No. 347.] Tuesday, April 8, 1712. Quis furor, o cives! quæ tanta licentia ferri! What blind, detested fury, could afford. I Do not question but my country readers have been very much surprised at the several accounts they have met with in our public papers, of that species of men among us, lately known by the name of Mohocks. I find the opinions of the learned, as to their origin and designs, are altogether various, insomuch that very many begin to doubt whether indeed there were ever any such society of men. The terror which spread itself over the whole nation some years since on account of the Irish, is still fresh in most people's memories, though it afterwards appeared there was not the least ground for that general consternation. "The Manifesto of Taw Waw Eben Zan The late panic fear was in the opinion of many deep and penetrating persons of the same nature. These will have it that the Mohocks are like those spectres and apparitions which frighten several towns and villages in her majesty's dominions, though they were never seen by any of the inhabitants. Others are apt to think that 'And to the end that no one may, either these Mohocks are a kind of bull-beggars, through ignorance or inadvertency, incur first invented by prudent married men, and those penalties which we have thought fit masters of families, in order to deter their to inflict on persons of loose and dissolute wives and daughters from taking the air at lives, we do hereby notify to the public, unseasonable hours; and that when they that if any man be knocked down or astell them the Mohocks will catch them,' saulted while he is employed in his lawful it is a caution of the same nature with that business, at proper hours, that it is not of our forefathers, when they bid their chil-done by our order; and we do hereby perdren have a care of Raw-head and Bloody-mit and allow any such person, so knocked bones. For my own part, I am afraid there was too much reason for the great alarm the whole city has been in upon this occasion; though at the same time I must own, that I am in some doubt whether the following pieces are genuine and authentic; the more so, because I am not fully satisfied that the name by which the emperor subscribes himself, is altogether conformable to the Indian orthography. I shall only farther inform my readers, that it was some time since I received the following letter and manifesto, though, for particular reasons, I did not think fit to publish them till now. down or assaulted, to rise again, and defend himself in the best manner that he is able. "We do also command all and every our good subjects, that they do not presume, upon any pretext whatsoever, to issue and sally forth from their respective quarters till between the hours of eleven and twelve. That they never tip the lion upon man, woman, or child, till the clock at St. Dunstan's shall have struck one. "That the sweat be never given but between the hours of one and two; always provided, that our hunters may begin to hunt a little after the close of the evening, any thing to the contrary herein notwithstanding. Provided also, that if ever they are reduced to the necessity of pinking, it shall always be in the most fleshy parts, and such as are least exposed to view. It is also our imperial will and pleasure, that our good subjects the sweaters do establish their hummums in such close places, alleys, nooks, and corners, that the patient or patients may not be in danger of catching cold. That the tumblers, to whose care we chiefly commit the female sex, confine themselves to Drury-lane, and the purlieus of the Temple; and that every other party and division of our subjects do each of them keep within the respective quarters we have allotted to them. Provided, nevertheless, that nothing herein contained shall in any wise be construed to extend to the hunters, who have our full license and permission to enter into any part of the town wherever their game shall lead them. And whereas we have nothing more at our imperial heart than the reformation of the cities of London and Westminster, which to our unspeakable satisfaction we have in some measure already effected, we do hereby earnestly pray and exhort all husbands, fathers, house-keepers, and masters of families, in either of the aforesaid cities, not only to repair themselves to their respective habitations at early and seasonable hours, but also to keep their wives and daughters, sons, servants, and apprentices, from appearing in the streets at those times and seasons which may expose them to a military discipline, as it is practised by our good subjects the Mohocks; and we do further promise on our imperial word, that as soon as the reformation aforesaid shall be brought about, we will forthwith cause all hostilities to cease. "Given from our court, at the Devil-tavern, 'March 15, 1712.' No. 348.] Wednesday, April 9, 1712. X. night, it will serve as an instance that the sexes are equally inclined to defamation, with equal malice and impotence. Jack Triplett came into my lady Airy's about eight of the clock. You know the manner we sit at a visit, and I need not describe the circle; but Mr. Triplett came in, introduced by two tapers supported by a spruce servant, whose hair is under a cap till my lady's candles are all lighted up, and the hour of ceremony begins: I say Jack Triplett came in, and singing (for he is really good company) "Every feature, charming creature, -he went on, "It is a most unreasonable thing, that people cannot go peaceably to see their friends, but these murderers are let loose. Such a shape! such an air! what a glance was that as her chariot passed by mine!"-My lady herself interrupted him; "Pray, who is this fine thing?"-"I warrant, says another, " 'tis the creature I was telling your ladyship of, just now."-"You were telling of?" says Jack; "I wish I had been so happy as to have come in and heard you; for I have not words to say what she is: | but if an agreeable height, a modest air, a virgin shame, and impatience of being beheld amidst a blaze of ten thousand charms- The whole room flew out"Oh Mr. Triplett!"