WHEN Jupiter had female, and had quell'd fo fevere an operation, of the cruelty of his ve fion on poor mortals, wh ble of any repose or fuch anxieties, fuch nec

curfe their creation, an

nishment.

In vain hac

occupation and amufer after every pleasure of reafon. Nothing cou felt in their hearts, or ner, who was fo fatally medy this diforder, an leaft, on human race piter fent down Lov broken halves of hum ther, in the best mann found fuch a prompt again in their primiti their work with wond till at last, from man arofe betwixt them. vourite of Hymen wa filling his patron's he a fettlement, family was regarde

ther hand, Z

who w would

WHEN Jupiter had separated the male from the female, and had quell'd their pride and ambition by fo fevere an operation, he could not but repent him of the cruelty of his vengeance, and take compaffion on poor mortals, who were now become incapable of any repofe or tranquillity. Such cravings, fuch anxieties, fuch neceffities arose, as made them curfe their creation, and think existence itself a punishment. In vain had they recourfe to every other occupation and amufement. In vain did they feek after every pleasure of sense, and every refinement of reafon. Nothing could fill that void, which they felt in their hearts, or fupply the lofs of their partner, who was fo fatally separated from them. To remedy this diforder, and to beftow fome comfort, at leaft, on human race in their forlorn fituation, Jupiter fent down Love and HYMEN to collect the broken halves of human kind, and piece them together, in the best manner poffible. These two deities found fuch a prompt disposition in mankind to unite again in their primitive ftate, that they proceeded on their work with wonderful fuccefs for fome time; till at last, from many unlucky accidents, diffenfion arofe betwixt them. The chief counsellor and favourite of Hymen was CARE, who was continually filling his patron's head with profpects of futurity; a fettlement, family, children, fervants; fo that little elfe was regarded in all the matches they made. On the other hand, Love had chofen PLEASURE for his favourite, who was as pernicious a counsellor as the other, and would never allow Love to look be

yond

yond the prefent momentary gratification, or the fatisfying of the prevailing inclination. Thefe two favourites became, in a little time, irreconcileable enemies, and made it their chief bufinefs to undermine each other in all their undertakings. No fooner had Love fix'd upon two halves, which he was cementing together, and forming to a clofe union, but Care infinuates himself, and bringing Hymen along with him, diffolves the union produc'd by Love, and jo'ns cach half to fome other half, which he had provided for it. To be reveng'd of this, Pleafure creeps in upon a pair already join'd by Hymen; and calling Love to his affiftance, they under-hand contrive to join each half by fecret links, to halves, which Hymen was wholly unacquainted with. It was not long before this quarrel was felt in its pernicious confequences; and fuch complaints arofe before the throne of Jupiter, that he was oblig'd to fummon the offending parties to appear before him, in order to give an account of their proceedings. After hearing the pleadings on both fides, he order'd an immediate reconcilement betwixt Love and Hymen, as the only expedient for giving happiness to mankind: And that he might be fure this reconcilement should be durable, he laid his strict injunctions on them never to join any halves without confulting their favourites Care and Pleasure, and obtaining the confent of both to the conjunction. Where this order is strictly obferv'd, the Androgyne is perfectly reflor'd, and human race enjoy the fame happiness as in their primæval ftate. The feam is fcarce perceiv'd that joins the two beings together; but both of them combine to form one perfect and happy creature. ESSAY

D 3

[54]

ESSAY

VII.

Of the STUDY of. HISTORY.

HERE is nothing which I would recommend

fudy of hiftory, as an occupation, of all others, the best fuited both to their fex and education; much more inftructive than their ordinary books of amusement, and more entertaining than thofe ferious compofitions, which are ufually to be found in their clofets. Among other important truths, which they may learn from history, they may be inform'd of two particulars, the knowledge of which may contribute very mrch to their quiet and repofe; That our fex, as well as theirs, are far from being fuch perfect creatures as they are apt to imagine, and, That Love is not the only paffion, which governs the male-world, but is often overcome by avarice, ambition, vanity, and a thousand other paffions. Whether they be the falfe representations of mankind in those two particulars, which endear romances and novels fo much to the fair sex, I know not; but must confefs, that I am forry to see them have fuch an averfion to matter of fact, and fuch an appetite for falfhood. I remember I was once defired by a young beauty, for whom I had fome pasfion, to fend her fome novels and romances for her

amufe