Addison.

G. B. VII, G. 554. Seine Verdienste um die Verbesses rung der englischen Brose find allgemein anerkannt. Ich weiß fie nicht treffender zu charakterisiren, als mit den Worten Dr. Blair's: „Von der höchften Stufe einer kunstløsen, anmuthigen, aber das bei nichts weniger als vernachlässigten Schreibart ist Addison, im englischen, ohne Zweifel das vollkommenste Mußter; und man kann daher diesen Schriftsteller, wenn er schon nicht durchaus von Mångeln frei ist, doch im Ganzen genommen, als das sicherste und zurden wenigsten Fehlern verleitende Ziel der Nachahmung des profaischen Vortrages aufftellen. Addison ist im höchftcu Grade Deutlich und rein; er zeichnet sich zwar nicht durch einen vorzüglis chen Grad von Bändigkeit und Bestimmtheit aus; aber er bleibt doch auch in dieser Rücksicht nur selten hinter dem Gegenstande zurück, von welchem er handelt. Der Bau feiner Redefäße ist leicht, anmuthig, meistentheils für das Ohr angenehm, und ges fållt minder durch Stårke, als durch gefällige Ründung. Was den bildlichen Ausdruck betrifft, so ist er vorzüglich reich, beson, ders in Vergleichungen und Metaphern, welche immer so schicklich \angebracht sind, daß die Schreibart dadurch keinesweges bunt -noch ůvpig wird. Sein Ausdruck verråth durchaus nichts Gesuchtes; man findet keine Spur vom mühsamen Bestreben; durchaus nichts Gezwungenes oder zu weit Hergeholtes; sondern allenthalben einen hohen Grad von Anmuth, mit einem hohen Grad von Leichtigkeit und Simplicitåt verbunden. Was ihn besonders uns terscheidet, ist ein gewiffes eigenthümliches Gepräge von Bescheis denheit und feinem Anstande, welches aus allen feinen Arbeiten hervorleuchtet. Kein Schriftsteller kann sich eines gefälligern und populærern Vortrages rühmen. Was aber Addison noch mehr empfiehlt, ift die unverkennbare Achtung, welche er allenthalben für Religion und Rechtschaffenheit dußert. Wenn ihm ja etwas gebricht, so ist es ein höherer Grad von Stärke und Pråcision; wenigstens würde seine Schreibart, wenn sie schon zu folchen Aufs sågen, wie der Zuschauer enthält, vollkommen passte, für Arbeis ten von einer höhern und kunsimåßigern Gattung nicht als ein schickliches Mußter können ́empfohlen werden.' "1 Man vers gleiche hiemit die umständliche und treffliche Würdigung der Schreibart Addison's in Dr. Johnson's Lebensbeschreibung diefes in der englischen schduen Litteratur so denkwürdigen Schrifts ftellers, die er mit den Worten schließt: Whoever wishes to attain 'an English style, familiar, but not coarse, and elegant, but not

often

oftentatious, must give his days and nights to the volumes of Addison. In eben dieser kritischen Biographie findet man auch die beste Charakterisirung des berühmten Wochenblattes, The Spectator, welcher Addison's Beiträge, die mit einem der Buchs staben des Worts CLIO bezeichnet sind, einen gar sehr erhöhten Werth ertheilten. Von diesen Beiträgen wähle ich das 558ste und folgende Stück, welches Dr. Johnson für den trefflichsten moraš lischen Versuch erklärte, den er je gelesen håtte.

It is a celebrated thought of Socrates, that if all the inisfortunes of mankind were caft into a public stock, in order to be equally diftributed among the whole fpecies, those, who now think themselves the most unhappy, would prefer the fhare they are already poffelfed of, before that which would fall to them by fuch a divifion. Horace has carried this thought a great deal further *), thinking, that the hardships or misfortunes we lie under, are more easy to us than those of other person would be, in cafe we could change conditions with him.*

any

As I was ruminating on those two remarks, and feated in my elbow-chair, I infenfibly fell asleep; when on a fudden, methought, there was a procla nation made by Jupiter, that every mortal fhould bring in his griefs and calamities, and throw them to gether in a heap. There was a large plain appointed for this purpose. I took my stand in the centre of it, and saw with a great deal of pleasure the whole human [pecies marching one after another, and throwing down their feveral loads, which immediately grew up into a prodigious mountain, that feemed to rise above the clouds.

