quick conception; for the imitation there | Arsinoe, and did it to the best advantage so fore of such as are, as I may so speak, cor- great a novelty would allow. It is not proporeal wits, or nimble fellows, I would fain per to trouble you with particulars of the ask any of the present mismanagers, why I just complaints we all of us have to make; should not rope-dancers, vaulters, tumblers, but so it is, that without regard to our obligladder-walkers, and posture-masters ap- ing pains, we are all equally set aside in the pear again on our stage. After such a re- present opera. Our application therefore presentation a five-bar gate would be leaped to you is only to insert this letter in your with a better grace next time any of the paper, that the town may know we have all audience went a hunting. Sir, these things three joined together to make entertaincry aloud for reformation, and fall properly ments of music for the future at Mr. Clayunder the province of Spectator-General; ton's house in York-buildings. What we but how indeed should it be otherwise, promise ourselves is, to make a subscription while fellows (that for twenty years toge- of two guineas, for eight times; and that the ther were never paid but as their master entertainment, with the names of the auwas in the humour) now presume to pay thors of the poetry, may be printed, to be others more than ever they had in their sold in the house, with an account of the lives: and in contempt of the practice of several authors of the vocal as well as the persons of condition, have the insolence to instrumental music for each night; the owe no tradesman a farthing at the end of money to be paid at the receipt of the the week. Sir, all I propose is the public tickets, at Mr. Charles Lillie's. It will, good; for no one can imagine I shall ever we hope, sir, be easily allowed, that we are get a private shilling by it: therefore I hope capable of undertaking to exhibit, by our you will recommend this matter in one of joint force and different qualifications, all your this week's papers, and desire when that can be done in music; but lest you my house opens you will accept the liberty should think so dry a thing as an account of of it for the trouble you have received from, our proposal should be a matter unworthy sir, your humble servant, RALPHCROTCHET.

of your paper, which generally contains

something of public use; give us leave to P. S. I have assurances that the trunk-say, that favouring our design is no less maker will declare for us.

than reviving an art, which runs to ruin by

the utmost barbarism under an affectation Mr. SPECTATOR,—We whose names of knowledge. We aim at establishing some are subscribed, think you the properest per- settled notion of what is music, at recover

son to signify what we have to offer the town ing from neglect and want very many fami• in behalf of ourselves, and the art which we lies who depend upon it, at making all

profess, music. We conceive hopes of your foreigners who pretend to succeed in Engfavour from the speculations on the mis- land to learn the language of it as we ourtakes which the town runs into with regard selves have done, and not to be so insolent to their pleasure of this kind; and believing as to expect a whole nation, a refined and your method of judging is, that you consider learned nation, should submit to learn theirs. music only valuable, as it is agreeable to, In a word, Mr. Spectator, with all deferand heightens the purpose of poetry, we ence and humility, we hope to behave ourconsent that it is not only the true way of selves in this undertaking in such a manner, relishing that pleasure, but also that with- that all English men who have any skill in out it a composure of music is the same music may be furthered in it for their profit thing as a poem, where all the rules of or diversion by what new things we shall poetical numbers are observed, though the produce; never pretending to surpass others, words have no sense or meaning; to say it or asserting that any thing which is a scishorter, mere musical sounds in our art are ence, is not attainable by all men of all nano other than nonsense verses are in poetry. tions who have proper genius for it. We Music therefore is to aggravate what is in- say, sir, what we hope for, it is not expected tended by poetry; it must always have some will arrive to us by contemning others, but passion or sentiment to express, or else vio- through the utmost diligence recommendsins, voices, or any other organs of sound, ing ourselves. We are, sir, your most afford an entertainment very little above humble servants, the rattles of children. It was from this

• THOMAS CLAYTON, opinion of the matter, that when Mr. Clay

NICOLINO HAYM, ton had finished his studies in Italy, and T.

