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course, and during the after-psalm, as is not | his shoulders, that it seemed not to have been to be silenced but by the bells. Nor does this combed since the year 1712; his linen, which suffice them, without aiming to propagate their was not much concealed, was daubed with noise through all the church, by signals given to the adjoining seats, where others designed for this fraternity are sometimes placed upon trial to receive them.

plain Spanish from the chin to the lowest button; and the diamond upon his finger (which naturally dreaded the water) put me in mind how it sparkled amidst the rubbish of the mine The folly as well as rudeness of this prac- where it was first discovered. On the other tice is in nothing more conspicuous than this, hand, the pretty quaker appeared in all the that all that follows in the sermon is lost; for, elegance of cleanliness. Not a speck was to whenever our sparks take alarm, they blaze out be found upon her. A clear, clean oval and grow so tumultuous that no after-explana- face, just edged about with little thin plaits tion can avail, it being impossible for them- of the purest cambric, received great adselves or any near them to give an account vantagess from the shade of her black thereof. If any thing really novel is advanced, hood; as did the whiteness of her arms from how averse soever it may be to their way of that sober-coloured stuff in which she had thinking, to say nothing of duty, men of less clothed herself. The plainness of her dress levity than these would be led by a natural cu- was very well suited to the simplicity of her riosity to hear the whole. phrases; all which, put together, though they could not give me a great opinion of her religion, they did of her innocence.

Laughter, where things sacred are transacted, is far less pardonable than whining at a conventicle; the last has at least a semblance of grace, and where the affectation is unseen, may possibly imprint wholesome lessons on the sincere; but the first has no excuse, breaking through all the rules of order and decency, and manifesting a remissness of mind in those important matters which require the strictest composure and steadiness of thought: a proof First, It is a mark of politeness. It is uniof the greatest folly in the world.

'I shall not here enter upon the veneration due to the sanctity of the place, the reverence owing the minister, or the respect that so great an assembly as a whole parish may justly claim. I shall only tell them, that, as the Spanish cobbler, to reclaim a profligate son, bid him have some regard to the dignity of his family, so they as gentlemen (for we who are citizens assume to be such one day in a week) are bound for the future to repent of, and abstain from, the gross abuses here mentioned, whereof they have been guilty in contempt of heaven and earth, and contrary to the laws in this case made and provided. '1 am, Sir.

'Your very humble servant,

This adventure occasioned my throwing together a few hints upon cleanliness, which I shall consider as one of the 'half-virtues, as Aristotle calls them, and shall recommend it under the three following heads: as it is a mark of politeness; as it produces love; and as it bears analogy to purity of mind.

versally agreed upon, that no one unadorned with this virtue can go into company without giving a manifest offence. The easier or higher any one's fortune is, this duty arises proportionably. The different nations of the world are as much distinguished by their cleanliness as by their arts and sciences. The more any country is civilized, the more they consult this part of politeness. We need but compare our ideas of a female Hottentot and an English beauty, to be satisfied of the truth of what hath been advanced.

In the next place, cleanliness may be said to be the foster-mother of love. Beauty indeed most commonly produces the passion in the mind, but cleanliness preserves it. An indifferent face and person, kept in perpetual R. M.'neatness, hath won many a heart from a pretty slattern. Age itself is not unamiable, while it is preserved clean and unsullied: like a piece of metal constantly kept smooth and bright, we look on it with more pleasure than on a new vessel that is cankered with rust.

No. 631.] Friday, December 10, 1714.

Simplex munditiis

Elegant by cleanliness -

Hor. Od. v. Lib. 1. 5.

I might observe further, that as cleanliness renders us agreeable to others, so it makes us I HAD occasion to go a few miles out of town, easy to ourselves: that it is an excellent presome days since, in a stage-coach, where I had servative of health; and that several vices, for my fellow travellers a dirty beau, and a destructive both to mind and body, are inconpretty young quaker woman. Having no incli-sistent with the habit of it. But these reflecnation to talk much at that time, I placed my-tions I shall leave to the leisure of my reaself backward, with a design to survey them, ders, and shall observe, in the third place, and pick a speculation out of my two compa- that it bears a great analogy with purity of nions. The different figures were sufficient mind, and naturally inspires refined sentiments of themselves to draw my attention. The gen- and passions. tleman was dressed in a suit, the ground We find from experience that, through the whereof had been black, as I perceived from prevalence of custom, the most vicious aesome few spaces that had escaped the powder, tions lose their horror by being made familiar which was incorporated with the greatest part to us. On the contrary, those who live in the of his coat his periwig, which cost no small neighbourhood of good examples, fly from the sitm, was after so-slovenly a manner cast over first appearances of what is shocking. It fares

