surest test whether eyes be of the same species with that of an eagle, or that of an owl. The one he emboldens with a manly assurance to look, speak, act, or plead before the faces of a numerous assembly; the other he dazzles out of countenance into a sheepish dejectedness. The sun-proof eye dares lead up a dance in a full court, and without blinking at the lustre of beauty, can distribute an eye of proper complaisance to a room crowded with company, each of which deserves particular regard: while the other sneaks from conversation, like a fearful debtor, who never dares to look out, but when he can see nobody, and nobody him. as much the receptacle and seat of our passions, appetites, and inclinations as the mind itself; and at least it is the outward portal to introduce them to the house within, or rather the common thoroughfare to let our affections pass in and out. Love, anger, pride and avarice, all visibly move in those little orbs. I know a young lady that cannot see a certain gentleman pass by without showing a secret desire of seeing him again by a dance in her eye-balls; nay, she cannot for the heart of her, help looking half a street's length after any man in a gay dress. You cannot behold a covetous spirit walk by a goldsmith's shop without casting a wishful eye at the heaps upon the counter. of his soul in the supercilious roll of his eye; and how frequently in the height of passion does that moving picture in our head start and stare, gather a redness and quick flashes of lightning, and make all its humours sparkle with fire, as Virgil finely describes it, "The next instance of optics is the fam-Does not a haughty person show the temper ous Argus, who, (to speak the language of Cambridge) was one of a hundred; and being used as a spy in the affairs of jealousy, was obliged to have all his eyes about him. We have no account of the particular colours, casts, and turns of this body of eyes; but as he was pimp for his mistress Juno, it is probable he used all the modern leers, sly glances, and other ocular activities to serve his purpose. Some look upon him as the then king at arms to the heathenish deities; and make no more of his eyes than of so many spangles of his herald's coat. -Ardentis ab ore -From his wide nostrils flies Dryden. "As for the various turns of the eyesight, such as the voluntary or involuntary, the half or the whole leer, I shall not enter "The next upon the optic list is old Janus, who stood in a double-sighted capacity, like a person placed betwixt two op-into a very particular account of them; but posite looking-glasses, and so took a sort of let me observe, that oblique vision, when retrospective cast at one view. Copies of natural, was anciently the mark of bethis double-faced way are not yet out of witchery and magical fascination, and to fashion with many professions, and the inge- this day it is a malignant ill look; but when nious artists pretend to keep up this species it is forced and affected, it carries a wanton by double-headed canes and spoons; but design, and in playhouses, and other public there is no mark of this faculty, except in places, this ocular intimation is often an the emblematical way, of a wise general assignation for bad practices. But this irhaving an eye to both front and rear, or a regularity in vision, together with such pious man taking a review and prospect of enormities as tipping the wink, the circumhis past and future state at the same time.spective roll, the side-peep through a thin "I must own, that the names, colours, hood or fan, must be put in the class of qualities and turns of eyes vary almost in heteroptics, as all wrong notions of religion every head; for, not to mention the common are ranked under the general name of appellations of the black, the blue, the heterodox. All the pernicious applications white, the grey, and the like; the most remarkable are those that borrow their titles from animals, by virtue of some particular quality of resemblance they bear to the eyes of the respective creatures; as that of a greedy rapacious aspect takes its name from the cat, that of a sharp piercing nature from the hawk, those of an amorous roguish look derive their title even from the sheep, and we say such a one has a sheep's eve, not so much to denote the innocence as the simple slyness of the cast. Nor is this metaphorical inoculation a modern invention, for we find Homer taking the freedom to place the eye of an ox, bull, or cow in one of his principal goddesses, by that frequent expression of Βοωπις πότνια "Ηρα. The ox-ey'd venerable Juno. "Now as to the peculiar qualities of the eye, that fine part of our constitution seems of sight are more immediately under the 'MR. SPECTATOR,-You professed in several papers your particular endeavours in the province of Spectator, to correct the offences committed by Starers, who disturb whole assemblies without any regard to time, place, or modesty. You complained also, that a starer is not usually a person to be convinced by the reason of the thing, nor so easily rebuked as