Imatges de pàgina
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"And in HIS [r. THIS, deinlinws] mantle muf

“ling up his face,

"Even at the bafe of Pompey's ftatue, ("Which all the while ran blood) great Cæfar

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This circumftance of the mantle, which Cafar is Jaid to put on when he conquered the Nervii, is finely feigned, to heighten still the prefent distress, by recalling in the minds of the Romans the victories of their murdered heroe.-There is a very small alteration I would propofe" And in this mantle, "&c." the action and emphafis is highly improved by this eafy change. -But let us see the-Nothingness of what follows.

"That day be overcame the Nervii.] Here Shakespeare defcribing a great General makes him "put on his new babit, or robes of triumph, after "bis victory. Homer defcribing a VAIN-GLORIOUS ONE makes him put them on before the fight, "and while he only expected to overcome,

σε δ' ἐνδύνε χελώνα

σε Καλὸν νηγάτεον.” Mr.W.

I know not which to admire moft, the fagacity or learning of this deep-fighted remark. How accurate too is the citation?

δ' ἐνδύνε χιτώνα.

As

As voy and xai often begin a sentence, fo might sì for ought our critic knows to the contrary. Let us confider likewife the reafon for this abufe of the Grecian General; the VAIN-GLORIOUS Agamemnon! but for what? why, for putting on a warm, new, handsome wastcoat, when be arofe early in the morning: for this is all, I affure the reader that the citation proves: -But let us fee the passage as it ftands in the original: Agamemnon being roufed by a Dream fent from Jupiter gets up before break of day, and dreffes himself firf in a foft, handsome and new tunic, or waftcoat [xilva ;] over which be cafts a large cloke [μila pagos ;] then he puts on a pair of neat shoes; and over his shoulders he bangs his filver-ftudded fword:

Μαλακὸν δ ̓ ἔνδυνε χιτώνα

Καλόν, νηδάτεον· περὶ δ ̓ αὖ μέγα βάλλει ο φάρος
Ποσσὶ δ ̓ ὑπαὶ λιπαροῖσιν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα
Αμφὶ δ ̓ ἄρ ̓ ὤμοισιν βάλειο ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον.

Thus tranflated by Mr. Pope.

"Firft on his limbs a flender veft he drew,
"Around him next THE REGAL MANTLE threw:
*Th' embroider'd fandals on bis feet were ty'd;
"The ftarry faulchion glitter'd at his fide."

By

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By this time I believe the reader fees how this "Critic by profeffion," was misled by a poet by profeffon: The regal mantle catches his eye; immediately be turns to the Greek, and then gives us this notable citation,

δ ̓ ἐνδύνε χελώνα

καλὸν, νηγάτεον.

But, in the name of the Mufes, where is THE REGAL MANTLE, THESE ROBES OF TRIUMPH, all this while? Why in

δ ̓ ἐνδύνε χιλώνα

What! xiluva [as he writes it] a regal mantle, a robe of triumph? I am weary in refuting fuch trafb.- Let the reader now turn to the preface and notes of this late-taught critic, and reflect a little on the bluftering language and Piftol-diction. "But you must learn to know fuch flanders "of the age, or else you may be marvelously mif"taken."

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V.

But tho' it falls not to our Critic's fhare to be Skilled in the nobler writings of ancient Greece; yet as an English author is the present fubject of criticifm, to be knowing in the English language and English authors may be deemed fufficient.-There is an English author, which was much studied by

Shakespeare,

Shakespeare, but very fuperficially by Shakespeare's editors, now lying before me. 'Tis well known that

the Coke's Tale of Gamelyn was the original of the play called As you Like it. A Midfummer's Night's Dream had its origin from The Knight's Tale; which I don't remember to have seen, as yet, taken notice of. There are some paffages of Chaucer's Troilus and Crefeide in a play of the fame name by our Tragedian; and feveral imitations there are likewife, very elegantly interfperfed, in other plays, which fome time or other may be pointed out at prefent I shall content myfelf with the following in King Lear, A&t III. Where the Fool thus speaks,

"I'll speak a prophecy OR ERE Igo.

"When Priests are more in words than mat"ter, &c.

"OR ERE I go is not English, and should be "belped thus,

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"I'll speak a prophecy OR TWO ERE I go." Mr. W.

I am fure our Critic has not helped the measure.But is not OR ERE I GO English? In the Tempest, [At I. fc. 2. p. 6. Mr. W's edition :] Thus I find it printed,

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"" I would

"Have funk the fea within the earth; OR ERE "It fhould the good ship fo have fwallow'd."

In Cymbeline [At V. Mr. W's edit. p. 334.] Thofe, that would die OR ERE refift, are

66

"grown

"The mortal bugs o'th' field."

If this is not English, what shall we fay to the moft correct English translation that ever was made? -"And the Lions-brake all their bones or ever "they came at the bottom of the den." Dan. VI, 14.But let us fee this humorous prophecy.

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"When priests are more in words than matter; "When brewers marr their malt with water; "When nobles are their tailor's tutors;

"No bereticks burnt, but wenches' fuitors:
"When every cafe in law is right;
"No fquire in debt, and no poor knight;
"When flanders do not live in tongues;
"And cut-purfes come not to throngs;
"When ufurers tell their gold i'th' field;
"And bawds and whores do churches build:
"Then shall the realm of Albion

"Come to great confufion:

"Then comes the time, who lives to fee't

"That going shall be us❜d with feet.

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