1
Ex Libris
C. K. OGDEN
THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
v.i
THE
WORKS
O F
CELEBRATED AUTHORS,
Of whofe WR i T i N G s there are but
fmall Remains.
VOLUME tie FIRST.
Containing the W o R K s of
The EARL O/*ROSCOMMON.
Tfjt EARL o/~ D o R s E T.
The EARL of HAL LI FAX.
AND
Sir S A M u E L GARTH.
LONDON: I *
Printed for J, and R. T o N s ON and S, D R A p E *
in the Strand. \
MDCCL,
PR-'
Hit
V/&5"
v./
ADVERTISEMENT.
ytS a wry imperfect Collection of the
Works of the celebrated Writers
contained in thefe Volumes (the Poems of
Bi/hop Sprat excepted ) have been offer* d
to the Publick, we prefume no Apology is
necejjaryfor the prefent Publication.
After a diligent fearch we can Jind
no other Pieces written by thofe Authors,
than what are here inferted 9 and we hope
it will not appear, that any Jpurious ones
are printed amongft them.
'The Notes to the Earl ofRofcommOn's
Yranjlations referring to the Originals,
induced us to publifo thofe Pieces oppojite
to the Verjiom -, but we judg'd it wou'd
be fwelling the Work unneceffarily to do
the fame by the other Tranjlations. The
Reader will fad f owe material Alterations
VOL. I. A 2 in
1946436
ADVERTISEMENT.
in the Tranjlation of Horace'j Art of
Poetry y 'which were communicated by Dr.
Rawlinfon from a Copy corrected by hh
Lordjhip's own Hand.
'The fize of thefe Volumes, which is
greater than we expefttd, mujl be our
excufe for not adding any more to them,,
than the Poems of Bijhop Sprat.
POEMS
POEMS
B Y T H E
EARL 0jf ROSCOMMON,
Voi. I.
A N
ESSAY
O N
TRANSLATED VERSE.
A P P Y that Author, whofe correft * Effay
Repairs fo well our Old Horatian way :
And happy you, who (by propitious Fate)
On great Apollo* $ facred Standard wait,
And with ftrift Difcipline inftrufted right,
Have learn'd to ufe your Arms before you
But fince the Preis, the Pulpit and the Stage, [fight.
Confpire to cenfure and expofe our Age:
Provok'd, too far, we refolutely muft,
To the few Virtues that we have, be juft.
For who have long'd, or who have labour'd more
To fearch the Treafures of the Roman Store ;
Or dig in Grecian Mines for purer Ore ;
The nobleft Fruits Tranfplanted in our Ifle
With early Hope, and fragrant Bloffoms fmile.
Familiar Ovid tender Thoughts infpires,
And Nature feconds all his loft Defires :
* E/ay en Peetry, written by the Ite Duke of Buckingham-
(hire,
B 2 Tbeccrituf
4 P o E M s by the
Theocritus docs now to Us belong ;
And Albioii* Rocks repeat his rural Song.
Who has not heard how Italy was bled,
Above the Metis, above the wealthy Eaft?
Or Callus* Song, fo tender, and fo true,
As ev'n Lycoris might with Pity view !
When mourning Nymphs attend their Dapbnis* Herfe,
Who does not weep, that reads the moving Verfe!
But hear, oh hear, in what exalted Strains ^
Sicilian Mufes through thefe happy Plains, V
Proclaim Saturnian Times, our own Apollo reigns. j
When Trance had breath'd, after intefline Broils,
And Peace and Conqueft crown'd her foreign Toils,
There (cultivated by a Royal Hand)
Learning grew faft, and fpread, and bleft the Land ;
The choiceft Books, that Rome or Greece have known,
Her excellent Tranflators made her own:
And Europe ftill confiderably gains,
Both by their good Example and their Pains.
Frcm hence our gen'rous Emulation came,
Wd undertook, and we perform'd the fame.
But now, we fhe.v the World a nobler Way,
And in tranflated Verfe, do more than They,
Serene, and clear, harmonious Horace flows,
With Sweetnefs not to be expreft in Profe.
Degrading Prole explains his Meaning ill,
And (hews the Stuff, but not the Workman's Skill.
I (who have ferv'd him more than twenty Years)
Scarce know my Mafter as he there appears.
Vain are our Neighbours Hopes, and vain their Cares,
The Fault is more their Language's, than theirs.
*fi courtly, florid, and abounds in Words
Of fofcer Sound than ours perhaps affords.
But who did ever in French Authors fee
The comprehenfive EngHJh Energy ?
7'he weighty Bullion of one Sterling Line,'
Drawn to French Wire, would thro' whole Pages fhine.
I
Earl of Rose OMMON. 5
I fpeak my private, but impartial Senfe,
With Freedom, and (I hope) without Offence:
For Til recant, when France can mew me Wit,
As ftrong as oars, and as fuccinflly writ.
*Tis true, Compofing is the nobler Part,
But good Tranflation is no eafy Art,
For tho* Materials have long fmce bfen found,
Yet both your Fancy, and your Hands are bound;
And by improving what was writ before,
Invention labours lefs, but Judgment, more.
The Soil intended for Pierian Seeds
Muft be well purg'd, from rank pedantick Weeds.
jjpello ftarts, and all Parna/us (hikes,
At the rude rumbling Baralipton makes.
For none have been with Admiration read,
But who (befide their Learning) were well-bred.
The firft great Work, (a Task perform'd by few)
Is, that yourfelf may to yourfe!f be tr:e :
No Mask, no Tricks, no Favo r, no Referve;
Difleft your Mind, examine ev' y Nerve.
Whoever vainly on his Strength depends,
Begins like Virgil, but like b'tevius, ends.
That Wretch (in fpite of hi. forgotten Rhymes)
Condemn'd to live to all accepting Times,
With pompous Nonfenfe and a bellowing Sound
Sung lofty Ilium, tumbling to the Ground.
And (if my Mufe can through pait Ages feej
That noiiy, naufeou?, gaping Fool was he ;
Exploded, when with univerfal Scorn,
The Mountains labour'd and a Moufe was born.
Learn, team, Crotona's brawny Wreftler cries,
Audacious Moruas and be timely wile!
'Tis I that call, remember Mitts Erd,
Wedg'd in that limber, which he ilrove to rend.
B 3 Each
6 P o E M s by the
Each Poet with a different Talent writes,
One praifes, one inftrucls, another bites.
Horace did ne'er afpire to Epic Bays,
Nor lofty Klaro ftoop to Lyric Lays.
Examine how your Humour is inclin'd,
And which the ruling Paflion of your Mind ;
Then, feek a Poet who your Way does bend,
.And choofe an Author as you choofe a Friend.
United by this fympathetic Bond,
You grow familiar, intimate, and fond ;
Your Thoughts, your Words, your Stiles, your Souls agree,
No longer his Interpreter, but he.
With how much Eafe is a young Mufe betray'd,
How nice the Reputation of the Maid ?
Your early, kind, paternal Care appears,
By chart Inftruftion of her tender Years.
The firft Imprefiion in her infant Breaft
Will be the deepeft, and fhould be the beft.
Let not Aufterity breed fervile Fear,
No wanton Sound offend her Virgin-ear.
Secure from foolifti Pride's affefted State,
And fpecious Flatt'ry's more pernicious Bait,
Habitual Innocence adorns her Thoughts,
But your Negledl muft anfwer for her Faults.
Immodeft Words admit of no Defence;
For want of Decency is want of Senfe.
What mdd'rate Fop wou'd rake the Park or Stews,
Who among Troops of faultlefs Nymphs may choofe ?
Variety of 1'uch is to be found ;
Take then a Subjeft, proper to expound : '^T
But moral, great, and worth a Poet's Voice,
For Men. of Senfe defpife a trivial Choice:
And iuch Applaufe it muft expeft to meet,
As would feme Painter bufy in a Street,
To Copy Bulls and Bears, and ev'ry Sign
That calls the ftaring Sots to nafty Wine.
Yet
Earl of Ros c o MM o N. 7
Yet 'tis not all to have a Subjeft good,
It muft delight us when 'tis underftood.
He that brings fulfom Objefts to my View,
(As many Old have done, and many New)
With naufeous Images my Fancy fills,
And all goes down like Oxymel of Squills.
Inflrul the lift'ning World how Maro fings
Of ufeful Subjedls, and of lofty Things.
Thefe will fuch true, fuch bright Ideas raife,
As merit Gratitude, as well as Praife :
But foul Defcriptions are offenfive {till,
Either for being Like, or being 111.
For who, without a Qualm, hath ever look'd
On holy Garbage, tho' by Homer cook'd ?
Whofe railing Heroes, and whofe wounded Gods,
Make fome fufpeft, He Snores, as well as Nods.
But I offend Virgil begins to frown,
And Horace looks with Indignation down ;
My blufhing Mu/e with confcious Fear retires,
And whom they like, implicitly admires.
On fare Foundations let your Fabrick rife,
And with attractive Majefty furprife,
Not by affefted, meritricious Arts,
But ftrift harmonious Symmetry of Parts.
Which through the whole infenfibly muft pafs,
With vital Heat to animate the Mafs.
A pure, an aftive, an aufpicious Flame,
And bright as Heav'n, from whence the Bleijing came ;
But few, oh few Souls, prsordain'd'by Fate,
The Race of God?, have reached that envy'd Height.
No Rebel-Titan^ facrilegious Crime,
By heaping Hills on Hills can thither climb.
The grizly Ferry-man of Hell deny'd
Mneas Entrance, 'till he knew his Guide ;
How juftly then will impious Mortals fall,
Whofe Pride wcu'd foar to Her.v'n without a Call?
B 4 Pride
8 P o E M s by the
Pride (of all others the moft dang'rous Fault,)
Proceeds from want of Senfe, or want of Thought,
.The Men, who labour and digeft things moft,
Will be much apter to defpond, than boaft.
For if your Author be profoundly good,
Twill coft you dear before he's underftood.
How many Ages fince has Virgil writ ?
How few are they who underftand him yet?
Approach his Altars with religious Fear,
No vulgar Deity inhabits there :
Heav'n (hakes not more at Jove's imperial Nod,
Than Poets fhou'd before their Mantuan God.
Hail mighty Maro! may that Sacred Name
Kindle my Breaft with thy celeftial Flame;
Sublime Ideas, and apt Words infufe.
The Muft inflruft my Voice, and thou infpire the Mu/ef
What I have inftanc'd cnly in the beft,
Is, in proportion, true of all the reft.
Take pains the genuine Meaning to explore;
There fweat, there ftrain, tug the laborious Oar:
Search ev'ry Comment that your Care can find,
Some here, fome there, may hit the Poet's Mind j
Yet be not blindly guided by the Throng j
The Multitude is always in the Wrong.
When Things appear unnatural or hard,
Confult your Author, with himfelf compar'd ;
Who knows what Blefling Phoebus may beltow,
And future Ages to your Labour owe ?
Such Secrets are not eafily found out,
But once difcover'd, leave no room for doubt.
Truth damps Conviftion in your ravifh'd Breaft,
And Peace and Joy attend the glorious Gueft.
Truth flill is one ; Truth is divinely brighf,
No cloudy Doubts obfcure her native Light ;
While in your Thoughts you find the leaft Debate,
You jnay Confound, but never can Tranflate.
Your
Earl ^ROSCOMMON.
Your Stile will this thro' all Difguifes (how,
For none explain, more clearly than they know.
He only proves he underitands a Text,
Whofe Expofuion leaves it unperplex'd.
They who too faithfully on Names infift,
Rather create than diffipate the Mift j
And grow unjuft by being over nice,
(For fuperftitious Virtue turns to Vice.)
Let * Crafts' s Ghoft, and Labiemis tell
How twice in Parthian Plains their Legions fell.
Since Rome hath been fo jealous of her Fame,
That few know Pacorus' or Monafe? Name.
Words in one Language elegantly us'd,
Will hardly in another be excus'd.
And fome that Home admir'd in Gofer's Time,
May neither fuit our Genius nor our Clime.
The genuine Senfe, intelligibly told,
Shews a Tranflator both dafcreet and bold.
Excurfions are inexpiably bad ;
And 'tis much fafer to leave out than add.
Abftrufe and myftick Thought* you muft exprefs
With painful Care, but feeming Eafinefs ;
For Truth mines brighted thro' the plaineft Drefs.
TftjEnean Mufe, when me appears in State,
Makes all Jovis Thunder on her Verfes wait,
Yet writes fometimes as foft and moving Things
As Venus fpeaks, or Philomela fmgs.
Your Author always will the beft advife,
Fall when he fails, and when he rifes, rife.
Affeaed Noife is the moft wretched Thing,
That to Contempt can empty Scriblers bring.
Vowels and Accents, regularly plac'd,
On even Syllables (and ftill the laft)
Tho' grofs innumerable Faults abound,
Jn fpite of Nonfenfe, never fail of Sound,
* Hor. lib, 3. Od, 6,
10 P o E M s by the
But this is meant of even Vetfe alone,
As being moft harmonious and moft known:
For if you will unequal Numbers try,
There 'Accents on odd Syllables muft lie.
Whatever Sifter of the learned Nine
Does to your Suit a willing Ear incline,
Urge your Succefs, deferve a lafting Name,
She'll crown a grateful and a conftant Flame.
But if a wild Uncertainty prevail,
And turn your veering Heart with ev'ry Gale,
You lofe the Fruit of all your former Care,
For the fad Profpeft of a juft Defpair.
A Quack (too fcandaloufly mean to name)
Had, by Man-Midwifry, got Wealth, and Famej
As if Lucina had forgot her Trade,
The lab'ring Wife invokes his furer Aid.
Well-feafon'd Bovvis the Goffips Spirits raife,
Who while fhe guzzles, chats the Doctor's Praife.
And largely, what (he wants in Words, fuppltes,
With Maudlin-Eloquence of trickling Eyes.
But what a thoughtiefs Animal is Man,
(How very aftive in his own Trepan!)
For greedy of Phyficians frequent Fees,
From female mellow Praise he takes Degrees j
Struts in a new unlicens'd Goun, and then,
From faving Women falls to kilning Men.
Another fuch had lefc the Nation thin,
In ipite of all the Children he brought in.
His Pills as thick as Hand-Granadoes flewj
And where they fell, as certainly they flew;
His Name ftruck ev'ry where as great a Damp,
As Archimedes through the Reman Csinp.
With this the Doftor'f Pride began to cool ;
For fmarting foundly may convince a Fool.
But now Repentance came too late, for Grace;
And meagre Famine ftar'd him. in the Face,
Faia
Earl c/'RoscoMMON. 1 1
Fain wou'd he to the Wives be reconciPd,
But found no Husband left to own a Child.
The Friends, that got the Brats, were poifon'd tooi
In this fad Cafe what cou'd our Vermin do ?
Worry 'd with Debts and pail all hope of Bail,
Th' unpity'd Wretch lies rotting in a Jail:
And there with Basket-Alms, fcarce kept alive*
Shews how miftaken Talents ought to thrive.
I pity, from my Soul, unhappy Men,
Compell'd by Want to proftitute their Pen ;
Who muft, like Lawyers, either ftarve or plead,
And follow, right or wrong, where Guineas lead !
But you, Pompilian, wealthy, pamper'd Heirs,
Who to your Country owe your Swords and Cares,
Let no vain Hope your eafy Mind feduce,
For rich ill Poets are without Excufe.
'Tis very dang'rous, tampring with a Mufe,
The Profit's fmall, and you have much to lofe;
por tho' true Wit adorns your Birth or Place,
Degen'rate Lines degrade th' attainted Race.
No Poet any Paffion can excite ;
But what they feel tranfport them when they write.
Have you been led through the Cumaan Cave,
And heard th' impatient Maid divinely rave ?
J hear her now ; I fee her rolling Eyes :
And panting ; Lo ! the God, the God (he cries ;
With Words, not hers, and more than human Sound,
She makes th' obedient Ghofts peep trembling thro* the
Ground.
But tho' we muft obey when Heav'n commands,
And Man in vain the facred Call withftands,
Beware what Spirit rages in your Breaft j.
For ten infpir'd, ten thoufand are pofleft.
Thus make the proper uie of each Extreme,
And write with Fury, but correft with Phlegm,
As when tke chearful Hours too freely pafs,
And Iparkling Wine fmiles in the tempting Glafs,
Your
12 POEMS by the
^our Pulfe advifes, and begin? to beat
^hro' ev'ry fuelling Vein a loud Retreat:
v o when a Muff propitioufly invites,
Improve her Flours, and i-idulge her Flights j
B'Jt when you find that vigorous Heat abate,
Leave off, and for another Summons wait.
Before the radhnt Sun, a glimmering Lamp,
Adul.'rate Metals to the Sterling Stamp,
Appear not meaner, than meer human Lines,
Compar'd with thofe whofc Infpiration Ihines :
Thefe, nervous, bold; thofe languid and remifs;
There, Cold falutes; but here, a Lover's Kifs.
Thus have I Teen a rapid, headlong Tide,
With foaming Waves the pafllve Scan divide;
Whofe lazy Waters without Motion lay,
While he, with eager Force, urg'd his impetuous Way.
The Privilege that ancient Poets claim, 1
New tum'd to Licenfe by too juft a Name,
Belongs to none but an eftablifh'd Fame, J
Which fcorns to take it
Abfurd Expreffions, crude, abortive Thoughts,
All the lewd Legion of exploded Faults,
Bafe Fugitives to that Afylum fly,
And (acred Laws with Infolence defy.
Not thus our Heroes of the former Days,
Deferv'd and gain'd their never-fading Bays ;
For I miftake, or far the greater! Part
Of what fome call Negleft, was ftudy'd Art.
When Firgil feems to trifle in a Line,
'Tis like a Warning-piece, which gives the Sign
To wake your Fancy, and prepare yoor Sight,
To reach the noble Height of fome unufual Flight,
I lofe my Patience, when with faucy Pride,
By untun'd Ears I hear his Numbers try'd.
Revcrfe of Nature! {hall fuch Copies then
Arraign th' Originals of Mark's Pen !
Earl of Rose OMM o N. 13
And the rude Notions of Pedantick Schools
Biafphcme the facred Founder of our Rules !
The Delicacy of the niceft Ear
Finds nothing harfh, or out of Order there.
Sublime or low, unbended or intenfe,
The Sound is ftill a Comment to the Senfe.
p
A skilful Ear, in Numbers fliould prefide,
And all Difputes without Appeal decide.
This ancient Rome, and elder Athens found,
Before miftaken Stops debauch'd the Sound.
When, by Impulfe from Heav'n, Tyrtaus fung,
In drooping Soldiers a new Courage fprung ;
Reviving Sparta now the Fight maintain'd,
And what two Gen'rals loft, a Poet gain'd.
By fecret Influence of indulgent Skies,
Empire and Poefy together rife.
True Poets are the Guardians of a State,
And when they fail, portend approaching Fate.
For that which Rome to Conqueft did infpire,
Was not the Veftal, but the Mufes Fire ;
Heav'n joins the Bleflings: No declining Age
E'er fell the Raptures of Poetick Rage.
Of many Faults, Rhyme is (perhaps) the Caufej
Too ftril to Rhyme, we flight more ufeful Laws,
For that, in Greece or Rome, was never known,
Till by barbarian Deluges o'erflown:
Subdu'd, undone, they did at laft obey,
And change their own for their Invaders way.
I grant that from fome mofly, Idol Oak,
In double Rhymes our Thar and Woden fpoke ;
And by Succeffion of unlearned Times,
As Bardi began, fo Mtnks rung on the Chiracs.
14 P o E M s by the
But now that fbezbiu and the facred Nine,
With all their Beams on our bleft Ifland fhine,
Why fhould not We their ancient Rites reftore,
And be, what Rome or Athens were before ?
' * Have we forgot hew Raphael's numerous Profe
Led our exalted Souls thro* heav'nly Camps,
And mark'd the Ground where proud apoftate Thrones
Defy'd Jehovah ! Here, 'twixt Hoft and Hoft,
(A narrow but a dreadful Interval)
Portentous Sight ! before the Cloudy Van
Satan with vail and haughty Strides advanc'd,
Came tow'ring arm'd in Adamant and Gold.
There bellowing Engines, with their fiery Tubes,
Difpers'd ^Ethereal Forms and down they fell
By thoufands, Angels on Arcb-Angeh roll'd ;
Recover'd, .to the Hills they ran, they flew,
Which (with their pond'rous load, Rocks, Waters, Woods)
From their firm Seats torn by the fhaggy Tops
They bore like Shields before them thro' the Air,
'Till more incens'd they hurl'd 'em at their Foes.
All was Confufion, HeavVs Foundations fhook,
Threatning no lefs than Univerfal Wreck,
For MichatFs Arm main Promontories flung,
And over-preft whole Legions weak with Sin:
Yet they blafphem'd and ftruggled as they lay,
'Till the great Enfign of Mejffiah blaz'd,
And (arm'd with Vengeance) God's Victorious Son
(Effulgence of Paternal Deity)
Grafping ten thouiand Thunders in his Hand
Drove th' old Original Rebels headlong down.,
And fent them flaming to the vaft Abyfs.
O may I live to hail the Glorious Day, .
And fing loud Paeans thro' the crowded Way,
* An ,/ty n Blink Vtrfc, out of Paradife Loft, B*>k VI.
When
Earl <?/*ROSCOMMON. 15
When in Triumphant State the Briti/h Mufe,
True to herfelf. fhall barb'rous Aid refufe,
And in the Roman Majefty appear,
Which none know better, and none come fo near.
A PARAPHRASE on the
CXLVIIIth PSALM.
O Azure Vaults ! O Cryftal Sky !
The World's tranfparent Canopy,
Break your long Silence, and let Mortals know
With what Contempt you look on Things below.
Wing'd Squadrons of the God of War,
Who conquer wherefoe'er you are,
Let Ecchoing Anthems make his Praifes known
On Earth his Footftool, as inHeav'nhis Throne.
Great Eye of All, whofe Glorious Ray
Rules the bright Empire of the Day,
O praife his Name, without whofe purer Light
Thou hadft been hid in an Abyfs of Night.
Ye Moon and Planets, who difpenfe,
By Go<fs Command, your Influence;
Refign to him, as your Creator due,
That Veneration which Men pay to you.
Faireft, as well as Firft, of Things
From whom all Joy, all Beauty fpringsj
O praife th' Almighty Ruler of the Globe,
Who ufeth thee for his Empyreal Robe.
Praife
i6 POEMS by the
Praifc him ye loud harmonious Spheres,
Whole Sacred Stamp aJl Nature bears,
Who did all Forms from the rude Chaos draw,
And whofe Command is th' univerfal Law :
Ye wat'ry Mountains of the Sky,
And you fo far above our Eye,
Vail ever-moving Orbs, Exalt his Name,
Who gave its Being to your Glorious Frame.
Ye Dragons, whofe contagious Breath
Peoples the dark Retreats of Death,
Change your fierce Hiffing into joyful Song,
And praife your Maker with your forked Tongue.
Praife him ye Monflers of the Deep,
That in the Seas vail Bofoms fleep -,
At whofe Command the foaming Billows roar,
Yet know their Limits, Tremble and Adore.
Ye Mifts and Vapours, Hail and Snow,
And you who through the Concave blow,
Swift Executors of his holy Word,
Whirlwinds and Tempeft, praife th' Almighty Lord,
Mountains, who to your Maker's View
Seem lefs than Mole-hills do to you,
Remember how, when firil Jebovab fpoke,
All Heav'n was Fire, and Sinai hid in Smoke.
Praife him, fweet Offspring of the Ground,
With Heavily Nedar yearly Crcwn'd ;
And ye tall Cedars, celebrate his Praife,
That in his Temple Sacred Altars raife.
Idle Muficians of the Spring,
Whofe only Care's to Lore and Sing,
Fly thro' the World, and let your trembling Threat
Praiie your Creator with the fwceteft Note. Praiie
Earl of Ros COMMON. 17
Praife him each Savage Furious Beaft,
That on his Stores do daily feafl :
And you tame Slaves of the laborious Plow,
Your weary Knees to your Creator bow.
Majeftick Monarchs, Mortal Gods,
Whofe Pow'r hath here no Periods,
May all Attempts againft your Crowns be vain ;
But ftill remember by whofe Pow'r you reign.
Let the wide World his Praifes fing,
Where Tagus and Euphrates fpring,
And from the Danube's frofly Banks, to thofe
Where from an unknown Head great Niliu flow.
You that difpofe of all our Lives,
Praife him from whom your Pow'r derives :
Be True and Juft like him, and fear his Word,
As much as Malefactors do your Sword.
Praife him, old Monuments of Time ;
O praife him in your Youthful Prime :
Praife him fair Idols of our greedy Senfe ;
Exalt his Name, fweet Age of Innocence.
Jehovah's Name mall only laft,
When Heav'n, and Earth, and all is pad :
Nothing, Great Goef, is to be found in Thee,
But Unconceivable Eternity.
Exalt, O Jacobs Sacred Race,
The God of Gods t the God of Grace ;
Who will above the Stars your Empire raife,
And with his Glory recompenfe your Praife.
i8 Po E M s by the
A PROLOGUE fpoken to his Royal
Plighnefs the Duke of YORK,
at Edinburgh.
TROLLY and Vice are eafy to defcribe,
* The common Subjeds of our fcribling Tribe ;
But when true Virtues, with unclouded Light,
All Great, all Royal, mine divinely bright,
Our Eyes are dazled, and our Voice is weak ;
Let England. Flanden, let all Europe fpeak,
Let France acknowledge that her fhaken Throne
Was once fupported, Sir, by you alone :
Banifh'd from thence for an Dfurper's Sake,
Yet trufled then with her laft Defp'rate Stake :
When wealthy Neighbours ftrove with us for Pow'r,
Let the Sea tell, how in their fatal Hour,
Swift as an Eagle, our Victorious Prince,
Great Britain's Genius, flew to her Defence;
His Name ftruck Fear, his Conduct, won the Day,
He came, 'he faw, he ieiz'd the ftruggling Prey,
And while the Heav'ns were Fire and th' Ocean Blood,
Confirm'd our Empire o'er the Conquer'd Flood,
Oh happy Iflands, if you knew your Blifs !
Strong by the Sea's Protection, fafe by His,
Exprefs your Gratitude the only Way,
And humbly own a Debt too vaft to pay :
Let Fame aloud to future Ages tell,
None e'er Commanded, none Obey'd fo well;
While this high Courage, this undaunted Mind,
So Loyal, fo fubmiflively Relign'd,
Proclaim that fuch a Hero never fprings,
But from the Uncorrupted Blood of Kings.
VIRGIL'S
Earl of Ros COMMON. 19
V I RGI L's Sixth Eclogue,
S I L E N U S
TRANSLATED.
The A R G U ME N T.
Two young Shepherds, Chromis and Mnafylus, having been
often promised a Song by Silenus, chance to catch him
ajleep in this Eclogue ; 'where they bind him Hand and
Foot, and then claim hit Promife. Silenus finding they
nvoiid be put off no longer, begins his Song ; in 'which ht
defences the "Formation of the Univerfe, and the Origi-
nal of Animals, according to the Epicurean Philofiphy\
and then runs through the mofl furprijtng Transformations
which have happened in Nature fence her Birth. Ibis
Eclogue was dtfign'd as a Compliment to Syro the Epi-
curean, ivho inftrufied Virgil and Varus in the Princi-
ples of that Philofophy. Silenus afls as Tutor t Chro-
mis and Mnafylus as the tivo Pupils.
My Aim being on/y to bat-vc Virgi! unJerJiood by Jltcb e wbo
do not underftand Latin, and cannot (probably) be ac-
quainted with fame Names and Paffages of this Eclogue,
I have djrecled them by Figures to the Poftfcript, nuhere
they nuillfnd the beft account that 1 can give, of all that
is out of the tmmon Road.
Tbt
2O P o E M s by the
S I L E N U S,
E C L O G A VI.
FAUNORUM, SATVRORUM ET SYLVANORUM
DELECTATIO.
JD R 1M A Syracofio dignata ejt ludert vtrfa,
Noftra nee eruluit Jyl<vat habit are Thalia.
Cum canerem regei, fcf pralia, Cjntbius aut-em
Vellit, tf admonuit: Pajlorem, Ittyrt) pinguet
Pa/cere oporttt wet, deduSum dlcere carmen.
Nunc ego (namque fufer tilt erunt, qul dicere laudd?
Vare, tnas cufiant, & triftla condert Bella)
jigrejlem tetiui meditabor arundine Mufam.
Non injujja cano. Jt quii tamen bac quoque, fi quit
Captus amore le^et ; te noftrtf, Vart> myric*>
Te netnus omne canet. nee Pbezbt gratior ulla eft,
Quamjibi qiue Va ri prafcripfit pag iaa nomen.
Pergite y Pierides. Cbromis W Mnafylus in antrc
Silenum puerifomno <viderejactntem t
Inflatum beforno venat t utfemptr, laccht.
Ear2 o/'RoscoMMON. 21
The SIXTH ECLOGUE.
S .1 L E N U S.
T Firft of Romans ftoop'd to Rural Strains,
Nor blufh'd to dwell among * Sicilian Swains,
When my * Thalia rais'd her bolder Voice,
And Kings and Battles were her lofty Choice,
Phoebus did kindly humbler Thoughts infi'e,
And with this Whifper check th' afpiring Mufe.
A Shepherd (Tttyrus) his Flock mould feed,
And choofe a Subjeft fuited to his Reed.
Thus I (while each ambitious Pen prepares
To write thy Praifes, Varus, and thy Wars)
My Paft'ral Tribute in low Numbers pay,
And though I once prefum'd, I only now obey.
But yet (if any with indulgent Eyes
Can look on this, and fuch a Trifle prize)
Thee only, Varus, our glad Swains mall fing,
And ev'ry Grove and ev'ry Eccho ring.
Pbaebus delights in Varus fav'rite Name; -y
And none who under that Protection came, >
Was ever ill receiv'd, or unfecure of Fame. -^
Proceed, my Mufe.
Young Cbtomis and Mnafjlus chanc'd to ftray
tfhere (fleeping in a Cave) Silenus lay,
Whofe conftant Cups fly fuming to his Brain,
*d always boil in each extended Vein ;
His
22 P o F. M s &y the
Serta procttl tantum capiti delapfa jacebant :
Et gravis attrita pendebat tantbarus ansa.
AggreJJi (nam ftepe fenex fpe carminis ambo
Luferat] ittjiciutit ipjis ex *vincula fertis.
Addit ft foci am , timidifque fupervenit JEgle :
jEgle Ndiadum pulcberrima. jamque <videnti
Sanguineis front em marts, ff tempera pingit.
IHe datum ridem, >ub vincula neffitis ? inquit.
Sofoite me, pueri. fails eft potuiffe videri.
Carmina qua: vu/tis, cognofcite : carmina volts ;
Huic aliud mercedis erit. jimul incipit ipfe.
Turn <vero in numerum Faunofque ferafque *videres
Ludere, turn rigidas motare cacumina quercui.
Nee tantum Pbaebo gaudet Parnaffia rupes :
Nee tantum Rbodope mirantur fcf Ifmarus Orpbta,
Namque canelat, utt magnum par inane coafia
Semina terrarumque, animaque, marifve fuiffent t
Et liquidi jimul ignis : ut bis exordia primis
Omnia, iff ipfe tenet- rnundi concreverit orbit.
7um durarefolum, & difcluderc Nerea panto
Cceperit, W rerun paulatim fumere format.
Jamque novum ut terra Jluptant luce/cere folem,
J/tius atque cadant fubmotis nubibus imbres :
Incipiant fyfoa: cum primum furgerf, cumquc
Kara per ignotos errevt animalia .montes.
Earl of R o s c o M M o N. 23
His trufty Flaggon, full of potent Juice,
Was hanging by, worn thin with Age and Ufe ;
Drop'd from his Head, a wreath lay on the Ground j
In halte they feiz'd him, and in hafte they s bound j
Eager for both had been deluded long
With fruitlefs hope of his inftruftive Song :
But while with confcious fear they doubtful Hood,'
JEgle, the faireft 6 Nats of the Flood,
With a 7 Vermilion Dye his Temples ftain'd.
Waking, he fmil'd, and muft I then be chain'd ?
Loofe me, he cry'd ; twas boldly done, to find
And view a God, but 'tis too bold to bind.
The promis'd Verfe no longer III delay,
(She mall be fatisfy'd another way.)
With that, he rais'd his tuneful Voice aloud,
The knotty Oaks their liftning Branches bovv'd,
And Savage Beafts, and Sylvan Gods did crowd ;
For lo ! he fung the World's ftapendous Birth,
How fcatter'd Seeds of Sea, and Air, and Earth,
And purer Fire, through univerfal Night
And empty Space, did fruitfully unite ;
From whence th' innumerable Race of Things,
By circular fucceffive Order fprings.
By what degrees this Earth's compacted Sphere
Was hardned, Woods and Rocks and Towns to bear ;
How finking Waters (the firm Land to drain)
Fill'd the capacious Deep, and form'd the Main,
While from above, adorn'd with radiant Light,
A new-born Sun (urpris'd the dazled Sight ;
How Vapours tum'd to Clouds obfcure the Sky,
And Clouds difTolv'd the thirfty Ground fupply j
How the firll Foreft rais'J m ftiady Head,
Till when, few wandring Beafts on unknown Mountains
fed.
Then
24 P E M s by the
Hinc lapides Pyrrb<e jaSos, Saturnia regna,
Caucafiafque refer t wolucres, furtumqut Prometbci*
His adjungit, Hylan nauttf quo font e reliftum
Clamd/ent: ut litus, Hyla, Hyla, omne fonartt,
Etfortunatam, Ji numquam armenta fuijfent t
Pafipkaen ni-vei folatur amort ju-venci,
Ab, virgo infe/ix, quee tt dementia cepit ?
Practides implirunt falfis mugitilus agros :
At non tarn turpes pecudum tamen ulla fectita eft
Concubitus, quamvis collo timuijfet aratrum t
Et f*pe in lavi quajiffet cornua front e.
Ah, <uirgo infe/ix, tu nttnc in montibui err as f
Hie, latus niveum molli fultus byacintbo,
J/ice fub nigra pallentes ruminat herbas,
Aut aliquam in magno fequitur grege. claudite nympb&,
Diffnea nytnpb<e, nemorum jam claudite faltus :
Si qua forte ferant oculis fefe obvia noftris
Errabunda bovis <vejiigia. forjitan ilium
Aut herb a captum <viridi, out armenta fecutum*
Perducant aliqua Jlabula ad Gortynia >uacc<r.
Turn canit Hefperidum miratam malapuellam:
Turn Pbattbontiadas tr.ufco circumdat amanc
Corticis, atque folo proceras erigit alnos.
7um canit, errantem PermeJ/t ad JJumina Gallum
Aonas in mantes ut duxerit una fororum ;
Utqut viro Pbcebi (bortti adfurrtxtrit eetnits
Ut
Earl of R o s c o M M o N. 25
Then Pyrrba's ftony Race rcfe from the Ground,
Old Saturn reign'd with golden Plenty crown'd,
An.l bold Prometheus (whofe untam'd Defire
8 Rival'd the Sun with his own heav'nly Fire)
Now doom'd the Scythian Vultures endlefs Prey,
Severely pays for animating Clay.
He nam'd the Nymph (for who but Gods cou'd tell ?)
Into whofe Arms the lovely 9 Hylas fell $
Alcides wept in vain for Hylas loft,
Hylas in vain refounds through all the Coaft.
He with Companion told Pajipbais Fault,
Ah ! wretched Queen ! whence came that guilty Thought?
The ' " Maids of Argos, who with frantick Cries
And imitated lowings fill'd the Skies,
(Though metamorphos'd in their wild Conceit)
Did never burn with fuch unnat'ral Heat.
Ah ! wretched Queen ! while you on Mountains ftray,
He on foft Flow'rs his fnowy Side does lay ;
Or feeks in Herds a more proportion'd Love :
Surround, my Nymphs, me cries, furround the Grove ;
Perhaps fome Footfteps printed in the Clay,
Will to my Love direft your wandring way ;
Perhaps, while thus in fearch of him I rome,
My happier Rivals have intic'd him home.
He fung how Atalanta was betray'd
By thofe Hefperian Baits her Lover laid, '
And the fad Sifters who to Trees were turn'd,
While with the World th' ambitious Brother burn'd.
All he defcrib'd was prefent to their Eyes,
And as he rais'd his Verfe, the Poplars feem'd to rife.
He taught which Mufe did by Apollo 5 Will
Guide wand'ring ' ' Gallui to th' Aonian Hill :
( Which place the God for folemn meetings chofc)
With deep refped the learned Senate rofe,
VOL. I. C 'And,
26 P o E M s by the
Ut Linus bac illi d'wino carmine pajlor,
Floribus atque apio crines ornatus amaro,
Dixerit, Has tibi font calamos (en accipe] Mu/*r,
Afcrtso qaos ante feni : quibus ille folebat
Cantando rigidas deducere montibus ornos.
His tibi Gryneei nemoris dicatur origo :
Nequis fit lucus, quo fe plus jafiet Jpollo.
Quid loquar aut Scyllam Nijj, quant fama fecuta eft,
Candida fuccinftam latrantibus inguina monjlris
Dulicbias vexaffe rates, fcf gurgite in alto
Ah timidos nautas canilus laceraffie marinis?
Aut ut tnutatos Terei narraverit artus ? 9
Quas illi Philomela dapes, qutf dona panarit ?
Quo curfu deferta petiverit, & quibus ante
Infelix fua tetfa fupervolitaverit alls?
Omnia qu&, Phcclo quondam meditante t leatus
Audiit Eurotas, jufeitque edifcere lattros,
Ille canit. pulf<f referunt ad fidera valles.
Cogere donee owes ftabulis, numerumque referre
J fit, & invito procejfit <ve/j>er Olytnpo.
Earl of R o s c o M M o N. 27
And ll Linus thus (deputed by the reft)
The Hero's welcome, and their thanks exprefs'd :
This Harp of old to Hefiod did belong,
To this, the Mufes Gift, join thy harmonious Song ;
Charm'd by thefe Strings, Trees ftarting from the
Ground,
Have follow'd with delight the pow'rful Sound.
Thus confecrated, thy. ' 5 Gryn&an Grove
Shall have no Equal in Apollo s Love.
Why fliou'd I fpeak of the ' * Megarian Maid,
For Love perfidious, and by Love betray'd ?~
And ' f her, who round with barking Monfters arm'd,
The wandring Greeks (ah frighted Men) alarm'd j
1 6 Whofe only Hope on fhatter'd Ships depends,
While fierce Sea-dogs devour the mangled Friends.
Or tell the Tbracian Tyrants alter'd Shape,
And dire Revenge of Philomelas Rape,
Who to thofe Woods direfts her mournful courfe,
Where ftie had fuffer'd by inceftuous Force,
While loth to leave the Palace too well known,
Progne flies, hovering round, and thinks it ftill her own?
Whatever near ' 7 Eurofa's happy Stream
With Laurels crown'd had been Apolltfs Theme,
Silenus fmgs ; the neighbouring Rocks reply,
And fend his Myftick Numbers through the Sky j
Till Night began to fpread her gloomy Veil,
And call'd the counted Sheep from ev'ry Dale ;
The weaker Light unwillingly declin'd,
And to prevailing Shades the murm'ring World refign'd.
C z POST-
: 3 P o B M s
ODE aw SOLITUDE.
HV
..::
.-._
WidlFbr aor^fcrocfen, 0*07
0. Rocks of Hones ad Fan, I fee VM to&'d
Adwrk*ifc Pride fc
--'._ ::: '.- ."f^.t^.'f ~.
Hofes
My,
JLocfarfMy, i of V I fee
?
7i: - -
Itk bytkeel
d
~~ - - -c. ^ ' - -I
. .- .~'-.- v :,-ii~v : ^ .
mrV fi in i <li 1 " - - kv If I m^m ^. 1.
- - . _.-. _.-_; - JL-T - , --_...
Jafka. ^dbjrofloMr, Hope, aod Fear,
. : :-.-::
Yet
Earl ef R c s c o M M o x.
Yc I
Friencfhip, abhorring abrcBd Gain,
.--. -
Nor is iffbr xny
For lam
As if wr were b* one;
7. : r :. .::. 1:-: -_-.-: -.
docs CM Soak
ra.
Here i- a fdl and ccflbw Tlc dock Sov
Biefe^s Mac can hope to
Herein a deep
-
cf T
rife.
Wiich make happy, as tiey acke os w
HeremaylahBTscmttedov
:_--.- :--._- ^:. r f- ." L; _:; r:
91 vidk a gemlc Fcroe
::- : --;
AI
30 P o E M s by the
ODE upon SOLITUDE.
I.
TT AIL, Sacred Solitude ! from this calm Bay,
* * I view the World's Tempeftuous Sea,
And with wife Pride defpife
All thofe fenfelefs Vanities :
With Pity mov'd for others, caft away
On Rocks of Hopes and Fears, I fee 'em tofs'd
On Rocks of Folly, and of Vice I fee 'em loft:
Some the prevailing Malice of the Great,
Unhappy Men, or Adverfe Fate,
Sunk deep into the Gulphs of an afflicted State.
But more, far more, a numberlefs prodigious Train,
Whilft Virtue courts 'em, but alas in vain,
Fly from her kind embracing Arms,
Deaf to her fondeft Call, blind to her greateft Charms,
And funk in Pleafures, and in brutifh Eafe,
They in their Shipwreck'd State themfelves obdurate
pleafe.
II.
Hail, Sacred Solitude, Soul of my Soul,
It is by thee I truly live,
Thou doft a better Life and nobler Vigour give ;
Bolt each unruly Appetite control :
Thy conftant Quiet fills my peaceful Breaft,
With unmix'd Joy, uninterrupted Reft.
Prefuming Love does ne'er invade
This private Solitary Shade ;
And, with fantaflick Wounds by Beauty made,
The Joy has no allay of Jealoufy, Hope, and Fear,
The folid Comforts of this happy Sphere ;
Yet
Earl c/'RoscoMMON. 31
Yet I exalted Love admire,'
Friendftiip, abhorring fordid Gain,
And purify'd from Luft's dimoneft Stain :
Nor is it for my Solitude unfit,
For I am with my Friend alone,
As if we were but one ;
'Tis the polluted Love that multiplies,
But Friendfhip does two Souls in one comprife.
III.
Here in a full and conftant Tide doth flow
All Bleffings Man can hope to know ;
Here in a deep Recefs of Thought we find
Pleafures which entertain, and which exalt the Mind ;
Pleafures which do from Friendihip and from Knowledge
rife,
Which make us happy, as they make us wife :
Here may I always on this downy Grafs,
Unknown, unfeen, my eafy Minutes pafs :
'Till with a gentle Force victorious Death
My Solitude invade,
And, flopping for a-while my Breath,
With Eafe convey me to a better Shade,
C 4 AD
32 P o E M s by the
AD A R I S T I U M.
ODE XXII.
Vitae integritatem & innocentiam ubiq; efle tutara.
7 Nteger *vit<f, fcelerifque purus
'Nan eget Mauri jaculis, neque arcu,
Nee <venenatis graiiidd fagittii,
Fufce, pharetrd:
$ive per Syrtes iter aftuofas, f
Sive fatturus per inbofpltaltm
Cauc afum, *vtl qua loca fabulofus
Lambit Hydafpes.
Namque me Jylva lupus in Sabina,
Dnm tneam canto La/agen, & ultra I <
'Tirminum curis wager expedites,
Fugit inermem.
Quale portentum neque mi lit arts
Daunia in latis a/it efculetii :
Nee Juba tellus general, leonum 1 1
Arlda nutrix.
Pone me, pigris ubi nulla campit
Arbor eejli'vd recreatur aura :
^uod latus mundi nebula, malufque
Jupiter urget : ^^
Pone fub curru nimium prcpinqui
Soils, in terra domibus negatd :
Dulct ridentem Lalagen amabo,
Dulce loquentem.
Earl of ROSCOMMON. 33
The Twenty Second ODE of the
Firjl Bsok of H o R A c E.
T71RTUE, dear Friend, needs no Defence,
* The fureft Guard is Innocence:
None knew, 'till Guilt created Fear,
What Darts or poifon'd Arrows were.
Integrity undaunted goes
Through Libyan Sands or Scythian Snows,
Or where Hydaffes 1 wealthy fide
Pays Tribute to the Per/tan Pride.
For as (by am'rous Thoaghts betray'd)
Carelefs in Sabin Woods I ftray'd,
A grifly foaming Wolf unfed,
Met me unarm'd, yet, trembling fled.
No Beaft of more portentous Size
In the Hercinian Foreft lies ;
None fiercer, in Numidia bred,
With Carthage were in Triumph led. .
Set me in the remoteft place,
That Neptune's frozen Arms embrace ;
Where angry Jove did never fpare
One Breath of kind and temp 1 rate Air.
Set me where on Come pathlefs Plain
The fwarthy Africans complain,
To fee the Chariot of the Sun
So near thejr fcorching Country run.
The burning Zone, the frozen Ifles,
Shall hear me fing of Calids Smiles :
All Cold but in her Breaft I will defpife,
And dare all Heat but that in Cabai Eyes,
Tie
34 P E M s by the
SAME imitated.
I.
T7 1 R T U E (dear Friend) needs no Defence,
* No Arms, but its own Innocence ;
Quivers and Bows, and poifon'd Darts,
Are only us'd by guilty Hearts.
II.
An honeft Mind fafely alone
May travel through the burning Zone ;
Or thro' the deepeft ScytHan Snows,
Or where the fam'd Hydafpes flows.
III.
While rul'd by a refiftlefs Fire,
Our great * Orinda I admire,
The hungry Wolves that fee me flray,
'Unarm' d and fingle, run away.
IV.
Set me in the remotefl Place
That ever Neptune did embrace ;
When there her Image fills my Bread,
Helicon is not half fo bleft.
V.
Leave me upon fome Libyan Plain,
So ihe my Fancy entertain,
And when the thirfty Monfters meet,
They'll all pay homage to my Feet.
VI.
The Magic of Orinda & Name
Not only can their Fiercenefs tame,
But if that mighty Word I once rehearfe,
They feem fubmiffively to roar in Verie.
* Mrs, Catherine Pbilifs,
REMARKS
Earl of R os COMMON. 35
REMARKS on the foregoing ODE,
To Fuscus ARISTIUS.
HORACE tarites to tie fame Ariftius Fufcus, to whom be
addrefid the Tenth Epiftle of the Fir/} Book. He -was a
Rhetorician, Grammarian and Poet. There is not any thing in
this Ode by which one may make a Ctnje&ure in -what time it -was
m.ide ; but if this Lalage is the fame -with her in the Fifth Ode
in the Second Book, of -which I make tie doubt, it ntujl have been
written much later than the other. No one has hitherto given any
Light as to the occajion of this Ode, lit us fee what Ctnjefture
tan be made of it.
Fufcus Ariftius -was in Lc-ve -with Lalage : Horace, loha iva*
in a Jirif} League of Friendjhip with him, and who alfo lo"~Sd
Lalage, but rather as the Friend of Ariftius than as his Rival,
writes him ar. account of an Ad-venture that happened to him, in
which Lalage bad frefer-v'd him from an eminent Danger, upon
the account of bis having fung her Praifes, He attributes bis
Safety to this Mijirefs, ivbom be looks upon as a Goddefs coming to
his Succour, in reward for tbofe Sentiments, as refpeclful as faf-
finatc, which he had for her. This is the Reafon be begins tb:
Ode with defending his being innocent, and free from any -vicious
Intentions. This is making a great Compliment to Lalage, and at
the fame time confirming the Friendjhip of bis Rival f by prevent Irg
bis being jealous of him.
This Ode is fo Polits and Gallant, as never to le fujjuicntly
commended.
Lin. i. Integer vitae, fcelerifque purus. Thefe are Greek
Pkrafes, in ivhicb the Prepojition '* is to te underjiood- j for let
the Grammarians fay -what they will, integer and purus can
never govern a Geniti-v: Cafe.
Lin. 2. Mauri jaculis. He fpeah of the Darts of the Moors, l-j.
reafon tbofe People Jkit ivtndirful'y from tl: Bow.
Line. 3. Venenatis fagittis. The Moors were obliged f o poifcn
their Arrows, to, defend tismfel-vetfrcm is;ld Beejls, v>bicb their
Country to as full of.
Lin. 5. Per Syrtes aeftuofas. It is rat to be urtlerfiod here
tbxt whit!) is frcftrly caWd tb: Syrtei <f Africa, but all forts
36 P o E M s by the
of Placet, fandy and burning, as tbofe Countriet are tver-cgatnji
the Syrtes.
Lin. 6. Inhofpitalem Caucafum. The Greeks called tLii Moun-
tain eLSttrov, asm, *T'9-^a7rov. Horace bat exprcfs'd it all
by tbit one -word Inhofpitalis. Caucafus it between the Euxine
' and Hircanian Seas, and properly Jignifes The Rampart of
Scytbia.
Line 7. Fabulofus Hydafpes. Hydafpes is a River in India ;
it is now called Lobchan. Fabulofus does not fignify Fabulous,
but Renown d, Famous. Pliny has call' 'd Atlas after tbe fame
manner, Fabulofiflimum Africa Montem, Tbe moft celebrated
Mountain of Africa.
Lin. 9. Namque me fylva" lupus in Sabina 4 . lie fpeaks upon ano-
ther Qcctifion after tbe fame manner, That being one Day ajleep
in a very retired Place tbe Doves covered him with Leaves of
Laurel and Myrtle, and that be Jlept there fafely in the midji of
Vipers and Bears.
Lin. 13. Militaris Daunia. Daunia is prefer ly tbat Part of
Apulia wbicb juts out into tbe Adriatick Sea, where is
Sipdhtus and Mount Gargan, now caird Mount St. Angelo :
But a!! Apulia, from tbe Samnites even to Calabria, was a/ft
called Daunia, as is all Italy. Horace vfes it here in tbe fecond
Signification, and calls it Warlike, by rcafon it produces very
gosd Soldiers.
Lin. 14 In latis efculetis. Apulia it much over-run with Wood,
it is tbat wbicb is named ky tbe Greeks Daunia, from the Word
A*vK t , AXUV&, which Jignifies Covert, Thick, Thicket,
Hefych. A&vKor fa.ru , Daunia Terra is then properly yv Jat.r>
a Land of much under-woody Covert. Mr. Guget had -written
this Remark on tbe Margin of bis Horace, iiibicb tbe Learned
Mr. Menage lent me.
Line 15. Nee Julia; tellus. Mauritania is a Part of Numidia,
wbicb ww under the Go-vernment of Juba, who bad there fo
great a number of Lions and Tigers, tbat tbe People were at la/I
forc'd to abandon their Dwellings, and tbe tilling of tbeir
' Ground.
Lin. 17. Pone me pigris. He means, There is no Place fo favage,
nor fi hideout, tbat tbe Thoughts of bis Miftrefs weu'd ntt
render agreeable ta him, and where that Goddefs, who ft power-
ful Protefiion be bjs already experienced, could not fer.d btm
Succtur, and draw bim out of all tbofe Dangers wbicb Jboud
threaten bis Life, 'Tis on this Account be is refolv^d always t
love her, and this Love 'will be a certain Refuge for bim in every
Danger, In all tbe Btoks of Chivalry tberc is nothing more gallant.
Tigris
Earl of R o s c OM M o N. 37
Pigris campis. Theft fatir Verges admirably d'ftgn tie two Polar
Zones, tubitb are always en-viron'd by Ice and killing Frofts.
Pigri Campi wonderfully exprefs Countries cordttnned to a
perpetual Sterility, and in a manner deprived of the Motion cf
Life.
Lin. 19. Quod latus mundi. Latus is a very proper Wtrd, tbe
two Zones being tbe tiuo Sides of tbe World,
Malufque Jupiter urget. This ExprrJ/ion is extremely fne and
very Poetical. He looks upn tbofe places as deform d by Jupiter
as a Mark of bis Anger ; Nothing cou"d better paint tbe In-
clemency of a Climate : Jupiter, for tbe Air.
Lin. 21. Pone fub curru. Under tbe Torrid Zene, between tbe
two Tropicks.
Lin. M. In terra 1 domibus negafa. Tbe Ancients believed tbe
Torrid Zone to be intirely uninhabitable, but now every one
knows that it is not only inhabited, but a/fa very temperate tbtf
tbe happy Mixture of Warmth by Day, and tbe frejb Breezes
of tbe Nigbt.
Lin. 23. Duke ridentem, dulce loquenfem. Horace bas bere
join d two tbe moft conjiderable Alluremt nts, tbe grace of making
her laugh tnd ffeak agreeably, lie bas tranjlated visrd fr
word this fne PaJJ'agc of Sapho.
Kati Trlxricv dfu $ett5o-o.t vfrnnivei
ars you fpeak with fo much Pleafure,
And is charm'd whene'er you fmile.
On
38 Po E M s by the
On Mr. DRYDEN'J RILIGIO LAICI.
BE G O N you Slaves, you idle Vermin go,
Fly from the Scourges, and your Mailer know ;
Let free, impartial Men from Dryden learn
Myfterious Secrets of a high Concern,
And weighty Truths, folid convincing Senfe,
Explain'd by unaffefted Eloquence.
What can you (Reverend Levi ) here take ill ?
Men ilill had Faults, and Men will have them flill ;
He that hath none, and lives as Angels do,
Mufl be an Angel ; but what's that to you ?
While mighty Lewis finds the Pope too great,
And dreads the Yoke of his impofing Seat,
Our Sedls a more Tyrannick Pow'r aflame,
And wou'd for Scorpions change the Rods of Rcme;
That Church detain'd the Legacy Divine :
Fanaticks calt the Pearls of Heav'n to Swine :
What then have honelt thinking Men to do,
But choofe a Mean between th' Ufurping two ?
Nor can th 1 ^Egyptian Patriarch blame my Mufe,
Which for his Firmneis.does his Heat excufe ;
Whatever Councils have approv'd his Creed,
The P RE FAC E lure was his own Aft and Deed.
Our Church will have that Preface read (you'll fay) ~\
Tis true, but fo me will th' Apocrypha ; C
And fuch as can believe them freely may. J
But did that God (fo little underftood)
Whole darling Attribute is being good,
From the dark Womb of the rude Chaos bring
Such various Creatures, and make Man their King;
Yet
Earl o/'RoscoMMON. 39
Yet leave his fW ;//?, Man, his chiefeft Care,
More wretched than the vileft Infecb are ?
O ! how much happier and more fafe are they ?
If helplefs Millions muft be doom'd a Prey
To yelling Furies, and for ever burn
In that fad Place from whence is no Return,
For Unbelief in one they never knew,
Or for not doing what they cou'd not do !
The very Fiends know for what Crime they fell,
(And fo do all their Followers that rebel ;)
If then, a blind, well-meaning Indian ftray,
Shall the great Gulph be fhow'd him for the Way ?
For better Ends our kind Redeemer dy'd,
Or the falFn Angels rooms will be but ill fupply'd,
That Cbrijl, who at the great deciding Day
(For He declares what He refolves to fay)
Will Damn the Goats, for their ill-natur d Faults,
And fave the Sheep, for Afilms not for Thoughts,
Hath too much Mercy to fend Men to Hell,
For humble Charity, and hoping well.
To what Stupidity are Zealots grown,
Whofe Inhumanity profufely fhown
In Damning Crowds of Souls, may Damn their own
I'll err at leaft on the fecurer Side,
A Convert free from Malice and from Pride.
.1
Tart
40 P o E M s by the
Part of the Fifth S c E N E of the Second
A c T in Guarini's PA STOR FIDO.
A M A R I L L I.
f^ARE felue beate
^^ E voi folingbi, e taciturni borrori
Di ripofo, e di pace alberghi veri,
O quanta volentieri
A rluederui i torno, e fe le flelle
M'bauejfcr data inferte
Di I'iuer a me JiejJ~a> e di far vita
Conforme a le mie <voglie;
lo gia co campi Elifi
Fortune* to giardin de femid.'i
La 'voftr'ambra gentil non cangerei
" Che fe ben dritto miro
" Quejli beni mortali
" Altro non Jon che mali :
tf Men ha. cbi piu ' abbonda,
* E po/eduto e piu, cbe non poffede,
** RicchezKe no. ma facet
" De I altiui libertate.
" Che <val tie piu *verdi anni
*' Tito/o di bellezza,
" O fama d'honejlate,
" j'w mortal fangue nobilta celefte:
" Tante graxle del Cieh, e de la terra.
" )ul largbi, e lieti campi
" E la felici piagge,
" Fecondi pafchi, e piu fecondo armento^
'* Se'n tanti berii il cor non e contenti ?
Felice paftorflla,
Cut cinge a pena il fiance
PouCra <}, ma Jchittta,
can lido, gonnella*
Earl of Ros c OMM o N. 41
Tranjlated into Englifh.
AH happy Grove! dark and fecure Retreat
"" Of facred Silence, Reft's eternal Seat ;
How well your cool and unfrequented Shade
Suits with the chafte Retirements of a Maid ;
Oh ! if kind Heav'n had been fo much my Friend,
To make my Fate upon my Choice depend ;
All my Ambition I wou'd here confine,
And only this Ely/turn fhou'd be mine :
Fond Men by Paffion wilfully betray'd,
Adore thofe Idols which their Fancy made;
Purchafing Riche;, with our Time and Care,
We lofe our Freedom in a gilded Snare ;
And having all, all to ourfelves refufe,
Oppreft with Bleffings which we fear to ufe.
Fame is at befl but an inconftant Good,
Vain are the boafted Titles of our Blood ;
We fooneft lofe what we moft highly prize,
And with our Youth our fliort-liv'd Beauty dies ;
In vain our Fields and Flocks increafe our Store,
If our Abundance makes us wim for more ;
How happy is the harmlefs Country Maid,
Who rich by Nature fcorns fuperfluous Aid !
Whofe modeft Clothes no wanton Eyes invite,
But like her Soul preferves the native White ;
Whofe
43 Po E M s by the
Ricca fol di fe Jlefla,
E de le grazie di Natura adorva,
Chen dcke pouertate
He pouerta conofee, fie i difagi
De le rtcchezzc fente,
Ma tutto quel pojfiede
Per cui dejlo d*kauer non la tormenta ;
Nuda si, ma contenta.
Co doni di natura
I doni di natura anco nudrica ;
Col latti, il latte auuiua
E col dolce de Papi
Condifce il mel de le natie dolcexze,
Quel font e ond'ella leue,
Quel folo anco la bagna, e la, configlia ',
Paga lei, pago il mondo:
Per lei di nembi il del sofcura indarno,
E di grandine s'artna,
Che la fua pouerta nulla. pauenta :
Nuda si, ma contenta.
Sola una dolce, e d'egt? affanno jgotnbra
Cura le fla nel cure.
Pafce le vsrdi herbette
La greggia a lei commej/a, ed ella pafce
De fttfbegli occbi il pajlorello amante,
Non qiial le dejiinaro
O gli huomini, o le ftelle t
Ma qual le diede Amore.
E tra rotnbrofe piante
D'<v fauorito lor Mirteto adorno
Vagheggiata il vagkeggia, ne per lui
Sente foco d ' amor, cbe non gli fcopra,
Ned' ella jcopre ardor, ctfegli non fenta,
Nuda si, rna contenta.
O <vera <vifa, cbe non }a cbe Jla
Morire innanzi tnorte.
Earl of Rose OMM o N. 42
Whofe little Store her well-taught Mind does pleafe,
Nor pinch'd with Want, nor cloy'd with wanton Eafe,
Who free from Storms, which on the great ones fall,
Makes but few Wifties, and enjoys them all ;
No Care but Love can difcompofe her Breaft,
Love, of all Cares, the fweeteft and the beft ;
While on fweet Grafs her bleating Charge does lie,
Our happy Lover feeds upon her Eye ;
Not one on whom or Gods or Men impofe,
But one whom Love has for this Lover chofe,
Under fome fav'rite Myrtle's fhady Boughs,
They fpeak their Paffions in repeated Vows,
And whilft a Blufh confefles how fhe burns,
His faithful Heart makes as fincere Returns;
Thus in the Arms of Love and Peace they lie,
And while they live, their Flames can never die.
THE
44 P o E M s by the
THE
DREAM.
* I O the pale Tyrant, who to horrid Graves
* Condemns fo many thoufand helplefs Slaves,
Ungra.eful we do gende Sleep compare,
Who, tho' his Victories as num'rous are,
Yet from his Slaves no Tribute does he take,
But woful Cares that load Men while they wake.
When his foft Charms had eas'd my weary Sight
Of all the baneful Troubles of the Light,
Dorinda came, di veiled of the Scorn
W hich the unequall'd Maid fo long had worn ;
How oft, in vain, had Love's great God effay'd
To tame the ftubborn Heart of that bright Maid ?
Yet fpite of all the Pride that fwells her Mind,
The humble God of Sleep can make her kind.
A rifing Blufti increas'd the native Store
Of Charms, that but too fatal were before.
Once more prefent the Vifion to my View,
The fweet Illufion, gentle Fate, renew !
How kind, how lovely She, how ravifh'd I !
Shew me, blelt God of Sleep, and let me die.
Earl of Rose o MM ON. 45
The G HOST of the OldHoufe of Commons,
to the New One, appointed to meet
at OXFORD.
T7 ROM deepeft Dungeons of eternal Night,
- The Seats of Horror, Sorrow, Pains, and Spite,
J have been fent to tell you, tender Youth,
A feafonable and important Truth.
I feel (but, oh ! too late) that no Difeafe
Is like a Surfeit of luxurious Eafe :
And of all other, the moft tempting Things
Are too much Wealth, and too indulgent Kings.
None ever was fuperlatively ill,
But by Degrees, with Induftry and Skill :
And fome, whofe Meaning hath at firft been fair,
Grow Knaves by Ufe, and Rebels by Defpair.
My Time is pall, and yours will foon begin,
Keep the firft Bloffoms from the Blaft of Sin ;
And by the Fate of my tumultuous Ways,
Preferve yourfelves, and bring ferener Days.
The bufy, fubtle Serpents of the Law,
Did firft my Mind from true Obedience draw:
While I did Limits to the King prefcribe,
And took for Oracles that Canting Tribe,
I chang'd true Freedom for the Name of Free,
And grew feditious for Variety :
All that oppos'd me were to be accus'd,
And by' the Laws illegally abus'd,
The Robe was fummon'd, Maynard'm the Head,
In legal Murder none fo deeply read ;
I brought him to the Bar, where once he flood,
Stain'd with the (yet une.xpiated) Biood
Of the brave Straff'ord, when three Kingdoms rung
With his accumulative Hatkney- Tongue \
Prib'ners
46 P o E M s by the
Pris'ners and Witneffes were waiting by,
Thefe had been taught to fwear, and thofe to die,
And to expedl their arbitrary Fates,
Some for ill Faces, fome for good Eftates.
To fright the People, and alarm the Town,
S and Dates employ'd the reverend Gown.
But while the triple Mitre bore the blame,
The King's three Crowns were their rebellious Aim:
I feem'd (and did but feem) to fear the Guards,
And took for mine the Bethels and the Wards:
Anti-Monarchick Hereticks of State,
Immoral Atheifls, Rich and Reprobate:
But above all I got a little Guide,
Who ev'ry Ford of Villany had try'd :
None knew fo well the old pernicious Way,
To ruin Subjefts, and make Kings obey ;
And my fmall Jehu, at a furious Rate,
Was driving Eighty, back to Forty-Eight.
This the King knew, and was refolv'd to bear.
But I miftook his Patience for his Fear.
All that this happy Ifland cou'd afford,
Was facrific'd to my voluptuous Board.
In his whole Paradife, one only Tree
He had excepted by a ftrift Decree ;
A facred Tree, which Royal Fruit did bear,
Yet it in Pieces I confpir'd to tear ;
Beware, my Child ! Divinity is there.
This fo undid all I had done before,
I cou'd attempt, and he endure no more,
My unprepar'd, and unrepenting Breath,
Was fnatch'd away by the fwift Hand of Death ;
And I, with all my Sins about me, hurPd
To th' utter Darknefs of the lower World :
A dreadful Place ! which you too foon will fee,
If you believe Seducers more than me.
Earl of R o s c o M M o N. 47
On the D E AT H of a LAD Y'S Dog.
HP H O U, happy Creature, art fecure
* From all the Torments we endure :
Defpair, Ambition, Jealoufy,
Loft Friends, nor Love, difquiet thee ;
A fallen Prudence drew thee hence
From Noife, Fraud, and Impertinence,
Tho' Life effay'd the fureft Wile,
Gilding itfelf with Laura's Smile.
How didft thou fcorn Life's meaner Charms,
Thou who cou'dft break from Laura's Arms !
Poor Cynick ! ftill methinks I hear
Thy awful Murmurs in my Ear ;
As when on Laura's Lap you lay,
Chiding the worthlefs Crowd away.
How fondly human Paffions turn !
What we then envy'd, now we mourn !
SONG.
On a young Lady 'who Sung finely > and
was afraid of a Cold.
WINTER, thy Cruelty extend,
'Till fatal Tempefts fwell the Sea,
In vain let finking Pilots pray,
Beneath thy Yoke let Nature bend,
Let piercing Froft, and lafting Snow,
Thro' Woods and Fields Dellruftion fow !
Yet
48 P o E M- s by the
Yet we unmov'd will fit and fmile,
While you thefe leffer Il ; s create,
Thefe we can bear ; but gentle Fate,
And thou bleft Genius of our Ifle,
From Winter's Rage defend her Voice,
At which the lift'ning Gods rejoice.
May that celeftial Sound each Day
With Extafy tranfport our Souls,
Whilft all our Paffions it controls,
And kindly drives our Cares away ;
Let no ungentle Cold deftroy,
All Tafte we have of heav'nly Joy.
EPILOGU E to ALEXANDER the Great,
when affed at the 'Theatre in Dublin.
YO U 've feen to Night the Glory of the Eaft,
The Man, who all the then known World pofleft,
That Kings in Chains, did Son of Amman call,
And Kingdoms thought divine, by Treafon fall.
Him Fortune only favour'd for her Sport,
And when his Conduct wanted her Support,
His Empire, Courage, and his boafted Line,
Were all prov'd Mortal by a Slave's Defign.
Great Charles, whofe Birth has promis'd milder Sway,
Whofe awful Nod all Nations muft obey,
Secur'd by higher Pow'rs, exalted ftands
Above the reach of facrilegious Hands ;
Thofe Miracles that guard his Crowns, declare
That Heav'n has form'd a Monarch worth their Carej
Born to advance the Loyal, and depofe
His own, his Brother's, and his Father's Foes.
Faction,
Earl of R o s c o M M o N. 4$
Faction, that once made Diadems her Prey,
And ftopt our Prince in his triumphant Way,
Fled like a Mill: before this radiant Day.
So when, in Heav'n, the mighty Rebels roff,
Proud, and refolv'd that Empire to depofe,
Angels fought firft, but unfuccefsful prov'd,
God kept the Conqueft for his beft Eelov'd:
At fight of fuch Omnipotence they fly,
Like Leaves before autumnal Winds, and die.
All who before him did afcend the Throne,
Labour'd to draw three reftiff Nations on.
He boldly drives 'em forward without Pain,
They hear his Voice, and ftraight obey the Rein.
Such Terror fpeaks him deftin'd to command ;
We wnrmip Jove with Thunder in his Hand;
But when his Mercy without Pow'r appears,
We flight his Altars, and negleft our Pray'rs.
How weak in Arms did Civil Difcord fhew ! n
Like Saul (he flruck with Fury at her Foe,
When an immortal Hand did ward the Blow. Y
Her Offspring, made the Royal Hero's Scorn,
Like Sons of Earth, all fell as foon as born :
Yet let us boaft, for fure it is our Pride,
When with their Blood our Neighbour Lands were dy'd,
Ireland's untainted Loyalty remain'd,
Her People guiltlefs, and her Fields unftain'd.
VOL, I,' D ON
50 P o E M s by the
ON THE
DAY of JUDGMENT.
I.
TH E Day of Wrath, that dreadful Day,
Shall the whole World in Afhes lay,
As David and the Sibyls fay.
II.
What Horror will invade the Mind,
When the ftrift Judge, who would be kind,
Shall have few venial Faults to find ?
III.
The laft loud Trumpet's wond'rous Sound,
Shall through the rending Tombs rebound,
And wake the Nations under Ground.
IV.
Nature and Death mall, with Surprise,
Behold the pale Offender rife,
And view the Judge with confcious Eyes.
V.
Then fhall, with univerfal Dread,
The facred Myftick Book be read,
To try the Living, and the Dead.
VI.
The Judge afcends his awful Throne,
He makes each fecret Sin be known,
And all with Shame confefs their own.
VII. O
Earl o/'RoscoMMON. 51
VII.
O then ! What Intereft fliall I make,
To fave my laft important Stake,
When the moft Juft have Caufe to quake ?
VIII.
Thou mighty, formidable King,
Thou Mercy's unexhaufted Spring,
Some comfortable Pity bring !
IX.
Forget not what my Ranfom coft,
Nor let my Dear-bought Soul be loft,
In Storms of guilty Terror toft.
X.
Thou who for me didft feel fuch Pain,
Whofe precious Blood the Crofs did ftain,
Let not thofe Agonies be vain.
XI.
Thou whom avenging Pow'rs obey,
Cancel my Debt (too great to pay)
Before the fad accounting Day.
XII.
Surrounded with amazing Fears,
Whofe Load my Soul with Anguifh bears,
I figh, I weep : Accept my Tears.
XIII.
Thou who wer't mov'd with Mary's Grief,
And, by abfolving of the Thief,
Haft giv'n me Hope, now give Relief.
D 2 XIV,
52 P o E M s by the
XIV.
Rejeft not my unworthy Pray'r,
Preferve me from that dang'rous Snare
Which Death and gaping Hell prepare.
XV.
Give my exalted Soul a Place,
Among thy chbfen Right-hand Race;
The Sons of God, and Heirs of Grace.
XVI.
From that infatiable Abyfs,
Where Flames devour, and Serpents hifs,
Promote me to thy Seat of Blifs.
XVII.
Proftrate my contrite Heart I rend,
My God, my Father, and my Friend ;
Do not forfake me in my End.
XVIII.
Well may they curfe their fecond Breath,
Who rife to a reviving Death,
Thou great Creator of Mankind,
Let guilty Man Compaflion find.
PR O-
Earl 0/"RoscoMMoN. 53
PROLOGUE to POMPEY,
A Tragedy ', tranflated by Mrs. K. Philips, from
the French of Monfieur Corneille, and a ft ed
at the Theatre in D u B L i N.
HP 1 H E mighty Rivals, whofe deftruftive Rage
/*- Did the whole World in Civil Arms engage,
Are now agreed ; and make it both their Choice,
To have their Fates determin'd by your Voice.
Cfefar from none but you will have his Doom,
He Kates th' obfequious Flatteries of Rome:
He fcorns, where once he rul'd, now to be try'd,
And he hath rul'd in all the World befidr.
When he the Thames, the Danube, and the Nile
Had ftain'd with Blood, Peace floarim'd in this Ifle j
And you alone may boaft, you never (aw
Cafar till now, and now can give him Law.
Great Pompey too, comes as a Suppliant here^
But fays he cannot now begin to fear :
He knows your equal Juftice, and (to tell
A Roman Truth) he knows himfelf too well.
Succefs, 'tis true, waited on C/*/2zr's fide,
But Pompey thinks he conquer'd when he dy'd.
His Fortune, when me prov'd the moft unkind,
Chang'd his Condition, but not Gala's Mind.
Then of what Doubt can Pompey's Caufe admit,
Since here fo many Cato's judging fit ?
But you, bright Nymphs, give C<tfar leave to woo,
The greateft Wonder of the World, but you,
D 3 And
54 P E M s by the
And hear a Mufe, who has that Hero taught
To fpeak as generoufly as e'er he fought.
Whofe Eloquence from fuch a Theme deters
All Tongues but EngUJb-, and all Pens but hers.
By the juft Fates your Sex is doubly bleft,
You conquer'd Cafar^ and you praife him beft.
And You ( * illuftrious Sir ) receive as due,
A prefent Deftiny referv'd for You.
Rome, Trance and England join their Forces here,
To make a Poem worthy of your Ear.
Accept it then, and on that Pcmpefs Brow,
Who gave fo many Crowns, bellow one now.
R O S S's GHOST.
SHAME of my Life, Difturber of my Tomb,
Bafe as thy Mother's proftituted Womb ;
Huffing to Cowards, fawning to the Brave, ~\
To Knaves a Fool, to cred'lous Fools a Knave, C
The King's Betrayer, and the Peoples Slave. j
Like Samue/y at thy necromantick Call,
I rife, to tell thee, God has left tbee, Saul.
I ftrove in vain th' infefted Blood to cure ;
Streams will run muddy where the Spring's impure.
In all your meritorious Life, we fee
Old Taafs invincible Sobriety.
Places of Majler of the Hor/e, and %>,
You (like Tom Howard] did at once fupply :
From Sijnefs Blood your Loyalty did fpring ;
You (how us all your Parents, but the King,
From whofe too tender and too bounteous Arms,
(Unhappy he who fuch a Viper warms ;
* Tt tbt Lord Lieutenant*
Earl of Rose o M MON. 55
As dutiful a Subject, as a Son)
To your true Parent, the whole Town, you run.
Read, if you can, how th' old Apoftate fell,
Out-do his Pride, and merit more than Hell :
Both he and you were glorious and bright,
The firft and faireft of the Sons of Light :
But when, like him, you offer'd at the Crown,
Like him, your angry Father kick'd you down.
A D
POEMS by the
A D
R M A N S.
H O R. L I B. III. ODE VI.
Cbrruptos fuse aetatis mores infe&atur.
|| E L I C T A tnajorum tmmeritus lues,
Romane : donee templa rtfeceris y
jEdefque labentes Deorum^ &
Faeda nigro Jitnulacra fumo.
Dh te mlnorem quod geris, imperas. 5
Hinc omne principium^ hue refer exitum.
Di null a negleQi dederunt
Hefperia mala Iu8uof<e.
Jam bis Monafes, s" Pacori manus
Non attfpicatos contudit impetus 1O
Noftros, & adjectffe pro-dam
Torquilus exiguis renidet.
Perie cccupatam feditionibus
Delcvit urbem Dacus, & dEthiops :
Hie claffe formidatus, ille lij
mdior fagittis.
fcccunda.
Earl of Ros COMMON. 57
THE
SIXTH ODE
of the THIRD BOOK of HORACE.
Of the Corruption of tbe 'Times.
THOSE Ills your Anceftors have done,
Romans, are now become your own;
And they will coft you dear,
Unlefs you foon repair
The falling Temples which the Gods provoke.
And Statues fully 'd yet with facrikgious Smoke.
Propitious Heav'n, that rais'd your Fathers high,
For humble, grateful Piety,
(As it rewarded their Refpect)
Hath fharply punifh'd your Negleft;
All Empires on the Gods depend,
Begun by their Command, at their Command they end.
Let Craflus 1 ' Ghoft, and Labienus tell,
How twice by ^We's Revenge our Legions fell,
And, with infulting Pride,
Shining in Roman Spoils, the Parthian Viftors ride,.
The Scythian and ^Egyptian Scum
Had almoft ruin'd Rome,
Whi ? our Seditions took their part,.
FilTdeach ^y/>// Sail, and wing'd each Scytbian Dart
D 5 Firft,,
58 Po E M s by ft>e
Fcecunda culpte facula, ttuptias
Pnntum inqulno'vei-e, & gwus % & dotnos.
Hoc fonte dermata clades
In patriam, populumque fluxll. 2O
Motus doceri gaudet lonicos
Matura -virgo, & fingitur artubus
yam xunc, tff inceftos amores
De tenero meditatur ungui.
'Max junior es qu/trit adult eros 2$
later mariti vina : neque eligif,
Cui donet imfermiffa raptim
Gaudia, luminibus remoth:
Serf Jaffa cor am no Jine conjcio
Surgit marifo : feu. vocat inftitor, 2
Sett na<vis Hiffana magijler^
pretlofus cmpter.
Non Us javenfus arta parentllus
Infecit aquor fanguine Punico,
Pyrrki'imque, & ingentem cecldit
Aattoftitm, dnnibafhnqve dintm;
Set
Earl o/'RoscoMMON. 59
Firft, thofe flagitious Times,
(Pregnant with unknown Crimes)
Conipire to violate the Nuptial Bed,
From which polluted Head
Infe&ious Streams of crowding Sins began,
And through the fpurious Breed and guilty Nation ran.
Behold a ripe and melting Maid,
Bound Prentice to the wanton Trade ;
Ionian Artifts, at a mighty Price,
Inftruft her in the Myfteries of Vice;
What Nets to fpread, where fubtle Baits to lay,
And with an early Hand they form the temper'd Clay.
Marry 'd, their Leflbns fhe improves
By praftice of adult'rous Loves,
And fcorns the common mean Defign,
To take Advantage of her Husband's Wine,
Or match, in fome dark Place,
A hafty illegitimate Embrace.
No ! the brib'd Husband knows of all,
And bids her rife when Lovers call ;
Hither a Merchant from the Straits,
Grown wealthy by forbidden Freights,
Or City Cannibal, repairs,
Who feeds upon the Flefh of Heirs,
Convenient Brutes, whofe tributary Flame,
Pays the full Price of Luft, and gilds the flighted Sham*.
'Twas not the Spawn of fuch as thefe,
That dy'd with Punick Blood the conquer'd Seas,
And quafh'd the Item ^Eacides',
Made the proud Afian Monarch feel *
How weak his Gold was againft Europe's Steel,
Forc'd ev'n dire Hannibal to yield ;
And won the long difputed World at Zamas fatal Field.
But
60 Po E M s by the
$ed rufticorum mafcula tnilitum
Proles, Sabcllis doEia ligonibus
,}> T erJ r are glebas, f? fever a 40
Matris ad arbitrium recifbs
Portare fuftes, Sol ubi montium
Mutaret umbras, & juga demeret
Bobtts fatlgatis, ami cum
Tempus agens abeunte curru. 45
Damnofa quid non imminuit dies?
jEtas parentum pejor avis tulit
Nos nequiores, max daturas
Progeniem witiofiorem.
Earl of Ros c OMM o N. 6j
But Soldiers of a ruftick Mould,
Rough, hardy, feafon'd, manly, bold,
Either they dug the ftubborn Ground,
Or through hewn Woods their weighty Strokes did found.
And after the declining Sun
Had chang'd the Shadows, and their Task was done.
Home with their weary Team they took their way,
And drown'd in friendly Bowls the Labour of the Day.
Time fenfibly aft things impairs ;
Our Fathers have been worle than theirs ;
And we than ours ; next Age will fee
A Race more profligate than we,
. (With all the Pains we take) have Skill enough to be.
REMARKS
62 P o E M s by the
REMARKS on the foregoing ODE.
THIS Ode it a Leffan of Morality. Horace it perfua ding tie
Romans, that Contempt of Religion, and Corruption if Man-
ners, iver the folt Caufes of all the Misfortunes -which bad
kefallen Rome. The Time -when it -was ivritten ivas after the Defeat
of Antony, about the Tear of Rome, DCCXX1V, w DCCXXV.
Lin. i. Delicla majorum immeritus lues.] The Pagans bad
di f cover d this Truth, That Pojlerity might fuffer for a Crime of their
Ancrftors ; and that till fuch Crimt "was atcnd for, the Children of
the Offenders 'were liable to the Pttnijbmtnt due to their Crime.
Lin. z. Donee templa refeceris.] He means the Templet talicb
lad been burnd during the Wars. This points at Auguftus in par-
ticular : For that Prince ivas very diligent in repairing the Templet
which bad been denwlijh'd or burnt, and raijing them up again.
Lin. 3. ./Edefque labentes Deorum.] The different between an.
JEdes Sacra and a Temple, iaas tbii- y ^Edes Sacra, was pro-
perly a facred Edifice dedicated to fame Deity, but "without the
Ceremony f the Augurs j a Temple -was a certain fpace of Ground
fet apart by the Augurs, but not hallowed nor consecrated to any of
the Gcds, as the Roftra, Curia Pompeia, Curia Julia, Curia HofUiia.
Hence it is no hard matter to conceive hov> one might be turned into
the other ; that is, bow a Temple might be made an JEdes Sacra,
and an y^des Sacra a Temple : there -were federal at Rome, vibicb
Vierc both the one and the other at the fame time.
Lin. 4. Et fceda nigro fimulachra fumo.J This is a Jine Pajfage.
Horace, after be bad fpoke of the Temples being burnt, ftts before
the Eyes of the Romans the Statues of the Gods, all over Hack
with the Smoke tf the Flames vjhicb bad turned the Templts to
AJhes. Here it is proper to mention what ive find in Book I. Odt
XXXV. vobicb -was ivritten a lit tit after this:
- Quid inta&um nefafti
Liquimus ? unde manus jurentus
Metu Deorum continuit? quibus
Pepercit aris?
Profane Wretches ! what have we not defil'd ? In what Inftance
has the Fear of the Gods reftrain'd the facrilegious Hands of
our young Soldiers ? Is there any one of the Altars which they
hare fpar'd ?
Lin.
Earl of R o s c o M M o N.' 63
Lin. 5. Dls te minorem quod gcris imperas. J Cbrijtians them-
fcl-vet could not have given tetter InftruRion* to Princes : You are
linger Kings than you own a God above you, and trufl in bis Power.
This Horace -writ not fo much for the Roman People, as for Au-
guftus j of whom, Book I. Ode XII. Speaking to Jupiter, be/ays,
Te minor latum reget *quus orbem-:
He will ever own you to be above him ; he will content him-
felf with the Government of the World.
Lin. 6. Hinc omne principium.] He fays we Jhould begin all
9ur Works -with Prayer to the Gods, and fnd tbem -with Thankf-
fi-vings. This be recommends as a feafonable Precept, after fo mufb
Mifery vukitb bad followed upon the Contempt of Religion.
Lin. 8. Hefperia;.] Italy, caird alfo Hefperia proxima, f
iijtinguijb it from Spain, which was catt'd Hefperia ultima.
Lin. 9. Jam bis Monaefcs.] Undoubtedly Horace ffeaki bere of
the tiuo Viftories which the Parthians got over the Remans, one
under Monasfes, and the other tinder Pacorus their Generals. He
likeivife imputes tbefe Misfortunes of the Romans to the Contempt
which they bad Jhftvn to Religion. It it probable that one of tbefe
ViElorics of the Parthians, was the Defeat of Crafluj, tuba march" d
again/} the Parthians, in dejfar.ce tf all the unlucky Omens which
happened both at Rome, and in the Camp, as Dion reports. Hifi,
Book XL. But the difficulty is t know whether CralTus was de-
feated by Monaefes, who ivas a chief Man about King Or odes.
Hifttriam agree that it was Surena -who routed Crafius. What it
Surena ? not a proper Name, tut a Title of Dignity, and fignifes,
The King's Lieutenant : Now Monaefe* ivas the fecond Man of
the Empire: And therefore it is probable that Surena ivas the Title
tf Monasfes. This Pajfage of Horace it very conjiderable ; for it
is the only one of all Antiquity which gives ui light in this famous
Story. The Vifiory of Monaafe* over the Romans proved fatal to
him f elf : For King Orodes groiving jealous of bis Glory, put him
t Death foott after it. And therefore that Monaefes, tobo put him-
ftlf into Antony'* Hands feventeen Years after this Defeat of
Craflus, and inborn Antony fcr.t back to Phraates, either because
he JufpeKed him, or becaufe he top'd be might do him good Seritic.e
fbout the Prince, ivas the Son of the former.
Et Paccri manus.} Pacorus ivas tie eldeft Son of Orodes, ivh
ftnt him to railage Syria prefently upon tie Defeat ff/'Craffus : But be
was then fo young, that be had only the Name of General, and Ozace*
ttnmanded the Army. He ivas feat thither again -with Labienus
twe or three Tears after, and did great Service; for he fubdued all
Syria,
64 P o E M s by the
Syria, except Tyre, at Dion writes, Book XLVIII. Ht was Sefeated
*nd jlain three Tears after by Ventidius, Antony's Lieutenant.
Lin. 10. Non aufpicatos contudit im| etus.] He calls tbe Effortt
of tbe Romans againft tbe Farthians, nor jufpicatos, unaufficious,
contrary to the Aufpicia, becaufe CrafFus bid entered upon tbit .
War witbfingular Contempt of tbofe Divine Tokens Firjl of all, ,
when be left Rome, tbe Tribune Ateius having cppof+d bn Depar-
ture, and not being able to flop him, conveyed a Cb*jfing-dijh to
tbe City-Gate, thro' which be was t o pafi ; and as Ci ffus went
out be caft fame Perfumes upon tb-- Fire, and then threw it about,
with horrible Curfes and Imprecations. This Craffus minded nor,
tut went on bis way. In like manner be flighted all tbe unlucky
Prefaces that bcfel him. And, laflly, when tbe Siotbfayers let bint
know, that tbe Tokens in the Sacrifices were unfortunate, be took nt
Notice of -what they fa id.
Lin. ii. Et adjecUFe praedam torquibus.] He fa\s, that tbt
Parthians enlarged the Chains about their Ntcks with tb; Gold ar.d
Silver which they bad taken from tbe Romans. Here it muft be
remembered, that tbe Farthians wore Chains about their Mcks, like
tbe old Gauls and Germans-
Lin. 12. Renidet.] >Ai, be laughs. Sc Catullus, Ode XXXVI.
Egnatius quod candidos habet denies,
Renidet ufquequaque.
Egnatius is always laughing, becaufe he has white Teeth.
Lin. 14. Dtlevit uibem U<icus & ^thiops,] This is not to It
under/load of two feveral times, as though tbe Dacians and Ethio-
pians bad like to have taken Rome ont after another : Horace
fpeaks here of tbe Forces ef Antony and Cleopatra, ivbe bad a d-
Jign on tbt City, at be fays, Stok I. Gde XXXVJI.
. Dum capitolio
Regina dementes ruinas,
Funus & imperio parabat.
While the mad Queen threaten'd finrl Deftruflion to the Capitol
and Empire. It mufi be noted that tbe Ethiopians and Daciani
compofcd a great part of Antony 'j Troops.
^Eihiops.] Tbe Troops of Cleopatra, Ethiopians <j</ Egyptians-;
for Egypt was comprehended under tbt general Name of Ethiopia.
Lin 1.5. Hie claffe formidatus.] For tbe Egyptians were mcft of
Antony' s Forces for S,a-Ser-vice.
Lin. 16. Hie miffilihus nulior fagittis.] This is the Dacian.
The Northern People wcte gene ra lly good Arc bers ; and StraJbo/yji
titir Arm vtert Sword, Buckler, Bow and Quiver,
Lin.
Earl of R o s COMMON. 65
Lin. 17. Fcecunda culpae fecula.] The Corruption of Manner* in
Horace'* time cannot be better exprtjft than in tbjs Epigram of
Catullus:
Confnle Pompeio primum duo, Cinna, folebant
Mcechi. Illi, ah ! facto Confute nunc iterum
Manferunt duo, fed creverunt millia in unum
Singulum, fcecundum femen adulterio.
Cinna, in the firft Confulate of Pompey, you could fee but two
Adulterers at Rome. In his fecond likewife, you cou]d find but
thefe two. But fince that, each of thefe has produced a thou-
fand. O prolifick Adultery ! By the ttvo Adulterers Catullus meant
Czfar and Mamurra. A little after this Ode was written, Au-
guftus publijhed the Julian Law, t.o prevent Adulteries.
Lin. 19. Hoc fonte derivata cladcs.] It is -very remarkable, that
Horace be re afcribes all tbe Calamities which had happened to Rome,
and all tbe Civil Wars, to Adulteries only. In this be follows tbt
DoHrine of Pythagoras, -who taught, that nothing was tf more
mi fcbi evens Conftquence than confounding Families, and grafting
Aliens upon them by Adultery.
Lin. 21. Motus.] As the Greeks ufe nnfi&aut to move onei
fe'f, for />&, to dance, fo the Latins ufe moveri and motus
fur the fame. Thus Horace in another place ;
Ut feftis matrona moveri jufia Diebus.
And again, ut qui
Nunc Satyrum, nunc agreftem Cyclopa movetur.
And Virgil, dant motus incompofitos. Cicero bat tbe fami
Pbrafe in hit third Paradox : Hiftrio fi paulo fe movit extra nu-
merum.
lonicos.] Ionian Dances were the mojl lafciviout cf any. For
tbe World did not afford a more -voluptuous People than the Ionian*.
Lin. 12. Matura virgo.] That is t Maid who it marriageable;
for anting tbe old Romans /'/ iat counted a Reproach fr a Maid
cf that Age to danct 5 this Exercife bang permitted to none but
young Children.
Fingitur artubus.] Fingere Jig nifitt the fame as formare, com-
ponere, to fajhicn, toft. It it a Term borrow' d from the Dancing-
Schools. Horace fays, that at that Age tbe Maid was Jlill frac-
tifing to make her Joints fupple, that jfhe might fucceed the better in
her lafcivious Movements. Lambin has read in fame Mar.ufcriptt,
fingitur artibus. If that be tbe true reading, Horace would fay
that the Maidt learn d all the Tricks, and profits' d all the inveig-
ling Arts, which cemmon Strumpets made ufe of in their Trade..
66 P o E M s by the
Lin. 24. De tenero meditatur ungui.] This is a Greek Proverb,
aa-it^aii TV ovv%<t, de tenero ungut, de teneris unguiculis,
from onet tender Age, Tully in an Epiftle to Lentulas, fays :
Sed prasfta te eum qui mihi a teneris, ut Graeci dicunt, un-
guiculis es cognitus. Let me find you the fame Man as I have
always known you to be ever fince you was a little Child.
Obferve here bow Horace ufes tie Prefoftthn de irftttd of a.
Lin. 25. Juniores quaerit adulteros.] Juniores uy fgt'fy
bcrc Jimply, the youngejt, or fucb at tuere younger than their
Husbands, or new ones ; as Book I. Ode XXXIII.
Lin. 26. Inter mariti vina.] A PaJJ'age of Ovid may explain
tbit, in bis frji Book de arte.
Ergo ubi contigerit pofiti tibi munera Bacchi,
Atque erit in focii fcemina parte tori, &c.
When you are at the Table with your Miftrefs, and fhe fit!
upon the fame Couch with you, &e.
Lin. 28. Gaudia.] This word mnjt not be changed. Ovid tat
it in the faint fenfe, de arte amandi Lib. III.
Gaudia nee cupidis veftra negate viris.
And Tibullus :
Cui Venus hefterna" gaudia no&e tulit.
Lin. 29. Coram-3 Before all tbe Company. This ivorj it
ppofed bere to luminibus remotis. Suetonius ufes it in fpealirg
ef Auguftus, in tbe LXIXth Chapter of bis Life.
Non fine confcio.] Tbit is oppofed to raptim. Horace it
net fatisjied to defcnbe tbe Dtlausb<.ries f Women only ; but tt
flrikt more Horror, be adds, that their Husbands consented 5 wbict
is tbe bigbejl degree of Leivdneft.
Lin. 30. Seu vocat inftitor. Jnftitor is properly a Ttftor tt
f Merchant, an Agent. Ovid, de arte, Lib. I.
Inftitor ad dominam veniet difcind"his emacem,
Expediet merces teque fedente fuas.
The Merchant's Faftor will come to your Miftrefs who wants
to buy fomewhat, and will open all his Ware in your fight.
Lin. 31. Seu navis Hifpanas magifter.J Magifter navis/ow-
tint'i fignifiet tbe chief Man in tbt Ship, r tbe Pilot : But her*
Horace puts it for tbe Oioner tf tbe Vt'ff'el, tbe trading Merchant.
Now there teat great Trade between Italy and Spain : tbe Spa-
niards furnijb'd Rome with Wine, and carried bath Goods from
tbence in exchange.
Lin,
Earl ^ROSCOMMON. 67
Lin. 32. Dedecorum pretiofus emptor.] Ibe Word pretiofua
Itreit * very ingenious, pertinent Epithet: for it figniftes one <wbo
buys dear, lobo fpares for nothing ; much the fame as damnofus.
Horace bandfomly dcfcribei the Avarice of the Women in kit
Time, -who preferred Merchants and Sbip-MaJlers for their Gal-
lants, only iecaufe they paid better than others.
Lin. 33. Non his juvntus orta parentibus.] Here he illuftrates
*vbat he hinted at the ijth Verfe, that frequent Adulteries bad
fpoird geod Families, fo that one might fee a great difference be-
tween the Romans of his Time, and their bra-ve Anceftors, who
vanquijb'd Pyrrhus, the Carthaginians, and Antiochus by Sea
and Land.
Lin. 35. Pyrrhumque.] Pyrrhus -was King c/Epirus, and di-
fcended from Achilles. Htrtutedtbe ConfulLxvinusnear Heraclea j
tut foon after he was overthrown by Fabricius and Curius ; and
retiring into Greece, he was jlain with a bloiv of a Tile, as he -was
tejieging Antigonus in Argo, in the Tear of Rome CCCCLXXX.
Lin. 36. IngentemAntiochum.] Antiochus was King of Syria,
u^milius Regillus teat him by Sea, and L. Scipio by Land : At
left be was jlain by bit o-wn People, in the Year of Rome DLXVII.
Lin. 37. Sed rufticorum mafcula militum.] The Roman
Traops <werc comptfcd of Rtifticks, Countrymen, fucb as they raifed
for tbe mcft part in the Territory of the Martians, in Apulia, and
among the Samnites. Varro hat a fine Remark ttfon this, in tbe
beginning of his Beok of Husbandry. Viri magni noftri majores
non fine causa prasponebant rufticos Romanes urbanis ; ut
luri enim qui in villa vivunt ignaviores qnam qui in agro
verfantur in aliquo opere faciundo : Sic qui in oppido federent,
quam qui rura colerent, defidiores putabant. It is not without
Reafon that thofe great Men, our Anceftors, preferr'd the
Romans in the Country before thofe in the City ; for as in the
Country itfelf, thofe whofe Bufinefs lies within Doors are lazier
than thofe who ftir abroad and work in the Field j fo they
reckon'd that thofe who led a fedentary Life in the City, were
notfo fit for Service as thofe that follow'd Husbandry. The fame
Author basfometbing fuller yet, in tbe beginning of bis Hid BOOK.
Itaque non fine causa majores noftri ex urbe in agris redigebant
cives fuos, quod & in pace a rufticis Remanis alebantur, & in
bello ab his tutabantur. Our Forefathers were in the right, to
fend Citizens abroad and fettle them in country Places ; becauft
the Romans in the Country furnifti'd the City with Provifions
in time of Peace, and defended it in War.
Lin. 38. Sabellis docla ligonibus.] Which is as mucb as t
fay, that tbe Soldiers were Samnites. For Sabellus is a dimi-
mutivt f Samnis, as Scabellum of Scamnum. Lia
68 POEMS, &c.
Lin. 40. Severa: matris ad arbitriura.] This it a good De-
fcription of a painful Mother -who makes her Children work, and
will not be pleafed if they don't bring home good Loads of Fuel at
Night.' He has the fame Thought again, BookV. Ode II. The
Samnite Women were fo induftrious, that they managed the Farms
for their Husbands, and left them Nothing to do. See Columella'f
Preface to its Xlth Book, where be oppofes the'pains-taking Women
ef the frft Times, to the fine, lazy, -vtluptuous Dames of his ctvn
Age.
Lin. 41. Sol ubi montium mutaret umbras.] This mutare /
Horace, is the fame -with Virgil' j duplicare. It may be ex-
p/ahi'd of the changing of Place. For -when the Sun feti, th
Shadow it not in the ftmt place ivbfre it -was three Hours before,
Lin. 42. Et juga demeret bobus.] The Greeks have happily
txprefs'd this by ere Word t/At/<r/ f or @*KoTCt, vobicb Tully ufes
in his XXVIIth Epiftle to Atticus, Book XV. Adventabat autem
y6XuV coenantibus nobie. He citme in the Evening as -we ivert
at Su}p fr , about the time of unyoking the Oxen. See tie lid Ode
f 'be Vch Book.
Lin, 43. Amicum tempus.] He calls the Evening a Friend t
Labourers, kecaufe it puts an end to their Day's Work.