with us much after the same manner as our he had laid down and punctually observed to ideas. Our senses, which are the inlets to all the year of his death. It was, perhaps, a the images conveyed to the mind, can only thought of the like nature whih determined transmit the impression of such things as usu- Homer himself to divide each of his poems ally surround them. So that pure and un-into as many books as there are letters in the sullied thoughts are naturally suggested to the Greek alphabet. Herodotus has in the same mind, by those objects that perpetually encom- manner adapted his books to the number of pass us when they are beautiful and elegant in the muses, for which reason many a learned their kind. man hath wished there had been more than nine of that sisterhood.

In the east, where the warmth of the climate makes cleanliness more immediately necessary Several epic poets have religiously followthan in colder countries, it is made one part ed Virgil as to the number of his books: and of their religion: the Jewish law, and the even Milton is thought by many to have changMahometan, which in some things copies af-ed the number of his books from ten to twelve ter it, is filled with bathings, purifications, for no other reason; as Cowley tells us, it and other rites of the like nature. Though was his design, had he finished his Davideis, there is the above-named convenient reason to have also imitated the Æneid in this partito be assigned for these ceremonies, the chief cular. I believe every one will agree with intention undoubtedly was to typify inward me that a perfection of this nature hath no purity and cleanliness of heart by those out- foundation in reason; and, with due respect ward washings. We read several injunctions to these great names, may be looked upon as of this kind in the book of Deuteronomy, something whimsical. which confirm this truth; and which are but I mention these great examples in defence ill accounted for by saying, as some do, that of my bookseller, who occasioned this eighth they were only instituted for convenience in volume of Spectators, because, as he said, he the desert, which otherwise could not have thought seven a very odd number. On the been habitable for so many years. other side, several grave reasons were urged I shall conclude this essay with a story which on this important subject; as, in particular, I have somewhere read in an account of Ma-that seven was the precise number of the wise hometan superstitions. men, and that the most beautiful constella

A dervise of great sanctity one morning had tion in the heavens was composed of seven the misfortue, as he took up a crystal cup stars. This he allowed to be true, but still which was consecrated to the prophet, to let insisted that seven was an odd number: sugit fall upon the ground and dash it in pieces.gesting at the same time, that if he were proHis son coming in some time after, he stretch-vided with a sufficient stock of leading papers, ed out his hand to bless him, as his manner he should find friends ready enough to carry was every morning: but the youth going out on the work. Having by this means got his stumbled over the threshold and, broke his vessel launched and set afloat, he hath comarm. As the old man wondered at these nitted the steerage of it, from time to time, events, a caravan passed by in its way from to such as he thought capable of conducting Mecca; the dervise approached it to beg a it. blessing; but as he stroked one of the holy camels, he received a kick from the beast that sorely bruised him. His sorrow and amazement increased upon him, until he recollected that, through hurry and inadvertency, he had that morning come abroad without washing

his hands.

No. 632.] Monday, December 13, 1714.
-Explebo numerum, reddarque tenebris.
Virg. Æn vi. 145.
-the number'I'll complete,

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

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

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

'MR. SPECTATOR, Dublin, Nov. 30, 1714. Then to obscurity well pleas'd retreat. 'You lately recommended to your female readers the good old custom of their grandTHE love of symmetry and order, which is mothers, who used to lay out a great part of natural to the mind of man, betrays him their time in needle-work. I entirely agree sometimes into very whimsical fancies. This with you in your sentiments, and think it noble principle,' says a French author, 'loves would not be of less advantage to themselves to amuse itself on the most trifling occasions. and their posterity, than to the reputation of You may see a profound philosopher,' says he, many of their good neighbours, if they passed 'walk for an hour together in 'his chamber, many of those hours in this innocent enterand industriously treading, at every step, up-tainment which are lost at the tea-table. I on every other board in the flooring.' Every would, however, humbly offer to your consireader will recollect several instances of this deration the case of the poetical ladies; who, nature without my assistance. I think it was though they may be willing to take any adGregorio Leti, who had published as many books as he was years old; which was a rule successively. Swift counted the number of steps he had

This voluminous writer boasted that he had been the author of a book and the father of a child for twenty years

made from London to Chelsea. And it is said and demonstrated in the Parentalia, that bishop Wren walked round the earth while a prisoner in the tower of London.

