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'O friends, I hear the tread of nimble feet
Hasting this way, and now by glimpse discern
Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade,
And with them comes a third of regal port,
But faded splendour wan; who by his gait
And fierce demeanour seems the prince of Hell:
Not likely to part hence without contest;
Stand firm, for in his look defiance low'rs.'

The conference between Gabriel and Satan abounds with sentiments proper for the occasion, and suitable to the persons of the two speakers. Satan clothing himself with terror when he prepares for the combat is truly sublime, and at least equal to Homer's description of Discord, celebrated by Longinus, or to that of Fame in Virgil, who are both represented with their feet standing upon the earth, and their heads reaching above the clouds:

While thus he spake, th' angelic squadron bright
Turn'd fiery red, sharp'ning in mooned horns
Their phalanx, and began to hem him round
With ported spears, &c.

-On th' other side Satan alarm'd,
Collecting all his might, dilated stood
Like Teneriffe, or Atlas, unremoved:

His stature reach'd the sky, and on his crest
Sat Horror plum'd.-

I must here take notice, that Milton is every where full of hints, and sometimes literal translations, taken from the greatest of the Greek and Latin poets. But this I may reserve for a discourse by itself, because I would not break the thread of these speculations, that are designed for English readers, with such reflections as would be of no use but to the learned.

may see

I must, however, observe in this place, that the breaking off the combat between Gabriel and Satan, by the hanging out of the golden scales in heaven, is a refinement upon Homer's thought, who tells us, that before the battle between Hector and Achilles, Jupiter weighed the event of it in a pair of scales. The reader the whole passage in the 22d Iliad. Virgil, before the last decisive combat describes Jupiter in the same manner, as weighing the fates of Turnus and Æneas. Milton, though he fetched this beautiful circumstance from the Iliad and Æneid, does not only insert it as a poetical embellishment, like the author's above-mentioned, but makes an artful use of it for the proper carrying on of his fable, and for the breaking off the combat between the two warriors, who were upon the point of engaging. To this we may further add, that Milton is the more justified in this passage, as we find the same noble allegory in holy writ, where a wicked prince, some few hours before he was assaulted and slain, is said to have been weighed in the scales, and to have been found wanting."

I must here take notice, under the head of the machines, that Uriel's gliding down to the earth upon a sun-beam, with the poet's device to make him descend, as well in his return to the sun as in his coming from it, is a prettiness that might have been admired in a little fanciful poet, but seems

below the genius of Milton. The description of the host of armed angels walking their nightly round in Paradise is of another spirit:

So saying on he led his radiant files,
Dazzling the moon ;

as that account of the hymns which our first parents used to hear them sing in these their midnight walks is altogether divine, and inexpressibly amusing to the imagination.

We are in the last place, to consider the parts which Adam and Eve act in the fourth book. The description of them, as they first appeared to Satan, is exquisitely drawn, and sufficient to make the fallen angel gaze upon them with all that astonishment, and those emotions of envy in which he is represented: Two of far nobler shape, erect and tall, God-like erect, with native honour clad In naked majesty, seem'd lords of all;

And worthy seem'd; for in their looks divine
The image of their glorious maker shone,
Truth, wisdom, sanctitude severe and pure;
Severe, but in true filial freedom plac'd:
For contemplation he and valour form'd,
For softness she and sweet attractive grace;
He for God only, she for God in him.
His fair large front, and eye sublime declar'd
Absolute rule; and hyacinthine locks
Round from his parted forelock manly hung
Clust'ring, but not beneath his shoulders broad.
She, as a veil, down to her slender waist
Her unadorned golden tresses wore
Dishevell'd, but in wanton ringlets wav'd.
So pass'd they naked on, nor shunn'd the sight
Of God or angels, for they thought no ill:
So hand in hand they pass'd, the loveliest pair
That ever since in love's embraces met.

There is a fine spirit of poetry in the lines which follow, wherein they are described as sitting on a bed of flowers by the side of a fountain, amidst a mixed assembly of ani

mals.

The speeches of these two first lovers flow equally from passion and sincerity. The professions they make to one another are full of warmth; but at the same time founded on truth. In a word they are the gallantries of Paradise:

-When Adam first of men

'Sole partner and sole part of all these joys,
Dearer thyself than all:-

But let us ever praise Him, and extol
His bounty, following our delightful task,

To prune these growing plants, and tend these flow'rs:
Which were it toilsome, yet with thee were sweet.'
To whom thus Eve reply'd. 'O thou, for whom
And from whom I was form'd, flesh of thy flesh,
And without whom am to no end, my guide
And head, what thou hast said is just and right.
For we to him indeed all praises owe
And daily thanks; I chiefly, who enjoy
So far the happier lot, enjoying thee,
Pre-eminent by so much odds, while thou
Like consort to thyself canst no where find.' &c.

