The letters of Sir Thomas Fitzosborne, on several subjects

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t H E

LETTE RS

OF

Sir Thomas Fitzofborne,

O N

Several Subjects.

Jhjmtis ftgitus amkilU, Mart;
THE FIFTH EDITION.

LONDON,

Printed for R. and J. Dodslev in Pallmallj

M-DCCAVaii

ENQLISH

OXFORD

LIBRARY

- ^ ^ ' . . >

THE

CONTENTS.

Letter i. to Clytander :
/^nceming entbujtafm^ Page 1

Letter Hi to t^Hi LOTEs J
On portrait paintings 4

Letter IIL toPAlAMED^si
liefeSlioM on thi Rontan triumphs^ I o

Letter IV. to Ph i l OT e s :
On bis travek^ 1 5

Letter V. to Cl y t A n fi e r :
On the veneration paid to the antients, 30

Letter VL to O r o n T e s ;
^tbe character of Varus ^ 33

Letter VIL to Ho r T £ N si u s :

Returning him thanks for aprefent of brawn :

viitb

iv CONTENTS.

mtb an account of the author's manner of
celebrating the feajiy Page 2(1

Letter VUL to ClytandE'A:

In favor of a particular providence ^ 2 %

Letter IX. to Timoclea:
^panegyric upon riddks^ 37

Letter X* to Phidippus:
l^ejleBiom t^nfriendjhipy 41

Letter XL to Hortensius:
Againji fhodem Latin poetry. 47

Letter XIL to Am a s i a :
tFitb a taky j%

Letter XittL to^HitoTEs:
Written in aft ofthefpleen^ 57

Letter XIV. toORONTEs:

Concerning the negleSi of oratorical num--

hers. Obfervations upon Dr. Tillotfons

Jlyle. T^he care of the antient orators ivitb

refpeSl to numerous compofttion^Jiated and

recommended^ 5-9

Letter XV. to Cleora. 68

Letter

eeNT^NTs. T

Letter XVT. toPHiLOTEs:
^Againfi cruelty to infeSlsj Page 6p

Letter XVII. to the fame :
Upon bis marriage^ 73

Letter XVIII. toHaRTENSius:

KefleSliom upon the pajjion of fame ^ 75

. Letter XIX. toCLEQRA:

j^lying her tajie for myJUcal and romance
writers^ 80

Letter XX. toEuFHRONius:
ObferviHions upfnfme Pajfages in Mr. Popes
tran/lation of the IHady % z

Letter JQ^f. to C l e o» a : . 5)3

Letter XXU. tpPALEMON:
Againftfuicidey 96

Letter XXIII. to C L y T A N D E R :

Concerning his intentions to marry. The
cbaraBer of Arnqfta^ 10^

Letter XXIV. to Or o n t e a :
Qn metaphors^ 10^

Letter

w

■ vi C N T E N t S.

Letter XXV. to Ph x i. q t b s :

Psige ui

Letter XXVI, to P H I p I p p u s :
JlieJleBions on generojity^ i i^j

Letter XXVII. to S a p p h o :
a young lady of thirteen years of age, i ajr

Letter XXVIIL to Phidippus :

RefeBions upon tbefmtimenU of the antients
concerning friendjhip^ 129

Letter XXIX. to the fame :
Vpon gr9.ce in writings ij^^.

Letter XXX. toCLYTANDER:
Concerning the love of our country ^ 138

Letter XXXL to Palamedes :

144

Letter XXXII. to the fame :
9^ authors refolutions to continue in retire^
menty ^+f

Letter XXXIII. to P a l e m p n ;
^be cbaraSier of Horten/iay 1 48

Letter XXXIV. ioHortensius:
Concerning felfrreverenccy if5'

Letter

CONTENTS.

Letter XXXV. to C L E o R A :

nvitb an ode upon their wedding day^-

Page I y/

Letter XXXVI. toCLYTANDER:

Iteafons for the authors retirement : — a de-^
Jcription of the ftuation of his villa ^ i6l

Letter XXXVII. to Hortensius:
Comerning the Jiyle of Horace in his mord
writings, i66

Letter XXXVIII. to the fame :

Concerning the great variety of cbaraSiers
among mankind. The fingular charaBer
ofStihtes, lyj

Letter XXXIX. to Ph i d i ppo s :

. Concerning the criterion oftajitj i8l

Letter XL. ioPalamedes:
The charter of M^^^W^ 1 8p

Letter XLL to Orontes :

^e comparative merit of the twofexes, con^
fdered, . . ipa

Letter XLII to P a l e m o n :

Rf^£iions ufan the various rev$/ptiom fm

the

vSi CONTENTS.

the mind rf ^W^ ivitb re^eSt both to hit
fpecuhtivj^ notions^ and hi^ plans of hap--
pinejs^ Page ip8

Letter XLIHttQ Euphrqnius:

Ql^eBiom to fome pajages in Mr. Popis

tranfation of the Iliad^ aoi

«

Letter XLIV. to Pal AMi;i>ES:
Ji^ainfi viJitQrs. fyprofej^on^ 2i^3

Letter XLV. toHoRTENsius:

JtefeSiom up^n fame^ 'with refpe& to the
finall number of tbofe wbofe approbatioji
can be confderedm conferring tt^ zi^

Letter XLVL to Clytander:*

Concerning the reverence due ta the religion
of one's country y 22^

Letter XL VII. to Qx< E o r a : 233

Letter XL VIII. toEuPHRONius:

The public advantage of well dire^edfatire.
The moral qualifcations requifte to afa^
iiriji, ' ^IS

Letter XLIX. to Palamboss:
On his approaching marriage ^ ajl

Letter

CONTENTS. IX

Letter L. to EtrPlHRONi us :

■

Cpan goodfinjhy Page ^40

Letter LI. toPALEMON:
7be authors morning refieSHonSy 143

Letter LH. to Euphronius:

^oime paffages in Mr. Popes tranjlation of
the Siad^ compared "with the verjions of
Denham^ Dryden^ Congreve^ andTickel,

Letter LIII. to O r o n t e s :

R^feSHons upon feeing Mr. Popes bdufe at
Binfield^ irjj

Letter LIV. IoPhidippus:
l^be charaSier of Cleantbes^ a 8 a

Letter LV. to Euphronius^:
Comer ning ' nisearinefi of life^ 284

Letter LVL to T i m oc l e a :

With a fable ^ in theftyle ofSpenfer^ 288

Letter LVII. to Clytander :

Concerning the ufe of the antient mythology
in modem poetry ^ * v • . ^^^^

Letter

Letter LVIIL to E u phronius:
Occqfioned by the fudden death of a Friend i

Page 304
Letter LIX. to Hortensius :

C3f» the delicacy of every author of genius ^
with reJpeSl to bis onvn performances^

307
Letter LX. to P a l e m on J

An account of the authors bappinefs in his
retirement y 3 1 z

Letter LXl. to EuphroMius:
'KefleSlions uponjfyte^ 314

Letter LXIL toORONTEs:
7he charaSier oj Timoclea^ 319

Letter LXni. to the fame :

Concerning the art of verbal criticifm -, a
jpecimen of it applied to an ejigram of
Swift, ^11

Letter LXIV. to Philotes:
From Tunbridge, 328

Letter LXV. toORONTES:

Concerning d$licacy 4^ reliving the dijlref-
ftd, 330

Letter

CONTENTS. a

Letter LXVI. toCLEORA: 333

Letter LXVII. to Euphronius :

On the death and cbaraSler of the author^ $
father, 336

Letter LXVUL to Ph i l ot e s :

RefeSltons on the moral charaSler of man^
kindy 340

Letter LXIX. to the fame :

Concerning the difficulties that attend ourjpe^
culative enquiries. Mr. Boyle's modera-*
tion in/lanced and recommended y 343

Letter LXX. toPALAMEDEs;
In difgrace, 34P

Letter LXXI. toPniLOTEs:

T^he authors inability to dojuftice to the cha^
radler of Eufebes, 353

Letter LXXII. to the fame :

The author s Jituation of mind on the lofs of
a friend y 3 j<J

• V

Letter LXXIII. toPALAMEDEs:
On thinkingy . 355^

Letter

ill CONTENTS.

Letter LXXl^. to Oron TEs *

iRefleSiions on the advantsgis rf converfiaicn .*
mth a tranjlation of the celebrated Dia^
hgue concerning the rife and decline ofelo-'
■qitepce among the Romans^ 36 j

LETTERS

t * ]

^•1

L E T T E R S

O N

Several Subjects*

LETTER I.

TJCLYtANDER,

•• • r
I

• » ■

Sept. 1739b

{Entirely approve of your defignt
but whilfi I rejoice in the hope of
feeing Enthuiiafm thus fuccefsfully
attacked in her ftrongeft and moft ^itni-*
dable holds^ I would claim your mercy for
her in another quarter; and after having
expelled her i^bm her religious dominions,
tet me intreat you to leave her in the un-^
^ifturbed enjoyment of her civil pof-
ieHions. To own the truth^ I look upon
enthuiiaQn in all . other points but tibat of

B religion^

% LETTBRL

religion, to be a very neceflary turn of
mind ; as indeed it is a vein which nature
fecms to have marked with more or lels
fflreng^*in ifyi teinpieh of 9ibft D|fn. I^
matter tvhaf die objfedt is, whether biifi-
nefs, pleafures, or j^e fine arts j whoever
purfues them to any purpofe muft do fb
con amoni^ _and ii^moratps, you ]^ow>
of every kind, are all cnthufiafts/ Thdre
is indeed a certain heightening faculty
which univerlally prevails thro* our Se-
cies ; and Y^e are aU., qf yg, perhaps, in
our feveral favorite purfiiits, pretty much
in the circuxnftance§ of tjie cenowned
knight of La Mancha, wh^n he attacked
thl|^ l^b^r's brazen bafon, for Mambrino'^

W«4T IS Tully's 4/>01^ immenfim
inj^itu^ue, wfeich fee pf§M«^ Ift afpke
after in opatcyy, \^\ ft pie<« of trftfe rhc.-*

torical QiB?:ptifeft ? Y?l W«f, I wiU
Ven^\ire t$> §fSrna, ^^i^ei^ h« hwe glft^wd

with fo iigi^}}! el(^i|$|$ce^ ]^^ hft beoa

\v?rmei^ jyi^i 1^ eatfeufiafei, I MA .?«?<

fua^ed v?4ee4 ithgt lie^f^ great or glo^

5iQus w^s ev?r j»e^j:««t ^herc thk

^^% k^^ not ^ |)f iRQipdi coneeira > awi

as

UE TT*E K U ^

$s ottr paffioQS add vigor to our adiong^
enthufiafm gives fpirk to our paffions. t
might add ' too, that it even opens ami
enlarges our capacities. Accordingly I
have been informed, that one of the great
lights <4 ^ prefent age never fits dowil
to fhidy, till he has raifed his imagina-
tion by the power of mufic. For this
purpofe he has a band of inflruments
placed near his library, which play till he
finds himfelf elevated to a proper height ^
upon . which he gives a fignal, and they
inftantly ceaie.

But thofe bigB conceits which are fiig-
gefled by enthufiafm, contribute not only
to the picafure and perfection of the
^ne arts,, but tp moft other efFcdts of our
ai^on and induftry. To ftrike this Ipi-
rit therefore out of the human conftitu-
lion, to reduce things to their precife phi-
loibplScal ffeMa*^^ wouid be to trhcct
Ibme of th« mjdft "fli^hceh of fociety, and
to fix half the world in an ufclefs apathy.
For if enthufiafm ^d not add an imagi-
nffly value ite mdd ^f tfie objeds of our
pmfuit ;: if fency did not give them their
brightcft' colors, they would^ generallj^,^

B 2 perhaps,

4 L^E^ft E R IL

pcrliaj)^, wear an appearance too contcm-*.
ptible to excite defire ; i

Weary d wejhould lie down in death y "

Tins cheat of life would take no morey

If ym thought fame an empty breathy -
I Phillis but a perjured whore. Prior.

In a word, this enithufiafm for which F
am pleadiing, is a beneficent enchantrefs,
who never exerts her magic btit to our
advantage, and only deals about her friend*
ly fpells in order to raife imaginary beau-
ties, or to improve real ones. The worft
that can be faid of her is, that fhe is z;
feind deceiver and an obliging flatterer.
Let me conjure you then, good Clytander>^
not to break up her ufeful enchantments,,
which thus furround us on every fide;^
but fpare her harmlefs deceptions in mere
charity to mankind., I am, &c. ^

id H ii II tiHtummmmmmmmmfmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmtmmmmm ^) >i » -

L E TT E R 11.

To Philotes.

I SHOULD not have fuffcred fb long an
interval to interrupt our cbrrcfpon-.
d'ence, if my expedition to Euphronius.

< . . V . had

liE TT E R It 3r

had not wholly employed mc'fof thkCe
|af)r.£x: weeks* I hM: Huig proQiifed toi
ipend ibme timd With him b^ore he em-
harked y/xth his regiment for Flanders 2
and fis he^ is not one of thofe Hudibraftic
h^^s who choofe to run away one day»
thi^ they may live to. fight another ; I wa$
unwilling, to truft the opportunity of fee-
ing him^ to the very precarious contingency
of his return^ The high enjoyments he
leaves .behind him^ might indeed be a
pledge to his friends that his caution wopld
at leaft be equal to his couragCj if hi$
potions of honour were lefs exquifitely de-y
licate* But he will yndoubtedly adl w
if he had nothing to hazafd ; tlxough at
the fame tipie, from the generous fenfibi-
lity pfjiis temper> he feels every thing
^t hip faipily can fufFer in their fears for
his dmg^t* ^ I had an inftance whilft t
was in his l^oufe, how much EuphroniaV
apprehenfibngi for his fafety are ready to
take alarm upon every occafionc She eaU
led i^e ope day into the gallery to look
\ip0^.2l pidaire which was juft. come out.
of the painter's hands; butth<^ moi^ient
&e cairied me up to it;^ fhq burft out intp

B ^ a flood

I

4 t E ^ t' E R IE

ft flood ci£ tears. U wad drawA at the;iei
qtieft, and. aefter a dbfign of her fkdiet^s^
and is a performance which does great hp:«
Hour to the ingenious artift who executed
k. Euphronius is reprefented under the
character of Hcdlor when he parts frontt
Andromache, who is perfonated in the
piece by . Euphronia 5 as her filler,- who
holds their little boy in her arn>s^ is (ha-
dowed out under the figure of the beaud*
liil nurfe with the young Aftyanax.

I WAS fb much pleaied with the defi]^
HI this uncommon &niily*-piece, that I
thought it deferved partkuky mention 3
aS r could wifh it were to become a. gene-
ral fefliion to have aiT pitftures of' the
fame kind executed in fom&fuch mamier^
If inftead of furnifhing a coom wkh iepa*
rate portraits, a whole family were to be
^us introduced into a fingle piece, and
reprefented under' feme interefHng hlAo-
tical fubj€<9:, fuitable to their rank aind cha-
rafter 5 portraits, which are now fo gene-*
ralh^ and fo defervedly defpifed, might bc-^
come of real value to the public. By this
means hiltery-pairiting would be eftcou-
j^ged among us, and a xi^ulous vaniiy

•^ turned

tamir Xii litt= 'ittipco'iieth&ail tf oti^ t£ t^
lUdft'iaf&uaSvdl, a weOf a» d^t nioIV pftikfi'
ni^, of tAte'iftuilsftivit am; Thtofewho ile-^
«er eoiltfi&uitedf a fihgle' benefitf to d^ii^
o#nr-agf, ilitJr ^'eVcr be mehtiohed' ift*
any after-one, mi^ht by this taeaHit ^ni-^
laojr dicir pridfe ind'thdr cijJenCd m i>ky,
t»&i(ch' TtMit rfcttdef ■ them enfeirtaihirigf
and' nfgffif Ijddi vo ifee ftfeibnt atttf fotui^
. times; ft \*ttuld' ttdji&tty indfettdi grdil?
j^dgmeiitl and' addre^ iti- the p^nidt-, tb'

diorife ittrf iteodunettdi^ fvrtij«6fe phifxii' ify^
dft' varfbns chsWii^eft ^*!nch Woulcf i^-
ftttt .dkemfelVtfS tb fii^ psinbii'j- arid Uh--^
doubtedly we (hould fed- ixiaiiy en6rtiibtis'
abi(bfditte&. pod^f^e4>> if this £i^hJK>n>
were univer^ly to be followed. It would
ceilaial)s< howevdf»- affiled 9 g}oiiottS'iiGopiep
to g^i»s;; and {>robabl)i^ ^pply iK,> in.
4,U6 tij?i«G> with' iosMf. |iir^udkMi8- wJlich/
might be mentioned with thofe of the,

lifiotf cdebtattd ^(x>\k 1 am perttiaded^
at Itaft, diif gRar taiehts Havt beeri fbme---
times- loft' to dils airt; by beitig corifitlied'
to die diiU, tho* pr5flial>lfe', latJotir of fehfe-
lefs portraits J dsTfliotlldWdbufct; if'di*-

method Ism ^sakiiig-ofiweit tQ take dP. '

^ B ^ feft.

• I

j^(3:, ^> ta fee that veiy piiotruh^g ^gtiu^s^v
yrho', , in confequcpcc; of your ge^efpus.
offices, is now forjqung his .hand by the
noblefl; models in Rpme^. prove a rival tOr
l^ofe great mafters/ whofc works . he is ,
iludying. . .:•;!*-' ' ^! V .^ ;
Ixcaonot, X thi'okj^be denied, thattha
prevailing fgndnefs J of having our perfons
copied out forpofteqty, js, in the prpfent;
application of it, a mofl; abfurd anj^ ufclefe
vanity J as in -general,,, nothing affords a
ipore ridiculous fcene, . than , thofe gro^/
tefcj^ue figures which Jifually line the man*
fion^" of a man ^yho. is fond of di^laying
his canyas-anceftry.:'^ : : .

• "•»*■ *

(5^ Meavh ! thatfifts and knaveiJhouU he
' jb vmfty •

Tb ^ mjh their . t^//^ refemblance may remain i
J^nd^^nd; recoVded^ at their &wn requejly '
^ofuture-times alibetoraje^. DftYDEJf. *

You^muft by no means^ however, ima-
gine that I abfolutejy condemn this lower
application. of one. -of the, nobleft arts. It
has certainly a vejy juft ufe, when em-^
pjoyed in perpetuating the tefemblances of
•tlfnat p^ of pur fpecies, who haye diftiq- .

9

LETTER n.

limfhed themfelves in their re(peftive ge^'
nerations... To be defifous of in acquaint-^
ance with the perfons of thofe who have
recommended themfelves by their wrlfc-
ings or their adlions to our efteem and ap*
plaufe, is, a' very natural" and reafonable
curiofity. For myfelj^ at leaft, Lhave of-
ten found much fatisfa(ftion in^ contem-
plating a well-chofen colledlion of the
portrait kind, and compa'rifi'g-the tnlnSJP
a £iVorite bharader, -is-il^wks feither^xi
prei&d or concealed iitits-'ditt^rnal Unea-^
^ents. There: is fodseching tikewife tx^-
tBBmely animating 'in thelil lively repft-^
fcntations of celebrated. merit :• And it i^ii^
anobferv«tic«i.Qf,.oiie ofthe^Scipio's^-to'
he could xiever view the figures of^ hfe an-i>
qeftprs without : finding; his l56fofti 'glow^
with the moff ardent . pafBon of itnitdfingi
^ir deeds. However, as the >days of-
^empiary. virtue are now no more, and'
\ye are not> niany of us, difpofed to ttJanf-*
mit the rooft inflaming models to future
times; it woixld be but prudence, me-
thinks, if we are refolved to niake pofte-^
rity ac<jaainted with the. peribns of die/

preientr:

..,1

a-

4. ...

%p liETTfi^ III.

prefent age» th^ H {hi)uiA be bjr viewwg
them in the z£)ao0& tof the p^..
I am> &c.

4^

■««i»i

L E T T E R IS.

7aFAt.AM£D£Sk .

NOTwiTusTJiOimH^ the fine tladli^i
you alkdge ki favor cf the BLo-^
nm^ 1 4». v^t yeft find m3ir&lf di^ofedt
to becooais a com^ect to your opmioR': Oft^
fli^^ CjEintr^^ I am ftill obflinate enou^T
tpmalntitta 1^ diie fame of your adiaired;
Hatif)i\ is moie dacszliiig th»^ Mdy and^
Qwkig rather to: iisbk fai& jpti^udicM^
VfHck we are earl^ tmi^t to conceive o^
ih^mp, idban^to^eirreaL aitdl kitrinfic me^
lit JUf cojoqu^ indeed^ be the genuii;^'
g^oy oil ailate, and estenfive. dominions
the: moft infallible tefl: of natbnal viitue ;.
itmuA beradlmo^vlfidiged: that no peopie'
in.^ hiflory ha^e fo joft a demand of otiir
admimtion. But if we* take an impartial •
view of diisi qelebrated^ n^ioni perhapr
xsisdi.Qf our applaufe may abate. When

we

1. E T T K R in I,;

Gootemj^ate tkeo), £br inJKapcCj withiA
OW9 waUs» what do we fee but the
if^gtrou^ q;)nyuUio|i$ of an ill-r^guiateq
poliipy i as.iye cJtnfeldoffi, I Wiev^, cx).n-
^dec t^^fl^. with rci^^t tp forei^q .^^*^

4omh without tji^ utQioiJ^^bhorrpo^e. ai>4
J»5%iatiqn.

1^ H T t^F<} is nothisg Which places thefe
ib^ o£i ^qxpuhxi lower ift nx^^ .eftim^tipiij^
^l^i^^ 1^0^ uiMpaxk^ ccmdu A in the article
of tbdf t^iffiifipl^ I nqiW^.PPpfeft, a< the
iafl^ tiip?^ tj^at. tfecy hM tljs fw^ion o^

^:%P^. tej i^J!??/y, ^^^ ^ f^^^ pradice.

Bi^dwsx oc Caa Sir. IfaaQ Newton has
pr^vfsd), thf Egyptian Sefqftris, after his
t^^rn^ifpa^ i^ ^ve'the^

§rfl: iiaftaof^e of this lapgenerpus ceremo-
ify. But' ti^Qr his d^vinitj? was conifefled iiS;
many Qtber parts ^f tb^ worldf his ex-,
^$iplq dops not feem tojiayje.been followed'
till we findit cppied outio all its.infolent
po^p at Ron;ie. ^

. It is impoffible to read the defcrip-
tions of tbefc- arrogant exhibitions of pro-^
iperity. and. not be ftruck with indigna-.
tioa at tl)is. barbarous , mpthod of infult-
ing the calamities of the unfortunate.

One

i 1 E T T E R Ilf.

» •

One would be apt, at the firfl: glance, fcf
iufpedt that e^ery fentiment of humanity^
muft be e^tinguifhed in a people, who^
could behold \vith pleafui*e the moving
inftartces, which thefc fblemnities afford-
ed, of the caprice of fortune j and could
fee .the higl^eft potentates of the eartlV
dragged froiH their thrones, to fill up the
f)roud parade of thefe ungenerous tfi-
tioiphs. But the prevailing maxim which
ran thro* the ^hole fyftem of Roman po-
ntics was, to' encourage a Ipirit of conv'
queftj and theft honors were evidently
calculated to awaken that uiijuft pnnci-^
pFe of miftaken patriotifme Accordingly^'
By the fundamental laws of Romej ne?
general was entitled to a triumph, unlefe'
le had added fome new acquifidon to
Her poiTeffions. To fupprels a civil ihftir-
recflion, however dangerous; to recover
any former member of her dominions, '
however important ; gave no claim to this
iupreme mai:k of ambitiou$ diftinftion.
For it was theh- notion, itfeems, (andVa-
ferius Maximus is my authority for fay-
ing fo) that there' is as much difference
bctv^een adding to the territories of :a

commoU'^

L-E T- T B R Illr n

ccanmonM^^ealth, an(]^ reftoring thofe i<
has loft, as between the adtual conferring
of a benefit, and the mere repelling of
an injury. It was but of a piece, indeedj,
that a ceremony conducted in defiance of
humanity, ihould be founded in con^
tempt of jufHce i and it was natural enough
that they ihould gain by opprefiion^ what
they were to enjoy by infult

If we confider Paulus. iEmilius after
his conquefl of Macedoniaj making his
public entry, into Rome, attended by
the unfortunate Perfeus. and his infant fa-
milyj and at the fame time refled upon
our Black Prince when he pafled thro'
London with his royal captive, after the
glorious battle of Poidliers; we cannot
fail of having the proper fentiments of a
Roman triumph. What generous mind
who law the Roman conlul in all the gid-
dy exaltation of unfeeling pride, but;
'would rather (as to that fingle circum^
ifamce) have been the degraded Perfteus,
than the. triumphant uiEmilius ? There is
fomething indeed in diftrefs that feflefts
a fort of merit upon every bbjefl: which
is fo. fituated, and turns off our attention

from

H L E T T E R m.

tiota thofe bletnifties that ftaift evjgn ihi
moft vitious chartafters. Accordingly in
the inftance of which I ata fpeaking, thd
J)crfidiouS tnohirdh was overlooked in the
fiiffering Perfeils ; and a fp^dlacle fo af-
fe6ting checked the joy of conqufeft evea
In a KOttxan bf eaft. For Pltitarch affureaf
m, 'when that worthlefs, but unhappy,
prince was obferve^, together with his
two fons and a daughter, marching a-
ihidft the train ofpriibners; nature was
too hard for cJuftom, and many of the
ftedators melted into a flood of tears.
!put with what a genefoUs tehdernefs did
the Britilh hero coridu<9: hirtifelf upon an
occafion of the fame kind ? Ht employ-
6'd all the artful addrefs of the 'moft re-
fined humanity, to conceal from his un-
happy prifoner every thing that could re-
mind him of *his diigrace ; and the wholef
pomp that was difplayed upon this dcca-'
fion, appeared fingly as intended to lightfeh
the weight of his misfortunes, and to do
honor to the vanquifhed monarch.

You wifl remember, Palamedes^ 1 am
only confidering the Romans in a political
view, and peaking of diem merely in-

their

LE T T E R m. %J

charader. As to individuals^
you know, I pay the highed veneration td
many that rofe up amongft them. It
would not indeed be juft to invdve partis
^ulars, in general reflefUons of any kind :
and I cannot but acknowledge ere I clofe
my letter, that tho' in the article I have
l)een mentioning, the Romans certainly
aded a moft unworthy part towards their
public enemies, yet. they ieem to have
maintained the moft exalted notions of
condu£t with relpefl: to their private ones.
That noble (and may I not add, that Chri-i>
ftian) fentiment of Juvenal,

minuti

»

Semper et infirmi ejl animi exiguiqiie wluptasi
Vltio.

was not merely the refined precept of their
more improved philofophers, but a gene-
ral and f>opuIar maxim among them : and
that generous fentiment fo much and &
defervedly admired in the Roman orator ;
Non pcmitet me mortales inimkitiaSy fempi^
ternas amcitias haberey was, as appears
firom Livy, fo* iifiiverfaUy received, as ta
become even a proverbial expreflion. Thus
Sakiit likewiie, I remember, ipeaking of
/ the

a4 li E TTER IV.

the Virtues of the antient Romans, mett^
itions it as their principal charafteriftici
that oipon all pccafions they fliewed a dif-^
4)Qi[i(ion rather to forgive dian revenge ait
injury. But the falfe notions they had
.enabracfed concerning the glory of their
.country; taught them to fubdue every
afFedion of humanity, and extingtiifh e-
very dictate of juftice which oppofed thai
deftrudlive principle. It was this ipirit;
however, in return and by a very juft
confequence, that proved at length thet
means of their total deftrudion . Fare wel .

\ ■ ' . •

\

«

L E TTER IV.

*
*

>

ToPhilotes.

»

•,
«.

July 4, 1743. ;

jw'jrTHiLST you are probably enjoy -r
. VY ing blue fkies and cooling grots ;
I am fhiveririg here in the nxidft of fum-,
men The molles fub arbore fomniy the
J^eluncce vivique kcus^ are pleafures which,
we in England can feldom tafte but in
defcription. For in a climate> where the

warmeft

. L E T t E R IV. ty

vrarmeft feafon is frequently little better
tiian a milder ibrt of winter, the fun i^
much too welcome a gueil to be avoided;
If ever we have occafion to complain of
him, it mufl: be for his abfenee : at leaH:
I have feldom found his vifits trouble-
{omc. You fee I am ftill the fame cold
mortal as when you left me. £ut what^
ever warmth I may want in my conftitu-
tion, I . want none in , my afFedtions i gnd
you have not a friend who is more ardently
yours than I pretend to be. You have in-
deed fuch a right to my heart from mere
gratitude, that I almoft wi/h I owed you
lefs upoti that account, that I might give it
you upon a more difinterefled principle.
However, if there is any part of it which
you cannot demand in juftice, be aflured
you have it by affection ; fo that, on one
or' other of thefe titles, you may al\yays
4lq>etid :upon me as wholly yours. Can
it be neceiTafy after this, to add, that I re*
ceivjed your letter witib lingular fatisfadtion,
as ii;,brought me an account of your wcU
iof^ and of the agreable manner in which
jjf^p^f% yp^r tim? ? If there be any rqom
to tviHi ypii an increafe of pleafure, it is,
^ , C perhaps.

/

i8 L E T T E R IV.

perhaps, that the three virgins you men-
tion, were a few degrees handfomer and
younger. But I would not defire their
charms fhould be heightened, were I not
fure they will never leflen your rcpofe 5 for
knowing your Stoicifm, as I do, I dare truft
your eafe with any thing lefs than a god-
defs : and thofe females, I perceive, arp
fo far. reflioved from the oirder of divini-^ -
ties, that they feem to require a cofifidcr-.
able advance before I could even allow
them to be fo much as women.
* I T was mentioned to nie die other day^
that thef e is "fome probability we may fee
you in England by the winter. When I
confidered only my private f*dsfai9it)n, I
heard this with a Very feniible pleafure»
feut'^As I hav^ ldftg4earfled » fubtftit my
0^*1 iiiterfef^s to yours^ I could lii^t but re-
grfet thef6 v^»8 a likelihood of your being
fo^on called off item oiie of the ntdft ad^
vahtageoiis o^pbirtftiiitigB of imprOVtment
thdfe <:an attend a fehfible mind. An kigc^
ftioiis Italian author of your acquaitttattcei.
fcompafes it judicfous traveller' to a livef
^^increafes4ts ftream the farther it itews
from its fourcej or t^erlaih fpifingsv which
"' 1 ^ running.

LettEjR iv. 10

Iruhning liiro rich veins of mineral, im-
prove their qualities as they pafs along.
It were pity, then ypu (hc^uld ^e checked
in fo ufeful a progrefs, and diverted from
a courie, from whence you hiay deriverfo
many noble advantagea^ You have Ju-
• therto, I imagifl^j. been able to 4o Uttle
more th*n lay in mtkm^s for.your jnain
de%iii , JBuj jfix jfnoajtbfi now, tvoijlidrgive
you/ a truer ' notion of jvhat isj*prthy of
phfervaCkm /in the countriear dhrfp which
you pafei dian twice, that tipae when ypu
were lefe acquainted, with the lajaguag^;
-The truth is^ 'till a mail is capable of coa-^
V^erfiog with eafb among the natives, of any
c^^nitry, he csoi tiever be able - to form a
juft and adequate • idea- of dieir |)olicy znd
cnanneiis; He who iits at'a play, without

underibtnding diedidledi:, may indeed dif-'
cover which of the:4i»^ca*s are bell 4r6fftiy
and how weii the £:eiies are :pai^d i>t
di^oTdd ', but die <:^rad:ers ^nd conduct
iDf:ihe:ftfaiha mift foir ever remain i fe-

cret t3D:fadm. Adiecu ^ ^

• •

' I !> . X,"'- ' ,-•1
1 . . . ^. J i. - ,

• • ■ , r

1 . ' ■• . « . , . . ♦

r «

f
1 ♦ 1 '

I .. J

C a L £ T-

L E T T E R V.

To CtYTANDER.

IF I had befen a party in the coxiver-
fation you mention, I fliould ^ have
joined, I believe, with- your friend in fop-*
porting thofe fentimefits-you feem to con-
demn. I will venture indeed to ackno^v^-
kdge, that I have long been of opinion,
the moderns pay t66 blihd a deference to
the antients j and though I have the high-
eft veneration for Teveral of their remdns,

yet I am inclined to think they have occa-
lioned us the lofs of fome excellent wi-
ginals. They are the proper and beft
glides, I allow, to thofe who have not
the force to ftrike out new^ paths. But
whilft it: is thought fufficient praife to be
their followers, geniu$ is checked in her

' flights, and mjany a fair tra(9: Ues undif-
coverejdjn the boundlefs regions of imagi-

- Option. Thus, . had Virgil trufted more
to his native ftrength, the Romans, per-
haps, might have feen an original Epic in
their language. But Homer was confider-
ed by that admired poet as the facred ob-r

LETT E R V. at

jed of his firft and principal attention i and
he fccmed to think it the nobleft triumph
of genius, to be adorned with the ipoils
of that glorious chief

You will tell me, perhaps, that even
Homer himfelf was indebted to the an-
tients ; that the full ftreams he difpenfed,
did not flow from his own fource, but
were derived to him from an higher. This,
I acknowledge, has been aflcrted : but af-
ferted without proof, and, I may venture
to add, without probability. He feems t6
have flood alone and unfupported y and to'
have ftood, for that very reafon, fo much
the nobler objedt of admiration. Scarce
indeed^ I imagine, would his works have
received that high regard which was paid
to them from their earlieft appearance, had
they been formed upon prior models, had
they fhone only with refleded light.

But will not this fervile humor of fub-
jefting the powers of invention to the guid-
ance of the antients, account, in fome de-
gree at leaft^ for our meeting with fa
ftn^ll a number of authors who can claim
the merit of being Originals' ? Is not this a
Jdnd bf fubmiflioni that damps the fire and

C ?• , weakenai

1^% L E T T E R V.

weakens the vigor of tfic mmd ? For tfiij
antients feem to be confidered by us as fo
manj^ guards to prevent the free excuriions
of imagination, and fet bounds to her flight,
Whereas they ought rather tp be looked
upon (the few, I mean^ who are theiii^
felves originals) as encouragements, to a full
and uncontrouled exertion of her faculties^
But if here or there a poet has covu^c
enough to truft to his own unafliftcd reaqh
of thought, his example does not feem {q
itiuch to incite others to make the fame
adventurous attempts, as to confirm theni
m the humble difpofition of imitation. For
if he fucceeds, he immediately becomesi
himfelf the occafion of a thoufand models;
if he does npt, he is pointed put as a dif*
couraging inftance of the folly of renounc-
ing thpfe cflabliflied leaders which anti-
quity has authorized. Thus invention is
depreffed and genius enflavecj ; the ama-
tive power of poetry is ioft, and the inge-
nious, inftead of exerting that pro4u(5live
fijculty which alone can fender them the
jjuft ' objefts of adrturation, are hjtimbly
gontfented with borrowing, both the negate-
lials and the jdans of their mimic. ftf^C;:
tures. J am, &c. LET-

^ [*3 ]

L E T T E R VI.

^0 Orontes,

March lo, 1729.

THERE is nothing perhaps, where-
in mankind are more frequently
miftaken^ thai} in the judgments which
they pafs on each other. The ftrongeF
lines, indeed, in every man's charadkcr,
rouft always be m$u:}^ed top clearly and di-
flin/ftly to deceive even the moft carelefs
obferverj and no one, I am perfuaded,
wa3 ever efteemed in the general opinion
of the world as highly deficient in his mo^
ral or intelle(ftual qualities, who did not
juftly merit his reputation. But I fpeak,
only of thoiie more nice ai)d. delicate traits
which diilinguifh the feveral degrees of
probity and good-fenie, and afcertain the
quantym (if I fn^y ib.exprels it) of humaii
merits JFhe powers of the foul are fo of..
ten concealed by modefty, diffidence, tir
inidity, and a thoufand other accidental
aifedions ^ and the nice complexion of hep
moral oper^ons depends {q entirely oq
^oit internal principles frpm whence they

Q ± proceed j^

^4 LETTER VI.

proceed s tjiat thofe who fornv their nor
|:ions of others by cafual and diftant views,
muft unavoidably be l^d intp very errone-*
ous judgments. Even Orontes, with all
his candor and penetration, is not, I per-
ceive, entirely fecure from miftakes of thi»
fort ; and the fentiments you expreffed in
your laft letter concerning Varus, are by no
means agreeable to the truth of his cha^
radter .

It muft be acknowledged at the fame
time, that Varus is an exception to all ge-
neral rules : neither his head nor his heart
are exa<5lly to be difcovered by thofe in-
dexes, which are ufually fuppofed to point
diredly to the genius and temper of other
men. Thus with a memory that will
icarce ferve him for the common purpofcs
of life, with an imagination even more flow
^han his memory, and with an attention
. diat could not carry him thro the eafieft
proportion in Euclid ; he has a fouqd and
excellent underftanding joined to a refined
and exquifite tafte. But the rcftitude of
his fentiments feems to arifc lefs from re-
flexion than fenfation ; rather fron:i certain
(t^itable feelings which the ohjefts that pre-

fent

LETTER VL i§

^nt diemfdves to kis coniideration mftanu
ly occafion in his mind, than from die
energy of any active faculties which he is
capable of exerting for that purpofe. His
con^^rfation is unentertaining : for tho he
talks a great deal, all that he utters is deli-
vered with labor and heiitation. Not that
his ideas are really dark and confufed ; but
becaufe he is never contented td convey
them in the firft words thalt occur. Like
the orator mentioned by Tally, metuens ne
vitiojum colUgeret^ etiam verum Janguinem
deperdebaty he expreffes hitofclf ill by al-
ways endcav6rihg to exprefs himfelf bet-*
ter. His reading cannot fo properly be laid
to' have rendered him knowing, as not ig-^
norant : it-has rather enlarged, than filled
his mind.

His temper is as*" Angular as his geniiis^
and both equally roiilaken by thofe who
only know him a little. If you were to
judge of hipv by 'hjs general appearance,
you would believe him incapable of all the
more delicate fenfations : neverthelefs, y\,r)r
der a rough and boifterous behavior, .h.0
conceals a heart full of tenderneis and hu-
inanity. He has a feniijpility of nature, inn

deed.

ad L £ T T E R VH.

d^dy beyond wh^t I ever ohferved ih sny
©ther main ; iimd I feave often fqen him af«.

fed^ed by thofe lijttle dijcumftwcep, whkfh
would make no impreflion on < mind pf
Icil ,f jfqiiiifitQ feeUftg?* TU^ cytr^me fen-,
fibility in hk tedap^r inflaeniges his fpecu^r
Igtjioqs ^ weli s? .hif 8^oa?; and he Hch
Y§rp belweeo.VMipus hyp^^efes witbom
^tling uponftuyi by giving importance
Ip thofe xxmvt^K difllc^ties which woui4
not be ftrong enough to fufpepd a mor^

t^ye 9nd vigoFous mind. In a word^
Varus is in. the number of thofe whon*
it is impof&ble not to admire^ or not to de^
4)ifei and at the fame time that he iis the
efteem of all his friends,, he is the con^
tempt of all his ac(|uaintance« I am, ^c^

u

w
I

L E T X ^ R vn.

- ' Hh HORTENSIDS.*

I

yp u R excellent brawn wanted no ad-sr
ditional recommendalion to make it
xx3toi:e acceptable, but that of your compa^*
By. However jthp I cannot fliare 4 witk

LETTER VIL sy

jny friend, I devote it tp his memory, and
majke daily offerings of it to a certain di«
vinity, whpfe temples, tho now well-
pigh deferted, were once held in the higln
eft veneration : ihe is mentioned by an*-
tient autjiors under the name and title cf
piVA AMiciTiA- To her I bring ^^c
victim you have furnii^ed me with, in all
the pomp of Ron:ian rites* Wfea^erf with
the iacred vfttdy and qx)wned yvith ^
bmnch pf rofemary, I place it pn an altar
of well poKflied mahogony, where I pouf
libations over it of acid wipe, and fprinkle
it with ilcur of muilard. I deal but cer«^
tain portions to thofe who aiCft fit this for
cial ceremony, reminding them, with aa
Hoc age^ of the impprta^it bufinef^ ^poa
which they are affemUed ; and cpnclud<^
jhe feftival with this votive couplet :

jGfa/2 as tbis brawn the ^rcling fillet iimb^ :
Mayfriendjhifs jarred bands unite wrmndsJl

' Farewel.

• < ' 1 «

I.ET*

[28]

L E T T E R VIII.

Tg C ^ y T A N D B R.

t

- - ■ . • ,

' • July 2, 1736.

Yo u muft have been greatly diftref-
fed indeed, CJytander, when you
thought of calling me in as your, auxili-
ary, in the debate you mention. . Or was
it riot rather a motive of generofity which
fuggefted that defign ? and you were wil-
ling, perhaps, I fhould (hare the glory of
a vidtory which you had already fecured^
Whatever yotn- intention was, mine is al-
ways to comply with your requfefts ; * and
I very readily enter the lifts, . when I ani
at once to combat in the caufe of truth
and on the fide of my friend.

I T is not ncceflary, I think, in order to
eflibli{h the credibility of a particular Pro-
vidence, -ta deduce it (as your objcftor, I
find, feems to require) from Iqiown ^n4
undilputed fafts, I fhould be exceedingly
cautious in pointing ' out any fuppofed in-
fiances of that kind; as thofe who are
fond of indulging^ themfelves in determin-
ing die precife cafes wherein they ima-
ging

LET t: E K Via !ip

glite the immediate interpdfition hi the Di-
vinity is dij(coverftble, x^en run into [thb
weakeft and itioft injttrious' iuperftkion^.
It is impof&ble indeed, unlefs we ^ were
capable of looking thro the whole chain df
things, arid of viewing each elFed in its re"-
mote conhe^ions and final iifuOB,' ttD.prd-
nouticft o^f any'coritingeftiy,' that iti6>tfta(<>-
•lately afid'4^ its ultimst!^ t^^i^^enci^s dtfwr
good or b«J. '^ 5rt&rf/ '^mir only be l^Wn
by the gre« Author of iwture, who ^Gonj-
prebends *the foil extent of otir totaF
exigence,- and fees the infhience which
every particular circuniftattce will have in
-the general fam of our' happinefs. Bi*
tho (he peculilur points of divkie int^rpo^
fi^ion' atd thus fteceflarilyi and froni ihb
narurad imperfeiftion oF our difcerning^ fii^
ctilties, extreniely dubious ; yet it caii by
no means from- thence be juftly inferred,
diat the doda^ne of a particular Providence
is cidier groundlefs or abfurd : the geneml
priiidple may be true, tho the application
of. it to any given purpofe be involved ia
very inextricable difficulties^ -

The notion, that the material world is
governed by general ma:hanical laws, has

/ induced

^6 1 E t T E R Vlli.

4nducjed your ffknd to ai|[ue^ that <' it is
^^ probable the Peity fhpuld a<ft by tb^
« iameruk ofcbadiid: in thcjntelle^ual j
r5« .and teatf e mor^l agents «nttrel]^. to th^fe
V** .ts»h^uem)es ;]w?bich ' ixbccffmly, refujt
>« : ftotti the particular exer^ifc Oififiheir OJJt-
J^jpml powfe^s/' But this hjtpothefis takas
^ <|ueilion fpr grant^d^ which requires
.mk^i^h proof before it csin behadmitited-
The grand principle which . |)feferve$ thi*
^.^€«n of ^ iwiverfc ift ,5tlUt8 haritKHji-^
'W« wder, is gravity, or th*<:property by
Hhrbtdi ftllthi^ip&rtielea of ^totter mutually
itfcBii to :e&gh:«*fcei:. Now. «hi4 i5;a powec,
it is acknowlei^ed, Which 4pe§ iK>t ef]fe{^*
43ftUy refide in ftiattec, bywt!inu^ be ulti-
rtaat^y derived from the afliQn of feme Im^
-material caufe. Why therefore jtnay it
\nbt reafonably be (nppoS^ to he the e^
fena of tlie divine Agency, imniediately and
.conftantly operating for the Ipreier vation bf
this wonderful mathine of natw^? Certaki^
ist ieaft, it is» thkt the expiicaticm whic^i
£ir iiaac Newtbn has endeavoured to ghoe
of this amazing phenonienon^ by means
X)£ his fubtil ether, has nqL afforded ani-
rverf^ iatis&Sion.;^ and it is the opinion jc£^
i; very

LETT E R \^IL 31

yery great writer, who ftehi$ to have gone
f&t ihto enquirks of this atD^lrufe kind, that
the numbei'Ie&ie^^ts of this power are iiH
.Explicable upon niechanicaP principles, or
in any other Way thaA by having' itecourid
to a ipiritual agent, who cohncdi, moves,
and dilpofes all things according to fucH
methods as bdPI comport with his income
preh6nfibleputp<^$. *

But fuccefsful ■villainjr^-aitid opprefled
virtue are deemed, I perciiVCj in the ac*
count of your ftiend, as poWcrful inftanccs
to prove, diat the Supreme Being remaini
kn unintei^poffing fpedbuqr of what is tran£-
a<£ted iipon this theatre of the worlds
However, ei!:e this af;gument CsLti have a
detemuimig Wteigjat,. it tnuft be prcfVed
(which yet, iurely, nidver can be prt>V^d,)
that ptofperous iliiquity has all tbofe ad^
vantages in reality, which it may feeni tv
have iti appearaHQc 3 and th^t diole aocir
dents whidi are ufually ifi^emed a$ QfX^
mides, 4o in truth, and in the juft fcal^
'€)f things, defervc to be diftinguifhed bf
th&t is^pdlatioQ. It b a noble %ing of thp
-philofophper eked by Sebtda, te " th^p
*^ ctonot ba a. mbre imh^|)y^ man iftj^

« world.

3*2 LETTER. Vim

«* world, than : he who has never expcrir
«« enced adverlity/' There is nothing, per*
haps, in which mankind are more ^t t6t
make falfe calculations ihm in the article
both of their own happinefs and that of
others ; as there are few, 1 believe, who
have lived any time in the world, but have
found. frequent occafions to fay with' the
poor hunted ftag in the fable, who was
entangled by thofe horns he had but juft
b^bre been admiring ;

O me infelicem ! qui nunc demim ihte^go^
Vt ilia mihi profuerint qua deffexeramy . ;
Et qua laudaram quantum htSius bahieriht I

If we look back upon the fentiments of
i>afl age§, we fhall find, the opinion for
which I am contending has prevailed from
the remoteft account of time. It mufi:
undoubtedly have entered the [world as
learly as religion herfelf ; fince all iii^itu^
tions of that kind muft nccefEirily be.fQund-
«d upon the fuppofition of a particular
Providence. It appears indeed to have
been the favorite dodrine of fome of thr
mofl diflinguiftied names in antiquity. Xer
nophon tells us, when Cyrus led otit.hi&

army

L B t T E R VIII. 5j

army againft the Aflyrians, the Wbrd whidh
he gave to his fohfiers wis, ZET2 2TM-
JMAXOS;KAlf urmiiNy "Jupiter our
*^ auxiliary and conduSor:'* and he re-
prefents that prince as^ attributing futcefs
even in the Iports dF Ae field) to divine
provideilCe. Thui, likewife, Timoleon- (as
the iuthbr of his lift aflurtsi us) believed
every aftion of lAahkind to be UAder the
immediate influence of the, Gods : and
JLivy remarks of the; firft Scipio Afri-
cahus, that he never undertook any kn«
j)ortant aflfair, eidicr of private or pub-
lic concern; without going to the Gapitol
in order to inriplore; the afliftance of Jupi-
ter. • Balbus the iStoic, in the dialogue
on thfe nature of the gods, . exprefly de-
clares fof^a particular providence: and.Cl^
cero himfelfj.in one: of bi^ orations, im-
putes that Superior glpry which attended
the Roman- nation, fingiy to this animat-
ing perfuafion. But none of the. antients
fcem to have had a ftronger impreflion of
this truth upon their minds, than the im-
moftkl, Homer. Every page in the works
of that divi,ne,poct' will furnifli proofs of
this obfervation. 1 cannot however forr

' D - • bear

» »

34 L E f T. E R Vl^.

.b?ar nicntioni^ o^? or two reiiiark^bfe

Usances, which juft npw occur to'jxie.

-When thj?, Gr^chwi chiefs caft Jots whigi

'of them /ihqt^ld ; acc^j^. titve challenjgc pf

Hcdor> the *ppet d^fcrihfes thp ]arnjiy ^^

lifting 'up thtir: ^y^ :an4 hapds to heaven,

/and irtiploriog th? gods -diat t|iey wouyl

direidk . theitt to; fall i^n pnp of; t^ir moft

.'diftiuguifijedJbier^s^ ..

• !5(> iifeewife Antenor.^ propofca tQ thfc Tro-
^JeSls' tfie'reftitiitiori of Hallen^ W haying

iio 'li^s, h^'tqlk tSiein, ^at.^i^y'thiag
' wotrtd fucceed with, fhein^after dipy hs^

bfoktin the faith of treaties :

'^ev(rccjj,€vot fitt^^Qfie^a*' ^t^w putt ^oifS^Jaybfitv

*, The peopre pray with ttfteSeyes lin^fimdsj
' * jfhdmws like theje ajcelndfrsm all the Itifids :
^fanfi' thou Almighty ^ in phofi hand is/ate^ .

jf worthy champion for the Grectan^ate t

This fqfk let Jjax or Tydides pro^y

Or hey the king ofkingSy^ hem^d if Jo^e. Pof f «

. ^^The ties of faith y the Jwom alliance broke ^

Our impious battles the jufi gods provoke. Pope,

And

/

/eSS4:j*if^^;.'<° i^eayco, « H* i$ per*
lv<^iiiftg tP^tyfJfl^e^ the Y»^rfcs» ^^

h^l^)Sf»6ri^ JlftbM^ !nreU jufttfy ourafieat;
It fiWfHdd >fe*W* >dwn^ to je-

aootu <meii?ly ivK«i& lit is not poiBble, in:
queftions of this kind, to folve every
difficulty which attends them. If it be
hi^^ eenfonaAt to our generd notions
'^ ^ Da of

^6 L'fe TT-^-fe vm.

of the benevolence of the Deity (as IngH^
ly confohant it furcly is) that he fhpuld'not
leave fo impotent a- creature as man, td
the fingle guidance of his own preca*^
xious faculties ; who would abandon a bcf«
li^ fo full of ihb moft enlivening cohibla-
tion, in compliance with thoie metaphy-
ileal reaibnings which are tifually calictila-"^
ted rather to filence, than to' fatisfy; an
humble inqmrer after tfttthi? Who indeed
would wi(h to ht convinced, thkt he 'ftaindd
unguarded by that ke^ve^y (hield/ "whidfi
ean proted him a^hft dl th^ dffiiults olT
An injurious and malevolent W6rld?- l%fe'
truth is, the belief of a particttlaf provi-
defiCe is the mofl animating perdiafion that
^ fnind of ' man can embrace : it give$^
ftrength* to our hopes, and firmnefs to our
refolutions;: it fubdues the iniblehce of pro*
fperity, and draws out theilingof afflkti^
on. In a word, it is like the golden branch
to which Virgil's hero was dired:ed, and
affords the only fecure paflport thro the^
legions of darkneis and forrow. I am, &c.

L E T-

i 37 ] ' ! ^

^ -- - * •

LETTER K.

i'i r<i 'I : '■'. . }

7p Ti mop lea;

1 1 ttji.' * ' '

1:7 is iwii^ wonderfiil iatisfa(3ion I find
o.]c6ii ai^ grown <£uch an] adept in the
ix)(^it> artj$, and thkt you take a laudable
|4eafiire M the antient and ingenious fbidj
cf umkl&g add folw)g Riddles, it.is a id-^
ieniJe,: xmdoubtcdiy, bf moft.ncfcdfcty ac-
quirement, and dderres to tnake) a^ part in
therleduoation of.bptb fcxcs. :Thofe c£
yoiirsi imy by this meifes very inm^entlyi
io^lge their ^u^il <curiQfity/of diTt^oyerini
an4.4ifi;loiiDg4reofet; whilftfuchaqiioogi
iHuraMiohay^ a turn ^r deep fpeputations^
aiidcawiifcfed of-pusfcJing themfelvtes i and
etkm%:m9?f e:?fcr^e ^ir faciiltttfrthis way
wifh i^tjuuf^ J)civafe' f&li«fiK3aon, . and wit)w

otft-theJfealJi dii^ I*

18 /M/art lndee4 :iw^h I; wouJdipeeomv
ibw4:toijthele«c(}Ui»g0j|ie8i^ ofclfotlt the
wmverfjtiQJi: ; >as, 'iliiS^QIfisi - tHc * jSjtfjefl and
ijhort^ftiiaftljipd, pf ]5<MW^ of the

jnoft ufeful prinaples of logic, ^.^d mjighu
^theiPe&ii^ be. introduced as a very proper

r

I ,

38 t E T !r E k IX,

fubftltute in ^e foooi ^^^ diy fyftemS::
which are at prefent in vogue in thof«
places of edocdtieh-. Fd', -as* it coniifts in
difeorering .erath under borrowed appear,
^G$s» ifii]idi^tp!rciTd^io£'nxmdscfiilaid^aiir
tage iti c^ie^ brand), bf rlexDiicng^ i}]p Js^bit
biadng the i^nd <io fii^iaiatft sdt^'fd^e^
i^ai> aodiani&4uently pte&rvifl^'itirodii|
l3aat gcadl feairce of oisoc, the ^jigrxie<«
eeived b;p Mb connetfti^. li»ih<At,^i^
pgndi^,' tiik. yottf Bntstite £a^ct^caitaitip
'ttie iiini of aU hmati pblil^ ; aind^ siithetis
ft ho laiffit)^ thi:(»th»:w(^t«l wsthdtR ikims^,

W^Hf^imooSi^ b^ifl^f of the «i^g4
igaati^ ftltjincdiddf^ OAi pft^er oii:cji£6fi«y
is> be jailfte td l^d ftfi^ cr^ and iatp^ti>j
iCiffce'^^btii' ibi^r 4^ b^ th^ coa\«tiiekitt

lut^^et^f-a. t»U^« 4i^sdi* ? Jk Wa^thc
iftaxim^ bf: A t«ry t^iilb' princ^^ ^tf *^ b«
** «^!£t»JiiidVt^nocb(m^to.JKIEemtd<^k«^^
«* h&t- l^w to rdgft t'^ 4ttd I d^d yiOQ
t«io^l4- receive it afr ilxiiie, thU'l^ who
<< kii0\^i!>otho^tOfid^fkQQt^nde^cMM
t* «» live-." i- • '•' J ■••■'• ' -.--"j'-' -

JEWt- Iwlldfes iUt- general ii&fiifofel& of
^ art;j it will ha&c « farther recommen-

dsitioQ

I^ E T/r E R K. 29

daripn to all taipadiyurers of aritiqui^^^ ir

9?*P& P^^^C^d by the'moft ' coniid^f able '
pei^fpnage;^ o^ early times. It is 4tlmo(^
tiird^ .dioufeijid vekrs ago fince S^rfriba
proppfeci' his famous rrdtfle } tho the M^
vocafes for antient feaming muft-'for-
give 'me, if i^ this article I attribute die
jiipenority t^ the ^rtiodems : for if w*
ihay judge of the 'flcHl of tiie format iit
|hi^ grpfo^ncj aft by that remarkable fofe-J
timen of it, the geniufes 6f thofe eatly-ages
^ere. by no ineAnsi eoual to thofe which oui*
^^es haye p^-qducea. But sns a friend of
minp has latejy larxllhtd^ arid intends very
(hortly to publifh, a rhoft learned^ work ill
fplio^ wherein he has fully proved that im*
^rtant point, I will not ' antidpate- the
pleafure you will receive by perufihg**hi4
purious performance. ^ In tfic' mean whife
Jet it be remembred to;the immorteif glory
of this art, that the wifett man, as welj ^
the greateft prince ^at ever liVed, is faid
to ha^ye arpufed himfeli^ and a'neighbbring
xxionarcjj in trying the ftren^h of each
others tolents in this wij; feveral riddles>
it feepis,^ having pafled between Solomon
andi3[ifam^ upon cbndltioii mat K^S*rho

40 LETT E R IX.

failed in the ibluticm (hould incur a certain
penalty. It is recorded Ukcwife of the
great fether of poetry^^ even the divine Ho^
mer himfelf, that he had a tafte of this fort:
and we are told by a Greek writer of his^
life, that he died with vexation for not be-
ing able to difcover a riddle^ which was
propofcd to him by fome fiih^rnien at at
certain ifland csdlcd 16,

I AM inclined to think, indeed, that the
antients in general were fuqh admirers ot
this' art, as to infcribe riddle? upon their
tomb-ftones, and that not fatisned with
puzzling the world in their life-time, they
bequeathed enigmatical legacies tb.the pub-
lic after their deceafe. . . My conjefture is
founded upon an antient ihicription, which
J will venture ta quote to you,' tho it
is in Latin, as your friend and neighbor
the antiquarian will, I am perfuaded, be
very glad pf obliging you with a difTerta-
tion upon it. Pe pleafed then to afk him,
whether |ie does not think that the follow*
ing ipfcription favors ipy fentimcnts :

VIATORES, QPTIMI.
, ISIS. JfVGIg. eRyPmS.'AMBAGI^ySQVE*
i '^UilS. CONDQN^IW; POSCIMUS.

Howevey

LETTER IX, 41

However this may be, it is certain that it
was one of the great entertainments of
the paftorai life, and therefore, if for no
other reaibn, highly deferving the atten-
tion of obr npiodern Arcadians. You re^
member, I dare f^y, the riddle which th?
ihepberd Pametas propofes to Maenalcaa
in Dryden's Virgil :

Say where the round of beavn^ whii:b all

contains y .
3*0 three jhott elk on earth oar fight re /trains :
ITellliaty and rife a Pbabus ^or thy pains.

This aBnigma> which . has exerbifecl the
guefles of many a ' learried critic, rcniaiiw
yet unexplained: which I mention, not
only as an-inftance of the wonderful penc-'
tration which ;s 'nebefiaify to render a man
a coniplet? adept in this moft noble fcience;
But as an indtement to ybu to employ y6u#
fkill in attempting the fpfuticm.--- And now^
Timoclea, whafwill your; grave friend fay^
who reproached ybu, it feems, for youf
riddling genius, when he fliall find you are
thus able to defend your favorite ftudy by
0ie fublimc examples of kih^s, commen-
jfttors^ and poets ? I am, &c,

LET-

r ^

X 4» 1

« • »

HARdlV, I imagke, «^tte*yoiL »

fhdpghts Upon fndidfliip : fori to igivc yow
dse trueflictea of tliat generotis>ftit<!r<x»wie)
may I not juftly refer yonlmckto tli^.ftn«i
itilAekts of yiHir awn Ii«^ I.<in>fijr«y. alj
leaft, I have learned to impi(i>^i^ own
Tidldoii^ df d^lt raf&ed afie^en^ ^ by dioib

ielf 5 ^a$ it is irom tkeiKe I have received
|bc cto^eftvcoj^ivi^tipn, that it derjves all its
ft-^n^;^ jQ;a^i]itj froH) virtue and gjood^

^ <X^js^J(i Is nQt, perJM|)g, a qu^ity nwre
,lt9^l9ne(pn ip. the world) than thftt which
iS.j>fGe0suy tp fww * iiwij for ^s refinecj
p^BSiJOrce : iar Jwrwever fociaU^iiefs ;nay
he e^:«Bf{)e4 aju^ <itwP^€ri(tic of our fpe^
^^^^■^iendfin^s^l am peyiuaded, will
Icftrse ^ i^nd ttx enter into it$ general de^
$tfiti<^^. Ti^ q^aljlK^atioos fpqui£te tQ
/ttppCKt 91^ i;aqdD0 :^endiki|> vc^ ^1 its
ilrengtfi an4 ^aj|te»|^ do fiat fe{!i» tp be fuf-
^eiitlv: .didufed among the humao race,

to

LETTER X* if

«6 fendef them th» diifingttfflithi^.maflrls <jif
jnaukind j tmfefs gencrofitj^aiirf gooA-i^nife
ftoald be aifowed (what Aey tifffet^'j6atl
he allowed') imiverikHy to ptevsift. , On the
contrary, hoW few ai-e in'pciffefl!ofi of thofe
ihdff aimiatte oif endoMrfftefit*?' hpW%vr

ite c4«bfe of AambWe Elevation of ijufl^f
Which taifes si t|Mtn abfivc, thc^ IJttfe jei-
Jau&es and i^vaffhips th^fihootup in thtS

jiath? of cQjiifliofl aimties ^.'V

- tVk ihOitf$ ftot, indeed, fo often, hear

4pmi^^fs 'o£ j!ie ifkoKj^e| &Rd.faIf^nel8

of fiiendS,'"tf:idid, WOfld- hi general were

misToftifli^lv our frifi^dfhajjs arcipt toi^

j[s. an'ex9^(^^^^^ piece pf advice therefore^
tfeflt tKe Wet Ml^^ grvei- lipon this occat
won;, . . ' > „■

W* Ri I io-indte trial of iaiiy perKn'i
qtxafifibtBdii^^ an aiiiofi oTib nmch deli^

eicjrj ^dlttm' i»'1i6 p4rt of-hk ebniteft'-t
' ' would

A4 Le T T E R X.

wouW fobncr fijigle out, than to obfervj?,

• • * . **

him> in his refentments. And. this, not
upqn the maxim frequently . advancedg^
*/ that the beft friends make the bittereft;
" enemies i*' bu|:, on the contrary> be^,
caufe I am perfuaded, that he who is car,
pable of bein^^.^. titter eneqiy, can neye£
po^efs the neceflary virtues ^at.conftituta
a t^e friend. , . For muft li,c, not, want gc-r
iieroiity'(that mqft^^effenti^i pwjpiple of aoj
amicable coinbination) whp qai^.be fo maan^
a$ to indulge a. jj)irit oifettle^, revenge,. Mul
coolly triumph in the oppreflion i>f an ?i4.^
verlaryj Accordingly tjhere 15 no . circuiit^
fiance in the .charader qf the excellent
Agrlcola, that gives me ^ Jiigher notion pf
xh^trixt herbifln of his mindy t^^ wha\
tne hiftorian ^ his life mentions concern-i
ing his condu^ in this particular inflancc*
EicTracundia (fays TidtnsYmbirfuper/nit:
Jeer e turn ef Jikntium ejus noh tinieres. [ HL^'
elevated fpirit^was too great to fuffer his re-
fenttncfit to fttr*i*«e^lhc <)ctiafi(» of ie r^ indi
thofe vrho provoked, his indii;A^tidnVi)ad
nodiing to app^^ehend fijom tl^p JfcretjfXi^
iilent. workings .<^,unexdi\g|ii^ ma^ci9|
guttjhe praOjc?,^ it;jwuft ^j c^Q?d (^5
r , nap&

LETTER X. i>

liaps I might have faid, the prihciple too)
<)f the world' ninfs ftrondy on the fide of
^ contraiy tiifpofiriori :%tKus, in bp-
pbfition to that generous fcritiment of your
admired orator, - which I liave fo often
lieard you quote with applaufc, our friend-
^ps are mortal, whilft it is our enmities
x>nly that nevfer die. ^

But thou^ judgment muft coHeftthe
mi^terials of this goodly ftrutfture, it is af-
JfeiSion that ^vts the cement ; and paflion
las well as reafon fhould'coiicur ■ in form-
ing a firm and lafting coalition. Hence,
perhaps; it fe,- that not only the moft pow-
erful but' the moft laiHng fnendfliips, are
ufually the produce of the nearly feafbn of
cur lives, #hen we are moflf fiiiceptible
of die ^arm and afFeftionate ' ifnpreflions.
The connexions, into which we eriter in,
any after-period, decireafe in ftrength as
our paffions abate in heat; and there is
not, I believe, a fingle inftance of a 'vigo-
rous firiendfhip that ever ftruck root in a
boibm chilled by years. How irretrievable
then is the lofs of thofe befl: and faireft ac-
^quifitions of our youth ? Seneca, taking no-
tice of Auguftus Caefar*6 lamenting, upon

a cer-

« - • ....

fi] (;f rt^xn .pccaJ&B|i» At death of- M^m^
ifupid p^ryf^Ai Qbferve$» tbathfi, who c^W
inft^tly xepair the ddfaxidion-of; whi^ifi
ileets ^ndarmies, AUd hid Rome, .afibr^
^j^^a).vCOJxQ^mtio£(, 'lufe out^qf h^ aih^
eireo with^npreJifi^e th^hefo^^^ >^^^]{fl
im^hlet ^during arvvboik ^ifei 4o £11 4)p tha(ipi
iafting vacancies in his iriei^dibip : A .^e^
£i9^)ik>n*» ^hich pemiodp me- q£ netting
ttijribUcita|iw^ thjtt ydu pWOU}d hp :»iB»
gu»^ JA h^zardiwg .» >I|fe:|^vl|ifih I. tet
fp flWnjT; reafcns to rlovp jwd^^q^o?* JF«r
l^bettwer ftg :^cfiideot laf j^ ^itfOp jdo^
h^ Jfep^iP^tp ;;(s(Ad^h9t<)4|er4qcid^t c^^
^jpara^r}^the tji^ap^ wM^h h^s. ic)

iangcTviJt^ v4i^ ihoU i

di^o^ tOjeuter into new hahit^des^ {^Q^
^tend the hide Kk(Aco{ my {rieadihip^;^

mppy if Jmay biiit jpr^rve,kium#nd ^<^.
broken tothe clofinj; mam(e{at^ my ;lii^i

Adievi* ^ ' - '. .• :

tfel^

14^1^

■ r

*■• •%

LET TE R Odf;
■% Hqrten.Sius.;"

JP^aigr tiring c6uld4effl^^ the

'^* Latin poem you ffietttien; it wo^ld be
^youT recoAn^enkiatJdlii^ Buti&all lirentiute

* to own, that I liave Ito^-^flfle.&r iBodo^
*compofiti6ns of-tfeat^kkidi There is lOiMe
*tebjeflion A^Mch alw#^ reniai wit^^ime
""Againfrthem/ and-whiah I ihave. neirer y«t
"foiuixd caufe to renounce: tto tree geoiu^y
*I ato perftiaded, -would ^fttbmit to write

* any coAfiddrable pocm^ iii a,dcad language.
' A |>oet \^ho ' glisrws with the gemiine fire

of a wafni and livdy imaigmition^ will^nd

* Ae copioufnefs of his own ^ native En^Mi
' fcarce fuffident to convey his id»8 iaaill
^ their ftfehgfch and energyl! The moft cent**

prehenfiye language links under the weigkt

' of great coiiceptiolis ; and a pregnant ima-

ginadon diMJfains to iHntthef iiitural growtb

of her thoughts, tb the dojffiiieSd ftandard 6f
'claffical exprefljQjfi.^ An ordinaty genius,
'^Indeed, ixiay be humbly Contented to pur-

iue words* thfo indexes ^ and dictionaries,
' ' / and

48 L E T T E R Xf .

and tamely borrow phrafes from Hora^rdE
and Virgil ; but could the elevated inven-
tion of Milton, or the brilliant fenfe of
Pope, have inglorioufly fubihittdd to lower
the force and majefty of the moft exalted
-and nervous fentimepts, to the fcanty mea-
'^vc of the Roman dialed:? For copioufneife
-is 'by no means, in. the number of thofe ad-
vantag45s whiqhXtCTid the Latin language 5
a^many of thei a:nti6nts h,aye both confefled
and lamented.. _Thus Lucretius^nd Seneca
complain of its deficiency with refped to
. fubjeds of philoibphy ; as Pliny the youn-
ger owns he found it incapstble 9f furniiljing
. him with proper terms, in. compofitions
of wit and humor. But if the Romans
themfclyes found their language thus penu-
rious, in its entire and moft ample iupplies;
- liQW much more contrafted muft it be to
us, .who are only in pofleffion of its broken
: and fcattered remains ?

To fay truth, I have obferved in moft
of the modern Latin poems which I have
accidentally run over, a remarkable bar-
rennefs of fentiment, and have generally
^ found the poet degraded into the parodiA-
It is ufually the little dealers on ParnaiTus,

who

LETTER XV 49

who have not a faffident flock of genius to.
launch but itita a more enlarged commerce
with the 'Mufe$, that hawk about thefe
cjaflical gleanings. The-ftyk of thefe par-
formances always puts^ me in mind of Har**
Icquin & fpuff, which he collefted by bor-
rowing a pinch out of every mans box he
could meet, and then retailed it to his cu«
Homers under the pompous title of tabacde
mUefieun. Haifa line from Vifgir or Lu-
cretius» pieced out with a bit from. Horace
or Juvenal, is generally the rtiolly mixture
which enters into coinpofitions of thi$ ibrt.
One may; apply to thefe jack-daw poets
with their ftolen feathers, what Martial
fays to a contetpporary pl^giarift t
Stat^co^ra dicitqueltiii ttufpagina^ JPures,
: This lynd of theft, indeed, every man
muft neceflarily commit, whp fets up for
a poet in a dedd language. For to cxprefs
himfelf with propriety, he muft not only
be fyre that tw^xy Jingle word which he ufes,
is authorized by the beft writers j but he;
muft jK>t even venture to jthrow them out^
of that particular combination ia whiclj he.
finds them conned:ed : otherwife he may
fall into the moft barbarous folecifms^ To
• - , E . ..... explaia.

fp L IE t T E It XI.

eocplam tny meaning by an iivftftnce J&osi
modem laD^^e: theFreiidhiwords^^^Arr
and ;77^, ace i;>0tkito jse met wi^>m their
api^rosred autbOTsi; and y;et if :a foreigner,
uaacquaittted twiththe siioeties cf[£pmtlaai^
guage, fliradd idee :die Liberty x)f banging
tfaofe l^wo moEii^ ^togedxer as in the f(;4iow«'
ingyfirfe,..

he wcmid ;be espo&d to the ndicule, ^^mft
onfyofihecritics,but of the moft prdinaiy
medial^ in ^Pt^ss. 3Por ^the idiom of the
French-tongue will npt ^admit^f ^e expf cT-
fi&nfiif Id The dujkuv^y htit requfFes the
phc^hjiirk hrdJela rp^ie^e^ « they never'
fay amitpr-det ^reri^ kfiA^Sa fiMe. Tht
fame (^f^rvi^ktiQn may ht ^xten^ te aU
}^)g«ages whether living ^r dead. But as
no reafonirigs ^om analdgy, can be of the
leaft fof cein ^letereiinlog^e idjomfittie pro-
plieties df aily language vi^j^tfoever ; ^ mo-
dern Latin poet has tiojpth^ method of be--
ing fure : to a^wid abfurdki^ of this kind,^
^n to t^e whole ph^afes-a^ he &ids them^
-formed to his^hands. Thw infteiadof ao'
commodating his expfelSon to his fenti-'
ment (if^ny he Should have) he mud ne^
oeiSadly bend his fentiment to his expreA

fion»

fioB, as he is not at liberty to ftrike Opt in-
to that bokliiefs ^ &ylty ind thbfe unex-
pefted Gombinatioils of words, which give
fuch grace afld^cftdtgy to the thoughts or
cvory^ trvfc Jffnius. True genius, indeed, is
as fB^iek dlfocyVef 64 \sy %le> as by my other
oiftm^i|)ns ttbd tfi^ etiaiBelit wrilieri withi-
out jil4u)gihgra&y lustw^rrinted ti€^nce%
lias a ten^oagi^ which he derives from hmt*-
i^, indtifyhich kf^v^iy afid HteraHy

I w6iriji> fe CD m i ncnid therefore to liefer
^mpty edioes of &e antieiits, which owe
their roice ta tht Tuids of Rome, ^e advice
of ffii iskA pbiIoib{^r ^ an aifedfed oratof
of his times: VrOf fnoribus prMefitis^ fiid
he, h^uere mrkis fr^ftntibusi Let tficiftf
poet& form their condu^, if they pleafe, by
the^ maimers of die antients ; but if they
irvDi:idNd prove' their g^^s, k muft be by the
latxgnagc ks£ the mGdehtsr. I tVould mst how^
ever have yoci ixnagxire,^ that I ocdttdc ail?
v^taSSi from a quatificadba of this kiiid; , To
be Hdlied inthe n[iecbanifih of Latin yerfe^
is a taknt, I confefs, exis^edieiy worthy of iK
ptida^ic%ue:3 as k is an eaeerdiie of iinguiaq
^Kivairtagetohis|)iip3^« latn,. &c*

E 2 t E T-

. - ••I «■ ^ it. A- I -. V k. V.

