there are not men as honest as himself who may ties to make but a tolerable judgment upon it differ from him in political principles. Men may Other pictures are made for the eyes only, as rat oppose one another in some particulars, but ought tles are made for children's ears; and certainly not to carry their hatred to those qualities which that picture that only pleases the eye, without re are of so amiable a nature in themselves, and have presenting some well-chosen part of nature or nothing to do with the points in dispute. Men of other, does but show what fine colours are to be virtue, though of different interests, ought to con- sold at the colour-shop, and mocks the works of sider themselves as more nearly united with one the Creator. If the best imitator of nature is another, than with the vicious part of mankind, not to be esteemed the best painter, but he that who embark with them in the same civil concerns. makes the greatest show and glare of colours; it We should bear the same love towards a man of will necessarily follow, that he who can array him. honour who is a living antagonist, which Tully tells self in the most gaudy draperies is best dressed, and us, in the forementioned passage, every one natu- he that can speak loudest the best orator. Every raily does to an enemy that is dead. In short, we man when he looks on a picture should examine it should esteem virtue though in a foe, and abhor according to that share of reason he is master of, vice though in a friend. or he will be in danger of making a wrong judg I speak this with an eye to those cruel treat-ment. If men when they walk abroad would ments which men of all sides are apt to give the make more frequent observations on those beauties characters of those who do not agree with them. of nature which every moment present themselves How many persons of undoubted probity and ex- to their view, they would be better judges when emplary virtue, on either side, are blackened and they saw her well imitated at home. This would defamed? How many men of honour exposed to help to correct those errors which most pretenders public obloquy and reproach? Those therefore fall into, who are over hasty in their judgments, who are either the instruments or abettors in such and will not stay to let reason come in for a share infernal dealings, ought to be looked upon as per- in the decision. It is for want of this that men sons who make use of religion to promote their mistake in this case, and in common life, a wild cause, not of their cause to promote religion. ADDISON. C. N° 244. MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1711. Judex et callidus audis. HOR. Sat. vii. 1. 2. ver. 101. A judge of painting you, and man of skill. MR. SPECTATOR, CREECH. Covent Garden, Dec. 7. extravagant pencil for one that is truly bold and great, an impudent fellow for a man of true courage and bravery, hasty and unreasonable actions for enterprises of spirit and resolution, gaudy colouring for that which is truly beautiful, a false and insinuating discourse for simple truth elegantly recommended. The parallel will hold through all the parts of life and painting too; and the virtu osos above-mentioned will be glad to see you draw it with your terms of art. As the shadows in & picture represent the serious or melancholy, so the lights do the bright and lively thoughts. As there 'I CANNOT, without a double injustice, forbear ex- should be but one forcible light in a picture which pressing to you the satisfaction which a whole clan should catch the eye and fall on the hero, so there of virtuosos have received from those hints which should be but one object of our love, even the you have lately given the town on the cartoons of Author of nature. These and the like reflections, the inimitable Raphael. It should be, methinks, well improved, might very much contribute to the business of a Spectator to improve the pleasures open the beauty of that art, and prevent young of sight; and there cannot be a more immediate people from being poisoned by the ill gusto of a way to it than recommending the study and obser- extravagant workman that should be imposed vation of excellent drawings and pictures. When upon us. I first went to view those of Raphael which you have celebrated, I must confess I was but barely pleased; the next time I liked them better; but at last as I grew better acquainted with them, I fell deeply in love with them; like wise speeches, THOUGH I am a woman, yet I am one of those they sunk deep into my heart: for, you know, Mr. who confess themselves highly pleased with a spe Spectator, that a man of wit may extremely affect culation you obliged the world with some time one for the present, but if he has not discretion, his ago, from an old Greek poet you call Simonides, merit soon vanishes away: while a wise man that in relation to the several natures and distinctions has not so great a stock of wit, shall nevertheless of our own sex. 