The Spectator Volume Iii Part 52

III. When thou, O Lord, shalt stand disclos'd In Majesty severe, And sit in Judgment on my Soul, O how shall I appear!

IV. But thou hast told the troubled Mind, Who does her Sins lament, The timely Tribute of her Tears Shall endless Woe prevent.

V. Then see the Sorrows of my Heart, Ere yet it be too late; And hear my Saviour's dying Groans, To give those Sorrows Weight.

VI. For never shall my Soul despair Her Pardon to procure, Who knows thine only Son has dy'd To make her Pardon sure.

'There is a n.o.ble Hymn in _French_, which Monsieur _Bayle_ has celebrated for a _very fine one_, and which the famous Author of the Art of Speaking calls an _Admirable one_, that turns upon a Thought of the same Nature. If I could have done it Justice in _English_, I would have sent it you translated; it was written by Monsieur _Des Barreaux_; who had been one of the greatest Wits and Libertines in _France_, but in his last Years was as remarkable a Penitent. [2]

'Grand Dieu, tes jugemens sont remplis d'equite; Tojours tu prens plaisir a nous etre propice: Mais j'ai tant fait de mal, que jamais ta bonte Ne me pardonnera sans choquer ta Justice.

Ouy, mon Dieu, la grandeur de mon impiete Ne laisse a ton pouvoir que le choix du suplice: Ton interest s' oppose a ma felicite; Et ta clemence meme attend que je perisse.

Contente ton desir puis qu'il t'est glorieux; Offense toy des pleurs qui coulent de mes yeux; Tonne, frappe, il est temps, rens moi guerre pour guerre.

J'adore en perissant la raison qui t'aigrit: Mais dessus quel endroit tombera ton tonnerre, Qui ne soit tout convert du sang de_ JESUS CHRIST.'

'If these Thoughts may be serviceable to you, I desire you would place them in a proper Light, and am ever, with great Sincerity,'

_SIR_,

_Yours, &c_.

O.

[Footnote 1: _an_ in first reprint.]

[Footnote 2: Jacques Vallee Seigneur des Barreaux, born in Paris in 1602, was Counsellor of the Parliament of Paris, and gave up his charge to devote himself to pleasure. He was famous for his songs and verses, for his affability and generosity and irreligion. A few years before his death he was converted, and wrote the pious sonnet given above, which had been very widely praised and quoted. In his religious days he lived secluded at Chalon sur Saone, where he died, in 1673.]

No. 514. Monday, October 20, [1] 1712. Steele.

'Me Parna.s.si deserta per ardua, dulcis Raptat Amor; juvat ire jugis qua nulla priorum Castaliam molle divert.i.tur Orbita Clivo.'

Virg.

_Mr._ SPECTATOR,

'I came home a little later than usual the other Night, and not finding my self inclined to sleep, I took up _Virgil_ to divert me till I should be more disposed to Rest. He is the Author whom I always chuse on such Occasions, no one writing in so divine, so harmonious, nor so equal a Strain, which leaves the Mind composed, and softened into an agreeable Melancholy; the Temper in which, of all others, I chuse to close the Day. The Pa.s.sages I turned to were those beautiful Raptures in his _Georgicks_, where he professes himself entirely given up to the Muses, and smit with the Love of Poetry, pa.s.sionately wishing to be transported to the cool Shades and Retirements of the Mountain _Haemus_. I clos'd the Book and went to Bed. What I had just before been reading made so strong an Impression on my Mind, that Fancy seemed almost to fulfil to me the Wish of _Virgil_, in presenting to me the following Vision.

'Methought I was on a sudden plac'd in the Plains of _Boeotia_, where at the end of the Horizon I saw the Mountain _Parna.s.sus_ rising before me. The Prospect was of so large an Extent, that I had long wander'd about to find a Path which should directly lead me to it, had I not seen at some distance a Grove of Trees, which in a Plain that had nothing else remarkable enough in it to fix my Sight, immediately determined me to go thither. When I arrived at it, I found it parted out into a great Number of Walks and Alleys, which often widened into beautiful Openings, as Circles or Ovals, set round with Yews and Cypresses, with Niches, Grotto's, and Caves placed on the Sides, encompa.s.sed with Ivy. There was no Sound to be heard in the whole Place, but only that of a gentle Breeze pa.s.sing over the Leaves of the Forest, every thing beside was buried in a profound Silence. I was captivated with the Beauty and Retirement of the Place, and never so much, before that Hour, was pleased with the Enjoyment of my self. I indulged the Humour, and suffered my self to wander without Choice or Design. At length, at the end of a Range of Trees, I saw three Figures seated on a Bank of Moss, with a silent Brook creeping at their Feet.

