altho I never saw him, I pass easily from the admiration of his Discourse to that of his Person.
Of Converſation.
HOW great soever the pleasure of Reading is to me, yet that of Conversation will ever most sensibly affect me. The acquaintance of the Ladies would afford me the sweetest, if the satisfaction we find in conversing with the lovely, did not put us to the trouble of being upon our guard against their Charms. Yet this is a violence I rarely suffer: as my Age renders me unacceptable, my Experience makes me nice; and if they can't be pleas'd with me, I am, by way of return, as hardly satisfy'd with them. There are some, indeed, whole Merits make a considerable impression on my mind, but their Beauty has little influence on my heart: and if I am at any time surprized by it, I presently reduce my Passion to a pleasing reasonable Friendship, that has none of the uneasiness of Love.
The first merit with the Ladies is to be in love with them; the next, the being the Confident of their inclinations; the third, the ingenious improving and setting off all that is amiable in them: if nothing will win their hearts, we may, at least, gain upon their minds by praise; for next to the Lover, to whom all must yield, he pleases 'em most, who affords 'em means of being better pleas'd with themselves. When you converse with them, take great care never to leave 'em in Indifference; they are, from their souls, averse to such coldness: wherefore, either make your self belov'd, or indulge their Passions, or make 'em find themselves more lovely. For, after all, Love of some sort or