- -When Mrs. Lofty, a known prude, said she believed she knew Hor. Sat. iii. Lib. 2. 13 whom the gentleman meant; but she was indeed, as he civilly represented her, imTo shun detraction, wouldst thou virtue fly? patient of being beheld.-Then turning to 'MR. SPECTATOR,-I have not seen you the lady next to her,—“ The most unbred lately at any of the places where I visit, so creature you ever saw!" Another pursued that I am afraid you are wholly unacquaint- the discourse; "As unbred, madam, as ed with what passes among my part of the you may think her, she is extremely belied world, who are, though I say it, without if she is the novice she appears; she was controversy, the most accomplished and last week at a ball till two in the morning: best bred of the town. Give me leave to Mr. Triplett knows whether he was the tell you, that I am extremely discomposed happy man that took care of her home; when I hear scandal, and am an utter but-" This was followed by some partienemy to all manner of detraction, and cular exception that each woman in the think it the greatest meanness that people room made to some peculiar grace or adof distinction can be guilty of. However, vantage; so that Mr. Triplett was beaten it is hardly possible to come into company, from one limb and feature to another, till where you do not find them pulling one he was forced to resign the whole woman. another to pieces, and that from no other In the end, I took notice Triplett recorded provocation but that of hearing any one all this malice in his heart; and saw in his commended. Merit, both as to wit and countenance, and a certain waggish shrug, beauty, is become no other than the pos- that he designed to repeat the conversasession of a few trifling people's favour, tion: I therefore let the discourse die, and which you cannot possibly arrive at, if you soon after took an occasion to recommend have really any thing in you that is deserv- a certain gentleman of my acquaintance for ing. What they would bring to pass is, to a person of singular modesty, courage, inmake all good and evil consist in report, and tegrity, and withal as a man of an enterwith whispers, calumnies, and imperti- taining conversation, to which advantages nences, to have the conduct of those re- he had a shape and manner peculiarly ports. By this means, innocents are blasted graceful. Mr. Triplett, who is a woman's upon their first appearance in town, and man seemed to hear me with patience there is nothing more required to make a enough commend the qualities of his mind. young woman the object of envy and hatred,-He never heard indeed but that he was than to deserve love and admiration. This a very honest man, and no fool; but for a abominable endeavour to suppress or lessen fine gentleman, he must ask pardon. Upon every thing that is praiseworthy, is as frequent among the men as the women. If I can remember what passed at a visit last no other foundation than this, Mr. Triplett took occasion to give the gentleman's pedigree, by what methods some part of the estate was acquired, now much it was beholden to a marriage for the present circumstances of it: after all he could see nothing but a common man in his person, his breeding, or understanding. pronounced vicious or virtuous before the conclusion of it. It was upon this consideration that Epaminondas, being asked whether Chabrias Iphicrates, or he himself, deserved mcst to be esteemed? You must first see us die,' saith he, 'before that question can be answered.' As there is not a more melancholy consideration to a good man than his being obnoxious to such a change, so there is nothing more glorious than to keep up an uniformity in his actions, and preserve the beauty of his character to the last. Thus, Mr. Spectator, this impertinent humour of diminishing every one who is produced in conversation to their advantage, runs through the world; and I am, I confess, so fearful of the force of ill tongues, that I have begged of all those who are my well-wishers never to commend me, for it will but bring my frailties into examination; and I had rather be unobserved, than_conspicuous for disputed perfections. I am The end of a man's life is often compared confident a thousand young people, who to the winding up of a well-written play, would have been ornaments to society, where the principal persons still act in have, from fear of scandal, never dared to character, whatever the fate is which they exert themselves in the polite arts of life. undergo. There is scarce a great person Their lives have passed away in an odious in the Grecian or Roman history, whose rusticity in spite of great advantages of death has not been remarked upon by some person, genius, and fortune. There is a writer or other, and censured or applauded vicious terror of being blamed in some well- according to the genius or principles of the inclined people, and a wicked pleasure in person who has descanted on it. Monsieur suppressing them in others; both which I de St. Evremond is very particular in setrecommend to your spectatorial wisdom to ting forth the constancy and courage of animadvert upon; and if you can be suc- Petronius Arbiter during his last moments, cessful in it, I need not say how much you and thinks he discovers in them a greater will deserve of the town; but new toasts firmness of mind and resolution than in the will owe to you their beauty, and new wits death of Seneca, Cato, or Socrates. There their fame. I am, sir, your most obedient is no question but this polite author's afhumble servant, 'MARY.' fectation of appearing singular in his reT. marks, and making discoveries which had escaped the observations of others, threw him into this course of reflection. It was Petronius's merit that he died in the same gaiety of temper, in which he lived; but as his life was altogether loose and dissolute, the indifference which he showed at the close of it is to be looked upon as a piece of natural carelessness and levity, rather than fortitude. The resolution of Socrates proceeded from very different motives, the consciousness of a well-spent life, and the prospect of a happy eternity. If the ingenious author above-mentioned was so pleased with gaiety of humour in a dying man, he might have found a much nobler instance of it in our countryman Sir Thomas More. No. 349.] Thursday, April 10, 1712. -Quos ille timorum Maximus haud urget lethi metus: inde ruendi In ferrum mens prona viris, animæque capaces MortisLucan. Lib. i. 454. Thrice happy they beneath their northern skies, Who that worst fear, the fear of death, despise! Hence they no cares for this frail being feel, But rush undaunted on the pointed steel. Provoke approaching fate, and bravely scorn To spare that life which must so soon return.