put him up in a Sign-post before the Door; so that the Knight’s Head had hung out upon the Road about a Week before he himself knew any thing of the Matter.  As soon as Sir ROGER was acquainted with it, finding that his Servant’s Indiscretion proceeded wholly from Affection and Good-will, he only told him that he had made him too high a Compliment; and when the Fellow seemed to think that could hardly be, added with a more decisive Look, That it was too great an Honour for any Man under a Duke; but told him at the same time, that it might be altered with a very few Touches, and that he himself would be at the Charge of it.  Accordingly they got a Painter by the Knight’s Directions to add a pair of Whiskers to the Face, and by a little Aggravation to the Features to change it into the Saracen’s Head.  I should not have known this Story had not the Inn-keeper, upon Sir ROGER’S alighting, told him in my Hearing, That his Honour’s Head was brought back last Night with the Alterations that he had ordered to be made in it.  Upon this my Friend with his usual Chearfulness related the Particulars above-mentioned, and ordered the Head to be brought into the Room.  I could not forbear discovering greater Expressions of Mirth than ordinary upon the Appearance of this monstrous Face, under which, notwithstanding it was made to frown and stare in a most extraordinary manner, I could still discover a distant Resemblance of my old Friend.  Sir ROGER, upon seeing me laugh, desired me to tell him truly if I thought it possible for People to know him in that Disguise.  I at first kept my usual Silence; but upon the Knight’s conjuring me to tell him whether it was not still more like himself than a Saracen, I composed my Countenance in the best manner I could, and replied, That much might be said on both Sides.

These several Adventures, with the Knight’s Behaviour in them, gave me as pleasant a Day as ever I met with in any of my Travels.

L.

* * * * *

No. 123.  Saturday, July 21, 1711.  Addison.

      ’Doctrina sed vim promovet insitam,
      Rectique cultus pectora roborant: 
      Utcunque defecere mores,
      Dedecorant bene nata culpae.’

      Hor.

As I was Yesterday taking the Air with my Friend Sir ROGER, we were met by a fresh-coloured ruddy young Man, who rid by us full speed, with a couple of Servants behind him.  Upon my Enquiry who he was, Sir ROGER told me that he was a young Gentleman of a considerable Estate, who had been educated by a tender Mother that lives not many Miles from the Place where we were.  She is a very good Lady, says my Friend, but took so much care of her Son’s Health, that she has made him good for nothing.  She quickly found that Reading was bad for his Eyes, and that Writing made his Head ache.  He was let loose among the Woods as soon as he was able to ride on Horseback, or to carry a Gun upon his Shoulder.  To be brief, I found, by my Friend’s Account of him, that he had got a great Stock of Health, but nothing else; and that if it were a Man’s Business only to live, there would not be a more accomplished young Fellow in the whole Country.