schemes of life. When I hear a man complain of his being unfortunate in all his undertakings, I shrewdly suspect him for a very weak man in his affairs. In conformity with this way of thinking, Cardinal Richelieu used to say, that unfortunate and imprudent were but two words for the same thing. As the Cardinal himself had a great share both of prudence and good fortune, his famous antagonist, the Count d'Olivares, was disgraced at the court of Madrid, because it was alleged against him that he had never any success in his undertakings. This, says an eminent author, was indirectly accusing him of imprudence.

tune, like other females, delights rather in favouring the young than the old.

not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong.' Nothing less than infinite wisdom can have an absolute command over fortune; the highest degree of it, which man can possess, is by no means equal to fortuitous events, and to such contingencies as may rise in the prosecution of our affairs. Nay, it very often happens, that prudence, which has always in it a great mixture of caution, hinders a man from being so fortunate as he might possibly have been without it. A person who only aims at what is likely to succeed, and follows closely the dictates of human prudence, never meets with those great and unforeseen successes, Cicero recommended Pompey to the Ro- which are often the effect of a sanguine mans for their general upon three accounts, temper, or a more happy rashness; and as he was a man of courage, conduct, and this perhaps may be the reason, that, acgood fortune. It was, perhaps, for the rea-cording to the common observation, Forson above-mentioned, namely, that a series of good fortune supposes a prudent management in the person whom it befalls, that not only Sylla the dictator, but several of the Roman emperors, as is still to be seen upon their medals, among their other titles, gave themselves that of Felix or fortunate. The heathens, indeed, seem to have valued a man more for his good fortune than for any other quality, which I think is very natural for those who have not a strong belief of another world. For how can I conceive a man crowned with any distinguishing blessings, that has not some extraordinary fund of merit and perfection in him which lies open to the Supreme eye, though perhaps it is not discovered by my observation? What is the reason Homer's and Virgil's heroes do not form a resolution, or strike a blow, without the conduct and direction of some deity? Doubtless, because the poets esteemed it the greatest honour to be favoured by the gods, and thought the best way of praising a man was, to recount those favours which naturally implied an extraordinary merit in the person on whom they descended.

Upon the whole, since man is so shortsighted a creature, and the accidents which may happen to him so various, I cannot but be of Dr. Tillotson's opinion in another case, that were there any doubt of a Providence, yet it certainly would be very desirable there should be such a Being of infinite wisdom and goodness, on whose direction we might rely in the conduct of human life.

It is a great presumption to ascribe our successes to our own management, and not to esteem ourselves upon any blessing, rather as it is the bounty of heaven than the acquisition of our own prudence. I am very well pleased with a medal which was struck by Queen Elizabeth, a little after the defeat of the invincible armada, to perpetuate the memory of that extraordinary event. It is well known how the king of Spain, and others who were the enemies of that great princess, to derogate from her glory, ascribed the ruin of their fleet rather to the violence of storms and tempests, than to the bravery of the English. Queen Elizabeth, instead of looking upon this as a Those who believe a future state of re- diminution of her honour, valued herself wards and punishments act very absurdly, upon such a signal favour of Providence, if they form their opinions of a man's merit and accordingly, in the reverse of the medal from his successes. But certainly, if I above-mentioned, has represented a fleet thought the whole circle of our being was beaten by a tempest, and falling foul upon included between our births and deaths, I one another, with that religious inscription, should think a man's good fortune the mea-Afflavit Deus, et dissipantur,' 'He blew sure and standard of his real merit, since Providence would have no opportunity of rewarding his virtue and perfections, but in the present life. A virtuous unbeliever, who lies under the pressure of misfortunes, has reason to cry out, as they say Brutus did, a little before his death: 'O'virtue, I have worshipped thee as a substantial good, but I find thou art an empty name.'

But to return to our first point. Though prudence does undoubtedly in a great measure, produce our good or ill fortune in the world, it is certain there are many unforeseen accidents and occurrences which very often pervert the finest schemes that can be laid by human wisdom. The race is

with his wind, and they were scattered.'

It is remarked of a famous Grecian general, whose name I cannot at present recollect, and who had been a particular favourite of Fortune, that, upon recounting his victories among his friends, he added at the end of several great actions, And in this Fortune had no share,' After which, it is observed in history, that he never prospered in any thing he undertook.

