Reflexions on marriage, and the poetick discipline a letter / by the author of The remarques on the town.

To the READER.

IT has not only been the Fa∣shion, but esteemed a Ju∣stice in every Age, to assist those Theams that have been run down by a Popular pra∣ctice and contempt: Marriage appear'd so to the Author of the following Paper; which suffers too much in the loss of its Venera∣tion and Esteem; had any more Dexterous, found that Generosity about them, as to have perform∣ed an act of so much Justice, they had prevented this attempt of the Author, who writes not out of affe∣ctation nor a busy humour. But it

seemes the wits are revolted, and have taken imployment under a Tyrannick, and prosperous vice: whilst those who are best able to appear for so excellent a Sub∣ject, have deserted it, the assistan∣ces of meaner Persons, though they may want the applauses of Success, yet they lose not the Character of Kindness. And when others are strangly imploy∣ed in heaping Reproaches up∣on Marriage, and in ascribing disadvantages to it, whilst they affront it with their new Witt, and their modish Vices, nothing can appear more Just, then to vindicate it, by Recapitulateing those benefits that it has produ∣ced in the world: it is a witness great enough of its misfortunes, that it needs to be Harangued; since its practicall Esteem and Ve∣neration, had 'till now preserved it from the want of Elogies: but

when it is reduc'd to that con∣dition it is high time to erect it Monuments, whilst the world is so fast forgetting its Reputation and its Grandeur. But whilst the Author has attempted this, he must say in his own Justifica∣tion, that he has only interessed himself in the Subject, without reflecting upon any that have pro∣cured it injuries: and indeed eve∣ry Writer, should proclaim like the Roman, Pacem cum Hominibus, Bellum cum vitiis. 'Tis far from his humour to show a disrespect of that nature to any Person, and as far from his beleif, that the way to reclaim others, were to expose them by severe Reflexi∣ons. they will do him an in∣justice who think so of him; and equally traduce him, who should take his taxing the Crimes of some, for a Censure on the whole Community: he only designes to

show the vanity and the fault of those who becoming enamoured on a fatall humour, must yet make their addresses to it in so strange a manner, as to impose it on the beleif and practices of o∣thers; and in ascribing the con∣currence of the whole Town to the efforts of a private Humour. We are well assured, that those vices have found impregnable more Persons then they can pre∣tend to have Conquer'd. Though at the same time, since all Vice is progressive, and especially when it is pusht on, by so strange a con∣fidence and affectation, it is but ne∣cessary to fix some Accusations on that Practice, whose noise and daring temper, may in time, make more considerable devastations in the possessions of that Vertue, which yet is left secure and un∣corrupted. And the Author de∣signes this Declaration not only as

an excuse for the following Pa∣per, but also as a Justification of what he has formerly written, in which he finds himself cen∣sured as taxing the whole Town with those blemishes, which he only affixed to the affected and imposing humour; though he can esteem that reproach as no o∣ther then an Evasion and an Ar∣tifice in the faulty, since those whose innocence is assured, ne∣ver concern themselves in any Re∣flexions which belong not to them.

—Thus far I had written, when I received an Answer to my Re∣marques; but it was neither with Trouble nor Surprize; since I ve∣ry well know, that it is impossi∣ble for the most modest Adver∣sary to defend himself from the present briskness of the Town wit: which spares neither a Friend nor an Enemy: the trade of Poe∣try and Raillery [must] go on,

or else all the Town wit [must] be starv'd. I received no disor∣der in the least from any thing in his Book; only his Preface put me in∣to a little heat, in which I [must] tell him, that amongst all the bad Company he beleives I have kept, I yet never met with any thing so disingenuous and ill-bred as his odious Epistle: and I can assure him, that I have given the World greater proofs then him∣self of contrary Impressions: but the anger is over, and I am his most Humble Servant; and though he beleives me to be a Pedant, a Tutor, a Secretary, and Squire Clodpate. I will yet imagine him to be a great Wit, a Gen∣tleman, and if he pleases a Per∣son of Quality: for I alwayes find it more easy, as well as more civil, to give Elogies, ra∣ther then reviling: as for his design, it was brave, and not at

all Dangerous; for what could he do less, when he was perpetual∣ly egg'd on by a fair Lady who was resolved not to admit of his Courtships, except he ap∣pear'd prodigiously Ingenious, as he is otherwise sweetly accomplisht: she appearing of a Capricio, like that Princess, who would have refused for her Gallant, the handsomest man in Europe, if he had not been also at the same time, the greatest wit of the Conclave. I congratulate you Madam, in the choice you have made, of a Servant; he has acquitted him∣self well of your Lady-ships Com∣mands; and I hope, when you have any others, you will not bestow them else where: but yet if at any time, you should request him to write your Life, let me beseech you, to forbid him to put an Epistle before it, for he has the worst faculty that

