THE SPECTATOR. N° 322. MONDAY, MARCH 10, 1712. -Ad humum mærore gravi deducit & angit, I T is often faid, after a man has heard a story with extraordinary circumstances, it is a very good one if it be true; but as for the following relation, I fhould be glad were I fure it were falfe. It is told with fuch fimplicity, and there are fo many artless touches of distress in it, that I fear it comes too much from the heart. Mr. Spectator, S OME years ago it happened that I lived in the fame houfe with a young gentleman of merit; with whofe good qualities I was fo much taken, as to make it my endeavour figned by the minifter, my husband, and the fervant I just now spoke of. After our nuptials, we converfed together very familiarly in the fame houfe; but the restraints we were generally under, and the interviews we had 'being stolen and interrupted, made our behaviour to each other have rather the impatient fondnefs which is visible in lovers, than the re'gular and gratified affection which is to be ob'ferved in man and wife. This obfervation made the father very anxious for his fon, and prefs him to a match he had in his eye for him. To relieve my husband from this importunity, and conceal the fecret of our marriage, which I had reafon to know would not be long in my ¿ 6 power in town, it was refolved that I should ⚫ retire into a remote place in the country, and ⚫ converse under feigned names by letter. We < long continued this way of commerce; and I with my needle, a few books, and reading over and over my husband's letters, passed my time in a refigned expectation of better days. Be pleafed to take notice, that within four months after I left my husband I was delivered of a daughter who died within a few hours after her birth. This accident, and the retired man'ner of life I led, gave criminal hopes to a neighbouring brute of a country gentleman, whofe folly was the fource of all my affli&ion. This ruftic is one of thofe rich clowns who fup'ply the want of all manner of breeding by the 'neglect of it, and with noify mirth, half under' standing, and ample fortune, force themfelves upon perfons and things without any sense of time and place. The poor ignorant people where I lay concealed and now paffed for a widow, wondered I could be fo fhy and strange, as they called it, to the fquire; and were bribed by him to admit him whenever he thought fit. happened to be fitting in a little parlour which belonged to my own part of the house, ' and mufing over one of the fondeft of my hufband's letters, in which I always kept the cer tificate of my marriage, when this rude fellow came in, and with the naufeous familiarity of • fuch unbred brutes, fnatched the papers out of my hand. I was immediately under fo great a concern, that I threw myself at his feet, and A ⚫ begged " C < 6 C to fhew as many, as I was able in myself. Fa⚫ miliar converse improved general civilities into ❝ an unfeigned paffion on both fides. He watched an opportunity to declare himself to me; and I, who could not expect a man of fo great an eftate as his, received his addreffes in fuch terms, as gave him no reason to believe I was 'difpleased with them,tho' I did nothing to make him think me more eafy than was decent. His 'father was a very hard worldly man, and proud; fo that there was no reafon to believe he would eafily be brought to think there was any thing in any woman's person or character that could balance the disadvantage of an unequal for6 tune. In the mean time the fon continued his 'application to me, and omitted no occafion of demonftrating the most difinterefted paffion 'imaginable to me; and in plain direct terms offered to marry me privately, and keep it fo till he fhould be fo happy as to gain his father's ' approbation or become poffeffed of his eftate. I paffionately loved him, and you will believe 'I did not deny fuch a one what was my interest alfo to grant. However, I was not fo young as not to take the precaution of carrying with me a faithful fervant, who had been alfo my mother's maid, to be prefent at the ceremony: when that was over I demanded a certificate, · " begged of him to return them. He, with the fame odious pretence to freedom and gaiety, fwore he would read them. I grew more importunate, he more curious, till at laft, with an indignation arifing from a pathon I then firft difcovered in him, he threw the papers into the fire, fwearing that fince he was not to