Observing an old Man (who was the same Person I before
mentioned, as the only Artist that was at work on
this Side of the Gallery) creeping up and down from
one Picture to another, and retouching all the fine
Pieces that stood before me, I could not but be very
attentive to all his Motions. I found his Pencil
was so very light, that it worked imperceptibly, and
after a thousand Touches, scarce produced any visible
Effect in the Picture on which he was employed.
However, as he busied himself incessantly, and repeated
Touch after Touch without Rest or Intermission, he
wore off insensibly every little disagreeable Gloss
that hung upon a Figure. He also added such a
beautiful Brown to the Shades, and Mellowness to the
Colours, that he made every Picture appear more perfect
than when it came fresh from [the [2]] Master’s
Pencil. I could not forbear looking upon the
Face of this ancient Workman, and immediately, by
the long Lock of Hair upon his Forehead, discovered
him to be TIME.
Whether it were because the Thread of my Dream was
at an End I cannot tell, but upon my taking a Survey
of this imaginary old Man, my Sleep left me.
C.
[Footnote 1: or]
[Footnote 2: its]
* * * *
*
No. 84. Wednesday, June 6, 1711.
Steele.
’...
Quis talia fando
Myrmidonum Dolopumve
aut duri miles Ulyssei
Temperet a Lachrymis?’
Virg.
Looking over the old Manuscript wherein the private
Actions of Pharamond [1] are set down by way
of Table-Book. I found many things which gave
me great Delight; and as human Life turns upon the
same Principles and Passions in all Ages, I thought
it very proper to take Minutes of what passed in that
Age, for the Instruction of this. The Antiquary,
who lent me these Papers, gave me a Character of Eucrate,
the Favourite of Pharamond, extracted from an
Author who lived in that Court. The Account he
gives both of the Prince and this his faithful Friend,
will not be improper to insert here, because I may
have Occasion to mention many of their Conversations,
into which these Memorials of them may give Light.
’Pharamond, when he had a
Mind to retire for an Hour or two from the Hurry
of Business and Fatigue of Ceremony, made a Signal
to Eucrate, by putting his Hand to his Face,
placing his Arm negligently on a Window, or some
such Action as appeared indifferent to all the rest
of the Company. Upon such Notice, unobserved
by others, (for their entire Intimacy was always
a Secret) Eucrate repaired to his own Apartment
to receive the King. There was a secret Access
to this Part of the Court, at which Eucrate
used to admit many whose mean Appearance in the
Eyes of the ordinary Waiters and Door-keepers made
them be repulsed from other Parts of the Palace.
