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which the lump. He is studying the passions themselves way of life in which no man can rise suitably to when he should be inquiring into the debates his merit, who is not something of a courtier, as among men which arise from them. He knows well as a soldier. I have heard him often lament, ular in the argument of each of the orations of Demos- that in a profession where merit is placed in SO thenes and Tully, but not one case in the reports conspicuous a view, impudence should get the of our own courts. No one ever took him for a better of modesty. When he has talked to this

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in the fool; but none, except his intimate friends, know purpose, I never heard him make a sour expression, he has a great deal of wit. This turn makes him but frankly confess that he left the world, because at once both disinterested and agreeable. As few he was not fit for it. A strict honesty and an even of his thoughts are drawn from business, they are regular behaviour, are in themselves obstacles to most of them fit for conversation. His taste of him that must press through crowds, who endeavour books is a little too just for the age he lives in; he at the same end with himself, the favour of a comhas read all, but approves of very few. His fami- mander. He will, however, in his way of talk, liarity with the customs, manners, actions, and excuse generals for not disposing according to writings of the ancients, makes him a very delicate men's desert, or inquiring into it; for, says he, observer of what occurs to him in the present world. that great man who has a mind to help me, has as He is an excellent critic, and the time of the play many to break through to come at me, as I have is his hour of business; exactly at five he passes to come at him; therefore he will conclude, that through New-Inn, crosses through, Russel-court, and the man who would make a figure, especially in a takes a turn at Will's till the play begins; he has military way, must get over all false modesty, and T. B: his shoes rubbed and his periwig powdered at the assist his patron against the importunity of other w, be barber's as you go into the Rose.* It is for the pretenders, by a proper assurance in his own vinough good of the audience when he is at a play, for the dication. He says it is a civil cowardice to be Stactors have an ambition to please him. backward in asserting what you ought to expect,

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The person of next consideration is Sir Andrew as it is a military fear to be slow in attacking Freeport, a merchant of great eminence in the when it is your duty. With this candour does the city of London: a person of indefatigable industry, gentleman speak of himself and others. The same strong reason, and great experience. His notions frankness runs through all his conversation. The Land of trade are noble and generous, and (as every military part of his life has furnished him with rich man has usually some sly way of jesting, which many adventures, in the relation of which he is would make no great figure were he not a rich very agreeable to the company; for he is never eman) he calls the sea the British Common. He is overbearing, though accustomed to command men aequainted with commerce in all its parts, and will in the utmost degree below him; nor ever too obtell you that it is a stupid and barbarous way to sequious, from an habit of obeying men highly extend dominion by arms; for true power is to be above him. end got by arts and industry. He will often argue, But that our society may not appear a set of that if this part of our trade were well cultivated, humorists, unacquainted with the gallantries and we should gain from one nation; and if another, pleasures of the age, we have among us the gallant the from another. I have heard him prove, that dili- Will Honeycomb, a gentleman who, according gence makes more lasting acquisitions than valour, to his years, should be in the decline of his life; and that sloth has ruined more nations than the but having ever been very careful of his person, sword. He abounds in several frugal maxims, and always had a very easy fortune, time has made amongst which the greatest favourite is, ' A penny but very little impression, either by wrinkles on saved is a penny got. A general trader, of good his forehead, or traces in his brain. His person is sense, is pleasanter company than a general scho- well turned, and of a good height. He is very Jar; and Sir Andrew having a natural unaffected ready at that sort of discourse with which men eloquence, the perspicuity of his discourse gives the usually entertain women. He has all his life dressed same pleasure that wit would in another man. He very well, and remembers habits as others do men. 12 has made his fortune himself; and says, that Eng- He can smile when one speaks to him, and laughs land may be richer than other kingdoms, by as easily. He knows the history of every mode, and plain methods as he himself is richer than other can inform you from which of the French king's men; though at the same time I can say this of wenches our wives and daughters had this manner him, that there is not a point in the compass, but of curling their hair, that way of placing their blows home a ship in which he is an owner. hoods; whose frailty was covered by such a sort Next to Sir Andrew in the club-room, sits Cap- of petticoat, and whose vanity to show her foot fain Sentry; a gentleman of great courage, good made that part of the dress so short in such a year. understanding, but invincible modesty. He is one In a word, all his conversation and knowledge has of those that deserve very well, but are very awk- been in the female world. As other men of his ward at putting their talents within the observation age will take notice to you what such a minister of such as should take notice of them. He was said upon such and such an occasion, he will tell some years a captain, and behaved himself with you, when the Duke of Monmouth danced at court, great gallantry in several engagements, and seve- such a woman was then smitten, another was taken ral sieges; but having a small estate of his own, with him at the head of his troops in the Park. and being next heir to Sir Roger, he has quitted a In all these important relations, he has ever about the same time received a kind glance, or a blow of a fan, from some celebrated beauty, mother of the present Lord Such-a-one. If you speak of a