to amend by admonitions. I thought therefore fit to acquaint you with a convenient mechanical way, which may easily prevent or correct staring, by an optical contrivance of new perspective-glasses, short and commodious like fied for this place, as being a man of very strong lungs, of great insight into all the branches of our British trades and manufactures, and of a competent skill in music. opera-glasses, fit for short-sighted people | troller-general of the London Cries, which as well as cthers, these glasses making the are at present under no manner of rules or objects appear either as they are seen with discipline. I think I am pretty well qualithe naked eye, or more distinct, though somewhat less than life, or bigger and nearer. A person may by the help of this invention, take a view of another without the impertinence of staring; at the same time it shall not be possible to know whom or what he is looking at. One may look towards his right or left hand, when he is supposed to look forwards. This is set forth at large, in the printed proposals for the sale of these glasses, to be had at Mr. Dillon's in Long-Acre, next door to the White Hart. Now, sir, as your Spectator has occasioned the publishing of this invention for the benefit of modest spectators, the inventor desires your admonitions concerning the decent use of it; and hopes, by your recommendation, that for the future beauty may be beheld without the torture and confusion which it suffers from the insolence of starers. By this means you will relieve the innocent from an insult which there is no law to punish, though it is a greater offence than many which are within the cognizance of justice. I am, sir, your most humble servant, ABRAHAM SPY.' Q. No. 251.] Tuesday, December 18, 1711. THERE is nothing which more astonishes a foreigner, and frights a country squire, than the Cries of London. My good friend Sir Roger often declares that he cannot get them out of his head or go to sleep for them, the first week that he is in town. On the contrary Will Honeycomb calls them the Ramage de la Ville, and prefers them to the sound of larks and nightingales, with all the music of the fields and woods. I have lately received a letter from some very odd fellow upon this subject, which I shall leave with my reader, without saying any thing further of it. 'The Cries of London may be divided into vocal and instrumental. As for the latter, they are at present under a very great disorder. A freeman of London has the privilege of disturbing a whole street for an hour together, with the twanking of a brasskettle or a frying-pan. The watchman's thump at midnight startles us in our beds, as much as the breaking in of a thief. The sow-gelder's horn has indeed something musical in it, but this is seldom heard within the liberties. I would therefore propose, that no instrument of this nature should be made use of, which I have not tuned and licensed, after having carefully examined in what manner it may affect the ears of her majesty's liege subjects. "Vocal cries are of a much larger extent, and indeed so full of incongruities and barbarisms, that we appear a distracted city to foreigners, who do not comprehend the meaning of such enormous outcries. Milk is generally sold in a note above E-la, and in sounds so exceeding shrill, that it often sets our teeth on edge. The chimneysweeper is confined to no certain pitch; he sometimes utters himself in the deepest base, and sometimes in the sharpest treble; sometimes in the highest, and sometimes in the lowest note of the gamut. The same observation might be made on the retailers of small-coal, not to mention broken glasses or brick-dust. In these therefore, and the and mellow the voices of these itinerant like cases, it should be my care to sweeten tradesmen, before they make their appearance in our streets, as also to accommodate their cries to their respective wares: and to take care in particular, that those may not make the most noise who have the least to sell, which is very observable in the venders of card-matches, to whom I cannot but apPly the old proverb of "Much cry but little wool." 'Some of these last-mentioned musicians 'SIR,-I am a man out of all business, are so very loud in the sale of these trifling and would willingly turn my head to any manufactures, that an honest splenetic genthing for an honest livelihood. I have in-tleman of my acquaintance bargained with vented several projects for raising many one of them never to come into the street millions of money without burdening the where he lived. But what was the effect of subject, but I cannot get the parliament to this contract? why, the whole tribe of cardlisten to me, who look upon me, forsooth, match-makers which frequent that quaras a crack, and a projector; so that despair-ter, passed by his door the very next day, ing to enrich either myself or my country in hopes of being bought off after the same by this public-spiritedness, I would make manner. some proposals to you relating to a design 'It is another great imperfection in