The very bed, which on thy wedding-night man who wants mercy has a taste of no enjoyment of any kind. There is a natural disrelish of every thing which is good in his very nature, and he is born an enemy to the world. He is ever extremely partial to himself in all his actions, and has no Nothing indeed can be more unhappy than the sense of iniquity but from the punishment which condition of bankruptcy. The calamity which hap- shall attend it. The law of the land is his gospel, pens to us by ill fortune, or by the injury of others, and all his cases of conscience are determined by has in it some consolation; but what arises from his attorney. Such men know not what it is te our own misbehaviour, or error, is the state of the gladden the heart of a miserable man, that riches most exquisite sorrow. When a man considers not are the instruments of serving the purposes only an ample fortune, but even the very necessa-heaven or hell, according to the disposition of the ries of life, his pretence to food itself, at the mercy possessor. The wealthy can torment or gratify a of his creditors, he cannot but look upon himself who are in their power, and choose to do one of in the state of the dead, with his case thus much other, as they are affected with love or hatred to worse, that the last office is performed by his ad- mankind. As for such who are insensible of the versaries instead of his friends. From this hour the concerns of others, but merely as they affect them cruel world does not only take possession of his selves, these men are to be valued only for ther whole fortune, but even of every thing else, which mortality, and as we hope better things from the had no relation to it. All his indifferent actions heirs. I could not but read with great delight a have new interpretations put upon them; and those letter from an eminent citizen, who has failed, to whom he has favoured in his former life, discharge one who was intimate with him in his better for themselves of their obligations to him, by joining tune, and able by his countenance to retrieve his in the reproaches of his enemies. It is almost in- lost condition. credible that it should be so; but it is too often seen that there is a pride mixed with the impatience 6 SIR, of the creditor; and there are who would rather Ir is in vain to multiply words and make apolo recover their own by the downfal of a prosperous gies for what is never to be defended by the best man, than be discharged to the common satisfaction advocate in the world, the guilt of being unfortu of themselves and their creditors. The wretched nate. All that a man in my condition can do man, who was lately master of abundance, is now say, will be received with prejudice by the gene under the direction of others; and the wisdom, rality of mankind, but I hope not with you: you economy, good sense, and skill in human life be- have been a great instrument in helping me to ge fore, by reason of his present misfortune, are of what I have lost; and I know (for that reason, & no use to him in the disposition of any thing. The well as kindness to me) you cannot but be in pain incapacity of an infant or a lunatic is designed for to see me undone. To show you I am not a m his provision and accommodation: but that of a incapable of bearing calamity, I will, though a bankrupt, without any mitigation in respect of the poor man, lay aside the distinction between as accidents by which it arrived, is calculated for his and talk with the frankness we did when we were utter ruin, except there be a remainder ample nearer to an equality: as all I do will be receive enough, after the discharge of his creditors, to with prejudice, all you do will be looked upo bear also the expense of rewarding those by whose with partiality. What I desire of you is, that you. means the effect of all his labour was transferred who are courted by all, would smile upon me, from him. The man is to look on and see others am shunned by all. Let that grace and favo giving directions upon what terms and conditions which your fortune throws upon you, be turned t his goods are to be purchased; and all this usually make up the coldness and indifference that is use done, not with an air of trustees to dispose of his towards me. All good and generous men will have effects, but destroyers to divide and tear them to an eye of kindness for me for my own sake, and pieces. the rest of the world will regard me for yours There is something sacred in misery to great and There is a happy contagion in riches, as wellas good minds; for this reason all wise lawgivers have destructive one in poverty: the rich can make ric been extremely tender how they let loose even the without parting with any of their store: and the man who has right on his side, to act with any conversation of the poor makes men poor, though mixture of resentment against the defendant. Vir- they borrow nothing of them. How this is to he tuous and modest men, though they be used with accounted for I know not; but men's estimatin some artifice, and have it in their power to avenge follows us according to the company we keep themselves, are slow in the application of that If you are what you were to me, you can go power, and are ever constrained to go into rigor-great way towards my recovery; if you are no ous measures. They are careful to demonstrate my good fortune, if ever it returns, themselves not only persons injured, but also that slower approaches. to bear it no longer would be a means to make the offender injure others, before they proceed. Such men clap their hands upon their hearts, and consider what it is to have at their mercy the life of a citizen. Such would have it to say to their own will return 'I am, SIR, Your affectionate friend, and humble servant.' 