[263] Note IX.
[264] Note X.
[265] Note XI.
[266] Note XII.
[267] Note XIII.
[268] Note XIV.
NOTES
ON
TRANSLATIONS FROM PERSIUS.
SATIRE VI.
Note I.
_Has winter caused thee, friend, to change thy seat,
And seek in Sabine air a warm retreat._--P. 268.
All the studious, and particularly the poets, about the end of August,
began to set themselves on work, refraining from writing during the
heats of the summer. They wrote by night, and sat up the greatest part
of it; for which reason the product of their studies was called their
elucubrations, or nightly labours. They who had country-seats retired
to them while they studied, as Persius did to his, which was near
the port of the Moon in Etruria; and Bassus to his, which was in the
country of the Sabines, nearer Rome.
Note II.
_Now sporting on thy lyre the loves of youth._--P. 268.
This proves Cæsius Bassus to have been a lyric poet. It is said of him,
that by an eruption of the flaming mountain Vesuvius, near which the
greatest part of his fortune lay, he was burnt himself, together with
all his writings.
Note III.
_Who in a drunken dream beheld his soul
The fifth within the transmigrating roll._--P. 269.
I call it a drunken dream of Ennius; not that my author, in this place,
gives me any encouragement for the epithet, but because Horace, and
all who mention Ennius, say he was an excessive drinker of wine. In
a dream, or vision, call you it which you please, he thought it was
revealed to him, that the soul of Pythagoras was transmigrated into
him; as Pythagoras before him believed, that himself had been Euphorbus
in the wars of Troy. Commentators differ in placing the order of this
soul, and who had it first. I have here given it to the peacock;
because it looks more according to the order of nature, that it should
lodge in a creature of an inferior species, and so by gradation rise to
the informing of a man. And Persius favours me, by saying, that Ennius
was the fifth from the Pythagorean peacock.
Note IV.
_My friend is shipwrecked on the Brutian strand._--P. 270.
Perhaps this is only a fine transition of the poet, to introduce the
business of the satire; and not that any such accident had happened to
one of the friends of Persius. But, however, this is the most poetical
description of any in our author; and since he and Lucan were so great
friends, I know not but Lucan might help him in two or three of these
verses, which seem to be written in his style; certain it is, that
besides this description of a shipwreck, and two lines more, which
are at the end of the second satire, our poet has written nothing
elegantly. I will, therefore, transcribe both the passages, to justify
my opinion. The following are the last verses, saving one, of the
second satire:
_Compositum jus, fasque animi; sanctosque recessus
Mentis, et incoctum generoso pectus honesto._
The others are those in this present satire, which are subjoined:
----_trabe rupta, Bruttia Saxa
Prendit amicus inops, remque omnem, surdaque vota
Condidit Ionio: jacet ipse in littore; et una
Ingentes de puppe Dei: jamque obvia mergis
Costa ratis laceræ._----
Note V.
_From thy new hope, and from thy growing store,
Now lend assistance, and relieve the poor._--P. 270.
The Latin is, _Nunc et de cespite vivo, frange aliquid_. Casaubon only
opposes the _cespes vivus_, which, word for word, is the living turf,
to the harvest, or annual income; I suppose the poet rather means, sell
a piece of land already sown, and give the money of it to my friend,
who has lost all by shipwreck; that is, do not stay till thou hast
reaped, but help him immediately, as his wants require.
Note VI.
_Nor beg with a blue table on his back._--P. 270.
Holyday translates it a green table: the sense is the same; for the
table was painted of the sea-colour, which the shipwrecked person
carried on his back, expressing his losses, thereby to excite the
charity of the spectators.
Note VII.
_Or without spices lets thy body burn._--P. 270.
The bodies of the rich, before they were burnt, were embalmed with
spices; or rather spices were put into the urn with the relics of the
ashes. Our author here names cinnamum and cassia, which cassia was
sophisticated with cherry-gum, and probably enough by the Jews, who
adulterate all things which they sell. But whether the ancients were
acquainted with the spices of the Molucca Islands, Ceylon, and other
parts of the Indies, or whether their pepper and cinnamon, &c. were the
same with ours, is another question. As for nutmegs and mace, it is
plain that the Latin names for them are modern.
