DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18825#0300
lec. viii.] proportions of the figure. 211
Cosmetics and beautifiers have been long in vogue;
their little success might justify their disuse : yet
there is a cosmetic, an essence, highly recommended
as exalting ordinary features above beauty itself:
which gives to the eye the most lively sparkle ! to
the cheeks the sweetest glow ! It is a kind of per-
fume whose fragrance diffuses itself from the bosom,
(where it is worn), and, pervading every limb, kindly
animates the whole figure. When very highly rec-
tified, it is proof against accidents, and. if carefully
preserved, (which is well worth while) will often re-
cover from dangerous distempers. It is even said,
further, that the very tincture of it is not to be
despised, that beauty itself is improved by it; and
indeed is disgusting without it: —while those
who possess it, though perhaps at first sight appearing
little likely, yet on further acquaintance, by its in-
fluence, excite attachments more genera!, more ho-
norable, and more durable, than ever did the most
exquisite form. This is not offered as a new dis-
covery ; old Homer knew it, and has' mentioned
it; blind as he was, he was not blind to this; he
tells us, the very queen of heaven, conscious of her
beauty and majesty, was conscious too how indispen-
sable was this essence ; this she condescended to bor-
row, and this she bound around her in—the magic
cestus of Venus,
E e 2
PRO-
Cosmetics and beautifiers have been long in vogue;
their little success might justify their disuse : yet
there is a cosmetic, an essence, highly recommended
as exalting ordinary features above beauty itself:
which gives to the eye the most lively sparkle ! to
the cheeks the sweetest glow ! It is a kind of per-
fume whose fragrance diffuses itself from the bosom,
(where it is worn), and, pervading every limb, kindly
animates the whole figure. When very highly rec-
tified, it is proof against accidents, and. if carefully
preserved, (which is well worth while) will often re-
cover from dangerous distempers. It is even said,
further, that the very tincture of it is not to be
despised, that beauty itself is improved by it; and
indeed is disgusting without it: —while those
who possess it, though perhaps at first sight appearing
little likely, yet on further acquaintance, by its in-
fluence, excite attachments more genera!, more ho-
norable, and more durable, than ever did the most
exquisite form. This is not offered as a new dis-
covery ; old Homer knew it, and has' mentioned
it; blind as he was, he was not blind to this; he
tells us, the very queen of heaven, conscious of her
beauty and majesty, was conscious too how indispen-
sable was this essence ; this she condescended to bor-
row, and this she bound around her in—the magic
cestus of Venus,
E e 2
PRO-