whole Affembly of Ladies, who used to admire him, with a Pair of Shoulders peeping over his Head. I must not omit my own particular Adventure. My Friend with the long Vifage had no fooner taken upon him my fhort Face, but he made fuch a grotefque Figure in it, that as I looked upon him I could not forbear laughing at my felf, infomuch that I put my own Face out of Countenance. The poor Gentleman was fo fenfible of the Ridicule, that I found he was afhamed of what he had done: On the other fide I found that I myself had no great Reason to triumph, for as I went to touch my Forehead I miffed the Place, and clapped my Finger upon my upper Lip: Befides, as my Nofe was exceeding prominent, I gave it two or three unlucky Knocks as I was playing my Hand about my Face, and aiming at fome other Part of it. I faw two other Gentlemen by me, who were in the fame ridiculous Circumftances. Thefe had made a foolith Swop between a Couple of thick bandy Legs, and two long Trapfticks that had no Calfs to them. One of thefe looked like a Man walking upon Stilts, and was fo lifted up into the Air above his ordinary Height, that his Head turned round with it, while the other made fuch aukward Circles, as he attempted to walk, that he fcarce knew how to move forward upon his new Supporters: Obferving him to be a pleafant kind of Fellow, I ftuck my Cane in the Ground, and told him I would lay him a Bottle of Wine that he did not march up to it on a Line, that I drew for him in a Quarter of an Hour. THE Heap was at laft diftributed among the two Sexes, who made a moft piteous Sight as they wandered up and down under the Preffure of their feveral Purthens, The wholePlain was filled with Murmurs and Complaints, Groans and Lamentations. Jupiter at length taking Compaflion on the poor Mortals, ordered them a fecond time to lay down their Loads, with a Defign to give every one his own again. They discharged themfelves with a great deal of Pleafure, after which the Phantom, who had led them into fuch grofs Delufions, was commanded to difappear. There was fent in her ftead a Goddess of a quite different Figure: Her Motions were fteady and compofed, compofed, and her Aspect serious but cheerful. She every now and then caft her Eyes towards Heaven, and fixed them upon Jupiter: Her Name was PATIENCE.. She had no fooner placed her felf by the Mount of Sorrows, but, what I thought very remarkable, the whole Heap funk to fuch a Degree, that it did not appear a third Part so big as it was before. She afterwards returned every Man his own proper Calamity, and teaching him how to bear it in the most commodious Manner, he marched off with it contentedly, being very well pleased that he had not been left to his own Choice, as to the kind of Evils which fell to his Lot. BESIDES the feveral Pieces of Morality to be drawn out of this Vifion, I learnt from it never to repine at my own Misfortunes, or to envy the Happiness of another, fince it is impoffible for any Man to form a right Judgment of his Neighbour's Sufferings; for which Reafon alfo I have determined never to think too lightly of another's Complaints, but to regard the Sorrows of my Fellow-creatures with Sentiments of Humanity and Compaffion. No. 560. Monday, June 28. E Verba intermiffa retentat. Ov. Met. VERY one has heard of the famous Conjurer, who, according to the Opinion of the Vulgar, has studied himself dumb; for which Reason, as it is believed, he delivers out all his Oracles in Writing. Be that as it will, the blind Tirefias was not more famous in Greece, than this dumb Artist has been, for fome Years laft past, in the Cities of London and Westminster. Thus much for the profound Gentleman who honours me with the following Epiftle. SIR, B From my Cell, June 24, 1714. EING informed that you have lately got the Ufe of your Tongue, I have fome Thoughts of following your Example, that I may be a Fortune-teller properly fpeaking. I am grown weary of my Taciturnity, and having ferved my Country many Years under the Title of the dumb Doctor, I fhall now prophefy by Word of Mouth, and (as Mr. Lee fays of the Magpie, who you know was à great Fortune teller among the Ancients) chatter Futurity. I have hitherto chofen to receive Questions and return Anfwers in Writing, that I might avoid the Tedioufnefs and Trouble of Debates, my Querifts being generally of a Humour to think, that they have never Predictions enough for their Money. In short, Sir, my Cafe has been fomething like that of thofe difcreet Animals the Monkeys, who, as the Indians tell us, can fpeak if they would, but purpofely avoid it, that they may not be made to work. I have hitherto gained a Livelihood by holding my Tongue, but shall now open my Mouth in order to fill it. If I appear a little Word bound in 6 my firft Solutions and Refponies, I hope it will not be imputed to any Want of Forefight, but to the long Dilufe of Speech. I doubt not by this Invention to have all my former Cuftomers over again; for if I have promifed any of them Lovers or Husbands, Riches or good Luck, it is my Defign to confirm to them, viva voce, what I have already given them under my Hand. If you will honour me with a Vifit, I will compliment you with the first opening of my Mouth, and if you pleafe you may make an entertaining Dialogue out of the Converfation of two dumb Men. Excufe this Trouble, worthy Sir, from one who has been a long 6 • Time Your filent Admirer, Cornelius Agrippa. I have I have received the following Letter, or rather Billetdoux, from a pert young Baggage, who congratulates with me upon the fame Occafion. Dear Mr. Prate-apace, I June 23, 1714. A Ma Member of a Female Society who call our felves the Chit-chat Club, and am ordered by the whole Sisterhood to congratulate you upon the Ufe of your Tongue. We have all of us a mighty Mind to hear you talk, and if you will take your Place among us for an Evening, we have unanimously agreed to allow you one Minute in ten, without Interruption. I am, SIR, Your humble Servant, S. T. P.S. You may find us at my Lady Betty Clack's, who will leave Orders with her Porter, that if an elderly Gentleman, with a fhort Face, enquires for her, he shall be admitted and no Queftions ask'd. As this particular Paper shall confift wholly of what I have received from my Correfpondents, I fhall fill up the remaining Part of it with other congratulatory Letters of the fame Nature. SIR, WE Oxford, June 25. 1714. E are here wonderfully pleased with the Opening of your Mouth, and very frequently open ours in Approbation of your Defign, efpecially fince • we find you are refolved to preferve your Taciturnity • as to all Party-matters. We do not question but you ⚫are as great an Orator as Sir Hudibras, of whom the Poet fweetly fings, He could not ope If you will fend us down the half dozen well-turned Periods, that produced such dismal Effects in your Mufcles, we will depofite them near an old Manufcript of Tully's Orations, among the Archives of the Univerfity; for we all agree with you, that there is not a more remarkable Accident recorded in Hiftory, fince that which happened to the Son of Crafus, nay,.I believe you might have gone higher, and have added Balaam's Afs. We are impatient to fee more of your Productions, and expect what Words will next fall from you, with as much Attention as those, who were fet to watch the fpeaking Head which Friar Bacon formerly erected in this Place. We are, Honeft SPEC. I Worthy SIR, Your most humble Servants, B. R. T. D. &c. Middle Temple, June 24. AM very glad to hear that thou beginneft to prate; and find, by thy Yesterday's Vifion, thou art fo ufed to it, that thou canst not forbear talking in thy Sleep. Let me only advife thee to fpeak like other Men, for I am afraid thou wilt be very queer, if thou 'doft not intend to use the Phrafes in Fashion, as thou calleft them in thy fecond Paper. Haft thou a Mind to pafs for a Bantamite, or to make us all Quakers? I do affure thee, dear SPEC. I am not polished out of my Veracity, when I fubfcribe my felf, 6 Thy conftant Admirer, and bumble Servant, Frank Townly. Wednesday, |