As arrogance and a conceitedness of our own abilities are very shocking and offensive to men of sense and virtue, we may be sure they are highly displeasing to that

*Timotheus the Athenian.

cannot any offer more worthy a generous mind. Would you do a handsome thing without return; do it for an infant that is not sensible of the obligation. Would you do it for public good; do it for one who will be an honest artificer. Would you do it for the sake of heaven; give it to one who shall be instructed in the worship of Him for whose sake you give it. It is, methinks, a most laudable institution this, if it were of no other expectation than that of producing a race of good and useful servants, who will have more than a liberal, a religious education. What would not a man do in common prudence to lay out in purchase of one about him, who would add to all his orders he gave, the weight of the commandments, to enforce an obedience to them? for one who would consider his master as his father, his friend, and benefactor, upon easy terms, and in expectation of no other return but moderate wages and gentle usage? It is the common vice of children to run too much among the servants; from such as are educated in these places they would see nothing but lowliness in the servant, which would not be disingenuous in the child. All the ill offices and defamatory whispers, which take their birth from domestics, would be prevented, if this charity could be made universal: and a good man might have a knowledge of the whole life of the person he designs to take into his house for his own service, or that of his family or children, long before they were admitted. This would create endearing dependencies: and the obligation would have a paternal air in the master, who would be relieved from much care and anxiety by the gratitude and diligence of an humble friend attending him as his servant. I fall into this discourse from a letter sent to me, to give me notice that fifty boys would be clothed, and take their seats (at the charge of some generous benefactors,) in St. Bride's church, on Sunday next. I wish I could promise to myself any thing which my correspondent seems to expect from a publication of it in this paper; for there can be nothing added to what so many excellent and learned men have said on this occasion. But that there may be something here which would move a generous mind, like that of him who wrote to me, I shall transcribe a handsome paragraph of Dr. Snape's sermon on these charities, which my correspondent enclosed with his letter. The wise Providence has amply compensated the disadvantages of the poor and indigent, in wanting many of the conveniences of this life, by a more abundant provision for their happiness in the next. Had they been higher born, or more richly endowed, they would have wanted this manner of education, of which those only enjoy the benefit who are low enough to submit to it; where they have such advantages without money, and without price, as the rich cannot purchase with it. The

great climacteric, and am naturally a man 'MR. SPECTATOR,-I am turned of my of a meek temper. About a dozen years ago, I was married, for my sins, to a young woman of a good family, and of a high spirit ; but could not bring her to close with me, before I had entered into a treaty with her longer than that of the grand alliance. Among other articles, it was therein stipulated, that she should have 400l. a year for pin-money, which I obliged myself to pay quarterly into the hands of one, who acted ever since religiously observed my part in as her plenipotentiary in that affair. I have this solemn agreement. Now sir, so it is, that the lady has had several children since I married her; to which, if I should credit our malicious neighbours, her pin-money has not a little contributed. The education of these my children, who, contrary to my expectation, are born to me every year, straitens me so much, that I have begged their mother to free me from the obligation of the above-mentioned pin-money, that it may go towards making a provision for her family. This proposal makes her noble blood swell in her veins, insomuch, that finding me a little tardy in my last quarter's payment, she threatens me every day to arrest me; and proceeds so far as to tell me, that if I do not do her justice, I shall die in a jail. To this she adds, when her passion will let her argue calmly, that she has several play-debts on her hand, which must be discharged very suddenly, and that she cannot lose her money as becomes a woman of her fashion, if she makes me any abatement in this article. I hope, sir, you will take an occasion from hence to give your opinion upon a subject which you have not yet touched, and inform us if there are any precedents for this usage, among our ancestors: or whether you find any mention of pin-money in Grotius, Puffendorf, or any other of the civilians.

'I am ever the humblest of your admirers, JOSIAH FRIBBLE, Esq.'

