But grave Epiftles, bringing Vice to light, F. Indeed? 150 The Cafe is alter'd-you may then proceed; •In fuch a cause the Plaintiff will be hifs'd, My Lords the Judges laugh, and you're dismiss'd. NOTES. 155 At the time this Poem was written, there was a great outcry by the Opposition against the "Standing Army:" Hence Pope's oblique Satire, Save but our Army!" In a debate on this fubject in the House of Commons, Lord Hervey said, "The reduction of the army was always the occafion of fome machination against us. In the late King's reign, the fmall number of forces was the cause of the Rebellion in 1715. When that disturbance was quelled, the army was no fooner reduced, but we were threatened with infurrection at home, and invafion from Spain." He added, "Though every thing be now quiet, yet the libels that are every day published against the Government, and the many fcribblers employed to fow diffenfion and difaffection, is an evident fign that we have many enemies in our bofom, who would probably think of other weapons than the pen, if we should make a great reduction in our army. Mr. Plumer, in reply, faid, "He could not fee how the number of fcribblers was a fufficient reason for a standing army; if jcribbling made the Government uneasy, the best way would be to employ of fcribblers to defend them." an army Parliamentary Debates for 1732. Lord Hervey's antipathy to fcribblers may be easily accounted for. What Plumer recommended, was the very system Sir Robert Walpole pursued. He had his Hoft of Scribblers, against the formidable Artillery of the Craftsman, a paper directed by Bolingbroke; his own unfhaken confidence, and manly energies in the House, against the wit of Pulteney, the eloquence of Chefterfield, and all the arts, fchemes, and contrivances of Bolingbroke, VOL. IV. in Opprobriis dignum laceraverit, integer ipfe? T. Solventur rifu tabulæ : tu miffus abibis. NOTES. But the Imitator's grave Epiftles fhew the fatire to be a serious reproof, and therefore juflifiable; which the integer ipfe of the ori ginal does not. WAS BURTON. VER. 13. F. Indeed?] Hor. "Solventur rifu tabulæ." Some Critics tell us, it is want of Tafe to put this line in the mouth of Trebatius. But our Poet confutes this cenfure, by fhewing how well the fenfe of it agrees to his Friend's Character. The Lawyer is cautious and fearful; but as foon as Sir ROBERT; the Patron both of Law and Gofpel, is named as approving them, he changes his note, and, in the language of old Plouden, owns, the Cafe is alter'd Now was it not as natural, when Horace had given him a hint that Auguflus himself fupported him, for Trebatius, a Court Advocate, who had been long a Client to him and his uncle, to confefs the Cafe was alter'd? WARBURTON. To laugh at the folemnity of Trebatius, which throughout the Dialogue is exactly kept up, Horace puts him off with a mere play upon words. But our important Lawyer takes no notice. of the jet, and finishes with a gravity fuited to his character: "Solventur rifu tabulæ : tu miffus abibis." WARTON. Four lines in this Imitation "gave great offence," fays Ruff head, (and well they might,) "to two court Ladies." The per. fons he means were M. W. Montagu, defignated by Sappho, and Lady Deloraine, fuppofed to be intended by Delia. Lady M. W. Montagu requested Lord Peterborough to expoftulate with Pope. Pope's defence, as ufual, was half subterfuge, and half falsehood. Lord Peterborough, in his answer to Lady M., fays, "He (Pope) named to me four remarkable poetesses and scribblers, Mrs. Behn, Mrs Centlivre, Mrs. Haywood, and Mrs. Manly, famous in their generation, &c affuring me that fuch only were the objects of his fatire. I hope this affurance will prevent further mistake, and any confequences upon fo ODD a subject. Your Ladyfhip's, &c. PETERBOROUGH." At But grave Epiftles, bringing Vice to light, F. Indeed? 150 The Cafe is alter'd-you may then proceed; •In fuch a caufe the Plaintiff will be hifs'd, My Lords the Judges laugh, and you're dismiss'd. NOTES. 155 At the time this Poem was written, there was a great outcry by the Opposition against the "Standing Army:" Hence Pope's oblique Satire, "Save but our Army!" In a debate on this fubject in the House of Commons, Lord Hervey faid, "The reduction of the army was always the occasion of fome machination against us. In the late King's reign, the fmall number of forces was the caufe of the Rebellion in 1715. When that disturbance was quelled, the army was no fooner reduced, but we were threatened with infurrection at home, and invafion from Spain." He added, "Though every thing be now quiet, yet the libels that are every day published against the Government, and the many fcribblers employed to fow diffenfion and difaffection, is an evident fign that we have many enemies in our bofom, who would probably think of other weapons than the pen, if we should make a great reduction in our army " Mr. Plumer, in reply, faid, "He could not fee how the number of fcribblers was a fufficient reason for a standing army; if scribbling made the Government uneafy, the best way would be to employ of fcribblers to defend them." an army Parliamentary Debates for 1732. Lord Hervey's antipathy to scribblers may be easily accounted for. What Plumer recommended, was the very system Sir Robert Walpole pursued. He had his Hoft of Scribblers, against the formidable Artillery of the Craftsman, a paper directed by Bolingbroke; his own unfhaken confidence, and manly energies in the House, against the wit of Pulteney, the eloquence of Chefterfield, and all the arts, fchemes, and contrivances of Bolingbroke, VOL. IV. Н in in the back ground; and he had a ftanding Army, against any open attempts of the Pretender. With this policy, and with these armies, Sir Robert Walpole faved the state. Upon the whole, this Imitation is highly polished and pointed; but the reader muft fmile at Pope's impartial glafs, when he contemplates the picture which he, with fo much complacency, has exhibited of himself. |