on eafy terms. This ardour of confidence is ufually found among thofe who, having not enlarged their notions by books or converfation, are perfuaded, by the partiality which we all feel in our own favour, that they have reached the fummit of excellence, because they difcover none higher than themselves; and who acquiefce in the first thoughts that occur, because their scantinefs of knowledge allows them little choice, and the narrowness of their views affords them no glimpfe of perfection of that fublime idea which human industry has from the first ages been vainly toiling to approach. They see a little, and believe that there is nothing beyond their sphere of vifion, as the Patuecos of Spain, who inhabited a small valley, conceived the furrounding mountains to be the boundaries of the world. In proportion as perfection is more diftin&tly conceived, the pleasure of contemplating our own performances will be leffened; it may therefore be observed, that they who most deserve praise are often afraid to decide in favour of their own performances; they know how much is still wanting to their completion, and wait with anxiety and terror the determination of the publick. 1 please every one elfe, fays Tully, but never fatisfy myfelf."

It has often been enquired, why, notwithstanding the advances of latter ages in fcience, and the affiftance which the infufion of fo many new ideas has given us, we still fall below the ancients in the art of compofition. Some part of their fuperiority may be justly afcribed to the graces of their language, from which the most polished of the prefent European tongues are nothing more than barbarous degenerations. Some advantage they might gain merely by priority, which put them in poffeffion of the most natural fentiments, and left us nothing but fervile repetition or forced conceits. But the greater part of their praise seems to have been the just reward of modefty and labour. Their fenfe of human weakness confined them commonly to one study, which their knowledge of the extent of every science engaged them to profecute with indefatigable diligence.

Among the writers of antiquity I remember none except Statius who ventures to mention the speedy production of his writings, either as an extenuation of his faults, or a proof of his facility. Nor did Statius, when he confidered

himself as a candidate for lasting reputa tion, think a closer attention unnecessary, but amidst all his pride and indigence, the two great hafteners of modern poems, employed twelve years upon the Thebaid, and thinks his claim to renown proportionate to his labour.

Thebais, multa cruciata lima,
Tentat, audaci fide, Mantuanæ
Gaudia fama.

Polish'd with endless toil, my lays
At length afpire to Mantuan praise.

Ovid indeed apologizes in his banish. ment for the imperfection of his letters, but mentions his want of leisure to polifh them as an addition to his calamities; and was fo far from imagining revifals and corrections unneceffary, that at his departure from Rome, he threw his Metamorphofes into the fire, left he fhould be difgraced by a book which he could not hope to finish.

It feems not often to have happened that the fame writer afpired to reputation in verfe and profe; and of thofe few that attempted fuch diverfity of excellence, I know not that even one fucceeded. Contrary characters they never imagined a fingle mind able to fupport, and therefore no man is recorded to have undertaken more than one kind of dramatick poetry.

What they had written they did not venture in their firft fondness to thrust into the world, but confidering the impropriety of fending torth inconfiderately that which cannot be recalled, deferred the publication, if not nine years, according to the direction of Horace, yet till their fancy was cooled after the rap tures of invention, and the glare of novelty had ceased to dazzle the judgment.

There were in those days no weekly or diurnal writers: multa dies, et multa litura; much time, and many rafures, were confidered as indifpenfable requifites; and that no other method of attaining lafting praise has been yet difcovered, may be conjectured from the blotted manufcripts of Milton now remaining, and from the tardy emiffion of Pope's compofitions, delayed more than once till the incidents to which they alluded were forgotten, till his enemies were fecure from his fatire, and, what to an honest mind must be more painful, his friends were deaf to his encomiums.

To him whofe eagerness of praise hurries

hurries his productions foon into the light, many imperfections are unavoidable, even where the mind furnishes the materials, as well as regulates their difpofition, and nothing depends upon fearch or information. Delay opens new veins of thought, the subject difmiffed for a time appears with a new train of dependant images, the accidents of reading or converfation fupply new ornaments or allufions, or mere intermiffion of the fatigue of thinking enables the mind to collect new force, and make new excursions. But all those benefits come too late for him, who, when he was weary with labour, fnatched at the recompence, and gave his work to his friends and his enemies, as foon as impatience and pride persuaded him to conclude it.

