_Being a chapter of the satirical kind._
At their return, Sir Charles told his niece, that she had now had a
specimen of the world, and some of the fashionable amusements; and
asked her how she had been entertained.
Why, truly, sir, replied she, smiling, I have brought away no great
relish for a renewal of the amusement I have partaken of to-night. If
the world, in which you seem to think I am but newly initiated, affords
only these kinds of pleasures, I shall very soon regret the solitude
and books I have quitted.
Why, pray? said Miss Glanville: what kind of amusements did your
ladyship expect to find in the world? And what was there disagreeable
in your entertainment to-night? I am sure there is no place in England,
except London, where there is so much good company to be met with as
here. The assembly was very numerous and brilliant, and one can be at
no loss for amusements: the pump-room in the morning; the parade, and
the rooms, in the evening; with little occasional parties of pleasure,
will find one sufficient employment, and leave none of one's time to
lie useless upon one's hand.
I am of opinion, replied Arabella, that one's time is far from being
well employed in the manner you portion it out; and people who spend
theirs in such trifling amusements must certainly live to very little
purpose.
What room, I pray you, does a lady give for high and noble adventures,
who consumes her days in dressing, dancing, listening to songs, and
ranging the walks with people as thoughtless as herself? How mean and
contemptible a figure must a life spent in such idle amusements make in
history? Or rather, are not such persons always buried in oblivion; and
can any pen be found who would condescend to record such inconsiderable
actions?
Nor can I persuade myself, added she, that any of those men whom I
saw at the assembly, with figures so feminine, voices so soft, such
tripping steps and unmeaning gestures, have ever signalized either
their courage or constancy; but might be overcome by their enemy in
battle, or be false to their mistress in love.
Law! cousin, replied Miss Glanville, you are always talking of battles
and fighting. Do you expect that persons of quality and fine gentlemen
will go to the wars? What business have they to fight? That belongs to
the officers.
Then every fine gentleman is an officer, said Arabella; and some other
title ought to be found out for men who do nothing but dance and dress.
I could never have imagined, interrupted Mr. Tinsel, surveying
Arabella, that a lady so elegant and gay in her own appearance, should
have an aversion to pleasure and magnificence.
I assure you, sir, replied Arabella, I have an aversion to neither: on
the contrary, I am a great admirer of both. But my ideas of amusements
and grandeur are probably different from yours.
I will allow the ladies to be solicitous about their habits, and
dress with all the care and elegance they are capable of; but such
trifles are below the consideration of a man; who ought not to owe the
dignity of his appearance to the embroidery on his coat, but to his
high and noble air, the grandeur of his courage, the elevation of his
sentiments, and the many heroic actions he has performed.
Such a man will dress his person with a graceful simplicity, and lavish
all his gold and embroidery upon his armour, to render him conspicuous
in the day of battle. The plumes in his helmet will look more graceful
in the field, than the feather in his hat at a ball; and jewels
blaze with more propriety on his shield and cuirass in battle, than
glittering on his finger in a dance.
Do not imagine, however, pursued she, that I absolutely condemn
dancing, and think it a diversion wholly unworthy of a hero.
History has recorded some very famous balls, at which the most
illustrious persons in the world have appeared. Cyrus the Great, we are
informed, opened a ball with the divine Mandana at Sardis. The renowned
king of Scythia danced with the princess Cleopatra at Alexandria; the
brave Cleomedon with the fair Candace at Ethiopia. But these diversions
were taken but seldom, and considered indeed as an amusement, not as a
part of the business of life.
How would so many glorious battles have been fought, cities taken,
ladies rescued, and other great and noble adventures been achieved,
if the men, sunk in sloth and effeminacy, had continually followed
the sound of a fiddle, sauntered in public walks, or tattled over a
tea-table?
I vow, cousin, said Miss Glanville, you are infinitely more severe
in your censures than Mr. Tinsel was at the assembly. You had little
reason, methinks, to be angry with him.
All I have said, replied Arabella, was the natural inference from your
own account of the manner in which people live here. When actions are
a censure upon themselves, the reciter will always be considered as a
satirist.