In which the Reader will find a Description of a Beauty, in a Style truly sublime.
The new-fallen Snow, pursued Sir George, was tanned, in Comparison of the refined Purity of that White which made up the Ground of her Complexion; and, though Fear had a little gathered the Carnations of her Cheeks, yet her Joy at being delivered seemed to plant them there with such fresh Advantages, that any Eye might shrink at the Brightness of that mingled Lustre: Her Mouth, as well for Shape as Colour, might shame the Imitation of the best Pencils, and the liveliest Tints; and though through some petty Intervals of Joy, it wanted the Smiles, which Grief and Terror sequestred, yet she never opened it, but like the East, at the Birth of a beautiful Day, and then discovered Treasures, whose excelling Whiteness made the Price inestimable: All the Features of her Face had so near a Kindred to Proportion and Symmetry, as the several Masters of Apelles's Art might have called it his Glory to have copied Beauties from her, as the best of Models: The Circumference of her Visage shewed the Extremes of an imperfect Circle, and almost formed it to a perfect Oval: And this Abridgment of Marvels was tapered by a Pair of the brightest Stars, that ever were lighted up by the Hand of Nature: As their Color was the same with the Heavens, there was a spherical Harmony in their Motion; and that mingled with a Vivacity so penetrating, as neither the firmest Eye, nor the What room, I pray you, does a Lady give for high and noble Adventures, who consumes her Days in Dressing, Dancing, listening to Songs, and ranging the Walks with People as thoughtless as herself?
How mean and contemptible a Figure must a Life spent in such idle Amusements make in History? Or rather, are not such Persons always buried in Oblivion, and can any Pen be found who would condescend to record such inconsiderable Actions? Nor can I persuade myself, added she, that any of those Men whom I saw at the Assembly, with Figures so feminine, Voices so soft, such tripping Steps, and unmeaning Gestures, have ever signalized either their Courage or Constancy; but might be overcome by their Enemy in Battle, or be false to their Mistress in Love. Law! Cousin, replied Miss Glanville, you are always talking of Battles and Fighting. Do you expect that Persons of Quality, and fine Gentlemen, will go to the Wars? What Business have they to fight? That belongs to the Officers.
Then every fine Gentleman is an Officer, said Arabella; and some other Title ought to be found out for Men who do nothing but Dance and Dress. I could never have imagined, interrupted Mr. Tinsel, surveying Arabella, that a Lady so elegant and gay in her own Appearance, should have an Aversion to Pleasure and Magnificence. I a**ure you, Sir, replied Arabella, I have an Aversion to neither: On the contrary, I am a great Admirer of both.
But my Ideas of Amusements and Grandeur are probably different from yours. I will allow the Ladies to be sollicitous about their Habits, and dress with all the Care and Elegance they are capable of; but such Trifles are below the Consideration of a Man, who ought not to owe the Dignity of his Appearance to the Embroidery on his Coat, but to his high and noble Air, the Grandeur of his Courage, the Elevation of his Sentiments, and the many heroic Actions he has performed.
Such a Man will dress his Person with a graceful Simplicity, and lavish all his Gold and Embroidery upon his Armor, to render him conspicuous in the Day of Battle. The Plumes in his Helmet will look more graceful in the Field, than the Feather in his Hat at a Ball; and Jewels blaze with more Propriety on his Shield and Cuira** in Battle, than glittering on his Finger in a Dance.
Do not imagine, however, pursued she, that I absolutely condemn Dancing, and think it a Diversion wholly unworthy of a Hero. History has recorded some very famous Balls, at which the most illustrious Persons in the World have appeared. Cyrusthe Great, we are informed, opened a Ball with the divine Mandanaat Sardis. The renowned King of Scythia danced with the Princess Cleopatra at Alexandria. The brave Cleomedon with the fair Candace at Ethiopia; but these Diversions were taken but seldom, and considered indeed as an Amusement, not as a Part of the Business of Life. How would so many glorious Battles have been fought, Cities taken, Ladies rescued, and other great and noble Adventures been achieved, if the Men, sunk in Sloth and Effeminacy, had continually followed the Sound of a Fiddle, sauntered in Public Walks, or tattled over a Tea-table.
I vow, Cousin, said Miss Glanville, you are infinitely more severe in your Censures than Mr. Tinsel was at the Assembly. You had little Reason methinks to be angry with him. All I have said, replied Arabella, was the natural Inference from your own Account of the Manner in which People live here. When Actions are a Censure upon themselves, the Recited will always be considered as a Satirist.