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which have made them so illustrious, if they "I shall briefly explain the words, and then had not had men. He asserted also, it seems, consider the matter contained in them." that a minister at home, no more than a com- This honest gentleman needed not, one mander abroad, could do any thing without would think, strain his modesty so far as to other men were his instruments and assistants. alter his design of entering upon the matter,' On this occasion he produces the example of to that of briefly explaining.' But so it was, Themistocles, Pericles, Cyrus, and Alexander that he would not even be contented with that himself, whom he denies to have been capable authority, but added also the other divine to of effecting what they did, except they had strengthen his method, and told us, with the been followed by others. It is pleasant enough to see such persons contend without opponents, and triumph without victory.

pious and learned Dr. Beveridge, page 4th of his ninth volume, "I shall endeavour to make it as plain as I can from the words which I have The author above-mentioned by the orator now read, wherein for that purpose we shall is placed forever in a very ridiculous light, and consider-————” This wiseacre was reckoned we meet every day in conversation such as by the parish, who did not understand him, a deserve the same kind of renown, for troub- most excellent preacher; but that he read too ling those with whom they converse with the much, and was so humble that he did not trust like certainties. The persons that I have al-enough to his own parts.

ways thought to deserve the highest admira- Next to these ingenious gentlemen, who artion in this kind are your ordinary story-tel-gue for what nobody can deny them, are to lers, who are most religiously careful of keep-be ranked a sort of people who do not indeed ing to the truth in every particular circumstance attempt to prove insignificant things, but are of a narration, whether it concerns the main ever labouring to raise arguments with you end or not. A gentleman whom I had the about matters you will give up to them withhonour to be in company with the other day, out the least controversy. One of these peoupon some occasion that he was pleased to ple told a gentleman who said he saw Mr. Suchtake, said, he remembered a very pretty re-a-One go this morning at nine of the clock partee made by a very witty man in King towards the Gravel-pits: Sir, I must beg Charles's time upon the like occasion. I re- your pardon for that, for though I am very member (said he upon entering into the tale) loth to have any dispute with you, yet, I must much about the time of Oates's plot, that a take the liberty to tell you, it was nine when cousin-german of mine and I were at the Bear I saw him at St. James's'. When men of this in Holborn. No, I am out, it was at the Cross-genius are pretty far gone in learning they will keys; but Jack Thomson was there, for he put you to prove that snow is white, and when was very great with the gentleman who made you are upon that topic can say that there is the answer. But I am sure it was spoken somewhere thereabouts, for we drank a bottle in that neighbourhood every evening; but no matter for all that, the thing is the same; but

the cynic said, 'One of these fellows is milking a ram, and the other holds the pail.'

really no such thing as colour in nature; in a word, they can turn what little knowledge they have into a ready capacity of raising doubts: into a capacity of being always frivolous and always unanswerable. It was of two disputants He was going on to settle the geography of of this impertinent and laborious kind that the jest when I left the room, wondering at this odd turn of head which can play away its words, with uttering nothing to the purpose, still observing its own impertinencies, and yet proceeding in them. I do not question but he informed the rest of his audience, who had more patience than I, of the birth and parent-to age, as well as the collateral alliances of his family who made the rapartee, and of him who provoked him to it.

ADVERTISEMENT.

'The exercises of the snuff-bux, according the most fashionable airs and mo:ions, in opposition to the exercise of the fan, will be taught with the best plain or perfumed snuff, at Charles Lillie's, perfumer, at the corner of It is no small misfortune to any who have a Beaufort-buildings in the Strand, and attendjust value for their time, when this quality of ance given for the benefit of the young merbeing so very circumstantial, and careful to be chants about the Exchange for two hours every exact, happens to show itself in a man whose day at noon, except Saturdays, at a toy-shop quality obliges them to attend his proofs, that near Garraway's coffee-house. There will be it is now day, and the like. But this is aug-likewise taught the ceremony of the snuff-box, mented when the same genius gets into au- or rules for offering snuff to a stranger, a thority, as it often does. Nay, I have known friend, or a mistress, according to the degree it more than once ascend the very pulpit. One of familiarity or distance; with an explanation of this sort taking it in his head to be a great of the careless, the scornful, the politic, and admirer of Dr. Tillotson and Dr. Beveridge, the surley pinch, and the gestures proper to never failed of proving out of these great au- each of them. thors things which no man living wonld have N. B. The undertaker does not question denied him upon his own single authority. but in a short time to have formed a body of One day resolving to come to the point in regular snuff-boxes ready to meet and make hand, he said, according to that excellent head against all the regiment of fans which divine' I will enter upon the matter, or in his have been lately disciplined, and are now in words, in his fifteenth sermon of the folio edi-motion.'

tion,

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page 160,

T.

