HOR.

I have observed that a reader seldom peruses a book

with pleasure till he knows whether the writer of it be a

black[3] or a fair man, of a mild or choleric disposition,

married or a bachelor, with other particulars of the like

nature that conduce very much to the right understanding (45: 5)

of an author. To gratify this curiosity, which is so natural

to a reader, I design this paper and my next as prefatory

discourses to my following writings, and shall give some

account in them of the several persons that are engaged

in this work. As the chief trouble of compiling, digesting, (10)

and correcting will fall to my share, I must do myself

the justice to open the work with my own history. I was

born to a small hereditary estate, which, according to the

tradition of the village where it lies, was bounded by the

same hedges and ditches in William the Conqueror's time

that it is at present, and has been delivered down from

father to son whole and entire, without the loss or acquisition (46: 5)

of a single field or meadow, during the space of six

hundred years. There runs a story in the family, that

my mother ... dreamt that she was brought to bed of a

judge: whether this might proceed from a lawsuit which

was then depending[4] in the family, or my father's being a (10)

justice of the peace, I cannot determine; for I am not

so vain as to think it presaged any dignity that I should

arrive at in my future life, though that was the interpretation

which the neighbourhood put upon it. The gravity

of my behaviour at my very first appearance in the world, (15)

and all the time that I sucked, seemed to favour my

mother's dream; for, as she had often told me, I threw

away my rattle before I was two months old, and would

not make use of my coral[5] till they had taken away the

bells from it. (20)

[3] _I.e_. of dark complexion. But it will be seen later in the paper

that the Spectator decides not to gratify the curiosity of his readers

on this point.

[4] We should now say, "pending."

[5] A child's toy, made of a piece of coral, usually with a whistle at

one end and bells at the other.

As for the rest of my infancy, there being nothing in it

remarkable, I shall pass it over in silence. I find that,

during my nonage,[6] I had the reputation of a very sullen

youth, but was always a favourite of my schoolmaster, who

used to say that my parts were solid and would wear well. (25)

I had not been long at the university before I distinguished

myself by a most profound silence; for during

the space of eight years, excepting in the public exercises

of the college, I scarce uttered the quantity of an hundred

words; and indeed do not remember that I ever (47: 5)

spoke three sentences together in my whole life. Whilst

I was in this learned body, I applied myself with so much

diligence to my studies that there are very few celebrated

books, either in the learned or the modern tongues, which

I am not acquainted with. (10)

[6] Non+age, _i.e_. the years before the youth comes of age.

Upon the death of my father, I was resolved to travel

into foreign countries, and therefore left the university

with the character of an odd, unaccountable fellow, that

had a great deal of learning, if I would but show it. An

insatiable thirst after knowledge carried me into all the (15)

countries of Europe in which there was anything new or

strange to be seen; nay, to such a degree was my curiosity

raised, that having read the controversies of some

great men concerning the antiquities of Egypt, I made a

voyage to Grand Cairo on purpose to take the measure (20)

of a pyramid; and as soon as I had set myself right in

that particular, returned to my native country with great

satisfaction.

I have passed my latter years in this city, where I am

frequently seen in most public places, though there are (25)

not above half a dozen of my select friends that know

me; of whom my next paper shall give a more particular

account. There is no place of general resort wherein I

do not often make my appearance; sometimes I am seen

thrusting my head into a round of politicians at Will's,

and listening with great attention to the narratives that

are made in those little circular audiences. Sometimes I

smoke a pipe at Child's, and whilst I seem attentive to

nothing but the _Postman_, overhear the conversation of (48: 5)

every table in the room. I appear on Sunday nights at

St. James's Coffee-house, and sometimes join the little

committee of politics in the inner room, as one who

comes there to hear and improve. My face is likewise

very well known at the Grecian, the Cocoa Tree, and in (10)

the theatres both of Drury Lane and the Haymarket. I

have been taken for a merchant upon the Exchange for

above these ten years, and sometimes pass for a Jew in

the assembly of stockjobbers at Jonathan's. In short,

wherever I see a cluster of people, I always mix with (15)

them, though I never open my lips but in my own club.

Thus I live in the world rather as a Spectator of mankind

than as one of the species; by which means I have

made myself a speculative statesman, soldier, merchant,

and artisan, without ever meddling with any practical (20)

part in life. I am very well versed in the theory of an

husband or a father, and can discern the errors in the

economy, business, and diversion of others better than

those who are engaged in them: as standers-by discover

blots[7] which are apt to escape those who are in the game. (25)

I never espoused any party with violence, and am resolved

to observe an exact neutrality between the Whigs

and Tories, unless I shall be forced to declare myself by

the hostilities of either side. In short, I have acted in

all the parts of my life as a looker-on, which is the

character I intend to preserve in this paper.

[7] A blot, in backgammon, is a man left uncovered and so liable to

capture.

I have given the reader just so much of my history and (49: 5)

character as to let him see I am not altogether unqualified

for the business I have undertaken. As for other

particulars in my life and adventures, I shall insert them

in following papers as I shall see occasion. In the mean

time, when I consider how much I have seen, read, and (10)

heard, I begin to blame my own taciturnity: and since I

have neither time nor inclination to communicate the fulness

of my heart in speech, I am resolved to do it in

writing, and to print myself out, if possible, before I die.

I have been often told by my friends that it is pity so many (15)

useful discoveries which I have made, should be in the possession

of a silent man. For this reason, therefore, I shall

publish a sheetful of thoughts every morning for the benefit

of my contemporaries; and if I can any way contribute to

the diversion or improvement of the country in which I live, (20)

I shall leave it, when I am summoned out of it, with the

secret satisfaction of thinking that I have not lived in vain.

There are three very material points which I have not

spoken to in this paper, and which, for several important

reasons, I must keep to myself, at least for some time: I (25)

mean, an account of my name, my age, and my lodgings.

I must confess, I would gratify my reader in anything that

is reasonable; but, as for these three particulars, though

I am sensible they might tend very much to the embellishment

of my paper, I cannot yet come to a resolution

of communicating them to the public. They would indeed

draw me out of that obscurity which I have enjoyed

for many years, and expose me in public places to several

salutes and civilities, which have been always very disagreeable (50: 5)

to me; for the greatest pain I can suffer is the

being talked to and being stared at. It is for this reason,

likewise, that I keep my complexion and dress as very

great secrets: though it is not impossible but I may make

discoveries[8] of both in the progress of the work I have (10)

undertaken.

[8] Disclosures.

After having been thus particular upon myself, I shall

in to-morrow's paper give an account of those gentlemen

who are concerned with me in this work; for, as I have

before intimated, a plan of it is laid and concerted--as (15)

all other matters of importance are--in a club. However,

as my friends have engaged me to stand in the

front, those who have a mind to correspond with me may

direct their letters to the Spectator, at Mr. Buckley's in

Little Britain. For I must further acquaint the reader (20)

that, though our club meets only on Tuesdays and Thursdays,

we have appointed a committee to sit every night,

for the inspection of all such papers as may contribute to

the advancement of the public weal. C.