“CHARLES DIEUPART.' brought over the opera of Arsinoe, that Mr. Haym and Mr. Dieupart, who had the honour to be well known and received No. 259.] Thursday, December 27, 1711. among the nobility and gentry, were zeal

Quod decet honestum est, et quod honestum est decet. ously inclined to assist by their solicitations, in introducing so elegant an entertainment What is becoming is honourable, and what is honouras the Italian music grafted upon English able is becoming. poetry. For this end Mr. Dieupart and THERE are some things which cannot Mr. Haym, according to their several op- come under certain rules, but which one portunities, promoted the introduction of would think could not need them. Of this

kind are outward civilities and salutations. | sions thought it a very great absurdity in These one would imagine might be regu- the company (during the royal presence lated by every man's common sense, with to exchange salutations from all parts of out the help of an instructor; but that which the room, when certainly common sense we call common sense suffers under that should suggest, that all regards at that time word; for it sometimes implies no more should be engaged, and cannot be diverted than that faculty which is common to all to any other object, without disrespect to men, but sometimes signifies right reason, the sovereign. But as to the complaint of and what all men should consent to. In my correspondents, it is not to be imagined this latter acceptation of the phrase, it is no what offence some of them take at the cusgreat wonder people err so much against tom of saluting in places of worship. I have it, since it is not every one who is possessed a very angry letter from a lady, who tells of it, and there are fewer who, against me of one of her acquaintance, who, out common rules and fashions, dare obey its of mere pride and a pretence to be rude, dictates. As to salutations, which I was takes upon her to return no civilities done about to talk of, I observe, as I stroll about to her in time of divine service, and is the town, there are great enormities committed most religious woman, for no other reason with regard to this particular. You shall but to appear a woman of the best quality sometimes see a man begin the offer of a in the church. This absurd custom had salutation, and observe a forbidding air, or better be abolished than retained; if it were escaping eye, in the person he is going to but to prevent evils of no higher a nature salute, and stop short in the poll of his than this is; but I am informed of objecneck. This, in the person who helieved he tions much more considerable. A dissenter could do it with a good grace, and was re- of rank and distinction was lately prevailed fused the opportunity, is justly resented upon by a friend of his to come to one of the with a coldness the whole ensuing season. greatest congregations of the church of Your great beauties, people in much favour, England about town. After the service was or by any means or for any purpose over- over, he declared he was very well satisfied flattered, are apt to practise this, which with the little ceremony which was used one may call the preventing aspect, and towards God Almighty; but at the same throw their attention another way, lest time he feared that he should not be able to they should confer a bow or a courtesy go through those required towards one anupon a person who might not appear to other; as to this point he was in a state of deserve that dignity. Others you shall find despair, and feared he was not well-bred so obsequious, and so very courteous as enough to be a convert. There have been there is no escaping their favours of this many scandals of this kind given to our kind. Of this sort may be a man who is in protestant dissenters from the outward the fifth or sixth degree of favour with a pomp and respect we take to ourselves in minister. This good creature is resolved our religious assemblies. A quaker who to show the world, that great honours can- came one day into a church, fixed his eye not at all change his manners; he is the upon an old lady with a carpet larger than same civil person he ever was; he will ven- that from the pulpit before her, expecting ture his neck to bow out of a coach in full when she would hold forth. An anabaptist speed, at once to show he is full of business, who designs to come over himself, and all and yet not so taken up as to forget his old his family, within a few months, is sensible friend. With a man who is not so well they want breeding enough for our congreformed for courtship and elegant behaviour, gations, and has sent his two eldest daughsuch a gentleman as this seldom finds his ters to learn to dance, that they may not account in the return of his compliments; misbehave themselves at church. It is but he will still go on, for he is in his own worth considering whether, in regard to way, and must not omit; let the neglect fall awkward people with scrupulous conon your side, or where will, his business sciences, a good Christian of the best air in is still to be well-bred to the end. I think the world ought not rather to deny herself I have read, in one of our English comedies, the opportunity of showing so many graces, a description of a fellow that affected know-than keep a bashful proselyte without the ing every body, and for want of judgment pale of the church.

T. in time and place, would bow and smile in the face of a judge sitting in the court, would sit in an opposite gallery and smile in the No. 260.] Friday, December 28, 1711. minister's face as he came up into the pul

Singula de nobis apni prædantur euntes. pit, and nod as if he alluded to some fami

Hor. Lib. 2. Ep. ii. 55. liarities between them in another place. Years following years steal something every day, But now I happen to speak of salutation at At last they steal us from ourselves away.--Pope. church, I must take notice that several of MR. SPECTATOR, I am now in the my correspondents have importuned me to sixty-fifth year of my age, and having been consider that subject, and settle the point the greater part of my days a man of pleaof decorum in that particular.

