Nonsense precipitate, like running lead, That slipt through cracks and zigzags of the head; All that on Folly Frenzy could beget, 125 Fruits of dull heat, and sooterkins of wit. Next, o'er his books his eyes began to roll, In pleasing memory of all he stole; How here he sip'd, how there he plunder'd snug, REMARKS. 130 135 our Author: "Pert and dull at least you might have al"lowed me. What! am I only to be dull, and dull "still, and again, and for ever?" He then solemnly appealed to his own conscience, that he could not think himself so, or believe that our Poet did; but "that he spoke worse of him than he could possibly "think; and concluded it must be merely to shew his wit, "or for some profitor lucre to himself." Life of C.C.ch.vii. and Letter to Mr. P. p. 15, 47, 53. And to shew his claim to what the Poet was so unwilling to allow him, of being pert as well as dull, he declares he will have the last word; which occasioned the following epigram: Quoth Cibber to Pope, though in verse you foreclose, i have the last word; for, by G---, I'll write prose. Poor Colly! tiry reas'ning is none of the strongest, For know, the last word is the word that lasts longest. Volume IV. K Or where the pictures for the page atone, 140 And Quarles is sav'd by beauties not his own. And 'scape the martyrdom of jakes and fire: [plete: 345 A Gothic library! of Greece and Rome REMARKS. v. 141. Ogilby the Great.]" John Ogilby was one who, "from a late initiation into literature, made such a pro gress as might well style him the prodigy of his time! "sending into the world so many large volumes! his "translations of Homer and Virgil done to the life, and "with such excellent sculptures: and (what added great grace to his works) he printed them all on special good paper, and in a very good letter," Winstanley, Lives of poets. 7. 142. There, stamp'd with arms, Newcastle shines complete.] "The Dutchess of Newcastle was one who bu sied herself in the ravishing delights of poetry; leav"ing to posterity in print three ample volumes of her studious endeavours." Winstanley, ibid. Langbaine reckons up eight folios of her Grace's, which were usually adorned with gilded covers, and had her coat of arms upon them. v. 146.---worthy Settle, Banks and Broome. The Poet has mentioned these three authors in particular, as they are parallel to our hero in his three capacities: 1. Settle was his brother Laureate, only indeed upon half-pay, for the City instead of the Court; but equally famous for unintelligible flights in his poems on public occasions, such as shows, birth-days, &c. 2. Banks IMITATIONS. v. 140. In the former edi. 66 The page admires new beauties not its own.] But, high above, more solid learning shone, The Classics of an age that heard of none; There Caxton slept, with Wynkyn at his side, One clasp'd in wood, and one in strong cow-hide; 150 There, sav'd by spice, like mummies, many a year, Dry bodies of divinity appear; De Lyra there a dreadful front extends, And here the groaning shelves Philemon bends. REMARKS. was his rival in tragedy, (though more successful) in one of his tragedies, the Earl of Essex, which is yet alive: Anna Boleyn, the Queen of Scots, and Cyrus the Great, are dead and gone. These he dressed in a sort of beggar's velvet, or a happy mixture of the thick fustian and thin prosaic; exactly imitated in Parolla and Isidora, Cæsar 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 masters, not entirely contemptible. v. 194. Carton.] A printer in the time of Edward IV. Richard III. and Henry VII. Wynkyn de Word, his successor, in that of Henry VII. and VIII. v. 153. Nich. de Lyra; or Harpsfield, a very voluminous commentator, whose works, in five vast folios, were printed in 1472. v. 154. 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 compleat library." Winstant.y. VARIATIONS. v. 146. In the first edit. it was Well purg'd, and worthy, W---y, W---s and Bl---. And in the following altered to Wythers, Quarles, and Bloome, on which was the following note: It was printed in the surreptitious editions, W-ly, Of these twelve volumes, twelve of amplest size, 155 Redeem'd from tapers and defrauded pies, Inspir'd he seizes: these an altar raise; Founds the whole pile, of all his works the base: 160 A twisted birth-day ode completes the spire. 165 To the last honors of the Butt and Bays: 179 To this our head like bias to the bowl, VARIATIONS. W--s, who were persons eminent for good life; the one writ the Life of Christ in verse, the other some valuable pieces in the lyric kind, on pious subjects. The line is here restored according to its original. "George Wythers was a great pretender to poetical "zeal against the vices of the times, and abused the "greatest personages in power, which brought upon "him frequent correction. The Marshalsea and New"gate were no strangers to him." Winstanley. Quarles was a dull writer, but an honester man. Bloome's books are remarkable for their cuts. v. 162. A twisted, &c.] In the former edit. And last, a little Ajax tips the spire. Var.---a little Ajar.] In duodecimo, translated from Syphoces, by Tibbald. O! ever gracious to perplex'd mankind, Still spread a healing mist before the mind; Or, if to wit a coxcomb make pretence, Guard the sure barrier between that and sense; Some dæmon stole my pen (forgive th' offence) And once betray'd me into common sense: IMITATIONS. 175 180 185 v. 166. With whom my muse began, with whom shall end.] "A te principium, tibi desinet.---” Virg. Ecl. vin. Εκ Λιος άρχει μεσθα, και εἰς Δία λήγελε Μέσα, The. "Prima dicte mihi, summa dicenda Camoena," or, VARIATIONS. v. 177. Or, if to wit, &c.] In the former edit. |