Pike was glad of an occasion to snap at the Treasurer of the Cockle-shels he therefore divulged so long this Adventure that at last it came to the Ears of Thetis and so highly inraged her that she began to roar and frown in such a manner that all Navigators suffered by it She condemned the Nereid to be shut up during life in a Prison of Ice at the bottom of the Baltick Sea and the Seducer in the Shell of a Snail where he since absconds never daring to shew his horns unless at the end of a Storm for the little Incendiary that had caused the disorder Thetis resolved immediately to punish him and caused a handful of Coral Branches to be gathered to whip him soundly for Coral whilest in the Sea is supple as Ozier and neither hard nor red till it comes into the air this is averred by Pliny whom if you be learned you will not refuse to own as a creditable Author Cupid was then in as great danger as ever and saw many Crabs who are the Catch-poles of that Countrey ready to seise him but he slipt from them like an Eel being extreamly active and nimble especially at evasions and got to the Shore out of the power of his rigorous Grand-mother He was yet in a Countrey where he was not unknown if he would have discovered himself for it belonged to Cibele the Mother of the Deities his Great great Grand-Mother but she being old wrinckled and crooked and her head dressed with Towns and Castles the sight of her frighted him besides fear of the Rod which he had escaped being the Capital Punishment of Children gave him a distruct of all his Relations he resolved therefore to conceal himself in order to which he thought best to retire to the Cottages of certain Shepherds he saw thereabouts they received him well and charitably gave him a Suit of Clothes which because he was naked they thought he stood in need of for they understood not the heat of his Constitution I know not whether apprehension of punishment had made him wiser or whither he commiserated the ignorance of his Hosts but he comported himself amongst them very modestly without either malice or circumvencion and in recompence of their charitable entertainment taught them the Art of Love for if you have not already learned it be pleased that I tell you that till this time Love was not known to men who made all addresses like Beasts only by natural instinct and in order to generation This Noble Passion that insinuates into hearts gives them so high satisfactions and unites souls sooner than bodies was yet a stranger in the world the Deitres having reserved it to themselves as a more delicate morsel It is granted on all hands that Shepherds were the first that tasted its pleasures and it ought not to seem strange that they have recorded them with so much Eloquence having had such a School-Master As all things are perfecter and less corrupt whilest nearer their Originals so the first Loves were with all purity and vertue imaginable That Deity so well ordered his Arrows that the Flames were ever mutual in the hearts of Shepherds and Shepherdesses desires of pleasing only possessed them their affections were reciprocal and fidelities inviolable there were no Complaints of Cruelty or Rigor because no unjust desires neither any regret or sorrow because Vice had no share In a word this was Loves Golden Age. But having passed some time here he grew weary of solitude and curious of knowing what passed in the World which his youth had not till then permitted him to visit and therefore resolved to go to a Neighbouring Town where because it was great and fair he resided till acquainted with it The first thing he did was to see a service and wonder not that this Divinity desended so low for slavery is his Element Chance first of all engaged him with a Woman not unhandsome but whose Physiognomy promised much simplicity her Hair was flaxen and her Complexion fair but faint her Eyes grey but dull her Stature tall but heavy and if these things may be tolerated otherwise handsom and agreeable her Name was Laudora and she had a general indifference for all the World she expressed a certain contempt which yet was not the effect of Pride but of a flegmatick temper that made men despair In a word she was so neglective of all that it was very apparent she took nothing to heart Cupid had not lived long with her before he attempted the same thing he had done amongst the Shepherds being unwilling to discontinue his Archery the only quality that makes him considerable he made several shot with a little Pocker Bow but at first rather for sport than out of design as Children use to play with Trunks One day taking from the ground one of the Arrows he had shot at Laudore he perceived the point turned nothing vexes this little Rebel like resistance which caused him obstinately to resolve to be revenged on this insensibility he took therefore some of his sharpest Arrows and whilest she was in good company shot several right at her heart but it was miraculous to behold that they had no other effect against this heart of