read them, the man who writ them fhould never be fo happy as to have me read them, over again. It is infignificant to tell you my tears and reproaches made the boisterous calf leave the room afhamed and out of countenance, when I had leifure to ruminate on this accident with more than ordinary forrow: however, fuch was then my confidence in my husband, that I writ to him the misfortune, and defired another paper of the fame kind. He deferred writing two or three pofts, and at last answered me in general, That he could not then fend me what I asked for; but when he could find a proper conveyance, I should be fure to have it. From this time his letters were more cold every day than other, and as he grew indifferent " I grew jealous. This has at laft brought me to town, where I find both the witnefes of my " marriage dead, and that my husband, after three months cohabitation, has buried a young lady whom he married in obedience to his father. In a word, he thuns and difowns me. Should I come to the house and confront him, the father would join in fupporting him against me, though he believed my ftory; 'fhould I talk it to the world, what reparation can I expect for an injury I cannot make out? I believe he means to bring me through neceffity, to refign my pretenfions to him for fome provifion for my life: but I will die first. Pray bid him remember what he faid, and how he was charmed when he laughed at the heedlefs difcovery I often made of myfelf; let him remember how awkward I was in my diffem<bled indifference towards him before company; afk him how I, who could never conceal my love for him, at his own requeft can part with him for ever? Oh, Mr. Spectator, fenfible fpirits ⚫ know no indifference in marriage; what then do you think is my piercing affiction!] leave you to reprefent my diftress your own way, in which I defire you to be speedy, if you have compaffion for innocence expofed to • infamy. < < T "Octavia.' N° 23. TUESDAY, MARCH 11. -Modò vir, modò fœmina― In pertinence, than in crimes and immoralities. Offences of this latter kind are not to be dallied with, or treated in fo ludicrous a manner. fhort, my journal only holds up folly to the light, and fhews the disagreeablenefs of fuch actions as are indifferent in themselves, and blameable only as they proceed from creatures endowed with reafon. VIRG. : Sometimes a man, fometimes a woman. THE journal, with which I prefented my reader on Tuesday laft, has brought me in feveral letters, with accounts of many private lives caft into that form. I have the Rake's Journal, the Sot's Journal, the Whoremafter's Journal, and among feveral others a very curious piece, entitled, The Journal of a Mohock. By thefe inftances I find that the intention of my laft Tuesday's paper has been miftaken by many of my readers. I did not defign fo much to expofe vice as idlenefs, and aimed at thofe perfons who pass away their time rather in trifle and im My following correfpondent, who calls herfelf Clarinda, is fuch a journalist as I require: she feems by her letter to be placed in a modish state of indifference between vice and virtue, and to be fufceptible of either, were there proper pains taken with her. Had her journal been filled with gallantries, or fuch occurrences as had fhewn her wholly divefted of her natural innocence, notwithstanding it might have been more pleasing to the generality of readers, I fhould not have published it; but as it is only the picture of a life filled with a fashionable kind of gaiety and lazinefs, I fhall fet down five days of it, as I have received it from the hand of my fair correspond ent. Dear Mr. Spectator, Y OU having fet your readers an exercise in one of your laft week's papers, I have 'performed mine according to your orders, and herewith fend it you inclofed. You must know, Mr. Spectator, that I am a maiden lady of a good fortune, who have had several matches offered me for thefe ten years laft paft, and and have at prefent warm applications made to me by a very pretty fellow. As I am at my • own disposal, come up to town every winter, and pafs my time in it after the manner you will find in the following journal, which I began to write upon the very day after your Spec< tator upon that subject.' " Sent Frank to know how my lady Hectic refted after her monkey's leaping out at window. Looked pale. Fontange tells me my glass is not true. Dreffed by three. From three to