way, of any Gentleman I know All that I shall say to his Book; is, that it is throughout one great mistake; and that first, in tak∣ing those Reflexions to be intend∣ed for all the Town, which were only directed to a very few Per∣sons. And then to affirm that the words of Age, Nation, Town, Societies, &c. were General, since it is so plainly to be seen, by the Censure, and the Character, that none but a foole would have treat∣ed them in that manner: an Age, a Nation, a Town, in which are so much Learning, Bravery, and Vertue; and particularly, those Societies that are by all the world honoured and revered, for those endowments the Gentleman has mentioned in them. All that I prosecuted was a vain and en∣terprizing humour, which hav∣ing (upon occasions apparent) found amongst some of the Wits;

I after followed where it had took refuge in graver Communi∣ties, the former received the re∣search, like those who are just∣ly esteemed the greatest Wits of our Nation: but amongst the latter, it met with the Haloo, and the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for the Coun∣try: this it is to have any thing to do with those Gentlemen, for my part I disclaim them, and shall hereafter be as unwilling to Note their Imperfections, as I have ever been to admire their sort of Vertue. Another great mistake is, that I designed Sir, T. L. for a Hero: what was intend∣ed in him, was only to show that a Gentleman who had ar∣rived at all the perfections of a good Education, might live more prudently on his Estate in the Countrey, then to spend it in the Town, only on women, Playes, Garniture, and Fricacies: and

this Gentleman knowes (who must be a man of the Law by his frequent Quotations.) That his Majesties Father of Glorious Memory, Commanded by Pro∣clamation, all Country Gentle∣men to reside on their Estates, and not to come to the Town, to Hero-fie in eating of Ragoo's, and Fricacies: and in short, next to those whose affairs lye in it, it is properly a place for younger Brothers, who may raise their Fortunes, by Armes, Letters, or Conversations. I think I have in these few lines, answered all that the Gentleman has Objected. There is only a great deal of Di∣vertisment, Reviling, hard Words if not Pedantry too, behind: for which I shall say in the Gentle∣mans behalf, that as for the for∣mer, he endeavour'd to imitate the present mode of Writing, and he does excellently well for a be∣ginner,

and he may easily be ex∣cused if he has reach'd but few of those perfections required in that criticall Stile: and as for the latter, having to do with a Pedant, and a Tutor, he could not but forget that Civility and Res∣pect, which without doubt, is (otherwise) naturall to him: and he thought it needless, to use a∣ny of the Lawes (which he found not in his study) of Writeing-Mas∣carade; since he thought himself not at all obliged to show any respect to one in a Vizzard. But I resolve, for my own part, to be more carefull, and wish hear∣tily his friendship and reconcile∣ment; and if the Gentleman, who has succeeded so well in Letters, should also make his ap∣plycations to Armes, if Sir, T. L. and his Tutor, meet him in the spring, on board his Majesties Fleet. I know that Person, will

endeavour a friendship betwixt this worthy Gentleman, and his Mothers Secretary: but I would not willingly defer it so long; but rather perfect now so Im∣portant an affair. Come Sir, you are out of humour; I wish we might injoy you a little in our Country; where you should have good entertainment, though you might not meet Astraea there, (whose allusion you so unkind∣ly mistook) my Lady will treat you with extraordinary Magni∣ficence, and her Secretary shall serve you with great officious∣ness: you shall Drink, Hunt, Hawke, Course, nay you shall stay on Sunday, and hear our Parson, who is an honest Gen∣tleman, though possible he can∣not Preach so Divinly as Maximin. I have now done with the Gentle∣man. I have only a word to say to the Town, and particularly the vin∣dictive

Ladyes; as for any thing in the Remarques, I do affirm on the reputation (with my Answerers good leave I would say it) of a Gentleman, that I never intended it in the least, to impair the reputa∣tion of excellent Persons; or the Conversations of the Town: and I hope no other will be guilty of so unkind a mistake, as to think I meant Age, Nation, and Town, any otherwise, then as they are frequently applyed to par∣ticular humours: Nay I will say further to prevent any other Essayes; that the Re∣marques was in a manner Printed against my desire, (though I will not accuse a Gentleman who had eat, and drank, and slept in an Inns of Court.) And besides, that there are some things in

it which were not my own. I know there is no Person of Justice and good Nature, but will be satisfied with this Apology: and as for others, I am wholly careless of their Cen∣sure.