and so this desire is no sooner born but dyeth no body shall ever make me believe that Love can Reign without hope how then shall an Old man love if he have nothing in him that may make him hope to be loved and consequently to obtain what he loveth and desireth let us begin with wisdome which is the thing that doth Old men the most honour and let us see if she be capable of making them hope any thing from love if I discourse with one of them he will doubtless tell me that it is the greatest folly a man can do to become in love in his Old Age by this then it is plain that an Old man cannot hope much since he is assured to go for a Fool to love at his age Besides they know but too well how Odious the name of Old Age is to all that are beautiful in the world and how they change both Voices and Countenances at the sight only of gray hairs I might have here a fair field to enlarge upon but to you that can devine the half of what I would say I must not relate all let us observe Old Folks another way and we shall find that being far enough from hope nothing is so natural to them as to fear whether it be that it proceedeth from their own weakness or from the experience they have that the world is but a cheat How can we make it appear after this that they love if they are in continual apprehensions to be deceived I remember something to this purpose which one of my Friends told me not long ago that an Old man might love a person much inferiour to him and of an indifferent Beauty that may make him hope to be loved again by reason she is not amiable enough to be loved of another but who is it that seeth not that there is more of wit than truth in this reason because it is first necessary that Love cometh either from choice or destiny as for example destiny causeth that two hearts love each other when it hapneth that they are both born under the same ascendant or that the same Planet ruleth the life of both it is certain that these two Persons love intirely Again we may love by destiny when there is a resemblance of humors as Physicians argue and in many others which I could tell You If it were requisite to tell you all the opinions they have upon this Subject we cannot say that these good Old Grandsires are capable of this love when they chose a Mistress for they are not assured that she they shall take for the Object of their desires hath a humor like them that she hath the same Ascendant or that she is born under the same Planet they are I say no more assured than to know how to bring themselves to it If we will now that love cometh to an Old man by choice since in effect he seeketh her whom he thinketh easiest to win I say that love comporteth himself to all that are good or fair or that seem so If it be thus I pray tell me what reason is there to believe that an Old man can be in love if he seeketh that which is less amiable it is rather a token of Choler and Hatred which he hath against himself than a signe of love it seemeth as though he would punish himself for the smalness of his merit or that he hath despight for not knowing how to aspire to something better composed We also see that most of your Gray beards address themselves commonly to none but persons that are made unhappy by the way of Fortune or to those that have not too much wit to be succesful in their deregulate affections But yet this cannot be called love for the reason I have already mentioned since considering these two evil qualities in them it is impossible they can have any love no more than esteem If the Object they chose be in misery they believe as in effect it is true that it is the Estate they love in them and not their person that they would have no love for them did they not buy it and that they courted them for nought but to pick their pockets In the mean time as in this thing they are most sensible and since they behold their Mistresses like so many Harpies I believe they cannot have any love for them And for the last Reason I conclude that an Old man is incapable of love because he thinketh himself not loved again But should there be found in the world Women with so little sense as to love men of their Age. I say that notwithstanding they would have no love for them judging themselves unworthy to be loved by people like them I am c. All these Reasons said d'Armenton after the Baron had ended reading of his Letter are good but they make nothing against what I have said and I am likewise of that Opinion with the rest of the world that one must be a Fool indeed to love at that Age after the manner of Young people but one must likewise be wise indeed to Love after the manner I say but it doth not belong to a Young man There is nevertheless said the Count a famous Author among the Greeks who saith that the less time we have to live the more we ought to give to love and that a man who hath gray hairs may Court a young Lass with as good Grace as we may joyn the Foses with the Lillies to male a fair Nose-gay I believe he understood not that love only of the mind but that which causeth us to fall into an agreeable weakness of mind to be the more tender of what we love Thus Author was doubtless Old replyed the Abbot and we must not wonder at it if concerning Love he hath mentioned things of so little sense I remember I heard Madamoisella d'Armond diverting her self in this Carden with a Song not long since which is not a little pertinent to our present Discourse and I hope she will vouchsafe this Company the goodness of obliging them with it now She after a smal modest refusal thus began SONG 'T is folly to think old Men can enjoy the sprightly Pleasures of Youth their desires are frozen and Youth will not toy with Ice on an odd perish'd Tooth t' enjoy the sweet pleasures of love in due time 'T is fittest to tast 'em when we are in our prime Age may desire and wish but wants power To love but in fancy alone The effect of which Love 's like a winter shower Or the work of a feeble Drone T' enjoy c. How rudely are the young Rose-buds embrac'd When kist by a cold North-wind So Youth seemeth nipp'd with a bitter Frost When enjoy'd by a gray-haird Friend T' enjoy c. Beauty was never design'd for Old Age By Nature that excellent Dame Her Lessons say Youth with Youth must engage Since there is most fire and flame T' enjoy the
send him more tender ones If we knew You not said the Countess d'Ancyce we would interpret the things litterally and show you little Favour but I believe there is a mystery in this Letter and that You are not willing to partake of the Honour your self in the manner it is turned for my part said the Dutchess I comprehend nothing and I confess that I want as great an esteem as I have for Madamoiselle d'Armand not to condemn her but tell us however continued she in addressing her self to that Lady what You smile at and what there is we understand not in this Letter for I have no mind to change the Opinion I have of You. Madamoiselle d'Armand after she had thanked the Dutchess for what she had thus Obligingly said related to her that being sometime since with one of the chiefest Ladies of the Court where a great number of Noble Gentlemen did ordinarily meet They had proposed a question which had been very wittily handled viz. to know whether it was more troublesome for a Lover to make a Declaration to his Mistress than for the Mistress to receive it and that she had maintained the Lovers part and that it was less difficult for a man to say he loved than for a Lady to suffer it and that the Baron d' 〈◊〉 who was Author of this Letter having undertook the contrary the company thought sit that for the rarity of the act that the Baron should represent the person of a Mistress and she that of the Lover that they might have the pleasure of seeing how this business would pass she assured them that this Gallantry had given way to such witty things as well in Prose as Verse that thousands of Persons have been divertized by it and that she did also in the like manner so that this Letter must not be read as coming from a Gallant but as from a sensible Mistress and that the truth was that they both of them had ill represented their Personages because that the Baron had too soon submitted himself and that for he part she did not use those Cares and Endeavours as passionate Lovers use The Cavaleer would willingly that Madamoiselle d'Armand had not justified her self so well and that they had but doubted of what she said But the rest of the Company had too good thoughts of her not to render her that Justice as was her due They found this Gallantry very pleasing and capable of giving much diversion They enlarged no further upon this to obtain time for the reading the other Letter but before they read them the Dutchess pulled this Song out of her pocket and gave it to Madamoiselle d'Armond who she desired to sing the Treble part of it and the Cavaleer d'Estapes she desired to sing the Base with her which they did in the manner following SONG I. B. Bear witness now you silver streams pleasing shady groves whose harmony and solitude can sweeten harmless Loves How lowd the Ecchoes of my sighs do ring for her whose scorns can me no comfort bring Ye powers above grant she may love and feel those pangs which I already know Chorus For if Love once dwell in her breast for if Love once dwell in her breast such pleasing relief will drown all my grief make me a lover that 's bleft Fly Eccho's fly And in your gentle murm'ring whispers bear My languishing and deep Complaints to my dear Phillis ear Tell her Oh tell her 't is for her I dye And ask her when shee 'l leave off cruelty Oh powerful Love Come from above And in her chaste heart go take up thy seat Chorus For if Love once dwell c. After this Song had been most harmonioufly Sung by these two Persons they returned again to their Letters and the Second was for the Baron d'Espare with whom Madam â—…lus observed the same Ceremonies as with the rest and she had without trouble the permission to let the Company hear it See here what it did contain SIR THe Question You propose me would better have been your Business than mine I should have been willing to have heard how You would come off in it You who never fail to prosper in these witty sorts of Gallantry Nevertheless since I am not permitted to refuse You any thing and as your Friendship desires of me a blind Obedience I shall tell You I 'll or Well what my Opinion is in what You demand of me You would know whether ajealous man may be termed a Lover Whence jealousie proceeds and what difference there is in matter of Love between Fear and Jealousie I First must tell You that I believe not that a Jealous Man Loveth but on the contrary say that he hateth with a terrible hatred as it is easie to discern by his Actions and therefore it were very improper to give him the title of Lover since he deserveth it not I must according to the Order of things First tell You whence jealousie springeth For my part it is my Opinion that a man is not Jealous but then when he believeth himself unworthy to possess the Esteem of his Mistress And I dare my Self believe that one that is Jealous doth not imagine himself Loved for else he would not afflict himself as he doth 'T is folly to say as many do that this Viper Love is but a meer Fear to lose what one Loveth a Jealous man would proceed aster another fashion Fear is an unprossitatable Passion which truly molesteth the Soul and causeth it to apprehend the Evils that may disturb him but it never bringeth a man into despair as doth Jealousie because that it breedeth in us thse things which may come to pass and yet not happen neither A searful man doth not altogether lose his hope he endeavours to prevent by all the meanes possible the misfortunes which he apprehendeth to the end he may escape the storm I say further that the Fear in Love is a sort of Vertue between the two extreams it is easily discerned that Jealous men are not possessed with this Fear but rather with a Rage which causeth them to believe that they have absolutely lost what they adored let us but take the pains to examineone of these Fools we shall see that he acteth not like a man that feareth nor like a Lover that desireth to be loved but like a desperate and declared Enemy Every one naturally hateth that which giveth them displeasure and what greater displeasure can one imagine than to think ones self forsaken and slighted by that which one esteemeth and loveth more than Ones life A Jealous man who is perswaded that he is thus evilly treated by his Mistress cannot love her more hatred must succeed this love and oftentimes Fury What trouble to this unhappy man in the time of this alteration What Combat is there in his mind I believe there is nothing more terrible and that the least Councel his mind suggests to him is to have recourse to
