zabeth had all manner of books and ballads brought life in its calm dignity, and the properest senti to him of what kind soever, and took great notice ments for the conduct of it, pass by like mere narhow much they took with the people; upon which ration, as conducing only to somewhat much better he would, and certainly might, very well judge of which is to come after. I have seen the whole house their present dispositions, and the most proper way at some times in so proper a disposition, that indeed of applying them according to his own purposes. I I have trembled for the boxes, and feared the enWhat passes on the stage, and tne reception it meets | tertainment would end in the representation of the with from the audience, is a very useful instruction rape of the Sabines. of this kind. According to what you may observe I would not be understood in this talk to argue there on our stage, you see them often moved so di- that nothing is tolerable on the stage but what has rectly against all common sense and humanity, that an immediate tendency to the promotion of virtue. you would be apt to pronounce us a nation of sa. On the contrary, I can allow, provided there is no vages. It cannot be called a mistake of what is thing against the interests of virtue, and is not of pleasant, but the very contrary to it is what most fensive to good manners, that things of an indiffe assuredly takes with them. The other night an old rent nature may be represented. For this reason I woman carried off with a pain in her side, with all have no exception to the well-drawn rusticities in the distortions and anguish of countenance which is the Country Wake; and there is something so mi natural to one in that condition, was laughed and raculously pleasant iv Dogget's acting the awkward clapped off the stage. Terence's comedy, which I triumph and comic sorrow of Hob in different cir. am speaking of, is indeed written as if he hoped to cumstances, that I shall not be able to stay away please none but such as had as good a taste as him- whenever it is acted. All that vexes me is, that the self . I could not but reflect upon the natural de gallantry of taking the cudgels for Gloucestershire

, scription of the innocent young woman made by with the pride of heart in tucking himself up, and the servant to his master. “ When I came to the taking aim at his adversary, as well as the other's house,” said he, “an old woman opened the door, protestation in the humanity of low romance, that and I followed her in, because I could, by entering he could not promise the 'squire to break Hob's upon them unawares, better observe what was your head, but he would, if he could, do it in love; then mistress's ordinary manner of spending her time, flourish and begin: I say what vexes me is, that the only way of judging any one's inclinations and such excellent touches as these, as well as the genius. I found her at her needle in a sort of second | 'squire's being out of all patience at Hob's success, mourning, which she wore for an aunt she had lately and venturing himself into the crowd, are circunlost. She had nothing on but what showed she stances hardly taken notice of, and the height of the dressed only for herself. Her hair bung negli- jest is only in the very point that heads are broken. gently about her shoulders. She had none of the I am confident were there a scene written, wherein arts with which others used to set themselves off, Penkerhman should break his leg by wrestling with but had that negligence of person which is remark- Bullock, and Dicky come in to set it, without one able in those who are careful of their minds. Then word said but what should be according to the exact she had a maid who was at work near her that was rules of surgery in making this extension, and bind. a slattern, because her mistress was careless; which ing up the leg, the whole house should be in a roar I take to be another argument of your security in of applause at the dissembled anguish of the patient

. her; for the go-betweens of women of intrigue are the help given by him who threw him down, and the rewarded too well to be dirty. When you were handy address and arch looks of the surgeon. To named, and I told her you desired to see her, she enumerate the entrance of ghosts, the embattling of threw down her work for joy, covered her face, and armies, the noise of heroes in love, with a tbousand decently hid her tears." He must be a very good other enormities, would be to transgress the bounds actor, and draw attention rather from his own of this paper, for which reason it is possible they character than the words of the author, that could may have hereafter distinct discourses; not forgetgain it among us for this speech, though so full of ting any of the audience who shall set up for actors

, nature and good sense.

and interrupt the play on the stage; and players The intolerable folly and confidence of players who shall prefer the applause of fools, to that of the putting in words of their own, does in a great mea- reasonable part of the company.-T. sure feed the absurd taste of the audience. But

POSTSCRIPT TO SPECTATOR, N° 502. however that is, it is ordinary for a cluster of cox. combs to take up the house to themselves, and of Terence, which is allowed a most excellent

N. B. There are in the play of the Self-Tormentor equally insult both the actors and the company, medy, several incidents which would draw tears These savages, who want all manner of regard and deference to the rest of mankind, come only to show from any man of sense, and not one which would themselves to us, without any other purpose than to

move his laughter.-Spec. in folio, No. 521. let us know they despise us.

