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Two or three of the old Greek poets have given the fame turn to a fentence which defcribes the happiness of man in this life:

Τὸ ζῆν ἀλύπως ἀνδρὸς ἐσιν εὐτυχοῦς.

degree as thofe whom we generally cal vicious men.

If fuch a ftri&t Poetical Juftice, as fome gentlemen infift upon, was to be obferved in this art, there is no manner of reafon why it should not extend to

That man is most happy who is the leaft heroic poetry as well as tragedy. But

miferable.

It will not perhaps be unentertaining to the polite reader to obferve how thefe three beautiful fentences are formed upon different fubjects by the fame way of thinking; but I fhall return to the firft of them.

man.

Our goodness being of a comparative, and not an abfolute nature, there is none who in strictness can be called a virtuous Every one has in him a natural alloy, though one may be fuller of drofs than another: for this reafon I cannot think it right to introduce a perfect or a faultless man upon the itage; not only because fuch a character is improper to move compaffion, but because there is no fuch thing in nature. This might probably be one reafon why the Spectator in one of his papers took notice of that late invented term called Poetical Juftice, and the wrong notions into which it has led fome tragic writers. The most perfect man has vices enough to draw down punishments upon his head, and to justify Providence in regard to any miferies that may befal him. For this reason I cannot think, but that the inftru&tion and moral are much finer, where a man who is virtuous in the main of his character falls into diftrefs, and finks under the blows of fortune at the end of a tragedy, than when he is reprefented as happy and triumphant. Such an example corrects the infolence of human nature, softens the mind of the beholder with fentiments of pity and compaffion, comforts him under his own private affliction, and teaches him not to judge of men's virtues by their fucceffes. I cannot think of one real hero in all antiquity fo far raised above human infirmities, that he might not be very naturally reprefented in a tragedy as plunged in misfortunes and calamities. The poet may ftill find out fome prevailing paffion or indifcretion in his character, and fhew it in fuch a manner as will fufficiently acquit the gods of any injuftice in his fufferings. For as Horace obferves in my text, the best man is faulty, though not in fo great a

we find it fo little obferved in Homer, that his Achilles is placed in the greatest point of glory and fuccefs, though his character is morally vicious, and only poetically good, if I may use the phrate of our modern critics. The neid is filled with innocent, unhappy perfons. Nifus and Euryalus, Laulus and Pallas, come all to unfortunate ends. The poet takes notice in particular, that in the facking of Troy, Ripheus fell, who was the moft juft man among the Trojans.

Cadit et Ripheus juftiffimus unus, Qui fait in Teucris, et fervantiffimus æquir Diis aliter vifum eft---

EN. 11. VER. 427.

And that Pantheus could neither be preferved by his tranfcendent piety, nor by the holy fillets of Apollo, whofe priest he was.

-Nec te tua plurima, Pantheu, Labentem pietas, nec Apollinis infula texit. EN. 11. v. 429.

I might here mention the practice of ancient tragic poets, both Greek and Latin; but as this particular is touched upon in the paper above-mentioned, I fhall pass it over in filence. I could produce paffages out of Ariftotle in favour of my opinion; and if in one place he fays that an abfolutely virtuous man fhould not be reprefented as unhappy, this does not justify any one who hail think fit to bring in an absolutely virtuous man upon the ftage. Thofe who are acquainted with that author's way of writing, know very well, that to take the whole extent of his fubject into his divifions of it, he often makes ufe of fuch cafes as are imaginary, and not reducible to practice: he himself declares that fuch tragedies as ended unhappily bore away the prize in theatrical contentions, from those which ended happily; and for the fortieth fpeculation, which I am now confidering, as it has given reafons why thefe are more apt to pleafe an audience, fo it only proves that these are generally preferable to the other, though at the fame time it affirms

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Believe most people begin the world with a refolution to withdraw from it into a ferious kind of folitude or retirement, when they have made themAlves eafy in it. Our unhappiness is, that we find out fome excule or other for deferring fuch our good refolutions until our intended retreat is cut off by death. But among all kinds of people there are none who are fo hard to part with the world, as thofe who are grown old in the heaping up of riches. Their minds are fo warped with their conftant attention to gain, that it is very difficult for them to give their fouls another bent, and convert them towards thofe objects, which, though they are proper for every ftage of life, are fo more especially for the laft. Horace defcribes an old ufurer as fo charmed with the pleasures of a country life, that in order to make a purchase he called in all his money; but what was the event of it? Why in a very few days after he put it out again. I am engaged in this feries of thought by a difcourfe which I had last week with my worthy friend Sir Andrew Freeport, a man of fo much natural-eloquence, good fenfe, and probity of mind, that I always hear him with a particular pleasure. As we were fitting together, being the fole remaining members of our club, Sir Andrew gave me an account of the many bufy fcenes of life in which he had been engaged, and at the fame time reckoned up to me abundance of thofe lucky hits, which at another time he would have called pieces of good-fortune; but in the temper of mind he was then, he termed ihem mercies, favours of Providence,

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and bleffings upon an honeft industry. • Now,' fays he, you must know, my good friend, I am fo ufed to confider 'myself as creditor and debtor, that F ⚫ often state my accounts after the fame

manner with regard to Heaven and my own foul. In this cafe, when I look · upon the debtor-fide, I find fuch innumerable articles, that I want arithmetic to caft them up; but when I 'look upon the creditor-fide, I find little more than blank paper. Now though I am very well fatisfied that it is not in my power to balance accounts with my Maker, I am refolved however to turn all my future endeavours that way. You must not there. 'fore be furprifed, my friend, if you • hear that I am betaking myself to a • more thoughtful kind of life, and if I meet you no more in this place."

