There was something particular in his Accent, but without any manner of Affectation.  This Particularity a Set of Gigglers thought the most necessary Thing to be taken notice of in his whole Discourse, and made it an Occasion of Mirth during the whole time of Sermon:  You should see one of them ready to burst behind a Fan, another pointing to a Companion in another Seat, and a fourth with an arch Composure, as if she would if possible stifle her Laughter.  There were many Gentlemen who looked at them stedfastly, but this they took for ogling and admiring them:  There was one of the merry ones in particular, that found out but just then that she had but five Fingers, for she fell a reckoning the pretty Pieces of Ivory over and over again, to find her self Employment and not laugh out.  Would it not be expedient, Mr. SPECTATOR, that the Church-warden should hold up his Wand on these Occasions, and keep the Decency of the Place as a Magistrate does the Peace in a Tumult elsewhere?

  Mr.  SPECTATOR,

I am a Woman’s Man, and read with a very fine Lady your Paper, wherein you fall upon us whom you envy:  What do you think I did? you must know she was dressing, I read the Spectator to her, and she laughed at the Places where she thought I was touched; I threw away your Moral, and taking up her Girdle cried out,

     Give me but what this Ribbon bound,
     Take all the rest the [Sun [2]] goes round. [3]

She smiled, Sir, and said you were a Pedant; so say of me what you please, read Seneca and quote him against me if you think fit. I am, SIR, Your humble Servant.

[Footnote 1:  is not]

[Footnote 2:  World]

[Footnote 3:  Waller, On a Girdle.]

* * * * *

No. 159.  Saturday, September 1, 1711.  Addison.

      ...  Omnem quae nunc obducta tuenti
      Mortales hebetat visus tibi, et humida circum
      Caligat, nubem eripiam ...

      Virg.

When I was at Grand Cairo, I picked up several Oriental Manuscripts, which I have still by me.  Among others I met with one entitled, The Visions of Mirzah, which I have read over with great Pleasure.  I intend to give it to the Publick when I have noother Entertainment for them; and shall begin with the first Vision, which I have translated Word for Word as follows.

’On the fifth Day of the Moon, which according to the Custom of my Forefathers I always keep holy, after having washed my self, and offered up my Morning Devotions, I ascended the high Hills of Bagdat, in order to pass the rest of the Day in Meditation and Prayer.  As I was here airing my self on the Tops of the Mountains, I fell into a profound Contemplation on the Vanity of human Life; and passing from one Thought to another, Surely,