'SIR, I hope these notes may serve as a rough draught France. He observed me at a stand, and went on to for a new establishment of engineers which I shall inform me, 'that now articulate motions, as well as hereafter fill up with proper persons, according to sounds, were expressed by proper characters ; and my own observations on their conduct, having already that there is nothing so common, as to communicate had one recommended to me for the general of my a dance by a letter.' I besought him hereafter to artillery. But that, and all the other posts, I intend to meditate in a ground-room, for that otherwise it keep open, until I can inform myself of the candidates would be impossible for an artist of any other kind having resolved in this case to depend no more upon to live near him; and that I was sure several of his their friends' word, than I would upon their own. thoughts this morning would have shaken my spec tacles off my nose, had I been myself at study. From my own Apartment, October 31. I then took my leare of this virtuoso, and returned I was this morning awakened by a sudden shake to my chamber, meditating on the various occupations of the house; and as soon as I had got a little out of of rational creatures. my consternation, I felt another, which was followed by two or three repetitions of the same convulsion. I got up as fast as possible, girt on my rapier, and No. 89.] THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1709. snatched up my hat, when my landiady came up to me, and told me,' that the gentlewoman of the next Rura mihi placeant, riguique in vallibus amnes, house begged me to step thither, for that a lodger Flumina amem sylvasque ingloriusshe had taken in was run mad; and she desired my Virg. Georg. ii. 485. adrice,' as indeed every body in the whole lane does My next desire is, void of care and strise, upon important occasions. I am not, like some To lead a soft, secure, inglorious life: artists, saucy because I can be beneficial, but went | A country cottage noar a crystal flood, immediately. Our neighbour told us, she had the A winding valley, and a lofty wood. Dryden. day before let her second floor to a very genteel youngish man, who told her, he kept extraordinary Grecian Coffee-house, Norember 2. good hours, and was generally at home most part of I HAVE received this short epistle from an unknowa the morning and evening at study; but that this hand. morning he liad for an hour together made this extravagant noise which we then heard.' I went up 'I have no more to trouble you with, than to stairs with my hand upon the hilt of my rapier, and desire yon would in your next help me to some approached this new lodger's door. I looked in at answer to the enclosed concerning myself. In the the key-hole, and there I saw a well-made man look meau time I congratulate you upon the increase of with great attention on a book, and, on a sudden, your fame which you see has extended itself beyond the jump into the air so high, that his head almost bills of mortality. touched the ceiling. He came down safe on his right foot, and again flew up, alighting on his left; then 'SIR, looked again at his book, and holding out his right "That the country is barren of news has been the leg, put it into such a quivering motion, that I excuse, time out of mind, for dropping a correspondthought he would liave shaked it off. He used the ence with our friends in London; as if it were left after the same manner, when, on a sudden, to impossible, out of a coffee-house, to write an agreeable my great surprise, he stooped himself incredibly low, letter. I am too ingenuous to endeavour at the and turned gently on his toes, After this circular covering of my negligence with so common an excuse. motion, he continued bent in that humble posture Doubtless, amongst friends, bred, as we have been, to for some time, looking on his book. After this, he the knowledge of books as well as men, a letter dated recovered himself with a sudden spring, and flew from a garden, a grotto, a fountain, a wood, a meadow, round the room in all the violence and disorder or the banks of a river, may be more entertaining imaginable, until he made a fuil pause for want of than one from Tom's, Will's, White's, or St. James's. breath. In this interim my woman asked, 'what I | I promise, therefore, to be frequent for the future in thought.' I whispered, that I thought this learned my rural dates to you. But, for fear you should, person 'an enthusiast, who possibly had his first from what I have said, be induced to believe I shun education in the Peripatetic way, which was a sect of the commerce of men, I must inform you, that there philosophers who always studied when walking.' is a fresh topic of discourse lately arisen amongst the But, observing him much out of breath, I thought it ingenious in our part of the world, and is become the the best time