"O friends, I hear the tread of nimble feet

below the genius of Milton. The descripHasting this way, and now by glimpse discern tion of the host of armed angels walking Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade, And with them comes a third of regal port,

their nightly round in Paradise is of another But faded splendour wan; who by his gait

spirit: And fierce demeanour seems the prince of Hell:

So saying on he led his radiant files, Not likely to part hence without contest;

Dazzling the moon; Stand firm, for in his look defiance low'rs.'

as that account of the hymns which our The conference between Gabriel and first parents used to hear them sing in these Satan abounds with sentiments proper for their midnight walks is altogether divine, the occasion, and suitable to the persons of and inexpressibly amusing to the imaginathe two speakers. Satan clothing himself tion. with terror when he prepares for the com- We are in the last place, to consider the bat is truly sublime, and at least equal to parts which Adam and Eve act in the fourth Homer's description of Discord, celebrated book. The description of them, as they first by Longinus, or to that of Fame in Virgil, appeared to Satan, is exquisitely drawn, and who are both represented with their feet sufficient to make the fallen angel gaze upon standing upon the earth, and their heads them with all that astonishment, and those reaching above the clouds:

emotions of envy in which he is represented: While thus he spake, th’angelic squadron bright Two of far nobler shape, erect and tall, Turn'd fiery red, sharp'ning in mooned horns

God-like erect, with native honour clad Their phalanx, and began to hem him round

In naked majesty, seem'd lords of all;
With ported spears, &c.

And worthy seem'd; for in their looks divine
On th' other side Satan alarm'd,

The image of their glorious maker shone,
Collecting all his might, dilated stood

Truth, wisdom, sanctitude severe and pure; Like Teneriffe, or Atlas, unremoved :

Severe, but in true filial freedom plac'd: His stature reach'd the sky, and on his crest

For contemplation he and valour formid, Sat Horror plum'd.

For softness she and sweet attractive grace;

He for God only, she for God in him. I must here take notice, that Milton is His fair large front, and eye sublime declar'd every where full of hints, and sometimes Absolute rule; and hyacinthine locks

Round from his parted forelock manly hung literal translations, taken from the greatest Clust'ring, but not beneath his shoulders broad. of the Greek and Latin poets. But this I She, as a veil, down to her slender waist

Her unadorned golden tresses wore may reserve for a discourse by itself, be

Dishevell’d, but in wanton ringlets wavid. cause I would not break the thread of these

So pass'd they naked on, nor shunn'd the sight speculations, that are designed for English Of God or angels, for they thought no ill: readers, with such reflections as would be

So hand in hand they pass'd, the loveliest pair

That ever since in love's embraces met. of no use but to the learned. I must, however, observe in this place,

There is a fine spirit of poetry in the lines that the breaking off the combat between which follow, wherein they are described Gabriel and Satan, by the hanging out of as sitting on a bed of flowers by the side of the golden scales in heaven, is a refinement a fountain, amidst a mixed assembly of ani

mals. upon Homer's thought, who tells us, that before the battle between Hector and

The speeches of these two first lovers Achilles, Jupiter weighed the event of it flow equally, from passion and sincerity. in a pair of scales. The reader may see The professions they make to one another the whole passage in the 22d Iliad.

are full of warmth; but at the same time Virgil, before the last decisive combat founded on truth. In a word they are the describes Jupiter in the same manner, as

gallantries of Paradise:

-When Adam first of menweighing the fates of Turnus and Æneas.

Sole partner and sole part of all these joys, Milton, though he fetched this beautiful Dearer thyself than all: circumstance from the Iliad and Æneid, But let us ever praise Him, and extol does not only insert it as a poetical embel

His bounty, following our delightful task,

To prune these growing plants, and tend these flow'rs: lishment, like the author's above-mention- Which were it toilsome, yet with thee were sweet.' ed, but makes an artful use of it for the To whom thus Eve reply'd. O thou, for whom

And from whom I was form’d, flesh of thy flesh, proper carrying on of his fable, and for the

And without whom am to no end, my guide breaking off the combat between the two

And head, what thou hast said is just and right. warriors, who were upon the point of en- For we to him indeed all praises owe gaging. To this we may further add, that

And daily thanks; I chiefly, who enjoy

So far the happier lot, enjoying thee, Miston is the more justified in this passage, Pre-eminent by so much odds, while thou as we find the same noble allegory in holy Like consort to thyself canst no where find.' &c. writ, where a wicked prince, some few The remaining part of Eve's speech, in hours before he was assaulted and slain, is which she gives an account of herself upon said to have been 'weighed in the scales, her first creation, and the manner in which and to have been found wanting.'

