Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

H

ADVERTISEMENT.

August 19. Whereas a modesty-piece was lost at the masquerade last Monday night, being the seventeenth instant, between the hours of twelve and one, the author of this paper gives notice, that if any person will put it into the hands of Mr. Daniel Button, to be returned to the owner, it shall by her be acknowledged as the last favour, and no questions asked.

'N. B. It is of no use but to the owner.'

No. 146.] Friday, August 28, 1713.

Primus hominum leonem mann tractare ausus, et ostendere mansuefactum, Hanno è clarissimis Pœnorum traditur. Plin.

Hanno, a noble Carthagenian, is reported to have been the first man who ventured to handle a lion, and bring him up tame.

THE generality of my readers, I find, are so well pleased with the story of the lion, in my paper of the twentieth instant, and with my friend's design of compiling a history of that noble species of animals, that a great many ingenious persons have promised me their as sistance to bring in materials for the work, from all the storehouses of ancient and modern learning, as well as from oral tradition. For a farther encouragement of the undertaking, a considerable number of virtuosi have offered, when my collection shall swell into a reasonable bulk, to contribute very handsomely, by way of subscription, towards the printing of them in folio, on a large royal paper, curiously adorned with variety of forests, deserts, rocks, and caves, and lions of all sorts and sizes, upon copper-plates, by the best hands. A rich old bachelor of Lion's-inn (who is zealous for the honour of the place in which he was educated) sends me word I may depend upon a hundred pounds from him, towards the embellishing of the work; assuring me, at the same time, that he will set his clerk to search the records, and inquire into the antiquities of that house, that there may be no stone left unturned to make the book complete. Considering the volumes that have been written upon insects and reptiles, and the vast expense and pains some philosophers have been at to discover, by the help of glasses, their almost imperceptible qualities and perfections; it will not, I hope, be thought unreasonable, if the lion (whose majestic form lies open to the naked eve) should take up a first-rate folio.

nour of the grandees of the forest; and since
it is probable you may in time collect a great
many curious records and amazing circum-
stances, which may contribute to make these
animals respected over the face of the whole
earth; I am not a little ambitious to have the
glory of contributing somewhat to so generous
an undertaking. If you throw your work into
the form of chronicle, I am in hopes I may
furnish out a page in it towards the latter end
of the volume, by a narration of a modern
date, which I had in the year 1700, from the
gentleman to whom it happened.

[ocr errors]

Sir

About sixty years ago, when the plague
raged at Naples, sir George Davis (consul there
for the English nation) retired to Florence. It
happened one day he went out of curiosity to
see the great duke's lions. At the farther end,
in one of the dens, lay a lion, which the keepers
in three years' time could not tame, with all
the art and gentle usage imaginable.
George no sooner appeared at the grates of the
den, but the lion ran to him with all the
marks of joy and transport he was capable of
expressing. He reared himself up and licked
his hand, which this gentleman put in through
the grates. The keeper, affrighted, took him
by the arm and pulled him away, begging him
not to hazard his life by going so near the
fiercest creature of that kind that ever entered
those dens. However, nothing would satisfy
sir George, notwithstanding all that could be
said to dissuade him, but he must go into the den
to him. The very instant he entered, the lion
threw his paws upon his shoulders, and licked
his face, and ran to and fro in the den, fawn-
ing, and full of joy, like a dog at the sight of
his master. After several embraces and salu-
tations exchanged on both sides, they parted
very good friends. The rumour of this inter-
view between the lion and the stranger rung
immediately through the whole city, and sir
George was very near passing for a saint among
the people. The great duke, when he heard
of it, sent for sir George, who waited upon his
highness to the den, and to satisfy his curiosity,
gave him the following account of what seeme
so strange to the duke and his followers.

66

A captain of a ship from Barbary gave me this lion when he was a young whelp. I brought him up tame; but when I thought him too large to be suffered to run about the house, I built a den for him in my court-yard; from that time he was never permitted to go loose, except when I brought him within doors to show him to my friends. When he was five years old, in his gamesome tricks, he did some mischief by pawing and playing with people. Having griped a man one day a little too hard, I ordered him to be shot, for fear of incurring 'Since one of your correspondents has of the guilt of what might happen; upon this a late entertained the public with a very re- friend who was then at dinner with me, begged markable and ancient piece of history, in ho-him: how he came here I know not."

A worthy merchant, and a friend of mine, sends me the following letter, to be inserted in my commentaries upon lions.

