«Зритель (The Spectator)»

While this excellent Woman spoke these Words, Festeau looked as if he received a Condemnation to die, instead of a Pension for his Life. Madam de Villacerfe lived till Eight of the Clock the next Night; and tho she must have laboured under the most exquisite Torments, she possessed her Mind with so wonderful a Patience, that one may rather say she ceased to breathe than she died at that hour. You who had not the happiness to be personally known to this Lady, have nothing but to rejoyce in the Honour you had of being related to so great Merit; but we who have lost her Conversation, cannot so easily resign our own Happiness by Reflection upon hers.

I am, Sir,

Your affectionate Kinsman,

and most obedient humble Servant,

Paul Regnaud.

Contents

№ 369

Saturday, May 3, 1712

Аддисон

Segnius irritant animos demissa per aures

Quam quæ sunt oculis subjecta fidelibus—

Hor.

Milton Adam Milton's Babel Egypt —Thus with ten Wounds

The River-Dragon tamed at length submits

To let his Sojourners depart, and oft

Humbles his stubborn Heart; but still as Ice

More harden'd after Thaw, till in his Rage

Pursuing whom he late dismissed, the Sea

Swallows him with his Host, but them lets pass

As on dry Land between two Chrystal Walls,

Aw'd by the Rod of Moses so to stand

Divided—

Nile Egypt Ezekiel Thus saith the Lord God, behold I am against thee, Pharaoh King of Egypt, the great Dragon that lieth in the midst of his Rivers, which hath said, my River is mine own, and I have made it for my self. Milton Moses All Night he will pursue, but his Approach

Darkness defends between till morning Watch;

Then through the fiery Pillar and the Cloud

God looking forth, will trouble all his Host,

And craze their Chariot Wheels: when by command

Moses once more his potent Rod extends

Over the Sea: the Sea his Rod obeys:

On their embattell'd Ranks the Waves return

And overwhelm their War—

Adam Abraham Messiah Patriarch I see him, but thou canst not, with what Faith

He leaves his Gods, his Friends, his Native Soil,

Ur of Chaldæa, passing now the Ford

To Haran, after him a cumbrous Train

Of Herds and Flocks, and numerous Servitude,

Not wand'ring poor, but trusting all his Wealth

With God, who call'd him, in a Land unknown.

Canaan he now attains, I see his Tents

Pitch'd about Sechem, and the neighbouring Plain

Of Moreh, there by Promise he receives

Gifts to his Progeny of all that Land,

From Hamath Northward to the Desart South.

(Things by their Names I call, though yet unnamed.)

Virgil's Æneid Milton Anchises Hæc tum nomina erunt, nunc sunt sine nomine terræ.

Adam Messiah O Goodness infinite, Goodness immense!

That all this Good of Evil shall produce, &c.

Milton Milton's Satan Adam

Milton's Adam Eve Whence thou return'st, and whither went'st, I know;

For God is also in Sleep, and Dreams advise,

Which he hath sent propitious, some great Good

Presaging, since with Sorrow and Heart's Distress

Wearied I fell asleep: but now lead on;

In me is no delay: with thee to go,

Is to stay here; without thee here to stay,

Is to go hence unwilling: thou to me

Art all things under Heav'n, all Places thou,

Who for my wilful Crime art banish'd hence.

This farther Consolation yet secure

I carry hence; though all by me is lost,

Such Favour, I unworthy, am vouchsafed,

By me the promised Seed shall all restore.

Heliodorus Æthiopicks Milton So spake our Mother Eve, and Adam heard

Well pleas'd, but answered not; for now too nigh

Th' Archangel stood, and from the other Hill

To their fix'd Station, all in bright Array

The Cherubim descended; on the Ground

Gliding meteorous, as evening Mist

Ris'n from a River, o'er the Marish glides,

And gathers ground fast at the Lab'rer's Heel

Homeward returning. High in Front advanced,

The brandishd Sword of God before them blaz'd

Fierce as a Comet—

Lot In either Hand the hast'ning Angel caught

Our ling'ring Parents, and to th' Eastern Gate

Led them direct; and down the Cliff as fast

To the subjected Plain; then disappear'd.

They looking back, &c.

The 1 They looking back, all th' Eastern side beheld

Of Paradise, so late their happy Seat,

Wav'd over by that flaming Brand, the Gate

With dreadful Faces throng'd and fiery Arms:

Some natural Tears they dropped, but wiped them soon;

The World was all before them, where to chuse

Their Place of Rest, and Providence their Guide.

They hand in hand, with wandering Steps and slow,

Through Eden took their solitary Way.

The world was all before them, where to chuse

Their Place of Rest, and Providence their Guide.

Paradise Lost Æneid Virgil

Bossu Paradise Lost Milton Adam Eve

Odyssey Iliad Æneid Milton Adam's

English the Fable, the Characters, the Sentiments, and the Language Paradise Lost, Paper prove 2 Homer Virgil inserted Tasso has 3 Tasso Italian English

Footnote 1: Prospect

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Footnote 2: shew

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Footnote 3: has likewise

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Contents

№ 370

Monday, May 5, 1712

Стил

Totus Mundus agit Histrionem.

Latin Drury-Lane Spectator Mackbeth Harry the Fourth of Trip to the Jubilee, 1 Fox 2 Wilks Estcourt one Lord Foppington 3 Cibber the Dogget Johnson Corbacchio 4 The Mr. William Penkethman Fop's Fortune 5 Don Cholerick Snap Shorto de Testy Penkethman have Penkethman 6

Mrs. Bicknell Bicknell

Footnote 1: Farquhar's Constant Couple, or A Trip to the Jubilee

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Footnote 2: Volpone

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Footnote 3: Careless Husband.

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Footnote 4: Volpone

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Footnote 5: Love makes a Man, or The Fop's Fortune

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Footnote 6: For the Benefit of Mr. Penkethman. At the Desire of Several Ladies of Quality. By Her Majesty's Company of Comedians. At the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, this present Monday, being the 5th of May, will be presented a Comedy called Love makes a Man, or The Fop's Fortune. The Part of Don Lewis, alias Don Choleric Snap Shorto de Testy, by Mr. Penkethman; Carlos, Mr. Wilks; Clodio, alias Don Dismallo Thick-Scullo de Half Witto, Mr. Cibber; and all the other Parts to the best Advantage. With a new Epilogue, spoken by Mr. Penkethman, riding on an Ass. By her Majesty's Command no Persons are to be admitted behind the Scenes. And To-Morrow, being Tuesday, will be presented, A Comedy call'd The Constant Couple, or A Trip to the Jubilee. For the Benefit of Mrs. Bicknell.

