schemes of life. When I hear a man complain of his being unfortunate in all his undertakings, I shrewdly suspect him for a very weak man in his affairs. In conformity with this way of thinking, Cardinal Richelieu used to say, that unfortunate and imprudent were but two words for the same thing. As the Cardinal himself had a great share both of prudence and good fortune, his famous antagonist, the Count d'Olivares, was disgraced at the court of Madrid, because it was alleged against him that he had never any success in his undertakings. This, says an eminent author, was indirectly accusing him of imprudence. not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong.' Nothing less than infinite wisdom can have an absolute command over fortune; the highest degree of it, which man can possess, is by no means equal to fortuitous events, and to such contingencies as may rise in the prosecution of our affairs. Nay, it very often happens, that prudence, which has always in it a great mixture of caution, hinders a man from being so fortunate as he might possibly have been without it. A person who only aims at what is likely to succeed, and follows closely the dictates of human prudence, never meets with those great and unforeseen successes, which are often the effect of a sanguine temper, or a more happy rashness; and this perhaps may be the reason, that, ac tune, like other females, delights rather in favouring the young than the old. Upon the whole, since man is so shortsighted a creature, and the accidents which may happen to him so various, I cannot but be of Dr. Tillotson's opinion in another case, that were there any doubt of a Providence, yet it certainly would be very desirable there should be such a Being of infinite wisdom and goodness, on whose direction we might rely in the conduct of human life. Cicero recommended Pompey to the Romans for their general upon three accounts, as he was a man of courage, conduct, and good fortune. It was, perhaps, for the rea-cording to the common observation, Forson above-mentioned, namely, that a series of good fortune supposes a prudent management in the person whom it befalls, that not only Sylla the dictator, but several of the Roman emperors, as is still to be seen upon their medals, among their other titles, gave themselves that of Felix or fortunate. The heathens, indeed, seem to have valued a man more for his good fortune than for any other quality, which I think is very natural for those who have not a strong belief of another world. For how can I conceive a man crowned with any distinguishing blessings, that has not some extraordinary fund of merit and perfection in him which lies open to the Supreme eye, though perhaps it is not discovered by my observation? What is the reason Homer's and Virgil's heroes do not form a resolution, or strike a blow, without the conduct and direction of some deity? Doubtless, because the poets esteemed it the greatest honour to be favoured by the gods, and thought the best way of praising a man was, to recount those favours which naturally implied an extraordinary merit in the person on whom they descended. It is a great presumption to ascribe our successes to our own management, and not to esteem ourselves upon any blessing, rather as it is the bounty of heaven than the acquisition of our own prudence. I am very well pleased with a medal which was struck by Queen Elizabeth, a little after the defeat of the invincible armada, to perpetuate the memory of that extraordinary event. It is well known how the king of Spain, and others who were the enemies of that great princess, to derogate from her glory, ascribed the ruin of their fleet rather to the violence of storms and tempests, than to the bravery of the English. Queen Elizabeth, instead of looking upon this as a Those who believe a future state of re- diminution of her honour, valued herself wards and punishments act very absurdly, upon such a signal favour of Providence, if they form their opinions of a man's merit and accordingly, in the reverse of the medal from his successes. But certainly, if I above-mentioned, has represented a fleet thought the whole circle of our being was beaten by a tempest, and falling foul upon included between our births and deaths, I one another, with that religious inscription, should think a man's good fortune the mea-Afflavit Deus, et dissipantur,' 'He blew sure and standard of his real merit, since with his wind, and they were scattered.' Providence would have no opportunity of rewarding his virtue and perfections, but in the present life. A virtuous unbeliever, who lies under the pressure of misfortunes, has reason to cry out, as they say Brutus did, a little before his death: 'O'virtue, I have worshipped thee as a substantial good, but I find thou art an empty name." But to return to our first point. Though prudence does undoubtedly in a great measure, produce our good or ill fortune in the world, it is certain there are many unforeseen accidents and occurrences which very often pervert the finest schemes that can be laid by human wisdom. The race is! It is remarked of a famous Grecian general, whose name I cannot at present recollect, and who had been a particular favourite of Fortune, that, upon recounting his victories among his friends, he added at the end of several great actions, And in this Fortune had no share.' After which, it is observed in history, that he never prospered in