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jects their minds are bent upon the little gratifi- | their appetites, they give to sober minds a prespect cations of their own senses and appetites, forgetful of compassion, insensible of glory, avoiding only shame; their whole hearts taken up with the trivial hope of me ting and being merry. These are the people who make up the gross of the sol diery. But the fine gentleman in that band of men is such a one as I have now in my eye, who is foremost in all danger to which he is ordered. His officers are his friends and companions, as they are men of honor and gentlemen; the private men his brethren, as they are of his species. He is beloved of all that behold him. They wish him in danger as he views their ranks, that they may have occasions to save him at their own hazard. Mutual love is the order of the files where he commands; every man, afraid for himself and his neighbor, not lest their commander should punish them, but lest he should be offended. Such is his regiment who knows mankind, and feels their distresses so far as to prevent them. Just in distributing what is their due, he would think himself below their tailor to wear a snip of their clothes in lace upon his own; and below the most rapacious agent should he enjoy a farthing above his own pay. Go on, brave mau! immortal glory is thy fortune, and immortal happiness thy reward."-T.

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Life, as well as all other things, hath its bounds assigned by nature; and its conclusion, like the last act of a play, is old age, the fatigue of which we ought to shun, especially when our appetites are fully satisfied.

Or all the impertinent wishes which we hear expressed in conversation, there is not one more unworthy a gentleman or a man of liberal education, than that of wishing one's self younger. I have observed this wish is usually made upon sight of some object which gives the idea of a past action, that it is no dishonor to us that we cannot now repeat; or else on what was in itself shameful when we performed it. It is a certain sign of a foolish or a dissolute mind if we want our youth again only for the strength of bones and sinews which we once were masters of. It is (as my author has it) as absurd in an old man to wish for the strength of youth, as it would be in a young man to wish for the strength of a bull or a horse. These wishes are both equally out of nature, which should direct in all things that are not contradictory to justice, law, and reason. But though every old man has been young, and every young one hopes to be old, there seems to be a most unnatural misunderstanding between those two stages of life. This unhappy want of commerce arises from the insolent arrogance or exultation in youth, and the irrational despondence or self-pity in age. A young man whose passion and ambition is to be good and wise, and an old one who has no inclination to be lewd or debauched, are quite unconcerned in this speculation; but the cocking young fellow who treads upon the toes of his elders, and the old fellow who envies the saucy pride he sees him in, are the objects of our present contempt and derision. Contempt and derision are harsh words; but in what manner can one give advice to a youth in the pursuit and possession of sensual pleasures, or afford pity to an old man in the impotence and desire of enjoying them? When young men in public places betray in their deportment an abandoned resignation to

of a despicable age, which, if not interrupted by
death in the midst of their follies, must certainly
come. When an old man bewails the loss of such
gratifications which are past, he discovers a mon-
strous inclination to that which it is not in the
course of Providence to recall. The state of an
old man, who is dissatisfied merely for his being
such, is the most out of all measures of reason and
good sense of any being we have any account of
from the highest angel to the lowest worm.
miserable is the contemplation to consider a libidi-
nous old man (while all created beings, be de
himself and devils, are following the order of Pro-
vidence) fretting at the course of things, and being
almost the sole malcontent in the creation. But
let us a little reflect upon what he has lost by the
number of years. The passions which he had in
youth are not to be obeyed as they were then, but
reason is more powerful now without the distur
bance of them. An old gentleman, the other day,
in discourse with a friend of his (reflecting upon
some adventures they had in youth together) cried
out, "Oh Jack, those were happy days!"
is true," replied his friend, "but methinks we go
about our business more quietly than we did then."
One would think it should be no small satisfac-
tion to have gone so far in our journey that the
heat of the day is over with us. When life itself
is a fever, as it is in licentious youth, the plea-
sures of it are no other than the dreams of a man
in that distemper; and it is as absurd to wish the
return of that season of life, as for a man in health
to be sorry for the loss of gilded palaces, fairy
walks, and flowery pastures, with which he remem-
bers he was entertained in the troubled slumbers
of a fit of sickness.

