considered, I shall here only take notice of | No. 532.] Monday, November 10, 1712.

hat habitual worship and veneration which ve ought to pay to this Almighty Being. We should often refresh our minds with the hought of him, and annihilate ourselves efore him, in the contemplation of our wn worthlessness, and of his transcendent xcellency and perfection. This would mprint in our minds such a constant and ninterrupted awe and veneration as that vhich I am here recommending, and which s in reality a kind of incessant prayer, and easonable humiliation of the soul before im who made it.

This would effectually kill in us all the ittle seeds of pride, vanity, and self-coneit, which are apt to shoot up in the minds of such whose thoughts turn more on those comparative advantages which they enjoy wer some of their fellow-creatures, than n that infinite distance which is placed between them and the supreme model of ill perfection. It would likewise quicken ur desires and endeavours of uniting ourelves to him by all the acts of religion and irtue.

Such an habitual homage to the Supreme Being would, in a particular manner, anish from among us that prevailing imiety of using his name on the most trivial

ccasions.

-Fungor vice cotis, acutum
Reddere quæ ferrum valet, exsors ipsa secandi.
Hor. Ars Post. ver. 304.

I play the whetstone: useless and unfit
To cut myself, I sharpen others wit.-Creech.
It is a very honest action to be studious
to produce other men's merit; and I make
no scruple of saying, I have as much of
this temper as any man in the world. It
would not be a thing to be bragged of, but
that is what any man may be master of,
who will take pains enough for it. Much
observation of the unworthiness in being
pained at the excellence of another will
bring you to a scorn of yourself for that un-
willingness; and when you have got so far,
you will find it a greater pleasure than you
ever before knew to be zealous in promot-
ing the fame and welfare of the praise-
worthy. I do not speak this as pretending
to be a mortified self-denying man, but as
one who had turned his ambition into a
right channel. I claim to myself the merit
of having extorted excellent productions
from a person of the greatest abilities, who
would not have let them appeared by any
other means;t to have animated a few
young gentlemen into worthy pursuits, who
will be a glory to our age; and at all times,
and by all possible means in my power, un-
dermined the interest of ignorance, vice,
and folly, and attempted to substitute in
their stead, learning, piety, and good sense.
It is from this honest heart that I find my-
self honoured as a gentleman-usher to the
arts and sciences. Mr. Tickell and Mr.
Pope have, it seems, this idea of me. The
former has writ me an excellent paper of
verses, in praise, forsooth, of myself; and
the other enclosed for my perusal an ad-
mirable poem, which I hope will shortly
see the light. In the mean time I cannot
suppress any thought of his, but insert this
sentiment about the dying words of Adrian.
I will not determine in the case he men-
tions; but have thus much to say in favour
of his argument, that many of his own works
which I have seen, convince me that very
pretty and very sublime sentiments may
be lodged in the same bosom without dimi-
nution of its greatness.

I find the following passage in an excelent sermon, preached at the funeral of a entleman who was an honour to his counry, and a more diligent as well as successal inquirer into the works of nature than ny other our nation has ever produced. He had the profoundest veneration for the Teat God of heaven and earth that I have ver observed in any person. The very name of God was never mentioned by him withut a pause and a visible stop in his discourse; in which one, that knew him most particularly above twenty years, has told ne that he was so exact, that he does not emember to have observed him once to ail in it.'

Every one knows the veneration which vas paid by the Jews to a name so great, wonderful, and holy. They would not let it nter even into their religious discourses. What can we then think of those who make se of so tremendous a name in the ordinary xpressions of their anger, mirth, and most mpertinent passions?. of those who admit it in company with five or six men of some 'MR. SPECTATOR,-I was the other day to the most familiar questions and asserons, ludicrous phrases, and works of hue learning: where, chancing to mention the mour? not to mention those who violate it famous verses which the emperor Adrian y solemn perjuries! It would be an affront spoke on his death-bed, they were all reason to endeavour to set forth the hor- agreed that it was a piece of gayety unor and profaneness of such a practice. I could not but dissent from this opinion. worthy that prince in those circumstances. The very mention of it exposes it suffi- Methinks it was by no means a gay but a ently to those in whom the light of na- very serious soliloquy to his soul at the ure, not to say religion, is not utterly ex-point of his departure: in' which sense I inguished. naturally took these verses at my first read. ing them, when I was very young, and be

*See bishop Burnet's Sermon, preached at the funeral the honourable Robert Boyle.

† Addison.

