could now and then difcern tracts in it of a lighter greynefs, like the breakings of day, fhort in duration, much enlivening, and called in that country' Gleams of Amusement. Within a fhort while thefe gleams began to appear more frequent, and then brighter and of a longer continuance; the fighs that hitherto filled the air with fo much dolefulness, altered to the found of the common breezes, and in general the horrors of the inland were abated.

When we had arrived at last at the ford by which we were to pafs out, we met with thofe fafhionable mourners, who had been ferried over along with us, and who being unwilling to go as far as we, had coafted by the fhore to find the place, where they waited our coming; that by fhewing themfelves to the world only at the time when we did, they might feem alfo to have been among the troubles of the grotto. Here the waters that rolled on the other fide fo

deep and filent, were much dried up, and it was an eafier matter for us to wade over.

The river being croffed, we were received upon the further bank by our friends and acquaintance, whom Comfort had brought out to congratulate our appearance in the world again. Some of thefe blamed us for ftaying fo long away from them; others advised us against all temptations of going back again; every one was cautious not to renew our trouble, by asking any particulars of the journey; and all concluded, that in a cafe of fo much melancholy and affliction, we could not have made choice of a fitter companion than Patience. Here Patience, appearing ferene at her praises, delivered us over to Comfort. Comfort fimiled at his receiving the charge; immediately the sky purpled on that fide to which he turned, and double day at once broke in upon

me.

TER. HEAUT. ACT. IV. SC. I.

W

HEN men read, they taste the

natter with which they are entertained, according as their own respective tulies and inclinations have prepared then, and make their reflections accordingly. Some perufing Roman writers, would find in them, what ever the fubject of the difcourfes were, parts which implied the grandeur of that people in their warfare or their politics. As for my part, who am a mere Spectator, I drew this morning conclu fions of their eminence in what I think great, to wit, in having worthy fentiments, from the reading a comedy of Terence. The play was the Self-Tormentor. It is from the beginning to' the end a perfect picture of human life,

but I did not obferve in the whole one paffage that could raife a laugh. How well difpofed must that people be, who could be entertained with fatisfaction by fo fober and polite mirth? In the first fcene of the comedy, when one of the old men accuses the other of impertinence for interpofing in his affairs, he

answers I am a man, and cannot help feeling any forrow that can arrive at man.' It is faid, this fentence was received with an univerfal applaufe. There cannot be a greater argument of the general good understanding of a people, than a fudden confent to give their approbation of a fentiment which has no emotion in it. If it were spoken with ever fo great skill in the actor, the manner of uttering that fentence could have nothing in it which could ftrike any but people of the greatest humanity, nay people elegant and skilful in obfervations upon it. It is poffible he might have laid his hand on his breaft, and with a winning infinuation in his countenance, expreffed to his neighbour

that he was a man who made his cafe his own; yet I will engage a player in Covent Garden might hit fuch an attitude a thousand times before he would have been regarded. I have heard that a minifter of state in the reign of Queen Eli zabeth had all manner of books and ballads brought to him, of what kind fo

it among us for this fpeech, though fo full of nature and good fenfe.

The intolerable folly and confidence of players putting in words of their own, does in a great meafure feed the abfurd taste of the audience. But however that is, it is ordinary for a cluster of coxcombs to take up the house to themselves, and equally infult both the actors and the company. Thefe favages, who want all manner of regard and deference to the reft of mankind, come only to fhew themselves to us, without any other purpose than to let us know they defpife us.

