should be annihilated every thousand years? Suppofing then that you had it in your choice to be happy all the while this prodigious mafs of fand was confuming by this flow method until there was not a grain of it left, on condition you were to be miferable for ever after? or, fuppofing that you might be happy for ever after, on condition you would be miferable until the whole mafs of fand were thus annihilated at the rate of one fand in a thousand years; which of thefe two cafes would you make your choice?

It must be confeffed, in this cafe, fo many thoufands of years are to the imagination as a kind of eternity, though in reality they do not bear fo great a proportion to that duration which is to follow them, as an unit does to the greatest number which you can put together in figures, or as one of thefe fands to the fuppofed heap. Reason therefore tells us, without any manner of hefitation, which would be the better part in this choice. However, as I have before intimated, our reaton might in fuch cafe be fo overfet by the imagination, as to difpofe fome perfons to fink under the confideration of the great length of the first part of this duration, and of the great diftance of that second

duration, which is to fucceed it. The mind, I fay, might give itself up to that happinefs which is at hand, confidering that it is fo very near, and that it would laft fo very long. But when the choice we actually have before us is this, Whether we will chufe to be happy for the space of only threefcore and ten, nay, perhaps of only twenty or ten years, I might fay of only a day or an hour, and miferable to all eternity; or, on the contrary, miferable for this fhort term of years, and happy for a whole eternity: what words are fufficient to exprefs that folly and want of confidera tion which in fuch a cafe makes a wrong choice?

I here put the cafe even at the worft, by fuppofing, what feldom happens, that a courfe of virtue makes us miferable in this life: but if we suppose, as it generally happens, that yirtue would make us more happy even in this life than a contrary courfe of vice; how can we fufficiently admire the ftupidity or madnets of thofe perfons who are capable of making fo abfurd a choice?

Every wife man therefore will confider this life only as it may conduce to the happiness of the other, and chearfully facrifice the pleasures of a few years to those of an eternity.

0

ADDISON.

other the like monuments of wit and

gallantry. To be short, after having fully established his reputation of being a very agreeable rake, he died of old age at five and twenty.

There is indeed nothing which betrays a man into fo many errors and inconveniences, as the defire of not appear. ing fingular; for which reafon it is very neceffary to form a right idea of fingu larity, that we may know when it is laudable, and when it is vicious. In the first place, every man of fenfe will agree with me, that fingularity is laud. able, when, in contradiction to a mul titude, it adheres to the dictates of confcience, morality, and honour. In

thefe

thefe cafes we ought to confider, that it is not custom, but duty, which is the rule of action; and that we should be only fo far fociable, as we are reafonable creatures. Truth is never the lefs fo, for not being attended to: and it is the nature of actions, not the number of actors, by which we ought to regulate our behaviour. Singularity in concerns of this kind is to be looked upon as heroic bravery, in which a man leaves the fpecies only as he foars above it. What greater inftance can there be of a weak and pufillanimous temper, than for a man to país his whole life in oppofition to his own fentiments? or not to dare to be what he thinks he ought to be?`Singularity, therefore, is only vicious when it makes men act contrary to reafon, or when it puts thein upon diftinguishing themselves by trifles. As for the firit of thefe, who are fingular in any thing that is irreligious, immoral, or difhonourable,, I believe every one will eafily give them up. I hall there fore fpeak of thofe only who are remarkable for their fingularity in things of no importance, as in drefs, behaviour, converfation, and all the little intercourfes of life. In thefe cafes there is a certain deference due to cuftom; and notwithstanding there may be a colour of reafon to deviate from the multitude in fome particulars, a man ought to facrifice his private inclina tions and opinions to the practice of the public. It must be confeffed that good fenfe often makes a humourift; but then it unqualifies him for being of y moment in the world, and renders him ridiculous to perfons of a much inferior understanding.

I have heard of a gentleman in the north of England, who was a remark abte inftance of this foolish fingularity. He had laid it down as a rule within himfelf, to act in the most indifferent parts of life according to the most abitracted notions of realon and good fenfe, without any regard to fashion or exam ple. This humour broke out at first in many little od ineffes: he had never any stated hours for his dinner, fupper or sleep; “ because,' faid he,' we ought" to attend the calls of nature, and not fet our appetites to our meals, but bring our meals to our appetites.' In his converfation with country gentle men, he would not make ufe of a phrafe that was not strictly true: he never told any of them, that he was his humble

fervant, but that he was his well wither, and would rather be thought a malecontent, than drink the king's health when he was not day. He would thruit his head out of his chamber window every morning, and after having gaped for freth air about half an hour, repeat fifty verfes as loud as he could bawl them for the benefit of his lungs: to which end he generally took thein out of Homer; the Greek tongue, efpecially in that author, being more deep and fonorous, and more conducive to expectoration, than any other. He had many other particularities, for which he gave found and philofophical reafons. As this humour still grew upon him, he chofe to wear a turban inftead of a. perriwig; concluding very juftly, that a bandage of clean linen about his head was much more wholefome, as well as cleanly, than the caul of a wig, which'' is foiled with frequent peripirations. He afterwards judiciously obferved, that the many ligatures in our English drefs muft naturally check the circulation of the blood; for which reafon, he made his breeches and his doublet of one continued piece of cloth, after the manner of the Huffars. In short, by following the pure dictates of reason, he at length departed fo much from the rest of his countrymen, and indeed from his whole fpecies, that his friends would have clapped him into Bedlam, and have begged his estate; but the judge being informed that he did no harm, contented himself with iffuing out a commiffion of lunacy against him, and putting his eftate into the hands of proper guardians.

