Hangs one that gathers samphire. Dreadful trade!
Methinks he seems no bigger than his head.
The fishermen that walk upon the beach,
Appear like mice, and yond' tall anchoring bark
Diminished to her boat;[12] her boat![12] a buoy
Almost too small for sight. The murmuring surge
(That on the unnumbered idle pebble beats)
Cannot be heard so high. I'll look no more,
Lest my brain turn._"[13]

[Footnote 11: "King Lear," act iv. sc. 6.]

[Footnote 12: Altered from Shakespeare's "cock."]

[Footnote 13: "The parcel of letters, value 10_s._ 3_d._, with the
subsequent letter, is received, for which Mr. Bickerstaff gives his
thanks and humble service" (folio).]

No. 118. [STEELE.[14]

From _Saturday, Jan. 7_, to _Tuesday, Jan. 10, 1709-10_.

Lusisti satis, edisti satis atque bibisti;
Tempus abire tibi....--HOR., 2 Ep. ii. 214.

* * * * *

_From my own Apartment, January 8._

I thought to have given over my prosecution of the dead for this season,
having by me many other projects for the reformation of mankind; but I
have received so many complaints from such different hands, that I shall
disoblige multitudes of my correspondents, if I do not take notice of
them. Some of the deceased, who I thought had been laid quietly in their
graves, are such hobgoblins in public assemblies, that I must be forced
to deal with them as Evander did with his triple-lived adversary, who,
according to Virgil, was forced to kill him thrice over before he could
despatch him.

"_Ter leto sternendus erat._"[15]

I am likewise informed, that several wives of my dead men have, since
the decease of their husbands, been seen in many public places without
mourning, or regard to common decency.

I am further advised, that several of the defunct, contrary to the
Woollen Act,[16] presume to dress themselves in lace, embroidery, silks,
muslins, and other ornaments forbidden to persons in their condition.
These and other the like informations moving me thereunto, I must
desire, for distinction-sake, and to conclude this subject for ever,
that when any of these posthumous persons appear, or are spoken of,
their wives may be called "widows"; their houses, "sepulchres"; their
chariots, "hearses"; and their garments, "flannel": on which condition,
they shall be allowed all the conveniences that dead men can in reason