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ten thou-ural to the mind of man, is an unauswerable argu-
satinent that he is a being designed for it; especially
T we consider that he is capable of being virtuous
er, vicious here: that he hath faculties improvable
o all eternity; and, by a proper or wrong em-
disloyment of them, may be happy or miserable
bea barhroughout that infinite duration. Our idea indeed
f this eternity is not of an adequate or fixed na-
ure, but is perpetually growing or enlarging it-
elf toward the object, which is too big for human
abots bare der omprehension. As we are now in the beginnings
fexistence, so shall we always appear to ourselves
sif we were for ever entering upon it. After
million or two of centuries, some considerable
hings, already past, may slip out of our memory;
hich, if it be not strengthened in a wonderful
nanner, may possibly forget that ever there was a
un or planets; and yet, notwithstanding the long
ace that we shall then have run, we shall still ima-
ine ourselves just starting from the goal, and find
10 proportion between that space which we know
had a beginning and what we are sure will never
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But I shall leave this subject to your managenent, and question not but you will throw it into uch lights as shall at once improve and entertain breakdirour reader.

I have, inclosed, sent you a translation* of the alpeech of Cato on this occasion, which hath accicro lentally fallen into my hands, and which, for coniseness, purity, and elegance of phrase, cannot be ufficiently admired.

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Sic, sic se habere rem necesse prorsus est,
Ratione vincis, do lubens manus, Plato.
Quid enim dedisset, quæ dedit frustra nihil,
Eternitatis insitam cupidinem

Natura? Quersum hæc dulcis expectatio;
Vitaque non explenda melioris sitis?
Quid vult sibi aliud, iste redeundi in nihil
Horror, sub imis quemque agens præcordiis?
Cur territa in se refugit anima, cur tremit
Attonita, quoties, morte ne pereat, timet?
Particula nempe est cuique nascenti indita
Divinior; quae corpus incolens agit;
Hominique succinit, tua est æternitas.
Eternitas! O lubricum nimis aspici,
Mixtumque dulci gaudium formidine !

"Quæ demigrabitur alia hinc in corpora?
Qua terra mox incognita? Quis orbis novus
Manet incolendus? Quanta erit mutatio?
Hæc intuenti spatia mihi quaqua patent
Immensa: sed caliginosa nox premit ;
Nec luce clara vult videri singula.
Figendus hic pes; certa sunt hæc hactenus;
Si quod gubernet numen humanum genus,
(At, quod gubernet, esse clamant omnia)

Virtute non gaudere certe non potest :
Nec esse non beata, qua gaudet, potest.
Sed beata sede? Quove in tempore?
qua

Hæc quanta terra, tota est Cæsaris.

Quid dubius hæret animus usque adeo? Brevi
Hic nodum hic omnem expediet. Arma en induer.
[Ensi manum admovens.
In utramque partem facta; quæque vim inferant,
Et quæ propulsent! Dextera intentat necem ;
Vitam sinistra: vulnus hæc dabit manus;
Allera medelam vulneris: hic ad exitum

Deducet, ictu simplici; hæc vetant mori.
Secura ridet anima mucronis minas,
Ensesque strictos, interire nescia.
Extinguet atas sidera diuturnior:
Etate languens ipse sol obscurius
Emittet orbi consenescenti jubar:
Natura et ipsa sentiet quondam vices
Etatis; annis ipsa deficient gravis:
At tibi juventus, at tibi immortalitas :
Tibi parta divum est vita. Periment mutuis
Elementa sese et interibunt ictibus.
Tu permanebis sola semper integra,
Tu cuncta rerum quassa, cuncta naufraga,
Jam portu in ipso tuta, contemplabere.
Compage rupta, corruent in se invicem,
Orbesque fractis ingerentur orbibus;
Illasa tu sedebis extra fragmina."

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Through what variety of untry'd being,
Thro' what new scenes and changes must we pass !
The wide, th' unbounded prospect lies before me;
But shadows, clouds, and darkness, rest upon it.
Here will I hold. If there's a Power above us,
(And that there is all Nature cries aloud
Through all her works) he must delight in virtue;
And that which he delights in must be happy.
But when, or where !-This world was made for Cæsar.
I'm weary of conjectures-This must end them.