► • » • »

LETTER XH.

.'I

To Pik ASIA.

r.

* . Julys, i;^4.
T F good manners will iiOt juftifymy l6»g
^ iSlence, policy at leaft wili: for you
muft confefs, there is' fonae prudence in not*
owning a debt one is iiic^ble of paying.
I. have the mortification indeed to find my-
felf engaged in a commerce, which I have
not a fuflicient fund to fupport^ tho'I muft
add at the feme time, if )K)u expc(9:_an equal
return of entertainment for that which your
letters afibrd, I know not wJiere you will
find a jbcirrefpondcnt*. You will fcarcely at
leaft looM for him in the defart, or hope for
any thing very lively from a man who is
obliged to feek his companions among the
dead, ^You who dwell in a land flowing
with -mirth and good humor, jneet with,
many a pliant occurrence worthy of re-
cord: but what can a village produce, which
i^ more famous for repofe than for adtion,
and is fo much behind the manners of the
prcfent age, as fcarce to have g^tout of the
llmplicity of the. firft ? The utmoft lof our
- \ .- •. humor

L E T T E R 5ai. 5>

humor riles no higher than punchy and all ,
that we know of Aflemblie8, is once a year
round our May-pole. Thus unqualified,
as I am, to contribute to your amufement,
I am as much at a lofs to fupply my trwn ;
and am obliged to have recourfe to a thou-
fand fbratagems to help me off with thole
lingering hours, which run io fwiftly, it
feems, by you. As one cannot always, you
know, be playing at pufh-pin, I fometimes
employ myfclf with a lefs philofophical di-
verfion y and either purfue butterflies, or
hunt rhymes, as the weather and the fea*
Ion permit. This' morning not proving
very favorable to my (ports of the field, I
contented myfelf with thofe uiider covert ;
and as lam not at prefent fupplied with
any thing better for your entertainmfent,
will you fufFcr me to fet before you foroc
of my game?

«

A TALE,

TT R E Saturn's ions were yet dilgrac'd,
-*-' And heathen gods were all the taftc.
Full oft (we read) *twas Jove's high will
To take the air on Ida's hill.
Itchanc*d^ as once with ferious ken
He view'd from thence the ways of men,

E I He

He faw (aj»4 j^ity tevicl^'4 \^^ br^sa^)
The warid by thf!?fi fo«l fien4s p^d^
Pale Dijesr4 t^ere, ^nd i^<>J^ vj4|Jj,
With haggard F«c«, «pfefil4 tH^if rejgft.
Tk«B fprtl^ he (e^t hi? fvji|iii^n§ lygh,
And P*ird A fen^^^e of |ht flcy.
Round as ihp wfinged of der* prfi^ -
Jpve thus his &pre{{ ^\|id ej^ppe^ :
^^ Say, which ^ a^l ^is (hini^g tcain
f< Will FiriHf's c^fliift bard fu<kih ?
1? For ^ 1 ftie dropping t^?s h?r flight,,
*f Whi^e not a god fuppopts,, her right,"
He pgiqs'd— r^he^i f^--ora\ amidft the iky,
^i^ fyn^caiiice, and Stvr^qtty»
With one ViiV^ecl i^eal ^pft>,
The tfipte ^«nt& tp 9^fe.,
Th?^t wftaRt ir^]^_th^ ^«akn^ pf^ay,
Wi^ g«n>PU6. fp^e4, ^ey tppfej th^r >y^';

Tp. BriiS^^'i i&» dke^S. tlj?ir caf, .
And enter'd wid]^ the ev'ning ft^.

Beside the road a maniion ftood.
Defended by a ciccl&g wood.
Hither, difg^i§'dt |h?¥#p^. they bead.
In hppes, perchajj^c^j t« ^ a frieod.
Nor vaip they- hppe i for re|P9f4* %
Worth ne'er fiipi^ th'?P9f; ^'^^ torh'd aws^y.
They «xge ^e. trav'ief's Gomo^on chancei.
A»d fY'.ry pitf ouf ple^ ;%4vance.

The

L B T T E r; xir. f%

Tlw artfU. tale t^t /ST/V hadittga^^^
Admittaaise. eafy ibon obtain'd.

Th£ dame who own'dyadpm'd the place :
Three blooming daughters added grace.
The firft, with gcntleffc manners bleft
And temper fwoet^ each heart poiTeft ;
Who view'd her^ catch'd the tender flame :
And ibft Amafia was her name.
In fprigiitly fenfe and polifli*d air,
What naaid with Mira might compare ?
While Lucia's eyes, and Lucia's lyre,
Did anrefifl:ed love infpire.

Imagine now the table clear.
And mirth In ev'ry &ce appear :
The long, the tale, the jeft went rounds
The riddle dask, the trick profound.
Thi)S each adnporing and admir'd,
Th^ hdjis and gueAs at length retir'd y
JWrh.en JFit thus fpake her fifter-train :
" Faijth,, friend^, our errand is but vain-^
** Qljick Jet us mcafure back the Iky s
•* Thef? nymphs- alone may w^ll fupply
«* JFitf Innocen^ey and Harnmy'*

Yo u fee to what expedient iblitxi^e has
reduced me, when I am thus forced to
firing rhymes, as boys do birds eggs, in or-

E 4 - der

56 LETTER XII.

<ier to while away my idle hours. But ^
gayer fcene is, I truft, approaching, and
the day Virill (hortly, I hope, arrive, wheo,
I (hall only complain that it fteals away too,
fail. It is not from any improvement in
the objefts which furround me, that I ex-
pert this wondrous change ; nor yet tl^at a
longer familiarity will render them more
agre^ble. * It is from a promife I received,
that Amafla will vifit the Hermet in his cell>
and dlfperfe the gloom of a fblitaire by the
chearfulnefs of her converfation. What in-
ducements flball I mention to prevail with
you to haften that day ? fhall I tell you, that,
I have a bower over-arched with wood-r,
bine ?' that I have an oak which is the fa-,
Torite haunt pf a dryad ? that I have a plan-,
tation, which flourifhes with all the ver-
dure* of May, in the midft of all the cold
of December ? Or, may I not hope that
I have fomething ftill more prevailing with
you than all thefe, as I can with truth af^
furc you that I have a heart which is faith.-^
fuUy yours, 8cc, . ,

I- E T.

7 :U7] . ;

LETTER XIIL

T^Philotes.

AMONG all die advantages which attend
friendfhip, there is not one more
valuable than the liberty it adtiiits in laying
open the various affe<9ions of one's mindj^
without referve or difguife. There is fome-
thing in difclofing to a friend the occafional
emotions of pne's heart, that Wonderfully,
contributes to footh and allay its perturba-
tions,' in all its moft penfive or anxious mo-^
ments. Nature, indeed, fcems to hzveca^
us with a general difpofition to communi-
cation : though at the fame time it muft be
acknowledged^ there are few to whom one
may be fafely communicative. Have I not
reafon, then, to efteem it as one of the moft
defirable circumftances of my life, that I
3are, without fcruple, or danger, th'nk aloud
to Philotes ? It is merely to exercife that
happy privilege, I now take up my pen \ and
you nauft expeft nothing in this letter but
the pifture of niy heart in one of its ^lenetic
hours. There are certain feafons, perhaps,
in every man's life, when he is diflatisfied
'" . with

58 L E T T E II XHL

with himfelf and every thing around him,
without being ablq^ to give t fabfbuitial rea-
fon for being fo : at leaft lam unwiUbg
to think, that tliis dark clQud, which at pre*
fent hangs oyer tny roind> k peculiar to my
coniHtution;^ ajcid never gathers in any breaft
but my own. It is much more^ however,
my concern to diiHpate this vapor in my-
Mfy than to difcover that it fQmetimes arifes
in others : as there is no diipofition a man
would rather endeavor to cherilh, than a
eonftant aptitude of being pleafed^ But my
practice will not always credit my philofo-
phy J and I find it much eafier to point out
my diftemper than to remove it. After all^
IS it not a mortifying confideration, that the
powers of realbn {hould be lefs prevalent
than thofe of matter j and that a page of Se-
neca cannot raife the fpirits, when a pint of
ctaret will ? It mightj^ methinks^^ fomewhat
abate the infolence of human pride to con-
fider, that it is but increafing or dimi-
niftiing the velocity of certain fluids in the
animal machine, to elate the foul with tibe
gayeft hopes, or fink her into the deepcft
defpair 5 to deprefs the hero into a coward*,
or advance the coward into a hero. It is to

• ibme

LETTER XIV- fs

Tome fodi mechanical caufo I amiacUncd
to attribute the prcfeat gloominei$ of my
mind : at the fame time I wiU confefs, there
is fomething in that very confideration
which gives ftrength to the fit, and ren-
ders it ib much the more difHcult to throw
off. For, tell me, is it not a difcouraging
rcflecflion to find one's klffervile (as Shake-
J^ar cxprcflea it) tQ every Jkyey influence^
and the i^rt qf every paltry atom ? to ov^c
the eafe of one's mind not only to the dii^
pofition of one's own body, but almoft to
that of every other which furrounds us ?
Adieu,

LETTER XIV.
To Orontr$<

TH E paflage you quote is entirely in
my fentimejits. I agree both with that
celebrated author and yourfelf, that our Ora-
tory is by no means in a ftatc of perfe(3ion :
and, tho, it has.much ftrength and fblidity^
that it may yet be rendered far more po-
lifhed and a|Fe<9;ing. The growth, indeed,
of eloquence* even in thofe countries where
^e florifhed moft, has ever been exceed-

. * ingly

€o LETTER XIV.

ingly flow. Athens liad been in poffeffion. of
all the other polite improvements, long be-
fore her pretetifiohs to the perfualive arts
were in any degree confiderable j as the
earlieft orator of note among the Romans
did not appear fooner than about a century
before TuUy.

That great maflier of perfualion, tak-
ing notice of this remarkable circumftance,
aflagns it as an evidence of the fuperior diffi-
culty of his favorite art. Poffibly fhere may
be fome truth in the obfervation : but what-
ever the caufe be, the fadt, I believe, is un-
deniable. Accordingly eloquence has by
-^o means made egual advances inourowiL
country, with her fifter arts ; . and tho we
have feen fome excellent poets, and a few
good painters rife up amongft U5, yet I know
not.whether our nation can fupply us with a
fingle Orator of deferved eminence. One
cannot but be furprifcd at this, when it -is
confidered, that we have a profeflion fet
apart for the purpofes of perfualion v and
which not only affords the moft animating
and interefting topics of rhetoric, but
wherein a talent of this kind would prove
the likelieft,' perhaps', of^ny bther to ob-
tain thofe ambitious prizes which were

thought

L E:TT E R iXIVJ <jr,

thought to contribute i & much t6^: the
fuccefsfui progrefs of astietit eloquence, f .
Among the princi^ rdefe^s , of , dun
Englifh orators^ theit.genetal diiiregantbf.
harmony has;/I thinkj^.bei^n IhCilcaft job^i
fefved.: It liioonld be ir^jdtioe^sndef^d todie^i
ny that v^harc jfonicipetfctananccs'of t^
kind anKDngH: v^y .tol^btjg^^uiical ; but ib
muft be^^ackno^iedgod at the fametime^;
diat it.is more itho efffeftrof acddenfcthaw
defiga, arid iiftthcr^ prtK)f of the .poUr^* of:
Qur lasigui^ei thdn^oftheiarttof .oyr orat9r$.:
. I>&. TiHotfo©, . whQ.ift frequerftly n^n--
tioned asliaving c4rric$lr thi^ ifpccies ^elo-r
que^ce tq^ ills high^ft;^rffi€li)n,, f^epris tfh
have h^ .»P:/^rt of^lvQtloa.of rh^pricajlt
numbers i aiid may I Yflntmfe, Ofontes, to

add, wxtho\it'Jiazarding the. imputation of.
an afFedted'fingul^ty, that I think no man
hadeyetlefepfetenfions to. genuine oratory,,
thari. this celebrated preacher. If any th^g*^
could raife'a .flame of eloquence ia the
breaft of an oiraitor, there is no occalion, up- .
on which one fhould imagine it would be*
more likely to. break out, than in celebra-^
ting departed merit: yet th^ two fcrmonr
which he preached upon the . death /c£r
. Dn

^ LETTITL XIV.

Br. Gdodi ami Br; Whitdbot wee b% ccdd
gnd iangord perfytmsLUQci ^B tfire erar^
perh^, produde^ npon itkich >an itn-
hszdng io^A. <hi6 cslhnot indeed 'bm£.
regret^ th^ hje^.^hpiaboufcids tvidi fedr
ndble and goserous fdriilmeiatfe^ fBxxzld.
waht the art'of fetting tliem 6ff'.Mdth alt.
did advsLittage tb^ d^feifve^ ^t ikt Mh*
linie::ia momli lii6ci|d ixM^be attiiicled.
wk&at&tltabie elteviCtK»)^ of 'IsQigoagis. Thui

tratfs'howe^arla,' Ws^vfertfe^m ^fsjvifeniiy

lit ^6h»&iiy a»d^ ^Slf^fl a$«^8^ |g ^pkoedy

ittfeatij ajnd <:rf«^ r»iGUk)U8r tewtfi^ea^F-
tb prodnde liifla&be^lefe^ itt^rtcttsite fep-^
j«?rt <$f this aiferden/ Thfife ifl his fermori
preached before Qieen Aime, xviicfn flier,
was Priflcds of Denmark, he talks 6£^uee^
zing a parable,, thfi^iifj^. rdi^ott'AjJy dti^
vin^^ ftridi A:zr^^*;z: . with Qod^. finking.
Jbijtts^&cc. and peaking of theday of judg-
n%entp he defcribes the woiM .asrnjri/Wg:
tffozrf our ears, i cannot however but ac-»
knot^Iedge. in jaf^ice to the orutoxical cha^'
mOm: . of thxs mofb valuabte| prdate,: that:
diere k a noUe iinaplicd^ in ibme few of

his

-< «

LfiTf E R Xl^." 6f

hk fermons $ ^ his esccellent AkowCc on •
Jincerity defervos'to b? n^fcntiofied wkh
par^oular «fc^Iauife»

B^T to (hew }!is dft^ktKTf ki ^ dft^^
I tifii-oenfi(teiiii|g^ ^t prefeht'^ ^e foUdWHig-^
ftri^re ^viU^^ fu^SneH^ i^ohg many
others 4iat bright Ife <^ed 69 Ae^ame pur-r*
pdfe. <^ One to^t be apC &y&' he, ^* h> *
ifcink tt llrft view, Aat ihSs par Ate wAa -
overSmtey iaiid-waiited jforr^^
<^ decorum V itf beittg harfiy eredibk, ^t
« a man, iSft»f he fcad beeii fc^hicitiftt
' andgeneroiifly^flealt wV&ii^ a^tiponhiis'
*< humble rtjqticflr to have &-im^e a d^ fa
fredy fbrgitrew, fiiotiW,; i«4^^
mory of '& mudh riiercy wastfreft upoii ' ,
*' him, evrti Ia the very feesrif moment
<* vfc Wil? his 'feTfkw-feirairt, * Whe^ had? made
*^ the lame hnnafbte reqwft to Mm which
<* he had ^fc»e tehis lord/ «wrilii fo much
** rofighnefe andcrtidty, for i^

This whole period (not t6 jnention
dther ofc^e^fions^^^f^eh might juftly berait-
ed againft it)%'ttftmufical thr^it^outj but
the eonekidmg^fiienibers, wfeicb eught to-*
have been oarticularly flowm^,^ are moft
mifead)ly Idofe'and disjoint'ied^ If Ae de-
licacy

It

U LE T T E R 4CIV.

licacy of Tujly's ear was fo axquifitely Tcsi :
iined, as not ajway^to^bf^ f^tisf^d eveji-
when he red DemoftheRepj how woteid
it havebeen. pffe4ided at thf harfhnefs ^d *
diiTonancQc^lfo unhaijmo^ious^a fentence ? '
.NoTHiN;G, perhaps, tHrows our elp-
qi;ience at a greater difbmce fr9m tha( oi ,
ttie andents, than this Gothic; ^r;g,ngemejE^t>
a^ jthofe wonderful e£^d:^w^€hio i

attended their elocudon, were in all proba-i .
bility, ehleily: owing; to thei^g fldll in mufical .
concords. It was by the charm of numbers, ,
united w;ith the ftrength of rjeafon, that >
TPuUy confounded thp audacious .Catiline,)
ajod filenced the eloquent Horteniius.; It waSi
tjiis that deprived Curio ;of all power of re-^.
coUedion, wl^en he rofe up to oppole that ,
great mafter of enchanting rhetoric : it was*
this, in a word, .made even Casiar himfelf .
tremble a 3 nay, what is yet more extraordi-i>
nary, made Caefar a;lter his determined pur-r-.
pofe, and acquit the man he had refolved.
to condemn.

.. You will not fufpe<a that I attribute too,
much to the power of numerous compofi- .
tion, when you recoUedl the iniknce which

Sec Tully's Lcttere, vol. ii. p. 365. not. 9. . ^

V Tully

LETTER XIV- 65

TuUy produces of its wonderful eflfedl. He
informs us, you may remember, in one of
his rhetorical treatifes, that he was himfelf
a witnefs of its influence as Carbo was once
haranguing to the people. When that orator
pronounce4 the following ientence, patris
dlEtum fapiens^ temeritas filii climprobavifl
it was aftonifhing, fays he, to obfervc the
general applaufe which followed that har«
monlous clofe. A modern ear, perhaps,
WQuld not be much affedled upon this oc*
cafion; and, indeed, it is more than pro*
bable, that we are ignorant of the art of
pronouncing that period with its genuine
emphafis and cadence. We are certain^
however, that the mulic of it confifted in
the dichoree with which it is ternunated:
for Cicero himfelf aiTures us, that if the
final meafure had been changed, and the
words placed , in a diflferent order, their
whole efFed would have been abfoLutely
deftroyed.

This art was firft introduced among the
Greeks by Thrafimachus, tho fbme of the
admirers of Ifocrates attributed the inven-
tion to that orator. It does not appear to
have been obferyed by the Romans till near
^ F the

66 ' LETT E R XlV,

the times of Tully, and even then it mds fay
no nieahs univerlally received. The antient
and lels numerous nianniircif cbmpofitiDn,
had ftill many admirers, who werfc ^ch eh-
diufiaits to antiquity as to adopt her very
dcfefb. A diQ)oli(3on of the &me kind may,
|>erhaps^ prevent its being recpivfcd with lis j
and while the an:j^bl0iiop (hall maintaizl his
authofi^ as an orator, it p^ not to be erpefb^
ed that any great adv^ancemeht will be made
in diis Ipecies of eloquence. That ftrength
of nnderftanding fik^wife, arid felidity of
reafbn, which is fo eminently dUr hational
cliara^teriftic, may add loiiiewhit tp die
difficulty of reconciling us to a fhidy of <!Ms
kind; as at firft glance it may feeM tp Ifead
an orator frorii his grand^tid ^riricipalaim,
and tempt him to make a iacrifice 6f feiife
to found* It mufl: be acknowledg^^d,^ in-
deed, daat in the times which fucceedfed the
diflblutibn of theHoman republic, 'this. a(t
was fo perverted from its true end as to be-
ccMne the fingleftudy of their enervated ora^
tors. Plipy die younger often complains of
this contemptible affedationj and the polite
author of that elegant dialogue which, with
very Uttle probability, is attributed either to

Tacitus

L E t t E R 5aV. 67

Tacitus or Qi^diliani aflures us it was th»
ridiculous bi^ of ctrtsun orators inthe time
of the declenfion of genuine elpquence^ that
^eir harangues Were capdble of being fet to
niiiiiq, and fung upon the ftage. But it inuft
be ren^embred, that the true end .o£|his
art I am recotpmendlng, is to aid, not to
fuperi^de reafofl ; that it is fb far from be-^
ing neceflkrily effetninate, that it not only
a4da^af:e but fhrengUi to the powers of
pe^Wtfiou* For this purpofe Tully and
Qi^($iiian, thofe great mafters of nume^
fous compoiitiQii» have laid it down as a
jfix^d, and invadable rule> that it muft never
appedr the efFe<ft ol'iahor in the orator ; that
the tuneful flow of his .periods muft always
feem the cafual reiiilt of their diipofition }
and that it is th^ hig^eft offence againfl the
art, to weaken the expreflipn in order to
dve a niore n^u|ical tone (o the cadence^
In ihort, that n9 ji^npipaning words are to
be thrpwn in merely to fill up the recjuilitc
meafure, but thajf, they muft ilill rife in
fenfe as they impf oye in ibund^ I am, &c<

F ^ LET*

r ^1

t 68 ]
LETTER XV,

nc

LEOR A.

> I

Auguft II, 1738.

TH o it is but a few hours fince I parted
from my Cleora ; yet I have already^^
you fee, taken up my pen to write to her.
You muft not expe^, however, in this, or
in any of my futui'e letters, that I fay fine
things to you \ fince lonly intend to tell you
true ones. My h^af t is too full to he regu-
lar, and too fincere to be ceremonious. 1
have changed the manner, not the ftyle of
my former qonverfations : and I write to
you, as I ufed to talk to you, without form
or art. Tell me then, with the fame un-
diffembled lincerity, what effcft this ab-
fence has upon your uliial chcarfulnefs ? as
I will honeftly ronfefs on my own part,
that I am too interefted to wifh a circum-
ftance fo little confiftent with my own re-
pofe, fhould be altogether reconcileable to
yours. I have attempted, however, to pur*
fue your advice, and divert myfelf by the
fubjcd you recommended to my thoughts :
but it is impoffible, J perceive, to turn off
^ - : r. the

LETTER XVB 69

^e mind at oncefitxn an ot^ed^ which it
has long dwelt upon with pleafiire. My
hear^ li|ce a poor bird which is hunted
fr(mkhts neft, isftill returninfi: to the place
of its affections, and after fbme ^ain efibrts
to fly ofFy i^ttles again where all its cares
and all its tenderjoeik are centered^

•" • • , 4 . ,

#

L E T T ER

& 1

XVI.

To PH ILOT ES.

Auguft 20, 1739.

1' FEAR I Ihall lofe all my credit with
; you as a gardeper, hy this ipedmen
which I venture to fend you of the produce
of my walls. The ihails, indeed^ have had
more than their il^a^ of i^y peaches and
nectarines this i^9^90 .«. hut will you not
fmile when I t^ll yQU> that I deem it alort
of cruelty to fuffer t^em to he dcftroyed ?
I iSi^ld icarce d^tg acknowledge this
weal^ni^s (a^ the generality -of the world^^^
no doubt, would call, it) had I not cxprn^
enced, .by many agt^ahle inftances,^ that t
may iafely, lay open to you <?vety/^ntiment
of my- heart* To „cQnfefs the tru^ then^

F 3 I have

yo tETTER Xvr.

I have feme fcruplcs ^(h relpefl: to Ae"&
berty we ailume in Ac unhmteddtf^rvta^
tion of thefc lower orders of exiftehcc. 1
know not upon what principle of rea^
and Juilice it is, that nianldnd have fourKled
their right over the lives of every creature
4)at is placed in a fubordinate rank of being
to thcmfelvcs^ . Whatever claim they mayi
have in right of food.and ielf^defence, did
they extend tfieir privilege no farther than
thofe articles would reaionftbfy carry them,
numberlefs beings might enjoy their lives in
peace, who are now deprived of them by
the moft wanton and unnecefiary cruelties",
I cannot, indeed, difcover why it fhould be
thought le& inhuman to craih to deaih a
karmlefs infed, whole fingle offende Is that
he eats the ibod which nature has prepared
for his ftiilenance, than it would be, were I
to kill any more bulky creature for the &m«
reafon. There are few tempers fo hardened
ito the impreffions of humanity, as not to
ihudder at the thought of the latter^ and
yet the former is univedally ^tt^ijoj witk*.
Oiit the leaft check of compa0ion. This.
Teems to ari& from d^e gipfs^ error of itip*
pofmg, that wery cw«ure is itally in i»(elf
- • coo*

^*Ht'-*""*»;

I.E T T ER; XVl^ 71

able» which- happen to he clpath-
ed y/ifh a bbdy w%utely diiprqpoftiqiiab:
to owr Qwxii not confideriog ^igrr^js^

litfUzff macly cd^ve terms. But ihf ior
knitable Shakjeijpeai: wop|d teach os» tb^
tbi poor heitky ibfU ^ififc tread t^m,

AinehenmftiimtdUL . .- .[ ,,

Aad tki& is Kit ihiKHiiKQ ^t 1^ die ladtad

jfor diere^k eirer]^ ii^i^l^hQUev^db^Ac:
ieii:^&iiS!of matty k^(|^ftffea$1i|^v^^2^
thafe of crestnres of far itei^ ^sgjg^ ^^
neflfioK; pcdiaps elrcfiimfxr^^, |[^
MSIbpcxiesj, £ar inAstice^ iplls i^lf f^pod^
itpottthe^fltghteft t^ueb 3 vA^l^eii^fifi^\f^
tfacnr.tsr hear faqrae/up^ft^the )eaft ^|gp^9a^
of yoitr haiad^ Are^||9t ^^hefe^ db^ i^^gdil
Wiik^$:9iit»i3^4£^Mr^^^ aod^itany^

«9»detiQe df mrs^ t^t we are ^ot i^i^efiu^
»dwMd^ti)e9t^9^y^ vwos^ ^pp^g^

met with the other day JA^c^Mp^itaig^
11iafeigit^nat»rM^l!iu)h^ -jdiat

thcsre j&^a t»laufcgffiP9i^:daim (^l^j^yn^r^

F4 M*

'?

7* LETTER XVI.

and benevolence which every ipepies of
creatures has a right to from us. h is to
be regretted that this generous maxim is

hot more attended to, in the afiair of edu-

I.

cation, and prefTed home upon tender minda
in its full extent and latitude. I am fary
indeed, from thinking that the early delight
which children difcover in tormenting flies>
&c. is a mark of any innate cruelty of tem-
per ; .becauie this turn may be accounted
for upon other principles, and it is entertain-
&ig unworthy notions of the Deity to fup-
pofe he forms mankind ynxh a propenfity ta
the moil: deteftable of all difpoiitions. But
fcioh certainly, by being unreflrained in
^x>rts of this kind, they may acquire hy.
habit, what they never would have learned
ftotti nature, and grow up into a confinn-'
cd inattention to every kind of fuffering
but their own. Accordingly the fupreme
court of judicature at Athens thought aa
iltfbnce of this fort not below its. cogni-
zance, and puniihed a boy for putting out
die eyes of a poor bird, that had unhap[nly
fallen into his hands.
-It might be of fervice therefore, it
ili6uld*ieemi in ei^f to awaken ^ early:

93

!• ^

1-4

LETTER XVn; 73

as poffible in children an ektenfiv.6 icnfe
of humanity, to give them aview of ie«
veral forts of itifedts as they may be int^;m**
fied by the afSftance of glafles, and to fliew
them that the fame evident marks of wM^
dom and goodnefs prevail in the forinatioii
of the minuteft infedt, as in that of the moft
enormous Leviathan : thdt they are equally
farniflied with whatever is neceflary not on<*
ly to the ][M'e{ervadon but the happineis of
dheir beings in that clafs of e»iftefice Ctf
which providence ha6 afllgned them: in a
word, that the whol^ conftrudion of their
rcfpe£tive organs diffin(51y proclaims them
the objeifts of the diyin« benevoleoce, and
therefore that th^ jj^i^iy, ought to be fo of
ours. J am, &c* • . cv ,

LETTER XVn.

To ihefatm.

Feb. T, X738,

YOU fee how much I truft'to your
good-nature and your judgment whilft
J am. the dfily perfon, perhaps, among
your fiiends, who have ventured taomit a

congra-

7< LtE.TXER XWL

coii^ati)kiAio9 in!&rdrstf . I ^r&i acts how*-:
cvfii .iitfewtk)i»llylgi8% > for ;I really d^n^
figrndtyon 91^ y}£^ before now ; but tjearr
iogltiAt your aa^ttlitaice ik)we$l>n uppa
]r0i» ftQov all qiiarter&> I thptegh^ it ^woul^
WiNMwe agteabk to you a§ iiiv:eU<a|^,rte in3rH
^,. ift J ,iwiiit:*«l till '^p jn!*9^fton wa?
iitMta^*^ /Bujt if Jihtfre: pot jpi»wj in the ge-
iwwiwi* i£«»i^ I, h^ve IK*,

^WQXftr, relBiiQe^ fh^ finceft^t tjbio. fikali
wiibsvic^i^ich frienckhip can: ft^gM^r isifok

^; «<K)fl^ri. niM t not loAg fiace Sx-^

ftfa}»ili«^.«gp«te.crf! |)octry, ln^ld te^

, ]^^»/dte! kin^gp of ihftt countrf^ how
«itai,i :j]m1i^/&sdi taoay '

w^W iwjW)/ conftellatiom en tbathtir '
'''&bid ibeirfikOefi infutnce L . Mxi.t^ .«

But plain- f)r^e ixdll da as' wdl. for plain
truth : and there is^ nox)ccafion for any art
to perfuade yotri thit you have upon every
oQ^FHenceMfyour life, my beflgood "wiihes.
irboipe ihf^% tor^ve 341 o|)i»B»tu|u^ ef
tiaimt mylblf Ipi^r known t&^ Afpaiii.
VV^Qfr I an lb, I ,&dlfcirqole« ip^ Jberi
•n tl^ chgige ihe. W made pf ajtmo

whom

LETTER tvm.\ y^

whom IndU undertake ta piramie her aS
the happinefs» which the ftue ihe hais^en^
tered into can ^^ffisrd, Thos tmjchJ 6q
not fcrupler to fay of heir hufWpd toyouz
die reft I had r^cr £ty tb her, lixifon
any occafion youi ihoidd mcntiQii m^^ 4et
il be in th« xiaiX9&£t which^I moftTalue'
myielf npony diat of yodr moch i oU^ed
itnd very alle£tioaate friend.

§ m \

l ^ wi WJ>. J m i l. Il l ■ u II I ^ , , •, , ^^ ^ , , ^ ^

■ •

~

;,, zr T E R jcyni. *

3!^ He B T E i»<s t u«v '

fCAN byRpqricam fub/cn^ to.tiiejCen-
tiiaeats tf ypiw laft fd;^, Mr ^^
yo« in Ai^Jttpgrtliat thq Ipve pi" Fame
Js a psii9v>nj whjicb eitf^rje^flQ or rc^io^
c^nden^* I <H>nfp^y ia4?l^> tiiiere are iop^^
who havt re|^e^pted itijis ipcpnfifte^j:
Vifiilh bdth> and J rep^^eigihex ih p?ft;7
cuiar^ the excellent author of ,7^^ religioft
of-mtvre ddim^ted^ has treated it as hi^y
iri!9^tioaal apd . a^urd. h& thp parage falls

in ii ^^proagjhly with your own turn cl*

though^

76f L:ErTT;E R XVUL^

thought, you will have no objedion, I inia?^
gine, to my quoting it at large ; and I give
it you, at the lame time,, as a very great
authority ori ydur fide. **. In. reality (fays
"that writer) the. man is not known ever
!** the more to pofterity, becaufe his name
" is tranfmitted to them. i Mir doth noC
5.^ live beottufb his namt does. When it
is faid, Julius Csefar fubdiied Gaul, con-*
quered Pompey, &c. it is the fame thing
as to fay, the conqueror of Pompey was^
** Julius. CJ^ar, i^.e. Caefar, and the con-
queror or Pompey is the fame thing;
Caefaii'ji^^onpkuch knavfO hjr^one de-
" fignation as by the other. The amount
^* then*5s bftly this: that the conqueror
'•.* of Pbhlpey conquered Pdiiipey y or r3|p
thcr, fince Pompey is as little know^ii
how 4s Caefar, fomehody ccmqaeredjbme'^
^ k(fy. Suth a poor bufiheft' K this boafted
^^ ipjmbrtality ! and fuch is the thing called
«*' Glbiy ahiohg us! To difeeriiin^ v^tA
*««:iJiis fariie is mere ^ir,- ahd- what they
;^'^4efpife,;ifn6tfiiun" - ; - .
.^ But furdy, 'twere to confider too curi-*
Mjly (as Horatio fays to Hamlet) /^ confider
ths. For tho fame with pofterity ihould
-' ^''■' be,

cc

cc

Ci

€1

LET T E R XVni. ij

be, in the ftnA- analyik of it, no other
than what it is here defcribed, a mere un-r>
interefting prbpofition, amounting to no-
thing more than ^^tfimebody adted meri-
torioufly ; yet it would not neceilarily foU
low, that tr^e philofophy would bani(h the
deiire of it from the human breaft. For
this paffion may be (as mpft certainly; it is)
vrifely implanted in our ipecies, AOtwithr
ftanding the correipondingV>l^^ £hould in
reality be very different frpCn. what it apr
pears in imag^ation. Do not many of our
moft refined and even dontemplative plea*
fares owe- thei^ exiftence to our miilajkes I
It is but extendihg (I will not iky, improv<«
ing) ibme of our ienfes to a higher degree
of acutenc^ than we now poflefs them, to
make the faireft views of nature, or the no-^
biefl productions of art, appear horrid and
deformed. To fee things as they truly and
in themfelves are, would not always, per-
haps be of advantage to us in the intellec-
tual world, any more than in the natural,
fiut, after all, who fhall certainly afTure us,
that the pleafure of virtuous fame dies with
its poiieiror, and reaches not to a farthec
fccne of exiftence ? There is nothing, it

(hould

7ft LETTER XVm.

^Sioiildfeem> ^therabfurdorunphiloicphw
talin fuppofing it poiTible at leail> that tlxe
l^aifes of this good and the jadidous, that
j^eteji mujk to an bmefi tar in this worlds
may be echoed back to the rAanlions of th6
next : that the poet's defcripdon of Fame
imajr be literally true, and tho (he walkft
upon earth> ihe may yet lift her head intd
heaven.

Bdf can it be reafonable to extingoiih
spaffion which nature has Bitiverfally lighu
€d up in the human breaO:, and whkh W9
conftantly find to burn with moft (irengdi
ftad brightne& iii the nobleft aAd beft fornix
cd boibms? Accordingly Revelation is lb.
lar ^m endeavoring (as you fuppofe) to
oadicate the feed which nature has thus
^eply planted) that fhe rather feem$, on
die contrary, to cherifh and fbtsvrard ita
growth. To be exalted noith honor ^ and to
be i^ad ift everlafiing renumbrancey are in
the number ofthofe encouragements which
the Jewiih dii^niation offered to the vir-«
tuous ; as die perfon from whom die &cred
author of the Chriftian fyftem received his
faarth, is herfeif reprefented as rejoicing
liiat dl generations fhould caU her bleffed^

To

iT'iB T T E R XVm. 7^

To Ibe obhvinced of the gimit advantage
t)f chenChing ^s higjb regard to pdfteri^
this noble defire of an afterlife in the breatk
.<)f others, one need only look back upon
the hiftory of the antient Greeks and Ro-
mans* Wfeit odier prtnciple was it, Hor-
tenfius, which produced diat. exalted flrain
of virtue in tb^ days, tfiat may well ferve
as a model to d)^? Vhs it not tbe'eof:

Jentkns laus hmrum^ ihcJnaftnftanmc iL
nejudkantiwm (as Tuily calk it) the coo*
current api^rabotion of ^cgodd^ die uocor^
mpted applaufe-of the vife^ that aniTiialwi
dieir ttiod: g^erous porfiiits ?

To confer the tmdi, I ha?e bem ever
inclined to' think it a very dangerous ^M*
tempt, to endeavor to feflen the/ motives
of rig^t conduct, or to raiie any iu^doM
concerning dieir folidity. The tempdhi aqd
di^fitionis of mankind are fo extretoehf
^SSercfnt, that it ieem^ M(3el&ry they flxmid
be called into, adion^ ty>a Wiety of incke*
ments. Th^s, while ibme^af^^iUing to wed
¥iitue lor her perioral dhtnaas/ others aipi
engaged to tsakc her^for tkfc iakfc of her ex-^
pelted do^ry : and iince h^ followers and
admirers have ifo lit^e to hepe from hjpr ifi

So LETTER XHC.

prefactt> it were pity, methinks, to reafbn
diem but of any imagined advantage in re-
vcrfion. FareweK

■ i^i

LET T E R XiX.
7^ CleorA.

I THINK, Cleora; ycni are the tnieft fe-
male hermit, I ever knew ; at leaft I
do not remeriiber to have met with any
among your fex, of the fame order with
yourielf : for as to the Religious on the
other fide of the water, I can by no mean^
cftecm them worthy of being raijcedinyotir
immber. They are a fort of People who
cither have feen nothing of the world, or
too much : and where is the merit of giving
up what one jis not acquainted with, or
what one is weary of? But you are a fac
more illuilrious reclufe» who have entered
into the world witth innocency» and retired
from, it with good humor. That fort of
life, which makes fo amiaUe a figure in
the defcription of poets and philofophers^
and which kings and heroes have'profefi^ed
to aipire after^ Cteora actually enjoys : ihe

lives

L^TTERldX St

lives her own, free from the follies arid im<*
pertinences^ the hurry and diiappointmentsi
of falfe purfuits of every kind. How much
do I prefer one hour of fuch folitude, to all
the glittering, glaring, gaudy days of the
ambitious f I ihall not envy them their gold
and their filver, their precious jewels, and
their changes of raiment, while you permit
me to join you and Alexander in your her^^
mitage^ I hope to do £) on Sunday even-«
ing, and attend you to the fiege of Tyre^
or.the deferts of Africa, or wherever elfe
your hero fhall lead you. But fhould I find
you in ngiore elevated company^ and en^
gaged with the rapturous * * * *; even
ihen, I hope, you will not refufe to admit
me of your party. If I have not yet a pro-
per g^t for the inyftic writers, perhaps I
am hot quite incapable of acquiring one ;
and as Ihaye every thing of the hermit
in my compofition except the (enthufiafmi
it is not impofiible but I may catch that alfpi
by the afliftance of you and *****! dcr
fire you would receive nae as a pobationer
at leaft) and as one who is willing, if he
is worthy, to be initiated into your fecret
doctrines. I think I only want this tafte

G and

Ss LIETTt R XX.:

and ii r^Uih of the tiaArY^Uoite,, t^ be vfhoU
ly in yout- fentijta^nts. Poliibiy I amy be
fo happy a6 to stftddn both in gQod fitiie s;
I fancy j^ Itaft there is a clofe conee^ttod.
between them^ aiid\I £haU not de^air cf
obtainiiig the oiie> if I can by any ifteins^
arrive at the other. But ivhich tiiuft I ete»
dearor at firft ? Sliali I preparefbr the mjr^
flic by commencing \ivkb the romancei %n
wouki you advife me to begin with Mbl-^
branch befi>re I undcartsakv Qdia ? Sufibr
mey ho^wcmr^ ere I eiit^r the regioias of
fidion, ta bear teflkixonty to one cofdftant
tfodi, by afiuring yon ihat I am^ &d

^ V

L E T T E R XX

To EUFHRONIUS.

I»AV£ often meiitioned tx>you the ^ea^
fuTc I received from Mr. Pope's tranl-
lation^ of thd Iliad : but my adnuratiott of
that inimitable performaisce haa inoeafed
upon me^ iince you tempted me to c<»irv^
pre the copy with die originaL To J&y of
thifi noble wxk^ that It is th& be& whkh

ever

L g T t ^ R fee; ^

ev^ s^peared ef the kitd^ wdtild be fpeak^

ing i» i6uck lowei* terms than it defervfes 5
^e world perhaps fciirree ev^r before faw i
tndjT pofetical tranflktion : for> as Derihatu

obfenrefr,'

Sm* ^'jr iiu> pride y otti" folfy^ dr mrfafe^
TbatfeWi but tbpfe nvbo cannot writ^^ frari/late.

Mr. P6pe fdems, in moft places, to have
been inipired with the fame fublime %int
that animates his ori^nal ^ a» he often take$
fire fi:om a fingle hint in his authbr, and
blazes out even with a i^ronger and brighter
flaftte Jd£ poetiy. tlitts the charadier of
ThSriite^, as it ftands ill dife feftglilh Iliad,
i« hd^ten^d, i think, with ttidre maflerly
ftrokes of fatirfe thaii a{)pear in the Greek ;
as many of thofe fimiiies in Horner^ V^hich
would af^ar^ perhaps, to a modern tyt
too haki^ ind unornamented, are painted
by Pope in all the beautiful drapery of the
mofl graceful metaphor. Widi v^at pro-
priety pf figure, for inftance^^ has he raifed
the following comparifon :

Eur 0P605 ytopv^wi "Noros ^d^^^^eft opii^?\Avy

G 2 ' «9

84 L E T T E R XX.

Cls «p& T6)v viro wooji Kpyi<>jcc?\.os cp^vyr a€?^frt
ISffi^oijSfjoav* ' II. 111. lO*

Thus from bisjh^ wings when Eurusjheds
A night of vapors round the mountains-beads^
Swift-gliding mijis the dujky fields invade ;
7b thieves more graieful than the midnight

Jhade :
While fcarce^ the fwains their feeding flocks

furvey,. ■ y ' ^
Loji and confused amtdfi the thicken d day :
So wrapt in gat if ring du/l the Grecian train y
A moving cloudy fwept on and bid the plain.

When Mars, being wounded by Dio
med, flies back to heaven, Homer compares
him in his pafTage to a dark cloud raifed by
fummer heats} and driven by the wind*

Oiv <r' €K v€(pea)V €g$S€WB (pmpe^icu avPt
Kavfjiolos e^ ccve/Jiolo /vcas®^ o^pvij^fjoio^

The inimitable trstnflator improves this
image, by throwing in fome circumftances,.
which, tho not in the original, are exadlly
in the fpirit of Homer : .

As vapors, blown by Aufiersjultry bretith^
V regnant with plague s, and fhedding feeds of
death,

Beneat

L E f T E R XX. 8c

Beneath the rage, of burning Sirius rife^
Cboak the tdrcb'd e4rtb^ and blacken all the

Jktesi
In fitch a cloud the gbd^ from combat drtifn^^
High v*er the dufly ns)birlwlnd fcales the heaven.

There is a defcription in the eighth
book, which Euftathius, it feems, ^fteemcd
the mofl beautiful night-piece, that could
be found ill poetry . If I am npt greatly
miftakch, however, I can produce a finer :
and I =am perfuaded even the warmeft ad-
mirer of Homer will allbw, the following
lines are inferior to the cprrelponding ones

in the tranflation ;

* » »

• ' r •

iouy^T a^TT^^TreoL, ore. t ^ttMto vtiv^ijlqs ^^^{
Uxvlcc^fN T €i<hrau of^^od,^ y^yn^^ J^g t^ ^f^yaf

^Qifjilt/j, II. viii.-55i. ^

4s when the moony refulgent lamp of nighty
PVr heavns (ledr azure fpreads her Jacre4

When not a breath dtjhrbs the deepferene; ';[
And not a (loud o'ercafis the folemnfcene^ ^* -

G 3 Around

Around fjer t krone ih vivid planets mil,
^4'Jarf mntfmberdpld the flowing; pok ^
O'er the dark trees a yellower verdure Jhedy
And tip njnithfih^r'^ery m(mniq,ifis b^ ;
Tken^ne the fvales.y the rocfts infro^^rifi^
Afiood of glory burjisfronf all tlfejkies \
^he chjciims'jhvains^ rejoicing in the fight ^
'Siye the blue vault^ and blefs the ujeful lights

, I F^Ai^ th^ enjthwfi^tftic a4^^^•c^ of Hpt
mer would (pok uppp me wiihi n;mc4i )%r
^ign^tion, were tbey to he^r w ^^, ^^f
9Xiy thiog ic^ mod^ra Iwiguag^ a^ ^qu^ to
thje fttength and ;n^fty of tliat g^eat ^^.
ther of poetry. But th^ foUovfi^g paftgq
having been quoted by a celebrated, author
^ antiquity, as an inftancc of tKe true 8ub«
Ikrie, Iwill leave it* to yo\i to deterjiiine
whether the tranflation ha? not at leaft a$
juft a claim tathat charader as the original,

^Ajk <^^ Tg TnAoo-g jlBTTov €v spia-Lv ex^ye ^sTqifJiLi/^y
|1$ Tco^K fcicr^ojw^jft^y ^gjj grope ia;^» t| ^a^o$ t^,

^ torrents roily inqrfitfsd by nfmxqui rills.
With ra^e im^tMotfs dg^n^ tbeir e^kmg hills,.

L F T T E R XX- %7

Mif/h to the vakfy andy fourdakng^ t^ plain ^
Mbot tjbrd a tho%^n^ chfmeU to the main ;
9)^ di/iantjhephird tpmkHng beari ihefiuni:
So mix both hofts^ andjh^ their cries reitmnd.

There k na ancient author more likely
tQ betray an injudicious interpreter ipto
meanneffes> than Homer j as it requires the
ntmoft fldll and addrcfs to preferve that
venerable air of ^pliclty> which is one of
die charadleriftical marks of that poet, with-^
out finking the exprcflion or the feptiment
into contempt. Antiquity will fiirnifh a
very ftrong inilance of the troth of this ohf^
iervatioo, ia z iingle line which is prefbrveii
tp^ \K fi^m % traoflation Qf the Iliad by one
tAhfiQy a favof ite poet> k feems, of Nero :
it is. quoted by an old fcholiaft upon Per*
iius, and happens, to be a vexfion of thft
following paflage in the fourth book.

Qi$fin ^i&^^ois n£}fci/Ji<m n^ufioi^, Tf 'muJ^^u

whidb Nero's admirable poet rendered lite-
ratfy idoAis :

Crudum^ manduce^ Priamxrrt Priamique pi-*
Jiftnos.

I need not indeed have gone jTq far KacJ?; for
my inftance ; a Labeo of our own nation

G 4» would

88 LETTER XX,

\^ould have fupplied me with one much
nearer at hand. Pgilby or Hpbbs (I for^
get which) has tranflated this very verfc itx
the fame ridiculous manner :

j4nd e^t up Priam and his children alL

B'u T among many other paflages bf this
fort I obferycd one in the fame book^j
which raifed my curiofity to examine ia
what nqianner Mr. Pope had conducted it,
Juno, in a general council of the gods, thus
accofts Jupiter :

Tlco$ gflgAfts cthLov' Sr&vcu 'STOVov fi^* areheq^oi^
Irf^pw6\ ov tS^PCocrx fJLoyo)^ xxfJiellw S^s /jloi ittou
Accov ctyH^aariy JlQjLctfJia) xctKcx^ roici re 'mdnaiv^

which is as niuch as if fJiQ had f^d ia plain,
Englifli, " Why fvrely, Jupiter, you won't
^^ be fo cruel as to render inefFedtual all my
" expence of labor and fweat. Have I not
^* qot tire4 totji ir^y hoxfes, ia order to
^* raife forces to ruin Priam and his far
^« ?nily?" It requires the; moft 4plicate
touches imaginable, to raife fuch a fenti-.
in(?nt. as this into any tolerable degree of
dignity. But a Ikilful artift knows how to

' ' eiijbelliflx

LET T E R; XX. , 89

cmbellijfh the moft ordinary fubjcftj anej
what would be low and fpiritkfs from a left
mafterly pencil, becomes pleaiing- and grace-t
ful when worked up by Mr. pop?'sj:

^hall tbekj tyrant of tJS etherial plain^
Myfibemes^ niy labor s\ and my hopes be vamf
Have I for this fhook III on with aiarins^ " -^
yijfembled nations ^fet two nvorlds in arfnst
Tojpread the war I flew from Jhore to jhore^ '
7B immdrtal courfers fcarce the labor bore. ^

But to ihpwyou that I- am not fo en-
thufiaftic an admirer of this " glorious per-^
formance, as to be blind to its imperfec^
tions \ I will venture to point out a paflage
or two (amoYigft others which might be
mentioned) wherein Mr. Pope's ufual judg-
ment feems to have failed him.

Wh e n Iris is feiit to inform Helen, that
Fa^is and Mfiii^laiis were going t;o decide
the fate of both nations by fingle cpmhat,
wd w^re a<ajj«Uy upon the poipt of px^r^
gaging 5 HojQiief . defcribes her as haftijyf
tllM^pwing a Veil over her face,; and fleeing tq
the Scaean gate, from whence fhe might

hayc a fvill viqw of th^ifield of battle ;

h^k

H^

L fiT T E R XX.

At-^a <^' f Tigf 6' i>e«ifav^ ,06^ JSHOcoi tsrt^AM ifaar»

II. Hi. 142.

, NoTHjNfe icottl4 poflibly bcqaoTQ in-^
tereftii]^ tQ tlelieA, tb^ the cv^cpmil^cev
in yvhifih ih& kr l^^r^ re^refi^Xkt^ : 1| wa$
n^c^ry ^f ^fere tq exhibit her, ^ Hojr^er
we. i^ ki$^ whb 9iuch eag^p^s an4 inoi^
petuofity in her motion* But what can be
ftiore calm and rcpofed than the attitude
wherein the Hrfcn of Mr, Pope appears ?

Q'er her fair fgcfi afaomy veiljbe threw y
^dfoftlyfgbi^ the ioom withdrew :

£fer bofidnufids it * -^ i i wait

Jier Gkxitfoo^^ ft^ihe^tgrn gate..

Thosj6 expreffions of fpeed and impe-
tuofity^ wh|ph occur i%> often in the onginal

HneS) VIZ* at^TiJUt—^ m^^MtntiA •— cu-^ap ixatrpi^

would have; been fufficient^ ono fhould^
Ictve imagined, to have guar<ied a tranfl^Aor
fifom fallings i»tQ aii^ impropriety €^ ^6^

kiiidf

- » »

Thi& brings to^ visj^ mind another in^
ftance of the fame nature, where our Eng-*
- lifh

Itff ti^Efff^kn of hik anthoTi lu& ^en la

Homer Intended. la,:tkfi 6/^ Iliad tl|i^
reader is introduced into a cgyncil of t))^
Gredan* chicft; where v^^warm debates

A& noting,, wfts^c^jf .^fP«ff? Bi<ve ^ V!
tii^ pf-c^japi^ th^ * di^3fin)5pfl t>?f^»r!f«Pv^h9^
t\!fO ^!;ipc^.^ ttie vjenfr{^^)|q old:N<#ri& f^
prefented as greatly aiarni^4 ^^. ^9 frP^i^

imi^ l?Qtw^eA th^iQ ,WJ^ ^ -vivi^ty p^vuch

N |ta|)|ilyint;»n?tite^ %.^Jm^ JQ^^*,

AN0P0T2E.

l^on whi^h one of the commetitators very
juftly obferves — Mt^ in ^ re magna ef peri"^
(ulofay non placid^ ajfurgentem 'facit^ fed,
prorumpentcmy?;?/?;^ quoafte^-. TW?t.fiitQitW-r
ftance Horace feems to have had particu^
lady ia hk view ia t]k(e\epiftlf) to tolliKis \

Nejlov componere tiies.

This

92 L E T T E R XX.

But Mr. Pope has utterly cN^er looked! this
beauty, and fubftituted an idea very diSk*
reAt from that which the verb avoj^^oo fug-
gefts: he renders it,

Slovrfrom his feat, arofe the Pyli^njh^e..

Now a mote unfortunate word could, fcarce-
ly have been joined with /zr^j'asitdieftroys
^e whole ipirit of the piecei, and is jufl the
rcverfe of What bot};| the occkfion; krid th6
original required. .. ..-

r Doubt, Etiphronius, you arfe growing
weary : will you have patience, however,
whilft I mention one obfervation niore ? •

When Merielaus and Paris enter the
lifts. Pope &y8,

Amidfl the dreadful vale the cldefsu^dv^ncey (
jUlpale with rage^ andfhake the- tbr earning

hnce^ • ...

• "•

In the original it is, ^^ *

/X^vov S^^KoySfjou. U. iii. 34i«

But does not the expreffion all pale

mtif rSfge — — call up a contrary idea to

f

LETTER 30a. 55

^mvov i^^ofjS^joif The former feems to
fuggeil to one's imagination the ridiculous
paflion of a couple of female icolds ; where-
as the latter conveys the terrifying image
of two indignant heroes, animated with
calm and deliberate valor. FareweL

L E T T E R XXI.
To Cleora«

AFTER having red your laft letter, I
can no longer doubt of the trutb of
thofe ialutary effeds, which are faid to
have been produced by . the application of
certain written words. I have myfelf ex-
perienced the poilibili^ of; the thing : apd 2
few flrokes of your pen have abated a pain,
which of all others is the moil uneafy, and
the moft difficult to be relieved i even the
pain, my Cleora, of the mind. To fym-
pathize with my fufferings, as Cleora kindly
afTures me fhe does, is to aiTuage them> and
half the imeafinefs of her abfence is remov-
cdj'^hen . ihe tells me that fhe regrets
mine.

SiNCJS

j^4 l.e:T.^;EiR, XXli

I

^ ^H^t Ithvs'kiRit'ddly'lfiadtbat^oift cdfl
work thiracite^ I will bdieve likexlt^lfe thttt
y^ have the ^ft tif jptopheejr/; iind I tim
no letiger d6^)air that die time mil tbtn^
Virhsn w^e fhbil agua icfeety finde you haVe
abfolutely ps^oum^ ibat k trflL . I hare
veiituredj therefore (as you will fee by my
lail letter) already to name 4^ di^-. 1ft
the mean time, I amufe myfelf with do-
ing every- ^t^lHg ^ai lobks like )st prepara-
tion for my journqr i e gia t^ro le brae*
da per jiringerm ajfettuofamente al mh

ftnfm

TttB frtith ia> ytDb are eii^ery inftant ih
my thoughts^ and estch t)ccni»ltih(te tibcit
Irifes fttggeik j^ou tb my remdftf^di^anGei
If I fee axhmc iky, I<wi& k ttia^r extend
to you.; ftndif J cWbrve a doudy onie, I
ani unGkfy Kft^my.GJcora ihcmld be *5xpo4
^d to it* I iievcr reSaKl an inter^iig ftoryi '
^r a pertineiH reftiark, that I do hot long to
comnHinicate it to you, and icarh to double
my relifli by hcafSi% your jiriicious obfer-
vatioHS* I cannot take a turn in my gardcir
but every walk caih you inlor my mind. Ah
Cleont! I neVcr view thofe fcenes of our
former converfations, without a figh. Judge

then

t E T 7! B R XXI. $*

thai how often r%|i, when cveijr obje£l
tlat furrouiids me facifig& 3^a firdh t6 my
iflteginatian, Touv vemembet tfad attitiidb
vsi whidl the &idifiii^Peiidope 15 drawn ia
Popes O^Skfi \i^ft ilM? gbds to fetdx;
tbe bow of IJly&sf Ibr tfa« f^^^

J!:rg/5 i&^r knees Jhem4 the weH known Bow,
And pen/he fat ^ and i^af^ began to Jlow.

I find myfelf m niu^ibjirleis ibch tendbr re*
veries: and if I !(veN ev^r ib much dii^
pofed to banifh you from my thonghts, it
would he unpoilible I ihould do &» in a .
place where every djing that prefents itfelf
to me^ r^mnds rJ^slh^ yj^alnrdre once
here. I muft not exped (I ought not, in-
deed, for thd fdcb^cf jTototxep^e to wifli)
to be thus frequently and thus fondly the
fal^ft of your malitations i tat miy 1
not ho^ that you inAptoy a fe# rtioine^
^ leaft t4 cveiy day, in IfcSnfeing of him
Whofe whcile atttntiori is fixed upon yen ?
I ttA«« felftt you *Mrhiftory of th6
Cbnqiaeft of M*x:i<>d,- in'Ertg^ah, Whkli,
^ it is trattila&sd byib ^ooda h^rid, will be
e^iafly 4)feafing aixd lefe tit^yiblefoftie, fba»
reading it iri ^ o#JgijiaK Il^g to ,be of

this

$6 L £ T T e R xxir.

this paity in your exjpedition to the new
world> as I lately was in your conquefls of
Italy. How happily could I fit by Cleora's
iide» and purfue the Spaniards in their tri-
umphs, as J. formerly did. the Romans ; or
make a tranfition from a nation of heroesi
to a republic of ants! Glorious days ia-
deed ! when We paffed whole mornings
cither with dictators or butterflies; and
fbmetipaes fent out a colony of Romans,
and fometimes of emmits ! Adieu.

i***aaaHMii*itaMMMMMMM^Mi*B*«Mk

LETTER XXIL

2^ Pa LEMON.

TH o I am not convinced by your ar-
guments, I am charmed by your
eloquence, and admire the preacher at the
fame time that I condemn the dodtrine#
But there is no fort of perfons whofe opi-
nions one is more inclined to wifli right, '
than thofe who are ingenioufly in the
wrong J who have the art to add grace to
error, and can dignify miftakes.

Forgive*

LET TER XXli. 5I7

Fd}t<^i.V£ metbe6> Paleaioni if I am
bore tiiaii oomnloiily ipUjcitous that, you,
ihoubl review die feodmeiiits you advanced,
(I wiU not fay, fupported) with fb much eie*
ganee in. your laft letter^ and that I prefs^
you to re^^coniider ydiir notions ag^o and
s^[am; Can I fail) indeed^ to wiih i^at
youmay findreafbntb rencmnce ftnop^uo^r
which ihay poffibfy one day pr odier de-
prive me of a friend^ and iny country of ft
patriot P/while Providence, perhs^ would
yet have i^ared hitfi to both; Can 1 fail t&
regret^ ihzt Lihoutd hold one' of the moft
valuable enjoyments of my life upon a te*
nure more than ordinarily predlrious j and
that^ befides thofe numberlefs acddehts by
which. diance ma.^ ihatcb y6u fromt the
worlds a gloomy iky or a crpfs event inay
determine Palemon to put attend to a life^
which all who . We been a witnefs 0»
muit for ever appiaud; r

BiTT "Dcfes the fuprctne.b$iflg^(yoti
^^ aik) diipenie his bounty upon conditions
*^ di£ferent froni ail other beiicfa^orgj and
*' will he force a gifti^poix mfc which is nqj
*^ longer acceptable?" » . . :'\ ■

^ See Lett. t^erfunes/^voK iUlA64:* wkercf ^e ^i^utneiitd
ttfa?or of faicidc^ oppofed in this ietter, are advanced.

H Let

$$ LET TBR XXIL

> I:.£i^ m^ 4isiiiand kk retum, Wbedier a
creadne, ib cot^Si^cLiiilts perccptbm as
man, may !Rclt ^filfts^ 1»^ tr4ie imtewft^
and f€^^) fi^iom* ^^ |)ds%l regard, iivkstt^
wbui^b@'welS^4drtli^&<)e|Miiigiixppnit qmi^
Gomptidli^five vii^v^ IM|ay not seven sbniar**
ta} bei^^op bettisr iinderflfaiidthe uiqe
of :tkstq pi^ftnt lie xiiSbrs^ tkaD til« pcr&nv
ta whoifi ie^is t^deredi JSatdihaU t^

ed fe& \(^ m ^H&n^aaAxmg &e wotdiii jq^
tho&^giEam& lie 43odf^si <£ a^icie ^kji: joq j^
kidedds'lKa& w6^0i^e<^atied hiU ndftqiociiii
Older ^^)€fc^ve tiapjp^dk: dbqt i 02iidb|r:nar
nm&m'a^^t' ^Gtry^iStymxie>, ^Asat we are .aft

my ti^ created 4Sirwkh;dn intent to make
me happy, does it iktt'3if)qeIiB»ii^.^
&at)1 4^1 ii^cJt cifnrtamly dbt^ntkit )!^rif^
vileg6$ If I d^ 11^ ;/uftl^ foefati ib ^ jny.
own iriifcondu^? Numberte&icnds may Ims
kr^wered 'in tlve ic^x^o^es^of Rroxsidence^ t(y
turning afide or inttm^sg^iat flrjeaaoa of
bdufityi, >wkid) Qur . Un»itedr k^^ c^. in

HQ

^LETTER XXH- pp

M fort idHtovcr. How pf efumptaous dien
moftitbe^ to throw bkcka grant upon fho
haiKJk of the great Governor of the uni«
reiie^ merely becaufe we do not immediate*
1/ £bel> or undcrftand, its full advantages I

That it is the inwntkm of the Deity
we fboold remaih in this ibte of being*
ttU Jbis fummons calls us away, feems as
evident as that we at firft entered into it
by^ his Command : fcx* we can no more
poQtiiiue, dian we coiild begin to exii)^
Without .the concurrence of the &me fii*
'|ireme interpofition. While, therefore, the
animal' powers do not ceafe to perform
ifaofe fundions to whidi they were diredted
by their great audior, it may jufUy, I thinks
be conchideddiatitis his defignthey fhould
Hot*. .

StitLy hcWf:ev«r, you ui:gc, ** That by
*f putting a pcrijodtto your own exiftcncc
f^ hdte, yoiti cMly aker the modification of
'^^ matter; and< ho^fr (you aik) is the or**
•^ der of Provideooe difturbed by changing
^f the pombination of a parcel of atoms
^^ from one figure to another?"

B XT T furcly, Palemon, tbece is a fallacy
tlAJthis xcafoiiingi fiiicide is fomething more

H 2 . than

1

loo LETTER XXII.

than changing the component parts of the
animal machine. It is ftriking out a Q)f-'
ritual fubftance from that rank of beings,
wherein the wife Author of nature has
placed it, and forcibly breaking in upon
Ibme other order of exiftencc. And: afi it
is impoflible for the limited powers of rea^t
£bn to penetrate the deligns of Providence,
it can never be proved that this is not difr
turbing the fchemes of nature. We pofi
fibly may be, and indeed moft probabfy are,
cqnnefted. with fome higher. rank of crca*-
tures : now philofophy will never he able
to. determine, that thofexonnediorisj may
not be difeoncerted by prematurely quittiiig
our prefent manfion. / .

O N £ of the ftrongeftpa£ions implanted
in human nature, is the fear of death... It
feems, indeed, to be placed by Providerice,
as a fort cf guard to retain mankind with-
in their appointed ftation. Why elfe flicbM
•it fo univerlally and almoft invariably ope-
rate ? It is obfefvablc diat no fuch- affec-
tbn appears in any fpedes: of beings helow
us. They have no temptation, onno'abii-
lityi to defert the. poft af5gricd to difcm,
lund . therdbre, it ihoiild ieem^ they have

: 1 ' .ncf

LET T E R XXIL- lof

no 'checks of this kind to keep them with-
m their prefcribcd limits. This general
Ivtkt^ then in mankind atdie appreheniion
of their diii^lution, carries with it, I think,
i' vecy ftrotig prefumptive argument in fa-
ror of the opinion I ami endeavoring ft>
mdjT^tain. 'For if it were not ^veii to m
for the purpoie I have fuppofedy what other
cai¥ It ferve ? Cab it be imagined that the
benevolent Author of nature wotild have fo
deeply woven it into our conftitutionj oftly
to hiterrupt our prefent enjoyments ?

/ 1 c A N NOT,' I confefe, difcovcf how the
pra<3:ic9 of fuicide can be juftiiied upon any
principle, except upon th^t of downright
atheifm^ If we fu^ofe a gobdTrbvidence
to govern the world, the cpnfequence is
undeniable, dtat ^e niuft entirely rely up-
on it. If we imagine an evil one to prevail,
what chance^ is. there of finding thathappi^
nefe in anodier fcene, which we have in
yain fought for in this? Thej^me malevo-
lent omnipotence can as ^Gly^pmCnc us jn
the nejct fempv^, as perfwute jjsvin this our

.Ufon the whole^^ PalemOHfy* prudence
jftrongly forbids forhazardous an experiment

H 3 as

♦'4

\

loa LETTER

as that of being our own execQlionerSf : Wm
know the woril that c?n hseppen i|i &;pppvtri
ing life under all its mpft wretched circufiW
fknces : and if we ihould be miftak^^ ^
thinking itouir duty to endure aloadi whif^
Uk truth we nuy feciirely My down } it S9
^n error extremely Iwiifted ki iU iPOftfet
quences. They ^antiaoi e¥t|i»i beypxid thil
prefent ejciftwice, afid pcsflihly mayfeod
inuch earlier: w}»;rea$ no mental can> wiftii
the leaft degree of a|Bu!^ce» pioncitiuv
what tn^y not be the efih^s of a^g agro«
gl^y to the contrary <^bi6a. J aoxi ^.

«-^

/♦:«i

LETTER

^(7 C l< Y T A N D E R*

» . f * . ♦

S«pt. i^, 17:^3^

1A M by 66 means in the fentiment^ of
th^ Grecian of your ac^aintance, who
a$ dfteri as he ivas preded to marry, rev
pfied either ^tlaat it was tod ibon or too la€e ;
and I think ihy favorite author^ the knfMe
Montaigne, a little too fcvere when he 6b^
ikrvt^ upon this ftory , qUilfa$a refufet Pop*
pifrtfmite ^ totfte ifffim im^fturit : fttf^

.•• higher

liTiaT T.B:!^ XXPXv laa

fie fditiciii| ^W) 'n:ftra^ to Ikx^ ditt'fw
«i nigs^l^Qht^f tkkidiid» it is aA mi&i^

jutt ACin^^' it h ^odtomhcce mhta^ f^ ^^^f

kfuccefiiolydiM:! woddnM v^^ to pfo^
AOimc^^tt^ tworperfi)fi6, that tii^ are
i|iiidifidtf(SF;e^tdi oihec;

£paiiDt know x wbman^A die world
who feesiis more &rmed to render a mMdT
i€fife «id^geaert)ilt}rli^^ ift thii^ ft9t6> ^iiiii
Amaffi:; yet I ihoiatiledro^have eotfiige
CD i«c(nmenii even Ama^ to my Hffetidl
Yott.haiso:i««ihi^,<idarefay, atfaoix&hd
times; iboilBm periqaftedihe lieVef attta8>
ed.yotiuripacticalor obfiflhradoft : for $ie is Id
^nnmBer of thcxfe who are wet overkok^
ediA^ crowd Mo&ktiksTctmikte'mt!^
her> £be puts me in nimd of the gcA^nigti
thcareds an iniux^CAcy ^aind fimplicity( in dU
her wb|daand ai3iaii^^ateq^al^ an^HtShg
d)e pooti have dc^ilsei^tho^fjfN^^

H 4 artlcfi

104; LE * "^ E R XMlj

^efs times. Indeed the greateft part of
her life has been ipfrnt mifch hi the fame^
i^ay -as the early inhabitants of the yrorld,

in that blamelefs,pedodof jft; ufedi weare
told, to difpofe of theirs ; undcc the Amdq
and ihelfer of hpr own^eperat^erbaks, and
in thofe rural amuiemeiits; which itre fure to
produce a con&med habit. both of health
and chearfulnefs.. Aoaafia never! faidi or atr
tempted to fay, a ^dghtly thing, in all her
life 5 but fhe hatvtlbne . teii thouj&hd' gene-:
rous ones : and if fheris- jiot the: moft c6n-«
^icupus figure atan aflemblyv^'iHcJnev^
envied or maligned thofe who. are. Her
heart is all tenderneis. and benevolence : no
fuccefs ever attended any of her acquaints
jtfice, which did not fill her bofbm with
the mpft difinterefted complacency ; as no
liHsfoftune ever r^achedher knowledge, that
ihe did npt relieve or participate fay her ge^
nerofity. If ever ihe fliould fall into the
hands of a man ihe loves (and.Iampeiv
funded ihe wsould cffeem it the-worft kind
of prpilitution tp refign herfeif into any
pther) h^r whole life would be one conti^
nue^/eries pf kindneis ' and compliance.
J^ A^)nb{e ppinioi^ ihe has of her own

uncommon

t ' * ' » t f ««

LET TE R XXIV. loj

^ncommorr nicfit, ,^uld' make her lb
much -Ae'ihore fcnfihte of her hiiiband's •
and thofe' Bttle fubmimona on his fide,
whfeh'ar^bman of Ihofe' pride and jpirit
would' dbhfSitfr only ^ a <:laim of ri^tj
would be efteemed bjTAmafia asf fo many
addition^ "njbtives to hrir love and 'grati-
tude. ' * '* '"^ ♦'

• Buf SPl dwell any terigcr- upoil tfiia
aniiaole jpiSure, I may he' in danger, per-
haps, V^^refemblirig Atat ancient ardft Who
jgrew eharrftSiecTof tne^pr6du6tion ibf his
own ^pencil ^ lor ihy fccurity, therefor^, as
well as to put in fed to your trouble, it will
he heft; I befieVe^ to flop here. I arii^ &c.

