Hints Toward an Essay on Conversation (c. 1713) [ Practices ]
… and gentry of both sexes are entirely corrupted both in body and mind, and have lost all notions of love, honour, friendship, generosity; which, under the name of fopperies, have been for some time laughed out of doors. This degeneracy … started; and although we are apt to ridicule the sublime Platonick notions they had, or personated, in love and friendship, I conceive their refinements were grounded upon reason, and that a little grain of the romance is no ill …
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