our which I have very much at heart, and London Cries, that there is no just time which may procure me a handsome sub-nor measure observed in them. Our news sistence, if you will be pleased to recom- should indeed be published in a very quick mend it to the cities of London and West-time, because it is a commodity that will minster. not keep cold. It should not, however, be "The post I would aim at, is to be comp- cried with the same precipitation as fire. apples of a bellows-mender, and gingerbread from a grinder of knives and scissors. Nay, so strangely infatuated are some very eminent artists of this particular grace in a cry, that none but their acquaintance are able to guess at their profession: for who else can know, that "work if I had it,” should be the signification of a corn-cutter. Yet this is generally the case. A bloody | battle alarms the town from one end to another in an instant. Every motion of the French is published in so great a hurry, that one would think the enemy were at our gates. This likewise I would take upon me to regulate in such a manner, that there should be some distinction made between the spreading of a victory, a march, or an For as much therefore as persons of this encampment; a Dutch, a Portugal, or a rank are seldom men of genius or capacity, Spanish mail. Nor must I omit under this I think it would be very proper that some head those excessive alarms with which man of good sense and sound judgment several boisterous rustics infest our streets should preside over these public cries, who in turnip-season; and which are more inex- should permit none to lift up their voices in cusable, because these are wares which are our streets, that have not tuneable throats, in no danger of cooling upon their hands. and are not only able to overcome the ncise of the crowd, and the rattling of coaches, but also to vend their respective merchandises in apt phrases, and in the most distinct and agreeable sounds. I do therefore humbly recommend myself as a person rightly qualified for this post; and if I meet with fitting encouragement, shall communicate some other projects which I have by me, that may no less conduce to the emolument of the public. I am, sir, &c. C. There are others who affect a very slow time, and are in my opinion much more tuneable than the former. The cooper in particular swells his last note in a hollow voice, that is not without its harmony; nor can I forbear being inspired with a most agreeable melancholy, when I hear that sad and solemn air with which the public are very often asked, if they have any chairs to mend? Your own memory may suggest to you many other lamentable ditties of the same nature, in which the music is wonderfully languishing and melodious. RALPH CROTCHET.' I am always pleased with that particular time of the year which is proper for the No. 252] Wednesday, December 19, 1711. pickling of dill and cucumbers; but alas! this cry, like the song of the nightingale, is not heard above two months. It would therefore be worth while to consider; whether the same air might not in some cases be adapted to other words. Erranti, passimque oculos per cuneta ferenti. MR. SPECTATOR,-I am very sorry to find by your discourse upon the eye, that you have not thoroughly studied the nature It might likewise deserve our mest and force of that part of a beauteous face. serious consideration, how far, in a well Had you ever been in love, you would have regulated city, those humerists are to be said ten thousand things, which it seems tolerated, who, not contented with the tra- did not occur to you. Do but reflect upon ditional cries of their forefathers, have in- the nonsense it makes men talk, the flames vented particular songs and tunes of their which it is said to kindle, the transport it own: such as was not many years since, raises, the dejection it causes in the bravest the pastry-man, commonly known by the men; and if you do believe these things are name of the Colly-Molly-Puff; and such expressed to an extravagance, yet you will as is at this day the vender of powder and own that the influence of it is very great, wash-balls, who, if I am rightly informed, which moves men to that extravagance. goes under the name of Powder-Watt. Certain it is, that the whole strength of the I must not here omit one particular ab-mind is sometimes seated there; that a kind surdity which runs through this whole vo- look imparts all that a year's discourse ciferous generation, and which renders their could give you, in one moment. What matcries very often not only incommodious, but ters it what she says to you, "see how she altogether useless to the public. I mean, looks," is the language of all who know that idle accomplishment which they all of what love is. When the mind is thus sumthem aim at, of crying so as not to be un-med up and expressed in a glance, did you derstood. Whether or no they have learn- never observe a sudden joy arise in the ed this from several of our affected singers, countenance of a lover. Did you never see I will not take upon me to