upon us.

fond of you, I hope may have some influence freshness of the evening in my garden, which then affords me the pleasantest hours I pass After these plain observations, give me in the whole four and twenty. I immediately leave to give you an hint of what a set of com-rose from my couch, and went down into it. pany of my acquaintance, who are now gone You descend at first by twelve stone steps ininto the country, and have the use of an absent to a large square divided into four grass-plots, nobleman's seat, have settled among them-in each of which is a statue of white marble. selves, to avoid the inconveniences above men- This is separated from a large parterre by a tioned. They are a collection of ten or twelve low wall; and from thence, through a pair of of the same good inclination towards each iron gates, you are led into a long broad walk, other, but of very different talents and incli-of the finest turf, set on each side with tall nations from hence they hope that the va- yews, and on either hand bordered by a canal, riety of their tempers will only create variety which on the right divides the walk from a wilof pleasures. But as there always will arise, derness parted into variety of alleys and aramong the same people, either for want of di-bours, and on the left from a kind of amphitheversity of objects, or the like causes, a certain atre, which is the receptacle of a great numsatiety, which may grow into ill-humour or ber of oranges and myrtles. The moon shone discontent, there is a large wing of the house bright, and seemed then most agreeably to which they design to employ in the nature of supply the place of the sun, obliging me with an infirmary. Whoever says a peevish thing, as much light as was necessary to discover a or acts any thing which betrays a sourness or thousand pleasing objects, and at the same indisposition to company, is immediately to time divested of all power of heat. The rebe conveyed to his chambers in the infirmary; flection of it in the water, the fanning of the from whence he is not to be relieved, till by his wind rustling on the leaves, the singing of the maner of submission, and the sentiments ex-thrush and nightingale, and the coolness of pressed in his petition for that purpose, he ap-the walks, all conspired to make me lay aside pears to the majority of the company to be all displeasing thoughts and brought me into again fit for society. You are to understand, such a tranquillity of mind, as is, I believe, that all ill-natured words or uneasy gestures the next happiness to that of hereafter. In are sufficient cause for banishment; speaking this sweet retirement I naturally fell into the impatiently to servants, making a man re-repetition of some lines out of a poem of Milpeat what he says, or any thing that betrays ton's, which he entitles Il Penseroso, the ideas inattention or dishumour, are also criminal of which were exquisitely suited to my present without reprieve. But it is provided, that wanderings of thought. whoever observes the ill-natured fit coming upon himself, and voluntarily retires, shall be received at his return from the infirmary with the highest marks of esteem. By these and other wholsome methods, it is expected that if they cannot cure one another, yet at least they have taken care that the ill-humour of one shall not be troublesome to the rest of the company. There are many other rules which the society have established for the preservation of their ease and tranquillity, the effects of which, with the incidents that arise among them, shall be communicated to you from time to time, for the public good, by, Sir,

T.

'Your most humble servant,
'R. O.'

No 425.] Tuesday, July 8, 1712.

Frigora mitescunt zephyris; ver proterit æstas
Interitura, simul

Pomifer autumnus fruges effuderit; et mox

Bruma recurrit iners. Hor. Od. vii. Lib. 4. 9.

The cold grows soft with western gales
The summer over spring prevails,

But yields to autumn's fruitful rain,

As this to winter storms and hails;

"Sweet bird! that shann'st the noise of folly,
Most musical! most melancholy!
Thee, chantress, oft, the woods among,
I woo to hear thy ev'ning song:
And missing thee I walk unseen
On the dry smooth-shaven green,
To behold the wand'ring moon,
Riding near her highest noon,
Like one that hath been led astray,
Through the heaven's wide pathless way,
And oft, as if her head she bow'd,
Stooping through a fleecy cloud.

"Then let some strange mysterious dream
Wave with its wings in airy stream
Of lively portraiture display'd

Softly on my eyelids laid:

And as I wake, sweet music breathe
Above, about, or underneath,

Sent by spirits to mortals' good,

Or the unseen genius of the wood."