sure, the decay of my faculties is a stagnaI do not pretend to be the best courtier in tion of my life. But how is it, sir, that my the world, but I have often on public occa- appetites are increased upon me with the loss of power to gratify them? I write this ponder, the vagaries of a child are not more like a criminal, to warn people to enter ridiculous than the circumstances which upon what reformation they please to make are heaped up in my memory; fine gowns, in themselves in their youth, and not expect country dances, ends of tunes, interrupted they shall be capable of it from a fond opinion conversations, and midnight quarrels, are some have often in their mouths, that if what must necessarily compose my soliwe do not leave our desires, they will leave loquy. I beg of you to print this, that some us. It is far otherwise; I am now as vain in ladies of my acquaintance and my years, my dress, and as flippant, if I see a pretty may be persuaded to wear warm nightwoman, as when in my youth I stood upon caps this cold season: and that my old a bench in the pit to survey the whole cir- friend Jack Tawdry may buy him a cane, cle of beauties. The folly is so extravagant and not creep with the air of a strut. with me, and I went on with so little check must add to all this, that if it were not for of my desires, or resignation of them, that one pleasure, which I thought a very mean I can assure you, I very often, merely to one until of very late years, I should have entertain my own thoughts, sit with my no one great satisfaction left; but if I live to spectacles on, writing love-letters to the the tenth of March, 1714, and all my sebeauties that have been long since in their curities are good, I shall be worth 'fifty graves. This is to warm my heart with thousand pounds. I am, sir, your most humthe faint memory of delights which were ble servant, JACK AFTERDAY.' once agreeable to me; but how much happier would my life have been now, if I could Mr. SPECTATOR,-You will infinitely have looked back on any worthy action oblige a distressed lover, if you will insert done for my country? if I had laid out that in your very next paper, the following letwhich I profused in luxury and wantonness, ter to my mistress. You must know I am in acts of generosity or charity? I have not a person apt to despair, but she has got lived a bachelor to this day; and instead of an odd humour of stopping short unaca numerous offspring, with which in the countably, and as she herself told a confiregular ways of life I might possibly have dant of hers, she has cold fits. These fits delighted myself, I have only to amuse shall last her a month or six weeks tomyself with the repetition of old stories and gether; and as she falls into them without intrigues which no one will believe I ever provocation, so it is to be hoped she will was concerned in. I do not know whether return from them without the merit of new you have ever treated of it or not; but you services. But life and love will not admit cannot fall on a better subject than that of of such intervals, therefore pray let her be the art of growing old. In such a lecture admonished as follows: you must propose, that no one set his heart

MADAM, I love you, and honour you: upon what is transient; the beauty grows therefore, pray do not tell me of waiting wrinkled while we are yet gazing at her. until decencies, until forms, until humours The witty man sinks into a humourist im- are consulted and gratified. If you have perceptibly, for want of reflecting that all that happy constitution as to be indolent things around him are in a flux, and con- for ten weeks together, you should consider tinually changing: thus he is in the space that all that while I burn in impatiences and of ten or fifteen years surrounded by a new fevers: but still you say it will be time set of people, whose manners are as natural to them as his delights, method of think- while we are yet talking. Which do you

enough, though I and you too grow older ing, and mode of living, were formerly to think the most reasonable, that you should him and his friends. But the mischief is, alter a state of indifference for happiness, he looks upon the same kind of errors and that to oblige me; or I live in torment, which he himself was guilty of with an eye and that to lay no manner of obligation on of scorn, and with that sort of ill-will which you? While I indulge your insensibility I men entertain against each other for different opinions. Thus a crazy constitution, sion, you are bestowing bright desires, gay

am doing nothing; if you favour my pasand an uneasy mind is fretted with vexatious hopes, generous cares, noble resolutions, passions for young men's doing foolishly, and transporting raptures upon, madam, what it is folly to do at all. Dear sir, this is

your most devoted humble servant.' my present state of mind; I hate those I should laugh at, and envy those I contemn. Mr. SPECTATOR,-Here is a gentleThe time of youth and vigorous manhood, woman lodges in the same house with me, passed the way in which I have disposed that I never did any injury to in my whole of it, is attended with these consequences; life; and she is always railing at me to but to those who live and pass away life those that she knows will tell me of it. Do as they ought, all parts of it are equally not you think she is in love with me? or pleasant; only the memory of good and would you have me break my mind yet, worthy actions is a feast which must give or not?' Your servant,

T. B.' a quicker relish to the soul than ever it could possibly taste in the highest enjoy: Mr. SPECTATOR, -I am a footman in ments or jollities of youth. As for me, if I a great family, and am in love with the sit down in my great chair and begin to house-maid. We were all at hot-cockles

T.

last night in the hall these holy-days; when make our present state agreeable, but often I lay down and was blinded, she pulled off determine our happiness to all eternity. her shoe, and hit me with the heel such a Where the choice is left to friends, the rap, as almost broke my head to pieces. chief point under consideration is an estate; Pray, sir, was this love or spite!

where the parties choose for themselves, their thoughts turn most upon the person.