the Ladies good wills may also serve to maintain us in them and the great secret in this is to endeavour alwayes to please them and not to do any thing that may in any wise Offend them It is no less difficult added d'Armenton to give Lessons for this article than for the other because there are so many cautions to observe and so many Errors we are subject to commit that there are many things to be examined before we come to the principal The greatest Lovers are commonly those that commit the most faults because they are blinded by their passion and because that Love and Reason seldom accompany each other If they are jealous they give way to a thousand Follies they are not in the least circumspect they speak ill of their Rivals they offend the person they love a hundred wayes they bring upon her a thousand misfortunes and endeavour to ruine her if they can they are in love and they believe they have nothing to answer be it to whom it will in their going astray the shadow of a man near their Mistress frighteth them they cannot endure to let her see any body even not in their presence If she whispereth to any one those are alarums which deprive them of their Senses if they turn their Eyes towards their Rivals it is a Crime inexcusable and in fine they put a double sense to every word she saith of which there is alwaies some one which they interpret to be in favour of those they fear But what are the fruits of all these Extravagancies they serve but to displease the mind of this Fair-one who is at length weary of so unjust and insupportable a proceeding there is nothing the Women hate more than servitude their ambition ever extendeth to command over those whom they by Natures right should Obey and all their aim is to be disburthened of that troublesome Yoak which Nature hath imposed upon them If they cultivate their Beauty it is but to obtain adoration If they Love it is but to make their Masters become their slaves but when these slaves will retake their first authority and play the Masters then is it their displeasure flameth and that they despise to see themselves misused by people that had vowed them an eternal Servitude causeth them to seek revenge the greatest part of Lovers lose their Mistresses in this manner There are yet another sort who are not so extravagant but by a trick of vain fore-sight render themselves unhappy and help forward the affairs of those whom they would destroy they will tell a Mistress that such a one doth love her to Oblige her to avoid him they will entreat her not to be in his company alone and not to give him occasion to engage himself any further and I remember something to this effect which I heard not very long since touching a Lover of this sort who made some reproaches to his Mistress near to this purpose why Madam said he to her will you seem thus obstinate as to tell me he loveth You not do not I see it doth he not partake of all your counsels doth he not affect to be in Your presence doth he not sigh so soon as you cast a look upon him in fine doth he not die for You this person to whom he spoke who was truly innocent and who had observed none of these things becoming for the future more curious found indeed that she was loved and the success of these reproaches was that she loved also which she perhaps had not done if this jealous one had not taken the trouble to give her notice and forbid her thus it is that these people through a strange Imprudence are Authors of all the Evill that fall upon them I have seen yet others who have thought to make their Love secure by speaking ill of their Rivals and which it is that a VVoman seldom believeth so soon as she knoweth the design On the contrary as she is perswaded that it proceedeth from an effect of Jealousie she doth but laugh at it and will sometimes take the part of him Interessed in this I will confess my weakness answered the Baron to that I am not capable of speaking well of my Rivals and when I have an opportunity to do them harm I can scarce forbear it I would know some more civil manner of ruining them You know the Proverb replied the Count which saith that when an Adversary is in the water up to the middle You must give him your Hand to help him out but when he is in up to the Chin You must set your foot on his head and drown him quite There are many People that do the same with their Rivals and until they find a fair Occasion to ruine them quite they dissemble and live well with them but so soon as they see them upon the brink of the Precipice they give them the last push to throw them down I say proceeded he what is done sometimes and not what I would counsel any one to do for all these proceedings are some thing unworthy of a Gentleman and I would have a lover bear it above his Rivals by means of his merit and services it is easie for one that hath wit and when a Mistress knoweth the world to cause her to observe the disserence there is between man and man love and love service and service Most Lovers ruine themselves without it be necessary for a Rival to work their ruine There are some who full of Vanity to give their Mistresses a good Opnion of them will boast of some Favours to her which they perhaps never received Others there are who on the contrary will make as if they were misfortunate and will assure one that they have never obtained any Love as if it were no prejudice to them to be taxed of want of merit But what do you think of those that daily tell their Mistresses that their Rivals are much happier than they and that they reproach her that she treateth them best I believe it is rather a meanes to serve ones Rival than not to do it There are yet a thousand Rencounters in which many Lovers are undone who have not the art of governing themselves in their Felicity and if Love be a Sea as they say we must confess that Indiscretion especially is a shelf on which the greatest part of these Gentle-men-sighers suffer shipwrack He that desireth to please in Love ought to know how to be respectful and discreet and he that will rule must be silent It is strange said the Marchioness that discretion being the principallest quality a Lover ought to be endued with that there should be so few that make use of it and that this secret must alwayes be recommended to the men I avow answered the Baron to her to our confusion that it is the most essential Vertue in Love and which nevertheless we consider the least There are very few men that have power to keep a Love
in the time that Sentus Pompeius Here said the Abbot interrupting him is the beginning of anne Fable You see Ladies said Monsieur d'Armenton how Mr. Abbot doth alwaies indeavour to interrupt me if you were not a party concerned I would intreat you to inflict some punishment upon him â—ut the greatest prejudice that I can do him I believe is to continue my Sâ—ory without amusing my self with what he saith In the time thereof Sextus Pompeius a very beautiful Lady presented her self before the Senate of Marseilles to obtain this Traâ—…ical Grace and having made them see the necessity there was for her Repose to be delivered from the miseries of Life she took the Cup where the Poyson was and spoke so resolutely and with so little fear of death that Sextus Pompeius himself was troubled to the heart and the w ole Senate could not forbear weening after they had agreed that she should die If this story be true said Mr. Abbot alas how many poor Husbands have there been at Marseilles that have gone to demand of the Senare permission to die to be delivered fâ—om their VVives Aâ—as replied the Countess d'Ancyre to him instantly in the same note how many unhappy women are there would drink this Poison now were it the custom for to deliver themselves from the cruel bondage wherein their Husbands keep them VVhat can a miserable woman do added Madam d'Elus where this must not remedy when as the weakness of women obligeth them to sutler all without murmuring It is true replied the Abbot to them that the men are not a little obliged to this weakness without which the women who lova them but little would put more weight upon their shoulâ—ers than they could be able to bear The Duke was the first that laughed heartily at this Reply and the Ladies laughed so that the dispute was some time delayed after which Monsieur d'Armenton who had a desire to give the Abbot an answer to what he had said viz. that the womens love was but small to the men when is it Mr. Abbot said he that you heard or read of a Husbands testimony of his love to his wife like to that of Câ—mma for her Husband Sinnatus I know no more answered him the Abbot abruptly what you mean by Camma than I do by Sinatus and all that I câ—n say to you is that if I would here recite the lamentation of poor Husbands you would soon confess that the women were Female-devils There was not one Lady of the company but was set against him and each did their indeavour to evil-treat him one with her Busk another with heâ— Fan the third with a Cane that the poor Abbot cried out like one in despair and complained that he was martyred for the Truths sake He would notwithstanding this not revcak what he had said only to sweeten it and for â—eparation of Honor he Named them charming Devils The Ladies at last let him be at quitt the Noise ceased and they gave ear to Monsieur d'Armenton who went on with his discourse as followeth Camma said he was a very beautiful woman and there was nothing did equal it but her virtue her duty was that she esteemed above all things Signorix a principal man of the City where she lived became in Love with her and he used all the meanes he could to endeavour to perswade her to yield to his desire and to give his Love content but it was all to no purpose nothing could shake the fidelity of so discreet a woman Signorix believed that Sinnatus her Husband was the only obstacle that spoiled his pretensions and that if he caused him to be killed he should overcome half the resistance his Mistress made It was easie for him to find the meanes but it made him not the happier and all his addresies after this Homicide gave him less encouragement than before which caused him at last to resolve to demand her of her Parents in marriage who fearing the power of Signorix used all their Arguments to perswade Camma to it and they importuned her so much that she condiscended or rather seemed to do it they conducted her to the Temple of Diaua where Signorix waited to do the Ceremonies of Marriage You know I fuppose what these Ceremonies were and that a Cup is presented to them out of which the married Couple drink in token of Alliance and Friendship Camma had prepared a drink which she had by her which was no other thing than a violent poyson that she had given her Mayds with order to bring it to the Temple to her and having demanded it when she came to drink she drank half and presented the rest to Siguorix who drank it without difficulty not imagining that the Ceremonies of his Marriage would be those of his death After which this Woman was so transported with Joy that her design had so good effect she cast her self at the feet of the Statue and pronounced these words Great Goddess thou knowest my heart thou knowest how often I would have dyed to follow my dear Siwnatus Thou knowest with what grief I have out-lived him and that the only hope of revenge hath kept me alive till now and now I have donÌ„e my duty I dye contentedly and will go to the only man I loved while I lived and will love after my death if the Gods will give me leave and then wicked wretch continued she in addressing her self to Signorix who thought to have supplied the place of him whom thou hast murthered thou shalt go to the Sepulchre after thon hast sacrificed to the shadow of my dearest Spouse Signorix furiously amazed at their words and being already cruelly tormented with the effect of this Poyson presently commanded remedies to be brought to him but they came too late and Camma was so happy that as she lay upon a bedd expecting death she understood that the Tyrant was departed then was it that her joy redoubled and that lifting up her eyes ro Heaven she thus invoked her dear Sinnadus Dear Spouse said she now since I have given thee the last tokens of my Love and Fidelity and that thou hast received my tears and the revenge I owed thee not having any thing else to do for thee in this world I avoid it and bid adieu with a sincere heart to this life which without thee is insupportable Come my dear Sinnatus O come to my Soul that denres nothing more than to embrace thee In ending these words she ended her Life and spread her arms abroad as if she would really have embraced her Sinnatus I believe said the Abbot to him that you have a mind to make these Ladies weep What I say to this is that if this History be true I know very well that there are no more Camma's now in the world but if there were such to be found yet these Examples do not prove that which you did say that there should be women from whom the men have received