say; but most the attendance of vears paid, overpaid, in certain it is, that people know the wares an instant? You a Spectator, and not know they deal in rather by their tunes than by that the intelligence of affection is carried their words; insomuch that I have some-on by the eye only; that good-breeding has times seen a country-boy run out to buy made the tongue falsify the heart, and act This little man was but just able to support the basket of pastry which he carried on his head, and sung in a very peculiar tone the cant words which passed into his name. Colly Molly-Puff There is a half sheet print of him in the Set of London Cries, M Lauron, del P. Tempest, eze. Granger's Biographical History of England. * ADAPTED. With various power the wonder-working eye Nescio quis teneres oculus miki fascinet egnes. a part of continual restraint, while nature | have heard many eminent pleaders in my has preserved the eyes to herself, that she time, as well as other eloquent speakers of may not be disguised or misrepresented. both universities, yet I agree with you, that The poor bride can give her hand and say, women are better qualified to succeed in "I do," with a languishing air, to the man oratory than the men, and believe this is to she is obliged by cruel parents to take for be resolved into natural causes. You have mercenary reasons, but at the same time mentioned only the volubility of their she cannot look as if she loved: her eye is tongues: but what do you think of the silent full of sorrow, and reluctance sits in a tear, flattery of their pretty faces, and the perwhile the offering of a sacrifice is perform-suasion which even an insipid discourse ed in what we call the marriage ceremony. carries with it when flowing from beautiful Do you never go to plays? Cannot you dis- lips, to which it would be cruel to deny any tinguish between the eyes of those who go thing? It is certain, too, that they are posto see, from those who come to be seen? I sessed of some springs of rhetoric which am a woman turned of thirty, and am on men want, such as tears, fainting-fits, and the observation a little; therefore if you, or the like, which I have seen employed upon your correspondent, had consulted me in occasion, with good success. You must your discourse on the eye, I could have told know that I am a plain man, and love my you that the eye of Leonora is slily watch-money; yet I have a spouse who is so great ful while it looks negligent; she looks round an orator in this way, that she draws from her without the help of the glasses you me what sums she pleases. Every room in speak of, and yet seems to be employed on my house is furnished with trophies of her objects directly before her. This eye is eloquence, rich cabinets, piles of china, what affects chance-medley, and on a sud- japan screens, and costly jars; and if you den, as if it attended to another thing, turns were to come into my great parlour, you all its charms against an ogler. The eye of would fancy yourself in an India warehouse. Lusitania is an instrument of premeditated Besides this, she keeps a squirrel, and I murder; but the design being visible, de-am doubly taxed to pay for the china he stroys the execution of it; and with much more beauty than that of Leonora, it is not half so mischievous. There is a brave soldier's daughter in town, that by her eye has been the death of more than ever her father made fly before him. A beautiful eye makes silence eloquent, a kind eye makes contradiction an assent, an enraged eye makes beauty deformed. This little member gives life to every other part about us, and I believe the story of Argus implies no more, than that the eye is in every part; that is to say, every other part would be mutilated, were not its force represented more by the eye than even by itself. But this is heathen Greek to those who have not conversed by glances. This, sir, is a language in which there can be no deceit, nor can a skilful observer be imposed upon by looks, even among politicians and courtiers. If you do me the honour to print this among your speculations, I shall in my next make you a present of secret history, by translating all the looks of the next assembly of ladies and gentlemen into words, to adorn some future paper. I am, sir, your No. 253.] Thursday, December 20, 1711. faithful friend, breaks. She is seized with periodical fits about the time of the subscriptions to a new opera, and is drowned in tears after having seen any woman there in finer clothes than herself. These are arts of persuasion purely feminine, and which a tender heart cannot resist. What I would therefore desire of you, is, to prevail with your friend who has promised to dissect a female tongue, that he would at the same time give us the anatomy of a female eye, and explain the springs and sluices which feed it with such ready supplies of moisture; and likewise show by what means, if possible, they may be stopped at a reasonable expense. Or indeed, since there is something so moving in the very image of weeping beauty, it would be