which lies in a natural simplicity of thought to affect the mind of the reader, from such vulgar pieces as have little else besides this single qualification to recommend them. I have likewise examined the works of the greatest poet which our nation, or perhaps any other, has produced, and particularized most of those rational and manly beauties which give a value to that divine work.1 I shall next Saturday enter upon an essay on 'The Pleasures of the Imagination,' which, though it shall consider the subject at large, will perhaps suggest to the reader what it is that gives a beauty to many passages of the finest writers both in prose and verse. As an undertaking of this nature is entirely new, I question not but it will be received with candour.

0.m

No. 410. FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 1712.

Dum foris sunt, nihil videtur mundius,

Nec magis compositum quidquam, nec magis elegans:
Quæ, cum amatore suo cùm cœnant, liguriunt.
Harum videre ingluviem, sordes, inopiam:

Quàm inhonestæ solæ sint domi, atque avidæ cibi,
Quo pacto ex jure hesterno panem atrum vorent:
Nôsse omnia hæc, salus est adolescentulis,

TER, Eun. Act v. Sc. 4.

When they are abroad, nothing so clean, and nicely dressed; and when at supper with a gallant, they do but piddle, and pick the choicest bits: but to see their nastiness and poverty at home, their gluttony, and how they devour black crusts dipped in yesterday's broth, is a perfect antidote against wenching.

WILL HONEYCOMB, who disguises his present decay by visiting the wenches of the town only by way of humour, told us, that the last rainy night he, with sir Roger de Coverley, was driven into the Temple cloister, whither had escaped also a lady most exactly dressed from head to foot. Will made no scruple to acquaint us, that she saluted him very familiarly by his name, and, turning immediately to the knight, she said, she supposed that was his good friend sir Roger de Coverley: upon which nothing less could follow than sir Roger's approach to salutation, with 'Madam, the same, at your service.' She was dressed in a black tabby mantua and petticoat, without ribands, her linen striped muslin, and in the whole an agreeable second mourning; decent dresses being often affected by the creatures of the town, at once consulting cheapness and the pretension to modesty. She went on with a familiar easy air, 'Your friend, Mr. Honeycomb, is a little surprised to see a woman here alone and unattended; but I dismissed my coach at the gate, and tripped it down to my counsel's chambers; for lawyers' fees take up too much of a small disputed jointure to admit any other expenses but mere necessaries.' Mr. Honeycomb begged they might have the honour of setting her down, for sir Roger's servant 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 trusting herself with Mr. Honeycomb and his friend, to wait at the tavern at the gate for a coach, or to be subjected to all the impertinence she must meet with in that public place. Mr. Honeycomb, being a man of honour, determined the choice of the first, and sir Roger, as the better man, took the lady by the hand, leading her through all the shower, covering her with his hat, and gallanting a familiar acquaintance through rows of young fellows, who winked at Sukey in the state she marched off, Will Honeycomb bringing up the

rear."

Much importunity prevailed upon the fair one to admit of a collation, where, after declaring she had no stomach, and eaten a couple of chickens, devoured a truss of sallet, and drunk a full bottle to her share, she sung the Old Man's Wish to sir Roger. The knight left the room for some time after supper, and writ the following billet, which he conveyed to Sukey, and Sukey to her friend Will Honeycomb. Will has given it to sir Andrew Freeport, who read it last night to the club.

'I am not so mere a country gentleman, but I can guess at the law-business you had at the Temple. If you would go down to the country, and leave off all your vanities, but your singing, let me know at my lodgings in Bow-street, Covent-garden, and you shall be encouraged by

'Your humble servant,

ROGER DE COVERLEY.'

My good friend could not well stand the raillery which was rising upon him; but to put a stop to it, I delivered Will Honeycomb the following letter, and desired him to read it to the board.

'MR. SPECTATOR,

'HAVING seen a translation of one of the chapters in the Canticles into English verse inserted among your late papers; I have ventured to send

■ See Bee, No. i. p. 26. See also Spect. No. 517, and note. The character of Sir Roger de Coverley was the creature not of Addison's, but of Steele's imagination. See Spect. No. 2, and note.

• See No. 388.

you the viith chapter of the Proverbs, in a poetical dress. If you think it worthy appearing among your speculations, it will be a sufficient reward for the trouble of

'Your constant reader, Α. Β.'

"My son, th' instruction that my words impart,
'Grave on the living tablet of thy heart;
And all the wholesome precepts that I give,
Observe with strictest reverence, and live.
"Let all thy homage be to Wisdom paid,
Seek her protection and implore her aid;
That she may keep thy soul from harm secure,
And turn thy footsteps from the harlot's door;
Who with curs'd charms lures the unwary in,
And sooths with flattery their souls to sin.

"Once from my window as I cast mine eye
On those that passed in giddy numbers by,
A youth among the foolish youths I spy'd,
Who took not sacred Wisdom for his guide.
"Just as the sun withdrew his cooler light,
And evening soft led on the shades of night,
He stole in covert twilight to his fate,
And passed the corner near the harlot's gate!
When, lo, a woman comes!-

Loose her attire, and such her glaring dress,
As aptly did the harlot's mind express:
Subtle she is, and practis'd in the arts
By which the wanton conquer heedless hearts:
Stubborn and loud she is; she hates her home;
Varying her place and form, she loves to roam :
Now she's within, now in the street does stray,
Now at each corner stands, and waits her prey.
The youth she seiz'd; and, laying now aside
All modesty, the female's justest pride,
She said with an embrace, Here at my house
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 artist wrought:
Its wants no glad perfume Arabia yields
In all her citron groves, and spicy fields;

Here all her store of richest odours meets,
I'll lay thee in a wilderness of sweets:
Whatever to the sense 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 named for his return a distant day.

"Upon her tongue did such smooth mischief dwell,
And from her lips such welcome flatt'ry fell,
Th' unguarded youth, in silken fetters ty'd,
Resign'd his reason, and with ease comply'd.
Thus does the ox to his own slaughter go,
And thus is senseless of th' impending blow.
Thus flies the simple bird into the snare
That skilful fowlers for his life prepare.
But let my sons attend. Attend may they
Whom youthful vigour may to sin betray:
Let them false charmers fly, and guard their hearts

Against the wily wanton's pleasing arts;

With care direct their steps, nor turn astray

To tread the paths of her deceitful way;

Lest they too late of her fell power complain,

And fall, where many mightier have been slain."

For the benefit of Miss Porter, at the theatre the upper end of St. Martin's Lane, near Litchfield Street, on Wednesday, June 18, will be presented a comedy called The Busy Body. The part of the Busy Body by young Pervil; Sir Zealous Traffic by young Ray; Sir Geo. Airy by young Boman; Charles by young Mills; Whisper by young Norris. Miranda by Miss Younger; Isabinda by Miss Porter; Patch by Miss Lydell; and all the other parts to the best advantage. With a new epilogue by Miss Porter, &c. Spect. in folio, No. 408.

• The first part of this paper was most probably written, not by Steele, as Dr. Johnson unauthoritatively affirms, but by Mr. Thomas Tickell, who seems to have marked his own papers, as Steele did such as he communicated or composed from the letter-box, with the signature T. See No. 324, note on T; No. 310, and note; from which it appears that Steele and Mr. Tickell had some altercation about a paper or papers distinguished by the signature T, instead of which Steele seems to agree to the substitution of R in an instance, or instances.