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POEMS
AND
P L A Y a
VOL. III.
P O E MS
AND
PLAYS,
By WILLIAM HAYLEY, Esq.
IN SIX VOLUMES.
VOL. lir.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR T. CADELl, IN THE STRANO.
M.DCC.LXXXV.
^ A N
ESSAY
O N
EPIC POETRYj
IN TIVE EPISTLES TO THE REV? Mf MASON.
WITH
N O T E S.
Vatihui adder e calcar
Utjiudio majore petant Helicona virtnhm, HoR.
EPISTLE THE FIRST.
Vol. III. B
ARGUMENT
OF THE FIRST EPISTLE,
IntroduSiion. — Dejign of the Poem to remove preju-
dices which obJiruSf the cultivation of Epic writ^
ing, — Origin of Poetry, — Honors paid to its in^
fancy. — Homer the fir ft Poet remaining,-^ Dijfficulty
of thi quejiion why he had no Succejfor in Greece. —
Remark of a celebrated Writer^ that as Criticifm
flourijhes Poetry declines. — Defence of Critics.-^^'
Danger of a bigoted acquiefcence in critical Syflems
'-^andofa Poet's criticifing his own works* — jld^
vantages of Frifndjhip and Study of the higher
Poets*
A N
ESSAY
O N
EPIC POETRY.
EPISTLE I.
TQERISH that critic pride, which oft has hurPd
Its empty thunders o'er the Epic world i
Which, eager to extend its mimic reigh.
Would bind free Fancy in a fervile chain ;
With papal rage the eye of Genius blind, 5
And bar the gates of Glory on the mind !
B 2 Such
4 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep, L
* Such dark decrees have lettef'd Bigots penn'd * ,
Yet feiz'd that honor'd name, the Poet's Friend.
But Learning from her page their laws will blot ;
Scorn'd be their arrogance ! their name forgot ! lo
Th' indignant B^rd, abhorring bafe controul.
Seeks the juft Critic of congenial foul.
Say ! Mason, Judge apd Mafter of the Lyre I
Harmonious Chief of Britain's living Choir,
Say ! wijt Thou liften to his weaker grains, 55
Who pants to range round Fancy's rich domains ;
To vindicate her empire, and difown
Proud Syftem, ftated on her injur'd throne ?
Come ! while thy Mufe, contented with applaufe.
Gives to her graceful fong a little paufe, 2Q
Enjoying triumphs pafl: ^ at leifure laid
In thy fweet Garden's variegated fhade,
Or fondly hanging on fpmp favorite Oak
That Harp, whofe notes the fate of Mona fpokc,
» Ver. 7. Sec N O T E I.
Strung
EV. I. ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. 5
Strung by the facred Druid'§ fecial band, 25
And wifely trufted to thy kindred hand !
Come ! for thy liberal and ingenuous heart
Can aid a Brother in this magic art ;
Let us, and Freedom be our guide, explore
The higheft province of poetic lore, 30
Free the young Bard from that oppreflive awe.
Which feels Opinion's rule as Reafon's law.
And from his fpirit bid vain fears depart.
Of weaken'd Nature and exhaufled Art !
Phantoms 1 that literary fpleen conceives ! 35
DuUnefs adopts, and Indolence believes !
While with adventurous ftep we wind along
Th' expanfive regions of Heroic fong,
From different fources let our fearch explain
Why few the Chieftains of this wide domain. 40
Haply, infpiriting poetic youth.
Our verfe may prove this animating truth,
.That Poefy's fublimc, negle6led field
May ftill new laurels to Ambition yield ;
B 3 Her
6 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. I.
Her Epic trumpet^ in a modem hand, 45
Still make the fpirit glow, the heart expand.
Be fuch our doctrine ! our enlivening aim
The Mufe's honor, and our Country*s fame I
Thou firft and faireft of the fecial Arts f
Sovereign of liberal fouls,, and feeling hearts I 50
If, in devotion to thy heavenly charms,
I clafpM thy altar witk my infant arms.
For thee neglected the wide field of wealth.
The toils of int'reft, and the fports of health,—
Enchanting Poefy J that zeal repay 55.
With powers to fing thy univerfal fway !
To trace thy progrefs from thy diftant birth.
Heaven's pure defcendant ! dear delight of Earth f
Charm of all regions ! to no age confin'd \
The prime ennobler of th' afpiring mind ! 60
Nor will thy dignity, fweet Power ! difdain
What Fiftion utters in her idle ftrain.
Thy fportive Friend ! who, mocking folemn Truth,.
Tells her fond tales of thy untutor'd youth,
As
Ep. I. ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. f.
As wrong'd Latona (fo her4:ale begins) 65
To Delphos travell'd witK her youthful twins ;
Th' envenom'd Python, with terrific fway,
Crofs'd the &ir Goddefs iii her deftin'd way : /
The heavenly parent, in the wild alarm^
Her little Dian in her anxious arm, 70
High on a ftone, which fhe in terror trod,
Gried to her filial guard, the Archer God,
Bidding with force, that fpoke the Mother's heart.
Her young Apollo launch his ready dart ;
In meafur'd founds her rapid mandate llow'd^ 75
The firft foundation of the future Ode !
Thus, at ^eir'banquets, fabling Greeks rehearfe *.
The fancied origin of facred Vcrfe :
And though cold Reaibn may with fcorn aflail.
Or turn contemptuous from their fimple tale, 80
Yet, Poefy ! thy fiftcr Art may ftoop
From this weak ftetch to paint th' impaffion'd group,
• Vcr. 77. Sec NOTE II.
B 4 , Though
«: ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. I:
Though taftc rcfin'd to modern Vcrfe deny
The hacknied pageants of the Pagan (ky,
Their finking radiance ftill the Canvafs warms, 85
Fainting ftill glories in their graceful forms ;
Nor canft thou envy, if the world agree
T9 grant thy Sifter claims denied to thee ;
For thee, the happier Art ! the elder-bom !
Superior rights and dearer charms adorn : go
Confin'd (he catches, with obfervance keen,
Her fingle moment of the changeful fcene ;
But thoi^^ endu'd with energy fublime,
Unqueftion'd arbiter of fpacc and time !
Canft join the diftant, the unknown create, 95
And, while Exiftence yields thee all her ftate.
On the aftoniih'd mind profufely pour
Myriads of forms, that Fancy muft adore;
Yet bf thy boundlefs power the deareft part
Is firm pofleffion of the feeling Heart : 100
No progeny jof Chance, by Labor taught.
No flow-form*d creature of fcholaftic thought,
The^
Ep. i; essay on epic poetry. ^
The child of PafEon thou ! thy lyre fhe ftrung.
To her parental notes fhe tun'd thy tongue ;
Gave thee her boldeft fwell, her fofteft tone, 105
And made the compafs of iier voice thy own.
To Admiration, fource of joy refin'd !
Chafte, lovely mpver of the fimple mind !
To her, though fceptics, in their pride, declaim.
With many an infult, on her injured name \ IIO
To her, fweet Poefy ! we owe thy birth.
Thou firft encomiaft of the fruitful Earth ! .
By her infpir'd, the earlieft mortal found
The ear-delighting charm of meafur'd (bund ;
He hail'd the Maker of a Vorld fo fair, 1 15
And the firft accent of his fong was prayer.
O, moft attraftive of thofe airy Powers,
Who moft illuminate Man's chequerM hours !
Is there an Art, in all the group divine,
Whofe dawn of Being muft not yield to thine ? 120
Religion's felf, whofe provident controul
Takes from fierce Man his anarchy of foul.
»o ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. K
She o'er tky youth with fond affciStioh hung.
And borrowed mafic from thy infant tongue.
J#3w, fterner Law, whofe potent voice impreft 125
Severeft terror on the human breaft.
With thy frefli flowers her aweful figure crown'd>
And fpoke her mandate in thy fofter founds
E'en cold PMlofophy, whom later days
Saw thy mean rival, envious of thy praife ; 13a
Who clos'd againft thee her ungrateful arms.
And urg'd her Plato to defame thy charms j
She from thy childhood gain'd no feuidefs aid.
From thee fee learnt her talent to perfuade.
Gay Nature view'd thee widi a fmiling glance, 135
The Graces round thee fram'd the frolic dance : ^
And well might feftive Joy thy favor court ;
Thy fong turn'd flrife to peace, and toil to fjport.
Exhaufled Vigor at thy voice reviv'd.
And Mirth from thee her dearefl: charm deriv'd. 140
Triumphant Love, in thy alliance blefl,
Enlarg'd his etopire o'er the gentle breaft -,
His
Ep.l essay. on epic poetry; i%
His torch aflum*d new luftre from thy breath.
And his clear jlamp defied the clouds of death.
But of the fplendid train, who felt thy fway, ^ 145
Or drew exiftence from thy vital ray.
Glory, with fondeft zeal, proclaim'd thy might.
And hail'd thee vi&or of oblivious Night.
Her martial trumpet to- thy hand fh'e gave.
At once to quicken, and reward the Brave : 150
, It founds— 1-fais blood the kindling Hero pays,
A cheap and ready price fpr thy eternal praife !
Tho' felfiih Fear th' immortal ftrain deride.
And mock the Warrior's wiih as frantic pride !
Ye gallant, hapiefe Dead of diftant time, 155
Whofe fame has periih'd unembalm'd in rhyme^
As thro' the defert air your aflies fly.
In Fancy's ear the namelefs atoms cry,
" To us, unhappy T cruel Fates refufe
*' The well-earn'd record of th' applauding Mufe.'*
Bleft are thofe Chiefs, who, blazon'd on het" roll, 161
Still waken virtue iasach kindred foul ;
Their
ti ESSAY ON EMC POETtLY. Ep. I*.
Their bright exiftcnce ftill on earth prolong, >
And fhine for ever in the deathlefs fong.
Yet oft Oblivion, in a treacherous Ihad^, 165
Has funk the tuneful rites td Valor paid j
Her palficd lips refufing to reheaffe
The facred, old, traditionary verfe. ^
As well the curious eye, with keen defire^
Might hope to catch that fpark of vital fire, 17O
Which firft thro* Chaos fhot a fudden light.
And quicken'd Nature in its tranfient flight ;
As the fond ear to catch the fleeting note.
Which on the ravifh'd air was heard to float,
"SVheii firft the Mule her Epic ftrain began, ' 175
And eyery lift'ning Chief grew more than Man.
. But, as the Ruler of the new-born day
From Chaos rofe, in glory's rich array 5
^So from deep fhades, impenetrably ftrong.
That fliroud the darken'd worid of antient fong, iSo
Bright Homer burfts, magnificently clear.
The fglar Lord pf that poetic fphcre j
Before
.Ef. I. ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. 13
Before whofe blaze, in wide luxuriance fpres^d.
Each Grecian Star hides his diminifli'd head ;
Whofe beams departed yet enchant the fight, 185
In Labium's fofter, chafte, refleScd light.
Say ye ! whofe curious philofophic eye
Searches the depth where Nature's fecrets lie ;
Ye, who can tell how her capricious fit
Dire£b the flow and ebb of human wit, 190
And why, obedient to her quick command.
Spring-tides of Genius now enrich her fav'rite land.
Now fink, byber to different climes affign'd.
And only leave fome worthlefs weeds behind !
Say ! why in Greece, unrival'd and alone, 195
The Sovereign Po^t grac'd his Epic throne ?
Why did the realm that echoed his renown.
Produce no kindred heir to claim his crown ?
If, as the liberal mind delights to think,
fancy's rich flow'rs their vital eflence drink 200
From Liberty's pure ftreams, that largely roll
Thpir (juick'ning virtue thro' the Poet's foul j
Why,
H ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. L
Why, in the period when this Friend of Earth
Made Greece the model erf" heroic worth.
And faw her votaries ad, beneath her fway^ 205
Scenes more fublime than Fiftion can difplay.
Why did the Epic Mufe's filent lyre ♦
Shrink from thofe feats that fummon'd all her fire ?
Or if, as courtly Theorifts maintain.
The Mufes revel in a Monarch's reign ; 210
Why, when young Ammon's foul, athirft for feme,
Caird every Art to celebrated l^is name 5
When ready Painting, at his fovereign nod.
With aweful thunder arm'd this mimic God 5
Why did coy Pocfy, tho* fondly woo'd, 215
Refufe that dearer fmile for which he fued.
And fee him ihed, in martial Honor's bloom.
The tear of envy on Achilles' tomb ?
In vain would Reafon thofe nice queftions folve.
Which the fine play of mental powers involve : 220
• Ver. 207. ScQ NOTE IIL
10 In
Ep.I. essay on epic poetry. 15
In Bards of ancient time, with genius fraught.
What mind can trace how thought engendered diought.
How little hints awak*d the large defign.
And fubtle Fancy fpun her variegated line f
Yet fober Critics, of no vulgar note, 225
But fuch as Learning's fons are prbud to quote.
The progrefs of Homeric verfe explain.
As if their fouls had lodgl! in Homer's brain.
Laughs not Ae fpirit of jsoetic frame.
However flightly warm'd by Fancy's flame, 23a
When grave Boflii by S)rftem's ftudied laws ♦
The Grecian Bard's ideal piiSlure draws.
Arid wifely tells us, that his Song arofe
As the good Parfon's quiet Sermon grows ;
Who, while his eafy thoughts no prefliire find 235
From hofts of images that croud the mind,
Firft calmly fettles on fome moral text.
Then creeps — from one divifion — to the next ?
• Ver. »3i, See NOTE IV.
-• ' Nor,
i6 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. I.
Nor, if poetic minds more flowly drudge ,
Xhro' the cold comments of this Gdlic judge, 240
Will their indignant fpirit lefs deride
. That fubtle Pedant's more prefumptiye pride,
Whofe bloated page, with arrogance replete.
Imputes to Virgil his own dark conceit ; *
And from the tortur'd Poet dares to draw 245
That latent fenfe, which H%r ace never faw ;
Which, if on fclid proof more ftrongly built,
Muft brand the inju^'d Ba;-d with impious guilt.
While fuch Di<flators their vain efforts wafte
In the dark vifioijs of diftemper'd Tafte, 250
Let us that pleafing, happier light purfue.
Which be^ns benignant from the milder few,
Who,juft]y confcious of th^ doubts that ftart
In all nice queftions on each finer Art,
With modeft doubt affign each likely caufe, 255
But dare to diAate no decifive laws.
• Ver. »44. Sc$ NOTE V.
'Tis
E^. I. . ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. 17
'Tis faid by one, who, with this candid claim, *
Has gain'd no fading wreath of Critic fame.
Who, fondly lift'ning to her various rhyme.
Has markM the Mufe's ftcp thro' many a clime ; 260
That, wiere the fettled Rules of Writing fpread,
Where Learning's code of Critic Law is read,
Tho* other treafures deck th' enlightened. fhore.
The germs of Fancy ripen there no more.
i\re Critics then, that bold, imperious tribe ! 265
The Guards- of Genius, who his path prefcribe ;
Are they like Vifirs in an Eaftern court.
Who fap the very power they fhould fupport ?
Whofe fpecious wiles the royal mind unnerve.
And fink the monarch they pretend to ferve. 270
No ! of their value higher far I deem ;
And prize their ufeful toil with fond efteem.
When Lowth's firm fpirit leads him to explore
The hallo^'d confines of Hebraic lore ^
• Vcr. 257. See NOTE VI.
Vol. III. C . When
^8 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep, Iht
When his free pages^ luminous and hcidy 275
The glorious end of Poefy unfold,
Aflert her powers,, her dignity defend.
And fpeak her, as ihe is, fair Freedom's friend^;.
Wheyn thus he (hines his mitred Peers above,.
I view his warmth with reverential love ; 280
Proud, if my verfe may catch refleded light
From the rich fplendor of a mind fo bnghtr
Bleft be the names, tone vain fyftem tied,;
Who render Learning's blaze an uieful guide,
A friendly beacon, rais'd on high to teach 285
The wand'ring bark to ihun the fliallow beach*
But O ! ye noble^ and afpiring fcWy.
, Whofe ardent fouls poetic fame purfue.
Ye, on whom finiling Heaven^ perfedion's fource.
Seems to beftow unlimitaUe force, 29.0
The inborn vigor of your fouls defend.
Nor lean too fondly on the firmeft friend !
Genius may (ink on Criticifm's breaft.
By weak dependance on her truth oppreft,^
6 * Sleep
Up. I. ESSAY on EFIC POETRY. 19
Sleep an ber lap, and ftretch his lifelefs length, 295
Shorn by ber foothmg hami of all bis ftreogth.
Thou wilt not, Maso« I thou, whofe generous hears
Muft feel that Freedom is the foul of Art,
Thou wilt not hold me arrogant of Vain,
If I advife the young pocrie train 300
To deem infallible no Critic's word 9
Not e'en the diftates of thy Attic Hi/rd :
No \ not the Stagyrite's uncpieftionM page^
The Sire of Critics, fan6lified by age !
The nobleft minds, with folid reafon Weft, 30J
Who feel that feculty above the reft.
Who argue on thofc arts they never try,
Exalt that Kt2X(m they fo oft apply.
Till in its pride, with tyrannous cdntroul,
It erufli the kindred talents of the foul ; 31 d
And hence, in ev^ry Art, will fyftems rife,
• Which Fancy muft furvey with angry eyes j
And at the lightning of her fcornful fmile^
In frequent ruin finks the labored pile*
C 2 How
20 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. I.
How oft, my Romney ! have I known thy vein 315
Swell with indignant heat and gen'rous pain.
To hear, in terms both arrogant and tame.
Some reas'ning Pedant on thy Art declaim :
Its laws and limits when his fovereign tafte
With firm precifion has qiiniiteiy trac'd, ' 32a
And in the clofe of a decifive fpeech
Pronounc'd fome point beyond the Pencil's reach.
How has thy Genhis, by one rapid ftroke.
Refuted all the fapient things he fpoke !
Thy Canvafs placing, in the cleareft light, 325
His own Impoflible before his fight !
O might the Bard who loves thy mental fire^^
Who to thy feme attun'd his early lyre.
Learn from thy Gei;iiuS) when dull Fops decide,
So to refute their fyftematic pride ! 33a
Let him, at leaft, fucceeding Poets warn
To view the Pedant's lore with doubt, or fcorn.
And e'en to queftion, with a fpirit.free,
Eftablilh'd Critics of the firft degree !
Among
Ep. I. ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. n
Among the names that Judgment loves to praife, 335
The pride of ancient, or of modern days j
What Laws of Poefy can Learning (hew
Above the Critic fong of (age Despreaux ?
His fency elegant, his judgment nice.
His method eafy, and his ftyle concife ; 340
The Bard of Reafon, with her vigor fraught.
Her pureft doiftrine he divinely taught j
Nor taught in vain ! His precept clear and chafte
Reformed the errors of corrupted Tafte ;
And French Imagination, who was bit 345
By that Tarantula, diftorted Wit,
Ceafing her antic gambols to rehearfe,
Bleft the pure magic of his healing verfe : ^
With his loud izme applauding Europe rung,
And his juft praife a rival Poet fung. 350
Yet, had this Friend of Verie-devoted Youth,
This tuneful Teacher of Poetic truth.
Had he but chanc'd his do^bine to difFufe
Ere Milton commun'd with his facred Mufe 5
C 3 And
%t ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. I.
And could that Engliih, &l£rdependant foul, 355
Born with fuch energy as mocks controul.
Could his high fpirit, with fubmiffiv^ awe,
H^ve floop'd to Itften to a Gallic Law ;
His hallow'd fubjeft, by that J^aw Fofbid ♦,
Might ftill have laid in ftl^nt darknefs hid, 360
And, this bright Sun not rifing in our fphere,
^OMER had wanfied ftill his true compeer,
From hence let Genius to himfelf be juft.
Hence learn, ye Bardsy a liberal diftnift i
Whene'er 'tis faid, by Syftem's haughty Son» 365
That what He cannot do, can ne'er be done>
*Tis Fancy's right th* exalted throne to prefSf
Whofe height proud Syftem can but blindly guefs.
Springs, whofe exiftence ihe denies, unlock.
And call rich torrents from the flinty rock. 370
X>et the true Poet, who would build a name
Jn noble rivalfhip of antient feme.
♦ Vet, 3^?^ Sec NOTE VII,
Wten
H>, L ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY." 23
When he would plan, to triumph over Time,
The fplendid fabric of his lofty rhyme.
Let him the pride of Cbnftantine affume, 375
Th' imperial Founder of the fecond Rome,
Who fcorn'd all limits to his work affign'd, *
Save by th' infpiring God who rul'd his mind ;
Or, like the fabled f Jove, to afcertain
The doubtful confines of his wide domain, 3S0
Two Eagles let him fend 4>f equal wing,
Whofe diflFerent flight may form a perfeft ring.
And, at the point where Senfe and Fancy meet.
There fafely bold, and though fublime difcreet.
His fame's foundation let him firmly lay, 385
Nor dread the danger of difputed fway i
• Vcr. 377. See NOTE VIII.
-f- Jupher, ut perhibenti fpatinm quum difcerc J?cllct
Naturae, regni nefcius ipfe fui,
Armigeros utrimque duos aequallbus alls
Mifit ab £ois Occiduifque plagis.
Parnaffus gcminos fcrtur junxifle volatus j
Contulit alternas Pythius axis aves. Claudian.
C 4 Yet,
H ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. I.
Yet, if the Bard tq glory muft afpire
By free exertion of unborrowed fire.
Nor,' like the Claffic Bigot, vainly deem
No modern Mufe can challenge juft efteem, 390 j
Unlefs her robe in every fold be preft
To fall precifely like the Grecian veft j
Ifthe blind notion he muft boldly (hun.
That Beauty's countlefs forms are only one.
And not, when Fancy, from her magic hoard, 39^
Would blindly bring him treafures unexplor'd.
Snap her light wand, and force her hand to bcai-
The heavier Compafs, and the formal Square j
Let him no lefs their dangerous pride decline,
Who fingly criticife their own defign. 400
In that nice toil what various perils lurk !
Not Pride alone may mar the needful work j
But foes more common to the feeling nerve.
Where Tafte and Genius dwell with coy Referve,
The fickly Doubt, with modeft weaknefs fraught, 405
Tl)e languid Tedium of Q*crlabour'd thought.
The
Ep. I. ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. 25
The Pain to feel the growing work behind ^
The finifh'd model in the forming mind ;
Thefe foes, that oft the Poet's bofom pierce,
Thefe ! that condemned to fire Virgilian Verfe, 410
Prove that the Bard, a bold, yet trembling elf, *
Should find a Critic firmer th^ himfelf.
But what fine Spirit will afliime the Judge,
Patient thro' all this.irkfome toil to drudge ?
'Tis here, O Friendfliip! here thy glories fhine; 415
The hard, jth' important tafk is only thirie ; * , -
For thou alone canft all the powers unite.
That juftly make it thy peculiar right :
Thine the fixt ^ye, which at no foible winks ;
Thine the warm zeal, which utters all it thinks, 420
In thofe fweet tones, that hafty Spleen difarm.
That give to painful Truth a winning charm.
And the quick hand of lift'nfng Genius teach.
To grafp that excellence he burns to reach :
Thou Sweet fubduer of all mental ftrife ! 4^5
Thou Source of vigor ! thou Support of life !
Nor
26 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. L
Nor Art nor Science could delight or live.
Without that energy thy counfels give :
Genius himfelf muft fink in dumb defpair^
Unbleft, uncherifli'd by thy cheering care. 430
Nor let the Bard, elate with youthful fire.
When Fancy to his hand prefents the lyre.
When her ft'rong plumes his foaring fpirit lift.
When Friendfliip, Heaven's more high and holy gift.
With zeal angelic prompts his daring flight, 435
And round him darts her doubt-diipelling light ;
Let him not then, by Vanity betray'd,
Look with unjuft contempt on Learning's aid !
But, as th' adventurous Seaman, to attain
That bright renown which great Difcoverers gain,
Confults the conduS of each gallant name, 441
Who fail'd before him in that chace of Fame,
Reviews, with frequent glance, their ufeful chart,
Marks all their aims, and fathoms all their art.
So let the Poet trace their happy courfe 445
60 bravely emulate iheir mental force,
Whofe
Ep. I. ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. 27
W hofe daring fouls, from many a different clime.
Have nobly ventured on the fea of Rhyme !
I;ed bj^ no fear, his fwelling fail to flack,
Let hidji, with eager eyes, purfue the track ; 450
Not like a Pirate, with infidious views
To plunder every veffel he purfues.
But with juft hope to find yet farther {hores^
And pafs each rival he almofl adores !
END OF THE. FIRST EPISTLE,
EPISTLE
EPISTLE
THE SECOND.
ARGUMENT
OF THE SECOND EPISTLE.
CharaHer of Antlent Poett— Homer— 'JpoUonius Rhi-
diuii— Virgil*' Lutan.
AM
ESSAY
O N
EPIC POETRY.
EPISTLE II.
TTTAIL, mighty Father of the Epic Hne>
Thou vaft, prolific^ int^eftual Mijie,
Whence veins of antient and of modern gold.
The wealth of each poetic worlds have roll'd T
Great Bard of Greece, whofe ever-during Verfe S
All ages venerate,* all tongues rehearfe ;
Coul*^
32 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. IL
Cou d blind idolatry be juftly paid
To aught of mental power by man difplayM,
To thee, thou Sire of foul-exalting Song,
That boundlefs woffhip might to thee belong ; lo
For, as thy Jove, on his Olympian throne.
