great dispute is, whether blue or red is the most 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 vehemence 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 expences, but is at the same time an actual improvement. How memorable would that matron be, who shall have it inscribed 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.

I. That no young virgin whatsoever be allowed to receive the addresses of her first lover, but in a suit of her own embroidering.

II. That before every fresh servant, she be obliged to appear in a new stomacher at least.

III. That no one be actually married, till 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 needle-work, and make the virgins of Great Britain exceedingly nimble-fingered in their business.

There is a memorable custom of the Grecian ladies in this particular, preserved in Homer, which I hope will have a very good effect upon my country-women. A widow, in ancient times, could not, without indecency, receive a second husband, till she had woven a shroud for her deceased lord, or the next of kin to him. Accordingly, the chaste Penelope, having, as she

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

Sweet hope she gave to ev'ry youth apart,
With well taught looks, and a deceitful heart:
A web she wove of many a slender twine,
Of curious texture, and perplex'd design;
My youths, she cry'd, my lord but newly dead,
Forbear awhile to court my widow'd bed.
"Till I have wov'n, as solemn vows require,
This web, a shroud for poor Ulysses' sire.
His limbs, when fate the hero's soul demands,
Shall claim this labour of his daughter's hands:
Lest all the dames of Greece my name despise,
While the great king without a cov'ring lies.

Thus she, nor did my friends mistrust the guile,
All day she sped the long laborious toil :
But when the burning lamps supply'd the sun,
Each night unravell'd what the day begun.
Three live-long summers did the fraud prevail;
The fourth her maidens told th' amazing tale.
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 ev'ry side,
Her task she ended, and commenc'd a bride.

No. DCVII. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15.

Dicite lö Pæan, & Iö bis dicite Pean:
Decidit in casses præda petita meos.

Now Iö Paan sing, now wreaths prepare,
And with repeated Iös fill the air:
The prey is fall'n in my successful toils.

Mr. Spectator,

OVID.

ANON.

'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 with this truth, that as love generally produces matrimony, so it often happens that matrimony produces love.

It perhaps requires more virtues 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 most 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 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 Portia were more remarkable for virtue and affections, than any others in the age in which they lived.

Good-nature is a third necessary ingredient in the marriage state, without which it would inevitably sour upon a thousand occasions. When greatness of mind is joined with this amiable quality, it attracts

the admiration and esteem of all who behold it. Thus Cæsar, not more remarkable for his fortune and valour than for his humanity, stole into the hearts of the Roman people, when, breaking through the custom, he pronounced an oration at the funeral of his first and best beloved wife.

Good-nature is insufficient, unless it be steady and uniform, and accompanied with an evenness of temper, which is above all things, to be preserved in this friendship contracted for life. A man must be easy within himself, before he can be so to his other self. Socrates, and Marcus Aurelius, are instances of men, who by the strength of philosophy, having entirely composed their mind, and subdued their passions, are celebrated for good husbands, notwithstanding the first was yoked with Xantippe, 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.

Sir Philip de Somerville held the manors of Whichenovre, Scirescot, Ridware, Netherton, and Cowley, all in com. Stafford, of the earls of Lancaster, by this memorable service. The said Sir Philip shall find, maintain, and sustain, one bacon-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 of the year of their marriage be past, in form following.

Whensoever that any such before-named will come to enquire 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.

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

After which relation, the bailiff or porter shall assign a day to him, upon promise by his faith to return, and with him to bring twain of his neighbours. And in the mean time the said bailiff shall take with him twain of the freeholders of the lordship of Whichenovre, and they three shall go to the manor of Rudlow, belonging to Robert Knightleye, and there shall summon the aforesaid Knightleye or his bailiff, commanding him to be ready at Whichenovre the day appointed, at prime of day, with his carriage, that is to say, a horse and a saddle, a sack and a prike, for to convey the said bacon and corn a journey out of the county of Stafford, at his costages. And then the said bailiff shall with the said freeholders, summon all the tenants of the said manor, to be ready at the day appointed, at Whichenovre, for to do and perform the services which they owe to the bacon. And at the day assigned, all such as owe services to the bacon, shall be ready at the gate of the manor of Whichenovre, from the sun-rising to noon, attending and awaiting for the coming of him who fetcheth the bacon. 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 tabours, and other manner of minstrelsy, to the hall-door, where he shall find the lord of Which