'MR. SPECTATOR, "I am, SIR, 'Your most humble servant.' I could not but admire how give you a far greater and more lasting satisfac-justly the characters of women in this age fall in tion. Just so it is in a picture that is smartly with the times of Simonides, there being no one touched, but not well studied; one may call it a of those sorts I have not at some time or other of witty picture, though the painter in the mean time my life met with a sample of. But, sir, the submay be in danger of being called a fool. On the ject of this present address are a set of women other hand, a picture that is thoroughly understood comprehended, I think, in the ninth species of that in the whole, and well performed in the particu- speculation, called the Apes; the description of lars, that is begun on the foundation of geometry, whom I find to be, "That they are such as ar carried on by the rules of perspective, architec. both ugly and ill-natured, who have nothing bea ture, and anatomy, and perfected by a good bar-tiful themselves, and endeavour to detract from, or mony, a just and natural colouring, and such pas- ridicule every thing that appears so in others. sions and expressions of the mind as are almost Now, sir, this sect, as I have been told, is very fre peculiar to Raphael; this is what you may justly quent in the great town where you live; but as my style a wise picture, and which seldom fails to circumstance of life obliges me to reside altogether strike us dumb, till we can assemble all our facul- in the country, though not many miles from Lon don, I cannot have met with a great number of the ways of men, and represent human nature in them, nor indeed is it a desirable acquaintance, as all its changeable colours. The man who has not I have lately found by experience. You must been engaged in any of the follies of the world, know, sir, that at the beginning of this summer a or, as Shakspeare expresses it, 'hackney'd in the family of these Apes came and settled for the sea. ways of men,' may here find a picture of his folson not far from the place where I live. As they lies and extravagancies. The virtuous and the inwere strangers in the country, they were visited nocent may know in speculation what they could painter, by the ladies about them, of whom I was one, with never arrive at by practice, and by this means an humanity usual in those that pass most of their avoid the snares of the crafty, the corruptions of time in solitude. The Apes lived with us very the vicious, and the reasonings of the prejudiced. agreeably our own way till towards the end of the Their minds may be opened without being vi summer, when they began to bethink themselves tiated. mocks the mator of glare of who ca is best best cr esh on be sa king a alk Ex ns on the prese etter int inme ch most? ther g come a of the 1 of returning to town; then it was, Mr. Spectator, It is with an eye to my following correspondent, that they began to set themselves about the proper Mr. Timothy Doodle, who seems a very well-meanand distinguishing business of their character; ing man, that I have written this short preface, to and as it is said of evil spirits, that they are apt to which I shall subjoin a letter from the said Mr. carry away a piece of the house they are about to Doodle. leave, the Apes, without regard to common mercy, SIR, foul on the faces, dress, and behaviour of their in-I COULD heartily wish that you would let us know nocent neighbours, bestowing abominable cen- your opinion upon several innocent diversions sures, and disgraceful appellations, commonly which are in use among us, and which are very called nick-names, on all of them; and, in short, proper to pass away a winter night for those who like true fine ladies, made their honest plainness do not care to throw away their time at an opera, and sincerity matter of ridicule. I could not but or at the playhouse. I would gladly know, in paracquaint you with these grievances, as well at the ticular, what notion you have of hot-cockles; as desire of all the parties injured, as from my own also, whether you think that questions and cominclination. I hope, sir, if you cannot propose en-mands, mottoes, similes, and cross purposes, have tirely to reform this evil, you will take such notice not more mirth and wit in them than those public of it in some of your future speculations, as may diversions which are grown so very fashionable put the deserving part of our sex on their guard among us. If you would recommend to our wives against these creatures; and at the same time the and daughters, who read your papers with a great Apes may be sensible, that this sort of mirth is so deal of pleasure, some of those sports and pastimes far from an innocent diversion, that it is in the that may be practised within doors, and by the firehighest degree that vice which is said to compre-side, we who are masters of families should be hend all others.* STEELE. 'I am, SIR, "Your humble servant, T. No 245. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1711. Ficta voluptatis causa sint proxima veris. HOR. Ars Poet. v. 338. hugely obliged to you. I need not tell you that I would have these sports and pastimes not only merry but innocent; for which reason I have not mentioned either whisk or lanterloo, nor indeed so much as one-and-thirty. After having communicated to you my request upon this subject, I will be so free as to tell you how my wife and I pass away these tedious winter evenings with a great deal of pleasure. Though she be young and handsome, and good-humoured to a miracle, she does not care for gadding abroad like others of her sex. There is a very friendly man, a colonel in the army, whom I am mightily obliged to for his civilities, that comes to see me almost every night; THERE is nothing which one regards so much with for he is not one of those giddy young fellows that an eye of mirth and pity as innocence, when it has cannot live out of a playhouse. When we are in it a dash of folly. At the same time that one together, we very often make a party at Blindesteems the virtue, one is tempted to laugh at the man's-Buff, which is a sport that I like the better, simplicity which accompanies it. When a man is because there is a good deal of exercise in it. The made up wholly of the dove, without the least colonel and I are blinded by turns, and you would grain of the serpent in his composition, be becomes laugh your heart out to see what pains my dear ridiculous in many circumstances of life, and very for us to see the least glimpse of light. The poor takes to hoodwink us, so that it is impossible often discredits his best actions. The Cordelierst colonel sometimes hits his nose against a post, and tell a story of their founder St. Francis, that as he passed the streets in the dusk of the evening, he makes us die with laughing. I have generally the discovered a young fellow with a maid in a cor- good luck not to hurt myself, but am very often ner; upon which the good man, say they, lifted up them: for, you must know, we hide ourselves up above half an hour before I can catch either of his hands to heaven, with a secret thanksgiving, that there was still so much Christian charity in the and down in corners, that we may have the more world. The innocence of the saint made him mis-sport. I only give you this hint as a sample of take the kiss of the lover for a salute of charity. such innocent diversions as I would have you reI am heartily concerned when I see a virtuous man commend; and am, without a competent knowledge of the world; and if there be any use in these my papers, it is this, that without representing vice under any false alJuring notions, they give my reader an insight into Most esteemed SIR, Of this diversion Dr. Ash gives the following definition."A play in which one covers his eyes, lays his hand on his back, and guesses who strikes him." It is derived from the French haut (high) coquilles (shells). Pp The following letter was occasioned by my last I give you this hint, that you may for the future Thursday's paper* upon the absence of lovers, and abstain from any such hostilities at your peril. the methods therein mentioned of making such absence supportable. 'SIR, ADDISON. 'TROILUS.' C. · Ουκ άρα σοι γε αταληρ ην ίπποτα Πηλευς, No amorous hero ever gave thee birth, MR. SPECTATOR, 'AMONG the several ways of consolation which absent lovers make use of while their souls are in No 246. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1711. that state of departure, which you say is death in love, there are some very material ones that have escaped your notice. Among these, the first and most received is a crooked shilling, which has administered great comfort to our forefathers, and is still made use of on this occasion with very good effect in most parts of her majesty's dominions. There are some, I know, who think a crown piece cut into two equal parts, and preserved by the distant lovers, is of more sovereign virtue than the former. But since opinions are divided in this particular, why may not the same persons make use of both? The figure of a heart, whether cut in As your paper is part of the equipage of the teastone or cast in metal, whether bleeding upon an table, I conjure you to print what I now write to altar, stuck with darts, or held in the hand of a you; for I have no other way to communicate Cupid, has always been looked upon as talis- what I have to say to the fair sex on the most im manic in distresses of this nature. I am acquaint-portant circumstance of life, even "the care of ed with many a brave fellow, who carries his mis- children." I do not understand that you profess tress in the lid of his snuff-box, and by that expe- your paper is always to consist of matters which dient has supported himself under the absence of are only to entertain the learned and polite, but a whole campaign. For my own part, I have tried that it may agree with your design to publish some all these remedies, but never found so much be- which may tend to the information of mankind in nefit from any as from a ring, in which my mis-general; and when it does so, you do more than tress's hair is plaited together very artificially in writing wit and humour. Give me leave then to a kind of true-lover's-knot. As I have received tell you, that all the abuses that ever you have