Part 22

NOTES

ON

TRANSLATIONS FROM PERSIUS.

SATIRE VI.

Note I.

_Has winter caused thee, friend, to change thy seat, And seek in Sabine air a warm retreat._--P. 268.

All the studious, and particularly the poets, about the end of August, began to set themselves on work, refraining from writing during the heats of the summer. They wrote by night, and sat up the greatest part of it; for which reason the product of their studies was called their elucubrations, or nightly labours. They who had country-seats retired to them while they studied, as Persius did to his, which was near the port of the Moon in Etruria; and Bassus to his, which was in the country of the Sabines, nearer Rome.

Note II.

_Now sporting on thy lyre the loves of youth._--P. 268.

This proves Cæsius Bassus to have been a lyric poet. It is said of him, that by an eruption of the flaming mountain Vesuvius, near which the greatest part of his fortune lay, he was burnt himself, together with all his writings.

Note III.

_Who in a drunken dream beheld his soul The fifth within the transmigrating roll._--P. 269.

I call it a drunken dream of Ennius; not that my author, in this place, gives me any encouragement for the epithet, but because Horace, and all who mention Ennius, say he was an excessive drinker of wine. In a dream, or vision, call you it which you please, he thought it was revealed to him, that the soul of Pythagoras was transmigrated into him; as Pythagoras before him believed, that himself had been Euphorbus in the wars of Troy. Commentators differ in placing the order of this soul, and who had it first. I have here given it to the peacock; because it looks more according to the order of nature, that it should lodge in a creature of an inferior species, and so by gradation rise to the informing of a man. And Persius favours me, by saying, that Ennius was the fifth from the Pythagorean peacock.

Note IV.

_My friend is shipwrecked on the Brutian strand._--P. 270.

Perhaps this is only a fine transition of the poet, to introduce the business of the satire; and not that any such accident had happened to one of the friends of Persius. But, however, this is the most poetical description of any in our author; and since he and Lucan were so great friends, I know not but Lucan might help him in two or three of these verses, which seem to be written in his style; certain it is, that besides this description of a shipwreck, and two lines more, which are at the end of the second satire, our poet has written nothing elegantly. I will, therefore, transcribe both the passages, to justify my opinion. The following are the last verses, saving one, of the second satire:

_Compositum jus, fasque animi; sanctosque recessus Mentis, et incoctum generoso pectus honesto._

The others are those in this present satire, which are subjoined:

----_trabe rupta, Bruttia Saxa Prendit amicus inops, remque omnem, surdaque vota Condidit Ionio: jacet ipse in littore; et una Ingentes de puppe Dei: jamque obvia mergis Costa ratis laceræ._----

Note V.

_From thy new hope, and from thy growing store, Now lend assistance, and relieve the poor._--P. 270.

The Latin is, _Nunc et de cespite vivo, frange aliquid_. Casaubon only opposes the _cespes vivus_, which, word for word, is the living turf, to the harvest, or annual income; I suppose the poet rather means, sell a piece of land already sown, and give the money of it to my friend, who has lost all by shipwreck; that is, do not stay till thou hast reaped, but help him immediately, as his wants require.

Note VI.

_Nor beg with a blue table on his back._--P. 270.

Holyday translates it a green table: the sense is the same; for the table was painted of the sea-colour, which the shipwrecked person carried on his back, expressing his losses, thereby to excite the charity of the spectators.

Note VII.

_Or without spices lets thy body burn._--P. 270.

The bodies of the rich, before they were burnt, were embalmed with spices; or rather spices were put into the urn with the relics of the ashes. Our author here names cinnamum and cassia, which cassia was sophisticated with cherry-gum, and probably enough by the Jews, who adulterate all things which they sell. But whether the ancients were acquainted with the spices of the Molucca Islands, Ceylon, and other parts of the Indies, or whether their pepper and cinnamon, &c. were the same with ours, is another question. As for nutmegs and mace, it is plain that the Latin names for them are modern.

