'fure well furnish'd you with Receipts for < making Salves and Poffets, diftilling Cordial Waters, making Syrups, and applying 'Poultices.

'BLEST Solitude! I wish thee Joy, my Dear, of thy lov'd Retirement, which indeed you would perfwade me is very agreeable, and different enough from what I have here 'defcrib'd: But, Child, I am afraid thy Brains are a little difordered with Romances and 'Novels: After fix Month's Marriage to hear thee talk of Love and paint the Country Scenes fo foftly, is a little extravagant; one would think you

you lived the Lives of Sylvan Deities, or roved among the Walks of Paradice like the first happy Pair. But prithee leave these VVhimfies, and come to Town in order to live and talk like other Mortals. However, as I am extremely interested in your Reputation, I would willingly give you a little good Advice at your first Appearance under the Character of a married Woman: 'Tis a 'little Infolence in me, perhaps, to advise a Matron; but I am fo afraid you'll make fo filly a Figure as a fond Wife, that I cannot help warning you not to appear in any publick Places with your Husband, and never to faunter about St. James's Park together: If you prefume to enter the Ring at Hide-Park together, you are ruin'd for ever; nor must you take the leaft Notice of one another at the Play-Houfe or Opera, unless you would be laugh'd at for a very loving Couple most hap

⚫ pily

pily pair'd in the Yoke of Wedlock. I would recommend the Example of an Acquaintance of ours to your Imitation; fhe is the most negligent and fashionable Wife in the World ; fhe is hardly ever feen in the fame Place with her Husband, and if they happen to meet you would think them perfect Strangers: She never was heard to name him in his Absence, and takes Care he fhall never be the Subject of any Discourse that she has a Share in. I hope you'll propofe this Lady as a Pattern, tho' I am very much afraid you'll be fo filly to think Porcia, &c. Sabine and Roman Wives, much brighter Examples. I wish it may never come into your Head to imitate thofe antiquated Creatures fo far, as to come into Publick in the Habit as well as Air of a Roman Matron. You make already the Entertainment at Mrs. Modifb's Tea-Table; she says fhe always thought you a difcreet Perfon, and qualified to manage a Family with admirable Prudence; the dies to fee what demure and ferious Airs Wedlock has given you, but fhe fays fhe fhall never forgive your Choice of fo gallant a Man as Bellamour to transform him in to a meer fober Husband;. 'twas unpardon6 able: You fee, my Dear, we all envy your Happiness, and no Perfon more than Your humble Servant,

Lydia.

Be

'B

E not in Pain, good Madam, for my Appearance in Town; I fhall frequent no publick Places, or make any Vifits where the Character of a modeft Wife is ridiculous: 'As for your wild Raillery on Matrimony, 'tis all Hypocrify; you and all the handfome young Women of your Acquaintance shew your felves to no other Purpofe than to gain a Conqueft over fome Man of Worth, in order " to bestow your Charms and Fortune on him. There's no Indecency in the Confeffion, the Design is modeft and honourable, and all your Affectation can't disguise it.

I am marry'd, and have no other Concern 'but to please the Man I love; he's the End of every Care I have; if I drefs 'tis for him, if 'I read a Poem or a Play 'tis to qualify my 'felf for a Converfation agreeable to his Tafte: 'He's almoft the End of my Devotions, half my Prayers are for his Happiness-I love to talk of him, and never hear him named but 'with Pleasure and Emotion. I am your Friend and wish you Happiness, but am forry to fee by the Air of your Letter that there are a Set of Women who are got into the common-Place Raillery of every Thing that is fober, decent, and proper: Matrimony and the Clergy are the Topicks of People of little Wit and no Understanding. I own to you I have learned of the Vicar's Wife all you tax me with: She is a difcreet, ingenious, pleasant, pious Woman; I wifh fhe had the handling you and Mrs. Modifh; you would find, if

of

⚫ you

you were too free with her, fhe would foon 'make you as charming as ever you were, fhe 'would make you blufh as much as if you never

had been fine Ladies. The Vicar, Madam, is 'fo kind as to vifit my Husband, and his agreeable Converfation has brought him to enjoy many fober happy Hours when even I am 'fhut out, and my dear Master is entertained ⚫ only with his own Thoughts. Thefe Things, dear Madam, will be lafting Satisfactions, when the fine Ladies and the Coxcombs by ' whom they form themselves are irreparably ridiculous, ridiculous in old Age.

I am, Madam,

Your most humble Servant,
Mary Home.

Dear Mr. SPECTATOR,

८ OU have no Goodness in the World, and are not in Earneft in any Thing you say that is serious, if you do not send me a plain Answer to this: I happened fome Days paft to be at the Play, where, during 'the Time of Performance, I could not keep 6 my Eyes off from a beautiful young Creature 'who fat just before me, and who I have been fince informed has no Fortune. It would utterly ruin my Reputation for Discretion to marry fuch a one, and by what I can learn fhe has a Character of great Modefty, fo that there is nothing to be thought on any 6 other Way. My Mind has ever fince been fo wholly bent on her, that I am much in · Danger

'Danger of doing Something very extravagant without your fpeedy Advice to,

SIR,

Tour most humble Servant.

I am forry I cannot answer this impatient Gentleman but by another Queftion.

Dear Correfpondent,

OULD you marry to please other
People, or your self?

Wi

No 255. Saturday, December 22.

Laudis amore tames? funt certa piacula que te
Ter pare lecto poterant recreare libello. Hor.

T

T

HE Soul, confidered abstractedly from its Paffions, is of a remifs and fedentary Nature, flow in its Refolves, and languishing In its Executions. The Ufe therefore of the Paffions, is to ftir it up and put it upon Action, to awaken the Understanding, to enforce the Will, and to make the whole Man more vigo rous and attentive in the Profecution of his Designs. As this is the End of the Paffions in general, fo it is particularly of Ambition, which pushes the Soul to fuch Actions as are apt to procure Honour and Reputation to the Actor. But if we carry our Reflections higher, we may VOL. IV. C discover