to master him if he were disordered, more fashionable for the ladies giving into it. This and knocked at his door. I was surprised to find we owe to Isaac Bickerstaff, who is very much cenhim open it, and say with great civility and good sured by some, and as much justified by others. mien, that he hoped he had not disturbed us. I Some criticise his style, his humour, and his matter, believed him in a lucid interval, and desired, he others admire the whole man. Some pretend, from would please to let me see his book.' He did so, the informations of their friends in town, to decypher smiling. I could not make any thing of it, and, the author ; and others confess they are lost in their therefore, asked, ' in what language it was writ.' He guesses. For my part, I must own myself a professed said, 'it was one he studied with great application; admirer of the paper, and desire you to send me a but it was his profession to teach it, and could not complete set, together with your thoughts of the communicate his knowledge without a consideration.' squire and his lucubrations.' I answered, that I hoped he would hereafter keep There is no pleasure like that of receiving praise his thoughts to himself, for his meditation this from the praise-worthy; and I own it a very solid morning had cost me three coffee-dishes, and a clean happiness, that these my lucubrations are approved pipe. He seemed concerned at that, and told me by a person of so fine a taste as the author of this he was a dancing-master, and had been reading letter, who is capable of enjoying the world in the a dance or wo before he went out, which had simplicity of its natural beauties. This pastoral been written by one who taught at an academy in letter, if I may so call it, must be written by a man . who carries his entertainment wherever he goes, him of so many moments of his time, or so many drops and is, undoubtedly, one of those happy men who of his blood. The author of the following letter has appear far otherwise to the vulgar. I dare say he is a just delicacy in this point, and hath put it into a not envied by the vicious, the vain, the frolic, and very good light : the loud; but is continually blessed with that strong 'MR. BICKERSTAPF, October 29. and serious delight, which flows from a well-taught "I am very much afflicted with the grarel, which and liberal mind. With great respect to country makes me sick and peevish. I desire to know of sports, I may say, this gentleman could pass his you, if it be reasonable that any of my acquaintance time agreeably, if there were not a hare or a fox in should take advantage orer me at this time, and afflict his county. That calm and elegant satisfaction me with long visits, because they are idle, and I am which the vulgar call melancholy is the true and confined. Pray, sir, reform the town in this matter. proper delight of men of knowledge and virtue. What Men never consider whether the sick person be diswe take for diversion, which is a kind of forgetting posed for company, but make their visits to humeur ourselves, is but a mean way of entertainment, in comparison of that which is considering, knowing, and themselves. You may talk upou this topic , so as to enjoying ourselves. The pleasures of ordinary oblige all persons afflicted with chronical distempers, people are in their passions ;- but the seat of this among which I reckon visits. Do not think me : sour man, for I love conversation and my friends; delight is in the reason and understanding. Such a frame of mind raises that sweet enthusiasm, which but I think one's most intimate friend may be tos warms the imagination at the sight of every work of familiar, and that there are such things as unseaser able wit, and painful mirth.' nature, and turns all round you into picture and It is with some, so hard a thing to employ their landscape. I shall be ever proud of advices from this time, that it is a great good fortune when they have gentleman; for I profess writing news from the a friend indisposed, that they may be punctual in learned, as well as the busy world. As for my labours, which he is pleased to enquire in that state which cannot be called sickness or perplexing him, when he is recovered enough to be after, if they can but wear one impertinence out of health ; when he is too well to deny company, and human life, destroy a single vice, or give a morning's too ill to receive them. It is no uncommon case, if a cheersulness to an honest mind ; in short, if the man is of any figure or power in the world, to be conworld can be but one virtue the better, or in any degree less vicious, or receive from them the smallest gratulated into a relapse. addition to their innocent diversions, I shall not think Will's Coffee-house, Norember 2. my pains, or indeed my life, to have been spent in I was very well pleased this evening, to hear a vain. gentleman express a very