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level of beasts, without showing him at the are translated; namely, to the source from same time his greatness. It is likewise danger-whence they had their birth. The soul alone, us to let him see his greatness without his neither present nor departed, is the object of meanness. It is more dangerous yet to leave our eyes."

him ignorant of either; but very beneficial that Thus Cyrus. But to proceed :-" No one he should be made sensible of both." What-shall persuade me, Scipio, that your worthy ever imperfections we may have in our nature, father or your grandfathers Paulus and Afriit is the business of religion and virtue to rec- canus, or Africanus his father or uncle, or many tify them, as far as is consistent with our pre- other excellent men whom I need not name, sent state. In the mean time, it is no small performed so many actions to be remembered encouragement to generous minds to consider, by posterity, without being sensible that fututhat we shall put them all off with our morta-rity was their right. And, if I may be allowed lity. That sublime manner of salutation with an old man's privilege to so speak of my self, do which the Jews approach their kings, you think I would have endured the fatigue of so many wearisome days and nights, both at home and abroad, if I imagined that the same

"O king, live for ever!"

itself, and looked forward on futurity, in this view and expectation, that when it shall depart out of life it shall then live forever; and if this were not true, that the mind is immortal, the soul of the most worthy would not, above all others, have the strongest impulse to glory.

may be addressed to the lowest and most de-boundary which is set to my life must termispised mortal among us, under all the infirmi- nate my glory? Were it not more desirable to ties and distresses with which we see him sur- have worn out my days in ease and tranquillity, rounded. And whoever believes in the im-free from labour, and without emulation? But, mortality of the soul, will not need a better I know not how, my soul has always raised argument for the dignity of his nature, nor a stronger incitement to actions suitable to it. 'I am naturally led by this reflection to a subject I have already touched upon in a former letter, and cannot without pleasure call to mind the thought of Cicero to this purpose, in the close of his book concerning old age. Every "What besides this is the cause that the one who is acquainted with his writings will wisest men die with the greatest equanimity, remember that the elder Cato is introduced in the ignorant with the greatest concern? Does that discourse as the speaker, and Scipio and it not seem that those minds which have the Lelius as his auditors. This venerable person most extensive views foresee they are removing is represented looking forward as it were from to a happier condition, which those of a narrow the verge of extreme old age into a future state, sight do not perceive? I, for my part, am and rising into a contemplation on the un-transported with the hope of seeing your anperishable part of his nature, and its existence cestors, whom I have honoured and loved; and after death. I shall collect part of his discourse. am earnestly desirous of meeting not only those And as you have formerly offered some argu- excellent persons whom I have known, but ments for the soul's immortality, agreeable both those too of whom I have heard and read, and to reason and the Christian doctrine, I believe of whom I myself have written; nor would I your readers will not be displeased to see how be detained from so pleasing a journey. O hapthe same great truth shines in the pomp of py day, when I shall escape from this crowd, this Roman eloquence. heap of pollution, and be admitted to that di"This (says Cato) is my firm persuasion, that vine assembly of exalted spirits! when I shall since the human soul exerts itself with so great go not only to those great persons I have named, activity; since it has such a remembrance of but to my Cato, any son, than whom a better the past, such a concern for the future; since man was never born, and whose funeral rites it is enriched with so many arts, sciences, and I myself performed, whereas he ought rather discoveries; it is impossible but the being which contains all these must be immortal.

to have attended mine. Yet has not his soul deserted me, but, seeming to cast back a look The elder Cyrus, just before his death, is on me, is gone before to those habitations to represented by Xenophon speaking after this which it was sensible I should follow him. And manner: “Think not, my dearest children, though I might appear to have borne my loss that when I depart from you I shall be no more; with courage, I was not unaffected with it; but remember, that my soul, even while I lived but I comforted myself in the assurance, that among you, was invisible to you: yet by my it would not be long before we should meet actions you were sensible it existed in this body. again and be divorced no more.”

Believe it therefore existing still though it be

still unseen. How quickly would the honours of illustrious men perish after death, if their

I am, Sir, &c.'

souls performed nothing to preserve their fame! No. 538.] Monday, November 17, 1712.

For my own part, I never could think that the soul while in a mortal body lives, but when departed out of it dies or that its consciousness is lost when it is discharged out of an unconscious habitation.. But when it is freed from all corporeal alliance, then it truly exists.) Further, since the human frame is broken by death, tell us what becomes of its parts? It is visible whither the materials of other beings

Ultra

Finem tendere opus,

Hor. Sat. i. Lib. 2. L

To launch beyond all bounds.

