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stances of this kind to furnish out sufficient entertainments for such a humanity and benevolence of temper, I have ever delighted in reading the history of ages past, which draws together into a narrow compass, the great occurrences and events that are but thinly sown in those tracts of time which lie within our own knowledge and observation. When I see the life of a great man, who has deserved well of his country, after having struggled through all the oppositions of prejudice and envy, breaking out with lustre, and shining forth in all the splendour of sucI close my book, and am a happy man for a whole evening.

cess,

he immediately entered upon his adventures; and after a long series of exploits, found out by degrees, that the person he saw in his mistress's arms was her own brother, taking leave of her before he left his country; and the embrace she gave him, nothing else but the affectionate farewell of a sister: so that he had at once the two greatest satisfactions that could enter into the heart of man, in finding his friend alive, whom he thought dead; and his mistress faithful, whom he had believed inconstant.

There are, indeed, some disasters so very fatal, that it is impossible for any accidents to rectify them. Of this kind was that of poor Lucretia; and yet we see Ovid has found an expedient even in a case like hers. He describes a beautiful and royal virgin walking on the sea-shore, where she was discovered by Neptune, and violated after a long and unsuccessful importunity. To mitigate her sorrow, he offers her whatever she would wish for. Never certainly was the wit of woman more puzzled in finding out a stratagem to retrieve her honour. Had she desired to be turned into a stock or stone, a beast, fish, or fowl, she would have been a loser by it: or had she desired to have been made a sea-nymph, or a goddess, her immortality would but have perpetuated her disgrace. Give me, therefore, said she, such a shape as may make me incapable of suffering again the like calamity, or of being reproached for what I have already suffered. To be short, she was turned into a man, and by that only means avoided the danger and imputation she so much dreaded.

But since in history, events are of a mixed nature, and often happen alike to the worthless and deserving, insomuch that we frequently see a virtuous man dying in the midst of disappointments and calamities, and the vicious ending their days in prosperity and peace; I love to amuse myself with the accounts I meet with in fabulous histories and fictions: for in this kind of writings, we have always the pleasure of seeing vice punished, and virtue rewarded. Indeed, were we able to view a man in the whole circle of his existence, we should have the satisfaction of seeing it close with happiness or misery, according to his proper merit: but though our view of him is interrupted by death before the finishing of his adventures, (if I may so speak,) we may be sure that the conclusion and catastrophe is altogether suitable to his behaviour. On the contrary, the whole being of a man considered as a hero, or a knight-errant, is comprehended within the limits of a poem or romance, and therefore I was once myself in agonies of grief that always ends to our satisfaction; so that in-are unutterable, and in so great a distraction ventions of this kind are like food and exercise to a good-natured disposition, which they please and gratify at the same time that they nourish and strengthen. The greater the affliction is which we see our favourites in these relations engaged, the greater is the pleasure we take in seeing them relieved.

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of mind, that I thought myself even out of The the possibility of receiving comfort. occasion was as follows: When I was a youth, in a part of the army which was then quartered at Dover, I fell in love with an agreeable young woman, of a good family in those parts, and had the satisfaction of seeing my addresses kindly received, which occasioned the perplexity I am going to relate.

We were in a calm evening diverting ourselves upon the top of the cliff, with a prospect of the sea, and trifling away the time in such little fondnesses as are most ridiculous to people in business, and most agreeable to those in love.

Among the many feigned histories which I have met with in my reading, there is none in which the hero's perplexity is greater, and the winding out of it more difficult, than that in a French author whose name I have forgot. It so happens, that the hero's mistress was the sister of his most intimate friend, who for certain reasons was given out In the midst of these our innocent endearto be dead, while he was preparing to leave ments, she snatched a paper of verses out of his country in quest of adventures. The my hand, and ran away with them. I was hero having heard of his friend's death, im- following her, when on a sudden the ground, mediately repaired to his mistress, to con- though åt a considerable distance from the dole with her, and comfort her. Upon his verge of the precipice, sunk under her, and arrival in her garden, he discovered at a dis- threw her down from so prodigious a height tance a man clasped in her arms, and em-upon such a range of rocks as would have braced with the most endearing tenderness. What should he do? It did not consist with the gentleness of a knight-errant either to kill his mistress, or the man whom she was pleased to favour. At the same time, it would have spoiled a romance, should he have laid violent hands on himself. In short,

dashed her into ten thousand pieces, had her body been made of adamant. It is much easier for my reader to imagine my state of mind upon such an occasion, than for me to express it. I said to myself, "It is not in the power of heaven to relieve me!" when I awaked, equally transported and astonisher,

to see my self drawn out of an affliction which | able morning's dream, if I may call it such; the very moment before appeared to me altogether inextricable.

