P. SATIRE I. To Mr. FORTESCUE. HERE are (I scarce can think it, but am THE told) There are, to whom my Satire fseems too bold: I come to Council learned in the Law: You'll give me, like a friend both fage and free, F. a I'd write no more. P. Not write? but then I think, • And for my foul I cannot sleep a wink. NOTES. VER. 7. Tim'rous by nature, of the Rich in awe,] The delicacy of this does not fo much lie in the ironical application of it to himself, as in its feriously characterifing the Perfon for whofe advice he applies. VER. 12. Not write? &c.] He has omitted the moft humourous part of the answer, Peream male, fi non Optimum erat, and has loft the grace, by not imitating the conciseness, of dormire. verum nequeo T. Ter uncti Tranfnanto Tiberim, fomno quibus eft opus alto; Aut, fi tantus amor scribendi te rapit, aude CAESARIS invicti res dicere, Praemia laturus. multa laborum H. Cupidum, pater optime, vires Deficiunt: neque enim quivis horrentia pilis Agmina, nec fracta pereuntes cufpide Gallos, Aut labentis equo defcribat vulnera Parthi. k T. Attamen et juftum poteras et fcribere fortem, Scipiadam ut fapiens Lucilius. H. Haud mihi deero, Cum res ipfa feret: nifi dextro tempore, Flacci NOTES. For concifenefs, when it is clear (as in this place) gives the highest grace to elegance of expreffion.-But what follows is as much above the Original, as this falls short of it. VER. 20. Hartshorn] This was intended as a pleafantry on the novelty of the prefcription. VBR. 28. falling Horfe?] The horse on which his Majefty charged at the battle of Oudenard; when the Fre I nod in company, I wake at night, F. You could not do a worfe thing for your life. 15 Why, if the nights feem tedious-take a Wife: f Or rather truly, if your point be reft, Lettuce and cowflip-wine; Probatum est. Hartshorn, or fomething that fhall clofe your eyes. 20 With ARMS, and GEORGE, and BRUNSWICK crowd the verse, Rend with tremendous found your ears afunder, 25 Or nobly wild, with Budgel's fire and force, 1 P. Alas! few verfes touch their nicer ear; They scarce can bear their Laureate twice a year; NOTES. 30 tender, and the Princes of the blood of France, fled before him. Verba per attentam non ibunt Caefaris aurem : Cui male fi palpere, recalcitrat undique tutus. T." Quanto rectius hoc, quam trifti laedere verfu Pantolabum fcurram, Nomentanumve nepotem? "Cum fibi quifque timet, quamquam eft intactus, et odit. H. Quid faciam? faltat Milonius, ut femel icto Acceffit fervor capiti, numerufque lucernis.. P Caftor gaudet equis; ovo prognatus eodem, Pugnis. quot capitum vivunt, totidem ftudiorum Millia. 9 me pedibus delectat claudere verba, NOTES. VER. 41. What should ail them?] Horace hints at one reafon, that each fears his own turn may be next; his imitator gives another, and with more art, a reafon which infinuates,, that his very lenity, in ufing feigned names, increases the number of his Enemies. VER. 50. Like in all elfe, as one Egg to another.] This has neither the juftness nor elegance of ovo prognatus eodem. For tho' it may appear odd, that those who come from the Jame Egg fhould have tempers and purfuits directly contrary; yet there is nothing ftrange, that two Brothers, alike in all things elfe, fhould have different amusements. VER. 52. As downright Shippen, or as old Montagne :] T And juftly CAESAR fcorns the Poet's lays, F. Better be Cibber, I'll maintain it still, P. What should ail them? F. A hundred fmart in Timon and in Balaam: The fewer ftill you name, you wound the more; Bond is but one, but Harpax is a score. P. Each mortal has his pleasure: none deny I love to pour out all my felf, as plain As downright SHIPPEN, or as old Montagne : NOTES. 35 40 45 50 They had this, indeed, in common, to use great liberties of fpeech, and to profefs faying what they thought. Montagne had many qualities, that have gained him the love and esteem of his Readers: The other had one, which always gain'd him the favourable attention of his Hearers. For, as a celebrated Roman Orator observes, "Maledi"cit INERUDITUS apertius et faepius, cum periculo etiam fuo. Affert et ifta res OPINIONEM, quia libentis"fime homines audiunt ea quae dicere ipfi noluiffent.” |