-Rowe. I AM very much pleased with a consolatory letter of Phalaris, to one who had lost a son that was a young man of great merit. The thought with which he comforts the afflicted father is, to the best of my memory as follows:-That he should consider death had set a kind seal upon his son's character, and placed him out of the reach of vice and infamy: that, while he lived, he was still within the possibility of falling away from virtue, and losing the fame of which he was possessed. Death only closes a man's reputation, and determines it as good or bad. This, among other motives, may be one reason why we are naturally averse to the launching out into a man's praise till his head is laid in the dust. Whilst he is capable of changing, we may be forced to retract our opinion. He may forfeit the esteem we have conceived of him, and some time or other appear to us under a different light from what he does at present. In short, as the life of any man cannot be called happy, or unhappy, so neither can it be This great and learned man was famous for enlivening his ordinary discourses with wit and pleasantry; and as Erasmus tells him in an epistle dedicatory, acted in all parts of life like a second Democritus. He died upon a point of religion, and is respected as a martyr by that side for which he suffered. That innocent mirth, which had been so conspicuous in his life, did not forsake him to the last. He maintained the same cheerfulness of heart upon the scaffold which he used to show at his table; and upon laying his head on the block, gave instances of that good humour with which he had always entertained his friends in the most ordinary occurrences. death was of a piece with his life. There was nothing in it new, forced, or affected. He did not look upon the severing his head His from his body as a circumstance that ought to produce any change in the disposition of his mind; and as he died under a fixed and settled hope of immortality, he thought any unusual degree of sorrow and concern improper on such an occasion, as had nothing in it which could deject or terrify him. There is no great danger of imitation from this example. Men's natural fears will be a sufficient guard against it. I shall only observe, that what was philosophy in this extraordinary man, would be phrensy in one who does not resemble him as well in the cheerfulness of his temper as in the sanctity of his life and manners. I shall conclude this paper with the instance of a person who seems to me to have shown more intrepidity and greatness of soul in his dying moments than what we meet with among any of the most celebrated Greeks and Romans. I met with this instance in the History of the Revolutions in Portugal, written by the abbot de Vortot. CAPTAIN SENTRY was last night at a club, and produced a letter from Ipswich, which his correspondent desired him to communicate to his friend the Spectator. It contained an account of an engagement between a French privateer, commanded by one Dominic Pottiere, and a little vessel of that place laden with corn, the master whereof, as I remember, was one Goodwin. The Englishman defended himself with incredible bravery, and beat off the French, after having been boarded three or four times. The enemy still came on with great fury, and hoped by his number of men to carry the prize; till at last the Englishman, finding himself sink apace, and ready to perish, struck: but the effect which this singular gallantry had upon the captain of the privateer was no other than an unmanly desire of vengeance for the loss he had sustained in his several attacks. When Don Sebastian, king of Portugal, He told the Ipswich man in a speaking had invaded the territories of Muli Moluc, trumpet, that he would not take him aboard, emperor of Morocco, in order to dethrone and that he stayed to see him sink. The him, and set the crown upon the head of Englishman at the same time observed a his nephew, Moluc was wearing away with disorder in the vessel, which he rightly a distemper which he himself knew was judged to proceed from the disdain which incurable. However, he prepared for the the ship's crew had of their captain's inreception of so formidable an enemy. He humanity. With this hope he went into was, indeed, so far spent with his sickness, his boat, and approached the enemy. He that he did not expect to live out the whole was taken in by the sailors in spite of their day when the last decisive battle was given; commander: but though they received him but knowing the fatal consequences that against his command, they treated him, would happen to his children and people, when he was in the ship, in the manner he in case he should die before he put an end directed. Pottiere caused his men to hold to that war, he commanded his principal Goodwin, while he beat him with a stick, officers, that if he died during the engage- till he fainted with loss of blood and rage ment, they should conceal his death from of heart; after which he ordered him into the army, and that they should ride up to irons, without allowing him any food, but the litter in which his