will take care to distinguish themselves from versation of the day has supplied them. I have the thoughtless herd of their ignorant and in- often considered these poor souls with an eye attentive brethren. Since I have raised to of great commiseration, when I have heard myself so great an audience, I shall spare no them asking the first man they have met with, pains to make their instruction agreeable, and whether there was any news stirring? and by their diversion useful. For which reasons I that means gathering together materials for shall endeavour to enliven morality with wit, thinking. These needy persons do not know and to temper wit with morality, that my rea- what to talk of, till about twelve o'clock in the ders may, if possible, both ways find their morning; for by that time they are pretty good account in the speculation of the day. And judges of the weather, know which way the to the end that their virtue and discretion may wind sits, and whether the Dutch mail be come not be short, transient, intermitting starts of in. As they lie at the mercy of the first man thought, I have resolved to refresh their me- they meet, and are grave or impertinent all mories from day to day, till I have recovered the day long, according to the notions which them out of that desperate state of vice and they have imbibed in the morning, I would folly into which the age is fallen. The earnestly entreat them not to stir out of their mind that lies fallow but a single day, sprouts chambers till they have read this paper, and do up in follies that are only to be killed by a con- promise them that I will daily instil into them stant and assiduous culture. It was said of such sound and wholesome sentiments, as shall Socrates, that he brought philosophy down have a good effect on their conversation for the from heaven, to inhabit among men; and I ensuing twelve hours. shall be ambitious to have it said of me that I But there are none to whom this paper will have brought philosophy, out of closets and li- be more useful than to the female world. I braries, schools and colleges, to dwell in clubs have ofter thought there has not been sufficient and assemblies, at tea-tables, and in coffee-pains taken in finding out proper employments houses. and diversions for the fair ones. Their amuse I would therefore, in a very particular man-ments seem contrived for them, rather as they ner, recommend these my speculations to all are women, than as they are reasonable creawell-regulated families, that set apart an hour tures; and are more adapted to the sex than to in every morning for tea and bread and butter; the species The toilet is their great scene of and would earnestly advise them, for their business, and the right adjusting of their hair good, to order this paper to be punctually the principal employment of their lives. The served up, and to be looked upon as a part of sorting of a suit of ribands is reckoned a very the tea-equipage. good morning's work; and if they make an exSir Fracis Bacon observes, that a well-writ-cursion to a mercer's or a toy-shop, so great a ten book, compared with its rivals and antago-fatigue makes them unfit for any thing else all nists, is like Moses's serpent, that immediately the day after. Their more serious occupations swallowed up and devoured those of the Egyp- are sewing and emboidery, and their greatest tians. I shall not be so vain as to think, that drudgery the preparation of jellies and sweetwhere the Spectator appears, the other public meats. This, I say, is the state of ordinary prints will vanish; but shall leave it to my rea- women; though I know there are multitudes der's consideration, whether it is not much better to be let into the knowledge of one's self, than to hear what passes in Muscovy or Poland; and to amuse ourselves with such writings as tend to the wearing out of ignorance, passion, and prejudice, than such as naturally conduce to inflame hatreds, and make enmities irreconcilable ? of those of a more elevated life and conversation, that move in an exalted sphere of knowledge and virtue, that join all the beauties of the mind to the ornaments of dress, and inspire a kind of awe and respect, as well as love, into their male beholders. I hope to increase the number of these by publishing this daily paper, which I shall always endeavour to make In the next place I would reccommend this an innocent if not an improving entertainment, paper to the daily perusal of those gentlemen and by that means at least divert the minds of whom I cannot but consider as my good bro- my feeble readers from greater trifles. At the thers and allies, I mean the fraternity of Spec- same time, as I would fain give some finishing tators, who live in the world without having touches to those which are already the most any thing to do in it; and either by the afflu- beautiful pieces in human nature, I shall enence of their fortunes, or laziness of their dis-deavour to point out