pairing shepherds under silken willows, or drown them in a stream of mohair. The heroic writers may work up battles as successfully, and inflame them with gold or stain them with crimson. Even those who have only a turn to a song, or an epigram, may put many valuable stitches into a purse, and crowd a thousand graces into a pair of garters.

ingly, the chaste Penelope having, as she
thought, lost Ulysses at sea, she employed
her time in preparing a winding-sheet for
Laertes, the father of her husband. The
story of her web being very famous, and
yet not sufficiently known in its several cir-
cumstances, I shall give it to my reader, as
Homer makes one of her wooers relate it.

Sweet hope she gave to every youth apart,
With well-taught looks, and a deceitful heart:
A web she wove of many a slender twine,
My youths, she cried, my lord but newly dead,
Of curious texture, and perplext design;
Forbear a while to court my widow'd bed,
Till I have wove, as solemn vows require,
This web, a shroud for poor Ulysses' sire.
His limbs, when fate the hero's soul demands,

If I may, without breach of good manners, imagine that any pretty creature is void of genius, and would perform her part herein but very awkwardly, I must nevertheless insist upon her working, if it be only to keep her out of harm's way. Another argument for busying good women in works of fancy is, because it takes them off from scandal, the usual attendant of tea-tables, and all other inactive scenes of life. While they are forming their birds and beasts, their neighbours will be allowed to be the fathers of their own children; and whig and tory will be but seldom mentioned where the great dispute is, whether blue or red is the more proper colour. How much greater glory would Sophronia do the general, if she would choose rather to work the battle of Blenheim in tapestry, than signalize herself with so much vehe- No. 607.] Friday, October 15, 1714. mence against those who are Frenchmen in their hearts!

A third reason that I shall mention, is the profit that is brought to the family where these pretty arts are encouraged. It is manifest that this way of life not only keeps fair ladies from running out into expenses, but is at the same time an actual improvement. How memorable would that matron be, who shall have it subscribed upon her monument, That she wrought out the whole Bible in tapestry, and died in a good old age, after having covered three hundred yards of wall in the mansion-house!'

The premises being considered, I humbly submit the following proposals to all mothers in Great Britain:

1. That no young virgin whatsoever be allowed to receive the addresses of her first lover, but in a suit of her own embroidering. 2. That before every fresh humble servant, she be obliged to appear with a new stomacher at the least.

3. That no one be actually married until she hath the child-bed pillows, &c. ready stitched, as likewise the mantle for the boy quite finished.

These laws, if I mistake not, would effectually restore the decayed art of needlework, and make the virgins of Great Britain exceedingly nimble-fingered in their busi

ness.

Shall claim this labour of his daughter's hands:
Lest all the dames of Greece my name despise,
While the great king without a covering lies.
All day she sped the long laborious toil:
Thus she. Nor did my friends mistrust the guile:
But when the burning lamps supply'd the sun,
Each night unravell'd what the day begun.
The fourth her maidens told th' amazing tale.
Three live-long summers did the fraud prevail;
These eyes beheld, as close I took my stand,
The backward labours of her faithless hand:
Till watch'd at length, and press'd on every side,

Her task she ended, and commenc'd a bride.'

Dicite lo Pæan, et Io bis dicite Pran: Decidit in casses præda petita meos. Ovid Ars Amor. Lib. 1. 1. Now Io Pæan sing, now wreaths prepare, And with repeated Ios fill the air: The prey is fallen in my successful toils.-Anon. 'MR. SPECTATOR,--Having in your paper of Monday last published my report on the case of Mrs. Fanny Fickle, wherein I have taken notice, that love comes after marriage; I hope your readers are satisfied of this truth, that as love generally produces matrimony, so it often happens that matrimony produces love.

'It perhaps requires more virtue to make a good husband or wife than what go to the finishing any the most shining character whatsoever.

'Discretion_seems absolutely necessary; and accordingly we find that the best husbands have been most famous for their wisdom. Homer, who hath drawn a perfect pattern of a prudent man, to make it the more complete, hath celebrated him for the just returns of fidelity and truth to his Penelope; insomuch that he refused the caresses of a goddess for her sake; and, to use the expression of the best of Pagan authors, " Vetulam suam prætulit immortalitati," his old woman was dearer to him than immortality.

Virtue is the next necessary qualification for this domestic character, as it naturally produces constancy and mutual esteem. Thus Brutus and Porcia were more remarkable for virtue and affection than any others of the age in which they lived.

There is a memorable custom of the Grecian ladies, in this particular, preserved in Homer, which I hope will have a very good effect with my country-women. A widow, in ancient times, could not, without indecency, receive a second husband, until she had woven a shroud for her deceased "Good-nature is a third necessary inlord, or the next of kin to him. Accord-gredient in the marriage state, without VOL. II.