[Laying his hand on his sword.

"Thus am I doubly arm'd; my death and life,
My bane and antidote are both before me.
This in a moment brings me to an end;
But this informs me I shall never die.
The soul, secur'd in her existence, smiles
At the drawn dagger, and defies its point.
The stars shall fade away, the sun himself
Grow dim with age, and nature sink in years;
But thou shalt flourish in immortal youth,
Unhurt amidst the war of elements,

The wrecks of matter, and the crush of worlds.'

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NEXT to the people who want a place, there are none to be pitied more than those who are solicited for one. A plain answer with a denial in it is looked upon as pride, and a civil answer as a promise.

Nothing is more ridiculous than the pretensions of people upon these occasions. Every thing a man hath suffered, whilst his enemies were in play, was certainly brought about by the malice of the opposite party. A bad cause would not have been lost, if such an one had not been upon the bench; nor a profligate youth disinherited, if he had not got drunk every night by toasting an outed ministry. I remember a tory, who, having been fined in a Cato (says Dr. Johnson) was translated by Salvini into Ita court of justice for a prank that deserved the pillian, and acted at Florence; and by the Jesuits of St. Omer's into Latin, and played by their pupils. Of this version a copy lory, desired upon the merit of it to be made a was sent to Mr. Addison: it is to be wished that it could be found, justice of peace when his friends came into power; for the sake of comparing their version of the soliloquy with that and shall never forget a whig criminal, who, upon of Bland.' Dr. Johnson's Lives of English Poets, vol. ii. p. 341, 150. edit. 1794,

This was done by Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Bland, formerly head master of Eaton school, then provost of the college there,

and Dean of Durham.

being indicted for a rape, told his friends, You

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judgment to the modesty which is observed in the institute those societies there, as a clan of them Our musical part of our devotions. Methinks there is have in late times done, to such a degree of insoprisoned be something very laudable in the custom of a volun-lence as has given the partition where they reside eagletary before the first lesson; by this we are supposed in a church near one of the city gates, the denoseam to be prepared for the admission of those divine mination of the Rattling Pew. These gay fellows, of greater as truths which we are shortly to receive. We are from humble lay professions, set up for critics then to cast all worldly regards from off our hearts, without any tincture of letters or reading, and the side all tumults within are then becalmed, and there bave the vanity to think they can lay hold of someshould be nothing near the soul but peace and thing from the parson which may be formed into and the tranquillity. So that in this short office of praise data bote the man is raised above himself, and is almost lost It is needless to observe, that the gentlemen enterer de already amidst the joys of futurity. who every Sunday have the hard province of in'I have heard some nice observers frequently structing these wretches in a way they are in no etitecommend the policy of our church in this particu- present disposition to take, have a fixed character une, alar, that it leads us on by such easy and regular for learning and eloquence, not to be tainted by elere methods that we are perfectly deceived into piety. the weak efforts of this contemptible part of their When the spirits begin to languish, (as they too audiences. Whether the pulpit is taken by these often do with a constant series of petitions) she gentlemen or any strangers their friends, the way takes care to allow them a pious respite, and re- of the club is this: if any sentiments are delivered leves them with the raptures of an anthem. Nor too sublime for their conception; if any uncommon can we doubt that the sublimest poetry, softened topic is entered on, or one in use new modified n the most moving strains of music, can never fail with the finest judgment and dexterity; or any of humbling or exalting the soul to any pitch of controverted point be never so elegantly handled: levotion. Who can hear the terrors of the Lord in short, whatever surpasses the narrow limits of of Hosts described in the most expressive melody, their theology, or is not suited to their taste, they without being awed into a veneration? Or who are all immediately upon the watch, fixing their can hear the kind and endearing attributes of a eyes upon each other with as much warmth as our merciful father, and not be softened into love to- gladiators of Hockley-in-the-Hole, and waiting SDAY, DE vards him? like them for a hit; if one touches, all take" fire, 'As the rising and sinking of the passions, the and their noddles instantly meet in the centre of casting soft or noble hints into the soul, is the na- the pew; then, as by beat of drum, with exact ural privilege of music in general, so more parti-discipline, they rear up into a full length of staularly of that kind which is employed at the al-ture, and with odd looks and gesticulations confer ar. Those impressions which it leaves upon the together in so loud and clamorous a manner, conpirits are more deep and lasting, as the grounds tinued to the close of the discourse, and during the rom which it receives its authority are founded after-psalm, as is not to be silenced but by the he finore upon reason. It diffuses a calmness all around bells. Nor does this suffice them, without aiming [s, it makes us drop all those vain or immodest to propagate their noise through all the church, by houghts which would be an hindrance to us in the signals given to the adjoining seats, where others erformance of that great duty of thanksgiving, designed for this fraternity are sometimes placed evhich, as we are informed by our Almighty Bene- upon trial to receive them reactor, is the most acceptable return which can be The folly as well as rudeness of this practice is made for those infinite stores of blessings which he in nothing more conspicuous than this, that all that aily condescends to pour down upon his creatures. follows in the sermon is lost; for, whenever our When we make use of this pathetical method of sparks take alarm, they blaze out and grow so tuddressing ourselves to him, we can scarce contain multuous than no after-explanation can avail, it rom raptures! The heart is warmed with a subli-being impossible for themselves or any near them sity of goodness! We are all piety and all love! to give an account thereof. If any thing really How do the blessed spirits rejoice and wonder novel is advanced, how averse soever it may be to behold unthinking man prostrating his soul to their way of thinking, to say nothing of duty, men is dread Sovereign in such a warmth of piety as of less levity than these would be led by a natural hey themselves might not be ashamed of! curiosity to hear the whole.