/I

i .--r

ite««

II I I )

ffr

t 7T

t feT^ E R XXIV«

• VSTo Orontes. ' ^

I WAS apprehenfive * my laft had given
you but too muchbctdfion of recoUeS-
ing the remark of one of your admired an-
tients, that ^^ the art of eloquence is taught
by man, but it is the godis alone thit in-
fpire the wifdom of filence." That wil^
|iom, however, you are not willing I ihould

yet

«c

<c

^.■■M^ia^T \.

io6 L'^T •?.'£/» JDUVi

]«P;?ofipr?it9ry^';jPftit then » my iti€n4
^Oir«frfc, but lftol»m renfte«ftiw,c;it is i^

. Q« ]§ of the .^4p^^%. .^3D?^^^ <^
the imagination, is that wherein ihe is cm-r

l%Q^iii<»mB«|ingh4i^^ J|j^d dif-

co¥f riDg^ daar'^£i@uareff n^

scl: f:apf^e of ^Qriu^ite nuti^r o^
dcrai^f^s^ ifl ^efS^rehce to otbo- ol^e£b,^ an4
itifr in diia /ipy^lty >^^ varie^ of theie uu«p
exj^d^ Qonne(^ipn$^ that the richne^of a
writer's genius is chiefly difplayed. A vi-
^6F5U5iaidtlvdy feney does nottamely con-
fine itfelf tts the id^ which lies before it^but
looks beyond the immediate o^e€tof its con-
templation,dhdot)ferv6S howltftandsincon-
fprmitT.with numberlefsothers. Itistheprcr
wg^V'V^ of the human mind thus to bringits
lavages together^ and compare the.ieveral
circumftancesof jGs^Utudethatattend them*
By ^if; means elpque^pe exercifes a kind of
m^gi<^ ( ppwer > ihe can raife innunaerabk •
^i;^i^]4^f froax die m^ barren fubjedls^ and

, LET TER Smv: K07

pf^ like fftKc of novdly.tpcthemcA i^m^.
ShOfli^ The imagmotiiKi k tlius: l«fit awa^

(iifted ^th « thon&m^ diflfefieht idews bodl
of ait aikd ntfiacS| ' whidb AiH tmusiKite tip^ •
pn the {>rmcii»l oi)ji»9L Bcrdis fosffiiii
pmfcv iha rnettpioDr to the fitx^ a^^Iar
gaore pkafing method of ilhiiliatkaif. la
the firmer^ the. ai^n of the miqidlis left
littfflidy at it isi employed at cut and the
fytMrJoAsmtm txnnparing die teftad^iaenee
widl the idcatiti:aekendsj ivherecas in the
latter^ liRlapecaaamB 0r0 m hdag

dEdiaeillD ^aodiliU as it trare, ift order to
contcasipiate firfl: the principal ofej antjl
then its correlponding image, , ;

Of all the flq^ers^ however, that em* -
belUfh the rcjg^ofls p/ eloquence, thereis nope
of a more tender and delicate nature ; as
#i^e ii nothing wherein i fine writer is
fmitt didin^uUhed frdm erne of an ordin^.
rjr cla(s^ than in the conduct and appMcation
c^ this £|gure« . He is at liberty^ indeed, to
range thro the whole compafs of creation,
and collet hie images from every objcft
t^at furwund* him. But tho he may be
I^Us amply forniihed with materials, great

judgment

xoS LETTEfK JCXW.

judgment b: required in choofing them i
for to. render i. metaphor perfed:, it muft
]30tonlybe^,!butpieafing*$ itmuftehte^--
lain; zs weU^.enl^ten. Mn Dryden;
therefore^.can hardly eibape the impatsibdn
bf a very ttopftriSinabie hreiach of delicacy,
when, inthed^sdicatbnof ,his Juvenal, he
obferves to.the.duke of Dorfet, that *^ feme
5* bad pocmsixarry. their- jowners marks
^^ about thcra-r4fomc brand of other on^this
<< huHoek or that ear^ that it is notonotts
<* who is the .owner of. .the raWe/r . The
|X)et Manilius feems to have railed an image
cf the fame injudicions.kind;. in that cqsh«-
|)liment which he pays . to Homer in the
following verfes : '_..

•* -to-.- • f ' ' ^ I

' cujufqueexofeprofufos '
Omnis pojlerifas latifes in carmine duxit. .

I c o u *. p never read^Jthefe . linfts withov^
.calling tp mip^ thofe grof^iqvie h^ad5, whiefe
,are feed, tor thetppfpf ihe cjljl building of
;I^ipgs cdllegfjj in Camj;8ridg?^j. which the
ingenious archited: has repreff nted) in thp
adl of vonujiijg-put the rain, -that falls {hro
certain pipes moH: judic^wfly ftuck in thcdr
-n^ouths for tjiat purgpfqf-^Mr. Addifojn
- '♦ recommends

LETTER 5aiV. top

recommends a method of trying the pro<»
priety of a metaphor, by drawing it out in
vifible reprefentation. Agreably to his no-
tion, I diink this curious conceit of the
builder might be employed to the advan-
tage of the youth in that univerfity, and
fupply as proper an illuftration of die ab^
furdity of the poet's image, as that antient
pifture which ^lian mentions, where Ho-
mer was figured with a ftream running

from his mouth, and a groupe pf poets
lapping it up at a diftance.

But befides a certain decorum which is

»

requiiite to conftitute a perfe(^ metaphor ^
a writer of true tafte and genius will ai-*
ways fingle out the moft obvious images;
and place them in the moft unobierved
points of refemb^ce. Accordingly] all al-
luiion^ whi(;]^ -point to the more abilrufe
brgnches^^l^jthe/artsorfdences, and with
whic^inpa^S&O.be fuppojfed to be acquamtn
ed but ti^of? who have gone far into the
dejsper iludi^,-fHould be carefully avoided^
not Qi^y ^ : pedantic j but impertinent) .as
dicy pervert jilbe fingleiufe of this figure^
and add neither .girace nor forcentd theidiea
they would elucidate; Tiieriiaaqftpleafing
n?/Btaphors therefore are thofe which are de-
rived

ij-o LET TER' XXJV,-

rived from tk^ nK>re&(«|«ent.ocain5enoc8 o^
9it or natiiUre» or t^ ct^ tmfi&&kHi$ and
ciaftoflfts .of mankind. Thm how expxcf*
fiy^f yet *t tbc ferae time how jEuniliar, is
thatt im^ wHdi Ot^^dy haspiiKt into the
iDQUth ^ jyks&eU»$» in his pl^ of Caiud
Mari)ii». ti^^hcre he cals Su^dus

^l%af madwiU hiMwhom Sdarius kh hole
On each occqjtony when he'd make Koine feel

hiniy -
5^(7 tofs our laws and ItBerties i' tb^ air*

^rl iMver^mec Wi«k a mere agrek^Ie^
or a osore fignl&:ant -^^th^^tt^, fhafl oneiiji
(^ntus CumuS) whkh is^ btirlcmred fron^
ih^ mofl ordkiary obj^' ib comnfion life.
3%[at a«4ber fapfefentsCrateru^ a& diSiiad^
iibg Alexstnder from cofitintiing his lli«
diflonu e3^odkkn> againft eiieittiies t^oO coil-
ibinptibtey he td;!^ lum, for the ^ory <^ hi^
atms^ ami oohch^s his fpeedi wit^ tb«
£dil(n«mg hestucf&d tho^ht: Citd ^oi4a
^feiepit inJhrMdu h^Hiusi nee ^uidfumit
ittdigams e^ fmnt con^tiii earn ttbi ndn ft^
^oibendi^ Now I am got intd Ladti quor
taSoQs^: P cannot forbear unentibxiing a moft
bMii£i£al« .padi*^e^ which I latdy had the

l^eafipe

LETTER XXIV, m

fieofuifi of i!eading» ami vribidb I wHrvci»^
ture to produce as equal to any thing:o£jtfac
&ine inody eidier in antieotxyr modem ^qbs&'.
poiition. I met witb ife m die Q)eceh is£ a
}iQoung Qrator^ to mfjftom i have the hi^pi*
ns& to he related, and vihsu VfiH one day»
i poriuade myielf, proveas^greatanJhoQOF
to his 4»>untiy, as be is at pre&nt to tiut
learned fociety of \duch lie is a nKXDi>er«
He igipealing of tbewritingspf ajcelshrated
ppelate, who recdved his €fd|iii£adon in tkat
fiimous femsnaty to udilcli he belongs, and
iUi;^bates«ke pecmliar d^itaorwhicfadHtitt-^
gttifiiesaUdiatautkor'spei^binnanceS) b^lfae
fbtloi^g juft and pleanngajQbmhlageofdi*
md imag^ : In ymskiinyue cputje
St (it per omnia f4Mi WifotiUiUila. fe
ingemum) nefiio qua 'JMe]fibi\faS fn*^
id4Uufninmnt ; fymdi^^koiliiA 4wm
4 radiijfui p0P iaam.Iakdam.^fi
^»^&'pdm> datmndiitt4. . Ab thefabia
nothing txAsreoBMifrtm lOfi^giMn

#iere is^tf d kindJoC^finulibidtflor fldotil^h^ra
^4iidh are' hi ^ftef^^iinoie iltildngvr jtbasi
diofe whioMh aHude-w ^iliieiif ^pt^opectiosfraBd
e^^;/l): is Witl^gteat jiidgmtntji^

that

dKlt the kigeiiibikS'. author of the ^dialogtid *
concerning the Decline of eloqudice among
the Romans, recommends to his orator a ge-^
jteral acquaintance with the whole circle of
the polite arts. A knowledge jof this fort
furnifhes^an author with illuftrations of the
moft agreable kind, and fets a glo& upoii
his coli^ofitions that enlivens them with
fingiihir grace and fpirit*-
- :WeiLb I to pcmt out the beauty and ef---
ficacy of metaphoiical languages by parti-^r
cular inftances/I ihdttld rather draw ra/^
examples from the inoderns thtbx thef atif:
tieiitsi the. latter bdQg fcarcely^ I think/ fo
exadtand delicate in this articltf.qf cptopofi-
tionv'as the former; The gre^t imprpvefi
ments> indee{l> io natural knowledge whick
have been. made in thefe later ages^ have'
openeda vein of metaphor entirely unknown
totheantientSy and enriched the fancy of
ttoderh ^^its with a new ftock of the mQ&,
plttafiag'idsis^^: circumflance which muft
give thctte a very coAfidorable advantage^
over thft Greeks and Romans* lamfweaib
leaA; of all the writings with which I have
fieen convedknt,; the works of Mr. Addiibn
will affi>rd the. m^ft .abundant fupply ^fthis

• ^ - ^-*»...

LETTER XXIV. 113

kind, in all its variety and perfedion. Truth
and beau^ of imagery is^ indeed, his cha«
rsK^riftical diflind:ion, and the principal
point of eminence which raifes his flyle
above that of every author in any language
that has fallen within my notice. He is
every where highly figurative j yet at the
fame time he is the moft cafy and peripi-
cuous writer I have ever perufed. The rea-
fon is, his images are always taken from the
moft natural and familiar appearances ; as
they are chofen with the utmoft delicacy
and judgment. Suffer me only to mention
one out of a thoufand I could name, as it
appears to itie the fincft and moft exprcflive
that ever language conveyed. It is in one
of his inimitable papers upon Paradife loft,
where nc is taking notice of thofe changes
in n*£ure, which the author of that truly
divine poem defcribes as immediately fuc-
ceeding the fall, . Among other prodigies,
Milton reprefcnts the fun in an eclipfci and
at "the fame time a bright cloud in the
weftern regions of tlie heavens defce'ndiijg
with a band of angels. Mr. AddiibnD in
order to ftiew his authors art aijd judgment
in the conduil: and difpofition of this fub-

I lime

114 LETTER XXIV,

lime fcenery, obferves, " the v^hx>h& ih^afy-i
" of nature is darkened^ thsit this gtorious
<< machine may appear in all its luftre and
" magnificence*" I knbw not, Orontes,
whether you will agree in fcntimcnt with
me ; but I muft confeis I am at a lofs whkh
to admire moft upon this bccafion^ the poet
or the critic.

T H £ R £ is a (double beauty in images of
this kind when they are not only metaphors,
but allufions. I was much.pleafed with an
inflance of this uncommon 4>ccies, in a lit^
tie poem entitled The Spleen. The author
of that piece (who has thrown together
more original tboi^^ts than I ever red in
the fame compos of tines) ipeaking of ^
advantages of exercife in diflipating thofb
gloomy va{)ors, which are fo apt to hang
upon ibme minds^ employs the following
image :

Throm but ajloney the giant dies.

You will obferve, that the metaphor
here is conceived with great propriety of
thought, if we confider it only in its pri-
mary view : but when we fee it pointing
ftill farther, and hintmg at the ftory of

David

LETTER XXIV. 115

David and Goliath, it receives a Very con«
fiderable improvement from this doable ap*-
plication.

I T muft be owned ibme of the grcateft
audbors« both antient and modern* have
made many remarkable flips in the manage^
mcnt of this figure j and have fom^timcjs;
expreffed themfelvcs with as much impro-
priety as an honeil failor of my acquaint-
ance, a captain of a privateer, who wrote
an account to his owners of an engagement,
'^ in which he had the good fortune,
" he told them, of having only one of his
" iia;7^^ £hot thro the «^(?." The great cau-
tion therefore fhould be, never to join any
idea to a figurative exprejfiion, which would
not be applicable to it in a literal fcnfe.
Thus Cicero, in his treatife De clans orato--
ribuSy fpcaking of the family of the Scipi-
os, is guilty of an impropriety of this kind :
generofam Jiirpem (fays Yit)et tanquam in.
unam arbor efn phira genera^ Jk in ijiam do^
nrnm multorum infitam at que illuminatam.
fapientidm^. Mr. Addifon, likewife, has

fallen

* Th« celebrated Menage has offered a conje^re,
whteh he thinks will Jntirely reixiove the charge brought
againft Cicero from this pafTage. He fuppofes that
illnminafam may be taken in the feme fcnfe as inocu*

I 2 latum;

ii6 LET T E R XXIV.

fidlen into an error of the feme fort, where
he obferves, " there is not a fingle view of
" human nature, which is not fuflScient to
" fxtingui/h^tic feeds of pride" In this pat-
fage he evidently unites images together,
which have no connection with each other.
When a feed has loft its power of vegeta-
tion, I might in a metaphorical fenfe fay it
is extinguijhed : but when in the fame fenfe
I call that difpofition of the heart which
produces pride, the feed oi that paffion, I
cannot, without introducing a confufion of
ideas, apply any word to feed^ but what cor-

refponds

latam ; Cicero having in another part of his writings
uf^d the word luniina in the iignification of oculi i
" Democritus luminibus amiffis." Tufcul. v. vid. Me-
nagiana, torn. lii. p. 46. That lumina is fometimes
nfed by Cicero, and other writers of equal authority.
In the fignificatioD of aculu is moft certain : but
whenever it is fo ufed, it muft always be by metony-
my. Now a word which operates by the force of that
figure, can never, without occafioning the utmoft
confufion of images, be converted into a metaphor
derived from the proper term for which the metony-
my is fubftituted : becaufe the moment it drops its
metonyouCal office, it reverts to its primary employ-
ment, and confequently introduces an idea utterly
different from that which it raifed in its figurative
Aate. It is not probable therefore that Uluminat^m,
in the fenfe for which Menage cpntends, could have
been authorized by common ufe; as it would be im-
poflible, perhaps, to produce a metaphorical term of

general

X

LETTER XXIV. 117

refponds with its real properties or circum-
fiances.

A ifj o T H E R miftake in the ufe of this fi-
gure isj when different images are crouded
too clofe upon each other, or (to exprefs my-
felf after Quintilian) when a fentence fcts
oat with ftorms and tempefts, and ends
with fire and flames.. A judicious, reader
will ohferve an impropriety of this kind in
one of the eifays of the inimitable au-
thor laft quoted, where he tells us, " that
" women were formed to temper mankind,
♦* not to fet an edge upon their minds, and

general currency^ that is not founded in an obvbus
and flriking fimilitude : for it is this iimiltude alone^
it fliould feem, that could render it popular. Thus
there is an evident reafon why that method of ingraft-
ing which is performed by inferting a bud into a ftock,
fliould be called inoculation^ as the bud fo inferted
bears fome refemblanoe to the eye of certain animals :
but it bears none to the idea of light in any of its
qualities or efFefts. If Cicero therefore ufed illumi-
nataniy to exprefs the fame idea as inoculatam, it muft
be by a fort cA figure peculiar to himfelf, and to which
Rhetoric has not yet given, a name ; nor I fuppofe ever
vnill : for no judicious writer, I imagine, will venture
to follow him in fo extravagant a licenfe. Upon the
•whole, it fcems more reafonable to fay that Cicero ,
in the paflage under qonfidcration, has inadvertently
jumbled together incongruous ideas ; than to fuppofe,
either that He could have been the author of fo. un-
natural a metaphor, or that it had before been adopted
by common lanjguage.

I 3 "blow

iig LETTER XXIV,

" blow up in them tjiofe paffions, which are
" too apt to rife of their own accord/*
Thus -a- celebrated orator, fpcaking of that
little blackening fpirit in mankind, which
is fond of difcovering fpots in the brighteft
chanuSters, remarks, that when pcrfons of

this caft of temper have mentioned any vir-
tue c^ their neighbor, " it is well, if to ba-
M lance the matter they do not dap fomc
** fault into the oppdfite fcale, that fo the
** enemy may tiotgo off with flying colors r
Dr. Swift alfoy whofe ftyle h the moft pure
and fimple of any of our claiEc writers,
and who does not feem in general very fond
of the figurative manner, is not always free
from cenfure in his management of the me-
taphorical language. In his eflay on the
DifTentbns of Athens and Rome, fpeaking
of the populace, he takes notice, that " the
in their corrupt notions of divine wor-
fhip, they are apt to multiply their
gods, yet their earthly devotion is feU
" dom paid to above one idol at a time,
whofe oar they pull with lefs murmur-
ing and much more fkill, than when,
they ihare the ladings or even hold the
** helmJ' The moft injudicious writer coul4
not poffibly have fallen into a more abfurd

incon-

LETTER XXIV. 119

inconfiflcaicy df inetaphor^ than this emi-
nent wit has inadvertently been betrayed in-
to, in this paflkge. For what connedion
is there between worfhiping and rowing ?
and who ever heard before of pulling the
car of an idol ?

As there are certain metaphors which
are common to all languages; there are
others of fo delicate a nature as not to bear
tran^lanting from one nation into another.
There is no part, therefore, of the bufinefs
of a tranflator more difficult to manage^
than this figure, as it requires great judg^
m^it to diftinguiJ[h when it may, and may
not, be naturalized with propriety and ele-
gance. The want of this neceffary difcern-
ment has led the common race of tranf-
lators into great abfurdities, and is one of
the principal realms that performances of
this kind are generally fb infipid. What
ftrange work, for inftance, would an inju-
dicious interpreter make with the follow-
ing metaphor in Homer ?

II. X. 173.

But Mr. Pope, by artfully dropping the
particulafr image, yet retaining the general

I 4 idea^

120 LETT E R XXIV.

idea, has happily preferved the fpirit of his
author, arid at the fame time humored the,
different tafte of his own countrymen :

Each Jingle Greeks in this conclufive Jlrifcy
Stands on the fharpeft edge of death or life.

And now, Orontes, do you not thihk it
high time to be difmifled from this fairy
land ? Permit me, however, juft to add,
that this figure, which cafts fo much light
and beauty upon works of genius; ought
to be entirely banifhed from the feverer
compcfitions of phiiofophy. It is the bu-
finefs of the latter to feparatc refemblances,
not to find them, and to deliver her dif.
coveries in the plaineft and moft unorna-
mented expreffionsr Much difpute, and,
perhaps, many errors, might have been
avoided, if metaphor had been thus con-
fined within its proper limits, and never
wandred from the regions of eloquence
and poetry. I am, $cc.

L ET-

[ "I }

L E T T E R XXV.
7h Philotes.

, V ■ .

Do n't you begin to think that I ill de-^
fcrve the prcfcription you fent me,
fince I have fcarce had the manners even
to thank you for it ? It muft be confeflcd
I have neglefted to honor my pbyfician with
the honor due unto him-, that is, I have
omitted, not only what I ought to have per-,
formed in good breeding, but what I am
e^preily enjoined by my Bible, I am not;
however, entirely without excufe ; a filljir
one, I -own 3 neverthelefs, it is the truth :^
I have lately been a good deal out of fpi-
rits. But at length the fit is over. Amoijgft
the number of thofe things which are want-
ing to fecurc me from a return of it, I muft
always reckon the company of my friend*
I have, indeed, frequent occafion for you 5
not in the way of your profeffion, but in a
better : in the way of friendfhip. There is
a healing quality in that intercourfe, which
a certain author has, with infinite propriety,
termed the medicine of life. It is a medi-
cine, which unluckily lies almoft wholly
out of my reach 5 fortune having feparated

mc

122 LETTER XXV.

me from thofe few friends whom I pretend
or defire to claim. Gbncral acquaintances,
you know, I an^ ^ot n^uch inclined to culti-
vate; fo that I am at prefent, as much fcclu-
dcd from fociety as if I were z,fojmrnet' in
a Jirange land. Tho retirement is my
dear delight, yet, upon fomc occafions, I
think I havd too much of it j and I agree
with Balzac », que iafolitude ejl certainement
me helle chofe t mats ily a plaijtr d'anjoir
quelquun qmjacbe repondre ; a qui on puijfe
dire de terns en terns ^ que la folitude ejl une
helk chofe. But I mutt not forget, that as
I fometimes want company, you may als
often wilh to be alone ; and that I may,
perhaps, be at this inftant breaking in up-
on one of thofe hours which you defire to
enjoy without interruption. I will only de-
tain you therefore, whilft I add, that I
am, &c,

• A very ingenious and fprightly correfpondence
having been jmbHihcd iince the appeaarancc ot the pre*
fcnt Collcftioo, under the |titk of Ajerws ofgej^ine
ytUrs between Henry and Frances^ London printed
for W.JohnJton in St. Paul's Chureh-yariy 1757 ; the
author of Fitxolborne's Letters cannot re£^ the vamty
of obferving, that the tender and fenfible Fraaices ha$
done him the honor to compofe one of her epiftks
partly from ^at foiiows of the prefent lettei- to
^. etAf and partly from fome paffiges taken from
lettxvi. p. 71, 72.

LET-

[ "3 ]

LETTER XXVI.
To Phidippus.

T F that friend of yours, whom you are
■*" defirous to add to the number of mine,
were endued with no other quality than the
laft you mentioned in the catalogue of his
virtues; I Ihould efteem his. acquaintance
as one of my uioft valuable privileges. When
you aflured me, therefore, of the Gcnerofity
of his diipciition, I wanted no addition^
motive to embrace your popofal of joining
you and him at **. To fay truth, I con*
fider a generous mind as the nobleft work
of the creation, and am perfuaded, where-
ever it relides, no real merit can be want-
ing* It is, perhaps, the moft Angular of ali
the moral endowments : I am fure at leaft,
it is often imputed where it cannot juiUy
be claimed. The meaneft felf-love, under
fome refined difguife, frequently paffes up-
on conunon obfervers for this godlike prin-
ciple ; and I have known many a popular
ai^on attributed to this motive, when it

flowed

J24 LETTER XXVI.

flowed from no higher a fource than the
fuggeftions of concealed vanity. Good-
nature, as it has many features in common
with this virtue, is ufually midaken for it :
the former, however, is but the effedt, pof-
fibly, of a happy difpofition of the animal
ftrufture, or, as Dryden fomewhere calls it,
of a certain " milkinefs of blood ;" where-
as the latter is feated in the mind, and can
never fubfift where good-fenfe and enlarged
fentiments have no exiftence. It is entirely
founded, indeed, upon juftnefs of thought :
which, perhaps, is the reafon this virtue is
fo little the charafteriftic of mankind in
general. A man, whofe mind is warped
by the felfiih pailions, or contrafted by the
narrow prejudices of feds or parties 5 if he
does not want honefty, muft undoubtedly
want underftanding. Tljie fame clouds that
darken his intelledual Views, obftrudt his
moral ones; and his generofity is extremely
circumfcribed, becaufe his reafon is exceed-
ingly limited.

It is the diftinguifliing pre-eminence of
the Chriftian fyftem, that it cherifhes this
elevated principle in one of its nobleft ex-
ertions. Forgivenefs of injuries, I confefs

indeed.

LETTER XXVL laj

indeed^ has been inculcated by feveral of
the heathen moralifts ; but it never entered
into the eftablifhed ordinances of any religir
on, till it had the fan<£tion of thegreat author
of ours. I have often, however, wondered
that the antients, who raifed fo many vir-
tues and affeiflions of the mind into divinities,
(hould never have given a place in their
temples to Generofity ; unkfs, perhaps,
they included it under the notion of fides
or HONos. But furely (he might reafona-
Jbly have claimed a feparate altar, and fupe-
rior rites. A principle of honor may reftrain
a man from counterading the focial ties, who
yet has nothing of that aftive flame of ge-
nerofity, which is too powerful to be con-^
fined within the humbler boundaries of
mere negative duties. True generofity rifes
above the ordinary rules of focial conduft,
and flows with much too full a flream to
be comprehended within the precife marks
of formal precepts. It is a vigorous prin-
ciple in the fou|, which opens ^nd expands
9II her virtues far beyond thofe which are
only the forced and unnatural produdtions
of a timid obedience. The man who is
influeijccd iingly by motives of the latter

kind,

ia6 LETTER XXVI.

kind, aims no higher than at certain au*^
thoritative flandards, without ever attempt-*
ing to reach thofe glorious elevations, which
conilitutc the only true hcroifm of the fo-
cial character. Religion^ without this fo*^
vereign princ^le, degenerates into flavifh
fear, and wifdom into a fpedous cunning ;
learning is but the avarice of the mind, and
wit its more pleafing kiiKi of madnefs. In a
word,generofityfandifies every paffion, and
adds grace to every acquifition of the foul ;
and if it doe& not neceflarxly include, at leafl
it refleds a luftre, upon the whole drclc of
moral and intelle<5hial qualities.

But I am running into a general pane-
gyric upon generofity, when I only meant,
to acknowledge the particular inftance you
have given me of yours, in being dcfirous
of communicating to me a treafixre, which I
know much better how to value than how
to dcferve. Be affured, therefore, tho Eu-
phronius had none of thoie polite accom-*
plifhments you enumerate,, yet, after what
you have informedme concerning his heart,
lihouldefteem hi&friendfhip of more worth
than all the learning of antient Greece, and
all the virtu of modern Italy. I am^ &c.

LET-

[ "7 3 '■

LETTER. XXVU.

To Sa?vho\

March I o, l73i.

WH I L £ yet no am rous youtlis around
thee bow,
Norflatt'ringverfeconveys thefaithlefdvow;
To graver notes will Sappho's foul attend.
And ere fhe hears the lover, hear the friend ?
Let maids lefs blefs'd employ their

meaner arts
To re^n proud tyrants o'er ununil>er'd

hearts ;
May Sappho learn (for nobler triumphs

born)
Thofe litde conquefts of her fex to icorn.
To form thy bofom to each gpnVous deed;
To plant thy mind with ev'ry ufeful feed ;
Be thcfe thy arts: nor fpare the grateful toil^
Where nature's hand has blefs'd the happy

foU.
So ihalt thou know, with pleaiing (kUl, to

The lovely miftrefs and inftruftive friend :
So fhalt thou know, when unrelenting tim<?
Shall ipoil thofe charms yet op'ning to dieir
prime,

* A young lady of thirteen years of age.

To

148 LET T E R XXVIL

To cafe the lols of beauty's tranfierit flow V,
While reafon keeps what rapture gave before.
And oh ! while wit, fair dawning, fpreads

its ray.
Serenely riling to a glorious day,
To hail the growing luftre oft be mine.
Thou early fav nte of the facred Nine !
And ihall the Mufe with blamelefe boaft

pretend.
In youth's gay bloom that SappKb calFd me

friend :
That urg'd by me (he ftiun'd the dangerous

way, .
Where hecdiefs maids in endlefs error ftr ay j
That fcorning foon her fex's idler art,
Fair praife infpir'd and virtue warm'd her

heart;
That fond to reach the diftan t paths of fame,
I taught her infant genius where to aim ?
Thus when the feather 'd choir firft tempt

the flcy,
And, all unfkiird, their feeble pinions try,
Th' experienced fire prefcribes th' advent-

rous height,
Guides the young wing, and pleas'd attends

the flight. M^^

* . ■

t "5> ]

LETTER XXVnl.
ToPhidippus.

YE9j Phidippus, I entirely agree with
you : the ontients moft certainly had
much loftier notions of Friendihip, than
feem to be generally entertained at prefent^
Biit may they not juftly be confidered on
diia iubjedt, as downright enthufiafts ?
Whilft indeed they talk of firiendfhip as a
virtue) or place it in a rank little inferior^
I can admire the generous warmth of their
fentiments ; but when they go fo far as to
make it a ferious queflion) whether juftice
herfelf ought not in fome particular cafes to
yield to diis their fupreme affection of the
heart $ there, I con&fs, they leave me far
behind^

Ir we had not a treatiie extant upon the
fub^eft^ we fhould fcarce believe this fa£t
tip(Hi &e credit of thofe authors who have
delivered it down to us : but Cicera hjm^
feif ha^ ventured to take the affirmative fide
c£^s debate in his celebrated dialogue in^
fcribed Ladius. He followed^ it fbems. in
" this notion the ienttmieBts.i3f the (Grecian
- • K Theo-

/

i^o L E T T E R XXVm.

Theophraftus, who pyblicly maintained
the fame aftonifliing theory.

It muft be confefled, however, thefe
admirers of the falfe fublime in friendfhip
talk upon this fubje<fl with fo much cau-
tion and in fuch general terms, that one is
inclined to think they themfeives a little fu-
fpefted the validity of thofe very pri^iciples
they would inculcate. We find, at Icaft,
a remarkable inftance to that purpdfe> in a
tircumftance related of Chilo, one of thofe
famous fagfes who are. diftinguiflied by the
jpompous title of the wife men of Greece.

That celebrated philofopher, being up-
on his death-bed, addDefled himfelf^ we are
informed, to his friends who flood round
him, to the following cffed : *' I cannot, thro
*^ thecourfe of alpnglife, look back, with
*^ uneafinefs upon any fingle inftance of my

conduct, unlefs,. perhaps, on that which

I am going to mention -, wherein, I con^
** fcfs, I am ftill doubtful whether I adled
^< as I ought, or not. I was once appoint-
^^ ed judge in conjundionlwith two others,
^« when my particular friend vras arraign-
^^ cd before us : Were the laws to have
«< taken-their free courfei be muft inevi^

LETTER XXVIIL 151

^* tably have been condemned to die. Af-
'^ ter much debate ^erefore with myfeli^
*^ I refoived upon this expedient : I gave
** niiy own vote iaccording to my con*
^* fcience, but at the fame time employed
"^^ all my eloquence to prevail with my af-
^ fociates to abfblve die criminals Now I
•«* cannot but refledl upon-this a<5t with con-
cern, as fearing there was ibmething of
perfidy, in p^rfuading others to go count-
er to what I myfelf efteemed rights"
I T does not, certainly ^ require any great
deptli of cafiiifhy to pronounce upon a
cafe of this nature. And yet, had TuUy^
that great mailer of reaibni been Chilo s
<xmfeflbr upon this occaiion, it is very plain
he wcmld have given hin> abfolution ; to
the juft fcandal of die moft ignorant curate
that ever lulled a country village*

W H A T I have here obferved, will fug-
geft if Tmiftake not, a very clear anfwer
to the queftekMi you propofe ; " Whence it
'^^ flfi>ald tiaj)pen, that we meet with in-
^^ ftances of Triendlhip among the Greeks
**5 and Romans; far fuperior to any thing of
** the famt kind which modem times have
" produced? '^ For while the greateft g6'-

K X . niufes

4, LETTER XXVm.

Aiufes ampng then) employed th^ir t^ents
in e3(alting this ncii^le ;,aiFe£i;ion, ajQi4 k
W?fi encouraged even hy the laws tht^m-
felves J wl?^t eiFei^s might gne not e^pe^
to arife from the cpncufisenceaf fuchpoww-
fill ^aufes ? The feyeistl examples of thig^
Jd|»4 whiph ypu hayes pointed out, are un-
dpvbtedly highly animat&g and fmguUr j
to which givie, me leavs? to add one inilance
DO lefs remarkahle^ tho^ I think/ not £o
commonly obferved.

Eu DAM I PAS the Corinthian (as, the
ilpiy i$ related i» Lucian*^ Toxaris) jho in
low circumftanoes. hinxfelf, was ha^^ m
the friendihip of two very wealthy perfons,
Chaxixenusand Aretheus. £udamida$>lttid«-
inghimfejif drawing near his end* made his
will in the following term? : ^* I leave my
« mother tp Aretheus^ ^p be ii^nt^e4
.« and prqt^ed by him in her pld age* I
« bequeath to Clwixenus the cafe of n^
«« daughter*; defirin^ that he woiM fee
« her difpp&d.ol in mamagefc.and portion
" her at die f^mq time with as ample a forw
'< tune a^* his ci^cumft^cc^ ihall^ admit :
." and, ii) cafe of the deatfi of eithjer c£
.« thefe my two friends, I fiifoflitute the furw
" vivor in his place."

LETTER SDWifi; ijj

This will was looked Mpbn^y ibme (ds
we may wiell imagiile) to be extrtmely ri-
diculous : however, the legatees received in-
fbrmabon of it With very diffferent (bnti-
inents> accepting of their refpedlive legacies
with great fatisfiftion. It hdppened that
CharixcnuS died a few days after his friend
the teftator ; the furvivoffhip Aerefore tak^
ing place in favbr of Aretheus, he accord-
ingly not only took upon himfeif the care
of his* friend's mother, but alfo made aft
equal diftribution of his eftate between this
child of Eudamidas,. and an only slaughter
of his own, folcmnizing both their mar-
riages oh the fame day.

I D o not recolldft that any of the mo-
derns have raifed their notions of friendfliip
to thefe extravagant hdghts, eiceptifig on-
ly a very fingulat French author, whd talks
in a more romantic ftrain upon this fubje<St
than even the antients themfelves. Could
you, Phidippus, believe a man in eameft,
who fliould aflcf t that the fecret one has
fworn never to reveal, may without per-
jury be difcovered to one's friend ? Yet
honeft Montaigne has ventured gravely to
advance this extraordinary doQxint^ in clear

K 3 and

13* L E T T ip R XXIX.

and pofitiv^ terms. But I never knew a
fenfibLe man in n^y life, that was not an en*
thuiiaft upon fome favorite point 3 as indeed
there is none where it is more exQuiable than
in the article of friendship. It is that which,
affords the moil: pleafing funfhine of our
days I if therefore we fee it now aod thtn
break out with a more than reafbnable
warmth and luftre 3 who is there that will
not be inclined to pardoA^ excefS;^ which
can only fjow from the moft generous prin-
ciples? Adieu.

•*i

LETTER XXIX.

• •

To the fame.

WH E N I mentioned grace as eflen-
tial in conftitutifig a fine writer ; I
rather hoped to have found my fentiments
reflcfted back with a clearer light by yours,
than imagined you would have called upon
^me to explain in form, what I only threw
out by accident. To confefs the truth, I
know not whether, after all that can be faid
to iUuftrate this uncommon quality, it muil
npt at laft be refolved into the pcJet's mqueo

montjirar^

LETTER XXIX. 135

mOT^rare et fenth tantum. In cafes of
this kind, where language does not fupply
us with proper words to exprefs the notions
of one's mind, we can only convey our fen-
timents in figurative terms : a defeft which
njeceflkrily introduces fome obfcurity.

IwiLL not, therefore, undertake to
mark out with any fort of precifion, that
idea, which I would exprefs by the word
grace : and, perhaps, .it can no more be
clearly defcribedthanjuftly defined. To give
you> however, a general intimation of what
. I mean when I apply that term to compofi-
tions of genius, I would refemble it to that
eafy air, which fo remarkably diftinguifhes
certain perfbnsof a genteel and liberal caft*
It confifts, not only m the particular beauty
of fingle parts, but arifes from the general
fymnaetry and conftrudibn of the whole.
An author may be juft in his fen timents;
lively in his figures, and clear in his expref-
fioa; yet may have no claim to be admitted
into the rank of fini{hed writers, Thofc
feveral members muft be fo agreably united
gs iftutually to refle6t beauty upon each
Qther : their arrangement" muft be fo hap-
pily 4ifpofed as not to admit of the leaft

K 4 tranlpo-

13<J LETTER XXIX.

tranfpofition without manifeft prejudice to
the entire piece. The thoughts, the me-'
taphors, the allufions, andthedi<ftionfhould
appear eafy and natural, and feem to arifef
like fo many fpontaneous produftions, ra-
ther than as the cffefts of art or labor.

Wh a t e V e r, therefore, is forced, or
afFe<5ted in thefentiments : whatever is pom««
pous or pedantic in the expreffion, is the
very reverie of grace. Her mien is neither
that of a prude nor a coquet j (he is regu-«
lar without formality, and iprightly with-
out being fantaAicah Grace, in (hort, is
to good writing what a proper light is to a
fine pifture J it not only jfhews all the figures
in their feveral proportions and relations,
but £hews them in the moft advantageous
manner. .

As gentelity (to refume my former il-
luftration) appears in the minuteft a^on,
^nd improves the moft, inconfiderabl^ gc-
fture ', fo grace is difcovered in the placing
even of a fingle word, or the turn of a mere
expletive. Neither is this inexpreflible qua-^
lity confined to one fpecies of comipbfitioin
only, but extends to all jthe various kinds j
tQ the humble paftoral as well as fo the

Ipfty

LETTER XXIX. 137

lofty Epic J from the flighteft letter to the
moft fblemn diicourfe.

I KNOW not whether Sir William Tem*
pie may not be confidercd as the firft of our
profe authors, who introduced a graqeful
manner Into our language : at leail that
quality does not fcem to have appeared
early, or fpread far, amongft ijs. But where-
foever we may look for its origin, it is cer-
tainly to be found in its higheft perfeftion
in the effays of a gentleman whofe writings
will be diflinguiihed fo long as politenei^
and good-fenfe have any admirers. That
becoming air which TuUy efteemed the
criterion of fine compofition, and which
every reader, he fays, imagines fo eafy to be
imitated, yet will find fo difficult to attain j
is the prevailing chara(3:eriftic of all that ex-
cellent author's mofl: elegant performances.
In a word, one may juftly apply to him what
Plato, in his allegorical language, fays of
Ariftophanes ; that the Graces having
fearched all the world round for a temple
wherein they might for ever dwell, fettled
at laft in the breaft of Mr. Addifon. Adieu,

LET.

[ ^38 ]

LETTER XXX.

To Clytander.

CA N it then be trae, Clytander, af-
ter all the fine things which have
been faid concerning the love of our Coun^-
try, that it owes its rife to the principles you
mention, and was originally propagated
among mankind in order to cheat them into
the fervice of the community ? And is it
thus, at laft, that the moft generous of the
human paflions, inftead of bearing the fa-
cred (ignature of nature, can produce no
higher marks of' its legitimacy than the fu-
. fpicious imprefs of art ? The Queftion is
Worth, at leajft, a few thoughts ; and I will
juft run over the principal objeftions in your
letter, without drawing them up, however,'
in a regular form.

That the true happinefs of the indivi-
dual cannot arife from the fingle exercife
of the mere fclfiih principles, is evident, I
think, above all reafonable contradi<9:ion.
If a man would thoroughly enjoy his own
being, he muft of neceffity look beyond it ;
his private fatisfadions always encreafing in

the

L Err.TER XXX. 13^

^eiame prciportjon wi<h. Which he pro-*
motes thofe of others. Thus fclf-intereft^
if rightly direiSed, flgwd thro the? nearer
charities of relations,, frieads, and depend*
ents, till it rifes and dilates itfelf into
general benevolence. But if evjcry addition
which we naake to the wel^^ qi others,
be really ^ti advancement ofo^ o\VA ^ the
love of our country muft neceflarily, ijpoij
.a principle- of felf-inter?A> be a pa^fli
founds ip theilrifteft rdafpn : becaufe it is
a difpofition pregnant with the greateflfc
poflible good, which the limited powers of
man are capable of producing, Benevolenccj,
therefore, points to our country, as to her
only adequate mark : whatever falls fhort
of that glorious end, is too fmall for her full
gratification ; and all beyond is too immenfc
for her grafp, . ' .

Thus our country appears to have a
claim to our aife^ftion, as it has a correfpon-
dent paffion in the human breaft : a paf-
fion, not raifed by the artifices of policy,
or propagated by the infedlion of enthu-
fiafm, but neceflarily refulting from the ori-
ginal conftitutiop of our fpecies, and cqi^-
ducive to the hTgheft private advantage ©f^

e^ch

«40 LETTER XXX;

each individual. When CuridiiSi dierefore,
or the two Decii, facrificed their lives, in
order to refcue their community from the
calamities with which it was threatened ;
they were by no mdans impelled (as you
feemed to reprefent them) by a political
phrenzy, but aded on the moft folid and
rational principles. The method, they pur--
fued for that purpoie, was dictated, I confeis,
by the moft abfurd and groundlefs fuperiti*
tion : yet while the impreilion of that na-
tional belief reniain^d ftrong upon^ their
minds, and they were thoroughly perfuaded,
that falling in the manner we are aflured
they did, was the only efFeitual means of
preferving their country from ruin ; they
'took the moft rational meafures of confiilt-
ing their private happinefs, by thus conient-
ing to become the public vidjms. Could
it even be admitted (what, with any degree
of jprobability, never, indeed, can be ad-
mitted) that thefe glorious heroes confi-
dered fame as the vaineft of fhadows, and
had no hopes of an after-life in any other
fccne of exiftence ; ftill however their con-
du<ft might be juftified as perfeftly wife.
For, furely, to a mind that was not wholly

immerfcd

LETTER XXX: 141

immetfed in the loweft dregs of the mod:
contraded felfiihnefs } that had not totally
cxtinguifhed' every generous and focial af^
ioGdon ; the thou^ts of having preferred 1
mere joyleis exiftence (for fuch it muft have
heen) to the fuppoied pre&rvation of num-
bers of one's fellow creatures, muft have
proved far more painfiil than a dioufand
deaths.

I CANNOT, however, but agree wkfa
you, that this affedion was productive of
infinite mifchief to mankind, as it broke
out among the Romans, in the impious
ffmt of their unjufl: conqueils. But it fhouid
be remembred, at the fame time, that it
is the ufuai artifice of ambition, to mafk
herielf inthefemblanceofpatriotifin. And
it can be no Juft otjedion to the nobleft of
the ibdal paffions, that it is capable of be-*
ing inflamed beyond its natural heat, and
turned, by the arts of policy, to promote
thoie deftrudive purpofes, which it was
originally implanted to prevent.

This zeal for our country may, indeed,
becomte irrational, not only when it thus
pufhes us oft' to ad counter to the natural
rights of any other community s but like-*

wife

142 LETTER XXX.

I

Wife when it impels us to take the mett«^
fores of violence in oppofition to the gene-
ral fenfe of our own. For may not pub-^
lie happinefs be cftimated by the fame
ftandard as that vof private ? and as every
man's own opimon muft dctermihehis par-
ticular fatisfadtion > ihall inot . the general
bpiniqn be coniidered as decifive in the
queftion concerning general intereft ? Far
dm I, however, , from infinttating; that. the
true welfare of mankind in their coUeftive
j:dpacities depends fingly upon a prevailing
fancy, any more than it does in their fepa-
rate : undoubtedly in both inftances they
may equally; embrace a falfe intereft. But
whenever this is the cafe, I ftiould hardly
imagine that the love of our country, on the
one hand, or of our neighbor, on the otfier^
would juftify any methods of bringing them
to a wifer choice, than thofe of calm* and
rational perfuafion.

I CANNOT at prefent recoiled: which of
the antient authors it is, that mentions the

m *

Cappadocians to have been fo enamored of
fubjedion tQ. a defpqtic pOAyer, as to refufe
the enjoyment of their jibertiq^, tho gene*
joufly tendered to them by the Romans^

Scarcely^

tv,

LETTER XX)t. 143

Scarcely, I fuppofe, can there be an inftancc
produced of a more remarkable depravity
of national tafle, and of a more falfe calcu-
lation of public welfare : yet even in this
inftance it ihould feem the highefl injuflice
to have attempted by force, and at dhe ex-
pence, perhaps, of half the lives in the
fiate, the introdudtion of a more improved
fy&cm of government.

In this notion I am not fingular, but
ha¥e the authority of Plato himfelf on my
fide; wrho hipld it as a maxim of undoubted
truth in politics, that the prevailing fenti-
ments of a ftate, how much foever mif- «
taken, ought by no n^eans to be oppofed by
the meafures of violence : a maxim, which
if certain pretended or mifguided patriots
had happily embraced, much efiuiion of
civil bloood had been lately fpared to oir
nation* I am, &;c»

I

JLET-

[ 14+1

LETTER XXXI.

T4> Pa l am £ o & s.

^^HE dawn h overca/i, the morning Uoirtt
And heavily mth clouds brings on the day^
How th^i^ can I better di&ppomt the
gloomy effeds of ^ • louring ikjr, dian by.
ealHng my thoughts %»fi^ from the dull Icene
before me, and placing them upon my
friend ? Mucb^ certainly, are we indebted
to that happy faculty, by which, with a fort
of magic power, we can bring before one's
mind whatever has been the iubjed of its
moft agreable contemplation. In vain,
Aercfore, would that Iov«ly diime, who
has fo often been the topic of oiir CQft^erfa-
tions, pretend to enjoy you to herfelf i «i
ipite of your favorite philofophy, or even
of a more powerful divinity ; in fpight of
Fortune herfelf, I can place you in my view,
tho half a century of miles lies between us*
But am I for ever to be indebted to imagif
nation only for your company? and will you
xiot fometimes let me owe that fatisfadion
to youdelf ? Surely you might ipare me a

few

L E t t B R KXXri. i^j

lew weeks before the fummer ends, with-»
biit any inconyenienceto thatnobleplan up
bn which I know you are fo intent. As
for my own ftudies^ they go on but llowly :
I am, like a traveller without a guide in an
unknown country ; obliged to inquire the
vrsy at every turning, and confequently
cannot advance with all the expedition I
could vnfh. i am, &0)

V

LETTER XXXIL
To fie/apte*

FORGIVE me, Palamedes, if I mif-
truft an art, which the greateft of
philofophers has called the art of deceiving^
and by which thd fitft of prjttors could per^*
fuade the people that he had conquered «
the athletic games, tho they faw him fall
j|t his adverfary's feet The voice of Elo^
quence fhould ever, indeed, be heard with '
caution : and (he, whofe boaft it has former^
iy been, to make little, things appear con-
£derable^ may diminish bbje€ts> perhaps,

L as

146 LETTER

a& well as enlarge them, and kflfen eve*
|he chartni of repofe- Bnt I have too lon^
experienced the joys, of retirement, to
quit her arms for a nrore lively miftrefs ^
and I can lode tipon ambition, tho^ adorned
in all the ornaments of yotir oratory, witb
the cool indifference of the moft coniirmed
Stoic. To confefs the whole truth, I and
too proud to endure a rdpulfe, and too
humble to hope for fuccefs : qualities little
favorable, I imagine, to the pretenfions of
him who would claim the glittering prizes^,
which animate thofe-that run the race of
atnbition* Let thofe honors then, youf
mention, be infcribed on the tombs of
others ^ be it rather told on mine, that I

lived and died

»

Vnplai^dy unpenfion*dy no mans heir orjiave.

And is not this a privilege as valuable ^
any of thbfe which you have, painted- to
my view, in ajl the warmeft colbti of your
enlivening eloquence ?Bruyere^, atleaft, ha&
juft now affured jrne, tfiat "to pay^ oheV
court to no man, nor expefl: any t©
pay court to you,' is the riioft agreable
".of all fituations 5 it is the true goldea

" age,.

€1

t U T T.E R XXXII. 147

^ age^ &ys he» and the moA natural ilate
** of man." ^

Believe mfe, however, lain not in the
Iniftake of thofe whom you juftly condemn,
as imagining that Wifdom is the companion
only of retirement, and that virtue enters not
the more open add conipicuouswalksof life :
but I will confefs at the fame time, that tho
it is to TuUy I give my applaufe, it is Atti-
cus that ha^ my affedlioni

Life, Ikys a celebrated antient,may be
compared to the Olympic games : fonie
enter into thojfe aflemblies for glory, and
others for gain i while there is a third
*^ party (and thofe by no means the moft
** contemptible) who choofe to be merely
*** ipeftators/' I need not tell you, Pala-
medes,^ how early it was my inclination to
be numbered widi the laft : and as nature
ha5 not formed me with powers, am I not
obliged to her for having divefted me of
every inclination, for bearing a part in the
ambitious contentions of the world ? Pro-
vidence, indeed, fcems to have defigned fome
tempers for the obfcure fcenes of life j as
there are fome plants which flourifti'beft in
the Ihade. But the; loweft fhrubV has its

L 2 " ufe,

C€
C<

i48 LET T £ R 3^XXnl.

iife, you are fcnfible, as well as the loftieffe
oak : and, perhaps, your friend may find
fome method of convincing you, that even:
the humbleft talents are not given in vain.
Farewet.

. f ■ «■ ' ■ •.«..>

L ■? Jf t

\

LETTER XXXin;
To Pale mon.

f

May 28, 174?.

IS it poflible you titi thtfs defcend frbn*
the higheft concerns to the Idweft,
and, after deliberating upon the affairs of
Europe, haVe the humility to inquire into
mine ? But the greatcft ftatefmen, it feems,
have their trifling as well as their ferioas
hours : I have red of a Roman coftful
that amiifed himfelf with gathering cockle-^
Ihells, ^nd of a Spartan monarch v^ho wa^
found riding upon a hobby-horfe. Or ftiall
I rather fay, that friendfliip gilds every ob-
jed upofi which fhe fhines ? I acm fure at
jfeaft, it'i$ the Angular charadler of Palemon
to preferve that generous flame in all it&
ilrengtk and luflre amidfl: that ambitiott^

atmofpherc.

LETTER XXXIIL 149

atmo^here, which is generally efteemed
fo unfavorable to every brighter afFedlion.

I T is upon one or other of thofe prin-
ciples alone, that you can be willing to fuf«
pend your own more important engage-
ments, by attending to an account of mine.
They have lately, indeed, been more di-
verfified than ufual ; ajnd I have pafTed thefe
three months in a continual fucce0ion of new
icenes. The mofl agreable, as well as the
^rtheft part of my prog^^fs, was to the feat
of Hwtenfius : and I am perfuaded you
will not think my travels have been in vain,
iince they afford me an opportunity of in-
forming you, djat our friend is in pofTeffion
of all that happinefs which I am fure you
wifh him. It is probable, however, you
have not yet heard that he owes the chief
part of it to female merit ; for his marriage
was conclude even before thofe friends,
who are pipft frequency with him, had the
lead fufpicion of his intentions, But tho he
had fome reafbns for concealing his defigns,
he has none fpr being afhamed of them
now they are executed* I £3(y not this from
finy hafty approbation, but as having long
Icnown ^nd efteemed the l^^y whom he ha$

Lj chofen;

I50 LETTER XXXHI,

chofen : and as there is a pleafure in bring*
ing two pcrfons of merit to the knowledge
of each other, will you allow me, in th«
remainder of this letter, to introduce her
to your acquaintance ?

HoRTENsiA is of a good ftature, an4
perfedly well proportioned j but one cannot
fo properly fay her air is genteel, as that i%
is pleafing : for there is a certain unafFefted
carelefnefs in her drefs and mien> that wins
by degrees rather than ftrikes at firft fights
If you were to look lio farther than the up-«
per part of her face, you would think her
handfome 5 were you only to examine the
lower, you would immediately pronounce
the reverfe ; yet there is fomething in her
eyes, \ehich, without any pretence to be
called fine, gives fuch an agreable livelinefs
to her whole countenance, that you &arcQ ^
obferve, or foon forget, all her features are
not regular. Her converfation is rather
chearful than gay, and more inftruftive than
fprightly. But the principal and ?nofr di^
ftinguifhed faculties of her ^lind are her
memory and her judgment, both which
Ihe poflefles in a far higher degree than on^
ufually finds even in perfbns.of our fex. She

' has

LETTER XXXffl. i<i

fcas red moft of the capital authors bot^ ia
French and £ngli£h ^ but her chief and h,^
voribe companions of that kind have lain
among the hiflorical and dramatic writers*
There is hardly a remarkable event in an-
tient or modem ftory, of which fliQ cannot
give a very clear and judicious account ; as
{he 16 equally well yerfed in all ^ princi--
pal chara<d:ers and incidents of the moft
approved ilage«*compoikions. Tlie hialthe-
matics is not whoily a ftranger to her:
and tfap.ihe did not thbk proper to purfue
her eoquides of th^ kind> to any great
length i yqlf the very uncommon facility
with which fhe entered into the reaibnings
of thiit icienecy plainly difeovercd fhe was
capable of attaining a thorough knowledge
of all its moii abilrufe branches. Her tafte
in performances of polite literature is always
Jui): J and ihe i$ an excellent critic, with-
cnit knowing any thing of the artificial
roles of (halt fcience. Her obfcrvadons,
therefore^ upon fubjefts of that fort, are fo
much the jrnore to be relied upon, as they
are the pure and unbiafied di€^tes (^natiire
and good-fenfe. Accordingly Horteofius^
in the fqveral pieces, which, you knoWj he

Lf ^ ha*

jf2 h ETT E R XXXni,

has publiflied, cpnftantly had recouffe to
her judgment 5 and I have often heard him
upon thofp occaflons apply, with Angular
pleafure, and with equal truth, what the
tender Propertivis fays of his favorite Cyn-
thia:

J\^ejuvai ingrmio doSla legiffi puelke^
jiuribus et pur is fcripta probqffe me a .?

IJac ubi cqntigerinfy populi confufa valet a
jpabula; nam^ dominajudice^ tutus ero..

But her unconiijion ftrength of under-:
ftanding has preferved her from that fatal
rock of all female knowledge, die impertir
nent oftentatibn of it : and fhe thinks a re-
ferve in this article an eflential part of that
modefly which is the ornament of her fex.
I have heard her obferve, that it is not in
the acquired endov^ments pf the female
mind, as in the bea.uties of her perfon,^
where it may be fuflBcient praife, perhaps^
to follow the example pf the virgin de-i
icribed by TafTo, who,

" Non coprefue belkzze^ e non I'ejpoje.

On the contrary ihe efteems it a poir^t of
Recency to throw a veil over the fuperior

LE T T EH XXXIIL lyj

dbarms of her underftanding : and if ever
(he draws it afide, you plainly pcrcdye it isr
rather to gratify her good-nature than her
vanity ; lefs in compliance with her owa
inclipations, than widi tiiofe of her com-
pny.

Her refined fen& and extenfive know-^
ledge have not, however, raifcd her above
the morq neceiTary acquifitions of fetmije
fcience : they have only taught her to fill
that part of her charader with higher grace
and dignity. She enters into all the domel^
tic dutiesrof her ftatiOn, wkh the mpft con^
fummate ikill and fm)denc«. Her gs(^Qr
nomical deportment is -cdlm and fts^dy ;
and fhe prcfides overhpi fanjily like the In-
telligence of fome planetary orb, CQndu<5tr
|i)g it in, all its proper direiftions without .
violence or difturbed efforts.

These qualities, |iowever confiderable
they might appear in a lefs ihining cha--
radter, are but under parts in Hortenfia's :
for it is fron^ the virtues of her heart diat
^e derives her mpft irreiiftible clairn to
jpfteem and approbation. A conftant flow
of uniform and unaiFe(^ed chearfulnefs glad^
dens her own brea^;, and eiiliyens that of

5V€ry

154 LETTER XXXIIL

every creature around her. Her behavior
under the injuiies fbe has receii^ (for ta-
rarks eren the bkmdefs Horteniia has re«
ceived) was widi all die calm fortitode 6f
the moft heroic patience ; asfli^£rmlyre»
lied, diat Providence virould cidier put an
end to her tnis^artuxiesy or %^x>rt her un^
der th^n. And v?ith that animating hope
file ifeemed to fed le& for herfidf, than for
the unjuft and iniwiaan author of her fuf ^^
feringS} ^eneroufly lamenting iso&c one» fo
nearly related to her, ^ftand condemned fay
that fovereft and txioik Significant of ien^
tences, the united reproaches df: the wodd
and ^ his cofdcienee*

Thu^ PalemoA) I have given you a
faidiful copy of an 49icelfe33t oi%mal : but
vi^faefiier you veilljoin widi me in lliinking
my pencil has been true to its £ibjed:, muil
be. left to fomeibtute opportunity to detec.
mine. lam^ 4^:^

h E T-

/

LETTER XXXIV,

To HORTENS IU8.

Dec. 10, 173O4

IH A V E red over die treadle you recom-
mended to me, with attenticm and con^
cern. I was ferry to find an author, who
feems fo well qualified to ferve Ae caufe ef
' truth, employing his talents in favor of
what appears to tne a moft dangerous errors
I hayc often wondered, indeed, atthepo^
Jicy of certain pMlofophers of tl^scgft, who
endeavor to advance religion by depreciate
ing human nature. Methinks it would
be more for the ihterefl: of virtue, to repre-*
fent her congenial (as congenial (he furely
Js) ^yith our make, and agreable to our un^
tainted conftitution of foul ; to prove that
every deviation from moral re<%tude is an
oppofition to our native biafs, and contrary
to thofe charafters of d^mty which tk^
Creator has univerfally impreii^ upon the
piind. This, at le^, was ' &e principle
which many of the antient philofc^ers la-
bored to inculcate; as there is not, per-
bapS| apy fingle topic in ethjcs that might

be

1^6 LETTER XXXIV.

be urged with more truth or greater eC-
ficacy.

It is upoo this generous and exalted
notion of our fpecies, that one of the nobleft
precepts of the excellent Pythagoras is
founded : Ilctpr&M^ ^t fjiaPura (fays that phi*
loibpher) oi^pbo <r aVTi^n The £rft and
leading difpoiition to engage us on th^ iide
of virtue was, in that fage's efUmation^ to
preferve above all things a conftant reverence
to our own mind, and to dread nothing fo
much as to offend againft its native dignityf
The ingenious Mr. Norris, I remember,
recommends this precept as one of the beft»
perhaps, that was ever given to the world.
May not one then juftly be furprized.to find
it io feldom enforced in our modern fyflems
of morality ? To confefs the truth, I api
ftrongly inclined to fuiped:, that much of
th^t general contempt of every manly prin-^
cipjis, which fo remarkably diflinguiihes
the pre&nt times, m^y fairly be attributed
to the humor of diicarding this animating
jpiodon of our kind. It has been the fafhion
to paint human pature in the harfheft and
moft unpl^ng colors. Yet there is not,
furely, any arguip^nt more likely to inducg

a man

L fi T t E R XXXV. ij;

fc man to aft unworthily, than to perfoade
him that be has nothing of innate worthi^
neis In his genuine difpofition ; than to rea^
fort him out of every elevated notion of his
own grandeur of foul j ind to deftroy, in
fliort, every motive that might juftly in-*
Ipire him with a principle of felf-reverencej
that fareft internal guard Heaven feems to
have afligned to the human virtues, t
am, &a

Kt II r

LETTER XXXV,

To Clborad

TH o it was not poflible for me to ce-
lebrate with you, as ufual, that hap-
py anniverfary which we have fo many re?i-
fons to commemorate ; yet I'could not fuf-
fer fo joyful a feftival to pafs by me with-
out a thoufand tender rdledlions. I took
pleafure in tracing back that ftream to its
rife, which has colored all my fucceeding
days with happincfs ; as my Cleora, per-
haps, was at that very inftant, running over
in her own mind, thofe many moments of
calm fatisfadlion which Ihehas derived from
the fame fource%

tfZ LETTER XXXV,

My heart was fo entirely pafTefied with
the fentiments which this occafion fuggeft-»
ed, that I found myfelf raifed into a fori
of poetical enthufiafm ; and I could not
forbear cxpreffing in verfe, what I have
often &id in profe of the dear author of my
moil: valuable enjoyments. As I imagined
Teraminta would by this time be with you^
I had a view to her harpficord in die com-»
pofition ; and I defire you would let her
know I hope flie will fliew me, at my re-*
turn» to what advantage the moft ordinary
numbers will appear, when judicioufly
accompanied with a fine voice and inilm-^
ment.

I M u s T not forget to tell you, it was
in your favorite grbve^ which we have fo
often traverfed together, that I indulged
myfelf in thefe pleafing reveries ; as it was
not, you are to fuppoie, without having
firil invoked the Genius of the place, and
called upon the Mufes in due form, that 1^
broke out in the following rhapfbdy.

ODE

ODE for M u s i c#

Air I.

7hrice has the circUiJ^ eartb^ fwlfi pacings ruftj
And thrice again^ around the fun^

Since firft the ^MttTob^d prieft^ witb/acrsd bandf
Sweet' tmim ! joined us band in band*

CnoRtJ s*

Allbeaifn^ and €b^ry friendfy pcw^r
Apprenf d tbt vow^ and.bkfs*d tbebcm'4

Recitative.

tVhat tbo infilence Jhcred Hymen trody

Nor lyre proclainid^ nor garland crowrfd tbe g^d:

What tbo norfeaft nor revel dance was tbere^

{Vain pomp of joy tbe bappy well may Jpare I)

Tet love unfeign^dj and confcious bo^or led

The jpotlefs virgin to the bridal bed :

Rich tbo defpoiPd 0/ all her little ftore ;

For wboJhaH {^iutfatr virtues better dow*r T

A I R IL

Bleft ivith fenfey fvitb temper blefty

Wifdom o^er thy lips prefides %
Virtue guards thy generous breaft^
' Kindm^fo aUMy aSions gmdes*

Air

« *

i6o L E T T B R XXXV.

'Air ni.

Ev^f^ home-felt blifs is minei
. Ev'^ry^ mhtron-grace is thine ;
Chafte deportment y drtlefs mienj
C&fFV&fe fweety and heart feretiSi

Sinks my fiul mtb gloomy pain ?
See^ fie fmiles ! — * tis joy again :
Swells a pajjion in my breaft ?
Hark^ Jhe /peaks I and all is reft.

Oft as clouds my paths o^erffte&d^
{Dtubtful where fip/ fteps Jhoidd treAd)
She^ with judgmmf s fteddy ray^
Marks i and fmootbs^ the better way i

C H o R a Si

Chief amongft ten thoufdndfhe^
Worthy^ f acred Hymen I thee.

Wh i l e fuch are the fentimerits which
i entertain of my Cieora, can I find myfclf
obliged to be thus diftant from her, with-
out the higheft regret ? The truth, believe
me, is, tho both the company and the fcenc
wherein I am engaged,, are extremely agre-
able, yfet I find a vacancy iq iny happinefs^
which ndne but you c^ fiU up. Surely
t^ofe who have recommended tbfef^ little

reparations

l^paratiohs as neccffitiy to revive the languor
of the maitied fhte^ have ill underflood its
tnoft refined gradEcatxons : there is no fa«
idety in iht mutiial exchange of tender of»
ficts.

TH£i£ feems to have beed a tin^ when
a Jbappmds t^this Jdnd was con£dered as
the higheft glory^ as well as the fupreme
bleifing of human life. Several conjugal in-
Icriptions upon the lepUlchral monuments
Qf antienjt Rome are ^11 extant : which^
inftead of running out into a pompous pa^
iiegyric upon ihfi virtufs of the deceafed,
mention fingly, as the moft fignificant of
encoiiiiums^ hoW ma«y ' yi^rs the parties
lived together in full and uninterrupted
harmony. The Romans^ indeed^ in this> as
in many other inftances^ alFord the moft re^^
Inarkabie example; ancl it is an obfervation
of one of dxeir writers^ that, notwithftand^
ing^^vorces might very eaiiiy be obtained
among .diem> their republic had fubfifted
teany. centuries before there was a iingle
inftance of .that privilege evisr having been
exerted^ Thus> my Gleora, you fee, how-
fever un&flnonable I may appear in the pre**
fent |^nenition> I ipight have been kept in

M counte-

iS4 L E T T ]& R XXXXTL

tountehancc in a hrrtitsy asxdb^ thgife
too, who had a& mncktnie.galianti^ and
good^fenfe as one u&aU)^ meets witb. in
^is.-^Btat afFedtions.wUkh fbttnded in
trudi and nature ftand not in need of any
precedoolritan &q3por& them j • and Lnef^en:!
it mj^ honor no lt& than ifeiy; hi^ppmdl^
that I am, 6cc.

LET T E R XXXVf.

> : ' i

DID you imagiiw^'l-ivafr really :ir>iea«i§ft
when;! tiiiUbedl of qptting * * * a«rf
withdxawixig firoi^.thofe g»d£df»ofpe^&
which aisidbitioa hd4 once ib ilmogly^ iet id
my. V'fdw .^ But m;^iVK)ve%; yoi £tOy ant.noC
in thb nuisbber ofthpfe: which. arc irttde to
be broken : for thfl[T«fr4flit Ih^zlongytifict
dkated) is nbW) iit^^rbappiy:tscmsindi,
To fay truth, myfiieftdi the loiigcr Ihttd,
in the high fcenes^ df a6&»h da^imcc
I was convinced ttetth$ture had not&nn^
ed me for bearing a ^art in l^iem : ^ajfd
tbo I was once fe^ i^^^mfiood in ^the

' ■ ways

L ET T E k XXXVL 163

>ivaysi of the world as to believe I had ta-
lents, as I was fum I had inclination, to
ferve my country, yet every diy's convciria-
tion cofitributed to wean me by degtees from
l^at flattering delvdSon.

How indeed could a man hope to ren^
43L^ hith&lf acceptable to the various parties
Whidi divide -our nation, who profefles it
OS Ms prin^ple, that there is no ftriking
whoffty into the meafures of any, without
tcftouttcing either one's fenfe or one's inte-
^^ky ? «nd yet, ae the world is « prefent
eeHftltilted, if is fcarte poflible, I fear, to
d&'4hy good in ofte's generation (in public
lif e f mean) without lifting ilhdfer fome dt
oAerof thofe various banners, which di*
ftifiguifti the feveral corps in theie our poll-
ffcal warfares* To thofe, therefore, who
ffiay have curiofity enough to enter into my
€oftcems, and aflc a rcafon for my quitting
the town, I ^fwer, in the words of the
feiftoiian, Chitatis- morunt toedet figetque^
ii—Biit lam wandering from the purpofe
i>ftAj letter, wKch was not fo much t6
juflSfy my retreat, as to incline you to fol-
low me into it : to follow me, I^nnean, as
a vifltor only^ for I love my country too

M % well

«

1^4- LETT E R XXXVL

well to call you off from thofe great fcr*-
vices you are capable of doing her.

I HA V fe pitched my tent upon a . Ipot
which I am perfuaded will not di^lcafe
you. My villa (if you. will allow mc to
call by that fine name, what, in truth, ii no
better than a neat farm-houfe) is fitqated
upon agentlerife, which commands>a (hort^
tho agreable view of about tlyree nvij^s in
circumference. This is bounded on the
north by a ridge of hills, which afford mc
at once both a fecure fhelter and a beatfti-*
ful proipcd: ; for they are as well cultivated
as the moft fertile valleys. In the front
>t)f my houfe, which ftands fouth-eaft, I
have a view of the river that runs, at the
diftance of ibmewhat lefs thana quarter of
a mile, at the end of my grounds j and after
making feveral windings and returns, feem$
to lofe itfelf at the foot of thofe hills I juft
now mentioned. As for my garden, I aiti
obliged to nature for its chief beauties j haVr
ing no other (except a imall fpot which
I have allotted for the purpofes of my table)
but what the fields and meadows affords
Thefe, however, I have embellifhed with
feme care, having intermixed among the

hedges

LETTER XXXVI. r6f

hedges all the feveral Ibrts of flowering
dmibs.

^ But I muft mot forget to mention what
I look upon to be the principal ornament
of the place j as indeed I do not rccolleft
to have feen any thing of the kind in our
Englifh plantations. I have covered a fmall
ipot with different forts of ever-greens,
many of which are of a Ipecics not very
ufual in our country. This little plantation
I have branched put into various labyrinth-
walks, which are all terminated by a fmall
temple in the centre. I have a double advan-
tage from this artificial wood : foi* it not on-
ly affords me avery fhady retreat in fummer,
but, as it is fituated oppofite to my library,
iupplies me in winter with a perfped:ive of
the moft agreable verdure imaginable.

What heightens the relifh of this re-
tirement, is the company of my Cleora j
as indeed many of the beft improvements
I have made in it, are owing to hints which
Ihave received from her exquifite tafte and
judgment. She will rejoice to receive you
as heir gueft here j and has given it me in
diarge to remind you, that you have pro-
to be lb. As the bufinefe of parlia-

M 5 mcnt

i66 LETTER XXXHI.

ment is now drawing to a conclufioiw 1
may urge this to you without any imputa?-!
tion upon my patriodfin'; tho at tiie iame
time I muft add, I make a very confidern
able facrifice of private intereft whenever
I refign you for the ^e of the pubtic%
Adieu.

Hf^

LETTER XXXVII.

To HORTBNSIUS.

I

•

AR E you aware, Hortenfius, how f^r
I may miflead you, when you are
willing to refign yourfelf to my guidance^
thro the regions of criticifm ? Remembcr>
however, that I take the lead in thefe paths^
not in confidence of my own fuperior know-
ledge of them, but in compliance with a
requeft, which I never yet knew how to.
refufe. In lliort, Hoiftenfiu«, I give you
my fentiments, becaufe it i$ my fentimenta
you require : but I give them at the ^moc
time rather as doubts than decifions.

After having thm acknowledged my
infufficiency for the office you have affigned
me, I will venture to coitfefs. that ^.poet

who

LETTER XXXVIL i6j

Vfbo has gained <ys^T your approbation, has
been far lefs fuccesful with mine. I have
etrer thought, with a^ery celebrated mo-
dem writer, that

Le vers le mieux rempH, la phis noble penp
Ke peut plaire ^ Tefprit quand Toreilk ejt
blefsk. BoiLEAU.

Thus, tho I admit there is both wit in the
raillciy, and ftrength in the fentiments of
your friend's moral epiftle, it by no means
falls ill with thofe notions I have formed to
myfelf, concerning the effential requifites
in compositions of this kind. He feems,
indeed, to have widely deviated from the
model he profeffes to ha,ve had in view,
and is no more like Horace, than Hyperion
to a Satyr. His deficiency in point of ver-
fification, not to mention his want of ele-
gance in the general manner of his poem,
is fuffident to deftroy the pretended refem-
blance. Nothing, in truth, can be more
abfurd, dhan to write in poetical meafure,
and yet neglect .harmony ; as of all the
kinds of falfe ftyle, that which is neither
profe nor verfe, hut I know not what in-
artificial combimttion^ of powerlefs words^

M 4 bordered

i(5« L E T T E R XXXVIt

bordered widi rhymc,^ is far, furely^ lihft
moft infufFerable.

