plause as it is depressed by neglect and | and a sweet smile sits in the charming contempt. But it is only persons far above space which divides her lips. One would the common level who are thus affected swear that voice and speech were issuing with either of these extremes; as in a ther-out, and that one's ears felt the melodious mometer, it is only the purest and most sound. How often have I, deceived by a sublimated spirit that is either contracted or dilated by the benignity or inclemency of the season. MR. SPECTATOR,-The translations which you have lately given us from the Greek, in some of your last papers, have been the occasion of my looking into some of those authors: among whom I chanced on a collection of letters which pass under the name of Aristænetus. Of all the remains of antiquity, I believe there can be nothing produced of an air so gallant and polite; each letter contains a little novel or adventure, which is told with all the beauties of language, and heightened with a luxuriance of wit. There are several of them translated; but with such wide deviations from the original, and in a style so far differing from the author's, that the translator seems rather to have taken hints for the expressing his own sense and thoughts, than to have endeavoured to render those lover's credulity, hearkened if she had not something to whisper me? and when frustrated of my hopes, how often have I taken my revenge in kisses from her cheeks and eyes, and softly wooed her to my embrace, whilst she (as to me it seemed,) only withheld her tongue the more to inflame me. But, madman that I am, shall I be thus taken with the representation only of a beauteous face, and flowing hair, and thus waste myself and melt to tears for a shadow? Ah, sure it is something more, it is a reality; for see, her beauties shine out with new lustre, and she seems to upbraid me with unkind reproaches. Oh, may I have a living mistress of this form, that when I shall compare the work of nature with that of art, I may be still at a loss which to choose, and be long perplexed with the pleasing uncertainty. T. of Aristænetus. In the following transla- No. 239.] Tuesday, December 4, 1711. tion, I have kept as near the meaning of the Greek as I could, and have only added a few words to make the sentences in English sit together a little better than they would otherwise have done. The story seems to be taken from that of Pygmalion and the statue in Ovid; some of the thoughts are of the same turn, and the whole is written in a kind of poetical prose.' Philopinax to Chromation. -Bella, horrida bella! Virg. Æn. vi. 86. I HAVE Sometimes amused myself with considering the several methods of managing a debate which have obtained in the world. The first races of mankind used to dispute, as our ordinary people do now-a-days, in a kind of wild logic, uncultivated by rules of art. Socrates introduced a catechetical method of arguing. He would ask his adversary question upon question, until he had convinced him out of his own mouth that his opinions were wrong. This way of debating drives an enemy up into a corner, seizes all the passes through which he can make an escape, and forces him to surrender at discretion. "Never was a man more overcome with so fantastical a passion as mine; I have painted a beautiful woman, and am despairing, dying for the picture. My own skill has undone me; it is not the dart of Venus, but my own pencil has thus wounded me. Ah, me! with what anxiety am I necessitated to adore my own idol? How miserable am I, whilst every one must as much pity the painter as he praises the picture, Aristotle changed this method of attack, and own my torment more than equal to and invented a great variety of little weamy art. But why do I thus complain? pons, called syllogisms. As in the Socratic Have there not been more unhappy and way of dispute you agree to every thing unnatural passions than mine? Yes, I have which your opponent advances, in the Arisseen the representation of Phædra, Nar-totelic you are still denying and contradictcissus, and Pasipha. Phædra was unhappy in her love: that of Pasipha was monstrous; and whilst the other caught at his beloved likeness, he destroyed the watery image, which ever eluded his embraces. The fountain represented Narcissus to himself, and the picture both that and him, thirsting after his adored image. But I am yet less unhappy. I enjoy her presence continually, and if I touch her, I destroy not the beauteous form, but she looks pleased, By Tom B own and others. See his Works 4 vols. 12mo. ing some part or other of what he says. Socrates conquers you by stratagem, Aristotle by force! The one takes the town by sap, the other sword in hand. The universities of Europe for many years carried on their debates by syllogism, insomuch that we see the knowledge of several centuries laid out into objections and answers, and all the good sense of the age cut and minced into almost an infinitude of distinctions. When our universities found there was no end of wrangling this way, they invented a kind of argument, which is not reducible 348 THE SPECTATOR. to any mood or figure in Aristotle. It was called the argumentum Basilinum, (others write it Bacilínum or Baculinum,) which is pretty well expressed in our English word club-law. When they were not able to confute their antagonist, they knocked him down. It was their method in these polemical debates, first to discharge their syllogisms, and afterwards to betake themselves to their clubs, until such time as they had one way or other confounded their gainsayers. There is in Oxford a narrow defile, (to make use of a military term,) where the partisans used to encounter; for which reason it still retains the name of Logic-lane. I have heard an old gentleman, a physician, make his boasts, that when he was a young fellow he marched several times at the head of a troop of Scotists, and cudgelled a body of Smiglesianst half the length of High-street, until they had dispersed themselves for shelter into