210 Now pox on those who fhew a Court in wax! 215 220 As the fair fields they fold to look so fine. Wants reach all states; they beg but better drest, 225 NOTES. Painted licenfing plays, which about this time occafioned great debates in the House of Lords, and a very spirited and remarkable speech of Lord Chesterfield in behalf of play writers: "Wit," faid he, my Lords, is the property of thofe who have it; and very often the only property they have. Thank Heaven, my Lords, we are otherwife provided for." The firft play that was prohibited by this act, was Gustavus Vafa, by Brooke; the next was the Ed. ward and Eleonora of Thomfon. WARTON. VER. 220. our flage give rules,] Alluding to the Authority of the Lord Chamberlain. WARBURTON. Shall find their wardrobes inventory. Now Great ftains and holes in them, but venial And then by Durer's rules furvey the state Of his each limb, and with ftrings the odds tries So in immaculate clothes, and Symmetry Perfect as Circles, with fuch nicety NOTES. As VER. 227. Like frigates fraught] Here is a very close refemblance to the picture of Dalilah, in Samfon Agonies : 230 Painted for fight, and effenc'd for the smell, Like frigates fraught with fpice and cochine❜l, Sail in the Ladies: how each pyrate eyes So weak a veffel, and fo rich a prize! Top-gallant he, and fhe in all her trim, He boarding her, the ftriking fail to him: "Dear Countefs! you have charms all hearts to hit!” And "Sweet Sir Fopling! you have fo much wit!” Such wits and beauties are not prais'd for nought, For both the beauty and the wit are bought. 'Twould burst ev'n Heraclitus with the spleen, To fee those anticks, Fopling and Courtin: The Prefence feems, with things fo richly odd, The mofque of Mahound, or fome queer Pa-god. See them furvey their limbs by Durer's rules, Of all beau-kind the beft proportion'd fools! Adjust their clothes, and to confeffion draw Thofe venial fins, an atom, or a straw; 235 240 But NOTES. VER. 240. by Durer's rules,] The best Painter Germany ever produced; he was patronized and beloved by Maximilian I. and by Charles V. and, what was of more consequence to an artist, by Raphael himself, who fent him feveral defigns, and his own portrait. He formed himself on no other painter, had a manner of his own, which indeed was hard; he wanted grace, and had not ftudied the antique, and copied only common nature and the forms before him. He attended not to Cofume. His Madonna's were dreft like German ladies, and his Jews had beards and muftacchios. See a most judicious Criticism on the Works and Talents of Albert Durer, by a living painter of great genius and learning, Mr. Fufeli, in the third volume of that entertaining publication, intitled, Anecdotes of fome diftinguished Perfons, p. 234. WARTON. As a young Preacher at his first time goes To preach, he enters, and a lady which owes So much as at Rome would ferve to have thrown And whispers by Jefu fo oft, that a Pursuevant would have ravish'd him away That they each other plague, they merit it. Whofe cloak his fpurs tear, or whom he spits on, He meant to cry; and though his face be as ill NOTES. Tyr'd, VER. 256. or Gonfon] Sir John Gonfon, the famous police magiftrate, was as celebrated in his day, in the annals of Justice, as one of his fucceffors in office, Sir John Fielding, has been fince. His portrait is introduced in Hogarth's Harlot's Progrefs. VER. 262. The Captain's honeft,] Much resembling Noll Bluff, in Congreve's Old Batchelor, who was copied from Thrafo, and alfo from Ben Jonfon. WARTON. But oh! what terrors must distract the foul 245 They march, to prate their hour before the Fair. Let but the Ladies fmile, and they are bleft: Nature made ev'ry Fop to plague his brother, 255 259 But here's the Captain that will plague them both, He fpits fore-right; his haughty cheft before, Like batt'ring rams, beats open ev'ry door: 265 And with a face as red, and as awry, 270 Frighted, |