Essay

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Contents

№ 371

Tuesday, May 6, 1712

Аддисон

Jamne igitur laudas quod se sapientibus unus

Ridebat?

Juv.

Sir,

You know very well that our Nation is more famous for that sort of Men who are called Whims and Humourists, than any other Country in the World; for which reason it is observed that our English Comedy excells that of all other Nations in the Novelty and Variety of its Characters.

Among those innumerable Setts of Whims which our Country produces, there are none whom I have regarded with more Curiosity than those who have invented any particular kind of Diversion for the Entertainment of themselves or their Friends. My Letter shall single out those who take delight in sorting a Company that has something of Burlesque and Ridicule in its Appearance. I shall make my self understood by the following Example. One of the Wits of the last Age, who was a Man of a good Estate1, thought he never laid out his Money better than in a Jest. As he was one Year at the Bath, observing that in the great Confluence of fine People, there were several among them with long Chins, a part of the Visage by which he himself was very much distinguished, he invited to dinner half a Score of these remarkable Persons who had their Mouths in the Middle of their Faces. They had no sooner placed themselves about the Table, but they began to stare upon one another, not being able to imagine what had brought them together. Our English Proverb says,

Tis merry in the Hall,

When Beards wag all.

It proved so in the Assembly I am now speaking of, who seeing so many Peaks of Faces agitated with Eating, Drinking, and Discourse, and observing all the Chins that were present meeting together very often over the Center of the Table, every one grew sensible of the Jest, and came into it with so much Good-Humour, that they lived in strict Friendship and Alliance from that Day forward.

The same Gentleman some time after packed together a Set of Oglers, as he called them, consisting of such as had an unlucky Cast in their Eyes. His Diversion on this Occasion was to see the cross Bows, mistaken Signs, and wrong Connivances that passed amidst so many broken and refracted Rays of Sight.

The third Feast which this merry Gentleman exhibited was to the Stammerers, whom he got together in a sufficient Body to fill his Table. He had ordered one of his Servants, who was placed behind a Skreen, to write down their Table-Talk, which was very easie to be done without the help of Short-hand. It appears by the Notes which were taken, that tho' their Conversation never fell, there were not above twenty Words spoken during the first Course; that upon serving up the second, one of the Company was a quarter of an Hour in telling them, that the Ducklins and Asparagus2 were very good; and that another took up the same time in declaring himself of the same Opinion. This Jest did not, however, go off so well as the former; for one of the Guests being a brave Man, and fuller of Resentment than he knew how to express, went out of the Room, and sent the facetious Inviter a Challenge in Writing, which though it was afterwards dropp'd by the Interposition of Friends, put a Stop to these ludicrous Entertainments.

Now, Sir, I dare say you will agree with me, that as there is no Moral in these Jests, they ought to be discouraged, and looked upon rather as pieces of Unluckiness than Wit. However, as it is natural for one Man to refine upon the Thought of another, and impossible for any single Person, how great soever his Parts may be, to invent an Art, and bring it to its utmost Perfection; I shall here give you an account of an honest Gentleman of my Acquaintance who upon hearing the Character of the Wit above mentioned, has himself assumed it, and endeavoured to convert it to the Benefit of Mankind. He invited half a dozen of his Friends one day to Dinner, who were each of them famous for inserting several redundant Phrases in their Discourse, as d'y hear me, d'ye see, that is, and so Sir. Each of the Guests making frequent use of his particular Elegance, appeared so ridiculous to his Neighbour, that he could not but reflect upon himself as appearing equally ridiculous to the rest of the Company: By this means, before they had sat long together, every one talking with the greatest Circumspection, and carefully avoiding his favourite Expletive, the Conversation was cleared of its Redundancies, and had a greater Quantity of Sense, tho' less of Sound in it.

The same well-meaning Gentleman took occasion, at another time, to bring together such of his Friends as were addicted to a foolish habitual Custom of Swearing. In order to shew the Absurdity of the Practice, he had recourse to the Invention above mentioned, having placed an Amanuensis in a private part of the Room. After the second Bottle, when Men open their Minds without Reserve, my honest Friend began to take notice of the many sonorous but unnecessary Words that had passed in his House since their sitting down at Table, and how much good Conversation they had lost by giving way to such superfluous Phrases. What a Tax, says he, would they have raised for the Poor, had we put the Laws in Execution upon one another? Every one of them took this gentle Reproof in good part: Upon which he told them, that knowing their Conversation would have no Secrets in it, he had ordered it to be taken down in Writing, and for the humour sake would read it to them, if they pleased. There were ten Sheets of it, which might have been reduced to two, had there not been those abominable Interpolations I have before mentioned. Upon the reading of it in cold Blood, it looked rather like a Conference of Fiends than of Men. In short, every one trembled at himself upon hearing calmly what he had pronounced amidst the Heat and Inadvertency of Discourse.

I shall only mention another Occasion wherein he made use of the same Invention to cure a different kind of Men, who are the Pests of all polite Conversation, and murder Time as much as either of the two former, though they do it more innocently; I mean that dull Generation of Story-tellers. My Friend got together about half a dozen of his Acquaintance, who were infected with this strange Malady. The first Day one of them sitting down, entered upon the Siege of Namur, which lasted till four a-clock, their time of parting. The second Day a North-Britain took possession of the Discourse, which it was impossible to get out of his Hands so long as the Company staid together. The third Day was engrossed after the same manner by a Story of the same length. They at last began to reflect upon this barbarous way of treating one another, and by this means awakened out of that Lethargy with which each of them had been seized for several Years.

As you have somewhere declared, that extraordinary and uncommon Characters of Mankind are the Game which you delight in, and as I look upon you to be the greatest Sportsman, or, if you please, the Nimrod among this Species of Writers, I thought this Discovery would not be unacceptable to you.

I am,

Sir, &c.

Footnote 1: Zimri Rehearsal

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Footnote 2: Sparrow-grass

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Contents

№ 372

Wednesday, May 7, 1712

Стил

Pudet hæc opprobria nobis

Et dici potuisse et non potuisse refelli.

Ovid.

May 6, 1712.

