We were now arrived at Spring Garden, which is exquisitely pleasant at this time of the year. When I considered the fragrancy of the walks and bowers, with the choirs of birds that sung upon the trees, and the loose tribe of people that walked under their shades, I could not but look upon the place as a kind of Mahometan paradise. Sir Roger told me it put him in mind of a little coppice by his house in the country, which his chaplain used to call an aviary of nightingales. "You must understand," says the Knight, "there is nothing in the world that pleases a man in love so much as your nightingale. Ah, Mr. Spectator! the many moonlight nights that I have walked by myself, and thought on the widow by the music of the nightingale!" He here fetched a deep sigh, and was falling into a fit of musing, when a mask, who came behind him, gave him a gentle tap upon the shoulder, and asked him if he would drink a bottle of mead with her? But the Knight, being startled at so unexpected a familiarity, and displeased to be interrupted in his thoughts of the widow, told her, "she was a wanton baggage," and bid her go about her business. We concluded our walk with a glass of Burton ale, and a slice of hung[191] beef. When we had done eating ourselves, the Knight called a waiter to him, and bid him carry the remainder to the waterman that had but one leg. I perceived the fellow stared upon him at the oddness of the message, and was going to be saucy; upon which I ratified the Knight's commands with a peremptory look. I. FOOTNOTES: [182] _Bounces._ Loud knocks. [183] _Recollected._ We should now say _recognised_. [184] _Spring Garden._ At Vauxhall. [185] _Speculating._ Ruminating. [186] _Bate him a few strokes of his oar._ Excuse his rowing slowly. [187] _Trimmed._ Balanced. [188] _The fifty new churches._ Voted by Parliament in 1711 for the western suburbs. [189] _Knight of the shire._ M.P. See p. 44. [190] _Put._ Rustic, boor. [191] _Hung._ Salted or spiced. NO. 517. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23 _Heu pietas! heu prisca fides!_ VIRG. _AEn._ vi. ver. 878. Mirror of ancient faith! Undaunted worth! Inviolable truth! DRYDEN.