Note VIII.
_Cæsar salutes the queen and senate thus:--
My arms are on the Rhine victorious._--P. 271.
The Cæsar, here mentioned, is Caius Caligula, who affected to triumph
over the Germans, whom he never conquered, as he did over the Britons;
and accordingly sent letters, wrapt about with laurels, to the senate
and the Empress Cæsonia, whom I here call queen; though I know that
name was not used amongst the Romans; but the word empress would not
stand in that verse, for which reason I adjourned it to another. The
dust, which was to be swept away from the altars, was either the ashes
which were left there after the last sacrifice for victory, or might
perhaps mean the dust or ashes which were left on the altars since some
former defeat of the Romans by the Germans; after which overthrow, the
altars had been neglected.
Note IX.
_The goodly empress._--P. 271.
Cæsonia, wife to Caius Caligula, who afterwards, in the reign of
Claudius, was proposed, but ineffectually, to be married to him, after
he had executed Messalina for adultery.
Note X.
_The captive Germans, of gigantic size,
Are ranked in order, and are clad in frize._--P. 271.
He means only such as were to pass for Germans in the triumph,
large-bodied men, as they are still, whom the empress clothed new with
coarse garments, for the greater ostentation of the victory.
Note XI.
_Know, I have vowed two hundred gladiators._--P. 271.
A hundred pair of gladiators were beyond the purse of a private man to
give; therefore this is only a threatening to his heir, that he could
do what he pleased with his estate.
Note XII.
----_Shouldst thou demand of me
My torch, when I in course run after thee._--P. 272.
Why shouldst thou, who art an old fellow, hope to outlive me, and be
my heir, who am much younger? He who was first in the course or race,
delivered the torch, which he carried, to him who was second.
Note XIII.
_Well fed, and fat as Cappadocian slaves._--P. 273.
Who were famous for their lustiness, and being, as we call it, in good
liking. They were set on a stall when they were exposed to sale, to
show the good habit of their body; and made to play tricks before the
buyers, to show their activity and strength.
Note XIV.
_Then say, Chrysippus._--P. 273.
Chrysippus, the Stoic, invented a kind of argument, consisting of more
than three propositions, which is called _sorites_, or a heap. But as
Chrysippus could never bring his propositions to a certain stint, so
neither can a covetous man bring his craving desires to any certain
measure of riches, beyond which he could not wish for any more.
THE
WORKS OF VIRGIL,
TRANSLATED
INTO ENGLISH VERSE.
WORKS OF VIRGIL.
This great work was undertaken by Dryden, in 1694, and published,
by subscription, in 1697. One hundred and one subscribers gave five
guineas each to furnish the engravings for the work; if indeed this
was any thing more than a genteel pretext for increasing the profit
of the author; for Spence has informed us, that the old plates used
for Ogleby's "Virgil," were retouched for that of his great successor.
Another class of subscribers, two hundred and fifty-two in number,
contributed two guineas each. As the names of those who encouraged this
great national labour have some claim to distinction, the reader will
find, prefixed to this edition, an accurate copy of both lists, as they
stand in the first folio edition. On 28th June, 1697, the following
advertisement appeared in the London Gazette:
"The Works of Virgil; containing his Pastorals, Georgics, and Eneis,
translated into English verse, by Mr Dryden, and adorned with one
hundred cuts, will be finished this week, and be ready next week to be
delivered, as subscribed for, in quires, upon bringing the receipt for
the first payment, and paying the second. Printed for Jacob Tonson, &c."
