I lent
  Out of my Side to thee, nearest my Heart,
  Substantial Life, to have thee by my side
  Henceforth an individual Solace dear. 
  Part of my Soul I seek thee, and thee claim
  My other half!—–­With that thy gentle hand
  Seized mine, I yielded, and from that time see
  How Beauty is excell’d by manly Grace,
  And Wisdom, which alone is truly fair. 
  So spake our general Mother,—­

X.

* * * * *

No. 326.  Friday, March 14, 1712.  Steele.

  Inclusam Danaen turris ahenea
  Robustaeque fores, et vigilum canum
  Tristes exubiae, munierant satis
  Nocturnis ab adulteris;
  Si non—­

  Hor.

  Mr. SPECTATOR,

Your Correspondents Letter relating to Fortune-Hunters, and your subsequent Discourse upon it, have given me Encouragement to send you a State of my Case, by which you will see, that the Matter complained of is a common Grievance both to City and Country.

I am a Country Gentleman of between five and six thousand a Year.  It is my Misfortune to have a very fine Park and an only Daughter; upon which account I have been so plagu’d with Deer-Stealers and Fops, that for these four Years past I have scarce enjoy’d a Moments Rest.  I look upon my self to be in a State of War, and am forc’d to keep as constant watch in my Seat, as a Governour would do that commanded a Town on the Frontier of an Enemy’s Country.  I have indeed pretty well secur’d my Park, having for this purpose provided my self of four Keepers, who are Left-handed, and handle a Quarter-Staff beyond any other Fellow in the Country.  And for the Guard of my House, besides a Band of Pensioner-Matrons and an old Maiden Relation, whom I keep on constant Duty, I have Blunderbusses always charged, and Fox-Gins planted in private Places about my Garden, of which I have given frequent Notice in the Neighbourhood; yet so it is, that in spite of all my Care, I shall every now and then have a saucy Rascal ride by reconnoitring (as I think you call it) under my Windows, as sprucely drest as if he were going to a Ball.  I am aware of this way of attacking a Mistress on Horseback, having heard that it is a common Practice in Spain; and have therefore taken care to remove my Daughter from the Road-side of the House, and to lodge her next the Garden.  But to cut short my Story; what can a Man do after all?  I durst not stand for Member of Parliament last Election, for fear of some ill Consequence from my being off of my Post.  What I would therefore desire of you, is, to promote a Project I have set on foot; and upon which I have writ to some of my Friends; and that is, that care may be taken to secure our Daughters by Law, as well as our Deer; and that some honest Gentleman of a publick Spirit, would move for Leave to bring in a Bill For the better preserving of the Female Game.  I am, SIR, Your humble Servant.

  Mile-End-Green, March 6, 1711-12.