while the woman flies the man pursues her; to regulate these matters; though I take it to but as soon as she turns, he runs away, and be a just observation, that unless you add she is obliged to follow. The moral of this dance does, I think, very aptly recommend modesty and discretion to the female sex. something of your own to what these fine gentlemen teach you, and which they are wholly ignorant of themselves, you will much sooner get the character of an affected fop, than of a ར ་ have often thought that few ladies' hearts are so obdurate as not to be melted by the charms of music, the force of motion, and an handsome young fellow who is continually playing before their eyes, and convincing them that he has the perfect use of all his limbs. "But as the best institutions are liable to cor-well-bred man. ruptions, so, sir, I must acquaint you, that As for country dancing, it must indeed be very great abuses are crept into this entertain- confessed that the great familiarities between ment. I was amazed to see my girl hand- the two sexes on this occasion may sometimes ed by, and handing, young fellows with so produce very dangerous consequences; and I much familiarity; and I could not have thought it had been in the child. They very often made use of a most impudent and lascivious step, called "Setting," which I know not how to describe to you, but by telling you that it is the very reverse of "Back to Back." At last an impudent young dog bid the fiddlers play a But as this kind of dance is the particular indance called “Moll Pately," and after having vention of our own country, and as every one made two or three capers, ran to his partner, is more or less a proficient in it, I would not locked his arms in hers, and whisked her round discountenance it; but rather suppose it may cleverly above ground in such a manner, that be practised innocently by others, as well as 1, who sat upon one of the lowest benches, myself, who am often partner to my landlasaw further above her shoe than I can think dy's eldest daughter. fit to acquaint you with. I could no longer endure these enormities; wherefore, just as my girl was going to be made a whirligig, I ran in, seized on the child, and carried her home. I POSTSCRIPT. Having heard a good character of the collection of pictures which is to be exposed to 'Sir, I am not yet old enough to be a fool.sale on Friday next; and concluding from the suppose this diversion might be at first in following letter, that the person who collected vented to keep a good understanding between them is a man of no unelegant taste, I will be young men and women, and so far I am not so much his friend as to publish it, provided as filling up the against it; but I shall never allow of these the reader will only look upon things. I know not what you will say to this place of an advertisement: case at present, but am sure had you been with me, you would have seen matter of great speculation, 'I am, yours, &c.' I must confess I am afraid that my correspondent had too much reason to be a little out of humour at the treatment of his daughter, but I conclude that he would have been much more so, had he seen one of those kissing dances, in which Will Honeycomb assures me they are obliged to dwell almost a minute on the fair-one's lips, or they will be too quick for the music, and dance quite out of time. I am not able, however, to give my final sentence against this diversion; and am of Mr. Cowley's opinion, that so much of dancing, at least, as belongs to the behaviour and an handsome carriage of the body, is extremely useful, if not absolutely necessary, We generally form such ideas of people at first sight, as we are hardly ever persuaded to lay aside afterwards: for this reason, a man would wish to have nothing disagreeable or uncomely in his approaches, and to be able to enster a room with a good grace. • From the Three Chairs, in the Piazzas, Covent-Garden. SIR, May 16, 1711. As you are a Spectator, I think we who make it our business to exhibit any thing to public view, ought to apply ourselves to you for your approbation. I have travelled Europe to furnish out a show for you, and have brought with me what has been admired in every country through which I passed. You have declared in many papers, that your greatest delights are those of the eye, which I do not doubt but I shall gratify with as beautiful objects as yours ever beheld. If castles, forests, ruins, fine women, and graceful men, can please you I dare promise you much satisfaction, if you will appear at my auction on Friday next. sight is, I suppose, as grateful to a Spectator, as a treat to another person, and therefore hope you will pardon this invitation from, Sir, X. A 'Your most obedient humble servant, No. 68.] Friday, May 18, 1711. Nos duo turba sumus Ovid, Met. i. 355. I might add, that a moderate knowledge in the little rules of good-breeding, gives a man some assurance, and makes him easy in all companies. For want of this, I have seen a professor of a liberal science at a loss to salute ONE would think that the larger the compa a lady; and a most excollent mathematician ny is in which we are engaged, the greater vanot able to determine whether he should stand riety of thoughts and subjects would be startor sit