In 1709, Tonson published a second edition of Dryden's "Virgil,"
with the plates reduced, in three volumes, 8vo; and various others
have since appeared. In 1803, a new edition was given to the public,
revised and corrected by Henry Carey, LL.D. This is so correct, that,
although it has been uniformly compared with the original edition of
Tonson, I have thought it advisable to follow the modern editor in some
corrections of the punctuation and reading. In other cases, where I
have adhered to the folio, I have placed Dr Carey's alteration at the
bottom of the page. It is hardly worth while to notice, that there is
a slight alteration of the arrangement of Dryden's prolegomena; the
Dedication to the "Pastorals" being placed immediately before that
class of poems, instead of preceding the Life, as in the original
folio. Dryden's Notes and Observations, which, in the original,
are printed together at the end of the work, are, in this edition,
dispersed and subjoined to the different Books containing the passages
to which they refer.
THE
NAMES OF THE SUBSCRIBERS
TO
THE CUTS OF VIRGIL,
IN THE FOLIO EDITION, 1697.
EACH SUBSCRIPTION BEING FIVE GUINEAS.
PASTORALS.
1. Lord Chancellor
2. Lord Privy Seal
3. Earl of Dorset
4. Lord Buckhurst
5. Earl of Abingdon
6. Lord Viscount Cholmondely
7. Lord Herbert of Cherbury.
8. Lord Clifford
9. Marq. of Hartington
10. The Hon. Mr Ch. Mountague
GEORGIC I.
11. Sir Tho. Trevor
12. Sir John Hawles
13. Joseph Jeakyl, Esq.
14. Tho. Vernon, Esq.
15. Will. Dobyns, Esq.
GEORGIC II.
16. Sir Will. Bower
17. Gilbert Dolbin, Esq.
18. Geo. London, Esq.
19. John Loving, Esq.
20. Will. Walsh, Esq.
GEORGIC III.
21. Duke of Richmond
22. Sir J. Isham, Bart.
23. Sir Tho. Mompesson
24. John Dormer, Esq.
25. Frederick Tylney, Esq.
GEORGIC IV.
26. Richard Norton, Esq.
27. Sir Will. Trumbull
28. Sir Barth. Shower
29. Symon Harcourt, Esq.
30. John Granvill, Esq.
ÆNEID I.
31. Prince George of Denmark
32. Princess Ann of Denmark
33. Duchess of Ormond
34. Countess of Exeter
35. Countess-Dowager of Winchelsea
36. Marchioness of Normanby
ÆNEID II.
37. Duke of Somerset
38. Earl of Salisbury
39. Earl of Inchiqueen
40. Earl of Orrery
41. Lord Viscount Dunbar
42. Countess-Dowager of Northampton
ÆNEID III.
43. Earl of Darby
44. Bishop of Durham
45. Bishop of Ossery
46. Dr John Mountague
47. Dr Brown
48. Dr Guibbons
ÆNEID IV.
49. Earl of Exeter
50. Lady Giffard
51. Lord Clifford
52. John Walkaden, Esq.
53. Henry Tasburgh Esq.
54. Mrs Ann Brownlow
ÆNEID V.
55. Duke of St Albans
56. Earl of Torrington
57. Anth. Hamond, Esq.
58. Henry St Johns, Esq.
59. Steph. Waller, LL.D.
60. Duke of Glocester
61. Edmond Waller, Esq.
ÆNEID VI.
62. Earl of Denbigh
63. Sir Tho. Dyke, Bart.
64. Mrs Ann Bayner
65. John Lewknor, Esq.
66. Sir Fleetwood Shepherd
67. John Poultney, Esq.
68. John Knight, Esq.
69. Robert Harley, Esq.
ÆNEID VII.
70. Earl of Rumney
71. Anthony Henley, Esq.
72. George Stepney, Esq.
73. Coll. Tho. Farringdon
74. Lady Mary Sackvill
75. Charles Fox, Esq.
ÆNEID VIII.
76. Earl of Ailesbury
77. The Hon. Mr Robert Bruce
78. Christopher Rich, Esq.
79. Sir Godfrey Kneller
ÆNEID IX.
