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the different figures he gives the two god- | away a few hours in the proper employdesses. Our modern authors have repre- ments of a reasonable creature, and promissented Pleasure or Vice with an alluring ing myself that my slumbers would be sweet. face, but ending in snakes and monsters: I no sooner fell into them, but I dreamed a here she appears in all the charms of beauty, dream, or saw a vision, (for I know not though they are all false and borrowed; which to call it) that seemed to rise out of and by that means, composes a vision en- my evening meditation, and had something tirely natural and pleasing. in it so solemn and serious, that I cannot forbear communicating it; though I must confess, the wildness of imagination (which in a dream is always loose and irregular) discovers itself too much in several parts of it.

I have translated this allegory for the benefit of the youth of Great Britain; and particularly of those who are still in the deplorable state of non-existence, and whom I most earnestly entreat to come into the world. Let my embryos show the least inclination to any single virtue, and I shall allow it to be a struggling towards birth. I do not expect of them, that, like the hero in the foregoing story, they should go about, as soon as they are born, with a club in their hands, and a lion's skin on their shoulders, to root out monsters, and destroy tyrants; but, as the finest author of all antiquity has said upon this very occasion, though a man has not the abilities to distinguish himself in the most shining parts of a great character, he has certainly the capacity of being just, faithful, modest, and temperate.

Methought I saw the azure sky diversified with the same glorious luminaries which had entertained me a little before I fell asleep. I was looking very attentively on that sign in the heavens which is called by the name of the Balance, when on a sudden there appeared in it an extraordinary light, as if the sun should rise at midnight. By its increasing in breadth and lustre, I soon found that it approached towards the earth; and at length could discern something like a shadow hovering in the midst of a great glory, which in a little time after I distinctly perceived to be the figure of a woman. I fancied at first it might have been the angel or intelligence that guided the constellation from which it descended; but upon a nearer view, I saw about her all the emblems with which the Goddess of Justice is usually described. Her countenance was unspeakably to those whose eyes were strong enough to awful and majestic, but exquisitely beautiful behold it; her smiles transported with rapture, her frowns terrified to despair. She held in her hand a mirror, endowed with the same qualities as that which the painters put into the hand of Truth.

No. 100.] Tuesday, November 29, 1709. Jam redit et Virgo, redeunt Saturnia regna.-Virg. Sheer-Lane, November 28. I was last week taking a solitary walk in the garden of Lincoln's-Inn, (a favour that is indulged me by several of the benchers who are my intimate friends, and grown old with me in this neighbourhood,) when, according to the nature of men in years, who have There streamed from it a light, which dis made but little progress in the advancement tinguished itself from all the splendours that of their fortune or their fame, I was repining surrounded her, more than a flash of lightat the sudden rise of many persons who are ning shines in the midst of day-light. As my juniors, and indeed at the unequal distri- she moved it in her hand, it brightened the bution of wealth, honour, and all other bless-heavens, the air, or the earth. When she ings of life. I was lost in this thought when had descended so low as to be seen and the night came upon me, and drew my mind heard by mortals, to make the pomp of her into a far more agreeable contemplation. appearance more supportable, she threw The heaven above me appeared in all its darkness and clouds about her, that temperglories, and presented me with such an hem-ed the light into a thousand beautiful shades isphere of stars, as made the most agreeable prospect imaginable to one who delights in the study of nature. It happened to be a freezing night, which had purified the whole body of air into such a bright transparent ether, as made every constellation visible; and at the same time gave such a particular glowing to the stars, that I thought it the richest sky I had ever seen. I could not behold a scene so wonderfully adorned, and lighted up, (if I may be allowed that expresssion,) without suitable meditations on the Author of such illustrious and amazing objects. For on these occasions, philosophy suggests motives to religion, and religion adds pleasures to philosophy,

As soon as I had recovered my usual temper and serenity of soul, I retired to my lodgings with the satisfaction of having passed

and colours, and multiplied that lustre, which was before too strong and dazzling, into a variety of milder glories.