In his unrivalPd fway exults alone.
Commanding Nature by his aweful nod.
In high fecluliori from each humbler God j
I
So fhines thy Genius thro* the cloud of years, 15
Exalted far above thy Pagan peers
By the rich fplendbr of creative fire.
And the deep thunder of thy martial lyre ;
Theconfcious world confelles thy coritroul.
And hails thee Sovereign of the kindling foul. 20
Yet, could thy mortal fhape revifit earth.
How would it move, great Bard ! thy fcornful mirth.
To hear vain Pedants to thy Verfe affign
Scholaftic thoughts that never could be thine ; .
To hear the quaint conceits of modern Pride 25
Blafphemc thy Fancy and thy Tafte deride ?
Whca
Ep. II. ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. 3^3
When thus in Vanity's capricious fit,
We fee thy fame traduc'd by Gallic wit, ♦
We fee a Dwarf, who dares his foot to reft
On a recumbent Giant's ample cheft, 30 .
And, lifting his pert form to public fight,
Boafts, like a child, his own fuperior height.
But neither envious Wit's malignant craft,
Tho* arm'd with Ridicule's envenom 'd fhaft,
_Nor fickle Falbion's more tyrannic fway, 35
Whofe varying voice the fons of Earth obey.
Can fhake the folid bafe «f thy renown.
Or blaft the verdure of thy Laurel crown.
Tho' Time, who from his many-colour'd wings.
Scatters ten thoufand fhades o'er human things, 40
Has wrought unnumber'd changes fince thy birth.
And given new features to theface of earth ;
Tho* all thy Gods who fhook the ftarry pole,
Unqueftion'd Rulers of the Pagan foul,
• Vcr. 18. See NOTE I. ,
Vol. III. D Arc
3+ ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. IL
Arc fallen with their fanes, in ruin hurPd, 45
Their worfhip vanifli'd from th' edighten'd world ;
Still its immortal force thy Swig retains.
Still rules obedient man send fires his glowing veins ^
For Nature's fclf, that great and conftant power,
One and the fame thro' every changing hour, 5a
Gave thee each fecret of her reign to pierce,, v
And ftampt her fignet on thy facred Verie |
That aweful fignet, whofe imperial fway
No age difpute^, no regions difobey y
For at its fight the fubjedl paffions ftart, 55:
And open all the pafies of th^ heart,
'Twas Nature taught thy Genius to fifplay
That hoft of CharaSers who grace thy lay ;
So richly varied and fo vaft the ftore,
Her plaftic hand' can hardly model more : 6a
Twas Nature, nobleft of poetic Guides,
Gave thee thy flowing Verfe, whofe copious tides
Gufhing. luxuriant from high Fancy's fource,
By no vain art diverted in their courfe,
10 With
Ep- II- ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. 35
With fplcndid eafe, with fimple grandeur roll, 65
Spread their free wealth, and fertilize the foul.
There are, whom blind and erring zeal betrays
To wound thy Genius with ill-judging praife |
Who rafhly deem thee of all Arts the fire.
Who draw dull fmoke from thy refplendent fire, 70
Pretend thy fancied Miracles to pierce,
And form quaint riddles of tby cleareft Verfe ;
Blind to thofe brighter charms and purer worth.
Which make thy Lays the lafting joy of earth.
For why has every age with fond acclaim 75
Sweird the loud note of thy increafing fame ? ,
Not that cold Study may from thee deduce
Vain codes of myftic lore and laws abftrufe j
But that thy Song prefents, like folar light,
A world in zQion to th' enraptur'd fight ; 8d
That, with a force beyond th' enervate rules
Of tame Philofophy*s pedantic Schools,
Thy living Images inftru<9: mankind.
Mould the juft heart, and fire th' heroic mind.
D 2 E'en
36 ESSAY pk EPIC POETRY. Ep. IXl
£*cn Socrates himfelf, that pureft Sage, * »5
Imbib'd his Wifdom from thy moral page ;
And haply Greece, the Wonder of the Earth
For feats of martial fire and civic worth.
That glorious Land, of nobleft minds the nurfe.
Owes her unrivallM race to thy infpiring Verfe j 90
For O, what Greek, who in his youthful vein
Had felt thy foul-invigorating ftrain.
Who that had caught, amid the feftive throng.
The public leffon of thy patriot Song,
Could ever ceafe to feel his bofom fwell .95
With zeal to dare, and paffion to excel.
In thee thy grateful country juftly prais'd
The nobleft Teacher of the tribes file rais'd ;
Thy voice, which doubly gave her fame to laft,
FormM future Heroes, while it fung the paft. 1 00
What deep regret thy fond adn>irers feel.
That mythologic clouds thy life conceal j
• Vcr. 85, Sec NOTE II.
That,
Ep. II. ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. 37
That^ like a diftant God) tfaou'rt darkly fhewn.
Felt in thy Works, but in Thyfelf unknown I
Perchance the fhades that hide thy mortal days 105
From keen AffeSion's difappointed gaze,
And that Idolatry, fo fondly proud.
With which thy Country to thy genius bow*d.
Might form the caufe why, kindling with thy fire.
No Grecian rival ftruck thy Epic lyre ; no
Perchance, not feeing how thy fteps. were train'd.
How they the fummit of Parnaffus gain'd.
On thy oppreflive Glory's flaming pride
Young Emulation gaz'd, and gazing died.
The Mufes of the Attic Stage impart 115
To many a Votary their kindred art ;
And fhe who bids the Theban Eagle bear
Her lyric thunder thro' the ftormy air.
How high foe'er (he leads his daring flight, ♦
Guides his bold rivals to ah equal height. 120
• Ver. 119. Sec NOTE III.
D 3 Of
38 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. II.
Of all the Grecian Bards in Glory's race,
*Tis thine alone, by thy unequall'd pace.
To reach the goal with loud applaufe, and hear
No ftep approaching thine, no rival near.
Yet may not Judgment, with fevere difdain, 125
Slight the young Rhodian's variegated ftrain ; *
Tho' with lefs force he ftrike an humbler ihell,
Beneath his hand the notes of PafSon fwell.
His tender Genius, with alluring art,
Difplays the tumult of the Virgin's heart, 1 30
When Love, like quivering rays that never reft.
Darts thro' each vein, and vibrates in her breaft,
Tho' Nature feel his Verfe, tho' flie declare
Medea's magic is ftill potent there.
Yet Fancy fees the flighted Poet rove 135
In penfive anger thro' th' Elyfian Grove,
From Critic fhades, whofe fupercilious pride .
His Song negleSedi or his Powers decried,
♦ ycr. i»6* Sec NOTE IV.
He
Ep.II. essay on epic poetry. 39
He turns indignant— unoppreft by fears.
Behold, he feeks the fentence of his Peers. 140
See their juft band his honeft claim allow !
See pleafure lighten on his laurell'd brow !
He foars the Critic's cold contempt above.
For Virgil greets him with fraternal love !
Hail, thou rich Column, on whofe high- wrought frame
The Roman Mufe fupports her Epic fame ! 146 ,
Hail, great Magician, whofe illufive charms
Gave pleafing luftre to a Tyrant's arms.
To Jove's pure fceptre turn*d his iron rod.
And made the Homicide a Guardian God ! I50
Hail, wond'rous Bard, to Glory's temple led
Thro' paths that Genius rarely deigns to tread j
For Imitation, fhe whofe fyren fong
Betrays the (kilful and unnerves the ftrong,
Preferving thee on her perfidious fliore, 155
Where many a Poet had been wreck'd before.
Led thee to heights that charm th' aftonifli'd eye.
And with Invention's heaven in fplendor vie.
D 4 As^
40 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. IL
As Rome her{^lf, by Ipng unwearied toil,
Glean'd the fair produce of each foreign foil ; i6o
From all her wide Dominion's various parts
Borrowed their laws, their ufages, their arts ;
Imported knowledge from each adverfe zone.
And made the wifdom of the world her own :
Thy patient fpirit flius, from every Bard 165
Whofe mental riches won thy juft regard,
Drew various treafure ; which thy fkill refin'd.
And in the fabric of thy Verfe combin'd.
It was thy glory, as thy fond defire.
To echo the fweet notes of Homer's lyre • 170
But with an art thy hand alone can reach.
An art that has endear'd the ftrain of each.
So the young Nymph, whofe tender arms embrace
An elder Sifter of enchanting grace.
Though form'd herfelf with every power to pleafe, 175
By genuine characSler and native eafe,
Yet fondly copies from her favourite Fair
Her mien, lier motion, her attradive air.
Her
1
r
Ep.II. essay on epic POETRY; 4,
Her i-obe's nice fhape, her riband's pleafing hue.
And every ornament that ftrikes the view j 180
But (be difplays, by imitative art.
So quick a fpirit, and fo foft a heart.
The graceful mimic while our eyes adore.
We think the model cannot charm us more :
Tho' feen together, each more lovely fhews, 185
And by comparifon their beauty grows.
Some Critics, to decide which Bard prevails.
Weigh them like J6ve, but aot in goldeii fcales ;
In their falfe balance the wrongM Greek they raifc^
ViRtJiL fmks loaded with their heavy praife, * I9<^
Ingenuous Bard, whofe mental rays divine, *
Shaded by modeft doubts, more (weetly (bine 4
Thou whofe laft breath, unconfcious of the wrong,
DoomM to deftrudlion thy fublimeft Song ;
How dull their incenfe in thy fight muft burn ; 195
How muft thy fpirit with abhorrence turn
• Vpr. 190. Sec NOTE V.
Vol. III. D5 J*rom
41 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY, Ep. II.
From their difgufting rites, who at thy fhrine
Blafphcme thy Mafter's name, to honor thine !
More equal tribute, in their fimpler flowers.
The Poets offer to your feparate powers ; 20^
For all poetic eyes delight to view
Your different forms, and with devotion <i^e
In each the radiant Delphic God they own.
By beauteous roajefty diftinftly fliewn :
But they behold the lofty Homer ftand 205
The bright Coloffus of the Rhodian land.
Beneath whofe feet the waves fubmiiSve roll,
Whofe towering head appears to prop the pole ;
Stupendous Image ! grand in every part,
Aiid feeming far above the reach of mortal art. 2ifl>
In thce^ thou lovely Mantuan Bard, appear
The fofter/eatures of the Belvidere 5
That finifli'd grace which fafcinates all eyes.
Yet from the copying hand elufive flies :
Charms fo complete^ by fuch pure fpirit warm'd, 215
They make lefs perfeft btauty feem deform'd.
4 Ohad
Ep. il essay on epic poetry. 43
O had thy Mufe, whore decorating (kill
Could fpread rich foliage o'er the leaflefs hill ;
Had (he, who knew with niceft hand to frame
The fweet unperifhable wreaths of fame ; 220
Had (he, exalted by a happier fate.
Virtue's free Herald, and no Slave of State,
Deck'd worthier ihrines with her unfading flower.
And given to Freedom what (he gave to Pow^r ;
Then with more keen delight and warmer praife 225
The world had liften'd to thy bolder lays ;
Perchance had ow*d to thee (a mighty debt)
Verfe where Perfeftion her bright feal had fet.
Where Art could nothing blame and Nature nought
regret.
Of coarfer form, with lefs pathetic charms, 230 -
Hating with Stoic pride a tyrant's arms.
In the keen fervor of that florid time
When youthful Fancy pours her hafty rhyme.
When all the mind's luxuriant flioots appear,
Untrimm'd by Art, by Interefl:, or Fear, 235
See
I
44 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. 1L.
See daring Lucan for that wreath contend.
Which Freedom twines for her poetic friend.
'Tis thine, thou bold but injur'd Bardj 'tis Aine !
Tho' Critic fpleen infult thy rougher line ;
Tho' wrong'd thy Genius, and thy Name mifplac'd
By vain diftinftions of faftidious Tafte ; 241
Indignant Freedom, with juft anger fir'd, ^
Shall guard the Poet whom herfelf infpir'd.
What tho* thy early, uncorrefted page
Betrays fome; marks of a degenerate age 5 245
Tho* many a tumid point thy verfe contains,
Lite warts projefting from Herculean veins ;
The* like thy Cato thy ftern Mufe appear,
Her manners rigid, and her frown auftere 5
Like him, ftill breathing Freedom's genuine flame,
Juftice her idol, Public Good her aim, 251
Well (he fupplies her want of fofter art
By all the fterling treafures of the heart \
By Energy, from Independance caught.
And the free Vigor of unborrow'd Thought* 25s
I Thou
Ep. II. essay on epic poetry. 45
Thou Bard moft injur'd by malicious fate.
Could not thy Blood appeafe a Tyrant's hate ?
Muft He, ftill gaird by thy poetic claim.
With falfhoTod perfecute thy moral fame ?
Shall Hiftory's pen, to aid his vengeance won, ♦ 260
Brand thee, brave Spirit ! as an impious Son,
Who meanly fear'd to yield his vital flood.
And fought his fafety by a Parent's blood ?
Bafe calumny, at which Belief muft halt.
And blind Credulity herfelf revolt. 26^
Could that firm Youth become fo vile a flave,
Whofe voice new energy to virtue gave ;
Whofe Stoic foul all abjeft thoughts abhorr'd.
And own'd no fordid paiGon as its lord ;
Who in the trying hour of mortal pain, 270
While life was ebbing from his open vein.
Alike imconfcious of Remorfe and Fear,
His heart unfhaken, and his fenfes clear,
♦ Ver. a6o. See NOTE VI.
Smird
46 ESSAY ON EPIC, POETRY. Ep. II.
Smil'd on his doom, and, like the fabled bird
Whofe muiic on Meander's bank was heard, 275
Form'd into tuneful notes his parting breath.
And fung th' approaches of undreaded death ?
Rife, thou wrong'd Bard ! above DetraAion's reach^
Whofe arts in vain thy various worth impeach j
Enjoy that fame thy fpirit knew to prize, 280
And view'd fo fondly with prophetiq eyes.
Tho* the nice Crkics of faflidious France
Survey thy Song with many a fcornful glance,
And as a Goth the kinder judge accufe.
Who with their greatCoRNEiLLE commends thy Mufe,
Let Britain, eager as the Lefbian State 286
To fhield thy Pompey from the wrongs of Fate,
To thee with pride a fond attachment fhew.
Thou Bard of Freedom ! tho' the world's thy foe.
As keenly fenfible of Beauty's fway, 296
Let our juft ifle fuch generous honor pay
To
If. II. essay on EPIC POETRY. 47
To the fair partner of thy hapkfs life.
As Leibos paid to Pompey^s lovely Wife, ♦
Ye feeling Painters, who with genius warm
Delineate Virtue in her fofteft form, 29$
Let Argent ARIA on your canvafs fliine, f
A graceful mourner at her Poet's jBirine ;
For^ nobly fearlefs of the Tyrant's hate, ^
She mourns her murder'd Bard in folemn flate;
With pious care ihe decks his iplendid tomb, 300
Where the dark Cyprefs flieds itsfoothing gloom^
There frequent takes her folitary ftand,.
His dear Pharfalia in her faithful hand ;
That hand, whofe toil the Mufes ftill rehearfe.
Which fondly copied his unfinifli'd Verfe. 305
See, as fhe bends before his recent urn.
See tender Grief to Adoration turn !
O lovely Mourner ! could my Song beftow
Unfading glory on thy generous woe.
• Ver. a93. See NOTE VII.
t Ver. 196, Sec NOTE VIII,
Age
48 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. II.
Age after age thy virtue fhould record, 310
( And thou fliould'ft live immortal as thy Lord.
Him Liberty fhall crown with cndlefs praife,
Xruc to her caufe in Rome*s degenerate days ;
Him, like his Brutus, her fond eye regards.
And hails him as the laft of Roman Bards« 315
END OF THE SECOND EPISTLE.
EPISTLE
EPISTLE
-T H E T H I R D.
Vol.. III.
ARGUMENT
OF THE THIRD EPISTLE-
Sietch of the Northern and the Provencal Poetry
The moji dijlinguijhed Epic Poets of Jtaly^ Sj^ain^
Portugal, France, and England.
AN
E S S A Y
ON
EPIC POETRY.
EPISTLE III.
13 L£ST be the hand that with a generous care,
^/T^ TothehrightCrownwhichLearninglovestowear,
Reftores the Gem^ whofe luftre, faint and pale^
Died in the fold of dark Oblivion'^ veil*
Such praife^ O Mason ! to the Bar^ is due^ ^
In whofe fraternal guard thy Genius grew i
O'er whofe untimely grave thy Lyre has paid
Its Juft devotion to a Brother's fhade ;
£ 2 And
52 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. III.
And thus hereafter (hall the Britifli Mufe^
In Memory's fane the faiteft tablet chufe^ lO
To bid her fons your blended names admire,
The pride of Friendfliip*s as of Fancy's choir.
Thy modeft Gray, follcitous to pierce
The dark and diftant fource of modern Verfe,
By firings untried firft taught his Englifh Lyre 15
To reach the Gothic Harp's terrific fire :
The North's wild fpeftres oWn his potent hand.
And Hell's nine portals at his voice expand 5
With new ^xiftence by his Verfe endued.
See Gothic Fable wakes her fhadowy brood, ZQ
Which, in the Runic rhymes of many a Scald,
* With pleafing dread our Nprthern fires appall'd.
Ye brave Progenitors, ye vigorous Source
Of modern freedom and of Europe's force,
^hile yoxif rude minds, athirft for martial ftrife, 2^
Mock'd all the meaner arts of polifli'd life.
The Mufe ftill led you by her magic clue.
And fr6m your favage ftrength new vigor drew. -
In
El*, in. ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. 53
In War's dire field your dauntlefs Bards appeared.
Aloft their animating harps they rear'd, 70
PourM through the charging hoft their potent ftrain.
And fweird the fiery flood in Valor's vein.
Souls thus infpir'd, in every fcene elate.
Defied the utmoft rage of adverfe fate ;
In torturing death the Royal Captive fang, 35
And fsniles of triumph hid his mortal pang. ^
Thus to brave Odin's Songs, our Northern fire.
Rude, early framer of the modern Lyre,
Fierce Freedom gave an energy fublime.
Parent and Guardian of the Gothic Rhyme. 40
While nurtured in the North's proteSing arms,
The modern Mufe difplay'd her infant charms.
Like Jove's undaunted Child her fpirit glow'd.
And force Herculean in her cradle fhew'd j
Her native fcene in roughnefs fhc furpaft, 45
Her breath tempeftuous as the ]^orthern blaft :
• Ver. 35. Sec N O T E I.
E 3 But^
54 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. IH.
1
But, when to fofter climes the vagrant flew,
• And bafkM beneath a (ky of azure hue ;
When for her throne the flowery South fee chofc,
Antf form'd her crown of the Provencal Rofe ; S^
Wami'd by a brighter Sun*« relaxing beams,.
She tun'd her alter'd voice to tender themes :
Here her gay form a gaudier drefs affumes^
And ffiincs in Chivalry's imperial plumes ;
Her votaries wear proud Honor's myftic glove, SS
And every lyre refounds Romantic Love j
Save when, to burft Oppreffion's mental chain^ ,
Keen Satire mingles with this gallant train.
Strikes Prieftly pride with Wit's vindidive flaih.
And galls the ghoftly Tyrant with her lalh. ♦ 6a
Afraid of Poefy's expanfive flood,
Thefe eariy Bards along the (hallows feud
In fome light fkiff j for on the depths untried
No full-trimm'd veflfel floats in Epic pride.
• Vcr- «©. Seo NOTE 11;
A»
£f. hi. essay on epic poetry. 5S
A^ infants, eager for regard, abound 6s
In fportive efForts of uncertain founds
Before their Uttle artlefs lips can re^ch
The harder elements of perfeft fpeech ;
So the youQg language of each modern clime
Rofe by prelufive lays to lofty rhyme* 70
Thro* many an age, while, in the Convert bred.
O'er the chill'd mind fcholaftic darknefs fpfead>
Thofe keener Spirits, who from Nsttu^e caught
The warmth that kindles to Poetic thought,
Betray'cJ, Ambition ! by thy blind defire, 75
Struck with ill-fated zeal die Latian lyre, *
Tho' Difcord's tand the jarring firings had croft.
And all the fweetnefs of their tone was loft.
At length, fair Italy^ luxuriant land.
Where Art's rich flowers in earlieft bloom expand, 80
Thy daring Dante his wild Vifion fung, f
And raised to Epic pomp his native Tongue,
♦ Ver. 76. Sec NOTE III.
t Vcr. 81. See NOTE IV. ^
E 4 Dpwn
56 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. III.
Down Arno's ftrcam his new-form'd mufic floats.
The proud vale echoing with his Tufcan notes.
See the bold Bard now fink and now afcend, 85
Wherever Thought can pierce or Life extend j
In his wide circuit from Hell's drear abyfs.
Thro' purifying fcencs to realms of perfefi blifs.
He (eems begirt with all that airy throng.
Who brighten or debafe the Poet's fong, 90
Sublimeft Fancy now directs his mardi
To opening worlds, through that infernal arch
0*er whofe rough fummit aweful words are read.
That freeze each entering foul with hopelefs dread.
Now at her biddings his ftrong numbers flow, 95
And rend the heart at Ugolino's woe ;
While Nature's glory-giving tear bedews
A tale unrivall'd by the Grecian Mufe.
Now to thofe notes that milder grief infpire.
Pathetic Tenderncfs attunes his lyre, loo
Which, foft as murmurs of the plaintive dove.
Tells die fad ifTue of illicit love.
But
I
£p. III. ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. 57
But all the worfe conpanlons of his way
Soon into diiFerent founds his du<SUie voice betray :
Satiric Fury now appears his guide, I05
Thro' thorny paths of Enmity and Pride j
Now quaint Conceit his wand'ring fteps mifleads
Thro' all the hideous forms that Folly breeds ;
Now Prieftly DuUnefs the loft Bard enihrouds
In cold confufion and.fcholaftic clouds, no
Unequal Spirit ! ifi thy various ftrain,
With all their influence Light and Darknefs reign ;
In thy ftrange Verfe and wayward Theme alike
New forms of Beauty and Diforder ftrikc ;
Extremes of Harmony and Difcord dwell, 115
The Seraph's mufic and the Demon's yell !
The patient Reader, to thy merit juft.
With tranfport glows, and fhudders vHth difguft.
Thy Failings fprung from thy difaftrous time ;
Thy ftronger Beauties from a foul fublime, 120
Whofe vigor burft, like fhe volcano's flame,
Froni central darknefs to the fphere of fame.
Of
58 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. UL
Of gentler mind, and with » heart tp fe^l
The fondeft warmth of emulative zeal^
Thy feftive Scholar, who ador'd thy Lays, 125
And gracM thy Genius with no fcanty praife,'
The gay Boccacio, tempts th' Italian Muie *
More varied notes and dilFerent themes to chufe ;
Themes which her voice had dar'd not yet to found.
Valour's heroic feats by Beauty crown'd. 130
Sweet was the glowing Song; but, ftrange to tell.
On his bold lyre Oblivion's (hadows fell ;
His richer Tales engrofs*d the World's regard,
And the bright Novelift eclips'd the Bard.
In following ages, when Italians fhore 135
Blaz'd with the rifing light of Claffic lore.
Stern Syftem led, from her new-founded fchool,
A Poet fafliion'd by her rigid rule:
Behold my Son ! (his fapicnt Tut'refs cried)
Who throws the bonds of Gothic rhyme afide; 140
• Vcr. 117. Sec NOTE V.
For
Ef. nr. ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. S9
For whom thefe hands the Grecian Lyre new ftrung :
She fpoke exulting,, and Trissino fung. *
In his cold Verfe he kept her Critic laws.
While Pedants ownM dieir pow'r, and yawn'd applaufe*^
Indignant Fancy, who with fcorn fiirvey'd 145
Xhe fleepy honors to proud Syftem paidy
Smiling to fee that on her rivalls brow
The Poppy lurk'd beneath the Laurel bought
Refolv'd in fportive triumph to difplay
The rich extent of her fuperior fway : 15a
From Necromancy's hand, in*happieft hour.
She caught the rod of vifionary power j
And as aloft the magic wand Ihe rais'd^
A peerlefs Bard with new effulgence blaz'd,
Bprn every law of Syftem to difown, 155
And rule by Fancy's boundlefs power alone.
High in mid air, between the Moon and Earth,
The Bard of Pathos now, and now of Mirth,
• Vcr. v^2^ Sec NOTE VL
Pois'c*
6o ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. III.
Pois'd with his lyre between a Griffin's wings.
Her fportivc darling, Ariosto, fings. 160
As the light cloud, whofe varying vapors fly.
Driven by the zephyr of the evening (ky.
Fixes and charms the never- wearied view.
By taking every fhape and every hue j
So, by Variety's fupreme controul, 165
His changeful numbers feize the willing foul.
Enchanted by his Song, Attention fits,
With features catching every call by fits.
Like the fond infant, in whofe tender brain
Young Senfibility delights toVcign ; 170
While rapid Joy and Pain each other chafe
Thro' the foft mufcles of its April face.
In vain the flavcs cf Syftem would difcard
From Glory's claffic train this airy Bard ;
Delighted Nature her gay fav'rite crownM, 1 75
And Envy's clamour in her plaudit drown'd.