80. Earl of Sunderland
81. Thomas Foley, Esq.
82. Col. Geo. Cholmondly
83. Sir John Percival, Bart.
84. Col. Christopher Codrington
85. Mr John Closterman.
ÆNEID X.
86. Lord Visc. Fitzharding
87. Sir Robert Howard
88. Sir John Leuson Gore, Bart.
89. Sir Charles Orby
90. Tho. Hopkins, Esq.
ÆNEID XI.
91. Duke of Shrewsbury
92. Sir W. Kirkham Blount, Bart.
93. John Noell, Esq.
94. Marquis of Normanby
95. Lord Berkley
96. Arthur Manwareing, Esq.
ÆNEID XII.
97. Earl of Chesterfield
98. Brigadier Fitzpatrick
99. Dr Tho. Hobbs
100. Lord Guilford
101. Duke of Ormond
THE
NAMES OF THE SECOND SUBSCRIBERS.
A.
Lord Ashley
Sir James Ash, Bart.
Sir James Ash, Bart.
Sir Francis Andrew, Bart.
Charles Adderley, Esq.
Mrs Ann Ash
Edw. Ash, Esq.
Mr Francis Atterbury
Sam. Atkins, Esq.
Tho. Austen, Esq.
Ro. Austen, Esq.
B.
Earl of Bullingbrook
Sir Ed. Bettenson, Bart.
Sir Tho. Pope Blount, Bart.
Sir John Bolles
Sir Will. Bowes
Will. Blathwayt, Esq.
Secretary of War
Will. Barlow, Esq.
Peregrine Bertye, Esq.
Will. Bridgman, Esq.
Orlando Bridgman, Esq.
Will. Bridges, Esq.
Char. Bloodworth, Esq.
The Hon. Henry Boyl, Esq.
Rich. Boyl, Esq.
Chidley Brook, Esq.
Will. Bromley, Esq. of Warwickshire
Mich. Bruneau, Esq.
Tho. Bulkley, Esq.
Theoph. Butler, Esq.
Capt. John Berkeley
Mr Jo. Bowes, Prebend. of Durham
Mr Jeremiah Ball
Mr John Ball
Mr Richard Banks
Mrs Elizabeth Barry
Mr Beckford
Mr Tho. Betterton
Mrs Catharine Blount
Mr Bond
Mr Bond
Mrs Ann Bracegirdle
Mr Samuel Brockenborough
Mrs Elizabeth Brown
Mr Moses Bruche
Mr Lancelot Burton
C.
Earl of Clarendon
Lord Henry Cavendish
Lord Clifford
Lord Coningsby
Lord Cutts
Lady Chudleigh, of the West
The Hon. Char. Cornwallis, son
to the Lord Cornwallis
Sir Walt. Clarges, Bart.
Sir Ro. Cotton
Sir Will. Cooper
The Hon. Will. Cheyney
James Calthorp, Esq.
Charles Chamberlayn, Esq.
Edmond Clifford, Esq.
Charles Cocks, Esq.
Tho. Coel, Esq.
Tho. Coke, Esq.
Hugh Colville, Esq.
Jo. Crawley, Esq.
Courtney Crocker, Esq.
Henry Curwyn, Esq.
Capt. James Conoway
Mr Will Claret
Mr John Claney
Mr Will Congreve
Mr Henry Cook
Mr Will. Cooper
Mrs Elizabeth Creede
D.
Duchess of Devonshire
Paul Docmenique, Esq.
Mountague Drake, Esq.
Will. Draper, Esq.
Mr Mich. Dahl
Mr Davenport
Mr Will. Delawn
Mrs Dorothy Draycot
Mr Edward Dryden
E.
Earl of Essex
Sir Edw. Ernle
Will. Elson, Esq.
Tho. Elyot, Esq.
Thomas Earl, Major-General
F.
Sir Edm. Fettiplace, Bart.
Sir Will. Forester
Sir James Forbys
Lady Mary Fenwick
The Hon. Col. Finch
The Hon. Doctour Finch
The Hon. Will. Fielding
Rich. Franklin, Postmaster, Esq.
