a

are so good as tu endeavour to be as contemptible as • When the hero has spoken this sentiment, there is it is necessary for my quiet I should think you.'

nothing that is great which cannot be expected from At Rutland they arrived, and lived with great but one, whose first position is the contempt of death to secret impatience for many successive years, until so high a degree, as to make his exil a thing wholly Osmyn thought of a happy expedient to give their indifferent, and not a part of his care, but that of affairs a new turn. One day he took Elmira aside, heaven and fate. and spoke as follows : My dear, you see here the air is so temperate and

St. James's Coffee-house, August 10. serene; the rivulets, the groves, and soil, so extremely Letters from Brussels of the fifteenth instant, N. S. kind to nature, that we are stronger and firmer in our say that Major-general Ravignan returned on the health since we left the town; so that there is no eighth, with the French king's answer to the intended hope of a release in this place; but, if you will be so capitulation for the citadel of Tournay, which is, that kind as to go with me to my estate in the hundreds he does not think fit, to sign that capitulation, except of Essex, it is possible some kind damp may one day the allies will grant a cessation of arms in general, or other relieve us. If you will condescend to during the time in which all acts of hostility were to accept of this offer, I will add that whole estate to have ceased between the citadel and the besiegers. your jointure in this country.'

Soon after the receipt of this news, the cannon en Elmira, who was all goodness, accepted the offer, each side began to play. There are two attacks against removed accordingly, and has left her spouse in that the citadel, commanded by General Lottum and place to rest with his fathers.

General Schuylemberg, which are both carried on with This is the real figure in which Elmira ought to be great success; and it is not doubted but the citadel beheld in this town; and not thought guilty of an will be in the hands of the allies before the last day indecorum, in not professing the sense, or bearing of this month. Letters from Ipres say, that on the the habit of sorrow, for one who robbed her of all the nint: instant part of the garrison of that place had endearments of life, and gave her only common mutinied in two bodies, each consisting of tro civility, instead of complacency of manners, dignity hundred ; who being dispersed the same day, a body of passion, and that constant assemblage of soft of eight hundred appeared in the market-place at nine desires and affections which all feel who love, but the night following, and seized all manner of prorinone can express.

sions, but were with much difficulty quieted. The

governor has not punished any of the offenders, the Will's Coffee-house, August 10.

dissatisfaction being universal in that place; and it Mr. Truman, who is a mighty admirer of dramatic is thought the officers soment those disorders, that poetry, and knows I am about a tragedy, never meets

the ministry may be convinced of the necessity of me, but he is giving admonitions and hints for my sions. These advices add, that on the fourteeenth

paying those troops, and supplying them with proviconduct. Mr. Bickerstaff,' said he, ‘I was reading last night your second act you were so kind to lend the Marquis d'Este passed express through Brussels me: but I find you depend mightily upon the retinue from the Duke of Savoy, with advice that the army of your hero to make him magnificent. You make

of his royal highness had forced the retrenchments guards, and ushers, and courtiers, and commons, and

of the enemy in Savoy, and defeated that body of nobles, march before; and then enters your prince, men, which guarded those passes under the command and says, they caunot defend him from his love of the Marquis de Thouy. Why, prythee, Isaac, who ever thought they could ? Place me your loving monarch in a solitude; let him have no sense at all of his grandeur, but let it be eaten No. 54.] SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 1709. up with his passion. He must value himself as the

White's Chocolate-house, August 12. greatest of lovers, not as the first of princes : and then let him say a more tender thing than ever man OF TRE GOVERNMENT OF AFFECTIOX. said before-for his feather and eagle's beak are