Severe Morality, to cenfure mov'd.
His wanton Lyre with jufter blame reprov'd ;
But
Ep. III. ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. 6t
Bat his fweet Song her anger 4*0 bcguiPd,
That, ere fhc finifh'd her reproof, fhe fmird, iffp
Of chafter fipe, a rival name:rucc6cds,
Whofe bold.and glowing band Religion leads;
In folemn accent, and in facred ftate,
WitH claflic lore apd Cbriflian zeal elate.
Sweetly pathetic, and fublimely flrong, 1 85
Tasso begins bis more majeflic fong i
The Mufe of Sion, not implor'd in vain.
Guides to tb' impaffion'd foul his heavenly ftrain.
Blufh, BoiLEAU, blufh, and ibr that pride atone,
Which flander'd Genius far above thy own ; igp
And thou, great injur'd Bard, thy ftation claim -^
<Ainid the Demi-gods of Epic name i ' t
Heir to a mantle by the Mufes ipup,
Of a poeticSire the more poetic Son, * *
Nor, tho* juft Fame her richer palm devote 195 ,
To the high-founding lyre of furious note, ;
• Vcr. 194. See NOT? VII.
Shall
6% ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Zp. IlL
Shall gay Tassoni want bis feftive crown, ♦
Who banifliM from the Mufe her awcful frown,
And, tuning to iight themes her lofty ftyle.
O'er her grave features fpread a comic fmik. 200
Such various Sons, of Epic fire pofleft,
Italia fofter'd on her feeling breaft.
Spain, whofe bold genius with misjudging pride
O'erfteps true glory by too large a ftride,
Claims higher merit from one Poet*s birth, 205
Wh6 rivals all the different Bards of earth :
With more than Niobe -s parental boaft.
She calls her fingle Son himfelf an Hoft,
And rafhly judges that her Vegans lyre f
Is equal to the whole Aonian quire. 210
Impetuous Poet ! whofe full brain fupplied
Such floods of Verfe, and in fo quick a tide.
Their rapid fwell, by its unrivall'd height,
Pleas'd, yet produc'd more wonder than delight:
•Vcr. 197. Sec NOTE VIII.
t Ver, 209. Sec NOTE IX.
Tho'
Ep, m. pSSAY ON EPIC POETRY. 63
Tho' thy free rhyme from Fancy's fountain gufli, 2i$
And with the grandeur of the torreitt ruih^
Its troubled ftreams in dark diforder roam»
With all the torrent's noife and all its foam*
To Emulation fir'd by Tas3o'$ ftrain.
Thy fpirit quitted the dramatic plain zlO
To feek thofe Epic heights, fublimely calm.
Whence he had pluckM his Idumean palm ;
But, vainly ftruggling in a talk too hard.
Sunk at the feet of that fuperior Bard.
Brave Spaniard ! ftill thy wounded pride confole ^ 225
Time (hall not ftrikc thy name from Glory's roll,,
On which thy generous and fraternal hand
Emblaz'd each brother of thy tuneful band;
Thy Mufe fliall ihare the praife flie joy'd to give.
And while thy language lafls thy fame ihall live. 230
Perchance, the' ftrange the paradox may fecm.
That fame had rifen with a brighter' beam.
Had radiant Fancy lefs cnrich'd thy mind :
Her layifh wealth, for wifer ufe defign'd,
9 Ruin'4
64 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. in.
Ruin'd the Poet by its fplendid lure, 235
As India's mines have made his country poor.
With warmth more temperate, and in notes more
clear.
That with Homeric richnefs fill the ear.
The brave Ercilla founds, with potent breath, * ,
His Epic trumpet in the fields of death. 240
In fcenes of favage war when Spain unfurl'd
Her bloody banners o'er the weftern world.
With all his Country's virtues in his frame.
Without the bafe alloy that ftain'd her name.
In Danger's camp this military Bard, 245
Whom Cynthia faw on his nocturnal guard.
Recorded, in his bold defcriptive lay.
The various fortune of the fiaifli'd day ;
Seizing the pen while Night's calm hours afford
A tranfient flumber to his fatiate fword, 25a
With noble juftice his warm hand beftows
The meed of Honor on his valiant foes.
• Yer. »39. Sec N O T E X. '
Howe'cr
E?. III. ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. 94
Howc'er precliiJc^ hj his gemrMis ttni)
From high pietenfions to iavendve fame.
His- ftrongly«€oIoiftrM fcenes o[ fanguine ftrifc, 255
His fdfter piiSmres caught from Indian life.
Above the vifionary forms of art.
Fire the awaken'd mind and melt the heart.
Tho* iierceft tribes her galling fetters drag.
Proud Spain muft flrike to Lulitania's flag, 260
Whofe ampler folds, in confcious triumph Ipread,
Wave o'er her Natal Poet's laureate head.
Ye Nymphs of Tagus, from your golden cdl.
That caught the echo of his tuneful Jhell,
Rife, and to^ deck your darling's (hrine provide 265
The richeA treafures that the deep may bide!
From every land let gratefut Commerce fliower
Her tribute to the Bard who fung her power $
As thofe ridi gales, from whence his G ama cau^
A pleafmg earned of the prize he fought, 270
The balmy fragrance of the Eaft difpenfe.
So fteals his Song on the delighted ienfe.
Vol.. III. F Aftaniihinfo
66 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. UI.
Aftoniihing, with fweets unknown before,
Thofe who ne'er tafted but of claffic lore.
Immortal Bard ! thy name with Gama vies, 275
Thou, like thy Hero, with propitious Ikies
The fail of bold adventure haft unfurl'd.
And in the Epic ocean found a world,
•Twas thine to blend the Eagle and the Dove, ,
At once the Bard of Glory and of Love : * 280
Thy thanklefs Country heard thy varying lyre
To Petrarch's Softnefs melt, andfwell to Homer's
Fir«!
Boaft and lament, ungrateful land, a Name,
}ri life, in death, thy honor and thy fhame.
Thou nobler realm, whom vanity betrays 285
To load thy letter'd fons with lavifh praife ;
Where Eulogy, with one eternal fmile, f
fibgps her faint rofes in a withering pile :
• Ver, ^8q. Sec NOTE XI.
> Vcr. J187/ See NOTE XII.
A City
E?. IIL ESSAY ON EPIC PQETRY. 67
A City milk-maid, on the firft of May,
Who, «pertly civil, and abfurdly gay, • 290 .
Forms her dull garland in fantaftic ftate, '
With ill-adjuftcd flow'rs and borrowed plate.
Canft thou, felf-flattering France, with juftice vaunt
One Epic laurel as thy native plant ?
How oft a Gallic hand, with childifli fire, 295
Has rattled Difcord on th* heroic lyre.
White their dull aid aflbciate Critics bring,
And vainly teach the ufe of every firing !
In Morals, as, with many an empty boaft.
They praftife virtue leaft who preach it moft ; 300
So, haughty Gallia, in thy Epic fchool,
Now.great Examples rife, but many a Rule. *
Yetytho' unjuft to Tasso's nobler lays.
Keen Boileau ihail not want his proper praiie ^ f
He, archly waving his fatiric rod 305
Thro' the new path which firft Tassoni trod,
• ycr. 30a. See NOTE XIII,
tV«r. 304. Sci NOTE XIV.
Fa Purfttcd
68 E^SAY aw mC POETRY, z?.m.
Purfued his fportiye msirci^ in hafgj bour>
And pIuckM from Satire^s thorn a feftive flower*
His facerdotal War 4i3lU wake dcligM^
And foiiles in Qrayity herjfclf tifcxtc^ 310
WbiJc Canon* live tg qu^rcl or to feaft,
And gall can tin^e the fpirit of a Prieft*
Nor, gentle Q&s(9«T, iball fhy Iprighdy rhyme •
Ccafe to enchant the lift'nipg car of Time j
In th^ the Graces ajl their powers inftill^ *. 315
To touch the Epic chords with playful (kill.
The haplefs Parrot whom thy lays endear^
Jn'piety afid woe the Trojan's peer |
His heart as tend^r^ and his love more pure.
Shall, likft ^neasg live of fame fecure i 3ZQ
While female hands, with many a tender word.
Stroke the foft feathers of dieir fav-rite bird*
Vet not in childiih ^rt^ or trifling joy*
Po Gajloc F^-ones all tdieir hoan employ ;
t Vcr. 11%, 5cp NOTB XV,
See
E#* at ESSAY ON Ef rc POETHV. 69
S^ lovely BoccAOSt in ^tmbttioo ftrong, * 32$
Build) widi aTpif in{; fttm^ lier Epic Soag !
By G4ofy fir*jd, her rofy lips rehearfe
Tky fesitS) Columbus, in unborrowM Verie.
If this neir Mufe in War's 4tre fi^M dil^ayi
NoGredatt^ndor, no Homeric faiase» 33^
Attra^ve fttB, the/ not in pomp arrayM,
She charms like Zama) in her V erfe port/a/d ;
Whofe form from dre6 no gorgeous pride afiumes^
Clad in a fim|^ 2one of azure plumes.
England's dear goefl ! this Mufe of Gallia caught
From our tnlpiring Ifle her ardent thought i 336
Here firft (he ftrove to reach, with vent'rous hope,
Milton's chafte grandeur, and the grace of Pops i
And fweetly taught^ in her mimetic ftratn.
The Songs of Britain to the BaiSks of Seine. 340
But fee ! with wounded Pride''s indignant glance,
The angry Genius of prefuming France
• Vcr. 315. See M O 1* E XVI.
F 3 From
fo ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. IIL
From ancient (hrines their Epic wreaths would tear.
To fwell the glory of her great VoLTAikE. ♦
Qi form'd in Learning's various paths to flline.
Encircled from thy birth by all the Nine, 346^
On thee, bleft Bard, thefe rivals feemM to (bower
Their various attributes and blended power !
But, when their lofty leader bade thee frame
The rich Heroic fong on Henry's fame, 350
Sarcaftic Humour, trifling with her lyre.
Took from th' infpiring Mufe her folemn fire.
No niore her fpirit like the Eagle fprings.
Or rides the buoyant air with balanc'd wings :
Tho' rapid ftill, to narrow circuits bound, 3^5
She, like the darting Swallow, (kims the ground.
Thy Verfe difplays, beneath an Epic name, '
Wit's flinty Spark, for Fancy's folar Flame.
While y^t thy hand the Epic chords embrac'd.
With playful fpirit, and with frolic haftc, 360
• Ver. 344. iSec N O T E XVIf.
Such
%f. m* ES5AY ON EPIC POETRY. 71
Such lively founds thy rapid fingers dreVir»
And throi* the feftive notes fo lightly flew.
Nature and Fancy join'd their charms to fwell, '
And laughing Humour crowil'd thy new Pucelle >
But the chafte Mufes, ftartled at the found, 365
Amid thy /prightly numbers blufh'd and frown*d ;
With decent anger, and becoming pride.
Severer Virtue threw the Song afide ;
While Juftice own'd it, with a kinder glance.
The wittieft LclVity of wanton France. . 370
Now, graver Britain, amiably fevere.
To thee, with native :?eal, to thee I fteer ;
My vent'rous bark, its foreign circuit o'er.
Exulting fprings to thy parental fhore.
Thou gorgeous Queen, who, on thy filvery coaft,
Sitteft encircled by a filial hoft, 376
And feeft thy fons, the jewels of thy crown.
Blaze with each varying ray of rich renown ;
If with juft love I hold their Genius dear,
, Lament their hardlhips, and their fame revere, 380
F 4 O bid
71 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY, Ef. IH.
O bid thy Epic Mufe, with honour (bie»
Range her dqNuted Chaii^ions in my view !
See, on a party-colour'd Deed of file.
With Humour at his fide, his Crufty Squire,
Gay Chaucer leads — in form a Knight of old, 385
And his ftrong armour is of fleel and gold ^
But o*er it age a crud ruft has fpread.
And made the brilliant metals dark as lead.
Now gentk Spekser, Fancy*s fav'rite Bacd^
Awakes my wonder and my fond regard ; 390
Encircling Fairies bear^ in iportive dance^
His adamantine fhield and magic lance ;
While Allegory, dreft with myftic art>
Appears his Guide ; but, promifing to dart
rA lambent glory round her lift'ning Son, 39 j
She hides him in the web herfelf has ipun»
Ingenuous Cowley, the fond dupe of Wit,
Seems like a vapour o'er the field to flit ;
In David's praife he ftrikes fome Epic notesy
But foon down Lethe'>s ftreanl their dying murmur Soats*
9 White
Ep, III. ESSAY ON EHC POETRY. 73
While Cowley raftifli'd in an amorous liddle^ 401
Up rofe the froUc Bard of Bear and Fiddle :
His fmiie exhilarates the fuHen earthy
Adorning Satire in the mafl: of Mirth :
Taught by hi^ Song; Fanatics ceafe thrir jars, 405
And wife Aftrologers renounce the Stars*
Unrivaird BuTLCR ! bkft with hzppj ikai
To heal by comic verfe each ferious ill.
By Wit's ftrong flaihes Reafon's light difpenie.
And laugh a firantrc nation into fenfe I 410
Apart, and on a {acred hill retir'd.
Beyond all mortal infpiration fir'd.
The mighty Milton fits — an hod around
Of lift*ning Angels guard the holy ground ;
AmazM they fee a human form afpire 415
To grafp with daring hand a Seraph's lyre.
Inly irradiate with celeftial beams,
Attempt thofe high, thofe foul*fubduing diemes,
(Which humbler Denizens of Heaven decline)
And celebrate, with £ui£tity divine, 420
The
74 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Et. Ill
The ftarry field from warring Angels won.
And God triumphant in his Vi(Sor Son.
Nor lefs the wonder, and the fweet delight.
His milder fcenes and fofter notes excite,
iWhen at his bidding Eden's blooming grove 425
Breathes the rich fweets of Innocence and Love.
With fuch pure joy as our Forefather knew
When Raphael, heavenly gueft, firft met his view.
And our glad Sire, within his blifsful bower,
'Drank the pure converfe of th* aetherial Power, 430
Round the bl eft Bard his raptur'd audience throng.
And feel their fojuls imparadis'd in fong.
Of humbler mien, but not of mortal race.
Ill-fated J)ryden, with Imperial grace,^
rGives to th' obedient lyre his rapid laws 5 435
Tones yet unheard, with touch divine, he draws, ^
The melting fall, the rifing fwell fublime.
And all the magic of melodious rhyme.
. See with proud joy Imagination fpread
' A wreath of honor round his aged head I 440
But
Ep. in. ESSAY ON EPIC POETRV. yj
But twd bafe Spe£fares, tho' of different hue^ .
The Bard; unhappy in his march purfoe ;
Two vile difgraceful Fiends, of race accurft,
Condeiv'd by Spleen, by meagre Famine nurft,
Maligriant Satire, mercenary Pratfe, 44,5
Shed their darkr fpots on his imn]k>rtal ba/s.
Poor Davenant march'd before, with nobler aiis.
His keen eye fixt upon the palm of Fame, ^
But cruel Fortune doom'd him to rehearfe
^ Theme ill-chofen, in ill-chofcn Vcrfe. 450
Next came Sir Richard, but in w6eful plight,
Dryden's Led-horfe firft threw the lucklefe Knight.
He rofe advent'rous ftill— O who inay count
How oft he tried a difFerent Steed to mount !
Each angry fteed his awkward rider flung ; 435
XJndaunted ftill he fell, and falling fung.
But ^fculapius, who, with grief diftreft,
Behdd his offspring made a public jeft.
Soon bade a livelier Son with mirth efface
The (hame he fuffer'd from Sir Richard's cafe. 460
'- ^ -Swift
96 E»SAY ON EMC POETRY. E^* lit.
Swift at the w«rd Ids Qiri^x GAtTtf begta
To make an *Miiiet of a Qoie^'fiool Pan ;
An Urinal he for hia trumpet take^
And at Ach Uaft he \Afm% lee Lauder ihakes f
Yet peace— new aoAc itoats on MAufi Wings i
Say, is it Hmamty heiCsIf who finga f 466
No ! while enraptured SylfAts the Song Mpire,
*Tis Pope who fweetfy wakes the fdter lyre
To melting notes, more iHiaficsdly eleaf
Than Ariel whrfpei^d in Belinda's ear. 47b
Too fi>on he quits them for a ftarper tone ;
See him, tho' formM to fill the Epic throne,
Decline the feeptre of that wide domain.
To bear a Liftor^s rod in Satire's train ;
And, iOirouded In a mift of moral fpleen, f 475
Behold him clofc the vifionary fcene !
• And hit high helmet was a Clofe-ftool Fan.
t Vcr. 475. Sec NOTE XVIII.
END OF THE THIRD BPI8TLB.
EPISTLE
THE FOURTH.
ARGUMENT
OF THE FOURTH EPISTCE.
Remarks m the fuppofed Parjimony of Nature in be-
Rowing Poetic Genius.^-^The Evils and the Advan^
iages tf^Poefty exemplified in 4he iFuie: of different
Poets.
A N
ESSAY
O N
EPIC POETR y.
EPISTLE IV.
O A Y, generous Power, benignant Nature, fay.
Who temp'reft with thy touch our human clay^
Warming the fields of Thought with genial care, . \
The various fruits of mental growth to bear ;
$ball not thy votaries .glow with juft dlf4ain, 5
When Sloth or Spleen thy bounteous hand arraign ? .
Alt
8d ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. IV.
Art tboa the Niggard diey pretend tbou art»
A grudging Parent with a Stepdame's heart ;
And doli thou ihed, with rare, reIu<Sbnt toil.
Bright Fancy's gcrmens in the mental foil f i^
Is Genius, thy fwcet Plant of richeft power,
Whofc dearly-prizM and long-expedfced flower
More tardy than the Aloe^s bloom appears,
Oidaia'd to blow but in a thousand years ?
Perilk the fickly thought— let thofe who hold 15
Thy quickening influence fo coy, fo cold.
Calmly the habitable earth iurvey.
From time's firft sera to the paffing day ;
In what rude clime, beneath what ai^ry (kies.
Have plants Poetic never dar'd to rife ? r 20
In tiorrid regions, where 'tis toil to think,
Whtfe fouls in ftu^d eafe fupinely fink ;
And where ibc native of the defert drear
Yields to blank darknefs half his icy year ;
III theie unffiendly fcenes, where each extreme 25
Of heat and cold forlnds the mind to teem^ '
Poetip
El^. IV. ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY, U •
Poetic'bloflbms into Being ftart,
Spontaneous produce of the feeling heart.
Can we then deem that in thofe happier lands.
Where every vital energy expands ; 30
Where Thought, the golden harveft of the mind.
Springs into rich luxuriance, unconfin'd ;
That in fuch foils, with mental weeds overgrown.
The feeds of Poefy were thinly fown ?
Shall we deny the labor of the fwain, 3S
Who to the cultured earth confides the grain.
If all the vagrant harpies of the air
From its new bed the pregnant treafure tear 5
If, when fcarce rifing, with a ftem infirm.
It dies the vi£lim of the mining worm ; 40
If mildew, riding in the eaftern guft.
Turns all its ripening gold to fable duft ?
Thefe foes combined (and with them who maycopc?).
Are not more hoftilc to the Farmer's hope.
Than Life's keen paffions to that lighter grain 45
Of Fancy, fcatterM o'er the infant brain.
Vol. IIL G Pleafure,
82 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. IV.
Plcafure, the rambling Bird ! the painted Jay !
May fnatch the richeft feeds of Verfe away ;
Or Indolence, the worm that winds with art
Thro* the clofe texture of the cleaneft heart, 50
May, if they haply have begun to fhoot.
With partial mifchief wound the fick'ning root ;
Or Avarice, the mildew of the foul,
May fweep the mental iield^ and blight the whole ;
Nay, the meek errors of the modeft mind, 55
To its own vigor diffidently blind.
And that cold fpleen, which falfely has declar'd *
The powers of Nature and of Art impaired.
The gate that Genius has unclos'd may guard.
Arid rivet to the earth the rifmg BarA: 60
For who will quit, tho' from mean aims exempt.
The cares that fummon, and the joys that tempt.
In many a lonely ftudious hour to try
Where latent fprings of Poefy may lie ;
Who will from focial eafe his mind divorce, 65
To prove in Art's wide fiefd its fccret force,
If,
JEp.IV. ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. . jj
If, blind to Nature's frank parental love.
He deems that Verfe, defcended from abore,
Like Heaven's more facred iignS) wfaofe time is o'er^
A gift miraculoui^ conferred no more i jo
O Prejudice ! thou bane of Arts, thou pcft,
Whofe ruffian powers the free-born foul arreft ;
Thou who, dethroning Reafon, dar'ft to frame
And iflue thy proud laws beneath her name j
Thou Coafter on the intellcftual deep, 75
Ordering each timid bark thy courfe to keep ;
Who, left fome daring mind beyond thee ftcer.
Haft rais'd, to vouch thy vanity and fear,
Herculean pillars where thy (ail was furl'd.
And nam'd thy bounds the Limits of the World. 80
Thou braggart. Prejudice, how oft\hy breath
Has doom'd young Genius to the ihades of death f
How often has thy voice, with brutal fke
Forbidding Female hands to touch the lyre,
Deny'd to Woman, Nature's fav'rite child, 85
The right to enter Fancy's opening wild !
G 2 Bleft
84 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. IV.
Bleft be this jTmiling hour, when Britain fees
Her Fair-ones cancel fuch abfurd decrees,
I;i one harmonious group, with graceful fcorn.
Spring o'er the Pedant's fence of wither'd thorn, 9a
And reach Parnaffian heights, where, laurel-crown'd.
This (bfter Quire the notes of triumph found ;
Where Seward, leader of the lovely train.
Pours o'er heroic tombs her potent ftrain ;
Potent to footh the honor'd dead, and dart 95
Congenial virtue thro' each panting heart ;
Potent thro* fpirits mafculine to fpread
Poetic jealoufy and envious dread,
If Love and Envy could in union reft.
And rule with blended fway a Poet's breaft : 100
The Bards of Britain, with unjaundic'd eyes.
Will glory to behold fuch rivals rife.
Proceed, ye Sifters of the tuneful Shell, ♦
Without a icruple, in that Art excel,
♦ Vcr. loj. See NOTE L
Which
Ep. IV.: ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. 85 ■
Which reigns, by virtuous Pleafure's foft controul.
In fweet accordance with the Female foul ; 106.
Pure as yourfelvcs, and, like your charms, defign*d
To blefs thje earth, and humanize mankind.
Where'er that Parent of engaging thought,
W^rm Senfibility, like light, has taught xj[0'
The brightening mirror of the mind to fhew
Nature's reOc&td forms In all their glow ;
Where in full tides the fine afFeftions roll,
And the warm heart invigorates the foul ;
Ip that rich fpot, where winds propitious blow, I J5
Culture may teach poetic Fame to grow.
Refin'd Invention and harmonious Rhyme,
Are the flow gifts of Study and of Time ;
But to the Bard whom all the Mufes court.
His Sports are ftudy, and his Studies fport. 120
E'en at this period, when all tongues declare
Poetic talents are a gift moft rare,
Unnumber'd Spirits, in our generous ifle.
Arc ripening now beneath kind Nature's fmile,
G 3 Whom
86 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. IV,
Whom happy care might lead to lafting hme^ 125
And art ennoble with a Poet's name.
Not that 'tis granted this high prizQ to gain
By light effuiions of a fportive vein.
The idle Ballad of a fummer's mom^
Th^ child of Frolic, in a mqpent born : 13d
Who views fuch trifles with a vain regard,
But ill deferves the mighty name of Bard ;
In diiPrent tints iee virtuous Gresset trace
The genuine fpirit of Poetic race :
• Let the true Bard (this pleafing Poet fings) 135
Bid his ^ir fame on ftrong foundations reft ;
His be each honour that from Genius fpringSj^
Efteem'd by Judgment, and by Love careft 5
His
* Je veux qfu'^prit d*un nom plus I^gitime«
Qge Don content de fe voir tik\m6.
Par fon Genie un Amant de la rime
Emporte «ncor le plaifir dVtre aime;
Qu'aux
Er. IV. ESSAY ON EHC POETRY. 87
His the Ambition, that in climes unknown.
Where'er his wandering volume may extend, 14O
Where'er that Pifture of his mind is fhewtf^
In every Reader he may find a FriemU
Be it his aim to dart the living ray
Of pureft pleafure o'er th' enfighten'd earth ;
- And in fweet union let his works difplay 145
The Poet's fancy and the Patriot's worth.
Thus far, O Gresset, on thefe points agreed.
My foul profefles thy Poetic Creed ;
Tho' the foft languor of thy fong I blame.
Which prefent eafe prefers to future feme, 15#
TTjy nobler maxims I with pride embrace.
That Verfe fliou'd ever rife on Virtue's bafe,
Qn^aux regions a lui meme inconnues
Ou voleront fes gracieux ecrits,
A ce tableau de fes moeurs ingenuesi
Tous fes Le£leurs devienrient fes Amis :
Qiie diilipant le prQugc vulgaire,
II montre enfin que fans crime on peut plaire,
£t reunify par un heureux lien»
L' Auteur cbarmant et le vrai Citoyen.
G4 And
88 > ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Er. IV.
