Riches, and Grandeur, and under this fpecious Cloke we hug our darling Vice, void of all difcouraging Apprehenfions, we continue in it with out Miftruft (for every Man is partial to his BlindSide) until it becomes habitual to us, and there fore incurable, especially if it happens to be countenanced or backed by the Influence of bad Example; for a very little Reflection will convince us, that Vice is of a prolifick Nature, and no lefs catching than a contagious Diftemper, and that our Ears, and Eyes, are like fo many Doors and Inlets to the Heart: From whence appears the Danger of fuffering the Vicious, and Voluptuous, to approach those, whose Integrity of Life we propofe to preferve unfpotted. And a farther Proof of the Peril, Youth are expofed to, in the Com pany of the Wicked, or by accepting of the Opportunities of Evil, will appear from the Appre henfion, and Caution, Perfons of ripe Years and found Judgment have fhew'd in avoiding them.

Cyrus King of Perfia has furnished us with a fine Inftance, and plainly demonstrated to us, how diffident he was of his own Refolution and Continency; when Arifpus, one of his Bofom Friends, whom he had intrusted with the Care of a Lady his Prisoner, came to give him an Account of her Beauty, offering to bring her to him, that he might fee her; Don't you do it, anfwer'd Cyrus, fince you affure me that he has fo many Charms, I find my felf, already fo fmitten by your Defcription of her, that I cannot with any safety trust my felf with the Sight of fuch a beautiful Woman.

Alexander was alfo fenfible of the fame Danger, and was fo far from relying on his own Conftancy, that he not only avoided the Sight of Darius's Wife, whose uncommon and rare Beauty was then the Theme of all People's Praises and Admi

ration, but used to imploy his Thoughts on any other Object when he heard that extoll'd.

- Scipio after the taking of Numantia, hath given us an Example of a still ftricter Virtue than those afore-mention'd. There was brought to him, amongst several Other Prisoners and Slaves, a beau. tiful Lady, betrothed to a Prince of Celtiberia, he thought that as her Beauty was extraordinary, fo. mult fhe be Beloved with a more than ordinary Flame. He immediately fent for her Lover, to rid him of his Troubles, Here is your Mistress, faid he to him, whom I reftore to you untouched, She is Beautiful and Young, and I am your equal in Years; That is all I have to fay in that Respect: But in delivering her up to you, with your Freedom, which I give you, I require, by Way of Acknow Ledgment, a Place in your Affection, and I think this Action deferves the Roman Empire in Exchange. The Prince gave him his Hand in token of their future Amity, uttering at the fame Time the higheft Expreffions of Joy and Gratitude, and affifted him fome Time after with Fifteen Hundred Horfe, and thought himself under an Obligation to him all the remaining Part of his Days.

Baudouin Emperor of Conftantinople, in order to keep up Innocence and Chastity in his Family, made an Herald to publifh, every Night, about the Court, that no one should prefume to lodge in his Palace, in cafe he had had that Day any Commerce with a Woman of a bad Reputation. And indeed this Crime my be stiled a Complication of Evils wherefoever it finds admiffion, allAffection between Husband and Wife is at an end; The Father no longer confults the Intereft and Welfare of his Family; The Son breaks through all Ties of Duty and Obedience due to his Parents, and a Mafter intrufts none, but thofe who will be fubfervient

fervient to his brutish Paffions, or diligent in their Endeavours to fatisfy his inordinate Defires.

We have an Inftance of all these Misfortunes together, in the prudent Management of William the Conqueror, and the Licentioufnefs of his Son Robert, a Prince of that Humour, which I have already fo much difcommended; none but profligate Sycophants, or fawning Minifters of his Pleasures had his Ear, immenfe Sums of Money were requifite to fupport fuch a lewd Life; the Queen his Mother furnish'd him plentifully with it, which when the King came to understand, he reproach'd his Confort with it, representing to her, that by supplying him with Money, the had not only furnish'd him with means to continue his diffolute Life, but thereby likewife encouraged and enabled him to levy Forces against his Father. The Queen urged in excufe, her tender and natural Affection towards her Son; and immediately fent into Germany, to confult a Sooth-fayer, in order to know what might be the Confequence of this threatning Accident; from whence the receiv'd the enfuing Fable for an Answer: A beautiful Horfe, Strong, and Well-fhap'd, was for a confiderable Time Guardian of a Meadow, fo as to keep the wild Beasts from it; but going at laft the

Way of all Flesh, was fucceeded by a Cow,and as the happen'd to be en Chaleur, fhe brought all the neighbouring Cattle into the Meadow, who gorging themselves without any Oppofition, foon devoured all the Pasture. Normandy is the Meadow; the Churches, and Houses of the Inhabitants, are the Grafs; William the Conqueror is the fine Horfe; and Robert Courte-House is the Cow, who will by his Irregularities deftroy Normandy, if the dark Minifters of his Licentiousness are not remov'd in Time.

M 2

But

But as young Noble-Men are beft wrought upon by the Influence of noble Actions, and good Exam, ples, it may not be amifs to mention that of Pelagius, who was given for an Hoftage to Almanzor King of Africa: That infamous Prince, endeavouring to prevail upon him to yield to thofe Immodefties that are prohibited even among Infidels, tempted him to Compliance by all poffible Ways, making use of all manner of Artifice, and sparing for no Prefents. That glorious Youth, who was scarce Fourteen Years of Age, for which however a virtuous Education made fufficient Amends was not in the least moved or affected, either by his large Promifes, or the Apprehenfion of a barbarous Treatment; and being at laft reduced to the cruel Neceffity of this hard Choice, either to live according to thofe fhameful Conditions, which had been propofed to him, or to die upon the Spot, generously imbrac'd Death, and was barbarously stabb'd by Almanzor's own Hand, for an ample Satisfaction to his brutal Vengeance.

For the Conclufion of this Differtation we'll propose, in Favour of the other Sex, an Example of Virtue no lefs remarkable than the foregoing. The Princess of Mirandole, who excell'd in Beauty, and other Accomplishments, all the Ladies of her Age, refifted the preffing Solicitations of Admiral Barberouffe, at the Time that he brought auxiliary Troops to the Affistance of Francis the First, at the Siege of Nice, and calling to mind the feveral pious Inftructions and religious Notions which The had imbibed at the time of her Education: That Innocence, and Honour were the most precious Jewels, a virtuous Woman could poffefs in this World, fhe boldly rejected all his Offers; and one Day, whether out of the Affection fhe bore to Soliman, or Apprehenfion of falling into the

こ

Hands

Hands of that Corfair, fhe broke out into this Exclamation. Oh! cruel Beauty! muft thou thus lay Snares for thy own Undoing, and being an Enemy to my Felicity, muft thou maliciously make use of thy Arms to procure my Ruin! Know that it is in my Power to be revenged of thy Treachery, and to prevent the Misfortunes, which I am in Danger of falling into, through thy Vanity; and when the had ended these Words, the thruft her Head into a Bufh of Thorns, behind which fhe was concealed, by which means disfiguring her Face, the no longer was that beautiful Princefs, whofe Charms had Captivated fo many.

CHAP.