The impressions of grief and horror were so lively on this occasion, that while they lasted, they made me more miserable than I was at the real death of this beloved per-it son, (which happened a few months after, at a time when the match between us was concluded,) inasmuch as the imaginary death was untimely, and I myself in a sort an accessary; whereas her decease had at least these alleviations, of being natural and inevitable.

The memory of the dream I have related, still dwells so strongly upon me, that I can never read the description of Dover-Cliff, in Shakspeare's Tragedy of King Lear, without a fresh sense of my escape. The prospect from that place is drawn with such proper incidents, that whoever can read it without growing giddy, must have a good head, or a very bad one.

Come on, Sir, here's the place. Stand still! How fearful

And dizzy 'tis to cast ones eyes so low!

The crows and choughs that wing the midway air
Show scarce as gross as beetles. Half-way down
Hangs one that gathers samphire; dreadful trade!
Methinks he seems no bigger than his head.
The fishermen that walk upon the beach
Appear like mice; and yon tall anchoring bark
Diminish'd to her boat; her boat, a buoy,
Almost too small for sight. The murmuring surge
(That on the unnumber'd idle pebbles beat)
Cannot be heard so high. I'll look no more,
Lest my brain turn.

for I am still in doubt, whether it passed in my sleeping or waking thoughts. However it was, I fancied that my good genius stood at my bed's-head, and entertained me with the following discourse; for, upon my rising, dwelt so strongly upon me, that I writ down the substance of it, if not the very words. "If (said he) you can be so transported with those productions of nature which are discovered to you by those artificial eyes that are the works of human invention, how great will your surprise be, when you shall have it in your power to model your own eye as you please, and adapt it to the bulk of objects, which, with all these helps, are by infinite degrees too minute for your perception! We who are unbodied spirits, can sharpen our sight to what degree we think fit, and make the least work of the creation distinct and visible. This gives us such ideas as cannot possibly enter into your present conceptions. There is not the least particle of matter which may not furnish one of us sufficient employment for a whole eternity. We can still divide it, and still open it, and still discover new wonders of Providence, as we look into the different texture of its parts, and meet with beds of vegetables, mineral and metallic mixtures, and several kinds of animals that lie hid, and as it were lost in such an endless fund of matter. I find you are surprised at this discourse; but as your reason tells you there are infinite parts in the smallest portion of matter, it will likewise convince you, that there is as great a variety of secrets, and as much room for discoveries, in a particle no bigger than the point of a pin, as in the globe of the whole earth. Your microscopes bring to sight shoals of living creatures in a spoonSheer-Lane, January 11. ful of vinegar; but we, who can distinguish I HAVE lately applied myself with much them in their different magnitudes, see among satisfaction to the curious discoveries that them several huge Leviathans, that terrify have been made by the help of microscopes, the little fry of animals about them, and as they are related by authors of our own take their pastime as in an ocean, or the and other nations. There is a great deal of great deep. I could not but smile at this pleasure in prying into this world of wonders, part of his relation, and told him, I doubted which nature has laid out of sight, and seems not but he could give me the history of seveindustrious to conceal from us. Philosophy ral invisible giants, accompanied with their had ranged over all the visible creation, and respective dwarfs, in case that any of these began to want objects for her inquiries, when little beings are of a human shape. "You the present age, by the invention of glasses, may assure yourself (said he) that we see opened a new and inexhaustible magazine of in these little animals different natures, inrarities, more wonderful and amazing than stincts, and modes of life, which correspond any of those which astonished our forefa- to what you observe in creatures of bigger thers. I was yesterday amusing myself with dimensions. We descry millions of species speculations of this kind, and reflecting upon subsisted on a green leaf, which your glasses myriads of animals that swim in those little represent only in crowds and swarms. What seas of juices that are contained in the seve- appears to your eye but as a hair or down ral vessels of a human body. While my rising on the surface of it, we find to be woods mind was thus filled with that secret wonder and forests, inhabited by beasts of prey, that and delight, I could not but look upon my- are as dreadful in those their haunts, as lions self as in an act of devotion, and am very and tigers in the deserts of Libya. I was well pleased with the thought of the great much delighted with his discourse, and could heathen anatomist, who calls his description not forbear telling him, that I should be of the parts of a human body, "A hymn to wonderfully pleased to see a natural history the Supreme Being." The reading of the of imperceptibles, containing a true account day produced in my imagination an agree-of such vegetables and animals as grow and

No. 119.] Thursday, January 12, 1709.