"That

As to all the rational and worthy pleasures of our being the conscience of a good fame, the contemplation of another life, the respect and commerce of honest men, our capacities for such enjoy. ments are enlarged by years. While health endures, the latter part of life, in the eye of reason, is certainly the more eligible. The memory of a well-spent youth gives a peaceable, unmixed, and elegant pleasure to the mind; and to such who are so unfortunate as not to be able to look back on youth with satisfaction, they may give themselves no little consolation that they are under no temptation to repeat their follies, and that they at present despise them. It was prettily said, "He that would be long an old man, inust begin early to be one:" it is too late to resign a thing after a man is robbed of it; therefore it is necessary that before the arrival of age we bid adieu to the pursuits of youth, otherwise sensual habits will live in our imaginations, when our limbs cannot be subservient to them. The poor fellow who lost his arm last siege, will tell you, he feels the fingers that are buried in Flanders ache every cold morning at Chelsea.

The fond humor of appearing in the gay and fashionable world, and being applauded for trivial excellencies, is what makes youth have age in contempt, and makes age resign with so ill a grace the qualifications of youth; but this in both sexes is inverting all things, and turning the natural course of our minds, which should build their ap probations and dislikes upon what nature and reason dictate, into chimera and confusion.

Age in a virtuous person, of either sex, caries in it an authority which makes it preferable to all the pleasures of youth. If to be saluted, and attended, and consulted with deference, are instances of pleasure, they are such as never fail a virtuous old age. In the enumeration of the imperfections and advantages of the younger and later years of

man, they are so near in their condiuoa, that, me- | upon me, that I resolved to be as agreeable as the thinks, it should be incredible we see so little best of the men who laughed at me; but I observed commerce of kindness between them. If we con- it was nonsense for me to be impudent at first sider youth and age with Tully regarding the among those who knew me. My character for affinity to death, youth has many more chances to modesty was so notorious wherever I had hitherto be near it than age; what youth can say more than appeared, that I resolved to show my new face in an old man, "he shall live until night?" Youth new quarters of the world. My first step I chose catches distempers more easily, its sickness is with judgment; for I went to Astrop, and came more violent, and its recovery more doubtful. The down among a crowd of academics, at one dash, youth indeed hopes for more days, so cannot the the impudentest fellow they had ever seen in their old man. The youth's hopes are ill-grounded; lives. Flushed with this success, I made love, for what is more foolish than to place any confi- and was happy. Upon this conquest I thought it dence upon an uncertainty? But the old man has would be unlike a gentleman to stay long with my not room so much as to hope; he is still happier mistress, and crossed the country to Bury. I than the youth; he has already enjoyed what the could give you a very good account of myself at other does but hope for. One wishes to live long, that place also. At these two ended my first sumthe other has lived long. But, alas! is there any- mer of gallantry.-The winter following, you thing in human life, the duration of which can be would wonder at it, but I relapsed into modesty called long? There is nothing which must end, upon coming among people of figure in London, to be valued for its continuance. If hours, days, yet not so much but that the ladies who had formonths, and years pass away, it is no matter what merly laughed at me, said, 'Bless us, how wonderhour, what day, what month, or what year we die. fully that gentleman is improved!' Some familThe applause of a good actor is due to him at iarities about the play-houses toward the end of whatever scene of the play he makes his exit. It the ensuing winter, made me conceive new hopes is thus in the life of a man of sense; a short life of adventures. And instead of returning the next is sufficient to manifest himself a man of honor summer to Astrop o: Bury, I thought myself and virtue; when he ceases to be such he has lived qualified to go to Epsom, and followed a young too long; and while he is such, it is of no conse. woman, whose relations were jealous of my place quence to him how long he shall be so, provided in her favor, to Scarborough. I carried my point, he is so to his life's end.-T. and in my third year aspired to go to Tunbridge, and in the autumn of the same year made my ap pearance at Bath. I was now got into the way of talk proper for ladies, and was run into a vast acquaintance among them, which I always improved to the best advantage. In all this course of time, and some years following, I found a sober modest man was always looked upon by both sexes as a precise unfashioned fellow of no life or spirit. It was ordinary for a man who had been drunk in good company, or passed a night with a wench, to speak of it next day before women for whom he had the greatest respect. He was reproved, perhaps, with a blow of the fan, or with an 'Oh fie!' but the angry lady still preserved an apparent approbation in her countenance. was called a strange wicked fellow a sad wretch; he shrugs his shoulders, swears, receives another blow, swears again he did not know he swore, and all was well. You might often see men game in the presence of women, and throw at once for more than they were worth, to recommend themselves as men of spirit. I found by long experience, that the loosest principles and the most abandoned behavior, carried all before them in pretensions to women of fortune. The encouragement given to people of this stamp, made me soon throw off the remaining impressions of a sober education. In the above-mentioned places, as well as in town, I always kept company with those who lived most at large; and in due process of time I was a very pretty rake among the men, and a very pretty fellow among the women. must confess, I had some melancholy hours upon the account of the narrowness of my fortune, but my conscience at the same time gave me the comfort that I had qualified myself for marrying a fortune.

