him, with which Herod had intrufted him; fo that after his Return, when he flew to her with all the Transports of Joy and Love, fhe received him-coldly with Sighs and Tears, and all the Marks of Indifference and Averfion. This Reception fo ftirred up his Indignation, that he had certainly flain her with his own Hands, had not he feared he himself should have become the greater Sufferer by it. It was not long after this, when he had another violent Return of Love upon him; Mariamne was therefore fent for to him, whom he endeavoured to foften and reconcile with all poffible conjugal Careffes and Endearments; but fhe declined his Embraces, and answered all his Fondnefs with bitter Invectives for the Death of her Father and her Brother. This Behaviour fo incenfed Herod, that he very hardly refrained from striking her; when in the Heat of their Quarrel there came in a Witness, fuborn'd by fome of Mariamne's Enemies, who accufed her to the King of a Defign to poifon him. Herod was now prepared to hear any Thing in her Prejudice, and immediately ordered her Servant to be stretch'd upon the Rack; who in the Extremity of his Tortures confeft, that his Mistress's Averfion to the King arofe from fomething Sobemus had cold her; but as for any Defign of poifoning, he utterly difowned the leaft Knowledge of it. This Confeffion quickly proved fatal to Sabemus, who nov: lay under the fame Sufpicions and Sentence that Jofeph had before him on the like Occafion. Nor would Herod reft here; but accused her with great Vehemence of a Defign upon his Life, and by his Authority with the Judges had her publickly condemned and executed. Herod foon after her Death grew melancholy and dejected, retiring from the Publick Adminiftration of Affairs into a folitary Forest, and there abandoning himfelf to all the black Confiderations, which naturally arise from a Paffion made up of Love, Remorfe, Pity and Defpair. He used to rave for his Mariamne, and to call upon her in his diftracted Fits; and in all probability would foon have followed her, had not his Thoughts been feasonably called off from fo fad an Object by Publick Storms, which at that Time very nearly threatned him. 43 L Monday, 172 Monday, September 17. N° 172 Non folùm Scientia, quæ eft remota à Juftitia, Calliditas potiùs quàm Sapientia eft appellanda, verùm etiam Animus paratus ad periculum, fi fuá cupiditate, non utilitate communi, impellitur, Audaciæ potiùs nomen habeat, quàm Fortitudinis Plato apud Tull. As Knowledge, without Justice, ought to be called Cunning, rather than Wisdom; fo a Mind prepared to meet Danger, if excited by its own Eagerness, and not the Publick Good, deferves the Name of Audacity, rather than of Courage. T HERE can be no greater Injury to human Society than that good Talents among Men fhould be held honourable to those who are endowed with them without any Regard how they are applied. The Gifts of Nature and Accomplishments of Art are valuable, but as they are exerted in the Interefts of Virtue, or governed by the Rules of Honour. We ought to abftract our Minds from the Obfervation of an Excellence in those we converfe with, till we have taken fome Notice, or received fome good Information of the Difpofition of their Minds otherwife the Beauty of their Perfons, or the Charms of their Wit, may make us fond of those whom our Reason and Judgment will tell us we ought to abhor. WHEN we fuffer ourselves to be thus carried away by mere Beauty, or mere Wit, Omniamante, with all her Vice, will bear away as much of our Good-will as the most innocent Virgin or discreet Matron; and there cannot be a more abject Slavery in this World, than to dote upon what we think we ought to condemn: Yet this must be our Condition in all the Parts of Life, if we fuffer ourfelves to approve any Thing but what tends to the Promotion of what is good and honourable. If we would take true Pains with ourselves to confider all Things by the Light of Reafon and Justice, tho' a Man were in the Height Height of Youth and amorous Inclinations, he would look upon a Coquette with the fame Contempt or Indifference as he would upon a Coxcomb: The wanton Carriage in a Woman would disappoint her of the Admiration which fhe aims at; and the vain Drefs or Difcourfe of a Man would deftroy the Comeliness of his Shape, or Goodness of his Understanding. I fay the Goodness of his Underftanding, for it is no lefs common to fee Men of Senfe commence Coxcombs, than beautiful Women become immodeft. When this happens in either, the Favour we are naturally inclined to give to the good Qualities they have from Nature fhould abate in Proportion. But however juft it is to measure the Value of Men by the Application of their Talents, and not by the Eminence of those Qualities abstracted from their Ufe; I fay, however just fuch a Way of judging is, in all Ages as well as this, the Contrary has prevailed upon the Generality of Mankind. How many lewd Devices have been preferved from one Age to another, which had perifhed as foon as they were made, if Painters and Sculptors had been efteemed as much for the Purpose as the Execution