as yet great benefit from this secret, I think myself ob- endeavoured to reform, certainly not one wanted liged to communicate it to the public for the good so much your assistance as the abuse in nursing of of my fellow-subjects. I desire you will add this children. It is unmerciful to see, that a woman letter as an appendix to your consolations upon endowed with all the perfections and blessings of absence, and am, "Your very humble servant, 'T. B.' nature, can, as soon as she is delivered, turn off her innocent, tender, and helpless infant, and give it up to a woman that is (ten thousand to one) neither in health nor good condition, neither sound I shall conclude this paper with a letter from an in mind nor body, that has neither honour nor reuniversity gentleman, occasioned by my last Tues-putation, neither love nor pity for the poor babe, day's paper, wherein I gave some account of but more regard for the money than for the whole the great feuds which happened formerly in those child, and never will take further care of it than learned bodies, between the modern Greeks and what by all the encouragement of money and preTrojans. 'SIR, sents she is forced to; like Esop's earth, which would not nurse the plant of another ground, al though never so much improved, by reason that THIS will give you to understand, that there is at plant was not of its own production. And since present in the society whereof I am a member, a another's child is no more natural to a nurse, than very considerable body of Trojans, who, upon a la plant to a strange and different ground, how can proper occasion, would not fail to declare our it be supposed that the child should thrive; and if selves. In the meanwhile we do all we can to it thrives, must it not imbibe the gross humours and annoy our enemies by stratagem, and are resolved qualities of the nurse, like a plant in a different by the first opportunity to attack Mr. Joshua ground, or like a graft upon a different stock? Do Barnes, whom we look upon as the Achilles of not we observe, that a lamb sucking a goat changes the opposite party. As for myself, I have had the very much its nature, nay even its skin and wool reputation ever since I came from school, of being into the goat kind? The power of a nurse over a a trusty Trojan, and am resolved never to give child, by infusing into it with her milk her qua quarter to the smallest particle of Greek, wherever lities and disposition, is sufficiently and daily ob I chance to meet it. It is for this reason I take it served. Hence came that old saying concerning very ill of you, that you sometimes hang out Greek an ill-natured and malicious fellow, that he had colours at the head of your paper, and sometimes imbibed his malice with his nurse's milk, or that give a word of the enemy even in the body of it. some brute or other had been his nurse." Hence When I meet with any thing of this nature, I throw Romulus and Remus were said to have been nursed down your speculations upon the table, with that by a wolf; Telephus the son of Hercules by a hind; form of words which we make use of when we de- Pelias the son of Neptune by a mare; and Egist clare war upon an author, hus by a goat; not that they had actually sucked such creatures, as some simpletons have imagined, but that their nurses had been of such a nature and temper, and infused such into them. Many instances may be produced from good authorities and daily experience, that children ac ilities at your pe tually suck in the several passions and depraved in- when brought to light and before her eyes, and you may for the clinations of their nurses, as anger, malice, fear, when by its cry it implores her assistance and the DECEMBER hee birth, rails gave thee f Be in a storm: estuous kind am'd thy mind POPE melancholy, sadness, desire, and aversion. This office of a mother. Do not the very cruellest of Diodorus, lib. 2. witnesses, when he speaks, saying, brutes tend their young ones with all the care and that Nero the emperor's nurse had been very much delight imaginable? For how can she be called a addicted to drinking; which habit Nero received mother that will not nurse her young ones?* The from his nurse, and was so very particular in this, earth is called the mother of all things, not because that the people took so much notice of it, as in- she produces, but because she maintains and nurses stead of Tiberius Nero, they called him Biberius what she produces. The generation of the infant Mero. The same Diodorus also relates of Cali- is the effect of desire, but the care of it argues gula, predecessor to Nero, that his nurse used to virtue and choice. I am not ignorant but that moisten the nipples of her breast frequently with there are some cases of necessity, where a mother blood, to make Caligula take the better hold of cannot give suck, and then out of two evils the them; which, says Diodorus, was the cause that least must be chosen; but there are so very few, made him so blood-thirsty and cruel all his life- that I am sure in a thousand there is hardly one time after, that he not only committed