Addison and Steele carried on the Tatler for two years, then it was stopped to make way for a far more famous paper called the
Spectator. But meanwhile the Whigs fell from power and Addison lost his Government post.
"Why don't you come out on dry land?" said the
Spectator. "What are you in there for?"
In common with every player upon the field and every
spectator in the crowded stands he knew what was passing in his Chief's mind.
Then in the days of sharp-pointed swords, a
spectator was an occasional victim--the end of a broken sword flew five or ten feet and buried itself in his neck or his heart, and death ensued instantly.
In our illustration of the actor, we spoke, for the moment, as though each
spectator's mind were wholly occupied by the one actor.
And while the abilities of the nine-hundredth abridger of the History of England, or of the man who collects and publishes in a volume some dozen lines of Milton, Pope, and Prior, with a paper from the
Spectator, and a chapter from Sterne, are eulogized by a thousand pens -- there seems almost a general wish of decrying the capacity and undervaluing the labour of the novelist, and of slighting the performances which have only genius, wit, and taste to recommend them.
Consequently, there was not one curious
spectator who was not willing to give himself the treat of visiting the interior of this great metallic abyss.
That venerable lady chanced to be a
spectator of the scene, and ever after made it her favorite narrative.
He finished off by squeaking so like a pig that the
spectators thought that he had a porker concealed about him.
The form of the enclosure was an oblong square, save that the corners were considerably rounded off, in order to afford more convenience for the
spectators. The openings for the entry of the combatants were at the northern and southern extremities of the lists, accessible by strong wooden gates, each wide enough to admit two horsemen riding abreast.
good heavens!" said an old woman among the
spectators, "and that besides our having had a considerable pestilence last year, and that they say that the English are going to disembark in a company at Harfleur."
This reprieve suggested to the worthy
spectators remarks such as the following: --