Beyond all this, we may find another Reason why God hath scattered up and down several Degrees of Pleasure and Pain, in all the things that environ and affect us, and blended them together, in almost all that our Thoughts and Senses have to do with; that we finding Imperfection, Dissatisfaction, and Want of compleat Happiness in all the Enjoyments which the Creatures can afford us, might be led to seek it in the Enjoyment of him, with whom there is Fulness of Joy, and at whose Right Hand are Pleasures for evermore.

L.

[Footnote 1:  Numbered by mistake, in the daily issue 388, No. 388 is then numbered 390; 389 is right, 390 is called 392, the next 391, which is right, another 392 follows, and thus the error is corrected.]

[Footnote 2:  Sir Isaac Newton.]

* * * * *

No. 388.  Monday, May 26, 1712.  Barr? [1]

  ’—­Tibi res antiquae Laudis et Artis
  Ingredior; sanctos ausus recludere Fontes.’

  Virg.

  Mr. SPECTATOR,

It is my Custom, when I read your Papers, to read over the Quotations in the Authors from whence you take them:  As you mentiond a Passage lately out of the second Chapter of Solomon’s Song, it occasion’d my looking into it; and upon reading it I thought the Ideas so exquisitely soft and tender, that I could not help making this Paraphrase of it; which, now it is done, I can as little forbear sending to you.  Some Marks of your Approbation, which I have already receiv’d, have given me so sensible a Taste of them, that I cannot forbear endeavouring after them as often as I can with any Appearance of Success.  I am, SIR, Your most [obedient [2]] humble Servant.

    The Second Chapter of Solomon’s Song.

  I. As when in Sharon’s Field the blushing Rose
        Does its chaste Bosom to the Morn disclose,
        Whilst all around the Zephyrs bear
        The fragrant Odours thro’ the Air: 
        Or as the Lilly in the shady Vale,
        Does o’er each Flower with beauteous Pride prevail,
        And stands with Dews and kindest Sun-shine blest,
        In fair Pre-eminence, superior to the rest: 
        So if my Love, with happy Influence, shed
        His Eyes bright Sun-shine on his Lover’s Head,
        Then shall the Rose of Sharon’s Field,
        And whitest Lillies to my Beauties yield. 
        Then fairest Flowers with studious Art combine,
        The Roses with the Lillies join,
        And their united [Charms are [3]] less than mine.

  II.  As much as fairest Lillies can surpass
        A Thorn in Beauty, or in Height the Grass;
        So does my Love among the Virgins shine,
        Adorn’d with Graces more than half Divine;
        Or as a Tree, that, glorious to behold,