But you are of opinion, I perceive (and
it is an opinion in which you are not iin-i
gular) that a negligence of this t^ind may
bejuftified by the authority of the Romaic
fatirift : yet furely thofe who e;itertaln that
notion, have not thoroughly attended ei-
ther to the precepts or the pradtice of Ho-
race, He has attributed, I confefs, his fa^
tirical compofltion to the inipiration of a,
certain Mufe, whom he diftinguifhes by the
title of the Muja pedeftris : and it is this ex-
preffion which feems to have milled the ge-.
nerality of his imitators. But tho he will
not allow her to fly, he by no means in^
tends fhe fhould creep : on the contrary, it
may be faid of the Mufe of Horace, as of
the Eve of Milton, that

^race is in aJl herjleps^

That this was the idea which Horace him^
felf had of her, is evident, not only £:om
the general air which prevails in his fatires
and epift les, but from feveral exprefs declara-r
tions, v/hich he lets fall in his progrefs thrq
them. Even when he fpeaks of her in his

greatcft

LETTER XXXVIL i6^

^eateft fits of modefly, and dcfcribcs her
as eidiibited in his own moral writings, he
particularly infifts upon theeafe and harmo-*
py of her motions. Tho he humbly difclaims,
indeed) all pretenfions to the higher poetry,
ih^ acer fpiritus et visy as he calls it; he
reprefents his ilyle as being governed by the
tempara certa modofquCy as flowing with a
certain regular and agreable cadence. Ac«^
cordingly we find him particularly con^
demning his prcdeceilbr Luciliusfor the dif-
ibnance of his numbers ; and he profefTes
to have made the experiment, whether the
fame kind of moral fubjeds might not bq
treated in more foft and eafy meafures :

^id n)€tat et nofmet Lucili fcripta legentes^
j^terere mm illiuSy num rerum dura negarit
Verfioilos natura ma^isfaStos et etmtes
Mottius f

The truth is, a tuneful cadence is the fingle
prerogative of poetry which he pretends ta
claim to his writings of this kind : and fb.
izs is he from thinking it uneflential, that
fee acknowledged it as the only feparation
^hich diftinguifhes them from pfofe. If
|h^t ^ere once to be broken down, and

lyo LETTER XXXVIL

tfee iroificai order of his words deftrof ed«
t^re would not, h^ tells us, be. the leal1:^p<-
pe^r^nce of poetry remainiog :

Non

Invenias etiam disjeBi membra poetce.

However, when he delivers him(elf m
this humble ftrain, he is not, you will ob-
serve, fketching out a plan of diis fpecies of
poetry in general ; but fpeaking merely of
his own pettbrmances in particular. His
demands rife nuich higher, when he ia-»
forms us what he expedls of thofe, who
would fucceed in compofitions of this mo-
ral kind. He then, not only requires flow-
ing numbers, but an expreffion concife and
unincumbered ; wit exerted with good-
breeding, and managed with referve 5 as
upon fome occafions the fentiments may be
enforced with all the ftrength of eloquence
and poetry : and tho in particular parts the
piece may appear with a more ferious and
folemn caft of coloring, yet upon the wholc^^
he tells us, it muft be lively and riant.
This I take to be his meaning in the fol-
lowing paflagc :

LETTER XXXVIL 171

t^Jf hrevitate opw^ ut currat fententtay neup^
Jmpediat verbis laffas onerantibus aures ;
JEtfermone opus e^ modo trijiiy /(fpejocofb^
JDefendente vicem modo rbetoris atque poeta\:
Inter dum urbani, parcenfis viribus afjue
£xtenuantis eas confuho.

Such> then, was die ootiea mrfiich Hqcaoe
ha4 of this kind of writiag. And if l^em
is any pxx>p9d$ty in t^efe his rules, if Uioy
are f<>und^ on the truth of ttfte and m.>
I fwr the pprforinance in queftion> with
nmmberlefs others of the &mQi)»nip (which
have not however wanted ^dnurers) mnft
ifu;vitably ilaiid condemned^ The trudu c^
it is, moft of the pieces which are ufuaUy
produced upon this plan» rather g^ve one

an ioiage of Lucilius, than of Horace : th^
authors of them feem to miftake the auk-
ward negligence of the favorite of Scipio,
for the eafy air of the friend of Maecenas*
You will ftill tell me, perhaps, that tho
example of Horace himfeif is an unanfwer*
able ol:^e£tion to. the notion I have embra-
ced ; as th^e are numberleis lines in his
fatires and epiftles, where the verfiftcatioii
is evidcntlj} negie&ed« But are you fiu^

HortenfiuSj

171 LETTER XXXVir.

Hprtenfius, that thofe lines which found Ai
uh^armonious to a modem ear, had the
fame efFed upon a Roman one ? For my-
felf, at ]eaft, I am much inclined to believe
thq contrary; and it fcems highly incre-
dible, that he who had ventured to cenfure
Lucilius for the u^couthnefs of his num-
bers, iHouId himielf be notoriouHy guilty of
the very fault, againft whicb he fo ftrohgly
exclaims. Moft certain it is,, that the deli-^
cacy of the ancients with refpedt to num-
bers, was far fuperior to any thing that mo-
dern tafle can pretend to ; and that tbe}^
difcofvered differences, vvrhich arc to usi ab-
iplutely imperceptible.. To mention only
Dne reniarkable inflance : A very antient
writer has obfervfed upon the following
verie iifi Virgil^

Anna virumque cdtiQy Trojce qui primus ah

that if inftead of prinrns we were to pro^
npiiace it primis . (is being long, and us^
fljort). the entire harmony of the line
would be deftroyed. But whofc ear is now-
fo cxquifitely fenfible^ as to perceive the
4iftin<ftion beO^een ihofe l;wo quantities ?.

5om(i

LETTER XXXVII. 173

Some refinement of this kind might pro^
bably give mufic to thofeJines in Horace^
which now £bem fb untuneable^

In {Sahjt&s of this nature it is not pof^
iible, perhaps, to exprefs one's ideas in any
very precife and determinatie n^nner. I
will only therefore in general obferve with
refpedt to the reqiiilite ftyle of thefe per-
formances, that it cohiiils in a natural eafe
of expreffion, " ail elegant; familiarity of
phtafe, which tho formed 6f the moft ufual
terms of language, has yet i grace and ener-
gy no lefs ftriking dian that of a more ele-
vated duftion. There is a certain lively
coloring peculiar to compofitions in this
way, which, without being fb bright and
glowing as k hecefiary for the higher poetryj;
i^ rie^erthelefe equally removed from what-
ever appears harfli and dry. But particular
inftances will perhaps better ilUiftrate my
meaning, than any thing I can farther lay
to explain it. There is fcirce a line in the
nloral epiftlts of Mr. Pope,- which riiight
not be produced for this purpof^. I choofe
however, to lay before you the foUowing^
verfes, notaspreferringthemto many others^
which might be quoted from that inimit-.

abl«

J7* LETTER :XXXVI1

portintity of coihpariiig dhirih' with a verfion
of the fame tfn^xoA ImtSj dF which thef
«re an imit^on ^ andv by that means^ of
^^btewing you at one view wi^t I conceire is
ind is noty inr the trae tfiaitner of Horace :

Peace ts my Jear deligBy^^nof Fleury's more ;
ibiut touS the. and no mifiifter fo lore :
Whoever offends ^ difome unhciy ttmey
Slides into wrjiy afid hitches, in a rhfme y
Sacred to ridicule his whole lif? tong^
And the fad burden offofhe fne fry fang.

\\ win refer yoa to jmt ow» mentoiy ibf
the Latin pafTager^ ftxym Vff\ikm:e 1V&« Fdpi
haff taken thtf general terit «f diefe ter^'j
9nd content li^^If with adding a tranfia^
lion of die lin^ from H«»ace^by an»^er
hand:

•

behold me blamekfs hard^ honjofgftd of peace /
'l^ut he who hurts me (nayi I will he beard)
Had better take a lio^t by the, beard j
jiis eyesfhall weep the folly of, his tongue^
By laughing crouds in rueful ballad fiing^

There is a ftf ength and iphit in the formtf^
of thefe paflages, and a fktnefs and languOf

in

LK^iTER XXXVn. 175

itp^e latfef , whkh cannot fail of being dif-
eovcpcd by every reader of the leaft dt]kKiSi^
c^ 6f difternment : and j^t the Words which
<xinijx>fe them both, are equally founding
aiid fignificant. The rules then, whicb I
juft now mchlaoned from Horace, will
point out die r^l caufe of the different ef-
fedls which thefc two paflages produce in
our riiinds ; a4l the paffage^tte^rhfelv«* wdfl
ferve to confinp the truth andjuftice of Ac
rules. In the lines from Mr. Pope, one of
the prinfeipSI beauties wiU be found td con^-
M in the flfiortnefs of the tiprt&<Mi
whereas the fentiments in' the other are too
modi inc\ii«b«red -with Wo?^ ThuB, for
inftance,

JPeaee is my dear delight^

ifipleaSilg, becauie it is cohcife ; as

Behold me blamelefs bard^ hmfond of peace 1

is, in comparifon of the former, the^w^^
lajfas onetantia aures. Another diftinguifli*-
ing perfeftion in the imitator of Horace,
is that Ipirit of gaiety which he has diiFuf-
ed thro thefe lines, not to mention thofe
tappy, tho familiar, images of Jliding in-
to

tY6 L JE t t fi R XXXVlf.

to vcrfe, and bitching in a thyme ; whick
c^n never be fufficiently admired. But th^^
tranflktor, on the contrary, has caft too fe-*
^rious an air over his numbersi and appears
with an emotion and eameftnefs that difap^
points the force of his fatire i

Nay^ I hvill he heardy

has the tnein of a man in a pa0ion 3 andt

. Jfe&V eyisjhall ^i'ep thejhlly tf bis tongti^i

■'■ '

tho a good lin^ iti itfelf^ is much too fq^
.jemn and tragical for the undijdurbed piea-^^
fantry of Horace.

But I need ^nbt tnttt oiore iaainutely
into an examination of thefe pafTages. The
general hints I have thrown out in this let*
ter will fuffice to fhew y6u wherdin t ima-»
gine the true manner of HcTrace con(ifts«
And after all, perhaps^ it can no more be
explained, than acquired, by rules of art. It
is what true genius can only execute, and
juft tafte alone difcover. I am, &c*

L E T^

i i77 ]

L :E T T E R XXXVtII.

ft

To thefamt.

YOUR adix^red poet^ I remember, fbme«
where lays it down as a ma^dm^
Aat

'The prbptrjiudj ofmmUnd is man^

There cannot, indeed, . be a more ufeiulj
nor^ one fhoold imagine, a more eafy ici^
enBte : ib many leflbns of this kind are eve-*,
ry mcaneDt forcing ihemfelfes upon our ob*
fervattdn^ that it flioukl feem fear ce poffible
not to be well aopiainted with the various
turns :aiid di^rafitiona of the human hearts
And yet there are fo few who are real-^,
ly ad^ts in this article, that to fay oS^ a
UEUtti, be kmws the worldy is gjenentUy
eAeemcid a compliment of die moft fignifr-
cant kind*

The reafim^ perhaps, of the general^
ignotance whidi prevails in this ibrt o£
kaowiedge, Inay arife from our judging, too
TBfBfch by uniterfal prmciplea« Whereaa

N there

178 LETTER XXXVm.

there is a wonderful difparity in mankind^
an4 numberlefs chara(9:eis exift which can-
not properly be reduced to any regular
and fixed ftandard. Monfieur Pafchal ob-
ferves, that the greater fagacity any man
pofleffes, the more originals he will difcern
Smong his fpecies j as it is the remark of
Sir WilHam Temple, that no nation under
the fun abounds with fo many as our own,*
Plutarch, if I renaember right, is of opi-
nion, that there is a wider difference be-
tween the individuals of our own kind, than
what is obfcrvable jpetwcen creatures of a
ieparate order ; while Montaigne (who
feems to have known human nature per-
fedlly well) fuppofes the difbnce toheilill
more remote, and afferts that the diftinftion
is much greater between man and man«
than i between man and beaft.

Th e comic writers have not, I think,
tiken all the advantage they might ^of. this:
infinite diverfity of humor in the. human
race, A judicious obfcrver of the wdrld*
might fingle out abundant materials for ri-
dicule, without having' recQurfe :tD thoie'
worn-out charafters whidi arc £br ev^ re-
turning Aipon the ftage. If I were ac->
i quainted

JL E T T E R XXXVm, 179

quainted with any genius in this clafs of
writers^ I think I could furniih him with
an original, which, if artfully reprefented
and connected widi proper incidents, might
be very fucce&fuUy introduced into c6medy •
The peribn I have in view is my neighbor.
Sdklotes.

Stilotes in his youth was efteeined
to have good fenfe and a tolerable tafte for
lettersj as he gained fome reputation at the
Univerfity in, the . exercifes ufual^ at th^t
place. But as foon as he was freed from
the reftraint of tutors, the natural reftleff-
nefs of his temper broke out, and he has
never, from that time to this, applied him-
felf for half an hour together to any finglc
purfuit. He is extremely aftive inhisdif-
poiition ; but his whole life is one inceilant
whirl of trifles. He rifes, perhaps, with
a full intent of amufing himfelf all thq
morning widi his gun ; but before he has
got half the length of a field, he recoUeds
that he owes a vifit, which he muft^ in-
flantly pay : accordingly his horffe is fad-
died, and he fets out. But in his way he re-
members that he has not given proper or-
ders about fuch a flower^ and he mud ab«

N a folutely

ifip L E T «' B R- XXXVIlf,

folutely Fcfairn,^ bi' th« \*hdle oecon^my <if
his nutfeF^ willbe mined; Thns, in what-
ever aSipri you find hiHa engage^) you
m^y be fui^ it is 4he \^ry reveffe of what
h§ propofe4. ¥€t witk all tki^ qui^nds
of trjyifitlQn and vivacky of ^^its, h^ i«
fo indolent in every thing that has-^e aip
of buj(ihef6> that he is at lidll two or three
months- be^e 'he can pei^fiiade hipofelf^to
feoen afty lett^- he^ ^eceivfes : and from the
iame difjiofitibn, he has feffered th€ divi-
dends of Ills flocks to r«n on for manV
years v^ithout receiving a-fliiHing of the in-
tereft. Stiiotes is pofleffed of an eftate ir»
Dorfetfhirf:, hut tJiat being the place where
his chief bufinefe ligs, he ehoofes conftantiy
to refide with a friend near London . This
perfon fobmits to his humor and his/com-t
pany , in hopes that S tytetes will eonfider him
in his will : but it is more than jpoffible, thaC
he wiH never endure the fatigue of figning
one. However, having here every Aing;
provided- for him but clothes and pocket-
money, he lives perfe^ly to his fajfisfa^ion,
in full employment without any'rt&l bu-
finels ; and while thofe who look after his
eftate take care to fimply him with fuiS-

cient

LETTER XKXI?r. i«i

cieat to anfwer tbofc bvo articles, he is en>
jtirely unconcerned as to aH the reft : thcs
wben he is difpoied - to s^pestr more than
ordinarilj imfwrtjtit, be will gravely hsp-
rangue upon the roguery of ftewards, and
complain that bis rents wiilfcarce maintain
hin>. in pqw^'^r and fliet l^alf the partridge
feafbn. - In ibcirt^S|ilt)tes is one of the moft
extra<M:dinary compounds of indolence q^4
adliyily that I ever met with j and as* I
know you have a tafte for curioiities, J
prefent yon with hi&charad:er as a rarity
that; merits a place iii your coUedtion.
A4icu.

LETTER XXXiX.

5o Phidippus.

T^s vs^ell; ttiy friend, fhit the age of
tnUisfoteation is no niore : other-^
wife >flioul($ tiremlile for your fevere at-
tatk upon the Mu&s, and ifxpeft to fee the
ftory of ydur metamorphofis embillifh th6
poetical miracles of fytnt modern Ovid.
But it is long fincte the fate of the Fieri-
des has g^^d ^y o^it in dife worlds and
* N 3 you

iS2 L E T T fe R XXXIX.

you may now, in foil fecurity, cohtcMlh
the divinities of Pamafllis, and Ipeak irre-
verently of the daughters of Jove himfelf.
You fee, ncverthelcfs, how highly the an-
tients conceived of them, when they thus
reprefentedthem as the offspring of the great
father of gods and men. You rejeft, I
know, this article of the heathen creed :
but I may venture, however, to aflert, that
philofbphy will confirm what fable has thus
invented, and that the Mufes are, in ftridt
truth, of heavenly extraction.

Th e charms of the fina arts are, indeed,
literally derived from the author of all na-
ture, and founded in the original frame and
confiitution of the human mind. Accord-
ingly, the general principles of tajle are
common to our whole Ipecies, and arife
from that internal fcnfe of beauty which
every man, in fome degree at leaft, evi-
dently poiTeiTes. No rational mind can be
fo wholly void of all perceptions of this
fort, as to be capable of contemplating the
various objefts that furround him, with
one equal coldnefs and indifference. There
^re certain forms which mufl neceffarily fill
the foul with agreable ideas ; and ihe k in?

ftantly

Letter xxxix. i jj

Hantly determined in her approbation of
them, previous to all reaibning concerning
llieir ufe and convenience. It is upon thefc
general principles, that what is called fine
ta^ in the arts is founded -, and coniequent*
ly is by no means fo precarious and unfettled
an idea asyouchoofetodefcribe it. The truth
is, tafte is nothing more than this univer-
fkl fenfe of beauty, rendered more exquifite
by genius, artd more corredt by cultivation : >
and it is from the fimple and original ide^
of this fort, that the mind learns to form
her judgment of the higher and more com-
plex kinds. Accordingly, the whole circle
of |he imitative and oratorical arts is go-
verned by the (ame general rules of criti-
cifm ; and to prove the certainty of thefe
with pcfpeift to any one of them, is to
eftablifti their validity with regard to all the
reft. I will therefore confider the criterion
of tafte in relation only to fine writing.

Ea c h fpecies of compofition has its di-
ftind: perfections : and it would require a
much larger compafs than a letter affords;
to pirove their refpe<Sive beauties to be de-
rived from truth and nature ; and confe-
queritly reducible to a. regular and precile

N 4 ftandard^

i;S4 LETTER XXXCC

fbndard. I wiU only mentioa tl^er^oF*
iho& general properties which are efieotial
to them all, apd without which they mxA
tieccflarily be defe<Jlive in their feveraJkiads,.
Thefe;, I think, may be comprehended w^
der uniformity in the defign, variety and
pefemblance in the metaphors and fimill-*
twies, together with propriety apd harmony
in the diftion. Now fome or all of thefe
qualities conftantly attend our id^as of beau*
fy, and neceflarily raife that agreeable pcr^
acption of the mind, in what objeft ibever
they appear. The charms of fine compo^
fition then, are fo . far from exifting only
in the heated imagination of an enthufi^iq
admirer, that they refiiU from the conftitu<.i
tion o£ nature herfelf. And perhaps the.
principles of criticiiiB arc as cert^q and in^
difpatabk, even a&thpfe of themadiematics*
Thus, for irjftance, that order is preferabte
to confufiofi, thajt harmony is more pleaf'
ng thai), diffonanec, with fome few other
axk)m$)tipon which the fcience is built} ar«
tjjuths whidb ftyike at once upon the iQind
with the fame fof ce of conviftioo, 9^ ikdX
the whole is greater than any of its f^% or,
that if from equals you t^e aw^y equ4l$,

the

LETTER XXXiX. j8j

1^ remsuader will be cc^wi. And in bd^
ca&s, the prDppfitio];!^ whid^ f eft upon thefit^
plain ^d c^oi^ majcin^. fsti^ eqlially
c^pabte of the {k»6 evidence ofdeiUdcH
ftititjon.

But as every intelkiftualv a^s well as^
^auaal faculty is improvedand fbengthen-^*
ed by exeFcife; the more the foul exerts this*
her internal ienfe of beauty upon any par-
ticular obj^^ the more ihe will enlarge^
and refine har relii^ of tha^ peculiar ipecies«
Far this r^afon the works of thofe great ,
nu^ers, whofe perfbrn^ances have been
long and generally admired, fupply a far-
ther criterion of fine tafte,, equally fixed
and certain as that which is immediately
derived from nature herfelf. The trtith
ift, fine writing is only the art of raifing
agreable fenfations of the intelledual kind j
and therefore^ as by examining thofe ori-
ginal forms which are adapted to awaken
this perception in the mind,' we learn what
thofe qualities are, which conftitute beauty
in general 3 foby obferving the peculiar con-
jSxudion of thofe compofitions of genius
which have alv^ys pleafed, we perfecl: our
idea of fine writing in particular. Itis this;

united

iM LETTER XXXIX.

united approbation, ra perfons of different
ages and of various characters and languages^
that Longinus has made the teft of the true
Soblime; and he might with equal juftice
have extended the fame criterion to all the
inferior excellencies of elegant compofition.
Thus the deference paid to the performances-
of the great mafters of antiquity, is fixed'
upon juft and folid reafbns: it is not be-
caufe Ariftotle and Horace have given us-
the rules of criticifm, that we fubmit to
their authority ; it is bccaufe thofe rules
are derived from works which have been-
diftinguifhed by the uninterrupted admira--
tion of all the more improved part of man--
kind from their earlieft appearance down*
to this prefent hour. For whatever, thro
a long feries of ages, has been univerfiilly*
efteemed as beautiful, cannot but be con-
formable to our juft and natural ideas of
beauty.

The of^fition, however, which fomc-
times divides the opinions of thofe whofe
judgments may be fuppofed equal and-^er-
fe^ky is urged as a powerful otgedion againft
the reality of affixed canon of criticifm :
it is a proof, you think, that after all which

can

LETTER XkXlX. 187

can be laid of fine tafte, it muft ultimately
be refolved into the peculiar relifh of each
individual. But this diverfity of fentiments
will not, of itfelf, deftroy Ae evidence of
the criterion ; fince the fame efFe<3: may
be produced by numberl^fe " other caufes.
A thoufand accidental circumftances may
concur in counteradling the force of the
rule, even allowing it to be ever fo fixed
and invariable, when left in its free and un-^
influenced ftate. Not to mention that felfe
biafs which party or perfonal diilike may
fix upon the mind, the moft unprejudiced
critic will find it difiicult to difengage him-
felf entirely from thofe partial affeftions
in favor of particular beauties, to which ei-
ther the general courfe of his ftudies, or ]
the peculiar caft of his temper, may have
rendered him moft fenfible. But as per-
fection in any works of genius refults from
the united beauty and propriety of its fe-
veral diftindt parts, and as it is impoflible
that any human cbmpofition ftiould poiTefs
all thofe qualities in their higheft and moft
fovereign degree; the mind, when fhe
pronounces judgment upon any piece of this
fort, is apt to decide of its merit, as thofecir-

cumftances

»&$ LETTER XXXIX.

cnmA^Etnces' which fhc moil admires, either
I^Fevail or aredeficient* Thus, for inffance^
|he excellency of the Roman mafters in
•painting, coniifts in beauty of defign, no^
^lenefs of attitude, and deHcacy of cxpref*
iioD ; but the charms of good coloring are
wanting* On the contrary, the Venetian
£:h6ol is faid to have neglected de%n a
little to much ^ but at the fame time has
been mcH-e attentive to the grace and har-*
taotiy (^ well-difpofed lights and ihades.
Now it v^ill be admitted by all admirers of
ihisf noble art, that no compolition of thft
pefloitcan be perfed, where ^ther of thefe
qiKkliiies are abient ; yet the moft accom-^
j^ihod judge may be :fo particularly ffarucic
with One or odier of the£b excellenciiss, ^ iiv
prefbren^e to the reft, as to be influenceci
in his cenfure or applaufa of ^e whol^
. tablature, by the predominancy or deficieiV'
cy of his favorite beaiutj?^ Something of thi$
kind (where tHe meaner prejudices do not
opiate) is ever, I am^ perfiiaded, the oc^
cafion of that diverfity of fentences which
we occafionally hear pronounced by the
jnoft improved ju4gcs, on the fame piece^
But thii only fhews> that pauch caution i^

necefTary

L'fi T T E It ±L. ft^

necefikry to give a fine tafte its foil and
anobftrufted cffeft 5 not that it is in itfelf
unco^n and precarious; I am> &c.

r " <

LETTER XL.

- — ♦

74 Pal AME o £s.

YOUR relohition to decline thofe over-
tures of acquaintance which Mezen-
tius, it feems, has lately made to yotr, is
agreable to the refined principles Which
have ever influenced your condud:. A mani
qf your elegant notions of integrity will ob-
ferve the £ime delicacy with rcipc<3: to his
companions^ as Casfar did with regaird to
his wife, andreflife all commerce with per-
Ibns even but of fu^)e(fted lionor. It would
fiot, indeed; be dbiog juftice to Mezendus,
%o reprefept him in that number : for tho-
his hypocrify ha§ prefer ved to him fomefew
friendS) and his iminenft wealih draws af-
ter bim many followers, ^ world in gene-
ral are by no means divided in their fen-
tknents concerning him.

But whili): you can have his piftufe
Horn fi> many better hands, why are you

defirous

190 LETTER XL.

defirous of feeing it by mine ? J[t is a pain-*
ful employment to contemplate human na-
ture in its deformities ; as there is. nothing,
perhaps, more * xlifficult than to execute a
portrait of the charadteriftical kind with
ftrength and fpirit. However, fince you
have ailigned me the tafk, I do not think
myfelf at liberty to refufe it ; eipecially as
it is your intereft to fee him delineated ip
his true form. ;

Me z e n t I u s, with the defigns and ar-*
tifice of a Cataiine, aifedts the integrity and
patriotifm of a Cato. Liberty, juftice, and
honor, are words which he knows perfeftly
well how to apply with addrefs ; and hav-
ing them always ready upon proper occa-
fions, he conceals the blackeft purpofes un-
der the faireft appearances.; For void, ®
in truth he is, of every worthy principle,
he has too much policy not to pretend to
the nobleft ; well knowing, that counter-
feit virtues are the moft fuccefsful vices. It
is by arts of this kind, th^ notwithftand^
ing he has fhewn himfelf unrdlrained by
the moft facred ejngagements of fociety>
and uninfluenced by the moft tender affec-
tions of nature, he has ilill been able to

retain

LETTER 3tL. i^^i

retain ibme degree of credk in the World :
for he never facrifices his honor to his in*-
tereft, that he does not, in fonie lefs con-<
fiderable, but more open inftance> make a
conceiiion of his intereft to his honor } and.
ihuSy while he finks his character on one
fide, very artfully' raifts it on the other.
Accordingly, under pretence of the moil
icrupulous delicacy of confdence, he lately
refigned a poft which he held under my
lord Oodoljrfiin ; when tit the fame time
he was endeavoring, by the moft fhame*
leis artifices and evafions, to deceive and de-
fraud a friend of mine in one of the moft

• » - . •

fblemin and important tranfadtions that can
pais between ixun and man.
. But will you not fuipeft that I ani de-
fcribing a phantom of my own imagina-
tioiij when I tell you after this, that he has
excQttd himielf'into a reformer of manners,
and is ib injudiciou$y ofBdous as to draw
the inquiry of the worid upon his own.
morals,, by attemptiog to expc^ the defe<5ts
ot others ? A man rwho ventures publicly
to point 6ut the blemiihes of his contem- ^
poraries^ fhould at leafl be free from uny
uncommon ilain himfelf> and have nothii^;

remarkably

tp LETTER XLt.

f amarkably dark in the complexion oi
own private chara€l€t. But M^^entius,
Bot fatifified with being vttiouS) has at lengdl
^ermined to be ridiculous > and after faav«
ing wretchedly fquandred his youth and hifi^
patrimony in riot and difiblatenefe, is con«
temptibly mif^ipending his old age in mca**
firing impotent fyUables, and dealing out
pointlefs abufe* I am, &c.

L ET TE R XLI.
7*0 Orontes.

WHAT haughty Sacharifia has put ymt
out of hurmor with her whole fex ?
for it is fome diStppointihent, I fu^dt^
of the tmd^ kind, that has thus fharp«
oned the edge of your &tk^, and pc^atoct
ite inve^tifte leigainA the fairer hsdif of our
fpecies. You were not nuiftaken, faovmver^
when you fof^oled' I SusasH ptmc no co»*\
vert to yotu- do^ne ^ but rift up as an acU>
vocate, where I pff^efe nvyftif an adimker*'
I atfi not, 'tis true*, akegether of old Moiir-
ti^gne S4>pifiif9n, 4bat die ibui$ of both iexe»

font

L :& 1 1 E k XLI/ ipj

yS«/ jettet (as he i8|H^^p it) ^ii mefmemoule^ ::
on the contrwyi; I 9XPi willing ^e^ough to
join with you in-tjwiking,, that they tnay
be wrought off front. dUl€i;ent /criodels. Yet
the r^ nwy be equally perfed:, tho it
ihould be. ailowtd that th/ey are cflcntialJy
diiio-enft. Nati^K) it is certaip^ has traced
out a &patBtc cDurie of adiion for the two
fexes ; and aa they are af^inted to diilindt
offices of life,;; it is not improbable that
there may he ibmethirig diftind: likewifc
in the frame ;of their minds i that there
liiay b© a kind of fex in the very fouL

I c A NiN Q T therefcM-e but wonder, that
Plato fhould have thought it reafonable to
admit them into an equal fhare .of the di-
gnities and offices of his imaginary com-
monwealth ; and that the wifdom of the
antieiit Egyptians fliould have fo ftrangely
inverted the evident intentions ofProvidence,
as to confine the men to domelHc alBFairs,
v^hilfl the Women, it is faid, were engaged
abroad in the a&ive and laborious fcenes of
bufine^. Hiftory, it mufl: be pwned, will
fupply fomefew female inftances of all the
mofl mafculine virtues : but appearances
of that extracwdinary kind are too uncom-

O mon,

1^4. L fe T Ye R XUv

mon, tofuppbrttfife notion of a generareqda*
fity m th« natural powers of their minds*

Th us -much, however^ feeras, evident,
that there are certain* moral boundaries
which nature has drawn between the two
fexes, and that neidier of them can: pa&
over the limits of the other, without leqikl^
ly deviating from the beauty and decaram
of their refpeftive characters : *Boadicea in
armor is, to me at leaft, as extravagant .a
fight, as Achilles in petticoats*

In determining, tht*efdre, the compa^
rative merit of tHe tw^ .fexes, it is no dwo-
gatiori from female excellency,, that it dif-
fers in kind from that which diftin^iihi^s
the male part of our ipecies. ( And if in
general it fliall be found (wh^, upopi an
impartial inquiry, I belieVe, will moft cer-
tainly be found.) that women fill up their
appointed circle of adioh with greater regu-
larity and dignity, than men 3 the claim of
prfeference cannot juftly be decided in our
favor. In the prudential and (jscoaomieal
parts of life, I think it undeniable that they
rife far above us. And if true fortitude ojf
mind is beft difcovered by. a chearful refign-
ation to the meafures of Providence, wc

fhall

L- E t' T E Rrr XLI. jp^

J.'

ihall npt £pd reafon, perhaps, to claim that
moil fiogular of the hum^n virtvies. as our
peculiar privilege. There are numbers of
the other fcx, who, from the natural deli-
cacy of their conftitution, pafs thro one
continued fcenq of fuflfering, from their
cradle to their, gravesi with a firmnefs of
resolution that woul^ deferve fg many fta-
.tues .t© .be ereftcd to their memories, . if
beroifm^ were not eftimated more by the
iplendor than the merit of aftions.

But whdfisver real diSercnce there may
be between the motal or irttelleftual powers
of l;he male and female minds nature does
not feem to have marked the dllHndion fo
ftrongly as:omr vanity is willing to imagine :
and after all, perhaps, education will be
found to conftitute the principal fuperiority.
It muft be acknowledged, at leaft, that in
this article We have every advantage ov6r
the fofter fcx, that art and ihduftry can
poflibly fecure to us. , The anoft animating
examples;^ Greece ahd Rome are fet before
us, as «arly as we are capable of any cb-
fervation ; and the nobleft compoiitions of
the ajitients are given into our hands, al-
moft as foon as we have ftrength to^ ho^d

O i them :

45)6 LETT E R XLf.

them : while the employments of the other
fex, at the faftie period of lift, are gene-*
rally the reverfc of every thing, that can
open and enlarge their minds, or fill them
with juft and ration^, notions. The truth
of it is, female education is fo^nuch worfe
-than none, as it is better to leave the mind
to its natural and uninftrufted fuggeftions,
than to lead it into falfe purfuits^ and con-
tradivits views, by turning them upon the
loweft and moft trifling obje<fts. We feeip,
indeed, by the manner in whfeh we fuiFer
.the youth of that fex to be trained, to con-
fider women agreably to the^ opkiion o{
certain Mahometan doftors, and treat them
as if we believed they have no fouls ; why
elfe are they

Bred cnfy and completed to the tafte .
Oflti/lful apfetencey tojing^ to^ dance y .
Ttf drefsy and troule the tongue ^ and roul the
eye? Milt.

Th I s ftrange negledt of cultivating the
female mind, can hardly be allowed as good
policy, when it is confidered how much the
intereft of fociety is concerned in the redi-
tude of their underfkndings. That fealbn

of

LETTER XLL . tpy

of eviery . man's life which is moft fufcep-
tible of the fht>ngefl impreffions, is ne-
ceilarily under female dire&ion ; as there
are few inftances, perhaps^ in which that
fcx is not one of the fccret ipr^ngs which
regulates the moft important movements of
private or public tranfaftions. What Cato
obferved of his countrymen, is in one re-
fpeA trae of every nation under the fun :
«* The Romans, iaid he, govern the
«' world, but it is the women that govern
'^« the Romans." • Let not, however, a
certain pretended Cato of your acquaintance
take occafion from this maxim to in/iik a
fecond time that innocence, he has fo often
injured.: for I will tell him another maxim
as true as die former, that *< there are r;r-
" cumftances wherein no woman has power
" enough torontrole a man of fpirit."

IF it be true then (as true beyond all
peradventure it is) that female influence is
thus extenfivc ; nothing> certainly, can be
of mote importance, than to give it a pro-
per tejjdency, by the afliftance of a well-
directed education. Far am I from recom-
mending any attempts to render women
leaned 5 yet fuirely it is neceiTary they
• O '3 fhould

/

s^ LETT E R XLfl.

fhoiild be raifed above ignorance. Such a
general tindlure of the moft ufcful fciences
as may ferve to free the mind from vulgar
prejudices, and give it a relifbfor the ra^
iional exercife of its powers^- mights very
juftly enter into the plan of fiacnale crudi-
tion. That fex might be taught to turn
the counfe of their refledions into z proper
and advantageous chanel,. widiout any
danger of rendering diepi too elevated for
the feminine duties of life. In a "word, I
.would have them confidered as defigned
by Providence for ufe as well as.ihow, and
trained up, not only as womeoi but as ra-
tional creatures. I am> &c. •

«■

LETTER XLlL

» «

To Pale mqn; ■'

tC, ♦ I-

WHILST you are engaged in turn*
ing pver the records of paft ages,
and tracing our coiiftitutipn from its fife;
thro all its feveral periods; I^ibmetinftes
amuft myfelf with reviewing cert^ annak
pfan Jiuinbjer kind, ^nd conljdcring the

LETTER XLH. jpp

various turns and revolutions that have hap-
pened in the fentiments and affedtions of
thofe with whonfi I have been moft con-
nedted. A hiftory of this fort is not, in-
deed, fb ftrikmg as that which exhibits
kings and heroes to our view ; but may it
not be contemplated, Palemoh, with more
private advantage?/

Methinks we fliould fcarce be fo imw
bittefed againft thofe who differ Irom us in
principle or practice, were we ofteiier to re*-
fleS how frequently we have, varied from
ourfelves in: bodi thofe articles. - It was but'
yefterday diat Lucius, whom I x)nce knew
a very zealous iadvocate for the .moft con-
troverted points of faith, was arguing with
equal warmth and vehemence on the prin-
ciples of Deifm ^ as Bathillufe, who fet out
in thexvorM a oool infidel, has lately drawn
up one of tlie moft plaufible defences of
the myftic devotees, that, perhaps, was
ever written. > The truth is, a man.muft
cither have pafTed his whole life with-^
put feflecaing, or his thoughts, muft have
runJn.a, very limited chanel, .who has not
often experienced many rem^fJkabie revo,
lutions of mind. : ^ • :

Q 4

^ > J

aoo LETTER XLII.

The ifem^ kind of incordlaficy is obferv^
able in oiir purfuits of happinefs as well as
truth. Thus our fiioid Gono, whom wc
both remember in' the forpier part of his
life, enamored of every jfiaif face he met,
and enjoyihg every womaa :he cpuld pur-i
chafe y has ^at laft coIloSied this diffufive
flame into a fingle point, aijd could not be
tempted to commit an infidelity, to his mar*
riage vow, tho a forpi as beaotiftil as the
Venus of Apelles were to court his eihbrace;
whilftApemandabs, onthejodierhand, who
was the moflibber and doiixeftic man I eveii
Icnew till he loft his wife, 'comnienced a
rake at five and forty,, ^^mj is now for ever
in a tavern or a ftew,
• Wh o knows, PaLemon,. whether even
this humor of pioralizing^ : which, as ]^u
often tell me, fo ftrongly marks my chzh
ra£ter, may not wear out in tiine, and be
fucceeded by a brighter and niore lively
vein ?' who knows but I may court again
the miftrefs I h^ve forfaken, and die at laft
in the arms of apibitidn I Cl^ra, at leafl^
who frequently rallies me upon that fevec
pf my youth, ^dTures me I am only in the
ipterpiiffion of ^ fit^ whicJi y?ill certainly

fctiirn,

L & T T- Er R XLin. 201

letuiii. But dio there imy be fome excufbi
perhaps^ in exchanging our follies or our
errors, there can be.none in refun^ng thole
we have once happily quitted : for furely
he njuft be a very injudicious iportfman,
who can be tempted to beat over thoie field$
agdn which have ever difappointed him of
bis game* FaireweL ,

■9«OT^rik

L EfT ER XLHI..

To EUPHRONIUS^

T T is a pretty obfervation, which I have
^ fomewherc met, that ^' the' moft
" pleafing of all harmony arifes from the
<* oenfiir? of a fingle perfon, when mix-r
^<* cd with the general applcmfes of the
" world/' I almoft fu^eft, therefore,
that you are C9nfi4ering the inter^ft of youy
admired author, when you call upon me
for my farther otgeitions to his performance;
and are for joining me perhaps, to the
pumber of thofe wha advance his reputa*
lion,byQppofii^it, The truth, however, is,

yow cpuldopt JwYC chofen a critic (if a critic

I might

2oa L E T T E R XLIII,

I might venture to call inyreIf)'who has a
higher efteem for all the compofitions- of
Mr; Pope : as indeed I look- upon^ every thing
that comes'from his hands; with the fame
degree of veneration as if it were eonfecrated
by antiquity. Nevelrthelefe, tho I greatly
revcrehis judgment, I cannot abfolutely re**
nounce my own ; and'finee fome have been
bold enough to advance, that even the fa-
cred writings themfelves do not always fpeak
the language of the Spirit;; J may have
leave to fufped: of the poets what has been
affertcd pf thp prpphe^,, md fwppofe that
their pens ^re not, at all feafons, under the
guidance of inipifation. Buta^ t^ere is
ibmething extrcmfely ungrateful to the mind,
in dwelling upon thofe little' fpots that ne-

ceflarily attend the luftte of all human me-,
rit ; you muft allow me to join his beauties
with his imperi€<!lions, and- admire with
rapture, after having condemned with re;-*
gret. ■ ■ .. ' ' - '

There is a certain modern figcore of

ipeech, which the author's of The art of

finking in poetry have called the diminijhing%

This, fo Jfer as it relates to words''ofll)S

^oriiifts ihdebdin^ ar gfeat ide^i b^ exj»eff

LET T E R XLIli. 203

fing It in a term of meaner iniport; ' Mr.
Pope. has himfelf now and then fallen into
this kind of the profound^ which he has '
•with fuch upopmrnem-wit ^nd fpiritex-
pofed in the writings of otjiers.- ,Thus
Agamempop, addreffing himfelf to Men^-
laus and UlyfTes, aiks,

Aid can youy chief Sy without a blujhfurvey
Whole troops before yQu\ lah 'ring in thefxzyi

B. h.

80 likewife Pandarus, fpeaking of Dipmed,
who is performing theutmoft efforts of he*'

roifm in the field of battle, lays,

* . *
ffme guardian ofthejkiesj

InvoPwd in clouds ^ prot(Sls him in the fray,
- ' V, 235,

But what* would you think, Euphro-
nius, were you -to hear of the ^^ i^>pe^•.
** vk)us foam" and-"- rough .waves of a
^* brook?-' would it not put yoiurin-mind
of that dtole thought of ^6 ingenious Dr.
<Yourig, m one^of his epiftles to our :aii-
thcn-,^herehe talks of ^ puddte inuft9rm?
yet ti^thu^ €o^oundii^.lJie prop;^^^
^e hig^bAr^c^ts'W^ tfadfa <^ the lawe%

< It.

204 LETTER -XLin.

Mr. Pope has turned one of the mofl plea£-
.ing fimiles in the whole Iliad, into down-
right burlefque :

A^ when fome Jimple fwain bis cotforfakesy
And wide thro fens dn unknown journey takes ;
If chance a Jwelling 'brook his pajdge^ayy
And foam impervious crofs tbe'iband're/s

W^y

"Confusd beJlopSy A length of country pa/ly
JSy^j the rough waves, tindtirdy returns at
^kjl. V. 734

This fwelling brook, however,, of Mr.
Pope, is in Homer t rapid river, rufhing
with violence into the fea :

^ >

V.598.

. J(t is one of the eii^ntial requiiites of an

epic poem^ ^nd^ indee4.. every other kind

pf iferions poetry^ that the 2b^le be raifed

^«bove common langua^ ; as Qodiiog takes

piF io much from that folemnity pf di^on,

^om which the.poet ought nev^r to depart,

!«ia/ idioms t)f a.. vulgar and f^roHiff . caft.

Mr^ Pope hp i^^metimes negl^&ed^$ im«

.poitant nik ; but msjA, fifeqiicntly in the

intra-

LETTER XLIlf. 105

introQudlion of his Speeches. To mention
only a few inflances :

That done, to.Phatiix Ajax gave the Jign.

ix. 291

With xh2Xjlern Ajax bis lof^g Jilence hroke^
. ' ix. 735,

With that the venerable vfarrior rofe^

X. 150.

With that Aey ftepp*(t afidej &c^

x;4i*.

r

Whereas Homer generally prefaces his
Ipeeches with a dignity of phraje, that calk
up the attention of the reader to what is
going^to be uttered. Milton has very hap-
pily copied his mariner in this particular,
as in many others ; and tho he of^n falls
into a flatnefs of expreflion, he has never
once, I think, comftiitted that error upon
occafions of this kind. He ufually ufhers
in his liarangues' with fomething charader-
iftical of the fpeaker, or that points out
(bme remarkable circumftance of his pre-
fent fitiiatidil, in dib following manner :

Eaton with bold words
Breaking the horrid Jiience^ thus began ^

i. 82.

him

206 LETTER XLIIJ:

hm.Jbus anfiioer d foon .his bold cpmpeeir

i. I2C

He ended fronvning : •

' on the other Ji'de uprofe

midi,

'Ahd^'wkh perfuafive accents thus began.

. u. io6.

. . ,. . . • .

Jf you. compare the eiFedt which an intro-
duftion of ^is defcriptiye fort has upon the
mind, with thofe low and unawakening
expreflions which I have marked in the lines
I juft now quoted from our Englifli Iliad ;
you will not, perhaps, confider my objec-
tion is altogether without foundation.

Al l' oppofition of ideas ffioiild he care-
fully avoided in apoeni of this kind, as
unbecoming the gravity of the heroic Mufe.
But does not Mr. Pope fometimes .facrifice
fimplicity to fajfe ornament, and lofe the
majefty of Homer in the afFedtations of
Ovid ? Of this fort a fevere critic would,
perhaps, efteem his calling an army march-
ing with fpears eredt, a moving iron wood:

Such andfo thick tfS embattled fquadrons flood
With fpears ereSi^ a moving iron wood.

There

, LETTER XLm. 105?

There feems itl&to be an inconfiftcncy in
the two parte of: thiS:deJfeription 5 for the
troops are repr/Slerited as ft^nding ftill, at
the fame time .that the circumftance men-
tioned of the ipears, fhould rather' itoply
(as indeed the truth is) that they were in
motion. But if the tranflator had beenl
faithful to his author in this- paffage, nei-
tfier of thefe objectidn&.coiild have been
raifed : for ia Homer it i$,

ToieU

iv. a 8b.

Is there not likewife fome little tendency to
a pun> in thofe upbraiding lines which He-
dtor addreiTes to Paris ?

For thee great Ilions guardiah heroes fall
Till heaps of dead alone defend the wall.

Mr. Pope ^t leaft deferts his guide, in order
to give us this conceit of dead men defending
a town ; for the original could not poffibly
lead him into it. Homier, with a plainnefs
fuitable to the occafion, only tells, us,

MoL^vajJLevQi VI. 327.

, Teucer,

io& L^ t T E fir ami

TEUCEft, in die eightli book, aiiiis i
dart at HeCtdr, which^ j miffing its vray^
flew Gorythto ; upon which W€ are told,

j^otber Jhaft. the raging archer threw ;
^bat other jhaft with erring fury fiew.
(FromHeSiorPhcebus turn d the flying wound )
let fell not dry or guiltlefs to the ground.

K flying miound is b, thought exaftly in the
fpirit of Ovid ; . but highly unworthy of
Pope as well as of Homer : and, indeed,
there is not the leafl foundation for it in
the oxiginal. But what do you think of the
fhaft that fell dry or guiltlefs f a "where
you fee, one figurative epithet is added as
explanatory of the other. The doubling of
epithets, Without raifing the idea, is nbt
allowable in compofitions of any kind 5
but leafl of all ih poetry. It is, fays Qiun*
£tilianv as if every common fbldier in an. ar-
my were to be attended with a valet -, you
cncreafe your Jiumber without adding to
your ftrength. ...
» * •

* Candor obliges me to obfcrve, that perhaps the
disjunfiive particle cry is an errjor of the prefs, arid that
in Mr. Pope's manufcript it was' and. This corre£tion
would render the paflage ^luchl^fs exceptionable ^ aod
probably is the true reading,

r But

L E TTE R XLm. 209

Btf "T if it be a hxilt to crowd epthets
bf the fame impont one upon the other ; it
is much more fo to employ fuch as call oflF
the attention from the principal idea to be
raifed, and turn it upon little, or fpreign cir-
cumilances* When ^nea&is wounded by
Tjrdides, Homer defcribes Venus as con^
dudHng him thro the thickeft tun^ijh; of the
enemy^ and conveying him from the field
of battle^ But While we are following the
hero with our whole concern, and trepibling
for the danger which furrounds him on all
fides J Mr. Pope leads us off from our^
anxiety for iEneas, by an uninterefting epi-
thet relating to the ftKii^ure of thofe in-
ftruments of death, which were every where
flying about him; and we are coldly in-
formed, that the darts vftvt feathered :

• • •
Si^e thro the rujhing horfe and fcz^^icvd fight

OfJowu^gJhaftSyJhe bears him thro the fight.

T- 393-

r
t

But as his epithets fometimes debafe the
general image to be raifed ; fo they now and ,
then, adorn them with a falfe brilliancy.
Thus, fpeaking of a perfon flain by an ar-
row, he calls it a pointed deaths iv. 607.

P defcribing

aio LETTER XLlIt

»

defcribing another. who was attacked by
nuQibers at once, he tells us,

A gronje of lances glitter'd tit his hredji.

iv. 6zi.

and reprefehting a foreft on iirCj he fays.

In blazing heaps the grofue^s old honors falJ^
And one refulgent ruin levels all.

X. ioii

But one of the niofl: unpardonable inilahces
of this kind is, where he relates the death
of Hypferior, a perfon who, it feems, ex-
ercifed the facerdotal office : '

On his broad Jhoulder fell the forceful brandy 1
Whence glancingdownmardhpthisholy bandy f
Andjlaind mthfacted blood the blufliing f
fo^nd. J.

To take the force of* this epithet^ wcf muft
fuppofe that the rednefs which appeared
upon the fand on this occafion, was an ef«
fed of its blufliing td.find itfelf ftained with
the blood of fo facf ed a perfon : thill which
there cannot be a more forced and unnatu-
ral thought. It puts me in mind of a paf-*
fage in a French dramatic writer, who has
formed a play upon the ftory of Pyraraus

and

t E T T E R XLIIL tii

afld Thifbe. : The hapkis maid, addreifing
herfelf to the dagger, which lies by the fide
of her lover, breaks out into the following
exclamation : ' , .

Jib! void lepoi^nardqui Jufangdefon maitre
^ejip^ilii lachement : ii en rougit le traitre^

Boileau, taking notice of thefe lines, ob-
fervesj toutes ks glaces du Nord enfembh ne
font pas J a mon fens^ plusfroides que cette
penfie. But of the two poets, I know not
whether Mr. Pope is hot moft to be con-
demned : for whatever fhame ^e poignard
might take to itfelf, for being concerned in
the murder of the lover j it is certain that

the fand had not the leailfhare.in the deai^

. 't » . * •' • rf . . . . ^

of the prifft*; ' f i - ) '

Thb. antient critics have inMea much
iipoii propriety of language y and^ indeed^
one may , with great Juftice fay', what the ,
infulted Job does to his impertinent friends,
how forcible are right words !: The . truth
is, tho the fentiment muft always fup-
port.the expreflion, yet the expreffion
muft givfe grace and efficacy to the fenti-
ment^ and the fame thought fhdll fre-
quently be admired or condemned, accord-
ing to the merit of the particular phrafe. in

P a w^hich

212' LET T B R TUn.

Mrhich it is conveyed. For this rea£}a, ti
Caefar, in a treatife wkich he wrote ccn-*
cerning the Latin language, calls a judicious
choice of words, the origin of Eloquence >
s^ indeed neither ojratory nor poetry cajn be
raifcd to. any degree of perfeftipn, where
this their principal root is neglefted-. In
this aft Virgil particularly excels ; and it is
the inimitable grace of his words (as Mn
Drydeii fomewhere juftly obfervcs) wherein
that beauty principally confifts, which ^ives
fo ine^fpreffible a pleafure to him, who beft
undeirffands thcirforce. No man was ever
a nrore fldlful mafter of ^this powerful art,
than Mr. Pope; as^hc has> trpon feveraloc-
cafions throughout this tranilation> raifed
and dignified his ftyle with certain aiiti-^
quated words and phrafes, that arc moft
i;«^onderfulIy folemn arid majcftiG. Lean-
not, however, forbear- mentioning an in-
ftance, where he has employed an obfb-
lete term lefs happily, Ithink, than is his ge-
neral cuftom. It occurs in fome lines which
I juft now quoted for another purpofe :

On his proud Jhoulder fell the Jotceful brandy
l^bewe glancing downward bpt bis holy, band^

V. ioj[-

Brand

LETTER XLIII. ai3

Brand Is fometimes ufed by Spencer for £(
fword ; and in that fenfc it is here intro-
ducedr But as we ftlll retain this word in
a different application, it will always be im-
proper to adapt it in its antiquated meaning,
becaure it muft ncccffarUy occafion ambi-
guity; an error in flyle of all odiers the moft
to be avoided. Accordingly, every reader
of the lines Ihave quoted, muft take up an
idea very different from that which the
poet intends, and which he will carry on
vvith him> till he arrives at the middle of
the feeond verfe. And if he happens to
be unacquainted with the language of our
dd writers, when he comes to

lopt hhfacred hand^

he will be loft in a confufion of images,
and have abfojutely no idea renaaining.

There is anather uncommon elegance
in the management of words, which re-
quires a very fmgular turn of genius, and
great delicacy of judgment to attain. Aa
^e art I juft before mentioned, turns upon
employing antiquated words with ibrce and
propriety ; fo this confifts in giving the
grace of novelty to the received and current

P 3 ^ ternK

fi4 LET T E R XLIlt^

terms of a language, by applying them in
a new and unexpected manner ;

Dixeris egregi^y notum Ji callida verhum '
Reddiderit junBura novum. HoR^-

The great caution, however, to he obferved
in any attempt of this kind, is fo judicioufly
toconned:the expreflions, as toremove every
doubt concerning the fignification in which
they are defigned : for as perlpicuity is.
the end and fupreme excellency oFwriting,
there cannot be a more fatal objedtion to an
author's %Ie, than that it Hands m need of
^ commentator. But will not this objection
lie againft the following verfe ?

Next artful Phereclus untimely fell. V. 75,

The word artful is here taken out of its
appropriated acceptation, in order to exprefe

But however allowabfe it may be (as in-
deed it is not only allowable, but graceful)
to raife a word above its ordinary, import,
when the callida jiinBura (as Horace calls
it) determines at once the fehfe in whicl\

it

LETTER XLIIL 2if

It 16 ufed : yet it fhould never be caft fb far
back from its cuftomary meaning, as tp
ftand for an idea whjch has no relation to
what it implies, in its primary and natural
ilate. This would be introducing uncertain-
ty and confufion into a language j and turn-
ing every lentence into a riddle. According-?
ly, after we have travelled on thro the fe-
veral fucceeding lines in this paflage, we
are obliged to change the idea with whicU
we fet out i and findj^ at laft, that by the
Mrtful PJipr^lus vc are to underftand, not
what we at firft apprehended^^ a man of
cunning and defignj bMt one whois^^lled
in the mechaplcai arts.

It is with ^ liberty of the lame unfuc-

cefsful kind, that Mr. Pope has rendered

'«

Tov 'wpor^pos 'mpo(r€€t,7r^ Avxxouos ctyXoiOs tfos^

' "v. 276,

Stern Ly(:aon\ warlike race hegun,,

I know not by what figure pf ^^^eghi thc>
whole race pf a man ^aji dcnpte his next
immediate defccwiaiit ; and^ I fear, no fy-
pecdoche can acquit; tbis expre£Gon of non-.
fcnfe. The truth is, whoever ventures to.
^rik^ oi^t pf the common road, muft b&

P 4 j^ors

iii6 LETTER XLIII.

more than ordinarily careful, or he will
probably lofe his way.

This reminds toe of a paflagc or two,^
where our poet has been extremely injurious
to the fenfe of his author, and made him
talk a language which he never ufes ; the
language, I mean, of abfurdity. In the
ibcth Iliad, Agamemnon afliireis Mei^claus,

■

lAia B^aTTQXdi&Ty cacnS'^^QU vi. 6o«

But in Mr. Pope^s verfion, tfiat chief telU
his brother,

Ilion Jhall perijh whole and bury aH.

Perhaps it may be oVer-pice to remark, that
as the deftrutftion of Troy is firft mention-
cd« it has a little the appearance of nonfenfe
to talk afterwards of her burying her Ions.
However the latter part of this verfe di-
rcftly contradifts the original i for Aga-
memnon is fo far from afferting that Ilion
fhould bury all her inhabitants, that he
pronounces pofitively, they {hould not
be buried at all : a calamity, in the opi-
nion of t^ J antients; of all others the moft
tefribl'^. But poffibly the error may lie
. in

I^ E T T IS R XLin. 217

In the printer, not in the poet ; and peri*
haps the line originally ftood thus :

llion jhqll perijh iJoJ^ley unbury'd, alh

If fo, both my obje(3:ions vanifh : and thofe
Who are c<»iverfiint with the prefs, will not
think this fuppofition improbable j fince
^xuchInbre unlikely miilakes often happen
by the careieflhefs of compofitors.

But tho I anx willing to make all the al*
lowance poffible to an author, who raifes
our admiration too oftep not to have a right
to the utmoft candor, wherever he fails; ye^
I can find no excufe for an unaccountably
^bfurdity he has fallen into, in tranflating a
paflage of the tenth book, DiomedahdUlyf-
j(es, taking advantage of the nighty fet out
in order to view the Trojan camp. In their
^y they .meet with Dolon, who is going
from thence to theGr,ecian;^ upon an expedi-^
tion of the fame kind. After having feized
this unfortunate adventurer, and examine^
him concerning the iitaation and defigns o^
the enemy} Dionxcd draws his fword, an4
flxikes o£F Dolon's head, in the very inftant
that he'is fupplicatipg far mercy :

X- 457-

i»j8 LETTER XI<III,

Mr- Pope has turned this into a moft .ejctra^
ordinary miracle, by affuring us tlvit the
head Ipokp after it had quitted the body ;

^be bead yet /peaking y jnutter'd as it fell.

This puts me in mind of a wonder of the
fame kind in the Fairy ^een^ , where Cor^
flambo is reprefented as blafpheming, after
his head had be^n ftruck off by prince Ar*
thur s

Hejmote at bim witb all bis migbt and main
Sofurioujlyy tbaiy ere be nvijl^ be found
His bead before bim tumbling on ibe ground^
^be whiles bis babbling tongue did yet blaf
phemey

And cursd his Gody that did himfo con^
found. Bpc^iy. 8

But Corflambo was the fon of a giantefS,
and could conquer whole kingdoms by on-?
ly looking at them. We may, perhaps,
therefore allow him to talk, when every
ether man muft be filent : whereas there is
nothing in the hiftory of poor Dolon, that
tan give him the leaft- pretence to this An-
gular privilege. Mr. Pope feems te have
been led into this blunder by Scali^er^

wha

LETTER XLin. 219

who has given the fame fcnfe to the verfe,
and then with great wifdom and gravity
ohfcTvtSy faljum eft a pulmone caput avulfum
hqui pojfe.

The moft pleafing pidure in the whole
Iliad, is, J think, the parting of Heftof
?ind Andromiighe : and our excellent trans-
lator h^s, ip general, very fuccefsfuUy co-
pied it. But in fome places he feems not
to have touched it with that delicacy of
pencil^ whiph graces the original j as he has
entirely loft the beauty of one of the figures.
He6tor is reprefented as extending his arms
to embrace the Jittlp Aftyana?:, who being
terrified with the unyfvial appearanpe of a
man in armOT> throws himfelf back upon
his nurfe's breaft, and falls into tears. But
tho the hero and his fbn were defigned to
draw oiir principal attention, Homer in-
tended likewife that we fhould caf^ a gla;^e
tpward§ the n\irfe; For this purpofe, he
docs not mark her out merely by the name
of her office ; but adds ap epith^( to (hew
that fhe makes no inconfiderable figure in
the piece: he does not fimply call.h^i?
'^i^vwviy but gi/^wy®- Ti^nvn* This clreunv^
ftance Mr. Pop? has entirely overlookod :

U9 LETT E R XLlIi: ,

Qs eiTroJVi e ttcu^os q^^^ccIcu ipouS'i/JLC^ Ex?ft>g,
A"^' <^* ® ^Txrais txrpQS ytoKirov tu(^eiVQio Ti9)jrw$
ExA/f6» ^^X^h ^^1^05 (piXB o-^iv €irv^€ii^

£iiiyov ctifir oin^dn/t^ %i^ho$ vAjovtx v^rio-ct^*
Ex <^'gJ€AaosT6 '7rft\yi^ re fihq^y >^ ^(flvict /xyfln^f
Aifliyc otTTo KPoclos xopv^^ €i?\.£o (pouhfJLQS Etuoo^j

vi. 466.

"Thus having fat dy tU iUt^Jlrious chief of Troy
Stretched bis fond arms to clafp the lovely boy ^
'The babe clung crying to bis nurfe's breafi^
Scar d by the dazzling helm and nodding crejl:
With fecret pleafure each fond parent fmiV d^
And tie SI or bafted to relieve bis child:
ITbe glit'tring tenors from bis bead unbound^
Andptacdtbe beaming helmet on the ground^

I was going to object to the glittering ter^
rorSy in the laft line but one : but I have
already taken notice of thefe little afFe<3:e4
exprefllbns, where the fubftanti^e is fet at
Variance with its attribute.

Ir is the obfervatibi^ of Quin<ftilian, that
TiO f>oet ever excelled Ilomer in the fubli-.
mity with which he treaty great fubjedts^
or in the delica^ and propriety he always.

difcovers

LETTER XLlii. ui

d&feovers m the inanag^^eat of finall onc&i

There 13 a pfdfitge in the n^nth Uiad^ vfhkh

willju^Bily the trufch of th« latter of ducfo:

oblbrvaitio&s* When. Achilies receives Ajax.

andULy0bs in. his tent, who were Tent to:

hite in the n^e of A|;aitiQmnofi^ m order

to prevail with him to return to the ^i^tny $

Hotmi pvts a very ti^ute account of the

eotertainment, whi<:h was prepared for

them upon that occafion^ U is. ifnpofliblc^

perhaps^ in modern language to preferve

the ^Doae dignity in deicrtptions a£ this kind^ ^

whidi ib coniiderabl}^ r»ifes the original i

andindcodMf* Pope wam^his readpr^ Jioi;

to expert jBudi beauty isi the .pi^iuitf « :

Howevei^ a^ traniktorihould be cajrefuL mt

to throw ia any additbnal ckcumftaiKe^' .

whick may lower and de]>afe the piecer ; i

which yet Mr, Pope hasj, in his veiiiod of.

the folfepwing line :

ix. 2 1 !•
Mean wbilrFdtroclus fvveats, the fire to raifk: *
Own the truth, Euphrohius : docs not this
give you the idea of a grcafy cook at a
kitchen fire ? whereas • nothing of this kind
is fuggf ft^d in the original. On the contra-

s

112 LETTER XLilt..

ry, the epithet ttro^' feems tb hiave bccfl
added by Homers m order to redDikrile us
tb the meanneft of the adtion, by reminding
u&of the high chiaraflter of the pedon who
is fengaged iff it ; and; as Mr. Addifon ob-
fervegof Virgo's hafbandmsai, that " he
" toSks about his dung with an air of grace-
«^ fulnefs 5" one may, with the fame truth,
fcy • of Hoiper's hero, ■ that he Ughts his firci
with an aif of dighky: '

1 ^TENDED to have clofed thefe hafty
objfcCfibtiSj with laying before you fome of
thc^e paffages, where Mn Pope feems to
huve equalled, oroccelled his ori^aL But
I perceive I have already extended^iuy tet-^ .
ter beyond a reafonable limit : I will rcfcrv6
therefore that more'-pleyfing, as well as
much eaiier tafk, to fome futiirefcccafion.
In the mean tiriie, I defire' ydu will look
upon thefe remarks, not as proceeding from
a Ipirit of cavil (than which I kjipw not
apy^ more truly contemptible) but as an in--
fiance of my having red your /favorite
ppet With that attention^ vrhich his own un-
equalled merit and your judicious recom-<
mendation moil defervedly claim. I am^ &c«

LET-

L iE T T E R XLIV.
To Palamedes.

. • ... , • .

I HAVE had occafion a thoufand tim»
liAcel faw you, to wifli my (elf in the land
where all things arejorgotten ^ at leaft, that
t did not live in the memory of certain rel-
iefs niortals 6f your acquaintance, who arc
vifitors by profefiion- The misfortune, is^
no retirement is fo remote, nor fanftuaiy
fb facred, as to afford a protedion from
their impertinerice i and tho one were to
fly to the defart, and take refuse in the cells^
of faints and hermits, one fliould be aiarmrx
ed with'di^ir unmeaning mice i crying.
eyeii tn the wilderjtefs. They iprea^ them-
felvesi in truth, over the whole face of the
landl and lay wafte the faireu hours of con-,
verfatioh. For my own part (to ipeak of
them in a ftyle fuitable to their tafte and
talents) I look Upon them, not a3 paying,
vifits, but vijit attorn \ and am never obliged
to give audience to one of this ipecies, that; .
1 do riot confider myfelf as under a judg-
ment for thofe niimberlefs hours, which I

have

aa4 L iB T t £ R

have fpent in vain* If theie ibns ijiA
daughterly of idlen^fs and J^lly vfould h6
perfuadeJd to enter into aii exclufive focietj^
among thcmfelves^ the reft of the world
might poflefs their moments unmolefted t
but nouiing lefs v/ill fatisfy them than open-
ing a general commerce, and fidling into
every port wrhere choice or chance majr'
drive them. Were we to live, indeed, ta
the years of the antediluvians^ one might
afford to refign feme part' of one's own
time, in charitable relief of the unfiifferable
weigTit of theirs j but fince the days of ipari
are fhrunk into a few hafly' revolutions of
tile fun, whole afternoons are much too
confiderable a facrifice to be offered up to
tanie civility* What heightens the con*-
tempt of this character, is, that they who'
have fo miich of the form, have always leaft
of the power of firiendfhip i ana thq the^
will craze their chariot wheels (as Milton
expreffes it), to deftroy your repofe > they
would not drive half the length of a ftrect
to alfift your diftrefs* '
' It was owing to an interruption from
one of thefe obfequious intruders, that I
vras prevented keeping my engagement

with

LETT E R XLV.. «5

Vrtd) you yefterday ; and you muft indulge
mt in this diicharge of my inventive againft
the ridiculous oocafion of ib mortifying a
ffiftppoiutment; Adieu.

■^mfmfmm^mmmmimmm^^mmm^mmm0mmammm^mmmi^mmmmmm§t^

t \

h E T.;T E R XLV..
To HoRT Eiisius.

To be able to fupprcfs hly Acknowledge
ments of the pleafure I received from
your approbation^ were tt) (hew that I do
hot defcrve it : for is it pofliWe to value
the praife of the judicious as one ought>
arid yet be lilent under its influence? I
can with ftrift truth fay of you, what a
Greek poet laid of Plato, who, reading his
perfbrmance^to an^ircfe where that great
philofopher was prefent, and finding liim-*
felf deferted at length by all die refl of
the company^ cried 4ut> *^ I ^\\i proceed
'* neverthelefs ; for Plato is him&lf an au-*
** dience/'

True jfamei indi^ed^ is no n»re in the
^ft dian in the cpoflMibn of tmhibers, as
it is only in &e dii^fal of the vri& and the
^ ^^ impartial.

aid LETTER XLVL

imjAitial. But if both thde^ qwUBcstS^m
muft concur to give vtMty. to a . v«|& e£
thb kind>. v;ho«t little re»jEc»i has an; author
to be either deprej9b<i«r eltA^j^ ^§fmftf!aA
cenfure or applaufe ?

The t riumph s of genim are not like
thofe of antient heroifin, where the meaneft
captive made a part of ther pomp, as well
as the nobleft. ' It is not the multitude, but
the digility of thofe thact cdmpofc her fol-
lowers, that can add ^y thing to Mj(-tt^
glory } aiid a fingle attendant ^najf oJfen
render her more tn^j^ illuilrious, Ulf^l a
whole train of common admicers. I am
fure at kaft| X have ina ambition of draw-
ing a^9r:\mer vulgar, acclaipatipns ; and
whilfl; I hav9 th^ happ^piiQi§ to enjpy your afH
plaufej^ IjO^all always qqpfider myfclf in pdf^

itBon of (J;^ frwe0[ fygi^. lani, &c..

■ .- , I . . ...

' ' ! ■ I 111 I I —■— — — — — Ai— A— >M^— — <^— 11 ■■ I I ^

Ui T TEfk' XLVI, '^^
"7^ Clyta'nder. ' '

Yr.4^u. i^o Qever:f4s^t a^y things ;Can
tcU iiie> I dare %, wfaofe obf^ira^
tion it is, ikz^]^ of aU-^the aid^o^ of i>ur

-; / " lif«

Iha j[ <fanjipt r^:f^f^ fhc.m^, l:j(M

fic»>f tQ icQ oae, pan^ of k ]^riAed';b: thft

fure^ was nuili) lOK)!^ rk^clid
ed^ 4i^ 4^at whighf^i^ rwqter of ycKir ac-^
quaio^M)^ has §f{i|>]pjriad' Tor^roie fxpon
^ e^ablUl^ rfttigi^ftli^ a country^: and
lau^^t 4^ iQoftf9«iHe4ia{id inviolftbleofibcr
ordt^ame^a is 9b far rmwmd: fwat-igpoA
pf)U(jqs,a&Jt 18 ff(oe> giDodjmannera.' .i&>ii
iade^^upoa maxjtt^s otf^^ poUcy aloft^> jt^l
o^ 'i:an fdafoiv wieb^hofe who* addpt.tho
pti$ci{4es». which (imauthor hdta^mbracedt
I vi^I add there^e (iinci^i it f(^m$^ : you
ibiQeiiiii^.QQmxaumcaie lohimimy 4ottrrs j(
tbatrto endctfvor to hSm that iremdiatioit
wluehiadiie to fJ>e relq^us iuftilutiigi^ of
a l^atio|i> vidi({n ihayi neither runcoanter to
aifjrof ih^ gr^at linos: of moraU^j^^ tohx^
p(^ ihematikral rights) of mankixid^ as. a
ibrt.of.«aI which ilfcfiQW t^tA hy.whx^
epith^ fuifficiently to .flsgmatizb^utdsLati
. , > Q^ tacking

tacking the ftrongeft hold o£ Ibciety, and
attempting to deftroy the firineft gtiaM of
human fecurity. Far am I^ indeed^ from
thinking there is no otiber ; or tififft'^e'fio^
tion of a moral fenft is a vain and ground-^
lefs hypothefis* But wonderfully linlited
toiuft the experience of thofe philofophers
«ind60bfedly be, who imagine, that an im«
plafilijd love oJF virtue is fufficient to cen-
dutfl: th^ generality of* mankind thra the
pai^tof moral duties^ iahd fupeiMftsde the
iiedeflky of a fardier and more powerful
guide. A fenfe of honor, likewife, wbere
it Oj^mtes in its true and genuine vigor, is^
I oinfefe, a moft noble and powerful prin-
ciple; but far too'refined a motive of aftion,
even for the more c&l^vated part of bur
^ecies to adopt ingenehdrand, in faA,
we find it much oftener profeOSbd^ than
pQcfiied . ^ Nor are the laws of a communi-
ty ifufficient to anfwer all the retraining
piiirpQ&&of govermnent; as there^are ibany
mooral. points, whidi it is impoffibk to fe-«
cuteiby exprefs proviiions. Human initi-
tutibns can reach no farther than to certain
^neral duties, in which the coUedive v^U
fare of fociety is more particularly concern-^

cd.

LETTER XLVL la^

cdL Whatever elie is neceffiuy for the eafe
and hapjHneis of iodal intercourfe, can be
jderived only from the affiftance of religions
which inflttcaices the nicer connections and
dq)encbncies of mankind, as k regulates
and corrects the heart How many tyran^*
nies may. I exerdfe as a parent, how many
h^trdihips may I inflid: as a mafter, if I
take the Aatutes of my country for the on*
)y guides of my aiCUons, and think every
thing lawful diat is not civilly penal?
Th^ trudi is, a man may be injured
in a variety of inihmces far more atro*
(iouily, than by what the law confiders ei--
ther as a fraud or a robbery. Now in
cafes of this kind (and many very import-*
ant cafes of this kind there are) to remove
the bars of religion, is to throw open die
gates of oppreffion : it Is to leave the ho*-
neil expofi^ to the injurious inroads of
thofc (and they are fer, perhaps, the greateft
part of mankind) who, dio ihey would
wtytt.d^ju^ice Ofidhve mercy ^ in compli-
ance ]i¥ith the didates of nature ; would
icrupulouily pradice both in obedience to.

t^^ iTjj|ps of revelatiofliv .

