third and fourth volumes of the _Tatler_ were
advertised as "ready to be delivered" in No. 227 of the _Spectator_
(Nov. 20, 1711). The copies on royal paper were issued at a guinea a
volume, and copies on medium paper at half a guinea. "I am one of your
two-guinea subscribers," says the writer of No. 5 of the _Examiner_
(Aug. 31, 1710).]

No. 127. [STEELE.

From _Saturday, Jan. 28_, to _Tuesday, Jan. 31, 1709-10_.

Nimirum insanus paucis videatur, eo quod
Maxima pars hominum morbo jactatur eodem.
HOR., 2 Sat. iii. 120.

* * * * *

_From my own Apartment, January 30._

There is no affection of the mind so much blended in human nature, and
wrought into our very constitution, as pride. It appears under a
multitude of disguises, and breaks out in ten thousand different
symptoms. Every one feels it in himself, and yet wonders to see it in
his neighbour. I must confess, I met with an instance of it the other
day where I should very little have expected it. Who would believe the
proud person I am going to speak of, is a cobbler upon Ludgate Hill?
This artist being naturally a lover of respect, and considering that his
circumstances are such that no man living will give it him, has
contrived the figure of a beau in wood, who stands before him in a
bending posture, with his hat under his left arm, and his right hand
extended in such a manner as to hold a thread, a piece of wax, or an
awl, according to the particular service in which his master thinks fit
to employ him. When I saw him, he held a candle in this obsequious
posture. I was very well pleased with the cobbler's invention, that had
so ingeniously contrived an inferior, and stood a little while
contemplating this inverted idolatry, wherein the image did homage to
the man. When we meet with such a fantastic vanity in one of this order,
it is no wonder if we may trace it through all degrees above it, and
particularly through all the steps of greatness. We easily see the
absurdity of pride when it enters into the heart of a cobbler; though in
reality it is altogether as ridiculous and unreasonable wherever it
takes possession of a human creature. There is no temptation to it from
the reflection upon our being in general, or upon any comparative
perfection, whereby one man may excel another. The greater a man's
knowledge is, the greater motive he