above those of Senfe and Appetite: Thefe, methinks, appear like large Wilds, or vaft uncultivated Tracts of human Nature; and when we compare them with Men of the most exalted Characters in Arts and Learning, we find it difficult to believe that they are Creatures of the fame Species.

SOME are of Opinion that the Souls of Men are all naturally equal, and that the great Difparity, we so often obferve, arifes from the different Organization or Structure of the Bodies to which they are united. But whatever conftitutes this firft Disparity, the next great Difference which we find between Men in their several Acquirements is owing to accidental Differences in their Education, Fortunes, or Courfe of Life. The Soul is a kind of rough Diamond, which requires Art, Labour, and Time to polish it. For want of which, many a good natural Genius is loft, or lies unfashioned, like a Jewel in the Mine.

ONE of the ftrongest Incitements to excel in fuch Arts and Accomplishments as are in the highest Esteem among Men,is the natural Paffion which theMind of Man has for Glory; which, though it may be faulty in the Excefs of it, ought by no means to be difcouraged. Perhaps fome Moralifts are too fevere in beating down this Principle, which feems to be a Spring implanted by Nature to give Motion to all the latent Powers of the Soul, and is always observed to exert itself with the greatest Force in the most generous Difpofitions. The Men whofe Characters have fhone the brightest among the ancient Romans, appear to have been ftrongly animated by this Paffion. Cicero,whose Learning and Services to his Country are fo well known, was enflamed by it to an extravagant degree, and warmly preffes Lucceius, who was compofing a Hiftory of thofe Times, to be very particular and zealous in relating the Story of his Confulfhip, and to execute it fpeedily, that he might have the Pleasure of enjoying in his Life-time fome Part of the Honour which he forefaw would be paid to his Memory. This was the Ambition of a great Mind; but he is faulty in the degree of it, and cannot refrain from folliciting the Hiftorian upon this Occafion to neglect the ftrict Laws of History, and, in praifing him,

O 3

even

No. 554. even to exceed the Bounds of Truth. The younger Pliny appears to have had the fame Paffion for Fame, but accompanied with greater Chaftnefs and Modefty. His ingenuous manner of owning it to a Friend, who had prompted him to undertake fome great Work, is exquiftely beautiful, and raises him to a certain Grandeur above the Imputation of Vanity.. I must confefs, fays he, that nothing employs my Thoughts more than the Defire I have of perpetuating my Name; which in my Opinion is a Defign worthy of a Man, at leaft of fuch a one, who being confcious of no Guilt, is not afraid to be remember'd by Pofterity.

I think I ought not to conclude, without interefting all my Readers in the Subject of this Discourse: I fshall therefore lay it down as a Maxim, that though all are not capable of fhining in Learning or the politer Arts; yet every one is capable of excelling in fomething. The Soul has in this Refpect a certain vegetative Power, which cannot lie wholly idle. If it is not laid out and cultivated into a regular and beautiful Garden, it will of it felf shoot up in Weeds or Flowers of a wilder Growth,

Saturday

No. 555. Saturday, December 6.

A

Refpue quod non es

Perf.

LL the Members of the imaginary Society, which were described in my firft Papers, having disappear'd one after another, it is high Time for the Spectator himself to go off the Stage. But, now I am to take my leave, I am under much greater Anxiety than I have known for the Work of any Day fince I undertook this Province. It is much more difficult to converfe with the World in a Real than a Perfonated Character. That might pafs for Humour in the Spectator, which would look like Arrogance in a Writer who fets his Name to his Work. The fictitious Perfon might contemn thofe who difapproved him, and extol his own Performances without giving Of fence. He might affume a Mock-Authority, without being looked upon as vain and conceited. The Praises or Cenfures of himself fall only upon the Creature of his Imagination; and if any one finds fault with him, the Author may reply with the Philofopher of old, Thou doft but beat the Cafe of Anaxarchus. When I fpeak in my own private Sentiments, I cannot but address my self to my Readers in a more fubmiffive manner, and with a juft Gratitude, for the kind Reception which they have given to thefe daily Papers that have been published for almoft the Space of two Years last past.

