perty of every man in love; and as men of wit write verses on those occasions, the rest of the world repeat the verses of others. These servants of the ladies were used to imitate their manner of conversation; and allude to one another, rather than interchange discourse, in what they said when they met. Tulip, the other day, seized his mistress's hand, and repeated out of Ovid's Art of Love' 'Tis I can in soft battles pass the night, Yet rise next morning vigorous for the fight, Upon hearing this, Crastin, with an air of deference, played Honoria's fan, and repeated Sedley has that prevailing gentle art, } Till the poor vanquished maid dissolves away When Crastin had uttered these verses, with a tenderness which at once spoke passion and respect, Honoria cast a triumphant glance at Flavia, as exulting in the elegance of Crastin's courtship, and upbraiding her with the homeliness of Tulip's. Tulip understood the reproach, and in return began to applaud the wisdom of old amorous gentlemen, who turned their mistress's imagination, as far as possible, from what they had long themselves forgot, and ended his discourse with a sly commendation of the doctrine of platonic love; at the same time he ran over, with a laughing eye, Crastin's 1 Rochester, Imitations of Horace,' Sat. i. 10. thin legs, meagre looks, and spare body. The old gentleman immediately left the room with some disorder, and the conversation fell upon untimely passion, after love, and unseasonable youth. Tulip sung, danced, moved before the glass, led his mistress half a minuet, hummed Celia the fair, in the bloom of fifteen ; when there came a servant with a letter to him, which was as follows:: SIR, 'I UNDERSTAND very well what you meant by your mention of platonic love. I shall be glad to meet you immediately in Hyde Park, or behind Montague House, or attend you to Barn Elms, or any other fashionable place that's fit for a gentleman to die in, that you shall appoint for, SIR, Your most humble Servant, RICHARD CRASTIN.' Tulip's colour changed at the reading this epistle; for which reason his mistress snatched it to read the contents. While she was doing so Tulip went away, and the ladies now agreeing in a common calamity, bewailed together the danger of their lovers. They immediately undressed to go out, and took hackneys to prevent mischief; but, after alarming all parts of the town, Crastin was found by his widow in his pumps at Hyde Park, which appointment Tulip 1 These were all favourite places for duels. There are many contemporary references to meetings in the fields behind Montague House, Bloomsbury. never kept, but made his escape into the country. Flavia tears her hair for his inglorious safety, curses and despises her charmer, is fallen in love with Crastin which is the first part of the history of the Rival Mother.'1 No. 92. Friday, June 15, 1711 L R. [ADDISON. -Convivæ prope dissentire videntur, Quid dem? Quid non dem ? -HOR., 2 Ep. ii. 61. OOKING over the late packets of letters which have been sent to me, I found the following one: 2 'Mr. SPECTATOR, 'YOUR paper is a part of my tea equipage; and my servant knows my humour so well, that calling for my breakfast this morning (it being past my usual hour) she answered, the Spectator was not yet come in; but that the tea-kettle boiled, and she expected it every moment. Having thus in part signified to you the esteem and veneration which I have for you, I must put you in mind of the catalogue of books which you have promised to recommend to our sex: for I have deferred furnishing my closet with authors, till I receive your advice in this particular; being your daily disciple and humble Servant, LEONORA.' 1 The title of an anonymous play, published in 1678. 2 By Mrs. Perry, sister of Miss Shepherd. See Nos. 37, 140, 163. In answer to my fair disciple, whom I am very proud of, I must acquaint her and the rest of my readers, that since I have called out for help in my catalogue of a lady's library, I have received many letters upon that head; some of which I shall give an account of. 2 In the first class I shall take notice of those which come to me from eminent booksellers, who every one of them mention with respect the authors they have printed; and consequently have an eye to their own advantage more than to that of the ladies. One tells me, that he thinks it absolutely necessary for women to have true notions of right and equity, and that therefore they cannot peruse a better book than Dalton's 'Country Justice.' '1 Another thinks they cannot be without 'The Compleat Jockey.' A third, observing the curiosity and desire of prying into secrets which he tells me is natural to the fair sex, is of opinion this female inclination, if well directed, might turn very much to their advantage, and therefore recommends to me 'Mr. Mede upon the Revelations.'3 A fourth lays it down as an unquestioned truth, that a lady cannot be thoroughly accomplished who has not read The Secret Treaties and Negotiations of the Marshal d'Estrades.' Mr. Jacob Tonson, junr., is of opinion that Bayle's 1 Michael Dalton's 'Country Justice' first appeared in 1618. 2 Probably the book referred to is The Experienced Jockey, Compleat Horseman; or, Gentleman's Delight,' 1684. 4 3 Joseph Mede's Clavis Apocalyptica was published in 1627, and was translated in 1643. Mede wrote also a Commentary on the Apocalypse. 4 D'Estrades died in 1686. He negotiated the sale of Dunkirk to Louis XIV., and represented France during the preparation of the Treaty of Nimeguen. 1 Dictionary might be of very great use to the ladies, in order to make them general scholars. Another, whose name I have forgotten, thinks it highly proper that every woman with child should read Mr. Wall's 'History of Infant Baptism': as another is very importunate with me, to recommend to all my female readers, The Finishing Stroke: being a Vindication of the Patriarchal Scheme, &c.' 93 94 In the second class I shall mention books which are recommended by husbands, if I may believe the writers of them. Whether or no they are real husbands or personated ones I cannot tell, but the books they recommend are as follow: A Paraphrase on the History of Susanna,' 'Rules to Keep Lent,' 'The Christian's Overthrow Prevented,' A Dissuasive from the Playhouse,' 'The Virtues of Camphire, with Directions to make Camphire Tea,' "The Pleasures of a Country Life,' 'The Government of the Tongue.' A letter dated from Cheapside desires me that I would advise all young wives to make themselves mistresses of Wingate's Arithmetic,' and concludes with a postscript, that he hopes I will not forget 'The Countess of Kent's Receipts.' 7 1 Tonson published the translation of Bayle's Dictionary in 1710. 2 Dr. William Wall's book appeared in 1705. 3 Published in 1711 by Charles Leslie, the conjurer, in reply to the Original and Institution of Civil Government,' by Benjamin Hoadley, afterwards Bishop of Bangor (Arnold). 4 One of Jeremy Collier's pamphlets, published in 1703. 5 Steele borrowed largely from this book in compiling his Ladies' Library,' 1714. 6 Edmund Wingate's Arithmetic' reached a twelfth edition in 1708. 7 The second edition of A Choice Manual; or, Rare and Select Secrets in Physic and Chirurgery: as also most Exquisite |