Note VIII.

_Cæsar salutes the queen and senate thus:-- My arms are on the Rhine victorious._--P. 271.

The Cæsar, here mentioned, is Caius Caligula, who affected to triumph over the Germans, whom he never conquered, as he did over the Britons; and accordingly sent letters, wrapt about with laurels, to the senate and the Empress Cæsonia, whom I here call queen; though I know that name was not used amongst the Romans; but the word empress would not stand in that verse, for which reason I adjourned it to another. The dust, which was to be swept away from the altars, was either the ashes which were left there after the last sacrifice for victory, or might perhaps mean the dust or ashes which were left on the altars since some former defeat of the Romans by the Germans; after which overthrow, the altars had been neglected.

Note IX.

_The goodly empress._--P. 271.

Cæsonia, wife to Caius Caligula, who afterwards, in the reign of Claudius, was proposed, but ineffectually, to be married to him, after he had executed Messalina for adultery.

Note X.

_The captive Germans, of gigantic size, Are ranked in order, and are clad in frize._--P. 271.

He means only such as were to pass for Germans in the triumph, large-bodied men, as they are still, whom the empress clothed new with coarse garments, for the greater ostentation of the victory.

Note XI.

_Know, I have vowed two hundred gladiators._--P. 271.

A hundred pair of gladiators were beyond the purse of a private man to give; therefore this is only a threatening to his heir, that he could do what he pleased with his estate.

Note XII.

----_Shouldst thou demand of me My torch, when I in course run after thee._--P. 272.

Why shouldst thou, who art an old fellow, hope to outlive me, and be my heir, who am much younger? He who was first in the course or race, delivered the torch, which he carried, to him who was second.

Note XIII.

_Well fed, and fat as Cappadocian slaves._--P. 273.

Who were famous for their lustiness, and being, as we call it, in good liking. They were set on a stall when they were exposed to sale, to show the good habit of their body; and made to play tricks before the buyers, to show their activity and strength.

Note XIV.

_Then say, Chrysippus._--P. 273.

Chrysippus, the Stoic, invented a kind of argument, consisting of more than three propositions, which is called _sorites_, or a heap. But as Chrysippus could never bring his propositions to a certain stint, so neither can a covetous man bring his craving desires to any certain measure of riches, beyond which he could not wish for any more.

THE

WORKS OF VIRGIL,

TRANSLATED

INTO ENGLISH VERSE.

WORKS OF VIRGIL.

This great work was undertaken by Dryden, in 1694, and published, by subscription, in 1697. One hundred and one subscribers gave five guineas each to furnish the engravings for the work; if indeed this was any thing more than a genteel pretext for increasing the profit of the author; for Spence has informed us, that the old plates used for Ogleby's "Virgil," were retouched for that of his great successor. Another class of subscribers, two hundred and fifty-two in number, contributed two guineas each. As the names of those who encouraged this great national labour have some claim to distinction, the reader will find, prefixed to this edition, an accurate copy of both lists, as they stand in the first folio edition. On 28th June, 1697, the following advertisement appeared in the London Gazette:

"The Works of Virgil; containing his Pastorals, Georgics, and Eneis, translated into English verse, by Mr Dryden, and adorned with one hundred cuts, will be finished this week, and be ready next week to be delivered, as subscribed for, in quires, upon bringing the receipt for the first payment, and paying the second. Printed for Jacob Tonson, &c."

In 1709, Tonson published a second edition of Dryden's "Virgil," with the plates reduced, in three volumes, 8vo; and various others have since appeared. In 1803, a new edition was given to the public, revised and corrected by Henry Carey, LL.D. This is so correct, that, although it has been uniformly compared with the original edition of Tonson, I have thought it advisable to follow the modern editor in some corrections of the punctuation and reading. In other cases, where I have adhered to the folio, I have placed Dr Carey's alteration at the bottom of the page. It is hardly worth while to notice, that there is a slight alteration of the arrangement of Dryden's prolegomena; the Dedication to the "Pastorals" being placed immediately before that class of poems, instead of preceding the Life, as in the original folio. Dryden's Notes and Observations, which, in the original, are printed together at the end of the work, are, in this edition, dispersed and subjoined to the different Books containing the passages to which they refer.

