crets in learning which he had before communicated to him in private lectures; concluding, that he had rather excel the rest of mankind in knowledge than in power. Louisa de Padilla, a lady of great learning, and countess of Aranda, was in like manner angry with the famous Gratian, upon his publishing his treatise of the Discreto, wherein she fancied that he had laid open those maxims to common readers which ought only to have been reserved for the knowledge of the great. These objections are thought by many of so much weight, that they often defend the above-mentioned authors by affirming they have affected such an obscurity in their style and manner of writing, that, though every one may read their works, there will be but very few who can comprehend their meaning. Persius, the Latin satirist, affected obscurity for another reason; with which, however, Mr. Cow ley is so offended, that, writing to one of his friends, 'You,' says he, ' tell me, that you do not know whether Persius be a good poet or no, because you cannot understand him; for which very reason I affirm that he is not so.' However, this art of writing unintelligibly has been very much improved, and followed by several of the moderns, who, observing the general inclination of mankind to dive into a secret, and the reputation many have acquired by concealing their meaning under obscure terms and phrases, resolve, that they may be still more abstruse, to write, without any meaning at all. This art, as it is at present practised by many eminent authors, consists in throwing so many words at a venture into different periods, and leaving the curious reader to find the meaning of them. 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. I. N° 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 Prophet: Y nymphs of Solyma! begin the song: Delight no more-O Thou my voice inspire, Peace o'er the world her olive wand extend, Isa. xi. 4. xlv. 8% XXV. 4. ix. 7. XXXV. 2. xi. 3, 4. xlii. 18. Xxxv. 5, 6. xxv. 8. xl. 11. #1.4. As the good shegnerd sends nos feecy care, Peads from his hand, and in his bosom warns ; Shall Snish 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. The swain in barren deserts with surprise Sees lilies spring, and sudden verdure rise, And starts amidst the thirsty wilds to hear New fails of water murmuring in his ear: On rifted rocks, the dragon's late abodes, The green reed trembles, and the buirush nods, Waste sandy valleys, once perplex'd with thorn, The spiry fir and shapely box adorn: xli, 19, and iv. 13. To leafless shrubs the flowering palms succeed, wi. 6, 7, 8. The lambs with wolves shall grace the verdant mead, And boys in flowery bands the tiger lead; The steer and lion at one crib shall meet, And harmless serpents lick the pilgrim's feet: The smiling infant in his hand shall take The crested basilisk and speckled snake- And with their forked tongue and pointless sting shall play, Rise, crown'd with light, imperial Salem, rise l See barb'rous nations at thy gates attend, Reveal'd, and God's eternal day be thine! Isa. Ix. 3. lx. 6. lx. Ix. 19, 20. li. 6. li. 6. and liv. 10. T. N° 379. THURSDAY, MAY 15, 1712, Scire tuum nihil est, nisi te scire hoc sciat alter. PERS. Sat. i. 27. 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. might add, that this virtue naturally carries its I |