When labour was pronounced to be the portiot nothing at all. The man is to be expressed by his sentiments and affections, and not by his fortune or

man, that doom reached the affections of his mind, equipage. You are also to take care, that at his first feed, and all the animal and vegetable world about

as well as his person, the matter on which he was to entrance he says something, which may give us an idea of what we are to expect in a person of his way tivation to be bestowed upon our passions and

him. There is, therefore, an assiduous care and cule of thinking. Shakspeare is your pattern, . In the affections ; for they, as they are the excrescences of tragedy of Cæsar he introduces his hero in his nightgown. He had at that time all the power of Rome: becoming, as we cut or let them grow. All this

our souls, like our hair and beards, look horrid or deposed consuls, subordinate generals, and captive

reason in nature princes might have preceded him; but his genius grave preface is meant to assign was above such mechanic methods of showing great, husband and keeper. Ten thousand follies had this

for the unaccountable behaviour of Daumvir, the Therefore, he rather presents that great soul debating upon the subject of life and death with his unhappy man escaped, had he made a compact with intimate friends, without endeavouring to prepossess vagrant eye to let in so many different inclinations

himself to be upon his guard, and not permitted his his audience with empty show and pomp. When those who attend him talk of the many omens which upon him, as all his days he has been perplesed with. hadaappeared that day, he answers :

But indeed, at present, he has brought himself to be

confined only to one prevailing mistress; between “Cowards die many times before their deaths ; whom and his wife, Duumvir passes his hours in all The valiant never taste of death but once.

the vicissitudes which attend passion and affection, Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,

without the intervention of reason. Laura his wife, It seems to me most strange that men should fear; and Phillis his mistress, are all with whom he has Seeing that death, a necessary end,

had, for some months, the least amorous commerce. Will come, when it will come.”:

Duumvir has passed the noon of life; but cannot

:

ness.

withdraw from those entertainments which are par- as to end her days, with all this passion for Phillis donable only before that stage of our being, and and indifference for Laura, he has a second wife in which, after that season, are rather punishments than view, who may avenge the injuries done to her satisfactions : for palled appetite is humorous, and predecessor. Aglaura is the destined lady, who has must be gratified with sauces rather than food. For lived in assemblies, has ambition and play for her which end Duumvir is provided with a haughty, entertainment, and thinks of a man, not as the object imperious, expensive, and fantastic mistress, to of love, but the tool of her interest or pride. If erer whom he retires from the conversation of an affable, Aglaura comes to the empire of this inconstant, she humble, discreet, and affectionate wise. Laura will endear the memory of her predecessor. But, in receives him after absence, with an easy and unaf- the mean time, it is melancholy to consider, that the fected complacency; but that he calls insipid : virtue of a wife is like the merit of a poet, never Phillis rates him for his absence, and bids him justly valued until after death. return from whence he came; this he calls spirit and fire; Laura's gentleness is thought mean;

From my own Apartment, August 11. Phillis's insolence, sprightly. Were you to see him As we we have professed that all the actions of at his own house, and his mistress's lodgings; to men are our subjects, the most solemn are not to be Phillis he appears an obsequious lover, to Laura an omitted, if there happens to creep into their imperious master. Nay, so unjust is the taste of behaviour any thing improper for such occasions. Duumvir, that he owns Laura has no ill quality, but Therefore, the offence mentioned in the following that she is his wife ; Phillis no good one, but that she is epistles, though it may seem to be committed in a his mistress. And he has himself often said, were he place sacred from observation, is such, that it is our married to any one else, he would rather keep Laura duty to remark upon it; for though he who does it than any woman living ; yet allows, at the same is himself only guilty of an indecornm, he occasions time, that Phillis, were she a woman of honour, a criminal levity in all others who are present would have been the most insipid animal breathing. at it. The other day Laura, who has a voice like an angel,

St. Paul's Church-Yard, August 11. began to sing to him. Fie, madam,' he cried, we must be past all these gaieties.' Phillis has a note · MR. BICKERSTAFF. as rude and as loud as that of a milk-maid : when she begins to warble, : Well,' says he, there is such others, that your papers are extremely well fitted to

It being mine as well as the opinion of many a pleasing simplicity in all that wench does.' In a word, the affectionate part of his heart being cor

reform any irregular or indecent practice, I present rupted, and his true taste that way wholly lost, he the following as one which requires your correction has contracted a prejudice to all the behaviour of Myself, and a great many good people who frequent Laura, and a general partiality in favour of Phillis.