Lin. 45. Damnofa.J Damnofus, as I have already obfer-ved, it
frperly one that never fp/ires ; and therefore it it very ftly applied
to Time, vihicb is likc-wife call'd tempus asriax.
Lin. 46. ^5Ltas parentum. Here I admire the Ptcft, Art, whf
tas faid fo much of four Generations in three Jhort Vcrfes. Jf it
If true that be tat imitated tie Verfes ef Aratus, as Lambin and
Muretus tell us, the Ctpy may be faid to excel the Original.
' va.Tt.ptf y:vtv \\nrmo
A your Fathers left Children not fo good as themfelves, fo yon
will leave thofe that are worfe than ycu are. Muretus Jayt
farther, that both tbeje Poets have borrdiu" d the Thought from
Homer, tt> ho -writes that few Children are like their Father ; that
be ebfcrvcd a great many to be tvorfe, but rarely found cne
tetter. But it -well deferves to be noted, that Horace grounded
his Rt-mark uptn true HiJIory, of the Times far the three firjl
Generations, and that be prophejied truly of the fourth, at is eafy
to frc-ve, l>y comparing the Rtign ef Tiberius -with that of
AuguAus.
HORACE
HORACE'
ART P o E T R Y.
Scribendi rede, fapere eft 6c principiutn
& fons.
PREFACE
T O T H E
ART of POETRY.
T Have feldom known a Trick fucceed, and will put none
* upon the Reader ; but tell him plainly that 1 think it
could never be more feafonable than now to lay down fucb
Rules, as if they be obferv'd, 'will make Men write more
correflly, and judge more difcreetly : But Horace muft be
read ferloufly or not at all, for elfe the Reader won't be tht
better for him, and I Jhall have loft my Labour, 1 have
kept as clofe as 1 could, both to the Meaning, and the Wordt
of the Author, and done nothing but what I believe he
would forgive if he were alive ; and I have often ask'd
my f elf that Queftion. 1 know this is a Field,
Per quern magnus equos Auruncts flexit Alumnus.
J)ut with all the RefpeB due to the Name of Ben. Johnlbnj
to which no Man pays more Veneration than I ; it cannot
be denyd, that the Conflraint of Rhime, and a literal
Tranjlation (to vjhich Horace in this Book declares himfelf
an Enemy] has made him want a Comment in many Places.
My chief Care has been to write intelligibly, and where
the Latin was cbfcure, I have added a Line or two to
explain it.
I am below the Envy of the Criticks, but if I durft, 1
would beg them- to remember, that Horace ow'd his Favour
and his Fortune to the Charafter given of him by Virgil and
Varius, that Fundanius ' and Pollio are ftill valued by
what Horace fays of them, and that in their Golden Age,
there was a good Underftanding among tht Ingenious, and
thofe who 'were the moft Efteemd were the left NaturJ.
ROSCOMMON.
72 P o E M s by the
D E
ARTE POETICA
LIBER,
AD PISONES.
J~ ~IUMA NO capiti cervleem piflor equinam
y anger e Ji we/it, & varias inducere plumas t
Vndique collatis membris : ut turpiter atrum
Dejinat in pifeem mulier formofa fupsrne :
Speflatum admijji rifum teneatis amid ? -
Credit e, Pifones, ijli tabula fore librum
Perfimilem, cujus, we/at <egri fomnia, vanae
Fingentur fpecies : ut nee pes nee caput uni
Reddatur formes. Pitiorilus atque Pettis
Quidlibet audendi femper fuit aqua potejlas. \
Scimus, $5f bane <veniam petimufque damufjue 'vicijpm.
Sed non at placidis coeaat immitia, non ut
Serpentet avibut getninentur, tigribus agni.
Inceptis grawibus plerumque iff magna profejfis
Purpureus, late qui fplendeat, unus & alter i
AJfuitur pannus : quum lucus, & ara Dian<r,
Et prsperantis aqutf per amaenos ambitus agros t
Aut Jlttmtn Rkenum, out pluviut de/cribitur arcus.
Earl of Ros COMM ON. 73
HORACE
OF THE
ART of POETRY.
We are favoured with feme Emendations of this Pcem,
which are inferted in the Text bet-ween [ ] from a
Copy correSled by the Earl of Rofcommon'j cu'n
Hand, and now in the pojjejjion of Dr. Rawlinfon.
IF in a Pifture (Pi/a) you fhould fee
A handfom Woman with a Fifties Tail,
Or a Man's Head upon a Horfe's Neck,
Or Limbs of Beafts of the moft diff'rent kinds,
Covered with Feathers of all forts of Birds,
Would you not laugh, and think the Painter mad?
Truft me, that Book is as ridiculous,
Whofe incoherent Stile (like fick Mens Dreams)
Varies all Shapes, and mixes all Extremes.
Painters and Poets have been Hill allow'd
Their Pencils, and their Fancies unconfin'd.
This Privilege we freely give and take ;
But Nature, and the common Laws of Senfc,
Forbid to reconcile Antipathies,
Or make a Snake engender with a Dove,
And hungry Tigers court the tender Lambs.
Some that at firft have promis'd mighty Things,
Applaud themfelves, when a few florid Lines
Shine through th' infipid Dulnefs of the reft j
Here they defcribe a Temple, or a Wood,
Or Streams that through delightful Meadows run,
And there the Rainbow, or the rapid Rhine,
VOL. I. E But
74 P o E M s 2>y the
Scd nunc ncn erat bis locus : & fortajfft cupreffiim
Sets fiinulare . Quid hoc ? Jt frafiis enatat exfpes 20
KaviltUt are data qui pingitur ? amphora ccepit
Injlitui't currents rota cur urceus exit?
Deniquejit) quod vis, fimplex duntaxat &f unum.
Maxima pars watutn, pater ; tf ju<vene! patre digni,
Decipimur fpecie refli. brt<vis effe laboro, 25
Obfcurus fio : fefiantem Ici'ia, fieri'i
Defidunt anintique : profeffus grandia, turget :
Serpit humi tutus nimium, timidufque procellee :
Qui variare cupit rtm prodigialiter unam,
Delfhifium fylvis appingit, JlucJibus aprum. 30
In 1-zfium duett culp&fuga, Jt caret arte.
circa ludum faber imus ^ ungufs
Exprimet, dff mollcs imitcbitur are capillos :
Infdix operis fumma, quia ponere totum
Nifciet. bunc ego me> Ji quid componere cur em, 3 ;;
Non ntagis effe we Urn, quam pravo vivere nafo t
Spcclandtim tiigris oculis, nigroque capillo.
Sutnite materiam we/iris, qui fcribitis, a: quam
Vitibviy & verfate diu t quid f err e recufent,
Quid valtant burneri, cui lecla potenter erit res, 40
Kicfacundia defer -et bunc, nee lucidus or do.
Or dints k^cc virtus erit & wenus, aut egofallor,
Ut jam nunc dicat, jam nunc debentia did
Pleraque
Earl of Rose OM M o N. 75.
But they mifplace them all, and croud them in,
And are as much to feek in other things,
As he that only can defign a Tree,
Would be to draw a Shipwreck or a Storm.
When you begin with fo much Pomp and Show,
Why is the End fo little and fo low ?
Be what you will, fo you be ilill the fame.
Mod Poets fall into the groffeft Faults,
Deluded by a feeming Excellence :
By ftriving to be fhort, they grow Obfcure,
And when they would writefmoothly.they want Strength,
Their Spirits fink ; while others that afiecl
A lofty Stile, fwell to a Tympany ;
Some tim'rous Wretches ftart at ev'ry Blaft,
And fearing Tempefts, dare not leave the Shore;
Others, in Love with wild Variety,
Draw Boars in Waves, and Dolphins in a Wood;
Thus fear of Erring, join'd with want of Skill,
Is a moil certain way of Erring ftill.
The meaneft Workman in th' jEmilian Square,
May grave the Nails, or imitate the Hair,
But cannot finifh what he hath begun ;
What * [can be] more ridiculous than he ?
For one or two good Features in a Face,
Where all the reft are fcandaloufly ill,
Make it but more remarkably deform'd.
Let Poets match their Subjeft to their Strength,
And often try what Weight they can fupport, -
And what their Shoulders are too weak to bear,
After a ferious and judicious Choice,
Method and Eloquence will never fail.
As well the Force as Ornament of Verfe,
Confift in choofing a fit Time for things,
X it there
7 6 ' P o E M s by the
Pleraque dijferat, &f prafenj in tempus omittat.
Hoc amet, hoc fpernat promijfi car minis auflor.
In *verbis ttiatn tennis cautufque ftrendis :
Dixeris egregie, notttm fi callida <verbum
Reddiderit junfiura nwum. Ji forte necej/e eft
Indiciis monjlrare recentibus abdita rerum^
Fingere cinftxtis non exaudita Cethegis $Q
Continget : dabiturque licentia fumta fudenttr.
Et noija ficlaque nuper babebunt i;erba fidem, jl
Graco fonte cadant, farce detorta. quid atttem
Cefd/io Plautoque dabit Romanus ademtum
Virgilio Var toque? ego, cur acqvirere pauca 55
Si pcflum, iirvidecr? quum lingua Ca fonts tf Enni
Serrnonem patrium dita<verit, & nova rerum
Nomina protulerit ? licuit, fetnperque Iicfbit 9
Signaium prtefents nota prccudere nomen,
Ut fyl--v<e foliis pronos mutantur in annos, Co
Prima cadunt : it a 'vcrboritm vetus interit tftas^
Et jwoenum ritu farent modo nata, 'vigentque.
T)ebcmur morti not, nojlraque ; fae receftus
Terra Ntptunus claj/es aquilonibus arcet,
Regis opus ; fierilifvt diu paltts, aptaque remit, 65
f'icinas urbes a/if, & grave fentit aratrum :
Stu curfum mutaint iniquum frugibus amnlt,
Doflus iter melius. mortalia fafta peribunt,
Ntdum fermomtm fitt horns, & gratia vivax.
Mu'ta
Earl 0/*RoscoMMON. 77
And knowing when a Mufe z [may] be indulg'd
In her full Flight, and when (he mould be curb'd.
Words muft be chofen, and be plac'd with Skill :
You gain your Point, 3 [when by the noble Art
Of good Connexion, an unufual Word
Is made at firfl familiar to our Ear.]
Bat if you write of things Abftrufe or New,
Some f your own inventing may be us'd,
So it be feldom and difcreetly done :
But he that hopes to have new Words allow'd,
Muft fo derive them from the Grecian Spring,
As they may feem to flow without Conitraint.
Can an Impartial Reader difcommend
In Varius, or in Virgil, what he likes
In Plautus or Caciliui ? Why mould I
Be envy'd for the little I invent,
When Ennius and Gate's copious Stile
Have fo enrich'd, and fo adorn 'd our Tongue ?
Men ever had, and ever will have, leave
To coin new Words well fuited to the Age.
Words arc like Leaves, feme wither ev'ry Year,
And ev'ry Year a younger Race fucceeds.
Death is a Tribute all things owe to Fate ;
The Lucrine Mole (Cafars flupendous Work)
Protedb our Navies from the raging North j
And (fince Cetbegus drain'd the Pontin Lake)
We Plew and Reap where former Ages rowM.
See how the Tiber (whofe licentious Waves
So often overflow'd the neighb'ring Fields,)
Now runs a fmooth and inoffenfive Courfe,
Confin'd by our great Emperor's Command :
Yet this, and they, and all, will be forgot;
Why then {hould Words challenge Eternity,
When greateft Men and greateft Aftions die ?
3 - '/your indvjlriaut Art
Can make uaufual Words eafy and plain ;
E 3 Ufe
78 P o E M s by the
Mult a renafcentur qu<c jam cecidere ', cadentque, 70
Qua nunc funt in honor e fvocabula ; fe vc/et ufus,
>utm penes arbitrium eft & jus ff norma loquendi.
Res gefl<e regumque ducutnque, & triflia bella,
Quo fcribi poj/ent numero, monjtrai'it Homerus.
Verfibus impart ter junfiis querimmia primum, 75
Pojl etiam inclufa eft *votz fen tent ia compos.
Quis tamen exiguas eltgos emiferit auflor,
Crammatici certant, dff adbuc fub judice Us rji.
jircbiltthum proprio rabies armafvit 'iambo.
Hunc facet cepere pedem grandef^ue cothurni, 80
jilterms aptum fermonibus, t3 populares
Vincenttmjlrepitut, & natum rebus agendit.
"Ma/a dedit fdibus Divas, ptcerofque Deonttn,
Et pugilettt viftorem, & cquum certamine primutn,
Et jjt-vtHittn curat, & iibtra *vina rtftrrt. 8 j|
Defcriptas ftrvart vices, eperunqut cohres
Cur fgo, fi tttfufo ignoroqut, Poeta falutor ?
Cur ne/cirf, pudtnt prove, quam difeere, mala f
Vcrfibus txpmi tragitis res comica noit <vu!ti
Indignatur item privatts ac prope focco 5
Dignis carminibus narrari caena Thjejla.
Singula qu<?que locum teneant fortita decenter,
Interttum tamen dff <uecem comaedia tollit,
Iratufqut Cbremes tumido dclitigat ore :
Et tragic us plerumque dolet fermone pedefri. 95
Tei'phus y Pe/eus, quum pauper & exul uterque,
Projicit amfullas, & fefquipedalia <verba^
Si curat cor ftettantis tetigifft quereld.
Won Jatis ejl pulcra ejfe Petmata : dulcia funta,
Et
Earl of R o s c o M M o N. 79
Ufe may revive the obfoleteft Words,
And banifh thofe that now are rood in Vogue j
Ufe is the Judge, the Law, and Rule of Speech.
Homer firft taught the World in Epick Verfe
To write of great Commanders, and of Kings.
Elegies were at firft defign'd for Grief,
Though now we ufe them to exprefs our Joy :
But to whofe Mufe we owe that fort of Verfe,,
Is undecided by the Men of Skill.
Rage with Tambicks arm'd Arckiloclus,
Numbers for Dialogue and Aftion fit,
And Favourites of the Dramatick Mufe.
Fierce, Lofty, Rapid, whofe commanding Sound
Awes the tumultuous Noifes of the Pit,
And whofe peculiar Province is the Stage.
Gods, Heroes, Conquerors, Olympick Crownj,
Love's pleafing Cares, and the free Joys of Wine,
Are proper Subjects for the Lyrick Song.
Why is he honour'd with a Poet's Name,
Who neither knows nor would obferve a Rule ;
And choofes to be Ignorant and Proud,
Rather than own his Ignorance, and learn?
Let ev'ry Thing have its due Place and Time.
A Comick Subjea loves an humble Verfe,
Thyeftes fcorns a low and comick Stile.
Yet Comedy fometimes may raife her Voice,
And Chremes be allow'd to foam and rail :
Tngedians too, lay by their State to grieve;
Peleui and Teleptjus exil'd and poor,
Forget their fwelling and gigantick Words.
He that would have Spectators (hare his Grief,
Muft write not only well, but movingly,
E 4 Aal
So P o E M s by the
Et qtiocumque 1'olent, animum auditor:! agunto. \ 00
TJt ridentibtts arrident t ita flentibus adflent
fiumani wultus. Ji vis me flere, dohndum eft
Primum ipfe tibi : tune tua me infirtiinia, leedent t
fe/epbf, vel Peleu: male ft mandata Irqueiis,
Aut dormitabo) out ridcbo. trijlta m&ftum 105
Vultum <verba decent ; iratum, plena tninarum :
Lttdentem, Inferno. : feverum, feria diflu.
format enim natura prius nos Intus ad omnent
pcrtunarum babitum ; ju<vat, aut impellit ad tram,
Aut ad bumum mcerore gravi deducit, & angit: 1 1O
Poft effert animi motus ititerprete lingua.
i dicentis erunt fortunis abfona difta,
Rofnani tolhnt equites peditefque cachinttuftt-
Inierent multum dwufnc loquntur an heros:
frlaturvf/ie fenex, an adbuc florente ju^uenta. I 15
Ferwidus : an matrona pot em, an fedula nutnx:
"Mcrcatorne vagus, cultorve <virentis agelti:
Cokbus, an Jljfyriut: 'Thebif nulntus, an Argii.
dut fawam fcqwe, aut fibi csnvenientia Jtttgt
fcrifrtor. konoratum fi forte repents Ackillem: 120
Jrnpiger, iracundus, inexorabilis, afet;
"Jura tugttjm nata, nih'il non a roget armii.
Sif Medea ferox, m<viflaquc : flebilis Ino t
Perfidus Ixion, lo vaga, trijlit Qrejlcs.
Si quid inexpertum fcen<e commit t is, & audes I2!|
Perfonam for mare n&vam, fervetur ad imum t
Qualis ab inccpto proceflerit, & fili conjlet.
Difficile ejl proprie communia dicer e : tuque
Reflius Iliacum carmen deducts in afius,
Quam Ji frcferres ignota. indiclaque primus. \ 3
Earl of Rose o MM OH. 8 1
And raife Men's Paflions to what height he wilt,
We Weep and Laugh, as we fee others do :
He only makes me fad who fhews the way,
And firft is fad himfelf; then, Tehphus,
I feel the weight of your Calamities,
And fancy all your Miferies my own.
But if you aft them ill, I fleep or laugh :
Your Looks muft alter, as your Subjeft does
From kind to fierce, from wanton to fevere :
For Nature forms, and foftens us within,
And writes our Fortunes Changes in our Face.
Pleafure enchants, impetuous Rage tranfports,
And Grief dejefts, and wrings the tortur'd Soul,
And thefe are all interpreted by Speech ;
But he whofe Words and Fortunes difagree,
Abfurd, unpity'd, grows a publick jeft.
Obferve the Characters of thofe that fpeak,
Whether an honeft Servant, or a Cheat,
Or one whofe Blood boils in his youthful Veins,
Or a grave Matron, or a bufy Nurfe,
Extorting Merchants, careful Husbandmen,
Argivcs or Thebans, Afiam or Greeks.
Follow Report, or feign coherent Things ;
Defcribe Jcbilles, as dcbilles was,
Impatient, ram, inexorable, proud,
Scorning all Judges, and all Law but Arms ;
Medea nv.ift be all Revenge and Blood,
/woall Tears, Ixion all Deceit,
Jo muft wander, and Orejles mourn.
If your bold Mufe dare tread unbeaten Paths,
And bring new Characters upon the Stage,
Be fure you keep them up to their firft height.
New Subjedls are not eafily explain'd,
And you had better choofe a well known Theme 9
Than truft to an Invention of your own :
For what originally others writ,
May be fo well difguU'd, and fo improved,
5 Th
82 P o E M s by the
Pullica materies privati juris erif, Jt
Nee circa vilem patulumque rr.oraberis orient :
Nee verbum verbo curabis reddere, fidus
Interpret: nee defilifs imitator in ar Hum,
Unde pedem proferre pudor <vetet, aut cperis lex. 125
Nee Jtc inctpieS) ut fcriptor cjclicus dim :
Tortunam Priami cantalo ff ttobile lellum.
Quid dignum tatito feret bic protnijfor biatu ?
Parturient monies, nafcetur ridlculus mus.
Quanta reflius bic, qui nil molitur ineptt : 1 40
(Die mibi, Mufa, virutn, capt^e poft tempera Trcj<?,
Qui mores bominttm mult arum wdit Cff urbei.)
Nonfumum exfulgore, fed exfumo dare lucem
C'gitat : ut fyeciofa debinc miracula prcmat,
Antipbaten, Seyllamque, t3 cum Cyclop? Charybdin. 1^5
Nee reditttm Diomedis ab interitu Meleagri^
Nee gemino bellum Trojanum orditur ab ovo.
Semper ad eventum fejlinat : tf in medias res,
N on f ecus ac not as, audit or em rapit : & qu<#
Defperat traclata nitrfcere poffe, re/intuit: 150
At^ue ita tntntitur, fie *veris fa/fa remifcety
Primo ne medium, media ne difcrepet imum.
Tu, quid fge, & populus me um defideret, audi.
Si plauforis fga ault?a manentis, ^ ufque
Se/u
Earl ofRoscoMMOTX.
That with fome Juflice it may pafs for yours;
But then you muft not Copy trivial things,
Nor Word for Word too faithfully Tranflate,
Nor (as fome fervile Imitators do)
Prefcribe at firft fuch ftria uneafy Rules,
As * [you] muft ever flaviftily obferve,
Or all the Laws of Decency renounce.
Begin not as th' old Poetafter did,
(T 'roy'j famous War, and Priam'j Fate,
In what will all this Oftentation end ?
The lab'ring Mountain fcarce brings forth a Moufe :
How far is this from the Meonian Stile ?
Mufe, Jpeak the Man, nuko fince the Siege of Troy,
So many Towns, fuch change of Manners fa^w.
One with a Flam begins, and ends in Smoke,
The other out of Smoke brings glorious L- : ght,
And (without raifing Expectation high)
Surprifes us with daring Miracles,
The bloody Leflrygons 5 [Charybdif Gulph,
And frighted Greeks who near th' &tna Shore,
Hear Scylla bark, and Polyphemus roar.]
He doth not trouble us with Ledas Eggs,
When he begins to write the Trojan War ;
Nor writing the Return of Dlamed,
Go back as far as Me/eager's Death :
Nothing is idle, each judicious Line
Jnfenfibly acquaints us with the Plot j
He choofes only what he can improve,
And Truth and Fiction are fo aptly mix'd
That all feems Uniform, and of a Piece.
Now hear what ev'ry Auditor expects ;
If you intend that he mould flay to hear
4 they
5 ' inhumane Feaftt,
With all the Mongers of the Land and Sea ;
How Scylla barKd, and Polyphemus rear'J;
The
84 POEMS by the
SeJJuri, donee cantor ; Vos plaudit!-, dicat :
jfctalis cujufque notandi funt tibi n:ors:
Mobililufque decor Katuris dandas & an=;:s.
Reddere qui voces jam fc it pucr, & pfde ctrtt
Signat kumuw, gejiit panbus colludere, U tram
Colligit ac pjnit femert, & mulatur in boras. \ 60
Imberbis juvenis, tandem cuftode remoto,
Gaudet equis canibufque, & epiici grama* camp: :
Cereus in vitium flzQi, monitoribus offer :
Utilium tan/us provrfer, prodigus <eris :
Sublimity cupidufque & amata relinquere pernix,
Corzi>er/is ftudiis eetas animufque mirilis
Qutcrit opes & amicitias, infcrwit bonort :
Commijiffe cavet quod mox mutare laboret.
Null a fenem circumveniunt tncommjda : *vel quod
Quterit, & invert t is mifer abftinet, ac tlmtt uti : I 70
Vtl quod res omnes timide gelidique minijjrat,
Dilator, fpe longus, iners, avidufque futuri t
Difficilis, querulut : laudator temporis aSi
Se puero, cenfor caftigatorque minor-urn.
Mult a ferunt anni 'vetiitentes contmoda, ftcunt^ 1 7 f
"Multa recedentes adinunt, ne forte feniles
Mandextur juveni partes, pueroqite 'virilts^
Semper in adjunfiis tevoque tnorablmur aptis*
Aut agitur ret in fcenis. aut afla refer tur.
Segnius irritant animos demijfa per aurfm, 1 go
>xam quee funt oculis fubjefia fidelibus, & quit
Jpfe fibi tradit fpefiator. Non tamen intus
T>igna geri, promes in fcenam : multaque toilet
Ex cculis, que mox narret facundia pr&fens.
Ntc pueros coram populo Medea trucidet ; j 8 c
Aut bumana palam coquat exta nefarius Atreui :
Aut in avem Progne 'vertatur, Cadmus in anguem.
ojlendi^ mibi fee, incredu'us odi.
Earl of R o s c o M M o N. 8$
Tte Epilogue, and fee the Curtain fall ;
Mind how our Tempers alter 6 [in] our Years,
And by 7 [that Rule] form all your Characters.
One that hath newly learn'd to fpeak and go,
Loves childifh Plays, is foon provok'd and pleas'd,
And changes ev'ry Hour his wav'ring Mind.
A Youth that firft caft off his Tutor's Yoke,
Loves Horfes, Hounds, and Sport, and Exercife,
Prone to all Vice, impatient of Reproof,
Proud, carelefs, fond, inconftant, and profufe.
Gain and Ambition mle our riper Years,
And make us Slaves to Intereft and Pow'r.
Old Men are only walking Hofpitals,
Where all Defefts, and all Difeafes, croud
With reftlefs Pain, and more tormenting Fear,
Lazy, morofe, full of Delays and Hopes,
Opprefs'd with Riches which they dare not ufe;
Ill-natur'd Cenfors of the prefent Age,
And fond of all the Follies of the paft.
Thus all the Treafure of our flowing Years,
Our Ebb of Life for ever takes away.
Boys muft not have th' ambitious Care of Men,
Nor Men the weak Anxieties of Age.
Some things are acled, others only told ;
But what we hear moves lefs than what we fee ;
Spectators only have their Eyes to truft,
But Auditors muft truft their Ears and you ;
Yet there are things improper for a Scene,
Which Men of Judgment only will relate.
"Medea muft not draw her murd'ring Knife,
And fpill her Childrens Blood upon the Stage,
Nor Atreus there his horrid Feait prepare.
Cadmus and Prognis Metamorpbojts,
(She to a Swallow turn'd, he to a Snake)
And whatfoever contradicts my Senfe,
I hate to fee, and never can believe.
6 vtitb 7 tttft Ruin
Five
86 P o E M s by the
Neve minor, neu Jit quint o produftior a fin
Tabula, qua pofci vult, & fpeflata reponi. \ 90
AVr Deus interjit, niji dignus vindice nodus
Incidtrit : nee quarta loqui perfena laboret,
dfloris partes chorus officiumqut virile
Defendat : neu quid medios intercinat aflus^
Quod non propofito conducat & beer eat apte, 195
llle bonisfaveatque, & concilietur amicis :
Et regat iratos, iff amet peccare timentes :
llle dopes laudet menft? brevis, ille falubrem
Juflitiam, kgefque, 3 apertis otia port is ;
llle tegat commijfa : Deofque preeetur ts oret, 200
Ut redeat miferis, abeat fortuna fupcrbis.
Tibia non, ut rune, oricbalco vinfia, tul<?qut
^Emuhiy fed tenuis /itrtplexque, foramine pauco
Afpirare^ sf adejje choris erat utilis, atque
Ncndutn fpijja nimis comple-re fedilia jlatu, 2OC
Quo fare populus vumerabilis, utpote parvus,
Et frugi, cfJJufque verecundufqu! coibat.
Poflquam ccepit agros extenders viffor, & vrletn
Lati'jr amplefti murus : vinoque diumo
Placari Genius feftos inipune diebus, 2 10
Acceffit numerifque modifque licentia major.
Indoflus quid enim faperet, liberque laborum
Rufticus urbano confufus, turpis bonefto ?
Sic prifces motumque & luxuriam addidit arti
fibicen : traxitque vagus per pulpit a v eft em. -3. \ 5
Sic etiam fJibus voces crevere feveris,
Et tulit eloquium infolitum facundia praceps :
Utiliumque fagax rerum, iff divina futuri
Sortilegis non difcrepuit fententia Delphi s.
Carmine qui tragico viltm certavit ob hircum, 22O
Max etiam agrefta Satyros nudavit, b 5 afper
Incolumi
Earl 0/*RoscoMMON. 87
Five Afts are the juft Meafure of a Play.
Never prefrme to make a God appear,
But for a Bufinefs worthy of a God ;
And in one Scene no more than three fhould fpeak.
A Chorus mould fupply what Aftlon wants,
And hath a generous and manly Part ;
Bridles wild Rage, loves rigid Honefly,
And ftrict Observance of impartial Laws,
Sobriety, Security and Peace,
And begs the Gods 8 [who guide] blind Fortune's Wheel,
To raife the Wretched, and pull down the Proud.
But nothing muft be fur.g between the A fts,
But what fome way conduces to the Plot.
Firft the fhrill Sound of a fmall rural Pipe
(Not loud like Trumpets, nor adorn'd as now)
Was Entertainment for the Infant Stage,
And pleas 1 d the thin and bafhful Audience
Of our well-meanir.g, frugal Anceflors.
But when our Walls and Limits were enlarg'd,
And Men (grown wanton by Profperity)
Scudy'd new Arts of Luxury and Eafe,
Tiis Verfe, the Mufick, and the Scene's improv'd j
For how mould Ignorance be Judge of Wit,
Or Men cf Senfe applaud the Jells of Fools ?
Then came rich Clothes and graceful Aftion in,
Then Inftruments were taught more moving Notes,
And Eloquence with all her Pomp and Charms
Foretold us ufeful and fentencious Trulhs,
As thofe deliver'd by the Delpbiek God.
The firft Tragedians found that ferious Stile
Too grave for their Uncultivated Age,
And To brought wild and naked Satyrs in,
Whofe Motion, Words, and Shape were all a Farce,
8 to turn
(As
88 Po e MS by the
Jncolumi gravitate jocum tCKtavit',: to quod
Illecebrif erat ff grata nwitate tnorand-us
SpeSator, funSufque facris, &f polus, & exlex.
Verum it a riforfs, it a commendare dicaces -
Conveniet S a tyros, it a *vertere feria ludo :
Ne, quicumque deus, quicumque adhibebitur heros,
Regali confpeflus in auro nuper ff oftro,
Migret in obfcuras humili fermone tabernas :
Ant, dum <vitat bumum, nubcs & inania cartel.
Ejfutire le<ves indigna tragasdia verfus:
Ut feftis matrona moveri jujja diebus,
Inter erit Satyris paulum pudibunda protervtt.
Non ego inornata ff dominanlia nomina Jblutn,
Verbaque, Pifonei, Satyrorum fcriptor amabo :
Necjic enitar tragico differre color i,
Ut nibil inter/it Davufne Is^uatur, W audax
Pythias, emunBo lucrata Simow talentum :
An cujlos famulufque Dei Silenus alumni.
Ex note fttum carmen fcquar : ut febi qui'vis
Speret idem: fudet mult urn, fruftraqut labor et
Aufus idem, tantum /fries junfiuraque pallet,
Tantum de media fumtis accedit honoris*
Syfaif dedufli caveant, me judice, Fauni,
Ne, velut innati triviis, ac pene forenfes,
At nimium teneris jtrvenentur verjibus unquam,
Aut immunda crepent ignominiofaqite difla,
Offenduntur enim quibui eft equus & pater ff res ,
Nee, Ji quldfri&i ciceris probat {ff xucis tmtor,
&quis accipiunt animis, donant've corona.
Syllaba longa bre*vi fubjetta, focatur 'iambus,
Pes citus: unde etiam trimetris accrtfcere jujfit
Nomen 'iambeis : quum fents redderet ifius,
Primus ad extremum fimilis fibi. non ita pridetn.
'Tardier ut paulo graviorque veniret ad aurfs,
Spondeas ftabiles in jura paterna rtcepit
Commodtts & pattens: non ut de fede fecunda
Cederet out quarta focialiter. bic & in Acci
Nobilibui trimetrii apparet rants, b* sm.
Earl (j/'RoscoMMON. 89
(As oft as Decency would give them leave,)
Eecaufe the mad ungovernable Rout,
Full of Confufion, and the Fumes of Wine,
Lov'd fuch Variety and antick Tricks.
But then they did not wrong themfelves fo much
To make a God, a Hero, or a King,
(Stript of his golden Crown and purple Robe)
Defcend to a Mechanick Dialeft,
Nor (to avoid fuch Meannefs) fearing high
With empty Sound, and airy Notions fly ;
For, Tragedy fhould blufh as much to (loop
To the low Mimick Follies of a Farce,
As a grave Matron would, to dance with Girls :
You muft not think that a Satyrick Stile
Allows of fcandalous and brutifh Words,
Or the confounding of your Characters.
Begin with Truth, then give Invention fcopr,
And if your Stile be natural and fmooth,
All Men will try, and hope to write as well;
And (not without much Pains) be undeceiv'd.
So much good Method and Connexion may
Improve the common and the plained Things,
A Satyr that comes flaring from the Woods,
Muft not at firft fpeak like an Orator :
But, tho' his Language mould not be refin'd,
It muft not be Obfcene, and Impudent j
The better Sort abhors Scurrility,
And often cenfures what the Rabble likes.
Unpolifti'd
90 P o E M s by the
In fcenam miffbs magno cum fonder e <ver/us,
Aut opera cehris nimium, curaque carentis^
Aut ignoratee prcmit artis crimine turpi.
Non quints videt immodulata poemata judex :
Et data Romatiis <venia eft indigna Poetis.
Idcircone vager, fcribamque licenter ? an omnes
Vifuros peccata putem mea, tutus & intra
Spem vcnise cautus ? vitai'i denique culpam-,
Non laudem merui. <r exemplaria Gr<eca
Noflurtia i-erfate tnanu, 'verfa.te dlurna.
At noftri proavi Plautinos iff numeros tf
Laudavere fales : nimium patient er utrumque,
Ne dicam flulte t mirati : fi modo ego & 'vos
Scimus inurbar.um lepido feponere ditto,
Legitimumqus fonum digitis calletnus {ff aure.
Ignotum tragic^ genus in-venijfe Camantt
Dicifur, & plaujlris iiextffe poemata Thefpis :
^u/f canerent agerentque perunfti feecibus ora.
Pojl bunc per fonts palleeque refer tor hone ft a
JEfcbylus, y modicis in/trawl pulpita tignis,
Et docuit magnumque loqui, nitique cotiurno.
Succejflt vetus bis comae dia, non fine multa
Laude : Jed in *vitium libertas excidit, 2* vim
Dignam lege regi. lex fft accepts: chorufque
Turpiter tbticuit, fublato jure nocfndi.
Nil inientatum ttojiri liquere Poeta :
Nee minimum meruere decus> vejligia Greeca
Aufi defer ere, iff celebrare domejlica fafta:
Vel qui prtetextas, i<el qui docuere togatas,
Nee 'virtute foret clarifve potentius armis,
Quam lingua, Latium : Jl non offenderet uum-
guemque Poetarutn limes labor {?" mora. Vos, o
Pcmpilius fanguii, carmen reprebendite quod non
Multa dies 5" multa Ittura coercuit^ atque
Pr<efifium dec its non cajligcwit ad unguem.
Jngemum
Earl of Rose OMM o N. 91
Unpolifh'd Verfes pafs with many Men,
And Rome is too Indulgent in that Point;
But then, to write at a loofe rambling rate,
In hope the World will wink at all our Faults,
Is fuch a rafh, ill-grounded Confidence,
As Men may pardon, but will never praife.
9 [Be perfeft in] the Greek Originals,
Read them by Day, and think of them by Night.
But Plautus was admir'd in former Time
With too much Patience (not to call it worfe)
His harm, unequal Verfe, was Mufick then,
And Rudenefs had the Privilege of Wit.
When Tbefiis firft expos'd the Tragick Mufe,
Rude were the Aftors, and a Cart the Scene,
Where ghailly Faces ftain'd with Lees of Wine
Frighted the Children, and amus'd the Croud ;
This jEfcbyluf (with Indignation) faw,
And built a Stage, found out a decent Drefs,
Brought Vizards in, (a civiler Difguife)
And taught Men how to fpeak, and how to aft.
Next Comedy appeared with great Applaufe,
Till her licentious and abufive Tongue
Waken'd the Magiilrates Coercive Pow'r,
And fbrc'd it to fupprefs her Infolence.
Our Writers have attempted evVy Way,
And they deferve our Praife, whofe daring Mufe
Difdain'd to be beholden to the Greeks,
And found fit Subjects for her Verfe at home.
IX or mould we be lefs famous for our Wit,
Than for the Force of our viftorious Arms;
But that the Time and Care, that are requir'd
To overlook, and file, and polifh well,
Fright Poets from that neceffary Toil.
9 CtrJUer well
Democrjtus
9 P o E M s by the
Ingtnium mifira quia fortunatius arte 29 >
Credit, 5* excludit fanos flelicone Po'itas
Dftnocritus : bona pars non ungues potter e curat,
Non barbam : fecreta petit lo:a, balnea. <vitat.
Nancifcetur enim pretium nomenque Pottle, *
Si tribus Anticyris caput infanabile nunquam 3
Tonfori Licina commiferit. o ego lavus,
Qui purgor biltm fub 'vtrni ttmporis htrant !
Non alias fctcerct meliora poemata. *vtrum
Nil tanti eft. ergo fungar vice cotis, acutum 34
Reddere qu<t ferrum vafft, exors ipfa fecandi :
Munus & Officiant, nil fcribens ipfe, doctbt :
Vnde parentttr opes : quid a/at formetquc Poet am :
Quid deceat, quid non : quo <virtus, quo ftrat error *
StrilemJt re fie, fapere ej} & principium & fms.
Rem tilt Socratic<e poteruat oftendtre chart* : 3^0
Verlaq ue prwifam rem non ini'ita feque ntur.
<^ai didicit, patrite quid aebeat, & quid amicis :
Quo fo amore pare its, quo frater amandus & io/pes:
Quod Jit confer ipti, quod judicis officium: qua
Paries in helium mijfi ducts : ilk prof e 80 3 1 5
Reddere perfona fcit convenientia cuique.
Refpicere exemplar 'vittt morumque jubebo
Dofium imitatorem, y veras bine ducere <wcej.
Jnterdum fpeciofa lads mtrataque reQe
Tabula, nullius veturis, fine ponder e & arte, J2O
Vdldius obltQat populum, meliufque tnoratur,
Qvam ver/HS inopes rerun, nugaque canor*.
Earl of Rose OMM ON. 93
Democritui was fo in love with Wit,
And fome Mens natural Impulfe to write,
That he defpis'd the help of Art and Rules,
And thought none Poets 'till their Brains were crackt ;
And this hath fo Intoxicated fome,
That (to appear incorrigibly mad)
They Cleanlinefs, and Company, renounce
For Lunacy beyond the Cure of Art,
With a long Beard, and Ten long dirty Nails,
Pafs current for dpolld 's Livery.
my unhappy Stars ! If in the Spring
Some Phyfick had not cur'd me of the Spleen,
None would have writ with more Succefs than I ;
1 [But I muft reft contented as I am,]
And only ferve to whet that Wit in you,
To which I willingly refign my Claim.
Yet without Writing I may teach to write,
Tell what the Duty of a Poet is ;
Wherein his Wealth and Ornaments confift,
And how he may be form'd, and how improv'd,
What fit, what not, what excellent or ill.
Sound Judgment is the ground of Writing well ;
And when Philofophy direfts your Choice
To proper Subjects rightly underftood,
Words from your Pen will naturally flow ;
He only gives the proper Characters,
Who knows the Duty of all Ranks of Men,
And what we owe " [our] Country, Parents, Friends,
How Judges, and how Senators mould aft,
And what becomes a General to do ;
Thofe are thelikeft Copies, which are drawn
By the Original of human Life.
Sometimes in rough and undigefted Plays
We meet with fuch a lucky Character,
As being humour'd right, and well purfu'd,
Succeeds much better, than the fliallow Verfe
And chiming Trifles of more ftudious Pens.
10 But I gm fait/yd tt ktep try Stnfe f
' Grteti
94 P o 2 M s by tie
Grails ingenium^ Gratis dedit ore rotunda
Mufa loquiy prater laudem nullius avaris.
Romani pueri longis rationibus aj/em 325
Difcunt in partes centum diducere. dicat
Filius Albini, Ji de quincunce remota eft
Uncia, quidfuperat ? Peteras dixij/e triens. tu,
R e m poteris fervare tuam. redit uncia: quid jit?
Semis. At bttc animos eerugo y cura peculi 3 3
Qijitm femel imbufrit, fperamus carmina fingi
Poffe linenda cedro, ts le<vi ferwanda cupre/o?
Aut prodeffe <volunt, out deleftare Ptita:
Aut fimul & jucunda & idonea dicer e <vit<e.
Quicquid pracipies, efto brevis : ut cito diia -335
Percipiant animi dociles, teneantque f deles.
Omne fupervacuum plena de pefiore manat.
Tifta <vo!uptatis caufa Jint proximo iieris.
Nee, quodcumque volet, pofcat fibi fabula credi :
Neu pranfte Lamia 'vi'vum puerum extrahat al<vo. 3 40
Centuries feniorum agitant expertiafrugis t
Celfi pratereunt aujlera poemata Rbamnes.
Omne tulit punftum qui mifcuit utile dulciy
Lelorem deleftando, pariterque monendo.
Hie meret eera liber Sojtis: hie & mare tranjlt, 315
/ / lungum notoferipteri prorogat a<uum.
Sunt
Earl of Ro s co M MO N. 95
Greece had a Genius, Greece had Eloquence,
For her Ambition and her End was Fame.
Our Roman Youth is ' * [diligently taught,
The deep myfterious Art of growing rich,
And the firft Words that Children learn to fpeak,
Are of the Value of the Names of Coin;
Can a penurious Wretch that with his Milk
Hath fuck'd the bafeft Dregs of Ufury,
Pretend to generous and heroick Thoughts?
Can Ruft and Avarice write lafting Lines ?]
But you, brave Youth, wife Numa's worthy Heir,
Remember of what Weight your Judgment is,
And never venture to commend a Book,
That has not pafs'd all Judges and all Tefts.
A Poet mould inftrul, or pleafe, or both j
Let all your Precepts be fuccinft and clear,
That ready Wits may comprehend them foon,
And faithful Memories retain them long j
1 J [All] Superfluities are foon forgot.
Never be fo conceited of your Parts,
To think you may perfuade us what you pleafe,
Or venture to bring in a Child alive,
That Canibals have murder'd and devour'd.
Old Age explodes all but Morality ;
Aufterity offends afpiring Youths;
But he that joins Inftrudlions with Delight,
Profit with Pleafure, carries all the Votes :
Thefe are the Volumes that enrich the Shops,
Thefe pafs with Admiration through the World,
And bring their Author to eternal Fame.
Ja ' bred another way,
And taught no Arts but thofe of Ufury ;
And the glad Father glories in bit Child,
When be can fttbdivide a FraSion :
Can Souls, -who by their Parents from their Birth
Have teen devoted thus to Rujl and Cain,
Be capable af high ar.d generous Thoughts?
Can Verftt torit by futb an Autbtr livtt
13 Ftr ]
96 P o E M s by the
Sunt deli3a tame ft, quibus igm<vijje i)elitnus.
Ham neque chorda fonum reddit quern *vult manus & metis,
Pofcentique gravem per/ape remittit acutum :
Nee femper feriet quidcumque minabitur arcus. 35<
Verum ubi plura nitent in carmine, non ego paucis
Ojfendar maculis t quas out incuria fudit,
j!ut humana parum cavit natura. quid ergo ?
Ut fcriptor fe peccat idem librarius ufque,
ftuamvis eft monitus, <venid caret: Cff citkarcedus 355
Ridetur, chorda qui femper oberrat eadem :
Sic miki, qui multum cejjfat, Jit Chcerilus /'//?,
>uem bis te.-que bonum, cttm rifu miror: & idem
JndigKor, quandoque bonus dormitat Homerus.
Verum opere in longofas ejl obrepere fomnum, 360
Ut piffura, poefis erit. qu<t, fi propius fles t
Ye capiet magis: 6f qu&dam, Jt longius abftes.
Htec amat obfcurum, volet bttc fub luce viderif
Jttdicis argutum quee non formidat acumen:
Hac placuit feme 1; htec decies repetita placebit. 365
O major juvenum, qvamvis & <voct paterna
Finger is ad re Sum, ff per te fapis, hoc tibi diflum
fo//e memor : certis medium & tolerabile rebus
Refle concedi. confultus juris, fe* affor
Cavfamm mediocris, abe/t virtute diferti 378
]Me/a/tf, nee fcit quantum Cafcellius dulus:
Sed tamen in pretio eft ; mediocribus effe Po'itit
Non homines, non Di, non conceffere columna.
Ut gratas inter menfas fymphonia difcors,
It crafom uxgucntum & Sardo cum mette papavrr
Offtndunt,
Earl of R o s c o M M o N. 97
Be not too rigidly cenforious,
A String may jar in the beft Matter's Hand,
And the molt skilful Archer mifs his Aim j
But in a Poem elegantly writ,
I ' * [would] not quarrel with a flight Miftake,
Such as our Nature's Frailty may excufe;
But he that hath been often told his Fault,
And ftill perfiils, is as impertinent,
As a Mufician that will always play,
And yet is always out at the fame Note ;
When fuch a pofitive abandon'd Fop
(Among his numerous Abfurditiesj
Stumbles upon fome tolerable Line,
I fret to fee them in fuch Company,
And wonder by what Magick they came there.
But in long Werks Sleep will fome times furprife,
Homer himfeif hath been obferv'd to nod,
Poems, like Pictures, are of difFrent Sorts,
Seme better at a diflance, others near,
Some love the Dark, fome choofe the cleared Light,
And boldly challenge the molt piercing Eye,
Some pleafe for once, fome will for ever pieafe.
But Pifo (tho' your T * [Knowledge of the World,]
Join'd with your Father's Preceptr, make you wife)
Remember this cs an important Truth :
Some things admit of Mediocrity,
A Counfelior, or Pleader at the Bar,
May want MeJ/alas pow'rful Eloquerc*,
Or be lefs read than deep Cafcellius;
Yet this indiff'rent Lawyer is efteem'd ;
But no Authority of Gods nor Men-
Allow of any Mean in Poefy.
As an ill Confort, and a coarfe Perfume,
Difgrace the Delicacy of a Feaft,
14 W/.7 15 iiv>i Expiritrce,
VOL. I. F And
93 P o E M s by the
OJfendunt, poterat duel quia ccena fene i/lis : 376
Sic animis natum iaventumque poema juvandis,
Si paulum a fummo difrejfit, vergit ad imam.
Ludere jut nefcit, campeftribus abftinet armis :
Jndo8nfque //'/<# fifcivt trocbive quicfcit, 380
tfefyijfie rifum tollant impune corona:
Qtii nefcit, verfus tamtn audet fingere, quidni ?
Liber & ingenutu, preefertim cenfus equeflrem
Summum nummorum, vitioque remotus ab omni.
*Tit nibjl jtrvita dices faciffve Minerva: 3^5
Id till judicium eft, ea metis : Jt quid tamen olitn
Scripjeris, in Metii dcjctndat judicis aurfs,
F.t patrjj, (3* noftras : nonumque prematur in annum
Mtmbranii intus pofitis, delere licelit
nan tdiderii : nefcit vox mi/a reverti. 390
Syfoejires homines facer interprefque Deo/urn
Cadilus & vifiu fcedo detirruit Orpheus:
Difius ob hoc lenire tigres rapidofque hones :
Diflus iff Ampkiony ^hebanee conditor arcis,
Saxa movere fono teftudinis, & prece blandst 395
Ducere quo vellei. fuit bac fapientia quondam,
Publica privatii fecernere^ facra profanis :
Concubitu probibtre vago, dare jura marjtis,
Oppida moliri : leges incidere ligno.
Sic honor & nsmrn divinis vatibus atque 400
Cartniniiu s
Earl of Rose OMMON. 99
And might with more Difcretion have been fpar'd ;
So Poefy, whofe End is to delight,
Admits of no Degrees, but muft be ftill
Sublimely good, or defpicably ill.
In other things Men have fome Reafon left.
And one that cannot Dance, or Fence, or Run,
Defpairing of Succefs, forbears to try;
But all (without Confideration) write ; '
Some thinking that th' Omnipotence of Wealth
Can turn them into Poets when they pleafe.
But Pifo, you are of too quick a fight
Not to difcern which way your Talent lies,
Or vainly ' 6 [with your Genius to contend ;]
Yet if it ever be your Fate to write,
Let your Productions pafs the ftricleft Hands,
Mine and your Father's, and not fee the Light,
Till Time and Care have ripen'd ev'ry Line.
What you keep by you, you may change and mend,
But Words once fpoke can never be recall'd.
Orpheus, infpir'd by most than human Po\v'r,
Did not, as Poets feign, tae Savage Beafts,
But Men as lawlefs, and as wild as they,
And firft diffuaded them from Rage and Blood ;
Thus when Amphion built the 'Tbeban Wall,
They feign'd the Stones obey'd his Magick Lute ;
Poets, the firft Inftruftors of Mankind,
Brought all things to their proper, native ufe ;
Some they appropriated to the Gods,
And fome to publick, fome to private Ends :
Promifcuous Love by Marriage was reftrain'd,
Cities were built, and ufeful Laws were made;
1 7 [So great was the Divinity of Verfe,
And fuch Obfervance to a Poet paid.]
16 flruggle with yeur Genius,
IT St ancient is the Pedigree of Verfe,
And fo Divint a Poet's Funaitn,
F 2 Then
I oo P o E M s by the
Car minibus venit. poft bos in/ignis Homer us
Tyrtaufque mares anitttos in Martia bella
Verfibus exacuit. dii<e per carmina fortes :
Et <vita monjlrata via eft : b* gratia regum
Pieriis ten'.ata modi 3 : Ldufque repertus, 405
Et longorum operum finis: ne forte pudori
Sit tibi Mufa fyra filers, & cantor ^ polio t
Naturaferet laudabile carmen, an arte,
Quafitum (Jl : ego nee ftudium fine dii.it e vena,
Nic rude quid profit video ingenium, alter ins fie 410
Aitera pofcit opcm res, & conjurat amice,
Qtfi jludst apt atom curfu cont inhere metatn,
Mxlta tulitfecitque puer: fudavit, & alfit:
Mftinuit Venere iff vino, qui Pythia cantat
libicen, did'uit prius, extimuitque magijlrum. 415
Nunc fatis eft dixijfe, Ego mira poemata pango.
Occupet extremvm fcabits : mihi turps relinqui eft,
Et, qttod non didici t jane nefcire fateri.
Ut pr<eco, ad mercts turbam qui ccgit emendas,
dffen tores jube t ad lucrum ire Poet a 420
Dimes agris, dii/es pofitis infcenore nummis.
$i vtro eft, untium qui recle ponere pojfit,
Et fpondere lew pro pauper e, {3 eripere atris
Litibus implicit urn: tnirabor fi fciet inter-
nofcere mendacem veiumque beatus amicum, 425
Tu feu donaris, feu quid donare voles cui,
Nolito ad verjus tibi facias c.ucere pltnutn
Leftitite. clamabit enim, Pulckre, Bine, Re3e,
Pallffcet fuper bis : etiam ftillabit amicis
Ex eculis rorem : faliet, tundet pede t err am. 430
Ut qui conduEli plorant ir.fur.ere, dtcunt
Etfaciunt prope plura dolentibus ex animo : Ji(
Derifor <vero plus laudatore movetur:
Reges dicxniur faultis urgere (ulullis y
Ei
Earl of Rosco M M o N. 101
Then Homers, and TyrttPtti' Martial Mjfe
Waken'd the World, and founded Icud Alarms.
To Verfe we owe the facred Oracles,
And our beft Precepts of Morality;
Some have by Verfe obtained the Love of Kings,
(Who, with the Mufes, eafe their weary'd Minds)
Then blufh nor, noble Pifo, to protect
What Gods infpire, and Kings delight to hear.
Some think that Poets miy be form'd by Art,
Others maintain, that Nature makes them fo ;
I neither fee what Art without a Vein,
Nor V/it without the help of Art can do,
But mutually they ' 8 [crave] each other's Aidt
He that intends to gain th' Olympic Prize
Muft ufe himfelf to Hunger, Heat, and Cold,
Take leave of Wine, 'and the foft Joys of Love;
And no Mufician dares pretend to Skill,
Without a great Expence of Time and Pai.is ;
But ev'ry little bufy Scribler now
Swells with the Praifes which he gives himfelf ;
And taking San&uary in the Crowd,
Brags of his Impudence, and fcorns to mend.
A wealthy Poet takes more Pains to hire
A fhtt'ring Audience, than poor Tradefmen do
To perfuade Cuftomers to buy their Goods.
'Tis hard to find a Man of great Eftate,
That can diftinguiih Flatterers from Friends.
Never delude yourfeif, nor read your Book
Before a brib'd and fawning Auditor ;
For he'll commend and feign an Extafy,
Grow pale or weep, do any thing to pleafe ?
True Friends appear lefs mov'd than Counterfeit ;
As Men that truly grieve r.t Funerals,
Are not fo loud as tho r e that cry for Hire.
Wife were the Kings, who never chofe a Friend,
1 8 need.
F 3 Till
102 P o E M s by the
Et torquere tnero, quern perfpexi/e labor ent 435
An jit amicitia dignus. Si carmina condes,
Nuntfuam te fallant animi fub <vulpe latent a,
Quintilio fi quid red/ares, Corrige, fades,
floe, aiebat, & hoc. melius te pqffe negares 9
Bis terque e Xpert urn frujlra ; de lere jubcbat, 44
Et male tprnatos incudi reddere verfus.
Si defender e delifium quatn vert ere malles,
jNullam ultra verbum aut operam fume bat inanem,
Quin Jine rivali teque iff tua folus amares.
Vir bonus ff- prudens verfus rfprebendet inert a: 445
Culpabit duros : incotntis allinet atrum
Tranfverfo c alamo fenum : ambitiofa recidet
Ornaments: parum claris lucent dare cogtt :
drguet ambigue difium : mutanda notabit :
Fiet Arijlarchus, nee dicet, Cur ego amicum 450
OfeaJam in nugis ? H<e nuga feria ducent
In mala, derifum femel, exceptumque jlnijlrt.
Ut mala qaemfcabies aut morbus regius urget,
'Aut fanaticus error, & iracunda Diana,
Vefanum tetigijffe time nt fugiuntq ue Poet am, 45 5
Quifapiunt: 'agitant pucri, inc autiqut fequuntur.
Uic,
Earl of Rose o MM ON. 103
Till with full Cups they had unmask'd his Soul,
And feen the bottom of his deepeft Thoughts ;
You cannot arm yourfelf with too much Care
Againft the Smiles of a defigning Knave.
Quintilitts (if his Advice were ask'd)
Would freely tell you what you fhould correcl,
Or, if you could not, bid you blot it out,
And with more Care fupply the Vacancy ;
But if he found you fon.d, and obftinate,
(And apter to defend than mend your Faults)
With Silence leave you to admire yourfelf,
And without Rival hug yourdarling Book.
The prudent Care of an impartial Friend
Will give you notice of each idle Line,
Shew what founds harfh, and what wants Ornament,
Or where it is too laviftily beftow'd ;
Make you explain all that he finds cbfcure,
And with a ftricl Enquiry mark your Faults;
Nor for thefe Trifles fear to lofe your Love;
Thofe things which now feem frivolous and flight,
1 9 [Will be of a moft ferious Confequence,]
When they have made you once ridiculous.
10 A [Poetafter, in his raging Fit,
(Follow'd and pointed at by Fools and Boys)
Is dreaded and profcrib'd by Men of Senie ;
They make a Lane for the polluted thing,
And fly as from the Infection of the Plague,
Or from a Man, whom, for a juft Revenge,
Fanatick Phrenfy fent by Heav'n purfues.j
19 Will be of ferious Confequence to you,
10 A mad Dog's Foam, itf InfeSion of the Ptagur,
And all the Judgment} of the angry Gcds,
We are not all mere heedfully to [hun t
Than Poetaflers in their raging Fits,
FclLio'd and pointed at by Fosli and Biys,
But dreaded gnd profcrib'd by Men of Senfe.
F 4 If
104 P o E M s y the
flic, dum fullimts ver/us rufiatur, &f err at,
Si vflati merulis inter.tus decidit auceps
In futium, fowam've : licet, Sutcurritt, longum
C/atnet, to, cives ; nonjlt qui toller t curet. 4 60
Si quis curet opem ferre, & demittere futiem,
Qui feu, an p> udem hue fe dejecerit ? atque
Se,<vari no/it? dicam, Siculique Pei-.'te
Nairalo inleritum; Deus immortalts baberi
Dum cupit EmpedocltSy ardentem frigidus JEtnam 465
Infiluit. Jit jus, liceatque perire Poetis.
In-vitum qui fervat, idemfacit occidenti.
Fccfeixel hoc fecit : nee, fi retratfus frit, jam
Fiet bomo, ^f pone t famofa mortis amor em.
Necfatis apparet cur verfus fa3';tet ; utrum 47
Minxerit in patrios cineres, an trifle bidental
Mwerit inceflus. certe furit, ac velut urfus,
Okjefios cawte valuit fi f> anger e clathros,
Indoilum doSumqus fugat recitator acerbus.
Quern <vero arripuit, tenet, ocdditque legertdo, 475
Non tnijjura cutem, niji plena cruoris hirudo.
Earl of Ros c o MMON. 105
If (in the raving of a frahtick Mufe )
And minding more his Verfes than his Way,
Any of theie mould drop into a Well,
Tho' he might burft his Lungs to call for help,
No Creature would affift or pity him,
But feem to think he fell on purpofe in.
Hear how an old Sicilian Poet dy'd ;
Empedocles, mad to be thought a God,
In a cold Fit leap'd into jEtnas Flames.
Give Poets leave to make themfelves away,
Why mould it be a greater Sin to kill,
Than to keep Men alive againft their Will ?
Nor was this Chance, but a delib'rate Choice;
For if Empedocles were now reviv'd,
He would be at his Frolick once again,
And his Pretenfions to Divinity :
Tis hard to fay whether for Sacrilege,
Or Inceft, or fome more unheard-of Crime,
The Rhiming Fiend is fent into thefe Men ;
But they are all molt vifibly poffeft,
And like a bailed Bear, when he breaks loofe,
Without Diftinclion feize on all they meet ;
None ever fcap'd that came within their Reach,
Sticking like Leeches, till they burft with Blood,
Without Remorfe infatiably they read,
And never leave till they have read Men dead.
F 5 R M
REMARKS
O N
H o R A c E 's Art of Poetry.
INT Afia, Greece, Macedonia and Egypt, there were, Time
out of Mind, feleft Aflemblies of Perfons to examine the
Writings of the Poets and Orators. Auguflus eredled fuch a
Society at Rome, and encourag'd them by Rewards and Ho-
nours. He afiign'd them the Temple and Library of Apol! to
meet at. And to this the Aflemblies of Learned Men, which
xve call Academic*, owe their Origin. Tbeedorut Manilas, who
however does not tell us his Authority, fays the Nunnber of
this Reman Academy was Twenty, of which Five or Seven can
only be term'd Judges. He goes fo far as to give us the Names
of 'em, and whether he is right or not, he ceu'd not have
jiam'd better Men than his Society was compos'd of. As
Virgil, farita, Tarpa, Meaenas, Plctixs, Valgius, Oflaviui,
Fufcut, the two Vifcut's, Rsllia, the two Mtffala's, the two
Bibulus's, Ser-vius Futvius, Tibullus, Pijt the Father, and Horace.
The only Foundation I know for this Afiertion of his, is the
End of the Xth Satire of the Firft Book. He is not fatisfy'd
to give us * Lift of this Academy ; he will have it that it was
on Account of Hcracis being a Member of it, that he was put
upon writing The An of Poetry, and collecting all the Rules,
and all the Judgments, that were made in the Society. I wifh
with all my Heart this was fo, becaufe what Mr. La Bruyere,
fays of fuch Aflemblies would not then be true, that they
never produc'd any" Work which was Entire and Pcrfedt in it*
Kind. But whether Horace wrote this Piece as a Publick
Matter, or Private, his Defign was to give the Romans an Art
ef Poetry, that fhould take in all that Ariftotle, Crito, Zero,
Democritus and Neoptolerr.m of Pares had written on the Subject.
Nay fome will have it, that 'tis almoft nothing elfe but a
Complication of the moft excellent Rules of the Latter. For
Porpbyrius writes, In quim librum conjecit prtecepta Neoptolemi de
Arts Ptetifa, nan yuidtm cmnia, fed emintr.t'Jfima, Horace ba: in
(bit
NOT E s on the Art of Poetry. 1 07
tbit Bok fet dzwn Neoptolemus'j Ru/ei far tbt Art f Pcetrj t
xst all indeed, but the tr.ojl Excellent of them. As he did not
write it regukrly, nor obferve any other Order than Chance
threw in his Way ; fo there is no Method, and no Connection,
of Parts in this Treatife, which feems not to ae fini(h'd: He
having not Time to give the laft Hand to it : or what is more
likely, not being willing to be at the Trouble. Thofc who
believe it would be more perfect if his Verfes were tranfpos'd
are miftaken. All we can do, in my Opinion, is to mark the
void Spaces, and to divide the Heads without changing the
Form. This was Moniieur Le Frvr^'s Judgment. The want
of Connection is not without its Graces ; efpecially in Rules,
which mould be free, and have nothing in them either Loofe or
Languimirg. The Order Heinjius wouK! put it in, feems only
to (hew the Beauty of the Diforder in which Haract left it.
Next to Arijlotle'i At of Poetry, I know of no Piece of
Criticifm in Antiquity, which is more Excellent than this. All
his Decifions are fo many Truths drawn from the Nature cf the
Things he treats of. Julius Scaliger err'd very much againit
good Senfe and Reafon, in what he faid of this Work. Will
you know, fays he, tobat I tbmk of Horace'* Art of Poetry ?
'Tis an A't taught -without Art. De Arte q-jf it quod Sintiam,
>*i<i ? Equidem quod de Ant fine Arte Tradita. Tho' 'tis only
an Epiilie like the preceding ones, yet Haract gives it the Title
of The Art of Pottry, De Arte Peetica, to d;ftinu;i"h it from
the others, in which he treated of this Art only occafionaliy.
The Antiquity of this Title is not to be doubted of, Cnce
QuintiHan quotes it in the Hid Chapter of hisVIUch Book, Id
tn:m :sie ejt mtnjJrum ouale Haratius in friata Partc Libri de Arte
Patiica ftngit : Humana cafiti, Sec.
1 Humane cafiti cerincfK piElor taviram.] titrate all at once
lays down the moll general and neceffary Rule, on which all
the reft are founded, which is the Simplicity and Unity of the
Subject, in the Difpoiition, ths Ornaments, and the Stile. He
could not render the Faults committed againft this Unity better
than by comparing th;m to this Extravagance in a Picture.
3 Ut turfiter atrum def.njt in pifcem roa/.-r firmtf* juptrr.!.]
As Virgil in his Hid Book reprefents Sytla.
Prima, hominis facies, & pulcro peclcrc Virgo
Pube tenus, poftrema immani corpore piftris
Delphinura caudas uteio comrailia Juparum.
Upwards
NOTES on the Art of Poetry.
Upwards 'lis a beautiful Figure, and a very beautiful Virgin for
half its Body ; dcrvinvoardi 'tis a horrible Whale, ending in a
Do/f bin's Tail, joined to a Wo'.f's Belly. Ater Pifcis, for a
horrible Fi(h, as Porphyry, atrum pifcem, bellvam marinam, Sec.
5. Spiff at 'urn admijjt rijum teneatis amid.] Taken from the
Cuftom of Painters, and Sculptors, to expofe a Statue or
Pi&ure when finifh'd, and to Publifh that it might be feen on
fuch a Day. At which time great Numbers of Spectators us'd
to come to view it.
6. Credite, Pifone:.] To prevent the PifSs giving into the
vulgar Error, that the breach of Unity is r o Fault, he fays,
Cr t t ;: :e, Believe, be Convinced. He was afraid thefe young Gen-
tlemen fhould be led away by bad Poets, whofe Intereft it was
that this Rule fhould net be eftablifh'd. Tho' this Epiftle is
aridrefs'd to Pifo and his Children, as appears by the 24th
Verfe, yet 'tis to his Children more particularly ; and thus the
Difference Ptrplyry fpeaks of is reconciled : Scritit ad Pifones
viros r.obiles diftrtofjue, pattern f JiHot, t-'el, ut alii volunt, ad
Pifines Fratres. Horace tvrites to tbe Young Pifo's, and their
Father, or as ctbert prei.-r.d, only to tie Children.
Pifona] There were three or four Families of thefe Pifo'i in
Jt.-.'r.e at the fame time, who were all Calpurniant, and faid they
dcfcended from Ca.'pus the Son of N::n:a. One was that of
Cneut Pifo of Plancir.a, who kill'd himfelf, being accus'd of
poifonuig Gfrasanicus, and left two Children, Cneut and Marcus.
But it cou'd not be thefe FijVs to whom Hcrace addrefTes,
for thefe Children were not b^rn, or were very young, when
this EpiAle was written. There was another Branch of the
Pifo's called Crfonitis, that defcended from Lxciui Pifo, who had
betn Cenfor, and whofe Daughter Catyumia, Julius dtfar
marry'd ; Pifo who was Conful with Drufut Lilt, in the Year
of Rime DCCXXXVI1I, was his Son, Ihrace being One and
Fifty Years c!d in that Confulate. Auguftut gave the Govern-
ments of Rt,7r.e and Thrace to this Pifo, who was a Man of
Pleafure, a Confident to both Augujlus and Tiberius, Great
Pontiff at Fourfcore Years of Age, Rom* Urbii 785 : And to
this Pifo and his Children it is that Horace writes.
Ifli tubulf fart librum pe'Jtmilem.] He is not fatisfy'd with
faying, that a Writing thus diverftfied, will be like this Monfter,
he adds perjimilem, it will be entirely like.
Librum.] All Writings of what Nature foever, tho' he
treats particularly of Epick and Dramatick Poetry.
7. t'tlut *gri ftmeia,] Like the Dreams of a fick Man,
ftrange and incoherent.
No T E s on tbe Art of Poetry. 109
Vana fpecies.] Ideas of Things that do not fnbfift together
in Nature, and are only to be met with in the empty Brains of
tick Men^ Madmen, or bad Poets.
8. Ut nee pet nee cafut uni rtdditur form*.] An Explanation
of van* fp:cics, the Head and Feet of which are of a different
kind.
9. Pifioribui atytie Poetis q-jidlibit audendi.] The Anfwer of
ill Poets, who will not fubjeft themfelves to the Rules of their
Art. Poeti and Paintert, fay they, may do what they pleafe,
nothing is too daring for them. They abufe the Privilege of
Poetry, and thus excufe their moft monrtrous Fancies, and moft
extravagant Dreams. That Privilege is of great Extent, 'ti
true ; Ovid talks of the Ftecunda Lictntia Saturn ; and Luciam
a Herts, that Painters and Poets are not accountable for their
Fancies ; but Horace is fhewing us what Bounds they ought to
fet to this Licence.
11. Scimut.] Horace's Anfwer to the bad Poets ; after
having faid, / kntnu the Privilege of Poetry, he would go on
fed run, but he's interrupted by the fame Poets, who proceed,
Et bane i-tniam petimut damufyue -vicijfim.] My Opinion of this
Verfe is ciifcover'd in the preceding Remark. Some will have
it, that Horace continues his Anfwer without Interruption, that
as a Poet he fays, Hanc veniam petimus, I demand tbit Permiffion :
As a Critick, he adds, Damufque vieijjim, 1 give it in my Turn.
This agrees with the old Commentator, who writes, petimut
ej-jidem ut Poet*, damus autem ut Critici. But how cou'd Horace
demand Permiffion to ufe this Liberty, when he never look'd
upon himfelf as a Poet? There rmift be a Miftake in thi
PaiFdge. After he had faid Zcirtus he is interrupted, as is ob-
ferv'd before, by the ill Poets. Et bane <v cni am petimu s damufyat
vicijjim. IVi claim the Privilege, as we give it to others. He
cannot mean himfelf, he being no Poet, as he declares after-
wards, Nil fcri bent ipfe. Bifides the Dialogue is more agree-
able, more lively, and more like Horace' '& Manner.
12. Scd n->n at placidit coeant immitia.] Horace's Anfwer, We
give you the Privilege you demand, but on Condition you do
not abufe it. I, a long Time, thought the firft Thirteen Veifes
of this Epiftle were a fort of Dedication and Preface, and that
Horace, to excufe th,; Disorder in which he left it, wrote to the
Pifo't ; The Bock I addrefs to you is like the Pifiitre I b.i-ve keen
/peaking of, in which I was miftaken. He would then cer-
tainly have written it Fore Librum bunc Jimilem. Add to th,
that not looking upon himfelf to be a Poet, nor on his Art of
faitry as a Work of Importance, 'cia not likely he fhouM go-
about
1 10 NOTES on the Art of Poetry.
about to excufe its want of Regularity j it being neither r.e-
ceiTary nor pofiible to obferve it in fuch a Treatife as this. The
Difcovery of the Dialogue between the bad Poets and Hsract
confirms me in the Opinion that I was miftaken, snd my
Reafon has convinc'd feveral good Judges of the fame Miftake.
Ut f!acid:i cieant imtcitia.] Painters and Poets are only
Imitators, and are to paint only what is or what may be ; there
being nothing eli'e that can be imitated. But they have both
often abus'd their Art, and forfaken probable Ideas for mon-
ftrous Imaginations. Fitnvivt complains of this Fault in
Painters, in the Vth Chaptef of his Vllth Book : From hence
proceed Grttefjuet, which are not to be compar'd to a regular
Figure. This Rule of Hcrtce is one of the moft Important in
the Art of Poetry 5 never to join Incompatible Subjects, nor
offend againft Nature, Verinntulity and Truth.
14. Irceftis gravibus pleruoiyue & tr.agna pfofejjls.^ He comes
from the general Rule to Particulars, and gives an Example
f the vitious Variety which he condemns. He choofes one
that's the leaft mocking, but 'tis by fo much the more dan-
gerous Vice, by how much it fiides in under an Appearance cf
Virtue. He is fpeaking of Defcriptions, a Snare which is almoft
inevitable to little Genius's. Horace fiiews us how apt Poets
are to fall into the Ridiculous by this Means : From grave and
ferious Beginnings, which promife fublime and marvellous
things, they fefcend into a (hining Defcription of a Wood,
an Altar of Ditna, a River, the Rhine, the Rainbow ; their
Defcnptions are ftitch'd together like Patch- Work. Their
Patches, indeed, are Purple, but are Childifh and Extravagant,
becaufe ill plac'd. Writers muft never abandon themfelves to
fuch Digreffions, let them be of what Nature foever, when
their Defign calls thtm eifewhere.
16. Hjuem incus & ara Diar*.] I believe, with Tbeodorut
M&rciiui, he fpeaks of the Wood and Altar of Aricia, pretended
to have been built by Orejies, who there Confecrated the Statue
of Diana Taurica, which, when he had kill'd King Tboas, hs
brought from Scytlia. The Poets thought this a fine Subject
for Def: r tior.j. Jt took in Oreftet, Diana Taurica, her Sacri-
fices in Scjtkia, and at Arid*, with the odd Cuftom in her
Temple. There ccu'd be but one Prieft and he a Fugitive.
He Hcuft with his ewn Hand kill the Prieft his Predeceflbr, if
he v.'culd get into has Place. For which Rtafon the Prieft
who held it, was always arm'd to defend himftlf. Ovid caL
this Temple of Arida, a Kingdom aeqair'd by the Sword,
and wub a criminal Hand,
NOTES en the Art of Poetry. 1 1 1
Partatpje per gladios regna ntcente matat.
18. A-Jt fianen Rbeimm.] Horace had without doubt been
often tir'd with the Defcription of the Rhine, in the Poems
written on Auguftuft Vi&ories on that Side. The Bad Poets
never omit plunging into that River, as Alfims, of whom he
fpeak. in the Xth Satyr of the Ift Book.
Turg-dta Alpima jugvlat dum Montana, dvmque
Dijftngit Rbeni luttum cafvt, tec.
Aut ptuviut defcribitur Area*.'] The Rainbow is as likely as
any thing to turn a wretched Poet's Brain. The wonderful
Mixture of its Colours are with them fo worthy of Admiration,
that they let no Opportunity flip to defcribe it ; few imitating
in this the Difcretion of Homer and Virgil Hemer fays not
above ne Word of her, and Virgil but two Lines,
E rgs Iris crcceis per cerium rofcida pftmis
Millc trabetu varies adverfo felt Ct'^rei
Ad-oolat.
A Defcription as Rapid as Iris's Flight.
19. Et fcrtaje cvfreflvm fcis fimulare."] The young Potts
and Painters began the Practice of their Arts with Descriptions
and Imitations of Cyprefs.
20. Sifraffis er.atat exfpet aavibui.] What's the painting of
Cyprefs to that of a Wreck ? What are Defcription s in Poetry,
when illuftrious Actions are the Subject of the Song ? Hortce
alludes to thofe tx vtta Pidures, made by fuch as had efcap'd
Shipwreck.
ZI. Ampbori ceefit injsitui, currmtt nta cxr Urceus exit ?j
An Image taken from a Potter, v.-ho commonly began his
Trade by making little Pots called Urcesi, and ended with a
great Pitcher cali'd Amphora, which was his Maftcr-piece. To
begin with an Ampbtra and end with an Urceus, is like a Poet
who after a magnificent Beginning, falls and is loft in Defcrip-
tion. Amptmra anfwers to inaptit gra-mbaiy and Urceta fo
purpuretis faunas.
23. Demiqve Jit q-jid-ois Jimplex dxxtaxat & mum.] The Rale
that refults from what he has faid. Simplicity and Unity are
entirely oppofite to the Fault he has been fpeaking of. De-
fcriptians, which have no immediate Relation to the Subject,
corrupt
112 NOTES on the Art of Poetry.
corrupt and deftroy them. Homer, Virgil, and Sopboclift De-
fcriptions are all neceffary, and well introduc'd.
35. Decipimur ffecie rtfii.'} This is not a new Rule, but
the general Reafon of the Fault he has been explaining : We
are ciecsiv'd by Appearance in the Beauties of Art, as wtll as
thofe of Nature ; a Poet thinks to adorn his Subject by De-
fcriptions, and he fpoils it. Bnvis effe laboro, obfcurus fio, &c.
are Examples to confirm this Propofiiion.
Brrvii effe, &c.] Brevity is certainly one of the great Beau-
ties of Difcourfe ; but fo near a Neighbour to Obfcurity, that it
is very difficult in following the one, not to fall into the other.
Perfpicuity is the principal Virtue, Virtus prima perfpicui-tai.
16. Sefiar.tem I* via ner-vi dfftdunt.^j As by endeavouring to
make ftrong Verfes and Expreflions, an Author renders them
hard and rough, fo by endeavouring to polifh, he very often
weakens them.
27. Prcfeffut grandia target.] They fall into this Error, that
flretch what is Grand too far 5 as Gorgiai, in calling Xerxes the
Jupiter of tie Perfiyns, and he who call'd Brutus the Sun of
Afia ; they become Bombaft, when they fludy to be Grejt.
2.8. Serpit Humi tutus niinium timidufque proctll*.] Poetry is a
Sea, and thofe who fail on it, if they are" wife, will never
venture tco far from the Shore, nor come too near it. Heract's
Expreffion feems rather to be borrow'd from Birds, who creep
on the Ground, when the Winds and Storms make 'em afraid
cf rifinR; into the Air.
2.9. %ui variare cupit rem prodigsaliter ur.am.~\ This Verffe
proves, that whatever he has already faid is only the Confe-
quencs of the fame Rule. For he returns to it again, by
Shewing, That thofe who to arrive at the Marvellous, which
he here terms Prodigieu;, vary a Subject, and tack to it pompous
Defcriptions, form Monfters. Omnia Mtnftrt faciunt, faysCataiiut.
'Tis as if they fhould place Dolphins in the Woods, and Boars
in the Sea. The Word prodigialiter is taken here in a good
Senfe, as are often our Words Prodigious and Prodigisujly, For
it muft not be imagin'd that it refers to dppingit.
31. In -vitium dutit culp*fuga.] The fear of falling into one
Vice, is frequently the occafion of our falling into a greater
than that which we endeavour'd to avoid. We would fhun a
tedious Uniformity, and we are guilty of a monftrous Mixture :
The reafon is, we make this Mixture with-ut Arc, which can
only teach us to do it, and not offend Uniformity. Our keft
Examples are Homer, Tbtocritut, and Virgil,
2. & mi Hum
NOTES on the Art of Poetry. 1 1 3
32. vfmilium circa ludum fabtr J'WKJ.] Herace here means a
certain Statuary, who liv'd at the Bottom of the Circus, near a
Place call'd the Sciocl if /Emilius j becaufe a Fencing-Mafter,
nam'd ^milius Lentulus, kept liis Gladiators there. This
Statuary gave a great deal of grace and eafinefs to Hair, and
finifti'd the Nails admirably ; but take his Statues altogether
they were wretched Pieces, there being no Connexion of the
Parts, nor that Agreement which, like the Soul, adds Life and
Action to the Figure, and is the All in All in a Statue. 'Tis
the farre with Poets, who know not how to make any Thing
but a Defcription, to exprefs a Sentiment, or make a ftrong
Comparifon, with all which they are at the beft but miserable
Poets.
34. Penere totum.] Ponere, to put, for tt do, to make, as in
the Greek T/9-a< : He fays elfewhere, Solars nunc tominem poitere
rune Drum ; and tottm is what we call All together, a Ttrm
properly us'd in Painting and Sculpture, when Pictures or other
Pieces, confiding of many Figures, are fo difpos'd, that the
different Parts agree to form one fmgle and the fame whole,
and reprefent one fingle Object. 'Tis alfo made ufe f in
Pieces where there is but one Figure, either in Sculpture
or Painting, the different Parts of which ought to have
fo natural a Connection with each other, that they may
form but one fingle and the fame Bcdy. 'Tis not enough
that the Artift knows how to make an Head, an Arm, a
Foot, he muft underftand how to put the whole together,
fo that it may be one fingle Figure, wl:ich has nothing
maim'd in it, but is every where equally well defi^ti'd and
finifh'd.
36. Qvam praw Divert N<ifo.~\ If a Man has ?n ugly
Nofe, he will be ugly, tho' all the other Parts of !..s Face ara
beautiful ; and a Poet, if all the other parts of his Poem be
fine, w;ll be an ill Poet, if he offends againfl Simplicity and
Unity.
38. S'imitt materiam vtjtrls, qai fcriiitis, *qvam Virlbui~\
"Every Pcet who rmkes choice of a Subject that is not propor-
tionable to his Strength offends ag.iir.ft the Art of Poetry ; ard
'tis impcfiible he fhould fuccctd. See the Remarks on the
a6th Chapter of Ariftntles. Art of Poetry.
39. Et I'trfjtc dt-j quid fsrre recufent.] A Man muft not pre-
fently conclude, that becaufe he has by Chance made a good
Madrigal, Epigram, or Song, lie's therefore fit to write an
Kaoick Poem j he is to confider his Strength. TMullut would
perhaps
1 14 NOTES on the Art of Poetry*.
perhaps have written bad Odes, and Horace bad Elegies. The
Hebrew* had a Proverb upon this, Pro Camelo Sarcixa, Suit
yeur Burden to your Camel.
40. Cut ItBa pttenter erit rts."] Polenter, for according to it's
Strength.
42. Or Jim's btti flrftr; eii: & Venui, tut eg ///-.] Horace
here explains in a few Words, the Virtue and Grace of the
Order a Poet ought to obfervein the Difpofition of his Subject ;
and adds thefe Orders, aut ego fallor, it being a new Rule of
his, made by him, from the Praclice of the greateil Authors
of Antiquity.
43. Ut jam nunc dicat, jam nunc debentia did pier aque differat. "\
This debcntia did ferves for two Propofitions, dicat & differat,
The Conftru&ion and Senfe of ths Patfage is this \ Ut jam r.ur.c
dicat dtbentia did jam rune, & fhraque differat jam nunc debentia
did : Lit bim jay at frft Things that ought to le at firjl l'a : .d, and
refcr<ve for another Time the greatcft Part of thefe that Jbould alfo
baiie been faid at Jirft, Horace difcovers here one of the greateft
Secrets of Poetry. In Drematick Poetry, as well as Epick,
the great Matters open the Scene as near as they can to the
Cataftrophe, always takirg ths Aftion at the Moment it draws
to an End : They artfully bring in afterwards the Events pre-
ceding, which they ftiould not have told us at nrft, as in a
Hiftory. Homer, Sipbocles, Euripides, never did otherwife. By
this keeping off the Cataftrophe, by probable and natural In-
cidents, when we every Minute expected it, eur Curiofity is
the more inflam'd, and all the Paffions are mov'd in us one
after another, which could not be done in a methodical Order ;
to prove this we need only read Apallniui\ Argonauts ; Lcn-
ginui wns there is not a fingle Fault in that Piece, and yet
'tis mortally tedious, and the chief Reafon is, 'tis methodical,
and profecuted without Interruption from the Beginning to the
End ; the greateft Fault it could have, for there's nothing fo
dull as a Poet;
Who when it Jingt a Ilertt glorious Deeds,
Write* a dry Hifiory, and ky Dates proceeds.
45. Hoc amet, btc ffernat. ] Having fpoken of the Order,
he comes now to the Choice of the Incidents, which is not
eafy to be made : What is good for the Epick Poem, is not
for Tragedy , neither is it fufficient to know which to take and
which to refufe. The Poet muft put thofe he takes in their
proper
No T E s on the Art of Poetry. 1 1 5
proper Place, where their Effeft may be moft furprifing, and
moft convenient for the Poem, fince the fame Thing plac'd in
a different Manner has a quite different Effect.
Prtmiffi carminis.] A Poem that has been a long while ex-
pofted, and rais'd the Curiofity of the Publick : For every
T!;ing which the World have great Expetfations of fhould be
more perfect than what they do not expeft. Horace had,
perhaps, Virgif* Mntis in view ; 'twas feveral Years after
that Poem was expected, that it appear'd, Nefcio quid majut
tiafeitur lliadc.
76. In Verbi* ttiam tenuit.] From the Difpofition of the
Subject, and the Choice of the Incidents, he comes to tho
Queftion, Whether the Poet is allow'd to invent new Words :
He maintains that he is, and lays down the Rules for it,
ler.xii, fubtle, agreeable, fine.
47. Notum Ji caliida "verb:im rtddiderit junflura novurn.~\ New
Words are of two forts, Simple or Compound. We fhall
hereafter talk of Simple. Compound are fuch as are made of
two Words, as Veli-volum, faxifragttm. This Compofition Horaci
liere terms Jun&uratn: There are two other Conftruftions of
this Verfe quite different ; fome pretend Horac: it not fpeaking
of Words, but of Expreflions, when by the help of Epithets,
Adverbs, &c. we determine certain known Phrafei from an
Ordinary Ufe to an Extraordinary, as Horace has often prac-
tis'd with fo much Succeft, that Petronius fays of him, Horatii
Curiofa Felicias, and Quintilian, Peril's felicijfime audax. Thi
Conftrudlien is more Ingenious than True. Horace would
never have call'd it JuncJuram, which denotes neceflarily a
Binding, a Connecting, as when out of Two Things One is
made. Farther, 'tis neither poflible nor naturil to give Rules
for fuch Boldnefles as thefe, which depend on every Man's
Gtut, on his Genius, and his Knowledge of the force and
extent of Words. In fhort, this Rule would be out of its
Place here, fince Horace fays in the preceding Vcrfe, in ferbis
fcrerdit, which cannot admit of fuch an Explanation : The
other Conftrufticn is, Si callida juniJura reddidtrit Vcrbum Na-
vum, Notum : If you fo make ufc of a new Word, that the
Place where you put it may make it be known, and render
the true Signification to be at firft fight eafily Comprehended.
Which Conftruflion feems to me to be neither fo good nor fo
true as the other, nor indeed to b maintain'd. The Queftion
is not concerning the placing of Words, but of making, dr.
Vtrbh ferendtt; and what Ihract adds afterwards of prr
(imple
Ii6 NOTES on the Art of Poetry.
fimple Words is an undoubted Proof that he fpeaks here of
Compound.
48. Si forte neeeffe eftlndiciii monflrare recentibus abd'ta rerum.~\
This relates to Simple Words, which Ariflotle terms -n-irotn/uita.,
and Cuert, Fifla, Wordt river brard ',f before. Horace declares
'tis allowable for a Poet to make 'em. when he is oblig'd to
exprefs Things that are unknown, as the Cvmpift, Artillery,
Powder ; he may then invent Words, but muft take care that
they exprefs either the Nature of the Thing, or the Effeft it
produces. For this Reafon Homer is commended ; he being
the firft who faid 2i ciB^pcc, and ?.*'4crTK ; the firft ex-
prefles admirably the Hiffing; of Rtd hot Iron thrown into
Water, and the laft the Barking of Wolves and Dogs. The
I reach Word Lapfer to lick, is of this kind.
49. Indiciit.] Words ought to be the Sign and Image of the
Things they exprefs ; wherefore Plato calls them <rf*ti*
ri/'ywfox*.
50. CinRutis tton exaudita Cetlegis.'] The Cetbrgi are here
reprefentcd as a Mafculine Sort of People, who in their Cloaths
kept to the Old Fafhions of their Fathers, and defpis'd the
Tunica, as too cumberfome ; wearing only a kind of an Apron,
which ferv'd them inftead of Drawers, from the Wafte down-
wards 5 upon which they put their Toga. The Pane cf if,
which they drew over their Left Shoulder, hung down their
Backs, and left their Ri^ht Arm b re : This Drefs was call'd
cinSius Gabinui, and was ufually worn by Confuls and Pretors,
whence we have the clnilv Gabino, in the Vllth Book of the
JEneis in Siiius Itulicus, and in Lvcan. Cindutvs is an Epithet,
which not only gives an Idea of Antiquity, but raifes alfo
Veneration.
51. Dabiturque licer.tia futnta pudenter.~\ This Liberty muft be
us'd with Moderation. Horace confines it to 'very narrow
Limits j for he would have the invented Words to be Deriva-
tives from the Greek.
52. HaMunt vcrbu fidem.] They (hall have Authority, and
be ceiv'd.
53. Si Gracofonte aidant,] If their Original be Greek ; as if
we (hould call a Man who leads an Elephant Elfpbar.tifta ; the
Latins made alfo new Simple Words of Latin Derivation, as of
eatut, Cicero made Beatitas } Mfjfala, of Rent, Realm ; Auguftus,
of Munui Minrariut; and Horace, of Initniciu, Im'm'care, &C.
Pane dtttita.'] Thefc rew Simple Words ought not only
to be dsriv'd from ths G'rn*, but their Derivation muft be
NOTES on the Art of Poetry. 1 17
eafy and natural, the Analogy juft and entire; they muft no*
be bold and far-fetch'd: This is what is meant by Parc e
detorta.
54. S^uid autem Cecilia Plautoque dabit Rtmanus.'] Why fhould
not Vanui and Virgil have the fame Liberty Ctcilius and Plau-
tus had, who are both full of new Words : When did this
Privilege ceafe, fays S^uintilian, Qwd natis pcftea cor.ceJJ'um eft,
quar.do defiit lucre ?
59- Signatum prtefente nota procudere Nimen.~\ He fpeaks of
Words, as of Coin, which is not Current without the publick
Stamp: Prafent nota, the Coin the publick Authorizes, which
only has a Currency : SoQuinti/ian, ut Nummo cui publica forma
tjl. He calls Form, what Horace terms Stamp. The invented
Word fhould be clear, intelligible, and refemble thofe already
in Ufe in its Termination. Horace, in the lid Epiftle of the
lid Book explains it farther thus, Adfciffet nova qua geniter
produxerit Ufus.
60. Ut Sylvxfoliis.} The Grammarian Diomedes quotes this
Verfe thus,
Ut folia in Syl-vis.
This reading is moft Simple, the other moft Figurative ; th
Comparifon is taken from the Vlth Book of the Ilias, where
Homer fays itMTrtp V'JKMvv, &C. The Generation of Man is like that
of Leaves, tvbcn tb: Leases are bhivn off by the Winds, the Trees
of the Foreft bud and bring forth others which appear in the Spring.
'Tis thus witb._Man, when one Generation faj/es away another
comes.
63. Delemur morti ncs r.cftraque.'] Since every thing wears
away, why mould we think Words will always have the fame
Force and Grace? All the noble Exprtffions Horace has col-
lected in thefe fix Lines, ferve to render this Fall the more
pleafant, r.edum Verborum Jlet bonos : For nothing contributes fo
much to the Ridiculous as the Grand.
64. Sivs receptus terra Niptunus claj/e ; aquilonibus arcet.l
Augufius cut that fpace of Land which divided the Lake Lu-
crinus and the Lake A-vernus from the Sea, and made a Port
call'd Portan juiium, Julius Ctefar having begun to cut it.
Virgil mentions it in the lid Georgkk.
65. Regii Opus.] To denote Axguftus, not the Work of the
King ; that would have been Invidious in the Infancy of the
Monarchy, but a Royal Work, the Work of a King.
Sterilift-e diu palas aftaque remis.] He fpeaks of the Poatin
Marjh. Tho' Horace here commends Auguf.ut for draining it,
he,
1 18 NOTES on the Art of Poetry.
he, in all likelihood, drain'd only a part of it, or elfe the Marfl*
was apt to overflow again ; for the Conful Cetbegus drain'd it
in the Year of Rome 593, and it was alfo drain'd again under
Tbeodorick.
67. Seu curfum mutavit iniquum frugibut amnh.~\ Banks rais'd
by Augtiflui to hinder the Overflowing of the Tiber.
68. Mortalia fafia pcribunt.] Since the moft folid Works of
Mankind perifh, 'tis no wonder Words do. The fame Turn is
us'd by Severus Sulfititts, in his Letter to Cicero, Book IV. of
Cicero's Epiftles, Epift. V.
71. Si volet vftts, qutm penes arbitrium eft, & jus &? tiorma
lotjuendi.~\ Ufe is the Tyrant of Languages. Socrates confeft to
Alcibiades, in the firft Dialogue of that Name, that the People
is an excellent Mafter of Languages. We have in our Days a
good Ufe and a bad Ufe, the good form'd by the polite Part
of the Court, City, and the beft Authors ; the bad by the
People. The difference between us and the Ancients, as well
Romans as Athenians, arifes from this, the People were there
confounded, great and fmall Whether; from whence there wa$
no feufible Variation in their Language : Among us the People
have no Commerce with the Court, and accordingly their Lan-
guage is quite different.
74. Quo fcribi pojjent numero morftraiiit Homerus.~\ He is
fpeaking of the Epick Poem, and fays, Homer has ftiewn in what
fort of Verfe it ought to be written, the Heroick, which only
agrees with the Majefty of the Epick. drijiotle fays the fame
thing in his Art of Poetry ; and adds, Tbtt Whoever Jhould
undertake to write an Epick Poem in any other kind of Number t,
be wtuld not fucceed, for the Heroick Verfe is the moft grave and
pompous. Moft People imagine, that by Heroick Verfe is meant
f he HexMieter, which is a Miftake : All Hereick Verfes are
indeed Hexameter, but all Hexameters are not Heroick Verfes.
Six Feet plac'd how you will make an Hexameter, but for an
Heroick Verfe you muft keep the Laws prefcrib'd by Homer.
The Firft of which is to obferve the Cefare call'd tome pent be-
mimerit, that is, after the Second Foot there muft be a Syllable
which finifhes the Word, and is Senfe, as
Dardam iquc ro---gum,
The Second is to obferve the Cefure call'd tome Heptamime-
rn ; that is, after the Third Foot, the Syllable which follows
ought to clofe the Word and Senfe, As,
Dardaniiijue r~'gum eafitis.
NOTE s on the Art of Poetry. 119
If neither of thefe Rules are obferv'd the Peniltmlmtre Cefure
muft end with a Trotbaut. That is, after the two tirft Feet
the Word fliould end with One Long and One Short.
Infan'dum regina,
Or the Heptamimere Ctfurc muft end alfo with a Trocbau: ;
One Long and One Short after the Third Foot,
Qu< Pax---lnga rt- miftrat-arma,
which is very rare. Without the Observation of thefe Rules,
the Verfe will be Hexameter not Heroick ; and the Criticks rejeft
it, like that of Krgil,
Magnanimi Jtvlt Ingratum ajcenjere cubile.
which is forgiven him, being the only One among fo many
Thousands wherein thefe Rules are not obferv'd.
75. Verjibut impart ter jux&is querimorAa primum.~\ Elegy was
at firft only Lamentations for the Death of a Perfon, according
to Ovid on TituUui's Death,
Flrbiiis indignot Elegeia fel-ve capilhs
Ab nimit ex vert nune tibi nemea trie.
It was in time apply'd to the Joys and Griefs of Lovers :
As Bgilteu defcribes it. '
La plaintive Elegie, &c.
Mr. Datier prefers the French Defcription of the Elegy, as to
its Origin and Improvement, to Ovid's.
76. Vtti fttittntia ctmpot.] Joy for having obtain'd what
they dtfir'd.
77. Exiguot Elegt>i.~\ The Pentameter Verfe is the Etegiack.
Horace calls it Exiguum becaufe it wants a Foot of the Hexa.
meter. For this Reafon he fays, two Verfes higher, Verfbui
impariter juvflis. The Moderns want the Beauty of this Ine-
H'ility in their Elegiatks. Ovid exprefles it thus,
Venit edoratot Elegfia nexa tapilltt,
Et putt pti ili'i kngior elttr erat,
Emiferit
120 NOTES on the Art of Poetry.
Emiferit autor, Grammatici certant.~\ Horace tells US it is no
known who invented the Elegy, nor why it was fo nam'd
Terentius Maurus fays the fame, and tint fome People will hT
it to be CaUinous, others, Tbeoclcs, Arcbilocbus, or Terpatder.
79. Arcbilocbum proprii rabits armavit i'jinto.'] He attributes
the Invention of lambicks to Arcbilocbus. True, no body wrote
them fo well as he, till his Time, but there were lambick
Verfes long before him ; however, for his bringing them to fuch
Perfection, they were call'd the tambickt cf Arclilscbus.
80. Huno Stcci ceferf pedtm grandtfquc cothurni,] Svccut, the
Sock of Comedy. Cytburnut the Euskm of Tragedy. Tragedy
and Comedy uf:ng lambicks as fitteft for Converfation.
81. Alternit aptum Sermonibus.] Horace afiigns three Qualities
to lambick Verfe ; That 'tis proper for C mveifation, that it
compofcs beft the Tumults of the Theatre, and is good to
car.'y en the Action : As for the firft, one can hardly fpeak in
the Greek and Latin Tongues without making lambicks ; as
both Arijlctle and Cicero have obferv'd. See the IVth Chip, of
A'ijlstle's Art of Pcetry ; and Cicero tells us, Mag'.am enim
partem ex iambii ttoftra conjlat oratio.
8z. Et popularct oi'.ctnttmft'fpi'us.'] Silences the Noife of the
People ; for the lambick Verfe not beinz much different from
their ordinary Way of freaking, their Attention was the mere
eafily engag'd : It is not fo with the Modern Languages.
Et tiatum rebus egttidis.] Horace took this from Afiftotle't
Art of Poetry, where 'tis faid lambick and Tetrameter Vtrf* are
proper to give Motion. The one is fuited to Dances, the other
to Aclion. Q^inttlian tells us why the lambick Verfe is proper
for Action, The Movement of it is quicker, &c. frequentiorem quaji
fu/fum babet, ab omnibus pjrttb-s infurgit, & a bre-vibus in lengas
nititur 6f crtfcit.
83. Mufa dedit fdibus Divot fuerofjue Dtorbm] He is about
to enter upon the Subjects of Lyrick Poetry ; and it being not
kiown who Invented it, he afcribes the Invention to the
Mufes. Orpheus learnt it of the Mufe Calliope his Mother, at
in the Xllth Ode of the Ift Book.
Arte materna rapidos morantem
Fluminum lapfui.
Dlvos, faerefjue Deorum.'} There were four forts of Lyrick
Poems, Hymns, Panegyricks, Lamentation, and Bacchanalian
Songs : Hymns and Ditbyrambicks were for Gidt \ Panegyricts
for Her tet and Viclvrt. at Giecian Games} Lamentations for
Lovers }
NOTE s on the Art of Poerry. 1 2 1
Lavtrs ; the general Name is the Ode. See the Xllth Ode of
the I ft Book, and the lid Ode cf the IVth Book.
Et juvenum curat & libcra vina referrt.] The fourth kind cf
Ly ricks, the Songs of the Baochanals, on Love, Mirth, and
Wine.
