MR. WELLFORD, Flavia and Cynthio are no more. I relieve you from the hard part of which you complain, and banish you from my sight for ever. tion of human nature, and is the standing example, as well as the great guide and instructor, of those who receive his doctrines. Though these two heads cannot be too much insisted upon, I shall but just mention them, since they have been handled by many great and eminent writers. I would therefore propose the following methods to the consideration of such as would find out their secret faults, and make a true estimate of themselves. 1 In the first place, let them consider well what are the characters which they bear among their enemies. Our friends very often flatter us, as much as our own hearts. They either do not see our faults, or conceal them from us, or soften them by their representaRobin had a crown for his afternoon's tions, after such a manner that we think them work; and this is published to admonish Ce- too trivial to be taken notice of. An advercilia to avenge the injury done to Flavia. T.sary, on the contrary, makes a stricter search 'ANN HEART.' No. 399.] Saturday, June 7, 1712. into us, discovers every flaw and imperfection in our tempers; and though his malice may set them in too strong a light, it has ge a Ut nemo in sese tentat descendere!—Per. Sat. iv. 23.nerally some ground for what it advances. A friend exaggerates a man's virtues, an enemy None, none descends into himself to find inflames his crimes. A wise man should give The secret imperfections of his mind. Dryden. just attention to both of them, so far as they HYPOCRISY at the fashionable end of the may tend to the improvement of one, and the town is very different from hypocrisy in the diminution of the other. Plutarch has written city. The modish hypocrite endeavours to an essay on the benefits which a man may reappear more vicious than he really is, the ceive from his enemies, and, among the good other kind of hypocrite more virtuous. The fruits of enmity, mentions this in particular, former is afraid of every thing that has the that by the reproaches which it casts upon us show of religion in it, and would be thought we see the worst side of ourselves, and open engaged in many criminal gallantries and our eyes to several blemishes and defects in amours which he is not guilty of. The lat- our lives and conversations, which we should ter assumes a face of sanctity, and covers a not have observed without the help of such multitude of vices under a seeming religious ill-natured monitors. deportment. In order likewise to come at a true knowBut there is another kind of hypocrisy, ledge of ourselves, we should consider on the which differs from both these, and which other hand how far we may deserve the praises intend to make the subject of this paper: I and approbations which the world bestow upon mean that hypocrisy, by which a man does us; whether the actions they celebrate proceed not only deceive the world, but very often from laudable and worthy motives; and how imposes on himself; that hypocrisy which far we are really possessed of the virtues conceals his own heart from him, and makes which gain us applause among those with him believe he is more virtuous than he whom we converse. Such a reflection is abreally is, and either not attend to his vices, solutely necessary, if we consider how apt we or mistake even his vices for virtues. It is are either to value or condemn ourselves by this fatal hypocrisy, and self-deceit. which is the opinions of others, and to sacrifice the retaken notice of in those words. Who can port of our own hearts to the judgment of the understand his errors? cleanse thou me from world. secret faults." In the next place, that we may not deceive If the open professors of impiety deserve ourselves in a point of so much importance we the utmost application and endeavours of mo- should not lay too great a stress on any supral writers to recover them from vice and posed virtues we possess that are of a doubtful folly, how much more may those lay a claim nature: and such we may esteem all those in to their care and compassion, who are walk- which multitudes of men dissent from us, who ing in the paths of death, while they fancy are as good and wise as ourselves. We should themselves engaged in a course of virtue! I always act with great cautiousness and circumshall endeavour there fore to lay down some spection in points where it is not impossible rules for the discovery of those vices that that we may be deceived. Intemperate zeal, lurk in the secret corners of the soul, and to bigotry, and persecution for any party or opinshow my reader those methods by which he ion, how praise-worthy soever they may apmay arrive at a true and impartial knowledge pear to weak men of our own principles, proof himself. The usual means prescribed for this purpose are, to examine ourselves by the rules which are laid down for our direction in sacred writ, and to compare our lives with the life of that person who acted up to the perfec duce infinite calamities among mankind, and are highly criminal in their own nature: and yet how many persons eminent for piety suffer such monstrous and absurd principles of action to take root in their minds under the colour of Rus virtues! For my own part, I must own I never to the modesty of a woman's manners. yet knew any