any thing he undertook. As arrogance and a conceitedness of our own abilities are very shocking and offensive to men of sense and virtue, we may be sure they are highly displeasing to that Timotheus the Athenian. Being who delights in an humble mind, and by several of his dispensations seems purposely to show us that our own schemes, or prudence, have no share in our advance ments. upon the poor and needy. The fellow who escaped from a ship which struck upon a rock in the west, and joined with the country people to destroy his brother sailors, and make her a wreck, was thought a most Since on this subject I have already ad-execrable creature, but does not every man mitted several quotations, which have occurred to my memory upon writing this paper, I will conclude it with a little Persian fable. A drop of water fell out of a cloud into the sea, and finding itself lost in such an immensity of fluid matter, broke out into the following reflection: Alas! what an inconsiderable creature am I in this prodigious ocean of waters. My existence is of no concern to the universe; I am reduced to a kind of nothing, and am less than the least of the works of God.' It so happened that an oyster, which lay in the neighbourhood of this drop, chanced to gape and swallow it up in the midst of this its humble soliloquy. The drop, says the fable, lay a great while hardening in the shell, until by degrees it was ripened into a pearl, which falling into the hands of a diver, after a long series of adventures, is at present that famous pearl which is fixed on the top of the Persian diadem. No. 294.] Wednesday, Feb. 6, 1711-12. The man who is always fortunate, cannot easily have who enjoys the possession of what he naturally wants, and is unmindful of the unsupplied distress of other men, betray the same temper of mind? When a man looks about him, and, with regard to riches and poverty, beholds some drawn in pomp and equipage, and they, and their very servants, with an air of scorn and triumph, overlooking the multitude that pass by them; and in the same street, a creature of the same make, crying out, in the name of all that is good and sacred, to behold his misery, and give him some supply against hunger and nakedness; who would believe these two beings, were of the same species? But so it is, that the consideration of fortune has taken up all our minds, and as I have often complained, poverty and riches stand in our imaginations in the places of guilt and innocence. But in all seasons there will be some instances of persons who have souls too large to be taken with popular prejudices, and while the rest of mankind are contending for superiority in power and wealth, have their thoughts bent upon the necessities of those below them. The charity schools, which have been erected of late years, are the greatest instances of public spirit the age has produced. But, indeed, when we consider how long this sort of beneficence INSOLENCE is the crime of all others has been on foot, it is rather from the good which every man is apt to rail at; and yet management of those institutions, than from there is one respect in which almost all the number or value of the benefactions to men living are guilty of it, and that is the them, that they make so great a figure. case of laying a greater value upon the gifts One would think it impossible that in the of fortune than we ought. It is here, in space of fourteen years there should not England, come into our very language, as have been five thousand pounds bestowed a propriety of distinction, to say, when we in gifts this way, nor sixteen hundred chilwould speak of persons to their advantage, dren, including males and females, put out They are people of condition.' There is to methods of industry. It is not allowed no doubt but the proper use of riches im- me to speak of luxury and folly with the plies, that a man should exert all the good severe spirit they deserve; I shall only qualities imaginable: and if we mean by a therefore say, I shall very readily comman of condition or quality, one who, ac-pound with any lady in a hooped petticoat, cording to the wealth he is master of, shows himself just, beneficent, and charitable, that term ought very deservedly to be had in the highest veneration; but when wealth is used only as it is the support of pomp and luxury, to be rich is very far from being a recommendation to honour and respect. It is indeed the greatest insolence imaginable, in a creature who would feel the extremes of thirst and hunger, if he did not prevent his appetites before they call upon him, to be so forgetful of the common necessities of human nature, as never to cast an eye much reverence for virtue. *This beautiful little apologue in praise of modesty, the writer had probably read in Chardin's Travels, (vol. iii. p. 189, 4to.) The original is in the Bustan, or Garden, a work of the celebrated Persian poet Hafiz. The learned reader will find both the original and two Latin versions of it in Sir William Jones's Poeseos Asiatico Commentarii, p. 348-352. if she gives the price of one half yard of the silk towards clothing, feeding, and instructing an innocent helpless creature of her own sex, in one of these schools. The consciousness of such an action will give her features a nobler life on this illustrious day,* than all the jewels that can hang in her hair, or can be clustered in her bosom. It would be uncourtly to speak in harsher