ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub

writers of this. Strange, that our critics fhould be fond of giving their favours to thofe who are infenfible of the obligation, and their diflike to those, who of all mankind are most apt to retaliate the injury.

Even though our present writers had not equal merit with their predeceffors, it would be politic to use them with ceremony. Every compliment paid them would be more agreeable, in proportion as they least deserved it. Tell a lady with an handsome face that she is pretty, the only thinks it her due; it is what he has heard a thousand times before from others, and difregards the compliment: but affure a lady, the cut of whofe vifage is fomething more plain, that the looks killing to-day, the inftantly bridles up and feels the force of the well-timed flattery the whole day after. Compliments, which we think are deserved, we accept only as debts with indifference; but those which confcience informs us we do not merit, we receive with the same gratitude that we do favours given away.

Our gentlemen, however, who prefide at the diftribution of literary fame, feem refolved to part with praise neither from motives of juftice, or generofity; one would think, when they take pen in hand, that it was only to blot reputations, and to put their feals to the pacquet which configns every new-born effort to oblivion.

Yet, notwithstanding the republic of letters hangs at present so feebly together; though those friendfhips which once promoted literary fame feem now to be discontinued; though every writer who now draws the quill feems to aim at profit, as well as applause, many among them are probably laying in ftores for immortality, and are provided with a fufficient ftock of reputation to laft the whole journey.

As I was indulging these reflections, in order to eke out the present page, I could not avoid purfu

ing the metaphor of going a journey in my imagination, and formed the following Reverie too wild for allegory, and too regular for a dream.

I fancied myself placed in the yard of a large inn, in which there were an infinite number of waggons and ftage-coaches, attended by fellows who either invited the company to take their places, or were bufied in packing their baggage. Each vehicle had its infcription fhewing the place of its deftination. On one I could read, The pleasure ftage-coach; on another, The waggon of induftry; on a third, The vanity whim; and on a fourth, The landau of riches. I had fome inclination to step into each of thefe, one after another; but I know not by what means I paffed them by, and at last fixed my eye upon a fmall carriage Berlin fashion, which feemed the moft convenient vehicle at a distance in the world; and, upon my nearer approach, found it to be The Fame machine.

I instantly made up to the coachman, whom I found to be an affable and feemingly good-natured fellow. He informed me, that he had but a few days ago returned from the temple of fame, to which he had been carrying Addifon, Swift, Pope, Steele, Congreve, and Colley Cibber. That they made but indifferent company by the way, and that he once or twice was going to empty his berlin of the whole cargo: however, fays he, I got them all safe home, with no other damage than a black eye, which Colley gave Mr. Pope, and am now returned for another coachful. "If-that be all, friend," faid I, "and if you are in want of company, I'll make one "with all my heart. Open the door; I hope the ma"chine rides eafy." "Oh! for that, fir, extremely "eafy." But ftill keeping the door fhut, and meafuring me with his eye, Pray, fir, have you no luggage? You feem to be a good-natured fort of "a gentleman; but I don't find you have got any lugVOL. IV.

66

Q

66

66 gage,

gage, and I never permit any to travel with me "but fuch as have fomething valuable to pay for "coach-hire." Examining my pockets, I own I was not a little difconcerted at this unexpected rebuff; but confidering that I carried a number of the BEE under my arm, I was refolved to open it in his eyes, and dazzle him with the fplendor of the page. He read the title and contents, however, without any emotion, and affured me he had never heard of it before. "In fhort, friend," faid he, now lofing all his former refpect, "you must not come in. I expect "better paffengers; but, as you feem an harmless "creature, perhaps if there be room left, I may "let you ride a while for charity."

I now took my stand by the coachman at the door, and fince I could not command a feat, was refolved to be as ufeful as poffible, and earn by my affiduity what I could not by my merit.

