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-Non Chaonis absuit arbos, Non nemus Heliadum, non frondibus esculus altis :

Non tiliæ molles, non fagus, & innuba laurus, Et coryli fragiles, & fraxinus utilis hastis, Enodisque abies curvataque glandibus ilex, Et platanus genialis, acerque coloribus impar, Amnicolæque simul salices, & aquatica lotos. As also Claudian, in the Rape of Proserpina, Lib. the 2d. Chaucer seems to have a particular eye to this passage throughout all his poems. See his Knight's Tale, the Assembly of Fowls, and Complaint of the Black Knight. I am also much pleased to find this passage finely imitated by two other of our ancient English poets. I shall first cite Fairfax, who understood the harmony of numbers better than any person then living, except Spenser. All the world knows his excellent version (or paraphrase rather) of Tasso's Gierusalem liberata. The other, whom I mean, is M. Drayton, whose Fairy-tale is a master-piece in those grotesque writings:

Down fall the sacred palms, and ashes wild-
The fun'ral cypress, holly ever green;

The weeping fir, thick becch, and sailing
pine;

The married elm fell with his fruitful vine;
The shooter-yew, the broad-leav'd sycamore,
The barren platine, and the wallnut sound;
The myrrh that her foul sin doth still deplore;
The alder, owner of all watrish ground;
Sweet juniper, whose shadow hurteth sore;
Proud cedar; oak, the king of forests crown'd.
Fairfax.

The tufted cedar, and the branching pine....
Under whose covert, (thus divinely made)
Phoebus' green laurel flourish'd in the shade:
Fair Venus' myrtle, Mars his warlike fir,
Minerva's olive, and the weeping myrrh;
The patient palm that strives in spite of hate,
The poplar to Alcides consecrate, &c.

Drayton.

I ask pardon for the tediousness of this note, and the reader in justice ought to acknowledge writ it to gratify my pleasure, rather than my vanity; and surely no person who has the least taste can be displeased with so much variety. I insist only to produce one description more out

of Statius. The verses are extremely natural,

and carry something with them as awful and venerable as the subject:

Sylva capax ævi, validâque incurva senectâ, Eternum intonsæ frondis, stat pervia nullis Solibus.

Subter opaca quies, vacuusque silentia servat Horror, & exclusæ pallet mala lucis imago, Nec caret umbra Deo.

11.

Thebaid 4.

Sacred to Heav'n and Hell the mourners rear Two massy altars v. 131.

It may be asked why the Grecians raised two altars. Lactantius answers that one only was for Archemorus, and the other for the serpent that killed bim.

If the reader supposes this to be too much honour

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Nothing can be more finely imaged than this character of Hypsypile; it seems a perfect picture of beauty in distress. Her very silence is eloquent she knows her innocence, but must not speak one word to defend it. She moves along by herself the very last of them all, while every eye seems to threaten and accuse her. And even after all this, there is still a dejected sweetness, a tenderness, a confusion that cannot reader any ways sensible of my own images, be expressed. I know not how to make the except I refer him to the character of Briseïs in Homer's first Iliad, and the picture of Sisigambis in Darius's tent.

This puts me in mind of some fine strokes in Spenser, though upon a different occasion. What

I mean, is the silence and confusion of Britomart, when the Red-cross knight discovers her to be a lady, and inquires after her adventures:

Thereat she sighing softly, had no pow'r
To speak awhile, ne ready answer make,
But with heart-thrilling throbs, and bitter
As if she had a fever-fit, did quake, [stow'r,
And ev'ry dainty limb with horror shake;
And ever and anon the rosie red
Flash'd through her face, as it had been a flake
Of lightning, through bright Heaven fulmined,
Fairy Queen, Lib. 3. Cant. 2.

See also the same canto, stanza the 15th.

14.

Speech of Eurydice. v. 153.

Statius has equally shown his conduct in this

speech of Eurydice. She is injured, and indeed deserves a liberty to resent it. She condoles, she repents, she heightens her misfortunes, and then seems to wonder why Providence should inflict them. This she aggravates by considering the prosperity of her neighbours, which certainly gives the deepest remorse in all afflictions. Nothing can be finer than these two last particulars. They arise immediately from human nature, and give a lively picture of self-respect, and indulgency to our own frailties. What follows is more abrupt and violent; she draws the author of her misery in the most disagreeable colours, makes her treacherous, negligent, and even insensible of gratitude or pity.