becoming indignation Thus far as to my studies. It will be expected I against a practice, which I myself have been very should, in the next place, give some account of my much offended at. • There is nothing,' said he ‘more life. I shall, therefore, for the satisfaction of the ridiculous, than for an actor to insert words of his present age, and the benefit of posterity, present the own in the part he is to act, so that it is impossible world with the following abridgment of it. to see the poet for the player. You will have Penketh It is remarkable, that I was bred by hand, and ate man and Bullock helping out Beaumont and Fletcher. nothing but milk until I was a twelve-month old ; It puts me in mind,' continued he, of a collection of from which time, to the eighth year of my age, I was antique statues which I once saw in a gentleman's observed to delight in pudding and potatoes; and possession, who employed a neighbouring stone-cutter indeed I retain a benevolence for that sort of food to this day. I do not remember thai I distinguished of Phidias or Praxiteles. You may be sure, this to add noses, ears, arms, or legs, to the maimed Forks myself in any thing at those years, but by my great addition disfigured the statues much more than time skill at taw, for which I was so barbarously used, had. I remember Venus, that, by the nose he had that it has ever since given me an aversion to gaming. given her, looked like mother Shipton; and a MerIn my twelfth year, I suffered very much for two or three false concords. At fifteen I was sent to the swelled with the dropsy, cury, with a pair of legs that seemed very much university, and staid there for some time ; but a drum I thought the gentleman's observations very proper, passing by, being a lover of music, I enlisted my- and he told me I had improved his thought, in merself for a soldier. As years came on, I began to ex- tioning on this occasion those wise commentators who amine things, and grew discontented at the times. had filled up the hemistichs of Virgil; particularly This made me quit the sword, and take to the study that notable poet, who, to make the Æneid more per of the occult sciences, in which I was so wrapped up, fect, carried on the story to Lavinia's wedding. If that Oliver Cromwell had been buried and taken up the proper officer will not condescend to take notice again, five years before I heard he was dead. This of these absurdities, I shall myself, as a censor of the gave me first the reputation of a conjurer, which has people, animadvert upon such proceedings. been of great disadvantage to me ever since, and kept me out of all public employments. The greater part of my later years has been divided between Dick's coffee-house, the Trumpet in Sheer-lane, and my own lodgings. No. 90.] SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1709. From my own Apartment, November 2. Amoto quæramus seria ludo. Hor. i. Sat. 1.27 Let us now The evil of unseasonable visits has been complained with graver air our serious theme pursue, of to me with much vehemence by persons of both And yet preserve our moral full in view, Francis. sexes; and I am desired to consider this very important circumstance, that men may know how to regu Will's Coffee-house, Norember 4. late their conduct in an affair which concerns no less The passion of love happened to be the subject of than life itself. For, to a rational creature, it is discourse between two or three of us at the table of almost the same cruelty to attack his life, by robbing the poets this evening; and, among other observas manner. tions, it was remarked, that the same sentiment on This infant grew up, and proved in all his behaviour, this passion had ruu through all languages and what he really was, a compound of opposite beings. nations.' Memmius, who has a very good taste, fell As he is the son of Plenty, who was the offspring of into a little sort of dissertation on this occasion. It Prudence, he is subtile, intriguing, full of stratagems is,' said he, remarkable, that no passion has been and devices; as the son of Poverty, he is fawning, treated, by all who have touched upon it, with the begging, serenading, delighted to lie at a threshold, ! same bent of design but this. The poets, the moral- or beneath a window. By the father, he is auda ists, the painters, in all their descriptions, allegories, cious, full of hopes, conscious of merit, and thereand pictures, have represented it as a soft torment, fore quick of resentment. By the mother, he is a bitter sweet, a pleasing pain, or an agreeable dis- doubtful, timorous, mean-spirited, fearful of offend tress; and have only expressed the same thought in a ing, and abject in submissions. In the same hour 1 different manner.' you may see him transported with raptures, talking The joining of pleasure and pain together in such of immortal pleasures, and appearing satisfied as