_Mr. Michael Mattaire to the Earl of Oxford._
1736, Oct. 21. Orange Street.
My Lord,
After my most humble thanks for the continuation of Westminster Elections
you was so kind as to give me, I must acquit myself of my promise; and
therefore I herewith send your Lordship a copy transcrib'd exactly from the
MS. given me by Dr. South himself of his verses upon Westminster School,
with his name, and the year subscribed at bottom. They were indeed
publish'd among his _Opera Posthuma Latina Anon._ 1717, by Curl, after his
impudent way of dealing with dead authors' works; and sometimes also with
those of the living.
Curl's printed copy differs from the MS. in these following places:
_Curl._ _MS._
Vers. 5. Multum. Latè
16. Et. dum.
21. ubi regnat. quòd regnet.
23. æmula. æmula, but over it ardua.
25. dirigit. digerit.
26. nitent. micant.
29. studiosæ. studiosa.
30. illa. ipsa.
33. lumen. Lucem.
Your Lordship by this may see how much this sawcy fellow has abused this
learned man's fine copy of verses; and how justly he deserved the
correction which was inflicted on him at that school.
By the tenth Distich it appears that the School (containing then _Tercentum
juvenes_) was managed by three Masters onely: and, for aught we know, might
flourish pretty well, though it had not twice that number.
Give me leave, my Lord, to subscribe myself with profound respect,
Your Honor's
most oblig'd, most obedient,
and most humble Serv^t.
M. MAITTAIRE.
"IN INCLYTAM SCHOLAM REGIAM WESTMONASTERIENSEM.
Reginæ fundata manu, Regina scholarum;
Quam Virgo extruxit, Musáq; Virgo colit.
{29}
Inconfusa Babel, linguis et mole superba;
Celsior et famâ, quàm fut illa situ.
Gentibus et linguis latè celebrata; tacere
De quâ nulla potest, nec satìs ulla loqui.
Opprobria exuperans, pariterq; encomia: Linguis
Et tot laudari digna, quot ipsa doces.
Hæbræus Græcusq; uno cernuntur in Anglo;
Qui puer huc Anglus venerat exit Arabs.
Tercentum hic florent juvenes: mihi mira videtur
Tam numerosa simul, tam quoque docta cohors.
Sic numero bonitas, numerus bonitate relucet;
Ut stellas pariter lux numerusq; decet.
Arte senes, annis pueros mirabitur hospes;
Dum stupet, in pueris nil puerile videns.
Consurgit, crescitq; puer, velut Hydra sub ictu;
Florescitq; suis sæpe rigatus aquis.
Stat regimen triplici fasces moderante magistro;
Doctaq; Musarum regna Triumvir habet.
Scilicet has inter sedes quòd regnet Apollo,
Optimè Apollineus comprobat ille Tripos.
ardua
Sic super invidiam sese effert æmula; nullis
Invida, sed cunctis invidiosa scholis.
Indè in septenas se digerit ordine classes;
Dispositæ, septem, quæ velut Astræ, micant.
Discit et Authores propria inter moenia natos;
Et generosa libros, quos legit, ipsa parit.
Instar Araneolæ Studiosa has exhibet artes;
Quas de visceribus texuit ipsa suis.
Literulas docet hic idem Præceptor et Author,
Idem discipulis Bibliotheca suis.
Accipit hìc lucem, non ultrà cæcus, Homerus:
Huc venit à Scythicis Naso reversus agris.
Utraq; divitijs nostris Academia crescit;
Hæc Schola ad implendas sufficit una duas.
Sic Fons exiguus binos excurrit in Amnes:
Parnassi geminus sic quoque surgit Apex.
Huic collata igitur, quantùm ipsa Academia præstat:
Dic, precor; Hæc doctos accipit, Illa facit.
ROB. SOUTH.
Ann. Dom. 1652,
aut 1653."
[MS. Harl. 7025, fols. 184, 185.]