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On the outside of Temple Bar.

↑ It has been conjectured, and not without an appearance of probability, that this character was sketched from Mr. H. young commoner that said a lively thing in the have assisted in the Spectator; have been Martan, a gentleman acknowledged by Steele (No. 555) to house, he starts up, 'He has good blood in his principally concerned in The British Merchant, 3 vols. 8vo. veins, Tom Mirabel begot him, the rogue cheated me in that affair, that young fellow's mother used

1721.

Supposed to have been Captain Kempenfelt, a native of Sweden, and father of the rear-admiral of that name, who lost his life in the Royal George of 100 guns, which sunk at Spithead, Aug. 29, 1782.

• A Colonel Cleland is thought to have been alluded to under this character,

me more like a dog than any woman I ever made were hung with many acts of parliament writter advances to.' This way of talking of his very in golden letters. At the upper end of the hal much enlivens the conversation among us of a more was the magna charta, with the act of uniformity sedate turn: and I find there is not one of the on the right hand, and the act of toleration on the company, but myself, who rarely speak at all, but left. At the lower end of the hall was the act of speaks of him as of that sort of man, who is usu- settlement, which was placed full in the eye of the ally called a well-bred fine gentleman. To con- virgin that sat upon the throne. Both the sides of clude his character, where women are not con- the hall were covered with such acts of parliament cerned, he is an honest worthy man.

as had been made for the establishment of public

I cannot tell whether I am to account him, whom funds. The lady seemed to set an unspeakable I am next to speak of, as one of our company; value upon these several pieces of furniture, insofor he visits us but seldom, but when he does, it much that she often refreshed her eye with them, adds to every man else a new enjoyment of himself. and often smiled with a secret pleasure, as she He is a clergyman, a very philosophic man, of looked upon them; but, at the same time, showed general learning, great sanctity of life, and the a very particular uneasiness, if she saw any thing most exact good breeding. He has the misfortune approaching that might hurt them. She appeared, to be of a very weak constitution, and consequently indeed, infinitely timorous in all her behaviour; cannot accept of such cares and business as pre- and whether it was from the delicacy of her conferments in his function would oblige him to: he stitution, or that she was troubled with the vapours, is therefore among divines, what a chamber-coun- as I was afterwards told by one, who I found was sellor is among lawyers. The probity of his mind, none of her well-wishers, she changed colour, and and the integrity of his life, create him followers, startled at every thing she heard. She was likeas being eloquent or loud advances others. He wise (as I afterwards found) a greater valetudiseldom introduces the subject he speaks upon; but narian than any I had ever met with, even in her we are so far gone in years, that he observes when own sex, and subject to such momentary consumphe is among us, an earnestness to have him fall on tions, that, in the twinkling of an eye, she would some divine topic, which he always treats with fall away from the most florid complexion, and much authority, as one who has no interests in this most healthful state of body, and wither into a world, as one who is hastening to the object of all skeleton. Her recoveries were often as sudden as his wishes, and conceives hope from his decays and her decays, insomuch that she would revive in a infirmities. These are my ordinary companions. STEELE.*

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What studies please, what most delight,
And fill men's thoughts, they dream them o'er at night.
CREECH.