'I reflected then upon the sweet vicissitudes of night and day, on the charming disposition of the seasons, and their return again in a perpetual circle: and oh! said I, that I could from these my declining years return again to my first spring of youth and vigour; but that, alas! is impossible: ail that remains within my power is to soften the inconveniencies I feel; with an easy contented mind, and the enjoyment of such delights as this solitude affords me. In this thought I sat me down on a bank of flowers, and dropt into a slumber, which, 'THERE is hardly any thing gives me a whether it were the effect of fumes and va more sensible delight than the enjoyment of a pours, or my present thoughts, I know not; cool still evening after the uneasiness of a hot but methought the genius of the garden stood sultry day. Such a one I passed not long ago, before me, and introduced into the walk where which made me rejoice when the hour was I lay this drama and different scones of the come for the sun to set, that I might enjoy the revolution of the year, which, whilst I ther

Each loss the hasting moon repairs again.

MR. SPECTATOR,

Sir W. Temple.

my dream, I resolved to write dewy, attired in gray; the other was Vesper, d send to the Spectator. in a robe of azure beset with drops of gold, The first person whom I saw advancing whose breath he caught while it passed over a cowards me was a youth of a most beautiful air a bundle of honeysuckles and tuberoses which and shape, though he seemed not yet arrived he held in his hand. Pan and Ceres followed at that exact proportion and symmetry of parts them with four reapers, who danced a morwhich a little more time would have given rice to the sound oaten-pipes and cymbals. him; but, however, there was such a bloom in Then came the attendant Months. June rehis countenance, such satisfaction and joy, tained still some small likeness of the Spring; that I thought it the most desirable form that but the other two seemed to step with a less I had ever seen. He was clothed in a flowing vigorous tread, especially August, who seemmantle of green silk, interwoven with flowers; ed almost to faint, whilst, for half the steps he he had a chaplet of roses on his head, and a took, the dog-star levelled his rays full at his narcissus in his hand; primroses and violets head. They passed on, and made way for a sprang up under his feet, and all nature was person that seemed to bend a little under the cheered at his approach. Flora was on one weight of years; his beard and hair, which hand, and Vertumnus on the other, in a robe were full grown, were composed of an equal of changeable silk. After this I was surprised number of black and gray; he wore a robe to see the moon-beams reflected with a sudden which he had girt round him, of a yellowish glare from armour, and to see a man com-cast, not unlike the colour of fallen leaves, pletely armed, advancing with his sword which he walked upon. I thought he hardly drawn. I was soon informed by the genius it made amends for expelling the forgoing scene was Mars, who had long usurped a place by the large quantity of fruits which he bore in among the attendants of the Spring. He his hands. Plenty walked by his side with a made way for a softer appearance. It was healthy fresh countenance, pouring out from a Venus, without any ornament but her own horn all the various products of the year. beauties, not so much as her own cestus, with Pomona followed with a glass of cider in her which she had encompassed a globe, which hand, with Bacchus in a chariot drawn by she held in her right hand, and in her left tigers, accompanied by a whole troop of sahand she had a sceptre of gold. After her fol-tyrs, fauns, and sylvans. September, who lowed the Graces, with arms entwined within came next seemed in his looks to promise a one another; their girdles were loosed, and new Spring, and wore the livery of those they moved to the sound of soft music, strik-months. The succeeding month was all soiled ing the ground alternately with their feet. with the juice of grapes, as he had just come Then came up the three Months which belong from the wine-press. November, though he to this season. As March advanced towards was in his division, yet, by the many stops me, there was, methought in his look a lower- he made, seemed rather inclined to the Wining roughness, which ill be-fitted a month ter which followed close at his heels. He which was ranked in so soft a season; but as advanced in the shape of an old man in the be came forwards, his features became insen- extremity of age; the hair he had was so very sibly more mild and gentle; he smoothed his white, it seemed a real snow; his eyes were brow, and looked with so sweet a countenance, red and piercing, and his beard hung with that I could not but lament his departure, great quantity of icicles; he was wrapt up in though he made way for April. He appeared furs, yet so pinched with excess of cold, that In the greatest gaiety imaginable, and had a his limbs were all contracted, and his body thousand pleasures to attend him; his look bent to the ground, so that he could not have was frequently clouded, but immediately re-supported himself had it not been for Comus, turned to its first composure, and remained the god of revels, and Necessity, the mofixed in a smile. Then came May, attended ther of Fate, who sustained him on each by Cupid, with his bow strung, and in a pos- side. The shape and mantle of Comus was ture to let fly an arrow: as he passed by, me- one of the things that most surprised me: as thought I heard a confused noise of soft com he advanced towards me, his countenance plaints, gentle ecstacies, and tender sighs of seemed the most desirable I had ever seen. On lovers; vows of constancy, and as many com- the fore part of his mantle was pictured joy, plainings of perfidiousness; all which the delight, and satisfaction, with a thousand emwinds wafted away as soon as they had reach-blems of merriment, and jests with faces looked my hearing. After these I saw a man ad-ing two ways at once; but as he passed from vance in the full prime and vigour of his age; me I was amazed at a shape so little correshis complexion was sanguine and ruddy, his pondent to his face his head was bald, and hair black, and fell down in beautiful ringlets all the rest of his limbs appeared old and debeneath his shoulders; a mantle of hair-co-formed. On the binder part of his mantle Toured silk hung loosely upon him: he advanc-was represented Murder* with dishevelled hair ed with a hasty step after the Spring, and and a dagger all bloody, Anger in a robe of sought out the shade and cool fountains which scarlet, and Suspicion squinting with both eyes; played in the garden. He was particularly but above all, the most conspicuous was the well pleased when a troop of Zephyrs fan- battle of Laipthæ and the Centaurs. I dened him with their wings. He had two companions, who walked on each side, that made him appear the most agreeable; the one was Aurora with fingers of roses, and her feet

