If this small sketch may deserve a place among | But is the sense of joy and accomplishment of your works, I shall accompany it with a divine desire no way to be indulged or attained? And ode made by a gentleman upon the conclusion have we appetites given us not to be at all graof his travels. tified? Yes, certaintly. Marriage is an institution calculated for a constant scene of delight, as much as our being is capable of. Two persons, who have chosen each other out of all the species, with design to be each other's mutual comfort and entertainment, have in that action bound themselves to be good-humoured, affable, discreet, forgiving, patient, and joyful, with respect to each other's frailties and perfections, to the end of their lives. The wiser of the two (and it always happens one of them is such) will, for her or his own sake, keep things from outrage with the utmost sanctity. When this union thus preserved, (as I have often said) the most indifferent circumstance administers delight. Their condition is an endless source of new gratifications. The married man can say, 'If I am unacceptable to all the world beside, there is one whom I entirely love, that will receive me with joy and transport, and think herself obliged to double her kindness and caresses of me from the gloom with which she sees me overcast. I need not dissemble the sorrow of my heart to be agreeable there; that very sorrow quickens her affec tion.' This passion towards each other, when once well fixed, enters into the very constitution, and the kindness flows as easily and silently as the blood in the veins. When this affection is enjoyed in the sublime degree, unskilful eyes see nothing of it; but when it is subject to be changed, and has an allay in it that may make it end in distaste, it is apt to break into rage, or overflow into fondness, before the rest ef the world Uxander and Viramira are amorous and young, have been married these two years; yet do they so much distinguish each other in company, that in your conversation with the dear things you are still put to a sort of cross-purposes. Whenever you address yourself in ordinary discourse to Viramira, she turns her head another way. and the answer is made to the dear Uxander. If you tell a merry tale, the application is still directed to her dear; and when she should commend you, she says to him, as if he had spoke it, 'That is, my dear, so pretty.'-This puts me in mind of what i have somewhere read in the admired memoirs of the famous Cervantes; where, while honest Sancho Panca is putting some necessary humble question concerning Rozinante, his supper, or his lodging, the knight of the sorrowful countenance is ever improving the harmless lowly hints of his 'squire to the poetical conceit, rapture, and flight, in contemplation of the dear dulcinea of his affections. I HAVE very long entertained an ambition to make the word wife the most agreeable and delightful name in nature. If it be not so in itself, all the wiser part of mankind, from the On the other side, Dictamnus and Moria are, beginning of the world to this day, has con- ever squabbling; and you may observe them, sented in an error. But our unhappiness in all the time they are in company, in a state of England has been, that a few loose men, of impatience. As Uxander and Viramira wish genius for pleasure, have turned it all to the you all gone, that they may be at freedom for gratification of ungoverned desires, in despite dalliance; Dictamnus and Moria wait your abof good sense, form and order; when, in truth, sence, that they may speak their harsh inter, any satisfaction beyond the boundaries of rea-pretations on each other's words and actions, son is but a step towards madness and folly. during the time you were with them. Through thoughts aspiring to eternal fame. [brass. It is certain that the greater part of the evils, attending this condition of life, arises from fashion. Prejudice in this case is turned the wrong way and, instead of expecting more happiness than we shall meet with in it, we are laughed into a prepossession, that we shall be disappointed if we hope for lasting satisfac- No. 491.] tions. No less than perfect gold surmounts the meanest Tuesday, September 23, 1712. -Digna satis fortuna revisit. Virg. En. iii. 318. A just reverse of fortune on him waits. With all persons who have made good sense the rule of action, marriage is described as the state capable of the highest human felicity. Tully has epistles full of affectionate pleasure, when he writes to his wife, or speaks of his IT is common with me to run from book to children. But, above all the hints of this kind book to exercise my mind with many objects, I have met with in writers of ancient date, I and qualify myself for my daily labours. Af am pleased with an epigram of Martial, in ho, ter an hour spent in this loitering way of nour of the beauty of his wife Cleopatra. Com-reading, something will remain to be food to mentators say it was written the day after his the imagination. The writings that please wedding-night. When his spouse was retired me most on such occasions are stories, for to the bathing-room in the heat of the day, he, the truth of which there is good authority. it seems, came in upon her when she was just The mind of man is naturally a lover of jusgoing into the water. To her beauty and car-tice; and when we read a story wherein a riage on this occasion we owe the following criminal is overtaken, in whom there is no epigram, which I showed my friend Will Ho-quality which is the object of pity, the soul neycomb in French, who has translated it as enjoys a certain revenge for the offence done follows without understanding the original. Ito its nature, in the wicked actions committed expect it will please the English better than the Latin reader. 