the divine service at St. Paul's have been a long time It is not in the power of the wife to do a pleasing scandalized by the imprudent conduct of Stentor in thing, nor in the mistress to commit one that is

that cathedral. This gentleman, you must know, is disagreeable. There is something too melancholy in always very exact and zealous in his devotion, which of raillery. He said a sour thing to Laura at dinner that he frightens even us of the congregation who the reflection on this circumstance, to be the subject 1 believe nobody blames ; but then he is accustomed

to roar and bellow so terribly loud in the responses, the other day; upon which she burst into tears. • What the devil, madam,' says he, 'cannot I speak

are daily used to him; and one of our petty canons, in my own house ?' He answered Phillis a little

a punning Cambridge scholar, calls his way of abruptly at supper the same evening, upon which worship a Bull-offering. His harsh untuneable pipe she threw his periwig into the fire. Well,' said he, of a choir : yet, nobody having been enough his

is no more fit than a raven's to join with the music • thou art a brave termagant jade: do you know, hussy, that fair wig cost forty guineas? Oh Laura? friend, I suppose, to inform him of it, he never fails, is it for this the faithful Cromius sighed for you in and anthem, by an inundation of sound beyond that

when present, to drown the harmony of every hymn vaja ? How is thy condition altered, since crowds of youth hung on thy eye, and watched its glances? It of the bridge at the ebb of the tide, or the neighbouris not many months since Laura was the wonder and ing lions in the anguish of their hunger. This is a pride of her own sex, as well as the desire and grievance, which, to my certain knowledge, several passion of ours. At plays and at balls, the just turn of worthy people desire to see redressed; and if, by her behaviour, the decency of her virgin charms, inserting this epistle in your paper, or by representing chastised, yet added to diversions. At public devo- that discord in a choir is the same sin that schism is

the matter your own way, you can convince Stentor, tions her winning modesty, her resigned carriage, in the church in general, you would lay a great made virtue and religion appear with new ornaments, obligation upon us ; and make some atonement for and in the natural apparel of simplicity and beauty certain of your paragraphs which have not been highly In ordinary conversations, a sweet conformity of manners, and a humility which heightened all the approved by us. complacencies of good breeding and education, gave

I am, Sir, her more slaves than all the pride of her sex ever

Your most humble servant, made woman wish for. Laura's hours are

• JeoFFRY CHANTICLEER. spent in the sad reflection on her choice, and that deceitful vanity, almost inseparable from the sex, of lamentation, and the grievances so frequent, and yet

It is wonderful that there should be such a general believing she could reclaim one that had so often the offender never know any thing of it. I have ensnared others; as it now is, it is not even in the received the following letter from my kinsman at the power of Duumvir himself to do her justice: for though Heralds-office, near the same place. beauty and merit are things real and independent on taste and opinion, yet agreeableness is arbitrary, and • Dear Cousin.-This office, which has had its the mistress has much the advantage of the wife. share in the impartial justice of your censures, de But whenever fate is so kind to her and her spouse mands at present your vindication of their rights and

now

privileges. There are certain hours when our young cured, to keep silence; and let the patient make his heralds are exercised in the faculties of making pro- own observations, without the direction of any thing clamation, and other vociferations, which of right he had received by his other senses, or the advantage belong to us only to utter ; but, at the same hours, of discovering his friends by their voices. Among Stentor in St. Paul's Church, in spite of the coaches, several others, the mother, brethren, sisters, and a carts, London cries, and all other sounds between us, young gentlewoman, for whom he had a passion, Fere exalts his throat to so high a key, that the most noisy present. The work was performed with great skið of our order is utterly unheard. If you please to and dexterity. When the patient first received the observe upon this, you will ever ohlige, &c.'

