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will, or in his present condition that can tempt any considerate creature to pride or vanity. These three very reasons why he should not be proud, are, notwithstanding the reasons why he is so. Were not he a sinful creature, he would not be subject to a passion which rises from the depravity of his nature; were he not an ignorant creature, he would see that he has nothing to be proud of; and were not the whole species miserable, he would not have those wretched objects of comparison before his eyes, which are the occasions of his passion, and which make one man value himself more than another.

A wise man will be contented that his glory be deferred until such time as he shall be truly glorified; when his understanding shall be cleared, his will rectified, and his happiness assured; or in other words, when he shall be neither sinful, nor ignorant, nor miserable.

. If there be any thing which makes human nature appear ridiculous to beings of superior faculties, it must be pride. They know so well the vanity of those imaginary perfections that swell the heart of man, and of those little supernumerary advantages, whether in birth, fortune, or title, which one man enjoys above another, that it must certainly very much astonish, if it does not very much divert them, when they see a mortal puffed up, and valuing himself above his neighbours on any of these accounts, at the same time that he is obnoxious to all the common calamities of the species.

To set this thought in its true light, we will fancy, if you please, that yonder mole-hill is inhabited by reasonable creatures, and that every pismire (his shape and way of life only excepted) is endowed with human passions. How should we smile to hear one give us an account of the pedigrees, distinctions, and titles that reign among them! Observe how the whole swarm divide and make way for the pismire that passes through them! You must understand he is an emmet of quality, and has better blood in his veins than any pismire in the molehill. Do not you see how sensible he is of it, how slow he marches forward, how the whole rabble of ants keep their distance? Here you may observe one placed upon a little eminence, and looking down on a long row of labourers. He is the richest insect on this side the hillock, he has a walk of half a yard in length, and a quarter of an inch in breadth, he keeps a hundred menial servants, and has at least fifteen barley-corns in his granary. He is now chiding and beslaving the emmet that stands before him, and who, for all that we can discover, is as good an emmet as himself.

But here comes an insect of figure! Do not you take notice of a little white straw that he carries in his mouth? That straw, you must understand, he would not part with for the longest tract about the mole-hill: did you but know what he has undergone to purchase it! See how the ants of all qualities and conditions swarm about him! Should this straw drop out of his mouth, you would see all this numerous circle of attendants follow the next that took it up, and leave the discarded insect, or run over his back to come at his successor.

If now you have a mind to see all the ladies of the mole-hill, observe first the pismire that listens to the emmet on her left hand, at the same time that she seems to turn away her head from him. He tells this poor insect that she is a goddess, that her eyes are brighter than the sun, that life and death are at her disposal. She believes hint, and gives herself a thousand little airs upon it. Mark the vanity of the pismire on your left hand. She can scarce crawl with age; but you must know she values herself upon her birth; and if you mind, spurns at every one that comes within her reach. The little nimble coquette that is running along by the side of her, is a wit. She has broke many a pismire's heart. Do but observe what a drove of lovers are running after her.

We will here finish this imaginary scene; but first of all, to draw the parallel closer, will suppose, if you please, that death comes down upon the mole-hill, in the shape of a cock-sparrow, who picks up, without distinction, the pismire of quality and his flatterers; the pismire of substance and day-labourers; the white-straw officer and his sycophants; with all the goddesses, wits, and beauties of the mole-hill.

May we not imagine that beings of superior natures and perfections, regard all the instances of pride and vanity, among our own species, in the same kind of view, when they take a survey of those who inhabit the earth: or in the language of an ingenious French poet; of those pisinires that people this heap of dirt, which human vanity has divided into climates and regions.

No. 154.]

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Monday, September 7, 1713.

Omnia transformant sese in miracula rerum.
Virg. Georg. iv. 441.

All shapes, the most prodigious, they assume.

I QUESTION not but the following letter will be entertaining to those who were present at the late masquerade, as it will recall into their minds several merry particulars that passed in it, and at the same time be very acceptable to those who were at a distance from it, as they may form from hence.some idea of this fashion

able amusement.