'When my bright consort, now nor wife nor maid, Thus through the ambient gem shines forth the rose. } in the preceding part of the history. This will be better understood by the reader from the following narration itself, than from any thing which I can say to introduce it. When Charles duke of Burgundy, surnamed The Bold, reigned over spacious dominions now swallowed up by the power of France, he heaped many favours and honours upon Claudius Rhynsault, a German, who had served him in his wars against the insults of his My friend would not allow that this luscious at that time in subjection to that dukedom. neighbours. A great part of Zealand was account could be given of a wife, and therefore The prince himself was a person of singular used the word consort; which, he learnedly humanity and justice. Rhynsault, with no said, would serve for a mistress as well, and other real quality than courage, had dissigive a more gentlemanly turn to the epigram. mulation enough to pass upon his generous But, under favour of him and all other such and unsuspicious master for a person of fine gentleman, I cannot be persuaded but that blunt honesty and fidelity, without any vice the passion a bridegroom has for a virtuous that could bias him from the execution of young woman will, by little and little, grow justice. His highness, prepossessed to his adinto friendship, and then it is ascended to a vantage, upon the decease of the governor higher pleasure than it was in its first fervour. of his chief town of Zealand, gave RhynWithout this happens, he is a very unfortunate sault that command. He was not long seat. man who has entered into this state, and left ed in that government, before he cast his eyes the habitudes of life he might have enjoyed upon Saphira, a woman of exquisite beauty, with a faithful friend. But when the wife proves the wife of Paul Danvelt, a wealthy merchant capable of filling serious as well as joyous hours, of the city, under his protection and governshe brings happiness unknown to friendship ment. Rhynsault was a man of a warm conitself. Spenser speaks of each kind of love with stitution, and violent inclination to women, great justice, and attributes the highest praise and not unskilled in the soft arts which win to friendship; and indeed there is no disputing their favour. He knew what it was to enjoy that point, but by making that friendship take the satisfactions which are reaped from the its place between two married persons. 'Hard is the doubt, and difficult to deem, For natural affection soon doth cease, possession of beauty, but was an utter stranger to the decencies, honours, and delicacies, that attend the passion towards them in elegant minds. However, he had so much of the world, that he had a great share of the language which usually prevails upon the weaker part of that sex; and he could with his tongue utter a passion with which his heart was wholly untouched. He was one of those brutal minds which can be gratified with the violation of innocence and beauty, without the least pity, passion, or love, to that with which they are so much delighted. Ingratitude is a vealed to him all that had passed, and reprevice inseparable to a lustful man; and the sented the endless conflict she was in between possession of a woman by him, who has no love to his person, and fidelity to his bed. It thought but allaying a passion painful to him is easy to imagine the sharp affliction this self, is necessarily followed by distaste and honest pair was in upon such an incident, in aversion Rhynsault, being resolved to ac- lives not used to any but ordinary occurrencomplish his will on the wife of Danveit, left ces. The man was bridled by shame from no arts untried to get into a familiarity at her speaking what his fear prompted, upon so near house; but she knew his character and dispo- an approach of death; but let fall words that sition too well, not to shun all occasions that signified to her, he should not think her pollutmight ensnare her into his conversation. The ed, though she had not yet confessed to him governor, despairing of success by ordinary that the governor had violated her person, means, apprehended and imprisoned her hus- since he knew her will had no part in the acband, under pretence of an information, that tion. She parted from him with this oblique he was guilty of a correspondence with the permission to save a life he had not resolution enemies of the duke to betray the town into enough to resign for the safety of his honour. their possession. This design had its desired The next morning the unhappy Sapphira effect; and the wife of the unfortunate Dan- [attended the governor, and being led into a velt, the day before that which was appointed remote apartment, submitted to his desires. for his execution, presented herself