250 The Duchess of Newcastle 



about amongst mankind, and Mrs. E. R. S. wit is a 

 platonick wit, as loving friendships, and the con- 

 versation of souls, but take her from the platonicks, 

 and she is gone, both from wit and understanding, 

 or those are gone from her ; and so leaving her to her 

 single-self, and her wit to her platonick-lover, 



I rest, Madam, 

 Your faithful friend and servant. 



ON MEN'S COURTESY TO WOMEN 



Madam, — It requires experience, skill, and practice, 

 for men, civilly, yet courtly, to entertain and accom- 

 pany women in visiting, or the like; they must sit 

 within a respectful distance, with their hats off, and 

 begin a discourse, but let the women follow it, which 

 they will do until they are out of breath; also, they 

 must not interrupt them in their talk, but let them 

 speak as much, or as long as they will, or rather can, 

 for our will to talk is beyond our power. But though 

 we want not words, yet we want understanding and 

 knowledge to talk perpetually; neither must men 

 contradict women, although they should talk non- 

 sense, which oftentimes they do, but must seem to 

 applaud and approve, with gentle nods and bows, all 

 they say; also they must view their faces with 

 admiring eyes, although they were ill-favoured, 

 but those that are beautiful, their eyes must be fixed 

 on them, or else seem to be dazled; Hkewise they 

 must seem to start at their calls, and run with an 

 affrighted hast, to obey their commands. Such, and 

 many the like ceremonies and fooleries there are of this 

 kind from men to women, but these are rather from 

 strangers than domestick acquaintance. Wherefore 



