N. B. I nave on.y delivered the prophecy of that part of my life which is past, it being inconvenient to divulge the second part until a more proper opportunity.

No. 605.] Monday, October 11, 1714,

Exuerint sylvestrem animum; cultuque frequenti,
In quascunque voces artes, haud tarda sequentur.
Virg. Georg. ii. 51.

-They change their savage mind,
Their wildness lose, and, quitting.nature's part,
Obey the rules and discipline of art.-Dryden.

HAVING perused the following letter, and finding it to run upon the subject of love, I referred it to the learned casuist, whom I have retained in my service for speculations of that kind. He returned it to me the next morning with his report annexed to it, with both of which I shall here present my reader.

'MR. SPECTATOR,-Finding that you have entertained a useful person in your service in quality of love-casuist, I apply myself to you under a very great difficulty, that hath for some months perplexed me. I have a couple of humble servants, one of which I have no aversion to; the other I think of very kindly. The first hath the reputation of a man of good sense, and is one of those people that your sex are apt to value. My spark is reckoned a coxcomb among the men, but is a favourite of the ladies. If If I marry the man of worth, as they call him, I shall oblige my parents, and improve my fortune; but with my dear beau I promise myself happiness, although not a jointure. Now I would ask you, whether I should consent to lead my life with a man that I have only no objection to, or with him against whom all objections to me appear frivolous. I am determined to follow the casuist's advice, and I dare say he will not put me upon so serious a thing as matrimony contrary_to_my inclination. I am, &c. FANNY FICKLE.

'P. S. I forgot to tell you, that the pretty gentleman is the most complaisant creature in the world, and is always of my mind; but the other, forsooth, fancies he has as much wit as myself, slights my lap dog, and hath the insolence to contradict me when he thinks I am not in the right. About half an hour ago, he maintained to my face that a patch always implies a pimple.'

As I look upon it to be my duty rather to side with the parents than the daughter, I shall propose some considerations to my gentle querist, which may incline her to comply with those under whose direction she is; and at the same time convince her that it rs not impossible but she may in time, have a true affection for him who is at present indifferent to her; or, to use the eld family maxim, that, if she marries first, love will come after.'

The only objection that she seems to insinuate against the gentleman proposed to her, is his want of complaisance, which I perceive she is very willing to return. Now I can discover, from this very circumstance, that she and her lover, whatever they may think of it, are very good friends in their hearts. It is difficult to determine whether love delights more in giving pleasure or pain. Let Miss Fickle ask her own heart, if she doth not take a secret pride in making this man of good sense look very silly. Hath she ever been better pleased than when her behaviour hath made her lover ready to hang himself; or doth she ever rejoice more than when she thinks she hath driven him to the very brink of a purling stream? Let her consider, at the same time, that it is not impossible but her lover may have discovered her tricks, and hath a mind to give her as good as she brings. I remember a handsome young baggage that treated a hopeful Greek of my acquaintance, just come from Oxford, as if he had been a barbarian. The first week after she had fixed him, she took a pinch of snuff out of his rival's box, and apparently touched the enemy's little finger. She became a professed enemy to the arts and sciences, and scarce ever wrote a letter to him without wilfully misspelling his

name.

The young scholar, to be even with her, railed at coquettes as soon as he had got the word; and did not want parts to turn into ridicule her men of wit and pleasure of the town. After having irritated one another for the space of five months, she made an assignation with him fourscore miles from London. But, as he was very well acquainted with her pranks, he took a journey the quite contrary way. Accordingly they met, quarrelled, and in a few days were married. Their former hostilities are now the subject of their mirth, being content at present with that part of love only which bestows pleasure.

Women who have been married some time, not having it in their heads to draw after them a numerous train of followers, find their satisfaction in the possession of one man's heart. I know very well that ladies in their bloom desire to be excused in this particular. But, when time hath worn out their natural vanity, and taught them discretion, their fondness settles on its proper object. And it is probably for this reason that, among husbands, you will find more that are fond of women beyond their prime, than of those who are actually in the insolence of beauty. My reader will apply the same observation to the other sex.

I need not insist upon the necessity of their pursuing one common interest, and their united care for their children; but shall only observe, by the way, that married persons are both more warm in their love, and more hearty in their hatred than any others whatsoever. Mutual favours and obligations, which may be supposed to

be greater here than in any other state, | with him, made her his first minister of naturally beget an intense affection in ge- state, and continued true to her alone, until nerous minds. As, on the contrary, per- his marriage with the beautiful Elfrida. sons who have bestowed such favours have

a particular bitterness in their resentments,

when they think themselves ill-treated by No. 606.] Wednesday, October 13, 1714. those of whom they have deserved so much.

Besides, Miss Fickle may consider, that as there are often many faults concealed before marriage, so there are sometimes many virtues unobserved.

