'I am, &c. From the Hoop. 'TOM NIMBLE.' 'MR. SPECTATOR, pleased to say he took me as a friend and satisfaction of being praised by her for my companion; and whether he looked upon stratagem. the scarf like the lace and shoulder-knot of a footman, as a badge of servitude and dependence, I do not know, but he was so kind as to leave my wearing of it to my own discretion; and, not having any just 'The virgins of Great Britain are very title to it from my degrees, I am content much obliged to you for putting them upon to be without the ornament. The privileges such tedious drudgeries in needle-work as of our nobility to keep a certain number were fit only for the Hilpas and the Nilpas of chaplains are undisputed, though perhaps that lived before the flood. Here is a stir innot one in ten of those reverend gentlemen deed with your histories in embroidery, your have any relation to the noble families their groves with shades of silk and streams of moscarfs belong to; the right generally of cre- hair! I would have you to know, that I hope ating all chaplains, except the domestic (where to kill a hundred lovers before the best housethere is one), being nothing more than the wife in England can stitch out a battle; and perquisite of a steward's place, who, if he do not fear but to provide boys and girls much happens to outlive any considerable number faster than your disciples can embroider of his noble masters, shall probably, at one them. I love birds and beasts as well as you, and the same time, have fifty chaplains, all in their proper accoutrements, of his own creation; though perhaps there hath been neither grace nor prayer said in the family since the introduction of the first coronet. • MR. SPECTATOR, ' I am, &c.' but am content to fancy them when they are really made. What do you think of gilt leather for furniture? There is your pretty hangings for your chamber!* and, what is more, our own country is the only place in Europe where work of that kind is tolerably done. Without minding your musty lessons, I am this minute going to St. Paul's church-yard to bespeak a screen and a set of hangings; and am resolved to encourage the manufacture of 'I wish you would write a philosophical paper about natural antipathies, with a word or two concerning the strength of imagina- my country. tion. I can give you a list upon the first notice, of a rational china cup, of an egg that walks upon two legs, and a quart-pot Yours, 'CLEORA.' that sings like a nightingale. There is in No. 610.] Friday, October 22, 1714. Sic, cum transiêrint mei Thus, when my fleeting days at last, Seneca, Who dies, to others too much known, my neighbourhood a very pretty prattling shoulder of veal, that squalls out at the sight of a knife. Then, as for natural antipathies, I know a general officer who was never conquered but by a smothered rabbit; and a wife that domineers over her husband by the help of a breast of mutton. A story that relates to myself on this subject may be thought not unentertaining, especially when I assure you that it is literally true. I had long made love to a lady, in the possession of whom I am now the happiest of mankind, whose hand I should have gained with much difficulty without the assistance of a cat. You must know I HAVE often wondered that the Jews should then, that my most dangerous rival had so contrive such worthless greatness for the Destrong an aversion to this species, that he in- liver whom they expected, as to dress him up fallibly swooned away at the sight of that harm-in external pomp and pageantry, and repreless creature. My friend, Mrs. Lucy, her maid, sent him to their imaginations as making hahaving a greater respect for me and my purse voc amongst his creatures, and actuated with than she had for my rival, always took care to the poor ambition of a Cæsar or an Alexander. pin the tail of a cat under the gown of her How much more illustrious does he appear in mistress, whenever she knew of his coming; his real character, when considered as the auwhich had such an effect, that every time he thor of universal benevolence among men, as entered the room, he looked more like one of refining our passions, exalting our nature, the figures in Mrs. Salmon's wax-work,* than giving us vast ideas of immortality, and a desirable lover. In short, he grew sick of teaching us a contempt of that little showy her company; which the young lady taking grandeur wherein the Jews made the glory notice of (who no more knew why than he of their Messiah to consist! did), she sent me a challenge to meet her in Lincoln's-inn chapel, which I joyfully accepted; and have, amongst other pleasures, the *An exhibition then to be seen near St. Dunstan's church, Fleet Street, but which, about fifteen years ago, was moved to the opposite side of the street. 