Thefe Fate referv'd to grace thy reign divine, Their annual trophies, and their monthly wars: 275 280 Yet VARIATION. After ver. 284. in the former Ed. followed, REMARKS. Ver. 266, 267. Booth and Cibber were joint managers of the Theatre in Drury-lane. Ver. 268. On grinning dragons thou shalt mount the wind.] In his Letter to Mr. P. Mr. C. folemnly declares this not to be literally true. We hope therefore the reader will understand it allegorically only. Ver. 282. Annual trophies on the Lord-Mayor's day; and monthly wars in the Artillery ground. Ver. 283. Though long my party] Settle, like most Party-writers, was very uncertain in his political principles. He was employed to hold the pen in the Character of a popish fucceffor, but afterwards printed his Narrative on the other fide. He had managed the ceremony of a famous Pope-burning on Nov. 17, 1680; then became a trooper in King James's army, at Hounflow-heath. After the Revolution he kept a booth at Bartho Yet lo! in me what authors have to brag on! Like the vile ftraw that's blown about the streets, 285 290 295 But lick up every blockhead in the way. Thee fhall the Patriot, thee the Courtier taste, And every year be duller than the last, Till VARIATIONS. Ver. 290. In former Ed. In the Dog's tail his progress ends at last. Ver. 295. Safe in its heavinefs, &c.] in the former Ed. Too fafe in inborn heavinefs to stray; And lick up every blockhead in the way. Thy Dragons, Magiftrates and Peers shall taste, REMARKS. Bartholomew-fair, where, in the droll called St. George for England, he acted in his old age in a Dragon of green leather of his own invention; he was at laft taken into the Charter-house, and there died, aged fixty years. Ver. 297. Thee fhall the patriot, thee the Courtier tafte,] It flood in the firft édition with blanks, * and Till rais'd from booths, to Theatre, to Court, Her feat imperial Dulness shall transport. Already Opera prepares the way, The fure fore-runner of her gentle sway; 300 Let her thy heart, next Drabs and Dice, engage, VARIATION. Ver. 303--306. Added with the new Hero. REMARKS. 305 Pluto and ** Concanen was fure they must needs mean "no body but King GEORGE and Queen CARO“ LINE; and said he would infift it was fo, till the poet "cleared himself by filling up the blanks otherwife, "agreeably to the context, and confiftent with his alle66 giance.' Pref. to a Collection of verfe, effays, letters, &c. against Mr. P. printed for A. Moor, p. 6. Ver. 305. Polypheme] He tranflated the Italian Opera of Polifemo; but unfortunately loft the whole jeft of the ftory. The Cyclops afks Ulyffes his name, who tells him his name is Noman: After his eye is put out, he roars and calls the Brother Cyclops to his aid: They enquire who has hurt him? he anfwers Noman: whereupon they all go away again. Our ingenious Translator made Ulyffes anfwer, I take no name; whereby all that followed became unintelligible. Hence it appears that Mr. Cibber (who values himself on fubfcribing to the English Translation of Homer's Iliad) had not that merit with respect to the Odyffey, or he might have been better inftructed in the Greek Punnology. And link the Mourning Bride to Proferpine. Pluto with Cato thou for this fhalt join, Grubstreet! thy fall should men and Gods conspire, 310 Thy ftage fhall ftand, enfure it but from Fire. For new abortions, all ye pregnant fair! In flames, like Semele's, be brought to bed, 315 While opening Hell spouts wild-fire at your head. Now, Bavius, take the Poppy from thy brow, And place it here! here, all ye Heroes, bow! This, this is he, foretold by ancient rhymes : Th' Auguftus born to bring Saturnian times. Signs following figns lead on the mighty year; See the dull ftars roll round and re-appear. See, fee, our own true Phoebus wears thy bays! Our Midas fits Lord Chancellor of Plays! VARIATIONS. Ver. 323. See, fee, our own, &c.] In the former Ed. Benfon fole judge of Architecture fit, And Namby Pamby be preferr'd for Wit! 320 On And Pope's, tranflating three whole years with Broome. Proceed, great days! &c. REMARKS. Ver. 308, 309. Fauftus, Pluto, &c.] Names of miferable Farces, which it was the custom to act at the end of the best Tragedies, to spoil the digeftion of the audience. On Poets' Tombs fee Benson's titles writ! Lo! Ambrofe Philips is preferr'd for Wit! REMARKS. 325 See Ver. 312. enfure it but from Fire.] In Tibbald's farce of Proferpine, a corn-field was fet on fire: whereupon the other playhouse had a barn burnt down for the recreation of the fpectators. They alfo rivalled each other in fhowing the burnings of hell-fire, in Dr. Fauftus. Ver. 313. Another Æfchylus appears!] It is reported of Æfchylus, that when his tragedy of the Furies was acted, the audience were fo terrified that the children fell into fits, and the big-bellied women miscarried. Ver. 325. On Poets Tombs fee Benson's titles writ!] W-m Benfon (Surveyor of the Buildings to his Majefty K. George 1.) gave in a report to the Lords, that their house and the Painted-chamber adjoining were in immediate danger of falling. Whereupon the Lords met in a committee to appoint fome other place to fit in, while the houfe fhould be taken down. But it being propofed to caufe fome other builders firft to infpect it, they found it in very good condition. The Lords, upon this, were going upon an addrefs to the King against Benfon, for fuch a misrepresentation; but the Earl of Sunderland, then fecretary, gave them an affurance that his Majefty would remove him, which was done accordingly. In favour of this man, the famous Sir Chriftopher Wren, who had been Architect to the crown for above fifty years, who built most of the Churches in London, laid the first stone of St. Paul's, and lived to finish it, had been difplaced from his employment at the age of near ninety years. Ver. 326. Ambrofe Philips] "He was (faith Mr. "JACOB) one of the wits at Button's, and a juftice of "the peace:" But he hath fince met with higher preferment in Ireland: and a much greater character we have of him in Mr. Gildon's Complete art of Poetry, |