taken to settle it upon him for life.

And it hath

been the practice of our princes, never to remove from the station of Poet Laureate any man who hath once been chosen, though never so much greater geniuses might arise in his time. A noble instance how much the charity of our monarchs hath exceeded their love of fame.

We

To come now to the intent of this paper. have here the whole ancient ceremonial of the Laureate. In the first place, the crown is to be mixed with vine leaves, as the vine is the plant of Bacchus, and full as essential to the honour, as the butt of sack to the salary.

Secondly, the brassica must be made use of as a qualifier of the former. It seems the cabbage was anciently accounted a remedy for drunkenness; a power the French now ascribe to the onion, and style a soup made of it, Soupe d'ivrogne. I would recommend a large mixture of the brassica if Mr. Dennis be chosen; but if Mr. Tibbald, it is not so necessary, unless the cabbage be supposed to signify the same thing with respect to poets as to tailors, viz. stealing. I should judge it not amiss to add another plant to this garland, to wit, ivy; not only as it anciently belonged to poets in general, but as it is emblematical of the three virtues of a court poet in particular; it is creeping, dirty, and dangling.

In the next place, a canticle must be composed and sung in laud and praise of the new poet. If Mr. Cibber be laureated, it is my opinion no man

can write this but himself; and no man, I am sure, can sing it so affectingly. But what this canticle should be, either in his or the other candidate's case, I shall not pretend to determine.

Thirdly, there ought to be a public show, or entry of the poet; to settle the order or procession of which, Mr. Anstis and Mr. Dennis ought to have a conference. I apprehend here two difficulties: one, of procuring an elephant; the other, of teaching the poet to ride him. Therefore I should imagine the next animal in size or dignity would do best; either a mule or a large ass; particularly if that noble one could be had, whose portraiture makes so great an ornament of the Dunciad, and which (unless I am misinformed) is yet in the park of a nobleman near this city:— unless Mr. Cibber be the man; who may, with great propriety and beauty, ride on a dragon, if he goes by land; or if he choose the water, upon one of his own swans from Cæsar in Egypt.

We have spoken sufficiently of the ceremony; let us now speak of the qualifications and privileges of the Laureate. First, we see he must be able to make verses extempore, and to pour forth innumerable, if required. In this I doubt Mr. Tibbald. Secondly, he ought to sing, and intrepidly, patulo ore: here, I confess the excellency of Mr. Cibber. Thirdly, he ought to carry a lyre about with him. If a large one be thought too cumbersome, a small one may be contrived to

hang about the neck, like an order, and be very much a grace to the person. Fourthly, he ought to have a good stomach, to eat and drink whatever his betters think fit; and therefore it is in this high office as in many others, no puny constitution can discharge it. I do not think Cibber or Tibbald here so happy: but rather a stanch, vigorous, seasoned, and dry old gentleman, whom I have in my eye.

I could also wish at this juncture, such a person as is truly jealous of the honour and dignity of poetry; no joker, or trifler, but a bard in good earnest; nay, not amiss if a critic, and the better if a little obstinate. For when we consider what great privileges have been lost from this office (as we see from the forecited authentic record of Jovius), namely, those of feeding from the prince's table, drinking out of his own flagon, becoming even his domestic and companion; it requires a man warm and resolute, to be able to claim and obtain the restoring of these high honours. I have cause to fear the most of the candidates would be liable, either through the influence of ministers, or for rewards or favours, to give up the glorious rights of the Laureate. Yet I am not without hopes, there is one, from whom a serious and steady assertion of these privileges may be expected; and, if there be such a one, I must do him the justice to say, it is Mr. Dennis, the worthy president of our society.

* PARALLEL OF THE CHARACTERS OF MR. DRYDEN AND MR. POPE,

AS DRAWN BY CERTAIN OF THEIR CONTEMPORARIES.

MR. DRYDEN, HIS POLITICS, RELIGION, MORALS.

MR. DRYDEN is a mere renegado from monarchy, poetry, and good sense.1 A true republican son of monarchical church. A republican atheist.3 Dryden was from the beginning an αλλοπροσαλλος, and I doubt not will continue so to the last.4

In the poem called Absalom and Achitophel, are notoriously traduced the King, the Queen, the Lords, and Gentlemen; not only their honorable persons exposed, but the whole nation and its representatives notoriously libelled. It is scandalum magnatum, yea, of Majesty itself.5

He

He looks upon God's gospel as a foolish fable, like the Pope, to whom he is a pitiful purveyor. 6 His very Christianity may be questioned. ought to expect more severity than other men, as he is most unmerciful in his reflections on others. 8

1 Milbourn on Dryden's Virgil, 8vo. 1698. p. 6.

2 lb.

p.

38.

3 lb. p. 192.

4 Ib. p. 8.

8 Ib. p. 175.

5 Whip and Key, 4to. printed for R. Janeway, 1682. pref.

6 Ibid.

7 Milbourn, p. 9.

239

PARALLEL OF THE CHARACTERS OF

MR. POPE AND MR. DRYDEN,

AS DRAWN BY CERTAIN OF THEIR CONTEMPORARIES.

MR. POPE, HIS POLITICS, RELIGION, MORALS. MR. POPE is an open and mortal enemy to his country, and the commonwealth of learning.1 Some call him a Popish Whig, which is directly inconsistent. Pope, as a Papist, must be a Tory and High-flier. He is both a Whig and Tory.

4

He hath made it his custom to cackle to more than one party in their own sentiments.5

In his Miscellanies, the persons abused are the King, the Queen, his late Majesty, both Houses of Parliament, the Privy Council, the Bench of Bishops, the established Church, the present Ministry, &c. To make sense of some passages, they must be construed into royal scandal.6

He is a Popish rhymester, bred up with a contempt of the Sacred Writings.7 His religion allows him to destroy heretics, not only with his

Dennis, Rem. on the Rape of the Lock, pref. p. 12. 2 Dunciad Dissected. 3 Pref. to Gulliveriana.

Dennis, Character of Mr. P.

5 Theobald, Letter in Mist's Journal, June 22, 1728. 6 List at the end of a Collection of Verses, Letters, Advertisements, 8vo. printed for A. Moore, 1728, and the preface to it, p. 6.

7 Dennis's Remarks on Homer, p. 27.