Ye Momus the last of all, in merry mood, NOTES VARIORUM. riferous quality of Hillario's pen is manifest from the following asseveration, which was published in the New Craftsman, and is a letter from a tradesman in the city. "Sir, A paltry play'r, that in no parts succeeds, NOTES VARIORUM. florid Hillario becomes, in Woodward's phrase, a lay preacher; but his flimsy, heavy, impotent lucubrations have rather been of prejudice to the good old cause; and we hear that there is now preparing for the press, by a very eminent divine, a defence of Christianity against the misrepresentations of a certain officious writer; and for the present we think proper to apply an epigram, occasioned by a dispute between two beaux concerning religion. On grace, Peace, idiots, peace, and both agree, But dreads a friend like t'other. A paltry play'r, &c.] It appears that the first effort of this universal genius, who is lately become remarkable as the Bobadil of literature, was to excel in Pantomine. What was the event? took great pains to fit him for the part of Oroonoko-he was damned.—He attempted Captain "From a motive of gratitude, and for the sake of those of my fellow-creatures, who may unhappily be afflicted, as I have been for some time past, 1 beg leave, through the channel of your paper, to communicate the disorder I have laboured under, and the extraordinary cure I have lately met with. I have had for many months successively a slow nervous fever, with a constant flutter on my spirits, attended with pertinacious watchings, twitchings of the nerves, and other grievous symptoms, which reduced me to a mere shadow. At length, by the interposition of di--he was damned.—Mr. Cross, the prompter, vine Providence, a friend who had himself experienced it, advised me to have recourse to the reading of the Inspectors. I accordingly took one of them, and the effect it had upon me was such that I fell into a profound sleep, which lasted near six and thirty hours. By this I have attained a more composed habit of body, and I now doze away almost all my time, but for fear of a lethargy, am ordered to take them in smaller quantities. A paragraph at a time now answers my purpose, and under Heaven I owe my sleeping powers to the above-mentioned Inspectors. I look upon them to be a grand soporificum mirabile, very proper to be had in all families. He makes great allowance to those who buy them to sell again, or to send abroad to the plantations; and the above fact I am ready to attest whenever called upon. Given under my hand this 4th day of January, 1753. "Humphrey Roberts, Weaver, in Crispin- Forges Socrates,] Socrates was the father of the truest philosophy that ever appeared in the world, and though he has not drawn God's image, which was reserved for the light of the gospel, he has at least given the shadow, which together with his exemplary life, induces Erasmus to cry out, Sancte Socrates, ora pro nobis ; of Mr. Cibber we shail say nothing, as he has said abundantly enough of himself; but to illustrate the poet's meaning in this passage, it may be necessary to observe, that when the British worthy was indisposed some time since, the Inspector did not hesitate to prefer him to the god-like ancient philosopher. O te, Bollane, cerebri felicem. M. MACULARIUS. Consistencies to fight,] Alluding to his egregious talent at distinctions without a difference. Religious at the last?] On every Saturday the Blandford-be was damned.-He acted Constant in the Provok'd Wife-he was damned.-He represented the Botanist in Romeo and Juliet, at the Little Theatre in the Hay-market, under the direction of Mr. The. Cibber-he was damned.He appeared in the character of Lothario, at the celebrated theatre in May-Fair-he was damned there too. Mr. Cross, however, to alleviate his misfortune, charitably bestowed upon him a 15th part of his own benefit. See the Gentleman's Magazine for last December, and also Woodward's letter, passim. No mortal read.] Notwithstanding this assertion of Momus, our hero pro eâ quâ est verecundia, compareth himself to Addison and Steele, which occasioned the following epigram, by the right hon. the earl * * addressed to the right honourable G-e D-n. Art thou not angry, learning's great protector, "See, (brother) how We Mountains lift the The trumpet of a base deserted cause, So spake and ceas'd the joy-exciting god, "While in the vale perennial fountains flow, While the gay seasons their due course shall run, So long in gross stupidity's extreme, NOTES VARIORUM. Mr. Hogarth entertains of our hero's writings, may be guessed at, by any one who will take the pleasure of looking at a print called Beer-street, in which Hillario's critique upon the Royal Society is put into a basket directed to the trunkmaker in St. Paul's Church-yard. I shall only just observe that the same compliment in this passage to Mr. Hogarth is reciprocal, and reflects a lustre on Mr. Garrick, both of them having similar talents, equally capable of the highest elevation, and of representing the ordinary scenes of life, with the most exquisite humour. Conclusion] And now, candid reader, Martinus Macularius hath attended thee throughout As the first book of this most delectable poem. it is not improbable that those will be inquisitive after the particulars relating to this thy commentator, be here gives thee notice that he is preparing for the press, Memoirs of Martinus Macula-) rius, with his travels by sea and land, together with his flights aerial, and descents subterraneous, &c. And in the mean time he bids thee farewell, until the appearance of the second book of the Hilliad, of which we will say, speciosa miracula promet. And so as Terence says, Vos valete & plaudite. THE JUDGMENT OF MIDAS, A MASQUE. Auriculas Asini Mida Rex habet. Juv. The trumpet, &c.] In a very