Mr. Spectator,

I am Sexton of the Parish of Covent-Garden, and complained to you some time ago, that as I was tolling in to Prayers at Eleven in the Morning, Crowds of People of Quality hastened to assemble at a Puppet-Show on the other Side of the Garden. I had at the same time a very great Disesteem for Mr. Powell and his little thoughtless Commonwealth, as if they had enticed the Gentry into those Wandrings: But let that be as it will, I now am convinced of the honest Intentions of the said Mr. Powell and Company; and send this to acquaint you, that he has given all the Profits which shall arise to-morrow Night by his Play to the use of the poor Charity-Children of this Parish. I have been informed, Sir, that in Holland all Persons who set up any Show, or act any Stage-Play, be the Actors either of Wood and Wire, or Flesh and Blood, are obliged to pay out of their Gain such a Proportion to the honest and industrious Poor in the Neighbourhood: By this means they make Diversion and Pleasure pay a Tax to Labour and Industry. I have been told also, that all the time of Lent, in Roman Catholick Countries, the Persons of Condition administred to the Necessities of the Poor, and attended the Beds of Lazars and diseased Persons. Our Protestant Ladies and Gentlemen are so much to seek for proper ways of passing Time, that they are obliged to Punchinello for knowing what to do with themselves. Since the Case is so, I desire only you would intreat our People of Quality, who are not to be interrupted in their Pleasure to think of the Practice of any moral Duty, that they would at least fine for their Sins, and give something to these poor Children; a little out of their Luxury and Superfluity, would attone, in some measure, for the wanton Use of the rest of their Fortunes. It would not, methinks, be amiss, if the Ladies who haunt the Cloysters and Passages of the Play-house, were upon every Offence obliged to pay to this excellent Institution of Schools of Charity: This Method would make Offenders themselves do Service to the Publick. But in the mean time I desire you would publish this voluntary Reparation which Mr. Powell does our Parish, for the Noise he has made in it by the constant rattling of Coaches, Drums, Trumpets, Triumphs, and Battels. The Destruction of Troy adorned with Highland Dances, are to make up the Entertainment of all who are so well disposed as not to forbear a light Entertainment, for no other Reason but that it is to do a good Action.

I am, Sir,

Your most humble Servant,

Ralph Bellfry.

I am credibly informed, that all the Insinuations which a certain Writer made against Mr. Powell at the Bath, are false and groundless.

Mr. Spectator,

My Employment, which is that of a Broker, leading me often into Taverns about the Exchange, has given me occasion to observe a certain Enormity, which I shall here submit to your Animadversion. In three or four of these Taverns, I have, at different times, taken notice of a precise Set of People with grave Countenances, short Wiggs, black Cloaths, or dark Camlet trimmd with Black, and mourning Gloves and Hatbands, who meet on certain Days at each Tavern successively, and keep a sort of moving Club. Having often met with their Faces, and observed a certain slinking Way in their dropping in one after another, I had the Curiosity to enquire into their Characters, being the rather moved to it by their agreeing in the Singularity of their Dress; and I find upon due Examination they are a Knot of Parish-Clarks, who have taken a fancy to one another, and perhaps settle the Bills of Mortality over their Half-pints. I have so great a Value and Veneration for any who have but even an assenting Amen in the Service of Religion, that I am afraid lest these Persons should incur some Scandal by this Practice; and would therefore have them, without Raillery, advised to send the Florence and Pullets home to their own Houses, and not pretend to live as well as the Overseers of the Poor.

I am, Sir,

Your most humble Servant,

Humphry Transfer.

May 6.

Mr. Spectator,

I was last Wednesday Night at a Tavern in the City, among a Set of Men who call themselves the Lawyer's Club. You must know, Sir, this Club consists only of Attorneys; and at this Meeting every one proposes the Cause he has then in hand to the Board, upon which each Member gives his Judgment according to the Experience he has met with. If it happens that any one puts a Case of which they have had no Precedent, it is noted down by their Clerk Will. Goosequill, (who registers all their Proceedings) that one of them may go the next Day with it to a Counsel. This indeed is commendable, and ought to be the principal End of their Meeting; but had you been there to have heard them relate their Methods of managing a Cause, their Manner of drawing out their Bills, and, in short, their Arguments upon the several ways of abusing their Clients, with the Applause that is given to him who has done it most artfully, you would before now have given your Remarks on them. They are so conscious that their Discourses ought to be kept secret, that they are very cautious of admitting any Person who is not of their Profession. When any who are not of the Law are let in, the Person who introduces him, says, he is a very honest Gentleman, and he is taken in, as their Cant is, to pay Costs. I am admitted upon the Recommendation of one of their Principals, as a very honest good-natured Fellow that will never be in a Plot, and only desires to drink his Bottle and smoke his Pipe. You have formerly remarked upon several Sorts of Clubs; and as the Tendency of this is only to increase Fraud and Deceit, I hope you will please to take Notice of it.

I am (with Respect)

Your humble Servant,

H. R.

Contents

№ 373

Thursday, May 8, 1712

Юстас Баджелл

Fallit enim Vitium specie virtutis et umbra.

Juv.1

Locke Treatise of Human Understanding 2 The first and most palpable Abuse of Words is, when they are used without clear and distinct Ideas: The second, when we are so inconstant and unsteady in the Application of them, that we sometimes use them to signify one Idea, sometimes another. A Definition is the only way whereby the precise Meaning of Moral Words can be known.

Modesty Assurance

Modesty Sheepishness Impudence Assurance

Modesty The Reflection of an Ingenuous Mind

Romans Senate Rome Senate

Assurance Faculty of possessing a Man's self of saying and doing indifferent things without any Uneasiness or Emotion in the Mind.

Modesty Assurance

Assurance Modesty Honour Virtue

Assurance Modesty

Modesty Assurance modest Assurance Bashfulness Impudence

Modest Assured Impudent Bashful

That the Practice of Virtue is the most proper Method to give a Man a becoming Assurance in his Words and Actions.

Footnote 1: —Strabonem

Appellat pætumm pater; et pullum, male parvus

Si cui filius est; ut abortivus fuit olim

Sisyphus: hunc varum, distortis cruribus; illum

Balbutit scaurum, pravis fullum malè talis.

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Footnote 2:

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Contents

№ 374

Friday, May 9, 1712

Стил

Nil actum reputans si quid superesset agendum.

Luc.

Cæsar Pharsalia My Part is now but begun, and my Glory must be sustained by the Use I make of this Victory; otherwise my Loss will be greater than that of Pompey. Our personal Reputation will rise or fall as we bear our respective Fortunes. All my private Enemies among the Prisoners shall be spared. I will forget this, in order to obtain such another Day. Trebutius is ashamed to see me: I will go to his Tent, and be reconciled in private. Give all the Men of Honour, who take part with me, the Terms I offered before the Battel. Let them owe this to their Friends who have been long in my Interests. Power is weakened by the full Use of it, but extended by Moderation. Galbinius is proud, and will be servile in his present Fortune; let him wait. Send for Stertinius: He is modest, and his Virtue is worth gaining. I have cooled my Heart with Reflection; and am fit to rejoice with the Army to-morrow. He is a popular General who can expose himself like a private Man during a Battel; but he is more popular who can rejoice but like a private Man after a Victory.

