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above those of Sense and Appetite. These, methinks, appear like large Wilds, or vast uncultivated Tracts of human Nature; and when we compare them with Men of the most exalted Characters in Arts and Learning, we find it difficult to believe that they are Creatures of the fame Species.

SOME are of Opinion that the Souls of Men are all naturally equal, and that the great Disparity, we so often observe, arifes from the different Organization or Structure of the Bodies to which they are united. But whatever constitutes this first Disparity, the next great Difference which we find between Men in their several Acquirements is owing to accidental Differences in their Education, Fortunes, or Course of Life. The Soul is a kind of rough Diamond, which requires Art, Labour, and Time to polish it. For want of which, many a good natural Genius is lost, or lies unfashioned, like a Jewel in the Mine.

ONE of the strongest Incitements to excel in such Arts and Accomplishments as are in the highest Esteem among Men, is the natural Passion which the Mind of Man has for Glory; which, though it may be faulty in the Excess of it, ought by no means to be discouraged. Perhaps some Moralists are too severe in beating down this Principle, which seems to be a Spring implanted by Nature to give Motion to all the latent Powers of the Soul, and is always observed to exert itself with the greatest Force in the most generous Dispositions. The Men whose Characters have shone the brightest among the ancient Romans, appear to have been strongly animated by this Passion. Cicero, whose Learning and Services to his Country are so well known, was enflamed by it to an extravagant degree, and warmly presses Lucceius, who was compofing a Hiftory of those Times, to be very particular and zealous in relating the Story of his Consulship, and to execute it speedily, that he might have the Pleasure of enjoying in his Life-time fome Part of the Honour which he forefaw would be paid to his Memory. This was the Ambition of a great Mind; but he is faulty in the degree of it, and cannot refrain from folliciting the Historian upon this Occafion to neglect the strict Laws of History, and, in praising him,

even to exceed the Bounds of Truth. The younger Pliny appears to have had the fame Passion for Fame, but accompanied with greater Chastness and Modesty. His ingenuous manner of owning it to a Friend, who had prompted him to undertake some great Work, is exquistely beautiful, and raises him to a certain Grandeur above the Imputation of Vanity.. I must confess, says he, that nothing employs my Thoughts more than the Defire I have of perpetuating my Name; which in my Opinion is a Design worthy of a Man, at least of such a one, who being conscious of no Guilt, is not afraid to be remember'd by Pofterity.

I think I ought not to conclude, without interesting all my Readers in the Subject of this Discourse: I shall therefore lay it down as a Maxim, that though all are not capable of shining in Learning or the politer Arts: yet every one is capable of excelling in something. The Soul has in this Respect a certain vegetative Power, which cannot lie wholly idle. If it is not laid out and cultivated into a regular and beautiful Garden, it will of it self shoot up in Weeds or Flowers of a wilder Growth.

Saturday

No.555. Saturday, December 6.

A

Refpue quod non es

Perf.

LL the Members of the imaginary Society, which were described in my first Papers, having disappear'd

one after another, it is high Time for the Spectator himself to go off the Stage. But, now I am to take my leave, I am under much greater Anxiety than I have known for the Work of any Day fince I undertook this Province. It is much more difficult to converse with the World in a Real than a Personated Character. That might pass for Humour in the Spectator, which would look like Arrogance in a Writer who sets his Name to his Work. The fictitious Person might contemn those who disapproved him, and extol his own Performances without giving Offence. He might assume a Mock-Authority, without being looked upon as vain and conceited. The Praises or Cenfures of himself fall only upon the Creature of his Imagination; and if any one finds fault with him, the Author may reply with the Philosopher of old, Thou dost but beat the Case of Anaxarchus. When I speak in my own private Sentiments, I cannot but address my felf to my Readers in a more fubmiffive manner, and with a just Gratitude, for the kind Reception which they have given to these daily Papers that have been published for almost the Space of two Years last paft.