15.

18.

If Jove's almighty wisdom can deceive,
Curs'd is the man who fondly will believe !
v. 221.

This apostrophe contains a fine picture of human nature in distress. Heaven itself cannot

escape our censure: its unerring justice is called into question, and we fancy more to be inflicted on us, than we ought to suffer.

Much of this kind is the speech of Asius in Homer's 12th Iliad. Eustathius makes a very moral remark upon it, which I shall transcribe, as I find it admirably translated to my hands. "The speech of Asius is very extravagant: he exclaims against Jupiter for a breach of promise,

Whose hands sustain'd thee, and whose music not because he had broken his word, but because

charm'd,

Whose eye o'ersaw thee—v. 185.

I am far from being disgusted with these little particularities that attend the most serious and noble passions. Nothing has a better effect in poetry, or painting. An incident may be small, and at the same time not trifling. This puts me in mind of an observation in Longinus: it is made upon Sappho's love-ode, translated afterwards by Catullus. "The poetess" (says he) "has assembled with admirable skill all the little accidents to that passion. Her heart beats fast, her tongue trembles, her sight seems to swim, and her colour vanishes all in one moment."

This confusion suits admirably well with the wandering irresolutions of the soul upon such occasions.

16.

Longinus, Chap. 8.

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he had not fulfilled his own vain imaginations. This conduct, though very blameable in Asius, is very natural to persons under disappointinents, who are ever ready to blame Heaven, and turn their misfortunes into a crime." Thus far Eusta

thius.

Æneas (whose chief character is piety) could not help accusing men and gods when he lost Creusa. Though in justice to Virgil it ought to be observed, that he softens, or rather disapproves of the impiety at the same time; for so the word amens must be understood.

Quem non incusavi, amens, hominumque deo. rumque ?

As this note is capable of very serious reflections, it may not perhaps be amiss to look a little into the holy scriptures. The impatience of Job's wife, as also the diffidence and irresolution of David in the 73d Psalin, are extraordiBut Jeremiah carnary instances of this sort. ries it yet farther: he proceeds to an expostulation with his Maker. "Let me talk with thee, O Lord, of thy judgments. Thou hast planted (the wicked) yea, they have taken root: they But thou, O grow, yea, they bring forth fruit. Lord, knowest me, thou hast seen me, and tried I bave forsaken my my heart towards thee. house, &c." Chap. 12. v. 1, 2, 3, & 8.

Lactantius solves the extravagance of this speech of Lycurgus very oddly, by a reflection on his priesthood. His words are these, "priests may be as angry as they will," for so must he be understood according to the purport of the original. I much question whether his name-sake would have allowed this concession to the c'ergy: and if the translator may have leave to give his opinion, he thinks them to have less need of it, than any other part of the nation.

19.

Nine times his course bright Lucifer had roll'd And ev'ning Vesper deck'd his rays with gold. v. 271.

This particularity is so far from being ornamental, that it preserves a valuable piece of antiquity; namely the closing of the funeral games after nine days end: which ceremony the old Romans called Novemdialia. Bernartius

20.

High o'er the people wrought with lively grace, Shine the fair glories of their ancient race. v. 297.

I don't remember any thing more noble, or judicious than this historical picture. The description of a shield was already worn out: 'twas impossible to add any thing of moment after Homer and Virgil. Nor is it introduced merely for ornament; it contains, no less than the story of their ancestors, magnanimûm series antiqua parentum. Its effects are visible: to inspire them with courage in the funeral games. Besides, it happily avoids most of the objections that have been made against the shields of Achilles and Æneas. Its size answers all multiplicity of figures; and even every figure bears a plain reference to the subject of action. The rules of painting are exactly preserved: we have not only a contrast of passions in different persons, but variety of place in each distinct compartiment. 'Tis reasonable to think our author designed this as a compliment to a common ceremony then among the Romans: who used at all solemn funerals to carry before the corps of the deceased the pictures of their ancestors. Thus Horace, Epode the 8th;

--Funus atque imagines Ducunt triumphales tuum.

