 the wisest men could have done. I now employed all my
time and care in adorning my person, and studying the surest means of engaging
the affections of others, while I myself continued quite indifferent; for I
resolved for the future, if ever one soft thought made its way to my heart, to
fly the object of it, and by new lovers to drive the image from my breast. I
consulted my glass every morning, and got such a command of my countenance that
I could suit it to the different tastes of variety of lovers; and though I was
young, for I was not yet above seventeen, yet my public way of life gave me such
continual opportunities of conversing with men, and the strong desire I now had
of pleasing them led me to make such constant observations on everything they
said or did, that I soon found out the different methods of dealing with them. I
observed that most men generally liked in women what was most opposite to their
own characters; therefore to the grave solid man of sense I endeavoured to
appear sprightly and full of spirit; to the witty and gay, soft and languishing;
to the amorous (for they want no increase of their passions), cold and reserved;
to the fearful and backward, warm and full of fire; and so of all the rest. As
to beaus, and all those sort of men, whose desires are centred in the
satisfaction of their vanity, I had learned by sad experience the only way to
deal with them was to laugh at them and let their own good opinion of themselves
be the only support of their hopes. I knew, while I could get other followers, I
was sure of them; for the only sign of modesty they ever give is that of not
depending on their own judgments, but following the opinions of the greatest
number. Thus furnished with maxims, and grown wise by past errors, I in a manner
began the world again: I appeared in all public places handsomer and more lively
than ever, to the amazement of every one who saw me and had heard of the affair
between me and my lord. He himself was much surprized and vexed at the sudden
change, nor could he account how it was possible for me so soon to shake off
those chains he thought he had fixed on me for life; nor was he willing to lose
his conquest in this manner. He endeavoured by all means possible to talk to me
again of love, but I stood fixed to my resolution (in which I was greatly
assisted by the croud of admirers that daily surrounded me)
