Lindamor, Eusebius.
Lind.
IS not this Closet strangely fine, Eusebius? Here is such a variety of pretty and taking Objects, that they do as well distract the Eye as delight it; the abundance, the choice, and the Order, do as well disclose the fair Posssessors skill, as Her magnificence, and shew at once, that she both has plenty, and deserves it, by knowing so well how to make use of it. Those things that are here solitary, or single, will scarce be elsewhere matched, and all the rest are so pretty, and so excellent in their several Kinds, that the number of fine things that make up this curious Collection, cannot hinder any of them from being a Rarity. And in a word, the Embellishments, that adorn and ennoble this delightful place, are such, that I believe the Possessor of them, as welcome as she is unto the best Companies, scarce ever looks upon finer things, than she can see in her Closet, unless when she looks into her Glass. But, me-thinks, Eusebius, you hear and view all this with a silent seriousness, which begins to make me suspect, that what I thought might be an Effect of your Wonder, may be so of your Dislike.
Euseb.
The Collection, Lindamor, is, I confess, very curious in its Kind, and such, as if the Mistress of it were less handsome than she is, might give her as well Cause to be jealous of these fine things, as to be proud of them, since a Beauty, that were but ordinary, could not divert a Spectator’s Eye from Objects, whereof many are not so. But, Lindamor, I must freely tell you, that I like both the Lady, and the Closet, much better than the Custom; such sights as these are introducing among Ladies of furnishing such Kind of Closets: I know that Youth may in certain cases, excuse some of the Impertinencies ‘tis wont to occasion; And it is not strange to me, that Persons of the fairer Sex, should like, in all things about them, that handsomness for which they find themselves to be the most lik’d; Nor would I forbid, ev’n such of them, as are not of a very high Quality, to have a retiring place so neatly adorn’d, as may invite them to be alone, and with-draw to it, to read, or meditate, provided these Ornaments be not so costly, as to rob Charity, or so gawdy, as to distract the Devotion they should but accommodate. And in case Circumstances should so conspire, as that Youth and Quality should be attended by such a plentiful Fortune, as that after all, that either Justice, Prudence, or Decency can challenge, there remains yet enough, both to relieve the Poor, and purchase Rarities themselves: I will not be so severe, as to condemn Persons so circumstanc’d, nor fall out with those that are able to reconcile Sumptuousness and Charity. But the number of such Ladies, especially so soon after a long civil War, must needs be but small, and I fear much inferiour to that of those, who will consider more what they see done before their Eyes, than they will the disparity of Circumstances betwixt their own Condition, and that of those they Aemulate: And the greater appearance of Ingeniousness, as well as Innocence, there is in the practice I am disapproving, the more dangerous it is, and the more fit to be examined and decri’d. For as the old Serpent has variety of Wiles, so he fits them to the various tempers of the Persons he assays to work upon; and when he meets with Ladies virtuously disposed, since he cannot quite eradicate their inclinations to the best part of Religion, Charity, he will at least blast and render them fruitless; and he justly thinks, he has reach’d no small part of his end, if though he cannot seduce them to do ill, he can at least hinder them from doing good. And this he has of late attempted but too prosperously, by persuading us to take those for the standard and examples of our Expences, that making none of the score of Piety, have the more left for their Vanities and their Appetites, which they gratifie at such high rates, that those that think themselves bound to imitate them in those Excesses, that are misnam’d Gallantry, shall have as little ability, as the other have will, to apply any considerable part of their Estates to those Uses, which chiefly God granted them those Estates for; and by that time, the Lady her self, and the House, and the Closet, are furnished with all the Ornaments that Vanity and Emulation call for, there is nothing left for Charity to dispose of, nay, perhaps not for Justice; the Creditor being oftentimes turned back empty as well as the Beggar, if not also made a Beggar by ruinous delays. And greater fortunes, than most Ladies have, may be exhausted, by gratifying such an ambition, as that of a Closet, to whose Costliness nothing can put limits, till Discretion do: Custom it self having not yet regulated a piece of Vanity, which, as imposing as Custom is wont to be, it has not yet dar’d to enjoyn.
Lind.
Me-thinks, Eusebius, you are somewhat forward to accuse those fair Creatures, that though they should want Innocence, would scarce want Advocates; and you are to good a Casuist to ignore, that they are wont to alledge, that the Bravery you are so severe to, is no where expressly prohibited in the Scripture, and this unforbiddenness they think sufficient to evince, that the Sumptuousness you so condemn, is not absolutely, and in its own nature, Sinful.
Euseb.
I can readily believe, that Lindamor has Wit and Amorousness enough to make him find it more easie to defend fair Ladies, than to defend himself against them: And I know, ‘tis said, that these sumptuous Closets, and other Vanities, are not simply unlawful in their own Nature; but I know too, that divers things, not in their own Nature unlawful, may be made so by circumstances, and if so, then I fear, That that can be no other than ill, which makes a Man needlessy disable himself to do good. The Apostle, that discountenanc’d Woman’s wearing of Gold, or precious things upon their Bodies, would sure have opposed their having more sumptuous Ornaments upon their Walls: These cannot pray for us, but the poor and distressed, they keep us from relieving, may either successfully pray to God for us, or cry to him against us. The Scripture that represents Dives in Hell, without saying that he oppressed or defrauded any, gives no other account of his Doom, than that living at a high rate, and going richly dress’d, he neglected to relieve the starving poor. A few such Closets as this Ladies, might be easily enlarged, and contrived into an Hospital: A small part of these Superfluities would relieve the necessities of many Families, and a liberal Heart might purchase Heaven at an easier rate, than the furniture of this Closet cost the Owner of it. Nor is this practice so unallied to a fault, as to escape a punishment even in this World; these Courtiers of Applause being oftentimes reduced to live in want, even in the midst of a plentiful Fortune; these costly trifles so engrossing all that they can spare, that they must sometimes deny themselves things convenient, and perhaps almost necessary, to flaunt it out with those that are neither the one nor the other, and being frequently enough fain to immolate their own inclinations and desires, though perchance strong and innocent, to their Vanity. And those that have once found the happiness there is in making others happy, will think their Treasure better bestowed in feeding hungry Mouths, than idle Eyes: The costly Practice I am yet censuring, does not onely offend Charity, but starve it, by substracting from it that which should feed it, and enable it to act like it self. And for my part, I think, he that devises, and by his Example brings Credit to, a new Expensive way of Vanity, does really destroy more Poor, than if he usurped an Alms-house, or ruined an Hospital. And by the ill President he leaves, he takes the way to be uncharitable, even after Death, and so do harm, when Misers and Usurers themselves are wont (by their Legacies) to do some good. To conclude, ‘tis no very Christian practice to disobey the Dictates of Piety, without having so much to plead for so doing, as the pretence of following the Dictates of Custom: And ‘tis a great deal better to be without a gay Closet, than to be without Charity, which loveliest of Christian virtues, she must sure very much want, that will needlessly begin an new Example to give a bad one.
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