CONTENTS, VOL. III. 162. On Inconstancy and Irresolution 163. Disappointment in Love-Letter from Leonora— 164. Story of Theodosius and Constantia 221. Use of Mottos-Love of Latin among the Common 223. Account of Sappho-Her Hymn to Venus 231. Letter on Bashfulness-Reflections on Modesty 233. History of the Lover's Leap. 235. Account of the Trunk-maker in the Theatre 237. On the Ways of Providence 239. Various Ways of managing a Debate 241. Letter on the Absence of Lovers-Remedies proposed 243. On the Beauty and Loveliness of Virtue. 245. Simplicity of Character-Letters on innocent Diver- sions-Absent Lovers-from a Trojan. 247. Different Classes of Feinale Orators 251. Letter on the Cries of London 253. On Detraction among bad Poets-Pope's Essay on 255. Uses of Ambition-Fame difficult to be obtained 256. Subject-Disadvantages of Ambition 262. The Spectator's Success-Caution in Writing-an- nounces his Criticism on Milton 265. Female Head-dress-Will. Honeycomb's Notions of it 267. Criticism on Paradise Lost 269. Visit from Sir Roger-his Opinions on various Matters 273. Criticism on Paradise Lost 275. Dissection of a Beau's Head 279. Criticism on Paradise Lost 281. Dissection of a Coquette's Heart 20 439. The Manners of Courts-The Spy and the Cardinal 440. Proceedings of the Infirmary for Ill-humoured People 441 441. Happiness of Dependance on the Supreme Being THE SPECTATOR. No. 162. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5. -Servetur ad imum HOR. Qualis ab incepto processerit, et sibi constet. NOTHING that is not a real crime, makes a man appear so contemptible and little in the eyes of the world as inconstancy, especially when it regards religion or party. In either of these cases, though a man perhaps does but his duty in changing his side, he not only makes himself hated by those he left, but is seldom heartily esteemed by those he comes over to. In these great articles of life, therefore, a man's conviction ought to be very strong, and, if possible, so well timed, that worldly advantages may seem to have no share in it, or mankind will be ill-natured enough to think he does not change sides out of principle, but either out of levity of temper or prospects of interest. Converts and renegadoes of all kinds should take particular care to let the world see they act upon honourable motives; or whatever approbations they may receive from themselves, and applauses from those they converse with, they may be very well assured that they are the scorn of all good men, and the public marks of infamy and derision. Irresolution on the schemes of life which offer themselves to our choice, and inconstancy in pursuing them, are the greatest and most universal causes of all our disquiet and unhappiness. When ambition pulls one way, interest another, inclination a third, and perhaps reason contrary to all, a man is likely to pass his time but ill who has so many dif ferent parties to please. When the mind hovers among such a variety of allurements, one had better settle on a way of life that is not the very best we might have chosen, than |