ever, and took great notice how much they took with the people; upon which he would, and certainly might, very well judge of their prefent difpofitions, and the moft proper way of applying them according to his own purpofes. What paffes on the ftage, and the reception it meets with from the audience, is a very useful instruction of this kind. According to what you may obferve there on our ftage, you fee them often moved fo directly against all common fenfe and humanity, that you would be apt to pronounce us a nation of favages. It cannot be called a mistake of what is pleafant, but the very contrary to it is what moft affuredly takes with them. The other night an old woman carried off with a pain in her fide, with all the dif tortions and anguish of countenance which is natural to one in that condition, was laughed and clapped off the ftage. Terence's comedy, which I am fpeaking of, is indeed written as if he hoped to please none but fuch as had as good a tatte as himself. I could not but reflect upon the natural defcription of the innocent young woman made by the fervant to his master. • When I came to 'the house,' faid he, · an old woman opened the door, and I followed her in, because I could by entering upon them unawares better obferve what was your mistress's ordinary manner of fpending her time, the only way of judging any one's inclinations and genius. I found her at her needle in a fort of fecond mourning, which the for an aunt he had lately loft. She had nothing on but what thewed the dreffed only for herself. Her hair hung negligently about her shoulders. 'She had none of the arts with which 'others use to set themselves off, but ' had that negligence of perfon which is remarkable in thofe who are careful of their minds-Then he had a maid who was at work near her that was a 'flattern, because her miftrefs was carelefs; which I take to be another argument of your fecurity in her; for the go-betweens of women of intrigue are rewarded too well to be dirty. When you were named, and I told her you defired to fee her, the threw down her work for joy, covered her face, and decently hid her tears.'-He must be a very good actor, and draw attenfion rather from his own character than the words of the author, that could gain

་

་

་་

wore

The grofs of an audience is compofed of two forts of people, thofe who know no pleasure but of the body, and those who improve or command corporeal pleafures, by the addition of fine fentiments of the mind. At prefent the intelligent part of the company are wholly fubdued, by the infurrections of those who know no fatisfactions but what they have in common with all other animals.

This is the reafon that when a fcene tending to procreation is acted, you see the whole pit in fuch a chuckle, and old letchers, with mouths open, ftare at thofe loofe gefticulations on the stage with fhameful earnestness; when the justeft pictures of human life in it's calm dignity, and the propereft fentiments for the conduct of it, país by like mere narration, as conducing only to somewhat much better which is to come after. I have feen the whole houfe at fome times in fo proper a difpofition, that indeed I have trembled for the boxes, and feared the entertainment would end in the reprefentation of the rape of the Sabines.

I would not be understood in this talk to argue that nothing is tolerable on the ftage but what has an immediate tendency to the promotion of virtue. On the contrary, I can allow, provided there is nothing against the interests of virtue, and is not offenfive to goodmanners, that things of an indifferent nature may be reprefented. For this reafon I have no exception to the well drawn rufticities in the Country Wake; and there is fomething fo miraculously pleafant in Dogget's acting the aukward triumph and comic forrow of Hob in different circumftances, that I shall not be able to stay away whenever it is acted. All that vexes me is, that the gallantry of taking the cudgels for Glouceftershire, with the pride of heart in

6 K 2 tucking

tucking himself up, and taking aim at his adverfary, as well as the other's proteftation in the humanity of low romance, that he could not promife the Tquire to break Hob's head, but he would, if he could, do it in love; then flourish and begin: I fay, what vexes me is, that fuch excellent touches as thefe, as well as the 'fquire's being out of all patience at Hob's fuccefs, and venturing himself into the crowd, are circumstances hardly taken notice of, and the height of the jett is only in the very point that heads are broken. I am confident, were there a fcene written, wherein Pinkethman fhould break his Jeg by wrestling with Bullock, and Dicky came in to fet it, without one word faid but what fhould be according

to the exact rules of furgery in making this extenfion, and binding up his leg, the whole houfe would be in a roar of applaufe at the diffembled anguish of the patient, the help given by him who threw him down, and the handy addrefs and arch looks of the furgeon. To enumerate the entrance of gholts, the embattling of armies, the noife of heroes in love, with a thousand other enor mities, would be to tranfgrefs the bounds of this paper, for which reafon it is poffible they may have hereafter diftin&t difcourfes; not forgetting any of the audience who shall fet up for actors, and interrupt the play on the ftage: and players who fhall prefer the applause of fools to that of the reafonable part the company.

TER. EUN. ACT. 11. SC. 3.