No. 154.] MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 1711. Nemo repente fuit turpissimus- Juv., Sat. ii, 83. No man e'er reach'd the heights of vice at first.—TATE. "MR. SPECTATOR,

"You are frequent in the mention of matters which concern the feminine world, and take upon you to be very severe against men upon all those occasions: but all this while I am afraid you have been very little conversant with women, or you would know the generality of them are not so angry as you imagine at the general vices among us. I am apt to believe (begging your pardon) that you are still what I myself was once, a queer modest fellow; and therefore, for your information, shall give you a short account of myself, and the reasons why I was forced to wench, drink, play and do everything which are necessary to the character of a man of wit and pleasure, to be well with the ladies.

"You are to know, then, that I was bred a gentleman, and had the finishing part of my education under a man of great probity, wit, and learning, in one of our universities. I will not deny but this made my behavior and mien bear in it a figure of thought rather than action; and a man of a quiet contrary character who never thought in his life, rallied me one day upon it, and said, 'he believed I was still a virgin.' There was a young lady of virtue present, and I was not displeased to favor the insinuation; but it had a quite contary effect from what I expected. I was ever after treated with great coldness both by that lady and all the rest of my acquaintance. In a very little time I never came into a room but I could hear a whisper, 'Here comes the maid.' A girl of humor would on some occasion say, 'Why, how do you know more than any of us? An expression of that kind was generally followed by a loud laugh. In a word, for no other fault in the world than that they really thought me as innocent as themselves, I became of no consequence among them, and was received always upon the foot of a jest. This made so strong an impression

He

I

"When I had lived in this manner some time, and became thus accomplished, I was now in the twenty-seventh year of my age, and about the forty-seventh of my constitution, my health and estate wasting very fast; when I happened to fall into the company of a very pretty young lady in

*Astrop-wells, in Oxfordshire; into which Doctor Radcliffe "put a toad." Bury-fair. A place of fashionable resort.

her own disposal. I entertained the company, as we men of gallantry generally do, with the many haps and disasters, watchings under windows, escapes from jealous husbands, and several other perils. The young thing was wonderfully charmed with one that knew the world so well, and talked so fine: with Desdemona, all her lover said affected her; it was strange; it was wondrous strange.' In a word, I saw the impression I had made upon her, and with a very little application the pretty thing has married me. There is so much charm in her innocence and beauty, that I do now as much detest the course I have been in for many years, as ever I did before I entered

into it.

