How much more heavenly and powerful would beauty prove, if it were not
so frequently impaired by the affectation and conceitedness of its
possessor! If some women were but as modest and unassuming as they are
handsome, they might command the hearts of all that behold them: but
Nature seemed to foresee, and has provided against such an
inconvenience, by tempering its great master-pieces with a due
proportion of pride and vanity; so that their power, depending upon the
duration of their beauty only, is like to be but of a short continuance;
which, when they happen to prove tyrants, is no small comfort to us; and
then, even while it lasts, will abate much of its severity by the allay
of those two prevailing ingredients. Wise men are chiefly captivated
with the charms of the mind; and whenever they are infatuated with a
passion for any thing else, it is generally observed that they cease,
during that time at least, to be what they were, and are indeed looked
upon to be only playing the fool. If the fair ones we have been speaking
of have a true ascendant over them, they will oblige them to divest
themselves of common sense, and to talk and act ridiculously, before
they can think them worthy of the least regard. Should one of these fine
creatures be addressed in the words of Juba,
'Tis not a set of features, or complexion,
The tincture of a skin, that I admire.
Beauty soon grows familiar to the lover,
Fades in his eye, and palls upon the sense.
The virtuous Marcia towers above her sex.
True, she is fair; oh, how divinely fair!
But still the lovely maid improves her charms
With inward greatness, unaffected wisdom,
And sanctity of manners.----
The man that should venture the success of a strong passion upon the
construction she would put upon such a compliment, might have reason to
repent of his conduct.