Letters of love and gallantry. And several other subjects. All written by Ladies. Vol. I.

LETTERS OF Love and Gallantry.

To Cleander, sent with the following Letters.

VVE— (now do you fancy by the Stile some great Prince has sent to you; but how miserably you'll be humbled when you find, 'tis a Company of Females Greet you) who having heard by a great Ac∣cident, that you are going to Print some Letters from a young Lady to you; have sent you these enclos'd to help to fill up the Volume, for as one says,

'Tis not how well a Writer says? But 'tis how much that gathers Praise: T—n who is himself a Wit, Counts Authors Merits by the Sheet.

which we having duly consider'd, and being a Mighty good Na∣tur'd Crew, had rather expose our Follies, than let your Friends Wit be damn'd for want of Pa∣per. Curse on you, Cry you, I had rather any Prince in Chri∣stendom had sent me a Sentence for Treason, than that such a pack of Bablers should have found out my secret. But Pri∣thee don't Swear, and I'le please you as well as I can; tho one of our Gang (by the way, the only malicious one amongst us; and for your Comfort, she does not know you) bids me let you fret a little: But I'm resolv'd I will tell you the Truth. Know then,

that none of us can guess who Olinda is, and but two of us have the Honour to know you, who for the Glory of our Sex are Re∣solv'd to show the World that 'tis in the Power of two Women to keep a secret: Nay, you shall see we can keep two; for 'tis as great a one, by what strange way we found out yours; and if we shou'd discover that to you, you wou'd have Reason to doubt our faithfulness in your Affair. So you must e'ne be content without cracking your Brain a∣bout it, and thank us for our Love, thô you Laugh at our Folly.

If Olinda has any more Ad∣ventures, we can furnish you with enough of this Scrible to help out the Volume.

You may inform the Judicious Readers, that if they please to have Recourse to a Book Entituled, Let∣ters and Poems, Amorous and Gallant, they will understand some of these the better, which are An∣swers that were sent to the Author of them.

Answer to the Eight Let∣ter, in the aforesaid Book from a Lady who had spo∣ken against him.

YOU are a very unlucky Fel∣low to lose your Aim af∣ter taking so much pains, whilst you call your self a Fool, to per∣swade me you have a great deal of Wit: And to have gain'd no∣thing by it, but only to convince me more fully that your Vanity is an incurable Disease. For as a precise pretence to Religion is a certain sign of wickedness, so nothing discovers a conceited Fop more than an affected Modesty; and you have so effectually per∣swaded me of the Truth of what you say (not what you think) of your self, that 'tis not in the Power of Man (if any reasona∣ble one cou'd undertake it.) to

delude me into a better Opinion of you; thô rather than be trou∣bled with that impertinent Passi∣on which you threaten me with, I wou'd make you a Panegyrick, with as little Wit and as little Truth as e're a Nonsensical Au∣thor in a begging Dedication: And rather than be your Rival in any thing, I would hate both those Qualities. But I know you are endowed with no more of one, than Nature has given you of the other; and as good a face as you put upon the matter, that you are Angry with me at the Soul of you, for saying that which all the World thinks of you but your self. Oh I beg your Pardon Sir, I shou'd have excepted those Women, which you were pleas'd to tell me, you have a natural Affecti∣on for. I don't doubt but they sympatize with you extreamly,

and as naturally admire their own resemblance in you: And really, I think, you're very much indebted to Nature, for allow∣ing you so large a Province; whilst the modest Men, the Men of Wit and Judgment, are very narrowly confin'd, and rarely meet with one Woman, who knows how to value 'em: But you may Range about at your pleasure, and every where find so many Images of your dear pretty self, that you can never fail of pleasing, and being plea∣sed. Assure your self 'tis that which has kept you so long in the Ladies good Graces, and that as long as you continue a silly Idle conceited Fop, that is as long as you live, you will find more agree with you in that Do∣tage which you have of your self than you will meet with of the Opinion of Sir,

Your, &c.

Answer to the Ninth Let∣ter in the same Book, from a Masqu'd Lady.