four. Dinner cold before I fat down. From four to eleven. Saw company. Mr. Froth's opinion of Milton. His account of the Mohocks. His fancy for a pin-cufhion. Picture in the lid of his fnuff-box, Old lady Faddle promises me her woman to cut my hair. Loft five guineas at crimp. Twelve o'clock at night. Went to bed. Friday. Eight in the morning. A-bed. Read over all Mr. Froth's letters.. Cupid and Veny. Ten o'clock. Stay'd within all Day, not at home. From ten to twelve. In conference with my mantua-maker. Sorted a fuit of ribbons. Broke my blue china cup. From twelve to one. Shut myself up in my chamber, practifed lady Betty Modely's fkuttle. One in the afternoon. Called for my flowered handkerchief. Worked half a violet-leaf in it. Eyes aked and head out of order. Threw by my work, and read over the remaining part of Aurengzebe. From three to four. Dined. From four to twelve. Changed my mind, dreffed, went abroad, and played at crimp till midnight. Found Mrs, Spitely at home. Cone verfation: Mrs. Brilliant's necklace falfe ftones. Old lady Loveday going to be married to a young fellow that is not worth a groat. Mifs Prue gone into the country. Tom Townly has red hair. Mem. Mrs. Spitely whispered in my ear that she had fomething to tell me about Mr. Froth, I am fure it is not true, Between twelve and one, Dreamed that Mr. Froth lay at my feet, and called me Indamora. Saturday. Rofe at eight o'clock in the morning. Sat down to my toilette. From eight to nine. Shifted a patch for half an hour before I could determine it. Fixed it above my left eye-brow. From nine to twelve. Drank my tea, and Six o'clock. Went to the opera. I did not fee Mr. Froth till the beginning of the fecond act. Mr. Froth talked to a Gentleman in a black man according to appointment, Told me that my lover's name began with a G. Mem. The conjurer was within a letter of Mr. Froth's name, &c. Upon looking back into this my journal, I find that I am at a lofs to know whether I pass my time well or ill; and indeed never thought of confidering how I did it before I perused your fpeculation upon that fubject. I fcarce find a < fingle action in these five days that I can thọroughly approve of, except the working upon the violet-leaf, which I am refolved to finish the first day I am at leifure. As for Mr. Froth and Veny, I did not think they took up fo much of my time and thoughts as I find they do upon my jourual. The latter of them I will turn off, if you infift upon it; and if Mr. Froth does not bring matters to a conclufion very fuddenly, I will not let my life run away in a dream. ' Your humble fervant, 'Clarinda.' To refume one of the morals of my firft paper, would have her confider what a pretty figure and to confirm Clarinda in her good inclinations, The would make among posterity, where the hiftory of her whole life publifhed like thefe five I fhall conclude my paper with an days of it. epitaph written by an uncertain author on Sir Philip Sidney's fifter, a lady, who feems to have of Clarinda. The laft thought of it is fo very been of a temper very much different from that noble, that I dare fay my reader will pardon me the quotation. T HE materials you have collected together towards a general History of Clubs, make fo bright a part of your fpeculations, that I think it is but a juftice we all owe the learn wig. Bowed to a lady in the front box. Mr.ed world to furnish you with fuch affiftance as Froth and his friend clap'd Nicolini in the third act. Mr. Froth cried out Ancora. Mr. Froth led me to my chair. I think he fqueez'd my hand. Eleven at night. Went to bed. Melancholy dreams, Methought Nicolini faid he was Mr, Froth. Sunday. Indifpofed, Monday. Eight o'clock. Waked by Mifs Kitty. Aurengzebe lay upon the chair by me. Kitty repeated without book the eight beft lines in the play. Went in our mobbs to the dumb may promote that useful work, For this rea fon I could not forbear communicating to you fome imperfe&t informations of a fet of men (if you will allow them a place in that fpecies of being) who have lately erected themselves into a nocturnal fraternity under the title of the Mohock-Club, a name borrowed it feens from a fort of Cannibals in India, who fubfift by plundering and devouring all the nations about them, The prefident is ftiled Emperor of the Mohocks; qud his arms are a Turkish crefcent, which his imperial majesty bears at present in a very extraordinary manner engraven upon his forehead. 