The remaining part of Eve's speech, in which she gives an account of herself upon her first creation, and the manner in which she was brought to Adam, is, I think, as beautiful a passage as any in Milton, or perhaps in any other poet whatsoever. These passages are all worked off with so much art, that they are capable of pleasing the most delicate reader, without offending the most severe.

'That day I oft remember, when from sleep,' &c.

A poet of less judgment and invention is a very good one, if it be true:' but as for than this great author, would have found the following relation, I should be glad were it very difficult to have filled these tender I sure it were false. It is told with such parts of the poem with sentiments proper simplicity, and there are so many artless for a state of innocence; to have described touches of distress in it, that I fear it comes the warmth of love, and the professions of too much from the heart. it, without artifice or hyperbole; to have made the man speak the most endearing 'MR. SPECTATOR,-Some years ago it things without descending from his natural happened that I lived in the same house dignity, and the woman receiving them with a young gentleman of merit, with without departing from the modesty of her whose good qualities I was so much taken, character: in a word, to adjust the pre- as to make it my endeavour to show as rogatives of wisdom and beauty, and make many as I was able in myself. Familiar each appear to the other in its proper force converse improved general civilities into and loveliness. This mutual subordination an unfeigned passion on both sides. He of the two sexes is wonderfully kept up in watched an opportunity to declare himself the whole poem, as particularly in the to me; and I, who could not expect a man speech of Eve I have before mentioned, of so great an estate as his, received his adand upon the conclusion of it in the follow-dresses in such terms, as gave him no reaing lines:

So spake our general mother, and with eyes
Of conjugal attraction unreprov'd,
And meek surrender, half embracing lean'd
On our first father; half her swelling breast
Naked met his, under the flowing gold
Of her loose tresses hid; he in delight
Both of her beauty and submissive charms
Smil'd with superior love.-

The poet adds, that the devil turned away with envy at the sight of so much happiness.

We have another view of our first parents in their evening discourses, which is full of pleasing images and sentiments suitable to their condition and characters. The speech of Eve in particular, is dressed up in such a soft and natural turn of words and sentiments, as cannot be sufficiently admired.

I shall close my reflections upon this book with observing the masterly transition which the poet makes to their evening worship in the following lines:

Thus at their shady lodge arriv'd, both stood,
Both turn'd, and under open sky ador'd

The God that made both sky, air, earth, and heav'n,

Which they be held, the moon's resplendent globe,
And starry pole: Thou also mad'st the night,
Maker omnipotent, and thou the day,' &c.

Most of the modern heroic poets have imitated the ancients, in beginning a speech without premising that the person said thus or thus; but as it is easy to imitate the ancients in the omission of two or three words, it requires judgment to do it in such a manner as they shall not be missed, and that the speech may begin naturally without them. There is a fine instance of this kind out of Homer, in the twenty-third chapter of Longinus.

L.

No. 322.] Monday, March 10, 1711-12.
-Ad humum mærore gravi deducit et angit.
Hor. Ars Poet. v. 110.

son to believe I was displeased with them, though I did nothing to make him think me more easy than was decent. His father was a very hard worldly man, and proud; so that there was no reason to believe he would easily be brought to think there was any thing in any woman's person, or character, that could balance the disadvantage of an unequal fortune. In the mean time the son continued his application to me, and omitted no occasion of demonstrating the most disinterested passion imaginable to me; and in plain direct terms offered to marry me privately, and keep it so till he should be so happy as to gain his father's approbation, or become possessed of his estate. I passionately loved him, and you will believe I did not deny such a one what was my interest also to grant. However, I was not so young as not to take the precaution of carrying with me a faithful servant, who had been also my mother's maid, to be present at the ceremony. When that was over, I demanded a certificate to be signed by the minister, my husband, and the servant I just now spoke of. After our nuptials, we conversed together very familiarly in the same house; but the restraints we were generally under, and the interviews we had being stolen and interrupted, made our behaviour to each other have rather the impatient fondness which is visible in lovers, than the regular and gratified affection, which is to be observed in man and wife. This observation made the father very anxious for his son, and press him to a match he had in his eye for him. To reand conceal the secret of our marriage, lieve my husband from this importunity,

which I had reason to know would not be long in my power in town, it was resolved that I should retire into a remote place in the country, and converse under feigned names by letter. We long continued this way of commerce; and I with my needle, a few books, and reading over and over my husband's letters, passed my time in a resigned expectation of better days. Be It is often said, after a man has heard a pleased to take notice, that within four story with extraordinary circumstances, It months after I left my husband I was deli

Grief wrings her soul, and bends it down to earth.

