« Attend the trial we propose to make : 371 « If there be man, who o'er fuch works can wake, “ Sleep's all-fubduing charms who dares defy, “ And boasts Ulysses' ear with Argus' eye ; “ To him we grant our amplest powers, to fit 375 “ Judge of all present, past, and future wit; “ To cavil, censure, dictate, right or wrong, “ Full and eternal privilege of tongue." Three College Sophs and three pert Templars came, The same their talents, and their tastes the fame; 380 Each prompt to query, answer, and debate, And smit with love of Poesy and Prate. The ponderous books two gentle readers bring! The heroes fit, the vulgar form a ring. The clamorous crowd is hush'd with mugs of Mum, 385 Till all, tund equal, send a general hum. Then mount the Clerks, and in one lazy tone Through the long, beavy, painful page drawl on; Soft creeping, words on words, the sense compose, At every line they stretch, they yawn, they doze, 390 As to soft gales top-heavy pines bow low Their heads, and lift them as they cease to blow : Thus oft they rear, and oft the head decline, As breathe, or pause, by fits, the airs divine. And now to this side, now to that they nod, 395 As verse, or prose, infuse the drowzy God. Thrice Budgel aim'd to speak, but, thrice suppreft By potent Arthur, knock'd his chin and breast. Toland VARIATION. Ver. 379. In first Ed. Three Cambridge Sophs. Toland and Tindal, prompt at priests to jeer. As REMARKS. Ver. 397. Thrice Budgel aim'd to speak,] Famous for his speeches on many occasions about the South Sea scheme, &c. “ He is a very ingenious gentleman, and « hath written some excellent Epilogues to plays, " and one small piece on Love, which is very pretty." Jacob, Lives of Poets, vol. ii. p. 289. But this gentleman fince made himself much more eminent, and personally well known to the greatest Statesmen of all parties, as well as to all the Courts of Law in this nation. Ver. 399. Toland and Tindal,] Two persons not so happy as to be obscure, who writ against the Religion of their Country. Toland, the author of the Atheist's liturgy, called Pantheisticon, was a spy, in pay to Lord Oxford. Tindal was author of the Rights of the Christian Church, and Christianity as old as the Creation. He also wrote an abusive pamphlet against Earl s-, which was suppressed while yet in MS. by an eminent person, then out of the ministry, to whom he thewed it, expecting his approbation : This Doctor afterwards published the fame piece, mutatis mutandis, againft that very person. Ver. 400. Christ's No kingdom, &c.] This is said by Curll, Key to Dunc. to allude to a sermon of a reverend Bishop. As what a Dutchman plumps into the lakes, 405 Norton T-s and T- the Church and State gave o'er, Boyer the State, and Law the Stage gave o'er, REMARKS. Ver. 411. Centlivre] Mrs. Susanna Centlivre, wife to Mr. Centlivre, Yeoman of the Mouth to his Majesty. She writ many Plays, and a Song (says Mr. Jacob, vol. i. p. 32.) before she was seven years old. She also writ a Ballad against Mr. Pope's Homer, before he be gan it. Ver. 413. Boyer the State, and Law the Stage gave o'er,] A. Boyer, a voluminous compiler of Annals, Political Collečtions, &c.-William Law, A. M. wrote with great zeal againft the Stage; Mr. Dennis anfwered with as great: Their books were printed in 1726. The same Mr. Law 'is author of a book, intitled, An Appeal to all that doubt of or disbelieve the truth of the Gospel; in which he has detailed a System Norton, from Daniel and Ostroa sprung, 415 Bless'd with his father's front, and mother's tongue, Hung silent down his never-blushing head; And all was hush'd, as Folly's self lay dead. Thus the soft gifts of Sleep conclude the day, And stretch'd on bulks, as usual, Poets lay. 420 Why should I sing, what Bards the nightly Muse Did Numbering visit, and convey to stews ; Who REMARKS. of the rankest Spinozismı, for the most exalted Theology; and amongst other things as rare, has informed us of this, that Sir Waac Newton stole the principles of his philosophy from one Jacob Behmen, a German Cobler. Ver. 414. Morgan) A writer against Religion, diftinguished no otherwise from the rabble of his tribe, than by the pompoufness of his title ; for having stolen his morality from Tindal, and his Philosophy from Spinosa, he calls himself, by the courtesy of England, a Moral Philosopher. Ibid. Mandevil) This writer, who prided himself in the reputation of an Immoral Philosopher, was author of a famous book called the Fable of the Bees ; written to prove, that Moral Virtue is the Invention of knaves, and Christian Virtue the Imposition of fools; and that Vice is necessary, and alone sufficient to render Society flourishing and happy. Ver. 415. Norton] Norton De Foe, offspring of the famous Daniel, Fortes creantur fortibus. One of the authors of the Flying Post, in which well-bred work Mr. P. had sometime the honour to be abused with his betters; and of many hired fcurrilities and daily papers, to which he never set his name. Who prouder march'd with magistrates in state, VARIATION. REMARKS: Ver. 427. Fleet] A prison for insolvent Debtors on the bank of the Ditch. THE END OF THE SECOND BOOK. |