This speculation, No. 502, is controverted in the The gross of án audience is composed of two sorts Guard, No. 59, by a writer under the fictitious name of people, those who know nu pleasure but of the of John Lizard; perhaps Dr. Edw. Young. body, and those who improve or command corporeal pleasures, by the addition of fine sentiments of the mind. At present the intelligent part of the com

No. 503.] 'TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1712. pany are wholly subdued by the insurrections of Delo omnes dehinc ex animo mulieres. those who know no satisfactions but what they have

TER. Eun, act ii. 30. 3. in common with all other animals.

From henceforward I blot out of my thoughts all memey This is the reason that when a scene tending to procreation is acted, you see the whole pit in such a

“Mr. SPECTATOR, chuckle, and oid lechers, with mouths open, stare at “ You have often mentioned with great rebe the losse gesticulations on the stage with shameful mence and indignation the misbehaviour of people earnestness; when the justest pictures of human at church; but I am at present to talk to voa vu

of womankind.

a

that subject, and complain to you of one, whom at different air in her countenance. When the inusic the same time I know not what to accuse of, except was strong and bold, she looked exalted, but seit be looking too well there, and diverting the eyes rious ; when lively and airy, she was smiling and of the congregation to that one object. However, gracious; when the notes were more soft and lanI have this to say, that she might have stayed at her guishing, she was kind and full of pity. Wheu she own parish, and not come to perplex those who are had now made it visible to the whole congregation, otherwise intent upon their duty.

by her motion and ear, that she could dance, and she * Last Sunday was sevennight I went into a wanted now only to inform us that she could sing church not far from London-bridge; but I wish I too; when the psalm was given out, her voice was had been contented to go to my own parish, I am distinguished above all the rest, or rather people did sure it had been better for me; I say I went to not exert their own, in order to hear her. Never church thither, and got into a pew very near the was any heard so sweet and so strong. The organist pulpit. I had hardly been accommodated with a observed it, and he thought fit to play to her only, seat