I hope the Apology I have made as to the Licence allowable to a feigned Character, may excuse any thing which has been faid in these Discourses of the Spectator and his Works; but the Imputation of the grossest Vanity would still dwell upon me, if I did not give some Account by what means I was enabled to keep up the Spirit of fo long and approved a Performance. All the Papers marked with a C, an L, an I, or an O, that is to say, all the Papers which I have diftinguished by any Letter in theName

1

of the Muse CLIO, were given me by the Gentleman, of whose Assistance I formerly boasted in the Preface and concluding Leaf of my Tatlers. I am indeed much more proud of his long-continued Friendship, than I should be of the Fame of being thought the Author of any Writings which he himself is capable of producing. I remember when I finished the Tender Husband, I told him there was nothing I so ardently wished, as that we might fome Time or other publish a Work written by us both, which should bear the Name of the Monument, in Memory of our Friendship. I heartily wish what I have done here, were as honorary to that sacred Name, as Learning Wit, and Humanity render those Pieces which I have taught the Reader how to diftinguish for his. When the Play above-mentioned was last acted, there were so many applauded Strokes in it which I had from the same Hand, that I thought very meanly of myself that I had never publickly acknowledged them. After I have put other Friends upon importuning him to publish Dramatick, as well as other Writings he has by him, I shall end what I think I am obliged to say on this Head, by giving my Reader this Hint for the better judging of my Productions, that the best Comment upon them would be an Account when the Patron to the Tender Husband was in England, or abroad.

THE Reader will also find some Papers which are marked with the Letter X, for which he is obliged to the ingenious Gentleman who diverted the Town with the Epilogue to the Distressed Mother. I might have owned these several Papers with the free Consent of these Gentlemen, who did not write them with a Design of being known for the Authors. But as a candid and fincere Behaviour ought to be preferred to all other Confiderations, I would not let my Heart reproach me with a Confcioufness of having acquired a Praise which is not my Right.

THE other Afsistances which I have had, have been conveyed by Letter, sometimes by whole Papers, and other times by short Hints from unknown Hands. I have not been able to trace Favours of this Kind, with any Certainty, but to the following Names, which I place in the Order

Order wherein I received the Obligation; tho' the first I am going to name, can hardly be mentioned in a List wherein he would not deserve the Precedence. The Perfons to whom I am to make these Acknowledgments, are Mr. Henry Martyn, Mr. Pope, Mr. Hughs, Mr. Carey of New College in Oxford, Mr. Tickell of Queen's in the same University, Mr. Parnelle, and Mr. Eufden of Tri nity in Cambridge. Thus, to speak in the Language of my late Friend Sir ANDREW FREEPORT, I have ballanced my Accounts with all my Creditors for Wit and Learning. But as these excellent Performances would not have feen the Light without the means of this Paper, I may still arrogate to my felf the Merit of their being communicated to the Publick.

I HAVE nothing more to add, but having swelled this Work to five hundred and fifty five Papers, they will be disposed into seven Volumes, four of which are already published, and the three others in the Press. It will not be demanded of me why I now leave off, tho' I must own my felf obliged to give an Account to the Town of my Time hereafter; fince I retire when their Partiality to me is so great, that an Edition of the former Volumes of Spectators of above nine thousand each Book is already fold off, and the Tax on each half Sheet has brought into the Stamp-office one Week with another above zo l. a Week arifing from this single Paper, notwithstanding it at first reduced it to less than half the Number that was usually printed before this Tax was laid.

I HUMBLY beseech the Continuance of this Inclination to favour what I may hereafter produce, and hope I have in many Occurrences of Life tasted so deeply of Pain and Sorrow, that I am Proof against much more profperous Circumstances than any Advantages to which my own Industry can possibly exalt me.

I am,

my good-natured Reader,
*Your most Obedient,

Moft Obliged Humble Servant,

Vos valete & plaudite. Ter.

Richard Steele

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