No. 139.] Thursday, August 9, 1711.

Vera gloria radices agit, atque etiam propagatur; ficta omnia celeriter, tanquam flosculi, decidunt, nec simulatum potest quidquam esse diuturnum.

Tull.

True glory takes root, and even spreads: all false pretences, like flowers, fall to the ground; nor can any counterfeit last long.

turned his thoughts upon himself and people with sorrow. Sordid ignorance, and a brute manner of life, this generous prince beheld and contemned, from the light of his own genius. His judginent suggested this to him, and his courage prompted him to amend it. In order to this, he did not send to the nation from whence the rest of the world has borOr all the affections which attend human rowed its politeness, but himself left his dialife, the love of glory is the most ardent. Ac-dem to learn the true way to glory and honour, cording as this is cultivated in princes, it pro- and application to useful arts, wherein to emduces the greatest good or the greatest evil. ploy the laborious, the simple, the honest part Where sovereigns have it by impressions re- of his people. Mechanic employments and ceived from education only, it creates an am-operatious were very justly the first objects of bitious rather than a noble mind: where it is his favour and observation. With this glorious the natural bent of the prince's inclination, intention he travelled into foreign nations in an it prompts him to the pursuit of things truly obscure manner, above receiving little honglorious. The two greatest men now in Europe ours where he sojourned, but prying into (according to the common acceptation of the what was of more consequence, their arts of word great) are Lewis King of France, and peace and of war. By this means has this Peter Emperor of Russia. As it is certain that great prince laid the foundation of a great all fame does not arise from the practice of and lasting fame, by personal labour, personal virtue, it is, methinks, no unpleasing amuse- knowledge, personal valour. It would be in ment to examine the glory of these potentates, jury to any of antiquity to name them with and distinguish that which is empty, perishing, him. Who, but himself, ever left a throne to and frivolous, from what is solid, lasting, and learn to sit in it with more grace? Who ever important. thought himself mean in absolute power, till

prince learned to conquer, learned to use his conquests. How terrible has he appeared in battle, how gentle in victory! Shall then the base arts of the Frenchman be held polite, and the honest labours of the Russian barbarous ? No: barbarity is the ignorance of true honour, or placing any thing instead of it. The unjust prince is ignoble and barbarous, the good prince only renowned and glorious.

Lewis of France had his infancy attended he had learned to use it? by crafty and worldly men, who made extent If we consider this wonderful person, it is of territory the most glorious instance of pow-perplexity to know where to begin his encoer, and mistook the spreading of fame for the mium. Others may, in a metaphorical or phiacquisition of honour. The young monarch's losophic sense, be said to command themselves, heart was by such conversation easily deluded but this emperor is also literally under his own into a fondness for vain-glory, and upon these command. How generous and how good was unjust principles to form or fall in with suit- his entering his own name as a private man in able projects of invasion, rapine, murder, and the army he raised, that none in it might exall the guilts that attend war when it is unjust. pect to outrun .he steps with which he himself At the same time this tyranny was laid, scien-advanced! By such measures this godlike ces and arts were encouraged in the most generous manner, as if men of higher faculties were to be bribed to permit the massacre of the rest of the world. Every superstructure which the court of France built upon their first designs, which were in themselves vicious, was suitable to its false foundation. The ostentation of riches, the vanity of equipage, shame of poverty, and ignorance of modesty, were the common arts of life: the generous love of Though men may impose upon themselves one woman was changed into gallantry for all what they please by their corrupt imaginations, the sex, and friendship among men turned into truth will ever keep its station; and as glory is commerce of interest, or mere professions. nothing else but the shadow of virtue, it will While these were the rules of life, perjuries certainly disappear at the departure of virtue. in the prince, and a general corruption of But how carefully ought the true notions of it manners in the subject, were the snares in to be preserved, and how industrious should we which France has entangled all her neigh-be to encourage any impulses towards it! The bours.' With such false colours have the Westminster school-boy that said the other day eyes of Lewis been inchanted, from the de- he could not sleep or play for the colours in the bauchery of his early youth, to the superstition hall,* ought to be free from receiving a blow of his present old age. Hence it is, that he for ever. has the patience to have statutes erected to his prowess, his valour, his fortitude, and in the softnesses and luxury of a court to be applauded for magnanimity and enterprise in military achievements.

Peter Alexovitz of Russia, when he came to years of manhood, though he found himself emperor of a vast and numerous people, master of an endless territory, absolute commander of the lives and fortunes of his subjects, in the midst of this unbounded power and greatness,

But let us consider what is truly glorious according to the author I have to-day quoted in the front of my paper.