while my lord drank to him. ed in discourse; but instead of this, we find It is the proper business of a dancing-master that conversation is never so much straitened VOL. J. 12 [No. 68. and confined as in numerous assemblies. the two famous authors above-mentioned, and When a multitude meet together on any sub-falls into a general eulogium of friendship, ject of discourse, their debates are taken up which is very just as well as very sublime. · chiefly with forms and general positions; nay, faithful friend is a strong defence; and he that if we come into a more contracted assembly of hath found such a one hath found a treasure. men and women, the talk generally runs upon Nothing doth countervail a faithful friend, and the weather, fashions, news, and the like pub- his excellency is invaluable. A faithful friend lic topics. In proportion as conversation gets is the medicine of life; and they that fear the into clubs and knots of friends, it descends into Lord shall find.him. Whoso feareth the Lord particulars, and grows more free and commu-shall direct his friendship aright; for as he is, nicative but the most open, instructive, and so shall his neighbour (that is his friend) be unreserved discourse, is that which passes be- also.* I do not remember to have met with any tween two persons who are familiar and inti- saying that has pleased me more than that of a mate friends. On these occasions, a man gives [friend's being the medicine of life, to express the a loose to every passion and every thought that efficacy of friendship in healing the pains and is uppermost, discovers his most retired opin- anguish which naturally cleave to our existions of persons and things, tries the beauty ence in this world; and am wonderfully pleasand strength of his sentiments, and exposes ed with the turn in the last sentence, that a virhis whole soul to the examination of his friend. tuous man shall as a blessing meet with a friend Tully was the first who observed, that friend- who is as virtuous as himself There is another ship improves happiness and abates misery, by saying in the same author, which would have the doubling of our joy, and dividing of our been very much admired in an heathen writer: grief; a thought in which he hath been followed Forsake not an old friend, for the new is not by all the essayers upon friendship, that have comparable to him: a new friend is as new witten since his time. Sir Francis Bacon has wine; when it is old thou shalt drink it with finally described other advantages, or, as he pleasure.'t With what strength of allusion, calls them, fruits of friendship; and, indeed, and force of thought, has he described the there is no subject of morality which has been breaches and violations of friendship ?-Whobetter handled and more exhausted than this. so casteth a stone at the birds frayeth them Among the several fine things which have been away and he that upbraideth his friend, spoken of it, I shall beg leave to quote some out breaketh friendship. Though thou drawest a of a very ancient author, whose book would be sword at a friend, yet despair not, for there regarded by our modern wits as one of the most may be a returning to favour. If thou hast shining tracts of inorality that is extant, if it opened thy mouth against thy friend, fear not, appeared under the name of a Confucius, or for there may be a reconciliation; except for of any celebrated Grecian philosopher: upbraiding, or pride, or disclosing of secrets, mean the little apocryphal treatise, entitled or a treacherous wound; for, for these things The Wisdom of the Son of Sirach. How fine- every friend will depart.' We may observe in ly has he described the art of making friends, this and several other precepts in this author, by an obliging and affable behaviour! And laid those little familiar instances and illustrations down that precept, which a late excellent au- which are so much adınired in the moral writthor has delivered as his own, That we should ings of Horace and Epictetus. There are very have many well-wishers, but few friends. beautiful instances of this nature in the follow'Sweet language will multiply friends; and a ing passages, which are likewise written upon fair speaking tongue will increase kind greet-the same subject: Whoso discovereth secrets, ings. Be in peace with many, nevertheless loseth his credit, and shall never find a friend have but one counsellor of a thousand.* With to his mind. Love thy friend, and be faithful what prudence does he caution us in the choice unto him; but if thou bewrayeth his secrets, of our friends! And with what strokes of na-follow no more after him; for as a man hath ture (I could almost say of humour) has he destroyed his enemy, so hast thou lost the love described the behaviour of a treacherous and of thy friend; as one that letteth a bird go out self-interested friend! If thou wouldest get a of his hand, so hast thou let thy friend go, and friend, prove him first, and be not hasty to shall not get him again: follow after him no credit him for some man is a friend for his more, for he is too far off; he is as a roe escapAs for a wound it may own occasion, and will not abide in the day of ed out of the snare. thy trouble. And there is a friend who being be bound up, and after reviling there may be a turned to enmity and strife, will discover thy reconciliation; but he that bewrayeth secrets, reproach. Again, Some friend is a companis without hope.'