words to the fair, but to men, one may take a little more freedom. It is monstrous how a man can live with so little reflection, as to fancy he is not in a condition very unjust and disproportioned to the rest of mankind, while he enjoys wealth, and exerts no benevolence or bounty to others. As for this particular occasion of these schools, there * Queen Anne's birth-day, February 6. learning which is given is generally more edifying to them, than that which is sold to others. Thus do they become more exalted in goodness, by being depressed in fortune, and their poverty is, in reality, T. their preferment.' No. 295.] Thursday, February 7, 1711-12. But womankind, that never knows a mean, Dryden. cannot any offer more worthy a generous mind. Would you do a handsome thing without return; do it for an infant that is not sensible of the obligation. Would you do it for public good; do it for one who will be an honest artificer. Would you do it for the sake of heaven; give it to one who shall be instructed in the worship of Him for whose sake you give it. It is, methinks, a most laudable institution this, if it were of no other expectation than that of producing a race of good and useful servants, who will have more than a liberal, a religious education. What would not a man do in common prudence to lay out in purchase of one about him, who would add to all his orders he gave, the weight of the commandments, to enforce an obedience to them? for one who would consider his mas'MR. SPECTATOR,-I am turned of my ter as his father, his friend, and benefactor, great climacteric, and am naturally a man upon easy terms, and in expectation of no of a meek temper. About a dozen years other return but moderate wages and gentle ago, I was married, for my sins, to a young usage? It is the common vice of children woman of a good family, and of a high to run too much among the servants; from spirit; but could not bring her to close with such as are educated in these places they me, before I had entered into a treaty with would see nothing but lowliness in the ser- her longer than that of the grand alliance. vant, which would not be disingenuous in Among other articles, it was therein stiputhe child. All the ill offices and defamatory lated, that she should have 400l. a year for whispers, which take their birth from do- pin-money, which I obliged myself to pay mestics, would be prevented, if this charity quarterly into the hands of one, who acted could be made universal: and a good man as her plenipotentiary in that affair. I have might have a knowledge of the whole life ever since religiously observed my part in of the person he designs to take into his this solemn agreement. Now sir, so it is, house for his own service, or that of his that the lady has had several children since family or children, long before they were I married her; to which, if I should credit admitted. This would create endearing our malicious neighbours, her pin-money dependencies: and the obligation would has not a little contributed. The educahave a paternal air in the master, who tion of these my children, who, contrary would be relieved from much care and to my expectation, are born to me every anxiety by the gratitude and diligence of year, straitens me so much, that I have an humble friend attending him as his ser- begged their mother to free me from the vant. I fall into this discourse from a letter obligation of the above-mentioned pin-mosent to me, to give me notice that fifty boys ney, that it may go towards making a prowould be clothed, and take their seats (at vision for her family. This proposal makes the charge of some generous benefactors,) in her noble blood swell in her veins, insoSt. Bride's church, on Sunday next. I wish much, that finding me a little tardy in my I could promise to myself any thing which last quarter's payment, she threatens me my correspondent seems to expect from a every day to arrest me; and proceeds so publication of it in this paper; for there can far as to tell me, that if I do not do her be nothing added to what so many excel- justice, I shall die in a jail. To this she lent and learned men have said on this oc- adds, when her passion will let her argue casion. But that there may be something calmly, that she has several play-debts on here which would move a generous mind, her hand, which must be discharged very like that of him who wrote to me, I shall suddenly, and that she cannot lose her motranscribe a handsome paragraph of Dr.ney as becomes a woman of her fashion, if Snape's sermon on these charities, which my correspondent enclosed with his letter. The wise Providence has amply compensated the disadvantages of the poor and indigent, in wanting many of the conveniences of this life, by a more abundant provision for their happiness in the next. Had they been higher born, or more richly endowed, they would have wanted this manner of education, of which those only enjoy the benefit who are low enough to submit to it; where they have such advantages without money, and without price, as the rich cannot purchase with it. The she makes me any abatement in this article. I hope, sir, you will take an occasion from hence to give your opinion upon a subject which you have not yet touched, and inform us if there are any precedents for this usage, among our ancestors: or whether you find any mention of pin-money in Grotius, Puffendorf, or any other of the civilians. 