1 This was answered with a condescension that did souls, if possible, that they were merciful, when not, by long impertinent professions of kindness they could have destroyed, rather than when it was insult his distress, but was as follows: in their power to have spared a man they destroyed. This is a due to the common calamity of human DEAR TOM, life, due in some measure to our very enemies. I AM very glad to hear that you have heart They who scruple doing the least injury, are cau- enough to begin the world a second time. I assure tious of exacting the utmost justice. you, I do not think your numerous family at all Let any one who is conversant in the variety of diminished, in the gifts of nature for which I have human life reflect upon it, and he will fed the ever so much admired them, by what has so lateif words an be defende · guit of a prejudice pe not r STEELE "Your obliged humble servant.' T. happened to you. I shall not only countenance there was no one that overheard him, has commu- No 457. THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 1712. Mulla et præclara minantis. HOR. Sat. iii. 1. 2. ver. 9. Seeming to promise something wondrous great. I SHALL this day lay before my readers a letter post. SIR, an easterly wind, and withers every reputation that it breathes upon. She has a particular knack at making private weddings, and last winter marTHE kind reception you gave my last Friday's ried about five women of quality to their footmen. letter, in which I broached my project of a news- Her whisper can make an innocent young woman paper, encourages me to lay before you two or big with child, or fill an healthful young fellow three more; for you must know, sir, that we look with distempers that are not to be named. She upon you to be the Lowndest of the learned world, can turn a visit into an intrigue, and a distant and cannot think any scheme practicable or ra- salute into an assignation. She can beggar the tional before you have approved of it, though all wealthy, and degrade the noble. In short, she can the money we raise by it is in our own funds, and whisper men base or foolish, jealous or ill-natured; for our private use. or, if occasion requires, can tell you the slips of 'I have often thought that a news-letter of whis- their great-grandmothers, and traduce the memory pers, written every post, and sent about the king-of honest coachmen that have been in their graves dom, after the same manner as that of Mr. Dyer, above these hundred years. By these and the like Mr. Dawkes, or any other epistolary historian, helps, I question not but I shall furnish out might be highly gratifying to the public, as well handsome news-letter. If you approve my project, as beneficial to the author. By whispers I mean I shall begin to whisper by the very next post, and those pieces of news which are communicated as question not every one of my customers will be secrets, and which bring a double pleasure to the very well pleased with me, when he considers that hearer; first, as they are private history; and, in every piece of news I send him is a word in his the next place, as they have always in them a dash ear, and lets him into a secret. of scandal. These are the two chief qualifications very Having given you a sketch of this project, I in an article of news, which recommend it, in a shall, in the next place, suggest to you another for more than ordinary manner, to the ears of the cu-a monthly pamphlet, which I shall likewise submit rious. Sickness of persons in high posts, twilight to your spectatorial wisdom. I need not tell you, visits paid and received by ministers of state, clan- sir, that there are several authors in France, Gerdestine courtships and marriages, secret amours, many, and Holland, as well as in our own country, losses at play, applications for places, with their who publish every month what they call "An Acrespective successes and repulses, are the materials count of the Works of the Learned," in which in which I chiefly intend to deal. I have two per- they give us an abstract of all such books as are sons, that are each of them the representative of a printed in any part of Europe. Now, sir, it is my species, who are to furnish me with those whispers design to publish every month, " An Account of which I intend to convey to my correspondents. the Works of the Unlearned." Several late proThe first of these is Peter