No. Page XXXIX. To Phidippus.-Concerning the criterion of taste . 124 . 131 XLII. To Palemon.-Reflections upon the various . 136 XLIII. To Euphronius.-Objections to some pas XLIV. To Palamedes.-Against visiters by profes- sion. . 137 . 152 XLV. To Hortensius. Reflections upon fame, . 154 XLVI. To Clytander.-Concerning the reverence XLVII. To Cleora. . . 161 END OF VOL. I. Printed by T. Davison, Whitefriars. FITZOSBORNE'S LETTERS. XLIX. TO PALAMEDES. Aug. 2, 1734. CEREMONY is never more unwelcome, than at that season in which you will, probably, have the greatest share of it; and, as I should be extremely unwilling to add to the number of those, who, in pure good manners, may interrupt your enjoyments, I choose to give you my congratulations a little prematurely. After the happy office shall be completed, your moments will be too valuable to be laid out in forms; and it would be paying a compliment with a very ill grace, to draw off your eyes from the highest beauty, though it were to turn them on the most exquisite wit. I hope, however, you will give me timely notice of your wedding day, that I may be prepared with my epithalamium. I have already laid in half a dozen deities extremely pro per for the occasion, and have even made some progress in my first simile. But I am somewhat at a loss how to proceed, not being able to determine whether your future bride is most like Venus or Hebe. That she resembles both, is universally agreed, I find, by those who have seen her. But it would be offending, you know, against all the rules of poetical justice, if I should only say she is |