did Amphitheatres, ftately Columns dedicated to Monsters who difgrac'd their Species, and many other tasteless Wonders built for the Gratification of human Vanity. From hence I am inclinable to think the Ruins now before us were erected in the Age immediately preceding, or in that of ZENOBIA herfelf; when the fplendid CORINTHIAN only could fatisfy the Luxury of the Times, which had eradicated that Taste for Propriety as otherwife would have been occafionally delighted with the milder Charms of the DORIC Order. Nevertheless confidering a true Tafte for Architecture must have preceded this indifcriminate Magnificence, and that many of these Buildings too are not only Inftances of great Science, but likewife often applied with great Propriety (for Inftance, among others, the great Temple) I could not help falling into the fame kind of Reflection as SULPICIUS makes, in his Letter to CICERO §, on feting,

G 3

§ The humane Sulpicius thus apoftrophizes himself, afHem! nos homunculi indignamur,

ter the Reflection.

f

feeing, in his Voyage from ASIA, the Ruins of EGINA, MEGARA, the PIRÆEUS, and CORINTH. Shall fuch inconfiderable Creatures as myself, (faid I) repine at any little private Lofs, when at one View I behold the aftonishing Magnificence of fo many hundred Families, and the vaft public Structures of a mighty Kingdom, all in Ruins before me?- Indeed, PHILEMON, I begin to be afham'd that you ever heard me murmur!-I am now going with a Party of felect Friends of both Sexes to take a Tour of Pleafure to feveral Seats in the North of -fire. When I

return, you may rely upon receiving free and impartial Obfervations upon what we fee there, in the manner you delight in, when you defire me to give you my flow of Soul. Adieu, my dear Friend, and continue

fi quis noftrum interiit, aut occifus eft, quorum vita bre yior efie debet, cum uno loco tot oppidum cadavera projecta jaceant? Vine tu te, Servi, cohibere, et meminiffe, bominem te effe natum ? Epift. lib. 4. epist. 5.

continue to do me the Juftice of thinking that my Heart always flows from my Tongue and Pen, especially when I fay how much I am,

J

LETTER XIII.

To LEONORA.

OY to you, my dear LEONORA, upon the the Accomplishment of all your own Wishes, and those of a Man who I believe is as dear to you as yourself; at least of one whofe Happiness is neceffary to conftitute yours.

You are now enter'd

into that State from whence, as our great Poet fays,

"Relations dear, and all the Charities

"Of Father, Son, and Brother, first were known. †

Give me leave therefore, as the tie of Blood betwixt us may in fome measure authorize the Freedom, and the Friendship we have always had for each other still more, to mix with the unfeign'd Joy of Congratulation, the unreftrainable Tenderness of a Brother, and Concern of a

Friend,

+ Par. Loft, Book the 4th.

Friend, in giving my Advice to you in this Scene of Happiness. Nor think it any Reflection upon the ftrength of your Heart, that I fhould imagine I could any way contribute to your Felicity by Admonition, which is not concerning your Prudence, (for, to free you at once from any pain of that fort, I really think it incapable of Improvement) but relating to the Obfervation of fome inferior Excellencies, which with the generality of your Sex have past unregarded, but, give me leave to fay, are as effentially neceffary to preserve a Husband's Defires, as the more refpectable Duties of a Wife. 'Tis not enough that a Woman is a faithful domeftic Friend, she should daily ftudy to inveft herself with a hundred little enchanting Graces, fuitable to the Difpofition of the Man fhe marries, if fhe would ftill retain those unspeakable Charms, conceived only by Lovers, with which the originally captivated his Heart. This grand Secret, my daar Sifter, lies in this fhort Precept,

Never