part so just and reasonable, ticity, broad expression, and forward obtrusion, that a man could follow it in its height and offend those of education, and make the transviolence, and at the same time be innocent. gressors odious to all who have merit enongh We should likewise be very apprehensive of to attract regard. It is in this taste that the those actions which proceed from natural con- scenery is so beautifully ordered in the destitutions, favourite passions, particular edu- scription which Antony makes in the dialogue cation, or whatever promotes our worldly in-between him and Dolabella, of Cleopatra in terest or advantage. In these and the like her barge. cases, a man's judgment is easily perverted, and a wrong bias hung upon his mind. These are the inlets of prejudice, the unguarded avenues of the mind, by which a thousand errors and secret faults find admission, without being observed or taken notice of A wise man will suspect those actions to which he is directed by something besides reason, and always apprehend some concealed evil in every resolution that is of a disputable nature, when it is conformable to his particular temper, his age, or way of life, or when it favours his pleasure or his profit. There is nothing of greater importance to us than thus diligently to sift our thoughts, and examine all these dark recesses of the mind, if we would establish our souls in such a solid and substantial virtue, as will turn to account in that great day when it must stand the test of infinite wisdom and justice. I shall conclude this essay with observing that the two kinds of hypocrisy I have here spoken of, namely, that of deceiving the world, and that of imposing on ourselves, are touched with wonderful beauty in the hundred thirtyninth psalm. The folly of the first kind of bypocrisy is there set forth by reflections on God's omniscience and omnipresence, which are celebrated in as noble strains of poetry as any other I ever met with either sacred or profane. The other kind of hypocrisy, whereby a man deceives himself, is intimated in the No. 400.] Monday, June 9, 1712. L. 'Her galley down the silver Cidnos row'd: A darting glory seem'd to blaze abroad, Here the imagination is warmed with all the objects presented, and yet there is nothing that is luscious, or what raises any idea more loose than that of a beautiful woman set off to advantage. The like, or a more delicate and careful spirit of modesty, appears in the following passage in one of Mr. Phillip's pastorals. 'Breath soft, ye winds! ye waters, gently flow! Shield her, ye trees! ye flowers, around her grow! Ye swains, I beg you, pass in silence by! My love in yonder vale asleep does lie. Desire is corrected when there is a tenderness or admiration expressed which partakes the brutal in it, which disgraces humanity, and passion. Licentious language has something leaves us in the condi ion of the savages in the It is two last verses, where the psalmist addresses field. But it may be asked, To what good use himself to the great Searcher of hearts in that can tend a discourse of this kind at all? emphatical petition. Try me, O God! and to alarm chaste ears against such as have, seek the ground of my heart; prove me, and what is above called, the prevailing gentle examine my thoughts. Look well if there be art.'. Masters of that talent are capable of any way of wickedness in me, and lead me in clothing their thoughts in so soft a dress, and the way everlasting.' something so distant from the secret purpose of their heart, that the imagination of the unguarded is touched with a fondness, which grows too insensibly to be resisted. Much care Latet anguis in herbâ.-Virg. Ecl. iii. 93. and concern for the lady's welfare, to seem afraid lest she should be annoyed by the very There's a snake in the grass.-English Proverb. air which surrounds her, and this uttered raIr should, methinks, preserve modesty and ther with kind looks, and expressed by an inits interests in the world, that the transgression terjection, an 'ah,' or an oh,' at some little of it always creates offence; and the very pur-hazard in moving or making a step, than in poses of wantonness are defeated by a carriage any direct profession of love, are the methods which has in it so much boldness, as to intimate of skilful admirers. They are honest arts when that fear and reluctance are quite extinguished their purpose is such, but infamous when misin an object which would be otherwise desira-applied. It is certain that many a young woble. It was said of a wit of the last age, 'Sedley has that prevailing gentle art man in this town has had her heart irrecoverably won, by men who have not made one advance which ties their admirers, though the females languish with the utmost anxiety. I have often, by way of admonition to my female readers, given them warning against agreeable company of the other sex, except they are well * Dryden's All for Love, act iii. sc. i. acquainted with their characters. Women It is the capricious state of love, to be attended with injuries, suspicions, enmities, truces, quarrelling, and reconcilement. may disguise it if they think fit; and the more to do it, they may be angry at me for saying it; but I say it is natural to them, that they I SHALL publish, for the entertainment of have no manner of approbation of men, without this day, an