Elfe fure fome Bard, to our eternal praise, Oh (cry'd the Goddefs) for fome pedant Reign! REMARKS. 176 VER. 174. that Mafter-piece of Man.] Viz. an Epigram. The famous Dr. South declared a perfect Epigram to be as difficult a performance as an Epic Poem. And the Critics fay, an Epic poem is the greatest work human nature is "capable of." VER. 175. Ob (cry'd the Goddess) &c.] The matter under debate is how to confine men to Words for life. The inftruction of youth fhew how well they do their parts; but complain that when men come into the world they are apt to forget their Learning, and turn themselves to useful Knowledge. This was an evil that wanted to be redressed. And this the Goddess affures them will need a more extenfive Tyranny than that of Grammar schools. She therefore points out to them the remedy, in her wishes for arbitrary power; whofe intereft it being to keep men from the study of things, will encourage the propagation of words and founds: and, to make all fure, the wifhes for another Pedant Monarch. The fooner to obtain fo great a bleffing, she is willing even for once to violate the fundamental principle of her politics, in having her fons taught at least one thing; but that fufficient, the Doctrine of Divine right. Nothing can be juster than the observation here infinuated, that no branch of Learning thrives well under Arbitrary government but the Verbal. The reafons are evident. It is unfafe under fuch Governments to cultivate the study of things, especially things of importance. Befides, when men have loft their public virtue, they naturally delight in trifles, if their private morals fecure them from being vicious. Hence fo great a Cloud of Scholiafts and Grammarians fo To flick the Doctor's Chair into the Throne, REMARKS. 180 foon overspread the Light of Greece and Rome, when once thofe famous Communities had lost their Liberties. Another reason is the encouragement which arbitrary governments give to the study of words, in order to busy and amuse active genius's, who might otherwise prove troublesome and inquifitive. So when Cardinal Richelieu had deftroyed the poor remains of his Country's liberties, and made the supreme Court of Parliament merely minifterial, he inftituted the French Academy, for the perfecting their language. What was faid upon that occafion, by a brave Magiftrate, when the letters-patent of its erection came to be verified in the Parliament of Paris, deferves to be remembered: He told the affembly, that it put him in mind how an Emperor of Rome once treated bis Senate; who when he had deprived them of the cognizance of Public matters, fent a message to them in form for their opinion about the beft Sauce for a Turbot. VER. 176. Some gentle JAMES, &c.] Wilfon tells us that this King, James the first, took upon himself to teach the Latin tongue to Car, Earl of Somerfet; and that Gondomar the Spanish Ambassador would speak false Latin to him, on purpose to give him the pleasure of correcting it, whereby he wrought himself into his good graces. This great prince was the first who affumed the title of Sacred Majefty, which his loyal Clergy transferred from God to Him. The principles of Paffive Obedience and Non-re"fiftance (fays the Author of the Differtation on Parties, "Letter 8.) which before his time had fkulked perhaps in "fome old Homily, were talked, written, and preached into vogue in that inglorious reign.” Ver. 181, 182. if Dulness fees a grateful Day, 'Tis in the 6 Nor wert thou, Ifis! wanting to the day, 195 Came whip and spur, and dash'd thro' thin and thick On German Crouzaz, and Dutch Burgerfdyck. REMARK S: Ibid. A hundred head, &c.] It appears by this the Goddess had been careful of keeping up a Succeffion, according to the rule, Semper enim refice: ac, ne poft amissa requiras, Anterveni;& fobolem armento fortire quotannis It is remarkable with what dignity the Poet here describes the friends of this ancient Philofopher. Horace does not obferve the fame decorum with regard to thofe of another fect, when he fays, Cum ridere voles Epicuri de grege Porcum. But