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Never lose the Mistress in the Wife; a Text of Bullion Sense, which an Effay Writer would wire-draw into twenty glittering Pages. But as my Defign is, not to gain your Applause of my talent as a Writer, but to give a hint for the Promotion of your Happiness; to fay more will be unneceffary, to fay lefs would be unaffectionate. I know fome of our Friends would rally me for laying fo great a stress upon minute Embellishments of Mind and Body; but I would foon ftop the Laughter of those Gain-fayers, by the following Fable, the Truth of whofe Moral is as old and certain as the Foundation of the World, tho' the Story is my own Invention. PSYCHE, a Virgin born in the Ifland of CYPRUS, grew enamour'd of CUPID the Son of VENUS. After making fome unsuccessful Attempts to infpire the little God with a mutual Paffion, the retired from the World to vent her Complaints in melancholy Solitude. There dwelt not far from PAPHOS, the Metropolis of the Country, a Nymph called

TASTE,

TASTE, a Daughter of one of the GRACES, to whom the VIRTUES, ARTS, SCIENCES, and even the GODDESS of the Island herfelf often reforted. For without the Affiftance of fome fecret Charms the beftowed upon them, tho' they perhaps might fometimes coldly fatisfy the World, their Endeavours to enchant it were always ineffectual. Hither PSYCHE repaired, and having discovered the Cause of her Uneafinefs, fupplicated the Nymph in the most humble manner to relieve her Diftreffes. TASTE, who never refus'd to comply with the Petitions of her fincere Votaries, heard the Virgin's Requeft with Compaffion, and having made up a Zone of the fame Materials with which he had formerly compofed the Ceftus of VENUS, gave it her with the following Injunctions. Take, faid fhe, my dear PSYCHE, this magic Zone, and wear it perpetually "round you, from whofe latent Folds "fuch an unfpeakable Power shall be "added to your natural Charms, that the "difdainful God of foft Defires fhall not

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"only be captivated with your Beauty, "as foon as he fees you, but shall be re"tained in a voluntary and pleasurable "Bondage as long as you preserve this "mysterious Pledge of my Affection. "Take the ftri&teft Care therefore of this "ineftimable Treafure, for fhould you "thro' Neglect be fo unfortunate to lose "it, CUPID has Wings and "ufe of them to leave you." Let it be fufficient to say, that PSYCHE bound the Zone round her Waift, and accordingly fo far fucceeded in her Wishes, that HYMEN in his Saffron Robe foon pronounced a happy Union betwixt her and the Son of VENUS. Days, Weeks, and Months paffed on in uninterrupted circles of ftill increafing Raptures. If PSYCHE went into the Meadows and Groves to tafte the Tribute of the returning Spring, CUPID was ever ready to wanton before her, and fill her Lap with the choiceft Flowers and Bloffoms. If fhe was inclinable in the heat of Summer to vifit

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the Rivers and Fountains, his Image was conftantly mixed with hers in the floating Mirror. PSYCHE began now to think her Zone useless, and a troublefome Incumbrance; therefore being one Day fatigued with the ufual Sports of the Country, fhe loofened the golden Studs with which it was faftened round her Waift, and threw it difdainfully into the paffing River. Very few Days paffed after this, before she per

ceived a visible Alteration in the Affections of her adored CUPID; his Eyes no longer languifhed on hers with ineffable Defire; his Ears ceafed, as they were wont, to be ravished with the Mufic of her Tongue; and a civil Indifference foon fucceeded to the heretofore glowing Language of Extacy. By degrees her Company grew every Day more and more difpleafing to him, till at length a total Disgust having feized his Fancy, he fpread his rofy Wings in Air, and for ever left

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the detefted Habitation of his once beloved PSYCHE.

Pray deliver my Congratulations upon this happy Occafion to ARISTUS yourfelf, and then I am fure they will not fail of being acceptable.

I am,

Dear LEONORA,

With the greatest Sincerity,

Yours, &c. &c.

LETTER

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