The Temple of Fame

Mr. Tickell here alludes to Steel's papers against the sharpers, &c. in the Tatler, and particularly to a letter in Tat. No. 73, signed Will Trusty, and written by Mr. cellent John Hughes.

custom of parents in forcing their children | beauty, yet there is none among all your various characters of fine women preferable to Miranda. In a word, she is never guilty of doing any thing but one amiss, (if she can be thought to do amiss by me) in being as blind to my faults, as she is to her own perfections. I am, sir, your very humble, obedient servant, DUSTERERASTUS.'

think

to marry contrary to their inclinations. My own case, without farther preface, I will lay before you, and leave you to judge of it. My father and mother, both being in declining years, would fain see me, their eldest son, as they call it, settled. I am as much for that as they can be; but I must be settled, it seems, not according to my own, but their liking. Upon this account I am teased every day, because I have not 'MR. SPECTATOR,-When you spent so yet fallen into love, in spite of nature, with much time as you did lately in censuring one of a neighbouring gentleman's daugh- the ambitious young gentlemen who ride ters; for out of their abundant generosity, in triumph through town and country on they give me the choice of four. "Jack," coach-boxes, I wish you had employed begins my father. "Mrs. Catharine is a those moments in consideration of what fine woman. "-"Yes, sir, but she is rather passes sometimes within-side of those vehitoo old." "She will make the more dis- cles. I am sure I suffered sufficiently by creet manager, boy. Then my mother the insolence and ill-breeding of some perplays her part. "Is not Mrs. Betty exceed- sons who travelled lately with me in the ing fair?" "Yes, madam, but she is of no stage-coach out of Essex to London. I am conversation; she has no fire, no agreeable sure, when you have heard what I have to vivacity; she neither speaks nor looks with say, you will think there are persons under spirit." "True, son, but for those very the character of gentlemen, that are fit to reasons she will be an easy, soft, obliging, be no where else but on the coach-box. tractable creature.". "After all," cries an Sir, I am a young woman of a sober and old aunt, (who belongs to the class of those religious education, and have preserved who read plays with spectacles on,)" what that character; but on Monday was fortyou, nephew, of proper Mrs. Doro- night, it was my misfortune to come to thy?""What do I think? why, I think London. I was no sooner clapped into the she cannot be above six foot two inches coach, but, to my great surprise, two perhigh.""Well, well, you may banter as sons in the habit of gentlemen attacked me long as you please, but height of stature with such indecent discourse as I cannot is commanding and majestic." -"Come, repeat to you, so you may conclude not fit come," says a cousin of mine in the family, for me to hear. I had no relief but the "I will fit him; Fidelia is yet behind- hopes of a speedy end of my short journey. pretty Miss Fiddy must please you.' Sir, form to yourself what a persecution "Oh! your very humble servant, dear coz, this must needs be to a virtuous and chaste she is as much too young as her eldest sis- mind; and, in order to your proper handter is too old.""Is it so, indeed," quoth ling such a subject, fancy your wife or she, "good Mr. Pert? You that are but daughter, if you had any, in such circumturned of twenty-two, and Miss Fiddy in stances, and what treatment you would half a year's time will be in her teens, then think due to such dragoons. One of and she is capable of learning any thing. them was called a captain, and entertained Then she will be so observant; she will us with nothing but filthy stupid questions, cry perhaps now and then, but never be or lewd songs, all the way. Ready to burst angry. Thus they will think for me in with shame and indignation, I repined that this matter, wherein I am more particu-nature had not allowed us as easily to shut larly concerned than any body else. If I our ears as our eyes. But was not this a name any woman in the world, one of these kind of rape? Why should there be acdaughters has certainly the same qualities. cessaries in ravishment any more than You see by these few hints, Mr. Spectator, murder? Why should not every contriwhat a comfortable life I lead. To be still butor to the abuse of chastity suffer death? more open and free with you, I have been I am sure these shameless hell-hounds depassionately fond of a young lady (whom served it highly. Can you exert yourself give me leave to call Miranda) now for better than on such an occasion? If you do these three years. I have often urged the not do it effectually, I will read no more of matter home to my parents with all the your papers. Has every impertinent felsubmission of a son, but the impatience of low a privilege to torment me, who pay a lover. Pray, sir, think of three years: my coach-hire as well as he? Sir, pray what inexpressible scenes of inquietude, consider us in this respect as the weakest what variety of misery must I have gone sex, who have nothing to defend ourselves; through in three whole years! Miranda's and I think it is as gentleman-like to chalfortune is equal to those I have mentioned; lenge a woman to fight as to talk obscenely but her relations are not intimates with in her company, especially when she has mine! Ah! there's the rub! Miranda's not power to stir. Pray let me tell you a person, wit, and humour, are what the story which you can make fit for public icest fancy could imagine; and, though view. I knew a gentleman who, having a we know you to be so elegant a judge of very good opinion of the gentlemen of the VOL. II.

