Then he: Great tamer of all human art! First in my care, and ever at my heart; E'er since Sir Fopling's periwig was praise, Or, if to wit a coxcomb make pretence, Some demon stole my pen (forgive the' offence) IMITATIONS. 166 With whom my Muse began, with whom shall end.] "A te principium, tibi desinet.' VIRG. Ecl. VIII. Εκ Διος αρχωμεσθα, και εις Δια ληγελε Μεσαι. THEOC. 'Prima dicte mihi, summa dicenda Camœna.' HOR. Did the dead letter unsuccessful prove? 198 Yet sure had Heaven decreed to save the state, 195 Hold -to the minister I more incline; To serve his cause, O Queen! is serving thine. REMARKS. 208 George Ridpath, author of a Whig paper, called the Flying Post: Nath. Mist, of a famous Tory journal. W. 197 198 Could Troy be saved―This gray-goose weapon.] Si Pergama dextra Defendi possent, etiam hac defensa fuissent.' VIRG. ibid. 202 This box my thunder, this right hand my god?] 'Dextra mihi Deus, et telum quod missile libro.' VIRGIL, of the Gods of Mezentius And see! thy very Gazetteers give o'er, E'en Ralph repents, and Henley writes no more, REMARKS. 232 217 An happy parody on the famous Moi in Corneille's Medea. 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. W. 'Edward 233 with Ward to ape-and-monkey climes.] Ward, a very voluminous poet in Hudibrastic verse, but best known by the London Spy, in prose. He has of late years IMITATIONS. 229 Unstain'd, untouch'd, &c.] - Felix Priameia virgo! Jussa mori: quæ sortitus non pertulit ullos, Nec victoris heri tetigit captiva cubile! Nos, patria incensa, diversa par æquora vectæ,' &c. VIRG. En. III. Not sulphur-tipp'd, emblaze an ale-house fire! REMARKS. 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. 11. 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 publichouse was not in the city, but in Moorfields. W. 238 240-Tate-Shadwell.] Two of his predecessors in the laurel. IMITATIONS. W. 245 And thrice he lifted high the birth-day brand.] vid. Ovid —of Althæa, on a like occasion, burning her offspring : Tum conata quater flammis imponere torrem, Cœpta quater tenuit.' 250 Now flames the Cid, &c.] -Jam Deiphobi dedit ampla ruinam, Vulcano superante domos; jam proximus ardet VIRGIL, Æn. II. No merit now the dear Nonjuror claims, Moliere's old stubble in a moment flames. Tears gush'd again, as from pale Priam's eyes, When the last blaze sent Ilion to the skies. Roused by the light, old Dulness heaved the head, Then snatch'd a sheet of Thulé from her bed; 258 Sudden she flies, and whelms it o'er the pyre: Down sinks the flames, and with a hiss expire. Her ample presence fills up all the place; A veil of fogs dilates her awful face: [mayors 263 Great in her charms! as when on shrieves and She looks, and breathes herself into their airs. She bids him wait her to her sacred dome: Well pleased he enter'd, and confess'd his home. So spirits, ending their terrestrial race, Ascend, and recognise their native place. This the great mother dearer held than all 269 The clubs of quidnuncs, or her own Guildhall: Here stood her opium, here she nursed her owls, And here she plann'd the' imperial seat of fools. Here to her chosen all her works she shows, Prose swell'd to verse, verse loitering into REMARKS. prose: 258 Thule.] An unfinished poem by Ambrose Philips. IMITATIONS. 263 Great in her charms! as when on shrieves and mayors She looks, and breathes herself into their airs.] Alma parens confessa deam; qualisque videri Coelicolis, et quanta solet.' Et lætos oculis afflavit honores.' 269 This the great mother, &c. 'Urbs antiqua fuit VIRG. Æn. II. Id. Æn. I. Quam Juno fertur terris magis omnibus unam |