Na 562.]

Friday, July 2, 1714.
-Præsens, absens ut sies.

Ter. Eun. Act i. Sc. 2.

when you look into it, you are sure to meet with more upon Monsieur Montaigne than of either of them. The younger Scaliger, who seems to have been no great friend to this author, after having acquainted the world that his father sold herrings adds these words: La grande fadaise de Mxtaigne, qui a écrit qu'il aimoit mieux de van blanc.-Que diable a-t-on à faire de sezone ce qu'il aime? For my part,' says Mtaigne, I am a great lover of your white wines. What the devil signifies it to the public,' says Scaliger, whether he is a lover of white wines or of red wines”

Be present as if absent. 'It is a hard and nice subject for a man to speak of himself,' says Cowley; it grates his own heart to say any thing of disparagement, and the reader's ears to hear any thing of praise from him.' Let the tenour of his discourse be what it will upon this subject, it generally proceeds from vanity, An ostentatious man will rather relate a blunder or an absurdity he has committed, than be debarred of talking of his own dear I cannot here forbear mentioning a tribe person. of egotists, for whom I have always bad a Some very great writers have been guilty mortal aversion-I mean the authors of of this fault. It is observed of Tully in par-memoirs, who are never mentioned in æv ticular, that his works run very much in works but their own, and who raise f the first person, and that he takes all occa- their productions out of this single figure f sions of doing himself justice. Does he speech. think,' says Brutus, that his consulship deserves more applause than my putting Cæsar to death, because I am not perpetually talking of the ides of March, as he is of the nones of December?' I need not acquaint my learned reader, that in the ides of March, Brutus destroyed Cæsar, and that Cicero quashed the conspiracy of Catiline in the calends of December. How shocking soever this great man's talking of himself might have been to his contemporaries, I must confess I am never better Such informations cannot but be highly inpleased than when he is on this subject.proving to the reader. Such openings of the heart give a man a thorough insight into his personal charac-man writes under a fictitious personace, the ter, and illustrate several passages in the history of his life; besides that, there is some little pleasure in discovering the infirmity of a great man, and seeing how the opinion he has of himself agrees with what the world entertains of him.

The gentlemen of Port Royal, who were more eminent for their learning and for their humility than any other in France, banished the way of speaking in the first person out of all their works, as rising from vain-glory and self-conceit. To show their particular aversion to it, they branded this form of writing with the name of an egotism; a figure not to be found among the ancient rhetoricians.

Most of our modern prefaces saveur very strongly of the egotism. Every s cant author fancies it of importance to the world to know that he writ his book in the country, that he did it to pass awer ste of his idle hours, that it was published a the importunity of friends, or that his natural temper, studies, or conversations, directed him to the choice of his subject:

————————————-Id populus curat staret."

In works of humour especially, when a

talking of one's self may give some diversion to the public; but I would advise every other writer never to speak of himself, an less there be something very considerable in his character; though I am sensible this rule will be of little use in the world, be cause there is no man who fancies his thoughts worth publishing that does t look upon himself as a considerable persE.

I shall close this paper with a remark upon such as are egotists in conVERSIDENZ these are generally the vain or shallow part of mankind, people being naturally fill of themselves when they have nothing else in them. There is one kind of egotist whach is very common in the world, the The most violent egotism which I have not remember that any writer has taken met with in the course of my reading, is notice of them; I mean those empty cr that of Cardinal Wolsey, ego et rex meus, ceited fellows who repeat, as savings of 'I and my king;' as perhaps the most emi- their own, or some of their particciar nent egotist that ever appeared in the world friends, several jests which were made bewas Montaigne, the author of the celebrated fore they were born, and which every one Essays. This lively old Gascon has woven who has conversed in the world has heard all his bodily infirmities into his works; a hundred times over. A forward yog and, after having spoken of the faults or fellow of my acquaintance was very eat virtues of any other men, immediately pub- of this absurdity: he would be always lavlishes to the world how it stands with him-ing a new scene for some old piece of wis self in that particular. Had he kept his own counsel, he might have passed for a much better man, though perhaps he would not have been so diverting an author. The title of an Essay promises perhaps a discourse upon Virgil or Julius Cæsar; but,

and telling us, that, as he and Jack Socha-one were together, one or t'other of them had such a conceit on such an occasion: upon which he would laugh very heartin, and wonder the company did not join with him. When his mirth was over, I have

posts, till such time as persons of greater consequence can be found out to supply them. One of these Blanks is equally qualified for all offices; he can serve in time of need for a soldier, a politician, a lawyer, or what you please. I have known in my time many a brother Blank, that has been born under a lucky planet, heap up great riches, and swell into a man of figure and importance, before the grandees of his party could agree among themselves which of them should step into his place. Nay, I have known a Blank continue so long in one of these vacant posts, (for such it is to be reckoned all the time a Blank is in it,) that he has grown too formidable and dangerous to be removed.

