mour for telling a tale, and nothing in nature is fo ingrateful as story-telling against the grain, therefore take it as the Author has given it you. The MEDICINE. A Tale-for the Ladies. Mifs Molly, a fam'd Toaft, was fair and young, had won. Sir John was fmitten, and confefs'd his flame, Madam lov'd money, and the Knight lov'd wine. Tho' he and all the world allow'd her wit, Oft as the watchful bell-man march'd his round, My Lady with her tongue was ftill prepar'd, Here Here I fit moping all the live-long night, Hey! hoop! d'ye hear my damn'd obftrep'rous spouse, That rival to the foftnefs of a mill! Some couch and diftant room must be my choice, Long this uncomfortable life they led, A wond'rous fpring within my garden flows, Three spoonfuls take, hold in your mouth-then mum≈ One month this fympathetic med'cine try'd, grow a lover, you a happy bride. But, deareft niece, keep this grand fecret clofe, A water-bottle's brought for her relief; The bonny Knight reels home exceeding clear, Ent'ring Ent'ring, he cries,-Hey! where's our thunder. fled.!! Why, how, now, Molly, what's the crotchet now ? Nay, kifs me, Molly,-for. I'm much inclin'd: For many days thefe fond endearments paft, 'Twas us'd and gone,-Then midnight ftorms arose, Why, niece, fays he,-I pr'ythee apprehend, St. James's Coffee-houfe, April 13. Letters from Venice fay, the difappointment of their expectation to fee his Danish Majefty has very much dif quieted the Court of Rome. Our laft advices from Ger many inform us, that the Minifter of Hanover has urged the Council at Ratisbonne to exert themselves in behalf of the common caufe, and taken the liberty to fay, That the dignity,, the virtue, the prudence of his Électoral Highness, Highness, his Mafter, were called to the head of their affairs in vain, if they thought fit to leave him naked of the proper means, to make thofe excellencies useful for the honour and fafety of the empire. They write from Berlin of the thirteenth, O. S. That the true defign of General Fleming's vifit to that Court was, to infinuate that it will be for the mutual intereft of the King of Pruffia and King Auguftus to enter into a new alliance; but that the Minifters of Pruffia are not inclined to his fentiments. We hear from Vienna, that his Imperial Majefty has expreffed great fatisfaction in their High Mightineffes having communicated to him the whole that has passed in the affair of a peace. Though there have been prac tices ufed by the agents of France, in all the Courts of Europe, to break the good understanding of the Allies, they have had no other effect, but to make all the members concerned in the alliance, more doubtful of their fafety from the great offers of the enemy. The Emperor is roufed by this alarm, and the frontiers of all the French dominions are in danger of being infulted the enfuing campaign. Advices from all parts confirm, that it is impoffible for France to find a way to obtain fo much credit, as to gain any one potentate of the allies, or conceive any hope for fafety from other profpects. From my own Apartment, April 13. I find it of great ufe, now I am fetting up for a writer of News, that I am an adept in aftrological fpeculations; by which means I avoid fpeaking of things which may offend great perfons. But, at the fame time, I must not proffitute the liberal fciences fo far, as not to utter the truth in cafes which do immediately concern the good of my native country. I must therefore contradict what has been fo affuredly reported by the News-writers of England, That France is in the moft deplorable condition, and that their people die in great multitudes. I will therefore let the world know, that my correfpondent, by the way of Brufels, informs me upon his honour, That the Gentleman who writes the Gazette of Paris, and ought to know as well as any man, has told him, that ever fince the King has been paft his fixty-third year, or B. 6. grand grand climacteric, there has not died one man of the French nation, who was younger than his Majefty, except very few, who were taken fuddenly near the village of Hocfet in Germany; and fome more, who were ftraitened for lodging at a place called Ramelies, and died on the road to Ghent and Bruges. There are alfo other things given out by the Allies, which are fhifts below a conquering nation to make use of. Among others it is faid, There is a general murmuring among the people of France, though at the fame time all my letters agree, that there is fo good an understanding among them, that there is not one morfel carried out of any market in the kingdom, but what is delivered upon credit. N° 3. T Saturday, April 16, 1709. Will's Coffee-house, April 14. HIS evening the Comedy, called the Country Wife, was acted in Drury-Lane, for the benefit of Mrs. Bignell. The part which gives name to the Play was performed by herself. Through the whole action The made a very pretty figure, and exactly entered into the nature of the part. Her husband, in the Drama, is represented to be one of thofe debauchees, who run through the vices of the town, and believe, when they think fit, they can marry and fettle at their eafe. His own knowledge of the iniquity of the age makes him choose a wife wholly ignorant of it, and place his fecurity in her want of fkill to abufe him. The Poet, on many occafions, where the propriety of the character will admis of it, infinuates, that there is no defence againft vice, but the contempt of it: And has, in the natural ideas of an untainted innocent, fhown the gradual steps to ruin and deftruction, which perfons of condition run into, without the help of a good education to form their conduct. The torment of a jealous Cox comb, |