NUMBER XXIII. THE RESULT. Truth under fiction I impart To weed out folly from the heart, The wandering Nymph from wisdom's way. FRIVOLA is cheerful, good-humoured, and seemingly happy with her eccentricities. Nature has bestowed on her a pleasing countenance, with a tolerable share of understanding, and an equal portion of perceptibility; which she makes use of in her moments of reflection. But alas! they occur so seldom, that she is generally taken for a very weak and imprudent woman. Imprudent she certainly is, and unguarded to a degree almost beyond credibility. Some of her friends have ventured to remonstrate with her on the folly of her proceedings; and Prudentia, in particular, who is much interested in her welfare, takes every opportunity of impressing on her mind, the serious evils to which her foolish eccentricities are likely to expose her. She listens with attention; but her sole ambition is to attract notice. If she can but call forth attention-no matter to her, whether it be for praise or censure. Notwithstanding she seems to feel the full force of Prudentia's wellmeaning arguments, still she always turns them off with some ludicrous remark or other; thus"Though my conduct may appear a little inconsistent, now and then, I know it is irreproachable. Am I to glide with the stream, merely because the world affect to disapprove my going against it? Nonsense ;-I'm above the vulgar prejudices of the world, and shall never conform to the ridiculous etiquette and fashion of the times, unless it please my own fancy so to do. Why, you would fain make a prude of me, Prudentia! still you joke and laugh with old and young, and 'trip it on the light fantastic toe' with every beau in company-read novels, and mix in the motley group at a masquerade ;--and no one ever thinks of making any comment. But when I move forward, or attempt to give a zest to conversation, every eye seems fixed, and every ear intent, as it were, to censure and contemn my every word and every action." "You, Frivola, thoughtless and careless of the world's opinion, without reserve expose your errors; and by your eccentricities betray a silly vanity that must insure the mockery and censure of even indifferent beholders, who will never fail to turn your harmless levity into acts of guilt." 66 Enough," she would good-naturedly reply, "under such mild tuition I shall certainly amend; -continue your admonitions, good and sedate lady; you really seem so interested for my reputation, that I can't be angry nor chide your freedom; though I believe in any one but you, such candor would offend my pride and rouse my indignation. -You'll let me read a novel, now and then, to dissipate the gloom, I hope, that such restraint must plunge me into?" 66 Indeed, Frivola, if I had any influence on your literary pursuits, more profitable reading should supply their place," replied her friend. "The romantic evils with which they burthen the senses, are, in my opinion, but little calculated to correct your inconsistencies." 66 "Think ye so my worthy matron?" said she with an expressive glance. Perhaps I should not indulge my weakness as I do, if my companions were more rationally disposed; but really, the usual topics of the day are so void of interest, that I actually retire to amuse myself with a goodfor-nothing novel, rather than be doomed to listen to the vain egotism of some, or the detracting observations of others. There's Fortuna, raised from culinary employ to look down with scorn upon wit and genius, always talking of her gownds, and her sarvants, and the black beedles that annoy her, till one's tired to death of listening to such gibberish. She had actually the audacity to reprove a young friend of mine the other day, who ran up to her in playful extacy, exclaiming -"Look Fortuna, what a pretty beetle I've got!" Beetle, my dear, is that the way you speak?" U said she with an air of self-sufficiency-" a black beedle you mean, I suppose!" The child, who had been better taught, looked at mamma, mamma smiled, and taking her little darling by the hand, "come," said she, "we'll go and shew it to your brother;" and when she had led her out of the room, she immediately explained Fortuna's misconception of the word, that the child might not be puzzled by such tuition. 166 Ignorance and conceit generally go hand in hand," replied her friend," and it is no uncommon thing at present, for purse-proud gentry to pretend to correct their better informed neighbours; and it too frequently happens that they triumph in their presumption, by abashing their more diffident companions, who they awe into silence by their loud and flippant speeches." "So it seems, for there's Flirtilla, with her gibes and jeers," continued Frivola, "for ever displaying her wit, and endeavouring to establish her own excellence at the expense of some of the company. In spite of all one's gaiety and efforts to come in for a little share of notice, she, by talking of great men she only knows by name, or using some deceit or other, monopolizes the attention of every beau in company; so that with three times her abilities, one's looked upon as a mere cipher. She is so far clever, to be sure, and a wonderful talent it is, that she pretends to every thing, without knowing much of any thing; and by a happy knack of touching on different subjects, without dwelling on any, she passes, with half the world, for a prodigy. If she would but allow a little share of merit to others, she might be left to exult in her own qualifications, without drawing upon herself ill-natured observations. But to see her extolled and admired as she rears her lofty head, pretending to every thing, and establishing her excellence on the depredations she commits on her better informed neighbours, is past endurance. For it is only by stratagem, as one may say, and detraction, that she succeeds in making the world believe she is a meteor of such resplendent lustre, as to extinguish every star that comes within her orb. "But after all, Prudentia, and say what you will, there's something delightfully interesting in the well-dressed accounts we read, of frantic lovers and their strange vicissitudes, in novels.The incomparable productions of a Scott, the splendid fabrications of a Smith, the wild descriptions of a Radcliffe, and the extravagant delusions of a Gunning, are really so bewitching that I know not how to resist them. They actually deceive my senses while I read, and impose upon my understanding 'till I am bewildered, as 'twere, in a labyrinth of enchantment.” "That's just the mischief of which I complain, replied her friend. "Recollect that the most celebrated novelist of the day, even the great Sir Walter Scott, says the perusal of romances may, without injustice, be compared with the use of |