As there is no man living who is a more professed advocate for the fair sex than

I remember my friend Sir Roger, who, I dare say, never read this passage in Plato, told me some time since, that upon his courting the perverse widow (of whom I I know several of my fair readers urge, have given an account in former papers) in defence of this practice, that it is but a he had disposed of a hundred acres in a necessary provision they make for them- diamond ring, which he would have preselves, in case their husband proves a sented her with, had she thought fit to churl, or a miser; so that they consider accept it: and that upon her wedding-day, this allowance as a kind of alimony, which she should have carried on her head fifty they may lay their claim to, without ac- of the tallest oaks upon his estate. He tually separating from their husbands. But further informed me, that he would have with submission, I think a woman who will given her a coal-pit to keep her in clean give up herself to a man in marriage, where linen, that he would have allowed her the there is the least room for such an appre-profits of a wind-mill for her fans, and have hension, and trust her person to one whom she will not rely on for the common necessaries of life, may very properly be accused

that though he did not care for fine clothes the same opinion of me. I must own I love himself, there should not have been a woman to look at them all, one for being wellin the country better dressed than my lady Coverley. Sir Roger, perhaps may in this, as well as in many other of his devices, appear something odd and singular; but if the humour of pin-money prevails, I think it would be very proper for every gentleman of an estate, to mark out so many acres of it under the title of The Pins.'

L.

No. 296.] Friday, February 8, 1711-12.

-Nugis adhere pondus.

Hor. Lib. 1. Ep. xix. 42.

Add weight to trifles. 'DEAR SPEC,-Having lately conversed much with the fair sex on the subject of your speculations (which since their appearance in public, have been the chief exercise of the female loquacious faculty) I found the fair ones possessed with a dissatisfaction at your prefixing Greek mottos to the frontispieces of your papers; and, as a man of gallantry, I thought it a duty incumbent on me to impart it to you, in hopes of a reformation, which is only to be effected by a restoration of the Latin to the usual dignity in your papers, which, of late, the Greek, to the great displeasure of your female readers, has usurped; for though the Latin has the recommendation of being as unintelligible to them as the Greek, yet being written of the same character with their mother tongue, by the assistance of a spelling-book it is legible; which quality the Greek wants: and since the introduction of operas into this nation, the ladies are so charmed with sounds abstracted from their ideas, that they adore and honour the sound of Latin, as it is old Italian. I am a solicitor for the fair sex, and therefore think myself in that character more likely to be prevalent in this request, than if I should subscribe myself by my proper name.

'J. M.

'I desire you may insert this in one of your speculations, to show my zeal for removing the dissatisfaction of the fair sex, and restoring you to their favour.'

dressed, a second for his fine eye, and one particular one, because he is the least man I ever saw; but there is something so easy and pleasant in the manner of my little man, that I observe he is a favourite of all his acquaintance. I could go on to tell you of many others, that I believe think I have encouraged them from my window: but pray let me have your opinion of the use of the window, in the apartment of a beautiful lady; and how often she may look out at the same man, without being supposed to have a mind to jump out to him. Your's, 'AURELIA CARELESS.'

Let her alone ten days.

York, Jan. 20, 1711-12. 'MR. SPECTATOR,-We have in this town a sort of people who pretend to wit, and write lampoons; I have lately been the subject of one of them. The scribbler had not genius enough in verse to turn my age, as indeed I am an old maid, into raillery, for affecting a youthier turn than is consistent with my time of day; and therefore he makes the title of his madrigal, The character of Mrs. Judith Lovebane, born in the year 1680. What I desire of you is, that you disallow that a coxcomb, who pretends to write verse, should put the most malicious thing he can say in prose. This I humbly conceive will disable our country wits, who indeed take a great deal of pains to say any thing in rhyme, though they say it very ill. Sir, your humble servant, 'SUSANNA LOVEBANE.'

'MR. SPECTATOR,-We are several of 'SIR, I was some time since in company with a young officer, who entertained us, gentleman and ladies, who board in the same house, and after dinner one of our comus with the conquest he had made over a pany (an agreeable man enough otherwise) female neighbour of his; when a gentleman stands up, and reads your paper to us all. who stood by, as I suppose, envying the cap- We are the civilest people in the world to tain's good fortune, asked him what reason one another, and therefore I am forced to he had to believe the lady admired him? this way of desiring our reader, when he is "Why," says he, "my lodgings are oppo- doing this office, not to stand afore the fire. site to her's, and she is continually at her This will be a general good to our family, window, either at work, reading, taking this cold weather. He will, I know, take snuff, or putting herself in some toying it to be our common request when he comes posture on purpose to draw my eyes that to these words, "Pray, sir, sit down;" which way." The confession of this vain soldier I desire you to insert, and you will particu made me reflect on some of my own actions; for you must know, sir, I am often larly oblige your daily reader, at a window which fronts the apartments of several gentlemen, who I doubt not have

'CHARITY FROST.' 'SIR,-I am a great lover of dancing,