worthy his art to provide, that these eloquent drops may no more be lavished on trifles, or employed as servants to their wayward wills: but reserved for serious occasions in life, to adorn generous pity, true penitence, or real sorrow. I am, &c.' T. is very natural for such as have not succeeded in it to depreciate the works of those who have. For since they cannot raise themselves to the reputation of their fellow-writers, they must endeavour to sink that to their own pitch, if they would still keep themselves upon a level with them. The greatest wits that ever were produced in one age, lived together in so good an understanding, and celebrated one another with so much generosity, that each of them receives an additional lustre from his contemporaries, and is more famous for having lived with men of so extraordinary a genius, than if he had himself been the sole wonder of the age. I need not tell my reader that I here point at the reign of Augustus, and I believe he will be of my opinion, that neither Virgil nor Horace would have gained so great a reputation in the world, had they not been the friends and admirers of each other. Indeed all the great writers of that age, for whom singly we have so great an esteem, stand up together as venchers for one another's reputation. But at the same time that Virgil was celebrated by Gallus, Propertius, Horace, Varius, Tucca, and Ovid, we know that Bavius and Mævius were his declared foes and calumniators. In our own country a man seldom sets up for a poet, without attacking the reputation of all his brothers in the art. The| ignorance of the moderns, the scribblers of the age, the decay of poetry, are the topics of detraction with which he makes his entrance into the world: but how much more noble is the fame that is built on candour and ingenuity, according to those beautiful lines of Sir John Denham, in his poem on Fletcher's works! But whither am I stray'd? I need not raise I am sorry to find that an author, who is very justly esteemed among the best judges, has admitted some strokes of this nature into a very fine poem; I mean the Art of Criticism, which was published some months since, and is a master-piece in its kind. The observations follow one another like those in Horace's Art of Poetry, without that methodical regularity which would have been requisite in a prose author. They are some of them uncommon, but such as the reader must assent to, when he sees them explained with that elegance and perspicuity in which they are delivered. As for those which are the most known, and the most received, they are placed in so beautiful a light, and illustrated with such apt allusions, that they have in them all the graces of novelty, and make the reader, who was before acquainted with them, still more convinced of their truth and solidity. And here give me leave to mention what Monsieur Boileau has so very well enlarged upon in the preface to his works, that wit and fine writing do not consist so much in advancing things that are new, as in giving things that are known an agreeable turn. It is impossible for us, who live in the later ages of the world, to make observations in criticism, morality, or in any art or science, which have not been touched upon by others. We have little else left us, but to represent the common sense of mankind in more strong, more beautiful, or more uncommon lights. If a reader examines Horace's Art of Poetry, he will find but very few precepts in it, which he may not meet with in Aristotle, and which were not commonly known by all the poets of the Augustan age. His way of expressing and applying them, not his invention of them, is what we are chiefly to admire. For this reason I think there is nothing in the world so tiresome as the works of those critics who write in a positive dogmatic way, without either language, genius, or imagination. If the reader would see how the best of the Latin critics wrote, he may find their manner very beautifully described in the characters of Horace, Petronius, Quintilian, and Longinus, as they are drawn in the essay of which I am now speaking. Since I have mentioned Longinus, who in his reflections has given us the same kind of sublime which he observes in the several passages that occasioned them; I cannot but take notice that our English author has, after the same manner, exemplified several of his precepts in the very precepts themselves. I shall produce two or three instances of this kind. Speaking of the insipid smoothness which some readers are so much in love with, he has the following verses: These equal syllables alone require. line, the expletive 'do,' in the third, and The gaping of the vowels in the second the ten monosyllables in the fourth, give such a beauty to this passage, as would have been very much admired in an ancient poet. The reader may observe the following lines in the same view: A needless Alexandrine ends the song. That like a wounded snake drags its slow length along. Tis not enough no harshness gives offence, main. The beautiful distich upon Ajax in the |
