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132 Works of Richard Steele

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I was this morning walking in the gallery when Sir Roger entered at the end opposite to me, and advancing towards me, said he was glad to meet me among his relations the De Coverleys, and hoped I liked the conversation of so much good company, who were as silent as myself. I knew he […]

Having notified to my good friend Sir Roger that I should set out for London the next day, his horses were ready at the appointed hour in the evening; and attended by one of his grooms, I arrived at the country town at twilight, in order to be ready for the stage-coach the day following. […]

In my first description of the company in which I pass most of my time, it may be remembered that I mentioned a great affliction which my friend Sir Roger had met with in his youth; which was no less than a disappointment in love. It happened this evening that we fell into a very […]

No. 314.Friday, February 29, 1712. Steele. Tandem desine Matrem Tempestiva sequi viro. Hor. Od. 23. Feb. 7, 1711-12. Mr. SPECTATOR, I am a young Man about eighteen Years of Age, and have been in Love with a young Woman of the same Age about this half Year. I go to see her six Days in […]

No. 318. Wednesday, March 5, 1712. Steele. [–non omnia possumus omnes. Virg. [1]] Mr. SPECTATOR, A certain Vice which you have lately attacked, has not yet been considered by you as growing so deep in the Heart of Man, that the Affectation outlives the Practice of it. You must have observed that Men who have […]

No. 328 [1]Monday, March 17, 1712. Steele. Delectata illa urbanitate tam stulta. Petron. Arb. That useful Part of Learning which consists in Emendation, Knowledge of different Readings, and the like, is what in all Ages Persons extremely wise and learned have had in great Veneration. For this reason I cannot but rejoyce at the following […]

No. 320Friday, March 7, 1712. Steele. [–non pronuba Juno,Non Hymenaeus adest, non illi Gratia lecto,Eumenides stravere torum. Ovid. [1]] Mr. SPECTATOR, You have given many Hints in your Papers to the Disadvantage of Persons of your own Sex, who lay Plots upon Women. Among other hard Words you have published the Term Male-Coquets, and been […]

No. 324Wednesday, March 12, 1712. Steele. [O curvae in terris animae, et coelestium inanes. Pers [1].] Mr. SPECTATOR, The Materials you have collected together towards a general History of Clubs, make so bright a Part of your Speculations, that I think it is but a Justice we all owe the learned World to furnish you […]

No. 322Monday, March 10, 1712. Steele. Ad humum maerore gravi deducit et angit. Hor. It is often said, after a Man has heard a Story with extraordinary Circumstances, It is a very good one if it be true: But as for the following Relation, I should be glad were I sure it were false. It […]

No. 326Friday, March 14, 1712. Steele. Inclusam Danaen turris ahenea Robustaeque fores, et vigilum canum Tristes exubiae, munierant satis Nocturnis ab adulteris; Si non– Hor. Mr. SPECTATOR, Your Correspondents Letter relating to Fortune-Hunters, and your subsequent Discourse upon it, have given me Encouragement to send you a State of my Case, by which you will […]

No. 332Friday, March 21, 1712. Steele. Minus aptus acutis Naribus horum hominum. Hor. Dear Short-Face, In your Speculation of Wednesday last, you have given us some Account of that worthy Society of Brutes the Mohocks; wherein you have particularly specify’d the ingenious Performance of the Lion-Tippers, the Dancing-Masters, and the Tumblers: But as you acknowledge […]

No. 330Wednesday, March 19, 1712. Steele. Maxima debetur pueris reverentia. Juv. The following Letters, written by two very considerate Correspondents, both under twenty Years of Age, are very good Arguments of the Necessity of taking into Consideration the many Incidents which affect the Education of Youth. SIR, I have long expected, that in the Course […]

No. 336Wednesday, March 26, 1712. Steele. –Clament periisse pudorem Cuncti pene patres, ea cum reprehendere coner, Quae gravis AEsopus, quae doctus Roscius egit: Vel quia nil rectum, nisi quod placuit sibi, ducunt; Vel quia turpe putant parere minoribus, et, quae Imberbes didicere, senes perdenda fateri. Hor. Mr. SPECTATOR, As you are the daily Endeavourer to […]

No. 334Monday, March 24, 1712. Steele Voluisti in suo Genere, unumquemque nostrum quasi quendam esse Roscium, dixistique non tam ea quae recta essent probari, quam quae prava sunt fastidiis adhaerescere. Cicero de Gestu. It is very natural to take for our whole Lives a light Impression of a thing which at first fell into Contempt […]

