go

The third widow that was brought to this worldly fhame, being mounted upon a vicious ram, had the misfortune to be thrown by him; upon which the hoped to be excufed from ing through the reft of the ceremony; but the fteward, being well verfed in the law, obferved very wifely upon this occafion, that the breaking of the rope does not hinder the • execution of the criminal.

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The fourth lady upon record was the widow Ogle, a famous coquette, who had kept half a score young fellows off and on for the fpace of two years; but having been more kind to her carter John, fhe was introduced with the huzzas of all her lovers about her.

Mrs. Sable appearing in her weeds, which were very new and fresh, and of the fame colour with her whimfical palfrey, made a very decent figure in the folemnity.

Another, who had been fummoned to make her appearance, was excufed by the fteward, as well knowing in his heart, that the good fquire himself had qualified her for the ram.

Mrs. Quick, having nothing to object against the indictment, pleaded her belly. But it was • remembered that the made the fame excufe the year before. Upon which the steward obferved, that the might fo contrive it, as • never to do the fervice of the manor.

The widow Fidget being cited into court, infifted that the had done no more fince the • death of her husband than what she used to do in his life-time; and withal defired Mr.

Steward to confider his own wife's cafe if he "fhould chance to die before her.

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• The next in order was a dowager of a very 'corpulent make, who would have been excufed as not finding any ram that was able to carry her; upon which the steward commuted her punishment, and ordered her to make ' her entry upon a black ox.

The widow Mafkwell, a woman who had long lived with a moft unblemished character, having turned off her old chambermaid in a pet, was by that revengeful creature brought in upon the black ram nine times the fame day. • Several widows of the neighbourhood, being brought upon their trial, fhewed that they did 'not hold of the manor and were discharged accordingly.

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A pretty young creature who closed the ceffion came ambling in, with fo bewitching an air, that the fteward was observed to cast a fheep's eye upon her, and married her within a • month after the death of his wife.

N. B. Mrs. Touchwood appeared, according to fummons, but had nothing laid to her charge; having lived irreproachable fince the ' decease of her husband, who left her a widow in the fixty-ninth year of her age.

'I am, SIR, &c.'

* Juft published, a book [formerly fo often mentioned in the SPECTATOR] entitled "The Ladies Library," written by a Lady. Published by Mr. STEELE. Confifting of general rules for conduct in all circumftances of the life of woman. Printed for J. Tonfon. SPECT. in folio, No 617. Monday, Nov. 8, 1714. See STEELE'S "Letters, &c." Vol. II. Let, CCCCXXXVII, &c. p. 423. & feq.

N° 624. Wednesday, November 27, 1714.

Audire, atque togam jubeo componere, quifquis

Ambitione mala, aut argenti pallet amore,

Quifquis luxuria

HOR. 2 Sat. iii. 77.

Sit ftill, and hear, thofe whom proud thoughts

do fwell,

• Those that look pale by loving coin too well: • Whom luxury corrupts.'

ΜΑ

CREECH.

All the

ANKIND is divided into two parts, the bufy and the idle. The bufy world may be divided into the virtuous and the vicious. The vicious again into the covetous, the ambitious, and the fenfual. The idle part of mankind are in a state inferior to any one of these. other are engaged in the purfuit of happiness, though often mifplaced, and are therefore more likely to be attentive to fuch means as fhall be proposed to them for that end. The idle, who are neither wife for this world nor the next, are emphatically called by doctor Tillotfon "fools "at large." They propofe to themselves no end, but run adrift with every wind. Advice therefore would be but thrown away upon them, fince they would fcarce take the pains to read it. I fhall not fatigue any of this worthlefs tribe with a long harangue; but will leave them with this fhort faying of Plato, that “labour "is preferable to idlenefs, and brightnefs to ruft."

The

The purfuits of the active part of mankind are either in the paths of religion and virtue; or, on the other hand, in the roads to wealth, honours, or pleasure. I fhall, therefore, compare the pursuits of avarice, ambition, and fenfual delight, with their oppofite virtues; and fhall confider which of thefe principles engages men in a course of the greatest labour, fuffering, and affiduity. Moft men, in their cool reafonings, are willing to allow that a course of virtue will in the end be rewarded the most amply; but reprefent the way to it as rugged and narrow. If therefore it can be made appear, that men ftruggle through as many troubles to be miferable, as they do to be happy, my readers may perhaps be perfuaded to be good when they find they fhall lofe nothing by it.

First, for avarice. The mifer is more induftrious than the faint: the pains of getting, the fears of lofing, and the inability of enjoying his wealth, have been the mark of fatire in all ages. Were his repentance upon his neglect of a good bargain, his forrow for being over-reached, his hope of improving a fum, and his fear of falling into want, directed to their proper objects, they would make fo different Chriftian graces many and virtues. He may apply to himself a great part of Saint Paul's catalogue of fufferings.

In

journeying often; in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils imong falfe brethren. In 'weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in faftings often.'-At how much less expenfe might he lay up to • himself

in

himself treasures in heaven?' Or, if I may this place be allowed to add the faying of a great philofopher, he may provide fuch poffeffions as fear neither arms, nor men, nor Jove him• felf.'

In the fecond place, if we look upon the toils of ambition in the fame light as we have confidered those of avarice, we fhall readily own that far lefs trouble is requifite to gain lafting glory than the power and reputation of a few years; or, in other words, we may with more ease deserve honour than obtain it. The ambitious man fhould remember Cardinal Wolfey's complaint, Had I ferved God with the fame application wherewith I ferved my king, he would not have forfaken me in my old age.' The cardinal here foftens his ambition by the fpecious pretence of ferving his king:' whereas his words, in the proper conftruction, imply, that, if instead of being acted* by ambition he had been acted by religion, he fhould now have felt the comforts of it, when the whole world turned its back upon him.

Thirdly, let us compare the pains of the fenfual with thofe of the virtuous, and fee which are heavier in the balance. It may feem ftrange, at the first view, that the men of pleafure fhould be advised to change their courfe, because they lead a painful life. Yet when we fee them fo active and vigilant in queft of delight; under fo many difquiets, and the sport of fuch various paffions; let them anfwer, as they can, if the pains they

* actuated.

undergo