point of gain, shews he had, to a great perfection, that discernment of spirit which constitutes a genius for comedy. White's Chocolate-house, May 11. It is not to be imagined, how far the violence of our desires will carry us towards our own deceit in the pursuit of what we wish for. A gentleman here this evening was giving me an account of a dumb fortuneteller, who outdoes Mr. Partridge, myself, or the ' unborn doctor', for predictions; all his visitants come to him full of expectations, and pay his own rate for the interpretations they put upon his shrugs and nods. There is a fine rich city-widow stole thither the other day (though it is not six weeks since her husband's departure from her company to rest), and with her trusty maid demanded of him, whether she should marry again, by holding up two fingers, like horns on her forehead. The wizard held up both his hands forked. The relic desired to know, whether he meant, by his holding up both hands, to represent that she had one husband before, and that she should have another? or that he intimated, she should have two more? The cunning man looked a little sour, upon which Betty jogged her mistress, who gave the other guinea; and he made her understand, she should positively have two more; but 6 Duncan Campbell, said to be deaf and dumb. See Spect. N° 474, and 560. 7 This was Thomas Kirleus, who called himself sworn physician in ordinary to Charles II. and pretended to extraordinary endowments from the circumstance of his having been (as he pretended) introduced into the world by the Cesarean operation. See No 41, and 226. shaked his head, and hinted that they should not live long with her. The widow sighed, and gave him the other half-guinea. After this prepossession, all that she had next to do was to make sallies to our end of the town, and find out who it is her fate to have. There are two who frequent this place, whom she takes to be men of vogue, and of whom her imagination has given her the choice. They have both the appearances of fine gentlemen, to such as do not know when they see persons of that turn; and, indeed, they are industrious enough to come at that character, to deserve the reputation of being such. But this town will not allow us to be the things we seem to aim at, and is too discerning to be fobbed off with pretences. One of these pretty fellows fails by his laborious exactness; the other, by his as much studied negligence. Frank Careless, as soon as his valet has helped on and adjusted his clothes, goes to his glass, sets his wig awry, tumbles his cravat; and, in short, undresses himself to go into company. Will Nice is so little satisfied with his dress, that all the time he is at a visit, he is still mending it, and is for that reason the more insufferable; for he who studies carelessness has, at least, his work the sooner done of the two. The widow is distracted whom to take for her first man; for Nice is every way so careful, that she fears his length of days; and Frank is so loose, that she has apprehensions for her own health with him. I am puzzled how to give a just idea of them; but, in a word, Careless is a coxcomb, and Nice a fop: both, you will say, very hopeful candidates for a gay young woman just set at liberty. But there is a whisper, her maid will give her to Tom Terror the gamester. This fellow has undone so many women, that he will certainly succeed if he is introduced; for nothing so much prevails with the vain part of that sex, as the glory of deceiving them who have deceived others. - Desunt multa. ***Mr. Bickerstaff has received letters from Mr. Coltstaff, Mr. Whipstaff, and Mrs. Rebecca Wagstaff; all which relate chiefly to their being left out in the genealogy of the family lately published; but my cousin who writ that draught, being a clerk in the herald's office, and being at present under the displeasure of the chapter; it is feared, if that matter should be touched upon at this time, the young gentleman would lose his place for treason against the king of arms. 9 "Castabella's complaint is come to hand.' STEELE. N° 15. SATURDAY, MAY 14, 1709. Quicquid agunt homines nostri est farrago libelli. JUV. Sat. i, 85, 86. Whatever good is done, whatever ill- From my own Apartment, May 12. I HAVE taken a resolution, hereafter, on any want of intelligence, to carry my familiar abroad with me', who has promised to give me very proper and just notices of persons and things, to make up the history 8 See No 11. 9 N° 16. *N13. |