Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

the fields, the transparency of the streams, and the beauty of the women, I know few countries more proper to invite to courtship. Here Love might sport among painted lawns and warbling groves, and revel amidst gales, wafting at once both fragrance and harmony. Yet it seems he has forsaken the island; and, when a couple are now to be married, mutual love, or an union of minds, is the last and most trifling consideration. If their goods and chattels can be brought to unite, their sympathetic souls are ever ready to guarantee the treaty. The gentleman's mortgaged lawn becomes enamoured of the lady's marriageable grove; the match is struck up, and both parties are piously in love-according to act of parliament.

Thus they who have fortune, are possessed at least of something that is lovely; but I actually pity those who have none. I am told there was a time, when ladies, with no other merit but youth, virtue, and beauty, had a chance for husbands, at least among our clergymen and officers. The blush and innocence of sixteen was said to have a powerful influence over these two professions. But of late, all the little traffic of blushing, ogling, dimpling, and smiling, has been forbidden by an act in that case wisely made and provided. A lady's whole cargo of smiles, sighs, and whispers, is declared utterly contraband, till she arrives in the warm latitude of twenty-two, where commodities of this nature are too often found to decay. She is then permitted to dimple and smile, when the dimples begin to forsake her; and, when perhaps grown ugly, is charitably entrusted with an unlimited use of her charms. Her lovers, however, by this time, have forsaken her; the captain has changed for another mistress; the priest himself leaves her in solitude, to bewail her virginity, and she dies even without benefit of clergy.

Thus you find the Europeans discouraging Love with as much earnestness as the rudest savage of Sofala. The Genius is surely now no more. In every region there seem enemies in arms to oppress him. Avarice in Europe, jealousy in Persia, ceremony in China, poverty among the Tartars, and lust in Circassia, are all prepared to oppose his power. The Genius is certainly banished from earth, though once adored under such a variety of forms. He is nowhere to be found; and all that the ladies of each country can produce, are but a few trifling relics, as instances of his former residence and favour.

6

6

[ocr errors]

"The Genius of Love,' says the Eastern Apologue, ' had long resided in the happy plains of Abra, where ' every breeze was health, and every sound produced tranquillity. His temple at first was crowded, but every age lessened the number of his votaries, or 'cooled their devotion. Perceiving therefore his altars ' at length quite deserted, he was resolved to remove to some more propitious region; and he apprised the fair sex of every country, where he could hope for a proper reception, to assert their right to his presence among ' them. In return to this proclamation, embassies were sent from the ladies of every part of the world to 'invite him, and to display the superiority of their ' claims.

6

6

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

6

6

6

6

6

'And, first, the beauties of China appeared. No country could compare with them for modesty, either of look, dress, or behaviour; their eyes were never lifted from the ground; their robes, of the most beautiful silk, hid their hands, bosom, and neck, while their faces only were left uncovered. They indulged 'no airs that might express loose desire, and they 'seemed to study only the graces of inanimate beauty. Their black teeth and plucked eyebrows were, however,

[ocr errors]

6

alleged by the Genius against them, but he set them

'entirely aside when he came to examine their little 'feet.

[ocr errors]

6 The beauties of Circassia next made their appearance. 'They advanced hand in hand, singing the most im'modest airs, and leading up a dance in the most ' luxurious attitudes. Their dress was but half a cover'ing; the neck, the left breast, and all the limbs, were 'exposed to view; which, after some time, seemed ' rather to satiate than inflame desire. The lily and the rose contended in forming their complexions; and a soft sleepiness of eye added irresistible poignance to their charms: but their beauties were obtruded, not offered, to their admirers; they seemed to give rather than receive courtship; and the Genius of Love 'dismissed them as unworthy his regard, since they 'exchanged the duties of love, and made themselves not the pursued, but the pursuing sex.

6

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

'The kingdom of Kashmire next produced its charm'ing deputies. This happy region seemed peculiarly 'sequestered by nature for his abode. Shady mountains 'fenced it on one side from the scorching sun, and 'sea-borne breezes on the other gave peculiar luxuriance 'to the air. Their complexions were of a bright yellow, 'that appeared almost transparent, while the crimson 'tulip seemed to blossom on their cheeks. Their features and limbs were delicate beyond the statuary's power to express; and their teeth whiter than their own ivory. 'He was almost persuaded to reside among them, when 'unfortunately one of the ladies talked of appointing 'his seraglio.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

'In this procession the naked inhabitants of Southern America would not be left behind; their charms were 'found to surpass whatever the warmest imagination 'could conceive; and served to show, that beauty 'could be perfect, even with the seeming disadvantage

[ocr errors]

of a brown complexion. But their savage education ' rendered them utterly unqualified to make the proper use of their power, and they were rejected as being 'incapable of uniting mental with sensual satisfaction. 'In this manner the deputies of other kingdoms had 'their suits rejected: the black beauties of Benin, and the tawny daughters of Borneo; the women of Wida 'with scarred faces, and the hideous virgins of Caffraria; 'the squab ladies of Lapland, three feet high, and the giant fair ones of Patagonia.

6

6

The beauties of Europe at last appeared: grace in their steps, and sensibility smiling in every eye. It was 'the universal opinion, while they were approaching, 'that they would prevail; and the Genius seemed to ' lend them his most favourable attention. They opened 'their pretensions with the utmost modesty; but 'unfortunately, as their orator proceeded, she happened 'to let fall the words, "House in town," "Settlement," " and "Pin-money." These seemingly harmless terms 'had instantly a surprising effect the Genius, with ' ungovernable rage, burst from amidst the circle; and, 'waving his youthful pinions, left this earth, and flew 'back to those ethereal mansions from whence he 6 descended.

'The whole assembly was struck with amazement ; 'they now justly apprehended that female power would 'be no more, since Love had forsaken them. They 'continued some time thus in a state of torpid despair; 'when it was proposed by one of the number, that, since 'the real Genius of Love had left them, in order to continue their power, they should set up an idol in his stead; and that the ladies of every country should 'furnish him with what each liked best. This proposal was instantly relished and agreed to. An idol of gold 'was formed by uniting the capricious gifts of all the

[ocr errors]

6

[ocr errors]

'assembly, though no way resembling the departed Genius. The ladies of China furnished the monster with 'wings; those of Kashmire supplied him with horns; 'the dames of Europe clapped a purse into his hand; ' and the virgins of Congo furnished him with a tail. 'Since that time, all the vows addressed to Love are in reality paid to the idol; while, as in other false ' religions, the adoration seems most fervent, where the ' heart is least sincere.'

ESSAY XXIV

THE DISTRESSES OF A COMMON SOLDIER [Altered from Letter CXIX of The Citizen of the World] No observation is more common, and at the same time more true, than that one half of the world are ignorant how the other half lives. The misfortunes of the great are held up to engage our attention; are enlarged upon in tones of declamation; and the world is called upon to gaze at the noble sufferers: the great, under the pressure of calamity, are conscious of several others sympathizing with their distress; and have, at once, the comfort of admiration and pity.

There is nothing magnanimous in bearing misfortunes with fortitude, when the whole world is looking on: men in such circumstances will act bravely even from motives of vanity; but he who, in the vale of obscurity, can brave adversity; who, without friends to encourage, acquaintances to pity, or even without hope to alleviate his misfortunes, can behave with tranquillity and indifference, is truly great: whether peasant or courtier, he deserves admiration, and should be held up for our imitation and respect.

While the slightest inconveniences of the great are

[blocks in formation]
« VorigeDoorgaan »