a i devices, seems to me the only pointed thought I ever god; and immediately after, as the mortal mother read which is natural, and it must have proceeded prevails in his composition, you behold him pining, it from its being the universal sense and experience of languishing, despairing, dying.' mankind, that they have all spoken of it in the same I have been always wonderfully delighted with I have, in my own reading, remarked a fables, allegories, and the like inventions, which the hundred and three epigrams, fifty odes, and ninety- politest and the best instructors of mankind have one sentences, tending to this sole purpose. always made use of. They take off from the severity It is certain, there is no other passion which does of instruction, and enforce it at the same time that produce such contrary effects in so great a degree. they conceal it. The supposing Love to be conBut this may be said for love, that if you strike it out ceived immediately after the birth of Beauty ; the of the soul, life would be insipid, and our being but parentage of Plenty; and the inconsistency of this hall-animated. Human nature would sink into dead- passion with its self so naturally derived to it, are ness and let hargy, if not quickened with some active great master-strokes in this fable; and if they fell i principle; and, as for all others, whether ambition, into good hands, might furnish out a more pleasing envy, or avarice, which are apt to possess the mind canto than any in Spenser. From my own Apartment, November 4. such exquisite pleasures as those we find in love. I came home this evening in a very pensive mood; The great skill is to heighten the satisfactions, and and, to divert me, took up a volume of Shakspeare, deaden the sorrows of it; which has been the end of where I chanced to cast my eye upon a part in the many of my labours, and shall continue to be so, for tragedy of Richard the Third, which filled my mind the service of the world in general, and in particular with a very agreeable horror. It was the scene in of the fair sex, who are always the best or the worst which that bold but wicked prince is reį resented as part of it. It is pity that a passion, which has in it sleeping in his tent, the night before the battle in a capacity of making life happy, should not be culti- which he fell. The poet takes that occasion to set vated to the utmost advantage. Reason, prudence, before him, in a vision, a terrible assembly of appaand good-nature, rightly applied, can thoroughly ritions, the ghosts of all those innocent persons whom accomplish this great end, provided they have always a he is said to have mur'ered. Prince Edward, Henry real and constant love to work upon. But this sub- VI. the Duke of Clarence, Rivers, Gray, and Vaughan; ject I shall treat more at large in the history of my Lord Hastings, the two young princes, sons to Edmarried sister, and, in the mean time, shall couclucle ward IV., his own wise, and the Duke of Bucking, my reflection on the pains arid pleasures which attend ham, rise up in their blood before him, beginning their this passion, with one of the finest allegories which I speeches with that dreadful salutation, 'Let me sit think I have ever read. It is invented by the divine | heavy on thy soul to-morrow ;' and conclude with that Plato, and, to show the opinion he himself had of it, dismal sentence, Despair and die.' This inspires ascribed by him to his admired Socrates, whom he the tyrant with a dream of his past guilt, and of the represents as discoursing with his friends, and giving approaching vengeance. He anticipates the fatal the history of Love in the following manner : day of Bosworth, fancies himself dismounted, wel* At the birth of Beauty,' says he, there was a great tering in his own blood ; and in the agonies of defeast made, and many guests invited. Among the spair, before he is thoroughly awake, starts up with rest, was the god Plenty, who was the son of the the following speech : goddess Prudence, and inherited many of his mother's virtues. After a full entertainment, he retired into the garden of Jupiter, which was hung with a great Have mercy, jesu-Soft! I did but dream. Oh! coward conscience ! how dost thou afflict me ? variety of ambrosial fruits, and seems to have been a very proper retreat for such a guest. In the mean The lights burn blue ! is it not dead midnight? time, an unhappy female called Poverty, having heard Cold fearsul drops stand on my trembling flesh: of this great feast, repaired to it, in hopes of finding Who do I fear ? myself!' &c. relief. The first place she lights upon was Jupiter's A scene written with so great strength of imagigarden, which generally stands open to people of all nation ivdisposed me from further reading, and threw conditions. Poverty enters, and by chance finds the me into a deep contemplation. I began to reflect god Plenty asleep