NUMB. 123. TUESDAY, May 21, 1751. Quo femel eft imbuta recens, fervabit odorem HOR What feafon'd firft the veffel, keeps the taste. CREECH. SIR, TH To the RAMBLER. HOUGH I have fo long found myself deluded by projects of honour and distinction, that I often refolve to admit them no more into my heart; yet how determinately foever excluded, they always recover their dominion by force or ftratagem; and whenever, after the shortest relaxation of vigilance, reason and caution return to their charge, they find hope again in poffeffion, with all her train of pleasures dancing about her. Even while I am preparing to write a history of disappointed expectations, I cannot forbear to flatter myself, that you and your readers are impatient for my performance; and that the fons of learning have laid down feveral of your late papers with difcontent, when they found that Myfocapelus had delayed to continue his narrative. But the defire of gratifying the expectations that I have raised, is not the only motive of this relation, which, having once promifed it, I think myfelf no longer at liberty to forbear. For however I may have wished to clear myself from every other adhe-. fion fion of trade, I hope I fhall be always wife enough to retain my punctuality, and amidst all my new arts of politeness, continue to defpife negligence, and deteft falfehood. When the death of my brother had dismissed me from the duties of a fhop, I confidered myself as restored to the rights of my birth, and entitled to the rank and reception which my ancestors obtained. I was, however, embarraffed with many difficulties at my first re-entrance into the world; for my hafte to be a gentleman inclined me to precipitate meafures; and every accident that forced me back towards my old ftation, was confidered by me as an obftruction of my happiness. It was with no common grief and indignation, that I found my former companions ftill daring to claim my notice, and the journeymen and apprentices fometimes pulling me by the fleeve as I was walking in the street, and without any terror of my new fword, which was, notwithstanding, of an uncom mon fize, inviting me to partake of a bottle at the old house, and entertaining me with hiftories of the girls in the neighbourhood. I had always, in my officinal state, been kept in awe by lace and embroidery; and imagined that to fright away these unwelcome familiarities, nothing was neceffary, bur that I should, by fplendor of dress, proclaim my reunion with a higher rank. I therefore fent for my taylor; ordered a fuit with twice the ufual quantity of lace; and that I might not let my perfecutors increase their confidence, by the habit of accofting me, ftaid at home till it was made. 1 This week of confinement I paffed in practifing a forbidding frown, a fmile of condefcenfion, a flight falutation, and an abrupt departure; and in four mornings was able to turn upon my heel, with fo inuch levity and fprightlinefs, that I made no doubt of difcouraging all publick attempts upon my dignity. I therefore iffued forth in my new coat, with a refolution of dazzling intimacy to a fitter diftance; and pleased myself with the timidity and reverence, which I should impress upon all who had hitherto prefumed to harass me with their freedoms. But whatever was the cause, I did not find myself received with any new degree of refpect; thofe whom I intended to drive from me, ventured to advance with their usual phrases of benevolence; and those whofe acquaintance I folicited, grew more fupercilious and referved. I began foon to repent the expence, by which I had procured no advantage, and to fufpect that a fhining dress, like a weighty weapon, has no force in itfelf, but owes all its efficacy to him that wears it. Many were the mortifications and calamities which I was condemned to fuffer in my initiation to politeness. I was fo much tortured by the inceffant civilities of my companions, that I never paffed through that region of the city but in a chair with the curtains drawn; and at laft left my lodgings, and fixed myself in the verge of the court. Here I endeavoured to be thought a gentleman juft returned from his travels, and was pleased to have my landlord believe that I was in fome danger from importunate creditors; but this fcheme was quickly defeated by a formal deputation fent to offer me, though I had now retired from bufinefs, the freedom of my company. 6 I was I was now detected in trade, and therefore refolved to ftay no longer. I hired another apartment, and changed my fervants. Here I lived very happily for three months, and, with fecret fatisfaction, often overheard the family celebrating the greatnefs and felicity of the efquire; though the converfation feldom ended without fome complaint of my covetoufness, or some remark upon my language, or my gait. I now began to venture into the publick walks, and to know the faces of nobles and beauties; but could not observe, without wonder, as I paffed by them, how frequently they were talking of a taylor. I longed, however, to be admitted to conversation, and was fomewhat weary of walking in crowds without a companion, yet continued to come and go with the rest, till a lady whom I endeavoured to protect in a crowded paffage, as fhe was about to step into her chariot, thanked me for my civility, and told me, that, as she had often diftinguished me for my modest and refpectful behaviour, whenever I fet up for myself, I might expect to fee her among my first customers. Here was an end of all my ambulatory projects. I indeed fometimes entered the walks again, but was always blafted by this deftructive lady, whose mischievous generofity recommended me to her acquaintance. Being therefore forced to practise my adfcititious character upon another ftage, I betook myself to a coffee-house frequented by wits, among whom I learned in a fhort time the cant of criticism, and talked fo loudly and volubly of nature, and manners, and fentiment, and diction, and fimilies, and contrafts, and action, and pronunciation, that I was often defired to lead the hifs and clap, and was feared and hated by the players and the poets. Many a fentence have I hiffed, which I did not understand, and many a groan have I uttered, when the ladies were weeping in the boxes. At laft a malignant au→ thor, whose performance I had perfecuted through the nine nights, wrote an epigram upon Tape the cria tick, which drove me from the pit for ever. My defire to be a fine gentleman ftill continued: I therefore, after a fhort suspense, chose a new set of friends at the gaming-table, and was for fome time pleased with the civility and openness with which I found myself treated. I was indeed obliged to play s but being naturally timorous and vigilant, was never surprised into large fums. What might have been the confequence of long familiarity with these plunderers, I had not an opportunity of knowing; for one night the conftables entered and feized us, and I was once more compelled to fink into my former condition, by sending for my old master to attest my character. When I was deliberating to what new qualifications I should aspire, I was fummoned into the country, by an account of my father's death. Here I had hopes of being able to distinguish myself, and to fupport the honour of my family. I therefore bought guns and horfes, and, contrary to the expec tation of the tenants, increased the falary of the huntsman. But when I entered the field, it was foon discovered, that I was not destined to the glories of the chace. I was afraid of thorns in the thicket, and of dirt in the marfh; I fhivered on the brink of a river while the sportsman croffed it, and trembled at the fight of a five-bar gate. When the VOL. VI. Sport |