all those imperfections positions, have no other business with the rest that are the blemishes, as well as those virtues of mankind, but to look upon them. Under which are the embellishments, of the sex. this class of men are comprehended all contem- the mean while, I hope these my gentle readers, plative tradesmen, titular physicians, fellows who have so much time on their hands, will not of the royal society, templars that are not gi-grudge throwing away a quarter of an hour in ven to be contentious, and statesmen that are out a day on this paper, since they may do it withof business; in short, every one that considers out any hindrance to business. the world as a theatre, and desires to form a right judgment of those who are the actors on it. In I know several of my friends and well-wishers are in great pain for me, lest I should not be able to keep up the spirit of a paper which There is another set of men that I must like- I oblige myself to furnish every day; but to wise lay a claim to, whom I have lately called make them easy in this particular, I will prothe blanks of society, as being altogether un-mise them faithfully to give it over as soon as furnished with ideas, till the business and con- I grow dull. This I know will be matter of No. 11.] Tuesday, March 13, 1710-11. great raillery to the small wits, who will fre- sand years old, I cannot but think it a piece quently put me in mind of my promise, desire of presumption to dispute it with you: but me to keep my word, assure me that it is high your quotations put me in mind of the fable time to give over, with many other little plea- of the lion and the man. The man walking santries of the like nature, which men of a with that noble animal, showed him, in the little smart genius cannot forbear throwing out ostentation of human superiority, a sign of a against their best friends, when they have such man killing a lion. Upon which, the lion said, an handle given them of being witty. But let very justly, "We lions are none of us painters, them remember, that I do hereby enter my else we could show a hundred men killed by caveat against this piece of raillery. C. lions, for one lion killed by a man." You men are writers, and can represent us women as unbecoming as you please in your works, while we are unable to return the injury. You have twice or thrice observed in your discourse, that hypocrisy is the very foundation of our The doves are censur'd, while the crows are spar'd. education; and that an ability to dissemble our affections is a professed part of our breedARIETTA is visited by all persons of both ing. These, and such other reflections, are sexes, who have any pretence to wit and gal- sprinkled up and down the writings of all ages, lantry. She is in that time of life which is by authors, who leave behind them memorials neither affected with the follies of youth, or of their resentment against the scorn of parinfirmities of age; and her conversation is so ticular women, in invectives against the whole mixed with gaiety and prudence, that she is sex. Such a writer, I doubt not, was the celeagreeable both to the old and the young. Her brated Petronius, who invented the pleasant behaviour is very frank, without being in the aggravations of the frailty of the Ephesian least blameable; and as she is out of the track lady; but when we consider this question beof any amorous or ambitious pursuits of her tween the sexes, which has been either a point own, her visitants entertain her with accounts of dispute or raillery ever since there were of themselves very freely, whether they con- men and women, let us take facts from plain cern their passions or their interests. I made people, and from such as have not either amher a visit this afternoon, having been former-bition or capacity to embellish their narrations ly introduced to the honour of her acquaintance with any beauties of imagination. I was the by my friend Will Honeycomb, who has pre- other day amusing myself with Lignon's Acvailed upon her to admit me sometimes into count of Barbadoes; and, in answer to your her assembly, as a civil inoffensive man. I well-wrought tale, I will give you (as it dwells found her accompanied with one person only, upon my memory) out of that honest traveller, a common place talker, who, upon my en-in his fifty-fifth page, the history of Inkle and trance, arose, and after a very slight civility Yarico. sat down again; then, turning to Arietta, pursued his discourse, which I found was upon the old topic of constancy in love. He went on with great facility in repeating what he talks every day of his life; and with the ornaments of insignificant laughs and gestures, enforced his arguments by quotations out of plays and songs, which allude to the perjuries of the fair, and the general levity of women. Methought he strove to shine more than ordinarily in his talkative way, that he might insult my silence, and distinguish himself before a woman