 at all about the matter. - That, Madam, is the
very fault I lay to your charge; and as a punishment for it, I do insist upon
it, that you immediately turn back, that is, as soon as you get to the next full
stop, and read the whole chapter over again.
    I have imposed this penance upon the lady, neither out of wantonness or
cruelty, but from the best of motives; and therefore shall make her no apology
for it when she returns back: - 'Tis to rebuke a vicious taste which has crept
into thousands besides herself, - of reading straight forwards, more in quest of
the adventures, than of the deep erudition and knowledge which a book of this
cast, if read over as it should be, would infallibly impart with them. -- The
mind should be accustomed to make wise reflections, and draw curious conclusions
as it goes along; the habitude of which made Pliny the younger affirm, »That he
never read a book so bad, but he drew some profit from it.« The stories of
Greece and Rome, run over without this turn and application, - do less service,
I affirm it, than the history of Parismus and Parismenus, or of the Seven
Champions of England, read with it.
    -- But here comes my fair Lady. Have you read over again the chapter, Madam,
as I desired you? - You have: And did you not observe the passage, upon the
second reading, which admits the inference? -- Not a word like it! Then, Madam,
be pleased to ponder well the last line but one of the chapter, where I take
upon me to say, »It was necessary I should be born before I was christen'd.« Had
my mother, Madam, been a Papist, that consequence did not follow1.
    It is a terrible misfortune for this same book of mine, but more so to the
Republick of Letters; - so that my own is quite swallowed up in the
consideration of it, - that this self-same vile pruriency for fresh adventures
in all things, has got so strongly into our habit and humours, - and so wholly
intent are we upon satisfying the impatience of our concupiscence that way, -
that nothing but the gross and more carnal parts of a composition will go down:
- The subtle hints and sly communications of science fly off, like spirits,
upwards; -- the heavy moral escapes downwards; and both the one and the other
are as much lost to the world, as if they
