Mr. SPECTATOR,

  ’The other Day, walking in Pancras Churchyard, I thought of your
  Paper wherein you mention Epitaphs, and am of opinion this has a
  Thought in it worth being communicated to your Readers.

    ’Here Innocence and Beauty lies, whose Breath
    Was snatch’d by early, not untimely Death. 
    Hence did she go, just as she did begin
    Sorrow to know, before she knew to sin. 
    Death, that does Sin and Sorrow thus prevent,
    Is the next Blessing to a Life well spent.’

  [I am, SIR, Your Servant.]

[Footnote 1:  [Publick. I am, Sir, your Servant.]]

* * * * *

No. 539.  Tuesday, November 18, 1712.  Budgell.

  ‘Heteroclyta sunto.—­Quae Genus.’

  Mr. SPECTATOR,

’I am a young Widow of a good Fortune and Family, and just come to Town; where I find I have Clusters of pretty Fellows come already to visit me, some dying with Hopes, others with Fears, tho’ they never saw me.  Now what I would beg of you, would be to know whether I may venture to use these pert Fellows with the same Freedom as I did my Country Acquaintance.  I desire your Leave to use them as to me shall seem meet, without Imputation of a Jilt; for since I make Declaration that not one of them shall have me, I think I ought to be allowed the Liberty of insulting those who have the Vanity to believe it is in their power to make me break that Resolution.  There are Schools for learning to use Foils, frequented by those who never design to fight; and this useless way of aiming at the Heart, without design to wound it on either side, is the Play with which I am resolved to divert my self:  The Man who pretends to win, I shall use like him who comes into a Fencing-School to pick a Quarrel.  I hope, upon this Foundation, you will give me the free use of the natural and artificial Force of my Eyes, Looks, and Gestures.  As for verbal Promises, I will make none, but shall have no mercy on the conceited Interpreters of Glances and Motions.  I am particularly skill’d in the downcast Eye, and the Recovery into a sudden full Aspect, and away again, as you may have seen sometimes practised by us Country Beauties beyond all that you have observed in Courts and Cities.  Add to this, Sir, that I have a ruddy heedless Look, which covers Artifice the best of any thing.  Tho’ I can dance very well, I affect a tottering untaught way of walking, by which I appear an easy Prey and never exert my instructed Charms till I find I have engaged a Pursuer.  Be pleased, Sir, to print this Letter; which will certainly begin the Chace of a rich Widow:  The many Foldings, Escapes, Returns and Doublings which I make, I shall from time to time communicate to you, for the better Instruction of all Females who set up, like me, for reducing the present exorbitant Power and Insolence of Man.’

  I am, SIR,