HISTORY OF PORT I A. WRITTEN by a LADY. What's female beauty but an air divine, fhine? Thefe, like the fun, irradiate all between; Some none refift, though not exceeding fair. Dr. Young's Univers. Pass. Vol. I. LONDON: Printed for R. WITHY, at the Dunciad in Cornhill; THE HISTORY OF PORTIA CHA P. I. The introduction, with fome account of the author, and her reafons for undertaking this work. I Aм thoroughly fenfible that a woman never makes a more ridiculous figure, than when the appears to the world in the character of an author; the male part of the fpecies having ingroffed every branch of learning, as their peculiar province, think they have an undoubted right, if we do but touch upon the borders, to feize us inftantly as fo many ufurpers on their privileges; and indeed I cannot but acknowlege that they have great reafon VOL. I. B for |