so very true, that a great part of ceremony and good- It is not indeed to be denied, but there is something breeding among the ladies turns upon their uncasi- irresistible in a beauteous form ; the most severe will ness; and I will undertake, if the how-do-ye-servants not pretend, that they do not feel an immediate preof our women were to make a weekly bill of sick. possession in favour of the handsome. No one deness, as the parish-clerks do of mortality, you would nies them the privilege of being first heard, and not find in an account of seven days, one in thirty being regarded before others in matters of ordinary that was not downright sick or indisposed, or but a consideration. At the same time the handsome very little better than she was, and so forth. should consider that it is a possession, as it were,

It is certain, that to enjoy life and health as a con. foreign to them. No one can give it himself, or stant feast, we should not think pleasure necessary; preserve it when they have it. Yet so it is, that but, if possible, to arrive at an equality of mind. It people can bear any quality in the world better than is as mean to be overjoged upon occasions of good beauty. It is the consolation of all who are nafortune, as to be dejected in circumstances of distress. turally too much affected with the force of it, that a Laughter in one condition, is as unmanly as weep- little attention, if a man behave with judgment, ing in the other. We should not form our minds to will cure them. Handsome people usually are so expect transport on every occasion, but know how to fantastically pleased with themselves, that if they do make it enjoyment to be out of pain. Ambition, not kill at first sight, as the phrase is, a second inenvy, vagrant desire, or impertinent mirth, will take terview disarms them of all their power. But I shall up our minds, without we can possess ourselves in make this paper rather a warning-piece to give aothat sobriety of heart which is above all pleasures, tice where the danger is, than to propose instrucand can be felt much better than described. But the tions how to avoid it when you have fallen in the ready way, I believe, to the right enjoyment of life way of it. Handsome men shall be the subject of is, by a prospect towards another, to have but a very another chapter, the women shall take up the premean opinion of it. A great author of our time* sent discourse. has set this in an excellent light, when, with a phi. Amaryllis, who has been in town but one winter, losopbic pity of human life, he spoke of it in his is extremely improved in the arts of good breeding, Theory of the Earth in the following manner : without leaving nature. She has not lost the native

“For what is this life but a circulation of little simplicity of her aspect, to substitute that patience mean actions ? We lie down and rise again, dress of being stared at, which is the usual triumph and and undress, feed and wax hungry, work or play, distinction of a town lady. In public assemblies and are weary, and then we lie down again, and the you meet her careless eye diverting itself with the circle returns. We spend the day in trities, and objects around her, insensible that she herself is one when the night comes we throw ourselves into the of the brightest in the place. bed of folly, amongst dreams, and broken thoughts, Dulcissa quite another make; she is almost a and wild imaginations. Our reason lies asleep by beauty by nature, but more than one by art. If it us, and we are for the time as arrant brutes as those were possible for her to let her fan or any limb about that sleep in the stalls or in the field. Are not the her rest, she would do some part of the execution capacities of man higher than these? And ought she meditates ; but though she designs herself a prey, not his ambition and expectations to be greater ? she will not stay to be taken. No painter can give Let us be adventurers for another world. It is at you words for the different aspects of Dulcissa in least a fair and noble chance; and there is notbing half a moment, wherever she appears: so little does in this worth our thoughts or our passions. If we she accomplish what she takes so much pains for, to should be disappointed, we are still no worse than be gay and careless. the rest of our fellow-mortals; and if we succeed in Merab is attended with all the charms of women our expectations, we are eternally happy."-T. and accomplishments of man. It is not to be

doubted but she has a great deal of wit, if she were

not such a beauty; and she would have more beauty No. 144.) WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 1711. had she not so much wit. Affectation prevents her

excellences from walking together. If she has a -Noris quam elegans formarum * Spectator" siem.