The perfection of glory, says Tully, consists in these three particulars: That the people love us; that they have confidence in us; that being affected with a certain admiration to

Blenheim, in 1704, were fixed up in Westminister-hall The colours taken by the Duke of Marlborough at after having been carried in procession through the city.

wards us, they think we deserve honour.' This sies. He has the cant of an impatient lover, was spoken of greatness in a commonwealth. but keeps the pace of a lukewarm one. You But if one were to form a notion of consum-know I must not go faster than he does, and to mate glory under our constitution, one must move at this rate is as tedious as counting a add to the above-mentioned felicities a certain great clock. But you are to know he is rich, necessary inexistence, and disrelish of all the and my mother says, as he is slow he is sure; rest, without the prince's favour. He should, he will love me long if he love me little: but I methinks, have riches, power, honour, com-appeal to you whether he loves at all. mand, glory; but riches, power, honour, Your neglected humble servant, command, and glory, should have no charms, LYDIA NOVELL. but as accompanied with the affection of his prince. He should, methinks, be popular be

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All these fellows who have money are ex

• MR. SPECTATOR,

cause a favourite, and a favourite because tremely saucy and cold; pray sir, tell them of popular. Were it not to make the character it.' too imaginary, I would give him sovereignty over some foreign territory, and make him esteem that an empty addition without the 'I have been delighted with nothing more kind regards of his own prince. One may through the whole course of your writings merely have an idea of a man thus composed than the substantial account you lately gave and circumstanced, and if he were so made of wit, and I could wish you would take some for power without a capacity of giving jea-other opportunity to express further the corlousy, he would be also glorious without the rupt taste the age has run into; which I am possibility of receiving disgrace. This humi- chiefly apt to attribute to the prevalency of a lity and this importance must make his glory few popular authors, whose merit in some respects has given a sanction to their faults in These thoughts are apt to draw me beyond others. Thus the imitators of Milton seem to the usual length of this paper; but if I could place all the excellency of that sort of writing suppose such rhapsodies could outlive the com- either in the uncouth or antique words, or mon fate of ordinary things, I would say these something else which was highly vicious, sketches and faint images of glory were drawn though pardonable in that great man. in August, 1711, when John Duke of Marl-mirers of what we call point, or turn, look upborough made that memorable march wherein on it as the particular happiness to which he took the French lines without bloodshed. Cowley, Ovid, and others, owe their reputa

immortal.

No. 140.] Friday, August 10, 1711.

T.

The ad

tion, and therefore endeavour to imitate them only in such instances. What is just, proper, and natural, does not seem to be the question with them, but by what means a quaint antithesis may be brought about, how one word may Virg. Æn. iv. 285. be made to look two ways, and what will be the consequence of a forced allusion. Now though such authors appear to me to resemble those who make themselves fine, instead of be

Animum curis nunc huc, nunc dividit illuc.

This way and that the anxious mind is torn.

WHEN I acquaint my reader, that I have ing well-dressed, or graceful; yet the mischief many other letters not yet acknowledged, I believe he will own, what I have a mind he is, that these beauties in them, which I call bleshould believe, that I have no small charge mishes, are thought to proceed from luxuriupon me, but am a person of some conse-In one word, they have the character of being ance of fancy, and overflowing of good sense. quence in this world. shall therefore employ the present hour only in reading petitions world they are not witty at all, you would, too witty but if you would acquaint the

in the order as follows.

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'I have lost so much time already, that I desire, upon the receipt hereof, you will sit down immediately and give me your answer. And I would know of you whether a pretender of

:

among many others, oblige,

SIR,

'Sir,

'Your most benevolent reader,

'R. D.

mine really loves me. As well as I can I will 'I am a young woman, and reckoned pretdescribe his manners. When he sees me he is ty; therefore you will pardon me that I troualways talking of constancy, but vouchsafes to ble you to decide a wager between me and a visit me but once a fortnight, and then he is cousin of mine, who is always contradicting always in haste to be gone. When I am sick, one because he understands Latin: pray, sir, I hear he says he is mightily concerned, but is Dimple spelt with a single or a double p? neither comes nor sends, because, as he tells his acquaintance with a sigh, he does not care to let me know all the power I have over him, and how impossible it is for him to live without me. When he leaves the town he writes once in six weeks, desires to hear from me, rist," and leave it at Mr. Lillie's, for I do not complains of the torment of absence, speaks care to be known in the thing at all. I am, of fames, tortures, languishings, and ecsta-sir, again, your humble servant.'

