Else all my prose and verse were much the same; This prose on stilts, that, poetry fall'n lame. Did on the stage my fops appear confin'd? My life gave ampler lessons to mankind. Did the dead letter unsuccessful prove? The brisk example never fail'd to move. 190 Yet sure, had Heav'n decreed to save the state, Or tread the path by vent'rous heroes trod, VARIATIONS. Not that my quill to critics was confin'd, 195 200 v. 15. Yet sure, bad Heaven, &c.] In the former edit. And all thy cause and empire at an end! IMITATIONS. v. 195.---bad Heav'n decreed, &c.] "Me si coelicolæ voluissent duccere vitam, "Has mihi servassent sedes," Virgl. En. II. v. 197,198. Could Troy be sav'd--- This gray-goose weapon.] "Si Pergama dextra Defendi possent, etiam hac defensa fui scat. ig. Hid. Or bidst thou rather party to embrace? (A friend to Party thou, and all her race; 205 O'er head and ears plunge for the commonweal? 210 215 To serve his cause, O Queen! is serving thine. 220 225 O born in sin, and forth in folly brought! Works damn'd, or to be damn'd; (your father's fault) IMITATIONS. v. 202. This box my thunder, this right hand my God?] "Dextra mihi Deus, et telum qued missise libro." Virgil, of the Gods of Mezentius, VARIATIONS. v. 213. Hold---to the minister.] In the former edition: Yes, to my country I my pen consign, Yes, from this moment, mighty Mist! am thine. v. 225. Oborn in sin, &c.] in the former edition: Adieu. my Children! better thus expire Unstall'd, unsold; thus glorious mount in fire, Go, purify'd by flames, ascend the sky, My better and more Christian progeny! REMARKS. 230 235 v. 231. ---gratis-given B.and,---Sent with a pass.] I was a practice so to give the Daily Gazetteer, and ministerial pamphlets, (in which this B. was a writer), and to send them post-free to all the towns in the kingdom. v. 233.---wi.b Ward, to Ape-and-monkey climes.] "Ed"ward Ward, a very voluminous poet in Hudibrastic verse, but best known by the London Spy, in prose. "He has of late years kept a public house in the City, I(but in a genteel way) and with his wit, humour, "and good liquor, (le) afforded his guests a pleasur VARIATIONS. Fair without spot, than greas'd by grocers' hands, IMITATIONS. Var. And visit alebouse.] Waller on the Navy: - Felix Priameia virgo! Jussa mori: quae sortitus, non pertulit ullos, "Nec victoris heri tetigit captiva cubile! Nos, patria insensa, diversa per aequora vectae," &c. Virg. Æn. III. O pass more innocent, in infant state, 240 Where things destroy'd are swept to things unborn. With that, a tear (portentous sign of grace!) Stole from the master of the sev❜nfold face; 245 And thrice he dropt it from his quiv'ring hand; Then lights the structure with averted eyes; Th' op'ning clouds disclose each work by turns, 250 REMARKS. "able entertainment, especially those of the High"church party." Jacob, Lives of Poets, vol. II. p. 225. Great number of his works were yearly sold into the Plantations. Ward, in a book called Apollo's Maggot, declared this account to be a great falsity, protesting that his public-house was not in the City, but in Moorfields. v. 238, 240. ---Tale---Shadwell. Two of his predecessors in the Laurel. VARIATIONS. v. 250. Now flames the Cid, &c.] In the former edit. Now flames old Memnon, now Rodrigo burns, IMITATIONS. v. 245. And thrice be lifted high the birth-day brand.] Ovid, or Althae,on a like occasion, burning her offspring: "Tum conata quater flammis imponere torrem, "Coepta quater tenuit." v. 150. Now flames the Cid, &c.] Jam Deiphobi dedit ampla ruinam, "Vulcano superante domos; jam proximus ardet * Ucalegon." Great Cæsar roars, and hisses in the fires; King John, in silence, modestly expires: No merit now the dear Nonjuror claims, Moliere's old stubble in a moment flames. 255 Rouz'd by the light, Old Dulness heav'd the head, Then snatcht a sheet of Thule from her bed; Sudden she flies, and whelms it o'er the pyre; Down sink the flames, and with a hiss expire. Her ample presence fills up all the place; 260 A val of fogs dilates her awful face: [may'rs Great in her charms! as when on shrieves and 265 Ascend, and recognize their native place. VARIATIONS. In one quick flash see Proserpine expire, And last, his own cold schylus took fire, Then gusht the tears, as from the Trojan's eyes After v. 268. In the former editions followed those two lines, Raptur'd, he gazes round the dear retreat, And in sweet numbers celebrates the seat. IMITATIONS. . 263. Great in her charms! as when on shrieves and may'rs She looks, and breathes herself into their airs.] Alma parens confessa deam; qualisque videri "Et laetos oculis afflavit honores." Virg. Æn. II. Id. n. I. |