Rich. Flecknoe's ænigmatical characters being rather a new work, than new impression of the old.

Character 62. Of a Novice of the —'s Order.

HE is a young Lover, and his Order is his Mistris, that to try his constancy, makes a fool of him; the more doz'd and bemoapt he is, the better still, 'tis a sign he is right, and ha's a true vocation; and if he have any wit or judgement of his own, they cry out on him for a very Reprobate. He hates all women∣kinde, and calls a Petticoat Leviathan, and a Smock (but innocently blanching on a hedge) Asteroth, or the foul Devil of Fornication. He walks with his Eyes as fixed in his head, as a dead Hares in a Poulterers shop, and crum∣ples up himself like a Hog-louse, for fear of ••ffusion. He makes as many stops as he goes, as an old rusty Jack, and windes up himself as often to rectifie his intention. He sayes his Our Fathers as devoutly as others their Our Fa∣ther; and counts the Patron of his Order the greatest Saint in Heaven. He is no more mov'd then a Statua at a chiding or reprehen∣sion, and is as peart and brisk after a good

Discipline, as an Ape after a whipping. He breaks Glasses, and thinks to make all whole agen, with a Deo gratias, which is the word when he does any thing (as he does every thing) untowardly. In fine, his Novitiat pas∣ses just like an enchantment with him, and he's in Ex••asie all the while, till tow'rds the end he recovers by degrees, and the Charm expir'd, he becomes like other men.