the Men. But once more Mr. Abbot do not urge me where you may see me in a humor to entertain the company afresh If sufficeth that you are convinced in your mind maugre all your subtleties that the women are capable of as much perfection as the men That they have done them Honour and that the advantages they have reaped by them are considerable If there are now none of these Queens that went formerly to Conquer strange Countries that build Towns that raise Piramids and who busied themselves about other works of the like nature as a Thomyris Queen of Scytia Artemisa Zenobia Semiramis Cleopatra there are also but few men like Cesar Alexander Scipio Lucullus and so many other Famous Romans Say not said Mr. Abbot to him smiling that there are now no more like Cleopatra and Semiramis it is true that they have not Common-wealths nor Kingdoms as these Illustrious Queens had but they are not less bent to their pleasure The Ladies who heard Mr. Abbot speak in this manner and who immediatly comprehended his meaning and that he might go no farther they put themselves in a posture to assault him for the second time Mr. Abbot was terribly amazed and said with an air not a little pleasant that if Monsieur d'Armenton overcame him it was not with reason but because he had more force and that they used weapous against him which were forbidden in conversation The fear and the manner that Mr. Abbot turned these words made the Duke laugh heartitily Monsieur d'Armenton answered him that if there were women like unto a Cleopatra and Semiramis there were notwithstanding many more Sardanapales whose character was much more infamous What you say there replied the Abbot is doubtless contrary to what you think for there is no Body but knoweth that the women have ever been less reserved than the men but if that were not who can say that there is not an extream difference You know that by the miscarriage of one woman a thousand misfortunes follow whereas by the disorder of one man there happens nothing or very little These are very strong arguments said Monsieur d'Armenton to him in raillery I wonder you have been so long on thinking of nothing else but that to say to me But yet I pray why would not you have Vice to be as much and more condemnable in men than women since it is from them that most Vertue is expected Let us us speak the truth continued he and confess that this Tyrannical Empire which we have usurped over them authorizeth our Crimes and that the same actions which in us are esteemed Honourable were they in them we would condemn them to death or at least to an Eternal Infamy The Abbot answered him nothing because he feared that if he should adventure to say any thing too bitter against these Ladies he should bring some new misfortune upon him but they discerned in his face the violence he did to hinder him from speaking his thoughts which gave a very pleasant subject of Laughter At length when they had done their mirth the Company intreated Madamoiselle d'Armand to give them a Song which she did in the ensuing words with much skill and judgement SONG Mr. Turner O Love how all the World 's inclin'd by love how led aâ•Œstray that though the God himself be blind we dare not disâ•Œoâ•Œbey Laws for our hearts to be betrayd the God of Passions gave that such a sot a Fancy made and Reason such a slave Where resolution is forgot To struggle wih the flame It does the judgement quite besot And makes the reason tame For when our blind desires have sped And to ill fate we are given It will at last be poorly said It was decreed in Heaven Thrice happy he whom conquering Love Has eas'd his very Soul And in that Agony can prove His power to controul That Mortal did I once but know I 'de more than Love admire That could as easily forgo As entertain the fire After which and the due applauses the company gave Madamoiselle d'Armond for the same it being late and the Dutchess fearing the Dukes sitting up too long the Conversation ended the Company parted with the usual Ceremonies and each took their way to their Lodging CHAP. III. THis day passed no less pleasantly than the others there were Playes Dances and many other Diversions to entertain the Company with from the morning that they were dressed till eight of the clock in the Evening that they went to Supper after Supper they failed not to go into the Garden where they fetched some turns in the walks and afterwards resorted to the Arbour where the Circle was kept The Abbot had been so evil treated the day before that he had no mind to renew the dispute It was the Dutchess that began the discourse and who said to the Count de Lorme that the Lady whose Picture he had given was a perfectly fair and civil Woman but that there were notwithstanding persons in the company who think that for a Court-Lady as he would have made her there was something yet wanting and that he should make an end I know not said the Baron d'Epare what may be said of the Counts Lady but in my opinion a Lady cannot be made better qualified and that is all can be desired in a Woman However you shall see answered him the Dutchess that if he pleaseth he will give her new perfections and that he will add to this piece some Features above the rest that shall not spoil her I know not Madam said the Count what there yet is wanting in this work but for my part I confess that a Lady like her would please me very well and he that is not contented with her let him leave her to me I know very well where to bestow her The pleasant Air with which the Count pronounced these words made the Company to laugh But what said the Countess d'Ancyre would you not teach a person so accomplished how she ought to behave her self in matters of Love for I imagine you would not have her incapable of those sentiments and beautiful as you have made her it is at least impossible for her not to inspire it Tell us then continued this Lady how she ought to comport her self with a Gallant Person that doth sincerely love her It is true said the Lady Sindal that these are two things which a Court-Lady ought not to be ignorant of especially the last because it oftner hapneth that the men make show of Love than to Love in reality he must first tell us said Madamoiselle d'Armond with what Air a Woman must receive a declaration of Love and whether she must not dissemble with all Lovers or answer some of them We must first said the Count rather learn a Lady to know Lovers to know how to distinguish the true from the false As for answering or not answering their Love I believe in that she ought to take her own counsel this
then added the Dutchess is wanting in your Heroine in which if you please you must instruct her or I will be the first my self that will say she hath failings since she is not yet skilled in Lovers you must tell us continued she what are the most certain marks to know true Love and what it is can convince your Lady to perswade her to love for in fine it hath been a saying a great while that a Woman beginneth to love when she believeth her self loved if her Lover be endued with these Perfections that may deserve Love What you ask of me Madam answered her the Count is cumbersome enough for if we must speak the truth the men are now such Cheats in this that the prudentest Women are the first that are deceived we see them sometimes complain weep and sigh when they have a mind to laugh and the most part are so accustomed to it that in one and the same day they will let fall Tears at at the feet of two or three Mistresses and will promise them a fidelity not to be parallel'd and if I might be believed they should make an example of these false-hearted sighers and a good part of them should be sent into some desert Island However to the end the Lady whose Picture I have given you and of whom I must take a particular protection may not be deceived in the choice she shall make of a Lover I am obliged to give her some counsel by which she may regulate her Carriage When the Count had gone thus far a Lacquey belonging to the Dutchess who had been sent to Paris to fetch some Letters which he was to take at the Post-house brought some for many persons of the Company and put them all into the hands of his Mistress There was at first a little confusion in the Circle the impatience which they all had about the Letters occasioned them to rise from their places and every one endeavoured to know if there was none for them The Dutchess who had a mind to engage her self from the trouble put them all into the Lady Sindals hand to take care to deliver them but this Lady who had a desire to partake of some mirth desired them immediatly all to betake themselves to their places again and that she would give chem all satisfaction I see well said the Dutchess that how gallant soever the subject was which we even now proposed the curiosity of Letters will carry it and that there will be given but little attention to what the Count shall tell us wherefore Madam continued the Dutchess in addressing her self to the Lady Sindal if you will believe me you must quit your self of these Letters as soon as you can and deliver them to the Owners we will afterwards begin the Conversation If you desire so answered the Lady Sindal I consent but it is certain that we shall have but little time left for a matter so gallant as is that which we have given the Count and besides you will see that they will be prevented after they have read these Letters that they will scarcely answer the discourse and the Count will have the discourtesie done him of relating curious things to persons that will not hear him For my part added she if I may be believed a Conversation might be made even from these Letters and the Count might retain his for another time I may have some here as well as the rest for truly I expect some that are witty enough too if you please we will make choice of some of the company that shall read them out but without naming from whence nor from whom they come except the persons interessed order otherwise There was no Body but approved the design of the Lady Sindal no body would oppose it for fear of giving the company leave to think they had some private Intelligence The Dutchess nevertheless according to her ordinary prudence would have some order kept and that they who should be chosen to read these Letters should first let the persons see them to whom they belonged to ask them whether they might be exposed or whether they would give them permission This refervedness served for little there was nothing in these Letters that might not be communicated to so judicious and reasonable a company as this was however it was judged necessary to do thus to avoid troublesom inconveniencies Madam d'Elus who was a Woman noted for wisdom and discretion through all the world was the person chosen to take this care The first Letter which came to her hand for it was through hazard she took them was for the Cavaleer d'Estapes and without naming from whom nor from whence it came after she had shewed it him and asked him the permission to read it she found it as followeth SIR IN two moneths time I have received none of your Letters Why so am I by you so much forgot or is there some misfortune come upon you how cruel are you tell me if there be any one more interessed in your Concerns than my self and if you ought to neglect me so far as to believe you owe me not at least so feeble a satisfaction in truth you love me not since you can let so much time pass away in silence I perceive very well that all those marks of tenderness which you have given me were but a meer effect of your spirit your heart had no part there was at least more of complaisance than amity it was through Exchange and not through inclination for I know not how one can love after the manner as I mean and live as you do You know what you promised me when you parted hence and how you would render me an account every eight daies as long as you lived I did let my self be flattered so patiently that the only hope of this caused me to endure the first dayes of your absence with patience there is nothing easier than to abuse the credulity of a heart that loves us but there is nothing more base or more black neither I endeavoured to comfort my self for the Regret that I had of your absence after I had been so well accustomed to it through the pleasure I hoped to have had by a small commerce of Letters which we should read together You have not let me enjoy this pleasure but a small time What have you done Why did you not tell me that absence with you was an unavoidable adversary to all sorts of friendship I should it may be have propared my self and I should not have found my self in that strange necessity wherein I am driven to make Complaints to you If you can endeavour to justify your self or deceive me by some false Arguments I am in despair to find you guilty and not to see any thing whereby you can justify your ingratitude Farewell Omit nothing to make me believe you innocent and that I have done you Wrong Adieu The Cavalier said Madam d'Elus after she had