86. Defcriptas fcrvarc vices of crumfue colorcs.] There is fome
difficulty in this Verfe, becaufe it is not prefently perceiv'd
whether it relates to that which goes before, or (hat whi:h
comes after it. Horace having fpoken of the different Subjccl*
and Cliara&ers of Epick, Elegiack, ami lambick Poems, adds,
tint a Poet who dies not know how te diAingruifh them, does
not deferve the Name of one. He who would in the Elegy
afTume the Epick Tone, or would mix tha Softnef* of the
Elegy with the Roughnefs of the lambick, would make but a
furry Poem of it. Mr. Dacier's Complaint of the French Poet?
touches all the Moderns, which is, that in mofl of 'cm, their
Pjjlerals are Elegies j their Elegies, Efrcks ; and their Lyrickt,
He Cl!U drfcn'p'ai Vic?s, J'icei adt-ier.tat, fff.grc-fr.- ,
the different Subjects, the different Charades, of thcfe ci.; .-
rent Poems.
Operuir..p<e Co!oret.~\ The different Cobors, the different Srils
of each, their different Ornaments ; corrtpar'd to the Colour*
of Painters, which are different according to the different Sub-
jefts, and the different ImprsfTion they would make.
8S. C:ir neficire, pudens prjv?, quam d:)cirt rr.jh.] The Fo!!y
of moft Men, who had rather hide th.ir Ignor.-.r.ce, than by
confeiTins^ endeavour to cure it.
89. Verf.bui exponi Tragicis rrs rrnica r;i- -j-^h.'\ A Verfe
may be call'd Tragick or Cam'ck on two Accounti ; t.'ie f::ft
for its Meafure and Feet; for the Tragick and Comick Virfw
may be both lamkicki, and both admit of Sp^ndi't ; yet there
is a great deal of difference between them : The Tragick ad-
mits of the Spondee only in the firft, third, and fifth Foot,
which renders its Motion the more Noble and Pomp - u*r
The Comick admit* it in all thofe Feet, becaufe its Motion is
thereby the more Natural and Unaffldled. The fecond Reafon
why a Verfe may be calPd Tragick or Cttnick, is on account
of the Meannefs of its Exj-relTions and Figures. Thus it is
certain that Tragick Verfe ought not to be us'd in Comedy,
nor Comick in Tragedy. Horace fpeaking of Feet and Meafure,
in the 253d Verfe ; I believe he intends here Expreffior.s and
Figures only : Nothing is more Vicious than Lofty ExprefPors
and Noble Figures in Comedy, for which the Common Phrafe
VOL. I. G ii
1 2 2 No T E s on the Art of Poetry.
is moft proper} whereas Tragedy requires a Sublime and
Bold Stile.
91. Narrari Caena tbye/la.'} He puts Tbyeftefs Supper for
Tragedies in general. Tbyefta eat his own Children, whom
Jltreut caus'd to be ferved up to him. This Story being one of
the moft Tragical, is alfo recommended by Arijlotle as a
Subject for Tragedy. He fays, Narrari, it ought to be told,
and not reprefented. See the i84th Verfe.
92. Singula qutrqut locum tencJnt fortita decenterj\ The Tra-
gick and Comick Stiles muft not incroach upon one another ;
as Quint Hi an in the Xth Book, Sua cuique frofe/J.'a Lex, fuus
decor e/} ; nee Ctmcedia in Cotburrtos affurgit, nee contra Trcjoedia.
Stcco irgrcditur Comedy muft not affume the Buskin, nor
Tragedy the Sock. Nature has made this Law, and he who
breaks it, errs againft Decorum.
97. Interdum tantiit & -vocem Comtedia to/lit.] However, Co-
medy raifes its Voice fometimes, and Tragtdy fometimes makes
ufc of the Language of Converfation : Tragedy and Comedy
being only Imitations of Humane Actions. The Stiie mould
be proportionable to the Subject, and the Actor; an Angry
Father in Comedy fhould affume a lofty Tone, and fpeak with
Paffion ; and an afflied Man in Tragedy wou'd be intolera-
ble, if he fpoke his Affliction in a Sublime and Elegant Stile.
See the IVth Satyr of the 1ft Book. At pater ardent fac-vit , &c.
94. Iratufque Chimes.] Cbreir.es affumes a Tragick Tone in
theVth Scene of Terence's Heaxtantimorumenos. Non Jt ex capite
fs meo, &c. Speaking to his Son, No, Clitipho, thS you ijj'ud
tut of my Brain, at 'tis faid Minerva did cut of Jove'*, / -would
r.ot fuffer you to dijhcnour me luitb your infamous Debaucheries.
So Dim at, in the Fifth Act of the Addpbi, Ecu ti-.ibi quid
faciam ? quid agam f quid clametn f &c. Hab, tubat Jhall I do ?
What will become of me ? Ho-w fiall I exclaim f What Complaints
Jballlniake? ObHea-ver.! Earth ! Ob the Seat of Neptune.
'Tis allowable for Comedy to elevate its Stile, in all violent
P.iflions, as well as that of Choler. In TC/Y'S Eunuch, what
Cberea fays in the Tranfpcrt of his Joys, would very well become
a Tragedy. This is not to be done but with great Art.
95. Et , Tragicus flerumjue dolet Scrmone pedeflri.] Tragedy
gives lefs occafion for incroaching on the Csmick Stile, than
Comedy does on the Tragick. Horace muft be taken here as
meaning only in the great Diftrefles of Tragedy, where
Grief 01 ght to be exprefs'd in a Simple and Common Phrafe.
Not all Grief however, wherefore Hcrace fays, plerumque and
rot femper. Longinus determines it in general, that the Sublime
ii r.ot proper to move Pity, 96. TtUpbui
No T E s on the Art of Poetry. 1 2 3
96. Telepbus & Peleus quum pauper & exul uleryue.~\ Pehut
and Telepbus, two Qreek Traged:es. Thefe two Princes having
been driven out of their Dominions, came to beg Afliftancs
in Greece, and went up and down drefs'd like Beggars. The
two Pieces here referr'd to were Euripides'^ ; that Poet, in
Ariftophanes\ Frags, talking of them as his own. See Ac~t III.
Scene I. For this Reafon ^jcbylus calls Euripid s a Beggar-
tnjker, and a Patcber of Rags. See alfo the lid Scene of the
IVth At. You drefs Kings in Ragt to move Pity. Anjiopbar.it
again makes Merry with Euripides'* Telepbus in his Acbarncnfes,
Aft IV. Scene II. where he introduces Diceopclis coming to
borrow of Euripides Telephus's Beggars Equipage, the Staff, tkt
Scrip, the Horn-Cup, &c. Ab Friend, fays Euripides, yeu tvill
after this Rate carry atvay my nubole Play ; ar>4 again, upon his
farther Importunities, Thou wilt Ruin me, deft r.ot tbau fee tbott
wilt take atvay all my Tale from me. What adds to the Plea-
fantry of this Satire on the Tehpbus of Euripides, is, that the
whole Scene is in a manner made up of his own Verfes. Tbn-
dorus Marcil.it is therefore miftaken, in faying the Eyul in
Horace alludes to Pelcus enly, and not to Telepbus ; For Ttle-
pbus himfelf fays, How am I drivtnfrcm my Houfe in Want /
every Thing tiectfl'ary, ScC. Ennius and Nrt-vius brought Euri-
pidefs Telepbus on the Rtynan Stage. In Er.nius this Exil'd Kinj
fays, Regnum reliqui feptus mer.dici Stola, I left my Kingdom in
a Beggar's Habit. Ariftopbana ridicules this Play of Euripidet, ,
for the Impoflibility of a King's being reduced to Beggary.
Horace is fatisfy'd with faying Pauper. AZfcbylus alfo writ a
Telepbus ; but one cannot believe he fell into the fame Error of
which he accufes Euripides, and introduces the King in Rags.
97. Projicit Amp-Mas & Stfjuipedalia Verbs.] Amful/as for
Swelling Thoughts, Sefquipedalia Verba, for Bombaft Words.
Sefquipcdalia, a Foot and Kalf, for their Length. The Greekt
often made compound Words of a prodigious Length, which
were fuceefsful in the Sublint:, but Ridiculous in the Pafficn of
Grief. See the Hid Epiftle. Ampullatur in Arte.
99. Nsn falls eft pulcra effe Poimata, dulcia funio.] A P'ay
mould not only be Fine, but it mould be Touching. Horace
here refers to the Ignorance of fuch as fancy they have made
a Fine Play, when they have been lavifh of the Flowers of
Rhetorick ; all which are Nothing if it does not move ; for
that's the principal end of Dramatick Poetry : 'Tis with this
View Plato calls Tragedy, The tnojl diverting and moving Effent
tf Poetry. In Dulcia, Sweet, moving, Htrace imitates Anjlotle
in the XXth Chapter of his Art of Poetry. Heinjiut miftaket
G * the
f 24 NOTE s on the Art of Poetry.
the Fire for Commendable. Horace would certainly never have
call'd a Play Commendable, if it had not been Moving. 'Til
thus in a Piflure ; the Bufincfs is not to make it glare with fine
Colours without Conduct, but to render the Action fenfible. In
order to which, no Colour fhould be u&'d but what will agree
with it, and make the defir'd ImprefTion.
100. Et fbccuttyt+e veleitt.] It fhould infpire all the Paffions
it plcafes ; Hate, Fear, Terror, Pity.
102. Si <vii me Jtere dolendum ejl frimuin ipfe tit!.'] Cicero has
explain'd this Rule at large in his lid Bock DC Oratore.
Pcets and Orators can never move an Auditory, if the Speakers
do not fhew that they are Therr.felves Riov'd with the Paffiens
they wou'd Infpire. There is a Story of an Old Greek Plny^r
nam'd Polut, who in the Eltfira of Sophocles us'd to play the
Part of that Prircsfs. It happen'd that a Son of his, whom
he dearly lov'-d, dy'd ; and after the firft Tranfports of his
jGrief were over, he took his Part again, and play'd Ehilra j
in which, infiead of the Urn with the Falfe Afhes of ElcSra,
he came in with the Urn wherein were the True Afhes of his
Son ; which embracing, he prcnounc'd thefe Words, Ob Dole-
ful Monument of him luko ivas of all Mankind mofi Dear to me,
with fo Natural a Grief, fuch True and Lively Tears, that it
had a prcdijious Effe<a on the Audience. This Rule of
Horace^ is taken alfo from Arifiotie'% Art of Poetry ; the Phi-
lofopher adding to the Precept the Means to perform it.
The Poet, fays he, ivbtn be is coir.pojing, muft as far as fcjjible
imitate the Gtjiures and jfrtions of tbofe be introduces on the Stage,
He <wBo is truly mo-v d, -will in the fame manner mo-ve tbsfe that
bear him, &c.
103. Tua me ir.frtun:a ladcr,t,~\ Then wou'd thy Misfortunes
wound me. Lxdere for ccmmwerc, to "wound for to touch.
So A*':r? in Hotter.
104. Maleji rr.andata Icqverls.'] Herace alludes to the Speeches
felepbi.! and Pe!eui made, to oblige the Greeks to a/fift them.
Telffbus in Euripides begins his Difcourfe to the Athenian*
th-'js ; j^tbenians, ivbo are the Flower of Greece, do not take it
ill, if in tb: miserable Condition I tioiu am, I frefume to fpcak
before fa fair an AJJ'embly.
105. Trijiia mujlum i/uhum verla decer.t.~\ The greatcfl Poets
have not always put fuch Words into the Mouth of Sorrow,
as agree with it. Monfieur Comeille himfelf often fell irto
this Error. When Cbimene in the Cid demands Juftice for ihe
Murder of her Father, and fpeaks of the fpilling of his Blood,
&e favi,
Spilt
NOT E s on the Art of Poetry. 12 j
Spilt at it it, tie Blood fill reeks -with Rage,
To fir, d 'twas loft in any Caufe but yours.
It this to talk like a Perfon in Affi'cVion ? Non frojicit AmpuHas.
Here are the f-wtlling Tbngbti ftill. What can be more trivia?
than to make the Blood that was fpilt, think and find, and to
explain itfelf by Reeking? Eltflra in Sopboc/ts mourns the Death
of her Father after quite another rate.
106. Iratum plena minarum.'} Horace feigns elfewhere, that
when Prumttbeut form'd Man, he borrowed each Quality frorri
each Animal, and when he put Choler into his Heart, took it
from the Lion. What c.in give a jufter Idea of the EfTecls of
this Partion ? There muft he nothing mean or affcfled in it.
Seneca's Fury is often full of Meditation.
107. Ludenttm Lafc/va.] A florid, gay Stile agrees wi'h Joy.
Acbillet in Love may be agreeable and delicate. Thofe who ap-*
ply thefe Words to Comedy are in the wrong. Tragedy admits
of Raptures of Joy, which render her Cataftrophe fometin>es the
more Moving.
Se-verumfiria difiu.] A grave Peifon muft fpeak anfwerabiy
to his Character. Euripides is not fo difcreet as Sopbccles. Ser.ec*
the tragick Poet never minds this Rule. He is fo fond of fhinirg
every where, that he becomes ridiculous.
ic8. Famjt enint Natura trius nas ir.tirs ad omnem ft'tursarum
babitumJ\ In thefe four admirable Verfes, Hcract gives the Re^-
fon of the Precepts contained in the two preceeding ones. His
Reafon is drawn from our Mother Nature, who gave us a Heart
capable of feeling all the Changes of Fortune, and a Tongue to
exprefs it. When our Words do not ar.fwcr the Condition we
are in, the Heart ftrikes one String in the Inftrument of Man
infiead of another, and makes a very difagreeable Difcord.
109. Ju-vat out impellit.] Nature helps us to put ourfelves into
a Rage. Horace adds Impellit, to denote the Impetuofity of that
Paffion.
110. Aut ad bumutn mcerore gravi dedacit.~\ Horace's Expreflion
agrees very well with the Paffion he fpeaks of. How natural is
his Image of the Humiliation of an afflicted Man ? How ridicu-
lous does it render all frothy Expreffions in that Condition ?
112. Si dicentit erunt firtunis alfrna difla~\ The Language
muft always agree with the Condition of the Perfon fpeaking j
otherwife the Orate r will be laught at. See Antonius fpeaking
for M. Aquiliut, in the 2d Book of Cieero't Orations. Ncn print
fum ccr.af.'t mifericordiam a'iit commovire quam mifericsrdia jt.m
ipfe caftus, *c.
G 3 114. L>-
226 NOTES 0//^ Art of Poetry.
114. Jr.tereit muhum Divufne loquatur an bcros.~\ A Poet muft
alfo fuit the Language of his Aclors to their Age and Characters.
A God muft exprefs himfelf otherwife than a Hero. An old
Man than a young Man. This Rule is not much obferv'd by
the Moderns.
J3i<vufne loqstatur an Hercs."] Some have read it, Davuftie lo-
quatur, an Eros. Eros was the Name of an honeft Footman in
Alexander's Play, as Da-vui that of a knavifli one. But Horate
is not here difccurfing of Comedy : Befides, the Difference be-
tween Footman and Footman is not considerable enough to be
taken notice of by him in a Precept. Others have read it, Di-
vufne loquatur, an Irus. The Senfe cf this is too mean, and Ims
is not a tragick Peifon. Others, Davufne Icquatur, an Heros,
The Matter in difpute, as I have faid already, relates only to
Tragedy, and to the Difference there ought to be between the
Charaaer of a God and that of a Hero, as he fays afterwards.
jffe quicumyut Deus, quicuwyue adlibetur Heros,
The Gods were introduc'd by the Ancients into their Plays, as
in v&fcljlta, Sophocles and Euripides.
u ;. Maturufr.e Sexex an adbuc jlorente juventa fervidus.] An
experienc'd old Man does not talk like a raw Youth. Mr. Cor-
xeilte and Mr. Racine, imitate in this the y/cnd,erful Conduct cf
Sofiocles.
116. An Matrona potent, an fedul* Nutr!x.~\ Here Horace had
doubtlefs in View the Hypelitta of Euripides, where Pkadra and
her Nurfe fpeak very differently ; and Mr. Racine in his Pbadra
has obferv'd this Precept, in varying the two Characters.
117. Mercatorne -vagus, an cuhor viretitis agdll."} Some have
thought Horace is difcourfing of Comedy alfo, on account of the
Meannefs cf the Perfons, whereas he is ftil! difcourfmg of Tra-
gedy only, in which it was not uncommon for the Ancients to
introduce Tradefmen, Shepherds and Labourers. You have a
Merchant in the PhiloElctes of Sophocles j and in Euripides, Cly-
Icmntjlra gives Eletfra in Marriage to a Labourer. He opens
the Scene with it. See the y8th Verfe, & fey. The beft Com-
ment on this Pnflage of Horace, is what Plutarch writes in his
Fragment of the Ccmparifon bttvrttnjlriftopbanes and Mensnder.
The Difference in Diflien, fays he, is infinite, Ariftophanes does
not know bow to make every one fay ivbat becomes tini. A King
Jho-jld talk ivitb Dignity, an Oratcr ivitb Force, a Woman with
Simplicity, a private Man after a common Manrer ; a Mecbanick
with Rudtnrfs. Tbt Dittian of all Ariftoj-hanes'i Perfons is at j
venture".
NOTES on the Art of Poetry. 127
venture, and you cannot tell whether 'tis a Son or a father that
fpeaks, a Labourer or a God, an old Woman or a Htro,
118. Colchus an Affyrius, Thetis nutritus an A'gis.] The Poet
muft have the Country of his Afters before his Eyes. For, as
Arijiotle fays, a Macedonian does not talk like a Theff'.tlian. Th
Manners of different Nations, are as different as their Dtefs.
The Manners note, of Countries and of Times,
For various Humours come from various Climei,
The People of Colcbus were favage and cruel. Thofe of AJjyria
falfe and cunning. The Tbebam rude and ignorant. The Ar-
fi-vcs polite and proud. Arijlop banes' s Ptrjians and Scythians,
never talk like Athenians.
119. Ant f amain fequere, out Jibi convenitntia finge. ] Horaee
having fpcken of the Language, comes to the Cbaraflers ; one
of the moil efiential Parts of Dramatlck Poetry, as well as of
the Epick. The Characters are only defign'd by the Manners, and
the Manners form the Aliens. Poets have but two forts of
Characters to bring on the Stage, either Knotun or Invented, In
known Characters they muft alter nothing, but reprefent./tfri//,
VlyJJ~es, Ajax, as Homer represented them. As to in-vented ones,
they muft make them conformable ; in the former, they are to
endeavour after Likenefs, in t'.e latter after Convenience. The
former Ariftotle terms ti o/xo/ar, the latter, T* ^eMvrorM.
120. Serif tor honor at um Ji forte reponis Acbillem.] He is ex-
plaining the Famamfcquere of the foregoing Verfs, what it is to
follow Fame, which is to make the Charafters what Fame
makes them to be. As Achilles, Cholerick, Violent, Furious,
Implacable, Unjuft. UlyJJ'es, Valiant, Virtuous, Cunning. Ajax t
Intrepid, Rafh. Honoratum, honour'd by the Greeks, an Expla-
nation of Ttri/mtvor, an Epithet Homer always beftows on Achilles.
Jtefonis, reponere, to reprefent after another. Homer, pofxit Ackil-
lem, whoever comes after him, reponit.
121. Jmpiger, iracnndus, inexorabilis, acer.~\ Arifictle fays, that
to fucceed in fuch a Character as Acbillei's, a Poet fhould rather
imagine what Choler ought to do with Verifimility, than what
it has done.
122. Jura negatfibi nata.~\ Achilles pretends to be above the
Laws, for which Reafon he refufes to obey Agamemnon, whom
he loads with Affronts, and infolently threatens. By the fame
Principle he facrifices the Common Caufe, the Honour and Lives
of fo many thoufmd Men, and the Glory of his Country, to
his private Intereft.
G 4 Jf.M
128 NOTES on the Art of Poetry.
Nibil non arreget Armh.~\ He depended on his Sword for
Juftice. He draws it half out in Homer againft Agamfirncit.
Mirtr-na hind rs his drawing it further. He tells that Kin?,
if he dares take any thing out of his Tent, he fhould foon fee
his Elood at his f pear's End All the Qualities Horace attributes
to Acbillts are in the 1ft Book of the llins.
12.3. Sit Medea ftrox ini-ifljque.] The true Character of
Med^a, who is reprefented as Cruel and Inflexible by Euripides.
She kills her two Children, and fends her Rival a Robe and a
Crown fo prepar'd, that they ccnfume her as foon as fhe puts
fhem on. Creon falls on her Corps. The fatal Robe flicks to
his Flefli, and he expires in the fame Torments with his
Daughter.
H-bilis Ino.~\ Ins the Daughter of CadiKxs and Harmoni*. She
was firft marry.'d to Atbarnas who had a Son by a former Wife,
and fhe feign'd an Oracle which order'd the Son to be facrific'd
to Jupiter. But fhe was foon puniftYd for her Cheat. Atbam&s
running Mad kill'd Legrcbus, the eldtft Son he had by her, and
had facrific'd her other Son, if fhe had not flung herfelf into
the Sea with that Sen in her Arms. Eurifidts wrote a Tragedy
en this Story. 'Tis eafy from the Grief of this Princefs, on
the Lofs of her Children, to imagine fhe might well be call'd
FlebiUt.
124. Pt'fdus Ixion.] Jxion was the firft Murderer in Greece:
He marry'd the Daughter of Dfjoneus, and kill'd his Father in-
law at Supper, inilead of givirg hi.Ti the ufual Prefents. This
Cr;me was fo horrible, no Body wou'd expiate the Murderer,
nor have any Corrsfpondence with him. At laft Jupiter took
Pity on him, expiated him and receiv'd him into Heaven,
\vbcre the Traitor falling in Love with Juno, wou'd hav
ravifh'd her. He on)y embraced a Cloud, and Jxpiter in a
Raee hud'd him headlong to Hell, where the Poets feign him
to be ftretch'd on a Wheel always turning. <s.f(bylus and
E~r:{:,'is wrote on this Story. Plutarch mentioning the In*
and bcion of Euripides, who being blam'd for writing upon it
as a Subjeft secured by the Gods, Euripides replies, 7 ba-ve not
left him till I have r.ail'd kit Feet ar.d Lit Hands to a Wheel.
AnjlvtU places thefe two Plays of his among the Patbcticks.
There's nothing extant of them.
la ttaga.~\ Is, Daughter of Inachus, with wliom Jupiter was
in Love, and chang'd her into a Cow. Juno out of Jealoufy
made her run mad, and fent a Fly which fo ftung her, that
fhe ran from Country to Country, erofs'd feveral Seas, and ar-
riv'd at laft in Egyft, where flie recover'd her firft Shape, and
was
NOTES on the Art of Poetry. 129
was worftiip'd under the Name of IJis. t^fcbylus makes hr
wander Co in his Prometheus, that (he came to the Mountain
where he was chain'd, at the farther End of Scytbia, and there
fhe learn'd of that Wretch all the future Fortune that was to
befal her.
Triftii Oreftet.] Trijili here fignifies curs' d, mad, raging,
as well as fad. Thus he elfewhere calls Choler, fad, tnftct
ut Ir*. Ovid has alfo faid triftis Orefta. Euripideis Reprc-
fentation of Ortftit in this State, is admirable ; he appears iiv
the Tragedy which goes by his Name, more like a hideous.
Speftre than a Man.
Men. four Eytt an gbaftly, borribil your look,
Or. My Body's gone, I'm nothing but a Name.
He alludes to the Signification of the Name Orejlts, which,
according to Sccraiet's Opinion in CratyLs, denotes fomething
wild, fierce, and brutal.
lz$'. Si quid ittexfertum Scftf eommittis."] Having explain'd
the Famem fequere, he now docs the fame by the latter Part
of the Vtrrfe, out convenicntja fnge : Shewing what is to be
done with new Characters. Their firft Quality is to be con-
formable and agreeable. A Madman muft aft like a Madman ;
a King like a King, and fo on, A Woman mud' not have
jffbilks's Valour, nor .M^cr's Prudence. Their fecond Quality
it to be one and the fame from the Beginning of the Play to
the End, which Arlftotle calls TO 1/j.a^^ Equality. This is as
neceflary in knsivn Characters as in ixventtd, B oilcan explains
it in his Art of Poetry.
If then you form fame Hero in your Mind,
Be fare your Image with itftlf agree,
For what be firft off ears ht fill muft be.
Jgatbo't Flcwer was an admirable Play, tho' it was all Invert
tion. See the IXth Chapter of Arijtotle'i An of Pottry, en
known and invented Subjefts.
128. Difficile eft prtfrie communia dictre.'} Having fhewn the
two Qualities that mould be piven to Invented Perfons, he
advifei Tragick Poets not to take too much Liberty to Invent,
it being very difficult to fucceed in New Characters. By com"
von Subjefti, invented Oaet arc underrtood. Subjects that have
no Foundation in Hi/lory, or the Fable .; he calls them Common,
becaufe every body hat a Right to them, and U fret t invent
C 5
130 NOTES on the Art of Poetry.
them. 'Tis very difficult to invent a new Character that (hall
be Jurt and Natural ; the Moderns have fucceeded much better
in their kntivn Stories than in their in-vented Ones. Let a Cha-
racter be fortn'd ever fo juftly, every one will pretend to a
Right to judge of it, and cenfare it, if it is not conformable to
the Idea they themfelves have of it ; whereas when a Poet
follows a known One, there's a common Rule which he mult
not deviate from, and which is the Standard of their Judgment
as well as his Compofnion. Horace cannot by Ccrr.xunia mean
common and crdinary Characters, becaufe he immediately ad-
vifes the Poets to make ufe of known Characters.
129. Tuque refiius Iliacum carmen deducts in afJus.'] ArSJIttie
in his IXth Chapter, determines for invented Fables, as well as
rcceiv'd ones ; Horace is here for known Subjects, fuch as ar
taken from-the Iliai andOd\-JJ'tys, for both thofe Poems are com-
pris'd under the Words Iliacum carmen. This Difference arifes
from the different Ends the Poet and Philofopher propos'd to
themfelves. Arijlotle fpeaks only of what might pleafe or
difpleafe, and invented Subjects may pleafe as well as known :
Horace talks only of what is eafy or difficult, and known Sub-
jects are eafier than invented : Befides, Ariftotle wrote to the
Creeks, who were fo far poffeft of the Spirit of Tragedy, that
nothing was impofiible for them. Horace wrote to the Romans,
who were much inferior to the Greeks, and whom he diffuaded
from undertaking what was moft difficult for them to fucceed
in. Horace, in advifmg Poets to borrow their Subjects from
Homer, is of the fame Opinion with Arijlotle and Plato, who
.have both affirm'd that Homer is a Tragick Poet ; his Jlias and
Od\J/'eys have the fame Relation to Tragedy, as his Margitet has
to Comedy. Plato, in his Tenth Book, calls H^mer the Father
f Tragedy. ,
130. >uam fi proferrit ignota ir.diElaque priut.'] By ignota
indiftaquc he means the fame thing as by his Communia, un-
JtHow* Subjefls : He adds indicia to ignota. Subjects never
treated of before. For a Story may be unknown, without being
vtio ; 'tis what he fays in the XXVth Ode of the IJId Book.
JDicam injigne, &c. / will ffeak of new Tbings -which have ntt
yet been ffoken of.
131. PublUa Mat cries privati juris erit, fi, &c.] Left the
Advice he has been giving Poets might caufe them to fall into
fervile Imitations, by handling known Subjects, he teaches them
how they arc to govern themfelves, to make fuch Storiet
proper. Publtca mtteries, the Ilias, the Tbebaidt, the OdjJJey,
And all the Subjects of the ancient Tragedies : He oppofes
futlitm
NOTES on the Art of Poetry. 1 3 r
PMiet materiel to Communia ; Cbryftppus boafted he had made
Euripides^ Medea his own, becaufe he had net follow'd that
Poet's Difpofition of his Subj^ft.
132. Nee circa vilcm patulumjue tntraberii Orbem.] Horace
advifes Poets to take the Subjefls of their Tragedies out of
Homer's Poems, and he here cautions them againft the Faults
they might be guilty of. The firft and moft confiderable, is
to amufe themfelves, circa Orbbn vilem & fatulum, tu:tb A
vile Circuit open to til the World, that is, with bringing into
a Tragedy all the Parts of Homer's Poem, imitating his very
Connexion and Chain : As for Inftance, in opening the Scene
with the Quarrel between Achilles and Agamemnon, and clofmg
all with Hsffor's Funeral. Heinjiut is miftaken, in thinking
Horace means a vain Circuit of Words, that Jo not relate to the
SutjeJ. The Circuit he fpeaks of, is in the Fable, and nothing
can be more Vicious : For what would be but of a juft Ex'ent
for an Heroick Poem, would be monftrous, conftn'd to the
narrow Limits of a Tragedy. Remember, above ail things, fayt,
Ariftotle, not to make a Tragedy of an Epick Plot ; / call an
Epick Plot, a Plot conf.jling of federal Fables ; as if you Jbould
biirtg all toe liias into tr.i Play. There's another vicious Circuit
btfldes this. See the i4;th Verfe.
133. Nee verbum -verbo curabii redderc.] Not to tranflate
Homer Word for Word, the Bufinefs of an exait Tranflator, n^t
of a Poet. He mould imitate the Difcretion of ^fchylus t
Stpcocles, and Euripides, who all of 'em make bold with
User's Sentiments, but do not tranflate him literally: Htraa
condemns the fuperftltious Exaftnefs of fuch Tranflators as
keep clofe to the Letter. Ciaro fays very well, in the Treatife
fc Oftim. Gen. Orat. Speaking of the two Orations of <sfibynet
and Demo/lbeaei, \vhic!i he translated, Nee con-vsrti ut Interpret,
&c. / ba-ve tranjlated them net as an Interpreter, but as an Orator ,
by preserving the Sentences, and their different Forms, as 'well at
toe Figures, and explaining the reft in Terms adapted to our
Cufttm:, and according to our Manners. I did nut think it necef-
fary for me to confine myfclf to render them Wsrd for Word, but
only to exfrefs the Force and Propriety tf the Terms, believing I
tugbt not to give the Reader tbofe Terms by Tale but by Weight.
If a Tranflator mould not tranflate Word for Word, how much.
lefs mould a Poet.
134. Nee defilies imitator in arfium, unde peJem preferre.] This
in my Opinion is one of the moft difficult Places in Horace .-
The Poet does not here fpeak of thofe who confine themfelves
*9 a crUin Meafure of Yerfe, in their imitation 5 nor of thofe
Who
132 NOTES on the Art of Poetry.
who lofe Sight of their Original. He has already given
Tragic!* Poets two Ways of rendring Subjecls that have been
handled, which he prefers to Invented ones : The Firft is,
not to bring the whole Matter of an Heroick Poem into a
Tragedy ; and the Second, not to tranflate it Word for Werd :
He here gives them a Third, not to keep too clofe to their
Author, in imitating one AHon only, fo as to perplex them-
felves, or break the Laws of Tragedy, which Laws are very
different frcm thofe of Heroick Poetry ; fuppofe, for Example,
1 was to write a Tragedy on shLilles's Choler, and to follow
the two firft Rules of Htrace ; that is, not to ^ut all the Ilitt
in my Play, nor ufe his Expreflions : 1 fhall break the third
Rule, if I fervilely reprefent the fame Circumftances of Achillcf\
Choler, as Homer has reprefented it, for by that means I fhaH
entangle myfelf in a great many Difficulties ; how fhaH I re'-
prefent Ackilles with his Sword half- drawn, and Minerva
holding him by the Arm to hinder his killing Agamemnon j an
Incident which is marvellous in an Epick Poem, and yet
would be ridiculous in a Tragedy. They who read referre
here inftead of profirre, did not underftand the PafTage.
136. Nee fie incipies.] He blames the pompous Beginnings
of fome Tragedies, when Poets, to give the Audience a great
Idea of their Performances begin Loftily, which is faulty
feveral Ways ; the Beginning fhould be Simple and Modell.
This is a Rule in Epick Poetry, and much more in Tragedy.
Ut fcriptor Cydicus olim.] See what is faid of thefe Cyclick
Poets, in the Vllth Ode of the firfl Book. 'Tis not known
who was the Cyclick Poet, of whom Htrace fpeaks j fome
learned Men have thought it was Mxviut, who wrote a Poem
on the Trojan War, in which he compris'd all the Hirtory of
Priamus from his Birth to his Death : But the Word Olim
{hews he means fome more ancient Poet. Siafimus, who wrote
the little Ilias, is thought to be this Cyclick Poet, by thofe
who follow the Scboliaft, on the Knights of Ariftepbana, who
places this Poet among the Cyclich : Pbotius will not have
him to be one of 'em ; Cafaubon thinks he was of the
Number of thofe Poets who join'd in that Work, mention'd
by the Ancients under the Name of the Cyclick Poem, which
took in the Hiftory of the World from the Beginning of it
to the Death of Ufyfll-s, and was the Work of feveral Poets,
as Onomacritus, Lefcbn, Kumelui, and others, tho' 'tis often
quoted as the Production of one Man, Fortunam Priami
tantaho & Nobile letum t the Beginning of Mt-vius'* Poem.
"What would titrate have faid ef Sieri,ts, another Cyclick
NOTES on the Art of Poetry.
feet, who brings all the Story of Acbillet into his Poem, a*
Mavius brought that cf Pritmuf into his.
Magnanimum tsGicidem formidatantque tetranti
Prcger.iem, f vetittai pat rio fxccedc re Caelt
Diva refer.
A Poet muft be hard put to it to maintain the Idea of a
Hero, dreaded even by Jwc, to the End of the Poem.
There's nothing more Extravagant than* thefe bluftring Be-
ginnings, the fare Signs of a weak Pcet; the Moderns ar*
very apt to fall into this Fault, and imitate the Vices of the
Ancients.
138. S^uid dignum tar.t* feret tie premtffor btatu ?] Hiareii
fo open the Mouth very wide, as thofe are oblig'd to do
who pronounce big Words and founding Verfes ; Pfrfeat
who alfo laughs at this foolifh Bluftring at the Brginning of
Epick and Dramatick Poems, makes ufe of this very Term in
the Vth Satire.
Fabula feu wiefo ftnatur bianda Tragtedo,
The fifteen firft Verfes of this Satire are a Comment on
this of Horace''*,
139. Parturiunt mantel, tiafcrtvr ridiculus tnus."] Horace, by
ending his Verfe with a Monofyllable mus, againft the common
Rule, exprefles admirably well, what the Bombaft Promifcs
of thefe Boafting Poets produce. The end of this Verfe is an
Imitation of that in the FirA Book of the GeorgUkt.
ftffi exiguus mus,
Where, according to 0>uirti/ian''s Judgment, C'aufula ipfa
vnius Syllabx non vftata addidit Gratiam. The Fable of the
Mountain that brought forth a Moufe is in v.fop. Pb<rtlrzi
applies it to thofe who promife much, and perform nothing.
'Tis very old, as appears by the Jefl of the Egyptian, who
having a long time expected dgffilaui to come to their
Afliftancc, and when he came, feeing him fo Little, and fo
Ugly, faid among themfelves, "Tivas the Labour of the Moun-
tain which krtugbt forth a Rat, Atbcnevi quotes the Words of it.
140. Quanta refliui hie qul nil molitur inept e.] To thefe
bluftrLng Beginnings of the boafting Poets, he oppofcs the
Difcretion and Modefty of Humer, in that o his Ody/<j } for
nothing can be mere plain,
134 No T E s 0fl //6<? Art of Poetry.
>ui nil molitur inepte.] Horace's faying that Homer did nothing
Improperly, ought to reftrain fome Modern Authors, who by
endeavouring to find out grofs Faults in him, only difcover
their Ignorance and ill Talte.
141. Die Ktibi, Mufa, -virum.] Horace includes the three fir/I
Verfes of Homer's Odyffey in two, contenting himfelf with
expreffing the Modefty and Simplicity of Homer's Beginning,
without explaining all the Parts of it ; for otherwife one might
find confiderable Faults in his Tranflation. He has forgotten
the Epithet fl-oXt/Tfesw, wife, which marks Ulvffet's Character :
He neglects the Circumftance that makes us moft conccrn'd
for his Hero, It /M*A* 5roxX* v 5rx.*f^;8, Who -wander d a Icag
Time. He fays, in a loofe way, after the taking of Troy,
whereas 'tis in Hemer, after bavir.g ruind Troy ; but, as I have
faid, his Defign was to fliew HimeSs Modefty, and not to
tranflate him.
143. N^nfumum ex fulgorc, fed ex furr.o dare ijcem.~\ Thsfe
pampous Beginnings that are not carry'd on, refeml.le Fuel
which eafily takes Fire, and after having blaz'd awhile, goes
out, and waftes away in Smoke : 'Tis a Straw Fire. Whereas
modeft Beginnings increafe as they proceed, and are like folid
Fuel, which is hard to kindle, (mokes awhile, blazes up, and
safts forth a Fire that warms, illuminates, and burns a long
time.
Ut fpeciofa debinc tniracula fromat,'] Horace here calls //-
mer'i Stories of Antipbatcs, Scylla, Cbarybdia, the Cyclfpi Fo!y~
fbemutf &c. Jbining Wendert. And Lmgintis makes a very fine
Comparifon of the Ilias and Od\JJ"ey, with reference to thefe Fables.
A the Ocean is always great, tbt' fometimes be leaves bis Shores,
and it cvnjind in narrower Limits ; fo Homer *lfo ba-ving left tbe
Jltas, isjtill great, even in the incredulous and fabulous Stories ef'
tbe Odyfley. He alludes to the Tempefts, the Cyclops, &c, the
fame Places Horace calls Wonders. Longinus in the fame Chapter
calls thofe Stories the Dreams of Jupiter, Dreams worthy of the
King of the Gods.
145. Antipbaten,\ Antifbates, King of the Leftrigons, de-
fcrib'd in the Xth Book of the OdyJJ'ey. They were Man-eaten
and Htmer fays they carry'd away Ulyjes's Followers in Strings,
like fo many Strings of Fifli.
Scyllftr.que & Cbarybdim.'] Two Rocks in the Strait of
Sicily, the one calFd Scyl.'a, from the Punick Word Sco!, which
fignifies Deftrutlion, the other Cbarybdis, from Cborcldam, figni-
fying an My ft of Perdition. Haner makes two horrible Mon-
'em, See the Dcfcription in the Xllth Book of the Ody/ey.
CltM
NOT E s on the Art of Poetry. 1 3 *
Cunt Cyclope.] Polyphemus, King of the Cycltps, who dwelt in
Sicily, near the Promontory of Lilybtum ; Tis one of the mcft
agreeable Tales in Hsmer. See the IXth Book of the Ody/ey.
146- Nee reditum Diomedisab interim M.eleagri.~\ Homtr has not
written on Diomedeis Return : Neither is it what Horace means
in this Paffage ; the Senfe of which is, That Homer, in his Poem
on the Return of UlyJ/'es, has not done like the Poet Antimachus
in his Return of Diomedfs, whfe Adventure he begins with the
Death of his Uncle Meleagcr, which is abfurd : for by this he
gives a Beginning to the Beginning of the Action ; Before tvbicb,
as Arijlatle obferves, nothing muft be fufpos'd Necejj'ary. This
Matter is treated of in the Vllth Chapter of his Art of Poetry.
147. Nee gemin bellumTrcjanum ordi:ur ab ova.] The Trojan
War is not the Subject of the Ilias, 'tis only the Occafion of it.
Ihmer makes no Beginning nor End to the Siege of Troy ; nay,
there's hardly a Middle that's proper to it ; but he forgets none
of the Parts of his Subject, which is Achilla's Choler. He
does not fo much as relate the Ciicumftances of the Rape of
Helen the Caufe of the War. Horace laught hers at the Author
of the little Ilias, who beg,an his Poem with the two Eggs : In
one of which Helen and Clytcmnejlra were inclos'd ; in the other
Caftor and Pollux. The Unity of the Perfon can never excufe
the breaking the Unity of the Afiion, which, as Aiijlotle teaches,
muft be always preferv'd : He condemns, in his Art of Poetry,
ths Authors of the Heracliade and Tbeftiade, for not obferving
that Unity, and fets Homer's Conduit as an Example. He has
not in kisOdvJ/ly heap'd together all the Events thathappen'd to
Ulyffa ; nor in the Ilias does he amufe himftlf with writing the
Hiilory of Acbilles : He introduces no Adventure that has not
Relation to his Subject in either of thefe Poems. Statius, after
Aiifiotlc and Horace had given fuch good Rules, falls into a
greater Fault than even the Author of the little I/iat j inftead
of beginning his Tbetaid with the Inceftuous Birth of Eteocla
and Pulyr.ices, he begins it with the Rape of Eurofa, the Gcca-
fion of the founding of Thebes.
148. Semper ad e-ventum fejlinat.] Still going forward to the
End of his Subject, he makes ufe of no Efifode but what leads
to it. The End of the Ilias is Achilles'*, Vengeance. Statius,
inftead of going forward to the End of his Action, feems afraid
of coming to it, and flies back by Efifodes independent of his.
Subject.
149. Et in medial rts, nen fecus ac not as, auditor em rafit.] A
Pafiage of great Importance, and very difficult: It has been in-
terpreted, as if Htrace \vould fay, that Htmer prefently tranfports
136 NOTES on the Art of Poetry.
his Readers to the Middle of his Subject, to hold them always
in Defiie and Hope to the End of it. This, 'tis true, is one of
the greateft Beauties of an Epic Poem, and Homer has not neg-
lected it, as Macrobius obferves in the lid Chapter of the XVth
Book of his Saturnalia ; but Horace having treated of (his Pre-
cept in th,e 4 ad and 43d Verfes, 'tis not likely he (hould repeat
it here : Betides, Horace does not talk here of what Homer does
in the Beginning, but what he does in the Sequel, thro' the
whole courfe of the Poem, as appears plainly by what goes
before, Semper ad cventam feftinat, He always bajlen'd to the End
tf the Aftion. The true Senfe of this Paflage is, Htmer carries
his Readers fwiftly over all Things that preceded the Aclion ;
he calls them medtas res, middle Things, either becaufe he placet
the Recital of 'em in the Courfe of the Poem, after the Begin-
ning, or before the End ; or becaufe they are Things which the
Creeks call properly /uio-ct, middling, indifferent. Horace fay*,
the Poet pafies fwiftly over thofe Adventures, as if they were
known : And fuch is Homer's conftant Practice ; every thing
that precedes the Siege of Trey, and Ackillefs Vengeance, it
related in (he courfe of the Poem, as publick Events known to
all the World : This a Tragick Poet ought to cbferve, as well
as an Epick. Sophocles, in bis Oediput , pafles fwiftly over every
thing that precedes the Action of his Tragedy.
150. Et qua defferat trattata nitefcen pcffc, re/infuit."] This is a
Confequence of what he faid juft before, That Homer carries his
Reader fwiftly over everyThing that precedes his Aftion ; fear-
ing one might from thence believe he gave the whole Hiftory.
Hirace fliews the Poet's Addrefs, in not mentioning all the
Incidents of the Story, but making a judicious Choice of them ;
leaving thofe that were not fufceptible of Ornaments, fuirabJe
to the Grandeur and Majefty of his Poem : He does notfpeak
of Ltda's Eggs, nor the Rape of Helen in the IHai, nor of ths
Sacrifice of Tfbigenia, nor of Acbillefs Difguifing himfelf lik
a Girl ; and thus a Tragick Poet fhould rejeft all Incidents
that do not anfwer the Grandeur of his Subject.
151. Atque ita mentitur, fie veris fa/fa remifcet.] The Soul of
an Epick Poem, is the Fable, which includes a general Truth,
made particular by the Application of Names. Thus the Truth
eontain'd in the Iliat is, That Union and Subordination prefervc
States, and that Difcord and Difobediencc deftroy them : The
Fiftion in which this Truth is wrapt up is the Quarrel between
Achilles and Agamemnon, feign'd to be taken from a known Story
as the Trojan War, to make it the more probable. In epick
Poetry the Fiflion goes always on with the Truth j but 'tis not
only
NOTE s on the Art of Poetry. 137
nly moral Truth that Homer teaches in his Fictions, fometimci
alfo 'tis Phyfical and Hiitorical, which he enfolds in fine Fablci,
to render 'em the more Marvellous, and confequently the m re
Agieeablc. None has facet eded fo well as himfelf in thefs
TMti: Hsraii begins this Precept with them, and continues it
With the Mixture of the FcHe and the Truth, Sic -verisfalfa re-,
rr.ijut. Which is a perfect Explanation of Homer's Conduct, and"
all the Myftery of an Epick Poem, according to A-iJlttJe's Rules.
The Poet fiift draws the Plan of IMS Fable, which is not lefs a
Fable thin any of ^f-'f''s ; mtntitur, be feigns. After he has laid
down this Phn, he muft make his Fable probable, and pcr-
fuade that it has been done, to have it believ'd that 'tis pofliblc.
To trm.purpofe he attributes it to certain known Perfons ; he
names the Places that were the Scene of it, all which he takes
from a known Story, borrowing feme true Actions and Circum-
ftances, which he accommodates to hi& Defign, Sic vert's falfa
remijcet ; thofe Poets who have not, like Homer, drawn the Plan
ef their- Poems, after they had fought out fome Hero in Hifiory,
and chofen a true Action done by that Hero, have never fuc-
ceedtd : As Siliut, Statius, Lucan, and among the Greeks the
Authors of the Heracliade and Tbef.adc: Arifiotle prefcribes this
R'.ls in the XVII Ith Chapter of his Ait of Poetry, and it is the
Foundation of an Epic Poem.
1 52. Primo ne medium, media ne difcrepet itnum.] He every where
mixes the Fable with the Truth, That the three Parts of his
Subject may be connected and equal. The Middle, which is
the Knot, muft anfwer to the Beginning; and the End, which
is the urravelling of it, to the Beginning and Middle. If Fiction
is Hs'd in one Part, and not in all, the Parts will be fo unequal
and disjointed that they will not compofe one. Whole: Neither
will the Mar-velhus, which is produc'd more by Fiction than
Truth, reign thro' the Work as it ought to do. This is alfo to
be cbfcrv'd in Tragedy.
153. Tu, quid ego & fcpulus mecumdefiJeret, audi.] He return*
to the Manners. Tu, Thou, who writefl Dramalick Poems. All
Pcets, and not the Pifo't.
154. i plauforis egn aulta manentit] If you would have u
ftay the Play out, Aulta manerc, Stay 'till the Curtain it raiid,
or as we fay now-a-days, till the Curtain is dropt. See Aul<e*
fremuntur, in the firft Epiftle of the lid Book.
155. Donee Cantor, Vos plaudit e, dicat.] Canter, the Cborui,
who us'd to fay, r n Plauditc. S^i^tilian, in the fit ft Chapter
of the Vlth Book, Tune eft comm*vendum tbeatrum, &c. You mujt
ibeve all tbinp ejidea-utitr to mt-vt tbt Audience, -when you corye
138 No T E s on the Art of Poetry.
xear tbe Vos Plaudite, toitb ivbicb all ancient Comedies and Tra-
gediet end.
Tc6. JEtatis cujufque notardi fu*t tibi mores.] He has already
faid the Manners ought to be like, famam feqtierc ; agreeable,
Con-vtnientia finge\ and equal, Servetur ad imum quails ab tnceptt
frocejj'erit. There wants ftill a fourth Quality : They ought to be
well exprefs'd, well diftinguifli'd, notandi fint tibi mores. So
diftinguifh'd, that no Body may be able to rr.iftake them, that
very one, when he fees the Actions of the Perfon you have
fcrm'd, may fay, thofe are the Adieus of a furious, a paflionate,
an ambitious, an inconftant or covetous Man ; and this, with
the other three, make the four Qualities which Ariftotle requires
for the Manners; Horace only inverts his Order, by putting that
Quality laft, which the Philofopher puts firft : But thit changing
the Order does not change the Rule, and, in the main, is of no
Confequence. Ariftotle treats of it in the XVIth Chapter of his
An of Poetry.
157. Mcbilibufoue decor r.aturis dandia fijf annii.] A fine Verfc,
and very exprefiive. Word for Word, Give to movcabh Natures
and Tears their f refer Beauty. Me-vcable Natures, that is, Age,
which always rolls on like a River, and as it rolls gives different
Inclinations, which are what he calls decor, the Beauty proper
to Age : Each Age having its Beauties as well as each Seafon ;
to give the Virile Age the Beauty of Toutb, is to deck Autumn
with the Beauties of the String.
Et Annit.'\ Horace is not fatisfy'd with faying, each Age, he
fays, each Tear ; becaufe the Inclinations of each Age are not
.the fame at the beginning and the end: There's an infenfible
Change which a Poet ought to know and diftinguim, as a
Painter ought to know and diftinguifh the Changes of each
Seafon, and not make the End of the Summer like its Begin-
ning.
158. Redderequi voces jam fcie fuer."] Children learn to fpeak
by Imitation: Horace therefore fays, reddere Voces, to render
Words: He is running thro' the four Ages of Mankind, which
Tragick, Comick, and Epick Poets ought alike to undeiftand
how to diftinguim well. Infancy, the firft, is not fo neceffary
as the other three, an Infant being feldom introduc'd as an
Ator ; for which Reafon Ariftatle mentions only Tc-uib, Man-
hood, and old Age. The Qualities Horace afcribes here to In-
fancy remain alfo in Youth, where that Philofopher compris'd
'em.
160. Iran colligit ac fcnit temere, ac mvtatur In boras.] Thefe
Changes proceed only from the Softnefs of the Brain, where Ob-
jeds
No T E s on tie Art of Poetry. 1 3
je&s are eafily impreft and effac'd. Wherefore, according as
that Softnefs is greater or lefs, thofe Changes are alfo the flower
or fwifter : Whence it is that he fays here of an Infant, mutatur
in boras, and afterwards of a young Man, amata rdinquere
fernix. Tho' the latter's more fteady, yet he's ftill changeable.
Temere.'] Without Reafon or Reflexion.
16 1. Imberlit juvenis cuftode rcmoto.~\ See what Sitno fays in
7V,'c's Andria, fpeaking of his Son, %uod plerique otr.ncs fa-
eitir.t adtlefcentuli, &c. Horace copies jjrifiatlc in this Picture of
the Manners, but he paints in little, what Ariftetlc painted in
great, in the ad Book of his Rhetoric^, and contents himfelf with
giving a Stroke of fome of the principal Features.
162. Et aprici gramine camfi.] Youth delights in the Exer-
eifes of the Field of Mars, explain'd in the 8th Qde of the ift
Book.
163. Ccrcus in vitium feSi.] It eafily receives the Imprefiiont
of Vice.
Moaitcribus afpir.~\ It hates Reproof.
164. Utilium terdus fre-vifor,'] Young People always prefer the
Honourable to the Profitable.
Pfodigus rfr/j.] They know not the Value of Money, and.
therefore fquander it away.
165. SuHimit.^ Prefumptuous, vain.
Cupidiifque &? amata r elinqu ere fernix. ~\ InconAant, wavering.
Ariftetle fays their Dreams are like the Hunger and Thirft cf
the Sick.
166. Cwverjis flu diis, atat animufyxe vtrilis.'] The Mannen of
the Virile Age, is the Middle between the Manners of Youth
and old Age.
167. Qunrit opes fif amicitias.'] A Man in his Virile Age is
for heaping up Riches and getting Friends.
Infer-vit bonori.] A Man in the Virile Age endeavours to re-
concile Honour with Interefl ; this Horace means by Infer-vit, a
Term that denotes Mediocrity.
CommiJiJJ'e ca-uet quod max mature Ialoret,~\ He corrects the Vices
of Cuftom by Reafon, and wou'd do nothing he may repent of.
169. Multa fenem circumveniunt incotnmoda.] Old Men, as
Ariftetle obferves, are hard to pleafe, irrefolute, malicious, fuf-
picious, covetous, peevifh, timorous, &V.
170. Sluarit & in-ventis mifer abjlinet, ac timet uti.'} Old
Men are always fcraping Wealth together, but dare not make
ufe of it.
171. Vel quod res omties timide gelideque -minijlrat.'} Old Age
is attended with no greater Inconveniency than Timidity.
140 NOTES on the Art of Poetry.
172. D'.la'.r.~\ 'Tis irrefolute.
Sfe longus.] Old Men do not eafily hope. Arljlcth fays, they
are difficult to hope. Lamlin explains Sfe Longus, who carriet
far bit Hofft, which he grounds on what Horace fays elfewhere,
Sfatio bre-ji fpcm In gam refects f Sptm inoboare hngam. But-
there is a great deal of difference between Spes Ler.ga and Sfe
Longus. Horace is fpeaking of what commonly happens to Old
Men, who are longer conceiving Hopes than Young. The latter
are uiwrtJ'i;. They conceive Hope on nothing, Sfe citi, Sfe
prompt:. The former vft\7rift;, Sfe /errgi, Sfe tardi. Hard to
conceive Hope. They hope for nothing but what they fee, or
a* Arijlatl: has it, They Jive more by Mattery than Hcpe.
lr.en.\ Lazy, flow, Avidufquc futuri. Tender of Life, the
nearer they draw to its End. Dijjicilis, humourfom, peevifh.
Querulus, always complaining. Laudator temfcn's affi fe puera,
They are full of Times part, when their Pleafures were more
lively. This makes them great Talkers. The Character of Niftor
in the ift Book of the L'ias is exactly fuch a one.
174. Cenfor caftigatcrque minorum.~\ Taken from Arijiotleit
Principles, old Men are guided by Reafon, not by Cuftom, and
think young Men Fools for following Cuftom more than Reafon.
This makes 'em always grumbling and out of Humour.
175. Multi fcrunt anr.i vtnitntes.'^ Anni uer.iintts, the COTiing
Years ; the Years preceding the V rile Age. Ar.nl ncedentu,
the retnrning Years 5 the Years going back towards old Age
and Death : the former were always reckon'd by the Ancients
by Addition, the latter by SuMrafiion. See the 5th Ode of the
zd Book. The French have an Expreflion like the ncedentes of
the Ancients, for they fay of a Perfcnwhois declining in Years,
he is Sur fan retour, Upon bis Return.
176. Ne forte Senile* manJentur juveni partetJ} The Manners
and Paffions which attend each Age, fhou'd be carefully ftudy'd,
to prevent confounding them.
178. Semper in adjur.flis a-vcque moralimur aptis.~\ AdjunfTa
ave, Every thing that necefiarily attends the Age. Afta <e-va,
every thing proper to it. The fame may be apply'd to Sex,
Country, Quality, and whatever elfe diftinguimes Mankind. As
in the XVlth Chapter of A'ijititle's Art of Poetry.
179. A-Jt Igltur ret in fcenis, aut afia refertur."] Dramatick
Poems confifl of Rfprefcntation and Recital. By Reprefintation
every thing is brought on the Stage that ought to be expos'd
to the View of the Spectators. By Recital he's inform'd of
every thing he ought net to fee. 'Tis the fam with Epick
ffeetry.
NOTES -on the Art of Poetry. 141
180. Segnius irritant animas.] What we fee touches us more
than what we hear, and the Eyes are more incredulous than
the Ears. A Poet therefore fhou'd take care rot to keep be-
hind the Scenes what he ought to expofe on the Stage, and not
to expofe what wou'd (hock the Spectators.
181. Oculis fdelibt.] Faitbful Eyes. Faithful, which like
a Looking-Glafs render the Object fuch as they receive it,
vvhofe Teftimony is to be credited.
iSz. Et qua ipfcfibi tradit Sp'.flatcr.~\ A happy Expreflion j
in Reprefertation, the Spectator learns by himfclf what pafles.
In Recital he learns it only from the Reciter ; in the One he
fcrms what Idea of it he pleafcs, in the Other, he can form
only what Idea the Reciter pleafes to give him.
Won tair.cn intus digna geri.] A Poet muft never expofe any
thing that's Incredible and Cruel.
184. Facundia prafens.] The Recital of an Actor prefent.
r*:undia, becaufe the Recital ought to be pompous and pa-
thetick, as that of the Death of Qrtjlet in the Eletira.
185. Nee pueros coram papula M-dta true d'.t.~\ Some have
thought Horace here does not condemn all Murders upon the
Stage, only horrible Ones, as that of a Mother kiiling her
Children ; nay it has been endeavour' d to "be prov'd, that
Murdtrs may be expos'd with Succefs from the Practice of
JEfcbylut, Sopbcdes, and Euripides, s&fcby'us in his Ccopbcres,
kills jigameiKiiettf Prometheus, and Clytemniftra, on the Stage.
Sophocles does the fame in his ElecJra, where Orefles kills his
Mother. And Euripides in his Alc<fte, who kills her on the
Stage. Et this does not at all excufe the defiling it with
Blood. Neither are thefe Allegations of thofe that defend it
true. Agamemnon is not kill'd in fight of the Audience, for
the Chorus, who hear his Cries in the Palace, refolve to enter
to his AlTiftance ; and Prometheus is carried cff by a Tempeft,
which clofes the Scene. Scaliger is .ftrangely rrnitaken in this ;
efpecially as to Clytemntftra, for (he's fo far from being kill'd
in view cf the Spe&ators, that Oreftes lids her follow him, that
be may kill ber near the Body of ./Egifthus. In Sopboclei,
Ore/let's Mother is in the Palace when (lie is ki'.l'd, as appears
plainly by what EleSra fays to her Deliverers, upon their re-
er.tring-the Stage with their Hands bloody. True, Ahejle in
Euripides does die on the Stage. But (he pines away ; her
Woman cries out, She languijhes, foe dies away with Sicknefs,_
She was not wounded behind the Scenes. She dy'd, but
was not kill'd on the Stage. In Sophocles, djax is faid to be
Juil'd on the Stage, which is a Miftake too j for the Poet has
with
142 NOTE s on the Art of Poetry.
with very great Addrefs plac'd a Wood at the End of it, in
which Ajax is murder'd, the Spectators not feeing it. Horace
liere puts Medea, and Atreus for all forts of Tragick Stories.
For Murders cannot be allow'd on the Stage, let 'em be of
what Nature foever. None but bad Poets, .who had not Ge-
nius enough to move by the Narration, have introduc'd bloody
Spectacles. Medea is a very fine Fable for a Tragedy. Horace
tic?j not condemn it, but her killing her Children in Pubhck.
Seneca however breaks this Rule in his Medea.
186. jiit bumana palam coj-jat exta nefariut Atreus.~\ This
Story is, A'reus, who ferv'd up his Nephews to his Brother
7lyejles their Father, for a Supper. 'Tis thought Sophocles
wrote upon it, as did the Roman Poet Accius, who direflly
avoided what Horace forbids here.
187. Ait in at'tat Progne.~\ He fpeaks now of other Incidents
that fliou'd not be expos'd ; fuch as wou'd be as ridiculous to
fpe as agreeable to read. Of this Kind are all Metamorplofcs.
For Inflance, Progne into a Swallow, Philomel into a Nightin-
gale, and the like. In Efick Pottry, they may be brought in
by Narration. As the Metamorphofes of Ufy Jet's Ship into
Stone, and ASneas's into Nymphs, in Homer and Virgil,
l8S. S^uadcunyae ofter.dis m:bi jie, i-ncredulus odi.~\ Some things
are to be ihewn in Tragedy, fome to be told 5 if what mould
be told is fhewn, and what fliould be (hewn, told, 'twill fpoil
the Pcem. To fhew what you fhould tell is the greateft Faulr.
Horace explains a Hint of AriJIotte's in his XVIth Bock, and
gives the Reafon as well as the Precept. For Prodigies ex-
pos'd to Sight are incredible. They are only tolerable in
Narrations.
189. Neve minor, neu fit quinto preJaffier aElu.~\ Afcar.iut
Pedianus fays the fame. This Rule is grounded on theconftant
Practice of the Ancients. Tho' 'tis not mentioned, 'tis im
ply'd in Arijiotle's Art of Poetry, where he tells us, Poet
ought to give their Subjeclt not an arbitrary but a certain Extent
As their Extent muft be certain, fo it tnuft be juft, which i
xadtly this Divifion into Five AEls : Praftis'd in all rtgu!
Plays, as well ancient as modern. The Greeks had no Term
that fignify'd Aft, but they had another Divifion better than
the Lttins, or Ours. For by marking the Extent of Tragedy
in general, it mark'd alfo the different Nature of its Parts in
particular, which that of the Latins and Ours do not do. By
dividing Tragedy into Five A&s, the Latin and Modern Poets
divide it into five like Parts, which is vicious. This Matter
is difcours'd of at large in the Notes on the Xlith Chapter of
Arijistle's
NOTES on the Art of Poetry. 143
jfrijlftle's Art of Poetry. If Plays of five A&s are of a juft
Extent, thofeof three are defective. Plays of three Acts have
the Defect which Ariftotle finds in lit'le Objects. The Sight is
confounded, and they are either naked of, or loaded with
Incidents. Plays of Six or Seven Adi would have the Defect
cf great Objects. The Spectators would lofe the Idea of the
whole, on account of its exceflive Bignefs, wherefore the jufl
Medium lies in the five ASls, In which there's Room for the
variety of Incidents neceflary for the Paflions. Three Acts are
not to be born with in any thing but Farces, which fupply the
Places of the Satires and Exodia of the Ancients. Five Acts
are fo eflTential and neceflary to a perfect Dramatick Poem,
that this Rule is not once broken by the Greeks and Latins.
Euripides obferves it even in his Cyclops, a Satirick Play, or
rather a Paftoral, wherein he might have taken more Liberty
than in a regular Tragedy. Yet tho' that Piece confifts cf
but 800 Verfes, he has very exactly mark'd the Divifion of five
ASs. Marcus Antonius has this Rule in view, when he
compares Life to a Theatrical Piece. He is comforting a young
Man who was dying, and anfwers him, I have net yet finijk d
the Five Acts, I have played but Three. But in Life, reply' d the
Emperor, Three Als are a compleat Play. If it is objected
that Monfieur Racine v/rote a Play of Three Acls ; tho' we
muft not accufe him as ignorant of the Rules of his Art, we
may very well conclude he did not intend an entirely regular
Play. He was not willing to leave his Story, which in its
Simplicity could not eafily furnifli out five Adt, and thouht
much more of preferving the Holinefs and Majefty of the Ori-
ginal, than by multiplying Incidents to give it a juft Extent.
191. Nee Deus in'.erfit, nifi dignus vindice nodus.] The Tra-
gick Poets were blam'd of old for that, when they cou'd not
unravel their Plots, they had recourfe to a Divinity, who came
in a Machine and c'id it for them, as is done in the Medea of
Euripides. This Rule is taken from Ariftotle, who does not,
however, quite exclude Machines, but fuch only as are not
born of the Subject, either neceflarily or probably ; and this
is the true Sentiment of Horace, who fays, Machines fhould
never be made ufe-of, but when the Knot deferves that a God
fhould come to untie it. We read in Ariftofle, Chap. XVI.
In the Manner , as ivell as in the Diffojition of the Subject, the
Poet rrnift ba-ve a Regard to -what's either Nece/ary or Proia-
blt, fo that the Events may happen either fiectjj'arily or probably.
From whence ''tis evident that the Unravelling the Plot ought to
be frsdufd by the Pitt itftlf, without making uje. of the help of
3 4 4 NOTES on the Art of Poetry.
'Machine, as in the Medea. This relates only to Dramatick
Poetry ; for in th&Efick, Machines are ahfolutely neceffary.
Dignus -vindice rodus.] A happy Expreflion taken from th
Roman Law, which calls a Man Vindicem, who fefs a SLve
at Liberty. Thus Horace looks on an entangled Piece, as a
Slave that ftands in need of a God to come and fet him at
Liberty.
192. Nee quarta loqui perfona laboret.} The Ancient Tragick
Poet feldom intioduc'd above Two Perfons fpeaking in a Scene,
Three were rarely to be met with, and Four hardly ever. So
Diomfdes writes, In Gra>c Dramate fere tret f> erj "or. ne fola agurtt.
But it may happen there may be Occafion for Four to fpeak.
Monficur />' Aubignac pretends Horace does not entirely con-
demn the introducing a Fourth Perfon, but that a Fourth Perfon
fliou'd not force him ft If to fpeak. The Text will bear fuch a
Conftruftion, and our Poets have added a Fifth to this Fourth
Perfon. Nay Scaliger in the Hid Book of his Art of Poetry,
fays, They make no Scruple of bringing a Fourth Perfon into a
Scene. As AriQophanes'* Gboft in the Frogs, the fame- in bit
Plufus and in bis Birds. However what Scjliger fays of Arif-
icpbams does not decide the Difpute. For Horace talki of
Tragedy, and not of Comedy, in which no Body queftions a
great deal more Liberty may be taken. 'Tis very likely Horace's
Rule is Simple, and without Rcftri&ion, drawn from the
Common Practice of the Greeks, and its being the moft conve-
nient, the moft natural, and the moft f.fe Way. Anftotle
irjf.irms us, ^fckylus invented a Principal Perfon, which he
join'd to him who appear'd between the Songs of the Chorus,
and that Sapbocies added aTrrrd. Neverthelefs there are Three
Aclors to be met with in fome of vfchy/us's Flays. See the
Remarks on the IVth Chapter of that Philofopher's Art of
Poetry,
193. Afioris partes chorus, officiumque -virile deferdat.~\ The
Chorus were a Company of Aclors, who fupply'd the Place of
thofe who ought probably to be prefcnt at the Action repre-
fented, and were concein'd in it. 'Twas the Foundation of
all the Probability of Dramatick Poetry, which fmce it has
loft its Chorus has loft at leaft half of its Verifimi'ity and
greatcil Ornament, rendring our Modern Tragedy no mere
than the Shadow of the Ancient. The Chorus had two Func-
tions. For in the Courf* of the A&s, they were to join in the
Aclion and acT: a Part, the Coripbteus fpeaking alone in the
Name of all the reft, and after each AcT: all the Chorus was to
note the Interval by their Songs. Horace prefcribes here two
Rules
NOTES on the Art of Poetry. 145
Rules for thefe two Functions of the Cbsrus. The firft is con-
tain'd in this Verfe,
AEloris P fries Chorus cjpciuttjut virile defendat.
Tbe Cborus mufl a& the Part ef an After, and perform the Funfti'ces
*f a f>"glt Perfon. 'Tis a Trariflation or Explanation of a
Paflage in Arlftttlf* Art of Poetry, wherein 'tis faid, The
Cborus miift all the Part ef an AfJor, be one of the Perfons ef the
Place, and make a Part of the tsobtle. The Second Function is
ontain'd in the following Remarks.
194. Not quid medial inter tinat a flits, quod non propajito can-
ducat.] What the Chorus fung between the ABs to mark the
Intervals : Which Song Horace will have to agree with the
Subject, that is, be taken frem it, and help to the forwarding
it. Arijlotle fays, Sophocles and Euripides fliould be imitated
in this ; and thofe who do otherwife, inferta car.unt, fing in-
ferted Songs, as fuitable to one Tragedy as another. Sophocles
is the true Model for the Conftitutron of Cherubs : Euripides
was fometimes deficient in this, tho' Sialiger prefers his Con-
dudt to Sophocles"* ; Ariftopbanet blames Euripides for it, in his
Jlcbarnenfes, And tbofe, fays he, tobo compofe b.is Chorus ftand
there like Fools : Upon which the Scboliaft makes this judicious
Remark, Ariftophanes in this Vcrfe laughs at Euripides for in-
troducing Chorus's that do not Jitig Things agreeable ta tbe SubjitJ,
but Stories that are foreign to it, as in his Phoenicians,
196. Ille bonis faveatque.~\ In thefe fix Verfes Horace tells
us what was the Bufmefs of the Chorus : Scaltger forgets a great
deal of it. The Chorus always took the Part of honeft Men ;
the Theatre was then the School of Piety and Juftice better
taught there than in the Temples. Et concilietur amicit. Some
have read fif conjilietur amicis, to give Counfel to its Friends;
That was indeed one of the Duties of the Chorus ; but I
queftion whether there are any Instances of confiliari, to ex-
prefs giving Counfel ; 'till I meet with one I will rather choof*
to read 6f concilietur amicis, that is it join'd with its Friends,
and fupported their Interefts.
197. Et regat iratos.] As in Oedipus, the Chorus endea-
vours to moderate that Prince's Choler againft Tircjias, anil
Tirejias's againft him.
Et amet peccare timentes.] The Chorus was fo religious that
it always declar'd for the Innocent againft the Guilty.
198. Jlle dapts laudet menftt brevis.'] The Chorus of Tragedy
may have frequent Occafions to commend Sobriety, one of the
principal Moral Virtues,
Vol. I. H 199. Hie
1 46 NOTE s on the Art of Poetry.
199. llh Jalubrem, jujiitiatu, legefque.'] The Chorus of Otdiput
furnimes us with wonderful Examples of what Horace write*
on this Subject.
Et apertii otia portis.] As in that fine Chorus of Eurifidts,
when addrefiing to the Queen of Peace, it fays,
Queen of Riches, taffy Peace,
Fairejl of the Goddt/es ;
With what Impatience have I waited,
How long expeBcd you in vain f
I fear Old Age will now deflrcy mt
Before I Jl;all Mold your Beauty,
Before your Dances I behold
So full of Grace, before I fee
Tour Cro-zvnt, yaur Feajis, and bear your Swgt
200. Ilk tegat corntKifla.'] The moft eflential Qualities of the
Chorus, are Fidelity and Secrecy, without which all Verifimi-
lity is loft, and the Poem fpoil'd. Thefe Qualities depend on
the Poet's Addrefs, who ought fo to choofe his Chorus, that its
own Intereft may engage it to conceal what it is intrufted
with, and to take care, that in concealing it, it does nothing
againft its Duty. Euripides has committed a Fault of this
kind in his Medea, who tho* a Stranger at Corinth, contrives
the Death of her Rival the King of Corinth's Daughter, as alfo
that of the King, and afterwards to kill her own Children,
tells the Chorus, compos'd of Ccrinthian Women, the King'i
Subjecls, her Defign, and yet they are fo faithful to this Fo-
reigner, that they do not difcover it to their Natural Prince.
The Chorus, 'tis true, muft be faithful, but without violating
dhe Laws of Nature, or the Laws of God : The Fidelity of
t!ie Corinthian Women to Medea is criminal ; the Greek Scho.
liaft endeavours to excufe it, by faying, that the Corinthian
Woman being free, declar'd for Juftice, as Chorus'* ought to
do, which Excufe is ridiculous and impious ; and the fame
Euripidet, who has made this Corinthian Chorus fo faithful,
when it fhould not have been fo, makes the Chorus of Creufa's
Waiting Women in ION, fail in their Fidelity to Xuthut,
and reveal her Husband's Secret to their Miftrefs, tho' he had
commanded thsm, on Pain of Death, not to do it. Horace's
Pvule is, indeed, not fo general, but it may admit of feme
Exception } but I can much lefs forgive Euripides for the
Treachery sommitted in Ipbigtnia in Taxris ; the Chorus is
twmpodJ of Grtcier. Women, and this Princefs begs them to
tell
NOTES on the Art of Poetry. 147
tell no Body of her Plot to carry off the Statue of Diana,
promifing to take them with her. The Women are faithful
to her, and yt (he flies away alone with Oreftei, and abandons
them to the Rage of Tboas, who would certainly have fsverely
punhh'd them, had not Minerva come to their DeliTerance.
201. Ut redeat miferis, abeat fortune fuperbis,] A neceflary
Confequence of the Juftice and Piety of the Chorus ; the
Ancients blame Euripides, becaufe his Chorus's are not always
fo much concern'd as they ought to be, for the Unhappy.
Scpbocles never err'd once in this Particular.
aoz. Tibia nan at nurtc, Oricbalco finSa,~\ The eighteen fol-
lowing Vcrfes are obfcure. After having fpoken of the Cho-
rus's in Tragedy, he fpeaks of the Changes that had happen'd
in the Mufick, and the Verfe, and the better to explain it,
makes ufe of a very juft Example, faying, that as the Chorus's
of the Roman Plays, which were at firft plain, with one very
little' Flute, and without any Ornament, chang'd the Tone
when the Roman People began to be more powerful and rich,
Riches and Luxury having introduc'd the fame Change in Verfs
and Mufick, as in Manners ; fo the fame Thing happen'd to
the Chorus of the Greik Tragedies, the Mufick of which was
at firft as plain as the Verfe, but by degrees it became more
harmonious and ftrong, and the Meafure of the Verfe was
accommodated to the Mufick ; in which Meafure they foon
imitated the Dignity and Majefty of the Oracles.
Oricbalco vintla.] 'Ofi%ct\x.ov, Oricbalk, a fort of Mountain
Copper, what we now-a-days call Braft : The Ancients efteem'd
it fo much, that for a long time they preferr'd it to Gold
itfclf, as in the lid Chapter of the XXXIVth Book of Pliny :
Virgil puts it with Gold, fpeaking of Turnia't Cuirafs. Thofs
who took it for a natural Metal, half Gold, and half Copper,
did not remember Ariftotlis OWervation, that Nature produces
no fuch fort of Metal.
Tubtque tmula.] The Flute was brought by degrees to fuch
a Pitch, that it equal'd the Trumpet, and was then us'd in the
Cboruis of Tragedies.
aoj. Sed tinuitjimplfxque,'] Tenuis oppos'd to tuba temuta ;
Jimplex to oricbalco vinfia.
Foramine pauco adfpirare eboris erat utilis.] Having few
Holes, proper for the Chorus" t of Tragedy, which do not require
founding Mufick. The old Commentator, fays farro, in the
Hid Book of the Latin Tongus, which is loft, faid he had fe
tic of the ancient Flutes with but four Holes.
H t *04. Adjfirart
148 NOTES on the Art of Poetry.
204. Adfpirarc cborii erat uti/is.] A little Flute is fufficient
for a Chorus, firft, becaufe the Mufick mould be foft, loud
Mufick not agreeing with the Sentiments the Chorus ought
to have, as Pity, Tendernefs, &c. and fecondly, becaufe the
Theatres were then very little, and not much frequented.
206. Quo fane popalus tutnerabilis titfote parvus . ] Horace lays
down four Reafons why the Remans were at firft no fonder of
Theatrical Representation* : As j. They were but few in Number.
~. They were Wife. 3. They were Pious, and 4. They were
Modeft. Mcr.fieur le Fevre will have it, that the firft deflroys
all the reft. If the Flay-Houfes were empty, becaufe there
were few People to fiil them, what need we attribute it to
their Piety or Wifdom ? He therefore corre&ed the Text parcus,
'Ihrifty, for par-vus, fmall ; which Reading is not juft : Horact
oppofes farvus, to agros extendere, and/atiormurus, as he op-
pofes the three other Epithets, Mfe, Pious, and Mcdeji, to
vinequt diurno placari genius, to the diffblute Manners which
i eign'd foon after on Feftival Days ; befides, the Word parcut,
Thrifty, which Monfieur le Frvrt would read inftead of par-vus,
fmall, cannot come in here on any account, fmce the People
djd not pay any Thing at the theatre, the Magiftrates defray,
ing the Charge.
208. Poftquam ccepit agros exttndcre vifior.^ When their
Victories oblig'd the Romans to extend the Compafs of their
Walls, to admit the Nations they had fubdu'd, then Luxury
and Riches alter'd the Verfe and Mufick of the Chorus's,
from Simplicity to Pomp.
209. ffncjae diurnc placari Genius fejlis itnpune diebus.] 'Twas
not lawful for the firft Ron-.ans to debauch by Day-light, even
I\ot on Feftivoh ; flacari Genius, fottb tfycir Genius : A happy
Exprefijon for the Mirth of Wine and goad Company.
211. AcceJJ-t numerifque, modifque licentia major.'] They gave
themfelves full Liberty to alter the Verfe and Mufick, from a
foft and fimple, to a lofty and diverfify'd Tone.
212. Indcfius quid enimfaperet.] Horace attributes the Variety
and Wantonnefs, which were added to Poetry and Mufick,
to the Ignorance, Lazinefs, Rudenefs, and Vilenefs of the Vil-
lagers admitted by the Romans into their Body. Socrates and
Plato, are of Opinion, that wanton Mufick proceeds from the
Ignorance of the Mind, and the. Corruption of the Heart.
Libetque labarum.~\ Lazy, and in Repcfe after the Vintage
and Harveft.
213. Urbane confvfus, turpis Lore/lc'] The Rudenefs and
Debauchery of the Villagers, prevailed over the Gentility and
Severity of the Rtmart. 214- Sis
NOTES en the Art of Poetry. 149
214. Sic prifcee motumque 6f luxuriant tddidit art/.] The
Players on the Flute added Movement and Wantonnefj to
the ancient Art, which was before chafte and fevere. Motxs
anfwers to numeris, in the 2 nth Verfe, and luxuria to midn.
Pliny fays, While they made ufe of fimple Mufick, tut after the
Variety and Wanfonnefs of Song were added to it, which is
taken from the IVth Book of Tbeofbra/lus's Hiftory of Hants.
Plato tells us, The Variety in Mufick produc d Jntemperar.ee.
215. Traxitque vagus per pulplta -ve/icn.] Drefs, as well as
Mufick, was corrupted : The Muficians wore their Robes with
long Trains, only us'd by the Grcckt ; in Tragedies they cail'd
them Syrma, as in Julius Pollux. Vagus relates to the Motion
of the Chorus, in fmging the Stropbees and Antiftropbtcs.
216. Sic ttiam j/Uftut voces crc-verc feveris.] The Application
of the Example. As our Mufick and Poetry chang'd as our
People aggrandiz'd themfelves ; fo did alfo the Grecian Lyre,
from a plain to a lofty Tone : Cicero, in his lid Book de
L-g:bus, fpeaks of the Severities of the ancient Mujick : antiqu*
Mujictf fe-veritas.
Fidibus.] Horace affures us the ancient Greek Tragedy made
ufe of the Lyre ; and indeed the Lyre was us'd a long time.
Scpbocles play'd on it in his Tragedy of Tbamyris.
217. Et tulit elcquiitm infolitum facur.dia praceps.] The Verfe*
of the Greek Chorus, like thofe of the Latin, underwent
the fame Change as the Mufick ; inftead of Plainnefs an Ex-
travagance of Language was affeclcd, little different from that
of the Priefts in pronouncing their Oracles. Horace here falls
on the Greek Tragick Poets, who are very often Bombaft, and
affecting the Sublime, fwell into Fuflian, in imitation of the
Priefts. Heinjius is very much miftaken in this Paffage.
Facundin prteceps.] The Epithet Praceps, is enough to fhew
us, that Horac; is cenfuring and not commending : Facundia
fraceps is a bold rafh Eloquence, the Rhetoricians call it
Meteora, and Quintilian, pracipitia. Lsxginus oppofes it to the
Sublime. 'Twas faid of ^fcbylus, fublimis ufque ad vitium.
218. Utiliumque fagax rerum & divir.a futuri.] Heinfas is
out again here : Horace, as he pretends, is fhewing how Tra-
gedy came to its Perfection ; whereas he is not talking of
Tragedy in general, but of the Chorus, and fhews how it came
to be corrupted : One of the Functions of the Chorus was to
comfort the Afflicted, which ought to be perform'd with a
Noble Simplicity ; but from giving Advice, the Poets, in Time,
gave entirely into Propbefy, as the Chorus of v.fcby!tu :
dgtmimnvn fays, I propbefy without Mi/ion and witiout Wages.
H 3 ilerace
1 50 NOT E s on the Art of Poetry.
Horace here condemns the Bombaft Diction, and the Obfcurity
of the Chorus's.
azo. Carmine qtti tragico *vilem tertavit eb bircum."] He now
fpeaks of the Satyrick Poetry of the Greeks j a fort of Poetry
between Comedy and Tragedy : Horace feems here to attribute
the Invention of it to Tbefpis : He ivbo difputed the Prims ef
Tragedy, fcon produced Satyrs} but there are two Reafons againft
this Opinion : The firft is, we read no where of Tbefpis' 9
Satyrick Pieces ; and the fecond, that the Difputes for the Prize
of Tragick Poetry were not in ufe in The/pit's Time, as Plutarck
informs us in the Life of Solon. Suidas is pofitive that Pratinas
was the Inventor of Satyrs. He liv'd a few Years after the
Death of Tbefpis ; 'tis therefore likely Horace means him, and
that this Poet, after having difputed the Prize of Tragedy, in a
very little while wrote Satyrs.
Tragico carmine certavit.'} The Difputes of the Prize of Tra-
gick Poetry were by the Poets producing their Pieces to be
play'd in Publick : 'Tis plain by this Paffage, that thefe Dif-
putes were more Ancient than the Invention of Satyrs.
Ok hircum,'] The Poet who obtain'd the Prize had a Goat
for his Reward 5 it being the ufual Sacrifice to Bacchus, who
prefided over Tragedy; and fome will have it Tragedy takes its
Name from this very Goat, t^ydft*., The Sang of the Goat.
221. Agrefles Satyros nndavit.~\ Shew'd Satyrs naked, and
without Difguife, that is, bad Satyrick Pieces play'H, wherein
Satyrs compos'd the Chorus, with Father Silenus at their Head :
Demetrius Pbalereus fays, No Body can ever form a Tragedy,
wherein Rallery and Laughter may be introduced) for be "would
then ivrite a Satyr, There's but one remaining of all the
Satyrick Pieces of the Ancients, which is the Cyclops of Euri-
pides, and that's fufficient to juftify what Horace has written of
them ; he fays Agrefte* Satyroi, as Euripides faid of the Cyclops,
222. Et afper incolumi gravitate jecum tentavit.] He endea-
vour'd to bring Rallery and Pleafantry into Satyrick Pieces,
without offending the Gravity of Tragedy : The Poet muft
always remember he is writing a fort of Tragedy, and have a
care of falling into mean Rallery, which is only excufable in
Comedy. Tiberius in the Cyclops rallies Ulyjj'es, and yet preferves
the Gravity of Tragedy. / know tbis famous Prater, this nobli
Sprig of Sifyphus. Horace ufes the Word Afper, Sharp, to ex-
prefs its Rallery.
223. Illeceiris erat & grata novitatt morandus fpetlator.'] He
attributes the Origin of Satyrs to the Audience's Defue of
Novelty ;
No T E s on the Art of Poetry. 1 5 1
Novelty : D!medes, and Marias ViRtrinus, hare faid the fame
Thing. Satyrot induxcrunt ludtndi caufa, jocandique, tit Jimul
SpecJator inter Res Tragical feriafque, Satyrorum quoqvt jocis &
luf.bui deltSaretur. The Poets however had a more ufeful and
fpecious Prettnce for it : Tragedy was at firft only a Chorus,
who fung ths Praifes of Baecbut ; Actors were afterwards in-
troduc'd, and Scenes and Acts plac'd between their Songs ;
Tragedy became fo alter'd at laft, that the Chorus was almoft
loft in it, infomuch, that it was a Saying, It makei not at all
for Bacchus. The People were not for abolishing a good old
Cuftom ; and the Poets, in Honour of Bacchus, and to give
them Satisfaction, refolv'd to eftablifh the ancient Chorus, and
in fuch an agreeable Manner, that it fhould be improv'd by
the Addition of Pleafantry ; this was the Origin of Satjrs,
wiiereia the Chorus mingled the Praifes of Bacchus,
2Z4. FunSufoue ficris, & potus & exlex.~\ The three Rea-
fons for the Invention of fomething to divert the Audience.
i. They offer'd a Sacrifice, in which there was no want of
Meat and Wine. a. They drank chearfully at that Feftival.
3. They were for any Thing frolickfom and extravagant.
22,5. Vtrum ita rifores, ita commendare dicaccs.~\ Tho' on
thofe Feftivals the People were diforderly, their vicious Taftes
muft not be humour'd with impudent Satyrs ; they muft be half
ferious to correct thofe vicious Taftes, and half pleafant to be
fuited to the Feftival : It may be objected, How comes it
Horace lays down Rules for the Satyrick Pieces of the Greeks,
of what ufe could thefe Rules be to the Remans f In Anfwer,
Horace prefcrib'd thcfe Rules, becaufe the Romans imitated the
Satyrs in their Attellanes, at in Diomedes. There's a third fort
of Roman Plays caird Attellanes, from Attella, a City in
Tufcany, "where they began, which in their SubjeS and Rallery
are entirely like thefatyrick Pieces of the Greeks ; the only diffe-
rence being, in the latter, Satyn or other ridiculous Actors
were introduc'd, z*Autolycus, Burns, &c. and in the Atttllana,
obfcene Actors, as Marcus : If Diomedet is not miftaken, his
Perfonte obfcente are the fame Horace calls Satyrs 3 but Vofiius,
pretends it fheuld be read ptrfona ofca, Ofcan or TufcaH
Actors ; obfcene Perfons being rather in the Mima than in
the Attellants : By what Horace fays, 'tis unqueftionable that
there were Satyrs, and 'tis doubtlefs out of one of them
Martut netorinus took that Verfe,
dl't't f a g ite > qiatitt- Satyri,
H 4 Perhaps^
T 5 2 No T E s on the Art of Poetry.
Perhaps, inftead of Tufcan A&ors, the Roman afterwards irt-
rroduc'd Satyrs into thefc Attellancs. This Paffjge to be clear
fhould run thus : In our Attellane Plays nve have imitated the
Satyrick Tragedies of the Greeks ; but tbo' the Occajions on -which
ihfy are played le ftill t be fame, and the People ant no lefs mad,
ytt we ought not to conform to their -vicious Appetites j lue Jhould
give 'em fame of thofe rallying and poignant Satyrs, and make
'fin pafs, &c. Bring 'em into Vogue, Commendare.
2.26. It a verier e feria ludo.] This PafTage fignifies turning
ftrious Things into gay, playing Satyrick Scenes after Tragical:
.As in Greece, and Attellanes after Tragedies as in Rome.
227. Ne quicumque Dem, quicumque adbibibitur Herot,~\ Gods,
Kings, and Heroes were reprefented in the Attellanes, as well
as the Satyrick Pieces. Diomedes is therefore miftaken when he
i'ays, Satyrick Poetry is -with tbe Greeks a Theatrical Perfor-
mance t in lubicb the Tragick Poets ba-ve not introduced Kings and
Heroes, but Satyrs to rally and be merry. The principal After
in Euripedes's Cyclopt is UlyJJ'e*.
228. Regali cottfpeffus in auro nuper & oftro.~\ The Greek
Poets, when the Prize of Tragedy was difputed, had com-
mcnJy four Tragedies reprefented, the laft of which was a
Satyrick Piece. The four were terra'd Tetralogy, and were
written on the fame Subject as Ufyjfis, Achilles, Orejies, &c.
they had the fame Name, the Heroes of the Play : The Oref-
t'tade of tsfcbylus is fo call'd, to exprefs the four Tragedies
written on the Adventures of Orcfles. There were alfo Tctra-
icgitt, where the four Pieces were written on different Suhjefts :
We read of a Tetralogy of Euripedes, which confifled of four
Plays, on fo many different Fables ; as the Medea, the Phi'
leftiiei, the DiEiys, and the Reapers ; but thofe that were on the
Adventures of the fatane Hero were moft efleem'd, as being
moil difficult. In the Frogs of Arljltpkar.es, Euripides bids
^Lfcbylus, Rebcarfe tbe frjt Prologue of bis Oreftiade. The
Romans had no Tetralogies : They wrote a Tragedy, and an
Attellane, on the fame Hero 5 the fame Adlor appear'd in botli ;
for which Reafon Horace carefully recommends to the Poet fo
to order it, that the Hero who was feen deckt in Gold and
Purple, Nuper, in the firft Play, the Tragedy, might not dwin-
dle in the fccond, the Attellane, to a comick Character: In' a
word, the Hero in the Attellane mould keep the Middle, between
the Sublime of Tragedy and the Meannefs of Comedy : The
Romans had fomething. like Tetralogies, they had three Plays
afted, one after another, on the fame SubjecY; the firft a real
Tragedy 5 the fecond the Attsllane j the third a Satyr or Exode,
a
NOTES on tie Art of Poetry. 153
a kind ot Farce of one Act ; they were all acled in the fame
Cloaths, with the fame Mask, and by the fame Actors ; there
were alfo the Tabcrnaria, Tavern Pitces, more decent than tlis
Exodes.
NuperJ\ This proves, that the fame Actor play'd in the
Atteliane, as play'd in the Tragedy : Plautus tells us as much
in the Prologue to his Menecbmes, Htc urbs Epidamnum eji, &c.
This City Jball be Epidamnum, during this Piece ; ivben we flay
another it Jhall be another City, after the farm manner as -we change
the Band of Players ; far the fame Atlor is fometimes a Slave,
femetimes a Merchant, fomctimes a Young Man, fometimes an Old
one, fometimes a Beggar, fometimes a King, &c. St. Jerome has a
fine Comparifon on this changing of our Parts in the Scene of
Life.
227. Migret in obfcuras bumill ferment talernaiJ} The Taber-
raria was fo call'd, becaufe there were Taverns on the Stage:
Feffus fays of 'em, Viris excellentibus bumiles permixti, ut funt
plagiarii, fer-vi Caupontf. People of Quality were jumbled in
them with the Rabble. The Dialogue was low. Vojjius pre-
tends Plautus's Ampbytrion is one of thefe Pieces, in which
neither Gods nor Heroes were ever introduc'd ; for Horace fays,
the Hero cf the AtteUar.e ought not to imitate the vulgar ^ao-
guage of the Tavern Piece.
231. Ejfutire loaves indigna Tragtedla -verfus.] Horace fpeaks
of the Atteliane, which was in fuch Efteem, that thofe who
play'd in it were not rank'd with the Comedians ; when they
play'd ill they were not oblig'd to unmask on the Stage, as
the others were : They did not lofe their Pay, and were allov.-'d
to lift in the Armies ; wherefore mean and low Verfes were
unworthy fo grave and honourable a Poem as the AttcUe?.:.
232. Ut feftis matrona mweri Jaffa didus.] An admirable
Defcription of the Characters of the Satyrs introduc'd in thefc
Attellanes ; they mould not be faucy and impudent like common
Satyrs, nor folemn and referv'd like Stoicks, but gay and plea-
fant ; in a word, an Atteliane fhould imitate a modcll Woman,
who does not make Profeffion of Dancing, yet dances on
Feftival-Days, in obedience to Religion and Cuftom. Euripides s
Satyrs, in the Cyclops, are juft fuch as Horace defcribes 'em, and
keep the Mean he recommends.
Matrona mo-veri jujj'a."} Young Women were commonly
chofen for the Dances in Honour of the Gods. Marry'd Wo-
men danc'd on the Feaft of the great Goddefs, by Order of the
Pontiffs j wherefore Horace ufes the Word ;/.
j 54 No T E s on the Art of Poetry.
34- Non ego inornata & dominantia nomina folum "verbaque,]
A Poet who writes Attellanes fhould not neglect his Style,
nor give every Thing its Name without a Turn : Dominantia
verb a, Prefer Names ; he calls them Reigning, becaufe they are
properly Matters of the Things they fignify ; the Greeks term'd
them K tSpict, Mafters. In Euripides's Cyclops, Si/enus fpeaking 'to
VlyJJ'es and his Companions, fays, Now you have gat yeungHellen
again, have not you all care/I her a little, Jince Jhe loves fo much
to change her Husband? which is modeft for a Si/enus in hit
Cups : Horace would correct the Licentioufnefs of the Satyrick
Pieces of his Time.
235. Satyrerum fcriptor,'] If I were to write Satyrs, for
Satyrick Pieces.
z$6. Nee Jic enitar tragice differre color!.] The Satyrick
Pieces mould keep the exact Mean between the Tragick and
the Comick Style ; but the Poet mould not be always fo afraid
of the Tragick, as to make Silenus in an Attellane talk like a
Footman in a Comedy ; Silenus is a Perfon who may fpeak nobly,
as he does in Euripides^ Cyclops.
Tragico cotori.'] He takes the Metaphor from Painting, and
calls the different Styles, Colours 5 the colouring of Tragedy muft
be preferv'd in the Attellanes.
237. Dcvufne loquatur an avdax Pythias.] Daws was a
Footman in Menander's and Terence's Comedies. Pythias a
Servant-maid in a Comedy of Lucilius's, who cheated Old Simon
of his Money. Horace fpeaking of the Comick Styles, ufes a
Comick Term, emuntto Simone } emungere is in the Low Style,
emunxi arginto fenes,
239. An cuftos famulufjue Dei Siltnus.~\ All the Ancients
reprefent Silenus as a wrinkled old Man, bald, and flat-nos'd,
\vith a long Beard j they make him Governor and Fofter-
lather of Bacchus. Orpheus begins his Hymns to him thus 3
Hear me tbeu venerable FoJler-Fatber of Bacchus.
240. Ex ficto ffium carmen fequar.] The Attellane Poets, a*
tvell as the Comick, invented their Subject as they pleas'd.
Horace condemns this Practice, and fays, he would take the
Subject of his Attellane, as well as his Tragedy, from fome
known Story, as there ought to be no difference in this between
a Tragedy and an Attellane. Euripides took the Story of his
Cyclops from the OdyJ/ey.
241. Ut Jilt quiiiis fperet idem, fudet tnultutn fruftraque laioret.~\
'Tis difficult to obferve Nature and Verifimility in invented
Stories ; difficile eft froprie communia dicere. The Subject taken
from a known Story appears fo natural, that every one believes
he could do as much himfelf, 842. Tantun
NOTE s on the Art of Poetry. 155
4Z. Tantum feriet junlfurajue pallet.] Htrace is talking of
the Difpofition of the Subject, and affirms, that when a Subject
taken from a known Story, fuch as Uhffes t Qrtftct, &c. is well
concerted, and well adjufted, it deceives all the World, who
think nothing fo eafy ; whereas in truth, as ^uintllian fays of
Eloquence, nothing is harder, than what every one imagines
he could have done himfelf j the Poet invents Incidents, but
applies them to a known Story, of which he makes one proba-
ble Whole, by that ingenious Connection Horace calls junfluram.
143. Tantum de media fumptis accedit benaris.] So many Charms
are there in known Subjects. Di media fumpta, Subjects that
are in every one's Hands, fuch as the Adventures of Ulffis,
of one of which Euripides form'd the Story of his Cyclops,
344. Syl-vis deduBi ca-veant me judice Faun:.'] The Poets of
his Time were apt to forget, that the Satyrs and Fauns were
the Inhabitants of the Woods.
345. Nee velut innati triviit ac pens fgrenftu, aut nimium.]
The two Extremities he recommends to them to avoid, not
to make their Satyrs too polite, nor too rude j Politenefs and
Brutality reign in Cities, in the Country Simplicity, which is
the Mean between Brutality and Politenefs.
246. Nimium teneris juvenentur >verjlbus.~\ Horace has coin'd
the Word jwenari, to oxprefs the Greek Word vt*vtv<ct% 3
juvenefcere, to grow Toting. Satyrt ftiould not fay things too
foft and tender ; fuch as young Men fay in Cities, when they
make Love : this would be too polite for them : Euripides has
fallen into this Fault in his Cyclop, where the Chorus fays
between the third and fourth Acts,
Happy the Man who gives a loofe to Jy,
Near the pure Spring where greivs tbt lovely Vine t
And in bis Bofom bugs a beauteous Nympi,
Happy tbi Man tfjitb EJftnces perfumed.
That in bis Arms a charming Maid enfglds t
Ai Soft and fPanton as Jbe^s Fair.
All Euripides^ Care to mix fome Savage Words here and there,
as JT4cf^A/fa), to bug under bis Arm-pin, does not take fo
much off of its Politenefs, but that it is ftill too affected for
a Satyr.
247. Aut immunda crepent.J They muft not talk obfcensly,
like Town- Rakes: Euripides s Satyrs are very modeft. Virgil
has alfo obferv'd this Prece.pt, in his Vlth Eelogue, where he
nukes Silenui fa/,
Cartnina
156 J^OTES on the Art of Poetry^
Cartnina jute vultis cognofcite : Carolina volris,
Huic aliud merctdit erit.
Hear the J^erfes you ask tf me, tbtVerfes are for yea, and as fir ler t
the Nymph Mgle, foe Jhall have another Reward. A wanton
thing cannot 'be faid with more Modefiy. Where there is not
this Decency, the Pieces are Mixes, and not AttManei. Cice'o
writes to Pafyrius, who had rally'd him a little too Cynically :
I ncio come to your Rallery, wherein after the Poet Accius'j Oetit-
waus, you have play 'd- not the true Attelane, as tvas heretofore tbe
Cufiom, but tbe true Mime, as it tbe Cuflom novu-a-days This Paf-
fage in the IXth Book, Epiftle the XVIth, has been ill interpreted;
Cicers complains that the Poets of his .Time, in their Attelane
Pieces, fell into the Obfcenity of the Mimes. The Civil War
had introduc'd this Abufe, which Horace wou'd have reform'd.