"What I intend, Mr. Spectator, by writing all this to you, is that you would, before you go any farther with your panegyrics on the fair sex, give them some lectures upon their silly approbations. It is that I am weary of vice, and that it was not my natural way, that I am now so far recovered as not to bring this dear believing creature to contempt and poverty for her generosity to me. At the same time tell the youth of good education of our sex, that they take too little care of improving themselves in little things. A good air at entering into a room, a proper audacity in expressing himself with gayety and gracefulness, would make a young gentleman of virtue and sense capable of discountenancing the shallow rogues, that shine among the women.

courses they are pleased to entertain me with.
They strive who shall say the most immodest
things in my hearing. At the same time half a
dozen of them loll at the bar staring just in my
face, ready to interpret my looks and gestures ac-
cording to their own imaginations. In this pas-
sive condition I know not where to cast my eyes,
place my hands, or what to employ myself in.
But this confusion is to be a jest, and I hear them
say in the end, with an insipid air of mirth and
subtlety, 'Let her alone; she knows as well as we,
for all she looks so.' Good Mr. Spectator, per-
suade gentlemen that it is out of all decency. Say
it is possible a woman may be modest and yet
keep a public-house. Be pleased to argue, that in
truth the affront is the more unpardonable because
I am obliged to suffer it, and cannot fly from it.
I do assure you, Sir, the cheerfulness of life which
would arise from the honest gain I have, is utter-
ly lost on me from the endless, flat, impertinent
pleasantries which I hear from morning to night.
In a word, it is too much for me to bear; and I de-
sire you to acquaint them, that I will keep pen
and ink at the bar, and write down all they say to
me, and send it to you for the press. It is pos-
sible when they see how empty what they speak,
without the advantage of an impudent counte-
nance and gesture, will appear, they may come to
some sense of themselves,and the insults they are
guilty of toward me.

"I am, Sir, your most humble servant,
"THE IDOL."

"Mr. Spectator, I do not doubt but you are a very sagacious person, but you are so great with Tully of late, that I fear you will contemn these This representation is so just, that it is hard to things as matters of no consequence: but believe speak of it without an indignation which perme, Sir, they are of the highest importance to haps would appear too elevated to such as can be human life; and if you can do anything toward guilty of this inhuman treatment, where they see opening fair eyes, you will lay an obligation upon they affront a modest, plain, and ingenuous beall your cotemporaries who are fathers, hus-havior. This correspondent is not the only sufbands, or brothers to females.

"Your most affectionate, humble servant, T. "SIMON HONEYCOMB."

Mo. 155.] TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1711.
Hæ nugæ seria ducunt
In mala
HOR., Ars. Poet., v, 451.
These things which now seem frivolous and slight,
Will prove of serious consequence.-ROSCOMMON.

I HAVE more than once taken notice of an indecent license taken in discourse, wherein the conversation on one part is involuntary, and the effect of some necessary circumstance. This happens in traveling together in the same hired coach, sitting near each other in any public assembly, or the like. I have, upon making observations of this sort, received innumerable messages from that part of the fair sex whose lot in life it is to be of any trade or public way of life. They are all, to a woman, urgent with me to lay before the world the unhappy circumstances they are under, from the unreasonable liberty which is taken in their presence, to talk on what subject is thought fit by every coxcomb who wants understanding or breeding. One or two of these complaints I shall set down