1711-12. C In or 'forehead. Agreeable to their name, the avowed " " " I must own, Sir, thefe are only broken incoherent memoirs of this wonderful fociety, but they are the best I have been yet able to procure; for being but of late established, it is not ripe for a juft hiftory. And to be ferious, the chief defign of this trouble is to hinder it from < ever being fo. You have been pleased out of a concern for the good of your countrymen, to aft under the character of Spectator, not only the part of a looker-on, but an overfeer of their < < actions; and whenever fuch enormities as this infeft the town, we immediately fly to you for redrefs. I have reafon to believe that fome • thoughtless youngsters, out of a falfe notion of bravery, and an immoderate fondness to be diftinguiih'd for fellows of fire, are infenfibly hurried into this fenfelefs fcandalous project: fuch will probably stand corrected by your reproofs, efpecially if you inform them that it is not courage for half a fcore fellows, mad with wine and luft, to fet upon two or three foberer than themfelves; and that the manners of Indian favages are no becoming accomplishents to an English fine gentleman, Such of them as have been bullies and fccwerers of a long ftanding, and are grown veterans in this kind of service, are, 1 fear, too hardened to receive any impreffions from your admonitions. But I beg you would recommend to their perufal your ninth fpeculation: they may there be taught to take warning from the club of Duellifts; and be put in mind, that the common fate of thofe SIR, Your moft humble Servant, Philanthropos.' The following letter is of a quite contrary naferve at the fame view, how amiable ignorance ture; but I add it here, that the reader may obmay be when it is fhewn in its fimplicities, and how deteftable in barbarities. It is written by an honeft countryman to his mitrefs, and came to the hands of a lady of good fense wrapped about a thread-paper, who has long kept it by her as an image of artless love. To her I very much respect, Mrs. Margaret and oh that I could write loving Mrs. Margaret Clark, I pray you let affection excufe prefumption. Having been fo happy as to enjoy the fight of your sweet countenance and comely body, fometimes when I had occafion to buy treacle or liquorish pow. der at the apothecaries 1hop, I am fo enamoured with you, that I can no more keep close my 'flaming defire to become your fervant. And I am the more bold now to write to your fweet felf, because I am now my own man, and may match where I pleafe; for my father is taken away, and now I am come to my living which is ten yard land, and a houfe; and there is never a yard of land in our field but it is as well worth ten pounds a year, as a thief is worth a halter, and all my brothers and fifters are 'provided for: befides I have good houfholdftuff, though I fay it, both brafs and pewter, linens and woollens; and though my houfe be thatch'd, yet, if you and I match, it fhall go hard but I will have one half of it flated. If you think well of this motion, I will wait upon < you as foon as my new cloaths is made and hay-harveft is in. I could, though I fay it, have good-The reft is torn off; and pofterity must be contented to know, that Mrs. Margaret Clark was very pretty, but are left in the dark as to the name of her lover. T 6 N° 325. THURSDAY, MARCH 13. Quid fruftra fimulacra fugacia captas? OVID Metam. 1 3. v. 432, [From the fable of NARCISSUS.] W ADDISON. ILL Honeycomb diverted us laft night with an acount of a young fellow's firit difcovering his paffion to his miftrefs. The young lady was one, it feems, who had long before conceived a favourable opinion of him, and was ftill in hopes that he would some time or other make his advances. As he was one day talking with her in company of her two fifters, the converfation happening to turn upon love, each of the young ladies was, by way of rallery, recommending a wife to him; when, to the no fmall furprize of her who languished for him in fecret, he told them with a more than ordinary seriousness, that his heart had been long engaged to one whofe name he thought himself obliged to conceal; but that he could fhew her picture in the lid of his fnuff-box. The young lady, who found herself moft fenfibly touched by this confeffion, took the first opportunity that offered of fnatching his box out of his hand. He feemed defirous