'Nothing,' says Longinus, can be great, the contempt of which is great.' The pos session of wealth and riches cannot give a man a title to greatness, because it is looked *There was about this time a celebrated manufactory of tapestry at Chelsea. upon as a greatness of mind to contemn these gifts of fortune, and to be above the desire of them. I have therefore been inclined to think that there are greater men who lie concealed among the species, than those who come out and draw upon themselves the eyes and admiration of mankind. Virgil would never have been heard of, had not his domestic misfortunes driven him out of his obscurity, and brought him to Rome. If we suppose that there are spirits, or angels, who look into the ways of men, as it is highly probable there are, both from reason and revelation, how different are the notions which they entertain of us, from those which we are apt to form of one another! Were they to give us in their catalogue of such worthies as are now living, how different would it be from that which any of our own species would draw up! Α Thus liv'd obscurely then without a name, 611.] Monday, October 25, 1714. Perfide! sed duris genuit te cautibus horrens Caucasus, Hyrcanæque admôrunt ubera tigres. Virg. En. iv. 366. Perfidious man! thy parent was a rock, We are dazzled with the splendour of titles, the ostentation of learning, the noise of victories: they, on the contrary, see the philosopher in the cottage, who possesses his soul in patience and thankfulness, under the pressures of what little minds call poverty and distress. They do not look for great men at the head of armies, or among the pomps of a court, but often find them out in shades and solitudes, in No. the private walks and by-paths of life. The evening's walk of a wise man is more illustrious in their sight than the march of a general at the head of a hundred thousand men. contemplation of God's works; a voluntary act of justice to our own detriment; a generous concern for the good of mankind; tears I AM willing to postpone every thing, to do that are shed in silence for the misery of any the least service for the deserving and unothers; a private desire or resentment broken fortunate. Accordingly I have caused the foland subdued; in short, an unfeigned exercise lowing letter to be inserted in my paper the of humility, or any other virtue, are such ac-moment that it came to my hands, without tions as are glorious in their sight, and deno-altering one tittle in an account which the lady minate men great and reputable. The most relates so handsomely herself. famous among us are often looked upon with pity, with contempt, or with indignation; whilst those who are most obscure among 'I flatter myself you will not only pity, but, their own species are regarded with love, with approbation, and esteem. The moral of the present speculation amounts to this; that we should not be led away by the censures and applauses of men, but consider the figure that every person will make at that time, when Wisdom shall be justified of her children,' and nothing pass for great or illustrious, which is not an ornament and perfection to human nature. And fierce Hyrcanian tigers gave thee suck. MR. SPECTATOR, if possible, redress a misfortune myself and several others of my sex lie under. I hope you will not be offended, nor think I mean by this to justify my own imprudent conduct, or expect you should. No: I am sensible how severely, in some of your former papers, you have reproved persons guilty of the like mismanagement. I was scarce sixteen, and I may say, without vanity, handsome, when courted by a false perjured man; who, upon promise of marriage, rendered me the most unhappy After he had deluded me from The story of Gyges, the rich Lydian mon arch, is a memorable instance to our present of women. purpose. The oracle being asked by Gyges, my parents, who were people of very good who was the happiest man, replied, Aglas. fashion, in less than three months he left me. Gyges, who expected to have heard himself My parents would not see nor hear from me; named on this occasion, was much surprised, and, had it not been for a servant who had and very curious to know who this Aglaus lived in our family, I must certainly have should be. After much inquiry, he was found perished for want of bread. However, it to be an obscure countryman, who employed pleased Providence, in a very short time, to all his time in cultivating a garden, and a few acres of land about his house. Thus Aglaus (a man unknown to men, alter my miserable condition. A gentleman saw me, liked me, and married me. My parents were reconciled; and I might be as happy in the change of my condition, as I was before miserable, but for some things, that you shall know, which are insupportable to me; and I am sure you have so much honour It is a mark of cowardice passively to forand compassion as to let those persons know, bear resenting an affront, the resenting of in some of your papers, how much they are which would lead a man into danger; it is no in the wrong. I have been married near five less a sign of cowardice to affront a creature years, and do not know that in all that time I that hath not power to avenge itself. Whatever went abroad without my husband's leave ever name therefore this ungenerous man may and approbation. I am obliged, through the bestow on the helpless lady he hath injured, I importunities of several of my relations, to go shall not scruple to give him, in return for it, abroad oftener than suits my temper. Then the appellation of coward. it is I labour under insupportable agonies. A man that can so far descend from his digThat man, or rather monster, haunts every nity, as to strike a lady, can never recover his place I go to. Base villain! by reason I will reputation with either sex, because no provonot