In the mean time the world was in an alarm, and all the inhabitants of it gathered together upon a spacious plain; so that I seemed to have all the species before my eyes. A voice was heard from the clouds, declaring the intention of this visit, which was to restore and appropriate to every one living what was his due. The fear and hope, joy and sorrow, which appeared in that great assembly after this solemn declaration, are not to be expressed. The first edict was then pronounced, "That all titles, and claims to riches and estates, or to any part of them, should be immediately vested in the rightful owner." Upon this, the inhabitants of the earth held up the instruments of their ten

ure, whether in parchment, paper, wax, or | be conferred on persons of the greatest merany other form of conveyance; and as the it, abilities and perfection. The handsome, goddess moved the mirror of truth, which the strong, and the wealthy, immediately she held in her hand, so that the light which pressed forward; but not being able to bear flowed from it fell upon the multitude, they the splendour of the mirror which played examined the several instruments by the upon their faces, they immediately fell back beams of it. The rays of this mirror had a among the crowd: but as the goddess tried particular quality of setting fire to all forgery the multitude by her glass, as the eagle does and falsehood. The blaze of papers, the its young ones by the lustre of the sun, it was melting of seals, and crackling of parch- remarkable, that every one turned away his ments, made a very odd scene. The fire face from it, who had not distinguished himvery often ran through two or three lines self either by virtue, knowledge, or capacity only, and then stopped; though I could not in business, either military or civil. This but observe, that the flame chiefly broke out select assembly was drawn up in the centre among the interlineations and codicils. The of a prodigious multitude, which was diffulight of the mirror, as it was turned up and sed on all sides, and stood observing them, down, pierced into all the dark corners and as idle people use to gather about a regiment recesses of the universe, and by that means that were exercising their arms. They were detected many writings and records which drawn up in three bodies: in the first, were had been hidden or buried by time, chance, the men of virtue; in the second, the men of cr design. This occasioned a wonderful re- knowledge; and in the third, the men of buvolution among the people. At the same siness. It was impossible to look at the first time, the spoils of extortion, fraud, and rob- column without a secret veneration, their bery, with all the fruits of bribery and cor- aspects were so sweetened with humanity, ruption, were thrown together into a prodi- raised with contemplation, emboldened with gious pile, that almost reached to the clouds, resolution, and adorned with the most agreeand was called the Mount of Restitution; to able airs, which are those that proceed from which all injured persons were invited, to secret habits of virtue. I could not but take receive what belonged to them. notice, that there were many faces among them which were unknown, not only to the multitude, but even to several of their own body.

One might see crowds of people in tattered garments come up, and change clothes with others that were dressed with lace and embroidery. Several who were plums, or In the second column, consisting of the men very near it, became men of moderate for- of knowledge, there had been great disputes tunes; and many others, who were over-before they fell into their ranks, which they grown in wealth and possessions, had no more left than what they usually spent. What moved my concern most, was, to see a certain street of the greatest credit in Europe, from one end to the other become bankrupt.

did not do at last, without the positive command of the goddess who presided over the assembly. She had so ordered it, that men of the greatest genius, and strongest sense, were placed at the head of the column; behind these, were such as had formed their The next command was, for the whole minds very much on the thoughts and wribody of mankind to separate themselves tings of others. In the rear of the column into their proper families; which was no were men who had more wit than sense, or sooner done, but an edict was isssued out, re- more learning than understanding. All livquiring all children "to repair to their true ing authors of any value were ranged in one and natural fathers." This put a great part of these classes; but I must confess, I was of their assembly in motion: for as the mir- very much surprised to see a great body of ror was moved over them, it inspired every editors, critics, commentators, and grammaone with such a natural instinct, as directed rians, meet with so very ill a reception. them to their real parents. It was a very They had formed themselves into a body, melancholy spectacle to see the fathers of ve- and with a great deal of arrogance demandry large families become childless, and bach-ed the first station in the column of know"elors undone by a charge of sons and daugh-ledge; but the goddess, instead of complying ters. You might see a presumptive heir of a great estate ask a blessing of his coachman, and a celebrated toast paying her duty to a valet de chambre. Many under vows of celibacy appeared surrounded with a numerous issue. This change of parentage would have caused great lamentation, but that the calamity was pretty common; and that generally those who lost their children, had the satisfaction of seeing them put into the hands of their dearest friends. Men were no sooner settled in their right to their possessions and their progeny, but there was a third order proclaimed, "That all the posts of dignity and honour in the universe should

with their request, clapped them all into liv eries, and bid them know themselves for no other but lacqueys of the learned.

