ets have

Liation

to consider what good office he has put us to, or my person, they have already sent me up an anheres to employ ourselves as we please. To be plain, a swer. As to the proposal of a marriage between man who frequents plays would have a very re- myself and the matchless Hecatissa, I have but except spectful notion of himself, were he to recollect one objection to it; which is, that all the society the ims how often he has been used as pimp to ravishing will expect to be acquainted with her; and who Dunyese tyrants, or successful rakes. When the actors make can be sure of keeping a woman's heart long,

their exit on this good occasion, the ladies are sure where she may have so much choice? I am the

er it be to have an examining glance from the pit, to see more alarmed at this, because the lady seems parhow they relish what passes: and a few lewd fools ticularly smitten with men of their make.

are very ready to employ their talents upon the I believe I shall set my heart upon her: and s been composure or freedom of their looks. Such in- think never the worse of my mistress for an epicidents as these make some ladies wholly absent gram a smart fellow writ, as he thought, against there a themselves from the playhouse; and others never her; it does but the more recommend her to me. wbee miss the first day of a play, lest it should prove too At the same time, I cannot but discover that his afa luscious to admit their going with any countenance malice is stolen from Martial : leone to it on the second.

"Tacta places audita places, si non videare
Tota places, neutro si videare, places."

Whilst in the dark on thy soft hand I hung,
And heard the tempting Siren in thy tongue,
What flames, what darts, what anguish I endur'd!
But when the candle enter'd I was cur'd.

If men of wit, who think fit to write for the Talst stage, instead of this pitiful way of giving delight, at firewould turn their thoughts upon raising it from such alt good natural impulses as are in the audience, but plare choked up by vice and luxury, they would not only please, but befriend us at the same time. If a man had a mind to be new in his way of writing, 2Fmight not he who is now represented as a fine gennetleman, though he betrays the honour and bed of ford: and since the wisdom of our legislature has eat his neighbour and friend, and lies with half the been immortalized in your speculations, and our tact women in the play, and is at last rewarded with personal deformities in some sort by you recorded

'Youn letter to us we have received, as a signal mark of your favour and brotherly affection. We shall be heartily glad to see your short face in Ox

her of the best character in it; I say, upon giving to all posterity; we hold ourselves in gratitude wed the comedy another cast, might not such a one bound to receive with the highest respect, all such 1. divert the audience quite as well, if at the catas- persons as for their extraordinary merit you shall trophe he were found out for a traitor, and met think fit, from time to time, to recommend unto with contempt accordingly? There is seldom a the board. As for the Pictish damsel, we have an person devoted to above one darling vice at a time, easy chair prepared at the upper end of the table : so that there is room enough to catch at men's which we doubt not but she will grace with a very ehearts to their good and advantage, if the poets hideous aspect, and much better become the seat mill attempt it with the honesty which becomes in the native and unaffected uncomeliness of her person, than with all the superficial airs of the

their characters.
There is no man who loves his bottle or his mis- pencil, which (as you have very ingeniously ob-
tress, in a manner so very abandoned, as not to be served) vanish with a breath, and the most inno-
capable of relishing an agreeable character, that cent adorer may deface the shrine with a saluta-
is no way a slave to either of those pursuits. A tion, and in the literal sense of our poets, snatch
man that is temperate, generous, valiant, chaste, and imprint his balmy kisses, and devour her melt-
faithful, and honest, may, at the same time, have ing lips. In short, the only faces of the Pictish
wit, humour, mirth, good-breeding, and gallantry, kind that will endure the weather must be of Dr.
While he exerts these latter qualities, twenty oc- Carbuncle's die: though his, in truth, has cost him
casions might be invented to show he is master of a world the painting; but then he boasts with
the other noble virtues. Such characters would Zeuxis, in æternitatem pingo; and oft jocosely tells
smite and reprove the heart of a man of sense, the fair ones, would they acquire colours that would
when he is given up to his pleasures. He would stand kissing, they must no longer paint, but drink
see he has been mistaken all this while, and be for a complexion; a maxim that in this our age
convinced that a sound constitution and an inno- has been pursued with noill success; and has been
cent mind, are the true ingredients for becoming, as admirable in its effects, as the famous cosmetic
and enjoying life. All men of true taste would mentioned in the Postman, and invented by the
call a man of wit, who should turn his ambition renowned British Hippocrates of the pestle and
this way, a friend and benefactor to his country : mortar: making the party, after a due course, rosy,
but I am at a loss what name they would give hale, and airy: and the best and most approved
bin who makes use of his capacity for contrary receipt now extant, for the fever of the spirits.

purposes. STEELE.