'I shall close these reflections with a passage Laughter, where things sacred are transacted, ken out of the third book of Milton's Paradise is far less pardonable than whining at a conventicle; ost, where those harmonious beings are thus the last has at least a semblance of grace, and where obly described:

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the affectation is unseen may possibly imprint
wholesome lessons on the sincere; but the first
has no excuse, breaking through all the rules of
order and decency, and manifesting a remissness
of mind in those important matters which require
the strictest composure and steadiness of thought:
a proof of the greatest folly in the world.

I shall not here enter upon the veneration due
to the sanctity of the place, the reverence owing
the minister, or the respect that so great an assem-
bly as a whole parish may justly claim. I shall only
tell them, that, as the Spanish cobler, to reclaim a
profligate son, bid him have some regard to the
dignity of his family, so they as gentlemen (for we
citizens assume to be such one day in a week) are
the gross abuses here mentioned, whereof they have
bound for the future to repent of, and abstain from,
been guilty in contempt of heaven and earth, and

to the laws in this case made and pro- person, kept in perpetual neatness, hath won may

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"Your very humble servant,

"B. M."

A FRDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1714.

HDR. Od. v. L. 1. ver. 5.

wilt de desp of art.

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CREECH

a heart from a pretty slattern. Age itself is unamiable, while it is preserved clean and un lied: like a piece of metal constantly kept smot and bright, we look on it with more pleasure the on a vessel that is cankered with rust.

I might observe further, that as cleanliness res ders us agreeable to others, so it makes us eas ourselves: that it is an excellent preservative a health; and that several vices, destructive bot mind and body, are inconsistent with the hab it. But these reflections I shall leave to the i sure of my readers, and shall observe, in the place, that it bears a great analogy with puriy mind, and naturally inspires refined sentiments passions.

mies out of town, some age cach, where I had for my 1 209 jem, id a pretty young Song 10 nclination to talk Contrary, those who live in the neighbourhood vine. I faced myself backward, good examples, fly from the first appearances hem, and pick a specula- what is shocking. It fares with us much after

We find from experience, that through the p valence of custom the most vicious actions their horror by being made familiar to us. Or

་ * Simpanuus. Their different same manner as our ideas. Our senses, which

Kres ve siñcent if "tenseres to draw my the inlets to all the images conveyed to the

