At length Erafmus, that great injur'd name,' (The glory of the Priesthood, and the shame!). Stem'd the wild torrent of a barb'rous age, 696 And drove thofe holy Vandals off the stage. But fee! each Mufe, in LEO's golden days,' Starts from her trance, and trims her wither'd bays, COMMENTARY. VER: 698. But fee, each Mufe in Leo's golden days!] This prefents us with the fecond period in which the true Critic appear'd; of whom he has given us a perfect idea in the fingle example of Marcus Hieronymus Vida: For his fubject being poetical Criticifm, for the ufe principally of a critical Poet; his example is an eminent poetical Critic, who had written of that Art in verfe. NOTES VER: 694. At length Erafmus, etc.] Nothing can be more artful than the application of this example; or more happy than the turn of compliment to this admirable man. To throw glory quite round his illuftrious character, he makes it to be (as in fact it really was) by his affiftance chiefly, that Leo was enabled to restore letters and the fine arts in his Pontificate. VER. 695. The glory of the Priesthood and the shame!] Our author elsewhere lets us know what he esteems to be the glory of the Priesthood as well as of a Chriftian in general, where, comparing himself to Erafmus, he says, In MODERATION placing all my glory, and consequently, what he esteems to be the fhame of it. The whole of this character belong'd moft eminently and almoft folely to Erafmus: For the other Reformers, fuch as Luther, Calvin, and their followers, understood fo little in what true. Christian Liberty confifted, that they carried with them, into the reformed Churches, that very spirit of perfecution, which had driven them from the church of Rome. 705 Rome's ancient Genius, o'er its ruins fpread, 700 COMMENTARY. VER. 10. But foon by impious arms, etc.] This brings us to the third period, after learning had travelled ftill farther Weft; when the arms of the Emperor, in the fack of Rome by the duke of Bourbon, had driven it out of Italy, and forced it to pafs the Mountains-The Examples he gives in this period, are of Boileau in France, and of the Lord Rofcommon and the duke of Buckingham in England: And these were all Poets, as well as Critics in verfe. It is true, the last inftance is of one who was no eminent poet, the late Mr. Walsh. This fmall deviation might be well over-looked, was it only for its being a pious office to the memory of his friend: But it may be farther juftified as it was an homage paid in particular to the MORALS of the Critic, nothing being more amiable than the character here drawn of this excellent perfon. He being our Author's Judge and Cenfor, as IMITATIONS. VER. 109. As next in place to Mantua,] Alluding to Virg. Thence Arts o'er all the northern world advance, Yet fome there were, among the founder few And here reftor'd Wit's fundamental laws. Such was the Mufe, whofe rules and practice tell, "Nature's chief Mafter-piece is writing well." 725 COMMENTARY. well as Friend, it gives him a graceful opportunity to add himself to the number of the later Critics; and with a character of his own genius and temper, fuftained by that modefy and dignity which it is fo difficult to make confiftent, this performance concludes. I have given a fhort and plain account of the Essay on Criticifm, concerning which I have but one thing more to acquaint the reader: That when he confiders the Regularity of the plan, the masterly conduct of each part, the penetration into Nature, and the compass of Learning, fo confpicuous throughout, he fhould at the fame time know, it was the work of an Author who had not attained the twentieth year of his age. NOTES. VER. 724. Such was the Mufe-] Essay on Poetry by the Duke of Buckingham. Our Poet is not the only one of his time Such was Rofcommon, not more learn'd than good, With manners gen'rous as his noble blood; To him the wit of Greece and Rome was known, Such late was Walsh--the Mufe's judge and friend, NOTES. who complimented this Essay, and its noble Author. Mr. Dryden had done it very largely in the Dedication to his translation of the Æneid; and Dr. Garth in the firft Edition of his Difpenfary fays, The Tyber now no courtly Gallus fees, But fmiling Thames enjoys his Normanbys. Tho' afterwards omitted, when parties were carried fo high in the reign of Queen Anne, as to allow no commendation to an oppofite in Politics. The Duke was all his life a steady adherent to the Church of England-Party, yet an Enemy to the extravagant measures of the Court in the reign of Charles II. On which account, after having ftrongly patronized Mr. Dryden, a coolnefs fucceeded between them on that poet's abfolute attachment to the Court, which carried him fome lengths beyond what the Duke could approve of. This nobleman's true character had been very well marked by Mr. Dryden before, The Mufe's friend, Himself a Mufe. In Sanadrin's debate True to his prince, but not a flave of state. Abf. and Achit. Our Author was more happy, he was honoured very young with his friendship, and it continued till his death in all the circumftanc The Muse, whose early voice you taught to fing, Still pleas'd to praise, yet not afraid to blame; 744 Not free from faults, nor yet too vain to mend. |