Allestree, Richard (1611/2-1681)

The Ladies Calling, in Two Parts by the Author of The Whole Duty of Man, The Causes of the Decay of Christian Piety, and The Gentlemans Calling

Oxford: Printed at the Theater

1673

" For tho the adulterations of art, can represent in the same Face beauty in one position, and deformity in another, yet nature is more sincere, and never meant a serene and clear forhead, should be the frontispiece to a cloudy tempestuous heart."

1. In the next place we may rank Meekness as a necessary feminine Vertu; this even nature seems to teach, which abhors monstrosities and disproportions, and therefore having allotted to women a more smooth and soft composition of body, infers thereby her intention, that the mind should correspond with it. For tho the adulterations of art, can represent in the same Face beauty in one position, and deformity in another, yet nature is more sincere, and never meant a serene and clear forhead, should be the frontispiece to a cloudy tempestuous heart. 'Tis therefore to be wisht they would take the admonition, and whilst they consult their glasses, whether to applaud or improve their outward form, they would cast one look inwards, and examine what symmetry is there held with a fair outside; whether any storm of passion darken and overcast their interior beauty, and use at least an equal dilligence to rescu that; as they would to clear their face from any stain or blemish.
(I.ii.1)

Body::Face Writing::Book::Frontispiece Weather::Clouds Weather::Tempest

Reading

The Ladies Calling, in Two Parts by the Author of The Whole Duty of Man, The Causes of the Decay of Christian Piety, and The Gentlemans Calling. [attributed to Richard Allestree] Oxford: Printed at the Theater, 1673. <Link to Project Canterbury Edition>

03/30/2010