I Must own my Conquest wou'd be very extraordina∣ry, if 'twas as absolute as you say 'tis: But methinks a confine∣ment (as you call it) to Woman∣kind, looks like more Liberty, than suits with the Condition of a Captive; and either you are still Master of your self, or I am a very generous Victor, it can't be the last, because I wou'd wil∣lingly make you a closer Priso∣ner; so that by what I can find, 'tis doubtful yet, whether I shall overcome or no: And the worst on't is, I don't know what me∣thod to take, that may be most likely to subdue you; for you have form'd such great Idea's of

my Power, that when you see it comes short of your expectation, I'm afraid you'll disdain to yield; and what hope can I have of success, by keeping you ignorant of my Weakness, since it has had so little effect hitherto? So that I think since I'm not able to vanquish you by my own strength, I must e'ne Dalilah like entice you to discover yours, or rather your foible, (for every Man has his foible) that I may attack you there; thô not so treacherously as she did, for you see I give you fair warning; and you shall have no Enemy to En∣counter but my self, so that you need not stand much upon your Guard: And now the Crime must lye upon your Conscience, if I lose a constant Lover, (to leave our Allusion) for want of knowing how to make him so. Therefore clear your self quickly

of that Guilt, and you shall find when I have made a real Con∣quest, that I can triumph too: For there are no such Miracles in our days, as a Woman, and a Conquerour without Vanity. Till then I shall remain assur'd of your Secrecy, and it may be when you know me, you will have no great Cause to brag of having been subdu'd by

Sir,

Your, &c.

A LETTER. To a Lover upon his going to the War:

O Love! Cruel Love, what Torments dost thou ex∣pose me to, what Anguish, what Tortures, did I undergo last year upon thy Account, and what Miseries dost thou again prepare for me, now Alcidon is going to leave me to go to the Wars. I daily fear to lose a Friend so lovely, when he parts from me upon any other Subject: I grieve indeed, but I have not that dread for his Dear Life, which to me is the greatest of Tortures. Why should he ex∣pose himself to so many Perils and Hazards? What can be ad∣ded

to Alcidon's Fortune, or his Glory? Is it reasonable he should so often expose a Life, on which so many others depend? and ought we not in Reason to pre∣serve those things, the loss of which is Irreparable, and never to hazard them, far from expo∣sing them continually? Ah my Dear Aleidon, you never make these Reflections, and when I propose them to you, they make no Impression upon your Mind. It is a Sign too visible you do not love those who love you: You do not Love Daphny, by whom you are so tenderly be∣lov'd; and my tenderness meets with nothing but indifference in your Heart. You have no Com∣passion for my Sufferings, my Sighs and Tears can no longer move you; Love is neglected as soon as Honour Calls, and all my Passion unregarded. Ah did you Love

me you could not expose me thus to so much Anguish, and plunge me yearly into Mortal disquiets. The little regard you have for your Life, makes me loath mine, and the Torments I suffer in Loving you are so great, that to be deliver'd out of them I wish for Death.

A LETTER. To one whose Songs were more prevailing than his Letters.

YOU have Written a tedious Letter to me, which be∣gins, Madam. When in point of Gallantry, People do not call me by my Name Cleora I am strangely at a Loss. In Reading over your long Letter, I was still in hopes of finding in some Period at least Madam Cleora, if not my Dear Cleora, which wou'd have been much more pleasing to me: But wherever I cast my Eyes, I only meet with, Madam; Love, Respect, Passion, Tender∣ness! Truly Sir, you would have done much better to have kept

to your Songs. I do allow you to be my Lover in Verse, but I intreat you not to be so in Prose. Sign'd, least you might plead Ignorance.

Cleora.

A LETTER. To her Lover who had a Law Suit depending.

