who do not, at some unlucky time, injure their own characters by attempting to enlarge them. There are many poffible caufes of that inequality which we may fo frequently observe in the performances of the fame man, from the influence of which no ability or induftry is fufficiently fecured, and which have fo often fullied the fplendor of genius, that the wit, as well as the conqueror, may be properly cautioned not to indulge his pride with too early triumphs, but to defer to the end of life his eftimate of happiness. Ultima femper Expectanda dies homini, dicique beatus But no frail man, however great or high, ADDISON. Among the motives that urge an author to undertakings by which his reputation is impaired, one of the most frequent must be mentioned with tendernefs, because it is not to be counted among his follies, but his miseries. It very often happens that the works of learning or of wit are performed at the direction of those by whom they are to be rewarded; the writer has not always the choice of his fubject, but is compelled to accept any task which is thrown before him, without much confideration of his own convenience, and without time to prepare himself by previous studies. Miscarriages of this kind are likewife frequently the confequences of that acquaintance with the great, which is generally confidered as one of the chief privileges of literature and genius. A man, who has once learned to think himfelf exalted by familiarity with thofe, whom nothing but their birth, or their fortunes, or fuch ftations as are feldom gained by moral excellence, fet above him, will not be long without fubmitting his understanding to their con duct; duct; he will fuffer them to prefcribe the course of his ftudies, and employ him for their own purposes either of diverfion or intereft. His defire of pleafing those whofe favour he has weakly made neceffary to himfelf, will not fuffer him always to confider how little he is qualified for the work impofed. Either his vanity will tempt him to conceal his deficiencies, or that cowardice, which always encroaches faft upon fuch as spend their lives in the company of perfons higher than themfelves, will not leave him refolution to affert the liberty of choice. But, though we fuppofe that a man by his fortune can avoid the neceffity of dependance, and by his fpirit can repel the ufurpations of patronage, yet he may eafily, by writing long, happen to write ill. There is a general fucceffion of effects, in which contraries are produced by periodical viciffitudes; labour and care are rewarded with fuccefs, fuccefs produces confidence, confidence relaxes industry, and negligence ruins that reputation which accuracy had raifed. He that happens not to be lulled by praise into fupineness, may be animated by it to undertakings above his ftrength, or incited to fancy himself alike qualified for every kind of compofition, and able to comply with the publick tafte through all its variations. By fome opinion like this, many men have been engaged, at an advanced age, in attempts which they had not time to complete, and, after a few weak efforts, funk into the grave with vexation to fee the rifing generation gain ground upon them. From thefe failures the highest genius is not exempt; that judgment which appears fo penetrating, when it is employed upon the works of others, very often fails where intereft or paffion can exert their power. We are blinded in examining our own labours by innumerable prejudices. Our juvenile compofitions pleafe us, because they bring to our minds the remembiance membrance of youth; our later performances we are ready to esteem, because we are unwilling to think that we have made no improvement; what flows eafily from the pen charms us, because we read with pleasure that which flatters our opinion of our own powers; what was compofed with great ftruggles of the mind we do not eafily reject, becaufe we cannot bear that fo much labour fhould be fruitless. But the reader has none of thefe prepoffeffions, and wonders that the author is fo unlike himself, without confidering that the fame foil will, with different culture, afford different products. NUMB. 22. SATURDAY, June 2, 1750. -Ego nec ftudium fine divite venâ, Nec rude quid profit video ingenium, alterius fic Without a genius learning foårs in vain ; WIT HOR } ELPHINSTON. IT and LEARNING were the children of Apollo, by diffe: ent mothers; WIT was the offspring of EUPHROSYNE, and refembled her in chearfulness and vivacity; LEARNING was born of SOPHIA, and retained her ferioufnefs and caution. As their mothers were rivals, they were bred up by them, from their birth, in habitual oppofition, and all means were fo inceffantly employed to impress upon them a hatred and contempt of each other, that though Apollo, who forefaw the ill effects of their difcord, endeavoured to foften them, by dividing his regard equally between them, yet his im-partiality and kindness were without effect; the maternal animofity was deeply rooted, having been intermingled with their firft ideas, and was confirmed every hour, as fresh opportunities occurred of exerting it. No fooner were they of age to be received into the apartments of the other celeftials, than WIT began to entertain Venus at her toilet, by aping the folemnity of LEARNING, and LEARNING to divert Minerva at her loom, by expofing the blunders and ignorance of WIT. Thus they grew up, with malice perpetually increafing, by the encouragement which each received from those whom their mothers had perfuaded to patronise and support them; and longed to be admitted to the table of Jupiter, not fo much for the hope of gaining honour, as of excluding a rival from all pretenfions to regard, and of putting an everlafting ftop to the progrefs of that influence which either believed the other to have obtained by mean arts and falfe ap pearances. At laft the day came, when they were both, with the ufual folemnities, received into the clafs of fuperior deities, and allowed to take nectar from the hand of Hebe. But from that hour CONCORD loft heg authority at the table of Jupiter. The rivals, animated by their new dignity, and incited by the alternate applaufes of the affociate powers, harraffed each other by inceffant contefts, with fuch a regular viciffitude of victory, that neither was depreffed. It was obfervable, that at the beginning of every debate, the advantage was on the fide of WIT; and that, at the first fallies, the whole affembly sparkled, according to Homer's expreffion, with unextinguifhable merriment. But LEARNING would referve her ftrength till the burft of applaufe was over, and the languor with which the violence of joy is always fucceeded, began to promife more calm and patient attention. She then attempted her defence, and, by. comparing one part of her antagonist's objections with VOL. I. G another, another, commonly made him confute himself; or, by fhewing how small a part of the queftion he had taken into his view, proved that his opinion could have no weight. The audience began gradually to lay afide their prepoffeffions, and rofe, at laft, with great veneration for LEARNING, but with greater kindness for WIT. Their conduct was, whenever they defired to recommend themselves to diftinction, entirely oppofite. WIT was daring and adventurous; LEARNING cautious and deliberate. WIT thought nothing reproachful but dulnefs; LEARNING was afraid of no imputation, but that of error. WIT anfwered before he understood, left his quickness of apprehenfion fhould be queftioned; LEARNING paufed, where there was no difficulty, left any infidious fophifm fhould lie undiscovered. WIT perplexed every debate by rapidity and confufion; LEARNING tired the hearers with endlefs diftinctions, and prolonged the difpute without advantage, by proving that which never was denied. WIT, in hopes of fhining, would venture to produce what he had not confidered, and often fucceeded beyond his own expectazion, by following the train of a lucky thought; LEARNING would reject every new notion, for fear of being intangled in confequences which fhe could not forefee, and was often hindered, by her caution, from preffing her advantages, and fubduing her opponent. Both had prejudices, which in fome degree hindered their progrefs towards perfection, and left them open to attacks. Novelty was the darling of WIT, and antiquity of LEARNING. To WIT, all that was new, was fpecious; to LEARNING, whatever was antient, was venerable. WIT, however, feldom failed to divert those whom he could not convince, and to convince was not often his ambition; LEARNING always fupported her opinion with so many |