their respective garrisons. * This humour, I find, went very far in Erasmus's time. For that author tells us, that upon the revival of Greek letters, most of the universities in Europe were divided into Greeks and Trojans. The latter were those who bore a mortal enmity to the language of the Grecians, insomuch that if they met with any who understood it, they did not fail to treat him as a foe. Erasmus himself had, it seems, the misfortune to fall into the hands of a party of Trojans, who laid on him with so many blows and buffets that he never forgot their hostilities to his dying day. There is a way of managing an argument not much unlike the former, which is made Rise of by states and communities, when they draw up a hundred thousand disputants, on each side, and convince one another by dint of sword. A certain grand monarch was so sensible of his strength in this way of reasoning, that he writ upon his great guns-Ratio ultima regum, 'The logic of kings;' but, God be thanked, he is now pretty well baffled at his own weapons. When one has to do with a philosopher of this kind, one should remember the old gentleman's saying, who had been engaged in an argument with one of the Roman emperors. Upon his friend's telling him that he wondered he would give up the question, when he had visibly the better of the dispute; I am never ashamed,' says he, to be confuted by one who is master of fifty legions.' I shall but just mention another kind of [No. 239 reasoning, which may be called arguing by poll; and another which is of equal force, in which wagers are made use of as arguments, according to the celebrated line in Hudibras. controversy, is that which we may call But the most notable way of managing a arguing by torture. This is a method of reasoning which has been made use of with the poor refugees, and which was so fashionable in our country during the reign of Queen Mary, that in a passage of an author quoted by Monsieur Bayle, it is said the price of wood was raised in England, by reason of the executions that were made in Smithfield. These disputants convince their adversaries with a sorites,** commonly called a pile of faggots. The rack is also a kind of syllogism which has been used with good effect, and has made multitudes of converts. Men were formerly disputed out of their doubts, reconciled to truth by force candour, sense, and ingenuity of those who of reason, and won over to opinions by the had the right on their side; but this method of conviction operated too slowly. Pain was found to be much more enlightening than reason. upon as obstinacy, and not to be removed Every scruple was looked but by several engines invented for that purpose. In a word, the application of whips, racks, gibbets, galleys, dungeons, fire and faggot, in a dispute, may be looked upon as popish refinements upon the old heathen logic. There is another way of reasoning which nature to that I have last mentioned. I seldom fails, though it be of a quite different mean convincing a man by ready money, or as it is ordinarily called, bribing a man to an opinion. proved successful, when all the others have This method has often been made use of to no purpose. A man who is furnished with arguments from the mint, will convince his antagonist much sooner than one who draws them from reason and philosophy. clearer of the understanding; it dissipates Gold is a wonderful every doubt and scruple in an instant; accommodates itself to the meanest capacities; silences the loud and clamourous, and brings over the most obstinate and inflexible. Philip of Macedon was a man of most invincible reason this way. He refuted by it all the wisdom of Athens, confounded their statesmen, struck their orators dumb, and at length argued them out of all their liberties. Having here touched upon the several methods of disputing, as they have prevery suddenly give my reader an account vailed in different ages of the world, I shall of the whole art of cavilling; which shall Part 2, c. 1. v. 297. in Bayle's Dict.-The Spectator's memory deceived him **A sorites is a heap of propositions thrown together. be a full and satisfactory answer to all such | have by this admirable person been shown papers and pamphlets as have yet ap- to, and raised in, sir, your most humble peared against the Spectator. C. servant.' 'MR. SPECTATOR,-I am a country gentleman of a good plentiful estate, and live as No. 240.] Wednesday, December 5, 1711. the rest of my neighbours with great hos pitality. I have been ever reckoned among Aliter non fit, Avite, liber. Mart. Ep. 17. Lib. 1. Of such materials, sir, are books composed. 'MR. SPECTATOR,-I am one of the most genteel trades in the city, and understand thus much of liberal education, as to have an ardent ambition of being useful to mankind, and to think that the chief end of being, as to this life. I had these good impressions given me from the handsome behaviour of a learned, generous, and wealthy man towards me, when I first began the world. Some dissatisfaction between me and my parents made me enter into it with less relish of business than I ought; and to turn off this uneasiness, I gave myself to criminal pleasures, some excesses, and a general loose conduct. I know not what the excellent man abovementioned saw in me, but he descended from the superiority of his wisdom and merit, to throw himself frequently into my company. This made me soon hope that I had something in me worth cultivating, and his conversation made me sensible of satisfactions in a regular way, which I had never before imagined. When he was grown familiar with me, he opened himself like a good angel, and told me he had long laboured to ripen me into a preparation to receive his friendship and advice, both which I should daily command, and the use of any part of his fortune, to apply the measures he should propose to me, for the improvement of my own. I assure you I cannot recollect the goodness and confusion of the good old man when he spoke to this purpose to me without melting into 'December 3, 