And makes night hideous-Answer him, ye Owls!! "Sense, speech, and measure, living tongues and dead, Let all give way, and Morris may be read." Flow, Welsted, flow! like thine inspirer, Beer,' (00) entitled, Night, a poem: This low He was wholly illiterate, and knew 3 Of this author see the remark on Book ii. ver. 209. But (to be impartial) add to it the following different character of him : Mr. Welsted had, in his youth, raised so great expectations of his future genius, that there was a kind of struggle between the most eminent in the two Universities, which should have the honour of his education. To compound this, he (civilly) became a member of both, and after having passed some time at the one, he removed to the other. From thence he returned to town, where he became 170 the darling Expectation of all the polite writers, whose encouragement he acknowledged in his occasional poems, in a manner that will make no small part of the Fame of his protectors. It also appears from his Works, that he was happy in the patronage of the most illustrious characters of the present age. Encouraged by such a combination in his favour, he published a book of poems, some in the Ovidian, some in the Horatian manner, in both which the most exquisite Judges pronounce he even rivalled his masters. His Love verses have rescued that way of writing from contempt. In his translations, he has given us the very soul and spirit of his author. His Odehis Epistle-his Verses-his Love tale-all, are the most perfect things in all poetry.-Welsted of Himself, Char. of the Times, 8vo, 1728, pp. 23, 24.-POPE [1736]. It should not be forgot to his honour, that he received at one time the sum of 500 pounds for secret service, among the other excellent authors hired to write anonymously for the Ministry. See Report of the Secret Committee, &c., in 1742. POPE and WARBURTON [1743]. See Editor's note. 4 Parody on Denham, Cooper's Hill: O could I flow like thee, and make thy stream My great example, as it is my theme: Though deep, yet clear; though gentle, yet not dull; Strong without rage; without o'erflowing. full!--POPE [1729]. "Ah Dennis! Gildon ah! what ill-starr'd rage 1 The reader, who has seen through the course of these notes, what a constant attendance Mr. Dennis paid to our author and all his works, may perhaps wonder he should be mentioned but twice, and so slightly touched, in this poem. But in truth he looked upon him with some esteem, for having (more generously than all the rest) set his Name to such writings. He was also a very old man at this time. By his own account of himself in Mr. Jacob's Lives, he must have been above three score, and happily lived many years after. So that he was senior to Mr. Durfey, who hitherto of all our poets enjoyed the longest bodily life.-POPE [1736]. 2 Virg. Æn. vi. : Ne tanta animis assuescite bella, Neu patriæ validas in viscera vertite vires Tuque prior, tu parce- sanguis meus! -POPE [1729]. 3 One of these was author of a weekly paper called The Grumbler, as the other was concerned in another called Pasquin, in which Mr. Pope was abused with the Duke of Buckingham, and Bishop of Rochester. They also joined in a piece against his first undertaking to translate the Iliad, intituled Homerides, by Sir Iliad Doggrell, printed 1715. Of the other works of these gentlemen the world has heard no more than it would of Mr. Pope's, had their united laudable endeavours discouraged him from pursuing his studies. How few good works had ever appeared (since men of true 175 180 merit are always the least presuming) had there been always such champions to stifle them in their conception? And were it not better for the public, that a million of monsters should come into the world, which are sure to die as soon as born, than that the serpents should strangle one Hercules in his cradle ?-C. The union of these two authors gave occasion to this Epigram: Burnet and Ducket, friends in spite, Thus Amphisbona (I have read), None knows which leads or which is led, After many editions of this poem, the Equal in wit, and equally polite, Shall this a Pasquin, that a Grumbler write; God and Nature designed.-Sir, you 4 Virg. Æn. vi. : Ille autem paribus quas fulgere cernis in armis, Concordes animæ. And in the fifth, Euryalus, forma insignis viridique juventa, 5 Such places were given at this time to such sort of writers.-POPE and WARBURTON [1743]. 6 Virgil, En. vi., questions and answers in this manner, of Numa: Quis procul ille autem ramis insignis olivæ, Sacra ferens? nosco crines incanaque menta, &c.-POPE [1729]. Read, or peruse; though sometimes used for counsel, "READE 185 THY READ, take thy Counsaile. Thomas Sternhold, in his translation of the first Psalm into English metre, hath wisely made use of this word, The man is blest that hath not bent To wicked READ his ear. But in the last spurious editions of the singing Psalms the word READ is changed into men. I say spurious editions, because not only here, but quite throughout the whole book of Psalms, are strange alterations, all for the worse; and yet the title-page stands as it used to do! and all (which is abominable in any book, much more in a sacred work) is ascribed to Thomas Sternhold, John Hopkins, and others. I am confident, were Sternhold and Hopkins now living they would proceed against the innovators as cheats.-A liberty, which, to say no more of their intolerable alterations, ought by no means to be permitted or approved of by such as are for Uniformity, and have any regard for the old English Saxon tongue."