Laughing is not enough for such a folly; it must be severely whipped, as it justly deserves. It will be confeffed, there are frequent temptations given by pert upAarts to be angry, and by that to have our judgments corrupted in thefe cafes; but they are to be refifted; and the utmost that is to be allowed, is, when thofe of a new edition will forget themselves, fo as either to brag of their weak fide, or endeavour to hide their meannefs by their infolence, to cure them by a little seasonable raillery, a little sharpness well placed, without dwelling too long upon it.

These and many other kinds of pride are to be avoided.

That which is to be recommended to you, is an emulation to raise yourself to a character, by which you may be diftinguished; an eagernefs for precedence in virtue, and all fuch other things as may gain you a greater fhare of the good opinion of the world. Efteem to virtue is like a cherishing air to plants and flowers, which makes them blow and profper; and for that reafon it may be allowed to be, in fome degree, the caufe as well as the reward of it. That pride which leadeth to a good end, cannot be a vice, fince it is the beginning of a virtue; and to be pleased with just applause, is so far from a fault, that it would be an ill symptom in a woman, who should not place the greatest part of her fatisfaction in it. Humility is no doubt a great virtue ; but it ceaseth to be fo, when it is afraid to fcorn an ill thing. Against vice and folly it is becoming your fex to be haughty; but you must not carry the contempt of things

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things to arrogance towards perfons, and it must be done with fitting distinctions, elfe it may be inconvenient by being unfeasonable. A pride that raifes a little anger to be outdone in any thing that is good, will have fo good an effect, that it is very hard to allow it to be a fault.

It is no eafy matter to carry even between these differing kinds fo defcribed; but remember that it is fafer for a woman to be thought too proud, than too familiar.

DIVERSIONS.

THE next thing I fhall recommend to you, is a wife and a fafe method of ufing diverfions. To be too eager in the purfuit of pleasure whilft you are young, is dangerous; to catch at it in riper years, is grasping a fhadow; it will not be held. Befides that by being less natural it grows to be indecent. Diverfions are the moft properly applied, to eafe and relieve those who are oppreffed, by being too much employed. Those that are idle have no need of them, and yet they above all others, give themselves up to them. To unbend our thoughts, when they are too much ftretched by our cares, is not more natural than it is neceffary, but to turn our whole life into a holiday, is not only ridiculous, but deftroys pleasure, in ftead of promoting it. The mind, like the bedy, is tired by being always in one

posture,

polture, too ferious breaks, and too diverting loofens it: it is variety that gives the relifh; fo that diverfrons too frequently repeated, grow first to be indifferent, and at last tedious. Whilft they are well chofen and well timed, they are never to be blamed; but when they are used to an excefs, though very innocent at first, they often grow to be criminal, and never fail to be imper

tinent.

Some ladies are befpoken for merry meetings, as Beffus was for duels. They are engaged in a circle of idleness, where they turn round for the whole year, without the interruption of a serious hour. They know all the players' names, and are intimately acquainted with all the booths in Bartholomew fair. No foldier is more obedient to the found of his captain's trumpet, than they are to that which fummons them to a puppet play or a monster. The spring that brings out flies and fools, makes them inhabitants in Hide Park; in the winter they are incumbrance to the play houfe, and the ballaft of the drawing room. The streets all this while are fo weary of these daily faces, that men's eyes are overlaid with them. The fight is glutted with fine things, as the ftomach with sweet ones; when a fair lady will give too much of herself to the world, she grows luscious, and oppreffes, instead of pleasing. These ladies fo continually seek diversion, that in little time they grow into a jeft, yet are unwilling to remember, that if they are feldomer feen, they would not be fo often laughed at. Befides, they make themselves

cheap,

cheap, than which there cannot be an unkinder word bestowed upon your fex.

To play fometimes, to entertain company, or to dí vert yourself is not to be difallowed, but to do it fo often as to be called a gamester, is to be avoided, next to the things that are most criminal. It hath confe

quences of feveral kinds not to be endured: it will engage you into a habit of idleness and ill hours, draw you into ill mixed company, make you neglect your civilities abroad, and your business at home, and impofe into your acquaintance fuch as will do you no credit.

To deep play there will be yet greater objections. It will give occafion to the world to ask friteful questions. How you dare venture to lofe, and what means you have to pay fuch great fums? If you pay exactly, it will be enquired from whence the money comes? If you owe, and especially to a man, you must be so very civil to him for his forbearance, that it lays a ground of having it farther improved, if the gentleman is so difposed; It will be thought no unfair creditor, if where the eftate fails, he feize upon the perfon. Befides, if a lady could fee her own face upon an ill game, at a deep stake, she would certainly forfwear any thing that could put her looks ender fuch a disadvantage.

To dance fometimes, will not be imputed to you as a fault; but remember, that the end of your learning it, was, that you might the better know how to move gracefully. It is only an advantage fo far. When it goes beyond it, one may call it excelling in a mistake,

which is no very great commendation. It is better for a woman never to dance, because the hath no skill in it, than to do it too often, because she doth it well. The easiest, as well as the fafeft method of doing it, is in private companies, amongst particular friends, and then carelefly, like a diverfion, rather than with folemnity, as if it was a business, or had any thing in it to deserve a month's preparation by ferious conference with a dancing mafter.

Much more might be faid on all these heads, and many more might be added to them. But I must reftrain my thoughts, which are full of my dear child, and would overflow into a volume which would not be fit for a new-year's-gift. I will conclude with my warmest wishes for all that is good to you. That you may live so as to be an ornament to your family, and a pattern to your fex. That you may be bleffed with a husband that may value, and with children that may inherit your virtue ; that you may shine in the world by a true light, and filence envy by deferving to be esteemed; that wit and virtue may both confpire to make you a good figure. When they are feparated, the first is fo empty, and the other so faint, that they scarce have right to be commended. May they therefore meet and never part; let them be your guardian angels, and be fure never to ftray out of the distance of their joint protection. May you fo raise your character, that you may help to make the next age a better thing, and leave pofterity in your debt for the advantages it fhall receive by your example,

Let