often reprehended him out of Terence, | Blanks are those who are planted in high Tuumne, obsecro te, hoc dictum erat? vetus credidi. But finding him still incorrigible, and having a kindness for the young coxcomb, who was otherwise a good-natured fellow, I recommended to his perusal the Oxford and Cambridge jests, with several little pieces of pleasantry of the same nature. Upon the reading of them, he was under no small confusion to find that all his jokes had passed through several editions, and that what he thought a new conceit, and had appropriated to his own use, had appeared in print before he or his ingenious friends were ever heard of. This had so good an effect upon him, that he is content at present to pass for a man of plain sense in his ordinary conversation, and is never facetious but when he knows his company.

I SHALL entertain my reader with two very curious letters. The first of them comes from a chimerical person, who, I believe, never writ to any body before.

'SIR,-I am descended from the ancient family of the Blanks, a name well known among all men of business. It is always read in those little white spaces of writing which want to be filled up, and which for that reason are called blank spaces, as of right appertaining to our family: for I consider myself as the lord of a manor, who lays his claim to all wastes or spots of ground that are unappropriated. I am a near kinsman to a John-a-Styles and Johna-Nokes; and they, I am told, came in with the conquer. I am mentioned oftener in both houses of parliament than any other person in Great Britain. My name is written, or, more properly speaking, not written, thus: [ the wean turn my hand to every thing, and appear under any shape whatsoever. I can make myself man, woman, or child. I am sometimes metamorphosed into a year of our Lord, a day of the month, or an hour of the day. I very often represent a sum of money, and am generally the first subsidy that is granted to the crown. I have now and then supplied the place of several thousands of land-soldiers, and have as frequently been employed in the sea-service.

Now, sir, my complaint is this, that I am only made use of to serve a turn, being always discarded as soon as a proper person is found out to fill up my place.

If you have ever been in the playhouse before the curtain rises, you see the most of the front boxes filled with men of my family, who forth with turn out and resign their stations upon the appearance of those for whom they are retained.

But the most illustrious branch of the

But to return to myself. Since I am so very commodious a person, and so very necessary in all well-regulated governments, I desire you will take my case into consideration, that I may be no longer made a tool of, and only employed to stop a gap. Such usage, without a pun, makes me look very blank. For all which reasons I humbly recommend myself to your protection, and am your most obedient servant,

'BLANK.

'P. S. I herewith send you a paper drawn up by a country-attorney, employed by two gentlemen, whose names he was not acquainted with, and who did not think fit to let him into the secret which they are transacting, I heard him call it a "blank instrument," and read it after the following

manner.

You may see by this single instance of what use I am to the busy world.

"I, T. Blank, esquire, of Blank town, in the county of Blank, do own myself indebted in the sum of Blank, to Goodman Blank, for the service he did me in procuring for me the goods following; Blank: and I do hereby promise the said Blank to pay unto him the said sum of Blank, on the Blank day of the month of Blank next en suing, under the penalty and forfeiture of Blank.'

I shall take time to consider the case of

this my imaginary correspondent, and in the mean while shall present my reader with a letter which seems to come from a person that is made up of flesh and blood.

'GOOD MR. SPECTATOR,-I am married to a very honest gentleman that is exceeding good-natured, and at the same time very choleric. There is no standing before him when he is in a passion; but as soon as it is over he is the best humoured creature in the world. When he is angry he breaks all my china ware that chances to lie in his way, and the next morning sends me in twice as much as he broke the day before. I may positively say, that he has broke me a child's fortune since we were first married together.

'As soon as he begins to fret, down goes

every thing that is within reach of his cane. I once prevailed upon him never to carry a stick in his hand, but this saved me nothing; for upon seeing me do something that did not please him, he kicked down a great jar that cost him above ten pounds but the week before. I then laid the fragments together in a heap, and gave him his cane again, desiring him that, if he chanced to be in anger, he would spend his passion upon the china that was broke to his hand; but the very next day, upon my giving a wrong message to one of the servants, he flew into such a rage, that he swept down a dozen tea-dishes, which to my misfortune stood very convenient for a side blow.

