peeping over the silken Fence, and threatening to
break through it. I frequently offered to turn
my Sight another way, but was still detained by the
Fascination of the Peeper’s Eyes, who had long
practised a Skill in them, to recal the parting
Glances of her Beholders. You see my Complaint,
and hope you will take these mischievous People, the
Peepers, into your Consideration: I doubt not
but you will think a Peeper as much more pernicious
than a Starer, as an Ambuscade is more to be feared
than an open Assault.
I am, SIR,
Your most Obedient Servant.’
This Peeper using both Fan and Eyes to be considered
as a Pict_, and proceed accordingly._
King Latinus to the Spectator,
Greeting.
‘Tho’ some may think we descend
from our Imperial Dignity, in holding Correspondence
with a private [Litterato; [2]] yet as we have
great Respect to all good Intentions for our Service,
we do not esteem it beneath us to return you our
Royal Thanks for what you published in our Behalf,
while under Confinement in the Inchanted Castle of
the Savoy, and for your Mention of a Subsidy
for a Prince in Misfortune. This your timely
Zeal has inclined the Hearts of divers to be aiding
unto us, if we could propose the Means. We have
taken their Good will into Consideration, and have
contrived a Method which will be easy to those who
shall give the Aid, and not unacceptable to us who
receive it. A Consort of Musick shall be prepared
at Haberdashers-Hall for Wednesday
the Second of May, and we will honour the said
Entertainment with our own Presence, where each Person
shall be assessed but at two Shillings and six Pence.
What we expect from you is, that you publish these
our Royal Intentions, with Injunction that they
be read at all Tea-Tables within the Cities of London
and Westminster; and so we bid you heartily
Farewell.
Latinus, King of the Volscians.’
Given at our Court in Vinegar-Yard,
Story the Third from the Earth.
April 28, 1711.
[Footnote 1: ‘Epictetus his Morals, with
Simplicius his Comment,’ was translated by George
Stanhope in 1694. The citation above is a free
rendering of the sense of cap. 62 of the Morals.]
[Footnote 2: Litterati]
* * * *
*
No. 54. Wednesday, May 2, 1711.
Steele.
‘...
Sirenua nos exercet inertia.’
Hor.
The following Letter being the first that I have received
from the learned University of Cambridge, I
could not but do my self the Honour of publishing
it. It gives an Account of a new Sect of Philosophers
which has arose in that famous Residence of Learning;
and is, perhaps, the only Sect this Age is likely
to produce.