The gereman was dressed in a suit, can only transmit the impression of such thing Ang da v berezi haz been shack, as I perceived usually surround them. So that pure and unsu <ring 64 ganes that had escaped the pow-thoughts are naturally suggested to the mind ok was moreseested with the greatest part those objects that perpetually encompass us, nis nem ig, which cost no small sum, they are beautiful and elegant in their kind

of

In the east, where the warmth of the cli makes cleanliness more immediately necessary in colder countries, it is made one part religion: the Jewish law, and the Mahomet M which in some things copies after it, is filled bathings, purifications, and other rites of the i

se sever y a manner cast over his shoulseemed not to have been combed since smen, which was not much consabed with plain Spanish from the he lowest button; and the diamond upon he naturally dreaded the water) put wc a não boas it sparkled amidst the rubbish of nature. Though there is the above-named coa ཚིས་།རྒྱུས་ e where it was first discovered. On the nient reason to be assigned for these ceremas the Ne sand, the pretty quaker appeared in all the the chief intention undoubtedly was to typ - cover of cleaniness Not a speck was to be ward purity and cleanliness of heart by those on ter. A clear, clean, oval face, just ward washings. We read several injunction www: with Ittle thin plaits of the purest this kind in the book of Deuteronomy, which Kadre, ece ved great advantages from the shade firm this truth; and which are but ill accounted back 2000, as did the whiteness of her by saying as some do, that they were only insti

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nat sober-coloured stuff in which she for convenience in the desert, which others Spe sunod Jerself. The plainness of her dress could not have been habitable for so many ye ass voy wed suited to the simplicity of her I shall conclude this essay with a story wl which put together, though they have somewhere read in an account of Mahome may be ne a great opinion of her religion, superstitions. A dervise of great sanctity one morning halatio BATERIE AVIsoned my throwing together misfortune, as he took up a crystal cup which This Diporočareness, which I shall consider consecrated to the prophet, to let it fall upo ak Yad virtues, as Aristotle calls them, ground and dash it in pieces. His son com wned it under the three following some time after, he stretched out his hand to Hark of politeness; as it produces him, as his manner was every morning; b has alogy to purity of mind. youth going out stumbled over the threshol snack of vehteness. It is universally broke his arm. As the old man wondered at the h pera Pai je vne, unadorned with this vir events a caravan passed by in its way from Me Company without giving a manifest the dervise approached it to beg a blessing! Caser or higher any one's fortune as he stroked one of the holy camels, he re oportionably. The different a kick from the beast that sorely bruised him dare as much distinguished sorrow and amazement increased upon as by their arts and sciences. he recollected that, through hurry and in vy's civilized, the more they tency, he had that morning come abroad wit teness. We need but com-washing his hands.

male Hottentot and an Engsed of the truth of what hath

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a-days would often cost 40 guineas.

men as he could induce to be more cleanly than they we
posed to be of themselves, became at the same time
more orderly, and more attentive to their duty."

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Explebo numerum, reddarque tenebris.
VIRG. En. vi. ver. 545.
the number I'll complete,
Then to obscurity well pleas'd retreat.

I cannot give the town a better opinion of the Spectator's correspondents than by publishing the following letter, with a very fine copy of verses upon a subject perfectly new.

6 MR. SPECTATOR, 'Dublin, Nov. 30, 1714. You lately recommended to your female readers the good old custom of their grandmothers, who used to lay out a great part of their time in needle work. I entirely agree with you in your sentiand that seveni fue love of symmetry and order, which is natural ments, and think it would not be of less advanbody are into the mind of man, betrays him sometimes into tage to themselves and their posterity, than to the these redectisery whimsical fancies. This noble principle,' reputation of many of their good neighbours, if readers and says a French author, loves to amuse itself on the they passed many of those hours in this innocent bears a geost trifling occasions. You may see a profound entertainment which are lost at the tea-table. I shilosopher,' says he, walk for an hour together would, however, humbly offer to your consideran his chamber, and industriously treading, at tion the case of the poetical ladies; who, though mene very step, upon every other board in the flooring they may be willing to take any advice given them the very reader will recollect several instances of by the Spectator, yet cannot so easily quit their his nature without my assistance. I think it was pen and ink as you may imagine. Pray allow them, sewhere regorio Leti, who had published as many books at least now and then, to indulge themselves in she was years old; which was a rule he had other amusements of fancy when they are tired raid down and punctually observed to the year of with stooping to their tapestry. There is a very dis death. It was, perhaps, a thought of the like particular kind of work, which of late several thelature which determined Homer himself to divide ladies here in our kingdom are very fond of, which ach of his poems into as many books as there are seems very well adapted to a poetical genius; it is etters in the Greek alphabet. Herodotus has in the making of grottos. I know a lady who has a he same manner adapted his books to the number very beautiful one, composed by herself; nor is f the muses, for which reason many a learned there one shell in it not stuck up by her own hands. nan hath wished there had been more than nine I here send you a poem to the fair architect, which f that sisterhood. I would not offer to herself until I knew whether Several epic poets have religiously followed this method of a lady's passing her time were apTirgil as to the number of his books and even proved of by the British Spectator; which, with Milton is thought by many to have changed the the poem, I submit to your censure, who am, umber of his books from ten to twelve for no "Your constant reader, ther reason; as Cowley tells us, it was his design, and humble servant, ad he finished his Davideis, to have also imitated there he Eneid in this particular. I believe every one zill agree with me that a perfection of this nature ath no foundation in reason; and, with due repect to these great names, may be looked upon something whimsical.