Hush, descended from ductions of my own countrymen, who many of the ancient family of the Hushes. The other is the them make a very eminent figure in the illiterate old Lady Blast, who has a very numerous tribe of world, encourage me in this undertaking. I may, daughters in the two great cities of London and in this work, possibly make a review of several Westminster. Peter Hush has a whispering-hole pieces which have appeared in the foreign acin most of the great coffee-houses about town. If counts above mentioned, though they ought not to you are alone with him in a wide room, he carries have been taken notice of in works which bear you up into a corner of it, and speaks in your ear. such a title. I may, likewise, take into consideraI have seen Peter seat himself in a company of tion such pieces as appear, from time to time, seven or eight persons, whom he never saw before under the names of those gentlemen who compliin his life; and, after having looked about to see ment one another in public assemblies, by the title who are often men of no learning, or, what is as fearful of doing what may look singular in the bad, of no knowledge. I shall not enlarge upon company where he is engaged. He falls in with this hint; but, if you think any thing can be made the torrent, and lets himself go to every action or of it, I shall set about it with all the pains and ap-discourse, however unjustifiable in itself, so it be plication that so useful a work deserves. ADDISON. 'I am ever, 'Most worthy SIR, &c.' N° 458. FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 1712. Αιδώς εκ αγαθη HES. Pudor malus HOR. False modesty. C. in vogue among the present party. This, though one of the most common, is one of the most ridicu lous dispositions in human nature, that men should not be ashamed of speaking or acting in a dissolute or irrational manner, but that one who is in their company should be ashamed of governing himself by the principles of reason and virtue. In the second place, we are to consider false modesty, as it restrains a man from doing what is good and laudable. My reader's own thoughts will suggest to him many instances and examples under this head. I shall only dwell upon one reflection, which I cannot make without a secret concern. We have in England a particular bashfulness in every thing that regards religion. A well-bred I COULD not but smile at the account that was yes-man is obliged to conceal any serious sentiment of terday given me of a modest young gentleman, this nature, and very often to appear a greater who, being invited to an entertainment, though he libertine than he is, that he may keep himself in was not used to drink, had not the confidence to countenance among the men of mode. Our excess refuse his glass in his turn, when on a sudden he of modesty makes us shame-faced in all the exgrew so flustered, that he took all the talk of the ercises of piety and devotion. This humour pretable into his own hands, abused every one of the vails upon us daily; insomuch that, at many wellcompany, and flung a bottle at the gentleman's bred tables, the master of the house is so very mo head who treated him. This has given me occasion dest a man, that he has not the confidence to say to reflect upon the ill effects of a vicious modesty, grace at his own table: a custom which is not only and to remember the saying of Brutus, as it is practised by all the nations about us, but was never quoted by Plutarch, that the person has had but omitted by the heathens themselves. English genan ill education, who has not been taught to deny tlemen, who travel into Roman Catholic countries, any thing.' This false kind of modesty has, per- are not a little surprised to meet with people of haps, betrayed both sexes into as many vices as the best quality kneeling in their churches, and the most abandoned impudence; and is the more engaged in their private devotions, though it be inexcusable to reason, because it acts to gratify not at the hours of public worship. An officer of others rather than itself, and is punished with a the army, or a man of wit and pleasure, in those kind of remorse, not only like other vicious habits when the crime is over, but even at the very time that it is committed. countries, would be afraid of passing not only for an irreligious, but an ill-bred man, should he be seen to go to bed, or sit down at table, without offering up his devotions on such occasions. The same show of religion appears in all the foreign reformed churches, and enters so much into their ordinary conversation, that an Englishman is apt to term them hypocritical and precise. Nothing is more admirable than true modesty, and nothing is more contemptible than the false. The one guards virtue, the other betrays it. True modesty is ashamed to do any thing that is repugnant to the rules of right reason: false modesty is ashamed to do any thing that is opposite to the This little appearance of a religious deportment humour of the company. True modesty avoids in our nation, may proceed in some measure from every thing that is criminal, false