N° 410. among us. I entertained the town for a week together with an effay upon wit, in which I endeavoured to detect feveral of thofe falfe kinds which have been admired in the different ages of the world; and at the fame time to fhew wherein the nature of true wit confifts. I afterwards gave an inftance of the great force which lies in a natural fimplicity of thought to affect the mind of the reader, from fuch vulgar pieces as have little elfe befides this fingle qualification to recommend them. I have likewife examined the works of the greateft poet which our nation or perhaps any other has produced, and particularized most of thofe rational and manly beauties which give a value to that divine work. I fhall next Saturday enter upon an effay on the pleasures of the imagination, which though it fhall confider that fubject at large, will perhaps fuggeft to the reader what it is that gives a beauty to many paffages of the fineft writers both in profe and verfe. As an undertaking of this nature is entirely new, I queftion not but it will be received with candour. O.

N° 410.

Friday, June 20.

Dum foris funt, nibil videtur mundius, Nec magis compofitum quidquam, nec magis elegans: Qua, cum amatore fuo cùm cenant, liguriunt. Harum videre ingluviem, fordes, inopiam, Quam inhonefta folæ fint domi, atque avidæ cibi, Quo pacto ex jure befterno panem atrum vorent : Noffe omnia bac, falus eft adolefcentulis.

Sc.

4.

TER. Eun. Act. 5. When they are abroad, nothing is fo clean, and nicely dreffed; and when at fupper with a gallant, they do but piddle, and pick the choiceft bits: but, to fee their naftinefs and poverty at home, their gluttony, and how they devour black crufts dipt in yesterday's broth, is a perfect antidote againft wenching.

WILL HONEYCOMB, who difguifes his pre

fent decay by visiting the wenches of the town

only by way of humour, told us, that the laft rainy night, he with fir ROGER DE COVERLEY was driven into the Temple Cloifter, whither had escaped alfo a lady most exactly dreffed from head to foot. WILL made no fcruple to acquaint us, that fhe faluted him very familiarly by his name, and turning immediately to the knight, fhe faid, the fuppofed that was his good friend, fir ROGER DE COVERLEY: upon which nothing lefs could follow than fir ROGER's approach to falutation, with, Madam, the fame at your fervice. She was dreffed in a black tabby mantua and petticoat, without ribbons; her linen ftriped muflin, and in the whole in an agreeable fecond mourning; decent dreffes being often affected by the creatures of the town, at once confulting cheapnefs and the pretenfions to modefty. She went on with a familiar eafy air. Your friend, Mr. HONEYCOMB, is a little furprised to see a woman here alone and unattended; but I difiniffed my coach at the gate, and tripped it down to my counfel's chambers; for lawyers fees take up too much of a small difputed jointure to admit any other expences but meer neceffaries. Mr. HONEYCOMB begged they might have the honour of fetting her down, for fir ROGER's fervant was gone to call a coach. In the interim the footman returned, with no coach to be had; and there appeared nothing to be done but trufting herself with Mr. HoNEYCOMB and his friend to wait at the tavern at the gate for a coach, or to be fubjected to all the impertinence fhe must meet with in that public place. Mr. HONEYCOMB being a man of honour, determined the choice of the firft, and fir ROGER, as the better man, took the lady by the hand, leading her through all the fhower, covering her with his hat, and gallanting a familiar acquaintance through rows of young fellows, who winked at Sukey in the ftate fhe marched off, WILL HONEYCOMв bringing up the rear.

Much importunity prevailed upon the fair one to admit of a collation, where, after declaring fhe had no ftomach, and eaten a couple of chickens, devoured a trufs of fallet, and drank a full bottle to her flare, the fung the Old Man's wish to fir ROGER. The knight left the room for fome time after fupper, and writ the

following billet, which he conveyed to Sukey, and Sukey to her friend WILL HONEYCOMB. WILL has given it to for ANDREW FREEPORT, who read it last night to the club.

'MADAM,

IAM not fo meer a country-gentleman, but I can guefs at the law-bufinefs you had at the Temple. If you would go down to the country, and leave of all your vanities but your finging, let me know at my lodgings in Bow-Street, Covent-Garden, and you fhall be encouraged by

Your humble fervant,

ROGER DE COVERLEY.'

