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ribus, he that has the thickest skin to have the preference.

foreigners in their own country, and to hear whole plays acted before them in a tongue which they did not understand. →

'Every fresh member, upon his first night, is to entertain the company with a dish of codArsinoe was the first opera that gave us a fish, and a speech in praise of Æsop, whose taste of Italian music.* The great success this portraiture they have in full proportion, or ra- opera met with produced some attempts of ther disproportion, over the chimney; and forming pieces upon Italian plans, which their design is, as soon as their funds are suf-should give, a more natural and reasonable enficient, to purchase the heads of Thersites, tertainment than what can be met with in the Duns Scotus, Scarron, Hudibras, and the old elaborate trifles of that nation. This alarmed gentleman in Oldham, with all the celebrated the poetasters and fiddlers of the town, who ill faces of antiquity, as furniture for the club

room.

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were used to deal in a more ordinary kind of ware; and therefore laid down an established As they have always been professed ad- rule, which is received as such to this day, mirers of the other sex, so they unanimously That nothing is capable of being well set to declare that they will give all possible encou-music, that is not nonsense.' ragement to such as will take the benefit of This maxim was no sooner received, but we the statute, though none yet have appeared to immediately fell to translating the Italian opedo it. ras; and as there was no great danger of hurt

The worthy president, who is their most ing the sense of those extraordinary pieces, devoted champion, has lately shown me two our authors would often make words of their copies of verses, composed by a gentleman of own, which were entirely foreign to the meanthis society; the first, a congratulatory ode, ing of the passages they pretended to transinscribed to Mrs. Touchwood, upon the loss of late; their chief care being to make the numher two fore-teeth; the other, a panegyric bers of the English verse answer to those of upon Mrs. Andiron's left shoulder. Mrs. Viz-the Italian, that both of them might go to the ard, (he says) since the small-pox, is grown same tune. Thus the famous song in Camilla: tolerably ugly, and a top toast in the club; but I never heard him so lavish of his fine things, as upon old Nell Trot, who constantly officiates at their table; her he even adores

'Barbara si t' intendo, &c.

'Barbarous woman, yes, I know your meaning;'

and extols as the very counterpart of mother which expresses the resentments of an angry Shipton; in short, Nell, (says he) is one of the lover, was translated into that English lamenextraordinary works of nature; but as for tation: complexion, shape, and features, so valued by others they are all mere outside and symmetry,

Frail are a lover's hopes, &c.

which is his aversion. Give me leave to add, And it was pleasant enough to see the most rethat the president is a facetious pleasant gen-fined persons of the British nation dying away tleman, and never more so, than when he has got (as he calls them) his dear mummers about and languishing to notes that were filled with him; and he often protests it does him good to a spirit of rage and indignation. It happened meet a fellow with a right genuine grimace in also very frequently, where the sense was his air (which is so agreeable in the generality of words, which were drawn out of the phrase rightly translated, the necessary transposition of the French nation); and, as an instance of his sincerity in this particular, he gave me a of one tongue into that of another, made the sight of a list in his pocket-book of all this music appear very absurd in one tongue that class, who for these five years have fallen unwas very natural in the other. I remember der his observation, with himself at the head an Italian verse that ran thus, word for word: of them, and in the rear [as one of a promising and improving aspect], Sir,

Your obliged and humble servant,"
'ALEXANDER CARBUNCLE.'

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'And turn'd my rage into pity;'

which the English for ryhme sake translated, And into pity turn'd my rage.'

By this means the soft notes that were adapted to pity in the Italian, fell upon the word rage in the English; and the angry sounds that were turned to rage in the original, were made to express pity in the translation. It oftentimes happened, likewise, that the finest notes in the air fell upon the most insignificant words in the sentence. I have known the word And pursued through the whole gamut, have been entertained with many a melodious The, and have heard the most beautiful graces, quavers, and divisions, bestowed upon Then,

Ir is my design in this paper to deliver down to posterity a faithful account of the Italian opera, and of the gradual progress which it has made upon the English stage; for there is no question but our great grandchildren will be very curious to know the reason why their fore-an manner, by Thomas Clayton. It was first performed * Arsinoë, queen of Cyprus, an opera, after the Italathers used to sit together like an audience of at the Theatre Royal, Drury-Lane, in 1707.

For, and From; to the eternal honour of our uncertain, that we do not know what it is we English particles.

