THe Sun was yet so near the Meridian, that if the Attention Eusebius’s Discouses excited, had not diverted us from minding the heat of the VVeather, we should have found it troublesome; and in effect, soon after we had left listning to the conferences I have been repeating, we begun to feel a heat, uneasie enough to oblige us to retire from it: But taking several ways, as Chance or Inclination directed us, to shun the same inconvenience, it was my Fortune to hold the same course with Lindamor, and both of us, by following no Guide, but the design of shunning all beaten Paths, and unshelter’d Grounds, that being the likeliest way to reach our double end of Coolness and Privacy; after we had a while walk’d somewhat near the River-side, we were at length brought to a Shady place, which we should have found, as well as we wish’d it, a Solitude, if others had not concurr’d with us in the same hopes; for the Expectation of Privacy had brought thither divers, whom the Suns scorching heat invited to that cool and retir’d part of the River, where they hop’d to shun all other Eyes, as well as that of Heaven; among those Swimmers we observ’d some Novices, who, to secure their first Attempts, had Bladders ty’d under their Arms, to keep them from sinking any lower. This sight (says Lindamor, after he had a while mus’d upon it) hath Circumstances in it, that me-thinks are applicable enough to the Education of many of the young Ladies of these times; of whose faults, the Excellent Celia, and all the others, that you and I can think worth our Concern, are free enough to let me entertain you without Rudeness of them; the Commonness of these Blemishes ennobling those few that are exempted from them. You cannot then (continues Lindamor) but have observ’d with me, that many of those young Ladies, whose Parents, out of a mistaken Zeal, condemn that which at the Court was wont to be call’d good Breeding, and Principles of Honour, as things below a Christian, and insufficient to bring their Possessours to Heaven, are so unluckily Bred, and so ill Humour’d, as well as Fashion’d, that an almost equally unhappy Education is requisite to make their Company tolerable: Civility, which is almost as Essential to a compleat Lady, as her Sex, they are perfect Strangers to, or rude Despisers of it; and not only their Minds are not Imbu’d with those Principles of Friendship, Generosity, and Honour, which make some of their Sex so Lovely, and so Illustrious in Story, and of which more Ladies would be capable, if more were taught them; but these are utterly uninstructed in the Laws of what the French call Bein seance, and are altogether unpractis’d in that Civility, and suppleness of Humour, which is requisite to endear Conversation, and is so proper to the softer Sex. I must confess, (pursues Lindamor) that I never have been more puzzl’d how to behave my self then in their Company: The serious sort of Discourse, (ev’n such as is to be found in our fresher and more polish’d Romances) they are utterly incapable of; And in the trifling and pitifull Prattle that alone is not above them, they are so Unsociable, so Indiscreet, and oftentimes so Bold, that in spight of the respect, such as Celia gives me for her Sex, I find in their Conversations as much Exercise for my Patience as my Chastity, and being tempted to put off the respect that belongs to Ladies, as they do the modesty, I find it more difficult to retain my Civility than my Liberty. The Bladders (resumes Lindamor) which young Swimmers use, are, ‘tis confess’d, but light and empty things, that are easily made useless; nay, though they help beginners, they are Cloggs to skilfull Swimmers, and yet these Trifles are they that hinder Novices from sinking into the Mud: Thus Honour, though it be an Airy unsolid thing, nay, though it oftentimes proves a hinderance to great Proficients in Christianity, yet to Persons that have not yet attain’d to higher Principles, it is an excellent support, and hinders them from sinking into many Meannesses, and Miscarriages, into which, those especially of the fairer Sex, that want a due sense of Honour, are too apt to be precipitated: You know what Lord told his accused Lady, that he knew she was too proud to be a Whore. And certainly, though Principles of Gallantry include not all Virtues, yet they avert those they sway from grosser Vices: And though to be well Bred, be not to be a Saint, but incomparably inferiour to it; yet to be both, is more desirable than to be the latter only: And they are very unwise, who, before they are sure their Children will admit the higher and more perfect Principles of Religion, neglect to give them that Education that may render Moral Accomplishments acceptable to Them, and Them to well bred Company, least by proving indispos’d to Spiritual graces, their not having been taught the Moral Ornaments of the Mind, leave them destitute of all good Qualities.
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