of Arietta's taste and understanding. She had often an inclination to interrupt him, but could not find no opportunity, till the larum ceased of itself, which it did not till he had repeated and murdered the celebrated story of the Ephesian 'Mr. Thomas Inkle, of London, aged twenty years, embarked in the Downs, in the good ship called the Achilles, bound for the WestIndies, on the 16th of June, 1647, in order to improve his fortune by trade and merchandise. Our adventurer was the third son of an eminent citizen, who had taken particular care to instil into his mind an early love of gain, by making him a perfect master of numbers, and consequently giving him a quick view of loss and advantage, and preventing the natural impulses of his passion, by preposition towards his interests. With a mind thus turned, young Inkle had a person every way agreeable, a ruddy vigour in his countenance, strength in his limbs, with ringlets of fair hair loosely flowing on his shoulders. It happened, in the course of the voyage, that the Achilles, in some distress, put into a creek on the main of America, in search of provisions. The youth, who is the hero of my story, among others went on shore on this occasion. From their first landing they were observed by a party of Indians, who hid themselves in the woods for that purpose. The English unadvisedly marched a great distance from the shore into the country, and were intercepted by the natives, who slew the greatest number of them. Our adventurer escaped, among others, by flying 'Sir, when I consider how perfectly new all into a forest. Upon his coming into a remote you have said on this subject is, and that the and pathless part of the wood, he threw himstory you have given us is not quite two thou-self, tired and breathless, on a little hillock, matron. Arietta seemed to regard this piece of raillery as an outrage done to her sex; as indeed I have always observed that women, whether out of a nicer regard to their honour, or what other reason I cannot tell, are more sensibly touched with those general aspersions which are cast upon their sex, than men are by what is said of theirs. When she had a little recovered herself from the serious anger she was in, she replied in the following manner. She No. 12.] Wednesday, March 14, 1710-11. -Veteres avias tibi de pulmone revello. Pers. Sat. v. 92. I root th' old woman from thy trembling heart. AT my coming to London, it was some time before I could settle myself in a house to my liking. I was forced to quit my first lodgings, by reason of an officious landlady, that would be asking me every morning how I had slept. I then fell into an honest family, and lived very happily for above a week; when my landlord, who was a jolly good-natured man, took it into his head that I wanted company, and therefore would frequently come into my chamber, to keep me from being alone. This I bore for two or three days; but telling me one day that he was afraid I was melancholy, I thought it was high time for me to be gone, and accordingly took new lodgings that very night. About a week after, I found my jolly landlord, who, as I said before, was an honest hearty man, had put me into an advertisement in the Daily Courant, in the following words: when an Indian maid rushed from a thicket be- I was so touched with this story (which I hind him. After the first surprise they appear- think should be always a counterpart to the ed mutually agreeable to each other. If the Epherian matron) that I left the room with European was highly charmed with the limbs, tears in my eyes, which a woman of Arietta's features, and wild graces of the naked Ame- good sense did, I am sure, take for greater rican; the American was no less taken with the applause than any compliments I could make dress, complexion, and shape of an European, her. covered from head to foot. The Indian grew immediately enamoured of him, and consequently solicitous for his preservation. therefore conveyed him to a cave, where she gave him a delicious repast of fruits, and led him to a stream to slake his thirst. In the midst of these good offices, she would sometimes play with his hair, and delight in the opposition of its colour to that of her fingers: then open his bosom, then laugh at him for covering it. She was, it seems, a person of distinction, for she every day came to him in a different dress, of the most beautiful shells, bugles, and beads. She likewise brought him a great many spoils, which her other lovers had presented to her, so that his cave was richly adorned with all the spotted skins of beasts, and most partycoloured feathers of fowls, which that world afforded. To make his confinement more tolerable, she would carry him in the dusk of the evening, or by the favour of moonlight, to unfrequented groves and solitudes, and show him where to lie down in safety, and sleep amidst the falls of waters and melody of nightingales. Her part was to watch and hold him awake