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his Right Hand were Achilles and Vlyfes, and between them neas. On his Left were Hector, Thefeus, and Jason. The Lower End had Orpheus, fop, Phalaris, and Mufæus. The Ufhers feemed at a Lofs for a Twelfth Man, when methought, to my great Joy and Surprize, I heard fome at the Lower End of the Table mention Ifaac Bickerstaff: But those of the Upper End received it with Difdain, and said, 'If they must have a British Worthy, they would have Robin Hood.

While I was transported with the Honour that was done me, and burning with Envy against my Competitor, I was awaken'd by the Noife of the Cannon which were then fired for the taking of Mons. I fhould have been very much troubled at being thrown out of so pleasing a Vision on any other Occafion but thought it an agreeable Change to have my Thoughts diverted from the greatest among the Dead and Fabulous Heroes, to the most Famous among the Real and the Living.

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The TATLER. [N° 82.

Ubi idem & maximus & honeftiffimus Amor eft, aliquando præftat Morte jungi, quam Vita diftra hi. Val. Max.

From Saturday Oct. 15. to Tuesday Oct. 18. 1709.

A

From my own Apartment, October 17.

Fter the Mind has been employed on Contemplations suitable to its Greatness, it is unnatural to run into fudden Mirth or Levity; but we must let the Soul fubfide as it rofe, by proper Degrees. My late Confiderations of the ancient Heroes impreffed a certain Gravity upon my Mind, which is much above the little Gratification received from Starts of Humour and Fancy, and threw me into a pleafing Sadnefs. In this State of Thought I have been looking at the Fire, and in a penfive Manner reflecting upon the great. Misfortunes and Cala mities incident to humane Life; among which, there are none that touch fo fenfibly, as those which befal Perfons who eminently love, and meet with fatal Interruptions of their Happiness when they leaft expect it. The Piety of Children to Parents, and the Affection of Parents to their Children, are the Effects of Inftin&t; but the Affection between Lovers and Friends is founded on Reafon and Choice, which has always made me think, the Sorrows of the latter much more to be pitied than those

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of the former. The Contemplation of Diftreffes of this Sort foftens the Mind of Man, and makes the Heart better. It extinguishes the Seeds of Envy and ill Will towards Mankind, corrects the Pride of Profperity, and beats down all that Fiercenefs and Infolence which are apt to get into the Minds of the Daring and Fortunate. For this Reason the wife Athenians, in their Theatrical Performances, laid before the Eyes of the People the greatest Afflictions which could befal humane Life, and infenfibly polish'd their Tempers by fuch Representations. Among the Modern, indeed there has arose a Chimerical Method of difpofing the Fortune of the Perfons represented, according to what they call Poetical Juftice; and letting none be unhappy, but those who deferve it. In fuch Cafes, an intelligent Spectator, if he is concerned, knows he ought not to be fo; and can learn nothing from fuch a Tenderness, but that he is a weak Creature, whofe Paffions cannot follow the Dictates of his Understanding. It is very natural, when one is got into fuch a Way of Thinking, to recollect those Examples of Sorrow which have made the strongest Impreffion upon our Imaginations. An Inftance or Two of fuch you'll give me Leave to communicate.

A young Gentleman and Lady of ancient and honourable Houses in Cornwall, had from their Childhood entertained for each other a generous and noble Paffion, which had been long opposed by their Friends, by Reason of the Inequality of their Fortunes; but their Constancy

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to each other, and Obedience to thofe on whom they depended, wrought so much upon their Relations, that these celebrated Lovers were at length joined in Marriage. Soon after their Nuptials, the Bridegroom was obliged to go into a Foreign Country, to take Care of a confiderable Fortune which was left him by a Relation, and came very opportunely to improve their moderate Circumstances. They received the Congratulations of all the Country on this Occafion; and I remember it was a common Sentence in every one's Mouth, You See how faithful Love is rewarded.

He took this agreeable Voyage, and fent Home every Poft fresh Accounts of his Success in his Affairs Abroad; but at last (though he defigned to return with the next Ship) he lamented in his Letters, that Business would detain him fome Time longer from Home, because he would give himself the Pleasure of an unexpected Arrival.

The young Lady, after the Heat of the Day, walked every Evening on the Sea-Shore, near which the lived, with a familiar Friend, her Husband's Kinfwoman, and diverted her felf with what Objects they met there, or upon Difcourfes of the future Methods of Life in the happy Change of their Circumftances. They ftood one Evening on the Shore together in a perfect Tranquility, obferving the Setting of the Sun, the calm Face of the Deep, and the filent Heaving of the Waves which gently rolled towards 'em, and broke at their Feet; when at a Distance her Kinfwoman saw something

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N° 82. float on the Waters, which the fancied was a Chest; and with a Smile told her, the faw it firft, and if it came afhore full of Jewels, fhe had a Right to it. They both fixed their Eyes upon it, and entertained themselves with the Subject of the Wreck, the Cousin still afferting her Right, but promifing, if it was a Prize, to give her a very rich Coral for the Child of which the was then big, provided the might be Godmother. Their Mirth foon abated, when they observed upon the nearer Approach, that it was a humane Body. The young Lady, who had a Heart naturally filled with Pity and Compaffion, made many melancholy Reflections on the Occafion. Who knows (faid fhe) but this Man may be the only Hope and Heir of a wealthy House; the Darling of indulgent Parents, who are now in impertinent Mirth, and pleafing themselves with the Thoughts of offering him a Bride they have got ready for him? Or, May he not be the Master of a Family that wholly depended upon his Life? There may, for ought we know, be half a Dozen Fatherless Children, and a tender Wife, now exposed to Poverty by his Death. What Pleasure might he have promised himself in the different Welcome he was to have from her and them? But let us go away, 'tis a dreadful Sight! The best Office we can do, is to take Care that the poor Man, whoever he is, may be decently buried. She turned away, when a Wave threw the Carcass on the Shore. The Kinswoman immediately shrieked out, Oh, my Coufin! and fell upon the Ground. The unhappy Wife went

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