'1 am, Sir, Your very humble servant, 'BETTY SAUNTER.

'Pray, sir, direct thus,

"To the kind Que

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MR. SPECTATOR,

'I must needs tell you there are several of your papers I do not much like. You are often so nice there is no enduring you, and so learned there is no understanding you. have you to do with our petticoats? Your humble servant,

6 MR. SPECTATOR,

'PARTHENOPE.'

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self in, until you shall be pleased to recommend some author or authors to my perusal. 'I thought, indeed, when I first cast my eye on Leonora's letter, that I should have had no What occasion for requesting it of you; but, to my very great concern, I found on the perusal of that Spectator, I was entirely disappointed, and am as much at a loss how to make use of my time for that end as ever. Pray, sir, oblige me at least with one scene, as you were pleas'Last night, as I was walking in the Park, ed to entertain Leonora with your prologue. I I met a couple of friends. Pr'ythee, Jack," write to you not only my own sentiments, but says one of them, "let us go drink a glass of also those of several others of my acquaintance, wine, for I am fit for nothing else.' This who are as little pleased with the ordinary put me upon reflecting on the many miscarriages which happen in conversations over wine, and if a fervent desire after knowledge, and manner of spending one's time as myself; when men go to the bottle to remove such a great sense of our present ignorance, may humours as it only stirs up and awakens. be thought a good presage and earnest of imThis I could not attribute more to any thing provement, you may look upon your time you than to the humour of putting company upon shall bestow in answering this request not others which men do not like themselves. Pray, thrown away to no purpose. And I cannot sir, declare in your papers, that he who is a but add, that unless you have a particular and troublesome companion to himself, will not be more than ordinary regard for Leonora, I have an agreeable one to others. Let people reason a better title to your favour than she: since I themselves into good-humour, before they impose themselves upon their friends. Pray, sir, be as eloquent as you can upon this subject, and do human life so much good, as to argue powerfully, that it is not every one that can swallow, who is fit to drink a glass of wine. 'Your most humble servant.'

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do not content myself with tea-table reading
of your papers, but it is my entertainment very
often when alone in my closet. To show you
I am capable of improvement, and hate flat-
tery, I acknowledge I do not like some of your
papers; but even there I am readier to call in
question my own shallow understanding than
Mr. Spectator's profound judgment.

I am, Sir, your already (and in hopes of
being more your) obliged servant,
'PARTHENIA.'

I this morning cast my eye upon your paper concerning the expense of time. You are very obliging to the women, especially those who are not young and past gallantry, This last letter is written with so urgent and by touching so gently upon gaming: therefore I hope you do not think it wrong to emserious an air, that I cannot but think it inploy a little leisure time in that diversion; but cumbent upon me to comply with her comI should be glad to hear you say something mands, which I shall do very suddenly. T. upon the behaviour of some of the female gamesters.

'I have observed ladies, who in all other respects are gentle, good-humoured, and the very pinks of good-breeding: who as soon as the ombre-table is called for and sit down to their business, are immediately transmigrated into the veriest wasps in nature.

'You must know I keep my temper, and win their money; but am out of countenance to take it, it makes them so very uneasy. Be pleased, dear sir, to instruct them to lose with a better grace, and you will oblige

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Yours,

MR. SPECTATOR,

RACHEL BASTO."

No. 141.] Saturday, August 11, 1711.

--Migravit ab aure voluptas

Omnis-
Hor. Lib. 1. Ep. ii. 187.
Taste, that eternal wanderer that flies
From heads to ears, and now from ears to eyes.
Pope.

In the present emptiness of the town, I have several applications from the lower part of the players, to admit suffering to pass for acting. They in very obliging terms desire me to let a fall on the ground, a stumble, or a good slap on the back, be reckoned a jest. These gambols I shall tolerate for a season, because I hope the evil cannot continue longer Your kindness to Leonora, in one of your than until the people of condition and taste papers, has given me encouragement to do my-return to town. The method some time ago, self the honour of writing to you. The great was to entertain that part of the audience, who regard you have so often expressed for the in- have no faculty above eye-sight, with rope. struction and improvement of our sex will I dancers and tumblers; which was a way dishope, in your own opinion, sufficiently excuse creet enough, because prevented confusion, me from making any apology for the imperti- and distinguished such as could show all the nence of this letter. The great desire I have postures which the body is capable of, from to embellish my mind with some of those graces those who were to represent all the passions which you say are so becoming, and which to which the mind is subject. But though you assert reading helps us to, has made me this was prudently settled, corporeal and inuneasy until I am put in a capacity of attain- tellectual actors ought to be kept at a stiil ing them. This, sir, I shall never think my-wider distance than to appear on the same

stage at all: for which reason I must propose some methods for the emprovement of the bear-garden by dismissing all bodily actors to that quarter.

ship to the devil,* have to the business of mirth and humour.

