y beauteous Maids the Billows sweep,
As rode before tall Vessels on the Deep.'

Dryden's Virg.

'The common Opinion concerning the Nymphs, whom the Ancients called
_Hamadryads_, is more to the Honour of Trees than any thing yet
mentioned. It was thought the Fate of these Nymphs had so near a
Dependance on some Trees, more especially Oaks, that they lived and
died together. For this Reason they were extremely grateful to such
Persons who preserved those Trees with which their Being subsisted.
_Apollonius_ tells us a very remarkable Story to this Purpose, with
which I shall conclude my Letter.

'A certain Man, called _Rhoecus_, observing an old Oak ready to fall,
and being moved with a sort of Compassion towards the Tree, ordered
his Servants to pour in fresh Earth at the Roots of it, and set it
upright. The _Hamadryad_ or Nymph who must necessarily have perished
with the Tree, appeared to him the next Day, and after having returned
him her Thanks, told him, she was ready to grant whatever he should
ask. As she was extreamly Beautiful, _Rhoecus_ desired he might be
entertained as her Lover. The _Hamadryad_, not much displeased with
the Request, promis'd to give him a Meeting, but commanded him for
some Days to abstain from the Embraces of all other Women, adding that
she would send a Bee to him, to let him know when he was to be Happy.
_Rhoecus_ was, it seems, too much addicted to Gaming, and happened to
be in a Run of ill Luck when the faithful Bee came buzzing about him;
so that instead of minding his kind Invitation, he had like to have
killed him for his Pains. The _Hamadryad_ was so provoked at her own
Disappointment, and the ill Usage of her Messenger, that she deprived
_Rhoecus_ of the Use of his Limbs. However, says the Story, he was not
so much a Criple, but he made a shift to cut down the Tree, and
consequently to fell his Mistress.

* * * * *

No. 590. Monday, September 6, 1714. Addison.

'--Assiduo labuntur tempora motu
Non secus ac flumen. Neque enim consistere flumen,
Nec levis hora potest: sed ut unda, impellitur unda,
Urgeturque prior venienti, urgetque priorem,
Tempora sic fugiunt pariter, pariterque sequuntur;
Et nova sunt semper. Nam quod fuit ante, relictum est;
Fitque quod haud fuerat: momentaque cuncta novantur.'

Ov. Met.

_The fo