every one an inclination to please his superiors； and to form
himself upon those models； which are most acceptable to people of
condition and education。 Politeness of manners； therefore； arises
most naturally in monarchies and courts； and where that
flourishes； none of the liberal arts will be altogether neglected
or despised。
The republics in Europe are at present noted for want of
politeness。 ；＇5＇ is an expression for rusticity among the French。 The
English； in some degree； fall under the same censure；
notwithstanding their learning and genius。 And if the Venetians
be an exception to the rule； they owe it； perhaps； to their
communication with the other Italians； most of whose governments
beget a dependence more than sufficient for civilizing their
manners。
It is difficult to pronounce any judgment concerning the
refinements of the ancient republics in this particular： But I am
apt to suspect； that the arts of conversation were not brought so
near to perfection among them as the arts of writing and
composition。 The scurrility of the ancient orators； in many
instances； is quite shocking； and exceeds all belief。 Vanity too
is often not a little offensive in authors of those ages；＇6＇ as
well as the common licentiousness and immodesty of their stile；
； pene； ； says Sallust in one of the gravest and most
moral passages of his history。 ； is an expression of Horace； in tracing
the origin of moral good and evil。 Ovid and Lucretius＇7＇ are
almost as licentious in their stile as Lord Rochester； though the
former were fine gentlemen and delicate writers； and the latter；
from the corruptions of that court； in which he lived； seems to
have thrown off all regard to shame and decency。 Juvenal
inculcates modesty with great zeal； but sets a very bad example
of it if we consider the impudence of his expressions。
I shall also be bold to affirm； that among the ancients；
there was not much delicacy of breeding； or that polite deference
and respect； which civility obliges us either to express or
counterfeit towards the persons with whom we converse。 Cicero was
certainly one of the finest gentlemen of his age； yet I must
confess I have frequently been shocked with the poor figure under
which he represents his friend Atticus； in those dialogues； where
he himself is introduced as a speaker。 That learned and virtuous
Roman； whose dignity； though he was only a private gentleman； was
inferior to that of no one in Rome； is there shewn in rather a
more pitiful light than Philalethe's friend in our modern
dialogues。 He is a humble admirer of the orator； pays him
frequent compliments； and receives his instructions； with all the
deference which a scholar owes to his master。＇8＇ Even Cato is
treated in somewhat of a cavalier manner in the dialogues 。
One of the most particular details of a real dialogue； which
we meet with in antiquity； is related by Polybius；＇9＇ when
Philip； king of Macedon； a prince of wit and parts； met with
Titus Flaminius； one of the politest of the Romans； as we learn
from Plutarch；＇10＇ accompanied with ambassadors from almost all
the Greek cities。 The Aetolian ambassador very abruptly tells the
king； that he talked like a fool or a madman （lhrein）。 'That's
evident；' says his majesty； 'even to a blind man'； which was a
raillery on the blindness of his excellency。 Yet all this did not
pass the usual bounds： For the conference was not disturbed； and
Flaminius was very well diverted with these strokes of humour。 At
the end； when Philip craved a little time to consult with his
friends； of whom he had none present； the Roman general； being
desirous also to shew his wit； as the historian says； tells him；
'that perhaps the reason； why he had none of his friends with
him； was because he had murdered them all'； which was actually
the case。 This unprovoked piece of rusticity is not condemned by
the historian； caused no farther resentment in Philip； than to
excite a Sardonian smile； or what we call a grin； and hindered
him not from renewing the conference next day。 Plutarch＇11＇ too
mentions this raillery amongst the witty and agreeable sayings of
Flaminius。
Cardinal Wolsey apologized for his famous piece of
insolence； in saying； 'Ego et Rex meus'； ； by
observing； that this expression was conformable to the Latin
idiom； and that a Roman always named himself before the person to
whom； or of whom he spake。 Yet this seems to have been an
instance of want of civility among that people。 The ancients made
it a rule； that the person of the greatest dignity should be
mentioned first in the discourse； insomuch； that we find the
spring of a quarrel and jealousy between the Romans and
Aetolians； to have been a poet's naming the Aetolians before the
Romans； in celebrating a victory gained by their united arms over
the Macedonians。＇12＇ Thus Livia disgusted Tiberius by placing her