I hope the Apology I have made as to the Licence allowable to a feigned Character, may excufe any thing which has been faid in thefe Difcourfes of the Spectator and his Works; but the Imputation of the groffeft Vanity would ftill dwell upon me, if I did not give fome Account by what means I was enabled to keep up the Spirit of so long and approved a Performance. All the Papers marked with a C, an L, an I, or an O, that is to fay, all the Papers which I have diftinguished by any Letter in theName

of

of the Mufe CLIO, were given me by the Gentleman, of whofe Affiftance I formerly boafted in the Preface and concluding Leaf of my Tatlers. I am indeed much more proud of his long-continued Friendship, than I should be of the Fame of being thought the Author of any Writings which he himself is capable of producing. I remember when I finished the Tender Husband, I told him there was nothing I fo ardently wished, as that we might fome Time or other publish a Work written by us both, which fhould bear the Name of the Monument, in Memory of our Friendfhip. I heartily with what I have done here, were as honorary to that facred Name, as Learning Wit, and Humanity render those Pieces which I have taught the Reader how to distinguish for his. When the Play above-mentioned was laft acted, there were fo many applauded Strokes in it which I had from the fame Hand, that I thought very meanly of myself that I had never publickly acknowledged them. After I have put other Friends upon importuning him to publish Dramatick, as well as other Writings he has by him, I shall end what I think I am obliged to fay on this Head, by giving my Reader this Hint for the better judging of my Productions, that the best Comment upon them would be an Account when the Patron to the Tender Husband was in England, or abroad.

THE Reader will alfo find fome Papers which are marked with the Letter X, for which he is obliged to the ingenious Gentleman who diverted the Town with the Epilogue to the Diftreffed Mother. I might have owned thefe feveral Papers with the free Confent of thefe Gentlemen, who did not write them with a Defign of being known for the Authors. But as a candid and fincere Behaviour ought to be preferred to all other Confiderations, I would not let my Heart reproach me with a Consciousnefs of having acquired a Praise which is not my Right.

THE Other Affiftances which I have had, have been conveyed by Letter, fometimes by whole Papers, and other times by fhort Hints from unknown Hands. I have not been able to trace Favours of this Kind, with any Certainty, but to the following Names, which I place in the

Order

Order wherein I received the Obligation; tho' the firft I am going to name, can hardly be mentioned in a List wherein he would not deserve the Precedence. The Perfons to whom I am to make these Acknowledgments, are Mr. Henry Martyn, Mr. Pope, Mr. Hughs, Mr. Carey of New College in Oxford, Mr. Tickell of Queen's in the fame University, Mr. Parnelle, and Mr. Eufden of Trinity in Cambridge. Thus, to fpeak in the Language of my late Friend Sir ANDREW FREEPORT, I have ballanced my Accounts with all my Creditors for Wit and Learning. But as these excellent Performances would not have seen the Light without the means of this Paper, may ftill arrogate to my felf the Merit of their being communicated to the Publick.

I

I HAVE nothing more to add, but having fwelled this Work to five hundred and fifty five Papers, they will be difpofed into seven Volumes, four of which are already publifhed, and the three others in the Prefs. It will not be demanded of me why I now leave off, tho' I muft own my felf obliged to give an Account to the Town of my Time hereafter; fince I retire when their Partiality to me is fo great, that an Edition of the former Volumes of Spectators of above nine thousand each Book is already fold off, and the Tax on each half Sheet has brought into the Stamp-office one Week with another above 20 l. a Week arifing from this fingle Paper, notwithstanding it at first reduced it to lefs than half the Number that was ufually printed before this Tax was laid.

I HUMBLY befeech the Continuance of this Inclination to favour what I may hereafter produce, and hope I have in many Occurrences of Life tafted fo deeply of Pain and Sorrow, that I am Proof against much more profperous Circumstances than any Advantages to which my own Industry can poffibly exalt me.

I am,

my good-natured Reader,

*Your most Obedient,

Moft Obliged Humble Servant,

Vos valete & plaudite.

Ter.

Richard Steele