SURPRISE is so much the life of stories, that every one aims at it who endeavours to please by telling them. Smooth delivery, an elegant choice of words, and a sweet arrangement, are

all beautifying graces, but not the particulars count for, until I chanced to cast my eyes upin this point of conversation which either long wards, and found that I was passing under a command the attention, or strike with the vio-sign-post on which the picture of a cat was lence of a sudden passion, or occasion the burst hung.'

of laughter which accompanies humour. I have The extravagance of this turn in the way of sometimes fancied that the mind is in this case surprise gave a stop to the talk we had been like a traveller who sees a fine seat in haste; carrying on. Some were silent because they he acknowledges the delightfulness of a walk doubted, and others because they were conset with regularity, but would be uneasy if he were obliged to pace it over, when the first view had let him into all its beauties from one end to the other.

quered in their own way; so that the gentleman had an opportunity to press the belief of upon us, and let us see that he was rather exposing himself than ridiculing others. However, a knowledge of the success which I must freely own that I did not all this stories will have when they are attended with while disbelieve every thing that was said; a turn of surprise, as it has happily made the but yet I thought some in the company had characters of some, so has it also been the ruin been endeavouring who should pitch the bar of the characters of others. There is a set of furthest; that it had for some time been a men who outrage truth, instead of affecting us measuring cast, and at last my friend of the with a manner in telling it; who overleap the cat and sign-post had thrown beyond them line of probability that they may be seen to all. move out of the common road; and endeavour I then considered the manner in which this only to make their hearers stare by imposing story had been received, and the possibility upon them with a kind of nonsense against that it might have passed for a jest upon the philosophy of nature, or such a heap of others, if he had not laboured against himwonders told upon their own knowledge, as it self From hence, thought I, there are two is not likely one man should have ever met ways which the well-bred world generally with.' takes to correct such a practice, when they I have been led to this observation by a com- do not think fit to contradict it flatly. pany into which I fell accidentally. The sub- The first of these is a general silence, ject of antipathies was a proper field wherein which I would not advise any one to intersuch false surprisers might expatiate, and there pret in his own behalf. It is often the effect were those present who appeared very fond to of prudence in avoiding a quarrel, when they show it in its full extent of traditional history. see another drive so fast that there is no Some of them, in a learned manner, offered to stopping him without being run against; and our consideration the miraculous powers which but very seldom the effect of weakness in the effluviums of cheese have over bodies whose believing suddenly. The generality of manpores are disposed to receive them in a noxious kind are not so grossly ignorant, as some manner; others gave an account of such who overbearing spirits would persuade themcould indeed bear the sight of cheese, but not selves; and if the authority of a character the taste; for which they brought a reason or a caution against danger make us suppress from the milk of their nurses. Others again our opinions, yet neither of these are of force discoursed, without endeavouring at reasons, enough to suppress our thoughts of them. If concerning an unconquerable aversion which a man who has endeavoured to amuse his comsome stomachs have against a joint of meat pany with improbabilities could but look into when it is whole, and the eager inclination they their minds, he would find that they imagine have for it when, by its being cut up, the shape he lightly esteems of their sense when he thinks which had affected them is altered. From hence to impose upon them, and that he is less esteemthey passed to eels, then to parsnips, and so ed by them for his attempt in doing so. from one aversion to another, until we had endeavour to glory at their expense becomes worked up ourselves to such a pitch of com- a ground of quarrel, and the scorn and indifplaisance, that when the dinner was to come ference with which they entertain it begins in we inquired the name of every dish, and the immediate punishment: and indeed (if we hoped it would be no offence to any in com- should even go no further) silence, or a negpany, before it was admitted. When we had ligent indifference, has a deeper way of woundsat down, this civility among us turned the dis-ing than any opposition, because opposition course from eatables to other sorts of aver-proceeds from an anger that he has a sort of sions; and the eternal cat, which plagues every generous sentiment for the adversary mingling conversation of this nature, began then to en- along with it, while it shows that there is some gross the subject. One had sweated at the esteem in your mind for him: in short, that sight of it, another had smelled it out as it lay you think him worth while to contest with. concealed in a very distant cupboard; and he But silence, or a negligent indifference, prowho crowned the whole set of these stories. ceeds from anger, mixed with a scorn that reckoned up the number of times in which it shows another he is thought by you too conhad occasioned him to swoon away. At last,' temptible to be regarded. says he, that you may all be satisfied of my The other method which the world has invincible aversion to a cat, I shall give an un- taken for correcting this practice of false suranswerable instance. As I was going through prise, is to overshoot such talkers in their own a street of London, where I never had been bow or to raise the story with further degrees until then, I felt a general damp and faintness of impossibility, and set up for a voucher to all over me, which I could not tell how to ac-them in such a manner as must let them see