§ ion at the table, and will not continue in the Among the several qualifications of a good day of thy affliction: but in thy prosperity he friend, this wise man has very justly singled will be as thyself, and will be bold over thy out constancy and faithfulness as the principal: servants. If thou be brought low he will be to these, others have added virtue, knowledge, against thee, and hide himself from thy face 't discretion, equality in age and fortune, and as What can be more strong and pointed than the Cicero calls it, Morum comitas, a pleasantfollowing verse? Separate thyself from thineness of temper.' If I were to give my opinion enemies, and take heed of thy friends.' In the upon such an exhausted subject, I should join next words he particularizes one of those fruits to these other qualifications, a certain equa of friendship which is described at length by 6 Ecclus. vi. 5, 6. + I bid. vi. 7, et seqq. Ecclus. vi. 15-18. Ibid. ix. 10. Ibid. xxii. 2021, 22. Ecclus. xxvii. 16, et seqq. bility or evenness of behaviour. A man often man of London, or to see a subject of the contracts a friendship with one whom perhaps Great Mogul entering into a league with one he does not find out till after a year's conver- of the Czar of Muscovy. I am infinitely desation; when on a sudden some latent ill-hu-lighted in mixing with these several ministers mour breaks out upon him, which he never dis- of commerce, as they are distinguished by covered or suspected at his first entering into their different walks and different languages. an intimacy with him. There are several persons who in some certain periods of their lives are inexpressibly agreeable, and in others as odious and detestable. Martial has given us a very pretty picture of one of this species in the following epigram : Difficilis, facilis, jucundus, acerbus es idemn, Nec tecum possum vivere, nec sine et.-Epig. xii. 47. In all thy humours, whether grave or mellow, Sometimes I am jostled among a body of Armenians; sometimes I am lost in a crowd of Jews; and sometimes make one in a group of Dutchmen. I am a Daue, Swede, or Frenchman, at different times; or rather fancy myself like the old philosopher, who upon being asked what countryman he was, replied, that he was a citizen of the world. Though I very frequently visit this busy mul titude of people, I am known to nobody there but my friend Sir Andrew, who often smiles upon me as he sees me bustling in the crowd, but at the same time connives at my presence without taking further notice of me. There is indeed a merchant of Egypt, who just knows me by sight, having formerly remitted me some money to Grand Cairo; but as I am not versed in the modern Coptic, our conferences go no further than a bow and a grimace. It is very unlucky for a man to be entangled in a friendship with one, who, by these changes and vicissitudes of humour, is sometimes amiable, and sometimes odious and as most men are at sometimes in an admirable frame and disposition of mind, it should be one of the greatest tasks of wisdom to keep ourselves well when we are so, and never to go out of that which is the agreeable part of our cha-ments. As I am a great lover of mankind, my racter. No. 69.] Saturday, May 19, 1711. C. This ground with Bacchus, that with Ceres suits; (In hopes of palms) a race of running steeds. This grand scene of business gives me an infinite variety of solid and substantial entertain heart naturally overflows with pleasare at the sight of a prosperous and happy multitude, insomuch that at many public solemnities I cannot forbear expressing my joy with tears that have stolen down my cheeks. For this reason I am wonderfully delighted to see such a body of men thriving in their own private fortunes, and at the same time promoting the public stock; or, in other words, raising estates for their own families, by bringing into their country whatever is wanting, and carrying out of it whatever is superfluous. Nature seems to have taken a particular care to disseminate her blessings among the different regions of the world, with an eye to this mutual intercourse and traffic among mankind, that the natives of the several parts of the globe might have a kind of dependence upon one another, and be united together by their common interest. Almost every degree produces something peculiar to it. The food often grows in one country, and the sauce in anoTHERE is is no place in the town which I so ther. The fruits of Portugal are corrected by much love to frequent as the Royal Exchange. the products of Barbadoes, and the infusion It gives me a secret satisfaction, and in some of a China plant is sweetened with the pith of measure gratifies my vanity, as I am an Eng- an Indian cane. The Philippin islands give a lishman, to see so rich an assembly of coun- flavour to our European bowls. The single trymen and foreigners, consulting together dress of a woman of quality is often the proupon the private business of mankind, and duct of an hundred climates. The muff and making this metropolis a kind of emporium the fan come together from the different ends for the