N° 52. MONDAY, APRIL 30, 1711.

Omnes ut tecum meritis pro talibus annos
Exigat, et pulchra faciat te prole parentem.

R.

VIRG. Æn. i. 78.

To crown thy worth, she shall be ever thine,
And make thee father of a beauteous line.

But to return to our female candidate, who, I
understand, is returned to herself, and will no
longer hang out false colours; as she is the first of
her sex that has done us so great an honour, she
will certainly in a very short time, both in prose
and verse, be a lady of the most celebrated de-
formity now living, and meet with many admirers
here as frightful as herself. But being a long-
headed gentlewoman, I am apt to imagine she has
some further design than you have yet penetrated;
and perhaps has more mind to the Spectator than

As ingenious correspondent, like a sprightly wife, any of his fraternity, as the person of all the world
will always have the last word. I did not think she could like for a paramour. And, if so, really
my last letter to the deformed fraternity would I cannot but applaud her choice; and should be
have occasioned any answer, especially since I glad, if it might lie in my power, to effect an
had promised them so sudden a visit: but as they amicable accommodation betwixt two faces of
think they cannot show too great a veneration for such different extremes, as the only possible expe-

1

dient to mend the breed, and rectify the physiog-1 'MR. SPECTATOR,

nomy of the family on both sides. And again, as 'I AM glad I can inform you, that your endea. she is a lady of a very fluent elocution, you need vours to adorn that sex, which is the fairest part not fear that your child will be born dumb, which of the visible creation, are well received, and like otherwise you might have some reason to be appre- to prove not unsuccessful. The triumph of Daphne hensive of. To be plain with you, I can see nothing over her sister Lætitia* has been the subject of shocking in it; for though she has not a face like conversation at several tea-tables where I have a john-apple, yet as a late friend of mine, who at been present; and I have observed the fair circle sixty-five ventured on a lass of fifteen, very fre- not a little pleased to find you considering them as quently, in the remaining five years of his life, reasonable creatures, and endeavouring to banish gave me to understand, that as old as he then that Mahometan custom, which had too much preseemed, when they were first married he and his vailed even in this island, of treating women as if spouse could make but fourscore; so may madam they had no souls. I must do them the justice to Hecatissa very justly allege hereafter, that as long-say, that there seems to be nothing wanting to the visaged as she may then be thought, upon their finishing of these lovely pieces of human nature, wedding-day Mr. Spectator and she had but half besides the turning and applying their ambition an ell of face betwixt them; and this my worthy properly, and the keeping them up to a sense of predecessor Mr. Serjeant Chin, always maintained what is their true merit. Epictetus, that plain hoto be no more than the true oval proportion be- nest philosopher, as little as he had of gallantry, tween man and wife. But as this may be a new appears to have understood them, as well as the thing to you, who have hitherto had no expectations polite St. Evremont, and has hit this point very from women, I shall allow you what time you think luckily. "When young women," says he, fit to consider on it: not without some hope of see. rive at a certain age, they hear themselves called ing at last your thoughts hereupon subjoined to Mistresses, and are made to believe, that their only mine, and which is an honour much desired by, business is to please the men; they immediately 'SIR, begin to dress, and place all their hopes in the adorning of their persons; it is therefore," con tinues he, "worth the while to endeavour by all means to make them sensible, that the honour paid to them is only upon account of their conducting themselves with virtue, modesty, and discretion." 'Now to pursue the matter yet further, and to render your cares for the improvement of the fair ones more effectual, I would propose a new method, like those applications which are said to convey their virtue by sympathy; and that is, that in order to embellish the mistress, you should give a new education to the lover, and teach the men not to be any longer dazzled by false charms and unreal beauty. I cannot but think that if our sex knew always how to place their esteem justly,

'Your assured friend,

'and most humble servant,

'HUGH GOBLIN, Præses'

The following letter has not much in it; but, as it is written in my own praise, I cannot for my heart suppress it.

SIR,

You proposed in your Spectator of last Tuesday, Mr. Hobbes's hypothesis for solving that very old phænomenon of laughter. You have made the hypothesis valuable by espousing it yourself; for had it continued Mr. Hobbes's nobody would

have minded it. Now here this perplexed case arises. A certain company laughed very heartily

upon the reading of very paper yours;

the truth on it is, he must be a man of more than ordinary constancy that could stand out against so much comedy, and not do as we did. Now there

are few men in the world so far lost to all good

sense, as to look upon you to be a man in a state of folly "inferior to himself." Pray then how do you justify your hypothesis of laughter?