TER. Eun. Act. iii. Sc. 5.

mind to speak such a thing, it must be done with You shall see how nice a judge of beauty I am.

such an air of her body; and if she has an inclina.

tion to look very careless, there is such a smart Beauty has been the delight and torment of the thing to be said at the same time, that the design of world ever since it began. The philosophers have being admired destroys itself. Thus the unbappy felt its influence so sensibly, that almost every one Merab, though a wit and beauty, is allowed to be of them has left us some saying or other, which in- neither, because she will always be both. timated that he knew too well the power of it. Onet Albacinda has the skill as well as the power of bas told us, that a graceful person is a more power- pleasing. Her form is majestic, but her aspect hum. ful recommendation than the best letter that can be ble. All good men should beware of the destroyer. writ in your favour. Another desires the posseseor She will speak to you like your sister, until she has of it to consider it as a mere gift of nature, and not you sure : but is the most vexatious of tyrants when any perfection of his own. A third § calls it a you are so. Her familiarity of behaviour, her indif“short-lived tyranny;" a fourth || a "silent fraud,” |ferent questions and general conversation, make the because it imposes upon us without the help of lan- silly part of her votaries full of hopes, while the wise guage; but I think Carneades spoke as much like a Ay from her power. She well knows she is too philosopher as any of them, though more like a beautiful and too witty to be indifferent to any who lover, when he calls it “ royalty without force.”T converse with her, and therefore knows she does not

lessen herself by familiarity, but gains occasions of Dr. Thomas Burnet, master of the Charter-house. Theo admiration by seeming ignorance of her perfections. na Telluris, 4to. Ainst. 1699. p. 241.

Eudosia adds to the height of her stature a nobility Plato. $ Socrates il Theophratas Rather, “ A sovereignty that needs no" military force :: of spirit which still distinguishes her above the rest this is the proper meaning of the origioal

of ber sex. Beauty in others is lovely, in others

Aristotle.

over,

agreeable, in others attractive; but in Eudosia it is notice of wagerers. I will not here repeat what Hu. commanding. Love towards Eudosia is a sentiment dibras says of such disputants, which is so true, that like the love of glory. The lovers of other women it is almost proverbial; but shall only acquaint you are softened into fondness—the admirers of Eudosia with a set of young fellows of the ions of court, exalted into ambition.

whose fathers have provided for them so plentifully, Eucratia presents herself to the imagination with that they need not be very anxious to get law into a more kindly pleasure, and, as she is woman, her their heads for the service of their country at the praise is wholly feminine. If we were to form an bar; but are of those who are sent (as the phrase of image of dignity in a man, we should give him wis- parents is) to the Temple to know how to “keep dom and valour, as being essential to the character their own.' One of these gentlemen is very loud of manhood. In like manner, if you describe a right and captious at a coffee-house which I frequent, and woman in a laudable sense, she should have gentle being in his nature troubled with a humour of consoftness, tender fear, and all those parts of life which tradiction, though withal excessively ignorant, he distinguish her from the other sex; with some sub- has found a way to indulge this temper, go on in ordination to it, but such an inferiority that makes idleness and ignorance, and yet still give himself the her still more lovely. Eucratia is that creature air of a very learned and knowing man, by the she is all over woman, kindness is all her art, and strength of his pocket. The misfortune of the thing beauty all her arms. Her look, her voice, her is, I have, as it happens sometimes, a greater stock gesture, and whole behaviour, is truly feminine. A of learning than of money. The gentleman I am goodness mixed with fear gives a tincture to all her speaking of takes advantage of the narrowness of my behaviour. It would be savage to offend her, and circumstances in such a manner, that he has read cruelty to use art to gain her. Others are beautiful, all that I can pretend to, and runs me down with but, Eucratia, thou art beauty!

