hundred pounds. After this, Mr. Stanyan behaved with a timid referve, deference, and refpe&t; not converfing with the fame freedom as formerly, or canvaffing his friend's fentiments. This gave great uneafiness to Mr. Addison. One day they happened to fall upon a subject, on which Mr. Stanyan had always been used ftrenuously to oppofe his opinion. But, even upon this occafion, he gave way to what his friend advanced, without interpofing his own view of the matter. This hurt Mr. Addison fo much, that he said to Mr Stanyan, "either contradict me, or pay me the money."

NATURAL BOUNTIES.

F the extent of the human view could compre

IF

hend the whole frame of the universe, perhaps it would be found invariably true, that Providence has given that in greateft plenty, which the condition of life makes of greatest ufe; and that nothing is penurioufly imparted, or placed from the reach of man, of which a more liberal diftribution, or a more eafy acquifition, would increafe real and rational FELICITY.

LIFE IS SHORT.

MAN's life, like any weaver's fhuttle flies,

Or like a tender flow'ret fades and dies:

Or like a race it ends without delay,

Or like a vapour vanishes away;

Or like a candle which each moment wastes,

Or like a veffel under fail it haftes;

Or like a poft it gallops very faft,

Or like the shadow of a cloud 'tis past.
Our caftle is but weak, and strong the foe,
Our breath is fhort,, our death is certain too;
But as his coming is a fecret ftill,

Let us be ready, come death when he will.

Ο

BEHAVIOUR.

NE of the chief beauties in a female charac

ter is that modeft referve, that retiring delicacy which avoids the public eye, and is difconcerted even at the gaze of admiration. For when a girl ceases to blush, she has loft the most powerful charms of beauty. That extreme fenfibility, which it indicates, is peculiarly engaging.

Silence in company particularly a large one, is never mistaken by the judicious and difcerning for dulnefs, but befpeaks a modesty effential in

M®

the

the female fex. Dignity of behaviour is neceffary at public places, but care must be taken not to mistake that confident eafe, that unabashed countenance which feems to fet the company at defiance.

Women fhould be cautious even in difplaying their good fenfe. It is often thought affuming a fuperiority over the rest of the company; but their learning fhould be kept a profound fecret, especially from men, who generally look with a jealous and malign eye on a woman of great parts, and a cultivated understanding.

The great art of pleasing in conversation, confifts in making the company pleased with themfelves. Detraction should be avoided, especially among women, where their own fex is concerned; it would be more noble for them to fhew a compaffionate fympathy to the unfortunate, especially to those who are rendered fo by the villainy of men. It is a laudable pride, as well as fecret pleasure, which ought to be indulged, in being the friend and refuge of the unhappy, but without the vanity of fhewing it.

Every fpecies of indelicacy in converfation, fhould be confidered as fhameful, and highly dif gufting. A Sacred regard fhould be ever had to

truth,

truth, for lying is a mean and despicable vice; though a lively embellishment of a humorous ftory, which is only intended to promote innocent mirth, cannot be underflood to fall under that head.

Gentleness of fpirit and manners is extremely engaging; but not that indifcriminate attention, that unmeaning fimper, which fmiles on all alike. For this arifes either from affectation of foftness, or from perfect infipidity.

A fine woman, like other fine things in nature, has her proper point of view, from which she may be seen to most advantage. To fix this point requires great judgment, and an intimate knowledge of the human heart. By the prefent mode of female manners, the ladies feem to expect that they fhall regain their afcendency over men, by the fulleft difplay of their perfonal charms, by being always in their eye at public places, by converfing with them with the fame unreferved freedom as they do with one another; in fhort, by resembling men as near as they can. The folly of this expectation and conduct will foon be fhown. For the power of a fine woman over the hearts of men, of men of the finest parts, is even beyond what fhe conceives,

conceives. They are fenfible of the pleafing illu, fion, but they cannot, nor do they wish to diffolve it. But if he is determined to difpel the charm, it is certainly in her power; fhe may foon, reduce the angel to a very ordinary girl.

There is a native dignity in ingenuous modesty to be expected in the gentler fex, which is their natural protection from the familiarity of men, The fentiment that a woman may allow all innocent freedoms, provided her virtue is fecure, is both grofsly indelicate and dangerous, and has proved fatal to many who have confided too much in this fallacious doctrine. In fine, to form a complete lady, the fhould poffefs the most perfect fimplicity of heart and manners, dignity without pride, affability without meannefs, and fimple elegance without affectation.

ANECDOTE

Of HENRY IV. of FRANCE.

HENRY always fhewed great intrepedity and

generofity towards his enemies, even to those who, ftimulated by a fanatic zeal, wished to take his life. The hiftorian Le Grain records an adventure

away