the Chamberlain had looked over his Parcel, I heard an old and a young Voice repeating the Questions and Responses of the Church- Catechism.  I thought it no Breach of good Manners to peep at a Crevice, and look in at People so well employed; but who should I see there but the most artful Procuress in the Town, examining a most beautiful Country-Girl, who had come up in the same Waggon with my Things, Whether she was well educated, could forbear playing the Wanton with Servants, and idle fellows, of which this Town, says she, is too full:  At the same time, Whether she knew enough of Breeding, as that if a Squire or a Gentleman, or one that was her Betters, should give her a civil Salute, she should curtsy and be humble, nevertheless. Her innocent forsooths, yess, and’t please yous, and she would do her Endeavour, moved the good old Lady to take her out of the Hands of a Country Bumpkin her Brother, and hire her for her own Maid.  I staid till I saw them all marched out to take Coach; the brother loaded with a great Cheese, he prevailed upon her to take for her Civilities to [his] Sister.  This poor Creatures Fate is not far off that of hers whom I spoke of above, and it is not to be doubted, but after she has been long enough a Prey to Lust she will be delivered over to Famine; the Ironical Commendation of the Industry and Charity of these antiquated Ladies[, these] [3] Directors of Sin, after they can no longer commit it, makes up the Beauty of the inimitable Dedication to the Plain-Dealer, [4] and is a Masterpiece of Raillery on this Vice.  But to understand all the Purleues of this Game the better, and to illustrate this Subject in future Discourses, I must venture my self, with my Friend WILL, into the Haunts of Beauty and Gallantry; from pampered Vice in the Habitations of the Wealthy, to distressed indigent Wickedness expelled the Harbours of the Brothel.

T.

[Footnote 1:  [under in]]

[Footnote 2:  fifty]

[Footnote 3:  [.  These]]

[Footnote 4:  Wycherley’s Plain-Dealer having given offence to many ladies, was inscribed in a satirical billet doux dedicatory To My Lady B .]

* * * * *

No. 267.  Saturday, January 5, 1712.  Addison.

Cedite Romani Scriptores, cedite Graii. [1]

Propert.

There is nothing in Nature [more irksome than] [2] general Discourses, especially when they turn chiefly upon Words.  For this Reason I shall wave the Discussion of that Point which was started some Years since, whether Milton’s Paradise Lost may be called an Heroick Poem?  Those who will not give it that Title, may call it (if they please) a Divine Poem.  It will be sufficient to its Perfection, if it has in it all the Beauties of the highest kind of Poetry; and as for those who [alledge [3]] it is not an Heroick Poem, they advance no more to the Diminution of it, than if they should say Adam is not AEneas, nor Eve Helen.