The next step to our refinement was the introducing of Italian actors into our opera; who sung their parts in their own language, at the same time that our countrymen performed theirs in our native tongue. The king or hero of the play generally spoke in Italiab, and his slaves answered him in English. The lover frequently made his court, and gained the heart of his princess, in a language which she did not understand. One would have thought it very difficult to have carried on dialogues after this manner without au interpreter between the persons that conversed together; but this was the state of the English stage for about three years.

like; only, in general, we are transported with any thing that is not English: so it be of a foreign growth, let it be Italian, French, or High Dutch, it is the same thing. In short, our English music is quite rooted out, and nothing yet planted in its stead.

When a royal palace is burnt to the ground, every man is at liberty to present his plan for a new one; and though it be but indifferently put together, it may furnish several hints that may be of use to a good architect. I shall take the same liberty in a following paper, of giving my opinion upon the subject of music; which I shall lay down only in a problematical manner, to be considered by those who are masters in the art. C.

Di bene fecerunt, inopis mne quodque pusilli
Finxerunt animi, raro et perpanca loquentis.
Hor. Lib. 1. Sat. iv. 17.
Thank heaven that made me of an humble mind;
To action little, less to words inclined!

At length the audience grew tired of understanding half the opera; and therefore to ease themselves entirely of the fatigue of thinking, No. 19.] Thursday, March 22, 1710-11. have so ordered it at present, that the whole opera is performed in an unknown tongue. We no longer understand the language of our own stage; insomuch that I have often been afraid, when I have seen our Italian performers chattering in the vehemence of action, that they have been calling us names, and abusing OBSERVING one person behold another, who us among themselves; but I hope, since we was an utter stranger to him, with a cast of his do put such an entire confidence in them, they eye which, methought, expressed an emotion will not talk against us before our faces, though of heart very different from what could be they may do it with the same safety as if it raised by an object so agreeable as the genwere behind our backs. In the mean time, Itleman he looked at, I began to consider, not cannot forbear thinking how naturally an his- without some secret sorrow, the condition of torian who writes two or three hundred years an envious man. Some have fancied that hence, and does not know the taste of his wise forefathers, will make the following reflection: In the beginning of the eighteenth century, the Italian tongue was so well understood in England, that operas were acted on the public stage in that language.'

envy has a certain magical force in it, and that the eyes of the envious have by their fascination blasted the enjoyments of the happy. Sir Francis Bacon says, some have been so curious as to remark the times and seasons when the stroke of an envious eye is most effectually One scarce knows how to be serious in the pernicious, and have observed that it has been confutation of an absurdity that shows itself when the person envied has been in any cir-at the first sight. It does not want any great cumstance of glory and triumph. At such a measure of sense to see the ridcule of this time the mind of the prosperous man goes, as monstrous practice; but what makes it the it were, abroad, among things without him, and more astonishing, it is not the taste of the rab-is more exposed to the malignity. But I shall ble, but of persons of the greatest politeness, which has established it.

not dwell upon speculations so abstracted as this, or repeat the many excellent things which one might collect out of authors upon this miserable affection; but, keeping the common road of life, consider the envious man with relation to these three heads, his pains, his re

If the Italians have a genius for music above the English, the English have a genius for other performances of a much higher nature, and capable of giving the mind a much nobler entertainment. Would one think it was possi-liefs, and his happiness. ble (at a time when an author lived that was The envious man is in pain upon all occasions able to write the Phædra and Hippolitus) for which ought to give him pleasure. The relish a people to be so stupidly fond of the Italian of his life is inverted; and the objects which opera, as scarce to give a third day's hearing administer the highest satisfaction to those to that admirable tragedy? Music is certainly who are exempt from this passion, give the a very agreeable entertainment: but if it quickest pangs to persons who are subject to would take the entire possession of our ears. it. All the perfections of their fellow-creatures if it would make us incapable of hearing sense, are odious. Youth, beauty, valour, and wisif it would exclude arts that have a much grea- dom are provocations of their displeasure. ter tendency to the refinement of human na- What a wretched and apostate state is this! ture; I must confess I would allow it no better to be offended with excellence, and to hate a quarter than Plato has done, who banishes it man because we approve him! The condition out of his commonwealth.

At present our notions of music are so very

*Phædra and Hippolitus, a tragedy, by Edmund Smith, first acted in 1707.