1711. tears; but in a word, sir, I must hasten to 'MR. SPECTATOR,-I was the other night tell you, that my heart burns with grati-at Philaster, where I expected to hear your tude towards him, and he is so happy a famous trunk-maker, but was unhappily man that it can never be in my power to disappointed of his company, and saw anreturn him his favours in kind, but I am other person who had the like ambition to sure I have made him the most agreeable distinguish himself in a noisy manner, partly satisfaction I could possibly, in being ready by vociferation or talking foud, and partly to serve others to my utmost ability, as far by his bodily agility. This was a very lusty as is consistent with the prudence he pre-fellow, but withal a sort of beau, who getscribes to me. Dear Mr. Spectator, I do not owe to him only the good-will and esteem of my own relations, (who are people of distinction,) the present ease and plenty of my circumstances, but also the government of my passions, and regulation of my desires. I doubt not, sir, but in your imagination such virtues as these of my worthy friend, bear as great a figure as actions which are more glittering in the common estimation. What I would ask of you, is to give us a whole Spectator upon heroic virtue in common life, which may incite men to the same generous inclinations, as ting into one of the side-boxes on the stage before the curtain drew, was disposed to show the whole audience his activity by leaping over the spikes: he passed from thence to one of the entering doors, where he took snuff with a tolerable good grace, displayed his fine clothes, made two or three feint passes at the curtain with his cane, then faced about and appeared at the other door. Here he affected to survey the whole house, bowed and smiled at random, and then showed his teeth, which were some of them indeed very white. After this he retired behind the curtain, and obliged us with several views of his person from every opening. 'During the time of acting, he appeared frequently in the prince's apartment, made one at the hunting-match, and was very forward in the rebellion.* If there were no injunctions to the contrary, yet this practice must be confessed to diminish the pleasure of the audience, and for that reason presumptuous and unwarrantable; but since her majesty's late command has made it criminal, you have authority to take notice of it. Sir, your humble servant, T. 'CHARLES EASY.' am always in good-humour when an east Absence is what the poets call death in love, and has given occasion to abundance of beautiful complaints in those authors who have treated of this passion in verse. Ovid's Epistles are full of them. Otway's Monimia talks very tenderly upon this subject: -It was not kind To leave me like a turtle, here alone, The consolations of lovers on these occasions are very extraordinary. Besides those mentioned by Asteria, there are many other motives of comfort which are made use of by absent lovers. I remember in one of Scudery's Romances a couple of honourable lovers agreed at their parting to set aside one_half hour in the day to think of each other during a tedious absence. The romance tells us, that they both of them punctually observed the time thus agreed upon; and that whatever company or business they were engaged in, they left it abruptly as soon as the clock warned them to retire. The romance further adds, that the lovers expected the return of this stated hour with as much impatience as if it had been a real assignation, and enjoyed an imaginary happiness, that was almost as pleasing to them as what they would have found from a real meeting. It was an inexpressible satisfaction to these divided lovers to be assured that each was at the same time employed in the same kind of contemplation, and making equal returns of tenderness and affection. 'MR. SPECTATOR,-Though you have considered virtuous love in most of its distresses, I do not remember that you have given us any dissertation upon the absence of lovers, or laid down any methods how they should support themselves under those long separations which they are sometimes forced to undergo. I am at present in this unhappy circumstance, having parted with the best of husbands, who is abroad in the service of his country, and may not possibly return for some years. His warm and generous affection while we were together, with the tenderness which he expressed to me at parting, make his absence almost insupportable. I think of him every moment of the day, and meet him every night in my dreams. Every thing I see puts me in mind of him. I apply myself with more than ordinary diligence to the care of his family and his estate; but this instead of relieving me, gives me but so many occasions of wishing for his return. I frequent the rooms where I used to converse with him, and not meeting him there, sit down in his chair and fall a weeping. I love to read the books If I may be allowed to mention a more he delighted in, and to converse with the serious expedient for the alleviating of abpersons whom he esteemed. I visit his pic- sence, I shall take notice of one which I ture a hundred times a day, and place my- have known two persons practise, who self over against it whole hours together. I joined religion to that elegance of sentipass a great part of my time in the walks ments with which the passion of love genewhere I used to lean upon his arm, and rally inspires its votaries. This was, at the recollect in my mind the discourses which return of such an hour, to offer up a certain have there passed between us: I look over prayer for each other, which they had the several prospects and points of view agreed upon before their parting. The huswhich we used to survey together, fix my band, who is a man that makes a figure in eye upon the objects which he has made the polite world, as well as in his own me take notice of; and call to mind a thou-family, has often told me, that he could not sand agreeable remarks which he has made have supported an absence of