Proteus redivivus, or, The art of wheedling or insinuation obtain'd by general conversation and extracted from the several humours, inclinations, and passions of both sexes, respecting their several ages, and suiting each profession or occupation / collected and methodized by the author of the first part of the English rogue.

Of FEAR.

NAture seems to have given us two Passions (Hope and Fear) for our Counsellours in the diverse adventures of our life; the first is with∣out doubt more pleasing, but Fear, the second, is more faithful; Hope flatters, to deceive us; Fear frightens, to secure us. For Fear is natural wisdom, which frequently frees us from danger by making us apprehensive thereof; thence we grow shye, and affrightned with the evils she discovers: She studies not what is past, save only to know what is to come, and she governs the present time, only to assure her self of the future, which draws along with it a pro∣digious train of adventures, which cause a thou∣sand alterations in Individual men; so as suturity is the chief object of wisdom, which considers

the other differences of time, only that she may the better judge of this. The time to come is as doubtful, as conceal'd, and therefore it behoves every man to look out sharply to foresee a danger approaching, and to avoid it; to discern a little Cloud, but a hands breadth, which brings a storm with it next akin to an Hurricane.

Much may be said of this prudent, and pro∣vident Passion, but I shall refer you to those who have writ largely upon that subject, and pass to another sort of fear, which some call Cowardise, of which the Wheedle must have a special care he seem not guilty, or tainted therewith: if he be, farewel all plots, and crafty projects, for he will be the contempt of all men, and be like a Foot-ball kickt from Parish to Parish, till they have lost him.

To prevent this insufferable mischief, the Wheedle (though the rankest Coward living) must indeavor by all means imaginable to seem Stout and Couragious; he must look big, and his Speech must be conformable; he must con∣tinually make the Coward the subject of his raillery, and yet have a care of provoking the man that will fight: Amongst innocent harmless things he may thunder where he is sure no danger, or mischief will ensue, and Lighten the reckon∣ing on them in conclusion: this way of hussing (with the dreadful appearance of a Toledo blade)

hath made many a tame Fop go home without ever a penny in his pocket, well contended, and glad he came off so, though they made him swal∣low so many false Dice, as had like to have choakt him, and not satisfied with this, gave him the Box to boot. In the next place I should treat of Choler and Sorrow, which last Passion is in opposi∣tion to Delight, but I shall desist, having spoak already of them in those Chapters which con∣tain the Temperaments.