1. A late conversation which I fell into, gave me an opportunity of
observing a great deal of beauty in a very handsome woman, and as much
wit in an ingenious man, turned into deformity in the one, and absurdity
in the other, by the mere force of affectation. The fair one had
something in her person upon which her thoughts were fixed, that she
attempted to shew to advantage in every look, word and gesture.

2. The gentleman was as diligent to do justice to his fine parts, as the
lady to her beauteous form: you might see his imagination on the stretch
to find out something uncommon, and what they call bright, to entertain
her: while she writhed herself into as many different postures to engage
him. When she laughed, her lips were to sever at a greater distance than
ordinary to shew her teeth.

3. Her fan was to point to somewhat at a distance, that in the reach she
may discover the roundness of her arm; then she is utterly mistaken in
what she saw, falls back, smiles at her own folly, and is so wholly
discomposed, that her tucker is to be adjusted, her bosom exposed, and
the whole woman put into new airs and graces.

4. While she was doing all this, the gallant had time to think of
something very pleasant to say next to her, or make some unkind
observation on some other lady to feed her vanity. These unhappy
effects of affectation naturally led me to look into that strange state
of mind, which so generally discolours the behaviour of most people we
meet with.

5. The learned Dr. _Burnet_, in his Theory of the Earth, takes occasion
to observe, that every thought is attended with consciousness and