great enough for one to have heard them this resolution being made Egidia who was a prudent I ady and who saw in what she had engaged her self would have been glad to have revoked it and would rather have renounced all the Joy she could have promised her self in such a Victory for she was in very good hopes of obtaining it than to expose me to the trouble that this Declaration would cause wherefore the same day she writ these Lines to me SIR I Have lai'd a Wager which whether I loose or win I am furiously interessed We are to demand of You an Explanation of your mind where it is pretended that you must and before Witnesses you may have reason to fear after Dinner declare towards which side your heart leaneth if I consult with my self well I know what 's due to me from you but alas how know I what may happen I cannot renounce my Wager since I was urged to it the Glory had been too great for my Rival had I refused I consent rendring Justice to me in your heart that you speak in favour of my Sister Adieu tell her You love her better than me but however love me better than her This Note bred some small disturbance in me however since I was to take one part I took a resolution without any more ballancing the matter in what I had to do and answered this Note if I remember to this effect MADAM I Begg your pardon that I am constrained to be disobedient when I am obliged to it the passages of my heart shall be open to You and Your Generositie shall not be payed with infidelitie It is true by outward appearance it may Nevertheless since it is You that is engaged I will even in appearance do all things on Your behalf but after such a proof of my Love will You be perswaded that I love You as I ought I begg the permission of You after I have undeceived Your Sister to let me retreat at some distance for a small time for there is no doubt but Your Wager will breed evil Consequences it lies in your power Madam to cause a remedy and so in my place to bear the ill-luck that may ensue since it hdth been Your pleasure to trouble your self hitherto Adieu I gave this answer to the Lacquey that brought me the Note and in the same instant bid my Valett do all things in such good order and without any noise that we might if it were necessary be ready to depart just after Dinner I passed the rest of the morning in the Garden where while I waited for Dinner I was meditating on the Question they were preparing to ask me I omitted telling of you in the beginning that this is one of those Covents where the Religious enjoy a civil Liberty and where their Parents or particular Friends have the permission to enter and see them in their Lodgings which is a most sweet Commodity for Gallants to pass for particular Friends it being indecent for the Religious to permit declared Lovers without a scruple I dined with the Abbess as I ordinarily did and appeared very much cast down and Melancholy at the Table contrary to my usual custome for commonly I used to divert the company with much delight and seldom failed of that heat that giveth the best relish to a Re-past The two interested Ladies were the first that observed me The Abbess began to discourse very obligingly to me to put me into a better humor and seeing I made her no answer she at last asked me what I ailed that I appeared so dull I told her it was a great pain in my head that I had been taken with ever since the morning she had neglected nothing this day to set her off and although the Ornaments of the Religious are almost all alike I acknowledg that something I found in her so particular and so pleasing to me that with her sweet and winning carriage which she used the resolution I had taken to break off quite with her began to perplex me and had not her Sister been present she might perhaps have been enough to have made me revoke it There was ever two or three more Religious her Friends that commonly dined with us but after Dinner they absented themselves We needed no body to witness the Scene that was to pass among us three I mean the Abbess her Sister and me for in the humor I was in it was almost a trouble to me to keep my Teeth asunder The Abbess touched again upon the Melancholy she saw in my Visage and told me that she never see me in so ill an humor before and that if I would do her a pleasure I should tell her the cause of it I answered her as before that I was troubled with a great pain in my head but such a small Indisposition would not pass with her judging by my eyes that there was something more in it and she prayed me to relate the truth to her adding withall with an air full of assurance that I was not before suspicious persons and that if there was any thing thaâ— could cure my distemper that I would oblige her so far as to relate it that I might be assured that she was a partaker and that I wronged her in denying her so small a satisfaction I believe not said her Sister to hinder me from answering her that he hath any thing troubles him more than what he hath said It is often seen said she that persons endewed with Wit as is the Cavalier are subject to these terrible pains of the Head and they pass by these evil moments from one extremity to another I mean from evcessive Joy to excessive Melancholy You believe Sister then replied the Abbess very coldly that You know very well the Gentlemans distemper because You take upon You to answer for him in the mean time I 'll not imagine it to be what You say but I 'll believe no otherwise than what he will say However said Egidia if he would be advised by me he should not discover his pain to any I know it and it is so much the worse for people that know not how to judge of it Believe me said the Abbess with a malicious smile that if I should ask the knowledg of him it is not that I am ignorant of it but it is to disabuse some body and I wonder they will make difficulty of understanding the truth now which methinks they have so much desired to know I was in the right too much continued she since I see some repent for being engaged so far By your leave Ladies said I interrupting them on a sudden let me alone as I am let my pain be what it will and from whence it will I neither will nor can be cured if it could be I would only desire to suffer less for my part said the Abbess who meddle not with Divination and who do not penetrate so deeply into Hearts as my Sister
me hoping that in the end I would be accustomed to see Folks weep she spoke all this and many other things with so winning a Behaviour that it was impossible for me to be moved in the mean while it grew late which I hinted to her but she took it not well and told me I was the impertinentest Gallant that might be in the the world but yet I was constrained to retire and a tender fare-well which we took each of other made up the business as well as ever all that sweetness with which she had loaded me with could not resist those smoaks of repentance which charged my heart with a horrible Gall when I was from her presence this is yet nothing I deserved it for a punishment for those minutes I stole from Egidia and with whom I had so failed in my duty The Abbess met her and maliciously asked her where I was I know not answered her Egidia but I believe that being a little indisposed he is retired some hing early to his Chamber You are mistaken Sister answered her the Abbess and I told you but now that I knew his distemper better than you I have advised him to come and take the Aire in the Garden and told him that would cure him as indeed I believe he findeth himself now better You may know of himself it is not a minute since I left him Egidia was the most surprized of any in the world and so confused that she knew not what to answer her she knew not how to hide a part of her resentment from her with which the Abbess triumphed with unspeakable Joy and so left her in that cruel condition This poor Lady knew not what to imagine after what I said to her not two hours since and the Oaths I made to her she had to good an opinion of me to have lightly believed what her Sister might have told her on another occasion to my disadvantage but in this e could neither doubt nor excuse me The Treason was too manifest and all things stood against me she was at first shaken with a thousand different passions so much oppression lay upon her at once that she was no more the same person we soonest believe what we fear most The first thing she had a mind too was to see me and presently sent for me by her Lacquey I came to her and by the eageruess I perceived she had to speak to me I suspected the truth I imagined that this meeting had not been kept so secret but she must have had notice of of it but not that the Abbess would have revealed it my Curiosity invited me to dive into the truth of it I found her by her self in a small Parlour and where in approaching her I saw her so troubled and changed that I no more doubted her knowledg of my being in the Garden with her Sister at first she did not speak to me and for my part the grief in which I was to know my self culpable caused the same effect in me as anger and jealousie did in her so that we continued some moments without speaking one to the other but at length she broke silence where have you been said she with a low Voice without so much as casting her eys upon me I answered her that her man had met me as I was retiring to my Chamber Why would you commit replied she raising her Voice a little and looking upon me with eyes fuller of pitty than Choller a new Treason Did you make so many promises to me this Evening but to deceive me with the less difficulty what have I done After these words excess of grief stopt her Voice and she was going into a Swound I am not able to represent to you the condition wherein I found my self to see the person I so dearly loved dye a dying How cruel are these moments what happiness were it for me to dye also if Heaven would but hear me and not smile at those Evils which Love maketh me suffer I looked upon this Lady as a man immoveable not having the power to help her nor to cry out This weakness which took her and which was no formal Swound in giving her the liberty though but dimly of her sight she saw upon my Face a grief which spoke to her on my behalf and nothing as she told me since did raise her from this her cruel displeasure than to see how much I was concerned This silence and my condition made my peace with her and all her grief had not the power to resist the satisfaction she received from mine By good Fortune there passed by in the mean time two Nuns who seeing her in the condieion I before told you they ran towards us believing that some one of those Accidents had hapned to her which the Nuns are frequently subject to there came more people and this News raised a disturbance in the Covent Madam the Abbess was one of the first that heard it nevertheless she endeavoured nor to run and see for my part I retired as soon as I saw there was people enough to assist her and although the Abbess sent twice or thrice to speak with me I desired her to excuse me and to stay till the next morning to tell me her pleasure Egidia whom they had carried to her Chamber and who was already come to her self not seeing me by her bed-side in a time wherein she believed that if I loved I would be least absent from her softly asked a Maid that waited on her if she knew not where I was This Maid who saw me go into my Chamber at the same time that I left her Mistress and who had seen the Tears run down my eyes made her a faithful description of it which did extreamly trouble her and she entreated her Sister who was set down by her to send for me but she refusing said that she had done it twice already to no purpose and that she should make no more unprofitable entreaties to me Egidia who had a great desire to see me and who could not endure that I should continue all the Night in the sorrowful condition wherein I was had a mind to try whether I would come sooner for her she believed she should not venture too far nor that it would not signifie much to her though she could not obtain more from me than I had granted her Sister She sent then the same Maid to me in whom she had no small confidence to tell me that if I had the least desire of her amendment I should see her before she slept and that she would expect me iâ— I had any small love for her I am not able to tell you how ready I was to Obey her Commands those that have loved may with ease imagine I entred her Chamber where was no Body with her but the Abbess and who waited with impatience to see how this scene would pass they both presently perceived how my countenance changed I know
illy and send him away that he may not see her more On the contrary answered her the Count I would only have her to give him an answer whose discreet coldness might give him to understand that she taketh no pleasure in those sorts of Liberties and if he be a Gentleman that knoweth how to carry himself with her and who mentioneth not his passion to her but in modest termes and under a hidden sense which is the way that witty persons use I believe that it may be very easie for this Fair-one to rid her out of trouble and that she may give to his words what signification she pleaseth as if she understood nothing and turn the discourse upon another matter that if it so hapneth that she cannot but give what he saith the true meaning she might convert it all into Railery and attribute it to a certain custome which witty persons have when they are in company with Ladies that they make it a necessity to praise them and to tell them that they love them there is more safety that way when a Lady hath the readiness to use it ingeniously You speak said the Cavaleer as if all men were deceivers and pray tell me to what torments should you not condemn a brave Gentleman that were truly in Love with a Lady if they all followed your Maxims should you be contented continued he to be in his place and to be reduced to those afflictions which this passion is accustomed to make unfortunate Lovers suffer when they find themselves with those that are insensible or given to Railery which implyeth proceeded he that if the Women would believe you they shall esteem the services and tears of heir Lovers as if they were meer trifles and a subjection more assiduous more careful and more earnest than that of slaves shall be for persons who shall disdain and laugh at us you give in truth such counsels that are but little humane you should beware how you instruct this Sex in new injustices for this is not truly just and we commonly see them but too full of Cruelty You are too soon moved answered the Count to him smiling I have not yet spoken precisely of those that truly Love but only in general of those who speak of Loving and say they love Here are many that say it too well to do it 't is commonly those who love most that speak it less the eyes and silence speak in love and one ever saith enough to those that revoyce to understand us if I must speak the truth I believe that it is very difficult to give certain rules upon what You now demand of me for as many as there be of men as many wayes are there to love the Proverb confirmeth it enough that saith Let every one love according to his Guise How shall I tell you then the cautions a Lady ought to have upon this without first examining the different wayes of making Love that which is most true and ought to pass as a general Maxime is that a Lady ought not to make it known that she loveth before she hath