she was brought to Adam, is, I think, as I must here take notice, under the head beautiful a passage as any in Milton, or of the machines, that Uriel's gliding down perhaps in any other poet whatsoever. to the earth upon a sun-beam, with the These passages are all worked off with so poet's device to make him descend, as well much art, that they are capable of pleasing in his return to the sun as in his coming the most delicate reader, without offending from it, is a prettiness that might have been the most severe. admired in a little fanciful poet, but seems That day I oft remember, when from sleep,' &c.

a

A poet of less judgment and invention is a very good one, if It be true:' but as for than this great author, would have found the following relation, I should be glad were it very difficult to have filled these tender I sure it were false. It is told with such parts of the poem with sentiments proper simplicity, and there are so many artless for a state of innocence; to have described touches of distress in it, that I fear it comes the warmth of love, and the professions of too much from the heart. it, without artifice or hyperbole; to have made the man speak the most endearing

"MR. Spectator,Some years ago it things without descending from his natural happened that I lived in the same house dignity, and the woman receiving them with a young gentleman of merit, with without departing from the modesty of her whose good qualities I was so much taken, character: in a word, to adjust the pre- as to make it my endeavour to show as rogatives of wisdom and beauty, and make many as I was able in myself. Familiar each appear to the other in its proper force converse improved general civilities into and loveliness. This mutual subordination an unfeigned passion on both sides. He of the two sexes is wonderfully kept up in watched an opportunity to declare himself the whole poem, as particularly in the to me; and I, who could not expect a man speech of Eve I have before mentioned, of so great an estate as his, received his adand upon the conclusion of it in the follow- dresses in such terms, as gave him no reaing lines:

son to believe I was displeased with them, So spake our general mother, and with eyes

though I did nothing to make him

think me Of conjugal attraction unreprov'd,

more easy than was decent. His father was And meek surrender, half embracing lean'd On our first father; half her swelling breast

a very hard worldly man, and proud; so Naked met his, under the flowing gold

that there was no reason to believe he of her loose tresses hid; be in delight

would easily be brought to think there was Both of her beauty and submissive charms

any thing in any woman's person, or chaSmild with superior love.

racter, that could balance the disadvantage The poet adds, that the devil turned of an unequal fortune. In the mean time away, with envy at the sight of so much the son continued his application to me, and happiness.

omitted no occasion of demonstrating the We have another view of our first pa- most disinterested passion imaginable to rents in their evening discourses, which is me; and in plain direct terms offered to full of pleasing images and sentiments suit- marry me privately, and keep it so till he able to their condition and characters. The should be so happy as to gain his father's speech of Eve in particular, is dressed up approbation, or become possessed of his in such a soft and natural turn of words estate. I passionately loved him, and you and sentiments, as cannot be sufficiently will believe I did not deny such a one what admired.

was my interest also to grant. However, I I shall close my reflections upon this was not so young as not to take the precaubook with observing the masterly transi- tion of carrying with me a faithful servant, tion which the poet makes to their evening who had been also my mother's maid, to be worship in the following lines:

present at the ceremony. When that was Thus at their shady lodge arrivd, both stood,

over, I demanded a certificate to be signed Both turn'd, and under open sky ador'd

by the minister, my husband, and the serThe God that made both sky, air, earth, and heav'n, vant I just now spoke of. After our nupWhich they beheld, the moon's resplendent globe, And starry pole : Thou also mad'st the night,

tials, we conversed together very familiarly Maker omnipotent, and thou the day,' &c.

in the same house; but the restraints we Most of the modern heroic poets have were generally under, and the interviews imitated the ancients, in beginning a speech we had being stolen and interrupted, made without premising that the person said thus our behaviour to each other have rather or thus; but as it is easy to imitate the an- the impatient fondness which is visible in cients in the omission of two or three words, lovers, than the regular and gratified affecit requires judgment to do it in such a man- tion, which is to be observed in man and ner as they shall not be missed, and that wife. This observation made the father the speech may begin naturally without very anxious for his son, and press him to them. There is a fine instance of this kind a match he had in his eye for him. To reout of Homer, in the twenty-third chapter and conceal the secret of our marriage,

lieve my husband from this importunity, of Longinus.

L.

which I had reason to know would not be long in my power in town, it was resolved

that I should retire into a remote place in No. 322.] Monday, March 10, 1711-12. the country, and converse under feigned

names by letter. We long continued this -Ad humum mærore gravi deducit et angit.

way of commerce; and I with my needle, a

few books, and reading over and over my Grief wrings her soul, and bends it down to earth. husband's letters, passed my time in a

resigned expectation of better days. Be It is often said, after a man has heard a pleased to take notice, that within four story with extraordinary circumstances, 'Itmonths after I left my husband I was deli

Hor. Ars Poet. v. 110.