No. 340Monday, March 31, 1712. Steele. Quis novus hic nostris successit sedibus Hospes? Quem sese Ore ferens! quam forti Pectore et Armis! Virg. I take it to be the highest Instance of a noble Mind, to bear great Qualities without discovering in a Man’s Behaviour any Consciousness that he is superior to the rest of […]

No. 342Wednesday, April 2, 1712. Steele. Justitiae partes sunt non violare homines: Verecundiae non offendere. Tull. As Regard to Decency is a great Rule of Life in general, but more especially to be consulted by the Female World, I cannot overlook the following Letter which describes an egregious Offender. Mr. SPECTATOR, I was this Day […]

No. 346 Monday, April 7, 1712. Steele. Consuetudinem benignitatis largitioni Munerum longe antepono. Haec est Gravium hominum atque Magnorum; Illa quasi assentatorum populi, multitudinis levitatem voluptate quasi titillantium. Tull. When we consider the Offices of humane Life, there is, methinks, something in what we ordinarily call Generosity, which when carefully examined, seems to flow rather […]

No. 344Friday, April 4, 1712. Steele. In solo vivendi causa palato est. Juv. Mr. SPECTATOR, I think it has not yet fallen into your Way to discourse on little Ambition, or the many whimsical Ways Men fall into, to distinguish themselves among their Acquaintance: Such Observations, well pursued, would make a pretty History of low […]

No. 350Friday, April 11, 1712. Steele. Ea animi elatio quae cernitur in periculis, si Justitia vacat pugnatque pro suis commodis, in vitio est. Tull. CAPTAIN SENTREY was last Night at the Club, and produced a Letter from Ipswich, which his Correspondent desired him to communicate to his Friend the SPECTATOR. It contained an Account of […]

No. 348Wednesday, April 9, 1712. Steele. Invidiam placare paras virtute relicta? Hor. Mr. SPECTATOR, I have not seen you lately at any of the Places where I visit, so that I am afraid you are wholly unacquainted with what passes among my part of the World, who are, tho I say it, without Controversy, the […]

No. 354Wednesday, April 16, 1712. Steele. –Cum magnis virtutibus affers Grande supercilium– Juv. Mr. SPECTATOR, You have in some of your Discourses describ’d most sorts of Women in their distinct and proper Classes, as the Ape, the Coquet, and many others; but I think you have never yet said anything of a Devotee. A Devotee […]

No. 352Monday, April 14, 1712. Steele. Si ad honestatem nati sumus, ea aut sola expetenda est, aut certe omni pondere gravior est habenda quam reliqua omnia. Tull. Will. Honeycomb was complaining to me yesterday, that the Conversation of the Town is so altered of late Years, that a fine Gentleman is at a loss for […]

No. 358Monday, April 21, 1702. Steele. Desipere in loco. Hor. Charles Lillie attended me the other day, and made me a Present of a large Sheet of Paper, on which is delineated a Pavement of Mosaick Work, lately discovered at Stunsfield near Woodstock. [1] A Person who has so much the Gift of Speech as […]

No. 356Friday, [1] April 18, 1712. Steele. Aptissima quaeque dabunt Dii, Charior est illis homo quam sibi. Juv. It is owing to Pride, and a secret Affectation of a certain Self-Existence, that the noblest Motive for Action that ever was proposed to Man, is not acknowledged the Glory and Happiness of their Being. The Heart […]

No. 362Friday, April 25, 1712. Steele. Laudibus arguitur Vini vinosus– Hor. Temple, Apr. 24. Mr. SPECTATOR, Several of my Friends were this Morning got together over a Dish of Tea in very good Health, though we had celebrated Yesterday with more Glasses than we could have dispensed with, had we not been beholden to Brooke […]

No. 360Wednesday, April 23, 1712. Steele. –De paupertate tacentes Plus poscente ferent. Hor. I have nothing to do with the Business of this Day, any further than affixing the piece of Latin on the Head of my Paper; which I think a Motto not unsuitable, since if Silence of our Poverty is a Recommendation, still […]

No. 366Wednesday, April 30, 1712. Steele. ‘Pone me pigris ubi nulla campisArbor aestiva recreatur aura,Dulce ridentem Lalagen amabo,Dulce loquentem.’ Hor. There are such wild Inconsistencies in the Thoughts of a Man in love, that I have often reflected there can be no reason for allowing him more Liberty than others possessed with Frenzy, but that […]

No. 364Monday, April 28, 1712. Steele. ‘[–Navibus [1]] atque Quadrigis petimus bene vivere.’ Hor. Mr. SPECTATOR, [2] A Lady of my Acquaintance, for whom I have too much Respect to be easy while she is doing an indiscreet Action, has given occasion to this Trouble: She is a Widow, to whom the Indulgence of a […]

