Of wisdom three books / written originally in French by the Sieur de Charron ; with an account of the author, made English by George Stanhope ...

CHAP. XL. Of Luxury and Excess in Apparel, and their contrary Virtues, Frugality and Modesty.

[unspec 1] CLoathing was observed in the beginning of this Treatise, to have been none of those things which are natural and necessary, nor to have been originally in use with Mankind; But it is meerly artificial, invented for our convenience, and in request with no other Creature in the World. Now it is usual with all Inventions to increase and multiply; every day refines and improves them still more, till at last there is no end of their Variety. Multiplicity is the certain Character of Art, as Simplicity is of Nature. The conse∣quence then of Apparel being Artificial, is that it runs in∣to insinite Fantastical forms, and differs in proportion to Peo∣ple's Fansies and Humours. Accordingly we find, that the greater part of Tradesmen and Handicrafts Men deal in such Commodities and Manufactures as are converted to the defence and ornament of the Body. But it were well if this only were regarded; for from hence they are come to such Extravagancies and Abuses, that our Garments are no longer a covering to our Defects, and a supply to our Necessities, but a nest of Vanity and Vice* 1.1 These are the great occasion of Quarrels and Disputes; for the distin∣ction of property seems to have begun in this point: When things were most in common, every Man had a peculiar ti∣tle to the Cloths he wore, which is intimated by the French Language in particular, expressing all manner of Rapine, by Stripping, Dérober; and the English Word Robbing, is very probably an Allusion to the same thing.

[unspec 2] This Vice hath always been most remarkable in the Fe∣male Sex, and if it be not entirely theirs, the Scandal is the greater to those Men who descend so low: For there is not in the whole World a surer sign of a poor and little Soul,

than this striving to recommend ones self, and gain respect by such despicable means as Dress and Rich Cloths: None will insist, none depend upon these Ornaments but they who have no other. How wretched a thing is it to confi∣der the Care and Cost laid out upon Luxury and Shew, and the general neglect of those shining Habits of the Mind; that Virtue, that Bravery which should enable us to make a beautiful Appearance, and set us off in real and solid Ex∣cellences? The Lacedaemonians prohibited any but common Women to wear gay and sumptuous Cloths; this was lookt upon as the mark to distinguish such infamous people by; but the Ladies of Reputation desired to be known by their severe Honour a•••• shining Virtues.

[unspec 3] Now the true an•• lawful use of Apparel is to keep out Wind and Weather, and all other severities and inconvenien∣ces, which our Bodies would suffer by being exposed to the open Air: And it is a great fault to divert the thing from this to other vain and Sinful purposes. In order to answer∣ing their proper end it is plain, Clothes need not, they ought not to be expensive; for the richer they are, the less are they qualified to defend and secure our ease: But then some regard must be had to Decency too, and distinction of Qua∣lities; all which may be done with Gravity and frugality, observing the just medium* 1.2 between affected Slovenliness and effeminate Nicety. Caligula made himself ridiculous by the softness and Fantasticalness of his Habit; and Augustus was as much admired and commended for the Modesty and Gravity of his.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Nîdus Luxuriae.
• * 1.2

  Nec affectatae sordes, nec exquisitae munditiae.