gods, satyrs, and monsters, made up passed through the first part of my of half men and half beast. The gates vision, and recovered the centre of were unguarded, and open to all that the wood, from whence I had the had a mind to enter. Upon my go- prospect of the three great roads. I ing in, I found the windows were here joined myself to the middleblinded, and let in only a kind of aged party of mankind, who marchtwilight, that served to discover a ed behind the standard of ambition. prodigious number of dark corners The great road lay in a direct line, and apartments, into which the whole and was terminated by the temple of temple was divided. I was here Virtue. It was planted on each side stunned with a mixed noise of cla- with laurels, which were intermixed mour and jollity: on one side of me with marble trophies, carved pillars, I heard singing and dancing; on the and statues of lawgivers, heroes, other, brawls and clashing of swords: statesmen, philosophers, and poets. in short, I was so little pleased with The persons who travelled up this the place, that I was going out of it: great path, were such whose thoughts but found I could not return by the were bent upon doing eminent sergate where I entered, which was vices to mankind, or promoting the barred against all that were come in, good of their country. On each side with bolts of iron and locks of ada- of this great road, were several paths mant; there was no going back that were also laid out in straight from this temple through the paths lines, and ran parallel with it; these of pleasure which led to it: all who were most of them covered walks, passed through the ceremonies of and received into them men of retirthe place, went out at an iron wicket, ed virtue, who proposed to themselves which was kept by a dreadful giant the same end of their journey, though called Remorse, that held a scourge they chose to make it in shade and of scorpions in his hand, and drove obscurity. The edifices, at the exthem into the only outlet from that tremity of the walk, were so contemple. This was a passage so rugged, trived, that we could not see the temso uneven, and choked with so many ple of Honour, by reason of the temple thorns and briars, that it was a melan- of Virtue, which stood before it: at choly spectacle to behold the pains the gates of this temple, we were met and difficulties which both sexes suf- by the goddess of it, who conducted fered who walked through it: the men, us into that of Honour, which was though in the prime of their youth, joined to the other edifice by a beauappeared weak and enfeebled with tiful triumphal arch, and had no old age: the women wrung their other entrance into it. When the hands, and tore their hair, and seve- deity of the inner structure had reral lost their limbs, before they could ceived us, she presented us in a boextricate themselves out of the per-dy, to a figure that was placed over plexities of the path in which they the high altar, and was the emblem were engaged. The remaining part of Eternity. She sat on a globe, in of this vision, and the adventures I the midst of a golden zodiac, holdmet with in the two great roads of ing the figure of a sun in one hand, Ambition and Avarice must be the and a moon in the other: her head subject of another paper.

was veiled, and her feet covered. Tatler. Our hearts glowed within us, as we stood amidst the sphere of light which this image cast on every side

$72. The Temple of Virtue. With much labour and difficulty I

of it.

Ibid.

73. The Temple of Vanity.

marched in it for a little space, till the crooked path which they were

Having seen all that happened to engaged in again led them into the this band of adventurers, I repaired wood. The several alleys of these to another pile of buildings that stood wanderers, had their particular ornawithin view of the temple of Honour, ments: one of them I could not but and was raised in imitation of it, upon take notice of, in the walk of the the very same model; but, at my ap- mischievous pretenders to politics, proach to it, I found that the stones which had at every turn the figure were laid together without mortar, of a person, whom, by the inscripand that the whole fabric stood upon tion, I found to be Machiavel, pointso weak a foundation, that it shook ing out the way, with an extended with every wind that blew. This was finger, like a Mercury. called the Temple of Vanity. The goddess of it sat in the midst of a

Tatler.

great many tapers, that burned day 74. The Temple of Avarice. and night, and made her appear

much better than she would have I was now returned in the same done in open day-light. Her whole manner as before, with a design to art was to show herself more beauti- observe carefully every thing that ful and majestic than she really was. passed in the region of Avarice, and For which reason she had painted the occurrences in that assembly, her face, and wore a cluster of false which was made up of persons of my jewels upon her breast: but what I own age. This body of travellers more particularly observed, was the had not gone far in the third great breadth of her petticoat, which was road, before it led them insensibly made altogether in the fashion of a into a deep valley, in which they modern fardingal. This place was journeyed several days with great toil filled with hypocrites, pedants, free- and uneasiness, and without the nethinkers, and prating politicians, cessary refreshments of food and with a rabble of those who have only sleep. The only relief they met with, titles to make them great men. Fe- was in a river that ran through the male votaries crowded the temple, bottom of the valley on a bed of goldchoked up the avenues of it, and en sand: they often drank of this were more in number than the sand stream, which had such a particular upon the sea-shore. I made it my quality in it, that though it refreshed business, in my return towards that them for a time, it rather inflamed part of the wood from whence I first than quenched their thirst. On each set out, to observe the walks which side of the river was a range of hills led to this temple; for I met in it se- full of ecious ore; for where the veral who had begun their journey rains hat, washed off the earth, one with the band of virtuous persons, might see in several parts of them and travelled some time in their com-long vems of gold, and rocks that pany: but, upon examination, I found looked like pure silver. We were that there were several paths, which told that the deity of the place had led out of the great road into the forbad any of his votaries to dig into sides of the wood, and ran into so the bowels of these hills, or convert many crooked turns and windings, the treasures they contained to any that those who travelled through use, under pain of starving. At the them, often turned their backs upon end of the valley stood the temple of the temple of Virtue, then crossed Avarice, made after the manner of a the straight road, and sometimes fortification, and surrounded with a