Is one of my late rambles, or rather speculations,

I looked into the great hall where

moment out of a wasting distemper, into a habit of the highest health and vigour.

I had very soon an opportunity of observing these quick turns and changes in her constitution. There sat at her feet a couple of secretaries, who received every hour letters from all parts of the world, which the one or the other of them was perpetually reading to her; and according to the news she heard, to which she was exceedingly attentive, she changed colour, and discovered many symptoms of health or sickness.

Behind the throne was a prodigious heap of bags of money, which were piled upon one another her right hand, and on her left, was covered with so high that they touched the ceiling. foor

kept, and was not a little pleased to see the di- vast sums of gold that rose up in pyramids on rectors, secretaries, and clerks, with all the other either side of her. But this I did not so much members of that wealthy corporation, ranged in wonder at, when I heard, upon inquiry, that she their several stations, according to the parts they had the same virtue in her touch, which the poets act in that just and regular economy. This revived tell us a Lydian king was formerly possessed of; in my memory the many discourses which I had and that she could convert whatever she pleasboth read and heard, concerning the decay of ed into that precious metal.

public credit, with the methods of restoring it, and After a little dizziness, and confused hurry of which, in my opinion, have always been defective, thought, which a man often meets with in a dream, because they have always been made with an eye methought the hall was alarmed, the doors flew to separate interests, and party principles.

open, and there entered half a dozen of the most

The thoughts of the day gave my mind employ. hideous phantoms that I had ever seen (even in a ment for the whole night, so that I fell insensibly dream) before that time. They came in two by into a kind of methodical dream, which disposed two, though matched in the most dissociable manall my contemplations into a vision or allegory, or ner, and mingled together in a kind of dance. It what else the reader shall please to call it. would be tedious to describe their habits and per

Methought I returned to the great hall, where I sons; for which reason I shall only inform my had been the morning before, but to my surprise, reader, that the first couple were Tyranny and instead of the company that I left there, I saw, Anarchy, the second were Bigotry and Atheism, towards the upper end of the hall, a beautiful the third the Genius of a commonwealth, and a virgin, seated on a throne of gold. Her name (as young man of about twenty-two years of age, they told me) was Public Credit. The walls, in- whose name I could not learn. He had a sword stead of being adorned with pictures and maps, brandished at the which in the dance he often

right hand,

• His papers in the Spectator are signed either with an R, who stood by me, whispered in my ear, that he saw an L, or a T; which distinctions have been thus interpreted: a spunge in his left hand. The dance of so many Pape of his own writing; L, perhaps, composed from hints jarring natures put me in mind of the sun, moon,

R (the initial of his christian name) thought

dropped into the letter box; and T, his editorial mark, signify.

ing Transcribed from anonymous communications,

James Stuart, the pretended Prince of Wales.

te ball

Tritten and earth, in the Rehearsal, that danced together incapacity of others. These are mortals who have for no other end but to eclipse one another. a certain curiosity without power of reflection, The reader will easily suppose by what has been and perused my papers like spectators rather than before said, that the lady on the throne would have readers. But there is so little pleasure in inquibeen almost frighted to distraction, had she seen ries that so nearly concern ourselves (it being the but any one of these spectres; what then must

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have been her condition when she saw them all in

ament a body? She fainted and died away at the sight.

sublie

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Et neque jam color est misto candore rubori;
Nee vigor, et vires, et que modo visa placebant;

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Nec corpus remanet.

OVID. Met. ii. 491.

them

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Her spirits faint,

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thing

Her blooming cheeks assume a pallid teint,

And scarce her form remains.'

worst way in the world to fame, to be too anxious about it), that upon the whole I resolved for the future, to go on in my ordinary way; and without too much fear or hope about the business of reputation, to be very careful of the design of my actions, but very negligent of the consequences of them.