viee given them by the Spectator, yet cannot| Cambridge, Dec. 11. so easily quit their pen and ink as you may 'It was a very common inquiry among the imagine. Pray allow them, at least now and ancients, why the number of excellent orators, then, to indulge themselves in other amuse- under all the encouragements the most flouments of fancy when they are tired with rishing states could give them, fell so far short stooping to their tapestry. There is a very of the number of those who excelled in all other particular kind of work, which of late several sciences. A friend of mine used merrily to apladies here in our kingdom are very fond of, ply to this case an observation of Herodotus, which seems very well adapted to a poetical who says, that the most useful animals are the genius: it is the making of grottos. I know a lady who has a very beautiful one, composed by herself; nor is there one shell in it not stuck up by her own hands. I here send you a poem to the fair architect, which I would not offer to herself until I knew whether this method of a lady's passing her time were approved of by the British Spectator; which, with the poem, I submit to your censure, who

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"A grotto so complete, with such design,
What hands, Calypso, could have form'd but thine?
Each chequer'd pebble, and each shining sbell,
So well proportion'd and dispos'd so well,
Surprising lustre from thy thought receive,
Assuming beauties more than nature gave.
To her their various shapes and glossy hue,
Their curious symmetry they owe to you.
Not fam'd Amphion's lute, whose powerful call
Made willing stones dance to the Theban wall,.
In more harmonious ranks could make them fall.
Not evening cloud a brighter arch can show,
Nor richer colours paint the heavenly bow.

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

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

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

No. 633.] Wednesday, December 15, 1714.

Omnia profecto, cum se à cœlestibus rebus referet ad humanas, excelsius magnificentiúsque et dicet et sentiet. Cicero.

The contemplation of celestial things will make a man both speak and think more sublimely and magnificently when he descends to human affairs.

THE following discourse is printed, as it came to my hands, without variation.

most fruitful in their generation; whereas the species of those beasts that are fierce and mischievous to mankind are but scarcely continued. The historian instances in a hare, which always either breeds or brings forth ; and alioness, which brings forth but once, and then loses all power of conception. But leaving my friend to his mirth, I am of opinion that in these latter ages we have greater cause of complaint than the ancients had. And since that solemn festival is approaching,* which calls for all the power of oratory, and which affords as noble a subject for the pulpit as any revelation has taught us, the design of this paper shall be to show, that our moderns have greater advan tages towards true and solid eloquence than any which the celebrated speakers of antiquity enjoyed.

The first great and substantial difference is, that their common-places, in which almost the whole force of amplification consists, were drawn from the profit or honesty of the action, as they regarded only this present state of duration. But Christianity, as it exalts morality to a greater perfection, as it brings the consideration of another life into the question, as it proposes rewards and punishments of a higher nature, and a longer continuance, is more adapted to affect the minds of the audience, naturally inclined to pursue what it imagines its greatest interest and concern. If Pericles, as historians report, could shake the firmest resolution of his hearers, and set the passions of all Greece in a ferment, when the present welfare of his country, or the fear of hostile invasions, was the subject: what may be expected from that orator who warns his audience against those evils which have no remedy, when once undergone, either from pru. dence or time? As much greater as the evils in a future state are than these at present, so much are the motives to persuasion under Christianity greater than those which mere moral considerations could supply us with. But what I now mention relates only to the power of moving the affections. There is another part of eloquence which is, indeed, its masterpiece; I mean the marvellous or sublime. In this the Christian orator has the advantage beyond contradiction. Our ideas are so infinitely enlarged by revelation, the eye of reason has so wide a prospect into eternity, the notions of a Deity are so worthy and refined, and the accounts we have of a state of happiness or misery so clear and evident, that the contemplation of such objects will give our discourse a nobler vigour, an invincible force, beyond the power of any human consideration. Tully requires in his perfect orator some skill in the

* Christmas.