My good friend could not well ftand the raillery which was rifing upon him; but to put a stop to it, I delivered WILL HONEYCOMB the following letter, and defired him to read it to the board.

Mr. SPECTATOR,

'HAVING feen a tranflation of one of the chapters in the Canticles into English verfe inserted among your late papers, I have ventured to fend you the viith chapter of the Proverbs in a poetical drefs. If you think it worthy appearing among your fpeculations, it will be a fufficient reward for the trouble of

• Your conftant reader,

'A. B.'

MY fon, th' inftruction that my words impart, 'Grave on the living tablet of thy heart ;

And all the wholefome precepts that I give,
• Obferve with ftricteft reverence, and live.
Let all thy homage be to wifdom paid,
Seek her protection, and implore her aid;
That fhe may keep thy foul from harm fecure,
And turn thy footsteps from the harlot's door;
Who with curs'd charms lures the unwary in,
And fooths with flattery their fouls to fin.

Once from my window as I caft mine eye
On thofe that pafs'd in giddy numbers by,
A youth among the foolish youths I fpy'd,
Who took not facred wifdom for his guide.

Juft as the fun withdrew his cooler light, And evening foft led on the fhades of night, 'He ftole in covert twilight to his fate,

And pafs'd the corner near the harlot's gate;
When, lo, a woman comes!

• Loofe her attire, and fuch her glaring dress,
As aptly did the harlot's mind exprefs:

Subtle fhe is, and practis'd in the arts

By which the wanton conquer heedlefs hearts:
• Stubborn and loud fhe is; fhe hates her home,
Varying her place and form, fhe loves to roam :
Now fhe's within, now in the ftreets does stray,
• Now at each corner ftands, and waits her prey,
The youth the feiz'd: and laying now afide
All modefty, the female's jufteft pride,
She faid with an embrace, Here at my houfe
Peace-offerings are, this day I paid my vows.
I therefore came abroad, to meet my dear,
And lo, in happy hour, I find thee here.

My chamber I've adorn'd, and o'er my bed
Are cov'rings of the richest tap'stry spread,
With linen it is deck'd from Egypt brought,
And carvings by the curious artift wrought:
It wants no glad perfume Arabia yields

In all her citron groves and fpicy fields;
Here all her ftore of richest odours meets,
I'll lay thee in a wilderness of sweets.
Whatever to the fenfe can grateful be

I have collected there-- -I want but thee.
My husband's gone a journey far away,

• Much gold he took abroad, and long will stay:
He nam'd for his return a distant day.

་

Upon her tongue did fuch fmooth mifchief dwell, And from her lips fuch welcome flatt'ry fell,

Th' unguarded youth in filken fetters ty'd,

. Refign'd his reason, and with ease comply'd. Thus does the ox to his own flaughter go,

And thus is fenfelefs of th' impending blow.

Thus flies the fimple bird into the fnare,
That skilful fowlers for his life prepare.
But let my fons attend. Attend may they
• Whom youthful vigour may to fin betray:

'Let them falfe charmers fly, and guard their hearts Against the wily wanton's pleafing arts;

With care direct their fteps, nor turn aftray
To tread the paths of her deceitful way;
Left they too late of her fell power complain,
And fall, where many mightier have been flain.'

T.

N° 411.

Saturday, June 21.

Avia Pieridum peragro loca, nullius antè
Trita folo: juvat integros accedere fonteis,

Atque haurire:

LUCR. lib. 1. v. 925.

Infpir'd I trace the mufes feats,

Untrodden yet: 'tis fweet to vifit first

Untouch'd and virgin ftreams, and quench my thirst.

Ου

CREECH.

OUR fight is the most perfect and moft delightful

of all our fenfes. It fills the mind with the largest variety of ideas, converfes with its objects at the greateft diftance, and continues the longeft in action without being tired or fatiated with its proper enjoyments. The fenfe of feeling can indeed give us a notion of extenfion, fhape, and all other ideas that enter at the eye, except colours; but at the fame time it is very much ftraitened and confined in its operations, to the number, bulk, and diftance of its particular objects. Our fight feems defigned to fupply all thefe defects, and may be confidered as a more delicate and diffufive kind of touch, that spreads itself over an infinite multitude of bodies, comprehends the largeft figures, and brings into our reach fome of the moit remote parts of the universe.