PAGE 110. 1. 18. No human Footstep marks the track less sand. And thus PETRARCH, Dove vestigio uman l'arena stampi. F. D. PAGE 111. 1. 20. The seat of Sacred Troy is found no more. Amidst the disputes that have harassed the learned World on this subject, I am glad to subjoin the opinion of my Brother, Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge, who has so lately visited TROY; and, after a minute examination of every particular on the spot, has been convinced that such a City did exist, as was described by Homer.-" Travellers visiting the Plain of TROY in search of Columns, or Statues, by which the scite of ancient ILIUM may be determined, are not less idly occupied, than those persons who have pretended to discover such remains: the latter class, have fallen into the error of the Painter, employed by Comte de Caylus, (See Winkelmann, liv. iv. ch. 8. Note,) to illustrate the Picture by Polygnotus at Delphi, according to Pausanias; who ornamented the City of Troy with Columns, and Statues of Marble-Monuments of the Arts, that were unknown at the time of the Trojan War. All that we can expect to discover, in order to identify the Scene of that War, are the features of Nature as described by Homer; and these are found, precisely answering his description." E. D. C.--Dr. Chandler has lately considered this subject in his History of Troy. PAGE 112. 1. 7. Whose gleam directed loved LEANDER o'er A few years since, a servant of the Neapolitan Consul at the Dardanelles, swam across the Hellespont; and, after a short walk on the Asiatic Coast, returned back in safety, notwithstanding the extreme rapidity of the Current. E. D. C. PAGE ibid. 1. 20. Remote from Ocean lies the DELPHIC Plain. Falconer very properly writes Delphic. Swift made a point of writing Delphos, instead of Delphi; and until I had perused Bentley's Dissertation on Phalaris, I thought it should be thus written. Jortin, on this account, says of Swift, that he should have received Instruction from whatever quarter it came; from Wotton, from Bentley, or from Beelzebub."-It was my Relation Dr. Wotton, who first noticed the absurd use of Delphos, for Delphi; see the above Dissertation, (Preface, page 46.) where Bentley defends Dr. Wotton's opinion. Few Travellers have visited DELPHI, although it is perhaps the most interesting, even in its present state, of all that were Grecian Cities. Some remains of its celebrated Temples may still be seen, astonishing by their prodigious size and workmanship. But the beauty of the Castalian Spring, adorned with wild and hanging foliage, surrounded by the precipices, and rocks of Parnassus, is unequalled. E. D. C. PAGE 116. 1. 8. Th' impelling Floods, that lash her to the Shore: Falconer was too fond of Similes, particularly in the third Edition, where the following was introduced after the above line: "As some benighted Traveller, through the Shade, Explores the devious path with heart dismay'd; While prowling Savages behind him roar, And yawning pits, and quagmires lurk before And after the ninth, and tenth Lines in the same Page, "As some fell Conqueror, frantic with success, Sheds o'er the Nations ruin and distress." Both these Similes come too quick after that of the retreating army. In this, and other similar instances, I have preferred the second Edition. PAGE 117. After the second Line, the second Edition reads, "Such flaming horror, Amos' a Son foretold, Down-rushing on th' Assyrian King of old." And in the same Page, subsequent to the fourth Line, in the same Edition, "Aghast on deck the shivering Wretches stood,. While Fear, and chill Despair congealed their blood: And lo! all terrible, THE KING OF KINGS Thro' the sad Sky, arrayed in lightning, springs: a Isaiah, chap. xxx. Tremendous panoply! his right arm bare Red burning, shoots destruction through the air! After the two lines that follow, are also inserted, "Wide bursts in dazzling sheets the sulphured Flame, PAGE 118. 1. 8. Forth issues o'er the Wave the weeping Morn! It is to be lamented that FALCONER did not here describe that beautiful phenomenon called the MARINE RAINBOW, which is sometimes observed in a Sea much agitated. Twenty or thirty may be seen together, and in a position opposite to that of the common Bow. The Weeping Morn has been selected by Mr. Pocock as the subject of a large Marine Picture, which he executed with his usual Genius. PAGE 119. last line. still they dread her broaching-to. The great difficulty of steering the Ship at this time before the Wind, is occasioned by its striking her on the quarter, when she makes the least angle on either side; which often forces her Stern round, and brings her broadside to the Wind and Sea: this is an effect of the same cause which is explained in the last note of the second Canto. FALCONER. PAGE 120. 1. 7, 8. Not half so dreadful to Æneas' eyes The Straits of SICILY were seen to rise, ` Alluding to the following beautiful passage in Virgil, (NEID. iii. v. 554.) "Tum procul è fluctu TRINACRIA cernitur Ætna, After this allusion, the second edition inserts the following lines: "So they attempt St. GEORGE's Shoals to clear, Which close beneath the larboard Beam appear." PAGE 123. 1. 5, 6. The Vessel, while the dread Event draws nigh, An Idea equally correct and beautiful, and well un |