such a positive air, and with such powerful argy. Omniamante is made for deceit; she has an aspect ments, that from a very learned person I am thought as innocent as the famed Lucrece, but a mind as a mere pretender. Not long ago I was relating that wild as the more famed Cleopatra. Her face speaks I had read such a passage in Tacitus : up starts my a vestal, but her heart a Messalina. Who that be- young gentlemau in a Mull company, and pulling out held Omniamante's negligent, unobserving air, his purse offered to lay me ten guineas, to be staked would believe that she hid under that regardless immediately in tbat gentleman's hands (pointing to manner the witty prostitute, the rapacious wench, one smoking at another table), that I was utterly the prodigal courtesan? She can, when she pleases, mistaken. I was dumb for want of ten guineas; he adom those eyes with tears like an infant that is went on unmercifully to triumph over my ignorance chid ; she can cast down that pretty face in con- how to take him up, and told the whole room he had fusion, while you rage with jealousy, and storm at read Tacitus twenty times and such a remarkher perfidiousness: she can wipe her eyes, tremble, able incident as that could not escape him. He has and look frighted, until you fancy yourself a brute at this time three considerable wagers depending befor your rage, own yourself an offender, beg pardon, tween him and some of his companions who are rich and make her new presents.

enough to hold an argument with him. He has five But I go too far in reporting only the dangers in guineas upon questions in geography-two that the beholding the beauteous, which I design for the in- Isle of Wight is a peninsula, and three guineas to struction of the fair as well as their beholders; and one that the world is round. We have a gentleman shall end this rhapsody with mentioning what comes to our coffee-house, who deals mightily in thought was well enough said of an ancient sage* antique scandal; my disputant has laid him twenty to a beautiful youth, whom he saw admiring his own pieces upon a point of history, to wit, that Cæsar figure in brass. What,” said the philosopher, never lay with Cato's sister, as is scandalously re"could that image of yours say for itself if it could ported by some people. speak?"-" It might say,” answered the youth, “There are several of this sort of fellows in town, that it is very beautiful.” “And are not you who wager themselves into statesmen, historians, ashamed," replied the cynic, " to value yourself upon geographers, mathematicians, and every other art, that only of which a piece of brass is capable ?”—T. when the persons with whom they talk have not

wealth equal to their learning. I beg of pre

vent in these youngsters this compendious way of No. 145.1 THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 1711. wisdom, which costs other people so much time and Stultitiam patiuntur opes.-HoR, 1 Ep. xviii. 29.

pains; and you will oblige

* Your humble servant." Their folly pleads the privilege of wealth.

“Coffee.bouse, near the Temple, Ir the following enormities are not amended upon “ MR. SPECTATOR,

Aug. 12, 1711. the first mentioning, I desire farther notice from my “Here's a young gentleman that sings opera. correspondents.

tunes or whistles in a full house. Pray let him know * Mr. SPECTATOR,

that he has no right to act here as if he were in an “I am obliged to you for your discourse the other empty room. Be pleased to divide the spaces of a day apon frivolous disputants, who with great public room, and certify whistlers, singers, and comwarmth and edumeration of many circumstances and mon orators, that are heard farther than their portion authorities, undertake to prove matters which no- of the room comes to, that the law is open, and that body living denies. You cannot employ yourself there is an equity which will relieve us from such as more usefully than in adjusting the laws of disputa- interrupt us in our lawful discourse, as much as tion in coffee-houses and accidental companies, as against such who stop us on the road.' I take these well as in more formal debates. Among many persons, Mr. Spectator, to be such trespassers as the other things which your own experience must suggest officer in your stage-coach, and am of the same sento you, it will be very obliging if you please to take timent with counsellor Ephraim. It is true the

young man is rich, and, as the vulgar say, needs Astasthenes, tbe founder of the sect of Cynic philosophers. not care for any body; but sure that is no authority

you to

With what par

for him to go whistle where he pleases.

the former, in proportion to his advantages of scrip“ I am, Sir, your most humble servant. ture and revelation. If I had a mind to it, I could “P. S. I have chambers in the Temple, and here not at present talk of any thing else; therefore I are students that learn upon the hautboy; pray de- shall translate a passage in the one, and transcribe sire the benchers, that all lawyers who are proficients a paragraph out of the other, for the speculation of in wind-music may lodge to the Thames." this day." Cicero tells us,* that Plato reports So“ MR. SPECTATOR,