The gentleman who writ this play, and has drawn some characters in it very justly, apIn cases of greater moment, where men ap- pears to have been misled in his witchcraft pear in public, the consequence and importance by an unwary following the inimitable Shakof the thing can bear them out. And though speare. The incantations in Macbeth have a a pleader or preacher is hoarse or awkward, solemnity admirably adapted to the occasion the weight of their matter commands respect of that tragedy, and fill the mind with a suitand attention; but in the theatrical speaking, able horror; besides that the witches are a if the performer is not exactly proper and part of the story itself, as we find it very pargraceful, he is utterly ridiculous. In cases ticularly related in Hector Boetius, from whom where there is little else expected, but the plea- he seems to have taken it. This therefore is sure of the ears and eyes, the least diminution a proper machine, where the business is dark, of that pleasure is the highest offence. In act-horrid and bloody; but is extremely foreign ing, barely to perform the part is not com- from the affair of comedy. Subjects of this mendable, but to be the least out is contemp-kind, which are in themselves disagreeable, tible. To avoid these difficulties and delicacies, can at no time become entertaining, but by I am informed, that while I was out of town, passing through an imagination like Shakthe actors have flown into the air, and played speare's to form them; for which reason such pranks, and run such hazards, that none Mr. Dryden would not allow even Beaumont but the servants of the fire-office, tilers, and and Fletcher capable of imitating him. masons, could have been able to perform the like.* The author of the following letter, it seems, has been of the audience at one of these entertainments, and has accordingly I should not, however, have troubled you complained to me upon it; but I think he has with these remarks, if there were not somebeen to the utmost degree severe against what thing else in this comedy, which wants to be is exceptionable in the play he mentions, with-exorcised more than the witches: I mean the out dwelling so much as he might have done freedom of some passages, which I should on the author's most excellent talent of humour. have overlooked, if I had not observed that The pleasant pictures he has drawn of life those jests can raise the loudest mirth, though should have been more kindly mentioned, at they are painful to right sense, and an outthe same time that he banishes his witches, rage upon modesty.

who are too dull devils to be attacked with so much warmth.

MR. SPECTATOR,

"But Shakspeare's magic could not copied be:
Within that circle none durst walk but he."

"We must attribute such liberties to the taste of that age: but indeed by such representations a poet sacrifices the best part of his audi

neglects the boxes, to write to the orange

wenches.

'I must not conclude till I have taken notice

' Upon a report that Moll White had follow-ence to the worst; and, as one would think, ed you to town, and was to act a part in the Lancashire Witches, I went last week to see that play. It was my fortune to sit next to a country justice of the peace, a neighbour (as he said) of Sir Roger's, who pretended to show her to us in one of the dances. There was witchcraft enough in the entertainment almost to incline me to believe him; Ben Johnson was almost lamed; young Bullockt narrowly saved his neck; the audience was astonished, and an old acquaintance of mine, a person of worth, whom I would have bowed to in the pit, at two yards' distance did not

know me.

of the moral with which this comedy ends. The two young ladies having given a notable example of out-witting those who had a right in the disposal of them, and marrying without consent of parents, one of the injured parties, who is easily reconciled winds up all with this remark,

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-Design whate'er we will, There is a fate which over-rules us still." 'We are to suppose that the gallants are men of merit, but if they had been rakes the 'If you were what the country people re-excuse might have served as well. Hans Carported you, a white witch, I could have wish-vel's wife was of the same principle, but has ed you had been there to have exorcised that expressed it with a delicacy which shows she is rabble of broomsticks, with which we were not serious in her excuse, but in a sort of huhaunted for above three hours. I could have mourous philosophy turns off the thought of allowed them to set Clod in the tree, to have her guilt, and says, scared the sportsmen, plagued the justice, and employed honest Teague with his holy water. This was the proper use of them in comedy, if the author had stopped here; but I cannot conceive what relation the sacrifice of the black lamb, and the ceremonies of their wor

Alluding to Shadwell's comedy of the Lancashire Witches, which being considered a party play, had a good run at this time. It was advertised for the very night in which this Number is dated.

+ The names of two actors then upon the stage.

"That if weak women go astray,

Their stars are more in fault than they." This no doubt is a full reparation, and dismisses the audience with very edifying impressions.

These things fall under a province you have partly pursued already, and therefore Different incidents in the play of the Lancashire Witches.

The concluding distich of Shadwell's play.

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