pleasant account of the riots in Drury-lane play-house, by Henry Fielding, esq. we find the following humorous description of our hero in the character of a trumpeter. "They all ran away except the trumpeter, who having an empyema in his side, as well as several dreadful bruises on his breech, was taken. When he was brought before Garrick to be examined, he said the ninnies, to whom he had the honour to be trumpeter, had resented the use made of the monsters by Garrick. That it was unfair, that it was cruel, that it was inhuman to employ a man's own subjects against him. That Rich was lawful sovereign over all the monsters in the universe, with much more of the same kind; all which Garrick seemed to think unworthy of an answer; but when the trumpeter challenged him as his acquaintance, the chief with great disdain turned his back, and ordered the fellow to be dismissed with full power of trumpeting again on what side he pleased." Hillario has since trumpeted in the cause of pantomime, the gaudy scenery of which with great judgment he dismisses from the Opera-house, and saith, it is now fixed in its proper place in the theatre. On this occasion, Macularius cannot help exclaiming, "O Shakespear! O Jonson! rest, rest, perturbed Timolus, Melinoe, and Agno, two Woodspirits." Handel, Arne, and Boyce,] The first of these gentlemen may be justly looked upon as the Milton of music, and the talents of the two latter may not improperly be delineated by calling them the Drydens of their profession, as they not only touch the strings of love with exquisite art, but also, when they please, reach the truly sublime. PERSONS REPRESENTED. APOLLO. CALLIOPE. } two Wood-Nymphs. nymphs. TIMOLUS. AGNO, to day we wear our acorn crown, The parsley wreath be thine; it is most meet We grace the presence of these rival gods With all the honours of our woodland weeds. Thine was the task, Melinoe, to prepare The turf-built theatre, the boxen bow'r, Hogarth is the Garrick, &c.] The opinion which And all the sylvan scenery. MELINOE. That task, Sire of these shades, is done. On yester eve, Yet still remain'd herself- Simplicity, 'Tis well remark'd, and on experience founded. I do remember that my sister Ida (When as on her own shadowy mount we met, Ev'n wisdom's goddess, jealous of her form, That such an umpire shou'd be equitable, Unless he guess at justice. TIMOLUS. Soft-no more 'Tis ours to wish for Pan, and fear from Phoebus, Whose near approach I hear. Ye stately cedars, Forth from your summits bow your awful heads, And reverence the gods. Let my whole mountain tremble, Not with a fearful, but religious awe, Scene opens, and discovers Apollo, attended by MIDAS. Begin, celestial candidates for praise, Will weigh your merits, and decide your cause. APOLLO. From Jove begin the rapturous song, We are his offspring all; 'Twas he, whose looks supremely bright, Smil'd darksome chaos into light, And fram'd this glorious ball. PAN. Sylvanus, in his shadowy grove, By th' altar on the myrtle mount, [fount, CLIO. Parnassus, where's thy boasted height, If Pan o'er Phoebus can prevail, AGNO. From Nature's works, and Nature's laws, MELPOMENE. What were all your fragrant bow'rs, Rural music, mirth and love? Life and ev'ry joy wou'd pall, If Phoebus shone not on them all. MELINOE. We chant to Phoebus, king of day, But Pan, each satyr, nymph and fawn, APOLLO. Am I not he, who, prescient from on high, PAN. O'er cots and vales, and every shepherd swain, With pipe on plain, and nymph in secret grove, CLIO. Soon as the dawn dispels the dark, Illustrious Phoebus 'gins t' appear, Proclaimed by the herald lark, And ever-wakeful chanticleer, The Persian pays his morning vow, And all the turban'd easterns bow. AGNO. Soon as the evening shades advance, Fawns, nymphs and dryads all prepare, MELPOMENE. In numbers as smooth as Callirhoe's stream, Glide the silver ton'd verse when Apollo's the theme; While on his own mount Cyparissus is seen, And Daphne preserves her immutable green. We'll hail Hyperion with transport so long, Th' inventor, the patron, and subject of song. MELINOE. While on the calm ocean the halcyon shall breed, And Syrinx shall sigh with her musical reed, While fairies, and satyrs, and fawns shall approve The music, the mirth, and the life of the grove, So long shall our Pan be than thou more divine, For he shall be rising when thou shalt decline. MIDAS. No more-To Pan and to his beauteous nymphs I do adjudge the prize, as is most due, Enter two Satyrs, and crown MIDAS with a pair of ass's ears. APOLLO. Such rural honours all the gods decree, To those who sing like Pan, and judge like thee. [Exeunt omnes. REASON AND IMAGINATION. IMAGINATION, in the flight Of young desire and gay delight, Beneath an holm-tree's friendly shade, Is coming to your homely cot, I, Fortune, promise wealth and pow'r, To call you to a nobler lot; By way of matrimonial dow'r: To gay conception's top-most pitch; To those bright plains, where crowd in swarms Of paintings, which surmount the life: I cannot take thee for a mate; I must be there, for conduct's sake; Praise him, arch-angelic band, Praise him, Sun at each extreme, Praise him, O ye heights that soar Let them praise his glorious name, Praise the Lord on earth's domains; Batt'ring hail, and fires that glow, Beasts that haunt the woodland maze,` Age and childhood, youth and maid, He shall dignify the crest Of his people, rais'd and blest; NEW VERSION OF THE PSALMS. PSALM CXLVIII. HALLELUJAH! kneel and sing Praises to the heav'nly King; ODE TO LORD BARNARD, ON HIS ACCESSION TO THAT TITI.E. Sis licet felix ubicunque mavis, MELFOMENE, who charm'st the skies, Queen of the lyre and lute, Say, shall my noble patron rise, And thou, sweet Muse, be mute? Shall fame, to celebrate his praise, Her loudest, loftiest accents raise, |