I then removed all my china into a room which he never frequents; but I got nothing by this neither, for my looking-glasses immediately went to rack. In short, sir, whenever he is in a pas-absent husband, but that, finding his ension he is angry at every thing that is brit-treaties had no effect, he was preparing to tle; and if on such occasions he hath nothing to vent his rage upon, I do not know whether my bones would be in safety. Let me beg of you, sir, to let me know whether there be any cure for this unaccountable distemper; or if not, that you will be pleased to publish this letter: for my husband having a great veneration for your writings, will by that means know you do not approve of his conduct. I am, &c.'

-Deum namque ire per omnes
Terrasque, tractusque maris, cœlumque profundum.
Virg. Georg. iv. 221.

stanced, that it is difficult to determine No. 565.] Friday, July 9, 1714. whether it ought to be rewarded or punished. Those who compiled the laws of England were so sensible of this, that they have laid it down as one of their first max- For God the whole created mass inspires: ims, 'It is better suffering a mischief than Thro' heaven and earth, and ocean's depths he throws His influence round, and kindles as he goes.-Dryden. an inconvenience;' which is as much as to say, in other words, that since no law can I WAS yesterday, about sun-set, walking take in or provide for all cases, it is better in the open fields, until the night insensibly private men should have some injustice fell upon me. I at first amused myself with done them than that a public grievance ail the richness and variety of colours which should not be redressed. This is usually appeared in the western parts of heaven; pleaded in defence of all those hardships in proportion as they faded away and went which fall on particular persons on particu- out, several stars and planets appeared one lar occasions, which could not be foreseen after another, until the whole firmament when a law was made. To remedy this was in a glow. The blueness of the ether however as much as possible, the court of was exceedingly heightened and enlivened chancery was erected, which frequently by the season of the year, and by the rays mitigates and breaks the teeth of the com- of all those luminaries that passed through mon law, in cases of men's properties, while it. The galaxy appeared in its most beautiin criminal cases there is a power of par-ful white. To complete the scene, the full doning still lodged in the crown.

Notwithstanding this, it is perhaps impossible in a large government to distribute rewards and punishments strictly proportioned to the merits of every action. The Spartan commonwealth was indeed wonderfully exact in this particular; and I do not remember in all my reading to have met with so nice an example of justice as that recorded by Plutarch, with which I shall close my paper of this day.

moon rose at length in that clouded majesty which Milton takes notice of, and opened to the eye a new picture of nature, which was more finely shaded, and disposed among softer lights than that which the sun had before discovered to us.

As I was surveying the moon walking in her brightness, and taking her progress among the constellations, a thought rose in me which I believe very often perplexes and disturbs men of sericus and contem

The city of Sparta being unexpectedly plative natures. David himself fell into it attacked by a powerful army of Thebans, in that reflection, when I consider the was in very great danger of falling into the heavens the work of thy fingers, the moon hands of their enemies. The citizens sud-and the stars which thou hast ordained; denly gathered themselves into a body, what is man that thou art mindful of him, fought with a resolution equal to the neces- and the son of man that thou regardest sity of their affairs, yet no one so remark-him!' In the same mamer, when I conably distinguished himself on this occasion, sidered that infinite host of stars, or, to to the amazement of both armies, as Isidas speak more philosophically, of suns which the son of Phoebidas, who was at that time were then shining upon me, with those inin the bloom of his youth, and very remark-numerable sets of planets or worlds which able for the comeliness of his person. He were moving round their respective suns; was coming out of the bath when the alarm when I still enlarged the idea, and supposed was given, so that he had not time to put another heaven of suns and worlds rising on his clothes, much less his armour; how- still above this which we discovered, and ever transported with a desire to serve his these still enlightened by a superior firmacountry in so great an exigency, snatching ment of luminaries, which are planted at so up a spear in one hand and a sword in the great a distance, that they may appear to other, he flung himself into the thickest the inhabitants of the former as the stars do ranks of his enemies. Nothing could with- to us; in short, while I pursued this thought, stand his fury: in what part soever he fought I could not but reflect on that little insignihe put the enemies to flight without receiv-ficant figure which I myself bore amidst ing a single wound.-Whether, says Plu- the immensity of God's works. tarch, he was the particular care of some god, who rewarded his valour that day with an extraordinary protection, or that his enemies, struck with the unusualness of his dress, and beauty of his shape, supposed him something more than man, I shall not determine.

The gallantry of this action was judged so great by the Spartans, that the ephori, or chief magistrates, decreed he should be presented with a garland; but, as soon as they had done so, fined him a thousand drachmas for going out to the battle unarmed.