* The English are branded, perhaps unjustly, with benig addicted to suicide about this time of the year.

tested so hideous a shape, and turned my eyes terity. Behold, my dearest Alexandrinus, the upon Saturn, who was stealing away behind him, with a scythe in one hand and an hourglass in the other, unobserved. Behind Necessity was Vesta, the goddess of fire, with a lamp which was perpetually supplied with oil, and whose flame was eternal. She cheered the rugged brow of Necessity, and warmed her so far as almost to make her assume the features and likeness of Choice. December January, and February, passed on after the rest, all in furs; there was little distinction to be made amongst them; and they were only more or less displeasing as they discovered more or less haste towards the grateful return of Spring.

No. 426.] Wednesday, July 9, 1712.

Z.

effect of what was propagated in nine months. We are not to contradict nature, but to follow and to help her; just as long as an infant is in the womb of its parent, so long are these medicines of revivification in preparing. Observe this small phial and this little gallipot-in this an unguent, in the other a liquor. In these, my child, are collected such powers, as shall revive the springs of life when they are yet but just ceased, and give new strength, new spirits, and, in a word, wholly restore all the organs and senses of the human body to as great a duration as it had before enjoyed from its birth to the day of the application of these my medicines. But, my beloved son, care must be taken to apply them within ten hours after the breath is out of the body, while yet the clay is warm with its late life, and yet capable of resuscitation. I find my frame grown crazy Virg. En. iii. 56. with perpetual toil and meditation; and I conjure you, as soon as I am dead, anoint me with this unguent; and when you see me begin to move, pour into my lips this inestimable liquor, A VERY agreeable friend of mine, the other else the force of the ointment will be ineffecday, carrying me in his coach into the country tual. By this means you will give me life as to dinner, fell into discourse concerning the I gave you, and we will from that hour mutu'care of parents due to their children, and ally lay aside the authority of having bestowthe 'piety of children towards their parents.' ed life on each other, live as brethren, and preHe was reflecting upon the succession of par- pare new medicines against such another peticular virtues and qualities there might be riod of time as will demand another applicapreserved from one generation to another, if tion of the same restoratives." In a few days, these regards were reciprocally held in vene-after these wonderful ingredients were deliverration: but as he never fails to mix an air of ed to Alexandrinus, Basilius departed this life. mirth and good-humour with his good sense But such was the pious sorrow of the son at and reasoning, he entered into the following the loss of so excellent a father, and the first relation.