whole earth. I must confess I look of the earth. The scarf is sent from the torrid upon high-change to be a great council, in zone, and the tippet from beneath the pole. which all considerable nations have their re- The brocade petticoat rises out of the mines of presentatives. Factors in the trading world Peru, and the diamond necklace out of the are what ambassadors are in the polite world; bowels of Indostan. they negotiate affairs, conclude treaties, and If we consider our own country in its natural maintain a good correspondence between those prospect, without any of the benefits and adwealthy societies of men that are divided from vantages of commerce, what a barren ancomone another by seas and oceans, or live on fortable spot of earth falls to our share! Natuthe different extremities of a continent. I have ral historians tell us, that no fruit grows orioften been pleased to hear disputes adjusted ginally among us, besides hips and haws, between an inhabitant of Japan and an alder-acorns and pig-nuts, with other delicacies of the like nature; that our climate of itself, and | No. 70.] Monday, May 21, 1711. without the assistance of art, can make no farInterdum vulgus rectum videtther advances towards a plum, than to a sloe, Hor. Lib. ii. Ep. i. 63 and carries an apple to no greater perfection Sometimes the vulgar see and judge aright. than a crab; that our melons, our peaches, our figs, our apricots, and cherries, are strangers WHEN I travelled, I took a particular delight among us, imported in different ages, and in hearing the songs and fables that are come naturalized in our English gardens; and that from father to son, and are most in vogue they would all degenerate and fall away into the among the common people of the countries trash of our own country, if they were wholly through which I passed; for it is impossible neglected by the planter, and left to the mercy that any thing should be universally tasted and of our sun and soil. Nor has traffic more en-approved by a multitude, though they are only riched our vegetable world, than it has improv-the rabble of a nation, which hath not in it ed the whole face of nature among us. Our some peculiar aptness to please and gratify the ships are laden with the harvest of every cli-mind of man. Human nature is the same in mate. Our tables are stored with spices, and all reasonable creatures; and whatever falls in oils, and wines. Our rooms are filled with with it, will meet with admirers amongst reapyramids of China, and adorned with the ders of all qualities and conditions. Moliere, workmanship of Japan. Our morning's draught as we are told by Monsieur Boileau, used to comes to us from the remotest corners of the read all his comedies to an old woman who was earth. We repair our bodies by the drugs of his house-keeper, as she sat with him at her America, and repose ourselves under Indian work by the chimney-corner; and could forecanopies. My friend Sir Andrew calls the vine tell the success of his play in the theatre, from yards of France our gardens; the spice-islands, the reception it met with at his fire-side for our hot-beads; the Persians, our silk-weavers, he tells us the audience always followed the and the Chinese, our potters. Nature indeed old woman, and never failed to laugh in the furnishes us with the bare necessaries of life, same place. but traffic gives us a great variety of what is useful, and at the same time supplies us with every thing that is convenient and ornamental. Nor is it the least part of this our happiness, that whilst we enjoy the romotest products of the north and south, we are free from those extremities of weather which gives them birth; that our eyes are refreshed with the green fields of Britain, at the same time that our palates are feasted with fruits that rise between the trophies. I know nothing which more shows the essential and inherent perfection of simplicity of thought, above that which I call the Gothic manner of writing, than this-that the first pleases all kinds of palates, and the latter only such as are formed to themselves a wrong artificial taste upon little fanciful authors and writers of epigrams. Homer, Virgil, or Milton, so far as the language of their poems is understood, will please a reader of plain common sense, who would neither relish nor comFor these reasons there are not more useful prehend an epigram of Martial, or a poem of members in a commonwealth than merchants. Cowley; so, on the contrary, an ordinary song They knit mankind together in a mutual in-or ballad that is the delight of the common peotercourse of good offices, distribute the gifts ple, cannot fail to please all such readers as of nature, find work for the poor, add wealth are not unqualified for the entertainment by to the rich, and magnificence to the great. their affectation or ignorance; and the reason Our English merchant converts the tin of his is plain, because the same paintings of naown country into gold, and exchanges its wool ture, which recommend it to the most ordifor rubies. The Mahometans are clothed in nary reader, will appear beautiful to the most our British manufacture, and the inhabitants refined. of the frozen zone warmed with the fleeces of our sheep. " The old song of Chevy-Chase is the favourite