fore 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 afterwards fixed the imperial residence upon mount Khacan, which continues at this time to be the favourite palace of the Persian empire. N° 168. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 23, 1713. loca jam recitata revolvimus HOR. 2. Ep. i. 223. The same subject we repeat. SIK, 'I 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 won der 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 merchants 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. 66 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 woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. a "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.' FROM ANACREON. • Αγε ζωγράφων άρισε, &c. "BEST and happiest artisan With your many coloured art Paint the mistress of my heart; Describe the charms you hear from me That the fair space, which lies between The eye must be uncommon fire; As if the blushing rivals strove, I am, Sir, Your humble servant.' MR. IRONSIDE, 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 Is. 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 their 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. i. 89, 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 |