eminent Member of the Faculty, assured me, that when the Quakers first appeared, he seldom was without some Female Patients among them, for the furor 1 Persons of a visionary Devotion, either Men or Women, are in their Complexion, of all others, the most amorous: For, Zeal is frequently kindled from the same Spark with other Fires, and from inflaming Brotherly Love, will proceed to raise That of a Gallant. If we inspect into the usual Process of modern Courtship, we shall find it to consist in a devout Turn of the Eyes, called Ogling; an artificial Form of Canting and Whining by rote, every Interval, for want of other Matter, made up with a Shrug, or a Hum, a Sigh or a Groan; The Style compact of insignificant Words, Incoherences and Repetition. These, I take, to be the most accomplish'd Rules of Address to a Mistress; and where are these performed with more Dexterity, than by the Saints? Nay, to bring this Argument yet closer, I have been informed by certain Sanguine Brethren of the first Class, that in the Height and Orgasmus of their Spiritual exercise it has been frequent with them * ** * immediately after which, they found the Spirit to relax and Aag of a sudden with the Nerves, and they were forced to hasten to a Conclusion. This may be farther Strengthened, by observing, with Wonder, how unaccountably all Females are attracted by Visionary or Enthusiastick Preachers, tho' never so contemptible in their outward Men; which is usually supposed to be done upon Considerations, purely Spiritual, without any carnal Regards at all. But I have Reason to think, the Sex hath certain Characteristicks, by which they form a truer Judgment of Human Abilities and Performings, than we our selves can possibly do of each other. Let That be as it will, thus much is certain, that however Spiritual Intrigues begin, they generally conclude like all others; they may branch upwards towards' Heaven, but the Root is in the Earth. Too intense a Contemplation is not the Business of Flesh and Blood; it must by the necessary Course of Things, in a little Time, let go its Hold, and fall into Matter. Lovers, for the sake of Celestial Converse, are but another sort of Platonicks, who pretend to see Stars and Heaven in Ladies Eyes, and to look or think no lower; but the same Pit is provided for both; and they seem a perfect Moral to the Story of that Philosopher, who, while his Thoughts and Eyes were fixed upon the Constellations, found himself seduced by his lower Parts into a Ditch." I had somewhat more to say upon this Part of the Subject; but the Post is just going, which forces me in great Haste to conclude, Pray, burn this Letter as soon as it comes to your Hands. SIR, Yours, &c. 'toward' ed. I. Laertius, 1. i. 8. 34 and Plato, 2 Thales. Compare Diogenes Theaetetus, 174 A. FINIS. THE Six Appendixes added to this edition of A Tale of a Tub consist of A. New matter in the Miscellaneous Works of Swift published in 1720 B. The portion of Wotton's Observations, 1705, that deals directly with the Tale C. A full reprint of the Complete Key published by Edmund Curll in 1710 D. Two letters that passed between Swift and Benjamin Tooke in 1710 E. Notes on Treatises wrote by the same Author' F. Notes on Swift's Dark Authors'. MISCELLANEOUS WORKS, Comical & Diverting: BY T. R. D. J. S. D. O. P. I. I. IN TWO PARTS. I. The TALE of a TUB; with the Fragment, & the BATTEL of the BOOKS; with confiderable Additions, & explanatory Notes, never before printed. II. MISCELLANIES in PROSE & VERSE, by the supposed Author of the first part. LONDON, Printed by Order of the Society M. DCC. XX. |