admit his nauseous wicked visits and ap- cation is thought strong enough to justify pointments, he strives all the ways he can to such treatment from the powerful towards the ruin me. He left me destitute of friend or weak. In the circumstances in which poor money, nor ever thought me worth inquiring Lesbia is situated, she can appeal to no man after, until he unfortunately happened to see whatsoever to avenge an insult more grievous me in a front-box sparkling with jewels. than a blow. If she could open her mouth, the Then his passion returned. Then the hypo-base man knows that a husband, a brother, a crite pretended to be a penitent. Then he generous friend, would die to see her righted. practised all those arts that helped before to A generous mind, however enraged against I am not to be deceived a second an enemy, feels its resentments sink and vatime by him. I hate and abhor his odious pas-nish away when the object of its wrath falls insion; and as he plainly perceives it, either out to its power. An estranged friend, filled of spite or diversion he makes it his business to with jealousy and discontent towards a boexpose me. I never fail seeing him in all pub- som acquaintance, is apt to overflow with tenlic company, where he is always most industri- derness and remorse, when a creature that ously spiteful. He hath, in short, told all his was once dear to him undergoes any misforacquaintance of our unhappy affair; they tell tune. What name then shall we give to his theirs; so that it is no secret among his com- ingratitude, (who forgetting the favours he panions, which are numerous. They to whom solicited with eagerness, and received with raphe tells it, think they have a title to be very ture) can insult the miseries that he himself familiar. If they bow to me, and I out of good caused, and make sport with the pain to manners return it, then I am pestered with which he owes his greatest pleasure? There is freedoms that are no ways agreeable to myself but one being in the creation whose province or company. If I turn my eyes from them, it is to practise upon the imbecilities of frail or seem displeased, they sour upon it, and creatures, and triumph in the woes which his whisper the next person; he his next; until I own artifices brought about; and we well have at last the eyes of the whole company up-know those who follow his example will receive on me. Nay they report abominable false- his reward. undo me. . hoods, under that mistaken notion, "She that Leaving my fair correspondent to the direcwill grant favours to one man will to a hun- tion of her own wisdom and modesty ; and her dred." I beg you will let those who are guilty enemy, and his mean accomplices, to the comknow how ungenerous this way of proceeding punction of their own hearts; I shall conis. I am sure he will know himself the person clude this paper with a memorable instance aimed at, and perhaps put a stop to the inso- of revenge, taken by a Spanish lady upon a lence of others. Cursed is the fate of unhappy guilty lover, which may serve to show what women! that men may boast and glory in violent effects are wrought by the most tenthose things that we must think of with shame der passion, when soured into hatred; and and horror! You have the art of making such may deter the young and unwary from unodious customs appear detestable. For my lawful love. The story, however romantic it sake, and, I am sure, for the sake of several may appear, I have heard affirmed for a truth. others who dare not own it, but, like me, lie Not many years ago an English gentleman, under the same misfortunes, make it as infa- who, in a rencounter by night in the streets mous for a man to boast of favours, or expose of Madrid, had the misfortune to kill his man, our sex, as it is to take the lie, or a box on the fled into a church-porch for sanctuary. Leanear, and not resent it. ing against the door, he was surprised to 'Your constant reader and admirer, find it open, and a glimmering light in the LESBIA. church. He had the courage to advance towards the light; but was terribly startled at 'P.S. I am the more impatient under this the sight of a woman in white, who ascendmisfortune, having received fresh provocation, ed from a grave with a bloody knife in her last Wednesday, in the Abbey.' I entirely agree with the amiable and unfortunate Lesbia, that an insult upon a woman in her circumstances is as infamous in a man, as a tame behaviour when the lie or a buffet is given which truth I shall beg leave of her to illustrate by the following observation. hand. The phantom marched up to him, and asked him what he did there. He told her the truth, without reserve, believing that he had met a ghost; upon which she spoke to him in the following manner: 'Stranger, thou art in my power: I am a murderer as thou art. Know then that I am a nun of a noble family. A base perjured man undid me, and boasted of it. I soon had him despatched; but not mansion-houses, you are sure to find the first content with the murder, I have bribed the in the catalogue a great statesman, or a soldier sexton to let me enter his grave, and have now with an honourable commission. The honest plucked out his false heart from his body; artificer that begot him, and all his frugal anand thus I use a traitor's heart. At these cestors before him, are torn off from the top words she tore it in pieces and trampled it un-of the register; and you are not left to imader her feet. No. 612.] Wednesday, October 27, 1714. Murranum hic, atavos et avorum antiqua sonantem or no. Dryden. The following letter ridicules the folly I have mentioned in a new, and I think, not disagreeable light. MR. SPECTATOR, gine that the noble founder of the family ever had a father. Were we to trace many boasted lines further backwards, we should lose them in a mob of tradesmen, or a crowd of rustics, without hope of seeing them emerge again not unlike the old Appian way, which, after having run many miles in length, loses itself in a bog. 