Charles Fergesen, Esq. Com. of
the Navy
Doctor Fuller, D. of Lincoln
Henry Farmer, Esq.
Tho. Finch, Esq.
Tho. Frewin, Esq.
Mr George Finch
G.
Sir Bevill Granvill, Bart.
Oliver St George, Esq.
Tho Gifford, Esq.
Rich. Goulston, Esq.
Richard Graham, Esq.
Fergus Grahme, Esq.
Will. Grove, Esq.
Dr Gath, M.D.
Mr George Goulding
Mr Grinlin Guibbons
H.
Lord Archibald Hamilton
Lord Hide
Sir Richard Haddock
Sir Christop. Hales, Bart.
Sir Tho. Hussey
Rob. Harley, Esq.
Rob. Henley, Esq. M.P.
Will. Hewer, Esq.
Rodger Hewet, Esq.
He. Heveningham, Esq.
John Holdworthy, Esq.
Matt Holdworthy, Esq.
Nath. Hornby, Esq.
The Hon. Bern Howard
Craven Howard, Esq.
Mansel Howe, Esq.
Sam. Hunter, Esq.
Mr Edward Hastwell
Mr Nich. Hawksmore
Mr Whitfeild Hayter
Mr Peter Henriques
Mr Ro. Huckwell
J.
John James, Esq.
William Jenkins, Esq.
Sam. Jones, Esq.
Mr Edw. Jefferyes
K.
Jos. Keally, Esq.
Coll. James Kendall
Dr Knipe
Mr Mich. Kinkead
L.
Sir Berkely Lucy, Bart.
Lady Jane Leveson Gower
Tho. Langley, Esq.
Patrick Lamb, Esq.
Will. Latton, Esq.
James Long, of Draycot, Esq.
Will. Lownds, Esq.
Dennis Lydal, Esq.
Mr Char. Longueville.
M.
Charles Mannours, Esq.
Tho. Mansel, Esq.
Bussy Mansel, Esq.
Will. Martyn, Esq.
Henry Maxwell, Esq.
Charles Mein, Esq.
Rich. Minshul, Esq.
Ro. Molesworth, Esq.
The Hon. Henry Mordaunt
George Moult, Esq.
Christoph. Mountague, Esq.
Walter Moyl, Esq.
Mr Charles Marbury
Mr Chistoph. Metcalf
Mrs Monneux
N.
Lord Norris
Henry Neville, Esq.
Will. Norris, Esq.
Mr Will. Nicoll
O.
Ro. Orme, Esq.
Dr Oliver, M.D.
Mr Mich. Owen
P.
The Right Hon. Charles Earl of
Peterborough
Sir Henry Pechy, Bart.
Sir John Phillips, Bart.
Sir John Pykering, Bart.
Sir John Parsons
Ro. Palmer, Esq.
Guy Palmes, Esq.
Ben. Parry, Esq.
Sam. Pepys, Esq.
James Petre, Esq.
Will. Pezeley, Esq.
Craven Peyton, Esq.
John Pitts, Esq.
Will. Plowden of Plowden, Esq.
Mr Theoph. Pykering, Prebend
of Durham
Coll. Will. Parsons
Capt. Phillips
Capt. Pitts
Mr Daniel Peck
R.
Duchess of Richmond
Earl of Radnor
Lord Ranelagh
Tho. Rawlings, Esq.
Will. Rider, Esq.
Francis Roberts, Esq.
Mr Rose
S.
Lord Spencer
Sir Tho. Skipwith, Bart.
Sir John Seymour
Sir Charles Skrimpshire
J. Scroop of Danby, Esq.
Ralph Sheldon, Com. Warw.
Esq.
Edw. Sheldon, Esq.
John Smith, Esq.
James Sothern, Esq.
The Hon. James Stanley, Esq.
Ro. Stopford, Esq.
