I cannot well give you, who are so grave a Country Lady, the Idea of the Joy we have when we see a stubborn Heart breaking, or a Man of Sense turning Fool for our sakes; but this happened to our Friend, and I expect his Attendance whenever I go to Church, to Court, to the Play, or the Park.  This is a Sacrifice due to us Women of Genius, who have the Eloquence of Beauty, an easie Mein.  I mean by an easie Mein, one which can be on Occasion easily affected:  For I must tell you, dear Jenny, I hold one Maxim, which is an uncommon one, to wit, That our greatest Charms are owing to Affectation.  ’Tis to That that our Arms can lodge so quietly just over our Hips, and the Fan can play without any Force or Motion but just of the Wrist.  ’Tis to Affectation we owe the pensive Attention of Deidamia at a Tragedy, the scornful Approbation of Dulciamara at a Comedy, and the lowly Aspect of Lanquicelsa at a Sermon.

“To tell you the plain Truth, I know no Pleasure but in being admir’d, and have yet never failed of attaining the Approbation of the Man whose Regard I had a Mind to.  You see all the Men who make a Figure in the World (as wise a Look as they are pleased to put upon the Matter) are moved by the same Vanity as I am.  What is there in Ambition, but to make other People’s Wills depend upon yours?  This indeed is not to be aim’d at by one who has a Genius no higher than to think of being a very good Housewife in a Country Gentleman’s Family.  The Care of Poultrey and Piggs are great Enemies to the Countenance:  The vacant Look of a fine Lady is not to be preserved, if she admits any thing to take up her Thoughts but her own dear Person.  But I interrupt you too long from your Cares, and my self from my Conquests.”

    I am, Madam, Your most humble Servant.

  ’Give me leave, Mr. SPECTATOR, to add her Friend’s Answer to this
  Epistle, who is a very discreet ingenious Woman.’

    Dear Gatty,

“I take your Raillery in very good Part, and am obliged to you for the free Air with which you speak of your own Gayeties.  But this is but a barren superficial Pleasure; [indeed, [2]] Gatty, we are made for Man, and in serious Sadness I must tell you, whether you yourself know it or no, all these Gallantries tend to no other End but to be a Wife and Mother as fast as you can.”

    I am, Madam, Your most [humble [3]] Servant.

T.

[Footnote 1:  Spelt generally in the first issue awkard, in the first reprint aukward.]

[Footnote 2:  [for indeed,]]

[Footnote 3:  obedient]

* * * * *

No. 516.  Wednesday, October 22, 1712.  Steele.

  ’Immortale odium et nunquam sanabile vulnus. 
  Inde furor vulgo, quod Numina vicinorum
  Odit uterque locus, quum solos credit habendos
  Esse Deos quos ipse colat.’