51

which it would inevitably sour upon a thou- | time, the said bailiff shall take with him sand occasions. When greatness of mind is twain of the freeholders of the lordship of joined with this amiable quality it attracts Whichenovre, and they three shall go to the admiration and esteem of all who be- the manor of Rudlow, belonging to Robert hold it. Thus Cæsar, not more remarkable Knightleye, and there shall summon the for his fortune and valour than for his hu- aforesaid Knightleye, or his bailiff, commanity, stole into the hearts of the Roman manding him to be ready at Whichenovre people, when, breaking through the cus- the day appointed, at prime of day, with tom, he pronounced an oration at the funeral his carriage, that is to say, a horse and a of his first and best-beloved wife. saddle, a sack and a pryke, for to convey "Good-nature is insufficient, unless it be the said bacon and corn a journey out of the steady and uniform, and accompanied with county of Stafford, at his costages. And an evenness of temper, which is above all then the said bailiff shall, with the said things to be preserved in this friendship freeholders, summon all the tenants of the contracted for life. A man must be easy said manor, to be ready at the day appointed within himself before he can be so to his at Whichenovre, for to do and perform the other self. Socrates and Marcus Aurelius services which they owe to the bacon. And are instances of men, who, by the strength at the day assigned, all such as owe services of philosophy, having entirely composed to the bacon shall be ready at the gate of their minds, and subdued their passions, the manor of Whichenovre, from the sunare celebrated for good husbands, notwith-rising to noon, attending and awaiting for standing the first was yoked with Xantippe, the coming of him who fetcheth the bacon. and the other with Faustina. If the wedded pair would but habituate themselves for the first year to bear with one another's faults, the difficulty would be pretty well conquered. This mutual sweetness of temper and complacency was finely recommended in the nuptial ceremonies among the heathens, who, when they sacrificed to Juno at that solemnity, always tore out the gall from the entrails of the victim, and cast it behind the altar.

'I shall conclude this letter with a passage out of Dr. Plot's Natural History of Staffordshire, not only as it will serve to fill up your present paper, but, if I find myself in the humour, may give rise to another; I having by me an old register belonging to the place here under-mentioned.

And when he is come, there shall be delivered to him and his fellows, chapelets, and to all those which shall be there to do their services due to the bacon. And they shall lead the said demandant with trumps and tabors, and other manner of minstrelsy, to the hall door, where he shall find the lord of Whichenovre, or his steward, ready to deliver the bacon in this manner:

"He shall inquire of him which demandeth the bacon, if he have brought twain of his neighbours with him: which must answer, they be here ready.' And then the steward shall cause these two neighbours to swear, if the said demandant be a wedded man, or have been a man wedded; and if since his marriage one year and a day be past; and if he be a freeman Sir Philip de Somervile held the manors or a villain.† And if his said neighbours of Whichenovre, Scirescot, Ridware, Ne- make oath that he hath for him all these therton, and Cowlee, all in the county of three points rehearsed, then shall the bacon Stafford, of the earls of Lancaster, by this be taken down and brought to the hall door, memorable service. The said Sir Philip and shall there be laid upon one half-quarshall find, maintain, and sustain, one bacon-ter of wheat, and upon one other of rye. flitch, hanging in his hall at Whichenovre, ready arrayed all times of the year but in Lent, to be given to every man or woman married, after the day and the year of their marriage be past, in form following. *

"Whensoever that any one such before named will come to inquire for the bacon, in their own person, they shall come to the bailiff, or to the porter of the lordship of Whichenovre, and shall say to them in the manner as ensueth:

And he that demandeth the bacon shall kneel upon his knee, and shall hold his right hand upon a book, which book shall be laid upon the bacon and the corn, and shall make oath in this manner:

Hear ye, Sir Philip de Somervile, lord of Whichenovre, mayntener and gyver of this baconne; that I A sithe I wedded B my wife, and sithe I had hyr in my kepying, and at my wylle, by a year and a day after our marriage, I would not have chaunged for none other; farer ne fowler; richer ne pourer; ne for none other descended of greater lynage; slepying ne waking, at noo tyme.-And if the seyd B were sole, and I sole, I would take her to be my wife before "After which relation, the bailiff or por-all the wymen of the world, of what conter shall assign a day to him, upon promise diciones soever they be, good or evylle; as by his faith to return, and with him to bring help me God and his seyntes, and this flesh twain of his neighbours. And in the mean and all fleshes.

Bailiff, or porter, I do you to know, that I am come for myself to demand one baconflyke hanging in the hall of the lord of Whichenovre, after the form thereunto belonging.'

There was a similar institution at Dunmow in Essex, for an account of which see Leland's Itinerary.

