Thus boldly to the gods mankind reveal, What, from each other, they for fhame conceal; Give me good fame, ye powers, and make me juft, Thus much the rogue to public ears will truft: I should poffefs th' eftate, if he were dead, &c.-Dryden. EPISTLE XI. On Modefty, Bashfulness, and natural Habit. I HAVE had the pleasure, Lucilius, of converfing with a friend of yours, of a most excellent difpofition; his very firft fpeech fhewed fuch ingenuity, ftrength of mind, and proficiency in learning, as to give me a taste of what we may one day expect from him. What he said, was by no means premeditated, as I came upon him unawares. As foon as he had recovered the furprize, it was with difficulty that he hook off that decent modefly, which is a very good fign in a young man (a); fo deep a blush was spread over his face: and this, I think, will not leave him, even when he hath ftrengthened his mind with virtue, thrown off all vices, and commenced the wife man. It is not in the power of wisdom entirely to furmount the natural imperfections of mind or body: whatever is innate and inbred may be corrected by art, but cannot be quite rooted out. Even fome, of the moft fteady temper, when obliged to fpeak in public, have been known to fweat, as if they had been fatigued wich running a race; while others have been fo affected on the like occafion, as to have their knees tremble, their teeth chatter, their tongue faulter, or their lips fo clofe, that they cannot open their mouth. And this bafhfulnefs, neither difcipline, nor ufe can shake off: nature will fill prevail, and admonish, even the ftrongeft, of this F 2 their their weakness (c): for fuch I reckon the blush which spreads itself over the face of the graveft perfons. It is more common, indeed among youth, who have more heat, and a delicate conftitution; but it fpares not even veterans and fages. There are fome, indeed, who are never more to be dreaded, than when they redden (d); as if they had, at once, thrown from the heart all decency and modefty. As Sylla was always moft violent, when the blood rofe in his face: but nothing could be more foft and pleafing than the countenance of Pompey; he always blushed, when in company, and especially when he made a public oration; and I remember to have seen Fabian (e) blush, upon being called upon in the fenate, only as a witness, and I thought it became him admirably well. This was not owing to any infirmity of mind, but to furprize and accident: which, though they do not always embarrass the unexperienced, yet naturally affect fuch as, from the conftitution of the body, are apt to blush. For as there are fome whofe blood is fo well-tempered as not to be moved extraordinarily; there are others in whom it is fo lively and active as to be continually flying into the face: and this, as before observed, no wisdom can get the better of; otherwise it would subject nature to its command, and eradicate every imperfection. Whatever arifeth from the condition of birth, or the temperature of the body, it will stick by us; how much, or how long foever, the mind has been endeavouring to fix and compose itself. upon right principles, none of these things can be avoided, any more than they can be acquired. The greatest artists on the stage, who mimick all kinds of paffion; who can exprefs fear and trembling, and difplay all the figns of heartfore grief; when they are to express bashfulness, can do no more than exhibit a dejected countenance, speak low, and caft their eyes upon the ground; they cannot blush when they would: it is in vain either to forbid or command a blufh: wifdom neither promifes, nor can perform. any thing in this refpect; they are their own mafters; and come, and go,. as they pleafe. But this epiftle demands a fentimental claufe: accept then of this, which I take to be a falutary and ufeful maxim, worthy of being engraved upon: the heart aliquis vir bonus nobis eligendus eft, ac femper ante oculos habendus, ut fic tunquam illo fpectante vivamus, et omnia tanquam illo vidente faciamus. We must fix upon fome good man (f), and have him always before our eye, as a witness of our life and actions. And this likewife, my Lucilius, was the precept of Epicurus; he would have a guardian, or cenfor, continually fet over us; and with great propriety: for fure, many fins would be prevented, was fome witness to be prefent at the commiffion. Let the mind, therefore, fuppofe fome one prefent, whom it may revere; and from whose authority every fecret may receive fanction. Happy the man, who not only by his prefence, but by being thought upon, has fuch influence upon another perfon, as to induce him to act decently! And happy the man, who fo reverences another, as upon only calling him to mind, forms and regulates his own conduct. He, that fo reverenceth another, will foon be reverenced himself. Chufe therefore Cato; Cato seems somewhat too rigid, chufe Lælius, a man of not so severe a temper; or chufe fome one, among your acquaintance, whofe life and manner of addrefs, charm you; and having in view either the understanding or presence of such a one, look upon him, either as your guardian or model: there must be fome one, I fay, according to whofe plan we must form our morals: without fome certain rule, you will never correct what is amifs. 1 ANNOTATIONS, &c. (a) A good fign in a young man] So Pliny, fpeaking of Calpurnius Pifo, the younger, fays,-Commendabat hæc voce fuaviffimâ, vocem verecundia; multum fanguinis, multum follicitudinis in ore magna ornamenta recitantis: etenim nefcio quo pacto magis in ftudiis homines timor quàm fiducia decet. Thefe beauties were extremely heighten'd by a moft harmonious voice, which a very becoming modefty: rendered ftill more pleafing. Confufion and concern, in the countenance of a Speaker, throws a grace upon all be utters; for there is a certain decent timidity, which, I know not how, is infinitely more engaging than the affured, and felf-fufficient air of confidence M.