of their Designs? Modeft and well-governed Imaginations have by this Means loft the Representations of Ten Thousand charming Portraitures, filled with Images of innate Truth, generous Zeal, courageous Faith, and tender Humanity; instead of which, Satyrs, Furies, and Monfters are recommended by thofe Arts to a fhameful Eternity. THE unjuft Application of laudable Talents, is tolerated, in the general Opinion of Men, not only in fuch Cafes as are here mentioned, but also in Matters which concern ordinary Life. If a Lawyer were to be esteemed only as he ufes his Parts in contending for Juftice, and were immediately defpicable when he appeared in a Cause which he could not but know was an unjust one, how honourable would his Character be? And how honourable is it in fuch among us, who follow the Profeffion no otherwife, than as labouring to protect the Injured, to fubdue the Oppreffor, to imprifon the careless Debtor, and do right to the painful Artificer? But many of this excellent Character are overlooked by the greater Number; who affect covering a weak Place in a Client's Title, diverting the Courfe of an Inquiry, or finding a skilful Refuge Refuge to palliate a Falfhood: Yet it is ftill called Eloquence in the latter, though thus unjustly employed: But Refolution in an Affaffin is according to Reafon quite as laudable, as Knowledge and Wisdom exercifed in the Defence of an ill Caufe. WERE the Intention ftedfaftly confidered, as the Measure of Approbation, all Falfhood would foon be out of Countenance: and an Address in impofing upon Mankind, would be as contemptible in one State of Life as another. A Couple of Courtiers making Profeffions of Efteem, would make the fame Figure after Breach of Promife, as two Knights of the Poft convicted of Perjury. But Converfation is fallen fo low in point of Morality, that as they fay in a Bargain, Let the Buyer look to it; fo in Friendship, he is the Man in Danger who is moft apt to believe: He is the more likely to fuffer in the Commerce, who begins with the Obligation of being the more ready to enter into it. BUT thofe Men only are truly great, who place their Ambition rather in acquiring to themfelves the Confcience of worthy Enterprises, than in the Profpect of Glory which attends them. These exalted Spirits would rather be fecretly the Authors of Events, which are ferviceable to Mankind, than, without being fuch, to have the publick Fame of it. Where therefore an eminent Merit is robbed by Artifice or Detraction, it does but increase by fuch Endeavours of its Enemies: The impotent Pains which are taken to fully it, or diffufe it among a Crowd to the Injury of a fingle Perfon, will naturally produce the contrary Effect; the Fire will blaze out, and burn up all that attempt to fmother what they cannot extinguish. THERE is but one thing neceffary to keep the Poffeffion of true Glory, which is, to hear the Oppofers of it with Patience, and preferve the Virtue by which it was acquired. When a Man is thoroughly perfuaded that he ought neither to admire, wish for, or purfue any thing but what is exactly his Duty, it is not in the Power of Seafons, Perfons or Accidents, to diminish his Value. He only is a great Man who can neglect the Applause of the Multitude, and enjoy himself independent of its Favour. This is indeed an arduous Tak; but it fhould comfort a glorious Spirit that it is the highest Step to which human human Nature can arrive. Triumph, Applaufe, Acclamation, are dear to the Mind of Man; but it is still a more exquifite Delight to say to yourself, you have done well, than to hear the whole human Race pronounce you glorious, except you yourself can join with them in your own Reflexions. A Mind thus equal and uniform may be deferted by little fashionable Admirers and Followers, but will ever be had in Reverence by Souls like itself. The Branches of the Oak endure all the Seafons of the Year, though its Leaves fall off in Autumn; and these too will be reftor'd with the returning Spring. T N° 173 I Tuesday, September 18. Remove fera monftra, tuæque Saxificos vultus, quæcunque ea, tolle Medufe. Ovid. Met. 1. 5. v. 216. Remove that horrid Monfter, and take hence Na late Paper I mention'd the Project of an ingenious Author for the erecting of several Handicraft Prizes to be contended for by our British Artisans, and the InAuence they might have towards the Improvement of our feveral Manufactures. I have fince that been very much furprised by the following Advertisement which I find in the Poft-Boy of the 11th Inftant, and again repeated in the Poft-Boy of the 15th. ON N the 9th of October next will be run for upon ColeshillHeath in Warwickshire, a Plate of 6 Guineas Value, 3 Heats, by any Horfe, Mare or Gelding that hath not won above the Value of 1. the winning Horfe to be Sold for 10l. to carry 10 Stone Weight, if 14 Hands high; if above or under to carry or be allowed Weight for Inches, and to be entered Friday the 5th at the Swan in Coleshill, before Six in the Evening. Alfo a Plate of lefs Value to be run for by Affes. fame Day a Gold Ring to be Grinn'd for by Men. The THE |