Ignominiofaque dila,] I have rendred it rude Affronts, Satyrs
fhould not be guilty of the foul Language which is in Towns.
Euripides'^ Satyrs fay nothing rude to Ulyjj'es.
248. S^uibus eft equus, & pater, & res.] Quibus eft equus. Tbofe
vaba have a Hcrfe kept at tbe Publick Expence. The Knights*
Quibus eft pater, Tbofe ivba have Fathers. The Nobles, the
Patricians. Styibus eft res, Tbofe that have Wealth, and are neither
Knights nor Nobles.
240. Nec,Ji quidfritfi ciceris probat out nucls emttr.~\ .He who
buys fry'd Peafe, or fry'd Nuts ; meaning the Populace, who
us'd tq^buy them at Rom;.
251. SyHabalonga brcvi fubjefia.~\ He comes now to fpeak of
the Verfe of Tragedy. He had given a Hint of it in the 3otft
Verfe.
252. Pes dtus."] The lambick is one Short, and one Long ;
the Short Foot being firft occafions its Swiftnefs. Terentianus has
thus explain'd It in lambick Verfe.
Adtjlo iamle prttpes & tui tenax
Vigorit, adde concitum celer pedem.
Unde etiam trimetris accrefcere juffit ncmtn iamleii, quum fenot.]
Tho' the lambick Verfe confifts of fi < Feet, yet 'tis call'd 7V/-
metrt, on Account of its Swiftnefs ; two Feet being join'd to-
gether in Scanning it. The Short Feet make it fo eafy. Thus
inftead cf meafuring this Verfe into fix Feet,
Mdif i fiaa.i be free \ fes & \ tui [ ttnax,
the Art of Poetry. 157
"Tis meafur'd into three,
Adtjl" iam \ be prtpa &f I tui tenax. \
jugatii per dipodiam binis pedibus ttr ftritur, Viftorinus.
Primus ad extremumjimilisjili.'] The firft lambick was equal
and alike from one End to the other j that is, 'twas all sompos'd
of lambicks, without the Mixture of any other Foot.
255. Tardier ut pauh graviorque venirtt ad aures.] The Poets
mingled Spondees to correct the S^jftnefs of lambicks, as more
agreeable to the Gravity and Majefty of Tragedy.
256. Spoxteotjlatites.] He calls them Stable, as confifting of
two long Feet, a Support to one another, whereas the Iambic!?
limps.
257. Non ut de fede fecunda cederet aut quarta focialiter.'} Ihf
lambick only yields to the Spondee the odd Places in Tragedy,
as the firft, third and fifth Foot. Terentianus has very well ex-
plain' d this in his little Treatife.
At jut cotburnit regios a&us levant, &c.
But tbofe ivbe take the Buskint to reprefent the Adventures of KiteS)
tbat tbeir Stile may the better answer their royal Pomp, make ufe
of tr.ajefiick Sounds, but keep boivwer tbis Laiu inviolable j Let tie
fecord, fourth and lajl Foot be lambick. This Mixture renders
the Verfe more Noble. 'Tis ftill the trimetre Meafure, the fe-
cond Foot being an lambick. The Comic Poets, to difguife
their Verfe, and bring it near to common Difcourfe, invented
the Tragic Order, and put Spondees in the even Places, where
the Tragic Poets admitted of the lambick only; were there no
other difference but this of Number, it would give the Ancients
a great Advantage over us, who have but one fort of Verfe for
Comedy and Tragedy. Tho' the Words are different, the Num-
bers are the fame. Mr. Dacicr is fpeaking of his Countrymen
the French ; the Englijh have never, or very feldom, obferv'd
Meafure in their Comedies, which are written in Profe, their
Tragedies in Verfe ; and in this Difference the Ancients have
not the fame Advantage over the Englljb Poets, as they have
over the French.
258. Socialiter.~\ As Aflbciates, to whom every thing is in
common.
259. H''c & in Aeci r.obilibus trimttris, apparet rarut, & Enni.']
'Tis ridiculous to think Hie here means the pure lambick, and
that Horace would praife Awui and Ennius for making ufe of ft 5
the
158 No T E s on the Art of Poetry.
the pure lambick being condemn'd in Tragedy. He blames
Ennius an Acciut for neglefting the Mixture of Spondees and
lambickt, and making hard and heavy Verfes, by ill placing the
Spondees, or putting in too many of 'em. Nobilibus trimctrii,
is an Irony in my Opinion. Vcjfiui is miftaken in conftruing
tic here to be hie loci.
260. In fcetiam mijjos magno cum fondere verfus."] Heinjius did
not underftand the Meaning of this Pafiage. Inftead of mij/bt,
we muft read miffus, according to Theodoras Marcilut's Correction.
Horece continues to csnfure'Enw/w and Accius, and fays, that
their Verfes pujh"d upon the Stage with great Weight. Their
Verfes were full of Spondeet, which made them fo heavy they
could not walk of themfelves, and were pufli'd on.
261. Premit artit crimine turpi.] Servius on the Vth Book of
the JEneis, quotes this Verfe out of Horace,
Nee (ant a in Metris venia ceaeeditur uti,
Jt it net permitted to take fo much Liberty in Verfes. If Servius is
not miftaken, this Verfe may follow immediately after nut Igno-
ratte, &c. and we may thence infer, that this Piece of the Art
*f Poetry is not entire, but that feveral Verfes are loft. I do
not, however, think this Verfe is Horace's.
263. Non ftiivis -videt immodulata poemata judex.] Every one
does not underftand the Number and Cadence of Verfe, and the
Poets therefore meet with a foolifh Indulgence. He means,
jiccius, Ennius, and others, acquir'd their Reputation at a cheap
Rate, the World being mere kind than juft to them.
265. Idcircone vager, jcribamquc licenttr ?~\ Indulgence makes
Poets negligent ; vagari, to write at a venture, to put a Sfondte
In the fecond Foot as well as the firft.
66. Tutus, & intra Jfem veni* cautui?] It fignifies, word
for word, By ftcuring my f elf and taking Precautions, without ex-
f effing a Pardon ; the Word Intra always denotes, that we re-
main on this Side.
267. Fitavi dtnijue cutfatn, non laudtmmerui.] He who writes
regularly avoids Blame, but does not deferve Praife. A Man
muft do more than not be guilty of Faults to merit Applaufe.
268. Pot exemplaria Grtca notturna verfate manu.'] Horace does
not propofe the Reading the Ancients to fuch as are contented
with avoiding Faults only, but to thofe who aim at Perfection,
which is no where to be found, except in the Greek Authors.
Thus TtrtntiexuSf
Mturui
NOTE s on the Art of Poetry. 159
Maurut item S^antes fotui cognofcere Graiot ? &c.
Mow much might I, who am an African, have learn 'd of tbe Greeks f
In tbe Study of tubom conjifti particularly tbe Art of Poetry. Horace
recommends the Greek Originals, Homer and Plato for the Cha-
rafters and the Paffions ; Sopboclei, Euripides, &c. for Tragedy^
and Arijlopbanes for Comedy.
270. At noftri proavi Plautinos f numeros laudavere falet.]
Seme pretend that Horace being the Son of a Freed-man, could
rot fay Noftri proavi, ur Forefatbert, and that it mould be
Vefiri promt, your Forefathers ; others alledge, that fpeaking of
the Roman* in general, he might fay Our; Whereas, in truth,
Horace is not fpeaking himfelf, but the Pifo's or the Ramans, who
upon his faying, Vo\ exemplaria Grtca, anfwer him, Why do you
turn us over to tbe Greeks, have not our Ancefiors recommended
Plautus to vt for bis Verfe and Pleafantry?
271. Nimis patienter utrumjue tie dicamftvlte, mirati.'] Horaces
Reply to the P//a'j; Yes, your Anceftors. did admire tbe Pleafaatry
tind Verfe f Plautus, but they were too good-natured in it, not to
fay toofoolijb. 'Tis certain, Plautttt is by o means nice in his
Verfe, which are for that Reafon call'd Numeres innumcres, Num-
ber* -without Numbers, in the Epitaph he made on himfelf. 'Tis
certain alfo, that his Pleafantry is often too flat, mean and ex-
travagant, as it is fe-metimes too delicate and fine. Cicero pro-
pofes him as a Pattern for Rallery. Horace does not here eppofe
Cicero" 's Judgment in this Particular, but condemns the Ignorance
f thofe who thought Plautus excell' J alike in every thing,
Mrs. Dacier has handled this Matter in her Preface to three of
Piautus's Comedies.
274. Legitimumque foxum.] He calls a regular Meafure, a law-
ful Sound. He has faid elfewhere, Legitimum Poema.
Digitis callemus, & aure.~\ Thofe who have a nice and delicate
Ear, when they hear good Verfe beat Time with their Fingers
or Feet, like Muficians. Terentianus, <%uam pollicit, &c. Tbt
Afajiers of tbe Art an ivont to mark tbe Cadence by firikin?
witb tbe Foot or Finger. The beating Time with the Foot is
moft ancient, that with the Hand was not known in Juvenaft
time. For, fays his Commenator on that Verfe of his, Andiat
Hie ttjiarum crept (us, They beat Timt loitb Shells, like our Caftanits,
viben tbe Pantomimes danc'd j tbt Maftin of tbt Cborut not beating
tben laitb their Hands.
a 75- Ig*tvm tragic* genus irtvcnijfe Cameer.a dicitur."] Having
treated fully of Tragedy, he comes in the next Place to Comedy,
vhich was a long time compris'd under the general Name of
Tragedy^
1 60 NOTES on the Art of Poetry.
Tragedy. There were feveral Tragic and Comic Poets before
Tbefpis, but becaufe he was the firft that matte Alterations of
the Drama, and reduc'd it to Form, he is look'd upon as
the Inventor of Dramatic Poetry ; Tragedy before Tbeffii's timi
was only a Parcel of Tales in a Comic Stile, mingled with the
Songs of a Chorus in the Praife of Bacchus. Plato writes in his
Alines, Tragedy is very ancient, it ivas not begun by Thefpis and
Phrynicus, &c.
276. Et plaujtris -vexije poemata Tbefpis, qua cdneretit agerent-
que peruntJis ftcibus tra.] Some learned Men have imagin'd
Horac: is fpeaking only of the Alterations Thefpis made in the
ancient Tragedy. The firft is his carrying his Ad~rors about in
a Cart, whereas they before this fung any where and any how,
as it happened. The other is his fmearing of 'em with Lees
of Wine, whereas before they play'd without doing any thing
to their Faces. The chief Alteration of all is omitted by thefe
Commentators, which is Thefpis's throwing in an After among
the Chorus to eafe them, and give 'em a breathing time ; which
A&or rehears'd an Adventure of fome illuftrious Perfon, which
Rehearfal and Adventure gave rife to the Fable and Perfons of
the Drama ; wherefore he fays, qua cantrtnt agerentqut. They
Sung znAAfied; thy fung the Chorus, they oiled the Actor.
This Addition of one Ator was doubtlefs very Entertaining to
the People, who before had been only us'd to hear the Chorus.
See the IVth Chapter of Anftatlt* Art tf Poetry. Thefe Aftors
playing in a Cart a fort of Droll Pieces, full of Scandal, gave
Occafion to a Greek Proverb, He talks in * Cart; for, he rails,
he affronts.
278. Pcfl bunc Perfcna palLtque repertor koncjlte vfcbytui.]
ffkejfu't Alterations put ^fcbylus upon making more confide-
rable ones. He brought out his Actors with Vizards 5 for Per-
fonte here is a Vizard, and not a Perfon. He drefs'd them in
Robes with Trains ; he put the Buskin on them, and infleid of
a Cart built a Stage for them, changing the Stile from Burlefque
to Grave and Serious. I wonder Horace makes no mention of
farther Alterations of his of greater Confequence ; for Anftatle
tells us he added another Aftor to Tbtfpis's, that he leflen'd the
Songs of the Chorus, and invented a principal Part. 'Tis ftrange
that Horace fhou'd not mention that Improvement, and as
ilrange that Ariflotle does not mention thefe Alterations of
Horace, in tx/c^/wj's Pieces, from thofe of Tbefpis. The Poet
is lefs excufable than the Philofopher, for that the latter fpeaks
of the moft important,
NOTES on the Art of Poetry. 1 6 r
What Laertius calls roK>!r, a Robe with a Train.
279. In/lra-vit pulpita tignis.] Pulpitum, the Stage.
281. SucceJJit vetus bis cemecdia.] Heinfiut pretends thefe four
Verfes mould come after the zsoth, where horacc fpeaks of
Satyrs, to which he affirms the eld Comedy fucceeded. But thrs
is their true Place. Whoj Horace fays, the old Comedy fuc-
ceedtd Tbefpit and ^fciylus's Plays, he does not mean that
there were no Tragic Poets after them, nor wou'd he have it
underftood that the old Comedy ow'd its Origin to Tragedy. His
Defign is to ftiew us that Comedy was cultivated after Tragedy
had arriv'd to a Degree of Perfection, which is alfo Arifiotlis
Opinion. Comedy, fays he, was not cultivated from the Begir.nirg,
as Tragedy was, &c. After the grave and ferious Part of the
firft Tragedies was feparated from the Comic, the Poets^ ftuck
to the former and neglected the latter. After Tragedy was ar-
riv'd at Perfection, the Pcets began to cultivate Comedy even
in vfcbylus's time, as did Cbionides, Magr.cs and Phormui, with
Succefj. And foon after tsfcbyius's Death, Comedy alfo arriv'd
to Perfection in the Works of Cratinut, Plato, Epicbarmes, Crates,
Eupclis, drijiopbanes, who were Contemporaries. Wherefore
Horaci had reafon to fay, SucceJJit vetus Us dmtedia. Mat-cut
Antoninus tells us inXIch Bock, After Tragedy the old Comedy ap-
ftar'd. Does Marcus Antoninus mean the Sstyric Tragedy ?
'Twould be ridiculous to fuppofe it. For it is eafy to prove,
that the old Comedy came bsfcre the fatyric Pieces, Monfisur
JBoileau in his Poetry fpeaks of this Mat;er,
To the Succtfs of tbefirft Tragic Slew,
TV old Comedy in Greece its Birth did oivt.
He means, as Horace does, Comedy was cultivated after Tragedy
was perfect.
281. Sed in -vitium libertat excidit.'] The old Comedy was of
two forts ; that which was properly fo call'd, in which was no
Fable, the Poets reprov'd Vice openly, and fpar'd neither Citi-
zens nor Magiftrates, whofe Names, and even the Liktnefs of
their Faces, they brought on the Stage. But when Lyfander had
made himfelf Mafter of Athens, and chang'd the Government
from a Democracy into an Ariftocracy, putting it into the Hands
of the Thirty Tyrants, fuch a Liberty which was not compatible
with Tyranny, difpleas'd, and the Poets were forbidden to name
thofe whofe Actions they reprefented. Fictitious Names were
then us'd, but the Characters fo well painted, that the Perfon*
cou'd not be mifUken. This was call'd the Middle Cotnidy,
which
162 NOTES on the Art of Poetry.
which lafted till Alexander's Time, who having made himfelf
Mafter of Greece, reftrain'd the Licentioufnefs it had by degrees
come to. This gave Rife to the 'New Comedy, being an Imita-
tion of Common Life, with feign'd Stories and Suppofititious
Names. Horace fpeaks of the lail Change.
Et -vim.] Vis t the Force, for the fyarfnefs, the Scandal.
284. Cborufjue tur-bittr obticuit, fublato jure dcendi.~\ He does
not fpeak of the Reformation made in the old Comedy. For
there was a Chorus in the middle ; but of the Law againfl the
Poets of the Latter, who bing forbidden to fall on the Vices of
their Fellow- Citizens, and expofing them Perfonally on the
Stage, fupprefs'd the Chorus, which was apply'd particularly
to that Ule, as appears in the Pcrabafus of drifiopbanes's Chorus's,
where the Poet digrefles to talk cf himfelf, or thePublick; which
not being allow'd afterwards in the New Comedy, there was
no Chorus in it, as may be feen in Meaander's Plays. As
there's no Chorus in Terence's and P/autus's of the fame Kind
with the New Comedy, they are purely Moral ; every thing is
feign'd, both Subjeils and Names, the Flutes fill'd up the In-
tervals between the Ads.
Tur fiter obticuit.] Shamefully Silent, to avoid the Punifti-
jnent inflidied by the new Law. Horace looks on this Reftraint
as a fort of Difgrace, for turpiter does not relate to Decendi.
285. NilinttJitatumnoJlriliquerePoeta,'] Horace having fpoke
cf the Changes that happen'd in the three Kinds of Greek Co-
medy, -idds, the Latin Poets try'd ail Three, that is, they take in
the Gall of the Old Con-.edy, and the Pleafantry of the Middle^
in their Imitations of the New. The Atttllatict had Chorus's
like Ariftopbancs^s Comedies,
286. Vtftigia Graca aufi defertre, f celebrare domejlica facia."]
The Latin Poets at firft tranfiafed Greek Plays call'd Palliatat
from thence, the Subjedl of the Story being Greek ; they after-
wards invented Stories of their own, which Horace terms
Domejiica faEta, Domeftick Adventures,
288. Vel q ui pratextas, -uil qui docuere togatas.] One of the
moft difficult Paffages in Horace ; and the main Difficulty con-
fifts in knowing whether Horace does not mean Tragedy by
fretextas, and Comedy by togatas, or whether he fpeaks only of
the different Kinds of Comedy, which laft is the only true
Interpretation. Feftut writes, Togatarum duplex eft genus, fra~
ttxtarum bominum faftigii, qua Jic appellantur quod togis fratextit
rempullicam adminijlrarent, Tabernariarum, quia bominibus excel-
Itatibus etiam bumiles permixti. Togata is the Genus which
comprehends the two Kinds of Runcn Comedies j pratcxta 'n
oae
NOTE s on the Art of Poetry. 163
n of the Speciet comprehended under the Genus, wherefore
they are here Togat<e, and confequently Ctmedies and not Tra-
gedies ; fince Tragedies were never call'd Togater. As the
Comedies whofe Stories were taken from the Greek were call'd
falliat* : So the Comedies whofe Stories were Roman were call'd
tegat/f: A general Name given thofe Reman Plays ; becaufe the
Toga was the Habit of the Romans, as the Ptllium was that of
the Greeks. There were two Kinds of this Togat<e, and thefe
two Kinds fnbdivided into two other, each of which had a
Name given it according to its Subjeft and Aftors. Thofe
Comedies whofe Subjects were Grave, and their Afiors repre-
fcnted the chief Perfon in the State, were called pretext*, fr^m
the Habit pratexta wore by the Magiftrates, the Robe edg'd
with Purple ; thofe that were lefs Grave, and reprefented in-
ferior Perfons, were term'd togat<e. Mcliffut invented a third
Sort, Trabeates, from their reprefenting Soldiers and Knights,
whofe Habit was called Trabe. The Comedies below thefe,
rcprefenting the Actions of the meaner People, were term'd
fetbtnari*. There are none of thefe Plays extant ; neither the
Pratexto: nor Togatf. There wre Poets for each Kind, as
Afraniut Titinius and ^uintius Alta, who wrote Ogatas ; and
Paeu-vius and Accius, who wrote the Preetexta. The former
were reckon'd true Comick Poets, as Hornet fays in the Iff
Epiftlc of the lid Book.
Dicitur Afrani toga convenij/t MenanJro.
He afterwards places Atta among the Comick Poets. Pacuvivs
and Acciut wrote the Plays call'd Pr*text<t, Comedies of a
more fcrious Caft. The two latter have been ftil'd Tragick
Poets, TragcedU Serif tores Accius atqut Pacuviui clariffiir.i; and
confequently thefe Pretext* had been thought to be Tragedies ;
but they were not call'd Tragick Poets for their Pretext*, bat
for Tragedies written by them. Pacuvius wrote Ancbifis, An-
dope, fee. Acciut, Achilles, ^giftbeui, Atceftes, &C. which
were real Tragedies. The Pr^texta Pieces of Pacuviut were
Paulus, Tunicularia ; and Accius's Brutus, and D:cius. Their
Names fhew they were ferious Pieces that came very near Tra-
gedy, tho' they were in Effect true Comedy : They treated of
true Fads, mixing the Gay and the Serious together. In a
Letter of Polllo't to Cicero, Book X. we learn, that the Que-
ftor Balbus, a yy Infolent Man, had caus'd a Pretext * Play
to be reprefented at Cadix, the Story of which was his Journey
to Lcntulut, to perfuade him to embrace C^/ar's Party ; and
when
164 NOTES on the Art of Poetry.
when he faw it play'd he wept, being touch'd at the Remem-
brance of his great Actions. Ludis frttextam de fuo itinere a4
Lentulum Procor.fulcm f illicit andum pojuit & quidem cum agiretur
finiit memarta rerum gefiarum Ccmmotus. Thefe Prttexi*. Pieces
had neither the Majerty nor Dignity 01" the Tragedy.
Docuere.] They teach j a Term affeded by the Poets, who
wrote for the Stage, and were call'd Teachers, &tS*,<rx,*Mt,
which fliews plainly their End was not fo much to divert as to
inilruct.
290. >uam lingua."] By his Tongue, that is, by his Writing'.
He fpenks particularly of Theatrical Pieces, and grants, that
thro' the Hafte and Negligence of the Comick Poets, Comedy
lia*d never arriv'd to its Perfection. S^tintilian fays to the fame
purpofe : In Comeedia maxitrt daudicamus, H^e are very iveak in
Ctmtdy.
291. Lim* later & msra.] The trouble of Cor reeling, Unite
labor, anfwers to multa litura, in the fecond Verfe after this,
and the Patience to keep a Work a long time by one, without
publishing it, nwj. to multa dies.
293. Carmen reprcbtndite quod non multa diet & multa litura,~\
Horace here paiFes Sentence on an infinite Number of Writings ;
for every thing that is not well Corrected is conriemn'd as Im-
perftcl. Horace was continually Correcting his Verfes, S.-rip-
tervm qutque retexens, Sat. III. Bcok II.
294. Prttfeclum defies non ca/liga-vit ad unguem.'] A Metaphor
taken from th. fe that work in Marble, in Wood, fef<r. who
ran their Nail over their Works, to fee whether 'tis fmooth or
cot ; the Greeks call'd it i^'j^i^eti ; upon which there's a fine
Saying of Polydttes, ~X.ttM~ura.Tov tfl TS i^y-ti OT it iva%t
itrtiKis y'tMTa.1. Tie difficult eft Part of the Work it, when tberis
r.itbir.g to be done but te run the Nail ever it. The Gre-:ks had
a Proverb, I'loff'^sfj to exprefs a thing being perfect, It Lai
fafi the Nail.
295. Ingenium n:!fera qula fortunatiut arte. ] Dcmtcritus
nuintain'd that Art was ufdefs in Poetry, and that it mould
come all from Fury and Enthufiafm. Cicero in the Ift Book
de Di-vinaticne, Negat enim Jine furore Deaiocritul qutmquamPtJetam
magnum ej): psjj'e, Sccrata is of the fame Opinon in ION.
This being miftaken, abundance of People in Horace's Time
affected a flovcnly Air and Retirement, to be thought Poets.
Mifera arte.] A miferable Art, in Dfrnocritus's Senfe.
299. Nancifcctur enim pretium nomenquc P^.-^.J Horace fays
it with Indignation, in as much as ill Poets ran away with the
Reputation and Reward only due to the great ones.
300. Si
N o T E s on the Art of Poetiy . 1 6 5
300. Si tribtu A*ticyrit,~\ Strabo mentions but two Anticyres,
vhere Hellebore grew. Horace makes three, to give the greater
Idea of the Madnefs he fpeaks of, not to be cur'd by the Helle-
bore of three Anticyres, if there had been fo many.
301. Tonfori Licino.] Licinus, a famous Barber, whom Au~
gujlui made a Senator, for his Hatred to Pomfy. This Epitaph
was made on lam,
MarmsYeo Tumult Licinus jacet, at Cato nulk y
Pompiixs farvo. Quit futet tJJ'e Deui ?
Licinius kat a ftately Marble 7"omt, Cato none, Pompey but a
little tne. Who can after this believe there are Gads ?
302. ego favus, qui purgor bilcm -verni fub tcmporis boram. ~\
Horace fays, Since Madnefs makes a Poet, who would be fueh
a Fool as to get cur'd cf his Choler in Spring-time, when 'tis
like to work moft upon him, and make the better Poet of
him. Purgor bilcm is the true Reading, 'tis an Atticifm ; it
muft not be purgo bilem.
303. Nan atiusfaceret mclicra Pcemata.'] No Man was more
Cholerick than he.
Vcrum nil tanti eft,'} "Tis not worth while, J will not b
mad, to be a Poet.
304. Ego fur.gar vice cot is, acutum redder e qute firrum valet.]
Plutarch quotes a Saying of Jfocrates, who being ask'd, how
without Eloquence he could make others Eloquent, reply'd,
Wbetftonet do rot cut tbtmfelves, but tbey make Iron cut. Horace
means, he wrote neither Dramatick nor Epick Poetry, and there-
fore did not look upon himfelf as a Poet. See the Xlth Verfe.
306. Nil fcribens ipfe.} He wrote nothing in the great
Poetry.
307. Opei.~\ The Riches of Poetry.
S^uid a/at formetque Po'etam. ] That which forms and feeds a
Poet. Horace here joins Nature with Art : Form prefuppofes
Nature ; feed, Art.
309. Scribendi fapere eft f principivm & /<"".] He upbraids
the Fools who take Madnefs for Poetry, fayintr, Good Senfe
makes a Poet, and no Man can write without it.
aio. Rem tibi Socraticte poterunt ojlerdere cbart<e.~\ Having
faid, that Good Senfe is necefiary, he now tells them where it
is to be found : In Strata's Philofophy, the Acadtmick Philo-
fopher, who alone enlightens the Mind, and teaches Ethicks
better than all the reft of the Philofophers. Pi fa, on the Vtk
Bock de finikin, makes a very fine Encomium on the ancient
Academick
1 66 No T s the Art of Poetry.
Academick Philofophy, which comprehended Ariftotle, and tRc
Peripateticks. Ad. eot igitur, &c. I fray you therefore give your-
Jj!f to them, for all fine Learning, all Hiftory, all polite Lan-
guage, are to be taken out of their Writing* ; in which there's ft
great a Variety of Arts, that without their Help 'tis difficult tt
fucceed tvell in any thing Confidtrable. By theft are Orators, Ge-
nerals, and Magiftratts formed 5 and out of this School ceme Ma-
thematicians, Poett, Muficians, and Pbyficiam. Horace confines
himfelf particularly to Ethicks, which Socrates handled better
than any other Philofopher j and nothing is more necefifary to
a Poet than Moral Philofophy in forming his Characters. So-
tratic* Chart*, Socratet's Papers. In the XXIft Ode Of the
Hid Book, Secratici Sermones, Secrates's Treatifes.
311. Verbaque provifam rent non in-vita fequuntur.] When a
Poet has a good Conception of things, he will not want Ex-
preflion ; as Cicero, in the Hid Book de Jinibus. Things drag
Words after tbem.
312. Qui didicit patriot quid debeat & quid ami c is."] Ethick*
take in all the Duties of Mankind ; of which he who is Igno-
rant can form no juft Characters in Poetry.
314. )uod Jit confcripti, quod judicis ojficium.] The Senator*
were call'd Confcript Fathers : Confcripti of a Senator, Judicii of
* J"dge j whether a Praetor, or Arbitrator confirm'd by the
Prztor.
Ji6. Reddite perfon* fcit con-oenientia cuique.'] Each Aflor
muft have Manners agreeable to the Character, TJI *p / MJT?eT
93* ; a General muft not talk like a Centinel, a God like a
Citizen, a Senator like a Country Juftice.
317. Refpicere exemplar vita meruvique jubebo dofiuta imitatoretJ\
By this Model of Life and Manners Horace defigns Nature, the
jonly Original of all the different Manners we fee on the Stage
of the World ; wherefore a ski/ful Imitator, a good Poet, when
he introduces a Mifer or Cheat, and the like, does not mind
what fuch a one and fuch a one do, ef v. horn he has an Idea j
but what they ought to do, what Nature would have them to
do : He Paints after Nature, and not after a particular Perfon,
who is often but an imperfect and confus'd Copy.
Dofium imitatorem.] Imitator, for Poet ; Poetry beir,g an
Imitation only, as Arijtctle has fliewn in his Art of Poetry.
318. EC -veras bine ducert voces,] Beth Poetry and Painting are
pure Imitations. A Painter who draws a beautiful Woman, after
the moft beautiful Life, cannot pretend to draw a true Piflure
of Beauty, for his Piece is only a Copy of another Piece, an
Imitation of an Image, and not of the Truth, as Plato fays, his
Strokes
NOTES on the Art of Poetry.' 167
Strokes are not ver* linen, but line* fimnlatt, adumbrate : H
has not confultedthe true Original. 'Tis the fame in Poetry j
if a Peet would reprefent a Mifer, and paints only the Avarice of
fuch or fuch a particular Pcrfon, he will take the Shadow for the
Subftance, the Image for the Truth ; he muft caft his Eyes upon
Nature, and contemplate her Idea of Avarice, which is the
true Original. Horace therefore fays, veras bine ducere voces,
7o draiu from thence true Exprejfiont. If the whole Beauty of
this Paffage had been well underftood, veras, true, would not
have been chang'd into viirat, living. Horace explains Ariftotlft
Rule in the XVth Chapter of his Art of Poetry, rather to form
Characters after Nature than after Particular! .- In the latter we
may find what Choler has done, in Nature what Choler ought
and might probably do, which embellifhes the Character, and
pr*ferves the Likenefs.
319. Inter dum fpeciefa locis morataque reRe fabula.] A Subjeft
where the Sentiments are fine, and the Manners well diftin-
guUh'd, tho' the Conduct be otherwife bad, and it has neithar
Grace nor Art, will always fucceed better than a Subject where
the Verfe is fine, if the Sentiments and Manners are not good.
Horace is fpeaking of Comedy ; in Tragedy it is not the fame ;
the Manners and Sentiments are not fo necefiary there as the
ttfpofition of the Subject, Tragedy may fubfift without the
Manners, but not without the Action.
Speciofa /em.] And not fpeciofa j acts i for Comedy cannot be
fpcciofa, fine, for its jfeftt, jocii, which render it jucundam,
flcafant ; but 'tis fpeciofa locis, a Term us'd by Philofophers
and Rhtoricians, inftead of what we call the common Place*
of Philofophyj the Places from whence everything is taken
'that may be faid on a Subject. d'etre calls them Argument arum
fedet. How could Horace write ffeciefa jocit, when he adds
nuUiui venerit, Witbtut any Grace f
310. Nulliut Ventrit, fine ponderf_ Q" trte.~\ Nulliut Vcnerli t
without the Graces, which ought to be the Companion of Comedy :
Sine pondere, without the Verfe ; fine arte, without Art, without
Conduct, without the Difpofition of the Subject. Horace ufet
the Word Art for the Manners and Characters, in the 1ft
Epiftle of the lid Book.
3&i. Mor&tur.'] Stops, amufes, detains, hinders his going out
at the firft Act.
312. Quam -verfus inopes rerun, tiugttque caxorte,] He calls
fuch poor Verfe, barmenious Trif.es, for having neither Manners,
nor Sentiments ; they amufe the Ear, but fpeak not to the
Heart.
313. Grtiis
1 6 8 N o T E s on the Art of Poetry.
323. Gratis ingenium.] Horace always refers the Poet* to the.
Creeks.
Ore retundo.] A way of fpeaking in Creek, to exprefs a
Tluency of Speech, a round Mouth, as Demetrius Pbaltreut has
it ; the Athenians were Matters of the Freedom and Grace of
Ixpreffion, which this Phrafe denotes.
324. Prater laudem nvllius avaris.] He means the Greeks were
greedy of Praife, and to their love of Praife he attributes their
Superiority in the Arts over the Romans, who lov'd Mony
better.
326. AJfem difcunt in fartes centum diducere.] They learn to
fubdivide'a Penny, the Roman As, into a hundred Parts, not
to lofe a Day's Intereft of a Penny.
327. Filiui Albini.] Albirus a Man of Quality, and a noted
Ufurer ; all the Education he gave his Son, was to caft Accounts
well : Horace takes him to task and examines him, as if he
had been hii Aiithmetick Mafter.
328. Pottras dixijj'e.'} The Phrafe of a Mafter angry, that
his Scholar is fo long anfwering his Queftion.
Triers.] The Scholar anfwers, Take away one Ounce out of
five there remains the third Part of a Pound, or as we fay four
Ounces.
331. Speramus cartnina fagifoffe linenda cedro.] The Book-
fellers, to preferve their good Books, rub'd them with Cedar
Juice, cali'd Cedrium. Vitru-vius, in the Xlth Chapter of the
lid Book, From Cedar is taken an Effencc calfd Cedrium, which
t>is a preferring Duality ; and Books that are rubb'd with it are
nit apt to grow Mouldy or Wvrm-eaten. Pliny tells us, that the
rubbing Nuna's Books with it kept them undamnify'd 500
Years under Ground. Dicfcorides fays, there's a Virtue in
Cedar that will preferve dead Bodies.
332. Et tevi fcrvanda cuprejo.] They did not only rub Books
with Cedar Oil, but they kept them in Cyprefs Cafes, which
have the fame Virtue as Cedar.
333. Aut prcdeffe -volant, aut deleeJare Poet*.] Horace does
not fpeak here of the different Works of Poets, but of the
different Qualities of the fame Work, and the different Views
of the Poets, who would either inftruft or pleafe, or do both.
Horace declares very juftly for the latter ; he's talking ftill of
Comedy.
335. ^uidyuid pracipies, eflo bre-vis.] Thofe who would in-
ftruft fliould be mort, that their Inftruftion may be eafily com-
prehended and retain'd,
337. Omne
NOTE sow the Art of Poetry. 169
517. timr.e fupervacuum plena de ptElerc n:anat.~] A Metaphor
taken from a Veflel that's full, and can receive no more, all
that's pour'd there afterwards is fpilt. 'Tis thus in In-
ftruftive Difcourfes, all that's over and above runs off and
makes no Imprefikm.
338. Field "voluptatit eavfa Jittt proxima veris.] A Rule for
thofe that would pleafe never to err againll Probability : Re-
couife may fometi.-nes be had to the Gods, to whom all things
arc poffible, in Inftruftive Things ; but in thofe that arc in-
tended to divert, nothing muft look miraculous or incredible.
'Tis obfervable how Horace expreflas himfelf, fpeaking of th
Subjects of Comedy : He fays fifla, becaufe the Subjects of the
Wnv Comedy are always feign'd, whereas thofe of Tragedy ar
taken from fome known Story. A Poet, fays Pfeutui, rendert
that probable tebich is only a Dream.
339. NIC q:iodcum/ju! volet pofcat Jtbi fabula credi.~\ A Poet
fhould not only avoid what's monftrous and extravagant, but
fhould offer nothing but what's credible. I'm fatisfy'd this
Verfe ought to be render'd Word for Word, That a Comtek Sub-
jffi don not require iv Jhould trvft it ivitb tvbat it pltafes. A
Poet mud not hazard all forts of Adventures in Comedy, no
more than in Tragedy. He muft nsither in the Reprefentation
ror ths Recital venture any thing againft the Rules of Proba-
bility. The Example that follows will make this clear.
340. Ntu prarfe Lamia vivxm fuerum ex'rabat *l-voJ\ A
Poet muft not expofe a Lamia, a monftrous Woman who had
fwallow'd a Child, which was taken alive out of her Belly. Ho-
race, no doubt, alludes to fome Poet, who had brought this fabu-
lous Incident info his Play.
341. Centurite finiorum egitant exptrtia ff:igis,'] He fays old
Men defpis'd fuch Ficlions, as ccnttinins nothing inftrucKve.
Ceatiiri* fer.iorum, the Centuries of ld. R-Ln, the Bands of old
Mer.: For Servius TuHixs divided the Ru:wn People into fix
Claflcs, each Clafs compos'd of Men of the uaie Age, or the
fame Rank, or the fame Eftate, and this was done for the Eafe
of the People's Aflemblies in the Comitium. By Cwuri* fcnit-
rum may be alfo underflocd the Ser.atan, and I rather think it
fo on account of what follows.
342. CelJtprattreuntauJleraPxmcta'Rbetiir.ei.] As the Senators
defpife ufelefs Fifticns, fo the Ejxites rejeftsd fuch as wera
not pleafant, and to get the Applaufe f both, the pleafant and
ufeful fhould be join'd together. Ce'.ft Rbnmr.es, the Equita.
Nothing is more ridiculous than to imagine Cclji is here for
High, fuch as are of great Courage, excelfa anima. Rbw*.
Vt.I. I that
170 No T E s on the Art of Poetry.
that [3, RcKani, from the Name of one of the three ancjent
Tribes, into which the People were diftributed ; The Rbamnenfa,
the Tatiens, and the Luceret.
A-jflera Poemata.] Dry Poems, where the Dulce is not join'd
with the Utile, the pleafant with the profitable.
343. Omne tulit punfivm."] Alluding to the manner of voting
in the Cetr.itium, by Points.
344. LetJerem deleStar.do pariterque monend.~\ Both the plea-
fant and profitable mufl go together, and never be afunder,
wherefore he fays, fariter.
345. Hie meret tera liber Sojiis."] The Safins*!, famous Book-
fellers of that Time, mention' d in the laft Epiftle of the Firft
Book.
347. Sutit delifta tamtn quibus igns-viffe vclimus.] Tho' a
Comick Poet ought to inftrudt and divert every where, fome
Faults will be fergiven him, if he does not.
348. Nam neque cbcrda fonum. ] A Comparison that fhew
very well of what Nature Faults muft be that are pardonable,
they ought to be like thofe falfe Tones, which a falfe String, or
a String ill ftruck, fometimes gives 5 it makes a Diflbnance,
but fuch a one as is not perceptible, the other Strings that
perfectly accord and give a right Tone drowning it.
3 50. Nee femper feriet quodcumque minabitur arcus.] As the
beft Markfman in the World does not always hit die White, fo
the beft Poet does not always fucceed.
351. Vcrum ubi plura nitext in tartnitte.] As no Writings
can be pretended to be perfect, fo the beft are thofe where the
Ccod not only furpafs the Bad, but where the Bad is very
trivial.
3?2. Faucis tffcndar rxaeulit qvas out incuria fodit, out bu-
tr.atia.] The Faults of Poets ought to be either little Negli-
gences, or meer Marks of human Frailty } Mankind not being
Lble to take equal Care of every thing. Lenginm has explain'd
this Paffage in his XXXth Chapter.
353- ^'^ "*] u pon Horace's faying, we fhould pardon
fuch little Negligences : This Objection is made to him, or he
makes it himfelf. Qxid ergo ? What muft we blame them ?
Since one may make any thing pafs for a Negligence.
354. Ut fcriptorji pcccat idem Librarius.] Striptor Librarius,
a Bookfeller who writes Books with his own Hand. The Faults
which ought not to be pardon'd are thofe that are too common,
and always the fame. As we do not pardon a Trarifcribcr
wlio always errs in the lame Word.
357. Sic
NOTES on the Art of Poetry. 17!
357. Sic mibi qui multum ce/jt.] He who often falls into
thofe Negligences. The Greek Proverb fays, 'Tis a Sign of a
Fool to be twice guilty of the fame Fault.
Fit Cbterilus.] The fame Cbaerilus fpoken of in the Ift Epiftle
of the Second Book.
358. Quern bis terque bonum cum rifu miror & idem.] Horace
twice or thrice admires this Cbeerilus; he admires himfo, that he
laughs at him again and again. Two or three fine Places in a Play
do not hinder its being a bad one, if there's nothing elfe anfwerable.
359. Indigncr quandoque bsnui dormitat Hcmerus.] When I
wonder how Cbxrilut could come off fo well twice or thrice,
fays Horace, I am in a downright Rage with Homer for fleep-
ing fometimes as he does. Faults are as rare in Homer as Beau-
ties in middling Authors. Howjuft, how polite is thisThoughr,
and how glad am I that Horace could not without Indignation
fee the Faults that efcaped Homer, whofe Faults are fo few,
that there are a Thoufand good Things for every one of 'em j
none of which are grofs and fundamental.
i^uandequt,] For quandocumquc, qaot ies, Indigtior quoties. Horace
fays, I ftill laugh at Cbterilut in admiring him as 1 have done, twiee
or thrice ; whereas I always admire H-mer, and feel a fecret
Indignation when he happens to deep. Which fhews how
much thofe are miftaken, who wou'd turn this Quandique bonut
darmitat Htmerus, into a Sort of Proverb.
360. Verum Opere in longo.] He excufes thofe Faults of Ha-
mer, by faying, that in a Work of Length a Man may be al-
low'd to fleep fometimes. See the Firft Chapter of the Tenth
Book of Quintilian.
361. Ut pifiura, pcfjfs erit.] Poetry and Painting, are in
fome Meafure like ne another, being both Imitations, but are
different in as much as they imitate differently. Horace wou'd
only (hew us that Poetry is in fome Refpscls like Painting.
jlriftotle alfo compares Poetry to Painting. Here Hoi-ace touches
upon one of the Things that are common to both Imitations ;
which is, that Poetry as well as Painting has its Light and
Point of Sight, in which its Effect is to bs jcdg'd of, and if
difplac'd, an ill Judgment will be made. Horace might as wtll
have faid, Poetry is like Sculpture, for Statuaries proportion their
Figures to the Plaees for which they are defign'd as well as
Painters.
%u*, Jt propiutftes.] Horace fays, 'Tis in Poetry like Paint-
ing, and as there are Piftures which fnould be feen at a Dif-
tanee, and others near to them, fo there are fome Pieces in Poetry
that fhou'd be look'd upon by different Lights, and have
I * dif.
172 No T E s on the Art of Poetry.
different Points of Sight, out of which they lofe their Grace
and Regularity. This Matter is fully explain'd by off~a,
in the Vlllth Chapter of the laft Book of his Treatife on
Epick Poetry.
362. Et queedam, Ji longius alftes.'] The Bits and Scraps
taken out of Homer and Virgil to be ridicul'd, are moft com-
monly thofe that fhould be feen at a Diftance, and in the
Places, for which they were made. They appear irregular, be-
eaufe mifplac'd.
364. line amat obfcurum."] A Painter muft not place in a
full Light what was made for a fmall one ; neither muft any
Part of a Poem, which was made for Obfcurity, be examin'd
by a full Light.
365. Hac ptacuit feme!.] As there are feme Things in Paint-
ing, defign'd only to pleafe for a Moment, fo there are fome
in Poetry intended only to pleafe, en paj/ant. The former
made for the Eye while it pafles to the more labour' d Part, and
the latter for the Mind.
371. Diferti MeJJ'a!a.~\ The fame Mejfala Corvir.us, the fa-
mous Orator, whom he fpeaks of in the XXIft Ode of th
Third Book.
Cafellius Auliif.] A Roman Knight, one of the moft eminent
Lawyers of that Time. A Man of great Learning, Eloquence
and Wit. There are feveral Jefts of his ftill remember'd in
the ancient Authors. But, What, fays Monfieur Dacier, adds
more to bit Hcr.tur tban all bit Wit and Learning, is, bis having
the Courage to preferve bis Liberty, ivben every one iuas running
into Slavery. The Triumviri, Lepidus, Anthony and Auguftus t
cou'd never oblige him to draw up the Edict for their Pro-
fcription ; and 'tis remarkable, that the French Commentator
fhould clofe his Refle&iens with this Obfervation. It is glori-
ous to Auguftus, that a Man fa free might be mentioned toitb Ap-
flaufe by a Poet of bit Court.
372. Mediocritus effe poetis,] Mediocrity is not to be en-
dur'd in Poetry; if it is not excellent, 'tis wretched.
373. ffon bcrxincs, non Dii, r.on conceffere columnee,"] Every
thine; is againft this Mediocrity : Men, Gods, and the Pofts of
ti>> Bookfellcrs Shops. Men rejeft it. The Gods, Apollo, Bac~
ebus, and the Mufet, difown it. The Pofls of the Shops, on
which they were fix'd, bare *em with Regret. He calls that
olumnef here, which he terms Pila, in thi IVth Satyr. The
old Commentator fays, they were Ports where the Poets pat u
Bills qf -the Time and Place, where and when they would pub
iickly raid their Works. Cut thefe Pofts are more likely ta
b
NOTES on the Art of Poetry; 173
be thofe of the Bookfellers Shops, where their Books were fix'd
for Sale. All new Books were fo fix'd. I believe Advertift-
ments of things loft were alfo fix'd to them. For Propertiu*
having loft his Pocket-Book, fays to his Foot- boy, I Pucr, &c.
Go presently and fx it n fame Poft, that I'd give fo much to ta-vt
my Pocket-Bsok again, and advertife that thy Afajler lives at
the Exquiliad, lubitber it muft be brought. Book the Fourth
Eleg. XX.
374. Ut grctat inter tnenfat fympbonia difcitrs.'] Mufick,
Eflences, &c. are the Joy of a Feaft, when they are excellent,
but when they arc bad they fpoil it, 'Tis the fame in Poetry,
made for the Pleafure and Eafc of the Mind. When it is in-
different, it has a quite contrary Effeft, being as deteftable at
Difcord in Mufick, or bad Eflences.
375. Crajfum Unguentum.] Thick Eflences of an /// Smell.
Et fardo earn mtlle papaver.] White Poppey-feed, rofted,
was mingled with Honey, as Nanniut has very well obferv'd.
Pliny in theVIIth Chapter of the XXXth Book, Papaverit,8cc.
Ibere are tbree Sorts of Hsme Poppy, the white, the Seed ofiobicb
rvfted the ancientt us'd tf Jerve at tbe Second Table, mix'd -with
Honey. There was nothing worfe than this Seed mix'd with
Sardinian Honey, which was very bitter, becaufeof the abund-
ance of bitter Herbs in that Ifle. Virgil in the VHIth Eclogue^
Immo ego Sardois videar tibi amarior Hcrbis, Let me appear mart
titter than Sardinian Herbs,
378. Poterat duci quia ccena Jine ij}is."\ As a Feaft may bt
good without Mufick and Eflences, fo a Man may be worthy
and agreeable without making Verfes.
377- Juvandis.'} To pleafe the Mind. To inftruft and in-
form. Juvandis comprehends both, like the Greek Word,
WpfXc??.
379. Ludere yui nefctt, tampejlribut abjiinet armis."] Ludere, to
do his Exercifes well, to ride, wreftle, fwim, throw the Javelin,
handle a Pike and Sword, play at Tennis, Quoits, &V. which
he calls Arma campeftria, the Arms of the Field of Man.
380. Tractive,] In the XXIVth Ode of the Hid Book.
Seu Grxco jubeft Trtcbf,
383. Liber & Ingenuus.] As if People of Quality cou'd
know every thing without Learning. A falfe Prejudice in their
Favour, which has prevail'd a long Time. Jngenuus, a Man
born of a free Father. See the Vlth Satyr of the Ift Book.
Cinfui equtflrem fummam nummtrum.'] He who is put in th
Regifter of the Ctnfiu, as rich enough to be a Knight, about
icooo Crowns.
I j 384- K-
1 74 No T E s on the Art of Poe try.
384. Vitioque remotui ab omn!.] As if being well-bred and
honeft, qualify'd a Man to make Verfes. Htrace doubtlefs had
his Eyts to fome Equittt who thought fo.
385. Tu nibil invita dicet faciefve Minerva,] He foftens the
Precepts he has been giving.
386. Id tibi judiciutn eft, ta Mer.t.] Judlcium, the Opinion
that caufes a Refolution. Mem, What executes it. Horace
fpeaks to the Elder Pifo, as wanting no Inftrudlion.
387. Scripferis.'] The old Commentator, fays Pifo the Elder,
wrote Tragedies.
In Mftii defcendat Judicii aures.] Speaking of Spuriut Metius
Tarpa, a great Critick, and one of the Judges appointed to
examine Writings. He mentions him in the Tenth Satire of the
Firft Book. Thefe Judges or Academicians, founded by Augvflus,
lafted a long while. Onupbriut Pan-vinus mentions an Infcription,
by which it appears, that in the Reign of Domitian, one L.
Valdriut Fvdens, a Native of Tarentum, at about thirteen Years
of Age, obtain'd the Prize of Poetry, and \vas crown'd by the
Judgment of the Judges. CORONATUS KST INTER POITAS
LATINOS OMNIBUS SENTENTIH JUDICUM. 'Tis true,
this Youth was crown'd in the Quinquennial Games, inftituted
by Domitian in Honour of Jupiter Capitclinus, and Mr. Maffon
has oppos'd a Paflage of Sueteniut about thofe Games in oppo-
fition to Mr. Dacier's Remark on the Duration of thefe Judges
eftablim'd by Auguftut. But, fays the latter, " Do thefe S^uin-
yuennial Judges, inftituted by Domitian, prove, there were
none appointed before by A'J^uflus ? Might they not continue
till Dcmitian's Time ? And be nam'd by that Emperor to
prefide at thofe Games. Mr. MaJJ'oa's ill Reafoning is a
Confequence of the Error he fell into about thisVerfe of the
Tenth Satire.
Httc ego Ludo,
Qua nee in J<de fonent cert ant la Judicc Tarpa,
Where he interprets vf.de to be a private Houfe, whereas
f it muft be understood of the Temple of Apolla Pala.
*' titius."
388. Ncnumque prematur in tnnum."\ As Heliiivs Cinna did*
He was a good Poet, and an intimate Friend of CatuL'ut's. He
was nine Years revifing a Poem of his call'd Smyrna,
Smyrna mei Cynntc nonam pofl dertique neffem
Seriftafttit Konam^ue tdita fcfl Hjunttn,
Ifocrattt
No T E s on the Art of Poetry. 1 75
Ifscratet was Ten Years revifing his Panegyrick. Horace does
not however limit the Time to nine Years j he puts a Definite
for an Indefinite, which depends on the Labour and Judgment
of each Author, who may weaken his Work by too much
correcting it. Corrtflion, fays Quintilian, ought alfe ta have
its Bounds.
391. Silveflret homines facer tnterprefytte Det>rum.] I think
Heinftus as unhappy here as in his other Emendations of the
Text. What is faid in the Sequel, is not indeed connected
with what goes before ; however 'tis well purfu'd. Horace
fearing he might difcourage Pifo by what he has been faying of
the Difficulties in Poetry, now fpeaks of the Rewards to thofe
that furmount them, and the Honours paid to the firft Poets,
as Orpheus, Ampbion, &C.
Sacer interprefque Dcorum,~\ He calls Orpheus fo, Becaufe he
was a Divine, and inftituted the Orgia. Virgil ftiles him fbrei-
tius Sacerdos. The Hymns that go under his Name were not
made by the ancient Orpheus, who liv'd in Mofn's Time, but
by one Onomachus, who liv'd in the Time of Pijiftratus.
392. Ctedibus & -viftu feedo dterruit] Horace fpeaks of an
Orpheus who was more ancient than the Expedition of the
Argonauts. Palepbatus, a very ancient author afiures us, that
the Fable f Orpheus, who by his Harmony drew Tigers and
Lions after him, was invented on his foftning the Minds of
the Bacchanalian Nymphs, and making 'em quit the Mountains
whither they were fled, and where they had fpent feveral Days
in tearing Sheep to Pieces.
394. DieJus & Ampbion, Tbcbanx eor.ditar arcis."] Cadmus
built Thebes about 1400 Years before the Birth of our Saviour,
and 25 Years after it was built Amfbitn encompafs'd it with
Walls, and built a Citadel; and for that, by his Harmony, or
accordins to others, by his Eloquence, he perfuaded the Citi-
zens and Peafants to fet their Hands to the Work, it was fa-
bled he rais'd the Citadel and Walls with the Sound of his Lyre,
and that the Stores leap'd of themfelves into their proper Places.
396. Fuit beec fapientia quondam publicaprivatis fecernere.'] The
firft Poets were properly Philofophers, who made ufe of Poetry
the better to infmuate themfelves into Mens Minds, and fliew
them how to diftinguifh publick and private Good, to govern
their Paflions, and manage themfelves difcreetly in their own
Affairs, to mind Oeconomy, to build Cities, and obey the
Laws.
398. Maritii,] As we fay marry'd People, Husbands and
Wives,
1 4 398. Lt-
176 NOTES on the Art of Poetry.
399. Leges, incidere Lignd.] The firft Laws were written i
Veife, and in Verfe Scion begins his Laws.
Ligno.] On wooden Tables. The Rcmant engrav'd theirs oil
Copper-Plates.
4<;c. /<: honor f r.omen di-vinis vatikus.] Thus Poetry and
Toets acquired fo much Honour by doing good to Mankind,
and by correcting their Errors.
401. Pc/i bos infignis Homerus.] Poetry in the Second' Ag
took another Courfe, to elevate Mens Courage and qualify
them to ferve their Country, itfungthe Deeds of Heroes. Ho-
mer and Tyrtavi began the Second Age.
401. Tyruufyue.] He was a Schoolmafler, little, ugly, limp-
irtr, and one-ey'd j iheAtbeniavs gave him, by way of Derifion,
to the Spartans, who, by Order of Pytbitn Apollo, demanded a
General of them to lead them againft the Mcflcnians, which h*
d.d, and was beaten, by the Meffenftns in three feveral Battles.
This fo reduc'd the Sfartans, that they were forc'd to lift their
Slaves, and promife them the Wives of the flain. The Kingt
of Sparta, difcourag'd by fo many LoflTes, wou'd have return'd
Home, but Tyrt&us repeating fome Verfei of his at the Head of
the Army, fo animated the Soldiers that they fell on tha
Enemy and routed them. Some of thefe Verfes are ftill extant.
This was about 680 Years before Chrift.
403. Di&* per carmina fortes.'] Horace places the Oracles ia
the Second Age of Poetry. Arifltybants, with more Reafon,
puts them in the Firft : Oracles being more ancient than Homer^
perhaps he means, that the firft Oracles were deliver'd in
Prcfe, and afterwards in Veife only, which is true.
404. Et <vit* rr.tnjlrata via eji.~\ This has Reference to P/&y-
fcks, and not Etbickt. Poetry, in the Second Age, began to
explain in Verfe the Secrets of Nature. Vlt/t for Natura, Na-
ture that gives Life to all Things.
EC grttia regum fieriit tcntata modi's.] Poetry then courted the
Great.
405. Lujttfjue repertui, & longorum cpirum finis.] He allude*
to the Tragedies and Comedies play'd on folemn Feftivals.
Ne forte pudori.~] Which proves Horace wrote this Encomium
on Poetry, to hinder Pifo's being fhock'd at the Difficulty of it.
407. Mufa lyr* filers.] Lyr* folen is remarkable ; for I
think 1 have always met with filers either alone, or with a
Verb.
408. Nat ura fere t laudt>ile carmen, an arte qutefitum eft.] H*
does not forget the grand Queftion, Whether Poetry comes from
Nature or Art. Hornet, to hinder the Fife's trufting wholly to
their
NOTE s on the Art of Poetry. 177
their Genius, determines it, that Nature and Art fhould always
go together. Nature, 'tis true, is the Bafis of all, as Horace owns in
the Hid and Vlth Odes of the IVthBook. Nature alone it prefer-
able to Art alone, but join'd together it makes Perfection. Nature
gives a Facility, Art, Method and Safety. An certior quant
Natura, fays Cicero ; and Lorginus obfervcs, that as free as-
Nature appears, fhe does nothing good at a venture, and is no
Enemy to Rules. Nature without Art is blind, and rafh; Art
without Nature, rude, barren and dry. <%uirtilian has it, Wt
believe there s nothing perfefi, but ivbat is produc'd by Nature
ffjlftcd by Art. Art is never fo perfeft as when it imitates
Nature. Nature never fucceedsfo well, as when it conceals Art.
410. Nee rude quid profit Ingenium.] Rude Ingenium, A Ge-
nius, which the' happy of itfelf, is always rude when not
polifh'd by Art.
412. Qtii ftudet oftatam curfu eontingere retam.~\ He proves
by Examples, that there is nothing where Nature alone fuffices,
and where there's no Occafion of Art. The Prize- Fighters not
only laboured hard to fucceed ; they liv'd in a general Abfti-
nence of every thing call'd Pleafure: Are the Poets exempted
from this Law of Labour ? No Man will ever make a good Poet
without it.
413. Puer.~\ They began thefe Exercifes very young.
414. Sjxi Pytbia cantat tibicen.'} Horace does not mean Py-
tlick Gamts, they were then out of Ufe, but the Players on the
Flute in the ancient Chorus's of Comedies. When all the
Chorus fung, one of them play'd to accompany the Song,
who was thenc call'd Cboraale. And after their Songs were
done, there was another Player on the Flute, who play'd fingly
too what was fung fingly ; and this laft was termed Pytbavle, a
Player for Pythian Songs ; which were like Poems or Hymns to
Afollo, fung; in the City of Pytb*. Diomedes fays, When tha
Chorus fung, the Players en the Flute accompany'' d them 'with
tbe Flutt calfd the Chorus Flute, and arfwer'd tvitb the Pythick
Flute to the Jingle Songs. Thefe Pythaules and Choraules, who
vjre of old part of the Band of Muficians in the dramatick
Representations, feparated afterwards and play'd by themfelves.
There were fome of thefe Mafters very famous, and of thefe
Horace fpeaks.
415. Didicit prius, 'extimuitque Mogijirum.'] There never was
an eminent Player on the Flute, who had not ferv'd art Ap-
prenticeihip ; wherefore fince Nature is not fufficient for little
Things how fhould (he fuffice for great ?
15 416, Nuns
j 78 "NOTES on the Art of Poetry.
416. Kuncfatit eft, dixiffc, Ego mira psemata pango.] This
Language is but too common now-a-days, and People too apt
to think they have no need of reading the ancients, fmce
they in their own Opinion think they write fo well wi'hout it.
417. Occufet extremumfcobies.'] An Expreffion us'd by Children,
who at certain Plays cry'd out, The Mange will take the bir.dmoft.
Mibi turpe relinqui eft,] While I am ftudying the ancients
others will get before me, and write Comedies and Tragedies.
Jf I write without Study, let who will learn th Rules, I will
fay I know them.
429. Ut pracOf ad mercei turlam qui cogit emendas.] Art and
Nature are not always enough to make a good Poet j there muft
be alfo faithful Friends to tell an Author of his Faults, which
are hard to be found by fuch Great Men as the Pifo't. Horace
compares rich Poets to publick Criers ; as the latter invited
People to come and buy their Ware, the former invited Flat-
terers. Ke who praifes is the Purchafer.
Cfgit.J Convocat, fummons People and Flatterers together.
421. Dives agrit.] This Verfe is repeated in the Second Sa-
tire of the Firft Book.
422. Si -vert eft untJum qui re8e ponere pijfie.] If the rich
Poet will treat and lend a poor Brother Poet, 'twill be a Wonder
if he know* how to difcern the Friend from the Flatterer.
Horace makes here, en fzffant, a nice Encomium on the
Pifo's.
Unftum ptnere.'] To treat high. Opfonium is underftood.
Martial faid to Ptmfoniut,
Quod tamen grande Sepbos clamat tiki turba tegata t
ffen tu Pomponi, ccena diferta tua eft,
'Tis not thee Pomponius, 'tis thy Supper that is fo eloquent.
Pliny calls fuch Parafites Lavdiceenas.
423. Levi propaupere. ] Levis, inconftant, light, perfidious.
414. Emus.] Happy ; he who diftinguiflies the Flatterer
from ihe Friend.
426. Tu feu danaris, feu quid donare volet cm'.] He advifes
the Elder Pifo never to read liisVerfes to a Man to whom he has
lately given or promised a Prefent. A Self-inferefted Friend
will never make a good Critick.
427. Plenum Lae:iti<t ] Full of Joy for what was given or
prefented him.
419. Pallefc tt fvpcr tli.] Super bit, over and above.
431.17
NOT E s on the Art of Poetiy . 1 79
4.31. Ut qui andiEli plorant in funert.~\ Horace fays there is
as much Difference between a Flatterer and a fincere Friend, as
between thofe who are paid for weeping at a Funeral, and thofe
true Friends who weep unfeignedly. The Flatterer praifes much
more than the Friend, as the hir'd Mourners weep more than
thofe whofe Grief is fincere.
Derifor. ] The Banterer for the Flatterer.
433- V""o laudatore.] An honeft Man who praifes what he
thinks deferves it, and fpeaks from his Confcience.
434. Regts dicuntur tnultis urgere culullit.] A Poet mould do
like great Lords, who drink a Man up to a Pitch, to fee if he
betrays a Secret in his Cups, before they trull him with one j
otherwife he will be apt to miftake Flatterers for true Friends.
Tiberius put his Confidents to'this drunken Trial.
437. Nunquam te fallant ar.imi fub vulfe lattntet.~\ Horace
aVudes to the Fable of the Fox and the Ravin, quoted by Nan-
tiiits in his Commentaries. Monfieur de la Fontaine has taken,
care not to forget it, and has furpaft the Ancients in its Sim-
plicity and Gaiety.
438. S^antiiio fe quid recltarii."] The Poet S^uintiliut Varus,
a Relation and intimate Friend of Virgil and Horace's. The
latter addreffes the VHIth Ode of the Firft Book to him, and
mourns his Death in the XXIVth Ode. He had been dead
foms Time when this Epiftle to the Pifo't was written, for
which Reafon he fays, recitarei, jubebat, fumebat, Terms never
vs'd but of a Pcrfon that is dead.
440. Dtltre jutetat.] When an Author has try'd and cannot
con-eft a Place, he thinks he may let it go ; but S^uintiUus was
in fuch a Cafe fer blotting it out5 a Piece of Cruelty the Moderns
are feldom guilty of.
441. Et male tornatos incudi redder e vcrfut.] Horace is blam'd
for making ufe of two Figures in the fame Verfe; but it hap-
pens that he ufes one only, for tho' he mentions the Anvil,
the Figure is one, and that is ths working of the Iron. Pro*
pertius in the laft Elegy of the lid Book, fays the fame.
lacife jam auguflo ferfut componere torno t
Inyue tuos Ignes, dure Poeta, veni.
44*. Si defendere deliclum quam vertere mallei,'] Authors very
often are fond of thofe * J laoes which are moft liable to Excep-
tion. They are their Fa-v^urias, and if you will take their
Words, thebeftof.theii Wcrks.
443 Qu'nji'ie rivali,] And thty admire them as often with-
out Rivals, 445. Fir
1 8 o No T E s on the Art of Poetry.
445. Vir bonus & prudent verfut repreber.det inertes.] Thefe
five Verfes are admirable, and include almoft all that the Rhe-
toricians have faid of Criticifm, which confifts of three Things,
adding, retrenching and altering.
445. Verfut repreberdet inertes.'] There are few Pieces to be
net with now-a-days, without all the Faults Horace collects in
thefe five Verfes; but the Faults of the greateft Writers are
only worth taking notice of, becaufe their very Faults may be
imitated as well as their Beauties : Suppofe Monfieur Comeillt
had given his fine Tragedy of Pompey to >uintiiius to examinej
may we not conclude, that in the Hid Scene of the lid Aft,
tvhen Cleopatra fays,
Je connois ma portee t ? nefrens point le change,
He would have thought this Verfe inert, poor, weak and mean*
as well as thofe that follow in the Hid Scene of the Hid Aft.
Caef. Comme a-t-ellt re^u lei cffrei de ma flamme ?
Ant. Comme n'ofant la croire, f la creyant dans /' ami r
Par tin 'refus modefte & fait four in<viter >
EUe s*en dit indigne, & la croit merit cr*
jts one that durft not believe ivbat Jhe did believe in her Saul. By
* mode/I Refufal, Jbe faid Jhe ivat unworthy of a PaJJion, ivbicb
/be thought Jbe deferv'd. Thefe Verfes are flat and affefted j
very far from the Character of Mark Antony, and Tragedy.
The Language is mean, and only fit for a Life-Guard-Man.
446. Culpabit duroi.~\ Verfes may be hard either for the
Words, or the Things ; the laft is the greateft Fault. Monfieur
Cerneille has been guilty of it in thefe :
Lei Princes ont cela. de leur baute raiffance,
Leur ame dam leur fang prend des imprej/ions t
%u: deffous leur -virtu rangent hurt pajjicns,
T Tis hard and mocking to fay, The Soul takes Impreff.ont of
Virtue in the Blood, which is as contrary to the Ethicks, as the
Theology of the Pagans : Of the fame kind is, what dffar (ays
io the lid Sceneof the Hid Acl.
Et qui verfe en not cceurs, ave: fame & le fang,
Et la baine du Kom, & le mepris du rang.
tLorat did not inflil i* a Roman the Saul ad Shod. /-
NOTES on the Art of Poetry. 1 8 1
Inctmtis allinit atrum.] Quintilius would have fet this Mark
as without Grace and Ornament, on what Atboreefnys in ths-
lid Scene of the lid Adi, fpeaking of Pamfy who was jufl
expir'd.
Et tient la trahifon, yue It Roy leur prefcr'rt,
Trap au dtffous de lay pour y prefler fefprit.
Sa <vcrtu dam leur crime augments ainjl fan luftre f
Et fen dernier faupir eft un foupir illuflre.
'Tis fubtil, affected, without Grace, and is faulty in the Turn
and Exprefllon.
447. Tranfaerfo calamo f'gnum.'} He would draw a Line quitt
crofs it, which the Latins and Greekt call obelum, he would ftrikt
it out.
Ambitiofa recidet crnamenta."] Such emphatical Ornaments are
cenfur'd, and what Acbtree fays on Pompey'% Head, would, I
doubt not, have been eondemn'd by S^intilius. 'Tis in the Hid
Scene of the Hid Adi.
A at mots Achilla* decouvrc cette tefle j
II fewble * a parhr encore tile s* apprefte t
Qu" a ce ttouvcl affrcnt un refte de cbaleur
En fanghtt malftrmet exhale fa dtuleur.
Sa baucbe encore ouverte, & fa vSeegarfe
Raff client fa graitde ame a pcine feparce, &c.
Does not Monfieur Corneille amufe himfelf a little unfeafonabJy,
in painting the Grimaces of this Head : The Ornament, to ufe
Howe's Term, is ambitious j the Image has nothing in it noble
or natural,
448. Ptrum clan's lucem adders coget.~j Obfcurity is the greateft
Vice in a Difcourfe. Pbotius talks very obfcurely, when he fay*
to Ptolemy, in the firft Scene of Monfieur CorneillSs Pompey ;
Lt cboix des attiom ou mauvaifes, cu betincs,
jffe fait qu? aneantir la force des (ouronnes,
He means that the Virtue which inclines Kings to good Aftion*,
rather than bad, weakens their Power 5 but fays only, That tb
(boict of Aaior.s, titber good tr bad, weakens tie Power of Kings,
which is very dark,
449. Arguet ambigue diftum.] Ambiguity, fays Qiiintilian,
tnujl above ail things bt avoided,
Muundt
j 8 2 No T E s on the Art of Poetry. 1
Mutanda xotabit.] He will at laft mark exaftly whatever is to
be altered. S^uintilian declares. That adding and retrenching are
eafieft in Ccrreftion, altering very difficult. Sedfacilius in bit
Jimpliciufque judicium qua reflenda vel dej icienda funt, Sec. "Tit
eafieft andfoOtteft done, ivbtn we have cr.ly to add or to retrench j
but -when we mujt bring down what is too lofty, reduce wbat is too
abounding, place aright wbat is out of its Order, gather together
ivbat is difperj),and abridge what is ton long ; this is a doubleTrouble,
far we muft condemn wbat tat fleas' d, and find cut that which
efcaf'd us. Mutanda dees not here fignify to change the Place
on!y,but alfo the Alterations S^ir.tilian fpeaks of: Perhaps what
Cafar fays in the Hid Scene of the IVth Att, would have been
nlter'd by Quintilius:
M'ont rendu le premier & le Kfaiftre du Monde*
C'ejl ce glorieux titre a prefent effefiif
Queje -vient ennoblir par celuy de captif;
Heureux Jl mon efprit gagne tant fur le voftre t
Qu'il tn efiimt Vun, & me permette fautre.
Cxfar would hardly have faid, He bad made tbe gloriout Title It
bad acquired of Mafltr of tbe World, more noble $y that of Slave.
His Courtfhip would certainly have been more worthy of fo glo-
rious a Title ; and I can fcarce think ^uinti/ius would have fuf-
fer'd what he add afterwards :
Mais las ! centre mon feu mon feu me follicite,
Si je veux ejire a vous, if faul que jt vous quitte,
Or what Cleopatra fays in the firft Scene of the fecond A^ti'
Et Ji jamais le del favorifoit ma coucbe
J)e quelque rejeton de certc illuftre fouche,
Cttte beureufe union tie mon fang & du fien
Uniroit a jamais fan deftin <f ie mien,
Which offends Modefty, and is very far from the Difcretion of
Virgil, who does not make Dido fpeak fo freely 'till after Con-
fummaticH, and when there was no need of Ceremony.
450. Fittdriftarcbui.] Ariflarebutwtt a very great Crit,ck,who
liv'd in the Reign of PtoiemyP&laee/pbu.-, nnd was Coi \iiiporary
with CaUimvcbus\ l.e wrote above fojrfcore Volumes ofCommenta-
ries on Homer, Ariftopbtnes, ant" all heot!i-ir Crtek Poets t He re-
Vis'd and correfted Hmer, which Work is loft, with the reft of
hif
No T E s on tie Art of Poetry. 1 83
Ms Critieifms, which were fo nice and penetrating, that he was
commonly call'd the Diviner, on account of his great Sagacity.
Cur ego amicum offtndam in nugii.\ The ufual Language of
Flatterers t Why (hall I offend my Friend for Trifles, by telling
him his Verfes are not good ?
451. Htt nuga feria ducent in mala.] Horace replies very well,
"What you call Trifles will be fatal to the Poet, whom you abufe
by concealing your true Sentiments from him.
452. Derifum fcmel txceftumque finiftreJ\ This Verfe will bear
a double Signification. As ivben the World, or as iabtn you
Jball once make a Fool of him : The firft Conftruclion feems to
me to be wrong. Horace is net here talking of the Evils which
will happen to this ill Poet, after the Publick has made a Fool
of him; but of thofe that (hall happen to him, after his flatter-
ing Friend has made a Fool of him, by deceiving him with falfe
Praife j he would prove that it is the Caufe of all his Misfor-
tunes, becaufe if he talk'd fincerely to him at firft, he might
hare tur'd him of his Itch of Poetry.
453. Ut mala quam fcabiet.'] He terms that Poetical Itch, mala
/cubits, which Celfut zMsftrafcabies, the moft dangerous Leprofy.
Morbus regiui.] Morbus arquatus, the Jaundice, Lucretiuj}
Lurida praterea funt quttcumque tuentur
jlrquati.
Every thing looks yellow to tbtfe that have the Jaundice: 'Twas
call'd the Royal Difeaje, becaufe 'twas faid there was no Reme-
dy for it, but to live the Life of a King.
454. Aut fanatic us errtr,] The FanaticKi, that is, the Demo-
viacki. Aut iraeunda Diana, fbofc Jirikin by Diana, that is, Lu-
naticks* The Ancients believ'd all Difeafes infeftious.
456. Incautique feyuuntur.] Incauti, the imprudent, who don't
fee to what Danger they expofe theml'eives, in following a
Madman.
457. Hie dum fublimes verfut ruRatur.'] Sublimes, thofe he
thinks the moft fublime j or Jublimtt, which he rt\- kes looking
up to Heaven, as if he would from thence fetch his tnthufiafm s
Wherefore it has alfo been read fublimn, with Rtt'^r-ence to the
Poet. Svblimis, /MITSW^OC, Wba goes locking up to Heaven ; but
fubliasa verfut feems to me to be better. Perots divtrts himfelf
with defcribmg the Frenzy of a Poet, whom Flatterers have
madt mad.
458. Ruflatur.] He vomits them ; the Sophift ArIJtidei faid
to an Emper'T, We are not fame of tbtfe who vs/mit tip their
Writing*, but tbofe tubo makttbem, 459, Sue-
1 84 No TRSOn tie Art of Poetryl
459. Succurriti longum clatnat.] By this longum clamat, Hcracf
{hews he Cuftom of thofe Cripples that begg'd on the High-way,
pronouncing the Wordfetcctorrite, but drawling it out Co, that they
made it laft half an Hour : Our Beggars underftand this way
perfectly well. Longum has been interpreted from afar, very
/cud ; but I take it to be a long labile.
462. Qu1 fcis an frudent hue fe dejecerit,] There's no Folly
of which an ill Poet is not capable.
463. Siculique Poet* narrabo interitum.'] The Death of Emfe-
facia at Agrigentum, Gergenti, a Town in Sicily
465. Dutx cupit Empedocles ardentem,frigidus <stnam itijlluit.]
Empedochi) a great Philofophical Poet, who wrote three Books
of the Nature of Things quoted by Arijiotle : He alfo wrote on
Xcrxes's Expedition; but his Daughter or Sifter burnt that Piece:
He flourifh'd about 450 Years before Chrift. Lucretius has
fine Encomium on him in his Firft Book.
JftltaauH boc labuijje viro frtclariui in fe
Wecfantfuni magis, &e.
The Story of his flinging himfelf into Mount v*tna is orJy
grounded on one of Empedeclts's Shoes found near a Gap of that
Mountain ; and 'twa* faid the fiery Vortex's whirl'd him into it.
Timaus aflures us Etnpedocles dy'd in Peloponncfus ; and Neantbet
of Cyxicum reports, that falling out of a Coach he broke his
Leg and dy'd.
465. Ardentemfrigidutc^Ltnarr..] The Word frigidus has been
Tarioufly expounded : fome pretend Horace means mad by it,
and others cold. The firft Exposition is the worft, the fecond
bad enough ; there being little cold Blood in fo defperate an
A&ion. By frigidut, Horace would defcribe all the Extrava-
gance of a Madman, who to get the Name of a God, feeks a
Death which he's afraid to find : He would be a God, and he
dies with Fear.
467. Invitum qui fervat, idem facit accident!.'] There's r,o
likelihood Horace fhould fay this in general : The Maxim would
fee too extravagant ; he doubtlefs fpeaks only of Poets, invitum
Poetam. Others that fall into Melancholy may be cur'd ; *ti*
to be hop'd they will grow wifer, as it happen'd to Damajippus,
whom Stertinius hinder'd from flinging himfelf into the Tiber,
as Horace himfelf writes in the Hid Satire of the lid Book.
Silatus jujjit fapienteni) Sec,
But
NOT E s on the Art of Poetry. 1 85
But as for Poets there's no hope of them, their Madnefs it
defperate, they are incurable, and to be given over.
469. Et fartet famofdt mortis amorem.] Tho' the Poet may b
hinder' d from deftroying himfelf once, it would ftill run in his
Head, and he would attempt it again. Famcfa Mart, a Death,
that will make the World talk of him.
470. Nee fatii apparct cur verfutfa&itet.] What Crime muft
that Man be guilty of, who has fo drawn down the Vengeance
of the Gods, as to be pofieft with the Fury of making Verfcs.
Horace talks of bad Poets as People generally do of the wretch-
ed, He muft have done fame horrid Thing, tec,
471. Minxirit in patriot cineret,] 'Twas very profane amonj
the Ancients to pifs in a Holy Place. Perfeut in hisfirft Satire i
anguet ; fucri, factr tjl locus, extrt
faint two Snakes on the Wall, tie Placi, Children, it facred,
pift without ; but was a double Profanation to pifs on a Lamb,
and a horrible Sacrilege to pifs on the Tomb of one's Father of
Anceftors.
An trifit bidental rr.cverit inceftui."] When a Place was ftrickea
with Thunder or Lightning, 'twas thought to be devoted to
Confecration, and the Diviners went immediately and facrific'd
young Sheep there ; then they inclos'd it with Stakes, a Lin?,
or a Wall, and from that Moment 'twas facred \ 'Twas call'd
Bidental, from Bidente, the Name of the Sheep there facrific'd*
*Twas Sacrilege to remove its Bounds, movere Bidental. If
dead Man was ftricken with Thunder or Lightning, he wai
not to be burnt by Numa's Law, he was to be bury'd in the fame
Place. Perfeut calls even the Man that'sThunder-ftruck Bidental.
An quia nsnfibrit ovium, ^eny,. t y 'j.,,.
frijlejates lucit evitandumjue bidental.
til^. Inceftut.'] As the Ancients were wont to fay Cbajlt for
Pieui, to they alfo faid Inceftm for Itnfieat,
CON-
CONTENTS
OF THE
Earl of ' R o s c o M M o NV POEMS.
si N E/ay on Tranflated Verfe Page r
** A Paraphrafe on the 1 t$th Pfalm 1 5
A Prologue fpoken to bit Royal Highnefs the Duke of York,
at Edinburgh 1 8
Virgil's Sixth Eclogue, Tranjlated 19
Ode upon Solitude 30
The Twenty-fecund Ode of the Firft Book of Horace 33
The fame Ode Imitated, addrefid to Mrs. Catharine
Philips 34
On Mr. DrydenV Religio Laid 58
Part of the Fifth Scene of the Sfforut 4fl in GuariniV
Paftor Fido. 40
Vranjlated into'&ugtiSh 41
The Dream 44
The Gbojt of the old JJoufe of Comment, to the new one,
appointed to tntet at Oxford 45
O the Death cfa Lady's Dog 47
Song on a young Lady icko fung finely. /nr/tmMt afraid of
a C.nlj ibid.
Epilogue to Alexander the Great, wbtn atted at the
'Theatre in Dublin 48
Off tie Day of Judgment 50
Prologue to Porapey, a Tragedy, tranjlated by Mrs. K.
Philips, from the French of Monjieur Corneille, and"
aSed at the Theatre in Dublin 5 3
Rofs'j Ghojl 54
The Sixth Ode of the 'third tyok of Horace 5 7
HoraceV Art of Poetry. 69
THE
POEMS
B Y T H
EARL of DORSET.
T O
Mr. EDWARD HOWARD,
On his incomparable incomprrehenfible
POEM,
CALLED THE
BRITISH PRINCESS.
! O M E on, you Critics, find one Fault who
dares ;
For, read it backward, like a Witch's
Prayers,
Twill do as well ; throw not away your Jefts
On folid Nonfenfe that abides all Tefts.
Wit, like Tierce-Claret, vvhen't begins to pall,
Neglefted lies, and's of no ufe at all,
But, in its full Perfection of Decay,
Turns Vinegar, and comes again in Play.
Thou haft a Brain, fuch as it is indeed ;
On what elfe fhould thy Worm of Fancy feed ?
Yet in a Filbert I have often known
Maggots furvive. when all the Kernel's gone.
This Simile mall {land in thy Defence,
'Gainfl thofe dull Rogues as now and then write Senfe.
Thy
igo POEMS fy the
Thy Stile's the fame, whatever be thy Therae^
As feme Digeftions turn all Meat to Phlegm.
They lye, dear Ned, who fay thy Brain is barren, 1
Where deep Conceits, like Maggots breed in Carrion,'
Thy {tumbling founder'd Jade can trot as high
As any other Pegafus can fly.
So the dull Eel moves nimbler in the Mud,
Than all the fwift-finn'd Racers of the Flood.
As skilful Divers to the bottom fail,
Sooner than thofe who cannot fwim at all;
So in this way of Writing, without thinking,
Thou haft a ftrange * Alacrity in finking.
Thou writ'ft below ev'n thy own nat'ral Parts,
And with acquir'd Dulnefs, and new Arts
Of ftudy'd Nonfenfe, tak'ft kind Readers Hearts.
Therefore, dear Ned, at my Advice, forbear
Such loud Complaints 'gainft Critics to prefer,
Since thou art turn'd an arrant Libeller :
Thou fett'ft thy Name to what thyfelf doft write;
Did ever Libel yet fo Jharply bite ?
To the Same, on his Plays.
THOU damn'd Antipodes to Common-fenfe,
Thou Foil to Flecknoe, pr'ythee tell from whence
Does all this mighty Stock of Dulnefs fpring ?
Is it thy own, or haft it from Snoiu-bi/!,
Aflifted by fome Ballad-making Quill ?
No, they fly higher yet, thy Plays are fuch,
I'd fwear they were translated out of Dutch.
Fain wou'd I know what Diet thou doft keep,
If thou doft always, or doft never fleep ?
Sure hafty-pudding is thy chiefeft Difh,
With Bullock's Liver, or fome (linking Fifh :
* Alluding ta an ExfreJJtan of Sir John Falftaff '* in Shakefpear'r
Garbage,
Earl of Do RS E T. 191
Garbage, Ox-cheeks, and Tripes do feaft thy Brain,
Which nobly pays this Tribute back again.
With Daify-roots thy dwarfifli Mufe is fed,
A Giant's -Body with a Pygmy's Head.
Can'fl thou not find among thy num'rous Race
Of Kindred, one to tell thee, that thy Plays
Are laught at by the Pit, Box, Galleries, nay, Stage?
Think on't a while, and thou wilt quickly find
Thy Body made for Labour, not thy Mind.
No other ufe of Paper thou mould'il make,
Than carrying Loads and Reams upon thy Back.
Carry vaft Burdens till thy Shoulders Ihrink,
But curft be he that gives thee Pen and Ink:
Such dangerous Weapons fliou'd be kept from Fools,
As Nurfes from their Children keep Edg'd-tools:
For thy dull Fancy a Muckinder is fit
To wipe the Slabberings of thy fnotty Wit :
And though 'tis late, if Juftice could be found,
Thy Plays like blind-born Puppies mould be drown'd.
For were it not that we Refpeft afford
Unto the Son of an heroic Lord,
Thine in the Ducking-ftool fliou'd take her Seat,
Dreft like herielf in a great Chair of State;
Where, like a Mufe of Quality fhe'd die, J
And thou thyfelf malt make her Elegy, V
In the fame ftrain thou writ'ft thy comedy. J
To Sir T H o M A s St. S E R F, on the
printing his Play called T A R u G o 's
Wi LES.
'TT A R U G O gave us Wonder and Delight,
* When he oblig'd the World by Candle-light:
But now he's ventur'd on the Face of Day,
T oblige and ferve his Friends a nobler way :
Make
192 POEMS by tht
Make all our old Men Wits, Statefmen, the young ;
And teach ev'n Englffinien the Engli/b Tongue.
James, on whofe Reign all peaceful Stars did {mile,
Did but attempt th' uniting of our Ifle.
What Kings, and Nature, only could defign,
Shall be accomplifh'd by this Work of thine.
For, who is fuch a Cockney in his Heart,
Proud of the Plenty of the fouthern Part,
To fcorn that Union, by which we may
Boafl 'twas his Countryman that writ this Play ?
Pbcibus himfelf, indulgent to thy Mufe,
Has to the Country fent this kind Excufe ;
Fair northern Lafs, it is not thro' NeglecT:
I court thee at a diftance, but Refpeft ;
I cannot aft my Paffion is fo great,
But I'll make up in Light what wants in Heat;
On thee I will beftow my longeft Days,
And crown thy Sons with everlafting Bays :
My beams that reach thee mall employ their Pow'rs
To ripen Souls of Men, not Fruits or Flow'rs.
Let warmer Climes my fading Favours boaft,
Poets and Stars thine brighteft in the Froft.
EPILOGUE to Moliere'j TART up F E 3
tranjlated by Mr. Medburne, fpoken
by TARTUFF E.
MANY have been the vain Attempts of Wit,
Againft the ftill-prevailing Hypocrite:
Once, and but once, a Poet got the day,
And vanquifh'd Bufy in a Puppet-play ;
And Bu/y rallying, arm'd with Zeal and Rage,
Poflefi'd the Pulpit, and pdl'd down the Stage.
Ti
Earl of D o R s E T. 1 93
To laugh at Engllfh Knaves, is dang'rous then,
While Englijh Fools will think 'em honeft Men :
But Cure no zealous Brother can deny us
Free leave with this our Monfieur Ananias:
A Man may fay, without being call'd an Atheift,
There are damn'd Rogues among the French and Pafijf,
That fix Salvation to fhort Band and Hair,
That belch and fnufHe to prolong a Pray'r ;
That ufe, enjoy the Creature, to exprefs
Plain Whoring, Gluttony, and Drunkennefs j
And, in a decent way, perform them too
As well, nay better far, perhaps, than you ;
Whofe flefhly Failings are but Fornication, ~\
We godly phrafe it Gofpel-propagation, (.
Juft as Rebellion was call'd Reformation. 3
Zeal ftands but Sentry at the Gate of Sin,
Whilft all that have the Word pafs freely in :
Silent, and in the dark, for fear of Spies,
We march, and take Damnation byifurprife*
There's not a roaring Blade in all this Town,
Can go fo far tow'rds Hell for half a Crown,
As I for Six-pence, for I know the way ;
For want of Guides, Men are too apt to ftray :
Therefore give Ear to what I ftiall advife,
Let ev'ry marry'd Man that's grave and wife,
Take a Tartuffe of known Ability,
To teach and to increafe his Family ;
Who (hall fo fettle lafting Reformation,
Firit get his Son; then give him Education.
Vo L. I. K EPI 1,0 cut
1 94 P E M s by the
EPILOGUE on the Revival of
BEN JOHNSON 's Play, called,
Every Man in his Humour.
TNTREATY fhall not ferve, nor Violence,
To make me fpeak in fuch a Play's Defence i
A Play, where Wit and Humour do agree
To break all pradtis'd Laws of Comedy.
The Scene (what more ab r urd !) in England lies,
No Gods defcend, nor dancing Devils rife j
No Captive Prince from unknown Country brought,
No Battle, nay, there's fcarce a Duel fought :
And fomething yet more iharply might be faid,
But I confider the poor Author's dead :
Let that be his Excufe now for our own,
Why, Faith, in my Opinion, we need none.
The Parts were fitted well ; but fome will fay,
Pox on 'em, Rogues, what made 'em choofe this Play ?
I do not doubt but you will credit me,
It was not Choice, but mere Neceifity :
To all our writing Friends, in Town, we fent,
But not a Wit durft venture out in Lent :
Have Patience but till Eafler-term, and then,
You (hall have Jigg and Hobby-horfe again.
Here's Mr. Matthew, our domeftic Wit *,
Does promife one o'th' ten Plays he has writ:
But fmce great Bribes weigh nothing with the Juft,
Know, we have Merits, and to them we truft.
When any Fafts, or Holidays, defer
The publick Labours of the Theatre,
* Mr. Matthew Medbourn, an eminent Afar, beltngir.g to the
D, kt of York'* tttetrc.
We
Earl of D o R s E T. 195
We ride not forth, altho' the Day be fair,
On ambling Tit, to take the Suburb Air ;
But with our Authors meet, and fpend that time
To make up Quarrels between Senfe and Rhime.
Wednefdays and Fridays conftantly we fate,
Till after many a long and free Debate,
For diverfe weighty Reafons 'twas thought fir,
Unruly Senfe mould ftill to Rhime fubmit :
This, the moft wholfom Law we ever made,
So ftri&ly in this Epilogue obey'd,
Sura no Man here will ever dare to break
. {Enter Johnfon*/ Ghojl.]
Hold, and give way, for I myfelf will fpeak;
Can you encourage fo much Infolence,
And add new Faults ftill to the great Offence,
Your Anceftors fo rafhly did commit,
Againft the mighty Pow'rs of Art and Wit ?
When they condemVd thofe noble Works of mine,
Sejanm, and my belt love Catiline.
Repent, or on your guilty Heads {hall fall
The Curfe of many a rhiming Palloral.
The three bold Beauchamps (hall revive again,
And with the London Prentice conquer Spain.
All the dull Follies of the former Age,
Shall find Applaufe on this corrupted Stage.
But if you pay the great Arreais of Praife,
So long fince due to my much-injur'd Plays,
From all paft Crimes I firft will fst you free,
And then infpire fome one to write like me.
K z SONG,
196 P o E M s by the
S O N G.
Written at Sea, in the firft Dutch War^ 1 665,
the Night before an Engagement.
I.
TO all you Ladies now at Land,
We Men, at Sea, indite;
But firft wou'd have you underfland,
How hard it is to write ;
The Mufes now, and Neptune too,
We muft implore to write to you,
With a Fa, la, la, la, la.
II.
For tho' the Mufes ftiould prove kind,
And fill our empty Brain ;
Yet if rough Neptune rouze the Wind,
To wave the azure Main,
Our Paper, Pen, and Ink, and we,
Roll up and down our Ships at Sea,
Witha-Fa, sV,
III.
Then if we write not by each Port,
Think not we are unkind ;
Nor yet conclude our Ships are loft,
By Dutchmen, or by Wind :
Our Tears we'll fend a fpeedier Way,
The Tide (hall bring 'em twice a-day,
With a Fa, fcfr.
TV. The
Earl of D ORS E T. 197
IV.
The King with Wonder, and Surprife,
Will fwear the Seas grow bold j
Becaufe the Tides will higher rife,
Than e'er they us'd of old :
But let him know, it is our Tears
Bring Floods of Grief to Whitehall Stairs,
With a Fa, &c.
V.
Should foggy Opdam chance to know
Our fad and difmal Story ;
The Dutch would fcorn fo weak a Foe,
And quit their Fort at Gone :
For what Refiftance can they find
From Men whoVe left their Hearts behind!
With a Fa, fcfr.
VI.
Let Wind and Weather do its worft,
Be you to us but kind;
Let Dutchmen vapour, Spaniards curfe,
No Sorrow we Ihall find :
'Tis then no matter how Things go,
Or who's our Friend, or who's our Foe,
With a Fa, &c.
VII.
To pafs our tedious Hours away,
We throw a merry Main j
Or e'lfe at ferious Ombre play;
But, why mould we in vain
Each others Ruin thus purfue?
We were undone when we left you,
With a Fa, fcV,
K i VIII. But
198 P o E M s by the
vilr.
But now our Fears tempeftuous grow,
And caft our Hopes away ;
Whilft you, regardlefs of our Woe,
Sit carelefs at a Play :
Perhaps, permit fome happier Man
To kifs your Hand, or flirt your Fan.
With a Fa, fcrV.
IX.
When any mournful Tune you hear,
That dies in ev'ry Note ;
As if it figh'd with each Man's Care,
For being fo remote;
Think then how often Love we've made
To you, when all thofe Tunes were play'd.
With a Fa, bV.
X.
In Juftice you cannot refufe,
To think of our Diftrefa ;
When we for Hopes of Honour loft
Our certain Happinefs ;
All thofe Defigns are but to prove
Ourfelves more worthy of your Love.
With a Fa, &c .
XL
And now we've told you all our Loves
And likewiie all our Fears ;
In hopes this Declaration moves
Some Pity from your Tears :
Let's hear of no Inconftancy,
We have too much of that at Sea.
With a Fa, la, la, la, la.
Cn
Earl of D o R s E T. 199
On the Countefs of DORCHESTER,
Miftrefs to King JAMES the Second.
Written in 1680.
I.
TP ELL me, DorinJa, why fo gay,
A Why fnch embroid'ry, fringe, and lac ?
Can any Drefles find a way,
To flop th* approaches of decay,
And mend a ruin'd Face ?
II.
Wilt thou ftill fparkle in the Box,
StJll ogle in the Ring ?
Canft thou forget thy Age and Pox ?
Can all that (nines on Shells and Rocks
Make thee a fine young Thing?
III.
So have I feen in Larder dark
Of Veal a lucid Loin ;
Replete with many a brilliant Spark,
As wife Philofophers remark,
At once both (link and fhine.
On the Same.
I.
PROUD with the Spoils of royal Cully,
With falfe Pretence to Wit and Parts,
She fwaggers like a batter'd Bully,
To try the Tempers of Mens Hearts.
K 4
20O POEMS by the
II.
Tho' (he appear as glitt'ring fine,
As Gems, and Jefts, and Paint can make her
She ne'er can win a BreaR like mine ;
The Devil and Sir David* take her.
* Sir David Colycar, late Earl of Porttnore.
KNOTTING.
AT Noon, in a funfhiny Day,
The brighter Lady of the May,
Young Cbloris innocent and gay,
Sat knotting in a Shade :
F.r.ch {lender Finger play'd its part,
With fuch Adlivity and Art,
As would inflame a youthful Heart,
And warm the moft decay'd.
Her fav'rite Swain, by chance, came by,
He faw no Anger in her Eye ;
Yet when the bafhful Boy drew nigh,
She would have feem'd afraid.
She let her ivory Needle fall,
And hurl'd away the twifted Ball;
But ftraight gave Strephon fuch a Call,
As would have rais'd the Dead.
Denr gentle Youth, is't none but thee ?
With Innocence I dare be free ;
By fo much Truth and Modefty
No Nymph was e'er betray 'd.
Come lean thy Head upon my Lap ;
While thy fmooth Cheeks I ftroke and clap,
Thou may'ft fecurely take a nap ;
Wiiich he, poor Fool, obey'd.
She
Earl of D o R s E T. 20!
She faw him yawn, and heard him fnore,
And found him faft afleep all o'er.
She figh'd^ and could endure no more,
But ftarting up, me faid,
Such Virtue fhall rewarded be :
For this thy dull Fidelity,
I'll truft you with my Flocks, not me,
Purfue thy grazing Trade ;
Go, milk thy Goats, and ftiear thy Sheep,
And watch all Night thy Flocks to keep >
Thou malt no more be lull'd afleep
By me miftaken Maid.
SONG
To CHLORIS, from the Blind ARCHER
I.
AH ! Cklcrij, 'tis time to difarm your bright Eyes,
And lay by thofe terrible Glances j
We live in an Age that's more civil and wife,
Than to follow the Rules of Romances.
II.
When once your round Bubbies begin but to pout,
They'll allow you no long time of courting ;
And you'll find it a very hard task to hold out?
Foe all Maidens are mortal at Fourteen,
SONG.
202 P o E M s by the
BW
SONG.
i.
METHINKS tht poor Town has been troubled
too long,
With Pbillis and Chlorii in every Song j
By Fools, who at" once can both love and defpair,
And will never leave calling 'em cruel and fair j
Which juftly provokes me in Rhime to exprefs
The Truth that I know of bonny black Eefs.
II.
This Sefs of my Heart, this Bef< of my Soul,
Has a Skin unite as Milk, and Hair black as a Coal ;
She's plump, yet with eafe you may fpan her round Wafte,
But her round fweliing Thighs can fcarce be embrac'd :
Her Belly is fofr, not a word of the reft ;
Eut I know what I think, when I drink to the beft.
III.
The Plowman and 'Squire, the arranter Clown,
At home (he fubdu'd in her Paragon Gown i
But now me adorns both the Boxes and Pit,
And the proudeft Town- gallants are forc'd to fubmit ;
All Hearts fall a leaping wherever {he comes,
And beat Day and Night, like my Lord Craven's Drums.
IV.
I dare not permit her to come to Whitehall,
For fhe'd out {hine the Ladies, Paint, Jewels, and all:
If a Lord {hou'd but whifper his Love in the Crowd,
She'd fell him a Bargain, and laugh out aloud :
Then the Queen over-hearing what Betty did fay,
Would fend Mr. Roper to take her away.
Put
Earl of D o R s E T. 203
V.
Bjt to thofe that have had my dear Bt/i in their Arms,
She's gentle, and knows how to foften her Charms ;
And to every Beauty can add a new Grace,
Having learn'd how to lifp, and to trip in her Pace ;
And with Head on one fide, and a languifhing Eye,
To kill us by looking as if ihe would die.
SON
i.
MAY the Ambitious ever find
Succefs in Crowds and Noife,
While gentle Love does fill my Mind
With filent real Joys.
II.
May Knaves and Fools, grow rich and great,
And the World think 'em wifej
While I lie dying at her Feet,
And all the World defpifc.
III.
Let conquering Kings new Triumphs raife,
And melt in Court Delights :
Her Eyes can give much brighter Days,
Her Arms much fofter Nights,
204 POEMS by the
J A jeune Iris aux cheveux gris
Difeit a Theodate,
Retcurnons, tnon cker, a Paris,
A<vant que Ton combatte ;
Vcas mi donnis trap de Jouci,
Car Guillaume ne raille.