nature of heavenly bodies; because, says he, moter and preacher of it. To me it seems that his mind will become more extensive and un-the latter part of his judgment adds great confined; and when he descends to treat of weight to his opinion of St. Paul's abilities, human affairs, he will both think and write in since, under all the prejudice of opinions dia more exalted and magnificent manner. For rectly opposite, he is constrained to acknowthe same reason, that excellent master would ledge the merit of that apostle. And no doubt, have recommended the study of those great such as Longinus describes St. Paul, such he and glorious mysteries which revelation has dis- appeared to the inhabitants of those countries covered to us; to which the noblest parts of which he visited and blessed with those docthis system of the world are as much inferior trines he was divinely commissioned to preach. as the creature is less excellent than its Creator. Sacred story gives us, in one circumstance, a The wisest and most knowing among the hea- convincing proof of his eloquence, when the thens had very poor and imperfect notions men of Lystra called him Mercury, "because of a future state. They had indeed some un-he was the chief speaker;" and would have certain hopes, either received by tradition, or paid divine worship to him, as to the god who gathered by reason, that the existence of virtu- invented and presided over eloquence. This ous men would not be determined by the sepa- one account of our apostle sets his character, ration of soul and body; but they either dis- considered as an orator only, above all the cebelieved a future state of punishment and lebrated relations of the skill and influence of miserv; or, upon the same account that Ap-Demosthenes and his contemporaries. Their pelles painted Antigonous with one side only power in speaking was admired, but still it towards the spectator, that the loss of his eye was thought human; their cloquence warmed might not cast a blemish upon the whole piece; and ravished the hearers, but still it was so these represented the condition of man in thought the voice of man, not the voice of its fairest view, and endeavoured to conceal God. What advantage then had St. Paul above what they thought was a deformity to human those of Greece or Rome? I confess I can nature. I have often observed, that whenever ascribe this excellence to nothing but the the above-mentioned orator in his philosophi-power of the doctrines he delivered, which may cal discourses is led by his argument to the have still the same influence on the hearers ; mention of immortality, he seems like one which have still the power, when preached by awakened out of sleep roused and alarmed a skilful orator, to make us break out in the with the dignity of the subject, he stretches his same expressions as the disciples who met our imagination to conceive something uncommon, Saviour in their way to Emmaus made use of; and, with the greatness of his thoughts, casts," Did not our hearts burn within us when he as it were, a glory round the sentence. Un-talked to us by the way, and while he opened certain and unsettled as he was, he seems fired to us the scriptures ?" I may be thought bold with the contemplation of it. And nothing in my judgment, by some, but I must affirm, but such a glorious prospect could have forced that no one orator has left us so visible marks so great a lover of truth as he was, to declare and footsteps of his eloquence as our apostle. his resolution never to part with his persuasion It may perhaps be wondered at, that in his of immortality, though it should be proved to reasonings upon idolatry at Athens, where elobe an erroneous one. But had he lived to see quence was born and flourished, he confines all that Christianity has brought to light, how himself to strict argument only; but my reader would he have lavished out all the force of may remember what many authors of the best eloquence in those noblest contemplations credit have assured us, that all attempts upon which human nature is capsble of, the resur- the affections, and strokes of oratory, were exrection and the judgment that follows it! How pressly forbidden, by the laws of that country, had his breast glowed with pleasure, when the in courts of judicature. His want of eloquence whole compass of futurity lay open and ex-therefore here was the effect of his exact conposed to his view! How would his imagina-formity to the laws; but his discourse on the tion have hurried him on in the pursuit of the resurrection to the Corinthians, his harangue mysteries of the incarnation! How would he before Agrippa upon his own conversion, and have entered, with the force of lightning, into the necessity of that of others, are truly great, the affections of his hearers, and fixed their and may serve as full examples to those excelattention, in spite of all the opposition of cor-lent rules for the sublime, which the best of rupt nature, upon those glorious themes which critics has left us. The sum of all this dishis eloquence hath painted in such lively and course is, that our clergy have no farther to lasting colours! look for an example of the perfection they This advantage Christians have; and it may arrive at, than to St. Paul's harangues; was with no small pleasure I lately met with a that when he, under the want of several adfragment of Longinus, which is preserved as vantages of nature, as he himself tells us, was a testimony of that critic's judgment, at the heard, admired and made a standard to sucbeginning of a manuscript of the New Tes-ceeding ages by the best judges of a different tament in the Vatican library. After that persuasion in religion; I say, our clergy may author has numbered up the most celebrated learn that, however instructive their sermons orators among the Grecians, he says, "add to are, they are capable of receiving a great adthese Paul of Tarsus, the patron of an opinion dition: which St. Paul has given them a noble not yet fully proved." As a heathen, he con-example of, and the Christian religion has demns the Christian religion; and, as an im-furnished them with certain means of attain partial critic, he judges in favour of the pro-ing to.'

No. 634.] Friday, December 17, 1714.

Οἐλαχίστων δεόμενος ἔξγιστα Θεῶν

Socrates apud Xen.