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I could not but approve fo good a refolution, notwithstanding the lofs I fhould fuffer by it. Sir Andrew has fince explained himfelf to me more at large in the following letter, which is just come to my hands.

GOOD MR. SPECTATOR,

Notwithstanding my friends at the

club have always rallied me, when I have talked of retiring from business, and repeated to me one of my own sayings- That a merchant has never

enough until he has got a little more;' I can now inform you, that there is one in the world who thinks he has enough, and is determined to pass the remainder of his life in the enjoyment of what he has. You know me fo well, that I need not tell you, I mean, by the enjoyments

of

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of my poffeffions, the making of them afeful to the public. As the greateft part of my eftate has been hitherto of an unsteady and volatile nature, either roft upon feas or fluctuating in funds; it is now fixed and fettled in fubftantial acres and tenements. I have removed it from the uncertainty of flocks, winds, and waves, and difpofed of it in a confiderable purchase. This will give me great opportunity of being charitable in ny way, that is, in fetting my poor neighbours to work, and giving them a comfortable fubfiftence out of their own industry. My gardens, my fish-ponds, my arable and pafture grounds, fhall be my feveral hofpitals, or rather work houfes, in which I propofe to maintain a great many indigent perfons, who are now ftarving in my neighbourhood. I have got a fine fpread of improveable lants, and in my own thoughts am already plowing up fome of them, fencing others, planting woods, and draining marthes. In fine, as I have my fhare in the furface of this ifland, I am refolved to make it as beautiful a fpot as any in her majesty's dominions; at least there is not an inch of it which fhall not be cultivated to the beft advantage, and do it's utmost for it's owner. As in my mercantile employment I fo difpofed of my affairs, that from whatever corner of the compafs the wind blew, it was bringing home one or other of my hips; I hope, as a husbandman, to contrive it fo, that not a fhower of rain, or a glimpse of funshine, fhall fall upon my eftate without bettering fome part of it, and contributing to the products of the feason. You know it has been hitherto my opinion of life, that it is. thrown away when it is not fome way ufeful to others. But when I am riding

out by myself, in the fresh air on the open heath that lies by my house, I find feveral other thoughts growing up in me. I am now of opinion, that a mar of my age may find bufinefs enough on himself, by fetting his mind in order, preparing it for another world, and reconciling it to the thoughts of death. I must therefore acquaint you, that befides thofe ufual methods of charity, of which I have before fpoken, I am at this very inftant finding out a convenient place where I may build an almshoufe, which I intend to endow very handfomely for a dozen fuperannuated husbandmen. It will be a great pleafure to me to fay my prayers twice a day with men of my own years, who all of them, as well as myfelf, may have their thoughts taken up how they fhall die, rather than how they shall live. I remember an excellent faying that I learned at fchool Finis coronat opus. You know beft whether it be in Virgil or in Horace, it is my business to apply it. If your affairs will permit you to take the country air with me fometimes, you shall find an apartment fitted up for you, and thall be every day entertained with beef or mutton of my own feeding; fish out of my own ponds; and fruit out of my own gardens. You fhall have free egress and regrefs about my houfe, with out having any queftions asked you; and in a word, fuch a hearty welcome as you may expect from your most fincere friend and humble fervant,

ANDREW FREEPORT

The club, of which I am a member, being entirely difperfed, I fhall confult my reader next week upon a prospect relating to the inftitution of a new one.

N° DL. MONDAY, DECEMBER 1.

QUID DIGNUM TANTO FERET HIC PROMISSOR HIATU?

HOR. ARS POET. VER. 138.

IN WHAT WILL ALL THIS OSTENTATION END?

INC, the of I have often declared INCE the late diffolution of the SIN myself a member, there are very many perfons who by letters, petitions, and recommendations, put up for the next election. At the fame time I must com

ROSCOMMON.

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plain, that feveral indirect and underhand practices have been made ufe of upon this occafion. A certain country gentleman began to tap upon the firit intimation he received of Sir Roger's death: when he fent me up word, that

if

if I would get him chofen in the place of the deceased, he would prefent me with a barrel of the best October I had ever drank in my life. The ladies are in great pain to know whom I intend to elect in the room of Will Honeycomb. Some of them indeed are of opinion that Mr. Honeycomb did not take fufficient care of their intereft in the club, and are therefore defirous of having in it hereafter a reprefentative of their own fex. A citizen who fubfcribes himself Y. Z. tells me that he has one and twenty fhares in the African company, and offers to bribe me with the odd one in cafe he may fucceed Sir Andrew Freeport, which he thinks would raise the credit of that fund. I have feveral letters dated from Jenny Man's, by gentlemen who are candidates for Captan Sentry's place; and as many from a coffee-houfe in St. Paul's Churchyard of fuch who would fill up the vacancy occafioned by the death of my worthy friend the clergyman, whom I can never mention but with a particular respect.