dawn of light, there appeared such an ectasy in his There have been communicated to me some other action, that he seemed ready to swoon away in the ill consequences from the same cause; as, the over- surprise of joy and wonder. The surgeon stond turning of coaches by sudden starts of the horses as before him with his instruments in his hands. The they passed that way, women pregnant frightened, young man observed him from head to foot; after and heirs to families lost; which are public disasters, which he surveyed himself as carefully, and seemed though arising from a good intention : but it is to compare him to himself; and, observing both their hoped, after this admonition, that Stentor will avoid hands, seemed to think they were exactly alike, an act of so great supererogation, as singing without a except the instruments, which he took for parts of voice.

his hands. When he had continued in this amazeBut I am diverted from prosecuting Stentor's re- ment some time, his mother could no longer bear the formation, by an account, that the two faithful lovers, agitations of so many passions as thronged upon ber; Lisander and Coriana, are dead; for, no longer ago but fell upon his neck, crying ont, 'My son! my sou." than the first day of the last month, they swore The youth knew her voice, and could speak no more eternal fidelity to each other, and to love until death. than Oh me! are you my mother and sainted Ever since that time, Lisander has been twice a-day The whole room, you will easily conceive, were very at the Chocolate-house, visits in every circle, is missing affectionately employed in recovering him; but, abore four hours in four-and-twenty, and will give no all, the young gentlewoman who love: him, and account of himself. These are undoubted proofs of whom he loved, shrieked in the londest manner. the departure of a lover; and consequently Coriana That voice seemed to have a sudden effect upou him is also dead as a mistress. I have written to Stentor, as he recovered, and he showed a double curiosity in to give this couple three calls at the church-door, observing her as she spoke and called to him, until at which they must hear if they are living within the last he broke out, What has been done to me? bills of mortality; and if they do not answer at that Whither anı I carried? Is all this about me the time, they are from that moment added to the number thing I have heard so often of? Is this the tight! of my defunct.

Is this seeing ? Were you always thus happy, when

you said you were glad to see each other? Where is No. 55.] TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 1709.

Tom, who used to lead me! But I could now, Paulo majora canamus. Virg. Ecl. iv. 1. methinks, go any where without him. He offered

to move, but seemed afraid of every thing around Begin a loftier strain.

him. When they saw his difficulty, they told him, White's Chocolate-house, August 15.

until he became better acquainted with his new being,

he must let the servant still lead him.' The boy While others are busied in relations which concern was called for and presented to him. Mr. Castell the interest of princes, the peace of nations, and asked him, what sort of thing he took Tom to be revolutions of empire; I think, though these are very before he had seen him ?' He answered, he believed great subjects, my theme of discourse is sometimes to there was not so much of him as himself; but he be of matters of a yet higher consideration. The slow fancied him the same sort of creature.' The noise steps of providence and nature, and strange events which of this sudden change made all the neighbourhood are brought about in an instant, are what, as they throng to the place where he was. As he saw the come within our view and observation, shall be given crowd thickening, he desired Mr. Caswell to tell him to the public. Such things are not accompanied with how many there were in all to be seen. The gentleshow and noise, and therefore seldom draw the eyes man, smiling, answered him, that it would be very of the unattentive part of mankind; but are very proper for him to return to his late condition, and proper at once to exercise our humanity, please our suffer his eyes to be covered, until they had received imaginations, and improve our judgments. It may strength: for he might remember well enough, that not, therefore, be unuseful to relate many circum- by degrees he had from little and little come to the stances, which were observable upon a late cure done strength he had at present in his ability of walking upon a young gentleman who was born blind, and on and moving ; and that it was the same thing with the twenty-ninth of June last received his sight, at his eyes, which,' he said, “would lose the power of the age of twenty years, by the operation of an oculist. continuing to him that wonderful transport te tras This happened no farther off than Newington, and now in, except he would be contented to lay aside the work was prepared for in the following manner. the use of them, until they were strong enough to

The operator, Mr. Grant, having observed the eyes bear the light without so much feeling as he knew of his patient, and convinced his friends and relations, he underwent at present.'. With much reluctance among others the reverend Mr. Caswell, minister of he was prevailed upon to have his eyes bound; in the place, that it was highly probable that he should which condition they kept him in a dark room, until remove the obstacle which prevented the use of his it was proper to let the organ receive its objects sight; all his acquaintance, who had any regard for without further precaution. During the time of this the young man, or curiosity to be present when one darkness, he bewailed himself in the most distressed of full age and understanding received a new sense, manner; and accused all his friends, complaining assembled themselves on this occasion. Mr. Caswell, that some intantation had been wrought upon him, being a gentleman particularly curious, desired the and some strange magic used to deceive him into an whole company, in case the blindness should be opinion that he had enjoyed what they call sight.'

the eyes.'

