CONVERSATION with Men of a Polite Genius is another Method for improving our natural Tafte. It is impoffible for a Man of the greatest Parts to confider any thing in its whole Extent, and in all its Variety of Lights. Every Man, befides thofe General Obfervations which are to be made upon an Author, forms several Reflections that are peculiar to his own manner of Thinking; fo that Converfation will naturally furnish us with Hints which we did not attend to, and make us enjoy other Mens Parts and Reflections as well as our own. This is the best Reason I can give for the Obfervation which feveral have made, that Men of great Genius in the fame Way of Writing, feldom rife up fingly, but at certain Periods of Time appear together, and in a Body; as they did at Rome in the Reign of Auguftus, and in Greece about the Age of Socrates. I cannot think that Corneille, Racine, Moliere, Boileau, la Fontaine, Bruyere, Boffu, or the Daciers, would have written fo well as they have done, had they not been Friends and Contemporaries. IT is likewife neceffary for a Man who would form to himself a finished Tafte of good Writing, to be well verfed in the Works of the beft Criticks both Ancient and Modern. I must confefs that I could wish there were Authors of this Kind, who befide the Mechanical Rules which a Man of very little Tafte may difcourfe upon, would enter into the very Spirit and Soul of fine Writing, and fhew us the feveral Sources of that Pleasure which rifes in the Mind upon the Perufal of a noble Work. Thus although in Poetry it be abfolutely neceffary that the Unities of Time, Place and Action, with other Points of the fame Nature, should be thoroughly explained and underftood; there is ftill fomething more effential to the Art, fomething that elevates and aftonishes the Fancy, and gives a Greatnefs of Mind to the Reader, which few of the Criticks befides Longinus have confidered. OUR general Tafte in England is for Epigram, Turns of Wit, and forced Conceits, which have no manner of Influence, either for the bettering or enlarging the Mind of him who reads them, and have been carefully avoided by the greatest Writers, both among the Ancients and Moderns. I have endeavoured in feveral of my Speculations to banish this Gothic Tafte, which has taken poffeffion among C 5 N No. 410. among us. I entertained the Town for a Week together with an Effay upon Wit, in which I endeavoured to detect feveral of thofe falfe kinds which have been admired in the different Ages of the World; and at the same time to fhew wherein the Nature of true Wit confifts. I afterwards gave an Instance of the great Force which lies in a natural Simplicity of Thought to affect the Mind of the Reader, from fuch vulgar Pieces as have little else befides this fingle Qualification to recommend them. I have likewife examined the Works of the greatest Poet which our Nation or perhaps any other has produced, and particularized most of those rational and manly Beauties which give a Value to that Divine Work. I fhall next Saturday enter upon an Effay on the Pleasures of the Imagination, which, though it fhall confider that Subject at large, will perhaps fuggeft to the Reader what it is that gives a Beauty to many Paffages of the finest Writers both in Profe and Verfe. As an Undertaking of this Nature is intirely new, I queftion not but it will be received with Candour. No. 410. Friday, June 20. Dum foris funt, nihil videtur mundius, Nec magis compofitum quidquam, nec magis elegans : Ter. Eun. A&t. 5. Sc. 4. When they are abroad, nothing is fo clean, and nicely dreffed; and, when at Supper with a Gallant, they do but piddle, and pick the choiceft Bits: but, to fee their Naftinefs and Poverty at home, their Gluttony, and how they devour black Crufts dipped in Yesterday's Broth, is a perfect Antidote against Wenching. W Decay by vifiting the Wenches of the Town ILL HONEYCOMB, who disguises his prefent only by way of Humour, told us, that the laft rainy Night he with Sir ROGER DE COVERLY was driven into the Temple Cloifter, whither had escaped alfo a Lady moft exactly dreffed from Head to Foot. WILL made no Scruple to acquaint us, that fhe faluted him very familiarly by his Name, and turning immediately to the Knight, fhe faid, fhe fuppofed that was his good Friend, Sir ROGER DE COVERLY: Upon which nothing lefs could follow than Sir ROGER's Approach to Salutation, with, Madam, the fame at your Service. She was dreffed in a black Tabby Mantua and Petticoat, without Ribbons ; her Linen striped Muslin, and in the whole in an agreeable Second-Mourning; decent Dreffes being often affected by the Creatures of the Town, at once confulting Cheapnefs and the Pretenfions to Modefty. She went on with a familiar eafy Air. Your Friend, Mr. HoNEYCOMB, is a little furprifed to fee a Woman here alone and unattended; but I difmiffed my Coach at the Gate, and tripped it down to my Counsel's Chambers; for Lawyers Fees take up too much of a small difputed Jointure to admit any other Expences but meer Neceffaries. Mr. HONEYCOMB, begged they might have the Honour of fetting her down, for Sir ROGER's Servant was gone to call a Coach. In the Interim the Footman returned, with no Coach to be had; and there appeared nothing to be done but trusting herself with Mr. HONEYCOMB and his Friend, to wait at the Tavern at the Gate: for a Coach, or to be fubjected to all the Impertinence fhe must meet with in that publick Place. Mr. HONEYCOMB being a Man of Honour determined the Choice of the firft, and Sir ROGER, as the better Man, took the Lady by the Hand, leading through all the Shower, covering her with his Hat, and gallanting a familiar Acquaintance through Rows of young Fellows, who winked at Sukey in the State fhe march'd off, WILL HONEYCOMB bringing up the Rear. MUCH Importunity prevailed upon the Fair one to admit of a Collation, where after declaring she had no Stomach, and eaten a Couple of Chickens, devoured a Truffe of Sallet, and drunk a full Bottle to her Share, fhe fung the old Man's Wish to Sir ROGER. The Knight left the Room for fome time after Supper, and writ the following Billet, which he conveyed to Sukey, and Sukey to to her Friend WILL HONEYCOMB. WILL has given it to Sir ANDREW FREEPORT, who read it laft Night to the Club. Madam, I am not fo meer a Country-Gentleman, but I can guefs at the Law-Business you had at the Temple. • If you would go down to the Country and leave off all your Vanities but your Singing, let me know at my Lodgings in Bow-Street, Covent-Garden, and you shall ⚫ be encouraged by Your humble Servant, ROGER DE COVERLY. MY good Friend could not well ftand the Rallery which was rifing upon him; but to put a Stop to it, I deliver'd WILL HONEYCOMB the following Letter, and defired him to read it to the Board. Mr. SPECTATOR, HA [AVING feen a Tranflation of one of the Chapters in the Canticles into English Verse inserted among your late Papers, I have ventured to fend you the 7th Chapter of the Proverbs in a poetical Dress. If you think it worthy appearing among your Speculations, it will be a fufficient Reward for the Trouble of Your conftant Reader, Mr Son, tb Infruction that my Words impart, Grave on the living Tablet of thy Heart; And all the wholfom Precepts that I give, Let all thy Homage be to Wisdom paid, A. B. Once Once from my Window as I caft mine Eye, Just as the Sun withdrew his cooler Light, Loofe her Attire, and fuch her glaring Dress, My Chamber I've adorn'd, and o'er my Bed I want but Thee. BIBLIOTECA DE DERECHO My Husband's gone a Journey far away, } Thus |