at at a plo

weral in the

When out of twenty I can please not two?
One likes the pheasant's wing, and one the leg;
The vulgar boil, the learned roast an egg;

nd bid be

ox for ote

of Ho

to kiss be

eled dom

al of these

betwen

et talicat

Honora a

cy in

to them

ps bee

steem

Fore that

Flava

rre, t

res

ers

Ta

tenderness which at once spoke passion and re

spect, Honoria cast a triumphant glance at Flavia, LOOKING Over the late packets of letters which have
as exulting in the elegance of Crastin's courtship, been sent to me, I found the following one:
and upbraiding her with the homeliness of Tulip's.

Tulip understood the reproach, and in return 'MR. SPECTATOR,

began to applaud the wisdom of old amorous gen-Your paper is a part of my tea-equipage; and
tlemen, who turned their mistress's imagination as my servant knows my humour so well, that calling
far as possible from what they had long themselves for my breakfast this morning (it being past my
forgot, and ended his discourse with a sly com- usual hour), she answered, the Spectator was not
mendation of the doctrine of Platonic love; at the yet come in; but that the tea-kettle boiled, and-
same time he ran over, with a laughing eye, Cras she expected it every moment. Having thus in
tin's thin, legs, meagre looks, and spare body. The part signified to you the esteem and veneration
old gentleman immediately left the room with which I have for you, I must put you in mind of
some disorder, and the conversation fell upon un- the catalogue of books which you have promised
timely passion, after-love, and unseasonable youth. to recommend to our sex; for I have deferred fur-
Tulip sung, danced, moved before the glass, led nishing my closet with authors, till I receive your
his mistress half a minute, hummed

In answer to my fair disciple, whom I am very proud of, I must acquaint her and the rest of my readers, that since I have called out for help in

my catalogue of a lady's library, I have received many upon head, some of which I shall give an account of.

In the first class I shall take notice of those which come to me from eminent booksellers, who every one of them mention with respect the authors they have printed, and consequently have an eye to their own advantage more than to that of the ladies. One tells me, that he thinks it absolutely necessary for women to have true notions of right and equity, and that therefore they cannot peruse a better book than Dalton's Country Justice. Another thinks they cannot be without

Tulip's colour changed at the reading of this epistle; for which reason his mistress snatched it to read the contents. While she was doing so, The Complete Jockey. A third observing the. Tulip went away; and the ladies now agreeing in curiosity and desire of prying into secrets, which a common calamity, bewailed together the danger he tells me is natural to the fair sex, is of opinion of their lovers. They immediately undressed to this female inclination, if well directed, might go out, and took hackneys to prevent mischief: turn very much to their advantage, and therefore but, after alarming all parts of the town, Crastin recommends to me Mr. Mede upon the Revelawas found by his widow in his pumps at Hyde-tions. A fourth lays it down as an unquestioned Park, which appointment Tulip never kept, but truth, that a lady cannot be thoroughly accommad, his escape into the country. Flavia tears plished who has not read The secret Treaties and her har for his inglorious safety, curses and de- Negociations of Marshal d'Estrades. Mr. Jacob Ton

In the second class I shall mention books which are recommended by husbands, if I may believe

That she was enamoured of the duke is well known; but * Miss Shepherd, afterwards Mrs, Perry. See No. 37, No. de tiresinstance, of her attending him in disguise while he kill-140, and No. 163

ther own husband, we, for the honour of the sex, disbelieve. † See Nos, 37 and 163.

pses her charmer, and is fallen in love with son junior, is of opinion, that Bayle's Dictionary Crastin: which is the first part of the history of might be of very great use to the ladies, in order to make them general scholars. Another, whose name I have forgotten, thinks it highly proper that every woman with child should read Mr, Wall's History of Infant Baptism; as another is very importunate with me to recommend to all

the writers of them. Whether or no they are real world, and keep them from being charmed by husbands or personated ones, I cannot tell; but the those empty coxcombs that have hitherto been adbooks they recommend are as follow: A Para- mired among the women, though laughed at phrase on the History of Susanna. Rules to keep among the men.