He added, that the impressions then let in upon party by swimming over the Boristhenes ; and it was his soul would certainly distract him if he were not thought he designed to retire into Poland by the way so at that present.' At another time, he would of Volhinia. Advices from Bern of the eleventh strive to name the persons he had seen among the instant say, that the general diet of the Helvetic crowd after he was couched, and would pretend to body held at Baden concluded on the sixth ; but the speak, in perplexed terms of his own making, of deputies of the six cantons, who are deputed to de what he in that short time observed. But on the termine the affair of Tockenburg, continue their sixth instant, it was thought fit to unbind his head, application to that business, notwithstanding some and the young woman whom he loved was instructed new difficulties started by the abbot of St. Gall. to open his eyes accordingly; as well to endear Letters from Geneva of the ninth, say, that the duke herself to him by such a circumstance, as to mode of Savoy's cavalry had joined count Thaun, as had rate his ecstasies by the persuasion of a voice which also two imperial regiments of hussars; and that his had so much power over him as hers ever had. When royal highness's army was disposed in the following this beloved young woman began to take off the manner; the troops under the command of count binding of his eyes, she talked to him as follows. Thaun are extended from Constans to St. Peter

* Mr. William, I am vow taking the binding off, D'Albigni. Small parties are left in several posts though when I consider what I am doing, I tremble from thence to Little Saint Bernard, to preserve the with the appehension, that though I have from my communication with Piedmont by the valley of Aosta. very childhood loved you, dark as you were, and Some forces are also posted at Taloir, and in the though you had conceived so strong a love for me, you castle of Doin, on each side of the lake of Anneci. will find there is such a thing as beauty, which may General Rhebinder is encamped in the valley of Oulx ensnare you iuto a thousand passions of which you with ten thousand foot, and some detachments of are now innocent, and take you from me for ever. horse ; his troops are extended from Exilles to MountBut, before I put myself to that hazard, tell me in Genevre, so that he may easily penetrate into Dauwhat manner that love, you always professed to me, phinè on the least motion of the enemy; but the entered into your heart; for its usual admission is at duke of Berwick takes all necessary precautions to

prevent such an enterprise. That general's head The young man answered, ' Dear Lydia, if I am to quarters are at Francin; and he hath disposed his lose by sight the soft pantings which I have always army in several parties, to preserve a communication felt when I heard your voice ; if I am no more to dis- with the Maurienne and Briançon. He hath no protinguish the step of her I love when she approaches visions for his army but from Savoy; Provence and me, but to change that sweet, and frequent pleasure Dauphinè being unable to supply him with necessafor such an amazement as I knew the little time I ries. He left two regiments of Dragoons at Annen, lately saw; or if I am to have any thing besides, who suffered very much in the late action at Tessons, which may take from me the sense I have of what where they lost fifteen hundred who were killed on appeared most pleasing to me at that time, which the spot, four standards, and three hundred prisoners, apparition it seems was you; pull out these eyes, among whom were forty officers. The last letters before they lead me to be ungrateful to you, or undo from the Duke of Marlborough's camp at Orchies of myself

. I wished for them but to see you ; pull the nineteenth instant, advise, that monsieur Raviga them out, if they are to make me forget you.' non being returned from the French court with an

Lydia was extremely satisfied with these assur- account that the king of France had refused to ances ; and pleased herself with playing with his per- ratify the capitulation for the surrender of the citadel plexities. In all his talk to her, he showed but very of Tournay, the approaches have been carried on with faint ideas of any thing which had not been received great vigour and success ; our miners have discovered at the ears ; and closed his protestation to her, by several of the enemy's mines, who have sprung divers saying, that if he were to see Valentia and Barcelona, others, which did little execution; but for the better whom he supposed the most esteemed of all women, security of the troops, both assaults are carried on by by the quarrel there was about them, he would never the cautious way of sapping. On the eighteenth, the like any but Lydia.

