'fatisfaction in being admired in general, and much greater in being beloved by a gentleman, whom I defign to make my husband. But I have a mind to put 'off entering into matrimony till another winter is over my head, which, whatever, mufty fir, you may think of the matter, I defign to pafs away in hearing mufic, going to plays, vifiting, and all other fatisfactions which fortune and youth, protected by innocence and virtue, can procure for, 6 Sir, • Your most humble fervant, 'M. T.' My lover does not know I like him; therefore, having no engagements upon me, I think to ftay and 'know whether I may not like any one elfe better.' I have heard WILL HONEYCOMB fay, A woman ⚫ feldom writes her mind but in her poftfcript.' I think this gentlewoman has fufficiently discovered hers in this. I'll lay what wager fhe pleases against her prefent favourite, and can tell her that she will like ten more before the is fixed, and then will take the worst man she ever liked in her life. There is no end of affection taken in at the eyes only; and you may as well fatisfy thofe eyes with feeing, as control any paffion received by them only. It is from loving by fight that coxcombs fo frequently fucceed with women, and very often a young lady is bestowed by her parents to a man who weds her as innocence itself, though she has, in her own heart, given her approbation of a different man in every affembly fhe was in the whole year before. What is wanting among women, as well as among men, is the love of laudable things, and not to reft only in the forbearance of fuch as are reproachful. How far removed from a woman of this light imagination is Eudofia! Eudofia has all the arts of life and good-breeding with fo much ease, that the virtue of her conduct looks more like an inftinct than choice. It is as little difficult to her to think juftly of perfons and things, as it is to a woman of different accomplishments to move ill or look aukward. That which was, at first, the effect of inftruction, is grown into an habit; and it N° 79. Thursday, May 31. Oderunt peccare boni virtutis amore. HOR. Ep. I. xvi. 51. CREECH. The good, for virtue's fake, abhor to fin. I HAVE received very many letters oflate, from my female correfpondents, moft of whom are very angry with me for abridging their pleasures, and looking feverely upon things in themselves indifferent. But I think they are extremely unjuft to me in this imputation; all that I contend for is, that those excellencies, which are to be regarded but in the fecond place, fhould not precede more weighty confiderations. The heart of man deceives him in fpite of the lectures of half a life fpent in difcourfes on the fubjection of paffion; and I do not know why one may not think the heart of woman as unfaithful to itself. If we grant an equality in the faculties of both sexes, the minds of women are lefs cultivated with precepts, and confequently may, without difrefpect to them, be accounted more liable to illufion in cafes wherein natural inclination is out of the intereft of virtue. I fhall take up my present time in commenting upon a billet or two which came from ladies, and from thence leave the reader to judge whether I am in the right or not, in thinking it is poffible fine women may be mistaken. The following addrefs feems to have no other defign in it, but to tell me the writer will do what she pleases for all me. Mr. SPECTATOR, 'I AM young, and very much inclined to follow the paths of innocence; but at the fame time, as I have a plentiful fortune, and am of quality, I am unwilling to refign the pleasures of diftinction, fome little fatisfaction in being admired in general, and much greater in being beloved by a gentleman, whom I defign to make my husband. But I have a mind to put off entering into matrimony till another winter is over my head, which, whatever, mufty fir, you may think of the matter, I defign to pafs away in hearing mufic, going to plays, vifiting, and all other fatisfactions which fortune and youth, protected by innocence and virtue, can procure for, • Sir, • Your most humble fervant, 'M. T.' My lover does not know I like him; therefore, having no engagements upon me, I think to stay and 'know whether I may not like any one elfe better.' I have heard WILL HONEYCOMB fay, A woman ⚫ feldom writes her mind but in her pottfcript.' I think this gentlewoman has fufficiently difcovered hers in this. I'll lay what wager fhe pleases against her prefent favourite, and can tell her that she will like ten more before she is fixed, and then will take the worst man she ever liked in her life. There is no end of affection taken