in her arms, for fear of her countrymen, and wake him on occasions to consult his safety. In this manner did the lovers pass away their time, till they had learned a language of their own, in which the voyager communicated to his mistress, how happy he should be to have her in his country, where she should be clothed in such silks as his waistcoat was made of, and be carried in houses drawn by horses, without being exposed to wind or weather. All this he promised her the enjoyment of, without such fears and alarms as they were there tormented to this very day. with. In this tender correspondence these I am now settled with a widow woman, who lovers lived for several months, when Yarico, has a great many children, and complies with instructed by her lover, discovered a vessel my humour in every thing. I do not remember on the coast, to which she made signals; and that we have exchanged a word together these in the night, with the utmost joy and satisfac-five years; my coffee comes into my chamber tion, accompanied him to a ship's crew of his every morning without asking for it: if I want countrymen, bound for Barbadoes. When a fire, I point to my chimney, if water to my vessel from the main arrives in that island, it seems the planters come down to the shore, where there is an immediate market of the Indians and other slaves, as with us of horses and oxen. Whereas a melancholy man left his lodgings on Thursday last, in the afternoon, and was afterwards seen going towards Islington: if any one can give notice of him to R. B. fishmonger in the strand, he shall be very well rewarded for his pains.' As I am the best man in the world to keep my own counsel, and my landlord the fishmonger not knowing my name, this accident of my life was never discovered bason, upon which my landlady nods, as much as to say, she takes my meaning, and immediately obeys my signals. She has likewise modelled her family so well, that when her little boy offers to pull me by the coat, or prattle "To be short, Mr. Thomas Inkle, now com- in my face, his eldest sister immediately calls ing into English territories, began seriously to him off, and bids him not disturb the gentlereflect upon his loss of time, and to weigh with man. At my first entering into the family, I himself how many days' interest of his money was troubled with the civility of their rising up he had lost during his stay with Yarico. This to me every time I came into the room; but my thought made the young man pensive, and landlady observing that upon these occasions careful what account he should be able to give I always cried Pish, and went out again, has his friends of his voyage. Upon which con- forbidden any such ceremony to be used in the sideration, the prudent and frugal young man house; so that at present I walk into the kitchen sold Yarico to a Barbadian merchant; not- or parlour, without being taken notice of, or withstanding that the poor girl, to incline him to commiserate her condition, told him that she was with child by him: but he only made use of that information, to rise in his demands upon the purchaser.” giving any interruption to the business or discourse of the family. The maid will ask her mistress (though I am by) whether the gentleman is ready to go to dinner, as the mistress (who is indeed an excellent housewife) scolds tinguish those impertinent notions which we at the servants as heartily before my face, as imbibed at a time that we were not able to behind my back. In short, I move up and judge of their abɛurdity. Or, if we believe, down the house, and enter into all companies as many wise and good men have done, that with the same liberty as a cat, or any other there are such phantoms and apparitions as domestic animal, and am as little suspected of those I have been speaking of, let us endeavour telling any thing that I hear or see. to establish to ourselves an interest in Him who I remember last winter there were several holds the reins of the whole creation in his young girls of the neighbourhood sitting about hands, and moderates them after such a manthe fire with my landlady's daughters, and ner, that it is impossible for one being to break telling stories of spirits and apparitions. Upon loose upon another without his knowledge and my opening the door the young women broke permission. off their discourse, but my landlady's daugh- For my own part, I am apt to join in the ters telling them that it was nobody but the opinion with those who believe that all the gentleman (for that is the name which I go by regions of nature swarm with spirits; and that in the neighbourhood, as well as in the family) we have multitudes of spectators on all our they went on without minding me. I seated actions, when we think ourselves most alone; myself by the candle that stood on a table at but instead of terrifying myself with such a one end of the room; and pretending to read notion, I am wonderfully pleased to think that a book