odd sort of a packet, which I have some degree of love. For this reason he is dan-just received from one of my female corrésgerous to be entertained as a friend or visitant, pondents. who is capable of gaining any eminent esteem or observation, though it be never so remote MR. SPECTATOR, from pretensions as a lover. If a man's heart 'Since you have often confessed that you has not the abhorrence of any treacherous de-are not displeased your papers should somesign, he may easily improve approbation into times convey the complaints of distressed kindness, and kindness into passion. There lovers to each other, I am in hopes you will may possibly be no manner of love between favour one who gives you an undoubted instance of her reformation and at the same them in the eyes of all their acquaintance; no, it is all friendship; and yet they may be as time a convincing proof of the happy influfond as shepherd and shepherdess in a pastoence your labours have had over the most inral, but still the nymph and the swain may be corrigible part of the most incorrigible sex. to each other, no ether, I warrant you, than You must know, sir, I am one of that species Pylades and Orestes. of women, whom you have often characterized under the name of "jilts," and that I send When Lucy decks with flowers her swelling breast, you these lines as well to do public penance And on her elbow leans, dissembling rest; Unable to refrain my madding mind, Nor sheep nor pasture worth my care I find. Once Delia slept, on easy moss reclin'd, Her lovely limbs half bare, and rude the wind: for having so long continued in a known error, as to beg pardon of the party offended. İ the rather choose this way, because it in some measure answers the terms on which he intimated the breach between us might possibly be made up, as you will see by the letter he Such good offices as these, and such friendly sent me the next day after I had discarded thoughts and concerns for one another, are him; which I thought fit to send you a copy what make up the amity, as they call it, be-of, that you might the better know the whole tween man and woman. case. It is the permission of such intercourse 'I must further acquaint you, that before that makes a young woman come to the arms I jilted him, there had been the greatest inof her husband, after the disappointment of timacy between us for a year and a half tofour or five passions which she has successively gether, during all which time I cherished his had for different men, before she is pruden- hopes, and indulged his flame. I leave you to tially given to him for whom she has neither guess, after this, what must be his surprise, love nor friendship. For what should a poor when upon his pressing for my full consent creature do that has lost all her friends? one day, I told him I wondered what could There's Marinet the agreeable has, to my make him fancy he had ever any place in my knowledge, had a friendship for lord Welford, affections. His own sex allow him sense, and which had like to break her heart: then she all ours good-breeding. His person is such had so great a friendship for colonel Hardy, as might, without vanity, make him believe that she could not endure any woman else himself not incapable of being beloved. Our should do any thing but rail at him. Many fortunes indeed, weighed in the nice scale of and fatal have been disasters between friends interest, are not exactly equal, which by the who have fallen out, and these resentments way was the true cause of my jilting him; are more keen than ever those of other men and I had the assurance to acquaint him can possibly be; but in this it happens unfor- with the following maxim, that I should altunately, that as there ought to be nothing ways believe that man's passion to be the most concealed from one friend to another, the violent, who could offer me the largest settlefriends of different sexes very often find fatal effects from their unanimity. ment. I have since changed my opinion, and have endeavoured to let him know so much For my part, who study to pass life in as by several letters, but the barbarous man has much innocence and tranquillity as I can, I refused them all; so that I have no way left shun the company of agreeable women as much of writing to him but by your assistance. If as possible; and must confess that I have, you can bring him about once more, I promise though a tolerable good philosopher, but a to send you all gloves and favours, and shall low opinion of Platonic love: for which reason desire the favour of Sir Roger and yourself to I thought it necessary to give my fair readers stand as godfathers to my first boy. a caution against it, having, to my great concern, observed the waist of a Platonist lately swell to a roundness which is inconsistent with that philosophy. No. 401.] Tuesday, June 10, 1712 In amore hæc omnia insunt vitia. Injuriæ, Suspiciones inimitiæ, induciæ, T. 