The triumph of wit, or, Ingenuity display'd in its perfection. Being the newest and most useful academy, in three parts. Part I. Containing variety of excellent poems, pastorals, satyrs, dialogues, epigrams, anagrams, acrosticks, choice letters with their answers, ... and exactest collection of choice songs. Part II. Containing the whole art and mystery of love in all its nicest intreagues and curious particulars, ... with the description & anatomy of perfect beauty. Part III. Containing the mystery and art of wheedling and canting, with the original and present management thereof, and the ends to which it serves and is employed. Illustrated with poems, songs and various intreagues in the canting language, with the explanation, &c. To which is added, Instructions for dancing with musical notes.

The Qualification of the Wheedler; and by what methods and ways be works by Insinuation up∣on the Passions and Minds of Men, and the Rules he observes therein.

HE or she that sets up for a thriving Wheedler, must be no Novice; for if so, there is no apt qualification for this Science, as they term it, but must first be accommodated with a winning behavi∣our, a fluent tongue, weighty expressions, that can be so cunningly couched, as to make bad seem good, and good bad, to the eyes and understanding of the ignorant; knowing how to time his Management to keep it always in season; a good stock of Confidence is likewise required, and a countenance not subject to a blush; a Man he must be of infinite Jesting, that when he trips, or begins to be discovered in some pal∣pable flattery or dissimulation, he may turn it off, so as either to put a different construction on the mean∣ing of his words, or change his true meaning into Jest or Ridicule; he must be furnished moreover with much patience, to bear, without seeming any way of∣fended, the impertinence of every Coxcomb or nau∣seous Fop; and observe his humours, that he may not be found wanting to tickle the Trout by a seeming applause and complyance.

The next thing he then considers and contemplates is the Passions of the Mind, and to what they stand most inclined and affected; and this he at first ga∣thers, especially a hint of'em by the complection, ha∣bit and constitution of the Body, the Complection attributing to the sanguine; a merry jocund hu∣mour, much given to Love and Recreation: To the

Melancholy, a morose temperature of mind, given to ease of body, yet much disturbed at times in mind, and prompted, by envy, to undertake malitious enter∣prizes: To the Flegmatick he attributes Inconstancy, Sloth, Intemperance, &c. And to the Cholerick, rash∣ness, and a contentious disposition, subject to strife, and desire of revenge; and sutable to these he lays the line and plumet of his Flattery or Insinuation, and humours them to his own advantage in their seve∣ral degrees; and, for the most part, they attaque those of the weakest capacities, with whom they are sure they can be credited, as a cunning Jilt of the Town is made to express her self, viz.

You smile to see me, whom the World perchance, Mistakes to have some Wit so far advance, The Int'rest of tame fools, that I approve Their Merit more than Men's of Wit in Love: But in our Sex too many proofs there are, Of those undone by Wits, whom Fools repair. This in my time was so observ'd, a Rule, Hardly a Wench in Town but had her Fool; The meanest common Slut, who long was grown The jest and scorn of every quaint Buffoon; Had yet left Charms enough to have subdu'd Some Fop or other, fond to be thought leud.

Nor is this Art of Wheedling altogether unnecessa∣ry, seeing it carries with it somewhat more than Wealth, for by a secret and powerfull charm it calms ••age, disarms the threatning hand of the revengefull, ••oves compassion in the hard-hearted, and many times ••eliver a Man out of the snare. This and much more •• effects by a feigned and flattering submission, and retending an untainted and entire friendship; where∣•••• if there be no down-right Enmity, yet there is no

other than the shadow, or outward appearance of a respect for the person, to engage him either to lay aside his present danger, or perswade and oblige him to some kindness extraordinary. But thus much for this part of Whedling, too much practised in this Age.