Learning, but the Reafon is because the Subjects are inany of them rich and wealthy, the Prince not thinking fit to exert himself in his full Tyranny like the Princes of the Eastern Nations, left his Subjects fhould be invited to new-mould their Conftitution, having fo many Profpects of Liberty within their View. But in all Despotic Governments, tho' a particular Prince may favour Arts and Letters, there is a natural Degeneracy of Mankind, as you may observe from Auguftus's Reign, how the Romans loft themselves by Degrees till they fell to an Equality with the most barbarous Nations that furrounded them. Look upon Greece under its free States, and you would think its Inhabitants lived in different Climates, and under different Heavens, from those at prefent; fo different are the Genius's which are formed under Turkish Slavery, and Grecian Liberty. BESIDES Poverty and Want, there are other Rea fons that debafe the Minds of Men, who live under Slavery, though I look on this as the Principal. This natural Tendency of Defpotic Power to Ignorance and Barbarity, tho' not infifted upon by others, is, I think, an unanfwerable Argument against that Form of Government, as it fhews how repugnant it is to the Good of Mankind, and the Perfection of human Nature, which ought to be the great Ends of all Civil Institutions, Pavor eft utrique moleftus. Mr. SPECTATOR, W Hor. HEN you fpoke of the Jilts and Coquets, you then promised to be very impartial, and not to fpare even your own Sex, fhould any of their fecret or open Faults come under your Cognizance; which has given me Encouragement to defcribe a certain Species of Mankind under the Denomination of Male Filts. They are Gentlemen who do not defign VOL. IV. G 19 to marry, yet, that they may appear to have fome Sense of Gallantry, think they must pay their Devoirs to one ⚫ particular Fair; in order to which they fingle out from amongst the Herd of Females her to whom they defign to make their fruitless Addreffes. This done, they first take every Opportunity of being in her Company, and then never fail upon all Occafions to be particular to her, laying themselves at her Feet, protefting the Reality of their Paffion with a thousand Oaths, folliciting a Return, and faying as many fine Things as their Stock of Wit will allow; and if they are not deficient that way, generally fpeak fo as to admit of a double Interpretation; which the credulous Fair is too apt to turn to her own Advantage, fince it frequently happens to be < a raw, innocent, young Creature, who thinks all the . World as fincere as herself, and fo her unwary Heart becomes an eafy Prey to thofe deceitful Monfters, who no fooner perceive it,but immediately they grew cool,and fhun her whom they before feemed fo much to admire, and proceed to act the fame common-place Villany to<wards another. A Coxcomb flufhed with many of these infamous Victories fhall fay he is forry for the poor Fools, proteft and vow he never thought of Matrimony, and wonder talking civilly can be fo ftrangely mifinterpreted. Now, Mr. SPECTATOR, you that are a profeffed Friend to Love, will, I hope, obferve upon those who abuse that noble Paffion, and raise it in innocent Minds by a deceitful Affectation of it, after which they defert the Enamoured. Pray bestow a little of your Counfel to thofe fond believing Females who already have or are in Danger of broken Hearts; in which you will oblige a great Part of this Town, but in a particular Manner, SIR, Your (yet Heart-whole) Admirer, MELAINIA's Complaint is occafioned by fo general a Folly, that it is wonderful one could fo long overlook it. But this falfe Gallantry proceeds from an Impotence of Mind, which makes those who are guilty of it incapa ble ble of pursuing what they themselves approve. Many a Man wishes a Woman his Wife whom he dare not take for fuch. Tho' no one has Power over his Inclinations or Fortunes, he is a Slave to common Fame. For this Reafon I think Melainia gives them too foft a Name in that of Male Coquets. I know not why Irrefolution of Mind fhould not be more contemptible than Impotence of Body; and thefe frivolous Admirers would be but tenderly ufed, in being only included in the fame Term with the Insufficient another way. They whom my Correfpondent calls Male Coquets; fhall hereafter be called Fribblers. A Fribbler is one who profeffes Rapture and Admiration for the Woman to whom he addresses, and dreads nothing fo much as her Confent. His Heart can flutter by the Force of Imagination, but cannot fix from the Force of Judgment. It is not uncommon for the Parents of young Women of moderate Fortune to wink at the Addreffes of Fribblers, and expofe their Children to the ambiguous Behaviour which Melainia complains