'I am, Sir, MADAM, 'I am so surprised at the question you were pleased to ask me yesterday, that I am still Bellum, pax rursum. Ter. Ean. Act. 1. Sc. 1. at a loss what to say to it. At least my an swer would be too long to trouble you with, as receive from different hands, and persons of it would come from a person, who, it seems, different circumstances and quality, the very is so very indifferent to you. Instead of it, mention of them, without reflections on the I shall only recommend to your consideration several subjects, would raise all the passions the opinion of one whose sentiments on these which can be felt by human minds. As inmatters I have often heard you say are ex-stances of this, I shall give you two or three tremely just. "A generous and constant letters; the writers of which can have no repassion," says your favourite author, in an course to any legal power for redress, and agreeable lover, where there is not too great seem to have written rather to vent their sora disparity in their circumstances, is the great-row than to receive consolation. est blessing that can befal a person beloved; and, if overlooked in one, may perhaps never be found in another." 'MR. SPECTATOR, 'I am a young woman of beauty and qua'I do not, however, at all despair of being lity, and suitably married to a gentleman who very shortly much better beloved by you than doats on me. But this person of mine is the Antenor is at present; since, whenever my object of an unjust passion in a nobleman who fortune shall exceed his, you were pleased to is very intimate with my husband. This friendintimate your passion would increase accord-ship gives him very easy access and frequent ingly. opportunities of entertaining me apart. My The world has seen me shamefully lose heart is in the utmost anguish, and my face that time to please a fickle woman, which is covered over with confusion, when I impart might have been employed much more to to you another circumstance, which is, that my credit and advantage in other pursuits. my mother, the most mercenary of all women, I shall therefore take the liberty to acquaint is gained by this false friend of my husband's you, however harsh it may sound in a lady's to solicit me for him. I am frequently chid ears, that though your love-fit should hap-by the poor believing man, my husband, for pen to return, unless you could contrive a showing an impatience of his friend's compaway to make your recantation as well known to the public as they are already apprized of the manner with which you have treated me, you shall never more see SIR, 'PHILANDER.' Amoret to Philander. innocence. ny; and I am never alone with my mother, but she tells me stories of the discretionary part of the world, and such a one, and such a one, who are guilty of as much as she advises me to. She laughs at my astonishment; and seems to hint to me, that, as virtuous as she has always appeared, I am not the daughter of her husband. It is possible that printing this letter Upon reflection, I find the injury I have may relieve me from the unnatural importunidone both to you and myself to be so great, ty of my mother, and the perfidious courtship that, though the part I now act may appear love of virtue, and am resolved to preserve my of my husband's friend. I have an unfeigned contrary to that decorum usually observed by our sex, yet I purposely break through all The only way I can think of to rules, that my repentance may in some meaavoid the fatal consequences of the discovery sure equal my crime. I assure you, that in of this matter, is to fly away for ever, which I my present hopes of recovering you, I look must do to avoid my husband's fatal resentupon Antenor's estate with contempt. The ment against the man who attempts to abuse fop was here yesterday in a gilt chariot and him, and the shame of exposing a parent to new liveries, but I refused to see him.infamy.. The persons concerned will know Though I dread to meet your eyes; after these circumstances relate to them; and, what has passed, I flatter myself, that, athough the regard to virtue is dead in them, midst all their confusion, you will discover I have some hopes from their fear of shame such a tenderness in mine, as none can imi- upon reading this in your paper; which I contate but those who love. I shall be all this jure you to publish, if you have any compasmonth at lady D's in the country; but sion for injured virtue. the woods, the fields, and gardens, without Philander, afford no pleasure to the unhappy 'AMORET.' I must desire you, dear Mr. Spectator, to publish this my letter to Philander as soon as possible, and to assure him that I know nothing at all of the death of his rich uncle in Gloucestershire.' X. MR. SPECTATOR, 'SYLVIA.' 'I am the husband of a woman of merit, but am fallen in love, as they call it, with a lady of her acquaintance, who is going to be married to a gentleman who deserves her. I am in a trust relating to this lady's fortune, which makes my concurrence in this matter necessary; but I have so irresistible a rage and envy rise in me when I consider his future happiness, that against all reason, equity, and common justice, I am ever playing mean tricks to suspend the nuptials. I have no manner of hopes for myself; Emilia, for so I'll call her, is a woman of the most strict virtue; her lover is a gentleman whom of all WERE I to publish all the advertisements I others I could wish my friend; but envy and No. 402.] Wednesday, June 11, 1712. Ipse sibi tradit Spectator. et quæ Hor. Ars. Poet. 1. 