in at the eyes only; and you may as well fatisfy thofe eyes with feeing, as control any paffion received by them only. It is from loving by fight that coxcombs fo frequently fucceed with women, and very often a young lady is bestowed by her parents to a man who weds her as innocence itself, though she has, in her own heart, given her approbation of a different man in every affembly fhe was in the whole year before. What is wanting among women, as well as among men, is the love of laudable things, and not to reft only in the forbearance of fuch as are reproachful. How far removed from a woman of this light imagination is Eudofia! Eudofia has all the arts of life and good-breeding with fo much ease, that the virtue of her conduct looks more like an instinct than choice. It is as little difficult to her to think juftly of perfons and things, as it is to a woman of different accomplishments to move ill or look aukward. That which was, at first, the effect of inftruction, is grown into an habit; and it N° 79. Thursday, May 31. Oderunt peccare boni virtutis amore. HOR. Ep. I. xvi. 51. The good, for virtue's fake, abhor to fin. CREECH. I HAVE received very many letters of late, from my female correfpondents, most of whom are very angry with me for abridging their pleasures, and looking feverely upon things in themselves indifferent. But I think they are extremely unjuft to me in this imputation; all that I contend for is, that those excellencies, which are to be regarded but in the fecond place, fhould not precede more weighty confiderations. The heart of man deceives him in fpite of the lectures of half a life spent in difcourfes on the fubjection of paffion; and I do not know why one may not think the heart of woman as unfaithful to itself. If we grant an equality in the faculties of both sexes, the minds of women are less cultivated with precepts, and confequently may, without difrefpect to them, be accounted more liable to illusion in cafes wherein natural inclination is out of the intereft of virtue. I fhall take up my present time in commenting upon a billet or two which came from ladies, and from thence leave the reader to judge whether I am in the right or not, in thinking it is poffible fine women may be mistaken. The following address seems to have no other defign in it, but to tell me the writer will do what she pleases for all me. Mr. SPECTATOR, 'I AM young, and very much inclined to follow the paths of innocence; but at the fame time, as I have a ⚫ plentiful fortune, and am of quality, I am unwilling to refign the pleafures of diftinétion, fome little fatisfaction in being admired in general, and much greater in being beloved by a gentleman, whom I defign to make my husband. But I have a mind to put off entering into matrimony till another winter is over my head, which, whatever, mufty fir, you may think of the matter, I defign to pafs away in hearing mufic, going to plays, vifiting, and all other fatisfactions which fortune and youth, protected by innocence and virtue, can procure for, • Sir, • Your most humble fervant, 'M. T.' My lover does not know I like him; therefore, having no engagements upon me, I think to ftay and 'know whether I may not like any one elfe better.' I have heard WILL HONEYCOMв fay, 'A woman ⚫feldom writes her mind but in her pottfcript.' I think this gentlewoman has fufficiently difcovered hers in this. I'll lay what wager fhe pleases against her prefent favourite, and can tell her that she will like ten more before the is fixed, and then will take the worst man she ever liked in her life. There is no end of affection taken in at the eyes only; and you may as well fatisfy thofe eyes with feeing, as control any paffion received by them only. It is from loving by fight that coxcombs fo frequently fucceed with women, and very often a young lady is beftowed by her parents to a man who weds her as innocence itself, though she has, in her own heart, given her approbation of a different man in every affembly fhe was in the whole year before. What is wanting among women, as well as among men, is the love of laudable things, and not to reft only in the forbearance of fuch as are reproachful. How far removed from a woman of this light imagination is Eudofia! Eudofia has all the arts of life and good-breeding with fo much ease, that the virtue of her conduct looks more like an instinct than choice. It is as little difficult to her to think juftly of perfons and things, as it is to a woman of different accomplishments to move ill or look aukward. That which was, at first, the effect of inftruction, is grown into an habit; and it |