confederate army made a general forage without any

loss. Marshal Villars continues in his former camp, St. James's Coffee-house, August 15. and applies himself with great diligence in casting up We hare repeated advices of the entire defeat of

new lines behind the old on the Scarp. The Duke of the Swedish army near Pultowa, on the twenty- Marlborough and Prince Eugene designed to begin a seventh of June, Ó. S.; and letters from Berlin give general review of the army on the twentieth. the following account of the remains of the Swedish army since the battle : Prince Menzikoff, being or No.36.) THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 1709. dered to pursue the victory, came up with the Swedish

Quicquid agunt homines army, which was left to the command of general

-nostri est farrago libelli. Jur. Sat. i. 83, 86. Lewenhaupt, on the shirtieth of June, O. S. on the

Whatever good is done, whaterer ill banks of the Boristhenes ; whereupon he sent general

By human kind, shall this collection fill. Lewenhaupt a summons to submit himself to his White's Chocolate-house, August 17. present fortune; Lewenhaupt immediately despatched THERE is a young foreigner committed to my care, three general officers to that prince, to treat about a who puzzles me extremely in the questions he asks capitulation; but the Swedes, though they consisted about the persons of figure we meet in public places. of fifteen thousand meo, were in so great want of He has but very little of our language, and therefore provision and ammunition, that they were obliged to I am mightily at a loss to express to him things for surrender themselves at discretion. His czarish which they have no word in that tongue to which he majesty despatched an express to General Goltz, was born.' It has been often my answer, upon his with an account of these particulars, and also with asking who such a fine gentleman is ? That he is instructions to send out detachments of his cavalry, what we call a sharper ; and he wants my explication, to prevent the king of Sweden's joining his army in I thought it would be very unjust to tell him, he is, Poland. That prince made his escape with a small the same the French call Coquin; the Latins, Nebulo; THE TATLER, No. 13.

O

own.