His

they stand detected. Thus I have heard a|I have clusters of pretty fellows come already discourse once managed upon the effects of to visit me, some dying with hopes, others fear. One of the company had given an ac- with fears, though they never saw me. Now, count how it had turned his friend's hair gray what I would beg of you would be to know in a night, while the terrors of a shipwreck whether I may venture to use these pert felencompassed him. Another, taking the hint lows with the same freedom as I did my counfrom hence, began, upon his own knowledge, try acquaintanee. I desire your leave to use to enlarge his instances of the like nature to them as to me shall seem meet, without imsuch a number, that it was not probable he putation of a jilt; for since I make declaracould ever have met with them: and as he tion that not one of them shall have me, I still grounded these upon different causes for think I ought to be allowed the liberty of inthe sake of variety, it might seem at last, sulting those who have the vanity to believe it from his share of the conversation, almost is in their power to make me break that resoimpossible that any one who can feel the lution. There are schools for learning to use passion of fear should all his life escape so foils, frequented by those who never design to common an effect of it. By this time some of fight; and this useless way of aiming at the the company grew negligent, or desirous to heart, without design to wound it on either contradict him; but one rebuked the rest with side, is the play with which I am resolved to an appearance of severity, and with the known divert myself. The man who pretends to win, old story in his head, assured them he did not I shall use him like one who comes into a fenscruple to believe that the fear of any thing cing-school to pick a quarrel. I hope upon this can make a man's hair gray, since he knew foundation you will give me the free use of the one whose periwig had suffered so by it. Thus natural and artificial force of my eyes, looks, he stopped the talk, and made them easy. and gestures: As for verbal promises, I will Thus is the same method taken to bring us to make none, but shall have no mercy on the shame, which we fondly take to increase our conceited interpreters of glances and motions. character. It is indeed a kind of mimickry, I am particularly skilled in the downcast eye, by which another puts on our air of conver- and the recovery into a sudden full aspect and sation to show us to ourselves. He seems to away again, as you may have seen sometimes look ridiculous before you, that you may re- practised by us country beauties beyond all member how near a resemblance you bear to that you have observed in courts and cities. him, or that you may know that he will not Add to this, sir, that I have a ruddy heedless lie under the imputation of believing you. look, which covers artifice the best of any Then it is that you are struck dumb immedi- thing. Though I can dance very well, I affect ately with a conscientious shame for what you a tottering untaught way of walking, by which have been saying. Then it is that you are I appear an easy prey; and never exert my inwardly grieved at the sentiments which you instructed charms, until I find I have engaged cannot but perceive others entertain concern- a pursuer. Be pleased, sir, to print this letter, ing you. In short, you are against yourself; which will certainly begin the chase of a the laugh of the company runs against you; rich widow. The many foldings, escapes, rethe censuring world is obliged to you for that turns, and doublings, which I make, I shall triumph which you have allowed them at your own expense; and truth, which you have injured, has a near way of being revenged on you, when by the bare repetition of your story you become a frequent diversion for the public.

'MR. SPECTATOR,

The other day, walking in Pancras churchyard, I thought of your paper wherein you mention epitaphs, and am of opinion this has a thought in it worth being communicated to your readers.

"Here innocence and beauty lies, whose breath
Was snatch'd by early, not untimely, death.
Hence did she go, just as she did begin
Sorrow to know, before she knew to sin.
Death, that does sin and sorrow thus prevent,
Is the next blessing to a life well spent."
'I am, Sir,

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from time to time communicate to you, for the better instruction of all females, who set up, like me, for reducing the present exhorbitant power and insolence of man.

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'I am, Sir, Your faithful correspondent, 'RELICTA LOVELY.'

'DEAR MR. SPECTATOR,

'I depend upon your professed respect for virtuous love for your immediately answering the design of this letter: which is no other than to lay before the world the severity of certain parents, who desire to suspend the marriage of a discreet young woman of eighteen, three years longer, for no other reason but that of her being too young to enter into that state. As to the consideration of riches, my circumstances are such, that I cannot be suspected to make my addresses to her on such low motives as avarice or ambition. If ever innocence, wit, and beauty, united their utmost charms, they have in her. I wish you would expatiate a little on this subject, and admonish her parents that it may be from the very imperfection of human nature itself, and not only personal frailty of her or me, that our inclinations baffled at present may alter; and while we are arguing with ourselves to