The Hon. Major-Gen. Edward
Sackville
Col. J. Stanhope
Col. Strangways
Mr James Seamer
Mr William Seeks
Mr Joseph Sherwood
Mr Laurence Smith
Mr Tho. Southern
Mr Paris Slaughter
Mr Lancelot Stepney
T.
Sir John Trevillion, Bart.
Sir Edm. Turner
Henry Temple, Esq.
Ashburnam Toll, Esq.
Sam. Travers, Esq.
John Tucker, Esq.
Major-Gen. Charles Trelawney
Major-Gen. Trelawney
Col. John Tidcomb
Col. Trelawney
Mr George Townsend
Mr Tho. Tyldesley
Mr Tyndall
V.
John Verney, Esq.
Henry Vernon, Esq.
James Vernon, Esq.
W.
Lord Marquis of Winchester
Earl of Weymouth
Lady Windham
Sir John Walter, Bart.
Sir John Woodhouse, Bart.
Sir Francis Windham
James Ward, Esq.
Will. Wardour, jun. Esq.
Will. Welby, Esq.
Will. Weld, Esq.
Th. Brome Whorwood, Esq.
Salw. Winnington, Esq.
Col. Cornelius Wood
Mrs Mary Walter
Mr Leonard Wessel
RECOMMENDATORY POEMS.
TO
MR DRYDEN,
ON HIS EXCELLENT
_TRANSLATION OF VIRGIL_.
Whene'er great Virgil's lofty verse I see,
The pompous scene charms my admiring eye.
There different beauties in perfection meet;
The thoughts as proper, as the numbers sweet;
And, when wild Fancy mounts a daring height,
Judgment steps in, and moderates her flight.
Wisely he manages his wealthy store,
Still says enough, and yet implies still more:
For, though the weighty sense be closely wrought,
The reader's left to improve the pleasing thought.
Hence we despaired to see an English dress
Should e'er his nervous energy express;
For who could that in fettered rhyme inclose,
Which, without loss, can scarce be told in prose?
But you, great Sir, his manly genius raise,
And make your copy share an equal praise.
Oh! how I see thee, in soft scenes of love,
Renew those passions he alone could move!
Here Cupid's charms are with new art exprest,
And pale Eliza leaves her peaceful rest--
Leaves her Elysium, as if glad to live, }
To love, and wish, to sigh, despair, and grieve, }
And die again for him that would again deceive. }
Nor does the mighty Trojan less appear
Than Mars himself, amidst the storms of war.
Now his fierce eyes with double fury glow,
And a new dread attends the impending blow:
The Daunian chiefs their eager rage abate,
And, though unwounded, seem to feel their fate.
Long the rude fury of an ignorant age,
With barbarous spite, profaned his sacred page.
The heavy Dutchmen, with laborious toil,
Wrested his sense, and cramped his vigorous style.
No time, no pains, the drudging pedants spare,
But still his shoulders must the burden bear;
While, through the mazes of their comments led,
We learn, not what he writes, but what they read.
Yet, through these shades of undistinguished night,
Appeared some glimmering intervals of light;
Till mangled by a vile translating sect,
Like babes by witches _in effigie_ rackt:
Till Ogleby, mature in dulness, rose,
And Holbourn doggrel, and low chiming prose,
His strength and beauty did at once depose.
But now the magic spell is at an end,
Since even the dead, in you, have found a friend.
You free the bard from rude oppressors' power,
And grace his verse with charms unknown before.
He, doubly thus obliged, must doubting stand,
Which chiefly should his gratitude command--
Whether should claim the tribute of his heart,
The patron's bounty, or the poet's art.
Alike with wonder and delight we viewed
The Roman genius in thy verse renewed:
We saw thee raise soft Ovid's amorous fire,
And fit the tuneful Horace to thy lyre:
We saw new gall embitter Juvenal's pen,
And crabbed Persius made politely plain.
Virgil alone was thought too great a task--
What you could scarce perform, or we durst ask;
A task, which Waller's Muse could ne'er engage;
A task, too hard for Denham's stronger rage.