in the hall Rhynsault commended her charms, claimed a of the governor's house; and, as he passed familiarity after what had passed between through the apartment, threw herself at his them, and with an air of gayety, in the lanfeet, and, holding his knees, beseeched his guage of a gallant, bid her return, and take mercy Rhynsault beheld her with a dissem- her husband out of prison: but,' continued bled satisfaction; and, assuming an air of he, my fair one must not be offended that I thought and authority, he bid her arise, and have taken care he should not be an interruptold her she must follow him to his closet; tion to our future assignations.' These last and, asking her whether she knew the hand words foreboded what she found when she of the letter he pulled out of his pocket, went came to the gaol-her husband executed by from her, leaving this admonition aloud: If the order of Rhynsault ! you will save your husband, you must give me It was remarkable that the woman, who an account of all you know without prevarica- was full of tears and lamentations during the tion: for every body is satisfied he was too whole course of her afflictions, uttered neither fond of you to be able to hide from you the sigh nor complaint, but stood fixed with grief names of the rest of the conspirators, or any at this consummation of her misfortunes. She other particulars whatsoever.' He went to his betook herself to her abode; and, after having closet, and soon after the lady was sent for to in solitude paid her devotions to him who is the an audience. The servant knew his dista ce avenger of innocence, she repaired privately when matters of state were to be debated; to court. Her person, and a certain grandeur and the governor laying aside the air with of sorrow, negligent of forms, gained her paswhich he had appeared in public, began to sage into the presence of the duke her sovebe the supplicant, to rally an affliction, which reign. As soon as she came into the presence, it was in her power easily to remove, and re- she broke fourth into the following words: lieve an innocent man from his imprisonment. Behold O mighty Charles, a wretch weary She easily perceived his inteniton; and bathed of life, though it has always been spent with in tears, began to deprecate so wicked a de- innocence and virtue. It is not in your power sign. Lust, like ambition, takes all the facul- to redress my injuries, but it is to avenge ties of the mind and body into its service and them. And if the protection of the distressubjection. Her becoming tears, her honest sed, and the punishment of oppressors, is a anguish, the wringing of her hands, and the task worthy a prince, I bring the duke of many changes of her posture and figure in Burgundy ample matter for doing honour to the vehemence of speaking, were but so many his own great name, and wiping infamy off attitudes in which he beheld her beauty, and from mine.' further incentives of his desire. All humani- When she had spoke this, she deliverd the ty was lost in that one appetite, and he signi- duke a paper reciting her story. He read it fied to her in so many plain terms, that he with all the emotions that indignation and pity was unhappy till he had possessed her, and could raise in a prince jealous of his honour nothing less should be the price of her hus- in the behaviour of his officers, and prosperity band's life, and she must, before the follow-of his subjects. ing noon, pronounce the death, or enlarge- Upon an appointed day, Rhynsault was ment, of Danvelt. After this notification, sent for to court, and, in the presence of a when he saw Sapphira enough again distract- few of the council, confronted by Sapphira. ed, to make the subject of their discourse to The prince asking. Do you know that lady? common eyes appear different from what it Rhynsault, as soon as he could recover his surwas, he called servants to conduct her to the prise, told the duke he would marry her, if gate. Loaded with insupportable affliction, his highness would please to think that a reshe immediately repairs to her husband; and, having signified to his gaoler that she had a proposal to make to her husband from the governor, she was left alone with him, re paration. The duke seemed contented with this answer and stood by during the immediate solemnization of the ceremony. At the conclusion of it he told Rhynsault, 'Thus far you have done as constrained by my authori-humour, a taking familiarity in throwing herty: I shall not be satisfied of your kind usage self into the lowest seat in the room, and letof her, without you sign a gift of your whole ting her hooped petticoats fall with a lucky estate to her after your decease.' To the per- decency about her, I know she practises this formance of this also the duke was a witness. way of sitting down in her chamber: and inWhen these two acts were executed, the duke deed she does it as well as you may have seen turned to the lady, and told her, 'It now remains for me to put you in quiet possession of what your husband has so bountifully bestowed on you;' and ordered the immediate execution of Rhynsault. T. an actress fall down dead in a tragedy. Not the least indecency in her posture. If you have observed what pretty carcases are carried off at the end of a verse at the theatre, it will give you a notion how Dulcissa plumps into a chair. Here is a little country girl that is very cunning, that makes her use of being young and unbred, and outdoes the ensnarers, who are almost twice her age. The air that she takes is to come into company after a walk, and is very successfully out of breath upon occasion. Her mother is looks round to see what young men stare at in the secret, and calls her romp, and then her. DEAR MR. SPECTATOR, Tunbridge, Sept. 18: 'I AM a young woman of eighteen years of age, and I do assure you a maid of unspotted reputation, founded upon a very careful carriage in all my looks, words, and actions. 