The third column were men of business, and consisted of persons in military and civil capacities. The former marched out from the rest, and placed themselves in the front, at which the other shook their heads at them, but did not think fit to dispute the post with them. I could not but make several observations upon this last column of people; but I have certain private reasons why I do not think fit to communicate them to the public. In order to fill up all the posts of honour, dignity, and profit, there was a draught

made out of each column, of men who were masters of all three qualifications in some degree, and were preferred to stations of the first rank. The second draught was made out of such as were possessed of any two of the qualifications, who were disposed of in stations of a second dignity. Those who were left, and were endowed only with one of them, had their suitable posts. When this was over, there remained many places of trust and profit, unfilled, for which there were fresh draughts made out of the sursounding multitude, who had any appearance of these excellences, or were recommended by those who possessed them in reality,

All were surprised to see so many new faces in the most eminent dignities; and for my own part, I was very well pleased to see that all my friends either kept their present posts, or were advanced to higher.

Having filled my paper with those particulars of mankind, I must reserve for another occasion the sequel of it, which relates to the fair sex.

No. 101.] Thursday, December 1, 1709.

-Postquam fregit subsellia versu
Esurit intactam Paridi nisi vendit Agaven.--Juv.

From my own Apartment, November 30.
THE progress of my intended account of
what happened when Justice visited mortals,
is at present interrupted by the observation
and sense of an injustice against which there
is no remedy, even in a kingdom more hap-
py in the care taken of the liberty and pro-
perty of the subject, than any other nation
upon earth.
This iniquity is committed by
a most impregnable set of mortals, men who
are rogues within the law; and in the very
commission of what they are guilty of, pro-
fessedly own, that they forbear no injury, but
from the terror of being punished for it.
These miscreants are a set of wretches we
authors call pirates, who print any book, po-
em, or sermôn, as soon as it appears in the
world, in a smaller volume, and sell it (as all
other thieves do stolen goods) at a cheaper
rate. I was in my rage calling them rascals,
plunderers, robbers, highwaymen-But they
acknowledge all that, and are pleased with
those, as well as any other titles; nay, will
print them themselves to turn the penny.

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An ingenious droll, who is since dead, (and indeed it is well for him he is so, for he must have starved had he lived to this day,) used to give me an account of his good husbandry in the management of his learning. He was a general dealer, and had his amusements as well comical as serious. The merry rogue said, when he wanted a dinner, he writ a paragraph of table-talk, and his bookseller upon sight paid the reckoning. He was a very good judge of what would please the people, and could aptly hit both the genius of his readers, and the season of the year, in his writings. His brain, which was his estate, had as regular and different produce as other mens' land. From the beginning of November till the opening of the campaign, he writ pamphlets and letters to members of parliament, or friends in the country; but sometimes he would relieve his ordinary readers with a murder, and lived comfortably a week or two upon strange and lamenA little before the armies table accidents. took the field, his way was to open your attention with a prodigy; and a monster well writ, was two guineas the lowest price. This prepared his readers for his great and bloody news from Flanders in June and July. Poor Tom! He is gone-But I observed, he always looked well after a battle, and was apparently fatter in a fighting year. Had this honest careless fellow lived till now, famine had stared him in the face, and interrupted his merriment; as it must be a solid affliction to all those whose pen is their portion.

As for my part, I do not speak wholly for my own sake in this point; for palmistry and astrology will bring me in greater gains than these my papers; so that I am only in the condition of a lawyer, who leaves the bar for chamber-practice. However, I may be allowed to speak in the cause of learning itself, and lament, that a liberal education is the only one which a polite nation makes unprofitable. All mechanic artisans are allowed to reap the fruit of their invention and ingenuity without invasion; but he that has separated himself from the rest of mankind, and studied the wonders of the creation, the government of his passions, and the revolutions of the world, and has an ambition to communicate the effect of half his life spent in such noble inquiries, has no property in what he is willing to produce, but is exposed to robbery and want, with this melancholy and just reflection, that he is the only man who is not protected by his country, at the same time that he best deserves it.

I am extremely at a loss how to act against such open enemies, who have not shame enough to be touched with our reproaches, and are as well defended against what we can say, as what we can do. Railing, therefore, we must turn into complaint, which I cannot forbear making, when I consider that According to the ordinary rules of comall the labours of my long life may be disap-putation, the greater the adventure is, the pointed by the first man that pleases to rob greater ought to be the profit of those who I had flattered myself, that my stock of succeed in it; and by this measure, none learning was worth £150 per annum, which have a pretence of turning their labours to would very handsomely maintain me and my greater advantage than persons brought up little family, who are so happy or so wise as to to letters. A learned education, passing want only necessaries. Before men had come through great schools and universities, is very up to this bare-faced impudence, it was an es- expensive, and consumes a moderate for tate to have a competency of understanding. I tune, before it is gone through in its proper

me.