↑ Villain, in the language of the time, signified a servant or bondman.

-Forgiving with a smile The perjuries that easy maids beguile.-Dryden. 'MR. SPECTATOR,-According to my promise I herewith transmit to you a list of several persons, who from time to time demanded the flitch of bacon of Sir Philip de Somervile, and his descendants; as it is preserved in an ancient manuscript, under the title of "The Register of Whichenovre-ed; to which he returned a passionate pish! hall, and of the bacon-flitch there maintained."

"Alison, the wife of Stephen Freckle, "Without enumerating other particular brought her said husband along with her, persons, I shall content myself with observand set forth the good conditions and being that the sentence pronounced ́ågainst

one Gervase Poacher is, that "he might | pendence, I do not know, but he was so have had bacon to his eggs, if he had not kind as to leave my wearing of it to my own hitherto scolded his wife when they were discretion; and, not having any just title to overboiled." And the deposition against it from my degrees, I am content to be Dorothy Dolittle runs in these words, "that without the ornament. The privileges of she had so far usurped the dominion of the our nobility to keep a certain number of coal fire (the stirring whereof her husband chaplains are undisputed, though perhaps claimed to himself,) that by her good-will not one in ten of those reverend gentlemen she never would suffer the poker out of her have any relation to the noble families their hand." scarfs belong to; the right generally of creating all chaplains, except the domestic (where there is one,) being nothing more than the perquisite of a steward's place, who, if he happens to outlive any considerable number of his noble masters, shall probably, at one and the same time, have fifty chaplains, all in their proper accoutrements, of his own creation; though perhaps there hath been neither grace nor prayer said in the family since the introduction of the first coronet. I am, &c.'

'I find but two couples in this first century that were successful; the first was a sea-captain and his wife, who since the day of their marriage had not seen one another until the day of the claim. The second was an honest pair in the neighbourhood; the husband was a man of plain good sense, and a peaceable temper; the woman was dumb.'

No. 609.] Wednesday, October 20, 1714.
-Farrago libelli.-Juv. Sat. i. 86.

The miscellaneous subjects of my book.
'MR. SPECTATOR,-I have for some time
desired to appear in your paper, and have
therefore chosen a day to steal into the
Spectator, when I take it for granted you
will not have many spare minutes for specu-
lations of your own. As I was the other
day walking with an honest country gen-
tleman, he very often was expressing his
astonishment to see the town so mightily
crowded with doctors of divinity; upon
which I told him he was very much mis-
taken if he took all those gentlemen he saw
in scarfs to be persons of that dignity; for
that a young divine, after his first degree in
the university, usually comes hither only to
show himself; and, on that occasion, is apt
to think he is but half equipped with a
gown and cassock for his public appear-
ance, if he hath not the additional orna-
ment of a scarf of the first magnitude to
entitle him to the appellation of Doctor
from his landlady, and the boy at Child's.
Now, since I know that this piece of garni-
ture is looked upon as a mark of vanity or
affectation, as it is made use of among
some of the little spruce adventurers of the
town, I should be glad if you would give it
a place among those extravagances you
have justly exposed in several of your pa-
pers: being very well assured that the
main body of the clergy, both in the coun-
try and the universities, who are almost to
a man untainted with it, would be very
well pleased to see this venerable foppery
well exposed. When my patron did me
the honour to take me into his family (for I
must own myself of this order,) he was
pleased to say he took me as a friend and
companion; and whether he looked upon
the scarf like the lace and shoulder-knot of
a footman, as a badge of servitude and de-

'MR. SPECTATOR,-I wish you would write a philosophical paper about natural antipathies, with a word or two concerning the strength of imagination. I can give you a list upon the first notice, of a rational china cup, of an egg that walks upon two legs, and a quart-pot that sings like a nightingale. There is in my neighbourhood a very pretty prattling shoulder of veal, that squalls out at the sight of a knife. Then, as for natural antipathies, I know a general officer who was never conquered but by a smothered rabbit; and a wife that domineers over her husband by the help of a breast of mutton. A story that relates to myself on this subject may be thought not unentertaining, especially when I assure you that it is literally true. I had long made love to a lady, in the possession of whom I am now the happiest of mankind, whose hand I should have gained with much difficulty without the assistance of a cat. You must know then that my most dangerous rival had so strong an aversion to this species, that he infallibly swooned away at the sight of that harmless creature. My friend, Mrs. Lucy, her maid, having a greater respect for me and my purse than she had for my rival, always took care to pin the tail of a cat under the gown of her mistress, whenever she knew of his coming; which had such an effect, that every time he entered the room, he looked more like one of the figures in Mrs. Salmon's wax-work,+ than a desirable lover In short, he grew sick of her company; which the young lady taking notice of (who no more knew why than he did,) she sent me a challenge to meet her in Lincoln's-inn chapel, which I joyfully accepted; and have, amongst other pleasures, the satis faction of being praised by her for my stratagem. I am, &c. "From the Hoop.