Calphurnia's Be it so then1. If I am to die to-Morrow, that is what I am to do to-Morrow: It will not be then, because I am willing it should be then; nor shall I escape it, because I am unwilling. It is in the Gods when, but in my self how I shall die. If Calphurnia's Dreams are Fumes of Indigestion, how shall I behold the Day after to-morrow? If they are from the Gods, their Admonition is not to prepare me to escape from their Decree, but to meet it. I have lived to a Fulness of Days and of Glory; what is there that Cæsar has not done with as much Honour as antient Heroes? Cæsar has not yet died; Cæsar is prepared to die.

Footnote 1: than

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Contents

№ 375

Saturday, May 10, 1712

Джон Хьюз

Non possidentem multa vocaveris

Rectè beatum: rectiùs occupat

Nomen beati, qui Deorum

Muneribus sapienter uti,

Duramque callet Pauperiem pati,

Pejusque Letho flagitium timet.

Hor.

Seneca

That a virtuous Person struggling with Misfortunes, and rising above them, is an Object on which the Gods themselves may look down with Delight 1

Amanda Amanda Amanda's Amanda's Sir,

I have heard of your Misfortune, and have offer'd your Daughter, if she will live with me, to settle on her Four hundred Pounds a year, and to lay down the Sum for which you are now distressed. I will be so ingenuous as to tell you that I do not intend Marriage: But if you are wise, you will use your Authority with her not to be too nice, when she has an opportunity of saving you and your Family, and of making her self happy.

I am, &c.

Dearest Child,

Your Father and I have just now receiv'd a Letter from a Gentleman who pretends Love to you, with a Proposal that insults our Misfortunes, and would throw us to a lower Degree of Misery than any thing which is come upon us. How could this barbarous Man think, that the tenderest of Parents would be tempted to supply their Wants by giving up the best of Children to Infamy and Ruin? It is a mean and cruel Artifice to make this Proposal at a time when he thinks our Necessities must compel us to any thing; but we will not eat the Bread of Shame; and therefore we charge thee not to think of us, but to avoid the Snare which is laid for thy Virtue. Beware of pitying us: It is not so bad as you have perhaps been told. All things will yet be well, and I shall write my Child better News.

I have been interrupted. I know not how I was moved to say things would mend. As I was going on I was startled by a Noise of one that knocked at the Door, and hath brought us an unexpected Supply of a Debt which had long been owing. Oh! I will now tell thee all. It is some days I have lived almost without Support, having conveyd what little Money I could raise to your poor Father—Thou wilt weep to think where he is, yet be assured he will be soon at Liberty. That cruel Letter would have broke his Heart, but I have concealed it from him. I have no Companion at present besides little Fanny, who stands watching my Looks as I write, and is crying for her Sister. She says she is sure you are not well, having discover'd that my present Trouble is about you. But do not think I would thus repeat my Sorrows, to grieve thee: No, it is to intreat thee not to make them insupportable, by adding what would be worse than all. Let us bear chearfully an Affliction, which we have not brought on our selves, and remember there is a Power who can better deliver us out of it than by the Loss of thy Innocence. Heaven preserve my dear Child.

Your Affectionate Mother ——

Amanda Amanda Amanda's Madam,

I am full of Shame, and will never forgive my self, if I have not your Pardon for what I lately wrote. It was far from my Intention to add Trouble to the Afflicted; nor could any thing, but my being a Stranger to you, have betray'd me into a Fault, for which, if I live, I shall endeavour to make you amends, as a Son. You cannot be unhappy while Amanda is your Daughter: nor shall be, if any thing can prevent it, which is in the power of, Madam,

Your most obedient

Humble Servant ——

Amanda's Amanda

Footnote 1: Footnote 1 No. 39

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Contents

№ 376

Monday, May 12, 1712

Стил

—Pavone ex Pythagoreo—

Persius.

Mr. Spectator,

I have observed that the Officer you some time ago appointed as Inspector of Signs, has not done his Duty so well as to give you an Account of very many strange Occurrences in the publick Streets, which are worthy of, but have escaped your Notice. Among all the Oddnesses which I have ever met with, that which I am now telling you of gave me most Delight. You must have observed that all the Criers in the Street attract the Attention of the Passengers, and of the Inhabitants in the several Parts, by something very particular in their Tone it self, in the dwelling upon a Note, or else making themselves wholly unintelligible by a Scream. The Person I am so delighted with has nothing to sell, but very gravely receives the Bounty of the People, for no other Merit but the Homage they pay to his Manner of signifying to them that he wants a Subsidy. You must, sure, have heard speak of an old Man, who walks about the City, and that part of the Suburbs which lies beyond the Tower, performing the Office of a Day-Watchman, followed by a Goose, which bears the Bob of his Ditty, and confirms what he says with a Quack, Quack. I gave little heed to the mention of this known Circumstance, till, being the other day in those Quarters, I passed by a decrepit old Fellow with a Pole in his Hand, who just then was bawling out, Half an Hour after one a-Clock, and immediately a dirty Goose behind him made her Response, Quack, Quack. I could not forbear attending this grave Procession for the length of half a Street, with no small amazement to find the whole Place so familiarly acquainted with a melancholy Mid-night Voice at Noon-day, giving them the Hour, and exhorting them of the Departure of Time, with a Bounce at their Doors. While I was full of this Novelty, I went into a Friend's House, and told him how I was diverted with their whimsical Monitor and his Equipage. My Friend gave me the History; and interrupted my Commendation of the Man, by telling me the Livelihood of these two Animals is purchased rather by the good Parts of the Goose, than of the Leader: For it seems the Peripatetick who walked before her was a Watchman in that Neighbourhood; and the Goose of her self by frequent hearing his Tone, out of her natural Vigilance, not only observed, but answer'd it very regularly from Time to Time. The Watchman was so affected with it, that he bought her, and has taken her in Partner, only altering their Hours of Duty from Night to Day. The Town has come into it, and they live very comfortably. This is the Matter of Fact: Now I desire you, who are a profound Philosopher, to consider this Alliance of Instinct and Reason; your Speculation may turn very naturally upon the Force the superior Part of Mankind may have upon the Spirits of such as, like this Watchman, may be very near the Standard of Geese. And you may add to this practical Observation, how in all Ages and Times the World has been carry'd away by odd unaccountable things, which one would think would pass upon no Creature which had Reason; and, under the Symbol of this Goose, you may enter into the Manner and Method of leading Creatures, with their Eyes open, thro' thick and thin, for they know not what, they know not why.

