Saturday, November 19, 1709.

Is mihi demum vivere et frui anima videtur, qui aliquo negotio intentus, præclari facinoris aut artis bonæ famam querit. Sall. Bel. Cat.

In my opinion, he only may be truly said to live, and enjoy his being, who is engaged in some laudable pursuit, and acquires a name by some illustrious action, or useful art.

She did it with that easiness which is peculiar | No. 96.]
to women of sense; and to keep up the good
humour she had brought in with her, turned
her raillery upon me. Mr. Bickerstaff, you re-
member you followed me one night from the
play-house; suppose you should carry me thither
to-morrow night, and lead me into the front
box. This put us into a long field of discourse
about the beauties, who were mothers to the
present, and shined in the boxes twenty years
ago. I told her, I was glad she had transferred
so many of her charms, and I did not question
but her eldest daughter was within half-a-year
of being a toast.'

From my own Apartment, November 17.

IT has cost me very much care and thought to marshal and fix the people under their proper denominations, and to range them according to their respective characters. These my endeavours have been received with unexpected success in one kind, but neglected in another: for, though I have many readers, I have but few converts. This must certainly proceed from a false opinion, that what I write is designed ra ther to amuse and entertain, than convince and instruct. I entered upon my Essays with a declaration that I should consider mankind in quite another manner than they had hitherto been represented to the ordinary world; and asserted, that none but a useful life should be, with me, any life at all. But, lest this doctrine should have made this small progress towards the conviction of mankind, because it may have appeared to the unlearned light and whimsical, I must take leave to unfold the wisdom and antiquity of my first proposition in these my

We were pleasing ourselves with this fantastical preferment of the young lady, when on a sudden we were alarmed with the noise of a drum, and immediately entered my little godson to give me a point of war. His mother, between laughing and chiding, would have put him out of the room; but I would not part with him so. I found upon conversation with him, though he was a little noisy in his mirth, that the child had excellent parts, and was a great master of all the learning on the other side eight years old. I perceived him a very great historian in sop's Fables: but he frankly declared to me his mind, that he did not delight in that learning, because he did not believe they were true; for which reason I found he had very much turned his studies, for about a twelvemonth past, into the lives and adventures of Don Bellianis of Greece, Guy of Warwick, the Seven Cham-Essays, to wit, that 'every worthless man is a pions, and other historians of that age. I could not but observe the satisfaction the father took in the forwardness of his son; and that these diversions might turn to some profit, I found the boy had made remarks, which might be of service to him during the course of his whole life. He would tell you the mismanagements of John Hickerthrift, find fault with the passionate tem-with inscriptions to warn others of the like per in Bevis of Southampton, and loved Saint George for being the champion of England;* and by this means had his thoughts insensibly moulded into the notions of discretion, virtue, and honour. I was extolling his accomplishments, when the mother told me, that the little girl who led me in this morning, was, in her way, a better scholar than he. Betty,' said she, 'deals chiefly in fairies and sprights; and sometimes in a winter-night will terrify the maids with her accounts, until they are afraid to go up to bed.'

dead man.' This notion is as old as Pythagoras, in whose school it was a point of discipline, that if among the 'Axsix, or probationers, there were any who grew weary of studying to be useful, and returned to an idle life, they were to regard them as dead; and, upon their departing, to perform their obsequies, and raise them tombs,

mortality, and quicken them to resolutions of refining their souls above that wretched state. It is upon a like supposition, that young ladies, at this very time, in Roman catholic countries, are received into some nunneries with their coffins, and with the pomp of a formal funeral, to signify, that henceforth they are to be of no further use, and consequently dead. Nor was Pythagoras himself the first author of this symbol, with whom, and with the Hebrews, it was generally received. Much more might be of fered in illustration of this doctrine from sacred

own reflection, who will easily recollect, from places which I do not think fit to quote here, the forcible manner of applying the words dead and living, to men as they are good or bad,

I sat with them until it was very late, some-authority, which I recommend to my reader's times in merry, sometimes in serious discourse, with this particular pleasure, which gives the only true relish to all conversation, a sense that every one of us liked each other. I went home, considering the different conditions of a married life and that of a bachelor; and I must confess it struck me with a secret concern, to reflect that whenever I go off I shall leave no traces behind me. In this pensive mood I return to my family; that is to say, to my maid, my dog, and my cat, who only can be the ter or worse for what happens to me.

