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Troubles of the Grotto. Here the Waters that rolled on the other fide fo deep and filent, were much dried up, and it was an eafier Matter for us to wade over.

THE River being croffed, we were received upon the further Bank by our Friends and Acquaintance, whom Comfort had brought out to congratulate our Appearance in the World again. Some of these blamed us for ftaying fo long away from them, others advifed us against all Temptations of going back again; every one was cautious not to renew our Trouble, by asking any Particulars of the Journey; and all concluded, that in a Cafe of fo much melancholy Affliction, we could not have made choice of a fitter Companion than Patience. Here Patience, appearing ferene at her Praises, delivered us over to Comfort. Comfort fmiled at his receiving the Charge; immediately the Sky purpled on that fide to which he turned, and double Day at once broke in upon me.

No. 502.

Monday, October 6..

Melius, pejus, profit, obfit, nil vident nifi quod lubent.

W

Ter.

HEN Men read, they taste the Matter with which they are entertained, according as their own refpective Studies and Inclinations have prepared them, and make their Reflections accordingly. Some perufing Roman Writers, would find in them, whatever the Subject of the Difcourfes were, Parts which implied theGrandeur of that People in their Warfare or their Politicks. As for my part, who am a meer SPECTATOR, I drew this Morning Conclufions of their Eminence in what I think great, to wit, in having worthy Sentiments, from the reading a Comedy of Terence. The Play was the Self-Tormen tor. It is from the Beginning to the End a perfect Picture of human Life, but I did not observe in the whole one Paffage that could raise a Laugh. How well difposed muft that People be, who could be entertained with Sa

tisfaction,

tisfaction by fo fober and polite Mirth? In the firft Scene of the Comedy, when one of the old Men accuses the other of Impertinence for interpofing in his Affairs, he anfwers, I am a Man, and cannot help feeling any Sorrow that can arrive at Man. It is faid, this Sentence was received with an universal Applaufe. There cannot be a greater Argument of the general good Understanding of a People, than a fudden Confent to give their Approbation of a Sentiment which has no Emotion in it. If it were fpoken with ever fo great Skill in the Actor, the Manner of uttering that Sentence could have nothing in it which could ftrike any but People of the greatest Humanity, nay People elegant and skilful in Obfervations upon it. It is poffible he might have laid his Hand on his Breast, and with a winning Infinuation in his Countenance, expreffed to his Neighbour that he was a Man who made his Cafe his own; yet I'll engage a Player in Covent Garden might hit fuch an Attitude a thousand times before he would have been regarded. I have heard that a Minister of State in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth had all manner of Books and Ballads brought to him, of what kind foever, and took great Notice how much they took with the People; upon which he would, and certainly might, very well judge of their prefent Difpofitions, and the mot proper way of applying them according to his own Purpofes. What paffes on the Stage, and the Reception it meets with from the Audience, is a very useful Inftruction of this kind. According to what you may obferve there on our Stage, you fee them often moved so directly against all common Senfe of Humanity, that you would be apt to pronounce us a Nation of Savages. It cannot be called a Miftake of what is pleafant, but the very contrary to it is what most affuredly takes with them. The other

Night an old Woman carried off with a Pain in her Side, with all the Distortions and Anguifh of Countenance which is natural to one in that Condition, was laughed and clapped off the Stage. Terence's Comedy, which I am speak. ing of, is indeed written as if he hoped to please none but fuch as had as good a Tafte as himself. I could not but reflect upon the natural Description of the innocent young Woman made by the Servant to his Mafter. When I came to the House, said he, an old Woman opened the Doar

Door, and I followed her in, because I could by entring upon them unawares better observe what was your Mif trefs's ordinary manner of Spending her Time, the only Way of judging any one's Inclinations and Genius. I found her at her Needle in a Sort of fecond Mourning, which he wore for an Aunt fhe had lately loft. She bad nothing on but what shewed fhe dressed only for herself. Her Hair hung negligently about her Shoulders. She had none of the Arts with which others use to fet themselves off, but had that Negligence of Perfon which is remarkable in those who are careful of their Minds.5. Then he had a Maid who was at Work near her, that was a Slattern, because her Miftrefs was careless; which I take to be another Argument of your Security in her; for the Go-betweens of Women of Intrigue are rewarded too well to be dirty. When you are named, I told her you defired to fee her, he threw down her Work for Joy, covered her Face, and decently hid her Tears.- He must be a very good Actor, and draw Attention rather from his own Character than the Words of the Author, that could gain it among us for this Speech, though fo full of Nature and good Senfe.

