Non tamen intus Digna geri promes in scenam: multaque tolles HOR. Ars. Poet. v. 182. Yet there are things improper for a scene, I should therefore, in this particular, recommend to my countrymen the example of the French stage, where the kings and queens always appear unattended, and leave their guard behind the scenes. I should likewise be glad if we imitated the French in banishing from our stage the noise of drums, trumpets, and huzzas; which is sometimes so very great, that when there is a battle in the Hay-market theatre, one may hear it as far as Charing-cross. I have here only touched upon those particulars which are made use of to raise and aggrandize the persons of a tragedy; and shall show in another paper the several expedients which are practised by authors of a vulgar genius to move terror, pity, or admiration in their hearers. The tailor and the painter often contribute to the success of a tragedy more than the poet. Scenes affect ordinary minds as much as speeches; and our actors are very sensible, that a well-dressed play has sometimes brought them as full audiences as a well-written one. The Italians have a very good phrase to express this art of imposing upon the spectators by appearances: they call it the Fourberia della scena, The knavery or trickish part of the drama.' But however the show and outside of the tragedy may work upon the vulgar, the more understanding part of the audience immediately see through it, and despise it. A good poet will give the reader a more lively idea of an army or a battle in a description, than if he actually saw them drawn up in squadrons and battalion, or engaged in the confusion of a fight. Our minds should be opened to great conceptions, and inflamed with glorious sentiments, by what the actor speaks, more than by what he appears. Can all the trappings or equipage of a king or hero give Brutus half that pomp and majesty which he receives from a few lines in Shakspeare? C. No. 43. THURSDAY, APRIL 19. By Steele. Hæ tibi erunt artes; pacisque imponere morem, VIRG. Be these thy arts; to bid contention cease, THERE are crowds of men, whose great misfortune it is that they were not bound to mechanic arts or trades; it being absolutely necessary for them to be led by some continual task or employment. These are such as we commonly call dull fellows; persons who, for want of something to do, out of a certain vacancy of thought, rather than curiosity, are ever meddling with things for which they are unfit. I cannot give you a notion of them better than by presenting you with a letter from a gentleman, who belongs to a society of this order of men, residing at Oxford. Oxford, April 13, 1711. Four o'clock in the morning. SIR, 'In some of your late speculations, I find some sketches towards a history of clubs: but you seem to me to show them in somewhat too ludicrous a light. I have well weighed that matter, and think that the most important negociations may best be carried on in such assemblies. I shall, therefore, for the good of mankind, which I trust you and I are equally concerned for, propose an institution of that nature for example's sake. 'I must confess the design and transactions of too many clubs are trifling, and manifestly of no consequence to the nation or public weal: those I will give you up. But you must do me then the justice to own, that nothing can be more useful or laudable than the scheme we go upon. To avoid nicknames and witticisms, we call ourselves The Hebdomedal Meeting: our president continues for a year at least, and sometimes four or five; we are all grave, serious, designing men in our way: we think it our duty, as far as in us lies, to take care the constitution receives no harm,- -ne quid detrimenti res capiat publica:—to censure doctrines or facts, persons or things, which we do not like; to settle the nation at home, and to carry on the war abroad, where and in what manner we see fit. If other people are not of our opinion, we cannot help that. It were better they were. Moreover, we now and then condescend to direct, in some measure, the little affairs of our own university. "Verily, Mr. Spectator, we are much offended at the act for importing French wines; a bottle or two of good solid edifying Port at honest George's, made a night cheerful, and threw off reserve. But this plaguy French claret will not only cost us more money, but do us less good: had we been aware of it, before it had gone too far, I must tell you, we would have petitioned to be heard upon that subject. But let that pass. I must let you know, likewise, good sir, that we look upon a certain northern-prince's march, in conjunction with infidels, to be palpably against our good will and liking, and, for all Monsieur Palmquist, a most dangerous innovation; and we are by no means yet sure that some people are not at the bottom on't. At least, my own private letters leave room for a politician, well versed in matters of this nature, to suspect as much, as a penetrating friend of mine tells me. 'We think we have at last done the business with the malecontents in Hungary, and shall clap up a peace there. What the neutrality army is to do, or what the army in Flanders, and what two or three other princes, is not yet fully determined among us; and we wait impatiently for the coming in of the next Dyer, who you must know, is our authentic intelligence, our Aristotle in politics. And it is indeed but fit there should be some dernier resort, the absolute decider of all controversies. 'We were lately informed that the gallant trained-bands had patrolled all night long about the streets of London: we indeed could not imagine any occasion for it, we guessed not a tittle on't aforehand, we were in nothing of the secret; and that city-tradesmen, or their apprentices, should do duty, or work during the holidays, we thought absolutely impossible. But Dyer being positive in it, and some letters from other people, who had talked with some who had it from those who should know, giving some countenance to it, the chairman reported from the committee, appointed to examine into that affair, that it was possible there might be something in't. I have much more to say to you, but my two good friends and neighbours, Dominic and Slyboots, are just come in, and the coffee's ready. "I am in the mean time, Mr. Spectator, your admirer and humble servant, ABRAHAM FROTH." You may observe the turn of their minds tends only to novelty, and not satisfaction in any thing. It would be disappointment to them to come to certainty in any thing; for that would gravel them, and put an end to their inquiries which dull fellows do not make for information, but for exercise. I do not know but this may be a very good way of accounting for what we frequently see, to wit, that dull fellows prove good men of business. Business relieves them from their own natural heaviness, by furnishing them with what to do; whereas business to mercurial men is an interruption from their real existence and happiness. Though the dull part of mankind are harmless in their amusements, it were to be wished they had no vacant time, because they usually undertake something that makes their wants conspicuous by their manner of supplying them. You shall seldom find a dull fellow of good education, but, if he happens to have any leisure upon his hands, will turn his head to one of those two amusements, for all fools of eminence, politics or poetry. The former of |