Francis.

myself; let him remember how awkward I was in my dissembled indifference towards him before company; ask him how I, who could never conceal my love for him, at his own request can part with him for ever? Oh, Mr. Spectator, sensible spirits know no indifference in marriage: what then do you think is my piercing affliction?—I leave you to represent my distress your own way, in which I desire you to be speedy, if you have compassion for innocence exposed to OCTAVIA.' infamy.

-Modo vir, modo fœmina.
Virg.
Sometimes a man, sometimes a woman.

In

vered of a daughter, who died within a few hours after her birth. This accident, and the retired manner of life I led, gave criminal hopes to a neighbouring brute of a country gentleman, whose folly was the source of all my affliction. This rustic is one of those rich clowns who supply the want of all manner of breeding by the neglect of it, and with noisy mirth, half understanding and ample fortune, force themselves upon persons and things, without any sense of time or place. The poor ignorant people where I lay concealed, and now passed for a widow, wondered I could be so shy and strange, as they called it, to the No. 323.] Tuesday, March 11, 1711-12. 'squire; and were bribed by him to admit him whenever he thought fit: I happened to be sitting in a little parlour which beTHE journal with which I presented my longed to my own part of the house, and musing over one of the fondest of my hus- reader on Tuesday last has brought me in band's letters, in which I always kept the several letters, with accounts of many pricertificate of my marriage, when this rude vate lives cast into that form. I have the Rake's Journal,' the Sot's Journal,' the fellow came in, and with the nauseous familiarity of such unbred brutes snatched the Whoremaster's Journal,' and, among sepapers out of my hand. I was immediately veral others, a very curious piece, entitled, under so great a concern, that I threw my- The Journal of a Mohock. By these inself at his feet, and begged of him to return stances, I find that the intention of my last them. He, with the same odious pretence Tuesday's paper has been mistaken by to freedom and gaiety, swore he would read many of my readers. I did not design so much to expose vice as idleness, and aimed them. I grew more importunate, he more curious, till at last, with an indignation at those persons who passed away their arising from a passion I then first disco- time rather in trifles and impertinence, vered in him, he threw the papers into the than in crimes and immoralities. Offences fire, swearing that since he was not to read of this latter kind are not to be dallied with, them, the man who writ them should never or treated in so ludicrous a manner. be so happy as to have me read them over short, my journal only holds up folly to the again. It is insignificant to tell you my tears light, and shows the disagreeableness of and reproaches made the boisterous calf such actions as are indifferent in themleave the room ashamed and out of coun-selves, and blameable only as they proceed tenance, when I had leisure to ruminate on from creatures endowed with reason. this accident with more than ordinary sorMy following correspondent, who calls row. However, such was then my confi- herself Clarinda, is such a journalist as I She seems by her letter to be dence in my husband, that I writ to him require. the misfortune, and desired another paper placed in a modish state of indifference beof the same kind. He deferred writing two tween vice and virtue, and to be susceptible or three posts, and at last answered me in of either, were there proper pains taken general, that he could not then send me with her. Had her journal been filled with what I asked for; but when he could find a gallantries, or such occurrences as had proper conveyance, I should be sure to have shown her wholly divested of her natural it. From this time his letters were more innocence, notwithstanding it might have cold every day than other, and, as he grew been more pleasing to the generality of indifferent I grew jealous. This has at last readers, I should not have published it: brought me to town, where I find both the but as it is only the picture of a life filled witnesses of my marriage dead, and that with a fashionable kind of gaiety and lazimy husband, after three month's cohabita-ness, I shall set down five days of it, as I tion, has buried a young lady whom he mar- have received it from the hand of my fair ried in obedience to his father. In a word correspondent. he shuns and disowns me. Should I come to the house and confront him, the father would join in supporting him against me, though he believed my story; should I talk it to the world, what reparation can I expect for an injury I cannot make out? I believe he means to bring me, through necessity, to resign my pretensions to him for some provision for my life; but I will die first. Pray bid him remember what he said, and how he was charmed when he laughed at the heedless discovery I often made of

'DEAR MR. SPECTATOR,-You having set your readers an exercise in one of your last week's papers, I have performed mine according to your orders, and herewith send it you enclosed. You must know, Mr. Spectator, that I am a maiden lady of a good fortune, who have had several matches offered me for these ten years last past, and have at present warm applications made to me by a very pretty fellow.' As I am at my own disposal, I come up to town every winter, and pass my time in it

after the manner you will find in the follow-flowered handkerchief. Worked half a vio ing journal, which I began to write the very let leaf in it. Eyes ached and head out of day after your Spectator upon that subject.' order. Threw by my work, and read over the remaining part of Aurengzebe. TUESDAY night. Could not go to sleep till one in the morning for thinking of my journal.