in it. She was immediately fired upon the different ends of good and bad kings; and with his charms, laid herself down by his side, and as this was the birthday of our late renowned momanaged matters so well, that she conceived a child narch, I could not forbear thinking on the departure by him. The world was very much in suspense upon of that excellent prince, whose life was crowned with the occasion, and could not imagine to themselves glory, and his death with peace. I let my mind go what would be the nature of an infant that was to so far into this thought, as to imagine to myself what have its original from two such parents. At the last, might have been the vision of his departing slumbers. the child appears; and who should it be but Love. He might have seen confederate_kings applauding to Give me another horse-Bind up my wounds ! him in different languages; slaves that had been madam; there is no dishonour in loring a man of bound in fetters lifting up their hands, and blessing merit; I assure you I am grieved at this dallying him; and the persecuted in their several forms of with yourself, when you put another in competition worship imploring comfort on his last moments. The with him, for no other reason but superior wealth.' reflection upon this excellent prince's mortality had - To tell you, then,' said she, “the bottom of my been a very melancholy entertainment, had it not heart, there is Clotilda lies by, and plants herself in been relieved by the consideration of the glorious the way of Crassus, and I am confident will soap reign which succeeds it. him if I refuse him. I cannot bear to think that We now see as great a virtue as ever was on the she will shine above me. When our coaches meet, British throne, surrounded with all the beauty of to see her chariot hung behind with four footmen, success. Our nation may not only boast of a long and mine with but two; her's powdered, gay, and series of great, regular, and well-laid designs, but saucy, kept only for show; mine, a couple of careful also of triumphs and victories ; while we have the rogues that are good for something: I own, I cannot happiness to see our sovereign exercise that true bear that Clotilda should be in all the pride and policy which tends to make a kingdom great and Wantonness of wealth, and I only in the ease and happy, and at the same time enjoy the good and affluence of it. glorious effect of it. Here I interrupted: Well, madam, now I see your whole affection; you could be happy, but that you fear another would be happier. Or rather, No. 91.] TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1709. you could be solidly happy, but that another is to be happy in appearance. This is an evil which you From my own Apartment, November 7. must get over, or never know happiness. We sill I was very much surprised this evening with a visit put the case, madam, that you married Crassus, and from one of the top Toasts of the town, who came she Lorio.' She answered, "Speak not of it. I could privately in a chair, and bolted into my room, while tear her eyes out at the mention of it.'—' Well, I was reading a chapter of Agrippa upon the occult then I pronounce Lorio to be the man; but I must sciences; but, as she entered with all the air and tell you, that what we call settling in the world is, bloom that nature ever bestowed on woman, I threw in a kind, leaving it; and you must at once resolve down the conjuror, and met the charmer. I had no to keep your thoughts of happiness within the reach sooner placed her at my right hand by the fire, but of your fortune, and not measure it by comparisen she opened to me the reason of her visit. Mr. with others.--But, indeed, madam, when I behold Bickerstaff,' said the fine creature, 'I have been your that beauteous form of yours, and consider the correspondent for some time, though 1 never saw you generality of your sex, as to their disposal of theme before; I have writ by the name of Maria. You have selves in marriage, or their parents doing it for them told me, you were too far gone in life to think of love. without their own approbation, I cannot but look upon Therefore, I am answered as to the passion I spoke all such matches as the most impudent prostitutions. of; and,' continued she, smiling, 'I will not stay Do but observe, when you are at the play, the until you grow young again, as you men never fail to familiar wenches that sit laughing among the men. do in your dotage; but am come to consult yon about These appear detestable to you in the boxes. Each disposing of myself to another. My person you see; of them would give up her person for a guinez ; my fortune is very considerable ; but I am at present and some of you would take the worst there for life under much perplexity how to act in a great conjunc- for twenty thousand. If so, how do you differ but ture. I have two lovers, Crassus and Lorio: Crassus