CAN you believe that I am sometimes Mad enough to wish that you may lose your Suit? It would not hinder me from being faithful to my pro∣mise: And I should have the sa∣tisfaction to convince you by the Generosity of my proceed∣ing that I only Love your Per∣son, which satisfaction I would prefer to your Estate. I find by your Letters, that Love inspires ers you with thoughts as unrea∣sonable as mine. But yet I shall not be able to forbear following of this sentiment, if you fail of the success you expect in your

business. I hope you will for∣give my Wish, since it proceeds from a Cause, you cannot dis∣approve, and that you will do me the Justice, to believe that if I lov'd you less, my thoughts perhaps would be more conforma∣ble to your desires. Farewell Dear Lovemore, 'tis but reasona∣ble I should return some kind expression, for all those I have receiv'd from you during your ab∣sence. Farewel, make haste back again; I conjure you, and believe me intirely yours.

A LETTER. Of Thanks, or rather an Amorous Reproach.

YOU Cajole me extreamly in your Verses, and yet they do not please me. Ha∣ving call'd me Lucrece, where was the necessity of calling me Venus? Is not Lucrece beautiful enough? I do believe my self as Vertuous as she was, thô not so Handsom. Pray be more regular in your Fi∣gures another time. I have a Ma∣ster to teach me Rhetorick every Morning; and therefore unless you write better for the future; you who pretend to Eloquence, I swear that I will put you to your Rudiment again, when you come next to see me. Farewel.

A LETTER. Without a Subject.

I Have not yet written to you, and I should be glad never to write to you, since I should not do it, if you were not absent; and your absence grieves me sensibly. For my part I do not think that Letters are of so great a help as people imagine. For instance, should you do me the Favour to write to me, I should undoubted∣ly see your Wit in your Letters, but I should not see your Per∣son there, nor those engaging ways that accompany whatever you do and say; much less that Charming, Je ne scay quoy, which occasions a great deal of pleasure in seeing you, and much regret to leave you. This shows that

there is a great deal of difference between seeing you, and Wri∣ting to you; and I will tell you freely, that I am not very well satisfied with Writing to you, nor with Receiving Letters from you. To be satisfied in that Point, I would require impossi∣bilities: I would have your Let∣ters, as long as our Conversati∣ons, and that you should Write as often to me, as I could enter∣tain you if we liv'd together. And even that would not satisfie me; for in fine, as I have alrea∣dy told you, I should see your Wit in your Letters, but I should not see your Person there; and that is the thing one most desires when one Loves as passionately as I do, and when a Mistress is as Charming as you are.

A Billet of Thanks.

I Return my hearty Thanks to the Lovely Diana for the Par∣tridges she has sent me, that have been kill'd by her own Hands. Had she made that Present to I. B. He would have said a thou∣sand pretty things to her, upon the Honour and Satisfaction of being kill'd by her fair Hands; and wou'd have inlarg'd that thought, to the Glory and Feli∣city of those Partridges. As for my part who am not really so Sparkish, I will content my self to eat them with N. and to drink the Lovely Diana's Health.

A LETTER. To an Absent Friend.

SHall we never meet again my Dear Philander will you not come into this Country? Shall I never return where you are, and have we only Contra∣cted the most Tender, and most Real Friendship, to expose our selves to the Rigor of an everla∣sting Absence? I hate my self for having left you, you made me happy without Fortune, and Fortune cannot make me happy without you.

A LETTER. In the Stile of a Romance.

I Always thought that the No∣ble Theodolina would at some time or other, Marry the Gene∣rous Cleodamas, and that an He∣roin was destin'd to a Hero. whatever Prosperity attend your Life, envy it self will be forc'd to Confess that you are Worthy of them, and tho your good Fortune should not equal your Virtue, you may be the Happi∣est Prince on Earth. May Hea∣ven who by your Hymen has gi∣ven a Signal Proof of his Pro∣vidence, preserve you long for one another, and both for the Universe.

A LETTER. By another Hand.

NOW could I Railly my self to Death, that I cannot (as Sir Courtly says) Command my Foible, but that I must give Cynical Signior Morose, this advan∣tage against me; who never af∣ter this will scruple to call me a Woman, and Ridicule me as such, that for a few fine Words can be Wheadl'd to expose my self in this manner; but seeing you are willing to throw away so much Time and Patience, in Reading and Answering such Trifles, I will be so Complacential to in∣terchange Two or Three Letters with you, and by that time you will be weary, if not asham'd of

your Correspondence, besides being to go into the Country, thô I shou'd like well enough of the Frollick, because I believe it would be the greatest, if not the only Diversion I should have there, and thô I shall have all Letters that come to me Franck, yet those I send you will never quit Cost, and be worth the Po∣stage.