181. Sent by the Spectator to himself. jealousy, though placed so unjustly, waste my under no more restraint in their company than very being; and, with the torment and sense if I were alone; and I doubt not but in a small of a demon, I am ever cursing what I cannot time contempt and hatred will take place of but approve. I wish it were the beginning of the remains of affection to a rascal. repentance, that I sit down and describe my present disposition with so hellish an aspect: but at present the destruction of these two excellent persons would be more welcome to me than their happiness. Mr. Spectator, pray let me have a paper on these terrible groundless sufferings, and do all you can to exorcise crowds who are in some degree possessed as I am. I 'I am, Sir, "Your affectionate reader, 'DORINDA.' MR. SPECTATOR, "I had the misfortune to be an uncle before knew my nephews from my nieces and now we are grown up to better acquaintance, they deny me the respect they owe. One upbraids me with being their familiar, another will hardly be persuaded that I am an uncle, a third calls me little uncle, and a fourth tells me T. Sir, 'Your most obedient servant, CORNELIUS NEPOS.' 'I have no other means but this to express there is no duty at all due to an uncle. I have my thanks to one man, and my resentment a brother-in-law whose son will win all my afagainst another. My circumstances are as fection, unless you shall think this worthy of follow: I have been for five years last past your cognizance, and will be pleased to precourted by a gentleman of greater fortune scribe some rules for our future reciprocal bethan I ought to expect, as the market for wo-haviour. It will be worthy the particularity men goes. You must, to be sure, have ob- of your genius to lay down some rules for his served people who live in that sort of way, as conduct who was, as it were, born an old man ; all their friends reckon it will be a match, and in which you will much oblige, are marked out by all the world for each other. In this view we have been regarded for some time, and I have above these three years loved him tenderly. As he is very careful of his fortune, I always thought he lived in a near No. 403.] Thursday, June 12, 1712. manner, to lay up what he thought was wanting in my fortune to make up what he might expect in another. Within these few months I have observed his carriage very much altered, Of many men he saw the manners. and he has affected a certain air of getting me alone, and talking with a mighty profusion WHEN I consider this great city in its seveof passionate words, how I am not to be re- ral quarters and divisions, I look upon it as an sisted longer, how irresistible his wishes are, aggregate of various nations distinguished from and the like. As long as I have been acquaint- each other by their respective customs, maned with him, I could not on such occasions ners, and interests. The courts of two coun Qui mores homimum multorum vidit Hor. Ars. Poet. v. 142. guage, are a distinct people from those of Cheapside, who are likewise, removed from those of the Temple on the one side, and those of Smithfield on the other, by several climates and degrees in their way of thinking and conversing together. say down-right to him, "You know you may tries do not so much differ from one another, make me yours when you please." But the as the court and city, in their peculiar ways of other night he with great frankness and impu- life and conversation. In short, the inhabidence explained to me, that he thought of me tants of St. James's, notwithstanding they live only as a mistress. I answered this declara- under the same laws, and speak the same lantion as it deserved; upon which he only doubled the terms on which he proposed my yielding. When my anger heightened upon him, he told me he was sorry he had made so little use of the unguarded hours we had been together so remote from company, "as indeed," continued he, "so we are at present." I flew For this reason, when any public affair is from him to a neighbouring gentlewoman's upon the anvil, I love to hear the reflections house, and though her husband was in the that arise upon it in the several districts and room, threw myself on a couch, and burst in- parishes of London and Westminster, and to to a passion of tears. My friend desired her ramble up and down a whole day together, in husband to leave the room. "But," said he, order to make myself acquainted with the opin"there is something so extraordinary in this, ions of my ingenious countrymen. By this that I will partake in the affliction; and, be means I know the faces of all the principal it what it will, she is so much your friend, politicians within the bills of mortality; and that she kuows she may command what ser- as every coffee-house has some particular vices I can do her." The man sat down by statesman belonging to it, who is the mouth of me, and spoke so like a brother, that I told him the street where he lives, I always take care to my whole affliction. He spoke of the injury place myself near him, in order to know his done me with so much indignation, and ani- judgment on the present posture of affairs. mated me against the love he said he saw I had The last progress that I made with this intenfor the wretch who would have betrayed me, tion was about three months ago, when we with so much reason and humanity to my weak- had a current report of the king of France's ness, that I doubt not of my perseverance. death. As I foresaw this would produce a His wife and he are my comforters, and I am new face of things in Europe, and many cu |