Ridiculing a romantick Rhapsody in Courtship.

SIR,

My Niece desires me to acquaint you, that she received your celestial Epistle last Night, as we were all sitting down to Supper; and she leaves it to me to answer it, according to the Effects it has produced. You must know then, that as soon as she had read it, there appear’d a more marvellous Metamorphosis in her Deportment, than any we read of in Ovid. She put on high Airs, and talk’d in a lofty Strain to Us, as well as to the Maids; nor knew she how to behave all the rest of the Evening.——You had so thoroughly proved her superior to all the Deities of the Antients, that she could not help fansying the homely Viands that stood before her, a Banquet of Paradise; and when she put to her Lips some of our common Table-drink, it became immediately, in her Fancy, Nectar and Ambrosia; and she affected to sip, rather than drink. When, by your generous Aid, she had thus raised herself far above Mortality, she began to despise our Company, and thought her Grandmother and me too highly favoured by her Presence; and spoke to us in such a Tone, as made us honest Mortals amaz’d at her sudden Elevation.

In short, Sir, as she has placed such a thorough Confidence in you, as to believe whatever you are pleased to tell her, she begs you will never so far mortify her towering Ambition, as to treat her like any thing earthly.

If then you would make yourself worthy of her Favour, you must, in order to support the Description you have given of her, at least dart through the Clouds, or rise with the Morning-Goddess, and attend, in her airy Chariot, at her Chamber-window, where, you say, all the Graces wait; so that you will not be displeased with your Company.

Indeed she is under a Concern, which you must supply, for what Kind of Birds you will find to draw her Chariot; for Doves and Peacocks she would scorn to borrow of Venus and Juno, whom you make so much her Inferiors.