So many fpots, like næves on Venus' foil, 55 Blifters with pride fwell'd, which through's flesh did sprout Like rofe-buds, ftuck i' the lilly fkin about. Furore quòd non antè domabili Te mater ambit filiolo cavens Sint memori fine labe malæ." See the late Chriftopher Anftey's "Ad Edvardum Jenner, M.D. Carmen Alcaicum." JOHN WARTON. Ver. 58. Like roferbuds, ftuck the lilly skin about.] "Of his fchool-performances," (fays the great Johnfon, in his Life of Dryden,)" has appeared only a poem on the death of Lord Haftings, compofed with great ambition of fuch conceits as, notwithstanding the reformation begun by Waller and Denham, the example of Cowley ftill kept in reputation. Lord Haftings died of the fmall-pox, and his poet has made of the puftules, firft, rofebuds, and then gems; at laft exalts them into stars; and fays, "No comet need foretel his change drew on, Whofe corpfe might feem a confteilation." Perhaps it may appear at firft fight furprifing, that Dr. Bufby fhould patiently bear fuch thoughts as pervade the whole of this poem on Lord Haftings; but our furprize ceafes when we read the following judicious obfervation of Quintilian, which could not escape the penetration of that great mafter, who confequently fhewed the indulgence here recommended to the exuberant ima gination of a youthful poet. Ne illud quidem quod admonemus indignum eft, ingenia puerorum nimiâ interim emendationis feveritate deficere, Namn et defperant, et dolent, et noviffimè oderunt: et, quod maximè nocet, dum omnia timent, nihil conantur. Quod etiam rufticis notum eft, qui frondibus teneris non putant adhibendam effe falcem, quia reformidare ferrum videntur, et cicatricem nondum pati poffe. Jucundus ergo tum maximè debet effe præceptor, ut quæ alioqui naturâ funt afpera, molli manu leniantur; laudare aliqua, ferre quædam, mutare etiam, redditâ cur id fiat ratione; illuminare interponendo aliquid fui. Quintilian. Inft. Orat. Lib. II. JOHN WARTON, 60 Each little pimple had a tear in it, Had been, who from his death fhould draw their life? Who should, by one rich draught, become whate'er Seneca, Cato, Numa, Cæfar, were? 70 Learn'd, virtuous, pious, great; and have by this An univerfal metempfychofis. Muft all these aged fires in one funeral Expire? all die in one fo young, so fmall? fo Who, had he liv'd his life out, his great fame 75 Had fwol'n 'bove any Greek or Roman name. But hafty winter, with one blaft, hath brought The hopes of autumn, fummer, spring, to nought. Thus fades the oak i' the fprig, i' the blade the corn; Thus without young, this Phoenix dies, new born. 80 Muft then old three-legg'd grey-beards with their gout, Catarrhs, rheums, aches, live three ages out? Time's offals, only fit for the hospital! 84 Muft drunkards, lechers, fpent with finning, live With fuch helps as broths, poffets, phyfic give? None live, but fuch as should die? fhall we meet With none but ghostly fathers in the street? Grief makes me rail; forrow will force its way; And show'rs of tears tempeftuous fighs beft lay. The tongue may fail; but overflowing eyes 91 Will weep out lafting streams of elegies. 95 But thou, O virgin-widow, left alone, Now thy belov'd, heaven-ravish'd spouse is gone, Whose skilful fire in vain ftrove to apply Med'cines, when thy balm was no remedy, With greater than Platonic love, O wed His foul, though not his body, to thy bed: Let that make thee a mother; bring thou forth The ideas of his virtue, knowledge, worth; 100 Ver. 92. ftreams of elegies.] In a very fearce little volume entitled Lachrymæ Mufarum, London, printed by T. N. 1650, communicated to me by Mr. Reed, of Staple Inn, are thirtyfix Elegies, in Greek, Latin, and English, on the death of this Nobleman. Of thefe, twenty-fix are in English, two in Greek, and eight in Latin The concluding copies are this by Dryden, and the Latin copies by Cyril Wyche, Edward Campion, Thomas Adams, Ralph Montague, all Weftminfter fcholars. The Greek copies are figned Joannes Harmarus, Oxonienfis, pixíalgos, and C. W. M. Mærens pofuit. Moft of thefe are written with the fame falfe tafte, which pervades the poem now before us. J. WARTON. Ver. 93. But thou, O virgin widow,] So in another elegy on Lord Haftings, by "Jo. Benyon, Hofp. Lincoln." "Thy love writes maid, yet is half unidow too.” MALONE. Transcribe the original in new copies; give Haftings o' the better part: fo fhall he live In's nobler half; and the great grandfire be Of an heroic divine progeny: An iffue, which to eternity fhall last, Yet but the irradiations which he caft. 105 * The verfes on Lord Haftings in the "Lachrymæ Mufarum," are fubfcribed" Johannes Dryden. Scholæ Weftm. alumnus."It appears from a note of the editor's, that they were fent at a late period in the year (1649), after a great part of the book was printed off, and when it was juft ready for publication. MALONE. TO HIS FRIEND THE AUTHOR, [JOHN HODDESDON], ON HIS DIVINE EPIGRAMS *. THOU haft infpir'd me with thy foul, and I Enliven'd by these sparks divine, their rayes * Mr. Hoddesdon's poetical effufions were published in 8vo. 1650, under the title of "Sion and Parnaffus, or Epigrains on feveral texts of the Old and New Teftament." To this book is prefixed the author's engraved portrait," Etat. 18." by which it appears that he and Dryden were nearly of the fame age. MALONE. Thefe commendatory verfes, which are fubfcribed" J. Dryden, of Trin. C." are here printed from the original edition, which was obligingly communicated by Mr. Malone. JOHN WARton. |