had great experiences of her Lover and to wait till he discovereth it because it is ever dangerous for a Lady to have discovered her fire whereas the men make it their glory to have declared their passion I perceive said the Baron that You will speak for the Married Women for the Maidens I believe not that the most severe carriage can keep them from disclosing a hing so natural as is that to love and to say that one loveth especially to those of whose sidelity and love they are perswaded if it were so the Love might return and continue in the place from whence it sprung there is no man that would engage himself to Love in that manner unless it were to hate himself I know not what would become of us I speak answered him the Count of all Women and much more for the Maids than the Married Women to whose Vertue these sorts of Engagements cannot but do much prejudice What You aver there replied d'Arignan to him is very austere not to permit the Married Women to love as well as the others I will assure You there are but few would Marry were it so we must leave these things to a Preacher or to those that deny love to the world that they may have the better part There are continued he so many unfortunate Women who without reason are so illy used by their Husbands so mamy others whom their Parents have Married to old jealous heads to Brutes to peevish Coxcombs that make them live in so strange a manner if a Divorce was permitted for these Women and that they could deliver themselves from their Tyrants I would not pardon their weakness in loving else-where as long as they remained with them But when by the effects of some bad star or when their destiny will have it so that in the bed where they should meet the pleasures of Love and Peace they have these cruel Hang-men to torment them and with whom they must perforce live if we may call the time they pass with them life Would You have these poor Ladies deprive themselves of the only pleasure they have to oblige a Gallant Gentleman which an Owl of an Husband hath not only in disdain but horror I agree added de Arignan that a Woman who hath a Husband that understandeth Reason and who knoweth how to live should rather dye than do him any Injury But for the unfortunate Ones I forgive them all and they would do themselves wrong if they knew of a sure way to be revenged of their Domestick Enemies and should not do it The Ladies all laughed at the opinion of d'Arignan and the Dutchess told him that he spoke as one Interested and that if he had been a Woman and a VVoman of Honour he would have had other Opinions she added further that it was a naughty revenge to ruine her self to do her Enemy a displeasure and that a Civil Lady had her actions to answer to others more than her Husband however it is said the Count to come to the Married persons I say that it being a thing that doth not alwaies depend upon us not to love I would that when this misfortune hapneth to any of them and that the Injustice of her Husband or the defire she hath for another bringeth her to some inclination I would I say have her make no other agreement with him than for a tender friendship and esteem and never to give him such certain tokens of what she suffereth for him whereby the Cavaleer might make it his glory There is no man said the Cavaleer but would Appeal from this sentence before the VVomen themselves But after You have taught such a strange humor and such severe maxims to those that are Married will You at least not grant something more mild to those that are to Marry and will You not let them have something more of
Indulgence for those whom we may call true Lovers If a Young Lady answered the Count must love a man it must be those with whom she hopeth to be Married and then I should not condemn her although she showed him some tokens of esteem Nevertheless I would have it be with so much reservedness that her Vertue might find nothing wherewith to reproach her heart I will assure You a Lady cannot be too cautious upon this Article and that the men have now so much presumption of themselves and are so much accustomed to promise themselves all from their own merit that the least favour flattereth them and maketh them withdraw from their duty The Count interrupted the Abbot seemeth to be Feed by the VVomen to speak against the Men as was Monsieur d'Armenton the other day to tel untruths in favour of these Fair-ones I thought said the Marchioness that Mr. Abbot had no more to say against us but now his desire to be chastised is come again Courage Sir added she in smiling the Brave Ones like You are not amazed at stripes You used me too illy said she Abbot the first time for me to dare to adventure any more But however were it necessary for me to expose my Life for the Truths sake I would maintain it well that there hath been nothing said on Your behalf in all there hath hitherto been spoken Stay replied the same Lady to him til Monsieur d'Armenton be in a humor to answer You for I believe he is preparing notwithstanding he hath been so long silent I Madam answered her d'Armenton I swear I have not such a thought because that all that the Count hath spoken I find so just and reasonable that they must be Void of Sense who are not for him and who dare to contradict him For my part replyed the Count I expose here neither party and I only speak what belongeth to Reason and a good custom against abuse and salfe appearances But to return where I was there are I know not how many VVomen who desire nothing more than to be esteemed handsome to have at their Train a multitude of Lovers of which they make a Trophy and who serve as a Triumph to their Beauty they employ all meanes for these Conquests and make no difficulty to make advancements to their ruine and these proceedings contribute to satisfie their Vanity they stray from that modesty and bashfulness to which their Sex engageth them they enoure certain discourses they permit some languishing Glances in sweetly closing the eye-sid and keeping it half shut by which they think that sweetness must enchant all those that dare to behold them in a word they are knowing in the art we call Gossiping but these are weaknesses unworthy those VVomen we speak of It is true also that I am not for thosenice ones who are more than Savages and who bring their Vertue even to a point of delicacy that for the least word they will discountenance people I think there is a Medium to be kept and which I would counsel an understanding VVoman to follow I say that a Ladie merit is much greater when the Conquests she maketh are meerly due to her own Vertue and when the good Behaviour and Grace she hath in all her actions draweth hearts to her Love is much more solid when it is grounded upon esteem than when it is upheld by Beauty alone Esteem may ever continue and Beauty fadeth and a Lover who is tyed to particular Features is subject to very many accidents and cannot Love but in Fear whereas he that suffereth himself to be enclined to Vertue loveth without molesiation and ceaseth not to love till death a man who shall love a Lady as I say will be satisfied with the least regard he receiveth from her A simple civility shall in his mind pass for a considerable favour I know not said the Baron who these men are who think their services well requited in so small a matter and I know not said d'Arignan whether there are many VVomen in the world so good House-wives of their Favours I believe answered the Countess d'Ermond that You see none here who give You not a very true Example I avow said the cavaleer that what the Count said is not so extraordinary but some of it is practised by many VVomen But it is also true that he is something scrupulous in certain matters and that there is even injustice in it not to permit a Mistress to give some manner of Hope to a poor Lover that shall languish for her that one day at least he may be Loved I have seen VVomen added he whom Beauty rendred them perhaps something too proud who at the only words of Love would seem to be extreamly angry but in the end these Obstinate Beauties have if not submitted at least grown very mild and the services importunities sighs and tears have worked so upon them that they have also taken delight to love such a one were the most rigorous person in the world that could resist at the sight of a languishing Lover whom she sees upon his knees to her A heart though Obstinate is not insensible and it is a difficult thing to escape loving when one is perswaded of a persons merit there is nothing sometimes that in endreth truer Love than Obstinacy when Overcome and those Hearts which are the difficultest to win are those which are most moved You imagine said the Marchioness to him every one to be like your Religious Ladies Not so answered her the Cavaleer but you will confess that if all VVomen were as the Count would make them they would not bevery amiable and very few wne men would love them Perhaps said the Count to him that all people would not be of your Opinion as You are not of mine but however if You took notice I said not that a Mistress should bring a poor Lover to despair I am not for such Barbarous Counsels I avoid Extremities in all things and my Opinion in this was that a Lady ought to grant no other than a tender Friendship and Esteem and it is with this a Gentleman may rest satisfied from such a Lady I spoke of It is true continued he that in Love the Pallates are as different as there are difference in Beauties and that one cannot Regulate all Lovers to one and the same point there are of them who seeing a Lady of a humor something serious and who is accustomed not to do any thing but what seemeth very civil will be taken with a certain respect for her that they scarcely dare bring their desires to love they will rather love another whose languishings words and glances may give them leave to hope I also know others who care little for the Artifices and all the outward appearances of certain Beauties who ignorize nothing of Gallantry they will sooner engage themselves to a Fair-one whose humor seemeth full of sincerity and who they find without art and
fashion I mean without being too witty they will love that simplicity which shall cause her to utter her thoughts in matters as they are there are yet lovers of a character much different from these who would pass for ingenious people and who vainly believe that in Love as in all things else the glory of a Conquest consisteth in the difficulty and resistance they are perswaded that there is no Victory more sweet than to overcome that which others have found inaccessible they will apply themselves to Beauty whose looks words and proud Behaviour menace nothing but Rigours as if there were no advantage more glorious than to reduce a proud heart to love These same men will sometimes love certain Women that use a thousand Artifices and who are often-times more difficult to vanquish than those who are austere by profession they try yet others whose disdainful humour with few words and some smiles seemeth to despise the whole Universe and with whom it is a crime to dare only to behold them I have seen another kind of Lovers who were for the Women-gallants and of great Conversation for those who would show them fair play and whom nothing could shake in a word who love facility and the VVomen that are necessary But when an understanding Lady shall miss of all these sorts of Lovers I 'll not think her unfortunate I know very well that those who are already endued with Vertue and love Discretion desire not such rediculous ones there are for them enough that seek merit as well as beauty who serve the Graces of the mind as well as those of the body and who can love in a much more solid manner than the others these are Lovers who ever give testimonies of a passion as respectful as Violent and think their service well requited with a small affection which a Mistress of the humor I have described shall testifie they would not require a publick declaration from her nor any favour which might touch the rules of Civility Confess said d'Arignan that there is much Tyranny in this Civility 〈…〉 must make this Sex close their Eyes for services respects signs and for tears in fine for all that a Lover can do it would be the terriblest thing in the world and such an Ingratitude was never heard of before You would then said the Countess d'Ermond to him have as much of Complacency on our side as there is Love on Yours if it be true that Love is the cause of your sighing and weeping what do You think said she that when a Lady hath seen in the Cavaleers eyes that he hath a tenderness for her that she is Obliged to declare to him what she hath for him is it not enough that she separateth him from others that she heareth his sighs and explaineth them as she ought that she loveth to see her self loved that she also pittieth and bewaileth him and in fine that she perhaps desireth what he desireth without coming to what is too difficult to do and too dangerous for a Lady to tell her sufferings in that case It is true said the Abbot in smiling that it would be a very sensible recompence and that the pleasure would be gâ—eat to be made happy in that manner By your leave Madam I pray tell me what sweetness one can suck from a thing that one is ignorant of and how a Lover shall know if he possesseth the happiness he hath so much hoped for and for which he hath done so much service if his Mistress never saith any thing to him and if he knoweth not in what manner he is seated in her mind for my part I should almost as soon love to be hated and I