Lent. The Christian's Overthrow prevented. A I am credibly informed that Tom Tattle passes Dissuasive from the Play-house. The Virtues of for an impertinent fellow, that Will Trippet begins Camphire, with directions to make camphire tea. to be smoked, and that Frank Smoothly himself is The Pleasure of a Country Life. The Government within a month of a coxcomb, in case I think fit of the Tongue. A letter dated from Cheapside to continue this paper. For my part, as it is my desires me that I would advise all young wives to business in some measure to detect such as would make themselves mistresses of Wingate's Arith- lead astray weak minds by their false pretences to metic, and concludes with a postcript, that he wit and judgment, humour and gallantry, I shall not hopes I will not forget The Countess of Kent's Receipts.

fail to lend the best lights I am able to the fair sex for the continuation of these their discoveries. L.

ADDISON.

No 93. SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1711.

- Spatio brevi
Spem longam reseces: dum loquimur, fugerit invida.
Etas: carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero.
HOR, 1 Od, si. 6.

I may reckon the ladies themselves as a third class among these my correspondents and privycounsellors. In a letter from one of them, I am advised to place Pharamond* at the head of my catalogue, and if I think proper to give the second place to Cassandra*. Coquetilla begs me not to think of nailing women upon their knees with manuals of devotion, nor of scorching their faces with books of housewifery. Florella desires to know if there are any books written against prudes, and intreats me, if there are to give them a place in my library. Plays of all sorts have their several advocates: All for Love is mentioned in above fifteen letters; Sophonisba, or Hannibal's Overthrow, in a dozen: The Innocent Adultery is likewise highly approved of; Mithridates, King of Pontus has many friends; Alexander the We all of us complain of the shortness of time, Great and Aurengzebe have the same number of saith Seneca, and yet have much more than we voices; but Theodosius, or the Force of Love, car- know what to do with. Our lives, says he, are

ries it from all the rest.

Be wise, cut off long cares
From thy contracted span.

E'en whilst we speak, the envious time
Doth make swift haste away;
Then seize the present, use thy prime,
Nor trust another day.

CREECH.

spent, either in doing nothing at all, or in doing

I should, in the last place, mention such books nothing to the purpose, or in doing nothing that as have been proposed by men of learning, and we ought to do. We are always complaining our those who appear competent judges of this matter, days are few, and acting as though there would be and must here take occasion to thank A. B. who- no end of them. That noble philosopher has de. ever it is that conceals himself under these two scribed our inconsistency with ourselves in this letters, for his advice upon this subject. But as I particular, by all those various turns of expression find the work I have undertaken to be very diffi. and thought which are peculiar to his writings. cult, I shall defer the executing of it till I am I often consider mankind as wholly inconsistent further acquainted with the thoughts of my judi. with itself in a point that bears some affinity to cious contemporaries, and have time to examine the former. Though we seem grieved at the shortthe several books they offer to me; being resolved, ness of life in general, we are wishing every period in an affair of this moment, to proceed with the of it at an end. The minor longs to be at age, greatest caution. then to be a man of business, then to make up an

In the meanwhile, as I have taken the ladies estate, then to arrive at honours, then to retire. Phe under my particular care, I shall make it my busi- Thus although the whole life is allowed by every ness to find out in the best authors, ancient and one to be short, the several divisions of it appear modern, such passages as may be for their use, and long and tedious. We are for lengthening our modern, such passagedate them as well as i can span in general, but would fain contract the parts to their taste; not questioning but the valuable of which it is composed. The usurer would be to time I laugh at those little vanities and follies that lies between the present moment and next part of the sex will easily pardon me, if from time very well satisfied to have all the time annihilated which appear in the behaviour of some of them, quarter-day. The politician would be contented belings and which are more proper for ridicule than a to lose three years serious censure. Most books being calculated for male readers, and generally written with an eye to men of learning, makes a work of this nature the more necessary; besides, I am the more en.