'We passed slightly over three or four of 'I lately made a visit to an old country gentleman, who is very far gone in this sort of family madness. I found him in his study perusing an old register of his family, which he had Ir is highly laudable to pay respect to men just then discovered as it was branched out in who are descended from worthy ancestors, not the form of a tree, upon a skin of parchment. only out of gratitude to those who have done Having the honour to have some of his blood good to mankind, but as it is an encourage-in my veins, he permitted me to cast my eye ment to others to follow their example. But over the boughs of this venerable plant; and this is an honour to be received, not demanded, asked my advice in the reforming of some of by the descendants of great men; and they the superfluous branches. who are apt to remind us of their ancestors only put us upon making comparisons to their our immediate forefathers, whom we knew by own disadvantage. There is some pretence tradition, but were soon stopped by an alderfor boasting of wit, beauty, strength, or wealth, kinsman's heart go pit-a-pat. His confusion man of London, who I perceived made my because the communication of them may give pleasure or profit to others; but we can have increased when he found the alderman's father no merit, nor ought we to claim any respect, be- to be a grazier; but he recovered his fright cause our fathers acted well, whether we would upon seeing justice of the quorum at the end of his titles. Things went on pretty well as we threw our eyes occasionally over the tree, when unfortunately he perceived a merchanttailor perched on a bough, who was said greatly to have increased the estate; he was just going to cut him off if he had not seen gent. after the name of his son; who was recorded to have 'Were the genealogy of every family pre-mortgaged one of the manors his honest father served, there would probably be no man va- had purchased. A weaver, who was burnt for lued or despised on account of his birth. There his religion in the reign of queen Mary, was is scarce a beggar in the streets, who would pruned away without mercy; as was likewise not find himself lineally descended from some a yeoman, who died of a fall from his own great man; nor any one of the highest title, cart. But great was our triumph in one of the who would not discover several base and indi- blood who was beheaded for high treason: gent persons among his ancestors. It would which nevertheless was not a little allayed by be a pleasant entertainment to see one pedi- another of our ancestors who was hanged for gre of men appear together, under the same stealing sheep. The expectations of my good characters they bore when they acted their cousin were wonderfully raised by a match inrespective parts among the living. Suppose to the family of a knight; but unfortunately therefore a gentleman, full of his illustrious for us this branch proved barren: on the other family, should in the same manner Virgil hand, Margery the milk-maid, being twined makes Æneas look over his descendants, see round a bough, it flourished out into so many the whole line of his progenitors pass in a re- shoots, and bent with so much fruit, that the view before his eyes-with bow many varying old gentleman was quite out of countenance. passions would he behold shepherds and sol-To comfort me under this disgrace, he singled diers, statesmen and artificers, princes and out a branch ten times more fruitful than the beggars, walk in the procession of five thou-other, which he told me he valued more than sand years! How would his heart sink or flut-any in the tree, and bade me be of good comter at the several sports of fortune, in a scene fort. This enormous bough was a graft out so diversified with rags and purple, handi- of a Welsh heiress, with so many Ap's upon craft tools and sceptres, ensigns of dignity, it, that it might have made a little grove by itand emblems of disgrace! And how would self. From the trunk of the pedigree, which his fears and apprehensions, his transports was chiefly composed of labourers and shepand mortifications, succeed one another, as the line of his genealogy appeared bright or obscure! 