court, and entertained there as heir to the Persian empire. Though he was some years inconsolable for the death of his brother, Helim durst not trust him with the secret, which he knew would have fatal consequences, should it by any means come to the knowledge of the old king. Ibrahim was no sooner mounted to the throne, but Helim sought after a proper opportunity of making a discovery to him, which he knew would be very agreeable to so good-natured and generous a prince. It so happened, that before Helim found such an opportunity as he desired, the new king Ibrahim, having been separated from his company in a chase, and almost fainting with heat and thirst, saw himself at the foot of mount Khacan. He immediately ascended the hill, and coming to Helim's house, demanded some refreshments. Helim was very luckily there at that time; and after having set before the king the choicest of wines and fruits, finding him wonderfully pleased with so seasonable a treat, told him that the best part of his entertainment was to come. Upon which he opened to him the whole history of what had passed. The king was at once astonished and transported at so strange a relation, and seeing his brother enter the room with Balsora, in his hand, he leaped off from the sofa on which he sat, and cried out, "It is he! it is my Abdallah!" Having said this, he fell upon his neck and wept. The whole company for some time remained silent, and shedding tears of joy. The king at length, having kindly reproached Helim for depriving him so long of such a brother, embraced Balsora with the greatest tenderness, and told her that she should now be a queen indeed, for that he would immediately make his brother king of all the conquered nations on the other side the Tigris. He easily discovered in the eyes of our two lovers, that instead of being transported with the offer, they preferred their present retirement to empire. At their request, therefore, he changed his intentions, and made them a present of all the open country as far as they could see from the top of mount Khacan. Abdallah continuing to extend his former improvements, beautified this whole prospect with groves and fountains, gardens and seats of pleasure, until it became the most delicious spot of ground within the empire, and is therefore called the garden of Persia. This caliph, Ibrahim, after a long and happy reign,

died without children, and was succeeded by Abdallah, a son of Abdallah and Balsora. This was that King Abdallah who afterward fixed the imperial residence upon mount Khacan, which continues at this time to be the favourite palace of the Persian empire.

K

No 168. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 23, 1713. ·loca jam recitata revolvimus

"SIR,

“I

The same subjects we repeat.

HOR. 2. Ep. i. 223.

OBSERVE that many of your late papers have represented to us the characters of accomplished women; but among all of them I do not find a quotation which I expected to have seen in your works; I mean the character of the mistress of a family as it is drawn out at length in the Book of Proverbs. For my part, considering it only as a human composition, I do not think that there is any character in Theophrastus, which has so many beautiful particulars in it, and which is drawn with such elegance of thought and phrase. I wonder that it is not written in letters of gold in the great hall of every country gentleman. 'Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

'The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

'She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

She is like the merchant's ships, she bringeth her food from afar.

'She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

'She considereth a field, and buyeth it; with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

'She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

'She perceiveth that her merchandise is good; her candle goeth not out by night.

She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

'She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

She maketh herself coverings of tapestry, her clothing is silk and purple.

Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

'She maketh fine linen, and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

Strength and honour are her clothing, and she shall rejoice in time to come.

She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

'She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

'Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

'Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.'

"SIR,

"Your humble servant."

"I ventured to your lion with the following lines, upon an assurance, that if you thought them not proper food for your beast, you would at least permit him to tear them.

First draw her easy-flowing hair
As soft and black as she is fair;
And if your art can rise so high,
Let breathing odours round her fly:
Beneath the shade of flowing jet
The iv'ry forehead smoothly set.
With care the sable brows extend,
And in two arches nicely bend;
That the fair space which lies between
The meeting shade, may scarce be seen.
The eye must be uncommon fire;
Sparkle, languish, and desire:
The flames unseen must yet be felt;
Like Pallas kill, like Venus melt.
The rosy cheek must seem to glow
Amidst the white of new fall'n snow.
Let her lips persuasion wear,
In silence elegantly fair;

As if the blushing rivals strove,
Breathing and inviting love.

Below her chin be sure to deck
With every grace her polish'd neck;
While all that's pretty, soft, and sweet,

In the swelling bosom meet.
The rest in purple garments veil;
Her body, not her shape, conceal:
Enough, the lovely work is done,
The breathing paint will speak anon.

"MR. IRONSIDE,

"I am, Sir, your humble servant."

"The letter which I sent you some time ago, and was signed English Tory, has made, as you must have observed, a very great bustle in town. There are come out against me two pamphlets and two Examiners; but there are printed on my side a letter to the Guardian about Dunkirk, and a pamphlet about Dunkirk or Dover. I am no proper judge who has the better of the argument, the Examiner or myself; but I am sure my seconds are better than his. I have addressed a defence against the ill treatment I have received for my letter (which ought to have made every man in England my friend), to the bailiff of Stockbridge, because, as the world goes, I am to think myself very much obliged to that honest man, and esteem him my patron, who allowed that fifty was a greater number than one-and-twenty, and returned me accordingly to serve for that borough.

"There are very many scurrilous things said against me, but I have turned them to my advantage, by quoting them

at large, and by that means swelling the volume to ls. price. If I may be so free with myself, I might put you in mind upon this occasion of one of those animals which are famous for the love of mankind, that, when a bone is thrown at them, fall to eating it, instead of flying at the person who threw it. Please to read the account of the channel, by the map at Will's, and you will find what I represent concerning the importance of Dunkirk, as to its situation, very just. "I am, Sir, very often your great admirer,

"RICHARD STEELE."

N° 169. THURSDAY, SEPT. 24, 1713.

-Cœlumque tueri

Jussit

Ovid. Met. 1. 85.

And bade him lift to heaven his wond'ring eyes.

In fair weather, when my heart is cheered, and I feel that exaltation of spirits which results from light and warmth, joined with a beautiful prospect of nature, I regard myself as one placed by the hand of God in the midst of an ample theatre, in which the sun, moon, and stars, and fruits also, and vegetables of the earth, perpetually changing their positions, or their aspects, exhibit an elegant entertainment to the understanding, as well as to the eye.

Thunder and lightning, rain and hail, the painted bow, and the glaring comets, are decorations of this mighty theatre. And the sable hemisphere studded with spangles, the blue vault at noon, the glorious gildings and rich colours in the horizon, I look on as so many successive scenes.

When I consider things in this light, methinks it is a sort of impiety to have no attention to the course of nature, and the revolutions of the heavenly bodies. To be regardless of those phenomena that are placed within our view, on purpose to entertain our faculties, and display the wisdom and power of their Creator, is an affront to Providence of the same kind (I hope it is not impious to make such a simile), as it would be to a good poet, to set out his play, without minding the plot or beauties of it.

And yet how few are there who attend to the drama of nature, its artificial structure, and those admirable machines, whereby the passions of a philosopher are gratefully