See also Cicero's oration for Milo, and the 35th book of Pliny. Perhaps Statius owed the first hint of his historical picture to the custom we now mention.

21.

-Brave Choræ bus lifts his bleeding hands-
v. 324.

Lactantius gives two meanings to this hemystic; the venerable or undaunted figure of Choræbus. I have chosen the latter, because it agrees best with his character in the first Thebaid. The story is too long to be transcribed.

22.

Here Belus' sons at Hymen's altars stand,
And join with hearts averse the friendly hand.

v. 351.

Swift flew the rapid car, and left behind The noise of tempests, and the wings of wind. v. 349. These verses are somewhat too bold in the original :

-stupuêre relicta

Nubila, certantes Eurique Notique sequuntur. Whoever translates Statius must have liberty to soften some of these hyperboles. Yet Lactantius was of another opinion, who admires this place in the true spirit of criticism. Divinè dictum dedit illis victoriæ votum, sed ademit effectum. His remark is not worth translating. 24.

So sad Apollo with a boding sigh
Told his fond child- v. 363.

We may perceive something very remarkable in this simile, not without a fine commiseration for unhappy Folynices. Instead of accusing the rashness, or folly of Phaeton, all is attributed to fatal destiny. As much as to say, Polynices lost not the race through his own imprudence, but by the interposition of a deity.

25.

Admetus' life, &c. v. 431.

This alludes chiefly to the story of Alceste, Admetus his wife, who was so honourable (it seems} as to lay down her life to atone for her husband's. Juvenal makes an agreeable use of this female gallantry:

--spectant subeuntem fata mariti
Alcesten.

Lactantius.

Euripides has written a tragedy upon this ocI am afraid few modern ladies would casion. give such an example, but indeed husbands are much alter'd since the days of Admetus. I may add, that Statius takes notice of the death of Alceste in his Sylva,entituled the Tears of Etruscus, Lib. 3. I the rather cite this poem because it contains some fine strokes of humanity, and filial affection. Of the same nature is his Epicedion in Patrem. I wonder that these two ad

26.

The contract of Danaus and Egyptus is too mirable copies have never yet beeen translated. well known to be repeated. However for the sake of the curious shall not pass by the epistle of Hypermnestra to Linus, and some remarkable passages in Pindar's ninth Pythian Ode. Statius seems pleased with this story, and has chosen it in another place to ornament the shield of Hippomedon. There is something very masterly in the expression, and the tout-ensemble makes a fine piece of night-painting:

-humeros, & pectora latè

Flammeus orbis habet- -vivit in auro
Nox Danai, sontes furiarum lampade nigrâ
Quinquaginta ardent thalami, pater ipse cru-
entis

In foribus, laudatque nefas, atque inspicit

enses.

Theb. 4.

"Th' impatient coursers pant in ev'ry vein, And pawing seem to beat the distant plain. The vales, the floods appear already crost, And e'er they start, a thousand steps are lost." v. 454.

The Latin of these verses is wonderfully fine, as Mr. Dryden acknowledges in his preface to Du Fresnoy. He cites them as a true image of our author:

Stare adeò míserum est, pereunt vestigia mille
Ante fugam, absentemque ferit gravis ungula

campum.

"Which would cost me" (says he)" an hour to translate, there is so much beauty in the original."

Since that, Mr. Pope has imitated these verses al-
most verbatim in his Windsor Forest: and I
thought fit to transfer them hither, rather than
expose my own weakness. I never was heartily
mortified before; I just know how to admire him
and to despise myself! the reader may be as-
sured, I durst not presume to do this without
that gentleman's consent; who not only gave me
leave to use his translation, but also to alter any
circumstances that might not correspond with
the original. I remember a paper in the Guar-
dian that consists chiefly of parallel descriptions
upon this occasion; and thither
rious.

refer the cu

Balde the Jesuit has some bold strokes in an ode whose title I forgot, though 'tis written partly in imitation of the war-horse in Job. I mention this, purely to do justice to that poet's memory, who (notwithstanding some extravagances) came nearer to the spirit and abruptness of Pindar, than any of his cotemporaries.