-HEARNE, Gloss. on Rob. of Gloc. artic. REDE. I do herein agree with Mr. Hearne : Little is it of avail to object, that such words are become unintelligible; since they are truly English, men ought to understand them; and such as are for Uniformity should think all alterations in a language strange, abominable, and unwarrantable. Rightly therefore, I say, again, hath our Poet used ancient words, and poured them forth as a precious ointment upon good old Wormius in this place.SCRIBLERUS [POPE, 1729]. 8 Uncouth mortal.-POPE [1729]. On parchment scraps y-fed, and Wormius hight.' (ss) To future ages may thy dulness last, As thou preserv'st the dulness of the past! "There, dim in clouds, the poring Scholiasts mark, Wits, who, like owls, see only in the dark, A Lumber-house of books in ev'ry head, "But, where each Science lifts its modern type, While proud Philosophy repines to show, Dishonest sight! his breeches rent below; Embrown'd with native bronze, lo! Henley stands,' (tt) Tuning his voice, and balancing his hands. 1 Let not this name, purely fictitious, be conceited to mean the learned Olaus Wormius; much less (as it was unwarrantably foisted into the surreptitious editions) our Own antiquary, Mr. Thomas Hearne, who had no way aggrieved our poet, but on the contrary published many curious tracts, which he hath to his great contentment perused. Most rightly are ancient Words here employed, in speaking of such who so greatly delight in the same. We may say not only rightly, but wisely, yea excellently, inasmuch as for the like practice the like praise is given by Mr. Hearne himself, Gloss. to Rob. of Glocester, Artic. BEHETT; "Others say BEHIGHT, promised, and so it is used excellently well by Thomas Norton, in his translation into Metre of the cxvith Psalm, ver. 14: I to the Lord will pay my vows, where the modern innovators, not understanding the propriety of the word (which is truly English, from the Saxon) have most unwarrantably altered it thus, I to the Lord will pay my vows 190 195 200 "In Cumberland they say to hight, for to promise, or row; but HIGHT usually signifies was called; and so it does in the North even to this day, notwithstanding what is done in Cumberland."-Hearne, ibid.-POPE [1729]. See Editor's note. 2 These few lines exactly describe the right verbal critic: the darker his author is, the better he is pleased; like the famous Quack Dector, who put up in his bills, he delighted in matters of difficulty. Somebody said well of these men, that their heads were Libraries out of order.-POPE [1729]. 3 J. Henley the orator; he preached on the Sundays upon Theological matters, and on the Wednesdays upon all other sciences. Each auditor paid one shilling. He declaimed some years against the greatest persons, and occasionally did our author that honour. WELSTED, in Oratory Transactions, N. 1, published by Henley himself, gives the following account of him: "He was born at Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire. From his own parish school he went to St. John's College, in Cambridge. He began there to be uneasy; for it How fluent nonsense trickles from his tongue! Still break the benches, Henley! with thy strain, (u u) Oh worthy thou of Ægypt's wise abodes, A decent priest, where monkeys were the gods! (xx) 205 210 shocked him to find he was commanded to believe against his own judgment in points of religion, philosophy, &c., for his genius leading him freely to dispute all propositions, and call all points to account, he was impatient under those fetters of the free-born mind. Being admitted to Priest's orders, he found the examination very short and superficial, and that it was not necessary to conform to the Christian religion, in order either to Deaconship, or Priesthood." He came to town, and after having for some years been a writer for booksellers, he had an ambition to be so for ministers of State. The only reason he did not rise in the Church, we are told," was the envy of others, and a disrelish entertained of him, because he was not qualified to be a compleat Spaniel." However, he offered the service of his pen to two great men, of opinions and interests directly opposite; by both of whom being rejected, he set up a new Project, and styled himself the Restorer of ancient eloquence. He thought "it as lawful to take a licence from the King and Parliament at one place, as another; at Hickes's Hall, as at Doctor's Commons; so set up his Oratory in Newport Market, Butcher Row. There (says his friend) he VOL. IV.-POETRY, had the assurance to form a plan, which no mortal ever thought of; he had success against all opposition; challenged his adversaries to fair disputations, and none would dispute with him; writ, read, and studied twelve hours a-day; composed three dissertations a week on all subjects; undertook to teach in one year what schools and universities teach in five; was not terrified by menaces, insults, or satires, but still proceeded, matured his bold scheme, and put the Church, and all that in danger."WELSTED, Narrative in Orat. Transact. N. 1. After having stood some prosecutions, he turned his rhetoric to buffoonery upon all public and private occurrences. All this passed in the same room; where sometimes he broke jests, and sometimes that bread which he called the Primitive Eucharist. This wonderful person struck medals, which he dispersed as tickets to his subscribers: The device, a star rising to the meridian, with this motto, AD SVMMA; and below, INVENIAM VIAM AVT FACIAM. This man had an hundred pounds a year given him for the secret service of a weekly paper of unintelligible nonsense, called the Hyp-Doctor.-POPE [1729]. See Editor's note. N |