Gasps, as they straiten at each end the cord, Too mad for mere material chains to bind, 29 40 Nor could'st thou, Chesterfield! 4 a tear refuse, With mincing step, small voice, and languid eye: ''Mad Mathesis:' alluding to the strange conclusions some mathematicians have deduced from their principles, concerning the real quantity of matter, the reality of space, &c.-P. W.-2 Pure space: i.e. pure and defæcated from mat ter. 'Ecstatic stare :' the action of men who look about with full assurance of seeing what does not exist, such as those who expect to find space a real being — W.—3 'Running round the circle, finds it square:' regards the wild and fruitless attempts of squaring the circle.-P. W.- 'Nor couldst thou,' &c. : this noble person in the year 1737, when the act aforesaid was brought into the House of Lords, opposed it in an excellent speech (says Mr Cibber), 'with a lively spirit, and uncommon eloquence.' This speech had the honour to be answered by the said Mr Cibber, with a lively spirit also, and in a manner very uncommon, in the 8th chapter of his Life and Manners.-P.-5 Harlot form the attitude given to this phantom represents the nature and genius of the Italian Opera; its affected airs, its effeminate sounds, and the practice of patching up these operas with favourite songs, incoherently put together. These things were supported by the subscriptions of the nobility. This circumstance, that Opera should prepare for the opening of the grand sessions, was prophesied of in book iii. ver. 301, By singing peers upheld on either hand, She tripp'd and laugh'd, too pretty much to stand; Then thus in quaint recitativo spoke : 1 49 60 Joy to great Chaos! let division reign : And all the nations summon'd to the throne. 'Division reign:' alluding to the false taste of playing tricks in music with numberless divisions, to the neglect of that harmony which conforms to the sense, and applies to the passions. Mr Handel had introduced a great number of hands, and more variety of instruments into the orchestra, and employed even drums and cannon to make a fuller chorus; which proved so much too manly for the fine gentlemen of his age, that he was obliged to remove his music into Ireland. After which they were reduced, for want of composers, to practise the patch-work above mentioned.-P. W.-2 Chromatic' that species of the ancient music called the Chromatic was a variation and embellishment, in odd irregularities, of the diatonic kind. They say it was invented about the time of Alexander, and that the Spartans forbad the use of it, as languid and effeminate.-W.-Wake the dull church, and lull the ranting stage :' i.e. dissipate the devotion of the one by light and wanton airs; and subdue the pathos of the other by recitative and sing-song.—W. The young, the old, who feel her inward sway, Who, gently drawn, and struggling less and less, Nor absent they, no members of her state, There march'd the bard and blockhead, side by side, Who rhymed for hire, and patronised for pride. Narcissus,1 praised with all a parson's power, Look'd a white lily sunk beneath a shower. There moved Montalto with superior air ; His stretch'd-out arm display'd a volume fair; 1 'Narcissus :' Lord Hervey. Courtiers and patriots in two ranks divide, 107 Through both he pass'd, and bow'd from side to side; Composed he stood, bold Benson1 thrust him by : On whom three hundred gold-capp'd youths await, When Dulness, smiling-Thus revive the wits! A new edition of old son gave ; 120 Let standard authors, thus, like trophies borne, A page, a grave, that they can call their own; So by each bard an alderman3 shall sit, A heavy lord shall hang at every wit, 130 Bold Benson :' this man endeavoured to raise himself to fame by erecting monuments, striking coins, setting up heads, and procuring translations of Milton; and afterwards by as great passion for Arthur Johnston, a Scotch physician's version of the Psalms, of which he printed many fine editions. See more of him, book iii. v. 325.-P. W.-2 The decent knight:' Sir Thomas Hanmer, who was about to publish a very pompous edition of a great author, at his own expense.-P. W.-3 So by each bard an alderman,' &c. : alluding to the monument of Butler erected by Alderman Barber. VARIATIONS. 'What! no respect, he cried, for Shakspeare's page?' And while on Fame's triumphal car they ride, 133 Some slave of mine be pinion'd to their side.' Now crowds on crowds around the goddess press, Each eager to present the first address. Dunce scorning dunce beholds the next advance, 140 And holds his breeches close with both his hands. Then thus: Since man from beast by words is known, Words are man's province, words we teach alone. 150 Points him two ways, the narrower is the better. To ask, to guess, to know, as they commence, 160 The Samian letter: the letter Y, used by Pythagoras as an emblem of the different roads of Virtue and Vice. Et tibi quæ Samios diduxit litera ramos.'--Pers. P. W. |