conclude that there is a necessity in Love to declare their minds on both sides Nevertheless with this Order that the men are to begin but the VVomen must second them If any Body be so nice as to think it a thing so very troublesome as to say I love You as the Countess d'Ermond would make us believe let her at least manifest to her Lover sufficient tokens to make him understand the love she hath for him so that according to Mr. Abbot replied the same Countess things must be equally poised and there must be no more difficulty on our part than there is on yours in truth You show your self but a novice in Love-matters Mr. Abbot said the Cavaleer to her hath not so little reason as you think and if You did what he hath said and that on your parts you would not seem so insensible as you do there would perhaps be more sweetness in lise than there is found Love would give a tast of his pleasures to both Sexes we should not know the torments and the men would be delivered from an infinity of Evils which they endure for your sakes These Gentlemen said the Dutchess speak for themselves and we must not think it strange that they give us counsels so little reasonable however I would know the opinion of d'Armenton for though he be inteâ—essed in the matter I doubt not but he will speak otherwise I believe answered her d'Armenton that there would assuredly be much sweetness in Love if the Ladies were a little indulgent and if they would pass over some ceâ—tain considerations and submit to our first sighs since in effect it is enough to be loved as one loveth to abstain from being unhappy in Love Modesty certain Observations and I know not what other scruples of the Ladies causeth our sorrows maketh us â—…ment from which we should be delivered were it the custome among them to free us from these powerful Obstacles when they see themselves loved But to speak the truth these delights and pleasures would fade and there are many that would not taste them if Love made us not to suffer It is from these cruel effects which this passion produceth in the Soul of a Lover that which pricketh us and maketh us concerned and in a word it is a seasoning of the pleasure we commonly esteem but little a thing that costeth us nothing and a happiness which we possess in quiet we forsake it and leave it without grief for who will take it It is commonly the pain that giveth the price to things it is difficulty which heateth our desires and we should have but cold ones and consequently small pleasures should we take no pains and suffer a little to possess what we desire A Lover who is a Gentleman and who loveth as he ought shall find more glory and more satisfaction in the Conquest of a heart that hath held out long than in the possession of another that is vanquished with the first Aâ—tack the paines it shall have cost him which haâ—h made so much resistance wil make him esteem it Infinitely his love and his pleasure will continue the longer he will never be cloyed and will alwayes fear to lose what he hath obtained with nothing but a multitude of troubles Love is no
more love if we disarm him and take away his arrows A man cannot be termed Lover except he suâ—ereth and I say answered the Cavaleer that this mixture of bitters with sweets spoileth the pleasure of Love and that Love is so wel love without them that it ought to produce nothing but sweetness so that if I was capable of establishing Laws I would condemn these Cruel and Ingrateful Ones to the same place of Exile where you have sent the false Lovers The Ladies have not a Heart different from Ours they are not Insensible and though our Sex cannot make show of so much passion and tenderness as this they nevertheless do not forbear to have as we have or to be capable as we are Why all these Rigours then why this affected severity and why not to manifest their desires sometimes as much as we would it not be better that there were none but happy Lovers and sensible Mistresses that tenderness governed every where that nothing was done but in Love and that it were the chief of all things as by the Law of Nature it ought Can one doubt that a Gentlewoman would not be glad to see her self loved by an accomplished Gentleman and more if she loved him and gave way to her Inclination to act and would she not much more if she rendred him happy and could say that she wished it wherefore de Armenton you must confess that you are not in the right and that VVomen being sensible of love joy and grief as of all other passions do themselves a most horrible Injustice to torment themselves to cause our trouble and that they should follow other Laws than those the Count hath prescribed them VVhatsoever you can say replied the Dutchess we are Obliged to the Count for having taught the VVomen an honest method of loving and to render the thing alike some Lady in the Company should show the same to the men I believe Madam answered her the Baron it is the Women only must be taught the art to Love because there are but few that know it they esteem it a point of Honour to be marble-hearted and the Count authorizeth them in these Opininions but for the men they know but too well how to love and the beauty of VVomen is a great Master to teach them one thing they should show us is the manner to make them love us VVell let us see then said Madam de Armand to him what you can say upon it You who have been so succesful in two or three places wherein You have continued You would perhaps Madam answered her the Baron make me believe that I have not been unhappy in Love to engage me to tell You what I desire to know and that the Evils I have suffered make me discern that I am altogether Ignorant of it I am none of those who convert all into mildness far from that I am of those sort of people to whom a little evill spoileth all the Fortune in the world Judge then if it be easie to be perswaded to what You say I that in all my Life have enjoyed so little felicity and so many Evils to endure so it is those Gentlemen do said the Countess d'Ancire that would go for discreet and give a good Opinion of their Carriage But happy or unhappy You shall however tell us which is the shortest way a Gentleman can take to cause himself to be loved by a Lady Reason would replyed the Baron that in serving Ladies we should obtain their good Opinions But we must first know of themselves after what manner they desire to be served to the end we may Oblige them accordingly for some will after one manner and others after another and there are some that desire things so particular that a man would be very much troubled to Divine and that they sometimes know not themselves It is for this Reason added he in regarding the Marchioness of Sindal that You must do it who knoweth all things that can please the persons of Your Sex It is You I say that must take upon You the trouble to tell us the manner of serving Ladies to Ones advantage It would be a lesson of great profit for men and those of the Company would be particularly Obliged to You for it You may Your self replied the Marchioness still take this care for You know well enough the cautions that must be observed Nevertheless since You desire it I will tell You that generally with all the world he that desires to be loved must love and that this quality sufficeth a gallant Gentleman to keep himself from being hated by his Mistress Now if without making You blush continued she in smiling I may say in Your presence that You have passed for one aimable enough and I will add further that You would be loved more if You did not love in so many places for that cannot be called Love Rivers divided into so many places do at length become small Brooks a heart divided among so many persons cannot have much Love for one only Object In the mean time You send out your complaints and give Your self over to weeping and to reproaches against most of those VVomen that You have served and that have known you better than the others as if they were Obliged to love You better than You can do there are some that You have too well perswaded not quite to forsake You I pitty them especially one of my acquaintance and who to act her part better would have You seemingly Court a Lady her Neighbour but I know not who would be the mostabused If it should happen that You became really in Love with this Neighbour for without speaking false she is too Fair to serve for a pretence what You say there Madam replied the Baron is the unjustest thing in the world and it would be no great trouble to me to let you see the contrary If I might be believed when I speak the truth it is a terrible thing for a man when the VVomen are once set to his disadvantage I do all I can to please the person of whom the Marchioness speaketh I spare neither care nor paines I render her more Visits than ever I did to any in this world before I love her more than one can love and yet you will have it only a pretene I believe unless I dyed for her I should not be believed I may well complain your Complaints themselves interrupted the Marchioness make it appear that there is Artifice in your proceeding or at least that You love her but little since You desire of her what she owuld not have You against the first law of Love which Ordaineth that we must not desire but what the person desireth whom we love Alas said the Baron I desire but too well what she desireth and if I complain it is of her Cruelty and that she will not grant me that I desire of her after which I am well grounded to believe
abcording to the Law you say that she loveth me not It belongeth to him replied the Marchiones that beginneth to love first to be also the first to desire to please and accomodate himselfe wholly to the humor of the person he condereth he must govern himself to please her will and make his desires to be the slaves of hers his Soul it self ought to Obey her in all things and never to be transformed into any thing but her if it were possible and make it his last Felicity True Lovers ought to do thus My felicity replied the Baron would doubtless be to have one will to be mistress of her heart and mine but how shall this accord be made if she never doth any thing for me while I do all things for her if she doth not something slacken this great severity to give me at least some hope The Baron was there when a Page came to tell the Dutchess that there was a great company of Persons of Quality newly arrived for which reason the Circle was broke up and this Question went no farther that they might follow the Dutchess who went before to meet those that came to Visit her The rest of the Evening passed in indifferent discourses or in small matters without any particular Enter tainment except the ensuing Song which Madamoiselle d'Armand gave the Company SONG I heard a Nymph that sat alone beneath a shady Hill in doleful Notes her Fate bemoan and th' air therewith thus fil Aâ•Œlass said she wo wo is me that live under loves tiranny since nought but falsness I descry in men I 'le lay me down and die the Wood-Nymphs shall carry me to the woods and bury me and o' th top of my grave they shall strow Chaplets of Flowrs and make pretty Bow'rs to honour loves Arrow Bow To honour Loves Arrow and Bow I. B. CHAP. VI. THe Sixth day the Dutchess gave the Company an Entertainment which I cannot relate here without making a long digression of something very Noble But I believe it is better not to trouble the Readers patience for nothing troubleth it more than digressions that I say only in passing that they had a Ball and a Play and towards the Evening marvellous artificial Fire-works after which they returned to form the Circle and to propose new Questions Madamoiselle d'Armand addressed her self first to d'Arignan to make the breach for a noble conversation and he thus began I remember said he that the Count hath instructed the Ladies how to receive a Declaration of Love but to body hath yet said in what manner it must be done for in â—ine added he what must we hope from the fidelities cares and services which we do to these Fairoâ—…es if they know not upon what design we do them There are many things answered Madamoiselle d'Armand that speak but too much what a man feels when he is in Love even to silence all things speak in Love that is certain replied d'Arignan But how many Mistresses are there that seem blind to all the respects which the Lovers have for them and show them to all that sighes may make them understand so that all these advancements being without effect or at least without exchange a miserable Lover is at length constrained to complain and from Complaint to pass to a Declaration I would then desire some body to learn me the secret if there be any one to explain ones self to a Mistress without going in danger to displease her Methinks proceeded he that it would very well agree with Madamoiselle d'Armand to do it If she would have the goodness to tell us any thing as I am not in a humor answered this Lady to receive a Declaration of this nature in what manner soever I cannot tell You any but would displease me I will truly tell you that to be loved or not to be loved is not so indifferent to me but I could desire it it is a desire too natural to our Sex but I would if it were possible for me very much to hinder a man from entertaining me of his Love if through hazard he had any for me so much relating to me and for the rest I would ever counsel a friend not to speak till the last extremity and to have done all things before he cometh to these words I love You and it must also be done with so much discretion and so properly that he must