My design in this paper is to consider what is properly a great genius, and to throw some thoughts together on so uncommon a subject. but the other appeared to me a vast ocean | genius. There is not an heroic scribbler in planted with innumerable islands, that were the nation, that has not his admirers who think covered with fruits and flowers, and interwoven him a great genius; and as for your smatterwith a thousand little shining seas that ran ers in tragedy, there is scarce a man among among them. I could see persons dressed in them who is not cried up by one or other for a glorious habits with garlands upon their heads, prodigious genius. passing among the trees, lying down by the sides of fountains, or resting on beds of flowers; and could hear a confused harmony of singing birds, falling waters, human voices, and musical instruments. Gladness grew in Among great geniuses those few draw the me upon the discovery of so delightful a admiration of all the world upon them, and scene. I wished for the wings of an eagle, stand up as the prodigies of mankind, who by that I might fly away to those happy seats; the mere strength of natural parts, and withbut the genius told me there was no passage out any assistance of art or learning, have proto them, except through the gates of death duced works that were the delight of their own that I saw opening every moment upon the times, and the wonder of posterity. There apbridge. "The islands," said he, "that lie so pears something nobly wild and extravagant fresh and green before thee, and with which in these great natural geniuses that is infinitely the whole face of the ocean appears spotted as more beautiful than all the turn and polishing far as thou canst see, are more in'number of what the French call a bel esprit, by which than the sands on the sea shore; there are they would express a genius refined by convermyriads of islands behind those which thou sation, reflection, and the reading of the most here discoverest, reaching farther than thine polite authors. The greatest genius which eye, or even thine imagination can extend it-runs through the arts and sciences, takes a self. These are the mansions of good men kind of tincture from them, and falls unavoidafter death, who according to the degree and ably into imitation. kinds of virtue in which they excelled, are Many of these great natural geniuses that distributed among these several islands, which were never disciplined and broken by rules of abound with pleasures of different kinds and art, are not to be found among the ancients, and ⚫ degrees, suitable to the relishes and perfec- in particular among those of the more eastern tions of those who are settled in them; every parts of the world. Homer has innumerable island is a Paradise accommodated to its re-flights that Virgil was not able to reach, and spective inhabitants. Are not these, O Mirza, in the Old Testament we find several passages habitations worth contending for? Does life more elevated and sublime than any in Homer. appear miserable, that gives thee opportunities At the same time that we allow a greater and of earning such a reward? Is death to be more daring genius to the ancients, we must feared, that will convey thee to so happy an own that the greatest of them very much failed existence? Think not man was made in vain, in, or, if you will, that they were much above who has such an eternity reserved for him." the nicety and correctness of the moderns. In I gazed with inexpressible pleasure on these their similitudes and allusions, provided there happy islands. At length, said I, "Show me was a likeness, they did not much trouble now, I beseech thee, the secrets that lie hid themselves about the decency of the compaunder those dark clouds which cover the rison: thus Solomon resembles the nose of his ocean on the other side of the rock of ada-beloved to the tower of Lebanon which looketh mant." The genius making me no answer, I towards Damascus; as the coming of a thief turned me about to address myself to him a in the night, is a similitude of the same kind second time, but I found that he had left me; in the New Testament. It would be endless I then turned again to the vision which I had to make collections of this nature; Homer been so long contemplating: but, instead of the rolling tide, the arched bridge, and the happy islands, I saw nothing but the long hollow valley of Bagdat, with oxen, sheep, and camels, grazing upon the sides of it. The end of the first Vision of Mirza. illustrates one of his heroes encompassed with the enemy, by an ass in a field of corn that has his sides belaboured by all the boys of the village without stirring a foot for it: and another of them tossing to and fro in his bed and burning with resentment, to a piece of flesh broiled on the coals. This particular failure in the ancients, opens a large field of raillery to the little wits, who can laugh at an indecency, but not relish the sublime in these sorts of writings. The present emperor of Persia, conformable to this eastern way of thinking, amidst a great many pompous titles, denomi nates himself the sun of glory,' and 'the nutmeg of delight.' In short, to cut off all cavilling against the ancients, and particularly those of the warmer climates, who had most heat and life in their imaginations, we are to consider that the rule of observing what the French call the bienseance in an allusion, has