who professes Rapture and Admiration for the Woman
to whom he addresses, and dreads nothing so much as
her Consent. His Heart can flutter by the Force
of Imagination, but cannot fix from the Force of Judgment.
It is not uncommon for the Parents of young Women
of moderate Fortune to wink at the Addresses of Fribblers,
and expose their Children to the ambiguous Behaviour
which Melainia complains of, till by the Fondness to
one they are to lose, they become incapable of Love
towards others, and by Consequence in their future
Marriage lead a joyless or a miserable Life.
As therefore I shall in the Speculations which regard
Love be as severe as I ought on Jilts and Libertine
Women, so will I be as little merciful to insignificant
and mischievous Men. In order to this, all Visitants
who frequent Families wherein there are young Females,
are forthwith required to declare themselves, or absent
from Places where their Presence banishes such as
would pass their Time more to the Advantage of those
whom they visit. It is a Matter of too great Moment
to be dallied with; and I shall expect from all my
young People a satisfactory Account of Appearances.
Strephon has from the Publication hereof seven Days
to explain the Riddle he presented to Eudamia; and
Chloris an Hour after this comes to her Hand, to declare
whether she will have Philotas, whom a Woman of no
less Merit than her self, and of superior Fortune,
languishes to call her own.
To the SPECTATOR.
SIR, [1] Since so many Dealers turn Authors, and write quaint Advertisements in praise of their Wares, one who from an Author turn’d Dealer may be allowed for the Advancement of Trade to turn Author again. I will not however set up like some of em, for selling cheaper than the most able honest Tradesman can; nor do I send this to be better known for Choice and Cheapness of China and Japan Wares, Tea, Fans, Muslins, Pictures, Arrack, and other Indian Goods. Placed as I am in Leadenhall-street, near the India-Company, and the Centre of that Trade, Thanks to my fair Customers, my Warehouse is graced as well as the Benefit Days of my Plays and Operas; and the foreign Goods I sell seem no less acceptable than the foreign Books I translated, Rabelais and Don Quixote: This the Criticks allow me, and while they like my Wares they may dispraise my Writing. But as tis not so well known yet that I frequently cross the Seas of late, and speaking Dutch and French, besides other Languages, I have the Conveniency of buying and importing rich Brocades, Dutch Atlasses, with Gold and Silver, or without, and other foreign Silks of the newest Modes and best Fabricks, fine Flanders Lace, Linnens, and Pictures, at the best Hand: This my new way of Trade I have fallen into I cannot better publish than by an Application to you. My Wares are fit only for such as your Readers; and I would beg of you to print this Address in your Paper, that those whose Minds you adorn may take the Ornaments for their Persons and Houses from