in the posture which he fancies they will stand in after such a revolution of time. The lover would ments that are to pass away before the happy

be glad to strike out of his existence all the mo

couraged, because I flatter myself that I see the meeting. Thus, as fast as our time runs we should sex daily improving by these my speculations. My be very glad in most parts of our lives that it ran fair readers are already deeper scholars than the much faster than it does. Several hours of the day beaux. I could name some of them who talk much hang upon our hands, nay we wish away whole better than several gentlemen that make a figure years; and travel through time as through a counat Will's; and as I frequently receive letters from try filled with many wild and empty wastes which the fine ladies and pretty fellows, I cannot but we would fain hurry over, that we may arrive at observe that the former are superior to the others those several little settlements or imaginary points not only in the sense, but in the spelling. This of rest which are dispersed up and down in it. cannot but have a good effect upon the female If we divide the life of most men into twenty

parts, we shall find that at least nineteen of them neur de la Calprenede; been then translated into earthwo French romances, which had Gautier de Costes Seig are mere gaps and chasms, which are neither filled English, with pleasure nor business. I do not however in

charmed

herto begy

laughed

clude in this calculation the life of those men who hours together in shuffling and dividing a pack of are in a perpetual hurry of affairs, but of those cards, with no other conversation but what is made only who are not always engaged in scenes of up of a few game phrases, and no other ideas but action; and I hope I shall not do an unacceptable those of black or red spots ranged together in dif

se I think

piece of service to these persons if I point out to
them certain methods for the filling up their empty
spaces of life. The methods I shall propose to
them are as follow:

ferent figures. Would not a man laugh to hear any one of this species complaining that life is short? The stage might be made a perpetual source of the most noble and useful entertainments, were it

, as it is

uch as wo

pretences

to the

discoveme

The first is the exercise of virtue, in the most under proper regulations.

general acceptation of the word. The particular But the mind never unbends itself so agreeably scheme which comprehends the social virtues, may as in the conversation of a well-chosen friend. ry, Istalike give employment to the most industrious temper, There is indeed no blessing of life that is any way and find a man in business more than the most comparable to the enjoyment of a discreet and active station of life. To advise the ignorant, re- virtuous friend. It eases and unloads the mind, lieve the needy, comfort the afflicted, are duties clears and improves the understanding, engenders that fall in our way almost every day of our lives. thoughts and knowledge, animates virtue and good A man has frequent opportunities of mitigating resolutions, soothes and allays the passions, and the fierceness of a party; of doing justice to the finds employment for most of the vacant hours character of a deserving man; of softening the of life.

1711.

L

envious, quieting the angry, and rectifying the pre. Next to such an intimacy with a particular perjudiced; which are all of them employments suited son, one would endeavour after a more general to a reasonable nature, and bring great satisfaction conversation with such as are able to entertain and to the person who can busy himself in them with improve those with whom they converse, which discretion.

are qualifications that seldom go asunder.

There is another kind of virtue that may find There are many other useful amusements of life employment for those retired hours in which we which one would endeavour to multiply, that one are altogether left to ourselves, and destitute of might on all occasions have recourse to something, company and conversation; I mean that inter. rather than suffer the mind to lie idle, or run adrift course and communication which every reasonable with any passion that chances to rise in it. creature ought to maintain with the great Author A man that has a taste in music, painting, or of his being. The man who lives under an habi- architecture, is like one that has another sense, tual sense of the divine presence keeps up a per- when compared with such as have no relish of those petual cheerfulness of temper, and enjoys every arts. The florist, the planter, the gardener, the husmoment the satisfaction of thinking himself in com- bandman, when they are only as accomplishments pany with his dearest and best of friends. The to the man of fortune, are great reliefs to a country time never lies heavy upon him: it is impossible life, and many ways useful to those who are posfor him to be alone. His thoughts and passions sessed of them.

are the most busied at such hours when those of But of all the diversions of life, there is none so other men are the most unactive. He no sooner proper to fill up its empty spaces as the reading of steps out of the world but his heart burns with de- useful and entertaining authors. But this I shall votion, swells with hope, and triumphs in the con- only touch upon, because it in some measure intersciousness of that presence which every where sur. feres with the third method, which I shall propose rounds him; or on the contrary, pours out its fears, in another paper, for the employment of our dead its sorrows, its apprehensions, to the great Sup-unactive hours, and which I shall only mention in

porter of its existence.