Were the sun, which enlightens this part of the creation, with all the host of planetary worlds that move about him, utterly extinguished and annihilated, they would not be missed more than a grain of sand upon the sea-shore. The space they possess is so exceedingly little in comparison of the whole, that it would scarce make a blank in the creation. The chasm would be imperceptible to an eye that could take in the whole compass of nature, and pass from one end of the creation to the other; as it is possible there may be such a sense in ourselves hereafter, or in creatures which are at pre

His

sent more exalted than ourselves. We see supports the whole frame of nature. His many stars by the help of glasses, which creation, and every part of it, is full of him. we do not discover with our naked eyes; There is nothing he has made that is either and the finer our telescopes are, the more so distant, so little, or so inconsiderable still are our discoveries. Huygenius carries which he does not essentially inhabit. this thought so far, that he does not think substance is within the substance of every it impossible there may be stars whose light being, whether material or immaterial, and is not yet travelled down to us since their as intimately present to it as that being is first creation. There is no question but the to itself. It would be an imperfection in universe has certain bound's set to it; but him, were he able to remove out of one when we consider that it is the work of in-place into another, or to withdraw himself finite power, prompted by infinite goodness, with an infinite space to exert itself in, how can our imagination set any bounds to it? To return therefore to my first thought: I could not but look upon myself with secret horror, as a being that was not worth the smallest regard of one who had so great a work under his care and superintendency. I was afraid of being overlooked amidst the immensity of nature, and lost among that infinite variety of creatures, which in all probability swarm through all these immeasurable regions of matter.

from any thing he has created, or from anyt part of that space which is diffused and spread abroad to infinity. In short, to speak of him in the language of the old philosopher, he is a Being whose centre is every where, and his circumference no where.

In the second place, he is omniscient as well as omnipresent. His omniscience deed necessarily and naturally flows from his omnipresence; he cannot but be com scious of every motion that arises in the whole material world, which he thus essentially pervades, and of every thought In order to recover myself from this mor- that is stirring in the intellectual world, to tifying thought, I considered that it took its every part of which he is thus intimately rise from those narrow conceptions which united. Several moralists have considered we are apt to entertain of the divine nature. the creation as the temple of God, which We ourselves cannot attend to many differ- he has built with his own hands, and which ent objects at the same time. If we are is filled with his presence. Others have careful to inspect some things, we must of considered infinite space as the receptacle, course neglect others. This imperfection, or rather the habitation, of the Almighty: which we observe in ourselves, is an im- but the noblest and most exalted way of perfection that cleaves in some degree to considering this infinite space is that of Sir creatures of the highest capacities, as they Isaac Newton, who calls it the sensorium are creatures, that is, beings of finite and of the Godhead. Brutes and men have limited natures. The presence of every their sensoriola, or little sensoriums, by created being is confined to a certain mea- which they apprehend the presence and sure of space, and consequently his observa- perceive the actions of a few objects that tion is stinted to a certain number of objects. lie contiguous to them. Their knowledge The sphere in which we move, and act, and observation turn within a very narrow and understand, is of a wider circumfer- circle. But as God Almighty cannot but ence to one creature than another, accord-perceive and know every thing in which ing as we rise one above another in the he resides, infinite space gives room to inscale of existence. But the widest of these finite knowledge, and is, as it were, an or our spheres has its circumference. When, gan to omniscience. therefore, we reflect on the divine nature, Were the soul separate from the body, we are so used and accustomed to this im- and with one glance of thought should start perfection in ourselves, that we cannot for- beyond the bounds of the creation, should bear in some measure ascribing it to him in it for millions of years continue its progress whom there is no shadow of imperfection. through infinite space with the same acOur reason indeed assures us that his at-tivity, it would still find itself within the tributes are infinite; but the poorness of embrace of its Creator, and encompassed our conceptions is such, that it cannot for-round with the immensity of the Godhead. bear setting bounds to every thing it contemplates, until our reason comes again to our succour, and throws down all those little prejudices which rise in us unawares, and are natural to the mind of man.

We shall therefore utterly extinguish this melancholy thought, of our being overlooked by our Maker in the multiplicity of his works, and the infinity of those objects among which he seems to be incessantly employed, if we consider, in the first place, that he is omnipresent; and, in the second, that he is omniscient.

If we consider him in his omnipresence, his being passes through, actuates, and

Whilst we are in the body he is not less present with us because he is concealed from us. O that I knew where I might find him,' says Job. Behold I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him; on the left hand where he does work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand that I cannot see him.' In short, reason, as well as revelation assures us, that he cannot be absent from us, notwithstanding he is undiscovered by us.

In this consideration of God Almighty's omnipresence and omniscience, every un comfortable thought vanishes. He cannot