'To Nestor Ironside, Esq. Per via leonis.

'SIR,-I could scarce ever go into good company, but the discourse was on the ambassador, the politeness of his entertainments, the goodness of his Burgundy and Champaign, the gayety of his masquerades, with the odd fantastical dresses which were made use of in those midnight solemnities. The noise these diversions made, at last raised my curiosity, and for once I resolved to be present at them, being at the same time provoked to it by a lady I then made my addresses to, one of a sprightly humour, and a great admirer of such novelties. In order to it, I hurried my habit, and got it ready a week before the time, for I grew impatient to be initiated in these new mysteries. Every morning I drest myself in it, and acted before the look..

ing-glass, so that I am vain enough to think I
was as perfect in my part as most who had of
tener frequented those diversions. You must
understand I personated a devil, and that for
several weighty reasons. First, because appear-
ing as one of that fraternity, I expected to meet
with particular civilities from the more polite
and better-bred part of the company. Besides,
as from their usual reception, they are called
familiars, I fancied I should in this character
be allowed the greatest liberties, and soonest be
led into the secrets of the masquerade. To re-
commend and distinguish me from the vulgar,
I drew a very long tail after me. But to speak
the truth, what persuaded me most to this dis-
guise was, because I heard an intriguing lady
say, in a large company of females, who unani-
mously assented to it, that she loved to converse
with such, for that generally they were very
clever fellows who made choice of that shape.
At length, when the long-wished-for evening
came, which was to open to us such vast scenes
of pleasure, I repaired to the place appointed
about ten at night, where I found nature turned
topsy-turvy, women changed into men, and men
into women, children in leading-strings seven
feet high, courtiers transformed into clowns, la-however drew the eyes of the servants upon me,
dies of the night into saints, people of the first
quality into beasts or birds, gods or goddesses. I
fancied I had all Ovid's Metamorphoses before
me. Among these were several monsters to
which I did not know how to give a name;.

most, was one dressed in white feathers that re-
presented a swan. He would fain have found
out a Leda among the fair sex, and indeed was
the most unlucky bird in the company. I was
then engaged in a discourse with a running.
footman; but as I treated him like what he ap-
peared to be, a Turkish emperor whispered me
in the ear, desiring me "to use him civilly, for
that it was his master." I was here interrupted
by the famous large figure of a woman hung
with little looking-glasses. She had a great
many that followed her as she passed by me,
but I would not have her value herself upon that
account, since it was plain they did not follow
so much to look upon her as to see themselves.
The next I observed was a nun making an as-
signation with a heathen god; for I heard them
mention the Little Piazza in Covent-garden. I-
was by this time exceeding hot and thirsty; so
that I made the best of my way to the place
where wine was dealt about in great quantities.
I had no sooner presented myself before the ta-
ble, but a magician seeing me, made a circle
over my head with his wand, and seemed to do
me homage. I was at a loss to account for his
behaviour, until I recollected who I was; this

"worse

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Than fables yet have feigned, or fear conceived, f Gorgons, and hydras, and chimeras dire." Milton. In the middle of the first room, I met with one drest in a shroud. This put me in mind of the old custom of serving up a death's head at a feast. I was a little angry at the dress, and asked the gentleman whether he thought a dead man was fit company for such an assembly; but he told me that he was one who loved his money, and that he considered this dress would serve him another time. This walking coarse was followed by a gigantic woman with a high. crowned hat, that stood up like a steeple over the heads of the whole assembly. I then chanced to tread upon the foot of a female quaker, to all outward appearance; but was surprised to hear her cry out, "D-n you, you son of a upon which I immediately rebuked her, when all of a sudden, resuming her character, "Verily," says she, "I was to blame; but thou hast bruised me sorely." A few moments after this adventure, I had like to have been knocked down by a shepherdess, for having run my el. bow a little inadvertently into one of her sides. She swore like a trooper, and threatened me with a very masculine voice; but I was timely taken off by a presbyterian parson, who told me in a very soft tone, that he believed I was a pretty fellow, and that he would meet me in Spring, gardens to-morrow night. The next object I saw was a chimney-sweeper made up of black crape and velvet, with a huge diamond in his mouth, making love to a butterfly. On a sudden I found myself among a flock of bats, owls, and lawyers. But what took up my attention