VOL. I.

of the envious man is the most emphatically miserable; he is not only incapable of rejoicing in another's merit or success, but lives in a world wherein all mankind are in a plot against his quiet, by studying their own happiness and

[No. 20. advantage. Will Prosper is an honest tale- avoid the envy that may accrue to me from bearer, he makes it his business to join in con- these my speculations; and if I am not misversation with envious men. He points to such taken in myself, I think I have a genius to a handsome young fellow, and whispers that escape it. Upon hearing in a coffee-house one he is secretly married to a great fortune. When of my papers commended, I immediately apthey doubt, he adds circumstances to prove it; prehended the envy that would spring from and never fails to aggravate their distress, by that applause; and therefore gave a descripassuring them, that, to his knowledge, he has tion of my face the next day; being resolved, an uncle will leave him some thousands. Will as I grow in reputation for wit to resign my has many arts of this kind to torture this sort pretentions to beauty. This, I hope, may give of temper, and delights in it. When he finds some ease to those unhappy gentlemen who them change colour, and say faintly they wish do me the honour to torment themselves upon such a piece of news is true, he has the malice the account of this my paper. As their case is to speak some good or other of every man of very deplorable, and deserves compassion, I their acquaintance. shall sometimes be dull, in pity to them, and

The reliefs of the envious man are those lit-will, from time to time, administer consolations tle blemishes and imperfections that discover to them by further discoveries of my person. themselves in an illustrious character. It is a In the mean while, if any one says the Specmatter of great consolation to an envious per- tator has wit, it may be some relief to them to son, when a man of known honour does a thing think that he does not show it in company. unworthy himself, or when any action which And if any one praises his morality, they may was well executed, upon better information ap-comfort themselves by considering that his face pears so altered in its circumstances, that the is none of the longest. fame of it is divided among many, instead of

being attributed to one. This is a secret satis

The

Κυνὸς ὄμματ' έχων

Thou dog in forehead!

R.

Hon. Il. i. 225.
Pope.

faction to these malignants; for the person No. 20.] Friday, March 23, 1710-11. whom they before could not but admire, they fancy is nearer their own condition as soon as his merit is shared among others. I remember some years ago there came out an excellent poem without the name of the author. little wits, who were incapable of writing it, began to pull in pieces the supposed writer. When that would not do, they took great pains to suppress the opinion that it was his. again failed. The next refuge was to say it was overlooked by one man, and many pages wholly written by another. An honest fellow, who sat amongst a cluster of them in debate on this subject, cried out, Gentlemen, if you are sure none of you yourselves had a hand in it, you are but where you were, whoever writ it. But the most usual succour to the envious, in cases of nameless merit in this kind, is to keep the property, if possible, unfixed, and by that means to hinder the reputation of it from falling upon any particular person. You see an envious man clear up his countenance, if in the relation of any man's great happiness in one point, you mention his uneasiness in another. When he hears such a one is very rich he turns pale, but recovers when you 'There never was (I believe) an acceptable add that he has many children. In a word, man but had some awkward imitators. Ever the only sure way to an envious man's favour, since the Spectator appeared, have I remarked is not to deserve it. a kind of men, whom I choose to call Starers; But if we consider the envious man in de-that without any regard to time, place, or light, it is like reading of the seat of a giant modesty, disturb a large company with their in a romance; the magnificence of his house impertinent eyes. Spectators make up a proconsists in the many limbs of men whom he per assembly for a puppet-show or a bearhas slain. If any who promised themselves garden; but devout supplicants and attentive success in any uncommon undertaking mis-hearers are the audience one ought to expect carry in the attempt, or he that aimed at what in churches. I am, sir, member of a small would have been useful and laudable, meets pious congregation near one of the north gates with contempt and derision, the envious man, under the colour of hating vainglory, can smile with an inward wantonness of heart at the ill effect it may have upon an honest ambition for the future.

AMONG the other hardy undertakings which I have proposed to myself, that of the correction of impudence is what I have very much at That heart. This in a particular manner is my province as Spectator; for it is generally an of fence committed by the eyes, and that against such as the offenders would perhaps never have an opportunity of injuring any other way. The following letter is a complaint of a young lady, who sets forth a trespass of this kind, with that command of herself as befits beauty and innocence, and yet with so much spirit as sufficiently expresses her indignation. The whole transaction is performed with the eyes; and the crime is no less than employing them in such a manner, as to divert the eyes of others from the best use they can make of them, even looking up to heaven...

Having thoroughly considered the nature of this passion, I have made it my study how to

SIR,

of this city; much the greater part of us indeed are females, and used to behave ourselves in a regular attentive manner, till very lately one whole aisle has been disturbed by one of these monstrous Starers; he is the head taller than any one in the church; but for the greater advantage of exposing himself, stands upon a has

sock, and commands the whole congregation, these dominions as are masters of it, were to the great annoyance of the devoutest part of born. Impudence in an Englishman is sullen the auditory; for what with blushing, confu- and insolent; in a Scotchman it is untractable sion, and vexation, we can neither mind the and rapacious; in an Irishman absurd and prayers nor sermon. Your animadversion upon this insolence would be a great favour to,

.Sir,

Your most humble servant,'.