been found out of later years, and in the colder regions of the world; where we would make istotle; among the Romans Virgil and Tully; some amends for our want of force and spirit, among the English, Milton and Sir Francis by a scrupulous nicety and exactness in our Bacon. compositions. Our countryman Shakspeare The genius in both these classes of authors was a remarkable instance of this first kind of may be equally great, but shows itself after a great geniuses. different manner. In the first it is like a rich I cannot quit this head without observing soil in a happy climate, that produces a whole that Pindar was a great genius of the first wilderness of noble plants rising in a thousand class, who was hurried on by a natural fire beautiful landscapes, without any certain or and impetuosity to vast conceptions of things der of regularity. In the other it is the same and noble sallies of imagination, At the same rich soil under the same happy climate, that time, can any thing be more ridiculous than has been laid out in walks and parterres, and for men of a sober and moderate fancy to imi-cut into shape and beauty by the skill of the tate this poet's way of writing in those mon-gardener. strous compositions which go among us under The great danger in these latter kind of gethe name of Pindarics? When I see people niuses, is lest they cramp their own abilities copying works, which, as Horace has repre- too much by imitation, and form themselves sented them, are singular in their kind, and altogether upon models, without giving the imitable: When I see men following irregu. full play to their own natural parts. An imilarities by rule, and by the little tricks of art tation of the best authors is not to compare straining after the most unbounded flights of with a good original; and I believe we may nature, I cannot but apply to them that pas-observe that very few writers make an extra. sage in Terence : -Incerta hæc si tu postules Ratione certâ facere, nihilo plus agas, Quam si des operam, ut cum ratione insanias. Eun. Act. 1. Sc. 1. You may as well pretend to be mad and in your senses at the same time, as to think of reducing these uncertain things to any certainty by reason. In short, a modern Pindaric writer compared with Pindar, is like a sister among the Camisers* compared with Virgil's Sibyl: there is the distortion, grimace, and outward figure, but nothing of that divine impulse which raises the mind above itself, and makes the sounds more than human. There is another kind of great geniuses which I shall place in a second class, not as I think them inferior to the first, but only for distinction's sake, as they are of a different kind. This second class of great geniuses are those that have formed themselves by rules, and submitted the greatness of their natural talents to the corrections and restraints of art. Such among the Greeks were Plato and Ar * A particular account of these people, and the strange fortune of their leader, is to be found in Voltaire's "Sieele de Louis XIV." A few of them made their appearance in his country, in the year 1707, of whom Smollett gives the following account: "Three Camisars, or protestants, from the Cevennois, having made their escape, and repaired to London, acquired about this time the appellation of French prophets, from their enthusiastic gesticulations, effusions, and convulsions; and even formed a sect of their countrymen. The French refugees, scandalized at their behaviour, and authorized by the bishop of London, as superior of the French congregations, resolved to inquire into the mission of these pretended prophets, whose names were Elias Marion, John Cavalier, and Durand Eage. They were declared impostors and counterfeits. Notwithstanding this decision, which was confirmed by the bishops, they continued their assemblies in Soho, under the countenance of sir Richard Bulkeley and John Lacy. They reviled the ministers of the established church: they denounced judgments against the city of London, and the whole British nation; and published their predictions composed of unintelligible jargon. Then they were prosecuted at the expense of the French churches, as distrubers of the public peace, and false prophets. They were sentenced to pay a fine of twenty marks each, and stand twice on a scaffold, with papers on their breasts, denoting their offence: a sentence which was executed accordingly at Charing Cross, and the Royal Exchange. ordinary figure in the world, who have not something in their way of thinking or expressing themselves, that is peculiar to them, and entirely their own. It is odd to consider what great geniuses are sometimes thrown away upon trifles. 