modesty every that modesty which is natural to us; but the great thing that is unfashionable. The latter is only a occasion of it is certainly this. Those swarms of general undetermined instinct; the former is that sectaries that overran the nation in the time of the instinct, limited and circumscribed by the rules of great rebellion, carried their hypocrisy so high, prudence and religion. that they had converted our whole language into a y this We may conclude that modesty to be false and jargon of enthusiasm; insomuch that, upon the re vicious which engages a man to do any thing that storation, men thought they could not recede to is ill or indiscreet, or which restrains him from far from the behaviour and practice of those per doing any thing that is of a contrary nature. How sons who had made religion a cloak to so many many men, in the common concerns of life, lend villanies. This led them into the other extreme sums of money which they are not able to spare, every appearance of devotion was looked upon are bound for persons whom they have but little as puritanical, and falling into the hands of the friendship for, give recommendatory characters of ridiculers' who flourished in that reign, and st men whom they are not acquainted with, bestow tacked every thing that was serious, it has ever places on those whom they do not esteem, live in since been out of countenance among us. By th such a manner as they themselves do not approve, means we are gradually fallen into that vicious and all this merely because they have not the con- modesty, which has in some measure worn out from fidence to resist solicitation, importunity, or ex-among us the appearance of Christianity in ordi ample? nary life and conversation, and which distinguishes Nor does this false modesty expose us only to us from all our neighbours. such actions as are indiscreet, but very often to Hypocrisy cannot indeed be too much detested, such as are highly criminal. When Xenophanes but at the same time is to be preferred to open was called timorous, because he would not venture impiety. They are both equally destructive to the his money in a game of dice; I confess,' said he, person who is possessed with them; but, in regard that I am exceeding timorous, for I dare not do to others, hypocrisy is not so pernicious as bare any ill thing. On the contrary, a man of vicious faced irreligion. The due mean to be observed is, modesty complies with every thing, and is only to be sincerely virtuous, and at the same time to sengaged see Justback at resent party on, is one of the mant king or acting it that one wi med of creat Son and the We are to s man fra de eader's on nces and exe rell upend thout a se articular da let the world see we are so. I do not know af Supreme Being, more endearing notions of one ADDISON. N° 459. SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 1712. Quicquid dignum sapiente bonoque est. C. Fourthly, By showing us the blackness and deformity of vice, which in the Christian system is so very great, that he who is possessed of all perfection, and the sovereign judge of it, is represented by several of our divines as hating sin to the same degree that he loves the sacred person who was made the propitiation of it. Fifthly, In being the ordinary and prescribed method of making morality effectual to salvation. I have only touched on these several heads, which every one who is conversant in discourses of this nature will easily enlarge upon in his own thoughts, and draw conclusions from them which RELIGION may be considered under two general may be useful to him in the conduct of his life. heads. The first comprehends what we are to be- One I am sure is so obvious, that he cannot miss it, religion lieve, the other what we are to practise. By those namely, that a man cannot be perfect in his scheme things which we are to believe, I mean whatever of morality, who does not strengthen and support is revealed to us in the holy writings, and which it with that of the Christian faith. we could not have obtained the knowledge of by the light of nature: by the things which we are to practise, I mean all those duties to which we are directed by reason or natural religion. The first of these I shall distinguish by the name of faith, the second by that of morality. en to ap en of mode e-faced 1. Th ch the ehouses the cos If we look into the more serious part of mankind, we find many who lay so great a stress upon faith, that they neglect morality; and many who build so much upon morality, that they do not pay a due regard to faith. The perfect man should be defective in neither of these particulars, as will be very evident to those who consider the benefits which arise from each of them, and which I shall make the subject of this day's paper. Notwithstanding this general division of Christian duty into morality and faith, and that they have both their peculiar excellencies, the first has the pre-eminence in several respects. First, Because the greatest part of morality (as hat I have stated the notion of it) is of a fixed eternal nature, and