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tend, in their wedding-cloaths. My brother is a plain, Forthy and honest man, and as it is natural for men of that turn to be mightily taken with sprightly and airy women, my sister has a vivacity which may perhaps give hopes to impertinents, but will be esteemed the effect of innocence among wise men. They design to sit with me in the box, which the house have been so complaisant to offer me, whenever I think fit to come thither in my public character.

I do not in the least doubt, but the true figure of conjugal affection will appear in their looks and gestures. My sister does not affect to be gorgeous in her dress, and thinks the happiness of a wife is more visible in a cheerful look than a gay apparel. It is a hard task to speak of persons so nearly related to one with decency; but I may say, all who shall be at the play will allow him to have the mien of a worthy English gentleman; her, that of a notable and deserving wife.

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Notitiam primosque gradus vicinia fecit ;

Tempore crevit amor; tædæ quoque forte coissent;
Sed vetuere patres, quod non potuere vetare.
Ex æquo captis ardebant mentibus ambo.

OVID.

From my own Apartment, June 14.

As soon as I was up this morning, my man gave me the following letter; which, since it leads to a subject that may prove of common use to the world, I shall take notice of with as much expedition as my fair petitioner could desire.

“ Mr. BickeRSTAFF,

"SINCE you have so often declared yourself a patron of the distressed, I must acquaint you, that "I am daughter to a country gentleman of good sense, and may expect 3 or 4000l. for my fortune. I love and am beloved by Philander, a young gentleman "who has an estate of 5001. per annum, and is our « near neighbour in the country every summer.........

My father, though he has been a long time acquaint❝ed with it, constantly refuses to comply with our "mutual inclinations: but what most of all torments "me is, that if ever I speak in commendation of my «lover, he is much louder in his praises than myself; "and professes, that it is out of pure love and esteem for Philander, as well as his daughter, that he can "never consent we should marry each other, when

as he terms it) we may both do so much better.... It must indeed be confessed, that two gentlemen of considerable fortunes, made their addresses to me last winter, and Philander (as I have since learned) "was offered a young heiress with 15,0001. but it "seems we could neither of us think, that accepting ❝ those matches would be doing better t than remain

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"ing constant to our first passion. Your thoughts upon the whole may perhaps have some weight "with my father, who is one of your admirers, "as is,

"Your humble servant,

"SYLVIA."

"P. S. You are desired to be speedy, since my father daily presses me to accept of what he calls an advantageous offer."

There is no calamity in life that falls heavier upon human nature than a disappointment in love, especially when it happens between two persons whose hearts are mutually engaged to each other. It is this distress which has given occasion to some of the finest tragedies that were ever written, and daily fills the world with melancholy, discontent, frenzy, sickness, despair, and death. I have often admired at the barbarity of parents, who so frequently interpose their authority in this grand article of life........ I would fain ask Sylvia's father, whether he thinks he can bestow a greater favour on his daughter, than to put her in a way to live happily? Whether a man of Philander's character, with 5001. per annum, is not more likely to contribute to that end, than many a young fellow whom he may have in his thoughts with so many thousands? Whether he can make amends to his daughter by any increase of riches, for the loss of that happiness she proposes to herself in her Philander? Or, whether a father should compound with his daughter to be miserable, though she were to get 20,0001. by the bargain? I suppose he would have her reflect, with esteem, on his memory after death and does he think this a proper method to make her do so, when, as often as she thinks on the loss of her Philander, she must, at the same time, reF f

VOL. III.

member him as the cruel cause of it? Any transient ill humour is soon forgotten; but the reflection of such a cruelty must continue to raise resentments as long as life itself; and by this one piece of barbarity, an indulgent father loses the merit of all his past kindnesses. It is not impossible but she may deceive herself in the happiness which she proposes from Philander; but as in such a case she can have no one to blame but herself, she will bear the disappointment with greater patience; but if she never makes the experiment, however happier she may be with another, she will still think she might have been happier with Philander. There is a kind of sympathy in souls that fits them for each other; and we may be assured, when we see two persons engaged in the warmth of a mutual affection, that there are certain qualities in sboth their minds which bear a resemblance to one another. A generous and constant passion in an agreeable lover, where there is not too great a disparity in other circumstances, is the greatest blessing that canbefal the person beloved; and if overlooked in one, may perhaps never be found in another. I shall conclude this with a celebrated instance of a father's indulgence in this particular, which, though carried to an extravagance, has something in it so tender and amiable, as may justly reproach the harshness of temper that is to be met with in many a British father.

Antiochus, a prince of great hopes, fell passionately in love with the young Queen Stratonice, who was his mother-in-law, and had bore a son to the old King Seleucus his father. The prince finding it impossible to extinguish his passion, fell sick, and refused all manner of nourishment, being determined to put an end to that life which was become insupportable.

Erasistratus, the physician, soon found that love was his distemper; and observing the alteration in his pulse and countenance, whenever Stratonice made him a visit, was soon satisfied that he was dying for his young mo

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ther-in-law. Knowing the old King's tenderness for his son, when he one morning enquired of his health, he told him, that the prince's distemper was love; but that it was incurable, because it was impossible for him to possess the person whom he loved. The King surprised at this account, desired to know how his son's passion could be incurable? Why, Sir, replied Erasistratus, because he is in love with the person I am married to.

The old King immediately conjured him by all his past favours to save the life of his son and successor. Sir, said Erasistratus, would your majesty but fancy yourself in my place, you would see the unreasonableness of what you desire? Heaven is my witness, said Seleucus, I could resign even my Stratonice to save ́my Antiochus. At this the tears ran down his cheeks, which, when the physician saw, taking him by the hand, Sir, says he, if these are your real sentiments, the prince's life is out of danger; it is Stratonice for whom he dies. Seleucus immediately gave orders for solemnizing the marriage; and the young Queen, to shew her obedience, very generously exchanged the father for the son.

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