the felicity does not consist in the ingenuity of his original conception, but in the minutely artificial strokes by which the reader is perpetually reminded of the dependence of the one part of the Play on the other.  These are so frequent, and appear so very natural, that the comic plot, instead of diverting our attention from the tragic business, recalls it to our mind by constant and unaffected allusion.  No great event happens in the higher region of the camp or court that has not some indirect influence upon the intrigues of Lorenzo and Elvira; and the part which the gallant is called upon to act in the revolution that winds up the tragic interest, while it is highly in character, serves to bring the catastrophe of both parts of the play under the eye of the spectator, at one and the same time.]

[Footnote 14:  Method]

[Footnote 15:  AEneid, Bk.  VII. 11. 378-384, thus translated by Dryden: 

And as young striplings whip the top for sport, On the smooth pavement of an empty court, The wooden engine files and whirls about, Admir’d, with clamours, of the beardless rout; They lash aloud, each other they provoke, And lend their little souls at every stroke:  Thus fares the Queen, and thus her fury blows Amidst the crowds, and trundles as she goes.]

[Footnote 16:  [nature]]

[Footnote 17:  [offence to]]

[Footnote 18:  Poetics, II. section 4, where it is said of the magnitude of Tragedy.]

[Footnote 19:  Intervention]

* * * * *

No. 268.  Monday, January 7, 1712.  Steele.

 —­Minus aptus acutis
  Naribus Horum Hominum.

  Hor.

It is not that I think I have been more witty than I ought of late, that at present I wholly forbear any Attempt towards it:  I am of Opinion that I ought sometimes to lay before the World the plain Letters of my Correspondents in the artless Dress in which they hastily send them, that the Reader may see I am not Accuser and Judge my self, but that the Indictment is properly and fairly laid, before I proceed against the Criminal.

  Mr.  SPECTATOR, [1]

As you are Spectator-General, I apply myself to you in the following Case; viz.  I do not wear a Sword, but I often divert my self at the Theatre, where I frequently see a Set of Fellows pull plain People, by way of Humour [and [2]] Frolick, by the Nose, upon frivolous or no Occasions.  A Friend of mine the other Night applauding what a graceful Exit Mr. Wilks made, one of these Nose-wringers overhearing him, pinched him by the nose.  I was in the Pit the other Night, (when it was very much crowded) a Gentleman leaning upon me, and very heavily, I very civilly requested him to remove his Hand; for which he pulled me by the Nose.  I would not resent it in so publick a Place, because I was unwilling to create a Disturbance; but have since reflected upon it as a thing that is unmanly and disingenuous, renders the Nose-puller odious, and makes the Person pulled by the Nose look little and contemptible.  This Grievance I humbly request you would endeavour to redress.

  I am your Admirer, &c.