of what I was; which melancholy Consideration I cannot yet perfectly surmount, but hope your Sentiments on this Head will make it supportable.

’To shew you what a Value I have for your Dictates, these are to certify the Persons concern’d, that unless one of them returns to his Colours, (if I may so call them now) before the Winter is over, I’ll voluntarily confine my self to a Retirement, where I’ll punish them all with my Needle.  I’ll be reveng’d on them by deciphering them on a Carpet, humbly begging Admittance, my self scornfully refusing it:  If you disapprove of this, as favouring too much of Malice, be pleased to acquaint me with a Draught you like better, and it shall be faithfully performed’

  By the Unfortunate

  Monimia.

* * * * *

No. 614.  Monday, November 1, 1712.

  ’Si mihi non animo fixum, immotumque sederet,
  Ne cui me vinclo vellem sociare jugali,
  Postquam primus amor deceptam morte fefellit;
  Si non pertaesum thalami, tedaeque fuisset: 
  Huic uni forsan potui succumbere culpae.’

  Virg.

The following Account hath been transmitted to me by the Love Casuist.

  Mr.  SPECTATOR,

’Having, in some former Papers, taken Care of the two States of Virginity and Marriage, and being willing that all People should be served in their Turn; I this Day drew out my Drawer of Widows, where I met with several Cases, to each whereof I have returned satisfactory Answers by the Post.  The Cases are as follow: 

  ’Q. Whether Amoret be bound by a Promise of Marriage to
  Philander, made during her Husband’s Life?

’Q. Whether Sempronia, having faithfully given a Promise to two several Persons during the last Sickness of her Husband, is not thereby left at Liberty to chase which of them she pleases, or to reject them both for the sake of a new Lover?

’Cleora asks me, Whether she be obliged to continue single, according to a Vow made to her Husband at the time of his presenting her with a Diamond Necklace; she being informed by a very pretty young Fellow of a good Conscience, that such Vows are in their Nature sinful?

  ’Another enquires, Whether she hath not the Right of Widowhood, to
  dispose of her self to a Gentleman of great Merit, who presses very
  hard; her Husband being irrecoverably gone in a Consumption?

  ’An unreasonable Creature hath the Confidence to ask, Whether it be
  proper for her to marry a Man who is younger than her eldest Son?