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really should make him fo, is by fo much the uglier. Cunning is only the want of underftanding, which because it cannot compass its end by direct ways, would do it by a trick and circumvention; and the mischief of it is, a cunning trick helps but once, but hinders ever after. No cover was ever made either fo big or fo fine as to hide itfelf. No body was ever so cunning as to conceal their being fo: and when they are once difcovered, every body is fhy, every body diftrustful of crafty men; and all the world forwardly join to oppose and defeat them: whilft the open, fair, wife man, has every body to make way for him, and goes directly to his business. To accuftom a child to have true notions of things, and not to be fatisfied till he has them; to raise his mind to great and worthy thoughts, and to keep him at a diftance from falfhood and cunning, which has always a broad mixture of falfhood in it; is the fittest preparation of a child for wifdom. The reft, which is to be learned from time, experience and obfervation, and an acquaintance with men, their tempers and defigns, is not to be expected in the ignorance and inadvertency of childhood, or the inconfiderate heat and unwariness of youth all that can be done towards it, during this unripe age, is, as I have faid, to accuítom. them to truth and fincerity; to a fubmiflion

to

to reafon; and, as much as may be, to re

flexion on their own actions.

$141. The next good quality Breeding. belonging to a gentleman, is, good breeding. There are two forts

of ill breeding; the one a fheepish bashfulness, and the other a mifbecoming negligence and difrefpect in our carriage: but which are avoided by duly obferving this one rule, Not to think meanly of ourselves, and not to think meanly of others.

$142. The first part of this rule muft not be understood in oppofition to humility, but to affurance. We ought not to think fo well of ourselves, as to ftand upon our own value; and affume to ourfelves a preference before others, becaufe of any advantage, we may imagine, we have over them; but modeftly to take what is offered, when it is our due. But yet we ought to think fo well of ourselves, as to perform thofe actions which are incumbent on, and expected of us, without difcompofure or diforder in whofe prefence foever we are ; keeping that refpect and diftance, which is due to every one's rank and quality. There is often in people, efpecially children, a clownifh fhamefacednefs before ftrangers, or those above them they are confounded in their thoughts, words and looks; and fo lofe themselves in that confufion, as not to be able to do any thing, or at least not to do it with that freedom

freedom and gracefulness which pleases and makes them be acceptable. The only cure for this, as for any other mifcarriage, is by ufe to introduce the contrary habit. But fince we cannot accuftom ourselves to converfe with ftrangers, and perfons of quality, with out being in their company, nothing can cure this part of ill-breeding, but change and va riety of company, and that of perfons above

us.

§ 143. As the before mentioned confists in too great a concern how to behave ourselves towards others: fo the other part of ill-breeding lies in the appearance of too little care of pleafing, or fhewing refpect to those we have to do with. To avoid this, these two things are requifite: ft, A difpofition of the mind not to offend others; and 2dly, the moft acceptable and agreeable way of expreffing that difpofition. From the one men are called civil; from the other well-fashioned. The latter of thefe is that decency and gracefulness of looks, voice, words, motions, geftures, and of all the whole outward demeanour, which takes in company, and makes thofe with whom we may converfe, eafy and well pleafed. This is, as it were, the language whereby that internal civility of the mind is expreffed; which, as other languages are, being very much governed by the fashion and cuftom of every country, muft, in the rules

and

and practice of it, be learned chiefly from obfervation, and the carriage of thofe who are allowed to be exactly well-bred. The other part, which lies deeper than the out fide, is that general good-will and regard for all people, which makes any one have a care not to fhew, in his carriage, any contempt, difrefpect or neglect of them; but to exprefs, according to the fafhion and way of that country, a refpect and value for them, according to their rank and condition. It is a dif pofition of the mind that fhews itself in the carriage, whereby a man avoids making any one uneafy in converfation.

I fhall take notice of four qualities, that are moft directly oppofite to this firft and moft taking of all the focial virtues. And from fome one of these four it is that incivility commonly has its rife. I fhall fet them down, that children may be preferved or recovered from their ill influence.

1. The first is a natural rough. Roughness. nefs, which makes a man uncom plaifant to others, fo that he has

no deference for their inclinations, tempers or conditions. 'Tis the fure badge of a clown, not to mind what pleases or displeases those he is with; and yet one may often find a man in fafhionable clothes give an unbounded fwing to his humour, and fuffer it to jufile or overi un any one that flands in its way, with a per

fect

fect indifferency how they take it. This is a brutality that every one fees and abhors, and no body can be eafy with; and therefore this finds no place in any one who would be thought to have the leaft tincture of good-breeding. For the very end and bufinefs of good-breeding is to fupply the natural fliffness, and fo foften men's tempers, that they may bend to a compliance, and accommodate themfelves to thofe they have to do with.

2. Contempt, or want of due re- Contempt. fpect, difcovered either in looks, words or gefture. This, from whomfoever it comes, brings always uneafinefs with it: for no body can contentedly bear being flighted.

3. Cenforioufnefs, and finding fault with others, has a direct oppofition to civility. Men, whatever they are or are not guilty

Cenforiousnefs.

of, would not have their faults displayed, and fet in open view and broad day-light, before their own or other people's eyes. Blemishes affixed to any one always carry fhame with them and the difcovery, or even bare imputation of any defect is not born without fome uneafinefs. Raillery is the

moft refined way of expofing the Raillery. faults of others: but, because it is ufually done with wit and good language, and gives entertainment to the company, peo

ple

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