JL • _ ^

-1 QU '^"'^

9je i; E T « E X Xt^.

: Th€:gi96of Qiiripedos canaevtr, in-

pof cd|>civtted by idbc naked charms of vif'^
tue: ca the contrary) nodoiig iieemrmMe
«vi4^^ thiiri tii^ the flBiiemUty of numkm^
m»ft & «„,e«l by fatfBta objcfe, -«««
be wpaght; tipoa liy tibpir hopes, and fears.
And this has been the tcoisftant masdix^
of all the coldsrated ' legiilatws', fromi
the earliefl: eftabliflmient of government,
to this prefent: hour. . it is true, :none
have contended more warmly than 4ie
findentfi for the dignity of human na-
ture, and the natke difpofidcm of the fou)
to be enamored with the bemity of viitue:
but it is equaHy tiiie, ti^ none (lav^more
ftrenuoufly tncnlcated the esrpediMOy oC
fidding the authority of religion to th#
iuggeftionsof lutturC) and maintaining a re^
yeren^e toithc apfXMntedceretnonies of pub^
][ic wprijhip., The ientiraenta of Pydia-;
^qra& (or whcttver Jhe be who was iur
^or of thofe vecfes iihidt pafi under that
philofopher's iiaiKie) are well knomw tipon

this fubjc<ft ;

Many

LETTER XLVL tn

Many indecB ate the anient paflages
winch might be pitducod in fiipport of this
afiertion, if it were oeceffiuy to|m)duce any
pt£kgt^x£ this kind to you» whom I have
& often heard contend for the fame truth
widi all the awakenkig powers of learning
and ebqaence. Sufier me> however, for
the benefit of your acquaintance, to remind
you of one or two, which I do not remem*
ber ^sver to have £een quoted*

Lxvv has reconled a ipeedi of Appius
Claudius Ciafllis, which he noade in oppo^
fition to certain demands of the tribunes.
Thai zealous jfenator warmly arguesagainft
adtilitdng the plebeians into a ihare of the
confiilar dignity } 6am |he poWer of tak*
ing the au/pices being oiigimdlyiandfolely
veiled iil^the patdctaix orden '^ JBut per-*
<< bapa (fay^ Crafius) I ihall be told, that
<< the pdcking of achicken^ &c* i^e triiie$
"«' utiwordiy of fcgacd.:. trifling, howeverr,
« astbde^eremo9U)Kfiiaynowbedeemed:i
<^ it was by dbie ifai& obi^ance of them,
#< that our anceAoi^ raifed thia commonr^
^* wealth to its preikit point of grandeur.*'
Parva fUHt kac : fed farva ifia noncon^
Umnendo^ majores nojlri maximam banc rem

• Q^ feceruntK

tjft LETT E r: xlvi:

jecerunt. Agreably to this principle, the
Roman hiftorian of the life of Alexai&deF»
deicribes that monardi, after having killed
his friend Clitus, as coniidering, in his cool
moments, whether the gods had not perr
mitted him to be guilty of that horrid a£^
in punifhmeht for his irreligious negle£l: of
their facred rites. And Juvenal » imputes
the fource of that torrent of vice whkh
broke in upon the age in which he wrote^
to the general difbelief that prevailed of
the public dodrines of their eftablifhed re-
li^on. Thofe tenets, he tells us, that in-
fluenced the gloridua conduct of the Cuni,
the Scipios, the Fabiicii, and the Catnilli,
were, in his da3rs, fb totally exploded, as
fcarce to be received even by children. It
were well for fome parts of the Chriftian
world, if the lame obfervation n^ght not
with juftice be extended beyond th^ limits
pf antient Rome : and I of^n refie& upon
the very judicious remark. of a great writer
pf the laft century, who takes noticC) ithat
<.' the generality of Chriftendom is novr
f < well-nigh arrived at that fittal condition,
W which immediately preceded the do-

• Sat. U. 149.

4 5^ ftruddofl

LETTER XLVK, «5j

^^ ibu^&m of the worihip of the antieot
<^ world s when the face of religion 49
^^ d]teir public aflemblies, wa& quite difFer-
^< ent fiiom that apprehenfion which ntei)i
^< had concerning it in private."

NoTHiHG^ moft certainly, could Iei$
plead the fiui^on of reaibn, than the gene-r
nd rites of pagan worihip. Weak and ab-
furd> however^ as they were in diemielves,
aiid indeed in the eftimation too of all the
^¥iferfi)rt; yet die more thinking and judi*
dous part, both of their flateimen and phi-
lofophers, unanimpufly concurred in fupr
porting them as iacred and inviolable : we^
perfuaded, np doubt, that religion is thp
.ilrongeft cegient in the great ftrudure of
moral government. I am, &c«

«. . -T.

LETTER XLVn.

2^ C L B O K A.

I LOOK upon every day wherein I have
not ibme communication with my
Cleora, as a day loft ; and I take up my
ppn every afternoon to write to you, as

regularly

aj4 LET TE R XLVU.

regat&rly as I drink my tea, or perfbim any
^e like important article of my life,

I FREQU&KTLY blcls the happy a)t
that alFords me a means of conveying myiHf
to you at this diftance, and, by an eaiy kind
of magic, thus tranlporte me to your par-
lor at a time when I could ncft gain ad-
mittance by any other method* Of all people
in the world, indfied, none are morec^gal
to diis paper commerce, than friends aild
lovers. It is by this they elude, in (bmt
degree, the malevolence of fate, and can
enjoy an intercourfe wiA each other, tha
the Alps thcmfclves ihould rife up between
them. Even this imaginary participatsoii
t)f your focicty is far more? pleadtig to
me, than the real enjoyment of any odier
convcrfation the whole world could fupply^
The truth is, I have loft all relifli for any
but yours j ^nd if I wer? invited to an af'
fembly of all the wits of the Auguftan age,
or all thb heroes that Plutarch has celebrated,
I fhould neither have fpirits nor curiofity tof
be of the party.. Yet with all this itidfh
lence or indifference about nie, I would take
a voyage as far ^ the pole to fup with Cle-r
ora on a lettuce, or only to hold the bowl

while

LETTER XLVIII. 1.35

^vliileihe mixed die fyUabtib. ^ch happy
evenings I once knew t * ah Ckora f wiU
Aey never return ? Adieu.

"•^

LETTER XLVnL

To EUPHRONIUS.

I H Ave red Ae performance yo\i com-
municated to me with all the attention
fan required ; and' I can with flrift fince-
iity apply to your friend's verfes, what an
antient has obierved of the fame number of
Spartans who defended thepailage of Ther-
niopylaB ; nunqtmm vidi pltires trecentos I
t^cver, indeed, was Acre greater energy
of language and fentiment united together
in the fame compafs of lines : and it would
be an injuftice to the world, as well as to
himjfelf, to'iupprefs fb animated and fo ufe«
ful a compolition.

A SATIRIST of true genius, who is
w^urmed by a generous indignation of vice,
and whofe cenfures are conducted by
candor and truth, merits the applaufe of
tvery frieml to virtue. He may be confi-.
^g4 ^s » iprt of fuppleme^t to the iegifr

lativf

:l^6 letter XLVIII.

]ative authority of his country ; as afliftiiig
the unavoidable defeats of ail Iqgal inftttu«-
tions for regulating of manners, and ftrik^
ing terror even where the divine prohibi-
tions rfiemfelve? are held in contempt. The
flrongeft defence, perhaps, againf^ the in-
roads of vice, among the more cultivated
part of our Q)ecies, is well directed ridicule :
they who f(?ar nothing elfe, dread to bp
mark?4 Qut to the contempt; and indigna-
tion pf the world. There is. no fucc^ding
in the fecret purpofes of diihonefiy, with-
out preferring ibme fort of credit among
mankind ; as there cannot exift a more imr
potent creature than a knave convi<^. Tp
expofc, therefore, tjie f^fe pret^nfions of
<:ounteffeit virtue, is to difarna it at once of
all power pf mifchief, and to perform a
public fervice of the moft advantageous
kind, in which any man can employ his
time and his talents. The voice, indeed^
pf an Jioneft fatirift is not only beneficial
to the world, as giving an alarm a^in$
the defigns of aj[\ enemy fo dangeroui^ p}
^11 fbcial inercourfe j but as prpving likp-
wife the moft efficacious preventive, to
others, of affuming the fam? charaftcr of

diftinguiflie^

L fe T T fell - aLVral i-ii-

diftinguilhed infamy. 3Pew arc fo totally
vitiated^ as td have abandoned all feiitl-
ftients bf^&aine; and when every other
principle of integrity is furrendered, we
generally find die conflid is ilill maintained
in this laft poft of retreating virtue. In
^lis: view, therefore, it fhouid feem, the
fiindion of i £itirift may be juftified, nbt-
^thibndiog jit ihould be true (what an ex-«
cellent moralift has ajl&rted) that his* cha-
ili£einents raidfier esai^^^ than reclaim
thofe on whcmith^y faU. Perhaps, no hu«
man pes j3^& are of any moral advantage
to the criminal himfelf : and the principal;
benefit that feems to be derived from civtt
|)uniihnientsx)f any kind» is their retrain-
ing influence upon the conduct of others.

It is not every arni; "however, that \%
qualified to manage this formidable bow*
The arrows of fatire, when they are not.
pointed b^ virtue, as; wc^l :as wit, recoil
upon the hand that diredts them, and
wound none but hifi^ fri)xti whom thte
proceed. 'Accordingly, Horace r^s^tbe
whole fuoceft of writings of this, fort upon
the poet's being Integer ipfe j free himfelf
from tfaof^ immoml ftains which he points
I out

out ia.others. . .There cannQt>. iodeed, be
a more odious^ nor at the fame time a more,
co^pptible chara^ler^ thantkat ofavif
tiq\is fatirift : i .' .

%;V falum tirris mnmifieat & nufn cak^
Si fur difj^iceaP K^riy limkide Wlofi f

• •' . ■ lotF

The tiioft £ivo»bIe l^ht in which a cenlbr
of this fpecies cot^d^ii po£Sbly be i^iewedj
would be that i^^pilldkiktcatiotstfj mho
inflias the pumflimcmt Oft clbeis^^di^
he ha^ already imei&ed himfetfl . But die
truth:ig)f it is, he is not qoafifiedev^n Sot
£> wietdbed kA c^ci; and these k nothings
•& be dreaded fponi a fadrift of' known
dlAionefty, but his applaufe. Adieu.

?? .

.V..-

!i " •*

L E T T E R XLK.

• . - y # * -

' Ta Pa-l'ameoe s*' •

GERBMoMYi jsoiever more ^unwelcome,
Ihan at that feafon in whkh you will
probably have the :greateftfhare oft it 9 and
as I ifaould be extremely . unwilling to add
to. the number of thofe> who, in pure good^

manners*

L.ftT'TER. XtrBC. a3j

I (^ttfe to giy« you my con|p-ittttk^ions
a-,tittk priHoWely. Aftec th^ h^ppy c^
&» ihaU be^comf^ted) your DEMMoents will
^: tt)^ yaluali^jlj^ bc:laid out; in formsj and
}(. would bfhi^j^^g yoaa icodi^Um^t with
a. v«ry Ut gi»i^«;, to draw off y^us-eye^ froixf
the higheft beauty, tho.i^ wereito, tam
them on the moft exquifite wit. I hope,
Eowever, you win give riiie^ timely notice
of your wedding diy, thftt I nJay be pre-
pared with my epithalamiupi.., .1 have al->
ready laid-m-mtfa dozen deiti^?^ extremely
ptopeffdf ,tbQi)^aAotii flj)d &a.V««ven.nK
iflflfie pnjg/fefe^-ipngr fir ft ^nJik. . But I _
4im^hBi)!i at flirJ|pfe ,hftwiJ;o!,p<Ipeei9d», net
Uw^^aWert^-^Wniw^wJbie^^iyottr fatttc«
b«id«iit »^ lifcft\ V#TOs 05 U^e.. Th»t
ike isf f«f9M«? Jk»ll^ i(. uAlvenfeUy i^gree^
I find) l^:liicvfe. who h»ye i«cd bar. fim:
Mit'wiQv^'liie ^fg^ding. yoji. Jsbqw» ag»inft
al^,^ FuW&pf poetical :J»i&CU\tf^AA«Ai
«fl)y 6y fi)« is %s h^dTom^aS'njeis yonngk
si^fiit after sMt per hapa*. ^ tmth may lDi(k
|}^.&« h?^ t^^more b<t«»^.thaa. youj^
{s'jth^ inean .wJNie, I am fearnii^. otter tii
the tandcx c$%f)gi^«nts tl^. jov^ has }ne

ipircd.

ifMred, from the Lefbia of Catullus to did
Chloe of Prior, and hope to gadier fisch a
colledion of floWers as may not be uhwdr«^
thy of entering into a garland compofed
for your Stella. But before you introduce
me as a poet, let me be recommended to
her by a much better title, and aiTure her^
tfaatlamyour^ Sec*

Vm i* II I I ■ ■ • . 1 1 ' • ■ •• - i ■

• ■• , < •:

L E T T E R L. : .

« t * »

I • • # . " , 9

7b EupHRONiirs.

I AM much inclined to jdlti With you-ttl
thinkings that the Ronians had iko pe-^
culiar word in their language^ which an>
fwers preciifely to what we caHgoed^jy
in ours. For tho prudeMra kidted feems
frequently ufed by thek beft writers to exA
prefs that idea, yet it is fiot confined to that
fingle meaning) but is often appfied l^
them to fignify (kill in any particulaf its^
ence. But good-^fenfe is fomethiog very
diftind from knolvledge i and it is an ki^
ilance of the|)overty of die-Latifi languid j
that fhe is obBged to ufe the fdme vmA ii
a mark for two fuch remot€^ ideas. - *

W£Ri:

LETTER L. 241

Were I to explain what I tinderfland
by good-^ienfey I fhould call it right reafon ;
but right rea(bn diat ari&s, not from for*
nial and logical deductions, but from a fort
of intuitive faculty in the ibul, which di*
ftinguifhes by immediate perception : a kind
of innate iagacity, that in many of its pro*
perties feems very much to refcmble in-
ftind. It would be in^roper, therefore,
today, -that Sirlfaac Newton Aiewed his
goodfenfe, by thofe amazing difcoveries
which he made in natural philoibphy : the
operations of this gift of heaven are rathen
inftantaneous, than the refult of any tedious
pFOcefs. Like Diomed, after Minerva had
endowed him with the power of diicenw
ing gods from mortals, the man of good-
frnfe difcovers ^t once the truth of thofe
ebjedls he is moil concerned to diilinguiih;
and conduds himfelf with fuitable caution
smd fecurity.

It is for this reafon, poffibly, that this
quality of the mind is not fb often found
united with learning as one could wiih : for
good-fenie being accuflomed to receive her
discoveries without labor or fludy, fhe can-
not fo eafily wait for thofe truth^^ which

R being

442 L E T T E R U

being placed at a diftance, and lying con^^
cealed under numberlefs cpvers, require
much pains and application to unfold.

But tho good-fenfc is not in the num«
ber, nor always, it muft be owned, in the
company of the fciences ; yet is it {as the
moft fcnfible of poets has juftly obferved)

fairly iloorth the feven.
Reditude of underftanding is indeed the
moft ufefuli as well as the moft noble of hu-^
man endowments, as it is the fovereign
guide and direftor in every branch of civil
and focial intercourfe.

Upon whatever occafion this enlighteD**
ing faculty is exerted, it is always fure to z£k
with diftinguiftied eminence ; but its chief
and peculiar province feems to lie in the
commerce of the world. Accordingly we
may obferve, that thofe who have con-
verfed more with men than with book^
whofe wifdom is derived rather from ex-,
perience than contemplation ; generally pbf-
fefs this happy talent with fuperior perfec-
tion. For good-fenfe, tho it cannot be ac-
quired, may be improved ; and the world*
I believe, will ever be found to afford the
moft kindly foil for its cultivation. .

I KNOW

LETTER LL 24,5

.' 1 KNOW not whether trae good-fenie
is not a more uncommon quality even than
true wit; as there is nothing, perhaps, more
fxtraordinary dian to meet with a perfon^
whofe entire condudt and notions are under
the idiredion of this fupreme guide. The
fingle inilance at leail, which I could pro*
duce of its acting fteddily and inyanably*
throughout the whole of a charaderi is that
which Euphronius, I am fure, would not
allow me to mention : at the fame time>
perhaps, I am rendering my own preten*
fions of this kind extremely queilionable^
when I thus venture to throw before you
my fentiments upon a fubjedt, of which
you are univerfally acknowledged fo perfedt
a mafter. I am, &c.

■alMk

LETTER LL

To Pale MO N.

May 29, 1743.

T E $ T E fi M your lettets in the number of
-*- jny moft- valuable poffeflions, and pre-
ifefvelthem as fo many prophetical ieaves
upon which the fate of Qur diftrafted nation.

R at is

24i|. t E T T fi R LI.

tsMcribfed. Butin exchange for tKe'nfex-
¥rns 6f a patriot, I carf only fend yj^^
Tcries of a reclufe, and give ymihe^ftHiH
if the brook for ihegdtd bfOphir. WS^iSp,
indeed, Palennon, was there acoinm^^
hic^e unequal, th^h thatwhei^in y^'^*e
ttonlented to engage with iiie : ^ dttd ^
coultd fcarce anfwer it to my confcience'fo
fcoritihue a traffic, where the whole benifit
:&fctrti6s fingly to riiyfclf ; did I not ttri6w,
that to confer Vvitheiit the ptoflibaity bf^aii
fdvantage, is the teioft pleafing exert^ 6i
generofity. I will venture then to^m^fee
wfe'of a privilege which I have lorigf dS|6y-
dd J as I Well know you' love to ifiix tSA
meditations of the {Adldfopher with the fc-
fledlions of the ftatefman, and can ' tttrn
with equal relifhfrom the politics of Taci-
tus, to the morals of Seneca.

1 WAS in my garden this morning ibme-
what earlier than ufual, when the fun, as
Milton defcribes 'him,

With wheels yet hovring oer the, ocean brim
Shot parallel to th earth his denxy ray.

• . > ' A f • ••

There -is fbmeth$ig; in «he operiing^fef 'Ac
dawn at thi^ feafe^ of tlie year, dAt* en-
livens

lilMe^ tfee mipd ^Hth.ai'^ of cheg^llibr-
rioKJiie^ and fills it wi^.a ccrjrwn; caUtj
laftu^ in th^.can(ci9ftitwf8-Q€ i^wiift^wJfi,
Foe n?,y: o^ p?ft at le»& tl»5 ri|@«jg,of the,
fun . b^s 1^ fajo}!? ^&pdi on, me^ g&jt. i$ jf^id
toybjuro Had on the.cejgbiatedllstuepf M?-.
nrnon^ mad. Iinevoc obeferve tha( gIom)u&
lutxuaarjL bi^aktog^ fortl^ itha( I do potr
find: or^iblf ihaiOQOOiaod f«f th& wbokt
day. . ■ . ', : ^ -.- .- .-.,.. ::.■ . v

ai\d.t6daqvi^tity..Qf thk.e^lrly ieafon* !vi^.
coafidMmg.tkfi mvay.ma^m Ik^dtujim
inHO&flng up tli^iiS7(ic^% '^^« Whioh.
thfi.pootX^v^ noiw i9»{39tiptv^, teprefents
as:^krtk3»lJirly *dfi«g atithils. boucJnjiB t^
earths grf0t #^f?r ; tcftV>lidi not bpfi leftfiew
it fWjtprfpcipaibliegjagi tll»t I V!$|?;je!ptBih
ingtlipqft a iww day. with bp^^ajid- f|»»^.

Toiawak« M^th fee!wffd;^r% tjipcff^nf-

a^||(^ <^liifft, i5/aiBi§JEpy iq geQ?ral|jt di^
peflfei tl^l it p^^; like o^r 4e ordi-
nary IpQHfltifi* of ip«)fi^gnc§» without fB^

to ?}fq U8d^ ^i»fe :tiffilQ5 <af <;wmft««w!8»
who (to ufe thft^l^^Mfigp ofthsimo&pth:

. R 3 thetic

a

t^6 LET TTE R. LI.'

Aetic of authors) whieii thdy faid, My ted -
Jhall c$mjhrt me, my cdtabjhall eaje my com'-
plaint y were, like him) full of to^ngs-to^
and frOy unto the da'wmng of the dayy or
feared nvith dreams y and terrified thro vifions
—were one to confider, I fay, how* many
pafs their nights in all the horrors cf a dif^
turbed imagination, or all the wakefuinefs
of real pains, one could not find one's fe^
exempt from fuch uneafy (lumbers or fuch . ^
torible vigils, without double fatisik&ion
arid gratitude. Therci is nothing, indeed,
contributes more to render a man content* -
ed with' that draught of life which is pour-
ed out to himfelf, thail Aus to reflect on
thofe moire bitter ingredients .which are -
fotoetimes* mingled in-thecup of others.

4N''^rfuing the femev^in icif liiQvfght
I Gbuld not but congratulj[te myfelf, that
I had nppart in that turbulent drama wMeh '
was going to be re-a<fted upon the>^rfeat •
ftage of the' world ; and rejoiced thdt it
was my fortune to ftand a- diftant arid un--
engaged 'fpe^tor of thoie ieveral ckara*
ders that would (hortjy fill the {ctn^^ ♦ This '
fuggeited>>to my remembrance a pafiage
in flhc Roman t:ragic ppdt, where be de-

— » '* ferilpes

LETTER LI. 247

jfa^bes the various purfuits of the bqfy and
ambitious world, in very juft and lively
colors;

Skfuperbos additus regum
Durafque fores ^ expersfomni^
Colit : Hie nuUoJine beatus
Componit opes, gazis ink' am,
Et congejlo pauper in auro ejl.
Ilium populifa^oor attonitum,
FluSiuque tnagis mobili vulgus,
jiura tumidum tollitinani.
Hie clamofi rabiofafori
yurgia 'vendens improbus, iras
Et verba heat.

and I could not forbear faying to myfelf,
in the language of the fame author^

me me a tellus
Larefeereto tutoque tegat!

Yet this circumftance, which your friend
confiders as fo valuable a privilege, has been
efteemed by others as the moft fevere of
affliiSions. The celebrated count de Buffy
Rabutin has written a little treatife, where-
in, after having fliewn that the greateft
^men upon the ftage of the world are ge-

R 4 nerallj

hS letter LI.

nerally die mofl unhappy^ he clofes di^
account by producing himfelf asaii iaftaAice
of the truth of what he had been advaQ->
cing. But can you guefs Palemon, what
this terrible difaftcr was, which, thus
endtled him to rank among thefe un-
fortunate heroes? He had compofed, it
feems, certain fadrical pieces which gave
offence to Louis the XlVth. for which
reafon that monarch banifhed him from
the flavery and dependance of a court, to
live in eafe and freedom at his country
houfe. But the world had taken too flrong
poiTeflibn of" his heart, to fufier him to
leave even the worft part of it without re-
lu<5tance; and> like the patriarch'^ wife, he
looked back with regret upon the icenc
from which he was kindly driven, tho there
was hothing in the profpeft but flames.
Adieu.

L £ T-

- r H9 ]

9

9

.%■ & T t E R LJI,

• * - • '

^ Eu f> H R O * I U S.

Qt^RW.Y, Buf^hromus, tl» fpirit of ciitin !
1I3 dfm has fl^MgcIy poi^ffi^^ Wow.
cifi^could; you be wilUng t9 ftqp afideib qf?
t^ fro^a diQ amuiibments^ of the gaycft
fcent^, in order to examine witlji me cer«
UuA beauties far other than thofe whidi luC:
p^nt^k alight be imagined, would whoUy^
engage your atteation ? Who, indeed, ^h^t,
fees, my friend over- night fuppgrting tj»;.
vivacity of the naoft fjprightly aflemUiesi
woald expedl to find. hum the next morn-
ing gravely poring, over antiquated Grecl^, ^
and Wfj^ing: the merits of antient andr
n»dern geniufes ? But I have long s^dmir;
red you as an elegant fpeSatorformarum^
in every f^njfe of the e^glHon : and you
can turnx I know, from the charms of
beauty, to thofe oC wit, with the fame re^
fincment of tafte and rapture. | may v^a- .
ti^ie therefp^e to refuifi? 5>ur critical corre-
ipp^ejorce.without th$ fof in of an apdo^i
as it is ^ Jin^ular chi^^i^er of Euphrp-
,/ nius.

250 L E T T E R LIL

nius, to reconcile the philofopher widi the
man of the worlds ^nd judicioufly divide
his hours between aftion and retirement.

What has been faid of a celebrated
French tranflator, may with equal juftice
be applied to Mr. Pope, " that it is doubt-
** ful whether the dead or the living are
<* moft obliged to him/' His tranflations'
of Homer, and imitations of Horace, have
introduced to the acquaintance of the Eng-
lifh reader, two of fiie moft coniiderable *
authors^ in all * antiquity : as indeed they :
are Aqual to the credit of lb many original
works, A man muft have a very confider-
ableihare of the different fpirit which di-
ftinguiflies thofe moft admirable poets, who
is capable of reprcfenting in his own lan-
guage, fo true an image of their reipeflive
manners. If we look no farther than thcfe
works themfelves, without confidering them
with refpeft to any attempts of the fame •
nature which hav* been made by others^
we fhall have fufficient reaibn to efteem
them for their own. intrinfic merit. But
how will this uncommon genius rife in our
admiration, when we compare his claffica!
tranflations with thofe fimilar performances,

which

whidi haVc cmjrfoyed foirfe of the moft •
celebrated of our poets ? I have lately betn *
tumine: over the Iliad with ^s view : . and *
perhaps, itwillbenounentcrtaining amufe-
mcnt to you, to examine^ rfie fcveral copies ^
which I have coHcfted of the original, as ;
taken by fbnie of the moft confiderable of -
our Englifh mafters. To fingle them out *
for this purpofe according to the order of.
the particular books^ or pairages;VupoQ"
whidi they, have relpedlively exercifed their ,
pencils 5 the pretcpfions of Mr.Tickel ftand ::
firft to be examined. »

The adlion of the Iliad opens, you know,
with the fpeech of Chryies, whofe daugh-
ter, having been taken captive by the Gre-
cians, was allotted to Agamemnon. This
venerable prieft of Apollo isrieprcfented as ^
addrefling himfelf to the Grecian chiefs, -
in the following pathetic fimplicity of
eloquence :

At^« J'ou «, XGU aAAo/ tv^vvtfjCi^ti A^cuoi^
J^\fi\^S^)VOi Aioi tfcrv tTcvSohav AToAAwya. i* I/*

Great

And rich i$i,gfith(^i^hX<k^3f^reUim^i

Jtnd'nesirence dvf ^a great j^lkfimf ,
Jev^j(/imTit(^(gsftKing^Urnl>k. rn'mr*. .

J I I t i > « I * 1 J „ V ^

' . J *.

» ♦

-if < r

AJ i. * -

Thae affeftinff tendernefe of "the fether. "
whreK Honrcr'hai marked otft Ijy the me- '
lahchol3r flow of^ the Ifaie, as^ welPaS by thfc/
endearing expreflion of

^ 4 Jt.

is %klre]y loft 'iw Mr, Jickei. WEeh"
Cnry|bs cbjdly mejiti<3ins Ijis.daijgKte^^ with-
out a fihgle '.epithet of concecA ofr afFe^oiji.
hd leems much too mdiflerent hinifelf to
move the audience in his favor. But tnej
whole pailage as it ftands in Mr. Fop^s '
Iliad, is in g<qneralanin}^ed with afar mpfic
lively i^irifot fQ^try. Wj;'^ 'c^ obj^ry^-
the.mpving^gpft^r% of f^pp^catipn in whk^. .
he . has drawn • vthe . yen^ca^lf, q14 pncftx . .
i^retchjng Q»:^..W*. arms i^ ^jl tfe§ affei^s .

t E T T E R Xn. tf^

ifig iprtoiblii of in^raaiy, ^ndiciut (hu^gift
Ins diibfeft, iaiidindtmg ifito<pity ? '

• * *

Te kings and warriors ! may your *wwi $e

' cr$wn u^
jind^rofs prmid waib lie kvelwtbiiKgrdund:
-May Jvw t^weym iiAenp^ ttHs ure V^,
Sajfe H(f Hbe pkisi^esif ymtr m^ :

But^ oh! retiepe a fwretdfed" parent' s fdin^
And gpoe Cbryfeis to tbrfe arms again.
Ifmertyfail^ yet Jet my promts movey
And dread avenging Pbabusy fon of Jc^e,

«

The infinuation wIA which Chryfes clofes
his ipeech, that the Grecians muft expe(ft
the indignation of Apollo would purfue
diem if* they rejeSed the petition of his
priell, is* happily intimated by a'fingle epi-
thet:

» # • * • •

And dread avenging Ph^bus.

vHmpsoib tihe i^ther^ trai^tor takes the com^--
pais of; three lines to es^cefs the ^ fame
thoo^iHIefs flrongly.

^^^"V^^ENrthe her-alds are fent -by • Agame-.

mnon to Achilles, in order to dpmanid Bri-

fcis i mat chidf is prevailed uipon to part

■'''^ with

^S4 LETTER LII.

.vridbhcr: and accqrdio^y dkedb. Patroclul
to deliver up.this contcAedrbeaut}r» Jhto
their hands y . , r . .

- * • ■

The beauty of' Brifeis as deicribed in thefe
lines, together with the reludtance with
which fhe is her0 reprefented as forced from
her lord, cannot but touch the reader in a
very fenfible manner. Mr. Tickel, how-
ever, ha$ debafed this aiFedting pidurCj^ by.
the moil unpdatical and familiar didtion,.
I will not delay you with making my ob-
jedlions in form to his language ; but have.
. diftinguiftied the exceptionable expreflibns,
in the lines themefelves : '

Patroclus his dear friend oblig^dy

And u{her*d in the l^ely wiping maid; '
Sore iigh*d (ticy m the heralds took her band^
jihd oft looKd backy Jhw moving o£r the
Jirand. Tickel;

Our Britifli Homer has reftored this plec^ to
its briginal grace and delicacy :

patroclus

\i

LETTER Ln. 155

Ihttrocbis now tif utrmlling beauty Brought :
Sbty in fofi forrowSy and in penjvoe thought^
PafidfiUrttj as the heralds held her band^
And g// hok'd backy Jlow moving o'er the

ftrand. Pope*

•

Tk£ tamultuous behavior of Achilles,
as deicribed by Honier in the lines imme^^
diately' following, afibrd a very pieafing and
natural contraft to the more compojfed and
filent forrow of Brifeis. The poet reprcfents
that hero as fuddenly rufhing out from his
tent, iand flying to the fea-fhore, where he
gives vent to his indignation \ and in bitter-
nefs of foul complains to Thetis, pot only of
the difhonor brought upon, him by Agame-
mnon, but pf the injjuftice even of Jupiter
himfelf :

^ax^vcra^ era^coy afa^ s^slcu yoa-tpi /accSreiSy ]
Qiv B(p aAa$ TsroXifi^ o^ooop €7ri oivoirct ttovIov.

ywi. &c* i. 348.

Mr. Tickel, in rendering the fenfe of thefe
Unes, has rifen into a fomewhat higher flight
rf |)Oetry than ufuaL However, you v^ill .

obierve

4

xs^ L E T T E R LII.

€iy(brvc Kis e9^e€k>ii in ote ortwoftmie^
i$ exc^e^mgty la^gukl and prail^^ as die
epidiet l;ie has ^v«a to the wav,e$ ts highly
iojueiicious.

Tfe 'Widow d berOy when the fair was gone, ^
P^fram bis frinds fotitttid in tdan^ oBne.
On the eoU. ^eacb befatey and fixdHrjeya :
Where y iikck mthftormsy the- ouding fapJlcmss

rife.
4fA9d as tbefia wide-roUit^ befumxfd
With pta-firetdid arms to his fond moflher

pFay'd. TiCKEX.

Curling hifbms might be very prqper in de-
fcrlbing a calm, but luggefts too pleafing aa
image to be applied to the ocean when
rcprefented as black with forms. Mr. Pope
has opened the thought in thefe lines with
great dignity of numbers, and exquifite pro-
priety of imagination ; gs . the additional
ciitumftances -he has thrown in, are fo
many beautiful improvenients upon Jijs

author :

*

Notfo bis lofs tbe fierce Achilles Vore :
But fod retiring to tbe founding fiorey
O'er the -wild margin of tbe deip be bungy
^Sbat kindred deep jrom ^sMtb "bit mdfer

^mng:

. ^Shen

72iM hoBid in tears $faf^ and dijMn^
llms kiid lamented t9}tbeftotntf main. Pops.

. Apollo haviz^ (ent a plague among die
Grecians, in reiibntment of the injury done
to his prieft Chiyfes hf detaining his daugh^
ter ; Agameomoa oonfcats that Chryfels
ihall 1^ reftored. Accordingly a (hip is
fitted out under the command of Ulyfles^
who is employed to conduA the damiel
to her £ither. That hero and his compa->
nions b^g arrived at Chryfii, the place to
which iStiCf were bound, deliver up their
charge ; and having petfbmied a £icrifice
to Apollo, iet fail early the next morning
for tibe Grecian camp. Upon this occafion
Hoflicr exhibits to us a moft beautiful fea-^
piece:- -

Ati roTi Kotjjiifcctyro <a^. ^m^vfjiVi/Kria vn9^

Kou TcrrtTCiravaSoflo fjJia <r^ov evovv Plx^oim^
Toitriv J^' iTLySfm b^v lei €xafgy<^ A^oAAcur*

By J^' avtfJLOi ttr^nciv f^cov u^iowj Ofiipi i^xuftm

H i^' iScir xiilm xyfm S^Tfn^&a hm/oAAcu

S If

If thdre ia my )fsSfgl» t|»nx)^««(tN6uTidk«

leaft pretence to. ftand in competition with
Mr. rope's ve?6o» l ' ir isr uyidonfittdi)!: Aat
whicli: correfponds " wfih At* Gjed: Ifoes
juft-now quoted, ft w<3ttli4 ifldeed'.'lje arr
inftance of grear partJ&iJiy, ftor td-fl(^6Wr
ledge, ,they^ breaths the .tWief, i|)1fit-bf po-
etiy 3 and I muft o Wlf iflyfelf at ■«•' lot^^/s^df
to prefer upon thfe' .^de j drq F t^k

j^f ev^nmg^ thro the /pore^jff>^s at

nufh!d Byjhe dtlfanfroahngUf^^

When now, amending ff»m tB^J^euki'^nigk:^.

Aurora glow'd tn all her rofy tighf.

The daughter of the daiun : th' awaken' d'crh>

Ba^ t^tbeGreeJu^ncan^tbeir cwrJereiieuM,

The, hmsoi.fkeffm': ^ pithfn^«4i^gaks

ApolkfmeKd their wul^dijendedfafh i

Gkjf ^ ike rafiAprm tievmxs MvUe^

Aid:itk.bmrft nairmurs.breakoti^ithetrjde.

■^ w > %

».• V*

'Tnv^n^ki the 4ftfsr^0i^ji)ek y^fUM,-

L E T T E K> tXh jTf^

SufffyH iy Pixebus, fU the fvoeltittg fails }
The. Ofili-vfiite ainvas bellying as tbey ^hnv^
^iMM^ti odiiift fodJ^ androids behns :
Move' f hi hiiftding bUlvds fiAji ibeyfiptty

There is fomething wonddifvlijr pleafin|[
in that judicious paufe, which Mr. Pope
hae piiteed &t the begihi^ifig of tliefe tjiAet^
K heeeflkrily iHirftfeens the attehtioh of (hd
re)l3fcf tmd gives i ihuotl greater flir of f^
lemnity to the fcfene, than if the ctfcuiti**
fbrfce ti the dine had been lefs diftindtly
pointed out, and ^lepded> as in Mr. Tickel^g
tfanflatipny with the reft of the defcription*
HoMer has been celebrated by an-
tiquity, for thofe Aitlinie images of thfi
iupteme being, wliich he fb often raifes in
the Iliad. It is Macrobius, if I remember
right, who informs lis, that Phidias being
afked ii^cbi ^hekcte \k took tl^ ideft of Ei§
odebrvted ibtue of Olyinpian Jupi^r, 2t^
knowle^id that hehcd heated his.im&i!
^(xnatiotx' by thd ibUowing lines i

••-'-- S a Kpctloj

%60 LET TER UI.

But whatever magnificence of Imagery Phi-
dias might difcover in the original ; . the
Englifh reader will fcarcc, I imagine, con-
ceive any thing very grand andfublimefroml
the following copy : .

TbisJaiJ, his kingfy brow tbejire inclhid^ '
T^f large black curls fell awful from bebin4^
^[bickjhad&wing theJlemfprebeadcftbego4:
Olympus trembled at th\ almgbty nod.

t ,.. ■ *, Jt ICK£L»-'

That our modern ftatuaries, however, may
not have an excufe for bjurlefquing the fi-
gure of the great father of godd and men,
for want of the benefit of fb animating a
model ; Mr. Pope has preferVed it for them
in all its original majefly :

Hejpoke^ and awful bends bis fable brows ;
Shakes his ambrbfal curls and gives, the nody
^Cbefiamp of fate ^ andfanSion of the god:
High heav'n vfith trembling the dfeadfignal

tOOky ' '

jind all Olympus to the centre fhook. Pope.

I'fooK

LETTER Lit tSi

' .: I: TOOK occafioA in a fermer letter, to
make ibme excepticMis to a p$dS£kge or two
in the parting of He£tor and Andromachc^i^
as tranflated by your favorite poet* I (hall
How produce a few lines from the iam^
beautiful cpifode for another purpofe, and
in order to £he w, with how much more
mafterly a hand, even than Dryden himfelf,
oar great improver of Englifh poetry has
worked upon die fymi^ fubjedt;.

As Andromache is going to the tower of
Ilion, in order to take a view of the field
of battle, Hedtor meets her, together with
her foil the. young Aftyanax, at the Scaean
gate. The circumftances of this fudden
interview are finely imagined. Heftor in
the firft tranfport of his joy is unable to
titter a fingle word, at the fame time that
Andromache tenderly embracinghis hands^
buHls out into a flood of tears :

" ' * vi, 404.•

Dryden hat tranflated diis pafiiige widi i
% -r 8 3 «i. cold

^ ^ p T f 5 ir w.

^i^^r ^ebeU him loifh aj^en^ fmUa^
Wtis tender mfe Jfeo(( yje^/^ ^ /be wBU^
^refid in het (nvon kis warliMe ban4lhe iooj^
^(^J$t^di <m4 tivi ^Oj^heticalh pqke.

Jew j^itkxMl to^«(, Huis v^xMi^t k up
in ^1 the »9e4U|i^ i^k. §S Dm4eril^ «id

i'/i^ff/ the 'Warrior fm^4^ andplMi4 refi^ii^
"^0 tender pajj^om all his mighty mind;
'Hh k^auteotU frinceff cajl a mvrr^i^ Iqo]^^.
Hun^ on his hmd^ and then deje^ed^Qka^,
Hir hofom labored '^th a hodin^Ji^^
Jnd the ^ij^ Uar J^oq4 tr/ffhJit^ in i(e^ ^e^

fiiade H^&fv to take v]^ hitoi^the di6r
fence ^f t|^«. ei^ fnd p^ hfW^ ^)^^ ^*
im^ortaot, Ifhe tells him, to herielf and his

' (pn^t in the i^ore dangerous a^oa of the
idd: ■'.''■ •• *' • ".'^

X!ETT^Tir.UI .443

H Xott gftW TfltJ'6 TaiflcE /*6A«, ,i(ltpj(t* .iptAA*

■.>«A'-^»'^.. .■;. \.... v; ■■_ ^
Ai-f iofjiOM T^as xau T^muI^«, ?AK£tf«ir«ArAK,

■■-•\\; '^ ■:■.■■ yi'440.

Vb^jthom the noble HeStor thus rep^'d:
IFhat and tie rejlare-inn^ dai'
SutjhouW Ijkunihe Mangers. 0}
TpTthfco^nthelTro^dm woajf rrw
^(/ t^ir proui'laMei witbti

irmns.
7l>e Grecian fwords and iancei J cafitear\
B^f lojs ^ honor fs f^ojth <^'^^^' L pR Yp.

iiHmdi«i«tijnca.: <abefflay % ttpbndiis .

k fkb mon; like banJttfUn %4ull(xflfl&Btkai.
dnaoi'likdead caroatfe jiMuld fae'to'ltis lir-

taf^J^Qgliih verGon, ieems to have been 4
privilege referved fi?lely, for Pope ;

tigr-fkai sh/iet but (flltbe icorks of war.
^ S 4 Urn

%i4 x:ett^r; ur.

Hmvatld the fins af^Tcy, in arms rt'

■ ■^ nbwn'dy

Jnd "Trvfs proud damet, ivb^fe garments

fweep the gri^mdt
jittaint tbi luftre'sfmfjhrmermmty.
Should HeShr haftly ^t the jieUs offamet

■ .■■:■.■,■■ -PopK.

profecution of diis epjfode
cs his own dcadi, and die
Troy; to which he adds,
ic ihould be led captive in-
to ArgoSj where, among other difgraceful
offices which be particularly eiiuine;ates,
/he ihould be employed, he telU her, in die
; fefvilc taflc of drrn^ng water. The dif-
fcrefit manner in v^dch.this lsft||circum-
iUncc is: e^prcfled by our.twQEng^ poett,
.will a^d tbeiftrongeft inftance, how i^iudi
addition^ force the famie thoi^ibt Wl re-
OQive.frQm a more graceful (urn of .pbraft :
Cr-^om deep weik the thing ftream to Mif.
And flff tby 'weary Jhoiddirs bring if back. >

er bring
fbe weight of *«er« Jto« Hfpm-ta'sjprif^,

LETTER LH. 1*5

It k in cert^ peculiar turns of d^on
>ditt the HQgmige :of po^ is princely
d^ingttifiied firotn ^ttt of profe ; asindeed
ihe fiane v^ords arc;, in ^neral, common to
^m both* It is in a turn of this kind^
iiut the beau^ of the 1^ quoted line con-
fifts. For the, vrhole grace of the exprei^
fion would vanifli, ii^ inftcad of the two
fiibftanthres which are placed at the be^«
ing of die Verfe, the poet had employed
the 'more common fyntax of a fubftantive
with Its adje<?fivc. . ^ .

When this faidiful pair have taken thqr
final atficu of Mch othef ; Hedor returns to
Ac field of battle, at the lame time that this
diiconfolate Andromache joins her mddens
in the pdKd Homer def^fibes this circum-*
ftance ini tb<^ following tender manner : "■

. Al^CC ^' ^TTfib' l^MVB i^OfiAH ^ fCUelctOvlM

'EtcIo^qs .ay(f^o(povaio* xi^jffUFCilo S^'ivi'o^i ttoAAo^

I will make no remarks upon the different

fuccefs

^ L E 1! T E K tit.

Jiitng this f a^igeij b(it,.«fteti|i!t»iiig-KM
!))a6i;beib(ejwi, kn« dMir AiAMtli ^sik
(ibrtfauniciviib 'i^^tftiihU,4tl&d^«ily
,l»dlrcciiithemntniidino*ifiblt'e»reqidfc
-any 0GmineDt';o'4dida> it iti^«t>ftivdM8 ;
; ■',:■■■ ..,.- 3;;: -.1 'i . '.'i

Ucre/liiilxlmi m4^r,^4mg,
:i^viji bfr h^-fitiff^'^ .

fie came, terfeg^tt Ifd'.M ^"th
4»iMi,tbt ta/ife^ fiiitt,ifn iai/l Ifo^ati.
'ne/e Imd hmiifs ,hr ^btaf^ffuidffnfiaji,
j^^U'Sor, }et.iii«e, (Uflui-^jlfl^. ■.'.:

' ,, :■ '■••;1 . \ n.- ..Ji*^^"l-

~^ba .haaingfiSd^ Megtiniui^iAiifrtfimet
His.tm'jyirimei^: blackw^jluttdmgfktmei^
His princefs parts tjoitb a prophetic Jigb,
^^i^tewUHng f*r*ti, «*«(/ c^ reverie bir^,
thettjheunidM tv'ry look : then jno^mngjlow,
Soagbt ter &vettpaface, andhidal^d^f w^.
'There, vM&her tears depbr*iilhe^odKk£ vtan^
"^hTi oil the irairHiieJoft infeSliort ran i '
The pious maids'ibeir mingled Jhrrow fied^'
■ \ibd nmm the living ffefhr fit the dead.

Pops.

X JE T T B I 2Ln. Z^

/ A« I pnrpoft :to. ibUoir Mr» Pope tfarb
d^ofeftKiHsal piMrtSi^tibejBJIid, idseir a^
our diftinguiihed poets have gone before
ftim } I mull kji^d yos. op lill ^e'dome to
ISM ^pet(^ i^ Swfc^ intbQ

yu* Book.

T^ wy ^i;' Auxiotri /^sra 'prgoToicriy UiVTUff^
l^w J^{$fJLfrfi^ ^dt^ %vi^^ e(pe<t'(t^ly ^cuyxroio'

TIu» fpiHted ^Mch hat been tra|i4»t«i by
die iaxaom author c£ Cooper's HUl : ■ -■ t

. ^^^{ipw ^^ refiimfy is ourpalnfi aniptnaV £
. ihirjhfihi ourb^y and mr pqfej^ms mareS
Why att the trtlnaes land and fea.qffirdsy. :
Heafd in great charger s^ load ourfumptuous

boards?
Our chearfulguejis carmje thefparkUng fear^s
Qfthe rich grape ^nphtlfimuj^c^^
Whj^ as wepafs^ do thofe on Xantbusjhorr
As gods heboid us^ and as gods adore f !^
Sfit thaty as 'Well in danger as degree y
We jlahd the Jirfi : that when our Lycians fee
Our brave examples y they admiring fay y ^
Behold our gallant leaders Tihefe are they . ^
• jyeferve their greatmfs V andunenvydfianL
Since what they d£i tranjtends whaf wpy

^command*
Ould the declining of this f ate ^ oblfrtendy
Our date to immortality extend^ . *

Or if death fought mtthemy whojefknk^atby
Would J advanced or Jhould my vainer. breath
Wtthfuch <? glorious, folly thef injpire ? ^
But f nee voith fortune natiife.doth conj^irfi
Since agCy difeafe^ orfome lefs noble endy j
^tho not lefs cert din y ' does our days attend;

Since

4.

LETTER LIL 269

SSMi 'tis decreed^ and to ibis period lead
Atbotifimdwai^j tl^.noUeJifatb ^11 tread i
jhidhravtfy orsy till tbey^ or we; or all
A conimM facrifoe to bomr fall.

Denham.

*

Mr. Pope paflcs fo high an encomium
oh thefe lines, as to aiTure us, that, if his
tranilation of the fame paiTage has any ipi-
lit, it is in fome degree due to them. It
is certain they have great merit, confidering
^e ftate of our Englifh verfification when
Denham floriflied: but diey will by no
means lupport Mr. Pope's compliment, any
more than they will bear to ftand in compe-
tition with his numbers. And I dare lay,
you will join with me in the fame opinion,
when yoii confider the following verfion of
this animated ipeech ;

Wiy boajl nve^ Glaucus^ our extended reign^
Where Xanthui Jir earns enrich the Lyian

. flaini
Ournunitom herds that range thefruitfalfield^
AndhillsnthereviMstbeirfurpleharveJiyieldf
Our foaming howk naitbpurerneBar crowridy.
Our ffafis enhanced with mtifics j^ightly
foundt

Wbf

276 LETT E R: UI.

Why an tb^ftfons ate 'on nf^ }&f^JufH:f9j^J^
j^bmf'd M berUSf Midatgoh Aifdf \ ^
Unlefs gfwtyiSs fupmif fherk ptynmy:
And vindicati the bmkmni powirs 4Anr# | .
^Pbat ^htn mtb wondring eyes our martial

bands ^

Behold our deeds tranjcending our commands^
Sucby the^ may crfy defer'oe the fov^ reign Jia(e^
Whom tbofe that envy dare not imitate.
Could att our care elude the gloomy grave,
Which claims Halefs the fiarful than the brave f
Por lujl f^fame Ijhotdd not vainly dan
In fighting ^etds^ nor urge thy foul t$ war.
Butfince, alas f ignoble age mufi Come^
Difeafey and death* s inexorable doom i
^e Itjey which others pay^* let us befioWy
jdnd give to fame what me, to^ native owe >
Brave tho isie folly and honor^ d if we live^
Or let us glory gain, or glory give,

r
• » ■« •

t ■ ' » *

% ••»* •* «!■«.. .^t**

If any thing c&n b^ juftly^ot^A^ted to
t^is tmnflaKbfi,^ it is, peVhiip$> that in on^
6r two pktee& it is too diffik&d itctd ddfefl-
ptive for that agttMioft Hat ii^hieh it wH^
^oken. In general, h»>^nerai(^<me may
ture to afTert, that it is warm'ed with the

fame

LiBT.TE R. LII. ayt

fiune «r4Ar of pMtry and heioifin diM
gl0iv» m. the oik;b4L ;. aif thoie kytrA
thou^ai Wlii(^ AfTirPof^ has intcrinittA
of his own, naturally arife^out of the
fendmenla of hii mtAwty aod are.perfe^jr
conforno^bfe'i'atfap chaftAer and ciitum^^^
flance^of the*4'cakcr.

I SHALL clofe this review with Mr.
iSmptw'i wB<* has ffairrflatcd Ac petStlbrt
of Priam to Achilles £at tSic bodjr of hisf
£)n Hedioc^ togpther with the lamentaijloiis
of Aodrqns^he^ Hecuha,^ and Helen.

«\|iPM£K? ispcefents die .unfortunate king
01 Troy/ as entering unohf^rved into . die
te^tof AckiUos; tndUluftcat^s thefurprtflie
wJu^ arofe in that chief andhis attendants,
upon the firft diicovery of Priam, by the

9iiicL -TMixTuavaSj oK^cbv e^iyc^a' d^uovy

Nododag' 1^ b« Q)Qre UQg^id and inele-?.
^V than jhe maf^i^r in .which' Con|^eve,
hasjrcjEKfcreH t^sijpf^

t But

t ♦ - ■»

i7a t fi T T £ R Ln.

But as a ntn'etcby ^bo has a murder derUf

Andfeeking refuge^, does Jrtm juftice run%

Entering fome bwfi^ in ha/ie^ 'wbere be*s uu^

i knowSf

Creates amazement in tie lookers on:

So did Acbittes gaze^ furpri^d to fee

The godlike Priam* s royal m^ery. Cong. :

But Pope has ralfed the fione thought withi
his ufual grace and ipiiit :

As when a wretch^ nobo^ confciotis efbis crime ^
Purfu'dfor murder^ fies bvs native cUme. '
yuft gains fome frontier^ bre^bkfs^ pijde,
amati^dl ^ ^' ' '

All gaze, all wonder : tbtts JkbiBes gltz% '

• ■i

The ipeech of Priam is iMrc«|dc«fiiUf*
pathetic and afie<3ing. He tells Achilles^,
that out of fifty fons, he had one only tt^^
njiaining ; and of him he was now unhappi-
ly bereaved by his fword. He conjures him'
by his tendernefs for his own father, to com-
miferate the moft wretched of parents i
who, by an uncommon feterity oi? fate,
was thus obliged to kifs thofe h^tls whidi^
were imbrued in the blood of his children r

.4

t £ T t E R m. a73

AAA eui^eto S^t^> A^iXbu^ avrov r eXe^crovy

£tX»v <f^*, 01 &rr» nris €iri^9Vio9 fi^olos ctAAo$,
Avif'^oi "sraui^otpoyoiQ 'Sroli ^ofia ^€ip o^^yeS^i^m

V. 50 c

These moving lines Mr. Cpiigreye has
debafed into the lowcft and n^ft unaffed-
- ingprofc:

For bis fake mty t am hith& cifne i
Rich gifts Ibrir^^ dndwedltbf an endlefsfum ;
jSIt to redeem that fatal prize you won^
Awortblejs rattfom for fo bra'-Je afon.
Fear tbejuft gods^ Achilles^ and on me
fFitb pity look^ tbink^ you pur father fee :
Sucb ds I amy be is j alorie in this
i can no equal have irt miferies ;
Of all mankind mofi wretched and fqrlorney
Bow'dwithjuch weight as never has been borne $
'Reduddto kneel and pray toyou^frt^m .iiobom
The fpringxmd fourcc xfall my forr(mscme\
With gifts to court mine and my country* s

V bane^ . , .; -
, Aftd kifs thofe hands which have my children
Jlain. '. CoNGiiEVE.

* T^ Nothing

«

m.

274 t fe t t fi R Lit.

Nothing could compenfkte the trouble of
laboring thro thcfe hjcavy and tafteteis
rhimes, but the ple^re of being relieved
at the end of them with a more lively pro-
i^dl of poetry:

/V bim tbrA bcfiile camps I bent my imy^
For hifff thus proflrate at Jh feet I idy y
JLarge gifts proportion^ d to thy wrath TBear\
O hear the wretched^ and the gods revere f
Think of ti^ father^ ^ofid^thisfitKjf bddii
&ee him-mme^ as h^pkjf atU as Ml
Tho mt/a v^neteked^ titers, be yiddsto nte^
Thefrft ^mm ififm^reign mifery^
Tbusfsrc^dto Jmitk thus gfw'Iing to emirate
Tbe/ivurge isndruin of my realm and ram
Suffliant my children" sipurd^rer to i^mf^lfin;,
And kifs tbeips bands yet; reeking with tbetr
goke. Pope.

Achilles hatdng at ieo^ coitfyatsd
to reftore die deadixidj^ of HefUur, Priatti
conducts k to his pakc6. It is there pbddd
in funeral pompj at the fame time that
mour^M dirges are fung over the c^oBp&j
intermmgfed with the lamentation^of An-
dromache, Hecuba> and Helen :

TOI!

LETTER UL ijs

Qpnv^v cfotp^Hf, otre <!^v6ed^xv' d^if^t^ * v.

lli^CBe is ibmethiog, extremely fblamBva«i
affefting in Hpmef*s defcriptioft of this
fcene. of Ibrrow : a tranflator, . wjip \y^s
toudicd with fhfe Icaft ^ark of* poetry,
could not, one fhould imagine, but rife bc-
yo&d hsmielf, iii c^opyil^g aftei^ fo nohi^ an
oci^ijaaL It has not, hawevei? beeoa^Jd
to elevate Mx. Cotipt^m abovfe bjs. wft»a|
of iwso&ef 8: ;; .

then Jdt(t
' /iP//^ care the body ondprri^tuoui iedy
And round about wefej^iljut-fingersfhtdd^ '
Who wept andJtgh'dyaHdin fad wtesexprefs\i
ftheir moan : ^// in a C&oruf dtd^agree *
Ofumverfaly mournful hdrmdhy^

CdNdkEVE*

It would be the higheft injuftice to the
following lines to quote them in oppofition
to thofe of Mr. Congreve : I produce
them, as marked with a vein of poetry
much fuperior even to the original :

•> T :i "They

kfi LE T rfi R LIT.

V^:'iVfep, and place bim on a bedofJiaU^
A melarmoh choir attend around
Witkphinttve^fighs and mufics folemn found t
Alternately tbeyjing^ alternate Jhw
5^' obedient tears^ melodious in their woe 5
While deeper forrmi groan from each full

hearty ^
And nature fpeaks 4t e^ery paufe ofkrt.

Pope.

- Thus, Euphronitis, I have brought be<<^
fore you lomc of the moft renowned of our
British bards, contending) as it were, for
the prize of poetry : and there can be no
debate to whom it juftly belongs. Mr. Pope
feems/ indeed/ to have raifed our numbers
to the hi^heft poffibje perfcdion of ftrength
and harmony: And, I fear, all the praiie
that the beil iucceeding poets can exped,
as to their veriification, will be, that they
have happily imitated his manner. I am,
&c*

Lt T.

LET T E R LIII.
To Or ON TBS.

YOUR lettqr found me juft upon my
return from an excuriipn into Berk-
(hire, where I had been paymg a vifit to a
friend, who is drinking the waters at Sun-i..
ning-hilL In one of my Morning rides over
that delightful country, I accidentally pafTed
thro a little village, which afforded me
much agreable meditation ; as in times to
come, perhaps, it will be vifited by the lo-
vers of the polite arts, with as .much vene-
ration as Virgil's tomb, or any pther celebra-
ted Ipot of antiquity. The place I mean is
Binfield, where the poet to whom I am in-
debted (in common with every reader of
tafle) for fo much ejtquifit? entertainment,
^cnt thp earliefl part of Jiis youth, ^ I will
no^ i^ruple to confefs that I lopKed upon the
icene where he planned fome of thofe beau-
tifiil perfprmapces which firft recommend-
cd him to the notig^.of thq world, with a
^degi:ee' of enthufiafni : and ^ould not but
conflict the ground as facred that was im^

■ .. • - ff ■ prcOea

278 LETTER Lin.

preffed with the footfteps of a genius that
undoubtedly does the higheft honor to our
age and nation.

The fituationof miftd in ^;rfiich I found
myfelf upon this occafion, fuggefted to my
remembrance a pafTage in TuUy, whidi 1
thought I never lb thoroughly entered iato
the Ipirit of before. That noHe author, in
one of Jiis philofophkai converfetion-picces^
introduces his friend Atticus as obferving
the pleafing efFpdt, whidi fcenes of this na-
ture are wont to have upon one's tnind :
3/[jovemur fnim (fays diat polite Roman)
nefcio mo paStOy locis ipfisy in quibus eorum^
quo$ fliligimus aut admiramury adfunt ve/ii^
gia. ^ quidem ipfa ilia fiojifce Athena y
non ^tdmcperibus magnificis exquijitrfque an^
ttquorum art thus dele^anty quam recordatipne
flimmorum viroruniy ulfi qui/que babitarey ubi
Jsderfy ubi dt^utarefitfolitiis.

Thus>' yoii fee, 1 could defend miyfclf
"by an example of great authority, were I in
danger upon t;his occafion of bemg^tidrttilcd
as a roihantic vifionary. But I imi too
well acguainted with the refined fentimehts
of Orontes, to be under any appreficnfion
he will condemn ^f impreflions' 'I tiavfc

here

here acknowledged. , On t|ie i:ontrarjr, I
haveoftqn heard you mention with appro*
ba^ion a drcumfUnce of this lund which is
eclated of Silius Italicus. The annual cc-
remonies which that poet perforoied at
Vir^rs iepulchre> gave you a more favora^
ble opinion of liis tafte, you confefled, thaa
ofiy thing in his works was ahle to raife.

It is certain that fome jpf the greateft
namcs-of antiquity have diftinguifliedthem^
fclves by the high reverence they ihewed to
the poetical character. -Scipio^ you inay
remember, deiired to be laid in the ^^^e
tomb with Ennius 3 Apd I ain incli^ied ta
pardon that fuccef§f»l i»Ad;nap AkxandeTi
inany of his extravagancies, for the gcnc^
rpu« regard he paid to the iijempry of Pin^
dar, at the facking of Thebes.

There fccms, indecd> to be ihaKdiin^g
in poetry, that raifes the pofleflbriB of thftj:
ycry Angular talenj:^ far higher in the ^-
m^Wn pf she v^rld in geapral, than thofe
who excel m any other of the refined arts,
^d acpordingiy we find ihat poets, bav^
)i)ee;> diftingui£he(J by ^<i(jiiity Jwith Jhf
moft rcpiarMbJe hpnoW. Thus, Horner^
wp .afe jtpW, was deified at S^pyraa i fi$ the

T 4 citizens

28o L E T T E R UJl

citizens of Mytilcnc ftamped the image of
Sappho upon their public coin. Anacreon
received a folemn invitation to ipend his
days at Athens j and Hipparchus, the fon of
Piliftratus, fitted out a iplendid veflel in or-
der to tranfport hiih thither : and when
Virgil came into the theatre at Rome^ th^
whole audience rofe up and faluted h^m with
the fame refpe^a: as they would have paid to
Auguftus himfelf,

Painting, one fhould imagine, has
the faireft pretenfions of rivalling her fifter-
art in the number of admirers 5 and. yet,
where Apelles is mentioned once, Jlomer is
celebrated a thoufand times. Nor can this
ht, accounted for by urging that the works
of the latter are ftill extant, while tjiofe of
the former have periflied long fince : fpr is
not Milton's paradife loil more univerfeUy
cfteemed, than Raphael'? cartoons ?

The truth, I imagine, is, there are more
who are natural judges of the harmony of
numbers, ' than of the grace of proportions.
One meets with but f^w who have ijot, in
fome degree $t leaft, d tolerable ear : but a
judicious eye is a far more uncommon pof-
fefTion. For as words are the univerfal meW
' ' . - ^ ' diuift

LETTER Lffl 281

dkim which all men employ in order to
convey their fentiments to each other ; it
feems a juft conibquence that they fhould
be more generally formed for reliihing and
jud^ng of performances in that wsty^;
whereas the art of repreienting ideas b^
me^ns of lines and c61ors, lies more out of
the road of common ufe/ and is therefore
lefs adapted to the tafte of the general run
fif mankind.

I HAZARD this obfervation, in the hope'
of drawing from you your fentiments upoa
a fubjed:, in which no man is mcxe quali-
fied to decide; as indeed it is to the confer*
fation of Orontes that I am indebted for
the difcovery of many refined delicacies
in the imitative arts, which, without his
judicious ailiftance, would have lain con-^
(:ealed to me with other common obfervers.
Adieu.

♦ ••••• • •

L E T»

L E t f E R LW.

tisrview yp*^ feaye iatciy fead wid>
Cieaatbesj baa given you a much lower
idea of hk abilities^ than what you had
|ielbre<x>nceiv<d: and fince it has raiiei^
your curiofity to know my opkuoH of his
chancer; you ihall have them with all ^at
^cedom you may juftly exped.
. I HAVE always then comixdered Clean*
tbes a$ po^efled of the moft extraordii^ry
tafema : but hU talents axe of a kind;. wJbich
f9|i ionly be qoet^jted upon u^commcm pot
ca^oa^ , Thi^ ,a«: fornxed for the greatcii
d^^th^ of buftn«is and aSairss but ab(br
llrtely ;oiM; of all iize Sox the {hallows of or-
dinary life. In circumflances that require
the moft profound reafbnings, in incidents
that demand the moft penetrating politics i
there Cleanthes would fhine with fupreme
luftre. But view him in any fituation in«^
ferior to theie ; place him where he cannot
raife admiration^ and he will moft proba-
bly iink into contempt. CleantheSj in fhort,

wants

wants nothing t>ut the ad^tfon ^ temik
minute accompliikmeMsj to ttndorMiA M
finifhcd charadcr ; but being wholly defti-
tute of thofe litde talents which are necef-
fary to render a man ufefbl or agreable in
the daily coipmerce of the world, thofe
great abilities which he poflefles, lie unob-
ferved or neglefted.

He often mdeid gives one occafiori p
reflca how necefiary it is to be mafter of a
fort of under tonalities, in order to fet off.
and recommend thofe* of a fupcrior natui^e.
To know how to defcend with grace and
eafe into ordinary occaiSons, and to fall in
with the lefs important parties and purpofes
of mankind, is an art of more general in*
flucnce, pcrhajps, than is iifuaMy imagined.

If I were to form a 3rowh therefore fcK
ihe world I fhould certainly endeavor tb
cultivate in him thofe feeondary qudi^
cations i and train hlhix up td an addr^ in
thofe lower arts, wWcli render a man agre^
ble in converfitfon; or ufcful to the inno-
rctrt pfealtrres and accomodations tif life.
^A gcneriPikili aiid tafte of this kind with
moderate abilkies, will in moft inftances, I
>cUcve, J)rov< tnorc fucccfsful in the world,
" / than

ff

a»4 L E T T.E R. tV.

thtn a much higher degree of capacity
without them. I am, &c. r....

m II I I ■' r»i I I ■mi>ihi*i>wi ■<■■■ i,h,

LETTER LV.

% EUPHRON lUS.

July. 17, 1730.

IF the temper and turn c^ Timanthes had
not long prepared me for what has hapr
pened, I ihould have received your account
of his death with more furpdze; but I
fufpe£ted from our earlieft acquaintance,
that his fentiments and difpofition would
lead him into a fatiety of life, much fooner
than nature would probably carry him tp
th$. end of it. When unfcttled rprinciple^
fall in with a conflitutional glo6mine& of
mipdf it is no wonder the tadium vita
.ihould gain d^ily ftrength, till it puihes a
man to feek relief agaiqft the moft deipe^
rat^ of all difteinpers^ from the point of ^
fword, or the bottom of a riv^r^

But to learnto accommpda^ our t^&p
to Aat portion qf Happincfe wh^^
d^nce has fet before us, is of all the lefTons
of philofophy furely the moi^ peceflary.

LETTER LV. «85

High and exquifite gratifications are not
confident widi die appointed nieaiiires of
humanity: and, perhaps, if we woukifiilly
fenjoy the reliih of our being, we fliould ra-
ther confider the miferies we efcap6, ikattx
too nicely examine the intrinfic worth of
the happinels we pofleffe. It is> at leaft, the
bufinefs of true wifdom to bring together
ifevery drcumftance,. which may li^t dp a.
flame of chearfultaels hi ^ie mind : "aiid
the*' weinuft be ihfenlible if it fhould^^er-
petually bum with the fatbeunranedibi^^ht^
nefs ; jrct prudence fhould .pnfer^eiiiM a
facred fire, which is ftevef to be totally exT-
tinguiflied. r .?:. i

I AM perfuaded, this difguft 6f life is
fitquently indulged out of a prihcipltf 6f
mere vanity. It is efteemed as a marlc of
uncommon refinement, and as placiiig a
man above the ordinary level of his ipccies^
to feem fuperior to the vulgar feelings of
happinefs. True good^enfe, however, moft
certainly cbnfifts, not in defpifing, but id
managing, our ftock of life to the beft ad-
vantage ; as a chearful acquiefcence iii the
meafures of Providence, is one of the
ftrongeft fymptoms of a Well-conftituted

mind«

996 I. E T T 1^ ft L^.

pgjindr 3elf-wii9£i|iers ia. a (^ircqmfl^ncf
tchat ever attends folly j and lj9:C:Qnteaia our
bemgi$ the gre»f ef!> and indeed, the p^cu-*
fuu-, infirmity of hl^^aAn9Cw& It is a
jpoWe fi^ntiment which Tully pvis into the
lapioiit^Qf CatOi in hi9 tceatife upoo old age:
ffmhsbetmihi (Atys that venerable Roman)
4ephrare ^tanit f Wf/ ^«i^/V ^ ^V doSiiy^epi
^^Mi0 y ne^ jne%mjp: p^tet : quoniam
ft4:yixh ut nofufrf^r^ me nattdm^ exifiimem^
. It i&io* tbej^o^wCT iwke^g of but a very
fil9^ ]H9P^Hf)A ^^ q?» nfe .i nd^ -..to ait the
jfafl^e ^onoi^ part that affoi;ded fiu;h high
iatis£u3ion to tlu^ difluigwfh^d patr^
but the number is yet far more incooiider^
abl^ pf th<p&», who: wnwot, iaanyftatipn,
fqcure to themielvea a fii^i^t fund qC
a)mj^laf9n(^ to render lifer juftly valuable^
5¥b0t id it that j;i.placed.Qut of the reach of
the ]ug^9fl^of allgratifipations^ tho the
generous affediioos i a^d that cannot prcN
Tide for his own: hagpinefs by eonttibuting
iomething. to the welfare of o^ers ^ As this
^eale of the mi^Kl generally 6r^s out
With moft violence ia thofe, whcr are fup-
pofed to be endowed with . a greater deli-
fagy of tafte and reafon, than is the ufual

alloltnent

dlotmsnt of thdr feilow'-ereatttrM t <4>ilb
may aik them whe&er there id an^ jfittk^
in thepurfuits of tifcful knowledge? or, if
one can ever be weary of benefiting man-
kind ? Will not ihA fifie jrt$ fupply a lad-
ing feaft to the mind ? Or can there be
wanting a ptetfurahl^ |0i9{j|)yipent, fo long
as there remains even one advantageous
trctili to bf diicbxnarixl orxonfinTied i r%>
€Ottf*awL that life haai^^
!tt a fin^ cmture vrbono: wi^.can reli«wd^
HSMr boimt^v'^affift by das cotmft^ iqt 4ne

-as todieofthirft mdb ^eibi^in wIm l»i^.
Batibc nmiaitimt i$^ livht^B^t man isi i«|-
tibd intQ^ Ift^t of recebdng aU hss.pk^^
fvres fircHli^ dir mesoe^ &Ifift iodalg^nv^;
he Vfk^$ (MH of his. jsttind^tibcidifli Q£m&f
nobkr enjcgoncnt, at die fame time that
liis^ powers cf the feo&iti kind are gfowiag
iiiore laagind fay each repdaiion. ^ It is no
'ft^tider th(»neibrehe Ibcxdd^M
Hare o£ hfei^gridficatieiis,' long fae&m; hp
liascompldbad the circle of bis ducatioa;
ihd either ^i^-ctt^edfty fit down the fieniiain4-

«r

*♦

^y Jj^ T T E K LVi.

erofrhk du^B v^ 0content^ or x^^
them up in d^ipair^ Far^w/eL -

L E T f E R LVI

«.' .r ... .* • ' . ' " r,

. 1 72^ TiAioctfiA*

GERTAiNL^r, Timoclca; you ha^e li
paflk>n for the marvelous beyond aU
f>bwer of gratification^ There is not an
^uivfenturer throughout the whole r^bn^
*f chivalry, with whom you are unacr
^[(idiited ; ai\d liave wtodored thro more
ioVil^ than: W{:(td(l ftirhifh 4ut a decbnt li»*
Infary. > Miner-it^ ieaft, yoahakre tota&y eic*-
-haiifted, and have foxleated my fheive&of
;knights*erraht, :diat I have not aifioogle hercr
remaining that evisr -^md liegaled- in bower
orhalL Butthoyobhavcdrainpdmeofnif
;whole ftodc of romance/Famnotentireij^
^unprovided fbr^Tour entertaSament ^ and
have enclofeid a little Grecian f^le for yont
amufement, vdii^ waslatdy traiifinittedepf
;me by one of my friends. . :He difebyerej^
-it,' he tells me, ajjiong foineold mani|-
jfcripts, which have been long, it feems, in

the

1. E T T E R LVI. iSp

the jpoflcflion of his family : and, if you
will rely upon his judgments itiaa tranHa-
tion by Spenfer's own hand^

Tttts is all tfitf hiftory I have to give you
of the following piece : the genuinenefs of
which I leave to be fettled between my
friend and the critics^ and am^ &c.

