O.

[Footnote 1:  On the twelfth of the following March appeared the first number of Steele’s Guardian.  Addison’s attempt to revive the Spectator was not made until June, 1714.]

* * * * *

No. 551.  Tuesday, December 2, 1712.

  ’Sic Honor et Nomen divinis vatibus atque
  Carminibus venit.’

  Hor.

  Mr. SPECTATOR,

When Men of worthy and excelling Genius’s have obliged the World with beautiful and instructive Writings, it is in the nature of Gratitude that Praise should be returned them, as one proper consequent Reward of their Performances.  Nor has Mankind ever been so degenerately sunk, but they have made this Return, and even when they have not been wrought up by the generous Endeavour so as to receive the Advantages designed by it.  This Praise, which arises first in the Mouth of particular Persons, spreads and lasts according to the Merit of Authors; and when it thus meets with a full Success changes its Denomination, and is called Fame.  They who have happily arrived at this, are, even while they live, enflamed by the Acknowledgments of others, and spurred on to new Undertakings for the Benefit of Mankind, notwithstanding the Detraction which some abject Tempers would cast upon them:  But when they decease, their Characters being freed from the Shadow which Envy laid them under, begin to shine out with greater Splendour; their Spirits survive in their Works; they are admitted into the highest Companies, and they continue pleasing and instructing Posterity from Age to Age.  Some of the best gain a Character, by being able to shew that they are no Strangers to them; and others obtain a new Warmth to labour for the Happiness and Ease of Mankind, from a Reflection upon those Honours which are paid to their Memories.

The Thought of this took me up as I turned over those Epigrams which are the Remains of several of the Wits of Greece, and perceived many dedicated to the Fame of those who had excelled in beautiful poetick Performances.  Wherefore, in pursuance to my Thought, I concluded to do something along with them to bring their Praises into a new Light and Language, for the Encouragement of those whose modest Tempers may be deterr’d by the Fear of Envy or Detraction from fair Attempts, to which their Parts might render them equal.  You will perceive them as they follow to be conceived in the form of Epitaphs, a sort of Writing which is wholly set apart for a short pointed Method of Praise.

    On Orpheus, written by Antipater.

    ’No longer_, Orpheus, shall thy sacred Strains
    Lead Stones, and Trees, and Beasts along the Plains;
    No longer sooth the boistrous Wind to sleep,
    Or still the Billows of the raging Deep: 
    For thou art gone, the Muses mourn’d thy Fall
    In solemn Strains, thy Mother most of all. 
    Ye Mortals, idly for your Sons ye moan,
    If thus a Goddess could not save her own.’