One of the most pernicious effects of hafte, is obfcurity. He that teems with a quick fucceffion of ideas, and perceives how one sentiment produces another,

easily believes that he can clearly express what he fo ftrongly comprehends; he seldom fufpects his thoughts of embarraffment, while he preferves in his own memory the series of connection, or his diction of ambiguity, while only one fenfe is prefent to his mind. Yet if he has been employed on an abstruse or complicated argument, he will find, when he has a while withdrawn his mind, and returns as a new reader to his work, that he has only a conjectural glimpse of his own meaning, and that to explain it to those whom he desires to instruct, he must open his fentiments, difentangle his method, and alter his arrangement.

Authors and lovers always fuffer some infatuation, from which only abfence can fet them free; and every man ought to restore himself to the full exercise of his judgment, before he does that which he cannot do improperly, without injuring his honour and his quiet.

I

OVID.

TO THE RAMBLER.

Am one of those beings, from whom many, that melt at the fight of all other mifery, think it meritorious to withhold relief; one whom the rigour of virtuous indignation dooms to fuffer without complaint, and perifh without regard, and whom I myself have formerly infulted in the pride of reputation and fecurity of innocence.

I am of a good family, but my father was burthened with more children than he could decently fupport. A wealthy relation, as he travelled from London to his country feat, condefcending to make him a vifit, was touched with compaffion of his narrow fortune, and refolved to cafe him of part of his charge, by taking the care of a child upon himfelf. Diftrefs on one fide, and ambition on the other, were too powerful for parental fondrels, and the little family paffed in review before him, that he might make his choice. I was then ten years

old, and without knowing for what purpote I was called to my great coufin, endeavoured to recommend myself by my best courtesy, fung him my prettieft fong, told the laft ftory that I had read, and fo much endeared myself by my innocence, that he declared his refolution to adopt me, and to educate me with his own daughters.

My parents felt the common ftruggles at the thought of parting, and fome natural tears they dropp'd, but wip'd them foon. They confidered, not without that falfe eftimation of the value of wealth which poverty long continued always produces, that I was raised to higher rank than they could give me, and to hopes of more ample fortune than they could bequeath. My mother fold fome of her ornaments to dress me in fuch a manner as might fecure me from contempt at my first arrival; and when the difmiffed me, preffed me to her bofon with an embrace that I ftill feel, gave me fome precepts of piety, which, however neglected, I have not forgotten, and

uttered

uttered prayers for my final happiness, of which I have not yet ceafed to hope that they will at last be granted.

My filters envied my new finery, and feemed not much to regret our feparation; my father conducted me to the ftage-coach with a kind of cheerful tendernefs; and in a very short time I was tranfported to splendid apartments, and a luxurious table, and grew familiar to fhow, noife, and gaiety.

In three years my mother died, having implored a blefling on her family with her last breath. I had little opportunity to indulge a forrow which there was none to partake with me, and therefore foon ceased to reflect much upon my lots. My father turned all his care upon his other children, whom fome fortunate adventures and unexpected legacies enabled him, when he died four years after my mother, to leave in a condition above their expectations.

I fhould have fhared the increase of his fortune, and had once a portion affigned me in his will; but my cousin affuring him that all care for me was needlefs, fince he had refolved to place me happily in the world, directed him to divide my part amongst my filters.

Thus I was thrown upon dependance without refource. Being now at an age in which young women are initiated into company, I was no longer to be fupported in my former character, but at confiderable expence; fo that, partly left I should waste money, and partly left my appearance might draw too many compliments and affiduites, I was infenfibly degraded from my equality, and enjoyed few privileges above the head fervant, but that of receiving no wages.