The Transformation of
LYCONandEUPHEMES.

t

T\EEM Hbtj ye plaimvde crew^ that fu£ef
^ wrongs

Ne tbou^ O man ! who dear ft the tcrt^ mi/ween
The equal godsy who bean)*fCs jky-manjions throngs
(Though viewlefs ttr the ejne they difiant Jheen)
SpeHatdrs teddefs of our aliions been*

Turning the volumes of grave fages old^
Where aunctent faws in fable may be feen^
' This truth I fond in paynim tale enrolled;
tVhicb fdr enf ample drad my mufe fhaU here unfold.

: iL

fPTfot time Arcadit^ s fioWtt vailies fam*d^
Pelafgus^ firft of monarcbs old^ obefd^

''ffmfi wonted a wight ^ and Lycon was he nanCdy
Unaw^d by donfcience^ of no gods afraid^
Jfftjuftici rulfd his hearty ne mercy fwa/d.

U S(tHg

ipo LETTER LVi.

Sonie bdd bifh kin to ibat ahhoiked racty .
Which %eav^ffs high tower^'s witb mifdit^nke
affa/d ; .: .

• Andfome bis cruel lymtge didytrace . *
Prom fell Erymis joined in P tutors dire embrace.

III.

But be^ ferdy^ far otber tale didfeign^

And cH4m*4 ^IH^nce witb tbt fibers nine ;
And deem^ d hintfelf (wbat deems not pride fo vain?)
The peerlefs paragon of imt divine^
Vaunting tjbat ev^ry foe fhould rue its tine.
Rigbt dougbty wigbt ! yet, footbj witboutenfmarty
' - Allpowerkfsfell 'the hjersfbhfts mt^n t '
*Tis vertue's arm to wield wit's bidn^ly dartj
Point its l^enMwiibfSthcey dn^pnditWKbefieart^

iv.

One only 4mpe be hady P aft or a high^
Wbofefweet amehaunce pleased eacbfhepheris eye :

Tet pleas' dfhe not hafe Ly con's evilfprigbt^
Tbo blame in ber not malice moten 'fpy.
Clear J witbout fpot^ as fummefs dowSHefsfky.

Hence poets feign' d, Lycean Pan array' d
In LyCdifs form; eit^S^d wittpaffionii^^

Deceiv'd her mother in the covert gUule\
And from the ftotu mhrace ^prong'tbe ^keSffnly
ma^d.

. Y/rhus

LETTER tVi ^

y. ■ ■,'■■"

^husfahling thrf : mean white the dam/el fair

Afliepberiyoutb Temark'dt as o'er the fUm
She Jejjtf fac'd eioitg fi dthenMr : -

■Seem*dfie as me ^ Dhrn^s cbcftti^'trim.

Fullmaief afimd^^tejnuof-to^e^, V
^fiveet einverfe io •ealrile with htr^tiejia^

'TiUU-^mfVoambvJke&fsibmiiJiid^pan.
Nor liempt.he^ fitiffk vii^it^ .^^susialt^-
tbe-iktided- GeiiemeJiarie^d, unhen ht l^^-fmfirf,

VI.' ■ .,_._...

.^Iim.m^i>tJni>diiatts-^ytno.,Qieaky

Butfure, que, " '

Ife^Ifm

At le^th I
Tif lab'fingj

In aodifi vBt/
For' never tmd . ^

yii. . -

' What -needs lae- to recount in lengdtti^l '• '
■The itnder parf^whitb tb^eitmanSibM i '

Mow oft be vow'd bis-Mive her ne'er Jbould fail j
.iiofP'.oft.tbe '^eamyfifm-fi'^ ber.^^fut-

.:.v««/r^., ■::..■„
JJuiitit^ if dei^ney yft tvtTx^vfil'J. . ^
In Btm'afytuti>fiiij^H :Jk^fM ^^*
■ Awi> rifing doubt he pi her bvfome queU'd.

U a St

ipz L E r t £r R LVI.

5^ farted ibey^ more Hitbfome botb^ I trow :

for rankling love conceat% me/eemsj is deadly woe

• .. . •■ • ^ ...•

VIIL

- . . \. , • .

Eftfeons to Lyafhfii^t ^e youth Mfan,_

(li^d^veayoutk nhefi Cu^ larg^dbis vi/y ?)
Attdfirmght bis gmk fwrpofe.M dechn^ .
4HdJi>otb the wowtimmtf of Ins htrdf di/plof.
ffi Lycen mattt Us jMtm to ferefi^ :
**. Bt tbm Paftora (^etb the pMj^ ^)
y* 4tti twice twpitb^i^flieep ktK davfr .

«* fiallptgy"
Beat then the lover's Ibeart with joyaunce high j
Ne dempt that aught his hUfs could now ^trof,
Negiitf^d that foul deeeH- mlpcoifshOfomiUrf.

'-.■■ ' :'ix.''\'' • ■

So forth he yode to^Jeek'Bs rei!r end fire y

(Xbtgood $.ufhemijh.t^herds him di^ lall)
Eow fweep P'afiord'M his hpfome firey

Her worthy ha^, proms' dfiocks, he tolden.oB.
■ Jh! nere, ny fonyktlycon thee enthrall,
iR^ly'dihefagey in wife experience old)

»« Sffioeth is his tang, but full of guile withal,

« In fffomfe faithltff, and Jn vaunting hold : ^

**-. iUev«r:.kmi> of his. will. bleat within f by fold."

-' With words propbo^i^tbus Euphemts^e :
Andfalt confirmed what wifdm thus faretoli,
Fullmnj a nuan 'dtn^ife did Lycon makfi^

■■'Tbi hoped dayof^ufd to witb-b^

5 -^cmng

I.

Framing new train{wben nought mote ferve
bis old, "

NatVkfs be voufd^ Qfllene^ eloud^topt bilK

Sbottiifooner doutn the towly deheberoffd^
Than he Us pligbted promfe nmtld fy^ :

But xufhenf perdf^ or wherey the eaitivefaj^n niH,

*

XI.

Whiles thus the tedious funs badjournefd round
iVJf ought mote now the lovers hearts divide ^

Ne truft was there j ne truth in Lycon foimd ;
^he maid with ^matron Juno for berguide^
The youth by Concord ledy infecret hfd

^0 Hymen* s f acred fane : The boneft deed [tfd.
Each god approv'^j and ckfe the hands were

Certesj till happier moments fhould fu(;ceed^
No prying eyne they we^d their emprize mote areed.

xii;

• • • T

But preying eynepf Lycon Uwas in vain

{Right pra£lkk in iifguife) to hope, hev^re, v
He tra/d their covert fieps to Hynktfs fdne^

Andjofd to find tkm in bis hj^'4aid fnatOn
JlgateSy infemblaunt ire^ be ^gan to fwear^

And roaren loud asindifpleafaunce high ;
'Then ^ut he hurlen forth his daughter fair ^ \

pqrelore^ tbe.hqufelefs^biJdtofmiffry^'',
Bi^^o^d to kiiiif^ cold^ and pinchin^j>emry* ?

u 3 xin.^bi

' XIII.

Jh ! ^bi^ niw fiallfdd Ptfiera witidi
^tirwintaBandfO/ii'd andiy wrmigs opfr^t

Whejhdkibe 'metcbei cUhcafi^s temb^ri^f
:Uvi^s^ fkerty tben^ if Mt inf^mf^s bri^ ?

51?j, Mercy //wj, the gentle goddefs blefiy
At Jove^s right hand, Jo Jove for ever dear,

^Jye at his feet fie pleads the caufe dijbrejty .

\ To 'Jiff^ow*^ plaints fie turm his eijiM
Afid wafts to heav'^ffisjlar-thronefair vertue^ijilent
tear.

XIV.

Twds SHE that bade Euphemes quell each
thought J

That well mote rife to check his generous aid.
Tho high the torts which Lycon him had wrought ^ *

Tho few the flocks bis humble paftures fed\
When as he UarrCd Paftora*s haplefsftedj

His Weift hum arte with wonted j^ flows.
Ht vfd kU g^tei^ the naked exile kd
BeniatbUs to^ft aj^ietnt Skapt tinms
0*eriM^i»id'Jiitfit^j^a^^ her itfidefirvidwoes.

Jftw MlWgi^Ti'Rififtottf truitei romt^'the tak:
Th* ^i^f^Md^ ]lit)aih$ meath i6u)i (Ytimi ^htSt

4f<^torf»lfi fif Ly(on /er did live. •

But

t ]^ T T P R LVL 29f

But yove (tvbo in bi^k^fv-n does mortdsprivBj
jfnd ev^ry deed in golden ballance w/igbs)

aV earth bis flaming cbarrei baden driven

jdfid do^n dejcends^ enwra^t in perlefs blaxe^
STfl ideal for tb guerdon meet to good and evil ways. '

XVI.

Where Ewytnaf^tbus^ crowned wit b many a wood j

lUsJilver fir earn ibrotigb dafy^d vales does lead^
Stretched on tbeflowry marge^ in recklefs mood^

Proud Lycon fougbt by charm ofjoeund reed
To lull the dire rethorfe of tortious deed.

Him Jove accoftsy in reverend femblaunct digbt
Qfgood EupbemeSj and *gan mild areed

Of comfaSl oft confirm^ d^ of fay yftigbt^
Of natures terser tye^ of facred rule of rigbt, .

xvir.

With kfty tfnej half htb to It^k fo low^

Him Lycon viewd^ and with JwoVn fitrquedry
^Gan rudely treat Bs facred eld: When -now *
Forth fiood the god conf^ that rul^s tbejky^
In fi/idden fhem of drad (HvJ^fty ^ [faid^

*' And knowj falfe many^ the lord of thunders
" Not unobferv^d by i>eay^ffs alUperfent eye
' *' Thy cruel "deeds r nor Jbali be unafp^'d : '
•*G of be inform that befi hefeems thy thtms\ attayl4.^^

: U4 XVIIL

Vk

ap$ LETTER LVIL

XVIII,

Whiles yet befpake^ fV affn^ed trembling wgkt

7ranfmew*d to blatant ieajl^ with hideous howl
Ruflfd headlong forthj in well-deferved plight^

Mid^Ji dragons y minotaursj and fiends to proyol^
A wolf ip fo^m as erft c^ wolf in foul !

^0 Pholoe, forejl wild^ he hfd ^iway^
^he horrid haunt of favage monJiersfouL

There helplefs innocence isjiill his prey^
Thief of the bleating fold^ andjhepherds dire difmay.

XI^.

Tho Jove to good S^uphemf cot did wendj

Where peaceful dwelt the man of virtue higb^
Each Jhepherffs praife and eke each fhepher^s

In ev^ry all offweet humanity. [Jf^^t

Him Jove approaching in mild majefty,^

Greeted all haili then bade him join the throt^
Of gW rand Hghts that gild the glowing fiky.

There Jhepherds nightly view his orb yhongj
Where bright he fhines eterne^ the bright efi Jkofs
emong.

LETTER LVII,
To Clvtander. '

JEebru^y 9% i739* »

IF there W9$ jiny tWng in my former let-
ter iiicohfiftent with that pileem whi9h
f ...

is jyftly due to the Antipnts, I defirc to re-

. ■. • \

LETTER LVn. \^

traft it in diis ; and difavow every ex«*^
preffion which mig^t feem to give prece^
dencj to the naodems in works of genius*
I am ib far indeed from entertaining tho
fentiments you impute to me, that I have
often endeavored to account for that fupe-^
riority which is fo vifible in the compo*
fidons of their poets : and have frequently
a]Q[|gned their religion as in the number of
thofe caufes, which probably concurred to
give them this remarkable preheminence.
That enthufiafm which is io eiTenbal to
every true artift in the poetical way, was
confiderably heightened and enflamed by
the whole turn of their (acred dodrines ;
and the fancied prefence of their Muie$
had almoft as wonderful an effed upon
their thoughts and language, as if they had
been really and divinely inipired, Whilft
$41 nature was fuppoied to fwarm with di-
vinities, and every oak and fountain was
.believed to be the refidence of Ibme pre-
fixing ddty ; what. wonder if the poet wais
animated by the imagined influence of fud^
exalted fbciety, apd found himfelf tran^
ported beyond the ordinary limits of fobcr
))u{Qanity ? The mind, when attended pnly

»^a LETTER LVIL

hftn^M moMals cf fufKripr powers, is obn
fyfve^ t& i^e in h» ftr^ngth ; and her hm
cni^ki^ open and ediat ^ t^n^felves ^en
ftte a<^9 in ^ View ef dtofe^ for whom
ihe has eoncelved a mor^ than cmnmon re**
verence. But when the force of fuper-
ftltion mdves in concert with Ae p^w©f4
of imagination, and genius is enflamed l^
devotion, poetry muft fhine out in ail h» '
brighteft perfc<Sion and iplendor.

Whatever therefore the pMlofophei
imight think of the religion of his country ;
it was die intereft of the poet to be thcM
iroughly orthodox. If he gave ijp his ^reed,
he muK renounce his numbers ; and there
could be no infpiration where diere were
no Mufes. This^ is fo true, that it is in
compditions of th,e poetical kind alone^
^at the antiehts ieem to have the principal
advantage over'Afe iftpd^^'ne:' in eveiy
other fpecies^ of writing one might venture
perhaps to atifert that &e& latter ages have,
atleaft, equalled them. Whe^ifay£>, I
do not confine* myself to the prodiuStions
T>f our own nation, but coinprehend l&e*
wife diofe of our nei^htx^FS ; an^ with d^t
^extent the observation w'# pofllbly- hold
'!- true,

■

I

]

l:&t t e r Lvn; 2^

mie, eiFen without an eicciptbh iii iavor q^
hiftory and oitttoiy^

But whatever raaf withrjufticc be de^
termined ccmcerning that queftion ; it is
certain, ielt I^ftft, that the pradice of all 6ic^
ceeding poets confkms the notion f(x whiph
I am principally contending. Tho the al*
^ tars of paganifin have many ages fince bceii
Arown down, and groves are no longef
fecrcd ; 3rct the language of the pfoets has
flot changed with the religion of the times^
but the gods of Greece and RcMne are ftill
adored in modern verfe. Is not this a con-
fcflion, that fancy is enlivened by fepciv
ftition, and that iht antient bards catched
their hipture from ihe dd mythology ? t
will own, however, that I thinfc there is
Ibmething ricBcuIoukin ll^is unnatural ado-
ption, and that i moderA poet makes bu« aii
aukward figfure' wffli his toliqiiatid god^*
When die pagin fyftem was fanSiiied by
popular belief, a piece of machineiy of diat
kind as it Hafd ^e air of pucbability, af^
forded a very flriking manner of celebrating
any temaAable circumilanee, or raifing a«y
eommon tme. * But jiow that thi« foper-
iiitlon is 'no longer fupported by vulgar

opinion,

joo L Err T E R MYU.

opinion, it .has loft its principal grace and
efficacy, and feems to be, in general, the,
mc^ cold and uninterefting method in
which a poet can work up his ientiments.*
What, for inftance, can be more unaffe<a-.
ingL.and fpiritlefs, than the compliment
which Bdleau has paid to Louis the XI Vth
on. his famous paiTage over the Rhine ? He
reprefents the Naiads, you may remember,
as alarming the god of that river vvUh an
account of the march of the French mon^
arch ; upon which the river-god affumes
the appearance of an old experienced com*
mander, and flies to a Dutch fort, in order
to exhort the garrifbn to fally out and dif-
pute the intended pgfTage. Accordingly:
they, range themfelves in form of battle
with the Rhine at their head, who, after
fome vain efforts, obfervin g Mars and Bel-,
lona on the iideof the en^y, is fo terrified
with thf view of thofe fuperior ^ divinities,
that he mofl: gallantly runs away, and leaves,
the hero in quiet pofTeQion of his baoks^
I know not how far this may be r^l^ed
by critics, or juftified by cuilbm; bu^as
I ati) pqly pientioiiing n^y particular tafte, I

^-. ,: . will

LEJTTER'LVn: 301

ivill 'acknowledge} that it appears to jne
extremely iniipid and puerile.

I HAV£ not however io much of the
fpirit of Tyf^oeus in me, as to make war
upon the gods wi^out reftriiflion, and atfr
tempt to ^exclude them from their whol^
poetical dDininions* To reprefent natural,
moral, or intdledual qualities and affections
as peribns, and appropriate to them thoie
general emblems by wliich their powei^
and propertii^ are ufually typified in p%g^
theology, may be allowed as one of the
moftpleaiing and graceful figures of poeti-
cal rhetoric. When Dryden, addreiling
himfelf to the month of May as to a per«
fon, iay*,

Far thee thi Graces lead the dancing Hours[^

s. • «... , j

xmt may coitfider him 4s ipeaking only in
metaphor: and when fuch ibadowy beings
are thus juft ihewn to th? im&ginationVand
ifiimjedi^^ly i^ithdrawn again> they certain-
ly have a very powerful eifed. JSut I can
telifh them no fiuther than as %ures only:
when they are extended in any ferious com-
pofition beyond the limits of metaphor^ and
exhibited under all the various actions of

real

5o» L. E:T.T E R . ETIL

Teal |)edimG^ I tiaimot bttt^ehofider them
as fo many abihrdi|ies»' ^^Jaidir^cia&om has
nilretadbiiablj^. anithsncscd. Tiiias Speitfer,
in^ne of ihhi Paflomls, liepreicfeiit^'^e jgpd <)£
Xx)te as «%aBg, l&eiaJmtl, d^oqiboi^tghto
JboQj^. A fhephcisd) ivhb hears a ^nftling
.iRnmg the Imfiies/ {uffmkBat to be ibnaie
^am^, andiKCCoirdingly jdiiGdbasges.h bow.
<];uf:)idir2tums theihoty'^aiidafter &yera^ ac-
*^w& iiad ibeen 4iuitudl]y lodidbanged bo-
ne^aen ithem, the lunfortimaete J^iram di£co*
>^rs whc^fti it is J2e^i&€ont)ei|dii3g with : but
-asiie is>endeavl:>kdng)tD?makc ids refiaape, • »-
ceives a^ieipndcl^pfWoimd in theJieel* This
feaian toafces^e iiibjaa lof ii wry ^pretty
idylliutn in one of the Greek poots : yet is
extremely flat and di^ufling^s it is adopted
by our 'Britifli bafd. Arid the reafon of
^thediflfereftceds plain : mctt«e:^ornier>itis
Supported by a popular filpdfflttiDti; where--
as lio ftrain of imagination itM < giveiit ^the
'leaft air of probiiibill^, <is it is -worked «p
bynhe latter :

^odcunque miBi (ijleridisjky htcredtilus oS.

HofiR.

I MUST conftfs at the' fame time, that
the inimitable Prioi' has introduced this fa-

buloua

LETTER LVn. 303

bulous icheme with fuch uncommon grace,
and has ^d h many genteel coilipliments
to his mifbefs by the aififtance of Venus
and Cupid> that one is carried oifF from ob-
fcHtig &fc impropriety of this machinery,
iSf^^t pteii^ addr^fs «^ "whidi'Me^ Up-
%il^6$^:3tidhtitnr f^ad4uti «$tidcft'fH)efts
^Ak 'kiifd^ ^kkoat a|^lyifig to lAm ^nku
SeiktfdXL ixxtmyfiyitc fays upon . a:fimiiar dS-*
cafion: Major itte'^fj^'^\judiiaum^l^^

ifUffmqtdmtfmit:

ZiTo. ijpcbk.mjr Qpinian in one w®td,rl

.OTDuid'leanrenhfe godsm fiiiH pofleilionobf

isMsgoricd tand biirie^^me. p6ems : in aUl

^bthcrs l^wDvdd noikt ftiS^r diem to brake

kheir ^appb^bmyce ih perfen, ^nd as ogcnls,

'but to efattttmly iniOmik, Dr*dllui&«u . It

yk 'dius \i^aiifar,. of^atl our^Kietsi^ has/inoft

kaj^ly <Aiipioyed thorn : aiod his >3Q)^-

-oMMn (^f thedhnytof Dai^m-and Apd

JmU'iecVer&svAd'iiiflKncb, in'wfaiett'iRaimr

the-^mixtietttrlinythok)^ * miy be aAopittkl

««itk thel^iutihaft ipttpri^ty tod h^Mdf.

; .1 • ' * ' ' i

- 1 ->

LET-

[ 304 J

LETT E R LVIjrt.

To JEUPHRONIUS.

I KNOW not in what di^fitipn of mind
this letter may find you ^ but I am fiirci
you will not preierve your uipal chearful-
nefs of teittper when I teXL ,you that poor
Hydaipes died laft ifight. . * -

I WILL not at this time rattempt toofi^r

Idiat confoladon ta you; ofwhich I ftand in
£) much need myiel£ fiut^may it iwt

l&mewhat abate the anxietry of our mutual
grief, to reflect, that howarer confiderable
our own lofs is, yet widi refped to himfelf,
it firarce de&rvf^s to be lamented that he
arrived fo much earlierat die.grave* than
iiisyears and his health. fe^mcd to profiu£(t?

^For w:ho, my friend^ that has any aqperi<«
cnce of the world, would wifli^^to extend
his duration to old age? whai indeed. is
length of days but to furvive all one's ca-
joyments, and, perhaps, to furvive even
pne*s very felf ? I have fomewhere met with
.an ancient infcription founded upon this
fentiment, which infinitely pleafed me. It

was

1 i ¥ t g ft tvnr» 3oi

-^bs fixed upon zhaihi and contained iah itnJ^

^recationJhtHefoikyw^ agaitt(Fiahjr

* bfie wlto ifaduld attempt tx) reniove the

biMlding: .

*t '. ..... T

AVT. iVS^EltilTi

The diQugKt is conceived with great 4cii*
cacy arid juftnefs ; as thtre cannot, perhaps^
Ibe a fhaipAr calamity tp-a generous iiiirid,
than' to fee itfelf ftand lingle ami4i^ the
ruins of whatever rendered the world tnoft
defitable/ ' .

Instances of the toH I am larncnting,
while die uiipreffibhs remain frdh lipoh thd
lnind> are fufficieht to ' damp .the gayef^
hopes^ and chili the. warmeft ambition.
^Vhen one jfees a perfoii in theSfulI bloom
of life^ thus deftroyed by one fudden bdaft,
one cannot but confider all the diftant
ichemes of mankind as the higheft folly.

It is amazing indeed that a creature fuch
Iks man^ with fo many memorials around
him' jof Ihe fhortnefs of his duration, and
who cannot infure to hindelf even the
next moment) {hould yet plan deiigns which

X ^ run

im t^^ w^ ^%-. ; Til^e. ^BS^r^t*

iha£ hiankind Ihbuld reiblutelysi^jiifBf^
Very precarious contingencies^ Too much
refleftk>ft/ thefefei-e^lsros ineojit^tetat AS^
the appointed fAeatntes ofout ftation, as too
l)tfl'<} f hik^fhtrt 4Atiitt>t be a leTs defiiaMe
turti t){ mimi* than one that is influenced

'deiworxo call off my ilia^ from pur-*

luing loo earneltly taoTe realoniaes*, wnicl
the ofecafion of t&is letter is "apfc to jfysiiejpc.
This life, however, one may juftly mite of
the prelent accident, that,^ whillt it a)ntr2^s^
the circle or fnenaibiD, it fliould reiider^t
m^cn tkeinore vamaoJe^ to us who yet
walk within its umits. Adieu.

. r-'J: iijn "^ T -■' nont)-^ i- .t2;: -i;::*^. .::r. •

« I'

vi«^ • .

i .. •

v J . * *.i ' » -•

• f

1*

, • • •

' r ' I-

I.- r': «r-»

Ti

»»

tq mci £equii»8 aifi)r fecdb^r t0iiGhe$ of
^ur pencil; £ in(ift.«:khowledgetil|]& trudli ' ^^

tabe^ wikatyott^ areinc&ied to i^ie<% thaf:
"bvf &ibn{ifl)ip hgsliiitipofed upoa^ m^it rjudg^p^
^aM|t . . But: thq ih dhe pceient JinAfnce
yoabrxlBiicacyi&eiils^ ikr too rdfined^ ^et ia
gemcnil^ I muft agree witix you,' t&at.wDck^
of J|^ asQ^ peEmaneot kih^, a^eitiotthe
jr£bftS' cjfTa. ioc^r mom^nty ^nor iftrackout
at a fingle heat. The beft^pecforinahaesy
icu^ced; :liavegttnexaUy co^thibih(^^l^
^nd liiat eafe i^hU&is: £> effeutaal. to&xe
.Imil&iig, fa^s,IHi|pmibeea attained ^itt»>^
l^cpeAcd and fe?^'t3Dfrie&idn& i ^iMdmth
jfmmMit tt '&r^ebitur^ is: a motto that
m^hc applied, . I^lieiieve)' tpmofl: fticcelsw
^IciittthorS'Of geims; - With as^'i^
;$lli^ astheniimber&^^^of'lh^ natonal Prior
Jfoem to'have fIow«d.£bm him, ih^Wcare
'^bejfc&lt (if I am not niii£b£bi:m
JBUicI^ application : and a friend of mine^

X 2 who

who undertook to trs^nfcf H)C one of the no*
]bleft perfermtoces of the fineft g^enius that
this, or perhaps any "age can bozA, has of-*
ten aflured me^ that there is not a iingle
lilie^ as it is now publifhed, which ftands
in conformity With ^e origidsd maniiJciipf.
The troth is, eveiy^ fentiment has its pecu*
liar expr^oii, and every: word its predfe
place,"^ which dor tKOt /always immediately
-^feitf.themfelves, andrgenerally:demaiid
frojtieiit trials: befene they can be proper! j
'adjufted: not t& mention the ih€»te:im^
p(»tant difilcnltieay which necdi^ty occur
in fettling the plan and regulating d^fai^hei;
parts' which xrompofe the ftmatire uf a
iinifhed work. - ^ : • ^^ . . ^

Thofe indeed, .whoknow whMt pai^ic
,tx)fta[;evEn.the mdflfecdlc genius tobe'de^*
lirercid^ of ; a jtiflrrandrKgular produfiioxr,
might be tnclihed^.perhfi^s>. to. cry mttwitk
lhc moft' antiqnt of. authors^ * Gkl /Aaf
mine adiaetjury haAwittin a book J :Aimi^
ter iof jDefiMd tal^ ha;s the continual mortif-
-r&^Oe iQ;:find ^idtfdfincapaUe'Tof.takmg
'.eiitir^]p0£ref6oin of that kkal beauty, vpiiicli
.w^imiand fills his imagination. JHBs cosr-
;" . . cqttioos

VKiT-T E R LlXr 3oy

oc|fic»^l ^ rif^ a1)ove. ill the powers of
^^r^nd he can hvA faintly copy out
4v^ Iflou^ pf perfe<£tion» which are iin-«^
pre0i^ Aipon his/immd- Never was any:
thiAgi %^ T9Uy» more heauttfui than the
V<ams„of ApeU^jk of the Jove of Phidias j
ye( wecQ th^ hy no means egual to thofe
big^ notions of faeau^ whi A animated the
geniufes of thofe woiiderful artifiis. In the
^e manntir, he obi^]rves» the great nia^
AqiTw ^f, -oratory imaged to jltq^ie^esi
ceitain p^e^oQ of c^ueoce^ : which thej^;
i5o«idoj)Iy cpnt$mpfete.in idc^ feutin vaui^^
attegipti^ to draw cm in eigpceffipn^ '1^^
haps^fio author ever perpetuated Hi^ tepu^:
t^tk>n, who cQu}d >vrite up to t!)e Mt
ftandard<^ his own judgment: <mdlanv
perfuaded that he, who upon .^' furvey oi
his compofitions can with entire compla^)
cency pronounce them good, will hardly^
find the world join with him in die £une:

fewraW? fentence,

. The moft Judicious of all poeta^ the.in«^
imitabl^ Virgil, ufcd to referable his p^^
4u£tions to thofe of that animal, who^
^r^ahly to the notions of the aotients^

•was .^^ipqfed to bfhig^ef- 'y<oik^ 'OmUH^
-vorldy «' mef e iruite «hd Iha^ffe fiiaftf > 1)HS
was oUigbd to retddeh ^%!ii ^|«6i %d-
again,. he ^ckapw^dgoa, lieft««6?*h^Afci:
quired tjieir propel^ fdJiiS aflfll>^t]^': CjAttt*
QOKliiigljr '(»e at^<p tdtd,- tb^t I3(^r ^Idi^g
^eol; eleven years in XxAflpc£fig'^^:£ireM;i'
heiiiiteiBdeii td hkve'fet v^M'ttir^^
&>f tbi reviilM of th8t^gloi^tffi){Jtifeffldi|im
But ' being f ttventai l£)r-4£s:'^itBk^
£irom'^viA^ldio& fim0i^i;3adies,-%kte^

Q^cdiaryyfte di^ei^dl)«^ftletft)& Ti«»4M
ViafSi^ to^cnctliendlrka f^dik SltHll^m^-

ifinfte fjfirit^f delictoy'Mfv Utj^^telR «8,
ifatt bdui he ttiken'tlnetr^^l^e <h ^fhili^yE^^

cedded^iDettei:^ iut iHSV^r, li'e StfllB^ iitt>,
<:(i&bd.1ielhsive-f<i«:e«fd^f& 't?^ii^<(otMVo
fatisfiedxliiinfelf. . : . ' • 1 ;

In a word, Hortenikis, - 2 spet ^^;^(B4
tteit t&erp'isiioiiihiRg'ffibre diimettfl^jau^
£11 qpth&«liaraatr(«>fiii|k author, ^M^i6^
pofe&tQi«aign^jaft^iLn<i>l^M^ {(dniaa^do^ii
vfho U Hot=^dn^tt!a^«»ftlk ttWTe Uttle *rtitt*
d«m flaihes of ap|4a\^, whigh attend the

Wdioarjp

. Ut T t fill LD^. Stf

c^Nyutt^ taee cdT wtiterS) but cafiildeK;<»ily
how he may ihinc out to pafteii^ } who
extends his views beyond the prefcnt gene-
faGoii, and ciildvatcs " ttiole productions *
which are toilorini in future ages. What
Sir Williani Temple bbierves of poetry,
may be applied to every csthef work wherie
tafte and imagination are concerned : << It
^ i^itires the greateft contraries to cbm-
^ pbfe ft : a genius both penetrating and
^ fofid } an expreflibn both ftrong and de*
^ Hd^. There muft bie a grdat agitatioii
^ of irfiind to Invent, ii great calni to judge
^ 'ixiS: corrcdt : there muft be upon the
« fame trcei and at the -fame time, bothi
«« ^Wqr and fruit." But tho, I know
you, would not valu« yoUrfelf uppA any
|je£(QrMan<^, whemn thefe yeiy oppofite
attd.^eiy lingular qualities w«r|^ not cofi^-^
cuou; } yet I muft remind you at the fame
^ty that when tlie file cfeafes tb pohW, it
fiiuu/necfeffari^y weakeh:; You will fe-^
ihembfef tHfereforif,'* that there is a medium'
b6!?we6h the ifcimod^lrate caution , of that
orator ^Vho*was three olympiads ih writing
a fingife oratiorf^' aiict/tKe extravagaHt:e?t{>e-
4iti'on of that pCer, i;^hofe funeral pile* was

X 4 com-*

comftofed pf his jowojiwiberl^. pqdd<^»
tiqus, I amy &<p* '

-" If • t

^■ - - . > I -ujy ^ ■ .. Ml ..i...n .. Il l ,.^ ■' ■ ■ .. ■ . ' .. .^

. A.

L E T T E R LX.

p I

■ *

To Pale MO N, •

I WRITE this while Cleora is a^g^ng
by my fide, uncl^r; the fliad? of a fpre^^
ing elm that hang^ oyer the ba^ks of pur*
river. A ni^htingalei more harmpQioua
even than Strada's, is ferenading us &QV9. a
haY^thprn bufh which i^es with ^1 ^c^
gaiety of youth an4:l?e?.uty^ while . . »

gent'Ie gdk^ *
Fanning^ their odofifmis -^ngSy di^ehfi' \
Nat f^ii perfumes y and^jpef whncetheyftobf

MiLT^

Whilst I wx thus enjoying the iiinon-
cent luxury df this vernal delightj, I looi;
^apk vpon thofefcenes pf turbul?nc? where-?
in I was once epgag^dj \yith njore than pr-t
dinvy ^ii^^afte^ ^lid defpife rnyfelf for ?ver
liaving entert^ned fp ,mean A thought as to
be rich and great. Qn^ of o.\ir pip/iarchs*

ufe4

|ife4to%» ^^ Uiat he lool^ed li^m tliLofe tQ

^^ betfa^happiigftQieiaiiothepadQn, wlv>iQ
^^ fortune ^d placed theni in the country,
^' above ^ h^h con^hble^ pxad helow the
^^ trouble of 9 jqftice of peace/' It is in a
9>ediocnty of (his happy kindthatlherepafs;
mylilfe; with & fprtiin? fv above the neceA
% pf en^pging in the drudgery of b^linefsi
and with defires n^uch too hi)mble to have
^y relifh for the fplendid baits of ambition.
Youmuft not, however, imagine ^at I
afie£t the Stoic, or pretend to have eradi-p
(:ated all my paffions : the fum of my phi-?
lofbphy anK>unts to no niore than to cherifh
none but fuch as I may eafily and innocent*
ly gratify, 9<id to banifh all the reft as fo
many bold intruders upon npty repofe. {
endeavor to pra^e the maxim of a French
poet, by considering every thing that is not
withiQ niy poflef&on a$ not worth having:

four niajfurer kfeulbien
^ue tan doit eJHmer au mondey
Tout ce queje^ naifasyjf k comptepour Hen.

Is it not poifible, Palemon, tq reconcile
you to thefe unafpiring &ntiments, and to
jQ^er your flight to the hunable level of ge-.

numoL

item here fMf it'irthatybtiafijfii ffeittorie

J J * ' . L ' I !■ ■ I i I I I II II ■ 1 J I f li jf l I J y 4

•y k> - J

« k**

t ET TE R 1,3^1,1

• • • J « '

• /

HrtHE beaWfes 6Fflyle ^^^^ ^liel^

;X rally c6nfi%ed'aV ittert^'

fioh both bf an autfe)'ra^^ a reader . It kSi6\^
h^l tiiefeTofe, wKetKeV t may ^ittUtl^ tb
acknowlec^y tS^t amohg tircBlamberlefs
graces of your.iateperfonlmmdb^ i J)ailfitu-^
larly axiihimi tfaAt ftralgdV and.\^l€ganc©
with which you have enforced and adorijed
jtne noDleft: lentiments.

' TTHEiiE was'a fibie however '(aH8 It vi^iif
a |>efibd of the ^"uelft refmeiMh^sJ ^en ail

'^^ excc^

€SceIld«D^«f di^IdHd^^fts «ftba^ in the

number of the politeft accotf^IUItments ^
tskllAu^dfeetoibkion ^^fitthe <jf &e greateft
«ames^(»irM^Ulfy5tOiMifigtiUh themfelviss
m'riie kAprovvifiente of their native tongue;
jMiti^ Gs^ar^ Who was hot bnfy the greatd^
hko, ( tAit ^ fineft gbntlttii&ti thit %ver,-
ptfbApSy apl^eared in the Wbridj Wag defii--*
oas of ttddiilgd!)^ talent to hid o^er mo0;
£l)i»i)lg%ndbtvTi(^f8: iii^wteafe told he
Audited' the language of his country Wlthf
iKiuCll applitcatidnj ^ weiarefiji*ehepoffeflcd
ft1hflfeti%heftelegahde; What a l6fs, fiu^
phibniils, isrlt to the litefaFy world, ^a
die tt^gadfe whfch he wr^«upolhdiisfubje6t;
is peiifhed with manyiOthd" VdTuable works
6f diat age ? But tho we are deprived of
rife b'eintefit of his obfervitionfei Wfe are hap-*'
pHy iftot wiMiout an ihftahce <tf their effe^s j
aiid his own memoirs will eVeir remain as
^e beft and brigfeteft exemplar, riot only 6f
6^e genelralfhi^, bttt of fine Writing. Hi
pilbllfhed thdm, indeed, oitily as m^tetials*
fblr^e ti!fe of thofe who fllouM be difpofed
to *enlarge'upo!i thai' itmkrkable period of
tlie RSWnan ftoiy ; y^'the purity aiid grace-*
|l^cft'6ffeife^lewerefuch, tJjatnojudi*

^"' ^ cipus

31^ I. BT T E,R

cknia writ» durft atteixipt to touck thtf fuln
jedt after him. t

Having produced So iUuftrk>us ao.m-»
Aance in favor of an art^^ for which I have
veiitvired to admire you j tt would be 119^
pertinent to add a fecond> wcrQ I to attfi
lefs a^thprity than ^at of thf iQ)iXK)rtalTuln.
ly. This noble author, ia his dialogue coiv-r
Cerning the celebrated RoQsan >on|t<M% ^e-^
quently mentions jtt a^ a v^ high encoQii-i
Vjoi, that they poffeffedthe ctlegance of theii^
liative language > and iQtroduces Brutus a^
declaring^ that he ihould prefer the kpaoi^
of being 6fl;eemed the great mafter and Im^
prover of Roman eloquence^ even to:^b^
glory of many triumphs, . /

But to add reafpn to pr^edept, and to^
Tiew this art in its ufe as well as its digni^^
will it not be allowed of fome importance^
when it is coniidered, that eloquence is one
i^f themoftconfiderable auxiliaries of truth?,
J«Iothing indeed contributes more to fubduc
the mind to the force of reafon. than her
being fupported by the powerful af&fltance
of mafculine and vigorous oratory ; ^as on
the contrary, the inoft legitimate argupientsi
may be^diiappo^nted of tb^t fucc^s ^leydc;**^

ferve^

'>v

LETTER LXL ^tf

{ervCy hy being attended with a ipiritlefs and
enfeebled expreffion. Accordingly, that
Shoft elegant of writers^ the inimitable Mh
Addiibn obferres in one of his efiays, duut
^^ there is as machdijfference between com^
^^ prehending £ thooght^ doathed in Ckc^
!^^ ro*s language and dhot of an ordinary wri^
^^ ter, as between feeing an objed by the
"*' light of a taper or the light of the iun.'^
- It is iurdy then a very ftrange conceit
.cf the celebrated Malbranche, who feems
.to think the pleaiiire which ariies from per-
4ifing a well written ptece^ is of the cri*-
nunalkind, and has its fource in the weak**
pdk and efFemii^acy of the human hearL
A man mnfthaye a very uncommon jfeve^
,rity of temper, indeed^ who can find any
thing to condemn in adding chamis to
truth, and gaining the heart by captivating
the ear ; in uniting rofes with the thorns
of icience> and joining pleafure with in^
ftru&ion. .

The truth is, the nnnd. is detig^ed

: with ^ fine fiyle, upon the fame principfe

. Aat it prefers regularity tp conftifion^ and

beauty to deformity. A tafte of dus icrt h

: indeed Iq far from being a mark of any de-

pravit|r

^i8 J[iET;t fejl Lxi

prayity of our .mtane^ tfadt 1 fikfirfild' tadidl^
coi]£4er j(ka&i^iLei&ieiu:e^iAiQi^ Aegtee^ of
ilie. mociaL ns^fituiie pf ita conftitDllDd ; as it
is JL prflic£ of its 'tetainiR^ fiun^ rdli£b ai kaft
of. Wmoiijf^ ituir ordBTb
. Q»u might ]aea|«Jbd«e4ioifii^
x:e]lfa^ WJ^kieriKtixootigfl: niiaa^'fiX^lKfidQrod all
iifiaisrtie&;&(f ihis %flty io: die itfaie gh)omy'
Vttw vddii^&dj^tiaQdld bov^t i^lttJULt^ihcy
ayoidod ^everyt i^^^Hiemait in< 31^ tin^
icrocthy ali^^nDf truth alidripbUoic^hyi

^xfp^iTicmy i^i^^ the

inilfeake {lomp for d^ky > iihd^ im order h^
^oifed^f dSffp9€i99ions^abbTse VK^i£j^uag^>
>^lif t^iiibemittpj^yoiid aomsnc)]ii^)]Stelifen|lond,
ffiiteming iY^eihouMimagiQe) a tnark of
tiheiri geniui^ dtatit re^ures'&ittiie kigenui^r
-kxpeis^2U£iitkeSq Q^eaiimg. ^"Svctiiow few
writers^ like Euphronius, know ^ hit d^t
Itrue iisddiiunJj«bkh &s ^etttoeti tiu)^' di-
Jft;pt; ea^mopoks i' ; itfcny ifeJtiQ(m do i(ve iMct
.ttkU.aat aolfaDr^t i^^ib expceffiotis^ iibs
fthoie oBiiDy&ifcjad^ afc glowing-' bfiit not
-glaring, v^fe iiytarhors 'are, i^atuwl but
. T. : ' not

- ii ' . » I

^ III*

• » • — t •

• I ^ • I

^* * <:Io^^K>K(yvr fs.

• r - f t . .

fees i^fitti ^ ite::#*fi5<lfe: J:#>tfi4 Jmw«5

eileemed the converfation of Timo)Cl^ as f^
x?gff«mciB^e«t^ja«Hn«ftti Waslkqow

now.

^iiow^ ds £be has ii&Uch lt& ^b^tftjr, thaA
when I uied to &e her dfice a week tritttx^^
- ing in the draWing-rooihi Fb#i ^ few Wc^
•men (^atever they mdy prcterfd) will vais-
lue thenifelvesaipon^eiritiinds, white tlht^

cangain admireis^by thekpexions, Timoi.
clea never thought of c^ptiyatiijg by her wit
till fhe had nb chince of irCakihgf bonqu^d
by her beauQr^ She hzs^teti a;good deal of
the world, and of the beft company in it ;
a&d;it is fi'oiii thdice fhe flks derived ^h^
w«f knowledge fhe poflefles. ^You canncR",
'indeed^ flatter her more, thdh by feeming t6
4::oftifidei<^htr ds fohd of readhig^d mire^
meiit. But the truth h^ nature fbrmed het
4bf tlie jojrs^of fbciety,*^ftiki fli^is never fo
thc»^oughly pleafed as wh€h (h6 lias a circle
round her. ' * ' ' "^ -^ - '

^ R* is ttpoii t^ibfef'bccdfioni ihe dp^ to
:fiin advantage f and indeed I TXtvtT knew
any pcHbn whdwis fehdiied with the tdentd
lor coriveriatibri to an higher dfcgrce. If I
^ere dii|tofed to write the chara^ers of th6
^gC/ Titnddlek is thtf firft pcrfon in the
*w>rld to wfee&T afliftahce i (hbuld apply.
She hais thehkppieft irt of marking out
the diftinguifhiftg eaft of her acquainUiici;,

^ that

L ETTEJl- LXIL 321

mat I ever met with ; and I have known
her, inanlaft^iic)oi]^conv^riktiojii3^ntthe
knanners with greater delicacy of judgment
land ftrength of toloniig, thail is to be found
dther in Theophraftus or. Bruycre: ^ .
Sue nas ab ine^auAible fund ojf witr
but if; I may vfepture to diftinguifh, \^hcre^
one knows not even how to define, 1 ihould
father fa^, it is brilliant thaij ffrongV, ^^lu^
ts^ent renders hjCr the Jep-or of all her jfeniale .
^^^Jl^^ [

abfeat>. wpiortifi^ tJxejjrefent, merely for I
the fak« of dtifplayip^ jj^e Ibrce of her fatire : \
i^ any feel its ftlng, it is ttioife pnly who firil .
provoke it. Still hpiVever it^ufl: be own- *
ed> that her refentments iare frequently witlv
out jufl: foundation, and almoft airways te- ,
yond meafure* But tho fhe^Jias ttiuch'
warmth, £he jxas great generolity -m her
temper s and with dl her faults fhe is well
worth your knpwing. ^ ^ ,

And now having given you this general .
plan oif the ttrength and weakncfs of tlae
place, I leave you to make your approaches i]
as you ihaJl fee proper. I am> &c/

I »

I » > ,»

% L E T-

- - - ■ " -« '.} -r ■;■ T T

1" Loo^upon V9i;biil cr|ticiihi,'¥s ic'is'ep-'
no'bcttier',^an|

:r inbtiducal i|i '
the pufpoi^ of*^

iments: ?pr Uio^
ic ariifl^ I could "
ifiqeis bf,an ar^
mthor "injp Ac;;'

e<J myfelf[ \*idi ■
confideringthe entertfi^nmeiit it wduld iii* _
ford to thofe antleht's whole works hdvi: haS
tl^c honor Xq be attend™ hy our tommen- '
■ tators" ceiiid they flifd oiH of th?ir fepulchreg
an'dperufefonico/mpfeturiouscdhj^i^reSi
that have l^h r^fed ilpbh their ^refoecSvc
compofitioris.' " Wertf Hi)raee, for imtahce, ''
to read over ohiy a few of thole numberlds
refter^ of his text,, -and expoficors of his
ineaning>

L & T T R It tXBl.. ^j^

£itters> what a fiiAd of pit9&ntrf might he*
exta^kfot aiadr^ean^rittcalemdtticMQir? ho^
* txuuiy haimleis words would he fee cradly
banidied^ from theit rightful poi}e0iomr
merely Becauie they happened' to diftur^
fome uiMltttii&l pfelologlflf.^ Ohthe other
hand he would iindoubtedly fmile at tha<fc
penetiatitig. fagaeky^^^ which has dUcoverw^
ed meanings which never entered into
his thou^ifiv* and found out-cencealed al«
lufioos j|n his^ moft- plain and* artl^ ex*
greflions.

^ Onb could* not> rdiihk^t let the genehil,
atfurdltif of critical conjedhires in a monger >
%it,. ^ % applying^tl^em to f^methTng^
parallel* in our own writers^ If thfe iSnglifh)
toogue£hauldever become adead language^
and ourbeft authors be raiied into the rank>
p£ claflic. writers y. much- of the force and>
jyopnety^ of their expreflicms/. efpecially of >
iiichias. turned upon humor^ or alluded to>
any, manners peculiar to the agjc, . would iur ,
ciritably be Icil,. or,, at beft,. would be ex- >
tremely. doubtful. How would- it puzzle»,
for iiiflance^: future commentators to explain,
Swift's epigram upon ow muiical contefts? ,

Y'a I ima-

limaginiB'one might find them dclcafiling
upon thatlif tie humorou^iHy of our Englifh
RabelaTs, in lome iuch manner as this :

E p I G R A ni on the Feuds hetioeeH
Hanidel ^»^ Bononcini.

Strange all this difference Jhould be
^Twixt Tweedk'dum and Tweedle^dee !

Not e 8 of various Authors. '-' •

«* TweedU-dum and Tweedle-dee.'} I am*
** perfuaded the poet gave it T^'widdU^druAi
•* zxA^widdle-key. To twiddle fignm^ tQ
** make a certaih ridiculous motion with
" the fingers: what word therefore could
** be more proper to exprcfs this epigram-
** writer*s contempt of the performances of
f *• thofe muficians, and of die folly of his
** contemporaries in runnihginto parties lip-
•* oh fo abfurd an occafion ? The druin^ms
** a certain martial inftrument ufed in thofe
*^ 'times i is the word key is a technical'term
*^ in mufic, importing the fundamental
«* note which regulates the whole compo-
*« 'fition. It means alfo thofe little pieces
«* of wood which the fingers ftrike againft

" m

€t
CC
CC

CC
CC

LETTER LXIIL 31^

^^ in an organ, &qv in or4er tD.xnake diein^
<^ fbument found. The altpmion herQ
propofed is fo obvious and naturally that I
am fuprifed none of the commentators
hit upon it before. L. C. D.

Tweedk-^um and Tweedle^dee.\ Thefe
words have greatly embarafs'd the cri-
*' tics, who are extremely expert in finding
" a difficulty where there ;s none. Tweedie-
" dunaandTweedle-deei«rewy?«W(5ft:^/^^-

V A the names of the two muficians : and
" tho they are ftyled by diifererit. appel-
" lations in the title of this epigram, yet
^* that is no objeBiony for it* is well known

V thqft perfqns ih4^t)^ times ll^ -^ore fuN
«* names than one. 5. M. AbfurA !' here
5* is evidently an crfor "of the |)refsi> for there

is npta fingle hint in all antiq^frTty -of the
family of the Tweedk-^dums^dTweedk--
dees. The learned S. M. thj^jefqre nod-
ded ,whe|i. he. vwcl^toc^ to;f xplain tjiis
;paj[rage. ^ The fenjfe will be ^i^xry j)lain if
/we reai (with ^ifmall alteration, . Wbee^
dlefotn wdMaJidle^rHE. THE bel
. dnff a known contraction for Theodore,,
^S Tq^i - is for Thomas*. . Waddle and
^ ,/ ' ' Y 3 '^'Wheedle

s

€t

'€€

^a4 LETTER LXUL

*f Bftadk atle liktwife cbilGEel wbrds.

i^wben a doB-flbifi Facldlf s fl>rp the eopfi^

lb. 41. 150,

*V And tbo indeed J dp not recoJJefSt to
" havp niipt with the verb/« wheedle^ 1©
f ' any pure author^ yet it vi plain th^t; it wgg
" in uibj fincp we find the participle ^Af^^/?-

" /^^ in an antiept tragedy cpjnpofed al?py t
♦* thefc times :

if ^ -4j fV^ if^i</ MP^g^^ JA«i% §80ItE,

<« ' fhmas and TbeoAre therefore were itt§^
•^ ^^rf^/«/)f theChriftian names of thefe two

^ ^nufidaiis, to the cOntra<35on$ of which
^« the words wheedk s^nd ^^fH^ddle arc added
*« as charaftcriftical of the perjfbn§ and dit
*« pofitipns of ^c menj. d\fe former inaply-
^< ing that Sf^w was a nfiean fytophant, ixA
• ' «' the

LETTE:R[ LXin. 327

<< the latter that THE had an aukward
«* and ri£cuiou6 gai(|;" P. f. k.

I KNOW not, Orontes, hpw I fliall efcape
your fatire, &r venlurMg td be thus fne
witha&ieiicetrhfehi^fometimes, I think,
admitled into a fltafe of your nKcdit«ti^nt<
yeti tcU me hbndUys is not iim a< f^fj|l
^pecibien o^.the %irit jaod tt|ieji»ts pi^tibe;gf^
neralc\»& 6f prktc-wtifers? F%r dm I> t(ov^
evoTi i^om thinking irrevereptly q)F thofc
ufeAil inenibecs of thejrei>obhc of letters,
who ^ith modjK^ ^4 proper cU^^dienqe;^
h«ve bSlbred their affii|ance in tfarowiqg a
lig^ npjfx ptbfci«re paiTage^ in. ai^t^^t an-*
I^QTB.: St?W wfee»;^ ipirjt bre^^
in ii» ht^ft p^i4e ^^ p^lance of ref^^
niations if i^ confinesiit^ jbp claffical in<{ai^
lies, I can be cont^H^d vti#> tteadng 4 oalf
as afi object Qf ridicule^ JBut,. I tpuf^con*
fefi, lyhes I find it, inrith.an aiTofcxi an$(
Oonfiddiiit ^j: ft&pportMg religious or goIitH
€al dodxinesjupon db^i^eiy uncertain fcmn^
daladir 6f varicfus fQ^dingSfforced analqg{»»
aod prets^cms cdHjie^tiH^^ it Jfii hoc wiiAiout
ibme difioiilty 2 cfwir frif^^s^my iadignar*

tich. FtfteweL .

k«*^ rf 4

X4 i"fe"Tf-

f r »». A

IT H I K fc F pTQn^^ };^a a' Jetbitff front

teriar W *^rritfe th^^^lJat 1 jgot ^faftrhitiicf*
Tb any other mail ! fliould make* an iapo«
tegy foii^ interrupting hifti With tfii fltfomiv
0ti&rL& trivia) ; bufbAitog trtte il^ii^sllhere
is'iibthsng indifierep^/ ah<iw^ae Wdtild-fe^m'
6f^6t6h&(piehc8-t6 others, ^a^iti inter*-
cttttrlbs'of th$9 nif(^%^dgli» and/v^tlue^
A}hf-9B^f^^ may

feicy] {j*i?wtf)s, thftt tht coufitersflrs (tf'iii>
tifMre^Wth-tfiaivthey butthofe

afhib iCrif'en^gedihi iehegame, kfldW they
arfe to beTtohfidefcd atan hijgher rat6. You
fei'l draw *nfyaliafibn6^ from the feeae be-
fiSHi^ttS'i a propriety -which ihe^ critiGis I
thihk^, 'U]pbn '(btne^ otcafions recommeAd. >
t'l3ttii^li bftenxvond^red whar^idS^^iiii
^d6£^^lSfilifidi:^etke'heait% to fdttow th&
£ek4i]^tf ^l^ces 0!^l^8Ti^)> abd'lay dke fcea£
of their diveriions amidfl thd ittfldffe Wretdw

c4 -P^ of our Ipccics^^onc ihould imagine
■' T *- an

J

LVHT* T E R iLXlV. gap

ah fadfphal the laft £p6tlin ithei wcaid^ to
whicb dib& who^ are^in f^ui;fixit:of piekfura
would think dfte&ntui^o-.HoWQiKec^fiLil:
is pand by^is hieans the cdtopany fiere furf
nifli outrartragi'^comedypf the moft &Dga*
Ikrklbdki >WhiIe foim 9m litenlly %mg^
others.iw expiring in: mottpht>r; and iq one
£:ene you ^e prefented Mfittx the realy^ and
in another witk tl^ fantaftical pains ofmam
kind. An ignorant ipedlator mightibe^pt
to iiiiped;, that each pairty was en4eavoring
to qualify, Jytf^lf fQr:ai^ing in the <)ppofitft
chamber: foi?. thejinfirax cannot lahor njtorti
carneftly :to recover tbp^l]tfeft|th they hai^
loft, thgft^thejrobuft ^odifljpate th?il; wh^^
they pofiefs. Thus the jlifeafed pafs not
more anxious nights in their beds, than the
healthy at th? haizard-^bles^, and I frequent-
ly fee a game at quadrille occafion as fevere
difquietudes ^as a fit of %Hd^ goUt. As for
myfelf^ .J fitcform a ibrt of middle part in
this moti^ iii?ama| ^thA wa fometimes di^
po&d toJoinnMfiidi tb^iraalids in etiy3Qng^
^ Jiealtby^: and fi>motixiie$ have jpiritsi
enou^; to mi2( with^^:^ in jpit^mg thk

f f

• ^

4

33P I* E TT T E » JJKV:

./. Ttetruthis^ IfaaVeKmnd Aaie tidiefit
hfihbyHiib^ i but I (hali not bb& &»
gufile «s to pcoaoaktat widi ia^aaiiijr o£
^kakieSk&Bt tiil I fed Iidw dsey erikUe! nte
to fo& dim ditt approddih^ whiter. T^
fB^^km, ybtt knovr^ b thfe dind of tHai iftridi
vae i junl if I^ over the next with motn^
ba& tikan die laft* I Anil think «»;^lf ob^
]i|^tibrc«14)rdtodie nybqih ttf Aefe i^trings

ilt¥ 1^ tiiiieS ^d^^ife opr^ii ih€f
mayi tli^e id <oii6 pi^ df ih^ ^ver UttieH

&ey will htivi 116 pim6r } ^rid Iti ^l th«
^aflgefi df thi6 ir^tfMe cetiiftictltioiii, mj

fiSart Mvili ef^^f eodfinBe iix^ and firiMy
t E t t E k L3tV.

fc^iay, ^^t it is ydat tp^tieatkm i^ &
^if>m wbkh rew^r^ cSthisr them otf you vi^
luable in my eflimation. Your i^emid
i%li$ and elegant accommodations I can

view

LETTER L?CV. 331

WW writhout the kaft emotion trf cnty:
"but when I-e!bfcrvc,yoa in the fW power
i)f exerting the noUe poipdfes 6f yowr exal«-
tcd" generdhy— it is then, I txMk&y I am
upt to reflcd, withfome regret, on the hum*
Wer iiipplies of my own tnore limited
fintnees. J!VS%7&f^^(to^eakofyouinthe
fame language that the firft of orators ad-
drefled the greateft of emperors) fiirtufm
iua majusy quam iit poffisy nee natura melU
Wy quam ut veHsy Jervare ^mplurimof.
To be able to fbften the calamities of man-
land, and inspire ^ladnefs into a heart op«-
prefled with want, is indeed the nobleft
privilege of an enlarged fortune : but to
exercife that privilege in all its generous re-
fin^nents, » an inftance of the moft un««
common elegance both of temper and uii«
derftanding.

In the OT^naryd^peniatbns of bounty,
little addrefs is required : but when it is to
be applied to thofe of a fuperic»: rank and
more elevated mind, there is as much cha«
rity diicovered in .the manner as in the mea«»
fure of one's benevolence. It is fomediing
jextrcmely mortifying to a well-formed
fpirit) to fee itfelf confidered as an object of

compaffionj

«3» L E T.T E R WCV.

humaqity to humor this honeft pride in pur
nature, and to relieve the neceffities without
offending the delicacy of the diftreffed.

I HAVE feen charity (if charity it naight
be called) infult with an air of pity, and
wound at the fame time that it fae^cd. . But
J have feen too the higheii: munificence djf-
{)enfed with the moft refined tenderi^efSi
and a bounty conferred with as much adr
dreis as the modartful wOiild ^inploy in ipr
iiciting one, .Suffer nie^ Og^ntes, qpotl
this fingie.QCC^on, io grjrtify my Qjvn in-
flioations in-yjoience to yours, by pointing
,Qut the particular inftance I have, in my
yiew i and allow me, at the fame time, to
pin my a^nowledgments, with thofe of
the unfortunate perfon I recommendedi to
your proteftion, for the generous 'aiSHlteco
yovi lately afforded him. I am, &Q.

< •

i V

. i:

LET-

• .» V

e

['3iS ]

» * •

LETTER LXVI. ■'■':

7^ C L B O R-A. ,

7

Sept. 5, 1737.

SHALL I own to you that I cannot re- •
pent of an offence whidibccafioned me
fi) agreable a reproof? A cenfure conveyed
in fuch genteel terms, charms more than it
correds, and tempts rather than reforms,
ram fure at leaft, tho I fhould regret the
crime, I fhall always admire the rebuke,
and long to kifs the hand that chafleneth in
fo plealing a manner. However, I fliall
for the future flriftly purfue your orders,
and hasire fcnt you in this fecond parcel no
other books than what my own library fup«
plied. - Among thefe you will find a coUec- .
tion of letters. I do not recommend them
to you, having never read them ; nor in-
deed am I acquainted with their characters :
but they prefchted themfelves to my hands
as I was tumbling over fome others ; fo I
threw them in with the refl, and gave them *
a chance of adding to your amufehient I
wUh I could meet with any thing that had ^

even

334 LETTER- LXVI.

even the lead probabili^ of contribudng to
mine. But,. -

forhme of thee^
Whether Jhalt I betake' m^ *wbere fubfiji ?

Milt.

that: reomcUes ene tb/ moft thlngoii
hda hot bcteaab^. to render jmur abfence^u

iK^rfmd to h«ui)t-^0 houT^ in wbkh I livQ^
tbsuQtf to m^k^one.^f the HamS^p I walk ijsh
and out of the momsi like: a neltiefti ipmt i
for I n«fw {p^ekf tiU I ami i^kan to», ait^^

^en gjmomlif* anfwer,. like Sanooe^ ^iteft^
iQ Macb^^^ M^ a dceptfigh^aikt a«iiodir
Thus ahftmi^ed fiom eir^ihing^bootrine^i
Iiam yet qtiite-rokied &a ^ hemut^ abdbi
fiod noimorerfftttsfiiftiQniui fictfeemmt tfanii^
yDu doi im the .wmf^my: ol *- * * . -

Hbw. ojftcar do.I wiili^fityfelf in fy)iieffi^^
ox^jof that famous dng yowvirere xnefitioiufigt
the:ojth0c day^, which hadt diepropeityj <^^
r^fideni^ tboi^i' who woMit* iavifibkic < l^
vro^idcmtb^nbermaAerof thisrtWoad^riM'^,
utnqff^iAhmtiQi datekk^gdbmr wiitf^iG^g^i
g^ed hy:meafii ofr it^^j. at I;n%htvth»n:(a«-^
tend: yon; IHeer yoitt gnatditfifrai^l^j wii&t^-

out

LETTER LXVL 335

out cenfure or obftru^on. How agreable
would it ^ba to bres^ ou| upon. 3^u, like
^neas firom his cloud, where you leaft
expected rae; and<join.9g^ the (Igar com-
panion of my fortunes, in fpight of^ that
relentlefe power who has raifed fo many
cciMi Amm^ to deflrc^ ua !: But wfa^lft ^
employed this actiaoidinaiy ring^ to tfaeiilL
anda thpu&nd othef pleafifig purpqies, 3K>tt'
would have- no^ng to ap^ehend ftom my^
being invefted^wi^ fuchah l&vi£iblefacultj«
That inoQcence ¥fbi^ guarjl^ and adom^;
my Clepra in^her-moft^yadd public hpuis^ •
attends her, J welLkpow,. in hep moft
private and retire^ ones ; afid-^ fhe^ v(4lo aU
ways a£ls as under the eye of the b^^ of
beings, has nothing to^ fear- ftom tl\e &•>
cret infpedion of any mortal. Adfeu«

«

X

LET-

M ft 9

» U

t-3^6 3 i .

• r

. L E T TE R LXVIL

f »

* • ( •

Z^ E U P H R O N I U S.

-• . . , . . '

May 5, I743i

It you received the firft account of my
lofs from other hands than mine ; you
xskvSk juBpute it to the dejection of .mind in-
to which that accident threw me.. The
blow, indeed, fell. with too much feverity, \
to leave me catpable j6f recoUeiftiog.myfelf.
enough to write to you in^imecjiately ; as
there cannot, perhaps, he a ^e^ater fhpck
to a breail of siny feniibiltiy, •^an to fee its ,
earlitft aod mofl: valuable connexions irre-^
parably broken j. than to find itfelf for ever
torn firom the firft and mqft.epdeared obje^ ,
ofitshigheft veneration., Atleaft, theaf-
fedlion and efteem I bore to tliit excellent
parent, were founded upon fo n^ny and fuch
uncommon motives, that his death has
given me occafion to lament not only a moft
tender father, but a moft valuable friend.

That I can no longer enjoy the benefit
of his animating example, is one among the
many aggravating circumftanccs of my af-
fliction s

LETTER LXVIL. J3;

&ftbn \ and I often apply to myfelf> what
Jan excelicat antieut has faid upon a fimilar
occafion, Ferear ne nunc negUgmtius vivdm^
There is nothings in truth, puts us £b much
tipoQ our guard, as to a£t under the conAant
in^dion of one, whofe virtues, ds well at
years, have rei^dered him venerahk* Never
iadeed, did the dignily of goddnefs appear
more irpsfiftiUe in any nsan : Yet there
WHS jGbfxietfaing at the fai^ie time fo gentle
i|> hi^a manners^, fuck an iBnocency and
c^eariWoefe in his converTation, that he
^9» jts fure to gain afie<9uQ0 .a$ to ini^ire
iceyerencp.

It has been obferved (and I think, by
Covrley) " That a man in much bufincfe
*f muft either make himfelf a knave, or
*^ ^ ^yrorld will make him a fool." If
t^re is any truth in this obfervation, it is
i|pt, however, without an exception. My
father w^s early engaged in the great fcenes
of bufinefs, where he continued almoft to
his yery laft hour 5 yet he preferved his in-
tegrity ^rfn .$ind unbroken, thro all thofe
pQ$irQrfi|) %flaults he muft neceifarily have
eoipQiUltered in (o long a courfe of a€tioD»

If

338 LETTER LXVIL

If it were jufHce, indeed, to his other
virtues, to fingle out any particular one as
jflhining with fuperior luflre to the reft ; I
ihould point to his probity as the brightefl:
part of his character. But the truth is, the
whole tenor of his conduct was one uniform
exerciTe of every moral quality^ that can ad-
orn and exalt human nature. To defend
the injured, to relieve the indigent, to pro-
ted: the diftrefled, was the chief end and
aim of all his endeavors } and his principal
rnotiveboth for engaging and perfevering in-
his profeffion was, to enable himfelf toore^
abundantly to gratify fo glorious an ambi-
tlon.

No man had a higher relifh of the plea-
fures of retired and contemplative life ; as
none was more qualified to enter intb thofe
calm fcenes with greater eafe and dignity.
He had nothing to make him defirous of
flying from the reflexions of his own mind 5
nor any paflions which his moderate patri-'
mony would not have been more than fuf-
iicient to have gratified. But to live fof
himfelf only, was not confifl:ent with hisl
generous and enlarged fentiments. If was-
a ipirit of benevolence that led him into the

aXive

Letter lxvu. ^^^

kflive fcenes of the world ; which upon
any other principle he would either never
have entered^ or foonhave renounced. And
it was that godlike ipirit, which conduced
and iupported him thro his ufeful pro*
greis, to the honor and intereft o ' his fami-*
ly and friends, and to the benefit of every
creature, that could poffibly be compre-^
hended within the extenfivc circle of his
beneficencei

I WELL krtow, my dear EuphroniuSj
the high regard you pay to every character
of merit in general, and the efteem in*
which you held this moft valuable man in
particular. I an> fure, therefore, you would
not forgive me were I to make, an apology
for leaving with you this private monument
of my veneration . for a parent, whofe leaft
and loweft claim to my gratitude and efteem
is, that I afn indebted to him for my birth,
I am) &c«

Z 2

L ET^

[ 34* 1
L E tt E k LXttit

1AM parti/cularly plea&d with a pajQ^ge m
Homer,^ wherein JupiteF iis z^r^efibsA
as taking off* his ey!^» with a fi>rt; of fati^i
from the horror of the fi^ ^f battle^ «(i4
relieving himJ^lf with a vii&w (^tjbf Hij^por^
molgi ; a people famous, it feem^>, fi>r ^>mff
innocence and iimplicity q£ manners* It is
in order to pradtiic^ the iaipgie kind ofei^i^
ment, and give myfelf a (bort i^eouffipn^to
that fcene of turbulence m^ contentioili ii^
which I am en^4»ged,^ thftt I How ^m W^
thpi^ht^ Qn.)f^% PHlotes^ whofe t^Ci^j^-.
r^hce ahd mod^ation may weU ju0^ mt^
in callmg. * m(^,:B l^iplKHi^^

I PQR.G^T wh4<*h q£. th«, ^Rtlcate fc is^
th^t recommei^d]^ this^ mti^i^ o^ ^wij^ing
over the virtues of one's acquaintaniC^e :; hiH
I am fure it is fometimes neceflary in order
to keep one's felf in humor with our Ipe-
cies, and preferve the fpirit of philan-
thropy from being entirely extinguifhed*
Thofe who frequent the amhitious walks of
life^ are apt to take their efiimate of man-
kind

LETT ER LXVIH. 341

ickil Qaok die finaU |)art of it tbM 'lies be«
4fi»e fkem, mA cotiMdc*k& pdftof tlie world
4B prafixfifig «i 4i^r€nt af>d undeNparts,
Ait^mt^Qndt^ and diffiirmlation which
tlilir^€ odt the <iiara<%&f8 of their fu|>eriors.
k4js 4Mcuk indeed to preferve the mind
^<an ^iMihg into a general contempt of our
race, ^M one isconvetfaht with die worft
past <rf it. I labor, however, as nuich as
pciffible, to guard agarnft that ttngenerous
diipofitton; as nothing is fo apt to kill thofe
ieeds of benevolence which every man
ihouM endeavour to cultivate in his hreafi.
It-L fiirely, ^erefore, have lAibfe wits
el<ipl(^^ didr talents, who have made our
^^ecies the object of their fjrtire, and afFe<^-
tdtoiubdue die vanity, by derogating from
Ae virtues, of theliuman heart. But it will
he found, I believe, upon an impartial exa-
mination, that there is niore folly ihan ma*
lice in our natures, and that mankind oftner
aft wrong through ignorance than defign.
Perhaps the true meafure of human merit
19 neither to be taken from the hiftories of
former times, nor from what paiTes in the
more ftriking fcenes of the prefent genera*
tion» The greateft virtues have, probably,

Z i been

342 LETTER: I^XVIII.

been ever the moft obfcure; and, I am
perfuaded} that in all ages of the world mora
genuine heroifm has been overlooked and
unknown, than either recorded or obfervcd.
That alt quid dii)inum yZs Tuliy calls it, that
celeftial fpark which every man, who cool-
ly contemplates his own mind, may difco-
ver within him, operates where we leaft
look for it, and often raifes the nobleft pro-
dudions of virtue in the /hade and obfcu-
rity of life.

But it is time to quit Ipeculatioji for ac-
tion,, and return to the common affairs qf
the world. I fhall certainly do fo with more
advantage, by keeping Philotes ftill in my
. view ; as I (hajl enter into the interefts of
rnankind with more alacrity, by thus cofv-
fidering the virtues of his honeft heart as
Jefs lingular than I am fometimes incline^
tp fuppofe. Adieu,

LET

[343 ]

LETTER LXIX.
To the fame.

Aug. 3, 1735.

LET it not be any difcouragement to
you, Philotes, that you have hither-
to received but little fatisfadtion from thofe
noble Speculations wherein you are employ-s.
ed. " Truth (to ufe the expreffion of the
excellent Mr. WoHafton) " is the offspring
" of unbroken meditations, and of thoughts
** often revifed and corrected. " It requires
indeed great patience and reiblutidn to diffi*
pate that cloud of darknefs which fiirrounds,
her 1 pr (if you will allow me to go to an
old philofopher for my allufion) to draw her
up from that profound well in which (he
lies concealed.

There is, however, fuch a general con-
nexion in the operations of nature, that
the difcovery even of a fingle truth opens
the way to numberlefs others 5 and when
once the mind has hit upon a right fcent,
ihe cannot wholly purfiie her inquiries in
vain:

Z 4 Cane%

344 LETTER LXIX,

Canes ut montivaga perfapeferdi
Naribus invintunt inte^as frwide ijuiefes^
Cum femel injliterunt vejiigia cert a vidi :
Sic aliud ex alio per te tute ipfe videre
^n rebus poterisj cacafque latebras
Infitittare omnes^ et verum protrabere inde^

LucRETf .

It muft be owned neverthelefe, that, iS^
ter having exerted all our fagacity and ia-
duftry, wc fhall fcarce arrive jit certainty ia
many ^culative truths. Providence does
not Teena to have intended that we fhould
ever be in poffeffion of demonftrative know?
ledge, beyond a vf ry limited compafs j
tho at the fame time it cannot be fuppoiedj^
without the higheft injuftice to the benei^
volent Author of our natures, that he has
left any necejfary truths without eviilent
notes of diftindion. But while the poweri
of thenund are d^us linuted in their e^tcntj
tad greatly fallible likewise in their opera-e
tions, is it not amazing, Philotes, thatmatt*
|iind jQuould iniult each other fcr dificrenc©
in opinion, and tre^t every notioi|i that op^
pofcs their own, with obloquy and con-*
lempt ? Is it not amazing that a creature with

L B T T EK LXDC, J45

taints fo precarious and circUiDfcribfedi
ihould ^furp that confidence which cafi
only belong to much Aij)efior beings, and
claim a deference which is due to pertedioa
idone ? Sunely the greateA arrogance cha(
ever entered into the human heart, is that
li^hidi not only pretends to be pofitive itielf
in points wherein the beft and wiiefl have
difagreed, but looks down with all the in^
ibleM foperiority of contemptuous pity on
iho&j, whoie impartial reafonings have led
them into oppoiite conclufions.