'I am ever the humblest of your admirers, JOSIAH FRIBBLE, Esq.' As there is no man living who is a more professed advocate for the fair sex than myself, so there is none that would be more | (in the phrase of a homely proverb,) of unwilling to invade any of their ancient being 'penny wise and pound foolish.' rights and privileges; but as the doctrine. of pin-money is of late date, unknown to our great grandmothers, and not yet received by many of our modern ladies, I think it is for the interest of both sexes to keep it from spreading. Mr. Fribble may not, perhaps, be much mistaken where he intimates, that the supplying a man's wife with pin-money, is furnishing her with arms against himself, and in a manner becoming accessary to his own dishonour. We may indeed, generally observe, that in proportion as a woman is more or less beautiful, and her husband advanced in years, she stands in need of a greater or less number of pins, and upon a treaty of marriage, rises or falls in her demands accordingly. It must likewise be owned, that high quality in a mistress does very much inflame this article in the marriage reckoning. But where the age and circumstances of both parties are pretty much upon a level, I cannot but think the insisting upon pinmoney is very extraordinary; and yet we find several matches broken off upon this very head. What would a foreigner, or one who is a stranger to this practice think of a lover that forsakes his mistress, because he is not willing to keep her in pins? But what would he think of the mistress, should he be informed that she asks five or six hundred pounds a year for this use? Should a man unacquainted with our customs be told the sums which are allowed in Great Britain, under the title of pin-money, what a prodigious consumption of pins would he think there was in this island. 'A pin a day,' says our frugal proverb, is a groat a year: so that, according to this calculation, my friend Fribble's wife must every year make use of eight million six hundred and forty thousand new pins. I am not ignorant that our British ladies allege they comprehend under this general term, several other conveniences of life: I could therefore wish for the honour of my country women, that they had rather call it needle-money, which might have implied something of good housewifery, and not have given the malicious world occasion to think, that dress and trifles have always the uppermost place in a woman's thoughts. I know several of my fair readers urge, in defence of this practice, that it is but a necessary provision they make for themselves, in case their husband proves a churl, or a miser; so that they consider this allowance as a kind of alimony, which they may lay their claim to, without actually separating from their husbands. But with submission, I think a woman who will give up herself to a man in marriage, where there is the least room for such an apprehension, and trust her person to one whom she will not rely on for the common necessaries of life, may very properly be accused It is observed of over-cautious generals, that they never engage in a battle without securing a retreat, in case the event should not answer their expectations; on the other hand, the greatest conquerors have burnt their ships, or broke down the bridges behind them, as being determined either to succeed or die in the engagement. In the same manner I should very much suspect a woman who takes such precautions for her retreat, and contrives methods how she may live happily, without the affection of one to whom she joins herself for life. Separate purses between man and wife are, in my opinion, as unnatural as separate beds. A marriage cannot be happy, where the pleasures, inclinations, and interests of both parties are not the same. There is no greater incitement to love in the mind of man, than the sense of a person's depending upon him for her ease and happiness; as a woman uses all her endeavours to please the person whom she looks upon as her honour, her comfort, and her support. For this reason I am not very much surprised at the behaviour of a rough country 'squire, who, being not a little shocked at the proceeding of a young widow that would not recede from her demands of pinmoney, was so enraged at her mercenary temper, that he told her in great wrath, As much as she thought him her slave, he would show all the world he did not care a pin for her.' Upon which he flew out of the room, and never saw her more. Socrates in Plato's Alcibiades says, he was informed by one who had travelled through Persia, that as he passed over a great tract of land, and inquired what the name of the place was, they told him it was the Queen's Girdle: to which he adds, that another wide field which lay by it, was called the Queen's Veil: and that in the same manner there was a large portion of ground set aside for every part of her majesty's dress. These lands might not be improperly called the Queen of Persia's pin-money. I remember my friend Sir Roger, who, I dare say, never read this passage in Plato, told me some time since, that upon his courting the perverse widow (of whom I have given an account in former papers) he had disposed of a hundred acres in a diamond ring, which he would have presented her with, had she thought fit to accept it: and that upon her wedding-day, she should have carried on her head fifty of the tallest oaks upon his estate. He further informed