Obrázky stránek
PDF
ePub

No. 80. FRIDAY, JUNE 1.

Calum non animum mutant qui trans mare currunt.
HOR. Ep. I. xi. 27.
Those that beyond-fea go, will fadly find,
They change their climate only, not their mind.
CREECH.

In the year 1668, and on the fame day of that

N the year 1668, and on the fame day of that

females of exquifite feature and fhape; the one we fhall call Brunetta, the other Phillis. A clofe intimacy between their parents made each of them the first acquaintance the other knew in the world: they played, dreffed babies, acted vifitings, learned to dance and make curtefies, together. They were infeparabie companions in all the little entertainments their tender years were capable of: which innocent happiness continued till the beginning of their fifteenth year, when it happened that Mrs. Phillis had an head-drefs on, which became her fo very well, that inftead of being beheld any more with pleasure for their amity to each other, the eyes of the neighbourhood were turned to remark them with comparison of their beauty. They now no longer enjoyed the eafe of mind and pleasing indolence in which they were formerly happy, but all their words and actions were misinterpreted by each other, and every exceilence in their fpeech and behaviour was looked upon as an act of emulation to furpafs the other. Thefe beginnings of difinclination foon improved into a formality of behaviour, a general coldnefs, and-by natural steps into an irreconcilable hatred, Thefe two rivals for the reputation of beauty, were in their statute, countenance, and mien, fo very much alike, that if you were fpeaking of them in their abfence, the words in which you defcribed the one must give you an idea of the other, They were hardly diftinguishable, you would think, when they were apart, though extremely different when together. What made their enmity the more entertaining to all the reft of their fex was, that in detraction from each other neither could fall upon terms, which did not hit herfelf as much as her adverfary. Their nights grew reftlefs with meditation of new dreffes to outvie each other, and inventing new devices to recal admirers, who obferved the charms of the one rather than thofe of the other on the last meeting. Their colours failed at each other's appearance, Aufhed with pleasure at the report of a difadvantage, and their countenances withered upon inftances of applaufe. The decencies to which we. men are obliged, made thefe virgins flifle their rcfentment fo far as not to break into open violen ces, while they equally fuffered the torments of a regulated anger. Their mothers, as it is ufual, engaged in the quarrel, and fupported the feveral pretenfions of the daughters with all that ill-chofen fort of expence which is common with pcople of plentiful fortunes and mean tafte, The girls preceded their parents like queens of May, in all the gaudy colours imaginable, on every Sunday to church, and were expofed to the examination of the audience for fuperiority of beauty.

During this conftant struggle it happened, that Phillis one day at public prayers fmote the heart of a gay Weft-Indian, who appeared in all the cofours which can affc&t an eye that could not di

tinguish between being fine and taudry. This
American in a fummer-inland fuit was too fhi-
ning and too gay to be refifted by Phillis, and
too intent upon her charms to be diverted by any
of the laboured attractions of Brunetta. Soon
after, Brunetta had the mortification to see her
rival difpofed of in a wealthy marriage, while she
was only addreffed to in a manner that fhewed
fhe was the admiration of all men, but the choice
of none. Phillis was carried to the habitation of
her spouse in Barbadoes: Brunetta had the ill-
nature to inquire for her by every opportunity,
and had the misfortune to hear of her being at-
tended by numerous slaves, fanned into flumbers
by fucceffive hands of them, and carried from
place to place in all the pomp of barbarous mag-
nificence. Brunetta could not endure these re-
peated advices, but employed all her arts and
charms in laying baits for any of condition of the
fame ifland, out of a mere ambition to confront
She at laft fuc-
her once more before the died.
ceeded in her defign, and was taken to wife by a
gentleman whofe eftate was contiguous to that
of her enemy's husband. It would be endless to
enumerate the many occafions on which these ir-
reconcilable beauties laboured to excel each other;
but in process of time it happened that a ship put
into the inland configned to a friend of Phillis,
who had directions to give her the refusal of all
goods for apparel, before Brunetta could be
alarmed of their arrival. He did fo, and Phillis
was dreffed in a few days in a brocade more gor-
geous and coftly than had ever before appeared in
that latitude. Brunetta languished at the fight,
and could by no means come up to the bravery of
her antagonist. She communicated her anguish
of mind to a faithful friend, who, by an interest
in the wife of Phillis's merchant, procured a rem
nant of the fame filk for Brunetta. Phillis took
pains to appear in all public places where the
was fure to meet Brunetta: Brunetta was now
prepared for the infult, and came to a public ball
in a plain black filk mantua, attended by a beau-
tiful negro girl in a petticoat of the fame brocade
with which Phillis was attired. This drew the
attention of the whole company, upon which the
unhappy Phillis fwooned away, and was imme-
diately conveyed to her houfe. As foon as the
came to herself, fhe filed from her husband's houfe,
went on board a fhip in the road, and is now
landed in inconfolable despair at Plymouth.

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Who and Which, yet you should not suffer them to be rude and to call honeft people names for that bears very hard on fome of thofe rules of decency, which you are justly famous for establishing. They may find fault, and correct speeches in the fenate and at the bar: but let them try to get themfelves fo often, and with fo much eloquence repeated in a fentence, as a great orator doth frequently intra• duce me.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[blocks in formation]

they rush into the flame :

for love is Lord of all, as is in all the same!.

« PředchozíPokračovat »