put off the enjoyment of our present passions, upon Milton. It is an honourable and candid our affections may change their objects in the endeavour to set the works of our noble operation. It is a very delicate subject to talk writers in the graceful light which they deupon; but if it were but hinted, I am in hopes serve. You will lose much of my kind incliit would give the parties concerned some re-nation towards you, if you do not attempt the flection that might expedite our happiness. encomium of Spenser also, or at least indulge There is a possibility, and I hope I may say my passion for that charming author so far as it without imputation of immodesty to her I to print the loose hints I now give you on that love with the highest honour; I say there is a subject. possibility this delay may be as painful to Spenser's general plan is the representaher as it is to me; if it be as much, it must be tion of six virtues-holiness, temperance, chasmore, by reason of the severe rules the sex tity, friendship, justice, and courtesy-in six are under, in being denied even the relief of legends by six persons. The six personacomplaint. If you oblige me in this, and Iges are supposed, under proper allegories succeed, I promise you a place at my wed-suitable to their respective characters, to do ding, and a treatment suitable to your specta-all that is necessary for the full manifestation torial dignity. of the respective virtues which they are to

" SIR,

Your most humble servant,

EUSTACE.,

exert.

'These one might undertake to show under the several heads, are admirably drawn; no images improper, and most surprisingly beautiful. The Redcross Knight runs through the whole steps of the Christian life; Guyon does all that temperance can possibly require ; Britomartis (a woman) observes the true rules of unaffected chastity; Arthegal is in every respect of life strictly and wisely just ; Calidore is rightly courteous.

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'I yesterday heard a young gentleman, that looked as if he had come just to the gown and a scarf, upon evil speaking: which subject you know archbishop Tillotson has so nobly handled in a sermon in his folio. As soon as ever he had named his text, and had opened a little the drift of his discourse, I was in great hopes he had been one of Sir Roger's chaplains. I In short, in Fairy-land, where knights-erhave conceived so great an idea of the charming discourse above, that I should have thought what Ariostos or Orlandos could not do in the rant have a full scope to range, and to do even one part of my sabbath very well spent world without breaking into credibility, Spenhearing a repetition of it. But, alas! Mr. Spec-ser's knights have, under those six heads, giv tator, this reverend divine gave us his graces's sermon, and yet I do not know how; even I, en a full and truly poetical system of Christhat am sure have read it at least twenty times, tian, public, and low life. could not tell what to make of it, and was at a loss sometimes to guess what the man aimed He was so just indeed, as to give us all

at.

in

the heads and the sub-divisions of the sermon, and further I'think there was not one beauti

'His legend of friendship is more diffuse; and yet even there the allegory is finely drawn, only the heads various; one knight could not

there support all the parts.

'To do honour to his country, prince Arthur is an universal hero; in holiness, temperance, chastity, and justice, super-cxcellent. For the same reason, and to compliment queen Elizabeth, Gloriana, queen of fairies, whose court was the asylum of the oppressed, represents that glorious queen. At her commands all these knights set forth and only at hers the Redcross Knight destroys the dragon, Guyon overturns the Bower of Bliss, Arthegal (i. e. Justice) beats down Geryoneo (i. e. Philip II. king of Spain) to rescue Belge (i. e. Holland), and he beats the Grantorto (the same Philip in another light) to restore Irena (i. e. Peace) to Europe.

ful thought in it but what we had. But then, sir, this gentleman made so many pretty additions; and he could never give us a paragraph of the sermon but he introduced it with something which methought looked more like a design to show his own ingenuity than to instruct the people. In short, he added and curtailed in such a manner, that he vexed me; insomuch that I could not forbear thinking (what I confess I ought not to have thought in so holy a place), that this young spark was as justly blameable as Bullock or Penkethman, when they mend a noble play of Shakespeare or Jonson. Pray, sir, take this into your con'Chastity being the first female virtue, Brisideration; and, if we must be entertained with the works of any of those great men, tomartis is a Briton; her part is fine, though desire these gentlemen to give them us as they it requires explication. His style is very pofind them, that so when we read them to our etical; no puns, affectations of wit, forced anfamilies at home they may the better remem-titheses, or any of that low tribe. ber they have heard them at church.

No. 540.]

• Sir,

'Your humble servant.'

Wednesday November 18, 1712.
Non deficit alter. Virg. En. vi. 143.
A second is not wanting.

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His old words are all true English, and numbers exquisite; and since of words there is the multa renascentur, since they are all proper, such a poem should not (any more than Milton's) consist all of it of common ordinary words. See instances of descriptions.

Causeless jealousy in Britomartis, v. 6, 14, in its restlessness.

