"Oh! why did our Creator wise, that peopled highest Heaven With Spirits masculine, create at last This novelty on Earth, this fair defect Of Nature, and not fill the World at once (30) With men as Angels, without feminine; Or find some other way to generate Mankind? This mischief had not then befallen, And more that shall befall--innumerable Disturbances on Earth through female snares, (204: 5) And straight conjunction[152] with this sex. For either He never shall find out fit mate, but such As some misfortune brings him, or mistake; Or whom he wishes most shall seldom gain, Through her perverseness, but shall see her gained (10) By a far worse, or, if she love, withheld By parents; or his happiest choice too late Shall meet, already linked and wedlock-bound To a fell adversary, his hate or shame: Which infinite calamity shall cause (15) To human life, and household peace confound." [152] Intimate union. Sir Roger listened to this passage with great attention, and desiring Mr. Honeycomb to fold down a leaf at the place and lend him his book, the knight put it up in his pocket, and told us that he would read over those verses (20) again before he went to bed. X. XXXI. SIR ROGER AT VAUXHALL [No. 383. Tuesday, May 20, 1712. ADDISON.] Criminibus debent hortos. JUV. As I was sitting in my chamber and thinking on a subject for my next _Spectator_, I heard two or three irregular bounces at my landlady's door, and upon the opening of it, a loud, cheerful voice inquiring whether the philosopher was at home. The child who went to the door (205: 5) answered very innocently that he did not lodge there. I immediately recollected that it was my good friend Sir Roger's voice, and that I had promised to go with him on the water to Spring Garden, in case it proved a good evening. The knight put me in mind of my promise (10) from the bottom of the staircase, but told me that if I was speculating he would stay below till I had done. Upon my coming down, I found all the children of the family got about my old friend, and my landlady herself who is a notable prating gossip, engaged in a conference (15) with him, being mightily pleased with his stroking her little boy upon the head, and bidding him be a good child and mind his book.