old age NUMB. page 11. The folly of anger. The misery of a peevish 66 12. The history of a young woman that came to Lon- 13. The duty of secrecy. The invalidity of all excuses 14. The difference between an author's writings and his 15. The folly of cards. A letter from a lady that has 16. The dangers and miseries of a literary eminence 103 17. The frequent contemplation of death necessary to 18. The unhappiness of marriage caused by irregular 19. The danger of ranging from one study to another. The importance of the early choice of a pro- 20. The folly and inconvenience of affectation 21. The anxieties of literature not less than those of publick stations. The inequality of authors 22. An allegory on wit and learning 23. The contrariety of criticism. The vanity of ob- jection. An author obliged to depend upon his 4. The necessity of attending to the duties of com- The natural character not to be for- -25. Rashness preferable to cowardice. Enterprise not 26. The mischief of extravagance, and misery of de- 27. An author's treatment from six patrons 28. The various arts of self-delusion 30. The 30. The observance of Sunday recommended; an alle- 31. The defence of a known mistake highly culpable 199- 32. The vanity of stoicism. The necessity of patience 207 33. An allegorical history of rest and labour 34. The uneasiness and disgust of female cowardice - 219 35. A marriage of prudence without affection 226 36. The reasons why pastorals delight 37. The true principles of pastoral poetry 38. The advantages of mediocrity. An eastern fable 245 39. The unhappiness of women whether single or 40. The difficulty of giving advice without offending 257 42. The misery of a modish lady in solitude 43. The inconveniencies of precipitation and confidence 276 44. Religion and superstition, a vision 45. The causes of disagreement in marriage - 289 46. The mischiefs of rural faction 47. The proper means of regulating sorrow 48. The miseries of an infirm constitution 49. A disquisition upon the value of fame 50. A virtuous old age always reverenced 51. The employments of a housewife in the country 325 52. The contemplation of the calamities of others, a 53. The folly and misery of a spendthrift 55. The gay widow's impatience of the growth of her daughter. The history of miss May-pole 351 56. The necessity of complaisance. The Rambler's grief for offending his correspondents 357 57. Sententious rules of frugality 364 : 58. The desire of wealth moderated by philosophy 370 59. An account of Suspirius, the human screech-owl 376 60. The dignity and usefulness of biography - 381 61. A Londoner's 61. A Londoner's visit to the country 62. A young lady's impatience to see London - 63. Inconstancy not always a weakness 64. The requisites to true friendship 65. Obidah and the hermit, an Eastern story 66. Passion not to be eradicated. The views of women 67. The garden of hope, a dream 68. Every man chiefly happy or miserable at home. The opinion of servants not to be despised 429 69. The miseries and prejudice of old age THE RAMBL E R. NUMB. 1. TUESDAY, March 20, 1749-50. Cur tamen hoc libeat potius decurrere campo, Juv. Why to expatiate in this beaten field, THE 'HE difficulty of the first address on any new occasion, is felt by every man in his transactions with the world, and confessed by the settled and regular forms of salutation which necessity has introduced into all languages. Judgment was wearied with the per*plexity of being forced upon choice, where there was no motive to preference; and it was found convenient that some easy method of introduction should be established, which, if it wanted the allurement of novelty, might enjoy the security of prescription, VOL. IV. B Perhaps Perhaps few authors have presented themselves before the publick, without wishing that such ceremonial modes of entrance had been anciently established, as might have freed them from those dangers which the desire of pleasing is certain to produce, and precluded the vain expedients of softening censure by apologies, or rousing attention by abruptness. The epick writers have found the proemial part of the poem such an addition to their undertaking, that they have almost unanimously adopted the first lines of Homer, and the reader needs only be informed of the subject, to know in what manner the poem will begin. But this solemn repetition is hitherto the peculiar distinction of heroick poetry; it has never been legally extended to the lower orders of literature, but seems to be considered as an hereditary privilege, to be enjoyed only by those who claim it from their alliance to the genius of Homer. The rules which the injudicious use of this prerogative suggested to Horace, may indeed be applied to the direction of candidates for inferior fame; it may be proper for all to remember, that they ought not to raise expectation which it is not in their power to satisfy, and that it is more pleasing to see smoke brightening into flame, than flame sinking into smoke. This precept has been long received, both from regard to the authority of Horace, and its conformity to the general opinion of the world; yet there have been always some, that thought it no deviation from modesty to recommend their own labours, and |
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