"Another, who had been summoned to make her Appearance, was excused by the Steward, as well knowing in his Heart, that the good Squire himself had qualified her for the Ram.
"Mrs. _Quick_ having nothing to object against the Indictment, pleaded her Belly. But it was remembred that she made the same Excuse the Year before. Upon which the Steward observ"d, that she might so contrive it, as never to do the Service of the Manor.
"The Widow _Fidget_ being cited into Court, insisted that she had done no more since the Death of her Husband, than what she used to do in his Life-time; and withal desir"d Mr. Steward to consider his own Wife"s Case, if he should chance to die before her.
"The next in order was a Dowager of a very corpulent Make, who would have been excused as not finding any Ram that was able to carry her; upon which the Steward commuted her Punishment, and ordered her to make her Entry upon a black Ox.
"The Widow _Maskwell_, a Woman who had long lived with a most unblemished Character, having turned off her old Chamber-maid in a Pet, was by that revengeful Creature brought in upon the black Ram Nine times the same Day.
"Several Widows of the Neighbourhood, being brought upon their Tryal, they shewed that they did not hold of the Manor, and were discharged accordingly.
"A pretty young Creature who closed the Procession, came ambling in, with so bewitching an Air, that the Steward was observ"d to cast a Sheep"s Eye upon her, and married her within a Month after the Death of his Wife.
"_N. B._ Mrs. _Touchwood_ appeared, according to Summons, but had nothing laid to her Charge; having liv"d irreproachably since the Decease of her Husband, who left her a Widow in the Sixty-ninth Year of her Age."
_I am, SIR_, &c.
[Footnote 1: See note to No. 608.]
[Footnote 2: See Nos. 591, 602, 605, 614, and 625.]
[Footnote 3: Then the 11th, now the 22nd of June, longest day of the year.]
No. 624. Wednesday, November 24, 1714.
"Audire, atque togam jubeo componere, quisquis Ambitione mala, aut argenti pallet amore Quisquis luxuria--"
Hor.
Mankind is divided into two Parts, the Busie and the Idle. The Busie World may be divided into the Virtuous and the Vicious. The Vicious again into the Covetous, the Ambitious, and the Sensual. The idle Part of Mankind are in a State inferior to any one of these. All the other are engaged in the Pursuit of Happiness, though often misplaced, and are therefore more likely to be attentive to such Means, as shall be proposed to them for that End. The Idle, who are neither wise for this World, nor the next, are emphatically called by Dr. _Tillotson_, _Fools at large_. They propose to themselves no End, but run adrift with every Wind. Advice therefore would be but thrown away upon them, since they would scarce take the Pains to read it. I shall not fatigue any of this worthless Tribe with a long Harangue; but will leave them with this short Saying of _Plato_, that _Labour is preferable to Idleness, as Brightness to Rust_.
The Pursuits of the Active Part of Mankind, are either in the Paths of Religion and Virtue; or, on the other Hand, in the Roads to Wealth, Honours or Pleasure. I shall therefore compare the Pursuits of Avarice, Ambition and sensual Delight, with their opposite Virtues; and shall consider which of these Principles engages Men in a Course of the greatest Labour, Suffering and a.s.siduity. Most Men, in their cool Reasonings, are willing to allow that a Course of Virtue will in the End be rewarded the most amply; but represent the Way to it as rugged and narrow. If therefore it can be made appear, that Men struggle through as many Troubles to be miserable, as they do to be happy, my Readers may perhaps be perswaded to be Good, when they find they shall lose nothing by it.
_First_, for Avarice. The Miser is more Industrious than the Saint: The Pains of getting, the Fears of losing, and the Inability of enjoying his Wealth, have been the Mark of Satyr in all Ages. Were his Repentance upon his Neglect of a good Bargain, his Sorrow for being over-reached, his Hope of improving a Sum, and his Fear of falling into Want, directed to their proper Objects; they would make so many different _Christian_ Graces and Virtues. He may apply to himself a great Part of St. _Paul"s_ Catalogue of Sufferings. _In journeying often; in Perils of Water, in Perils of Robbers, in Perils among false Brethren. In Weariness and Painfulness, in Watchings often, in Hunger and Thirst, in Fastings often_,--At how much less Expence might he _lay up to himself Treasures in Heaven_; or if I may, in this Place, be allowed to add the Saying of a great Philosopher, he may _provide such Possessions, as fear neither Arms, nor Men, nor_ Jove _himself_.