Sure of success, they some slight sallies tried;
But the fenced coast their bold attempts defied:
With fear, their o'ermatched forces back they drew,
Quitting the province Fate reserved for you.
In vain thus Philip did the Persians storm;
A work his son was destined to perform.
O! had Roscommon[269] lived to hail the day,
And sing loud Pæans through the crowded way,
When you in Roman majesty appear,
Which none know better, and none come so near;
The happy author would with wonder see,
His rules were only prophecies of thee:
And, were he now to give translators light,
He'd bid them only read thy work, and write.
For this great task, our loud applause is due;
We own old favours, but must press for new:
Th' expecting world demands one labour more;
And thy loved Homer does thy aid implore,
To right his injured works, and set them free
From the lewd rhymes of grovelling Ogleby.
Then shall his verse in graceful pomp appear,
Nor will his birth renew the ancient jar:
On those Greek cities we shall look with scorn,
And in our Britain think the poet born.
TO
MR DRYDEN,
ON HIS
_TRANSLATION OF VIRGIL_.
I.
We read, how dreams and visions heretofore
The prophet and the poet could inspire,
And make them in unusual rapture soar,
With rage divine, and with poetic fire.
II.
O could I find it now!--Would Virgil's shade
But for a while vouchsafe to bear the light,
To grace my numbers, and that Muse to aid,
Who sings the poet that has done him right.
III.
It long has been this sacred author's fate,
To lie at every dull translator's will:
Long, long his Muse has groaned beneath the weight
Of mangling Ogleby's presumptuous quill.
IV.
Dryden, at last, in his defence arose:
The father now is righted by the son;
And, while his Muse endeavours to disclose
That poet's beauties, she declares her own.
V.
In your smooth pompous numbers drest, each line,
Each thought, betrays such a majestic touch,
He could not, had he finished his design,
Have wished it better, or have done so much.
VI.
You, like his hero, though yourself were free,
And disentangled from the war of wit--
You, who secure might others' danger see,
And safe from all malicious censure sit--
VII.
Yet, because sacred Virgil's noble Muse,
O'erlaid by fools, was ready to expire,
To risk your fame again, you boldly chuse,
Or to redeem, or perish with your sire.
VIII.
Even first and last, we owe him half to you:
For, that his Æneids missed their threatened fate,
Was--that his friends by some prediction knew,
Hereafter, who, correcting, should translate.
IX.
But hold, my Muse! thy needless flight restrain,
Unless, like him, thou could'st a verse indite:
To think his fancy to describe, is vain,
Since nothing can discover light, but light.
X.
'Tis want of genius that does more deny;
'Tis fear my praise should make your glory less;
And, therefore, like the modest painter, I
Must draw the veil, where I cannot express.
HENRY GRAHME.
TO
MR DRYDEN.
No undisputed monarch governed yet,
With universal sway, the realms of wit:
Nature could never such expence afford;
Each several province owned a several lord.
A poet then had his poetic wife,
One Muse embraced, and married for his life.
By the stale thing his appetite was cloyed,
His fancy lessened, and his fire destroyed.
But Nature, grown extravagantly kind,
With all her treasures did adorn your mind;
The different powers were then united found,
And you wit's universal monarch crowned.
Your mighty sway your great desert secures;
And every Muse and every Grace is yours.
To none confined, by turns you all enjoy:
Sated with this, you to another fly,
So, sultan-like, in your seraglio stand,
While wishing Muses wait for your command;
Thus no decay, no want of vigour, find:
Sublime your fancy, boundless is your mind.
Not all the blasts of Time can do you wrong--
Young, spite of age--in spite of weakness, strong.
Time, like Alcides, strikes you to the ground;
You, like Antæus, from each fall rebound.
H. ST. JOHN.
TO
MR DRYDEN,
ON
_HIS VIRGIL_.
'Tis said, that Phidias gave such living grace
To the carved image of a beauteous face,
That the cold marble might even seem to be
The life--and the true life, the imagery.