I ador'd them as the tutelar Divinities of the Place, and stood still to take a particular View of each of them. The Middlemost, whose Name was _Solitude_, sat with her Arms across each other, and seemed rather pensive and wholly taken up with her own Thoughts, than any ways grieved or displeased. The only Companions which she admitted into that Retirement, was the G.o.ddess _Silence_, who sat on her right Hand with her Finger on her Mouth, and on her left _Contemplation_, with her Eyes fixed upon the Heavens. Before her lay a celestial Globe, with several Schemes of Mathematical Theorems. She prevented my Speech with the greatest Affability in the World: Fear not, said she, I know your Request before you speak it; you would be led to the Mountain of the Muses; the only way to it lies thro' this Place, and no one is so often employ'd in conducting Persons thither as my self. When she had thus spoken, she rose from her Seat, and I immediately placed my self under her Direction; but whilst I pa.s.sed through the Grove, I could not help enquiring of her who were the Persons admitted into that sweet Retirement. Surely, said I, there can nothing enter here but Virtue and virtuous Thoughts: The whole Wood seems design'd for the Reception and Reward of such Persons as have spent their Lives according to the Dictates of their Conscience and the Commands of the G.o.ds. You imagine right, said she; a.s.sure your self this Place was at first designed for no other: Such it continued to be in the Reign of _Saturn_, when none entered here but holy Priests, Deliverers of their Country from Oppression and Tyranny, who repos'd themselves here after their Labours, and those whom the Study and Love of Wisdom had fitted for divine Conversation. But now it is become no less dangerous than it was before desirable: Vice has learned so to mimick Virtue, that it often creeps in hither under its Disguise. See there! just before you, _Revenge_ stalking by, habited in the Robe of _Honour_. Observe not far from him _Ambition_ standing alone; if you ask him his Name, he will tell you it is _Emulation_ or _Glory_. But the most frequent Intruder we have is _l.u.s.t_, who succeeds now the Deity to whom in better Days this Grove was entirely devoted. _Virtuous Love_, with _Hymen_, and the Graces attending him, once reign'd over this happy Place; a whole Train of Virtues waited on him, and no dishonourable Thought durst presume for Admittance: But now! how is the whole Prospect changed? and how seldom renewed by some few who dare despise sordid Wealth, and imagine themselves fit Companions for so charming a Divinity?

'The G.o.ddess had no sooner said thus, but we were arriv'd at the utmost Boundaries of the Wood, which lay contiguous to a Plain that ended at the Foot of the Mountain. Here I kept close to my Guide, being sollicited by several Phantomes, who a.s.sured me they would shew me a nearer Way to the Mountain of the Muses. Among the rest _Vanity_ was extremely importunate, having deluded infinite Numbers, whom I saw wandering at the Foot of the Hill. I turned away from this despicable Troop with Disdain, and addressing my self to my Guide, told her, that as I had some Hopes I should be able to reach up part of the Ascent, so I despaired of having Strength enough to attain the Plain on the Top. But being informed by her that it was impossible to stand upon the Sides, and that if I did not proceed onwards, I should irrecoverably fall down to the lowest Verge, I resolved to hazard any Labour and Hardship in the Attempt: So great a desire had I of enjoying the Satisfaction I hoped to meet with at the End of my Enterprize!

'There were two Paths, which led up by different Ways to the Summit of the Mountain; the one was guarded by the Genius which presides over the Moment of our Births. He had it in charge to examine the several Pretensions of those who desired a Pa.s.s that Way, but to admit none excepting those only on whom _Melpomene_ had look'd with a propitious Eye at the Hour of their Nativity. The other Way was guarded by _Diligence_, to whom many of those Persons apply'd who had met with a Denial the other Way; but he was so tedious in granting their Request, and indeed after Admittance the Way was so very intricate and laborious, that many after they had made some Progress, chose rather to return back than proceed, and very few persisted so long as to arrive at the End they proposed. Besides these two Paths, which at length severally led to the Top of the Mountain, there was a third made up of these two, which a little after the Entrance joined in one.

This carried those happy Few, whose good Fortune it was to find it, directly to the Throne of _Apollo_. I don't know whether I should even now have had the Resolution to have demanded Entrance at either of these Doors, had I not seen a Peasant-like Man (followed by a numerous and lovely Train of Youths of both s.e.xes) insist upon Entrance for all whom he led up. He put me in mind of the Country Clown who is painted in the Map for leading Prince _Eugene_ over the _Alps_. He had a Bundle of Papers in his Hand, and producing several, which he said, were given to him by Hands which he knew _Apollo_ would allow as Pa.s.ses; among which, methoughts, I saw some of my own Writing; the whole a.s.sembly was admitted, and gave, by their Presence, a new Beauty and Pleasure to these happy Mansions. I found the Man did not pretend to enter himself, but served as a kind of Forester in the Lawns to direct Pa.s.sengers, who by their own Merit, or Instructions he procured for them, had Virtue enough to travel that way. I looked very attentively upon this kind homely Benefactor, and forgive me, _Mr._ SPECTATOR, if I own to you I took him for your self. We were no sooner entered, but we were sprinkled three times with the Water of the Fountain _Aganippe_, which had Power to deliver us from all Harms, but only Envy, which reached even to the End of our Journey. We had not proceeded far in the middle Path when we arrived at the Summit of the Hill, where there immediately appeared to us two Figures, which extremely engaged my Attention: the one was a young Nymph in the Prime of her Youth and Beauty; she had Wings on her Shoulders and Feet, and was able to transport herself to the most distant Regions in the smallest s.p.a.ce of Time. She was continually varying her Dress, sometimes into the most natural and becoming Habits in the World, and at others into the most wild and freakish Garb that can be imagined.

