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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 […]