Volume Iii Part 96 (1/2)

'Love is generally accompanied with Good-will in the Young, Interest in the Middle-aged, and a Pa.s.sion too gross to Name in the Old.

'The Endeavours to revive a decaying Pa.s.sion generally extinguish the Remains of it.

'A Woman who from being a Slattern becomes over-neat, or from being over-neat becomes a Slattern, is most certainly in Love.

I shall make use of this Gentleman's Skill as I see Occasion; and since I am got upon the Subject of Love, shall conclude this Paper with a Copy of Verses which were lately sent me by an unknown Hand, as I look upon them to be above the ordinary Run of Sonneteers.

The Author tells me they were written in one of his despairing Fits; and I find entertains some Hope that his Mistress may pity such a Pa.s.sion as he has described, before she knows that she is herself _Corinna_.

'Conceal, fond Man, conceal the mighty Smart, Nor tell_ Corinna _she has fir'd thy Heart.

In vain would'st thou complain, in vain pretend To ask a Pity which she must not lend.

She's too much thy Superior to comply, And too too fair to let thy Pa.s.sion dye.

Languish in Secret, and with dumb Surprize Drink the resistless Glances of her Eyes.

At awful Distance entertain thy Grief, Be still in Pain, but never ask Relief.

Ne'er tempt her Scorn of thy consuming State; Be any way undone, but fly her Hate.

Thou must submit to see thy Charmer bless Some happier Youth that shall admire her less; Who in that lovely Form, that Heavenly Mind, Shall miss ten thousand Beauties thou could'st find; Who with low Fancy shall approach her Charms, While half enjoy'd she sinks into his Arms.

She knows not, must not know, thy n.o.bler Fire, Whom she, and whom the Muses do inspire; Her Image only shall thy Breast employ, And fill thy captiv'd Soul with Shades of joy; Direct thy Dreams by Night, thy Thoughts by Day; And never, never, from thy Bosom stray.' [2]

[Footnote 1: See Nos. 602, 605, 614, 623, and 625.]

[Footnote 2: These verses were by Gilbert Budgell, second brother of Eustace.]

No. 592. Friday, September 10, 1714. Addison.

'--Studium sine divite Vena--'

Hor.

I look upon the Play-house as a World within it self. They have lately furnished the Middle Region of it with a new Sett of Meteors, in order to give the Sublime to many modern Tragedies. I was there last Winter at the first Rehearsal of the new Thunder [1], which is much more deep and sonorous than any hitherto made use of. They have a _Salmoneus_ behind the Scenes, who plays it off with great Success. Their Lightnings are made to flash more briskly than heretofore; their Clouds are also better furbelow'd, and more voluminous; not to mention a violent Storm locked up in a great Chest that is designed for the _Tempest_. They are also provided with above a Dozen Showers of Snow, which, as I am informed, are the Plays of many unsuccessful Poets artificially cut and shreaded for that Use. Mr. _Rimer's Edgar_ is to fall in Snow at the next acting of King _Lear_, in order to heighten, or rather to alleviate, the Distress of that unfortunate Prince; and to serve by way of Decoration to a Piece which that great Critick has written against.