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Young gentlemen may be "wholly neglected and left to branch forth into numberless Follies, like a rich Field uncultivated, that abounds in nothing but tall Weeds and gaudy scentless Flowers"

— Davys, Mary (1674-1732)

Author

Davys, Mary (1674-1732)

Work Title

The Accomplish'd Rake: or Modern Fine Gentleman

Place of Publication

London

Publisher

Printed and sold by the Booksellers of London and Westminster

Date

1727

Metaphor

Young gentlemen may be "wholly neglected and left to branch forth into numberless Follies, like a rich Field uncultivated, that abounds in nothing but tall Weeds and gaudy scentless Flowers"

Metaphor in Context

Sure unjustly are we called the weaker Vessels, when we have Strength to subdue that which conquers the Lords of the Creation, for their Reason tyes them down to Rules, while we like Sampson break the trifling Twine and laugh at every Obstacle that would oppose our Pleasure. Lady Galliard had too much Resolution and Courage to strugle with Grief, but like an expert Fencer gave it one home Thrust and silenced it for ever, hardly allowing so much as the common Decorum of a Months Confinement to a dark Room, though her wild Behaviour told the World she was but too well qualified for such an Apartment for ever. But I now give up my Observations to Time, who will probably alternately bury and raise her Shame, to him I leave her for a while, and call upon young Galliard her Son, who is now arrived at one Step of Honour, being the Third Baronet successively of his Family, Sir John therefore for the future we call him, and if he behaves below his Manhood and Dignity, we must beg the Mother to answer for the Son, since the Father left no Example behind him, but what was worthy of the strictest Imitation, and had not the too hasty Hand of Death, snatch'd him hence so soon, his indefatigable Care had made his Son what he really was himself, a perfect fine Gentleman. It is a common Saying, That Manners makes the Man, but that Word, like Friendship, includes much more than is vulgarly understood by it, and a false Education like false Wit only serves to varnish over the Defects of our Scene and Behaviour, which when tried by a true Touchstone, lays us open and shews the Deformities of both. But if a wrong Discipline in Youth be so pernitious, what becomes of those who have none at all? How many young Gentlemen have we among the better Sort of Men, that are in a Manner wholly neglected and left to branch forth into numberless Follies, like a rich Field uncultivated, that abounds in nothing but tall Weeds and gaudy scentless Flowers. This is doubtless the Reason why the Town is so stock'd with Rakes and Coxcombs, who wisely imagine all Merit is wrapt up in fine Clothes and Blasphemy; a laced Coat, gold clock't Stockings, and a Tupee, qualifies a Man for a modern fine Gentleman, and if he can but whore, swear, and renounce his Maker, he is a modern fine Gentleman indeed. Too much like this it fared with our young Baronet, who is now left to think and act as he pleases himself, and he that is his own Teacher has too often a Fool for his Schoolmaster, tho' young Galliard did not want Sense, but on the contrary had more than could be expected from one of his Years, and yet alass, for want of due Measures, it grew up rank, and sprouted out with nothing but Excrescences. He now saw himself with the Eyes of Vanity, which was daily increased by the Flattery of the Servants, a Thing he liked so well that his whole Time was spent among the Grooms in the Stables, or the Wenches in the House; and doubtless his natural good Sense and acquired good Manners met with all the Improvement that such refin'd Conversation could furnish him with. Two whole Years slipt away in a careless Lethergy, which lost Time was of much more value than the annual Rents of the Estate, considering one revolves, but the other is lost for ever. We generally expect a Man compleat at one and twenty, and two Years out of seven is too considerable to be trifled away, beside the sad Disadvantage of imbibing ill Customs, which like the King's Evil is seldom or never removed. The Neglect of this young Gentleman alarm'd all that loved his Father, which was just as many as knew his Worth; but in a near Part of the Neighbourhood lived one Mr. Friendly, who was always conversant with, and loved by the deceased; he in a very particular Manner lamented the Misfortune of the almost ruin'd Sir John, but knew not where to apply for a Remedy, the Knight was too young too thoughtless and too fond of his own Will to hearken to any Advice that did not concur with it. And for Lady Galliard, she was too positive, too proud, and too careless, either to be perswaded by her Friends, or to joyn in Concert with Reason for the Good of her Child. However, he had a Stratagem in his Head, which kind Chance furnished him with, and which he hoped might be of some Service to his Design, in order to put it in Practice, he made an Invitation to some of his nearest Neighbours, among which Lady Galliard and her Son were bidden; while they were at dinner, among the rest of the Attendants was a very spruce, clean Footman, who had something in his Air that look'd as if he was not born one. Mr. Friendly seemed to use him with some Defference, and said, pray Tom do so and so, Tom seemed very diligent, but a little aukward, and some of the Company observed a Tear often starting into his Eyes, which gave them a Curiosity to enquire who he was, and that gave a good Lift to Mr. Friendly's Design. Dinner was no sooner over than he took the Opportunity and gave the Company the following Account:
(pp. 4-8)