All which is humbly submitted to your Spectatorial Wisdom by,

Sir,

Your most humble Servant,

Michael Gander.

Mr. Spectator,

I have for several Years had under my Care the Government and Education of young Ladies, which Trust I have endeavour'd to discharge with due regard to their several Capacities and Fortunes: I have left nothing undone to imprint in every one of them an humble courteous Mind, accompanied with a graceful becoming Mein, and have made them pretty much acquainted with the Houshold Part of Family-Affairs; but still I find there is something very much wanting in the Air of my Ladies, different from what I observe in those that are esteemed your fine bred Women. Now, Sir, I must own to you, I never suffered my Girls to learn to Dance; but since I have read your Discourse of Dancing, where you have described the Beauty and Spirit there is in regular Motion, I own my self your Convert, and resolve for the future to give my young Ladies that Accomplishment. But upon imparting my Design to their Parents, I have been made very uneasy, for some Time, because several of them have declared, that if I did not make use of the Master they recommended, they would take away their Children. There was Colonel Jumper's Lady, a Colonel of the Train-Bands, that has a great Interest in her Parish; she recommends Mr. Trott for the prettiest Master in Town, that no Man teaches a Jigg like him, that she has seen him rise six or seven Capers together with the greatest Ease imaginable, and that his Scholars twist themselves more ways than the Scholars of any Master in Town: besides there is Madam Prim, an Alderman's Lady, recommends a Master of her own Name, but she declares he is not of their Family, yet a very extraordinary Man in his way; for besides a very soft Air he has in Dancing, he gives them a particular Behaviour at a Tea-Table, and in presenting their Snuff-Box, to twirl, flip, or flirt a Fan, and how to place Patches to the best advantage, either for Fat or Lean, Long or Oval Faces: for my Lady says there is more in these Things than the World Imagines. But I must confess the major Part of those I am concern'd with leave it to me. I desire therefore, according to the inclosed Direction, you would send your Correspondent who has writ to you on that Subject to my House. If proper Application this way can give Innocence new Charms, and make Virtue legible in the Countenance, I shall spare no Charge to make my Scholars in their very Features and Limbs bear witness how careful I have been in the other Parts of their Education.

I am, Sir,

Your most humble Servant,

Rachael Watchful

Contents

№ 377

Tuesday, May 13, 1712

Аддисон

Quid quisque vitet, nunquam homini satis

Cautum est in horas—

Hor.

Love Poetry Oroondates

dying for Love

but Cowley a Porcupine, that sends an Arrow from every Part 1

Lysander slain at a Puppet-show on the third of September.

Thirsis shot from a Casement in Pickadilly.

T. S. wounded by Zehinda's Scarlet Stocking, as she was stepping out of a Coach.

Will. Simple smitten at the Opera by the Glance of an Eye that was aimed at one who stood by him.

Tho. Vainlove lost his Life at a Ball.

Tim. Tattle kill'd by the Tap of a Fan on his left Shoulder by Coquetilla, as he was talking carelessly with her in a Bow-window.

Sir Simon Softly murder'd at the Play-house in Drury-lane by a Frown.

Philander mortally wounded by Cleora, as she was adjusting her Tucker.

Ralph Gapely, Esq. hit by a random Shot at the Ring.

F. R. caught his Death upon the Water, April the 31st.

W. W. killed by an unknown Hand, that was playing with the Glove off upon the Side of the Front-Box in Drury-Lane.

Sir Christopher Crazy, Bart. hurt by the Brush of a Whalebone Petticoat.

Sylvius shot through the Sticks of a Fan at St. James's Church.

Damon struck thro' the Heart by a Diamond Necklace.

Thomas Trusty

Francis Goosequill

William Meanwell

Edward Callow, Esqrs.

standing in a Row, fell all four at the same time, by an Ogle of the Widow Trapland.

Tom. Rattle chancing to tread upon a Lady's Tail as he came out of the Play-house, she turned full upon him, and laid him dead upon the Spot.

Dick Tastewell slain by a Blush from the Queen's Box in the third Act of the Trip to the Jubilee.

Samuel Felt, Haberdasher wounded in his Walk to Islington by Mrs. Susannah Crossstich, as she was clambering over a Stile.

R. F.,

T. W.,

S. I.,

M. P., &c.

put to Death in the last Birth-Day Massacre.

Roger Blinko cut off in the Twenty-first Year of his Age by a White-wash.

Musidorus slain by an Arrow that flew out of a Dimple in Belinda's Left Cheek.

Ned Courtly presenting Flavia with her Glove (which she had dropped on purpose) she receivd it, and took away his Life with a Curtsie.

John Gosselin having received a slight Hurt from a Pair of blue Eyes, as he was making his Escape was dispatch'd by a Smile.

Strephon killed by Clarinda as she looked down into the Pit.

Charles Careless shot flying by a Girl of Fifteen, who unexpectedly popped her Head upon him out of a Coach.

Josiah Wither aged threescore and three, sent to his long home by Elizabeth Jet-well, Spinster.

Jack Freelove murderd by Melissa in her Hair.

William Wiseaker, Gent. drown'd in a Flood of Tears by Moll Common.

John Pleadwell, Esq. of the Middle Temple, Barrister at Law, assassinated in his Chambers the sixth Instant by Kitty Sly, who pretended to come to him for his Advice.

Footnote 1: They are all weapon, and they dart

Like Porcupines from every Part.

Anacreontics

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Contents

№ 378

Wednesday, May 14, 1712

Александр Поуп

Aggredere, O magnos, aderit jam tempus, honores.

Virg.

make 1

Messiah

Isaiah the Prophet.

Virgil's Pollio

Ye Nymphs of Solyma! begin the Song:

To heav'nly Themes sublimer Strains belong.

The Mossy Fountains, and the Sylvan Shades,

The Dreams of Pindus and th' Aonian Maids,

Delight no more—O Thou my Voice inspire,

Who touch'd Isaiah's hallow'd2 Lips with Fire!

Rapt into future Times, the Bard begun;

A Virgin shall conceive, a Virgin bear a Son!

Isaiah, Cap. II. v. 1. From Jesse's Root behold a Branch arise,

Whose sacred Flow'r with Fragrance fills the Skies.

Th' Æthereal Spirit o'er its Leaves shall move,

And on its Top descends the Mystick Dove.