'Your most humble,

Thursday, the 26th of the month of fools."

'SIR,

Q. R.

Mr correspondents grow so numerous, that I cannot avoid frequently inserting their applications

"ar

the other would not be so often wanting to them-
selves in deserving it. For as the being enamoured
with a woman of sense and virtue is an improve-
passion
ment to a man's understanding and morals, and the
is ennobled by the object which inspires
it; so, on the other side, the appearing amiable to
a man of a wise and elegant mind, carries in itself
no small degree of merit and accomplishment. I
conclude, therefore, that one way to make the wo.
men yet more agreeable is, to make the men more
virtuous.

April 26.

'YOURS of Saturday last I read, not without some resentment; but I will suppose when you say you expect an inundation of ribbons and brocades, and to see many new vanities which the women will fall into upon a peace with France, that you intend only the unthinking part of our sex; and what methods can reduce them to reason is hard to imagine.

'But, sir, there are others yet, that your instructions might be of great use to, who, after their best endeavours, are sometimes at a loss to acquit themselves to a censorious world. I am far from thinking you can altogether disapprove of con

ur ende

rest pre

versation between ladies and gentlemen, regulated, shaped arm held a fan over her face. It was not by the rules of honour and prudence; and have in nature to command one's eyes from this object. thought it an observation not ill made, that where I could not avoid taking notice also of her fan, that was wholly denied, the women lost their wit, which had on it various figures, very improper to and the men their good manners. It is sure from behold on that occasion. There lay in the body of those improper liberties you mentioned, that a sort the piece a Venus, under a purple canopy furled of undistinguishing people shall banish from their with curious wreaths of drapery, half naked, atdrawing-rooms the best-bred men in the world, free and condemn those that do not. Your stating this them point might, I think, be of good use, as well as to bary much oblige,

دال Lara gentleman who for many years last past

c.rt

Le,"

resa

tended with a train of Cupids, who were busied in fanning her as she slept. Behind her was drawn a satyr peeping over the silken fence, and threatening to break through it. I frequently offered to turn my sight another way, but was still detained by the fascination of the Peeper's eyes, who had long practised a skill in them, to recal the parting glances of her beholders. You see my complaint, and hope you will take these mischievous people, the Peepers, into your consideration. I doubt not but you will think a Peeper as much more pernicious than a Starer, as an ambuscade is more to be feared than an open assault.

'I am, SIR,

Your most obedient servant."

This Peeper, using both fan and eyes, to be considered as a Pict, and proceed accordingly.

have been well known to be truly splenetic, and that my spleen arises from having contracted so great a delicacy, by reading the best authors, and keeping the most refined company, that I cannot bear the least impropriety of language, or rusticity 'KING LATINUS TO THE SPECTATOR, GREETING. of behaviour. Now, sir, I have ever looked upon this as a wise distemper; but by late observations THOUGH Some may think we descend from our find, that every heavy wretch, who has nothing to imperial dignity, in holding correspondence with say, excuses his dulness by complaining of the a private litterato; yet as we have great respect To spleen. Nay, I saw, the other day, two fellows in to all good intentions for our service, we do not a tavern kitchen set up for it, call for a pint and esteem it beneath us to return you our royal thanks pipes, and only by guzzling liquor to each other's for what you published in our behalf, while under health, and wafting smoke in each other's face, confinement in the enchanted castle of the Savoy, pretend to throw off the spleen. I appeal to you, and for your mention of a subsidy for a prince in whether these dishonours are to be done to the dis- misfortune. This your timely zeal has inclined the temper of the great and the polite. I beseech you, hearts of divers to be aiding unto us, if we could sir, to inform these fellows that they have not the propose the means. We have taken their good

Cre

the spleen, because they cannot talk without the help will into consideration, and have contrived a meof a glass at their mouths, or convey their meaning thod which will be easy to those who shall give to each other without the interposition of clouds. the aid, and not unacceptable to us who receive If you will not do this with all speed, I assure you it. A concert of music shall be prepared at Hafor my part, I will wholly quit the disease, and for berdasher's-hall, for Wednesday the second of May, the future be merry with the vulgar.

art

'SIR,

'I am, SIR,

Your humble servant.'