own name before his in an inscription。＇13＇
No advantages in this world are pure and unmixed。 In like
manner； as modern politeness； which is naturally so ornamental；
runs often into affectation and foppery； disguise and
insincerity； so the ancient simplicity； which is naturally so
amiable and affecting； often degenerates into rusticity and
abuse； scurrility and obscenity。
If the superiority in politeness should be allowed to modern
times； the modern notions of ； the natural produce of
courts and monarchies； will probably be assigned as the causes of
this refinement。 No one denies this invention to be modern：＇14＇
But some of the more zealous partizans of the ancients； have
asserted it to be foppish and ridiculous； and a reproach； rather
than a credit； to the present age。＇15＇ It may here be proper to
examine this question。
Nature has implanted in all living creatures an affection
between the sexes； which； even in the fiercest and most rapacious
animals； is not merely confined to the satisfaction of the bodily
appetite； but begets a friendship and mutual sympathy； which runs
through the whole tenor of their lives。 Nay； even in those
species； where nature limits the indulgence of this appetite to
one season and to one object； and forms a kind of marriage or
association between a single male and female； there is yet a
visible complacency and benevolence； which extends farther； and
mutually softens the affections of the sexes towards each other。
How much more must this have place in man； where the confinement
of the appetite is not natural； but either is derived
accidentally from some strong charm of love； or arises from
reflections on duty and convenience？ Nothing； therefore； can
proceed less from affectation than the passion of gallantry。 It
is in the highest degree。 Art and education； in the
most elegant courts； make no more alteration on it； than on all
the other laudable passions。 They only turn the mind more towards
it； they refine it； they polish it； and give it a proper grace
and expression。
But gallantry is as as it is 。 To
correct such gross vices； as lead us to commit real injury on
others； is the part of morals； and the object of the most
ordinary education。 Where is not attended to； in some
degree； no human society can subsist。 But in order to render
conversation； and the intercourse of minds more easy and
agreeable； good…manners have been invented； and have carried the
matter somewhat farther。 Wherever nature has given the mind a
propensity to any vice； or to any passion disagreeable to others；
refined breeding has taught men to throw the biass on the
opposite side； and to preserve； in all their behaviour； the
appearance of sentiments different from those to which they
naturally incline。 Thus； as we are commonly proud and selfish；
and apt to assume the preference above others； a polite man
learns to behave with deference towards his companions； and to
yield the superiority to them in all the common incidents of
society。 In like manner； wherever a person's situation may
naturally beget any disagreeable suspicion in him； it is the part
of good…manners to prevent it； by a studied display of
sentiments； directly contrary to those of which he is apt to be
jealous。 Thus； old men know their infirmities； and naturally
dread contempt from the youth： Hence； well…educated youth
redouble the instances of respect and deference to their elders。
Strangers and foreigners are without protection： Hence； in all
polite countries； they receive the highest civilities； and are
entitled to the first place in every company。 A man is lord in
his own family； and his guests are； in a manner； subject to his
authority： Hence； he is always the lowest person in the company；
attentive to the wants of every one； and giving himself all the
trouble； in order to please； which may not betray too visible an
affectation； or impose too much constraint on his guests。＇16＇
Gallantry is nothing but an instance of the same generous
attention。 As nature has given the superiority above
； by endowing him with greater strength both of mind and
body； it is his part to alleviate that superiority； as much as
possible； by the generosity of his behaviour； and by a studied
deference and complaisance for all her inclinations and opinions。
Barbarous nations display this superiority； by reducing their
females to the most abject slavery； by confining them； by beating
them； by selling them； by killing them。 But the male sex； among a
polite people； discover their authority in a more generous；
though not a less evident manner； by civility； by respect； by
complaisance； and； in a word； by gallantry。 In good company； you
need not ask； Who is the master of the feast？ The man； who sits
in the lowest place； and who is always industrious in helping
every one； is certainly the person。 We must either condemn all
such instances of generosi