at his Feet.  By these Marks I knew him to be OLD-AGE.  You were seized with the utmost Horror and Amazement at his Approach.  You endeavoured to have fled, but the Phantome caught you in his Arms.  You may easily guess at the Change you suffered in this Embrace.  For my own Part, though I am still too full of the [frightful [2]] Idea, I will not shock you with a Description of it.  I was so startled at the Sight that my Sleep immediately left me, and I found my self awake, at leisure to consider of a Dream which seems too extraordinary to be without a Meaning.  I am, Madam, with the greatest Passion, Your most Obedient, most Humble Servant, &c.

X.

[Footnote 1:  [the same time]]

[Footnote 2:  [dreadful]]

* * * * *

No. 302.  Friday, February 15, 1712.  Steele.

  Lachrymaeque decorae,
  Gratior et pulchro veniens in corpore Virtus.

  Vir.  AEn. 5.

I read what I give for the Entertainment of this Day with a great deal of Pleasure, and publish it just as it came to my Hands.  I shall be very glad to find there are many guessed at for Emilia.

  Mr. SPECTATOR, [1]

If this Paper has the good Fortune to be honoured with a Place in your Writings, I shall be the more pleased, because the Character of Emilia is not an imaginary but a real one.  I have industriously obscured the whole by the Addition of one or two Circumstances of no Consequence, that the Person it is drawn from might still be concealed; and that the Writer of it might not be in the least suspected, and for [other [2]] Reasons, I chuse not to give it the Form of a Letter:  But if, besides the Faults of the Composition, there be any thing in it more proper for a Correspondent than the SPECTATOR himself to write, I submit it to your better Judgment, to receive any other Model you think fit.  I am, SIR, Your very humble Servant.

There is nothing which gives one so pleasing a Prospect of human Nature, as the Contemplation of Wisdom and Beauty:  The latter is the peculiar Portion of that Sex which is therefore called Fair; but the happy Concurrence of both these Excellencies in the same Person, is a Character too celestial to be frequently met with.  Beauty is an over-weaning self-sufficient thing, careless of providing it self any more substantial Ornaments; nay so little does it consult its own Interests, that it too often defeats it self by betraying that Innocence which renders it lovely and desirable.  As therefore Virtue makes a beautiful Woman appear more beautiful, so Beauty makes a virtuous Woman really more virtuous.  Whilst I am considering these two Perfections gloriously united in one Person, I cannot help representing to my Mind the Image of Emilia.

Who ever beheld the charming Emilia, without feeling in his Breast at once the Glow