Like old rich wardrobes. But my words none draws Within the vast reach of the huge statutes' jaws. NOTES. Ver. 121. These as good works, &c.] Dr. Donne says: Good works as good, but out of fashion now." The popish doctrine of good works was one of those abuses in religion which the Church of England condemns in its articles. To this the Poet's words satirically allude. And having throughout this satire given several malignant strokes at the Reformation, which it was penal, and then very dangerous, to abuse, he had reason to bespeak the reader's candor, in the concluding lines: "But my words none draws Within the vast reach of the huge statutes' jaws." Warburton. Like rich old wardrobes, things extremely rare, 126 NOTES. Ver. 125. Thus much I've said,] These three additional lines are redundant. And two strong epithets in the last line of Donne, vast and huge, were too emphatical to be omitted. Warton. SATIRE IV. WELL! I may now receive, and die. My sin A recreation, and scant map of this. My mind, neither with pride's itch, nor hath been Poyson'd with love to see or to be seen, I had no suit there, nor new suit to show, Therefore I suffer'd this; towards me did run A thing more strange than on Nile's slime the sun NOTES. VER. 1. WELL! I may now receive, &c.] More short, severe, and pointed than Pope's paraphrastical lines. Warton. Ver. 7. The poet's hell,] He has here with great prudence corrected the licentious expression of his original. Warburton. Ver. 10. Not the vain itch] Courtiers have the same pride in admiring, which Poets have in being admired. For vanity is often as much gratified in paying our court to our superiors, as in receiving it from our inferiors. Warburton. SATIRE IV. WELL, if it be I die in charity with fool and knave, Would go to Mass in jest (as story says) NOTES. 5 10 15 Ver. 13. Had no new verses, nor new suit to shew;] Insinuating "that Court-poetry, like Court-clothes, only comes thither in honour of the Sovereign; and serves but to supply a day's conversation!!" Warburton. Ver. 14. the devil would] This addition is mean. And line below, 26, is perhaps the greatest violation of harmony Pope has ever been guilty of, by beginning the verse with the word Noah. And line 17, his fine was odd, seems to be very exceptionable. Warton. E'er bred, or all which into Noah's ark came: A thing which would have posed Adam to name: That Africk monsters, Guinea's rarities, Sir, By your priesthood, tell me what you are? His cloathes were strange, though coarse, and black, though bare; Sleeveless his jerkin was, and it had been NOTES. Ver. 19. So was I punish'd,] Thus in former editions: Pope made many alterations in this Satire, and seems to have taken pains in correcting it. Line 65, and succeeding ones, stood thus: Well met, he cries, and happy sure for each, Line 86 stood as follows: Obliging Sir, I love you I profess, But wish you liked retreat a little less, Line |