It is an endless and frivolous pursuit to act by any other rule, than the care of satisfying our own minds in what we do. One would think a silent

There was as as great a change in the hill of money- man, who concerned himself with no one breathared bags, and the heaps of money, the former shrinking ing, should be very little liable to misinterpreta1007: and falling into so many empty bags, that I now tions; and yet I remember I was once taken up found not above a tenth part of them had been for a jesuit, for no other reason but my profound filled with money.

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The rest that took up the same space, and made taciturnity. It is from this misfortune that, to be out harm's way, I have ever since affected the same figure, as the bags that were ready filled crowds. He who comes into assemblies only to with money, had been blown up with air, and wind, which gratify his curiosity, and not to make

called into my memory the bags full of

Homer tells us his hero received as a present from joys the pleasures of retirement in

a figure, ena more exquisite

degree, than he possibly could in his closet; the Eolus. The great heaps of gold on either side the lover, the ambitious, and the miser, are followed throne, appeared to be only heaps of paper, or thither by a worse crowd than any they can withlittle piles of notched sticks, bound up together in draw from. To be exempt from the passions with

bundles, like Bath faggots.

which others are tormented, is the only pleasing Whilst I was lamenting this sudden desolation solitude. I can very justly say with the ancient that had been made before me, the whole scene sage, 'I am never less alone than when alone." vanished. In the room of the frightful spectres As I am insignificant to the company in public there now entered a second dance of apparitions places, and as it is visible I do not come thither, as very agreeably matched together, and made up of most do, to show myself, I gratify the vanity of all very amiable phantoms. The first pair was Li- who pretend to make an appearance, and have berty with Monarchy at her right hand. The se- often as kind looks from well-dressed gentlemen cond was Moderation leading in Religion; and the and ladies, as a poet would bestow upon one of his third, a person whom I had never seen, with the audience. There are so many gratifications attend Genius of Great Britain. At the first entrance this public sort of obscurity, that some little disthe lady revived, the bags swelled to their former tastes I daily receive have lost their anguish; and bulk, the pile of faggots and heaps of paper I did the other day, without the least displeasure, changed into pyramids of guineas: and for my

overhear one say of me, that strange fellow; and own part, I was so transported with joy, that I anotheranswer, I have known the fellow's face these awaked, though, I must confess, I would fain have fallen asleep again to have closed my vision, if I could have done it.

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twelve years, and so must you; but I believe you are the first ever asked who he was. There are, I must confess, many to whom my person is as well known as that of their nearest relations, who give them. selves no further trouble about calling me by my name or quality, but speak of me very currently by the appellation of Mr. What d'ye call him.

To make up for these trivial disadvantages, I have the high satisfaction of beholding all nature with an unprejudiced eye; and having nothing to do with men's passions or interests, I can, with the greater sagacity, consider their talents, manners, failings, and merits.

As, author when he first appears in the world, 15 very apt to believe it has nothing to think of but It is remarkable, that those who want any one his performances. With a good share of this va- sense, possess the others with greater force and nity in my heart, I made it my business these three vivacity. Thus my want of, or rather resignation days to listen after my own fame; and as I have of speech, gives me all the advantages of a dumb sometimes met with circumstances which did not man. I have, methinks, a more than ordinary pedisplease me, I have been encountered by others, netration in seeing; and flatter myself that I have which gave me much mortification. It is incredible looked into the highest and lowest of mankind; to think how empty I have in this time observed and make shrewd guesses, without being admitted some part of the species to be, what mere blanks to their conversation, at the inmost thoughts and they are when they first come abroad in the morn- reflections of all whom I behold. It is from hence ing, how utterly they are at a stand, until they are that good or ill fortune has no manner of force set a-going by some paragraph in a newspaper. towards affecting my judgment. I see men flouSuch persons are very acceptable to a young rishing in courts, and languishing in jails, without author, for they desire no more in any thing but being prejudiced, from their circumstances, to their to be new, to be agreeable. If I found consola. favour or disadvantage; but, from their inward tion among such, I was as much disquieted by the manner of bearing their condition, often pity the

The Elector of Hanover, afterwards King George J.

prosperous, and admire the unhappy.

