Chapter 6

Heavens! how unlike, etc. Prior compares a passage from a manuscript _ Introduction to the History of the Seven Years’ War_:—‘How unlike the brave peasants their ancestors, who spread terror into either India, and always declared themselves the allies of those who drew the sword in defence of freedom.’*

* J. W. M. Gibbs (_Works_, v. 9) discovered that parts of this _History_, hitherto supposed to have been written in 1761, were published in the _Literary Magazine_, 1757–8.

famed Hydaspes, i.e. the _fabulosus Hydaspes_ of Horace, Bk. i. Ode xxii, and the _Medus Hydaspes_ of Virgil, _ Georg_, iv. 211, of which so many stores were told. It is now known as the Jhilum, one of the five rivers which give the Punjaub its name.

Pride in their port, etc. In the first edition these two lines were inverted.

Here by the bonds of nature feebly held. In the first edition—

See, though by circling deeps together held.

Nature’s ties was ‘social bonds’ in the first edition.

Where kings have toil’d, and poets wrote for fame. In the first edition this line read:—

And monarchs toil, and poets pant for fame.

Yet think not, etc. ‘In the things I have hitherto written I have neither allured the vanity of the great by flattery, nor satisfied the malignity of the vulgar by scandal, but I have endeavoured to get an honest reputation by liberal pursuits.’ (Preface to _ English History._) [Mitford.]

Ye powers of truth, etc. The first version has:—

Perish the wish; for, inly satisfy’d,

Above their pomps I hold my ragged pride.

Mr. Forster thinks (_Life_, 1871, i. 375) that Goldsmith altered this (i.e. ‘ragged pride’) because, like the omitted _Haud inexpertus loquor_ of the _ Enquiry_, it involved an undignified admission.

lines 365–80 are not in the first edition.

Contracting regal power to stretch their own. ‘It is the interest of the great, therefore, to diminish kingly power as much as possible; because whatever they take from it is naturally restored to themselves; and all they have to do in a state, is to undermine the single tyrant, by which they resume their primaeval authority.’ (_Vicar of Wakefield_, 1766, i. 202, ch. xix.)

When I behold, etc. Prior compares a passage in