There stood by her a Man full-aged, and of great Gravity, who corrected her Inconsistences, by shewing them in his Mirror, and still flung her affected and unbecoming Ornaments down the Mountain, which fell in the Plain below, and were gathered up and wore with great Satisfaction by those that inhabited it. The Name of the Nymph was _Fancy_, the Daughter of _Liberty_, the most beautiful of all the Mountain-Nymphs. The other was _Judgment_, the Off-spring of _Time_, and the only Child he acknowledged to be his. A Youth, who sat upon a Throne just between them, was their genuine Offspring; his Name was _Wit_, and his Seat was composed of the Works of the most celebrated Authors. I could not but see with a secret Joy, that though the _Greeks_ and _Romans_ made the Majority, yet our own Countrymen were the next both in Number and Dignity. I was now at Liberty to take a full Prospect of that delightful Region. I was inspired with new Vigour and Life, and saw every thing in n.o.bler and more pleasing Views than before; I breathed a purer aether in a Sky which was a continued Azure, gilded with perpetual Sunshine. The two Summits of the Mountain rose on each Side, and formed in the midst a most delicious Vale, the Habitation of the Muses, and of such as had composed Works worthy of Immortality. _Apollo_ was seated upon a Throne of Gold, and for a Canopy an aged Laurel spread its Boughs and its Shade over his Head.

His Bow and Quiver lay at his Feet. He held his Harp in his Hand, whilst the Muses round about him celebrated with Hymns his Victory over the Serpent _Python_, and sometimes sung in softer Notes the Loves of _Leucothoe_ and _Daphnis_. _Homer_, _Virgil_, and _Milton_ were seated the next to them. Behind were a great Number of others, among whom I was surprized to see some in the Habit of _Laplanders_, who, notwithstanding the Uncouthness of their Dress, had lately obtained a Place upon the Mountain. I saw _Pindar_ walking all alone, no one daring to accost him, till _Cowley_ join'd himself to him; but growing weary of one who almost walked him out of breath, he left him for _Horace_ and _Anacreon_, with whom he seemed infinitely delighted.

'A little further I saw another Groupe of Figures; I made up to them, and found it was _Socrates_ dictating to _Xenophon_, and the Spirit of _Plato_; but most of all, _Musoeus_ had the greatest Audience about him. I was at too great a Distance to hear what he said, or to discover the Faces of his Hearers; only I thought I now perceived _Virgil_, who had joined them, and stood in a Posture full of Admiration at the Harmony of his Words.

'Lastly, At the very Brink of the Hill I saw _Boccalini_ sending Dispatches to the World below of what happened upon _Parna.s.sus_; but I perceived he did it without leave of the Muses, and by stealth, and was unwilling to have them revised by _Apollo_. I could now from this Height and serene Sky behold the infinite Cares and Anxieties with which Mortals below sought out their way through the Maze of Life. I saw the Path of Virtue lie strait before them, whilst Interest, or some malicious Demon, still hurry'd them out of the Way. I was at once touched with Pleasure at my own Happiness, and Compa.s.sion at the sight of their inextricable Errors. Here the two contending Pa.s.sions rose so high, that they were inconsistent with the sweet Repose I enjoy'd, and awaking with a sudden start, the only Consolation I could admit of for my Loss, was the Hopes that this Relation of my Dream will not displease you.' [2]

T.

[Footnote 1: Room is made for this paper, in the original issue, by printing it in smaller type.]

[Footnote 2: This Advertis.e.m.e.nt follows:

_A Letter written_ October 14, _dated_ Middle Temple, _has been overlooked, by reason it was not directed to the_ SPECTATOR _at the usual Places; and the Letter of the 18th, dated from the same Place, is groundless, the Author of the Paper of_ Friday _last not having ever seen the Letter of the 14th. In all circ.u.mstances except the Place of Birth of the Person to whom the Letters were written, the Writer of them is misinformed_.]

No. 515. Tuesday, October 21, 1712. Steele.

'Pudet me et miseret qui harum mores contabat mihi Monuisse frustra--'

Ter.