'It would take up more than can come into At the same time I must own to you, that it is ticular airs of the younger company in this one of your papers, to enumerate all the parwith much constraint to flesh and blood that place. But I cannot omit Dulceorella, whose my behaviour is so strictly irreproachable; for manner is the most indolent imaginable, but I am naturally addicted to mirth, to gaiety, still as watchful of conquest as the busiest virto a free air, to motion, and gadding. Now, gin among us. what gives me a great deal of anxiety, and is ring at a young fellow, till she sees she has She has a peculiar art of stasome discouragement in the pursuit of virtue, got him, and inflamed him by so much obis, that the young women who run into greater servation. When she sees she has him, and freedoms with the men are more taken notice he begins to toss his head upon it, she is imof than I am. The men are such unthinking mediately short-sighted, and labours to obsots, that they do not prefer her who restrains serve what he is at a distance, with her eyes all her passions and affections, and keeps much half shut. within the bounds of what is lawful, to her who first struck, is to make very near approaches, Thus the captive that thought her goes to the utmost verge of innocence and par- or be wholly disregarded. This artifice has leys at the very brink of vice, whether she shall done more execution than all the ogling of the be a wife or a mistress. But I must appeal to rest of the women here, with the utmost varieyour spectatorial wisdom, who, I find, have ty of half glances, attentive heedlessness, passed very much of your time in the study of childish inadvertencies, haughty contempts, woman, whether this is not a most unreason- or artificial oversights. After I have said thus able proceeding. I have read somewhere that much for ladies among us who fight thus reguHobbes of Malmesbury asserts that continent larly, I am to complain to you of a set of fapersons have more of what they contain than miliar romps, who have broken through all those who give a loose to their desires. Accord- common rules, and have thought of a very efing to this rule, let there be equal age, equal fectual way of showing more charms than all wit, and equal good-humour, in the woman of of us. These, Mr. Spectator, are the swingers. prudence, and her of liberty; what stores has You are to know these careless pretty creahe to expect who takes the former? What re-tures are very innocents again; and it is to be fuse must he be contented with who chooses no matter what they do for it is all harmless the latter? Well, but I sat down to write to freedom. They get on ropes, as you must vent my indignation against several pert have seen the children, and are swung by creatures who are addressed to and courted their men visitants. in this place, while poor I, and two or three Such-a-one can name the colour of Mrs. SuchThe jest is, that Mr. like me, are wholly unregarded. 'Every one of these affect gaining the hearts lying thief, so he is, and full of roguery; and a-one's stockings; and she tells him he is a of your sex. This is generally attempted by she will lay a wager, and her sister shall a particular manner of carrying themselves tell the truth if he says right, and he cannot with familiarity. Glycera has a dancing walk, tell what colour her garters are of. and keeps time in her ordinary gait. Chloe, diversion there are very many pretty shrieks, In this her sister, who is unwilling to interrupt her not so much for fear of falling, as that their conquests, comes into the room before her petticoats should untie; for there is a great with a familiar run. Dulcissa takes advantage care had to avoid improprieties; and the lover of the approach of the winter, and has intro- who swings the lady is to tie her clothes very duced a very pretty shiver; closing up her close together with his hatband, before she shoulders, and shrinking as she moves. All admits him to throw up her heels. that are in this mode carry their fans between both hands before them. 