Diamond than Balls against the Walls of a Tennis-Court yet in their reboundings wounded those that were near These used all imaginable endeavors that she which was the cause of their mischief might share in it but nothing had success all Designs and all Gallantries were expelled by her rigor But at last there came into the company a certain Man neither handsom not ill-favored his face promised much honesty and no less stupidity he was tall and slender but weak and stooping his gate unequal his mouth wide his hair long and uncurled like hemp Behind this Gallant Cupid one day posted himself to attaque his Rebel he had no intention to do a favour to one he had but little kindness for it was rather to put a trick on him and make him serve as an object of the shaft that glanced from Laudora At that very instant the indifference of the Lady vanished and she had an inexpressible inclination for this Man to such a degree that she was ready to discover her passion had not her Sexes modesty restrained her but at last she found an opportunity to give vent to the secret without much difficulty because they were daily together he almost at the same time had the like inclinations for her perhaps one of the ineffectual Arrows of which we spoke before fell on his great toe and its venom insensibly reached the heart in a word they loved but with so slack a fire there was no appearance of it either by sighs or complaints yet never were any hearts more firmly united All the addresses which in other encounters pretend to inspire love were here insignificant they though it enough to court by glances and scarce ever made use of words and the most serious employment of
this silly Amour was to tred on one anothers toe or look on one another without laughing Cupid liked not this manner of proceeding nor that they were so indifferent in an affair that so many person of quality take to be very important his inclination tending to be serviceable to all he wounds he was troubled to be useless of these Lovers and his airy Complexion suffered him not to be long idle he therefore reflected on the wound he had made for to give him but his due he can play the Philosopher when he pleases and argues well especially when his Eyes are uncieled he then perceived he was mistaken in attributing to himself the honour of this defeat and acknowledged it belonged to chance alone that had given a meeting to two persons whose faces and humors had so much of resemblance and sympathy they seemed born for each other and from this concluded that for the future many Crimes might be imputed to him of which he should be innocent Shame of effecting nothing at last caused him to seek his discharge which was not hard to be obtained of Masters that could so easily spare him After this he engaged himself in service of a Lady much given to reading with her be at first very much pleased himself because he hoped to learn many secrets and not to want employment This Lady whose Name was Polymathia had not inherited so much Beauty but her Deformity exceeded it and I am unwilling to give a full description of her lest I distaste such Readers as are of a queasie stomack neitehr is it possible for any Lady to pretend both to Beauty and Science for much reading takes from the lustre of their Eyes and the delicacy of their Complexion decayes if they pass not their time idlely and voluptuously besides that it is very hard for them to spare any hour of the day for Study which is all of it scarcely sufficient to dress and paint themselves But Polymathia's wit was incomparable and she spoke so well that she must needs have charmed all Ears had she not affrighted all Eyes She was skilled in Philosophy and the sublimest Arts and these she had accommodated to the gust of Persons of Quality retaining nothing that savors of the Pedantry of the Schools Her admirable Compositions both in Verse an Prose invited to her the most eminent and elegant of her time Love would not here let his Quiver be useless yet forbore a while because his Mistrisses excellent Conceptions of Vertue and Temperance made him despair of success orconquering that rigor she so much gloried in he had also some respect for the Philosophy that seconded her not without reason apprehending to be severely handled by it he also made some conscience of the ill office he shold do her by inspiring her with love not being confident of his power to raise a passion for her in any heart unless he sought it amongst the blind he resolved therefore first of all to try what he could do with some of the Virtuoso's that frequented her but it was to no purpose his Arrows falling with as little effect as if shot against Wooll-sacks but that which most enraged him was the dissimulation of those Rabbies for there is not any Deity how fabulous soever but is infinitely offended by hypocrisie who thought it not enough to admire her wit but would also seem taken with her beauty and their impudence went so high to qualifie her with Sun Moon and Aurore in the Letters and