, before there entered into the aisle a young and she swelled every note, when she found she hadi lady in the very bloom of youth and beauty, and thrown us all out, and had the last verse to herself dressed in the most elegant manner imaginable. in such a manner as the whole congregation was Her form was such that it engaged the eyes of the intent upon her, in the same manner as you see in whole congregation in an instant, and mine among the cathedrals they are on the person ivho sings the rest. Though we were all thus fixed upon her, alone the anthem. Well; it came at last to the she was not in the least out of countenance, or un. sermon, and our young lady would not lose her part der the least disorder, though unattended by any in that either; for she fixed her eye upon the ope, and not seeming to know particularly where to preacher, and as he said anything she approved, place herself. However, she had not in the least a with one of Charles Mather's fine tablets she set confident aspect, but moved on with the most grace- down the sentence, at once showing her fine hand, ful modesty, every one making way until she came the gold pen, her readiness in writing, and her to a seat just over against that in which I was judginent in choosing what to write. To sum up placed. The deputy of the ward sat in that pew, what I intend by this long and particular account, and she stood opposite to him, and at a glance into I mean to appeal to you, whether it is reasonable the seat, though she did not appear the least ac- that such a creature as this shall come from a jaunty quainted with the gentleman, was let in, with a con- part of the town, and give herself such violent airs, fusion that spoke much admiration at the novelty of to the disturbance of an innocent and inoffensive the thing. The service immediately began, and she congregation, with her sublimities. The fact, I ascomposed herself for it with an air of so much good- sure you, was as I have related : but I had like to ness and sweetness, that the confession which she have forgot another very considerable particular. uttered, so as to be heard where I sat, appeared an As soon as church was done, she immediately stepact of humiliation more than she had occasion for. ped out of her pew, and fell into the finest pittyThe truth is, her beauty had something so innocent, patty air, forsooth, wonderfully out of countenance, and yet so sublime, that we all gazed upon her like tossing her head up and down, as she swam along a phaalom. None of the pictures which we behold the body of the church. I, with several others of the of the best Italian painters have anything like the inhabitants, followed her out, and saw her hold up spirit which appeared in her countenance, at the her fan to a hackney-coach at a distance, wbo in different sentiments expressed in the several parts mediately came up to her, and she whipped into it of Divine service. That gratitude and joy at a with great nimbleness, pulled the door with a bowtbanksgiving, that lowliness and sorrow at the ing mien, as if she had been used to a better glass. prayers for the sick and distressed, that triumph at She said aloud, “You know where to go,' and drore the passages which gave instances of the Divine otf. By this time the best of the congregation was tercy, which appeared respectively in her aspect, at the church-door, and I could hear some say, 'A will be in my memory to my last hour. I protest very fine lady;' others, 'I'll warrant you, she is no to you, Sir, she suspended the devotion of every one better than she should be;' and one very wise old around ber; and the ease she did everything with lady said, she ought to have been taken up.' Mr. Boon dispersed the churlish dislike and hesitation in Spectator, I think this matter lies wholly before approving what is excellent, too frequent among us, you: for the offence does not come under any law, to a general attention and entertainment in observ- though it is apparent this creature came among us ing her behaviour. All the while that we were only to give herself airs, and enjoy her full swing gazing at her, she took notice of no object about in being admired. I desire you will print this, that her

, but bad an art of seeming awkwardly attentive, she may be confined to her own parish; for I can whatever else her eyes were accidentally thrown assure you there is no attending anything else in a upoo. One thing indeed was particular, she stood place where she is a novelty. She has been talked the whole service, and never kneeled or sat: 1 do of among us ever since under the name of the not question but that was to show herself with the phantom but I would advise her to come no greater advantage, and set forth to better grace her more; for there is so strong a party made by the hands and arms, lifted up with the most ardent de wonien against her, that she must expect they will votion ; and her bosom, the fairest that ever was not be excelled a second time in so outrageous a kren, bare to observation; while she, you must manner, without doing ber some insult. Young thiak, knew pothing of the concern she gave others, women, who assume after this rate, and affect exo any other than as an example of devotion, that posing themselves to view in congregations at the tbrew herself out, without regard to dress or gar- other end of the town, are not so mischievous, bement, all contrition, and loose of all worldly re- cause they are rivalled by more of the same ambigards, in ecstasy of devotion. Well; now the organ tion, who will not let the rest of the company be was to play a voluntary, and she was so skilful in particular; but in the name of the wbole congrega. music, and so touched with it, that she kept time not tion where I was, I desire you to keep these agree: only with some motion of her head, but also with a lable disturbances out of the city, where sovriety of

and am,

1

a

manners is still preserved, and all gtaring and osten-, unbred part of womankivd. But, above all already tatious behaviour, even in things laudable, discoun- mentioned, or any who ever were, or ever can be in tenanced. I wish you may never see the phantom, the world, the happiest and surest to be pleasant,

“Sir, your most humble Servant, are a sort of people whom we have not indeed lately T. “ RALPH WUNDER." heard much of, and those are your "biters."

A biter is one who tells you a thing you have no

reason to disbelieve in itself, and perhaps has given No. 504.] WEDNESDAY, OCT. 8, 1712. you, before he bit you, no reason to disbelieve it for

his saying it; and, if you give him credit, laughs in Lepus tute es, et pulpamentum quæris.

TER. Eun, act. iii. sc. I.

your face, and triumphs that he has deceived you. You are a hare yourself, and want dainties, forsooth.