'Now, Mr. Spectator, except you can note Dulcissa herself, these wantonnesses in their beginnings, and who is author of this air, adds the pretty run bring us sober girls into observation, there is to it: and has also, when she is in very good no help for it; we must swim with the tide ; VOL. II. ་ the coquettes are too powerful a party for us. any defective recommendation, by informing To look into the merit of a regular and well how such and such a man is to be attacked. behaved woman is a slow thing. A loose They will tell you, get the least scrap from trivial song gains the affections, when a wise Mr. Such-a-one, and leave the rest to them. homily is not attended to. There is no other When one of these undertakers has your busiway but to make war upon them, or we must ness in hand you may be sick, absent in town go over to them. As for my part, I will show or country, and the patron shall be worried, or all the world it is not for want of charms that you prevail. I remember to have been shown I stand so long unasked; and if you do not a gentleman some years ago, who punished a take measures for the immediate redress of whole people for their facility in giving their us rigids, as the fellows calls us, I can move credentials. This person had belonged to a with a speaking mien, can look significantly, regiment which did duty in the West Indies, can lisp, can trip, can loll, can start, can and, by the mortality of the place, happened blush, can rage, can weep, if I must do it, and to be commanding officer in the colony. He can be frighted as agreeably as any she in oppressed his subjects with great frankness, England. All which is humbly submitted to till he became sensible that he was heartily your spectatorial consideration, with all hu- hated by every man under his command. mility, by When he had carried his point to be thus detestable, in a pretended fit of dishumour, and feigned uneasiness of living where he found he was so universally unacceptable, he communicated to the chief inhabitants a design he had to return for England, provided they would give him ample testimonials of their approbation. The planters came into it to a man, and in proportion to his deserving the quite contrary, the words justice, generosity, and courage, were inserted in his commission, not omitting the general good liking of people of all conditions in the colony. The gentleman returns for England, and within a few months after came back to them their governor, on the strength of their own testimonials. T. 'Your most humble servant, No. 493.] Thursday, September 25, 1712. Anon. Such a rebuke as this cannot indeed happen to easy recommenders, in the ordinary course of things from one hand to another; but how would a man bear to have it said to him, 'The person I took into confidence on the credit you gave him, has proved false, unjust, and has not answered any way the character you gave me of him?' I cannot but conceive very good hopes of that rake Jack Toper of the Temple, for an honest scrupulousness in this point. A friend of his meeting with a servant that had formerly lived with Jack, and having a mind to take him, sent to him to know what faults the fellow had, since he could not please such a careless fellow as he was. His answer was as follows: It is no unpleasant matter of speculation to consider the recommendatory epistles that pass round this town from hand to hand, and the abuse people put upon one another in that kind. It is indeed come to that pass, that, instead of being the testimony of merit in the person recommended, the true reading of a letter of this sort is. The bearer hereof is so uneasy to me, that it will be an act of charity in you to take him off my hands; whether you prefer him or not, it is all one; for I have no manner of kindness for him, or obligation to him or his; and do what you please as to that.' As negligent as men are in this respect, a point of honour is concerned in it; and there is nothing a man should be more ashamed of, than passing a worthless creature into the service or interests of a man who has never injured you. The women indeed are a little too keen in their resentments to trespass often this way: but you shall sometimes know, that the mistress and the maid shall quarrel, and give each other very free language, and at last the lady 'Thomas, that lived with me, was turned shall be pacified to turn her out of doors, and away because he was too good for me. You give her a very good word to any body else. know I live in taverns: he is an orderly sober Hence it is that you see, in a year and half's rascal, and thinks much to sleep in an entry time, the same face a domestic in all parts of until two in the morning. He told me one the town. Good-breeding and good-nature day, when he was dressing me, that he wondelead people in a great measure to this injus- red I was not dead before now, since I went to tice when suitors of no consideration will dinner in the evening, and went to supper at have confidence enough to press upon their su- two in the morning. We were coming down periors, those in power are tender of speak- Essex-street one night a little flustered, and I ing the exceptions they have against them, and was giving him the word to alarm the watch; are mortgaged into promises out of their im- he had the impudence to tell me it was against patience of importunity. In this latter case, the law. You that are married, and live one it would be a very useful inquiry to know the day after another the same way, and so on the history of recommendations. There are, you whole week, I dare say will like him, and he must know, certain abettors of this way of tor-will be glad to have his meat in due season. ment, who make it a profession to manage the The fellow is certainly very honest. My seraffairs of candidates. These gentlemen let out vice to your lady. Yours, their impudence to their clients, and supply 'SIR, J. T. |