Gildon, Charles (1665-1724)

The Post-boy rob'd of his Mail: or, the Pacquet Broke Open

London

The Post-boy rob'd of his Mail: or, the Pacquet Broke Open

1692

"The Anatomy therefore of Man (concluded I) both as to Mind, and Body is a filthy Curiosity, as he observes, where one must besmeer ones self with Blood to trace the intricate Menaders of each Nerve, and Motion, and all the private Kingdom of Veins, and Arteries; by which the Mind as well as Body moves, and subsists."

This Spark (said Grave) has Judgment, as well as Wit, contenting himself with his present Condition, rather than hazard a certainty, for an uncertainty. Nay (pursu'd Winter) a Man of Wit, and Learning pursues a certainty of Poverty in the World, whilst he puts in for the prize of Fortune with Fools, and Knaves. True (added Church) for Learning like Honesty is very much extoll'd but very poor. Villany, and Ignorance (continu'd Summer) gain Wealth, and Honesty, and Learning starve. But if Fools and Knaves (said Brook) have a momentary Reign, the Man of Sense triumphs over them to after Ages. I like his Expression (said Temple) of Scrambling for Riches, and Dominion, for in the World Men like Sir Bartholomew Coake in Barth'l'mew-Fair, scramble for the gilded Ginger bread, and Apples Fortune throws among 'em, without regard to the Order, and Decency of their Habit, Quality, Age, or Station. Here a judge casts off his formal Gravity to sooth a great Court Lady to make any Interest for the great Seals. Right (pursu'd River) and there a precise Doctor throws aside his sanctified Grimaces, to flatter a supple Favourite for a Bishoprick. And that antient Lord (added Chappel) lets fall his paternal Coronet, whilst he's scrambling for the Prize with an up-start petty Fogger. But the medly of Mankind (said Fountain) is endless; and the Dance in the Rehearsal gives the best Idea of it of any thing I've seen, and therefore by the Critics leave, I think that Dance better Writ than an hundred of their ineffectual Precepts. The Anatomy therefore of Man (concluded I) both as to Mind, and Body is a filthy Curiosity, as he observes, where one must besmeer ones self with Blood to trace the intricate Menaders of each Nerve, and Motion, and all the private Kingdom of Veins, and Arteries; by which the Mind as well as Body moves, and subsists.
(pp. 241-2)

Government::Kingdom Motion

C-H Lion

Charles Gildon, The Post-boy rob'd of his Mail: or, the Pacquet Broke Open. Consisting of Five Hundred Letters, to Persons of several Qualities and Conditions. With Observations Upon each Letter. Publish'd by a Gentleman concern'd in the Frolick. Licens'd and Entred, according to Order (London: Printed for John Dunton, 1692). <Link to EEBO-TCP>

06/30/2013