crates, upon receiving his sentence, to have spoken “We are a company of young women who pass to his judges in the following manner : our time very much together, and obliged by the “ I have great hopes, O my judges, that it is infimercenary humour of the men to be as mercenarily nitely to my advantage that I am sent to death; for inclined as they are. There visits among us an old it must of necessity be, that one of these two things bachelor whom each of us has a mind to. The fellow must be the consequence. Death must take away is rich, and knows he may have any of us, therefore all these senses, or convey me to another life. If is particular to none, but excessively ill-bred. His all sense is to be taken away, and death is no more pleasanty consists in romping; he 'snatches kisses than that profound sleep without dreams, in which by surprise, puts his hands in our necks, tears

our we are sometimes buried, oh, heavens ! how desifans, robs us of ribands, forces letters out of our rable it is to die! How many days do we know in hands, looks into any of our papers, and a thousand life preferable to such a state? But if it be true other rudenesses. Now what I will desire of you is, that death is but a passage to places which they who to acquaint him, by printing this, that if he does not live before us do now inhabit, bow much still hapmarry one of us very suddenly, we have all agreed, pier is it to go from those who call themselves judges the next time he pretends to be merry, to affront to appear before those that really are such; before him, and use him like a clown as he is. In the name Minos, Rhadamanthus, Æacus, and Triptolemus, of the sisterhood I take my leave of you, and am as and to meet men who have lived with justice and they all are,

truth! Is this, do you think, no happy journey? “ Your constant reader and well-wisher." Do you think it nothing to speak with Orpheus, Mu“MR. SpectATOR,

sæus, Homer, and Hesiod? I would, indeed, suffer “I and several others of your female readers many deaths to enjoy these things. have conformed ourselves to your rules, even to our ticular delight should I talk to Palamedes, Ajax, yery dress. There is not one of us but has reduced and others, who like me have suffered by the ini. our outward petticoat to its ancient sizeable circum- quity of their judges. I should examine the wisdom ference, though indeed we retain still a quilted one of that great prince who carried such mighty forces underneath; which makes us not altogether uncon- against Troy; and argue with Ulysses and Sisyphus formable to the fashion ; but it is on condition Mr. upon difficult points, as I have in conversation here, Spectator extends not his censure so far. But we without being in danger of being condemned. But find you men secretly approve our practice, by imi- let not those among you who have pronounced me tating our pyramidical form. The skirt of your an innocent man be afraid of death." No harm can fashionable coats forms as large a circumference as arrive at a good man, whether dead or living; his our petticoats; as these are set out with whalebone, affairs are always under the direction of the gods; so are those with wire, to increase and sustain a

nor will I believe the fate which is allotted to me bunch of fold that hangs down on each side; and myself this day to have arrived by chance; nor have the hat, I perceive, is decreased in just proportion 1 aught to say either against my judges or accusers, to our head-dresses. We make a regular figure, but but that they thought they did me an injury.I defy your mathematics to give name to the form But I detain you too long; it is time that I retire to you appear in. Your architecture is mere Gothic, death, and you to your affairs of life; which of us has and betrays a worse genius than ours; therefore if the better is known to the gods, but to no mortal man." you are partial to your own sex, I shall be less than

The divine Socrates is here represented in a figure I am now

“ Your humble servant." worthy his great wisdom and philosophy, worthy the T.

greatest mere man that ever breathed. But the modern discourse is written upon a subject no less

than the dissolution of nature itself. Oh how gloriNo. 146.) FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 1711.

ous is the old age of that great man, who has spent Nemo vir magnus sine aliquo afflatu divino unquam fuit.—Tull. his time in such contemplations as has made this No man was ever great without some degree of inspiration. being, what only it should be, an education for hea.