on a sudden the whole plain was covered with women. So charming a multitude filled my heart with unspeakable pleasure; and as the celestial light of the mirror shone upon their faces, several of them seemed rather persons that descended in the train of the goddess, than such who were brought before her to their trial. The clack of tongues, and confusion of voices, in this new assem bly, was so very great, that the goddess was forced to command silence several times, and with some severity, before she could make them attentive to her edicts. They were all sensible, that the most important affair among womankind was then to be settled, which every one knows to be the point of place. This had raised innumerable disputes among them, and put the whole sex into a tumult. Every one produced her claim, and pleaded her pretensions. Birth, beauty, wit, or wealth, were words that rung in my ears from all parts of the plain. Some boasted of the merit of their husbands; others, of their own power in governing them. Some pleaded their unspotted virginity; others, their numerous issue. Some

forms. The purchase of a handsome commission or employment, which would give a man a good figure in another kind of life, is to be made at a much cheaper rate. Now, if we consider this expensive voyage which is undertaken in the search of knowledge, and how few there are who take in any considerable merchandise, how less frequent it is to be able to turn what men have gained into profit; how hard is it, that the very small number who are distinguished with abilities to know how to vend their wares, and have the good fortune to bring them into port, should suffer being plundered by privateers under the very cannon that should protect them! The most eminent and useful author of the age we live in, after having laid out a princely revenue in works of charity and beneficence, as became the greatness of his mind, and the sanctity of his character, would have left the person in the world who was the dearest to him in a narrow condition, had not the sale of his immortal writings brought her in a very considerable dowry; though it was impossible for it to be equal to their value. Every one will know, that I here mean the works of the late Arch-valued themselves as they were the mothers, bishop of Canterbury, the copy of which was sold for £2500.

I do not speak with relation to any party; but it has happened, and may often so happen, that men of great learning and virtue, cannot qualify themselves for being employed in business, or receiving preferments. In this case, you cut them off from all support, if you take from them the benefit that may arise from their writings. For my own part, I have brought myself to consider things in so unprejudiced a manner, that I esteem more a man who can live by the products of his understanding, than one who does it by the favour of great men.

The zeal of an author has transported me thus far, though I think myself as much concerned in the capacity of a reader. If this practice goes on, we must never expect to see again a beautiful edition of a book in Great Britain.

We have already seen the Memoirs of Sir William Temple published in the same character and volume with the History of Tom Thumb, and the works of our greatest poets shrunk into penny books and garlands. For my own part, I expect to see my lucubrations printed on browner paper than they are at present; and, if the humour continues, must be forced to retrench my expensive way of living, and not smoke above two pipes a day. *

No. 102.] Saturday, December 3, 1709.

From my own Apartment, December 3.
A continuation of the Vision.
THE male world were dismissed by the
Goddess of Justice, and disappeared, when

**Sir Richard Steel joined in this paper.

and others as they were the daughters, of considerable persons. There was not a single accomplishment unmentioned, or unpractised. The whole congregation was full of singing, dancing, tossing, ogling, squeaking, smiling, sighing, fanning, frowning, and all those irresistible arts which women put in practice to captivate the hearts of reasonable creatures. The goddess, to end this dispute, caused it to be proclaimed, "That every one should take place according as she was more or less beautiful.” This declaration gave great satisfaction to the whole assembly, which immediately bridled up, and appeared in all its beauties. Such as believed themselves graceful in their motion, found an occasion of falling back, advancing forward, or making a false step, that they might show their persons in the most becoming air. Such as had fine necks and bosoms, were wonderfully curious to look over the heads of the multitude, and observe the most distant parts of the assembly. Several clapped their hands on their foreheads, as helping their sight to look upon the glories that surrounded the goddess, but in reality to show fine hands and arms. The ladies were yet better pleased when they heard, that, in the decision of this great controversy, each of them should be her own judge, and take her place according to her own opinion of herself, when she consulted her looking-glass.

