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 DESIRE.

ONe would think (since in all creatures, as well as men, there is a certain instinct for self∣preservation) man could not harm himself by having his Desires changed into effects; for, it is the ordinary wish which our friends, and nearest Relations bestow upon us, and undoutedly were they well regulated, nothing would be more greateful, and useful in their accomplishment;

and we should esteem our selves (from thence) the happiest of men, if after a long pursuance, we should arrive to the complement of our de∣sires; but, as these wishes are almost always unjust, so their success is frequently injurious. And, here I cannot omit inserting a most incom∣parable saying of Seneca, Bonae animae male precan∣tur, & si vis foelix esse, Deum ora, ne quid tibi ex his quos optantur, eveniat. We must pray to the Omnipotent, that nothing may befal us, which is wished to us; and in this, it is not improbable that our best friends may innocently wish us ill, when they make vows in our behalf: this is a pardon, not so difficult to be understood, if you will but consult the dangerous practices of the Wheelde in feeding, and fomenting that Self-love he discovers in any Person, by indulging (if pos∣sible) all his wishes, and desires, working upon the imagination the more to irritate them, which probable might be quiet enough, did not this embroiling Power put them in disorder.

Nature (of her Self) is contented with a very little, and that mean too; she only makes head, to oppose what either doth molest, or would de∣stroy; she covets not stately structures, and, so that she be but preserved from the injury of the Weather, she values not their ornaments; she minds not gaudy habiliments, and cares not how plain her garments are, so that they hide her na∣kedness,

and fence her body from the rigour of the cold; she hunts not after delights, which are ex∣cesful in meat, and drink, so that they quench Thirst, and satisfy Hunger: but imagination, which seems to have no other employment since the Fall, continually is busied in inventing new delights, and adds dissoluteness to our de∣sires, and makes our, wishes altogether irrega∣lar; tis she that makes the whole Nature labour to satisfie our Pride and Luxury; she dives into the Bowels of the Earth, and into the depths of the Sea, to find out Pearls, and pretious Stones, with what other ornaments they afford to deck the body.

In fine, she inquisitively seeks after curiosity of delicate food, and admits of none, but what is exquisit; she confounds the Seasons to afford man pleasure, and in spight of a sultry Summer, preserves Snow and Ice to cool the Wine, that it may please the better. These things the sen∣sual Wheedle suggests to him by the strength of imagination (to fatten his own carkass) and ha∣ving possest him with an opinion of the excel∣lency of their enjoyment, impatient of delay, and wing'd with desires, he takes his flight, and never desists till he hath seiz'd the Quarry; and at length, by greediness, is either gorg'd, or sur∣feited into an Hospital, having not so much mony left, as will procure him one single Pur∣gation.

How cunningly will this Wheedle insinuate himself into the Society of young Men, and knowing how prone they are to prosecute plea∣sure of all sorts, he hath an Inventory of all pla∣ces of Pleasure and Pastimes; then he tells them of such an excellent New-Spring-Garden; such a Match at Bowls, where so much Mony will be laid; such a Race; such a Match at Hunting, &c. if none of these will take, he hath twenty more; some of which will hit; after this a glass of Wine, over which he discourses of several excellent Beauties, he hath had the honour to be acquainted with, such who were never blown upon by the infectious Air of the City or Suburbs, but fresher than Flora in all her sweet smelling gaiety; these are the Traps he lays, when he hath warm'd their Bloods with Liquors, and poisons them with Wine and VVomen, as men do Rats with Sponge and sweet Malago.