er into them. Thus,
when they come to talk upon subjects to those who have studied them,
they betray an unpardonable ignorance, and lay themselves open to
answers that confuse them. Be careful then, that you do not get the
appellation of indolent, and, if possible, avoid the character of
frivolous.

41. For the frivolous mind is busied always upon nothing. It mistakes
trifling objects for important ones, and spends that time upon little
matters, that should only be bestowed upon great ones. Knick-knacks,
butterflies, shells, and such like, engross the attention of the
frivolous man, and fill up all his time. He studies the dress and not
the characters of men, and his subjects of conversation are no other
than the weather, his own domestic affairs, his servants, his method of
managing his family, the little anecdotes of the neighborhood, and the
fiddle-faddle stories of the day; void of information, void of
improvement. These he relates with emphasis, as interesting matters; in
short, he is a male gossip. I appeal to your own feelings now, whether
such things do not lessen a man in the opinion, of his acquaintance, and
instead of attracting esteem, create disgust.

_Modesty_.

Modesty is the citidel of beauty and virtue. The first of all virtues is
innocence; the second is modesty.

1. Modesty is both in its source, and in its consequence, a very great
happiness to the fair possessor of it; it arises from a fear of
dishonor, and a good conscience, and is followed immediately, upon its
first appearance, with the reward of honor and esteem, paid by all those
who discover it in any body living.

2. It is indeed a virtue in a woman (that might otherwise be very
disagreeable to one) so exquisitely delicate, that it excites in any
beholder, of a generous and manly disposition, almost all the passions
that he would be apt to conceive for the mistress of his heart, in
variety of circumstances.

3. A woman that is modest creates in us an awe in her company, a wish
for her welfare, a joy in her being actually happy, a sore and painful
sorrow if distress should come upon her, a ready and willing heart to
give her consolation, and a compassionate temper towards her, in every
little accident of life she undergoes; and to sum up all in one word, it
causes such a kind of angelical love, even to a stranger, as good
natured brothers and sisters usually bear towards one another.

4. It adds wonderfully to the make of a fa