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.

CHAP. II. The Nature of Wheedling, and what the Practice thereof directly drives at.

THe art of Wheedling is a Science, wherein is taught, by conversation, a general knowledg of the Humours, Passions, and Inclinations of male and female, according to their several Ages, Sexes, Professions and Occupations, whereby the Professors of this profound Art, suiting their de∣signs to the nature of the Person, and Profession, they take effect according to their desires and ex∣pectations. Advantage is the soul or center of

this Art, regarding no other interest but its own, and subservient to none but for present or future profit; the practice hereof is extreamly bene∣ficial to all persons, and in all places, both in Ci∣ty and Country.

This Art of Wheedling, which some would have called Complaisance, is in plain terms, nothing else but the Art of Insinuation, or Dissimulation, com∣pounded of mental reservation, seeming patience and humility, (self-obliging) civility, and a more than common affability, all which club to please, and consequently to gain by conversation.

This profitable (if rightly practised) Art of Dissimulation hath something more in it than bare∣ly wealth, which perswades men to follow its dictates, or directions, for the welfare of the whole body depends, and moves upon its hinges; this admirable Art, by a secret and most power∣ful charm, calms the rage and greatest displea∣sures of the most Potent, disarms our enemies, when in the greatest fury, and wrests the sword out of that hand, that is just about sheathing it in a bloody, fleshy scabberd; this and much more it does by feigned submissions, and by pretending an untainted entire friendship, whereas, if there be not downright enmity, yet there is no other respect for the person than what is in outward ap∣pearance, to engage him either to lay aside his present anger, or perswade, and oblige him to

some kindness extraordinary. VVherefore the Wheedle, as he must have a care of falling into too low a condescention, so in a special manner let him avoid all sharp contradictions, and all his negatives must little differ from his affirmatives. How could the Town-shifts live as they do, were it not for their applauding things done by the glit∣tering Fops, though unworthy of every honest mans approbation, imitating those Greeks, of whom that ingenuous tell-troth Satyrist Juvenal gives so pleasant a relation; these men (says he) will conform themselves to all sorts of company; do you laugh, they will strive to laugh lowder; if you are pensive and sad, and prone to weep, they shall instantly deluge themselves in tears; if you complain of cold, they shiver, as in the extremity of a Tertian Ague-fit; and if you do but say the weather's very warm, they will cry out they are swelter'd with heat.

—Rides? Majore cachinno Concutitur: flet, si lachrymas conspexit amici, Nec doiet, igniculum Brumae si tempore poscas, Accipit Endromidem; si dixeris, aestuo, sudat. Juven. Sat. 4.

If you tell a lye, though never so grosly false, they shall swear to the truth of it, without a Sub∣paena; in the middle of your discourse they shall

say; 'tis so indeed, not in the least understand∣ing what you meant. In short, without feeling any of your passions, or understanding any of your actions, they appear more affected and concerned than your self, and never fail to compose and con∣form their countenances to yours. They are like a fish called a Polypus, of whom it is storied, that it hath the power of converting its colour into that which is nearest it, and most contiguous for self-preservation; these Protei of this loose age can turn themselves into any shape, so that the conversion of the form will produce any profit or advantage.