young men are apt to think, that they cannot be complete
gentlemen, without becoming men of pleasure. A rake is made up of the
meanest and most disgraceful vices. They all combine to degrade his
character, and ruin his health, and fortune. A man of pleasure will
refine upon the enjoyments of the age, attend them with decency, and
partake of them becomingly.

12. Indeed he is too often less scrupulous than he should be, and
frequently has cause to repent it. A man of pleasure, at best, is but a
dissipated being, and what the rational part of mankind most abhor; I
mention it, however, lest, in taking, up the man of pleasure, you should
fall into the rake; for, of two evils, always chuse the least. A
dissolute flagitious footman may make as good a rake as a man of the
first quality. Few man can be men of pleasure; every man may be a rake.

13. There is a certain dignity that should be preserved in all our
pleasures; in love, a man may lose his heart, without losing his nose;
at table a man may have a distinguished palate, without being a glutton;
he may love wine without being a drunkard; he may game without being a
gambler, and so on.

14. Every virtue has its kindred vice, and every pleasure its
neighbouring disgrace. Temperance and moderation mark the gentleman, but
excess the blackguard. Attend carefully, then, to the line that divides
them; and remember, stop rather a yard short, than step an inch beyond
it. Weigh the present enjoyment of your pleasures against the necessary
consequences of them, and I will leave you to your own determination.

15. A gentleman has ever some regard also to the _choice_ of his
amusements. If at cards, he will not be seen at cribbage, all-fours, or
putt; or, in sports of exercise, at skittles, foot-ball, leap-frog,
cricket, driving of coaches, &c. but will preserve a propriety in every
part of his conduct; knowing, that any imitation of the manners of the
mob, will unavoidably stamp him with vulgarity. There is another
amusement too, which I cannot help calling illiberal, that is, playing
upon any musical instrument.

16. Music is commonly reckoned one of the liberal arts, and undoubtedly
is so; but to be piping or fiddling at a concert, is degrading to a man
of fashion. If you love music, hear it; pay fiddlers to play to you, but
never fiddle yourself. It makes a gentleman appear frivolous and
contemptible, leads him frequently into bad company, and wastes that
time which might oth