Helots! que feriez-vous ici
Le jour d^une ba faille ?
II eft <vray que <vous partires
Sans Lauriers 9" fans Gloire,
Et que vous etnbarraj/eres
Ceux qui font votre biftoire.
Mais -vous dews laijfer ces foins,
A D'Efpreaux ff Corneille;
fous ne les payeries fas mains,
S^uand vous feries merveille.
Voui punirex tint avtre fois
Ces frens qui tnont piltie.
Quells bonte qu a Charleroy
/// tneuffent amtnee !
S^uoy que je fois aims de veui,
Et que je fois lien fage,
y'aurois paffe parmi ces fous
Pour un rebut de page.
Earl ^DORSET.
A PARAPHRASE of the foregoing.
T N gray-hair'd Ctelia's wither'd Arras
** As mighty Lewis lay,
She cry'd, Jf I have any Charms,
My Deareft, let's away.
For you, my Love, is all my fear ;
Hark ! how the Drums do rattle !
Aks, Sir ! what fhou'd you do here
In dreadful Day of Battle ?
Let little Orange flay and fight,
For Danger's his diverfion ;
The Wife will think you in the right,
Not to expofe your Perfon :
Nor vex your Thoughts how to repair
The Ruins of your Glory ;
You ought to leave fo mean a Care
To thofe who pen your Story.
Are' not Bcileau and Corneille paid
For panegyric writing ?
They know how Heroes may be made,
Without the help of fighting.
When Foes too faucily approach,
'Tis bed to leave them fairly :
Put fix good Horfes to your Coach,
And carry me to Marly.
Let Bouflen, to fecure your Fame,
Go take fome Town or buy it ;
^Whilft you, great Sir, at Notredamf,
Tc Deum fing in quiet.
SONG.
206 P o E M s by the
O N G.
r> HILL IS, the faireft of Love's Foes,
* Though fiercer than a Dragon,
Pbillis, that fcorn'd the powder'd Beaus,
What has fhe now to brag on ?
So long {he kept her Legs fo clofe,
'Till they had fcarce a Rag on.
Compell'd thro' Want, this wretched Maid
Did fad Complaints begin;
Which furly Strephon hearing, faid,
It was both Shame and Sin,
To pity.fuch a lazy Jade,
As will neither play nor fpin.
'
ON
s fparkling Wit, and Eyes,
United, caft too fierce a Light,
Which blazes high, but quickly dies,
Pains not the Heart, but hurts the Sight.
Love is a calmer, gentler Joy,
Smooth are his Looks, and foft his Pace ;
Her Cupid is a black-guard Boy,
That runs his Link full in your Face.
SONG.
Earl of D o R s E T. 207
ON
, methinks you are unfit
* For your great Lord's embrace;
For tho' we all allow you Wit,
We can't a handfom Face.
Then where's the Pleafure, where's the Good,
Of fpending Time and Coft ?
For if your Wit ben't underftood,
Your Keeper's Blifs is loft.
S O . N G.
i.
P HILL IS, for fliame let us improve
A thoufand diff'rent Ways,
Thofe few ftiort Moments fnatch'd by Love,
From many tedious Days.
II.
If you want Courage to defpife
The Cenfure of the Grave,
Though Love's a Tyrant in your Eyes,
Your Heart is but a Slave.
III.
My Love is full of noble Pride,
Nor can it e'er fubmir,
To let that Fop, Difcretion, ride
Jo Triumph over ic.
Jalfe
208 POEMS by the, &c,
IV.
Falfe Friends I have, as well as you,
Who daily counfel Me
Fame and Ambition to purfue,
And leave off loving Thee.
V.
But when the leaft Regard I {hew
To Fools, who thus advife,
May I be dull enough to grow
Moft miferably wife.
THE
THE
CONTENTS
OF THE
Earl of DORSET V WORKS.
yO Mr. Edward Howard, on bis incomparable incom*
* prebenfiblePoem call V, The Britifli Princes. Page 189
To the fame on his Plays. 190
To Sir Thomas St. Serfe, on the printing bit Play, calfd
Tarugo's Wiles. 1668. 191
Epilogue to MoliereV Tartuffe, tranjlated by Mr. Med-
burn, fpoken by Tartuffe. 1 92
ue on the Revival of Ben Johnfon'-f Play, calFt
Every Man in his Humour. 1 94
SONG, 'written at Sea, in the Jirft Dutch War, 1665,
the Night before an Engagement. 196
On the Countefs of Dorchefter, Miftrefi to King James the
Second. Written in 1680. 199
On the Same. ibid.
Knotting. 2 OO
SONG. To Chloris from the Blind Archer. 201
SONG. Methinks the poor Town has been troubled too
long, &c, 202
SONG. May the Ambitious ever find, &c. 203
La jeune Iris aux cbe<veux gris, &c. 2.04
A Paraphrafe of the foregoing. 205
SONG. Pbillis the faireft of I,ove*s Foes,' &c. 206
SONG. Dorindas fparkling Wit, and Eyes, ibid.
SONG. Sylvia, methinks you are unfit. 207
SONG. Phillis, for ihame, let us improve. ibid*
POEMS
POEMS
BY THE
EARL
.,:w
O N T H E
D E A T H of His Moft Sacred Majefiy
King CHARLES II.
lArewel, Great Ckar/es, Monarch of bleft
Renown,
The beft good Man that ever filTd a
Throne ;
Whom Nature, as her higheft Pattern
wrought,
And mix'd both Sexes Virtues in one Draught;
Wifdom for Councils, Bravery in War,
With all the mild Good-nature of the Fair.
The Woman's Sweetnefs, temper'd manly Wit,
And loving Pow'r, did crown'd with Meeknefs fit ;
His awful Perfon Reverence engag'd,
With mild Addrefs and Tendernefs aflwag'd :
Thus the almighty gracious King above,
Does both command our Fear, and win our Love.
With Wonders born, by Miracles preferv'd,
A heavenly Hoft the Infant's Cradle fervM :
And Men his healing Empire's Omen read,
When Sun with Stars, and Day with Night agreed.
His Youth for val'rous Patience was renown'd j
Like Da-viJ, perfecuted fir ft, then crown'd :
Lov'd in all Courts, admir'd where'er he came,
At once our Nation's Glory, and its Shame :
They
2-1 4 P E M s by tbe
They blefl the Ifle where fuch great Spirits dwell,
Abhorr'd the Men, that could fuch Worth expel.
To fpare our Lives, he meekly did defeat
Thofe Sauls, whom wand'ring AfTes made fo Great;
Waiting 'till HeavVs Election fhould be. frown,
And the Almighty ftiould his Unftion own.
And own he did his powerful Arm difplay'd ;
And Ifrael, the belov'd of God, obey'd ;
Call'd by his People's Tears, he came, he eas'd
The groaning Nation, the black Storms appeas'd,
Did greater Bleflings, than he took, afford ;
England itfelf was more, than he, reitor'd.
Unhappy dllion, by ftrange Ills opprefs'd,
In various Fevers toft, cou'd find no Reft j
Quite fpent and weary'd, to his Arms Hie fled,
And refted on his Shoulders her fair bending Head.
In Conquefts mild, he came from Exile kind j
No Climes, no Provocations, chang'd his Mind ;
No Malice fhew'd, no Hate, Revenge, or Pride,
But rul'd as meekly, as his Father dy'd ;
Eas'd us from endlefs Wars, made Difcords ceafe,
Reftor'd to Quiet, and maintain'd in Peace.
A mighty Series cf new Time began,
And rolling Years in joyful Circles ran.
Then Wealth the City, Bus'nefs fill'd the Port,
To Mirth our 7'umnlts turn'd, our Wars to Sport :
Then Learning flourifh'd, blooming Arts did fpring,
And the glad Mufeb prun'd their drooping Wing :
Then did our flying Tow'rs Improvement know,
Who now command as far as Winds can blow ;
With Canvafs Wings round all the Globe they fly,
And, built by Charles's Art, all Storms defy ;
To ev'rv Coaft with ready Sails are hurl'd,
Fill us with Wealth, and wkh our Fame the World j
From whofe Diftraftions Seas do us divide ;
Their Riches here in floating Caftles ride.
We reap the fwarthy Indian's Sweat and Toil ;
Their Fruit, without the Mifchiefs of their Soil.
Here
Earl <?/*HALLIFAX. 215
Here in cool Shades their Gold and Pearls receive,
Free from the Heat, which does their Luftre give.
In Per/tan Silks, eat eaftern Spice ; fecure
From burning Fluxes, and their Calenture :
Under our Vines, upon the peaceful Shore,
We fee all Europe toft, hear Tempefts roar :
Rapine, Sword, Wars, and Famine rage abroad,
While Charles their Hoft, like Jove from Ida, avv'd}
Us from our Foes, and from ourfelves did fhield,
Our Towns from Tumults, a'nd from Arms the Field ;
For when bold Factions Goodnefs could difdain,
Unwillingly he us'd a ftraiter Rein :
In the Hill gentle Voice he lov'd to fpeak,
But could with Thunder harden'd Rebels break.
Yet tho' they wak'd the Laws, his tender Mind
Was undifturb'd, in Wrath feverely kind ;
Tempting his Power, and urging to affume ;
Thus Jove in Love did Semele confume.
As the flout Oak, when round his Trunk the Vine
Does in foft Wreaths and amorous Foldings twine,
Eafy and flight appears ; the Winds from far
Summon their noify Forces to the War ;
But though fo gentle feems his outward Form,
His hidden Strength out-braves the loudeft Storm :
Firmer he Hands, and boldly keeps the Field,
Showing ftout Minds, when unprovok'd, are mild.
So when the good Man made the Crowd prefume,
He fhow'd himfelf, and did the King affume:
For Goodnefs in excefs may be a Sin,
Juftice muft tame, whom Mercy cannot win.
Thus Winter fixes the unflable Sea,
And teaches reillefs Water Conftancy,
Which under the warm Influence of bright Day*,
The fickle Motion of each Blafl obeys.
To bridle Fadions, flop Rebellion's Courfe,
By eafy Methods, vanquifh without Force,
Relieve
2 1 6 P o E M 3 by the
Relieve the Good, bold ftubborn Foes fubdue,
Mildnefs in Wrath, Meeknefs in Anger fhew,
Were Arts great Charles's Prudence only knew.
To fright the Bad, thus awful Thunder rolls,
While the bright Bow fecures the faithful Souls.
Such is thy Glory, Charles, thy lafting Name,
Brighter than our proud Neighbour's guilty Fame j
More noble than the Spoils that Battles yield,
Or all the empty Triumphs of the Field.
*Tis lefs to conquer, than to make War ceafe,
And without fighting, awe the World to Peace :
For proudeft Triumphs from Contempt arife ;
The Vanquifh'd firft the Conqueror's Arms defpife :
Won Enfigns are the gaudy marks of Scorn,
They brave the Vidlor firft, and then adorn.
But peaceful Monarchs reign like Gods : while none
Difpute, all love, blefs, reverence their Throne.
Tigers and Bears, with all the favage Hoft,
May Boldnefs, Strength, and daring Conqueft boaft ;
But the fweet Paflions of a generous Mind,
Are the Prerogative of human kind ;
The god-like Image, on our Clay impreft,
The darling Attribute which Heaven loves bell :
In Charles fo good a Man and King, we fee
A double Image of the Deity.
Oh ! had he more refembled it ! Oh, why
Was he not (till more like, and could not die ?
Now do our Thoughts alone enjoy his Name,
And faint Ideas of our Blefling frame !
In Thames, the Ocean's Darling, England" 1 ?, Pride,
The pleafing Emblem of his Reign does glide :
Thames the Support, and Glory of our Ifle,
Richer than Tagus, or ^Egyptian Nile :
Though no rich Sand in him, no Pearls are found,
Yet Fields rejoice, his Meadows laugh around ;
Lefs Wealth his Bofom holds, lefs guilty Stores,
For he exhaufts himfclf, t'enrich the Shores.
Mild
Earl of HALL IF AX. 217
Mild and ferene the peaceful Current flows,
No angry Foam, no raging Surges knows ;
No dreadful wreck upon his Banks appears,
His cryflal Stream unftain'd by Widows Tears,
His Channel ftrong and eafy, deep and clear.
No arbitrary Inundations fweep ^
The Plowman's Hopes, and Life into the Deep; C
The even Waters the old Limits keep. j
But oh ! he ebbs, the fmiling Waves decay,
For ever, lovely Stream, for ever flay !
To the Black Sea his filent Courfe does bend,
Where the belt Streams, the longeft Rivers, end.
His fpotlefs Waves there undiflinguifh'd pafs,
None fee, how clear, how bounteous, fweet, he was.
No difference now, tho' late fo much, is feen,
'Twixt him, fierce Rhine, and the impetuous Stin.
But lo ! the joyful Tide our Hopes reftores,
And dancing Waves extend the wid'ning Shores.
James is our Charles in all things, bat in Name :
Thus Thames is daily loft, yet Hill the fame.
In Nuptlas PHncipum G K o R G i i
G? A N KM.
I.
HI N C, hinc, Camoenae, cedite inutilw,
Nam cor potent! Numine Gaudium
Afftavit, exultanfque Pe&us
Corripuit meliore flamma.
Talefque cantus fundere geflio,
Ifmene, quales auribus haaieras
Utrifque, quando Dithyrambis
Puidarus incaluit folutis.
VOL. I. L Dum
2 1 8 P o E M s by the
Dum nefcit asquo fiumine gaudium
Prolabi, & ardis limitibus, vage
Nunc hue redundans, nunc retrorfum,
Vorticibus furit inquietis.
Adfis, triumphos dum canimus Tuos,
Adfis, Cupido, illabere pedori.
Dum perfonamus Te, decoris
Car/nimbus, bona Cypris, adfis.
Cypron bcatam fperne volatilis,
Hue, hue, Amorum fepta cohortibus,
Molire greflbs, ad Britannos
Caruleoi age, Diva, currus.
ir.
Pallor ? an ex lacva Convexi parte fereni
Diva vccata venit ?
Ecce ! citis magnum (pendens in verbere prona)
Tranat inane rotis.
Fronde comas, auroque premit Pulcherrima, Martem
Qualis adire folet.
Gaadia, Blanditias, hilari vultuque renidens
Spargit ubique Jocos.
Lafcivus piftas jaftantior explicat alas
Idaliufque Puer.
Adventu difperfa Deae funt nubila, venti
Nee fremuere minis.
Dum Nymphas una ante alias formofior omnes,
Dignaque Cura Deas.
Sk Paeana canit, ccelum & modulamine complet
Vox fociata lyrae.
III.
Egregiam laudem, Vwii:, & fpolia mpTa reftTtis
Tuque Puerque tuus : fi Virgo Britantiica vicla
/Ignofcat Nurnen (mentem jam faucia) veftrum.
Si votis, fi faeva ullis infueta moveri,
Aut precibus prabere fuas traflabilis aures,
Jllum jam fentit, quern non miferata furorem eft.
Fervidiis
Earl of HAL L IP AX. 219
Fervidus & Danieg Princeps, cui przlia cure,
(Deteflata tibi) piftis & fplendor in armis,
Qui nee Militiam veftram, nee Caftra, Cupido,
Novir, fed flammas, & mania fpicula rif;t,
Dum trepidos Suecos ardens agit arquore campi,
Jam Venerem accipiens inviito peftore totam,
Extendit palmas ad Numina Isfa rebelles.
IV.
Jam non Bella placent, & Lituo lyram
Przfert, atque Caput Itali caflide ferrea
Urgeri folitum, divitis Itali
Unguentum redolens, fua;
Reclinat gremio Conjugis : immemor
Somni, dumque vagis luminibus Deam
Pcrluftrat, rofeis ofcula quse labris
Libavit fitiens bibit.
Deponitque gravi militia latus
Defeffum, in thalamo laetus amabili ;
liac Mercede juvant Vulnera, fie Caput
Objecifle periculis.
V.
Plandit Dione laeta Britannia,
Olim cruentum nee meminic Mare,
Fufofve Gives indecore, aut
Rcgna Dano populata for;i.
Hxc dum renidens vindicat omnia,
Pulchris ocellis Anna : Georgium
Ducenfque captivum catenis,
Per thalamum graditur Triumphant
Tuifque furgit laudibus Ha/f'nia,
Volvenda retro fecula pracinens,
Cum Cimber Anglo junftus omni
Det trepido faa Jura Rlundo.
lo Dione guecja j^m canit,
L 2 Pulfos
2.20 POEMS by the
Pulfos Colonos dum neque fulgidis
Deterret armis, nee tremendo
Georgius indomitus tumultu.
Vos, par Beatum, ter, ter & amplius,
Vos obligatara ferte Des dapem,
Scmperque amantes Hanc bcnignam
Perpetuo celebrate Plauiu.
Carolus Montagu, Generofus
& A. M. Tria. Coll.
OD E on the Marriage of the Princefe ANNE
and Prince GEORGE of Denmark.
I.
WHILST black Defigns (that direful Work of Fate)
Diftraft the laboring State ;
"VVhilft (like the Sea) around loud Difcords roar,
Breaking their Fury on the frighted Shore ;
And England does like brave Vienna fland,
Befieg'd by Infidels on either hand ;
What means this peaceful Train, this pompous Sight ?
What means this royal beauteous Pair?
This troop of Youths, and Virgins heav'nly fair,
That does at once aftonifh and delight j
Great Charles, and his illuftrious Brother here,
No bold Aflaflinate need fear ;
Here is no harmful Weapon found,
ITothing but Cupid's Darts, and Beauty here can wound.
II.
How grateful does this Scene appear
To us, who might too juftly fear
We never fhould have fecn again
Aught bright, but Armour on the Plain ?
Ne'er
Earl of H A L L I F A x. 22!
Ne'er in their chearful Garb t'have feen the Fair,
White all with melting Eyes, and wild difhevel'd Hair,
Had mourn'd their Brothers, Sons, and Husbands flain.
Thefe dusky Shadows make this Scene more bright,
The Horror adds to the Delight.
This glorious Pomp our Spirits chears ; from hence
We lucky Omens take, new Happinefs commence*
III.
Thus when the gathering Clouds a Storm prepare,
And their black Force affociate in the Air ;.
(Endeavouring to eclipfe the bounteous Light,
Who with kind Warmth, and pow'rful Rays,
Them to that envy'd Height,
From their mean native Earth did raife.)
A thoughtful fadnefs fits on all,
Expecting where the full charg'd Clouds will fall :
But if the heav'nly Bow
Deck'u like a gaudy Bride appears,
And all her various Robes difplays,
Painted by th' conq'ring Sun's triumphant Rays.
It Mortals drooping Spirits chears ;
Frem Joy, new Light, each Vifage wears :
Again the Seaman trails the Main,
The jocund Swains their Coverts leave again :
Again, in pleafant warbl'ing Notes,,
The chearful Poets of the Wood extend their tuneful
Throats.
IV.
Then, then, my Mufe, raife with the Lyre thy Voice,
And with thy Lays make Fields and Woods rejoice :
For lo ! the heav'nly Pledge appears,
And in bright Characters the Promife bears :
The fadlious Deluge mall prevail no more,
In vain they foam, in vain they rage,
Buffet in vain the unmov'd Shore,
Her Charms, and Char less Power,their Fury mall aflwage-
L 3 See L
222 Po EMS by the
See ! fee ! how decently the bafhful Bride
Does bear her ConqueAs, with how little Pride
She views that Prince, the Captive of her Charm*,
Who made the North with Fear to quake,
And did that powerful Empire fhake ;
Before whofe Arms, when great Go/lavus led,
The frighted Roman Eagles fled.
V.
Whatever then was his Defire,
His Cannons did command in Fire :
Now he himfelf for Pity prays,
His Love in tim'rous Sighs he breaths,
While all his Spoils, and glorious Wreaths
Of Laurel, at her Feet the vanquifh'd Warrior lays.
Great Prince ! by that Submiffion you'll gain more
Than e'er your haughty Courage won before ;
Here on your Knees a greater Trophy gain,
Than that you brought from Lunfdens famous Plain ;
Where, when ycnr Brother, fired with Succefs,
Too daringly upon the Foe did prefs,
And was a Captive made ; then you alone
Did with your fingle Arm fupport the Throne.
Your gen'rous Breaft, with Fury boiling o'er,
Like Lightning thro' their fcatter'd Troops you flew,
And from th' amazed Foe the royal Prize in Triumph
bore.
VI.
You have your Anceftors in this one Aft out-done,
Tho' their fuccefsful Arms did this whole Ifle o'er-run.
They, to revenge a ravifh'd Lady, came ;
You, to enjoy one Spotlefs as your Fame.
Before them, as they march'd, the Country fled,
And back behind them threw
Their Curfes as they flew :
On the bleak Shore, expecting you, they ftand, ,
And with glad Shouts conduct to Land :
Thro
Earl of H A L L i F AX. 223
Thro' gaping Crowds you're forc'd to prefs your way,
While Virgins figh, the young Men l"hout, and old Ones
pray.
And with this beauteous Lady you may gain
(This Lady, that alone
Of greater Value is than any Throne)
Without that Rapine, Guilt, and Hate,
By a calm and even Fate,
That Empire, which they did ib fhort awhile maintain.
THE
MAN of HONOUR;
Occafioned by a Poftfcrlpt of P c N N'J Letter.
NO T all the Threats or Favcur of a Crown,
A Prince's Whifper, or a Tyrant's Frown,
Can awe the Spirit, or allure the Mind
Of him, who to ftrift Honour is inclin'd.
Though all the Pomp and Pleafure that does wait ^
On publick Places, and Affairs cf State, >
Shou'd fondly court him to be Bafe and Great ; j
With even Paffions, and with fettled Face,
He would remove the Harlot's falfe Embrace.
Tho' all the Storms and Tempefts fliould ari r e,
That Church-Magicians in their Cells advife,
And from their fettled Bafis Nations tear,
He wou'd unmov'd the mighty Ruin bear ;
Secure in Innocence contemn 'em ail,
And decently array'd in Honours, fall.
For this, brave Shrewsbury and Lumlj's Nanre
Shall ftand the formoft in- the Lid of Fame;
Who firft with fteady Minds the Current broke,
And to the fuppliant Monarch boldly fpoke ;
L 4 ' Great
224 P o E M s by the
' Great Sir, renown'd for Conflancy, how juft
' Have we obey'd the Crown, and ferv'd our Truft,
' Kfpous'd your C'aufe and Intereft in diftrefs,
' Yourfelf muft witncfs, and our Foes confels !
' Permit us then ill Fortune to accufe,
' That you at lafl unhappy Councils life,
* And aik the only thing we muft refufe.
* Our Lives and Fortunes freely we'll expofe,
' Honour alone, we cannot, muft not lofe ;
* Honour, that Spark of the celeftial Fire,
* That above Nature makes Mankind afpire ;
* Enobles the rude Paflions of our Frame,
* With thirft of Glory, and defire of Fame ;
4 The richeft Treafure of a generous Breaft,
* That gives the ftamp and ftandard to the reft.
' Wit, Strength, and Courage, are wild dangerous force>
* Unlefs this lottery and direcls their courfe ;
* And would you rob us of the nobleft Part ?
' Accept a Sacrifice without a Heart ?
'Tis much beneath the greatnefs of a Throne,
* To take the Casket when the Jewel's gone ;
* Debauch our Principles, corrupt our Race,
* And teach the Nobles to be falfe and bafe j
4 What Confidence can you in them repofe,
* Who ere they ferve you, all their value lofe?
* Who once enflave their Conference to their Luft,
' Have loft their Reins, and can no more be Juft.
' Of Honour, Men at firft like Women nice,
' Raife maiden Scruples at unpraftis'd Vice ;
' Their modeft Nature curbs the ftruggling Flame,
* And ftifles what they wifti to aft, with Shame :
* Bat once this Fence thrown down, when they perceive
' That they may tafte forbidden Fruit and live;
' They ftop not here their Courfe, but fafely in,
' Grow ftrong, luxuriant, and bold in Sin ;
* True to no Principles, prefs forward Mill,
' And only bound by Appetite their Will :
' Now
Earl of HAL LI FAX. 225
Now fawn and flatter, while this Tide prevails,
But fhift with every veering Blaft their Sails.
Mark thofe that meanly truckle to your Pow'r, T
They once deferted, and chang'd Sides before, S
And would to-morrow Mahomet adore.
On higher Springs true Men of Honour move,
Free is their Service, and unbought the"ir Love :
When Danger calls, and Honour leads the way,
With Joy they follow, and with Pride obey :
When the rebellious Foe came rolling on, .
And (hook with gath'ring Multitudes the Throne, .
Where were the Minions then ? What Arm, what Force,
Cou'd they oppofe to flop the Torrent's Courfe ?
' Then Pembroke, then the Nobles firmly Jlood,.
Free of their Lives, and lavifti of their Blood ;
But when your Orders to mean Ends decline,
Wirh the fame Conftancy they all refign." 1
Thus fpake the You'h, who open'd firft the way,
And was the Phofpb'rus to the dawning Day ;
Follow'd by a more glorious fplendid Hoflv
Than any Age,, or any Realm can boaft:
So great their Fame,, fo numerous their Train,
To name were endlefs, and to praife in vain ;
But Herbert, and great Oxford merit more ;
Bold is their Flight, and more fublime th?y foary
So high their Virtue as yet wants a Name,
Exceeding Wonder, and furpaffing Fame :
Rife, glorious Church, eredl thy radiant Hetvd,
The Storm is pad, th' impending Temped fled ;
Had Fate decreed thy Ruin or Difgrace,
It had not giv'n fuch Sons fo brave a Race ;
When for Deftruftion Heav'n a Realm dengns,
Thy Symptoms firft appear in flavifh Minds.
Thefe Men would prop a finking Nation's Weight,
Stop falling Vengeance, and reverfe ev'n Fate.
Let other Nations boafl their fruitful Soil,
Their fragrant Spices, their rich Wine and Oil j
In
226 P o E M s by tie
In breathing Colours, and in living PainC
Let them excel ; their Mattery we grant.
But to inflruft the Mind, to arm the Soul
With Virtue, which no Dangers can control ;
Exalt the Thought, a fpeedy Courage lend,
That Horror cannot (hake, or Pleafure bend ;
Thefe are the Englifi Arts, thefe we profefs,
To be the fame in Mis'ry and Succefs ;
To teach OpprefTors Law, affift the Good,
Relieve the wretched, and fubdue the Proud.
Such are our Souls : But what doth Worth avail,
When Kings commit to hungry Priefls the Scale ?
All Merit's light when they difpofe the Weight,
Who either would embroil, or rule the State ;
Defame thofe Heroes who their Yoke refufe,
And blaft that Honefty they cannot ufe ;
The Strength and Safety of the Crown deftroy,
And the King's Pow'r againft himfelf employ ;
Affront his Friends, deprive him of the Brave ;
Bereft of thefe, he muft become their Slave.
Men,- like our Money, come the moft in Play,
For being bafe, and of a coarfe Allay.
The richeft Medals, and the pureft Gold,
Of native Value, and exacleft Mould,
By Worth conceal'd, in private Clofets mine,
For vulgar Ufc too precious, and too fine ;
Whilft Tin and Copper with new (lamping bright.
Coin of bafe Metal, counterfeit and light,
Do all the Bus'nefs of the Nation's Turn,
Rais'd in Contempt, us'd and employ'd in Scorn,
So mining Virtues are for Courts too bright,
Whofe guilty Aaions fly the fearching Light ;
Rich in themfelves, difdaining to afpire,
Great without Pomp, they willingly retire ;
(jive place to Fools, whofe ram misjudging Senfc
Increafes the weak Meafures of their Prince ;
They blindly and implicitly run on,
Nor fee thofe Dangers which the others fliun :
Who
Earl qfHALLiFAx. 227
Who flow to aft, each Bus'nefs duly weigh,
Advife with freedom, and with care obey i
With Wifdom fatal to their Intereft, ftrive
To make their Monarch lov'd and Nation thrive.
Such have no place where Priefts and Women reign.
Who love fierce Drivers, and a loofer Rein.
An Epiftk fo CHARLES Earl of Dorfet,
occafioned by bis Majefty's Viffory
in Ireland.
TTJT HAT! fhall the King the Nation's Genius raife,
' "^ And make us rival our great Edward's Day's ;
Yet not one Mufe, worthy a Conq'ror's Name,
Attend his Triumphs, and record his Fame ?
Oh, Darfetl you alone this Fault can mend,
The Mufes Darling, Confident, and Friend ;
The Poets are your Charge, and, if unfit,
You mould be fin'd to furnifh abler Wit ;
Oblig'd to quit your jEafe, and draw again,
To paint the greateft Hero, the belt Pen.
A Hero, v/ho thus early doth out-mine
The ancient Honours of his glorious Line ;
And, foaring more fublimely to Renown,
The Mem'ry 'of their pious Triumphs drown ;
Whofe Actions are deliver'd o'er to Fame,
As Types and Figures of his greater Name.
When Fate fome mighty Genius has defign'cL,
For the- Relief, and Wonder of Mankind,
Nature takes Time to anfvver the Intent,
And climbs, by flow degrees, the fteep Afcent :
She toils, and labours with the growing Weight,
And watches carefully the Steps of Fate ;
'Till all the Seeds of Providence unite,
To fet the Hero in a happy Light ',
Then;
228 Po E M s by the
Then, in a lucky and propitious Flour,
Exerts her Force, and calls forth all her Pow'r.
In Naffaus Race fhe made this long Eflay ;
Heroes and Patriots prepar'd the Way ,
And promis'd, in their Dawn, this brighter Day ;
A publick Sp'rit diftinguifh'd all the Line,
Succeffive Virtues in each Branch did fhine,
'Till this laft Glory rofe, andcrown'd the great Defign.
Bleft be his Name \ and peaceful lie his Grave,
Who durft his native Soil, loft Holland, fave !
But Willcwis Genius takes a wider Scope
And gives the Injur'd, in all Kingdoms, hope;
Born to fubdue infulting Tyrant's Rage,
The Ornament, and Terror, of the Age j
The Refuge where afflicted Nations find T
Relief from thofe Oppreffors of Mankind,
Whom Laws reftrain not, and no Oaths can bind. -^
Kim, their Deliv'rer Europe does confefs,
All Tongues extol, and all Religions blefs ;
The Po, the Danube, Beztis, and the Rhine,
United in his Praife,, their Wonder join ;
While, in the publick Caufe, he takes the Field,
And melter'd Nations 6ght behind his Shield.
His Foes themfelves dare not Applaufe refufe :
And fhall fuch Actions want a faithful Mufe ?
Poets have this to boaft 5 without their Aid, -^
The frefheil Laurels nipp'd by Malice, fade,
And Virtue to Oblivion is betray'd :
The proudeft Honours have a narrow Date,
Unlefs they vindicate their Names from Fate.
But who is equal to fuftain the Part !
Dryden has Numbers, but he wants a Heart ;
Jnjoin'd a Penance, which is too fevere
For playing once the Fool, to perfevere.
Others, who knew the Trade, have laid it down ;
And, looking round, I find you ftand alone.
How, Sir, can you, or any Englijh Mufe,
Our Country's Fame, our Monarch's Arms, refufe?
'Tis
\
Earl of H A L L I P A x. 229
'Tis not my want of Gratitude, but Skill,
Makes me decline what 1 can ne'er fulfil.
I cannot fmg of Conquefts, as I ought,
And my Breath fails to fwell a lofty Note.
I know my compafs, and my Mufe's fize,
She loves to fport and play, but dares not rife ;
Idly affels, in this familiar way,
In eafy Numbers loofely: to convey,
What mutual Friendfhip wou'd at diftance fay.
Poets aflume another Tone and Voice,.
When Victory's their Theme, and Arms their Choice.
To follow Heroes in the chace of Fame,
Asks force and heat, and Fancy wing'd with flame.
What Words can paint the royal Warrior's Face J
What Colours can the Figure boldly raife,
When covar'd o*er with comely Duft and Smoke,
He pierc'd the Foe, and thickeft Squadrons broke ?
His bleeding Arm, flill painful with the Sore,
Which, in his Peoples Caufe, the pious Father bore :
Whom, cleaving through the Troops a glorious way,
Not the united Force of France, and Hell cou'd flay.
Oh, Dorfet ! I am rais'd ! I'm all on fire !
And, if my Strength could anfwer my Defire,
In fpeaking paint this Figure fhould be feen,
Like Jove his Grandeur, and like Mars his Mien J
And Gods dcfcending fhould adorn the Scene.
See, fee ! upon the Banks of Boyne he fland?,
By his own View adjufting his Commands :
Calm and ferene the armed Coaft furveys,
And, in cool Thoughts, the diff'rent Chances weighs:
Then, fir'd with Fame, and eager of Renown,
Refolves to end the War,, and fix the Throne.
From Wing to Wing the Squadrons bending (land,
And clofe their Ranks to meet their King's Command;
The Drums and Trumpets fleep, the fprightly N oife
Of neighing Steeds, and Cannons louder Voice,
Sufpended in Attention, banifh far
AH hoftile Sounds, and hufh the din of War i
The
230 P o E M s by the
The filent Troops ftretch forth an eager Look,
Lirt'ning with Joy, while thus their Gen'ral fpoke.'
' Come, Fellow-foldiers, follow me once more,
' And fix the Fate of Europe on that Shore ;
' Your Courage only waits from me the Word,
' But England'!, Happinefs commands my Sword :
* In her Defence I ev'ry Part will bear, %
' The Soldier's Danger, and the Prince's Care, C
' And envy any Arm an equal Share. j
' Set all that's dear to Men before your fight j
' For Laws, Religion, Liberty, we fight j
' To fave your Wives from Rape, your Towns from Flame,
' Redeem your Country fold, and vindicate her Name :
' At whofe Requeft and timely Call I rofe,
' To tempt my fate, and all my Hopes expofe ;
' Struggled with adverfe Storms, and winter Seas,
* That in my L'abours you might find your Eafe.
* Let other Monarchs dictate from afar,
* And write the empty Triumphs of the War;
' In lazy Palaces fupinely ruft ;'
' My Sword {hall juftify my People's Trulr,
' For which But I your Victory delay ;
' Come on ; I and my Genius lead the way.'
He faid, new Life and Joy ran through the Hoir,
And fenfe of Danger in their Wonder loft;
Precipitate they plunge into the Flood,
In vain the Waves, the Banks, the Men withftood :
The King leads on, the King does all inflame,
The King and carries Millions in the Name. 1
As when the fwelling Ocean burfts his Bounds,
And, foaming, overwhelms the neighbouring Ground?,
The roaring Deluge, rufhing headlong on,
Sweeps Cities in its Courfe, and bears whole Forefts down ;
So on the Foe the firm Batallions preft,
And he, like the tenth Wave, drove on the reft ;
Fierce, gallant, young, he ftiot through ev'ry Place, J
Urging their Flight, and hurrying on the Chace; V
He hung upon their Rear, or lighten'd in their Face. 3
Stop!
Earl C/HALLIFAX. 231
Stop ! flop ! brave Prince ! allay that gen'rous Flame,
Enough is giv'n to England, and to Fame.
Remember, Sir, you in the Center ftand, -*
Europe's divided Int'refb you command, (.
All their Defigns uniting in your Hand : y
Down from your Throne defcends the golden Chain,
Which does the Fabric of our World fuilain ;
That once diffolv'd by any fetal Stroke,
The Scheme of all our Happinefs is broke.
Stop ! flop ! brave Prince ! Fleets may repair again, ^
And routed Arms rally on the Plain; C
But Ages are requir'd to raife fo great a Man ! \
Hear, how the Waves of French Ambition roar,
Difdaining Bounds, and breaking on the Shore,
Which you, ordain'd to curb their wild deflruclive Pow'r,
That Strength remov'd ; again, again, they flow,
Lay Europe wafte, nor Law, nor Limits know. [faint?
Stop! flop! brave Prince ! What, does your Mule, Sir,
Proceed, purfue his Conquefts - -faith, I can't:
My Spirits fink, and will no longer bear;
Rapture and Fury carry'd me thus far
Tranfported and amaz'd
That Rage once fpent, I can no more fuftain
Your Flights, your Energies, and tragic Strain,
But fall back to my nat'ral Pace again ;
In humble Verfe provoking you to Rhime;
I wifli there were more Dorfets at this time.
Oh! if in France this Hero had been borr,
What glittering Tinfel wou'd his Afts adorn !
There 'tis immortal Fa*me, and high Renown,
To fleal a Country, and to buy a Town :
Their Triumphs are o'er Kings and Kingdoms fold,
And Captive Virtue led in Chains of Gold.
If Courage cou'd, like Courts, be kept in Pay, ~\
What Sums wou'd Leivis give, that France might fay >
That Via'ry follovv'd where he led the Way ? }
ITc all his Conquefts wou'd for this refund,
Anil take th' Equivalent, a glorious Wound.
Then,
\
232 Po E M s by the
Then, what Advice, to fpread his real Fame,
Wou'd pafs between Verfailles and Notredame ?
Their Plays, their Songs, wou'd dwell upon his Wound,
And Operas repeat no other Sound ;
Boyne wou'd, for Ages, be the Painter's Theme,
The. Gobelins labour, and the Poets dream ;
The wounded Arm wou'd furnifti all their Rooms,
And bleed for ever Scarlet in the Looms :
Boi/eau.v/\th this wou'd plume his artful Pen:
And can your Mufe be filent ? Think again.
Spare your Advice; and fince you have begun,
Finim your own Defign ; the Work is done.
Done ! nothing's done ! nor the dead Colours laid,
And the moft glorious Scenes ftand undifplay'd ;
A thoufand gen'rous Aftions clofe the Rear ;
A thoufand Virtues, ftill behind, {land crowding to appear.
The Queen herfelf, the charming Queen fhou'd grace }
The noble Piece, and in an artful Place, >
Soften War's Horror with her lovely Face. 3
Who can omit the Queen's aufpicious Smile,
The Pride of the Fair Sex, the Goddefs of our Ifle ?
Who can forget, what all admir'd of late,
Her Fears for him, her Prudence for the State ?
Difguifing Cares, fne fmooth'd her Looks with Grace,
Doubts in her Heart, and Pleafure in her Face.
As danger did approach, her Spirits rofe,
And, putting on the King, difmay'd his Foes.
Now, all in Joy, fhe gilds the chearfufr Court ;
In ev'ry Glance defcending Angels fport.
As on the Hills of Cyntbus, or the Meads
Of cool Eurotas, when Diana leads
The Chorus of her Nymphs, who there advance
A thoufand fhining Maids, and form the Dance j.
The ftately Goddefs with a graceful Pride,
Sweet and Majeftic, does the Figure guide,
Treading in jult and eafy Meafures round ;
The filver Arrows on her Shoulder found j
She
Earl of H A LL i FA x. 233
She walks above them all. Such is the Scene
Of the bright Circle, and the brighter Queen.
Thefe Subjects do, my Lord, your Skill command,
Thefe rone may touch with an unhallow'd Hand :
Tender the Strokes muft be, and nicely writ,
Difguis'd Encomiums muft be hid in Wit,
Which Modefty, like theirs, will e'er admit,
Who made no other Steps to fuch a Throne,
But to deferve^ and to receive, the Crown.
Written at Althrop, in a blank Leaf of
WA L L E R'J Poems , upon feeing Van-
dyke's Pitfure of the old Lady Sun-
derland.
V4NDTKE had Colour?, Softnefs, Fire, and Art,
When the fair Sa<&r/Winflam'd his Heart.
Waller had Numbers, Fancy, Wit, and Fire,
And SacbariJ/a was his fond Defire.
Why then at Althrop feems her Charms to faint,
In thefe fweet Numbers, and that glowing Paint ?
This happy Seat a fairer Miftrefs warms;
This mining Offspring has eclips'd her Charms:
The different Beauties in one Face we find;
Soft Amoret with brighteft Sachariffa join'd.
As high as Nature reach'd, their Art could fear*
But fhe ne'er made a finilh'd Piece before.
YBRIKI
234 POEMS by the
VERSES written for the To AS TI N G-
G LAS SES of the Kit-cat Club, 1703.
Dutchefs of St. Albans.
TH E Line of Vere t fo long renown'd in Arms,
Concludes with Luftre in St. Albar.f Charms.
Her conqu'ring Eyes have made their Race compleat;
They rofe in Valour, and in Beauty fet.
Dutcbefs of Beaufort.
Offspring of a tuneful Sire,
Bleft with more than mortal Fire :
Likenefs of a Mother's Face,
Bleft with more than mortal Grace :
You with double Charms furprife,
With his Wit, and with her Eyes.
Lady Mary Churchill.
Faireft and lateft of the beauteous Race,
Eleft with your Parents Wit, and her firft blooming Face*
Born with our Liberties in Williams, Reign,
Your Eyes alone that Liberty reftrain.
Dutcbefs of Richmond.
Of two fair Riclmonds different Ages boaft,
Theirs was the firft, and ours the brighteft Toaft j
Th' Adorers Offerings prove who's moft divine,
They facriiic'd in Water, we in Wine.
Lady Sunderland.
All Nature's Charms in Suntterland appear,
Bright as her Eyes, and as her Reafon clear :
Yet ftill their Force to Men not fafely known,
Seems undifcover'd to herfelf alone.
Mademoifellt
Earl of HAL Li P AX. 23$
"Mademoifelle Spanheime.
Admir'd in Germany, ador'd in France^
Your Charms to brighter Glory here advance ;
The ftubborn Britons own your Beauty's Claim,
And with their native Toafts enrol your Name.
On the Countefs Dowager of
* * *
COURAGE, dear Moll, and drive away Defpair,
^^ Mop/a, who in her Youth, \vasfcarcethoughtfoir.
In fpite of Age, Experience, and Decays,
Sets up for Charming, in her fading Days :
Snuff's her dim Eyes to give one parting Blow,
Have at the Heart of ev'ry ogling Beau !
This goodly Goofe, all feather'd like a Jay,
So gravely vain, and fo demurely gay,
Laft Night, t' adorn the Court, did overload
Her bald buff Forehead with a high Commode :
Her Steps were manag'd with fuch tender Art,
As if each Board had been a Lover's Heart.
In all her Air, in ev'ry Glance was feen
A Mixture ftrange, 'twixt Fifty and Fifteen.
Admiring Fops about her crowding prefs ;
Hbdn hi mfelf delivers their Addrefs,
Which (he, accepting with a nice Difdain,
Owns 'em her Subjects, and begins to reign :
Fair Queen of Fcpland is her royal Stile;
FoptanJf the greateft Part of this great Ifle !
Nature did ne'er fo equally divide
A Female Heart, 'twixt Piety and Pride :
Her Waicing-maids prevent the Peep of Day,
And, all in Order, on her Toilet lay
Pray 'r- books, Patch-boxes, Sermon- notes and Paint,
At once t' improve the Sinner and the Saint.
Farewelj
236 POEMS by the,. &c.
Farewel, Friend Moll, expeft no more from me,
But if you would a full Defcription fee,
You'll find her fomewhere in the Litany,
With Pride, Vain- glory, and Hypocrily.
On ORPHEUS and S i G N o RA FR AN-
CISCA MARGAKITTA.
1O A I L, tuneful Pair! fay, by what wond'rous Charms,
* / One Tcap'd from Hell,, and one from GrebeSs Arms I
When the foft Tbraciau touch'd the trembling Strings,
The Winds were hufti'd, and curl'd their airy Wings;
And when the tawny Tufcan rais'd her Strain, ,
Rook furls his Sails, and dares it on the Main.
Treaties unfinilh'd in the Office fleep,
And Shovel yawns for Orders on the Deep.
Thus equal Charms and equal Conquelts claim; Ti
To him high Woods and bending Timber came, >
To her, Zhrub-btdgv, and tall Nottingham. J
THE
THE
HIND and the PANTHER
Tranfvcrs'd fo the Story of the
Country-Moufe and the City-Monfe.
Much Malice mingled <witb a little Wit. Hind. Pan.
Nee <vult Pantbera domari. Quae Genus.
Written in Conjunction with Mr. Prior,
PREFACE.
THE Favourers of the Hind and Panther will be
. apt to fay in its Defence, That the left things are
capable of being turrid to Ridicule ; that Htoaier
has been Burlefqud, and Virgil Travefted without Buffer-
ing any thing in their Reputation from that Bujfoonry ;
and that in like manner, the Hind and the Panther may
be an exacJ Poem, though "'tis the SubjetJ of our Rallery:
But there is this difference, that thofe Authors are wrefted
from their true Senfe, and this naturally falls into Ridi-
cule ; there is nothing Reprefented here as monftrous and un-
natural, which is not equally' fo in the Original. Fir ft, at
to the general Defign, Is it not as eajy to imagine two Mice
bilking Coachmen, and fanning at the Devil j as to fup'
pofe a Hind entertaining a Panther at a Hermit'j Cell,
difcujjing the greateft Myjleries of Religion, and telling you
her Son Rodriguez writ very good Spanifh ? What can be
more improbable and contradictory to the Rules and Ex-
amples of all Fables, and to the 'very dejign and ufe of
them? They were jirft begun and raifed to the higheft Per'
feclion in the Eaflern Countries ; where they 'wrote in Signs
andfpoke in Parables, and delivered the tnoft ufeful Pre-
cepts in delightful Stories ; which, for their Aptnefs, 'were
entertaining to the mojt 'Judicious, and ltd the Vulgar into
UnderJJanding by futpr ifing them with their Novelty, and
fixing their Attention. All their Tables carry a double
Meaning ; the Story is one and entire ; the Characters the
fame throughout, not broken or chang d, and always cw-
farmable to the Nature of the Creatures they introduce*
They never tell you that the Dog which fnapt at a Shadow,
lojl his 'traop of -Hor/e, that would be unintelligible ; a
Piece
PREFACE.
Piece of Flejh is proper for him to drop, and the Reader
*will apply it to Mankind; they would not fay that the Daiv
'who was fo proud of her borrow d Plumes looKd 'very ridi-
culous when Rodriguez came and took away all the Bock
but the ijth, z^th, and 2th Chaffers, which jbe flole
from him : But this is his new way of telling a Story, and
confounding the Moral and the Fable together.
Before the Word was written, faid the Hind, *
Our Saviour preach 1 d the Faith to all Mankind.
What Relation has the Hind to our Saviour ? or what
Notion have we of a PantherV Bible? If you fay he means
the Church, how does the Church feed on Lawns, or range
in the Forejl? Let it be always a Church, or always
the cloven-footed Beaft, for we cannot bear his /hiftihg the
Scene every Line. If it is abfurd in Comedies to make a.
Peafant talk in the Strain of a Hero, or a Country-wench
ufe the Language of the Court ; hew monjlrous is it it
make a Priejl of a Hind, and a Parfon of a Panther ? To
bring ""em in difputing with all the Formalities and Terms
of thf School? Though as to the Arguments tbemfelvcs,
thofe, we confefs, are fuited to the Capacity of the Beafts 9
and if we would fuppofe a Hind exprejjing herfelf about
thefe Matters, Jhe would talk at that Rate.
As to the Abfurdity of his Expreflons, there is nothing
wrefled to make ''em ridiculous, the Terms are fometimes
alter d to make the Blunder more vijible; Knowledge mif-
underftood is not at all better Senfe than Underftanding
jnifunderftood ; though 'tis cotifeft the Author can play with
Words fo well, that this and twenty fuch will pafs ojf at
a flight Reading.
There are other Mijlakes which could not be brought in,
for they were too grofs for Bayes himfelf to commit. "Tis
hard to conceive how any Man could cenfure the Turks for
'Gluttony, a People that debauch in Coffee, are voluptuous
in a Mefs of Rice, and keep the jlriftejl Lent, without
the
PREFACE.
ike Plenfures of a Carnival to encourage them. But '//j
almojl impojjible to think that any Man who kad not re-
nounced bis Senfes, foould read Duncomby^r Allen : He
bad been told that Mr. Allen had written a Difcourfe of
Humility ; to 'which he wifely anfwers, 'That that magni-
fied Piece of Duncomb'j was translated ft om the Spanifh
of Rodriguez, and to fet it beyond Difpute, makes the. in-
fallible Guide affirm the fame thing. There are few
Mijiakes, but one may imagine bow a Man fell into them,
and at leaft what he ainfd at ; but what Likenefs is there
between Duncomb and Allen? do they fo much as Rhime?
We may have this Comfort under the Severity of bis
Satire, to fee his Abilities equally lejjend with his Opinion
of us ; and that be cculd not be a fit Companion againjl the
Panther till he had laid ajide all his Judgment. But we
mufl applaud his Obedience to his new Mother Hind ', fie
difciplin'd him ftverely, jke commanded him, it feems, to
facrifice his darling Mufe, and, to do it efeclually, he pub-
iifljd this learned Piece. This is the favourable Conftruftien
we would put 6n his Faults, tho' he takes care to inform
us, that it was done from no Impojityn^ but out of a na-
tural Propenjity he has to Malice, and a particular Inclina-
tion of doing Mifchief. What elfe could provoke him to
Libel the Court, blafpheme Kings, abufe the whole Scotch
Nation, rail at the greatejl Part of his o~un, and lay all
the Indignities imaginable on the only eftabl<Jh' l d Religion ?
And we mufl now congratulate him this Felicity, that there
is no Seft or Denomination of Chrijiians, whom he has nat
abufed.
Thus far his Arms have with Succefs been crown'd.
Let Turks, Jews and Infidels, look to themfelves, he has
already begun the War upon them. When once a Conqueror
grows thus dreadful, 'tis the Interefl of all his Neighbours
to oppofe him, for there is no Alliance to be made with one
that will face about, and deftroy his Friends, and, like a
ftcond Almanzor, change fides meerly to keep his. Hand in ure.
VOL. I. M This
PREFACE.
Tf>:s heroic Temper of bis, has created him fame Enemies,
that did by no means affeff Hofility ; and be may obfer've
this Candor in the Management, that none of bis Works
are concern d in tbefe Papers, but bis laft Piece ; and I be-
lie've be is fenfible this is a Favour. I was not ambitious
of Laughing at any Perfuafion, or making Religion the
Subjeft of fuch a Trifle ; fo that no Man is here concern d,
tut the Author himfelf, and nothing ridiculed but his way
of arguing.
But, Gentlemen, if you wont take it fo, you muft grant
my Excufe is more reafonable than our Author s to tbt
Di enters.
THE
THE
HIND and the PANTHER,
Tranfvers'd to the Story of 'The Country
and the City Moufe.
Bayes, Johnfon, Smith.
Johnfcn.
AH ! my old Friend Mr. Bayts, what
lucky Chance has thrown me upon you ?
Dear Rogue, let me embrace thee.
Bayes. Hold, at your Peril, Sir, ftand
off and come not within my Sword's
Point, for if you are not come over to the
Royal Party, I expefl neither fair War, nor fair Quarter
from you.
Jobnf. How, draw upon your Friend? and aflault
your old Acquaintance ? O' my Conference my Intentions
were honourable.
Bayes. Confcience / Ay, ay, I know the deceit of that
Word well enough, let me have the Marks of your Ccx*
fcience before I truft it, for if it be not of the fame
Stamp with mine, gad I may be knockt down for all your
fair Promifes.
M z
Snith,
244 ffl* HIND and
Smith. Nay, prithee Bayes, what damn'd Villany haft
thou been about, that thou'rt under thefe Apprehenfions ?
upon my Honour I'm thy Friend; yet thou lookeft as
fneakiug and frighted, as a Dog that has been worrying
Sheep.
Bayes. Ay, Sir, The Nation is in too high a Ferment for
me to expeft any Mercy, or I'gad, to truft any body.
Smith. But why this to us, my old Friend, who you
know never trouble our Heads with national Concerns,
till the third Bottle has taught us as much of Politicks,
as the next dees of Religion ?
Bayes, Ah Gentlemen, leave this Prophanenefs, I am
altered fince you faw me, and cannot bear this loofe
talk now ; Mr. Johnfon, you are a Man of Parts, let
me defire you to read the Guide of Controverjy ; and Mr.
Smith, I would recommend to you the Confederations on
the Council of Trent, and fo Gentlemen your humble
Servant Good Life ie now my Task.
Johnf. Nay faith, we won't part fo j believe us we
are both your Friends ; let us flep to the Rofe for one
quarter of an Hour, and talk over old Stories.
Bayes. I ever took you to be Men of Honour, and
iLr your fakes I will tranfgrefs as far as one Pint.
John/. Well, Mr. Bayes, many a merry bout have we
had in this Houfe, and lhall have again, I hope : Come,
what Wine are you for ?
' Bayes. Gentlemen, do you as you pleafe, for my part
he (hall bring me a fing'e Pint of any thing.
Smith. How fo, Mr. Bayes, have you loft your Pallat ?
vou have been more curious.
Bayes. True, I have fo, but Senfes muft be ftar<vd
that the Soul may be gratified. Men of your Kidney
make .the Senfes the fupremc Judge, and therefore bribe
'em high, but we have laid both the ufe and p!eafure of
'^m sfide.
Smith. What, is not there good eating and drinking
on both Sides ? You make the Separation greater than
I thought it.
Bayes.
the PANTHER Tranfoerid. 245
Bayes. No, no, whenever you fee a fat rofy-colour'd
Fellow, take it from me, he is either a Proteftant or a
Turk.
Johnf. At that rate, Mr. Bayes, one might fufpeft
your Converfion ; methinks thou haft as much the face
of an Here tick as ever I faw.
Bayes. Such nuas 7, fucb by nature ft ill I am. But I
hope ere long I mail have drawn this pamper d Paunch
fitter for theftrait Gate.
Smith. Sure, Sir, you are in ill Hands, your Con-
feflbr gives you more fevere Rules than he praftifes ;
for not long ago a fat Frier was thought a true
Character.
Bayes. Things were mifreprefented to me : I confefs
I have been unfortunate in fome of my Writings: but
fince you have put me upon that Subject, I'll fhow you
a thing I have in my Pocket (hall wipe off all that, or
I am miilaken.
Smith. Come, now thou art like thyfelf again. Here'i
the King's Health to thee Communicate.
Bayes. Well, Gentlemen, here it is, and I'll be bold
to fay, the exafteft Piece the World ever faw, a Nan
Pareillo Pfaith. But I muft befpeak your Pardons if it
reflects any thing upon your Perfuafion.
Johnf. Ufe your Liberty, Sir, you know we are no
Bigots.
Bayes. Why then you mail fee me lay the Reforma-
tion on its Back, I'gad, and juftify our Religion by way
Of Fable.
Johnf. An apt Contrivance indeed ! what do you
make a Fable of your Religion ?
Bayes. Ay I'gad, and without Morals too; for I tread
in no Man's Steps ; and to fhow you how far I can out-
do any thing that ever was writ in this kind, I have
taken Horace's Defign, but I'gad, have fo out-done
him, you mall be afham'd for your old Friend. You
remember in him the Story of the Country- Mou/e, and
the City-Mouft ; what a plain fimple thing it is, it has
M 3 no
246
HIND and
no more Life and Spirit in it, I'gad, than a Hobby-
horfe; and his Mice talk fo meanly, fuch common fluff,
fo like mere Mice, that I wonder it has pleas'd the
World fo long. But now will I undeceive Mankind, and
teach 'em to heighten and elevate a Fable. I'll bring
you in the very lame Mice difputing the depth of Philo-
fopby, fearching into the Fundamentals of Religion, quot-
ing Texts, Fathers, Councils, and all that, I'gad, as
you mall fee either of 'em could eafily make an Afs of
a Country Vicar. Now whereas Horace keeps to the
dry naked Story, I have more Copioufnefs than to do
that, I'gad. Here, 1 draw you general Characters, and
defcrrbe all the Beafts of the Creation; there, I lanch
out into long Digrejfions, and leave my Mice for twenty
Pages together ; then 1 fall into Raptures, and make
the fineft Soliloquies, as would ravifh you. Won't this
do, think you ?
Jhnf. Faith, Sir, I don't well conceive you j all
this about two Mice?
Bayes. Ay, why not ? is it not Great and Heroical ?
but come, you'll under/land it better when you hear it ;
and pray be as fevere as you can, I'gad I defy all
Criticks. Thus ic begins:
A milk-white Moufe immortal and unchanged,
fed on foft Cheefe, and o'er the Dairy rangd;
Without, unfpotted ; innocent within,
She feared no Danger, for Jhe knenu no Ginn.
Johnf. Methinks, Mr. Bay's* fofi Cheefe is a little
too coarfe Diet for an immortal Moufe ; were there any
Neceffity for her eating, you mould have confulted Homer
for Tome Celefiial Provijioa.
Bayes. Faith, Gentlemen, I did fo ; but indeed I
have not the Latin one, which I na' e mark'd by me,
and could not readily find ic in the Original,
the PA N T H E R Xrimfbcrfd. 247
Tet had She oft been fcar'd by bloody Claws
Of winged Owls, and flern Grimalkins Paws
Ainid at her deftin'd Head, which made her_/?y,
Tho' She was doonid to Death, and fated not to die.
Fmith. How came She that feard no Danger in the
Line before, to be fcar'd in this, Mr. Bayes?
Bayes. Why then you may have it chas'd if you will ;
for 1 hope a Man may run away without being afraid j
mayn't he ?
Johnf. But pray give me leave ; How was (he doonid
to Death, if (he was fated not to die ; are not doom and
fate, much the fame thing ?
Bayes. Nay, Gentlemen, if you queftion my Skill in
the Language, I'm your humble Servant ; the Rogues
the Criticks, that will allow me nothing elfe, give me
that ; fure I that made the Word, know beft what I
meant by it : I aflure you, doom d and fated, are quite
different things.
Smith. Faith, Mr. Bayes, if you were doomed to be
hang'd, whatever you were fated to, 'twould give you
but imall comfort.
Bayes. Never trouble your Head with that, Mr.
Smith, mind the Bafmefs in hand.
Wot fo her young ; their Linfy-woolfy Line,
Was Heroes make^ half Human, half Divine.
Smith. Certainly thefe Heroes, half Human, half Di-
vine, have very little of the Mou/e their blather.
Bayes. Gadfokcrs ! Mr. Jobnfon, does your Friend
think I mean nothing but a Moufe, by all this ? I tell
thee, Man, I mean a Church, and thefe young Gentle-
men her Sons, fignify Priejis, Martyrs, and Confejjbrs,
that were hang'd in Oats's Plot. There's an excellent
Latin Sentence, which I had a mind to bring in, San-
guis Martyntm femen Ecclefa, and I think I have not
wrong'd it in the Tranflation.
M 4 O/
' 248 ke HIND and
Of thtfe a Jlaugaterd Army lay in Blood,
WTocfe fanguine Seed increased the facred Brood ;
She multiply d by thefe, no<w rantfd alone,
And wander* d in the Kingdoms once her own.
Smith. Was {he alone when the facred Brood was in-
creafed ?
Bayes. Why thy Head's running on the Moufe again;
but I hope a Church may be alone, tho' the Members be
inaeafcd, mayn't it ?
Jchnf. Certainly, Mr. Bayes, a Church which is a
dilfuf.--ve Body of Men, can much lefs be laid to be
alone.
Bayes But are you really of that Opinion ? Take it
from me, Mr. Johnfon, you are wrong ; however t
oblige you, I'll clap in Come Simile or other, about the
Children of Ifrael, and it fhall do.
Smith. Will you pardon me one Word more, Mr.
Bayes? What could the Moufe (for I fuppofe you mean
her now) do more than range in the Kingdoms, when
they were her own ?
Bayes. Do ? why {he reign d ; had a Diadem, Scepter,
and Ball, 'till they depos'd her.
Smith. Now her Sons are fo increased, me may try
t'other pull for't.
Bayes. I'gad, and fo me may before I have done with
her ; it has cod me fome Pains to clear her Title. Well s
but Mum for that, Mr. Smith.
The common Bunt, me timoroufly paft by,
For they made tame, difdaind her Company ;
They grind, {he in a fright tript o'er the Green,
For me was lo<vd t wherever me wzs/een.
Johnf. Well faid, little Bayes, I'faith the Critick muft
have a great deal of Leifure, that attacks thofe Verfes.
Bayes. I'gad, I'll warrant him, who e'er he is, offendtt
folido ; but 1 go on.
the PA N T H E R Tranfvers'd.
The Independent Sea/}
Smith. Who is that Mr. Eayes ?
Bayes. Why, a Bear: Pox, is not that obvious enough ?
in Groans her Hate expreft.
Which I'gad, is very natural to that Animal. Well !
there's for the Independent : Now the Quaker ; what do
you think I call him ?
Smith. Why, a Bull, for ought I know.
Eayes. A Bull! O Lord ! A Bull ! no, no, a Hare,
tL quaking Hare.' <ArmariIlis, becaufe fhe wears Armour,
'tis the fame Figure ; and I am proud to fay it, Mr.
Johnfon, no Man knows how to pun in Heroicks but my-
felf. Well, you fhall hear.
She thought, and Reafon good, the quaking Hare
Her cruel Foe, becaufe (he would not f<wtar t
And had profefid neutrality.
Johnf. A fhrewd Reafon that, Mr. Bayes ; but what
Wars were there ?
Bayes. Wars ! why there had been bloody Wars, tho 1
they were pretty well reconcil'd now. Yet to bring in
two or three fuch fine things as thefe, I don't tell you
the Lion's Peace was proclaim'd till fifty Pages after,
dio' 'twas really done before I had finifh'd my Poem.
Next her, the buffoon Ape his Body bent,
And paid at Church a Courtier s Compliment.
That galls fomewherej I'gad I can't leave it off>
tho' J werejcudgel'd every Day for it.
The brijTd Baptift Boar, impure as he.
Smith. As who ?
Bayes. As the Courtier, let 'em e'en take it as they
will, I'gad, I feldjom come amongft 'em,
M 5 . JCa
250 <Tbe HIND and
Wai <w':!tend with the /?- >:i / .' : a<2 ~
The Wdf with Belly f,:u:> his .on, Creft rears,
~ifrtd p-iiks up. New in one Word wiil I abufe the
whole Party moft damnably and pricks up. I 'gad, I
am fare you'll laugh kis predcftinating Ears. Prithee
Mr. Joonfon, remember little Bayes, when next you fee
a Presbyterian, and take notice if he has not Predejliva-
tim in the fhape of his Ecr: I have ftudied Men fo long.
I'll undertake to know an Armintan, by the letting of
his Wig.
His predeftinating Ears. I gad there's ne'er a Pref-
byterian fhall dare to ihow his Head without a Border :
I'll put 'em to that Expence.
Smith. Pray, Mr. Bayes, if any of 'em mould come
over to the Royal Party, would their Ears alter ?
Bayes. Would they ? Ay, I'gad, they would fhed
their Fanatical Lugs, and have juil fuch we!l-turn'd Ears
as I have ; mind thi; Ear, this is a true Roman Ear,
mine are much chang'd for the better within thefe two
Years.
Smith. Then if ever the Party mould chance to fail,
JO' 1 , might lofe 'em, for what may change, may fall.
Bayes. Mind, mind ~
*Hefe fiery Zuinglius, n:eagre Calvin bred.
Smith. Thofe I fuppofe are fome cut-landifh Beafls,
Mr. Bayes.
Ba-:es. Beafts ; a good Miftake ? Why they were the
chief Reformers, but here I pat 'em in fo bad Company,
hecaafe they were Enemies to my Mou/e, and anon
when I am warnVd, Fgad you lhall hear me call 'em
Dotfors, Captains, Hirfts and Horjtmen in the very fame
Breath. You (hall hear how J go on now,
Or elfe reforming Korah fpawn'd this Clafs,
When optmng Earth nwde way fir all to pafs.
Join/.
the P A N T H E R Tranfuers'd. 2 5 1
Jobnf. For all, Mr. Bayet ?
Saves. Yes, They were all loft there, but fome of
'em were thrown up again at the Leman-Lake : as a
Catholick >ueen funk at Charitig-Crofs, and rofe again
at S^ueenhith.
The Fox and be came Ruffled in the dark.
If ever they were ft oiv 'd in NoahV Ark.
Here I put a Query, Whether there were any Socinians
before the Flood, which I'm not very well fatLfisd in ?
I have been lately apt to believe that the World was
drown'd for that Herefy, which among Friends maiie
me leave it.
^uickned n.uitb Fire below, tbefe Mcnflers breed
In fenny Holland, and in fruitful Tweed.
Now to write fomething new and cut of the way, to
elevate and furprife, and all that, I fetch, you fee this
Shtickning Fire from the Bottom of Bog s and Rivers.
Jobnf. Why, faith, that's as ingenious a Contrivance
as the Virtuofis making a Burning-Glafs of Ice.
Bayes. Why was there ever any fuch thing ? Let me
perifh if ever I heard of it. The Fancy was fheer new
to me ; and I thought no Man had reconcil'd thofe Ele-
ments but myfelf. Well Gentlemen \ Thus far I have
followed Antiquity, and as Homer has number'd his
Ships, fo I have rang'd my Beafts. Here is my Boa;-
and my Bear, and my Fox and my Wolf, and the refl
of 'em all againft my poor Moufe. Now what do you
think I do with all thefe ?
Smith. Faith I don't know, I fuppofe you make 'em
fight.
Bayes. Fight! I'gad I'd as foon make 'em Dance.
No, I do no earthly thing with 'em, nothing at all,
I'gad: I think they have play'd their Parts fufficiently
al.eady ; I have walk'd "em cue, fhow'd 'em to the
Company,
252 The HIND and
Company, and rais'd your Expectation. And now whiltf
you hope to fee 'em bated, and are dreaming of Blood
and Battles, they fculk off, and you hear no more
of 'em.
Smith. Why, faith, Mr. Bayes^ now you have been
at fuch Expence in fetting forth their Characters, it had
been too much to have gone through with 'em.
Bayes. I'gad fo it had : And then I'll -tell you another
thing, 'tis not every one that reads a Poem through.
And therefore I fill the firft Part with Flowers, Figures,,
fine Language, and all that ; and then I'gad fink by de-
grees, 'till at laft I write but little better than other
People. And whereas moft Authors creep fervilely after
the old Fellows, and ftrive to grow upon their Readers ;
I take another Courfe, I bring in all my Characters to-
gether, and let 'em fee I could go on with 'em ; but
I'gad, I won't.
Jobnf. Could go on with 'em, Mr. Bayes! there's no
Body doubts that ; you have a moft particular Genius
that way.
Bayes. Oh ! dear Sir, you are mighty obliging : But
I mull needs fay, at a Fable or an Emblem, \ think no
Man comes near me, indeed I have ftudied it more
than any Man. Did you ever take notice, Mr. John/on,
of a little Thing that has taken mightily about Town.,.
a Cat 'with a Top-knot ?
Jobnf. Faith, Sir, 'tis mighty pretty, I faw it at the
Coffee-Houfe.
Bayes. 'Tis a Trifle hardly worth owning ; I was
t'other Day at Witts throwing out fomething of that
Nature ; and I'gad, the Hint was taken, and out came
that Picture ; indeed the poor Fellow was fo civil to
prefent me with a dozen of 'em. for my Friends, I think
I have one here in my Pocket; would you pleafe to
accept it, Mr; Jobnfon?
Jobnf. Really 'tis very ingenious.
Bayes. Oh Lord! nothing at all, I could defign
twenty of 'em in an Hour, if I had but witty Fellows
about
/^PANTHER Tratifberfd. 253
about me to draw 'em. I was proffer'd a Penfion to go
into Holland^ and contrive their Emblems. But hang
'em they are dull Rogues, and would fpoil my Inven-
tion. But come, Gentlemen, let us return to our Bufi-
nefs, and here I'll give you a delicate defcription of a
Man.
Smith. But how does that come in ?
Bayes. Come in ? very naturally. I was talking of a
Wolf, and that fuppofes a Wood, and then I clap an
Epithet to't, and call it a Celtic Wood: Now when I
was there, I could not help thinking of the French Per-
fecution^ and I'gad from all thefe Thoughts I took occa-
fion to rail at the French King, and (how that he was
not of the fame Make with other Men, which thus I
prove.
fbe Divine Blackfmith in tb? Alyfs of Light,
Yawning and lolling txith a carelefs beat.
Struck out the mute Creation at a Heat.
But he work'd hard to hammer out our Souls,
He blew the Bellows, and ftir'd up the Coals ;
Long time he thought, and could not on a fudden
Knead up ivith unskim'd Milk this Reas'ning Pudding :
Tender, and mild within its Bag it lay, -\
Confeffing Jlill the foftnefs of its Clay, L
And kind as Milk-Maids on their Wedding-Day, j
'Till Pride of Empire, Lujl, and hot Defire
Did over-boil him, like too great a Fire,
And underftanding grown, mifunderftood,
Burn'd Him to th'Pot, and four'd his curdled Blood.
Joinf. But fure this is a little profane, Mr. Bayes.
Bajgs. Not at all : do's not Pirgil bring in his God
Vulcan working at the Anvil?
Jobnf. Ay, Sir, but never thought his Hands the
fitted to make a Pudding.
Bayes. Why, do you imagin Him an earthly dirty
JMackfmitk? 'Gad you make it profane indeed. I'll
tell
254 The HIND and
tell you, there's as much difference betwixt 'em, I'gad,
as betwixt my Man and Milton?,. But now, Gentlemen,
the Plot thickens, here comes my t'other Moufe, the
City Moufe.
A fpotted Moufe, the prettieft next the White,
Ah ! were her Spots wafh'd out, as pretty quite s
With Phylafleries on her Forehead fpread,
Crofter in Hand, and Miter on her Head.
Three Steeples Urgent on her Sable Shield.
Liv'd in the City, and difdain'd the Field.
Jobnf. This is a glorious Moufe indeed ! but, as you
have drefs'd her, we don'c know whether ihe be Jew,
Papifi or Proteftant.
Bayes. Let me embrace you, Mr. John/on, for that ;
you take it right. She is a mere Babel of Religions, and
therefore {he's a fpotted Moufe here, and will be a Mule
prefently. But to go on.
This Princefs
Smith. What Princefs^ Mr. Hayes f
Bayes. Why this Moufe, for I forgot to tell you, an
Old Lion made a left-hand Marriage with her Mother,
and begot on her Body Elizabeth Schifm, who was mar-
ried to Timothy Sacrilege, and had Iffue Gracelefs Herejy.
Who all give the fame Coat with their Mother, Three
Steeples Urgent, as I told you before.
This Princefs, tho' ejlrangd from what was befl,
Was hafl Defer md, becaufe Reformed the leafl.
There's De and Re as good I'gad as ever was.
She in a Mafquerade of Mirth and Love,
Mijlook the Blifs of Heaven for Bacchanals above,
And grub 1 d //^Thorns beneath our tender Feet,
To make the Paths of Paradife more fweet.
There's a jolly Moufe for you, let me fee any body elfe
that can ihew you fuch another. Here now have I one
damnable
/^PANTHER Tranfoers'd. 255
damnable fevere, reflecting Line, but I want a Rhime
to it j can you help me, Mr. John/on ?
She
Humbly content to be deftisd at Home,
Johnf. Which is too narrow Infamy for fome.
Bayes. Sir, I thank you, now I can go on with it.
Whofe Merits are diffused from Pole to Pole,
Where Winds can carry, and 'where Waves can roll.
Johnf. But does not this reflect upon fome of your
Friends, Mr. Bayes?
Bayes. 'Tis no matter for that, let me alone to bring
'myfelf off. I'll tell you, lately I writ a damn'd Libel
on a whole Party, fheer Point and Satire all through,
I'gad. Call'd 'em Rcgues, Dogs, and all the Names I
could think of, but with an exceeding deal of Wit ; that
I muft needs fay. Now it happen'd before I could
finim this Piece, the Scheme of Affairs was altered, and
thofe People were no longer Beafts : Here was a Plunge
now : Should I lofe my Labour, or Libel my Friends ?
'Tis not every Body's Talent to find a Sa!<vo for this :
But what do me I, but write a fmooth delicate Preface,
wherein I tell them that the Satire was not intended to
tkem, and this did the Bufmefs.
&tniib. But if it was not intended to them againft
whom it was writ, certainly it had no Meaning at all.
Bayes. Poh ! There's the Trick on't. Poor Fools,
they took it, and were fatisfied : And yet it maul'd 'em
damnably I'gad.
Smith. Why faith, Mr. Bayes, there's thid very Con-
trivance in the Preface to Dear Joys Jffls.
Bayes. What a Devil do you think that I'd fteal from
fuch an Author ? Or ever read it ?
Smitb. I can't tell, but you fometimes read as bad,
I have heard you quote Reynard the Fox.
Bayes. Why there's it now ; take it from me, Mr.
Smith, there is as good Morality, and as found Precepts,
The HIND and
in the deleRable Hiftory of Reynard the Fox, as in any
Book I know, except Seneca. Pray tell me where in
any other Author could I have found fo pretty a Name
for a Wolf as Ifgrim ? But prithee, Mr. Smith, give me
no more trouble, and let me go on with my Moufe.
One Evening, when (he went away from Court,
Levee's and Couchee's pajl without refort.
There's Court Language for you ; nothing gives a Verfe
fo fine a Turn as an Air of good Breeding.
Smith. But methinks the Levee's and Couchefs of a
Maufe are too great, efpecially when me is walking from
Court to the cooler Shades.
Bayes. I'gad now have you forgot what I told you,
that me was a Princefs. But pray mind ; here the two
Mice meet.
She met the Country Moufe, whofe fearful Face
Beheld from far the common watering Place,
Nor durft approach
Smith. Methinks, Mr. Bayes, this Moufe is ftrangeljr
alter'd, fince fhefear'd no Danger.
Bayes. Godfokers ! Why no more ihe does not yet,
fear either Man or Beaft: But, poor Creature, me's
afraid of the Water, for me could not fwim, as you fee
by this.
Nor durft approach, ''till with an awful Roar
'The Sovereign Lion bad her fear no more.
But befides, 'tis above thirty Pages off that I told you
fi\e feard no Danger ; and I'gad if you will have no va-
riation of the Character, you muft have the fame thing
over and over again ; 'tis the Beauty of Writing to Itrike
you ftill with fomething new. Well, but to proceed.
But
the P A N T H E R Tranfversd. 2 57
But when {he had this fweeteft Moufe in view,
Good Lord, ho<w /he admird her heavenly Hetu !
Here now to (how ycu I am Matter of all Stiles, I let
myfelf down from the Maje/ty of Virgil, to the Siueetnefs
of Ovid.
Good Lord, hvwjhe admird her heavenly He-w!
What more eafy and familiar ! I writ this Line for the
Ladies : The little Rogues will be fo fond of me to find
I can yet be fo tender. I hate fuch a rough unhewn
Fellow as Milton^ that a Man muft fweat to read him ;
I'gad you may run over this and be almoft afleep.
Th' immortal Moufe, who faw the Viceroy come
So far to fee her, did invite her Home.
There's a pretty Name now for the Spotted Moufe, the
Viceroy !
Smith. But pray why d'ye call her fo ?
Sayes . Why ! Becaufe it founds prettily : I'll call her
the Crown-Genera! prefently, if I've a mind to it. Well.
did invite her Home
To fmoke a Pipe, and o'er a fober Pot
Difcourfe of Gates and Eedloe, and the Plot.
She made a Curt'fy, like a civil Dame,
And, being much a Gentlewoman, came.
Well, Gentlemen, here's my firft Part finifh'd, and I
think I have kept my Word with you, and given it the
majeflick Turn of Heroick Poefi. The reft being matter of
Difpute, I had not fuch frequent occafan for the magni-
fcence ofVerfe, tho' I'gad they fpeak very well. And I
have heard Hen, and confiderable Men too, talk the very
fame Things, a great deal worfe,
258 The HIND and
Jobnf. Nay, without doubt, Mr. Sajes, they have
received no fmall Advantage from the fmoothnels of your
Numbers.
Bayes. Ay, ay, I can do't, if I lift: though you muft
not think I have been fo dull as to mind thefe things my-
felf, but 'tis the Advantage of our Coffee-houfe, that from
their Talk one may write a very good polemical Dii-
courfe, without ever troubling ones Head with the Books
of Controverfy. For I can take the flighteft of their
Arguments, and clap 'cm pertly into four Verfes, which
(hall ftare any London Divine in the Face. Indeed your
knotty Reafonings, with a long Train of Majors and
Minors, and the Devil and all, are "too barbarous for my
Stile j but 'i gad I can flourifh better with one of thefe
twinkling Arguments, than the bell of 'em can fight with
t'other. But we return to our Moufe, and now I've
brought 'em together, let 'em e'en fpeak for themfelves,
which they will do extremely well, or I'm miftaken :
and pray obferve, Gentlemen, if in one you don't find
all the Delicacy of a luxurious City-Moafe, and in the
other all the plain Simplicity of a fober ferious Matron.
Dame, faid the Lady of the fpotted Muff^
Methinks your Tiff is four, your Gates mere Stuff.
There did not I tell you (he'd be nice ?
Your Pipe's fo foul, that I difdain to fmoke;
And the Weed worfe than e'er Tom I- s took.
Smith. I did not hear (he had a fpotted Muff before.
Bayes. Why no more (he has not now : but (he has a
Skin that might make a fpotted Muff. There's a pretty
Figure now, unknown to the Ancients.
Leave, leave ( * foe's earneftyoufee] this hoary Shed and
lonely Hills,
And eat with me at GroJeau t s, fmoke at Will's.
* Pttta hjuitvr,
What
the P A N T H E R I'ranf'uers'd. 2 59
What Wretch would nibble on a Hanging-flielf,
When at PontacRs he may regale himfelf ?
Or to the Houfe of cleanly Rbenifh go ;
Or that at Charing- Cr of s, or that in Channel-Row ?
Do you mark me now ? I would by this reprefent the
Vanity of a Town-Fop^ who pretends to be acquainted at
all thofe good Houfes, though perhaps he ne'er was in
'em. But hark! fhe goes on.
Come, at a Crown a Head ourfelves we'll treat,
Champaign our Liquor, and Ragous our Meat.
Then hand in hand we'll go to Court, dear Cux,
To vifit Eijhop Martin and King Buz.
With Evening Wheels we'll drive about the Park,
Finifh at Loctet's, and reel home i'th'dark.
Break clattering Windows, and demolim Doors
Of Engli/b Manufactures Pimps, and Whores.
Johnf. Methinks a Pimp or a Whore, is an odd fort
of a Manufacture, Mr. Bayes.
Hayes. I call 'em fo, to give the Parliament a hint not
to fuffer fo many of 'em to be exported, to the decay of
Trade at home.
With thefe Allurements Spotted did invite
From Hermits Cell, the Female Prcfelyte.
Oh! with what eafe *we follow fuch a Guide,
Where Souls are Jlarv'J, and Senfes gratify' d.
Now would not you think fhe's going ? but I 'gad,
you're miftaken ; you fhall hear a long Argument about
Infallibility, before fhe ftirs yet.
But here the White, by Obferwation, wife,
Who long on Hearfn had fix d her prying Eyes,
With thoughtful Countenance, and grave Remark,
Said, or my Judgment fails me, or 'tis dark.
Lett
260 <fhe HIND and
Left therefore we mould ftray, and not go right,
Through the Iroiun Horror of the ftarlefs Night,
Haft thou Infallibility, that Wight?
Sternly the Savage grind, and thus reply d:
That Mice may err, f was never yet deny'd.
That I deny, faid the immortal Dame,
There is a Guide Gad I've forgot his Name,
Who -lives 'in Heaven or Rome, the Lord knows where,
Had we but him, Sweet heart, we could not err.
But hark you, Sifter, this is bat a Whim ;
For ftill we want a Guide to find out Him.
Here you fee I don't trouble myfelf to keep on the
Narration, but write White fpeaks, or Dapple fpeaks by
the fide. But when I get any noble Thought which I
envy a Moufe mould fay, I clap it down in my own
Perfon with a Poeta loquitur ; which, take notice, is a
furer fign {of a fine thing in my Writings, than a Hand
in the Margin any where elfe. Well now fays White,
What need we find him ? we have certain Proof
That he is fomewhere, Dame, and that's enough :
For if there is a Guide that -knows the way,
Although we know not him, we cannot ftray.
That's true, I 'gad : Well faid, White. You fee her
'Adverfary has nothing to fay for herfelf, and therefore to
confirm the Victory, fhe mall make a Simile.
Smith. Why then I find Similes are as good after
Viftory, as after a Surprife.
Bayes. Every Jot, I 'gad, or rather better. Well,
flie can do it two ways either about Emijfion or Rfception
of Light, or elfe about Epfom-Waters, but I think the
laft is moft familiar; therefore fpeak, my pretty one.
As though 'tis controverted in the School,
Jf Wattrs pafs by Urine or by Stool,
Shall
the PA N T H E R Tranfversi' d. 261
Shall we who are Pbilofopbers t thence gather
From this Diflenfion that they work by neither.
And I 'gad, {he's in the right on't; but mind now,
ihe comes upon her fwop !
All this I did, your Arguments to try.
And I 'gad, if they had been never fo good, this next
Line confutes 'em.
Hear and be dumb, thou Wretch, that Guide am I.
There's a Surprife for you now! How fneakingly
t'other looks? Was not that pretty now, to make her
ask for a Guide firft, and then tell her flie was one ? Who
could have thought that this little Moufe had the Pope
and a whole General Council in her Belly ? Now Dapple
had nothing to fay to this; and therefore you'll fee me
grows peevifh.
Come leave your cricking Tricks, and as they fay,
Ufe not, that Barber that trims Time, Delay,
Which, I 'gad, is new, and my own,
I've Eyes as well as you to find the way.
Then on they jogg'd, and fence an Hour of Talk
Might -cut a Banter on the tedious Walk',
As I remember faid the fiber Moufe,
I've heard much Talk of the Wits Coffee-Houfe:
Thither, faid Brindle, thou (halt go, and fee
Priejts fipping Coffee, Sparks and Poets Tea ;
Here rugged Freeze, there Quality well dreft,
Thefe baffling the Grand-Seignior ; thofe the Tejt.
And hear fhrewd Guefles made, and Reafons giv'n,
That humane Laws were never made in Heav'n.
But above all, what mall oblige thy Sight,
And fill thy Eye- balls with a vaft Delight;
Is the Poetic Jufye of facred Wit,
Who does l'th' Darknifs of bis Glory fit.
262 7/6<? HIND and
And as the Moon who frft receives the Light,
With which Jhe make 3 thefe nether Regions bright}
So does he Jhine, refit Sting from afar,
The Rays he borrow d from a better Star :
For Rules which from Corneille and Rapin flow,
Adrr.ir'd by all the fcribling Herd below.
From French Tradition while he does difpenfe, ~l
Unerring Truths, 'tis Schifm, a damn'd Offence, >
To queflion his, or truft your private Senfe. j
Hah f is not that right, Mr. Johnfon? Gad forgive
me he is faft afleep ! Oh the damn'd Stupidity of this
Age ! afleep ! Well, Sir, fince you're fb drouly, your
humble Servant.
Jobnf. Nay, pray Mr. Bayes, Faith I heard you all
the while. The white Moufe.
Bayes. The white Moufe ! ay, ay, I thought how you
heard me. Your Servant, Sir, your Servant.
Johnf. Nay, dear Bayes^ Faith I beg thy Pardon, I
was up late lail Night, pr'ythee tend me a little Snuff,
and go on.
Bayes. Go on ! Pox I don't know where I was, well
111 begin here; mind, now they are both come to Town.
But now at Picadilly they arrive,
And taking Coach, t 'wards Temple-Ear they" drive;
But at St. Clement's Chttrch, eat out the Back ;
And flipping through the Pal/grave, bilkt poor Hack.
There's the Uti/e, which ought to be in all Poetry :
Many a young Templar will fave his Shilling by this
Stratagem of my Mice.
Smith. Why, will any young Templar eat out the back
of a Coach >
Bayts. No, I 'gad, but you'll grant it is mighty natural
for a Moufe.
Thence to the Devi!, and ask'd if Chanticleer,
Of Clergy kind, or Counsellor Chough was there ;
Or
/^PANTHER 'Tranfuers'd. 263
Or Mr. Dove, a Pigeon of Renown,
By his high crop, and corny Gizzard known,
Or Sifter Partlet, with the hooded Head; "\
No, Sir. She's hooted hence, faid Will, and fled. C
Why fo ? Becaufe fie would not pray a- bed. J
Johnf. JJtde. 'Sdeath ! Who can keep awake at fuch
Stuff? Pray, Mr. Bayes, lend me your Box again.
Bayes. Mr. Jobnfon, How d'ye like that Box? Pray
take notice of it, 'twas given me by a Perfon of Honour
for looking over a Paper of Verfes ; and indeed I put
in all the Lines that were worth any thing in the whole
Poem. Well, but where were we ? Oh ! Here they
are, juft going up Stairs into the Apollo; from whence
my White takes occafionto talk very well of 'Tradition.
Thus to the Place where Jobvfon fat we climb,
Leaning on the fame Rail that guided him ;
And whilit we thus on equal Helps rely,
Our Wit mull be as true, our Thoughts as high.
For as an Author happily compares
Tradition to a well-fix'd Pair of Stairs,
So this the Scala Sanfla we believe,
By which his Tractive Genius we receive.
Thus every Step I t ke iny Spirirs foar,
And I grow more a Wit, and more, and more.
There's Humour ! Is not that the livelieft Image in
the World of a Moufe's going up a Pair of Stairs.
More a Wit, and more and more ?
Smith. Mr. Bayes, I beg your Pardon heartily, I
muft be rude, I have a particular Engagement at this
Time, and I fee you are not near an end yet.
B^yes. Godf.^kers ! Sure you won't ferve me fo ;
All my fineft Defcriptions and bed Difcourie is yet to
come.
Smith. Troth, Sir, if 'twere not an extraordinary
Concern I could not leave you.
Bayes.
264 We HIND and
Bayes. Well ; but you fhall take a little more ; and
here I'll pafs over two dainty Epifodes of Swallows,
Swifts, Chickens, and Buzzards.
Jobnf. I know not why they mould come in, ex-
cept to make your's the longeft Fable that ever was
told.
Bayes. Why, the Excellence of a Fable is in the
Length of it. Mfop indeed, like a Slave as he was,
made little, fhort, fimple Stories, with a dry Moral
at the end of 'em ; and could not form any noble De-
fign. But here I give you Table upon Fable ; and
after you are fatisfied with Beafts in the firft Courfe,
ferve you up a delicate Dim of Fowl for the fecond ;
now I was at all this Pains to abufe one particular Per-
fon; for I'gad I'll tell you what a Trick he ferv'd me.
I was once tranflating a very good French Author, but
being fomething long about it, as you know a Man is
not always in the Humour ; what does this Jack do,
but puts out an Anfwer to my Friend before I had half
finifhed the Tranflation : So there was three whole
Months loft upon his Account. But I think I have my
Revenge on him fufficiently, for I let all the World
know, that he is a tall> broad-back 1 d, /ujfy Fellow, of a
brown Complexion, fair Behaviour, a fluent Tongue, and
taking amongft the Women ; and to top it all, that he's
much a Scholar, more a Wit, and owns but two Sacra-
ments. Don't you think this Fellow will hang him-
felf? But befides. I have fo nickt his Character in a
Name as will make you fplit. I call him I'gad I
won't tell you unlefs you remember what I faid of
him.
Smith. Why that he was much a Scholar, and more
a Wit
Bayes. Right ; and his Name is Buzzard, ha ! ha ! ha !
Johnf. Very proper indeed, Sir.
Bayes. Nay, I have a farther fetch in it yet than
perhaps you imagine ; for his true Name begins with
a B, which makes me (lily contrive him this, to begin
with
/^PANTHER Tranfuen '</. 265
with the fame Letter : There's a pretty Device, Mr.
Jobnfsn ; I learn'd it, I muft needs confefs, from that
ingenious Sport, I love my Love with an A, becaufe fhc's
Amiable ; and if you could but get a knot of merry
Fellows together, you mould fee how little Bayci would
top ^em all at it, I'gad.
Smith. Well, but good Faith, Mr. Safes, I muH
leave you, I am half an Hour pad my time.
Bayes. Well, I've done, I've done. Here are eight
hundred Verfes upon a rainy Night, and a BirdVNelt ;
and here's three Hundred more, tranflated from two
Paris Gazettes, in which the Spotted Moufe gives an ac-
count of the Treaty of Peace between the Czars of
Mufcwy, and the Emperor, which is a piece of News,
White does not believe, and this is her Anfvver. I am
refolv'd you mail hear it, for in it I have occafion to
prove Oral Tradition better than Scripture. Now
you muft know, 'tis fmcerely my Opinion, that it
had been better for the World, if we ne'er had any
Bible at all.
Ere that Gazette was printed faid the White,
Our Robin told another Story quite ;
This Oral Truth more fafely I believ'd,
My Ears cannot, your Eyes may be deceiv'd.
By word of Mouth unerring Maxims flow,
And -Preaching 1 -, belt, if underftood, or no.
Words I confefs bound by^ and trip fa light,
We have not time to take a fteady Sight ;
Yet fleeting thus are plainer than when writ,
To long Examination they fubmit.
Hard things , Mr. Smith, if thefe two Lines don't
recompenfe your Stay, ne'er truft John Bayes again.
Hard things at the firft Blum are clear and full,
Cod mendi onfecond Thwghts, but Man grows dull.
VOL. I. N
266 he HIND and
I 'gad I judge of all Men by myfelf, 'tis fo with me, I
never ftrove to be very exact in any thing but 1 fpoil'd it.
Smith. But allowing your Character to be true, is it
not a little too fevere ?
Eayes. 'Tis no matter for that, thefe general Re-
flections are daring, and favour rnoft of a noble Genius,
that fpares neither Friend nor Foe.
Johnf. Are you never afraid of a drubbing for that
flaring of your noble Genius ?
Bayes. Afraid ! Why, Lord, you make fo much of
a Beating, I'gad 'tis no more to me than a Flea-biting.
No, no, if I can but be witty upon 'em, let 'em e'en
lay on, I'faith, I'll ne'er balk my Fancy to fave my
Carcafe. Well, but we muff difpatch, Mr. Smith.
Thus did they merrily caroufe all Day,
And, like the gaudy Fly, their Wings difplay ;
And fip the Sweets, and bask in great Apollo'* Ray.
Well, there's an end of the Entertainment ; and Mr.
Smith, if your Affairs would have permitted, you
would have heard the beft Bill of Fare that ever was
ferv'd up in Heroicks : But here follows a Difpute {hall
recommend kfelf, I'll fay nothing for it. For Dapple,
who you muft know was a Proteftant, all this while,
trufts her own Judgment, and foolimly diflikes the Wine ;
upon which our Innocent does fo run her down, that flie
has not one Word to fay for herfelf, but what I put in
her Mouth ; and I'gad, you may imagine they won't be
very good ones, for ihe has difoblig'd me, like an
Ingrate.
Sirrah, fays Brindle, Thou haft brought us Wine,
Sour to my Tafte, and to my Eyes unfine.
Says Will, all Gentlemen like it ; ah ! fays Whitt,
What is approv'd by them, muft needs be right.
'Tis true, I thought it bad, but if the Houfe
Commend it, I fubmit, a private Moufe.
Mind
/^PANTHER ^ranfuers'd. 267
Mind that, mind the Docorum, and Deference, which
Our Moufe pays to the Compaoy.
Nor to their Catholic Confent oppofe
My erring Judgment, and reforming Nofe.
Ah ! ah ! there {he has nick'd her, that's qp ( the
Hilts, I'gad, and you mail fee Dapple refents k.
Why, what a Devil, (han't I truft my Eyes ?
Muft I drink Stum beqiufe the Rafcal lyes ?
And palmi upon us Catholic Content,
To give fopbifticated Brewings vent.
Says W^hite, What ancient Evidence can fway,
Jf you muft argue thus and not obey ?
Drawers muft be trufted, through whofe Hands con-
vey'd,
You take the Liquor, or you fpoil the Trade.
For fure thofe boneft Fellows have no knack,
Of putting off flumd Claret for Pontack.
How long, alas ! would the poor Vintner laft, j
If all that drink muft judge, and every Guejl
Be allowed to "have an underiUncliDg Ta/ieF J
Thus Jhe : Nor could the Panther welt inlarg t t .
With weak defknce^ a^alnft fo Jlrong a Charge*
There I call her a Panther, becauje he's fpotted,
which is fuch a Blot to the Reformation, as I warrant
'em they will never claw off, I'gad.
But with a iveary Taivn that fliew'd her Piide,
Said, Spotlefswas a Villain, and (he lied.
White faw her ./,LrV Malice at that Word,
And faid her Prayers, and drew her Delphic Sword.
T'other cry'd Murder, and her Rage rcftraind;
And thus her pa/five Cbaratfer maintain d.
Bat now
N z Mr,
268 ne HIND and
Mr. Jobnfon, pray mind me this ; Mr. Smith, I'll
ask you to ftay no longer, for this that follows is fo
engaging ; hear me but two Lines, I'gad, and go away
afterwards if you can.
But now, alas, I grieve, I grieve to tell
W%at fad mi/chance tbefe pretty things befel
Thefe Birds of Beajls
There's a tender Exprefiion, Birds of Beajls: 'tis the
greateft Affront that you can put upon any Bird, to call
it, Beajl of a Bird: and a Beajl is fo fond of being
call'd a Bird, as you can't imagine.
Tbefe Birds of Beajls, thefe learned Reas'ning Mice,
Were feparated, banim'd in a trice.
Who would be learned for their fakes, who wife ?
Ah, who indeed ? There's a Pathos, Fgad, Gentlemen,
if that won't move you, nothing will, I can affure you :
But here's the fad thing I was afraid of.
The Confialle alarm'd by this Noife,
Enter'd the Room, directed by the Voice,
And fpeaking to the Watcb, with Head ajidf,
Said, defperate Cures taufl be to defperate lilt appljd.
Thefe Gentlemen, for fo their Fate decrees,
Can ne'er enjoy at once the Butt and Peace.
When each have feparate Interejis of their o<wn,
T<wo Mice are one too many for a Town.
By Sthifm they are torn ; and therefore, Brother,
Look you to one, and I'll fecure the t'other.
Now whither Dapple did to Bridewell go,
Or in the Stocks all Night her Fingers blow,
Or in the Compter lay, concerns not us to know.
But the immortal Matron^ fpotlefs White, o
Forgetting Dappled Rudenefs, Malice, Spite, >
Look'd kindly back, and wept, and faid, Good Night, 3
Ttu
the PANTHER Tranfoers'd. 269
Ten thoufand Watchmen waited on this Moufe,
With Bills, and Halberds, to her Country-Houfe.
This laft Contrivance I had from a judicious Au-
thor, that makei 'ten tkoufand Angels wait upon his Hind,
and (he afleep too, I'gad.
Jobnf. Come, let's fee what we have to pay.
Bayes. What a Pox, are you infuch hafte ? You han't
told me how you like it.
Jobnf. Oh, extremely well. Here, Drawer,
N
THE
THE
CONTENTS
OF THE
Earl of H A L L i F A xV WORKS.
/I N the Death of bis Moft Sacred Majejly King Charles II.
Vr Page 213
In Nuptias Principum Georgii & Annae 2 1 7
OrfV o //?* Marriage of the Princefs Anne </ Prince
G eorgejgf Denmark 220
TJtf M7 c/" Honour ; occafiontd by a Poft/cript of PennV
Letter 223
y f/'//?/^ to Charles .EW o/* Dorfet, oceafiorfd by bit
'M.ajejly's Viflory in Ireland 227
Written at Althrop in a Hank LeafofWaMtfs Poems upon
feeing Vandyke'j Pifture of the old Lady Sunderland
233
Verfes written for the toafting Gla/es of the Kit- Cat Club,
1703. 234
O the Countefs Dowager of ------ - 235
O Orpheus and Signiora Margaricta 236
*Tbe Hind and Panther Tranfverid. 237
THE
THE
WORKS
O F
Sir SAMUEL GARTH.
N 4
THE
DI SPE N S ARY.
A
POEM
I N
SIX CANT O'S.
rHanc <vfniatn petimufovt damufqttt vicij/im.
Hor. de Arte Poet.
