No. 632.  Monday, December 13, 1714.

  ‘—­Explebo numerum, reddarque tenebris—­’

  Virg.

The Love of Symmetry and Order, which is natural to the Mind of Man, betrays him sometimes into very whimsical Fancies. This noble Principle, says a French Author, loves to amuse it self on the most trifling Occasions.  You may see a profound Philosopher, says he, walk for an Hour together in his Chamber, and industriously treading, at every Step, upon every other Board in the Flooring.  Every Reader will recollect several Instances of this Nature without my Assistance.  I think it was Gregorio Leti who had published as many Books as he was Years old; [1] which was a Rule he had laid down and punctually observed to the Year of his Death.  It was, perhaps, a Thought of the like Nature which determined Homer himself to divide each of his Poems into as many Books, as there are Letters in the Greek Alphabet. Herodotus has in the same manner adapted his Books to the Number of the Muses, for which Reason many a Learned man hath wished there had been more than Nine of that Sisterhood.

Several Epic Poets have religiously followed Virgil as to the Number of his Books; and even Milton is thought by many to have changed the Number of his Books from Ten to Twelve, for no other Reason; as Cowley tells us, it was his Design, had he finished his Davideis, to have also imitated the AEneid in this Particular.  I believe every one will agree with me, that a Perfection of this Nature hath no Foundation in Reason; and, with due Respect to these great Names, may be looked upon as something whimsical.

I mention these great Examples in Defence of my Bookseller, who occasioned this Eighth Volume of Spectators, because, as he said, he thought Seven a very Odd Number.  On the other Side, several grave Reasons were urged on this important Subject; as in particular, that Seven was the precise Number of the Wise Men, and that the most Beautiful Constellation in the Heavens was composed of Seven Stars.  This he allowed to be true, but still insisted, that Seven was an Odd Number; suggesting at the same time that if he were provided with a sufficient Stock of leading Papers, he should find Friends ready enough to carry on the Work.  Having by this means got his Vessel launched and set afloat, he hath committed the Steerage of it, from time to time, to such as he thought capable of conducting it.

The Close of this Volume, which the Town may now expect in a little time, may possibly ascribe each Sheet to its proper Author.

It were no hard Task to continue this Paper a considerable Time longer, by the Help of large Contributions sent from unknown Hands.

I cannot give the Town a better Opinion of the SPECTATOR’S Correspondents, than by publishing the following Letter, with a very fine Copy of Verses upon a Subject perfectly new.