The fewer our wants, the nearer we resemble the gods.

ciple that influenced them throughout the whole series of their lives and exploits. Alexander tells them, that his aim was to conquer; Julius Cæsar, that his was to gain the highest post in his country; Augustus, to govern well; Trajan, that his was the same as that of IT was the common boast of the heathen Alexander, namely, to conquer. The question, philosophers, that by the efficacy of their seve-at length, was put to Marcus Aurelius, who reral doctrines, they made human nature re-plied, with great modesty, that it had always semble the divine. How much mistaken so-been his care to imitate the gods. This conever they might be in the several means they duct seems to have gained him the most proposed for this end, it must be owned that votes and best place in the whole assembly. the design was great and glorious. The finest Marcus Aurelius being afterwards asked to works of invention and imagination are of explain himself, declares that, by imitating very little weight when put in the balance the gods, he endeavoured to imitate them in with what refines and exalts the rational the use of his understanding, and of all other mind. Longinus excuses Homer very hand- faculties; and in particular, that it was alsomely, when he says the poet made his gods ways his study to have as few wants as possilike men, that he might make his men appear ble in himself, and to do all the good he could like the gods. But it must be allowed that to others.

several of the ancient philosophers acted as Among the many methods by which revealed Cicero wishes Homer had done: they endea- religion has advanced morality, this is one, voured rather to make men like gods, than that it has given us a more just and perfect gods like men.

idea of that Being whom every reasonable According to this general maxim in philo- creature ought to imitate. The young man, in sophy, some of them have endeavoured to a heathen comedy, might justify his lewdness place men in such a state of pleasure, or in- by the example of Jupiter; as, indeed, there dolence at least, as they vainly imagined the was scarce any crime that might not be counhappiness of the Supreme Being to consist in. tenanced by those notions of the deity which On the other hand, the most virtuous sect of prevailed among the common people in the philosophers have created a chimerical wise heathen world. Revealed religion sets forth a man, whom they made exempt from passion proper object for imitation, in that Being who and pain, and thought it enough to pronounce is the pattern, as well as the source, of all him all-sufficient. spiritual perfection.

This last character, when divested of the While we remain in this life, we are subject glare of human philosophy that surrounds it, to innumerable temptations, which, if listened signifies no more than that a good and wise to, will make us deviate from reason and goodman should so arm himself with patience, as ness, the only things wherein we can imitate not to yield tamely to the violence of passion the Supreme Being. In the next life we meet and pain; that he should learn so to suppress with nothing to excite our inclinations that and contract his desires as to have few wants; doth not deserve them. I shall therefore disand that he should cherish so many virtues in miss my reader with this maxim, viz. Our his soul as to have a perpetual source of plea-happiness in this world proceeds from the supsure in himself. pression of our desires, but in the next world

The Christian religion requires that, after from the gratification of them.' having framed the best idea we are able of the divine nature, it should be our next care to conform ourselves to it as far as our im-No. 635.] Monday, December 20, 1714. perfections will permit. I might mention several passages in the sacred writings on this head, to which I might add many maxims and wise sayings of moral authors among the Greeks and Romans.

si tibi parva (ut est) ita videtur, hæc cœlestia semper specSentio te sedem hominum ac domum contemplari; quæ tato; illa humana contemnito.

Cicero Somn. Scip.

I shall only instance a remarkable passage, I perceive you contemplate the seat and habitation of to this purpose, out of Julian's Cæsars.men; which if it appears as little to you as it really is, fix, your eyes perpetually upon heavenly objects, and despise That emperor having represented all the Ro-earthly. man emperors, with Alexander the Great, as passing in review before the gods, and striving THE following esssay comes from the ingenfor the superiority, lets them all drop, ex-ious author of the letter upon novelty, printed cepting Alexander. Julius Cæsar, Augustus in a late Spectator:* the notions are drawn Cæsar, Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, and Con- from the Platonic way of thinking; but, as stantine. Each of these great heroes of an-they contribute to raise the mind, and may intiquity lays in his claim for the upper place; spire noble sentiments of our own future granand, in order to it, sets forth his actions after deur and happiness, I think it well deserves to the most advantageous manner. But the be presented to the public. gods, instead of being dazzled with the lustre of their actions, inquire by Mercury into the proper motive and governing prin

*Spanheim, Les Cesars de l'Empereur Julien, 4to. 1798

If the universe be the creature of an intelligent mind, this mind could have no immediate

No. 626.

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