The fate of this philofopher puts me in mind of a remark in Monfieur Fontenelle's Dialogues of the Dead. The

ambitious and the covetous,' fays he, " are madmen to all intents and purpofes, as much as those who are shut up in dark rooms; but they have the good luck to have numbers on their fide; whereas the frenzy of one who is given up for a lunatie, is a frenzy bors d'œuvrez` that is, in other words, fomething which is fingular in it's kind, and does not fall in with the madness of a multitude,

The fubject of this effay was occafioned by a letter which I re eived not long fince, and which, for want of room at prefent, I fhall infert in my next paper.

ET FURERE INCIPIAS

Juv. SAT, VI. VER. 613.

THE

You have fo lately decried that cuf

tom, too much in ufe amongst moft people, of making themselves the fubjects of their writings and conver fation, that I had fome difficulty to perfuade myself to give you this trouble, until I had considered, that though I fhould fpeak in the first perfon, yet I could not be justly charged with vanity, fince I fhall not add my name; as alfo, because what I fhall write will not, to fay the best, redound to my praise; but is only defigned to remove a prejudice : conceived against me, as I hope, with very little foundation. My fhort hiftory is this.

I have lived for fome years laft paft altogether in London, until about a month ago an acquaintance of mine, for whom I have done fome finall fervices in town, invited me to pafs part of the fummer with him at his houfe in the country. I accepted his invitation, and found a very hearty welcome. My friend, an honest plain man, not being qualified to pafs away his time without the reliefs of butin, fs, has grafted the farmer upon the gentleman, and brought himself to fubmit even to the fervile parts of that employment, fuch as inpecting his plough, and the like. This neceffarily takes up fome of his hours every day; and as I have no relish for fuch diversion, I ufed at these times to retire either to my chamber, or a thady walk near the house, and entertain myfelf with fome agreeable author. Now you must know, Mr. Spectator, that when I read, especially if it be poetry, it is very ufual with me, when I meet with any paffage or expreffion which ftrikes me much, to pronounce it aloud, with that tone of the voice which I think agreeable to the fentiments there expreffed; and to this I generally add some motion or action of the body. It was not long before I was obferved by

roic fits, who thereupon received impreffions very much to my difadvantage. This however I did not foon discover, nor fhould have done probably, had it not been for the following accident. I had one day shut myself up in my chamber, and was very deeply engaged in the fecond book of Milton's Paradife Loft. I walked to and fro with the book in my hand, and, to speak the truth, I fear I made no little noife; when prefently coming to the following lines,

I in great transport threw open the door of my chamber, and found the greatest part of the family standing on the outfide in a very great confternation. I was in no leis confufion, and begged pardon for having difturbed them; addreffing myfeif particularly to comfort one of the children, who received an unlucky fall in this action, while he was too intently furveying my meditations through the key-hole. To be fhort, after this adventure I easily obferved that great part of the family, efpecially the women and children, looked upon me with fome apprehenfions of fear; and my friend himself, though he ftill continues his civilities to me, did not feem altogether easy. I took notice, that the butler was never after this accident ordered to leave the bottle upon the table after dinner. Add to this, that I frequently overheard the fervants mention me by the name of the crazed gentleman, the gentleman a little touched, the mad Londoner, and the like. This made me think it high time for me to fhift my quarters, which I refolved to do the firft handfome opportunity; and was confirmert in this refolution by a young lady in the neighbourhood, who frequently visited us, and who one day, after having heard all

the

the fine things I was able to fay, was pleafed with a fcornful fmile to bid me go to fleep.

The first minute I got to my lodgings in town, I fet pen to paper, to defire your opinion, whether, upon the evi. dence before you, I am mad or not. I can bring certificates that I behave myfelf foberly before company, and I hope there is at least fome merit in withdrawing to be mad. Look you, Sir, I am contented to be efteemed a little touched, as they phrafe it, but fhould be forry to be madder than my neighbours; there fore, 'pray let me be as much in my fenfes as you can afford. I know I could bring yourself as an inftance of a man who has confeffed talking to himself; but your's is a particular cafe, and cannot justify me, who have not kept filence any part of my life. What if I should own myfelf in love? you know lovers are always allowed the comfort of foliloquy. But I will fay no more upon this fubject, because I have long fince obferved, the ready way to be thought mad is to contend that you are not fo; as we generally conclude that man drunk who takes pains to be thought fober. I will therefore leave myfelf to your determination; but am the more defirous to be thought in my fenfes, that it may be no difcredit to you when I affure you that I have always been very much

Your admirer. P.S. If I must be mad, I deûre the young lady may believe it is for her.

