philofopher; and a fine gentleman like a scholar. Whoever is converfant in modern Plays, may make a most noble collection of this kind, and, at the fame time, form a complete body of modern Ethics and Morality.

Nothing feemed more plain to our great authors, than that the world had long been weary of natural things. How much the contrary are formed to please, is evident from the univerfal applaufe daily given to the admirable entertainments of Harlequins and Magicians on our ftage. When an audience behold a coach turned into a wheel-barrow, a conjurer into an old woman, or a man's head where his heels fhould be; how are they struck with transport and delight? Which can only be imputed to this caufe, that each object is changed into that which hath been fuggested to them by their own low ideas before.

He ought therefore to render himself master of this happy and anti-natural way of thinking to fuch a degree, as to be able, on the appearance of any object, to furnish his imagination with ideas infinitely below it. And his eyes should be like unto the wrong end of a perpective glafs, by which all the objects of nature are leffened.

For example; when a true genius looks upon the Sky, he immediately catches the idea of a piece of blue luteftring, or a child's mantle..

The Skies, whofe fpreading volumes fcarce have room, * Spun thin, and wove in nature's fineft loom,

21

"The new-born world in their soft lap embrac'd,!!! E And all around their furry mantle caft.

If he looks upon a Tempeft, he shall have an image of a tumbled bed, and describe a succeeding calm in this manner :

The Ocean joy'd to fee the tempeft fled,

Neve lays his waves, and smooths his ruffled bed.

The Triumphs and Acclamations of the Angels, at the Creation of the Univerfe, prefent to his imagination" the Rejoicings of the Lord Mayor's "Day;" and he beholds thofe glorious beings celebrating the Creator, by huzzaing, making illuminations, and flinging fquibs, crackers and fky. rockets.

Glorious Illuminations, made on high

By all the Stars and planets of the sky, 0 In juft degrees, and fhining order plac'd, Spectators charm'd, and the bleft dwelling grac'd.

N. B. In order to do Juftice to thefe great Poets, our Citations are taken from the beft, the laft, and most correct Editions of their Works. That which we use of Prince Arthur, ia -in Duodecimo, 1714. The fourth Edition revised, P.

• P. 50.

• Thro, allth enlighter'd air favift firewonks fleur, & Rom Which with repeated shouts glad Chenulis shreds, yniwCometa dafcended with their sweeping train,smild t

Then fell in ftarry fhow'rs and glitt'ring rainguti
In air ten thousand meteors blazing hung,
Which from th' eternal battlements were flung.

If a man who is violently fond of Wit, will facrifice to that paffion his friend or his God, would it not be a fhame, if he who is fmit with the love of the Bathos fhould not facrifice to it all other tranfitory regards? You fhall hear a zealous Proteftant Deacon invoke a Saint, and modeftly befeech her to do more for us than Providence :

t.

f Look down, blefs'd faint, with pity then look down,
Shed on this land thy kinder influence,

And guide us through the mists of providence,
In which we fray.

Neither will he, if a goodly Simile come in his way, fcruple to affirm himself an eye-witness of things never yet behield by man, or never in existence; as thus,

8 Thus have I feen in Araby the bless'd,

A Phoenix couch'd upon her fun`ral neft.

But to convince you that nothing is so great

A. Philips on the death of Queen Mary.

Anon.

which a marvellous genius, prompted by this laudable zeal, is not able to leffen; hear how the moft fublime of all Beings is reprefented in the following images:

Firft he is a PAINTER.

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Sometimes the Lord of Nature in the air,
Spreads forth his clouds, bis fable canvas, where
His pencil, dipp'd in heav'nly colour bright,
Paints bis fair rain-bow, charming to the fight.

Now he is a CHEMIST.

i Th' Almighty Chemift does his work prepare, Pours down his waters on the thirsty plain, Digeft's his lightning, and diftils his rain.

Now he is a WRESTLER.

* Me in his griping arms th' Eternal took,
And with fuch mighty force my body shook,
That the frong grafp my members forely bruis'd,
Broke all my bones, and all my finews loos'd.

Now a RECRUITING OFFICER.

1 For clouds, the fun-beams levy fresh fupplies, And raife recruits of vapours, which arise Drawn from the feas, to mufter in the fkies.

Black, opt. edit. duod. 1716. p. 172. i Blackm. Pf. civ, pa 263.

VOL. VII.

* Page 75.

P.. 170.

I

Now a peaceable GUARANTEE.

m In leagues of peace the neighbours did agree, And to maintain them, God was Guarantee.

n

Then he is an ATTORNEY.

"Job, as a vile offender, God indites, And terrible decrees against me writes. God will not be my advocate,

L

My caufe to manage or debate.

In the following Lines he is a GOLDBEATER.

• Who the rich metal beats, and then, with care,

Unfolds the golden leaves, to gild the fields of air.

Then a FULLER.

th' exhaling reeks that fecret rife,

Born on rebounding fun-beams thro' the skies, Are thicken'd, wrought, and whiten'd, 'till they grow

A beav'nly fleece.

A MERCER, or PACKER.

9 Didft thou one end of air's wide curtain hold, And help the Bales of Ether to unfold ;

Say, which cærulean pile was by thy hand unroll'd?

m P. 70. P. 174

P. 61.

• P. 181.

P P. 18.