To this we may add the great efficacy of custom and constant conversation to produce a mutual friendship and benevolence in two persons. It is a nice reflection, which I have heard a friend of mine make, that you may be sure a woman loves a man, when she uses his expressions, tell his stories, or imitates his manner. This gives a secret_delight; for imitation is a kind of artless flattery, and mightily favours the powerful principle of self-love. It is certain that married persons, who are possessed with a mutual esteem, not only catch the air and way of talk from one another, but fall into the same traces of thinking and liking. Nay, some have carried the remark so far as to assert, that the features of man and wife grow, in time, to resemble one another. Let my fair correspondent, therefore, consider, that the gentleman recommended will have a good deal of her own face in two or three years; which she must not expect from the beau, who is too full of his dear self to copy after another. And I dare appeal to her own judgment, if that person will not be the handsomest that is the most like herself.

We have a remarkable instance to our present purpose in the history of king Edgar, which I shall here relate, and leave it with my fair correspondent to be applied to herself.

·longum cantu solata laborem Arguto conjux percurrit pectine telas.

-mean time at home

Virg. Georg. i. 294.

The good wife singing plies the various loom. 'MR. SPECTATOR,-I have a couple of nieces under my direction, who so often run gadding abroad, that I do not know where to have them. Their dress, their tea, and their visits, take up all their time, and they go to bed as tired with doing nothing as I am after quilting a whole under-petticoat. The only time they are not idle is while they read your Spectators; which being dedicated to the interest of virtue, I desire you to recommend the long neglected art of needle-work. Those hours which in this age are thrown away on dress, play, visits, and the like, were employed, in my time, chairs, and hangings, for the family. For in writing out receipts, or working beds, my part, I have plied my needle these fifty years, and by my good will would never heart to see a couple of proud idle flirts have it out of my hand. It grieves my sipping their tea, for a whole afternoon, in a room hung round with the industry of their great grandmother. Pray, sir, take the laudable mystery of embroidery into your serious consideration, and, as you have a great deal of the virtue of the last age in you, continue your endeavours to reform the present. I am, &c.'

In obedience to the commands of my venerable correspondent, I have duly weighed this important subject, and promise myself, from the arguments here laid down, that all This great monarch, who is so famous in the fine ladies of England will be ready, as British story, fell in love, as he made his soon as their mourning is over,* to appear progress through his kingdom, with a cer-covered with the work of their own hands. tain duke's daughter, who lived near Win- What a delightful entertainment must it chester, and was the most celebrated beauty be to the fair-sex, whom their native moof the age. His importunities and the vio-desty and the tenderness of men towards lence of his passion were so great, that the mother of the young lady promised him to bring her daughter to his bed the next night, though in her heart she abhorred so infamous an office. It was no sooner dark than she conveyed into his room, a young maid of no disagreeable figure, who was one of her attendants, and did not want address to improve the opportunity for the advancement of her fortune. She made so good use of her time, that when she offered This is, methinks, the most proper way to rise a little before day, the king could by wherein a lady can show a fine genius; and no means think of parting with her; so that, I cannot forbear wishing that several wrifinding herself under a necessity of disco- ters of that sex had chosen to apply themvering who she was, she did it in so hand-selves rather to tapestry than rhyme. some a manner, that his majesty was ex-Your pastoral poetesses may vent their ceeding gracious to her, and took her ever fancy in rural landscapes, and place desafter under his protection: insomuch, that

them, exempt from public business, to pass their hours in imitating fruits and flowers and transplanting all the beauties of nature into their own dress, or raising a new crea· tion in their closets and apartments! How pleasing is the amusement of walking among the shades and groves planted by themselves, in surveying heroes slain by their needle, or little cupids which they have brought into the world without pain!

our chronicles tell us, he carried her along * The general mourning on the death of queen Anne

The

pairing shepherds under silken willows, | ingly, the chaste Penelope having, as she or drown them in a stream of mohair. thought, lost Ulysses at sea, she employed The heroic writers may work up battles as her time in preparing a winding-sheet for successfully, and inflame them with gold Laertes, the father of her husband. or stain them with crimson. Even those who story of her web being very famous, and have only a turn to a song, or an epigram, yet not sufficiently known in its several cirmay put many valuable stitches into a purse, cumstances, I shall give it to my reader, as and crowd a thousand graces into a pair of Homer makes one of her wooers relate it. garters.