Cap. 45. v. 8. Ye Heav'ns! from high the dewy Nectar pour,

And in soft Silence shed the kindly Show'r!

Cap. 25. v. 4. The Sick and Weak, the healing Plant shall aid,

From Storms a Shelter, and from Heat a Shade.

All Crimes shall cease, and ancient Fraud shall fail;

Cap. 9. v. 7. Returning Justice lift aloft her Scale;

Peace o'er the World her Olive Wand extend,

And white-rob'd Innocence from Heav'n descend.

Swift fly the Years, and rise th' expected Morn!

Oh spring to Light, Auspicious Babe, be born!

See Nature hastes her earliest Wreaths to bring,

With all the Incense of the breathing Spring:

Cap. 35. v. 2. See lofty Lebanon his Head advance,

See nodding Forests on the Mountains dance,

See spicy Clouds from lowly Sharon rise,

And Carmels flow'ry Top perfumes the Skies!

Cap. 40. v. 3, 4. Hark! a glad Voice the lonely Desart chears;

Prepare the Way! a God, a God appears:

A God! a God! the vocal Hills reply,

The Rocks proclaim th' approaching Deity.

Lo Earth receives him from the bending Skies!

Sink down ye Mountains, and ye Vallies rise!

With Heads declin'd, ye Cedars, Homage pay!

Be smooth ye Rocks, ye rapid Floods give way!

The Saviour comes! by ancient Bards foretold;

Cap. 42. v. 18. Hear him, ye Deaf, and all ye Blind behold!

Cap. 35. v. 5, 6. He from thick Films shall purge the visual Ray,

And on the sightless Eye-ball pour the Day.

'Tis he th' obstructed Paths of Sound shall clear,

And bid new Musick charm th' unfolding Ear,

The Dumb shall sing, the Lame his Crutch forego,

And leap exulting like the bounding Roe;

No Sigh, no Murmur the wide World shall hear,

From ev'ry Face he wipes off ev'ry Tear.

Cap. 25. v. 8. In Adamantine Chains shall Death be bound,

And Hell's grim Tyrant feel th' eternal Wound. 3

Cap. 30. v. xx. As the good Shepherd tends his fleecy Care,

Seeks freshest Pastures and the purest Air,

Explores the lost, the wand'ring Sheep directs,

By day o'ersees them, and by night protects;

The tender Lambs he raises in his Arms,

Feeds from his Hand, and in his Bosom warms:

Mankind shall thus his Guardian Care engage,

The promis'd Father of the future Age4.

No more shall Nation against Nation rise5,

No ardent Warriors meet with hateful Eyes,

Nor Fields with gleaming Steel be coverd o'er,

The Brazen Trumpets kindle Rage no more;

But useless Lances into Scythes shall bend,

And the broad Falchion in a Plow-share end.

Then Palaces shall rise; the joyful Son6

Shall finish what his short-liv'd Sire begun;

Their Vines a Shadow to their Race shall yield,

And the same Hand that sow'd shall reap the Field.

The Swain in barren Desarts with Surprize7

Sees Lillies spring, and sudden Verdure rise;

And Starts, amidst the thirsty Wilds, to hear,

New Falls of Water murmuring in his Ear:

On rifted Rocks, the Dragon's late Abodes,

The green Reed trembles, and the Bulrush nods.

Waste sandy Vallies, once perplexd with Thorn8,

The spiry Fir and shapely Box adorn:

To leafless Shrubs the flow'ring Palms succeed,

And od'rous Myrtle to the noisome Weed.

The Lambs with Wolves shall graze the verdant Mead9

And Boys in flow'ry Bands the Tyger lead;

The Steer and Lion at one Crib shall meet,

And harmless Serpents Lick the Pilgrim's Feet.

The smiling Infant in his Hand shall take

The crested Basilisk and speckled Snake;

Pleas'd, the green Lustre of the Scales survey,

And with their forky Tongue and pointless Sting shall play.

Rise, crown'd with Light, imperial Salem rise!10

Exalt thy tow'ry Head, and lift thy Eyes!

See, a long Race thy spacious Courts adorn;11

See future Sons and Daughters yet unborn

In crowding Ranks on ev'ry side arise,

Demanding Life, impatient for the Skies!

See barb'rous Nations at thy Gates attend,12

Walk in thy Light, and in thy Temple bend.

See thy bright Altars throng'd with prostrate Kings,

And heap'd with Products of Sabæan Springs!13

For thee Idume's spicy Forests blow;

And seeds of Gold in Ophir's Mountains glow.

See Heav'n its sparkling Portals wide display,

And break upon thee in a Flood of Day!

No more the rising Sun shall gild the Morn,14

Nor Evening Cynthia fill her silver Horn,

But lost, dissolv'd in thy superior Rays;

One Tide of Glory, one unclouded Blaze

O'erflow thy Courts: The Light Himself shall shine

Reveal'd; and God's eternal Day be thine!

The Seas shall waste, the Skies in Smoke decay;15

Rocks fall to Dust, and Mountains melt away;

But fix'd His Word, His saving Pow'r remains:

Thy Realm for ever lasts! thy own Messiah reigns.

Footnote 1:

return to footnote mark

Footnote 2: hollow'd

return

Footnote 3: Before him Death, the grisly Tyrant, flies;

He wipes the Tears for ever from our Eyes.

I have turned to every verse and chapter, and think you have preserved the sublime, heavenly spirit throughout the whole, especially at "Hark a glad voice," and "The lamb with wolves shall graze." There is but one line which I think is below the original:

He wipes the tears for ever from our eyes.

You have expressed it with a good and pious but not so exalted and poetical a spirit as the prophet: The Lord God shall wipe away tears from off all faces. If you agree with me in this, alter it by way of paraphrase or otherwise, that when it comes into a volume it may be amended.

return

Footnote 4:

return

Footnote 5:

return

Footnote 6:

return

Footnote 7:

return

Footnote 8:

return

Footnote 9:

return

Footnote 10:

return

Footnote 11:

return

Footnote 12:

return

Footnote 13:

return

Footnote 14:

return

Footnote 15:

return

Contents

№ 379

Thursday, May 15, 1712

Юстас Баджелл

Scire tuum nihil est nisi te scire hoc sciat alter.

Pers.

and Latin A Man's Knowledge is worth nothing, if he communicates what he knows to any one besides. 1

still Alexander the Great Aristotle 2

Luisa de Padilla Lady Aranda Gratian 3 Treatise of the Discrete

Persius Latin Cowley You tell me, that you do not know whether be a good Poet or no, because you cannot understand him; for which very Reason I affirm that he is not so.