N 5 TO
'N,
T O
ANTHONY HENLEY, Efq m y
MAN of your Character can no
more prevent a Dedication, than
he would encourage one -, for
Merit, like a Virgin's Blulhes, is
flill moil difcover'd, when it la-
bours moft to be conceal'd.
'Tis hard, that to think well of yon, mou'd
be but Juftice, and to tell you fo, fhou'd be
an Offence : Thus rather than violate your
Modefty, I muft be wanting to your other
Virtues -, and to gratify one good Quality, do
wrong to a thoufand.
The World generally meafures our efteem
by the Ardour of our Pretences j and will
fcarce believe that fo much Zeal in the Heart,
can be confiftent with fo much Faintnefs in
the Expreflion , but when they rcfie6t on your
Readinefs to do good, and your Induftry to
hide it , on your- Jpaflion to oblige, and your
Pain to hear it own'd ; they will conclude
that
DEDICATION.
that Acknowledgements would be ungrate-
ful to a Perfon, who even feems to receive
the Obligations he confers.
But tho' I fhould perfuade myfelf to be
filent upon all Occafions j thofe more polite
Arts, which, till of late, have languifhed and
decayed, would appear under their prefent
Advantages, and own you for one of their
generous Reftorers , Infomuch, that Sculp-
ture now breathes, Painting fpeaks, Mufic
ravifhes ; and as you help to refine our Tafte,
you diftinguim your own.
Your Approbation of this Poem, is the
only Exception to the Opinion the World has
of your Judgment, that ought to relifli no-
thing fo much as what you write yourfelf :
But you are relblved to forget to be a Critic,
by remembring you are a Friend. To fay
more, wou'd be uneafy to you; and to fay
lefs, would be unjuft in
Tour bumble Servant. .
THE
THE
P R E FACE.
INCE this following Poem in a man-
ner ftole into the World, I cou'd not be
furpri.s'd to find it uncorrecl; : tho' I can
no more fay I was a Stranger to its com-
ing abroad, than that I approved of the
Publifher's Precipitation in doing it : for
a hurry in the Execution, generally produces a leifure
in Reflexion j fo when we run the fafteft, we ftumbie
the oftneft. However, the Errors of the Printer have
not been greater than the Candor of the Reader : and
if I could but fr.y the fame of the Defers of the Author,
he'd need no Juflification againft the Cavils of fome
furious Critics, who, I am fure, would have been better
pleafed if they had met with more Faults.
Their grand Objection is, that the fury Difeafe is an
improper Machine to recite Characters, and recommend
the Example of prefent Writers : but tho' I had the au-
thority of fome Greek and Latin Poets, upon parallel
Inftances, to juftify the Defign ; yet that I might not
introduce any thing that feem'd inconfiftent, or hard, I
flarted this Obje6lion myfelf, to a Gentleman, very re-
markable in this fore of Criticifm, who would by no
means allow that the contrivance was forced, or the
Conduft incongruous.
Difeafe ii reprefented a Fury as well as Envy: fhe is
imagined to be forced by an incantation from her Recefs ;
and to be revenged on the Exorcift, mortifies him with
an introduction of feveral Perfons eminent in an Accom-
plifhment he has made fome advances in. '
Nor
PREFACE.
Nor is the Compliment lefs to any great Genius men-
tioned there; nnce a very Fiend, who naturally repines
at any Excellency, is forced to confefs how happily
they've all fucceeded.
Their next Objection is, that I have imitated the Lu-
trin of Monfieur Boileau. I muft own I am proud of
the Imputation; unlefs their Quarrel be, that I have not
done it enough : but he that will give himfelf the trouble
of examining, will find I have copy'd him in nothing
but in two or three Lines in the complaint of Moleffe,
Canto II. and in one in his firft Canto j the fenfe of
which Line is entirely his, and I could wifli it were not
the only good one in mine.
I have fpoke to the moft material Objections I have
heard of, and mail tell thefe Gentlemen, that for every
Fault they pretend to find in this Poem, I'll undertake
to fhew them two. One of thefe curious Perfons does
me the honour to fay, he approves of the Conclufion of
it ; but I fuppofe 'tis upon no other reafon, but becaufe
'tis the Conclufion. However, I mould not be much
concerned not to be thought excellent in an Amufement
I have very little practiced hitherto, nor perhaps ever
mall again.
Reputation of this fort is very hard to be got, and
very eafy to be loft ; its Purfuit is painful, and its Pof-
feflion unfruitful ; nor had I ever attempted any thing
in this kind, 'till finding the Animofuies among the
Members of the College of Phyficians increafmg daily
fnotwithftanding the frequent Exhortations of our worthy
Prefident to the contrary) I was perfuaded to attempt
fomething of this nature, and to endeavour to rally fome
of our difaftected Members into a fenfe of their Duty,
who have hitherto moft obftinately oppofcd all manner
of Union; and have continued ib unreasonably refractory,
that 'twas thought fit by the College, to reinforce the
obfervance of the Statutes by a Bond, which fome of
them would not comply wrh, ;ho' none of them had re-
fvifed the Ceremony of the cuftomary Oath ; like fome
that
PREFACE.
that will truft their Wives With any body, but their
Money with none. I was forry to find there could be
any Conftitution that was not to be cur'd without Poifon,
and that there mould be a profpedl of effecting it by a
lefs grateful Method than Reafon and Perfuafion.
The original of this Difference has been of fome fond-
ing, tho' it did not break out to Fury and Excefs, 'till
the time of erecting the Difpenfary, being an Apart-
ment in the College, fet up for the Relief of the fick Poor,
and managed ever fincewith an Integrity and Difintereft,
i'uitable to fo charitable a Defign.
If any Perfon would be more fully inform'd about thie
Particulars of fo pious a Work, I refer him to aTreatife,
<fct forth by the authority of the Prefident and Cenfors,
in the Year 97. 'Tis called, A /hort Account of the Pra-
vetdings of the College of Phyjiciatrs, London, in relation
to thejick Poor. The Reader may there not only be in>-
forraed of the Rife and Progrefs of this fo public an Un-
dertaking, but alfo of the Concurrence and Encourage-
ment it met with from the moft, as well as the moft an-
cient Members of the Society, notwithstanding the vigo-
rous Qppofition of a few Men, who thought it their In-
tereft to defeat fo laudable a Defign.
The intention of this Preface is not to perfuade Man-
kind to enter into our Quarrels, but to vindicate the Au-
thor from being cenfured of taking any indecent Liberty
with a Faculty he has the honour to be a Member of. If
the Satire may appear directed at any particular Perfon,
'tis at fuch only as are prefomed to be engaged in difho-
nourable Confederacies for mean and mercenary Ends,
againft the Dignity of their own Profefiion. But if there
be no fuch, then thefe Characters are but imaginary, and
by confequence ought to give no body offence.
The defcription of the Battle is grounded upon a Feud
that happened in the Difpenfary, betwixt a Member of
the College with his Retinue, and fome of the Servants
that attended there to difpenfe the Medicines ; and is fo
far real, tho' the poetical relation be fictitious. I hope
PREFACE.
mo body will think the Author too undecently reflating
thro' the whole, who being too liable to Faults himfelf,
ought to be lefs fevere upon the Mifcarriages of others.
There is a Character in this trivial Performance, which
the Town, I find, applies to a particular Perfon: 'tis a
Refle&ion which I fhould be forry fhould give offence ;
being no more than what may be faid of any Phyfician
remarkable for much Practice. The killing of numbers
of Patients is fo trite a piece of Rallery, that it ought not
to make the leafl Impreffion, either upon the Reader, or
the Perfon 'tis apply'd to ; being one that I think in my
Confcience a very able Phyfician, as well as a Gentle-
man of extraordinary Learning. If I am hard upon any
one, 'tis my Reader : but Ibme worthy Gentlemen, as
remarkable for their Humanity as their extraordinary
Parts, have taken care to make him amends for it, by
prefixing fomething of their own.
I confefs, thofe ingenious Gentlemen have done me a
great honour ; but while they defign an imaginary Pane-
gyric upon me, they have made a real one upon them-
felves ; and by faying how much this fmall Performance
exceeds fome others, they convince the World how far
it falls fliort of theirs.
The
The Copy of an Inftrument fubfcribed by the
Prefident, Cenfor, moft of the Elects, Senior
Fellows, Candidates, &c. of the College of
Phyficians, in relation to the Sick Poor.
the federal Orders of the College of
Phy/icians, London, for prefcribing Medicines gratis
to the Poor StcA of the Cities of London and Weftminiter,
and Parts adjacent, as alfo Prcpofals made by the faid Col-
f lege to the Lord Mayor, Court of Aldermen and Common
Council of London in purfuance thereof, have hitherto keen
ineffectual, for that no Method hath been taken tt furnijh
the Poor with Medicines for their Cure at IQ<VJ and reafo-
i nable Rates; we therefore ivbofe Names ate here under-
written, Ftllcfws and Members of the faid College, being
willing effeflually to promote fo great a Charity, by the
Counfel and good Liking of the Prejldent and College de-
clared in their Comitia, hereby (to wit, each of us federally
and apart, and not the one for the other of us] do iblige our-
felves to pay to Dr. Thomas Burwell, Fellow and Eltfl of
the faid College, the Sum of Ten Pounds apiece of lawful
Money of England, by fuch Proportions, and at fuch Times,
as to the Major Part of the Subscribers here Jhall feem moft
convenient: Which Money, when received by the faid Dr.
Thomas Burwell, is to be by him expended in preparing
and delivering Medicines to the Poor at their- intrinjic Value,
in fuch Manner, and at fuch Times , and by fuch Orders and
Directions, as by the Major Part of the Subfcribers hereto
Jhall in Writing be hereafter appointed and directed for that
Purpofe. In Witnefs whereof <vjc have hereunto fet our Hands
and Seals this Twenty-fecond" Day of December, 1696..
Tho. Millington, Prefer. Sam. Collins, Elett.
Tho. Burwell, Eleff. and Edw. Browne, Elefi.
Cenfor. Rich,
Rich. Torlefs, Xltff.
Cenjbr.
Edw. Hulfe, Eteff.
Tho. Gill, Cenftr.
Will. Dawes, Cefor.
Jo. Hutton.
Rob. Brady.
Hans Sloane.
Rich. Morton.
John Hawys.
Ch. Harel.
Rich. Robinfon,'
John Bateman.
Walter Mills.
Dan. Coxe.
Henry Sampfbn.
Thomas Gibfon.
Charles Goodall.
Edm. King.
Sam Garth.
Barnh. Soame.
Denton Nicholas.
Jofeph Gaylard.
John Woollafton.
Steph. Hunt.
Oliver Horfemaa.
Rich.Morton, Jut.
David Hamilton.
Hen. Morelli.
Walter Harris.
William Briggs.
Th. Colladon.
Martin Lifter.
Jo. Colbatch.
Bernard Connor.
W. Cockburn..
J. le Feure.
P, Sylveftre.
Cha. Morton.
Walter Charlton.
Phineas Fowke.
Tho. Alvery.
Rob. Gray.
John Wright.
James Drake.
Sam. Morris.
John Woodward.
Norris.
George Colebrook.
Gideon Harvey.
The Defign of printing the Subfcribers Names, is to
ftiew, that the late Undertaking has the San&ion of a
College Adi ; and that 'tis not a Projeft carried on by
five or fix Members, as thofe that oppofe it would un-
juitly infinuate.
119
To Dr. GTH, upon the Difpenfary.
f\ H that fame Genius, whofe Poetick Vein
Like M gue'j coud a juft Piece fujlaia, '
Woud fearch the Grecian and the Latin &tore t
And thence prefeat thee with the pure/I Ore:
In lajiing Numbers praife thy whole Dejtgn+
And manly Beauty of each nervous Line :
Show bow your pointed Satire's Ste; lin-.? Wit,
"Does only Knaves or formal Blockheads Lit I
Who're gravely Dull, infipidly Serene,
And carry all their Wifdom in their Mien,
Whom thus exposed, thus ftrip'd of their Difguife,
None will again admire^ moft ivill defpije.
Shotis in (what noble Verfe Naffaa you fing t
fiow fuch a Poet's worthy fucb a King.
When S r'j charming Eloquence you praife,
How loftily your tuneful Voice you raijil
But my poor feeble Mufe is as unfit
To praife, as imitate what you have writ,
Artifts alone Jhoud venture to commend
What D s can't condemn, nor D n mend:
What mufa writ with that Fire and with that Eafi,
The Beaux, the Ladies t and the Criticks pleaft.
C. fiOTLI.
To my Friend the AUTHOR, defiring
my Opinion of his Po E M.
ASKme not, Friend, what I approve or blame ',
" Perhaps I know not -why I like, or damn ;
/ can be pleas d; and I dare own I am.
1 read thee over with a Lover s Eye ;
Thou haft no Faults^ or I no Faults can fpy ;
Thou art all Beauty, or all Blindnefs /.
Critics and aged Beaux of Fancy chajte,
Who ne'er had Fire, or elfe whofe Fire is paft,
Muff judge by Rules what they want Force to tafte.
J iuoud a Poet, like a Mijlrefs, try.
Not by her Hair, her Band, her Nofe, her Eye ;
But by fame namelefs Powr, to give me "Joy.
The Nymph has G nV, C IV, C V Charms,
If with rejijilefs Fires my Sculjhe warms,
With Balm upon her Lips, and Raptures in her Arms.
Such is thy Genius, and fuch Art is thine,
Somefecret Magic works in ev'ry Line ;
We judge not but we feel the Powr Divine.
Where all is Juft, is Beauteous, and is Fair,
Dijlinfiions vani/h of peculiar Air*
Loft in our Pleafure, we enjoy in you
Lucretius, Horace, S d, M gue.
And yet 'tis thought, fame Critics in this Tow*,
By Rules to all, but to themfelves, unknown,
Will damn thy Verfe, and jujlify their own.
Why let them damn: Were it not wondrous hard
facetious M and the City B
So near alljd in Learning, Wit, and Skill,
Sboud not have leave to judge > as well as kill?
[*.*.]
Nay, let them luritt; Let them their Forces jain t
And hope the motly Piece may rival thine.
Safely defpife their Malice, and their Toil*
Which vulgar Ears alone will reach, and will defiled
Be it thy gen'rous Pride to p/eafe the be ft,
Whofe Judgment, and whofe Triendjhip is a Teft.
With learned H - thy hettling Caret be joined. ^
Search thoughtful R e to his inmoft Mind: >
Unite, reftore your Arts, andfave Mankind* J
Whilft all the bufy M Is of the Town
Envy cur Health, and pine away their o<wn.
\ Whene'er thou would* ft a Tempting Mufe engage ;
I Judicious W h can left direct her Rage.
To S s, and to D 1 toofubmit,
I And let their Stamp immortalize thy Wit.
\ Confenting Phoebus bows, if they approve,
' And ranks thee with the foremoft Bards above;
' Whilft thefe of Right the death lefs Laurel fend ', J
Be it my humble Buftnefs to Commend V
The faithful, honejl Man, and the vjell-natur d friend. J
I
Chr. Codrington.
[ 286 ]
To my Friend Dr. G--T H, the Author
of the Difpenfary.
*T* O praife your healing Art would be in vatn ;
The Health you give, prevents the Poet's Per*
Sufficiently confirm d it your Rentnvn t
And I but fill the Chorus of the Town.
That let me wave, and only ozu admire
The dazzling Rays of your poetic Fire :
Hitch its diffufive Virtue does difpenfe t
In flowing Ferfe, *nd elevated Senfe.
The Town, which long has fa allow d fiolijk Vcrfe,
Which Poetafters every where rehearfe ;
Will mend tbtir "Judgment now, refine their Tajle t
And gather up ttf Applaufe they threw in wafte.
The Play-HoufeJhant encourage falfe Sublime,
Abortive Thoughts, with Decoration-Rhyme.
The Satire of vile Scribkrs Jhall appear
On none, except upon themfelves, fever e:
While yours contemns the Gall of vulgar Spitei
And iubtn you feem to Smile the mojl, you Bite.
THO. CHEEK.
SII3
[28 7 ]
To my FRIEND, upon the Difpenfary.
A S 'when the People of the Northern Zone
Find the Approach of the Revolving Sun,
P leas' d and reoiv'd, They fee the new-bern Light,
And dread no more Eternity of Night.
Thus <we, 'who lately, as of Summers Heat t
Have felt a Dearth of Poetry and #7/;
Once fear d, Apollo vjoud return no mart
From warmer Climes to an ungrateful Short.
But you, the Fav'rite of the tuneful Nine,
Have made the God in his full Luftre Jhint ;
Our Night have changed into a glorious Day;
And reached Perfection in your fir ft EJ/ay:
So the young Eagle that his Force vjould try,
Faces the Sun, and towrs it to the Sty.
Others proceed to Art by flow Degrees,
Aukvjard at firft, at length they faintly pleaft.
And ftill whatever their firft Efforts produce,
'Tis an Abortive, or an Infant Mttfe.
Whilft yours, like Pallas, front the Head of Jove,
Steps out full grown, with nob left Pace to mwe.
What ancient Poets to their SubjeSs ovje,
Is here inverted, and this owes to you :
You found it Little, but have made it Great,
Thy could Defcribe t but you along Create.
[ 288 ]
Nonv let your Mufe rife with expanded Wings,
Tofeng the Fate of Empires and of Kings ;
Great Wi L 1 1 A M'J Victories foe' II next rebearft,
And raife a Trophy of immortal Verfe :
Thus to your Art proportion the Dejign,
And mighty Things <vtitb mighty Numbers join,
A fecond Namure, *r a future Boyne.
H. BLOUMT,
THE
THE
DISPENSARY.
c A N r o i.
P E A K, Goddefs ! fmce 'tis thou that belt
canft tell,
How ancient Leagues to modern Dif-
cord fell ;
And why Phyficians were fo cautions
grown
Of others Lives, and lavifh of their own ;
How by a Journey to the Ehfian Plain
Peace triumph'd, and old Time return'd again.
Not far from that moft celebrated Place,
Where angry * Juftice {hews her awful Face ;
Where little Villains muft fubmit to Fate,
That great Ones may enjoy the World in State;
There Hands a z Dome, majeftick to the Sight,
And fumptuous Arches bear its oval Height ;
A golden Globe plac'd high with artful Skill,
Seems, to the diftant Sight, a gilded Pil! :
This Pile was, by the pious Patron's Aim,
Rais'd for a Ufe as noble as its Frame ;
i OUBaily.
VOL. I.
2 Ctlhgt
Nor
290 The Wo R K s vf
Nor did the learn'd Society decline
The Propagation of that great Defign;
In all her Mazes, Nature's Face they view'd,
And as (he difappear'd, * their Search purfu'd.
Wrapt in the Shade of Night the Goddefs lies,
Yet to the Learn'd unveils her dark Difguife,
But fhuns the grofs Accefs of vulgar Eyes.
Now (he unfolds the faint, and dawning Strife
Of infant Atoms kindling into Life ;
How ductile Matter new Meanders takes,
And flender trains of twifting Fibres makes ;
And how the Vifcous feeks a clofer Tone,
By juft degrees to harden into Bone ;
While the more Icofe flow from the vital Urn,
And in full Tides of purple Streams return ;
How lambent Flames from Life's bright Lamps arife,
And dart in Emanations through the Eyes ;
How from each Sluice a gentle Torrent pours,
To flake a fev'rim Heat with ambient Show'rs ',
Whence, their mechanick Pow'rs, the Spirits claim;
How great their Force, how delicate their Frame ;
How the fame Nerves are fafhion'd to fuftain
The greateft Pleafure and the greateft Pain.
Why bileous Juice a golden Light puts on,
And floods of Chyle in filver Currents run ;
How the dim Speck of Entity began
T'extend its recent Form, and ftretch to Man;
To how minute an Origin we owe
Young Ammon^ C&far, and the great Naflait ;
Why paler Looks impetuous Rage proclaim,
And why chill Virgins redden into Flame ;
Why Envy oft transforms with wan Difguife,
And why gay Mirth fits fmiling in the Eyes ;
All Ice why Lucrece, or Sempronia? Fire,
Why Southwell rages to furvive Defire.
3 they Jlill purfu'd.
They fr.d her dubious now, and tben as plain,
Heri i fae't too /faring j there frofufe/y v*i>t.
Wheacr
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 291
Whence M'/a's Vigour at th' Olympick's ftiown,
Whence Tropes to Finch, or Impudence to Sloattc * ;
How Matter, by the vary'd fhape of Pores,
Or Idiots Frames, or folemn Senators.
Hence 'tis we wait the wond'rous Caufe to find,
How Body afts upon impaffive Mind :
How Fumes of Wine the thinking Part can fire,
Part Hopes revive, and prefent Joys infpire :
Why our Complexions oft our Soul declare.
And how the Paffions in the Features are :
How Touch and Harmony ariie between
Corporeal Figure, and a Form unfeen :
How quick their Faculties the Limbs fulfil,
And aft at ev'ry Summons of the Will.
With mighty Truths, myfterious to defcry,
Which in the Womb of diftant Caufes lie.
But now no grand Enquiries are defcry'd, -\
Mean Faftion reigns, where Knowledge mou'd prefide, >
Feuds are increas'd, and Learning laid afide. -3
Thus Synods oft, Concern for Faith conceal,
And for important Nothings (how a Zeal :
The drooping Sciences neglefted pine,
And P&an's Beams with fading Luftre mine.
No Readers here with heftic Looks are found,
Nor Eyes in Rheum, thro' midnight- watching, drown'd :
The lonely Edifice in Sweats complains
That nothing thtre but fullen Silence reigns.
This Place fo fit for undifturb'd Repofe,
The God of Sloth for his Afylum chofe ;
Upon a Couch of Down in thefe Abodes,
Supine with folded Arms he thoughtlefs nods ;
Indulging Dreams his Godhead lull to Eafe,
With murmurs of foft P-ills, and whifp'ring Trees ;
The Poppy and each numbing Plant difpenfe
Their drowzy Virtue, and dull Indolence ;
4 Why Atticus pglite, Brutus fe-vere,
Vt'by Modi win muddy, Montagu why clear.
Oz N
292 The WORKS of
No Paffions interrupt his eafy Reign,
*No Problems puzzle his lethargic Brain,
But dark Oblivion guards his peaceful Bed,
And lazy Fogs hang ling'ring o'er his Head.
As at full Length the pampei'd Monarch lay
Batt'ning in Eafe, and flumb'ring Life away :
A fpiteful Noife his downy Chains unties,
Haftes forward, and increafes at it flies.
Fir ft, fome to cleave the flubborn * Flint engage,
'Till urg'd by Blows, it fparkles into Rage :
Some temper Lute, fome fpacious Veflels move ;
Thefe Furnaces erect, and thofe approve.
Here Phials in nice difcipline are fet,
There Gallipots are rang'd in Alphabet.
In this Place, magazines of Pills you fpy ;
In that, like Forage, Herbs in Bundles lie ;
While lifted Peflles, brandifh'd in the Air
Defcend in Peals, and civil Wars declare.
Loud Strokes, with pounding Spice, the Fabric rend,
And aromatic Clouds in Spires afcend.
So when the Cyclops o'er their Anvils fwcat,
And fwelling Sinews echoing Blows repeat ;
From the Volcano's grofs Eruptions rife,
And curling Sheets of Smoke obfcure the Skies."
The flumb'ring God, amaz'd at this new Din,
Thrice ftrove to rife, and thrice funk down again.
Lifilefs he ftretch'd, and gaping rubb'd has Eyes,
Then falter 1 d thus betwixt half Words and Sighs.
How impotent a Deity am I !
With Godhead born, but curs'd, that cannot die !
Thro' my Indulgence, Mortals hourly {hare
A grateful Negligence, and eafe from Care.
Lull'd in my Arms, how long have I withhold
The northern Monarchs from the dufty Field ?
How have I kept the Britijb Fleet at Eafe,
From tempting the rough Dangers of the Seas ?
5 Tat Building of tbe Diffenfary.
Hilernia.
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 293
Hibernia. owns the Mildnefs of my Reign,
And my Divinity's ador'd in Spain.
I Swains to fylvan Solitudes convey,
Where ftretch d on moffy Beds, they wafle away >
In gentle Joys the Night, in Vows the Day. 3
What Marks of wond'rous Clemency I've fhown.
Some rev'rend Worthies of the Gown can own.
Triumphant Plenty, with a cheerful Grace,
Basks in their Eyes, and fpark'es in their Face.
How fleek their Looks, how goodly is their Mien,
When big thy ftrut behind a double Chin !
Each Faculty in blandifhments they lull,
Afpiring to be venerably dull ;
No learn'd Debates moleft their downy Trance,
Or difcompofe their pompous Ignorance ;
But undifturb'd, they loiter Life away,
So wither Green, and bloflbm in decay.
Deep funk in Down, they, by my gentle Care,
Avoid th' Inclemencies of morning Air,
And leave to tatter 1 d 6 Crape tha drudgery of Pray'r
7 Urim was civil, and not void of Senfe,
Had Humour, and a courteous Confidence ;
So fpruce he moves, fo gracefully he cocks,
The hallow'd Rofe declares him Orthodox;
He pafs'd his eafy Hours, inftead of Pray'r,
In Madrigals, and phillifing the Fair ;
Conftant at Feafts, and each Decorum knew,
And foon as the Defert appear 'd, withdrew ;
Always obliging, and without offence,
And fancy'd for his gay Impertinence.
But fee how ill-miftaken Parts fucceed ;
He threw off my Dominion, and would read ;
Engag'd in Controverfy, wrangled well ;
In Convocation- language cou'd excel ;
In Volumes prov'd the Church without defence,
By nothing guarded, but by Providence :
6 See Boil. lut.
7 Dr, Attcrbsry after-wards B-.jbop of Rochefter.
O 3 How
294 7/k WORKS of
How Grace and Moderation difagree j
And Violence advances Charity.
Thus writ 'till none would read, becoming foOR
A wretched Scribler, of a rare Buffoon.
Mankind my fond propitious Pow'r has try'd,
Too oft to own, too much to be deny'd.
And all I ask are Shades and filent Bow'rs,
To pafs in foft Forgetfulnefs my Hours.
Oft have Try Fears fome diilant Villa chofe,
O'er their Quietus where fat Judges dofe,
And lull their Cough and Confcience to repofe :
Or if fome Cloifter's Refuge I implore,
Where holy Drones o'er dying Tapers fncre :
The Peals of 8 Naffhu's Arms thefe Eyes unclofe,
Mine he molefts, to give the World Repofe.
That Eafe I offer with contempt he flies,
His Couch a Trench, his Canopy the Skies.
Nor Climes nor Seafons his Refolves control,
Th' ^Equator has no Heat, no Ice the Pole.
With Arms refifllefs o'er the Globe he flies,
And leaves to Jove the Empire o' the Skies.
But as the flothful God to yawn begun,
He fhookoff the dull Mift, and thus went on .
8 Ste Boil. fat.
9 Semetimet amorg the Cafpian Clifft I creep,
Where foltta ry Bati and Sival/ows Jleep ;
Or if fome Clcijler's Refuge I implore,
Where holy Drnes o'er dying Tapers fnore,
Still Naflau'j Armt a foft Repofe deny,
Keep me awake, And follow where I fly.
Since be has blefi'd the weary World -with Peace,
And -yuitb a Nod bat bid Bellona ceafe ;
J fought the Co-vert of fome peaceful Cell,
Where filent Shades ir. harmlefs Raptures dwell ~ t
That Rfft might paji Tranquillity re/fare,
iffs', r.gvir interrupt me more.
'Twas
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 295
'Twas in this rev'rend Dome I fought Repofe,
Thefe Walls were that Afylum 1 had chofe '.
Here have I rul'd long undifturb'd with Broils,
And laugh' d at Heroes, and their glorious Toils.
My Annals are in mouldy Mildews wrought,
With eafy Infignincance of Thought.
But now fome bufy, enterprifing Brain
Invents new Fancies to renew my Pain,
And labours to diffolve my eafy Reign.
With that, the God his darling Phantom calls,
And from his fah'ring Lips this Meflage falls :
Since Mortals will difpute my Power, I'll try
Who has the greatelt Empire, they or I.
Find Envy out, fome Prince's Court attend,
Moft likely there you'll meet the famifh'd Fiend * ;
Or where dull Critics Authors Fate foretel ;
Or where ftale Maids, or meagre Eunuchs dwell.
Tell the bleak Fury what new Projects reign,
Among the Homicides cf Wancick-Lane ;
And what th' Event, unlefs fne ftraight inclines
To blaft their Hopes, and baffle their Defigns.
More he had fpoke, but fudden Vapours rife,
And with their filken Cords tie down his Eyes.
CANTO II.
SOON as the Evening veil'd the Mountains Head?,
And Winds lay hum'd in fubterranean Beds ;
Whilft fick'ning Flew'rs drink up the filver Dew,
And Beaus, for fome Aflembly, drefs anew ;
1 Nought underneath this Reof but Damps are found,
Nought beard but droiofy Beetles buxxing round.
Spread Coiwebi bide the Walh, and Dufi the Ftwit,
And midnight Silence guards the noifelefs Dears,
2 Or in Cabals, tr Camps, or at the Bar,
Or -where ill Poets Pennyhfs confer,
Or in the. Senate- boufe at Weftminfter.
O * The
296 T'he W o R K s of
The City Saints to Pray'rs and Play-houfe hafte ;
The Rich to Dinner, and the Poor to Reft :
Officious Phantom then prepar'd with care
To flide on tender Pinions through the Air.
Oft he attempts the Summit of a Rock,
And oft the hollow of feme blafted Oak;
At length approaching where bleak Envy lay ;
The hiflirg of her Snakes proclaim'd the Way.
Beneath the gloomy Covert of an Yew,
That taints the Grafs with fickly Sweats of Dew ;
No verdant Beauty entertains the Sight,
But baneful Hemlock, and cold Aconite ;
In a dark Grott the baleful Haggard lay,
Breathing black Vengeance, and infecting Day.
But how deform'd, and worn with fpiteful Woes,
When Accius has Applaufe, Dorfennus mows.
The cheerful Blood her meager Cheeks forfook,
And Bafilisks fat brooding in her Look ;
A bald and bloated Toad-ftool rais'd her Head ;
The Plumes of boding Ravens were her Bed :
From her chapp'd Noftrils fcalding Torrents fall,
And her funk Eyes boil o'er in Floods of Gall.
Volcano* Labour thus with inward Pains,
Whilft Seas of melted Ore lay wafte the Plains.
Around the Fiend in hideous order fate
Foul bawling Infamy, and bold Debate :
Gruff" Difcontent, thro' Ignorance mifled,
And clam'rous Faftion at her Party's head :
Reftlefs Sedition ftill diflembling Fear,
And fly Hypocrify with pious Leer *.
Clouting with fullen Spite the Fury {hook
Her clotted Locks, and blafted with each Look,
Then tore with canker 'd Teeth the pregnant Scrolls,
Where Fame the Afts of Demi-gods enrolls,
And as the rent Records in Pieces fell,
Each Scrap did fome immortal Action tell.
3 See t>ryd, Fat,
This
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 297
This fhow'd, how fix'd as fate Torqttatus Hood,
That, the fam'd Paflsge of the Granic Flood ;
The Julian Eagles, here, their Wings difplay,
And there, like fetting Stars, the Dccii lay j
This does Camillui as a God extol,
That points at M'anlius in the Capitol.
How Codes did the Tiber's Surges brave,
How Curtius plung'd into the gaping Grave.
Great Cyrus, here, the Medes and Perfans join,
And, there, th 1 immortal Battle of the Boyne.
As the light Meflenger the Fury fpy'd,
Awhile his curdling Blood forgot to glide :
Confufion on his fainting Vitals hung,
And falt'ring Accents fluttered on his Tongue ;
At length, afiuming Courage, he convey'd
His Errand, then he fhrunk into a Shade.
The Hag lay long revolving what might be
The bleft Event of fuch an Embafly :
Then blazons in dread Smiles her hideous Form ;
So Light'ning gilds the unrelenting Storm +.
Thus
4 then Jbe : Alas ! boto long in vain have I
Aitnd at tbofe noble Ills the Fates deny f
Witbin tbis JJle for evernuft I find
Difafters to diflref} my refllefs Mind ?
God Tennifon'j celejtial Piety
At loft bas raised him to the f acred Sett
Somers does Jick'ning Equity reflore,
And bclplefs Orphans are oppnfs'd no more.
Pembroke to Britain endlsfs Blejjings brings j
He fpoke ; and Peace c.'app'd btr triumphant Wings i
Great Ormond Jhines illujirieujly bright
With blaKii cf hereditary Right.
The noble Ardour cf a royal Fire
Jnfpires the gen"rcus Brcajt cf Devonfhire.
And Macclesfield is aclive to defend
His Country with tbe Zetl be loves bis Friend.
Like Leda's radiant Sons divinely clear, 1
Portland and Jerfey deck'd in Rays appear, >
1 gild by turns tbt Gallic Hemijfbtre, J
O 5 Worth
298 The Wo R K s of
Thus (he Mankind are bleft, they riot ftrll
Unbounded in exorbitance of 111.
By Devaluation the rough Warrior gains,
And Farmers fatten moft when Famine reigns i
For fickly Seafons the Phyikians wait,
And Politicians thrieve in Broils of State ;
The Lover's eafy when the Fair- one fighs,
And Gods fubfift not but by Sacrifice.
Each other Being fome Indulgence knows ;
Few are my Joys, but infinite my Woes.
My prefent Pain Britannia's Genius wills,
And thus the Fates record my future Ills.
A Heroine frmll Albion's Scepter bear,
With Arms fhall vanquish Earth, and Heav'n with Pray'r,
She on the World her Clemency mall fhow'r,
And only to preferve, exert her Pow'r.
Tyrants mail then their impious Aims forbear,
And Blenheims Thunder more than Mtna\ fear ?.
Since by no Arts I therefore can defeat
The happy Enterprifes of the Great,
I'll calmly ftocp to more inferior things,
And try if my lov'd Snakes have Teeth or Stings.
She faid ; and ftraight ihrill 6 Colons Perfon took,
In Morals loofe, but moft precife in Look.
Black-friers Annals lately pleas'd to call
Him Warden of Apothecaries-Hall.
And, when fo dignify'd, did not forbear -*
That Operation which the Learn'd declare s.
Gives Colics eafe, and makes the Ladies fair. j
In triflbg Show his tinfel Talent lie?,
And Form the want of Intellects fupplies.
Wartb in dijtrtfs is raised by Montague ;
Auguftus lijient if Maecenas fue ;
And Vernon'* Vigilance no Slumber takes,
Wbilfi Fafiiott peeps abroad, and Anarchy awakes.
5 In /Etna were forged the Thunderbolts which Jove emfloyeJ
ggainft the Ambition of the Giants.
6 Birch an Apothecary*
In
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 299
In Afpeft grand and goodly he appears,
Rever'd as Patriarchs in primaeval Years.
Hourly his learn 1 d Impertinence affords
A barren fuperfluity of Words 7,
The Patient's Ears remorfelefs he aflails,
Murders with Jargon where his Med'cine fails.
The Fury thus affuming Colons grace,
So flung her Arms, fo ftiuffl'd in her Pace.
Onward Ihe haftens to the fam'd Abodes,
Where 8 Horofcope invokes th' infernal Gods ;
And reach'd the Manfion where the Vulgar run,
For Ruin throng, and pay to be undone.
This Vifionary various Projedb tries,
And knows, that to be rich is to be wife.
By ufeful Obfervations he can tell
The facred Charms that in true Sterling dwell..
How Gold makes a Patrician of a Slave,
A Dwarf an Atlas, a Tbcrjites brave.
It cancels all Defects, and in their place
Finds Senfe in Brownhw, Charms in Lady 9 Grace;
It guides the Fancy, and direfts the Mind ;
No Bankrupt ever found a Fair-one kind.
So truly Horofcope its Virtues knows,
To this lov'd Idol 'tis, alone, he bows;
And fancies fuch bright Heraldry can prove,
The vile Plebeian but the third from Jove.
Long has he been of that amphibious Fry,
Bold to preicribe, and bufy to apply.
His Shop the gazing Vulgar's Eyes employs
With foreign Trinkets, and domeftic Toys.
Here Mummies lay moft reverendly ftale,
And there, the Tortoife hung her Coat of Mail ;
Not far from fome huge Shark's devouring Head
The flying Fifh their finny Pinions fpread.
7 In baftt be ftrides along to recompenfe
The -want of Bujinefs toitb its vain Pretend,
8 Houghton an styetbecarj,
9 Lady Grace Pierpoint.
Aloft
300 T'/jf WORKS of
Aloft in Rows large Poppy-heads were ftrung,
And near, a fcaly Alligator hung.
In this Place, Drugs in mufty Heaps decay'd ;
In that, dry'd Bladders and drawn Teeth were laid.
An inner Room receives the num'rous Shoals,
Of fuch as pay to be reputed Fools.
Globes Hand by Globes, Volumes on Volumes lie^
And planetary Schemes amufe the Eye.
The Sage, in Velvet Chair, here lolls at cafe,
To promife future Health for prefent Fees.
Then, as from Tripod, folemn Shams reveals,
And what the Stars know nothing of, foretels.
One asks how foon Pantbea may be won,
And longs to feel the marriage Fetters on :
Others, convinc'd by melancholy Proof,
Enquire when courteous Fates will ftrike 'em off.
Some by what Means they may redrcfs their Wrong,
When Fathers the Pofleflion keep too long.
And fome would know the Iffue of their Caufe,
And whether Gold can folder up its Flaws.
Poor pregnant Lais his Advice would have,
To lofe by Art what fruitful Nature gave ;
And Portia old in Expectation grown,
Laments her barren Curfe, and begs a Son.
Whilft It is his cofmetic Warn would try,
To make her Bloom revive, and Lovers die.
Some ask for Charms, and others Philters choofe,
To gain Corinna, and their Quartans lofe.
Young Hylas, botch'd with Stains too foul to name,
In Cradle here renews his youthful Frame :
Cloy'd with Defire, and furfeited with Charms,
A Hot-houfe he prefers to Julia's Arms.
And old Lucullus would th' Arcanum prove,
Of kindling in cold Veins the Sparks of Love.
Bleak Envy thefe dull Frauds with pleafure fees,
And wonders at the fenfelefs Myfteries.
In Colon's Voice me thus calls out aloud
On Horofcope environ'd by the Croud.
Forbear,
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 301
Forbear, forbear, thy vain Amufements ceafe,
Thy Woodcocks from their Gins awhile releafe 5
And to that dire Misfortune liften well,
Which thou fhou'dft fear to know, or I to tell.
'Tis true, thou ever waft efteem'd by me
The great Alcidet of our Company.
When we with noble Scorn refolv'd to eafe
Ourfelves from all parochial Offices ;
And to our wealthier Patients left the Care,
And draggled Dignity of Scavenger ;
Such Zeal in that Affair thou didft exprefs,
Nought cou'd be equal, but the great Succefs.
Now call to mind thy gen'rous Prowefs paft,
Be what thou Ihou'dft, by thinking what thou waft :
The Faculty of Warwick-Lane defign,
If not to ftorm, at leaft to undermine.
Their Gates each Day Ten thoufand Night-caps croud,
And Mortars utter their Attempts aloud.
If they fhould once unmask our Myftery,
Each Nurfe", ere-long, wou'd be as learn 'd as We ;
Our Art expos'd to ev'ry vulgar Eye,
And none, in Complaifance to us, wou'd die.
What if we claim their Right t 1 aflaffinate,
Muft they needs turn Apothecaries ftraight ?
Prevent it, Gods ! all Stratagems we try,
To croud with new Inhabitants your Sky.
'Tis we who wait the Deftinies Command,
To purge the troubled Air, and weed the Land.
And dare the College infolently aim
To equal our Fraternity in Fame ?
Then let Crabs-Eyes with Pearl for Virtue try,
Or Hi^bgate-Hi//\nxhlmy P Indus vie;
So Glow-worms may compare with Tifan's Beamy,
And Hare-court Pump with Aganippe* Streams.
Our Manufactures now they meanly fell,
And their true Value tteacheroufly tell ;
Nay,
302 The WORKS of
Nay, they difcover too, their Spite is fuch,
That Health, than Crowns more valu'd, coft not much * ;
Whilft we muft fleer our Condudl by thefe Rules,
To cheat as Tradefmen, or to ftarve as Fools.
At this fam'd Horofcope turn'd pale, and ftraight
In filence tumbl'd from his Chair of State,
The Croud in great Confufion fought the Door,
And left the Magus fainting on the Floor.
Whilft in his Breail the Fury breath'd a Storm,
Then fought her Cell, and re-affum'd her Form.
Thus from the Sore altho' the Infeft flies,
It leaves a Brood of Maggots in difguife.
Officious Squirt in hafte forfook his Shop,
To fuccour the expiring Horofcope.
Oft he effay'd the Magus to reftore,
By Salt of Succinum's prevailing Pow'r;
Yet ftill fiipine the folid Lumber lay
An Image of fcarce animated Clay ;
'Till Fates, indulgent when Difafters call,
By Squirt's nice Hand apply'd a Urinal ;
The Wight no fooner did the Steam receive,
But rous'd, and blefs'd the ftale Reftorative.
The Springs of Life their former Vigour fed,
Such Zeal he had for that vile Utenfil.
So when the great P elides, Thetis found,
He knew the fea-weed Scent, and th' azure Goddefs own'd.
c A N r o in.
ILL Night the Sage in penfive Tumults lay,
* Complaining of the flow approach of Day ;
I Wbilft vie, at our Exfetice, muft perfcvere,
And for anotbtr World) bt ruin'd btrt,
Oft
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 303
Oft turn'd him round, and drove to think no more
Of what fhriil Colon faid the Day before.
Cowflips and Poppies o'er his Eyes he fpread,
And Salmon's Works he laid beneath his Head.
But thofe blefs'd Opiats ftill in vain he tries,
Sleep's gentle Image his Embraces flies:
Tumultuous Cares lay rolling in h'.s Breaft,
And thus his anxious Thoughts the Sage expreft.
Oft has this Planet roll'd around the Sun,
Since to confult the Skies, I firft begun :
Such my Applaufe, fo mighty my Succefs,
Some granted my Predictions more than Guefs.
But, doubtful as I am, I'll entertain
This Faith, there can be no Miflake in Gain.
For the dull World moft honour pay to thofe
Who on their Underftanding molt impole.
Firft Man creates, and then he fears the Elf,
Thus others cheat him not, but he himfelf ;
He loaths the Subftance, and he loves the Show ;
You'll ne'er convince a Fool, himfelf is fo :
He hates Realities, and hugs the Cheat,
And ftill the only Pleafure's the Deceit.
So Meteors flatter with a dazling Dye
Which no Exiftence has, but in the Eye.
As diftant Profpedls pleafe us, but when near,
We find but defart Rocks, and fleeting Air.
From Stratagem to Stratagem we run,
And he knows moft, who lateft is undone.
Mankind one Day ferene and free appear ;
The next, they're cloudy, fullen, and fevere :
New Paffions, new Opinions ftill excite,
And what they like at Noon, they leave at Night
They gain with Labour what they quit with Er.ie,
And Health, for want of Change, becomes Difeafe.'
Religion's bright Authority they dare,
And yet are Slaves to fuperftitious Fear.
They counfel others, but themfelves deceive,
And tho' they're cozen'd ftill, they ftill believe.
SQ
304 T&e W o R K s of
So falfe their Cenfure, fickle their Efteem,
This Hour they wormip ; and the next blafpheme.
Shall I then, who with penetrating Sight,
Infpeft the Springs that guide each Appetite :
Who with unfathom'd Searches hourly pierce
The dark Recefles of the Univerfe,
Be aw'd, if puny Emmets wou'd opprefs ;
Or fear their Fury, or their Name carefs ?
If all the Fiends that in low Darknefs reign,
Be not the Fi&ions of a fickly Brain,
That Projeft, the 2 Difpenfaty they call,
Before the Moon can blunt her Horns, fhall fall.
With that, a Glance from mild Aurora's Eyes
Shoots thro' the cryftal Kingdoms of the Skies ;
The Savage Kind in Forcfts ceafe to roam,
And Sots o'ercharg'd with naufeous Loads reel home.
Drums, Trumpets, Hautboys wake the flumbring Pair;
Whilft Bridegroom fighs, and thinks the Bride lefs fair.
Light's chearful Smiles o'er th' azure Wafte are fpread,
And Mifs from Inns o' Court bolts out unpaid,
The Sage tranfported at th' approaching Hour,
Imperioufly thrice thunder'd on the Floor;
Officious Squirt that Moment had Accefs,
His Truft was great, his Vigilance no lefs.
To him thus Hoy of cope:
My kind Companion in this dire Affair,
Which is more light, fince you affume a Share;
Fly with what hafte you us'd to do of old,
When Clyfter was in danger to be cold :
With Expedition on the Beadle call,
To fummon all the Company to th' Hall.
Away the friendly Coadjutor flies,
Swift as from Phial Steams of Harts-horn rife.
The Magus in the int'rim mumbles o'er -^
Vile Terms of Art to fome infernal Pow'r, J.
And draws myfterious Circles on the Floor. j
a Medidnet madt tip tbere, for the Ufe of the Pttr.
But
5/r SAM u E L GA RTH. 305
But from the gloomy Vault no glaring Spright
Afcends, to blaft the tender Bloom of Light.
No myftic Sounds from Hell's detefted Womb,
In dusky Exhalations upwards come.
And now to raife an Altar he decrees,
To that devouring Harpy call'd Difeafe :
Then Flow'rs in Canifters he haftes to bring,
The wither'd Product of a blighted Spring.
With cold Solanum from the Pontic Shore,
The Roots of Mandrake and black Hellebore,
The Griper Senna, and the Puker Rue,
The Sweetner Saflafras are added too j
And on the Structure next he heaps a Load
Of Sulphur, Turpentine and maftic Wood :
Gums, Foffils too the Pyramid increas'd;
A Mummy next, once Monarch of the Eaft.
Then from the Compter he takes down the File,
And with Prefcriptions lights the folemn Pile.
Feebly the Flames on clumfy Wings afpire,
And fmoth'ring Fogs of Smoke benight the Fire.
With Sorrow he beheld the fad Portent,
Then to the Hag thefe Onions he fent.
Difeafe ! thou ever moft propitious PowV,
Whofe kind Indulgence we difcern each Hour J :
Thou well canft boaft thy num'rous Pedigree,
Begot by Sloth, maintained by Luxury.
In gilded Palaces thy Prowefs reigns,
But flies the humble Sheds of Cottage Swains.
To you fuch Might and Energy belong,
You nip the Blooming, and unnerve the Strong.'
The purple Conqueror in Chains you bind,
And are to us your Vaflals only kind.
If, in return, all Diligence we pay
To fix your Empire, and confirm your Sway,
3 Tioa that -would 'J? lay tobolc State: and Region tvajle,
Sinner than iot tby Cormvrants Jbould faft.
Far
306 *Tbe WORKS of
Far as the Weekly- bills can reach around,
Prom Kent-ftrett end to fam'd St. Giles 's-Poutidi
Behold this poor Libation with a Smile,
And let aufpicious Light break through the Pile.
He fpoke; and on the Pyramid he laid
Bay Leaves and Vipers Hearts, and thus he faid ;
As thefe confume in this myfterious Fire,
So let the curs'd Difpenfary * expire.
And as thofe crackle in the Flames, and die.
So let its Veilels burft, and Glafles fly.
But a finifter Cricket itraight was heard,
The Altar fell, the OfPring difappear'd.
As the fam'd Wight the Omen did regret,
Squirt brought the News the Company was ire*.
Nigh where "Fleet-ditch defcends in fable Streams,
To warn his footy Naiads in the Thames ;
There ftands a s Structure on a rifing Hill,
Where Tyros take their Freedom out to kill.
Some Pictures in thefe dreadful Shambles tell,
How, by the Deli an God, the Pi than fell ;
And how Medea did the Philter brew,
That cou'd in _^?/e's Veins young Force renew ;
How mournful 6 Myrrba for her Crimes appears.
And heals hyfteric Matrons ftill with Tears ;
How Mentha and Althea, Nymphs no more,
Revive in facred Plants, and Health reftore ;
How fanguine Swains their am'rous Hours repent.
When Pleafure's paft, and Pains are permanent ;
And how frail Nymphs, oft by Abortion, aim
To lofe a Subftance, to preferve a Name.
Soon as each Member in his Rank was plac'd,
Th' Affembly 7 Diafenna thus addrefs'd.
My kind Confed'rates, if my poor Intent,
As 'tis fincere, had been but prevalent,
4 S the Alison. Theoc. Farm. 5 Apthcary' ', HA
6 Set Ov, Met. 7 CUftorp tn ^fttbfury^
We
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 307
We here had met on fome more fafe Defign,
And on no other Bus'nefs but to dine ;
The Faculty had ftill maimain'd their Sway,
And Int'relt then had bid us but obey ;
This only Emulation we had known,
Who belt cou'd fill his Purfe, and thin the Tows.
But now from gath'ring Clouds Deftruftion pours,
Which ruins with mad Rage our Halcyon Hours :
Mifts from black Jealoufies the Tempeft form,
Whilft late Divifions reinforce the Storm.
Know, when thefe Feuds, like thofe at Law, were paft,
The Winners will be Lofers at the.lafc.
Like Heroes in Sea-fights we feek Renown,
To fire fome hoftile Ship, we burn cur own.
Whoe'er throws Duft againft the Wind, defcries
He throws it, in effeft, but in his Eyes.
That Juggler which another's Slight will (how,
But teaches how the World his own may know.
Thrice happy were thofe golden Days of old,
When dear as Burgundy, Ptifans were fold ;
When Patients chofe to die with better Will,
Than breathe, and pay the Apothecary's Bill :
And cheaper than for our Affiftance call,
Might go to Alx or Bourbon, fpring and fall '.
Then Priefts increas'd, and Piety decay'd,
Churchmen the Church's Purity betray 'd,
Their Lives and Doftrine, Slaves and Atheifts made.
The Laws were but the hireling Judge's Senfe;
Juries were fway'd by venal Evidence.
Fools were promoted to the Council-board,
Tools to the Bench, and Bullies to the Sword.
8 But HOIV late Jan tr Prafflcet dettSf,
For Mir.ei, lubeu once difcover'd, lofe tV EffcS.
Di/eafttns, like fmall Streams, are firji begun,
Scarce feea they rife, but gather as they run.
So Lines tbat frcm their Parallel decline,
Mire they tdvtnce, tkt Ktre they J:ill disjoin,
Penfioa*
308 The Wo R K s of
Penfions in private were the Senate's Aim ;
And Patriots for a Place abandon'd Fame.
But now no influencing Art remains,
For Somers has the Seal, and Naffau reigns.
And we, in fpite of our Refolves, muft bow,
And fuffer by a Reformation too.
For now late Jars our Practices deleft,
And Mines, when once difcover'd, lofe Eflecl.
Diflenfions, like fmall Streams, are firft begun,
Scarce feen they rife, but gather as they run :
So Lines that from their Parallel decline,
More they proceed, the more they flill disjoin.
Tis therefore my Advice, in hafte we fend, 1
And beg the Faculty to be our Friend ; >
Send Swarms of Patients, and our Quarrels end. 3
So awful Beadles, if the Vagrant treat,
Straight turn familiar, and their Fafces quit.
In vain we but contend, that Planet's Pow'r
Thofe Vapours can difperfe it rais'd before.
As he prepar'd the Mifchief to recite,
Keen 9 Cclocynthus paus'd and foam'd with Spite.
Sour Ferments on his mining Surface fwim,
Work up to Froth, and bubble o'er the Brim :
Not Beauties fret fo much if Freckles come,
Or Nofe fhou'd redden in the Drawing room ;
Or Lovers that miftake th' appointed Hour,
Or in the lucky Minute want the Pow'r.
Thus he thou Scandal of great Plan's Art,
At thy Approach the Spring? of Nature ftart,
The Nerves unbrace : Nay, at the Sight of thee,
A Scratch turns Cancer, Itch a Leproly.
Cou'dft thou propofe, that we, the Friends of Fates,
Who' fill Churchyard, and who unpeople States,
Who baffle Nature, and difpofe of Lives,
Whilft ' Rujfd, as we pleafe, or flarvef, or thrives,
9 Dare an dpotbecary.
i A ct'cbrattd Undfrtrttr / Funirah,
Shou'd
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 309
Shou'd e'er fubmit to their defpotick Will,
Who out o' Confuhation fcarce can kill ?
The tow'ring Alps fhall fooner fink to Vales,
And Leeche=, in our Glaffes, fwell to Whales ;
Or Norwich trade in Inflruments of Steel,
And Bromingbam in Stuffs and Druggets deal!
Allys at Wapping furnifh us new Modes,
And Monmoutb-jlreet, Verfailles with Riding-hoods;
The Sick to th' Hundreds in pale Throngs repair,
And change the Gravel-pits for Ker.tifo Air.
Our Properties muft on our Arms depend ;
'Tis next to conquer, bravely to defend.
'Tis to the Vulgar, Death too harfh appears ;
The 111 we feel is only in our Fears.
To die, is Landing on fome filent Shore,
Where Billows never break, nor Tempefb roar :
Ere well we feel the friendly Stroke, 'tis o'er.
The Wife thro' Thought th' Infults of Death defy ;
The Fools, thro' bleft Infenfibility.
'Tis what the Guilty fear, the Pious crave ;
Sought by the Wretch, and vanquifh'd by the Brave.
It eafes Lovers, fets the Captive free ;
And, tho' a Tyrant, offers Liberty.
Sound but to Arms, the Foe fhall foon confefs
Our Force increafes, as our Funds grow lefs ;
And what requir'd fuch Induflry to raife,
We'll fcatter into nothing as we pleafe.
Thus they'll acknowledge, to Annihilate
Shews no lefs wond'rous Pow'r than to Create.
We'll raife our num'rous Cohorts, and oppofe
The feeble Forces of our pygmy Foes ;
Legions of Quacks fhall join us on the Place,
From great Kirleus down to Doclor Cafe.
Tho' fuch vile Rubbifh fink, yet we fhall rife;
Directors ftill fecure the greateft Prize.
Such poor Supports ferve only like a Stay;
The Tree once fix'd, its Reft is torn away.
310 *Ihe W o R K s of
So Patriots, in time of Peace and Eafe,
Forget the Fury of the late Difeafe :
On Dangers paft, ferenely think no more,
And curfe the Hand that heaPd the Wound before.
Arm therefore, gallant Friends, 'tis Honour's Call ;
Or let us boldly fight, or bravely fall.
To this the Seffion feem'd to give Confent,
Much lik'd the War, but dreaded much th' Event.
At length the growing Difference to compofe,
Two Brothers, nam'd * Afcarldes, arofe.
Both had the Volubility of Tongue,
In Meaning faint, but in Opinion ftrong.
To fpeak they both affum'd a like Pretence ;
The Elder gain'd his juft Preeminence.
Thus he : 'Tis true, when Privilege and Right
Are once invaded, Honour bids us fight.
But ere we once engage in Honour's Caufe,
Firft know what Honour is, and whence it was.
Scorn'd by the Bafe, 'tis courted by the Brave,
The Hero's Tyrant, and the Coward's Slave.
Born in the noify Camp, it lives on Air,
And both exifts by Hope and by Defpair.
Angry whene'er a Moment's Eafe we gain,
And reconcil'd at our Returns of Pain.
It lives, when in Death's Arms the Hero lies :
But when his Safety he confults, it dies.
Bigotted to this Idol, we difclaim
Reft, Health, and Eafe, for nothing but a Name.
Then let us, to the Field before we move,
Know, if the Gods our Enterprife approve.
Suppofe th' unthinking Faculty unveil
What, we, thro' wifer Conducl, would conceal :
Is't Reafon we mould quarrel with the Glafs
That mews the monftrous Faatures of our Face ?
Or grant fome grave Pretenders have of late
Thought fit an Innovation to create ;
* Tbe Pearces dfttbecaries.
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 311
Soon they'll repent what rafhly they begun :
Tho 1 Projects pleafe, Projectors are undone.
All Novelties muft this Succefs expect,
When good, our Envy; and when bad, Negleft; *
If Reafon cou'd direft, ere now each Gate
Had borne Come Trophy of triumphal State.
Temples had told how Greece and Belgia owe
Troy and Namur to Jove and to Na/Tau.
Then fmce no Veneration is allow'd,
Or to the real, or th' appearing Good ;
The Project that we vainly apprehend,
Muft, as it blindly rofe, as vilely end.
Some Members of the Faculty there are,
Who Int'reft prudently to Oaths prefer.
Our Friendflup with feign'd Airs they poorly court,
And boaft, their Politics are our Support.
Them we'll confult about this Enterprife,
And boldly execute what they advife.
But from below, while fuch Refolves they took,
Some Aurum Fulminant the 4- Fabric fhook.
The Champions, daunted at the Crack, retreat,
Regard their Safety, and their Rage forget.
So when at Bathos Earth's big Offspring ftrove
To fcale the Skies, and wage a War with Jove ;
Soon as the Afs of old Silenus bray'd,
The trembling Rebels in Confufion fled.
3 If things cf Ufe were valu'd, there bad been
Some Workboufe where the Monument is feeit.
4 the Room the Apothecaries meet in, it ever fi Laboratory,
C 4 N T
312 The W o R K s of
CANTO IV.
NO T far from that frequented Theatre,
Where wand'ring Punks each Night at five repair ;
Where purple Emperors in Buskins tread,
And rule imaginary Worlds for Bread;
Where Bentley, by old Writers, wealthy grew,
And Brifcoe lately was undone by new :
There triumphs a Phyfician of Renown,
To none, but fuch as ruft in Health, unknown.
None e'er was plac'd more fitly to impart
His known Experience, and his healing Art.
When Burgefs deafens all the lift'ning Prefs
With Peals of moft feraphic Emptinefs ;
Or when myfterious Freeman mounts on high,
To preach his Parim to a Lethargy ;
This jEfculapius waits hard by, to eafe
The Martyrs cf fuch Chriftian Cruelties.
Long has this darling Quarter of the Town,
For Lewdnefs, Wit, and Gallantry been known.
All forts meet here, of whatfoe'er Degree,
To blend and juftle into Harmony.
The Critics each advent'rous Author fcan,
And praife or cenfure as they like the Man.
The Weeds of Writings for the Flow'rs they cull ;
So nicely taftelefs, fo corre&ly dull !
The Politicians of Parnaffus prate,
And Poets canvafs the Affairs of State;
The Cits ne'er talk of Trade and Stock, but tell
How Virgil writ, how bravely Turnus fell.
The Country-dames drive to Hippolitd's,
Firft find a Spark, and after lofe a Nofe.
The Lawyer for lac'd Coat the Robe does quit,
He grows a Madman, and then turns a Wit.
And
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 313
And in the Cloilter penfive Strephon waits,
Till Chloes Hackney comes, and then retreat* j
And if th' ungen'rous Nymph a Shaft lets fly, ")
More fatally than from a fparkling Eye, >
5 Mirmillo, that fam'd Opifer, is nigh. 3
The trading Tribe oft thither throng to dine,
And want of Elbow-room fupply in Wine.
Cloy'd with Variety, they forfeit there,
Whilft the wan Patients on thin Gruel fare.
J Twas here the Champions of the Party met,
Of their heroic Enterprife to treat.
Each Hero a tremendous Air put on,
And Hern Mirmillo in thefe Words begun :
'Tis with Concern, my Friends, I meet you here ',
No Grievance you can know, but I mult mare.
'Tis plain, my Int'reft you've advanc'd fo long,
Each Fee, tho' I was mute, wou'd find a Tongue,
And, in return, tho' I have ftrove to rend
Thofe Statutes, which on Oath I mould defend ;
Such Arts are Trifles to a gen'roas Mind :
Great Services, as great Returns mou'd find.
And you'll perceive, this Hand, when Glory calls,
Can brandifh Arms as well as Urinals.
Oxford and all her pafiing Bells can tell,
By this right Arm what mighty Numbers fell.
Whilft others meanly ask'd whole Months to flay,
I oft difpatch'd the Patient in a Day :
With Pen in Hand I pufh'd to that degree,
I fcarce had left a Wretch to give a Fee.
Some fell by Laudanum, and fome by Steel,
And Death in Ambulh lay in ev'ry Pill.
For fave or flay, this Privilege we claim,
Tho' Credit fuffers, the Reward's the fame.
What tho' the Art of healing we pretend,
He that defigns it leaft, is molt a Friend.
Into the right we err, and mud confefs
To Overfights we often owe Succefs,
5 Dr. Guibbons,
VOL. J. P Tha
314 *Hx W R K s of
Thus Beffus got the Battle in the Play ;
His glorious Cowardife reflor'd the Day.
So the fam'd Grecian Piece ow'd its Defert
To Chance, and not the laboured Strokes of Art.
Phyficians, if they're wife, fliould never think
Of any Arms but fuch as Pen and Ink:
But th 1 Enemy, at their Expence, mall find
When Honour calls, I'll fcorn to ftay behind.
He faid ; and feal'd th' Engagement with a Kifs,
Which was return'd by younger Afcaris ;
Who thus advanc'd : Each Word, Sir, you impart,
Has fomething killing in it, like your Art.
How much we to your boundlefs Friendmip owe,
Our Files can fpeak, and your Prefcriptions {how.
Your Ink defcends in fuch exceflive Show'rs,
Tis plain, you can regard no Health but ours.
Whilft poor Pretenders puzzle o'er a Cafe,
You but appear, and give the Coup de Grace.
O that near 6 Xanthuf 1 Banks you had but dwelt,
When Ilium firft Achaian Fury felt,
The horned River then had curs'd in vain
Young Peleui Arm, that chok'd his Stream with flain.
No Trophies you had left for Greeks to raife ;
Their ten Years toil, you'd finim'd in ten Days.
Fate fmiles on your Attempts, and v. hen you lift,
In vain the Cowards fly, or Brave refift.
Then let us arm, we need not fear Succefc;
No Labours are too hard for Hercules.
Our military Enfigns we'll difplay ;
Conquefl purfues, where Courage leads the Way.
To this Defign fhrill " Querpo did agree,
A zealous Member of the Faculty ;
His Sire's pretended pious Steps he treads,
And where the Doctor fails, the Saint fucceedi.
A Conventicle flefh'd his greener Years,
And his full Age the righteous Rancour marej.
6 Sit Horn. II. 7 Dr. Hew*.
Thus
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 315
Thus Boys hatch Game-eggs under Birds of Prey,
To make the Fowl more furious for the Fray.
Slow 8 Carus next difcover'd his Intent,
With painful Paufes mutt'ring what he meant.
His Sparks of Life, in fpite of Drugs, retreat,
So cold, that only Calentures can heat.
In his chill Veins the fluggim Puddle flows.
And loads with lazy Fogs his fable Brows.
Legions of Lunaticks about him prefs,
His Province is, loft Reafon to redrefs.
So when Perfumes their fragrant Scent give o'er,
Nought can their Odo'.ir, like a Jakes, reftore.
When for Advice the Vulgar throng, he's found
With Lumber of vile Books befieg'd around.
The gazing Throng acknowledge their Surprife,
And, deaf to Reafon, ftill confult their Eyes.
Well he perceives the World will often find,
To catch the Eye is to convince the Mind.
Thus a weak State, by wife Diflruft inclines
To num'rous Stores, and Strength in Magazines.
So Fools are always moft profufe of Words,
And Cowards never fail of longeft Svvcrds.
Abandon'd Authors here a Refuge meet,
And from the World, to Duft and Worms retreat.
Here Dregs and Sediment of Auctions reign,
Refufe of Fairs, and Gleanings of Duck-lane.
And up thefe Walls much Gothic Lumber climbs,
With Swift Philofophy, and Runic Rhymes.
Hither, retriev'd from Cooks and Grocers, come
Mede's Works entire, and endlefs Reams of Brome,
Where would the long-neglefted Collins fly,
If bounteous Cants fhou'd refufe to buy ?
But each vile Scribler's happy on this Score,
He'll find feme Carus ftill to read him o'er.
Nor muft we the obfequious 9 Umbra (pare,
Who foft by Nature, yet declared for War.
1 Dr. Tyfon. g Dr. Gould.
P 2 But
3 1 6 The WORKS of
But when fome rival Pow'r invades a Right,
I' lies fet on Flies, and Turtles Turtles fight.
Hue courteous Umbra to the laft had been
Demurely meek, infipidly ferene.
1 With him, the Preient Hill fome Virtues have,
The Vain are fprightly, and the Stupid, grave;
The Slothful, negligent; the Foppiih, neat;
The Lewd are airy ; and the Sly, difcreet.
A Wren an Eagle, a Baboon a Beau ;
2 Colt a Lycurgus, and a Phocion, * Rtrwe.
Heroic Ardor now th' Aflembly warms,
Each Combatant breathes nothing but Alarms.
For future Glory, while the Scheme is laid,
Fam'd Horofcope thus offers to diffuade ;
Since of each Enterprife th 1 Event's unknown,'
We'll quit the Sword and hearken to the Gown.
Nigh lives Vagcllius, one reputed long
For Strength of Lungs, and Pliancy of Tongue.
For Fees, to any Form he moulds a Caufe,
The Worft has Merits, and the beft has Flaws.
Five Guineas make a Criminal to day,
And ten to morrow wipe the Stain away.
Whatever he affirms is undeny'd,
JW/o's the Lecher, Clodius th' Homicide.
Cato pernicious, Catiline a Saint,
Qtford fufpefted, Duncomb innocent.
To Law then, Friends, for 'tis by Fate decreed,
Vagelliuf, and our Money, {hall fucceed.
Know, when I firft invok'd Difeafe by Charms
To prove propitious to our future Arms,
111 Omens did the Sacrifice attend,
Nor wou'd the Sibyl from her Grott afcend.
As Horofcope urg'd farther to be heard,
He thus was interrupted by a t Bard.
I See tie Imitation, Hor. Sat. 3.
a Sir H. Dutton Colt. 3 Mr. Anthony Rowe,
4. Sir T. Powii. 5 Sir Richard Blackmore.
Sir SAM u E L GARTH. 317
In vain your magic Myfteries you ufe,
Such Sounds the Sibyl' s facred Ears abufe.
Thefe Lines the pale Divinity fhall raife,
Such is the Pow'r of Sound, and Force of Lays.
6 Arms meet with Arms, Fauchions with Fauchions clfjb t
And Sparks of Fire ft ruck out from Armcur flafly.
Thick Clouds cf Duj} contending Warriors raife,
1 And hideous War o'er all the Region brays.
Some raging ran nuitb huge Herculean CIubs t
Seme maffy Balls of Brafs, fame mighty Tubs
Of Cinders bore.
8 Naked and half -burnt Hills with hideous Wreck
Affright the Skies, and fry the Ocean's Back.
As he went rumbling on, the Fury ftraight
Crawl'd in, her Limbs cou'd fcarce fupport her Weight.
A rueful Rag her meagre Forehead bound,
And faintly her furr'd Lips thefe Accents found.
Mortal, how dar'ft thou with fuch Lines addrefs
My awful Seat, and trouble my Recefs ?
In Ej/ex marfhy Hundreds is a Cell,
Where lazy Fogs and drizzling Vapours dwell :
Thither raw Damps on drooping Wings repair,
And fhiv'ring Quartans {hake the fickly Air.
There, when fatigu'd, fome filent Hours I pafs,
And fubftitute Phyficians in my Place.
Then dare not, for the future, once rehearfe
The Diffonance of fuch untuneful Verfe.
But in your Lines let Energy bs found,
And learn to rife in Senfe, and fink in Sound.
Harfh Words, tho' pertinent, uncouth appear ;
None pleafe the Fancy, who offend the Ear.
In Senfe and Numbers if you would excel,
Read Wycherley, confider Dryden well.
In one, what vigorous Turns of Fancy fhine !
In th' other, Sirens warble in each Line.
6 King Arthur, p. 307. 7 Kir.g Arthur, p. 327.
8 Prince Arthur, f. ijo.
P 3 1C
3 1 8 The WORKS of
If Dorfet's fprightly Mufe but touch the Lyre,
The Smiles and Graces melt in foft Defire,
And little Loves confefs their am'rous Fire 9 .
The gentle Ifn claims the ivy Crown,
To bind th' immortal Brows of Addifon.
As tuneful Congreve tries his rural Strains, ")
Pan quits the Woods, the lift'ning Fawns the Plains; >
And Philomel^ in Notes like his, complains. j
And Britain, fmce ' Paufanias was writ,
Knows Spartan Virtue, and Athenian Wit.
When Stepney paints the godlike Acts of Kings,
Or, what Apollo dictates, Prior fings,
The Banks of Rhine a pleas'd Attention (how.
And filver Sequana forgets to flow.
Such jufl Examples carefully read o'er,
Slide without falling, without Straining, foar.
Oft tho 1 your Strokes furprife, you fhould not choofe
A Theme fo mighty for a Virgin Mufe.
Long did * Apelles his fam'd Piece decline,
His Alexander was his laft Defign.
'Tis Montague^ rich Vein alone muft prove,
None but a Phidias fhould attempt a Jove 1.
The Fury paus'd, till with a frightful Sound
A rifing Whirlwind burfl th' unhallow'd Ground,
Then (he The Deity we Fortune call,
Tho* diftant, rules and influences alL
Straight for her Favour to her Court repair;
Important Embaffies ask Wings of Air.
Each wond'ring flood, but Horofeopis great Soul,
That Dangers ne'er alarm, nor Doubts control,
9 The Tiber now no gentle Callus fees,
But failing Thames enjoys her Normanbys.
j Paufanias -written by Mr. Norton.
a See Hor. B. a. Ef. i. Plin. Plaut. Cic. Ef. Val. Max.
3 Tte Furyfaid; and -van'tjhing from Sight,
Cryd out, To Ami ; fo left the Realms of Light,
Ibe Ci/mbatunt-s to tV Efiterprife confent,
And tbe next Day fmird tin the gregt Event,
Rais'd
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 319
Rais'd on the Pinions of the bounding Wind,
Out-flew the Rack, and left the Hours behind.
The Ev'ning now with Blufties warms the Air,
The Steer refigns the Yoke, the Hind his Care.
The Clouds above with golden Edgings glow,
And falling Dews refrefti the Earth below.
The Bat with footy Wings flits thro' the Grove, "\
The Reeds fcarce ruftie, nor the Afpines move. >
And all the feather'd Folks forbear their Lays of Love. }
Thro' the tranfparent Region of the Skies,
Swift as a Wifh the Miffionary flies.
With Wonder he furveys the upper Air,
And the gay gilded Meteors fporting there.
How lambent Jellies kind'ling in the Night,
Shoot thro' the .dither in a Trail of Light ;
How rifmg Steams in th' azure Fluid blend,
Or fleet in Clouds, or foft in Show'rs defcend ;
Or if the ftubborn. Rage of Cold prevail,
In Flakes they fly, or fall in moulded Hail.
How Honey-dews embalm the fragrant Morn,
And the fair Oak with lufcious Sweats adorn.
How Heat and Moifture mingle in a Mafs,
Or belch in Thunder, or in Light'ning blaze.
Why nimble Corufcations ftrike the Eye,
And bold Tornado's b'ufter in the Sky.
Why a pj-clific Aura upwards tends,
Ferments, and in a living Show'r defcends.
How Vapours hanging on the tow'ring Hills
In Breezes figh, or weep in warbling Rills :
Whence infant Winds their tender Pinions try,
And River-gods their thirfty Urns fupply.
The wond'ring Sage purfues his airy Flight,
And braves the chill unwholfom Damps of Night ;
He views the Trafts where Luminaries rove,
To fettle Seafons here, and Fates above.
The bleak ArSurus Hill forbid the Seas,
The ftormy Kids, the weeping Hyades ;
P 4 The
320 The Wo R K s of
The mining 4- Lyre with Strains attracting more
HeavVs glitt'ring Manfions now than * Hell's before;
Glad Cajpopeia circling in the Sky,
And each fair Ckurtbil of the Galaxy.
Aurora on Etc/Ian Breezes borne,
With blufhing Lips breathes out the fprightly Mom :
Each Flow'r in Dew their (hort-liv'd Empire weeps,
And Cynthia with her lov'd Endymion (leeps.
As through the Gloom the Magus cuts his way,
Jmperfed Objefts tell the doubtful Day.
Dim he difcerns majeflic dtlas rife,
And bend beneath the Burden, of the Skies.'
His tow'ring Brows aloft no Tempefls know,
Whiift Light'ning flies, and Thunder rolls below.
Diftant from hence beyond a Wafte of Plains,
Proud Tentrif his giant Brother reigns ;
With breathing Fire his pitchy Noftrils glow, .
As from his Sides he (hakes the fleecy Snow.
Around this hoary Prince, from wat'ry Beds,
His fubjeft Iflands raife their verdant Heads ;
The Waves fo gently wafh each rifing Hill,
The Land feems floating, and the Ocean ftill.
Eternal Spring with fmiling Verdure here
Warms the mild Air, and crowns the youthful Year.
From cryftal Rocks tranfparent Riv'lets flow;
The Tub'rofe ever breathes, and Violets blow.
The Vine undrefs'd her fvvelling Clutters bears,
The lab'ring Hind the mellow Olive cheers ;
Bloflbms and Fruit at once the 6 Citron (hows,
And as (he pays, difcovers dill (he owes.
The Ora'nge to her Sun her Pride difplays,
And gilds her fragrant Apples with his
No Blafts e'er difcompofe the peaceful Sky,
The Springs but murmur, and the Winds but figh.
The tuneful Swans on gliding Rivers float,
And, warbling Dirges, die on ev'ry Note.
4 Orpheus'i Harp madt a Cvr.fltllat\*n t
- i Manil. 6 #'*//.
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 321
Where Flora treads, her Zephyr Garlands flings,
And fcatters Odours from his purple Wings ;
Whilft Birds from Woodbine Bow'rs and Jefmine Groves
Chant their glad Nuptials, and unenvy'd Loves.
Mild Seafons, rifinjj Hills, and filent Dales,
Cool Grottos, filver Brooks, and flow'ry Vales,
Groves fill'd with balmy Shrubs in Pomp appear,
And fcent with Gales of Sweets the circling Year.
Thefe happy Ifles, where endlefs Pleafures wait,
Are ftil'd by tuneful Bards The Fortunate,
On high, where no hoarfe Winds nor Clouds refort,
The hoodwink'd Goddefs keeps her partial Court.
Upon a Wheel of ? Amethyft fhe fits,
Gives and refumes, and fmiles and frowns by Fits.
In this Hill Labyrinth, around her lie
Spells, Philters, Globes, and Schemes of Palmift.y :
A Sigil in this Hand the Gypfy bears,
In th' other a prophetic Sieve and Sheers.
The Dame, by Divination, knew that foon
The Magus wou'd appear and then begun:
Hail facred Seer ! thy Embafly I know,
Wars muft enfue, the Fates will have it fo.
Dread Feats lhall follow, and Difafters great,
* Pills charge on Pills, and Bolus Bolus meet :
Both Sides lhall conquer, and yet both (lull fail ;
The Mortar now, and then the Urinal.
To thee alone my Influence I owe;
Where Nature has deny'd, my Favours flow.
'Tis I that give, fo mighty is my Pow'r,
Faith to the J(v, Complexion to the Moor. '
I am the Wretch's Wifh, the Rook's Pretence,
The Sluggard's Eafe, the Coxcomb's Providence,
Sir Scrape-quill, once a fupple fmiling Slave,
Looks lofty now, and infolently grave ;
Builds, fettles, purchafes, and has each Hour
Caps from the Rich, and Curfes from the Poor.
7 Tbii Stone reckoned fortunate ; fee tbi Wft, of Nat. Magic.
8 Si* tbt Jllufiv,, Lucan,
P 5
322 T"A? WORKS of
Spadtliio, that at Table ferv'd o' late,
Drinks rich Tockay himfelf, and eats in Plate;
Has Levees, Villas, Miftrefles in ftore,
And owns the Racer? which he rubb'd before.
Souls heav'nly born, my fakhlefs JJoons defy ;
The Brave is to himfelf a Deiry.
Tho' bleft Area's gone, fome Soil remains
Where Fortune is the Slave, and Merit reigns.
The Tiber boafts his Julian Progeny,
Thames his Na/au, the Nile his Ptclcmy.
Iberia, yet for future Sway defign'd,
Shall, for a Hcfie, a greater Mordaunt find.
Thus 9 driadr.e in proud Triumph rode ;
She loft a ' Hero, and fhe found a * God.
CANTO V.
VT7HEN the ftill Kight, with peaceful Poppies
crown'd,
Had fpread her fhady Pinions o'er the Ground ;
And flumb'ring Chiefs of painted Triumphs dream,
While Groves and Streams are the foft Virgin's Thems;
The Surges gently dafh againft the Shore,
Flocks quit the Plains, and Gally-Slaves the Oar ;
Sleep (hakes its downy Wings o'er mortal Eyes,
MirmiHo is the only Wretch it flies :
He finds no Refpite from his anxious Grief;
Then feeks from this Soliloquy, Relief.
Long have I reign'd unrival'd in the Town,
Opprefs'd with Fees and deafen'd with Renown,
None e'er cou'd die with due Solemnity,
Unlefs his Paflport firft was fign'd by me.
My arbitrary Bounty's undenyM ;
J give Reverfions, and for Heirs provide.
9 Stt Steph. x Thcfeui, a Bacchui,
Nont
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 323
None cou'd the tedious nuptial State fupport.
But I to make U eafy, make it Ihort.
I fet the difcontented Matrons free,
And ranfom Husbands from Captivity.
Shall one of fuch Importance then engage
In noify Riot, and in civil Rage ?
No : I'll endeavour ftraight a Peace, and fo
Preferve my Character, and Perfon too.
But Difcord, th*t {till haunts with hideous Mien
Thofe dire Abodes where Hymen once hath been,
O'er- heard Mirmillo's Anguifh, then begun
In peeviih Accents to exprefs her own.
Have I fo often bamih'd lazy Peace
From her dark Solitude, and lov'd Recefs ?
Have I made South and Sherlock difagree
And puzzle Truth with learn'd Obfcurity ?
And does the faithful Fergufon profefs
His Ardour ftill for Animoikies ?
Have I, Britannia's Safety to enfure,
Expos'd her naked, to be mod fecure ?
Have I made Parties oppofire, unite,
In monflrous Leagues of amicable Spite,
To curfe their Country, whilft the common Cry
Is Freedom, but their Aim, the Miniilry ?
And mail a Daftard's Cowardife prevent
The War, fo long I've labonr'd to foment ?
No, 'tis refolv'd, he either mail comply,
Or I'll renounce my wan Divinity.
With that, the Hag approach'd Mirmillos Bed,
And taking Querpo's meager Shape, me faid ;
At noon of Night I haften, to difpel
Thofe Tumults in your penfive Bofom dwell.
I dreamt but now I heard your heaving Sighs,
Nay, faw the Tears debating in your Eyes.
O that 'twere but a Dream ! But Threats I find
Low'r in your Looks, and rankle in your Mind.
Speak, whence it is this late Diforder flows,
That (hakes' your Soul, and troubles your Repofe.
Miftake*
3 24 The WORKS of
Miftakes in Practice fcarce cou'd give you Pain,
Too well you know the Dead will ne'er complain.
What Looks difcover, faid the Homicide,
Wou'd be a fruitlefs Induftry to hide.
My Safety firft I muft confult, and then
I'll ferve our fuff 'ring Party with my Pen.
All fhou'd, reply 'd the Hag, their Talent learn ;
The mod attempting oft the leaft difcern.
Let Peterborough fpeak, and Vanbrugb write,
Soft Aeon court, and rough Ceecinna fight:
Such muftfucceed; but when th' Enervate aim
Beyond their Force, they {till contend for Shame=
Had Colbatcb printed nothing of his own,
He had not been the Saffbld o' the Town.
AfTes and Owls, unfeen, their Kind betray,
If thefe attempt to hoot, or thofe to bray.
Had Wejlley never aim'd in Verfe to pleafe,
We had not rank'd him with oar Ogllbys.
Still Cenfures will on dull Pretenders fell,
A Ccdrus fhou'd expect a Juvenal.
Ill Lines, but like ill Paintings, are allow'd,
To fet off, and to recommend the Good.
So Diamonds take a Luflre from their Foylej
And to a Benf/ty 'tis, we owe a Beyle.
Confider well the Talent you poffefs,
To ftrive to make it more would make it lefsj
And recollect what Gratitude is due,
To thofe whofe Party you abandon now.
To them you owe your odd Magnificence,
But to your Stars your Magazine of Senfe.
Hafpt in a Tombril, aukward have you fliin'd*
With one fat Slave before, and none behind. -
3 But fen what tbey'vt exalted they'll difctrd,
dr.d fet up Cams or the City Bard.
Alarm d at this the Here Courage ttk f
jtnd Stormi of Terror threaten"! in bit Look,
My dread Reft/vet, be crftf, Fll Jtraigbt fltrfut }
fie Fury fatiify'd, in Stnilet witbdmvt
Then
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 325
Then hafte and join your true intrepid Friends,
Succefs on Vigour and Difpatch depends.
Lab'ring in Doubts Mirmillo flood, then faid,
'Tis hard to undertake, if Gain diffuade ;
What Fool for noify Feuds large Fees wou'd leave ?
Ten Harvefts more, wou'd all I wifli for give.
True Man, reply 'd the Elf; by Choice difeas'd,
Ever contriving Pain, and never pleas'd.
A prefent Good they flight, an abfent choofe,
And what they have, for what they have not, lofe.
Falfe Profpe&s all their true Delights deftroy,
Refolv'd to want, yet lab'ring to enjoy.
In reftlefs Hurries thoughtlefly they live,
At Subftance oft unmov'd, for Shadows grieve.
Children at Toys, as Men at Titles aim;
And in effcft both covet but the fame.
This Philips Son prov'd in revolving Years ;
And firft for Rattles, then for Worlds fhed Tears.
The Fury fpoke, then in a Moment fir'd
The Hero's Breaft with Tempefts, and retir'd.
In boding Dreams Mirmillo fpent the Night, j
And frightful Phantoms danc'd before his Sight,
'Till the pale Pleiads clos'd their Eyes of Light. 3
At length gay Morn glows in the eaftern Skies,
The Larks in Raptures thro' the ./Ether rife,
The azure Mifts feud o'er the dewy Lawns,
The Chaunter at his early Matins yawns,
The Am'ranth opes its Leaves, the Lys its Bells,
And Progne her Complaint of Tereus tells.
As bold Mirmillo the gray Dawn defcries,
Arm'd Cap-a-pe, where Honour calls, he flies,
And finds the Legions planted at their Poft ;
Where mighty Querpo fill'd the Eye the molt.
His Arms were made, if we may credit Fame,
By * Mulciber, the Mayor of Bromingham.
4 Stttbt Alufm Horn, Iliad. B, 18, Virg, vn, B. 9.
Of
Tie WORKS of
Of temper'd Stibium the bright Shield was caft,
s And yet the Work the Metal far furpafs'd.
A Foliage of the vulnerary Leaves,
Grav'd round the Brim, the won'dring Sight deceives.
Around the Center Fate's bright Trophies lay,
Probes, Saws, Incifion Knives, and Tools to flay.
Emboft upon the Field, a Battle flood
Of Leeches fpouting hem^rihoidal Blood.
The Artiil too exprefs'd the folemn State
Of grave Phyficians at a Confult met ;
About each Symptom how they diiagree,
But how unanimous in cafe of Fee.
Whilil each Afihffin his learn'd Collegue tires
With learn'd Impertinence, the Sick expires.
Beneath this blazing Orb bright Que>-po {hone,
Himfelf an Atlas, and his Shield a Moon.
A Peftle for his Truncheon led the Van,
And his high Helmet was a Clofe-rtool Pan.
His Creft an 6 Ibis, brandifliing her Beak,
And winding in loofe Folds her .piral Neck.
This, when the young 7 Querpdides beheld,
His Face in Nurfe's Breaft the Boy conceal d ;
Then peept, and with th' effulgent Helm wou'd play.
And as the Monfter gap'd wou'd {hrink away.
Thus fometimes Joy prevail'd, and fcmetimes Fear j
And Tears and Smiles alternate Paffions were.
As Qyerpo tow'ring ftood in martial Might,
Pacific Cam fparkled on the Right.
An < Oran Outang o'er his Shoulders hung,
His Plume confefs'd the Capon whence it fprung.
His motly Mail fcarce cou'd the Hero bear,
Haranguing thus the Tribunes of the War.
5 Ste Ovid Met. B. 2.
6 Tbit Bird, accirtiing t tbt Anucntt, givtt itfeif g CMbr
V>itb in Beat.
7 Alluding to Aftyanax. See Horn. II.
8 Skin f *-4tfethd Baton cailtdfe.
Fam'd
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 327
Faxn'd Chiefs,
For prefent Triumphs born, dcfign'd for more,
Your Virtue I admire, your Value more.
If Battle be refolv'd, you'll find this Hand
Can deal out Deftiny, and Fate command.
OUP Foes in Throngs {hall hide the crimfon Plain,
And their Apollo interpofe in vain.
Tho' Gods themfelves engage, a 9 Diomed
With Eafe cou'd fhow a Deity can bleed.
But War's rough Trade fhou'd be by Fools profeft,.
The trueft Rubbiflr fills a Trench the beft.
Let Quinfies throttle, and the Quartan, make,
Or Dropfies drown, and Gout and Colics rack ;
Let Sword and Peftilence lay wafte, while we
Wage bloodlefs Wars, and fight in Theory.
Who wants not Merit needs not arm for Fame ;
The Dead I raife, my Chivalry proclaim,
Difeafes baffled, and loir. Health reftor'd,
In Fame's bright Lift my Victories record.
More Lives from me their Prefervation own,
Than Lovers lofe if fair Cornelia frown.
Your Cures, mrill >ucrpo cry'd, aloud you tell,
But wifely your Mifcarriages conceal.
Zeno, a Prieft, in Samctbraee of old,
Thus reafon'd with Pbilopidas the bold ;
Immortal Gods you own, but think 'em blind
To what concerns the State of human Kind.
Either they hear not, or regard not Pray'r,
That argues want of Pow'r, and this of Care.
Allow that Wifdom infinite muft know ;
Pow'r infinite muft aft. I grant it fo.
Hafte ftraight to Neptune's Fane, furvey with Zeal
The Walls. What then P reply'd the Infidel.
Obferve thofe num'rous Throngs in Effigy,
The Gods have fav'd from the devouring Sea.'
"7a true, their Piflures that efcap'd you keep,
But where are theirs that feriflfd in the Deep ?
9 Set Horn, II, S. 5
Vaunt
328 The WORKS of
Vaunt now no more the Triumph of your Skill,
But, tho 1 unfee'd, exert your Arm, and kill.
Our Scouts have learn'd the Pofture of the Foe ;
In War, Surprifes fureft Conduft fhow.
But Fame, that neither good nor bad conceal?,
That Pembroke's Worth, and Ormondes Valour tells;
How Truth in Burnct, how in Cav'ndifh reigns,
Parnfs Magnificence with Maro's Strains j
But how at Church and Bar all gape and ftretch
If Winnington plead, or South or Only preach ;
On nimble Wings to Warwick-Lane repairs,
And what the Enemy intends, declares.
Confufion in each Countenance appear'd,
A Council's call'd, and * Stentor firft was heard * ;
His lab'nng Lungs the throng'd Prsetorium rent,
Addreffing thus the paflive Prefident.
Macbaon, whofe Experience we adore,
Great as your matchlefs Merit, is your Pow'r.
At your approach, the baffled Tyrant Death
Breaks his keen Shafts, and grinds his claming Teeth.
To you we leave the Conduct of the Day ;
What you command, your Vaflals muft obey.
If this dread Enterpriie you wou'd decline,
We'll fend to treat, and ftifle the Defign.
But if my Arguments had force, we'd try
To humble our audacious Foes, or die *.
Out
i Dr. Goodall.
S True to Extremei, yet to dull Formt * Slave,
Hit alviayt dully Gay, tr vainly Grave,
With Indignation, and a daring Air t
Hefaiiid awhile, and thus oddrcfid the Cbair
3 Sir Thomas Millington.
4 What Stentor offered ivai by moft approved:
But fe-v'-ral Voices frugal Mttbtds mov'd.
At length tV advent'roui Heroes all agree
T expefl the Fee, and off dtfer.Jively.
Into the Shop their held Battalitni ntve,
And what tbtir (bief Ctnawub, tbt reft aftrtvt.
Sir SAM UE L GARTH. 329
Our Spite, they'll find, to their Advantage leans ;
The End is good, no matter for the Means.
So modern Cafuiits their Talents try,
Uprightly for the Take of Truth to lye.
He had not fmiftVd, 'till th' Out- guards defcry'd
Bright Columns move in formidable Pride ;
The paffing Pomp fo dazzled from afar,
It feem'd a Triumph, rather than a War.
Tho* wide the Front, tho' grofs the Phalanx grew,
It look'd lefs dreadful, as it nearer drew.
The adverfe Hoft for Adlion flraight prepare ;
All eager to unveil the Face of War.
Their Chiefs lace on their Helms, and take the Field,
And to their trufty Squire refign the Shield :
To paint each Knight, their Ardor and Alarms,
Wou'd ask the Mufe that fung the Frogs in Arms.
And now the Signal fummons to the Fray ;
Mock Falchions flam, and paltry Enfigns play.
Their Patron God his filvcr Bow- firings twangs ;
Tough Harnefs nifties, and bold Armour clangs,
The piercing Cauftics ply their fpiteful Pow'r ;
Emetics ranch, and keen Cathartics fcour.
The deadly Drugs in double Dofes fly ;
And Peftles peal a martial Symphony.
Now from their levell'd Syringes they pour
The liquid Volley of a miffive Show'r.
Not Storms of Sleet, which o'er the Baltic drive,
Pufh'd on by northern Gufts, fuch Horror give.
Like Spouts in fouthern Seas the Deluge broke,
And Numbers funk beneath th' impetuous Stroke.
Down from the Walls they tear the Shelve! in baft,
Which on their Flank for Pa/if ades are flat' d;
And then, behind the Compter rang'd they ftand f
Their Front fo well fecur'd, f' obey Ctmmand.
And now the Scouts <tht advcrfe Hoft defcry t
Blue Afrons in the Air for Colours fy :
With unrejijied Force tbty urge their Way,
And find tbt Fu tmtettled in Array.
So
33 Vbe W o R K s of
So when Leviathans difpute the Reign
And uncontroll'd Dominion of the Main ;
From the rent Rocks whole Coral Groves are torn,
And Ifles of Sea-weed on the Waves are borne :
Such watry Stores from their fpread Noftrils fly,
Tis doubtful which is Sea, and which is Sky.
And now the ftagg'ring Braves, led by Defpair,
Advance, and to return the Charge, prepare.
Each feizes for his Shield a fpacious Scale,
And the brafs Weights fly thick as Show'rs of Hail.
Whole Heaps of Warriors welter on the Ground,
Whilft empty Jars the dire Defeat refound. ^
Thus when fome Storm its cryftal Quarry rends,
And Jove in rattling Show'rs of Ice defcends j
Mount Atbos fhakes the Forefts on his Brow, "1
Whilft down his wounded Sides frefh Torrents flow, I
And Leaves and Limbs of Trees o'er-fpread the Vale f
below. J
But now, all Order loft, promifcuous Blows
Confus'dly fall ; perplex'd the Battle grow.
From 5 Stentor's Arm a mafly Opiat flies,
And ftraight a deadly Sleep clos'd Cams' 1 Eyes.
At 6 Colon great Sertorius Buckthorn flung,
Who with fierce Gripes, like thofe of Death, was flung;
But with a dauntlefs and difdainful Mien
Hurl'd back Steel Pills, and hit him on the Spleen.
7 Chiron attack 'd Taltbibius with fuch Might,
One Pafs had paunch'd the huge hydropic Knight,
Who ftraight retreated to evade the Wound,
But in a Flood of Apozem was drown'd.
This 8 Pfylas faw, and to the Viftor faid,
Thou fhalt not long furvivc th' unwieldy Dead,
5 Dr. Goodall againft Dr. Tyfon,
6 Dr. Birch.
7 Dr. Gill againft Dr. Ridley.
I Dr. Chamberlain.
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 231
Thy Fate mall follow ; to confirm it, fvvore
By th' Image of Priapus, which he bore :
And rais'd an 9 Eagle-done, invoking loud
On Cynthia^ leaning o'er a filver Cloud.
Great Queen of Night, and Emprefs of the Seas,
If faithful to thy midnight Myfteries,
If ftill obfervant of my early Vows,
Thefe Hands have eas'd the mourning Matron's Throws,
Direft this rais r d avenging Arm aright;
So may loud Cymbals aid thy laboring Light.
He faid, and let the ponderous Fragment fly
At Chiron^ but learn'd Hermes put it by.
Tho' the haranguing God furvey'd the War,
That Day the Mufes Sons were not his Care.
Two Friends, Adepts, the Trifmegifls by Name,
Alike their Features, and alike their Flame.
As Simpling near fair Tweed each fung by Turn,
The lift'ning River would negleft his Urn.
Thofe Lives they fail'd to refcue by their Skill,
Their ' Mufe could make immortal with her Quill ;
But learn'd Enquiries after Nature's State
Diffolv'd the League, and kindled a Debate.
The one for lofty Labours fruitful known,
Fill'd Magazines with Volumes of his own.
At his once-favonr'd Friend a Tome he threw.
That from its Birth had flept unfeen 'till now ;
Stunn'd"with the Blow the batter'd Bard retir'd,
Sunk down, and in a Simile expir'd.
And now the Cohorts make, the Legions ply.
The yielding Flanks confefs the Victory.
Stentor undaunted ftill, with noble Rage
Sprung thro' the Battle, Querpo to engage.
Fierce was the Onfet, the Difpute was great,
Both could not vanquiOi, neither would retreat ;
Each Combatant hrs Adverfary mauls,
With batter'd Bed-pans, and ftav'd Urinals.
9 Ste Plin. i Stt Ta/T.
332 *fhe WORKS of
On StfMtors Creft the ufeful Cryftal breaks,
And Tears of Amber gutter'd down his Cheeks :
But whilft the Champion, as late Rumours tell,
Defign'd a fure decifive Stroke, he fell :
And as the Viftor hov'ring o'er him flood,
With Arms extended, thus the Suppliant fu'd.
When Honour's loft, 'tis a Relief to die >
Death's but a fure Retreat from Infamy.
But to the loit, if Pity might be mown,
Refleft on young ^uerpdides thy Son ;
Then pity mine, for luch an Infant- grace
Smiles in his Eyes, and flatters in his Face.
If he was near, Companion he'd create,
Or elfe lament his wretched Parent's Fate.
Thine is the Glory, and the Field is thine ;
To thee the lov'd z Difpem'ry I refign.
At this the Viftors own fuch Ecitafies,
As Mempbian Priefts if their OJtris fneeze :
Or Champions with Olympic Clangor fir'd ;
Or fimp'ring Prudes with fprightly Nantx infpir'd ;
Or Sultans rais'd from Dungeons to a Crown ;
Or fading Zealots when the Sermon's done.
Awhile the chief the deadly Stroke declin'd,
And found Compaffion pleading in his Mind.
But whilft he view'd with Pity the Diftrefs'd,
He fpy'd J Signetur writ upon his Breaft.
Then tow'rds the Skies he tofs'd his threatning Head,
And fir'd with more than mortal Fury, faid,
Sooner than I'll from vow'd Revenge defift,
His Holinefs fhall turn a $>uietift t
Janfenius and the Jefuits agree,
The Inquifition wink at Herefy *j
See the Alfafon, Virg. /En.
3 Tbofe Membert ef the Colltgt that clfervt * latt StttUte, tr
lltd by the Apttbtcariu Signetur Men.
ea 4 Faith Jtand unmw'd tbrf Stillingfleet'i Dtfcnci t
And Locke fir Mtftry abandon S**ft.
Warm
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 333
Warm Convocations own the Church fecure,
And more confult her Doflrine than her Pow'r.
With that he drew a Lancet in his Rage,
To pundlure the ftill fupplicating Sage.
But while his Thoughts that fatal Stroke decree,
Apollo interpos'd in form of Fee.
