◄◄ with the most sensible demonstrations of joy, his <c eyes drunk with tears and gladness. Next, the

public acclamation was expreffed in a canticle, << which is tranfmitted to us, as follows:

Salve, brafficea virens corona,

Et lauro, archipoeta, pampinoque!
Dignus principis auribus Leonis.
All hail, arch-poet without peer!
Vine, bay, or cabbage, fit to wear,
And worthy of the prince's ear.

From hence, he was conducted in pomp to the Capitol of Rome, mounted on an elephant, thro' the shouts of the populace, where the ceremony ended.

The hiftorian tells us further, "That at his in"troduction to Leo, he not only poured forth « verses innumerable, like a torrent, but also fung "them with open mouth. Nor was he only once "introduced, or on fated days (like our Lau'reates) but made a companion to his master, and "entertained as one of the instruments of his mot elegant pleafures. When the prince was at table, the poet had his place at the window. "When the prince had half eaten his meat, he gave with his own hands the reft to the poet. "When the poet drank, it was out of the prince's "own flaggon, infomuch (fays the historian) that

с

Manantibus præ gaudio oculis.

• Semefis opfoniis,

“thro' fo great good eating and drinking he con-
« tracked à moit terrible gout." Sorry I am to
relate what follows, but that I cannot leave my
reader's curiosity uniatisfied in the catastrophe of
Aman.
To use my author's
work which are remarkable, mortuo Leone, pro

"When Leo died, and

AUS wer no more" (for I would not underMad Agen Terally, as if poets then were pr eat|tha mabugoy Laureate was forthwith re

:soes were

to às conzzy, where, oppreffed and say, be mirably perished in

To come now to the intent of this paper. We have here the whole ancient ceremonial of the LauCreate. In the first place the crown is to be mixed

with vine-leaves, as the vine is the plant of Bacchus, and full as effential to the honour, as the · butt of fack to the salary.

Secondly, the braffica must be made use of as a qualifier of the former. It feems the cabbage was anciently accounted a remedy for drunkenness; a power the French now afcribe to the onion, and style a foup made of it, foupe d'Yvrogne. I would recommend a large mixture of the braffica, if Mr. Dennis be chofen; but if Mr. Tibbald, it is not fo neceffary, unless the cabbage be fuppofed to fignify the fame thing with refpect to poets as to taylors, viz. ftealing. I fhould judge it not amiss to add another plant to this garland, to wit, ivy: Not only as it anciently belonged to poets in general; but as it is emblematical of the three virtues of a court poet in particular; it is creeping, dirty, and dangling.

If

In the next place, a canticle must be composed and fung in laud and praise of the new Poet. Mr. CIBBER be laureated, it is my opinion no man can write this but himself: And no man, I am fure, can fing it so affectingly. But what this canticle fhould be, either in his or the other candidate's cafe, I fhall not pretend to determine.

Thirdly, there ought to be a public skow, or entry of the poet: To fettle the order or procef

fion of which, Mr. Anftis and Mr. DENNIS ought to have a conference. I apprehend here two difficulties: One, of procuring an elephant; the other of teaching the poet to ride him: Therefore I fhould imagine the next animal in fize or dignity would do beit; either a male or a large afs; particularly if that noble one could be had, whofe portraiture makes fo great an ornament of the Dunciad, and which (unless I am mifinformed) is yet in the park of a nobleman near this city : ---Unless Mr. CIBBER be the man; who may, with great propriety and beauty, ride on a dragon, if he goes by land; or if he choose the water, upon one of his own fans from Cafar in Egypt.

We have spoken fufficiently of the ceremony; let us now speak of the qualifications and privileges of the Laureate. First, we fee he must be able to make verses extempore, and to pour forth innumerable, if required. In this I doubt Mr. TIBBALD. Secondly, he ought to fing, and intrepidly, patulo ore: Here, I confefs the excellency of Mr. CIBBER. Thirdly, he ought to carry a lyre about with him: If a large one be thought too cumbersome, a fmall one may be contrived to hang about the neck, like an order; and be very much a grace to the perfon. Fourthly, he ought to have a good ftomach, to eat and drink whatever his betters think fit; and therefore it is in this high office as in many others, no puny conftitution can difcharge it. I do not think CIB

BER OF TIBBALD here fo happy: but rather a ftanch, vigorous, feafon'd, and dry old gentleman, whom I have in my eye.

I could also wish at this juncture, fuch a perfon as is truly jealous of the boncur and dignity of poetry; no joker, or trifler; but a bard in good earneft; nay, not amifs if a critic, and the better if a little obftinate. For when we confider what great privileges have been loft from this office (as we fee from the fore-cited authentick record of Jovius) namely thofe of feeding from the prince's table, drinking out of his cwn flaggen, becoming even his domeftick and companion; it requires a man warm and refolute, to be able to claim and obtain the restoring of thefe high honours. I have caufe to fear, most of the candidates would be liable, either through the influence of minifters, or for rewards or favours, to give up the glorious rights of the Laureate: Yet I am not without hopes, there is one, from whom a ferious and fteddy affertion of thefe privileges may be expected; and, if there be fuch a one, I must do him the justice to say, it is Mr. DENNIS the worthy prefident of our fociety.