in price? As to the circumstance of marriage, I is prodigiously rich, but has no one distinguishing take that to be hardly an alteration of the case; quality ; though at the same time, he is not remark- for wedlock is but a more solemn prostitution, where able on the defectire side. Lorio has travelled, is there is not a union of minds. You would hardly well bred, pleasant in discourse, discreet in his con- believe it, but there have been designs eren upon me. duct, agreeable in his person; and with all this, he A neighbour in this very lane, who knors I have, has a competency of fortune without superfluity. by leading a very wary lise, laid up a little money, When I consider Lorio, my mind is filled with an idea had a great mind to marry me to his daughter. I was of the great satisfactions of a pleasant conversation. frequently invited to their table : the girl was always When I think of Crassus, my equipage, numerous very pleasant and agreeable. After dinner, Miss servants, gay liveries, and various dresses, are op- Molly would be sure to fill my pipe for me, and put posed to the charms of his rival. In a word, when more sugar than ordinary into my coffee ; for she was I cast my eyes upon Lorio, I forget and despise for- sure I was good-natured. If I chanced to hem, the tune; when I behold Crassus, I think only of pleasing mother would applaud my rigour; and has often said my vanity, and enjoying an uncontrolled expense in on that occasion, “I wonder, Mr. Bickerstaff, you do all the pleasures of life, except love.' She paused not marry, I am sure you would hare children." here. Things went so far, that my mistress presented me Madam,' said I, I am confident you have not with a wrought night-cap and a laced band of her own stated your case with sincerity, and that there is some working. I began to think of it in earnest; but one secret pang which you have concealed from me; for day, having an occasion to ride to Islington, as tro or I see by your aspect the generosity of your mind : three pcople were lifting me upon my pad, I spied and that open ingenuous air lets me know, that you her at a convenient distance laughing at lier lorer, have too great a sense of the generous passion of with a parcel of romps of her acquaintance. One of love, to prefer the ostentation of life in the arms of them, who I suppose had the same design upon me, Crassus, to the entertainments and conveniencies of it told me she said, “Do you see how briskly my old in the company of your beloved Lorio; for so he is, gentleman mounts ?" This made me cut off my indeed, madam : you speak his name with a different amour, and to reflect with myself, that no married accent from the rest of your discourse. The idea his life could be so unhappy, as where the wise proj oses image raises in you gives vew life to your features, no other advantage from her husband, than that of and new grace to your speech. Nay, blush not, , making herself fine, and keeping her out of the dirt." a My fair client burst out a-laughing at the account that too, and said, he would not dispute for a I gave her of my escape, and went away seemingly con- monosyllable.'—' For a monosyllable,' says the real vinced of the reasonableness of my discourse to author, 'I can assure you, a monosyliable may be of her. as great force as a word of ten syllables. I tell you, As soon as he was gone, my maid brought up the sir, "and" is the connexion of the matter in that following epistle, which, by the style, and the des- | place; without that word, you may put all that cription she gave of the person, I suppose was left by follows into any other play as well as this. Besides, Nick Doubt. Hark you,' says he, tell old Basket- | if you leave it out, it will look as if you had put hilt I would have him answer it by the first oppor- it in only for the sake of the rhyme.' Roscius pertuvity. What he says is this. sisted, assuring the gentleman, 'that it was impossible to speak it, but the "and" must be lost,' so it might ISAAC, be as well blotted out.' Bavius snatched his play • You seem a very honest fellow; therefore, pray out of their hands, said, 'they were both blockheads;' tell me, did not you write that letter in praise of the and went off; repeating a couplet, because he would squire and his lucubrations yourself,' &c. not make his exit irregularly. A witty man of these The greatest plague of coxcombs is, that they often days compared this true and feigned poet to the break upon you with an impertinent piece of good contending mothers before Solomon ; the true one sense, as this jackanapes has hit me in the right was easily discovered from the pretender, by refusing place enough. I must confess, I am as likely to to see his offspring dissected. play such a trick as another ; but that letter he speaks of is really genuine. When I first set up, I thought it fair enough to let myself know from