Verses they sent her They which had only seen her in this false Mirror and flattering Draught would never have known her for to speak truth all her resemblance of the Sun was the Yellow Jaundies and of the Moon the inequality of her Cheeks with as little of Aurora excepting the Carnation of her Nose Alas how are poor Readers abused by Poets that pretend to sincerity if they take their Verses literally They form beautiful Idea's of Chimerical Persons that have no resemblance of the Originals And when we find My brave Cassandra take me not to be A Myrmidon or Hect'ring Dolope He that reads this supposeth it to point at a Thalestris or Penthisileâ— though the brave Cassandra was really no other than a Bouncing Hostess that kept a Victualling-House in the Suburbs But let a Maid be never so deformed the most Hyperbolical Commendations never offend her neither will she ever believe her self to be rallied though she accuse people of doing it In this she will never gainsay any one unless by a false modesty Let her understanding be never so clear-sighted she will not be convinced of her defects or if she be oppose some good quality against them and so well cast up her reckoning that she will at last find Charms more than sufficient to inspire love Cupid as blind as he is fancied discovered that notwithstanding all these fained Gâ—llantries none was touched to the quick for not any of his Arrows were bloody and became therefore more opiniator in his design swearing some body should pay for it After many attempts and employing his Quiver till he wanted as well Wood to maks Arrows as Steel to head them he was fain at last to make use of Polymathia's Pen-Knife whose Pens became eloquent as soon as touched by this enchanted Steel A shot made with this luckily hit a wit very worthy of her and so fit to be coupled with her that had they been placed in two adjoyning Niches the Symmetry would have been admirable His Stature was low but a Bunch that grew on one of his Shouldiers rose very high hâ—s Leg were of unequal bigness he was blind of one Eye and saw but ill with the other all its lustre consisting in a Scarlet Border certainly in grain since the water that incessantly distilled upon it could not decay it But if his Body gave distaste his wit charmed He would have succeeded admirably in Spanish Courtship which is practised onely by night for darkness would have been very favorable to him The heart of this hard-favored wit was no sooner wounded but Elegies Sonnets and Madrigals flew about without number never was there a fertiler vein or more inflamed Genius never so great profusion of tender passions in rhime but that which is more than usuul is that then all dissimulation vanished all the Charms and Graces he at first put in his Verses onely as Poetical Fictions he afterwards inserted in good earnest and believed in his conscience that his Mistriss was a true Sun and a true Aurora and though her wit alone gave the first fire to this love the tender Hero was so dazled with its lustre he could no longer discern any imperfection in her body having no less passion for it I cannot tell whether Love made two wounds with one Arrow or whether Polymathia were touched with the Poetical Points of her Lover but she loved reciprocally and did wisely not to let an occasion slip she could scarcely ever have
hoped to recover She was no more niggard than he either of Verse or Prose and disguised Cupid then wanted not employment nor occasions to exercise his Legs He had no sooner carried a Letter but he was sent again with Verses and if he unfortunately obtained an ex tempore Answer a Reply was dispatched with no less diligence and in this skirmish of Reputation our Lovers were as nimble with their Ex tempore's as the best Gamesters with their Tennis-balls I will neither relate the continuance nor conclusion of their Loves that lasted long with equal violence but all the profit accrued to such Stationers as print Collections of amorous and tender Pieces who made many Volumes Other Tradesmen got nothing by them no Jewels nor other Curiosities all Presents were made in Paper He neither gave her Ball nor Musick but an infinite number of Verses for Balls and of Rimes to be set to Tunes but that which is most admirable and contrary to the humor of the times there was neither Treat nor Collation they took the Air pure and simple without making any Inne-keepers the better either in their Credit or Estate Cupid had been hitherto fed with slender and course Diet but I shall tell you how he became lickorish One day whilest his enamored Mistriss sought solitude in a little Grove where she entrusted many sighs and transports to the discretion of the Air and Eccho he keeping at a distance accidentally lighted on the Page of a great Lady at that time treated in a Pleasure-House near the Wood no acquaintance being sooner made than that of Dogs and Lackeys in which I comprehended all that wear Liveries Love and the Page were quickly familiar his new Comrade carried him to