'I once saw a shepherd,' says a famous Ita lian author, who used to divert himself in his solitudes with tossing up eggs and catching them again without breaking them: in which he had arrived to so so great a degree of perfection, that he would keep up four at a time for several minutes together playing in the air, and falling into his hands by turns. I think,' says the author, I never saw a greater severity than in this man's face; for by his wonderful perseverance and application, he had contracted the seriousness and gravity of a privy-counsellor; and I could not but reflect with myself, that the same assiduity and attention, had they been rightly applied, might have made him a greater mathematician than Ar chimedes.' C. No. 161.] Tuesday, September 4, 1711. Himself, in rustic pomp, on holy-days, pondents, one of whom sends me the follow-heels fly up, by a trip which was given him so ing letter: smartly that I could scarce discern it. I found that the old wrestlers seldom entered the ring SIR, until some one was grown formidable by havThough you are pleased to retire from using thrown two or three of his opponents; but so soon into the city, I hope you will not think kept themselves as it were in a reversed body the affairs of the country altogether unworthy to defend the hat, which is always hung up of your inspection for the future. I had the by the person who gets it in one of the most honour of seeing your short face at Sir Roger conspicuous parts of the house, and looked de Coverley's, and have ever since thought upon by the whole family as something reyour person and writings both extraordinary. dounding much more to their honour than a Had you staid there a few days longer, you coat of arms. There was a fellow who was would have seen a country wake, which you so busy in regulating all the ceremonies, and know in most parts of England is the eve-feast seemed to carry such an air of importance in of the dedication of our churches. I was his look, that I could not help inquiring who last week at one of these assemblies, which he was, and was immediately answered, "That was held in a neighbouring parish; where I he did not value himself upon nothing, for found their green covered with a promiscuous that he and his ancestors had won so many multitude of all ages and both sexes, who hats. that his parlour looked like a haberdaesteem one another more or less the following sher's shop." However, this thirst of glory in part of the year, according as they distinguish them all was the reason that no one man stood themselves at this time. The whole company" lord of the ring" for above three falls while were in their holyday clothes, and divided into I was among them. several parties, all of them endeavouring to show themselves in those exercises wherein they excelled, and to gain the approbation of the lookers on. Your judgment upon this method of love and gallantry, as it is at present practised among us in the country, will very much oblige, Sir, 'Your's, &c. The young maids, who were not lookers-on at these exercises, were themselves engaged in some diversions; and upon my asking a farmer's son of my own parish what he was gazing 'I found a ring of cudgel-players, who were at with so much attention, he told me, "That breaking one another's heads in order to make he was seeing Betty Welch," whom I knew to some impression on their mistresses' hearts.be his sweetheart. " pitch a bar." I observed a lusty young fellow, who had the 'In short, I found the men endeavoured to misfortune of a broken pate; but what consi-show the women they were no cowards, and derably added to the anguish of the wound, that the whole company strived to recomwas his overhearing an old man, who shook mend themselves to each other by making it his head and said, "That he questioned now appear that they were all in a perfect state of if Black Kate would marry him these three health, and fit to undergo any fatigues of boyears." I was diverted from a farther ob- dily labour. servation of these combatants by a foot-ball match, which was on the other side of the green; where Tom Short behaved himself so well, that most people seemed to agrée, "it was impossible that he should remain a bachelor until the next wake." Having played many a match myself, I could have looked longer on this sport, had I not observed a country girl, If I would here put on the scholar and powho was posted on an eminence at some dis-litician, I might inform my readers how these tance from me, and was making so many odd bodily exercises or games were formerly engrimaces, and writhing and distorting her couraged in all the commonwealths of Greece; whole body in so strange a manner, as made from whence the Romans afterwards borrowed me very desirous to know the meaning of it. their pentathlum, which was composed of runUpon my coming up to her, I found that she ning, wrestling, leaping, throwing, and boxwas overlooking a ring of wrestlers, and that ing, though the prizes were generally nothing her sweetheart, a person of small stature, was but a crown of cypress or parsley, hats not contending with a huge brawny fellow, who being in fashion in those days: that there is twirled him about, and shook the little man so an old statute, which obliges every man in violently, that by a secret sympathy of hearts England, having such an estate, to keep and it produced all those agitations in the person excercise the long-bow: by which means our of his mistress, who I dare say, like Cælia in ancestors excelled all other nations in the use of Shakspeare on the same occasion, could have that weapon, and we had all the real advantawished herself "invisible to catch the strong ges, without the inconvenience of a standing fellow by the leg." The 'squire of the parish army: and that I once met with a book of protreats the whole company every year with a jects, in which the author considering to what hogshead of ale; and proposes a beaver hat noble ends that spirit of emulation, which so as a recompense to him who gives most falls. remarkably shows itself among our common This has raised such a spirit of emulation in the youth of the place, that some of them have