the word Drove, Armentum, here understood, is a word of honour, as the most noble Feftus the Grammarian affures us, Armentum id genus pecoris appellatur, quod eft idoneum opus armorum. And alluding to the temper of this warlike breed, our poet very appofitely calls them a hundred bead. SCRIBL. VER. 194. [Tho' Chrift-church] This line is doubtlefs fpurious, and foifted in by the impertinence of the Editor; and accordingly we have put it in between Hooks. For I affirm this College came as early as any other, by its proper Deputies; nor did any College pay homage to Dulness in its whole body. BENTL. VER. 196. fill expelling Locke] In the year 1703 there was a meeting of the heads of the University of Oxford to cenfure Mr. Locke's Effay on Human Understanding, and to forbid the reading it. See his Letters in the last Edit. VER. 198. On German Crouzaz and Dutch Burgersdyck.] There feems to be an improbability that the Doctors and Heads of Houfes fhould ride on horseback, who of late days, being gouty or unwieldy, have kept their coaches. But thefe are horfes of great ftrength, and fit to carry any As many quit the ftreams that murm'ring fall REMARK S. 200 weight, as their German and Dutch extraction may manifeft; and very famous we may conclude, being honoured with Names, as were the horses Pegasus and Bucephalus. SCRIBL. Tho' I have the greatest deference to the penetration of this eminent fcholiaft, and must own that nothing can be more natural than his interpretation, or juster than that rule of criticism, which directs us to keep to the literal fenfe, when no apparent abfurdity accompanies, it (and fure there is no abfurdity in fuppofing a Logician on horfeback) yet still I must needs think the Hackneys here celebrated were not real Horfes, nor even Centaurs, which, for the fake of the learned Chiron, I fhould rather be inclined to think, if I were forced to find them four legs, but downright plain men, tho' Logicians and only thus metamorphofad by a rule of rhetoric, of which Cardinal Perron gives us an example, where he calls Clavius, Un Esprit pefant, lourd, fans fubtilité, ni gentilleffe "UN GROSS CHEVAL D'ALLEMAGNE." Here I profefs to go oppofite to the whole stream of commentators. I think the poet only aimed, tho' aukwardly, at an elegant Grecifm in this representation; for in that language the word "Tos [Horfe] was often prefixed to others, to denote greatners or ftrength; as ἱππολαπαθιν, ἱππόλωσε σον, ἱππομαραθρο, and particularly :ΠΠΟΓΝΩΜΩΝ, a great connoiffeur, which comes neareft to the cafe in hand. SCIP. MAFF. VER. 199. the ftreams.] The River Cam, running by the walls of thefe Colleges, which are particularly famous for their skill in Difputation. VER. 2 2. fleeps in Port.] viz. " Now retired into harbour, "after the tempefts that had long agitated his fociety." So Scriblerus. But the learned Scipio Maffei understands it of a certain Wine called Port, from Oporto a city of Portugal, of Before them march'd that awful Ariftarch; Plow'd was his front with many a deep Remark: REMARKS. 205 210 which this Profeffor invited him to drink abundantly. SCIP MAFF. De Compotationibus Academicis. VER. 205. His Hat, &c.—So upright Quakers please both Man and God,] The Hat-worship, as the Quakers call it, is an abomination to that fect: yet, where it is neceffary to pay that respect to man (as in the Courts of Justice and Houses of Parliament) they have, to avoid offence, and yet not violate their confcience, permitted other people to uncover them. VER. 210. Ariftarchus.] A famous Commentator and Corrector of Homer, whofe name has been frequently used to fignify a complete Critic. The Compliment paid by our author to this eminent Profeffor, in applying to him fo great à Name, was the reason that he hath omitted to comment on this part which contains his own praises. We shall therefore fupply that lofs to our best ability. IMITATIONS. VER. 207. He, kingly, did but nod;] Milton. Declin'd not-— VER. 210.—is Ariftarchus yet unknown ? -Sic notus Ulyffes ? Daft thou not feel me, Rome? SCRIBL. VIRG. Ben: Johnfon. |