Those who converse with the dumb, know from

6

the turn of their eyes, and the changes of their treat on matters which relate to females, as they countenance, their sentiments of the objects before are concerned to approach or fly from the other them. I have indulged my silence to such an ex- sex, or as they are tied to them by blood, interest, travagance, that the few who are intimate with me, or affection. Upon this occasion I think it but answer my smiles with concurrent sentences, and reasonable to declare, that whatever skill I may argue to the very point I shaked my head at, with- have in speculation, I shall never betray what the out my speaking. Will Honeycomb was very en-eyes of lovers say to each other in my presence. tertaining the other night at a play, to a gentleman At the same time I shall not think myself obliged who sat on his right hand, while I was at his left. by this promise to conceal any false protestations The gentleman believing Will was talking to him which I observe made by glances in public assem self, when upon my looking with great approba- blies; but endeavour to make both sexes appear tion at a young thing in a box before us, he said, in their conduct what they are in their hearts. By 'I am quite of another opinion. She has, I will this means, love, during the time of my specula allow, a very pleasing aspect, but, methinks, that tions, shall be carried on with the same sincerity simplicity in her countenance is rather childish as any other affair of less consideration. As this is than innocent.' When I observed her asecond the greatest concern, men shall be from henceforth time, he said, 'I grant her dress is very becoming, liable to the greatest reproach for misbehaviour in but perhaps the merit of that choice is owing to it. Falsehood in love shall hereafter bear a blacker her mother; for though, continued he, 'I allow a aspect than infidelity in friendship, or villany in beauty to be as much to be commended for the business. For this great and good end, all breaches elegance of her dress, as a wit for that of his lan- against that noble passion, the cement of society, guage; yet if she has stolen the colour of her ri- shall be severely examined. But this and all other bands from another, or had advice about her trim- matters loosely hinted at now, and in my former mings, I shall not allow her the praise of dress, papers, shall have their proper place in my followany more than I would call a plagiary an author' ing discourses. The present writing is only to When I threw my eye towards the next woman admonish the world, that they shall not find me an to her, Will spoke what I looked, according to his idle, but a busy Spectator.

romantic imagination, in the following manner:

STEELE.

N° 5. TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 1710-11.

R.

'Behold, you who dare, that charming virgin; behold the beauty of her person chastised by the innocence of her thoughts. Chastity, good-nature, and affability, are the graces that play in her countenance: she knows she is handsome, but she knows she is good. Conscious beauty adorned with conscious virtue What a spirit is there in those eyes! What a bloom in that person! How is the whole woman expressed in her appearance! Her air has Admitted to the sight, would you not laugh? the beauty of motion, and her look the force of As opera may be allowed to be extravagantly language.' lavish in its decorations, as its only design is to

Spectatum admissi risum tencatis?

HOR. Ars Poet. ver. 5.

It was prudence to turn away my eyes from this gratify the senses, and keep up an indolent atten. object, and therefore I turned them to the thought-tion in the audience. Common sense however reless creatures who make up the lump of that sex, quires, that there should be nothing in the scenes and move a knowing eye no more than the por- and machines which may appear childish and abtraiture of insignificant people by ordinary pain-surd. How would the wits of King Charles's time ters, which are but pictures of pictures.

