has published, conftantly had recourfe to her judgment; and I have often heard him upon those occafions apply, with fingular pleasure, and with equal truth, what the tender Propertius fays of his favorite Cynthia:

Me juvat in gremio docta legiffe puellæ, Auribus et puris fcripta probaffe mea : Hac ubi contigerint, populi confufa valeto Fabula; nam, domina judice, tutus ero..

BUT her uncommon ftrength of understanding has preferved her from that fatal rock of all female knowledge, the impertinent oftentation of it; and fhe thinks a referve in this article an effential part of that modesty which is the ornament of her fex. I have heard her observe, that it is not in the acquired endowments of the female mind, as in the beauties of her person, where it may be sufficient praise, perhaps, to follow the example of the virgin de fcribed by Taffo, who,

Non copre fue bellezze, e non l'efpofe. On the contrary fhe esteems it a point of decency to throw a veil over the fuperior

charms of her understanding: and if ever the draws it afide, you plainly perceive it is rather to gratify her good-nature than her vanity; less in compliance with her own inclinations, than with thofe of her company.

HER refined sense and extenfive knowledge have not, however, raised her above the more neceffary acquifitions of female science: they have only taught her to fill that part of her character with higher grace and dignity. She enters into all the domeftic duties of her ftation, with the most confummate skill and prudence. Her conomical deportment is calm and fteddy; and the prefides over her family like the Intelligence of fame planetary orb, conducting it in all its proper directions without violence or difturbed efforts.

THESE qualities, however confiderable they might appear in a less shining character, are but under parts in Hortenfia's: for it is from the virtues of her heart that The derives her most irresistible claim to esteem and approbation. A conftant flow of uniform and unaffected chearfulness gladdens her own breaft, and enlivens that of

every creature around her. Her behavior under the injuries she has received (for injuries even the blameless Hortenfia has received) was with all the calm fortitude of the most heroic patience; as the firmly relied, that Providence would either put an end to her misfortunes, or fupport her under them. And with that animating hope fhe feemed to feel lefs for herself, than for the unjust and inhuman author of her fufferings; generously lamenting to see one, fo nearly related to her, stand condemned by that feverest and most fignificant of fentences, the united reproaches of the world and of his confcience.

THUS, Palemon, I have given you a faithful copy of an excellent original: but whether you will join with me in thinking my pencil has been true to its fubject, must be left to fome future opportunity to deter→ mine. I am, &c.

LET.

I

LETTER XXXIV.

To HORTENSIUS.

Dec. 10, 1730.

HAVE red over the treatife you recom

mended to me, with attention and concern. I was forry to find an author, who feems fo well qualified to ferve the cause of truth, employing his talents in favor of what appears to me a most dangerous error. I have often wondered, indeed, at the policy of certain philofophers of this caft, who endeavor to advance religion by depreciat→ ing human nature. Methinks it would be more for the intereft of virtue, to reprefent her congenial (as congenial she surely is) with our make, and agreable to our untainted conftitution of foul; to prove that every deviation from moral rectitude is an oppofition to our native biass, and contrary to those characters of dignity which the Creator has univerfally impreffed upon the mind. This, at leaft, was the principle which many of the antient philofophers labored to inculcate; as there is not, perhaps, any fingle topic in ethics that might

be

be urged with more truth or greater efficacy.

IT is upon this generous and exalted notion of our species, that one of the noblest precepts of the excellent Pythagoras is founded: Παντων δε μάλιςα (fays that philofopher) alquveo σautov. The firft and leading difpofition to engage us on the fide of virtue was, in that fage's estimation, to preserve above all things a conftant reverence to our own mind, and to dread nothing fo much as to offend against its native dignity. The ingenious Mr. Norris, I remember, recommends this precept as one of the best, perhaps, that was ever given to the world. May not one then juftly be furprized.to find it fo seldom enforced in our modern systems of morality? To confefs the truth, I am ftrongly inclined to fufpect, that much of that general contempt of every manly principle, which fo remarkably distinguishes the prefent times, may fairly be attributed to the humor of difcarding this animating notion of our kind. It has been the fashion to paint human nature in the harshest and most unpleafing colors. Yet there is not, furely, any argument more likely to induce

a man