90 Now night descending, the proud scene was o'er, She saw, with joy, the line immortal run, 100 19 [Of Settle, Heywood, and other authors here introduced, see the notes at the end of the poem.] She saw slow Philips creep like Tate's poor page, In each she marks her image full express'd, Blasphemed his gods, the dice, and damn'd his fate. Nonsense precipitate, like running lead, 105 That slipp'd through cracks and zig-zags of the head; Fruits of dull heat, and sooterkins of wit. 110 115 120 125 20 In the former editions thus: "But chief, in Tibbald's monster-breeding breast; And pined, unconscious of his rising fate; 21 In the former editions thus: "He roll'd his eyes that witness'd huge dismay, -"round he throws his eyes, That witness'd huge affliction and dismay."-Milt. b. i. The progress of a bad poet in his thoughts being (like the progress of the devil in Milton) through a Chaos, might probably suggest this imitation. Next, o'er his books his eyes began to roll, In pleasing memory of all he stole, How here he sipp'd, how there he plunder'd snug, And suck'd all o'er, like an industrious bug. 130 Here lay poor Fletcher's half-eat scenes,22 and here 23 There hapless Shakspeare, yet of Tibbald sore, 135 22 A great number of them taken out to patch up his plays. 23 "When I fitted up an old play, it was as a good housewife will mend old linen, when she has not better employment."-Life, p. 217, octavo. 24 This library is divided into three parts; the first consists of those authors from whom he stole, and whose works he mangled; the second of such as fitted the shelves, or were gilded for show, or adorned with pictures; Such with their shelves as due proportion hold, QUARLES. 140 There, stamp'd with arms, Newcastle shines complete : And 'scape the martyrdom of jakes and fire: A gothic library! of Greece and Rome 145 Well purged, and worthy Settle, Banks, and Broome. The classics of an age that heard of none; There Caxton slept, with Wynkyn at his side, One clasp'd in wood, and one in strong cow-hide; 150 There, saved by spice, like mummies, many a year, the third class our author calls solid learning, old bodies of divinity, old commentaries, old English printers, or old English translations; all very voluminous, and fit to erect altars to Dulness. De Lyra there a dreadful front extends,25 And here the groaning shelves Philemon bends.26 Of these twelve volumes, twelve of amplest size, Redeem'd from tapers and defrauded pies, 155 Inspired he seizes: these an altar raise : An hecatomb of pure, unsullied lays Founds the whole pile, of all his works the base: 160 First in my care, and ever at my heart; Dulness! whose good old cause I yet defend, 165 With whom my muse began, with whom shall end,28 E'er since Sir Fopling's Periwig was Praise, To the last honours of the butt and bays: 29 O thou! of business the directing soul; 170 25 A very voluminous commentator, whose works, in five vast folios, were printed in 1472. [He was born in Normandy, of Jewish parents, educated under some learned Rabbis, and for many years devoted to Judaism. He afterwards was converted to Christianity, and became a Cordelier at Verneuil, 1291. He taught with great reputation at Paris, and was made executor to the will of King Philip's Queen. He died in an advanced age, 1340.-Warton.] 26 Philemon Holland, doctor in physic. "He translated so many books that a man would think he had done nothing else; insomuch that he might be called Translator general of his age. The books alone of his turning into English are sufficient to make a country gentleman a complete library."— Winstanley. 27 In the former edition, "And last, a little Ajax tips the spire." Ajax, in duodecimo, translated from Sophocles by Tibbald. "A te principium, tibi desinet."-Virg. Ecl. viii. 28 “Ἐκ Διὸς ἀρχώμεσθα, καὶ εἰς Δία λήγετε, Μοῦσαι.”Theoc. 29 A butt of sack is part of the annual recompense of the Laureate, which is now commuted for so much money, (about £100 per annum). 30 [An improvement, as Wakefield remarks, on Dryden's Mac Flecknoe:— "This is that boasted bias of the mind, By which, one way, to dulness 'tis inclined; [This |