EPISTOLA VI.

,

IL admirari, prope res est una, Numici,
Solaque quae poflit facere et fervare beatum.

6 Hunc solem, et ftellas, & decedentia certis

Tempora momentis, sunt qui formi line nulla

Imbuti spectent. d quid censes, munera terrae ? Quid, maris extremos Arabas e ditantis et Indos?

Ver. 3. dear MURRAY,] This Piece is the most finished of all his imitations, and executed in the high manner the Italian Painters call con amore. By which they mean, the exertion of that principle, which puts the faculties on the stretch, and produces the supreme degree of excellence. For the Poet had all the warmth of affection for the great Lawyer to whom it is addressed : and, indeed, no man ever more deserved to have a Pcet for his friend. In the obtaining of which, as neither Vanity, Party, nor Fear, had any share ; so he supported his title to it by all the offices of true Friendship.

VER. 4. Creech] From whose translation of Horace the two firft lines are taken. VER, 6. fars ebat rise and fall,] The original is,

decedentia certis Tempora momentis

EPIST LE VI.

To Mr. MURRAY.

66

, ,

OT to admire, is all the Art I know,
To make

men happy, and to keep them fo.” (Plain Truth, dear Murray, needs no flow'rs of

speech, So take it in the very words of Creech.)

• This Vault of Air, this congregated Ball, S Self-center'd Sun, and Stars that rise and fall, There are, my Friend! whose philosophic eyes Look thro', and trust the Ruler with his skies, To him commit the hour, the day, the year, And view < this dreadful All without a fear. IO Admire we then what d Earth's low entrails hold, Arabian shores, or Indian seas infold ; All the mad trade of e Fools and Slaves for Gold ?

which words simply and literally signify, tbe change of seasons. But this change being considered as an object of admiration, his imitator has judiciousy expressed it in the more sublime figurative terms of

Stars that rise and fall. by whose courses the seasons are marked and distinguished.

VER, 8. trust the Ruler with bis Skies. To bim commit tbe bour,] Our Author, in these imitations, has been all along careful to correct the loose morals, and absurd divinity of his Original.

Ludicra, quid, f plausus, et amici dona Quiritis?
Quo fpectanda modo, & quo fenfu credis et 'ore ?

Qui timet his adversa, fére miratur eodem
Quo cupiens pacto : pavor est utrobique molestus :

h

Improvisa fimul species exterret utrumque :

i Gaudeat, an doleat; cupiat, metuatne ; quid ad rem,

Si quidquid vidit melius pejusve sua fpe,

Defixis oculis animoque et corpore torpet?

k Insani fapiens nomen ferat, aequus iniqui ; Ultra quam satis eft, virtutem fi petat ipsam.

"I nunc, argentum et marmor m vetus, aeraque et

artes

VER, 22. Whether we joy or grieve, the fame'rbe cúrfe, Suri priz'd a better, or surpriz'd at worse.] The elegance of this is superior to the Original. The curse is the fame (says he) whether we joy or grieve. Why so ? Because, in either case, the man is surprized, hurried off, and led away captive.

(The good or bad to one extreme betray

Th'unbalanc'd Mind, and snatch the Man away.) This happy advantage, in the imitation, arises from the ambiguity of the word surprize.

VIR. 30. Procure a Taste to double the surprize.] This is one of those superior touches that most ennoble a perfect piece, He

3

Or f Popularity? or Stars and Strings ?
The Mob's applauses, or the gifts of Kings? 15
Say with what 8 eyes we ought at Courts to gaze,
And

pay the Great our homage of Amaze ?
If weak the h pleasure that from these can spring,
The fear to want them is as weak a thing :
Whether we dread, or whether we desire,
In either case, believe me, we admire;
Whether we i joy or grieve, the same the curse,
Surpriz'd at better, or surpriz’d at worse.
Thus good or bad, to one extreme betray
Th’ unbalanc'd Mind, and snatch the Man away ;
For k Virtue's self may too much zeal be had;
The worst of Madmen is a Saint run mad.
Go then, and if you can, admire the state
Of beaming diamonds, and reflected plate;
Procure a Taste to double the surprize,

30 And gaze on m Parian Charms with learned

eyes :

26

speaks here of false taste, as appears by his directions how to get it, and how to use it when got. Procure a taste, says he. That is, of the Virtuosi ; whose science you are to buy for that purpose : for true taste, which is from nature, comes of itself. And how are you to use it ? Not to cure you of that bane of life, admiration, but to raise and infame it, by doubling your surprize. And this a false taste will always do ; there being none fo given to raptures as the Virtuoso-Tribe : whereas the Man of true taste finds but few things to approve : and those he approves with moderation, VOL. IV.

H

Suspice : cum gemmis n Tyrios mirare colores :

Gaude, quod spectant oculi te mille loquentem:

Gnavus P mane forum, et vespertinus pete tectum ;

4 Ne plus frumenti dotalibus emetat agris

Mutus et (indignum ; quod sit pejoribus ortus)

* Hic tibi sit potius, quam tu mirabilis illi.

Quicquid fub terra est, in apricum proferet aetas ;

Defodiet condetque nitentia. * cum bene notum

Porticus Agrippae, et via te confpexerit Appî :

Ire tamen restat, Numa u

quo

devenit et Ancus.

w Si latus aut renes morbo tentantur acuto,

VER. 53. TULLY, HYDE,] Equal to either, in the mim nistry of his profession; and superior to both where the parallel fails : Tully's brightest talents were frequently tarnished by Vanity and Fear ; and Hyde's most virtuous purposes perverted and defeated by superstitious notions concerning the divine origine of Government, and the unlimited @bedience of the People,