In tenui labor.

Virg

live out of sight. “Such disquisitions (an- | another, and rising up to such an immense swered he) are very suitable to reasonable distance, that no created eye can see an end creatures; and you may be sure, there are of them." many curious spirits amongst us who employ themselves in such amusements. For as our hands, and all our senses, may be formed to what degree of strength and delicacy we please, in the same manner as our sight, we can make what experiments we are inclined to, how small soever the matter be in which we make them. I have been present at the dissection of a mite, and have seen the skeleton of a flea. I have been shown a for

The latter part of his discourse flung me into such an astonishment, that he had beer silent for some time before I took notice of it; when on a sudden I started up, and drew my curtains, to look if any one was near me but saw nobody, and cannot tell to this mo ment, whether it was my good genius or a dream that left me.

Velut silvis, ubi passim
Palantes error certo de tramite pellit;
Ille sinistrorsùm, hic dextrorsùm abit -Hor.

est of numberless trees, which has been No. 120.] Saturday, January, 14, 1709. picked out of an acorn. Your microscope can show you in it a complete oak in miníature; and could you suit all your organs as we do, you might pluck an acorn from this little oak, which contains another tree; and Sheer-Lane, January 13. so proceed from tree to tree, as long as you INSTEAD of considering any particular would think fit to continue your disquisitions. passion or character in any one set of men, It is almost impossible (added he) to talk of my thoughts were last night employed on things so remote from common life, and the the contemplation of human life in general; ordinary notions which mankind receive and truly it appears to me, that the whole from blunt and gross organs of sense, without species are hurried on by the same desires, appearing extravagant and ridiculous. You and engaged in the same pursuits, according have often seen a dog opened, to observe the to the different stages and divisions of life. circulation of the blood, or make any other Youth is devoted to lust, middle-age to amuseful inquiry; and yet would be tempted bition, old age to avarice. These are the to laugh if I should tell you, that a circle of three general motives and principles of acmuch greater philosophers than any of the tion both in good and bad men; though it Royal Society, were present at the cutting must be acknowledged that they change up of one of those little animals which we their names, and refine their natures, accordfind in the blue of a plum: that it was tied ing to the temper of the person whom they down alive before them; and that they ob- direct and animate. For with the good, served the palpitations of the heart, the lust becomes virtuous love; ambition, true course of the blood, the working of the mus- honour; and avarice, the care of posterity. cles, and the convulsions in the several limbs, This scheme of thought amused me very with great accuracy and improvement. "I agreeably till I retired to rest, and aftermust confess, (said I,) for my own part, I go wards formed itself into a pleasing and realong with you in all your discoveries with gular vision, which I shall describe in all great pleasure; but it is certain they are too its circumstances, as the objects presented fine for the gross of mankind, who are more themselves, whether in a serious or ridicustruck with the description of every thing lous manner. that is great and bulky. Accordingly we find the best judge of human nature setting forth his wisdom, not in the formation of these minute animals, (though, indeed, no less wonderful than the other,) but in that of the Leviathan and Behemoth, the Horse and the Crocodile. "Your observation (said he) is very just; and I must acknowledge, for my own part, that, although it is with much delight that I see the traces of Providence in these instances, I still take greater pleasure in considering the works of the creation in their immensity, than in their minuteness. For this reason, I rejoice when I strengthen my sight so as to make it pierce into the most remote spaces, and take a view of those heavenly bodies which lie out of the reach of human eyes, though assisted by telescopes. What you look upon as one confused white in the milky-way, appears to me a long tract of heavens, distinguished by stars that are ranged in proper figures and constellations. While you are admiring the sky in a starry night, I am entertained with a variety of worlds and suns placed one above

I dreamed that I was in a wood, of so prodigious an extent, and cut into such a variety of walks and alleys, that all mankind were lost and bewildered in it. After having wandered up and down some time, I came into the centre of it, which opened into a wide plain, filled with multitudes of both sexes. I here discovered three great roads, very wide and long, that led into three different parts of the forest. On a sudden, the whole multitude broke into three parts, according to their different ages, and marched in their respective bodies into the three great roads that lay before them. As I had a mind to know how each of these roads terminated, and whither it would lead those who passed through them, I joined myself with the assembly that were in the flower and vigour of their age, and called themselves 'The band of lovers.' I found, to my great surprise, that several old men besides myself had intruded into this agree able company. As I had before observed, there were some young men who had united themselves to the band of misers, and were