In a word, a biter is one who thinks you a fool, be

cause you do not think him a knave. This descrip It is a great convenience to those who want wit tion of him one way insist upon to be a just one; to furnish out a conversation, that there is something for what else but a degree of knavery is it, to depend or other in all companies where it is wanted substi- upon deceit for what you gain of another

, be it in tuted in its stead, which, according to their taste, point of wit, or interest

, or any thing else ? does the business as well. Of this nature is the This way of wil is called " biting," by a metaphor agreeable pastime in country halls of cross-purposes, taken from beasts of prey, which derout harmless questions and commands, and the like. A little and unarmed animals, and look upon them as their superior to these are those who can play at crambo, food wherever they meet them. The sharpers about or cap verses. Then above them are such as can town very ingeniously understood themselves to be make verses, thut is, rhyme; and among those who to the undesigning part of mankind what foxes are have the Latin tongue, such as used to make wbat to lambs, and therefore used the word biting, to es. they call golden verses. Commend me also to those press any exploit wherein they had over-reachei who have not brains enough for any of these exer- any innocent and inadvertent man of his purse. cises, and yet do not give up their pretensions to These rascals of late years have been the gallants ef mirth. These can slap you on the back unawares, the town, and carried it with a fashionable haugbty laugh loud, ask you how you do with a twang on air, to the discouragement of modesty, and all bodest your shoulders, say you are dull to.day, and laugh arts. Shallow fops, who are gorerned by the ere, a voluntary to put you in humour; not to mention and admire every thing that struts in vogue, took the laborious way ainong the minor poets, of making up from the sharpers the phrase of biting, and used things come into such and such a shape, as that of it upon all occasions, either to disowo any nonsensian egy, a hand, an axe, or anything that nobody cal stuff they should talk themselves, or evade the had ever thought on before, for that purpose, or force of what was reasonably said by others. Thus, which would have cost a great deal of pains to when one of these cunning creatures was entered accomplish, if they did. But all these methods, into a debate with you, whether it was practicable in though they are mechanical, and may be arrived at the present state of affairs to accomplish such a prowith the smallest capacity, do not serve an honest position, and you thought he had let fall what degentleman who wants wit for his ordinary occasions; stroyed his side of the question, as soon as you therefore it is absolutely necessary that the poor in looked with an earnestness ready to lay hold of it, imagination should bave something which may be he immediately cried, " Bite, and you were imine serviceable to them at all hours upon all common diately to acknowledge all that part was in jest. occurrences. That which we call punning is there. They carry this to all the extravagance imaginable ; fore greatly affected by men of small intellects. and if one of these witlings knows any particulars These men need not be concerned with you for the which may give authority to what he says, he is still whole sentence; but if they can say a quaint thing, the more ingenious if he imposes upon your credu. or bring in a word which sounds like any one word lity. I remember a remarkable instance of this you have spoken to them, they can turn the discourse, kind. There came up a shrewd young fellow to a or distract you so that you cannot go on, and by plain young man, his countryman, and taking him consequence, if they cannot be as witty as you are, aside with a grave concerned countenance, goes on they can binder your being any wittier than they at this rate : " I see you here, and have you beard are. Thus, if you talk of a candle, he “ can deal” nothing out of Yorkshire :-You look so surprised with you; and if you ask him to help you to some you could not have heard of it and yet the parti bread, a punster should think himself very “ill-culars are such that it cannot be false: I am sorry bred” if he did not; and if he is not as “ well-bred” I am got into it so far that I now must tell you; but as yourself, he hopes for “grains” of allowance. If I know not but it may be for your service to knoer. you do not understand that last fancy, you must re- On Tuesday last, just after dinner-you know his collect that bread is made of grain ; and so they go manner is to smoke-opening his box, your father on for ever, without possibility of being exhausted. fell down dead in an apoplexy.” The youth showed

There are another kind of people of small facul- the filial sorrow which he ought-Upon which the ties

, who supply want of wit with want of breeding; witty man cried, “ Bite ; there was nothing in all and because women are both by nature and educa- this." tion more offended at any thing which is immodest