And every mafter of this matchlefs art
Exalt the Spirit, and improve the Heart ;
And many a Youth, now rifihg into Man, 155
Might build hh glory on thi^nobl^ plan.
With latent powers to make the ftru£ture laft '
Till Nature dies, and Time itfelf be paft ;
But O, how intricate the chances lurk,
Whofe power may drive him from the doubtful work!
Of the ftrong minds by chafte Ambition nurft, i6x
. Who burn to rank in Honor's line the firft,
One leaves the Lyre to feize the martial crown,
And one may drop it at a Parentis frown j
For ftill with fcorn, which anxious fear inflames, 16^
Parental care 'gainft Poefy declaims !
** Fly, fly, my fon, (the fond ^vifer cries)
« That thorny path, where every peril lies |
*' Oh ! be not thou by that vain Art betray'd,
*.* Whofe pains are Subftance, and whofe joys arc Shade !
** Mark, in the Mufes' miferabk throng, 171
*.* What air-built vifions cheat the Sons of Song !
«« This
ep. ih. essay on epic poetry. 89
«* Xhis is a leflbn taught in every ftreet,
« And Bards may read it at each Stall they meet :
<* Take the firft book, behold in many a page IJS
<« What promifes of life from age to age 5
*« The Poet fwears himfelf he ne'er fliall die,
** A troop of rhyming friends fupport the lie :
*' Yet fee how foon in Lethe's ftream expire
<< This leading Bard and his attendant Quire, 180
^' And round thefe boards, their unexpe£ted bier,
*' Their ghofts breathe wifdom in the puffing ear :
<< For 3talls, like Church-yards, moral truth fupply,
<* And teach the vifionary Bard to die,
*•* If prefent fame, thy airy hope, be gain'd, ' i9$
«( By vigils purchas'd, and by toil maintain'd,
<' What b^fe alloy muft fink the doubtful prize,
** Which Envy poilbns, and which Spleen denies !
** Obferve what ills the living Bard attend,
** Negleft his lot, and Penury his end ! X90 '
** Behold the world unequally requite
« TwQ Arts that miniftcr to cKafte delight,
^* Twin*
90 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. IV.
** Twin-fifters, who with kindred beauty ftrikc,
^^ In fortune different, as in charms alike :
•* PAINTINO5 fair Danae ! has her Golden fhower,
** But Want is Po«sy*s proverbial dower. 196
*^ See, while with brilliant genius, ill applied,
** The noble Rubens flatters Royal pride,
** Makes all the Virtues, who al>jur*d him, wait
" On abjedl James, in allegoric ftate ; 200
** O'er the bafe Peda^it his rich radiance flings^
*« And deifies the meaneft of our Kings 5
<<'His Son rewards, and Honor owns the deed^
*« The fplendid Artift with a princely meed.
*• Now turn to Milton's latter days, and fee 205
** How Bards and Painters in their fate agree ;
*^ Behold him fell his heaven-illumin'd page,
•* Mirac'lous chrld of his deferted age,
<< For fuch a pittance, (b ignobly flight,
<^ As wounded Learning bluflies to recite ! * 21^
^^ If changing times fuggeft'tbe pleafing hope,
** That Bards no more wiA adverfe fortune cope ;
• Vcr. »io. Sec NOTE II.
7 « That
Ep, IV. ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY, 91
«« That in this altcrM clime, where Arts increafe,
<< And make our polifbM Ifle a fecond Greece i
** That now, if Poely proclaims her Son, 21S'
^* And challenges the wreath by Fancy won ;
^< Both Fame and Wealth adopt him as their heir,
^< And liberal Grandeur makes his life her care ;
^* From fuch vain thoughts thy erring mind defend,
*• And look on Chatterton's difaflrous end. 220
*« Oh, ill-ftarr'd Youth, whom Nature formed, in vain,
*' With powers on Pindus' fplendid height to reign!
^^ O dread example of what pangs await
^' Young Genius ftrug^ling with malignant fate L
<* What could the Mufej who fir'd thy infant frame
** With the rich promife of Poetic fiaime ; 226
<< Who taught thy hand its magic art to hide,
^< And mock the infolence of Critic pride ;
^« What cou'd her wnavailing cares oppofc,
- << To fave her darling from his defperate foes ; 230
^< From preifing Want's tralamitous controul,
^< And Pride, the fever of the ardent foul i
9t ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. IV.
•* Afc, fee, too confcious of her failing .power,
•* She quits her Nurfling in his deathful hour !
<'In a chill room, within whv^fc wretched wall 235
«« No cheering voice replies to Mifery's call ;
«« Near a vile bed, too crazy to fuftain ,
«« Misfortune's wafted limbs, convulsM with pain,
^ On the bare floor, with heaven-direaed eyes,
•« The haplefs Youth in fpeechlefs horror lies ! 3^.o -
*♦ The pois'nous vial, by diftraftion drain'd^
** Rolls from his hand, in wild contortion ftrain'd :
** Pale with life- wafting pangs, it's dire effeft,
«* And ftung to madnefs by the world's negleft,
♦< He, in abhorrence of the dangerous Art» Z4S ^
*< Once the dear idol of his glowing heart,
** Tears from his Harp the vain detefted wires, .
*<^And in the frenzy of Defpair expires !
«« Pernicious Poefy 1 thy baleful fway
*• Earalts to weaken, flatters to betray ; 250-
« Whefi thy fond Votary has to thee refign'd
•* The captive powers of his deluded mind, .
^« Fantaftic
1£.T. IV- ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. jj
«« Tantaftic hopes his fwelling breaijt inflame,
<* Tempeftuous paflions tear his fhatter'd frame,
« Which fiijcsjforround it feas of trouble roar, 255
« Admitting agony at every pore ;
«< While DuUnefs, whom ho tender feelings check,
" Grins at his ruin, arid enjoys the wreck ;
*< Seen thro* the mift which clouds her heavy eyes,
*^ The faults of Genius fwell to double fize, 260
^^ His generous faults, which her bafe pride makes
known,
** Infulting errors fo unlike her own.
** Far then, my Son, far from this Syren fteer;
*^ Or, if her dulcet fong muft charm thy ear,
** Let Reafon bind thee, like the Greek of yore, 265
** To cateh her mufic, but efcape her fliore;
** For never Ihallthe wretch her power can feize,
** Regain the port of Fortune, or of Eafe.**
Parental Fear thus warns the filial heart.
From this alluring, this infidious Art ; 270
But, wounded thus by keen Invc6tive*s edge, .
Say, caa the Mufc no jult defence allcdgc ?
94 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ei^. IV.
In ftriking contraft has £he not to paint
Her profp'rous Hero, as her murder'd Saint ?
Tis true, ihe oft has fruitlefs vigils kept, 275
And oft, with unavailing forrow, wept
Her injur'd Vot'ries, doom'd to quit the earth
In the fbarp pangs of ill-requited worth.
Ye noble Martyrs of poetic name,
•* Kifs to your Spirits, to your Mem'ries Fame !'* 280
By gen'rous Honor be your toils rever'd.
To grateful Nature be your names endear'd !
To all who Pity*s feeling herve poflefs.
Doubly endear'd by undeferv'd diftrefs.
But, to relieve the pain your wrongs awake, 285
O let the Mufe her brighter records take^
Review the crown by living Merit won.
And fhare the triumph Qf each happier Son.
If the young Bard who ftarts for Glory's goal.
Can fate with preient fame his ard&nt foul, 290
Poetic ftory can with truth atteft
This rareft, richeft prize in life pofleft.
» See
Ep. IV* ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. 95
See the gay Poet of Italia's fhore, '
Whom with fond zeal her feeling fons adcM-e,
Pafs, while his heart with exultation beats, 295
Poetic Mantua's applauding ftreets !
See him, while Juftice fmiles, and Envy fnarls.
Receive the Laurel from Imperial Charles ! ♦
And lo, th' unfading Gift ftill. fhines above
Each perifhable mark of Royal Love. 30(1
If humbler views the tuneful mind inflame.
If to be rich can be a Poet's aim.
The Mufe may {hew, but in a diiFerent clime.
Wealth, the fair produce of applauded Rhyme.
Behold the fav'rite Bard of lib'ral Spain, 305
Her wond'rous Vega, of exhauftlefs vein ;
From honeft Poverty, his early lot.
With honor fullied by no vicious blot,
Behold him rife on Fortune's glittering wings.
And almoft reach the opulence of Kings ; 310
•Ter. 19X. Sec NOTE IIU
rhe
^ I
96 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY* Ei'- IV.
The high-fourd Nobles of his native land
Enrich their Poet with fo frank a hand !
For him Pieria*s rock with treafure teems.
For him her fountains guih with golden ftreams ; *
And ne'er did Fortune, with a love more juft, J15
Her fplendid ftores to worthier hands entruft ;
For with the pureft current, wide and ftrong.
His Charity furpaft his copious Song,
If the Enthudaft higher hope purfues,
If from his commerce with th' infpiring Mufe 32a
He feeks to gain, by no mean aims confin'd.
Freedom of thought and energy of mind j
To raife his fpirit, with aetherial fire.
Above each little want and low defirc j
O turn where IVIilton flames with Epic rage, 325
Unhurt by. poverty, unchillM by age :
Tho' danger threaten his declining day,
Tho' clouds of darknefs quench his vifual ray,
• Vcr. 314. See N O T E IV.
The
Ep. IV. ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. 97
The heavenly Mufc his hallow'd fpirit filh
With raptures that furmount his matchlefs ills j 330
From earth flie bears him to bright Fancy's goaj.
And diftant fame illuminates his foul !
Too oft the wealthy, to proud follies born.
Have turn'd from letter'd Poverty with fcorn.
Dull Opulence ! thy narrow joys enlarge ; 335
To fhield weak Merit is thy nobleft charge :
Search the dark fcenes where drooping Genius lies.
And keep from forrieft fights a nation's eyes.
That, from expiring Want's reproaches free.
Our generous country may ne'er weep to fee 34®
A future Chatterton by poifon dead.
An Otway fainting for a little bread.
If deaths like thefe deform'd our native ifle.
Some Euglifh Bards have baik'd in fortune's fmile.
Alike in Station and in Genius bleft, 34.5
By Knowledge prais'd, by Dignity carcft.
Pope's happy Freedom, all bafe wants above,
Flow'd from the golden flream of Public Love ;
Vol. III. H That
98 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. IV.
That richeft putidote the Bard can feize^
To fave his fpirit from its worft difeafc, 350
From mean Dependance, bright Ambition's bane^
Which blufliing Fancy ftrives to hide in vain.
To Pope the titled Patron joy'd to bend.
Still more ennobled when proclaim'd his friend ;
For him the hands of jarring Fa£lion join 355
To heap their tribute on his Homer's ihrine.
Proud of the frank reward his talents find.
And nobly confcious of no venal mind.
With the ]uft world his fair account he clears.
Arid owns no debt to Princes or to Peers. 360
Yet, while our nation feels neW thirft arife
For that pure joy which Poefy fupplies.
Bards, whom the tempting Mufe enlifts by ftealth.
Perceive their path is riot the road to wealth.
To honorable wealth, young Labor's fpoil, 365
The due reward of no inglorious toil ;
Whofe well-earn'd comforts nobleff minds engage.
The juft afylum of declining age ;
6. Elfe
EP. IV. ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. ^ 99
Elfe had we ken a warm Poetic Youth
Change FicHon*s rofes for the thorns of Truth, 370
From Fancy^s realm^ his native fields /Withdraw,
To pay hard homage to fcverer Law ?
O thou bright Spirit, whom the Afian Mufe
Had foiidly fleep'd in all her fragrant (lews.
And .o'er whofe early Song^ tiiat mental feaft, 375
She breathM the fweetnefs of the rifled Eaft 1
Since independant Honor's high controuj
Detach'd from Pocfy thy ardent foul.
To feek with better hc^s Perfiiailoa^s (eat,
Bleft be diofe hopes, and happy diat retreat ! 380
Which with regret M Britifh Bards muft fee.
And mourn a Brother loft in lofing thee.
Nor leads the Poet's path to that throng'd gat« ^
Where crouching. Priefts on proud Preferment wait ;
Where, while in vain a thoufahd vot'ries fawn, 385
She robes her fay'rite few in hallow.'d Lawn :
Elfe, liberal Mason, had thy fpotlefs name.
The Ward of Virtue as the Heir of Fame,
Ha In
100 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. IV.
In lifts of mitred Lords been ftill unread,
While Mitres drop on many a Critic's head ? 390
Peace to all fuch, whofe decent brows may bear
Thofe facred honors plac'd by Learning there ;
May juft refpefl from brutal infult guard
Their Crown, unenvied by the genuine Bard !
Let Poefy, embellifh'd by thy care, 395
Pathetic Mason ! with juft pride declare.
Thy breaft mufl feel a more exulting fire.
Than Pomp can give, or Dignity infpire.
When Nature tells thee that thy Verfe imparts
The thrill of pleafure to ten thoufand hearts ; 40a
> And often has (he heard ingenuous Youth,
Accomplifli'd Beauty, and unbiafs'd Truth,
Thofe faithful harbingers of future fame.
With tender intercft proliounce thy name
With lively gratitude for joy refin*d, 405
Gift of' thy Genius to the feeling mind.
> Theie are the honors which the Mufe confers.
The radiant Crown of living light is her*s ;
And
Ep. IV. ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. lor
And on thy brow fhe gave thofe gems to blaze.
That far outfhine the Mitre's tranfiertt rays ; 410
Gems that fhall mock malignant Envy's breath.
And fhine ftill brighter thro' the (hades of death.
For me, who feel, whene'er I touch die lyre.
My talents fink below my proud defire ;
Who often doubt, and fometimes credit give, 415
When Friends aflure me that my Verfe will live ;
Whom health too tender for the buftling throng
Led into penfive fhade and foothing fong ;
Whatever fortune my unpolilh'd rhymes
May meet, in prefent or in future times, 420
Let the bleft Art my grateful thoughts employ.
Which fooths my forrow and augments my joy ;
Whence lonely Peace and focial Pleafure fprings,
And Friendfhip, dearer than the fmile of Kings I
While keener Poets, queruloufly proud, 425
Lament the Ills of Poefy aloud.
And magnify, with Irritation's zeal,
Thofe common evils we too ftrongly feel,
H 3 The
IM ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. IV.
The envious Comment and the fubtle Style
Of fpecious Slander^ ftabbing with a fmile ; 42a
Frankly I wifli to make her Bleffings known^
And think thofe Bleffings for her Ills atone :
Nor wt)u'd my honeft pride that praife forego.
Which makes Malignity yet more my foe.
If heart-felt pain e*er ltd me to accufc 435
The dangerous gift of the alluring Mufe,
^Twas in tke moment when my Verfe impreft
Some anxious feelings on a Mother's breaft.
O thou fond Spirit, who with pride baft fmtl'd^
And frown'd ,^ith fear, on thy poetic child, 440
Pleas'd, yet alarm'd, when in his boyiih time
He figh'd in numbers, or he laugh'd in rhyme ^
While thy kind cautions warn'd him tp beware
Of Penury, the Bard's perpetual fnare j
Marking the early temper of his foul, 445
Carelefs of wealth, nor fit for bafe controul :
Thou tender Saint, to whom he owes mtich more
^han ever Child to Parent ow'd before,
In
Ep. IV. ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. 103
In life's firft feaibn, when the fever's flame
Shrunk to deformity his (hrivell'd frame, 450
And turn'd each fairer image in his brain
To blank confufion and her crazy train,
'Twas thine, with conftant love, thro' ling'ring years.
To bathe thy Idiot Orphan in thy tears ;
Day after day, and night fucceeding night, 455
To turn inceflant to the hideous fight.
And frequent watch, if haply at thy view
Departed Reafon might not dawn anew.
Tho' medicinal art, with pitying care,
Cou'd lend no aid to iave thee from defpair, 460
Thy fond maternal heart adher'd to Hope and Prayer :
Nor pray'd in vain ; thy cbiW from Pow'rs above
Receiv'd the ienfe to feel and blefs thy love ;
O might he thence receive the happy ikill.
And force proportion'd to his ardent will, 465
With Truth's unfading radiance to emblaze
Thy virtues, worthy of immortal praife I
H 4 Nature,
}
104 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. IV.
Nature, who deck'd thy form with Beauty's flowers,
i^aufted on thy foul her finer powers ;
Taught it with all her energy to feel 470
Love's melting foftnefs, Friendfhip's fervid zeal,
The generous purpofe, and the active thought.
With Charity's diiFufive fpirit fraught ;
There all the bcft of mental gifts fhe plac'd.
Vigor of Judgnxent, purity of Tafte, 475
Superior parts, without their fpleenful leaven,
Kindnefs to Earth, and confidence in Heaven.
While my fond thoughts o'er all thy merits roll.
Thy praife thus gufhes from my filial foul ;
Nor will the Public with harfh rigor blame 480
This my juft homage to thy honor'd name ;
To pleafe that Public, if to pleafe be mine.
Thy Virtues trainM me— let the praife be thine. ^*
Since thou haft reach'd that world where Love alone.
Where Love Parental can exceed thy own j 485
If in celeftial realms the bleft may know
And aid the objects of their care below,
While
^
Ep- IV. ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. 105
While in this fublunai^ fcene of ftrife
Thy Son poflefles frail and feverilh life.
If Heaven allot him many an added hour, 490
Gild it with virtuous thought and mental power.
Power to exalt, with every aim refin'd.
The lovelieft of the ^rts that blefs mankind !
END OF THE FOURTH EtISTLE.
EPISTLE
EPISTLE
THE FIFTH.
\
ARGUMENT
OF THE FIFTH EPISTLE.
Examination of the receiveti opinion^ that fuperna^
tural Agency is ejfential to the Epic Poem. — The
folly and injuftice of all arbitrary fyjlems in Poetry.
'^-The Epic province not yet exhaujied. — SubjeSfs
from Englijb Hijtory the moji inter ejiing. — A na^
tional Epic Poem the great dejideratum in Englijh
literature, — The Author's wijh of feeing it fupplied
h the genius of Mr. Mason. .
I
I
A N
ESSAY
ON
EPI G P O E TR ¥•
EPISTLE V.
TLL-F A T E D Poefy ! as human worth,
Prais'd, yet unaided, often links to earth ;
So fink thy powers ; not doomM alone to know
Scorn, or negle£t, from an luifeeling foe,.
But deftin'd more oppreffive wrong to feel 5
From the mifguided Friend's perplexing zeal.
Such Friends are thofe, who in their proud difplay
Of thy young beauty, and thy early fway.
Pretend
J
no ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. V.
Pretend thou'rt robb*d of all thy warmth fufclime.
By the benumbing touch of modern Time* lo
What ! is the Epic Mufe, that lofty Fair,
Who makes the difcipline of Earth her care f
That mighty Minifter, whom Virtue leads
To train the nobleft minds to nobleft deeds !
Is ihe, in office great, in glory rich, 15
Degraded to a poor, pretended Witch,
Who rais'd her fpells, and all her magic power, •
But on the folly of the favoring hour ?
Whofe dark, defpis'd iiluiions melt away
At the clear dawn of Philofophic day ? 20
To fuch they fmk her, who lament her fall
From the high Synod of th' Olympian Hall ;
Who worfliip Syftem, hid in Fancy's veil.
And think that all her Epic force muft fall.
If (he no more can borrow or create aj
Celeftial Agents to uphold her ftate.
To prove if this fam'd doftrincumay be found
To reft on folid, or on fandy ground.
Let
Ep. V. ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. u%
Let Critic Reafon all her light diiFure ,
O'er the ynic empire of this injured Miife, 30
To guide our fearch to every varied ibiirce
And feparate iinew of her vital force.—
To three prime powers within the human frame.
With equal energy flie points her aim :
By pure exalted Sentiment (be draws 35
From Judgment's fteady voice no light applaufe ;
By Nature's fimple and pathetic ftrains.
The willing homage of the Heart flie gains ;
The precious tribute fhe receives from thefe.
Shines undebasM by changing Time's decrees ; 40
The noble thought, that fir'd a Grecian foul.
Keeps o'er a Britifh mind its firm controul ;
The fcenes, where Nature feems herfelf to fpeak.
Still touch a Briton, as they touched a Greek :
To captivate admiring Fancy's eyes, 45
She bids celeflial decorations rife ;
But, as a playful and capricious child
Frowns at the fplendid toy on which it fmll'd ;
So
iiZ ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. ' Ep. V;
So wayward Fancy now with fcorn furvcys
Thofe fpecious Miracles flie lovM to praife ; 50
Still fond of change, and fickle Fafliion's dupe.
Now keen to foar, and eager now to ftoop.
Her Gods, Dev'ls, Saints, Magicians, rife and fall^
And now fhe worfhips each, now laughs at all.
If then within the rich and wide domain 55
O'er which the Epic Mufe delights to reign.
One province weaker than the reft be found,"
•Tis her Celeftial Sphere, or Fairy Ground :
Her realm of Marvels is the diftant land, i
0*er which (he holds a perilous command ; 60 '
For, plac'd beyond the reach of Nature's aid.
Here her worft foes her tottering force invade :
O'er the wide precmft proud Opinion towers^
And withers with a look its alter'd powers ;.
While lavifli Ridicult, pert Child of Tafte ! 63
Turns the rich confine to fo poor a wafte^
That fome, who deem it but a cumbrous weight.
Would lop this Province from its Parent State.
What
E^. V. ESSAY ON EPIC FOETRY. 113
What mighty voice £fft ^ke diis wond^ious law^
Which dii£tile Critics ftiB lepeat widi awe-— 70
That man's unkindling fpirit muft refufe
A generous plaudit to ch' Heroic Mufe,
Howe'er ihe paint her fcenes of manly life^
If no fuperior Agents aid liie ftrife ?
In days of courtly wit, and wanton mirth^ 75
The loofe Petronius gave the maxitn birth j *
Pcrchanfce, to footh the envious Nero's ear,
And fink the Bard whofe fame he figh'd to hear ;
To injure Lvcav, whofe adventurous mind,
InflamM by Freedom, with juft fcorn refign'd 80
Th' cxhauftcd fables of the ftarry pole.
And found a nobler theme in Cato's foul :
To wound him, in the mafk of Critic art.
The fubtle Courtier lauhchM this vcnomM dart,
And following Critics, fond of Claffic lore, 8$
Still echo the vain law from ihore to fhore ;
• Ver. 76. Sec N O T E I.
VoL.llL I Oa
114 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY, Ep. V.
On Poets ftill for Deities they call.
And deem mere earthly Bards no Bards at all.
Yet, if by fits the mighty Homer nods.
Where finks he more than with his fleepy Gods ? 90
E'en LucAN proves, by his immortal name.
How weak the dagger levell'd at his fame ;
For in his Song, which Time will ne*er forget.
If Tafte, who much may praife, will much regret,
'Tis not the abfence of th' Olympian ftate, 95
Embroird by jarring Gods in coarfe debate :
fTis nice arrangement, Nature's eafy air.
In fcenes unfolded with fuperior care j
'Tis fofter diftion, elegantly terfe, .
' And the fine polifli of VIrgilian Verfe. 100
O blind to Nature ! who aflert the Mufe
Muft o'er the human frame her empire lofe.
Failing to fly, in Fancy's wild career,
Above this vifible diurnal fphere !
Behold yon penfive Fair ! who turns with grief 105
The tender Novel's foul-pofleffing leaf!
8 - Why
Ep- V. ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. 115
Why with moift eyes ta thofe foft pages gluM,
Forgetting her fix'd hours of fleep and food ;
Why does fhe keenly grafp its precious woes.
Nor quit the volume till the ftory clbfe ?' no'
*Tis not that Fancy plays her revels there.
Cheating the mind with lucid forms of air ^
'Tis not that PafSon, in a ftyle impure.
Holds the warm fpirit by a wanton lure :
'Tis fuffering Virtue's fympathetic fway, 115
^ That all the fibres of her breaft obey ;
'Tis Aftion, where Immortals claim no part;
'Tis Nature, grappled to the human heart*
If this firm Sov'reign of the feeling breaft
Can thus the fef^inated thought arreft, 120
And thro' the bofom's deep reoefles pierce,
Ungrac'd, unaided by enchanting V^rfe,
Say ! fliall we think, with. limited controul,
She wants fufficient force to feize the foul.
When Harmony's congenial tones convey 1 25
Charms to her voice, that aid its magic fway ? .
' I2 If
n6 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY* EkV-
If Admiration's hand, with eager grafp.
Her darling Homer's deathkfe volume clafp.
Say to what fcenes her ptfrtial eyes revert !
Say what they firft explore, and laft defert ! ^-» 130
The fcenes that glitter with no heavenly blaze.
Where human agents human feelings raife.
While Truth, enamor'd of the; lovdy line.
Cries to their f^rent Nature, «* Thefe are thine."
When Neptune rifes in Homeric fbte, 135
And on their Lord die\ Pdwers of Ocean wait ;
Tho' pliant Fancy trace the fteps he trod.
And with a tranfient worfhip own the God,
Yet colder readers with indifference view
The Sovereign of the deep, and all his vaflal crew, 140
!Nor feel his watery pomp their mind enlarge.
More than the pageant of my Lord May Vs barge.
But when Achilles' wrongs our eyes engage.