frequent real instance; for if a woman does but know that murder by his own hand, but likewise wished that her husband can spare about three or six shillings all humankind wore but one neck, that he might a week extraordinary, (although this is but seldom have the pleasure to cut it off. Such like dege- considered) she certainly, with the assistance of neracies astonish the parents, who, not knowing her gossips, will soon persuade the good man to after whom the child can take, see one to incline send the child to nurse, and easily impose upon to stealing, another to drinking, cruelty, stupidity; him by pretending indisposition. This cruelty is yet all these are not minded. Nay, it is easy to supported by fashion, and nature gives place to demonstrate, that a child, although it be born from custom. the best of parents, may be corrupted by an illtempered nurse. How many children do we see daily brought into fits, consumptions, rickets, &c. merely by sucking their nurses when in a passion or fury? But indeed almost any disorder of the nurse is a disorder to the child, and few nurses can be found in this town but what labour under some distemper or other. The first question that is gere me ka nerally asked a young woman that wants to be a ever your nurse, why she should be a nurse to other people's children, is answered, by her having an ill husabuse it band, and that she must make shift to live. I see, that think now this very answer is enough to give any e equipage what I way to co sex on the , eren " and that ist of mates arned and esign to mation of you do c ainly not less infra en thous ition, nex STEELE. 'SIR, "Your humble servant.' T. N° 247. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1711. Των δ' ακαματο ρέει αυξη and by body a shock, if duly considered; for an ill hus- We are told by some ancient authors, that Socrates delivered band may, or ten to one if he does not, bring] was instructed in eloquence by a woman, whose home to his wife an ill distemper, or at least vexation and disturbance. Besides, as she takes the name, if I am not mistaken, was Aspasia. I have child out of mere necessity, her food will be ac-most proper for the female sex, and I think the indeed very often looked upon that art as the ther he cordingly, or else very coarse at best; whence pro- universities would do well to consider whether ceeds an ill-concocted and coarse food for the child; for as the blood, so is the milk; and hence I am they should not fill the rhetoric chairs with shevery well assured proceeds the scurvy, the evil, professors. for the than f er care sop's em other ed, brray It has been said in the praise of some men, that of mone and many other distempers. I beg of you, for the they could talk whole hours together upon any sake of the many poor infants that may and will be saved by weighing this case seriously, to exhort thing; but it must be owned to the honour of the other sex, that there are many among them who the people with the utmost vehemence, to let the children suck their own mothers, both for the have known a woman branch out into a long excan talk whole hours together upon nothing. I benefit of mother and child. For the general grargument, that a mother is weakened by giving/tempore dissertation upon the edging of a petti Terentio suck to her children, is vain and simple. I will coat, and chide her servant for breaking a china The first kind therefore of female orators which unripe fruit; and certainly if a woman is strong I shall take notice of, are those who are employed enough to bring forth a child, she is beyond all in stirring up the passions; a part of rhetoric in doubt strong enough to nurse it afterwards. It which Socrates's wife had perhaps made a greatergrieves me to observe and consider how many poor proficiency than his above-mentioned teacher. children are daily ruined by careless nurses; and The second kind of female orators are those who yet how tender ought they to be of a poor infant, deal in invectives, and who are commonly known since the least hurt or blow, especially upon the head, may make it senseless, stupid, or otherwise miserable for ever! But I cannot well leave this subject as yet; for it seems to me very unnatural, that a woman that has fed a child as part of herself for nine months, should have no desire to nurse it further, Luigi Tansillo's poem, called The Nurse,' has been elegantly translated by Mr. Roscoe, who thus turns the Italian lines on this subject: 'Shall the lov'd burthen that so long ye bore by the name of the censorious. The imagination [place, there may not be certain undiscovered chanand elocution of this set of rhetoricians is wonder-nels running from the head and the heart to this ful. With what a fluency of invention, and copi- little instrument of loquacity, and conveying into ousness of expression, will they enlarge upon every it a perpetual affluency of animal spirits. Nor little slip in the behaviour of another? With how must I omit the reason which Hudibras has given,* many different circumstances, and with what va-why those who can talk on trifles speak