But at present to follow your Method, I will so far acquaint you with Urania, as to assure you she is no Beauty, and there∣fore is Entitled to a Masque Cum Privilegio, and to Wit, and so ought to remain Incognito; these are Talents (which thô my Sex are very fond of) we know not how to Manage, and the latter I look upon as a Scandal, it agrees so ill with Woman kind, that a Curse attends it, since among all the Celebrated Female Wits that

I have had any knowledg of, for one Flash of Wit, one Notable Flight of Fancy, they have been Guilty of a thousand impertinent Foolish Actions, which Persons of an Ordinary Capacity would have blush'd at the thought of. But on the other Hand I am very Sincere, even to that Degree that I hardlp know the meaning of the Word Subterfuge, and were I what Mr— would have you believe he thinks me, the Ladies wou'd not at this time have a Champion of me, for instead of imploying my Pen in their Ser∣vice, I would make use of a Sword to serve my Heroick Prince, who Merits it from all the World.

I will also tell you that the Fort of my Heart is I hope very secure, since it is I believe Im∣pregnable to any but a Phenix (if such there be) that is one

endued with my own Darling Quality, that hates in himself, as well as others Ingratitude, Dis∣simulation and Hypocrisie; that has a great Soul, a true Nobleness of Mind, a High Generosity, and a VVorld of good Humour; in short one that will make a Sin∣cere Solid Friend, and not a Whining Lover. But for the Grave Formal Fop, that moves by an Engine, and has that great Care of the Serenity of his Mind (which depends upon it) that he dares hardly stir, lest he should discompose his Perruque, and Garniture; or the Fluttering Noisy Beaux with nothing but Snuff in ther Heads, and Mer∣cury in their Heels, that daily Frisk from one place to another to be seen, and heard, till they have haunted all the Publick Places of Rendevous; I A∣bominate them, and were I what

you call an Unaccountable Animal, I would not to prevent Leading Apes in Hell, Surrender to one of these despicable Conquerors. But at this time you know e∣nough of her who is

Your Servant Urania.

April 8. 1693.

A LETTER. By the same Hand.

LENT I perceive grew very Tedious and Irksome to you, when you were so hasty to make a Debauch on Easter-Eve, which deserv'd a far greater Pu∣nishment than that you under∣went; a Mistress of yours would be prettily serv'd that should write Fine, Tender soft things to so Careless a Spark, thô one so unknown as Urania ran no great hazard by it: However I am glad the lost Sheep is found, of which I have no other remem∣brance than what yours has re∣vived, keeping no Copies of such insignificant things as my Let∣ters are. I also very much Re∣joyce

for several Reasons that my Letters are not to pass thro' your Brothers Hands, and so far Urania and you agree; but when you come to Plead for Dssimula∣tion, I own I am not so Wise or Politick to look upon it as a Vir∣tue, nor will I say of Sincerity as you do of Generosity, it has been my Vice and Punishment, thô I have many times smarted for my too Rigid adhering to it; but its opposite is so contrary to my Nature, that should I go about to practice it, I should do it so awkardly, an Ideot might per∣ceive my Heart, and Tongue were at odds. Not that I would be Guilty of such a Solecism in good Manners, to tell Madam Antiquity, that with all her Art, she had not fill'd up the Wrin∣kles in her Face; but yet neither would I so far Flatter her Vanity, to make her believe she looks

like her great Grand-Daughter of fifteen; and as I would not call the Young Pert Lady Foolish, and impertinent; so on the other Hand, I would give her no Cause to imagine I thought her a Wit, or that her Conversation was at at all Pleasing or Agreeable; she might, if she pleased, let her Tongue run it self out of Breath without my being concern'd one way or other about it: It is on∣ly those I extreamly Love whose Virtues, or Vices affect me; and with whom I use the Liberty to speak freely what I think of their Actions, Good or Bad; to all the World, besides I am in a State of Neutrality, and it is in∣different to me what they do.

