No 602. MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1714.

Facit hoc illos hyacinthos.

JUV. S2. vi. 110

This makes them hyacinths.

The following letter comes from a gentleman who, I find, is very diligent in making his observations, which I think too material not to be communi. cated to the public.

« Sir,

« In order to execute the office of the love casuist of Great Britain, with which I take myself to be invested by your paper of September 8, I shall make some farther observations upon the two sexes in general, beginning with that which always ought to have the upper hand. After having observed with much curiosity the accomplishments which are apt to captivate female hearts, I find that there is no person so irresistible as one who is a man of importance, provided it be in matters of no consequence. One who makes himself talked of, though it be for the particular cock of his hat, or for prating aloud in the boxes at a play, is in a fair

way of being a favourite. I have known a young fellow make his fortune by knocking down a constable; and may venture to say, though it may seem a paradox, that many a fair one has died by a duel in which both the combatants have survived.

• About three winters ago I took notice of a young lady at the theatre, who conceived a passion for a notorious rake that headed a party of catcalls; and am credibly informed that the emperor of the Mohocks married a rich widow within three weeks after having rendered himself formidable in the cities of London and Westminster. Scouring and breaking of windows have done frequent execution upon the sex. But there is no set of these male charmers who make their way more successfully than those who have gained themselves a name for intrigue, and have ruined the greatest number of reputations. There is a strange curiosity in the female world to be acquainted with the dear man who has been loved by others, and to know what it is that makes him so agreeable. His reputation does more than half his business. Every one, that is ambitious of being a woman of fashion, looks out for opportunities of being in his company; so that, to use the old proverb, " When his name is up he may lie a-bed.'

I was very sensible of the great advantage of being a man of importance upon these occasions on the day of the king's entry, when I was seated in a balcony behind a cluster of very pretty country la. dies, who had one of these showy gentlemen in the midst of them. The first trick I caught him at was bowing to several persons of quality whom he did not know; nay, he had the impudence to hem at a blue garter who had a finer equipage than ordi. nary; and seemed a little concerned at the impertinent huzzas of the mob, that hindered his friend from taking notice of him. There was, indeed, one who pulled off his hat to him ; and, upon the ladies asking who it was, he told them it was a foreign minister that he had been very merry with the night before, whereas in truth it was the city common hunt.

• He was never at a loss when he was asked any person's name, though he seldom knew any one under a peer. He found dukes and earls among the aldermen, very good-natured fellows among the privy-counsellors, with two or three agreeable old rakes among the bishops and judges.

• In short, I collected from his whole discouřse that he was acquainted with every body, and knew nobody. At the same time, I am mistaken if he did not that day make more advances in the affections of his mistress, who sat near him, than he could have done in half a year's courtship.

Ovid has finely touched this method of making love, which I shall here give my teader in Mr. Dryden's translations

Page the eleventh
« Thus love in theatres did first improve,
And theatres are still the scenes of love:
Nor shun the chariots, and the courser's race;
The Circus is no inconvenient place.
Nor need is there of talking on the hand,
Nor nods, nor signs, which lovers understand;
But boldly next the fair your seat provide,
Close as you can to hers, and side by side:
Pleas'd or unpleas’d, no matter, crowding sit;
For so the laws of public shows permit.
Then find occasion to begin discourse,
Inquire whose chariot this, and whose that horse;
To whatsoever side she is inclin'd,
Suit all your inclinations to her mind.
Like what she likes, from thence your court begin,
And wliom she favours wish that he may win.”

• Again, page the sixteenth.
« when will come the day by Heaven design'd,
When thou, the best and fairest of mankind,
Drawn by white horses, shalt in triumph ride,
With conquer'd slaves atteuding on thy side;

Slaves that no longer can be safe in flight ?
O glorious object! O surprising sight!

On such a day, if thon, and next to thee
Some beauty sits, the spectacle to see;
If she inquires the names of conquer'd kings,
Of mountains, rivers, and their hidden springs ;
Answer to all thou know'st; and, if need be,
Of things unknown seem to speak knowingly:
This is Euphrates, crown'd with reeds: and there
Flows the swift Tigris, with his sea-green hair.
Invent new names of things unknown before;
Call this Armenia, that the Caspian shore;
Call this a Mede, and that the Parthian youth;
Talk probably; no matter for the truth."

No 603. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 6, 1714.

Ducite ab urbe domum, mea carmina, ducite Daphnim.

VIRG. Ecl. viii. 6

-Restore, my charms,
My lingering Daphnis to my longing arms.

DRYDEN,

The following copy of verses comes from one of my correspondents, and has something in it so original that I do not much doubt but it will divert my readers *.

I.
My time, O ye Muses, was happily spent,
When Phæbe went with me wherever I went;
Ten thousand sweet pleasures I felt in my breast :
Sure never fond shepherd like Colin was blest!
But now she is gone, and has left me behind,
What a marvellous change on a sudden I find!
When things were as fine as could possibly be,
I thought 't was the spring; but, alas ! it was she.

II. • With such a companion, to tend a few sheep, To rise up and play, or to lie down and sleep, I was so good-humour’d, so cheerful and gay, My heart was as light as a feather all day. But now I so cross and so peevish am grown, So strangely uneasy as never was known. My fair-one gone, and my joys are all drown'd, And my heart-I am sure it weighs more than a pound.

III. « The fountain that wont to run swiftly along, And dance to soft murmurs the pebbles among; Thou know'st, little Cupid, if Phæbe was there, 'T was pleasure to look at, 't was music to hear: But now she is absent I walk by its side, And still as it murmurs do nothing but chide. Must you be so cheerful while I go in pain? Peace ihere with your bubbling, and hear me complaine

IV.

" When my lambkins around me would oftentimes play And when Phæbe and I were as joyful as they, How pleasant their sporting, how happy their time, When spring, love, and beauty, were all in their prime! But now in their frolics when by me they pass, I fling at their fleeces a handful of

grass : Be still, then, I cry; for it makes me quite mad, To see you so merry while I am so sad.

VOL. XV.

P