rendered themselves very expert at this exercise; and I was often surprised to see a fellow's * As You Like it. Act i. Sc. 6. Von T. people in these wakes, might be directed, proposes that for the improvement of all our handicraft trades there should be annual prizes set up for such persons as were most excellent in their several arts. But laying aside all these political considerations, which might tempt me 27 to pass the limits of my paper. I confess the man's conviction ought to be be very strong, greatest benefit and convenience that I can ob- and if possible so well timed, that worldly adserve in these country festivals, is the bringing vantages may seem to have no share in it, or young people together, and giving them an op- mankind will be ill-natured enough to think he portunity of showing themselves in the most does not change sides out of principle, but advantageous light. A country fellow that either out of levity of temper, or prospects of throws his rival upon his back, has generally interest. Converts and renegadoes of all kinds as good success with their common mistress; should take particular care to let the world see as nothing is more usual than for a nimble-foot- they act upon honourable motives; or, whated wench to get a husband at the same time ever approbations they may receive from themthat she wins a smock. Love and marriages selves, and applauses from those they converse are the natural effects of these anniversary as- with, they may be very well assured that they semblies. I must therefore very much approve are the scorn of all good men, and the public the method by which my correspondent tells marks of infamy and derision. me each sex endeavours to recommend itself Irresolution on the schemes of life which ofto the other, since nothing seems more likely fer themselves to our choice, and inconstancy to promise a healthy offspring, or a happy in pursuing them, are the greatest and most cohabition. And I believe I may assure my universal causes of all our disquiet and unhapcountry friend, that there has been many a piness. When ambition pulls one way, intercourt lady who would be contented to ex-est another, inclination a third, and perhaps change her crazy young husband for Tom reason contrary to all, a man is likely to pass Short, and several men of quality who would his time but ill who has so many different parhave parted with a tender yoke-fellow for Black Kate. I am the more pleased with having love made the principal end and design of these meetings, as it seems to be most agreeable to the intent for which they were at first instituted, as we are informed by the learned Dr. Kennet,* with whose words I shall conclude my present paper. These wakes, (says he), were in imitation of the ancient agára, or love-feasts; and were first established in England by Pope Gregory the Great, who in an epistle to Melitus the abbot, gave order that they should be kept in sheds or arbories made up with the branches and boughs of trees round the church.' ties to please. When the mind hovers among such a variety of allurements, one had better settle on a way of life that is not the very best we might have chosen, than grow old without determining our choice, and go out of the world as the greatest part of mankind do, before we have resolved how to live in it. There is but one method of setting ourselves at rest in this particular, and that is by adhering steadfastly to one great end as the chief and ultimate aim of all our pursuits. If we are firmly resolved to live up to the dictates of reason, without any regard to wealth, reputation, or the like considerations, any more than as they fall in with our principal design, we may go through life with steadiness and pleasure; but if we act by several broken views, and He adds, that this laudable custom of wakes will not only be virtuous, but wealthy, popuprevailed for many ages, until the nice puri-lar, and every thing that has a value set upon tans began to exclaim against it as a remnant it by the world, we shall live and die in misery of popery; and by degrees the precise humour and repentance. grew so popular, that at an Exeter assizes the Lord Chief Baron Walter made an order for the suppression of all wakes; but on Bishop Laud's complaining of this innovating humour, the king commanded the order to be reversed.' X. One would take more than ordinary care to guard one's self against this particular imperfection, because it is that which our nature very strongly inclines us to; for if we examine ourselves thoroughly, we shall find that we are the most changeable beings in the universe. In respect of our understanding, we often embrace and reject the very same opinions; whereas being above and beneath us have probably no opinions at all, or at least no waverServetur ad imum, Qualis ab incepto processerit, et sibi constet. ing and uncertainties in those they have. Our Hor. Ars Poet. v. 126. superiors are guided by intuition, and our in No. 162.] Wednesday, September 5, 1711. Keep one consistent plan from end to end. NOTHING that is not a real crime makes a man appear so contemptible and little in the eyes of the world as inconstancy, especially when it regards religion or party. In either of these cases, though a man perhaps does but his duty in changing his side, he not only makes himself hated by those he left, but is seldom heartily esteemed by those he comes over to. In these great articles