in every busb, naturally unbend the mind, and soften it to pleasure ; or that, as some have imagined, a woman is prompted by a kind of instinct to throw herself on a bed of flowers, and not to let those beautiful couches which nature has provided lie useless. However it be, the effects of this month on the lower part of the sex, who act without disguise, are very visible. It -is at this time that we see the young wenches in a country parish dancing round a May-pole, which one of our learned antiquaries supposes to be a relique of a certain pagan worship that I do not think fit to mention. It is likewise on the first day of this month that we see the ruddy milk-maid exerting herself in a most sprightly manner under a pyramid of silver tankards, and, like the virgin Tarpeia,* oppressed by the costly ornaments which her benefactors lay upon her. I need not mention the ceremony of the green gown, which is also peculiar to this gay season. The same periodical love-fit spreads through the whole sex, as Mr. Dryden well observes in his description of this merry month. " For the sweet month, the groves green Iiv'ries wear, Accordingly, among the works of the great masters in painting, who have drawn this genial season of the year, we often observe Cupids confused with Zephyrs flying up and down promiscuously in several parts of the picture. I cannot but add from my own experience, that about this time of the year love letters come up to me in great numbers, from all quarters of the nation. I received an epistle in particular by the last post from a Yorkshire gentleman, who makes heavy complaints of one Zelinda, whom it seems be has courted unsuccessfully theso three years past. He tells me that he designs to try her this May; and if he does not carry his point, he will never think of her more. Having thus fairly admonished the female sex, and laid before them the dangers they are exposed to in this critical month, I shall in the next place lay down some rules and directions for their better avoiding those calentures, which are so very frequent in this season. In the first place, I would advise them never to venture abroad in the fields, but in the company of a parent, a guardian, or some * T. Livii Hilt., Dec. 1, lib. i.cap. 11. other sober discreet person. I have before shewn how apt they are to trip in a flowery meadow, and shall further observe of them that Proserpine was out a Maying when she met with that fatal adventure to which Milton alludes when he mentions, " That fair 6eld Of Bnna, where Proserpine gath'ring flowers, Since I am got into quotations, I shall conclude this head with Virgil's advice to young people, while they are gathering wild strawberries and nosegays, that they should have a care of the snake in the grass. In the second place, I cannot but approve those prescriptions which our astrological physicians give in their almanacks for this month; such as are " a spare and simple diet, with the moderate use of phlebotomy." Under this head of abstinence, I shall also advise my fair readers to be in a particular manner careful how they meddle with romances, chocolate, novels, and the like inflamers, which I look upon as very dangerous to be made use of during this great carnival of nature. As I have often declared, that I have nothing more at heart than the honour of my dear countrywomen, I would beg them to consider, whenever their resolutions begin to fail them, that there are but one and thirty days of this soft season, and that if they can but weather out this one month, the rest of the year will be easy to them. As for that part of the fair sex who stay in town, I would advise them to be particularly cautious how they give themselves up to their most innocent entertainments. If they cannot forbear the playhouse, I would recommend tragedy to them rather than comedy; and should think the puppet-show much safer for them than the opera, all the while the sun is in Gemini. The reader will observe, that this paper is written for the use of those ladies who think it worth while to war against nature in the cause of honour. As for that abandoned crew who do not think virtue worth contending for, but give up their reputation at the first summons, such warnings and premonitions are thrown away upon them. A prostitute is the same easy creature in all months of the year, and makes no difference between May and December. Budoell* X. • See No. 395. No. 366. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1712. Pone me pigru ubi nulla campia Arbor nestiva recreatur aura; Dulce loquentem. Hob. 1, OD. xxn. 17. Set me where on some pathless plain The swarthy Africans complain, To see the chariot of the sun So near the scorching country run : The burning zone, the frozen isles, Shall hear me sing of Celia's smiles, These are such wild inconsistencies in the thoughts of a man in love, that I have often reflected there can be no reason for allowing him more liberty than others possessed with phrenzy, but that his distemper has no malevolence in it to any mortal. That devotion to his mistress kindles in bis mind a general tenderness, which exerts itself towards every object as well as his fair one. When this passion is represented by writers, it is common with them to endeavour at certain quaintnesses and turns of imagination, which are apparently the work of a mind at ease; but the men of true taste can easily distinguish the exertion of a mind which overflows with tender sentiments, and the labour of one which is only describing distress. In performances of this kind, the most absurd of all things is to be witty; every sentiment must grow out of the occasion, and be suitable to the circumstances of the character. Where this rule is transgressed, the humble servant, in all the fine things he says, is but showing his mistress how well he can dress, instead of saying how well he loves. Lace and drapery is as much a man, as wit and turn is passion. " Mr. Spectator, " The following verses are a translation of a Lapland love-song, which I met with in Scheffer's history of that country. I was agreeably surprised to find a spirit of tenderness and poetry in a region which I never suspected for delicacy. In hotter climates, though altogether uncivilized, I had not wondered if I had found some sweet wild notes among the natives, where they live in groves of oranges, and hear the melody of birds about them. But a Lapland lyric breathing sentiments of love and poetry, not unworthy old Greece or Rome; a regular ode from a climate pinched with frost, and cursed with darkness so great a part of the year; where it is amazing that the poor natives should get food, or be tempted to propaate their species : this, I confess, seemed a greater miracle to me, than the famous stories of their drums, their winds, and enchant merits. " 1 am the bolder in commending this northern song, because I h«Te faithfully kept to the sentiments, without adding or diminishing; and pretend to no greater praise from my translation, than they wbo smooth and clean the furs of that country which have suffered by caJrriagc. The numbers in the original are as loose and unequal as those in which the British ladies sport their Pindarics; and perhaps the fairest of them might not think it a disagreeable present froni a lover. But I have ventured to bind it in stricter measures, as being more proper for our tongue, though perhaps wilder graces may better suit the genius of the Lapoman language- ' " It will be necessary to imagine, that the author of this song,* not having the liberty of Visiting his mistress at her father's house, •as in hopes of spying her at a distance ill the fields. " Thou rising sun, whost gladsome ray Oh! Were I Sure my near ib view, My Orta Moor, where art thou laid 1 Oh ! could I ride the clouds and skits My bliss too long my bride denies, What may for strength with steel compare 1 No longer then perplex thy breast; * The song is ascribed to Ambrose Philips. " April 10th. " Mr. Spectator, " I Am one of those despicable creatures called a chambermaid, and have lived with a mistress for some time, whom I love as my life, which has made my duty and pleasure inseparable. My greatest delight has been in being employed about her person; and indeed she is very seldom out of humour for a woman of her quality. But here lies my complaint. Sir. To bear with me is all the encouragement she is pleased to bestow upon me; for she gives her cast-off clothes from me to others; some she is pleased to bestow in the house to those that neither want nor wear them, and some to hangers-on, that frequent the house daily, who come dressed out in them. This, Sir, is a very mortifying sight to me, who am a little necessitous for clothes, and love to appear what I am; and causes an uneasiness, so that I cannot serve with that cheerfulness, as formerly: which my mistress takes notice of, and calls envy and ill temper at seeing others preferred before me. My mistress has a younger sister lives in the house with her, that is some thousands below her in estate, who is continually heaping her favours on her maid; so that she can appear every Sunday, for the first quarter, in a fresh suit of clothes of her mistress's giving, witli all other things suitable. All this I see without envying, but not without wishing my mistress would a little consider what a discouragement it is to me to have my perquisites divided between fawners and jobbers, which others enjoy entire to themselves. I have spoken to ray mistress, but to little purpose ; I have desired to be discharged (for indeed I fret myself to nothing), but that sbe answers with silence. I beg, Sir, your direction what to do, fori am fully resolved to follow your counsel; who am " Your admirer, and bumble servant, " Constantia Comb-brcsh. " I beg that you will put it in a better dres3, and let it come abroad, that my mistress who is an admirer of your speculations may see it." STEELE. T. No. 387. THURSDAY, MAY 1, 1712. Periturse poreite chartro. JUT. Sat. 1.18. In mercy spare us, when we do our best I Have often pleased myself with considering the two kinds of |