of recover ing it, but finding her refolved to look into the lid, begged her that if she should happen to know the perfon, fhe would not reveal her name. Upon carrying it to the window, she was agreeably furprised to find there was nothing within the lid but a little looking-glafs, in which after the had viewed her own face with more than ordinary pleasure than fhe had ever done before, the re, turned the box with a fmile, telling him, fhe could not but admire at his choice. Will fancying that this ftory took, immediately fell into a differtation on the ufefulness of look ing-glasses; and applying himself to me, afked if there were any looking-glaffes in the times of the Greeks and Romans; for that he had often observed in the translations of poems out of thofe languages, that people generally talked of fecing themselves in wells, fountains, lakes, and rivers : nay, fays he, I remember Mr. Dryden in his Ovid tells us of a fwinging fellow called Polypheme, that made ufe of the fea for his looking-glafs, and could never drefs himself to advantage but in a calm. My friend Will, to fhew us the whole compafs of his learning upon this fubject, further informed us that there were ftill feveral nations in the world fo very barbarous as not to have any looking-glaffes among them; and that he had lately read a voyage to the South-Sea, in which it is faid, that the ladies of Chili always dreffed their 'heads over a bafon of water, I am the more particular in my account of Will's laft night's lecture on thefe natural mirrours, as it seems to bear fome relation to the following letter, which I received the day before. SIR, HAVE read your last Saturday's obferva tions on the fourth book of Milton with great fatisfaction, and am particularly pleafed with the hidden moral which you have taken notice of in feveral parts of the poem. The defign of this letter is to defire your thoughts, whether there may not also be fome moral 'couched under that place in the fame book where the poet lets us know, that the first wo6 man immediately after her creation ran to a looking-glafs, and became fo enamoured of her f own face, that she had never removed to view $ any of the other works of nature, had fhe not • been led off to a man. If you think fit to fet down the whole paffage from Milton, your 'readers will be able to judge for themselves, and the quotation will not a little contribute to the filling up of you paper. Your humble Servant, The laft confideration urged by my querift is fo ftrong, that I cannot forbear clofing with it. The paffage he alludes to, is part of Eve's Speech to Adam, and one of the most beautiful passages in the whole poem. That day I oft remember, when from sleep I first awak'd, and found myself repos'd Under a fhade on flow'rs, much wond'ring where And what I was, whence thither brought,and how. Not diftant far from thence a murmuring found Of waters iffu'd from a cave, and spread Into a liquid plain, then food unmov'd Pure as the expanfe of Heav'n: I thither went With unexperienc'd thought, and laid me down Smooth lake, that to me feem'd another sky. On the green bank, to look into the clear As I bent down to look, juft oppofite A fhape within the watry gleam appear'd, Bending to look on me; I started back, It started back; but pleas'd I foon return'd, Pleas'd it return'd as foon with anfwering looks Of fympathy and love: there I had fix'd Mine eyes till now, and pin'd with vain defire, Had not a voice thus warn'd me, What thou feeft, What there thou feeft, fair creature, is thyfelf; With thee it came and goes: but follow me, And I will bring thee where no shadow stays Thy coming, and thy foft embraces, he Whofe image thou art, him theu fhalt enjoy Infeparably thine, to him shalt bear Multitudes like thyself, and thence be call'd Mother of human race. What could I do, But follow ftraight, invisibly thus led? Till I elpy'd thee, fair indeed and tall, Under a plantan; yet methought lefs fair, Lefs winning foft, lefs amiably mild, Than that fmooth watry image: back I turn'd; Thou following cry'dft aloud, Return, fair Eve, Whom fly'ft thou? Whom thou fly'ft, of him thou art, Mr. Sperator, Y COWLEY. OUR correfpondent's letter relating to Fortune-Hunters, and your subsequent difcourfe upon it, have given me encourage < ment to fend you a ftate of my cafe, which you will fee, that the matter co nplained of is a common grievance both to city and country. |