N° 602. Monday, October 4.

T

Facit hoc illos Hyacinthos.

Juv.

HE following Letter comes from a Gentleman, who, I find, is very diligent in making his Obfervations, which I think too material not to be communicated to the Publick.

6

SIR,

IN order to execute the Office of Love-Cafuift to Great Britain, with which I take my felf to be invefted by your Paper of September 8, I fhall make fome further Obfervations upon the two Sexes in general, beginning with that which always ought to have the upper Hand. After having obferved with much Curiofity the Accomplishments which are apt to captivate female Hearts, I find that there is no Perfon fo irrefiftible as one who is a Man of Importance, provided it be in Matters of no Confequence. One who makes himself talked of, tho' 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 Conftable; and may venture to fay, tho' it may feem a Paradox, that many a Fair One has died by a Duel in which both the Combatants have furvived.

ABOUT three Winters ago I took notice of a young Lady at the Theatre, who conceived a Paflion 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 Westminßer. Scouring and breaking of Windows have done frequent Execution.

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upon the Sex; but there is no Set of thefe Male Charmers who make their way more fuccessfully, than thofe who have gained themselves a Name for Intrigue, and have ruined the greatest Number of Reputations.. There is a ftrange Curiofity 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 fo agreeable. His Reputation does more than half his Bufinefs. Every one that is ambitious of being a Woman of Fashion, looks out for Opportunities of being in his Company; fo that to ufe the old Proverb, When his Name is up he may lie a-bed.

'I was very fenfible of the great Advantage of being a Man of Importance upon thefe Occafions on the Day of the King's Entry, when I was feated in a Balcony behind a Clufter of very pretty Country Ladies, who had one of thefe fhowy Gentlemen in the midst of them. The firft Trick I caught him at was bowing to feveral Perfons of Quality whom he did not know; nay, he had the Impudence to hem at a Blue Garter who had a finer Equipage than ordinary, and feemed a little concerned at the Impertinent Huzzas of the Mob, that hindered his Friend from taking notice of him. There was indeed one who pull'd off his Hat to him, and upon the Ladies asking who it was, he told them, it was a Foreign • Minifter that he had been very merry with the Night before; whereas in Truth, it was the City Common• Hunt.

He was never at a Lofs when he was asked any • Perfon's Name, tho' he feldom 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 fhort, I collected from his whole Difcourfe, that he was acquainted with every Body, and knew no Body. At the fame Time, I am miftaken if he did not that Day make more Advances in the Affictions of his Miftrefs, who fat near him, than hẹ could have done in half a Year's Courtship.

OVID

'OVID has finely touched this Method of making Love, which I fhall here give my Reader in Mr. Dryden's Translation.

Page the Eleventh.

Thus Love in Theatres did firft improve,
And Theatres are fill the Scene of Love:
Nor hun the Chariots, and the Courfer'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,
Clofe as you can to hers, and Side by Side:
Pleas'd or unpleas'd, no Matter; crouding fit;
For fo the Laws of publick Shows permit.
Then find Occafion to begin Difcourfe,
Enquire whofe Chariot this, and whofe that Horfe 3
To whatfoever Side he is inclin'd,

Suit all your Inclinations to her Mind;

Like what he likes, from thence your Court begin,
And whom he favours, wish that he may win.

Again, Page the Sixteenth.

O when will come the Day, by Heav'n defign'd,
When thou, the best and faireft of Mankind,
Drawn by white Horfes, fhalt in Triumph ride,
With conquer'd Slaves attending on thy Side;
Slaves, that no longer can be fafe in flight,
O glorious Object! O furprising Sight!
O Day of publick Foy, too good to end in Night!
On fuch a Day, if thou, and next to thee
Some Beauty fits, the Spectacle to fee;
If he enquire the Names of conquer'd Kings,
Of Mountains, Rivers, and their hidden Springs;
Answer to all thou knoweft; and, if Need be,
Of things unknown feem to speak knowingly:"
This is Euphrates, crown'd with Reeds; and there
Flows the fwift Tigris, with his Sea-green Hair.

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Invent

Invent new Names of Things unknown before;
Call this Armenia, that, the Cafpian Shore:
Call this a Mede, and that a Parthian Youth;
Talk probably: no Matter for the Truth.

N° 603.

Wednesday, October 6.

Ducite ab Urbe Domum, mea Carmina, ducite Daphnim. Virg..

T

HE following Copy of Verfes comes from one of my Correlpondents, and has fomething in it fo Original, that I do not much doubt but it will divert my Readers.

1.

Y Time, O ye Mufes, was happily spent,

Mr

When Phebe went with me wherever I went
Ten thousand fweet Pleafures I felt in my Breaft:
Sure never fond Shepherd like Colin was bleft!
But now he is gone, and has left me behind,
What a marvellous Change on a fudden I find?
When things were as fine as could poffibly be,
I thought 'twas the Spring; but alas! it was the
II.

With fuch a Companion, to tend a few Sheep,
To rife up and play, or to lie down and fleep:
I was jo good-humour'd, fo chearful and gay,
My Heart was as light as a Feather all Day.
But now I fo cross and fo peevish am grown;
So ftrangely uneafy as ever was known.
My Fair one is gone, and my Joys are all drown'd,
And
my Heart-1 am fure it weighs more than a Pound.
III.

The Fountain that wont to run fweetly along, And dance to foft Murmurs the Pebbles among,

Than

Thou know', little Cupid, if Phebe was there,
'Twas Pleafure to look at, 'twas Mufick to hear:
But now he is abfent, I walk by its Side,
And fill as it murmurs do nothing but chide;
Muft you be fo chearful, while I go in Pain?
Peace there with your Bubbling, and hear me complain.
IV.

When my Lambkins around me would oftentimes play,
And when Phebe and I were as joyful as they,
How pleafant their Sporting, how happy the Time,
When Spring, Love and Beauty were all in their Prime?
But now in their Frolicks when by me they pass,
I fling at their Fleeces an handful of Grass;
Be ftill then, I cry, for it makes me quite mad,
To fee you fo merry, while I am so fad.

V.

My Dog I was ever well pleased to fee
Come wagging his Tail to my Fair one and me;
And Phebe was pleas'd too, and to my Dog faid,
Come hither, poor Fellow; and patted his Head.
But now, when he's fawning, I with a four Look
Crys Sirrah; and give him a Blow with my Crook:
And I'll give him another; for why should not Tray
Be as dull as his Master, when Phebe's away?

VI.

When walking with Phebe, what Sights have I feen? How fair was the Flower, how fresh was the Green? What a lovely Appearance the Trees and the Shade, The Corn-fields and Hedges, and ev'ry thing made? But now he has left me, tho' all are fill there, They none of 'em now fo delightful appear: 'Twas nought but the Magick, I find, of her Eyes,. Made fo many beautiful Profpects arife.

VII.

Sweet Mufick went with us both all the Wood thro The Lark, Linnet, Throftle, and Nightingale too;

Winds