fo fatal to impertinence. Delictcy is of the virgin kind, the lefs it is touched the more it is admired, and better recommended by modesty and filence, than by airs and turns of fancy, which feldom do the bufinefs they are defigned for, and on contrary, offend inftead of pleafing. A young lady fhould never fpeak, but for neceffity, and even then with diffidence and deference. She fhould never talk of things above the common reach of her age and fex, however fhe may be informed of them by the advantages of her quality and education. Let hr not be tempted into this error by a happy memory, by a quick and pleafant imagination, by a fluency of

fpeech,

fpeech, or any of thofe qualities, which fhe may enjoy in common with a great number of other women, of little fenfe otherwife, and in fome respects, very contemptible. Her behaviour fhould be exact and regular, her temper even and orderly, her judgment jut and upright, to know when to talk and when to be filent; and if in all her conduct there appears more difcretion than humour, her other qualities will shine the brighter, and diftinguish her from the reft of her fex.

This prudence is a much more neceffary qualification than what is called wit: it will give her an air of authority and refpect, instead of a vain and famiHar one. Whatever other accomplishments the has, will, without this, want their true ornament, and have

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more value without good order, than fcattered flowers confufedly blown about by the wind.

There is a fort of difcretion and prudence by which even the vicious preferve their reputation, and for want of which, the moft virtuous lofe theirs. The escapes of little excurfions of wit are often the occafion of it. Young ladies, therefore, must be upon their guard, and not let things flip from their tongues which ought not to dwell in their minds. Delicacy of thought will help them to avoid this wreck; nothing. can be délicate that is not true and innocent. Pertnefs of fancy and expreffion has a falfe delicacy, which glares perhaps in converfation, but never pleafès. The fureft fign of want of wit is a fondness of thewing its thofe that have it are sparing of a treasure which is fo rare and uncommon. True wifdom is like the lamps of the ancient fepulchres, which lafted fo long light as they were under ground, and were extinguished as foon as they took air. Wit indeed, if true, fhines out, but never but when it is fure of ftriking, and to have the effect it intended.

To affect a nice tafte of things, without difcern, ment, is like judging of painting without fight. The beft tafte in the conduct of life in the accommodating

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ourselves to affairs, according as they are more or lef ufeful. Nothing is really estimable but good fenf and virtue; both of which make us look upon difguft and niceness, not as laudable delicacies, but rather a the weakness of a fick mind or body.

Since we are to live in the world with the dull and rude, as well as with the polite and witty; fince our affairs will not be always fo very delicate; reafon, the only true delicacy, bids us to be polite with the polite, and delicate with the delicate; to fuit our behaviour to our company, and as that is, to be either witty or dull; if it is in our power to be either the one or the other. A disgustful temper makes us uneafy both to ourselves and others. If we diftafte every thing, every body will diftate us; and he who imagines that by being over-nice he may get the character of being wife, may probably meet with that of being overwife, agreeably to the state of a modern critick, whofe over-wifdom and over-delicacy have turned at iaft into downright madness.

RECREATIONS.

F the two fexes, the fofter one has moft need of advice in the use of their diverfions; there are more eyes upon them, from the other to admire and please them, than from their own to observe and cenfure. Befides the temptations of their own hearts, they have thofe of the men to ftruggle with; and if they fhew the leaft difpofition to pleafure, they will find enow to encourage them in it. To be eager in the pursuit of it, while they are young, is dangerous; to catch at it, when they are old, is catching at a fhadow: when it becomes lefs natural it grows to be indecent. Diverfions are for fuch as are

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opprest

opprefs than please. These jolly dames fo continually feek diverfion, that in a little time they grow into a jeft, yet are unwilling to remember that if they were feldomer feen, they would not be fo often laughed at. Who will chufe to look on a face he is fure to fee to-morrow, who to-day has a new one to entertain him? The ladies grow cheap by growing familiar, and cheap is the unkindeft word that can be bestowed upon the fex.

To game a little for the diverfion of yourself or your company, has no harm in it; but to do it fo often as to be called a gamefter, is to be avoided next to things that are criminal. And if gaming is a vice in men, it is much more fo in women; for that one of its confequences is often the lofs of what is much more valuable than gold or diamonds, their reputation, if not their honour. It engages both in a habit of idleness and ill hours, draws them into mixt company, makes them neglect their civilities abroad, and their business at home; in a word, the gamester, whether man or woman, has neither God, father, husband, or friend; at least they live as if they had neither, and give up to chance the empire of providence.

The objections are much stronger ftill to the ladies than to the men, with refpect to deep play; it gives occafion to the world to ask fpiteful questions: how they dare venture to lofe? and what means they have to pay fuch great fums? The winner and the lofer are alike in danger: if the wins, it puts her into fo good a humour nothing can put her into an ill one; if the lofes, fhe runs in debt, and there are more ways than one to discharge it. The debtor is at the mercy of the creditor, and exact are both fexes in paying these debts. of honour. If the ladies pay in money, it will be afked how they come by it? If they owe, and efpecially to a man, he will be thought no unfair creditor, if, when the estate fails, he feizes upon the perfon. Add to this, if a lovely woman could fee her own face

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