Lowngers leave an Academick Life, and instead of this more elegant way of appearing in the polite World, retire to the Seats of their Ancestors, they usually join a Pack of Dogs, and employ their Days in defending their Poultry from Foxes:  I do not know any other Method that any of this Order has ever taken to make a Noise in the World; but I shall enquire into such about this Town as have arrived at the Dignity of being Lowngers by the Force of natural Parts, without having ever seen an University; and send my Correspondent, for the Embellishment of his Book, the Names and History of those who pass their Lives without any Incidents at all; and how they shift Coffee-houses and Chocolate-houses from Hour to Hour, to get over the insupportable Labour of doing nothing.

R.

[Footnote 1:  Socrates in his Apology, or Defence before his Judges, as reported by Plato.  The oracle having said that there was none wiser than he, he had sought to confute the oracle, and found the wise man of the world foolish through belief in his own wisdom.

’When I left him I reasoned thus with myself, I am wiser than this man, for neither of us appears to know anything great and good; but he fancies he knows something, although he knows nothing, whereas I, as I do not know anything, do not fancy that I do.’]

[Footnote 2: 

  True as Dial to the Sun,
  Although it be not shired upon.

Hudibras.  Part III. c. 2.]

[Footnote 3:  This Letter may be by Laurence Eusden.  See Note to No. 78.]

* * * * *

No. 55.  Thursday May 3, 1711.  Addison.

      ’...  Intus, et in jecore aegro
      Nascuntur Domini ...’

      Pers.

Most of the Trades, Professions, and Ways of Living among Mankind, take their Original either from the Love of Pleasure or the Fear of Want.  The former, when it becomes too violent, degenerates into Luxury, and the latter into Avarice.  As these two Principles of Action draw different Ways, Persius has given us a very humourous Account of a young Fellow who was rouzed out of his Bed, in order to be sent upon a long Voyage, by Avarice, and afterwards over-persuaded and kept at Home by Luxury.  I shall set down at length the Pleadings of these two imaginary Persons, as they are in the Original with Mr. Dryden’s Translation of them.

Mane, piger, stertis:  surge, inquit Avaritia; eja Surge.  Negas, Instat, surge inquit.  Non queo.  Surge.  Et quid agam?  Rogitas?  Saperdas advehe Ponto, Castoreum, stuppas, hebenum, thus, lubrica Coa.  Tolle recens primus piper e siliente camelo.  Verte aliquid; jura.  Sed Jupiter Audiet.  Eheu!  Baro, regustatum digito terebrare salinum Contentus perages, si vivere cum Jove tendis.  Jam pueris pellem succinctus et aenophorum aptas; Ocyus ad Navem.  Nil obstat