VISION

TH

GUARDIAN. N° 66.

IV.

HERE is a fet of mankind, who are wholly employed in the ill-natured office of gathering up a collection of stories that leffen the reputation of others, and fpreading them abroad with a certain air of fatisfaction. Perhaps, indeed, an innocent and unmeaning curiofity, a defire of being informed concerning those we live with, or a willingness to profit by reflection upon the actions of others, may fometimes afford an excufe, or sometimes a defence, for inquifitiveness; but certainly it is beyond all excufe, a tranfgreffion against humanity, to carry the matter further, to tear off the dreffings, as I may fay, from the wounds of a friend, and expofe them to the air in cruel fits of diverfion; and yet we have fomething more to bemoan, an outrage of an higher nature, which mankind is guilty of when they are not content to fpread the ftories of folly, frailty and vice, but even enlarge them, or invent new ones, and blacken characters, that we may appear ridiculous or hateful to one another. From fuch practices as thefe it happens, that fome feel a forrow, and others are agitated with a fpirit of revenge; that fcandals or lies are told, because

another

another has told fuch before; that refentments and quarrels arise, and injuries are given, received, and multiplied, in a scene of vengeance.

All this I have often obferved, with abundance of concern; and having a perfect defire to further the happiness of mankind, I lately fet myself to confider the causes from whence fuch evils arife, and the remedies which may be applied. Whereupon I fhut my eyes to prevent diftraction from outward objects, and a while after shot away, upon an impulfe of thought, into the World of Ideas, where abstracted qualities become visible in fuch appearances as were agreeable to each of their natures.

That part of the country, where I happened to light, was the most noify that I had ever known. The winds whiftled, the leaves ruftled, the brooks rumbled, the birds chattered, the tongues of men were heard, and the echo mingled fomething of every found in its repetition, fo that there was a ftrange confufion and uproar of founds about me. At length, as the noife ftill encreafed, I could difcern a man habited like a herald (and, as I afterwards understood) called Novelty, that came forward, proclaiming a folemn day to be kept at the house of Common Fame. Immediately behind him advanced three nymphs, who had monftrous appearances. The first of thefe was Curiofity, habited like a virgin, and having an hundred ears upon her head to ferve in her enquiries. The fecond of these was Talkativeness, a little better grown; fhe feemed to

be

be like a young wife, and had an hundred tongues to fpread her stories. The third was Cenforiousness, habited like a Widow, and furrounded with an hundred fquinting eyes of a malignant influence, which fo obliquely darted on all around, that it was impoffible to fay which of them had brought in the information fhe boafted of. Thefe, as I was informed, had been very inftrumental in preferving and rearing Common Fame, when upon her birthday fhe was fhuffled into a croud, to efcape the fearch which Truth might have made after her and her parents. Curiofity found her there, Talkativeness conveyed her away, and Cenforioufnefs fo nurfed her up, that in a fhort time fhe grew to a prodigious fize, and obtained an empire over the universe; wherefore the Power, in gratitude for these services, has fince advanced them to her higheft employments. The next who came forward in this proceffion was a light damfel, called Credulity, who carried behind them the lamp, the filver veffel with a fpout, and other inftruments proper for this folemn occafion. She had formerly feen these three together, and conjecturing from the number of their ears, tongues and eyes, that they might be the proper Genii of Attention, Familiar Converfe, and Ocular Demonftration, fhe from that time gave herfelf up to attend them. The laft who followed were some who had clofely muffled themselvs in upper garments, fo that I could not difcern who they were; but just as the foremost of them was come

up,

up, I am glad, fays fhe, calling me by my name, to meet you at this time, ftay close by me, and take a ftrict observation of all that paffes. Her voice was fweet and commanding, I thought I had somewhere heard it; and from her, as I went along, I learned the meaning of every thing which offered.

We now marched forward thro' the Rookery of Rumours, which flew thick and with a terrible din all around us. At length we arrived at the house of Common Fame, where a hecatomb of Reputations was that day to fall for her pleasure. The houfe ftood upon an eminence, having a thousand paffages to it, and a thoufand whispering holes for the conveyance of found. The hall we entered was formed with the art of a mufic-chamber for the improvement of noises. Reft and Silence are banished the place. Stories of different natures wander in light flocks all about, fometimes truths and lies, or fometimes lies themselves clashing against one another. In the middle stood a table painted after the manner of the remoteft Afiatic countries, upon which the lamp, the filver veffel, and cups of a white earth, were planted in order. Then dried herbs were brought, collected for the folemnity in moon-fhine, and water being put to them, there was a greenish liquor made, to which they added the flower of milk, and an extraction from the canes of America, for performing a libation to the infernal Powers of Mischief. After this, Curiofity, retiring to a withdrawing-room, brought forth the

Victims,

Victims, being to appearance a set of small waxen images, which she laid upon the table one after another. Immediately Talkativeness gave each of them the name of fome one, whom for the time they were to reprefent; and Cenforiousness stuck them all about with black pins, ftill pronouncing at every one she stuck, fomething to the prejudice of the perfons reprefented. No fooner were these rites performed, and incantations uttered, but the found of a speaking trumpet was heard in the air, by which they knew the Deity of the place was propitiated and affifting. Upon this the fky grew darker, a ftorm arose, and murmurs, fighs, groans, cries, and the words of grief or refentment were heard within it. Thus the three Sorcereffes difcovered, that they, whose names they had given to the images, were already affected with what was done to them in effigy. The knowledge of this was received with the loudest laughter, and in many congratulatory words they applauded one another's wit and power.

As matters were at this high point of disorder, the muffled lady, whom I attended on, being no longer able to endure fuch barbarous proceedings, threw off her upper garment of reserve, and appeared to be Truth. As foon as fhe had confeffed herfelf prefent, the fpeaking-trumpet ceafed to found, the sky cleared up, the ftorm abated, the noifes which were heard in it ended, the laughter of the company was over, and a ferene light, 'till then unknown to the place, was diffused around it. At