Creation, and may probably have a large Share in conſtituting in us the Idea of Beauty, as well natural as artificial: For what demonſtrates the Beauty and Excellence of any thing, but its Reverſe? Thus the Beauty of Day, and that of Summer, is ſet off by the Horrors of Night and Winter. And I believe, if it was poſſible for a Man to have ſeen only the two former, he would have a very imperfect Idea of their Beauty.
But to avoid too ſerious an Air: Can it be doubted, but that the fineſt Woman in the World would loſe all Benefit of her Charms, in the Eye of a Man who had never ſeen one of another Caſt? The Ladies themſelves ſeem ſo ſenſible of this, that they are all induſtrious to procure Foils; nay, they will become Foils to themſelves; for I have obſerved, (at Bath particularly,) that they endeavour to appear as ugly as poſſible in the Morning, in order to ſet off that Beauty which they intend to ſhew you in the Evening.
Moſt Artiſts have this Secret in Practice, tho’ ſome, perhaps, have not much ſtudied the Theory. The Jeweller knows that the fineſt Brilliant requires a Foil; andthe