-Quid non mortalia pectora cogis,
Auri sacra fames?

O cursed hunger of pernicious gold!
What bands of faith can impious lucre hold!
Dryden.

be restored by application of these rarities, when time should come, to his own person.

transports of grief had so wholly disabled him 'I will not be confident in what century, or from all manner of business, that he never under what reign it happened, that this want thought of the medicines till the time to which of mutual confidence and right understanding his father had limited their efficacy was exbetween father and son was fatal to the family pired. To tell the truth, Alexandrinus was a of the Valentines in Germany Basilius Va man of wit and pleasure, and considered his lentinus was a person who had arrived at father had lived out his natural time; his life the utmost perfection in the herme ic art, and was long and uniform, suitable to the regulariinitiated his son Alexandrinus in the same ty of it; but that he himself, poor sinner, wantmysteries: but, as you know they are not to ed a new life, to repent of a very bad one be attained but by the painful, the pious, the hitherto; and, in the examination of his heart, chaste, and pure of heart, Basilius did not open resolved to go on as he did with this natural to him, because of his youth, and the devia-being of his, but repent very faithfully, and tions too natural to it, the greatest secrets of spend very piously the life to which he should which he was master, as well knowing that the operation would fail in the hands of a man so liable to errors in life as Alexandrinus. But believing, from a certain indisposition of mind as well as body, his dissolution was drawing nigh, he called Alexandrinus to him, and as he lay on a couch, over-against which his son was seated, and prepared by sending out servants one after another, and admonition to examine that no one overheard them, he revealed the most important of his secrets with the solemni- 'It happened thus in the family of Basilius; ty and language of an adept. My son," said for Alexandrinus began to enjoy his ample forhe," many have been the watchings, long the tune in all the extremities of household exlucubrations, constant the labours of thy fa- pense, furniture, and insolent equipage; and ther, not only to gain a great and plentiful es-this he pursued until the day of his own departate to his posterity, but also to take care that ture began, as he grew sensible, to approach. he should have no posterity. Be not amazed, As Basilius was punished with a son very unmy child: I do not mean that thou shalt be ta-like him, Alexandrinus was visited by one of his ken from me, but that I will never leave thee, own disposition. It is natural that ill men and consequently cannot be said to have pos- should be suspicious; and Alexandrinus, be

'It has been observed, that Providence frequently punishes the self love of men, who would do immoderately for their own offspring, with children very much below their characters and qualifications; insomuch that they only transmit their names to be borne by those who give daily proofs of the vanity of the labour and ambition of their progenitors.

Jousy, had proofs of the vicious over, and began to apply the liquor, the body
his son Renatus, for that was his stirred, and Renatus, in a fright, broke the
phial.
T.

Alexandrinus, as I have observed, having very good reason for thinking it unsafe to trust No. 427.] Thursday, July 10, 1712. the real secret of his phial and gallipot to any Quantum á rerum turpitudine abes, tantùm te à verman living, projected to make sure work, and borum libertate sejungas. hope for his success depending from the avarice, not the bounty of his benefactor.

Tull. We should be as careful of our words, as our actions; and as far from speaking, as from doing ill.