* Corpse.

and inmediately procured me a glass of excel
lent Champaign. The magician said I was a
spirit of an adust and dry constitution; and de-
sired that I might have another refreshing glass:
adding withal, that it ought to be a brinimer. I
took it in my hand, and drank it off to the ma-
gician. This so enlivened me, that I led him by
the hand into the next room, where we danced
a rigadoon together. I was here a little offended
at a jackanapes of a scaramouch, that cried out,
"Avaunt Satan;" and gave me a little tap on
my left shoulder with the end of his lath sword.
As I was considering how I ought to resent this
affront, a well-shaped person that stood at my
left-hand, in the figure of a bell-man, cried out
with a suitable voice, "Past twelve o'clock."
This put me in mind of bed-time. Accordingly
I made my way towards the door, but was in-
tercepted by an Indian king, a tall, slender
youth, dressed up in a most beautiful party-co-
loured plumage. He regarded my habit very
attentively, and after having turned me about
once or twice, asked me "whom I had been
tempting?" I conld not tell what was the mat.
tor with me, but my heart leaped as soon as he
touched me, and was still in greater disorder,
upon my hearing his voice. In short, I found
after a little discourse with him, that his Indian
majesty was my dear Leonora, who knowing
the disguise I had put on, would not let me pass
by her unobserved. Her awkward manliness
made me guess at her sex, and her own confes
sion quickly let me know the rest. This masque-
rade did more for me than a twelvemonth's
courtship: for it inspired her with such tender
sentiments, that I married her the next morn..
ing.

How happy I shall be in a wife taken out of a masquerade, I cannot yet tell; but I have reason to hope the best, Leonora having assured me it was the first, and shall be the last time of her appearing at such an entertainment.

And now, sir, having given you the history

of this strange evening, which looks rather like | Could they discourse about the spots in the sun, a dream than a reality, it is my request to you, it might divert them from publishing the faults that you will oblige the world with a disserta- of their neighbours. Could they talk of the tion on masquerades in general, that we may different aspects and conjunctions of the planets, know how far they are useful to the public, and they need not be at the pains to comment upon consequently how far they ought to be encour. oglings and clandestine marriages. In short, aged. I have heard of two or three very odd ac- were they furnished with matters of fact, out of eidents that have happened upon this occasion, arts and sciences, it would now and then be a as in particular of a lawyer's being now big- great ease to their invention. bellied, who was present at the first of these entertainments; not to mention (what is still more strange) an old man with a long beard, who was got with child by a milk-maid. But in cases of this nature, where there is such a confusion of sex, age, and quality, men are apt to report rather what might have happened, than what really came to pass. Without giving credit therefore to any of these rumours, I shall only renew my petition to you, that you will tell us your opinion at large of these matters, and am, sir, &c. LUCIFER.'

No. 155.]

Tuesday, September 8, 1713.

Libelli stoici inter sericos

Jacere pulvillos amant. Hor. Epod. viii. 15.
The books of stoics ever chose
On şilken cushions to repose.

I HAVE often wondered that learning is not thought a proper ingredient in the education of a woman of quality or fortune. Since they have the same improveable minds as the male part of the species, why should they not be cultivated by the same method? Why should reason be left to itself in one of the sexes, and be disciplined with so much care in the other?

There are some reasons why learning seems more adapted to the female world, than to the male. As in the first place, because they have more spare time upon their hands, and lead a more sedentary life. Their employments are of a domestic nature, and not like those of the other sex, which are often inconsistent with study and contemplation. The excellent lady, the lady Lizard, in the space of one summer, furnished a gallery with chairs and couches of her own and her daughters' working; and at the same time heard all doctor Tillotson's sermons twice over. It was always the custom for one of the young ladies to read, while the others are at work; so that the learning of the family is not at all prejudicial to its manufactures. I was mightily pleased the other day to find them all busy in preserving several fruits of the season, with the Sparkler in the midst of them, reading over the Plurality of Worlds. It was very entertaining to me to see them dividing their speculations between jellies and stars, and making a sudden transition from the sun to an apricot, or from the Copernican system to the figure of a cheesecake.

