ries it, and ferves only to pafs through fecret and gloomy Paths of his own; but in the Poffeffion of a Man of Business, it is as a Torch in the Hand of one who is willing and able to fhew thofe, who are bewildered,the Way which leads to their Profperity and Welfare. A generous Concern for Your Country, and a Paffion for every thing which is truly Great Great and Noble, are what actuate all Your Life and Actions; and I hope You will forgive me that I have an Ambition this Book. may be placed in the Library of fo good a Judge of what is valuable, in that Library where the Choice is fuch, that it will not be a Difparagement to be the meanest Author in it. Forgive me, my Lord, for taking this Occafion of tel ling ling all the World how ardently I Love and Honour You; and that I am with the utmost Gratitude for all Your Favours, My LORD, Your Lordship's moft Obliged, moft Humble Servant, THE SPECTATOR. VOL. II. N° 81. Saturday, June 2. 1711. Qualis ubi audito venantum murmure Tigris A Statius. BOUT the Middle of laft Winter I went to fee an Opera at the Theatre in the HayMarket, where I could not but take Notice of two Parties of very fine Women, that had placed themselves in the oppofite Side Boxes, and feemed drawn up in a Kind of Battle-Array one against another. After a fhort Survey of them, I found they were Patched differently; the Faces, on one Hand, being spotted on the right Side of the Forchead, and thofe upon the other on the Left; I quickly perceived that they caft hoftile Glances upon one another; and that their Patches were placed in thofe different Situations, as Party-Signals to diftinguish Friends from Foes. In the Middle-Boxes, between these two oppofite Bodies, were feveral Ladies who Patched indifferently on both Sides of their Faces, and feemed to fit there with no other Intention but to fee the Opera. Upon Enquiry I found, that the Body of Amazons on my right Hand were Whigs, and VOL. N. B thofe |