39

-We seldom find

Much sense with an exalted fortune joined.

Stepney.

MR. SPECTATOR,-I am a young woman of nineteen, the only daughter of very wealthy parents, and have my whole life been used with a tenderness which did me no great service in my education. I have perhaps an uncommon desire for knowledge of what is suitable to my sex and quality; but, as far as I can remember, the whole dispute about me has been, whether such a thing was proper for the child to do, or not? or whether such or such a food was the more wholesome for the young lady to eat? This was ill for my shape, that for my complexion, and the other for my eyes. I am not extravagant when I tell you, I do not know that I have trod upon the very earth ever since I was ten years old. A

army, invited ten or twelve of them to sup with him; and at the same time invited two or three friends who were very severe against the manners and morals of gentlemen of that profession. It happened one of them brought two captains of his regiment newly come into the army, who at the first onset engaged the company with very lewd healths and suitable discourse. You may easily imagine the confusion of the entertainer, who finding some of his friends very uneasy, desired to tell them the story of a great man, one Mr. Locke, (whom I find you frequently mention) that being invited to dine with the then lords Halifax, Anglesey, and Shaftesbury, immediately after dinner, instead of conversation, the cards were called for, where the bad or good success produced the usual passions of gaming. Mr. Locke, retiring to a window, and writing, my lord Angle-coach or chair I am obliged to for all my sey desired to know what he was writing: Why, my lords," answered he, "I could not sleep last night for the pleasure and improvement I expected from the conversation of the greatest men of the age.' This so sensibly stung them, that they gladly compounded to throw their cards in the fire, if he would his paper, and so a conversation ensued fit for such persons. This story pressed so hard upon the young captains, together with the concurrence of their superior officers, that the young fellows left the company in confusion. Sir, I know you hate long things; but if like it you may contract it, or how you will; but I think it

"

has a moral in it.

you

motions from one place to another ever since I can remember. All who had to do to instruct me, have ever been bringing stories of the notable things I have said, and the womanly manner of my behaving myself upon such and such an occasion. This has been my state until I came towards years of womanhood: and ever since

grew towards the age of fifteen I have been abused after another manner. Now, forsooth, I am so killing, no one can safely speak to me. Our house is frequented by men of sense, and I love to ask questions. when I fall into such conversation; but I am cut short with something or other about my bright eyes. There is, sir, a language particular for talking to women in; and none but those of the very first good-breeding (who are very few, and who seldom come into my way) can speak to us without regard to our sex. Among the generality of those they call gentlemen, it is impossi ble for me to speak upon any subject whatsoever, without provoking somebody to say, "Oh! to be sure, fine Mrs. Such-a-one must be very particularly acquainted with all that; all the world would contribute to her entertainment and information." Thus, sir, I am so handsome, that I murder all who approach me; so wise, that I want no new notices; and so well-bred, that I am treated by all that know me like a fool, for no one will answer as if I were their friend or companion. Pray, sir, be pleased to take the part of us beauties and fortunes of the above-mentioned crime, the party into your consideration, and do not let us aggrieved may produce it to his face, with be thus flattered out of our senses. I have a request to read it to the company. He got a huzzy of a maid who is most craftily must be very much hardened that could outface that rebuke; and his farther punishment I leave you to prescribe. Your

But, sir, I am told you are a famous mechanic as well as a looker-on, and therefore humbly propose you would invent some padlock, with full power under your hand and seal, for all modest persons, either men or women, to clap upon the mouths of all such impertinent impudent fellows: and I wish you would publish a proclamation, that no modest person who has value for her countenance, and consequently would not be put out of it, presume to travel after such a day without one of them in their pockets. I fancy a smart Spectator upon this subject would serve for such a padlock; and that public notice may be given in your paper where they may be had, with directions, price two pence; and that part of the directions may be, when any person presumes to be guilty

humble servant,

T.

"PENANCE CRUEL.'

No. 534.1 Wednesday, November 12, 1712.