"With this thought he called Renatus to his Ir is a certain sign of an ill heart to be inbed-side, and bespoke him in the most pathetic clined to defamation. They who are harmless gesture and accent. As much, my son, as and innocent can have no gratification that you have been addicted to vanity and pleasure, way; but it ever arises from a neglect of what as I also have been before you,* you nor is laudable in a man's self, and an impatience could escape the fame or the good effects of the in seeing it in another Else why should virprofound knowledge of our progenitor the re- tue provoke? Why should beauty displease in nowned Basilius. His symbal is very well known such a degree, that a man given to scandal in the philosophic world; and I shall never never lets the mention of either pass by him, forget the venerable air of his countenance, without offering something to the dimunition when he let me into the profound mysteries of of it? A lady the other day at a visit, being the smaragdine tables of Hermes. "It is true," attacked somewhat rudely by one whose own said he, "and far removed from all color of character has been very rudely treated, andeceit; that which is inferior is like that which swered a great deal of heat and intemperance is superior, by which are acquired and perfec- very calmly, 'Good Madam, spare me, who am ted all the miracles of a certain work. The none of your match; I speak ill of nobody, and father is the sun, the mother the moon, the it is a new thing to me to be spoken ill of.' wind is the womb, the earth is the nurse of it, Little minds think fame consists in the number and mother of all perfection. All this must be of votes they have on their side among the received with modesty and wisdom." The multitude, whereas it is really the inseparable chymical people carry, in all their jargon, a follower of good and worthy actions. Fame whimsical sort of piety which is ordinary with is as natural a follower of merit, as a shadow great lovers of money, and is no more but de- is of a body. It is true when crowds press upceiving themselves, that their regularity and on you, this shadow cannot be seen: but when strictness of manners, for the ends of this world, they separate from around you, it will again has some affinity to the innocence of heart appear. The lazy the idle, and the froward, which must recommend them to the next. Re- are the persons who are most pleased with the natus wondered to hear his father talk so like little tales which pass about the town to the an adept, and with such a mixture of piety; disadvantage of the rest of the world. Were while Alexandrinus, observing his attention it not for the pleasure of speaking ill, there fixed, proceeded. "This phial, child, and this are numbers of people who are too lazy to go little earthen pot, will add to thy estate so out of their own houses, and too ill-natured to much as to make thee the richest man in the open their lips in conversation. It was not a German empire. I am going to my long home, little diverting the other day to observe a lady but shall not return to common dust." Then reading a post-letter, and at these words, he resumed a countenance of alacrity, and told After all her airs, he has heard some story him, that if within an hour after his death he or other, and the match is broke off,' gives oranointed his whole body, and poured down his ders in the midst of her reading, 'Put to the throat that liquor which he had from old Basil- horses.' That a young woman of merit had ius, the corpse would be converted into pure missed an advantageous settlement was news gold. I will not pretend to express to you the not to be delayed, lest somebody else should unfeigned tenderness that passed between have given her malicious acquaintance that these two extraordinary persons; but if the fa- satisfaction before her. The unwillingness to ther recommended the care of his remains with receive good tidings is a quality as inseparable vehemence and affection, the son was not be- from a scandal-bearer, as the readiness to dihind hand in professing that he would not cut vulge bad. But, alas how wretchedly low and the least bit off him, but upon the utmost ex- contemptible is that state of mind, that cantremity, or to provide for his younger brothers not be pleased but by what is the subject of and sisters. lamentation. This temper has ever been, in “Well, Alexandrinus died, and the heir of the highest degree, odious to gallant spirits. his body (as our term is) could not forbear, in The Persian soldier, who was heard reviling the wantonness of his heart, to measure the Alexander the Great, was well admonished by length and breadth of his beloved father, and his officer, Sir, you are paid to fight against cast up the ensuing value of him before he pro- Alexander, and not to rail at him.' ceeded to operation. When he knew the immense reward of his pains, he began the work: but, lo! when he had anointed the corpse all

Cicero, in one of his pleadings, defending his client from general scandal, says very handsomely, and with much reason, There are mauy who have particular engagements to The word, 'neither' seems omitted here, though it the prosecutor; there are many who are known is not in the original publication in folio, or in the edi-to have ill-will to him for whom I appear;

tion in 8vo. of 1712.

there are many who are naturally addicted to

No. 428.] Friday, July 11, 1712.

Occupet extremum scabies..