Τ

MR. SPECTATOR,

YOU have often mentioned with great

misbehaviour of people at church; but I am at prefent to talk to you on that fubject, and complain to you of one, whom at the fame time I know not what to ac

cufe of, except it be looking too well there, and diverting the eyes of the congregation to that one object. However, I have this to fay, that the might have ftaid at her own parifh, and not come to perplex thofe who are otherwife intent upon their duty.

Laft Sunday was feven-night I went into a church not far from London Bridge; but I wish I had heen contented to go to my own parish, I am fure it had been better for me; I fay, I went to church thither, and got into a pew very near the pulpit. I had hardly been accommodated with a feat, before there entered into the aisle a young lady in the very bloom of youth and beauty, and dreffed in the most elegant manner imaginable. Her form was fuch, that it engaged the eyes of the whole congregation in an inftant, and mine among the reft, Though we were all thus fixed upon her, the was not in the least out of countenance, or under the leaft diforder,

though unattended by any one, and not feeming to know particularly where to

herfelf. not in

the leaft a confident afpect, but moved on with the moft graceful modefty, every one making way until the came to a feat juft over-againft that in which I was placed. The deputy of the ward fat in that pew, and the flood oppofite to him, and at a glance into the feat, though the did not appear the least acquainted with the gentleman, was let in, with a confufion that spoke much admiration at the novelty of the thing. The fervice immediately began, and the compofed her felf for it with an air of fo much goodnefs and fweetnefs, that the confeffion which the uttered so as to be heard where I fat, appeared an act of humiliation more than he had occafion for. The truth is, her beauty had fomething fo innocent, and yet fo fublime, that we all gazed upon her like a phantom. None of the pictures which we behold of the beft Italian painters have any thing like the fpirit which appeared in her countenance, at the different fentiments expreffed in the feveral parts of divine fervice. That gratitude and joy at a thanksgiving, that lowlinets and forrow at the prayers for the fick and

diftreffed,

diftreffed, that triumph at the paffages which gave instances of the Divine mercy, which appeared refpectively in her afpect, will be in my memory to my last hour. I proteft to you, Sir, she fufpended the devotion of every one around her; and the ease she did every thing with, foon difperied the churlish diflike and hesitation in approving what is excellent, too frequent among us, to a general attention and entertainment in obferving her behaviour. All the while that we were gazing at her, he took notice of no object about her, but had an art of feeming aukwardly attentive, whatever elfe her eyes were accidentally thrown upon. One thing, indeed, was particular, the flood the whole fervice, and never kneeled or fat: I do not queftion but that was to fhew herself with the greater advantage, and fet forth to better grace her hands and arms, lifted up with the moft ardent devotion; and her bofom, the fairest that ever was feen, bare to obfervation; while fhe, you must think, knew nothing of the concern the gave others, any other than as an example of devotion, that threw herself out, without regard to drefs or garment, all contrition, and loofe of all worldly regards, in extaly of devotion. Well, now the organ was to play a voluntary, and the was fo fkilful in mufic, and fo touched with it, that he kept time not only with fome motion of her head, but also with a different air in her countenance. When the mufic was ftrong and bold, the looked exalted, but ferions; when lively and airy, the was fmiling and gracious; when the notes were more foft and languishing, she was kind and full of pity. When he had now made it vifible to the whole congregation, by her motion and ear, that she could dance, and the wanted now only to inform ts that the could fing too, when the palm was given out, her voice was dif tinguished above all the rest, or rather people did not exert their own in order to hear her. Never was any heard fo fweet and fo ftrong. The organist obferved it, and he thought fit to play to her only, and the fwelled every note, when the found she had thrown us all out, and had the laft verfe to herfelf in fuch a manner as the whole congregation was intent upon her, in the fame manner as we fee in the cathedrals they are on the person who fings alone the