consider of it often before he saith it If it be so troublesome a thing said the Abbot smiling to say that one loveth it must be in writing on the contrary replied Madamoiselle d'Armand to him if he be a man that is discreet and understandeth Heroical Gallantry he will not use this means You say there is less trouble in it but there is also more danger in it and one is rarely succesful because the liberty is greater and that a Lady much sooner excuseth a word escaped from ones mouth than what is writ to her I know not replied the Baron but if I be not deceived whatever grimaces these Ladies make to us when we declare to them the passion we have for them since according to the confession of Madamoiselle d'Armond her self they are glad to be loved I believe not in the end that they will be displeased with one for telling it to them In truth You are deceived replyed the Marchioness to him and the most part of Lovers do but ill to trust to that Opinion What must they do then replied the Duke on a sudden if it be me You ask said the same Lady to him I will tell You my mind A Lover who hath a desire to proceed to a Declaration ought to do it with a most respectful Carriage and in the same moment so discreetly that his words may insensibly dispose the mind of his Mistress favourably to receive what he will say to her and that they may have a double meaning by which meanes he may deliver himself from trouble if he seeth her in a humor to give him attention for else it were to ruine him a Lady that had been accustomed to live familiarly with him and to treat him like a friend of esteem and tenderness would be no more so but very reserved as soon as he hath declared himself her Lover and would deprive him of all the civil friendship which she had granted him before by reason of the tenderness she had for him it is because of this that those Lovers who are thus carried away by their passion scarce ever have good success because that the VVomen seeke above all things to have respect showed them and they think that to make a publick declaration of Love to them is to bereave them of what is their due I know no discreet VVoman at least but would be Offended at it although she might have a strong inclination for him that might speak to her of his love It is certain added the Countess d'Ancyre that we shali see
secret and were there not often many VVomen that often oblige us to this weakness I know not how we could excuse our selves it would be a very delightful matter replied Madam d'Eyrac for some of us to relate why there are so few men discreet It shall be d'Armenton said the Abbot for he is much enclined to speak for you against the men and here is a subject will cost him little It shall be rather You replyed Madamoiselle d'Armond for You have been long silent and we will see a little if after you have placed the Women so much beneath the men You can retire the men from so naughty a walk to place them only opposite to the Women I know too little answered the Abbot what belongeth to Love to know how to resolve You how to keep an amarous mistery secret and I will tell You no more upon that than what I have read in Ovid. Ovid Sir interrupted the Countess d'Ancyre You quote to us a very pleasant Author Is it not he that counselleth Lovers to feign themselves in drink when they are with their Mistresses that all the liberties they take with them may the more easily be excused and in another place he proposeth a fine manner of declaring Love he saith that if we find an Opportunity to be with our Mistress at any Banquet we must when we hold the glass in our hand dip our finger in the Wine and afterwards upon the Table write down our Love for her I heard these from a Gentleman that had read Ovid very much but would not imitate him If this custome replyed the Abbot seemeth now rediculous to You it was not perhaps in the dayes of Ovid It is because the men said d'Arignan are now more knowing in Love and I believe that if it were possible for Ovid to rise again he would cry up Maxim's which he would expose to the Publick that would now sute with none but Serving-Maids Let vs leave Ovid then said the Marchioness and let us observe what the Abbot will tell us upon the Question proposed since You will not answered the Abbot let me use this Author I must tell You what I my self conceive upon this matter First I believe that diseretion consisteth in avoiding all things that may breed disturbance and make a noise and on the other side beware that in endeavouring to be too discreet You be not at all There are some Lovers who will not make use of any one in their Loves out of fear of trusting a secret with any one that may deceive them But in all the Mysteries of this Nature a confident is so necessary that You cannot be without a man in Love is daily pressed with his passion he is ever desirous to speak write to or see his Mistress and to ease this eagerness which bereaveth him of his repose He standeth often in need of a person that is of his Intelligence and endeavouring to do all we ruine and destroy all This Passion which transporteth us and whose aim is only at satisfaction is not accustomed to be over-cautious it looks neither to the right nor to the lest but only before it and so that there be not any thing to hinder her course it seemeth not concerned at those that follow it by sight There is nothing the world taketh so much paines in than to discover the proceedings of an Inclination they are all curious to know the secret of an Intrigue and as soon as they discover the glimps of any thing they will penetrate to the bottom It is but suspecting a a man in Love with a woman to have a desire to know the truth of what passeth a he or she confident of whose fidelity one is assured save a Lover from this danger they manage a business better than he they proceed with more care and besides their supplying with Counsels and with the Favour they have with a Mistress they help many failings which a Lover would have committed I extend a little upon this matter for that there are many people who think themselves very expert in Love and who make it one of their most principal points in discretion not to let any one know of their Intrigue and to make use of no body but to do all things by themselves In the mean time You see that these nice spirits abuse themselves so grosly I say that it is most certain that an assured confident is the most Important matter in an amorous commerce To this let us add the pleasure there is in telling a faithful friend the sweets one hath tasted with a Mistress the charms of that amiable Creature the joy one hath to love her for these are certain things which lie heavy upon the heart of a Lover when he hath not the satisfaction to tell it to some Body Do You not Observe said the Dutchess Interrupting him how the Abbot will prove himself unskulful in Love-affairs however all that he hath sayd even hitherto is a subtil Gallantry I know not replied the Countess d'Ermand whither all that he hath hitherto said be so gallant but I find it not very near the matter The Question is to know the Reason why the men are so Indiscreet and the Cautions that are to be Observed to practice this Vertue and he goeth and telleth us the necessity there is to have a Confident as if that had any Analogy with discretion Yes Madam replied the Abbot to her assnredly it hath and You shall see if You will grant me that Favour to hear me that I wander not so much from my Subject I would bring the matter to the actions which they should not do publickly for besides that something of it hath already been said It were needless to give Lessons for defaults in which there are none but block-heads and people full of Vanity that can fall into them I chose rather to use a subject something more delicate and to make it appear that that was not to be discreet to desire to be too much and that a man cannot be accused of Indiscretion that confides his Secret in a Friend who can serve him in that affair and because of that I have let You see of what Importance a Consident was This is well justified said the Dutchess and although the Abbot did not directly answer the Question proposed I find that what we Treat of is not too far from the matter That to declare that not only one may but must have a Confident in Love We must have been in Love proceeded the Abbot to know how many occasions are fit for afriend as I say in an Intrigue of Affection and the necessity there is to have one to whom one might communicate all things The Abbot said the Cavaleer will at length perswade us maugre him that he hath been in Love for my part I am of his Opinion and I hold that is the safest way of loving to make use of a third person and that we are less subject to
altogether diversions for persons of your Age and I I believe Madam replyed the same party that we are never more capable of the things You speak of than in the Age wherein I am and for Love it belongeth to us to make use of it as we ought You were a very Ingenious man said the Cavaleer to him if You would take upon You the Trouble to make us understand what you there say for in my Opinion it is a thing very difficult to maintain and I believe there is no Body here but is against it and but who would be glad to hear You discourse upon a matter so contrary to the Opinion of all the world Thus said the Lady Sindal we have accidentally entred into a matter for a very pleasant Conversation If You please Madam added she in addressing her self to the Dutchess this we will fix upon the Evening is delightful and the place wherein we are very pleasant and me-thinks I see d'Armenton ready to relate to us something that is Gallant to make us discern that Gallantry is a Land wherein People that are endued with his Qualities and with a wit so ready as his may at all times enter the Dutchess did not Oppose this designe and the rest of the Company doing like the Dutchess the formed a Ring upon a green Bank after which d'Armenton seeing them ready to give him attention began in this manner I see well said he smiling that it is to justifie what I alwayes take so much paines to conceal to desire to maintain that Love appertaineth more to a man who exceedeth fifty than to those who are not twenty or twenty one But since I have undertaken it I will not recoil I shall at least give You to understand that though I am Old Age is not such as the Vulgar believe it to be and that it is without reason that they would deprive them of the pleasures of Love that they know how to take and to relish them more happily than Youth You must first give me leave if You please before any thing else to make a small digression and to tell You first what Love is and in what that Felicity consisteth which Lovers find and afterwards you will agree with me that this passion doth not Illy suite with gray hairs and that one must be no man at all not to be capable Love then according to the Ancients is a desire to enjoy beaury and fince we desire nought but what we know it must necessarily be that knowledg precedeth desire the eyes reason and the mind causeth us to know the happiness and this knowledg produceth in us the desire to possess it the Eyes discovereth Reason choseth the Mind judgeth of what the Eyes and Reason have done Beauty though the most sensible thing in the world is nevertheless the most difficult to know it never appeareth with more charms than upon the face of a Woman and Heaven who is marvellous in all the works it hath done is in nothing so admirable as here it is a work which bringeth men even to Idolatry both Old and Young are dazled every one desireth it but desire it differently because of the different knowledg they have of it When this Beauty hapneth to strike the eyes of a Young man she doth as soon vanquish him and in seducing these two Innocent Interpreters by I know not what pleasure with which they are so enchanted that they Introduce it even to the heart which being no more cautious than the Eyes suffereth it self to be caught in this sweet snare I say much more it feeleth a certain Joy which transporteth it and empoysons it self in a manner that it sighs for it that it is tormented with a daily desire Oh the strange disorder when a heart is cumbred with all these desires by which it suffereth it self to be lead and which desires being no less blind than the heart cause it to make a thousand mistakes it thinketh on nought but the Object that hath struck it it seeketh and followeth it every where not to be revenged on the harm it hath given it but to unite it self wholly to it and thinketh that in possessing of it it shall be eased from the torment it suffereth Nevertheless it deceiveth it self and even the pleasure of this possession is a Lyar. It is a gross error wherein the most of these people fall that suffer themselves to be blinded at the first glance of Beauty to make the aim of their Love a brutal pleasure to satisfie themselves which they have no sooner compassed but they cease not only from having the same ardour but pass even to disdain look upon him no otherwise but a loathing that which before was the Idol of their heart It seemeth as though this desire repented for what it had done that it is vexed it is deceived that it believed that to be all a heart could desire the heart who on his part acknowledgeth the fault it had committed seemeth also to reproach the Eyes of their blindness to take a happiness in appearance for the true one he is not satisfied in himself but Imagining the Felicity he promised to himself to be yet far distant hence desires augment in him as if he possessed nothing which maketh it clearly apear that that is not the true Felicity he seeketh and that these Young Lovers have a way of loving which is not happy or rather that they know not how to Love fince they are never satisfied although they arrive to what they aspired and this is it we may well term unhappiness for there is both paine an dtrouble at the end as well as at the beginning of this Love They cease neither complaints sufferings nor sighings and even then when they believe themselves at the height of their desires it is then they have more subject of desire and that they find themselves unfortunate It is a precipice in which this foolish ardour doth cast them which cannot justly be termed Love it is here where Youth Embarquing in foul weather perisheth he is carried away with all sorts of winds he followeth his desires and never consulteth his passion Reason is too weak with him to resist this Torrent He permitteth himself to be led away every Guide is a Guide for him and if he may be carried towards the Object he cherisheth he forsaketh himself and will follow even his own Enemies he knoweth not so much as how to distinguish the true from the false he is blind who taketh good for evil and who feedeth himself with every thing which his will and desires will perswade him to who being of themselves Incapable of discerning any thing cannot fail to render him miserable You see then how those who are possessed with this blind passion altogether contrary to the laws of Reason do never find those solid pleasures in Love which those take whose riper Years hath learned them to know them This being supposed as it is most certain I say