There is another reason why those especially who are women of quality, should apply themselves to letters, namely, because their husbands are generally strangers to them.

It is great pity there should be no knowledge in a family. For my own part, I am concerned, when I go into a great house, where perhaps there is not a single person that can spell, unless it be by chance the butler, or one of the footmen. What a figure is the young heir likely to make, who is a dunce both by father and mother's side!

If we look into the histories of famous women, we find inany eminent philosophers of this sex. Nay, we find that several females have distin. guished themselves in those scets of philosophy which scom almost repugnant to their natures. There have been famous female Pythagoreans, notwithstanding most of that philosophy consisted in keeping a secret, and that the disciple was to hold her tongue five years together. I need not mention Portia, who was a stoic in petticoats; nor Hipparchia, the famous she cynic, who arrived at such a perfection in her studies, that she conversed with her husband, or man-planter, in broad day-light, and in the open streets.

Learning and knowledge are perfections in us, not as we are men, but as we are reasonable creatures, in which order of beings the female world is upon the same level with the niale. We ought to consider in this particular, not what is the sex, but what is the species to which they belong. At least I believe every one will allow me, that a female philosopher is not so absurd a character, and so opposite to the sex, as a female gamester; and that it is more irrational for a woman to pass away half a dozen hours at cards or dice, than in getting up stores of useful learning. This therefore is another reason why I would recommend the studies of knowledge to the female world, that they may not be at a loss how to employ those hours that lie upon their hands.

I might also add this motive to my fair readers, that several of their sex who have improved their minds by books and literature, have raised themselves to the highest posts of honour and fortune. A neighbouring nation may at this time furnish us with a very remarkable instance of this kind; but I shall conclude this head with the history of Athenais, which is a very signal example to my present purpose.

The emperor Theodosius being about the age A second reason why women should apply of one-and-twenty, and designing to take a wife, themselves to useful knowledge rather than desired his sister Pulcheria and his friend Panmen, is because they have that natural gift of linus to search his whole empire for a woman speech in greater perfection. Since they have of the most exquisite beauty and highest accomso excellent a talent, such a copia verborum, or plishments. In the midst of this search, Atheplenty of words, it is pity they should not put it nais, a Grecian virgin, accidentally offered herIf the female tongue will be in self. Her father, who was an eminent philosomotion, why should it not be set to go right?pher of Athens, and had bred her up in all the

to some usc.

with water, made a kind of dry and barren soil. That place lying to the south, and out of the reach of the wind and rain, besides the neighbourhood of a granary, was a most delightful spot of ground for ants; and therefore they had made three nests there, without doubt for the same reason that men build cities in fruitful and convenient places, near springs and rivers.

learning of that place, at his death left her but a very small portion, in which also she suffered great hardships from the injustice of her two brothers. This forced her upon a journey to Constantinople, where she had a relation who represented her case to Pulcheria in order to obtain some redress from the emperor. By this means that religious princess became acquainted with Athenais, whom she found the most Having a mind to cultivate some flowers, I beautiful woman of her age, and educated under took a view of that place, and removed a tulip a long course of philosophy in the strictest vir out of the garden into that box; but casting my tue, and most unspotted innocence. Pulcheria eyes upon the ants, continually taken up with a was charmed with her conversation, and imme-thousand cares, very inconsiderable with respect diately made her reports the emperor, her to us, but of the greatest importance for them, brother Theodosius. The character she gave, they appeared to me more worthy of my curi made such an impression on him, that he de-osity than all the flowers in the world. I quickly sired his sister to bring her away immediately removed the tulip, to be the admirer and restorer to the lodgings of his friend Paulinus, where he of that little commonwealth. This was the only found her beauty and her conversation beyond thing they wanted; for their policy and the the highest idea he had framed of them. His order observed among them, are more perfect friend Paulinus converted her to Christianity, than those of the wisest republics: and thereand gave her the name of Eudosia; after which fore they have nothing to fear, unless a new lethe emperor publicly espoused her, and enjoyed gislator should attempt to change the form of all the happiness in his marriage which he pro. their government. mised himself from such a virtuous and learned I made it my business to procure them all bride. She not only forgave the injuries which sorts of conveniences. I took out of the box her two brothers had done her, but raised them every thing that might be troublesome to them; to great honours; and by several works of learn- and frequently visited my ants, and studied all ing, as well as by an exemplary life, made her- their actions. Being used to go to bed very self so dear to the whole empire, that she had late, I went to see them work in a moon-shiny many statues erected to her memory, and is ce-night; and I did frequently get up in the night, lebrated by the fathers of the church, as the or nament of her sex.