walking up the path of Avarice; though both |
made a very ridiculous figure, and were as
much laughed at by those they joined, as by
those they forsook. The walk which we
marched up, for thickness of shades, em-
broidery of flowers, and melody of birds,
with the distant purling of streams, and falls
of water, was so wonderfully delightful, that
it charmed our senses, and intoxicated our
minds with pleasure. We had not been
long here, before every man singled out some
woman to whom he offered his addresses,
and professed himself a lover; when on a
sudden we perceived this delicious walk to
grow more narrow as we advanced in it, till
it ended in many intricate thickets, mazes,
and labyrinths, that were so mixed with
roses and brambles, brakes of thorns, and
beds of flowers, rocky paths, and pleasing
grottos, that it was hard to say, whether it
gave greater delight or perplexity to those
who travelled in it.

It was here that the lovers began to be eager in their pursuits. Some of their mistresses, who only seemed to retire for the sake of form and decency, led them into plantations that were disposed into regular walks; where, after they had wheeled about in some turns and windings, they suffered themselves to be overtaken, and gave their hands to those who pursued them. Others withdrew from their followers into little wildernesses, where there were so many paths interwoven with each other, in so much confusion and irregularity, that several of the lovers quitted the pursuit, or broke their hearts in the chase. It was sometimes very odd to see a man pursuing a fine woman that was following another, whose eye was fixed upon a fourth, that had her own game in view in some other quarter of the wilderness. I could not but observe two things in this place which I thought very particular, that several persons who stood only at the end of the avenues, and cast a careless eye upon the nymphs during their whole flight, often catched them, when those who pressed them the most warmly through all their turns and doubles, were wholly unsuccessful; and that some of my own age, who were at first looked upon with aversion and contempt, by being well acquainted with the wilderness, and by dodging their women in the particular corners and alleys of it, catched them in their arms, and took them from those whom they really loved and admired. There was a particular grove, which was called the Labyrinth of Coquettes; where many were enticed to the chase, but few returned with purchase. It was pleasant enough to see a celebrated beauty, by smiling upon one, casting a glance unon another, beckoning to a third, and adapting her charms and graces to the several follies of those that admired her, drawing into the labyrinth a whole pack of lovers, that lost themselves in the maze, and never could find their way out of it. However, it was some satisfaction to me, to see

many of the fair ones, who had thus deluded
their followers, and left them among the in-
tricacies of the labyrinth, obliged, when they
came out of it, to surrender to the first part-
ner that offered himself. I now had crossed
over all the difficult and perplexed passages
that seemed to bound our walk, when on the
other side of them, I saw the same great road
running on a little way, till it was terminated
by two beautiful temples. I stood here for
some time, and saw most of the multitude who
had been dispersed amongst the thickets,
coming out two by two, and marching up in
pairs towards the temples that stood before
The structure on the right hand was (as
us.
I afterwards found) consecrated to virtuous
love, and could not be entered but by such
as received a ring, or some other token,
from a person who was placed as a guard at
the gate of it. He wore a garland of roses
and myrtles on his head, and on his shoulders
a robe like an imperial mantle, white and un-
spotted all over, excepting only, that where
it was clasped at his breast, there were two
golden turtle doves that buttoned it by their
bills, which were wrought in rubies. He
was called by the name of Hymen, and was
seated near the temple, in a delicious bower,
made up of several trees, that were em-
braced by woodbines, jessamines, and ama-
ranths, which were as so many emblems of
marriage, and ornaments to the trunks that
supported them. As I was single, and un-
accompanied, I was not permitted to enter
the temple, and for that reason am a stranger
to all the mysteries that were performed in
it. I had, however, the curiosity to observe
how the several couples that entered were
disposed of; which was after the following
manner.

There were two great gates on
the back-side of the edifice, at which the
At one of these
whole crowd was let out.
gates were two women, extremely beautiful,
though in a different kind; the one having a
very careful and composed air, and the other
a sort of smile and ineffable sweetness in her
countenance. The name of the first was
Discretion; and of the other, Complacency.
All who came out of this gate, and put
themselves under the direction of these two
sisters, were immediately conducted by them
into gardens, groves, and meadows, which
abounded in delights, and were furnished
with every thing that could make them the
proper seats of happiness. The second gate
of this temple let out all the couples that
were unhappily married, who came out link-
ed together by chains, which each of them
strove to break, but could not. Several of
these were such as had never been acquaint-
ed with each other before they met in the
great walk, or had been too well acquainted
in the thicket. The entrance of this gate
was possessed by three sisters, who joined
themselves with these wretches, and occa-
sioned most of their miseries. The youngest
of the sisters was known by the name of
Levity, who, with the innocence of a virgin,
How-Levity,
had the dress and behaviour of a harlot.