This is to let you understand that I am a reformed starer, and conceived a detestation for that practice from what you have writ upon the subject. But as you have been very severe upon the behaviour of us men at divine service, I hope you will not be so apparently partial to the women, as to let them go wholly unobserved. If they do every thing that is possible to attract our eyes, are we more culpable than they for looking at them? I happened last Sunday to be shut into a pew, which was full of young ladies in the bloom of youth and beauty. When the service began, I had not room to kneel at the confession; but as 1 Flood, kept my eyes from wandering as well as I was able, till one of the young ladies, who is a Peeper, resolved to bring down my looks and fix my devotion on herself. You are to know, sir,

and we will honour the said entertainment with our own presence, where each person shall be assessed but at two shillings and sixpence. What we expect from you is, that you publish these our royal intentions, with injunction that they be read at all tea-tables within the cities of London and Westminster; and so we bid you heartily farewell.

'LATINUS, KING OF THE VOLSCIANS.

• Given at our court in Vinegar-yard, story the third from the earth, April 28, 1711.'

that a Peeper works with her hands, eyes, and The following letter being the first that I have re. fan; one of which is continually in motion, while ceived from the learned university of Cambridge, she thinks she is not actually the admiration of I could not but do myself the honour of publishing sotme ogler or starer in the congregation. As I it. It gives an account of a new sect of philosostood utterly at a loss how to behave myself, sur-phers which has arose in that famous residence of rounded as I was, this Peeper so placed herself as learning; and is, perhaps, the only sect this age is

to be kneeling just before me. She displayed the likely to produce.

most beautiful bosom imaginable, which heaved

and fell with some fervour, while a delicate well

See No. 22.

MR, SPECTATOR,

• Cambridge, April 23. BELIEVING you to be an universal encourager of liberal arts and sciences, and glad of any information from the learned world, I thought an account

but not taken notice of, as far as I can remember,

contemplates two or three hours every day over a sun-dial; and is true to the dial,

"As the dial to the sun, Although it be not shone upon.”

of a sect of philosophers, very frequent among us, Our young students are content to carry their spe. by any writers, either ancient or modern, would culations as yet no further than bowling-greens, not be unacceptable to you. The philosophers of billiard-tables, and such like places. This may this sect are, in the language of our university, I shall have your encouragement. serve for a sketch of my design; in which I hope

1

'I am, SIR, yours.'

I must be so just as to observe, I have formerly seen of this sect at our other university; though not distinguished by the appellation which the learned historian, my correspondent, reports they

called Loungers. I am of opinion, that, as in many other things, so likewise in this, the ancients have been defective; viz. in mentioning no philosophers of this sort. Some indeed will affirm that they are a kind of Peripatetics, because we see them continually walking about. But I would have these gentlemen consider, that though the ancient Peripatetics walked much, yet they wrote much also ; bear at Cambridge. They were ever looked witness, to the sorrow of this sect, Aristotle and upon as a people that impaired themselves more others; whereas it is notorious that most of our by their strict application to the rules of their orprofessors never lay out farthing der, than any other students whatever. Others ink, or paper. Others are for deriv pen, seldom hurt themselves any further than to gain deriving them from Diogentes, because several of the leading men of weak eyes, and sometimes headaches; but these the sect have a great deal of cynical humour in philosophers are seized all over with a general inthem, and delight much in sun-shine. But then, ability, indolence, and weariness, and a certain again, Diogenes was content to have his constant impatience of the place they are in, with an heavi. habitation in a narrow tub, whilst our philosophers ness in removing to another.

a

either in

are so far from being of his opinion, that it is death The Loungers are satisfied with being merely to them to be confined within the limits of a good part of the number of mankind, without distinhandsome convenient chamber but for half an hour guishing themselves from amongst them. They may Others there are, who, from the clearness of their be said rather to suffer their time to pass, than to heads, deduce the pedigree of Loungers from that spend it, without regard to the past, or prospect great man (I think it was either Plato or Socrates) of the future. All they know of life is only the

who, after all his study and learning, professed, that all he then knew was, that he knew nothing. You easily see this is but a shallow argument, and may be soon confuted.