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I mention these great examples in defence of my ookseller, who occasioned this eighth volume of pectators, because, as he said, he thought seven a ery odd number. On the other side several grave easons were urged on this important subject; as, a particular, that seven was the precise number of be wise men, and that the most beautiful constelation in the heavens was composed of seven stars. this he allowed to be true, but still insisted that even was an odd number: suggesting at the same ime, that if he were provided with a sufficient stock of leading papers, he should find friends theeady enough to carry on the work. Having by his means got his vessel launched and set afloat, the hath committed the steerage of it, from time to ime, to such as he thought capable of conducting

The close of this volume, which the town may ow expect in a little time, may possibly ascribe ach sheet to its proper author.t

It were no hard task to continue this paper a Considerable time longer by the help of large conributions sent from unknown hands.

* This writer used to boast that he had been the author of a ook and the father of a child for twenty years successively. We now that Dean Swift counted the number of steps that he made rom London to Chelsea. And it is said and demonstrated in the Parentala," that Matthew Wren (Bishop of Ely) walked round he earth while a prisoner in the Tower of London, where he lay sear eighteen years,

This promise seems to have been forgotten; so that as to nost of the papers in this eighth volume, (having no signatures) to satisfactory account can be given of the persons by whom they vere written.

A. B."

TO MRS.

ON HER GROTTO.

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"A Grotte so complete, with such design,
What hands, Calypso, could have form'd but thine?
Each chequer'd pebble, and each shining shell,
So well proportion'd, and dispos'd so well,
Surprising lustre from thy thought receive,
Assuming beauties more than nature gave.
To her their various shapes and glossy hue,
Their curious symmetry they owe to you.
Not fam'd Amphion's lute, whose powerful call
Made willing stones dance to the Theban wall,
In aiore harmonious ranks could make them fall.
Not evening cloud a brighter arch can show,
Not richer colours paint the heavenly bow.

"Where can unpolish'd nature boast a piece
In all her mossy cells exact as this?
At the gay party-colour'd scene we start,
For chance too regular, too rude for art.

"Charm'd with the sight, my ravish'd breast is fir'd
With hints like those which ancient bards inspir'd;
All the feign'd tales by superstition told,
All the bright train of fabled nymphs of old,
Th' enthusiastic Muse believes are true,
Thinks the spot sacred, and its genius you.
Lost in wild rapture would she tain disclose
How by degrees the pleasing wonder rose;
Industrious in a faithful verse to traces
The various beauties of the lovely place:
And while she keeps the glowing work in view,
Through every maze thy artful hand pursue.

"O, were I equal to the bold design,
Or could I boast such happy art as thine!
That could rude shells in such sweet order place,
Give common objects such uncommon grace!
Like them my well chose words in every line,
As sweetly temper'd should as sweetly shine."
So just a fancy should my numbers warm,
Like the gay piece should the description charm,
Then with superior strength my voice I'd raise,
The echoing grotto should approve my lays,
Pleas'd to reflect the well-sung founder's praise."

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