or the Greeks, Paoxan: for, as custom is the most bring in within seven years : besides which, he propowersul of all laws, and that the order of men we poses to marry, to set all right. He was, therefore, call sharpers are received amongst us, not only with indolent enough to speak of this matter with great permission, but favour, I thought it unjust to use impartiality. When I look around me,' said this them like persons upon no establishment; besides, easy gentleman, and consider in a just balance us that it would be an unpardonable dishonour to our bubbles, elder brothers whose support our dull country, to let him leave us with an opinion, that our fathers contrived to depend upon certain acres, with nobility and gentry keep company with common the rooks, whose ancestors left them tbe vide world; thieves and cheats ; 'I told him, they were a sort of I cannot but admire their fraternity, and contenin my tame hussars, that were allowed in our cities, like the Is not Jack Heyday much to be preferred to wild ones in our camp; who had all the privileges the knight he has bubbled ? Jack has his equipage, belonging to us, but at the same time, were not tied his wenches, and his followers: the knight, so far to our discipline or laws.' Aletheus, who is a gentle from a retinue, that he is almost one of Jack's. man of too much virtue for the age he lives in, would However, he is gay, you see, still; a florid outside not let this matter be thus palliated ; but told my His habit speaks the man–And since he must unpupil, 'that he was to understand, that distinction, button, he would not be reduced ontwardly, but is quality, merit, and industry, were laid aside among stripped to his upper coat. But though I have great us by the incursions of these civil hussars; who had temptation to it, I will not at this time gire the got so much countenance, that the breeding and history of the losing side ; but speak the effects of my fashion of the age turned their way to the ruin of thoughts, since the loss of my money, upon the gainorder and economy in all places where they are ad- ing people. This ill fortune makes most med mitted.' But Sophronius, who never falls into heat contemplative and given to reading; at least it bas upon any subject, but applies proper language, tem- happened so to me; and the rise and fall of Sharpers per, and skill, with which the thing in debate is to in all ages has been my contemplation.' be treated, told the youth, that gentleman had I find, all times have had of this people : Homer, spoken nothing but what was literally true; but fell in his excellent heroic poem, calls them Myrmidons, upon it with too much earnestness to give a true idea who were a body that kept among themselves, and of that sort of people he was declaiming against, or to had nothing to lose; and therefore nerer spared remedy the evil which he bewailed : for the acceptance either Greek or Trojan, when they fell in their way, of these men being an ill which had crept into the con- upon a party. But there is a memorable verse, which versation-part of our lives, and not into our constitu- gives us an account of what broke that whole body, tion itself, it must be corrected where it began; and and made both Greeks and Trojans masters of the consequently, is to be amended only by bringing secret of their warfare and plunder. There is nothing raillery and derision upon the persons who are guilty, so pedantic as many quotations; therefore, I shall or those who converse with them. For the sharpers," inform you only, that in this battalion there were to continued he, 'at present, are not as formerly, under officers called Thersites and Pandarus: they were the acceptation of pick-pockets ; but are by custom both less renowned for their beauty than their wit ; erected into a real and venerable body of men, and but each had this particular happiness, that they were have subdued us to so very particular a deference to plunged over head and ears in the same water which them, that though they were known to be men with | made Achilles invulnerable; and had ever after, cerout honour or conscience, no demand is called a debt tain gists which the rest of the world were never to of honour so indisputably as theirs. You may lose enjoy. Among others, they were never to know they your honour to them, but they lay none against you : were the most dreadful to the sight of all mortals, as the priesthood in Roman Catholic countries can nerer to be diffident of their own abilities, never to purchase what they please for the church; but they blush, or ever to be wounded but by each other. can alienate nothing from it. It is from this tolera- Though some historians say, gaming began among the tion, that sharpers are to be found among all sorts of Lydians, to divert hunger, I could cite many anthon assemblies and companies ; and every talent amongst rities to prove it had its rise at the siege of Troy; and men is made use of by some one or other of the that Ulysses won the sevenfold shield at hazard. But society, for the good of their common cause : so that be that as it may, the ruin of the corps of the Myre an inexperienced young gentleman is as often ensnareil midons proceeded from a breach between Thersites by his understanding, as his folly ; for who could be and Pandarus. The first of these was leader of a unmoved, to hear the eloquent Dromio explain the squadron, wherein the latter was but a private man; constitution, talk in the key of Cato, with the severity but having all the good qualities necessary for a par. of one of the ancient sages, and debate the greatest tisan, he was the favourite of his officer. But the question of state in a common chocolate or coffee-whole history of the several changes in the order of house? who could, I say, hear this generous decla- sharpers, from those Myrmidons to our modern men mator, without being fired at his noble zeal, and of address and plunder, will require that we consalt becoming his professed follower, if he might be ad- some ancient manuscripts. As we make these mitted ? Monoculus's gravity would be no less in- enquiries, we shall diurnally communicate them to viting to a beginner in conversation; and the snare of the public, that the Knights of the Industry may be his eloquence would equally catch one who had never better understood by the good people of England. seen an old gentleman so very wise, and yet so little These sort of men, in some ages, were sycophants and

Many other instances of very extraordinary Aatterers only, and were endued with arts of life to men among the brotherhood might be produced ; but capacitate them for the conversation of the rich and every man, who knows the town, can supply himself great ; but now the bubble courts the impostor, and with such examples without their being named.-pretends at the utmost to be but his equal. To clear Will Vafer, who is skilful at finding out the ridicu- up the reasons and causes in such refolutions, and lous side of a thing, and placing it in a new and the different conduct between fools and cheats, shall proper light, though he very seldom talks, thought fit be one of our labours for the good of this kingdom. to enter into this subject. He has lately lost certain How, therefore, pimps, footmen, fiddlers, and lackeys, loose sums, which half the income of his estate will are elevated into companions in this present age, shall