No. 372Wednesday, May 7, 1712. Steele. ‘Pudet haec opprobria nobis [Et dici potuisse et non potuisse refelli.]’ Ovid. May 6, 1712. Mr. SPECTATOR, I am Sexton of the Parish of Covent-Garden, and complained to you some time ago, that as I was tolling in to Prayers at Eleven in the Morning, Crowds of People of […]

No. 370Monday, May 5, 1712. Steele. ‘Totus Mundus agit Histrionem.’ Many of my fair Readers, as well as very gay and well-received Persons of the other Sex, are extremely perplexed at the Latin Sentences at the Head of my Speculations; I do not know whether I ought not to indulge them with Translations of each […]

No. 368Friday, May 2, 1712. Steele. ‘Nos decebatLugere ubi esset aliquis in lucem editusHumanae vitae varia reputantes mala;At qui labores morte finisset gravesOmnes amices laude et laetitia exequi.’ Eurip. apud Tull. As the Spectator is in a Kind a Paper of News from the natural World, as others are from the busy and politick Part […]

No. 376Monday, May 12, 1712. Steele. ‘–Pavone ex Pythagoreo–‘ Persius. Mr. SPECTATOR, I have observed that the Officer you some time ago appointed as Inspector of Signs, has not done his Duty so well as to give you an Account of very many strange Occurrences in the publick Streets, which are worthy of, but have […]

No. 374Friday, May 9, 1712. Steele. ‘Nil actum reputans si quid superesset agendum.’ Luc. There is a Fault, which, tho’ common, wants a Name. It is the very contrary to Procrastination: As we lose the present Hour by delaying from Day to Day to execute what we ought to do immediately; so most of us […]

No. 380 [from The Spectator]Friday, May 16, 1712. Steele. ‘Rivalem patienter habe–‘ Ovid. Thursday, May 8, 1712. SIR, The Character you have in the World of being the Lady’s Philosopher, and the pretty Advice I have seen you give to others in your Papers, make me address my self to you in this abrupt Manner, […]

No. 382Monday, May 19, 1712. Steele. ‘Habes confitentem reum.’ Tull. I ought not to have neglected a Request of one of my Correspondents so long as I have; but I dare say I have given him time to add Practice to Profession. He sent me some time ago a Bottle or two of excellent Wine […]

No. 386Friday, May 23, 1712. Steele. ‘Cum Tristibus severe, cum Remissis jucunde, cum Senibus graviter, cum Juventute comiter vivere.’ Tull. The piece of Latin on the Head of this Paper is part of a Characterextremely vicious, but I have set down no more than may fall in with theRules of Justice and Honour. Cicero spoke […]

No. 384Wednesday, May 21, 1712. Steele. Hague, May 24. N. S. The same Republican Hands, who have so often since the Chevalier de St. George’s Recovery killed him in our publick Prints, have now reduced the young Dauphin of France to that desperate Condition of Weakness, and Death it self, that it is hard to […]

No. 390Wednesday, May 28, 1712. Steele. ‘Non pudendo sed non faciendo id quod non decet impudentiae nomen effugere debemus.’ Tull. Many are the Epistles I receive from Ladies extremely afflicted that they lie under the Observation of scandalous People, who love to defame their Neighbours, and make the unjustest Interpretation of innocent and indifferent Actions. […]

No. 394Monday, June 2, 1712. Steele. ‘Bene colligitur haec Pueris et Mulierculis et Servis et Servorum simillimis Liberis esse grata. Gravi vero homini et ea quae fiunt Judicio certo ponderanti probari posse nullo modo.’ Tull. I have been considering the little and frivolous things which give Men Accesses to one another, and Power with each […]

No. 392Friday, May 30, 1712. Steele. ‘Per Ambages et Ministeria DeorumPraecipitandus est liber Spiritus.’ Pet. To the SPECTATOR. The Transformation of Fidelio into a Looking-Glass. I was lately at a Tea-Table, where some young Ladies entertained the Company with a Relation of a Coquet in the Neighbourhood, who had been discovered practising before her Glass. […]

No. 398Friday, June 6, 1712. Steele. ‘Insanire pares certa ratione modoque.’ Hor. Cynthio and Flavia are Persons of Distinction in this Town, who have been Lovers these ten Months last past, and writ to each other for Gallantry Sake, under those feigned Names; Mr. Such a one and Mrs. Such a one not being capable […]

No. 402Wednesday, June 11, 1712. Steele. [–quae Spectator tradit sibi– Hor. [1]] Were I to publish all the Advertisements I receive from different Hands, and Persons of different Circumstances and Quality, the very Mention of them, without Reflections on the several Subjects, would raise all the Passions which can be felt by human Mind[s], As […]