me, that he would have given her a coal-pit to keep her in cleanlinen, that he would have allowed her the profits of a wind-mill for her fans, and have presented her once in three years, with the shearing of his sheep for her under petticoats. To which the knight always adds, that though he did not care for fine clothes | the same opinion of me. I must own I love himself, there should not have been a woman to look at them all, one for being wellin the country better dressed than my lady dressed, a second for his fine eye, and one Coverley. Sir Roger, perhaps may in this, particular one, because he is the least man as well as in many other of his devices, ap- I ever saw; but there is something so easy pear something odd and singular; but if the and pleasant in the manner of my little man, humour of pin-money prevails, I think it that I observe he is a favourite of all his acwould be very proper for every gentleman quaintance. I could go on to tell you of of an estate, to mark out so many acres of many others, that I believe think I have it under the title of The Pins.' encouraged them from my window: but pray let me have your opinion of the use of the window, in the apartment of a beautiful lady; and how often she may look out at the same man, without being supposed to have a mind to jump out to him. Your's, 'AURÉLIA CARELESS,' L. No. 296.] Friday, February 8, 1711-12. -Nugis adhere pondus. Hor. Lib. 1. Ep. xix. 42. Add weight to trifles. 'DEAR SPEC,-Having lately conversed much with the fair sex on the subject of your speculations (which since their appearance in public, have been the chief exercise of the female loquacious faculty) I found the fair ones possessed with a dissatisfaction at your prefixing Greek mottos to the frontispieces of your papers; and, as a man of gallantry, I thought it a duty incumbent on me to impart it to you, in hopes of a reformation, which is only to be effected by a restoration of the Latin to the usual dignity in your papers, which, of late, the Greek, to the great displeasure of your female readers, has usurped; for though the Latin has the recommendation of being as unintelligible to them as the Greek, yet being written of the same character with their mother tongue, by the assistance of a spelling-book it is legible; which quality the Greek wants: and since the introduction of operas into this nation, the ladies are so charmed with sounds abstracted from their ideas, that they adore and honour the sound of Latin, as it is old Italian. I am a solicitor for the fair sex, and therefore think myself in that character more likely to be prevalent in this request, than if I should subscribe myself by my proper name. 'J. M. "I desire you may insert this in one of your speculations, to show my zeal for removing the dissatisfaction of the fair sex, and restoring you to their favour.' Twice. 'MR. SPECTATOR,-I have for some time made love to a lady, who received it with all the kind returns I ought to expect; but without any provocation, that I know of, she has of late shunned me with the utmost abhorrence, insomuch that she went out of church last Sunday in the midst of divine service, upon my coming into the same pew. Pray, sir, what must I do in this business? Your servant, 'EUPHUES.' Let her alone ten days. 'York, Jan. 20, 1711-12. 'MR. SPECTATOR,-We have in this town a sort of people who pretend to wit, and write lampoons; I have lately been the subject of one of them. The scribbler had not genius enough in verse to turn my age, as indeed I am an old maid, into raillery, for affecting a youthier turn than is consistent with my time of day; and therefore he makes the title of his madrigal, The character of Mrs. Judith Lovebane, born in the year 1680. What I desire of you is, that you disallow that a coxcomb, who pretends to write verse, should put the most malicious thing he can say in prose. This I humbly conceive will disable our country wits, who indeed take a great deal of pains to say any thing in rhyme, though they say it very ill. Sir, your humble servant, SUSANNA LOVEBANE.' 'MR. SPECTATOR,-We are several of 'SIR,-I was some time since in company with a young officer, who entertained us, gentleman and ladies, who board in the same house, and after dinner one of our comus with the conquest he had made over a female neighbour of his; when a gentleman stands up, and reads your paper to us all. pany (an agreeable man enough otherwise) who stood by, as I suppose, envying the cap- We are the civilest people in the world to tain's good fortune, asked him what reason one another, and therefore I am forced to he had to believe the lady admired him? this way of desiring our reader, when he is "Why," says he, "my lodgings are oppo- doing this office, not to stand afore the fire. site to her's, and she is continually at her This will be a general good to our family, window, either at work, reading, taking this cold weather. He will, I know, take snuff, or putting herself in some toying it to be our common request when he comes posture on purpose to draw my eyes that The confession of this vain soldier to these words, "Pray, sir, sit down;" which I desire you to insert, and you will particumade me reflect on some of my own actions; for you must know, sir, I am often larly oblige your daily reader, at a window which fronts the apartments of several gentlemen, who I doubt not have way. CHARITY FROST.' 'SIR,-I am a great lover of dancing, |