in the pardoning and overlooking of faults, is to be exercised only in doing ourselves justice, and that too in the ordinary commerce and occurrences of life; for in the public administrations of justice, mercy to one may be cruelty to others. It is grown almost into a maxim, that good-natured men are not always men of the most wit. This observation, in my opinion, has no foundation in nature. The greatest wits I have conversed with are men eminent for their humanity. I take therefore this remark to have been occasioned by two reasons. First, because ill-nature among ordinary observers passes for wit. A spiteful saying gratifies so many little passions in those who hear it, that it generally meets with a good reception. The laugh rises upon it, and the man who utters it is looked upon as a shrewd satirist. This may be one reason, why a great many pleasant companions appear so surprisingly dull, when they have endeavoured to be merry in print; the public being more just than private clubs or assemblies, in distinguishing between what is wit, and what is ill-nature, Another reason why the good-natured man may sometimes bring his wit in question, is, perhaps, because he is apt to be moved with compassion for those misfortunes or infirmities, which another would turn into ridicule, and by that means gain the reputation of a wit. The ill-natured man, though but of equal parts, gives himself a larger field to expatiate in; he exposes those failings in human nature which the other would cast a veil over, laughs at vices which the other either excuses or conceals, gives utterance to reflections which the other stifles, falls indifferently upon friends or enemies, exposes the person who has obliged him, and, in short, sticks at nothing that may establish his character of a wit. It is no wonder therefore he succeeds in it better than the man of humanity, as a person who makes use of indirect methods is more likely to grow rich than the fair trader. ADDISON. L. INDEX. ACTION, the felicity of the soul.... Affliction and sorrow, not always expressed by tears.. The authority of an aged virtuous person prefera- Albacinda, her character.... Alexander, his artifice in his Indian expedition................. No. 116 95 95 153 153 144 127 157 Amaryllis, her character...... 144 Ambition, the occasion of factions..... 125 Amusements of life, when innocent, necessary and al- lowable... 93 Apparitions, the creation of weak minds... 110 traveller.. Aristus and Aspasia, a happy couple.......... Arable (Mrs.) the great heiress, the Spectator's fellow- Aristotle, his account of the world..... Artist, wherein he has the advantage of an author....... 166 other....... 124 Wherein an author has the advantage of an artist 166 132 166 128 Author: the care an author ought to take of what he No. 166 A story of an atheistical author..... 166 BAREFACE, his success with the ladies, and the reason for it...... 156 Bear-Garden, the Spectator's method for the improve- ment of it.... 141 Beauties, whether male or female, very untractable.... 87 And fantastical...... Impertinent and disagreeable The efficacy of beauty.. Board-wages, the ill effects of it... Bodily exercises, of ancient encouragement.. Books reduced to their quintessence The legacies of great geniuses. 144 144 144 88 161 124 166 ..143, and 146 147 95 147 Burnet (Dr.) some passages in his Theory of the Earth considered......... CESAR (Julius) his reproof to an ill reader......... Cant, from whence said to be derived. Care: what ought to be a man's chief care..... 122 Carneades, the philosopher, his definition of beauty.... 144 hood... 157 Castle-builders, who, and their follies exposed...... 167 101 Chaplain, the character of Sir Roger de Coverley's..... 106 99 143 Children, wrong measures taken in the education of the British children. 157 Children in the Wood, a ballad, wherein to be com- Compassion, the exercise of it would tend to lessen the 147 147 calamities of life........ 169 Compliments in ordinary discourse censured...... No. 103 155 Conde (prince of) his face like that of an eagle......... 86 in those days.... Contentment, the utmost good we can hope for in this life. Conversation, usually stuffed with too many compli- ments What properly to be understood by the word con- Coverley (Sir Roger de) he is something of an hu- 98 163 103 143 Cotillus, his great equanimity. 143 mourist...... 106 His choice of a chaplain......... 106 His management of his family. 107 ...... His account of his ancestors. 109 A great benefactor to his church in Worcester- Is forced to have every room in his house exor- 110 112 In which he suffers no one to sleep but himself... 112 Country, the charms of it Country gentleman and his wife, neighbours to Sir Courage recommends a man to the female sex more One of the chief topics in books of chivalry......... 99 118 ........ 128 112 161 99 |