The next that prefented for a place was a moft whimfical figure indeed. He was hung round with papers of his own compofing, not unlike thofe who fing ballads in the ftreets, and came dancing up to the door with all the confidence of inftant admittance. The volubility of his motion and address prevented my being able to read more of his cargo than the word Infpector, which was written in great letters at the top of fome of the papers. He opened the coachdoor himself without any ceremony, and was juft flipping in, when the coachman, with as little ceremony, pulled him back. Our figure feemed perfectly angry at this repulfe, and demanded gentleman's fatisfaction. "Lord, fir!" replied the coachman, "in

ftead of proper luggage, by your bulk you feem loaded for a Weft-India voyage. You are big "enough with all your papers to crack twenty ftage-coaches. Excufe me, indeed, fir, for you "mult not enter." Our figure now began to expoftu

[ocr errors]

late;

late; he affured the coachman, that though his baggage feemed fo bulky, it was perfectly light, and that he would be contented with the fmalleft corner of room. But Jehu was inflexible, and the carrier of the Infpectors was fent to dance back again with all his papers fluttering in the wind. We expected to have no more trouble from this quarter, when in a few minutes the fame figure clianged his appearance, like harlequin upon the ftage, and with the fame confidence again made his approaches, dreffed in lace, and carrying nothing but a nofegay. Upon coming near, he thruft the nofegay to the coachman's nofe, grasped the brafs, aud feemed now refolved to enter by violence. I found the ftruggle foon begin to grow hot, and the coachman, who was a little old, unable to continue the conteft; fo, in order to ingratiate myself, I ftept in to his affiftance, and our united efforts fent our literary Proteus, though worsted, unconquered ftill, clear off, dancing a rigadoon, and fmelling to his own nofegay.

The perfon, who after him appeared as candidate for a place in the ftage, came up with an air not quite fo confident, but fomewhat however theatrical; and, instead of entering, made the coachman a very low bow, which the other returned, and defired to fee his baggage; upon which he inftantly produced fome farces, a tragedy, and other mifcellany productions. The coachiman, cafting his eye upon the cargoe, affured him, at prefent he could not poffibly have a place, but hoped in time he might afpire to one, as he feemed to have read in the book of Nature, without a careful perufal of which none ever found entrance at the temple of fame. "What!" replied the disappointed poet," fhall my tragedy, "in which I have vindicated the caufe of liberty and "virtue !"-" Follow Nature," returned the other," and never expect to find lafting fame by "topics

Q 2

"topics which only please from their popularity. "Had you been firft in the caufe of freedom, or "praised in virtue more than an empty name, it is "poffible you might have gained admittance; but "at prefent I beg, fir, you will ftand afide for "another gentleman whom I fee approaching."

This was a very grave perfonage, whom at fome diftance I took for one of the most reserved, and even difagreeable figures I had feen; but as he approached his appearance improved, and, when I could diftinguish him thoroughly, I perceived that in spite of the feverity of his brow he had one of the most good-natured countenances that could be imagined. Upon coming to open the stage door, he lifted a parcel of folios into the feat before him, but our inquifitorial coachman at once fhoved them out again. "What! "not take in my dictionary!" exclaimed the other in a rage. "Be patient, fir," replied the coachman, "I have drove a coach, man and boy, these "two thousand years; but I do not remember to "have carried above one dictionary during the whole "time. That little book which I perceive peeping " from one of your pockets, may I prefume to aik "what it contains ?" "A mere trifle,” replied the author, it is called, "The Rambler." "it "The "Rambler!" fays the coachman, "I beg, fir, you'll "take your place; I have heard our ladies in the "court of Apollo frequently mention it with rap66 ture; and Clio, who happens to be a little grave, "has been heard to prefer it to the Spectator; "though others have obferved, that the reflections, by being refined, fometimes become minute."

66

This grave gentleman was fcarcely feated, when another, whofe appearance was fomething more modern, feemed willing to enter, yet afraid to ask. He carried in his hand a bundle of effays, of which the coachman was curious enough to enquire the

contents.

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »