open stood,
  That with extended Wings a banner’d Host
  Under spread Ensigns marching might pass through
  With Horse and Chariots rank’d in loose Array;
  So wide they stood, and like a Furnace Mouth
  Cast forth redounding Smoak and ruddy Flame.

In Satan’s Voyage through the Chaos there are several Imaginary Persons described, as residing in that immense Waste of Matter.  This may perhaps be conformable to the Taste of those Criticks who are pleased with nothing in a Poet which has not Life and Manners ascribed to it; but for my own Part, I am pleased most with those Passages in this Description which carry in them a greater Measure of Probability, and are such as might possibly have happened.  Of this kind is his first mounting in the Smoke that rises from the Infernal Pit, his falling into a Cloud of Nitre, and the like combustible Materials, that by their Explosion still hurried him forward in his Voyage; his springing upward like a Pyramid of Fire, with his laborious Passage through that Confusion of Elements which the Poet calls

  The Womb of Nature, and perhaps her Grave.

The Glimmering Light which shot into the Chaos from the utmost Verge of the Creation, with the distant discovery of the Earth that hung close by the Moon, are wonderfully Beautiful and Poetical.

L.

* * * * *

No. 310.  Monday, February 25, 1712.  Steele.

  Connubio Jungam stabili—­

  Virg.

  Mr. SPECTATOR,

I am a certain young Woman that love a certain young Man very heartily; and my Father and Mother were for it a great while, but now they say I can do better, but I think I cannot.  They bid me love him, and I cannot unlove him.  What must I do? speak quickly.

  Biddy Dow-bake.

  Dear SPEC,

  Feb. 19, 1712.

I have lov’d a Lady entirely for this Year and Half, tho for a great Part of the Time (which has contributed not a little to my Pain) I have been debarred the Liberty of conversing with her.  The Grounds of our Difference was this; that when we had enquired into each others Circumstances, we found that at our first setting out into the World, we should owe five hundred Pounds more than her Fortune would pay off.  My Estate is seven hundred Pounds a Year, besides the benefit of Tin-Mines.  Now, dear SPEC, upon this State of the Case, and the Lady’s positive Declaration that there is still no other Objection, I beg you’ll not fail to insert this, with your Opinion as soon as possible, whether this ought to be esteemed a just Cause or Impediment why we should not be join’d, and you will for ever oblige

  Yours sincerely,
  Dick Lovesick.

  P. S. Sir, if I marry this Lady by the Assistance of your Opinion, you
  may expect a Favour for it.