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No. 156. Wednesday, September 9, 1713.

-Magni formica laboris

Ore trahit quodcunque potest, atque addit acervo,
Quem struit band ignara, ac non incauta futuri.
Quæ, sinul inversuim contristat Aquarius annum,
Non usquam prorepit, et illis utitur aute
Quæsitis patiens-

Hor. Lib. 1. Sat. i. 33. 1

As the small ant (for she instructs the man,
And preaches labour) gathers all she can,
And brings it to increase her heap at home,
Against the winter, which she knows will come:
But, when that comes she creeps abroad no more,
But lies at home, and feasts upon her store. Creech.

to take a view of their labours. I always found some going up and down, and very busy: one would think that they never sleep. Every body

nests.

knows that ants come out of their holes in the day-time, and expose to the sun the corn, which they keep under ground in the night. Those who have seen ant-hillocks, have easily perceived those small heaps of corn about their What surprised me at first was, that my ants never brought out their corn but in the night, when the moon did shine, and kept it under ground in the day time: which was contrary to what I had seer, and saw still practised by those insects in other places. I quickly found out the reason of it: there was a pigeon-house not far from thence: pigeons and birds would have eaten their corn, if they had brought it out in the day time. It is highly probable they knew it by experience; and I frequently found pigeons and birds in that place, when I went to it in a morning. I quickly delivered them from those robbers: I frighted the birds away with some pieces of paper tied to the end of a string over the window. As for the pigeons, I drove them away several times; and when they perceived that the place was more frequented than before, they never came to it again. What is most admirable, and what I could hardly believe, if I did not know it by experience, is, that those ants know some days after that they had nothing to fear, and began to lay out their corn in the 'In a room next to mine, which had been sun. However, I perceived they were not fully empty for a long time, there was upon a window convinced of being out of all danger; for they a box full of earth, two feet deep, and fit to keep durst not bring out their provisions all at once, flowers in. That kind of parterre had been long but by degrees, first in a small quantity, and uncultivated; and therefore it was covered with without any great order, that they might quickly old plaster, and a great deal of rubbish that fell carry them away, in case of any misfortune, from the top of the house and from the walls, watching, and looking every way. At last, bewhich, together with the earth formerly imbibed ling persuaded that they had nothing to fear,

IN my last Saturday's paper I supposed a mole-hill inhabited by pismires or ants, to be a lively image of the earth, peopled by human creatures. This supposition will not appear too forced or strained to those who are acquainted with the natural history of these little insects; in order to which I shall present my reader with the extract of a letter upon this curious subject, as it was published by the members of the French academy, and since translated into English. I must confess I was never in my life better entertained than with this narrative, which is of undoubted credit and authority.

on which doubtless their corn was laid up.

they brought out all their corn, almost every day, i then they fetch out a remainder of dry earth, and in good order, and carried it in at night. "There is a straight hole in every ant's nest, about half an inch deep, and then it goes down sloping into a place where they have their magazine, which I take to be a different place from that where they rest and eat. For it is highly improbable that an ant, which is a very cleanly insect, and throws out of her nest all the small remains of the corn on which she feeds, as I have observed a thousand times, would fill up her magazine, and mix her corn with dirt and ordure.

