qualifications; insomuch that they only transmit their names to be borne by those who give daily proofs of the vanity of the labour and ambition of their progenitors.

It happened thus in the family of Basilius; for Alexandrinus began to enjoy his ample fortune in all the extremities of household expense, furniture, and insolent equipage; and this he pursued till the day of his own departure began, as he grew sensible, to approach. As Basilius was punished with a son very unlike him, Alexandrinus was visited by one of his own disposition. It is natural that ill men should be suspicious; and Alexandrinus, besides that jealousy, had proofs of the vicious disposition of his son Renatus, for that was his name.

'Alexandrinus, as I have observed, having very good reason for thinking it unsafe to trust the real secret of his phial and gallipot to any man living, projected to make sure work, and hope for his success depending from the avarice, not the bounty of his benefactor.

'With this thought he called Renatus to his bedside, and bespoke him in the most pathetic gesture and accent. "As much, my son, as you have been addicted to vanity and pleasure, as I also have been before * you, you nor I could escape the fame or the good effects of the profound knowledge of our progenitor, the renowned Basilius. His symbol is very well known in the philosophic world; and I shall never forget the venerable air of his countenance, when he let me into the profound mysteries of the smaragdine table of Hermes. It is true,' said he, and far removed from all colour of deceit; that which is inferior is like that which is superior,

* The word neither' seems omifted here, though it is not in the original publication in folio, or in the edit. in 8vo. of 1712.

204

SPECTATOR.

**426.

by which are acquired and perfected all the miracles of a certain work The father is the sun, the mother the moon, the wind is the womb, the earth the nurse of it, and mother of all perfection. All the must be received with modesty and wisdom" The chymical people carry, in all their jargon, a white sical sort of piety which is ordinary with great lowers of money, and is no more but deceiving themsel, that their regularity and strictness of manners, for the ends of this world, has some affinity to the inno cence of heart which must recommend them to the next. Renatus wondered to hear his father talk like an adept, and with such a mixture of pety) while Alexandrinus, observing his attention fixed. proceeded. earthern pot, will add to thy estate so much to This phial, Child, and this little make thee the richest man in the German empire. I am going to my long home, but shall not return to common dust." of alacrity, and told him, that if within Then he resumed a countenance after his death he anointed his whole body, poured down his throat that liquor which he had an hour from old Basilius, the corpse would be converted and into pure gold. I will not pretend to express to you the unfeigned tenderness that passed between these two extraordinary persons; but if the father recommended the care of his remains with vehe mence and affection, the son was not behindhand in professing that he would not cut the least bit off him, but upon the utmost extremity, or to provide for his younger brothers and sisters.

Well, Alexandrinus died, and the heir of his body (as our term is) could not forbear, in the wan tonnesses of his heart, to measure the length and breadth of his beloved father, and cast up the ensuing value of him before he proceeded to opera tion.

When he knew the immense reward of his

pains, he began the work: but, lo anointed the corpse all over, and the liquor, the body stirred, and fright, broke the phial.'

when he had began to apply Renatus, in a

T.

No 427. THURSDAY, JULY 10, 1712.

Quantùm à rerum turpitudine abes, tantùm te à verborum libertate sejungas.

TULL.

We should be as careful of our words, as our actions; and as far from speaking, as from doing ill.

It is a certain sign of an ill heart to be inclined to defamation. They who are harmless and innocent can have no gratification that way; but it ever arises from a neglect of what is laudable in a man's self, and an impatience of seeing it in another. Else why should virtue provoke? Why should beauty displease in such a degree, that a man given to scandal never lets the mention of either pass by him, without offering something to the diminution of it? A lady the other day at a visit, being attacked somewhat rudely by one whose own character has been very rudely treated, answered a great deal of heat and intemperance very calmly, Good madam, spare me, who am none of your match; I speak ill of nobody, and it is a new thing to me to be spoken ill of.' Little minds think fame consists in the number of votes they have on their side among the multitude, whereas it is really the inseparable follower of good and worthy actions. Fame is as natural a follower of merit, as a shadow is of a body. It is

by which are acquired and perfected all the miracles of a certain work. The father is the sun, the mother the moon, the wind is the womb, the earth is the nurse of it, and mother of all perfection. All this must be received with modesty and wisdom." The chymical people carry, in all their jargon, a whimsical sort of piety which is ordinary with great lovers of money, and is no more but deceiving themselves, that their regularity and strictness of manners, for the ends of this world, has some affinity to the innocence of heart which must recommend them to the next. Renatus wondered to hear his father talk so like an adept, and with such a mixture of piety; while Alexandrinus, observing his attention fixed, proceeded. "This phial, child, and this little earthern pot, will add to thy estate so much as to make thee the richest man in the German empire. I am going to my long home, but shall not return to common dust." Then he resumed a countenance of alacrity, and told him, that if within an hour after his death he anointed his whole body, and poured down his throat that liquor which he had from old Basilius, the corpse would be converted into pure gold. I will not pretend to express to you the unfeigned tenderness that passed between these two extraordinary persons; but if the father recommended the care of his remains with vehemence and affection, the son was not behindhand in professing that he would not cut the least bit off him, but upon the utmost extremity, or to provide for his younger brothers and sisters.

'Well, Alexandrinus died, and the heir of his body (as our term is) could not forbear, in the wantonnesses of his heart, to measure the length and breadth of his beloved father, and cast up the ensuing value of him before he proceeded to operation. When he knew the immense reward of his

pains, he began the work: but, lo anointed the corpse all over, and

when he had began to apply

the liquor, the body stirred, and Renatus, in a fright, broke the phial.'

T.

No 427. THURSDAY, JULY 10, 1712.

Quantùm à rerum turpitudine abes, tantùm te à verborum libertate sejungas.

TULL.

We should be as careful of our words, as our actions; and as far from speaking, as from doing ill.

Ir is a certain sign of an ill heart to be inclined to defamation. They who are harmless and innocent can have no gratification that way; but it ever arises from a neglect of what is laudable in a man's self, and an impatience of seeing it in another. Else why should virtue provoke? Why should beauty displease in such a degree, that a man given to scandal never lets the mention of either pass by him, without offering something to the diminution of it? A lady the other day at a visit, being attacked somewhat rudely by one whose own character has been very rudely treated, answered a great deal of heat and intemperance very calmly, 'Good madam, spare me, who am none of your match; I speak ill of nobody, and it is a new thing to me to be spoken ill of.' Little minds think fame consists in the number of votes they have on their side among the multitude, whereas it is really the inseparable follower of good and worthy actions. Fame is as natural a follower of merit, as a shadow is of a body. It is