94. Like old

young Fannius, -] The noble personage here alluded to, being asked to read the Heroic Epistle, said, "No, it was as bad as blasphemy."

ibid. Fannius.] Before I sent the MS to the press, I discovered, that an accidental blot had made all but the first syllable of this name illegible. I was doubtful, therefore, whether to print it Fannius or Fannia. After much deliberation, I thought it best to use the masculine termination. If I have done wrong, I ask pardon, not only of the Author, but the Lady,

The EDITOR.

95. And break the black asperity of fate.]

"Si qua fata aspera rumpas,

Tu Marcellus eris."

VIRG.

EPISTLE X.

Page 97. If to an human face Sir James should draw]

Sir James Thornhill, the painter.

Humano capiti cervicem pictor equinam
Jungere si velit, et varias inducere plumas
Undique collatis membris; aut turpiter atrum
Desinat in piscem mulier formosa superne :
Spectatum admissi risum teneatis, Amici?
Credite, Pisones, isti tabulae fore librum
Persimilem, cujus, velut aegri somnia, vanae
Fingenter species.-

-Pictoribus atque Poetis

Quidlibet audendi semper fuit aequa potestas.

Scimus, et hanc veniam petimusque damusque vicissim :
Sed non ut placidis coeant immitia; non ut
Serpentes avibus geminentur, tigribus agni.

97. Speakers profess'd, who gravity pretend,

With motley sentiments their speeches blend, &c.] Incoeptis gravibus plerumque et magna professis Purpureus, late qui splendeat, unus et alter Assuitur pannus: cum lucus, et ara Dianae, Et properantis aquae per amoenos ambitus agros, Aut flumen Rhenum, aut pluvius describitur arcus. Sed nunc non erat his locus: et fortasse cupressum Scis simulare. Quid hoc? si fractis enatat exspes Navibus, aere dato qui pingitur? amphora coepit Institui, currente rota cur urceus exit ?

Denique sit quod vis, simplex dumtaxat et unum.

98. Outsides deceive, 'tis hard the truth to know, &c.]

Decipimur specie recti. Brevis esse laboro,
Obscurus fio: sectantem laevia nervi

Deficiunt animique: professus grandia turget:

*

Qui variare cupit rem prodigaliter unam,
Delphinum sylvis appingit, fluctibus aprum.
In vitium ducit culpae fuga, si caret arte.
Aemilium circa ludum faber unus et ungues
Exprimet, et molles imitabitur aere capillos:
Infelix operis summa, quia ponere totum

Nesciet. Hunc ego me, si quid componere curem,
Non magis esse velim, quam pravo vivere naso,
Spectandum nigris oculis nigroque capillo.

99. Nay, I would sooner have thy phyz, I swear, Surintendant des plaisirs d' Angleterre.]

Heydegger was remarkably ugly.-All his letters from abroad were directed: A Monsieur, Monsieur Heydegger, surintendant des plaisirs d'Angleterre.

ibid. Ye weekly Writers of seditious news,

Take care your subjeƐls artfully to choose, &c.]

Sumite materiem vestris, qui scribitis, aequam
Viribus, et versate diu quid ferre recusent,
Quid valeant humeri. Cui lecta potenter erit res,
Nec facundia deseret hunc, nec lucidus ordo.
Ordinis haec virtus erit et venus (aut ego fallor)
Ut jam nunc dicat jam nunc debentia dici,

Pleraque differat, et praesens in tempus omittat.

Reddiderit junctura novum. Si forte necesse est
Indiciis monstrare recentibus abdita rerum,
Fingere cinctutis non exaudita Cethegis

Continget: dabiturque licentia sumta pudenter;

Et nova fictaque nuper habebunt verba fidem, si
Graeco fonte cadant.

ibid. Tell this, sink that, arrive at Ridpath's praise, Let Abel Roper your ambition raise.] George Ridpath was a political writer in the reign of queen Anne, and had for his opponent Abel Roper. One managed a paper called The Flying Post, the other the Post Boy. Both were equally dull, scandalous, and abusive. The fate of these worthies was uniform;

for they were frequently cudgelled, prosecuted, and imprisoned; and died both in a day.

99. If you can quibble on Sir Robert's name.] Sir Robert Walpole's.

ibid. Like South-sea stock, expressions rise and fall:] -Licuit, semperque licebit

Signatum praesente nota producere nomen.
Ut silvae foliis pronos mutantur in annos,
Prima cadunt: ita verborum vetus interit aetas.

*

*

*

Debemur morti nos nostraque, sive receptus
Terra Neptunus, classes aquilonibus arcet,
Regis opus, sterilisve palus prius, aptaque remis
Vicinas urbes alit, et grave sentit aratrum;
Seu cursum mutavit iniquum frugibus amnis,
Doctus iter melius. Mortalia facta peribunt;
Nedum sermonum stet honos et gratia vivax.
Multa renascentur, quae jam cecidere, cadentque
Quae nunc sunt in honore vocabula, si volet usus,
Quem penes arbitrium est et jus et norma loquendi.

ibid. Caesar and PinkethmanPinkethman, the puppet-show man.

-] William

100. To screen good ministers from public rage, &c.]

Res gestae regumque ducumque, et tristia bella,
Quo scribi possent numero, monstravit Homerus.
Versibus impariter junctis querimonia primum,
Post etiam inclusa est voti sententia compos.
Quis tamen exiguos elegos emiserit auctor,
Grammatici certant, et adhuc sub judice lis est.

100. But who puts Caleb's Country-Craftsman out,

Is still a secret, and the world's in doubt.] Caleb Danvers was the pretended name of the Author of the Craftsman.

ibid. Not long since parish-clerks, with saucy airs, Apply'd king David's psalms to state affairs.]

Musa dedit fidibus Divos, puerosque Deorum,
Et pugilem victorem, et equum certamine primum,
Et juvenum curas, et libera vina referre.

101. If full across the Speaker's chair I go,

Can I be said the rules o' th' House to know?]

.

Descriptas servare vices operumque colores
Cur ego si nequeo ignoroque, poeta salutor?
Cur nescire, pudens prave, quam discere malo?

ibid. In acts of Parliament avoid sublime, &c.]

Versibus exponi tragicis res comica non volt:
Indignatur item privatis ac prope socco

Dignis carminibus narrari coena Thyestae.

*

*

Interdum tamen et vocem Comoedia tollit,
Iratusque Chremes tumido delitigat ore.
Telephus et Peleus; cum pauper et exsul uterque,
Projicit ampullas et sesquipedalia verba.

ΙΟΙ. Soft words suit best petitioners' intent;

Soft words, O ye petitioners of Kent!] The pe

tition here alluded to was presented in 1701, and