THE HUMBLE PETITION OF JOHN A NOKES AND JOHN A STILES. SHEWETH,'

THAT your petitioners have caufes

'depending in Weftminster-hall above five hundred years, and that we despair of ever feeing them brought to an iffue: that your petitioners have not been involved in thefe law-fuits out of any litigious temper of their own, but by the inftigation of contentious perfons; that the young lawyers in our inns of court are continually fetting us together by the ears, and think they do us no hurt, because they plead for us without a fee; that many of the gentlemen of the robe have no other clients in the world be

fides us two; that when they have nothing elfe to do, they make us plaintiffs and defendants, though they were never retained by any of us: that they traduce, condemn, or acquit us, withou: any manner of regard to our reputations and good names in the world. Your petitioners therefore, being thereunto encouraged by the favourable reception which you lately gave to our kinfman Blank, do humbly pray, that you will put an end to the controverfies which have been fo long depending beour enmity may not endure from genetween us your faid petitioners, and that ration to generation; it being our refolution to live hereafter as it becometh men of peaceable difpofitions.

And your petitioners, as in duty bound, fhall ever pray, &c.

INQUE FERAS NOSTER

OVID. MET. L. XV. VER. 167.

HERE has been very great rea

DRYDEN.

nefs alone, and not an identity of fub

fearned world to endeavour at fettling what it was that might be faid to compofe perfonal identity.

Mr. Locke, after having premifed that the word Perfon properly fignifies a thinking intelligent being, that has reafon and reflection, and can confider itself as itAlf; concludes, that it is confciouf

tity of fameness. Had I the fame confcioufnefs, fays that author, that I faw the ark and Noah's flood, as that I faw an overflowing of the Thames laft winter; or as that I now write; I could no more doubt that I who write this now, that faw the • Thames overflow laft winter, and that 7E 2 viewed

I was mightily pleafed with a flory in fome meature applicable to this piece of philofophy, which I read the other day in the Perlian Tales, as they are lately very well tranflated by Mr. Phillips; and with an abridgment whereof I thall here prefent my readers.

I fhail only premife that these stories are writ after the eastern inanner, but fomewhat more correct.

FADLALLAH, a prince of great

virtues, fucceeded his father BinOrtoc, in the kingdom of Moufel. He reigned over his faithful fubjects for fome time, and lived in great happiness with his beauteous confort Queen Zemroude, when there appeared at his court a young Dervis of to lively and entertaining a turn of wit, as won upon the affections of every one he converfed with. His reputation grew fo faft every day, that it at laft raifed a curiofity in the prince himself to fee and talk with him. He did fo, and far from finding that common fame had flattered him, he was foon convinced that every thing he had heard of him fell fhort of the truth.

Fadlallah immediately loft all manner of relish for the converfation of other men; and as he was every day more and more fatisfied of the abilities of this ftranger, offered him the first pofts in his kingdom. The young Dervis, after having thanked him with a very fingular modeity, defired to be excufed, as having

ade a vow never to accept of any employment, and preferring a free and independent state of life to all other conditions.

The king was infinitely charmed with fo great an example of moderation; and though he could not get him to engage in a life of bulinefs, made him however his chief companion and firft favourite.. As they were one day hunting toge, ther, and happened to be feparated from the relt of the company, the Dervis ens

tertained Fadlallah with an account of his travels and adventures. After hav ing related to him feveral curiofities which he had feen in the Indies-' It was in this place,' fays he, that I contracted an acquaintance with an old Brachman, who was killed in the most hidden powers of nature: he died within my arms, and with his parting 'breath communicated to me one of the moft valuable fecrets, on condition I fhould never reveal it to any man.' The king immediately reflecting on his young favourite's having refufed the late offers of greatnefs he had made him, told him he prefumed it was the power of making gold. No, Sir," fays the Dervis, it is fomewhat more wonderful than that; it is the power of reanimating a dead body, by flinging my own foul into it."

While he was yet fpeaking a doe came bounding by them, and the king, who had his bow ready, fhot her through the heart; telling the Dervis, that a fair opportunity now offered for him to fhew his art. The young man immediately left his own body breathless on the ground, while at the fame inftant that of the doe was re animated: fhe came to the king, fawned upon him, and after having played several wanton tricks, fell again upon the grass; at the fame inftant the body of the Dervis recovered it's life. The king was infinitely pleased at fo uncommon an operation, and conjured his friend by every thing that was tacred to communicate it to him. The Dervis at first made fome fcruple of violating his promite to the dying Brachman; but told him at laft that he found he could conceal nothing from fo excellent a prince; after having obliged him therefore by an oath to fecrecy, he taught him to repeat two cabalistic words, in pronouncing of which the whole fecret confifted. The king, impatient to my the experiment, immediately repeated them as he had been taught, and in as inftant found himself in the body of the doe. He had but a little time to contemplate himself in this new being; for the treacherous Dervis shooting his owa foul into the royal corpfe, and bending the prince's own bow against him, had laid him dead on the fpot, had not the king, who perceived his intent, fled fwiftly to the woods.

The Dervis, now triumphing in his villainy