16 THE GUARDIAN. 185. who has no virtue in himself, ever envies virtue in others. I know not how it comes to pafs, but detraction, through all ages, has been found a vice which the fair fex too cafily give into. Not the Roman fatyrist could use them with more severity than they themselves do one another. Some audacious critics, in my opinion, have launched out a little too far when they take upon them to prove, in oppofition to hiftory, that Lais was a woman of as much virtue as beauty, which violently difpleafing the Phrynes of thofe times, they fecretly prevailed with the hiftorians to deliver her down to pofterity under the infamous character of an extorting proftitute. But though I have the greatest regard imaginable to that fofter species, yet am I forry to find they have very little for themselves. So far are they from being tender of one another's reputation, that they take a malicious pleasure in destroying it. My lady the other day, when Jack was afking who could be fo bafe to fpread fuch a report about Mrs. ———, answered, None, you may be sure, but a woman.' A little after, Dick told my lady, that he had heard Florella hint as if Cleora wore artificial teeth. The reafon is, faid fhe, because Cleora first gave out that Florella owed her complexion to a wash. Thus the induftrious pretty creatures take pains by invention, to throw blemishes on each other, when they do not consider that there is a profligate set of follows too ready to taint the character of the virtuous, or blast the charms of the blooming virgin. The young lady from whom I had the honour of receiving the following letter, deferves or rather claims, protection from our sex, since so barbarously treated by her own. Certainly they ought to defend innocence from injury who gave ignorantly the occafion of its being affaulted. Had the men been lefs liberal of their applauses, the women had been more sparing of these calumnious cenfures. SIR, 'TO THE GUARDIAN. 'I Do not know at what nice point you fix the bloom of a young lady; but I am one who can just look back upon fifteen. My father dying three years ago, left me under the care and direction of my mother, with a fortune not profufely great, yet fuch as might demand a very handfome fettlement, if ever propofals of marriage should be offered. My mother, after the ufual time of retired mourning was over, was fo affectionately indulgent to me, as to take me along with her in all her vifits; but still not thinking the gratified my youth enough, permitted me further to go with my relations to all the public, chearful, but innocent entertainments, where the was too referved to appear herself. The two first years of my teens were eafy, gay, and delightful. Every one careffed me; the old ladies told me how finely I grew, and the young ones were proud of my company. But when the third year had a little advanced, my relations used to tell my mother that pretty miss Clary was fhot up into a woman. The gentlemen be-. gan now not to let their eyes glance over me, and in most places I found myfelf distinguished; VOL. II. C but obferved, the more I grew into the esteem of their fex, the more I loft the favour of my own. Some of those whom I had been familiar with, grew cold and indifferent; others miftook by defign, my meaning, made me speak what I never thought, and fo by degrees took occafion to break off all acquaintance. There were feveral little infignificant reflections caft upon me, as being a lady of a great many quaintneffes and fuch like, which I feemed not to take notice of. But my mother coming home about a week ago, told me there was a fcandal fpread about town by my enemies, that would at once ruin me for ever for a beauty I earnestly intreated her to know it; fhe refused me, but yesterday it discovered itself. Being in an assembly of gentlemen and ladies, one of the gentlemen who had been very facetious to feveral of the ladies, at laft turning to me, And as for you, madam, Prior has already given us your character, "That air and harmony of shape exprefs, Fine by degrees, yet beautifully lefs." I perceived immediately a malignant smile difplay itself in the countenance of fome of the ladies, which they feconded with a scornful flutter of the fan; until one of them, unable any longer to contain, afked the gentleman if he did not remember what Congreve faid about Aurelia, for the thought it mighty pretty. He made no answer, but instantly repeated the verses: "The Mulcibers who in the Minories fweat, This was no fooner over, but it was eafily difcernible what an ill-natured fatisfaction most of the company took; and the more pleasure they thowed by dwelling upon the two last lines, the more they increased my trouble and confusion. And now, fir, after this tedious account, what would you advife me to? Is there no way to be cleared of thefe malicious calumnies? What is beauty worth that makes the poffeffor thus unhappy? Why was nature fo lavish of her gifts to me, as to make her kindness prove a cruelty? They tell me my fhape is delicate, my eyes fparkling, my lips I know not what, my cheeks forfooth, adorned with a just mixture of the rofe and lily; but I wish this face was barely not difagreeable, this voice harsh and unharmonious, these limbs only not deformed, and then perhaps I might live easy and unmolested, and neither raise love and admiration in the men, nor fcandal and hatred in the women. Your very humble fervant, The beft answer I can make my fair correspondent is, that the ought to comfort herself with this confideration, that those who talk thus of her know it is falfe, but wish they could make others believe it true. It is not they think you deformed, but are vexed that they themselves were not as nicely framed. If you will take an old man's advice, laugh, and be not concerned at them they have attained what they endeavoured if they make you uneafy; for it is envy that has made them fo. I would not have you with your shape one fixtieth part of an inch difproportioned, nor defire your face might be impoverished with the ruin of half a feature, though numbers of remaining beauties might make the lofs infenfible; but take courage, go into the brightest assemblies, and the world will quickly confefs it to be scandal. Thus Plato, hearing it was afferted by fome perfons that he was a very bad man, I fhall take care,' faid he, to live fo, that no body will believe them.' I fhall conclude this paper with a relation of matter of fact. A gay young gentleman in the country, not many years ago, fell desperately in love with a blooming fine creature, whom give me leave to call Meliffa. After a pretty long delay, and frequent folicitations, fhe refufed feveral others of larger eftates, and confented to make me happy. But they had not been married much above a twelvemonth, until it appeared too true what Juba fays, Beauty foon grows familiar to the lover, Polydore (for that was his name) finding himself grow every day more uneafy, and unwilling the fhould discover the caufe, for diverfion came up to town, and to avoid all fufpicions, brought Meliffa along with him. After fome stay here, Polydore was one day informed, that a set of ladies over their tea-table, in the circle of fcandal, had touched upon Meliffa-And was that the filly thing fo much talked of! How did the ever grow into a toaft! For their parts they had eyes |