WEDNESDAY. From eight till ten. Drank two dishes of chocolate in bed, and fell asleep after them.

From ten to eleven. Eat a slice of bread and butter, drank a dish of bohea, and read the Spectator.

From eleven to one. At my toilette; tried a new hood. Gave orders for Veny to be combed and washed. Mem. I lock best in blue.

From one till half an hour after two. Drove to the 'Change. Cheapened a couple of fans.

Till four. At dinner. Mem. Mr. Froth passed by in his new liveries.

From four to six. Dressed: paid a visit to old lady Blithe and her sister, having before heard they were gone out of town that day. From six to eleven. At basset. Mem. Never set again upon the ace of diamonds. THURSDAY. From eleven at night to eight in the morning. Dreamed that I punted* to Mr. Froth.

From eight to ten. Chocolate. Read two acts in Aurengzebe a-bed.

From ten to eleven. Tea-table. Sent to borrow lady Faddle's Cupid for Veny. Read the play-bills. Received a letter from Mr. Froth. Mem. Locked it up in my strong box.

Rest of the morning. Fontange, the tirewoman, her account of my lady Blithe's wash. Broke a tooth in my little tortoiseshell comb.

Sent Frank to know how my lady Hectic rested after her monkey's leaping out at window. Looked pale. Fontange tells me my glass is not true. Dressed by three.

From three to four. Dinner cold before I sat down.

From three to four. Dined.

From four to twelve. Changed my mind, dressed, went abroad, and played at crimp till midnight. Found Mrs. Spitely at home. Conversation: Mrs. Brilliant's necklace false stones. Old lady Love-day going to be married to a young fellow that is not worth a groat. Miss Prue gone into the country. Tom Townly has red hair. Mem. Mrs. Spitely whispered in my ear, that she had something to tell me about Mr. Froth; I am sure it is not true.

Between twelve and one. Dreamed that Mr. Froth lay at my feet, and called me Indamora.

SATURDAY. Rose at eight o'clock in the morning. Sat down to my toilette.

From eight to nine. Shifted a patch for half an hour before I could determine it. Fixed it above my left eyebrow.

From nine to twelve. Drank my tea, and dressed.

From twelve to two. deal of good company. air in the new opera. frightfully.

At chapel. A great

Mem. The third Lady Blithe dressed

From three to four. Dined. Miss Kitty called upon me to go to the opera before I was risen from table.

From dinner to six. Drank tea. Turned off a footman for being rude to Veny.

Six o'clock. Went to the opera. I did not see Mr. Froth till the beginning of the second act. Mr. Froth talked to a gentleman in a black wig; bowed to a lady in the front box. Mr. Froth and his friend clapped Nicolini in the third act. Mr. Froth cried out Ancora.' Mr. Froth led me to my chair. I think he squeezed my hand.

Eleven at night. Went to bed. Melancholy dreams. Methought Nicolini said he was Mr. Froth.

SUNDAY.

Indisposed.

MONDAY. Eight o'clock. Waked by Aurengzebe lay upon the Miss Kitty. chair by me. Kitty repeated without book the eight best lines in the play. Went in our mobs to the dumb man, according to appointment. Told me that my lover's

From four to eleven. Saw company. Mr. Froth's opinion of Milton. His account of the Mohocks. His fancy of a pin-cushion. Picture in the lid of his snuff-box. Old lady Faddle promises me her woman to cut my hair. Lost five guineas at crimp. Twelve o'clock at night. Went to bed. FRIDAY. Eight in the morning. A-bed.name began with a G. Mem. The conjuRead over all Mr. Froth's letters. Cupidors was within a letter of Mr. Froth's

and Veny.

Ten o'clock. Stayed within all day, not at home.

From ten to twelve. In conference with my mantua-maker. Sorted a suit of ribands. Broke my blue china cup.

From twelve to one. Shut myself up in my chamber, practised lady Betty Modely's skuttle. †

One in the afternoon.

Called for my

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name, &c.

