makes cleanlinefs more immediately neceffary than in colder countries, it is made one part of their religion The Jewish law, (and the Mahometan, which in fome things copies after it) is filled with bathings, purifications, and other rites of the like nature. Though there is the above-named convenient reafon to be affigned for thefe ceremonies, the chief intention undoubtedly was to typify inward purity and cleanlinefs of heart by thofe outward wafhings. We read several injunctions of this kind in the book of Deuteronomy, which confirm this truth; and which are but ill-accounted for by faying, as fome do, that they were only instituted for convenience in the deferts, which otherwife could not have been habitable for fo many years.

I fhall conclude this effay, with a story which I have fomewhere read in an account of Mahometan fuperftitions.

A Dervife of great fanctity one morning had the misfortune, as he took up a crystal cup which was confecrated to the prophet, to let it fall upon the ground, and dafh it in pieces. His fon coming in fome time after, he stretched out his hand to bless him, as his manner was every morning; but the youth going cut ftumbled over the threshold and broke his arm. As the old man wondered at these events, a caravan paffed by in its way from Mecca. The Dervife approached it to beg a bleffing; but as he ftroked one of the holy Camels, he received a kick from the beast, that forely bruifed him. His forrow and amazement increafed upon him, until he recollected that through hurry and inadvertency he had that mornining come abroad without washing his hands.

FRIDAY,

No 632. MONDAY, DECEMBER 13.

Explebo numerum, reddarque tenebris.

VIRG. En. vi. ver. 545

-The number I'll complete,

Then to obfcurity well-pleas'd retreat.

THE

'HE love of fymmetry and order, which is natural to the mind of man, betrays him fometimes into very whimfical fancies. This noble principle, fays a French Author, loves to amufe itself an the most trifling occafions. You may fee a profound philofopher, fays he, walk for an hour together in his chamber, and induftriously treading, at every step, upon every other board in the flooring. Every reader will recollect several instances of this nature without my affiftance. I think it was Gregorio Leti who had published as many books as he was years old; which was a rule he had laid down and punctually obferved to the year of his death. It was, perhaps, a thought of the like nature, which determined Homer himself to divide each of his poems into as many books as there are letters in the Greek alphabet. Herodotus has in the fame manner adapted. his books to the number of the Mufes, for which reafon many a learned man hath wished there had been more than nine of that fifterhood.

1.

Several Epic poets have religiously followed Virgil as to the number of his books; and even Milton is thought by many to have changed the num of his books from ten to twelve, for no other reafon; as Cowley tells us, it was his defign, had he finished his Davideis, to have also imitated the Eneid in this particular. I believe every one will agree with me, that a perfection of this nature

hath

hath no foundation in reason; and, with due refpect to thefe great names, may be looked upon as fomething whimsical.

I mention thefe great examples in defence of my Bookfeller, who occafioned this Eighth Volume of Spectators, because, as he faid, he thought Seven a very odd number. On the other fide, feveral grave reafons were urged on this important fubject; as in particular, that Seven was the precife number of the wife men, and that the most beautiful conftellation in the heavens was compofed of feven stars. This he allowed to be true, but still infifted, that Seven was an odd number; fuggefting at the fame time, that if he were provided with a fufficient ftock of leading papers, he should find friends ready enough to carry on the work. Having by this means got his veffel launched and fet afloat, he hath committed the fteerage of it, from time to time, to fuch as he thought capable of conducting it.

The clofe of this volume, which the town may now expect in a little time, may poffibly afcribe each fheet to its proper author.

It were no hard task to continue this paper a confiderable time longer, by the help of large contributions fent from unknown hands.

I cannot give the town a better opinion of the SPECTATOR'S correfpondents, than by publishing the following letter, with a very fine copy of verfes upon a fubject perfectly new.

Mr. SPECTATOR, Dublin, Nov. 30, 1714. YOU lately recommended to your female rea

ders the good old cuftom of their grandmothers, who used to lay out a great part of their time in needlework: I entirely agree with you in your fentiments, and think it would not be of lefs advantage to themfelves and their posterity, than to the reputation of many of their good neighbours,

neighbours, if they paft many of thofe hours in this innocent entertainment, which are loft at the tea-table. I would, however, humbly offer to your confideration, the cafe of the poetical Ladies; who, though they may be willing to 'take any advice given them by the SPECTATOR, yet cannot fo eafily quit their pen and ink as you may imagine. Pray allow them, at least now and then, to indulge themfelves in other amusements of fancy, when they are tired`with stoop. ing to their tapestry. There is a very particular kind of work, which of late feveral Ladies here in our kingdom are very fond of, which seems • very well adapted to a poetical genius: It is the making of Grottos. I know a Lady who has a very beautiful one, compofed by herself, nor is there one hell in it not ftuck up by her own hands. I here send you a poem to the fair architect, which I would not offer to herself, until I knew whether this method of a Lady's paffing her time were approved off by the British SPECTATOR, which, with the poem, I fubmit to your cenfure; who am,

Your conftant reader,

To Mrs.

• and humble fervant,

on her Grotto.

A Grotto fo complete, with fuch defign,

· A. B.'

What hands, Calypfo, cou'd have form'd but thine ?
Each checker'd pebble, aud each fhining fhell,
So well proportion'd, and difpos'd fo well,
Surprising luftre from thy thought receive,
Affuming beauties more than nature gave.
To her their various fhapes, and glofy hue,
Their curious fymmetry they owe to you.
Not fam'd Amphion's lute, whofe powerful call
Made willing ftones dance to the Theban wall,
In more harmonicus ranks-cou'd make them fall.

Not

Not ev'ning cloud a brighter arch can fhow,
Not richer colours paint the heav'nly bow.

Where can unpolifb'd nature boast a piece,
In all her mofy cells exact as this?
At the gay party-colour'd scene we start,
For chance too regular, too rude for art.

Charm'd with the fight, my ravish'd breaft is fir'd
With hints like thofe which ancient bards infpir'd;
All the feign'd tales by fuperftition told,
All the bright train of fabled nymphs of old,
Th' enthufiaftic mufe believes are true,
Thinks the fpot facred, and its genius you.
Loft in wild rapture, wou'd fhe fain difclofe,
How by degrees the pleafing wonder rofe;
Induftrious in a faithful verfe to trace
The various beauties of the lovely place;
And while fhe keeps the glowing work in view,
Thro' ev'ry maze thy artful hand pursue.

O were I equal to the bold defign,
Or cou'd I boaft fuch happy art as thine!
That cou'd rude bells in fuch fweet order place,
Give common objects fuch uncommon grace!
Like them may well-chofe words in every line,
As fweetly temper'd should as fweetly shine.
So just a fancy fhou'd my numbers warm,
Like the gay piece fhou'd the defcription charm.
Then with fuperior ftrength my voice I'd raife,
The echoing Grotto fbou'd approve my lays
Pleas'd to reflect the well-fung founder's praife.

}

VOL. VIII.

Dd

WEDNESDAY,