The Chief great P<eans golden Trefles knew,
He own'd the God, and his rais'd Arm withdrew*
Thus often at the Temph-ftairs we've feen
Two Tritons of a rough athletic Mien,
Sourly difpute fome Quarrel of the Flood,
With Knuckles bruis'd, and Face befmear'd in Blood j
But at the firft Appearance of a Fare,
Both quit the Fray, and to their Oars repair.
The Hero fo his Enterprife recalls,
His Fift unclinches, and the Weapon falls.
C A N ? O VI.
More foft than Air, more gay than morning Light.
A Charm (he takes from each excelling Fair,
And borrows Carliflis Shape, and Graftorfs Air.
Her Eyes like Rane/agb's their Beams difpenfe,
With Churches Bloom, and Berkley's Innocence ;
On Iris thus the differing r Beams beftow
The Dye, that paints the Wonders of her Bow i
From the fair Nymph a vocal Mufic falls,
As to Macbaan thus the Goddefs calls.
Enough th' Achievement of your Arms you've fliOWn,
You feek a Triumph you fhou'd blulh to own.
5 Stt Newt, ./ C/,
Hate
334 The WORKS of
Hafte to th' Elyfan-fieldi, thofe blefs'd Abodes,
Where Harvey fits among the Demi-gods.
Confult that facred Sage, he'll foon difclofe
The Method that mnft mollify thefe Woes.
Let 6 Ctlfus for that Enterprise prepare,
His Conduct to the Shades fliall be my Care.
Aghafl the Heroes flood diflblv'd in Fear,
A Form fo heav'nly bright they cou'd not bear ;
Celfus alone unmov'd, the Sight beheld,
The reft in pale Confufion left the Field.
So when the Pygmies, marlhali'd on the Plains,
Wage puny War againfi th' invading Cranes ;
The Poppets to their bodkin Spears repair,
And fcatter'd Feathers flutter in the Air ;
But when the bold imperial Bird of Jove
Stoops on his founding Pinions from above,
Among the Brakes the fairy Nation crow ; s,
And ihe Strimonian Squadron feeks the Clouds.
And now the Delegate prepares to go -j
And view the Wonders of the Realms below ; s.
Then takes Amomum for the golden Bough. j
Thrice did the Goddefs with her facred Wand
The Pavement ftrike ; and ftraight at her Command
The willing Surface opens, and defcries
A deep Defcent that leads to nether Skies.
7 Hygeia to the filent Region tends ;
And with his heavn'ly Guide the Charge defcends.
Thus Numa, when to hallow'd Caves retir'd,
Was by 8 jEgeria guarded and infpir'd.
Within the Chambers of the Globe they fpy
The Beds where fleeping Vegetables lie,
'Till the glad Summons of a genial Ray
Unbinds the Glebe, and calls them out to Day.
Hence Fancies trick themfelves in various Hew,
And hence Jonquils derive their fragrant Dew;
6 Dr. Bateman.
7 Health, ctlebrattd by tbt Anatnti ti a Gtddiftt
8 Ste Ov. Met,
Hence
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 335
Hence the Carnation and the baftiful Rofe
Their Virgin Blufhes to the Morn difclofe ;
Hence the chalte Lilly rifes to the Light,
Unveils her fnowyBreafts, and charms the Sight;
Hence Arbours are with twining Greens array'd,
T' ob'ige complaining Lovers with their Shade;
And hence on Daphne's laurel'd Forehead grow
Immortal Wreaths for Phoebus and Naffau.
The Infecls here their lingring Trance furvive :
Benumb'd they feem, and doubtful if alive.
From Winter's Fury hither they repair,
And ftay for milder Skies and fofter Air.
Down to thefe Cells obfcener Reptiles creep,
Where hateful Nutes and painted Lizards fleep.
Where fhiv'ring Snakes the Summer Solftice wait ;
Unfurl their painted Folds, and flide in State.
Here their new Form the numb'd 9 Eruc* hide,
Their num'rous Feet in (lender Bandage ty'd :
Soon as the kindling Ear begins to rife, ^
This upftart Race their native Clod defpife, V
And proud of painted Wings attempt the Skies. J
Now thofe profounder Regions they explore,
Where Metals ripen in vaft Cakes of Ore.
Here, fallen to the fight, at large is fpread
The dull unwieldy Mafs of lumpim Lead.
There, glimm'ring in their dawning Beds, are feen
The light afpiring Seeds of fprightly Tin.
The ' Copper fparkles next in ruddy Streaks ;
And in the Gloom betrays its glowing Checks.
The Silver then with bright and burnifh'd Grace,
Youth and a blooming Lultre in its Face,
To th' Arms of thofe more yielding Metals flies,
And in the Folds of their Embraces lies.
So clofe they cling, fo ftubbornly retire ;
Their Love's more violent than the Chymift's Fire.
9 Set Godort f Caterpillars amd Butterfitt.
I Sit Yald. M Ainu.
Near
336 *Ihe W o R K s of
Near thefe the Delegate with Wonder fpies
Where Floods of living Silver ferpentife :
Where richeft Metals their bright Looks put on,
And golden Streams through Amber Channels run.
Where Light's gay God defcends to ripen Gems,
And lend a Luftre brighter than his Beams.
Here he obferves the fubterranean Cells,
Where wanton Nature fports in idle Shells.
Some helicoeids, fome conical appear :
Thefe, Miters emulate, thofe Turbans are.
Here Marcafites in various Figure wait,
To ripen to a true metallic State :
Till Drops that from impending Rocks defcend
Their Subftance petrify, and Progrefs end.
Nigh, livid Seas of kindled Sulphur flow.
And, whilft enrag'd, their fiery Surges glow,
Convulfions in the lab'ring Mountains rife,
And hurl their melted Vitals to the Skies.
He views with Horror next the noify Cave,
Where with hoarfe Dins imprifon'd Tempefls rave ;
Where clam'rous Hurricanes attempt their Flight,
Or, whirling in tumultuous Eddies, fight.
The warring Winds unmov'd Hygeia heard,
Brav'd their loud Jars, but much for Celfut fear'd.
Andromeda, fo whilft her Hero fought,
Shook for his Danger, but her own forgot.
And now the Goddefs with her Charge defcend?,
Where fcarce one chearful Glimpfe their Steps befriends.
Here his forfaken Seat old Chaos keeps ;
And undifturb'd by Form, in Silence fleeps.
A grifly Wight, and hideous to the Eye,
An aukward Lump of fhapelefs Anarchy.
With fordid Age his Features are defac'd ;
His Lands unpeopled, and his Countries wafle.
To thefe dark Realms much learned Lumber creepi.
There copious Morton fafe in Silence fleeps.
Where Mufliroom Libels in Oblivion lie,
And, foon as born, like other Monfters die.
Upon
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 337
Upon a Couch of Jet in thefe Abodes,
Dull Night, his melancholy Confort, nods.
No Ways and Means their Cabinet employ ;
But their dark Hours they wafte in barren Joy.
Nigh this Recefs, with Terror they furvey
Where Death maintains his dread tyrannic Sway ;
In the clofe Covert of a Cyprefs Grove,
Where Goblins frisk, and airy Spectres rove,
Yawns a dark Cave, with awful Horror wide
And there the Monarch's Triumphs are defcry'd.
Confus'd, and wildly huddled to the Eye,
The Beggar's Peuch, and Prince's Purple lie.
Dim Lamps with fickly Rays fcarce feem to glow ;
Sighs heave in mournful Moans, and Tears overflow.
Reftlefs Anxiety, forlorn Defpair,
And all the faded Family of Care.
Old mouldring Urns, Racks, Daggers and Diftrefs
Make -up the frightful Horror of the Place.
Within its dreadful Jaws thofe Furies wait,
Which execute the harm Decrees of Fate.
* Febrit is firft : The Hag relendefs hears
The Virgin's Sighs, and fees the Infant's Tears.
In her parch'd Eye-balls fiery Meteors reign ;
And reftlefs Ferments revel in each Vein.
Then 5 Hydrcpt next appears amongft the Throrg ;
Bloated, and big, me flowly fails along.
But like a Mifer, in Excefs {he's poor,
And pines for Thirft amidft her watry Store.
Now loathfome 4- Lepra, that offenfive Spright,
With fcul Eruptions ftain'd, offends the Sight ;
Still deaf to Beauty's foft perfuading Pow'r ;
Nor can bright Hebe's Charms her Bloom fecure.
Whilft meager 5 pthifts gives a filent Blow,
Her Strokes are fure, but her Advances flow.
No loud Alarms, nor fierce Aflaults are mown :
She ftarvesthe Fortrefs firft, then takes the Town.
* Fever. 3 Droffy. 4 Lifirofj. 5 C*f*mption.
VOL. I. Behiaj
338 The Wo R K s of
Behind flood Crowds of much inferior Name,
Too numVous to repeat, too foul to name,
7 he Vaflals of their Monarch's Tyranny,
Who, at his Nod, on fatal Errands fly.
Now Get/us, with his glorious Guide, invades
The filent Region of the fleeting Shades;
Where Rocks and rueful Defarts are defcry'd,
And fullen Styx rolls down his lazy Tide ;
Then (hews the Ferry-man the Plant he bore,
And claims his Paffage to the further Shore.
To whom the Stygian Pilot fmiling, faid,
You need no Pafiport to demand our Aid.
Phyficians never linger on this Strand :
Old Charon's prefent ftill at their Command.
Our awful Monarch and his Confort owe
To them the Peopling of their Realms below.
Then in his fwarthy Hand he grafp'd the Oar,
Receiv'd his Guefts aboard, and (hov'd from Shore.
Now, as the Goddefs and her Charge prepare
To breathe the Sweets of foft Elyfian Air,
Upon the Left they fpy a penfive 6 Shade,
Who on his bended Arm had rais'd his Head :
Pale Grief fat heavy on his mournful Look;
To whom, not unconcern'd, thus Celfus fpoke :
Tell me, thou much afflided Shade, why Sighs
Burft from your Breaft, and Torrents from your Eyes :
And who thofe mangled Manes are, which mow
A fullen Satisfaction at your Woe ?
Since, faid the Ghoft, with Pity you'll attend.
Know, I'm 7 Gudicum, once your firmeft Friend,
And on this barren Beach in Difcontent
Am doom'd to flay, 'till th' angry Pow'rs relent.
Thofe Speclres, feam'd with Scars that threaten there,
The Victims of my late ill Conducl. are.
They vex with endlefs Clamours my Repofe :
This wants his Palate ; that demands his Nofe :
6 See the Allvjion, Virg, jfjn, 6.
7 Dr. Morton,
Ana
S/> SAM u E L ,G A RT H. 339
And here they execute ftern P/uto's Will,
And ply me ev'ry Moment with a Pill.
Then Ce/fus thus ; O much-lamented State !
How rigid is the Sentence you relate ?
Methinks I recollect your former Air,
But ah, how much you're chang'd from what you were f
Infipid as your late Ptifans you lie,
That once were fprightlier far than Mercury.
At the fad Tale you tell, the Poppies weep,
And mourn their vegetable Souls afleep ;
The unftuous Larix, and the healing Pine
Lament your Fate in Tears of Turpentine ;
But ftill the Offspring of your Braii> mall prove
The Grocer's Care, and brave the Rage of Jove.
When Bonfires blaze, your vagrant Works {hall rife
In Rockets, 'till they reach the wond'ring Skies.
If Mortals e'er the Stygian Pow'rs could bend,
Intreaties to their awful Seats I'd fend.
But fince no human Arts the Fates difiuade ;
Diredl me how to find blefs'd Harvey's Shade.
In vain th' unhappy Ghoft ftill urg'd his Stay ;
Then rifing from the Ground, he fhew'd the Way.
Nigh the dull Shore a lhapelefs Mountain ftood,
That with a dreadful Frown furvey'd the Flood.
Its fearful Brow no lively Greens put on,
No frisking Goats bound o'er the ridgy Stone.
To gain the Summit the bright Goddefs try'd,
And Celfus follow'd, by degrees, his Guide.
Th' Afcent thus conquer'd, now they tow'r on high,
And tafte th' Indulgence of a milder Sky.
Loofe Breezes on their airy Pinions play, -y
Soft infant Bloflbms their chafte Odours pay, >
And Rofeb blulh their fragrant Lives away. j
Cool Streams thro' flow'ry Meadows gently glide ;
And as they pafs, their painted Banks they chide.
Thefe blifsful Plains no Blights, nor Mildews fear,
The Flow'rs ne'er fade, and Shrubs are Myrtles here.
0^2 The
340 *The Wo R K s of
The Mom awakes the Tulip from her Bed ;
Ere Noon in painted Pride (he decks her Head :
Rob'd in rich Dye (he triumphs on the Green,
And ev'ry Flow'r does Homage to their Queen.
So when bright Venus rifes from the Flood,
Around in Throngs the wond'ring Nereids crowd ;
The Tritons gaze, and tune each vocal Shell,
And ev'ry Grace unfung, the Waves conceal.
The Delegate obferves, with wond'ring Eyes,
Ambrofial Dews defcend, and Incenfe rife :
Then haftens onward to the penfive Grove,
The filent 8 Manfion of difaflrous Love.
Here Jeakujy with Jaundice Looks appears,
And broken Slumber?, and fantaftic Fears.
The widow'd Turtle hangs her moulting Wings,
And to the Woods in mournful Murmurs fmgs.
No Winds but Sighs there are, no Floods but Tears ;
Each confcious Tree a tragic Signal bears.
Their wounded Bark records fome broken Vow,
And Willow Garlands hang on ev'ry Bough.
Olivia here in Solitude he found,
Ker down-caft Eyes fix'd on the filent Ground :
Her Drefs negkcled, and unbound her Hair,
She feem'd the dying Image of Defpair.
How lately did this celebrated Thing
Blaze in the Box, and fparkle in the Ring !
Till the Green-ficknefs and Love's Force betray*d
To Death's remorfelefs Arms th' unhappy Maid.
All o'er confus'd the guilty Lover flood,
The Light forfcok his Eyes, his Cheeks the Blood ;
An icy Horror fliiver'd in his Look,
As to the cold-complexion'd Nymph he fpoke :
Tell me, dear Shade, from whence fuch anxious Care,
Your Looks diforder'd, and your Bofom bare ?
Why thus you languifh like a drooping Flow'r,
CiuVJ by the weight of fome relcntlefs Show'r ?
8 Set Virg. &*. 6.
Sir SAM u E L GARTH. 341
Your languid Looks, your late ill Condu6l tell ;
Oh that inftead of Trafti you'd taken Steel !
Scibb'd with th' unkind Reproach, the confcious Maid
Thus to her late infulting Lover faid ;
When Ladies liften not to loofe Defire,
You ilile our Modefty, our want of Fire:
Smile or forbid, encourage or reprove,
You (till find Reafon to believe we love :
Vainly you think a Liking we betray,
And never mean the peevifh Things we lay.
Few are the Fair ones of Ruga's Make,
Unask'd me grants, uninjur'd {he'll forfake :
But fev'ral Cilia's, fev'ral Ages boaft,
That like, where Reafon recommends the moft.
Where heav'nly Truth and Tendemefs confpire,
Chafte Paffion may perfuade us to defire.
Your Sex, he cry'd, as Cuftom bids, behaves ;
In Forms the Tyrant ties fuch haughty Slaves.
To do nice Conduft right, you Nature wrong j
Impulfes are but weak, where Reafon's ftrong.
Some want the Courage, but how few the Flame ;
They like the Thing, that ftar.le at 'he Name.
The lonely Phoenix, tho' profefs'd a Nun,
Warms into Love, and kindles at the Sun.
Thofe Tales of fpicy Urns and fragrant Fires,
Are but the Emblems of her fcorch'd Defires,
Then as he ftrove to clafp the fleeting Fair,
His empty Arms confefs'd th' impaffive Air.
From his Embrace th' unbody'd Spectre flies,
And as fhe mov'd, fhe chid him with her Eyes.'
They haften now to that delightful Plain,
Where the glad Manes of the Biefs'd remain :
Where Harvey gathers Simples, to beftow
Immortal Youth on Heroes Shades below.
Soon as the bright Hygeia was in View,
The venerable Sage her Prefence knew ;
Thus he
CL3 Hail,
342 The W o R K s of
Hail, blccming Goddefs .' thou propitious Pow'r,
Whofe Bleffings Mortals more than Life implore !
With fo much Luftre your bright Looks endear,
That Cottages are Courts where thofe appear.
Mankind, as you vouchfafe to Smile or Frown,
Finds Eafe in Chains, or Anguifli in a Crown.
With juft Refentments and Contempt you fee
The foul Diflenfions of the Faculty ;
How your fad fick'ning Art now hangs her Head,
And once a Science, is become a Trade.
Her Sons ne'er rifle her myfterious Store,
But ftudy Nature lefs, and Lucre more.
Mot fo when Rome to th' Epidaurian rais'd
A 9 Temple, where devoted Incenfe blaz'd.
Oft Father Tiber views the lofty Fire,
As the learn'd Son is worfhip'd like the Sire ;
The Sage with Romulus like Honours claim ;
The Gift of Life and Laws were then the fame.
I fhow'd of old, how vital Currents glide,
And the Meanders of their refluent Tide.
Then, Willis, why fpontaneous Adions here,
And whence involuntary Motions there:
And how the Spirits by mechanic Laws,
In wild Careers tumultuous Riots caufe.
Nor wou'd our Wbarton, Bates, and GUJ/bn lie
In the Abyfs of blind Obfcurity.
But r,ow fuch wond'rous Searches are forborn,
And Plan's Art is by Divifions torn.
Then let your Charge attend, and I'll explain
How her loft Health your Science may regain.
Hafte, and the matchlefs Atticui addrefs,
From Heav'n and gre?.t Naffau he has the Mace.
Th' Opprefs'd to his Afylum ftill repair ;
Arts he iupports, and Learning is his Care.
9 A Templi l-Mlt at Rome, ixtbe JJland of Tiber, t
pius, Ssn of Apollo.
i Lord Sorners.
He
. Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 343
He foftens the harfh Rigor of the Laws,
Blunts their keen Edge, and grinds their harpy Claws ;
And gracioufly he cafts a pitying Eye
On the fad State of virtuous Poverty.
Whene'er he fpeaks, Heaven ! how the lift'ning Throng
Dwells on the melting Mufic of his Tongue.
His Arguments are Emblems of his Mien,
Mild, but not faint, and forcing, tho' ferene ;
And when the Pow'r of Eloquence he'd try,
Here, Light'ning ftrikes you ; there, foft Breezes figh.
To him you muft your fickly State refer,
Your Charter claims him as your Vifiter.
Your Wounds he'll clofe, and fov'reignly reftore
Your Science to the Height it had before.
Then Naftau's Health (hall be your glorious Aim ;
His Life fhould be as lafting as his Fame.
Some Princes Claims from Devastations fpring j
He condefcends in Pity to be King :
And when, amidft his Olives plac'd, he ftands,
And governs more by Candor than Commands :
Ev'n then not lefs a Hero he appears,
Than when his Laurel Diadem he wears.
Wou'd Phaslus, or his Granvillc, but infpire
Their facred Veh'mence of poetic Fire ;
To celebrate in Song that god-like Pow'r,
Which did the lab'ring Univerfe reftore:
Fair Albiotis Cliffs wou'd echo to the Strain, ^
And praife the Arm that conquer'd, to regain C
The Earth's Repofe, and Empire o'er the Main. J
Still may th' immortal Man his Cares repeat,
To make his Bleffings endlefs as they're great :
Whilft Malice and Ingratitude confefs
They've ftrove for Ruin long without Succefs.
When late, Jove's * Eagle from the Pile fliall rife
To bear the Viftor to the boundlefs Skies,
Awhile the God puts off paternal Care,
Neglefts the Earth, to give the Heav'ns a Star.
a Read (be Ctnmcnj of the Apotheofis.
a 4
344 the WORKS of
Near thee, 3 Ah'tdes, fhall the Hero fhine ;
His Rays refemblirg, as his Labours, thine.
Had fome fam'd Patriot, of the Latin Blood,
Like Juliui great, and like Ottawa* good,
But thus preferv'd the Latin Liberties,
Afpiring Columns foon had reach'd the Skies :
Loud Id's the proud Capitol had (hook,
And all the Statues of the Gods had fpoke.
No more the Sage his Raptures cou'd purfue :.
He paus'd ; and Ctlfut with his Guide withdrew.
3 Hercules, a CetifleUathn near Ariadne'* Crtiort.
CLARE-
CLA R E M NT.
Addrcfs'd to the Right Honourable the
EARL ^CLARE,
NOW
DUKE ^/NEWCASTLE.
Dryadum filvas, faltufque fequanuir
Intaftos, tua, Maecenas, baud molliajujfa* Virg,
0.5
P R E FACE.
THE T that have feen thofe two excellent Poems of
CooperV Hill and Wind for- Foreft ; the one by Sir
J. Denham, the other by Mr. Pope; n>;ill jhow a great
deal of Candor if they approve of this. It ivas writ upon
giving the "Name of Claremont to a Villa, now belonging
to the Earl of Clare. The Situation is fo agreeable and
faprifing, that it inclines one to think, fame Place of this
Nature put Ovid at firft upon the Story of NarcifTus and
Echo, 'Tis probable he had obferv dfome Spring arifing
amwgjl Woods and Recks, where Echos nvere heard', and
fome Flower bending over the Stream, and by Confequence
reflected from it. After reading the Story in the Third
Book of the Metamorphofis, "'tis obvious to objcEl (as an
ingenious Friend has already done] that the renewing the
Charms of a Njmpk, of 'which Ovid had dijpofefs d her,
vox tantum atque offa fuperfunt,
is too great a Violation of poetical Authority. 1 dare fay
the Gentleman who is meant, woud have been well pleased
to have found no Faults. There are not many Authors one
can fay the fame of: Experience Jhow s us every Day that
there are Writers who cannot bear a Brother Jhould fucceed,
and the only Refuse from their Indignation is by being in-
tonjiderable ; upon which Refle&ion, this Thing ought to
have a Pretence to their favour.
They who ivcu'd be more informed of what relates to the
ancient Britons, and the Druids their Priejls, may be di-
refled by the Quotations to the Authors that have mentiotfd
tbtm.
SII3
CLARE*
CLA REMONT.
'HAT Frenzy has of late poflefs'd the Brain?
Tho' few can write, yet fewer can refrain.
So rank our Soil, our Bards rife in fuch Store,
Their rich retaining Patrons fcarce are more.
The laft indulge the Fault, the firft commit ;
And take off {till the Offal of their Wit.
So fhamelefs, fo abandon 'd are their Ways ;
They poche Pama/its, and lay Snares for Praife.
None ever can without Admirers live,
Who have a Penfion or a Place to give.
Great Minifters ne'er fail of great Defertst
The Herald gives them Blood ; the Poet, Parts.
Senfe is of courfe annex'd to Wealth and Pow'r ;
Mo Mufe is Proof againft a golden Show'r.
Let but his Lordihip write fome poor Lampoon,
He's Horacd up in Doggrel like his own.
Or, if to rant in tragic Rage he yields,
Falfe Fame cries - Athens ; honeft Truth- Moorfelth.
Thus fooPd, he flounces on thro' Floods of Ink ;
Flags with full Sail ; and rifes but to fink.
Some venal Pens fo proditute the Bays,
Their Panegyrics lam; their Satires praife.
So naufeoufly, and fo unlike they paint,
N- 's an Corn's; M- r a Saint.
Metius with thofe fam'd Heroes is compar'd,
That led in Triumph Porui and Tallard.
But fuch a fhamelefs Mufe mnft Laughter move,
That aims to make Salmoneus vye with Jove.
To form great Works puts Fate itfelf to Pain,
Ev'n Nature labours for a mighty Man,
And
348 The WORKS of
And to perpetuate her Hero's Fame,
She ftrains no lefs a Poet next to frame.
Rare as the Hero's, is the Poet's Rage;
Churcbih and Drydem rife but once an Age.
With Earthquakes tow'ring Pindar 's Birth begun ;
And an Eclipfe produc'd * Alcmencis Son:
The Sire of Gods o'er Pbtelus caft a Shade ;
But, with a Hero, well the World repaid.
No Bard for Bribes fhou'd proltitute his Vein ;
Nor dare to Flatter where he fhould Arraign.
To grant big Tkrafo Valour, Phormio, Senfe,
Shou'd Indignation give, at leaft Offence.
I hate fuch Mercenaries, and wou'd try
From this Reproach to refcue Poetry.
Apollo's Sons fhcu'd fcorn the fervile Art,.
And to Court Preachers leave the fulfom Part.
What then You'll fay, Muft no true Sterling pafi
Becnufe impure Allays fome Coin debafe?
Ye5, Praife, if juftlyoffer'd, I'll allow;
And, when I meet with Merit, fcribble too.
The Man who's honeft, open, and a Friend,
Glad to oblige, uneasy to offend :
Forgiving others, to himfelf fevere ;
Tho' e?.rneft, eafy ; civil, yet fincere;
Who feldom but through great Good-nature errs;
Deteftfng Fraud as much as Flatterers ;
'Tis he my Mufe's Homage fhou'd receive;
If I cou'd write, or Holhs cou'd forgive.
But pardon, learned Youth, that I decline
A Name fo lov'd by me, fo lately thine.
When Pelham you refign'd, what cou'd repair
A Lofs fo great, unleis ffenvcaftle'& Heir ?
H-:--'-/pcs that the Man Plains divides,
From his bright Urn in pureft Cryftal glides.
But when new-gath'ring Streams enlarge his Courfe >
He's Indus nam'd, and rolls with mightier Force.
2 Hercules.
10
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 349
In fabled Floods of Gold his Current flows,.
And Wealth on Nations as he runs, beftows. -
Direct me, C/are, to name fome nobler Mufe,
That for her Then e thy late Reeefs may choofe,
Such bright Defcriptions fliall the Subject drefs ;
Such vary'd Scenes, fuch pleating Images ;
That Swains {hall leave their Lawns, and Nymphs their
Bow'rs,
And quit Arcadia for a Seat like yours.
But fay, who (hall attempt th' adventurous Part
Where Nature borrows Drefs from VanbrooKs Art.
If, by Apollo taught, he touch the Lyre, V
Stones mount in Columns, Palaces afpire, >
And Rocks are animated with his Fire. 3
'Tis he can paint in Verfe thofe rifing Hills,
Their gentle Vallies, and their filver Rills :
Clofe Groves, and op'ning Glades with Verdure fpread,
Flow'rs fighing Sweets, and Shrubs that Balfam bleed.
With gay Variety the Profpedt crown'd,
And all the bright Horixon fmiling round.
Whilft I attempt to tell how ancient Fame
Records from whence the Villa took its Name.
In Times of old, when Briti/b Nymphs were known
To love no foreign Fafhions like their own ;
When Drefs was monftrous, and Fig-leaves the Mode,
And Quality put on no Paint but z Woade.
Of Spani/h Red unheard was then the Name ;
For Cheeks were only taught to blu(h by Shame.
No Beauty, to increafe her Crowd of Slaves,
Rofe out of Warn, as Venus out of Waves.
Not yet Lead- Comb was on the Toilet plac'd ;
Not yet broad Eye-brows were reduc'a by Pafte :
No Shape-fmith fet up Shop, and drove a Trade
To mend the Work wife Providence had made.
Tires ware unheard of, and unknown the Loom,
And thrifty Silkworms fpun for Times to come.
z Claftum, Ste Pliny, 'iretnt. See Diofcoridej,
Bare
3 50 The WORKS of
Bare Limbs were then the Marks of Moddty;
All like Diana were below the Knee.
The Men appear'd a rough undaunted Race,
Surly in Show, unfafhion'd in Addrefs.
3 Upright in Adions, and in Thought fincere ;
And ftriftly where the fame they would appear.
Honour was plac'd in Probity alone ;
For Villains had no Titles but their own.
None travelTd to return politely Mad;
But ftill what Fancy wanted, Reafon had.
Whatever Nature ask'd, their Hands cou'd give J
Unlearn *d in Feafts, they only eat to live.
No Cook with Art increas'd Phyficians' Fees;
Nor fervM up Death in Soups and Fricafeys.
Their Tafte was, l : ke their Temper, unrefin'd ;
For Looks were then the Language of the Mind.
Ere Right and Wrong, by turns, fet Prices bore ;
And Confcience had its Rate like common Whore :
Or Tools to great Employments had Pretence ;
Or Merit was made out by Impudence ;
Or Coxcombs look'd affuming in Affairs;
And humble Friends grew haughty Minifters.
In thole good Days of Innocence, here flood
Of Oaks, with Heads unmorn, a folemn Wood,
Frequented by the 4 Druids, to beftow
Religious Honours on the * Miflelto.
The Naturalifts are puzzled to explain
How Trees did firft this Stranger entertain :
Whether the bufy Birds ingraft it there :
Or eKe fome Deity's myfterious Care,
As Druids thought ; for when the blafted Oak
By Lightning falls, this Plant elcapes the Stroke.
3 Morei eis Jimplica, a -verfutia & improbitate neftr4 temptflath
bominun hnge rcmoti. See Diod. Sic. Bib. Hift. Lib. 4. Verf. Lat.
4 Jam fir fi roborum eltgunt lucos. Plin. Lib. 16.
5 Et nibil babcnt Druid* -vifco, & arbcre in qua gignatur, Jt
, facratiut. Plin, ibid. t Vifcum Druida. Ovid.
So
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 3^1
So when the Gauls the Tow'rs of Rome defac'd,
And Flames drove forward with outrageous Wade;
Jove's favour'd Capitol uninjur'd flood :
So facred was the Manfion of a God.
Shades honour*d by this Plant the Druids chofe,
Here, for the bleeding Vi&ims, Altars rofe.
To ' Hertnes oft they paid their Sacrifice ;
Parent of Arts, and Patron of the Wife.
Good Rules in mild Perfuafions they convey'd ;
Their Lives confirming what their Lectures faid.
None violated Truth, invaded Right ;
Yet had few Laws, but Will and Appetite.
The People's Peace they ftudy'd, and profeft
No 7 Politicks but Public Intereft.
Hard was their Lodging, homely was their Food ;
For all their Luxury was doing Good.
No miter'd Pricji did then with Princes vie,
Nor, o'er his Mailer, claim Supremacy ;
Nor were the Rules of Faith allow'd more pure*
For being feveral Centuries obfcure.
None loft their Fortunes, forfeited their Blood,
For not believing what none understood.
Nor Simony, nor Sine Cure were known ;
Nor wou'd the Bee work Honey for the Drone.
Nor was the Way invented, to difmifs
Frail Abigails with fat Pluralities.
But then in Fillets bound, a hallow'd Band
Taught how to tend the Flocks, and till the Land:
Cou'd tell what Murrains in what Months begun,
And how the R Seafons travelled with the Sun :
When his dim Orb feem'd wading through the Air :
They told that Rain on dropping Wings drew near ;
6 Dtum maxime Mercurium eolttnt : Hunc omnium invinteren tr+
fiumferunt: Pofl bunc, Joiitm, ApoUincm, &C. Caef.
7 De republics, niji per concilium, kqui nen conccditur. Caef. Lib. 6.
8 Malta pntttrea de Jidtribus, & eorum ntotu, de rerum j-
tura, &c. Csef.
And
352 The Wo R K s of
And that the Winds their bellowing Throats wou'd try,
When redd'ning Clouds refLcl hit Blood-mot Eye.
All their Remarks on Nature's Laws, require
More Lines than wou'd ev'n Alpin\ Readers tire.
This Sect in facred Veneration held
Opinions, by the Samian Sage reveal'd ;
That Matter no Annihilation knows,
But wanders from thefe Tenements to thofe.
For when the Plaftic Particles are gone,
They rally in fome Species like their own.
The felf-fame Atoms, if new jumbled, will
In Seas be reftlefs, and in Earth be ftill ;
Can, in the Trufle, furnift out a Feaft;
And naufeate, in the fcaly Squill, the Tafte.
Thofe falling Leaves that wither with the Year,
Will, in the next, on other Stems appear.
The Sap that now forfake? the burfUng Bud,
In fome new Shoot will circulate green Blood.
The Breath to-day that from the Jafrain blows,.
Will, when the Seafon offers, fcent the Rofe ;
And thofe bright Flames that in Carnations glow.
Ere lor.g will blanch the Lily with a Snow.
1 hey hold that Mstter muft be ftill the fame ;
And varies but in Figure rmd in Name.
And that the f Soi/1 not dies, but fhifts her Seat;
New Rounds of Life to run ; or paft, repeat.
Thus when the Brave and Virtuous ceafe to Live;
In Beings brave and virtuous they ' revive.
Again mall Romului in Naflau reign; "V
Great huma, in a Brunfwick Prince, ordain /
Good Laws ; and Halcyon Years fliall hufli the World C
again. J
The Truths of old Traditions were their Theme ;
Or Gods defcending in a Morning Dream.
9 Imprimis bcc -volant perfuadere, nan inter ire animas, fed ab a/til
pi/t mortem tranfire ad jliot. Caef.
i Et vot Barbgricoi ritui Sacrorum Druidte re ditura par-
tere vitx,'regit idem ffiritut ertui, Lucan Lib, I.
Pafs'd
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 353
Pafs'd Afts they cited ; and to come, foretold ;
And cou'd Events not ripe for Fate, unfold.
Beneath the fhady Covert of an Oak,
In - Rhymes uncouth, prophetic Truths they fpokr>
Attend then, Clare ; nor is the Legend long ;
The Story of thy Villa is their 3 Song.
The fair Montana , of the Sylvan Race,
Was with each Beauty blefs'd, and ev'ry Grace.
His Sire, green Faunas, Guardian of the Wood;
His Mother, a fwift Naiad of the Flood.
Her filver Urn fupply'd the neigb'ring Streams,
A darling Daughter of the bounteous Tkamer.
Not lovelier feem'd Narctfus to the Eye ;
Nor, when a Flower, cou'd bualt more Fragrancy.
His Skin might with the Down of Swans compare,
More fmooth than Pearl ; than Mountain Snow more fair*]
Jn Shape fo Poplars or the Cedars pleafe :
But thofe are not fo ftraight; nor graceful thefe.
His flowing Hair in unforc'd Ringlets hung ;
Tuneful his Voice, perfuafive was his Tongue.
The haughtiell Fair fcarce heard without a Wound,
But funk to Softnefs at the melting Sound,
The fourth bright Lu/lre had but juft begun
To (hade his bluftiing Cheeks with doubtful Down^
All Day he rang'd the Woods, and fpread the Toils,
And knew no Pleafures but in Sylvan Spoils.
In vain the Nymphs put on each pleafing Grace ;
Too cheap the Quarry feem'd, too fhort the Chace.
For tho' Poffeffion be th' undoubted View ;
To feize, is far lefs Pleafure than purfue.
Thofe Nymphs that yield too foon, their Charms impair*'
And prove at laft but defpicably Fair.
His own Undoing Glutton Love decrees ;
And palls the Appetite, he meant to pleafe.
2 Et magnum numtrum verfuum edifetrt dituntur. Csef.
3 Suferjlititrn vana Druid* tantbtnt, &c. Tacit, Lib. 4*
Hit
3 54 %% e WORKS of
His (lender Wants too largely he fupplies ;
Thrives on fhort Meals, but by Indulgence dies.
A Grot there was with hoary Mofs o'ergrown,
Rough with rude Shells, and arch'd with mould'ring Stone ;
Sad Silence reigns within the lonefom Wall;
And weeping Rills but whifper as they fall.
The clafping Tvys up the Ruin creep;
And there the Bat and droufy Beetle fleep.
This Cell fad Echo chofe, by Love betray 'd,
A fit Retirement for a mourning Maid.
Hither, fatigu'd with Toil, the Sylvan flies,
To fhun the Calenture of fultry Skies :
But feels a fiercer Flame, Love's keeneft Dart
Finds through his Eyes a Paffage to his Heart.
Penfive the Virgin fat with folded Arms,
Her Tears but lending Luftre to her Charms.
With Pity he beholds her wounding Woes ;
But wants himfelf the Pity he bellows.
Oh whether of a Mortal born ! he cries ;
Or fome fair Daughter of the diftant Skies ;
That, in Compaffion leave your Cryftal Sphere,
To guard fome favoured Charge, and wander herei
Slight not my Suit, nor too ungentle prove;
But pity one, a Novice yet in Love.
If Words avail not ; fee my fuppliant Tears;
Nor disregard thofe dumb Petitioners.
From his Complaint the Tyrant Virgin flies,
Afferting all the Empire of her Eyes.
Full thrice three Days he lingers out in Grief,
Nor feeks from Sleep, or Suftenance, Relief.
The Lamp of Life now cafts a glimm'ring Light;
The meeting Lids his fetting Eyes benight.
What Force remains, the haplefs Lover tries ;
Invoking thus his kindred Deities.
Hafle, Parents of the Flood, your Race to mourn ;
With Tears replenish each exhaufted Urn.
Retake the Life you gave, but let the Maid
Fafl a juft Viftim to an injur'd Shade.
More
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 355
More he endeavour'd ; but the Accents hung
Half form'd, and ftopp'd unfinifh'd on his Tongue.
For him the Graces their fad Vigils keep ;
Love broke his Bow, and wifii'd for Eyes to weep.
What Gods can do, the mournful Fauitus tries ;
A Mount erecting where the Sylvan lies.
The Rural Pow'rs the wond'rous Pile furvey,
And pioufly their diff'rent Honours pay.
Th' Afcent, with verdant Herbage Pales fpread;
And Nymphs transformed to Laurels, lent their Shaded
Her Stream a Naiad from the Bafis pours ;
And Flora ftrows the Summit with her Flowers,
o Alone Mount Latmos claims Preeminence,
When Silver Cynthia lights the World from thence.
Sad Echo now laments her Rigor, more
Than for Narciffus her loofe Flame before.
Her Flefh to Sinew fhrinks, her Charms are fled i
All Day in rifted Rocks (he hides her Head.
Soon as the Ev'ning fhows a Sky ferene,
Abroad (he ftrays, but never to be feen.
And ever as the weeping Naiads name
Her Cruelty, the Nymph repeats the fame.
With them (he joins, her Lover to deplore,
And haunts the lonely Dales, he rang'd before.
Her Sex's Privilege (he yet retains ;
And tho' to Nothing wafted, Voice remains.
So fung the Druids then with Rapture hYd,
Thus utter what the 4- Delphick God infpir'd.
Ere twice ten Centuries mall fleet away,
A Brunfaick Prince lhall Britain's Scepter fway.
No more fair Liberty (hall mourn her Chains j
The Maid is refcu'd, her lov'd Perfeus reigns.
From * Jove he comes, the Captive to reftore ;
Nor can the Thunder of his Sire do more.
4 Et fartlm augur! is, fartim cwjtftura, qutt tjjent futttra, &(
Cic. de Divinatione.
5 Sea of Jupiter and Dana.
Religion
356 tfhe WORKS of
Religion ftiall dread nothing but Difguife ;
And Juftice need no Bandage for her Eyes.
Britannia fmiles, nor fear I a foreign Lord;
Her Safety to fecure, two Powers accord,
Her Neptune's Trident, and her Monarch's Sword.
Like him, fhall his Augujlui fhine in Arms,
Tho' Captive to his Carolina's Charms.
Ages with future Heroes She fliall blefs j
And Venus once more found an Allan Race.
Then fhall a Clare in Honour's Caufe engage :
Example muft reclaim a gracelefs Age.
Where Guides themfelves for Guilty Views mrf-lead }
And Laws ev'n by the Legislators bleed, <
His brave Contempt of State ftiall teach the Proud,
None but the Virtuous are of noble Blood.
For Tyrants are but Prince* in Difguife,
Tho' fprung by long Defcents from Ptolemies.
Right he fhall Vindicate, good Laws defend ;
The firmeft Patriot, and the warmeft Friend.
Great EttnuarJs 6 Order early he mall wear j
New Light reftoring to the fully'd Star.
Oft will his Leifure this Retiremene chufe.
Still finding future Subjects for the Mufe,
And to record the Syhan's fatal Flame,
The Place fhall live in Song, and Claremont be the Name.
6 Tieelcgi fif Vattt grant afud tot, Druiddt ipjt vtcant, gut
viffimarum txtii dtfuturit divitiant. Diod. Sic. Lat. Vcr,
Sir SAMUEL GARTH.
357
20 the Lady LOUISA LENOS: With
O v i D'J Eptftles.
TN moving Lines thefe few Epiftles tell
* What Fate attends the Nymph that likes too well :
How faintly the fuccefsful Lovers burn ;
And their neglefted Charms how Ladies mourn.
The Fair you'll find, when foft Intreaties fail,
AfTert their uncontefted Right, and rail.
Too foon they liften, and refent too late j
*Tis fare they love, whene'er they ftrive to hate.
Their Sex or proudly fhun*, or poorly craves j
Commencing Tyrants, and concluding Slaves.
In diff'ring Breafts what differing Paffions glow !
Ours kindle quick, but yours extinguim flow.
The Fire we boaft, with Force uncertain burns,
And breaks but out, as Appetite returns :
But yours, like Incenfe, mounts l>y foft degree*,
And in a fragrant Flame confumes to pleafe.
Your Sex, in all that can engage, excel ;
And GUIS in Patience, and perfuading well.
Impartial Nature equally decrees :
You have your Pride, and we our Perjuries.
Tho' form'd to conquer, yet too oft you fell
By giving nothing, or by granting all.
But, Madam, long will your unpra&is'd Years
Smile at the Tale of Lover's Hopes and Fears.
Tho* infant Graces footh your gentle Hours,
More fofc than Sighs, more fweet than breathing Flow'/s;
Let rafh Admirers your keen Light'ning fear j
*Tis bright at diftance, but deftroys if near.
The Time e'er long, if Verfe prefage, will come,
Your Charms mail open in full Brudenal Bloom.
All Eyes (hall gaze, all Hearts mall Homage vow,
And not a Lover Languiih but for you.
The
358 The WORKS of
The Mufe Ihall firing her Lyre, with Garlands crown' J,
And each bright Nymph mall ficken at the Sound.
So when Aurora firft falutes the Sight,
Pleas'd we behold the tender Dawn of Light ;
But when with riper Red fhe warms the Skies,
In circling Throngs the wing'd Muficians rife :
And the gay Groves rejoice in Symphonies.
Each pearly Flow'r with painted Beauty (nines j
And ev'ry Star its fading Fire refigns.
7i? RICHARD Earl of BURLINGTON,
with O v i D'S Art of Love.
My LORD,
OUR Poet's Rules, in eafy Numbers tell,
He felt the Paffion he defcribes fo well.
In that foft Art fuccefsfully refin'd,
Tho' angry dffar frown'd, the Fair were kind.
More Ills from Love, than Tyrants Malice flow;
Jwis Thunder ftrikes lefs fure than Cupid's Bow.
O<v id both felt the Pain, and found the Eafe :
Phyficians ftudy moft their own Difeafe.
The Practice of that Age in this we try,
Ladies wou'd liften then, and Lovers lye.
Who flatter'd moft the Fair were moft Polite,
Each thought her own Admirer in the right:
To be but faintly Rude was criminal,
But to be boldly fo, aton'd for all.
Breeding was banifh'd for the Fair-one's fake.
The Sex ne'er gives, but fuffers ours fhou'd take.
Advice to yon, my Lord, in vain we bring,
The Flow'rs ne'er fail to meet the blooming Spring.
Tho' you poflefs all Nature's Gifc, take care ;
Love's Queen has Charms, but fetal is her Snare.
Oa
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 359
On all that Goddefs her falfe Smiles beftows,
As on the Seas {he reigns, from whence fhe rofe.
Young Zephyrs figh with, fragrant Breath, foft Gales
Guide her gay Barge, and fwell the filken Sail* :
Each filver Wave in beauteous Order moves,
Fair as her Bofom, gentle as her Doves ;
But he that once embarks, too furely finds
A fullen Sky, black Storms, and angry Winds ;
Cares, Fears, and Anguifti, hov'ring on the Coaft,
And Wrecks of Wretches by their Folly loft.
When coming Time mail blefs you with a Bride,
Let Paflion not perfuade, but Reafon guide:
Inftead of Gold, let gentle Truth endear i
She has moft Charms who is the moft fincere.
Shun vain Variety, 'tis but Difeafe ;
Weak Appetites are ever hard to pleafe.
The Nymph muft fear to be inquifitive ;
'Tis for the Sex's Quiet to believe.
Her Air an eafy Confidence muft mow,
And fhun to find what fhe wou'd dread to know ?
Still Charming with all Arts that can engage,
And be the Juliana of the Age.
*To the Dut chefs ofB o LTON on her flaying
all the Winter in the Country.
/*" E A S E rural Conquefts, and fet free your Swains,
^- > To Dryads leave the Groves, to Nymphs the Plains.
In penfive Dales alone let Echo dwell,
And each fad Sigh me hears with Sorrow tell.
Hafte, let your Eyes at ' Keafs Pavilion mine,
It wants but Stars, and then the Work's divine.
Of late, Fame only tells of yielding Towns,
Of captive Gen'rals, and proteded Crowns :
I A Gallery the Earl / Kent bat built at S(, Tame*'/.
Of
3-60 *Tbe WORKS of
Of purchas'd Laurels, and of Battles won,
Lines forc'd, States vanquifli'd, Provinces o'er-run,
And all Alcides's Labour fumm'd in one.
The Brave muft to the Fair now yield the Prize,
And Englijh Arms fubrnit to Englijb Eyes :
In which bright Lift among the firftyou Hand;
Tho' each a Goddefs, or a Sunderland.
the Duke
his voluntary Banijhment.
^j. O, mighty Prince, and thofe great Nations fee,
^~* Which thy victorious Arms before made free ;
View that fam'd Column, where thy Name engrav'd,
Shall tell their Children who their Empire fav'd,
Point out that Marble where thy Worth is fhown,
To every grateful Country but thy own :
O Cenfure undeferv'd ! Unequal Fate !
Which drove to leflen Him who made her Great :
Which pamper'd with Succefs and rich in Fame,
Extoll'd his Conquefts, but condemn'd his Name.
But Virtue is a Crime when plac'd on high,
Tho' all the Fault's in the Beholder's Eye ;
Yet he untouch'd, as in the Heat of Wars,
Flies from no Danger but Domeftick Jars,
Smiles at the Dart which angry Envy {hakes,
And only fears for Her whom he forfakes :
He grieves to find the Courfe of Virtue crofs'd,
Rufliing to fee our Blood no better loft ;
Dit'dains in factious Parties to contend,
And proves in Abfence moft Britannia's Friend.
So the great Scipio of old, to fhun
That Gloriou:. rinvy which his Arms had won,
Far rrom hi:- dear, ungrateful Rome retir'd, "
Prepar'd, when e'er his Country's Caufe requir'd,
To fhin.e in Peace or War, and be again admir'd.
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 361
To the Earl <?/~CODOLPHIN.
WHilft weeping Europe bends beneath her Ills,
And where the Sword deitroys not, Famine kills ;
Our Ifle enjoys, by your fuccefsful Care,
The Pomp of Peace, amidft the Woes of War.
So much the Public to your Prudence owes,
You think no Labour's long for our Repofe :
Such Conduft, fuch Integrity are fliown,
There are no Coffers empty, but your own.
From mean Dependence, Meric you re'fieve,
Unask'd you offer, and unfeen you give :
Your Favour, like the Nile, Increafe beftovvs,
And yet conceah the Source from whence it flows.
No Pomp, or grand Appearance you approve :
A People at their Eafe is whit you love :
To leffen Taxes, and a Nation fave,
Are all the Grants your Services wou'd have.
Thus far the State-Machine v/ants no Repair,
But moves in matchlefs Order by your Care >
Free from Confufion, fettled and ferene ;
And like the Univerfe, by Springs unfcen.
But now fome Star finifter to our Pray'rs,
Contrives new Schemes, and calls you from A V.
No Anguifh in your Looks, or Cares appear,
But how to teach th 1 unprnftis'd Crew to iteer.
Thus like a Victim, no Conftraint you need,
To expiate their Offence by whom you bleed.
Ingratitude's a Weed of every Clime,
It thrives too faft at firft, but fades in time.
The God of Day, and year own Lot's the fam? ;
The Vapours you have rais'd, obfcure your Flame :
Bat tho' you fuffer, and awhile retreat,
Your Globe of Light looks larger as you fet.
VOL. I. R o
362 The WORKS of
On her M A j E s T Y'S Statue in St. Paul'*
Churchyard.
NEAR the vaft Bulk of that ftupendous Frame,
Known by the Gentiles great Apoftle's Name ;
With Grace divine, great Annas feen to rife,
An awful Form that glads a Nation's Eyes :
Beneath her Feet four mighty Realms appear,
And with due Reverence pay their Homage there.
Britain and Ireland^ feem to own her Grace,
And ev'n wild India wears a fmiling Face.
But France alone with downcaft Eyes is feen
The fad Attendant of fo good a Queen :
Ungrateful Country ! to forget fo foon,
All that great Anna for thy lake has done :
When fworn the kind Defender of thy Caufe,
Spite of her dear Religion, fpite of Laws ;
For thee me meath'd the Terrors of her Sword,
For thee flie broke her Gen'ral - and her Word :
For thee her Mind in doubtful Terms me told,
And learn'd to fpeak like Oracles of old.
For thee, for thee alone, what cou'd me more ?
She loft the Honour me had gain'd before ;
Loft all the Trophies, which her Arms had won,
(Such Cafar never knew, nor Philips Son)
Refign'd the Glories of a ten Year's Reign,
And fuch as none but Marlbprougtfi Arm cou'd gain.
For thee in Annals ftie's content to mine,
Lake other Monarchs of the Stuart Line.
On
Sir S A M U E L G A R T H. 363
On the New Confpiracy, 1716.
WHere, where, dcgen'rate Countrymen how high
Will your fond Folly and your Madnefs fly ?
Are Scenes of Death, and fervile Chains fo dear,
To fue for BlooS and Bondage every Year,
Like Rebel Jews, with too much Freedom curft,
To court a Change *-tho' certain of the Worji?
There is no Climate which you have not fought,
Where Tools of War, and Vagrant Kings are bought;
O ! Noble Paffion, to your Country kind,
To crown Her with the Refufe of Mankind.
As if the Neiu Rome, which your Schemes unfold,
Were to be built on Rapine, like the Old,
While her Afylum openly provides
For ev'ry Ruffian ev'ry Nation hides.
Will you ftill tempt the great Avenger's Blow,
And force the Bolt which He is loth to throw ?
Have there too Few already bit the Plains,
To make you feek Nc~v Prejlons find DumblaiKi ?
If Vengeance lofes its Effefts fo faft,
Yet thoie of Mercy fure fhould longer laft.
Say, Is 5t Ramnefs or Defpair provokes
Your harden'd Hearts to thefe repeated Strokes ?
Reply : Behold, their Locks, their Souls declare,
All pale with Guilt, and dumb with deep Defpair.
Hear then, you Sons of Blood, yourdeftin'd Fate,
Hear, e'er you Sin too foon Repent too laic.
Madly you try to weaken G E o R G E'S Reign,
And ilem the Stream of Providence in vain.
By Right, by Worth, by Wonders made our Own,
The Hand that gave it, fhall preferve his Throne.
As vain your Hopes to diftant Times remove,
To try the Second, or the Third from Jove,
For 'tis the Nature of that Sacred Line,
To conquer Monilers, and to grow Divine.
R 2 On
364 The Wo R K s of
On the K i N G of S p A i N.
PALLAS, deftruflive to the Trojan Line,
Raz'd their proud Walls, tho' built by Hands
divine :
But Love's bright Goddefs, with propitious Grace,
Preferv'd a Hero, and reftorM the Race.
Thus the fam'd Empire where the Her flov/s,
Fell by Eliza, and by Anna rofe.
VERSES written for the TOAST ING-
GLASSES of the KIT-CAT-CLUB. 1703.
Latfy CARLISLE.
(~^ A R L IS L 's a Name can ev'ry Mufe infpire,
^ To Carlijle fill the Glafs, and tune the Lyre.
With his lov'd Bays the God of Day {hall crown
A Wit and Luftre equal to his own.
The SAM E.
At once the Sun and Carlijle took their way,
To warm the frozen North, and kindle Day ;
The Flow'rs to both their glad Creation ow'd,
Their Virtues he, their Beauties ihe beflow'd.
lady ESSEX.
The braveft Hero, and the brighteft Dame
From Belgian happy Clime Britannia drew*
One pregnant C!oud we find does often frame
The awful Thunder, and the gentle Dew.
The
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 365
The SAM E.
To Ejfcx fill the fprightly Wine,
The Health's engaging and divine :
Let pureft Odours fcent the Air,
And Wreaths of Rofes bind our Hair.
In her chafte Lips thefe blufhing lie,
And thofe her gentle Sighs fupply.
Lady HYDE.
The God of Wine grows jealous of his Art,
He only fires the Head, but Hyde the Heart.
The Queen of Love looks on, and fmiles to fee
A Nymph more mighty than a Deity.
On Lady HYDE in Clild-led.
Hyde, tho' in Agonies, her Graces keeps,
A thoufand Charms the Nymph's Complaints adorn;
In Tears of Dew fo mild Aurora weeps,
But her bright Offspring is the chearful Morn.
Lady W H A R T O N.
When Jove to Ida did the Gods invite,
And in immortal Toafling pafs'd the Night,
With more than Neftar he the Banquet blefs'd,
For Wlarton was the Venui of the Feaft.
PROLOGUE ^
* I ^O-day a mighty Hero comes to warm
* Your curdling Blood, and bid you, Britons, arm.
To Valour much he owes, to Virtue more ;
He fights to fave, and conquers to reftore.
He ftrains no Texts, nor makes Dragoons perfuade;
He likes Religion, but he hates the Trade.
R 3 Born
366 tte Wo R K s of
Born for Mankind, they by his Labour live i
Their Property is his Prerogative.
His Sword deftroys lefs than his Mercy faves,
And none, except his Paffions, are his Slaves.
Such, Britons, is the Prince that you poffefs,
In Council greateft, and in Camps no lefs :
Brave, but not Cruel j Wife without Deceit;
Born for an Age curs'd with a Bajazet.
But you, difdaining to be too fecure,
Ask his Protection, and yet grudge his Pow'r.
With you a Monarch's Right is in difputej
Who give Supplies, are only abfolute.
Britons, for fbame your factious Feuds decline,
Too long you've labour'd for the Bourbon Line :
Aflert loft Rights, an duftrian Prince alone
s born to nod upon a Spanl/h Throne.
A Caufe no lefs could on great Eugene call ;
Steep Alpine Rocks require an Hannibal;
He fnows you your loft Honour to retrieve ;
Our Troops will fight, when once the Senate give.
Quit your Cabals and Factions, and in fpite
Ot Whig and Tory in this Caufe unite.
One Vote will then fend Anjou back to France;
There let the Meteor end his airy Dance :
Elfe to the Manfuan Soil he may repair,
E'en abdicated Gods were Latimn's Care,
At worft, he'll find fome Corni/b Borough here.
PROLOGUE to the Mufick-meeting in
York-Buildings.
WHERE Mufic and more pow'rful Beauties reign,
Who can fuppcrt the Pleafure, and the Pain ?
Here their foft Magic thofe two Sirens try,
And if we liften, or but look, we die.
Sir SAMUEL G A R T H. 367
Why fliould we then the wond'rou* Tales admire,
Of Orpheus' Numbers, or jimpbion's Lyre ?
Behold this Scene of Beauty, and confeis
The Wonder greater, and the Fiftion lefs.
Like human Viftims here we are decreed
To worfhip thofe bright Altars where we bleed.
Who braves his Fate in Fields, rnuft tremble here ;
Triumphant Love more Vaflals makes than Fear.
No Faction, Homage to the Fair denies ;
The Right divine's apparent in their Eyes.
That Empire's fix'd, that's founded in Defire ;
Thofe Fires the Veftals guard, can ne'er expire,
PROLOGUE to the Cornilli Squire,
a COMEDY.
\T7 H O dares not Plot in this good-natur'd Age,
* *^ Each Place is privileg'd except the Stage;
There the dread Phalanx of Reformers come,
Sworn Foes to Wit, as Carthage was to Rome;
Their Ears fo fantify*d no Scenes can pleafe,
But heavy Hymns, or p;nfive Homilies :
Truths, plainly told, their tender Nature wound,
Young Rakes muft, like old Patriarchs, expound ;
The painted Punk the Profclyte mull play,
And Bawds, like Fille-Devotes, procure and pray.
How Nature is inverted ! Soon you'll iee
Senates unanimous, and Se&s agree,
Jews at Extortion rail, and Monks at Myftery.
Let Characters be reprefented true,
An airy Sinner makes an aukward Prue.
With Force and fitting Freedom Vice arraign ;
Tho' Pulpits flatter, let the Stage fpeak plain,
If ferret gripes the Poor, or N&KIUS write,
Call that the Robber, this the Parafite.
R 4 Ne'er
368 The WOR KS of
Ne'er aim to make an Eag!e of an Owl,
Chinas a Statefman, Sydropbil a Tool.
Our Cenfurers with want of Thought difpenfe,
But tremble at the hideous SinofSenfe.
Who wou'd not fuch hard Fate as ours bemoan ?
Indi&ed for feme Wit, and damn'd for none;
But if, to day, fome Scandal fliou'd appear,
Let thcfe precife Tartujfs bind o'er Moliere.
Poet, and Papiil too, they'll furely maul,
There's no Indulgences at Hicks' i-Hall.
Gold only can their pious Spite allay,
They call none Criminals that can but pay :
The heedlefs Shrines, with Victims they invoice*
They take the Fat, and give the Gods the Smoke.
P R o L o G u zfpoken at the Opening of the
QDJEEM'J Theatre in the Hay-Market.
SUCH was our Builder's Art, that fcon as nam'd.
This Fabrick, like the Infant- World, was fram'd.
The Architect muft on dull Order wait,
But 'tis the Pcct only can create.
None elfe, at Pleafure, can Duration give,
When Marble fails, the Mufes Stru&ures live.
The Cyprian Fane is new no longer feen,
Tho' facred to the Name of Love's fair Queen.
Ev'n Athens fcarce in pompous Pv.uin ftands,
Tho' finifh'd by the learn 'd Minerva's Hands.
More fure Prefages from thefs Walls we find,
By ' Beauty founded, and by Wit defign'd.
In the good Age of ghoftly Ignorance,
How did Cathedrals rife, and Zeal advance ?
The merry Monks faid Orifons at Eafe,
Large were their Meals, and light their Penances ;
i My Lady Sunderland mas pleas' d ft lay the frji Stone.
Pardoa
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 369
Pardon for Sins was purchas'd with Eftates,
And none but Rogues in Rags dy'd Reprobates.
But now that pious Pageantry's no more,
And Stages thrive, as Churches did before.
Your own Magnificence you here furvey,
Majeftick Columns ftand, where Dunghills lay,
And Carrs Triumphal rife from Carts of Hay.
Swains here are taught to hope, and Nymphs to fear,
And big d/tnanxor's Fight mock Blenheim's here.
Defending Goddefles adorn our Scenes,
And quit their bright Abodes for gilt Machines.
Shou'd Jove, for this fair Circle, leave his Throne,
He'd meet a Lightning fiercer than his own.
Tho' to the Sun, his tow'ring Eagles rife,
They fcarce cou'd bear the Luftfe of thefe Eyes.
E P i L o G u E to the Tragedy of C AT o.
YJT^HAT odd fantaftic things we Women do! j
* * Who wou'd not liften when young Lovers woo ? >
What ! die a Maid, yet have the Choice of Two ! J
Ladies are often cruel to their Coft :
To give you Pain, themfelves they punim molt.
Vows of Virginity fliou'd well be weigh'd ;
Too oft they're cancell'd, tho' in Convents made.
Wou*d you revenge fuch rafii Refolves you may -\
Be fpiteful and believe the thing we fay ; V
We hate you, when you're eafily faid nay. J
Howneedlefs, if you knew us, were your Fears ?
Let Love have Eyes, and Beauty will have Ears,
Our Hearts are form'd, as you yourfelves would choofe,
Too proud to ask, too humble to refufe :
We give to Merit, and co Wealth \ve fell ;
He fighs with moft Sncceis that fettles well.
The Woes of Wedlock with the Joys we mix;
'Tis beft repenting in a Coach and Six.
R 5 Blame
370 The WORKS of
Blame not our Conduct, fince we but purfue
Thofe lively Leffons we have learn'd from your
Your Breafts no more the fire of Beauty warms,
But wicked Wealth ufurps the Pow'r of Charms.
What Pains to get the gaudy Thing you hate,
To fwell in Show, and be a Wretch in State I
At Plays you ogle, at the Ring you bow ;
Ev'n Churches are no San&uaries now ;
There golden Idols all your Vows receive ;
She is no Goddefs who has nought to give.
Oh may once more the happy Age appear,
When Words were artlefs, and the Thoughts fincere
When Gold and Grandeur were unenvy'd Things,
And Courts lefs coveted than Groves and Springs.
Love then mail only mourn when Truth complains,
And Conftancy feel Tranfport in its Chains ;
Sighs with Succefs their own foft Anguifli tell,
And Eyes {hall utter what the Lips conceal :
Virtue again to its bright Station climb,
And Beauty fear no Enemy but Time :
The Fair fhall liften to Defert alone,
And every Lucia fuid a Cato'a Son.
P R E F A c E to the Tfr (inflation of OVID'S
METAMORPHOSES, publijhed
by the A u T H o R.
THE Method I propofe in writing this Preface, f
to take notice of fome of the Beauties of the
Metamorf lefts, and alfo of the Faults, and particular
Aifeclatiors. After which I fhall proceed to hint at
fome Rules for Tranflation in general ; and mall give
a mort Account of the following Verfion.
I (hall not pretend to impofe my Opinion on others
with the magiflerial Authority of a Critic j but only
tak
Sir S AM u EL G A RT ii. 371
take the Liberty of difcovering my oun Tafle. 1 ftiall
endeavour to Ihow our Poet's Redundance of Wit, Jult-
nefs of Comparifons, Elegance of Defcriptions, and pe
culiar Delicacy in touching every Circumftance relating
to the Paffions, and AfFedlions ; and with the fame Im-
partiality, and Franknefs, I ihall confefs the too frequent
Puerilities of his luxuriant Fancy, and the too great
Negligence of his fometimes unlabour'd Verification.
I am not of an Opinion, too common to Tranflators,
to think that One is under an Obligation to extol every
thing he finds in the Author he undertakes : I am fure
one is no more oblig'd to do fo, than a Painter is to
make every Face, that fits to him, handfome. Tis
enough if he fets the beft Features he finds, in their full
and moll advantageous Light. But if the Poet has
private Deformities, tho' Good-breeding will not allow
to expofe him naked, yet furely there can be no Reafou
to recommend him, as the mofl fmifh'd Model of Har-
mony and Proportion.
Whoever has this undiftinguiming Complaifance, will
not fail to vitiate the Tafte of the Readers, and mil-
guide many of them in their Judgment, where to Ap-
prove, and where to Cenfure.
It mull be granted, that where there appears an in-
finite Variety of inimitable Excellencies, it would be too
harm, and difingenuous to be fevere on fuch Faults, as
have efcap'd rather thro' want of Lei fure, and Opportu-
nity to correct, than thro' the erroneous Turn of a
deprav'd Judgment. How fenfible Of id himfelf was of
the Uncorreftnefs of the Met amor pbofes, appears from
thefe Lines prefix'd before feme of the Editions by the
Care of his Commentators.
Orba parente fuo quicunque Pclumina tangis,
His fait em veftra detuf- in urbe locus.
Quoque magi s fail e as ; non funt btfc edit a ab llla t
Sed quafe de domini funere rapta fui.
Quicquid in bis igitur <vitii rude carmen babebit
Emendaturus, Jl Iita(ffet 9 erat, Trift. El. vl.
Since
372 The WORKS of
Since therefore the Readers are not folemnly invited
to an Entertainment, but come accidentally ; they ought
to b; contented with what they find : And pray what
have they to complain of, but too great Variety ? where,
tho' fome of the Dimes be not ferved in the exafleft
Ortler and Politenefs, but hafti'd up in hafte ; there are
a great many accommodated to every particular Palate.
To like every thing, fliows too little Delicacy j and
to like nothing, too much Difficulty. So great is the
Variety of this Poem, that the Reader, who is never
pleas'd, will appear as monftrous, as he that is always
fo. Here are the Hurries of Battles for the Hero, tender
Emotions of Soul for the Lover, a Search and Penetra-
tion into Nature for the Philofopher ; Fluency of Num-
-bers and moft expreffive Figures for the Poet; Morals
for the Serious, and Plaifantries for Admirers of Points
of Wit.
'Tis certain a Poet is more to be fufpecled for
faying too much, than too little. To add is often
hazardous ; but to retrench, commonly judicious. If
our Author, inftead of faying all he could, had only
faid aPl he fhould j Daphne had done well to fly from
the God of Wit, in order to crown his Poet : Thus
O-oiJ had been more honoured and ador'd in his Exile,
than Augujlus in his Triumphs.
I ihall now attempt to give fome Inftances of the
ITappinefs and vaft Extent of our Author's Imagina-
tion. I {hall not proceed according to the Order of the
Poem, but rather tranfcribe fome Lines here and there,
as rry Reflection fhall fuggeft.
l\ r i~c clrcumfufo pendebut in aere tellm
Ponderibus lib rat a fuis
Thus was the State of Nature before the Creation :
And here it is obvious, that Ovid had a difcerning No-
tion of the Gravitation of Bodies. 'Tis now demon-
ftratevi, that every Part of Matter tends to every Part
of Matter with a Force, which is always in a direct
fimple
Sir SAMUE L GARTH. 373
fimple Proportion of the Quantity of the Matter, and
an inverfe duplicate Proportion of the Diftance ; which
Tendency cr Gravitating is conflant and univerfal.
This Power, whatever it be, adling always proportion-
ably to the folid Content of Bodies, and never tin any
proportion to their Superficies, cannot be explain'd by
any material Impulfe. For the Laws of Jmpulfe are
phyfically neceffary : There can be no OJJTZ xtrtov, or
arbitrary Principle, in meer Matter ; its Parts cannot
move, unlefs they be mov'd; and cannot do otherwife,
when prefs'd on by other Parts in Motion ; and there-
fore 'tis evident from the following Lines, that Ovid
ftriflly adher'd to the Opinion of the difcerning Philofo-
phers, who taught that all things were forra'd by a
wife and intelligent Mind.
*fujjit ff extendi campos, fulfidert valles %
Fronde tegi Jyfaas
The Fiat of the Hebrew Lawgiver is not more
fublime than the Juffit of the Latin Poet, who goei
en in the fame Elevated and Philofophical Style.
His fupcr impojuit liquidutn & gravitate carentem
Here the Author fpreads a thin Veil of jtber over
his Infant Creation ; and tho' his afferting the upper
Region to be void of Gravitation, may not, in a Ma^
thematical Rigor, be true ; yet 'tis found from the
Natural Enquiries made fince, and efpecially from the
learned Dr. Halley's Difcourfe on the Barometer, that if,
on the Surface of the Earth, an Inch of Quickfilver in
the Tube be equal to a Cylinder of Air of 300 Feet,
it will be at a Mile's height equal to a Cylinder of Air
of 2700000 : and therefore the Air at fo great a
Diftance from the Earth, muft be rarify'd to fo great
a, Degree, that the Space it fills muft bear a very fmall
Proportion to that which is intirely void of Matter.
374 The WORKS of
I think, we may be confident from what already
appears, as well as from what our Author has writ on
the Roman Feafts, that he cou'd not be totally ignorant
of Aftronomy. Some of the Criticks wou'd infinuate
from the following Lines, that he miftook the Annual
Motion of the Sun for the Diurnal.
Ssftus in obliquum' Met. B. 2.
Though the Sun be always in one or other of the
Signs of the Zodiack, and never goes by either Motion
more Northward, or Southward, than is here defcrib'd ;
yet Phaeton being defign'd to drive the Chariot but one
Day, ought to have been direfted in the JEquator, or a
Circle Parallel to it, and not round the other Oblique
one of the Ecliptick : a Degree of which, and that by
a Motion contrary to the Diurnal, he was obliged to
go in that length of Time.
I am inclin'd to think, that Ovid had fo great an
Attention to Poetical Embellifhments, that he volun-
tarily dedin'd a ftricT: Obfervance of any Aftronomical
Syftem. For tho' that Science was far from being
negle&ed in former Ages ; yet the Progrefs which was
made in it, by no means equall'd that of our prefent
Time.
Lucretius, tho' in other things moft penetrating, de-
fcribes the Sun fcarce bigger, than he appears to the
Eye.
Nee nimio foils major rota, nee minor ardor
EJfe poteft, noflris quam fenjibus ejfe videtur*
And Homer, imagining the Seats of the Gods above
the fix'd Stars, reprefents the falling of Vulcan from
thence to the Ifle of Lemnos, to continue during a whole
Day.
I\S.v cf 1 ' w^atp ?>fmla, O.U.A <' A/6> y.a.Tctfvv'lt
Ketiwtffov tv AfifAva ' II. B. I.
The Greek Poet aims here to give a furprifing Idea of
the height of the Celeftial Manuons ; but if the Com-
putadon
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 375
putation of a modern Aflronomer be true, they are at
fo much a greater Diftance, that Vulcan wou'd have
been more Years in falling, than he was Minutes.
But left I fhou'd exceed the ufual Length of a Pre-
face, I mail now give fome Inftances of the Propriety of
our Author's Similes, and Epithets ; the Perfpicuity of
his Allegories : the Jnftru&ive Excellence of the Morals ;
the peculiar happy Turn of his Fancy ; and ftiall begin
with the Elegance of his Defcriptions.
- Madidis Notus evolat alls,
7erribilem picea. tefius caligine multutn.
Barba grai'is nimbis, canis fiuit unda capillts^
Fronte fedent nebula ', rorant penn&que, Jinufque.
Sternuntur fegetes, ^ deplorata coloni
Votajacent, longique labor per it irritus anni.
Met. B. i.
Thefe Lines introduce thofe of the Deluge, which
are alfo very Poetical, and worthy to be compar'd with
the next, concerning the Golden Age.
Sine militis ufu
Mollta fecuree peragebant otia gentes.
Ipfa quoque immunis raftroque intafta, nee ultii
Saucia womeribus, per fe dabat omnia tellus.
Contentique cibis, nullo cogente, creatis,
Arbuteos fcetus, montanaque fraga legebant,
Et quts deciderant patuld jfo<vis arbsre glandes*
Ver erat arternum, placidique tepentibus aun's
Mulcebant Zephyri natos fine femine flares,
Virgil has alfo touch'd upon the fame Subjedl in tha
end of the Second Georgick.
Aureus bane mitam in terris Saturnus
Nee dum etiam audierant inflari clajjjca^ nee dum
Impofitoi durii crepitare incudibus en/ei*
And
376 The WORKS of
And again,
Primus ab tetbereo venit Saturnus Olympo
Aurea, qu<e perhibent, illo fub rege fuerunt
Seecula : Jic placidd populos in pace regebat.
JEn. B. 8. 1. 319.
Some of the Lines, a little foreign to the prefent Subjeft,
are omitted ; but I {hall make the mpft admirable Au-
thor amends by tranfcribing at length his next Defcrip-
tion. 'Tis of a Stag, which gave the lirfl Occafion to
the War betwixt the Trojans and the Rututiaxs : I choofe
this, becaufe my Defign is to have thefe two great Poets
feea together, where the Subject happens to be almoft
the fame r tho' the Nature of ths Poems be very different.
Cervus erat for,ma pr&ftanti, f? cornibus ixgens t
lyrrloeidee pueri quern matris ab ubere raptum
Nutribant, Tyrrbeufqus pater, cut regia parent
Armenia, & late cufiodia credlta campi.
Ajjuetum impe riis for or omni Sy/via curd
Mollibus intexens ornabat cornua fertis :
Peffebatqzieferum, purcque infante lavabat,
llle manum pattens, menfaque ajjuetus herili
Errabat Jylvis
Mn. B. 7. I. 483.
The Image which Ovid gives of the Favourite Stag
flain accidentally by CypariJ/lts, feems not of lefs Dignity.
Ingens cervus erat, lateque patentilus alias
Ipfefuo capiti prabebat cornibus umbras:
Cornua fulgebant auro, dtmijjaque in armos
Pendebant tereti gemmata monilia collo.
ISulla fuper frontem parvis argentea lor is
Vinla mtruebatur : paril.'jue ex are nitebant
Auribus in gemlnis circum cava texpora bacca,
Ifque metu vacuus, naturalique pavsre
Dfpofito, cdsbrare domos, mukendaque colla
Quamtibtt
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 377
Quamlibet ignotis manibns pr<ebere folebat.
Gratus erat Cypariffe tibi, u pabula cervum
Ad nova, tu liquidi ducebas fontis ad undam.
Tu modo texebas t'arios per cornxa flares :
Nuc, eques in tergo rejidens, hue latus iff illuc
Mollia purpureis freenabat ora capljiris.
In the following Lines, Ovid defcribes the watry
Court of the River Peneus, which the Reader may
compare with Hrgifs Subterranean Grott of Cyrene the
Mother to Arijtceus,
Eft nemtii flamoniee, prssrupta. quod undlqut claudit
SHva: vacant Tempe, per quee fetfeus ab lino
EjJ'ufus Pindo fpumofis volvitur undh :
Dejettuque gravi tenues agitantia fumos
Nubila condudt, fummafque afpergine fyl-vas
Impluit, & fonttu plus quam vicina fatigat.
Ileec domus, bee fedes, bac funt penetralia tnay.t
Amnis : in hoc rejidens fafto de cautibus antro
Undisjura dab at, Nympbifque colentibus undas*
Conveniunt illuc popiitaria fiumina primum,
Nefcia gratentur, confolenturve parentem,
Populifer Spercleos, & irrequietus Enipeus,
Eridanufque fenex, lenifqueAmphryfos, fcf dEa) ;
"Moxque amnes alii, qui^ qua tulit impetus illos,
/ mare dtducunt fejfas errorilus undas*
Met. B* I ^
Triflis Arijlaus Pfnei genitoris ad undam
Stat laaymani
Jamque damum mirans genetricis, tf bumida regna,
Speluncifque laats daitfos, lucofque fonante s,
Ibat ; 6? ingenti motu Jlitpcfaflus aquarum,
Ojnnia fub magma labentia flumine terra
Spefttibat diverfa locis, Phajimque, Lycumque,
Et capuf, unde alt us primumfe erutnpit Enipeus,
Unde pater Tiber inus, fcf unde Anuna fluenta,
It
378 The W o R K s of
Et gemlna auratus taurino cornua vttltu
Eridanus, quo r.on alius per pinguia culta
In mare purpureum <uiolentior ivjluit amnis.
Georg. B. 4.
The Divine Poet goes on in Pomp of Numbers and
eafy Magnificence of Words, 'till he introduces the Story
of Orpheus and Eurjdice; in the Narration of which, he
is as much fuperior to Ovid, as the Reeds of his own
Mantuan Shepherds are lefs Mufical, than the Lyre of
Orpheus.
That I may not be too long on this Article, I ftiall
recommend to the Reader Ovid's admirable Defcrip-
tion of Sleep.
'Eft'prope Cimmerios Met. B. 1 1.
That of Hunger
Eft locus extremis Scytbia < " < B. 8.
That of the Plague
* i Biro, lues <* >* ' ' B. J.
That of Fame
- Orbe locus' media tft . . B. 12-
Virgil has alfo touch'd on the two laft ; in the one he
had Lucretius in View ; in the other Homer : and I think
it will not be to the Difadvantage of our Author to ap-
pear at the fame time.
There are many other Defcrjptions fcatter'd in the
Metamorphofes, which for juft Expreffion of Nature, and
majeflick Modulation of Words, are only Inferior to
thofe already tranfcrib'd, as they are fhorter ; which
makes the Objeftion, that his Diclion is commonly
loitering into Profe, a great deal too fevere.
The Metamorpbofes muft be confider'd, as is obferv'd
before, very uncorreft ; and Pirgifs Works as finifh'd :
tho' his own Modefty would not allow the &neids to be
(b. It feems it was harder for him to pleafe himfelf,
than
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 379
than his Readers. His Judgment was certainly great,
nor was his Vivacity of Imagination lefs ; for the firft
without the laft is too heavy, and like a Drefs without
Fancy ; and the laft without the firft is too gay, and
but all Trimming.
Our Author's Similitudes are next to be confider d,
which are always remarkably (hort, and convey ft
pleafmg Idea to the Imagination. 'Tis in this Branch
of the Poem, that he has difcover'd asjuft a Judgment,
as any of the Claflkks whatever. Poets to give a Loole
to a warm Fancy, are generally too apt, not only to
expatiate in their Similes, but introduce them too fre-
quently ; by doing the nrft, they detain the Attention
too long from the principal Narration ; and by the
latter, they make too frequent Breaches in the I
the Poem.
Thefe two Errors OviJ has moft difcerningly avoided.
How fhort, and fignificant are generally his Com parifons!
he fails not, in thefe, to keep a ftiff Rein on a high-
mettled Pegafut ; and takes care not to furfeit here, as he
had done on other Heads, by an erroneous Abundance.
His Similes are thicker fown by much in the Fable
of Salmacis and Hermaphrodites, than in any other Book,
but always fhort.
The Nymph clafps the Youth clofe to her Breaft, and
both infenfibly grow one.
Velut jl quls condufto cortice ramos
Crefcendo jungi-, parzterque adokfcere cernat*
Met. B- 4*
Again, as Atalanta reddens in the Race with Hippe-
menus.
Inque pueJlari corpus candore rulorem
*Traxerat : baud aliter quam cum fuper atria velum
Candida purpureum fimulata} inficit umbras.
Met. B. 10.
PlikmtUfi
380 The WORKS of
Philomelas Tongue feem'd to move after it was cat
out by 'Tsreus.
Utque falire filet mutilate cauda colubrte,
Palpitat Met. B. 6.
Cadmus fovvs the Dragon's Teeth, and the Sons of
the Earth rife gradually.
Inde fide maj us glebes cepere mover i j
Primaque de fulcis acies apparuit haftte j
Tegmina max capitum pi8o nutantia cono.
Max burner 'i, peflufque
Sic tibi tolluntur feftis auleea tbeatris
Stirgere Jigna folent, primumque oftendere I'ultuffi,
Ceetera paulatim, placidoque eduia tenore
Tota patent, imoque pedes in margins ponunt.
Met. B. 3.
The Objeaion to Ovid, that he never knows when
to give over, is too manifeft. Tho' he frequently ex-
patiates on the fame Thought in different Words ; yetin
his Similes, that Exuberance is avoided. There is in them
all, a Simplicity, and a Confinement to the prefeat Ob-
jeft ; always a Fecundity of Fancy, but rarely an In-
temperance : nor do I remember he has err'd above
once by an ill-judg'd Superfluity, After he has de-
fcrib'd the Labyrinth built by Dadalus, he compares it
thus,
jVoff fee us ac liquidus Pbrygiis Mttandros in arvis
Lutit, & ambiguo lapfu refluitque, fluitque ;
Et nunc ad for.tes, nunc ad mare *verfus apertum
Incertus exercet aquas Met.- B. 8.
He mould have ended at the clofe of the fecond Line,
as Virgil mould have done at the End of the Fourth in
his noble Simile, where Dido proceeds to the Temple
with her Court about her.
Qualis in Eurotte ripis, cut per juga Cyntbi
Exercet Diana ckorosy quam inille fituta
Hinc 9
Sir SAM u EL GARTH. 381
Hinc, atque bine glomerantar Oreades, ilia pbaretrarn.,
pert burner o, gradienfque Deasfuperetninetomne}:
Latonee taciturn pertentant gaudia petius.
/En. B. 4.
I fee no Reafon for the laft Line: Tho' the Poet bs
juftly celebrated for a moft confummate Judgment, yet
by an Endeavour to imitate Homer's Similes, he is not
only very long, but by introducing feveral Circumftances,
he fails of an applicable Relation betwixt the principal
Subjeft and his new Ideas. He fometimes thinks fit to
work into the Piece fome differing Embroidery, which,
tho' very rich, yet makes at beft but glorious Patch-
work. I really believe his excellent Poem had not been
the lefs fo, if, in this Article, he had thought fit to
have walk'd on in his own regular and Majeflick Grace,
rather than have been hurry M forward through broken
By-ways by his blind Guide.
I fhall tranfcribe one of his Similes which is not culi'd
out, but exaftly of the fame Texture with all the reft
in the four laft Books of the JEneids.
Turxus leaps in Fury from his Chariot.
Ac <veluti mantis faxum de vert ice precept
Cum ruit avulfum <vento, feu turbidui imbtr
Proluit, aut annis fol<vit fublapfa wetuftas,
Fertur in abruptum magno mans improbm atu t
JLxultatque fylo, Jylweu, arnienta, virofque
Invohens fecum' JEn. B. 12. 1. 684.'
It does not feem to be at all Material, whether the Rock
was blown or waih'd down by Wind or Rain, or un-
dermin'd by Time.
But to return to Ovid-, the Reader may take notice
how unforc'd his Compliments, and how natural his
Tranfitions generally are. With how much Eale does
he flide into fome new Circumftance, without any Vio-
lation of the Unity of the Story ! The Texture is fo
artful, that it may be compar'd to the Work of his OWR
382 fbe Wo R K s of
Aradmt, where the Shade dies fo gradually, and the
Light revives fo imperceptibly, that it is hard to tell
where the one ceafes, and the other begins.
When he is going off from the Story of Apollo and
Daphne ; how happily does he introduce a Compliment
to the Roman Conquerors !
Et conjux quoniam mea non fates ejje^
Arbor eris certe
Tu Ducibus lettis aderis, cum l<eta triumphum
Vox canet, & long<e vifent Capitolia psmp*.
Poftibus Augujlis eadem fidijfima cuftos
Ante fores Jlabis', mediamque tuebere quercum.
Met. B. i.
He compliments Auguflu; upon the Aflignation of
Julius ; and, by way of Simile, takes the Opportunity
from the Horror that the Barbarity of Lycaon gave.
Sic cum matius impia fte<vit
Sanguine Cafareo Romanum extinguere nomen^ Isc.
Julius is deify'd, and looks down on his adopted
Son.
Natique widens lenefafia, fatetur
EJJe fuis major a, & wind gaudet ab illo.
Met. B. 15.
And immediately follows,
Hit fua. praferri quapiquam vetat afta paternis,
Libera fama tamea, nullifque obnoxia jujjts
Invitum pr&fert .
The Author in the two firft Lines mows the affeftionate
Condefcenfion of the Father j in the three lait, the
pious Gratitude of the Son.
The Compliments to Augujlus are very frequent in the
laft Book of the Metamorphofes ; as thofe to the fame
Emperor are in the Georgicks of Virgil, which alfo ftrike
the Imagination by their agreeable Flattery.
fiac
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 383
fltfcfuper arworum cultu, pecorumque canelam,
Et fuper arboribus; Cte/ar dum me/gnus ad ahum
Fulminat Eupbratem bello> viftorque <uolentes
Per populos dat jura, viamque ajfeffat Olympo.
Georg. i.
Again on Julius,
Imperium Oceano, famam qui terminet ajlris
Julius --
-ffin. B. I.
The Compliments have a great Sublimity and are
worthy of the Grandeur of the Heroes, and the Wit .of
the Poet.
Ovid as .much deferves Praife for faying a great deal
in a little, as Cenfure for faying a little in a great deal.
None of the Claflkk Poets had the Talent of exprefling
himlelf with more Force and Perfpicuity.
Phaeton defires fome Pledge of his Father's Tender-
nefs, and asks to be trailed with his Chariot. He
anfwers,
Pignora cert a pet is ; do pignora cert a timendo.
Met. B. 2.
However, the latter complies with his Importunity;
the Confequence is fatal, the World is fet on Fire, even
the Rivers feel the force of the Conflagration. The
" - Fluit ignibus Aurum*
The Nile retreats,
Occuluitque caput, quod adhuc latet
Xanthus is parch'd up,
Arfurufque Iterum Xanthus 1
Tlife Poet's Fancy is here full of Energy, as well as in
the following Lines Apollo courts Daphne, andpromife*
himfelf Succefs, but is difappointed.
cupit, flerat ; fiaque ilium Qraculafallunt. '
And
384 The WORKS of
And again,
The River Achelout combats Hercules, and affumes fc-
veral Shapes in vain, then puts on at laft that of a '
Snake j the Hero fmiles in contempt.
Cunarum labor eft angues fuperare mearum.
Ovid never excels himfelf fo much, as when he takes
Occafion to touch upon the PaiHon of Love ; all Hearts
are in a manner fenfible of the fame Emotions ; and, j
like Inftruments tun'd Unifons, if a String of any one of
them be ftruck, the reft by confent vibrate.
Procris is jealous of Cephalus; fhe endeavours to be
confirm'd in her Fears, but hopes the contrary,
- Speratque miferrima falli.
The next is not lefs Natural,
Sed cunBa timemus amantes,
Byblis is in love with Caunus. The Struggle is be-
twixt her unlawful Flame and her Honour.
She's all Confufion at the Thoughts of difcovering
her Paffion
nnferere fatentii amorem.
She attempts to write,
Inclpit 13 dull tat: fcribit, damnatque tale/las,
Et notat, & delet : tnutaf, culpatque probatque.'
In the End, Inclination, as it does always, gets th
better of Difcretion.
This laft Fable mows how touchingly the Poet argues
in Love Affairs, as well as thofe of Medea and Scylla.
The two laft are left by their Heroes, and their Reflefti-
ons are very Natural and AfFefting. Ovid feem'd Acre
to have had Virgit* Paffion of Dido in his Eye, but with
this Difference; the one had convers'd much with La-
dies, and knew they lov'd to talk a great det.l : The
other
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 385
t>ther confider'd no lefs, what was natural for them to
fay, than what became them to fay.
Virgil has, through the whole Management of this
Rencounter, difcover'd a molt finim'd Judgment. JEneas,
like other Men, likes for Convenience, and leaves for
greater. Dido, like other Ladies, refents the Negleft,
enumerates the Obligations the Lover is under, upbraids
him with Ingratitude, threatens him with Revenge, then
by and by fubmits, begs for Companion, and has re-
courfe to Tears.
It appears from this Piece, that Virgil was a difcern-
ing Matter in the Paffion of Love: And they that con-
fider the Spirit and Turn of that inimitable Line
Qui Eaviitm non odit cannot doubt but he had an
equal Talent for Satyr.
Nor does the Genius of Ovid more exert on the Sub-
jeft of Love, than on all others. In the Contention of
Ajax, UhJ/cs his Elocution is moft nervous, and perfuad-
ing. Where he endeavours to difluade Mankind from
indulging carnivorous Appatites in his Pythagorean i 5 ui-
lofophy, how emphatkal is his Reafoning !
Quid meruere bsves, animal fine fraude,
Innoeuum, fimplsx^ natum tolerare taborem ?
Jmmemor eft dcjnum, ntc frugum mvnere dignus
Qui potuit curvi dempto modo ponders arairi
Jiuricolam tna flare fuutn -
fv:;:.D. 15.
I tliink dgricolam had been flronger, 'but the Authority
of Manufcripts does not warrant that Emendation.
Through the whole Texture of this Work, O-f/Wdif-
covers the higheft Humanity, and a moft exceedirg good
Nature. The Virtuous in Diftrefs are always his Con-
cern ; and his Wit contrives to give them an Immo; ta-
lity with himfelf.
He feems to have taken the moft Pains in the FJr.1
and Second Book of the Metamorpbofes, though ths
Thirteenth abounds with Sentiments moft moving,
Vot. I. S and
386 'The Wo R K s of
and with calamitous Incidents, introduced with great
Art. The Poet had here in View the Tragedy of
Hecuba in Euripides; and 'tis a wonder, it has never
been attempted in our own Tongue. The Houfe of
Priam is deihoy'd, his Royal Daughter a Sacrifice to
the Manes of him that occafion'd it. She is fbrc'd from,
the Arms of her unhappy Friends, and hurry'd to the
Altar, where {he behaves herfelf with a Decency be-
coming her Sex, and a Magnanimity equal to her Blood,
and fo very affecting, that even the Prieft wept.
Ipfe etiam flats, in<vitufque facer dos, &c.
She fhows no Concern at approaching Death, but on
the Account of her old, unfortunate Mother.
Mars tan turn wellem matrem mea fuller e poffit.
Mater obejt, minuitque netis mea gaudia j quam*vis
NOH mea mors ////, vetum fua vita getr.enda eft.
Then begs her Body may be deliver'd to her without
Ranfom,
Genetrici corpus inemptum
Reddite ; ne<ve aura redimat jus trifle fepulcbrt,
Sed lacrymis : tune, cum poterat, redimebat iff aura.
The unhappy Queen laments me is not able to give
her Daughter royal Burial,
Non btsc eft fortuna domus
Then takes the Body in her decrepid Arms, and halts
to the Sea to wafh'off the Blood,
Ad littus pajju proceffit anili
Albentes laniata comas.
The animated Thoughts and lively Images of this
Poem, are numerous. None ever painted more to the
Life, than our Author, tho' feveral Grotefque Figures
gre now and then feen in the fame Groupe. The moft'
plentiful Seafon that gives Biith to the fineft Flowers,
produces alfo the ranked Weeds. Ovid has Ihewn in
one
Sir SAMITE L GARTH. 387
one Line, the brighteft Fancy, fometimes; and in the
next, the pooreft Affeftation.
Venus makes Court to Adonis,
Et ecce!
Oppurtuna fud llanditur Populus umbra',
Et requie--uit humo ; prejfitque & gramen & ipfum.
Met. B. io. 1. 556.
Pb&lus requefts Phaeton to defiil from his Requeft.
Confiliis, non cur rib us utere ncftris.
Ceeneus in the Battle of the Centaurs Wpurds Latredi
in feveral Places.
- Vulnufque in <vulnere fecit.
Thefe are fome of our Poet's Boyifms. There is ano-
ther Affedation, call'd by Quintilian 'Oft/V^ 9 ', or z
witty Folly, which would not have appeared quite fo
trifling, had it been lefs frequent.
Medea perfuades the Daughters of Pelias to kill their
Father, in order to have his Youth renewed. She, that
loves him beft, gives the firft Wound,
Et, ne fit fcelerata, facit.fceliis Met. B. 7.
Althea is enrag'd at her Son Meleager, and to do Juf-
tice to the Manes of his Brothers deftroys him,
Impietate pia eft
Envy enters Athens, and beholds the flouriflilng Con-
dition of the City,
Vixque tenet lacrymas, quia ml lacrytxabile csrnit.
Ovid was much too fond of fuch Witticifm?, which
are more to be wonder'd at, becaufe they were not the
Fafhion of that Age, as Punns and Quibbles are cf this.
Virgil> as I remember, is not found trifling in this
Manner above once or twice.
S z
388 The Wo R K s of
Deucalion vacuum kpides jatiaijit in orient,
Unde homines nati, durum genus
Georg. 1. 1. 63,
Juno is in Indignation at Jlneas upon his Arrival in
Italy.
Num capti potuere'capi? num incenfa cretnavit
Troja. <uiros ? JEn. 7. 1. 295.'
The Poet is fo far from affefting this fort of Wit,
that he rarely ventures on fo fpirited a Turn of Fancy,
as in thefe following Inftances.
Jxno upbraids Venus and Cupid, Ironically, that two
Deities cou'd be able to get the better of one weak
Woman.
Memorabile nomen,
Una djlo Dii'iirn fifaetnina vifta duontm eft.
yLn. 4. 1. 95.
Eurya/us, going upon an Enterprife, exprefles his
Concern for his furviving Mother, if he fhould fall,
and recommends her to the Care of Afcanius> who
Anfwers,
Kamque erit ijia. mihi genitrix t nomenque Creitfa
Solum defuerit
J'enus is importunate in her Solicitations to Vulcan, to
ir.ake Armour for her Son : He anfwers,
Alfijle precando
Viribus indubitare tuis ./En. 7.
At the firft Kindling of Dido's Paffion, he has this
naoR natural Thought,
Ilium abfens alfentem auditque <uidetque.
But to return to Ovid; tho' I cannot vindicate him
for his Points, I (hall endeavour to mollify his Criticks,
when they give him no quarter for his Diflion, and
attack him fo inflexibly for ending his Lines with Mo-
nofyllables,
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 3? 9
nofjllables, as - fi quit - fi non, &c. and as I
think he cannot be excus'd more advantageoufly, than
by affirming, that where he has done it once, Virgil lus
twenty times.
- fcf cum C ' l *
nee dum G " *'
janbo,
*c none
There are a great many Endings of Lines in this man-
ner, and more indeed than feems confiftent with the Ma-
iefty of Heroick Verfe. When Lines are defign'd to be
fermoni propiores, this Liberty may be allowable but
not fo when the Subjcft requires more fonorous N
Bers. Virvll feems to endeavour to keep up his \ erttB-
cation to an Harmonious Dignity; and therefore, wh
fit Words do not offer with fome Eafe, he'll rather or
off in an Hemiftich, than that the Line (hou'd be lazy
and languid. He well knew, how efTential it was in
Poetry to flatter the Ear ; and at the fame time was ie
fible, that this Organ grows tir'd by a conftant Attenticn
to the fame Harmony ; and therefore he endeavour d
now and then to relieve it by a Cadence of Paufc?, and
a Variation of Meafures.
Jlmphion Dircaw in A8<eo Aradntho. Eel. 2.
This Line feems not tuneful at the firil hearing; but
by Repetition, it reconciles itfelf, and has the far
m& with fome Compofitions of Mufick, which ai
at the firft Performance tirefome, and afterward enter-
The Commentators and Criticks are of Opinion,
CJ!
3
ine Commentators ana ~nwva - ~ -r-
that whenever Virgil is lefs Mufical, it is where h
c ,. deavovr*
350 The WORKS of
deavoors at an Agreement of the Sound \viih th
Senfe, as,
1 rTGtUIRult PUtKt DCS*
It would mow as much Singularity to deny this, as it
<!oes a farciful Facility to affirm it, becauiie it is obvious,
macy Places he had no fuch view.
Invent a fub ilicibus fus. ^En. 3. 1. 390.
Dtniffque Sabellicus axacuit fus. Georg. 3. 1. 255.
. "Jam fttit objtia, jam bas JEn. 7. 1. 790.
Furor additui, inde lupi ecu, &c.
jn. 11.1.355.
The Places, which favour mod the firft Opinion are,
Saxa per CT jtapulas, & dcprcffas ccnvaL'es.
Georg. 3. 1. 27$.
S<ept txiguus mas.
Qmniafab magnd labentia flumina terra. Gecrg. 4.
The Is* Lint is thr 0^:7 !.-:5r>ce. I remember .ex-,
cept ore in Etl. 2. } where the Words terminate in the
fame Vowel, and feem to reprefent the conftant and
uniform Sound of a fliding Stream.
Thofe, that are moft converfant in Claffick Poetr7 t
xnuft be fenfible, that Virgil has been much more folici-
tocs, than Ovid, to keep up his Lines to an eafy and
:al F!uw; but tho' the Criticks charge the latter
with breaking through Profodj and Grammar, and al-
louir.g hlmfelf too often the Licence of Graecifms; I
-isCenfare to be only an arrogant Pedantry in
die Grammarians, and grouadlefs in itfelf; but tho' it
,:^e, I dare be confident it is full as juft upon
Curru fuljungert Tigris, Ed. 5. 1. 29.
for Currui, accoiding to the Grammarians.
Often Adisftives for Adverbs; and the contrary.
G. i .PiKguia cuff a ; an Adjeftive for a Subftantive.
V(rfi jifingutre fir.gui ; the fame.
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 391
JEn. II. 1. 69. -Seti languevtis Hyacinth: ;
n"rft Foot of the Dadyl Ihorr,
^En. 4. Tulerunt feftidia menfes ; the penultirna of
the Verb fhort,
Objiupui Jieteruntque cent* the fame.
So Lucretius, prodiderunt-, reciderunt, &c.
G. 2. 1. 5. PatKpitieo gra<vidus autumno ; aa
lambick for a Spondee.
Flieviorttm rex Eridanus campcfque per omnes ; a a
Anapeft for a Dadtyl, or a Spondee.
JEn- 10. 1. 29. Ncc Clyth genitore minor nee f rat r I
Mneflbeo ; a Trochee, unlefs the two Confonants
MN of the following Word be allow'd.
