But, high above, more solid learning shone, 160 De Lyra there a dreadful front extends, 165 170 Which, as more ponderous, made its aim more true, REMARKS. 175 in Egypt, and the Heroic Daughter. 3. Broome was a serving. man of Ben Jonson, who once picked up a comedy from his betters, or from some cast scenes of his master's, not entirely contemptible. W. v. 149. Carton.] A printer in the time of Edw. IV. Rich. III. and Hen. VII. Wynkyn de Word, his successor, in that of Hen. VII. and VIII. v. 153. Nich. De Lyra; or Harpsfield, a very voluminous com mentator, whose works, in five vast folios, were printed in 1472. v. 154. Philemon Holland, doctor in physic." He translated to many books, that a man would think he had done nothing else." Winstanley. Or, if to wit a coxcomb make pretence, Some dæmon stole my pen (forgive th' offence) 180 185 190 Else all my prose and verse were much the same; Yet sure, had Heav'n decreed to save the state, 195 200 This grey-goose weapon must have made her stand. 305 O'er head and ears plunge for the commonweal? 210 REMARKS. v. 208, George Ridpath, author of a Whig paper, called the Flying Post: Nath. Mist, of a famous Tory journal. W. 215 Hold--to the minister I more incline; 220 225 Works damn'd, or to be damn'd, (your father's fault) Go, purified by flames, ascend the sky, My better and more Christian progeny! Unstain'd, untouch'd, and yet in maiden sheets, 230 235 Sent with a pass and vagrant through the land; REMARKS. 240 v. 231. -----gratis-given Bland,----Sent with a pass.] It was a practice so to give the Daily Gazetteer, and ministerial pamphlets (in which this B. was a writer), and to send them post-free to all the towns in the kingdom. W. v. 233.with Ward to ape-and-monkey climes.]" Edward Ward, a very voluminous poet in Hudibrastic verse, but best known by the London Spy, in prose. He has of late years kept a public house in the city (but in a genteel way), and with his wit, humour, and good liquor (ale), afforded his guests a pleasurable entertainment, especially those of the High-church party." Jacob, Lives of Poets, vol. ii. p. 225. 245 250 255 With that, a tear (portentous sign of grace!) Stole from the master of the sev❜nfold face; And thrice he lifted high the birth-day brand, And thrice he dropt it from his quivering hand; Then lights the structure with averted eyes; The rolling smoke involves the sacrifice. The opening clouds disclose each work by turns, Now flames the Cid, and now Perolla burns; Great Cæsar roars and hisses in the fires; King John in silence modestly expires: No merit now the dear Nonjuror claims, Moliere's old stubble in a moment flames. Tears gush'd again, as from pale Priam's eyes, When the last blaze sent Ilion to the skies. Rouz'd by the light, old Dulness heav'd the head, Then snatch'd a sheet of Thulé from her bed; Sudden she flies, and whelms it o'er the pyre: Down sink the flames, and with a hiss expire. Her ample presence fills up all the place; A veil of fogs dilates her awful face: Great in her charms; as when on shrieves and may'rs She looks, and breathes herself into their airs. She bids him wait her to her sacred dome: Well pleas'd he enter'd, and confess'd his home. So spirits, ending their terrestrial race, Ascend, and recognize their native place. This the great mother dearer held than all 260 265 The clubs of quidnuncs, or her own Guildhall: 270 276 Now leave all memory of sense behind: How prologues into prefaces decay, And these to notes are fritter'd quite away: How index-learning turns no student pale, Yet holds the eel of science by the tail: 280 How, with less reading than makes felons 'scape, Small thanks to France, and none to Rome or Greece, 286 290 The goddess then o'er his anointed head, With mystic words, the sacred opium shed. And, lo! her bird (a monster of a fowl, Something betwixt a Heidegger and owl) Perch'd on his crown:-" All hail! and hail again. My son! the promis'd land expects thy reign. Know Eusden thirsts no more for sack or praise; He sleeps among the dull of ancient days; REMARKS. v.286. Tibbald.] Lewis Tibbald (as pronounced), or Theobald (as written), was bred an attorney, and son to an attorney (says Mr. Jacob) of Sittenburn in Kent. He was author of some forgotten plays, translations, and other pieces. He was concerned in a paper called The Censor, and a translation of Ovid. "There is a notorious idiot, one hight Whacum, who, from an under spur-leather to the law, is become an under-strapper to the playhouse, who hath lately burlesqued the Metamorphoses of Ovid by a vile translation, &c. This fellow is concerned in an impertinent paper called The Censor." Dennis, Remarks on Pope's Homer, p. 9, 10. v. 286. Ozell.] "Mr. John Ozell was designed to be sent to Cam. bridge, in order for priesthood; but he chose rather to be placed in an office of accounts in the City, being qualified for the same by his skill in arithmetic, and writing the necessary hands. He has obliged the world with many translations of French plays." Jacob, Lives of Dram. Poets, p. 198. Mr. Jacob's character of Mr. Ozell seems vastly short of his merits, and he ought to have further justice done him, having since fully confuted all sarcasms on his learning and genius, by an advertisement of Sept. 20, 1729, in a paper called The Weekly Medley, &c. "As to my learning, this envious wretch knew, and every body knows, that the whole Bench of Bishops, not long ago, were pleased to give me a purse of guineas for discovering the erroneous translations of the Common-prayer in Portuguese, Spanish, French, Italian, &c. As for my genius, let Mr. Cleland shew better verses in all Pope's works than Ozell's version of Boileau's Lutrin, which the late Lord Halifax was so pleased with, that he complimented him with leave to dedicate it to him, &c. Let him shew better and truer poetry in the Rape of the Lock, than in Ozell's Rape of the Bucket, La Secchia rapita.) And Mr. Toland and Mr. Gildon publicly declared Ozell's translation of Homer to be, as it was prior, so likewise superior to Pope's.---Surely, surely, every man is free to deserve well of his country." John Ozell. We cannot but subscribe to such reverend testimonies as those of the Bench of Bishops, Mr. Toland, and Mr. Gildon. W. |