EPISTOLA VI. NIL admirari, prope res est una, Numici, с formidine nulla d munera terræ ? Imbuti fpectent. quid cenfes, g Qui NOTES. VER. 3. Dear MURRAY,] This piece is the moft finished of all his Imitations, and executed in the high manner the Italian Painters call con amore. By which they mean, the exertion of that principle, which puts the faculties on the ftretch, and produces the fupreme degree of excellence. For the Poet had all the warmth of affection for the great Lawyer to whom it is addressed: and, indeed, no man ever more deferved to have a Poet for his friend. In the obtaining of which, as neither vanity, party, nor fear had any fhare, (which gave birth to the attachments of many of his noble acquaintance,) fo he fupported his title to it by all the good offices of a generous and true Friendship. W. VER. 4. Creech.] From whofe Tranflation of Horace the two first lines are taken. P. e VER. 4. Words of Creech.] Who, in truth, is a much better tranflator than he is ufually fuppofed and allowed to be. He is a nervous and vigorous writer; and many parts, not only of his Lucretius, but of his Theocritus and Horace, (though now de. cried,) have not been excelled by other tranflators. One of his pieces may be pronounced excellent: his tranflation of the thir teenth NOT EPISTLE VI. TO MR. MURRAY. OT to admire, is all the Art I know, "To make men happy, and to keep them fo." (Plain Truth, dear MURRAY, needs no flow'rs of fpeech, So take it in the very Words of Creech.) This Vault of Air, this congregated Ball, Self-center'd Sun, and Stars that rise and fall, There are, my friend! whofe philofophic eyes Look through, and trust the Ruler with his Skies, To him commit the Hour, the Day, the Year, And view this dreadful All without a fear. Admire we then what Earth's low Entrails hold, Arabian fhores, or Indian feas infold; с All the mad trade of Fools and Slaves for Gold? 15 The Mob's applauses, or the gifts of Kings? 5 K IO If NOTES. teenth Satire of Juvenal; equal to any Dryden has given us of that author. VER. 8. Truft the Ruler] This laft line is quaint and even obfcure; the two firft vigorously expreffed. Horace thought of a ftriking and exalted paffage in Lucretius. Book v. 1. 1185. VOL. IV. Qui timet his adverfa, fere miratur eodem Si, quidquid vidit melius pejufve fua fpe, * Infani fapiens nomen ferat, æquus iniqui; Ultra quam fatis eft, virtutem fi petat ipfam. 'I nunc, argentum et marmor "vetus, æraque et artes Sufpice: cum gemmis "Tyrios mirare colores: Gaude, quod fpectant oculi te mille loquentem: Gnavus mane forum, et vefpertinus pete tectum; Ne plus frumenti dotalibus emetat agris Mutus, et (indignum; quod fit pejoribus ortus) I Hic tibi fit potius, quam tu mirabilis illi. * Quicquid fub terra eft, in apricum proferet ætas ; $ Defodiet, NOTES. VER. 44. Yet Time ennobles, or degrades each Line; One of the nobleft houses in Europe.-The Original is, Quicquid fub terra eft, in apricum proferet ætas; "Defodiet, condetque nitentia." "( This wants neither force nor elegance; yet is vaftly inferior to the Imitation, where a very fine panegyric on two great characters, in the fecond line, gives dignity and eafe to the mafterly concifenefs of the first. W. VER. 45. It brighten'd CRAGGS's,] His father had been a barber; but, by industry and ability, got to be Poft Mafter General and Agent to the Duke of Marlborough. h If weak the pleasure that from these can spring, Whether we 1joy or grieve, the fame the curse, 20 Thus good or bad, to one extreme betray Th' unbalanc'd Mind, and fnatch the Man away; 25 k 'Go then, and if you can, admire the state m n 35 If not fo pleas'd, at Council-board rejoice, 41 Shall One whom Nature, Learning, Birth, confpir'd K 2 30 Grac'd W Defodiet, condetque nitentia. cum bene notum virtutem NOTES. VER. 53. TULLY, HYDE!] Equal to either, in the ministry of his profeffion; and, where the parallel fails, as it does in the reft of the character, fuperior to both. TULLY's brightest talents were frequently tarnished by Vanity and Fear; and HYDE's most virtuous purposes perverted and defeated by fuperftitious notions coneerning the divine origin of Government, and the unlimited obedience of the People. W. VER. 53. Than HYDE!] Much beyond the Original; particularly on account of the very happy and artful use Pope has made of the neighbourhood of the House of Parliament to Westminfter Abbey; and of the well-turned and unexpected compliment he has paid to his illuftrious friend. The character of Lord Chancellor Clarendon feems to grow every day brighter, the more it is fonetinized, and his integrity and abilities are more afcertained and acknowledged, even from the publication of private papers, never intended to see the light. They who cenfure his style as too diffuse and embarrassed with parentheses, may confult Lord Monboddo's 3d vol. of Origin of Languages. When Clarendon was going from Court, juft after his profligate and ungrateful mafter had obliged him to resign the great feal, the Duchess of Cleveland meanly and wantonly infulted him from a window in the palace. He looked up at her, and only faid, with a calm and contemptuous dignity, "Madam, if you live, you will grow old." VER. 57. And defp'rate Mifery lays hold on Dover.] There is a prettiness in this expreffion, which depends on its contrast to that Slippery medicine, by which this Quack rendered himself famous, namely Quickfilver. W. There furely was never fo idle and conceited a remark. VER. 60. Would ye be bleft?] This again is fuperior to the Original; where quis non, is feeble and flat; and the mention of a particular fhining character gives a force and spirit to the line. |
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