’Whatever Tradesman will try the Experiment, and begin the day after
  you publish this my Discourse to treat his Customers all alike, and
  all reasonably and honestly, I will ensure him the same Success.

  I am, Sir,
  Your loving Friend,

  Hezekiah Thrift

T.

* * * * *

No. 510.  Wednesday, October 15, 1712.  Steele.

  ’—­Si sapis
  Neque praeterquam quas ipse amor molestias
  Habet addas; et illas, quas habet, recte feras.’

  Ter.

I was the other day driving in [a [1]] Hack thro’ Gerrard-street, when my Eye was immediately catch’d with the prettiest Object imaginable, the Face of a very fair Girl, between Thirteen and Fourteen, fixed at the Chin to a painted Sash, and made part of the Landskip.  It seemed admirably done, and upon throwing my self eagerly out of the Coach to look at it, it laugh’d and flung from the Window.  This amiable Figure dwelt upon me; and I was considering the Vanity of the Girl, and her pleasant Coquettry in acting a Picture till she was taken Notice of, and raised the Admiration of her Beholders.  This little Circumstance made me run into Reflections upon the Force of Beauty, and the wonderful Influence the Female Sex has upon the other part of the Species.  Our Hearts are seized with their Enchantments, and there are few of us, but brutal Men, who by that Hardness lose the chief Pleasure in them, can resist their Insinuations, tho’ never so much against our own Interest and Opinion.  It is common with Women to destroy the good Effects a Man’s following his own Way and Inclination might have upon his Honour and Fortune, by interposing their Power over him in matters wherein they cannot influence him, but to his Loss and Disparagement.  I do not know therefore a Task so difficult in human Life, as to be proof against the Importunities of a Woman a Man loves.  There is certainly no Armour against Tears, sullen Looks, or at best constrained Familiarities, in her whom you usually meet with Transport and Alacrity.  Sir Walter Rawleigh was quoted in a Letter (of a very ingenious Correspondent of mine) on this Subject.  That Author, who had lived in Courts, Camps, travelled through many Countries, and seen many Men under several Climates, and of as various Complections, speaks of our Impotence to resist the Wiles of Women, in very severe Terms.  His words are as follows:  [2]

What Means did the Devil find out, or what Instruments did his own Subtlety present him, as fittest and aptest to work his Mischief by?  Even the unquiet Vanity of the Woman; so as by Adam’s hearkening to the Voice of his Wife, contrary to the express Commandment of the living God, Mankind by that her Incantation became the subject of Labour, Sorrow, and Death; the Woman being given to Man for a Comforter and Companion, but not for