see the great Feast provided for his Lady and both of them satisfied themselves with what was left Cupid was well pleased with Bisks and Pheasants which put him in mind of Nectar and Ambrosia but that which he liked best was a Dish of Early Pease that cost more money than an Acre of the ground they had been sown in His good cheer and confidence in what his Comrade told him debauched him and he made no difficulty of entring himself in the service of that Lady who as soon as she saw him entertained him to carry up her Train Thus he left his Virtuosa Mistriss without ever bidding her adieu she was much troubled that no body had been bound for his truth that she might have made them pay the value of certain Verses the little Thief carried away of which she had no Copy His new Mistriss carressed him endeavoring by all inventions imaginable to make him fine she gave him certain Trowses with which the modester Painters that are loth to draw him naked still apparel him How dangerous soever he was esteemed before all was nothing compared to the mischief he did when clothed Archilaide that was his Ladies Name was perfectly accomplished for besides an eminent Beauty her Birth gave her a certain Majestick Air much to her advantage over those whose well-shaped Bodies might otherwise have equalled her Incence and Adoration were lawful Tributes paid freely to her Merit Love that had been bred in a place where such Presents were continually received almost thought he was gotten into his own Countrey and extreamly pleased himself in this Court though unknown and in disguise He observed what profound respect many Illustrious Personages paid to that visible Divinity he disdained not to serve But after his continuance a while one thing displeased him on account of his pretence that in all places of his residence there ought to be something of equality and agreeable correspondence for here was nothing of it they that waited on Archelaide not daring to raise their eyes to her no not in admiration of her and her natural disdain deprived them of all the confidence their merit might justly have allowed them this was the greatest occasion that moved Love to attempt a Rock whose Pride extended to the Skies for his Honour invites him to Illustrious Conquests and to taming the most rebellious hearts In the mean time like an experienced Captain before he raised his Battery he went himself to view the ground his divinity gave him great advantages for doing this for by its Prerogative he dives to the bottom of hearts and discovers the greatest secrets visiting that of Archelaide he was not a little surprised to see that Nature had already effected what he designed and so well disposed all materials that the least spark of his Torch must needs raise a Conflagration able to reduce all to ashes He was desirous immediately to redress the mischief he had done but found no remedy more ready than to discharge new Arrows on those that approached her that they might flock to assist her by extinguishing her flames All Persons of quality wit or good meen immediately offered their service but still with respects and submissions scarce imanable What courage soever Love inspired into the hearts he mastered none amongst them durst declare his love nor use the least tender expression they were Mutes that durst hardly suffer their eyes to speak for them and that in such a manner stifled their fighs they were imperceptible to the quickest ear they were prepossessed by a Maxime damned as heretical in Loves School That we are to wait in expectation of those favors from Ladies of Quality that we may demand of others But the Wretches languished long in these hopes Archelaide was so jealous of her honour and naturally so proud she would have died a thousand times rather than complained in the least She thought it degenerous to cast her eyes on any that were below her with whom this would in some manner have equalized her and encouraged them to a loss of respect she therefore placed a surly Porter at her Gate to keep our all Plunderers of that Vertue and Honour she entrusted to him but the misfortune was there was no body to keep out the Porter whom she sometimes called to her assistance in pressing necessities to drive away the secret discontents occasioned by solitude The Houshold Spie to whom nothing that is contrary to honour is concealed one day discovered the intrigue of this Adventure and made himself know to her with all those Beauties that raised the Curiosity of Psyche He bitterly reproached her of the wrong she did all the Empire of Love by distrusting so many Persons of Quality as languished for her and committing her honour to the discretion of a Clownish Servant He made her sensible she deserved not to enjoy the sweets that are to be found in this Nobl Passion and at last threatned to be revenged by leaving her and publishing her Story He swore also by his Torch that since Honour had put this trick upon him he would be revenged that he would ever after be his professed Enemy and force him from all places where he should chance to meet him Archelaide that took this Apparition for