ferer in this kind, for I have long letters both from the Royal and New Exchange on the same subject. They tell me that a young fop cannot buy a pair of gloves, but he is at the same time straining at some ingenious ribaldry to say to the young woman who helps them on. It is no small addition to the calamity that the rogues buy as hard as the plainest and modestest customers they have; beside which, they loll upon their counters half an hour longer than they need, to drive away other customers, who are to share their impertinences with the milliner, or go to another shop. Letters from 'Change-alley are full of the sanie evil; and the girls tell me, except I can chase some eminent merchants from their shops they shall in a short time fail. It is very unaccountable, that men can have so little deference to all mankind who pass by them, as to bear being seen toying by twos and threes at a time, with no other pur pose but to appear gay enough to keep up a light conversation or common-place jests, to the injury of her whose credit is certainly hurt by it, though their own may be strong enough to bear it. When we come to have exact accounts of these conversations, it is not to be doubted but that their discourses will raise the usual style of buying and selling. Instead of the plain downright lying, and asking and bidding so unequally to what they will really give and take, we may hope to have "I keep a coffee-house, and am one of those from these fine folks an exchange of compliments. whom you have thought fit to mention as an Idol There must certainly be a great deal of pleasant some time ago. I suffered a good deal of raillery difference between the commerce of lovers, and upon that occasion; but shall heartily forgive you, that of all other dealers, who are in a kind adwho are the cause of it, if you will do me justice versaries. A sealed bond, or a bank-note, would in another point. What I ask of you is, to ac- be a pretty gallantry to convey unseen into the quaint my customers (who are otherwise very hands of one whom a director is charmed with; good ones) that I am unavoidably hasped in my otherwise the city-loiterers are still more unreasonbar and cannot help hearing the improper dis-able than those at the other end of the towu.

"MR. SPECTATOR,

At

the New Exchange they are eloquent for want of cash, but in the city they ought with cash to supply their want of eloquence.

If one might be serious on this prevailing folly, one might observe that it is a melancholy thing, when the world is mercenary even to the buying and selling our very persons; that young women, though they have never so great attractions from nature, are never the nearer being happily disposed of in marriage; I say, it is very hard under this necessity, it shall not be possible for them to go into a way of trade for their maintenance, but their very excellencies and personal perfections .shall be a disadvantage to them, and subject them to be treated as if they stood there to sell their persons to prostitution. There cannot be a more melancholy circumstance to one who has made any observation in the world, than one of those erring creatures exposed to bankruptcy. When that happens, none of those toying fools will do any more than any other man they meet, to preserve her from infamy, insult, and distemper. A woman is naturally more helpless than the other sex; and a man of honor and sense should have this in his view in all manner of commerce with her. Were this well weighed, inconsideration, ribaldry, and nonsense, would not be more natural to entertain women with, than men; and it would be as much impertinence to go into a shop of one of these young women without buying, as into that of any other trader. I shall end this speculation with a letter I have received from a pretty milliner in the city.

"MR. SPECTATOR,

"I have read your account of beauties, and was not a little surprised to find no character of myself in it. I do assure you I have little else to do but to give audience, as I am such. Here are merchants of no small consideration who call in as certainly as they go to 'Change, to say something of my roguish eye. And here is one who makes me once or twice a week tumble over all my goods, and then owns it was only gallantry to see me act with these pretty hands: then lays out three-pence in a little ribbon for his wristbands, and thinks he is a man of great vivacity. There is an ugly thing not far off me, whose shop is frequented only by people of business, that is all day long as busy as possible. Must I, that am a beauty, be treated with for nothing but my beauty? Be pleased to assign rates to my kind glances, or make all pay who come to see me, or I shall be undone by my admirers for want of customers. Albacinda, Eudosia, and all the rest, would be used just as we are, if they were in our condition; therefore pray consider the distress of us the lower order of beauties, and I shall be Your obliged, humble servant."-T.

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No. 156.] WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1711.
Sed tu simul obligasti

Perfidum votis caput, enitescis
Pulchrior multo.-HOR. 2 Od. viii, 5.

-But thou,

When once thou hast broke some tender vow, All perjur'd, dost more charming grow!

judgment when a man dresses for the ladies, as when he is equipped for hunting or coursing:the woman's man is a person in his air and be havior quite different from the rest of our species; his garb is more loose and negligent, his manner more soft and indolent; that is to say, in both these cases there is an apparent endeavor to appear unconcerned and careless. In catching birds the fowlers have a method of imitating their voices to bring them to the snare; and your women's men have always a similitude of the creatures they hope to betray, in their own conversation. A woman's man is very knowing in all that passes from one family to another, has pretty little officiousnesses, is not at a loss what is good for a cold, and it is not amiss if he has a bottle of spirits in his pocket in case of any sudden indisposition.