If I may, without breach of good man-
ners, imagine that any pretty creature is
void of genius, and would perform her part
herein but very awkwardly, I must never-
theless insist upon her working, if it be
only to keep her out of harm's way,
Another argument for busying good wo-
men in works of fancy is, because it takes
them off from scandal, the usual attendant
of tea-tables, and all other inactive scenes of
life. While they are forming their birds and
beasts, their neighbours will be allowed to
be the fathers of their own children; and
whig and tory will be but seldom mentioned
where the great dispute is, whether blue
or red is the more proper colour. How
much greater glory would Sophronia do
the general, if she would choose rather to
work the battle of Blenheim in tapestry,
than signalize herself with so much vehe- No. 607.] Friday, October 15, 1714.
mence against those who are Frenchimen
in their hearts!

'Sweet hope she gave to every youth apart,
With well-taught looks, and a deceitful heart:
A web she wove of many a slender twine,
My youths, she cried, my lord but newly dead,
of curious texture, and perplext design;
Forbear a while to court my widow'd bed,
Till I have wove, as solemn vows require,
This web, a shroud for poor Ulysses' sire.
Shall claim this labour of his daughter's hands :
His limbs, when fate the hero's soul demands,
Lest all the dames of Greece my name despise,
While the great king without a covering lies.
All day she sped the long laborious toil:
'Thus she. Nor did my friends mistrust the guile:
But when the burning lamps supply'd the sun,
Each night unravell'd what the day begun.
The fourth her maidens told th' amazing tale.
Three live-long summers did the fraud prevail;
These eyes beheld, as close I took my stand,
The backward labours of her faithless hand:
Till watch'd at length, and press'd on every side,
Her task she ended, and commenc'd a bride.'

A third reason that I shall mention, is the profit that is brought to the family where these pretty arts are encouraged. It is manifest that this way of life not only keeps fair ladies from running out into expenses, but is at the same time an actual improvement. How memorable would that matron be, who shall have it subscribed upon her monument, That she wrought out the whole Bible in tapestry, and died in a good old age, after having covered three hundred yards of wall in the mansion-house!'

The premises being considered, I humbly submit the following proposals to all mothers in Great Britain:

1. That no young virgin whatsoever be allowed to receive the addresses of her first lover, but in a suit of her own embroidering. 2. That before every fresh humble servant, she be obliged to appear with a new stomacher at the least.

3. That no one be actually married until she hath the child-bed pillows, &c. ready stitched, as likewise the mantle for the boy quite finished.

Dicite lo Pæan, et Io bis dicite Pæan: Decidit in casses præda petita meos. Ovid Ars Amor. Lib. 1. 1. Now Io Pæan sing, now wreaths prepare, And with repeated Ios fill the air: The prey is fallen in my successful toils.-Anon. 'MR. SPECTATOR,-Having in your paper of Monday last published my report on the case of Mrs. Fanny Fickle, wherein I have taken notice, that love comes after marriage; I hope your readers are satisfied of this truth, that as love generally produces matrimony, so it often happens that matrimony produces love,

'It perhaps requires more virtue to make a good husband or wife than what go to the finishing any the most shining character whatsoever.

Discretion seems absolutely necessary; and accordingly we find that the best husbands have been most famous for their wisdom. Homer, who hath drawn a perfect pattern of a prudent man, to make it the more complete, hath celebrated him for the just returns of fidelity and truth to his Penelope; insomuch that he refused the caresses of a goddess for her sake; and, to use the expression of the best of Pagan authors, " Vetulam suam prætulit immortalitati," his old woman was dearer to him

These laws, if I mistake not, would effectually restore the decayed art of needlework, and make the virgins of Great Britain exceedingly nimble-fingered in their busi-than immortality.

ness.

Virtue is, the next necessary qualification for this domestic character, as it naturally produces constancy and mutual esteem. Thus Brutus and Porcia were more remarkable for virtue and affection than any others of the age in which they lived.

There is a memorable custom of the Grecian ladies, in this particular, preserved in Homer, which I hope will have a very good effect with my country-women. A widow, in ancient times, could not, without indecency, receive a second husband, until she had woven a shroud for her deceased "Good-nature is a third necessary inlord, or the next of kin to him. Accord-gredient in the marriage state, without VOL. II.

51

which it would inevitably sour upon a thou- | time, the said bailiff shall take with him sand occasions. When greatness of mind is twain of the freeholders of the lordship of joined with this amiable quality it attracts | Whichenovre, and they three shall go to the admiration and esteem of all who behold it. Thus Cæsar, not more remarkable for his fortune and valour than for his humanity, stole into the hearts of the Roman people, when, breaking through the custom, he pronounced an oration at the funeral of his first and best-beloved wife.