'In most of the pedigrees hung up in old herds, arose a huge sprout of farmers: this was branched out into yeoman, and ended in a sheriff of the county, who was knighted for his good service to the crown in bringing up an address. Several of the names that seemed was the result of a laudable ambition. It was to disparage the family, being looked upon as not until after frequent disappointments that mistakes, were lopped off as rotten or wither- he termed himself the melancholy Cowley; ed; as, on the contrary, no small number ap- and he praised solitude when he despaired of pearing without any titles, my cousin, to sup- shining in a court. The soul of man is an ply the defects of the manuscript, added esq. active principle. He therefore, who withat the end of each of them. draws himself from the scene before he has 'This tree, so pruned, dressed and cultivated, played his part, ought to be hissed off the was, within a few days, transplanted into a stage, and cannot be deemed virtuous, belarge sheet of vellum, and placed in the great cause he refuses to answer his end. I must hall, where it attracts the veneration of his own I am fired with an honest ambition to tenants every Sunday morning, while they wait imitate every illustrious example. The batuntil his worship is ready to go to church; tles of Blenheim and Ramilies have more than wondering that a man who had so many fathers once made me wish myself a soldier. And, before him should not be made a knight, or at when I have seen those actions so nobly celeleast a justice of the peace.' brated by our poets, I have secretly aspired to be one of that distinguished class. But in vain I wish, in vain I pant with the desire of action. I am chained down in obscurity, and the only pleasure I can take is in seeing so many brighter geniuses join their friendly Dryden.lights to add to the splendour of the throne. Farewell then, dear Spec, and believe me to No. 613.] Friday, October 29, 1714. Studiis florentem ignobilis oti. Virg. Georg. iv. 564. Affecting studies of less noisy praise. I is reckoned a piece of ill-breeding for be with great emulation, and no envy, 'Your professed admirer, one man to engross the whole talk to himself. For this reason, since I keep three visiting-days in the week, I am content now and then to let my friends put in a word. There are several advantages hereby accruing both to my reaSIR, Middle Temple, Oct. 26, 1714. ders and myself. As first, young and modest 'Though you have formerly made eloquence writers have an opportunity of getting into the subject of one or more of your papers, I print; again, the town enjoys the pleasures of do not remember that you ever considered it variety; and posterity will see the humour of as possessed by a set of people, who are so the present age, by the help of these lights far from making Quintilian's rules their pracinto private and domestic life. The benefits I tice, that, I dare say for them, they never receive from thence are such as these: I gain heard of such an author, and yet are no less more time for future speculations; pick up masters of it than Tully or Demosthenes hints which I improve for the public good; among the ancients, or whom you please give advice; redress grievances; and, by among the moderns. The persons I am leaving commodious spaces between the seve- speaking of are our common beggars about ral letters that I print, furnish out a Spectator, this town; and, that what I say is true, I apwith little labour and great ostentation. peal to any man who has a heart one degree softer than a stone. As for my part, who do " MR. SPECTATOR, not pretend to more humanity than my neigh'I was mightily pleased with your specula-bours, I have oftentimes gone from my chamtion of Friday. Your sentiments are noble, bers with money in my pocket, and returned and the whole worked up in such a manner as to them not only pennyless, but destitute of cannot but strike upon every reader. But a farthing, without bestowing of it any other give me leave to make this remark; that way than on these seeming objects of pity. In while you write so pathetically on content-short, I have seen more eloquence in a look ment, and a retired life, you sooth the passion from one of these despicable creatures than of melancholy, and depress the mind from in the eye of the fairest she I ever saw, yet no actions truly glorious. Titles and honours one a greater admirer of that sex than my. are the reward of virtue; we therefore ought self. What I have to desire of you is, to lay to be affected. with them; and though light down some directions in order to guard against minds are too much puffed up with exterior these powerful orators, or else I know nothing pomp, yet I cannot see why it is not as truly to the contrary but I must myself be forced to philosophical to admire the glowing ruby, or leave the profession of the law, and endeavour the sparkling green of an emerald, as the to get the qualifications necessary to that more fainter and less permanent beauties of a profitable one of begging. But, in whichsorose or a myrtle. If there are men of extra-ever of these two capacities I shine, I shall ordinary capacities, who lie concealed from always desire to be your constant reader, and the world, I should impute it to them as a ever will be blot in their characters did not I believe it owing to the meanness of their fortune rather than of their spirit. Cowley, who tells the story of Aglaüs with so much pleasure, was no stranger to courts, nor insensible of praise. "What shall I do to be forever known, And the age to come my own?" " SIR, 'Your most humble servant, 'J. B.' Upon reading a Spectator last week, where Mrs. Fanny Fickle submitted the choice of a lover for life to your decisive |