se of to His dishonour." The
young fellow, who thought to turn matters into a jest, asked him if he
was going to preach; but at the same time desired him to take care what
he said when he spoke to a man of honour. "A man of honour?" says the
major, "thou art an infidel and a blasphemer, and I shall use thee as
such." In short, the quarrel ran so high, that the major was desired to
walk out. Upon their coming into the garden, the old fellow advised his
antagonist to consider the place into which one pass might drive him;
but finding him grow upon him to a degree of scurrility, as believing
the advice proceeded from fear; "Sirrah," says he, "if a thunderbolt
does not strike thee dead before I come at thee, I shall not fail to
chastise thee for thy profaneness to thy Maker, and thy sauciness to His
servant." Upon this he drew his sword, and cried out with a loud voice,
"The sword of the Lord and of Gideon"; which so terrified his
antagonist, that he was immediately disarmed, and thrown upon his knees.
In this posture he begged his life; but the major refused to grant it,
before he had asked pardon for his offence in a short extemporary prayer
which the old gentleman dictated to him upon the spot, and which his
proselyte repeated after him in the presence of the whole ordinary, that
were now gathered about him in the garden.

[Footnote 104: In speaking of Collins' "Discourse of Free-Thinking"
(1713) in the _Guardian_ (No. 9), Steele says: "I cannot see any
possible interpretation to give this work, but a design to subvert and
ridicule the authority of scripture. The peace and tranquillity of the
nation, and regards even above those, are so much concerned in this
matter, that it is difficult to express sufficient sorrow for the
offender, or indignation against him."]

[Footnote 105: See the motto at the head of this paper.]

[Footnote 106: "Tusc. Disp." i. 17. Cicero calls those who differ from
Plato and Socrates "plebii omnes philosophi" (_ib._ i. 23).]

No. 136. [STEELE.[107]

From _Saturday, Feb. 18_, to _Tuesday, Feb. 21, 1709-10_.

Deprendi miserum est; Fabio vel judice vincam.
HOR., 1 Sat. ii. 134.

* * * * *

_White's Chocolate-house, February 18._

_The History of Tom Varnish._

Because I have a professed aversion to long beginnings of stories, I
will go into this at once, by tellin