An essay in defence of the female sex: In which are inserted the characters of a pedant, a squire, a beau, a vertuoso, a poetaster, a city-critick, &c. in a letter to a lady.Astell, Mary
General
An essay in defence of the female sex: In which are inserted the characters of a pedant, a squire, a beau, a vertuoso, a poetaster, a city-critick, &c. in a letter to a lady.
Astell, Mary
Women
to Pieces every Face, examine every Feature, pass their Censure upon
every one, and so on to their Dress; here he very Judiciously gives his
opinion upon every particular, and determines whose Colours are well
chosen, whose Fancy is neatest, and whose Cloths fit with most Air; but
in conclusion sees no Body compleat but himself in the whole House.
After this he looks down with contempt upon the Pit, and rallies all the
slovenly Fellows, and awkard Beau’s (as he calls them) of t’other End of
the Town, is mightily offended at their ill scented _Snush_, and in
spight of all his _Pulvilio_ and _Essences_, is overcome with the stink
of their _Cordovant Gloves_. To close all, _Madam_, in the Mask must
give him an account of the Scandal of the Town, which she does in the
History of abundance of Intrigues real or feign’d; at all which he
laughs aloud and often, not to shew his satisfaction, but his Teeth. She
shews him who is kept by such a Lord, Who was lately discarded by such a
Knight, for granting favours too indiscreetly to such a Gentleman: who
has lately been in the Country for two or three Months upon
extraordinary Occasions. To all which he gives great attention, that he
may pass for a Man of Intelligence in another Place. His next Stage is
_Locket’s_, where his Vanity, not his Stomach, is to be gratified with
something that is _little_ and _dear_, _Quails_ and _Ortalans_ are the
meanest of his Diet, and a Spoonful of _Green Pease_ at _Christmass_,
are worth to him more than the inheritance of the _Feild_ where they
grow in _Summer_. Every thing falls in his Esteem, as it falls in price,
and he wou’d not so much as tast the _Wine_, if the hard name, and the
high rate did not give it a relish. After a glass or two, (for a Pint is
his stint) he begins to talk of his Intrigues, boasts much of the
Favours he has receiv’d, and shews counterfeit Tokens, and in
Conclusion, slanders some Lady or other of unquestion’d Vertue with a
particular fondness for him. His Amours are all profound Secrets, yet he
makes a Confidence of ’em to every Man he meets with. He pretends a
great reverence for the Ladies, and a mighty tenderness of their
Reputations; yet he is like a _Flesh Flye_, whatever he blows on is
tainted. He talks of nothing under Quality, tho’ he never obtain’d a
Favour, which his Man might not have for half a Crown. He and his
Footman in this Case are like _English_ and _Dutch_ at an Ordinary in
_Holland_, the Fare is the same, but the Price is vastly different. Thus
the Show goes forward, till he is beaten for Trespasses he was never
guilty of, and shall be damn’d for Sins he never Committed. At last,
with his Credit as low as his Fortune he retires sullenly to his
Cloister, the _King’s-Bench_, or _Fleet_, and passes the rest of his
days in Privacy, and Contemplation. Here, _Madam_, if you please wee’l
give him one _Visit_ more, and see the last _Act_ of the _Farce_; and
you shall find him (whose Sobriety was before a _Vice_, as being only
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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