that I took out of my pocket, heard I am always engaged with such an innumera, several dreadful stories of ghosts, as pale as ble society in searching out the wonders of the ashes, that had stood at the feet of a bed, or creation, and joining in the same consort of walked over a church-yard by moon-light; and praise and adoration. of others that had been conjured into the Red- Milton has finely described this mixed comsea, for disturbing people's rest, and drawing munion of men and spirits in paradise; and their curtains at midnight, with many other old had doubtless his eye upon a verse in old women's fables of the like nature. As one spi- Hesiod, which is almost word for word the rit raised another, I observed that at the end same with his third line in the following pasof every story the whole company closed their sage: ranks, and crowded about the fire. I took notice in particular of a little boy, who was so attentive to every story, that I am mistaken if he ventures to go to bed by himself this twelvemonth. Indeed they talked so long, that the imaginations of the whole assembly were manifestly crazed, and, I am sure, will be the worse for it as long as they live. I heard one of the girls, that had looked upon me over her shoulder, asking the company how long 1 had been in the room, and whether I did not look paler than I used to do. This put me under some apprehensions that I should be forced to explain myself, if I did not retire; for which reason I took the candle into my hand, and went up into my chamber, not No. 13.] Thursday, March 15, 1710-11. without wondering at this unaccountable Die mihi, si fueris tu leo, qualis eris? weakness in reasonable creatures, that they should love to astonish and terrify one another. Were you a lion, how would you behave? Were I a father, I should take a particular THERE is nothing that of late years has afcare to preserve my children from these little forded matter of greater amusement to the horrors of imagination, which they are apt to town than Signior Nicolini's combat with a contract when they are young, and are not lion in the Haymarket, which has been very able to shake off when they are in years. I often exhibited to the general satisfaction of have known a soldier that has entered a breach most of the nobility and gentry in the kingaffrighted at his own shadow, and look pale dom of Great Britain. Upon the first rumour upon a little scratching at his door, who the of this intended combat, it was confidently afday before had marched up against a battery firmed, and is still believed, by many in both of cannon. There are instances of persons, galleries, that there would be a tame lion sent who have been terrified even to distraction, at from the tower, every opera night, in order to the figure of a tree, or the shaking of a bull-be killed by Hydaspes; this report, though rush. The truth of it is, I look upon a sound altogether groundless, so universally prevailimagination as the greatest blessing of life, ed in the upper regions of the playhouse, that next to a clear judgment, and a good consci-some of the most refined politicians in those In the mean time, since there are very parts of the audience, gave it out in whisper, few whose minds are not more or less subject that the lion was a cousin german of the tiger to these dreadful thoughts and apprehensions, who made his appearance in King William's we ought to arm ourselves against them by the days, and that the stage would be supplied dictates of reason and religion, to pull the with lions at the public expense, during the whole old woman out of our hearts' (as Persius ex-session. Many likewise were the conjectures presses it in the motto of my paper) and ex-of the treatment which this lion was to meet VOL. I. ence. Nor think, though men were none, 3. C. Mart. with from the hands of Signior Nicolini; some The acting lion at present is, as I am informsupposed that he was to subdue him in recita-ed, à country gentleman, who does it for his tivo, as Orpheus used to serve the wild beasts diversion, but desires his name may be conin his time, and afterwards to knock him on cealed. He says, very handsomely, in his the head; some fancied that the lion would not own excuse, that he does not act for gain, that pretend to lay his paws upon the hero, by rea- he indulges an innocent pleasure in it; and son of the received opinion, that a lion will that it is better to pass away an evening in not hurt a virgin. Several, who pretended to this manner, than in gaming and drinking: have seen the opera in Italy, had informed their but at the same time says, with a very agreefriends, that the lion was to act a part in high able raillery upon himself, that if his name Dutch, and roar twice or thrice to a thorough should be known, the ill-natur'd world might bass, before he fell at the feet of Hydaspes. call him, The ass in the lion's skin.' This To clear up a matter that was so variously re- gentleman's