along, the pattern and ornament of our species, but of course the envy of all who had the same passions without his superior merit, and the pretences to the favour of that enchanting creature, woman. However, the generous Orlando believed himself formed for the world, and not to be ingrossed by any particular affection. He sighed not for Delia, for Chloris, for Chloe, for Betty, nor my lady, nor for the ready chamber-maid, nor distant baroness: woman was his mistress, and the whole sex his seraglio. His form was always irresistible: and, if we consider that not one of five hundred can bear the least favour from a lady without being exalted above himself; if also we must allow, that a smile from a side-box has made Jack Spruce half mad; we cannot think it wonderful that Orlando's repeated conquests touched his brain so it certainly did, and Orlando became an enthusiast in love; and in all his address, contracted something out of the ordinary course of breeding and civility. However, powerful as he was, he would still add to the advantages of his person, that of a profession which the ladies always favour, and immediately commenced soldier. Thus equipped for love and honour, our hero seeks distant climes and adventures, and leaves the despairing nymphs of Great Britain, to the courtship of beaux and witlings till his return. His exploits in foreign nations and courts have not been regularly enough communicated unto us, to report them with that veracity which we profess in our narrations: but after many feats of arms (which those who were witnesses to them have suppressed out of envy, but which we have had faithfully related from his own mouth in our public-streets) Orlando returns home full, but not loaded, with years. Beaux born in his absence made it their business to decry his furniture, his dress, his manner; but all such rivalry he suppressed (as the philosopher did the sceptic, who argued there was no such thing as motion) by only moving. The beauteous Villaria, who only was formed for his paramour, became the object of his affection. His first speech to her was as follows: Madam, it is not only that nature has made us two the most accomplished of each sex, and pointed to us to obey her dictates in becoming one; but that there is also an ambition in following the mighty persons you have favoured. Where kings and heroes, as great as Alexander, or such as could personate Alexander, have bowed, permit your general to lay his laurels.' According to Milton; The fair with conscious majesty approv'd Fortune having now supplied Orlando with necessaries for his high taste of gallantry and pleasure, his equipage and œconomy had something in them more sumptuous and gallant than could be received in our degenerate age; therefore his figure, though highly graceful, appeared so exotic, that it assembled all the Britons under the age of sixteen, who saw his grandeur, to follow his chariot with shouts and acclama 6 Barbara Villiers, sole daughter and heiress of William lord viscount Grandison of Ireland. 7 Orlando, though not the last in the motley procession, came after a long promiscuous train of king, lords, and commons.-She had been wife of Roger Palmer, esq. afterwards Earl of Castlemain; then mistress of king Charles 11. &c. &c. &c. • In allusion to Goodman the player, who was one of her many lovers. See Granger, Biog. Hist. Eng. vol. ii. 423, 424, 461. tions; which he regarded with the contempt which great minds affect in the midst of applauses. I remember, I had the honour to see him one day stop, and call the youths about him, to whom he spake as follows: Good bastards-go to school, and do not lose your time in following my wheels: I am loth to hurt you, because I know not but you are all my own offspring: hark ye, you sirrah with the white hair, I am sure you are mine: there is half a crown. Tell your mother, this, with the half crown I gave her when I got you, comes to five shillings. Thou hast cost me all that, and yet thou art good for nothing. Why, you young dogs, did you never see a man before? Never such a one as you, noble general,' replied a truant from Westminster. Sirrah, I believe thee: there is a crown for thee.-Drive on, coachman.' This vehicle, though sacred to love, was not adorned with doves: such an hieroglyphic denoted too languishing a passion. Orlando therefore gave the eagle', as being of a constitution which inclined him rather to seize his prey with talons, than pine for it with murmurs. From my own Apartment, August 2. I HAVE received the following letter from Mr. Powel 10 of Bath, who, I think, runs from the point between us; which I leave the whole world to judge. TO ISAAC BICKERSTAFF, ESQUIRE. 6 SIR, Bath, July 28. HAVING a great deal of more advantageous business at present on my hands, I thought to have deferred 9 The Fieldings give the spread eagle, as counts of the German empire. 10 Mr. Hughes, in one of his letters, says: 'Our friend the Tatler, under the notion of Mr. Powell at the Bath, answering your Tatler of the twenty-first instant" until the company was gone, and season over; but having resolved not to regard any impertinencies of your paper, except what relate particularly to me, I am the more easily induced to answer you, as I shall find time to do it. First, partly lest you should think yourself neglected, which I have reason to believe you would take heinously ill. Secondly, partly because it will increase my fame, and consequently my audience, when all the quality shall see with how much wit and raillery I shew you-I do not care a farthing for you. Thirdly, partly because "being without books," if I do not shew much learning, it will not be imputed to my having none. 12 I have travelled Italy, France, and Spain, and fully comprehended whatever any German artist in the world can do; yet cannot I imagine, why you should endeavour to disturb the repose and plenty which, though unworthy, I enjoy at this place. It cannot be, that you take offence at my prologues and epilogues, which you are pleased to miscall foolish and abusive. No, no, until you give a better, I shall not forbear thinking that the true reason of your picking a quarrel with me was, because it is more agreeable to your principles, as well as more to the honour of your assured victory, to attack a governor. Mr. Isaac, Mr. Isaac, I can see into a mill-stone as far as another, as the saying is; you are for sowing the seeds of sedition and disobedience among my puppets, and your zeal for the good old cause would has, in my mind, entered into the depth of the argument in dispute [between Ben Hoadly and the bishop of Exeter], and given a complete answer to all that the reverend bishop either can or will say upon the subject.' make you persuade Punch to pull the string from his chops, and not move his jaw when I have a mind he should harangue. Now, I appeal to all men, if this be not contrary to that unaccountable and uncontroulable dominion, which by the laws of nature I exercise over them; for all sorts of wood and wire were made for the use and benefit of man: I have, therefore, an unquestionable right to frame, fashion, and put them together as I please; and having made them what they are, my puppets are my property, and therefore my slaves: nor is there in nature any thing more just, than the homage which is paid by a less to a more excellent being: so that by the right, therefore, of a superior genius, I am their supreme moderator, although you would insinuate, agreeably to your levelling principles, that I am myself but a great puppet, and can therefore have but a co-ordinate jurisdiction with them. I suppose, I have now sufficiently made it appear, that I have a paternal right' to keep a puppet show, and this right I will maintain in prologues on all occasions. 13 And, therefore, if you write a defence of yourself against this my self-defence, I admonish you to keep within bounds; for every day will not be so propitious to you as the twenty-ninth of April; and perhaps my resentment may get the better of my generosity, and I may no longer scorn to fight one who is not my equal, with unequal weapons: there are such things as scandalums magnatums; therefore, take heed hereafter how you write such things as I 13 Sir Robert Filmer published two books; one on the Anarchy of a limited and mixed Monarchy," the other on Patriarchal Government; in which he endeavours to prove that all government was monarchical at first; that paternal is the same as royal authority, and implies despotic power, &c. &c. |