I have here only considered the necessity of a man's being virtuous that he may have something to do; but if we consider further, that the exercise of virtue is not only an amusement for the time it lasts, but that its influence extends to those parts of our existence which lie beyond the grave, and that our whole eternity is to take its colour from those hours which we here employ in virtue or in Vice, the argument redoubles upon us for putting in practice this method of passing away our time. When a man has but a little stock to improve,

general to be the pursuit of knowledge.

and has opportunities of turning it all to good ac- The last method which I proposed in my Saturday's count, what shall we think of him if he suffers nine-paper, for filling up those empty spaces of life teen parts of it to lie dead, and perhaps employs which are so tedious and burdensome to idle peoeven the twentieth to his ruin or disadvantage? ple, is the employing ourselves in the pursuit of But because the mind cannot be always in its fer- knowledge. I remember Mr. Boyle, speaking of vours, nor strained up to a pitch of virtue, it is a certain mineral, tells us, that a man may conDecessary to find out proper employment for it in sume his whole life in the study of it, without arrelaxations. riving at the knowledge of all its qualities. The The next method therefore that I would propose truth of it is, there is not a single science, or any fill up our time, should be useful and innocent branch of it, that might not furnish a man with diversions. I must confess I think it is below rea- business for life, though it were much longer than sonable creatures to be altogether conversant in it is.

sach diversions as are merely innocent, and have I shall not here engage on those beaten subjects nothing else to recommend them, but that there is of the usefulness of knowledge, nor of the pleasure no hart in them. Whether any kind of gaming and perfection it gives the mind; nor on the mehas even thus much to say for itself, I shall not thods of attaining it, nor recommend any particular determine; but I think it is very wonderful to see branch of it; all which have been the topics of persons of the best sense passing away a dozen many other writers: but shall indulge myself in a

Q

speculation that is more uncommon, and may therefore perhaps be more entertaining.

There is a very pretty story in the Turkish tales, which relates to this passage of that famous im

I have before shown how the unemployed parts postor, and bears some affinity to the subject we of life appear long and tedious, and shall here en- are now upon. A sultan of Egypt, who was an deavour to show how those parts of life which are infidel, used to laugh at this circumstance in Mahoexercised in study, reading, and the pursuits of met's life, as what was altogether impossible and knowledge, are long, but not tedious, and by that absurd: but conversing one day with a great doctor means discover a method of lengthening our lives, in the law, who had the gift of working miracles, and at the same time of turning all the parts of the doctor told him he would quickly convince him them to our advantage.

of the truth of this passage in the history of Ma

Mr. Locke observes, 'That we get the idea of homet, if he would consent to do what he would time or duration, by reflecting on that train of desire of him. Upon this the sultan was directed ideas which succeed one another in our minds: to place himself by a huge tub of water, which he that for this reason, when we sleep soundly with- did accordingly; and as he stood by the tub amidst out reaming, we have no perception of time, or a circle of his great men, the holy man bid him the length of it whilst we sleep; and that the mo-plunge his head into the water, and draw it up ment wherein we leave off to think, till the moment again. The king accordingly thrust his head into we begin to think again, seem to have no distance.' the water, and at the same time found himself at To which the author adds, 'and so I doubt not but the foot of a mountain on a sea-shore. The king it would be to a waking man, if it were possible immediately began to rage against his doctor for for him to keep only one idea in his mind, without this piece of treachery and witchcraft; but at variation, and the succession of others; and we see, length, knowing it was in vain to be angry, he set that one who fixes his thoughts very intently on himself to think on proper methods for getting a one thing, so as to take but little notice of the livelihood in this strange country. Accordingly he succession of ideas that pass in his mind whilst he applied himself to some people whom he saw at is taken up with that earnest contemplation, lets work in a neighbouring wood: these people conslip out of his account a good part of that duration, ducted him to a town that stood at a little distance and thinks that time shorter than it is.'*