'S. C.

fawning. As the course of the world now runs, the impudent Englishman behaves like a surly landlord, the Scot like an ill-received guest, and the Irishman like a stranger, who knows he is not welcome. There is seldom any thing entertaining either in the impudence of a South I have frequently seen of this sort of fellows, or North Briton; but that of an Irishman is al and do think there cannot be a greater aggra-ways comic. A true and genuine impudence vation of an offence, than that it is committed is ever the effect of ignorance, without the where the criminal is protected by the sacred-least sense of it. The best and most successness of the place which he violates. Many re-ful Starers now in this town are of that nation; flections of this sort might be very justly made they have usually the advantage of the stature upon this kind of behaviour, but a Starer is not mentioned in the above letter of my corres. usually a person to be convinced by the reason pondent, and generally take their stands in the of the thing; and a fellow that is capable of eye of women of fortune; insomuch that I have showing an impudent front before a whole con- known one of them, three months after he gregation, and can bear being a public specta- came from plough, with a tolerable good air, cle, is not so easily rebuked as to amend by ad-lead out a woman from a play, which one of our monitions. If, therefore, my correspondent own breed, after four years at Oxford, and does not inform me that within seven days two at the Temple, would bave been afraid to after this date the barbarian does not at least look at. stand upon his own legs only, without an emi- I cannot tell how to account for it, but these nence, my friend Will Prosper* has promised people have usually the preference to our own to take an hassock opposite to him, and stare fools, in the opinion of the sillier part of womagainst him in defence of the ladies. I have ankind. Perhaps it is that an English coxcomb given him directions, according to the most ex-is seldom so obsequious as an Irish one; and act rules of optics, to place himself in such a when the design of pleasing is visible, an abmanner, that he shall meet his eyes wherever surdity in the way toward it is easily forgiven. he throws them. I have hopes that when Will But those who are downright impudent, and confronts him, and all the ladies, in whose be-go on without reflection that they are such, are half he engages him, cast kind looks and wishes more to be tolerated, than a set of fellows of success at their champion, he will have some among us who profess impudence with an air shame, and feel a little of the pain he has so of- of humour, and think to carry off the most ten put others to, of being out of countenance. inexcusable of all faults in the world, with no It has, indeed, been time out of mind gene-other apology than saying in a gay tone, I put rally remarked, and as often lamented, that an impudent face upon the matter.' No; no this family of Starers have infested public as- man shall be allowed the advantages of impusemblies. I know no other way to obviate so dence, who is conscious that he is such. If he great an evil, except, in the case of fixing their knows he is impudent, he may as well be othereyes upon women, some male friend will take wise; and it shall be expected that he blush, the part of such as are under the oppression when he sees he makes another do it. For of impudence, and encounter the eyes of the nothing can atone for the want of modesty : Starers wherever they meet them. While we without which beauty suffer our women to be thus impudently attacked, they have no defence, but in the end to cast yielding glances at the Starers. In this case, a man who has no sense of shame, has the same advantage over his mistress, as he who has no regard for his own life has over his adversary. While the generality of the world are fettered by rules, and move by proper and just methods; he, who has no respect to any of I AM Sometimes very much troubled, when I them, carries away the reward due to that pro-reflect upon the three great professions of dipriety of behaviour, with no other merit, but vinity, law, and physic; how they are each of that of having neglected it. them overburdened with practitioners, and

detestable.

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ungraceful, and wit R.

No. 21.] Saturday, March 24, 1710-11.

Locus est et pluribus umbris. Hor. Lib. 1. Ep. v. 28. There's room enough, and each may bring his friend.

Creech.

I take an impudent fellow to be a sort of out-filled with multitudes of ingenious gentlemen law in good breeding, and therefore what is that starve one another. said of him no nation or person can be con- We may divide the clergy into generals, field cerned for. For this reason one may be free officers, and subalterns. Among the first we upon him. I have put myself to great pains may reckon bishops, deans, and archdeacons. in considering this prevailing quality, which Among the second are doctors of divinity, prewe call impudence, and have taken notice that bendaries, and all that wear scarfs. The rest it exerts itself in a different manner, according are comprehended under the subalterns. As to the different soils wherein such subjects of for the first class, our constitution preserves it from any redundancy of incumbents, notwithstanding competitors are numberless. Upon

*See Spect. No. 19.