temper is made out of such a ported, I have made it my business to examine happy mixture of the mild and the choleric, whether this pretended lion is really the savage that he outdoes both his predecessors, and has he appears to be, or only a counterfeit. drawn together greater audiences than have been known in the memory of man. But before I communicate my discoveries, I must acquaint the reader, that upon my walking I must not conclude my narrative, without behind the scenes last winter, as I was thinking taking notice of a groundless report that has on something else, I accidentally justled been raised to a gentleman's disadvantage, of against a monstrous animal that extremely whom I must declare myself an admirer; startled me, and, upon my nearer survey of namely, that Signior Nicolini and the lion it, appeared to be a lion rampant. The lion have been seen sitting peaceably by one anoseeing me very much surprised, told me, in a ther, and sinoking a pipe together behind the gentle voice, that I might come by him if I scenes; by which their common enemies would pleased; For,' says he, 'I do not intend to insinuate, that it is but a sham combat which hurt any body.' I thanked him very kindly, and they represent upon the stage: but upon inpassed by him and in a little time after saw quiry I find, that if any such correspondence him leap upon the stage, and act his part with has passed between them, it was not till the very great applause. It has been observed by combat was over, when the lion was to be several that the lion has changed his manner looked upon as dead, according to the receivof acting twice or thrice since his first appeared rules of the drama. Besides, this is what ance; which will not seem strange, when I ac- is practised every day in Westminster-hall, quaint my reader that the lion has been chang- where nothing is more usual than to see a ed upon the audience three several times. The couple of lawyers, who have been tearing first lion was a candle snuffer, who being a each other to pieces in the court, embracing fellow of a testy choleric temper, overdid his one another as soon as they are out of it. part, and would not suffer himself to be kill- I would not be thought in any part of this ed so easily as he ought to have done; be-relation, to reflect upon Signior Nicolini, who sides, it was observed of him, that he grew in acting this part only complies with the more surly every time that he came out of the wretched taste of his audience; he knows very lion; and having dropt some words in ordina-well, that the lion has many more admirers ry conversation, as if he had not fought his than himself; as they say of the famous best, and that he suffered himself to be thrown equestrian statue on the Pont-Neuf at Paris, upon his back in the scuffle, and that he would that more people go to see the horse, than the wrestle with Mr. Nicolini for what he pleased, king who sits upon it. On the contrary, it out of his lion's skin, it was thought proper to gives me a just indignation to see a person discard him and it is verily believed, to this whose action gives new majesty to kings, resoday, that had he been brought upon the stage lution to heroes, and softness to lovers, thus another time, he would certainly have done sinking from the greatness of his behaviour, mischief. Besides, it was objected against the and degraded into the character of the London first lion, that he reared himself, so high upon 'Prentice. I have often wished, that our trahis hinder paws, and walked in so erect agedians would copy after this great master of posture, that he looked more like an old man action. Could they make the same use of their arms and legs, and inform their faces The second lion was a tailor by trade, who with as significant looks and passions, how belonged to the playhouse, and had the cha-glorious would an English tragedy appear with racter of a mild and peaceable man in his pro- that action, which is capable of giving dignity fession. If the former was too furious, this to the forced thoughts, cold conceits, and unwas too sheepish for his part; insomuch, that natural expressions of an Italian opera! In the after a short modest walk upon the stage, he mean time, I have related this combat of the would fall at the first touch of Hydaspes, with-lion, to show what are at present the reigning out grappling with him, and giving him an entertainments of the politer part of Great opportunity of showing his variety of Italian Britain. trips. It is said, indeed, that he once gave Audiences have often been reproached by him a rip in his flesh-colour doublet: but this writers for the coarseness of their taste: but was only to make work for himself, in his pri- our present grievance does not seem to be the vate character of a tailor. I must not omit, want of a good taste, but of common sense, that it was this second lion who treated met with so much humanity behind the scenes. than a lion. C. |