enjoying
the Benefit of an excellent Discourse, was losing her Money and Jewels
to a Gentleman at Play, till after a strange Run of ill Luck she was
reduced to pawn three lovely pretty Children for her last Stake. When
she had thrown them away her Companion went off, discovering himself by
his usual Tokens, a cloven Foot and a strong Smell of Brimstone; which
last proved only a Bottle of Spirits, which a good old Lady applied to
her Nose, to put her in a Condition of hearing the Preacher's third Head
concerning Time.

If a Man has no Mind to pass abruptly from his imagined to his real
Circumstances, he may employ himself a while in that new kind of
Observation which my Onicrocritical Correspondent has directed him to
make of himself. Pursuing the Imagination through all its
Extravagancies, whether in Sleeping or Waking, is no improper Method of
correcting and bringing it to act in Subordinancy to Reason, so as to be
delighted only with such Objects as will affect it with Pleasure, when
it is never so cool and sedate.

[Footnote 1: Thomas Britton. (Old Note.) Why he in particular?]

* * * * *

No. 598. Friday, September 24, 1714. Addison.

'Jamne igitur laudas, quod de sapientibus alter
Ridebat, quoties a limine moverat unum
Protuleratque pedem: flebat contrarius alter?'

Juv.

Mankind may be divided into the Merry and the Serious, who, both of
them, make a very good Figure in the Species, so long as they keep their
respective Humours from degenerating into the neighbouring Extreme;
there being a natural Tendency in the one to a melancholy Moroseness,
and in the other to a fantastick Levity.

The merry Part of the World are very amiable, whilst they diffuse a
Chearfulness through Conversation at proper Seasons and on proper
Occasions; but, on the contrary, a great Grievance to Society, when they
infect every Discourse with insipid Mirth, and turn into Ridicule such
Subjects as are not suited to it. For though Laughter is looked upon by
the Philosophers as the Property of Reason, the Excess of it has been
always considered as the Mark of Folly.

On the other Side, Seriousness has its Beauty whilst it is attended with
Chearfulness and Humanity, and does not come in unseasonably to pall the
good Humour of those with whom we converse.

These two Sets of Men, notwithstanding they each of them shine in their
respective Ch