ΤΗΣ

ID LE

I DL E R.

NUMB. I. SATURDAY, April 15, 1758.

Vacui fub umbra

Lafimus.

HORI

HOSE who attempt periodical effays feem

TH

to be often stopped in the beginning, by the difficulty of finding a proper title. Two. writers, fince the time of the Spectator, have affumed his name, without any pretenfions to lawful inheritance; an effort was once made to revive the Tatler; and the strange appellations, by which other papers have been called, fhow that the authors were distreffed, like the natives of America, who come to the Europeans to beg a name.

It will be easily believed of the Idler, that if his title had required any search, he never would have found it. Every mode of life has its conveniencies. The ler, who habituates himfelf to be fatisfied with what he can moft eafily obtain, not only escapes laVOL. VIII.

B

bours

bours which are often fruitless, but fometimes. fucceeds better than thofe who defpife all that is within their reach, and think every thing more valuable as it is harder to be acquired.

If fimilitude of manners be a motive to kindness, the Idler may flatter himfelf with univerfal patronage. There is no fingle character under which fuch numbers are comprifed. Every man is, or hopes to be, an Idler. Even thofe who feem to differ most from us are hastening to increase our fraternity; as peace is the end of war, fo to be idle is the ultimate purpofe of the bufy.

There is perhaps no appellation by which a writer can better denote his kindred to the human fpecies. It has been found hard to defcribe man by an adequate definition. Some philofophers have called him a reasonable animal, but others have confidered reafon as a quality of which many creatures partake. He has been termed likewife a laughing animal; but it is faid that fome men have never laughed. Perhaps man may be more properly diftinguished as an idle animal; for there is no man who is not fometimes idle. It is at leaft a definition from which none that fhall find it in this paper can be excepted; for who can be more idle than the reader of the Idler?

That the definition may be complete, idleness must be not only the general, but the peculiar characteristick of man; and perhaps man is the only being that can properly be called idle, that does by others what he might do himfelf, or facrifices duty or pleasure to the love of eafe,

Scarcely

Scarcely any name can be imagined from which Jefs envy or competition is to be dreaded. The Idler has no rivals or enemies. The man of business forgets him; the man of enterprize despises him; and though fuch as tread the fame track of life, fall commonly into jealoufy and difcord, Idlers are always found to affociate in peace; and he who is most famed for doing nothing, is glad to meet another as idle as himself.

What is to be expected from this paper, whether it will be uniform or various, learned or familiar, ferious or gay, political or moral, continued or interrupted, it is hoped that no reader will enquire. That the Idler has fome scheme, cannot be doubted; for to form fchemes is the Idler's privilege. But though he has many projects in his head, he is now grown fparing of communication, having obferved, that his hearers are apt to remember what he forgets himself; that his tardiness of execution expofes him to the encroachments of those who catch a hint and fall to work; and that very fpecious plans, after long contrivance and pompous difplays, have fubfided in wearinefs without a trial, and without mifcarriage have been blafted by derifion.

Something the Idler's character may be supposed to promise. Thofe that are curious after diminutive hiftory, who watch the revolutions of families, and the rife and fall of characters either male or female, will hope to be gratified by this paper; for the Idler is always inquifitive, and feldom retentive. He that delights in obloquy and fatire, and wishes to fee clouds gathering over any reputation that dazzles him with its brightness, will fnatch up the Idler's effays with a beating

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a beating heart. The Idler is naturally cenforious; those who attempt nothing themselves, think every thing eafily performed, and confider the unfucceffful always as criminal.

I think it neceffary to give notice, that I make no contract, nor incur any obligation. If those who depend on the Idler for intelligence and entertainment, should fuffer the difappointment which commonly follows ill-placed expectations, they are to lay the blame only on themfelves.

Yet hope is not wholly to be cast away. The Idler, though fluggish, is yet alive, and may fometimes be ftimulated to vigour and activity. He may defcend into profoundness, or tower into fublimity; for the diligence of an Idler is rapid and impetuous, as ponderous bodies forced into velocity move with violence proportionate to their weight.

But thefe vehement exertions of intellect cannot be frequent, and he will therefore gladly receive help from any correfpondent, who fhall enable him to pleafe without his own labour. He excludes no ftyle, he prohibits no fubject; only let him that writes to the Idler remember, that his letters must not be long; no words are to be fquandered in declarations of esteem, or confeflions of inability; confcious dulnefs has little right to be prolix, and praife is not fo welcome to the Idler as quiet.