G. I. 1. 456. Fervtre, non ilia quifquam
The PenuJtima commonly fhort with Virgil t hfulgere,
fltidere, ts'c.
Mn. 12. 1. 680. Sins me fur ere ante furorem ; a
Graecifm.
G. i. 1. 281. Impottere Pelio Offam ; a Grajcifm,
where there is no Elifion, but the long Vowel
before another made fticrt.
The Learned and Reverend Dr. Clark has obferv'd,
(as he tells me) that tho' there be feveral fhort Vowels
made long in Homer, yet there is no Inftance on the con-
trary, of any long Vowel (fuch as the firil Syllable of
T/^.H, 4^> v " '""' an< ^ l ^ e ^'^ e ) ever mac ^ e ^ ort
where no Vowel follows. Which fhows that there is no
fuch thing as a Poefica licentia, properly fo call'd.
Certainly no body can imagine but thefe two cele-
brated Authors underftood their own Tongue, better
than the fcrupulous Grammarians of After-ages, who
are too Dogmatical and Self-fufficient, when they pre-
fume to cenfure Either of them for not attending ftridlly
S 4 encugh
392 'The WORKS of
enough to Syntax, and the Meafure of Verfe. Th
Latin Tongue is a dead Language, and none can decide
with Confidence on the Harmony, or Diffonance of the
Numbers of thefe Times, unlefs they were thoroughly
acquainted \vith their Paufes, and Cadence. They may
indeed pronounce with much more Aflurance on their
Diftion ; and diftinguifh where they have been negligent,
and where more finim'd. There are certainly many
Lines in OwV, where he has been downright Lazy, and
where he might have avoided the Appearance of being
cbvioufly fo, by a very little Application. In recording
the Succeflion of the Alb an Kings, thus,
Epitus ex illo eft, pofl lunc Capeiufque, Cajyfque,
sd Crjys ante fait
There are alfo feveral Lines in Virgil, which are not
altogether tunable to a mcdern Ear, and which appear
unfinim'd.
Scilicet omnilus eft labor impsndendus, & omr.es
Cogendte in fuhum G. 2. 1. 6 I.
Preefertim ji tempeftas a vertice Jjl-vis
Inculttit G. 2. 1. 3'O.
Quafoe rcfcrre parent ? fed nunc, eft omnia quandt
Jfte amr?:v.s fupra ^En. n. 1.509.
Ifta quidem quid rota mibi tua, ir.agne, veluntas,
Jupiter ^n. 12. 1. 108.
But the Sun has its Spots ; and if amongft Thoufands
of inimitable Lines, there fliou'd be forae found of sn
unequal Dignity with the reft, nothing can be faid for
their Vindication more, than, if they bs Faults, they
are the Faults of Virgil.
As I ought to be on this Occafion an Advocate for
Ovid, who I think is too much run down at prefent by
the critical Spirit of this Nation ; I dare fay, I cannot
be more effectually fo, than by comparing him in
ir.any Places with his admir'd Contemporary Virgil;
and tho' the laft certainly deferves the Palm, I (hall
rnaha
Sir S A M U E L G A R T H. 393
make ufe of OwVs own Lines, in the trial of Strength
betwixt Acbelous and Hercules, to {how how much he is
honour'd by the Gontention.
Non tarn
Turpe fait vinci, quam contendijje decorum.
Met. B. 9.
I fhall finifh my Remarks on our Author, by taking
Notice of the Juftnefs and Perfpicuity of his Allegories ;
which are either Phyfical or Natural, Moral, or Hirto-
rical. Of the mil Kind is the Fable of Apollo and
Python ; in the Explanation of this all the Mythologies
agree ; Exhalations and Mifts, being the conftant Effects
of Inundations, are here diffipated by the Rays of the
Sun.
Of the fecond Kind, are Aflaon torn to Pieces by his
own Pack of Dogs, and Erlfi3hn ilarv'd by the Difeafe
of Hunger. Thefe two Allegories feem to fignify, that
Extravagance and Luxury end in Want.
Of the Third, is the Story of the Rape of Europa.
Hiftory fays, me was Daughter to Agenor, and carry 'd
by the Candians in a Galley, bearing a Bull in the
Stern, in order to be marry'd to one of their Kings
nam'd Jupiter.
This Explanation gives an Occafion for a Digreffion
which is not altogether foreign to the prefent Purpofe,
becaufe it will be of Ufe to juftify Ovid on fome other
Occafions, where he is cenfured for being too free with
the Characters of the Gods. I was once reprefenting
the Metamorphofes, as an excellent Syftem of Morality ;
but an illuitrious Lady, whofe leaft Advantage above
her Sex, is that of being one of the greateft PrincefTes
in Europe, objected; that the loofe and immodeft Sallies
of Jupiter did by no means confirm my Afiertion.
One muft conlidcr, that what appear'd an Abiurdity
in Q<vid, is not fo much his own Fault, as that of the
Times before him. The Characters of the Gods of the
old Heroick Age reprefented them unjuit in their Actions ;
S 5 mutable
3 94 W> e W o R K s of
mutable in their Defigns ; partial In their Favours;
ignorant of Events ; fcurrilous in their Language. Some
of the fuperior Hierarchy treating one another with
injurious Brutalities, and are often guilty of fuch Inde-
cencies and Misbehaviour as the loweft Mortals would
blufti to own. Juno czllsDiana, the Goddefs of Chaftity,
y-vov tcT/5e?, Brazen-fac'd Bitch; Horn. II. B. 21.
J. 481. Jupiter infults his Daughter, the Goddefs of
Wifdom, for Rafhnefs and Folly ; bids Iris tell her,
he'll maul her Coach- Horfes for her like a furly Bitch
as {he is ; a/poWrn KVQV : II. B. 8. from 1. 400. to
J. 425. then threatens in another Place to beat his Wife,
that divine Vixen, the immortal Partner of the Em-
pyreal Throne, x.a.i o-g "TTMy^ftv ifJLot<r<ru. H. B. 15.
1. 17.
The Commentators may endeavour to hide thofe Ab-
furdities under -the Veil of Allegories; but the Reader
that confidejs the whole Texture of the Iliad, will find,
that the Author's Meaning, and their Interpretation,
are often as unlike, as the imaginary Heroes of his
Time, are to the real ones of Ours.
Allegories {hould be obvious, and not like Meteors in
the Air, which represent a different Figure to every
different Eye. Now they are Armies of Soldiers 9 now
Flocks of Sheep ; and by and by nothing.
Perhaps the Criticks of a more exalted Tafte, may
difcover fuch Beauties in the antient Poetry, as may
efcape the Comprehenfion of us Pygmies of a more
limited Genius. They may be able to fathom the di-
vine Senfe of the Pagan Theology ; whilft we aim at
r,o mere, than to judge of a little common Senfe.
It is, and ever will be a Rule to a great many, to
applaud and condemn with the general Vogue, tho*
never fo ill grounded. The moft are afraid of being
Particular ; and rather than ftrive r.gainft the Stream,
are proud of being in the wrong with the Many, rather
than defirous of being in the right with the Few : and
tho' they be convinc'd of the Reafonablsnefs of diffent-
ing
Sir S A M U E L G A R T H. 3 9 j"
ing from the common Cry, yet out of a poor fear of
Cenlure, they contribute to eftablifh it, and thus become
an Authority againft others, who in reality are but of
their own Opinion.
Of/*/ was fo far from paying a blind Deference to the
venerable Name of his G;m'<3Predeceflbr, in the Character
of his Gods ; that when Jupiter puniihes And-omeda for
the Crimes of her Mother, he calls him injiiflns Amman,
Met. B. 4. and takes commonly an honourable Care of
the Decorum of the Godhead, when their Actions are
confiftent with the Divinity of their Character. His
Allegories include fome religious or inftruftive Moral,
wrap'd up in a peculiar Perfpicuity. The Fable of Pra-
ferpina, being fometimes in -Hell, and fometimes with
Ceres her Mother, can fcarce mean 'any thing elfe than
the fowing and coming up of Corn. The various Di efies
that Vertumnus, the God of Seafons, puts on in his
Courtlhip of Pomona the Garden Goddeis, feem plainly
to exprefs the different and mod proper times for
Digging, Planting, Pruning, and gathering the In-
creale. I mall be (horter on this Head, becaufe our
Countryman Mr. Sands has, by a laborious Search
amongtt the Mythologifts, been very full. He has
annex'd his Explanations to the End of each Book,
which deferve to be recommended to thole that are
Curious in this figurative Learning
The Reader cannot fail of obierving, how many excel-
lent Leflbns of Morality Ovid has given us in the courfe of
his Fables.
The Story of Deucalion and Pyrrba teaches, that
Piety and Innocence cannot mils of the divine Protection,
and that the or.ly Lofs irreparable is that .of our Probity
;and juilice.
That of Pbatton ; how the too great Tendernefs of
the Parent proves a Cruelty to the Child ; and that he,
who wou'd climb to the Scat of Jufiter, generally meets
with his Bolt by the way.
Thi
396 The Wo R K s of
The Tale of Baucis and Philemon is moft inimitably
told. He omits not the minuteft Circumftance of a
Cotrage Life ; and is much fuller than Virgil, where he
brirgs in his contented old Man Corycius, Georg. 4.
Ovid reprefents a good old Couple ; happy, and fatisfy'd
in a cleanly Poverty ; hofpitable, and free of the few
things that Fortune hnd given them ; moderate in
Defires ; affectionate in their conjugal Relation ; fo
religious in Life, that when they obferv'd their homely
Cabbin rifing to a Temple, all the Bounty they ask'd
of the Gods they had entertain'd, was, that they might
do the Office of Priefthood there ; and at their Death,
not furvive one another.
The Stories of Lycaon and Pentkeus, not only deter
from Infidelity and Irreverence to the Gods ; but the
Jail alfo ihows, that too great Zeal produces, the fame
Effects, as none at all ; and that Enthufiafm is often
more cruel, than Atheifm.
The Story of Minos and Scylla reprefents the Infamy
of felling cur Country ; and teaches, that even they
who love the Crime, abhor the Criminal.
In Cippus we find a noble Magnanimity and heavenly
Self-denial ; he preferr'd the Good of the Republick to
his own private Grandeur; and chofe with an exemplary
Generofity, rather to live a private Free-man out of
Rome, than to command Numbers of Slaves in it.
From the Story of Hercules we learn, that Glory is a
Lady, who, like many others, loves to have her Ad-
mirers fufrera great deal for her. The Poet enumerates
the Labours of the Hero ; {hows how he conquer'd every
thing for Others, but nothing for himfelf : Then does
him the poetical Jtiftice of an Apotheofis ; thinking it
moft fit that one, who had bora the Cekftial Orbs on
his Shoulders, {hou'd have a Manfion amongft them.
From the Affumption of Romulus ; that when War is
at an End, the chief Bufmefs of Peace mould be the
enacting good Laws ; that after a People are preferv'd
from the Enemy, the next Care flicu'd be, to preferve
them
Sir S A MU E L G ART H. 397
them from themfelves ; and therefore the beft Legiflators
deferve a Place amongft Heroes and Deities.
From Ariadne being inhumanly deferted by Tkefeus ;
and generoufly receiv'd by Bacchus ; we find, that as
there is nothing we can be fure of, fo there is nothing
\ve ought to defpair of.
From Altkea burning the Brand ; that we fhouM take
care left under the Notion of Juftice we mould do a
Cruelty ; for they that are fet upon Revenge, only en-
deavour to imitate the Injury.
From Polyphemus making Love to Galatea one may
obferve, that the moft deform'd can find fomething to
like in their own Perfon. He examines his Face in the
Stream, combs his rueful Locks with a Rake, grows
more exaft, and ftudious of his Drefs, and difcovers the
firft fign of being in Love, by endeavouring at a more
than ufual Care to pleafe.
The Fable of Ccpbalus and Prceris confirms, that
every Trifle contributes to heighten the Difeafe of Jea-
loufy ; and that the moft convincing Proofs can fcarce
cure it.
From that of Hippomenes and jttalanta we may dif-
cover, that a generous Prefent helps to perfuade, as well
as an agreeable Perfon.
From Medea's flying from Pe/ias's Court; that the
offer'd Favours of the Impious fhould be always fuf-
pefted ; and that they, who defign to make every on
fear them, are afraid of every one.
From Myrrha ; that Shame is fqmetimes hard to be
overcome, but if the Sex once gets the better of it, it
gives them afterwards no more Trouble.
From Cents; that Effeminacy in Youth may change
to Valour in Manhood, and that as Fame perifhes, fo
does Cenfure.
From Tereus ; that one Crime lays the Foundation cf
many; and that the fame Perfon, who begins with
Luft, may conclude with Mmrder.
From
398' The Wo R K s of
From Midas', that no Body can punifti a covetous
Man worfe than he punilhes himfelf ; that fcarce any
thing wou'd fometimes prove more fatal to us, than the
Completion of our own Wifhes ; and that he who has
the moft Defires, will certainly meet with the moft Dif-
appointments.
From the Pythagorean Philofophy, it may be obferv'd,
that Man is the only Animal who kills his Fellow-
Creature without being angry.
From Proteus we have this Leffon, that a Statefman
can put on &ny Shape; can be a Spaniel to the Lion,
and a Lion to the Spaniel j and that he knows not to be
an Enemy, who knows not how to feem a Friend ; that
if all Crowns Ihou'd change their Minifcry, as often as
they pleafe, tho' they may be called other Minifters,
they are ftill the fame Men.
The Legend of jEfculapius's Voyage to Rome in form
*>f a Snake, feems to exprefs the neceflary Sagacity re-
quir'd in Profeffors of that Art, for the readier infight
into Diftempers : This Reptile being celebrated by the
ancient Naturalifts for a quick Sight.
Cur In amlcorum vifium tarn cernls acutum
Quam aut aquila, aut ferpem Epidaurius ? j
Hor. Sat. 3. 1. i.
The venerable Epldaurian affum'd the Figure of an
Animal without Hands to take Fees; and therefore
grateful Pofterity honour'd him with a Temple. In this
manner ftiou'd wealthy Phyficians, upon proper Occafions,
praftife ; and thus their furviving Patients reward.
If the Metamorphofes be attended to with a. juft Ap-
plication, and without Prepofleffion ; one will be the
lefs furpris'd at die Author's prophetic Spirit, relating
to the Duration and Succefs of the Work.
Jamque opus exegi t &c.
This Prediaion has fo far prov'd true, that this Poem
lias been ever fince the Magazine, which has'furnifh'd
the
Sir S AMU E L GARTH. 399
the greateft Poets of the following Ages with Fancy
and AHufions ; and the moft celebrated Painters with
Subjefts and Defign. Nor have his Poetical Predeceflbrs
and Contemporaries paid lefs Regard to their own Per-
formances.
Injignetnque meo capiti petere inde coronam,
Vnde prius nulli melarunt tempora Muf*. Lucr. B. I.'
Nemo me lacrumeh decor et, nee funerafletu.
Facfit; quur <ve/ito wwii per ora wirum. Enn. Fr?g.
. Tentanda <via eft, qua me quoque psjfim
Toilers kumo, wiEtorque <virum volitare per ora.
Virg. G. 3:
Me doftarum Ederte pramia frontium
Diis mifeent fuperis Hor. Od. I.
Again,
Exegi monumentum esre perennius,
Regalique fitu Pyramldum altius,
Quod non imber edax, non Aquilo impotent
PoJJit diruere, aut innumerabilis
Annorum feries, fcf fuga temporum.
Non omnis moriar. Hor. B. 3. Od. 30,"
The whole Ode is in a manner a continu'd Compli-
ment to his own Writings; nor, in Imitation of this
celebrated Author, want we Poets of our prefent Age,
who have been pleas'd to rank themfelves amongil their
own Admirers.
I have done with the Original, and Ihall make no
Excufe for the Length of the Preface, becaufe it is ia
the power of the Reader to make it as (hort as he
pkafes. I Ihall now conclude with a Word or two
about the Verfion.
Tranflation is commonly either Verbal, or Paraphrafe,
or Imitation ; of the firft is Mr. Sana's, which I think
the Metamorpbofes can by no means allow of. It is
ogreed, the Author left it uniimih'd ; if it had undergone
400 The WORKS of
his laft Hand, it is more than probable, that many Super-
fluities had been retrench 'd. Where a Poem is perfe&ly
finifh'd, the Tranflation, with regard to particular Idioms,
cannot be too exaft ; by doing this, the Senfe of the
Author is more entirely his own, and the Caft of the
Periods more faithfully preferv'd : But where a Poem is
tedious through Exuberance, or dark through a hafty
Brevity, I think the Tranflator may be excus'd for
doing what the Author upon revifing would have done
himielf.
If Mr. Sands had been of this Opinion, perhaps
other Tranflations of the Metatnotphfes had not been at-
tempted.
A Critic has obferv'd, that in his Verfion of this
Book, he has fcrupuloufly confin'd the Number of his
Lines to thofe of the Original. 'Tis fit I mould take
the Sum upon Content, and be better bred, than to count
after him.
The Manner that feems moft fuited for this prefent
Undertaking, is, neither to follow the Author too clofe
out of a critical Timoroufnefs ; nor abandon him too
wantonly through a poetic Boldnefs. The Original mould
always be kept in View, without too apparent a Devia-
tion from the Senfe. Where it is otherwife, it is not a
Verfion, but an Imitation. The Tranflator ought to be
as intent to keep up the Gracefulnefs of the Poem, as
artful to hide its Imperfections; to copy its Beauties, and
to throw a Shade over its Biemiflies ; to be faithful to
an Idolatry, where the Author excels ; and to take the
Licence of a little Paraphrafe, where Penury of Fancy
or Drynefs of Expreffion feem to ask for it.
The ingenious Gentlemen concern'd in this Under-
taking feem to be of this Opinion ; and therefore they
have not only confulted the Reputation of the Author,
bat their own alfo. There is one of them has no other
Share in this Compliment, than by being the Occafion
of engaging them that hnve, in obliging the Public. He
has alfo been fo juit to the Memory and Reputation of
Mr.
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 401
Mr. Dryden,- as to give his incomparable Lines the Ad-
vantage of appearing fo near hii own.
I cannot pafs by that admirable Englijh Poet, without
endeavouring to make his Country fenfible of the Obli-
gations they have to his Mufe. Whether they confider
the flowing Grace of his Verification ; the vigorous Sal-
lies of his Fancy ; or the peculiar Delicacy of his Periods ;
they'll difcover Excellencies never to be enough admir'd.
If they trace him from the firft Productions of his Youth
to the lafl Performances of his Age, they'll find, that
as the Tyranny of Rhime never impos'd on the Perfpi-
cuity of the Senfe j fo a languid Senfe never wanted to
be fet off by the Harmony of Rhyme. And as his
earlier Works wanted no Maturity ; fo his latter wanted
no Force or Spirit. The falling off of his Hair had
no other Confequence, than to make his Laurels to be
feen the more.
As a Translator he was juft; as an Inventor he was
rich. His Verlions of ibme parts of Lucretius, Horace^
Homer, and Virgil throughout, gave him a juft Pretence
to that Compliment which was made to Monjieur d" 1 Allan-
court, a celebrated French Tranflator; It is uncertain
who have the grcateft Obligations to him, the Dead or tht
Living.
With all thefe wondrous Talents, he was Libell'd in
his Life-time by the very Men, who had no other Ex-
cellencies, but as they were his Imitators. Where he
was allow'd to have Sentiments fuperior to all others,
they charged him with Theft : But how did he deal ?
no othenvife, than like thofe that fleal Beggars Children,
only to clothe them the better.
'Tis u be lamented, that Gentlemen dill continue this
unfair Behaviour, and treat one another every Day with
molt injurious Libels. The Mufes mould be Ladies of a
chafte and fair Behaviour: when they are othewife, they
are Furies.. 'Tis certain that Parnaffiu is at beft but a
barren Mountain, and its Inhabitants contrive to make it
more fo by their unneighbourly Deportment ; the Authors
aft
402 *Ibe W o R K s of
are the only Corporation that endeavour at the Ruin of
their own Society. Every Day may convince them,
how much a rich Fool is refpecled above a poor Wit.
The only Talents in Efteem at prefent are thofe of Ex-
change-Alley, one Tally is worth a Grove of Bay; and
'tis of much more Confequence to be well read in the
Tables of Intereft and the Rife and Fall of Stocks, than
in the Revolutions of Empires.
Mr. Dryden is ftill a fad and mameful Inftance of this
Truth: The Man, that cou'd make Kings immortal, and
jaife triumphant Arches to Heroes, now wants a poor
fquare Foot of Stone, to mow where the Ames of one
of the greateft Poets, that ever was upon Earth, are
depofited.
O v i D '3 Metamorpbofes, Book XIV".
The Transformation of S c Y L L A.
NOW Glaucus, with a Lover's Hafte, bounds o'er
The fwelling Waves, and feeks the Latian Shore.
Ue/cr.a, RJ:eg!um, and the barren Coaft
Of flaming JEtna, to his Sight are loft :
At length he ga ns the Tyrrhene Seas, and views
The Hills where baneful Philters Circe brews ;
Monfters, in various Forms around her prefs ;
As thus the God ialutes the Sorcerefs.
O Circe, be indulgent to my Grief,
And give a Love-fick Deity Relief.
Too well the mighty Pow'r of Plants I know,
To thole my Figure, and new Fate I owe.
A gain ft Meffena, on th' Aufonian Coaft,
I Scylla view'd, and from that Hour was loft.
In tend'reft Sounds I fu'd ; but ftill the Fair
Was deaf to Vows, and pitileis to Pray'r.
Sir S A M u E L GARTH. 403
j If Numbers can avail, exert their PovvV;
Or Energy of Plants, if Plants have move.
I ask no Cure ; let but the Virgin pine
With dying Pangs, or Agonies, like mine.
No longer Ctrce could her Flame difguife,
But to the fuppliant God Marine, replies :
When Maids are coy, have manlier Aims in view*
Leave thofe that Fly, but thofe that Like, purfue.
If Love can be by kind Compliance won ;
See, at your Feet, the Daughter of the Sun.
Sooner, faid G/axcus, fhall the Am remove
From Mountains, and the Swelling Surges love;
Or humble Sea-weed to the Hills repair ;
E'er I think any but my Stylla fair.-
Straight Circe reddens with a guilty Shame,
And vows Revenge for her rejefted Flame.
Fierce Liking oft a Spite as fierce creates ;
For Love refus'd, without Averiion, hates.
To hurt her haplefe Rival {he proceeds ;
And, by the Fall of Scylla, Glaucus bleeds.
Some fafcinating Bev'rage now file brews J
Composed of deadly Drugs, and baneful Juice.
At Rhegium (he arrives ; the Ocean braves,
And treads with unwet Feet the boiling Waves,
Upon the Beach a winding Bay there lies,
Shelter'd from Seas, and {haded from the Skies :
This Station Scylla chofe ; a foft Retreat
From chilling Winds, and raging Cancers Heat.
The vengeful Sorc'refs vifits this Recefs;
Her Charm infufes, and infefts the Place.
Soon as the Nymph wades in, her nether Part*
Turn into Dogs ; then at herfelf me Harts.
A ghaftly Horror in her Eyes appears ;
But yet lhe knows not, who it is fhe fears ;
In vain {he offers from herfelf to run,
And drags about her what {he ftrives to fhun.
Oppreis'd with Grief the pitying God appears,
And fwells the riftng Surges with his Tears ;
404 2$* WORKS of
From the diftrefled Sorcerefs he flies ;
Her Art reviles, and her Addrefs denies :
Whilft haplefs Scylla, chang'd to Recks, decrees
Deftruaion to thofe Barks, that beat the Seas.
The Voyage of JE N E A s continued*
Here bulg'd the Pride of fam'd Ulyffe? Fleet,
But good JEntas 'fcap'd the Fate he met.
As to the Latian Shore the 'Trojan flood,
And cut with well-tim'd Oars the foaming Flood :
He weather'd fell Charybdi.s : But ere-long
The Skies were darken'd, and the Tempeft ftrong.
Then to the Libyan Coaft he flretches o'er j
And makes at length the Carthaginian Shore.
Here Dido, with an hofpitable Care,
Into her Heart receives the Wanderer.
From her kind Arms th' ungrateful Hero flies ;
The injur'd Queen looks on with dying Eyes,
Then to her Folly falls a Sacrifice.
jEaeat now lets Sail, and plying gains
Fair Etyx, where his Friend Acejits reigns :
Firft to his Sire does Fun'ral Rites decree,
Then gives the Signal next, and ftands to Sea ;
Out- runs the Iflands where Volcano's roar ;
Gets clear of Sirens, and their faithlefs Shore :
But lofes Palinurus in the Way ;
Then makes Inarime, and Procbyta.
The Transformation O/'CERCOPIANS
into Apes.
The Gallies now by Pythecufa pafs ;
The Name is from the Natives of the Place,
The Father of the Gods detefting Lies;
Oft, with Abhorrence, heard their Perjuries.
Th' abandon'd Race, transformed to Beafts, began
To mimickthe Impertinence of Man.
Flat-
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 405
Flat-nos'd, and furrow'd; with Grimace they grin ;
And look, to what they were, too near akin :
Merry in Make, and bufy to no End ;
This Moment they divert, the next offend :
So much this Species of their paft retains;
Tho' loft the Language, yet the Noife remains.
& N E A s defcends to Hell.
Now, on his Right, he leaves Partbenope:
His Left, Mifenus jutting in the Sea :
Arrives at Cuma, and with Awe furvey'd
The Grotto of the venerable Maid :
Begs Leave thro' black J-vernui to retire ;
And view the much-lov'd Manes of his Sire.
Straight the divining Virgin rais'd her Eyes :
And, foaming with a holy Rage, replies :
O thou, whofe Worth thy wond'rous Works proclaim ;
The Flames, thy Piety ; the World, thy Fame ;
Tho? great be thy Requeft, yet (halt thou fee
Th' Elyf.an Fields, th' infernal Monarchy ;
Thy Parent's Shade : This Arm thy Steps {hall guide :
To fappliant Virtue nothing is deny'd.
She (poke, and pointing to the Golden Bough,
Which in th' Awrnian Grove refulgent grew,
Seize That, She bids; He liftens to the Maid ;
Then views the mournful Manfions of the Dead:
The Shade of Great Ancbifei, and the Place
By Fates deter min'd to the TrtyattRzct.
As back to upper Light the Hero came,
He thus falutes the Vifionary Dame.
O, whether fome propitious Deity,
Or lov'd by thofe bright Rulers of the Sky !
With grateful Incenfe I mail ftile you One,
And deem no Godhead greater, than your own.'
'Twas you reftor'd me from the Realms of Night,
And gave me to behold the Fields of Light :
To
406 The Wo R K s of
To feel the Breezes of Congenial Air ;
And Nature's bleft Benevolence to fhare.
The Story of the SIBYL.
I am no Deity, reply'd the Dame,
But Mortal, and religious Rites difclaim.
Yet had avoided Death's tyrannick Sway,
Had I confented to the God of Day.
With Promifes he fought my Love, and faid,
Have all you wifti, my fair Cumaan Maid.
I paus'd ; then pointing to a Heap of Sand,
For ev'ry Grain, to live a Year, demand.
But ah ! unmindful of th' Effect of Time,
Forgot to covenant for Youth, and Prime.
The fmiling Bloom, I boafted once, is gone,
And feeble Age with laggir.g Limbs creeps on.
Sev'n Cent'ries have I liv'cf; Three more fulfil
The Period of the Years to finilh Mill.
Who'll think, that Plcebtts, dreft in Youth Divine,
Had once believ'd his Luftre lefs than mine ?
This wither'd Frame (fo Fates have will'd) {hall walls
To nothing, but Prophetick Words, at laft.
The Sibyl mounting now from nether Skies,
And the fam'd Ilian Prince, at Cuma rife.
He fail'd, and near the Place to Anchor came,
Since call'd Cajeta from his Nurfe's Name.
Here did the lucklefs Macareus, a Friend
To wife Uly/fts, his long Labours end.
Here, wandring, At&eaUnidfi he meets,
And fudden, thus his late AfTociate, greets.
Whence came you here,O Friend,and whither bound ? j
All gave you loft on far Cyclopean Ground i C
A Greek^ at laft aboard a Trojan found. j
Vis
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 407
The Adventures of A c H JE M E N i D E s.
Thus Ackismenides With Thanks I name
'JEneas, and his Piety proclaim.
I 'fcap'd the Cyclops thro' the Hero's Aid,
Elie in his Maw my mangled Limbs had laid.
When firft your Navy under Sail he found,
He rav'd, till Mtna labour'd with the Sound.
Raging, he flalk'd along the Mountain's Side,
And vented Clouds of Breath at ev'ry Stride.
His Staff a Mountain Am ; and in the Clouds
Oft, as he walks, hi= grifly Front he flirowds.
Eyelefs he grop'd about with vengeful Hafte,
Andjuftled Promontories, as he pafs'd.
Then heav'd a Rock's high Summit to the Main,
And bellow'd, like fome burfting Hurricane.
Oh ! cou'd I ieize Ul^ffes in his Flight,
How unlamented were my Lofs of Sight .'
Thefe Jaws mould piece- meal tear each panting Vein,
Grincl ev'ry crackling Bone, and pound his Brain.
As thus he rav'd, my Joints with Horror fhook;
The Tide of Blood my chilling Heart forfook,
I faw him once difgorge huge Morfels, raw,
Of Wretches undigefted in his Maw.
From the pale breahlefs Trunks whole Limbs he tore.
His Beard all clotted with o'erflowing Gore.
My anxious Hours I pafs'd in Caves ; my Food
Was Foreit Fruits, and Wildings of the Wood.
At length a Sail I wafted, and aboard
My Fortune found an hofpitable Lord.
Now, in Return, your own Adventures tell^
And what, fince firft you put to Sea, befel.
The Adventures O/*MACAREUS.
Then Macareu? There reign'd a Prince of Fame
O'er Tufcan Seae, and JEofa hii Name.-
408 The W o R K s of
A Largefs to Vlyjfei he confign'd,
And in a Steer's tough Hide inclos'd a Wind.
Nine Days before the fwelling Gale we ran ;
The Tenth, to make the meeting Land, began :
When now the merry Mariners, to find
Imagin'd Wealth within, the Bag unbind.
Forthwith out-rufh'd a Guft, which backwards bore ^
Our G allies to the L*flrigonian Shore, s.
Whofe Crown, Antipbatgs the Tyrant wore. j
Some few commiffion'd were with Speed to treat ;
We to his Court repair, his Guards we meet.
Two, friendly Flight preferv'd ; the Third was doom'd.
To be by thofe curs'd Cannibals confum'd.
Inhumanly our haplefs Friends they treat ;
Our Men they murder, and deftroy our Fleet.
In time the wile Ulyjfcs bore away,
And drop'd his Anchor in yon faithlefs Bay.
The Thoughts of Perils paft we ftill retain,
And fear to land, 'till Lots appoint the Men.
Polites true, Elpenor giv'n to Wine,
Eurylocbus, myfelf, the Lots affign.
Defign'd for Dangers, and refolv'd to Dare,
To Circe's fatal Palace we repair.
*The Enchantments of C I R c E.
Before the fpacious Front, a Herd we find
Of Beafts, the fierceft of the favage Kind.
Our trembling Steps with Blandi foments they meet.
And fawn, unlike their Species, at our Feet.
Within upon a fumptuous Throne of State,
On golden Columns rais'd, th' Enchantrefs fate.
Rich was her Robe, and amiable her Mien,
Her Afpeft awful, and me look'd a Queen.
Her Maids not mind the Loom, nor houfhold Care,
Nor wage in Needie-work a Scythian War.
But
Sir SAMUE L GARTH. 409
But cull in Caniilers difaftrous Flow'rs,
And Plants from haunted Heaths, and fairy Bow'rs,
With brazen Sickles reap'd at Planetary Hours.
Eafe Dofe the Goddefs weighs with watchful Eye j
So nice her Art in impious Pharmacy !
Entring {he greets us with a gracious Look,
And Air?, that future Amity befpoke.
Her ready Nymphs ferve up a rich Repaft ;
The Bowl me dames firft, then gives to tafte.
Quick, to our own undoing, we comply ;
Her Pow'r we prove, and mew the Sorcery.
Soon, in a Length of Face, our Head extends j
Our Chin ftiff Briftles bears, and forward tends.
A Breadth of Brawn new burnifties our Neck ;
Anon we grunt, as we begin to fpcak.
Alone Eurylodus refus'd to tafte,
Nor to a Bead obfcene the Man debas'd.
Hither Uljjfts haftes (Co Fates command)
And bears the pow'rful Moly in his Hand ;
Unlheaths his Scimetar, affaults the Dame,
Preferves his Species, and remains the fame.
The Nuptial Right this Outrage ftraight attends j
The Dow'r defir'd is his transfigur'd Friends.
The Incantation backward (he repeats,
Inverts her Rod, and what me did, defeats.
And now our Skin grows fmooth, our Shape upright;
Our Arms itretch up, our cloven Feet unite.
With Tears our weeping Gen'ral we embrace ;
Hang on his Neck, and melt upon his Face,
Twelve Silver Moons in Circe's Court we ftay,
Whilft there they wafte th' unwilling Hours away.
Twas here I fpy'd a Youth in Parian Stone ;
His Head a Pecker bore ; the Caufe unknown
To Paflengers. A Nymph of Circe's Train
The MyiVry thus attempted to explain.
113
VOL. I. T JJ,
4 1 o The WORKS of
The Story of? i c u s and C A N E N s.
Picas, who once th' Attfonian Sceptre held,
Could rein the Steed, and fit him for the Field.
So like he was to what you fee, that ftill
We doubt if real, or the Sculptor's Skill.
The Graces in the finifti'd Piece, you find,
Are but the Copy of his fairer Mind.
Four Luftres fcarce the Royal Youth could name,
'Till ev'ry Love-fick Nymph confefs'd a Flame.
Oft for his Love the Mountain Dryadi fu'd,
And ev'ry Silver Sifter of the Flood :
Thofe of Nu'micus, Allula, and thofe
Where Alma creeps, and hafly Nar o'erflows :
Where fedgy Anio gHdes thro' fmiling Meads,
Where fhady Farfar ruitles in the Reeds :
And thofe that love the Lake?, and Homage owe
To the chafle Goddefs of the Silver Bow.
In vain each Nymph her brighteft Charms put on,
His Heart no Sovereign would obey but one.
She whom Fenilia, on Mount Palatine,
To Janus bore, the faireft of her Line.
Nor did her Face alone her Charms confefs,
Her Voice was ravifhing, and pleas'd no lefs.
When e'er flie fung, fo melting were her Strains,
The Flocks unfed feem'd lift'ning on the Plains ;
The Rivers would Hand fb'H, the Cedars bend ;
And Birds ncgleft their Pinions to attend ;
The Savage Kind in Foreft- Wilds grow tame ;
And Canens, from her heav'nly Voice, her Name.
Hymn had now in fome ill-fated Hour
Their Hands united, as their Hearts before.
Whilft their foft Moments in Delights they wafte,
And each new Day was dearer than the pall ;
Flcus would fometimes o'er the Forefls rove,
And mingle Sports with Intervals of Love.
It chanc'd, as once the foaming Boar he chac'd,
His Jewels fparkling on his tyrian Veft,
Lafcivioiu
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. ,411
lafcivious Circe well the Youth furvey'd,
As fimpling on the flov/ry Hills (he ftray'd.
Her wifhing Eyes their filent MefTage tell,
And from her Lap the verdant Mifchief fell.
As {he attempts at Words, his Courfer fprings
O'er Hills, and Lawns, and ev'n a Wifli outwings.
Thou malt not 'fcape me fo, pronounc'd the Dame,
If Plants have Pow'r, and Spells be not a Name.
She faid and forthwith form'd a Boar of Air,
That fought the Covert with diffembled Fear.
Swift to die Thicket Picus wings his Way
On Foot, to chafe the vifionary Prey.
Now flie invokes the Daughters of the Night,
Does noxious Juices fmsar. and Charms recite ;
Such as can veil the Moon's more feeble Fire,
Or {hade the golden Luftre of her Sire.
In filthy Fogs me hides the chearful Noon ;
The Guard at Diftance, and the Youth alone,
By thofe fair Eyes, (he cries, and ev'ry Grace
That finim all the Wonders of your Face,
Oh ! I conjure thee, hear a Queen complain ;
Nor let the Sun's foft Lineage fue in vain.
Whoe'er thou art, reply'd the King, forbear,
None can my Paffion with my Canens mare.
She firft my ev'ry tender With pofieft,
And found the foft Approaches to my Breaft.
In Nuptials bleft, each loofe Defire we fliun,
Nor Time can end, what Innocence begun.
Think not, {he cry'd, to fanter out a Life
Of Form, with that domeftick Drudge a Wife ,
My juft Revenge, dull Fool, ere-long {hall mow _
What Ills we Women, ifrefus'd, can do: C
Think me a Woman, and a Lover too.
From dear fuccefsful Spite we hope for Eafe,
Nor fail to Punifh, where we fail to Pleafe.
Now twice to Eaft {he turns, as oft to Weft j
Thrice waves her Wand, as oft a Charm
T z O
4 1 2 The WORKS of
On the loft Youth her magick Pow'r me tries ;
Aloft he fprings, and wonders how he flies.
On painted Plumes the Woods he feeks, and ftill
The Monarch Oak he pierces with his Bill.
Thus chang'd, no more o'er Lc.tian Lands he reigns ;
Of Picas nothing but the Name remains."
The Winds from drilling Damps now purge the Air,
The Mills fubfide, the fettling Skies are fair :
The Court their Sovereign feek with Arms in Hand,
They threaten Circe, and their Lord demand.
Quick fhe invokes the Spirits of the Air, -*
And twilight Elves, that on dun Wings repair C.
To Charnels, and th' unhallow'd Sepalcher. J
Now, ftrange to tell, the Plants fweat Drops of Blood,
The Trees are tofs'd from Forefts where they flood ;
Blue Serpents o'er the tainted Herbage flide,
Pale glaring Speclres on the &tber ride ;
Dogs howl, Earth yawns, rent Rocks forfake their Beds,
And from their Quarries heave their ftubborn Heads.
The fad Speaators, ftiffen'd with their Fears ^
She fees, and fudden ev'ry Limb (he fmears ; C
Then each of favage Beaits the Figure bears. J
The Sun did now to Weflern Waves retire,
In Tides to temper his bright World of Fire".
Canens laments her Royal Hu. band's Stay ;
111 fuits fond Love with Abience, or Delay,
Where me Commands, her ready People run j
She wills, retraces ; bids, and forbids anon.
Reftlefs in Mind, and dying with Defpair,
Her Breafls (he beats, and tears her flowing Hair.
Six Days and Nights me wanders on, as Chance
Directs, without or Sleep, or Suftenance.
Tiber at laft beholds the weeping Fair;
Her feeble Limbs no more the Mourner bear ;
Stretch'd on his Banks, fhe to the Flood complains,
And faintly tunes her Voice to dying Strains.
The fick'ning Swan thus hangs her Silver Wings,
And, as me droops, her Elegy fhe fings,
Ere-
Sir SAMUEL GAR TH. 413
Ere-long fad Canens waftes to Air ; whilft Fame
The Place ftill honours with her haplefs Name.
Here did the tender Tale of Plcui ceafe,
Above Belief the Wonder, I confefs.
Again we fail, but more Difafters meet,
Foretold by Circe, to our fufPring Fleet.
Myfelf unable further Woes to bear,
Declin'd the Voyage, and am refug'd Here.
JE N E A s arrives in ITALY.
Thus Macareus Now with a pious Aim "7
Had good jEneat rais'd a fun'ral Fiame,
In Honour of his hoary Nurfe's Name.
Her Epitaph he fix'd ; and fetting Sail,
Cajeta left, and catch'd at ev'ry Gale.
He fteer'd at Diftance from the faithlefs Shore
Where the falfe Goddefs reigns with fatal Pow'r ;
And fought thofe grateful Groves, that (hade the Plain, V
Where Tiber rolls majeftick to the Main,
And fattens, as he runs, the fair Campaiu.
His Kindred Gods the Hero's Wifties crown -^
With fair Lavlnia, and Lalinus* Throne : C-
But not without a War the Prize he won. 2fc
Drawn up in bright Array the Battle ftands :
Turnus with Arms his promis'd Wife demands.
Hetrurians, Latians equal Fortune fhare ;
And doubtful long appears the Face of War.
Both Pow'rs from neighboring Princes feek Supplies,
And Embaflies appoint for new Allies.
JEneas, for Relief, Ewander moves j
His Quarrel he aflerts, his Caufe approves.
The bold Rutilians, with an equal Speed,
Sage Venelus difpatch to Diomede.
The King, late Griefs revolving in his Mind,
Thefe Reafons for neutrality affign'd.
Shall I, of one poor Dotal Town pofleft,
M.y People thin, my wretched Country waflc ;
T 3 An
414 The WORKS of
An exil'd Prince, and on a fhaking Throne ;
Or risk my Patron's Subjects, or my own?
You'll grieve the Haifhnefs of our Hap to hear;
Nor can I tell the Tale without a Tear.
fhf Adventures ofDioMEDES
After fam'd Ilium was by Argives won,
And Flames had finim'd, what the Sword begun;
Pallas, incens'd, purfu'd us to the Main,
In Vengeance of her violated Fane.
Alone Oileus forc'd the Trojan Maid,
Yet all were punifh'd for the brutal Deed.
A Storm begins, the raging Waves run high,
The Clouds look heavy, and benight the Sky j
Red Sheets of Light'ning o'er the Seas are fpread,
Our Tackling yields, and Wrecks at laft fucceed.
' Tis tedious our difaft'rous State to tell ;
Ev'n Priam wou'd have pity'd, whatbefel.
Yet Pallas fav'd me from the fwallovving Main 4
At hcir.e new Wrongs to meet, as Fates ordain.
Chac'd from my Country, I once more repeat
All Sufferings Seas could give, or War compleat.
forfenus, mindful of her Wound, decreed
Still new Calamities mould paft fucceed.
Agmon, impatient thro' fucceflive Ills,
With Fury, Love's bright Goddefs thus reviles : -
Thefe Plagues in fpite to Diomede are fent ;
The Crime is his, but ours the Punifhment.
Let each, my Friends, her puny Spleen defpife,
And Dare that haughty Harlot of the Skies.
The reft of Agmotis Infolence complain,
And of Irreverence the Wretch arraign.
About to anfwer, his blafpheming Throat
Contrails, and fhrieks in fome difdainful Note.
To his new Skin a Fleece of Feather dings,
Hides his late Arms, and lengthens into Wings.
Th5
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 415
The lower Features of his Face extend,
Warp into Horn, and in a Beak defcend.
Some more experience Agmens Deftiny,
And wheeling in the Air, like Swans they fly.
Thefe thin Remains to Davnuf Realms I bring,
And here I reign, a poor precarious King.
The Transformation of A P P u L u s.
Thus Dicmedes. Venulus withdraws ;
Unfped the Service of the common Caufe.
Puteoli he paffes, and furvey'd
A Cave long honour'd for its awful Shade.
Here trembling Reeds exclude the piercing Ray, n
Here Streams in gentle Falls thro' Windings ftray, >
And with a paffing Breath cool Zephyrs play.
The Goatherd God frequents the filent Place,
As once the Wood-Nymphs of the Sylvan Race,
'Till Jppulus with a difhoneft Air,
And grofs Behaviour, banifli'd thence the Fair.
The bold Buffoon, when-e'er they tread the Green,
Their Motion mimicks, but with Geft obfcene.
Loofe Language oft he utters ; but ere-long
A Bark in filmy Net-work binds his Tongue.
Thus Chang'd, a bafe wild Olive he remains;
The Shrub the Coarfenefs of the Clown retains.
The T R o j A N Ships transformed to
Sea-Nymphs.
Meanwhile the Latiant all their Pow'r prepare,
'Gainft Fortune, and the Foe to pufh the War.
With Phrygian Blood the floating Fields they ftain ;
But, ftiort of Succours, ftill contend in vain.
Turmu remarks the Trojan Fleet ill-mann'd.
Unguarded, and at Anchor near the Strand ;
He thought ; and ftraight a lighted Brand he bore,
And Fire invades, what 'fcap'd the Waves before.
T 4
4 1 6 tfhe WORKS of
The Billows from the kindling Prow retire} -*
Pitch, Rofin, Searwood on red Wings afpirCj
And Vulcan on the Seas exerts his Attribute of Fire. J
This when the Mother of the Gods beheld,
Her towry Crown {he {book, and flood reveal'd ;
Her brindl'd Lions rein'd, unveil'd her Head,
And hov'ring o'er her favoured Fleet, fhe faid.;
Ceafe Tumus, and the heav'nly Pow'rs refpecl,
Nor dare to violate, \vh?.t I proteft.
Thefe Gallies, once fair Trees on Ida flood,
And gave their Shade to each defcending God.
Nor fhall confume ; irrevocable Fate
Allots their Being no determin'd Date.
Straight Peals of Thunder HeavVs high Arches rend,
TheHail-floncs leap, the Shcw'rs in Spouts defcend.
The Winds with vviden'd Throats the Signal give ;
The Cables break, the fmoking VefTels drive.
Now, wondrous, as they beat the foaming Flood,
The Timber foftens into Flefh and Blood ;
The Yards, and Oars new Arms, and Legs defign ;
A Trunk the Hull; the flender Keel, a Spine;
The Prow a female Face ? and by degrees
The Gallies rife green Daughters of the Seas.
Sometimes on coral Beds they fit in State,
Or wanton on the Waves they fear'd of late.
The Barks, that beat the Seas, are ftill their Care,
Themfelves remembring what of late they were ;
To fave a Trojan Sail in Throngs they prefs,
But fmile to fee Alcinous in Diftrefs.
Unable were thbfe Wonders to deter
The I.atians from their cnfuccefsful War.
Both Sides for doubtful Victory contend ;
And en their Courage, 2nd their Gods depend.
Nor bright Lavinia, nor Latimti Crown,
Warm their great Soul to War, like fair Renown.
Venus at laft beholds her Godlike Son
Triumphant, and the Field of Battle won;
Brave
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 417
Brave Turvus flain, flrong Ardea but a Name,
And bury'd in fierce Deluges of Flame.
Her Tow'rs, that boafled once a Sov'reign Sway,
The Fate of fancy 'd Grandeur now betray.
A famifli'd Heron from the Ames fpring?,
And beats the Ruin with difaftrous Wings.
Calamities of Towns diftreft ihe feigns,
And ofr, with woful Shrieks, of War complains.
The Deification of & N E A s^
Now had JEneas, as ordain'd by Fate 5
Surviv'd the Period of Saturnias Hate ^
And by a fure irrevocable Doom,
Fix'd the Immortal Majefty of Rome..
Fit for the Station of his Kindred Stars,.
His Mother Goddefs thus her Suit prefers.
Almighty Arbiter, whofe pow'rful Nod
Shakes diftant Earth, and bows our own Abode ^
To thy great Progeny indulgent be,
And rank the Goddefs-born a Deity.
Already has he view'd, with mortal Eyes,
Thy Brother's Kingdoms of the nether Skies.
Forthwith a Conclave of the Godhead meets,.
Where Juno in the {liming Senate fits.
Remorfe for paft Revenge the Goddefs feels ;
Then thund'ring Jove th' Almighty Mandate feals ;
Allots the Prince of his Celeftial Line
An ApotKofis, and Rights Divine.
The cryftal Manfions echo with Apptaufe-,
And, with her Graces, Love's bright Queen withdraws;.
Shoots in a Blaze of Light along the Skies,
And, born by Turtle, to Laurentum flies.
Alights, where thro' the Reeds Numichu flrays,
And to the Seas his watry Tribute pays.
The God (he fupplicates to \vaih a\v:;y -j
The Parts more grofs, and fubjeft to Decay, C
And cleanfe the Goddefs- born from Seminal Allay. 5
T 5 T:
4 i 8 The W o R K s of
The horned Flood with glad Attention ftands,
Then bids his Streams obey their Sire's Command;.
His better Parts by Luftral Waves refin'd,
More pure, and nearer to ^Ethereal Mind ;
With Gums of fragrant Scent the Goddefs ftrews,
And on his Features breathes ambrofial Dews.
Thus deify'd, new Honours Rcme decrees,
Shrines, Feftivals ; and fliles him hdiges.
Line of the L A T i A N Kings.
dfcanius now the Latian Sceptre fways ;
The Alban Nation, Sylvius, next obeys.
Then young Latinus: Next an ^/&zcame,
The Grace, and Guardian of the Atban Name.
Then Epitus ; then gentle Capys reign'd ;
Then Capet is the regal Pow'r fuftain'd.
Next he who perifh'd on the Tufcan Flood,
And honour'd with his Name the River God.
Now haughty Rftnulus begun his Reign,
Who fell by Thunder he afpir'd to feign.
Meek dcrota fucceeded to the Crown ; -%
From Peace endeavouring, more than Arms, Renown, C
To A-ventinus well refign'd his Throne. j
The Mount on which he rul'd, preferves his Name,
And Procas wore the Regal Diadem.
the Story C/*VERTUMNUS and POMONA.
A Hama-Dryad flourim'd in thefe Days,
Her Name Pomona, from her Woodland Race.
In Garden Culture none could fo excel,
Or form the pliant Souls of Plants fo well ;
Or to the Fruit more genVous Flavours lend.
Or teach the Trees with nobler Loads to bend.
The Nymph frequented not the flatt'rir.g Stream,
Nor Meads, the Subjeft of a Virgin's Dream ;
Bot
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 419
But to fuch Joys her Nurs'ry did prefer,
Alone to tend her vegetable Care.
A Pruning-hook fhe carry 'd in her Hand,
And taught the Straglers to obey Command ;
Left the licentious and unthrifty Bough,
The too-indulgent Parent fhould undo.
She fliows, how Stocks invite to their Embrace
A Graft, and naturalize a foreign Race
To mend the Salvage Teint ; and in its Stead
Adopt new Nature, and a nobler Breed.
Now hourly fhe obferves her growing Care,
And guards their Nonage from the bleaker Air :
Then opes her dreaming Sluices, to fupply
With flowing Draughts her thirfty Family.
Long had fhe labour'd to continue free
From Chains of Love, and Nuptial Tyranny ;
And in her Orchard's fmall Extent immur'd,
Her vow'd Virginity Ihe ftill fecur'd.
Oft would loofe Pan, and all the luftful Train
Of Satyrs, tempt her Innocence in vain.
Silentis, that old Dotard, own'd a Flame ; "I
And He, that frights the Thieves with Stratagem S
Of Sword, and fomething elfe too grofs to name. J
Vertumnus too purfu'd the Maid no lefs ;
But, with his Rivals, (har'd a like Sticcefs.
To gain Accefs a thoufand Ways he tries ;
Oft, in the Hind, the Lover would difguife.
The heedlefs Lout comes fhambling on, and feems
Juft fweating from the Labour of his Teams.
Then, from the Harveft, oft the mimick Svyain
Seems bending with a Load of bearded Grain.
Sometimes a Drefler of the Vine he feigns,
And lawlefs Tendrils to their Bounds retrains.
Sometimes his Sword a Soldier (hews ; his Rod,
An Angler; ftill fo various is the God.
Now, in a Forehead-cloth, fome Crone he feems,
A Staff fupplying the Defeft of Limbs ;
Admittance
420 We W o R K s of
Admittance thus he gains ; admires the Store
Of faireft Fruit ; the fair Poflefibr more ;
Then greets her with a Kifs : Th' unpraftis'd Dame
Admir'd a Grandame kifs'd with fuch a Flame.
Now, feated by her, he beholds a Vine
Around an Elm in am'rous Foldings twine.
Jf that fair Elm, he cry'd, alone mould Hand,
No Grapes would glow with Gold, and tempt the Hand ;
Or if that Vine without her Elm mould grow,
'Twould creep a poor neglected Shrub below.
Be then, fair Nymph, by thefe Examples led;
Nor (him, for fancy'd Fears, the Nuptial Bed.
Not (he for whom the Lapitbites took Arms,
Nor Spartas Queen, could boaft fuch heavenly Charms.
And if you would on Woman's Faith rely,
None can your Choice direct, fo well, as I.
Tho' old, fo much Pomona I adore,
Scarce does the bright Vertumnus love her more.
'Tis your fair felf alone his Breaft inspires
With fofteft Wifhes and unfoil'd Defires.
Then fly all vulgar Followers, and prove
The God of Seafons only worth your Love :
On my Afiurance well you may repofe ;
Vcrtumnus fcarce Vertumnus better knows.
True to his Choice, all loofer Flames he flies;
Nor for new Faces falhionably dies.
The Charms of Youth, and ev'ry fmiling Grace
Bloom in his Features, and the God confefs.
Befides, he puts on ev'ry Shape at Eafe ;
But thofe the moft, that beft Pomona pleafe.
Still to oblige her is her Lover's Aim ;
Their Likings and Averfions are the fame.
Nor the fair Fruit your burden'd Branches bear ;
Nor all the youthful Product of the Year,
Could bribe his Choice ; yourfelf alore can prove
A fit Reward for fo refin'd a Love.
Relent, fair Nymph, and with a kind Regret,
Think 'tis Vertumniu weeping at your Feet.
Sir S AMU E L GARTH. 421
A Tale attend, thro' Cyprus known, to prove
How fenus once reveng'd neglected Love.
The Story of I PHIS and AN AX ARETE.
Ipbis, of vulgar Birth, by Chance had view'd
Fair Anaxartte ofTeucert Blocd.
Not long had he beheld the Royal Dame,
Ere the bright Sparkle kindled into Flame.
Oft did he ftruggle with a juft Defpair,
Unfix'd to ask, unable to forbear.
But Love, \vho flatters ftili his own Difeafe,
Hopes all things will faceted, he knows will pleafe.
VVhere-e'er the Fair one haunts, he hovers there;
And feeks her Confident with Sighs, and Pray'r,
Or Letters he conveys, that feldom prove
Succefslefs Meflengers in Suits of Lc ve.
Now fhiv'ring at her Gates the Wretch appears, -j
And Myrtle Garlands on the Columns rears, C
Wet with a Deluge of unbidden Tears. j
The Nymph more hard than Rocks, more deaf than Seas,
Derides his Pray'rs; infults his Agonies;
Arraigns of Infolence th' afpiring Swain ;
And takes a cruel Pleafure in his Pain.
Refolv'd at laft to finifh his Defpair,
He thus upbraids th' inexorable Fair.
O Ar.axareie> at lail forget
The Licence of a Pafuon indifcreet.
Now Triumph, fir.ce a welcome Sacrifice
Your Slave prepare?, to offer to your Eyes.
My Life, without Reluttance, I refign ;
That Prefent beft can pleafe a Pride, like Thine.
But, O ! forbear to blaft a Flame fo bright,
Doom'd never to expire, but with the Light.
And you, great Pow'rs, do Juftice to my Name ;
The Hours, you take from Life, reftore to Fame.
Then o'er the Pofts, once hung with Wreaths, he throws
The ready Cord, and fits the fatal Noofe }
Fo*
422 The W o R K s of
For Death prepares ; and bounding from above,
At once the Wretch concludes his Life, and Love.
E re-long the People gather, and the Dead
Is to his mourning Mother's Arms convey'd.
Firft, like feme ghaftly Statue, {he appears ;
Then bathes the breathlefs Corfe in Seas of Tears,
And gives it to the Pile; now as the Throng
Proceed in fad Solemnity along,
To view the paffing Pomp, the cruel Fair
Haftes, and beholds her breathlefs Lover there.
Struck with the fight, inanimate me feems ;
Set are her Eyes, and motionlefs her Limbs :
Her Features without Fire, her Colour gone,
And, like her Heart, fhe hardens into Stone.
In Salamis the Statue ftill is feen
In the fam'd Temple of the Cyprian Queen.
Warn'd by this Tale, no longer then difdain,
O Nymph belov'd, to eafe a Lover's Pain.
So may the Frofts in Spring your Bloffoms fpare.
And Winds their rude Autumnal Rage forbear.
The Story oft Vertumnus urg'd in vain,
But then affum'd his heav'nly Form again.
Such Looks, and Luftre the bright Youth adorn,
As when with Rays glad Phoebus paints the Mora.
The Sight fo warms the fair admiring Maid,
Like Snow fhe melts : So foon can Youth perfuade.
Confent, on eager Winds, fucceeds Defire ;
And both the Lovers glow with mutual Fire.
Ike L A T i A N Line continued,
Now Procas yielding to the Fates, his Son
Mild Numitor fucceeded to the Crown.
But falfe Amulius, with a lawlefs Pow'r,
At length depos'd his Brother Numitor.
Then 1/ias valiant Iffue, with the Sword,
Her Parent re-inthron'd, the rightful Lord.
Next
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 423
Next Romulus to people Rome contrives ; ~\
The joyous time of Petes' Feaft arrives ; C
He gives the Word to feize the Sabine Wives. J
The Sires enrag'd take Arms, by latius led,
Bold to revenge their violated Bed.
A Fort there was, not yet unknown to Fame,
CalFd the Tarpeian, its Commander's Name.
This by the falfe Tarpeia was betray'd,
But Death well recompens'd the treach'rous Maid.
The Foe on this new-bought Succefs relies,
And filent march, the City to furprife.
SafurKta's Arts with Sabine Arms combine ;
But Venus countermines the vain Defign ;
Intreats the Nymphs that o'er the Springs prcfide,
Which near the Fane of hoary Jar.us glide,
To fend their Succours ; ev'ry Urn they drain,
To flop the Sabincs Progrefs, but in vain.
The Naiads now more Stratagems eflay ;
And kindling Sulphur to each Source convey.
The Floods ferment, hot Exhalations rife,
Till from the fcalding Ford the Army flies.
Soon Romulus appears in mining Arms,
And to the War the Roman Legions warms :
The Battle rages, and the Field is fpread
With nothing but the Dying and the Dead.
Both Sides confent to treat without Delay,
And their two Chiefs at once the Sceptre fway.
But Tatius by Lawman Fury flain ;
Great Romulus continu'd long to reign.
'The Affiimption of R o M u L u s.
Now Warrior Mars his burnifh'd Helm puts on,
And thus addrefles HeavWs imperial Throne*
Since the inferior World is now become
One Vaffal Globe, and Colony to Rome,
This Grace, O Jove, for Romulus I claim,
Admit him to the Skies, from whence he came.
Long
454 3% e WORKS of
Long haft thou promis'd an ^Ethereal State
To Man's Lineage; and thy Word is Fate.
The Sire that rules the Thunder, with a Nod,
Declar'd the Fiat,, and difmifs'd the God.
Soon as the Pow'r Armipotent furvey'd
The flaming Skies, the Signal he obey'd ;
And leaning on his Lance, he mounts his Car,.
His fiery Courfers lafhing thro' the Air.
Mount Palatine he gains, and finds his Son
Good Laws enabling on a peaceful Throne ;
The Scales of heav'nly Jufiice holding high,
With fteady Hand, and a difcerning Eye.
Then vaults upon his Car, and to the Spheres,
Swift, as a flying Shaft, Rome's Founder bears .
The Parts more pure, in rifmg are refin'd,
The grofs and perifhable lag behind.
His Shrine in purple Veftments Hands in view;
He looks a God, and is Quirinus now.
The Affumption C/'HERSILIA.
Ere long the Goddefs of the nuptial Bed, 1
With Pity raov'd, fends Ms in her Stead C
7'o fad Herfilia Thus the Meteor Maid : )
Chafte RelidU in bright Truth to Heav'n ally'd,
The Salines Glory, and the Sex's Pride;
Honour'd on Earth, and worthy of the Love
Of fuch a Spoufe, as now refides above.
Some Refpite to thy killing Griefs afford ;
And if thou vvould'ft once more behold thy Lord,
Retire to yon fteep Mount, with Groves o'er-fpread,
Which with an awful Gloom his Temple made.
With Fear the mcdeft Matron lifts her Eyes,
And to the bright Ambaffadrefs replies :
O Goddefs yet to mortal Eyes unknown,
But fure thy various Charms confefs thee one:
O quick to Romulus thy Votrefs bear, 1
With Looks of Love he'll fmile awsy my Care : >
In whate'er Orb he ftiaes, my Heav'n is UK re. J
Then
O
Sir SAM u E L GARTH. 425
Then haftes with Iris to the holy Grove,
And up the Mount Quirinal as they move,
A lambent Flame glides downward thro 1 the Air,
And brightens with a Blaze Herjtlias Hair.
Together on the bounding Ray they rife,
And (hoot a Gleam of Light along the Skies.
With op'ning Arms Quirinus met his Bride,
Now Ora nam'd, and prefb'd her to his Side,
OVID'S Metamorplofes, Book XV.
The Story of C I P PUS.
R as when Cippus in the Current view'd
The fhooting Horns that on his Forehead flood,
His Temples firft he feels, and with furprife
His Touch confirms th' Afiurance of his Eyes.
Straight to the Skies his horned Front he rears,
And to the Gods directs thefe pious Pray'rs.
If this Portent be profp'rour, O decree
To Rome th' Event ; if otherwife, to me.
An Altar then of Turf he hafies to raife,
Rich Gums in fragrant Exhalations blaze ;
The panting Entrails crackle as they fry,
And boding Fumes pronounce a Myftery.
Soon as the Augur faw the Holy Fire,
And Victims with prefacing Signs expire,
To Cippus then he turns his Eyes with fpeed,
And views the horny Honours of his Head:
Then cry'd, Hail Conqueror! thy Call obey,
Thofe Omens I behold prefage thy Sway.
Rome waits thy Nod, unwilling to be free,
And owns thy Sovereign Pow'r as Fate's Decree.
He faid ' and Cippus, fiarting at th' Event,
Spoke in thefe Words his pious Difcontent.
426 The W o R K s of
Far hence, ye Gods, this Execration fend,
And the great Race of Romulus defend.
Better that I in Exile live abhorr'd,
Than e'er the Capitol fiiou'd fiile me Lord.
This fpoke, he hides with Leaves his Omen'd Head.
Then prays, the Senate next convenes, and faid,
If Augurs can forefee, a Wretch is come,
Defign'd by Deftiny the Bane of Rome.
Two Horns (moft ftrange to tell) his Temples crown;
If e'er he pafs the Walls, and gain the Town,
Your Laws are forfeit, that ill-fated Hour ;
And Liberty muft yield to lawlefs Pow'r.
Your Gates he might have enter' d ; but this Arm
Seiz'd the Ufurper, and withheld the Harm.
Hafte, find the Monfter out, and let him be
Condemn'd to all the Senate can decree ;
Or ty'd in Chains, or into Exile thrown ;
Or by the Tyrant's Death prevent your own.
The Crowd fuch Murmurs utter as they Hand,
As fwelling Surges breaking on the Strand:
Or as when gath'rir.g Gales fweep o'er the Grove,
And their tall Heads the bending Cedars move.
Each with Confufion gaz'd, and then began
To feel his Fellow's Brows, and find the Man.
Cippus then makes his Garland off, and cries,
The Wretch you want, I offer to your Eyes.
The anxious Throng look'd down, and fad in Thought,
All wifh'd they had not found the Sign they fought:
In hafte with Laurel Wreaths his Head they bind j
Such Honour to fuch Virtue was afiign'd.
Then thus the Senate Hear, O Cippus, hear;
So God-like is thy Tutelary Care,
That fince in Rome thyfelf forbids thy Stay, "1
For thy Abode thofe Acres we convey S
The Plough-mare can furrcund, the Labour of a Day. 3
In deathlefs Records thou fhalt Hand inroll'd,
And Romis.rkh Pofts fhall fliine with Horns of Gold.
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 427
-^ S O L I L O QJJ Y OUt of I T A L I A N.
/^ O U' D he whom my diflembled Rigour grieves,
^-^ But know what Torment to my Soul it gives;
He'd find how fondly I return his Flame,
And want myfelf the Pity he wou'd claim.
Immortal Gods ! why has your Doom decreed
Two wounded Hearts with equal Pangs fhou'd bleed ?
Since that great Law, which your Tribunal guides,
Has join'd in Love whom Deftiny divides ;
Repent you Pow'rs the Injuries you caufe,
Or change our Natures, or reform your Laws.
Unhappy Partner of my killing Pain,
Think what I feel the Moment you complain.
Each Sigh you utter wounds my tend'refl Part,
So much my Lips mifreprefent my Heart.
When from your Eyes the falling Drops diftil,
My vital Blood in every Tear you fpill :
And all thofe mournful Agonies I hear,
Are but the Echos of my own Defpair.
An Imitation of a French Author.
CAN you count the filver Lights
That deck the Skies, and chear the Nighti:
Or the Leaves that ftrow the Vales,
When Groves are ftript by Winter Gales :
Or the Drops that in the Morn
Hang with tranfparent Pearl the Thorn.
Or Bridegroom's Joys, or Mifer's Cares,
Or Gamefter's Oaths, or Hermit's Pray'rs :
Or Envy's Pangs, or Love's Alarms,
Or Marttfrw$t Afts, or ji's Charms ?
' O R A T I O
O R A T I O
LAUDATORIA,
IN ADIEUS
Collegii Regalis Med. Lond.
j^mo die Septembris. 1697.
C LARI S S I ME
P R O-PRJE S E S,
COLLEGE DOCTISSIMI.
dujitores humanilfimi !
I R E N T U R alii, neque id forte injuriS,
cum tot adfint Oratores, ingenio pariter &
eloquentia illuftres ; me, qui neque doftrina
neque arte dicendi polleam, provinciam
hanc inaufpicato fortiri : Verum hoc quic-
quid eft, five honoris, five muneris, non
ambitu quaefitum eft ac ne minima mea propenfione fuf-
ceptum ; fed cum jubente Praefide, reluftari nefas effe
duxerim, exiftimationi potius & fama* proprise, quam
ofiicio dcefie conftitui ; ne forte videar non fatis authori-
tati ejus aufcultalfe, cujus ipfo etiam in hortatu acquief-
cere debemus. Nee incepti mei me pceniteret, fi tanti
viri veftigiis infiftere pofiem : Qui, quot habet verba,
tot illecebris leporibufque abundar. Suavitate fua per-
mulcet, fubdlitate docet, argumentis fleftit, & varietate
delettat ; nervosa infuper Sallujlii bre\-itate pollet, Curtii
acumine, & numerosa Tit/tit, quoties ita vifum eft, &
difFusa vena. Nemo igitur Millingtonum, ut par eft, nifi
qui par ingenium forcitus eft, laudare moliatur; quam
impar autem & ineptus ego fuerirn, Oratione hodiernal
abunde conftabit.
Defunt certe mihi & aequabile dicendi genus, & vis
fuaforia ; neque prefce loqui fcio, neque uberius j inventio
43 2 The WORKS of
mea jejuna eft & fterills, geftus dcnique rudis & in-
compofitus. Quid igitur praefentia veftra, quid arte
noilra dignum prcfemm ? Non vos latet AkxavJ.rum
mngnum (ut de Zorcafire, de Mltkridate, de Lyfirnacb*
fi'euin) haud minimam medicinse, idque Stagyrit^ con-
filio, dedifie oper?,m. Nee mirum, cum veneranda an-
tiqimas, quamplurimos medendi arte Felices, non folum
privileges, non prsemiiF, non ftatuis, fed reverentia plane
religiosa, fed culm prorsus divino dignos exiftimaverit:
Homines enim ad deos nulla re propius accedunt, quam
far.itatem dando, confervando, reftituendo.
Flammam febriurn ferocientem reftinguit Medicina,
artus pnralyticos & rigentes benignis ignibus refocillar,
Hydropis laticem exantlat, renum fcaturiginem fiflit,
vultum fquallore morbido fcedatum decorat, & larvam
toll if, tabidos inihurat, plus juito faginatos redigit, tor-
pidos irradiat, & infomnes confopit. Plantarum figuras
& fapores pene infinites diftinguir, medullam foffilium in-
timam rimatur, naturam per mille Obes & Masandros
fedatur, ipfififfimum infuper terrae centrum, medicina:
perfpicacitatem non fugir, nee cuicquam in ipfo delitefcit
Oceano.
Plura dicerem ut artis Apollineas laudibus nequaquam
deeiTem, verum ifta omitto, ne multa hac occafione
non ita pridein audita recenfere videar. De medicorum
itaque dignitate & titulis, qui certiores fieri velint, Foefium
& alios confulant. ed in ea nos incidimus loca &
tempora, quibus ipfa aegrotat medicina. Ars fiquidem
omnibus aliis utiliffima, libi fuifque prodefTe nefcit, dum
plus Pfeudo-medicis quam morbis laborat Ang'ia. Quot
& quales fint ifti, programmata parietibus affixa monent
indies. Hie circumfbraneus ' in plateis equo infidens,
dentes evellit ; Ille, domi certis horis fatuos expeclat ;
Alter Matulas infpicit, & ubi morbam non invenit, facie;
Alter, turba in unum Funambuli ope convocata, venit,
videt, in confertiffimam catervam irruit, & horrendam
edit ftragem. Non autem telis vulnerat ifta Agyrtarum
colluvies, fed Theriaca quadam rnagis perniciosa, non
pyrio, fed pulvere neicio quo cxo:ico certat, non g!o-
bulis
Sir S A M u E L GARTH. 435
bulls plumbeis, fed pilulis aeque lethalibus interficit. O
genus hominum, fi quod aliud fceleratiifimum ! totam
urbem invadunt ifti Homicidae, fed an imperitia an im-
punitate majori incertum ; pro pudore, audacia, pro
fagacitate infcitia, pro integritate improbitas hodie, ut
olim, viget. Huic pelti ut occurreret Henricm odlavus
regum auguftiffimus, & fanitati fubditorum religio<
confulens, Collegium hoc quamplurimis immunicatibus
ad rem medicam moderandam ftabiliendamque donavit.
Henrici ad exemplum Edvardus fextus, Maria & Elifa-
betha Reginas, Jacoii, Carolique duo, nullum officii genu
ad emolumentum noftrum fpedans, omifere : Multa in
fuper Maria & Arabella Stuartte ex regio fanguine ori
undis debemus ; Lumleio Baroni, furnmze, eo tempore
author! tatis etiam multa ; Nee minora Marchioni Dor*
eftri< y Collegii hujufce regalis Socio, viro etiam anim-
dotibus quam natalium fplendore clariori. Neque np
fugiant Societatis noftrae & alia ornamenta, Lixacru*
nempe Atkinfins, Readus, MevereJfus, Foxus, Gulftontu
Pagetlus, BidgodjiitS) Pamannus, praecipue vero Har<v<rus
& Hameeus: ingenti virtute & do&rina fuere ambo, fed
indole paulum divert : Harveeus benignitate clarus ha-
bebatur, Morum fimplicitate Ham&us: Ille humanitate
fefliva probatus fuit, Huic augufta gravitas dignitatem
dedit ; Alterius lenitas, alterius ftabilitas celebratur.
Quanti quidem Harvaum facere debemus non tam ex
ore noftro quam fcriptis ejus difcat EuroJ>a. Efflorefcet
indies beati Senis fama, quo doftiorem, nulla atas vidit,
nulla fbrfitan videbit: Cujus ingenii acumen atque ardor
mentis, tanquam flamma quxdam ccelitus delapfa, totum
Orbem literatum illuftravit. Falfa pro veris olim recepu
tenebris damnavit, latentia & abfcondita in lucem pro-
tulit ; ipfiflimam animalium originera, fudore majori
nefcio an fagacitate, indagavit, aeitum fanguinis feliciter
obfervavit, motumque reciprocurn palam fecit j mhil illfum
latuit, nemo virtutis fimul & verhatis ftudiofior ; tar.ta u it
Illi benevolentia, ut nihil fciverit quod alioa nefcire vo-
luerit ; tanta Eruditio ut nemo ex ea ad bane fere diem
fciverit quod Ille iguoravit: ad hec, qualis in vultu fa-
Vo L. I. U cilitis,
434 3% e WORKS of
facilitas, in verbis candor, in familiari confuetudine leper
& venuftas! Erga Collegas urbanitate, erga amicos con-
ftantia, erga pauperes charitate, erga omnes probitate incla-
ruit. Deorum immortalium adinltar pauciffimis indiguit,
& quamplurimis benefecit, etiam pofteris, non folum divina
edocendo, fed nos omnes Haeredes ex afle conflituendo.
Haud longe aliter Hatnecus. IDius quidem munificentii
effeftumeft, ut Collegium hodie fuperfit; quantis quidem
impenfis asdes hafce, faeviente bello plufquam civili, vin-
dicaverit, neminem latereexiftimo. Efle quam videri muni-
ficus malebat : Alii munera, alii agros, alii ftatuas, alii alia
exoptant, & optandoconfenefcunt. Hie de nihilo nifi mente
fana & corpore fano follicitus erat, cujus amicitia dum vixit,
nunc chariffima nobis eft memoria & longum colenda.
Neque Cutlerutn Baronettum praeterire licet. Si file-
rem Ego, me monerent hi parietes, hasc fubfellia. Vir
fane neque alieni injufte appetens, neque fui profufus ;
baud plus honefta expetiit, quam male parta devitavit ;
omnia fibi negavit, uti multa aliis elargiretur, fame &
frigore fe fere conficiens, uti Egenos viftu & igne reficeret 5
publica curavit, neque interim propria neglexit : plura
dicere decorum non eft, neque fas, pauciora : Filiam din
Illi non fnperftitem reliquit, optimis animi ornamentis do-
tatam, & Illuftriffimo Comiti de Radnor, profapia infigni,
virtute vero infigniori, Connubio junftam.
Reftant & adhuc nonnulli Benefaftores qui in vivis funt.
Domina nempe Gratia Pierrepoint, dotium paternarum
nobilium haeres robiliffima: Hinricns Guy Armiger, vir
ron minus humani ingenii, quam ad largiendum promp-
tiflimi, qui cum Gulielmo Langbam & Johanne Banks
Baronettis, integritate & confilio probatis, digni funt ut
commemorentur.
Ad te nunc Coronid'u loco convertitnur, Gulielme Au-
$ufte, Regum invifliflime, non tarn Collegii bujufce Jupiter
Staler & Cuftos, quam Orbis Cbriftiani liberator & pub-
lic* cuietis reftitutor. Quod regna Europaea meliora ex-
pefiant, Tuum ej} ; quod Agricolae tempeftates anni latas
tyrant , Tuum eft', quod cajlitatem matres, quod pudorem
fili* jam tuintur, Tuum e/t. Tf iitntrantvr Angli, Te obftr-
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 43$
vant Hifpani, Te tnirantur Germani, Te colunt Batavi, fcf
Te verentur Galli. Si gefta Majsrum tuorum illuftria, Ji
genus antiquum fpeflemus> ecquld nan veteres loquuntur Fafti
y Annales? Tot Principes & Heroas c ftirpe Nafibvia art-
nndos numeremus, quot vix homines e fud poffiwt alii.
Ignorat nemo, niji qui nffcire mallet, i)im Gallicam vi*
ginti, y eb amplius retro aunts, toti Europa: tremendam incu*
buiffe, Belli enim defuetudo focordiam, focordia fervitutcwt
fttpius parit, adeout delibertate publicadefperandumejj~ct, ni
jicvenis Auriacus, Majorum more, venienti morbo occurrert
feilinajfet. <$u<e & quanta plane Jiupenda in Flandris gtf-
Jijti, tejlatur inter alia praelium Montibus dimicatum, ubi
hoftilem exercitum penitus fudifti, ubi militarem Diiii Julii
fcic/itiam, Alexandri annas nondum pratergreffuSy implcvijii*
'/ pene impubis ^5f jam Triumpbator.
Te de no<vo confer<vatorem pciiit concujfa faluf publics*
fer" in finum tuum confugit fufpirans Anglia; Non te, pro*
pria ambitio Imperatorem fecit ', fed nojlrte angujiia: Bri-
tanniam languentem, W extrema jam perpej/am, *vel ipsa.
prgefentid tud reftituifti, Hiberniam fere exanimem, ad-
wentu tuo refocillajii. Si infignium virtutis tua exemplorum
immemor ejjem, Boinzjlumen me admoneret. Alveum fere
deferuit cunftabundus ille amnis ut trajeftui tuo indulgent ;
traducis copias flumen, ordines deinde inftruis^ Legiones dif-
ponis, res ad manut venit ; Jpfe in prima acie jlas incon-
cuffits ', non diu utrinque decertatum eft, quin hojles, qui fit ut
t*f opportunitates locorum apprime calluere, impetum tuum
non fuflinentes, fugd Jibi confulert cceperunt. Fugientes infe-
jueris, & quacunque tendis, Te comitatur fi3oria.
Cobortibus tuis nullus aditus <vel eft afper, *utl arduus ',
Jubfidunt monies, exarefcunt flumina, patent janua?, & ar-
tnis tuis cedit iota infula. Barbaris ^ Gallis hoc modo fub-
affts, quo Te fata trabunt, ?" gloria tua, voearis ; Flan-
driam denuo tot incendiis vajlatam t tot Gallic! furaris in-
Jiciis pefflindatam rpvijis, patrocinium promittis, & lugenjeg
rtrumforti benigne fuccurris. Mania Namurci pitis ; mi-
lites, quo jubes,fequuntur a/acres, & caftris pojitis, oppidutu
obfidione premis. Galli, fpe multdiH copiis & propugnaculis
(onftituta, incfptum irrident* Noftri vert priftinrt virtutis
U t memo-
436 The Wo R K s of
tnemores, actittr & omni impetu obfeffoi adoriuniur j
aufpice, & Tefie Francorum exerritu, Caftrum totius Europaa
munitijjtmum, expugnant.
S>uis y quantus lilt dies, ft tacerem Ego, Column*, Arcus
ttiutnphales, Obelifci, bre<vi eloquerentur.
Ecquid eft, Augiifte, quod pro Militate public a, r.on moli-
reris? cum Coclite natares, cum Fabio cunfiareris, ff curx
Manlio contra bojlium agmina, folus licet, deccrtares. Nan
profperJS) fupra quam Majeftati corrvenit, elatus es, neque
rebus feniftris infrafius ; Sed Ji a Tuis in preelio dertlittus
fores, uno animo,fed forti, fed magnified, univerfos fujlinert
quum non poffes, fingulos *uinceres,
Cali inclementiam, ventorum impetum, Ocean: furorem^
kiemem W teftatem juxta perpeti dignaris. Preelium ut
primus inis, fie ab eodem ultimas defijlis : Dii interim im-
mortales, Te melius, quam ipfe foles, curent, ne nimium an-
dendo, crude Us fis in eos quos fer*vajli ; presfertim cum ex
tva unius fortitudinc & prudentia, tot populorum falus , tot
Principum fecuritas pendere videatur. Si jubes ej/e felices,
fumus : Non tuos, ut alii reges, deprimis, fed dentukes, fed
attollis ; neque *vis tibi plura licere, quam nobis omnibus^
Tu folus Tuimet Vittor. Te eheu ! teipfum sincere potuiffe^
lucluosa occaficne conjlabat, quum Maria Augufta, qua nulla
ere amabilior, alloquio fuavior terras reliquit. Emicuere in
reginte gejlu, infronte, in oculis, majejias, candor, *ueneres,
tff quicquid deleclationem & cultum una conciliaret. Si
Oftavius Auguftus, Ji Germanicus, Ji Trajanus, Liviam,
Agrippinam, Plotinam jattaijerint, ecquid de Heroina noflrd
von eloquerentur omnes? fed flillantes pajjim occuh, virtutes
lllius caelejies fortius nuperrime enuncidrunt.
Ipfe quidem, Dive Gulielme, die iflbac a lacbrymis non
itmperafli, fedpojlquam Te effe Conjugem amantijjimum pro-
lafti, Ye effe Heroem etiam meminijli. Rebus Britannicis de-
fiuo in'vigilas, {ff negotia publica folus fujlines, neque magis
patriam armis tutaris, quam tuo ornas exempla.
Ne miretur aliquis me fnem collaudandi ignorare, quum
Tu fnem mira praftandi nefcias ; fed in hoc minus Jlupenda
funt, quia Tua. Monetam nojlran diminutam & adulterinam
invenifti, probatn (ftd ferojtt uttnam ) rslinques. Britanni
(tit*
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 437
4tlam tub adventum tuum, tnolles & enerves, nil bodie,
Carfare duct, nlji <viftoriam fpirant, nil nip. turpem famam
tnetuunt. Dies me ante dejiceret, quam gejla tua percurrerem,
& qui tota rfcenfere velit, quo* Tu emereris annos, habeat
neceffe eft.
Talia de Hercule, de Scipione, de Marcel \ofinguntur,
fed de Te <vel Majora certafunt. Fatna profetfo tua ufque
adeo fe dijfudit, ubique gentium Jtc inclaruit, ut bellicofus
Ills Ruffia: Imperater. geflorum amului-, & nominii tui cultur,
It vifendi g rati a t ab ultimo Septentrione venerif, tuo nm-
lens frui bofpitio, tuas virtutes beroicas mirari, quam digni-
tatem Imperatoriam exercere, & qui fum domi manent tri-
umpbos, de Turcis Tartarifque debellatis, agere j fcf mox
cum eum Tu, Prometheus alter, igne caelefli animaveris, Tuf
ajflatui Genio^ tuo numine p/ttius, ad implenda Grzcorum
*vota y 'vaticinia redibit, Imferium Orientale aufpicaturus.
Regna interim ba:c ufque ad invidiam fub aufpiciis tuis fffio-
refcunt, qui tarn Optimi Regis, quam Maximi Duds omnes
r.umeros impk'vijii. Reliqua infuper Europa, qu:n, ^ff ipfet
Gallia, tarn longis belli infortuniis -vexata, ad Regiam tuam
Legates mittunt, &jinem ntiferiarum expetunt. Precibus eorunt
annuens, ut Jupiter olim, nutu tuo Otbcmpacdfti- Nuncfiknt
litui, nunc rubiginem trabunt arma, nitnc redcunt facula ut
dim aurea, ccnquiefcuut Gives, nee bojlium incurfanibus di-
i-exantur Coloiii. Defenamm tandem omnes querelarum, ^ff
trophfca tua anaeimes conchiamus, dum Te domum reducem t
ftlles curuli injidentem, jpolih decoratum, tunica palmata t
purpurdque indutum, lauro coronatum, Captivorum agmine
pone veniente, expeflant rcgna tua; Gallia deniqus in ter-
minal proprioi redattd, Hifpania libcratd, Belgia in tuto
paftta, & dquila Germanicas alii ad Hungariaeyfrw tx
f>an/is, Tibi lutias publics inflituemus, Teque Orois Europsi
t'indicem, Te propu^natorem, Te Statcrem gfati nuncupabi-
mus. Necjaclent Galli Regemfuunt dediffe Pacem, quam tot
Urbium, tot fnmaciarum redditione impetravit. Emit erg
fibi Pacem Ludovicus decimtts quartits, dcdit GviHelmus vert
Magnus, idemque CbriJlianiJJimus , Orbi CbriftiatH*
Vix impetum hie reprimo, fed quoniam Piinceps Op-
timus gefta fua reticeri, quam juilis faorum przconiia
U 3 recenlcri
438 *The WORKS of
Tecenferi mallet, & propria virtute, non alienis laudibus
Jnclarefcit, ad alia tranfibo ; & vos omnes, College, orabo,
ut in quantum Clementiffimus totius terrarum Orbis Mo-
narcha, regii hujus Collcgii patrocinium fufcepit, aliquid
faltem tanto Patrono dignum moliamini. Praefidis optimi
dodiffimique, & quamplurimorum hujufce qui adfunt fo-
cietatis, exempla fatis prseclara vobis propono ; Jlli enim
anguftiarum & calamitatum alienarum participes, Repofi-
torium Pharmacis omnimodis probe inftruftum, in egeno-
rum levamen poni curarunt. Si pietas itaque tanta, charitas
tanta vos commovere valeat, fi non in caeteris, in hoc
tamen conformes eftote obfecro ; nifi eo ventum eft, ut ini-
micos non folum foris, fed domi etiam inveniamus. Si
ftatuta, fi fides data, vana nomina fint, veftra utcunque
intereft, Collegae, ne immunitates veftras vili faciant Ifli,
qui vobis fubfervire debent, fed ut privilegia qua? a Ma-
joribus accepiftis, pofteris relinquatis. A vobis itaque ob-
nixe peto, ut rurfus in concordiam redeatisj ut litibus
inter nos compofitis, Societatis noftra: emolumento una
confulamus.
Res, tempus, neceffitas, magis quam Oratio mea vos
hortentur. Nonne eo res devenit, ut nunc vereamini eos,
quibus vos decet efle terrrori ; quibus honefta & inhonefta
omnia pariter lucro funt; Qui eruditionis inopes, qui mo-
ribus inculti, qui omni pofito pudore, sdes hafce funditus
evertere fatagunt; Qui, ciuod fpiramus, indignantur: fed
licet difcordiis noftris quam fuis confiliis fint feliciores ;
intelligant tamen nos fortius vigilare ad Collegii fimul &
populi falutem, quam ad perniciem Illi. Vos interim
Collegas, (agant inter fe Ifti ut lubent) data? fidei memores
futuros fpero. Plura dicerem fi apud pertinaces valerent
verba, nam fngenuis abunde diftum puto.
R I T I I
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 439
LUCRETII editionis Dedicatio
dejignata.
Sereniffimo Principi
GEORGIO LUDOVICO,
Brunf. & Lun. Duci, &c.
Princeps SereniJJttnf,
CCRIPTOREM perledu non indignum, famma,
*^ ut par eft, obfervantia tuos ob Oculos pono. Eru-
diatne utilius, an deleftet elegantius, jure dubitemus.
Quamplurimi forfan putent, Dignitatis tuae me parum
Rationem habere, quas, quicquid forte deliraverim, au-
gufto tuo nomini confecrare voluerim : fed & clementiam
tuam & tenuitatem meam juxta novi. Ea es humanitate,
ut duift Heroem te probas maximum, Patronum te prsbes
optimum. Incertum fi in oppugnantem fis vehementior,
an fiipplicanti facilior. Si Lucretius his temporibus
vixiffet, & de rebus quas fortiter fufceperis & feliciter
perfeceris, certior faftus eflet, Providentiam divinam
geflis tuis annuentem, ipfe ultro agnofceret, & gerendis
non defuturam facile przedicaret. Neque adverfus mortis
timorem validius quicquam ftatueret, quam Animi tut
Magnitudinem ; neque dulcius folatium, quam vitas
Integritatem. Si magna, quas molitus fuifti admodum
kdhuc Adolefcens, & ad ardua quaeque fubeunda natus,
enumeranda forent ; expugnatam Treverim, Vienna
liberatam tranfire nefas effet ; quorum altera Coronam
obfidionalem tibi donavit, muralem altera. Neque te
in Hungaria proeliantem tacerem, ubi in id Bellum in-
cidifti, cujus altera pars fudoris nimium habuit, altera
fclicitatis parum. Atque res Imperatorias tu, Romani
Imperii
440 The W o R K s of
Imperil Vindex, private commodo habuiili potiores.
De rebus in Haifa fid geftis & compluribus aliis non
filerem ; neque quae in Flandria, nupero exardente Bello,
funt notiora, prsetermitterem. Nunquis etiam ignorat,
quanta ad Rkenum, Legionibus belli inexpertis, reeens
gefleris ? Famapropria Europe faluti pofthabita,Viloris
perfonam pofuifti, ut Patrise Confervatoris indueres ; &
pulchre flatuifti te, cedendo gloriae bellorum, auclurum
tuam. Exercitum inftrucWimum dimififti alio ducendum,
& tumultuario per fingulas Provincias cenfu confcripto
prseefle inftituifti j eo certe confilio, ut nihil velles quod
poffes ; co exitu, ut ubique potueris quantum volueris &
prudenter confulta tibi tam feliciter ceffare, ut de Gall is
tandem triumpharis. Sed vereor ne . celfitudini tux fim
moleftior, quae magna moliri, quam maxima de te re-
cenferi mails ; in appetenda Gloria ardentior ; in ferenda
moderation & licet Vi&orias novas prioribus cumules,
verecundia tua ufque adhuc reftat invifta.
Non tibi, fed tuis te natum arbitraris, & otium, quod
aliis paras, tibi foli denegas. Non de Imperio pro-
ferendo certas, fed de Libertate vindicanda. Quis in
hoftem gravior ? Quis in civera benignior ? in Caftris
Difciplinain inftituis ; in Tribunali Juftitiam ; & Jus
cuique fuum Dux & Princeps reddis, quod Miles & Civis
exoptares.
Voluntas Principum eft aliquando pro Legibus. Tu
illis folutum te nolles ; fed falubriter latae five utiliter
cmendatx tibi praecipue arrident ; & tales conttituis,
quibus tui pareant, & quas ipfe etiam ferves ; fi quid im-
perant, imperas; fi quid vetant, vetas; inde tibicautum
eft, hoc ne agas ; illud ut exequaris.
Te genus avitum, & jus a majoribus acceptum, tot
feculorum infuper confuetudine approbatum, fuper csteros
extulerunt; fed ea eft moderatio tua, vix qaicquam ut
tibi, qui omnia potes, nifi quod jure fiat, permiflum
velis. Non jus vi obrui finis ; potentiores ne humiliores
opprimant, prohibes. Si ftudia leniora minus valeant,
afperioribus invitus coerces, & feveritatem clernentia ufque
eo temperas ut metus frcquentior, & pccoa rarior ever, it t.
Non
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 441
Kon defunt Principes qui vix quicquam, fi domina
tioni conducat, turpe exiilimant ; quicquid sequum eft
avcrfantur, quicquid iniquuro, gratum habent ; & pro-
bant improbantque, non prout Ratio poftulat, fed quem-
admodum hortatur ambitio. Ipfe id ante omnia con-
fulis, reftumne fit an pravum, & ne veftigalibus tuos,
ne armis vicinos opprimas, caves.
Plerique inani Dignitatis Imagine addufti, memores
fe effe Principes, fe efTe Homines funt obliti. Tu, cum
ab aulicis curis vaces, non alio, quoquo te vertis,
fatellitio, nifi piis intuentium votis ftipatus incedis ; &
eo aliis es major, quo aliis te reddis magis parem.
Nonnulli in confiliis capiendis mobiles, non nifi blan-
ditiis infidiantibus aurem admovent, & aliorum merita,
non proprio judicio, fed adulatorum arbitrio metiuntur.
Tu in fententia conftans, & adulationem procul amovens,
ad aliorum nutum te minima convertis. Infontes te
habent propugnatorem ; abfentes vindicem ; facinorum
praeclare geftorum ii te praedicatorem inveniunt, quibu s
sntea fueras exemplo ; & quicquid fieri, ut Dux jufleris
fafto, ut commilito, gratularis. Te maxime laudat qu
veriffima refert, five Virtutes tuas, five Majorum re-
cordetur. Erat tibi Fater Heroum genere natus, belli-
corum pariter Munerum atque civilium fumme peritus.
Supereft Mater longo Regum ordine genus deducens, &
animi magnitudine fupra fceminam confpicua, nihil
muliebre prae fe ferens, prxter hilaritatem prifcam &
gratam oris venuftatem.
Juvat denique Filium mernorare, Europe fpem al-
teram, optima indole Principem, artibus omnigenis
inflrucliffimum ; & ob mores amabiles xque infimis
atque fummis charum. Qui Gloriam, Virtutis tuae
zmulus, more tuo adipifcitur ; adeptam more tuo par-
vi ducit. Nefcio an Famae curfum impleveris jam ipfe
magis fortiter, an inchoaverit ille feliciter, pro mortali-
tate a Parente accepta immortalitatem redditurus.
Quantus in armis fit, certo fcimus j quantus evafurus,
auguramur ; proinde quo optime laudemus Patrem,
Filium oportet nomiaemus. C^uid Votorum fupereft,
nifi
442 *Tbe WORKS of
nifi ut bene meritus eft ab omnibus, fummo in honors
habeatur ab omnibus ? Quas de te vulgavit Fama, laeti
accipimus, grati recognofcimus. In moribus ineft Hu-
manitas, in officiis Probitas, in verbis Fides ; & qualis
haberi velis, talem te effe laetaris. Cum Regina proinde
optima (quam Dii immortales diutiffime fervent) extre-
mum reddiderit fpiritum, te tuofque Senatus Populufque
Britannus certatim ad fe accerfent, genti univerfz quam
eliciffime imperaturos.
(Epitaphium G E o R G i i Comitis de
Huntingdon.
Hie fitus eft
Georgius Comes de Huntingdon,
Prajclara Haftingorum Profapia
Natus ;
Et Nepte ex Plantagenettorum ftemmate
Oriundus ;
Literarum humaniorum Cukor indefeffus;
In Aula ornatiffimus ;
In Acie imperterritus;
Ubique probus.
Tanta fuit ei morum fuavitas,
Cum Gravitate Comitas,
Cum Fide Urbanitas;
Haud quicquam cxteris commune habuit,
Nifi quod mori potuerit.
Tantus Animi Candor ingenitus
Ut tot numeraverit Amicos,
Qnot Familiares.
Procul habuit Mollitiem atque Inertiam,
Turpe exiftimans,
Queis Dignitate praeftitit,
Ab His Virtute fuperari.
Flagrante per Europam Bello,
Salutis public* quam fuas ftudiofior,
Ad
Sir SAMUEL GARTH. 443
Ad Rem militarem exercendam
Se contulit.
Obfeflis
Venloa, Ruremonda, Kaiferverta,
Qua: fortiter, fub Duce Marlburgenfi, tentavit,
Feliciter perfecit ;
Quorum tamen oblivionem maluit
Quam Gloriam.
Obiit Kal. Mart. viii. JErx
ChriftianaCIDDCCVI.
To Mr. G AY on his Poems.
TT7 HEN Fame did o'er the fpacious Plain
* ' The Lays fhe once had learn'd repeat;
All liftn'd to the tuneful Strains,
And wonder'd who could fing fo fwect.
*T\vas thus. The Graces held the Lyre,
Th' harmonious Frame the Mufes ftrung,
The Loves and Smiles compos'd the Choir,
And Gay tranfcrib'd what Phcebmi fung.
To the merry Poetafter at Sadlers-Hall
in Cheapfide.
T 1 Nwieldy Pedant, let thy aukward Mufe
^ With Cenfures praife, with Flatteries abufe.
To lafh, and not be felt, in Thee's an Art ;
Thou ne'er mad'ft any, but thy School-boys, fmart.
Then be advis'd, and fcribble not agen ;
Thour't falhion'd for a Flail, and not a Pen.
If B /'s immortal Wit thou would'ft defer/,
Pretend 'tis he that writ thy Poetry.
Thy feeble Satire ne'er can do him wrong ;
Thy Poems and thy Patients live not long.
CON
CONTENTS
Of
Sir SAMUEL GARTH'* WORKS,
^HE Difpenfary, a Poem Page 271
* Claremont, a Poem 345
To the Lady Louifa Lenos, with OvidV Epiftles 357
To Richard Ear! of Burlington with OvidV Art of Love 358
To the Dutthefs of Bolton on her flaying all the Winter in
the Country 359
To the D. of Marlborough en his voluntary Ttanijhment 360
To the Earl of Godolphin 361
On her Majeflys Statue in St. PaulV Churchyard 362
On the. neiu Confpiracy, 1716. 363
On the King of Spain 3 64
Verfes written for the teaming Glajfts of the Kit-cat-club.
1703. 364
Prologue defigridfor Tamerlane 365
Prologue to the Mufick-meeting at York-Buildings 366
Prologue to the Cornifh Squire 367
Prologue to the opening the Queen's 'Theatre in the Hay-
market 368
Epilogue to the Tragedy of Cato 369
Preface to the Tranjlation of Ovid's Metamorphofes 370
Truncation of the \ 4/6 Book of Ov id'j Metamorphofes 402
Tranjlation of the Story of Cippus from the i ^th Book of
ditto 425
Soliloquy out of Italian 427
Imitation of a French Author ibid
QratioLauctatoria t in&dibus Collegii RegalisMfd.Lond.^zg
Dedication to King George I. intended for an Edition of
Lucretius 439
Epitaph on George Earl of Huntingdon 442
To Mr. Gay, on his Poems 443
Ta the merry Poetafler at Sadlers-Hall, Cheapfide ibid
Xbe End of the Firji Volume.
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