She revived at the sight of Philander, who fell about her neck with a tenderness not to be expressed; and amidst a thousand sobs and sighs, told her his love, and his dreadful mistake. The stage was now in flames, and the whole house full of smoke; the entrance was quite barred up with heaps of people, who had fallen upon one another as they endeavoured to get out; swords were drawn, shrieks heard on all sides; and, in short, no possibility of an escape for Philander himself, had he been capable of making it without his Chloe. But his mind was above such a thought, and wholly employed in weeping, condoling, and comforting. He catches her in his arms. The fire surrounds them, while—I cannot go on.
Were I an infidel, misfortunes like this would convince me, that there must be an hereafter: for who can believe that so much virtue could meet with so great distress without a following reward. As for my part, I am so old-fashioned as firmly to believe that all who perish in such generous enterprises are relieved from the further exercise of life; and Providence, which sees their virtue consummate and manifest, takes them to an immediate reward, in a being more suitable to the grandeur of their spirits. What else can wipe away our tears, when we contemplate such undeserved, such irreparable distresses? It was a sublime thought in some of the heathens of old:
——Quæ gratia currûm
Armorumque fuit vivis, quæ cura nitentes
Pascere equos, eadem sequitur tellure repôstos.[280]
That is in other words, the same employments and inclinations which were the entertainment of virtuous men upon earth, make up their happiness in Elysium.
From my own Apartment, Nov. 14.
When I came home this evening, I found a present from Mr. Charles Lillie, the perfumer at the corner of Beauford Buildings, with a letter of thanks for the mention I made of him.[281] He tells me, several of my gentle readers have obliged me in buying at his shop upon my recommendation. I have inquired into the man's capacity, and find him an adept in his way. He has several helps to discourse besides snuff (which is the best Barcelona), and sells an orange-flower water, which seems to me to have in it the right spirit of brains; and I am informed, he extracts it according to the manner used in Gresham College.[282] I recommend it to the handkerchiefs of all young pleaders: it cures or supplies all pauses and hesitations in speech, and creates a general alacrity of the spirit. When it is used as a gargle, it gives volubility to the tongue, and never fails of that necessary step towards pleasing others, making a man pleased with himself. I have taken security of him, that he shall not raise the price of any of his commodities for these or any other occult qualities in them; but he is to sell them at the same price which you give at the common perfumers. Mr. Lillie has brought further security, that he will not sell the boxes made for politicians to lovers; nor on the contrary, those proper for lovers to men of speculation: at this time, to avoid confusion, the best orangery for beaus, and right musty for politicians.
My almanac is to be published on the 22nd; and from that instant, all lovers, in raptures or epistles, are to forbear the comparison of their mistresses' eyes to stars, I having made use of that simile in my dedication for the last time it shall ever pass, and on the properest occasion that it was ever employed. All ladies are hereby desired to take notice, that they never receive that simile in payment for any smiles they shall bestow for the future.
On Saturday night last, a gentlewoman's husband strayed from the play-house in the Haymarket. If the lady who was seen to take him up, will restore him, she shall be asked no questions, he being of no use but to the owner.