Francis.

<

vered of a daughter, who died within a few myself; let him remember how awkward I hours after her birth. This accident, and was in my dissembled indifference towards the retired manner of life I led, gave cri- him before company; ask him how I, who minal hopes to a neighbouring brute of a could never conceal my love for him, at his country gentleman, whose folly was the own request can part with him for ever? Oh, source of all my affliction. This rustic is Mr. Spectator, sensible spirits know no inone of those rich clowns who supply the difference in marriage: what then do you want of all manner of breeding by the think is my piercing affliction?-I leave neglect of it, and with noisy mirth, half un- you to represent my distress your own way, derstanding and ample fortune, force them- in which I desire you to be speedy, if you selves upon persons and things, without any have compassion for innocence exposed to sense of time or place. The poor ignorant infamy.

OCTAVIA.' people where I lay concealed, and now passed for a widow, wondered I could be so shy and strange, as they called it, to the No. 323.] Tuesday, March 11, 1711-12. ’squire; and were bribed by him to admit

-Modo vir, modo femina. Virg him whenever he thought fit: I happened

Sometimes a man, sometimes a woman. to be sitting in a little parlour which belonged to my own part of the house, and The journal with which I presented my musing over one of the fondest of my hus- reader on Tuesday last has brought me in band's letters, in which I always kept the several letters, with accounts of many pricertificate of my marriage, when this rude vate lives cast into that form. I have the fellow came in, and with the nauseous fami- Rake's Journal,' the “Sot's Journal,' the liarity of such unbred brutes snatched the Whoremaster's Journal,' and, among sepapers out of my hand. I was immediately veral others, a very curious piece, entitled, under so great a concern, that I threw my- The Journal of a Mohock. By these inself at his feet, and begged of him to return stances, I find that the intention of my last them. He, with the same odious pretence Tuesday's paper has been mistaken by to freedom and gaiety, swore he would read many of my readers. I did not design so them. I grew more importunate, he more much to expose vice as idleness, and aimed curious, till at last, with an indignațion at those persons who passed away their arising from a passion I then first disco-time rather in trifles and impertinence, vered in him, he threw the papers into the than in crimes and immoralities. Offences fire, swearing that since he was not to read of this latter kind are not to be dallied with, them, the man who writ them should never or treated in so ludicrous a manner. In be so happy as to have me read them over short, my journal only holds up folly to the again. It is insignificant to tell you my tears light, and shows the disagreeableness of and reproaches made the boisterous calf such actions as are indifferent in themleave the room ashamed and out of coun- selves, and blameable only as they proceed tenance, when I had leisure to ruminate on

from creatures endowed with reason. this accident with more than ordinary sor- My following correspondent, who calls

However, such was then my confi- | herself Clarinda, is such a journalist as I dence in my husband, that I writ to him require. She seems by her letter to be the misfortune, and desired another paper placed in a modish state of indifference beof the same kind. He deferred writing two tween vice and virtue, and to be susceptible or three posts, and at last answered me in of either, were there proper pains taken general, that he could not then send me with her. Had her journal been filled with what I asked for; but when he could find a gallantries, or such occurrences as had proper conveyance, I should be sure to have shown her wholly divested of her natural it. From this time his letters were more innocence, notwithstanding it might have cold every day than other, and, as he grew been more pleasing to the generality of indifferent I grew jealous. This has ať last readers, I should not have published it: brought me to town, where I find both the but as it is only the picture of a life filled witnesses of my marriage dead, and that with a fashionable kind of gaiety and lazimy husband, after three month's cohabita-ness, I shall set down five days of it, as I tion, has buried a young lady whom he mar- have received it from the hand of my fair ried in obedience to his father. In a word correspondent. he shuns and disowns me.

Should I come · DEAR MR. SPECTATOR,-You having to the house and confront him, the father set your readers an exercise in one of your would join in supporting him against me, last week's papers, I have performed mine though he believed my story; should I talk according to your orders, and herewith it to the world, what reparation can I ex, send it you enclosed. You must know, Mr. pect for an injury I cannot make out? I Spectator, that I am a maiden lady of a believe he means to bring me, through ne- good fortune, who have had several matches cessity, to resign my pretensions to him for offered me for these ten years last past, some provision for my life; but I will die and have at present warm applications first. Pray bid him remember what he said, made to me by a very pretty fellow.' As and how he was charmed when he laughed I am at my own disposal, I come up to at the heedless discovery I often made of town every winter, and pass my time in it

row.

a

a

after the manner you will find in the follow-flowered handkerchlef. Worked half a vioing journal, which I began to write the very let leaf in it. Eyes ached and head out of day after your Spectator upon that subject.' order. Threw by my work, and read over TUESDAY night. Could not go to sleep

the remaining part of Aurengzebe.