It is but too true, that the Practice of the World does ex∣treamly Degenerate from Magna∣nimity, and Nobleness of Mind, nor will any thing I can say, al∣ter

their Opinions about them, for which Reason, and also be∣cause I am no Philosopher, I will not take upon me to Define them, but only tell you that to me, those who Live and Act, as if they were Born only for themselves, and if they can car∣ry on some little Paltry Interest of their own, value not what becomes of all the rest of Man∣kind; and those whose Abject Spirits will permit them to Fawn on any Desertless thing with a Title, or that is a little above them, and can stoop to a thou∣sand little Tricks and Shifts, thô never so Base, and mean to Advance themselves, are the Re∣verse of them; and in a Word, whosoever is not ready to Ven∣ture, Nay, Sacrifice his All, even Life it self, to serve his Country or his Friend, does not Answer the Notion that I have of True

Greatness, and Nobleness of Mind. As for Good Humour, thô I do not understand by it such a Gay Coxcomb as you have Described, yet I think, there goes something more to the Composition of it; than bare Good Nature, in the common acceptation of the Word, which is usually an Epi∣thet for a sort of People, a Man of your Sense, I am certain, cannot be very fond of being reckon'd among.

If I deny your Request of a∣ny further knowledg of Urania, it is not from any Fear of a sur∣prize upon my Heart, that is not easily taken, and is at present in very good Hands, besides not being Mistress of those Qualifi∣cations that must Conquer yours, I am sure I shall never be the Aggressor; for to be very Loving, is utterly against the Grain with me, and never will

agree with my Constitution; but you having express'd some E∣steem of me, I am very desi∣rous to preserve it, which I know no better way to do, than by still keeping you Ignorant of

Urania.

A LETTER. Ʋpon a Disappointment.

Dear Philander,

OUR best Resolves are often Cross'd by unexpected Accidents, I had flatter'd my self that this Meeting would have Crown'd our Wishes. I flew with all the Wings of strong desire, to the Embraces of my Love; and when we thought our selves secure of Bliss, then, then to be Interrupted by a Cru∣el Relation, is a misfortune, a Disappointment not to be indur'd with Patience: Nor could I dis∣guise my Passion, or my Grief, my Looks, my every Motion discover'd both. But your Pru∣dence and Presence of Mind, hinder'd her from observing me,

and consequently from discove∣ring the weakness of my Soul. I hope your Tongue bely'd your Heart in what you said to her, thô I must confess she does de∣serve it all. I would not sus∣pect your Truth to me, thô in my Opinion the Calmness of your Mind, on such an Occasion argu'd but little Love. Your Generosity oblig'd me in defend∣ing the Wrong'd Innocence of Madam N. who unfortunately lies under the Censure of her own Sex. Nothing can be more unreasonable, or uncertain, than to Judge of things barely by appearance or report. I am sen∣sible she is Innocent, and Inno∣cence is to be prefer'd to Happi∣ness. My unkind Cousin knows our mutual Love, and therefore 'twas Barbarous in her to tarry: Neither could she be Ignorant, that Love admits no Witnesses

but the Lover. She told me a while ago, that she had over heard our Love's Discourse. What tender Words, what soft Expressions! said she, are not those stolen Pleasures very Sweet? I was strangely at a loss to An∣swer her: Yet I told her that if it was a Fault, 'twas such a one as most young People were guil∣ty of. At first I fancy'd, that it would be my best way to trust her with my whole secret, and to ingage her Secresie by a generous Confidence. But then again I fear'd her undermining me; so that I resolv'd to trust her no farther than was absolute∣ly necessary. And in Case her ill Nature should incline her to discover our Affection to the Old Gentleman, she is sensible that I know how to be Reveng'd of her. In the mean time Dear Philander trust to Love and Me

for a more favourable opportu∣nity. I saw you at Church ye∣sterday, where you took up all my thoughts, and all my Devo∣tion. Your Dear Image fills up all my Heart. Farewel, Let me see you often. Love and your Prudence will overcome all the Difficulties that oppose our hap∣piness. Farewel, I die without you, and cannot, will not Live unless yours.