Hoving maturely weighed these feveral particulars, with the many remon frances that have been made to me on this fubject, and confidering how invidious an office I fhall take upon me if I make the whole election depend upon my fingle voice, and being unwilling to expofe myself to thofe clamours, which en fuch an occafion will not fail to be raifed against me for partiality, injuftice, corruption, and other qualities which my nature abhors, I have formed to myfelf the project of a club as follows.

I have thought of iffuing out writs to all and every of the clubs that are establifhed in the cities of London and Westminster, requiring them to choofe out of their refpective bodies a perfon of the greatest merit, and to return his name to me before Lady-day, at which time I intend to fit upon bulinefs.

By this means I have reafon to hope, that the club over which I fhall prefide will be the very flower and quinteffence of all other clubs. I have cominunicated this my project to none but a particular friend of mine, whom I have ce

lebrated twice or thrice for his happines in that kind of wit which is commonly known by the name of a pun. The only objection he makes to it is, that I shall raise up enemies to myfelf if I act with fo regal an air; and that my detractors, instead of giving me the usual title of Spectator, will be apt to call me the King of Clubs.

But to proceed on my intended pro ject: it is very well known that I at firft fet forth in this work with the character of a filent man; and I think I have lo well preserved my taciturnity, that I də not remember to have violated it with three fentences in the space of almoft two years. As a monofyllable is my delight, I have made very few excurfions in the converfations which I have related, beyond a Yes or a No. By this means my readers have loft many good things which I have had in my heart, though I did not care for uttering them.

Now, in order to diverfify my charafter, and to fhew the world how well I can talk if I have a mind, I have thoughts of being very loquacious in the club which I have now under confideration. But that I may proceed the more regularly in this affair, I defign, upon the first meeting of the faid club, to have my mouth opened in form; intending to regulate myself in this particular by a certain ritual which I have by me, that contains all the ceremonies which are practifed at the opening of the mouth of a cardinal. I have likewife examined the forms which were ufed of old by Pythagoras, when any of his fcholars, after an apprenticeship of filence, was made free of his speech. In the mean time, as I have of late found my name in foreign gazettes upon lefs occafions, I question not but in their next articles from Great Britain, they will inform the world, that the Spectator's mouth is to be opened on the twenty-fifth of March next. I may perhaps publish a very useful paper at that time of the proceedings in that folemnity, and of the perfons who fhail affift at it. But of this more hereafter.

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MR. SPECTATOR,

ROSCOMMON.

terred by the fear of envy or detraction

WHEN men of worthy and ex from fair stempts, to which their parts

the world with beautiful and inftructive writings, it is in the nature of gratitude that praise fhould be returned them, as one proper confequent reward of their performances. Nor has mankind ever been fo degenerately funk, but they have made this return, and even when they have not been wrought up by the generous endeavour fo as to receive the advantages defigned by it. This praife, which arifes first in the mouth of particular perfons, fpreads and lafts according to the merit of authors; and when it thus meets with a full fuccess, changes it's denomination, and is called Fame. They who have happily arrived at this, are, even while they live, inflamed by the acknowledgments of others, and fpurred on to new undertakings for the benefit of mankind, notwithstanding the detraction which fome abject tempers would cast upon them: but when they decease, their characters being freed from the fhadow which envy laid them under, begin to fhine out with greater fplendor, their fpirits furvive in their works; they are admitted into the highelt company, and they continue pleafing and intructing posterity from age to age. Some of the belt gain a character, by being able to fhew that they are no ftrangers to them; and others obtain a new warmth to labour for the happiness and cafe of mankind, from a reflection upon those honours which are paid to their memories..

The thought of this took me up as I turned over thofe epigrams which are the remains of feveral of the wits of Greece, and perceived many dedicated to the fame of those who had excelled in beautiful poetic performances. Wherefore in purfuance to my thought, I concluded to do fomething along with them to bring their praifes into a new light and language, for the encouragement of those whofe modeft tempers may be de

perceive them as they follow to be conceived in the form of epitaphs, a fort of writing which is wholly fet apart for a fhort-pointed method of praife.

ON ORPHEUS, WRITTEN BY ANTI

PATER.

No longer, Orpheus, fhall thy facred ftrains Lead ftones, and trees, and beafts, along the

plains;

No longer footh the boisterous winds to sleep,
Or fill the billows of the raging deep:
For thou art gone, the mufes mourn'd thy fall
In folemn ftrains, thy mother most of all.
Ye mortals, idly for your fons ye moan,
If thus a goddess could not fave her own.

Obferve here, that if we take the fable for granted, as it was believed to be in that age when the epigram was written, the turn appears to have piety to the gods, and a refigning fpirit in it's application. But if we confider the point with refpect to our prefent knowledge, it will be lefs esteemed; though the author himfelf, becaufe he believed it, may ftill be more valued than one who fhould now write with a point of the fame nature.

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