In the second Place, if we look upon the Toils of Ambition, in the same Light as we have considered those of Avarice, we shall readily own that far less Trouble is requisite to gain lasting Glory, than the Power and Reputation of a few Years; or, in other Words, we may with more Ease deserve Honour, than obtain it. The Ambitious Man should remember Cardinal _Woolsey"s_ Complaint.
"Had I served G.o.d, with the same Application, wherewith I served my King, he would not have forsaken me in my old Age."
The Cardinal here softens his Ambition by the specious Pretence of _serving his King_: Whereas his Words in the proper Construction, imply, that if instead of being acted by Ambition, he had been acted by Religion, he should have now felt the Comforts of it, when the whole World turned its Back upon him.
_Thirdly,_ Let us compare the Pains of the Sensual, with those of the Virtuous, and see which are heavier in the Balance. It may seem strange, at the first View, that the Men of Pleasure should be advised to change their Course, because they lead a painful Life. Yet when we see them so active and vigilant in quest of Delight; under so many Disquiets, and the Sport of such various Pa.s.sions; let them answer, as they can, if the Pains they undergo, do not outweigh their Enjoyments. The Infidelities on the one Part between the two s.e.xes, and the Caprices on the other, the Debas.e.m.e.nt of Reason, the Pangs of Expectation, the Disappointments in Possession, the Stings of Remorse, the Vanities and Vexations attending even the most refined Delights that make up this Business of Life, render it so silly and uncomfortable, that no Man is thought wise till he hath got over it, or happy, but in proportion as he hath cleared himself from it.
The Sum of all is this. Man is made an active Being. Whether he walks in the Paths of Virtue or Vice, he is sure to meet with many Difficulties to prove his Patience, and excite his Industry. The same if not greater Labour, is required in the Service of Vice and Folly, as of Virtue and Wisdom: And he hath this easie Choice left him, whether with the Strength he is Master of, he will purchase Happiness or Repentance.
No. 625. Friday, November 26, 1714.
"--amores A tenero meditatur Ungui--"
Hor.
The _Love Casuist_ hath referred to me the following Letter of Queries, with his Answers to each Question, for my Approbation. I have accordingly consider"d the several Matters therein contained, and hereby confirm and ratifie his Answers, and require the gentle Querist to conform her self thereunto.
_SIR_,
"I was Thirteen the Ninth of November last, and must now begin to think of settling my self in the World, and so I would humbly beg your Advice, what I must do with Mr. _Fondle_, who makes his Addresses to me. He is a very pretty Man, and hath the blackest Eyes and whitest Teeth you ever saw. Though he is but a younger Brother, he dresses like a Man of Quality, and no Body comes into a Room like him. I know he hath refused great Offers, and if he cannot Marry me, he will never have any Body else. But my Father hath forbid him the House, because he sent me a Copy of Verses; for he is one of the greatest Wits in Town. My eldest Sister, who, with her good Will, would call me _Miss_ as long as I live, must be married before me, they say. She tells them, that Mr. _Fondle_ makes a Fool of me, and will spoil the Child, as she calls me, like a confident thing as she is. In short, I am resolved to marry Mr. _Fondle_, if it be but to spite her. But because I would do nothing that is imprudent, I beg of you to give me your Answers to some Questions I will write down, and desire you to get them printed in the SPECTATOR, and I do not doubt but you will give such Advice, as, I am sure, I shall follow.
"When Mr. _Fondle_ looks upon me for half an Hour together, and calls me _Angel_, is he not in Love?
Answer, No.
"May not I be certain he will be a kind Husband, that has promised me half my Portion in Pin-money, and to keep me a Coach and Six in the Bargain.
No.
"Whether I, who have been acquainted with him this whole Year almost, am not a better Judge of his Merit, than my Father and Mother, who never heard him talk, but at Table?