h he promised himself from
such a virtuous and learned bride. She not only forgave the injuries
which her two brothers had done her, but raised them to great honours;
and by several works of learning, as well as by an exemplary life, made
herself so dear to the whole empire, that she had many statues erected
to her memory, and is celebrated by the fathers of the church as an
ornament of her sex.

_On the Absurdity of Omens_.

SPECTATOR.

1. Going yesterday to dine with an old acquaintance, I had the
misfortune to find the whole family very much dejected. Upon asking him
the occasion of it, he told me that his wife had dreamed a very strange
dream the night before, which they were afraid portended some mischief
to themselves or to their children. At her coming into the room, I
observed a settled melancholy in her countenance, which I should have
been troubled for, had I not heard from whence it proceeded.

2. We were no sooner sat down, but, after having looked upon me a little
while, 'My dear,' says she, turning to her husband, 'you may now see the
stranger that was in the candle last night.' Soon after this, as they
began to talk of family affairs, a little boy at the lower end of the
table told her, that he was to go into joining-hand on
Thursday--'Thursday!' says she, 'no, child, if it please God, you shall
not begin upon Childermas day; tell your writing-master that Friday will
be soon enough.'

3. I was reflecting with myself on the oddness of her fancy, and
wondering that any body would establish it as a rule to lose a day in
every week. In the midst of these my musings, she desired me to reach
her a little salt upon the point of my knife, which I did in such a
trepidation and hurry of obedience, that I let it drop by the way; at
which she immediately startled, and said it fell towards her. Upon which
I looked very blank; and, observing the concern of the whole table,
began to consider myself, with some confusion, as a person that had
brought a disaster upon the family.

4. The lady, however, recovering herself after a little space, said to
her husband with a sigh, 'My dear, misfortunes never come single.' My
friend, I found, acted but an under-part at his table, and being a man
of more good-nature than understanding, thinks himself obliged to fall
in with all the passions and humours of his yoke-fellow: 'Do you
remember, child,' says she, 'that the pigeon-house fell the very
afternoon that our car