Imbuti fpectent. quid cenfes, munera terrae ? Quid, maris extremos Arabas ditantis et Indos? Ludicra, quid, 'plaufus, et amici dona Quiritis? g Quo fpectanda modo, quo fenfu credis et ore? b Qui timet his adverfa, fere miratur eodem Quo cupiens pacto: pavor eft utrobique moleftus: Improvifa fimul fpecies exterret utrumque : Gaudeat, an doleat; cupiat, metuatne; quid ad rem, Si, quidquid vidit melius pejufve fua fpe, Defixis oculis, animoque et corpore torpet? * Infani fapiens nomen ferat, aequus iniqui; Ultra fatis eft, virtutem fi petat ipfam. quam NOTES. dignity of the whole thought. He gives it the appellation of a dreadful All, because the immenfity of God's creation, which modern philofophy has fo infinitely enlarged, is apt to affect narrow minds, who meafure the divine comprehenfion by their own, with dreadful fufpicions of man's being overlooked in this dark and narrow corner of exiftence, by a Governor occupied and bufied with greater matters. VER. 21. In either cafe, believe me, we admire;] i. e. Thefe objects, in either cafe, affect us, as objects unknown Admire we then what 'Earth's low Entrails hold, All the mad trade of Fools and Slaves for Gold? If weak the pleasure that from these can spring, NOTES. affect the mind; and confequently betray us into false judg ments. VER. 22. Whether we joy or grieve, the fame the curfe, Surpriz'd at better, or furpriz'd at worfe.] The elegance of this is fuperior to the Original. The curfe is the fame (fays he) whether we joy or grieve. Why fo? Because, in either cafe, the man is furprized, hurried off, and led away captive. "(The good or bad to one extreme betray "Th' unbalanc'd Mind, and fnatch the Man away)" This happy advantage of the Imitation over the Original, arifes from the ambiguity of the word furprize. VER. 27. The worst of Madmen is a Saint run mad.] Because when men are carried away by their Paffions, as all I nunc, argentum et marmor" vetus, aeraque et artes Sufpice: cum gemmis " Tyrios mirare colores: Gaude, quod fpectant oculi te° mille loquentem: Gnavus' mane forum, et vefpertinus pete tectum; Ne plus frumenti dotalibus emetat agris Mutus, et (indignum; quod fit pejoribus ortus) * Hic tibi fit potius, quam tu mirabilis illi. 'Quicquid fub terra eft, in apricum proferet aetas; NOTES. Madmen are, he, who has joined the caufe of God to his own, must needs do the most mischief; as this union gives him additional vigour in the purfuit of his extravagancies, and impreffes additional reverence for them on his Followers. VER. 30. Procure a TASTE to double the furprize.] This is one of thofe fuperior touches that moft ennoble a perfect piece. He fpeaks here of falfe Tafte, as appears by his directions how to get it; and how to use it when got. Procure a Tafle, fays he: That is, of the Virtuofi; whofe fcience you are to buy for that purpose: for true Tafte, which is from nature, comes of itself. And how are you to use it? Not to cure you of that bane of life, admiration, but to raife and inflame 30 'Go then, and if you can, admire the ftate Of beaming diamonds, and reflected plate; Procure a TASTE to double the furprize, And gaze on "Parian Charms with learned eyes: Be ftruck with bright " Brocade, or Tyrian Dye, Our Birth-day Nobles' fplendid Livery. If not so pleas'd, at ° Council-board rejoice, To fee their Judgments hang upon thy Voice; 35 From 'morn to night, at Senate, Rolls, and Hall, Plead much, read more, dine late, or not at all. But wherefore all this labour, all this ftrife? For Fame, for Riches, for a noble Wife? Shall'One whom Nature, Learning, Birth, confpir'd To form, not to admire, but be admir'd, 40 Sigh, while his Chloe blind to Wit and Worth NOTES. it, by doubling your furprize. And this a false Tafle will always do; there being none fo given to raptures as the Virtuofo-Tribe: whereas the Man of true Tafte finds but few things to approve; and those, he approves with moderation. VER. 44. Yet Time ennobles, or degrades each Line; It brighten'd Craggs's, and may darken thine:] One of the nobleft houses in Europe.-The Original is, "Quicquid fub terra eft, in apricum proferet aetas; "Defodiet, condetque nitentia." Defodiet, condetque nitentia. cum bene notum Porticus Agrippae, et via te confpexerit Appî; Ire tamen reftat, Numa" quo devenit et Ancus. "Si latus aut renes morbo tentantur acuto, Quaere fugam morbi. 'vis recte vivere? quis non? This wants neither force nor elegance; yet is vaftly inferior to the imitation, where avery fine panegyric on two great characters, in the fecond line, gives dignity and eafe to the masterly concifenefs of the first. VER. 3. TULLY, HYDE!] Equal to either, in the miniftry his profeffion; and, where the parallel fails, as it does in the reft of the character, fuperior to both. TULLY'S brighteft characters were frequently tarnished by Vanity and Fa; and HYDE's moft virtuous purposes perverted and defeated by fuperftitious notions concerning the divine origine of Government, and the unlimited obedience of the People. VER. 57. And defp'rate Mifery lays hold on Dover.] There is a prettiness in this expreffion, which depends on its contraf |