thousand triple-headed dogs, that sacks full of the same kind of coin. were placed there to keep off beg- I saw, at the same time, a person gars. At our approach they all fell called Fraud, who sat behind the a barking, and would have much ter- counter, with false scales, light rified us, had not an old woman, who weights, and scanty measures; by had called herself by the forged name the skilful application of which inof Competency, offered herself for our struments, she had got together an guide. She carried under her gar- immense heap of wealth; it would ment a golden bow, which she no be endless to name the several offisooner held up in her hand, but the cers, or describe the votaries that dogs lay down, and the gates flew attended in this temple; there were open for our reception. We were many old men, panting and breathled through an hundred iron doors less, reposing their heads on bags of before we entered the temple. At money; nay, many of them actually the upper end of it, sat the god of dying, whose very pangs and conAvarice, with a long filthy beard, vulsions (which rendered their purses and a meager starved countenance, useless to them) only made them enclosed with heaps of ingots and grasp them the faster. There were pyramids of money, but half naked some tearing with one hand all and shivering with cold: on his right things, even to the garments and hand was a fiend called Rapine, and flesh of many miserable persons who on his left a particular favourite, to stood before them; and with the whom he had given the title of Par- other hand throwing away what they simony; the first was his collector, had seized, to harlots, flatterers, and and the other his cashier. There panders, that stood behind them. On were several long tables placed on a sudden the whole assembly fell a each side of the temple, with respect- trembling; and, upon inquiry, I ive officers attending behind them: found that the great room we were some of these I inquired into: at the in was haunted with a spectre, that first table was kept the office of Cor- many times a day appeared to them, ruption. Seeing a solicitor extremely and terrified them to distraction. In busy, and whispering every body that the midst of their terror and amazepassed by, I kept my eye upon him ment, the apparition entered, which very attentively, and saw him often I immediately knew to be Poverty. going up to a person that had a pen Whether it were by my acquaintance in his hand, with a multiplication- with this phantom, which had rentable and an almanack before him, dered the sight of her more familiar which, as I afterwards heard, was all to me, or however it was, she did not the learning he was master of. The make so indigent or frightful a figure solicitor would often apply himself in my eye, as the god of this loathto his ear, and at the same time con- some temple. The miserable votavey money into his hand, for which ries of this place were, I found, of the other would give him out a piece another mind every one fancied of paper, or parchment, signed and himself threatened by the apparition sealed in form. The name of this as she stalked about the room, and dexterous and successful solicitor began to lock their coffers, and tie was Bribery. At the next table was their bags, with the utmost fear and the office of Extortion: behind it sat trembling. I must confess, I look a person in a bob-wig, counting over upon the passion which I saw in this a great sum of money he gave out unhappy people, to be of the same little purses to several, who, after a nature with those unaccountable anshort tour, brought him, in return, tipathies which some persons are

born with, or rather as a kind of courtesy, that studied smoothness of frenzy, not unlike that which throws manners, which is learned in the a man into terrors and agonies at the school of the world. Such accomsight of so useful and innocent a plishments the most frivolous and thing as water. The whole assembly empty may possess. Too often they was surprised, when, instead of pay- are employed by the artful, as a ing my devotions to the deity whom snare; too often affected by the hard they all adored, they saw me address and unfeeling, as a cover to the basemyself to the phantom. "Oh! Po-ness of their minds. We cannot, at verty! (said I) my first petition to the same time, avoid observing the thee is, that thou wouldest never ap- homage which, even in such instanpear to me hereafter; but if thou ces, the world is constrained to pay wilt not grant me this, that thou to virtue. In order to render society wouldest not bear a form more terri- agreeable, it is found necessary to asble than that in which thou appearest sume somewhat that may at least carry to me at present. Let not thy threats its appearance; Virtue is the universal or menaces betray me to any thing charm; even its shadow is courted, that is ungrateful or unjust. Let me when the substance is wanting the not shut my ears to the cries of the imitation of its form has been reducneedy. Let me not forget the person ed into an art; and, in the commerce that has deserved well of me. Let of life, the first study of all who would me not, from any fear of Thee, desert either gain the esteem, or win the my friend, my principles, or my ho-hearts of others, is to learn the nour. If Wealth is to visit me, and speech, and to adopt the manners of come with her usual attendants, Va- candour, gentleness, and humanity ; nity and Avarice, do thou, O Pover- but that gentleness which is the chaty! hasten to my rescue; but bring racteristic of a good man, has, like along with Thee thy two sisters, in every other virtue, its seat in the whose company thou art always heart; and, let me add, nothing excheerful, Liberty and Innocence." cept what flows from it, can render Tatler. even external manners truly pleasing; for no assumed behaviour can at all times hide the real character.