TOM NIMBLE.'

† An exhibition then to be seen near St. Dunstan's was moved to the opposite side of the street.

* The 20th of October, 1714, was the day of the coro. church, Fleet-Street, but which, about fifteen years ago, nation of king George I.

If we suppose that there are spirits, or angels, who look into the ways of men, as it is highly probable there are, both from reason and revelation, how different are the notions which they entertain of us, from those which we are apt to form of one another! Were they to give us in their catalogue of such worthies as are now living, how different would it be from that which any of our own species would draw up!

'MR.SPECTATOR,-The virgins of Great | those who come out and draw upon themBritain are very much obliged to you for selves the eyes and admiration of mankind. putting them upon such tedious drudgeries Virgil would never have been heard of, had in needle-work as were fit only for the not his domestic misfortunes driven him Hilpas and the Nilpas that lived before the out of his obscurity, and brought him to flood. Here is a stir indeed, with your his- Rome. tories in embroidery, your groves with shades of silk and streams of mohair! I would have you to know, that I hope to kill a hundred lovers before the best housewife in England can stitch out a battle; and do not fear but to provide boys and girls much faster than your disciples can embroider them. I love birds and beasts as well as you, but am content to fancy them when they are really made. What do you think of gilt leather for furniture? There is your pretty hangings for your chamber!* and, what is more, our own country is the only place in Europe where work of that kind is tolerably done. Without minding your musty lessons, I am this minute going to St. Paul's church-yard to bespeak a screen and a set of hangings; and am resolved to encourage the manufacture of my country. Yours, CLEORA.'

No. 610.] Friday, October 22, 1714.

Sic, cum transierint mei Nullo cum strepitu dies, Plebeius moriar senex, Illi mors gravis incubat, Qui, notus nimis omnibus, Ignotus moritur sibi.-Seneca. Thus, when my fleeting days at last, Unheeded, silently are past, Calmly I shall resign my breath, In life unknown, forgot in death; While he, o'ertaken unprepar'd, Finds death an evil to be fear'd, Who dies, to others too much known, A stranger to himself alone. I'HAVE often wondered that the Jews should contrive such worthless greatness for the Deliverer whom they expected, as to dress him up in external pomp and pageantry, and represent him to their imaginations as making havoc among his creatures, and actuated with the poor ambition of a Cæsar or an Alexander. How much more illustrious does he appear in his real character, when considered as the author of universal benevolence among men, as refining our passions, exalting our nature, giving us vast ideas of immortality, and teaching us a contempt of that little showy grandeur wherein the Jews made the glory of their Messiah to consist!

A

We are dazzled with the splendour of titles, the ostentation of learning, the noise of victories: they, on the contrary, see the philosopher in the cottage, who possesses his soul in patience and thankfulness, under the pressures of what little minds call poverty and distress. They do not look for great men at the head of armies, or among the pomps of a court, but often find them out in shades and solitudes, in the private walks and by-paths of life. The evening's walk of a wise man is more illustrious in their sight than the march of a general at the head of a hundred thousand men. contemplation of God's works; a voluntary act of justice to our own detriment: a generous concern for the good of mankind; tears that are shed in silence for the misery of others; a private desire or resentment broken and subdued; in short, an unfeigned exercise of humility, or any other virtue, are such actions as are glorious in their sight, and denominate men great and reputable. The most famous among us are often looked upon with pity, with contempt, or with indignation; whilst those who are most obscure among their own species are regarded with love, with approbation, and

esteem.

The moral of the present speculation amounts to this; that we should not be led away by the censures and applauses of men, but consider the figure that every person will make at that time, when 'Wisdom shall be justified of her children,' and nothing pass for great or illustrious, which is not an ornament and perfection to human

nature.

The story of Gyges, the rich Lydian monarch, is a memorable instance to our Nothing,' says Longinus, can be great, by Gyges, who was the happiest man, represent purpose. The oracle being asked the contempt of which is great.' The pos-plied, Aglaus. Gyges, who expected to session of wealth and riches cannot give a man a title to greatness, because it is looked have heard himself named on this occasion, upon as a greatness of mind to contemn was much surprised, and very curious to these gifts of fortune, and to be above the desire of them. I have therefore been inclined to think that there are greater men who lie concealed among the species, than

There was about this time a celebrated manufac tory of tapestry at Chelsea.

know who this Aglaus should be. After much inquiry, he was found to be an obscure countryman, who employed all his time in cultivating a garden, and a few acres of land about his house.

Cowley's agreeable relation of this story shall close this day's speculation.