Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

NUMB. XVI. Saturday, June 26, 1756.

Thus, freely each her Sentiments imparts.

W

ANON.

HEN I had finished the Tale, my fair Auditors, who had with the utmost difficulty, chained up their tongues, while I was reading it, opened all at once with clamour and impetuosity, and gave their opinions with so much confufion, that I could only diftinguish half-formed words, and broken sentences, such as, - "Zulima - a Coquet - Hamed - a stupid

"Wretch-The Genius - a rigid old Fellow." But as I was very defirous of hearing the Sentiments of each of them without interruption, I intreated them to speak, if possible, one at a time. My request was, with some hesitations, complied with. Miss Bloom, a very pretty Girl on my right hand, faid; "I think Zulima was "extremely ill treated; what signifies it to be "handsomer than other people, if one is not to " be admired? one may as well be always old " and ugly, as live as if one did'nt know one " was pretty. I think every Woman should make

2

1

" make the most of herself. I am sure the Gun"nings did fo." - Before I had an opportunity to answer this vivacious speech, Miss Scar, a Lady about Thirty, whom the Small-pox had fpoilt for a Toast in her twenty-fifth year, replied, " I can't help thinking in a different manner. " have known what it was to be handsome; but " really it created so much uneasiness and anxie

66

I

ty, either for fear of lofing of it, or of making " nothing of it, that I begin to think Agreeable" ness infinitely preferable to Beauty. I have " read somewhere, but can't just now recollect "the place, for 'tis a great while ago, that the " Women who had the fewest personal charms, " had always the greatest influence over the "Men." "Aye, faid a lively Creature, " with a pair of expressive eyes, who seemed to " be the brightest of the Company, it does not " signify a pin's point, whether people are hand" some or ugly, provided they can be admired " and flattered; and for my part I had rather be " as frightful as a Witch with half a score of " Lovers, than as beautiful as an Angel without "a single Dangler." "To be sure you are " quite right Madam, said a homely Girl, Beau"ty is only a temptation, and brings people into "all manner of mischief, as you see by the Sto"ry." " For my part, said Miss Filt, I, " I don't see Zulima had any Faults at all. I " think she was most unreasonably punished. " What

66

66

-

"What, must not a Woman discard a Lover, " if she does not like him? and how can she tell "whether she likes him till she has tried him?" This Speech occafioned a general Te--he--, and I overheard Miss Defame say to her next Neighbour, in a loud whisper, aye and she has tried " several, or else she is monstrously belied." Mr. Bellair, then addressing himself to Harriot, faid, " Several Ladies, Madam, have declared " their sentiments concerning the Heroine of this "Tale, but nobody has mentioned the Hero of " it. -----Pray, what do you think of his Con"duct? Why, I think, replied she, " that he was in the right to quit Zulima, as he imagined she was only playing the Coquet; " but he was rather too hasty; for if he had re"turned, he would have met with better treatment " you fee. Perfeverance on his side, might have " been of service to them both; he might have " reclaimed the brightest Beauty in the East, and "have married her afterwards." "Now Ma"dam, replied Bellair with a smile, I cannot fee " any fault in the conduct of Hamed; he left " Zulima because he found her vain and capri"cious, and chose, in her stead, a Woman eve

66

66

[ocr errors]

ry way her fuperior. - Not in Beauty, Sir, " interrupted Miss Bloom eagerly. -N), Ma"dam, faid Bellair, not so dazling a Beauty, but " one infinitely more pleasing, more attracting, " and more capable of fubduing and keeping a "heart;

G

"heart; and if Zelis had been far less lovely "than the Eastern Moralist represents her, she " had qualities sufficient to make her preferr'd to any Beauty whatever. If a Woman is good " and agreeable, it matters not a pinch of snuff "whether she is beautiful."

४७

[ocr errors]

O horrid, cried all the Girls - "Was there ever so pre" posterous an assertion, said Miss Bloom, I am "fure, continued she (with her eyes fixed on a Looking-glass which was luckily opposite to her) " that beauty is a considerable advantage to fome " Women, who know how to make a proper " use of it; and if Zulima had met with a " right fort of Man, she might have made her " Fortune." " I am entirely of your mind "Mifs Bloom," said the clever Girl already mentioned, with an arch look, " a great deal

depends upon a Woman's knowing how to " make the most of herself; and I think it is

[ocr errors]

very plain, that Zulima knew nothing of the " matter. The Tale is prettily told, and if we " Girls would but take warning, we might be "the better for it: for we often frustrate the ve

[ocr errors]

ry end of our pursuits through mere giddiness " and inattention." There was something in this young Lady's manner, which gave me a great deal of pleasure; and though I had determined to fit filent, and make observations, I could not help thus accofting her: " I am very

" much pleased with you Madam, said I; I " won't " won't say you are the first Female I have ever " heard own herself in the wrong, but I will venture to declare, that there are very few of your Sex ingenuous enough to make so honeft

66

[ocr errors]

66

66

66

a confeffion: and therefore I beg you would "still farther oblige me, by telling me what " mode of behaviour in your Sex you particular" ly hint at, and by giving me the reason why you act in that cafe, contrary to your fenti-"ments." Why, Mr. BABBLE, faid "she, with great frankness, what I mean is, " that every Woman is defirous of having a " crowd of Admirers; and, in order to gain "them, think of nothing, like your Eastern "Beauty, but to make her Person as attractive " as possible; for which purpose she is perpetual

ly diversifying her ornaments, and practising a " multiplicity of Airs; and when she is une figu"re tout a fait achevée, away she goes through "the intoxicating round of fashionable diversions "day after day, and night after night, till her "Person is as well known as the Places she fre८८ quents. She has then no longer the charm of "Novelty to recommend her; the dear diffi"culty (by which the value of pleasure is fo " much enhanced) of catching a glance of the "celebrated Miss Such a one is at an end; tor "the celebrated Miss Such a one is every where. " Every body has seen her, and therefore every "body is indifferent about feeing her."- " True, "Ma

G2

L

« ZurückWeiter »