25 The TATLER. [N° 194 Militat omnis amans. Ovid. From Tuesday July 4. to Thursday July 6. 1710. I From my own Apartment, July 5. 4 Was this Morning reading the Tenth Canto in the Fourth Book of Spencer, in which Sir Scudamore relates the Progrefs of his Court fhip to Amoret under a very beautiful Allegory, which is one of the most natural and unmixed of any in that most excellent Author. I fhall tranfprofe it, to ufe Mr. Bays's Term, for the Benefit of many English Lovers, who have by frequent Letters defired me to lay down fome Rules for the Conduct of their virtuous Amours; and fhall only premise, That by the Shield of Love, is meant a ge nerous, constant Paffion for the Perfon beloved. When the Fame, fays he, of this celebrated Beauty first flew Abroad, I went in purfuit of her to the Temple of Love. This Temple, continues he, bore the Name of the Goddefs Venus, and was feated in a most fruitful Ifland, walled by Nature againft all Invaders. There was a fingle Bridge that led into the Ifland, and before it a Caftle garrison'd by Twenty Knights. Near the Caftle was an open Plain, and in the midst of it a Pillar, on which was hung the Shield of Love; and under underneath it, in Letters of Gold, was this Happy the Man who well can ufe his Bliss; . My Heart panted upon reading the Infeription: I ftruck upon the Shield with my Spear. Immediately iffued forth a Knight well mounted, and compleatly armed, who, without speaking, ran fiercely at me. I received him as well as I could, and by good Fortune threw him out of the Saddle. I encountered the whole Twenty fucceffively, and leaving them all extended on the Plain, carried offe the Shield in Token of Victory. Having thus vanquish'd my Rivals, I paffed on without Impediment, till I came to the outermost Gate of the Bridge, which I found locked and barred. I knocked and called, but could get no Answer At laft I saw one on the other Side of the Gate, who stood peeping through a fmall Crevice. This was the Porter he had a double Face refembling anfanis, and I was continually looking about him, as if hemiftrufted fome fudden Danger. His Name, as I afterwards learned, was Doubt, Over-agaloft him fat Delay, who entertained Paffengers with fome idle Story, while they loft fuch Opportunities as were never to be recovered As foon as the Porter faw my Shield, He opened the Gate; but upon my entring, Delay Caught hold of me, and would fain havel made me liften to her Fooleries. However, P However, I fhook her off, and paffed forward till I came to the Second Gate, The Gate of good Defert, which always ftood wide open, but, in the Porch was an hideous Giant that ftop'd the Entrance: His Name-was Danger Many Warriors of good Reputation, not able to bear the Sternnels of his Look, went back again, Cowards fled at the first Sight of him, except fome few, who watching their Oppor tunity, flipt by him unobserved. I prepared to affault him, but upon the first Sight of my Shield, he immediately gave Way, Looking back upon him, I found his hinder Parts much more deformed and terrible than his Face Hatred, Murther, Treafon, Envy, and Detraction, lying in Ambush behind him, to fall upon the Heedlefs and Unwary! I now entered The Island of Love, which ap peared in all the Beauties of Art and Nature, and feafted every Senfe with the most agreeable Objects. Amid a pleafing Variety of Walks and Allies, fhady Seats and flowry Banks, funny Hills and gloomy Valleys, were Thousands of Lovers fitting, or walking together in Pairs, and finging Hymns to the Deity of the Place. I could not forbear envying this happy People, who were already in Poffeffion of all they could defire. While I went forward to the Temple, the Structure was beautiful beyond Imagination, The Gate food open. In the Entrance fat a moft amiable Wonian, whofe Name was Concord, On On either Side of her stood Two young Men, both strongly armed, as if afraid of each other. As I afterwards learned they were both her Sons, but begotten of her by Two different Fathers; their Names, Love and Hatred. The Lady fo well tempered and reconciled them both, that the forced them to join Hands; tho' I could not but observe, that Hatred turned afide his Face, as not able to endure the Sight of his younger Brother. I at length entered the Inmoft Temple, the Roof of which was raised upon an Hundred Marble Pillars, decked with Crowns, Chains, and Garlands. The Ground was ftrowed with Flowers. An Hundred Altars, at each of which ftood a Virgin Priestess cloathed in White, blazed all at once with the Sacrifice of Lovers, who were perpetually fending up their Vows to Heaven in Clouds of Incenfe. In the Midst stood the Goddess her felf, upon an Altar, whose Substance was neither Gold nor Stone, but infinitely more precious than either. About her Neck flew numberlefs Flocks of little Loves, Joys, and Graces and all about her Altar lay fcattered Heaps of Lovers, complaining of the Difdain, Pride, or Treachery, of their Miftreffes. One among the reft, no longer able to contain his Griefs, broke out into the following Prayer: Venus, Queen of Grace and Beauty, Joy of Gods and Men, who with a Smile becalmest the Seas, and renewest all Nature; Goddefs, whom all the different Species in ⚫ the 29 the Universe obey with Joy and Pleasure, grant I may at last obtain the Object of my • Vows. The impatient Lover pronounced this with great Vehemence; but I in a soft Murmur befought the Goddess to lend me her Affiftance. While I was thus praying, I chanced to cast my Eye on a Company of Ladies, who were affembled together in a Corner of the Temple waiting for the Anthem. 1 The foremost seemed fomething elder, and of a more compofed Countenance than the reft, who all appeared to be under her Direction. Her Name was Womanhood. On one Side of her fat Shamefacedness, with Blushes rifing in her Cheeks, and her Eyes fixed upon the Ground: On the other was Chearfulnefs, with a smiling Look, that infused a fecret Pleasure into the Hearts of all that faw her. With these fat Modefty, holding her Hand on her Heart; Courtefie, with a graceful Afpect, and obliging Behaviour; and the Two Sifters, who were always linked together, and resembled each other, Silence and Obedience. Thus fat they all around in feemly Rate, That |