"SIR,-On Monday next will be acted for my benefit, the comedy of Love for Love: if you will do me the honour to appear there, I will publish on the bills, that it is to be performed at the request of Isaac Bickerstaffe, Esq. and question not but it will bring me as great an audience, as ever was at the house since the Morocco ambassador was there. I am

The name of the second was Contention, who | letter from the famous MR. THOMAS DOGbore on her right arm a muff made of the GET. skin of a porcupine; and on her left carried a little lap-dog, that barked and snapped at every one that passed by her. The eldest of the sisters, who seemed to have a haughty and imperious air, was always accompanied with a tawny Cupid, who generally marched before her with a little mace on his shoulder, the end of which was fashioned into the horns of a stag. Her garments were yellow, and her complexion pale. Her eyes were piercing, but had odd casts in them, and that particular distemper, which makes persons who are troubled with it, see objects double. Upon inquiry, I was informed that her name was Jealousy.

(With the greatest respect)
Your most obedient,

And most humble servant,
THOMAS DOGGET."

Being naturally an encourager of wit, as well as bound to it in the quality of censor, I returned the following answer,

"MR. DOGGET,-I am very well pleased with the choice you have made of so excellent a play, and have always looked upon you as the best of comedians; I shall therefore come in between the first and second act, and remain in the right-hand box over the pit till the end of the fourth, provided you take care that every thing be rightly prepared for my reception.

Similis tibi, Cynthia, vel tibi cujus Turbavit nitidos extinctus passer ocellos.-Juv.

From my own Apartment, January 1 I WAS recollecting the remainder of my vision, when my maid came to me, and told me, there was a gentlewoman below who seemed to be in great trouble, and pressed When it lay in my very much to see me. power to remove the distress of an unhappy person, I thought I should very ill employ my time in attending to matters of speculation, and therefore desired the lady would walk in.

Having finished my observations upon this temple, and its votaries, I repaired to that which stood on the left hand, and was called The Temple of Lust. The front of it was raised on Corinthian pillars, with all the meretricious ornaments that accompany that order; whereas that of the other was composed of the chaste and matron-like Ionic. The sides of it were adorned with several grotesque figures of goats, sparrows, heathen gods, satyrs, and monsters, made up of half man, half beast. The gates were unguarded, and open to all that had a mind to enter. Upon my going in, I found the windows were blinded, and let in only a kind of twilight, that served to discover a prodi- No. 121.] Tuesday, January 17, 1709. gious number of dark corners and apartments, into which the whole temple was divided. I was here stunned with a mixed noise of clamour and jollity: on one side of me I heard singing and dancing; on the other, brawls and clashing of swords. In short, I was so little pleased with the place, that I was going out of it; but found I could not return by the gate where I entered, which was barred against all that were come in, with bolts of iron, and locks of adamant. There was no going back from this temple through the paths of pleasure which led to When she entered, I saw her it: all who passed through the ceremonies of the place, went out at an iron wicket, eyes full of tears: however, her grief was which was kept by a dreadful giant, called not so great as to make her omit rules; for Remorse, that held a scourge of scorpions in she was very long and exact in her civilities, his hand, and drove them into the only out- which gave me time to view and consider let from that temple. This was a passage her. Her clothes were very rich, but tarso rugged, so uneven, and choked with so nished; and her words very fine, but ill apmany thorns and briars, that it was a mel-plied. These distinctions made me without ancholy spectacle to behold the pains and difficulties which both sexes suffered who walked through it. The men, though in the prime of their youth, appeared weak, and enfeebled with old age: the women wrung their hands, and tore their hair; and several lost their limbs before they could extricate themselves out of the perplexities of the path in which they were engaged. The remaining part of this vision, and the adventures I met with in the two great roads of Ambition and Avarice, must be the subject of another paper.

hesitation (though I had never seen her before) ask her, "If her lady had any comimands for me?" She then began to weep afresh, and with many broken sighs told me, "that their family was in very great affliction."

I beseeched her to compose herself, for that I might possibly be capable of assisting them. She then cast her eye upon my little dog, and was again transported with too much passion to proceed; but with much ado, she at last gave me to understand, that Cupid, her lady's lap-dog, was dangerously ill, and in so bad a condition, that her lady neither saw company, nor went abroad, for I have this morning received the following which reason she did not come herself to

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