From three to four. Dined. till one in the morning for thinking of my

From four to twelve. Changed my mind, journal.

dressed, went abroad, and played at crimp WEDNESDAY. From eight till ten. Drank till midnight. Found Mrs. Spitely at home. two dishes of chocolate in bed, and fell Conversation: Mrs. Brilliant's necklace asleep after them.

false stones. Old lady Love-day going to From ten to eleven. Eat a slice of bread be married to a young_fellow that is not and butter, drank a dish of bohea, and read worth a groat. Miss Prue gone into the the Spectator.

country. Tom Townly has red hair. Mem. From eleven to one. At my toilette; tried Mrs. Spitely whispered in my ear, that a new hood. Gave orders for Veny to be she had something to tell me about Mr. combed and washed. Mem. I look best in Froth; I am sure it is not true. blue.

Between twelve and one. Dreamed that From one till half an hour after two. Mr. Froth lay at my feet, and called me Drove to the 'Change. Cheapened a cou- Indamora. ple of fans. Till four. At dinner. Mem. Mr. Froth morning. Sat down to my toilette.

SATURDAY. Rose at eight o'clock in the passed by in his new

liveries. From four to six. Dressed: paid a visit to half an hour before I could determine it.

From eight to nine. Shifted a patch for old lady Blithe and her sister, having before Fixed it above my left eyebrow. heard they were gone out of town that day. From six to eleven. At basset. Mem. dressed.

From nine to twelve. Drank my tea, and Never set again upon the ace of diamonds.

From twelve to two. At chapel. A great THURSDAY. From eleven at night to deal of good company: Mem. The third eight in the morning. Dreamed that I air in the new opera. "Lady Blithe dressed punted* to Mr. Froth.

frightfully, From eight to ten. Chocolate. Read two From three to four. Dined. Miss Kitty acts in Aurengzebe a-bed.

called upon me to go to the opera before I From ten to eleven. Tea-table. Sent to was risen from table. borrow lady Faddle's Cupid for Veny. .From dinner to six. Drank tea. Turned Read the play-hills. Received a letter from off a footman for being rude to Veny. Mr. Froth. Mem. Locked it up in my Six o'clock. Went to the opera. I did strong box.

not see Mr. Froth till the beginning of the Rest of the morning. Fontange, the tire- second act. Mr. Froth talked to a gentlewoman, her account of my lady Blithe's man in a black wig; bowed to a lady in the wash. Broke a tooth in my little tortoise- front box. Mr. Froth and his friend clapshell comb.

ped Nicolini in the third act. Mr. Froth Sent Frank to know how my lady Hectic cried out • Ancora.' Mr. Froth led me to rested after her monkey's leaping out at my chair. I think he squeezed my hand. window. Looked pale. Fontange tells me Eleven at night. Went to bed. Melanmy glass is not true. Dressed by three. choly dreams. Methought Nicolini said he

From three to four. Dinner cold before was Mr. Froth.
I sat down.
From four to eleven. Saw company. Mr.

SUNDAY. Indisposed. Froth's opinion of Milton. His account of Monday. Eight o'clock. Waked by the Mohocks. His fancy of a pin-cushion. Miss Kitty. Aurengzebe lay upon the Picture in the lid of his snuff-box. Old lady chair by me. Kitty repeated without book Faddle promises me her woman to cut my the eight best lines in the play. Went in hair. Lost five guineas at crimp.

our mobst to the dumb man, according to Twelve o'clock at night. Went to bed. appointment. Told me that my lover's Friday. Eight in the morning. A-bed. name began with a G. Mem. The conjuRead over all Mr. Froth's letters. Cupid

ror $ was within a letter of Mr. Froth's and Veny.

name, &c. Ten o'clock. Stayed within all day, not • Upon looking back into this my journal, at home.

I find that I am at a loss to know whether From ten to twelve. In conference with I pass my time well or ill; and indeed never my mantua-maker. Sorted a suit of ribands. thought of considering how I did it before I Broke my blue china cup.

perused your speculation upon that subject. From twelve to one. Shut myself up in I scarce find a single action in these five my chamber, practised lady Betty Mode- days that I can thoroughly approve of, ly's skuttle.

excepting the working upon the violet-leaf, One in the afternoon. Called for my which I am resolved to finish the first day

а

* A term in the game of basset.

† A pace of affected precipitation. VOL. II.