To put an end to this silly, pernicious, frivolous than we men are, these are ever harping upon things way at once, I will give the reader one late instance they ought not allude to, and deal mightily in double of a bite, which no biter for the future will ever be meanings. Every one's own observation will sug- able to equal

, though I heartily wish him the satue gest instances enough of this kind without my men. occasion. It is a superstition with some surgeons tioning any; for your double meaners are dispersed who beg the bodies of condemned malefactors, to up and down through all parts of the town or city to the gaol, and bargain for the carcase with the where there are any to offend, in order to set of criminal himself. A good honest fellow did so last themselves. These men are mighty loud laughers, sessions, and was admitted to the condemned men and held very pretty gentlemen with the sillier and on the morning wherein they died. The surgeva

a

ENNIUS,

communicated his business, and fell into discourse senate of the Roman commonwealth, and at the same with a little fellow, who refused twelve shillings, time outshined all the philosophers of antiquity in and insisted upon fifteen for his body. The fellow his library and in his retirements, as busying him mbo killed the officer of Newgate, very forwardly, self in the college of augurs, and observing with a and like a man who was willing to deal, told him, religious attention after what manner the chickens "Look you, Mr. Surgeon, that little dry fellow, pecked the several grains of corn which were thrown who has been half starved all his life, and is now to them ? half dead with fear, cannot answer your purpose. I Notwithstanding these follies are pretty well worn have ever lived high and freely, my veins are full, out of the minds of che wise and learned in the preI have not pined in imprisonment; you see my crest sent age, multitudes of weak and ignorant persons sweils to your knife; and after Jack Catch has done, are still slaves to them. There are numberless arts upon my honour you will find me as sound as ever of prediction among the vulgar, which are too tria bullock in any of the markets. Come, for twenty fling to enumerate; and infinite observations of shillings I am your man.” Says the surgeon, days, numbers, voices, and figures, which are re" Done, there is a guinea.” This witty rogue took garded by them as portents and prodigies. In short, the money, and as soon as he had it in his fist, cries, every thing prophesies to the superstitious man; “ Bite; I am to be hanged in chains."

there is scarce a straw, or a rusty piece of iron, that T.

lies in his way by accident.

It is not to be conceived how many wizards, gip. No. 505.] THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1712. seys, and cunning men, are dispersed through all the

counties and market-towns of Great Britain, not to Non habeo denique nauci Marsum augurem, Non ricanos aruspices, non de circo astrologos.

mention the fortune-tellers and astrologers, who live Non Isiacos conjectores, non interpretes somnium: very comfortably upon the curiosity of several wellNon enim sunt ü, aut scientia. aut arte divini,

disposed persons in the cities of London and WestSed superstitiosi vaies, impudentesque harioli,

minster. Aut inertes, aut insani, aut quibus egestas imperat: Qui sui quæstus causa fictas suscitant sententias; Among the many pretended arts of divination, Qui sibi semitam non sapiunt, alteri monstrant viam ; there is none which so universally amuses as that Quibus divitias pollicentur, ab iis drachmam, petunt: by dreams. I have indeed observed in a late specuDe dirit:is deducant drachmam, reddant cætera.

lation, that there have been sometimes, upon very Augurs and soothsayers, astrologers,

extraordinary occasions, supernatural revelations Dividers, and interpreters of dreams,

made to certain persons by this means; but as it is I ne'er consuli, and heartily despise : Vain their pretence to more than human skill •

the chief business of this paper to root out popular For gain, imaginary schemes they draw;

errors, I must endeavour to expose the folly and Wand'rers themselves, they guide another's steps. superstition of those persons, who, in the common And for poor sixpence promise countless wealth

and ordinary course of life, lay any stress upon Let them, if they expect to be believed, Deduet the sixpence, and bestow the rest.