the manor of Rudlow, belonging to Robert Knightleye, and there shall summon the aforesaid Knightleye, or his bailiff, commanding him to be ready at Whichenovre the day appointed, at prime of day, with his carriage, that is to say, a horse and a saddle, a sack and a pryke, for to convey 'Good-nature is insufficient, unless it be the said bacon and corn a journey out of the steady and uniform, and accompanied with county of Stafford, at his costages. And an evenness of temper, which is above all then the said bailiff shall, with the said things to be preserved in this friendship freeholders, summon all the tenants of the contracted for life. A man must be easy said manor, to be ready at the day appointed within himself before he can be so to his at Whichenovre, for to do and perform the other self. Socrates and Marcus Aureliu services which they owe to the bacon. And are instances of men, who, by the strength at the day assigned, all such as owe services of philosophy, having entirely composed to the bacon shall be ready at the gate of their minds, and subdued their passions, the manor of Whichenovre, from the sunare celebrated for good husbands, notwith-rising to noon, attending and awaiting for standing the first was yoked with Xantippe, the coming of him who fetcheth the bacon. and the other with Faustina. If the wedded pair would but habituate themselves for the first year to bear with one another's faults, the difficulty would be pretty well conquered. This mutual sweetness of temper and complacency was finely recommended in the nuptial ceremonies among the heathens, who, when they sacrificed to Juno at that solemnity, always tore out the gall from the entrails of the victim, and cast it behind the altar.

I shall conclude this letter with a passage out of Dr. Plot's Natural History of Staffordshire, not only as it will serve to fill up your present paper, but, if I find myself in the humour, may give rise to another; I having by me an old register belonging to the place here under-mentioned.

And when he is come, there shall be delivered to him and his fellows, chapelets, and to all those which shall be there to do their services due to the bacon. And they shall lead the said demandant with trumps and tabors, and other manner of minstrelsy, to the hall door, where he shall find the lord of Whichenovre, or his steward, ready to deliver the bacon in this manner:

"He shall inquire of him which demandeth the bacon, if he have brought twain of his neighbours with him: which must answer, they be here ready.' And then the steward shall cause these two neighbours to swear, if the said demandant be a wedded man, or have been a man wedded; and if since his marriage one year and a day be past; and if he be a freeman "Sir Philip de Somervile held the manors or a villain.† And if his said neighbours of Whichenovre, Scirescot, Ridware, Ne- make oath that he hath for him all these therton, and Cowlee, all in the county of three points rehearsed, then shall the bacon Stafford, of the earls of Lancaster, by this be taken down and brought to the hall door, memorable service. The said Sir Philip and shall there be laid upon one half-quarshall find, maintain, and sustain, one bacon-ter of wheat, and upon one other of rye. flitch, hanging in his hall at Whichenovre, ready arrayed all times of the year but in Lent, to be given to every man or woman married, after the day and the year of their marriage be past, in form following. *

"Whensoever that any one such before named will come to inquire for the bacon, in their own person, they shall come to the bailiff, or to the porter of the lordship of Whichenovre, and shall say to them in the manner as ensueth:

'Bailiff, or porter, I do you to know, that I am come for myself to demand one baconflyke hanging in the hall of the lord of Whichenovre, after the form thereunto belonging.

"After which relation, the bailiff or porter shall assign a day to him, upon promise by his faith to return, and with him to bring twain of his neighbours. And in the mean

* There was a similar institution at Dunmow in Essex, for an account of which see Leland's Itinerary.

And he that demandeth the bacon shall kneel upon his knee, and shall hold his right hand upon a book, which book shall be laid upon the bacon and the corn, and shall make oath in this manner:

'Hear ye, Sir Philip de Somervile, lord of Whichenovre, mayntener and gyver of this baconne; that I A sithe I wedded B my wife, and sithe I had hyr in my kepying, and at my wylle, by a year and a day after our marriage, I would not have chaunged for none other; farer ne fowler; richer ne pourer; ne for none other descended of greater lynage; slepying ne waking, at noo tyme.-And if the seyd B were sole, and I sole, I would take her to be my wife before all the wymen of the world, of what condiciones soever they be, good or evylle; as help me God and his seyntes, and this flesh and all fleshes.

† Villain, in the language of the time, signified a ser vant or bondman.

-Forgiving with a smile The perjuries that easy maids beguile.-Dryden. "The next couple enrolled had like to 'MR. SPECTATOR,-According to my have carried it, if one of the witnesses had promise I herewith transmit to you a list of not deposed, that, dining on a Sunday with several persons, who from time to time de- the demandant, whose wife had sat below manded the flitch of bacon of Sir Philip de the squire's lady at church, she, the said Somervile, and his descendants; as it is pre- wife, dropped some expressions, as if she served in an ancient manuscript, under the thought her husband deserved to be knighttitle of "The Register of Whichenovre-ed; to which he returned a passionate pish! hall, and of the bacon-flitch there maintained."

"Alison, the wife of Stephen Freckle, Without enumerating other particular brought her said husband along with her, persons, I shall content myself with observand set forth the good conditions and being that the sentence pronounced against