No. 400.Monday, June 9, 1712. Steele. ‘–Latet Anguis in Herba.’ Virg. It should, methinks, preserve Modesty and its Interests in the World, that the Transgression of it always creates Offence; and the very Purposes of Wantonness are defeated by a Carriage which has in it so much Boldness, as to intimate that Fear and Reluctance […]

No. 406Monday, June 16, 1712. Steele. ‘Haec studia Adolescentiam alunt, Senectutem oblectant, secundas res ornant, adversis solatium et perfugium praebet delectant domi, non impediunt foris; Pernoctant nobiscum, peregrinantur, rusticantur.’ Tull. The following Letters bear a pleasing Image of the Joys and Satisfactions of private Life. The first is from a Gentleman to a Friend, for […]

No. 4Monday, March 5, 1711. Steele. … Egregii Mortalem altique silenti! Hor. An Author, when he first appears in the World, is very apt to believe it has nothing to think of but his Performances. With a good Share of this Vanity in my Heart, I made it my Business these three Days to listen […]

No. 2Friday, March 2, 1711. Steele. … Ast Alii sex Et plures uno conclamant ore. Juv. The first of our Society is a Gentleman of Worcestershire, of antient Descent, a Baronet, his Name Sir ROGER DE COVERLY. [1] His great Grandfather was Inventor of that famous Country-Dance which is call’d after him. All who know […]

No. 6Wednesday, March 7, 1711. Steele. ‘Credebant hoc grande Nefas, et Morte piandum,Si Juvenis Vetulo non assurrexerat …’ Juv. I know no Evil under the Sun so great as the Abuse of the Understanding, and yet there is no one Vice more common. It has diffus’d itself through both Sexes, and all Qualities of Mankind; […]

No. 14Friday, March 16, 1711. Steele. … Teque his, Infelix, exue monstris. Ovid. I was reflecting this Morning upon the Spirit and Humour of the publick Diversions Five and twenty Years ago, and those of the present Time; and lamented to my self, that though in those Days they neglected their Morality, they kept up […]

No. 11Tuesday, March 13, 1711. Steele. ‘Dat veniam corvis, vexat censura columbas.’ Juv. Arietta is visited by all Persons of both Sexes, who may have any Pretence to Wit and Gallantry. She is in that time of Life which is neither affected with the Follies of Youth or Infirmities of Age; and her Conversation is […]

No. 17Tuesday, March 20, 1711. Steele. ‘… Tetrum ante Omnia vultum.’ Juv. Since our Persons are not of our own Making, when they are such as appear Defective or Uncomely, it is, methinks, an honest and laudable Fortitude to dare to be Ugly; at least to keep our selves from being abashed with a Consciousness […]

No. 22Monday, March 26, 1711. Steele. ‘Quodcunque ostendis mihi sic incredulus odi.’ Hor. The word Spectator being most usually understood as one of the Audience at Publick Representations in our Theatres, I seldom fail of many Letters relating to Plays and Operas. But, indeed, there are such monstrous things done in both, that if one […]

No. 20Friday, March 23, 1711. Steele. [Greek: Kynos ommat’ ech_on …] Hom. Among the other hardy Undertakings which I have proposed to my self, that of the Correction of Impudence is what I have very much at Heart. This in a particular Manner is my Province as SPECTATOR; for it is generally an Offence committed […]

No. 19Thursday, March 22, 1711. Steele. ‘Dii benefecerunt, inopis me quodque pusilliFinxerunt animi, rari et perpauca loquentis.’ Hor. Observing one Person behold another, who was an utter Stranger to him, with a Cast of his Eye which, methought, expressed an Emotion of Heart very different from what could be raised by an Object so agreeable […]

No. 24Wednesday, March 28, 1711. Steele. Accurrit quidam notus mihi nomine tantum;Arreptaque manu, Quid agis dulcissime rerum? Hor. There are in this Town a great Number of insignificant People, who are by no means fit for the better sort of Conversation, and yet have an impertinent Ambition of appearing with those to whom they are […]

No. 30. [1]Wednesday, April 4, 1711. Steele. ‘Si, Mimnermus uti censet, sine amore FocisqueNil est Jucundum; vivas in amore Jocisque.’ Hor. One common Calamity makes Men extremely affect each other, tho’ they differ in every other Particular. The Passion of Love is the most general Concern among Men; and I am glad to hear by […]

No. 27Saturday, March 31, 1711. Steele. ‘Ut nox longa, quibus Mentitur arnica, diesqueLonga videtur opus debentibus, ut piger AnnusPupillis, quos dura premit Custodia matrum,Sic mihi Tarda fluunt ingrataque Tempora, quae spemConsiliumque morantur agendi Gnaviter, id quodAEque pauperibus prodest, Locupletibus aque,AEque neglectum pueris senibusque nocebit.’ Hor. There is scarce a thinking Man in the World, who […]

