HISTORY

OF

PORT I A.

WRITTEN by a LADY.

What's female beauty but an air divine,
Through which the mind's all gentle graces

fhine?

Thefe, like the fun, irradiate all between;
The body charms because the foul is feen:
Hence men are often captives of a face,
They know not why, of no peculiar grace.
Some forms, though bright, no mortal man can
bear;

Some none refift, though not exceeding fair.

Dr. Young's Univers. Pass.

Vol. I.

LONDON:

Printed for R. WITHY, at the Dunciad in Cornhill;
J. POTTINGER, in Great Turnftile, Holborn;
J. WILKIE, in St. Paul's Church-Yard; and
J. Cook E, in Queen-Street, May-Fair.

THE

HISTORY

OF

PORTIA

CHA P. I.

The introduction, with fome account of the author, and her reafons for undertaking this work.

I

Aм thoroughly fenfible that a woman never makes a more ridiculous figure, than when the appears to the world in the character of an author; the male part of the fpecies having ingroffed every branch of learning, as their peculiar province, think they have an undoubted right, if we do but touch upon the borders, to feize us inftantly as fo many ufurpers on their privileges; and indeed I cannot but acknowlege that they have great reafon VOL. I. B

for