from the wood, where, after some adventures, he

We might carry this thought further, and con- married a woman of great beauty and fortune. He sider a man as, on one side, shortening his time by lived with this woman so long, that he had by her thinking on nothing, or but a few things; so on the seven sons and seven daughters. He was afterother, as lengthening it, by employing his thoughts wards reduced to great want, and forced to think on many subjects, or by entertaining a quick and of plying in the streets as a porter for his liveliconstant succession of ideas. Accordingly Monsieur hood. One day as he was walking alone by the Mallebranche, in his Inquiry after Truth (which sea-side, being seized with many melancholy rewas published several years before Mr. Locke's flections upon his former and his present state of Essay on Human Understanding), tells us, that it life, which had raised a fit of devotion in him, he is possible some creatures may think half an hour threw off his clothes with a design to wash himself, as long as we do a thousand years; or look upon according to the custom of the Mahometans, before that space of duration which we call a minute, as he said his prayers.

an hour, a week, a month, or a whole age.'

After his first plunge into the sea, he no sooner

This notion of Monsieur Mallebranche is capable raised his head above the water, but he found himof some little explanation from what I have quoted self standing by the side of the tub, with the great out of Mr. Locke; for if our notion of time is pro- men of his court about him, and the holy man at duced by our reflecting on the succession of ideas his side. He immediately upbraided his teacher in our mind, and this succession may be infinitely for having sent him on such a course of adventures, accelerated or retarded, it will follow, that dif- and betrayed him into so long a state of misery ferent beings may have different notions of the and servitude; but was wonderfully surprised when same parts of duration, according as their ideas, he heard that the state he talked of was only a which we suppose are equally distinct in each of dream and delusion; that he had not stirred from them, follow one another in a greater or less degree the place where he then stood; and that he had of rapidity. only dipped his head into the water, and imme

There is a famous passage in the Alcoran, which diately taken it out again. looks as if Mahomet had been possessed of the no- The Mahometan doctor took this occasion of intion we are now speaking of. It is there said, that structing the sultan, that nothing was impossible the angel Gabriel took Mahomet out of his bed one with God; and that He, with whom a thousand morning to give him a sight of all things in the years are but as one day, can, if he pleases, make seven heavens, in paradise, and in hell, which the a single day, nay, a single moment, appear to any prophet took a distinct view of; and after having of his creatures as a thousand years. held ninety thousand conferences with God, was I shall leave my reader to compare these eastern brought back again to his bed. All this, says the fables with the notions of those two great philosoAlcoran, was transacted in so small a space of phers whom I have quoted in this paper; and shall time, that Mahomet at his return found his bed still only, by way of application, desire him to consider warm, and took up an earthen pitcher, which was how we may extend life beyond its natural dimenthrown down at the very instant that the angel sions, by applying ourselves diligently to the purGabriel carried him away, before the water was all suits of knowledge.

spilt.†

• Essay on Human Understanding, b. ii. ch. xiv, sect. 4.

The hours of a wise man are lengthened by his ideas, as those of a fool are by his passions. The time of the one is long, because he does not know what to do with it, so is that of the other, because

+ The Koran (Al Koran) has been searched for this passage; he distinguishes every moment of it with useful or but no such relation is to be found in it. In a Life of Mahomet amusing thoughts; or, in other words, because the (London, 8vo. 1712) we find a passage something similar, but ra ther less extravagant, as it extends the duration of the journey to one is always wishing it away and the other always

famous

Subject

how

ce in Ma ossible

Teat doc

g minicia

nvince

Ory of

he wal

s Grecia

which tub and

bid

head

se

The k Hoctor

gett

How different is the view of past life, in the in the tender bodies of children, when crossed in man who is grown old in knowledge and wisdom, their little wills and expectations, how dissolvable from that of him who is grown old in ignorance they are into tears. If this were what grief is in and folly! The latter is like the owner of a barren men, nature would not be able to support them in country, that fills his eye with the prospect of the excess of it for one moment. Add to this obnaked hills and plains, which produce nothing servation, how quick is their transition from this either profitable or ornamental; the other beholds passion to that of their joy! I will not say we see a beautiful and spacious landscape divided into de- often, in the next tender things to children, tears lightful gardens, green meadows, fruitful fields, and can scarce cast his eye on a single spot of his possessions, that is not covered with some beautiful plant or flower.