a strict calculation, it is found that there has liam Temple is very much puzzled to find out been a great exceeding of late years in the a reason why the Northern Hive, as he calls second division, several brevets have been it, does not send out such prodigious swarms, granted for the converting of subalterns into and over-run the world with Goths and Vanscarf-officers; insomuch, that within my medals, as it did formerly ; but had that excellent mory the price of lutestring is raised above author observed that there were no students in two-pence in a yard. As for the subalterns, physic among the subjects of Thor and Woden, they are not to be numbered. Should our cler- and that this science very much flourishes in gy once enter into the corrupt practice of the the north at present, he might have found a laity, by the splitting of their freeholds, they better solution for this difficulty than any of would be able to carry most of the elections in those he has made use of. This body of men England. in our own country may be described like the The body of the law is no less incumbered British army in Cæsar's time. Some of them with superfluous members, that are like Vir-slay in chariots, and seme on foot. If the ingil's army, which he tells us was so crowded, fantry do less execution than the charioteers, many of them had not room to use their wea- it is because they cannot be carried so soon inpons. This prodigious society, of men may to all quarters of the town, and dispatch so be divided into the litigious and peaceable. Un- much business in so short a time. Besides this der the first are comprehended all those who body of regular troops, there are stragglers, are carried down in coach-fulls to Westminster- who without being duly listed and enrolled, do hall, every morning in term time. Martial's infinite mischief to those who are so unlucky as description of this species of lawyers is full of to fall into their hands. humour:

Iras et verba locant.'

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There are, besides the above-mentioned, innumerable retainers to physic, who, for want of other patients, amuse themselves with the stifling of cats in an air-pump, cutting up dogs * Men that hire out their words and anger;' alive, or impaling of insects upon the point of that are more or less passionate according as a needle for microscopical observations; bethey are paid for it, and allow their client a sides those that are employed in the gathering quantity of wrath proportionable to the fee of weeds, and the chase of butterflics: not to which they receive from him. I must, how-mention the cockleshell-merchants and spider ever, observe to the reader, that above three catchers. parts of those whom I reckon among the litigious are such as are only quarrelsome in their hearts, and have no opportunity of show ing their passion at the bar. Nevertheless, as they do not know what strifes may arise, they appear at the hall every day, that they may show themselves in a readiness to enter of parents, who will not rather choose to place the lists, whenever there shall be occasion for them.

When I consider how each of these profes sions are crowded with multitudes that seek their livelihood in them, and how many men of merit there are in each of them, who may be rather said to be of the science, than the profession; I very much wonder at the humour

their sons in a way of life where an honest industry cannot but thrive, than in stations The peaceable lawyers are, in the first place, where the greatest probity, learning, and good many of the benchers of the several inns of sense may miscarry. How many men are court, who seem to be the dignitaries of the country curates, that might have made themlaw, and are endowed with those qualifications selves aldermen of London, by a right improveof mind that accomplish a man rather for a ment of a smaller sum of money than what is ruler than a pleader. These men live peace- usually laid out upon a learned education? A ably in their habitations, eating once a day, sober frugal person, of slender parts, and a and dancing once a year,* for the honour of slow apprehension, might have thrived in their respective societies. trade, though he starves upon physic; as a Another numberless branch of peaceable man would be well enough pleased to buy silks lawyers are those young men who, being plac-of one whom he would not venture to feel his ed at the inns of court in order to study the pulse. Vagellius is careful, studious, and laws of their country, frequent the play-house obliging, but withal a little thick-sculled; he more than Westminster-hall, and are seen in has not a single client, but might have had all public assemblies, except in a court of jus-abundance of customers. The misfortune is, tice. I shall say nothing of those silent and that parents take a liking to a particular probusy multitudes that are employed within fession, and therefore desire their sons may be doors in the drawing up of writings and con- of it: whereas, in so great an affair of life, veyances; nor of those greater numbers that they should consider the genius and abilities palliate their want of business with a pretence of their children, more than their own inclinato such chamber practice. tions. If, in the third place, we look into the pro- It is the great advantage of a trading nation, fession of physic, we shall find a most formid- that there are very few in it so dull and heavy, able body of men. The sight of them is enough who may not be placed in stations of life, to make a man serious, for we may lay it down which may give them an opportunity of makas a maxim, that when a nation abounds in ing their fortunes. A well-regulated commerce physicians, it grows thin of people. Sir Wil-is not, like law, physic, or divinity, to be over

* See Dugdale's Origines Judiciales.

stocked with hands; but on the contrary flourishes by multitudes, and gives employment to

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