-Diogenes, the Cynic, feeing a young man blush, said to him, appel, Toutóv iσTI Tñs άperns tò xfupa. Take courage, youth; you need not be ashamed; this is the colour of virtue—Πᾶι ερυθριών γε χρηστος εἶναί μοι δοκεῖ.. Menander A blush points out the goodness of the beart. See Ep. 25. (b) To Speak in publick] Plutarch, speaking of Alcibiades, obferves, that, though he was as fagacious, and happy in his thoughts as any.man whatever; yet, for want of a little affurance, be very often miferably loft himself in bis pleadings; and would faulter and make paufes in the middle of an oration; purely for the want of a fingle word, or fome neat expreffion that be bad in his papers and could not prefently recollect.-And there have been two remarkable inftances, partly in our memory, of this inability to speak in publick; notwithstanding the greatest capacities and accomplifliments that could be required in fuch a province: I mean, in that elegant writer, Philofopher, and statefinan, Mr. Addifon and our late worthy provoft of King's college, Cambridge, Dr. Roderick; who never attempted to preach but once, in a country village, village, (Milton, near Cambridge) and even there, had not courage enough to go half through his fermon. (c) This weakuefs] Il. w. 44. -diis aida's - 11. δι αιδὼς Γίνεται, ότι ανδρας μεγα σινιται, ήδ' ονησι, Shame is not of his foul; nor underfood, The greatest evil, and the greatest good. Vid. Plutarch. (de vitiofo pudore. c. n.) (d) When they redden] Tacitus, in his life of Agricola, fpeaking of Domitian says, His countenance was cruel, being always covered with a fettled red: in which be hardened himself against all fame ana blushing. (e) Fabian, the philofopher, and rhetorician, (fee Ep. 100.) He flourished in the reign of Tiberius, when Seneca was a young man. Xenophon (Dict. et Fact. 1. 4.) attributes this to Socrates; that even in his abfence the remembrance of him was of great service to those who were converfant with him and heard his lectures. And Plutarch (de Sign. Profectûs) adviseth, when we go upon any business, or undertake any office, to fet before our eyes fome excellent perfon, either alive or dead, and confider with ourselves, what Plato would have done in this affair; what Epaminondas would have faid ; bow Lycurgus, or Agefilaus would have behaved ; that addreffing ourselves, and adorning our minds at theje mirrors, we may correct every disagreeing word and irregular pafion.-And if the confideration and remembrance of good men being present and entertained in our minds, preferve the proficiency, in all affections and doubts, regular and unmoveable ; you may judge that this alfo is a token of a proficient in virtue. But a ferious Chriftian need not to be reminded to place a Cato, a Lælius, or even a St. Paul in his view for this purpofe; he cannot but know, that he hath infinitely a more powerful guardian, and more close inspector, ever over him, or rather in him.-For know ye not, that ye are the temp e of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 1 Cor. 3. 16. 6. 19. See also Rom. 8. 9. Ephef. 4. 30. Go where I will, Lucilius, or do what I will, I meet with something that reminds me of old Age. I went the other day to my villa without the city, and was complaining, that it feemed greatly out of repair, notwithstanding my continual expence. I cannot help it, says my bailiff, it is no fault of mine; I have done all I can, but it is very old. Now, you must know, that this villa is of my own building. What then must I expect, if the ftone wall, of my own time, is decayed! So much for that; but ftill more out of humour; furely, fays I, thofe plane-trees have been much neglected; how knotty and crooked are the branches! there is fcarce a leaf upon them and the trunks how wretched and fquallid! This could never have happened, if they had been properly dug about, and well watered. Upon this, my bailiff fwears heartily, that he has done all he could, that no care has been wanting in him, but the trees are very old. True enough; for I planted them myself, and faw their first foliage. Turning to the door, What old decrepit fellow is this, faid I, whom you have properly enough placed here, with his face pointed to the door? (a) where did you get him? what was your fancy for bringing a strange corpfe to my house?-Do you not know me? fays the old man; I am Felicio, to whom formerly you was wont to bring playthings; I am the fon of Philofitus, your late bailiff; your favourite playfellow. "Surely, fays I, the man doats; what does he talk of being a little boy, and my play-fellow? But it may be fo indeed; for he is fhed-ding his teeth. This is what I am obliged to my villa for; that, look where I will, I am put in mind of my old age. Be it fo; let me enjoy it; let me love it. It is replete with pleafure, when we know how to use it. Fruit is then. more grateful, when at the end of the feafon. The bloom of youth is thenmost comely, when paffing into manhood. Your wine-bibbers relish best the last bottle, even that which overfets them, and gives the finishing stroke to the debauch. Whatever is exquisite in pleasure is referved to the last. Even age is most pleasant, when the decay is not too rapid, but comes gently on; nor can I think it deftitute of pleasure, even on the verge of life: or, this may be reckoned instead of pleasure, that it wants none.. How sweet is life, when all anxious defires have taken their leave of us! But it is very irkfome, you will fay, to have death always before our eyes. Death, my friend, ought to be placed before the eyes of the young,. as well as of the old. For we are not fummoned according to the parish regifter. And befides there is no man fo old, as to make it finful to expect another day (b). Now, every day is another step in life. Our whole time: |