things of so uncertain, shadowy, and chimerica a

nature. This I cannot do more effectually thau by Those who have maintained that men would be the following letter, which is dated from a quarter more miserable than beasts, were their hopes con- of the town that has always been the habitation of fined to this life only, among other

cousiderations some prophetic Philomath: it baving been usual, take potice, that the latter are only afflicted with the time out of mind, for all such people as have lost anguish of the present evil, whereas the former are their wits, to resort to that place either for their very often pained by the reflection on what is passed, cure or for their instruction :and the fear of what is to come. This fear of any future difficulties or misfortunes is so natural to the “ MR. Spectator, Moorfields, Oct. 4, 1712. mind, that were a man's sorrows and disquietudes

“ Having long considered whether there be any summed up at the end of his life, it would generally trade wanting in this great city, after having surbe found that he had suffered more from the appre- veyed very attentively all kinds of ranks and profes. hension of such evils as never happened to him, sions, I do not find in any quarter of the town an than from those evils which had really befallen him, oneiro-critic, or, in plain English, an interpreter To this we may add, that among those evils which of dreams. For want of so useful a person, there befal ns, there are many which have been more painful to us in the prospect, than by their actual in this particular, and dream a whole year together

are several good people who are very much puzzled pressure.

This natural impatience to look into futurity, and without being ever the wiser for it. 1 hope I am to know what accidents may happen to us hereafter, by candle-light all the rules of art which have been

pretty well qualified for this office, having studied bas given birth to many ridiculous arts and inven- laid down upon this subject. My great unele by tions. Some found their prescience on the lines of a man's hand, others on the features of his face; sighted. I have four fingers and two thumbs upon

my wife's side was a Scotch highlander, and secondsome on the signatures which nature has impressed on his body, and others on his own hand-writing :

one hand, and was born on the longest night of the some read men's fortunes in the stars, as others year.. My Christian and sur-name begini and end have searched after theni in the entrails of beasts, in a house that for these fifty years has been always

with the same letters. I am lodged in Moortields, or the lights of birds. Men of the best sense have been touched more or less with these groundless tenanted by a conjurer. horrors and presages of futurity, upon surveying with ordinary women of the town, you must know

“ If you had been in company, so inuch as myself, the most indifferent works of nature. thing be more surprising than to consider

Ciccro* lives, upon seeing or hearing of any thing that is

Can any that there are many of them who every day in their who made the greatest figure at the bar and in the

unexpected, cry, My dream is out;" and cannot This censure of Cicero seems to be unfounded; for it is go to sleep in quiet the next night, until someting ssid of him that he wondered how ouo augur could meet an

or other has happened which has expounded the Iber without laughing in his face.

visions of the preceding one. There are others who SPECTATØR, Nos. 73 & 74.

2 P

the man,

are in very great pain for not being able to recover married state, than two great a familiarity, and laythe circumstances of a dream, that made strong im. ing aside the common rules of decency. “Though'I pressions upon them while it lasted. In short, Sir, could give instances of this in several particulars, I there are many whose waking thoughts are wholly shall only mention that of dress. The beaux and employed on their sleeping ones. For the benefit, belles about town, who dress purely to catch one antherefore, of this curious and inquisitive part of my other, think there is no further occasion for the fellow-subjects, I shall in the first place tell those bait, when their first design has succeeded. But persons what they dreamt of, who fancy they never besides the too common fault in point of neattest, dream at all. In the next place I shall make out there are several others which I do not remember any dream, upon hearing a single circumstance of to have seen touched upon, but in one of our modern it; and, in the last place, I shall expound to them comedies, * where a French woman offering to unthe good or bad fortune which such dreams portend. dress and dress herself before the lover of the play, If they do not presage good luck, I shall desire no- and assuring his (her) mistress that it was very thing for my pains; not questioning at the same usual in France, the lady tells her that is a seent time, that those who consult me will be so reason- in dress she never knew before, and that she was su able as to afford me a moderate share out of any unpolished an English woman, as to resolve never considerable estate, profit, or emolument, which I to learn even to dress before her husband. shall thus discover to them. I interpret to the poor There is something so gross in the carriage of for nothing, on condition that their names may be some wives, that they lose their busbands' hearts for inserted in public advertisements, to attest the truth faults, which if a man has either good-nature of of such my interpretations. As for people of quality, good-breeding, he knows not how to tell them of. I or others who are indisposed, and do care to come am afraid, indeed, the ladies are generally most in person, I can interpret their dreams by seeing faulty in this particular; who, at their first giring their water. I set aside one day in the week for in to love, find the way so smooth and pleasant, tbat lovers; and interpret by the great for any gentle they fancy it is scarce possible to be tired in it. woman who is turned of sixty, after the rate of half- There is so much nicety and discretion required a.crown per week, with the usual allowances for to keep love alive after marriage, and make convergood luck. I have several rooms and apartments sation still new and agreeable after twenty or thirty titted up at reasonable rates, for such as have not years, that I know nothing which seems readily to conveniences for dreaming at their own houses. promise it, but an earnest endeavour to please on “ Titus TROPHONIUS. both sides, and superior good sense on the part

