Age in a virtuous Person, of either Sex, carries in it an Authority which makes it preferable to all the Pleasures of Youth.  If to be saluted, attended, and consulted with Deference, are Instances of Pleasure, they are such as never fail a virtuous old Age.  In the Enumeration of the Imperfections and Advantages of the younger and later Years of Man, they are so near in their Condition, that, methinks, it should be incredible we see so little Commerce of Kindness between them.  If we consider Youth and Age with Tully, regarding the Affinity to Death, Youth has many more Chances to be near it than Age; what Youth can say more than an old Man, ’He shall live ‘till Night?’ Youth catches Distempers more easily, its Sickness is more violent, and its Recovery more doubtful.  The Youth indeed hopes for many more Days, so cannot the old Man.  The Youth’s Hopes are ill-grounded; for what is more foolish than to place any Confidence upon an Uncertainty?  But the old Man has not Room so much as for Hope; he is still happier than the Youth, he has already enjoyed what the other does but hope for:  One wishes to live long, the other has lived long.  But alas, is there any thing in human Life, the Duration of which can be called long?  There is nothing which must end to be valued for its Continuance.  If Hours, Days, Months, and Years pass away, it is no matter what Hour, what Day, what Month, or what Year we die.  The Applause of a good Actor is due to him at whatever Scene of the Play he makes his Exit.  It is thus in the Life of a Man of Sense, a short Life is sufficient to manifest himself a Man of Honour and Virtue; when he ceases to be such he has lived too long, and while he is such, it is of no Consequence to him how long he shall be so, provided he is so to his Life’s End.

T.

[Footnote 1:  a Young]

* * * * *

No. 154.  Monday, August 27, 1711.  Steele.

      ‘Nemo repente fuit turpissimus ...’

      Juv.

  Mr.  SPECTATOR,

’You are frequent in the mention of Matters which concern the feminine World, and take upon you to be very severe against Men upon all those Occasions:  But all this while I am afraid you have been very little conversant with Women, or you would know the generality of them are not so angry as you imagine at the general Vices [among [1]] us.  I am apt to believe (begging your Pardon) that you are still what I my self was once, a queer modest Fellow; and therefore, for your Information, shall give you a short Account of my self, and the Reasons why I was forced to wench, drink, play, and do every thing which are necessary to the Character of a Man of Wit and Pleasure, to be well with the Ladies.

You are to know then that I was bred a Gentleman, and had the finishing Part of my Education under a Man of great Probity, Wit, and Learning, in one of our Universities.  I will not deny but