No. 409, he ought to conclude, not (as is too usual among tasteless Thursday, Readers) that the Author wants those Perfections which *June 19, have been admired in him, but that he himself wants 1712. the Faculty of discovering them, He should, in the second Place, be very careful to observe, whether he tastes the distinguishing Perfections, or, if I may be allowed to call them so, the Specifick Qualities of the Author whom he peruses; whether he is particularly pleased with Livy for his Manner of telling a Story, with Sallust for his entring into those internal Principles of Action which arise from the Characters and Manners of the Persons he describes, or with Tacitus for his displaying those outward Motives of Safety and Interest, which give birth to the whole Series of Transactions which he relates, He may likewise consider, how differently he is affected by the same Thought, which presents it self in a great Writer, from what he is when he finds it delivered by a Person of an ordinary Genius. For there is as much difference in apprehending a Thought cloathed in Cicero's Language, and that of a common Author, as in seeing an Object by the Light of a Taper, or by the Light of the Sun, It is very difficult to lay down Rules for the Acquire ment of such a Taste as that I am here speaking of. The Faculty must in some degree be born with us, and it very often happens, that those who have other Qualities in Perfection are wholly void of this. One of the most eminent Mathematicians of the Age has assured me, that the greatest Pleasure he took in reading Virgil, was in examining Eneas his Voyage by the Map; as I question not but many a Modern Compiler of History would be delighted with little more in that Divine Author, than the bare Matters of Fact, But notwithstanding this Faculty must in some measure be born with us, there are several Methods for Cultivating and Improving it, and without which it will be very uncertain, and of little use to the Person that possesses it. The most natural Method for this Purpose is to be conyersant among the Writings of the most Polite Authors. A Man who has any Relish for fine Writing, either dis covers covers new Beauties, or receives stronger Impressions No. 409. from the Masterly Stroaks of a great Author every time Thursday, June 19, he peruses him: Besides that he naturally wears himself 1712. into the same manner of Speaking and Thinking. Conversation with Men of a Polite Genius is another Method for improving our Natural Taste. It is impossible for a Man of the greatest Parts to consider any thing in its whole Extent, and in all its variety of Lights, Every Man, besides those general Observations which are to be made upon an Author, forms several Reflections that are peculiar to his own manner of Thinking; so that Conversation will naturally furnish us with Hints which we did not attend to, and make us enjoy other Men's Parts and Reflections as well as our own. This is the best Reason I can give for the Observation which several have made, that Men of great Genius in the same way of Writing, seldom rise up singly, but at certain Periods of Time appear together, and in a Body; as they did at Rome in the Reign of Augustus, and in Greece about the Age of Socrates. I cannot think that Corneille, Racine, Moliere, Boileau, la Fontaine, Bruyere, Bossu, or the Daciers, would have written so well as they have done, had they not been Friends and Contemporaries, It is likewise necessary for a Man who would form to himself a finished Taste of good Writing, to be well versed in the Works of the best Criticks both Ancient and Modern, I must confess that I could wish there were Authors of this Kind, who beside the Mechanical Rules which a Man of very little Taste may discourse upon, would enter into the very Spirit and Soul of fine Writing, and shew us the several Sources of that Pleasure which rises in the Mind upon the Perusal of a noble Work, Thus altho' in Poetry it be absolutely necessary_that the Unities of Time, Place and Action, with other Points of the same Nature, should be thoroughly explained and understood; there is still something more essential to the Art, something that elevates and astonishes the Fancy, and gives a Greatness of Mind to the Reader, which few of the Criticks besides Longinus have considered, Our general Taste in England is for Epigram, turns of Wit, and forced Conceits, which have no manner of Influence No. 409. Influence, either for the bettering or enlarging the Mind Moderns. I have endeavoured in several of my Specu No. 410. Friday, June 20, Dum foris sunt, nihil videtur mundius, Nec magis compositum quidquam, nec magis elegans : Quam inhonestae solae sint domi atque avidae cibí, O ILL HONEYCOMB, who disguises his present Decay by visiting the Wenches of the Town only by Way of Humour, told us, that the last rainy Night he with Sir ROGER DE COVERLY was driven into the Temple Cloister, whither had escaped also a Lady most exactly dressed from Head to Foot, WILL made no Scruple to acquaint us 1712, us, that she saluted him very familiarly by his Name, No. 410, and turning immediately to the Knight, she said, she Friday, supposed that was his good Friend Sir ROGER DE COVERLY: June 20, Upon which nothing less could follow than Sir ROGER'S Approach to Salutation, with, Madam, the same at your Service. She was dressed in a black Tabby Mantua and Petticoat, without Ribbonds; her Linnen striped Muslin, and in the whole in an agreeable Second Mourning; decent Dresses being often affected by the Creatures of the Town, at once consulting Cheapness and the Preten sion to Modesty, She went on with a familiar easie Air, Your Friend, Mr. HONEYCOMB, is a little surprised to see a Woman here alone and unattended; but I dis missed my Coach at the Gate, and tripped it down to my Council's Chambers, for Lawyers' Fees take up too much of a small disputed Joynture to admit any other Expences but meer Necessaries. Mr. HONEYCOMB begged they might have the Honour of setting her down, for Sir ROGER'S Servant was gone to call a Coach. In the Interim the Footman returned, with no Coach to be had; and there appeared nothing to be done but trusting her self with Mr. HONEYCOMB and his Friend to wait at the Tavern at the Gate for a Coach, or to be subjected to all the Im pertinence she must meet with in that publick Place, Mr. HONEYCOMB being a Man of Honour determined the Choice of the first, and Sir ROGER, as the better Man, took the Lady by the Hand, leading through all the Shower, covering her with his Hat, and gallanting a familiar Acquaintance through Rows of young Fellows, who winked at Sukey in the State she marched off, WILL HONEYCOMB bringing up the Rear, Much Importunity prevailed upon the Fair one to admit of a Collation, where, after declaring she had no Stomach, and eaten a Couple of Chickens, devoured a Trusse of Sallet, and drunk a full Bottle to her Share, she sung the old Man's Wish to Sir ROGER. The Knight left the Room for some Time after Supper, and writ the following Billet, which he conveyed to Sukey, and Sukey to her Friend WILL HONEYCOMB WILL. has given it to Sir ANDREW FREEPORT, who read it last Night to the Club, 'Madam 'Madam, I am not so meer a Country Gentleman, but I can guess at the Law-Business you had at the Temple. If you would go down to the Country and leave off all your Vanities but your Singing, let me know at my Lodgings in Bow street, Covent Garden, and you shall be en couraged by Your humble Servant, ROGER DE COVERLY.' My good Friend could not well stand the Raillery which was rising upon him; but to put a Stop to it I delivered WILL HONEYCOMB the following Letter, and desired him to read it to the Board, 'Mr. SPECTATOR, Having seen a Translation of one of the Chapters in the Canticles into English Verse inserted among your late Papers, I have ventured to send you the 7th Chapter of the Proverbs in a poetical Dress. If you think it worthy appearing among your Speculations, it will be a sufficient Reward for the Trouble of Your constant Reader, A. B.' My Son, th' Instruction that my Words impart, Once from my Window as I cast míne Eye And |