Page images
PDF
EPUB

"

you are a gentleman; I would not willingly lose "you as a friend ;" and the like expressions, which the skilful interpret to their own advantage, as well 'knowing that a feeble denial is a modest assent.

I should have told you, that Isabella, during the 'whole progress of this amour, communicated it to 'her husband; and that an account of Escalus's love ' was their usual entertainment after half a day's 'absence: Isabella therefore, upon her lover's late 'more open assaults, with a smile told her husband • she could hold out no longer, but that his fate was now come to a crisis. After she had explained herself a little farther, with her husband's appro'bation she proceeded in the following manner. The 'next time that Escalus was alone with her, and re'peated his importunity, the crafty Isabella looked on her fan with an air of great attention, as con'sidering of what importance such a secret was to her; and upon the repetition of a warm expression, she looked at him with an eye of fondness, and told • him he was past that time of life, which could make her fear he would boast of a lady's favour; then ' turned away her head, with a very well-acted confusion, which favoured the escape of the aged Escalus. This adventure was matter of great 'pleasantry to Isabella and her spouse; and they had enjoyed it two days before Escalus could recollect ' himself enough to form the following letter.

" MADAM,

"WHAT happened the other day, gives me a "lively image of the inconsistency of human pas❝sions and inclinations. We pursue what we are ❝ denied, and place our affections on what is absent, "though we neglected it when present. As long as

you refused my love, your refusal did so strongly "excite my passion, that I had not once the leisure "to think of recalling my reason to aid me against ·

"the design upon your virtue. But when that virtue "began to comply in my favour, my reason made an "effort over my love, and let me see the baseness of (6 my behaviour in attempting a woman of honour. “I own to you, it was not without the most violent "struggle, that I gained this victory over myself; 66 nay, I will confess my shame, and acknowledge I "could not have prevailed but by flight. However, "Madam, I beg that you will believe a moment's "weakness has not destroyed the esteem I had for แ you, which was confirmed by so many years of "obstinate virtue. You have reason to rejoice that "this did not happen within the observation of one "of the young fellows, who would have exposed "your weakness, and gloried in his own brutish "inclinations.

"I am, MADAM,

"Your most devoted humble servant."

Isabella, with the help of her husband, returned 'the following answer.

66 SIR,

"I CANNOT but account myself a very happy "woman, in having a man for a lover that can write "so well, and give so good a turn to a disappoint❝ment. Another excellence you have above all other "pretenders I ever heard of, on occasions where the "most reasonable men lose all their reason, you have "your's most powerful. We have each of us to thank "our genius that the passion of one abated in pro"portion as that of the other grew violent. Does it "not yet come into your head, to imagine that I knew 66 my compliance was the greatest cruelty I could be "guilty of towards you? In return for your long and "faithful passion, I must let you know that you are "old enough to become a little more gravity: but

"if you will leave me and coquet it any where else, ❝ may your mistress yield!

T

"ISABELLA."

No. CCCXIX. THURSDAY, MARCH 6.

Quo teneam vultus mutantem Protea nodo?

What chain can hold this varying Proteus fast?

HOR.

CREECH.

I HAVE endeavoured in the course of my papers to do justice to the age, and have taken care as much as possible to keep myself a neuter between both sexes. I have neither spared the ladies out of complaisance, nor the men out of partiality; but notwithstanding the great integrity with which I have acted in this particular, I find myself taxed with an inclination to favour my own half of the species. Whether it be that the women afford a more fruitful field for speculation, or whether they run more in my head than the men, I cannot tell, but I shall set down the charge as it is laid against me in the following letter.

MR. SPECTATOR,

'I ALWAYS make one among a company of young females, who peruse your speculations every morning. I am at present commissioned by our 'whole assembly, to let you know, that we fear you are a little inclined to be partial towards your own We must however acknowledge, with all due gratitude, that in some cases you have given us ' our revenge on the men, and done us justice. We 'could not easily have forgiven you several strokes

'sex.

' in the dissection of the coquette's heart, if you had 'not much about the same time made a sacrifice to ' us of a beau's scull.

You may further, Sir, please to remember, that 'not long since you attacked our hoods and com'modes in such manner, as, to use your own ex'pression, made very many of us ashamed to shew 'our heads. We must, therefore, beg leave to re6 present to you, that we are in hopes, if you would 'please to make a due enquiry, the men in all ages 'would be found to have been little less whimsical ' in adorning that part, than ourselves. The different 'forms of their wigs, together with the various cocks of their hats, all flatter us in this opinion.

'I had an humble servant last summer, who the 'first time he declared himself, was in a full-bot'tomed wig; but the day after, to my no small surprise, he accosted me in a thin natural one. I • received him at this our second interview as a per'fect stranger, but was extremely confounded, when 'his speech discovered who he was. I resolved, therefore, to fix his face in my memory for the 'future; but as I was walking in the park the same evening, he appeared to me in one of those wigs • that I think you call a night-cap, which had altered ' him more effectually than before. He afterwards played a couple of black riding wigs upon me with the same success; and in short, assumed a new 'face, almost every day in the first month of his 'courtship.

·

'I observed afterwards, that the variety of cocks into which he moulded his hat, had not a little con'tributed to his impositions upon me.

Yet, as if all these ways were not sufficient to 'distinguish their heads, you must doubtless, Sir, have observed, that great numbers of young fellows have, for several months last past, taken upon 'them to wear feathers.

We hope, therefore, that these may, with as much justice, be called Indian princes, as you have styled a woman in a coloured hood an Indian queen ; and that you will, in due time, take these airy gen'tlemen into consideration.

[ocr errors]

'We the more earnestly beg that you would put a stop to this practice, since it has already lost us 6 one of the most agreeable members of our society, 'who after having refused several good estates, and 'two titles, was lured from us last week by a mixed 'feather.

I am ordered to present you the respects of our 'whole company, and am, SIR,

[ocr errors]

Your very humble servant

'DORINDA.'

Note. The person wearing the feather, though our friend took him for an officer in the guards, has ' proved to be an arrant linen-draper.'

I am not now at leisure to give my opinion upon the hat and feather; however, to wipe off the present imputation, and gratify my female correspondent, I shall here print a letter which I lately received from a man of mode, who seems to have a very extraordinary genius in his way.

6

SIR,

• I PRESUME I need not inform you, that among 6 men of dress it is a common phrase to say, Mr. 'Such-a-one "has struck a bold stroke;" by which 6 we understand, that he is the first man who has had courage enough to lead up a fashion. Accordingly, 'when our taylors take measure of us, they always 'demand "whether we will have a plain suit, or ' strike a bold stroke." I think I may without vanity say, that I have struck some of the boldest and most successful strokes of any man in Great-Britain. I

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]
« PreviousContinue »