Monday, October 22, 1711. ‘Saepe decem vitiis instructior odit et horret.’ —Hor. The other Day as I passed along the Street, I saw a sturdy Prentice-Boy Disputing with an Hackney-Coachman; and in an Instant, upon some Word of Provocation, throw off his Hat and [Cut-Periwig, [1]] clench his Fist, and strike the Fellow a Slap […]

Thursday, October 18, 1711. ‘Scribere jussit amor.’ Ovid. The following Letters are written with such an Air of Sincerity, that I cannot deny the inserting of them. Mr. SPECTATOR, ‘Tho’ you are every where in your Writings a Friend to Women, I do not remember that you have directly considered the mercenary Practice of Men […]

Friday, October 19, 1711. Steele. [1] ‘Vincit Amor Patriae.’ Virg. The Ambition of Princes is many times as hurtful to themselves as to their People. This cannot be doubted of such as prove unfortunate in their Wars, but it is often true too of those who are celebrated for their Successes. If a severe View […]

Friday, October 12, 1711. ‘… Difficili Bile Tumet Jecur.’ Hor. The present Paper shall consist of two Letters, which observe upon Faults that are easily cured both in Love and Friendship. In the latter, as far as it meerly regards Conversation, the Person who neglects visiting an agreeable Friend is punished in the very Transgression; […]

Monday, October 15, 1711. Est lubris, animus si te non deficit oequus. Hor. Mr. SPECTATOR, ‘There is a particular Fault which I have observed in most of the Moralists in all Ages, and that is, that they are always professing themselves, and teaching others to be happy. This State is not to be arrived at […]

Monday, October 8, 1711. ‘Servitus crescit nova …’ Hor. Since I made some Reflections upon the general Negligence used in the Case of Regard towards Women, or, in other Words, since I talked of Wenching, I have had Epistles upon that Subject, which I shall, for the present Entertainment, insert as they lye before me. […]

Wednesday, October 10, 1711. ‘… Uni ore omnes omniaBona dicere, et Laudare fortunas meas,Qui Gnatum haberem tali ingenio proeditum.’ Tre. I Stood the other Day, and beheld a Father sitting in the Middle of a Room with a large Family of Children about him; and methought I could observe in his Countenance different Motions of […]

Thursday, October 11, 1711. ‘… Ingentem foribus domus alta superbisMane salutantum totis vomit oedibus undam.’ Virg. When we look round us, and behold the strange Variety of Faces and Persons which fill the Streets with Business and Hurry, it is no unpleasant Amusement to make Guesses at their different Pursuits, and judge by their Countenances […]

Thursday, October 4, 1711. ‘… Miseri quibusIntentata nites …’ Hor. The Intelligence given by this Correspondent is so important and useful, in order to avoid the Persons he speaks of, that I shall insert his Letter at length. Mr. SPECTATOR, ‘I do not know that you have ever touched upon a certain species of Women, […]

Friday, October 5, 1711. ‘Loetus sum Laudari a te Laudato viro.’ Tull. He is a very unhappy Man who sets his Heart upon being admired by the Multitude, or affects a general and undistinguishing Applause among Men. What pious Men call the Testimony of a good Conscience, should be the Measure of our Ambition in […]

Friday, September 28, 1711. ‘Plus aloes quam mellis habet …’ Juv. As all Parts of humane Life come under my Observation, my Reader must not make uncharitable Inferences from my speaking knowingly of that Sort of Crime which is at present treated of. He will, I hope, suppose I know it only from the Letters […]

Monday, September 24, 1711. ‘Comis in uxorem …’ Hor. I cannot defer taking Notice of this Letter. Mr. SPECTATOR, I am but too good a Judge of your Paper of the 15th Instant, which is a Master-piece; I mean that of Jealousy: But I think it unworthy of you to speak of that Torture in […]

Wednesday, September 26, 1711. ‘… Delirant Reges, plectuntur Achivi.’ Hor. The following Letter [1] has so much Weight and good Sense, that I cannot forbear inserting it, tho’ it relates to an hardened Sinner, whom I have very little Hopes of reforming, viz. Lewis XIV. of France. Mr. SPECTATOR, ‘Amidst the Variety of Subjects of […]

Monday, September 17, 1711. ‘Non solum Scientia, quae est remota a Justitia, Calliditas potius quam Sapientia est appellanda; verum etiam Animus paratus ad periculum, si sua cupiditate, non utilitate communi impellitur, Audaciae potius nomen habeat, quam Fortitudinis.’ Plato apnd Tull. There can be no greater Injury to humane Society than that good Talents among Men […]

Wednesday, September 19, 1711. ‘Haec memini et victum frustra contendere Thyrsin.’ Virg. There is scarce any thing more common than Animosities between Parties that cannot subsist but by their Agreement: this was well represented in the Sedition of the Members of the humane Body in the old Roman Fable. It is often the Case of […]

Friday, September 21, 1711. ‘Parvula, pumilio, [Greek: charit_on mia], lota merum Sal.’ Luc. There are in the following Letter Matters, which I, a Batchelor, cannot be supposed to be acquainted with; therefore shall not pretend to explain upon it till further Consideration, but leave the Author of the Epistle to express his Condition his own […]

Wednesday, September 12, 1711. ‘… Pectus Praeceptis format amicis.’ Hor. It would be Arrogance to neglect the Application of my Correspondents so far as not sometimes to insert their Animadversions upon my Paper; that of this Day shall be therefore wholly composed of the Hints which they have sent me. Mr. SPECTATOR, I Send you […]

Tuesday, September 11, 1711 ‘Fuit haud ignobilis Argis,Qui se credebat miros audire tragoedos,In vacuo laetus sessor plausorque theatro;Caetera qui vitae servaret munia rectoMore; bonus sane vicinus, amabilis hospes,Comis in uxorem; posset qui ignoscere servis,Et signo laeso non insanire lagenae;Posset qui rupem et puteum vitare patentem.Hic ubi cognatorum opibus curisque refectusExpulit elleboro morbum bilemque meraco,Et redit […]

No. 155 [1]Tuesday, August 28, 1711. . ‘… Hae nugae seria ducunt In mala …’ Hor. I have more than once taken Notice of an indecent Licence taken in Discourse, wherein the Conversation on one Part is involuntary, and the Effect of some necessary Circumstance. This happens in travelling together in the same hired Coach, […]

No. 156Wednesday, August 29, 1711. ‘… Sed tu simul obligastiPerfidum votis caput, enitescisPulchrior multo …’ Hor. I do not think any thing could make a pleasanter Entertainment, than the History of the reigning Favourites among the Women from Time to Time about this Town: In such an Account we ought to have a faithful Confession […]