a

have laughed, to have seen Nicolini exposed to a

Thus the working of my own mind is the gene-tempest in robes of ermine, and sailing in an open ral entertainment of my life; I never enter into boat upon a sea of pasteboard? What a field of the commerce of discourse with any but my parti- raillery would they have been led into, had they cular friends, and not in public even with them. been entertained with painted dragons spitting Such an habit has perhaps raised in me uncommon wild-fire, enchanted chariots drawn by Flanders reflections; but this effect I cannot communicate mares, and real cascades in artificial landscapes? but by my writings. As my pleasures are almost A little skill in criticism would inform us, that shawholly confined to those of the sight, I take it for dows and realities ought not to be mixed together peculiar happiness, that I have always had an in the same piece; and that the scenes which are easy and familiar admittance to the fair sex. If designed as the representations of nature should be I never praised or flattered, I never belied or con- filled with resemblances, and not with the things tradicted them. As these compose half the world, themselves. If one would represent a wide chamand are, by the just complaisance and gallantry of paign country filled with herds and flocks, it would our nation, the more powerful part of our people, be ridiculous to draw the country only upon the I shall dedicate a considerable share of these my scenes, and to crowd several parts of the stage speculations to their service, and shall lead the with sheep and oxen. This is joining together inyoung through all the becoming duties of virginity, consistencies, and making the decoration partly marriage, and widowhood. When it is a woman's real, and partly imaginary. I would recommend day, in my works, I shall endeavour at a style and what I have here said to the directors, as well as to air suitable to their understanding. When I say the admirers, of our modern opera. this, I must be understood to mean, that I shall not As I was walking in the streets about a fortnight lower but exalt the subjects I treat upon. Dis- ago, I saw an ordinary fellow carrying a cage course for their entertainment, is not to be debased, full of little birds upon his shoulder; and, as I was but refined. A man may appear learned without wondering with myself what use he would put them talking sentences, as in his ordinary gesture he dis- to, he was met very luckily by an acquaintance, covers he can dance, though he does not cut capers. who had the same curiosity. Upon his asking him In a word, I shall take it for the greatest glory of what he had upon his shoulder, he told him that he my work, if among reasonable women this paper had been buying sparrows for the opera. Sparmay furnish tea-table talk. In order to it, I shall rows for the opera, says his friend, licking his lips,

as then what, are they to be roasted! No, no, says the used by none but pedants in our own country; e other other, they are to enter towards the end of the and at the same time fill their writings with such nteres, poor imaginations and conceits, as our youths are

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first act, and to fly about the stage. This strange dialogue awakened my curiosity so ashamed of, before they have been two years at far, that I immediately bought the opera, by which the university. Some may be apt to think that it means I perceived the sparrows were to act the is the difference of genius which produces this difpart of singing-birds in a delightful grove: though, ference in the works of the two nations; but to upon a nearer inquiry, I found the sparrows put show that there is nothing in this, if we look into the same trick upon the audience, that Sir Martin the writings of the old Italians, such as Cicero and Mar-all" practised upon his mistress; for though Virgil, we shall find that the English writers, in they flew in sight, the music proceeded from a con- their way of thinking and expressing themselves, cert of flagelets and bird-calls, which were planted resemble those authors much more than the modern ben nd the scenes. At the same time I made this Italians pretend to do. And as for the poet himdiscovery, 1 found, by the discourse of the actors, self, from whom the dreams of this opera* are this is that there were great designs on foot for the im- taken, I must entirely agree with Monsieur Boiprovement of the opera; that it had been proposed lean, that one verse in Virgil is worth all the clinto break down a part of the wall, and to surprise quant or tinsel of Tasso.

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acker the audience with a party of an hundred horse, But to return to the sparrows; there have been and that there was actually a project of bringing so many flights of them let loose in this opera, that aches the New River into the house, to be employed in it is feared the house will never get rid of them; jetteaus and water-works. This project, as I have and that in other plays they may make their ensince heard, is postponed till the summer season; trance in very wrong and improper scenes, so as when it is thought the coolness that proceeds from to be seen flying in a lady's bed-chamber, or perch. fountains and cascades will be more acceptable ing upon a king's throne; besides the inconveand refreshing to people of quality. In the mean niencies which the heads of the audience may sometime, to find out a more agreeable entertainment times suffer from them. I am credibly informed, for the winter season, the opera of Rinaldo is that there was once a design of casting into an filled with thunder and lightning, illuminations and opera, the story of Whittington and his Cat, and fire-works; which the audience may look upon that in order to it, there had been got together a without catching cold, and indeed without much great quantity of mice; but Mr. Rich, the prodanger of being burnt; for there are several en-prietor of the playhouse, very prudently considered gines filled with water, and ready to play at a that it would be impossible for the cat to kill them minute's warning, in case any such accident should all, and that consequently the princes of the stage happen. However, as I have a very great friend- might be as much infested with mice, as the prince ship for the owner of this theatre, I hope that he of the island was before the cat's arrival upon it; has been wise enough to insure his house before for which reason he would not permit it to be acted he would let this opera be acted in it.