THE intolerable Folly and Confidence of Players putting in Words of their own, does in a great measure feed the abfurd Tafte of the Audience. But however that is, it is ordinary for a Cluster of Coxcombs to take up the House to themfelves, and equally infult both the Actors and the Company. Thefe Savages, who want all manner of Regard and Deference to the reft of Mankind, come only to fhew themselves to us, without any other Purpose than to let us know they despise us.

THE Grofs of an Audience is compofed of two Sorts of People, those who know no Pleasure but of the Body, and those who improve or command corporeal Pleasures by the Addition of fine Sentiments of the Mind. At prefent the intelligent Part of the Company are wholly fubdued, by the Infurrections of those who know no Satisfactions but what they have in common with all other Animals.

THIS is the Reason that when a Scene tending to Procreation is acted, you fee the whole Pit in fuch a Chuckle, and old Letchers, with Mouths open, ftare at the loofe Gesticulations on the Stage with shameful Earneftness

wher

when the juftest Pictures of human Life in its calm Dignity, and the propereft Sentiments for the Conduct of it, país by like meer Narration, as conducing only to fomewhat much better which is to come after. I have seen the whole House at fome Times in so proper a Difpofition, that indeed I have trembled for the Boxes, and feared the Entertainment would end in the Representation of the Rape of the Sabines.

I would not be understood in this Talk to argue, that nothing is tolerable on the Stage but what has an immediate Tendency to the Promotion of Virtue. On the contrary, I can allow, provided there is nothing againft the Interests of Virtue, and is not offenfive to Good-manners, that Things of an indifferent Nature may be reprefented. For this Reason I have no Exception to the welldrawn Rufticities in the Country-Wake; and there is fomething fo miraculously pleasant in Dogget's acting the aukward Triumph and comick Sorrow of Hob in different Circumftances, that I fhall not be able to stay away whenever it is acted. All that vexes me is, that the Gallantry of taking the Cudgels for Gloucestershire, with the Pride of Heart in tucking himself up, and taking Aim at his Adverfary, as well as the other's Proteftation in the Humanity of low Romance, that he could not promife the Squire to break Hob's Head, but he would, if he could, do it in Love; then flourifh and begin: I fay, what vexes me is, that fuch excellent Touches as thefe, as well as the Squire's being out of all Patience at Hob's Succefs, and venturing himfelf into the Crowd, are Circumftances hardly taken notice of, and the height of the Jeft is only in the very Point that Heads are broken. I am confident, were there a Scene written, wherein Pinkethman fhould break his Leg by wrestling with Bullock, and Dicky come in to fet it, without one Word faid but what should be according to the exact Rules of Surgery in making this Extenfion, and binding up the Leg, the whole House should be in a Roar of Applause at the diffembled Anguish of the Patient, the Help given by him who threw him down, and the handy Address and arch Looks of the Surgeon. To enumerate the Entrance of Ghofts, the Embattling of Armies, the Noife of Heroes in Love, with a thoufand other Enormities, would be to. tranfgrefs

tranfgrefs the Bounds of this Paper, for which Reafon it is poffible they may have hereafter diftin&t Difcourfes : not forgetting any of the Audience who fhall fet up for Actors, and interrupt the Play on the Stage; and Players who shall prefer the Applaufe of Fools to that of the reasonable Part of the Company. T

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No. 503.

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SSC &

Tuesday, October 7.

Deleo omnes dehinc ex animo Mulieres.

Mr. SPECTATOR,

Y

Ter.

OU have often mention'd with great Vehemence and Indignation the Misbehaviour of People at Church; but I am at prefent to talk to you on that Subject, and complain to you of one, whom at the fame time I know not what to accufe of, except it be looking too well there, and diverting the Eyes of the Congregation to that one Object. However I have this to fay, that she might have stay'd at her own Parifh, and not come to perplex those who are otherwise intent upon their Duty.

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LAST Sunday was seven-night I went into a Church not far from London-Bridge; but I wish I had been con"tented to go to my own Parish, I am fure it had been better for me : 1 fay, I went to Church thither, and got into a Pew very near the Pulpit. I had hardly been ac'commodated with a Seat, before there entered into the Ifle a young Lady in the very Bloom of Youth and Beauty,and dreffed in the moft elegant manner imagina⚫ble. Her Form was fuch, that it engaged the Eyes of the "whole Congregation in an Inftant, and mine among the reft. Tho' we were all thus fixed upon her, fhe was not in the least out of Countenance, or under the leaft diforder, "tho' unattended by any one, and not feeming to know particularly where to place herself. However, she had "not in the least a confident Aspect, but moved on with the moft graceful Modefty, every one making way till The came to a Seat just over-against that in which I was ' placed.

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