I felt every indignity, but knew that refentment would precipitate my fall. I therefore en leavoured to continue my importance by little fervices and active officioufnefs, and for a time preserved myfelf from neglect, by withdrawing all pretences to competition, and ftudying to pleafe rather than to shine. But my intereft, notwithstan ing this expedient, hourly declined, and my coufin's favourite maid began to exchange repartees with me, and confult me about the alterations of a cat gown.

in my mind, and examine by what means I might efcape from perpetual mortification. At laft my fchemes and forrows were interrupted by a fudden change of my relation's behaviour, who one day took an occafion, when we were left together in a room, to bid me fuffer myfelt no longer to be infulted, but affume the place which he always intended me to hold in the family. He affured me that his wife's preference of her own daughters fhould never hurt me; and, accompanying his profeffions with a purfe of gold, ordered me to bespeak a rich fuit at the mercer's, and to apply privately to him for money when I wanted it, and infinuate that my other friends fupplied me, which he would take care to confirm.

By this ftratagem, which I did not then understand, he filled me with tendernefs and gratitude, compelled me to repole on him as my only fupport, and produced a neceffity of private converfation. He often appointed interviews at the house of an acquaintance, and fometimes called on me with a coach, and carried me abroad. My sense of his favour, and the defire of retaining it, difpofed me to unlimited complaifance; and though I faw his kindness grow every day more fond, I did not fuffer any fufpicion to enter my thoughts. At lait the wretch took advantage of the familiarity which he enjoyed as my relation, and the fubmiffion which he exacted as my benefactor, to complete the ruin of an orphan, whom his own promises had made indigent, whom his indulgence had melted, and his authority fubdued.

not

not refift, and are often content to poffefs the body, without any folicitude to gain the heart.

Many of these despicable wretches does my prefent acquaintance with infamy and wickedness enable me to num ber among the heroes of debauchery; reptiles whom their own fervants would have defpifed, had they not been their fervants, and with whom beggary would have difdained intercourfe, had the not been allured by hopes of relief. Many of the beings which are now rioting in taverns, or fhivering in the ftreets, have been corrupted, not by arts of gallantry which ftole gradually upon the affections and laid prudence alleep, but by the fear of lofing benefits which were never intended, or of incurring refentment which they could not efcape; fome have been frighted by mafters, and fome awed by guardians into ruin.

Our crime had it's ufual confequence,

and he foon perceived that I could not long continue in his family. I was distracted at the thought of the reproach which I now believed inevitable. He comforted me with hopes of eluding all difcovery, and often upbraided me with the anxiety, which perhaps none but himself faw in my countenance; but ag laft mingled his affurances of protection and maintenance with menaces of totall defertion, if in the moments of pertur bation I fhould fuffer his fecret to escape, or endeavour to throw on him any part of my infamy.

Thus paffed the dismal hours till my retreat could no longer be delayed. It was pretended that my relations had fent for me to a diftant country, and I entered upon a state which shall be de fcribed in my next letter.

I am, Sir, &c.

MISELLA.

VIRG.

SIR,

TO THE RAMBLER.

MISELL

ISELLA now fits down to continue her narrative. I am conVinced that nothing would more powerfully preferve youth from irregularity, or guard inexperience from feduction, than a just defcription of the condition into which the wanton plunges herself, and therefore hope that my letter may be a fufficient antidote to my example.

After the distraction, hesitation, and delays, which the timidity of guilt naturally produces, I was removed to lodgings in a diftant part of the town, under one of the characters commonly affumed upon fuch occafions. Here being by my circumftances condemned to folitude, I paffed most of my hours in bitterness and anguish. The converfation of the people with whom I was placed was not at all capable of engaging my attention, or difpoffeffing the reigning ideas. The books which I carried to my retreat were fuch as heightened my abhorrence of myfelf; for I was not fo far abandoned as to fink voluntarily

into corruption, or endeavour to conceal from my own mind the enormity of my crime.