with the riety of phrases will they tell over the same story? greatest fluency; namely, that the tongue is like a I have known an old lady make an unhappy mar-race-horse, which runs the faster the lesser weight riage the subject of a month's conversation. She it carries. blamed the bride in one place; pitied her in another; laughed at her in a third: wondered at her in a fourth; was angry with her in a fifth; and, in short, wore out a pair of coach-horses in expressing her concern for her. At length, after having quite exhausted the subject on this side, she made a visit to the new-married pair, praised the wife for the prudent choice she had made, told her the unreasonable reflections which some malicious people had cast upon her, and desired that they might be better acquainted. The censure and approbation of this kind of women are therefore only to be considered as helps to discourse. Which of these reasons soever may be looked upon as the most probable, I think the Irishman's thought was very natural, who after some hours conversation with a female orator told her, that he believed her tongue was very glad when she was asleep, for that it had not a moment's rest all the while she was awake. That excellent old ballad of The Wanton Wif of Bath,† has the following remarkable lines: "I think, quoth Thomas, women's tongues A third kind of female orators may be compre-barbarous circumstance, tells us, that when the And Ovid, though in the description of a very hended under the word gossips. Mrs. Fiddlefaddle is perfectly accomplished in this sort of tongue of a beautiful female was cut out, and thrown eloquence; she launches out into descriptions of upon the ground, it could not forbear muttering even in that posture: christenings, runs divisions upon an head-dress, knows every dish of meat that is served up in her neighbourhood, and entertains her company a whole afternoon together with the wit of her little boy, before he is able to speak. The coquette may be looked upon as a fourth kind of female orator. To give herself the larger, field for discourse, she hates and loves in the same breath, talks to her lap-dog or parrot, is uneasy in all kinds of weather, and in every part of the room. She has false quarrels and feigned obligations to all the men of her acquaintance; sighs when she is not sad, and laughs when she is not merry. The coquette is in particular a great mistress of that part of oratory which is called action, and indeed seems to speak for no other purpose, but as it gives her an opportunity of stirring a limb, or varying a feature, of glancing her eyes, or playing with her fan. As for news-mongers, politicians, mimics, storytellers, with other characters of that nature which give birth to loquacity, they are as commonly found among the men as the women; for which reason I shall pass them over in silence. I have often been puzzled to assign a cause why women should have this talent of a ready utterance in so much greater perfection than men. I have sometimes fancied that they have not a retentive power, or the faculty of suppressing their thoughts, as men have, but that they are necessitated to speak every thing they think; and if so, it would perhaps furnish a very strong argument to the Cartesians for the supporting of their doctrine that the soul always thinks. But as several are of opinion that the fair sex are not altogether strangers to the art of dissembling and concealing their thoughts, I have been forced to relinquish that opinion, and have therefore endeavoured to seek after some better reason. In order to it, a friend of mine, who is an excellent anatomist, has promised me by the first opportunity to dissect a woman's tongue, and to examine whether there may not be in it certain juices which render it so wonderfully voluble or flippant, or whether the fibres of it may not be made up of a finer or more pliant thread; or whether there are not in it some particular muscles which dart it up and down by such sudden glances and vibrations; or whether, in the last Comprensam forcipe linguam Met. lib. vi. ver. 556. The blade had cut If a tongue would be talking without a mouth, what could it have done when it had all its organs of speech, and accomplices of sound about it? I might here mention the story of the Pippin Wo man had I not some reason to look upon it as fabulous.+ I must confess I am so wonderfully charmed with the music of this little instrument, that I would by no means discourage it. All that I aim at by this dissertation is, to cure it of several disagreeable notes, and in particular of those little jarrings and dissonances which arise from anger, censoriousness, gossiping, and coquetry. In short, I would always have it tuned by good-nature, truth, discretion, and sincerity. ADDISON. Part iii. canto 2. ver. 443. -Still his tongue ran on the less C. + Reliques of Ancient Poetry, vol. iii. This story of Doll, an apple-woman, who, when the Thames was frozen over, was said to have had her head cut off by the ice, humorously told in Gay's Trivia: is The crackling crystal yields; she sinks, she dies; |