All bofoms burn with fympatbetic rage :
And when thy Idve parental. Chief of Troy ! .145
Haftes to relieve the terrors of thy boy,
9 Our
E?. V. ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. 117
Our fenfes in thy fond emotion join^
And every heart's in imi&n with thin^.
SlaQ in the Muife's ear fliafl Echo ring^
That heavenly Agents arc her vital fpring ? 150
Thofe who conclude her winning dialms arife
From Beings darting from the diftant ikies.
Appear to cherifh a conceit as vain.
As once was harboured in Neanthus' brain.
When he believed that harmony muft dwell . l$i
In the cold cqncave of tbe Orphic ihell :
The ancient Lyre, to which the Thracian fung,
Wbofe hallow'd chords were ih a temple hung.
The fhaHow Youth with weak ambition fought^
And of die pilfering Prieft the relique bought ^ 160
Viewing his trea(ure with deluded gaze,
He deemed himfdf the heir of Orphic praife ;
But when his awkward fingers tried to bring
Expedled mufic from the filent firing,
I 3 Not
• Vcr. x66. See NOTE II.
ii8 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. V;,
Not e'en the milder brutes his difcord bore, ^ 165
'But howling dogs the fancied Orpheus tore^* ♦
When the true Poet, in whofe frame arc jbinM |
Sofitnefs of Heart and Energy of Mind,
' His Epic fcene's expanfive limit draws.
Faithful to Nature's univerfal laws 5 170
If thro' her various walks he boldly range.
Marking how oft her pliant features change ;
If, as ihe teaches, bis quick powers fupply
Succeffive piSures to th' aftonifh'd eye.
Where nobleft paffions nobleft deeds infpire, 175
And radiant fouls exhibit all their fire i
Where fofter forms their fweet attraftions blend.
And fufFering Beauty makes the world her friend ;
If thus he build his Rhyme, with varied art.
On each dear intereft t>f the human heart, 180
His
X:p. v. essay on epic poetry. 119
His genius, by no vain conceits bctray'd.
May fpurn faint Allegory's feeble aid.
Th' Heroic Mufe, in earthly virtue ftrong.
May drive the hoft of Angels from her Song,
As her fair Sifter Mufe, the Tragic Queen, 185
Has banifh'd Ghofts from her pathetic fcene,
TJio' her high foul, by Shakespeare's magic fway'd.
Still bends to buried Denmark's aweful Shade.
If we efteem this Epic Queen fo great.
To fpare her heavenly train, yet keep her ftate, 190
'Tis not our aim, with fyftematic pride.
To fink their glory, or their powers to hide.
Who add, when folded in the Mufe's arms,
Celeftial beauty to her earthly charms.
Sublimely, famion'd, by no mortal hands, 195
The dome of mental Pleafure wide expands :
Form'd to prefide o'er its arfottfed parts.
At different portals ftand the feparate Arts ;
But every portal different paths may gain.
Alike uniting in the myftic Fane. 200
1 4 Contentious
lid ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. V.
Contentious mortals on diefe paths debate j
Some^ wrang^ng on the road, ne'er reach the gate.
While others, arm'd with a despotic rod.
Allow no pafs but what themfelres have trod.
The nobleft fpirits, to this foible prone, 205
Have flander'd powers congenial with their own :
Hcnte, on a Brother's genius MjtToir frown'd, •
Scorning the graceful chains of final found.
And to one form confined the free fublime,
Infulting Drtdbn as the Man of Rhyme. 2x0
Caprice ftill gives this lafting ftruggle life ;
Rhyme and Blank Verib maintain their idle ftrife :
The friends of one arc ftill the other's foes.
For ftubbom Prejudice no mercy knows.
As in Reli^on, Zealots, blindly warm, 215
Negle<a the Eflence, while they grafp the Form j
Poetic Bigots, thus perverfely wrong.
Think Modes of Verfe comprize the Soul of Song.
If the fine Statuary fill his part
With all the powers of energetic Art i 220
If
]L9. V. ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY, fix
If to die figttfts, that, with ikiU exad,
Hi9 genius blends in <me impailian'd zSt^
If to this Group fuch fpetking force be prtj
That ftartlcd Nature almoft cries, *< They live i**
All tongues with zeal th' enchanting work applaud.
Nor the great Artift of due, praife defraud, ztS
Whether he for m'd the rich expreffive mafs
Of Parian marble, ot Corinthian brafs ;
For each his-powers might fa0iion to fulfil
The nobleft purpoie p( mimetic (kill ; 230
Each from his foul might catch Promethean fire|
And fpeak his talents, till the world expire.
*Tis thus that Miiton's Verfe, and DftY2>£N*s
Rhyme,
Are proof alike againft the rage of Time ;
Each Mafter modelled, with a touch fo bold, 13 j;
The rude materials which he cho& to mouldy
That each his portion to perfection brought,
Accomplilbing ^e glorious end he fought*
FaUb
iM ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. V.
FaUe to themfelves, and to their intereft blind.
Are tbofe cold judges, of faftidious mind, 240
Who with vain rules the fufFering Arts would load.
Who, ere they fmile, tonfult the Critic's code ;
Where, puzzled by the different doubts they fee,
(For who fo oft a? Critics difagree ?^
They lofe that pleafure by free fpirits feiz'd, 245
In vainly 'fettling how they fliould be pleas'd.
Far wifer thofe, who, with a generous joy.
Nor blindly fond, nor petulantly coy.
Follow each movement of the varying Mufe,
Whatever ftep her airy form may chufe, 250
Nor to one march her rapid feet confine,
Whileeafe and fpirit in her gefture join ;
Thofe who facilitate her free defire.
To melt the heart, or,fet the foul on fire 5
Who, if her voice to fimple Nature lean, 255
And fill with Human forms her Epic fcene,
Pleas'd with her aim, afiift her moral plan.
And feel with manly fympathy for Man :
Or,
Ep. V. ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. , n^
Or, if fhe draw, by Fancy's magic tones,
^therial Spirits from their fapphire thrones^ 260
Her Heavenly fliapes with willing homage greets
And aid, with du6lil& thought, her bright deceit;
For, if the Epic Mufe ftill wilh to tower
Above plain Nature's firm and graceful power,
Tho' Critics think her vital powers are loft 265
In cold Philofophy's petrific froft y
That Magic cannot her funk charms reftore.
That Heaven and Hell can yield her nothing more ;
Yet may (he dive to many a fecret fource *
And copious fpring of vifionary force : 270
India yet holds a Mythologic mine.
Her ftrength may open, and her art. refine :
Tho* Afian Ipoils the realms of Europe fill,
Thofe Eaftern riches are unrifled ftill ;
Genius may there his courfe of honor run, 275
And fpotlefs Laurels in that field be won. ♦
• Vcr. «76. Sec NOTE III.
- Yet
124 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. V.
Yet nobler aims the Bards of Britain court.
Who ftcer by Freedom's ftar to Glory's pott ;
Our gen'rous Ifle, with far fuperior zbiim^ •
Aiks for her Chiefs the palm of Epic fame. 280
In every realm where'er th' Herdc Mufe
Has deign'd her glowing fpirit to infufe.
Her tuneful Sons with civic fplendor blaze.
The honour'd Heralds of dieir country's praiie.
Save in our land, the nadbn of the earth 285
Ordain'd to give the brighteft Heroes birth !-<•
By fome ftrange fate, which ruPd each Poet's tongue.
Her deareft Worthies yet remain unfung.
Critics there are, who, with a Icomful fmile,
Kejed the annals of our martial Ifle, 290
And, dead to patriot Paffion, coldly deem
They yield for lofty Song no touching theme.
What ! can the Bridflx heart, humanely brave.
Feel for the Greek who loft his female flave f
Can it, devoted to a favage Chief, 295
Swell with his rage, and foften with his grief i
And
Ef. V. ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY* its
And fliall it not with keener zeal embrace
Their brighter caufe, who, bom of Britiih race.
With the fbpng. cement of the blood they ipil^
The fplendid fane of Britifli Freedom built ? 30*
Bleft Spirits ! whoy with kindred fire endued, '
Thro' different ages this bright work purfued.
May Art and Genius crown your £unted band
With that poetic wreath your Deeds demand !
While, led by Fancy <hro' her wide domain, 305
Our fteps advance around her Epic plain ;
While we furvey each laurel that it bore.
And every confine of the realm explore.
See Liberty, array'd in light krene^
Pours her rich luftre o'er th* expanding fcene ! 310
Thee, Masok, thee flie views with fond regard.
And calls to nobler heights her fav'rite Bard.
Tracing a circle with her blazing ipear.
« Here," cries the Goddefs, « raife thy JFabric tew.
Build on thefe rocks, that to my reign belong, 315
The noblcft bafis of Heroic Song !
Fix
126 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. V.
Fix here ! and, while thy growing works afcend,
Mj voice (hall guide thee, and my arm defend."
As thus (he fpeaks, methinks her high beheft
Imparts pure rapture to thy confcious breaft, 320
Pure as the joy immortal Newton found.
When Nature led him to her utmoft bound.
And clearly ihew*d, where unborn age$ lie.
The diftant Comet to his daring eye ;
Pore as the joy the Sire of mortals knew, 325 ,
When blifsfiil Eden open'd on his view.
When firft he liften'd to the voice Divine,
And wond'ring heard, " This Paradife is thine."
With fuch delight may*ft thou her gift receive !
May thy warm heart with bright ambition heave 330
To raife a Temple to her hallow'd name, .
Above what Grecian artifts knew to frame !
Of Englifli form the facred fabric rear.
And bid our Country with juft rites revere
The Power, who flieds, in her benignant fmile, 335 .
The brighteft Glory on our boafted Iflc !
Juftly
Ep. V. ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. 127
Juftly on thee th' infpiring Goddefs calls ;
Her mighty tafk each weaker Bard appalls :
*Tis thine, O Mason ! with unbaffled (kill,
Each harder duty of our Art to fill ; 340
*Tis thine, in robes of beauty to array.
And in bright Order's lucid blaze difplay.
The forms that Fancy, to thy wiflies kind.
Stamps on the tablet of thy clearer mind.
How foftly fweet thy notes of pathos fwell, 345
The tender accents of Elfrida tell ;
Caraftacus proclaims, with Freedom's fire.
How rich the tone of thy fublimer Lyre ;
E'en in this hour, propitious to thy fame.
The rural Deities repeat thy name : 350
With feftive joy I hear the fylvan throng
Hail the completion of their favorite Sbng,
Thy graceful Song ! in honor of whofe power.
Delighted Flora, in her fweeteft bower.
Weaves thy unfading wreath ; — with fondeft care, 355
Proudly (he weaves it, emulcufly fair,
To
i2f ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ef. V.
To match Ihal: oroirn, which m jflie iMUiitmi grave
" The richer Ceres fdr her VmoiL wove !
See ! his Eurydice hcrfelf oiwre more
Rwfits earth from the Eljrfian fliore ! 360
Behold ! fhe hovers o*er thy echwng glade !
Envy, not love, condufts (he penfive Shade,
Who, trembling at thy Lyre's paAetic tone.
Fears left Nerina's fame furpafs her own.
Thou happy Bjard ! whofe fweet and potent voice 365
Can reach all notes within the Poet*s choice ;
Whofe vivid foul has led thee to iirfufe
Dramatic life in the preceptive Mufc ;
Since, bleft alife with Beauty and with Force,
Thou livall'ft Virgil in his Sylvan iourfe, 370
O be it thine the higher palm to gain,
And pafs him in the wide Heroic plain \
To fing, wtb equal fire, of nobler themes.
To gild Hiftoric Truth with Fancy's beams !
To Patriot Chiefs unfung thy Lyre devote, 375
And fwcU to Liberty the lofty note !
With
Ep. V. ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. 129
With humbler aim, but no ungenerous view^
My fteps, lefs firm, their low^r path purfue j
Of different Arts I fearch the ample field^
Mark its.paft fruits, and what it yet may yield ; 380
With willing voicfc the praife of Merit found.
And bow to Genius wherefoever found ;
O'er my free Verfe bid nobleft names prefide,
Tho' Party's hoftile lines thofe names divide; -* , ^
Party ! whofe murdering fpirit I abhor, 3^^l
More fubtly cruel, and lefs brave than War.
Party ! infidious Fiend ! whofe vapors blind
The light pf Ju{tice in the brighteft mind j
Whofe feverifh tongue, whence deadly venom flows,
Bafely belies the merit of her foes ! 390
O that my Verfe with magic power were bleft.
To drive from Learning's field this baleful peft !
Fond, fruitlefs wifli ! the mighty taik would foil
The firmeft fons of Literary Toil j
In vain a letter'd Hercules might rife 395
To cleanfe the ftable where this Monfter lies :
Vol. IIL K Yet,
130 ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY. Ep. V.
Yet, if the Imps of her malignant brood.
With all their Parent's acrid gall endi^M ;
If Spleen pours forth, to Mockery's apifh tune,.
Her gibing Ballad, and her bafe Lampoon, 400
On faireft names, from every blemiflx fre^
Save what the jaundic'd eyes of Party fee ;
My glowing fcorn will execrate the rhyme,
Tho' laughing Humor ftrike its tuneful chime ;
Tho' keeneft Wit the glitt'ring lines inveft 405
With all the fplendor of the Adder's creft.
Sublimer Ma&on I not to thee belong
The reptile beauties of envenom'd Song*
Thou chief of living Bards ! O be it ours,.
In fame tho* different, as of difFercnt powers, 410
Party's dark clouds alike to rife above.
And reach the finnament of Public Love !
May'ft thou afcend Parnaflus' higheft mound.
In triumph there the Epic Trumpet found j
While, with no envious zeal, I thus afpire 415
By juft applaufe to fan thy purer fire ;
6 And
Ep. V. ESSAY ON EPIC POETRY- 131
A lid of the Work which Freedom pants to fee.
Which thy firm Genius claims referv'd for thee^
In this frank ftyle my honeft thoughts impart.
If not an Artift yet a friend to Art ! 420
END OP THE FIFTH EPISTtS.
K 2 N O T E S*
N O T E S.
K3
C I3S ]
■WXWPMWWWJ— —»p
N O T E S
TO T H B
FIRST EPISTLE.
NOTE I. Vbrsb 7,
^UCH dark decrees have lettered Bigots penrCd^
Tetfeiz^d that honored name^ the Poet's Friend*^
Of the feveral authors who have written on Epic
Poetry, many of the moft celebrated are more
likely to confound and deprefs, than to enlighten
and exalt the young Poetical Student. The Poe-
tics of Scaliger, which are little more than a
laboured panegyric of Virgil, would lead him
to reg^-d the ^neid as the only ftandard of
K 4 perfefiioni
136 N O T E S T O T H E
pcrfeftion; and the more elegant and accom-
plifhed Vida inculcates the fame pufillanimous
leflbn, though in fpirited and harmonious verfe:
Unus hie ingenio pracftanti gentis Achivae
Divinos vates longe fuperavit, et arte.
Aureus immortale fonans : ftupet ipfa pavetque,
Quamvis ingentem miretur Graecia Homerum.
Ergo ipfumante alios animovenerareMaronem,
Atqueunum fequere,utquepotes,veftigia ferva !
Vida.
See how the Grecian Bards, at diftance thrown,
With reverence bow to this diftinguiih*d fon ;
Immortal founds his golden lines impart,
' And nought can match his Genius but his Art :
E'en Greece turpsp^le and trembles at his fame.
Which ihadesthe luftre of her Homer's name.
Hence, facred Virgil from thy foul adore
Above the reft, and to thy utmoft power
Purfue the glorious patlis he ftruck before.
PiTT«'s Tranflatioft.
\ , A Critic,
1
FIRST EPISTLE. 137
. A Critic, who lately rofe to great eminence
in our own country, has endeavoured by a more
flngular method, to da^mp the ardour of inventi^f
Genius, and to annihilate the hopes of all who
would afpire to the praife of originality in this
higher fpecies of poetical compofition. He has
attempted to eftablifh a Triumvirate in the Epic
world, with a perpetuity of dominion. , Every
reader who is conyerfant with modern criticifm,
will perceive that I allude to the following paflage
in the farnous DifTertation on the fixth Book of
Virgil :—" Juft as Virgil rivalled Homer, fo
Milton emulated both of them. He found Ho-
mer poflefled of the province of Morality ; Virgil
of Politics 'y and nothing left for him but that of
Religion. This he feized, as afpiring to fliarc
with them in the government of the Poetic world:
and, by means of the fuperior dignity of his fub-
jeft, hath gotten to the head of that Triumvirate,
which took.fo many ages in forming. Thefe are
the three fpecies of the Epic Poem ; for its largeft
fphere is human a£fion^ whidh can be confidcred
\but
«38 NOTES TO THE
but in a morale pcditical, or religious view : and
Thcfe the three Makers j for each of their Poems
K^as ftruc'k out at a heat, and came to perfection
from its firft eflay. Here then the grand fcene
was clofed, and all farther improvements of the
Epic at an end.''
I apprehend that few critical remarks contain
more abfurdity (to ufe the favourite expreffion of
the author I have quoted) than the preceding
iines. Surely Milton is himfelf a proof that human
aSlion is not the largeft fphere of the Epic Poem ;
and as to Virgil, his moft pafEonate admirers
muft allow, that in fubjefl: and defign he is much
lefs of an original, than Camoens or Lucan- But
fuch a critical ftatute of limitation, if I may call
it fo, is not lefs pernicious than abfurd. To dif-
figure the fphere of Imagination with thcfe capri*
cious and arbitrary zones, is an injury to fcience.
Such Criticifm, inftead of giving fpirit and ener-
gy to the laudable ambition of a youthful Poet,
can only lead him to ftart like Macbeth at unreal
mockery, and to exclaim, when hs is invited
by
FIRST EPISTLE. 139
ty Geniui to the banquet, « The Table's
fuU!"
NOTE 11. Verse 77.
TbuSy at their banquets^ fabling Greeks rehearft
The fancied origin of facred VerfeS\ For this
. feble, fuch as it is, I am indebted to a pafTage in
Athensus, which the curious reader may find in
the clofe of that fenciful and entertaining compi-
ler, page 701 of Cafaubon's edition.
NOTE III. Verse 207.
Why did the Epic Mufe'sjilent lyre
, Shrink from thofe feats that fummon^dallher fire ?]
I have ventured to fuppofe that Greece produced
no worthy fucceflbr of Homer, and that her ex-
ploits againft the Perfians were not celebrated by
any Poet in a manner fuitable to fo fublime a fub*
jeA : — yet ah author named Chaerilus is faid to
have Recorded ' thofe triumphs of his country in
vcrfe,
II
/
140 N O T E S T O T H E
rerfe, and to have plcafed the Athenians fo highly,
as to obtain from them a public and pecuniary
reward. He is fuppofed to have been a cotempo-
rary of the hiftorian Herodotus. But from the
general filenc^ of the more early Greek writers
concerning the merit of this Poet, we may, I
^nk, very fairly conjeSure that his compofitipns
were not many degrees fuperior to thofe of his
unfortunate namefake, who frequented the court
of Alexander the Great, and is faid to have fung
the exploits of his Sovereign, on the curious con-
ditions of receiving a piece of gold for every good
verfe, and a box on the ear for evcrY bad one.
The old Scholiaft on Horace, who has preferved
this idle ftory, concludes it by faying, that the
miferable Bard w^s beat to death in confequence
of his contra6i. Some eminent moderif Critics
have indeed attempted to vindicate the reputation
of the more early Chserilus, who is fuppofed^ to be
confounded, both by Horace himfelf, and after- #
wards by Scaliger, with the Chaerilus rewarded
by
FIRST EPISTLE. 141
by Alexander. Voffius *, in particular, appears
a warm advocate in his behalf, and appeals to va*
rious fragments of the ancient Bard preferved by
Ariftotle, Strabo, and others, and to the teftimony
of Plutarch in his favour. But on cohfulting the
fragments be has referred to, they rather fortify
than remove my conjedure. The fcrap prefer-
ved by Ariftotle in his Rhetoric is only half a
verfe, and quoted without any commendation of
its author. The two citations in Strabo amount
to little more. The curious reader may alio find
in Athenseus an Epitaph on Sardanapalus, attri-
buted to this Poet ; vsrho is mentioned by the
fame author as peculiarly addifted to the grofler
excefles of the table. Let us now return to
that Chaerilus whom Horace has " damn'd to
everlafting fame." The judicious and elegant
Roman Satirift feems remarkably unjuft in paying
a compliment to the poetical judgment of his pa-
tron Auguftus, at the expence of the Macedonian
hero. Alexander appears to havepoffclled much
• Dc Hiftoricis (Iraecis.
more
^
>
I
Hi NOTES TO THE
fl^ore poetical fpirit, and a higher relifii for poetry^ •!
than the cold-blooded OAavius, It is peculiarly
unfair, to urge his liberality to a poor Poet, as a
proof that he wanted critical difcernrnent, when
he had himfelf fo thoroughly vindicated the deli*
cacy of his tafte, by the enthufiaflic Bon-^mot,
That he had rather be the Therfites of Homefr
than the Achilles of Chacrilus.
MOTE IV. Verse 231.
.When grave Bojfu by SyfierrC s Jiudied laws
The Grecian Bard^s ideal piSiure draws,']
Though Boffu is called ** the beft "explainer of
Ariftotle, and one of the moft learned and judi*
cious of modern critics," by a writer for whofe
opinions I have much efleem, I cannot help
thinking that his celebrated Eflay on Epic Poetry
is very ill calculated either to guide or to infpirit
a young Poet. The abfurdity of his advice
concerning the mode of forming the fable, by
chufing a moral, inventing the incidents, and
then fearching hiftory for names to fuit them,
has been fufficici^tly expofed : and as to his leading
idea.
F I R S T E P I S T L E. 143
idea, concerning the defign of Bomer in the com*
pofition of the Iliad and Odyfley, I apprehend
moft poetical readers muft feel that he is proba*
bly miftaken; for it is a conjeflural point, and
placed beyond the poffibility of decifion* Peiiiaps
few individuals differ more from each other in
their modes of thinking, by the force of educa-
tion and of national manners, than a modern
French Critic and an early Poet of Greece ; yet
the former will often pretend, with the moft de«
ciiive air, to lay open the fenforium of an ancient
Bard, and to count every link in the chain of
his ideas. Thpfe who are moft acquainted with
the movements of imagination, will acknow-
ledge the fteps of this airy power to be ib light
and eyanefcent in their nature, that peiiiaps a
Poet himfelf, in a few years after finifiiiiig hh
work, might be utterly unable to recoiled the ex«
zQ, train of thought, or the various minute occur*
rences, which led him to the general defign,
or direded him in the particular parts of his
poem But, in fpite of the interval of fo many^
centuries,
144 N O T E S T O THE
centuries, the decifivre magic of criticifm can call
up all the fhadows of departed thought that ever
exifted in his brain, and difplay, with a moft
aftonifhing' clearnefs, the precife ftate of his
mind in the moment of compofition,
*' Homere,". fays Boffu, '', ♦ voyoit les Grecs
pour qui il €crivoit, divifez en autant d'etats
qu'ils avoient de villes confxderahles : chacune
faifoit un corps a part & avoit fa forme de gou-
vemfement independamment de tputes les autres,
Et toute^fois ces etats difFerens etoient fouvent
obligea^ de fe reiinir comme en un feul corps
contre leurs ennemis communs. Voila fans doute
deux ibrtes de gouvernemens bien differens, pour
ctre commodement reunis en un corps de morale,
& en un feul poeme.
• *' Le poete en a done fait deux fables feparees.
L*une eft pour toute la^ Grece reiinie en un feul
corps, mais compofee de parties independantes
les unes des autres, comme elles etoient en efFet ; ^
* '
• Livrc I. chap, 8.
& Tautrc
T I R S T E P I S TL E. 145
;& I'autre eft pour chaque etat partlculier^ tds
qu'ils etoient pendant ]a paix^ fans ce premier
rapport & fans la neceffite de fe reiinir*
<* Homere a done pris pour le fond de fa fable^
cette grande verite^ que la Mefintelligence de$
prkices ruine leurs propres etats/*
On the Odyfley Boffu remarks, <« Que la v«-
rite qui fert de fond^^ cette fiftion, ic qui avec
elle compofe la fable, eft, que Tabfence d'une
perfonne hors de chez foi, ou qui n'a point
Tceil a ce qui s'y fait, y caufe de grands def-
ordres ♦.'*
On the mature confideration of dlefe two ma«
ral axioms, the Critic fuppofes the fublime Bard
to have begun his ref]^£tive Poems ; for Horner^
continues he, " f n'avoit point d'autre deflcin
que de former agreaUement les mceurs de fes
^itoiens, en leur propofant, comme dit Horace,
ce qui eft utile ou pernicieux, ce qui eft honnett
* Livte i. chap. lo.
f Livre i. chap. 13/
Vot.UI. L oil
?46 N O T E S T O T H E
6u cc qui nc I'eft pas : - - - il n'a entrepris d«
raconter aucun^ a£lion particuliere d'Achiile ou
d'UlyfTe. II a fkit la fable et le deflein de fes
poemes, fahs penfer a ces. pritices ; & enfuite II
l^r a fait I'honheur de donner leurs noms aux
heros qu'il avoit feints."
