This great Monarch, who is so famous in British Story, fell in Love, as he made his Progress through his Kingdom, with a certain Duke’s Daughter who lived near Winchester, and was the most celebrated Beauty of the Age.  His Importunities and the Violence of his Passion were so great, that the Mother of the young Lady promised him to bring her Daughter to his Bed the next Night, though in her Heart she abhorr’d so infamous an Office.  It was no sooner dark than she convey’d into his Room a young Maid of no disagreeable Figure, who was one of her Attendants, and did not want Address to improve the Opportunity for the Advancement of her Fortune.  She made so good use of her Time, that when she offered to rise a little before Day, the King could by no means think of parting with her.  So that finding herself under a Necessity of discovering who she was, she did it in so handsome a Manner, that his Majesty was exceeding gracious to her, and took her ever after under his Protection; insomuch that our Chronicles tell us he carried her along with him, made her his first Minister of State, and continued true to her alone, ’till his Marriage with the beautiful Elfrida.

[Footnote 1:  See Nos. 591, 602, 614, 623, 625.]

* * * * *

No. 606.  Wednesday, October 13, 1714.

  ’—­longum cantu solata laborem
  Arguto Conjux percurrit pectine Telas.’

  Virg.

  Mr. SPECTATOR,

’I have a couple of Nieces under my Direction, who so often run gadding abroad, that I don’t know where to have them.  Their Dress, their Tea, and their Visits take up all their Time, and they go to Bed as tired with doing nothing, as I am after quilting a whole Under-Petticoat.  The only time they are not idle, is while they read your SPECTATORS; which being dedicated to the Interests of Virtue, I desire you to recommend the long neglected Art of Needle-work.  Those Hours which in this Age are thrown away in Dress, Play, Visits, and the like, were employ’d, in my time, in writing out Receipts, or working Beds, Chairs, and Hangings for the Family.  For my Part, I have ply’d my Needle these fifty Years, and by my good Will would never have it out of my Hand.  It grieves my Heart to see a couple of proud idle Flirts sipping their Tea, for a whole Afternoon, in a Room hung round with the Industry of their Great Grandmother.  Pray, Sir, take the laudable Mystery of Embroidery into your serious Consideration, and as you have a great deal of the Virtue of the last Age in you, continue your Endeavours to reform the present.’

  I am, &c.

In Obedience to the Commands of my venerable Correspondent, I have duly weigh’d this important Subject, and promise my self, from the Arguments here laid down, that all the fine Ladies of England will be ready, as soon as their Mourning is over, [1] to appear covered with the Work of their own Hands.