beauty made amends for the stupidity remarkable in her Face and covered over her gross ignorance in all things but prizing and selling her Ware Love also a while forgot he had been a Page and Lackey and borrowing a little the humor of an Apprentice lived very quietly but soon after he took again those Arms he knew so well how to handle and made many wounds in the hearts of such as his Mistrises Beauty attracted to her Shop It was to little purpose for these Gallants to accost her with Complements to all which she was deaf or rather the dulness of her wit prevented her Answer yet Cupid spared her not but could never pierce her Heart whilest he used Arrows headed with Steel One day when a solemn Mass was intended he found some provided for it that were headed with Silver these had a miraculous effect on her heart that was impenetrable to all others and at once conjured up in her the Passions of Love and Interest though probably the last predominated before and was only re-kindled to serve the other for though it must be acknowledged that Poleone was amorous it cannot be added of Celadon Hilas or Silvander but of Mankind in general Then it was that many Customers bought the Semstress with the Linnen and this was the first Arrow that had the good success to joyn profit and pleasure Cupid desirous to imitate his Mistriss as Children ape Men had quickly the like inclinations he that had never fingered money but to purcase some slight toyes had his Eyes now ever fixed on the Counter and was much more pleased with the sight of Gold than Silver and hearing his Mistriss complain that she was often cozened by receiving clipped or false Money learned by her example to weigh and examine the Pieces and to this purpose disfurnished his Quiver of half his Arrows to make place for a pair of Gold Weights a Chamber-Maid of his acquaintance having let him understand that they which mediate ought to share in the profit at last he became so curious he would use no Arrows but such as were headed with Gold or Silver and with these he never missed the Mark. Thus Mercenary Love is become so much infashion that from the Lady to the Milk-Maid money takes place and the Proverb that was first invented for the Switzers may be better applied here No Money no Woman With this the Great Solymans and Mustapha's in Magnificent Alcoves and on Embroidered Cushions now-a-dayes court all manner of Beauties whilest such as are rich only in Wit and Person stay without making Addresses to the Waiting-Woman or Chamber-Maid nay sometiems to the Kitchin-Maid that they may have their amorous repasts at a reasonable price At that time Sonnets Madrigals and Letters were cried down like antiquated Coin and whole Dozens of them scarce worth a Cardecu This caused many to become Bankrupts for formerly with was the price of the heart and affection whilest the ignorant with all their Treasure purchased onely the Body by no other manner of Commerce than is usual in the Pig-Market in which too there is this advantage that the King hath his Officers to take care the Beasts that are sold be found and marchantable which establishment is not in the Traffick of Love though it were there a great deal more necessary but the vengeance of Heaven hath at length taken upon it to punish this dishonest Trade and Bacchus become the grand Enemy of Women since he abandoned Ariadne to court the Bottle hath brought from the Indies an Infection to poison that cursed Generation that introduced Mercenary Love This so suddenly and furiously spred it self that whoever was guilt of this corrupt Love escaped not the just punishment of that Crime Little Cupid had his part for eating and drinking as the quality of Servant obliged him of that which his Mistriss had left he sucked a little of that Venom which by degrees insinuating into his Veins covered his Skin with Seabs and Blotches Venus at last troubled at his long absence resolved to seek him by Sea and Land and to that purpose sent to her Dove-House which is her Stable for two Coach Pigeons which she caused to be harnessed and so in her Car the Poets must be security for the verity of this cut the Air with incredible swiftness and at last arrived in Holland where she found her Son amongst a Religious Sect that then began to appear in that Countrey She scarcely knew him as well because he wanted the Ensigns of his Dominion as that he was strangely disfigured She ran to him and embracing him with a Mothers tenderness to humor him as she had wont offered him a Paper of Sweet-Meats but he laughed at this and shewed her Bags full of Gold and Silver to let her understand the great Treasure he had amassed And indeed one cannot imagine how to wish a vaster fortune than the Money that passes to and fro in the Commerce of Love Having told her all his Adventures he could not conceal the unfortunate Condition to which he was reduced which yet was well enough