had no other name for him when he spoke of him but "the Rascal," or to him but "Sirrah." One morning when he was dressing, Sirrah, said he, be sure you bring home this evening a pretty wench. The fellow was a person of diligence and capacity, and had for some time addressed himself to a decayed old gentlewoman who had a young maiden to her daughter, beau. teous as an angel, not yet sixteen years of age. The mother's extreme poverty and the insinuation of this artful lackey concerning the soft disposition and generosity of his master, made her consent to deliver up her daughter. But many were the entreaties and representations of the mother to gain her child's consent to an action, which she said she abhorred at the same time she exhorted her to it. But child, said she, can you see your mother die for hunger? The virgin argued no longer; but bursting into tears, said she would go any-where. The lackey conveyed her with great obsequiousness and secrecy to his master's lodging, and placed her in a commodious apartment till he came home. The knight, who knew his man never failed of bringing in his prey, indulged his genius at a banquet, and was in high humour at an entertainment with ladies, expecting to be received in the evening by one as agreeable as the best of them. When he came home his lackey met him with a saucy and joyful familiarity, crying out, She is as handsome as an angel (for there is no other simile on these occasions) but the tender fool has wept till her eyes are swelled and bloated; for she is a maid and a gentlewoman. With that he conducted his master to the room where she was, and retired. The knight, when he saw her bathed in tears, said, in some surprise, Do not you know, young woman, why you are brought hither? The unhappy maid fell on her knees, and with many interruptions of sighs and tears, said to him, I know, alas! too well why I am brought hither: my mother, to get bread

for her and myself, has sent me to do what you pleased; but would it please Heaven I could die, before I am added to the number of those miserable wretches who live without honour! With this reflection she wept anew, and beat her bosom. The knight stepping back from her, said, I am not so abandoned as to hurt your innocence against your will.

The novelty of the accident surprised him into virtue; and covering the young maid with a cloke, he led herto a relation's house, to whose care he recommended her for that night. The next morning he sent for her mother, and asked her if her daughter was a maid? The mother assured him, that when she delivered her to his servent, she was a stranger to man. Are not you then, replied the knight, a wicked woman to contrive the debauchery of your own child? She held down her face with fear and shame, and in her confusion uttered some broken words concerning her poverty. Far be it, said the gentleman, that you should relieve yourself from want by a much greater evil. Your daughter is a fine young creature; do you know of none that ever spoke of her for a wife? The mother answered, There is an honest man in our neighbourhood that loves her, who has often said he would marry her with two hundred pounds. The knight ordered his man to reckon out that sum, with an addition of fifty to buy the bride clothes, and fifty more as a help to her mother.'

I appeal to all the gallants in the town, whether possessing all the beauties in Great Britain could give half the pleasure as this young gentleman had in the reflection of having relieved a miserable parent from guilt and poverty, an innocent virgin from public shame, and bestowing a virtuous wife upon an honest man.

Though all men who are guilty this way have not fortunes or opportunities for making such atonements for their vices, yet all men may do what is certainly

in their power at this season. For my own part, I do not care how ridiculous the mention of it may be, provided I hear it has any good consequence upon the wretched, that I recommend the most abandoned and miserable of mankind to the charity of all in prosperous conditions under the same guilt with those wretches The Lock-hospital, in Kent-street, Southwark, for men; that in Kingsland for women, is a receptacle for all sufferers mangled by this iniquity. Penitents should, in their own hearts, take upon them all the shame and sorrow they have escaped; and it would become them to make oblation for their crimes, by charity to those upon whom vice appears in that utmost misery and deformity, which they themselves are free from by their better fortune, rather than greater innocence. It would quicken our compassion in this case, if we considered there may be objects there who would now move horror and loathing, that we have once embraced with transport: and as we are men of honour (for I must not speak as we are Christians) let us not desert our friends for the loss of their noses.

No. XVIII. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1.

......Animæque capaces

Mortis

Souls, undismay'd by death.

LUCAN.

THE prospect of death is so gloomy and dismal, that if it were constantly before our eyes, it would embitter all the sweets of life. The gracious Author of our being hath therefore so formed us, that we are capable of many pleasing sensations and reflections, and meet with so many amusements and solicitudes, as divert our thoughts from dwelling upon an evil which, by reason of its seeming distance, makes but languid impressions upon the mind. But how distant soever the time of our death may be, since it is certain that we must die, it is necessary to allot some portion of our life to consider the end of it; and it is highly convenient to fix some stated times to meditate upon the final period of our existence here. The principle of self-love, as we are men, will make us enquire, what is like to become of us after our dissolution? And our conscience, as we are Christians, will inform us, that according to the good or evil of our actions here, we shall be translated to the mansions of eternal bliss or misery. When this is seriously weighed, we must think it madness to be unprepared against the black moment; but when we reflect, that perhaps that black moment may be tonight, how watchful ought we to be!

I was wonderfully affected with a discourse I had lately with a clergyman of my acquaintance upon this head, which was to this effect: The consideration,' said the good man, 'that my being is precarious, moved me many years ago to make a resolution, which I have diligently kept, and to which I owe the greatest sa

tisfaction that a mortal man can enjoy. Every night before I address myself in private to my Creator, I lay my hand upon my heart, and ask myself, Whether if God should require my soul of me this night, I could hope for mercy from him? The bitter agonies I underwent in this my first acquaintance with myself were so far from throwing me into despair of that mercy which is over all God's works, that they rather proved motives to greater circumspection in my future conduct. The oftener I exercised myself in meditations of this kind, the less was my anxiety; and by making the thoughts of death familiar, what was at first so terrible and shocking, is become the sweetest of my enjoyments. These contemplations have indeed made me serious, but not sullen; nay, they are so far from having soured my temper, that as I have a mind perfectly composed, and a secret spring of joy in my heart, so my conversation is pleasant, and my countenance serene. I taste all the innocent satisfactions of life pure and sincere; I have no share in pleasures that leave a sting behind them, nor am I cheated with that kind of mirth," in the midst of which there is heaviness."

Of all the professions of men, a soldier's chiefly should put him upon this religious vigilance. His duty exposes him to such hazards, that the evil which to men in other stations may seem far distant, to him is instant and ever before his eyes. The consideration, that what men in a martial life purchase is gained with danger and labour, and must perhaps be parted with very speedily, is the cause of much licence and riot. As moreover it is necessary to keep up the spirits of those who are to encounter the most terrible dangers, offences of this nature meet with great indulgence. But there is a courage better founded than this animal fury. The secret assurance that all is right within; that if he falls in battle, he will the more speedily be crowned with true glory,