One clasp'd in wood, and one in strong cow-hide; De Lyra there a dreadful front extends,1 That altar crowns; a folio common-place Then he Great tamer of all human art! REMARKS. 153 De Lyra] A very voluminous commentator, whose works, in five vast folios, were printed in 1472. 154 Philemon] Philemon Holland, doctor in physic. He translated so many books, that a man would think he had done nothing else; insomuch that he might be called translator-general of his age. The books alone of his turning into English are sufficient to make a country gentleman a complete library.' IMITATIONS. WINSTANLEY. 166 With whom my muse began, with whom shall end] 'A te principium, tibi desinet.' VIRG. ECL. VIII. Εκ Διος αρχωμεσθα, και εις Δια λήγετε Μεσαι. THEOC. • Prima dicte mihi, summa dicende Camoena.' HOR. E'er since Sir Fopling's periwig was praise,167 Or, if to wit a coxcomb make pretence, Some demon stole my pen (forgive th' offence), REMARKS. 167 E'er since Sir Fopling's periwig] The first visible cause of the passion of the town for our hero was a fair flaxen fullbottomed periwig, which, he tells us, he wore in his first play of the Fool in Fashion. It attracted, in a particular manner, the friendship of Col. Brett, who purchased it. My life gave ampler lessons to mankind. Yet sure, had heaven decreed to save the state,195 REMARKS. 200 Take up the Bible, once my better guide] When, according to his Father's intention, he had been a clergyman, or (as he thinks himself) a bishop of the Church of England. Hear his own words: At the time that the fate of K. James, the Prince of Orange, and myself, were on the anvil, Providence thought fit to postpone mine 'till theirs were determined. But had my father carried me a month sooner to the University, who knows but that purer fountain might have washed my imperfections into a capacity of writing, instead of Plays and annual Odes, Sermons and Pastoral Letters ?'-Apology for his Life, chap. iii. IMITATIONS. 195 had Heaven decreed, &c.] 'Me si cœlicolæ voluissent ducere vitam, Has mihi servassent sedes.' VIRG. EN. II. 197 198 Could Troy be sav'd―This gray-goose weapon] 6 -Si Pergama dextra Defendi possent, etiam hac defensa fuissent.' VIRG. EN. II. 202 This box my thunder, this right hand my god] Or chair'd at White's, amidst the doctors sit,203 To serve his cause, O Queen! is serving thine. This brazen brightness to the 'squire so dear; REMARKS. 203 doctors] The doctors in this place mean no more than false dice, a cant phrase used amongst gamesters. So the meaning of these four sonorous lines is only this, 'Shall I play fair or foul.' 208 Ridpath-Mist] George Ridpath, author of a Whig paper, called the Flying Post: Nath. Mist, of a Famous Tory journal. 217 What then remains? Ourself] A parody on the famous Moi in Corneille's Media. O born in sin, and forth in folly brought! Works damn'd, or to be damn'd (your father's fault), Go, purified by flames ascend the sky, REMARKS. 231 232 -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. 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. Great numbers of his works were yearly sold into the Plantations. Ward, in a book called Apollo's Maggot, declared this account to be a great falsity, protesting that his public-house was not in the city, but in Moorfields. Jussa mori: quæ sortitus non pertulit ullos, Nec victoris heri tetigit captiva cubile! Nos, patria incensa, diversa par æquora vectæ,' &c. VIRG. EN. III. |