perceived by her she having had former experience of such accidents She carried him immediately to Aesculapius whom she earnestly besought to cure him but he durst not undertake it alone not with all the exquisite Medicines of the Indies the Place from whence the Distemper is derived and was fain to call another Deity to his assistance Mercury at last undertook and recovered him not without many torments by them to revenge himself for the often Journeys Jupiter had caused him to make to his Mistrisses on his occasion As soon as he was well the Goddess brought him home where she hath held him short and more exactly observed his Comportment It is true he hat been much reclaimed so that since they have no more threatned him with the Rod but Mercury This hath had greater effect with him than all the admonitions and menaces of his Governors Since this he hath had a mortal aversion for all Mercenary Affections and publickly sworn by his Bow and Quiver never to interpose more but instead of employing his Arrows entirely withdraw his assistance as soon as Money and Presents are made use of He reserves his favors only for tender and passionate Lovers and those Noble and refined SOuls that solely adore Beauty Wit and Vertue all three the Off-spring of Heaven Others that have byassed and sordid designs he abandons to remorse and torments refusing anylonger to own them as Subjects of his Empire The Continuation of the History of JAVOTA THis as soon as read had a general applause Charoselles only dissenting who thought nothing good but what he writh himself though hemight probably have been seconded by Hippolita who never failed of censuring right or wrong but perceiving that the examination of this Piece if he were once engaged might last and hinder the design he had to read another of his own he desired Angelica to lend him those
sheets to take a copy of them His design was to have them printed and cause some of his own which he would add to pass by being countenanced by them Angelica told him she durst not take that liberty because the Piece was not hers I will give you one of mine for it said Charoselles which I will instantly read as I promised This word having caused Philalethes to tremble he arose to take his leave Angelica rose also to pay him some civilities and the rest of the Company did the like which made Charoselles mad to see himself so prevented for it was late and no possibility of perswading any body to sit down again Some little discourse passed standing and apart especially between Javota and Pancrace who from that time devoted himself intirely to her service his Love not being very Platonick his admiration for her Beauty freed him from all the disgust the coming short of her wit might have given him He made her many Complements and high Expressions and she smiled at them all but answered none till he assured her with a great Oath that he was her servant and besought her to believe it She replied very innocently God Sir Say not so there are but two persons in the world that ever told me that and for those I have a mortal aversion and hatred you are too handsome to do like them How then Madam said he have you had some servants that have come short in their respects by a too confident declaring their love No indeed Sir said Javota they declared it only to my Father and Mother whose promises to marry me each of them assured they had obtained What they have done to me I know not but I cannot abide them If you have hitherto had servants that so much displeased you said the Gentleman it follows not that all others are like them since they are not worthy of you seek such as are more accomplished I will not have any servants said Javota neither if I had any did I know what to say to them nor what to do with them Is it said Pancrace because it is impossible to find occasions of serving you No said Javota and you if you pleased might do me a kindness but I dare not name it for fear you should deny me How Madam said he raising his voice a little can there be any thing too difficult for me to accomplish for your sake It is not very difficult answered Javota and if you will promise me to do it I will tell it you I do not only promise it replied Pancrace very suddenly but swear it to you by all that is dearest to me in the world nay I wish it difficulty that its performance may give you the certainer proof of the passion I have for your service Since you thus assure me said Javota I must confess that having latelyheard you speak such excellent things when you discoursed with the Ladies I would beg of you to lend me the Book you learned them in for I am ashamed of saying nothing yet know not what to say Would to God I could get the receipt that helps those Ladies to talk so well if I could find their Book I would con it till I talked faster than they Pancrace was amazed at her extream simplicity and told her There was no one Book that contained all that was necessary to conversation where every one discoursed according to the Subject that