of 0 “N. B. I am not dumb."

By a man of sense, I mean one acquainted with business and letters.

A woman very much settles her esteem for a may, No. 506.) FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1712. according to the figure he makes in the world, and

the character he bears among his own sex As Candida perpetuo reside, Concordia, lecto,

learning is the chief advantage we have over theun, Tamque pari semper sit Venus æqua jugo.

it is, methinks, as scandalous and inexcusable for Diligai illa senem quondam: sed et illa marito, Tunc quoque cum fuerit, non videatur anus.

a man of fortune to be illiterate, as for a woman not

MART. 4 Epig. xiii. 7 to know how to behave herself on the most ordinary Perpetual harmony their bed attend,

occasions. It is this which sets the two sexes at the And Venus still the well-match'd pair befriend! greatest distance: a woman is vexed and surprised, May she, when time has sunk him into years,

to find nothing more in the conversation of a man Love her old man, and cherish his white hairs; Nor he perceive her charms through age decay,

than in the common tattle of her own sex. But think each happy sun his bridal day!

Some small engagement at least in business, not

only sets a man's talents in the fairest light, and The following essay is written by the gentleman allots him a part to act in which a wife cannot well to whom the world is obliged for those several ex- intermeddle, but gives frequent occasions for those cement discourses which have been marked with the little absences, which, whatever seeming uneasiness letier X:

they may give, are some of the best preservatives of I have somewhere met with a fable that made love and desire. Wealth the father of Love. It is certain a mind The fair sex are so conscious to themselves, that ought at least to be free from the apprehensions of they have nothing in them which can deserve elwant and poverty, before it can fully attend to all tirely to engross the whole man, that they heartily the softnesses and endearments of this passion; not despise one, who, to use their own expressions, 15 withstanding we see multitudes of married people, always hanging at their apron-strings. who are utter strangers to this delightful passion, Lætitia is pretty, modest, tender, and has sense amidst all the affluence of the most plentiful for- enough; she married Erastus, who is in a post of tunes.

some business, and has a general taste in most parts It is not sufficient, to make a marriage happy, of polite learning. Lætitia, wherever she visit, that the humours of two people should be alike. 1 has the pleasure to hear of something which was could instance a hundred pair, who have not the handsomely said or done by Erastus. Erastus, since least sentiment of love remaining for one another, his marriage, is more gay in his dress than ever, and yet are so like in their humours, that if they were in all companies is as complaisant to Lætitia as to not already married, the whole world would design any other lady. I have seen him give her ber fat, them for man and wife.

when it has dropped, with all the gallantry of a The spirit of love has something so extremely fine loyer. When they take the air together, Erastus is in it, that it is very often disturbed and lost, by continually iinproving her thoughts, and with a terh some little accidents, which the careless and unpo- of wit and spirit which is peculiar to him, giving ber lite never attend to, until it is gone past recovery.

Nothing has more contributed to banish it from a * The " Funeral," or "Griel A-la-mode," by Slece.