Clarus ob id factum, donis ornatur honeftis, NOTES. Civilifque it, though the avaricious character of Lucullus was a tempting occafion to indulge his raillery. W. VER. 45. Its name] An idle, expletive line. As also is verfe 49, below, Don't you remember; evidently taken from Dacier; ne favez vous l'hiftoire du foldat de Lucullus? VER. 50. D'ye think me,] Dunkin's translation of these two lines is Horatian; An't please you, Captain, let another trudge it, The man may venture, who has loft his budget. VER. 51. Let him take caftles who has ne'er a groat.] This has neither the force nor the juftness of the Original. Horace makes his Soldier fay, – Ibit, "Ibit eo, quo vis, qui zonam perdidit ;" far it was not his poverty, but his lofs, that pushed him upon danger; many being fufficient to poverty, who cannot bear the fud den Next pleas'd his Excellence a town to batter; (Its name I know not, and 'tis no great matter,) 45 "Go on, my Friend, (he cry'd,) fee yonder walls! "Advance and conquer! go where glory calls! "More honours, more rewards, attend the brave.” Don't you remember what reply he gave? "D'ye think me, noble Gen'ral, such a fot? "Let him take caftles who has ne'er a groat." f Bred up at home, full early I begun, To hunt for Truth in Maudlin's learned grove.) And certain Laws, by fuff'rers thought unjust, 50 55 60 Hopes NOTES. den change of condition occafioned by loffes. What betrayed our Poet into this inaccuracy of expreffion was, its fuiting better with the application. But, in a great Writer, we pardon nothing. And fuch should not forget, that the expreffion is not perfect, but when the ideas it conveys fit both the tale and the application: for then they reflect mutual light upon one another. W. VER. 53. To read in Greek the wrath of Peleus' fon.] This circumstance has a happier application in the Imitation than in the Original; and properly introduces the 68th verfe. VER. 55. The better art] Dacier interprets the words, curve dignofcere reclum, the study of geometry, which is rather abfurd. VER. 57. In Maudlin's learned grove.] He had a partiality for this college in Oxford, in which he had spent many agreeable days with his friend Mr. Digby, who provided rooms for him at that College. Civilifque rudem belli tulit æftus in arma, Ut verfus facerem: fed, quod non defit, habentem, Singula de nobis anni prædantur euntes ; Eripuere jocos, venerem, convivia, ludum; Tendunt extorquere poemata. quid faciam vis? NOTES. Denique VER. 63. Mighty WILLIAM's] Horace ufes fome very artful and apologetical terms, in the Original, in speaking of the part he had taken against Auguftus. Dura tempora-belli æftus civilis— Augufti facertis dimifere-decifis pennis-for being totally plundered. VER. 64. For Right Hereditary] Admirable as these lines are, yet, from the nature of the fubject, they cannot be fo interesting as the events in Horace's life; the inconveniency Pope laboured under from being a papist, and subject to penal laws, are not fo ftriking as Horace's being taken from Athens by Brutus; and having the command of a Roman legion given to him; being prefent at the battle of Philippi; and lofing all his property for his attachment to Brutus and his republican friends. Dacier, like a true Frenchman, imagines, that a want of proper officers induced Brutus to give Horace this command in the army. Did he not recollect or know, that great numbers of young Romans, of spirit and ability, flocked to the standard of Brutus, and appeared forward in fupporting the great cause of liberty? VER. 69. Indebted to no Prince or Peer alive,] Indeed, it would be very hard upon Authors, if the subscribing for a book, which does honour to one's age and country, and confequently reflects back Hopes after hopes of pious Papists fail'd, While mighty WILLIAM's thund'ring arm prevail'd. He stuck to poverty with peace of mind; But, (thanks to Homer,) fince I live and thrive, Sure I fhould want the care of ten Monroes, If I would fcribble, rather than repose. 65 70 3 Years following years, steal something ev'ry day, At last they steal us from ourselves away; In one our Frolics, one Amusements end, That turn'd ten thousand verses, now stand still? 75 NOTES. But back part of it on the Subscribers, should be esteemed a debt or obligation. W. VER. 70. Monroes,] Dr. Monroe, Physician to Bedlam Hofpital. W. VER. 73. At laft they fleal us from ourselves away;] i. e. Time changes all our paffions, appetites, and inclinations. W. VER. 74. In one our Frolics,] Thefe two lines are languid in comparison of the brevity of the Original; jocos, venerem, convivia, ludum; Languid alfo is verse 80, what would you have me do? and verfe 85 is too quaint and proverbial. Also in verse 88, inftead of the fingle word, præterea, he has given a whole line. But on the other hand, the verfes 90 and 91, are very forcible. h Denique non omnes eadem mirantur amantque. Carmine tu gaudes: his delectatur iambis; Ille Bioneis fermonibus, et fale nigro. Tres mihi convivæ prope diffentire videntur, Quid dem? quid non dem? renuis quod tu, jubet alter: NOTES. Intervalla VER. 83. And that Pindaric lays?] Of our modern Lyric Poetry, the English is Pindaric, and the Latin, Horatian. The firft is like boiled meats, of different tastes and flavours, but all infipid: The other, like the fame meats potted, all of one fpicey tafte, and equally high-flavoured. The reafon is, the English ode-makers only imitate Pindar's fenfe; whereas the Latin employ the very words of Horace. W. The note on this paffage concerning our common modern lyric poetry, was written fome years before Gray had fo effectually vindicated this species of poetry from the objections here made to it. VER. 87. Oldfield-Dartineuf] Two celebrated gluttons.This instance adds a beauty to the whole passage, as intimating that the demand for verfe is only a fpecies of luxury. But it does not appear to be at all intimated. W. VER. 93. A Poet begs, &c.] Many are the poets who could not do justice to their works by reading them with propriety. Corneille, Dryden, and Thomson, were remarkably bad readers. On the contrary, Virgil, Racine, and Boileau, and above all Nat Lee, were most excellent reciters. Juft reading is an uncommon talent. The Duke de la Rochefoucault would never become a member of the French Academy, left he fhould expofe himself by his pronunciation of the fpeech neceffary on that occafion. I had once the |