der that it is not written in letters of gold in the great hail of every country gentleman.

"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

"The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

"She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

"She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

"She is like the merchants ships, she bringeth her food from afar.

"She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. "She considereth a field, and buyeth it; with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

"She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

"She perceiveth that her merchandise is good; her candle goeth not out by night.

"She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

"She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

"She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

"She maketh herself coverings of tapestry, her clothing is silk and purple.

"Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

"She maketh fine linen, and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

"Strength and honour are her clothing, and she shall rejoice in time to come.

"She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

"She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

"Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

"Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

"Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

a

"Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.

SIR,

Your humble servant."

'I VENTURED to your lion with the following lines, upon an assurance, that if you thought them not proper food for your beast, you would at least permit him to tear them.'

FROM ANACREON.

Αγε ζωγράφων άρισε, &c.

"BEST and happiest artisan
Best of painters if you can

With your many coloured art

Paint the mistress of my heart;

Describe the charms you hear from me
(Her charms you could not paint and see),
And make the absent nymph appear,
As if her lovely self was here.
First draw her easy-flowing hair
As soft and black as she is fair;
And, if your art can rise so high,
Let breathing odours round her fly:
Beneath the shade of flowing jet
The iv'ry forehead smoothly set.
With care the sable brows extend,
And in two arches nicely bend;
That the fair space, which lies between
The meeting shade may scarce be seen,

The eye must be uncommon fire;
Sparkle, languish, and desire :
The flames unseen must yet be felt;
Like Pallas kill, like Venus melt.
The rosy cheek must seem to glow
Amidst the white of new fall'n snow.
Let her lips persuasion wear,
In silence elegantly fair;

As if the blushing rivals strove,
Breathing and inviting love.
Below her chin be sure to deck
With every grace her polish'd neck;
While all that's pretty, soft and sweet
In the swelling bosom meet.
The rest in purple garments veil;
Her body, not her shape conceal:
Enough, the lovely work is done,
The breathing paint will speak anon.”

I am, Sir,

Your humble servant."

MR. IRONSIDE,

THE letter which I sent you some time ago, and was signed English Tory, has made, as you must have observed, a very great bustle in town. There are come out against me two pamphlets and two Examiners; but there are printed on my side a letter to the Guardian about Dunkirk, and a pamphlet about Dunkirk or Dover. I am no proper judge who has the better of the argument, the Examiner or myself: but I am sure my seconds are better than his. I have addressed a defence against the ill treatment I have received for my letter (which ought to have made every man in England my friend) to the bailiff of Stockbridge, because, as the world goes, I am to think myself very much obliged to that honest man, and esteem him my patron, who allowed that fifty was a greater

number than one and twenty, and returned me accordingly to serve for that borough.

There are very many scurrilous things said against me, but I have turned them to my advantage, by quoting them at large, and by that means swelling the volume to 1s. price. If I may be so free with myself, I might put you in mind upon this occasion of one of those animals which are famous for their love of mankind, that, when a bone is thrown at them, fall to eating it, instead of flying at the person who threw it. Please to read the account of the channel, by the map at Will's, and you will find what I represent concerning the importance of Dunkirk, as to its situation, very just.

I am, Sir,

very often your great admirer, RICHARD STEELE,'

N° 169. THURSDAY, SEPT. 24, 1713,

Cœlumque tueri

Jussit

OVID Met. i. 89,

And bade him lift to heaven his wond'ring eyes.

IN fair weather, when my heart is cheered, and I feel that exaltation of spirits which results from light and warmth, joined with a beautiful prospect of nature; I regard myself as one placed by the hand of God in the midst of an ample theatre, in

which the sun, moon, and stars, and fruits also, and vegetables of the earth, perpetually changing their positions, or their aspects, exhibit an elegant entertainment to the understanding, as well as to the eye.

Thunder and lightning, rain and hail, the painted bow, and the glaring comets, are decorations of this mighty theatre. And the sable hemisphere studded with spangles, the blue vault at noon, the glorious gilding and rich colours in the horizon, I look on as so many successive scenes.

When I consider things in this light, methinks it is a sort of impiety to have no attention to the course of nature, and the revolutions of the hea venly bodies. To be regardless of those phenomena that are placed within our view, on purpose to entertain our faculties, and display the wisdom and power of their Creator, is an affront to Providence of the same kind, (I hope it is not impious to make such a simile) as it would be to a good poet, to sit out his play without minding the plot or beauties of it.

And yet how few are there who attend to the drama of nature, its artificial structure, and those admirable machines, whereby the passions of a philosopher are gratefully agitated, and his soul affected with the sweet emotions of joy and surprise!

How many fox-hunters and rural squires are to be found in Great Britain, who are ignorant that they have all this while lived on a planet; that the sun is several thousand times bigger than the earth; and that there are other worlds within our view greater and more glorious than our own! Ay, but,' says some illiterate fellow, I enjoy the world, and leave others to contemplate it.