There is nothing, perhaps, more evident
th^n that our intelie<£iual faculties are not
£>rfxied by one general ftandard ; and conle-^
quently that divcrfity of opinion is of the
very eflcnce of our natures. It feems proba-t
bie that this difparity extends even to our
ienfitive powers ; and tho we agree indeed
in giving the feme names to certain vifiblc
^pearances> as whitcnefs, for iriftance, to
fnow J yet it is by no means demonftration,
that the particular body which affefts us
widi that fenfatibn, raifes the fame precilp
Idea in any two perfons who fhall happen to
coniempkte it together. Thus I have c^ten
heafd you mention your youngefi; daughter

as

3t« LETT-ER LxtX.'

as being the exad: counter-part of her mo^
thw: now fhe does not appear to ihe to re-
femble her in any fingle feature. To what
can this difagreement in our Judgments be
owing, but to a difference in the ftru6hire
of our organs of fight? yet asjuftly, Philo-
tes, might you difclaim me for your friendf^
and look upon me with contempt for not
difcovering a fimiiitude which appears fb
^dent to your eyes; as any man can abufe
or defpife another for not apprehending the
force of that argument, which carries jcon-
viftion to his own underftanding.

Happy had it been for the peace of the
world; if our maintainers of fyftems either
in religion or politics, had conducted their
feveral debates with the full impreffion of
this truth upon their minds. Genuine phi^
lo^fophy is ever, indeed, the leaft dogmatic
cal^ and I am always- inclined to fufped: the
force of that argument, which is obtruded
with arrogance and fufficiency. . . -

I AM wonderfully pleafed with a paffege
I met with the other day in the preface to
Mr. Boyle's Philofophical eflays ; and would
recommend that cautious fpirit, by which
be profefles ta have conduced himfelf in

his

LETTER LXIX. 347

his phyfical refearches, as worthy the im?-

tation of inquirers after truth of every

kind. ■ '

" Perhaps you will wonder, fays he,

^ that in almoft every one of the following

* eflays, I ihould ufc fo often, perhaps^ it
' feemsy 'tis not improbable , as arguing a dif-
' fidence of the truth of the opinions I in-.

* dine to; and that I fliould be fo fhy of
' laying down principles, and fometimes

* of J(b much as venturing at explications.

* But I muft freely confefs, that having
' met with many things of which I could

* give myfelf no one probable caufe, and

* fome things of which feveral caufes maiy
' be affigned fo differing, as not to agree

* in any thing, unlefs in their being all of

* them probable enpugh; I have often
' found fuch difficulties in fearching into

* the caufes and manner of things, and I

* am fo fenfible of my own difability to

* furmount thofe difficulties, that I dare

* fpeak confidently and pofitively of very

* few things, except matter of fad:. And

* when I venture to deliver any thing by
^ way of opinion, I ihould, if it were not

* for m?re fhame, ipeak yet more diffi*

" dently

348 LETTER IJKIX.

*« hAvctny thoughts i>«o^pgctboridi&wH
«« in forming notions and attempting toidcK
^ vHeliypddidbs. fiiitlhaveiaitthc!rio(tho
^^ not iismfis,, yet oot mxfD^c(»Q]itfy) limnd
^' that w!hat.pieai<^ ix»e for a while, Mrats
^< ibon after :ili%i:^BK:ed l^ Ibme farther Or
^ new lexperisnent. Aiid, indeed, I ^ha^t;
"^^ ihelcfe cnvfed many i(forI feynotj*?//)
<' <£ thoTe ^ters who ^va taloeii Bpoft
^' ibemtodeHvtrtbet^fmfecfihin^, aj^
^< rex^lknte the isnyfteftes of itiater^, :fisice f
•* have had the ppportombf to dbferve how
'^^ many of ; their dofbines, a&eriiaving
*^ been ferbivyie applauded and even ad^
< ' mined, have afterwanb beea confuted by
'^^ fomeiiewphKBhotiieaoniniiatii^
^^ iwas eithef unknown tQ ^dh writets, dr
^* ii0t fufficientiycconfidered by them.^

If pofiliycne&tixnildheconis any man in
Miy point of mere fpccubttion, knunfthave
heen this truly noble phik^her when he
VTM ddivering the cefult 10^ his ikuliesin a
ifcience, whisrcm, :by thesmilied con^^oA
of the whole w»tld» he fix em»eatly excels
ied. But ht haid ( «bo -. tmdk generofity t6
lire&ribe^his <ywii n^om asa meafure tt}

tho

t E T T JE R LXX: 349

the j^ci^eftt c^ QiKers^ and too owch good
£mS^ to a&rt tibuem with hc^A or coo^

Whoever^ PhUoCe^ pmfuc&his fpewhr
^QAs wUh thi« iMimbls iimrrogaiiBg tetv^
ptF of fiiin4 a94 with th^ b^ c^xeirtioii c^
^Q^ iicalti^ whkh ProYid4iice hasaffigi^
e4 biinj; tib^ h« flymld opt find thss coa*^
uddiion^ j;i>ever» iwely> cap he fail of tbd
re^^jard of tmth. I ^m%. ^fit

LETTER LXX.
lb Palamedes.

r

IF QMlicehad oever bfc^e^ioofe upon tho
WQr]4> ^iU it £sl«!d your fc^utsrtiom J
QQdfght f adbnablf Goadoif9 with you oa faUr^
ing the %ft f%cy to its^ luureihaiiied r^^e.
But (his j^)e£tre has hduntod mecit eJoioA
Dram its ^eartieft ^^ii3fenc€i : and whoa aU
manikin wcfceas y«i yictuidBd wajlhm a ^
^ family* qdw ef tfaein^ we ksow* r^ >
Hf^in tn»iigntty of fo^l^a|nfthi3 inoM^otf

l^thor.. Virstufc, it^oftW feom. d6iei^<««,

kas 11$^: Idteen tipol

hctr «)iiiSKint pejcTocujbQr^ tQibee^

or

}50 LETTER LtiCi

or dejedted at an appearance fb cpmmttfl;
The truth of it is, (he muft either renouncd
her noblefl theatre of aftion, and feclude
hei-felf in cells and defarts, or be contented
to; ehter iipon the'ftage of the \vorld witK
this fiend in her train. Shecannot triumph,
if ftie will not be traduced 3 and flie ihould
eonfider the clamors of cenfure, when join-*
cd'With her own confcious applaufe, as fo
many acclanlations that cottfirm her vic-

tory.

Let thofe who harbor this worfl of hu-
man difpofitions, eonfider the many wretch-
ed and contenaptible circumftances which
attend it : but it is the bufinefs of him who
unjuftly fu^ff^^'frotii it, to refka how X
faiay be turii6d^ to his advantage. Remem*
\kt then, nly frieiid, that Generofity would
lofe half her dignky , if malic6 did not con-
tribute to her elevation ; and he that has
nev^fr been-ii^uied, has never ha:d it iahis
pow^nto ejTircHb the nobleft privilege of he-
roic vlf tue. ^Thef e is another confolatiort
which may;bb 4erived from the rancbr of
the wcttld, as it -will i'nftru<9: one in- a piece
of knowledge of the moft fingular ben^t
in our |)rogrefs thro it : It ' will teach us to

diftinguifti

LF T T E R LXX. 3^1

diftinguifh genuine friendfhip from counter-
feit. For he only who is warmed with the
real flame of atmity, will riie up to fupport
his fingle negative, in oppofition to the cla^-
morous votes of an undiftinguifliing mul-
titude.

^ He indeed, who can fee a cool and deli-
berate injury done to his friend, without
feeling himfelf wounded in his mofl: fenfiblQ
pairt^ has never known the force of the moft
generous of all the human aflre(9ions. Eve-
ry .man who has not taken the facred name
of Jfriendfliip in vain, will fubfcribe to thofc
ientiments which Homer . puts into the
mouth of Achilles, and which . Mr. Pope
^s opened and enlarged with fuch inimita-
ble ftrength and fpirit :

A gen rous friend/hip no cold medium knows^
Burns with one Jovey with one refentment

glows y
Ofte Jhould our infrejis and our pqffions be:
My friend muji bate the man that injures me.^

It\may greatly alfo allay the pain whkh at-*

teods the wounds of defamation,'and which

«e always moft feverely felt by thofe who'

. ^ lead

3i2 L le T Tl: k L3Qt.

leaft dei^'ve them; to relied, thgt dlcl
tnalice genefally flings thp &rft flone, it ii
folly and ignoFance, it h indol^nee of irre-*
fokttion, which are principally cooperned
in fwelling the heap. When the tide of
cenfure runs ftrongly againft any pardciitar
charaftef , Ae generality, of mankind are
too earelefe oc too impotent to wkhftand
Ae current : and thus, without any parti-
cular malice in their own natures, are ofit
ten indolently carried along with oAers, by
tamely faHing in with the general ftream.
The number of tbofe who really mean one
harm, wili wondcrfutty leflen after the de*
dudtions whfeh may feiriy be made of tfeb
ft)rt : and the cup of unjuft reproach muft
furely loofe much of its bitterndis, where
one is perfuaded that malevolence has the
leal): diare in mingling ^e draught. For
hoAing, peifhaps, ftings a generous mind
more fenfibly in wrongs of this fort, than
to coji^er tiiem its evidences of a general
malignity in human nature* But froitt
whatever caufes thefe ftorms may arife. Vir-
tue i?wulid BQt be truc;to her aw|i native
privilcgC5>.if ihc fuffered herfdf to fink utt*
cbor thenou ItisirQmthat'£lrength:aiid.firni-

nefs

1 ETTE R LXXl. 353

ndt wbich u^v^fit totentbiis wxil ever fe-
cufte tQ ari honcft mindi diat Faltmedes^ I
am pcr&dded will ttoid fapedor ta thofe
umnctitcd rejpifoaches^ Vfbkh aflkik fars

aqndfl: the Iktle noife and ftrifb of igwxna,
en* malkknis tofistctes* Parewe).

LETTER LXXL

jfo PHILOTES*

«

... April 9^ i^j^o,

T^iiit is fK> advantage which at-
tends a popnhr gemus that I am ib
much inclmed to envy, as the privilege of
rcwfcring merit eonipicuous* An author
who has railed die attention of the public
to hi& prodoiSions, and gained a whole na-^
tion lor his audience, may be confidered as
guardfeiv of the temple of Faihe^ and inveft-
ed with the prerogathre of giving enitrance
to whomfbever he deems worthy of that
glorious diftinOion* Beit the praife of an
ordinary writer obftruiSts rather than ad-
vances the honor due to merit, and fuHies
the luff re ir means to celebrate/ Impotent

A a panegyric

SS4 LETTER LXXl.

panegyric operates- iilce a blight wherever it
falls, and injures all that it touches. Ac-
cordingly, Henry the. IV, of France was
iWont^lmmoroufly to afcribe his early grey
hairs, to the eflSeft of muxrberlefs wfietdied
Qomplich^nts, Which were paid him by a
certain ridiculous ofator of his timesv .-JBut
tho the wreaths of Folly fhould not dif-
grace tlie temples tEEy fufround j they wi-
dier, atl^aft, as.foQii as recdved : and if
they fhould not be offenfive, moft certainly,
however, they wilf bd.tranfient. Where-
as thofe- on the contrary, with which an
Horace oj; a Boijeau; aa Addifon or a Pope^
have crowned the virtues of their cpnt^-
poraries, are as permanent as they are illu-
ftrious, and will preferve their colors and
fragrance to renioteil ag^s*

If I could thus weave the garlands of un-
fading fapplaufe ; if I were in the number
of thofe chofcn ipirits whofe approbation is
fame-^ your friend fhould not want that
diflinguifhing tribute which his virtues de-
fcrve, and you requefl. I would tell the
world (and tell it in a voice tha^ibx>uJd be
heard far and remembred long) that Euie*
bcS) with all the knowledge and experience

' - \' - " " : • ^

LETTER LXXL ZSS

of theie later ages, has all the innocence and
fimplicity of the earlieft : that he enforces
the dodtrines of his facred flindion, not
.with the vain pomp of oftentatious elo-
quence, but with the far more powerful
perfualion of aftive and exemplary virtue :
.that he ibftens the feverity of precept with
.the eafe and familiarity of converfation, and
.by generoufly mingling with the meaneil
committed to his care, infinuates the in-*
firuiftor under the air of the companion :
that whilft he thus fills up the circle of his
private jftation, he ftili turns his regards to
the public, and employs his genius, his in-*
duftry, and his fortune in profecutmg and
perfedting thofe difcoveries, which tend
moil: to the general benefit of mankind : in
a word, that whilft others of his order are
contending for the ambitious prizes of eccle-
iiaftical dignities, it is his glorious prehemi^
nence to merit th^ higheft, without enjoy-
ing, or fbiiciting, even the loweft. This, and
yet more than this, the world (hould hear
of youi' friend, if the world were inclined
to liften to my voice. But tho you perhaps,
PhilqteS, may be willing to give audience
to^my Mufe,

A a 2 natnque

3i6 LETTER LXXH,

namgue Tujakias
Meas e^ aligtdd pufara tmgas^. Qmtvl^

can fhe hope to And fatror Kfecwife m Ac
fight of the pubKc ? Let me ihcn^ ratifeer
content myfelf with the filent adminttoti of
thofe virtues, which I am not worthy to ce-
lebrate ; and leave it to others to ph^cc Ac
good works of Ettfebcs where they may
Jffnne forth before men. I am:, &c.

^' «■■ J ilWi^^— T*ifl»»^l^^iffc

.LETTER LXXa

To thi fame.

Dee. 7 1747.

THE vlfits of a friend, like thofe of
the fim at this feafon, are eitremciy
enlivening. I am fure at leaft diey would

both be particularly acceptable to-meatpre-
fent, when my mind is as much overcaft
as the heavens. Thbpe, therefore, you wiH
not drop the defign your Letrqrintimates, of
Ipending a few day^ with me in your way
to * * *. Your company will greatiy contri-
bute to diipcrfe thofe clouds of melancholy
which the lofs of a very valuable friend has

hung

LETTER LXXII. SS7

hung over me. There is rometbing, in*
<leed> in the firft moments of reparation from
thofe^ whom a dally commerce and long
habitude of friendfhip h^s grafted upon the
heart, that diforders our whole frame of
thought, and difcolors all one's enjoyments.
Let Philofophy affift with the utmoft of her
vaunted ftrength, the mind cannot imme*
diately recover the firmnefs of its pofture^
when thofe amicable props upon which it
ufed to reft, are totally removed. Even
the moft indifferent objects with which wc
have long been faniiliar, take fome kind of
root in pur hearts ; and ^^ I fhould hardly
<< care'" (as a celebrated author has, with
great good-nature, obferved) ** to have an
** old poft pulled up, which I remember'd
<* ever fiace I was a child."

To know how to receive the full fatisfac-
tion of a prefent enjoyment, with a diipo-
iition prepared at the fame time to yield it
up without reluiflance, is hardly, I doubt,
recoi;icileable to humanity : pain in being
difunited from thofe we love, is a tax we
inuft be contented to pay, if we would en-
jpy the pleafures of the fecial affedtions.
One would not wiih, indeed, to be whol-

Aa3 ly

3i8 LETTER LXXit

ly infenfible todifquietudes of this kind: and
we muft renounce the moft refined relifli of
our being, if we would upon all occafions
poffefs our fouls in a Stoical tranquility.

That antient philofopher whofe pre-
cept it was, to converfe with our friends as
if they might one day prove our enemies,
has been juftly cenfured as advancing a very
* ungenerous maxim. To remember, how-
ever, that we muft one day moft certainly
be divided from them, is a refleftion * me-
thinks, that fhould enter with us into our
tender cohnedions of every kind. From
the prefent difcompofure, therefore, of my
own breaft, atnd from that fhare which I
take in whatever may affeft the . repofe of
yoursj I cannot bid you adieu, without re-
minding you at the iame time of the ufe^^
fill caution of one of your poetical aci[jiiaintr»
ance :

^icquid amas, cupias mn placuijfe nimis^
I am, ^c,

LET-

( 3S9 ]

LETTER LXXIII.

To Palam^edes.

J

Feb, 13, 1 741.

IF one would rate any particular merit
according to its true valuation, it may
be neceflary, perhaps, to confider how far
it can be juftly claimed by mankind in ge-
neral. I am fure at leaft, when I red the
very uncommon fentiments of your laft let-
ter, I found their judicious author rife in
my efteem, by reflefting, that there is not
a more Angular character in the world, than
that of a thinking man. It is not merely
having a fucceflion of ideas,, which lightly
fkim over the mind, that can with any pro-
priety be ftyled by that denomination. It
is obferving them fcparately and diftindtly,
and ranging them under their rcfpedlive
claffes ; it is calmly and fteddily viewing
our opinions on every fide, and refolutely
, tracing them thro all their confequences and
connexions, that conftitutes the man of re-
flexion, and diftiriguiflies reafon from fan-
cy. Providence, indeed, does not feem to
have formed any very confiiderable Aumber

A a 4 of

36o LETTER, LXXIIL

of our Ipecies for an extenfivc cxerciic of
this higher feculty j as the thoughtt of the
far greater part of mankind are jieccffarily
reftrained v^ithin the ordinary purpofes of
animal life. But if we look up even to
thofc who move in much fuperior <)rbk%
and who have opportunities to improve,^ ai
well as leifure to e^ercife their underiland^
iiigs ; we (hall find, that thinking i« one. of
the lafl elected privileges of cultivated hu«
manity.

It is, indeed, m operation of the mind

which meets with titiaiiy obftrui^liobs to
check its juft and fir^e dke(3ioni but
there are two principles which prevail mmt
or lefs in the conftitutions of moft m^n^ diat
particularly contribute to keep thi$ faculty,
of the foul unemployed ; I mean pride aad
indolence. To defcend to truth thro the
tedious progreHion of well examioed de«
du<ftion$, is confidered as a reproach to lh«
quicknefs of underftanding 5 as it is much,
too laborbus a mediod for ajiiy, but thofe
who are poflefled of a vigorous and r^folute
adivity of mind. For this reafon^, t|»e great-
er part of our fpecies generally cboc^ either
to feize upon their coxKlufion« at oace,- or

to

L E T T E k LXXni: ^6r

to take them by r Aound ifrom others, as
beft fuiting with their vanity or their lazi-
aefs. Thus Mr. Loc45:e obferves, th^t
there are not fo many errors and wrong
opinions in the world, as 5s generally ima-
gined. Not that he thinks mankind are by
any means uniform in embracing truth; but
becaufe the majority of them, he maintains^
have no thought or opinion at all about
thoie dodrines, concerning which diey rmfe
Ae greateft clamor. Like the common fol-
diers in an army, they follow where their
leaders dired, without knowing, or even
inquiring into the caufe for which they fo
warmly contend.

This will account for the flow fteps by
which truth hzs advanced in the world, oft
one fide ; and for thofe abfurd fyftems
which, at different periods, have had an
univerfal currency on the other. For there
is a ftrange diipofition in human nature, ei-
dlueir blindly to tread the fame paths diat
have been travcrfed by others, or to ftrikc
out into the moft devious extravagancies :*
the greater part of the world will either to-
tally renounce their realbn, or reafon pnly

from'

^6z LETT E R LXXIII.

from the wildibggeftions of arvheated ima*
gination.

From the fame fource may be derived
thofe divifions and animoiities, which break
the union both of public and private focie-
ties, and turn the peace and harmony of hu*
man intercourfe into diflbnance and conten*
tion. For while men judge and zA by
fuch meafures as have not been proved by
the jQiandard of difpaflionate reafon, they
mufl equally be miftaken in their eflimates
both of their own condudt and that of
others.

If we turn our view from adtive to con-
templative life, we may have occafion, per-
haps, to remark, that thinking is no lefs un-
common in the literary than the civil worlds
The number of thofe writers who can
with any juftnefs of expreflion be termed
thinking authors, would not form a very co-
pious library, tho one were to take in all of
that kind which both antient and modern
times have produced. NeceiTarily, I ima-
gine, muft one exclude from a colle<^on
of this fort, all critics, commentators, mo-
dern Latin poets, tranflators, and, in {hovty
^l that numerous under-tribe in the com-

monwealth

LETTER LXXHL 3^3

itionwealth of literature Aat owe their ex-.
iftence merely to the thoughts of others. I
fliould rgedl for the fame reafon fuch com-
pilers as Valerius Maximus and AulusGel**
lius : tho> it mufl be owDed indeed, their
works have acquired an accidental value, a8
they preferve to us feveral curious traces o£
antiquity, which time would otherwifb
have entirely worn out. Thofe teeming
geniufes likewife, who have propagated the
fruits. of their ftudies thro a long ieries of
tracts, would have little pretence, I believe,
to be admitted as writers of refle<9:ion. For
llys reafon I cannot regret the lofs of thofe
incredible numbers of compofitiojns, which
fome of the antients are faid to have pro«»
duced :

^alefuit Cajft rapt do fervent ius amni
Internum ^ capfis quern fama eji ejje^ librifyue
lAmbuJlum propriis. Hor^

Thus Epicurus,, we are told, left behind
hipi three hundred volumes of his own
works, wherein he had not inferted a iingle
quotation j and we haye it upon the autho-
rity of Varro's own words a, that he him-

f This pafTage is to be found in Aul. Gellius, who
quotes it from a treatife which Vaxro had written con-*

fel£

V

364- L E T T E fe LXXra.

fblf cocnpo&id fi>nr inii^ed and mmtf
books. Seneca aflims ia£» that Didyraus
die grammarian tmrote no ie& than four
thoufand 1 but Otigen, it {ecfJOBy was yet
l»ore prolific, and extendi^ bis perform-
ances even to fix tfaouland treatiies. It is
(^vk)U6 to imagine with what fbrt of mate<-
i4al« the pFod>u6ion$ of fndi expeditions
workmen were wrought up: found thought
and well*matured reflexions couid have no
fhare, we may be fure, in dicie hafly per*-
£3Fmance6. Thus ^e books multiplied,
whilft authors are fcarce ; and ib much ea*
£er is it to write than to think! But fha^l
I not myfelf, Palamedes, prove an inilance
that it is fo, if I iiiipend any longer your
own more important reflections, by inter-.
rupting you with fuch as mine ? Adieu,

concerning the wonderful t&As of the nuAiber Seven%
B ut the fubjedl of this piece cantiot be more ridiculous,
than die ftyle in which it appears to have been compof-
cd : for that moft learned author of his times (as Cicero^
if I nniftake jiot, fomewhere calls him) informed his rea*
dera tn that performance, fejam duodeeimiim -mmorum
hibdQmad4Wi mgreffiitn ijfe^ it ad mm ^mfiptupghia.

Mdmadas Ubr^rum conjcrifjtffu Aul. GeU. iii. 10.

•

L E T-

LETTER LXXIV.

f

To ORONTEfr. •

IT' is with miKh pteafure I k)ok ba^ck u^
oo^MfphiiDib^cal: wtek, which I kte^
fy.enjoyed at *'* * ^ aa.thcrc isijio part, pei*-
helps, of fecial lifby whkh aibrds more fiea^
fiiidsla^lion) thin iho& hours which oRp
pafles iA' tkmnai azid: amsdervtd cofwer^ir
«k>n. Tk0 fiee commnnication of Sts^
meitts amoD^ft a fet of ingenious and ipi^u^
Idtiye 6^ien<3S) fiich as diofe you ga^re me the
€i^>p^)Ftunity of meetings d)row$ the eqind
iittto the mofl: advantageous exercife/ aiikd
i^ws the fh^ngth or weaknei^ of its opni-
ons wiih greater force of couvidtbn, ^aa
ai^7 other nxedbod we can employ.
' That it is not gt^d Jhr man to be akne^
k true in more views of our ipecies thaa
6ne ; and fodety gives ftrength to our rea*
. &n as well as poliib to our manners. The
foiily when left entirely to her own: fotitaiy
contemplatioAS, is infenfibiy drawn by afert
of Gonftitutional bias, which generally leads
her opinions to the fide of her inclinations.
Hence it is that ihe Contradls thofe peculiar

rities

/

^66 LETT E R LXXIV^.

rities of rcafoniiig, and totlc^baiifs of think-
ing, which fo often confirm her in die moft
fstntaftical erfcwSi But nothing.is more like-
ly to recover the mind from this falfe bent,
dban the counter^warnith of inlpartial dc-^
bate. Converfatbn opens our viewsji and
giv^s our faculties a mpre vigorous play ;
it puts us upon turning our notions on ciye^
ry fide, and holds diehi up to a light that
tiifcovers thofe latent flaws^ which would
probably haVe lain conc^led in the gloonai
of unagitated abilraiStion* Accordingly one
may remark, that moft of diofe wild doc^
trines, which have: been let loole upon the
world, have generiilly owed their birth to
perfotis, whiofe circumftances or diipoii^
tions have given them the feweft opportu*-
nities of Canvaffing their refpe(3ive fyftems^
ih the way of free and friendly debate. Had
the authors of many an extravagant hypo-^-
thefis, difcufled their principles in private cir-r
cles, ere they had given vent to them in
public ; the robfervation of Varro had ne^
ver,* perhaps, been made (or never at. leaflb
-with fo much jiiftice) that "there is^ no
opinion fo abfurd, but has fome philofo^
pher or ddier to produce in it§ fupport/'

C€

.i*

LETTER LXXIV. 567

Upon this principle, I imagine, it is,
. tiiat fonie of the fineft pieces of antiquity
"aire written in the dialogue-manner. ' Plato
and Tully, it (hould feem, thought truth
could never be examined with more advan-
tage, than amidft the amicable qppofition
of well-regulated converfe. It is probable,
indeed, that fiibjefts of a ferious and philo-
fophical kind, Were more frequently the to^
pics of Greeks and Roman converfations,
Aan they arc of ours; as the circumftances
'of the world had not yet "given occafion to
thofe prudential reafons whidi may now,
perhaps^ reftrain a more firee exchange of
fentiments amohgft us, - There was fome-
thing, likewife, in the very fcenes them-
felves where they ufually affembled, that
almoft- unavoidably turned the ftream of
their converfations into this ufeful chanel.
Their rooms and Gardens were generally
adorned, you know, with the ftatues of the
greateft mafters of reafon that had then ap-
peared in the world; and while Socrates
or Ariftotle flood in their view, it is no
Wonder their difconrfe fell ujpon thofe fub-
jedts, which fuch animating reprefentations
would naturally fpggeft. It is probable,

therefore.

^<8 hBJ: T E R I^XXIV-

therefore^ that maay of thofe aotieat pieces
whjjQli are drawn xip ip the dialogue man-*
nejfy. were no imaginary conyerfations in^
vented by their authors ; but faithful tiaxv*
fcripts froinkreaL liib* Aud it is this circum^
fiance, perhaps^ .as much: a$ my other,
which contributes to give them that ret-
imrkable advantage over the ^oerality of
modern compofitions,. which . have been
formed upcXfao^pW. I «»fwe,*
leaA^ I could icarce name iQore.thaa thre^
or four of this Jcind which have appeared
in our langu^gCy worthy lof , notice, Mf
lord Shafteibury's dia^ogu^ entitled The
moraliils; Mr< Addiibas )^pon antienC
Coins i Mr. Spcnce's- upon the Odyflby j
toother witk thofe of my very ingenious
£:iexid Philemon to Hydai^e$> are^ aimojft,
the ooily podudions ,in this way^ which
have hiUiqrto come forth amongit us with
advantage* Th€& indeed, are all maikcr
pieces of the kMij and ''written in die trac
ipirit of learning and poiitenefs* The co^
ver£ition in each of thefe moft eleg^ht pes^
ibrmances is condu<3:ed, not in the ufu^
abfurdl i^ethod of ijatroduciqg.Qlie difputant
to he tvnely fileijced by the othen 3 but ia

the

LETTER LXXIV. 3<j^

tiie more lively dramatic manner^ where a
juft contraile of characters is preferved
throughout, and where the feveral fpeak-
ers fupport thbir refpedliye fentiuents with
all the. flrength and fpirit of a well-bred
t)ppQfition.

But of all the converfktbn-pieces, whe*
iher antieht or modern^ either of the mo^
ral or politb kind^ I kndw not one which is
more elegantly written ^ than the little ano^
nymous dialogue concerning the rife and de*
dinec^Eloquenceamong the Romans. Icall
it anonymous, tho I am fehiible it has been
afcribed, not only to Tacitus and Quin^«
lian, but even to Suetoniui^ The reaibnss
which the critics have refpedlively produced
are fo exceedingly precarious and indon-^
clttiivei that one muft have a very extrabr^
dinaiy fhare of clafiical faith indeed, to
receive it^ as the performance of any of
thofe celebrated writers. It is evidently^
however, a compofition of that period in
which they fiorifhed : and if I were dif*
pofed to indulge a conjedure, I ihould be
inclined to give it to the younger Pliny. It
exadUy coincides with his age ^ it is addref^^
fed to one of his particular friends and cor*
; 3 b reipondents}

r6fpon(knts i k k madced widi ibme fbiic-'
larexpreffions aind feiMifneiits. Bot as argu-^*
m€^nts of this kind ape 4sdway8 more itnpof^
ing than iblid> I recommend it to jou as
a piece, concerning . the author of which^
nothing fatisfadtory can be cplleftedv This
I may one day or other, perhaps, attempt
to prove in form, as I have stfnafed myfelf
with giving it an Englifli drcfe. In the
mean time I havetiic^ofed my titOifiation in
diis packet ; not only with a view to your
fentiteents, but in Mtum^to your favor. I
was perfuaded I <>ouid not make you a
better acknowkdgmmt for fSmt pleafiire
of that <:onver£itk>n I iaitely participalsd
through youT' means, than by introduce-
ing you toone, which (if my<x3py is not
extremely ii^UrioU6 to ^ originail) I am
fure, you casHiot Mtend t^ H;^out equal
entertainment and advanGa^. Adieo*

A DiA-

f

\ t

OR A TO R y,

T <5 FABIUI

t t

^OU have frcquciritly, myfrlcnil, re-
% qtiired! me to iffign a rcafon iVheniai
it has happened, diat the Oritbrfeal dia-
raster, ^hich ^rc4d filch a gforiotis lo^t6
npon jformer ages, i^ now fo totally extm^
iamongft us, as ffearc<5 to prefeive even ks
jianle* It is the antfents dtene, yoii obferr j^
ed, whom we dUtin^oHh with that ^pd-
lation J while ^e Eloquent of the prefcnt
times are ftyjfed only pleaders, patrons^
advocates^ or any thing, in fhdrt^ but
Orators.

flAftDLr, t beKeVe> fliould I have at-^
tejupted a folution of your difficulty, or
Ventured upon the examination of a qiic-i
ftion wherein ^e genius of the moderns, if
Ihey cannot, or their judgment, if they

* It is neceSkty to inform thofe Te$iei9 of thefoUaw^
ipgdiahgac wlvi'oR^'he xlb|>Qrqd to ci9n)parie (t with
^^QK^gip^f ^at ^h^ ,«df jt^ jof Heuipannuf, prlntfi^
IktGotfingeti, 1719, has been generally followed,

^ B b a will

3^2 OF ORATORVi

ivill not, rife to the fame heights, muft ne^
ceffarily be given up ; had I nothing of
greater avrthority to oflSsr upon th^ iiibjc^,
thah niy bwn pdrticulkf fentlments. B(it
having been prefent, ^ in the very early part
of my life, at a converfation between fome
perfbns of great eloquence, confidering th^
age in which they lived, who difcufled this
very point 5 my memory, and not njy judg-
ment^ will, be Goncerqed, whilft I endea-^
vori iii their own jlyle and manner, and
according to the regular courfe of their de-*
bate, to lay before you the feyeral reaibn-
ings of thofe celebrated geniuies : each of
them^ indeed, agreably to . the peculiar
turn and charadler oi th^ ipeaker alledging
different, thp probable caufes of the fame
fadt; but all pf them liipporting their re-^
ipe<Sive opinions with ingenuity and good
fenfe. Nor were the orators of the prefeat
age without an advocate in this debate : for
one of the company took the oppoiite fide,
and treating the antien^ with much feveri-
fy and contempt, declared in favor of mo-
dem eloquence.

MAftcusAPEit and Julius Secuhdus,
two diftinguiflied gehlufes pf our forum;

made

A DIALOGUE. 375

made a vifit to Maternus the day after he
had publicly recited his tragedy of Cato: a
piece, which gave, it feems, great offence
to thofe in power, and was much canvafled
in all converfations. Maternus, indeed^
feemed throughout that whole performance
to have confidered only what was fuitable
to the charafter of his hero, without paying
a proper regard to thofe prudential reftraints,
which were neceffary for his own fecurity,
I was at that time a warm admirer and con-
ftant follower pf thofe great men ; infomuch
that I not only attended them when they
were engaged in the courts of judicature j
but, from my fond attachment to the arts
of eloquence and with a certain ardency
peculiar to youth, I joined in all their par^
ties, and was prefent at their moft private
converfations. Their great abilities, how-
ever, could not fecure them from the cri-
tics, who alledged, that Secundus had
by no nieans an eafy elocution ; whilft
Aper, they pretended, owed his reputation
as an orator, more to nature than to art»
It is certain, neverthplefs, that their ob^
jeftions were without foundation.' Thijb
Ipecches of the former were always delivere4

8 b ^ Avith,

3^4 OF ORATORY:

with fuffident flueBcy ; as hk exprefiiofi
was clear, tho concife ; and the iMmt hsd%
inoft undoubtedly, a genteral tin^re of Ik
terature. The truth is, one coutd ndi £>.
I^operly fay, that Aper was ^ui>oy.t^ as
4ilm)€ the afiiilance of learning. He ioiar
^ned, perhaps, the powers and application
of his genius would be fo much the more
admired, as it (Gbould not appear to d^v^
any of its luftre from the acquired arts*

We found Maternus, when we entered
his apartment, with the tragedy in his hami
which he h^ refuted the day before. Are
you then (faid Secundus, addrefling him-is
ielf to him) fo little difcouraged with the
malicious infinuations of thefe ill-natured
<:enfurers, as ftill to cheri£h this obnoxious
tragedy of yours ? Or perhaps, you are re-.
vifing it, in ordento expunge the exce^ption-f
able paiTages^ and purpofe to fend your
Cato into the world, I will not fay with fu«
perior charms, but, at leaft, with greater
fecurity, than in its original form. Yo^
may perufe it (returned he) if you pleafe \
you wiU find it rem^s juft in the fame
iituation as when you heard it red. I |n-?
tend however, that Thyeftes ihall fuppiv

the

^

A DIALOGUE. 375

the.dffe^ of Oslo:- for I am meditating a
tragesfdjt upon that fubje^, and have already^
indeedf farmed the plan. I am haftening^
thercfiire, the publication of this play jn my
hand> thgt J may apply myfelf entircily to
my new defign. Are you then, in good
eari;eft (replied Aper) &> enamored of dra^
inat^ poetry^ as to renounce the bufinefs of
oratory in order to confecrate your whpl^
leifure to^o^Medeaj I think, it was before,
jind n^w, it feems^ to Thyeftes ? \ifhen the
caufes of fo many worthy friend$> the in-«
terefts of fo many powerful cQ^imunities^
demand you in: the forum: a ta& more
than fufBcient to employ your attention^
tfao neither Cato not Domitius had ^ny fhar^
of it; • tho you were not continually turning
from ooe dramatic performance to another,^
and adding the tales of Qre^e to th? hiflor^
of Rome.

I 3Houi<r> be coacemed, anfwec^^ M^
temus^ at the icverity of your cebuke, if
the frequency of oiir debates upon J^s fub^
jfi£t.had not rendered it fomewhai f^giiliar
to me. ! But how (ad4e4 he, frniiing^ cai\
yfoxi QfiCfoff me of deferting the ^ufiaqf^ of
|ny profeflionj when I zm every day eijgan
' ' Bl b ^ ge4

37« OP ORATORV:

ged in defending poetry againft your accuiat
tions ? And I am glad (continued he, look-^
ing towards Secundus) that ^e have now
4.n opportunity pf diicuffing this |)oint be J
fore {o competent a judgp. His deciiion
will eithcfi determine me to renounce all
pretentions to poetry for the future, oi?
(which I rather hope) will be a fandlion fot
my quitting that confiped fpecies of oratory,
in which, Rethinks, I have fufficiently la**
tx)red, and authorize the devoting myfelf
to the more extenfive and Stored eloquence
of the Mufes*

Give me leayp, interpofed Secundus,
before Aper takes exception to his jydge, to
fay, what all honeil ones ufually dp in the
^me circumflances, that T defire to he ex^
cufed from fitting in judgment upon a cauie,
wherein I muft acknowledge myfelf bia&d
in favor of a party concetned. All the
world is fenfible of that ftridt friendfhip
which hgs Ippg fubfifted between rae and
that e^i^cellent tnan, as well as grdlt po^
Saleius BalSus. To which let me add^ if
fhe Mufes are to be arraigned, I know
pf none who can offer more pirevailing

J HAV£

« & « . • »^

A DIALOGUE. sjf

I HAVE nothing to alledge againil Baf^
fas (returned Aper) or any other man, who»
not having tairats for the bar, choofes to
^ftabliih a reputation of. the poetical kind.
Nor fhall I fiifier Maternus (for I am wil^
Hng to join iflue with him* before you) to
fvade my charge, by drawing others into
Ills party. My accu&tion is levelled iingly
tgaixift Him; who, formed ashe is by nature
with a moft mafculine and truly oratpric^l
genius, chooies to fuflfer ib noble a facul^
to lie wafie and uncultivated. I muft re^
mind him> however, that by the exerdie
of this commanding talent, he might at once
both acquire and fupp(»t the moft import
tant friendifaips, and have die glory to fee
whole piodnces and nations rank themielves
under his patronage : a talent of all others,

the moft advantageous^ whether coniidered
with re^d: to intereft, or to honors ; a ta^
lent, in fliort> that affords the moft iiluftri-^
ous means of propagating a reputation, not
only within our own Walls, but throughout
the whole compafs of the Roman empire,
and indeed to the moft diftant nations of
the globe.
If utility ought to be the governmg mo-
tive

J7« OF ORATDRT:

tire of every aiSion and every defign of bur
lives ;. can we peffiUy be empl0jred to bet-«i
ter purpofe^ than In the tsjmifc c^f an tst^
which enid^esa man, upon ail occaiion$^
to fuppdtt die interefl of his friend, t30 pro*
ted the rights of the fifaager, to defend
tile catiie of the injured ? dsat notonly ren^
4er&him theterrorof his open and fecret ad-n
v^faries, hi;tt iedares him^as.it were» by
^ moft firm ^nd pemioneafe guardi
^ Th£^ pardcttl^ uiefulnefs^ indeed, of duf
profbiIi€KQ is e^endy maoifefted in idbe op^
portu^ities it Ibpplies of feiving odiers, tha
Vffit ihould have* no occafion tD.csei^Jls in
our own behalfis liut fhouid.we> upon any
occis^rence, beourfelvesatta^edl;jdi£lfp«c)ffdi
And buckler is not a more poiMorftil defence
itt the dky of battle; than oimtaiy.^tbc diUH

gerou&fjbaioncf'pdD^arrg^iuntot^ Wb4l
had :M2tceUu£ ktfiiy to €^p€>iixit0;th( uoHl^
reimtnientofjllie.whdIc £&i}s)tei bttf Ims ek>f
quence ? Yet iupported by that formid^^
ble auxiliary, he (k)od firaidod unroof ed^^
amldft all the affiuiits of tif e avtfikl Hel^
dki^ : who, notwithfiaiiding he 'wai a mm
of fenfe and elocution, was totally inexpert
m the managqisehtjof j1^ ioct ff contefts^

A PJALCHJUa 5f^

StttI need ACftipfift firther:on,th)«head|
welt perAiaikii w I am, tba( Materow mtUI
not cotKnpvcrt ,£) <:lear a mil]»* RfNther let
pae ol^fervc tb^ pUafMne. vviuioh attends th«
ocercUb qf ; jthe perfuafive arts { a pteaiwcj
which dDe$ not ari& poiy o^oe^ perhap^^ in
a whole lif<;^ but flows ia a perpetual ieries
qf gmtific^tioQS* Wba| can be more agrcT
pble to a lib^ail IUk} in^^enuo^s nundj former
ed with aireliib of ratjional enjoy mentSv than
|o ite dne'ski^ cioiidfcd wi^ aconcoori^
{iC dftt fQoft illiArious potfenages ; not as
$dlQWit$ ^yom mtcttA^ or jour power;
not beca«fe.yoiii'are rich and deftitute of
l^\i% I but imgfy m cofiifidiemtton of your
^pertor (|UaIiiieatiQns* Jtis not unufual
wpon ditfe occtfions, to obferve the weal<t
^y, ^ ^wetfiil^ and the duldlefs^ ad**
(kel£ogthcsEnieIvestoayoiuig.man (andprof
bdkbl)^ ao ridh tme) in. favor of thenifelves or
ifaeir friends. Tell noe now> has authori-p
^ or Wdakh a. cbairn^, eq\ial to the fatisfacr
tion of thiK b^ioldang pcirip^fi of jthe high^
fft dignity, venerable by th^ir age, or powr
erfal by daeir i:i?edit, in the fall enjoyment
of >eyqrf eternal advantage, courting your
^^(ba<:e:» alicl tacitly ackaowledging, that^
. , grwt

386 OF ORATORYr

great and diiUnguiihed as tihey are, diere
is ibmething ftilt wanting to them more va-
luable than all their pofleflions ? Reprefent
to yourfelf the honorable croud of clients
condu6ting the orator from his houfe^ and
attending him in his return : think of the
gloridus appearance he makes in public, the
diftinguifhing refpefi: that is paid to him in
die courts of jiidicature, the exultation of
h^rt when he rifes up before a full audi-
ence, huHied in folemn filence and fixed
attention, preiBing round the admired
ipeaker, and receiving every pailion he
deems proper toraife? Yetthd(e are but
the ordinary joys of eloquence, and vifible
to eveiy common obicrver. There are
others, and thofe far. fuperior, of a more
concealed and delicate kind, and of which
the orator him&If can alone be fenfible*^
Does he iland forth prepared with a ftudi-*
ed harangue ? As the composition, fb the
pleafure, in thi$ inftance, is more foUd and
equal. If, on the other hand, he rifes in a
new and unexpected debate, the previous
folicitude which he feels upon fuch occa«
fions, recommends and improves the plea^t
jure of hi; fuccefs ; as indeed the mdft' ex*»

quifit;x

A DIALOGUE. 381

quifite iktisfit^on of this kind is> when lie
boldly hazards the unpremeditated ^ech^
For it is in the produdtions of genius, as ixk
the fruits of the earth ; thoie which ariib
ipontaneouil^, are ever dbe inoft agreable.
lif I may venture to mention myielf, I muft
acknoviriedge, that neither the fatisfadtion
I received when I was firft invefted with the
laticlave, nor even when I entered upon
the feveral high pofts. in the Aate ; tho the
pjeafure was fa/eightened to me, not only a$
thofe honors were new to xny family^ but
as I was bom ip a city by.jK) means favora^.
ble 10 my pretentions :— -The warm trani^
ports, J fay, whkrh I felt ^ thofe times^
were far inferior to the joy which has glow-
ed in my breaft^ when I have fuccefsfuUy
exerted my humble talents in defence of
thofe caufes and clients committed to my
t^e.. To ifay^truth, I imagined myfelf, at
^ch ieafon^, ^ to be raifed above the high«
^{l dignities;^ and in the pofieffioA of fbme*
thing far more valuable, than either the fa«^
vor of the great, or the bounty of the rich
can ever beftow.

Of all the arts or fciences, there is not
one, which crowns its votaries with a repu^

tation

.4

j8t OB Oft A TOR y^

tataon in any ^degree compca'alde to tfiM ^
dbquchce« U 15 not cMitf Ihbfe t^ a mor4
exalted mnk iiitha Aace, who are wknet&d
of the orator^ fa^e y k is ektend^d to &€
d[>fervatk)ii ^vttf «if our VWy f6««^ of anj^
E(^ies or m^^ Wliof^ exalte, ferin-^
ftanoe, do pmnu^moit frequently recom-
mbnd to dbie&r fons ? <^ m4io am men thd
gasis and admii^ti^ of €m peoj^e in gene*
ral ? whitft €V6ry ikangef thc^ mrivee, li
tufioirt of Tcfeihg khemm^ ^^%hofe <^a^
rftder he has heard ftidi h&nbuf^^Me reports

I will vetOQtt'ib'.i^Smr Ait Marcclkis,
\H^bm I juft ^o\r meM6tl&Sii fHfd Vibiua
(^ I choo^ te bt>^dtic^ ffle^ iniftanods iroai
nfiodcrn tirae$;-^afil^^than ftoM thofe moft
*pm6te) art a^'iVell fenowniii the nioft di*
ft&nt corners of the empi«, tis Aey are aX
Capmi or Vercelte 5 the ^laces^ k is fidd, rf
their rcfpet^e nativity t •ah lionor^ foi^
\HMch they are by no me^s indebted to
their immcttfe tidhe^. ()h the cctotrary,
dicii- weal^ toajf ^ttftly, itfhocrM fiscta, htf
afcribed to thi^r tfoquencfe. ' Every age>
indeed, can produce perfonsrdT'geniuS, Who,
by means bf this powerful tiaieht,. have raif-
ed'themfelves to the mo# esialted ftation-

Bur

A RIALOGUB. ^^^

But the mftaj^es { judnow mentioned, ar^
not drUWA from diAaai: dmes : they fall,
within • the obfervatjon of evir own eyes^
Now the moire objure the original ^trac«
tion of thqfe. iU^ftrious periSbnG was, the
tnore hiimhifi the pfttriniony to which they
were boi*n» ft) niuch ftrougcr proof they
iafibrd of the great advaotagd ^of the orato-
rical arts. A€C(»^gly»wlfboittthereoc>m«
mendatioa of family or fortune ; without*
anything very extraoixiinary 10 their virtioe^ i
(and ofi« of ^Mm nrit^er coatesnptibie in U^
addr0&) ^^ h^ye ior mmy years ftoain^
tgaaed<9h(^ higheft credh ^An^ authority
among their fellow citizens. Thus, front
t)ei^ijyflft 19 the forjHw, where they pre^
%5^(^ir ii^StkigMQ^ eminence as l(^ng
«s they-thpH^^ iwoperj tfeey have|»ffed
01^ to|(h^ efij(9}rment of tk^ fw^ high rank
in Ve|pa$^i>'«. &v&c, whofe/efteem for them
iibems tq 49e a&is&A even wii^ a degree of
« revtercme;: a$isidoedlth^>hoth £upp<Mt and
oeMludi:]^ whode wn^t 06 hisadnuniAra^
liotit .^Chtt:exeeUjnttiifid v^enem prto^
{whc^^Qgular oharftSto'.itis, l&athe i^n
ettdttc^iateqir tm&).Wdi j|zn^^ that the
fcft'ofSiiB iarq^ites fus«iifliiigui(hed ondy as
. a ( th^y

^84^ OF ORATORYi

4

diey are the obje£ts of his munificence : lAii
Applies of which he can eafily raiie, and -
with the fata6 facility confer on others^
Whereas Crifpus and Marceiius recom-
mended themfelves to liis notice, by advan-^
tages which no earthly potentate either did,-
or could, beftow* The truth c^ it is, in-^
icriptions^ and ftatoes, and eniigns of dig-^*
nity could claim but the ioweft rank, amidft
fbeir more illuftrious diftindiotis. NoC
that they are unpoirefTed of honors of this
Idnd, any more than they are deftitute of
Wealiii or power: advantages, much of-^
tener afFe<^edfy depretiated, than £ncerely
de^ifed.

Such, my fHeiidi are the ornaments^
Ind futh the rewards oi an early applica*^
tion to the bufinefs of the forttm, ^tid the
arts of oratory? But poetry, to which Ma-^
fernus wiihes to devote his days, (fbr it waft
that which gave rife to our debate) confers
ndther digni^ on herfoliowarsinpardcularj
nor advantage on foeiety in g^nt^ral* The
whole amount of her preteftfidn^ is^hothing
more, than the traniient pleafure of a. vain
and fruiUefs applaufe. Perhaps vi^t I have
already &id^ and am going to^ add^ m^

not

/

A D I A L a G U E; :> jlg J

hbt be yerjr i^eablti to my friend Mater-^
mi : hxivrcveti I will venture to afk him^
wfakt avuls the eloquence of his Jafon or
Agamf^Enhon ? what motal does it either
defend or oblige? Who is it that courts die
ji)atronagei or joins the feraini of Bafifus,
that ingenious (or if you think the term more
honorable) that illuibious poet ? Eminent
^s he nitay be^ if his friend> his reladon^ or
himfelf were involved in any litigated tranA
a<£tionsi h^ would be under the necefiity of
havilig rbcouife to Secundus ^ or perhaps td
you, my: friend b : but by no means^ how-
ever^ as you are a poets ^d in order to fo«
licit you to beflow ibmt verfes upon him t
for verfes he can cotnpoie himfefj fair, it
feemsi and goodly,-i-»Yet after alii whfen he
has at: the coft of mijch timcy ajid many
a labored luculMrationi fpun out a fingle can-^
to ; he ifi^ obliged to traverfe the whole town
in order to collet an audience. , Nor can
he procure even this.complinienti, flight as
it is, without. a,ftually purchafing it: for the
hiring a room, fererang a ftage, and dilpcrf-
irtg his' tickets, are articles which mu(t
ncce0arfly ht attended with Ibme expencci

C c And

5^ Ott ORAiraiaYi'i

And. kt w fUpfofe faisi^ fov» h aj^o^
4vL:. thcL Tvdiofe^ admiratioii is ovw ifi> a <iay
or tiKQ^ likci that o£ a, fine flower whichf
dwsiawa(fr wiliiGnrt^|»Ddiuaiig anf&miu ia^
vt wood^ k. fecuseEst to; hitn^ ottithep friend>
iydr InAroi^ nw coxi&rs^ «9n liiQ aptof^ io«^.
ooniklcrab}&&fwrup€iii aA3|t^fingte cncaturev
Irhe whole alDquatofJiishuteblp'g^ is*
dtt ^sedagpteafuPsidF a €l«ixioreustip|Aau(e t
We looked: upon k, iMdjs as an tiRcemw
tikOD( w&mcQ af genepofiirf in Yefpafiiafcfii
thafe be pP^eirtadBdffiiB widt'ii^
fefteircescbi Nonoitablcf, P graiM, it is^ tov
pofie& 11 genius whioh' iqerite ther imperial'
bounty:! bint how nMttil^n»pe g^O!i0US.(iia
ittaft's^oircmnftaneefr-witl^ahEiic eif it) to'ex-^
hibit in one s own perfbn an exampte of
nranificence and^liberaiSiy ? Let it^be wmem«^
beped lijbewi^e, if you would fucceed in
your poetical TaborS) and* produce any thing
of rearworthihthafrarti you- muff retire, a»
the poete eJ^refs^tfeiemfelveSy

ToJIent grottoes aniffequeje/ifgrovfs,^

Thdt:is> yoU/ muft rcnaunce, thfi eomroriflf'
tionof yx>ur fiiends^^. and>. every; civu^b dul^^

^ About 400 \. of our money.

; . of

A SIALCKJUir ^V

tif fi^, to be c6hc64ltd ift gloomy and nn*
pi'dfitaHe foKthde.

h m cdrMti tk vbtatfe tf ijils idle
art tddi itifiteiS; to fkme, &at fih^i; recdta-
jpciicli ^filcn uicy pretiitid tb derivfe, or ui-
d^ to fbek, &ofh ^eh- ^odidi i ^e ^
Stiid, tbey^ dd hot by Unv dieans ehjoy i^
i^al ptoftordbh xj( h wim ^e tons <a 0»^
tcJy. t^of e^n die bfeft j>bets M vHtbiii
Aet fidtit* of btlt sL very flnall |Jrt>JJOrtiDft of
tnarikffldi w!ii!fti«diftttehrofteSaf^uhivef-

faliy dtfitgardfed. 'tettme, Mitehitig, did
eVer the ire|*ittatkm of dienidt apprd^fed
tebearfel of die poetical kind, reach dife
cbgfliKtnie everi 6f hattf die t<A^ j Miteh
lefff extend itfelf to Marit prd^tece's ? t)id
eVirt- afiy (atdtgn^ Sipbd hts tttHtfii beffe,
iiiqoire tfcer Baffiis ?' Or if ht did, it Wa§
riftrftly as be wotrM a^ef a piftuf e of a' fta-
ttie } jCifl to lobk fipofi him, and pafs oh. I
would !rt no Ibrl 56 iifldefftood as' difcou-
ri^fefg die purfait of ^etry, in fhofe vftio
hitv6 rt6 ifalehts fot ofatoify; if happiTy iUey

carr 1^" iHiit irfdafis, am»ie dieir reifurt Sftd
eflrabhtfc a Jttft cfraradtef . t fook a^bn eve-
ry Qjeties of Eloqueiiicc as venerable iridfa-
cre'd^ aftd give her the prefefeAce,in whatevef

C c 2 guiie

guife flie may thinkproper to appear, to any,
other of her fifter-arts: not only, Mat^rnus,
when (h^ei^hibits herfelf in your chofen fa-
vorite, the folemn tragedy, or lojfty heroic^,
but even in the jpicaiant Lyric, the wanton
elegy,,/Uie feyerc iambic; the witty epi-
gram,- or, in one. word,' in wliatever,othcr
habit {he is pleafed to Mfiime. But (I r<e-
peat it again) my complaint is levelled fin-
gly a^ainft youj who, defigned as you ar^ by
nature fot the mpA exalted r»ank of elo-
quence, choo^ to defert your flation^ and
deviate into a lower, or^tf. Had you been
endued with the athletic vigor of Nicoftra-
tus, and bom in Greece, where arts of that .
fort are e A^emed not unworthy of the moft
refined chara<^ers ; as I coQld not patient-
ly have fufrered that uncommon ftrength
of arm, fprmed for the nobler combat, to
have idly ipent itfelf in throwing the javeHn,
or tofling the coit: ib { now call you forth
from jehearfals and theatres, to the Ibrum,
and buiinefs, and hi^ debate : especially
fince you cannot urge the fame plea for en-
gaging in poetry which is now generally al-
ledged, that it is lefs liable to give offence
than oratory* For the ardency of your ge-
nius

A t>l Ah 6 6 VE.' 389

nimtlafi tkendj flamed forth, and you have
incurred the diipleafure of our fuperiors :
tioti indeed, for Ae fake of a friend ; That
would have been far lefs dangerous-; but in
fupport, truly, of Cato ! Nor can you offer
in excufc, eidier (he duty of your profef^
fion-, juftice to your client, or the unguard-
ed heat of debate. You fixed, it (hould
&em, upon this illuftrious and populiar fub-
je£^ with deliberate deiign, and as a cha-
racter that would give weight and autho-
rity to your fentiments. You will reply (I
am aware) " it was that very circumftanee
^ which gained you fuch uni verfal applaufe,
^^ and rendered you the general topic of dif-
^ courfe." Talk no more then I befeech
yoiij of- feourity and repofe, whilft you
thus induftrioufly raife up to yourfelf fo
potent an adverfary^ For my own part,
at- leaft, I am conte'nted with engaging in
queftions of a more modern and private
nature ; wherein, if in defence of a friend
I am under a neceffity of taking liberties
unacceptable, perhaps, to my fupd-iors, the
honoft freedom of my zeal will, Itruft, not
^nXy be execufed but' applauded.
- Apbr having delivered this with his
• » C c 3 ufu^

yrii an jor ol pl«fi|im3}) <f) 4»Wf uj^ 4

i fufp€a:edy incke4 l^f weuld C^a o«<(
of Im road, in order to 9l^^\f' ^ p(>9ta ^
^Q, I m^ft OYT? at t^c j^ipEie time, be hMf
£c>iney^a£ fbftened th^ feveri^ of lys £i<!(
tire, by certain (once^pns hp ie plea^ tS)
m^ in their favon He is willk^g^. I pef «
ceive, to ^.low tho:^ wl^o^ genius diffiSi
9Pt point to oratory, td app^y themfelyes ta
poetry. Nev^dielefs^ I dp not (crviple toe
acknowledge, that with Sxa^ talents, perr
haps, for the forum, I chofe to build my^
reputation on ' draimti(: poetry. The 6x0^
attempt I made for thjs purpofe, was ^
expoiing the dwgerpus power of Vatinius : ^
powerwhichevenN^rohin[if4?lfdUappr<W€d^
and whidi ths^ infaiinoijis &yprite almfe4j
ta the p^ofanatipn of th<9. £icred Muiiea«
And I am perfi^acied^ if I fnjpy aioy 0Mep
of fame, rt is to poetry rather t\mx %o oijalor
ry that I am indebted for the ^qu^ojti. U
is my fixed purpofe, therefore, ent^efy tq
withdraw myfelf &om the fatigue pf ^c

' ' ' bar!

l)lr« I im^by fio iaeam aminti6M of tkat
ipteia;!^ conobude of dients, which Aper
has reprinted in iudi pompous colors,
wxy iQoi^thaal^nof thoi^iqitpctired hd«
jM)Ds whkH he jiieiit3on9d ; the I muft ton?
1^ the^ hare made thdr way ii:!to xny fa^
iBily^ iioeviritkftdndiQg my inclinations ftp
^ ccM^uiy. Innocence is, now it lexft,
(i furcr jgtard than eloquence; asnd I ana in
«o v^rehenfion I Khali ever have occa*
€tba to cpei my Ijps in dxe fopaiie, ui^^lefd,
perfaa;>s» in defence of a friend.

Woods atid groves and fofitude; ^
fihjcQs v( Apcr's invedive^ ^otd me, I
wik tiip^ 10 him, dse moft exquiiiie fatfs^
ia£)iosu A^oordingly, I efteem k one ol*
the gnfeac ^privileges c^poetty, that it is p0%
carried on in ihc noife and tattmlt of th^
world, amidft llie painfbl importunity of
^ondotis filters, an^ the ^oftiAg tears of
fiiAndfed crinutials^ On the contrsiry, ^
imad tnsatsa^d of %be Mnfes^ retires into
feencs cf inoocesice and repofe,^ and enjoys
tlie ficM hmxm of fy enoe awd cowmipla^
tion. Here genuine Eloquence rs^cdyed^hi^
^flhk, ^pid ierefyt fixed her ilacred andfe^.

Quefbered mafifion. 'Twas iere^ $n de*

/ •• C q 4

39a OF ORATORY:

. cent and becoming garb> {he recommendec^
herfelf to tbe early notice of mortals, infpir^
, ^ng the breafts of the blamelefs and the good :
ifere firfl the voice divine of oraqles was heard •
Bnt Jhe of modem growth, offering of lu-
f:re and contention, was born in evil days,
. and employed (as Aper very juftly expref-
fed it) inftead of a nveapon : whilft happier
times, or, in the language of the ^f tifes, the
golden age, free alike {rota orators and from
crimes, abounded with in^ired poets^ who
exerted their noble talents, not in degrading
the guilty, but in celebrating the good.
Accordingly no chara&er was ever mpr^
eminently diftinguiihed, or more auguftly
honored : firft by the gods themfelves, to
whom the ppets were fuppofed to fervc as
miniilers at their feafts, and meilengers of
their high behefts ; and afterwards by that
facred offspring of the gods, the firft vene-
rable raee of legiflators. In that glorious
lift we read the nimcs, not of orators indeed,
but of Orpheus, and Linus, or, if we are!
inclined to trace the illufbious roliitillhigh<*
pr, even of Apollo himfelf.

But thefe, perhaps, will be treaty by
Aper as herpes of Romance. :Hc caa^iot

* however

1 1

A DIALOGUE. 393

deny, that Homer has received ^s
iignal hon6rs from pofterity, as Demo-
^hencs ; c^r that the fame of Sophocles or
* Euripides is is extenfive, as that of Lyfias
or Hyperides ; that Cicero's merit is lefe
univerfally donfcffed than Virgil's 5 or that
not' one of the compofitions of Afinius or
^Md&la is in fo muchrequejfl, as the Medea
of Ovid, or the Thyeftes of Varius. I will
advance even farther, iand venture to com-
pare the un^rivied £:>rtune and happy fel&
converie of the poet, with the anxious and
bufy life of the orator; notvirithilanding
die hazardous contentions of die latter^ may
pofl^Uy raife him even to the confular dig-
nity* Far more defirable, in my eftimar
tioh, was the calm retreat of Virgil : whero
yet he lived not unhonored by his prince,
iior unregarded by the wodd* If the truth
pf either of.thefe aflbtions ihould be que-r
itioned,' die letters of AuguAiis will ytritneis
therformer ; as the latter is evident froni
the conduit of the whole Roman people,
who when fome verfes of that divine poet
were repeated in the theatre, where he hap-
pened- to be prefent, rofe up to a man, and
Igluted him with the fame refped they

would^

^54 OF ORATOdFlF:

would have paid to Avgui^us liiwfel£ ^tift

to xxkonucm our pwfi times : I would aflc

^b€tber Secaqdus PompoiMRis i$ ai^ dmg

inferior, qkber in dig(Mt|r of life, or fetidhy

ftf rq)atatiQn, to Aper Domkiiis? iteto

Cnipins orM^ccelluSi to ^li^KHn Ap^ ^^c^^

fip^e ibr^ amaMrt3fig4]famp^

in dieir pfcftntexaked hrisms^ f«atl)rtAe#a^

tfle^lsitttetth^p«fitt}|etr1vi^leliv^

in being alarmod for tbteotiietlr^ .^itii Ai&?-

ing^ terror into otibh^rs ? hk:^mt*3»y we

jdmly iindor a iiec^eiitycf cooetiBg&r^i^^

mm they hate ) tliat l^iidis^ dicir^iiilacfc

|>y «tui|i0ly fiddadoii^ ihdx naAecs nevc^

think ti}Memiiiffit:ienti|r flann^ n<Hr the ftieo^.

pif» ff)0ideotJ^ free? Atid^ aftcrisil/ wlut;

\^4}\i$ ihetr ^ jtmcfa cim&d pdwar? N^if^^

^Rg inQre> in troths diali yikattmixf %

fialj^ freedmMt has Xrcq^^^csitijr ojopedb,

But^» Ms: let the M^ly Miifeskad (»

^ Vjir^l(iQ^)tD«fiiUintgn36ee8iaitAhi^

^ If h^HfAw ^remn^a remfitQ fumt bvfi^

<' ne& and £^tn c^rfe ; additili^^pedori^

^ the painful tleqpffifty<^£Bdtb|mwretd^

1< cd oppofition to mj bbttsr hfixrk. ^ior

t^ kt me CQare» with anidoiis: fiepi ^tnA

S^ ^an||crous, Buc^e mle £nr09 ^^i^dw

V- floLf; ^xwn } Afoy never (;l<|i9Qrp)i||6^t4

i* Unpercaifi ^ ^utu^, {U)4 equally ^hh
« CQipcer ^ »^fr J»»7 I b|H>C ^ fiwoe
^« ^thf f;«kf, by rkb b«^«ft$ to avtricfi

•>i clii^ailMgft pn^mpls, :wJwi»ef ibtjl in^iwi
<5 K^ ^'6 1# £ml ])f^o4 i Ap4 ^?m^

** not in horrid guife of moumiUI fempi
ff bwt^^wi;e4vv^cbafle(«gs^,fia»ylbe^

f< ^nfaMn]^;'Berletaftumd\iii^Wi>aviM{*r
, *i ing^eiilt.fi^cittbeiifei^^l^buceol'pem
^1 humous opiiemorials 1"

VFflrcU, wi^<^ h^ ultefed wkh grefC emor
ti^ ani wid» aft SMf pl"ii^»iration, wh^i^
^^eO^^ e&t^<$d ^ room: ^hp, obTeiying
xt^cbk afteiMiofi ^ ©Mr countenance^ aii^.
inyjjjft'HC th$ ^pc^er^ltion turned open
i^illiedi^ <^ lapfC <|iaft of dJUaiy ia^rt i
Pfrbaps, iiu4 b** yo» «e e»§i>ged m a>.««ff^
Julta^ony «nd, i dcM>h^ I am gMiit^ W* an uo4
'ifeaiianalile iafsinmiption. % fo^ q[«^njs» »Bh:

yptthfl^Aies^iM TQUt M0pany fooo^rs %*

»,•. • '< * 4^

39^ OF ORATORY:

i am perfuaded, you would have been ex-^
trcmely entertained. Our ftiend Apcr has,
Avith great eloquence) been exhorting Ma-
terniis, to turn the whole ftrength of his
genius and his ftudies to thd bufinefs of the
forum : while Maternus, on the other hand,
agreably to die charader of cme who was
pleading the caufe of the Mufes^; has de-'
fended his favorite art with a boldnefs and
elevation of %le'more fuitable to apoet tbaxi'
alt ors^or.

It would have afforded me infinite plea-
fure, replied Mefialla, to have been preient
at a .debate of this kind. And I cannot
bu]t exprefs my fatisfedtion, in finding the
moft eminent orators of our times, not con-*
fining their geniufcs to points relating to'
Aeir profeffidn ; but canvaffing fuck other
topics in their converfation, as give a very
advantageous exercife to their faculties, at
the Xame time that it furnifhes an enter-
tainment of the moft mftrudlive kind, nofi^
only to'themfelves, but t6 thofe who have
the:pfivileg0^<if being joindd in their party. .
And believeme, Secundus^ the world leceiv-
ed with much approbation yow^hiftory ^ '
J« Afiaticus, a§ an earneft thatyoirintieiiditq.:
*^. - publiih

I

A, D J A L OQ tJ ?i • 557

4

publifli morefieice&of the fftmeflatarc. 'Oib
^ odior fide . (coisd^ntted hi^i: wid> aa-mit
of irony) it; is :obferve4 >vith jESqaa^jfiififlftc-*
tion, that Apqr has hot yet .fcidden >d|j^u i%
the queftioAs:o£;^the ichools^i -but empioy^^
lus leifure rather afto* ti&&example of thei
modern rhetoricians^ than of the> anttej6t
orators. ' :• *

r I PERcpivE> returned Aper, tiiat Jroii^
cpntii^ue to treat the npyckleirns wHh^yojur
ufual derifiqi^.a^d conti^ixip!^; ^hileitherni-^:
tients alone lyre An full pit^effion or^youF"
eftccip* ,\\tM ^ • maxite, Aa4fKd, l' hwei
frequently J^afd .you sdiiytQce ;(and,: eUosR^t
nie to fay^ with nxUch ii^uJlict to yourfeif:^
and to your .brother) that there i^ no &ch>.
thing in the prefent age as an oraitor. This'
yxHi are the \sk Scrupulous to maintain, as
you imagine it cannot be imputed to a fp^rit '
of envy.j.fiiice you are willing at the fame
time to exclude yourfelf from a character
which every body elfe is inclined to give
you.

i HA VB hitherto^ repBedHefialla, found *
tip xeafon to change my opinion : and I am ^
perfuaded, that' even you yourfelf, Apeir,
(.whatever you may fometimes a&d: to the

contrary

5^* OP OftAfcJftyt

€Mtntf) ttfi^^l M my eihbr fWd ^fifiyi
h«r«, ]dk Witk tiitf in ^ ^liiA« feiidmeitili
I niMl4^ ifide^d, b« gtedt^ if afty of yotl*
ti^ttld 4iftiifi thil mftttfci', attd. account fbl*
^ remfifkabte t cD^iritjr } which i htm of^
t«ii endeavored in my <iwn thought^. AsS
^itAwC td fome «^)p«»8 a Mefw^ory fdlii^oh f
to me, I confefs, heightens the di^caHjr r
for I find the veiy' fiffioe diffe^esicie pttsviHa
stundtg ^t Of edan ofMof^ ; and that ther
pticft Nieete^t t^fh^f wkh d(h^ of' Ad
Bphcfian and MytdleHett fAid^i wlia
fadhbly cdotent lii^liftlv^s^ with tii&ig^
the acdamatidosi 0^ itak tiiMe^ aUcfitort,
(kvlats mncb Gutter £f0n4' ^ffi&hin^ or
DlEttt^enesy dlalr yt>Vt mif flidfld ^^ froitt
Tiiiljr oc Afinius.

Tut queftion yon have (taittedy f^d Sd«
cnndiis, is at voiy impofttifit oti», and W*eB
wocth}? of coQfideratioii. $itt- #fao fo^ c^''
palite of doing jisffice to k ^ ^dM^^?' wfM^,
b$fic|es>thc adMiitagea of s^ Sfke ^t^a^ mti
great literature, have ^ven, it feems, pdN
tJbxAu attcttdoiv to iiai» inqi^. ludvc-^
r^witlfaig, anfarertulMeffiUUirtc^la^l^^'
ypit) my dioughi^ upQnthi^ fl^i^:- pf&tid^

:.■■•' along.

Matcmos : SecUftdasrafidmyfetf iiiHU i^^

b&t, drink p fo p cf t(6 Icavetd ttd. Asf^for Apcf ,-
ytw jufr itwr mfbrmcchtis^ It k ufeal wkH
Knr 4a ShScMfrom you ift thrs article: and„
irnimf^ lice he is aft^a^ preparing taop^
pofeu^,tm(iivM*ttot'lo6fc vAthmSStrtnce
up(m tlris* <^ arfixriatbfl m fvtppdrt of thd

OKM)tJll^*|SlEU.T^ i«(»#fi«d Ap«r, £ flM&

iioc tdMM^K fti^fk die 1^^ be;ei»^

dsttMfei^ uirhcatdt and xMiiofsodc^ • Buti

iimbS- "Wtlaft ageof cratesrs db 310a diiMiiw
gtnfll h^jStik diafigtiadoni ? The won^ alk

!«8; ttftatt who thr'd ab^e a^diouf^i^yesis
fiaost: ^aea%;^0tt Hbom^to apply it to £)&•
noAhcncs asui l^itpetidbd, vd»t^ it is^agi^ecd^
fkodfiiodi^ftiliatt^^the^ times of Philip, and
aAdbi»Kie||-^^a2id(iadeed^ifv^ JGt.

appears ^onthencei thsdrthexadBjv^Cisiii^^
ahoflrei ft»aii huiidiDeil jssBm dH^inxtcr bot'we^n;
oBcage andidiat of £>emafltt6nes:r aipfi^Qr
tku of thne^. whkh>^ confidsied witkre^

ipd^ (tf kfkltiHtti dtiraiian,. sppeanv 1^ ac^^
. ^ :c:cj,; .^ knowlcge.

