Poft haec ille catus, quantumvis rufticus, “Ibit, Ut verfus facerem: fed, quod non defit, habentem, VER. 51. Let him take cafiles who has ne'er a groat.] This has neither the force nor the juftness of the original. Horace makes his Soldier fay, Ibit, Ibit eo, quo vis, qui zonam perdidit. for it was not his poverty, but his lofs, that pushed him upon danger; many being equal to the one, who cannot bear the other. What betrayed our poet into this inacuracy of expreffion was it's fuiting better with the application. But in a great writer we pardon nothing. And fuch fhould never forget, that the expreffion is not perfect, but when the ideas it conveys fit both the tale and the application: for then they reflect mutual light upon one another. "Go on, my Friend (he cry'd) fee yonder walls! “Advance and conquer! go where glory calls! 86 More honours, more rewards, attend the brave.” Don't you remember what reply he gave? 66 D'ye think me, noble Gen'ral, fuch a Sot? Let him take caftles who has ne'er a groat." f Bred up at home, full early I begun To read in Greek the wrath of Peleus' fon. Befides, my Father taught me from a lad, The better art to know the good from bad: (And little fure imported to remove, 50 55 To hunt for Truth in Maudlin's learned grove.) And certain Laws, by fuff'rers thought unjuft, Deny'd all pofts of profit or of truft: Hopes after hopes of pious Papifts fail'd 60 While mighty WILLIAM's thund'ring arm prevail'd. He stuck to poverty with peace of mind; But (thanks to Homer) fince I live and thrive, 65 VER. 53. To read in Greek the wrath of Peleus' fon.] This circumstance has a happier application in the imitation than in Ni melius dormire putem, quam fcribere verfus ? Singula de nobis anni praedantur euntes; Eripuere jocos, venerem, convivia lydum; Tendunt extorquere poemata. quid faciam vis? "Denique non omnes eadem mirantur amantque. Carmine tu gaudes: hic delectatur iambis; Ille Bioneis fermonibus, et fale nigro. Tres mihi convivae prope diffentire videntur, Pofcentes vario multum diverfa palato. Quid dem quid non dem? renuis quod tu, jubet alter: Quod petis, id fane eft invifum acidumque duobus. iPraeter caetera me Romaene poemata cenfes Scribere poffe, inter tot curas totque labores ? Hic fponfum vocat, hic auditum fcripta, relictis Omnibus officiis: cubat hic in colle Quirini, VIR. 70. Monroes.] Dr. Monroe, Phyfician to Bedlam Hofpital. Sure I should want the care of ten Monroes, 70 * Years foll'wing years, fteal fomething ev'ry day, At last they steal us from ourselves away; 75 In one our Frolics, one Amusements end, A Poet begs me, I will hear him read: 85 90 VIR. 93. At laft they feal us from ourselves away;] i. eg Time changes all our paffions, appetites, and inclinations. Hic extremo in Aventino; vifendus uterque. num: Triftia robuftis luctantur funera plauftris: Libris et curis, ftatua taciturnius exit VER. 104. Have you not feen, etc.] The fatirical pleasantry of this image, and the humourous manner of representing it, raises the imitation, in this place, far above the original. VER. 113. Would drink and doze, etc.] This has not the delicacy, for it wants the elegant ambiguity, of Rite cliens Bacchi, fomno gaudentis et umbra. where the intemperance of Poets is not the obvious, but the fecret meaning. For Bacchus was the patron of the Drama as |