I have, therefore, composed the following scheme of existence for the benefit both of the living and the dead; though chiefly for the lat ter, whom I must desire to read it with all possible attention. In the number of the dead I comprehend all persons, of what title or dignity bet-soever, who bestow most of their time in eating

and drinking, to support that imaginary existence of theirs, which they call life; or in dress. *This is a subject which has occasioned a very learned which are looked upon by the vulgar as real ing and adorning those shadows and apparitions,

altercation between some of our most eminent antiquaries.

men and women. In short, whoever resides in

the world without having any business in it, | house Statesman. But as it is required that all
and passes away an age without ever thinking coxcombs hang out their signs, it is on the other
on the errand for which he was sent hither, is hand expected that men of real merit should
to me a dead man to all intents and purposes; avoid any thing particular in their dress, gait,
and I desire that he may be so reputed. The or behaviour. For, as we old men delight in
living are only those that are some way or other proverbs, I cannot forbear bringing out one on
laudably employed in the improvement of their this occasion. That good wine needs no bush.'*
own minds, or for the advantage of others; and I must not leave this subject without reflecting
even amongst these, I shall only reckon into on several persons I have lately met with, who
their lives that part of their time which has at a distance seem very terrible; but upon a
been spent in the manner above-mentioned. stricter inquiry into their looks and features,
By these means, I am afraid, we shall find the appear as meek and harmless as any of my own
longest lives not to consist of many months, and neighbours. These are country gentlemen, who
the greatest part of the earth to be quite unpeo- of late years have taken up a humour of coming
pled. According to this system, we may ob- to town in red coats, whom an arch wag of my
serve, that some men are born at twenty years acquaintance used to describe very well, by call-
of age, some at thirty, some at threescore, and ing them sheep in wolves' clothing.' I have
some not above an hour before they die: nay, often wondered, that honest gentlemen, who are
we may observe multitudes that die without good neighbours, and live quietly in their own
ever being born, as well as many dead persons possessions, should take it in their heads to
that fill up the bulk of mankind, and make, a frighten the town after this unreasonable man-
better figure in the eyes of the ignorant, than ner. I shall think myself obliged, if they per-
those who are alive, and in their proper and full sist in so unnatural a dress, notwithstanding
state of health. However, since there may be any posts they may have in the militia, to
many good subjects that pay their taxes, and give away their red coats to any of the soldiery
live peaceably in their habitations, who are not who shall think fit to strip them, provided the
yet born, or have departed this life several years said soldiers can make it appear that they be-
since, my design is, to encourage both to join long to a regiment where there is a deficiency
themselves as soon as possible to the number of in the clothing.
the living. For as I invite the former to break
forth into being, and become good for some.
thing; so I allow the latter a state of resuscita-
tion; which I chiefly mention for the sake of a
person who has lately published an advertise.
ment, with several scurrilous terms in it, that
do by no means become a dead man to give; it
is my departed friend John Partridge, who con-
cludes the advertisement of his next year's
almanack with the following note:

About two days ago I was walking in the Park, and accidentally met a rural 'squire clothed in all the types above-mentioned, with a carriage and behaviour made entirely out of his own head. He was of a bulk and stature, larger than ordinary, had a red coat flung open to show a gay calamanco waistcoat. His periwig fell in a very considerable bush upon each shoulder. His arms naturally swang at an unreasonable distance from his sides; which, with the advantage of a cane that he brandished in a great variety of irregular motions, made it unsafe for any one to walk within several yards of him. In this manner he took up the whole Mall, his spectators moving on each side of it, whilst he cocked up his hat, and marched directly for Westminster. I cannot tell who this gentleman is, but, for my comfort, may say with the lover in Terence, who lost sight of a fine young lady, 'Wherever thou art, thou canst not be long concealed.'

St. James's Coffee-house, November 18.

By letters from Paris of the sixteenth we are informed that the French king, the princess of the blood, and the elector of Bavaria, had lately killed fifty-five pheasants.

From my own Apartment, November 18.
When an engineer finds his guns have not
had their intended effect, he changes his bat-
teries. I am forced at present to take this me.
thod; and instead of continuing to write against
the singularity some are guilty of in their habit
and behaviour, I shall henceforward desire them
to persevere in it; and not only so, but shall
take it as a favour of all the coxcombs in the
town, if they will set marks upon themselves,
and by some particular in their dress show to
what class they belong. It would be very oblig-
ing in all such persons, who feel in themselves
that they are not of sound understanding, to
give the world notice of it and spare mankind
the pains of finding them out. A cane upon
the fifth button shall from henceforth be the
type of a Dapper; red-heeled shoes, and a hat
hung upon one side of the head, shall signify a
Smart; a good periwig made into a twist, with
a brisk cock, shall speak a Mettled Fellow; and
an upper lip covered with snuff, denote a Coffee-kin's Ilist. of Music.'

Whereas, several have industriously spread abroad, that I am in partnership with

* A bush, as may be inferred from this proverb, was by a thing intended to resemble a bash, consisting of anciently the sign of a tavern. This sign was succeeded three or four tier of hoops fastened one above another; with vine leaves and grapes richly carved and gilt, and a Bacchus bestriding a tan at top. The owner of a tavern or alehouse in Aldersgate-street, at the time when king Charles I. was beheaded, was so affected upon that event, that he put his bush in mourning by painting it black. The house was long after known by the name of the Mourning Bush at Aldersgate.' Sir John Haw