No. 33Saturday, April 7, 1711. Steele. ‘Fervidus tecum Puer, et solutisGratiae zonis, properentque Nymphae,Et parum comis sine te Juventas,Mercuriusque.’ Hor. ‘ad Venerem.’ A friend of mine has two Daughters, whom I will call Laetitia and Daphne; The Former is one of the Greatest Beauties of the Age in which she lives, the Latter no way […]

No. 32Friday, April 6, 1711. Steele. ‘Nil illi larva aut tragicis opus esse Cothurnis.’ Hor. The late Discourse concerning the Statutes of the Ugly-Club, having been so well received at Oxford, that, contrary to the strict Rules of the Society, they have been so partial as to take my own Testimonial, and admit me into […]

No. 36Wednesday, April 11, 1711. Steele. ‘… Immania monstraPerferimus …’ Virg. I shall not put my self to any further Pains for this Day’s Entertainment, than barely to publish the Letters and Titles of Petitions from the Play-house, with the Minutes I have made upon the Latter for my Conduct in relation to them. Drury-Lane, […]

No. 38Friday, April 13, 1711. Steele. ‘Cupias non placuisse nimis.’ Mart. A Late Conversation which I fell into, gave me an Opportunity of observing a great deal of Beauty in a very handsome Woman, and as much Wit in an ingenious Man, turned into Deformity in the one, and Absurdity in the other, by the […]

No. 43Thursday, April 19, 1711. Steele. ‘Ha tibi erunt artes; pacisque imponere morem,Parcere Subjectis, et debellare Superbos.’ Virg. There are Crowds of Men, whose great Misfortune it is that they were not bound to Mechanick Arts or Trades; it being absolutely necessary for them to be led by some continual Task or Employment. These are […]

No. 49Thursday, April 26, 1711. Steele. … Hominem pagina nostra sapit. Mart. It is very natural for a Man who is not turned for Mirthful Meetings of Men, or Assemblies of the fair Sex, to delight in that sort of Conversation which we find in Coffee-houses. Here a Man, of my Temper, is in his […]

No. 048Wednesday, April 25, 1711. Steele. … Per multas aditum sibi saepe figuras Repperit … Ovid My Correspondents take it ill if I do not, from Time to Time let them know I have received their Letters. The most effectual Way will be to publish some of them that are upon important Subjects; which I […]

No. 54Wednesday, May 2, 1711. ‘… Sirenua nos exercet inertia.’ Hor. The following Letter being the first that I have received from the learned University of Cambridge, I could not but do my self the Honour of publishing it. It gives an Account of a new Sect of Philosophers which has arose in that famous […]

No. 53Tuesday, May 1, 1711. … Aliquando bonus dormitat Homerus. Hor. My Correspondents grow so numerous, that I cannot avoid frequently inserting their Applications to me. Mr SPECTATOR, ‘I am glad I can inform you, that your Endeavours to adorn that Sex, which is the fairest Part of the visible Creation, are well received, and […]

No. 52Monday, April 30, 1711. ‘Omnes ut Tecum meritis pro Talibus annos Exigat, et pulchra faciat Te prole parentem.’ Virg. An ingenious Correspondent, like a sprightly Wife, will always have the last Word. I did not think my last Letter to the deformed Fraternity would have occasioned any Answer, especially since I had promised them […]

No. 51Saturday, April 28, 1711. ‘Torquet ab Obscenis jam nunc Sermonibus Aurem.’ Hor. Mr. Spectator, ‘My Fortune, Quality, and Person are such as render me as Conspicuous as any Young Woman in Town. It is in my Power to enjoy it in all its Vanities, but I have, from a very careful Education, contracted a […]

No. 66Wednesday, May 16, 1711. ‘Motus doceri gaudet IonicosMatura Virgo, et fingitur artubusJam nunc, et incestos amoresDe Tenero meditatur Ungui.’ Hor. The two following Letters are upon a Subject of very great Importance, tho’ expressed without an Air of Gravity. To the SPECTATOR. SIR, I Take the Freedom of asking your Advice in behalf of […]

No. 65Tuesday, May 15, 1711. ‘… Demetri teque Tigelli Discipularum inter jubeo plorare cathedras.’ Hor. After having at large explained what Wit is, and described the false Appearances of it, all that Labour seems but an useless Enquiry, without some Time be spent in considering the Application of it. The Seat of Wit, when one […]

