walks to Islington, by Mrs. Susanna Cross-stich, as she was clambering over a stile. R. F. T. W. S. I. M. P. &c. put to death in the last birth-day massacre. Roger Blinko, cut off in the twenty-first year of his age by a white-wash. Musidorus, slain by an arrow that flew out of a dimple in Belinda's left cheek. Ned Courtly, presenting Flavia with her glove (which she had dropped on purpose,) she received it, and took away his life with a courtesy. John Gosselin, having received a slight hurt from a pair of blue eyes, as he was making his escape, was dispatched by a smile. Strephon killed by Clarinda as she looked down into the pit. Charles Careless shot flying by a girl of fifteen, who unexpectedly popped her head upon him out of a coach. Josiah Wither, aged threescore and three, sent to his long home by Elizabeth Jetwell, spinster. Jack Freelove murdered by Melissa in her hair. William Wiseacre, gent. drowned in a flood of tears by Moll Common. John Pleadwell, esq. of the Middle Temple, barrister at law, assassinated in his chambers the 6th instant by Kitty Sly, who pretended to come to him for his advice. 1. No. 378. WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 1712. Aggredere, O magnos! aderit jam tempus honores. VIRG. Ecl. iv. 48. Mature in years, to ready honours move. DRYDEN. I WILL make no apology for entertaining the reader with the following poem, which is written by a great genius, a friend of mine* in the country, who is not ashamed to employ his wit in the praise of his Maker. MESSIAH: A SACRED ECLOGUE, Composed of several passages of Isaiah the Written in imitation of Virgil's Pollio. Rapt into future times, the bard began, xlv. 8. XXV. 4. ix. 7. Whose sacred flower with fragrance fills the skies: Peace o'er the world her olive wand extend, * Pope. See No. 534. Swift fly the years, and rise the expected morn! Isa. xxxv. 2. xi. 3, 4. xlii. 18. XXXV. 5, 6. XXV. 8. xl. 11. ix. 6. lxv. 21, 22, Shall finish what the short-liv'd sire begun; Their vines a shadow to their race shall yield, And the same hand that sow'd shall reap the field. XXXV. 1. 7. And starts amidst the thirsty wilds to hear The green reed trembles, and the bulrush nods. To leafless shrubs the flowering palms succeed, xj. 6, 7, 8. The lambs with wolves shall grace the verdant Ix. 1. 1x. 4. Ix. 3. lx. 6. And boys in flowery bands the tyger lead; The steer and lion at one crib shall meet, Rise, crown'd with light, imperial Salem, rise! And seeds of gold in Ophir's mountain glow. li. 6. and Reveal'd, and God's eternal day be thine! T. No. 379. THURSDAY, MAY 15, 1712. Scire tuum nihil est, nisi te scire hoc sciut alter. -Science is not science till reveal'd. DRYDEN. I HAVE often wondered at that ill-natured position which has been sometimes maintained in the schools, and is comprised in an old Latin verse, namely, that A man's knowledge is worth nothing if he communicates what he knows to any one besides.' There is certainly no more sensible pleasure to a good-natured man, than if he can by any means gratify or inform the mind of another. I might add, that this virtue naturally carries its own reward along with it, since it is almost impossible it should be exercised without the improvement of the person who practises it. The reading of books and the daily occurrences of life, are continually furnishing us with matter for thought and reflection. It is extremely natural for us to desire to see such our thoughts put in the dress of words, without which, indeed, we can scarce have a clear and distinct idea of them ourselves. When they are thus clothed in expressions, nothing so truly shows us whether they are just or false, as those effects which they produce in the minds of others. I am apt to flatter myself, that in the course of these my speculations, I have treated of several subjects, and laid down many such rules for the conduct of a man's life, which my readers were either wholly ignorant of before, or which at least |