Bb 5

*) Hor. Sat. I L. I. v. I.

There

Σ

There was a certain Lady, of a thin airy fhape, who was very active in this folemnity. She carried a magnifying glass in one of her hands, and was clothed in a loose flowing robe, embroidered with feveral figu res of fiends and fpectres, that discovered themselves in a thousand chimerical fhapes, as her garment hovered in the wind. There was fomething wild and diftracted in her looks. Her name was FANCY. She led up every mortal to the appointed place, after having very officiously affifted him in making up his pack, and laying it upon his fhoulders. My heart melted within' me to fee my fellow-creatures groaning under their respective burdens, and to confider that prodigious, bulk of human calamities which lay before me.

4

There were however several perfons who gave me great diverfion upon this occafion. I obferved one bringing in a fardel very carefully concealed under a old embroidered cloke, which, upon his throwing it into the heap, I difcovered to be poverty. Another, after a great deal of puffing, threw down his luggage, which, upon examining, I found to be his wife.

There were multitudes of Lovers faddled with very whimsical burdens composed of darts and flames; but what was very odd, though they fighed as if their hearts would break under these bundles of calamities, they could not perfuade theinselves to caft them into the heap, when they came up to it; but after a few faint efforts, fhook their heads and marched away, as heavy loaden as they came. I faw multitudes of old woinen throw down their wrinkles, aud feveral young ones who stripped themselves of a tawny skin. There were very great heaps of red noses, large lips, and rusty teeth. The truth of it is, I was surprised to see the greatest part of the mountain made up of bodily

de

deformities. Obferving one advancing towards the heap, with a larger cargo than ordinary upon his back I found upon his near approach, that it was only a natural hump, which he difpofed of, with great joy of heart, among this collection of human miferies. There were likewise diftempers of all forts, thoughI could not but observe, that there were many more imaginary than real. One little packet I could not but take notice of, which was a complication of all the difeafes incident to human nature, and was in the hand of a great many fine people: This was called the Spleen. But what most of all furprised me, was a remark I made, that there was not a single vice or folly thrown into the whole heap: At which I was very much aftonished, having concluded within myself, that every one would take this opportunity of getting rid of his paffions, prejudices, and frailties.

I took notice in particular of a very profligate fellow, who I did not question came loaden with his crimes; but upon fearching into his bundle, I found that instead of throwing his guilt from him, he had only laid down his memory. He was followed by a another worthlefs rogue who flung away his modefty inftead of his ignorance.

When the whole race of mankind had thus caft their burdens, the Phantom which had been so busy on this occasion, seeing me an idle fpectator of what had paffed, approached towards me. I grew unealy at her prefence, when on a sudden fhe held her magnifying glass full before my eyes. I no fooner faw my face in it, but was startled at the shortness of it, which now appeared to me in its utmost aggravation. The immoderate breadth of the features made me very much out of humour with my own countenance; upon which I threw it from me like a mafk. It happened

very luckely, that one who ftood by me had juft before thrown down his vifage, which, it seems, was too long for him. It was indeed extended to a molt fhameful length; I believe the very chin was, modeftly speaking, as long as my whole face. We had both of us an opportunity of mending ourfelves; and all the contributions being now brought in, every man was at liberty to exchange his mis fortunes for thofe of an other person.

I saw, with unspeakable pleasure, the whole species thus delivered from its forrows; though at the fame time, as we stood round the heap, and furveyed the feveral material of which it was compofed, there was fcarce a mortal, in this vaft multitude, who did not difcover what he thought pleasures and bleflings of life; and wondered how the owners of them ever came to look upon them as burdens and grievances.

As we were regarding very attentively this confufion of miferies, this chaos of calamity, Jupiter iffued out a fecond proclamation, that every one was now at liberty to exchange his affliction, and to return to his habitation with any fuch other bundle as fhould be delivered to him.

Upon this FANCY began again to bestir herfelf, and parcelling out the whole heap with incredible activity, recommended to every one his particular packet. The hurry and confufion at this time was not to be expreffed. Some obfervations, which I made upon the occafion, I fhall cummunicate to the Public. A venerable gray-headed man, who had laid down the cholic, and who I found wanted an heir to his estate, snatched up an undutiful son, thad had been thrown into the heap by his angry

father.