I am a Woman who left the Admiration of this whole Town, to throw myself ([for [3]] Love of Wealth) into the Arms of a Fool.  When I married him, I could have had any one of several Men of Sense who languished for me; but my Case is just.  I believed my superior Understanding would form him into a tractable Creature.  But, alas, my Spouse has Cunning and Suspicion, the inseparable Companions of little Minds; and every Attempt I make to divert, by putting on an agreeable Air, a sudden Chearfulness, or kind Behaviour, he looks upon as the first Act towards an Insurrection against his undeserved Dominion over me.  Let every one who is still to chuse, and hopes to govern a Fool, remember

  TRISTISSA.

  St. Martins, November 25.

  Mr. SPECTATOR,

This is to complain of an evil Practice which I think very well deserves a Redress, though you have not as yet taken any Notice of it:  If you mention it in your Paper, it may perhaps have a very good Effect.  What I mean is the Disturbance some People give to others at Church, by their Repetition of the Prayers after the Minister, and that not only in the Prayers, but also the Absolution and the Commandments fare no better, winch are in a particular Manner the Priests Office:  This I have known done in so audible a manner, that sometimes their Voices have been as loud as his.  As little as you would think it, this is frequently done by People seemingly devout.  This irreligious Inadvertency is a Thing extremely offensive:  But I do not recommend it as a Thing I give you Liberty to ridicule, but hope it may be amended by the bare Mention.

  SIR,
  Your very humble Servant,
  T.S.

T.

[Footnote 1:  Satisfactions]

[Footnote 2:  [For this Reason should they appear the least like what they were so much used to laugh at, they would become the Jest of themselves, and the Object of that Raillery they formerly bestowed on others.  To avoid &c.]

[Footnote 3:  [by], and in first reprint.]

* * * * *

No. 237.  Saturday, December 1, 1711.  Addison.

  Visu carentem magna pars veri latet.

  Senec. in OEdip.

It is very reasonable to believe, that Part of the Pleasure which happy Minds shall enjoy in a future State, will arise from an enlarged Contemplation of the Divine Wisdom in the Government of the World, and a Discovery of the secret and amazing Steps of Providence, from the Beginning to the End of Time.  Nothing seems to be an Entertainment more adapted to the Nature of Man, if we consider that Curiosity is one of the strongest and most lasting Appetites implanted in us, and that Admiration is one of our most pleasing Passions; and what a perpetual Succession of Enjoyments will be afforded to both these, in a Scene so large and various as shall then be laid open to our View in the Society of superior Spirits, who perhaps will join with us in so delightful a Prospect!