The Perfection of Glory, says Tully, [3] consists in these three Particulars:  That the People love us; that they have Confidence in us; that being affected with a certain Admiration towards us, they think we deserve Honour.

This was spoken of Greatness in a Commonwealth:  But if one were to form a Notion of Consummate Glory under our Constitution, one must add to the above-mentioned Felicities a certain necessary Inexistence, and Disrelish of all the rest, without the Prince’s Favour.

He should, methinks, have Riches, Power, Honour, Command, Glory; but Riches, Power, Honour, Command and Glory should have no Charms, but as accompanied with the Affection of his Prince.  He should, methinks, be Popular because a Favourite, and a Favourite because Popular.

Were it not to make the Character too imaginary, I would give him Sovereignty over some Foreign Territory, and make him esteem that an empty Addition without the kind Regards of his own Prince.

One may merely have an Idea of a Man thus composed and circumstantiated, and if he were so made for Power without an Incapacity of giving Jealousy, he would be also Glorious, without Possibility of receiving Disgrace.  This Humility and this Importance must make his Glory immortal.

These Thoughts are apt to draw me beyond the usual Length of this Paper, but if I could suppose such Rhapsodies cou’d outlive the common Fate of ordinary things, I would say these Sketches and Faint Images of Glory were drawn in August, 1711, when John_ Duke of Marlborough made that memorable March wherein he took the French Lines without Bloodshed.

T.

[Footnote 1:  Instances]

[Footnote 2:  The Colours taken at Blenheim hung in Westminster Hall.]

[Footnote 3:  Towards the close of the first Philippic.]

* * * * *

No. 140.  Friday, August 10, 1711.  Steele.

      ‘Animum curis nunc huc nunc dividit illuc.’

      Virg.

When I acquaint my Reader, that I have many other Letters not yet acknowledged, I believe he will own, what I have a mind he should believe, that I have no small Charge upon me, but am a Person of some Consequence in this World.  I shall therefore employ the present Hour only in reading Petitions, in the Order as follows.

  Mr. SPECTATOR,

  ’I have lost so much Time already, that I desire, upon the Receipt
  hereof, you would sit down immediately and give me your Answer.  And I
  would know of you whether a Pretender of mine really loves me.

  As well as I can I will describe his Manners.  When he sees me he is
  always talking of Constancy, but vouchsafes to visit me but once a
  Fortnight, and then is always in haste to be gone.