They have both their reasons. The first No. 261.] Saturday, December 29, 1711. would procure many conveniences and plea

sures of life to the party whose interests they Γαμος γαρ ανθρωποισιν ευκταιον κακον. .

espouse; and at the same time may hope Frag. Vet. Poet.

that the wealth of their friends will turn to Wedlock's an ill men eagerly embrace:

their own credit and advantage. The others My father, whom I mentioned in my first are preparing for themselves a perpetual speculation, and whom I must always name feast. A good person does not only raise with honour and gratitude, has very fre- but continue love, and breeds a secret pleaquently talked to me upon the subject of sure and complacency in the beholder, marriage. I was in my younger years en- when the first heats of desire are extingaged partly by his advice, and partly by guished. It puts the wife or husband in my own inclinations, in the courtship of a countenance, hoth among friends and stranperson who had a great deal of beauty, and gers, and generally fills the family with a did not at my first approaches seem to have healthy and beautiful race of children. any aversion to me; but as my natural taci- I should prefer a woman that is agreeturnity hindered me from showing myself able in my own eye, and not deformed in to the best advantage, she by degrees be that of the world, to a celebrated beauty. gan to look upon me as a very silly fellow, If you marry one remarkably beautiful, you and being resolved to regard merit more must have a violent passion for her, or you than any thing else in the persons who have not the proper taste for her charms; made their applications to her, she mar- and if you have such a passion for her, it is ried a captain of dragoons, who happened odds but it would be embittered with fears to be beating up for recruits in those parts. and jealousies.

This unlucky accident has given me an Good-nature and evenness of temper will aversion to pretty fellows ever since, and give you an easy companion for life; virtue discouraged me from trying my fortune and good sense, an agreeable friend; love with the fair sex. The observations which and constancy, a good wife or husband. I made at this conjuncture, and the re- Where we meet one person with all these peated advices which I received at that accomplishments, we find a hundred withtime from the good old man above-men-out any one of them. The world, notwithtioned, have produced the following essay standing, is more intent on trains and equiupon love and marriage.

pages, and all the showy parts of life: we The pleasantest part of a man's life is love rather to dazzle the multitude than generally that which passes in courtship, consult our proper interests; and as I have provided his passion be sincere, and the elsewhere observed, it is one of the most party beloved, kind with discretion. Love, unaccountable passions of human nature, desire, hope, all the pleasing emotions of that we are at greater pains to appear easy the soul rise in the pursuit.

and happy to others than really to make It is easier for an artful man who is not ourselves so. Of all disparities, that in huin love, to persuade his mistress he has a mour makes the most unhappy marriages, passion for her, and to succeed in his pur- yet scarce enters into our thoughts at the suits, than for one who loves with the contracting of them. Several that are in greatest violence. True love has ten thou- this respect unequally yoked, and uneasy sand griefs, impatiences, and resentments, for life with a person of a particular chathat render a man unamiable in the eyes of racter, might have been pleased and happy the person whose affection he solicits; be- with a person of a contrary one, notwithsides that, it sinks his figure, gives him standing they are both perhaps equally fears, apprehensions, and poorness of spi- virtuous and saudable in their kind. rit, and often makes him appear ridicu- Before marriage we cannot be too inquisilous where he has a mind to recommend tive and discerning in the faults of the perhimself.

son beloved, nor after it too dim-sighted Those marriages generally abound most and superficial. However perfect and acwith love and constancy, that are preceded complished the person appears to you at a by, long courtship. The passion should distance, you will find many blemishes and strike root, and gather strength before imperfections in her humour, upon a more marriage bé grafted on it. A long course intimate acquaintance, which you never of hopes and expectations fixes the idea in discovered or perhaps suspected. Here, our minds, and habituates us to a fondness therefore, discretion and good-nature are of the person beloved.

to show their strength; the first will hinder There is nothing of so great importance your thoughts from dwelling on what is to us as the good qualities of one to whom disagreeable, the other will raise in you all we join ourselves for life; they do not only the tenderness of compassion and humanity,