ballad of the common people of England, and When I have been upon the 'Change, I have Ben Johnson used to say, he had rather have often fancied one of our old kings standing in been the author of it than of all his works. Sir person, where he is represented in effigy, and Philip Sidney, in his discourse of poetry, looking down upon the wealthy concourse of speaks of it in the following words: I never people with which that place is every day filled. heard the old song of Percy and Douglass, that In this case, how would he be surprised to hear I found not my heart more moved than with a all the languages of Europe spoken in this lit-trumpet; and yet it is sung by some blind tle spot of his former dominions, and to see so crowder with no rougher voice than rude style, many private men, who in his time would have which being so evil apparelled in the dust and been the vassals of some powerful baron, nego- cobweb of that uncivil age, what would it work tiating like princes for greater sums of money trimmed in the gorgeous eloquence of Pindar?' than were formerly to be met with in the royal For my own part, I am so professed an admirtreasury! Trade, without enlarging the British er of this antiquated song, that I shall give my territories, has given us a kind of additional reader a critique upon it, without any further empire. It has multiplied the number of the apology for so doing.* rich, made our landed estates infinitely more valuable than they were formerly, and added to them an accession of other estates as valuable as the lands themselves. C. admired by Sir Philip Sidney and Ben Jonson, was not the same as that which he here so elegantly criticises, and which, in Dr. Percey's opinion, cannot be older than the time of Elizabeth; and was probably written after the eulogium of Sir Philiy Sidney, or in consequence of it. * Mr. Addison was not aware that the old song so much Like tidings to King Henry came Now God be with him, said our king, I trust I have within my realm Yet shall not Scot nor Scotland say, The greatest modern critics have laid it down as a rule, That an heroic poem should be founded upon some important precept of morality, adapted to the constitution of the country in which the poet writes. Homer and Virgil have formed their plans in this view. As Greece was a collection of many governments, who suffered very much among themselves, and gave the Persian emperor, who was their common enemy, many advantages over them by their mutual jealousies and animosities, Homer, in order to establish among them an union which was so necessary for their safety, grounds his poem upon the discords of the several Grecian princes who were engaged in a confederacy against an Asiatic prince, and the several advantages which the enemy gained by such discords. At the time the poem we are now treating of was written, the dissen- At the same time that our poet shows a laudtions of the barons, who were then so many able partiality to his countrymen, he represents petty princes, ran very high, whether they the Scots after a manner not unbecoming so quarrelled among themselves, or with their bold and brave a people : neighbours, and produced unspeakable calam ities to the country. The poet, to deter men God save the king, and bless the land The next point observed by the greatest heroic poets, hath been to celebrate persons and actions which do honour to their country: thus Virgil's hero was the founder of Rome, Homer's a prince of Greece; and for this reason Valerius Flaccus, and Statius, who were both Romans, might be justly derided for having chosen the expedition of the Golden Fleece, and the wars of Thebes, for the subjects of their epic writings." This vow full well the king perform'd 'And of the rest of small account 'Earl Douglas on a milk-white steed, Whose armour shone like gold.' His sentiments and actions are every way suit- 'Ere thus I will out-braved be, I know thee well, an earl thou art, But trust me, Percy, pity it were, "Let thou and I the battle try, By whom it is deny'd.' The poet before us has not only found out an When these brave men had distinguished hero in his own country, but raises the reputa- themselves in the battle, and in single combat tion of it by several beautiful incidents. The with each other, in the midst of a generous parEnglish are the first who take the field, and the ley, full of heroic sentiments, the Scotch earl last who quit it. The English bring only fif- falls; and with his dying words encourages his teen hundred to the battle, the Scotch two men, to revenge his death, representing to thousand. The English keep the field with them, as the most bitter circumstance of it, fifty-three; the Scotch retire with fifty-five: that his rival saw him fall: all the rest on each side being slain in battle. But the most remarkable circumstance of this kind is the different manner in which the Scotch and English kings receive the news of this fight, and of the great men's deaths who commanded in it: This news was brought to Edinburgh, 'O heavy news, King James did say, I have not any captain more With that there came an arrow keen Out of an English bow, Which struck Earl Douglas to the heart Who never spoke more words than these- Merry-men in the language of those times, is |