will endure when faith shall fail, and be lost in conviction. Secondly, Because a person may be qualified to do greater good to mankind, and become more beneficial to the world, by morality without faith, than by faith without morality. Thirdly, Because morality gives a greater perfection to human nature, by quieting the mind, moderating the passions, and advancing the happiness of every man in his private capacity. Besides this, I shall lay down two or three other maxims which I think we may deduce from what has been said. First, That we should be particularly cautious of making any thing an article of faith, which does not contribute to the confirmation or improvement of morality. Secondly, That no article of faith can be true and authentic, which weakens or subverts the practical part of religion, or what I have hitherto called morality. Thirdly, That the greatest friend of morality or natural religion, cannot possibly apprehend any danger from embracing Christianity, as it is preserved pure and uncorrupt in the doctrines of our national church. There is likewise another maxim which I think may be drawn from the foregoing considerations, which is this, that we should, in all dubious points, consider any ill consequences that may arise from them, supposing they should be erroneous, before we give up our assent to them. For example, In that disputable point of prosecuting men for conscience sake, besides the embittering their minds with hatred, indignation and all the vehemence of resentment, and ensnaring them to profess what they do not believe; we cut them off from the pleasures and advantages of society, afflict their bodies, distress their fortunes, hurt their reputations, ruin their families, make their lives painful, or put an end to them. Sure Fourthly, Because the rule of morality is much when I see such dreadful consequences rising from more certain than that of faith, all the civilized a principle, I would be as fully convinced of the nations of the world agreeing in the great points truth of it, as of a mathematical demonstration, of morality, as much as they differ in those of before I would venture to act upon it, or make it faith. a part of my religion. Fifthly, Because infidelity is not of so malignant! In this case the injury done our neighbour is a nature as immorality; or, to put the same reason plain and evident; the principal that puts us upon in another light, because it is generally owned, doing it, of a dubious and disputable nature. Mothere may be salvation for a virtuous infidel (par- rality seems highly violated by the one; and wheticularly in the case of invincible ignorance,) but ther or no a zeal for what a man thinks the true none for a vicious believer. system of faith may justify it, is very uncertain. I Sixthly, Because faith seems to draw its princi- cannot but think, if our religion produces charity pal, if not all its excellency, from the influence it as well as zeal, it will not be for showing itself by upon morality; as we shall see more at large, such cruel instances. But to conclude with the if we consider wherein consists the excellency of words of an excellent author, We have just faith, or the belief of revealed religion; and this enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another.' has I think is, First, In explaining, and carrying to greater heights, several points of morality. Secondly, In furnishing new and stronger moives to enforce the practice of morality. Thirdly, In giving us more amiable ideas of the No 460. MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 1712. a vision. Decipimur specie recti HOR. Ars Poet. ver. 25. ROSCOMMON. the sky to which he pointed, and observed a thin blue prospect, which cleared as mountains in a summer morning when the mists go off, and the pa lace of Vanity appeared to sight. The foundation hardly seemed a foundation, but a set of curling clouds, which it stood upon by ma gical contrivance. The way by which we ascended was painted like a rainbow; and as we went, the breeze that played about us bewitched the senses. Orn defects and follies are too often unknown to The walls were gilded all for show; the lowest set us; nay, they are so far from being known to us, of pillars were of the slight fine Corinthian order, that they pass for demonstrations of our worth and the top of the building being rounded, bore so This makes us easy in the midst of them, fond to far the resemblance of a bubble. show them, fond to improve in them, and to be At the gate the travellers neither met with a por esteemed for them. Then it is that a thousand un-ter, nor waited till one should appear; every one accountable conceits, gay inventions, and extra- thought his merits a sufficient passport, and pressed vagant actions, must afford us pleasures, and display forward. In the hall we met with several phan us to others in the colours which we ourselves take toms, that roved amongst us, and ranged the coma fancy to glory in. Indeed there is something so pany according to their sentiments. There was amusing for the time in this state of