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MADAM,
HEre is no News, onely I read a Gazet that speaks of a Courtesan, which hath been the Ruin of many Gentlemen's and Noble Men's Estates, by presenting her with Rich Gifts, and maintaining her in Bravery, and 'tis likely she hath Ruined their Bodies, if not their Souls, as she hath done their Estates; yet it is to be hoped, that all is not Truth that is Printed in a Gazet, for it is to be observed, that Gazets are fuller of
Lies than Truths, which makes some Histories that are lately Printed and Published, to have so many Falshoods in them, being for the most part Compiled and Form'd out of Gazets; But if this part of the Gazet be true, as concerning the Courtesan, it shews that she hath a Superi∣our Art of Allurements, not onely to insnare one or two, but many, which Art hath a Magick Power to Transform Rational Men to Beast∣ly Adulterers, Simple Asses, and Prodigal Fools; for certainly it cannot be merely Beauty alone that can have such Power, for mere Beauty takes oftener the Eye than the Heart, it hath more Admirers than Doting Lovers, and the greatest Gift Beauty hath given, are Praises, which Prai∣ses last not Long, by reason Beauty soon De∣cayes; But when Beauty is attended with In∣sinuating Arts, as Behaviour of Person, Pleasant Speech, and Harmonious Voice, as also the Arts of Musick, Dancing, Dressing, and the like, it becomes Victorious, and makes its Triumphs in many Hearts, like as in many Nations; But ma∣ny times those Arts are Victorious without Beauty, whereas Beauty is seldom or never Vi∣ctorious without them; Indeed Women Skil∣ful in these Arts are like Juglers, which Deceive Sense and Reason, making an Appearance of that which is not Really so; and thus most of our Sex Juggle with Men, they Delude them with Artificial Shews and Insinuating Flattery, and 'tis their chief Study and Endeavour so to do; But few Arrive to that Artificial Perfecti∣on,
as the Courtesan mentioned in the Gazet; wherefore it would be well if Wives had more of that Art to keep their Husband's Affections, or at least to keep them from seeking after Va∣riety; and for Courtesans to have less, that they might not Draw and Intice Husbands from their Honest Wives, nor Batchelors and Wi∣dowers from lawful Marriage: But for the most part Courtesans with their Arts Usurp the Wives Rights and Maids hopes; and so lea∣ving the famous Courtesan to her Lovers, and her Lovers to their Ruins, I rest,
Madam,
Your faithful Friend and Servant.