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,