But to drop the Allegory before I have tired it out, there is no Species of Scriblers more offensive, and more incurable, than your Periodical Writers, whose Works return upon the Publick on certain Days and at stated Times.  We have not the Consolation in the Perusal of these Authors, which we find at the reading of all others, (namely) that we are sure if we have but Patience, we may come to the End of their Labours.  I have often admired a humorous Saying of Diogenes, who reading a dull Author to several of his Friends, when every one began to be tired, finding he was almost come to a blank leaf at the End of it, cried, Courage, Lads, I see Land.  On the contrary, our Progress through that kind of Writers I am now speaking of is never at an End.  One Day makes Work for another, we do not know when to promise our selves Rest.

It is a melancholy thing to consider, that the Art of Printing, which might be the greatest Blessing to Mankind, should prove detrimental to us, and that it should be made use of to scatter Prejudice and Ignorance through a People, instead of conveying to them Truth and Knowledge.

I was lately reading a very whimsical Treatise, entitled, William Ramsey’s Vindication of Astrology.  This profound Author, among many mystical Passages, has the following one: 

’The Absence of the Sun is not the Cause of Night, forasmuch as his Light is so great that it may illuminate the Earth all over at once as clear as broad Day, but there are tenebrificous and dark Stars, by whose Influence Night is brought on, and which do ray out Darkness and Obscurity upon the Earth, as the Sun does Light.’

I consider Writers in the same View this sage Astrologer does the Heavenly Bodies.  Some of them are Stars that scatter Light as others do Darkness.  I could mention several Authors who are tenebrificous Stars of the first Magnitude, and point out a Knot of Gentlemen, who have been dull in Consort, and may be looked upon as a dark Constellation.  The Nation has been a great while benighted with several of these Antiluminaries.  I suffered them to ray out their Darkness as long as I was able to endure it, till at length I came to a Resolution of rising upon them, and hope in a little time to drive them quite out of the British Hemisphere.

[Footnote 1:  Put in the Pillory.]

* * * * *

No. 583.  Friday, August 20, 1714.  Addison.

  ’Ipse thymum pinosque ferens de montibus altis,
  Tecta serat late circum, cui talia Curae: 
  Ipse labore manum duro terat, ipse feraces
  Figat humo plantas, et amicos irriget Imbres.’

  Virg.