I know several of my Friends and Well-wishers are
in great Pain for me, lest I should not be able to
keep up the Spirit of a Paper which I oblige myself
to furnish every Day: But to make them easy in
this Particular, I will promise them faithfully to
give it over as soon as I grow dull. This I know
will be Matter of great Raillery to the small Wits;
who will frequently put me in mind of my Promise, desire
me to keep my Word, assure me that it is high Time
to give over, with many other little Pleasantries
of the like Nature, which men of a little smart Genius
cannot forbear throwing out against their best Friends,
when they have such a Handle given them of being witty.
But let them remember, that I do hereby enter my Caveat
against this Piece of Raillery.
* * * *
*
No. 11. Tuesday, March 13, 1711.
Steele.
‘Dat veniam
corvis, vexat censura columbas.’
Juv.
Arietta is visited by all Persons of both Sexes, who
may have any Pretence to Wit and Gallantry. She
is in that time of Life which is neither affected
with the Follies of Youth or Infirmities of Age; and
her Conversation is so mixed with Gaiety and Prudence,
that she is agreeable both to the Young and the Old.
Her Behaviour is very frank, without being in the
least blameable; and as she is out of the Tract of
any amorous or ambitious Pursuits of her own, her Visitants
entertain her with Accounts of themselves very freely,
whether they concern their Passions or their Interests.
I made her a Visit this Afternoon, having been formerly
introduced to the Honour of her Acquaintance, by my
friend Will. Honeycomb, who has prevailed
upon her to admit me sometimes into her Assembly,
as a civil, inoffensive Man. I found her accompanied
with one Person only, a Common-Place Talker, who,
upon my Entrance, rose, and after a very slight Civility
sat down again; then turning to Arietta, pursued
his Discourse, which I found was upon the old Topick,
of Constancy in Love. He went on with great Facility
in repeating what he talks every Day of his Life;
and, with the Ornaments of insignificant Laughs and
Gestures, enforced his Arguments by Quotations out
of Plays and Songs, which allude to the Perjuries
of the Fair, and the general Levity of Women.
Methought he strove to shine more than ordinarily in
his Talkative Way, that he might insult my Silence,
and distinguish himself before a Woman of Arietta’s
Taste and Understanding. She had often an Inclination
to interrupt him, but could find no Opportunity, ’till
the Larum ceased of its self; which it did not ’till
he had repeated and murdered the celebrated Story
of the Ephesian Matron. [1]
Arietta seemed to regard this Piece of Raillery
as an Outrage done to her Sex; as indeed I have always
observed that Women, whether out of a nicer Regard
to their Honour, or what other Reason I cannot tell,
are more sensibly touched with those general Aspersions,
which are cast upon their Sex, than Men are by what
is said of theirs.