27.

Earth opening seem'd to groan (a fatal sign!)

v. 600.

In deference to the above-mentioned criticism, I thought fit to leave out, vestigia cunctis indeprensa procis; for there lies all the confusion.

30.

Foot-race. v. 766.

In the

I must own, I think this foot-race an inimitable piece of poetry. The design itself is equally as just; the circumstances perhaps are more beautiful than those upon the same subject in the Greek or Roman poet. Had Statius given the prize to Idas, (than which nothing was more easy) I cannot but think the moral would have been highly defective. Yet Euryalus in Virgil wins the race by downright fraudulence. descriptive parts our author borrows nothing considerable from either of the above cited poets. I wish he had taken one circumstance from Homer, which pleases me much. It is the passage where Ulysses follows Ajax : αυτὰς όπισθεν Ίχνια τύπλε πόδεσσι πάρος κόνιν ἀμφιχυθῆναι. -His foe he plies,

Because Amphiaraus was afterwards to be And treads each footstep, e'er the dust can rise. swallowed under ground. See the latter end of the seventh Thebaid:

Illum ingens haurit specus, & transire parantes
Merget equos: non arma manu, non fræna
remisit

Sicut erat, rectos defert in Tartara currus:
Respexitque cadens cœlum, campumque coire
Ingemuit-

31.

Thus in some storm the broken billows rise
Round the vast rock- v. 909.

'Tis with great judgment the poet introduces
this simile, which admirably paints the size and
I have endea-
unmoveableness of Capaneus.
voured to give it this turn, adding the epithet
vast, to strengthen the idea. A translator can

I take this to be one of the most noble des- seldom do his author this justice, and I see no criptions I ever met with in any language.

28.

reasons against it, if the deviation exceeds not one word. However, it is manifest the original alludes only to the noise, and sudden overflow

Loud shouts each chief that from high Elis ing of the waters. 'Tis impossible to give a more

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Lives there a warrior in the world of fame,
Who never heard of Atalanta's name? v. 649.
The commentators are all mighty merry upon
these verses.
It seems Statius has confounded

lively image of Alcidamas. Statius has com-
prized himself also into a shorter pass than usual,
that the mind might not be too much suspended
in the midst of so important an action. Besides,
there is a particular beauty in the versification:
it seems to run by starts, short and violent:

Assilit, ut præceps cumulo salir unda, minaces
In scopulos, & fracta redit-

32.

The fight of the cæstus.

v. 966.

the history of Atalanta (there being two of that name) and takes the wife of Hippomenes for that I have taken notice in the foot-race, that of Pelops; the famous racer in days of yore. Statius has varied from Virgil, with admirable This (say they) is a remarkable oversight, and very few of them can heartily forgive it. The judgment. The same may be advanced here in respect to Homer, who in his fight of the cæsmatter is hardly worth debate: poets were never thought infallible. Whoever reads the critical tus, rewards insolence and pride, instead of punishing them. There is an exact parity of discourse upon the Iliad, will find many errours even in Homer; though not so many as La character between Capaneus and Epeus: but not the same success. The boaster in this place Motte fancied. Aristotle, Cicero, and Diony-meets with the most manifest disadvantage: a sius of Halicarnassus were seldom right in their quotations. Macrobius tells us, that Virgil ran into many palpable mistakes, purely to disengage himself from too much exactness, and to imitate Homer. Mons. la Mothe le Vayer has written an entire treatise upon this subject: and I think it worth reading, merely as a mortification for human vanity.

great improvement of the moral.

Upon the whole: it may be required I should attempt something like a comparison between the descriptions of this game in Homer, Virgil, and Statius. To speak my own sentiments, I cannot but preter the latter, not only for its greater variety of incidents, but for the cha

racter of arrogance, which is wrought up to much more perfection: it was this they all laboured at. Capaneus is so far blinded with his own admiration, that he still fancies himself the conqueror: though the odds appeared visibly against him: so apt is pride to magnify. This is superadded to the characters in Homer and Virgil: and I think it a most natural improve

ment.