We know the highest pleasure our minds are ven! He has, according to the ligbts of reason and capable of enjoying with composure, when we read revelation which seemed to him clearest, traced the sublime thoughts communicated to us by men of steps of Omnipotence. He has, with a celestial great genius and eloquence: such is the entertain ambition, as far as it is consistent with humility and ment we meet with in the philosophic parts of Cice-devotion, examined the ways of Providence, from ro's writings. Truth and good sense have there so the creation to the dissolution of the visible world. charming a dress, that they could hardly be more How pleasing must have been the speculation, to agreeably represented with the addition of poetical observe Nature and Providence move together, the fiction, and the power of numbers. This ancient physical and moral world march the same pace: to author, and a modern one, have fallen into my observe paradise and eternal spring the seat of innohands within these few days; and the impression's cence, troubled seasons and angry skies the portion they have left upon me have at the present quite of wickedness and vice! When this admirable auspoiled me for a merry fellow. The modern is that thor has reviewed all that is past, or is to come, admirable writer, the author of The Theory of which relates to the habitable world, and run through Earth. The subjects with which I have lately been the whole fate of it, how could a guardian angel, entertained in them both bear a near affinity; they that had attended it through all its courses or cban. are upon inquiries into hereafter, and the thoughts of the latter seem to me to be raised above those of

• Tusculan Quæstion. lib. 1.

pes speak more emphatically at the end of his charge, by this means they have acquired such ill habits as than does our author when he makes, as it were, a will not easily be removed. The only way that I funeral oration over this globe, looking to the point know of to remedy this, is to propose some person where it once stood ?

of great ability that way as a pattern for them; ex“Let us only, if you please, to take leave of this ample being more effectual to convince the learned, subject, reflect upon this occasion on the vanity and as well as instruct the ignorant. transient glory of this habitable world. How, by “ You must know, Sir, I have been a constant the force of one element breaking loose upon the frequenter of the service of the church of England rest, all the varieties of nature, all the works of art, for above these four years last past, and until Sunall the labours of men are reduced to nothing. All day was sevennight never discovered, to so great a that we admired and adored before, as great and degree, the excellency of the Common-Prayer, magnificent, is obliterated or vanished; and another When, being at St. James's Garlick-Hill* church, I form and face of things, plain, simple, and every heard the service read so distinctly, so emphatically, Where the same, overspreads the whole earth. Where and so fervently, that it was next to an impossibility are not the great empires of the world, and their to be inattentive. My eyes and my thoughts could great imperial cities? their pillars, trophies, and monu- not wander as usual, but were confined to my prayers. ments of glory? shew me where they stood, read I then considered I addressed myself to the Althe inscription, tell me the victor's name. What mighty, and not to a beautiful face. And when I remains, what impressions, what difference, or dis- reflected on my former performances of that duty, tinction, do you see in this mass of fire ? Rome it. I found I had run it over as a matter of form, in sell, eternal Rome, the great city, the empress of the comparison to the manner in which I then dis. world, whose domination and superstition, ancient charged it. My mind was really affected, and ferand modern, make a great part of the history of this vent wishes accompanied my words. The Confession earth, what is become of her now? She laid her was read with such resigned humility, the Absolufoundations deep, and her palaces were strong and tion with such a comfortable authority, the Thankssumptuous. She glorified herself and lived deli- givings with such a religious joy, as made me feel ciously, and said in her heart, I sit a queen, and shall those affections of the mind in a manner I never did, see no sorrow.' But her hour is come, she is wiped before. To remedy therefore the grievance above away from the face of the earth, and buried in ever- complained of, 1 humbly propose, that this excellent lasting oblivion. But it is not cities only, and works reader, upon the next and every annual assembly of of men's hands ; but the everlasting hills, the moun- the clergy of Sion-college, and all other convenbains and rocks of the earth, are melted as wax be- tions, should read prayers before them. For then fore the sun, and their place is no where found.' those that are afraid of stretching their mouths, and Here stood the Alps, the load of the earth that co-spoiling their soft voices, will learn to read with vered many countries, and reached their arms from clearness, loudness, and strength. Others that the ocean to the Black Sea; this huge mass of stone affect a rakish, negligent air, by folding their arms, is softened and dissolved as a tender cloud into rain. and lolling on their books, will be taught a decent Here stood the African mountains, and Atlas with behaviour, and comely erection of body. Those his top above the clouds ; there was frozen Caucasus, that read so fast as if impatient of their work, may and Taurus, and Imaus, and the mountains of Asia; learn to speak deliberately. There is another sort and yonder, towards the north, stood the Riphæan of persons, whom I call Pindaric readers, as being hills, clothed in ice and snow. All these are va-confined to no set measure : these pronounce five or nished, dropt away as the snow upon their heads. six words with great deliberation, and the five or six "Great and marvellous are thy works, just and true subsequent ones with as great celerity; the first are thy ways, thou King of saints ! hallelujah." "* part of a sentence with a very exalted voice, and the