Egyptians Hieroglyphicks

Rosicrucius's Sepulchre. need Rosicrusian 4

Rosicrucius

Footnote 1: Nil proprium ducas quod mutarier potest.

return to footnote mark

Footnote 2: Noct. Att.

return

Footnote 3: Discreto Spectator

Footnote 1 No. 293 cultismo Art of Poetry Criticon Discreto

return

cross-reference: return to Footnote 1 of No. 409

Footnote 4: Comte de Gabalis Spectators Brotherhood of the Honourable Order of the Rosy Cross Comte de Gabalis Rape of the Lock

return

Contents

№ 380

Friday, May 16, 1712

Стил

Rivalem patienter habe—

Ovid.

Thursday, May 8, 1712.

Sir,

The Character you have in the World of being the Lady's Philosopher, and the pretty Advice I have seen you give to others in your Papers, make me address my self to you in this abrupt Manner, and to desire your Opinion what in this Age a Woman may call a Lover. I have lately had a Gentleman that I thought made Pretensions to me, insomuch that most of my Friends took Notice of it and thought we were really married; which I did not take much Pains to undeceive them, and especially a young Gentlewoman of my particular Acquaintance which was then in the Country. She coming to Town, and seeing our Intimacy so great, she gave her self the Liberty of taking me to task concerning it: I ingenuously told her we were not married, but I did not know what might the Event. She soon got acquainted with the Gentleman, and was pleased to take upon her to examine him about it. Now whether a new Face had made a greater Conquest than the old, I'll leave you to judge: But I am informd that he utterly deny'd all Pretensions to Courtship, but withal profess'd a sincere Friendship for me; but whether Marriages are propos'd by way of Friendship or not, is what I desire to know, and what I may really call a Lover. There are so many who talk in a Language fit only for that Character, and yet guard themselves against speaking in direct Terms to the Point, that it is impossible to distinguish between Courtship and Conversation. I hope you will do me Justice both upon my Lover and my Friend, if they provoke me further: In the mean time I carry it with so equal a Behaviour, that the Nymph and the Swain too are mighty at a loss; each believes I, who know them both well, think my self revenged in their Love to one another, which creates an irreconcileable Jealousy. If all comes right again, you shall hear further from,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

Mirtilla.

April 28, 1712.

Mr. Spectator,

Your Observations on Persons that have behaved themselves irreverently at Church, I doubt not have had a good Effect on some that have read them: But there is another Fault which has hitherto escaped your Notice, I mean of such Persons as are very zealous and punctual to perform an Ejaculation that is only preparatory to the Service of the Church, and yet neglect to join in the Service it self. There is an Instance of this in a Friend of Will. Honeycomb's, who sits opposite to me: He seldom comes in till the Prayers are about half over, and when he has enter'd his Seat (instead of joining with the Congregation) he devoutly holds his Hat before his Face for three or four Moments, then bows to all his Acquaintance, sits down, takes a Pinch of Snuff, (if it be Evening Service perhaps a Nap) and spends the remaining Time in surveying the Congregation. Now, Sir, what I would desire, is, that you will animadvert a little on this Gentleman's Practice. In my Opinion, this Gentleman's Devotion, Cap-in-Hand, is only a Compliance to the Custom of the Place, and goes no further than a little ecclesiastical Good-Breeding. If you will not pretend to tell us the Motives that bring such Triflers to solemn Assemblies, yet let me desire that you will give this Letter a Place in your Paper, and I shall remain,

Sir,

Your obliged humble Servant,

J. S.

May the 5th.

Mr. Spectator,

The Conversation at a Club, of which I am a Member, last Night falling upon Vanity and the Desire of being admired, put me in mind of relating how agreeably I was entertained at my own Door last Thursday by a clean fresh-colour'd Girl, under the most elegant and the best furnished Milk-Pail I had ever observed. I was glad of such an Opportunity of seeing the Behaviour of a Coquet in low Life, and how she received the extraordinary Notice that was taken of her; which I found had affected every Muscle of her Face in the same manner as it does the Feature of a first-rate Toast at a Play, or in an Assembly. This Hint of mine made the Discourse turn upon the Sense of Pleasure; which ended in a general Resolution, that the Milk-Maid enjoys her Vanity as exquisitely as the Woman of Quality. I think it would not be an improper Subject for you to examine this Frailty, and trace it to all Conditions of Life; which is recommended to you as an Occasion of obliging many of your Readers, among the rest,

Your most humble Servant,

T. B.

Sir,

Coming last Week into a Coffee-house not far from the Exchange with my Basket under my Arm, a Jew of considerable Note, as I am informed, takes half a Dozen Oranges of me, and at the same time slides a Guinea into my Hand; I made him a Curtsy, and went my Way: He follow'd me, and finding I was going about my Business, he came up with me, and told me plainly, that he gave me the Guinea with no other Intent but to purchase my Person for an Hour. Did you so, Sir? says I: You gave it me then to make me be wicked, I'll keep it to make me honest. However, not to be in the least ungrateful, I promise you Ill lay it out in a couple of Rings, and wear them for your Sake. I am so just, Sir, besides, as to give every Body that asks how I came by my Rings this Account of my Benefactor; but to save me the Trouble of telling my Tale over and over again, I humbly beg the favour of you so to tell it once for all, and you will extremely oblige,

Your humble Servant,

Betty Lemon.

May 12, 1712.

St. Bride's, May 15, 1712.

Sir,

'Tis a great deal of Pleasure to me, and I dare say will be no less Satisfaction to you, that I have an Opportunity of informing you, that the Gentlemen and others of the Parish of St. Bride's, have raised a Charity-School of fifty Girls, as before of fifty Boys. You were so kind to recommend the Boys to the charitable World, and the other Sex hope you will do them the same Favour in Friday's Spectator for Sunday next, when they are to appear with their humble Airs at the Parish Church of St. Bride's. Sir, the Mention of this may possibly be serviceable to the Children; and sure no one will omit a good Action attended with no Expence.

I am, Sir, Your very humble Servant,

The Sexton.

Contents

№ 381

Saturday, May 17, 1712

Аддисон

Æquam memento rebus in arduis,

Servare mentem, non secùs in bonis

Ab insolenti temperatam

Lætitiâ, moriture Deli.

Hor.

Chearfulness Mirth

Christians

Contents

№ 382

Monday, May 19, 1712

Стил

Habes confitentem reum.

Tull.

Dauphin France King

Spectator

Contents

№ 383

Tuesday, May 20, 1712

Аддисон

Criminibus debent Hortos—

Hor.