The preceding remarks t)f this celebrated Cri-
tic have been frequently admired as an ingenious
conjeSure, which moft haf^ily .illuftrates the
^al purpofe of Homer. To nle they appear fo
itoiich the tfeverfe, that if I rentared to adopt any
decided opinion on a point fo much darkened
by the clouds of antiquity, I {hoidd radier in-
cline to the idea ^i4uch Bofib affe£ls to explode,
ftnd fuppofc the Poems trf Homer intended pa-
•taegytic^ on the very princes whom the Critic;
affirms he never tfeoogbt of while he was dc-
figntng the woiics^ whicli hav^ n^ade thetn im^
lEdoital*
There is a ftriking pailage on this fubjed in a
dialogue of Plato, which I fhall enlarge upon^
for two,reafons : ift> As it proves that the latter
rperAiafiga
FIRST EPISTLE., 147
perfuafion concerning the purpofe of Homer wa&
entertained at Athens ; and 2dly, Beqaufe it
gives me a pleating opportunity of fupporting
the learned Madame Dacier againft an ill-
grounded cenfure of a late Englifli critic. In
her Preface to the Odyfley, fhe aiTerts, that the
judgment of antiquity decided in favour of the
jQiad i and 02e appeals to part of the fentence in
Plato, to which t have alluded, as a proof of her
ailertion, Mr. Wood, in a jiote to the Intro*
4tt£tion of his Eflay on Horner^ endeavours to
€iew the infufficiehcy of tbi$ proof } and fiill
farther, to convince us that Madame Pacier
was utterly mifiaken in her fenfe of the paflagff
to which (be appealed. If he ventures to con**
tradi£t this learned lady, he does not however
f nfult her with that infolent pertnefs with wbi^b
flie, is frequently treated in the notes tp Pope's
Homer ; and which, for the honour of our Eng-
lifli Poet, I will not fuppofe to be his. Bi^t
though Mr. Wood endeavpurs to fyppgrt iiis
opinion by argument, I apprehend that he is
L 2 bimfelf
148 N O T E S T O T H E
himfelf miftaken, and that Madame Dacier is
perfefUy right in underftanding the words of
Socrates in their literal fenle^ without the' leaft
mixture of irony. It is true, indeed,, that the
ainl of Socrates, in the courfe of the dialogue,
is to ridicule the prefumption and ignorance of
the fophift Hippias, in the moft ironical manner ;
but the particular fpeech on which Madame
Dacier founds her opinion, is a plain and fimple
addrefs to Eudicus^ before he enters on his de«*
bate with the Sophift. It turns on the mofi:
fimple circumftance, the truth of which Eu«
dicus could hardly be ignorant of, namely, the
fentiments of his own father concernbg the
Poems of Homer. As thefe fentiments are fuch
as I believe moft admirers of the ancient Bard
have entertained on the point in queftion, I per- '
fedly agree with Madajne Dacier in thinking
that Socrates means to be literal and Xerious,
when he fays to Eudicus, Ts era wurpoi Airn^
lJi,Mro\} fiK}i09 oTi fi IXia^ xaXAiov tin iroitjjMA^
b) 0/A))fCi) n 9) OS\JT(ruo^' ro^ouTU h xo^AAioy
FIRST EPISTLE. 149
wcffOfijo-S-ai, TO J* f»9 A;^»XXia. Plat, Hip. min,
edit. Serrani, torn. i. p. 363. *« I have heard
your father Apemantiis fay, that the Diad of
Homer was a finer poem than his'Odyfley, and
as far furpafled it in excellence as the virtue of
Achilles furpalfed the virtue of Ulyffes \ for thofe
two poems, he faid, were purpofely compofed in
honour of thofe two heroes : the Odyfley, to
ihew the virtues of Ulyfles ; the Iliad, thofe of
Achilles." — Plato's Leffler Hippias, tranflated by,
Sydenham, page 13.
Let us now return to BofTu y whofe opinion
concerning the purpofe of Homer we may venture
to oppofe, fupported as it is ,by an ingenious in«>
terpretation of fome ambiguous paflages in the
Poetics of Ariftotle ; and this oppofition may be
grounded, not fo much on the fentence which I have
quoted from Plato, as on the probable condu£l of
Epic compofition in the early ages of poetry. In
L 3 fuch
ISO NOTES TO TBE
'I
(aqh periods as produced the talents'of Virgil and
of Dryclen, t^hen all the arts of refined flattery
were perfeftly underftood, we can eafily conceive
that they might both be tempted to compliment
the reigning monarch under the mafk of fuch
heroic names as hiftory could fupply, and their
genius accommodate to their purpofe. We find
accordingly, that the Roman Bard is fuppofed to
have drawn a flattering portrait of his Emperor
in the chara<Eler of £neas, and that the Engliflii
i* oet has, with equal ingenuity, cnwrapt the dif-
iblute Charles the Second in the Jewifli robes of
King David. But in fo rude an age as we muft
^ditiit that of Homer to have been ; when the
Poet was certainly more the child ©f Nature
than t>f Art ; when he had no hiftory to confult,
perhaps no patron tb flatter, and no critics to
dude or obey 5 in fuch an age, may we not more
n&terally conjeAure, that poetical compofitton
was neither laboured in its form, nor deep in its
ilefign i that) inftead of being the flow and fyf-
tematic
FIRST E P I S T t «. . qi
tematic prodiiA of political reafoniiig, it was tbf
quick and artlefs offspring of a ftrong and vivify-
ix^g fancy, which, brooding over the tales of tr?i-
4itipn, fqon raiied them into fuch life and beauty,
as muft fatisfy and enchant a warlil^^ and popular
audience, ever ready to liften with delight to tb^
heroic feats of their anceftors.
If the learned BoiTu appears unfortunate in his
fyftem concerning tb? purpofe of Homer, he may
be thought ftill more fo in his attempt to analyfe
the Pivinities of Virgil ; for, to throng new light
on the convention of the Gods, i^ the opeiiipg
of the tenth ^neid, he very ferioufly informs
us, that « ♦ Ven^s i$ divine mercy, or th? love
of God towards virtuous men, and Juno his
juftice."
I cannot conclude thefe very free ftridures on
a celebrated author, without bearing a pleafing
teftimony to the virtues of the man. — Boflii i$
allowjed by the biographers of his country to have
been remarkable for the mi]deft mann^r$ and
* Book y. chap. i.
L 4 moft
iSi NOTES TO THE
moft amiaWe difgofition-; totally free from that
imperious and bigotted attachment to fpeculativef
opinions, which the fcience he cultivated is fo
apt to produce. He endeared himfelf to Boileau
by a generous aft of friendlhip, that led to an
intimacy between them, which was diffolved
only by the death of the former, in 1680.
NOTE V, Verse 244.
Imputes to Virgil his own dark conceit.] As it
requires much leifure to examine, and more ikill
to unravel, an intricate hy^thefis, twifted into a
long and laboured chain of quotation and argu-
ment, the Diflertation on the fixth Book of Vir-
gil remained for fome time unrefuted. The public .
very quietly acquiefced in the ilrange pofition of
its author, <<That iEneas's adventure to die In-
fernal Shades, is no other than a figurative de-
feription of his initiation into the Myfteries j and
particularly a very exaft one of the fpeftacles-of
the Eleufmian." At length a fupcrior but anony-
mous
F I R S T E P I S T L E. 153
jnous Critic arofe, who, in one of the moft judi-
cious and fpirited eflays that our nation has pro-
duced on a point of claf&cal literature, completely
overturned this ill-founded edifice, and expofed
the arrogance and futility of its affuming archi-
ted. The Eflay Tallude to is intitled « Critical
Obfervations pn the Sixth Book of the JEneid ;'*
printed for Elmfly, 1770 : and as this little pub-
lication is, I believe, no longer to be pur-
chafed, the curious reader may thank me for
tranfcribing a few of its moft ftriking paflagcs.
Having ridiculed, with great fpirit and pro-
priety, Warburton's general idea of the ^neid as
a political inftitute, and his ill-fupported aflertion,
that both the ancient and modern poets afforded
Virgil a pattern for introducing the Myfteries in-
to this famous epifode, the author proceeds to ex-
amine how far the Critic's hypothefis of initiation
may be fupported or overthrown by the text of
the Poet. "It is,'' fays he, "from extrinfical
ciccumftances that we may expeft the difcovery
of Virgil's allegory. Every one of thefe circum-
ftances
154 NOTES TO THE
ftances perfuades me, that Virgil defcribed a real,
not a mimic world, and that the fcene lay in the
Infernal Shades, and not in the Temple of
, Ceres*
*' The Angularity of the Cumaean ihores mud
be prcfent to every traveller who has once feen
them. To a fuperftitious mind, the thin cruft,
vaft cavities, fulphureous ft^ams, poifonous exha-
lations, and fiery torrents, may feem to trace out
the narrow confine of the two worlds. The lake
Avernus was the chief objetSt of religious horror ;
the black woods which furrounded it, when Vir-
gil firil came to Naples, were perfedHy fuited to
feed the fuperftition of the people *. It was ge-
nerally believed, that this deadly flood was the
entrance of Hell f ; and an oracle was once efta*
bli&ed on its banks, which pretended, by magic
Tjtes, to call up the departed fpirits J . -Sneas,
• Strabo, {. v. p. i6S. '
+ Sa. Ital. 1. xii.
J Diod, Siculus, 1. iv. p. 267. edit, Wcfleling.'
9 who
FIRST EPISTLE. 155
who revolved a more daring enterprise, addrefles
himfelf to the prieftefs of thofe darjc regions.
Their converfation may perhaps inform us whe*
ther an initiation, or a defcent to the Shades, was
the objeft of this enterprize. She endeavours to
deter the hero, by fetdng before him all the dan-
gers of his rafli undertaking :
Facilis defcenfus Averni ;
Ko6les atque dies patet atri janua Ditis :
Sed revocare gradum, iiiperafque evadere ad
auras, -
Hoc opus, hie labor eft *•
** Thefe particulars are abfolutely irrccon-
cileablewith the idea of initiation, but perfe<^ly
agreeable to that of a real defcent. That every
fiep and every inftant may lead us to the grave,
is a melancholy truth. The Myfteries were only
open at ftated times, a few days at moft in the
♦ ^ntld vi. ^^^
courfc
156 M O T E S T O T H E
courfe of a year. The mimic defcent of the MyC^
teries was laborious and dangerous, the return to
light eafy and certain. In real death this orddr i»
inverted :
> Pauci quos aequus amavit
Jupiter, aut ardens evexit ad aethera virtus^
Diis geniti, potuere ♦.
Thefe heroes, as we learn from the Speech of
^neas, were Hercules, Orpheus> Caftor and
Pollux, Thefeus, and Pirithous. Of all thefe an-
tiquity believed, that, befbre their death, they had
feen the habitations of the dead ; nor indeed will
any of the cifcumftances tally with a fuppofed
initiation. The adventure of Eurydice, the altera
^ate life of the Brot|iers, and the forcible intru-
iion of Alcides, Thefeus, and Pirithous, would
mock the endeavours of the moft fubtle critic^
who fhould try to melt them down into his.
^ ^neid vi* !%$•
favourite
T I R ST E P I S TLE. 157
favourite Myftcries. The exploits of Hercules^
who triumphed over the King of Terrors-—
Tartareum ille manu cuftodem in vincla petivit
Ipfius a folio regis, traxitque trementem *.
was a wild imagination of the Greeks f ; l)Ut it
was the duty of ancieilt Poets to adopt and em*
belliih thefe popular traditions ; and it is the in-
tereft of every man of tafte to acquiefce in their
poetical fi^ionsJ**
*' Virgil has borrowed, as ufual, from Homer
his epifode of the Infernal Shades, and, as ufual^
has infinitely improved what the Grecian had in-
vented. If among a profuiion of beauties I durft
venture to point out the moft ftriking beauties of
the fixth Book, I fhould perhaps obferve, z. That
after accompanying the hero through the filent
realms of Night and Chaos, we fee, with afto-
nifliment and pleafure, a new creation burfting
upon us. 2. That we examine, with a delight
• ^neid vi. 395.
t Homer OdyiT. h xi. vcr. 623. Apoll. Bib. 1. ii. ^. 5*
6 ' which
158 N O T E S T O T H E
which Springs from the love of virtue, the juft
empire of Minos, ia which the apparent irregu-
larities of the prefent fyftem are correflecl ; where
the patriot who died for his country is happy, and
the tyrant who opprefled it is miferable* 3. As
we intereft ourfelves in the hero's fortunes, we
fhare his feelings :— the melancholy Palinurus,
the wretched Deiphobus, the indignant Dido^^
the Grecian kings, who tremble at his prefence,
and the venerable Anchifes, who embraces his
pious fon, and difplays to his fight the future
glories of his rac.e : all thefe objefb aifedi us with
a variety of pleafing fenfations.
*' Let us for a moment obey the mandate of
our great Critic, and confider thefe awful fcenes
as a mimic ihew, exhibited in the Teinple of
Ceres, by the contrivance of the prieft, or, if he
pleafes, of the legiflator. Whatever was animated
(I appeal to every reader of tafte), whatever was
terrible, or whatever was pathetic, evaporates into
lifelefs allegory :
.■— > Tenuem
FIRST EPI^ T L E. 159
• T^nuem fine viribus umbram.
"^ '■ *'■ ' i -^ ■■ Dat inania verba.
Dat fine mente fonum^grefTufque ef&ngireuiltis.
The end of philofophy is truth ; the end of poe-
try is picture. I willingly adopt any interpreta-
tion which adds new beauties to the original ; I
afiift in perfuading myfelf that it is juft$ and could
almoft fhew the fame indulgence to the Critic's
as to the Poet's fidion. But (hould a grave
Do£lor lay out fo\irfcore pages in ex^aining
away the fenfe and fpirit of Virgil, I &ould have
every inducement to believe that Virgil's ibul was
v^ry different from the Doctor's,"
Having fhewn, in this fpirited manner, how
far the hypothefls of the Cridc is inconfiftent
with particular ^paflages, and with the general
charaftcr of the Poet, the Effayift proceeds toal-
ledge ^^ two fioiple realons, which perfuade hka
duat Virgil has not revealed the fecret of the Eleu-
finian myftcries : the firft is his ignorance^ and the
fecond
i6o NOTES TO THE
iecond his difcretion.** The author then proves^
by very ingenious hiftorical arguments, ift^ That
it is probable the Poet was never initiated himfelf ;
ind,' 2dly, That if he were fo, it is more pro-
bable that he would not have violated the laws
both of religion and of honour, in betraying the
. fecret of the Myfteries ; particularly, as that fpe-
cies of profanation is mentioned with abhorrence
«
by a cotemporary Poet :
-^.«. Vetabo, qui Cereris facrum
Vulg&rit arcana^, fub iifdem
Sit trabibus, fragilemque mecum
Solvat phafelunu
HoR. 1. iii. od. 24
When Horace compofed the Ode which contains
the preceding paflage, ** the iEneid (continues
my author) and particularly the fixth Book, were
already known to the public *• iThe deteftatipn
of the wretch who reveals the Myfteries of Ceres,
• Donat, in Virgil. Propert. L \u elt xxv. v. 66.
though
F I H S T E P I S T L E. i6i
though exprefled in general terms, muft be applied
by all Rome to the author of the fixth Book of
the iEneid. ■ Can we ferioufly fuppofe that Ho-
race would have branded with fuch wanton in-
famy one of the men in the world whom he lovedi
and honoured the moft * ?
** Nothing remains to fayj except that Horace
was himfelf ignorant of his friend's allegorical
meaning J which the Bifliop of Gloucefter has
fince revealed to the world. It may be fo ;
yet, for my own part, I fliould be very well
fatisfied with underftanding Virgil no better than'
Horace did."
Such is the forcible reafoning of this ingenious
and fpirited writer. I have been tempted to tranf-
cribe thefe confiderable portions of hrs Work, by
an iJea (perhaps an ill-founded one) that the cir-
culation of his little Pamphlet has not been equal
to its merit. But if it has been in any degree ne-
glefted by ow country, it has not efcaped the re-
• Hor. ]. i. od. 3. 1. 1, ferm. v. vcr. 30, &c.
Voi^. III. M fearches,
i62 N O T E S . T O T H E
fearches, or wanted the applaufe, of a learned and
judicious forergnef. Profeflbr Heyne, the late
accurate and accempUihed Editor of Virgil, has
mentioned it in his Comments to the fixth Book
of the ^neid, with the honour it deferves. He
remarks, indeed, that the Author has cenfured
the learned Prelate with fome little acrimony;
** Paullo acrius quam velis." But what lover of
poetry, unbiaffed by perfonal connedlion, can
fpcak of Warburton without fome marks of inx
dignation ? If I have alfo alluded to this famous
Commentator with a contemptuous afperity, it
arifes from the perfuafion that he has fullied the
page of every Poet whom he pretended to illuf-
trate j and that he frequently degraded the ufeful
and generous profeffion of Criticifm into a mean
inftrument of perfonal malignity : or (to ufe the
more forcible language of his greateft antagonift)
that he '' invefted himfelf in the high office of
Inquifitor General land Supreme Judge of the
Opinions of the Learned ; which he alTumed and
exercifed with a ferocity and defpotifm without
^ 9 example
F I R S T E P I S t L E. 163
example in the Republic oiF Letters, and hardly
to be paralleled among the difciples of Domi-
nic *." It is the juft lot of tyrants to be detefted ;
and of all ufurpers^ the literary defpot is the leaft
cxcufable, as he has not the common tyrannical
plea of neceffity or intereft to alledge in his behalf;
for the prevalence of his edi£fs will be found to
fink in proportion to the arbitrary tone with
which they are pronounced. The fate of War-
burton is a ftriking inftance of this important
truth. What havook has the courfe of very few
years produced in that pile of imperious criticifm
which he had heaped together ! Many of his
notes on Shakefpeare have already refigned their
place to the fuperior comments of more accom-
gjiihed Critics j and perhaps the day is not far
diftant, when the volumes of Pope himfelf will
ceafe to be a repofitory for the lumber of his
• Letter to Warburton by 'a late Profcffor, &c. p. 9.
ftd edition,
M 2 friend.
i64 NOTES TO T HT E
friend. The fevereft enemies of Wafburton muff
indeed allows, that feveral of his remarks on bis
Poetical Patrop are entitled to prefcrvation, bjp-
their ufc or beauty ; but the greater part, I ap-*
prebend, are equally deftitute of both : and how
fer the Critic was capable of difgracing the Poet,,
mull be evident to every reader who recdRe&s
that the nonfenfe in the Eflay on Criticifm, where
Pegafus is made to /natch a grace, which is juffly
cenfured by Dr. Warton, was firft introduced
into the poem by an arbitrary tranlpofition of the
editor.
Though arrogance is perhaps the moft ftrik-
ing and chara£leriftical defefl in the compofition
of this affuming Commentator, he had certainly
other critical failings of confiderable importance^
and it may poffibly be rendering fomejittle fer-
vice to the art which he profeffed, to invfcftigate
the peculiarities in this fingular writer, which
confpire to plunge him in the crowd of thofe
wanefcent critics (if I may ufe fuch an expreffion)
whom.
F I R S T E P I S T L E. 165
whom his friend, Pope beheld in fo clear a vifion,
that he feems to have; given us a prophetical
^portrait of his own Comnaentator :
Critics I faw, that others' names efface.
And fix their own, with labour, in the place 5 *
Their own, like others', foon their place je-
fign'd,
Or difappear'd, and left the fir ft behind. •
I iLall therefore hazard a few farther obferva-
jtions, not only on this famous Critic of our age
^nd country, but on the two greater names of
antiquity, to each of whom he has been de*
-clared fuperior by tKe' partial voice of enthufiaftic
friendihip. I wiih not to offend his moft ze^
lous adherents ; and, though I cannot but con-*
iider him as a literary ufurper, I (peak of him as^
a great Hiftorian faid of more exalted tyrants^
fine ira et ftudio, quorum caufas procul habeo.
— — There feem to be three liatural endow-
jTieots re^uiiite in the formation ef an accpm-
M 3 pliflied
166 N O T E S T O T H E
plifhed critic ; — ftrong underftanding, lively
imagination, and refined fenfibility. The firft
was the charafteriftic of Ariftotle ; and, by the
confent of all ages, he is allowed to have pof-
fefled it in a (liperlative degree. May I be par-
doned for the opinion, that he enjoyed but^ very
moderate portion of the other two ? I would not
abfolutely fay, that he had neither Fancy nor Feel-
ing : but that his imagination was not brilliant^
and that his fenfibility was not exquifite, may, I
think, be fairly prefumed from the general tenor
of his profe ; nor does the little relique of his
poetry 'contradift the idea. The two qualities in
which Ariftotle maybe fuppofed defe£Hve,.were
the very two which peculiarly diftinguifh Lon-
gi^us } who certainly wanted not underftanding,
though he might not poflefs the philofbphical
fagacity of the Stagyrite, When confidered in
every point of view, he appears the moft cori-»
fummate charafter among the Critics of anti-
quity. If Warbarton bore any refemblance to
either of thefe mighty names, I apprehend it
muft
F I R S T E P I S T L E. i6;
inuft be to the former, and perhaps in imagina-
lion he was fuperior to Ariftotle : but, of the
three qualities which I have ventured to con-
fider as requifite in the perfeft Critic, I conceive
kim to have been miferably deficient in the laft,
and certainly the moft eflential of the three ; for,
as the great Commentator of Horace has phi-
lofophically and truly remarked, in a note to
that Poet, " Feeling, or Sentiment, i^ not only
the fureft, but the fole ultimate arbiter of works
of genius *•" A man may poflefs aa acute un-
derftanding and a lively imagination, without
being a found Critic -, and .this truth j>erhaps
cannot be more clearly fhewn than in the
writings of Warburton, His underftanding
I was undoubtedly acute, his imagination was
lively ; but Imagination and Sentiment are
by no means fynonymous : and he certainly
wanted thofe finer feelings, which conftitutc
accuracy of difcernment, and .a perfect percep-
tion of literary excellence. In confequence'
* Notes 00 the Epiftle to Auguftus, ver. 21O1.
M4 Of
i68 N O T E S T O T H E
jof this dekAy inftead of feizing the real fen&
and intended beauties of an author, he frequently
followed the caprices of his own adlive fancy,
which led him in queft of fecret meanings and
myflerioits allufions ; (hefe he readily found, and
his powers of underftanding enabled him to dreft
diem up in a plaufible and fpecious form, and
to perfuade many readers that \}q was (what he
believed himfelf to be) the reftorer of genuine
Criticifm, As a farther proof that he was defti-
tute of refined fenfibility, I might alledge the
peculiarity of l)is di£tion, which, as Dr. Johnr
fon has very juftly remarked, is coarfe and im-
pure. Perhaps it may be found, that in pro-
portion as authors have enjoyed the quality
which I fuppofc him to have wanted, they have
J>een more or lefs diftinguiflied by the eafe, the
elegance, and the beauty of their language :
were I required to fortify this conjecture by ex-
amples, I (hould produce the names of Virgil
. and Racine, of Fenelon and Addifon — that
/^^diforiy who, though infi^ltcd by the Com-
picntator
FI R 3 T EP I S T L E. 169
mentator of Pope with the names of an indif*-
ferent Poet and a worfe Critic, was, I think, as
much fuperior to his infulter in critical tafte, and
in folidity of judgment, as- he confefl^dly was 14
the harmony of his ftyje, and ix). all the finer
graces pf beautiful compofition^
NOTEVL Verse 257,
^Tis /aid by oncy who^ with this candid claim^
Has gained no fading wreath of critic fame.'\
Thefe, and the fix fubfequent lines, allude to th«
following paflage in Dr. Warton's Eflay on Pope :
^* I conclude thefe reflexions with a remarkable
fafl: :— In no poliflied nation, after Criticifm has
been much ftudied, and the rules of writing efta-
blifhed, has any very extraordinary work ever ap-
peared. This has vifibly been the cafe in Greece, in
Rome, and in France, after Ariftotle, Horace, and
Boileau had written their Arts of Poetry, In our
p^n country, the rules of the Drama, for inftance,
f> Wfre
170 NOTES TO THE
were never more completely underftood than at -
prefent; yet what uninterefting, though feultlefs.
Tragedies have we lately feen ? fo much better
is our judgment than our execution. How to ac-
count for the fad here mentioned, adequately and
juftly, would be attended with all thofe difficult
ties that await difcufEons relative to the produc-
tions of the human mind, and to the delicate and
fccret caufes that influence them ; whether or no
the natural powers be not confined and debilitated
by that timidity and caution which is Occafioned
by a rigid regard to the diSatcS of ^rt ; or whe-
ther that philofophical, that geometrical, and fyf-
tematical fpirit fo much in vogue, which has
fpre^d itfelf from the fciences even into polite li-
terature, by confulting only reafon^ has not dimi-
nifhed and dcfiroyedfentimenty and made our poets
write from and to the heady rather than the heart ;
or whether, laftly, when juft models, from which
the rules have neceflarily been drawn, have once
.appeared, fucceeding writers, by vainly and am-
bitioufly
F I R S T E P I S T L E. 171
bitioufly ftriving to furpafs thofe juft models, and
to fhine and furprife, do not become ftifF and
forced, and affedled in their thoughts and dic-
tion.** Warton's Eflay, page 209^ 3d edition.