three years on those occasions. I write to him by every without this expedient. conveyance, and contrary to other people, Different scenes in Beaumont and Fletcher's tragedy of Philaster. In the play-bills of that time, these words were in. serted: By her majesty's command, no person is to be admitted behind the scenes.' Strada, in one of his Prolusions, ‡ gives an account of a chimerical correspondence between two friends by the help of a certain loadstone, which had such virtue in it, that + Lib. ii. prol. 6. yours concerning the misbehaviour of people, who are necessarily in each other's company in travelling, ought to have been a lasting admonition against transgressions of that kind. But I had the fate of your quaker, in meeting with a rude fellow in a stage-coach, who entertained two or three women of us (for there was no man besides himself) with language as indecent as ever was heard upon the water. The impertinent observations which the coxcomb made upon our shame and confusion were such, that it is an unspeakable grief to reflect if it touched two several needles, when one of the needles so touched began to move, the other, though at never so great a distance, moved at the same time, and in the same manner. He tells us, that the two friends being each of them possessed of one of these needles, made a kind of dial-plate, inscribing it with the four-and-twenty letters, in the same manner as the hours of the day are marked upon the ordinary dial-plate. They then fixed one of the needles on each of these plates in such a manner that it could move round without impediment, so as to touch any of the four-and-twenty let-upon them. As much as you have declaimters. Upon their separating from one another into distant countries, they agreed to withdraw themselves punctually into their closets at a certain hour of the day, and to converse with one another by means of this their invention. Accordingly when they were some hundred miles asunder, each of them shut himself up in his closet at the time appointed, and immediately cast his eye upon his dial-plate. If he had a mind to write any thing to his friend, he directed his needle to every letter that formed the words which he had occasion for, making a little pause at the end of every word or sentence, to avoid confusion. The friend in the meanwhile saw his own sympathetic needle moving of itself to every letter which that of his correspondent pointed at. By this means they talked together across a whole continent, and conveyed their thoughts to one another in an instant over cities or mountains, seas or deserts. ed against duelling, I hope you will do us the justice to declare, that if the brute has courage enough to send to the place where he saw us all alight together to get rid of him, there is not one of us but has a lover who shall avenge the insult. It would certainly be worth your consideration, to look into the frequent misfortunes of this kind, to which the modest and innocent are exposed, by the licentious behaviour of such as are as much strangers to good-breeding as to virtue. Could we avoid hearing what we do not approve, as easily as we can seeing what is disagreeable, there were some consolation; but since in a box at a play, in an assembly of ladies, or even in a pew at church, it is in the power of a gross coxcomb to utter what a woman cannot avoid hearing, how miserable is her condition who comes within the power of such impertinents? and how necessary is it to repeat invectives against such a behaviour? If the licentious had not utterly forgot what it is to be modest, they would know that offended modesty labours under one of the greatest sufferings to which human life can be exposed. If these brutes could reflect thus much, though they want shame, they would be moved by their pity, to abhor an impudent behaviour in the presence of the chaste and innocent. If you will oblige us with a Spectator on this subject, and proIn the meanwhile, if ever this invention cure it to be pasted against every stageshould be revived or put in practice, I would coach in Great Britain as the law of the propose that upon the lover's dial-plate journey, you will highly oblige the whole there should be written not only the four-sex, for which you have professed so great and-twenty letters, but several entire words an esteem; and in particular the two ladies which have always a place in passionate my late fellow-sufferers, and, sir, your most epistles; as flames, darts, die, languish, humble servant, absence, Cupid, heart, eyes, hang, drown, and the like. This would very much abridge the lover's pains in this way of writing a letter, as it would enable him to express the most useful and significant words with a single touch of the needle. If Monsieur Scudery, or any other writer on romance, had introduced a necromancer, who is generally in the train of a knighterrant, making a present to two lovers of a couple of these above-mentioned needles, the reader would not have been a little pleased to have seen them corresponding with one another when they were guarded by spies and watches, or separated by castles and adventures. No. 242.] Friday, December 7, 1711. C. Creditur, ex medio quia res arcessit, habere Sudoris minimumHor. Lib. 2, Ep. i. 168. To write on vulgar themes, is thought an easy task. MR. SPECTATOR,-Your speculations do not so generally prevail over men's manners as I could wish. A former paper of " REBECCA RIDINGHOOD.' 'MR. SPECTATOR,-The matter which I am now going to send you, is an unhappy story in low life, and will recommend itself, so that you must excuse the manner of expressing it. A poor idle drunken weaver in Spitalfields has a faithful laborious wife, who by her frugality and industry had laid by her as much money as purchased her a ticket in the present lottery. She had hid this very privately in the bottom of a trunk and had given her number to a friend and confidant, who had promised to keep the secret, and bring her news of the success. The poor adventurer was one day gone |