_For Wit with Softness to reside,_ _Good-nature is with Pity stor’d;_ _But Flattery’s the result of Pride,_ _And fawns to be ador’d._ _Nay, even when you smile and bow,_ _’.is to be render’d more compleat:_ _Your Wit, with ev’ry Grace you shew,_ _Is but a popular Cheat._ _Laugh on, and call me Coxcomb--do;_ _And, your Opinion to improve,_ _Think, all you think of me is true;_ _And to confirm it, swear I love._ _Then, while you wreck my Soul with Pain,_ _And of a cruel Conquest boast,_ _’.is you,_ Philander, _that are vain,_ _And witty at my cost._ Possibly, the angry _Aminta_, when she writ these Verses, was more offended, that he believed himself belov’d, than that he flatter’d; tho’ she wou’d seem to make that a great part of the Quarrel, and Cause of her Resentment: For we are often in an humour to seem more modest in that point, than naturally we are; being too apt to have a favourable Opinion of our selves: And ‘tis rather the Effects of a Fear that we are flatter’d, than our own ill Opinion of the Beauty flatter’d; and that the Praiser thinks not so well of it, as we do our selves, or at least we wish he should. Not but there are Grains of Allowance for the Temper of him that speaks: One Man’s Humour is to talk much; and he may be permitted to enlarge upon the Praise he gives the Person he pretends to, without being accus’d of much Guilt. Another hates to be wordy; from such an one, I have known one soft Expression, one tender Thing, go as far as whole Days everlasting Protestations urged with Vows, and mighty Eloquence. And both the one and the other, indeed, must be allow’d in good manners, to stretch the Compliment beyond the bounds of nice Truth: and we must not wonder to hear a Man call a Woman a Beauty, when she is not ugly; or another a great Wit, if she have but common Sense above the Vulgar; well bred, when well drest; and good-natur’d, when civil. And as I should be very ridiculous, if I took all you said for absolute Truth; so I should be very unjust, not to allow you very sincere in almost all you said besides; and those things, the most material to Love, Honour and Friendship. And for the rest (_Damon_) be it true or false, this believe, you speak with such a Grace, that I cannot chuse but credit you; and find an infinite Pleasure in that Faith, because I love you: And if I cannot find the Cheat, I am contented you should deceive me on, because you do it so agreeably. SIX o’.LOCK. _Walk without Design._