Wondering he gaz'd: When lo! a Sage appears, 35 By his broad fhoulders known, and length of ears, REMARKS. Known "bribed by a great Lady,” &c. (to whom this brave, honeft, worthy Gentleman was guilty of no offence but Forgery, proved in open Court.) But it is evident, this verfe could not be meant of him; it being notorious, that no Eggs were thrown at that Gentleman. Perhaps therefore it might be intended of Mr. Edward Ward the Poet, when he ftood there. Ver. 36. And length of ears,] This is a sophisticated reading. I think I may venture to affirm all the Copyifts are mistaken here: I believe I may fay the fame of the Critics; Dennis, Oldmixon, Welfted, have passed it in filence. I have alfo ftumbled at it, and wondered how an error fo manifeft could efcape fuch accurate perfons. I dare affert, it proceeded originally from the inadvertency of fome Tranfcriber, whofe head ran on the Pillory, mentioned two lines before; it is therefore amazing that Mr. Curl himself should overlook it! Yet that Scholiaft takes not the leaft notice hereof. That the learned Mist also read it thus, is plain from his ranging this paffage among thofe in which our author was blamed for perfonal Satire on a Man's face (whereof doubtless he might take the ear to be a part); fo likewife Concanen, Ralph, the Flying Poft, and all the herd of Commentators.-Tota armenta fequuntur. A very little fagacity (which all thefe gentlemen therefore wanted) will restore us to the true fenfe of the Poet thus, By his broad shoulders known, and length of years. See how eafy a change; of one fingle letter! That Mr. Settle was old, is most certain; but he was (happily) a franger to the Pillory. This note partly Mr. THEOBALD'S, partly SCRIBL, Known by the band and fuit which Settle wore 40 Oh REMARKS. Ver. 37. Settle] Elkanah Settle was once a Writer in vogue as well as Cibber, both for Dramatic Poetry and Politics. Mr. Dennis tells us, that " he was a formid❝able rival to Mr. Dryden, and that in the University "of Cambridge there were thofe who gave him the pre"ference." Mr. Welfted goes yet farther in his behalf: "Poor Settle was formerly the Mighty rival of "Dryden; nay, for many years, bore his reputation "above him." Pref. to his Poems, 8vo. p. 31. And Mr. Milbourne cried out, "How little was Dryden "able, even when his blood run high, to defend him"self against Mr. Settle!” Notes on Dryd. Virg. p. 175. These are comfortable opinions; and no wonder fome authors indulge them. He was author or publisher of many noted pamphlets in the time of King Charles II. He answered all Dryden's political poems! and being cried up on one fide, fucceeded not a little in his Tragedy of the Emprefs of Morocco [the firft that was ever printed with cuts.] "Upon this he grew infolent, the Wits writ against his "Play, he replied, and the Town judged he had the "better. In fhort, Settle was then thought a very for"midable rival to Mr. Dryden; and not only the "Town but the University of Cambridge was divided "which to prefer; and in both places the younger fort "inclined to Elkanah." Dennis, Pref. to Rem. on Hom. Oh born to fee what none can fee awake! Behold the wonders of th' Oblivious Lake. Thou, yet unborn, haft touch'd this facred shore ; 45 The hand of Bavius drench'd thee o'er and o'er. How many Dutchmen fhe vouchfaf'd to thrid ? Roll all their tides, then back their circles bring; REMARKS. 50 55 60 65 Afcend Ver. 50. Might from Boeotian, &c.] Boeotia lay under the ridicule of the Wits formerly, as Ireland does now; though it produced one of the greatest Poets and one of the greatest Generals of Greece: "Boeotum craffo jurares aëre natum." VOL. III. N Horat. Afcend this hill, whofe cloudy point commands Far eastward caft thine eye, from whence the Sun There rival flames with equal glory rife, From fhelves to fhelves fee greedy Vulcan roll, VARIATIONS. Ver. 73. in the former Ed. Far eastward caft thine eye, from whence the Sun 70 75 80 How But as this was thought to contradict that Line of the Introduction, In eldest times, ere Mortals writ or read, which fuppofes the fun and fcience did not fet out together, it was altered to "their bright courfe begun." But this flip, as ufual, escaped the gentlemen of the Dunciad. REMARKS. Ver. 75. Chi Ho-am-ti Emperor of China, the fame who built the great wall between China and Tartary, destroyed all the books and learned men of that empire. How little, mark! that portion of the ball, Lo! Rome herself, proud mistress now no more REMARKS. Ver. 81, 82. The Caliph, Omar I. having conquered Egypt, caufed his General to burn the Ptolomæan Library, on the gates of which was this Infcription, ΨΥΧΗΣ ΙΑΤΡΕΙΟΝ, the Phyfic of the Soul. Ver. 96. (The foil that arts and infant letters bore) Phoenicia, Syria, &c. where Letters are faid to have been invented. In thefe countries Mahomet began his conquefts. Ver. 102. thundering against heathen lore :] A ftrong inftance of this pious rage is placed to Pope N 2 Gre |