ADDISON.

No 95. TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1711.

Cura leves loquuntur, ingentes stupent.
SENECA.
Light sorrows speak, great grief is dumb.

L.

shed without much grieving. Thus it is common to shed tears without much sorrow, and as common to suffer much sorrow without shedding tears. Grief and weeping are indeed frequent companions: but, I believe, never in their highest excesses. As laughter does not proceed from profound joy, so neither does weeping from profound sorrow. The sorrow which appears so easily at the eyes, cannot have pierced deeply into the heart. The heart distended with grief, stops all the passages for tears or lamentations.

"Now, sir, what I would incline you to in all this is, that you would inform the shallow critics

HAVING read the two following letters with much and observers upon sorrow, that true affliction pleasure, I cannot but think the good sense of labours to be invisible, that it is a stranger to cerethem will be as agreeable to the town as any thing mony, and that it bears in its own nature a dignity I could say either on the topics they treat of, or much above the little circumstances which are af

dany other; they both allude to former papers of fected under the notion of decency. You must mine; and I do not question but the first, which is know, sir, I have lately lost a dear friend, for upon mourning, will be thought the production of whom I have not yet shed a tear; and for that a man who is well acquainted with the generous reason your animadversions on that subject would yearnings of distress in a manly temper, which is be the more acceptable to,

'SIR,

above the relief of tears. A speculation of my own

on that subject I shall defer till another occasion.

Your most humble servant,

The second letter is from a lady of a mind as great as her understanding. There is perhaps something in the beginning of it which I ought in modesty, to conceal; but I have so much esteem As I hope there are but few who have so little

'I was very well pleased with your discourse upon tainment you give. I acknowledge our sex to be general mourning, and should be obliged to you much obliged, and I hope improved by your laif you will enter into the matter more deeply, and bours, and even your intentions more particularly give us your thoughts upon the common sense the for our service. If it be true, as it is sometimes ordinary people have of the demonstrations of said, that our sex have an influence on the other, grief, who prescribe rules and fashions to the most your paper may be a yet more general good. Your solemn affliction; such as the loss of the nearest directing us to reading, is certainly the best means relations and dearest friends. You cannot go tolto our instruction; but I think with you, caution visit a sick friend, but some impertinent waiter in that particular very useful, since the improveabout him observes the muscles of your face as ment of our understandings may, or may not, be strictly, as if they were prognostics of his death or of service to us, according as it is managed. It recovery. If he happens to be taken from you, has been thought we are not generally so ignorant you are immediately surrounded with numbers of as ill-taught, or that our sex does not so often want these spectators, who expect a melancholy shrug wit, judgment, or knowledge, as the right applicaof your shoulders, a pathetical shake of your head, tion of them. You are so well-bred, as to say your and an expressive distortion of your face, to mea fair readers are already deeper scholars than the sure your affection and value for the deceased. beaux, and that you could name some of them that -But there is nothing, on these occasions, so much talk much better than several gentleman that make in their favour as immoderate weeping. As all their a figure at Will's*. This may possibly be, and no passions are superficial, they imagine the seat of great compliment, in my opinion, even supposing love and friendship to be placed visibly in the eyes. your comparison to reach Tom's and the Grecian. They judge what stock of kindness you had for the Sure you are too wise to think that the real comliving, by the quantity of tears you pour out for mendation of a woman. Were it not rather to be the dead; so that if one body wants that quantity wished we improved in our own sphere, and apof salt water another abounds with, he is in great proved ourselves better daughters, wives, mothers, danger of being thought insensible or ill-natured. and friends?

They are strangers to friendship, whose grief hap- 'I cannot but agree with the judicious trader in pens not to be moist enough to wet such a parcel Cheapsidet (though I am not at all prejudiced in of handkerchiefs. But experience has told us, no- his favour) in recommending the study of arithmething is so fallacious as this outward sign of sorrow; tic; and must dissent even from the authority which and the natural history of our bodies will teach us you mention, when it advises the making our sex that this flux of the eyes, this faculty of weeping, is scholars. Indeed a little more philosophy, in order Deculiar only to some constitutions. We observe