corpse was carried, such as one or two of the men stole to him under pretence of receiving orders from him under peril of the like usage: and having as usual. Before the battle began, he was kept him several days overwhelmed with carried, through all the ranks of his army the misery of stench, hunger, and sorein an open litter, as they stood drawn up ness, he brought him into Calais. The in array, encouraging them to fight valiantly governor of the place was soon acquainted in defence of their religion and country. with all that had passed, dismissed PotFinding afterwards the battle to go against tiere from his charge with ignominy, and him, though he was very near his last ago-gave Goodwin all the relief which a man of nies, he threw himself out of his litter, rallied his army, and led them on to the charge: which afterwards ended in a complete victory on the side of the Moors. He had no sooner brought his men to the engagement, but, finding himself utterly spent, he was again replaced in his litter, where, laying his finger on his mouth, to enjoin secrecy to his officers who stood about him, he died in a few moments after in that posture. L. honour would bestow upon an enemy barbarously treated, to recover the imputation of cruelty upon his prince and country. When Mr. Sentry had read his letter, full of many other circumstances which aggravate the barbarity, he fell into a sort of criticism upon magnanimity and courage, and argued that they were inseparable; and that courage, without regard to justice and humanity, was no other than the fierceness of a wild beast. 'A good and truly bold spirit,' continued he, is ever actuated by reason, and a sense of honour and duty. The affectation of such a spirit exerts itself in an impudent aspect, an overbearing confidence, and a certain negligence of giving offence. This is visible in all the cocking Saturday, April 12, 1712 In te omnis domus inclinata recumbit. Virg. Æn. xii. 59. On thee the fortunes of our house depend. If we look into the three great heroic poems which have appeared in the world, we may observe that they are built upon very slight foundations. Homer lived near 300 years after the Trojan war; and, as the writing of history was not then in use among the Greeks, we may very well suppose that the tradition of Achilles and Ulysses had brought down but very few particulars to his knowledge; though there is no question but he has wrought into his two poems such of their remarkable adventures as were still talked of among his contemporaries. youths you see about this town, who are | No. 351.] rob him. The story of Æneas, on which Virgil founded his poem, was likewise very bare of circumstances, and by that means afforded him an opportunity of embellishing it with fiction, and giving a full range to his own invention. We find, however, that he has interwoven, in the course of his fable, the principal particulars, which were generally believed among the Romans, of Eneas's voyage and settlement in Italy. The reader may find an abridgment of the whole story, as collected out of the ancient historians, and as it was received among the Romans, in Dionysius Halicarnassus. Since none of the critics have considered Virgil's fable with relation to this history of Æneas, it may not perhaps be amiss to examine it in this light, so far as regards 'He was equally disappointed, and had my present purpose. Whoever looks into not spirit enough to consider, that one case the abridgment above-mentioned, will find would be laudable, and the other criminal. that the character of Æneas is filled with Malice, rancour, hatred, vengeance, are piety to the gods, and a superstitious obwhat tear the breasts of mean men in fight; servation of prodigies, oracles, and predicbut fame, glory, conquests, desire of oppor- tions. Virgil has not only preserved his tunities to pardon and oblige their opposers, character in the person of Æneas, but has are what glow in the minds of the gallant.' given a place in his poem to those particuThe captain ended his discourse with a lar prophecies which he found recorded of specimen of his book-learning; and gave us him in history and tradition. The poet to understand that he had read a French took the matters of fact as they came down author on the subject of justness in point of to him, and circumstanced them after his gallantry. I love,' said Mr. Sentry a own manner, to make them appear the critic who mixes the rules of life with anno- more natural, agreeable, or surprising. Ibetations upon writers. My author,' added lieve very many readers have been shocked he, in his discourse upon epic poems, at that ludicrous prophecy which one of the takes occasion to speak of the same quality harpies pronounces to the Trojans in the of courage drawn in the two different cha- third book; namely, that before they had racters of Turnus and Æneas. He makes built their intended city they should be recourage the chief and greatest ornament duced by hunger to eat their very tables. of Turnus; but in Æneas there are many But, when they hear that this was one of others which outshine it; among the rest the circumstances that had been transmitted that of piety. Turnus is, therefore, all to the Romans in the history of Æneas, they along painted by the poet full of ostentation, will think the poet did very well in taking his language haughty and vain-glorious, as notice of it. The historian above-mentioned placing his honour in the manifestation of acquaints us, that a prophetess had foretold his valour; Æneas speaks little, is slow to Eneas, that he should take his voyage action, and shows only a sort of defensive westward, till his companions should eat courage. If equipage and address make their tables; and that accordingly, upon his Turnus appear more courageous than landing in Italy, as they were eating their Æneas, conduct and success prove Æneas flesh upon cakes of bread for want of other more valiant than Turnus. T. I conveniences, they afterwards fed on the |