No. 64Monday, May 14, 1711. ‘… Hic vivimus Ambitiosa Paupertate omnes …’ Juv. The most improper things we commit in the Conduct of our Lives, we are led into by the Force of Fashion. Instances might be given, in which a prevailing Custom makes us act against the Rules of Nature, Law and common Sense: […]

No. 75Saturday, May 26, 1711. ‘Omnis Aristippum decuit color, et status, et res.’ Hor. It was with some Mortification that I suffered the Raillery of a Fine Lady of my Acquaintance, for calling, in one of my Papers, Dorimant a Clown. She was so unmerciful as to take Advantage of my invincible Taciturnity, and on […]

No. 71Tuesday, May 22, 1711. ‘… Scribere jussit Amor.’ Ovid. The entire Conquest of our Passions is so difficult a Work, that they who despair of it should think of a less difficult Task, and only attempt to Regulate them. But there is a third thing which may contribute not only to the Ease, but […]

No. 79Thursday, May 31, 1711. ‘Oderunt peccare boni virtutis amore.’ Hor. I have received very many Letters of late from my Female Correspondents, most of whom are very angry with me for Abridging their Pleasures, and looking severely upon Things, in themselves, indifferent. But I think they are extremely Unjust to me in this Imputation: […]

No. 78Wednesday, May 30, 1711. Cum Talis sis, Utinam noster esses! The following Letters are so pleasant, that I doubt not but the Reader will be as much diverted with them as I was. I have nothing to do in this Day’s Entertainment, but taking the Sentence from the End of the Cambridge Letter, and […]

No. 76Monday, May 28, 1711. ‘Ut tu Fortunam, sic nos te, Celse, feremus.’ Hor. There is nothing so common as to find a Man whom in the general Observations of his Carriage you take to be of an uniform Temper, subject to such unaccountable Starts of Humour and Passion, that he is as much unlike […]

No. 84 Wednesday, June 6, 1711. ‘… Quis talia fando Myrmidonum Dolopumve aut duri miles Ulyssei Temperet a Lachrymis?’ Virg. Looking over the old Manuscript wherein the private Actions of Pharamond [1] are set down by way of Table-Book. I found many things which gave me great Delight; and as human Life turns upon the […]

No. 082Monday, June 4, 1711. ‘… Caput domina venate sub hasta.’ Juv. Passing under Ludgate [1] the other Day, I heard a Voice bawling for Charity, which I thought I had somewhere heard before. Coming near to the Grate, the Prisoner called me by my Name, and desired I would throw something into the Box: […]

No. 80Friday, June 1, 1711. ‘Coelum non animum mutant qui trans mare currunt.’ Hor. In the Year 1688, and on the same Day of that Year, were born in Cheapside, London, two Females of exquisite Feature and Shape; the one we shall call Brunetta, the other Phillis. A close Intimacy between their Parents made each […]

No. 088Monday, June 11, 1711. ‘Quid Domini facient, audent cum tulia Fures?’ Virg. May 30, 1711. Mr. SPECTATOR, I have no small Value for your Endeavours to lay before the World what may escape their Observation, and yet highly conduces to their Service. You have, I think, succeeded very well on many Subjects; and seem […]

No. 87Saturday, June 9, 1711. ‘… Nimium ne crede colori.’ Virg. It has been the Purpose of several of my Speculations to bring People to an unconcerned Behaviour, with relation to their Persons, whether beautiful or defective. As the Secrets of the Ugly Club were exposed to the Publick, that Men might see there were […]

No 95Tuesday, June 19, 1711. Curae Leves loquuntur, Ingentes Stupent. [1] Having read the two following Letters with much Pleasure, I cannot but think the good Sense of them will be as agreeable to the Town as any thing I could say either on the Topicks they treat of, or any other. They both allude […]

No. 91Thursday, June 14, 1711. ‘In furias ignemque ruunt, Amor omnibus Idem.’ Virg. Tho’ the Subject I am now going upon would be much more properly the Foundation of a Comedy, I cannot forbear inserting the Circumstances which pleased me in the Account a young Lady gave me of the Loves of a Family in […]

No. 97Thursday, June 21, 1711. ‘Projecere animas.’ Virg. Among the loose Papers which I have frequently spoken of heretofore, I find a Conversation between Pharamond and Eucrate upon the Subject of Duels, and the Copy of an Edict issued in Consequence of that Discourse. Eucrate argued, that nothing but the most severe and vindictive Punishments, […]

No. 96Wednesday, June 20, 1711. … AmicumMancipium domino, et frugi … Hor. Mr. SPECTATOR, I have frequently read your Discourse upon Servants, and, as I am one my self, have been much offended that in that Variety of Forms wherein you considered the Bad, you found no Place to mention the Good. There is however […]

