strained, if it were not for the friendly assistance of books, would remain long in an insipid purity of mind, with a discouraging reserve of behaviour. PLUTARCH. As to your men who have quitted the study of virtue for the study of vice, useful truth for absurd fancy, and real history for monstrous fiction, I have neither regard nor compassion for them: but I am concerned for the women, who are betrayed into these dangerous studies: and I wish for their sakes I had expatiated more on the character of Lucretia and some other heroines. BOOKSELLER. I tell you, our women do not read in order to live or to die like Lucretia. If you would inform us, that a billet-doux was found in her cabinet after her death, or give a hint as if Tarquin really saw her in the arms of a slave, and that she killed herself not to suffer the shame of a discovery, such anecdotes would sell very well. Or if even by tradition, but better still, if by papers in the Portian family, you could shew some probability that Portia died of dram-drinking; you would oblige the world very much; for for you must know, that next to new-invented characters, we are fond of new lights upon ancient characters; I mean such lights as shew a reputed honest man to have been a concealed knave; an illustrious hero a pitiful coward, &c. Nay, we are so fond of this kind of information, as to be pleased sometimes to see a character cleared from a vice or crime it has been charged with, provided the person concerned be actually dead. But in this case the evidence must be authentic, and amount to a demonstration; in the other a detection is not necessary; a slight suspicion will do, if it concerns a really good and great character. PLUTARCH. I am the more surprized at what you say of the taste of your contemporaries, as I met with a Frenchman who assured me, that less than a century ago he had written a much-admired life of Cyrus under the name of Artamenes, in which he ascribed to him far greater actions than those recorded of him by Xenophon and Herodotus; and that many of the great heroes of history had been treated in the same manner; that em pires were gained and battles decided by the valour of a single man; imagination bestowing what nature has denied, and the system of human affairs has rendered impossible. BOOKSELLER. I assure you these books were very useful to the Authors, and their Booksellers; and for whose benefit beside should a man write? These romances were very fashionable, and had a great sale: they fell in luckily with the humour of the age. PLUTARCH. Monsieur Scuderi tells me they were written in the times of vigour and spirit, in the evening of the gallant days of chivalry, which, though then declining, had left in the hearts of men a warm glow of courage and heroism; and they were to be called to books, as to battles, by the sound of the trumpet: he says too, that if writers had not accommodated themselves to the prejudices of the age, and written of bloody battles and desperate encounters, their works would have been esteemed too effeminate an amusement for gentlemen. Histories of chivalry, instead of enervating, tend to in vigorate vigorate the mind, and endeavour to raise human nature above the condition, which is naturally prescribed to it; but as strict justice, patriot motives, prudent counsels, and a dispassionate choice of what upon the whole is fittest and best, do not direct these heroes of romance, they cannot serve for instruction and example, like the great characters of true history. It has ever been my opinion, that only the clear and steady light of truth can guide men to virtue, and that the lesson which is impracticable, must be unuseful. Whoever shall design to regulate his conduct by these visionary characters, will be in the condition of superstitious people, who choose rather to act by intimations they receive in the dreams of the night, than by the sober counsels of morning meditation. Yet I confess it has been the practice of many nations to incite men to virtue by relating the deeds of fabulous heroes; but surely it is the custom only of yours to incite them to vice by the history of fabulous scoundrels. Men of fine imagination have soared into the regions of fancy to bring back Astrea: you go thither in search U 2 search of Pandora; Oh disgrace to letters! Oh shame to the Muses! BOOKSELLER. You express great indignation at our present race of writers; but believe me, the fault lies chiefly on the side of the readers. As Monsieur Scuderi observed to you, authors must comply with the manners and disposition of those who are to read them. There must be a certain sympathy between the book and the reader, to create a good liking. Would you present a modern fine gentleman, who is negligently lolling in an easy-chair, with the Labours of Hercules for his recreation? or make him climb the Alps with Hannibal, when he is expiring with the fatigue of last night's ball? Our readers must be amused, flattered, soothed; such adventures must be offered to them as they would like to have a share in. PLUTARCH. It should be the first object of writers to correct the vices and follies of the age. I will allow as much compliance with the mode of the times, as will make truth and good morals agreeable. Your love of fictitious |