My relation remitted none of his fondness, but vifited me fo often, that I was fometimes afraid left his affiduity fhould expofe him to fufpicion. Whenever he came he found me weeping, and was therefore lefs delightfully enter tained than he expected. After fre quent expoftulations upon the unreasonableness of my forrow, and innume rable proteftations of everlafting regard, he at last found that I was more affected with the lofs of my innocence, than the danger of my fame; and that he might not be difturbed by my remorse, began to lull my confcience with the opiates of irreligion. His arguments were fuch as my courfe of life has fince exposed me often to the neceffity of hearing, vulgar, empty, and fallacious; yet they at firft confounded me with their novelty, filled me with doubt and perplexity, and interrupted that peace which I began to feel from the fincerity of my repentance, without fubftituting any other fupport. I liftened a while to his 3 C

impious

impious gabble, but it's influence was foon overpowered by natural reafon and early education, and the convictions which this new attempt gave me of his bafenefs completed my abhorrence. I have heard of barbarians, who, when tempefts drive fhips upon their coaft, decoy them to the rocks that they may plunder their lading, and have always thought that wretches thus merciless in their depredations ought to be deftroyed by a general infurrection of all focial beings; yet how light is this guilt to the orime of him who, in the agitations of remorfe, cuts away the anchor of piety, and when he has drawn afide credulity from the paths of virtue, hides the light of Heaven which would direct her to return. I had hitherto confidered him as a man equally betrayed with myself by the concurrence of appetite and opportunity; but I now faw with horror that he was contriving to perpetuate his gratification, and was defirous to fit me to his purpose by complete and radical corruption.

To escape, however, was not yet in my power. I could fupport the expences of my condition only by the continuance of his favour. He provided all that was neceffary, and in a few weeks congratulated me upon my efcape from the danger which we had both expected with fo much anxiety. I then began to remind him of his promife to restore me with my fame uninjured to the world. He promifed me in general terms, that nothing should be wanting which bis power could add to my happiness, but forbore to releafe me from my confinement. I knew how much my reception in the world depended upon my speedy return, and was therefore outrageously impatient of his delays, which I now perceived to be only artifices of lewdnefs. He told me, at last, with an appearance of forrow, that all hopes of restoration to my former state were for ever precluded; that chance had difcovered my fecret, and malice divulged it; and that nothing now remained but to feck a retreat more private, where curiofity or hatred could never find us.

The rage, anguifh, and refentment, which I felt at this account, are not to be expreffed. I was in fo much dread of reproach and infamy, which he reprefented as purfuing me with full cry, that I yielded myself implicitly to his

difpofal, and was removed, with a thousand studied precautions, through by-ways and dark paffages to another houfe, where I haraffed him with perpetual folicitations for a small annuity, that might enable me to live in the country in obfcurity and innocence.

This demand he at first evaded with ardent profeffions, but in time appeared offended at my importunity and distrust; and having one day endeavoured to footh me with uncommon expreffions of tendernefs, when he found my discontent immoveable, left me with fome inarticulate murmurs of anger. I was pleafed that he was at laft roused to fenfibility, and expecting that at his next vifit he would comply with my request, lived with great tranquillity upon the money in my hands, and was fo much pleased with this paufe of perfecution, that I did not reflect how much his abfence. had exceeded the usual intervals, till I was alarmed with the danger of want. ing fubfiftence. I then fuddenly contracted my expences, but was unwilling to fupplicate for affitance. Neceffity, however, foon overcame my modefty or my pride, and I applied to him by a letter, but had no answer. I writ in terms more preffing, but without effect. I then fent an agent to enquire after him, who informed me, that he had quitted his houfe, and was gone with his family to refide for fome time upon his estate in Ireland.

However fhocked at this abrupt departure, I was yet unwilling to believe that he could wholly abandon me, and therefore, by the fale of my clothes, I fupported myself, expecting that every poft would bring me relief. Thus I paffed feven months between hope and dejection, in a gradual approach to poverty and diftrefs, emaciated with difcontent, and bewildered with uncertainty. At laft, my landlady, after many hints of the neceffity of a new lover, took the opportunity of my abfence to search my boxes, and miffing fome of my apparel, feized the remainder for rent, and led me to the door.

To remonftrate againft legal cruelty was vain; to fupplicate obdurate brutatality was hopeless. I went away, I knew not whither, and wandered about without any fettled purpose, unacquainted with the ufual expedients of mifery, unqualified for laborious offices, afraid to meet an eye that had seen me

before