was weary with labour, fnatched at the recompence, and gave his performance to his friends and his enemies as foon as impatience and pride perfuaded him to conclude it.

ONE of the most pernicious effects of hafte, is obfcurity. He that teems with a quick fucceffion of ideas, and perceives how one fentiment produces another, easily believes that he can clearly express what he fo ftrongly comprehends; he feldom fufpects his thoughts of embarrasment while he preferves in his own memory the series of connection, or his diction of ambiguity while only one fense is present to his mind. Yet if he has been employed on an abstruse or complicated argument, he will find, when he has a while withdrawn his mind, and returns as a new rea der to his work, that he has only a conjectural glimpse of his own meaning, and that to explain it to those whom he defires to instruct, he must open his fentiments, disentangle his method, and alter his arrangement.

AUTHORS and lovers always fuffer fome infatuation, from which only abfence can fet them free; and every man ought to restore

himself

himself to the full exercife of his judgment, before he does that which he cannot do improperly without injuring his honour and his quiet.

NUMB. 170. SATURDAY, November 2, 1751.

I

Confiteor; fi quid protest delicta fateri.

SIR,

To the RAMBLER.

OVID

I AM one of those beings, from whom many, that melt at the fight of all other mifery, think it meritorious to withhold relief; one whom the rigour of virtuous indig nation dooms to fuffer without complaint, and perish without regard; and whom I myfelf have formerly infulted in the pride of reputation and fecurity of innocence.

I AM of a good family, but my father was burthened with more children than he could decently support. A wealthy relation, as he travelled

travelled from London to his country feat, condescending to make him a vifit, was touched with compaffion of his narrow fortune, and refolved to eafe him of part of his charge by taking the care of a child upon himself. Diftrefs on one fide and ambition on the other, were too powerful for parental fondness, and the little family paffed in review before him that he might make his choice. I was then ten years old, and without knowing for what purpose I was called to my great coufin, endeavoured to recommend myself by my best courtesy, fung him my prettiest song, told the laft ftory that I had read, and fo much endeared myself by my innocence, that he declared his refolution to adopt me, and to educate me with his own daughters.

My parents felt the common ftruggles at the thought of parting, and some natural tears they dropp'd, but wip'd them foon. They confidered, not without that false estimation of the value of wealth which poverty long continued always produces, that I was raised to higher rank than they could give me, and to hopes of more ample fortune than they could bequeath. My mother fold fome of her or

naments

naments to drefs me in fuch a manner as might fecure me from contempt at my first arrival; and when fhe difmiffed me, preffed me to her bosom with an embrace which I ftill feel, gave me fome precepts of piety which however neglected I have not forgotten, and uttered prayers for my final happiness, of which I have not yet ceafed to hope, that they will at laft be granted.

My fifters envied my new finery, and feemed not much to regret our feparation; my father conducted me to the ftage-coach with a kind of chearful tenderness; and in a very short time, I was tranfported to fplendid. apartments, and a luxurious table, and grew familiar to show, noife, and gaiety.

IN three years my mother died, having implored a bleffing on her family with her laft breath. I had little opportunity to indulge a forrow which there was none to partake with me, and therefore foon ceased to reflect much upon my lofs. My father turned all his care upon his other children, whom fome fortunate adventures and unexpected legacies enabled him, when he died four years

after

after my mother, to leave in a condition above their expectations.

I SHOULD have fhared the encrease of his fortune, and had once a portion affigned me in his will; but my coufin affuring him that all care for me was needlefs, fince he had refolved to place me happily in the world, directed him to divide my part amongst my fifters.

THUS I was thrown upon dependance. without resource. Being now at an age in which young women are initiated in company, I was no longer to be fupported in my former character but at confiderable expence; fo that partly left I should waste money, and partly left my appearance might draw too many compliments and affiduities, I was infenfibly degraded from my equality, and enjoyed few privileges above the head fervant, but that of receiving no wages.

I FELT every indignity, but knew that refentment would precipitate my fall. I therefore endeavoured to continue my importance by little fervices and active officiouf

nefs,