No. 104.Friday, June 29, 1711. ‘… Qualis equos Threissa fatigat Harpalyce …’ Virg. It would be a noble Improvement, or rather a Recovery of what we call good Breeding, if nothing were to pass amongst us for agreeable which was the least Transgression against that Rule of Life called Decorum, or a Regard to Decency. […]

No. 103.Thursday, June 28, 1711. ‘… Sibi quivis Speret idem frusta sudet frustraque laboret Ausus idem …’ Hor. My Friend the Divine having been used with Words of Complaisance (which he thinks could be properly applied to no one living, and I think could be only spoken of him, and that in his Absence) was […]

No. 100Monday, June 25, 1711. ‘Nil ego contulerim jucundo sanus amico.’ Hor. A man advanced in Years that thinks fit to look back upon his former Life, and calls that only Life which was passed with Satisfaction and Enjoyment, excluding all Parts which were not pleasant to him, will find himself very young, if not […]

No. 107Tuesday, July 3, 1711. ‘AEsopo ingentem statuam posuere Attici, Servumque collocarunt AEterna in Basi, Patere honoris scirent ut Cuncti viam.’ Phaed. The Reception, manner of Attendance, undisturbed Freedom and Quiet, which I meet with here in the Country, has confirm’d me in the Opinion I always had, that the general Corruption of Manners in […]

No. 118.Monday, July 16, 1711. ‘… Haret lateri lethalis arundo.’ Virg. This agreeable Seat is surrounded with so many pleasing Walks, which are struck out of a Wood, in the midst of which the House stands, that one can hardly ever be weary of rambling from one Labyrinth of Delight to another. To one used […]

No. 114.Wednesday, July 11, 1711. ‘… Paupertatis pudor et fuga …’ Hor. Oeconomy in our Affairs has the same Effect upon our Fortunes which Good Breeding has upon our Conversations. There is a pretending Behaviour in both Cases, which, instead of making Men esteemed, renders them both miserable and contemptible. We had Yesterday at SIR […]

No. 133Thursday, August 2, 1711. ‘Quis Desiderio sit pudor aut modus Tam Chari capitis?’ Hor. There is a sort of Delight, which is alternately mixed with Terror and Sorrow, in the Contemplation of Death. The Soul has its Curiosity more than ordinarily awakened, when it turns its Thoughts upon the Conduct of such who have […]

No. 137 Tuesday, August 7, 1711. At haec etiam Servis semper libera fuerunt, timerent, gauderent, dolerent, suo potius quam alterius arbitrio. Tull. Epist. It is no small Concern to me, that I find so many Complaints from that Part of Mankind whose Portion it is to live in Servitude, that those whom they depend upon […]

No. 136Monday, August 6, 1711. ‘… Parthis mendacior …’ Hor. According to the Request of this strange Fellow, I shall Print the following Letter. Mr. SPECTATOR, I shall without any manner of Preface or Apology acquaint you, that I am, and ever have been from my Youth upward, one of the greatest Liars this Island […]

No. 134Friday, August 3, 1711. ‘… Opiferque per Orbem Dicor …’ Ovid. During my Absence in the Country, several Packets have been left for me, which were not forwarded to me, because I was expected every Day in Town. The Author of the following Letter, dated from Tower-Hill, having sometimes been entertained with some Learned […]

No. 141Saturday, August 11, 1711. ‘… Migravit ab Aure voluptas Omnis …’ Hor. In the present Emptiness of the Town, I have several Applications from the lower Part of the Players, to admit Suffering to pass for Acting. They in very obliging Terms desire me to let a Fall on the Ground, a Stumble, or […]

No. 140Friday, August 10, 1711. ‘Animum curis nunc huc nunc dividit illuc.’ Virg. When I acquaint my Reader, that I have many other Letters not yet acknowledged, I believe he will own, what I have a mind he should believe, that I have no small Charge upon me, but am a Person of some Consequence […]

No. 139Thursday, August 9, 1711. Vera Gloria radices agit, atque etiam propagatur: Ficta omnia celeriter, tanquam flosculi, decidunt, nec simulatum potest quidquam esse diuturnum. Tull. Of all the Affections which attend Human Life, the Love of Glory is the most Ardent. According as this is Cultivated in Princes, it produces the greatest Good or the […]

No. 138Wednesday, August 8, 1711. ‘Utitur in re non Dubia testibus non necessariis.’ Tull. One meets now and then with Persons who are extreamly learned and knotty in Expounding clear Cases. Tully [1] tells us of an Author that spent some Pages to prove that Generals could not perform the great Enterprizes which have made […]