SIR,

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

HAVING in my paper of the twenty-first of July, showed my dislike of the ridiculous custom of garnishing a new-married couple, and setting a gloss upon their persons which is to last no longer than the honey-moon; I think it may be much for the emolument of my disciples of both sexes, to make them sensible in the next place, of the folly of launching out into extravagant expenses, and a more magnificent way of living immediately upon marriage. If the bride and bridegroom happen to be persons of any rank, they come into all public places, and go upon all visits with so gay an equipage, and so glittering an appearance, as if they were making so many public entries. But to judicious minds, and to men of experience in this life, the gilt chariot, the coach and six, the gaudy liveries, the supernumerary train of servants, the great house, the sumptuous table, the services of plate, the embroidered clothes, the rich brocades, and the profusion of jewels, that upon this occasion break out at once, are so many symptoms of madness in the happy pair, and prognostications of their future misery.

I remember a country neighbour of my lady Lizard's, squire Wiseacre by name, who enjoyed a very clear estate of five hundred pounds per annum, and by living frugally upon it was beforehand in the world. This gentleman unfortunately fell in love with Mrs. Fanny Flippant, the then reigning toast in those parts. In a word, he married her, and to give a lasting proof of his affection, consented to make both her and himself miserable by setting out in the high mode of wedlock. He, in less than the space of five years, was reduced to starve in prison for debt; and his lady, with a son and three daughters, became a burden to the parish. The conduct of Frank Foresight was the very reverse to squire Wiseacre's. He had lived a bachelor some years about this town, in the best of companies; kept a chariot and four footmen, besides six saddle-horses; he did not exceed, but went to the utmost stretch of his income; but when he married the beautiful Clarinda (who brought him a plentiful fortune) he dismissed two of his footmen, four of the saddle-horses, and his chariot; and kept only

a chair for the use of his lady. Embroidered clothes and laced linen were quite laid aside; ne was married in a plain drugget, and from that time forward, in all the accommodations of life, never coveted any thing beyond cleanliness and conveniency. When any of his acquaintance asked him the reason of this sudden change, he would answer, ‘In single life I could easily compute my wants, and provide against them; but the condition of life I am now engaged in, is attended with a thousand unforeseen casualties, as well as a great many distant, but unavoidable expenses. The happiness or misery, in this world, of a future progeny, will probably depend upon my good or ill husbandry. I shall never think I have discharged my duty until I have laid up a provision for three or four children at least.' 'But, pr'ythee, Frank,' says a pert cox comb that stood by, 'why shouldst thon reckon thy chickens before'- upon which he cut him short, and replied,' It is no matter; a brave man can never want heirs, while there is one man of worth living.' This precautious way of reasoning and acting has proved to Mr. Foresight and his lady an uninterrupted source of felicity. Wedlock sits light and easy upon them; and they are at present happy in two sons and a daughter, who a great many years hence will feel the good effects of their parents' prudence.

My memory fails me in recollecting where I have read, that in some parts of Holland it is provided by law, that every man, before he marries, shall be obliged to plant a certain number of trees, proportionable to his circumstances, as a pledge to the government for the maintenance of his children. Every honest as well as every prudent man should do something equivalent to this, by retrenching all superfluous and idle expenses, instead of following the extravagant practice of persons, who sacrifice every thing to their present vanity, and never are a day beforehand in thought. I know not what delight splendid nuptials may afford to the generality of the great world: I could never be present at any of them without a heavy heart. It is with pain I refrain from tears, when I see the bride thoughtlessly jigging it about the room, dishonoured with jewels, and dazzling the eyes of the whole assembly at the expense of her children's future subsistence. How singular, in the age we live in, is the moderate behaviour of young Sophia, and how amiable does she appear in the eyes of wise men! Her lover, a little before marriage, acquainted her, that he intended to lay out a thousand pounds for a present in jewels; but before he did it, desired to know what sort would be most acceptable to her. Sir,' replied Sophia, 'I thank you for your kind and generous intentions, and only beg they may be executed in another manner: be pleased only to give me the money, and I will try to lay it

and scarce ever went out of the grotto in which he made his residence, for fear of exposing himself to the danger of offending God. He fasted in the day-time, and watched in the night. All the inhabitants of the country had such a great veneration for him, and so highly valued his prayers, that they commonly applied to him when they had any favour to beg of Heaven. When he made vows for the health of a sick person, the patient was immediately cured.

out to a better advantage. I am not,' conti-years, very fervently applied himself to prayers; nues she, ́ at all fond of those expensive trifles; neither do I think the wearing of diamonds can be any addition, nor the absence of them any diminution, to my happiness. I should be ashamed to appear in public for a few days in a dress which does not become me at all times. Besides, I see by that modest plain garb of yours, that you are not yourself affected with the gayety of apparel. When I am your wife, my only care will be to keep my person clean and neat for you, and not to make it fine for others.' The gentleman, transported with this excellent turn of mind in his mistress, presented her with the money in new gold. She purchased an annuity with it; out of the income of which, at every revolution of her wedding-day, she makes her husband some pretty present, as a token of her gratitude, and a fresh pledge of her love; part of it she yearly distributes among her indigent and best deserving neighbours; and the small remainder she lays out in something useful for herself, or the children.