،

I have with great pains and industry made my

observations, from time to time, upon these sages; and, having now all materials ready, am compiling a treatise, wherein I shall set forth the rise and progress of this famous sect, together with their

maxims, austerities, manner of living, &c. Having prevailed with a friend who designs shortly publish a new edition of Diogenes Laertius, to add this treatise of mine by way of supplement; I shall now, to let the world see what may be expected from me (first begging Mr. Spectator's leave that the world may see it) briefly touch upon some of

present instant, and do not taste even that. When the expense of his time is transferred to his coach one of this order happens to be a man of fortune, and horses, and his life is to be measured by their motion, not his own enjoyments or sufferings. The

chief entertainment one of these philosophers can possibly propose to himself, is to get a relish of dress. This methinks might diversify the person he is weary of (his own dear self) to himself. I have known these two amusements make one of

these philosophers make a tolerable figure in the world; with variety of dresses in public assemblies in town, and quick motion of his horses out of it, now to Bath, now to Tunbridge, then to Newmarket, and then to London, he has in process of time brought it to pass, that his coach and his horses have been mentioned in all those places.

my chief observations, and then subscribe myself When the Loungers leave an academic life, and,

your humble servant. In the first place I shall give you two or three of their maxims; the fundamental one, upon which their whole system is built,

is this, viz. "That time being an implacable enemy

instead of this more elegant way of appearing in the polite world, retire to the seats of their ances

their days in tors, they usually join a pack of dogs, and employ

defending their poultry from foxes:

I do not know any other method that any of this order has ever taken to make a noise in the world; have arrived at the dignity of being Loungers by

to, and destroyer of all things, ought to be paid in his own coin, and be destroyed and murdered without mercy, by all the ways that can be invented." Another favourite saying of theirs is, "That busi. ness was only designed for knaves, and study for blockheads." A third seems to be a ludicrous the force of natural parts, without ever having seen

but has a great effect upon their lives; and is this,

"That the devil is at home." Now for their man. ner of living; and here I have a large field to ex. patiate in but I shall reserve particulars for my intended discourse, and now only mention one or two of their principal exercises. The elder profioients employ themselves in inspecting mores hominum multorum, in getting acquainted with all the signs and windows in the town. Some are arrived to so great knowledge, that they can tell every time any butcher kills a calf, every time an old woman's cat is in the straw; and a thousand other matters as important. One ancient philosopher

an university; and send my correspondent, for the

embellishment of his book, the names history of those who pass their lives without any incidents colate-houses from hour, to hour, to get over the at all, and how they shift coffee-houses and choinsupportable labour of doing nothing.

STEELE.*

R.

N° 55. THURSDAY, MAY 3, 1711.

Cheir ste

curs

هرانی

Intus, et in jecore ægro

Nascuntur Domini,

PERS, Sat, v. 129.

Our passions play the tyrants in our breasts.

When a government flourishes in conquests, and is secure from foreign attacks, it naturally falls into all the pleasures of luxury; and as these pleasures are very expensive, they put those who are addicted to them upon raising fresh supplies of money, by all the methods of rapaciousness and corruption; so that avarice and luxury very often become one complicated principle of action, in those whose hearts are wholly set upon ease, magnificence, and pleasure. The most elegant and correct of all the Latin historians* observes, that in his time, when the most formidable states of the

Most of the trades, professions, and ways of living world were subdued by the Romans, the republic among mankind, take their original either from the sunk into those two vices of a quite different nalove of pleasure, or the fear of want. The former, ture, luxury and avarice: and accordingly dewhen it becomes too violent, degenerates into Lux- scribes Catiline as one who coveted the wealth of ury, and the latter into Avarice. As these two other men, at the same time that he squandered principles of action draw different ways, Persius away his own. This observation on the commonhas given us a very humorous account of a young wealth, when it was in its height of power and fellow who was roused out of his bed in order to riches, holds good of all governments that are setbe sent upon a long voyage, by Avarice, and after- tled in a state of ease and prosperity. At such times wards over-persuaded and kept at home by Lux-men naturally endeavour to outshine one another ury. I shall set down the pleadings of these two in pomp and splendour, and having no fears to alarm imaginary persons, as they are in the original, with them from abroad, indulge themselvesin the enjoyMr. Dryden's translation of them:

Mane piger, stertis: surge, inquit Avaritia; eja
Surge. Negas. Instat, surge, inquit. Non queo. Surge.
Et quid agam? Rogitas? saperdas advehe ponto,
Castereum, stuppas, hebenum, thus, lubrica Coa.
Talle recens primus piper e sitiente camelo.
Ferte aliquid; jura. Sed Jupiter audiet. Eheu!
Bars, regustatum digite terebrare salinum
Comentua perages, si vivere cum Jove tendis.
Jun pueris pellem succinctus et cenophorum aptas,
Oqui ad navem. Nil obstat quin trabe vasta
Resum rapias, nisi solers Luxuria ante
Sedactum monent; quo deinde insane ruts? Quo?
Quad tibi vis? Calido sub pectore mascula bilis
Imamuit, quam non extinxerit urna cicute?
Tus mare transilias? Tibi torta cannabe fulto
Cima sit in transtro? Veientanumque rubellum
Lahatet vapida læsum pice sessilis obba?

