Characteristicks of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times: Three-Volume Slipcased Set, with Illustrations

THE MORALISTS

THE MORALISTS, &c. PART I PHILOCLES to pALEMON WHAT Mortal, if he had never chanc'd to hear your Character, PALEMON, cou'd imagine that a Genius fitted for the greatest Affairs, and form'd amidst Courts and Camps, shou'd have so violent aTurn towards Philosophy and the Schools? Who is there cou'd possibly believe that one [r82] of your Rank and Credit in the fashionable World, shou'd be so thorowly conversant in the learned one, and deeply interested in the Affairs of a People so disagreeable to the Generality of Mankind and Humour of the Age? I Believe truly, You are the only well-bred Man who wou'd have taken the Fancy to talk Philosophy in such a Circle ofgood Com103 THE MORALISTS Seer. r. pany as we had round us yesterday, when we were in your Coach together, in the Park. How you cou'd reconcile the Objects there, to such Subjects as these, was unaccountable. I cou'd only conclude , that eitheryou had an extravagant Passion for Philosophy, to quit so many Charms for it; or that some of those tender Charms had an extravagant Effect, which sent you to Philosophy for Relief. In either Case I pity'd you; thinking it a milder Fate, to be, as I truly was, for my own part, a more indiffirent Lover. 'Twas better, I told you, to admire Beauty and Wisdom a little more moderately . 'Twas better, I maintain'd, to ingage so cautiously as to be sure of coming off with a whole Heart, and a Fancy as strong as ever towards all the pretty Entertainments and Diversions of the [183] World. For these,' methought, were things one wou'd not willingly part with, for a fine romantick Passion ofone of those Gentlemen whom they call'd Virtuoso's. [184] PHILOSOPHY . The Name I took to belong in common to your Lover and Philosopher . No matter what the Object was; whether Poetry, Musick, Philosophy, or the Fair. All who were enamour'd any-way, were in the same Condition. You might perceive it, I told you, by their Looks, their Admiration, their profound Thoughtfulness, their waking ever and anon as out of a Dream, their talking still of one thing, and scarce minding what they said on any other Subject.Sad Indications! But all this Warning serv'd not to deter you. For you, PALEMON, are one of the Adventurous, whom Danger rather animates than discourages. And now nothing less will satisfY you than to have our Philosophical Adventures recorded. All must be laid before you, and summ'd in one compleat Account; to remain, it seems, as a Monument of that unseasonable Conversation, so opposite to the reigning Genius of Gallantry and Pleasure. I MUST own, indeed, 'tis become fashionable in our Nation to talk Politick; in every Company, and mix the Discourses ofStateaffairs with those of Pleasure and Entertainment. However, 'tis certain we approve of no such Freedom in PHILOSOPHY. Nor do A PHILOSOPHICAL RHAPSODY we look upon Politicks to be of her Province, or in the least related Seer. 1. to her. So much have we Moderns degraded her, and stripp'd her of her chief Rights. You must allow me, PALEMON, thus to bemoan Philosophy; since you have forc'd me to ingage with her at a time when her Credit runs so low. She is no longer active in the World; nor can hardly, with any advantage, be brought upon the publick Stage. We have immur'd her (poor Lady!) in Colleges and Cells; and have set her servilely to such Works as those in the Mines. Empiricks, and pedantick Sophists are her chief Pupils. The School-syllogism, and the Elixir, are the choicest of her Products. So far is she from producing Statesmen, as of old, that hardly any Man of Note in the publick cares to own the least Obligation to her. If some few maintain their Acquaintance, and come now and then to her Recesses , 'tis as the Disciple of Quality came to his Lord and Master; "secretly, and by night." But as low as PHILOSOPHY is reduc'd; if Morals be allow'd be- Morals. longing t~ her, Politicks must undeniably be hers. For to under- [rs5] stand the Manners and Constitutions of Men in common, 'tis necessary to study MAN in particular, and know the Creature, as he is in himself, before we...