The goddess then let down the mirror of truth in a golden chain, which appeared larger in proportion as it descended, and approached nearer to the eyes of the beholders. It was the particular property of this looking-glass to banish all false appearances, and show people what they are. The whole woman was represented, without regard to the usual external features, which

This detachment was afterwards divided

were made entirely conformable to their real characters In short, the most accom-into three bodies, consisting of maids, wives, plished (taking in the whole circle of female and widows; the wives being placed in the perfections) were the most beautiful; and middle, with the maids on the right, and the the most defective, the most deformed. widows on the left; though it was with difThe goddess so varied the motion of the ficulty that these two last bodies were hinglass, and placed it in such different lights, dered from falling into the centre. This that each had an opportunity of seeing her- separation of those who liked their real self in it. selves, not having lessened the number of the It is impossible to describe the rage, the main body so considerably as it might have pleasure, or astonishment, that appeared in been wished, the goddess, after having drawn each face upon its representation in the up her mirror thought fit to make new dismirror: multitudes started at their own form, tinctions among those who did not like the and would have broken the glass, if they figure which they saw in it. She made secould have reached it. Many saw their veral wholesome edicts, which have slipped blooming features wither as they looked upon out of my mind; but there were two which them, and their self-admiration turned into dwelt upon me, as being very extraordinary a loathing and abhorrence. The lady who in their kind, and executed with great sewas thought so agreeable in her anger, and verity. Their design was, to make an examwas so often celebrated for a woman of fire ple of two extremes in the female world; of and spirit, was frighted at her own image, those who are very severe on the conduct of and fancied she saw a fury in the glass. The others, and of those who are very regardless interested mistress beheld a harpy; and the of their own. The first sentence therefore "That all subtle jilt, a sphinx. I was very much the goddess pronounced was, troubled in my own heart, to see such a de- females addicted to censoriousness and destruction of fine faces; but at the same time, traction, should lose the use of speech;" a had the pleasure of seeing several improved, punishment which would be the most griev which I had before looked upon as the great-ous to the offender, and (what should be the est master-pieces of nature. I observed, end of all punishments) effectual for rooting that some few were so humble as to be sur-out the crime. Upon this edict, which was prised at their own charms; and that many as soon executed as published, the noise f à one, who had lived in the retirement and severity of a vestal, shined forth in all the graces and attractions of a syren. I was ravished at the sight of a particular image in the mirror, which I thought the most beautiful object that my eyes ever beheld. There was something more than human in her countenance: her eyes were so full of light, that they seemed to beautify every thing they looked upon. Her face was enlivened with such a florid bloom, as did not so properly seem the mark of health, as of immortality. Her shape, her stature, and her mien, were such as distinguished her even there where the whole fair sex was assembled.

I was impatient to see the lady represented by so divine an image, whom I found to be the person that stood at my right-hand, and in the same point of view with myself. This was a little old woman, who in her prime had been about five feet high, though at present shrunk to about three quarters of that measure. Her natural aspect was puckered up with wrinkles, and her head covered with grey hairs. I had observed all along an innocent cheerfulness in her face, which was now heightened into rapture as she beheld herself in the glass. It was an odd circumstance in my dream, (but I cannot forbear relating it :) I conceived so great an inclination towards her, that I had thoughts of discoursing her upon the point of marriage, when on a sudden she was carried from me; for the word was now given, that all who were pleased with their own images, should separate, and place themselves at the head of their sex.

the assembly very considerably abated. It
was a melancholy spectacle, to see so many
who had the reputation of rigid virtue struck
dumb. A lady who stood by me, and saw
my concern, told me, she wondered how I
could be concerned for such a pack of
I found, by the shaking of her head, she was
going to give me their characters; but, by
her saying no more, I perceived she had lost
the command of her tongue. This calamity
fell very heavy upon that part of women
who are distinguished by the name of Prudes;
a courtly word for female hypocrites, who
have a short way to being virtuous, by show-
ing that others are vicious. The second
sentence was then pronounced against the
loose part of the sex, "That all should im-
mediately be pregnant, who in any part of
their lives had ran the hazard of it." This
produced a very goodly appearance, and re
vealed so many misconducts, that made those
who were lately struck dumb, repine more
than ever at the want of utterance, though
at the same time (as afflictions seldom come
single) many of the mutes were also seized
with this new calamity. The ladies were
now in such a condition, that they would
have wanted room, had not the plain been
large enough to let them divide their ground,
and extend their lines on all sides. It was
a sensible affliction to me, to see such a mul-
titude of fair ones either dumb or big-belli-
ed: but I was something more at ease, when
I found that they agreed upon several regu-
lations to cover such misfortunes. Among
others, that it should be an established max
im in all nations, that a woman's first child
might come into the world within six months

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