[blocks in formation]

Ovid. Met. Lib. iv. 428. 'Tis good to learn even from an enemy. THERE is a kind of apophthegm, which I have frequently met with in my reading, to this purpose: That there are few, if any books, out of which a man of learning may not extract something for his use.' I have often experienced the truth of this maxim, when calling in at my bookseller's, I have taken the book next to my hand off the counter, to employ the minutes I bave been obliged to linger away there, in waiting for one friend or other. Yesterday when I came there, the Turkish tales happened to lie in my way; upon opening of that amusing author, I happened to dip upon a short tale, which gave me a great many serious reflections. The very same fable may fall into the hands of a great many men of wit and pleasure, who, it is probable, will read it with their usual levity; but since it may as probably divert and instruct a great many persons of plain and virtuous minds, I shall make no scruple of making it the entertainment of this day's paper. The moral to be drawn from it is entirely Christian, and is so very obvious, that I shall leave to every reader the pleasure of picking it out for himself. I shall only premise, to obviate any offence that may be taken, that a great many notions in the Mahometan religion are borrowed from the holy scriptures.

It happened that the daughter of the king of that country fell into a dangerous distemper, the cause of which the physicians could not discover, yet they continued prescribing remedies by guess; but instead of helping the princess, they only augmented her disease. In the mean time the king was inconsolable, for he passionately loved his daughter; wherefore, one day, finding all human assistance vain, he declared it as his opinion that the princess ought to be sent to the santon Barsisa.

All the beys applauded his sentiment, and the king's officers conducted her to the santon, who, notwithstanding his frozen age, could not see such a beauty without being sensibly moved. He gazed on her with pleasure; and the devil taking this opportunity, whispered in his ear thus: O santon! don't let slip such a fortunate minute: tell the king's servants that it is requisite for the princess to pass this night in the grotto, to see whether it will please God to cure her; that you will put up a prayer for her, and that they need only come to fetch her to-morrow.'

How weak is man! the santon followed the devil's advice, and did what he suggested to him. But the officers, before they would yield to leave the princess, sent one of their number to know the king's pleasure. That monarch, who had an entire confidence in Barsisa, never in the least scrupled the trusting of his daughter with him. I consent,' said he, that she stay with that holy man, and that he keep her as long as he pleases: I am wholly satisfied on that head.'

[ocr errors]

When the officers had received the king's answer, they all retired, and the princess remained alone with the hermit. Night being come, the devil presented himself to the santon, saying, Canst thou let slip so favourable an opportunity with so charming a creature? Fear not her telling of the violence you offer her; if she were even so indiscreet as to reveal it, who will believe her? The court, the city, and all the world, are too much prepossessed in your favour, to give any credit to such a report. You may do any thing unpunished, when armed by the great reputation for wisdom which you The History of Santon Barsisa. have acquired.' The unfortunate Barsisa was There was formerly a santon whose name so weak as to hearken to the enemy of manwas Earsisa, which for the space of a hundred, kind. He approached the princess, took her

[ocr errors]

out to a better advantage. I am not,' conti-years, very fervently applied himself to prayers; nues she,' at all fond of those expensive trifles; neither do I think the wearing of diamonds can be any addition, nor the absence of them any diminution, to my happiness. I should be ashamed to appear in public for a few days in a dress which does not become me at all times

Besides, I see b yours, that you the gayety of ap my only care wi and neat for you others.' The ger excellent turn sented her with purchased an ar come of which wedding-day, sl pretty present, and a fresh pled yearly distribute deserving neighb she lays out in s the children.

No. 148.] Mone

Pas est

'Tis good to l

[ocr errors]

THERE is a ki have frequently this purpose: books, out of wh not extract som often experience when calling in taken the book n ter, to employ the to linger away th or other. Yester Turkish tales hap opening of that a dip upon a short many serious refle may fall into the of wit and pleasu read it with thei may as probably many persons of shall make no scri tainment of this be drawn from it so very obvious, reader the pleasur self. I shall on offence that may

1

notions in the Mahometan religion are borrowed from the holy scriptures.

The History of Santon Barsisa.

and scarce ever went out of the grotto in which he made his residence, for fear of exposing himself to the danger of offending God. He fasted in the day-time, and watched in the night. All the inhabitants of the country had

[blocks in formation]

any thing unpunished, when armed by the great reputation for wisdom which you have acquired.' The unfortunate Barsisa was

There was formerly a santon whose name so weak as to hearken to the enemy of manwas Barsisa, which for the space of a hundred, kind. He approached the princess, took her

« AnteriorContinuar »