T. latter part with a submissive one: sometimes again,

with one sort of a tone, and immediately after with

a very different one. These gentlemen will learn No. 147.) SATURDAY, AUGUST 18 1711.

of my admired reader an evenness of voice and deli. Pronunciatio est vocis, et vultus est gestus moderatio cum very; and all who are innocent of these affectavenustate.-TELL

tions, but read with such an indifferency as if they Good delivery is a graceful management of the voice, coun- did not understand the language, may then be intenance, and gesture.

formed of the art of reading movingly and fervently, MR. SPECTATOR,

how to place the emphasis and give the proper ac"THE well reading of the Common-prayer is of cent to each word, and how to vary the voice acso great itaportance, and so much neglected, that I cording to the nature of the sentence. There is take the liberty to offer to your consideration some certainly a very great difference between the reading particulars on that subject. And what more worthy a prayer and a gazette, which I beg of you to inform your observation than this ? A thing so public, and a set of readers, who affect, forsooth, a certain genof so high consequence. It is indeed wonderful, tleman-like familiarity of tone, and mend the lanthat the frequent exercise of it should not make the guage as they go on, crying, instead of pardoneth performers of that duty more expert in it. This and absolveth, pardons and absolves. These are ihability, as I conceive, proceeds from the little care often pretty classical scholars, and would think it an that is takers of their reading while boys, and at unpardonable sin to read Virgil or Martial with so school

, where, wben they have got into Latin, they little taste as they do divine service. are looked upon as above English, the reading of

“ This indifferency seems to me to arise from the which is wholly neglected, or at least read to very endeavour of avoiding the imputation of cant, and little purpose, without any due observations made to the false notion of it. It will be proper, therefore, them of the proper accent and manner of reading;

Or Garlick-hithe. The rector of this parish at that time

was Mr. Philip Stubbs, afterward archdeacon of St. Albans. Burnet's Theory of the Earth, 1684, fol. book III. chap whose excellent manner of performing the service was lung 12. p. 110, 111.

remembered by the parishioners.

a

168

to trace the original and signification of this word. glass in the middle of the room, and practised minuet • Cant is, by some people, derived from one Andrew steps to his own bumming. The incorrigible creaCant, who, they say, was a Presbyterian minister in ture has gone still farther, and in the open coffeesome illiterate part of Scotland, who by exercise and house, with one hand extended as leading a lady in use had obtained the faculty, alias gift, of talking in it, he has danced both French and country-dances, the pulpit in such a dialect, that it is said he was and admonished his supposed partner by smiles and understood by none but his own congregation, and nods to hold up her head and fall back, according to not by all of hem. Since Master Cant's time, it the respective facings and evolutions of the dance. has been understood in a larger sense, and signifies Before this gentleman began this his exercise, be all sudden exclamations, whinings, unusual tones, was pleased to clear his throat by coughing and and in fine all praying and preaching, like the un spitting a full half hour; and as soon as, he struck learned of the Presbyterians. But I hope a proper up, he appealed to an attorney's clerk in the room, elevation of voice, a due emphasis and accent, are whether he hit as he ought, “ Since you from death not to come within this description. So that our have saved me?" and then asked the young fellow readers may still be as unlike the Presbyterians as (pointing to a chancery-bill under his arm), whether they please. The dissenters (I mean such as I have that was an opera score he carried or not?-without heard) do indeed elevate their voices, but it is with staying for an answer, he fell into the exercise abore sudden jumps from the lower to the higher part of mentioned, and practised his airs to the full house them; and that with so little sense or skill, that who were turned upon him, without the least shame their elevation and cadence is bawling and muttering. or repentance for his former transgressions. They make use of an emphasis, but so improperly, that I am to the last degree at a loss what to do with it is often placed on some very insignificant particle, this young fellow, except I declare him an outlaw, as upon . if' or 'and.' Now, if these improprieties and pronounce it penal for any one to speak to him have so great an effect on the people as we see they in the said house which he frequents, and direct that have, how great an influence would the service of he be obliged to drink his tea and coffee without our church, containing the best prayers that ever sugar, and not receive from any person whatsoever were composed, and that in terms most affecting, any thing above mere necessaries. most humble, and most expressive of our wants, and As we in England are a sober people, and genedependence on the object of our worship, disposed rally inclined rather to a certain bashfulness of bein most proper order, and void of all confusion; haviour in public, it is amazing whence some fellows what influence, I say, would these prayers have, were come whom one meets with in this town; they do they delivered with a due emphasis and apposite not at all seem to be the growth of our island; the rising and variation of voice, the sentence concluded pert, the talkative, all such as have no sense of the with a gentle cadence, and, in a word, with such an observation of others, are certainly of foreign exaccent and turn of speech as is peculiar to prayer ? traction. As for my own part, I am as much sur