340 Oi'' ORATQILY*!

khowlage^ extremely Jong; but, if com^<:

red with that immenfe s^a which the j:^-

lofbphers talk of, is^(:ceedingiy ^^utraxSted^

and feems aimoft but of yefl^rd^y- For iif

it be true, what Cicero obferves in his trea-^ .

tife infcribed to Hortenfiusi diat the |^eat

and genuine year is that period in whidti.

the heavenly bodies return to the fame.

pofitioni wherein they were placed when

they firft began their refpeftivc orbita; atid

this revolution tontains 1 1,^54 of our iblar

years; then Dembil^nes, tMs antieat De^^

mofthenes of yours, lived in the fiippfe yeac^

or rather I mi^t f^, in thd &mc month,'

with ourfelves« . Bat to mention thoRbmaii

orators : I prefume, you wiil featcel^ pre<^

fer Menenius Agfippa (who may with fbme

propriety, indeed, be called ari antient) to

the men of eloquence among the>modems; '

It is Cicero then, I fuppoie,; together vvitb ^

Coelius, Caefar, and.Calvus,'MBndtuk^ Afi*

ntus, and Mef&lla, t$i whoiQ- you give this'

hotiorabie precedency .t yet I ahsrat.i lois tqf

aiiign a reafbn, why lheie fho^ be deein*^

cd aatients rathdr tirfii modetnii. '• To in-^ ^

ftadce in Cicero: he was kiUiedj ts his ,

ftecdman Tiro informs Us, 6ft th^ i^th of .

, L Pe€emb.er,i

A DIALOOUEi. 401

pecember> in the confuKhip of Hirtius and
Panfa^ in which year Auguftus and Pedius
fucceeded dicm in that dignity. Now, if
we take fiftyrfix ye^rs for the reign of Au-
guftus, and add twenty-three for ^ that or
Tibf rivis, about four for that of Caius,
fourteen a-piece for Claudius and Nero,
one for Galba, Otho, and Vitellius, toge-
ther with the fix that our pfefent excelleiita
pp^ce has enjoyed, the empire, we {hall
have about one hundred and twenty years
^roni th^ death of Cicero to. thefe times : a
period,, to which it is not impoflible tihat a
maj> s life may extend. I remember^ when
i was jn Britain, to have met with an old
Ibldier, who alfured me, he had fcrved in
the army which oppofed Caeiar's defcent
upon that ifland. If we fuppofe this perfon,
by being taken prifoner, or by any other
means, to have been brought to Rome, he
might have heard Caefar and Cicero, and

^ Frori) this paflage Fabricius aflerts, that this dia-
logue was. written in the 6th year of Vefpatiaa's reign :
but he eridently miflakes the time in which the fcene
ofitjs laid, for that in which it was compofed. It is
upon arguments not better founded, that the cri-
tics baye given Tacitus and Quintilian the honor of
ilw ^egjijnt pcrfoirm^nfie. Vide Fabric. Bib. Lot.

D d likewife

404 OF aftATdftV:

• • •

likewife any of our conttitiporarics. I ap-
peal to yotii-felvesj vidiethef at the laft pub^
fit donative, there were not feveral of the
populace who acknowledged they had re*
ceived the fame bouAty, more than once^
from the hands of Augufttis ? It is evident,
therefore,, that thefc people might have
been prefent at the pleadings both of Corvi-
nus and AjSiiius : for CoTVlnus was alive in
the middle of the reigiY of Auguftus; ' a»l
Afinius towards the latter end. StuTeljr>
then, you will not fplit {£ century, and call
one orator an anfiehi; arid another a mo*
dern, when the very fame perfon might be
an auditor of both ;. arid thu^, as it were^
render them contemporaries.

The conclufion I mean to draw ffom
this oMervalion is, that whatever advantages
thefe orators might derive to their charac-
ters, from the period of time in whith th^
flbrifhed; the fame will extend to us : and^
indeedy widi much mt2>r^ rea&n than^ to S»
Qzibs^ or to* C* Carboaiusi lib casinoti bb
denied, that the confipofitions of thfefe laft
are very inelegant and unpoliihed perform-
ances s as I could wkh^ ikzt not only your
admired Calvus and Qsfew, but, I will
venture to add tQo> even Cicero himtfelf

(for

|[fof I fliaU deliver my fentiments with great
fireedom) had pot coniidered them as the
propee. tnodels of their knitatioa. Sqji^r
me tQ ptassi^Cf • however, as I gp Jtlong,
that eltiqiiience chao£je$ its qualities as it
runs thr^iugh different ages. Thus^asGrao
ch^Sj for inflancei is much more copious
3n{l fli^riki thaa old p^to ^ fi) CrsKflus rifes in-
ft) a £u^^ higher fkain of politeneis and re-
iinem^t thap Gracchus. Thu;s likisiwiie^
as the ^>eeches of TuUy: are mote regular,
and marked with fupor ior elegance^and fub-*
Umity than thofe of the. two orators la^
mentbnf d } £) Corvinus is conflderably
more fmpodr and h4nnQniou& in his peri*
ods, s^s well a^more cojn;e£t in his language,
thanTuUy* I am not confiderin^ which
of them is mott eloquent : All I endeavor
fo proye at prefent is;, that orttory does not
maoifeft it&lf in one unvaried form^ but is
eiehibited b^ the aiitients under a variety of
^fi^dnt app^arapcef, .. Hqwever, it is by
IK) means a juft:W^yiof rqalbx>Ing, to in-
fer that one thing muft neceffaf ily be worfe
than another^ ai^fdly b^ecaufe it is not the
iame. Yet iUch is the unaccountable per-
v^iil^ of human n^ture^ that whatever has
antiquity ;to ho^j i$. ^rc to be admired ;

D d % ^s

404 OF OkAtORV:

as every thing novcfl is certainly difapprovcd*
There are critics, I doubt iK)t, to I?e found,
who prefer even Appius Coecus to Cato ; as
it is v^ell knov^n that Gcero had his cenfu-
rers, who objedled that his ftylc was fwel-
ling And redundant, and by no means agrca-
h\6 to the elegant concifencfe of Attic elo-
quence. You have certainly red the let-
ters of Calvus and Brutus to Cicero. It
appears by thofe cpiftolary colleSions, that
Cicero confidercd Galvus as a dry^ unani-
mated orator,' at^^Re fame' time that he
thought the ftyle tjf fihitus negligent and
uriconnefted. Thcfe, in their turn, had
their objeftions, itreenfis,'to Cicero: Calvus
condemned his oraitbrical compofitioris, for
being Weak and eiiervited^ as Bioitus (to
ufe his o\Vn fexpreffion) efleemed tS/ttm/ee-
hle zxiA* disjointed. If I vvere to glVe-my ppi-
ni5n, I fhould fey, that they «teh (poke truth
of one aft'othef. But ! (hall ettafnihe thiefc
oraioYs feparately hereafter : my pre^tde-
figri is only to cortfider theifa in ia-geheral
View.

The admirers ttf antiquity are agreed, I
think, in Extending the sera of tKe antients
as far as Ca&Hus Severus ; whom they afiert
to hav^bechthe^lirft^tkat ftruck out from

^^ the

A DIALOGUE; 40J

the p!ain and fimpli&'niannerv<:wlvch till
then prevailed. Now I affirm tb^t .he did
< fo, not from any deficiency in pointof'^eai-
us or learning) but from hirffupcriori judg-
ment and good fenfei He faw it' vt^^rric-
cefTary to accoomiodate oratoryy asl ob-

• ferved before, to thc'diiFcrent tim^s^-^bd
tafte of the audience. Our an9eftorfei fin-
deed, might.be contented (and it wa$ a
mark of their ignorance ntd want of polite-
nefi that they were^).wkh the isnmodkr^'te

- ^nd tedious length. of ipoeches,; which was

~in vogue in thofe ages ; .as, in trjodi; to be

'iable to harangue for a whole day together

-was itfelf loolced upon, at that illiteratcpe-

' f iod, as a talent worthy of the highcft admi-

'^ raition . The immeafurable in trodudioini^ the

circumfl:antial detail,^ the endiefs division

and fubdiviiion, the forqul argumdntdrawn

>oi!lt into a dull vaxietyrof logical dedu(5tion6,

together with a thoufarad other itppertinen-

ciee of the fame taflplefs damp, whiph you

• may find laid down among the precepts, of
'thofe drieil of all writers, Hermagora^ and

. Apollodorus, wer£..dien held in fupreme
honor. And^ to complete all, if the orator
had joft dipped into philofophy, and. could
&)rinkle his harangue with fome of the moft

P 4 3 tritft

''trifee ilittckiss cfrthait: Science, they,' thun-?

^^f^ mt hwappiw&i to. ihe:flde$* ^ For

thefe M^re new and unqominQn: topics to

- ^m 'i afi indeed .i^ejy . few of . the ' orators
' themfeltned had the Icaft acqiminteace with

theiwritij:^6 either.o£;thc philofophcrs or
'• the'rhetbritians. r . ;Bnt 5n «>uf m6rd dnlight-
-cncd^age, whcte even the lowrft part of
i aft ' aiidience ihai^ : :at j leaft . Tome , gcne-

rii tiption:of Ibierattire, Eloqudaoe xis con-
^i^itUft to find' <mt ' new and .iniDre . florid
. patKs^' Siaei$dbligq3 tt^airoidtyery^tbkig that

- may jfaldgue or offend the e^ ^h^ ^iudi-
cftcej efpcbially as'fhe:muftfW>W'5|>p?ajrb(5-

fone p^^y who.^pcidpi feot by-r^Wxhut by

anfliortty ; :whb prdcribe ^aihat lim«t§ th^y
1 thiiik proper 1 to the ocator'-s fpegchu: n«r
f calmly wait tBl he is plea&d.to QOfxt^. ^ the
/pdnt, bnt call 'upon him to rotutHi >9ad
. openly tdftify their impactienie whenever be

feems dUpojfed to wander from the iqil^Qf),
i Who, I befeech j^u,.. would. in' our 4a.ys

i^ndijKreatqoratorji whafhobld o()to: his ht-
irafigoe widi a tedkius;apoIogj for the w^nfc-:
-neis pf his conftitutibn ? Yet almioA cv4iy
'orationbrCohrmufe fete oat in tkft nrntncf •
IWosiki^aAy man nciuf hare patience to lietr
^^t the five long bocks againft VernB^s ? or
i'-. 's ' thofc

A D,IALOpU]B. 407

daofe endlefs volumes of pkadmg in favor
of Tully, or Coecipa ? The vivacity of oht
xxKxlern judges even prevents the ipeaker;
^d fhqr are apt to conceive Honkc £>rtof pre-
judice j^nft all he utters, uiUeis he hag
ithe addre& to bribe dieir .^ultention hy the
;ftrengdi and ^irit of his arguments, the
JUvelioeft pf hjifi leQtiments^ ^or the ej^gdnce
japdWiJ^impi^pf hisddcriptions. Theveiy
jKipiilace hwe ^ome notion of tfa^e beauty 13^
iangu^^y atn4 would no nxor^e reli(h the
^uncouthnefs of antiquity in a qaodern ora<-
jCor> than th^ would the ^eilure pf o]4
Rofcius or Axnbivius in a moderfi a<3:oc*
X)ur youpg ftudenjts too, who .are fonning
^nafelves to eloquence^ aivd fpr ^hat pur^
pofe attend the courts of judicature, exped
not Qierely to^beftr^ but to^arry home fome-*
jdiung worthy of remenxbrance i and it is
i^ual with thenpi, not only to^anvafs among
themfelves, but tp tran&iit to their rei|)ep-
. tive piTovinces, whatever ingenious thought
or poetical ornament the orator has happily
^oaployed. For even the embdlliihments
of poetry are now cequired; tijid thofe too,
fjpt copied froHj ^ heavy and aujtiquated
ipfianner of Attius or Papuvius, but formed

ioitibie Jiively and elegao* fpidt of Horace,

P d + Virgil,

4o8 OF ORATb'RY:

Virgil, and Lucan. Agircably, therefore,^
to the fuperior tafte and judgment oF the
iprefent age, our orators appear with a more
polifhed and graceful alf^; And inoft
certainly it cannot be thought that thciir.
Speeches are the lefs efficacious, becaufe
they footh^ the ears of- th^e audience, with
the pleafing modulation of harmonious pe-
riods. Has Elcfquence loft her power, be-
caufe fhe has improved her charms ? Are
our temples lefs durable than thofe of old,
becaufe they are not formed of rude materiT
als, but fliine out in all the polifh and fplen-
dor of the moft coftly ornaments ?

To confefs the plain truth, the effed
which many of the antients have upon me,
is to difpofe me either to laUgh or fleep.
Not to mention the more ordinary race of
orators, fuch as Canutius, Arrius, or Fan-
nius, with fome others of the fame dry and
unaftedling caft -, even Calvus himfelf fcarce
pleafes me in more than one or two_ fhort
orations : tho he has left behind him, if
I miftake not, no lefs than one an4 twenty
volumes* And the world in genejal fqeitis
to join widi me in the fome opinion of them :
for how few are the rtadcrs of his invec-
tives againft Ficinius, or Drufus ? Whereas

thofc

V

ftofe againft Vatinids a(rc ki e«ry boc^ft

hzhds I particularly the fecond, which is

ij^eed, both in ibntiment and language; a

well- written |>ie€e. It is evident therefore^

thiat he had an' idea of juft compoiitibn, and

radier wanted genius than inclination, . to

reach a more graceful and elevated man-

nier. As tadie dratlons of CceliuSy thoujgh

'thtey are by rib means valuable upon the

whele, yet they have their merit, ft> far

as they approach -to the <dgt<(lted^)egance df

thfe prefenf^^mcs. Whenever, indeed, hk

•cohipofitroH is daWlefs and unconnededi his

eifyreffion lo\#, ftjki his fehtiments grofe^: it

is then he i^ truly an antic^t : 4md I will ven-

turfe to affirm' there is no one (o fond of

antiquity, as^ to admire him in that part of

*his character. / We may allow Caekr, on

account of the great affairs in which he was

•engaged 5 as we may Brutus, in confidera-

• tioh of his philofophy, to be lefs eloquent

than might othcrwife te exprifted pf fuch

: fuperior geniulce. The trud> is, even their

^warmefl admirers acknowledge, that as

> orators they by no means ihine with the

fame luflre, which diflinguifhed every

-pdier part of their reputation • Capfar's

' foeech in favor of Decius, and that of Bru-

» ' tus

tqson bf^Mtf «risttg P^9$vu|^ wk|i £»m
k2(w iqu2Gel^, I' iaMgkw, inec ^ifh ,«^y

lum jndiih .dbebr. v^pf^ For verfeS:, :we
dmi9fvr>i^ejr;^i^k>.(;»n4fHibU(hcd too) I wU^
-iiotifey)iOTtb:«nwr^ %mtj fewt ui>doiibtcd|y

^yh%A ^g9fd fprmi^ to fall ii^ Q^uc|i
•^pwsf ^P«^. /Afiiw^ QM would ^d&
fey ifci^ ^ jati4 nfimM!r» rto^ hai^e been «»»•
i«inp<M;afy 3w4tb Mwjenivjs, and Appiu$s
^Q inia<^ )bis Jived n^h nearer «> «Hr
jtiipeE. fit 0$ lyiftye hp was.i^^cJiofe imka^r
^ Attws jumd : Pi^wjps* npt only ii> bis
ttr^dtes, but alip Jiir^ Pfd^onp ; io f ^
(jnarkably dryr^a^d unp^d^e^ are all biis
icaDippdWoiasi Butlk^ beauty. -irf^^sio^^ace.
She that of due luiman fbmii c^Ql^iifts j^
-die^&Doothn^&> j^i^tb,oaiid;CQlpf .9f ^
: federal parts. Gd];^u& I ^ kocUr^ tp
iil^re; dioit iQC^asiusud^i^ j£jadtl!lsHtit hfi^
^ not ecpal the degsmt sefinamfiot^of cuidiem
^ compofitions 5 afsit omftbe caiCJnioiif Ifidgnd
his genius Tva$ ^ndantly ibcfHpaiit lor i^t

'^imrpofe.

The next I ihiatl take notice of^ is Ci-
R) : who baid tbe ikikie £ont9& ladtii th^fe

of

C. X»

of his avim ti»iw, » «u»p, jof rfiiipndf,

with you. Theiy, kfcam?, w«r« fj*wr«s
4of the 9rttient8; whilftijjc.preferfficj the
eloquence bf hi$ contemporan^ : ^4> fP
-truth, he eico^ls th^ orators of hi^ ojvia ^i^
in nothing jnore j^ mafk*bly, <^wn. m the
foKdily of :hi?/i^g«^€5»t* He wag ^e&:ft
whQ fet app)i(h upon CTOtofj} whoiqeqgu^
to have apy flption o£ 4e]i«;»?y )Pf ejxpr^
fion, ftndjtie q(t of eompqfitioii, . Aqcot^-^

-mgly hfi.ntfcmpte^ a mof^ flo»rj4 %lf ? ^s
•he powvjand thei? ^re^ks ^.t intjQr^me ^^

liy fla£ha5^.pC.wit; pftftiQulsrly ip b«s latpr

- petformancet , whpn* piuch pradice ^n^ ^-^
pieri^nde (thc^e -bcft ^njd fureft gftides) hf^

! itaughth^fl^ ^ naor^i impc;pyjE;d niianner. Bi;it
fhoB earlfer,^PBipo(kions^je:not withptft/tlje
iiatenufli^s p£ 9fitk|«|iity> lie is tedy));i$ Jn
/his exordmin$i toQ cifc^miftantial ^ h)s

- hartatiofis, -^ad carel^s in jr^^^ni:hi9giux-r
•"Ufianoeg, ' ii^fyefnB jn^jt i^afily a£Eefl:e4, aj\d
"is btl Joaf^y 6red ;: as hi^penods^are :($Moi?)

.I5idi9r;ftfpperly rounded, w happHy peintT
npd ? ^ fias 'fipthMig> : ia? ffine, -ypu wwdd
I wiih :tp^ tmk^ yoiaf 0)wfi. Hi? ipeephie?,
likt a. w^ edifice^ Jj^jwe -ibength, ifl.decd,
and ptrsgn^ency J hot are deflitute of that
-ftegonst ftp4Jp^94pr which are n^efl^iy

to

to" tt*&et< thrift' fierffeaiy a^reabte. The

-dtztor, however, in^is cqmpdfitions, as 4he

^maft bf wealth in his buildings, (houldcdn-

lidcfr ornament'^s'^fell as uft : his ftrufture

'ftfould bc^, net only fubftaiitial, but ftrik-

in^ 5 and liis furnittire riot merely conveni-

/eiit, but rich, andfftxchcas will'bcar a clofe

*and ftt^uent iii^aion Vwhilft every thing

^tiiat has i trieih- k'nd atikward appearance

^ortghl/k) be tbiaHy Banfiihed. Let our ora-

^^tor tfi€ii rftjeft evet^ *xj[>refll6n*that is ob-

"ibletc, awd 'growh^^''*u%r ^i St'^wcre, by

"^age s l^t him be eiafteftil nottd^^weakeii the

^fbrcct)f his fentini^hts by a^heivy and in-

artifecial combination of Wbras, Kke^ our

^ dull compilers of annals -, let-bitti woid all

' lowiand ihfipid raillery : iii'a^Wopi tet him

'"vary the ftrudure of his pferiodsy-iior end

tevef^ fentence with-the fame uniform <:lofe.

7 ' IwiLL notcxpofe the m^dnnrffij of*Gi-'

* ccro^^ conceits^, ilor his afFeS^tion^f con-
^tludrng almoft fevtry other period with, as
; itJkiuMfeemy inftcadof J)oirtting them with

fome lively and ^irited turn. I tnention
even thefe with reludlancej and pafs over

• piany*others orthcfame injudlcious^caft. It
is, however, Iktle-affedations of this kind,

"that they- who are pleafed. t<>ftyle them-

felvc^

:A DIALOGUE. 413

felves antient orators^ fe^m aloae to admire
and imitate in him, I (hall content myiblf
with defcribing their Ghara<9scrs, witKbut
mehtbning their names : but, you are fehfi-
We, there -are certain pretenders to tafte who
prefer Luciliua to Horace, and Lucr^tiiia to
Virgil; who hold the ^loqticnoe of; your
favorite Baffus or Nonianus in the iitmoil:
contempt when compared with that of
Sifenha or Varro : in a^word, who^dc^ife
the produ^ions of Our modeni rhetoriciahs,
yet aire in raptures; with thofe of Galvu#.
Thefe c^iriouB oratdrs pfate in 'the courts of
judicature after ihjt mamkr of the antimtSy
(as they call it) tilt they aredeferted by the
whole audience, and are icarce fupportable
even to their very clients.; The truth of it
is, that^ndnefs of eloquence vv^hich they
fo much boaft, is tut an evidence of the.na-
tural weaknefs of their genius, as it is the
effedl alone of tame. and cautious art.. No
phyfitiah would pronounce a man to enjoy
a propcr^confldtution, whofe health proceed-
ed entirdlyfrom a ftudifed and abft^rprious
regimen.; To be only-xxot indiipofed^ is
but a fmall acquifition ; it is fpirits, vivaci-
ty, and vigor that I require : whatever

• ' ' icom'es

414 C>F 0)ItAtOlt¥:
comttffabttof thir, is btit one vsmowcSrotii

: JBf^ ft then (as widi: great eafe it cuitay^
wndtnfsoBtis) the glorioia&(Min£kiQnof yoti^
ixLj Ultiftnocis friends, to enndade oor.a^
wifdxtfaemofti«fiixedet(Kp]ence.^^ Itis w^
infinitar fadsfiuftion^ Meflalk, I ob&rve, t&at
]roii fingle out the mo& fiorld axiiong the
antients fc^ youc modd. Aod you, my
other; two ingeoious friends % fo happily
imilc ^hieogth of fentiment with beauty of'
tarpt^on ; fudi a pregxtamry of imagiiu^
^K>n> iuch a fymmetry o£ ordooAince diitii^^
gitHfa your fpeeches ; &> copious or fo^ coja-*
cife is your clociition> as differectt occaik>ns
rcqukc ; iiich an immitdble grace£ulQe& of
flyie^ and fuch an eaiy flow of wit adorn
and dignify your compoiitioDG i in a vrotdy
§6 abfelutely you command the paifioos of
yoiir audsencey and {o happily temper 3roiir
own, that,^ however the envy asdinadl^gn^
ty of the pceient age may witholdihat ap^
ptauie which is {o )uiUy your due ; poAs^
rity, you may rely upon ity' will fpeak of
yoUr in the advantageous terms whkh you
wett deferve.

< M^ternus and Secundus.

When

When Aper fiad Aus fmifhccf : It muft
6e owned, faid Matcmus, otrr friend' has
i5x)ken tviA much force and Ipirit. What
z ttorrent of learning and eloquence has ht
poured fbrth in defence of die^modcms ! and
hcrw completely vanquifhed the stnticnt*
with thofe vdry weapons, which be borfow-i
ed from them ! However, (continued he;
applying himfelf to Meflalta) yOu muft
not recede from youf engagement. Not
that we expc<ft.you {hould enter into a de-
fenced of the antients, or fuppofc (however
Aper is pleafed to compliment) that any of
us can ftand in competition with them.
Aper himfelf docs not finccrely think fb, t
dare hy ; but takes die oppofit^ fide in the
de^ate» merely in imitation o£ the celebra^-
. ed manner of antiquity. We do not defirc
you, therefore, to entertain us with a pane-
gyric upon the antients: their well-efta-
blifhed reputation places them far above the
want of our encomiums. But what we
re<|ueft of you is, to account for pur having
f{o widely departed from that noble ipecics^
of eloquence which they dlfplayed : elpe-
cially fincc we are not, according to Aper^s
calculation, more than a hundred and twen^
ty years diftant from Cicero.

^ I SHALL

4i6 Of QKATQf^Y^

I SHALL endeavor, returned M^f&Udy
to purfue the plan you have kid down to
me.— *-I flaall not enter into the queftlon
with Aper, (tho indeed he is the firft that
ever made it one) whether thofe who flor
rifhed above a century be^e U5> can pro-'
perly be ftyled antiei\ts. Xam riot dilpofecj
to contend about words : let thpm be called
antients, or anceftors, oc, whatever other
hapie he pleafes, fo it be allpwed that their
bratpry was faperior to purs, I admit too,
what he iuft now advanced, that there are
various kinds of eloquenc? difcernible in
the fame period \ much more In* different
*^ges. But as amoiig the Attic orators, De-
m[ofthenes is placed in the firft rank, then
^fchines, Hypetldes nexti' and after him
Lyfias and Lycufgus; an ^?a, which on
all hands is agreed to have peen the priine
feafon of oratory : fo aitiot^eft us, Cicero
is by univerfal confent prdferred to all his
contemporaries 3 as aftefr'him^J'Calvus, Afi-
* nius, Caefar, Coelius, and Brutifs, are juft-
!y acknowledged to ^lave excelled all our
preceding or fubfequent orators. Nor is it
of any importance to the preieht argument^
that they differ in manner, fihce they agree
in kind. The compofitions of Calvus, it is

confeflcd.

/

epn(c&dj are diflinguiihed by thi^V ^ ?^
markable conciieneis ; as thofe q£ Afinius
are by the harmonious flow of his language.
BnUi^ncy of fentio:\eBt is Casfar's charadter-
iftic i as poignancy of wit is thsttof Cob-
lius,; Solidity recommends the Ipeeches of
Brutus ', while copioufiiefe, ftrength, and
vehemence are tke predominant qualities
in Cicero. Each of them, however, dif-
plays ^ equal foundnefs of eloquence : and
^one . may eaiily diicover a general refem*-
blance and kindred likenefs run thro their
ieveral works, . t)io divedified^ indeed, ac-
cording to their refpeflive geniufcs. . That
thpy mutually detrad:ed from each other,
(as it muft be owned there are fom? reinain-
ins traoes.of malice, in their letters) is not
to bjc. ingiputed to them, as orators, but as
men.-. Calvus^ Afinius, and eveifi Gicero
himjfelf, were liable, hp dpubt, to ba infeded
with jealouiy , as well as with other human
frailties and imperfedticajs.; Brutus^ hbw-
ever, I will fingly except fropi^aU imputa-
tions pf malignity, being well per§iaded he
ifpoke \h& fincere and impartial ^fentiment^
of his heart : for can it be fuppofed that He
jftiould envy Cicerov who does not.feem to
have envied eveaJCsiarliimrelf? As to Gal-
* * E c ba.

4i« OF ORATORY:

bst, Lselius, and ibiiie odicrsrof thie ahtieiltt,
i?vhomAper has dioughtpropcr to condtfmn 5
I am willing to admit diat they have lome
defed;s, which matt he afcribed to a grow-
ing and yet immature eloquence.

After all, if we muft relinquifh the
nobler kind of oratory, and adopt -fonie
lower /pedes, I (hotdd certainly prefer *die
impetubfity of Gracchas, or the incorre3:ne{s
of Craffns, to the ftudicdfojppery of Maece-
nas, or the childifh jingle of GaHib : h
much rather would ITer doqtience clostth-
cd ih the ^moft rude uhd negKgeht garh,
than decked outwith'fccYalfec(ilo» <rf*'rf-
'fedted ornament! Thcre^isfomefimig^irtxMff
prefcnt manner oftlocutioh, which iaWb
"far fix>m being oratorical, "Atit itis^bt'cVcn
ihanly J and one wouldimaginc o«tr*iod€Wi
pleacters, by the *le^ity*c*f their wit, the laf-
feifled fmoothne&Qpfheir periods, and-ficen*-
tioiifiiefe'of their ftyle, likd a tiew 'to the
llage in^ftiheir compdfitioas. Aecbf^ng-
ly, femettf^Acmare-ftOGifeamedto bosJk
^which^ne ican Toaree^Y<m «eiitK>n' v\4&^
t)Ut a %%fh) ihat their ^fpeeches arc ^d&ptei
to 1:he fdft ntodufcctio* ^f ftagc-imrtfic. It
fe thi)?*dcpravity ttf^afte -which lias^^ven
rife^d^thc vtty indeccm'indprcpoftferous.

mb vtty fre«j«ent, expreffibrii that fticli an
i^atdr ipeikfe -y&iw/A^i arid fuch d dancer
mov€seloqUfnefyl laihwiffitigtd^diriitthfere-.
forei tbatOll^us Scverus (the fingle modern
Whom Apfer has thought propfer to name)
when-'coirilpar4a tb^ thclfe 'hi6 degerierat'd
feccefforsi *h'ay juftty fee deemed'an' bratdr i
tilo, k-i* eertamj ih the greater part of his
CompdWbnis there ippcdi's far riiorie ftrehgtH
Aan-fpiHt'^ lie was die firft Who nc^Teif^-
)6d^chiftfty of Itylel dnd' pr6prie<^ bf ;hte-
Aodt • Iriixpfert iir'thfe iifc df fiiofe' very
Weai*>ti^ with whfch he engages, hi6'^vei
Jays h^fifcSf open to a thrtttt, by alWdys 'en^
4€2m^g 16 a^k' y and one may niuch
iki6fepkipetiy fey of hirn^ diat he puKhcte at
Andoirt/than that he'tdihpbrts hinilfelfaG-'
cording to the juft rules of regular coitibat;
N^^ekfe, he fe grektl^ fbperion >* I
dbfeiM6d'before, in^tiiji ^tirkty of hi§ Warri-^
ihgfv ^<t ftgreablenefs ^Ihirvrit; aMthd
ftiSigA «IF* hfe geiiftis to tliofc -^o-'^e^
e^ckd'^ft»^ not bne*of I^^ feowevei*;
has>A^!r'^eWurdl to bring iritbihe fid I
imkgmii'ltm i&tr having depc^il'^^
W, %ttd^Cfeliui, and^Gal^ he wouldlMVtf
fiibftkutdd another^ df watdrs hi^^Aeiif
place> aad-that he had numbtsM tb
: > E e z in

4^<;^ OF QRATORY:

in oppofitlon to Cicero^ to Csfar, and ihb
r^a whpm he rejcfted ; or at leaft, jon^ ri-
v^l to each of them* On the contrary, ho
has diftia<aiy^aad feparately centred all this
anuents> whilft he has. ventured, to cotxi*
fhend , the, ngipderftS! in general only. • Ho
thpHght^ . perhaps, if he fingled out fome,
h^;jihonld draw uppn hxmfcl£ the refent-.
ment of all the reft: for every declaimer
among thpii> modeftly ranks himielf, in,-
his pWn fon4 opinipn, before Cicero, tho
indeed after Gabipianps. But .what Apei;
was.notlbardy enough to undertaken I will
be Sold to execute for him i and draw out
his oratorical heroes in full.view, that it
may appear by what degrees thp fpirit andi
vigor, of antieat , eloquence was impaired

and broken. ,

: Let. me ra^r intreat you (faK) Mater«
hu$, interrupting him) to enter, without any
farther prefece, upon the difficulty you firft
undertook to clear^ . That we are inferic^
to the andents in point of elpquence, I by.
110 means want tohav^proved; . being en«
tiffiy of that ppinion? but my pre^nt in-
quiry Js, how to account for our fioking fo
far^ bfsiojv then^ ? A q»eftipn, it feeip?, yoa
ha^,,?xanained^ ai>4fwhichi am ^rfuad-

1*1 ' ^ .* xJk

A DIALOGUE. 4U

cd you would difcufs with i^iuch caloinefs,
if Apcr's unmerciful attack uponypur fivo-B
rite orators, bad not a littlediicompofed yotj.
I am nothing offended, returned Meflalla,
with the fentiments wjiich Aper has adt-
vanced : neither ought you, my friends >
remembering always that it is an eftablifhe4
law in debates of this kind, that every man
taiay with eptire fecyrity difclofe his opir-
nion. Proc^d then, I befeech you, rcr
plied Maternus, to thie examination of this
point concerning the antients, with a free-
dom eqtial to theirs : from which I liiipe<9:,
alas ! We have more widely degenerate4
than e^en from their eloquence^
" Th£ caufe (faid Meflalla, refuming his,
difcourfe) does not lie very remote s andj^
tl\o you are pleafed to call upon m? to aflign
it, is well known^ I doubt not, both to yovk
^lid to the reft pf this company. For is it^
not obvious th^t Eloquence, tpgether with
the. reft of tjicf politer arts, has fallen fron^
her anticnt gXory, not for w^nt gf admirers,
but through the diffQlutenefs of oyr youth^
the negligence of parents, the ignorance pjF
preceptors, and the imiverfal difregard of
antient manners ? evils, which derived their-
fpi^rcefrom Roin'e, and thence fpfead them-

4^ QFO.RATO^Yi

felves through Italy^ and owrall the pROb
vinces : tho the mifchi^f^ iii^ee4 is moft
pbfervable wKhin pur osffih walk. I ihall
take notice, therefore^ of thofe vices tp
which the yputh of this city are more pecu-
liarly expofed j which rife upon them in
number as they increafe in years. But be-
fore I enter farther into this fubje^, let me
premife an obfervation or tvvro concerning
the judicious method of difcipline prac-
tifed by our ance{^r$, in training up their,
children.

' In the firft place then, the virt^ous coa-:
tron^ of thofe wifer ages, did not abandpi;

their infants to the riiean hoveis of mercena-

. . . ' < .,...■- . . *

ry .nurfes, but tenderly reared them up at
their own breads ; cfteeming the careful re-
gulation of their children and domeiHc con-
cerns as the; higheft points oi female merit.
It was cuftomary with themi likewile to,
^hoofe out fome elderly feniale relation, of
approved cohdaft, with whom the family
in general entrufted the care of their reipec-r
live children, during their infant years.
This venerable peribn ftridUy regulated, not
only their more ferious purfuits, but even
their very amufements j r^ftraining them^
by her refpedted ptefencfe, ttom fiiyirigbr

A DIALOGUE- 413

«fidng an^ thing contrary to decency and
good naannerst In. this manner, . we are
informed, CoriieUa the mother oil tlje two
Gracchi, as alfo A»urelia and Attia> to.whon^
Julius ^nd Augufhis Csefar owed their re^
ipeOxvc births, undertook this office offz'^
mily .education, and trained iip thofe ftvcw
lal^nobk youths to whom they were related*
Tihis n^thod df diicipline was attended
vt4th one very fingular advantage: the
mmds of young men were conducted found
and untainted to the ftudy of the noble arts^^
Accordingly, whatever profeilion they de^,
termined upoP) whether thiat of ^ms, elo*>
quence, or l^w, they entirely devoted them^
felves to that fingle purfuit, and widi un^
difiipated application, poiTeiled the whole
cooipafs of their chofea fcicnce*

J^UT in the prefent age^ the little boy h
dfiilifgaiedt to the c^e of fbme papltry Greek,
chatnbef-«@uud|, ifl conjundtioij with two or
t^^e otfeer fervajtrts (and even thpfe gene-.
r^Hty of tho worft kind) who are abfolutely
unSt fof fiViSfy mtiQQal and fenous office,
EritH»ith!?'Wte.T^^s afld grofsabfur^ities of'

tbpfe.wod^ksfe pe^^le, the tender and un-,

ioflnu^tdcroimlift f»|fered,to receive its ear*

lieflb ikijpidficMi^^i It can^iot, indeed, be^

:: > E e 4 fuppofed

424 OF OR AT 6 RY:

fuppcrfcd, that any cautioa fhould he f)fe^
fcrvcd among the domcftics ; fincc die pi^t
rents themfelvcs arc fo far from training
their young families to virtue and modefty,
that they fct them thefirft examples of lux-,
ury and licentloufnefs. Thus our youth
gradually acquire a confirmed habit of im-
pudencci and. a total diffegard of that rer
verence they owe both to themfelvcs and t©
others. To fay truth, it fcems^ as if a fond-
nefs for horfes, adtors, and gladiators, the
peculiar and diftinguifhin^ folly of this our
city, v/zs impreffed upon them even in the
womb : and when once a paffion of this
contemptible fort has feized and engaged
the mind, what opening is there left for
the liberal arts ?

All converfation in general is infeSed
with topics of this kind *, as they are the
conftant fubjefts of difcourfe, not only
amongfl our youtlti in their academies, but
even of their tutors themfelvcs. For it is
not by eftaWifhing a ftri6t difcipline, or by
giving proofs of their genius, that this or-
der of men gain pupils : it is by the mean*
eft compliances and the moft fervile flattery.
Not to mention how ill ihftru^ed our youdi
arc in the very elements of literkurci fiiffiT
^ ■ ^ V - •• cicnt

A DI A L Q O l^E; 415

«

dent pains are by no nleanst^ken in^ngitrg
diem acquainted with the bed: authors,' or
in giving them a proper notion of hiftory,
together with a knowledge of men aiid'
things; The whole that feems to be con--
fidered in their education is, to find out a
peribn^for them t:alled a Rhetorician. I
ihall take occafion immediately^ to give you
ibme account of the rife and progrefs of this *
profeflion in Rome, and diew you with*
what contempt it was received by our an*'
ceftors. But it will be necefifary to lay be«
fore you a previous view of that fcheme of
^Icipline, which the antient orators pra)£tiA»
ed ; of whofe amazing induifay and un«*
wearied application to every branch of the
polite arts, we meet with many remarkable
accounts in their own writings;

I NEED not inform you, that Cicero, in
the latter end of his treatife entitled Brutus,^
(the former part of which is employed in
commemorating the antient orators) gives
a fketch of the feveral progrefiive fleps by
which he formed his eloquence; He there
acquaints us, that be fludied the civil law
under Q^Mucius 3 that he was inibn^ed
in the feveral branches of philofbphy by
Philo the Acaden][ic,.andDiodorus the Stoic ;
■■- ' that

4^* aP ORATOJLYr

of tbofe; emment mailers^ of which tbipie,
vere at! that, time great miml:^rs in Roixie^,
ll^:siade.it Yoysijie iiitc^ Greece aad Aiia^ i&.
l»rder to enldt^ his knowledge, and em«
IraccthewhDlecirekof&ieiices. Accord*
Ibgly he zppGUS by his writings^ to hav&
been inafter dF I<^ic^ ethics, aftronomy^
and natorid (dtkilofophy, befides bei^ weU:*
lieded in geom^ry, mufie, grainnaar, and^-
iailiocl^ ta every one of the fine arts, , F<Mr
thus itia, my worthy friends ^ frongi decfK
leamii^ and the unU^ cottiuence <^ tW
aft& and ictences» the r^fi^eis torrent oS
that amazing eloquence derived its jfbengdv
and rapidity.

The furutiies of the orator are not eic^-n :
cifed, indeed^ as in odier fcieflces, withiii:
certain prectfe and determinate limits :- on
d)£ contisary,; ektquence is^thc' ipoil; cqmw.
preheniivcof ihi^ whole <?irc]e of arts. Thus •
He alone earvju^y he dee8]yed an ocator, ,
who knows .how tp^mploy the moft per-^^
fiseifive . aj^umenS? iipon evory queiliohj^.
v4ao catk exphe^ tftibifelf fuitably to the dig*^
niQrjQ£.h& &i>j^<?:> t^ith.all the powers,
of grace andjl^mony'i in a word, who.
9^ penetrale? inbcr :c;y^ lip^m^ circum* ;;

: r: ftance.

: A BIA^OOUE. 4i)r

jflance, aind manage the whole train of iriT
.(dulentato thegreateft advantage of his caufc.
Such> at leaf^ was the high idea which the
antients formed of ihU ilhiftrious charadter.
In order however to attain this eminent
^iialific^tiofty diey did not think it neceffa^
^ dedaimin the fchoph, and idly waftie
their iuxatfa upon feigned or friyolocis con-
troverfies* It w^s thek wifer method^ to
apply, thenifelves to the ftudy of fiich uibr
ful arts as conc^ life and hianrlers. as
treat of moral good and evil, of juftice and.
inyaBaotf of die decent and the unbedoming
in a^ticaois^ And^ indeed, it is npon points
of this nature that.the bufinefs of th& oratoif
pnqctpaUy turns* For example, in the jti--
dietary, kiiid it relates to imatters of equity j
as in the deliher^te it is employed in de<-
termipbg the fit and the expedient : ftitl
howevdr diefe two branches are not {o ab--
fi)lutely diftind, but that they are frequent-
ly blended with each other. Now it is iiiit
poifible, when queftions of this kind fall
under the confideration of an orator, to^
^large upon them in all the elegant and
enlivening fpirit of an efficacious eloquence,
unle& he is^ perfectly well acquainted with

human

M

428 qP .0 JlA;TQfR^':

livfx^aa nature : unlefs lat uodecftands tHe
power and, extent of nfioral duties^ .and caa
4iAingui(h thofe aiftions which do not par^
take either of vice or virttie.^

From the fame fource, . likewiie, he
qiuft derive his influencQ over the paflionsi
Fqr if he is fluUed, for inftance, inither^^

«

tare of indignation, he will be fo much the
more capable odf foothing or enflambg the
br?afts.of bis judges: if he knows whercift
compaffion coniifts, and by what workings
of the heart it is moved, he will the more
eafily raife that tender aifedtion of the foul.
An orator traincid up in t|)is difcipHne, and
pjrai3ife4 in thefe arts, will have iull com^
mand over. the breails of his audience, iix
whfl^tever djipofition it may be his chance
tofiwi them : apd thus furnifhed with alk
(he, numberlefs powers of periiiafion, wilt
judicioufly vary and ajccommodaie his elo^
c|uence,as particukr^'gircumftances andcoiw
jupfturcs Ihall require. There iare fome,'

wefind, whoaremoftftruckwiththatriians *
ner of elocution^ where the arguments are

drawn up in a ifhort and clofe ftyle : upon

fuch an occafion the oratdr will e3q)erie0ice*

^e great advsintage ,<?£ b^ing TOnverfant ia

logie. -Others, pn the contrary, admire

flowing

A* bfALOGUE: i|,a^

flotnng and diffofive pdriods whd'e the
Htoftraiaops are bom>Wje[d from the ordinary
and' £aiiilaaf images >of commoh obierva-
tioh ': ^hcre the P^patetic writers will give
him £bine- affiftahce ; as* indeed thi^ will,
in^enieral, fiipply him:widi tmny^iftfat
hints in^attdie difierenrmethods (^pdpu^
kr fiddrefs.' ' The Aicademic^s will mlpird
kim wkb a becoming warmth : PkfQ "tvithf
foblimi^' of 'ftistim««K»^ and JCenophpn
with anftafy and elegantxii^on. Bventhe
exclamatcHy^nanner of E^|:SGurus, op Me-^
m>dbru$y May befouffd, in fomfe ^irdum^
ftmhoB not Altogether un&rvieeable.' -In a
wordy what the Sioics^ pretend of thdr wife
nianV ou|^t to be ¥er£i^'-ifi our orator-;
andiie ihoutd a^aally poilbfe all h^m^fi.
ibnowledge. Accordingly^ the antieht^ Who^
applied themfelves to efoqucnce, notibnly
ftuidied the* civil laws, but alio grammar/
pofttry, mufic, and geometry. -Indeed,'
there^are few caufes {perhaps I might juft-
ly fay there are none) wherein a (kill in the
firft is not abfolutcly^ neceiEiry ; as there
are many • in which an acquaintance witfr
Ae laft nifentioned fciendcs are highly re^,
quiiite* -.w. ;

If

439 OF t>:a;AtORX^

If it Oioiild bo okjc&td^ ttfaat ^< dox
<< qiience Is tJbe&Agk &iettoe reqiufitiifbr

^< the Qfh&:s wiU ^ ^fficiffot ibriaUrfai^
^< pMFpolcs :" I aofwer ; in tlbei ficfl: placed
there will alwaysi^eaxcnuirkabl&difim
in the ittamiefr of applybg what ira^take^i
asit were, t3|Hm Jomi ^od^hatwieprcH
perly|x^f&; fi^:th«tkw]ileNferte.«afiHi
f4^» whe^ierihe O|:al0r isndebtodtaolfaiaB
fy: what he prbchioeBi or daircs/kiinfii; fak
owtt wbpcrowfdd funcLi And in^tbe nexfi
place, the itkntt^JiinmiV'tt^^
grace over our <ottipofition^» i^eQ wiiere
^ey ate 1 not immcfltatdy concerned f aa
thek ^9&$ ai^ liiftmiUfc 1^
expe^tofindttiem. Tluis pd^«riQj(bldbaha
k not <mfy dHtinguHhed b^. the learned
aadthe judkioue, JMit ftrike6)eran themoft
cooHBon and pQpidar clafs j9f ;audits>n9 1 ia-^
£(NzuK^ that one mvy frequently ^ar tfaena
applauding a fpeaker of thb icnproyed kindly
as a man of gemwie erudition j sas mridv^
0(1 with the "v^le lireafures of doquoneei^
^bdy in ooe words recogmfo the eom^
plo^e-c^ator^ fii|t I will take the liberty to
a£^m, that no man ever did, nor indeed

ever

ttfioQi Amgdir lof rtdic united oiits. Accom--
^•if&fhftteMS)' Is^direvcr, of d>teh£>it are now
-fi> totaify iBgki9sd» that i^p ^pkadiogs 4pf

i our oiatoisare idebafcd bjr 1^. kfV

-fions.) ;af la: giancriil jgooraflejef 'belli of- tl^e

jfekws of obr conudxy and :t^ ^s^f the Hf^

dOdiftDins idf Aimie is ppofeiTodly i^kdiOQled^
^tfHd l^iflQfi^li^.'leeiDS 4t.{nrefesitto be con^
^egtd- » fametlKbg .^t oiigJlK^to be ib^lv*
mfed^and^drenled. iThus ESoquencei) Jike a
4cthfbiifidp0feQtfiitt> is-baMJNd her right*
ifuiidcnxitoKin % aod coafioed^to :baFi:m j)pintis
•and Jbw. conceit.: and /he x^y|K> was ^ooe
mBxt& of'therivhole.drcle'ofiGieiices, and
diaraucd ' evcrjr beholder widi the goodly
^ippearancQ of lier glorious, traii^ is now
Gripped of aU 'her «t$e£idarlt$^ (I liad^^lmpft
*&id of all hergenms) -and feenasnas oBe ^f
liiei^meabefb df tibe medfianic »tE. This
theiBfisce I confider as /thtiBrd and the
principal rreafim, of our .iia^tng ib igfecrf^

the ipirit of the antients*

If

If I Were^ trailed upon^ tOrfispport myi opH
nion by autb<^tie6, mighxplndtjuilfy ndme,
among the Greckln^y Dismo^ttienes ? Wbo»
we are infbrmeid^ coiiftsmtty attended tl^e
ledlures of 'Hato : a6 amoi)^TOir own coun--
trymen, Citero himfelf ftfiur® ns, (and
fri thefe very words, if*^! tightly reinenl-
ber) that he owed whatever advances lie
had made ill' eloquence, not. to the rhcto*
rlcians, . but ^ ithe Acadeom: pUiloibphen.
Ot H £ R^ and' very confiderable nsi£sx»
might be produced, for tlietlecay o^ elo?-
quence. Bot I leave them, :iny friends^ a&
itis proper I ihbuld, to be. xneittioned by
you; having performed my ihare in die ex^
arhination of^diis queftion: and with a
freedom, which Will ^e, 1- imag^e, as
ufiial, niuch <)^nce. I am fure^ at leafli,
if certain of our contemporaries were to be
informed of what I have here maintained,
I fhbuld be told, that in laying it down as
a* inaxim that ^ knowledge both of law
and philosophy are effential qualifications
in an orator, I'Jikve been fondly purfuing'a
phantom- of my own imagination .

I AM fo far from thinking, replied Ma*
ternus, you have completed the part you

undertook

I

A DIALOGUE. 433

undertook, that I J9iould rather imagine you
had only given us the firft general fketch
of your defign. You have marked out to
us, indeed, thofe iciences v^rhcxein the an-
ient orators were inftru€ked ; and have pla-
ced in ftrong ccmtrafte their iucceisful indu*-
iby, with our unperforming ignorance. But
%mething farther (till remains : and as you
have (hewn us the {uperior acquirements
of the orators in thofe more improved ages
of eloquence, as well as the remarkable de«*
^ciency of thofe in our own times ; I fhould
be glad you would proceed to acquaint us
with tile particular exercifes by which the
youth of thofe earlier days were wont to
firengthen and improve tiieir geniufes. For
I dare fay you will not deny, that oratory
is acquired by practice far better than by
precept : and our other two friends here
fcem willing, I perceive, to admit it.

To which, when Aper and Secundus had
(ignified their aiTent, MeiTalla, refuming his
difcoiirfe, continued as follows :

Ha VI 1^6 then, as it fhould feeni^ diT!
clofed to your fatisfaftion the feeds and firft
principles of antient eloquence, by fpecify-
ing the fcvenil kinds of. arts to which the

F f antient

434 OF ORATORY:

antient orators were trained j I (hall now
lay before you the method they purfued,
in order to gain a facility in the exertion of
eloquence. This indeed I have in fbme
meafure anticipated, by mentioning the pre-
paratory arts to which they applied them-
felves : for it is impoffible to make any
progrefs jn a compafs {o various and fo al>-
ftrufe, unlefs we not only ftrengthen our
knowledge by refleftion, but improve a ge-
neral aptitude by frequent exercife. Thus
it appears, that die fame fteps muft be pur-
fued in exerting our oratory, as in attaining
it. But if this truth fhould not be univerr
. fally admitted ; if any fhould think, that
eloquence may be poflefled without paying
previous court to her attendant fciences;
moft certainly, at leaft it will not be deni-
ed, that a mind duly impregnated with the
polite arts, will enter with fo much the
more advantage upon thofe exercifes pecu-
liar to the oratorical circus.

Accordingly, our anceftors when
they defigned a young man for the profef-
fion of eloquence, having previoufly takeqi
due care of his domeftic education, , and
feafoned his mind with ufeful knowledge,

introduced

A DiALOGUE. . 435

tntroduced him to the moft eminient orator
in Rome> From that time the youth
consui^nced his conftant fQllbwer^ attend-
ing him upon all occafions, whether he ap^
peared in the public aiTemblies of the peo-
ple, or. in the courts of civil judicature.
Thus he learned, if I may ufe the expref-
fion, .the arts of oratorical conflid in the ve-
ly field of battle* The advantages which
.flowed from thi&method, were confiderable:
. k animated the courage and quickened the
judgment of youths- thus to receive their
inftru€Hons in the eye of the world, and in
the midft of afiairs ; where no man could
advance a^iabfurd or a weak argument
without being rqedted by the bench^ expof-
ed by hia adverfary, and, delpifed by the
whole audiepcc. By.this method they imr
bibed the pure and unconrupted Areams
of genvine eloquence. . But tho they chief-
ly attached themfelves to one particular
orator, tljiey heard like wife all the reft of
their contemporary pleaders, in many of
their re^eftive debates* Hence alio they
had an opportunity of acquainting them-
ielves withthe various fentiments of the
people, and of obferviftg what pleafed

F f a or

43<f- OF ORATORY:

or difgufted diem mok ki die §cwai oa«
tors of the forum. Fy this meai» ikey
were fuj^ied with an Ihftmdor of d^
and mdft impro^^ng kind, exhibitittg, iMt
the feigned fembiahce oJF Eldqtietice, bot
her re&l and lively manileftation t not a pttK
tended, but a genuine advetfaiy, ^nMd in
earned for the Combat ; to audi^tite lit^
full and ever new, 'cbhipofed of Ibte* ttt Well
as friends, and where ftot 4 'Ang^fc t^l^
fion couM Ml tthUcr^rpA, &t uflUf^aihiiiddl.
For yo\i will ^gree With liie, I ^«Hi >wdU
perf^jraded, witen I affiirt, that k >&ilii IMd
lafting reputisteon of ek)qiieiKe%JAft Beae-
quireid hy i!he cenfurt ttF Wtrr ^e!n^, is,
well as'by'the applaufedf btti- fi5e«dS5 or
ratheir, indeed, it is ifroih thfe fenner'fli^ it
derives it frireft ^d taoft iftic^ftfeflicmed
ftrengthandfirmnieft. AcaJtdih^,a^outh
thuis formed to the bar, aftw^ueht aildattefa-
tive' hearer of the ihdft Iftftftridtfe omtors
and debates, inftruftcd by the ejfeperiencJe
of others, acquainted wiflhi'&c poptSartafte,
and daily converfant in thelavirs of hi$ ecmn-
try 5 to whom the folemn prefente of Ac
judges, and the awfiil eyes of a ftill audi-
ence were famili^, rofeatdncexntoafiiuri,

and

«)d WHS cqus4 tp t^ery caufe* Hence it
W«S 4]tat Cni0U9 at the age of nineteen,

Opi2^ 9t twenty c»m;, Pollio at twenty two,'
cod Calvuis when he was but a few years
oid^r, {mwoupced tbofe feveral ipeeches
«gaicift QurbOi Doiabella, Cato» andVati-
nilMj w)»sh w» read to this hour with ad-*

Om tiw ether hand, qbt modern youth
fMeiv<^ th^ education under certain de-
timw^ filled Rhetoricians : a fet of men
frho niade ^eir fiiit appearance in i^^/KTf, a
lifidi? h^Qff j^ time of Cicero. And that
th^ WO'C hf no means approved by our an^
c^0rs» ^ainly appears from their being en-
joined, under the cenibrfhip of CraiTus and
|>(Hmtios» to fliut up their fchools of im"
fudfficfy as Cicero exprefles it. — ^But I was
going to fay we are ient to certain acade-
mies, where it is hard to determine whether
jfee place, the company, or the method of
jbftru<3ion is moft likely to infed: the minds
of young people, and produce a wrong,
turn of thought. For nothing, certainly,
-can there be of an afieiiing fblemnity in an
audience where all who compofe it are of
the fame low degree of underflanding ; nor

F f 3 any

43» OF OR A TOR V:

any advantage to be receivcid from their
fellow-ftudents, where 4 parcel of boy$
and raw youths of uiiripe judgihentaha^
rangue before each other, widioul>thele4[¥
fear or danger of ciiticifm. An4 as for
their exercifes, they are ridiculous i^^ their
very nature. They confift of ^tWolcillds^
and are either declamatory or contitf vepfial^
The firft, as bdng eafier and VequiHng kfa
fkill, is affignedto theyouftger lads: tha
other is the tafk of more mature years. Bu"^
good gods ! with what incredible abfnrdity
are they compofed I The truAisi, the ftyte
, of their declamations is as falfe and conteirk
ptible, as the fubjeifts are ufelefs and fidin,
tious. Thus, being taught to harangue in a
moft pompous didion, on &e rewards due
to tyrannicides, on the eleftion to be made
by deflowered virgins<l, on the licentioufiiei$
of married women, on the ceremonies to
be obferved in times of peftilence, with*
other topics of the fame unconcerning kind^
which are daily debated \n the fchools^ and

* It was one of the queftions uAially debated in thefe
^•hetoric fchools, whether the party who had been ra-
yiihed Ihould choofe to marry the violator of hcrcha-^
'^ity^ qt gather have him put to deatlv

A DIALOGUE. 43^

fcarce ever at the bar ; " they appear ablb-;-
« lute novices in the affairs of the world,
<* and are by much too elevated for com-
" mon life."

" c Here Meffalla paufed : when Secun-
dus, taking his turn in the converfation,
began with obferving, that" the true and-
lofty fpirit of genuine eloquence, like that
of a clear and vigorous flame, is nourifhcd
ty proper fuel, excited by agitation, and
flill brightens as it burns. It was in this
manner, " laid he," that the oratory of
our anceflors was kindled and fpread itfelf.

«

«

« The latter part of Meflalla's difcourfe, together
with what immediately followed it in the original, is
loft : The chafm, however, docs not fcem to be fo

{;reat as feme of the commentators fufpeft. The tranf-
ator therefore has ventured to fill it up in his own
way, with thofe lines which are diftinguifhed bysinver-
ted comma's. He has Ukewife given the next fubfe-
quent part of the converfation, to Secundus ; , tho it
does not appear in the original to whom it belongs.
It would be of no great importance to the Engliih rea-
der, to juftify this laft article : tho, perhaps, it would
not be very aiiEcult, if it were neceflary.

To fave the reader the trouble of turning to a fe-
c6nd note upon a like occaiion, it is proper to obfervc
in this place, that he will find the fame inverted com-,
ma's in page 448, 9. The wprds included between
them, are alfo an additibn of the fame kind, and for
the fame reafon^ as that juft now mentioned*

Ff4 The

440 OF ORATORY:

The medinrns have as much merit of thia
)dnd» perhaps, as can be acquired under a
fettled and peaceable governnient \ but far
inferior, no doubt, to that which ibone
out in the tinges of licentioufnefs and confu-
i;on, when He was deemed the ableft ora-r
tdr, who had moft influence over a reft-
lefs and ungoverned multitude. To this
fltuation of public aflfairs was owing thpfe
c:ontinual debates concerning the Agrarian
laws, and the popularity confcquent there-
upon ; thofe long harangues of the magi**
ifaates, thofe impeachments of the greats
thofe fadions of the nobles, thofe hereditary
enmities in particular famUiesi and in fine^
^ofe inceflant ftruggles between the ieiiate
andl the commons ; which, ttxo each of
#ietti prgudicial to the ftatc, yet moft cer-
tainly contributed to produce and encourage
that rich vein of eloquence which difcover-^
cd itfelf in thofe tenipeftuous days. The
way to dignities lay directly through the
paths of eloquence. The more a man fig^
palized himfelf by his abilities in this art, ib
inuch the more eafily he opened his rbad to
peftrrtoent, and tliaintained an afcendant
pver his eoUegues, at the fame time that it

heightened

3

A DIALOGUE. 44X

heightened hb intereft with the nobles, his
aD^orir^r widi the fenate, and his reputa*
tion with the people in general. The
patronage of thde admired orators was
oourtedeven by foreign nations^ as die fe-
veral magiftrates of our own, endeavored
to recommend themielves to their £ivor
and protection, by (hewing them die high-
eft marks of honor whenever they fet out
for the adminiftration of their reipedivo
provinces, and by fhidioufly cultivating a
friendfhip with them at their return. They
were called upon, vdthout any folidtation
on thdr own part, to fill up the fupreme
dignities of the ftate. Nor were diey even
in a private ftation without great power,^as
by means of the perfiiaiive arts they had a
very confiderable influence over both the
fenate and the people. The truth is, it
was an eftablifhed maxim in thofe days,
that without the oratorical talents no man
could either acquire or maintain any high
poft in the government. And ho wonder
indeed, that fuch a notion fhould univerial-
ly prevail : fince it was impoffible for any
perlbn endued with this commanding art, to
pafs his life in obfcuri^, how much fo«

evec

44a OF ORATORr-.

^ver it might be agreable to his own incli-
hations ; fince it was not fufficient merely
tovt)te in the fenate; without fupporting
that vote with good fenfe and eloquence ;
fincc in all public impeachments or civil
caufes, the accufed was obliged to anfwer
to the charge in his own perfon ; fince writ-
ten depofitions' were not admitted injudicial
matters, - but die witnefles were called up-
6n to deliver their evidence in open court.
Tbiis bur anceftors were eloquent, as much
by niceflity as by encouragements. To be
poflefled of the perfuafive talents, was
cfteemed the hijgheft glory ; as the contra-
ry charafter was held in the utmoft con-
tempt. In a word, they were incited to the
purfult of oratory, by a principle of honor
as well as by a view of intereft. They
dreaded the difgrace of being confidered ra-
ther as clients than patrons ; of loofing thofe
dependants which dieir anceftors had tranf-
mitted to them, and feeing thena mix in
the train of others ; in fhort, of being look-
ed upon as men of mean abilities, and con-
fequently either paffed over in the difpofal
of high offices, or defpifed in the admini-*
^ration of them.

I KNOW

a»

A DIALOGUE. 443

I KNOW not whether thofe ariticnt hifto-
rical pieces, which were lately colleded and
pubiifhed by Mucianus from the old libra-
ries where Aey have hitherto been preferv-
ed, have yet fallen into your hands. This
coUedion confifts of eleven volumes of the
public journals, and three of cpiftles : by
wluch it appears that Pompey and Craffus
gained as much advantage from their elo-
quence as their arms ; that LucuUus, Me-
tellus, Lentulus, Curio, and the reft of thofe
diftinguifhed chiefs, devoted themfelves
with great application to this iniinuating
art s in a word, Uiat not a fingle perfon in
thofe times rofe to any conliderable degree
of power, without the afliftance of the rhe-
torical talents.

To thefe confiderations may be farthjcr
added, that the dignity and importance of
the debates in which the antients were enga-
ged, contributed greatly to advance their
eloquence. Moft certain, indeed, it is, that
an orator muft neceffarily find great differ-
ence with refped: to his powers, when he
is to harangue only upon fome trifling rob-
bery, or a little paultry form of pleading ;
fUid when the faculties of his mind are

warmed

444 OF ORATORY!

wanned and enlipened by fuch tatare^ng^
mA animated tq)ic$ as bribciy at demons,
^theopprefikmof ourallies, ortkemafiacre
qF our fellow citizens. Evils tiie&i which
beyond all peradventure» it w^e better
ihould never happen } and we have rea&n
to rgoice diat we live under a governmeiM;
where we are ftrangers to fuch terrible ca**
lamities : ftill it muft be ackjiowledged» diat
wherever they did happen» they were won--
derful incentives to eloquence. For the
orator s genius rjfes and expands itielf^ in
proportion to the dignity of the occalion
i:4>on which it is exerted ; and I will lay it
down as a maxim^ that it is impoifible to
ihine out in all the powerful luftre of genu-'
ine eloquence, without being inHamed by a
iaitable importance of fubje<%. Thus the
ipeech of Demofthenes againft his guardi*
ans, icarcely, I imagine, eftabliihed his
chara&er ) as it wasnot the defence of Archi-»
as, or Quindius, that acquired Cicero ^
reputation of a confununa£e orator. It was
Cataline, and Milo, and Verres, and Mark
Antony, that warmed him with that oo«
bk glow of eloquence, which gave ike
6mihmg bri^tQe& <o his unequalied^uiie.

Far

A DkIALOGUE. 445

Far ftm I from ii]£iiu«dng» dbat fudi infill
iiMus chaiadcFS deibre to be tolerated in
ftftate^ in order to fiipply convenient inai-
ter of oratxxy : All I contend for is, dbat
this art flori(hes to moft advantage in turbu-
lent times. Peace, no doubt, is infinitely
preferable to war ; but it is the latter onfy
lliat fornis the folder. It is jaft the fame
with eloquence: the oftner (he enters, if I
iftay fo fay, the field of battle ; the more
wounds (he gives and receives 3 Ae moi'e
powerful lire adverfary with which fhe con-
tends, fe much the more ennobled flie ap-
pears in the ^e of mankind. For it is Ac
difpofition of human nature, always to ad-
^mire what we fee is attended widb danger
and di%:ulty in others^ how muchibever we
may phoofe eafe and fecurity for ourfelves*

Another advantage which the antient
orators had over the modems, is, that they
were not confined in their pleadingS) as we
are, to a few hours. On the contrary, thoy
were at liberty to adjourn as often as they
bought proper ; they were unlimited as to
the number of days orof counfel, and every
orator might extend his ^eech to the lei^di
moft agreable to himfelf, . Pompey, in his

third

446 OF OR/LTORY:

third confulfhip) Was the firft who curbed
the fpirit of eloquence ; ftill however pcr«-
mitting'all cauies to be heard, agreably to
the laws^ the forum and before the Prae-
tors, How much more ?onfiderable the bu-
finefs of thofe magiftrates was, than that
of the Centumvirs, who at prefent deter-
mine all caufes, is evident from this cir-
cumflance, that not a fingle oration of Cice-
ro, Caefar, or Brutus, or in (hort of any one
celebrated orator, was fpoken before thefe

. laft, excepting only thofe of Pollio in favor
of die heirs of Urbinia. But then it muft be
remembered, that thefe were delivered

. about the middle of the reign of AuguftuSj
when a long and uninterrupted peace abroad,
a perfefl: tranquillity at home, ^together
with the general good conduft of that wife
prince, had damped die flames of eloquence
as well as thofe of fedition.

You will fmile, perhaps, at what I am
going to fay, and I mention it for that pur-

, pofe : but is there not fomediing in the pre-*

. lent confined garb of our orators, that has
^n ill efFedt even upon their elocution, and
makes it appear low and contemptible?
May we not fuppofe likewife, that much

.of

A DIALOGUE. 447

of the fpirit of oratory is funk, by that
clofe and defpicable fcene. wherein many
of our caufes are now debated ? For the
orator, like a generous fteed, requires a
free and open fpace wherein to expatiate ;
otherwife the forpe of his powers is broken,
and half the energy of his talents is check-
ed in their career. There is another cir-
cumftance alfo exceedingly prejudicial to
the intereft of eloquence, as it prevents a
due attention to flyle : we are now obliged
to enter upon our Ipeech whenever the
judge calls upon us 3 not to mention the fre-
quent interruptions which arife by the ex-
amination of witnefles. Befides, the courts
of judicature are at prefent fo unfrequented,
that the orator feems to ftand alone, and
talk to bare walls. But eloquence re-
joices in the clamor of loud applaufe, and
exults in a full audience, fuch as ufed to
prefs round the antient orators when the
forum flood thronged with nobles ; when
a numerous retinue of clients, when fo-
reign ambafladors, and whole cities affii^r
cd at the debate; and when even Kotrip
herfelf was concerned in the event, Thp
very appearance of that prodigious con-

courfe

44« OP ORATORY:

courfe of people^ which atjtended the trials
of Beftia^ Cornelius, Scaunis, Milo, and
Vatioius, n^uft have enfiamed die breaft
of the coldeft orator. Accordingly we
£ndy that of all the antient orations now
€xtaot> diere are none which have more
eminently diftingui(h,ed their authors, than
thofe which were pronounced under fuch
favorable drcumftances. To thefe advan**
tages we may farther add likewife, the
ftequent general aflemblies of the people,
the privilege of arrdgning the moft con^
iiderable ,peclbnages» and the popularity
of fucih Impeadioients : when the fons of
oratory fpared n6t even Sdpio, Sylla, or
^ompeyi and when, in confequence of
fudi acceptable attacks upon fuipe^ted
pcmcti they were fure of being heard by
the people with the utmoft attention and re«>
fftrd. 'How muft thefe united caufes con-
tribute to raife the genius, and in^ire the
eloquence of tl^e ancients I

« Maternus, who, ypu will re-
^* member, was in the midft of his ha-
** rangue in favor of poetry when Meflal-
*« la firft entered into the room, finding
^5 Secundus was now filent, took diat op-

5^ portunity

i

€<

A DIALOGUE. 44^

s ** portunity of refuming his invedlive

againftthe exorcife of the oratorical arts in
1 ^' general." That ipecies of eloquence^

e iaid he, wherein poetry is concerhed, is

V cahn and peaceable, moderate and virtuous :

e whereas diat other fupreme kind which my

1 two friends here have been deicribing, is

1 the offspring of licentioufnefs (by fools mif-

called liberty) and the companion of fedi**

don; bold, obftinate, and haughty, un-
, knowing how to yield or how to obey, an

encourager of a lawle& populace, and a
' ftranger in all well-regulated communities.

Who ever heard of a n orator in Lacedsmon
or Crete ? cities which exerciied the feve«
reft difcipline, and were governed by th^
ftri£beft laws. We have no account of
Perfian or Macedonian eloquence, or indeed
of that of any other ftate which fubmitted
to a regular adminiftration of government.
Whereas Rhodes and Athens (places of po-
pular rale, where all things lay open to all
men) fwarmed with orators innumerable.
In the fame manner, Rome, while ihe was
under no fettled policy 5 while (he was torn
with parties, diflentions, and fa<Stlons ; while
th^re was no peace ia the forum, no. har^*

. G g mony

450 OF ORATORY:

mony in the fenate, 90 moderation in thte
^dges > while there was neither reverence
paid to fuperiors, nor bounds prefcribed to
magiftrates-f^Rome, under thde circum-i
ftances, produced, beyond all difpute, 9
ftronger and brighter vein of eloquence ; a^
ibme valuable plants will florifli even in tb6
wildeft foil. But the tongue of the Grac-*
f:hi did nothing compenfate the republic
for their feditious laws : nor the ibperior
eloquence of Cicero make him any amends
£[)r his fad cataftrophe.

The truth is, the forum (that finglc re-r
plain which now furvives of andent orato->
ry) is, even in its prefent fituatbn, an cvU
(dent proof that all things amongfl: us are
pot conduced in tjiat well-ordered manner
pne copld wifti. For, tell me, is it not the
guilty or the miferable ^lone, that fly to us
for affiilance ? When any community im-
plores our protection, is it not becaufe it
cither is infulted by fomc neighboring ftate,
or torn by domeftic feuds ? And what pro--
vince ever feeks our patronage, till flie ha$
]been plundered or ppprefled ? But far better
it furely is, never to have been injured, than
§t la|| (0 be redr^fled^ If there was a go^R

V?rnmem

A D I A L O G U E. 451

wemmeTA in the worid free from commo-
tions and difturbanccs, the profeflion of ora-
tory would there be as ufelefs, as that of
medicine to the found: and as the phyficiaa
lyould have little profit or practice among
the healthy and the ilrong, fo neither would
the orator have much bufinefs or honor
where obedience and good manners uni-
verfally prevail. To v^hat purpofe are ftu-
died fpeeches in a fenate, where the better
[ fiLTid the m^jor part of the aflembly are al-
ready of one mind ? What the expediency
of haranguing the populace, where public
affairs are not determined by the voice of an
ignorant and giddy multitude, but by the
fteddy wifdom of a fingle perfon? To what
end voluntary informations, where crimes
are unfrequent and inconfiderable ? or of la*
bored and invidious defences, where the
clemency of the judge is ever on the fide of
the accufed ? Believe me then, my worthy
(and, as far as the circumflances of the age
require, my eloquent) friends, had the gods
rcverfed the date of your exiflence, and pla-p-
fed Tou in the times of thole antients we fo
much admire, and T&em in yours 5 Tou

WQWld not have fallen fliort of that glorious

C g J fpirit

4S^ O^ GRATORY,&c-

fpirit which iMftinguiflicd their oratory, nor
would tbey have been deilitute of a proper
temperature and moderation* But j^nce a
high reputation for eloquence is not con-
fiftent with great jrepofe iii the publiic ; let
every age enjoy its own peculiar advantag^g^
without derogating from thofe of a forpier.
M A T£ R N u s having ended ; M eflalla
obferved, that there were £bme points^
which his friend had laid down» that were
not perfedtly agreable to his fentiments t-
as there were others, which he wifhed
to hear explained more at large : but the
time is now, faid be, too far advanced. If
I have maintained any thing, replied ]Vf a^
temus, which requires to be opened more
explicitly, I ihall be ready to clear it up ia
fome future conference : at the fame time
rifipg from his feat and dmbracing Apcr %
Meffalla 'knd I (continued He foiiling) (hall,
arraign you, be well aflured, before the
poets and admirers of the antieiits., 'And
I both of you (returned Aper), pcfore the-
rhetoricians. ' Thifs we parted in mutual
good humor^

-it ^ \ ■ ■ f . . < . •

F I N I 's;

y