that it hapneth otherwise to those Persons who are come to the age by me before-mentioned This ardour which Time hath layed asleep in them re-kindleth at the sight of a Beauty for whom they breathe sighs which are guided by a choice that is reasonable which detaineth them from wnadring they approach her and enjoy her without any confusion their design is pure and the effect of it is nought but Felicity the bridle of Reason who reproveth the folly of the Senses susiereth not it self to slacken into Repenrance they have what they desire and without any trouble they relish the pleasures they seek A man I say arrived to those Years wherein I am for I may well place my self here and who is not transported with this violent ardour beholdeth Beauty and knoweth it as much as can be he findeth wherewithall to be charmed in the face of a Woman That just proportion of so many parts that agreeable accord of the Fairest coulours that lustre that shadow so well ordered so many marvels which he discerneth there to glister which do both astonish and Enchant him causeth him to consider matters more than he can express But is he not dazled in such a manner as to make him forget what he is Reason resisteth the Enchantment his Soul is too discreet to be deceived and alahough she doth extreamly desire this Beauty her desires give her nothing but a sweet unquietness In fine she enjoyeth this Beauty but she is so jealous of the pleasure she taketh that she would not communicate it to the Body It is in the highest part of the Soul that this pleasure refideth where the senses have no Intelligence Truly it were an offence to Beauty and a thing beneath her she the only pretious thing in the world to design it for the Body and who being made to rule over what is most high in man to subject her self to what is most beneath her there is nought but the Soul which can aspire to this sweet Union because there is none but she that understandeth the happiness you will doubtless say that the Soul doth not also make it difficulty to desire when she is in the depth of this possession It is true but it is always to possess Beauty and for fear of losing it whereas the Young people desire quite another thing than that which they have possessed because their desires are not contented with so short a pleasure which they lose in the moment they have it for which reason they are never without grief nor without loathing it is not beyond Reason than to say that the persons who are something advanced in Age are those who are the most fit to love We must be assuredly Old said the Baron to him to comprehend this Love well and we must be more than you are to content our selves I know not in good Faith what you could answer if as Old as you are we should freely ask You to know of You if you loved in no other manner than as you say d'Armenton answered him but with a laugh whom the rest of the company did also Imitate and a little after the Cavaleer taking up the word said that d'Armenton had reason to attribute this love to Old-Folks for it must have been in Old Times for now whether they are undeceived by these Lovers in Idea or whether they love in quite another manner and even those who are Older than we must have found that in that whatsoever d'Armenton can say we are more reasonable than they since those that concern themselves therein act just like us It is certain said d'Arignan that Love requireth something that is more sensible and that as the Soul and Body entreth into communion with the Evils of this Nature they ought also to partake of the sweets this is so true that the Soul cannot well conceal the pleasures of Love and taste them in a retreat she cannot do it so well but the senses must take part in these pleasures they presently discern mirth seated in the Visage the Eyes sparkle there is sweetness and raptures found all these speak so well of this admirable Intelligence that it is only by that that the Soul is judged to rest contented therefore it is a vain thing to make a love apart for the Soul and another for the Body the Interest is the same their sufferings and enjoyments are together they act and repose for one and the same reason and it is by the means of the Senses that the Soul knoweth Love she can also not be without them in tasting the pleasures of Love Since you never were in Love answered him d'Armenton after the manner I mean I must not think it strange that You know not its sweetness The Soul is so well capable of tasting the pleasures of Love alone without the Bodies participation that the pleasures are not true ones as soon as that partaketh but pleasures soaked in Tears which begin and end alâ—aies in grief Well Sir said the Baron to him â—…ve you after this delicate manner that we my not envy you and leave us in the error in which we are and where we will continue that Love having Charmes for the Body as well a the Souls the joy may spread all over But to come to Age I received a Letter not long since from the same Friend that writ to me concerning Jealousie who maketh me discern that not only an Aged man ought not to Love but that if he would he cannot if the Company please they shall hear it There was non but desired to hear this Letter even to d'Armenton who entreated him to defer no longer the doing them this pleasure it contained these words Dear Sir IF you were more aged or less witty than You are I am apt to believe that your own interest or curiosity might perhaps Oblige You to demand of me how it is that You do if Aged Folks can love but knowing You to be a Person of Vnderstanding and knowing also that You have no reason to complain of time I imagine that your design is to be revenged on some Old Person and that you will make use of my Weapon lest yours might not be proof I shall tell You then that Love is a Young Infant whom long beards affright and that he is not only a thing loathsome to our Fathers but that at that Age one cannot love there are many reasons which perswade it me the first is as you may better know than I that that which supporteth and nourisheth Love is the hope we have one day to possess that which we love and certainly if that were not Beauty might well have the power to introduce desire into the Soul of him that seeth it but not to make any impression or continue there long who is he who considering those blisses and honours which 〈◊〉 King receiveth that doth not presently desire to be a King but because it is too difficult is become one hope is not moved
sweet pleasures of Love in due time T' is fittest to tast 'em whon we are in our prime This Sung with so Divine and sweet a Voice as was that of this Ladies did not a little divert them after they had all spent their thoughts upon it they returned to their former discourses I would know said the Cavaleer what might be said of an Old Woman that might be in Love since a man ought not to love nor cannot at that Age For the Women answered him the Baron insomuch that it is to be imagined that they ought never to Love unless they are loved we may conclude that because there are no Old Women beautiful they ought not to be in Love since they cannot inspire it There are notwithstanding enough said the Abbot who forbear not to Love and I believe I swerve not from the truth if I assure you that there are Ten Old-Women Lovers to one Old Man that is in Love But at what time interrupted him the Marchioness Mr. Abbot do you think that the Women are Old I believe answered her the Abbot that as to what concerneth Love they are Old enough at Forty Alass you are too rigorous replyed the Countess d'Ermond to him smiling and you will bring a great many Folks against you to condemn the Women from loving after that Age. It is true added Madamoiselle d'Armond that you will do your self an ill turn by it for I know a Lady who hath passed Forty Years and who nevertheless shall dispute her Beauty with all the handsome Women in the Universe No no said the Dutchess the Abbot is not just in that for even as the hard-favoured women are Old when they are first born even so on the â—ontrary the Fair-ones conserve their handsome Features even almost to the last and their Autumn hath this priviledge of being more pleasing and more agreeable than the Spring of the others There are some Women who in their Fiftieth Year have such beautiful remnants that they are capable to move the passions at first sight why should it not be permitted to them to love what they may find amiable Madam replyed the Abbot you may say what you please but Age effaceth all that is amiable in your Sex and I would willingly advise all VVomen to imitate the Empress Poppea who prayed to the Gods that it would please them to let her dye before she saw Old Age with which her Looking-glass did already threaten her You have declared your self so much an enemy to VVomen said the Marchioness to him that although Your Counsels might be wholsome yet we should make difficulty to follow them we must agree with you that there are but few Beauties that are able to resist time But are none aamiable but those that are beautiful and a vertuous Soul doth she never borrow a recommendation for the Body as a pretious stone doth for the Mettle that Environeth it I know not answered her the Abbot what would become of the VVomen if their beauty were not the cause that we seek them and that we shun the Deformed Ones Again it seldom hapneth that a fair and spotless Soul Inhabiteth in an ugly Body The Exteâ—ior Beauty is commonly a Token of the Inward Goodness it is a character by which the Soul is known and in which Physiognomists make their whole Art consist In a word Deformity is so much an enemy to Happiness that me-thinks it is a Scale Crow to all that meet it I had proceeded the Abbot a Song given me not long ago by a Friend wherein is displayed how unfit it is for hard-favoured VVomen to Inhabit amongst Mortals so pulling it out of his pocket he read it as followeth and after desired Madamoiselle d'Armond to sing it SONG Mr. Robert Smith A woman that 's homely is ne're Alamode She 's a sight intollerable she 's fit for no place but Pluto's abode or a place that is more damâ•Œnaâ•Œble She 's able to turn the day into night Her Features are detestable The Devil himself she 'l put in a fright Her Charms are abominable But yet for all this she cannot forbear To think for self amiable And with laces and hair to deck her with care She 's another Confusion of Bable And truly of Nature she need not speak ill As not being favourable Her Face it hath power enough for to kill And is most insufferable The Abbot spoke with so much ardour and action that the Company could not forbear laughing he ought not to have apprehended that any one would take the deformed Womens parts for although there were none here but what were extream Beautiful there are none but slatter themselves on this score The Conversation dured a while it was a matter which was large and which would have produced more But I perhaps begin to tire the Readers patience and since this Illustrious Company did here Conclude I shall also do the like FINIS ERRATA Page 2. Line 6. for Ancore read d'Ancyre p. 2. l 8. Spirit r. merit p. 4. l. 30. the Lady r. this Lady p. 6. l. 26. d'Exorc'erg d'Eparc p. 10. l. 11. amicable r. amiable pa. 12. l. 24. will r. which and give r. gives p. 16. â— 18. d'Exaxe r. d'Eparc page 18. l. 21. too mnch r. so much and l. 26. that r. than l. 29. set upon r. let you p. 19. l. 31. there r. these p. 20. l. 8. had r. have l. 10. Administer r. administred p. 22. l. 3. Gentleman r. Gentlemen page 24. l. 25. so much r. too much l. 28. this r. his p. 24. l. 10. thereof r. than p. 33. l. 24 then r. thou and l 28. r. thou hast been 30. their words r. these words p. 42. Woman r. VVomen p. 41. l. 2. Critheans r. Eritheans page 58. l. 14. seditiousness r. perfideousness p. 59. l. 18. conceived r. perceived p. 74. l. 31. me r. the p. 76. l. 16. her sake r. my sake