Ovid. Trist. Lib. 2. 566.

and by degrees soften those very imperfec-ficed their good sense and virtue to their tions into beauties.

fame and reputation. No man is so sunk Marriage enlarges the scene of our hap- in vice and ignorance but there are still piness and miseries. A marriage of love some hidden seeds of goodness and knowis pleasant; a marriage of interest easy; and ledge in him; which give him a relish of a marriage where both meet, happy. A such reflections and speculations as have happy marriage has in it all the pleasures an aptness to improve the mind, and make of friendship, all the enjoyments of sense the heart better. and reason; and, indeed, all the sweets of I have shown in a former paper, with life. Nothing is a greater mark of a de- how much care I have avoided all such generate and vicious age, than the common thoughts as are loose, obscene or immoral; ridicule which passes on this state of life. and I believe my reader would still think It is, indeed, only happy in those who can the better of me if he knew the pains I am look down with scorn and neglect on the at in qualifying what I write after such a impieties of the times, and tread the paths manner, that nothing may be interpreted of life together in a constant uniform course as aimed at private persons. For this reaof virtue.

C. son when I draw any faulty character, I

consider all those persons to whom the

malice of the world may possibly apply it, No. 262.] Monday, December 31, 1711.

and take care to dash it with such particu

lar circumstances as may prevent all such Nulla venenato littera mista joco est.

ill-natured applications. If I write any

thing on a black man, I run over in my ADAPTED.

mind all the eminent persons in the nation My paper flows from no satiric vein,

who are of that complexion: when I place Contains no poison, and conveys no pain.

an imaginary name at the head of a chaI think myself highly obliged to the racter, 1 examine every syllable and letter public for their kind acceptance of a paper of it, that it may not bear any resemblance which visits them every morning, and has to one that is real. I know very well the in it none of those seasonings that recom- value which every man sets upon his repumend so many of the writings which are in tation, and how painful it is to be exposed vogue among us.

to the mirth and derision of the public, and Ås, on the one side, my paper has not in should therefore scorn to divert my reader it a single word of news, a reflection in po- at the expense of any private man. litics, nor a stroke of party; so, on the other, As I have been thus tender of every parthere are no fashionable touches of infi- ticular person's reputation, so I have taken delity, no obscene ideas, no satires upon more than ordinary care not to give offence priesthood, marriage, and the like popular to those who appear in the higher figures topics of ridicule; no private scandal, nor of life. I would not make myself merry any thing that may tend to the defamation even with a piece of pasteboard that is inof particular persons, families, or societies. vested with a public character; for which

There is not one of those above-men- reason I have never glanced upon the late tioned subjects that would not sell a very designed procession of his Holiness and his indifferent paper, could I think of gratify- attendants, notwithstanding it might have ing the public by such mean and base afforded matter to many ludicrous speculamethods. But notwithstanding I have re- tions. Among those advantages which the jected every thing that savours of party, public may reap from this paper, it is not every thing that is loose and immoral, and the least that it draws men's minds off from every thing that might create uneasiness in the bitterness of party, and furnishes them the minds of particular persons, I find that with subjects of discourse that may be the demand for my papers has increased treated without warmth or passion. This every month since their first appearance is said to have been the first design cf in the world. This does not perhaps re- those gentlemen who set on foot the Royal flect so much honour upon myself as on my Society; and had then a very good effect, readers, who give a much greater attention as it turned many of the greatest geniuses to discourses of virtue and morality than of that age to the disquisitions of natural ever I expected, or indeed could hope. knowledge, who, if they had engaged in

When I broke loose from that great body politics with the same parts and applicaof writers who have employed their wit and tion, might have set their country in a parts in propagating vice and irreligion, I flame. The air-pump, the barometer, the did not question but I should be treated as quadrant, and the like inventions, were an odd kind of fellow, that had a mind to thrown out to those busy spirits, as tubs appear singular in my way of writing: but and barrels are to a whale, that he may let the general reception I have found, con- the ship sail on without disturbance, while vinces me that the world is not so corrupt he diverts himself with those innocent as we are apt to imagine; and that if those -amusements. men of parts who have been employed in I have been so very scrupulous in this vitiating the age had endeavoured to rectify particular of not hurting any man's reputaand amend it, they needed not to have sacri- tion, that I have forborne mentioning even