of, till by the Fondness to one they are to lofe, they become incapable of Love towards others, and by Confequence in their future Marriage lead a joylefs or a miferable Life. As therefore I fhall in the Speculations which regard Love be as fevere as I ought on Jilts and Libertine Women, fo will I be as little merciful to infignificant and mischievous Men. In order to this, all Vifitants who frequent Families wherein there are young. Females, are forthwith required to declare themfelves, or abfent from places where their Prefence banishes fuch as would pafs their Time more to the Advantage of those whom they vifit. It is a Matter of too great Moment to be dallied with; and I fhall expect from all my young People a fatisfactory Account of Appearances. Strephon has from the Publication hereof feven Days to explain the Riddle he prefented to Eudamia; and Chloris an Hour after this comes to her Hand, to declare whether The will have Philotas, whom a Woman of no less Merit than herfelf, and of fuperior Fortune, languishes to call her own. SIR, SINCE To the SPECTATOR. INCE fo many Dealers turn Authors, and write quaint Advertisements in praise of their Wares, one who from an Author turned Dealer may be allowed for the Advancement of Trade to turn Author again. I will not however fet up like fome of 'em, for felling cheaper than the most able honest Tradesmen can; nor do I fend this to be better known for Choice ⚫ and Cheapnefs of China and Japan-Wares, Tea, Fans, Mullins, Pictures, Arrack, and other Indian Goods. Placed as I am in Leaden-hall-fireet near the India-Company, and the Centre of that Trade, Thanks to my fair Cuftomers, my Ware-house is graced as well as the Benefit Days of my Plays and Operas; and the foreign Goods I fell, feem no lefs acceptable than the foreign Books I tranflated, Rabelais and Don Quixote: This the Criticks allow me, and while they like my Wares they may difpraife my Writing. But as 'tis not fo well known yet that I frequently crofs the Seas of late, and fpeaking Dutch and French, befides other Languages, I have the Conveniency of buying and importing rich Brocades, Dutch Atlaffes, with Gold and Silver or without, and other foreign Silks of the newest Modes and best Fabricks, fine Flanders Lace, Linnens, and Pictures, at the best Hand: This my new way of Trade I have fallen into I cannot better publifh than by an Application to you. My Wares are fit only for fuch as your Readers; and I would beg of you to print this Addrefs in your Paper, that thofe whofe Minds you adorn may take the Ornaments for their Perfons and Houses from 6 me. This, Sir, if I may prefume to beg it, will be the greater Favour, as I have lately received rich Silks and fine Lace to a confiderable Value, which will be fold cheap for a quick Return, and as I have alfo a large Stock of other Goods. Indian Silks were formerly a great Branch of our Trade; and fince we must not fell 'em, we must feek Amends by dealing in others. This I hope will plead for one who would leffen the Number of Teazers of the Mufes, and who, fuiting his Spirit to 6 • his his Circumstances, humbles the Poet to exalt the Citizen. Like a true Tradefman, I hardly ever look into any Books but thofe of Accompts. To fay the Truth, I cannot, I think, give you a better Idea of my being a downright Man of Traffick, than by acknowledging I ⚫oftner read the Advertisements, than the Matter of even your Paper. I am under a very great Temptation to take this Opportuuity of admonishing other Writers to follow my Example, and trouble the Town no more; * but as it is my prefent Bufinefs to encrease the Number * of Buyers rather than Sellers, I haften to tell you that I am, SIR, Your most humble and most obedient Servant, Peter Motteux. N° 289. Thursday, January 31. Vita fumma brevis spem nos vetat inchoare longam. Hor,' U : PON taking my Seat in a Coffee-houfe I often draw the Eyes of the whole Room upon me, when in the hotteft Seafons of News, and at a time that perhaps the Dutch Mail is juft come in, they hear me ask the Coffee-man for his laft Week's Bill of Mortality I find that I have been fometimes taken on this occafion for a Parish Sexton, fometimes for an Undertaker, and fometimes for a Doctor of Phyfick. In this, however, I am guided by the Spirit of a Philofopher, as I take occafion from hence to reflect upon the regular Encreafe and Diminution of Mankind, and confider the feveral various Ways through which we pafs from Life to Eternity. I am very well pleafed with thefe Weekly Admonitions, that bring into my Mind fuch Thoughts as ought to be the daily Entertainment of every reasonable Creature; and can confider,with Pleasure to my felf, by which of thofe Deliverances, or, as we common G. 3 ly |