T.

defamation, and envious of any good to any and away she will go this instant, and tell man, who may have contributed to spread them all that the rest have been saying of reports of this kind; for nothing is so swift them. By this means she has been an inhabias scandal, nothing is more easily set abroad, tant of every house in the place, without stirnothing received with more welcome, nothing ring from the same habitation: and the many diffuses itself so universally. I shall not de-stories which every body furnishes her with, sire, that if any report to our disadvantage to favour the deceit, make her the general inhas any ground for it, you would overlook telligencer of the town of all that can be said or extenuate it: but if there be any thing ad- by one woman against another. Thus groundvanced, without a person who can say whence less stories die away, and sometimes truths he had it, or which is attested by one who are smothered under the general word, when forgot who told him it, or who had it from they have a mind to discountenance a thing, one of so little consideration that he did not Oh! that is my lady Bluemantle's Memoirs.' think it worth his notice, all such testimonies Whoever receives impressions to the disadas these, I know, you will think too slight to vantage of others, without examination, is to have any credit against the innocence and be had in no other credit for inlelligence honour of your fellow citizen.' When an than this good lady Bluemantle, who is subill report is traced, it very often vanishes jected to have her ears imposed upon for want of among such as the orator has here recited. [other helps to better information. Add to And how despicable a creature must that be, this, that other scandal-bearers suspend the who is in pain for what passes among so friv-use of these faculties which she has lost, olous a people! There is a town in Warwick-rather than apply them to do justice to their shire, of good note, and formerly pretty fa- neighbours: and I think, for the service of mous for much animosity and dissention, the my fair readers, to acquaint them, that there chief families of which have now turned all is a voluntary lady Bluemantle at every visit their whispers, backbitings, envies, and pri- in town. vate malices, into mirth and entertainment, by means of a peevish old gentlewoman, known by the title of the lady Bluemantle. This heroine had, for many years together outdone Hor. Ars Poet. v. 417. the whole sisterhood of gossips in invention, The devil take the hindmost!--[English Proverb. quick utterance, and unprovoked malice. This good body is of a lasting constitution, though It is an impertinent and unreasonable fault extremely decayed in her eyes, and decrepid in conversation, for one man to take up all the in her feet. The two circumstances of being discourse. It may possibly be objected to always at home, from her lameness, and very me myself, that I am guilty in this kind, in attentive, from her blindness, make her lodg- entertaining the town every day, and not givings the receptacle of all that pasess in town, ing so many able persons, who have it more good or bad; but for the latter she seems to in their power, and as much in their inclinahave the better memory. There is another tion, an opportunity to oblige mankind with thing to be noted of her, which is, that, as it their thoughts. Besides,' said one whom I is usual with old people, she has a livelier me- overheard the other day, why must this pamory of things which passed when she was per turn altogether upon topics of learning very young than of late years. Add to all and morality? Why should it pretend only to this, that she does not only not love any body, wit, humour, or the like-things which are but she hates every body. The statue in useful only to men of literature, and superior Rome* does not serve to vent malice half so education? I would have it consist also of all well as this old lady does to disperse it. She things which may be necessary or useful to does not know the author of any thing that is any part of society; and the mechanic arts told her, but can readily repeat the matter it should have their place as well as the liberal. self; therefore, though she exposes all the The ways of gain, husbandry, and thrift, will whole town, she offends no one body in it. serve a greater number of people, than discourShe is so exquisitely restless and peevish, that ses upon what was well said or done by she quarrels with all about her, and sometimes such a philosopher, hero, general, or poet.'in a freak will instantly change her habitation. I no sooner heard this critic talk of my works, To indulge this humour, she is led about the but I minuted what he had said; and from grounds belonging to the same house she is that instant resolved to enlarge the plan of in; and the persons to whom she is to remove, my speculations, by giving notice to all perbeing in the plot, are ready to receive her at sons of all orders, and each sex, that if they her own chamber again. At stated times the are pleased to send me discourses, with their gentlewoman at whose house she supposes she names and places of abode to them, so that I is at the time, is sent for to quarrel with, ac- can be satisfied the writings are authentic, cording to her common custom. When they such their labours shall be faithfully inserted have a mind to drive the jest, she is immedi- in this paper. It will be of much more conseately urged to that degree, that she will board in a family with which she has never yet been;

A statue of Pasquin in that city, on which sarcastic remarks were pasted, and thence called Pasquinades.

quence to a youth, in his apprenticeship, to know by what rules and arts such a one became sheriff of the city of London, than to see the sign of one of his own quality with a lion's heart in each hand. The world, indeed, is enchanted with romantic and improb