For Attic phrase in Plato let them seek, 230 235 Are things which Kuster, Burman, Wasse, shall see When man's whole frame is obvious to a flea. 240 245 "Ah, think not, mistress! more true dulness lies In folly's cap, than wisdom's grave disguise. Like buoys, that never sink into the flood, On learning's surface we but lie and nod. Thine is the genuine head of many a house, And much divinity without a Nãs. Nor could a Barrow work on every block, Nor has one Atterbury spoil'd the flock. See! still thy own, the heavy, canon roll, And metaphysic-smokes involve the pole. For thee we dim the eyes, and stuff the head With all such reading as was never read: For thee explain a thing till all men doubt it, And write about it, goddess, and about it: So spins the silk-worm small its slender store, And labours till it clouds itself all o'er. 250 "What though we let some better sort of fool Thrid every science, run through every school? 256 Never by tumbler through the hoops was shewn Such skill in passing all, and touching none. REMARKS. v. 228, &c. Suidas, Gellius, Stobaus.] The first a dictionarywriter, a collector of impertinent facts and barbarous words; the second a minute critic; the third an author who gave his common. place book to the public, where we find much mince-meat of old books, v.245, 246. Barrow Atterbury.] Isaac Barrow, Master of Trinity---Francis Atterbury, Dean of Christ-church; both great geniuses and eloquent preachers; one more conversant in the sublime geometry, the other in classical learning; but who equally made it their care to advance the polite arts in their several societies. P.* He may indeed (if sober all this time) Plague with dispute, or persecute with rhyme. 260 Or, wed to what he must divorce, a muse: 265 270 275 In flow'd at once a gay embroider'd race, And titt'ring push'd the pedants off the place: Some would have spoken, but the voice was drown'd By the French horn, or by the opening hound. The first came forwards with an easy mien, As if he saw St. James's and the Queen. When thus th' attendant orator begun : 66 280 285 Receive, great empress! thy accomplish'd son; Thine from the birth, and sacred from the rod, A dauntless infant! never scar'd with God. The sire saw, one by one, his virtues wake; The mother begg'd the blessing of a rake. Thou gav'st that ripeness which so soon began, And ceas'd so soon, he ne'er was boy nor man; Through school and college, thy kind cloud o'ercast, Safe and unseen the young Eneas past: Thence bursting glorious, all at once let down, Stunn'd with his giddy larum half the town. Intrepid then, o'er seas and lands he flew; Europe he saw, and Europe saw him too. There all thy gifts and graces we display, Thou, only thou, directing all our way! To where the Seine, obsequious as she runs, Pours at great Bourbon's feet her silken sons; 290 295 Or Tyber, now no longer Roman, rolls, To happy convents, bosom'd deep in vines, 300 305 Love-whispering woods, and lute-resounding waves. 315 Wafts the smooth eunuch and enainour'd swain. 310 REMARKS. 325 v. 307. But chief, &c.] These two lines, in their force of imagery and colouring, emulate and equal the pencil of Rubens. v.308. And Cupids ride the Lion of the deeps.] The winged Lion, the arms of Venice. This republic was heretofore the most considerable in Europe for her naval force, and the extent of her commerce; now illustrious for her carnivals. P.* v.326.---Jansen, Fleetwood, Cibber.] Three very eminent persons, all managers of plays; who, though not governors by profession, had, each in his way, concerned themselves in the education of youth, and regulated their wits, their morals, or their finances, at that period of their age which is the most important, their entrance into the polite world. Of the last of these, and his talents for this end, see Book I. ver. 199, &c. P.* Stol'n from a duel, follow'd by a nun, This glorious youth, and add one Venus more. So may the sons of sons of sons of whores 330 Prop thine, O empress! like each neighbour throne, And make a long posterity thy own." Pleas'd, she accepts the hero, and the dame, Wraps in her veil, and frees from sense of shame. Then look'd, and saw a lazy lolling sort, Unseen at church, at senate, or at court, 335 Of ever listless loiterers, that attend No cause, no trust, no duty, and no friend. 340 There too, my Paridell! she mark'd thee there, But Annius, crafty seer, with ebon wand, And well-dissembled emerald on his hand, 345 Came, cramm'd with capon, from where Pollio dines, Soft, as the wily fox is seen to creep, 351 Where bask on sunny banks the simple sheep, "Grant, gracious goddess! grant me still to cheat! O may thy cloud still cover the deceit ! 356 360 365 To headless Phoebe his fair bride postpone, Bless'd in one Niger, till he knows of two." 370 Mummius o'erheard him; Mummius, fool renown'd, Who, like his Cheops, stinks above the ground, Fierce as a startled adder, swell'd, and said, Rattling an ancient sistrum at his head: 376. 380 "Speak'st thou of Syrian princes? traitor base! 385 390 The goddess smiling seem'd to give consent; 395 So back to Pollio hand in hand they went. Then thick as locusts blackening all the ground, A tribe, with weeds and shells fantastic crown'd, Each with some wondrous gift approach'd the power, A nest, a toad, a fungus, or a flower. But far the foremost, two, with earnest zeal And aspect ardent, to the throne appeal. 400 The first thus open'd: "Hear thy suppliant's call, Great queen, and common mother of us all! Fair from its humble bed I rear'd this flower, Suckled, and cheer'd, with air, and sun, and shower 405 |