Quad petis? Ut nummi, quas hic quincunce modesto

Nurieras, pergant avides sudare deunces?

Indulge genia: carpamus dulcia; nostrum est

Quad vivis; cinis, et manes, et fabula fies.

Fine memor lethi: fugit hora. Hoc quod loquor, inde est.
En quid agis? Duplici in diversum scinderis hamo.

Hunccine, an hunc sequeris

Sat. v. 131.

Whether alone, or in thy harlot's lap,
When thou would'st take a lazy morning's nap;
Up up, says Avarice; thou snor'st again,
Stretchest thy limbs and yawn'st, but all in vain.
The rugged tyrant no denial takes;
At his command th' unwilling sluggard wakes.
What must I do? he cries; What? says his lord;
Why rise, make ready, and go straight aboard:
Wah fish, from Euxine seas, thy vessel freight;
Fitt, castor, Coan wines, the precious weight
Of pepper, and Sabean incense, take
With thy own hands, from the tir'd camel's back,
And with post-haste thy running markets make.
Beware to turn the penny; lie and swear,
To wholesome sin: but Jove, thou say'st, will hear.
wear, fool, or starve; for the dilemma's even;
Atradesman thou! and hope to go to heav'n?
Resolv'd for sea, the slaves thy baggage pack,
Each saddled with his burden on his back:
Nading retards thy voyage now, but he,
That soft voluptuous prince, called Luxury;
And he may ask this civil question; Friend,
What dost thou make a shipboard? To what end?
Art thou of Bethlem's noble college free?
Sark, staring mad, that thou would'st tempt the sea?
Cubib'd in a cabin, on a mattress laid,
'na brown George, with lousy swobbers fed;
Dead wine that stinks of the Borachio, sup
Fram a foul jack, or greasy maple cup?
bay, would'st thou bear all this to raise thy store,
Promis i' th' hundred to six hundred more?

stulge, and to thy genius freely give;

Foc, not to live at ease, is not to live.
Death stalks behind thee, and each flying hour
loes some loose rennant of thy life devour.
Live, while thou liv'st; for death will make us
A name, a nothing but au old wife's tale.
peak: wilt thou Avarice or Pleasure choose

be thy lord? Take one, and one refuse.

all

ment of all the pleasures they can get into their possession; which naturally produces avarice, and an immoderate pursuit after wealth and riches.

As I was humouring myself in the speculation of these two great principles of action, I could not forbear throwing my thoughts into a little kind of allegory or fable, with which I shall here present my reader.

There were two very powerful tyrants engaged in a perpetual war against each other, the name of the first was Luxury, and of the second Avarice. The aim of each of them was no less than universal monarchy over the hearts of mankind. Luxury had many generals under him, who did him great service, as Pleasure, Mirth, Pomp, and Fashion. Avarice was likewise very strong in his officers, being faithfully served by Hunger, Industry, Care, and Watchfulness: he had likewise a privy-counsellor who was always at his elbow, and whispering something or other in his ear; the name of this privy-counsellor was Poverty. As Avarice conducted himself by the counsels of Poverty, his antagonist was entirely guided by the dictates and advice of Plenty, who was his first counsellor and minister of state, that concerted all his measures for him, and never departed out of his sight. While these two great rivals were thus contending for empire, their conquests were very various. Luxury got possession of one heart and Avarice of another. The father of a family would often range himself under the banners of Avarice, and the son under those of Luxury. The wife and the husband would often declare themselves on the two different parties; nay, the same person would very often side with one in his youth, and revolt to the other in his old age. Indeed the wise men of the world stood neuter; but, alas! their numbers were not considerable. At length, when these two potentates had wearied themselves with waging war upon one another, they agreed upon an interview, at which none of their counsellors were to be present. It is said that Luxury began the parley, and after having represented the endless state of war in which they were engaged, told his enemy, with a frankness of heart which is natural to him, that he believed they two should be very good friends, were it not for the instigations of Poverty, that pernicious counsellor, who made an ill use of his ear, and filled him

K

* Sallesta