touches of distress in it, that I fear it comes too much from the heart.

"MR. SPECTATOR,

His

"SOME years ago, it happened that I lived in the same house with a young gentleman of merit, with whose good qualities I was so much taken, as to make my endeavour to show as many as I was able in myself. Familiar converse improved general civilities into an unfeigned passion on both sides. He watched an opportunity to declare himself to me; and I, who could not expect a man of so great an estate as his, received his addresses in such terms as gave him no reason to believe I was displeased with them, though I did nothing to make him think me more easy than was decent. father was a very hard worldly man, and proud; so that there was no reason to believe he would easily be brought to think there was any thing in any woman's person, or character, that could balance the disadvantage of an unequal fortune. In the mean time, the son continued his application to me, and omitted no occasion of demonstrating the most disinterested passion imaginable to me; and, in plain direct terms, offered to marry me privately, and keep it so till he should be so happy as to gain his father's approbation, or become possessed of his estate. I passionately loved him, and you will believe, I did not deny such a one what was my interest also to grant. However, I was not so young as not to take the precaution of carrying with me a faithful servant, who had been also my mother's maid, to be present at the ceremony. When that was over, I demanded a certificate, to be signed by the minister, my husband, and the servant I just now spoke of. After our nuptials, we conversed

not make out? I believe he means to bring me, through necessity, to resign my pretensions to him for some provision for my life: but I will die first. Pray bid him remember what he said, and how he was charmed when he laughed at the heedless discovery I often made of myself; let him remember how awkward I was in my dissembled indifference towards him before company: ask him, how I, who could never conceal my love for him, at his own request can part with him for ever? Oh, Mr. SPECTATOR, sensible spirits know no indifference in marriage what then do you think is my piercing affliction ?—————I leave you to represent my distress your own way, in which I desire you to be speedy, if you have compassion for innocence exposed to infamy.

T

"OCTAVIA."

No. 323. TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 1711-12.

-Modò vir, modò fœmina.

Sometimes a man, sometimes a woman,

VIRG

THE journal with which I presented my reader on Tuesday last has brought me in several letters, with accounts of many private lives cast into that form. I have the Rake's Journal,' the Sot's

* This motto, not to be found in Virgil, was probably quoted from memory, instead of the following lines:

-Et juvenis quondam, nunc fœmina.

VIRG, EN. vi. 448.

A man before, now to a woman changed.

Journal,' the Whoremaster's Journal,' and, among several others, a very curious piece, intitled The Journal of a Mohock.' By these instances, I find that the intention of my last Tuesday's paper has been mistaken by many of my readers. I did not design so much to expose vice as idleness, and aimed at those persons who passed away their time rather in trifle and impertinence, than in crimes and immoralities. Offences of this latter kind are not to be dallied with, or treated in so ludicrous a manner. In short, my journal only holds up folly to the light, and shows the disagreeableness of such actions as are indifferent in themselves, and blameable only as they proceed from creatures endowed with reason.

My following correspondent, who calls herself Clarinda, is such a journalist as I require. She seems by her letter to be placed in a modish state of indifference between vice and virtue, and to be susceptible of either, were there proper pains taken with her. Had her journal been filled with gallantries, or such occurrences as had shown her wholly divested of her natural innocence, notwithstanding it might have been more pleasing to the generality of readers, I should not have published it: but as it is only the picture of a life filled with a fashionable kind of gaiety and laziness, I shall set down five days of it, as I have received it from the hand of my fair correspondent.

66 DEAR MR. SPECTATOR,

"You having set your readers an exercise in one of your last week's papers, I have performed mine according to your orders, and herewith send it you enclosed. You must know, Mr. SPECTATOR, that I am a maiden lady of a good fortune, who have had several matches offered me for these ten years

last past, and have at present warm applications made to me by A Very Pretty Fellow.' As I am at my own disposal, I come up to town every winter, and pass my time in it after the manner you will find in the following journal, which I began to write upon the very day after your SPECTATOR upon that subject.'

TUESDAY night. Could not go to sleep till one in the morning for thinking of my journal.

WEDNESDAY. From eight till ten. Drank two dishes of chocolate in bed, and fell asleep after them.

From ten to eleven. Eat a slice of bread and butter, drank a dish of bohea: read the SPEC

TATOR.

From eleven to one. At my toilet; tried a new head. Gave orders for Veny to be combed and washed. Mem. I look best in blue.

From one till half an hour after two. Drove to the 'Change. Cheapened a couple of fans.

Till four. At dinner. Mem. Mr. Froth passed by in his new liveries.

From four to six.

Dressed; paid a visit to old lady Blithe and her sister, having before heard they were gone out of town that day.

From six to eleven. At basset. Mem. Never set again upon the ace of diamonds.

THURSDAY. From eleven at night to eight in the morning. Dreamed that I punted* to Mr.

Froth.

From eight to ten. Chocolate. Read two acts in

Aurengzebe a-bed.

From ten to eleven. Tea-table.

Sent to borrow

lady Faddle's Cupid for Veny. Read the play-bills.

* A term in the game of basset.

Received a letter from Mr. Froth. Mem. Locked it up in my strong box.

Rest of the morning. Fontange, the tire-woman, her account of my lady Blithe's wash. Broke a tooth in my little tortoise-shell comb. Sent Frank to know how my lady Hectic rested, after her monkey's leaping out at window. Looked pale. Fontange tells me my glass is not true. Dressed by

three.

From three to four. Dinner cold before I sat down.

From four to eleven. Saw company. Mr. Froth's opinion of Milton. His account of the Mohocks. His fancy for a pin-cushion. Picture in the lid of his snuff-box. Old lady Faddle promises me her woman to cut my hair. Lost five guineas at crimp. Twelve o'clock at night. Went to bed.

FRIDAY.-Eight in the morning. A-bed. Read over all Mr. Froth's letters. Cupid and Veny.

Ten o'clock. Stayed within all day, not at home. From ten to twelve. In conference with my mantua-maker. Sorted a suit of ribands. my blue china cup.

Broke

From twelve to one. Shut myself up in my chamber, practised lady Betty Modley's skuttle*. One in the afternoon. Called for my flowered handkerchief. Worked half a violet leaf in it. Eyes ached, and head out of order. Threw by my work, and read over the remaining part of Aurengzebe. From three to four. Dined.

From four to twelve. Changed my mind, dressed, went abroad, and played at crimp till midnight. Found Mrs. Spitely at home. Conversation: Mrs. Brilliant's necklace false stones. Old lady Loveday going to be married to a young fellow that is not

* A pace of affected precipitation.