“ As the matter of worship is now managed, in prised when I see a talkative Englishman, as I dissenting congregations, you find insignificant words should be to see the Indian pine growing on one of and phrases raised by a lively vebemence; in our our quickset hedges. Where these creatures get own churches, the most exalted sense depreciated, by sun enough, to make them such lively animals and a dispassionate indolence. I remember to have dull men, is above my philosophy. heard Dr. S-e* say in his pulpit, of the Common There are another kind of impertinents which a Prayer, that, at least, it was as perfect as any thing man is perplexed with in mixed company, and those of human institution. If the gentlemen who err in are your loud speakers. These treat mankind as if this kind would please to recollect the many plea- we were all deaf; they do not express but declare santries they have read upon those who recite good themselves. Many of these are guilty of this outthings with an ill grace, they would go on to think, rage out of vanity, because they think all they say that what in that case is only ridiculous, in them- is well; or they have their own persons in such selves is impious. But leaving this to their own re- veneration, that they believe nothing which concerns flections, shall conclude this trouble with what them can be insignificant to any body else. For Cæsar said upon the irregularity of tone in one who these people's sake, I have often lamected that we read before him, “Do you read or sing? If you cannot close our ears with as much ease as we can sing, you sing very ill.'t

our eyes. It is very uneasy that we must necessarily T. “ Your most humble servant.” be under persecution. Next to these bawlers, is a

troublesome creature who comes with the air of your

friend and your intimate, and that is your whisperer. No. 148.] MONDAY, AUGUST 20, 1711. There is one of them at a coffee-house which I my-Exempta juvat spinis e pluribus una.

self frequent, who observing me to be a man pretty HOR. 2 Ep. i. 212

well made for secrets, gets by me, and with a whisBetter one thorn pluck d out, than all remain.

per tells me things which all the town knows. It is My correspondents assure me, that the enormities

no very hard matter to guess at the source of this which they lately complained of, and I published an

impertinence, which is nothing else but a method

or mechanic art of being wise. You never see any account of, are so far from being amended, that new evils arise every day to interrupt their conversation, thing in the world to do. These persons are worse

frequent in it, whom you can suppose to have any in contempt of my reproofs. My friend who writes than bawlers, as much as a secret enemy is more from the coffee-house near the Temple, informs me dangerous than a declared one.

I wish that my that the gentleman who constantly sings a voluntary coffee-house friend would take this for an intimation, in spite of the whole company, was more musical that I have not heard a word he has told me for these than ordinary after reading my paper; and has not several years; whereas he new thinks me the most been contented with that, but has danced up to the trusty repository of his secrets. The whisperers have a * Probably Dr. Smalridge.

pleasant way of ending the close conversation wita † Si legis, cantas: si canlas, male cantas

saying aloud, “ Do not you think so ?" Then whis

a