No. 145.Thursday, August 16, 1711. ‘Stultitiam patiuntur opes …’ Hor. If the following Enormities are not amended upon the first Mention, I desire further Notice from my Correspondents. Mr. SPECTATOR, ‘I am obliged to you for your Discourse the other Day upon frivolous Disputants, who with great Warmth, and Enumeration of many Circumstances and Authorities, […]

No. 144Wednesday, August 15, 1711. ‘… Noris quam elegans formarum Spectator siem.’ Ter. Beauty has been the Delight and Torment of the World ever since it began. The Philosophers have felt its Influence so sensibly, that almost every one of them has left us some Saying or other, which has intimated that he too well […]

No. 143Tuesday, August 14, 1711. ‘Non est vivere sed valere Vita.’ Martial. It is an unreasonable thing some Men expect of their Acquaintance. They are ever complaining that they are out of Order, or Displeased, or they know not how, and are so far from letting that be a Reason for retiring to their own […]

No. 142 Monday, August 13, 1711. ‘… Irrupta tenet Copula …’ Hor. The following Letters being Genuine, [1] and the Images of a Worthy Passion, I am willing to give the old Lady’s Admonition to my self, and the Representation of her own Happiness, a Place in my Writings. August 9, 1711. Mr. SPECTATOR, ‘I […]

No. 149 Tuesday, August 21, 1711. ‘Cui in manu sit quem esse dementem velit, Quem sapere, quem sanari, quem in morbum injici, Quem contra amari, quem accersiri, quem expeti.’ Caecil. apud Tull. The following Letter and my Answer shall take up the present Speculation. Mr. SPECTATOR, ‘I am the young Widow of a Country Gentleman […]

No. 148Monday, August 20, 1711 ‘Exempta juvat spinis e pluribus una.’ Hor. My Correspondents assure me that the Enormities which they lately complained of, and I published an Account of, are so far from being amended, that new Evils arise every Day to interrupt their Conversation, in Contempt of my Reproofs. My Friend who writes […]

No. 147Saturday, August 18, 1711. ‘Pronuntiatio est Vocis et Vultus et Gestus moderatio cum venustate.’ Tull. Mr. SPECTATOR, The well Reading of the Common Prayer is of so great Importance, and so much neglected, that I take the Liberty to offer to your Consideration some Particulars on that Subject: And what more worthy your Observation […]

No. 146Friday, August 17, 1711. ‘Nemo Vir Magnus sine aliquo Afflatu divino unquam fuit.’ Tull. We know the highest Pleasure our Minds are capable of enjoying with Composure, when we read Sublime Thoughts communicated to us by Men of great Genius and Eloquence. Such is the Entertainment we meet with in the Philosophick Parts of […]

No. 154 Monday, August 27, 1711. ‘Nemo repente fuit turpissimus …’ Juv. Mr. SPECTATOR, ‘You are frequent in the mention of Matters which concern the feminine World, and take upon you to be very severe against Men upon all those Occasions: But all this while I am afraid you have been very little conversant with […]

No. 153 Saturday, August 25, 1711. ‘Habet natura ut aliarum omnium rerum sic vivendi modum; senectus autem peractio AEtatis est tanquam Fabulae. Cujus defatigationem fugere debemus, praesertim adjuncta Satietate.’ Tull. ‘de Senec.’ Of all the impertinent Wishes which we hear expressed in Conversation, there is not one more unworthy a Gentleman or a Man of […]

No. 152 Friday, August 24, 1711. [Greek (transliterated): Ohiae per phyll_on geneae toiaede kai andr_on]. Hom. ‘Il.’ 6, v. 146. There is no sort of People whose Conversation is so pleasant as that of military Men, who derive their Courage and Magnanimity from Thought and Reflection. The many Adventures which attend their Way of Life […]

No. 151 Thursday, August 23, 1711. ‘Maximas Virtutes jacere omnes necesse est Voluptate dominante.’ Tull. ‘de Fin.’ I Know no one Character that gives Reason a greater Shock, at the same Time that it presents a good ridiculous Image to the Imagination, than that of a Man of Wit and Pleasure about the Town. This […]

No. 158Friday, August 31, 1711. ‘Nos hoec novimus esse nihil.’ Martial. Out of a firm Regard to Impartiality, I print these Letters, let them make for me or not. Mr. SPECTATOR, I have observed through the whole Course of your Rhapsodies, (as you once very well called them) you are very industrious to overthrow all […]

No. 157 Thursday, August 30, 1711. ‘… Genius natale comes qui temperat astrumNaturae Deus humanae Mortalis in unumQuodque Caput …’ Hor. I am very much at a loss to express by any Word that occurs to me in our Language that which is understood by Indoles in Latin. The natural Disposition to any Particular Art, […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 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 […]

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 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 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

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. […]

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 […]

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; […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]