of life, therefore, a Parochial Antiquities, 4to. 1695, p. 610, 614. feriors by instinct. In respect of our wills, we fall into crimes and recover out of them, are amiable or odious in the eyes of our great Judge, and pass our whole life in offending and asking pardon. On the contrary, the beings underneath us are not capable of sinning, nor those above us of repenting. The one is out of the possibilities of duty, and the other ixed in an eternal course of sin, or an eternal course of virtue. There is scrrce a state of life, or stage in it, which does not produce changes and revolutions in the mind of man. Our schemes of thought in infancy are lost in those of youth; these too take a different turn in manhood, um Si quid ego adjuero, curamve levasso The ut till old age often leads us back into our former No. 163.] Thursday, September 6, 1711. infancy. A new title or an unexpected success throws us out of ourselves, and in a manner destroys our identity. A cloudy day, or a little sunshine, have as great an influence on many constitutions, as the most real blessing Say, will you thank me if I bring you rest, And ease the torture of your troubled breast? or misfortune. A dream varies our being, and changes our condition while it lasts; and every INQUIRIES after happiness, and rules for rapassion, not to mention health and sickness and the greater alterations in body and mind, taining it, are not so necessary and useful to makes us appear almost different creatures. If mankind as the arts of consolation, and supa man is so distinguished among other beings porting one's self under affliction. by this infirmity, what can we think of such as most we can hope for in this world is con. tentment; if we aim at any thing higher, we make themselves remarkable for it even among shall meet with nothing but grief and disap their own species? It is a very trifling character to be one of the most variable beings dies and endeavours at making himself easy pointment. A man should direct all his stuof the most variable kind, especially if we consider that he who is the great standard of now, and happy hereafter. perfection has in him no shadow of change, but is the same yesterday, to day, and for dispersed through the whole race of mankind in this world were drawn together, and put into the possession of any single man, it would not make a very happy being. Though on the contrary, if the miseries of the whole species were fixed in a single person, they would make a very miserable one. ever. The truth of it is, if all the happiness that is As this mutability of temper and inconsistency with ourselves is the greatest weakness of human nature, so it makes the person who is remarkable for it in a very particular manner more ridiculous than any other infirmity I am engaged in this subject by the followwhatsoever, as it sets him in a greater variety of foolish lights, and distinguishes him from him-ing letter, which, though subscribed by a ficself by an opposition of party-coloured cha-titious name, I have reason to believe is not imaginary. racters. The most humorous character in Horace is founded upon this unevenness of temper and irregularity of conduct: Sardus habebat Ille Tigellius hoc: Cæsar, qui cogere posset, 'MR. SPECTATOR, 'I am one of your disciples, and endeavour to live up to your rules, which I hope will incline you to pity my condition. I shall open it to you in a very few words. About three years since, a gentleman, whom, I am sure, you yourself would have approved, made his addresses to me. He had every thing to recommend him but an estate, so that my friends, who all of them applauded his person, would not for the sake of both of us favour his passion. For my own part, I resigned myself up eutirely to the direction of those who knew the world much better than myself, but still lived in hopes that some juncture or other would make me happy in in the man, whom, in my heart, I preferred to all the world; being determined if I could not have him, to Instead of translating this passage in Ho-have nobody else. About three months ago I race, I shall entertain my English reader with the description of a parallel character, that is wonderfully well finished by Mr, Dryden, and raised upon the same foundation: In the first rank of these did Zimri stand: received a letter from him, acquainting me, that by the death of an uncle he had a considerable estate left him, which he said was welcome to him upon no other account, but as he hoped it would remove all difficulties that lay in the way to our mutual happiness. You may well suppose, sir, with how much joy 1 received this letter, which was followed by several others filled with those expressions of love and joy, which I verily believe nobody felt more sincerely, nor knew better how to describe than the gentleman I am speaking of. But, sir, how shall I be able to tell it you! By the last week's post I received a letter from an intimate friend of this unhappy gentleman, acquainting me, that as he had just settled his affairs, and was preparing for his journey, he fell sick of a fever and died. It is impossible Absalom and Ahithophel." It is perhaps unneces-to express to you the distress I am in upon this sary to observe, that the character of Zimri is that of George Villiers, duke of Buckingham, author of the "Re- occasion. I can only have recourse to my dehearsal." votions and to the reading of good books for C. |