—I admire this ingenious and modeft reafon-
ing ; but, for the honour of that feverer art,
which this pleafing writer has^ the happy talent
to enliven and*embellifli, I will venture to ftart
fome doubts concerning the fa£l itfelf for which
he endeavours to account. Perhaps our acquaint-
ance with thofe writings of Greece and Rome,
which were fubfequent to Ariftotle and Horace,
IS not fufficiently perfe<£l to decide the point
cither way in refpeS to thcfe countries. But with
regard to France, may weinot aflert, that her po-
etical produ£tions, which arofe after the publica-
tion of Boileau's Didadic £flay, are at leaft
equal, if not fuperior, to thofe which preceded
that period ? If the Henriade of Voltaire is not a
fine Epic poem, it is allowed to be the beft which
the Ffcnch l^ave to boaft j not to mention th$
dramatic
«7a NOTESTOTHB
liramatic works of that extraordinary and univer^
fal author^ If this remarkable fa£l may indeed
be found true, I ihould rather fuppofe it to arife
from the irritable nature of the poetic fpirit, fo
peculiarly averfe to reftraint and cbntrouL The
Bard who could gallop his Pegafusover a free and
open plain, might be eajger to engage info pleafing
an exerciie ; but he who obferved the direftion-
pofts fo thickly and fo perverfely planted, that, in^-
ftead of affifting his career, they muft probably oc-
cafion hk fall, would eafily be tempted to defcend
from his fteed, and to decline the courfe. Let
me illuftrate this conjefture by a ftriking fafk, in
the very words of the Poet juft mentioned, who
was by no means 'deficient in poetical confi-
dence, and who has left us the following anec^
dote of himfelf, in that pleafing little anony-
mous work, intitled, Commentaire Hiftoriquc
f\sr les Oeuvres de I'Auteur dc la Henriade. " II
lut un jour plufieurs chants de ce poeme chez Ic
jeune Prefident de Maifons, fon intime ami. On
rimpatienta
F I R S r E P I S T L E. 17J
Pimpatienta par des objeflions ; il jetta fdn ma-
Rufcrit dans le feu. Le Prefident Henaut I'm *
retira avec peine. '* Souvenez vous (lui dit
Mr. Henaut) dans une de fes kttres, que c*eft
moi qui ai fauve la Henriade, et qu'il m'en a
coute une belle paire de manchettes.*'
To return to the Eflay on Pope.— I rejoice that
the amiable Critic has at length obliged the pub*
lie \t^ith the conclu/ion of his moft engaging and
ingenious work : he has the fingular talent to-
inftru£t and to pleafe even thofe readers who
are moft ready to revolt from the opinion which
he endeavours to eftablifh ; and he has in fbme
degree atoned for that excefs of feverity which
his firft volume difcovered, and which funk the
reputation of Pope in the eyes of many, who
judge not for themfelves, even far below that
mortifying level to which he meant to reduce It..
Had Pope been alive, to add this fpiritdd eflay to
the bundle of writings againft himfelf, tvhich he
k faid to have coIUAed^ he itxuft have felt, ^at^
like
174 NOTES TO THE
like the dagger of BrutuSj it gave the moft pain-*
ful blow, from the charadler of the aflailant :
•' All the confpirators, fave only he.
Did that they did in envy of great Caefar ;
, He, only, in a general honeft thought.
And common^good to all, made one of them."
Yet Pope afcended not the throne of Poetry by
ufurpation, but was feated there by a legal title';
of which I fhall fpeak farther in a fubfequent
note*
NOTE Vn. Verse 359-
His hallow' dfubje3fy by that Lawforbidj
Might Jlill have laid in Jilent darknefs hid.}
Boileau's Art of Poetry made its firft appearance
in 1673, nx years after the publication of Pa-
radife Loft. The verfes of the French Poet to
which I have particularly alluded, are theft :
FIRST EPISTLE. 175
C'eft done bien vainenient que nos auteurs
decus,
Banniflant de leurs vers ces ornemens rejus,
Penfent faire agir Dieu, fes faints, et fes pro-
phetes,
Gomme ces dieux eclos du cerveau des Poetes ;
Mettent a chaque pas le lefteur en enfer 5
N'ofFrent rien qu' Aftaroth, Belzebuth, Lu-^
cifer. ^
De la foi d'un Chretien les myfteres tcrribles
D^ornemens egayes, ne font point fufceptibles.
L'Evangile a I'efprit n* ofFre de tous cotes
Que penitence a faire, et tourmens merites :
Et de vos fiftions le melange coupable,
Meme a fes verites donne'P air de la fable.
Et quel objet enfin a prefenter aux ycux
Que leDiable toujours hurlant centre les cieux.
Qui de votre heros veut rabaifler la gloire,
Et fouvent avec Dieu balance la vi<Sloire.
Poetique de Despreaux,
chant iii, ver. 193, &c.
The
176 NOTES TO THS
The preceding lines, which are faid to have
been levelled at the Clovis of Defmaretz, appear
fo pointed againft the fubjeft of Milton, that we
might almoft believe them intended as a fatire on
our divine Bard. There is nothing in Boileau's
admirable DidaAic Efiay fo liable to obje£kion as
the whole pafTage concerning Epic poetry. His
patronage of the old Pagan divinities, and his ob-
lique recommendation of ClafScal heroes, are
alike exceptionable. Even a higher name than
Boileau has failed in framing precepts for the
Epic Mufe. The maxims delivered by Taflo
himfelf, in his Difcourfe on Epic poetry, are fo
far from perfect, that an agreeable and judicious
French critic has very juftly faid of him, *« S'il
cut mis fa theorie en pratique, fon poeme n'auroit
pas tant de charmes *." I am not fo vain as to
think of fucceeding in the point where thefe im-
mortal authors have failed ; and I muft beg mf
f MarmoBtcl Foetique Fran^oife.
reader
FiRST £PISTLE. 177
reader to remember, that the prefent work is by-
no means intended as a code of laws for the Epid
•poet J it is not my defign
To write receipts how poems may be made j
fori think the writer who would condefcend to
fjpame this higher fpecies of compofition accord-
ing to the exaft letter of any direSions whatever,
may be .qaoft properly referred to that admirable
receipt for an Epic poem, with which Martinus
Scriblerus will happily fupply him. My ferious
defire is to examine and refute the prejudices
which have produced, as I apprehend, the negleil .
of the Heroic Mufe : I wifh to kindle in our Poets
• a warmer fenfe of national honour, with ambi-
tion to excd in the nobleft province of poefy. If
my Eflay fliould excite that generous enthufi-
^ afm in the'breaft of any young poetic genius, fo
far from wifhing to confine him by any arbitrary
diftatea of my own imagination, I fhould rather
fay to him, in the words of Dante*s Virgil,
VoL. III. • N Non
iji NOTE S,
Non alpettur mio dir piu, ne mto cenao»
Libero, dritto^ fano h tuo arbitrio^
£ fallo fora non fare a fuo feimo.
NOTE Vm. Verse 377.
Who fionCd all limits t9 his work aJJigTCdj
Save if th* infpiring God whi ruPd his miHd^J
*< On foot, with a lance in his hand, the Em-
peror himfelf led the rolemn proceffion, and di«
re£led the line,, which was traced as the boundary
o&tfae deftined capital ; till the growing circum-
ference was obfenred with aftoniihment by the
s^liftants, who at length ventured to obferve, that
be had already exceeded th6 moft ample meafuie
of a great city. ** I (hall ftill advance>" rcjdiecf
Conftantine, " till he, the invifiblc guide who
marches before me,, thinks proper to ftop."
Gibbon,. Vol. II. page ii»
End tf thi Nous to the Firfi EpiftU.
NOTES
f '79 J
NOTES
TO THE
SECOND EPISTLE.
NOTE I. Verse 28.
JfTEfee thy fame trained by Gailic wit.] Ho-
mer, like moft tranfcendent characters, has
found detra£lors in every age. We learn from a
paflage in the Life of Socrates, by Diogenes Laer-
tius, that the great Poet had, in his life-time, an
adverfary named Sagaris,,or Syagrus; and his ca-
lumniator Zoilus is proverbially diftingui&ed. In
N 2 the
i8o NOTES TO THE
the Greek Anthologia, there is a fepulchral in-
fcription on a flanderer of the fovereign Bard,'
3vhich, for its enthufiaftic fingularity, I fliall pre-
fent to the reader :
£i xai U9ro p^Oovi xf tr^i^ o/aco; crt xai xarx trKFtrxy
Oui/cxa TliBphis(r(nv sv%iJi,i(rB [Avpioe. yisivx
^Xsy[ji>ocr»j xat fAVCxpuv XTrXvirirtf tXeyuv»
HXaa-i xai [xocving tiri Sn rotrov^ «o^t* ayopsva-on
UnXov Oi\^T^£inu xat ^xrov IXiotix.
Kcijxurs^ xXo»« Xociiaov Kwocy^ofABVog.
Anthologia, p. 70. Edit, Oxon, 1766.
On
SE<:OND EPISTLE. i8i
On Parthenius the Phocenfian> who calumniated
* Homer.
Here, though deep-buried he can rail no more,
PouV burning pitch, on bafe Parthenius pour ;
Who on the facred Mufes dar'd to fpirt
His frothy venom and poetic dirt ;
Who faid of Homer, in his frantic fcorn.
The Odyfley was nxud, the Iliad thorn ;
For this, dark Furies, in your fnakes enroll.
And through Cocytus drag the fland'rous foul.
Parthenius, fay the Commentators, was a dif-
ciple of Didnyfius of Alexandria, who flourifhed
under Nero and Trajan. Erycius, the author of
the infcription, is fuppofed to have lived in the
fame age. — Among the modern adverfaries of
Homer, the French are moft remarkable for their
feverity and injuftice : nor is it furprifing, that
the nation which has difplayed the fainteft fparks
of Epic fire, fhould be the moft folicitous to re-
duce the oppreffive fplendor of this exalted lumi-
N 3' , nary.
i8» N O T E S T O T H E
nary. The moft depreciating remarks on gcnitts,
in every walk, are generally made by thofc who are
the leaft able to prove its rivals ; and often, per-
haps, not fo much from the prevalence of envious
malignity, as from the want of vivid and delicate
perception. The merits and the failings of Ho-
mer were agitated in France with all the heat
and acrimony of a theological difpute* Madame
Dacier diftinguiflicd herlelf in the conteft by her
uncommon talents and erudition : (he combated
for the Gnecian Bard with the fpirit of Minerva
defending the father of the Gods. It muft how-
ever be confeflcd, that (he fometimes bverftepped
the modcfty of wifdom, and caught, unwarily,
the fcolding tone of Juno. It is indeed amufing,
to obfcrve a people, who pique themfelves on their
extreme politenefs, and cenfure Homer for the
grofs behaviour of his Gods, engaging among
themfelves in a fquabble concerning this very
Poet, with all the unrefined animoflty of his
Olympian Synod.' In the whole controverfy
there is nothing more worthy of remembrance
and
SECOND EPISTLE. 18 j
and of praife, than the lively elegance and the
pleafing good-humour of Mr« de la Motte, who,
though not one of the moft exaked, was certain*
' ly one of the moft amiable characters in the lite^
rary world ; and made a generous return to the
feverity of his female antagonift, by writing an .
ode in her praife. Voltaire has pointed out, with
his ufual fpirit, the fallings <>f La Motte in his
Abridgement ^f the Iliad; but he has frequently
fallen himfelf into fiinilar defe£{;s, and is equally
' unjuft to Homer, againft whom he has levelled
the moft bitter farcafms both in profe and verfe.
Voltaire attacking Homer, is like Paris fliooting
hi$ arrow at the heel of Achilles: the two Poets
are as unequal as the two ancient Warriors j yet
Homer, like Achilles, may have his vulnerable
ijxjt : but with this happy difference, that although
the Ihaft of ridicule, which is pointed againft him,
may be tinged with venom, its wound cannot be
mortal. Perhaps no better anfwer can be made
to all thofe who amufe themfelves with writing
againft/Homer, than the following reply of Ma-
N 4 dame
i84 N'O T E S TO THE
dame Dacier to the Abbe Terraffon, who had
attacked her favourite Bard in two abufive vo-
lumes : — " Que Monfieur TAbbe Terraflbn
tr9uve Homere fot, ridicule, extravagant, en-
nuyeux, c'eft fon affaire, le public jugera fi c'eft
im defaut a Homere de deplaire a M. V Abbe
Terraffon, ou a M. l'Abb6 Terraffon de ne
pas gouter Homere."
NOTE n. Verse 85.
E'en Socrates himfelfy that pureji Sage,
Imbibed his TVifdom'from thy moral page, ^ Dio
Chryfoftom, in one of his orations, has called
Socrates the difciple of Homer, and drawn a
Ihort parallel of their refpeftive merits; obferving,
•in honour of both, *' OjLt?ipfi? zxrotJiTij? yiyoyiy
Dion. Chrys. p. 559.'
N O T E
SECOND EPISTLE. 185
NOTE III. Verse 119.
Hoiv high foe* er Jhe leads his . daring flight ^ &c. J
I mean not to injure the dignity of Pindar by this
aflertion. Though Quinailian, in drawing the
character of the Grecian Lyric Poets, has given
him high pre-eminence in that choir, we may,
I think, very fairly conjefture that fome odes of
Alcaeus and Stefichorus were not inferior to thofe
of the Theban Bard, who is faid to have been re-
peatedly vanquifhed in a poetical conteft by his
female antagonift Corinna. The abfurd jealoufy
of our fex concerning literary talents, has led
fome eminent writers to queftion the merits of
Corinna, as Olearius has obferved, in his Diflerta-
tlon on the female Poets of Greece. But her glo-
ry feems to have been fully eftabliflied by the pub-
lic memorial of her pifture, exhibited in her native
city, and adorned with a fymbol of her viftory.
Paufanias, who faw it, fuppofes her to have been
■one of the handfomeft women of her time; and
the ingenuity of -fome Critics imputes her fuccefs
in
i86 N O T E S T O T H E
in tbe poeticd cohteft to the influence of her,
beauty* They have taken fome liberties lefs
pardonable with her literary reputation -, and, by
their curious comments on a fmgle Greek fyl-
lablcy made the fublime Pindar call his fair rival
a Sow-, though the unfortunate word rui^ExaXci,
which may be twifted into that meaning, figni*
fies, in its more obvious conftruAion, that the
Poet challenged his fuccefsful antagonift to a new
trial of (kill.-— For a more minute account of this
fingular piece of criticifm, I muft refer the reader
to the notes on Corinna, ix> the Fragmenta Poe«*
tharum, by Wolfius. Time has left us ohly a few
diminutive fcraps of Corinna's Poetry ^ but Plu-
tarch^ in his Treatife on the Glory oT the Athe-
nians, has preferved one of her critical Bon-mots,
which may^leTerve to be repeated. That author
aiierts,that Corinnainftru6led Pindar in his youth,
and advifed him to adorn his compofition with the
cmbellifliments of fable. The obedient Poet foon .
brought her fom^ verfes, in which he had followed
her advice rather too freely j Vhen his Tutrefs,
g fmiling
SECOND EPISTLE. 187
fmaing at his proftifion, Tn x«P» *f*J' ^Pi
NOTE IV. Veuse 126.
Tet may not yudgment^ with fever e dljddin^
Slight the young Rhodian*s variegated Jlrain*'}
Apollonius, fumamed th^'^hodian from the place
of bis refidence, is fuppofed to haye been a native
of Alexandria ; where he is faid to have recited
fcmic portion of his Poem, while he was yet a
youth. Finding it ill received iy his country-
men, be retired to Rhodes, where he isxonjec-
turcd to have polifihed and completed his Work;
fupporting himfelf by the profeffion of Rhetoric,
and receiving JFrom the Rhodians the freedom- of
their city. He at length returned, with confide^
rable honour, to the place of his birth, fucceed-
ing Eratofthenes in the care of the Alexandrian
Library, in the reign pf Ptolemy Euergetes, who
afcendcd the throne of Egypt in the year before
Chrift
i88 ^fOTESTOTHE
Chrift 246. That prince had been educated by
the famous Ariftarchus, and rivalled the pre-
ceding fovereigns of his liberal family in the mu-
nificent-encouragement of learning. Apollonius
was adifciplc of the poet Callimachusj but their
connexion ended in the moft violent enmity ;
which was probably owing to fome degree of
contempt exprefled by Apollonius for the light
compofitions of his matter. The learned have
vainly endeavoured to difcover the particulars
of their quarrel. — The only Work of Apollo-
nius which has defcended to modern times, is his.
Poem, in four Books, on the Argonautic expe-
dition. Both Longinus and Quinftilian have af-
figned to this Work the tnortifying charafter of
Mediocrity : but there lies an appeal from the
fentence of the moft candid and enlightened Cri*
tics to thp voice of Nature ; and the merit of
Apollonius has little to apprehend from the deci-
fionofthis ultimate judge. His Poem abounds
in animated defcrlption, and in pafiages of the
moft
SECOND EPISTLE. 189
moft tender and patlietic beauty. How finely-
painted is the firft fetting forth of the Argo ! and
how beautifully is the wife of Chiron introduced,
holding up the little Achilles in her arms, iand
fliewing him to his father Peleus as he failed along
the fhore ! But the chief excellence in our Poet,
is the fpirit and delicacy with which he has deli-
neated the pafEon of love in his Medea. That
Virgil thought very highly of his merit in this
particular, is fufficicntly evident from the minute
exaftnefs with which he has copied many tender
touches of the Grecian Poet. Thofe who com-
pare the third Book of ApoUonius with the fourth
of Virgil, may,.! think, perceive not only that
Dido has fome features of Medea, but that the
two Bards, however different in their reputation,
refembled each other in their genius ; and that
they both excel in delicacy and pathos.
NO T E
190 NOTES TO THr
NOTE V. Verse 190^
Virgil Jinks haded with tbiir heavy praije.j
Scaliger appears to be the nu^ extravagant of
all the Critics who have laviflied their undiftin-
guifliing encomiums on Virgil, by aflertinf that
he alone is entitled to the name of Poet. Poed-
ces,lib. iii. c. 2.— Though the opinion of Spence,
and other modern Critics, concerning the cha-
rafter of ^neas, confidered as an allegorical
portrait of Auguftus, feems to gain ground, yet
it might perhaps be eafy to overturn the inge-
nious conje£tures and the fanciful reafbning by
which that idea has been fupported. This attempt
would have the fan£tion of one of the moft judi-
cious Commentators of Virgil ; for the learned.
Heyne exprefsly reje£U all allegorical interpre-
tation, and thinks it improbable that a Poet of
(o corroSt a judgment could have adopted a plan
which muft neceflfarily contract and cramp his
powers*
SECOND EPISTLE. 191
powers. He even ventures toaflert, that if die
chara£l;er of ^neas was delineated as an aBego-
rical portrait of Auguftus^ the execution 4af it is
unhappy. The ftrongeft argument which hat
been adduced to . fupport this conjechue^ b
founded on the ingenious interpretation of the
following pailage in the opening of the tfaki
Georgic :
Primus ego in patriam mecum, n^o vita (a--
perfit,
Aonio rediens deducam vertice Mufas :
Primus Idumaeas referam tibi^ Mantua, palmas ;
Et viridi in campo temphim de marmoreponam
Propter aquam, tardis ingens ubi flexibus exrat
Mincius, et tenera praetexit arundine ripas^'
In medio mihi Cse^ir erit^ templumque texu-^
hity &c.
Thefe lines, in which. Virgil exprefles b!s in-
tention of dedicating a temple to Auguftus, have
been confidered as the mileji allegory o/aacuja
Poftry^
192 NOTES TO THE
Poetry * ; and the great Critid who firft ftarted
the idea, has expatiated, in the triumph of his
difcovery, on the myjiertous beauties they con-
tain : but the whole of this hypdthefis is unfor-
tunately built upon the rejeSion of three verfe?,
which are pronounced unworthy of the Poet, and
which, though found in every MS. the Critic
claims a right of removing, A licence fo extra-
ordinary cannot even be juftified by the talents
of this accomplifhed writer : for if the lefs elegant
paflages of *the ancient Poets might be removed
at pleafure, their compofitions would be expofed
to the caprice of every fantaftic commentator.
The obvious and literal interpretation not only
renders this violence unneceflary, but is more
agreeable to the judgment of the Poet and the
manners of his age. The cuftom of erefting real
temples was fo familiar to antiquity, that a Ro-
man would never have fufpecSted the edifice was
to be raifcd only with poetical materials. We
may even conjecture, from a line of Statius, that
* Hurcrs Horace, vol. ii. p-ige 44,
the
SECOND EPISTLE. 193
the Poet htmfelf had a temple creAed to his me- '
mory ; and, without any breach of probability,
"we may admit his intention of giving his living
Emperor fuch a tcftimony of his gratitude. This
adulation, though fhocking to us, was too gene-
rally juftijRed by example to oblige the Poet to.
palliate it by a fiftion. He had before ac--
quiefced in the divinity of his Imperial Pa-
tron, and had expreiled the idea in its full
fenfe :
Namque erit ille mihi Temper Dens, illius aram
Ssepe tener noftris ab ovilibus imbuet agnus^
ECLOG. I.
Ingredere et votis jaim nunc afluefce vocari.
Geokg. I.
Having made fuch an invocation in the begin-
ning of his Work, was his delicacy afterwards to
be fhocked, and oblige him to pay a compliment
under the difguife of an obfcure conceit ? for that
Vol. III. O allegory
194 N O T E S T O T H E
allegory muft be attowed to be obfcure, which
had remained through fo many ages unexplained.
The unfortunate rejeSed Iines^'for whofe ele-
gance we do not contend, may at leaft be refcued
from impr<^riety by a literal interpretation of the
preceding paflage^ for, difinifs the conje^red
allegory, and the chief objeflions againft them
remain no longer. If the phrafeology be peculiar,
it is at leaft fupported by concurring MSS. The
adjective ardini is fometimes undoubtedly joined
to a word that does not denote a fubftance of heat
or flame, as the Critic himfelf admits in the cafe
otardintts bofthy to which we may add the ver^
hum arJens of Cicero *• As to the line which is
* A Friend who poiTefles much elegant erudition, hat
remarked to me, that the learned Prelate is particularly
unhappy in hit aflertion refpefling the ufe of the word
tfr^rxri— an affertion completely contradicted by the fol-
lowing pafTaget from Lucretius and Virgil :
*
Vulnerit ardeuti ut morfu premat i£ka dolore.
LucaBT. lib. Hi, ver. €$%.
Quos ardent evexit ad Kthera virtut.
Aneid VI. 130.
faid
SECOND EPISTLE. 19s
laid to contatn the moft glaring note of«iIlegi«
timacy, ,
Tithoni primS quot abeft ab origine Cxfar,
many reafons might induce the Poet to ufe &e
name of Tithonus, which at this difhuice of time
it is not eafy for us to conje£lure« Perbaf:^ he
chofe it to vary the expreffion of JJptraci ProUi^
which he had adopted in die preceding lines* The
abfiirdity of the fubje<9:-matter, and the place lA
which it is introduced, that are infilled on as the
principal obje£kions, arife folely from the allego-
rical hypothefis : without it the conftrufiion will
be plain and natural. The Poet exprefles his in-
tention of ereifting a temple to Auguftus, and
expatiates on the magnificence with which It was
to be adorned : he then xttums to his preftnt
poetical fubjed«-«
InUna Pryadum fylras faltulque lequamur-*«
and, having dwelt a little on that, to avoid too
long a digreffion, very naturally rdumet the
O 2 praife^
I
196 N O TIE S ^T X) . T H J: .
prai&s of the Emperor, by alluding to the fitb-i
limer fong which he intended to devote to him
hereafter I .
Mqx tamen ardentes accingar dicere pugnas
Csefaris. ■■
: Perhaps the important pofition that gave rife ta
this cbnje£lure, and to others of a'fimilar com^
plexlon, " that the^ propriety of allegorical coni-'
pofition made rfie diftinguifhed pride of aiicicnt
poetry," is as queftionable as the . conjeSure
itfelf; and a diligent and judicious p^rufal^of thei
' ancient Poets might convince -as^ that fimplicity*
wa$ their genirine cliara<%er,i and' cl»it'mUny 6f-
their allcgorioftdibesnities hav^ oHgiiiafcd jrt the
fertile imagination of their commehtators^. Arijp
tarchus, indeed, daecefein^ated^ mdd^l of andtiA:^
criticifm, rejefted with great fpirit flie aflegorleftli
interpretations of Homer, as we are infc^rmed by
Eufthathius j but the good Archbifliop of Thef-
felonica, who, like fotne niodern prelates^ Had ^
pofEon^for ailegoryi^ cenfiires the great Criftit of
^ ^' Alexandria
SECOND EPrSTLE. 197
Alexandria for his more' fimple mode of con^^
ftriKftion, and fuppofes it an injury to the re-
fined beauties and profound wifdoin of the Poet.
*A^ii-ocpy^o;' fAsvrei lAtifty ri rui *0jt*tjf8 . . .
V^y, 'EusTH. vol. iii^ page 1300.
