Plato in the Vision of Erus the Armenian, which I may possibly make the Subject of a future Speculation, records some beautiful Transmigrations; as that the Soul of Orpheus, who was musical, melancholy, and a Woman-hater, entered into a Swan; the Soul of Ajax, which was all Wrath and Fierceness, into a Lion; the Soul of Agamemnon, that was rapacious and imperial, into an Eagle; and the Soul of Thersites, who was a Mimick and a Buffoon, into a Monkey. [2]

Mr. Congreve, in a Prologue to one of his Comedies, [3] has touch’d upon this Doctrine with great Humour.

  Thus_ Aristotle’s Soul of old that was,
  May now be damn’d to animate an Ass;
  Or in this very House, for ought we know,
  Is doing painful Penance in some Beau.

I shall fill up this Paper with some Letters which my last Tuesdays Speculation has produced.  My following Correspondents will shew, what I there observed, that the Speculation of that Day affects only the lower Part of the Sex.

  From my House in the Strand, October 30, 1711.

  Mr.  SPECTATOR,

Upon reading your Tuesdays Paper, I find by several Symptoms in my Constitution that I am a Bee.  My Shop, or, if you please to call it so, my Cell, is in that great Hive of Females which goes by the Name of The New Exchange; where I am daily employed in gathering together a little Stock of Gain from the finest Flowers about the Town, I mean the Ladies and the Beaus.  I have a numerous Swarm of Children, to whom I give the best Education I am able:  But, Sir, it is my Misfortune to be married to a Drone, who lives upon what I get, without bringing any thing into the common Stock.  Now, Sir, as on the one hand I take care not to behave myself towards him like a Wasp, so likewise I would not have him look upon me as an Humble-Bee; for which Reason I do all I can to put him upon laying up Provisions for a bad Day, and frequently represent to him the fatal Effects [his [4]] Sloth and Negligence may bring upon us in our old Age.  I must beg that you will join with me in your good Advice upon this Occasion, and you will for ever oblige

  Your humble Servant,

  MELISSA.

  Picadilly, October 31, 1711.

  SIR,

I am joined in Wedlock for my Sins to one of those Fillies who are described in the old Poet with that hard Name you gave us the other Day.  She has a flowing Mane, and a Skin as soft as Silk:  But, Sir, she passes half her Life at her Glass, and almost ruins me in Ribbons.  For my own part, I am a plain handicraft Man, and in Danger of breaking by her Laziness and Expensiveness.  Pray, Master, tell me in your next Paper, whether I may not expect of her so much Drudgery as to take care of her Family, and curry her Hide in case of Refusal.

  Your loving Friend,