eceiv'd with the moft fenfible Demonftrations of "Joy, his Eyes drunk with Tears of Gladness.† "Next, the publick Acclamation was exprefs'd in "a Canticle, which is yet tranfmitted to us, as fol"lows; Salve, brafficæ virens corona, "Et Lauro, Archi-poeta, pampinoque, From hence, he was conducted in Pomp to the Capitol of Rome, mounted on an Elephant, through the Shouts of the Populace, where the Ceremony ended. The Hiftorian tells us farther, "That at his In"troduction to Leo, he not only poured forth Ver"ses innumerable, like a Torrent, but also fung "them open Mouth. Nor was he only once intro❝duc'd, or on ftated Days (like our Laureats) but "made a Companion to his Mafter, and entertain'd "as one of the Inftruments of his most elegant Plear "fures. 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 Hiftorian) that thro' fo great "good Eating and Drinking, he contracted a most "terrible Gout." Sorry I am to relate what follows, but that I cannot leave my Reader's Curiosity unfatisfied in the Catastrophe of this extraordinary Man. To ufe my Author's Words, which are remarkable, + Manantibus præ gaudio occulis. Semefis opfoniis. markable, mortuo Leone, profligatifque Poetis, &c. "When Leo dy'd, and Poets were no more" (for I would not understand profligatis literally, as if Poets then were profligate) this unhappy Laureat was forthwith reduced to return to his Country, where oppref fed with old Age and Want, he miferably perish'd in a common Hofpital. We fee from this fad Conclufion (which may be of Example to the Poets of our Time) that it were happier to meet with no Encouragement at all, to remain at the Plow, or other lawful Occupation, than to be elected above their Condition, and taken out of the common Means of Life, without á furer Support than the temporary, or at beft, mortal Favours of the Great. It was doubtlefs for this Confideration, that when the Royal Bounty was lately extended to a Rural Genius, Care was taken to fettle it upon him for Life. And it hath been the Practice of our Princes, never to remove from the Station of Poet Laureat any Man who hath once been chofen, tho' never fo much greater Geniuses might arife in his Time. A noble Inftance, how much the Charity of our Monarchs hath exceeded their Love of Fame. To come now to the Intent of this Paper. We have here the whole antient Ceremonial of the Laureat In the firft Place, the Crown is to be mix'd with Vine-leaves, as the Vine is the Plant of Barchus, and full as effential to the Honour, as the Butt of Sack to the Salary. Secondly, the Braffica must be made ufe of, as a Qualifier of the former. It feems the Cabbage was antiently accounted a Remedy for Drunkenness, (a Power which the French now afcribe to the Onion, and ftile a Soupe made of it, Soupe d'Ivrogne) I would recommend a large Mixture of the Braffica, if Mr. Dennis be chofen; but if Mr. Tibbald, it is not not fo neceffary, unless the Cabbage be suppos'd to fignify the fame Thing with Refpect to Poets, as to Taylors, viz. ftealing. I fhould judge it not amifs to add another Plant to this Garland, to wit, Ivy: Not only as it antiently belong'd to Poets in general; but : as it is emblematical of the three Virtues of a CourtPoet in particular; it is creeping, dirty, and dangling. In the next Place, a Canticle must be compofed and fung, in Laud and Praife of the new Poet. If Mr. CIBBER be laureated, it is my Opinion no Man can write this but himfelf: And no Man, I am fure, can fing it fo 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 publick Show, or Entry of the Poet: To fettle the Order or Proceffion 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 Size or Dignity would do beft; either a Mule 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 mif-inform'd) 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 chofe the Water, upon one of his own Swans from Cæfar in Egypt. We have spoken fufficiently of the Ceremony: let us now speak of the Qualifications and Privileges of the Laureat. First, we fee he must be able to make Verses extempore, and to pour forth innumerable, if requir'd: In this I doubt Mr. TIBBALD. Secondly, he ought to fing, and intrepidly, patula ore: Here Here I confefs the Excellency of Mr. CIBEER. Thirdly, he ought to carry a Lyre about with him: If a large one be thought too cumbersome, a small one may be contrived to hang about the Neck, like an Order; and be very much a Grace to the Person. Fourthly, he ought to have a good Stomach, 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 discharge it. I do not think CIBBER OF TIBBALD here fo happy; but rather a ftaunch, vigorous, season'd, and dry old Gentleman, whom I have in my Eye.. I could also wifh at this Juncture, fuch a Perfon as is truly jealous of the Honour and Dignity of Poetry; no Joker, or Trifler, but a Bard in good earnest; nay, not amifs, if a Critick, 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 fovius) namely, thofe of feeding from the Prince's Table, drinking out of his own Flaggon, becoming even his Domestick and Companion; it requires a Man warm and refolute, to be able to claim and obtain the reftoring of thefe high Honours. I have cause to fear the most of the Candidates would be liable, either thro' the Influence of Minifters, or for Rewards or Favours, to give up the glorious Rights of the Laureat: Yet I am not without Hopes, there is one, from whom a ferious and Steady Affertion of these Privileges may be expected; and if there be fuch a one, I must do him the Juftice to fay, it is Mr. DENNIS, the worthy Prefident of our Society. Thus have we taken Notice of Mr. Pope's poetical Performances, which are fo excellent, that they need no Praise from us; we doubt not but they have . it from all judicious Readers: How great muft the Mind of that Man be, who could furnish out fuch rare Entertainment? And yet, by Reafon of the Weakness of his Conftitution, wanted the Advantage of Travel. His great Defire was to have seen Italy, and that was ftill heighten'd by Dean Berkley's being there, who is fince Bishop of Cloyne in Ireland, a celebrated Metaphyfician, and particular Favourite of Mr. Pope's; he was continually tempting him, remembring that he had heard him mention fome halfform'd Defign of going thither, which he endeavour'd by all Methods to ripen and bring to Action; for what might not have been expected from a Muse, that fung fo well in the bleak Climate of England, had fhe felt the fame warm Sun, and breath'd the fame Air with Virgil and Horace ? There are in Italy great Numbers of Poets, who -have all the Inclination, but want the Genius, or perhaps the Art of the Antients; fome among them, who understand English, begin to relifh our Authors, and Milton is well tranflated into Italian Verfe by the Signior Rolli. This the Dean took care to let Mr. Pope know, and that it would be of Service to him to travel thither, in order to ftore his Mind with ftrong Images of Nature. Green Fields and Groves, flowery Meadows and purling Streams, are no where in fuch Perfection as in England; but if you would know lightfome Days, warm Suns, and blue Skies, you muft go to Italy; and to enable a Man to defcribe Rocks and Precipices, it is abfolutely neceffary that he pass the Alps and Apennines. Frequent were the Letters (in which Self-intereft had fome Part) that Dean Berkley wrote, to invite our Author thither, whofe Will was good, but his Body too weak for the Fatigue of fuch long Travel. VOL. II. After S |