33.

35.

Nor breath'd its spirit to congenial skies.

v. 1029.

Or to congenial stars more literally, according to the philosophy of Pythagoras. The wicked, says Lactantius, were punished by their stars (ab ipsis astris, stellisque are his words); the good enjoyed their light for ever. For a farther explication of this ancient doctrine, I refer the reader to Servius and Ruæus's notes

The mountain-cypress thus, that firmly stood upon the 227th line of Virgil's 4th Georgic, SyFromage to age

Originally;

v. 994.

Ille autem Alpini veluti regina cupressus
Verticis-

I have read in one of our modern critics, or in some book of travels, that no cypresses grow upon the Alps. The author upon this takes occasion to fall foul upon an eminent Roman poet, and wonders at his ignorance. It is no matter where I met with this remark, it not being of much consequence: yet I thought fit to leave out Alpinus; and added a more indefinite epithet.

Since my writing this note, I chanc'd to read Bernartius's comment upon Statius. He is much chagrined at this oversight. As a specimen of his humanity and taste for criticism, I shall transcribe his own words at length: "Attigit ut videtur Papinius hic guttam è flumine Lethes. Nam in Alpibus nusquam cupressi: nisi forte speciem pro genere posuit, quod non inepte affirmare possumus.

34.

Not half so bloody: or with half such rage
Two mighty monarchs of the herd engage.

v. 1006.

deris in numerum, &c. See also Plato in

Timæo.

36.

So Hercules, who long had toil'd in vain,
Heav'd huge Anthë us. v. 1040.

I cannot but admire this noble simile; besides the parity of circumstances, the savage character of Antheus suits admirably well with the brutal fury of Agylleus: nor is it a small compliment to little Tydeus, to compare him with Hercules for strength. I fancy Spenser drew the story of Maleger at large from this picture. I am the more inclined to think so, because in the combat of prince Arthur, and Pyrrhocles, he translates almost literally from Statius those verses that describe Agylleus after his fall: though it must be owned, he has interwoven a simile that much improves them:

Nought booted it the Paynim then to strive,
But as a bittour in an eagle's claw,
That may not hope by flight to 'scape alive,
Still hopes for death, with dread and trembling
So he now subject to the victor's law, [awe :
Did not once move, nor upwards cast his eye.

37.

Here end the funeral games, which are put off (as in Virgil) by a prodigy, foreboding that none of the seven captains should return, except Adrastus: as that in Virgil foretold the burn

Statius seems to have copied this simile from the combat of Hercules and Achelöus in the ninth book of Ovid's Metamorphoses. I shall pleasure the reader with them both. And firsting of the ships by the Trojan matrons. Ovid;

Non aliter vidi fortes concurrere tauros, Cum pretium pugnæ, toto nitidissima saltu Expetitur conjux: spectant armenta, paventque Nescia quem tanti maneat victoria regni.

Non sic ductores gemini gregis, horrida tauri Bella movent: medio conjux stat candida prato Victorem expectans; rumpunt obnixa surentes Pectora

The latter in my opinion is far more natural than the former. There is a beautiful contrast, or variation of numbers, very tender and flowing,

in

-medio conjux.&c. Which is somewhat faintly preserved in the translation.

Spenser has a simile something of this nature in the combat between the Red-cross knight and Sansfoy, Lib. 1. Canto 2.

To conclude, whosoever will read the original impartially, will find Statius to be a much better poet than the world imagines. What the translation is, I know not: nor can the notes be extraordinary, when no body has written any thing tolerable before me. The reader may believe, or disbelieve them as he pleases; I deliver conjectures, not doctrines. If my present version has the fortune to please, I may perhaps proceed farther: if not, I cannot but think myself happy in reviving at least so fine a piece of poetry. I have but just given the sketch of a picture, it remains for others to deepen the strokes, and finish the whole. Whoever can take such pains, will oblige me, as much as the world.

DIVINE POEMS.

DEDICATION.

To the reverend Mr. Hildrop, master of Marleborough-School, (under whom I had the

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