Rarus enim ferme sensus communis in illa
Fortuna-
Juv. Sat. viii. 73

given to this ill quality. I was at first diverted with a certain absurdity the crea ture was guilty of in every thing she said. She is a country girl; and in the dialect of the shire she was born in, would tell me that

every body reckoned her lady had the she would tell me I was the most like one purest red and white in the world: then Sisly Dobson in their town, who made the miller make away with himself, and walk

afterwards in the corn-field where they used to meet. With all this, this cunning huzzy can lay letters in my way, and put a billet in my gloves, and then stand in it she knows nothing of it. I do not know, from my birth to this day, that I have been ever treated by any one as I ought; and if it were not for a few books, which I delight in, I should be at this hour a novice to all common sense. Would it not be worth your while to lay down rules for behaviour in this case, and tell people, that we fair ones expect honest plain answers as well as other people? Why must I, good sir, because I have a good air, a fine complexion, and am in the bloom of my years, be misled in all my actions; and have the notions of good and ill confounded in my mind, for no other offence, but because I have the advantages of beauty and fortune? Indeed, sir, what with the silly homage which is paid to us by the sort of people I have above spoken of, and the utter negligence which others have for us, the conversation of us young women of condition is no other than what must expose us to ignorance and vanity, if not vice. All this is humbly submitted to your spectatorial wisdom, by sir, your humble servant,

SHARLOT WEALTHY.'

'Will's Coffee-house. 'MR. SPECTATOR,-Pray, sir, it will erve to fill up a paper if you put in this; which is only to ask, whether that copy of erses which is a paraphrase of Isaiah, in one of your speculations, is not written by Mr. Pope? Then you get on another line, y putting in, with proper distances, as at he end of a letter, I am, sir, your humble

Fervant,

MR. SPECTATOR,-I am in the condition of the idol you was once pleased to mention, and bar-keeper of a coffee-house. I believe it is needless to tell you the opportunities I must give, and the importunities I suffer. But there is one gentleman who besieges me as close as the French did Bouchain. His gravity makes him work cautious, and his regular approaches denote a good engineer. You need not doubt of his oratory, as he is a lawyer; and especially since he has had so little use of it at Westminster, he may spare the more for me.

'What then can weak women do? I am

willing to surrender, but he would have it at discretion, and I with discretion. In the mean time, whilst we parley, our several interests are neglected. As his siege grows stronger, my tea grows weaker; and while he pleads at my bar, none come to him for counsel but in forma pauperis. Dear Mr. Spectator, advise him not to insist upon hard articles, nor by his irregular desires contradict the well meaning lines of his countenance. If we were agreed, we might settle to something, as soon as we could determine where we should get most by the law at the coffee-house, or at Westminster. Your humble servant,

'LUCINDA PARLEY.'

A Minute from Mr. John Sly.

Ordered,

That Mr. Sly name the said officers, proand morals. vided he will answer for their principles T.

The world is pretty regular for about forty rod east and ten west of the observatory of the said Mr. Sly; but he is credibly the pass into the Strand, or those who move informed, that when they are got beyond city-ward are got within Temple-bar, they humbly proposed, that moving centries are just as they were before. It is therefore may be appointed all the busy hours of the · ABRAHAM DAPPERWIT.' day between the Exchange and Westmin'MR. DAPPERWIT,-I am glad to get ster, and report what passes to your honother line forward, by saying that excel-nour, or your subordinate officers, from ent piece is Mr. Pope's; and so, with time to time.' proper distances, I am, your humble serant, THE SPECTATOR.' 'MR. SPECTATOR,-I was a wealthy rocer in the city, and as fortunate as dilíent; but I was a single man, and you know here are women. Öne in particular came my shop, who I wished might, but was No. 535.] Thursday, November 13, 1712. fraid never would, make a grocer's wife. thought, however, to take an effectual way of courting, and sold her at less price han I bought, that I might buy at less price han I sold. She, you may be sure, often ame and helped me to many customers at he same rate, fancying I was obliged to er. You must needs think this was a good ving trade, and my riches must be vastly mproved. In fine, I was nigh being de ared bankrupt, when I declared myself er lover, and she, herself married. was st in a condition to support myself, and m now in hopes of growing rich by losing y customers. Yours,

C

JEREMY COMFIT.'

Spem longam reseces.

Hor. Od. xi. Lib. L. 7,

Cut short vain hope. My four hundred and seventy-first speculation turned upon the subject of hope in general. I design this paper as a speculation upon that vain and foolish hope which is misemployed on temporal objects, and produces many sorrows and calamities in human life.

It is a precept several times inculcated by Horace, that we should not entertain a hope of any thing in life, which lies at a great distance from us. The shortness and uncertainty of our time here makes such a