R.

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in his house. And indeed I cannot blame him;

It is no wonder, that those scenes should be very for, as he said very well upon that occasion, I do surprising, which were contrived by two poets of not hear that any of the performers in our opera different nations, and raised by two magicians of pretend to equal the famous pied piper, who different sexes. Armida (as we are told in the ar-made all the mice of a great town in Germany gument) was an Amazonian enchantress, and poor follow his music, and by that means cleared the Signior Cassani (as we learn from the persons re- place of those little noxious animals.

presented) a Christian conjurer (Mago Christiano). Before I dismiss this paper, I must inform my I must confess I am very much puzzled to find reader, that I hear there is a treaty on foot behow an Amazon should be versed in the black art, tween London and Wises (who will be appointed or how a good Christian, for such is the part of the gardeners of the playhouse) to furnish the opera of magician, should deal with the devil. Rinaldo and Armida with an orange-grove; and

To consider the poet after the conjurers, I shall that the next time it is acted, the singing birds give you a taste of the Italian from the first lines will be personated by tom-tits: the undertakers of his preface; Eccoti, benigno lettore, un parto di being resolved to spare neither pains nor money, pache sere, che se ben natodi not te, non è però aborto for the gratification of the audience.

ADDISON.

• Rinaldo, an opera, by Aaron Hill.

† See No. 14; and Tat. No. 78.

C.

tenebre, mà si farà conoscere figlio d'Apollo con qualche raggio di Parnasso.' 'Behold, gentle reader, the birth of a few evenings, which, though it be the offs offspring of the night, is not the abortive of darkness, but will make itself known to be the son of Apollo, with a certain ray of Parnassus. He afterwards proceeds to call Mynheer Handel the Orpheus of our age, and to acquaint us, in the same sublimity of style, that he composed this opera in a fortnight. Such are the wits to whose tastes we so ambitiously conform ourselves. The town in a rage, and threatened revenge: accordingly he

+ The records of Hamelen, an ancient city on the banks of the

Weser, give an account of a strange accident which befel them,

truth of it is, the finest writers among the modern Italians express themselves in such a florid form of words, and such tedious circumlocutions, as are

* In Dryden's comedy of that name.

+ Mr. Colman had evidently this paper in mind when be wrote the epilogue that was spoken by Miss Farren (now Countess of Derby) on the opening of New Drury-lane theatre, April 21, 1794. The reader may refer to it in the European Magasine, vel xxv. p. 385.

on the 26th of June, 1284.

Being at that time much pestered with rats, which they could by no means destroy, a stranger at last undertook it, on the promise of reward; and immediately taking a tabret and pipe, the rats followed his music river, where they all drowned; but, being denied his reward, he left the

were

returned next year, and by the same music enticed most of cave on the top of a neighbouring hill called Koppelberg, the children of the town after him to the mouth of a great where he and they entered, but were never more heard of.

In remembrance of this sad accident, the citizens, for many
years after, dated all their public writings from the day they lost
their children, as appears by many old deeds and records.
They still call the street through which the children passed,
Tabret Street; and at the mouth of the cave there is a monument

of stone, with an inscription, in barbarous Latin verse, giving
boys."
an account of this tragical story, by which the citizens lost 130

The queen's gardeners.

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