Having confidered in this n Jte foiiie cdnjeftures
on Virgil, that^ appear to me &ntaftical ahd ill
founded, I am tempted to produce two illuflra-
tions of the fame great poet, which, if I am not
deceived by friendfhip, refleft more light and
honour on the firft of the Roman poets. At all
events, they will be efteemed as a Kterary cu-
riofity by the j-cader^ wHeh I tell him' they were
written by a Critic, whofe name is doubly en-
titled to refpeft in the republic of letters, from his
own tafte and erudrti6n,ind from the poetical ge-
nius of his daughter.^— In the early part of his life,
Mr; Seward of Lichfield had'^thoughts of pub-
lifliing atranflatiefv of-Viirgil in blank verfe.
Among his remarks on different palFagi^ of his
O 3 author.
X9> NOTES TO THE
autfa<V) the two following appeared to me par-
ticularly happy } and I tranfcribe them from the
papers of my worthy old frjend, in the perfua*
fion that every lover of Virgil will perufe theni
with pleafure*
« THERE are two paflagcs in the ^neid,
which feem to me mifunderftood by all the com*
mentators and tranflators, from the age of the
Roman claflica to the prelent ; and yet, when
properly esqdained, they will»,I bope» appear
beautiful,' clear, and almoft indifputable. I fliall
mention tbem as th^ occurred to me. The firft
of thefe lines is in Ac eighth book of the iEneid,
verfe 695. It is in the prophetic defcription of the
battle of Adium, between Auguftus and Antony,
carved by Vulcan on the ihield of £neas :
•— -Arva novl Neptunia caede rubefcunt*
Regina in mediis patrio vocat agmina fiftro ^ .
Necdum etiam geminos a tergo refpicit angues :
Omnigeniimque deum monftra, et latrator
Anubis,
Contra
SECOND EPISTLE. 199
Contra Neptunum, et Venerem, contraque
Minervam,
Tela Cenent : fasvit medio in certamine Mayors
Cxlatus ferro, trifteft|ue ex aethere Dirae i
£t fcifla gaudens vadit Difcordia palid,
Quam cum fanguineo fequitur Bellona flagello.
Tlie difficulty in this paflage is, to know what
-arid where the two prophetic (hakes were behind
Cleopatra's back. Mod: commentators fay that
they wera carved upon her ihield, which hung
upon her back ; but furely this could not be de-
figned by Virgil : if he meant to reprefent Cleo-
patra in armour, as he undoubtedly did, he
would not have hung her ihleld bdiind her back
in the hour of battle. In the next place, why
does he give her two ferpents, when both her
fculptors, painters, and hiftorians give her only
lone^ the bite of which, in that country of veno*
mous creatures, wsks quite fufficient to flay hen
Nor would Virgil, the model of perfpicuity, ex-
pfefs *hini^If^ (o confufedly, as to talk of her
O 4 / turning
200 NOTES TO THE
turning her eyes to what is carved upon her own
back. If the reader is convinced that the paf-
fage wants perfpicuity, be will he pleafed to
find the whole cleared up, by obferving, that the
two-fnakes were on the caduceus of Anubis^
which confifted oi 2, dog's head on a human figure,
with a caduceus in one hand, on the top of
which were two beautifully curling afps or
fnakes, and a purfe or a porridge pot in his left
(Le Pluche) — from whence the Greeks, perhaps,
without knowing the meaning of this emblem,
took their Mercury. They difcarded the dog's
heady as unfightly, and placed a human one in its
flead J by which they deflroyed the emblematic
figures, though they left^ the name of latrator^
or barkery fuiEcient to lead us to its real mean-
ing ; which was, that of die dog-Jiary the rifing
of which jufl preceded the overflow of the Nile,
As foon, therefore, as the aflronomers of Egypt
could difcern the dog-fiar rifen in the fpring,
they gave notice of it by their Anubisy or dog^
Which was hung out on their feveral towers, that
. all
SEC;OND EPISTLE, ioi
all the people might fly to their terraces and
places of fafety : but if clouds had before ob-
ftrufted the view of the ftar, and it was rifen
l^igh before it was difcerned, they added wings
to his feet and ihoulders, put his caduceus in his
right hand, and a porridge pot, or piirfe, in his
left^ to hurry the people in their preparations
againft the deluge. Virgil therefore, in de-
icxibing Cleopatra iij her fhip, evidently fuppofes
the name of her fhip to have been Anuhis ; whofe
t image was carved on the poop of it, holding
his caducous behind Cleopatra- The reft of the
Egyptian fleet having ** omnigenum deum mon*
ftra," other Egyptian deities, on their poops,
who
Contra Neptunum, et Venerem, contraque
Miner vam.
Tela tenent : — -
that is, the Egyptian fhips and Roman were
ranged in battle againft each other.
Cana
20i N O T E S T O T H E
Cana fides, ct Vefta, Remo ciim fratre Quirinus,
Jura dabunt : .^neid I. vcr. 292.
Scarce any paflage in Virgil has given me
greater trouble, took longer time, or gave me
greater pleafure in the difcovery, than this. The
difficulty was, to know how Virgil came to chufe ,
Romulus and Remus, the one the murderer of
the other, as the jpint legiflators of a new golden
age of peace and profperity. Much hiftorical
knowledge has been in vain applied to form many
ftrange interpretations, with which the Critics
themfelves are plainly diflatisfied: much the
mod plaufible is that of Ruaeus, that ^^ Cana
Fides** was the ancient faith of -citizens to each
other; Vejia^ religion; and Roffiulus znd Rimus,
the power of the Princes united as legiflators. But
how a Fratricide could reprefent fuch an union
would be ftrange indeed.— I will not detain the
reader with enumerating the many abfurd con-
je^ures of interpretation, but ihall only mention
fomc fafts relating to a new folution. Firft, thi»
book of Virgil was evidently written foon after
9 the
SECOND EPISTLE. a«t
the battle <AA£iium^ when, Antony beingiubdued,
the whole world feemed at peace, and Auguftus
fiiut the gate of Janus. Mecsenas was his fa-
vourite Minifter and Praetor Urbanus ; and had
juft then, with wonderful fagacity, difcovered and
fupprefled a conspiracy againft the Emperor's life,
on hi» return in triumph to Rome. One of the
principal a£lors in this confpiracy, was the fon of
die late Triumvir Lepidus ; whom, with feveral
other Gonfpirators, he had, unknown each to the
other, feized, imprifoned, and privately deftroyed,
without any noiie or public difturbance. The
knowledge of this recent fwBt makes it ftill more
furprifmg, that Virgil, who is full of compliments
to his, patron in moft of his other works, ibould,
lA his principal poem, totally omit fpeaking of
him^ unlefs he is fuppofed to have reprefented
him by the character of '< fidus Achates,'' which
amounts to no more than that of lighting a fire to
' dry their clothes and their corn after a ftorm, or
to bring Afcanius to his father to partake of
Dido's entertainment. I hope to prove that Vir-
gil'fe
»04 N O T E S T O T HE
ffVsUxppoCsdjieghSt of hU friend id- not true, and
that he is, in the line above, elegantly and judi--
cioufly compHmentied; as ^fo veryintelUgibly fo,
to .all who knew the hiftory of thisxonfpirapy,
and that Meca^ns^ was Pmtor Uxbanus., with a
power equal, if not fuperior,: to our Lord Chief
Juftioe and our hotd Chancellor conjoined. It
occurred .to me, many years before I knew any
|>roof of it, that ^<Cana Pides, et V€fta,'et Remo
ctiok fratre Qttirinbs,". were the names of thofe
temjdes where Mec^na^ held hi$ beds of juftice ;
tn the fame manner as, in the former note, ^^ Anu*^
bis" and •* Deorum monftra" were pnly the names
of the Egyptian ihips oRJofed to thofe of the Ro-.
mans,lnaraed Mercury, Venus, and Minerva. I
had many years a ftrong fufpicion of tbis^ when,
accidentally reading Horace's Epiftle, "Ibam forte
via facf a," I found that the temple of Veftai was
employed by Mecxnas for trials of civil caufe$«
See Sat- IX. Book I. — Having therefore found,
my conjeflure, with regard to the temple of Veft^,
verified, I purfued my fearch to the others^ vi»..^
of
SECOND-^ E Pi S'-r L 6. ios
of Romulus and Remus, and of Fides. The firft
I found to be thd place of trhl and^unifhmentof
criminals ; and the next to be the temple where
the tablets of all the Sehitus Cohfiiilta were hiing
tijp, and which in Casffar's tithe were fo numerpu^,
that the walls of the temple totA4 not Contain
them, and thenrforc an a<Mitional Iniilding v^^
ereSed : this, therefore. Teems extremely pi-dpef!
to acCoQlpany the feats of judicature. The conl-'
plimcntto. Mecaenas, is this.: Whea* civil wai^
fhallceafej and :all power, regain confiikr, and
tribunitial, centre in Auguftus, his friend and fa-
vourite, Mecaenas, (hall bejErsetorllrbanus j ^ko^
fhall rule by the equitably laws fufpended in the
ancient temple of Fides^ fliaU decide civil cauteS;
in the temple and grove of Vefb, and crimixial)
o^es' in the teniple of Romulus and Remus *. AIL
this yrould be clearly q/iderftpod by thofe, who.
knew the ample ppwer§ conferred on Mecaenas
by his judicial office of Praetor Urbanus."
• The fQiiXi4»tiQti walls of which ftill remain, and on
them is built a modern temple, dedicated to two brother
hmUf^Roma Antka, '
NOTE
2o6 NOTESTOT^E
NOTE VL Verse 260.
Shall Hiftorfspwy U aid his Viftgiana won.}
There is hardly any eminent perfonage of anti^
quity, who has fuffered more from detra£tion,
both in his literary and moral charafter, thw the
poet Lucan. His fete, indeed, feems in all points
to have been peculiarly fevere^ His cady deadly
at an age when few Poets have even laid the
foundation of their capital work» is itfelf fuifi-^
cient tp e)ccite our compaiBon and regret ; but to
periih by the envious tyranny of Nero may be
confidered as a bleffing, when compared with th^
more cruel misfortune of being branded with in-
famy in the immortal pages of Tacitus, As I
am perfuaded that the great Hiftorian has inad-
vertently adopted the grofleft calumny againft our
Poet, I fhall tooft readily affign my reafons for
thinking fo. It may firft be proper to give a
ihortiketch of Lucan's life.— He was the fon of
Anneus Mela, the youngeft brother of Seneca ;
and.
S.E C O N D E f I S T L E. ao;
and, though born at Corduba, was conveyed to
Rome at the age of eight months : a circum-
ftance, as his more indulgent critics obferve,
which fufficiently refutes the cenfure of thofe who
comfider his language as provincial. At Rome he
was educated under the Stoic Cornutus, fo
warmly celebrated by his difciple Perfius the Sa^
drift, who was the intimate friend of our Poet^
In the clofe of his education, Lucan is faid to
have pafled fome time at Athens. On his return
to Rome he roie to the office of Quueftor, before
be had attauned the legal s^e. He was afterwards
inrolled among the Augurs ; and married a lad/
of noble birth, of whofe amiaUe character I fhall
i|»eak more at large in a fubfequent note. Lu-
can had for fome time been admitted to fami*
liarity with Nero^ when the Emperor chofe to
contend for poetical honours, by the public
recital of a poem he had compofed on Niobe i
and fome verfes of this imperial* production are
fuppoftd to be preferved in the Firft Satire of
Perfius* Lucan had the hardinefs to repeat a poem
«n
ao8 NOTfeS TO THt:^
on Orpheus, in competition with that of Nefb i
and, what is more remarkable, the judges of the
conteft were juft and bold enough to decide
againft the Emperor. From hence Nero became
the perfecutor of his fuccefsful rival, and forbade
him to produce any poetry in public* The well-
known confpiracyof Pifo againft the tyrant foort
followed ; and Tacitus, with his ufual farcaftic
feverity, concludes that Lucan engaged in the
cnterprize from the poeticar injuries he had re*-
ceived : a remark which does little credit tq the
candour of the Hiftorian ; who might have found
a much nobler, and I will add a more probable^
motive for his conduft, in the generous ardour of
his charafter, and his paflionate adoration of
freedom. In the fequel of his narration, Tacitus
alledges a charge againft our Poet, which, if it
were true, muft lead us to detcft him as the moft ^
abjeft of mankind. The Hiftorian -aflerts, that
Lucan, when accufed of the confpirkcy, for fome
time denied the charge ; but, corrupted at laft by
a promife of impunity, and defirous to atone for
the
SECOND EPISTLE. 209
the tardinefs of his confeflioti, accufed his mother
Atilla as his accomplice. This circumftance is
fo imj^robable in itfelf, and fo little confonant to
the general charafter of Lucan, that fome writers
have treated it with contempt, as a calumny in-
vented by Nero to vilify the obje<5 of his envious
abhorrence* But the name of Tacitus has given
fuch an air of authority to the ftory, that it may^
feem to deferve a more ferious difcuffion, parti-
cularly as there are tw6 fubfequent events re-
lated by the fame Hiftorian, which have a ten-
dency to invalidate the accufation fo injurious to
our Poet. The events I mean are, the fate of
Annasus, and the efcape of Atilla, the two parents
of Lucan. The former died in confequence of an
accufation brought againfl: him, after the death
of his fon, by Fabius Romanus, who had been
intimate with Lucan, and forged fome lettei's in
his name, with the defign of proving his father
concerned in the confpiracy. Thefe letters were
produced to Nero, who' fent them to Annaeus,
from an eager defire, fays Tacitus, to get pof-
VoL. m. P ' feffion
210 NOTES TO THE
felHon of his wealth. From this fad two in-t
ferenccs may be drawn, according to the differ-*
ent lights in which it may be confidered:— If
the accufation againft Annaeus was juft, it is clear
that Lucan had not betrayed his father, and he
appears the lefs likely to have endangered by hi^
confeffion the life of a parent, to whom he owed
a ftill tenderer regard : — If Annaeus was not in-
volved in the confpiracy, and merely put to death
by Nero for the fake of his treafure, we rrjay the
more readily believe, that the tyrant who mur-
dered the father from avarice, might calumniate
the fon from envy. But the efcape of AtilU
affords us the ftrongeft reafon to conclude that
Lucan was perfectly innocent of the abjecSl and
unnatural treachery, of which Tacitus has fup-
pofed him guilty. Had the Poet really named his
mother as his accomplice, would the vindiftive
and fanguinary Nero have fpared the life of a wo-
man, whofe family he detefted, particulady when
other females were put to death for their fhare in
the confpiracy ? That Atilla was not in. that
9 number.
SECOND EPIST-LE. ait
number, the Hiftorian himfelf informs us in the
following remarkable fentence, Atilla mater An-
. naei Lucani, fine abfolutione, fine fupplicio, dif-
fimulata ; thus tranflated by Gordon : *' The
information againft Atilla, the mother of Lucan,
was diflembled ; and, without being cleared, (he
efcaped ynpunifhed." "
The preceding remarks will, I hope, vindicate
to every candid mind the honour of our Poet ;
vrhofe firmnefs and intrepidity of characfler are
indeed very forcibly difplayed in that pifture of
his death which Tacitus himfelf has given us. I
Ihall prefent it to the Englifh reader in the words
of Gordon : — Lucan, " while his blood ifliied
in ftreams, perceiving his feet jind hands to grow
cold and ftifFen, and life to retire by little and
little to the extremities, while his heart was ftill ,
beating with vital warmth, and his faculties no
wife impaired, recollefted fome lines of his own,
which defcribed a wounded foldier expiring in a
manner that refembled this. The lines themfelves
he rehearfed 5 and they were the laft words he
P 2 ever
212 NOTES TO THE
ever uttered/* The Annals of Tacitus, Book
XV.— The critics diflFer concerning the verfes of
the Pharfalia which the author quoted in fo me-
morable a manner, I fhall tranfcribe the two
paffages he is fuppofed to have repeated, and
only add that Lipfms contends for the latter.
Sanguis erant lacryma : qua^cunque foramina
novit
Humor, ab his largus manat cruor ; ora re--
dundant,
Et patulae nares : fudor rubet : omnia plenis
Membra fluunt venis: totum eft pro vulnere
corpus. Lib. ix. 814.
Now the warm blood at once, from every part.
Ran purple poifon down, and drain'd the faint-
ing heart.
Blood falls for tears ; and o'er his mournful face
The ruddy drops their tainted paflage trace.
Where'er the liquid juices find a way,
There ftreams of blood, there crimfon rivers ftray .
His
S£COND EPISTLE. 213
His mouth and gufliing noftrils pour a flood.
And e'en the pores ouze out the trickling blood 5
In the red deluge all the parts lie drown'd.
And the whole body feems one bleeding wound.
RowE.
Scinditur avulfus ; nee ficut vulnere fanguis,
Emicuit lentus ; ruptis cadit undique venis, .
Difcurfufque animae, diverfa in membra meantis,
Interceptus aquis. . Lib. iii. v. 638.
No fingle wound the gaping rupture feems.
Where trickling crimfon wells in flender ftreams ^
But, from an opening horrible and wide,
A thoufand veflels pour the burfting tide :
At once the winding channel's courfe was broke,
Where wand 'ring life her mazy journey took ;
At once the currents all forgot their way.
And loft their purple in the azure fea.
RowE.
Such w^s the death of Lucan, before he had *
P 3 coirtpleted
ii4 N'O T E S TO THE
conipleted his twenty-feventh year. If his cha-
racter as a man has been injured by the Hifto-
rian, his poetical reputation has been treated not
lefs injurioufly by the Critics. Quintilian, by a
frivolous diftin<aion, difputes his title to be claf-
fed among the Poets j and Scaliger fays, with a
brutality of language difgraceful only to himfelf,
that he feems rather to bark than to ftng. But thefe
infults may appear amply compenfated, when we
remember, that in. the moft polifhed nations of
modern Europe the moft elevated and poetic
fpirits have been his warmeft admirers j that in
France he was idolized by Corneille, and in
England tranflated by Rowe.— The fevereft cen-
fures on Lucan have proceeded from thofe who
have unfairly compared his language to that of
Virgil: but how unjuft and abfurd is fuch a
comparifon J it is comparing an uneven block of
porphyry, taken rough from the quarry, to the
moft beautiful fuperficies of poliflicd marble.
How diiFerently fliould we think of Virgil as a
poet; if wc poflefled only the vcrfes which he
wrote
SECOND epistle; 215
wrote at that period of life when Lucan compo-
fed his Pharfalia ! In the difpofition of his fubjecSl:,
in the 'propriety and elegance of di£fcibn, he is
undoubtedly far inferior to Virgil ; but if we
attend to the bold originality of his defign, and to ^
the vigpur of his fentiments ; if we conflder the
Pharfalia as the rapid and uncorrected iketch of a
young poet, executed in an age when the fpirit
of his countrymen was broken, and their tafle in
literature corrupted, it may juftly be efteemed as
one of the moft noble and moft wonderful produc-
tions of the human mind.
NOTE VII. Verse 293.
As Lejbospaidto Pampefs lovely Wtfi.'\ Pom-
pey, after his defeat at Pharfalia, proceeded to
Lefbos, as he had left his wife Cornelia to the
proteftion of that iflandj which received the
unfortunate hero with a fublime generofity. The
Lefbians entreated him to remain amongft them,
and promifed to defend him. Pompey expreffed
P 4 ' hi^
ai6 NOTES TO THE
his gratitude for their fidelity, but declined the
offer, and embarked with Cornelia. The concern
of this gallant people on the departure of their
amiable gueft is thus defcribed by Lucan :
- dixit ; moeftamque carinae
Impofuit comitetn. Cundos mutare putares
Tellurem patriaeque folum : fie litore toto
Plangitur, infeftse tenduntur in aethera dextrae ;
Pompeiumque minus, cujus fortuna dolorem
Moverat, aft illam, quam toto tempore belli
Ut civem ridere fuam, difcedere cernens
Ingemuit populus ; quam vix, fi caftra mariti
Vidoris peteret, ficcis dimittere matres
Jam poterant oculis : tanto devinxit amore
Hos pudor, hos probitas, caftique modeftia
vultus. , Lib. viii. v. 146.
He ceas'd ; and to the fhtp his partner bore.
While loud complainings fill the founding fliore ;
It feem'd as if the nation with her pafs'd.
And banifhment had laid their ifland wafte.
Their
SECOND EPISTLE. 217
Their fecond forrows they to Pompey give ;
For her as for their citizen they grieve :
E*en though glad viSory had call'd her thence.
And her Lord's bidding been the juft pretence,
TheLeibian matrons had in tears been drown'd.
And brought her weeping to their wat'ry bound :
So was ihe lov'd, fo winning was her grace.
Such lowly fweetnefs dwelt upon her face.
RowE.
NOTE VIIL Verse 296.
Let Argentaria on your canvafs Jhine.'] Polla
Argentaria was the daughter of a Roman Se-
nator, and the wife of Lucan. She is faid to have
tranfcribed and correfted the three firft books of
the Phaifalia, after the death of her hufband. It is
much to be regretted that we poiTefs not the poem
which he wrote on the merits of this amiable and
aecomplifhed woman ; but her name is immor-
talized by two furviving Poets of that age. The
veneration
Ii8 NOTES rOTH£
veneration which flie paid to the memory of her
hufband, is recorded by Martial ; and more poe-
tically defcribed in that pleafing and elegant lit-
tle produtlion of Statius, Genethliacon Lucaniy a
poem which I the more readily commend, as I
may be thought by fome readers unjuft towards
its author, in omitting to celebrate his Thebaid*
I confefs, indeed, the mifcellaneous poems of
Statius appear to mc his moft valuable work : in
xtio^ of thefe there is much imagination and kn^
timent, in harmonious and fpirited verfe. The
little poem which I have mentioned, on the an-
niverfary of Lucan's birth, is faid to have been
written at the requeft of Argentaria, The Au-
thor, after invoking the poetical deities to attend
the cereromy, touches with great delicaty and
fpirit on the compofitions of Lucan's childhoodj
which are loft, and the Pharfalia, the production
of his early yoUth j he then pays a fliort compli-
ment to the beauty and talents of Argentaria, la-
ments the cruel fate which deprived h^r fo im-
maturely
SECOND EPISTLE. 219
maturely of domeftic happinefs ; and concludes
,with the following addrefs to the fhaddof Lucan :
• At tu, feu rapidum poli per axem
Famae currlbus arduis levatus.
Qua furgunt animae potentiores,
Terras defpicis, et fepulchra rides :
Seu pads meritum nemus reclufae
Felix Elyfiis tenes in oris.
Quo Pharfalica turba congregatur j
Et te nobile carmen infonantem
Pompeii comitantur et Catones :
Tu magna facer et fuperbus umbra
Ndfcis Tartaron, et procul nocenttim
Audis verbera, pallidumque vifa
Matris lampade refpicis Neronem.
Adfis lucidus ; et vocante Polla
Unum, quaefo, diem deos filentum
Exores 5 folet hoc patere limen
Ad nuptas redeuntibus maritis.
Haec te non thiafis procax dolofis
Falfi jiuminis induit figuras j
• Ipfum
,Mo NOTES TO THE
Ipfum fed colit, et frequentat ipfum
Itnis altius iniltum medullis ^
Ac folatia vana fubminiftrat
Vultus, qui fimili notatus auro
Stratis praenitet, excubatque fomno
Securae. Procul hinc abite mortes ; .
Haec vitje genitalis eft origo ;
Cedat luftus atrox, genifque manent
Jam dulces lacrymae, dolorque feftus
Quicquid fleverat ante nunc adoret.
But you, O ! whether to the fkies
On Fame's triumphant car you rife,
(Where mightier fouls new life affumc)
And mock the confines of the tomb ;
Or whether in Elyfium bleft
You grace the groves of facred reft.
Where the Pharfalian' heroes dwell ;
And, as you ftrike'your Epic fliell, '
The Pompeys and the Gatos throng
To catch the animating fong ;
Of
SECOND EPISTLE. izi
Of Tartarus the dread controul
Binds not your high and hallow'd foul ;
Diftant you hear that wailing coaft.
And fee the guilty Nero's ghoft
Grow pale with anguifli and affright^
His motherflafhing on his fight.
Be prefent to your Polla's vows.
While to your honour'd name (he bows !
One day let your entreaties gain
From thpfe who rule the fhadowy train ?
Their gates have op'd to blefs a wife.
And given a hufband back to life.
In you the tender Fair invites
No fancied god with frantic rites ;
You are the objeft of her prayers.
You in her inmoft heart fhe bears :
And, ftampt on mimic gold, your head
Adorns the faithful mourner's bed.
And fooths her eyes before they dole.
The guardian of her chafte repofe.
Away with all funereal ftate ! .
From hence his nobler life we date : '
Let
%12 NOTES, &c.
Let Mourning change the pang feverc
To fond Devotion's grateful tear !
And feftal grief, its anguifh o'er.
What it lamented, now adore !
I cannot clofe this note without obferving, that
the preceding verfes have a ftrong tendency to
prove, that Lucan was perfe(9Jy innocent in regard
to the accufation which I have examined before.
Had he been really guilty of Bafely endangering the
life of his mother, it is not probable that his wife
would have honoured his memory with fcch en-
thufiaftic veneration, or that Statius, in verfes de-
ligned to do him honour, would have alluded to
the mother of Nero. The Reader will pardon my
recurring to diis fubje£l, as it is pleafing to make
life of every argument which may remove fo
odious and unjuft a ftain from a manly and exalted
charadler. /
END OF THE THIRD VOLUME.
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