She

to lay down their Loads, with a Defign to give every one his own again. They discharged themfelves with a great deal of a Pleasure, after which, the Phantom, who had led them into fuch grofs Delufions, was commanded to disappear! There was fent in her ftead a Goddess of quite different Figure: Her Motions were fteady and compofed, and her Afpect ferious but chearful. She every! now and then caft her Eyes towards Heaven, and fixed them upon Jupiter: Her Name was PATIENCE. had no fooner placed herself by the Mount of Sorrows, but what I thought very remarkable, the whole Heap funk to fuch a degree, that it did not appear a third part fo big as it was before. She afterwards returned every Man his own Proper Calamity, and teaching him how to bear it in the most commodious manner, he marched off with it contentedly, being very well pleased that he had not been left to his own Choice, as to the kind of Evils which fell to his Lot.

BESIDES the feveral Pieces of Morality to be drawn out of this Vifion, I learnt from it, never to repine at my own Misfortunes, or to envy the Haps

D S

pinefs

piness of another, fince it is impoffible for any Man to form a right Judgment of his Neighbour's Sufferings; for which Reason alfo I have determined never to think too lightly of another's Complaints, but to regard the Sorrow of my Fellow-Creatures with Sentiments of Humanity and Compaffion.

VERY one has heard of the

Famous Conjurer, who, ac

E

cording to the Opinion of the Vulgar, has ftudied himfelf dumb; for which Reafon, as it is believed, he delivers out all his Oracles in Writing. Be that as it will, the blind Terefias was not more famous in Greece, than this dumb Artist has been, for fome Years last past, in the Cities of London and Westminster. Thus much for the profound Gentleman who honours me with the following Epi ftle.

SIR, From my Cell, June 24, 1714. EING informed that you have lately got the Ufe of your Tongue, I have fome Thoughts of following your Example, that I may be a Fortune-teller properly fpeaking. I am grown weary of my Taciturnity, and C having ferved my Country many Years under the Title of the dumb Doctor, I fhall now prophefie by Word of Mouth, and (as Mr. Lee fays of the Magpie, who you know was a great Fortune-teller among the Ancients) • chatter Futurity. I have hitherto • chosen to receive Questions and return • Answers in Writing, that I might avoid the Tediousness and Trouble of Debates, my Querifts being generally ' of a Humour to think that they have never Predictions enough for their 'Money. In short, Sir, my Cafe has 'been fomething like that of those difcreet Animals the Monkeys, who, as the Indians tell us, can fpeak if they would, but purposely avoid it that they may not be made to work. I have hitherto gained a livelihood by holding my Tongue, but fhall now

• open

open my Mouth in order to fill it. If I appear a little Word-bound in my firft Solutions and Refponfes, I hope it will not be imputed to any Want of Forefight, but to the long Difufe • of Speech. I doubt not but by this Invention to have all my former Cufto'mers over again, for if I have promi• fed any of them Lovers or Husbands, Riches or good Luck, it is my Defign to confirm to them viva voce, what I have already given them under my Hand. If you will honour me with a Vifit, I will compliment you with • the first opening of my Mouth, and if < you please you may make an entertaining Dialogue out of the Converfation of two dumb Men. Excufe this Trouble, worthy Sir, from one who has been a long time

Your filent Admirer,

Cornelius Agrippa.

I have received the following Letter, or rather Billet-doux, from a pert young Baggage, who congratulates with me upon the fame Occafion.

Dear

Dear Mr. Prate-apace,..

I

June 23, 1714.

Am a Member of a Female Society who call our felves the ChitChat Club, and am ordered by the whole Sifterhood, to congratulate you upon the use of your Tongue. We have all of us a mighty Mind to hear you talk, and if you will take your Place among us for an Evening, we have unanimoufly agreed to allow you one Minute in ten, without Interrup • tion,

I am, SIR,

Your bumble Servant,

S. T.

P. S. You may find us at my Lady Betty Clack's, who will leave Orders with her Porter, that if an elderly Gentleman, with a fhort Face, enquires for ber, he shall be admitted and no Questions asked..

AS this particular Paper shall confift wholly of what I have received from my Correfpondents, I fhall fill up the remaining Pars of it with other congratulatory Letters of the fame nature.