54 A death-bed the true fchool of wisdom. The effects 55 The gay widow's impatience of the growth of her daughter. The hiftory of mifs May-pole 56 The neceffity of complaifance. The Rambler's grief for offending his correfpondents 59 An account of Sufpirius the human fcreech-owl 60 The dignity and usefulness of biography 61 A Londoner's vifit to the country 62 A young lady's impatience to fee London 63 Inconftancy not always a weakness 64 The requifites to true friendship THE RAMBLER. NUMB. I. TUESDAY, March 20, 1750. Cur tamen hoc libeat potius decurrere campo, Why to expatiate in this beaten field, THE Juv. ELPHINSTON. HE difficulty of the firft addrefs on any new occafion, is felt by every man in his tranfactions with the world, and confeffed by the fettled and regular forms of falutation which neceffity has introduced into all languages. Judgment was wearied with the perplexity of being forced upon choice, where there was no motive to preference; and it was found convenient that fome eafy method of introduction fhould be eftablithed, which, if it wanted the allurement of novelty, might enjoy the fecurity of prefcription. VOL. IV. B Perhaps Perhaps few authors have prefented themselves before the publick, without wishing that fuch ceremonial modes of entrance had been anciently eftablished, as might have freed them from those dangers which the defire of pleafing is certain to produce, and precluded the vain expedients of foftening cenfure by apologies, or rousing attention by abruptness. The epick writers have found the proemial part of the poem fuch an addition to their undertaking, that they have almost unanimously adopted the first lines of Homer, and the reader needs only be informed of the fubject, to know in what manner the poem will begin. But this folemn repetition is hitherto the peculiar diftinction of heroick poetry; it has never been legally extended to the lower orders of literature, but feems to be confidered as an hereditary privilege, to be enjoyed only by thofe who claim it from their alliance to the genius of Homer. The rules which the injudicious use of this prerogative fuggefted to Horace, may indeed be applied to the direction of candidates for inferior fame; it may be proper for all to remember, that they ought not to raife expectation which it is not in their power to fatisfy, and that it is more pleafing to fee fmoke brightening into flame, than flame finking into fmoke. This precept has been long received, both from regard to the authority of Horace, and its conformity to the general opinion of the world; yet there have been always fome, that thought it no devia-. tion from modefty to recommend their own labours, and and imagined themfelves intitled by indifputable merit to an exemption from general restraints, and to elevations not allowed in common life. They, perhaps, believed, that when, like Thucydides, they bequeathed to mankind xlnua is a, an eftate for ever, it was an additional favour to inform them of its value. It may, indeed, be no lefs dangerous to claim, on certain occafions, too little than too much. There is fomething captivating in fpirit and intrepidity, to which we often yield, as to a refiftlefs power; nor can he reasonably expect the confidence of others, who too apparently diftrufts himself. Plutarch, in his enumeration of the various occafions, on which a man may without juft offence proclaim his own excellencies, has omitted the cafe of an author entering the world; unless it may be comprehended under this general pofition, that a man may lawfully praife himself for thote qualities which cannot be known but from his own mouth; as when he is among ftrangers, and can have no opportunity of an actual exertion of his powers. That the cafe of an author is parallel will scarcely be granted, because he neceffarily discovers the degree of his merit to his judges, when he appears at his trial. But it should be remembered, that unless his judges are inclined to favour him, they will hardly be perfuaded to hear the cause. In love, the ftate which fills the heart with a degree of folicitude next that of an author, it has been held a maxim, that fuccefs is most easily obtained by indirect and unperceived approaches; he who too foon profeffes himself a lover, raifes obftacles to his own wishes, and those whom disappointments have taught. experience, endeavour to conceal their paffion till they believe their miftrefs wishes for the difcovery. The same method, if it were practicable to writers, would fave many complaints of the feverity of the age, and the caprices of criticifm. If a man could glide imperceptibly into the favour of the publick, and only proclaim his pretenfions to literary honours when he is fure of not being rejected, he might commence author with better hopes, as his failings might efcape contempt, though he fhall never attain much regard. But fince the world fuppofes every man that writes, ambitious of applaufe, as fome ladies have taught. themselves to believe that every man intends love, who expreffes civility, the mifcarriage of any endeavour in learning raifes an unbounded contempt, indulged by most minds without fcruple, as an honest triumph over unjuft claims, and exorbitant expectations. The artifices of thofe who put themselves into this hazardous ftate, have therefore been multiplied in proportion to their fear as well as their ambition; and are to be looked upon with more indulgence, as they are incited at once by the two great movers of the human mind, the defire of good, and the fear of evil. For who can wonder that, allured on one fide, and frightened on the other, fome should endeavour to gain favour by bribing the judge with an appearance of refpect which they do not feel, to excite compaffion by confeffing weakness of which they are not convinced; and others to attract regard by a fhew of opennefs and magnanimity, by a daring profeffion of their own deferts, and a publick challenge of honours and rewards? The |