st
representation of a tragedy of Euripides, who was his intimate friend,
and whom he is said to have assisted in several of his plays. In the
midst of the tragedy, which had met with very great success, there
chanced to be a line that seemed to encourage vice and immorality.

This was no sooner spoken, but Socrates rose from his seat, and without
any regard to his affection for his friend, or to the success of the
play, showed himself displeased at what was said, and walked out of the
assembly. I question not but the reader will be curious to know what the
line was that gave this divine heathen so much offence. If my memory
fails me not, it was in the part of Hippolitus, who when he is pressed
by an oath, which he had taken to keep silence, returned for answer,
that he had taken the oath with his tongue, but not with his heart. Had
a person of a vicious character made such a speech, it might have been
allowed as a proper representation of the baseness of his thoughts: but
such an expression out of the mouth of the virtuous Hippolitus, was
giving a sanction to falsehood, and establishing perjury by a maxim.

Having got over all interruptions, I have set apart tomorrow for the
closing of my vision.[33]

[Footnote 30: See No. 120. "A person dressed for Isaac Bickerstaff did
appear at the playhouse on this occasion" (Addison's "Works,"
Birmingham, ii. 246).]

[Footnote 31: "De Amicitia," vii.]

[Footnote 32: L. A. Senecae Opera, Lips., 1741, ii. 520.]

[Footnote 33: See Nos. 120, 123.]

No. 123. [ADDISON.

From _Thursday, Jan. 19_, to _Saturday, Jan. 21, 1709-10_.

Audire, atque togam jubeo componere, quisquis
Ambitione mala, aut argenti pallet amore.
HOR., 2 Sat. iii. 77.

* * * * *

_From my own Apartment, January 20._

_A Continuation of the Vision._[34]

With much labour and difficulty I passed through the first part of my
vision, and recovered the centre of the wood, from whence I had the
prospect of the three great roads. I here joined myself to the
middle-aged party of mankind, who marched behind the standard of
Ambition. The great road lay in a direct line, and was terminated by the
Temple of Virtue. It was planted on each side with laurels, which were
intermixed with marble trophies, carved pillars, and statues of
lawgivers, heroes, statesmen, philosophers, and poe