in him; his extraordinary Modesty only kept him from univerfal Admiration, a Quality inborn to the moft worthy; that when he pleased, it was but making himself known to receive the firft Dignities and Employments of the Empire; though the Illnatur'd will tell you, his greatest Merit, according to Monfieur Gouft Agreeable, confift ed in being a bonne Companion, in knowing when your Cray-Fith-Soups, Olios, Turin Fricacies, and other Elegancies of the Table, were in Perfection; which were beft" for a Preparative, which for a Digestive;i Spirit of Clary, Tincture of Saffron, Barbadoes-Water, Perfico, or L'eau de vie, avec les Fleurs d'Orange. Madam de St. Amant had been married fo young, that Love had nothing to do in that Affair; Cupid was not at all neceffary to a Match made up by Friends; however the grew up with great Inclinations to comply in every Thing with a Huf band fo obliging: Wherefore we must not think it at all ftrange, that fhe fo readily obeyed him in efteeming the Baron. He was by Freedom of Coverfation let into a thoufand Intimacies, which gave him Opportu nities of distinguishing himself, by a more infinuating Behaviour than was neceffary for a Husband to have, who was much at Eafe and in full Poffeffion of whatever a Wife can beftow. Love (that dangerous Enemy of our Quiet, who fooner or later forces every Heart by Experience to acknowledge him the Mafter) had a malicious Defire to

poifon that calm and innocent Manner of Life, between Monfieur and Madam St. Amant: He tricked up the Baron in all things that could appear lovely to the Eyes of the Lady; drefs'd up his Air with killing Smiles; furnished his Eyes from his own Quiver; begg'd fome of his beautiful Mother's Sweetnefs, and her beft Water for Complexion; pilfer'd from every one of the Graces to adorn his Favourite; and even ftole fome of the Heavenly Ambrofia to diffufe throughout his Perfon, fo that nothing appeared fo charming as he to the Lady. I had forgot to tell you, that Cupid, tho' he be not very goodnatur'd, in Compaflion of the rest of the Sex, made these Perfections vifible to none but Sachariffa. As to the Super-Ornaments of the Mind, they were not neceffaty in this Cafe. What have Lovers to do with Senfe and Judgment? Wisdom was never fo much as made mention of in their Court of Requeft: Brisk Repartees, fome fuperficial Sparklings of Wit, a well-turned Period in a Billet, an agreeable Manner of telling a Story, no matter whether the Story be good or bad, eternal Compliances, inceffint Flattery, never-ending Praites, perfect Refignation, and continual Importunities, are their Letters of Mart, and pafs better in Love'sExchange, than fine Understanding.

Madam St. Amant, who was no Conjurer in unravelling Myfteries, though they were even thofe of Nature, wondered what fort of new Gueft fhe had entertain'd; fhe

neither eat nor flept; a fort of languishing Melancholy made her Days and Nights uneafy to her; Spleen and Vapours were then fashionable Appellations for Distempers they could ftrictly give no other Name to. If a Lady wanted Money for the Baffet-Table, and her Lord refufed her, presently the was troubled with the Vapours; if a Set of Jewels to go to the Apartment, or Prefents for a private Favourite, ftill 'twas the Vapours; if fhe was forbid the Freedom of a Hackney Coach, with her Bofom-Friend the Mantua-maker, the Vapours were intolerably powerful, and nothing like a Jaunt incognito to allay them. In fhort, poor Vapours was forced to father abundance of Inconveniencies. Madam St. Amant had recourse to them; fhe refuged, under the Title of Vapours, a Diftemper all new and perplexitive. Signior Mompellier, the Wo mens Physician, was ordered to fit in Judgment upon my Lady's Indifpofition; according to his Way of rambling, finding it lay chiefly in the Fancy, he began to entertain her with fomething which he thought very diverting, his own Amours, and the Favours that had been bestowed upon him. Madam St. Amant had indeed heard that was his Way, but had never proved it before. She affumed the fevere Air of a Woman of Honour, fhock'd at the extreme Liberty the Doctor took in his Buffoon Relation. When he faw he had mifs'd of his Aim, and could not divert, he seriously advised her Husband

to.

to take care of her; fhe had the Height_of Vapours, which might degenerate into Lunacy. To prove this, he repeated those Stories which her melancholy Spleen had beens Proof against; and because the did not burft out into Laughter at his Jefts, he concluded her mad; and yet this is the Firft-rank'd Wit of the Age. But fince I intend to carry you where your felves fhall be Judges of his Converfation, I'll not foreftall it by Description.

Still the poor Lady languifhed under this nameless Melancholy. Monfieur was good-natur'd, and made himfelf troublefomly officious; but all his Kindness but increas'd her Malady; every Thing he did was difpleafing; the had even a Repugnancy in her Nature at fpeaking civilly to him; when he would touch her Hand, it redoubled her Diftemper; but to kifs her Mouth, was Vapours wrought up to Frenzy. She wonder'd more than he did at this apparent Diflike; he began in good earnest to fear the Doctor was infallible, and that the would be mad. When he offered at careffing, fhe would fqueak as if the were poffefs'd. Love for the Baron caufed her (without her own Knowledge) to hate her Hu band; fhe received him with Frowns; an fwered him perverfely, and from the Purpofe; hated to eat or fleep where he was. But when the Baron appeared, 'twas the Reverse; she smiled whether the would or no; maugre her felf, her Eyes ran into a Dance of Joy;

her

her Heart rebounded in her Breaft; Spleen and Vapours were no more, her Converfation took a gay Turn; the little affected Arts by which the Fair would infinuate, became natural; the new-ftampt her very Ait and Words; all that the Baron faid, all that the Baron did, was delightful to her fhe could fit at Table, nay even eat, fo he were but one of the Guefts; the could reconcile her felf to Cards, provided he made one; nay more, her Husband became tole rable to her in his Company: There was nothing to be feen but Smiles of perpetual Joy, whilft the Baron was by; but when he departed, all was Sun-fet, or worse, rifing Mifts, and cloudy Vapours. Her Husband (without any Reflection to her Prejudice) faw that nothing diverted her but the Baron, and therefore begged him, as earneftly as if he were fuing for the greateft Good, to keep his Wife Company till her Health was recovered. He did not in the leaft wonder that the fhould think well of him; he had endeavoured all he could to raife a Friendfhip and Esteem in her; and because he himfelf was never fo much pleafed as when he was with him, he eafily believed another might have the fame Sentiments, and be as well entertained with what he found fo diverting.

The Baron was not fo great a Novice in Love-Affairs, but he could guefs who was the Occafion of Madam's Diftemper : Whether he prided himfelf in the good For

tune,