The corn that is laid up by ants, would shoot under ground, if those insects did not take care to prevent it. They bito off all the buds before they lay it up; and therefore the corn that has lain in their nests will produce nothing. Any one may easily make this experiment, and even plainly see that there is no bud in their corn. But though the bud be bitten off, there remains another inconvenience, that corn must needs swell and rot under ground; and therefore it could be of no use for the nourishment of ants. Those insects prevent that inconvenience by their labour and industry, and contrive the matter so, that corn will keep as dry in their nests as in our granaries.

They gather many small particles of dry earth, which they bring every day out of their holes, and place them round to heat them in the sun. Every ant brings a small particle of that earth in her pincers, lays it by the hole, and then goes and fetches another. Thus, in less than a quarter of an hour, one may see a vast number of such small particles of dry earth, heaped up round the hole. They lay their corn under ground upon that earth, and cover it with the same. They perform this work almost every day, during the heat of the sun; and though the sun went from the window about three or four o'clock in the afternoon, they did not remove their corn and their particles of earth, because the ground was very hot, until the heat was over.

If any one should think that those animals should use sand, or small particles of brick or stone, rather than take so much pains about dry earth; I answer, that upon such an occasion, nothing can be more proper than earth heated in the sun. Corn does not keep upon sand: besides, a grain of corn that is cut, being deprived of its bud, would be filled with small sandy particles that could not easily come out. To which I add, that sand consists of such small particles, that an ant could not take them up one after another; and, therefore, those insects are seldom to be scen near rivers, or in a very sandy ground.

As for the small particles of brick or stone, the least moistness would join them together, and turn them into a kind of mastic, which those insects could not divide. Those particles sticking together could not come out of an ant's nest, and would spoil its symmetry.

manner,

When ants have brought out those particles of earth, they bring out their corn after the same and place it round the earth. Thus, one may see two heaps surrounding their hole, one of dry earth, and the other of corn; and 2 D

'Those insects never go about this work but when the weather is clear, and the sun very hot. I observed, that those little animals having one day brought out their corn at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, removed it, against their usual custom, before one in the afternoon. The sun being very hot, and sky very clear, I could perceive no reason for it. But half an hour after, the sky began to be overcast, and there fell a small rain, which the ants foresaw; whereas, the Milan almanack had foretold there would be no rain upon that day.

'I have said before, that those ants which I did so particularly consider, fetched their corn out of the garret. I went very frequently into that garret. There was some old corn in it; and because every grain was not alike, I observed that they chose the best.

'I know, by several experiments, that those little animals take great care to provide themselves with wheat when they can find it, and always pick out the best; but they can make shift without it. When they can get no wheat, they take rye, oats, millet, and even crumbs of bread; but seldom any barley, unless it be in a time of great scarcity, and when nothing else can be had.

Being willing to be more particularly informed of their forecast and industry, I put a small heap of wheat in a corner of the room where they kept; and to prevent their fetching corn out of the garret, I shut up the window, and stopped all the holes. Though ants are very knowing, I do not take them to be conjurers; and therefore they could not guess that I had put some corn in that room. I perceived for several days that they were very much perplexed, and went a great way to fetch their provisions. I was not willing for some time to make them more easy; for I had a mind to know whether they would at last find out the treasure, and see it at a great distance; and whether smelling enabled them to know what is good for their nourishment. Thus they were some time in great trouble, and took a great deal of pains. They went up and down a great way, looking out for some grains of corn: they were sometimes disappointed, and sometimes they did not like their corn, after many long and painful excursions. What appeared to me wonderful was, that none of them came home without bringing something: one brought a grain of wheat, another a grain of rye or oats, or a particle of dry earth, if she could get nothing else.

The window upon which those ants had made their settlement, looked into a garden, and was two stories high. Some went to the farther end of the garden, others to the fifth story, in quest of some corn. It was a very hard journey for them, especially when they came home loaded with a pretty large grain of corn, which must needs be a heavy burden for an ant, and as much as she can bear. The bringing of that grain from the middle of the garden to the nest, took up four hours; whereby one may judge of the strength and prodigious labour of those little animals. It appears from thence, 18*

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