I found my friend begin to rave, and insensibly led him towards the house, that we might be joined by some other company; and am convinced that the widow is the secret cause of all that inconsistency which appears (20) in some parts of my friend's discourse. Though he has so much command of himself as not directly to mention her, yet, according to that of Martial, which one knows not how to render in English, "_Dum tacet hanc loquitur_." I shall end this paper with that whole epigram, which (25) represents with much humor my honest friend's condition. "Quicquid agit Rufus, nihil est nisi Naevia Rufo; Si gaudet, si flet, si tacet, hanc loquitur: Caenat, propinat, poscit, negat, annuit,--una est Naevia; si non sit Naevia, mutus erit. Scriberet hesterna patri cum luce salutem, Naevia lux, inquit, 'Naevia lumen, ave.' "Let Rufus weep, rejoice, stand, sit, or walk, Still he can nothing but of Naevia talk; (111: 5) Let him eat, drink, ask questions, or dispute, Still he must speak of Naevia or be mute; He writ to his father, ending with this line,-- 'I am, my lovely Naevia, ever thine.'" R. XIII. HOW TO BEAR POVERTY [No. 114. Wednesday, July 11, 1711. STEELE.] Paupertatis pudor et fuga. HOR. Economy in our affairs has the same effect upon our (10) fortunes which good breeding has upon our conversations. There is a pretending behaviour in both cases, which, instead of making men esteemed, renders them both miserable and contemptible. We had yesterday at Sir Roger's, a set of country gentlemen who dined with him; (15) and after dinner, the glass was taken by those who pleased pretty plentifully. Among others, I observed a person of a tolerable good aspect, who seemed to be more greedy of liquor than any of the company; and yet, methought, he did not taste it with delight. As he grew warm, he (20) was suspicious of everything that was said; and as he advanced towards being fuddled, his humour grew worse. At the same time, his bitterness seemed to be rather an inward dissatisfaction in his own mind than any dislike he had taken to the company. Upon hearing his name, I knew him to be a gentleman of a considerable fortune (112: 5) in this county, but greatly in debt. What gives the unhappy man this peevishness of spirit is, that his estate is dipped,[68] and is eating out with usury;[69] and yet he has not the heart to sell any part of it. His proud stomach,[70] at the cost of restless nights, constant inquietudes, danger (10) of affronts, and a thousand nameless inconveniences, preserves this canker in his fortune, rather than it shall be said he is a man of fewer hundreds a year than he has been commonly reputed. Thus he endures the torment of poverty, to avoid the name of being less rich. If you (15) go to his house you see great plenty, but served in a