The characters, or, The manners of the age by Monsieur de la Bruyere ... made English by several hands ; with the characters of Theophrastus, translated from the Greek, and a prefatory discourse to them, by Monsieur de la Bruyere ; to which is added, a key to his Characters.
About this Item
Title
The characters, or, The manners of the age by Monsieur de la Bruyere ... made English by several hands ; with the characters of Theophrastus, translated from the Greek, and a prefatory discourse to them, by Monsieur de la Bruyere ; to which is added, a key to his Characters.
Author
La Bruyère, Jean de, 1645-1696.
Publication
London :: Printed for John Bullord and sold by Matt. Gilliflower ... Ben. Tooke ... Christopher Bateman ... and Richard Parker ...,
1699.
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Subject terms
Character sketches.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A47658.0001.001
Cite this Item
"The characters, or, The manners of the age by Monsieur de la Bruyere ... made English by several hands ; with the characters of Theophrastus, translated from the Greek, and a prefatory discourse to them, by Monsieur de la Bruyere ; to which is added, a key to his Characters." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A47658.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 21, 2025.
Pages
Of Unseasonable Conversa∣tion.
THe ill timing of Conversation is that which makes it uneasie and trouble∣som to all persons. When a man is entirely taken up with affairs of his own, which are of the greatest consequence to him, an importunate troublesome fellow intrudes up∣on him, to communicate some of his little trifles, and desires to consult him about them. He'll also go sup with his Mistress when she is in a raging Fever. At the very mo∣ment he sees a person cast in Court for be∣ing bound for another, he desires him to do him the same favour. If he is summoned as a witness, he comes to give in his Evi∣dence after the trial is over; if he is invited to a Wedding, then is the time he thinks
descriptionPage 22
fit to shew his wit in railing against the Fe∣male Sex. He earnestly begs his friend that is very weary, being just come off a long and tiresome Journey, to take a walk with him. When a thing is already sold, he'll bring a Chapman that would give more for it. Sometimes you will have him rise up in the midst of a great Company•• and make a relation from beginning to end of what has passed there, which every body has seen, heard and known as well as himself. He will officiously thrust himself into the management of another per∣sons affairs, who is extremely averse to it but yet does not know how to deny him. When the † 1.1 Sacrifices are to be performed, and a Feast made by any person, he goes to him, and asks to have a part of what is provided. If any Gentleman corrects his Servant in his sight, says he, I beat one of mine upon the same occasion, and he pre∣sently went and hanged himself. Being chosen Umpire by two persons that have been long at Law, and desire to have the matter accommodated, he leaves it to themselves to agree it. At an entertain∣ment he takes that * 1.2 person out to dance with him, whom the Wine has not yet in the least exhilerated.
Notes
† 1.1
The G••. the sameday they sacri∣ficed, either enter••ain'd their friends at home, or ••ent them some part of the Sacrifice. T••e••efore it was very unreasona∣ble for him to demand part be••ore the Feast was ap∣pointed; he knew whe∣ther he should be invited or no.