anthem. Well, it came at last to the fermon, and our young lady would not lofe her part in that neither: for the fixed her eye upon the preacher, and as he faid any thing the approved, with one of Charles Mather's fine tables, the fet down the sentence, at once shewing her fine hand, the gold pen, her readiness in writing, and her judgment in chufing what to write. To fum up what I intend by this long and particular account, I mean to appeal to you, whether it is reafonable that fuch a creature as this fhall come from a janty part of the town and give herself fuch violent airs, to the difturbance of an innocent and inoffenfive congregation, with her fublimities. The fact, I affure you, was as I have related. But I had like to have forgot another very confiderable particular. As foon as church was done, the immediately stepped out of her pew, and fell into the finest pitty-pat air, forfooth, wonderfully out of countenance, toffing her head up and down, as the fwam along the body of the church. I, with feveral others of the inhabitants, followed her out, and saw her hold up her fan to an hackney coach at a dittance, who immediately came up to her, and the whipped into it with, great nimblenefs, pulled the door with a bowing mien, as if he had been used to a better glass. She faid aloud

You know where to go,' and drove off. By this time the best of the congregation was at the church-door, and I could hear fome fay A very fine

lady; others- I'li warrant you,

he is no better than the fhould be: and one very wife old lady faid She

ought to have been taken up.' Mr. Spectator, I think this matter lies wholly before you for the offence does not come under any law, though it is apparent this creature came among us only to give herself airs, and enjoy her full fwing in being admired. I defire you will print this, that the may be confined to her own parish; for I can allure you there is no attending any thing else in a place where he is a novelty. She has been talked of among us ever fince under the name of Phantom; but I would advife her to come no more; for there is fo ftrong a party made by the women against her, that the muft expect they will not be excelled a fecond time in fo outrageous a manner, without doing

her

IT is a great convenience to those who

Tis a great convenience to those who

tion, that there is fomething or other in all companies where it is wanted, fubftituted in it's ftead, which, according to their talte, does the bufinefs as well. Of this nature is the agreeable paftime in country-halls of crofs purpofes, queftions and commands, and the like. A little fuperior to thefe are those who can play at crambo, or cap verfes. Then above them are fuch as can make verfes, that is, rhyme; and among thofe who have the Latin tongue, fuch as ufe to make what they call Golden Verfes. Commend me alfo to those who have not brains enough for any of thefe exercifes, and yet do not give up their pretenfions to mirth. Thefe can flap you on the back unawares, laugh loud, ask you how you do with a twang on your shoulders, fay you are dull to day, and laugh a voluntary to put you in humour; not to mention the laborious way among the minor poets, of making things come into fuch and fuch a thape, as that of an egg, an hand, an ax, or any thing that nobody had ever thought on before for that purpofe, or which would have coft a great deal of pains to accomplish it if they did. But all thefe methods, though they are mechanical, and may be arrived at with the fmalleft capacity, do not ferve an honeft gentleman who wants wit for his ordinary occafions; therefore it is abfolutely neceffary that the poor in imagination fhould have fomething which may be ferviceable to them at all hours upon all common occurrences. That which we call punning is therefore greatly affected by men of

fmall intellects. These men need not be concerned with you for the whole fentence; but if they can fay a quaint thing, or bring in a word which founds like any one word you have spoken to them, they can turn the difcourfe, or distract you fo that you cannot go on, and by confequence if they cannot be as witty as you are, they can binder your being any wittier than they are. Thus if you talk of a candle, he can deal with you; and if you ask him to help you to fome bread, a punster should think himself very ill bred if he did not; and if he is not as well-bred as yourfelf, he hopes for grains of allowance. If you do not understand that last fancy, you must recollect that bread is made of grain; and fo they go on for ever, without poffibility of being exhausted.

There are another kind of people of fall faculties, who fupply want of wit with want of breeding; and because women are both by nature and education more offended at any thing which is immodeft, than we men are, thefe are ever harping upon things they ought not to allude to, and deal mightily in double meanings. Every one's own obfervation will fuggeft inftances enough of this kind, without my mentioning any; for your double meaners are dif perfed up and down through all parts of town or city where there are any to offend, in order to fet off themselves. Thefe men are mighty loud laughers, and held very pretty gentlemen with the fillier and unbred part of womankind, But above all already mentioned, or any who ever were, or ever can be in the world, the happiest and fureft to be

pleasant,