fhould pitch the Bar fartheft; that it had for fome time been a measuring Caft, and at last my Friend of the Cat and Sign-poft had thrown beyond them all.

I then confider'd the Manner in which this Story had been received, and the Poffibility that it might have pafs'd for a Jeft upon others, if he had not labour'd against himself. From hence, thought I, there are two ways which the Well-bred World generally takes to correct fuch a Practice, when they do not think fit to contradict it flatly.

THE firft of thefe is a general Silence, which I would not advise any one to interpret in his own behalf. It is offen the Effect of Prudence in avoiding a Quarrel, when they fee another drive fo faft, that there is no ftopping him without being run againft; and but very feldom the Effect of Weakness in believing fuddenly. The generality of Mankind are not fo grofly ignorant, as fome over-bearing Spirits would perfuade themselves; and if the Authority of a Character or a Caution against Danger make us fupprefs our Opinion, yet neither of these are of force enough

to

to fupprefs our Thoughts of them. If a Man who has endeavoured to amufe his Company with Improbabilities could but look into their Minds, he would find that they imagine he lightly esteems of their Senfe when he thinks to impose upon them, and that he is less efteemed by them for his Attempt in doing fo. His Endeavour to glory at their Expence becomes a ground of Quarrel, and the Scorn and Indifference with which they entertain it begins the immediate Punishment: And indeed (if we fhould even go no further) Silence, or a neglecting Indifference has a deeper way of wounding than Oppofition; because Oppofition proceeds from an Anger that has a fort of generous Sentiment for the Adverfary mingling along with it, while it fhews that there is fome Efteem in your Mind for him; in fhort, that you think him worth while to conteft with: But Silence, or a negligent Indifference, proceeds from Anger, mixed with a Scorn that fhews another he is thought by you too contemptible to be regarded.

THE other Method which the World has taken for correcting this Praatice of falfe Surprize, is to over-fhoot fuch

fuch Talkers in their own Bow, or to raise the Story with further Degrees of Impoffibility, and set up for a Voucher to them in fuch a manner as must let them fee they ftand detected. Thus I have heard a Difcourfe was once managed upon the Effects of Fear. One of the Company had given an Account how it had turned his Friend's Hair grey in a Night, while the Terrors of a Shipwrack encompaffed him. Another taking the Hint from hence, began, upon his own Knowledge, to enlarge his Inftances of the like nature to fuch a Number, that it was not probable he could ever have met with them; and as he still grounded thefe upon different Causes, for the fake of Variety, it might seem at laft, from his Share of the Conversation, almost impoffible that any one who can feel the Paffion of Fear fhould all his Life escape fo common an Effect of it. By this time fome of the Company grew negligent, or defirous to contradict him: But one rebuked the reft with an Appearance of Severity, and with the known old Story in his Head, affured them they need not fcruple to believe that the Fear of any thing can make a Man's Hair grey,

fince

30

to:

fince he knew one whofe Perriwig had fuffered fo by it. Thus he ftopped the Talk, and made them eafy. Thus is the fame Method taken to bring us to T Shame, which we fondly take to increase our Character. It is indeed a kind of Mimickry, by which another puts on our Air of Conversation to show us to our felves: He feems to look ridiculous before you, that you may remember how near a Refemblance you bear to him, or that you may know he will not lie under the Imputation of believing you. Then it is that you are ftruck dumb immediately with a confcientious Shame for what you have been faying: Then it is that you are inwardly grieved at the Sentiments which you cannot but perceive others entertain concerning you. In fhort, you are against your felf; the Laugh of the Company runs against you; the cenfuring World is obliged to you for that Triumph which you have allowed them at your own Expence; and Truth, which you have injured, has a near way of being revenged on you, when by the bare Repetition of your Story you become a frequent Diverfion for the Publick.

he

Mr.

Mr. SPECTATOR,

THE
Teras Church-yard, I thought of
HE other Day, walking in Pan

your Paper wherein you mention Epitaphs, and am of opinion this has a Thought in it worth being commu'nicated to your Readers.

Here Innocence and Beauty lies, whofe Breath
Was fnatch'd by early, not untimely Death.
Hence did fhe go, just as she did begin
Sorrow to know, before she knew to fin.
Death, that does Sin and Sorrow thus prevent,

Is the next Bleffing to a Life well spent.

I am, SIR,

Your Servant.

Tuesday's