Adfcifcet nova, quae genitor produxerit ufus : Ludentis fpeciem dabit, et torquebitur, ut qui NOTES. VER. 170. For Use will father what's begot by Senfe] A very fine and happy improvement on the expreffion, it not on the thought, of his original. VER. 175. But how no mercy to an empty line ;] To fuch, our Poet was always inexorable. Unless it was once, when in the full blaze of his glory, he chose to fa crifice to envy, in that devoted and execrable line, in one of the beft tranflated books of the Odyssey,, "Close to the Cliff with both his hands he clung, The fmall critics could never have fupported themfelves without the consolation of such a verse; to which indeed ever fince the whole tribe of Scriblers with both their hands have clung, And fuck adherent, and suspended hung. Or bid the new be English, ages hence, 17༠ ་ } (For Use will father what's begot by Sense) 175 • If fuch the plague and pains to write by rule, 180 Better (fay I) be pleas'd, and play the fool; Call, if you will, bad rhiming a disease, It gives men happiness, or leaves them ease. NOTES. But there is a fet of still lower Creatures than thefe, at the tail of which is one EDWARDS, who can make shift to fubfift even on a Printer's blunder. The late Editor of Shakespear gave order to the corrector of the prefs, that all Mr. Pope's notes fhould be printed in their places. In one of these there was mention made, as they fay, of fome Italian novels (I forget whofe) in which Dec. and Nov. were printed thus contractedly. But the printers of the late edition lengthen'd them into December and November, and, in this condition, they are charged upon the Editor by this Edwards. Now, was the man fuch a Dunce to make his criticism with good faith, he is much, to be pitied; was he fuch a Knave to make it without, he is much more to be pitied. * N In vacuo laetus feffor plausorque theatro: Caetera qui vitae fervaret munia recto More; bonus fane vicinus, amabilis hofpes, Comis in uxorem; posset qui ignofcere fervis, Poffet qui rupem, et puteum vitare patentem. Hic ubi cognatorum opibus curifque refectus, Et tempeftivum pueris concedere ludum; NOTES. VER. 184. There liv'd in primo Georgii, etc.] The imitation of this ftory of the Madman is as much fupérior to his original, in the fine and eafy manner of telling, as that of Lucullus's Soldier comes fhort of it. It is true the turn 185 There liv'd in prima Georgii (they record) Whereat the gentleman began to ftare— 190 My Friends! he cry'd, p-x take you for your care! That from a Patriot of diftinguish'd note, 196 Well, on the whole, plain Prose must be my fate; Have bled and purg'd me to a fimple Vote. Wisdom (curfe on it) will come foon or late. 200 There is a time when Poets will grow dull: I learn to fmooth and harmonize my Mind, Teach ev'ry thought within its bounds to roll, NOTES: 205 Horace's madman took, agrees better with the subject of his Epiftle, which is Poetry; and doubtless there were other beauties in it, which time has deprived us of. • Ac non verba fequi fidibus modulanda Latinis, Sed verae numerofque modofque edifcere vitae. Quocirca mecum loquor haec, tacitufque recordor: * Si tibi nulla fitim finiret copia lymphae, Narrares medicis: quod quanto plura parasti, Tanto plura cupis, nulline faterier audes ? v Si vulnus tibi monftrata radice vel herba Non fieret levius, fugeres radice vel herba Proficiente nihil curarier: audieras, cui Rem Dî donarint, illi decedere pravam Plenior es, tamen uteris monitoribus îfdem ? At fi divitiae prudentem reddere poffent, Si cupidum timidumque minus te; nempe ruberes, Viveret in terris te fi quis avarior uno. NOTES. VER. 218. When golden Angels, etc] This illuftration is much happier than that employed in nis original; as by raifing pecuniary ideas, it prepares the mind for that mo rality it is brought to illustrate. |