in relief in the agreeable
conversation of _Daphne_. At length, heartily tired with the haughty
impertinence of _Laetitia_, and charmed with repeated instances of good
humour he had observed in _Daphne_, he one day told the latter, that he
had something to say to her he hoped she would be pleased with.

25. ----_Faith Daphne_, continued he, _I am in love with thee, and
despise thy sister sincerely_. The manner of his declaring himself gave
his mistress occasion for a very hearty laughter.--_Nay_, says he, _I
knew you would laugh at me, but I'll ask your father_. He did so; the
father received his intelligence with no less joy than surprize, and was
very glad he had now no care left but for his beauty, which he thought
he would carry to market at his leisure.

26. I do not know any thing that has pleased me so much a great while,
as this conquest of my friend _Daphne's_. All her acquaintance
congratulate her upon her chance medley, and laugh at that premeditating
murderer, her sister. As it is an argument of a light mind, to think the
worse of ourselves for the imperfections of our persons, it is equally
below us to value ourselves upon the advantages of them.

27. The female world seems to be almost incorrigibly gone astray in this
particular; for which reason, I shall recommend the following extract
out of a friend's letter to the profess'd beauties, who are a people
almost as insufferable as the profess'd wits.

'Monsier St. _Evrement_ has concluded one of his essays with affirming,
that the last sighs of a handsome woman are not so much for the loss of
her life, as her beauty.

28. 'Perhaps this raillery is pursued too far, yet it is turned upon a
very obvious remark, that woman's strongest passion is for her own
beauty, and that she values it as her favourite distinction. From hence
it is that all hearts, which intend to improve or preserve it, meet with
so general a reception among the sex.

29. To say nothing Of many false helps, and contraband wares of beauty,
which are daily vended in this great mart, there is not a maiden
gentlewoman, of a good family, in any county of _South Britain_, who has
not heard of the virtues of may-dew, or is unfurnished with some receipt
or other in favour of her complexion; and I have known a physician of
learning and sense, after eight years study in the university and a
course of travels into most countries of _Europe_, owe the first raising
of his fortune to a cosmetic wash