HERE the Imagination is warmed with all the Objects prefented, and yet is there nothing that is lufcious, or what raifes an Idea more loofe than that of a beautiful Woman fet off to Advantage, The like, or a more delicate and careful Spirit of Modefty, appears in the following Paffage in one of Mr. Philips's Pastorals. Breathe foft ye Winds, ye Waters gently flow, DESIRE is corrected when there is a Tendernefs or Admiration expreffed which partakes the Paffion. Licentious Language has fomething brutal in it, which difgraces Humanity, and leaves us in the Condition of the Savages in the Field. But it may be asked to what good Ufe can tend a Difcourfe of this Kind at all? It is to alarm chafte Ears againft fuch as have what is above called the prevailing gentle Art. Mafters of that Talent are capable of cloathing their Thoughts in fo foft a Drefs, and fomething fo diftant from the fecret Purpose of their Heart, that the Imagination of the Unguarded is touched with a Fondnefs which grows too infenfibly to be refifted. Much Care and Concern for the Lady's Welfare, to feem afraid left the fhould be annoyed by the very Air which furrounds her, and this uttered rather with kind Looks, and expreffed by an Interjection, an Ah, or an Oh at fome little Hazard in moving or making a Step, than in any direct Profeffion of Love, are the Methods of skilful Admirers: They are honeft Arts when their Purpose is fuch, but infamous when mifapplied. It is certain that many a young Woman in this Town has had her Heart irrecoverably won, by Men who have not made one Advance which ties ties their Admirers, tho' the Females languish with the utmost Anxiety. I have often, by way of Admonition to my Female Readers, given them Warning against agreeable Company of the other Sex, except they are well acquainted with their Characters. Women may difguife it if they think fit, and the more to do it, they may be angry at me for faying it; but I fay it is natural to them, that they have no Manner of Approbation of Men, without fome Degree of Love: For this Reafon he is dangerous to be entertained as a Friend or a Vifitant, who is capable of gaining any eminent Efteem, or Obfervation, though it be never so remote from Pretenfions as a Lover. If a Man's Heart has not the Abhorrence of any treacherous Defign, he may eafily improve Approbation into Kindnefs, and Kindnefs into Paffion. There may poffibly be no manner of Love between them in the Eyes of all their Acquaintance, no it is all Friendship; and yet they may be as fond as Shepherd and Shepherdefs in a Paftoral, but fill the Nymph and the Swain may be to each other no other, I warrant you, than Pylades and Orestes. When Lucy decks with Flowers her fwelling Breast, And on her Elbow leans, diffembling Reft; Unable to refrain my madding Mind, Nor Sleep nor Pafture worth my Care I find. Once Delia flept, on eafie Mofs reclin'd, Her lovely Limbs half bare, and rude the Wind; I fmooth'd her Coats, and ftole a filent Kifs: Condemn me, Shepherds, if I did amifs. SUCH good Offices as these, and fuch friendly Thoughts and Concerns for one another, are what make up the Amity, as they call it, between Man and Woman. IT is the Permiffion of fuch Intercourse, that makes a young Woman come into the Arms of her Husband, after the Disappointment of four or five Paffions which he has fucceffively had for different Men, before fhe is prudentially given to him for whom she has neither Love nor Friendfhip: For what should a poor Creature do that has loft all her Friends? There's Marinet the agreeable, has, to my Knowledge, had a Friendship for Lord Welford, which had like to break her Heart; then the had fo great a Friendship for Collonel Hardy, that he could not endure any Woman elfe should do any thing but rail at him. Many and fatal have been Difalters between Friends who have fallen out, and their Refentments are more keen than ever thofe of other Men can poffibly be: But in this it happens unfortunately, that as there ought to be nothing concealed from one Friend to another, the Friends of different Sexes very often find fatal Effects from their Unanimity. FOR my Part, who ftudy to pass Life in as much'Innocence and Tranquillity as I can, I fhun the Company of agreeable Women as much as poffible; and must confefs that I have, though a tolerable good Philofopher, but a low Opinion of Platonick Love: For which Reafon I thought it neceffary to give my fair Readers a Caution against it, having, to my great Concern, obferved the Waite of a Platonift lately fwell to a Roundness which is inconsistent with that Philosophy. T N° 401. Tuesday, June 10. In amore hæc omnia infunt vitia: Injuria, Ter. Shall publish, for the Entertainment of this Day, an odd fort of a Packet, which I have just received from one of my Female Correfpondents. Mr. SPECTATOR, 'SING INCE you have often confefs'd that you are not difpleafed your Paper should fometimes convey the Complaints of diftreffed Lovers to each other, I am in Hopes you will fa6 vour one who gives you an undoubted Inftance of her Reformation, and at the fame time a 'convincing Proof of the happy Influence your Labours have had over the moft incorrigible Part ' of the most incorrigible Sex. You must know, 'Sir, I am one of that Species of Women, whom C you have often Characteriz'd under the Name of Jilts, and that I fend you thefe Lines, as well to do Publick Penance for having fo long continued in a known Error, as to beg Pardon of the Party offended. I the rather chufe this < way, because it in fome measure answers the 'Terms on which he intimated the Breach be. tween us might poffibly be made up, as you 'will fee by the Letter he fent me the next Day "after I had difcarded him; which I thought fit to fend you a Copy of, that you might the better know the whole Cafe. I must further acquaint you, that before I Jilted him, there had been the greatest Intimacy 'between us for an Year and half together, du" ring all which Time I cherished his Hopes, and indulged indulged his Flame. I leave you to guess after this what must be his Surprife, when, upon his preffing for my full Confent one Day, I 'told him I wondered what could make him fancy he had ever any Place in my Affections. 'His own Sex allow him Senfe, and all ours Good-Breeding. His Perfon is fuch as might, 'without Vanity, make him believe himself not incapable to be beloved. Our Fortunes indeed, weighed in the nice Scale of Intereft, are not exactly equal, which by the way was the true 'Cause of my Jilting him, and I had the Affurance to acquaint him with the following Maxim, That Ifhould always believe that Man's 'Paffion to be the most Violent, who could of'fer me the largest Settlement. Í have fince chan ged my Opinion, and have endeavoured to let ' him know fo much by feveral Letters, but the 'barbarous Man has refused them all; fo that I have no way left of writing to him, but by your Affiftance. If we can bring him about once more, I promise to fend you all Gloves and Favours, and fhall defire the Favour of Sir R oGER and your felf to ftand as God-fathers to my first Boy. I am, SIR, Your most obedient and humble Servant, AMORET. Philander to Amoret. MADAM, I pleafed to met efterday, thay latif Am fo furprized at the Question you were at a loss what to fay to it. At least my Anfwer would be too long to trouble you with, as it would |