No. 97.] Illud maxime rarum genus est eorum, qui aut excel-upon herself, then turned them on those that lente ingenii magnitudine, aut præclara eruditione atque doctrina, aut utraqua re ornati, spatium delibe: randi habuerunt, quem potissimum vitæ cursum sequi

is altered, and the lover is the more acceptable, | very things that in the books of the philosophers the less he is considerable. The two I shall appear austere, and have at the best but a kind throw into the way of Cleora are, Orson Thicket of forbidding aspect. In a word, the poets do, and Mr. Walter Wisdom. Orson is a hunts- as it were, strew the rough paths of virtue so man, whose father's death, and some difficulties full of flowers, that we are not sensible of the about legacies, brought out of the woods to uneasiness of them; and imagine ourselves in the town last November. He was at that time one midst of pleasures, and the most bewitching alof those country savages, who despise the soft-lurements, at the time we are making progress ness they meet in town and court; and profess- in the severest duties of life. edly show their strength and roughness in every motion and gesture, in scorn of our bowing and cringing. He was, at his first appearance, very remarkable for that piece of good breeding peculiar to natural Britons, to wit, defiance; and showed every one he met he was as good a man as he. But, in the midst of all this fierceness, he would sometimes attend the discourse of a man of sense, and look at the charms of a beauty, with his eyes and mouth open. He was in this posture when, in the beginning of last Decem-hand some fine poet. The graceful sentences, ber, he was shot by Cleora from a side-box.From that moment he softened into humanity, forgot his dogs and horses, and now moves and speaks with civility and address.

All men agree, that licentious poems do, of all writings, soonest corrupt the heart. And why should we not be universally persuaded, that the grave and serious performances of such as write in the most engaging manner, by a kind of divine impulse, must be the most effectual persuasives to goodness? If, therefore, I were blessed with a son, in order to the forming of his manners, which is making him truly my son, I should be continually putting into his

and the manly sentiments, so frequently to be met with in every great and sublime writer, are, in my judgment, the most ornamental and valuable furniture that can be, for a young gentleWat. Wisdom, by the death of an elder bro- man's head; methinks they show like so much ther, came to a great estate, when he had pro-rich embroidery upon the brain. Let me add ceeded just far enough in his studies to be very to this, that humanity and tenderness, without impertinent, and at the years when the law which there can be no true greatness in the gives him possession of his fortune, and his own mind, are inspired by the muses in such patheticonstitution is too warm for the management cal language, that all we find in prose-authors of it. Orson is learning to fence and dance, to towards the raising and improving of these pasplease and fight for his mistress; and Walter sions is, in comparison, but cold, or lukewarm preparing fine horses, and a jingling chariot, at the best. There is, besides, a certain elevato enchant her. All persons concerned will tion of soul, a sedate magnanimity, and a noble appear at the next opera, where will begin the turn of virtue, that distinguishes the hero from wild-goose-chase; and I doubt Fabio will see the plain honest man, to which verse can only himself so overlooked for Orson or Walter, as raise us. The bold metaphors, and sounding to turn his eyes on the modest passion and be-numbers, peculiar to the poets, rouse up all our coming languor in the countenance of Diana; sleeping faculties, and alarm the whole powers it being my design to supply with the art of of the soul, much like that excellent trumpeter love, all those who preserve the sincere passion mentioned by Virgil:'

of it.

Will's Coffee-house, November 23.

An ingenious and worthy gentleman, my ancient friend,* fell into discourse with me this evening upon the force and efficacy which the writings of good poets have on the minds of their intelligent readers; and recommended to me his sense of the matter, thrown together in the following manner, which he desired me to communicate to the youth of Great Britain in my Essays. I choose to do it in his own words. I have always been of opinion,' says he, 'that virtue sinks deepest into the heart of man, when it comes recommended by the powerful charms of poetry. The most active principle in our mind is the imagination: to it a good poet makes his court perpetually, and by this faculty takes care to gain it first. Our passions and inclinations come over next; and our reason surrenders itself, with pleasure, in the end. Thus, the whole soul is insensibly betrayed into morality, by bribing the fancy with beautiful and agreeable images of those

* Probably Dr. Thomas Walker, head schoolmaster at the Chartreux, where Steel and Addison were his scholars, or perhaps Dr. Ellis, then master of the Char

treux.

Quo non præstantior alter
Ere ciere viros, Martemque accendere cantu.
Virg. En. vi. 165.

-None so renowned
With breathing brass to kindle fierce alarms.

Dryden.

I fell into this train of thinking this evening upon reading a passage in a masque writ by Milton, where two brothers arc introduced seeking their sister, whom they had lost in a dark night and thick wood. One of the brothers is apprehensive lest the wandering virgin should be overpowered with fears, through the darkness and loneliness of the time and place. This gives the other occasion to make the following reflections, which, as I read them, made me forget my age, and renewed in me the warm desires after virtue, so natural to uncorrupted youth.

* Milton's 'Comus' was founded on the following realstory: The earl of Bridgewater being president of Wales, in 1634, had his residence at Ludlow Castle, in Shrop sire; Lord Bracly and Mr. Egerton, his sons, and lady Alice Egerton, his daughter, passing through a place called the Hay-wood Forest, in Herefordshire, were benighted, and the lady was for some short time lost. This accident being related to their father upon their arrival at his castle, furnished a subject which Milton wrought into one of the finest poems of the kind in any language.