3

1 A sort of dress so named.
Š Duncan Campbell.

ON THE COUNTESS DOWAGER OF PEM

BROKE.
Underneath this marble hearse

Time shall throw a dart at thee.

I am at leisure. As for Mr. Froth and required in the members. In order to exert Veny, I did not think they took up so much this principle in its full strength and perof niy time and thoughts as I find they do fection, they take care to drink themselves upon my journal. The latter of them I will to a pitch, that is, beyond the possibility turn off, if you insist upon it; and if Mr. of attending to any motions of reason or Froth does not bring matters to a conclu- humanity; then make a general sally, and sion very suddenly, I will not let my life attack all that are so unfortunate as to run away in a dream. Your humble ser- walk the streets through which they pavant,

CLARINDA,' trole. Some are knocked down, others To resume one of the morals of my first stabbed, others cut and carbonadoed. To paper, and to confirm Clarinda in her good put the watch to a total rout, and mortify inclinations, I would have her consider some of those inoffensive militia, is reckonwhat a pretty figure she would make among ed a coup d'eclat. The particular talents posterity, were the history of her whole by, which these misanthropes are distinsife published like these five days of it. I guished from one another, consist in the shall conclude my paper with an epitaph

various kinds of barbarities which they written by an uncertain author on Sir Philip lebrated for a happy dexterity in tipping

execute the prisoners. Some are ceSydney's sister, a lady who seems to have been of a temper

very much different from the lion upon them; which is performed by that of Clarinda. The last thought of it is so

squeezing the nose flat to the face, and very noble, that I dare say my reader will boring out the eyes with their fingers. pardon me the quotation.

Others are called the dancing-masters, and teach their scholars to cut capers by running swords through their legs; a new invention, whether originally French I cannot

tell. A third sort are the tumblers, whose Lies the subject of all verse,

office is to set women on their heads, and Sidney's sister, Pembroke's mother: Death, ere thou hast kill'd another,

commit certain indecencies, or rather barFair and learn'd and good as she,

barities, on the limbs which they expose.

But these I forbear to mention, because they L.

cannot but be very shocking to the reader

as well as the Spectator. In this manner No. 324.] Wednesday, March 12, 1711-12. they carry on a war against mankind; and

by the standing maxims of their policy, are O curvæ in terris animæ, et cælestium inanes!

to enter into no alliances but one, and that O souls, in whom no heavenly fire is found,

is offensive and defensive with all bawdyFlat minds, and ever grovelling on the ground !* houses in general, of which they have de

Dryden. clared themselves protectors and guaran• MR. SPECTATOR,—The materials you tees. have collected together towards a general 'I must own, sir, these are only broken, history of clubs, make so bright a part of your incoherent memoirs of this wonderful sospeculations, that I think it is but justice we ciety; but they are the best I have been yet allowe the learned world, to furnish you with able to procure: for, being but of late estasuch assistance as may promote that useful blished, it is not ripe for a just history; and, work. For this reason I could not forbear to be serious, the chief design of this troucommunicating to you some imperfect in- ble is to hinder it from ever being so. You formations of a set of men (if you will allow have been pleased, out of a concern for the them a place in that species of being) who good of your countrymen, to act, under the have lately erected themselves into a noc- character of a Spectator, not only the turnal fraternity, under the title of the part of a looker-on, but an overseer of their Mohock-club, a name borrowed it seems actions; and whenever such enormities as from a sort of cannibals in India, who this infest the town, we immediately fly to subsist by plundering and devouring all you for redress. I have reason to believe, the nations about them. The president is that some thoughtless youngsters, out of a styled, • Emperor of the Mohocks;' and his false notion of bravery, and an immoderate arms are a Turkish crescent, which his im- fondness to be distinguished for fellows of perial majesty bears at present in a very fire, are insensibly hurried into this senseextraordinary manner engraven upon his less, scandalous project. Such will proforehead. Agreeable to their name, the bably stand corrected by your reproofs, avowed design of their institution is mis- especially if you inform them, that it is not chief; and upon this foundation all their courage for half a score fellows, mad with rules and orders are framed. An outrage- wine and lust, to set upon two or three soous ambition of doing all possible hurt to berer than themselves; and that the mantheir fellow-creatures, is the great cement ners of Indian savages are not becoming of their assembly, and the only qualification accomplishments to an English fine gentle

Such of them as have been bullies * The motto prefixed to this paper in folio, is from and scowerers of a long standing, and are

grown veterans in this kind of service, are, Even bears with bears agree.

I fear, too hardened to receive any impres

Pers. Sat. ii. 61.

man.

Juvenal:

Savis inter se convenit ursis.