Upon looking back into this my journal, I find that I am at a loss to know whether I pass my time well or ill; and indeed never thought of considering how I did it before I perused your speculation upon that subject. I scarce find a single action in these five days that I can thoroughly approve of, excepting the working upon the violet-leaf, which I am resolved to finish the first day

1 A sort of dress so named.
Duncan Campbell.

I am at leisure. As for Mr. Froth and Veny, I did not think they took up so much of my time and thoughts as I find they do upon my journal. The latter of them I will turn off, if you insist upon it; and if Mr. Froth does not bring matters to a conclusion very suddenly, I will not let my life run away in a dream. Your humble servant, CLARINDA.'

To resume one of the morals of my first paper, and to confirm Clarinda in her good inclinations, I would have her consider what a pretty figure she would make among posterity, were the history of her whole life published like these five days of it. I shall conclude my paper with an epitaph written by an uncertain author on Sir Philip Sydney's sister, a lady who seems to have been of a temper very much different from that of Clarinda. The last thought of it is so very noble, that I dare say my reader will pardon me the quotation.

ON THE COUNTESS DOWAGER OF PEM

BROKE.

Underneath this marble hearse
Lies the subject of all verse,
Sidney's sister, Pembroke's mother:
Death, ere thou hast kill'd another,
Fair and learn'd and good as she,
Time shall throw a dart at thee.

L.

required in the members. In order to exert this principle in its full strength and perfection, they take care to drink themselves to a pitch, that is, beyond the possibility of attending to any motions of reason or humanity; then make a general sally, and attack all that are so unfortunate as to walk the streets through which they patrole. Some are knocked down, others stabbed, others cut and carbonadoed. To put the watch to à total rout, and mortify some of those inoffensive militia, is reckonby which these misanthropes are distined a coup d'eclat. The particular talents guished from one another, consist in the various kinds of barbarities which they lebrated for a happy dexterity in tipping execute upon the prisoners. Some are cethe lion upon them; which is performed by squeezing the nose flat to the face, and boring out the eyes with their fingers. Others are called the dancing-masters, and teach their scholars to cut capers by running swords through their legs; a new invention, whether originally French I cannot tell. A third sort are the tumblers, whose office is to set women on their heads, and commit certain indecencies, or rather barbarities, on the limbs which they expose. But these I forbear to mention, because they cannot but be very shocking to the reader as well as the Spectator. In this manner

No. 324.] Wednesday, March 12, 1711-12. they carry on a war against mankind; and

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by the standing maxims of their policy, are to enter into no alliances but one, and that is offensive and defensive with all bawdyhouses in general, of which they have declared themselves protectors and guarantees.

'MR. SPECTATOR,-The materials you have collected together towards a general 'I must own, sir, these are only broken, history of clubs, make so bright apart of your incoherent memoirs of this wonderful sospeculations, that I think it is but justice we ciety; but they are the best I have been yet all owe the learned world, to furnish you with able to procure: for, being but of late estasuch assistance as may promote that useful blished, it is not ripe for a just history; and, work. For this reason I could not forbear to be serious, the chief design of this troucommunicating to you some imperfect in- ble is to hinder it from ever being so. You formations of a set of men (if you will allow have been pleased, out of a concern for the them a place in that species of being) who good of your countrymen, to act, under the have lately erected themselves into a noc- character of a Spectator, not only the turnal fraternity, under the title of the part of a looker-on, but an overseer of their Mohock-club, a name borrowed it seems actions; and whenever such enormities as from a sort of cannibals in India, who this infest the town, we immediately fly to subsist by plundering and devouring all you for redress. I have reason to believe, the nations about them. The president is that some thoughtless youngsters, out of a styled, Emperor of the Mohocks;' and his false notion of bravery, and an immoderate arms are a Turkish crescent, which his im- fondness to be distinguished for fellows of perial majesty bears at present in a very fire, are insensibly hurried into this senseextraordinary manner engraven upon his less, scandalous project. Such will proforehead. Agreeable to their name, the bably stand corrected by your reproofs, avowed design of their institution is mis- especially if you inform them, that it is not chief; and upon this foundation all their courage for half a score fellows, mad with rules and orders are framed. An outrage- wine and lust, to set upon two or three soous ambition of doing all possible hurt to berer than themselves; and that the mantheir fellow-creatures, is the great cementners of Indian savages are not becoming of their assembly, and the only qualification

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accomplishments to an English fine gentleman. Such of them as have been bullies and scowerers of a long standing, and are grown veterans in this kind of service, are, I fear, too hardened to receive any impres

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