how he was charmed when he laughed at the heedless discovery I often made of myself; let him remember how awkward I was in my dissembled indifference towards him before company; ask him how I, who could never conceal my love for him, at his own request can part with him for ever? Oh, Mr. Spectator, sensible spirits know no indifference in marriage; what then do you think is my piercing affliction- -I leave you to represent my distress your own way, in which I desire you to be speedy, if you have compassion for innocence exposed to infamy. T. OCTAVIA.'

No. 323.

THE

Tuesday, March 11, 1712

[ADDISON.

-Modo vir, modo femina.—VIRG.1

HE journal with which I presented my reader on Tuesday last has brought me in several letters with account of many private lives cast into that form. I have the 'Rake's Journal,' the Sot's Journal,' the Whoremaster's Journal,' and among several others a very curious piece entitled The Journal of a Mohock.' 2 By these instances I find that the intention of my last Tues

day's paper has been mistaken by many of my readers. I did not design so much to expose vice as idleness, and aimed at those persons who pass away their time rather in trifle and impertinence than in crimes and immoralities. Offences of this latter kind are not 1 This motto seems to have been written from memory. In the Eneid, vi. 448, Virgil wrote

Et juvenis quondam, nunc femina.'

2 See No. 324.

to be dallied with, or treated in so ludicrous a manner. In short, my journal only holds up folly to the light, and shows the disagreeableness of such actions as are indifferent in themselves, and blamable only as they proceed from creatures endowed with reason.

My following correspondent, who calls herself Clarinda, is such a journalist as I require: she seems by her letter to be placed in a modish state of indifference between vice and virtue, and to be susceptible of either were there proper pains taken with her. Had her journal been filled with gallantries, or such occurrences as had shown her wholly divested of her natural innocence, notwithstanding it might have been more pleasing to the generality of readers, I should not have published it; but as it is only the picture of a life filled with a fashionable kind of gaiety and laziness, I shall set down five days of it as I have received it from the hand of my fair correspondent :

'DEAR Mr. SPECTATOR,

'YOU having set your readers an exercise in one of your last week's papers, I have performed mine according to your orders, and herewith send it you enclosed. You must know, Mr. Spectator, that I am a maiden lady of a good fortune, who have had several matches offered me for these ten years last past, and have at present warm applications. made to me by a very pretty fellow.' As I am at my own disposal, I come up to town every winter, and pass my time in it after the manner you will find in the following journal, which I began to write

1 See No. 261.

upon the very day after your Spectator upon that subject:

TUESDAY night.-Could not go to sleep till one in the morning for thinking of my journal.

WEDNESDAY (from eight till ten).-Drank two dishes of chocolate in bed, and fell asleep after them.

From ten to eleven.-Ate a slice of bread and butter; drank a dish of bohea: read the Spectator. From eleven to one.-At my toilet; tried a new head; gave orders for Veny to be combed and washed. Mem.: I look best in blue.

From one till half-an-hour after two.-Drove to the 'Change. Cheapened a couple of fans.

Till four. At dinner. Mem.: Mr. Froth passed by in his new liveries.

From four to six.-Dressed; paid a visit to old Lady Blithe and her sister, having before heard they were gone out of town that day.

From six to eleven.-At basset. Mem.: Never set again upon the ace of diamonds.

THURSDAY (from eleven at night to eight in the morning).— Dreamed that I punted' to Mr. Froth. From eight to ten.-Chocolate. Read two acts in 'Aurengzebe' abed.

2

From ten to eleven.--Tea-table.

Sent to borrow Lady Faddle's Cupid for Veny. Read the playbills. Received a letter from Mr. Froth.

it

ii.),

up in my strong-box.

Mem.: Locked

Rest of the morning.-Fontange,3 the tirewoman,

1 A term in the game of basset. Cf. Pope (Satires of Donne,' When a duke to Jansen punts at White's.'

2 Dryden's tragedy.

3 Fontange' is the French for a 'commode' (see No. 98), or top-knot of ribbons.

her account of my Lady Blithe's wash.

Broke a

tooth in my little tortoise-shell comb. Sent Frank to know how my Lady Hectic rested after her monkey's leaping out at window. Looked pale. Fontange tells me my glass is not true. Dressed by three.

From three to four.-Dinner cold before I sat down.

From four to eleven.-Saw company. Mr. Froth's opinion of Milton. His account of the Mohocks. His fancy for a pin-cushion. Picture in the lid of his snuff-box. Old Lady Faddle promises me her woman to cut my hair. Lost five guineas at crimp.

Broke

Twelve o'clock at night.-Went to bed. FRIDAY, eight in the morning.-Abed. Read over all Mr. Froth's letters. Cupid and Veny. Ten o'clock.-Stayed within all day; not at home. From ten to twelve.-In conference with my mantua-maker. Sorted a suit of ribbons. my blue china cup. From twelve to one.-Shut myself up in my chamber, practised Lady Betty Modely's scuttle.2 One in the afternoon.-Called for my flowered handkerchief. Worked half a violet leaf in it. Eyes ached, and head out of order. Threw by my work, and read over the remaining part of Aurengzebe.'

1 See No. 324. In a beau's Journal of Four Days'—in imitation of this article-which is printed in Lillie's Letters sent to the Tatler and Spectator,' i. 347-350, we find: Went to bed, and waked in a sad fright, having dreamed the Mohocks had fashioned my nose like a lion, and cut with a penknife across the back of my whitest hand.'

2 A short and quick pace. Cf. No. 536:—

'She quitted the shop with an easy scuttle.'

From three to four.-Dined.

From four to twelve.-Changed my mind, dressed, went abroad, and played at crimp' until midnight. Found Mrs. Spitely at home. Conversation. Mrs. Brilliant's necklace false stones. Old Lady Loveday going to be married to a young fellow that is not worth a groat. Miss Prue gone into the country. Tom Townly has red hair. Mem.: Mrs. Spitely whispered in my ear that she had something to tell me about Mr. Froth. I am sure it is not true.

Between twelve and one.-Dreamed that Mr. Froth lay at my feet, and called me Indamora.2 SATURDAY.-Rose at eight o'clock in the morning. Sat down to my toilet.

From eight to nine.-Shifted a patch for half-anhour before I could determine it. Fixed it above my left eyebrow.

From nine to twelve.-Drank my tea, and dressed. From twelve to two.-At chapel. A great deal of good company. Mem.: The third air in the new opera. Lady Blithe dressed frightfully.

From three to four.-Dined. Miss Kitty called upon me to go to the opera before I was risen from the table.

From dinner to six.-Drank tea. Turned off a footman for being rude to Veny.

Six o'clock.-Went to the opera.

I did not see

Mr. Froth till the beginning of the second act. Mr. Froth talked to a gentleman in a black wig. Bowed to a lady in the front box. Mr. Froth and his friend clapped Nicolini in the third act. Mr. Froth cried out 'Ancora!' Mr. Froth led me to my chair. I think he squeezed my hand.

1 A game at cards.

2 The heroine in Aurengzebe.'

3 See Nos. 5, 405.