praised for naming fortitude first of the cardinal virtues, as that
without which no other virtue can steadily be practised; but he
might, with equal propriety, have placed prudence and justice before
it; since without prudence fortitude is mad; without justice, it is
mischievous. As the end of method is perspicuity, that series is
sufficiently regular that avoids obscurity; and where there is no
obscurity, it will not be difficult to discover method.

In the Spectator was published the "Messiah," which he first
submitted to the perusal of Steele, and corrected in compliance with
his criticisms. It is reasonable to infer from his "Letters" that
the verses on the "Unfortunate Lady" were written about the time
when his "Essay" was published. The lady's name and adventures I
have sought with fruitless inquiry. I can therefore tell no more
than I have learned from Mr. Ruffhead, who writes with the
confidence of one who could trust his information. She was a woman
of eminent rank and large fortune, the ward of an uncle, who, having
given her a proper education, expected, like other guardians, that
she should make at least an equal match; and such he proposed to
her, but found it rejected in favour of a young gentleman of
inferior condition. Having discovered the correspondence between
the two lovers, and finding the young lady determined to abide by
her own choice, he supposed that separation might do what can rarely
be done by arguments, and sent her into a foreign country, where she
was obliged to converse only with those from whom her uncle had
nothing to fear. Her lover took care to repeat his vows; but his
letters were intercepted and carried to her guardian, who directed
her to be watched with still greater vigilance, till of this
restraint she grow so impatient that she bribed a woman servant to
procure her a sword, which she directed to her heart.