all parts, that No. 92.] THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1709. my works were wonderfully enquired for, and were become the diversion as well as instruction, of all the Falsus honor juvat, et mendax infamia terret choice spirits in every county of Great Britain. I Quem nisi mendosum et mendacem ? do not doubt but the more intelligent of my readers Hor. i. Ep. xvi. found it, before this jackanapes, I can call him no False praise can please, and calumny affright, better, took upon him to observe upon my style, and None but the vicious and the hypocrite. my basket-hilt. A very pleasant gentleman of my R. Wynne. acquaintance told me one day a story of this kind of falsehood and vanity in an author. White's Chocolate-house, Norember 9. Mævius showed him a paper of verses, which he I know no manner of speaking so offensive as said he had received that morning by the penny-post that of giving praise, and closing it with an excepfrom an unknown hand. My friend admired them tion; which proceeds (where men do not do it io extremely. 'Sir,' said he, this must come from a introduce malice, and make calumny more effectual) man that is eminent: you see fire, life, and spirit, from the common error of considering man as a run through the whole, and at the same time a perfect creature. But, if we rightly examine things, correctness, which shows he is used to writing. Pray, we shall find that there is a sort of economy in sir, read them over again.' He begins again, title Providence, that one shall excel where another is and all ; 'To Mæerius, on his incomparable poems.' | defective, in order to make men more useful to each The second reading was performed with much more other, and mix them in society. This man having rehemence and action than the former; after which this talent, and that man another, is as necessary in my friend fell into downright raptures—Why, they conversation, as one professing one trade, and another are truly sublime! there is energy in this line another, is beneficial in commerce. The happiest description in that! Why! it is the thing itself! this climate does not produce all things; and it was so is perfect picture ! Mærius could bear no more; but, ordered, that one part of the earth shoald want the Faith,' says he, Ned, to tell you the plain truth, i product of another, for uniting mankind in a general writ them myself.' correspondence and good understanding. It is, There goes such another story of the same paternal therefore, want of good sense as well as good nature, tenderness in Bavius, an ingenious contemporary of to say Simplicius has a better judgment, but not so mine, who had writ several comedies, which were much wit as Latius ; for that these have not each rejected by the players. This, my friend Bavius other's capacities is no more a diminution to either took for envy, and therefore prevailed upon a gentle than if you should say, Simplicius is not Latius, man to go with him to the play-house, and gave him or Latius not Simplicius. The heathen world had so a new play, of his, desiring he would personate the little notion that perfection was to be expected author, and read it, to battle the spite of the actors. amongst men, that among them any one quality or The friend consented, and to reading they went. endowment in an heroic degree made a god. Hercules T ey hall not gone over three similes, before Roscius had strength ; but it was nerer objected to him that the player made the acting author s:op, and desired he wantel wit. Apollo presided over wit, and it was to know, “What he meant by sich a japture ? and never asked whether he had strength. We hear no how it came to pass, that in this condition of the exceptious against the heauty of Mirerra, or the lover, instead of acting according to his circumstances, wisdom of Venus. These wise heathiens were glad he spent his time in considering what his present to immortalize any one serviceable gist, and orerlook state was like ?-- That is very true,' says the mock all imperfectious is the person who had it. But auihor; “I believe we had as good strike these lines with us it is får otherwise, for we reject many out--By your leave,' says Bavinis, you shall not (minent vistues, if they are accompanied with one spoil your play, you are too modest; 'those very lines apparent weakness. The resecting after this manner for aught I know. are as good as any in your play, and made me account for the strange delight men take they shail stand. Well, they go on, and the particle in reading lampoons and scandal, with which the 'and' stood unfortunately at the end of a verse, and age abounds, and of which I receive frequent comwas made to rhyme with the world stavd.' This, plaints. ['pon mature consideration, I find it is Roseius excepted against. The new poet gave upl principally for this reason, that the worst of mankind, THE TATLER, No. 20. X 6 |
