one of the figures in Mrs Salmon's wax-work, than a defirable lover. In short, he grew fick of her company; ' which the young lady taking notice of, (who no more knew why, than he did), fhe fent me a challenge to meet her in Lincoln's-inn chapel, which I joyfully accepted, and have (amongst other pleasures) the fatisfaction of being praised by her for my ftratagem. From the Hoop. I am, &c. TOM NIMBLE.? • Mr SPECTATOR, HE virgins of Great Britain are very much obliged to you for putting them upon fuch tedious drudgeries in needle-work as were fit only for the Hilpa's and the Nilpa's that lived before the flood. Here is a ftir indeed with your hiftories in embroidery, your groves with fhades of filk and streams of mohair! I 'would have you to know, that I hope to kill a hundred lovers before the best housewife in England can stitch out a battle, and do not fear but to provide boys and girls much fafter than your difciples can embroider them. I love birds and beafts as well as you, and am content to fancy them when they are really made. What do · you think of gilt leather for furniture? There is your pretty hangings for a chamber; and what is more, our own country is the only place in Europe where work of that kind is tolerably done. Without minding your mufty leffons, I am this minute going to Paul's churchyard to befpeak a fkreen and a pair of hangings; and am refolved to encourage the manufacture of my country. Your's, CLEORA." NO. N° 610. I' Friday, October 22. Sic, cum tranfierint mei Thus, when my fleeting days, at last, Seneca. HAVE often wondered that the Jews fhould contrive fuch a worthlefs greatness for the deliverer whom they expected, as to dress him up in external pomp and pageantry, and reprefent him to their imagination, as making havoc amongst his creatures, and acted with the poor am, bition of a Cafar or an Alexander. How much more illuftrious doth he appear in his real character, when confidered as the author of univerfal benevolence among men, as refining our paffions, exalting our nature, giving us vaft ideas of immortality, and teaching us a contempt of that little fhowy grandeur, wherein the Jews made the glory of their Meffiah to confift! NOTHING," fays Longinus, "can be great, the con66 tempt of which is great. ." The poffeffion of wealth and riches cannot give a man a title to greatness, because it is looked upon as a greatnefs of mind, to contemn these gifts of fortune, and to be above the defire of them. I have therefore been inclined to think, that there are greater men who lie concealed among the species, than those who come out, and draw upon themselves the eyes and admiration of mankind. Virgil would never have been heard of, of, had not his domestic misfortunes driven him out of his obfcurity, and brought him to Rome. If we fuppofe that there are spirits or angels who look into the ways of men, as it is highly probable there are, both from reafon and revelation; how different are the notions which they entertain of us, from thofe which we are apt to form of one another? Were they to give us in their catalogue of fuch worthies as are now living, how different would it be from that, which any of our own fpecies would draw up? We are dazzled with the fplendor of titles, the oftentation of learning, the noise of victories: they, on the contrary, fee the philofopher in the cottage, who poffeffes his foul in patience and thankfulnefs, under the preffures of what little minds call poverty and diftrefs. They do not look for great men at the heads of armies, or among the pomps of a court, but often find them out in fhades and folitudes, in the private walks and by-paths of life. The evening's walk of a wife man is more illuftrious in their fight, than the march of a general at the head of an hundred thousand men. A contemplation of God's works; a voluntary act of juftice to our own detriment; a generous concern for the good of mankind; tears that are shed in filence for the mifery of others; a private defire or refentment broken and fubdued; in fhort, an unfeigned exercise of humility, or any other virtue; are fuch actions as are glorious in their fight, and denominate men great and reputable. The most famous among us are often looked upon with pity, with contempt, or with indignation; while those who are moft obfcure among their own fpecies, are regarded with love, with approbation, and efteem. THE moral of the prefent fpeculation amounts to this, That we should not be led away by the cenfures and applaufes of men, but confider the figure that every perfon will make, at that time when wisdom shall be justified of her children, and nothing pafs for great or illuftrious, which is not an ornament and perfection to human nature. THE ftory of Gyges, the rich Lydian monarch, is a memorable inftance to our prefent purpose. The oracle being afked by Gyges, who was the happieft man, replied Aglaus. Gyges, who expected to have heard himself named on this occafion, was much furprised, and very cu rious rious to know who this Aglaus fhould be. After much inquiry he was found to be an obfcure countryman, who employed all his time in cultivating a garden, and a few acres of land about his house. COWLEY's agreeable relation of this ftory fhall close this day's fpeculation. Thus Aglaus (a man unknown to men, But the gods knew, and therefore lov'd him then) Who his high race does from the gods derive? (Th' Arcadian life has always fhady been) NO N° 611. I Monday, October 25. Perfide! fed duris genuit te cautibus horrens Thou wretch! thy fire was Caucafus' hard rock, Ac AM willing to poftpone every thing, to do any the leaft fervice for the deferving and unfortunate. cordingly I have caufed the following letter to be inferted in my paper the moment that it came to my hands, without altering one tittle in an account which the lady relates fo handsomely herself. Mr SPECTATOR, FLATTER myself, you will not only pity, but, if poffible, redrefs a misfortune myself and feveral o"thers of my fex lie under. I hope you will not be offended, nor think I mean by this to juftify my own impradent conduct, or expect you fhould. No! I am fenfible how feverely, in fome of your former papers, you have reproved perfons guilty of the like mifmanagements. I was fcarce fixteen, and, I may fay without vanity, handfome, when courted by a falfe perjured man; who, upon promife of marriage, rendered me the most unhappy "of women. After he had deluded me from my parents, who were people of very good fashion, in less than three months he left me. My parents would not fee, nor hear from me; and had it not been for a fervant, who had lived in our family, I muft certainly have perished for want of bread. However, it pleafed Providence, in a very fhort time, to alter my miferable condition. A gentleman faw me, liked me, and married me. My pa rents were reconciled; and I might be as happy in the change of my condition, as I was before miferable, but for fome things, that you shall know, which are infup portable to me; and I am fure you have fo much ho nour and compaffion as to let those perfons know, in VOL. VIII. fome R |