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With froward will doth set himself to weep,
Ne can be still'd for all his nurse's night,
But kicks and squalls, and shrieks for fell despite:
Now scratching her, and her loose locks misusing,
Now seeking darkness, and now seeking light;
Then craving suck, and then the suck refusing:
Such was this lady's loves in her love's fond accusing."

Curiosity occasioned by jealousy, upon occasion
of her lover's absence. Ibid. Stan. 8, 9.
"Then as she looked long, at last she spied

One coming towards her with hasty speed,
Well ween'd she then, ere him she plain'd descry'd,
That it was one sent from her love indeed:
Whereat her heart was fill'd with hope and dread,
Ne would she stay till he in place could come,
But ran to meet him forth to know his tiding's somme:
Even in the door him meeting, she begun,
And where is he, thy lord, and how far hence?
Declare at once; and hath he lost or won?" "

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Care and his house are described thus, v. 6. termined to lay aside his poetical studies, in

33, 34, 35.

"Not far away, nor meet for any guest,

order to a closer pursuit of the law, has put together, as a farewell essay, some thoughts

They spied a little cottage, like some poor man's nest. concerning pronunciation and action, which

34

"There entering in, they found the good man's self, Full busily into his work ybent,

Who was so weel a wretched wearish elf,
With hollow eyes and rawbone cheeks far spent,
As if he had in prison long been pent.
Full black and griesly did his face appear,
Besmear'd with smoke, that nigh his eye-sight blent,
With rugged beard, and hoary shaggerd hair

The which be never wont to comb, or comely shear.
35.

Rude was his garment, and to rags all rent,
Ne better had he, ne for better cared;
His blister'd hands amongst the cinders brent,
And fingers filthy, with long nails prepared,
Right fit to rend the food on which he fured.
His name was Care; a blacksmith by his trade,
Phat neither day nor night from working spared,
But to small purpose iron wedges made:
These be unquiet thoughts that careful minds invade."

'Homer's epithets were much admired by antiquity see what great justness and variety there are in these epithets of the trees in the forest, where the Redcross Knight lost Truth, B. i. Cant. i. Stan. 8, 9.

"The sailing pine, the cedar proud and tall,
The vine prop elm, the poplar never dry;
The builder-oak, sole king of forests all,
The aspine, good for staves, the cypress funeral.
9.

"The laurel, meed of mighty conquerors
And poet's sage; thy fir, that weepeth still,
The willow, worn of forlorn paramours,
The yew, obedient to the bender's will,
The birch for shafts, the sallow for the mill:
The myrrhe sweet, bleeding in the bitter wound,
The war-like beech, the ash, for nothing ill,
The fruitful olive, and the plantane round,
The carver holin, the maple, seldom inward sound."

'I shall trouble you no more, but desire you to let me conclude with these verses, though I think they have already been quoted by you. They are directions to young ladies oppressed with caluminy, v. 6. 14.

"The best (said he) that I can you advise,
Is to avoid the occasion of the ill;
For when the cause whence evil doth arise
Removed is, the effect surceaseth still.
Abstain from pleasure and restrain your will,
Subdue desire and bridle loose delight,
L'se scanted diet, and forbear your fill,

he has given me leave to communicate to the public. They are chiefly collected from his favourite author Cicero, who is known to have been an intimate friend of Roscius the actor, and a good judge of dramatic performances, as well as the most eloquent pleader of the time in which he lived.

Cicero concludes his celebrated books De Oratore with some precepts for pronunciation and action, without which part he affirms that the best orator in the world can never succeed; and an indifferent one, who is master of this, shall gain much greater applause. What could make a stronger impression,' says he, "than those exclamations of Gracchus ?'"Whither shall I turn? Wretch that I am! to what place betake myself? Shall I go the Capitol? Alas! it is overflowed with my brother's blood. Or shall I retire to my house? Yet there I behold my inother plunged in misery, weeping and despairing! These breaks and turns of passion, it seems, were so enforced by the eyes, voice, and gesture of the speaker, that his very enemies could not refrain from tears. I insist,' says Tully, upon this the rather, because our orators, who are as it were actors of the truth itself, have quitted this manner of speaking: and the players, who are but the imitators of truth, have taken it up.'

I shall therefore pursue the hint he has here given me, and for the service of the British stage I shall copy some of the rules which this great Roman master has laid down; yet without confining myself wholly to his thoughts or words and to adapt this essay the more to the purpose for which I intend it, instead of the examples he has inserted in this discourse out of the ancient tragedies. I shall make use of parallel passages out of the most celebrated of our own.

The design of art is to assist action as much as possible in the representation of nature; for the appearance of reality is that which moves us in all representations, and these have always the greater force the nearer they approach to nature, and the less they show of imitation.

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