vanity and decreasing Honour, that had nothing to show in, ill-grounded satisfaction, that even the wiser but an old coat of his ancestor's achievements. world has chosen an exalted word to describe its There was Ostentation, that made himself his own enchantments, and called it, The Paradise of constant subject, and Gallantry strutting upon his Fools.' tip-toes. At the upper end of the hall stood a Perhaps the latter part of this reflection may throne, whose canopy glittered with all the seem a false thought of some, and bear another riches that Gaiety could contrive to lavish on it turn than what I have given; but it is at present and between the gilded arms sat Vanity, decked none of my business to look after it, who am going in the peacock's feathers, and acknowledged for to confess that I have been lately amongst them in another Venus by her votaries. The boy who stood beside her for a Cupid, and who made the world Methought I was transported to a hill, green, to bow before her, was called Self-conceit His flowery, and of an easy ascent. Upon the broad eyes had every now and then a cast inwards to the top of it resided squint-eyed Error, and Popu- neglect of all objects about him; and the arms lar Opinion with many heads; two that dealt in which he made use of for conquest, were borrowed sorcery, and were famous for bewitching people from those against whom he had a design. The with the love of themselves. To these repaired a arrow which he shot at the soldier, was fledged multitude from every side, by two different paths from his own plume of feathers; the dart he di which lead towards each of them. Some who had rected against the man of wit, was winged from the most assuming air, went directly of themselves the quills he writ with; and that which he sent to Error, without expecting a conductor; others of against those who presumed upon their riches, a a softer nature went first to Popular Opinion, headed with gold out of their treasuries. He made from whence, as she influenced and engaged them nets for statesmen from their own contrivances with their own praises, she delivered them over to he took fire from the eyes of ladies, with which he his government. melted their hearts; and lightning from the tongues When we had ascended to an open part of the of the eloquent, to inflame them with their ow summit where Opinion abode, we found her enter-glories. At the foot of the throne sat three false taining several who had arrived before us. Her graces; Flattery with a shell of paint; Affectation voice was pleasing; she breathed odours as she with a mirror to practise at, and Fashion ever spoke. She seemed to have a tongue for every changing the posture of her clothes. These one: every one thought he heard of something that plied themselves to secure the conquests which Self was valuable in himself, and expected a paradise conceit had gotten, and had each of them the which she promised as the reward of his merit. particular polities. Flattery gave new colours and Thus were we drawn to follow her, till she should complexions to all things; Affectation new airs and bring us where it was to be bestowed; and it was appearances, which, as she said, were not vulgar observable, that all the way we went, the company and Fashion both concealed some home defects, was either praising themselves for their qualifica- and added some foreign external beauties. tions, or one another for those qualifications which they took to be conspicuous in their own charac- voice in the crowd bemoaning the condition of As I was reflecting upon what I saw, I heard ters, or dispraising others for wanting theirs, or mankind, which is thus managed by the breath of vying in the degrees of them. At last we approached a bower, at the entrance and given up to be trained in all the courses f Opinion, deluded by Error, fired by Self-conceit of which Error was seated. The trees were thick Vanity, till Scorn or Poverty come upon woven, and the place where he sat artfully con- These expressions were no sooner handed about trived to darken him a little. He was disguised but I immediately saw a general disorder, till in a whitish robe, which he had put on, that he last there was a parting in one place, and a gra might appear to us with a nearer resemblance to old man, decent and resolute, was led forward to Truth: and as she has a light whereby she mani- be punished for the words he had uttered. He fests the beauties of nature to the eyes of her peared inclined to have spoken in his own defence. adorers, so he had provided himself with a magical but I could not observe that any one was will wand, that he might do something in imitation of to hear him. Vanity cast a scornful smile at him, it, and please with delusions. This he lifted so-Self-conceit was angry; Flattery, who knew as lemnly, and muttering to himself, bid the glories for Plain-dealing, put on a vizard, and turne which he kept under enchantment to appear before away; Affectation tossed her fan, made mouths us. Immediately we cast our eyes on that part of and called him Envy or Slander; and Fash |