presented it self and the conceptions that came into their heads I thought said Javota you would make a secret of it as if I knew not the contrary when my Mother speaks of Mrs Philopotte who hath talked so much to day she says she hat ever a Book in her hand is as learned as a Doctor but knows not how to take one stitch with her Needle that I shold be sure not to imitate her and that a young man that wanted a Wife if he would be advised by her shold seck another but let her say what she pleases could I come at her Book I would get it all by heart Pancrace perceiving her inclination for reading and that she had till then been brought up in perfect ignorance thought he had lit on an excellent occasion to do her service by sending her some Books he therefore began to commend her and in some sort to grant that may things spoken in conversation are taken out of Books though not word for word that they open the fancy and enrich it with Idea's from whence discourse is derived and he promised to send her some that very night beleeching her to believe that his most violent passion was to do her service As this Protestation ended Lorenca who had brought Javota thither came to tell her it wa time to go home where she was by that time expected so that with a very low Courtsie she took leave of the Company who having a while discoursed of her Beauty and Simplicity at last parted Javota coming home could not forbear expressing her satisfaction to have been so good Company and to have seen something of the world she ordered an old servant that had been her Nurse and consequently was one she put confidence in to receive the Books when they came and hide them under her Bed lest they might be found in her Trunck which her Mother often visited The Books came quickly after and they were the Five Tomes of Astrea she ran immediately to her Chamber and shut her self up there and fell a reading night and day so earnestly she neglected her Meat and Drink and when she was spoken to go about her ordinary work she pretended her self sick that she had not closed her eyes all night and indeed they seemed heavy which was probably the effect of her continual reading She profited much in little time and something very pleasant happened to her As it is natural to us at mentioning some body we do not know though the person be fabulous to frame in our thoughts an accidental Idea that hath a resemblance of some of our acquaintance so Javota contemplating Celadon who was the Hero of her Romance fancied him to be of the same shape and just such another as Pancrace whom she liked much better than any of her other acquaintance and Astrea being described perfectly fair she presently thought her self like her for this is a point in which the discreetest Women may flatter themselves All that Ceiadon said to Astrea was therefore taken as if Pancrace had spoken it to her and all that Astrea said to Celadon she imagined she said to Pancrace Was he not very happy to have so brave an interceder without his knowledge to court for him in his absence and whose addresses were so effectual that Javota insensibly took in the poison that made her desperately in love with him To speak seriously this accident ought not to appear too improbable for Maids of strict and private Education at their first coming into the world and the company of men
if a Fashion comes up of writing the Lives of Married Women But now I am afraid the Reader expects the Latter Part of this Book should be the Continuation of the former and necessarily depend upon it in which he extreamly mistakâ—s I would therefore wish him to disabuse himself betimes and know that this linking intrigues one within another may be very becoming and heroick in Fabulous Poems where one may clip and cut at his pleasure it is easie to bumbast them with different Fancies tacked together with Romantick Thred according to the Genius or humor of the Inventor but it is not not so with this most faithful Relation to which I only give form without any alteration of the matter It is made up of little Stâ—ries and Adventures happened 〈◊〉 several Quarters of the Town that have nothing 〈…〉 which yet I draw as near one 〈…〉 but leave the care of their 〈◊〉 to him that 〈◊〉 the Book Take them therefore if thou pleasest for distinct Stories and require neither observation of time nor place nor one Hero predominant thorow the whole Piece Neither expect that I marry all my Actors and Actresses at the conclusion where it is usual to celebrate as many Weddings as at a Carnaval for some of them perhaps after having long made love may resolve to live single others may marry privately without thy knowledge or mine Neither will I oblige my self to bring nothing on the Stage but Love I shall also give you Stories of Law and Contention and in a word all other Passions that agitate City hearts may according to occasion present themselves and if thou findest not the great regularity thou lookest for know the fault is not in the Work but Title Call it no longer