and insincere Politeness.

Blair.

$76. Opportunities for great Acts of Beneficence rare, for Gentleness

$75. The Virtue of Gentleness not In that unaffected civility which to be confounded with artificial springs from a gentle mind, there is a charm infinitely more powerful Gentleness corrects whatever is than in all the studied manners of offensive in our manners; and, by a the most finished courtier. constant train of humane attentions, studies to alleviate the burden of common misery. Its office, therefore, is extensive. It is not, like some other virtues, called forth only on peculiar emergencies: but it is continually in action, when we are en- But, perhaps, it will be pleaded by gaged in intercourse with men. It some, that this gentleness on which ought to form our address, to regulate we now insist, regards only those our speech, and to diffuse itself over smaller offices of life, which, in their our whole behaviour. eyes, are not essential to religion and I must warn you, however, not to goodness. Negligent, they confess, confound this gentle wisdom which on slight occasions, of the governis from above, with that artificial ment of their temper, or the regula

continual.

tion of their behaviour, they are at-heart, than the most bountiful gift: tentive, as they pretend, to the great while, on the other side, when the duties of beneficence; and ready, hand of liberality is extended to bewhenever the opportunity presents, stow, the want of gentleness is suffito perform important services to their cient to frustrate the intention of the fellow-creatures. But let such per- benefit; we sour those whom we sons reflect, that the occasions of per- meant to oblige; and, by conferring forming those important good deeds favours with ostentation and harshvery rarely occur. Perhaps their si-ness, we convert them into injuries. tuation in life, or the nature of their Can any disposition, then, be held to connexions, may, in a great measure, possess a low place in the scale of exclude them from such opportuni- virtue, whose influence is so consities. Great events give scope for derable on the happiness of the great virtues; but the main tenor of world. human life is composed of small oc- Gentleness is, in truth, the great currences. Within the round of avenue to mutual enjoyment. Amidst these, lie the materials of the happi- the strife of interfering interests, it ness of most men; the subjects of tempers the violence of contention, their duty, and the trials of their vir- and keeps alive the seeds of harmotue. Virtue must be formed and sup-ny. It softens animosities, renews ported, not by unfrequent acts, but endearments, and renders the counby daily and repeated exertions. In tenance of man, a refreshment to order to its becoming either vigorous man. Banish gentleness from the or useful, it must be habitually ac- earth; suppose the world to be filled tive; not breaking forth occasionally with none but harsh and contentious with a transient lustre, like the blaze spirits, and what sort of society would of the comet; but regular in its re- remain? the solitude of the desert turns, like the light of day; not were preferable to it. The conflict like the aromatic gale, which some- of jarring elements in chaos; the times feasts the sense; but, like the cave, where subterraneous winds ordinary breeze, which purifies the contend and roar; the den, where air, and renders it healthful. serpents hiss, and beasts of the forest

Years may pass over our heads, howl; would be the only proper rewithout affording any opportunity for presentations of such assemblies of acts of high beneficence, or exten- men..-Strange! that where men sive utility. Whereas, not a day have all one common interest, they passes, but in the common transac- should so often absurdly concur in tions of life, and especially in the in- defeating it! Has not nature already tercourse of domestic society, gentle- provided a sufficient quantity of unness finds place for promoting the avoidable evils for the state of man? happiness of others, and for strength- As if we did not suffer enough from ening in ourselves, the habit of vir- the storm which beats upon us withtue. Nay, by seasonable discoveries out, must we conspire also, in those of a humane spirit, we sometimes societies where we assemble, in orcontribute more materially to the ad- der to find a retreat from that storm, vancement of happiness, than by ac- to harass one another? tions which are seemingly more important. There are situations, not a few, in human life, where the encou

$77.

Blair.

Gentleness recommended on

raging reception, the condescend-Considerations of our own Interest. ing behaviour, and the look of sym

pathy, bring greater relief to the But if the sense of duty, and of

VOL. I. Nos. 5 & 6.

I