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tor's ghost.' He then renewed his attention, and, from time to time, fell a praising the widow. He made indeed a little mistake as to one of her pages, whom at his first entering he took for As. tyanax; but he quickly set himself right in that particular, though at the same time he owned he should have been very glad to have seen the little boy; who, says he, must needs be a very fine child, by the account that is given of him. Upon Hermione's going off with a menace to Pyrrhus, the audience gave a loud clap; to which Sir Roger added, “On my word, a notable young bag

As there was a very remarkable silence and stillness in the audience during the whole action, it was natural for them to take the opportunity of the intervals between the acts, to express their opinion of the players, and of their respective parts. Sir Roger hearing a cluster of them praise Orestes, struck in with them, and told them that he thought his friend Pylades was a very sensible man: as they were afterwards applauding Pyrrhus, Sir Roger put in a second time; . And let me tell you,' says he, though he speaks but little, I like the old fellow in whiskers as well as any of them.' Captain Sentry seeing two or three wags who sat near us, lean with an attentive ear towards Sir Roger, and fearing lest they should smoke the knight, plucked him by the elbow, and whispered something in his ear, that

, lasted till the opening of the fifth act. The knight was wonderfully attentive to the account which Orestes gives of Pyrrhus's death; and at the conclusion of it told me, it was such a bloody piece of work, that he was glad it was not done

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upon the stage. Seeing afterwards Orestes in his raving fit, he grew more than ordinarily serious, and took occasion to moralize (in his way) upon an evil conscience, adding, that Orestes, in his madness, looked as if he saw something.

As we were the first that came into the house, so we were the last that went out of it; being resolved to have a clear passage for our old friend, whom we did not care to venture among the justling of the crowd. Sir Roger went out fully satisfied with his entertainment, and we guarded him to his lodgings in the same manner that we brought him to the playhouse; being highly pleased, for my own part, not only with the performance of the excellent piece which had been presented, but with the satisfaction which it has given to the good old man. ADDISON.

L.

No. 336. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26.

-Clament periisse pudorem
Cuncti penè patres: eùa cm reprehendere conor,
Quæ gravis Esopus, quæ doctus Roscius egit:
Vd quia nil rectum, nisi quod placuit sibi, ducunt:
Vel quia turpe putant parere minoribus, et quæ
Imberbes didicere, senes perdenda fateri.

HOR.

IMITATED.

One tragic sentence if I dare deride,
Which Betterton's grave action dignified,
Or well-mouth'd Booth with emphasis proclaims,
(Though but, perhaps, a muster-roll of names)
How will our fathers rise up in a rage,
And swear all shame is lost in George's age!
You'd think no fools disgrac'd the former reign,
Dicl not some grave examples yet remain,
Who scorn a lad should teach his father's skill,
And, having once been wrong, will be so still.

POPE

"MR. SPECTATOR,

• As you are the daily endeavourer to promote learning and good sense, I think myself obliged to suggest to your consideration whatever may promote or prejudice them. There is an evil which has prevailed from generation to generation, which gray hairs and tyrannical custom continue to support; I hope your spectatorial authority will give a seasonable check to the spread of the infection; I mean old men's overbearing the strongest sense of their juniors by the mere force of seniority; so that for a young man in the bloom of life and vigour of age, to give a reasonable contradiction to his elders, is esteemed an unpardonable insolence, and regarded as reversing the decrees of nature. I am a young man,

VOL. VII.

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I confess; yet I honour the gray head as much as any one: however, when in company with old

: men, I hear them speak obscurely, or reason preposterously. (into which absurdities, prejudice, pride, or interest will sometimes throw the wisest) I count it no crime to rectify their reasonings, unless conscience must truckle to ceremony, and truth fall a sacrifice to complaisance. The strongest arguments are enervated, and the brightest evidence disappears, before those tremendous reasonings and dazzling discoveries of venerable old age. You are young giddy-headed fellows;

. you have not yet had experience of the world. Thus we young folks find our ambition cramped and our laziness indulged, since, while young, we have little room to display ourselves; and, when old, the weakness of nature must pass for strength of sense, and we hope that hoary heads will raise us above the attacks of contradiction. Now, sir, as you would enliven our activity in the pursuit of learning, take our case into consi. deration; and, with a gloss on brave Elihu's sentiments, assert the rights of youth, and prevent the pernicious encroachments of age. The generous reasonings of that gallant youth would adorn

your paper; and I beg you would insert them, not doubting but that they will give good entertainment to the most intelligent of your readers,

666 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified nimself rather than God. Also against his three

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friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he. When Elihu saw there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled. And Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered, and

young,

and

ye are very old, wherefore I was afraid, and durst not show you mine opinion. I said, days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom. But there is a spirit in man; and the inspiration of the Almightý giveth them understanding. Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment. Therefore, I said, hearken to me, I also will show mine opinion. Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst you searched out what to say. Yes, I attended unto and behold there was none of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words; lest ye should say, we have found out wisdom: God thrusteth him down, not man. Now he hath not directed his words against me; neither will I answer him with your speeches. They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking. When I had waited (for they spake not, but stood still, and answered no more) I said,

I I will answer also my part, I also will show mine opinion. For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me. Behold my belly is as wine which hath no vent, it is ready to burst like new bottles. I will speak that I may be refreshed; I will open my lips and answer. Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person,

, neither let me give flattering titles unto man:

you:

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