Romance and as a Relation of particular Adventures it will no longer offend thee Chance rather than design may bring together the Persons already nominated witness Charoselles who first of all presents himself to my memory of whose humor I have already given a small taste and whose description I have expresly reserved for this place If thou hast any curiosity for it thou needest do no more but read on The History of CHARROSELLES COLLANTINA and BELASTE CHarroselles would not be counted an Author though it was the only commendable quality he had and that alone made him known in the world I cannot tell whether remorse of conscience for the faults of his youth made him take this Title as an injury but he would pass for nothing besides Gentleman as if these two qualities were inconsistent though it was not above ten years since his Father died an Attorney yet from the time he was able to keep a certain thing like a Coach drawn by two Skeletons of Horses and continually covered with dust or dirt he had taken on himself this quality His Pegasus's for so they must be called whilest they served this Nurse-Child of Parnassus were not at all puffed up by their honour nor carried their heads any higher than when they drew the Plough in the fertil Plains of Aubervilliers Their Master treated them as tenderly as Children of a good Family never keeping them out late a-nights nor over-loading them nay he almost equalized them to Bucephalus they never drawing any but their Alexander for he was almost continually alone in his Coach not that he loved not company but his Nose was unsociable the boldest durst never do an injury to his Nose so vindicative it was and ready to return This Nose in the mean time appeared every where and there were but few places in Paris where it was not known The Title of Eminence of right appertained to it and it ever wore Scarlet and though probably designed for a Colossus was bestowed on a Man but short of Stature yet Nature had been no Niggard to the little Fellow for what wanted in height was sufficiently required in thickness so that he had flesh enough but cast in an irregular Mould His Hair was extreamly unbecoming and it was questionless his Head the Poetical Painter designed when he said Bristles instead of Hairs arise Like stands of Pikes stiff pointed greasie To separate which none can devise The Elflock Knots are so uneasie And Combs unable to pass through His Fingers still that office do And indeed he never combed it but with his Fingers which was his usual posture in all Companies His Skin was grained like Spanish Leather and its Olive Colour embroidered by Scarlet Buttons that very frequently pierced it In a word he had the true meen of a Satyr his Mouth opened wide and his Teeth were no less sharp excellent qualifications for Biting a fond Laughter was very usual with him of which I know not the reason unless to shew his Teeth to snap at all he met His goggle Eyes jutted out like Bay Windows that they might look every way There never was known a Man more envious or il-spoken nothing pleased him and had he been called to Council at the Creation we should have seen things very unlike what they are at present He was the greatest reformer to the worse that ever had been known and continually spoiled what he busied himself to mend There never met any Assembly of Vertuous or Illustrious Persons but he decried it and the better to disguise his Malice by way of Encomium like those dangerous Beasts that while they fawn either scratch or bite us The Fame of other Men was insupportable to him and whatever they published that took tormented him Judge then if in France where excellent Wits abound he was not sufficiently plagued His Natural Vanity was strangely puffed up by some reputation acquired in his youth by little Works that had a passable Vent but this was very unlucky to the poor Stationers who were caught with the Bait for as soon as he forsook the Stile that alone suited with his Genius and began to write seriously he set out many Volumes that were never read by any but the Corrector of the Printing-House These proved so fatal to the Stationers that he broke almost the whole Company He presents all he meets with Catalogues of Books he hath ready for the Press and boasts of Fifty Manuscripts he offers to set out if he could find any Printer charitable enough to undo himself for the Publick but meeting none that will sacrifice any more Paper to his renown he hath lit on an admirable invention which is to write a Satyr against some known Author or Book that takes supposing its novelty or malice will make it sell but he lets not the Stationer have it without adding some of his serious Pieces These excellent qualities acquire him good store of enemies at which he is little concerned for he hates all Mankind and no body is so ungrateful as not to requite him Were this a fabulous History I should be very much troubled to fit him with Adventures for he never made love but were it a proper phrase to say made hate that