Roger's be a good Child and mind his Book

Roger You must know Roger I never make use of any body to row me, that has not either lost a Leg or an Arm. I would rather bate him a few Strokes of his Oar, than not employ an honest Man that has been wounded in the Queen's Service. If I was a Lord or a Bishop, and kept a Barge, I would not put a Fellow in my Livery that had not a Wooden-Leg.

Roger

obliged at La Hogue 1 British Englishman Frenchmen Thames Europe London Bridge Englishman

A most Heathenish Sight! Roger There is no Religion at this End of the Town. The fifty new Churches will very much mend the Prospect; but Church-work is slow, Church-work is slow!

Roger's Knight of the Shire what queer old Put we had in the Boat, and whether he was not ashamed to go a Wenching at his Years? Thames-Ribaldry That if he were a Middlesex Justice, he would make such Vagrants know that Her Majesty's Subjects were no more to be abused by Water than by Land.

Spring-Garden Mahometan Roger an Aviary of Nightingales You must understand, there is nothing in the World that pleases a Man in Love so much as your Nightingale. Ah, Mr. Spectator! the many Moon-light Nights that I have walked by my self, and thought on the Widow by the Musek of the Nightingales! Masque if he would drink a Bottle of Mead with her? She was a wanton Baggage, and bid her go about her Business.

Burton-Ale Hung-Beef carry the remainder to the Waterman that had but one Leg.

That he should be a better Customer to her Garden, if there were more Nightingales, and fewer Strumpets.

Footnote 1: in Bantry Bay

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Contents

№ 384

Wednesday, May 21, 1712

Стил

Hague, May 24. N. S.

The same Republican Hands, who have so often since the Chevalier de St. George's Recovery killed him in our publick Prints, have now reduced the young Dauphin of France to that desperate Condition of Weakness, and Death it self, that it is hard to conjecture what Method they will take to bring him to Life again. Mean time we are assured by a very good Hand from Paris, That on the 20th Instant, this young Prince was as well as ever he was known to be since the Day of his Birth. As for the other, they are now sending his Ghost, we suppose, (for they never had the Modesty to contradict their Assertions of his Death) to Commerci in Lorrain, attended only by four Gentlemen, and a few Domesticks of little Consideration. The Baron de Bothmar having delivered in his Credentials to qualify him as an Ambassador to this State, (an Office to which his greatest Enemies will acknowledge him to be equal) is gone to Utrecht, whence he will proceed to Hanover, but not stay long at that Court, for fear the Peace should be made during his lamented Absence.

Post-Boy, May 20.

My Lord Bishop of St. Asaph Sermons Preface 1 Christian Christianity Post-Boy Preface Lord of St. Asaph Post-Boy Republicans Bothmar Hanover England

The publishing a few Sermons, whilst I live, the latest of which was preached about eight Years since, and the first above seventeen, will make it very natural for People to enquire into the Occasion of doing so; And to such I do very willingly assign these following Reasons.

First, From the Observations I have been able to make, for these many Years last past, upon our publick Affairs, and from the natural Tendency of several Principles and Practices, that have of late been studiously revived, and from what has followed thereupon, I could not help both fearing and presaging, that these Nations would some time or other, if ever we should have an enterprising Prince upon the Throne, of more Ambition than Virtue, Justice, and true Honour, fall into the way of all other Nations, and lose their Liberty.

Nor could I help foreseeing to whose Charge a great deal of this dreadful Mischief, whenever it should happen, would be laid, whether justly or unjustly, was not my Business to determine; but I resolved for my own particular part, to deliver my self, as well as I could, from the Reproaches and the Curses of Posterity, by publickly declaring to all the World, That although in the constant Course of my Ministry, I have never failed, on proper Occasions, to recommend, urge, and insist upon the loving, honouring, and the reverencing the Prince's Person, and holding it, according to the Laws, inviolable and sacred; and paying all Obedience and Submission to the Laws, though never so hard and inconvenient to private People: Yet did I never think my self at liberty, or authorized to tell the People, that either Christ, St. Peter, or St. Paul, or any other Holy Writer, had by any Doctrine delivered by them, subverted the Laws and Constitutions of the Country in which they lived, or put them in a worse Condition, with respect to their Civil Liberties, than they would have been had they not been Christians. I ever thought it a most impious Blasphemy against that holy Religion, to father any thing upon it that might encourage Tyranny, Oppression, or Injustice in a Prince, or that easily tended to make a free and happy People Slaves and Miserable. No: People may make themselves as wretched as they will, but let not God be called into that wicked Party. When Force and Violence, and hard Necessity have brought the Yoak of Servitude upon a People's Neck, Religion will supply them with a patient and submissive Spirit under it till they can innocently shake it off; but certainly Religion never puts it on. This always was, and this at present is, my Judgment of these Matters: And I would be transmitted to Posterity (for the little Share of Time such Names as mine can live) under the Character of one who lov'd his Country, and would be thought a good Englishman, as well as a good Clergyman.

This Character I thought would be transmitted by the following Sermons, which were made for, and preached in a private Audience, when I could think of nothing else but doing my Duty on the Occasions that were then offered by God's Providence, without any manner of design of making them publick: And for that reason I give them now as they were then delivered; by which I hope to satisfie those People who have objected a Change of Principles to me, as if I were not now the same Man I formerly was. I never had but one Opinion of these Matters; and that I think is so reasonable and well-grounded, that I believe I never can have any other. Another Reason of my publishing these Sermons at this time, is, that I have a mind to do my self some Honour, by doing what Honour I could to the Memory of two most excellent Princes, and who have very highly deserved at the hands of all the People of these Dominions, who have any true Value for the Protestant Religion, and the Constitution of the English Government, of which they were the great Deliverers and Defenders. I have lived to see their illustrious Names very rudely handled, and the great Benefits they did this Nation treated slightly and contemptuously. I have lived to see our Deliverance from Arbitrary Power and Popery, traduced and vilified by some who formerly thought it was their greatest Merit, and made it part of their Boast and Glory, to have had a little hand and share in bringing it about; and others who, without it, must have liv'd in Exile, Poverty, and Misery, meanly disclaiming it, and using ill the glorious Instruments thereof. Who could expect such a Requital of such Merit? I have, I own it, an Ambition of exempting my self from the Number of unthankful People: And as I loved and honoured those great Princes living, and lamented over them when dead, so I would gladly raise them up a Monument of Praise as lasting as any thing of mine can be; and I chuse to do it at this time, when it is so unfashionable a thing to speak honourably of them.