Curiosity having been my prevailing passion, and indeed the sole entertainment of my life, I have sometimes made it my business to examine the course of intrigues as well as the manners and accomplishments of such as have been most successful that way. In all my observation, I never knew a man of good understanding a general favorite; some singularity in his behavior, some whim in his way of life, and what would have made him ridiculous among the men, has recommended him to the other sex. I should be very sorry to offend a people so fortunate as those of whom I am speaking; but let any one look over the old beaux, and he will find the man of success was remarkable for quarreling impertinently for their sakes, for dressing unlike the rest of the world, or passing his days in an insipid assiduity about the fair sex to gain the figure he had made among them. Add to this, that he must have' the reputation of being well with other women, to please any one woman of gallantry; for you are to know, that there is mighty ambition among the lighter part of the sex, to gain slaves from the dominion of others. My friend Will Honeycomb says it was a common bite with him, to lay suspicions that he was favored by a lady's enemy, (that is, some rival beauty,) to be well with herself. A little spite is natural to a great beauty and it is ordinary to snap up a disagreeable fellow lest another should have him. That impudent toad Bareface fares well among all the ladies he converses with, for no other reason in the world but that he has the skill to keep them from explanation with one another. Did they know there is not one who likes him in her heart, each would declare her scorn of him the next moment; but he is well received by them because it is the fashion, and opposition to each other brings them insensibly into an imitation of each other. What adds to him the greatest grace, is, that the pleasant thief, as they call him, is the most inconstant creature living, has a most wonderful deal of wit and humor, and never wants something to say; beside all which, he has a most spiteful, dangerous tongue if you should provoke him.

:

To make a woman's man, he must not be a man of sense, or a fool; the business is to entertain, and it is much better to have a faculty of arguing, than a capacity of judging right. But the plea I Do not think anything could make a plea-santest of all the women's equipage are your ganter entertainment, than the history of the regular visitants; these are volunteers in their reigning favorites among the women from time service, without hopes of pay or preferment. It to time about this town. In such an account is enough that they can lead out from a pubwe ought to have a faithful confession of each lic place, they are admitted on a public day, lady for what she liked such and such a man, and and can be allowed to pass away part of that he ought to tell us by what particular action heavy load, their time, in the company of the or dress he believed he should be most successful. fair. But commend me above all others to those As for my part, I have always made as easy a who are known for your ruiners of ladies · these

are the choicest spirits which our age produces. We have several of these irresistible gentlemen among us when the company is in town. These fellows are accomplished with the knowledge of the ordinary occurrences about court and town, have that sort of good breeding which is exclusive of all morality, and consists only in being publicly decent, privately dissolute.

It is wonderful how far a fond opinion of herself can carry a woman, to make her have the least regard to a professed known woman's man; but as scarce one of all the women who are in the tour of gallantries ever hears anything of what is the common sense of sober minds, but are entertained with a continual round of flatteries, they cannot be mistresses of themselves enough to make arguments for their own conduct from the behavior of these men to others. It is so far otherwise, that a general fame for falsehood in this kind, is a recommendation; and the coxcomb, loaded with the favors of many others, is received like a victor that disdains his trophies, to be a victim to the present charmer.

