inks he ought, and there is no modesty but in
self-denial.

P.S. Upon my coming home I received the following petition and letter:

"The humble petition of Sarah Lately:
"SHEWETH,

"That your petitioner has been one of those ladies who has had fine
things constantly spoken to her in general terms, and lived, during
her most blooming years, in daily expectation of declarations of
marriage, but never had one made to her.

"That she is now in her grand climacteric; which being above the
space of four virginities, accounting at 15 years each,

"Your petitioner most humbly prays, that in the lottery for the
Bass-viol[257] she may have four tickets, in consideration that her
single life has been occasioned by the inconstancy of her lovers,
and not through the cruelty or forwardness of your petitioner.

"And your Petitioner shall," &c.

"MR. BICKERSTAFF, "_May 3, 1710_.

"According to my fancy, you took a much better way to dispose of a
Bass-viol in yesterday's paper than you did in your table of
marriage.[258] I desire the benefit of a lottery for myself too----
The manner of it I leave to your own discretion: only if you
can----allow the tickets at above five farthings a piece. Pray
accept of one ticket for your trouble, and I wish you may be the
fortunate man that wins.

"Your very humble Servant till then,
"ISABELLA KIT."

I must own the request of the aged petitioner to be founded upon a very
undeserved distress; and since she might, had she had justice done her,
been mother of many pretenders to this prize, instead of being one
herself, I do readily grant her demand; but as for the proposal of Mrs.
Isabella Kit, I cannot project a lottery for her, until I have security
she will surrender herself to the winner.

[Footnote 256: Essay xii., "Of Boldness."]

[Footnote 257: See No. 166.]

[Footnote 258: See Nos. 157, 160.]

No. 169. [STEELE.

From _Saturday, May 6_, to _Tuesday, May 9, 1710_.

O rus! Quando ego te aspiciam? quandoque licebit
Nunc veterum libris, nunc somno, et inertibus horis,
Ducere sollicitae jucunda oblivia vitae?