If you see a man more full of gesture than ordinary in a public assembly, if loud upon no occasion, if negligent of the company round him, and yet laying wait for destroying by that negligence, you may take it for granted that he has ruined many a fair one. The woman's man expresses himself wholly in that motion which we call strutting. An elevated chest, a pinched hat, a measurable step, and a sly surveying eye, are the marks of him. Now and then you see a gentleman with all these accomplishments: but, alas, any one of them is enough to undo thousands when a gentleman with such perfections adds to it suitable learning, there should be public warning of his residence in town, that we may remove our wives and daughters. It happens sometimes that such a fine man has read all the miscellany poems, a few of our comedies, and has the translation of Ovid's Epistles by heart. Oh if it were possible that such a one could be as true as he is charming; but that is too much, the women will share such a dear false man: a little gallantry to hear him talk one would indulge one's self in, let him reckon the sticks of one's fan, say something of the Cupids in it; and then call one so many soft names which a man of his learning has at his fingers' ends. There sure is some excuse for frailty, when attacked by such force against a weak woman." Such is the soliloquy of many a lady one might name, at the sight of one of those who makes it no iniquity to go on from day to day in the sin of woman-slaughter.

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It is certain that people are got into a way of affectation, with a manner of overlooking the most solid virtues, and admiring the most trivial excellencies. The woman is so far from expecting to be contemned for being a very injudicious silly animal, that while she can preserve her features and her mien, she knows she is still the object of desire; and there is a sort of secret ambition, from reading frivolous books, and keeping as frivolous company, each side to be amiable in perfection, and arrive at the characters of the Dear Deceiver and the Perjured Fair.—T.

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-That directing pow'r,

Who forms the genius in the natal hour:
That God of nature, who, within us still,

Inclines our action, not constrains our will.-POPE
I AM very much at a loss to express by any
word that occurs to me in our language, that
which is understood by indoles in Latin. The na-
tural disposition to any particular art, science, pro-
fession, or trade, is very much to be consulted in
the care of youth, and studied by men for their
own conduct when they form to themselves any
scheme of life. It is wonderfully hard, indeed, for
a man to judge of his own capacity impartially.
That may look great to me which may appear
little to another; and I may be carried by fond-
ness toward myself so far, as to attempt things too
high for my talents and accomplishments. But it
is not, methinks, so very difficult a matter to make
a judgment of the abilities of others, especially
of those who are in their infancy. My common-
place book directs me on this occasion to mention
the dawning of greatness in Alexander, who being
asked in his youth to contend for a prize in the
Olympic games, answered he would if he had
kings to run against him. Cassius, who was one
of the conspirators against Cæsar, gave as great a
proof of his temper, when in his childhood he
struck a piay-fellow, the son of Sylla, for saying
his father was master of the Roman people. Scipio
is reported to have answered, when some flatterers
at supper were asking him what the Romans
should do for a general after his death, "Take
Marius." Marius was then a very boy, and had
given no instances of his valor; but it was visible
to Scipio, from the manners of the youth, that he
had a soul for the attempt and execution of great
undertakings. I must confess I have very often
with much sorrow, bewailed the misfortune of the
children of Great Britain, when I consider the ig-
norance and undiscerning of the generality of
schoolmasters. The boasted liberty we talk of, is
but a mean reward for the long servitude, the many
heart-aches and terrors, to which our childhood is
exposed in going through a grammar-school.
Many of these stupid tyrants exercise their cruel-
ty without any manner of distinction of the ca-
pacities of children, or the intention of parents in
their behalf. There are many excellent tempers
which are worthy to be nourished and cultivated
with all possible diligence and care, that were
never designed to be acquainted with Aristotle,
Tully, or Virgil; and there are as many who have
capacities for understanding every word those
great persons have written, and yet were not born to
have any relish of their writings. For want of
this common and obvious discerning in those who
have the care of youth, we have so many hundred
unaccountable creatures every age whipped up
into great scholars, that are forever near a right
understanding, and will never arrive at it. These
are the scandal of letters, and these are generally
the men who are to teach others. The sense of
shame and honor is enough to keep the world it-
self in order without corporal punishment, much
more to train the minds of uncorrupted and iuno-
cent children. It happens, I doubt not, more
than once in a year, that a lad is chastised for a
blockhead, when it is good apprehension that
makes him incapable of knowing what his teach-
er means. A brisk imagination very often may
suggest an error, which a lad could not have fallen
into, if he had been as heavy in conjecturing as

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