THE

NAMES OF THE SUBSCRIBERS

TO

THE CUTS OF VIRGIL,

IN THE FOLIO EDITION, 1697.

EACH SUBSCRIPTION BEING FIVE GUINEAS.

PASTORALS.

1. Lord Chancellor 2. Lord Privy Seal 3. Earl of Dorset 4. Lord Buckhurst 5. Earl of Abingdon 6. Lord Viscount Cholmondely 7. Lord Herbert of Cherbury. 8. Lord Clifford 9. Marq. of Hartington 10. The Hon. Mr Ch. Mountague

GEORGIC I.

11. Sir Tho. Trevor 12. Sir John Hawles 13. Joseph Jeakyl, Esq. 14. Tho. Vernon, Esq. 15. Will. Dobyns, Esq.

GEORGIC II.

16. Sir Will. Bower 17. Gilbert Dolbin, Esq. 18. Geo. London, Esq. 19. John Loving, Esq. 20. Will. Walsh, Esq.

GEORGIC III.

21. Duke of Richmond 22. Sir J. Isham, Bart. 23. Sir Tho. Mompesson 24. John Dormer, Esq. 25. Frederick Tylney, Esq.

GEORGIC IV.

26. Richard Norton, Esq. 27. Sir Will. Trumbull 28. Sir Barth. Shower 29. Symon Harcourt, Esq. 30. John Granvill, Esq.

ÆNEID I.

31. Prince George of Denmark 32. Princess Ann of Denmark 33. Duchess of Ormond 34. Countess of Exeter 35. Countess-Dowager of Winchelsea 36. Marchioness of Normanby

ÆNEID II.

37. Duke of Somerset 38. Earl of Salisbury 39. Earl of Inchiqueen 40. Earl of Orrery 41. Lord Viscount Dunbar 42. Countess-Dowager of Northampton

ÆNEID III.

43. Earl of Darby 44. Bishop of Durham 45. Bishop of Ossery 46. Dr John Mountague 47. Dr Brown 48. Dr Guibbons

ÆNEID IV.

49. Earl of Exeter 50. Lady Giffard 51. Lord Clifford 52. John Walkaden, Esq. 53. Henry Tasburgh Esq. 54. Mrs Ann Brownlow

ÆNEID V.

55. Duke of St Albans 56. Earl of Torrington 57. Anth. Hamond, Esq. 58. Henry St Johns, Esq. 59. Steph. Waller, LL.D. 60. Duke of Glocester 61. Edmond Waller, Esq.

ÆNEID VI.

62. Earl of Denbigh 63. Sir Tho. Dyke, Bart. 64. Mrs Ann Bayner 65. John Lewknor, Esq. 66. Sir Fleetwood Shepherd 67. John Poultney, Esq. 68. John Knight, Esq. 69. Robert Harley, Esq.

ÆNEID VII.

70. Earl of Rumney 71. Anthony Henley, Esq. 72. George Stepney, Esq. 73. Coll. Tho. Farringdon 74. Lady Mary Sackvill 75. Charles Fox, Esq.

ÆNEID VIII.

76. Earl of Ailesbury 77. The Hon. Mr Robert Bruce 78. Christopher Rich, Esq. 79. Sir Godfrey Kneller

ÆNEID IX.

80. Earl of Sunderland 81. Thomas Foley, Esq. 82. Col. Geo. Cholmondly 83. Sir John Percival, Bart. 84. Col. Christopher Codrington 85. Mr John Closterman.

ÆNEID X.

86. Lord Visc. Fitzharding 87. Sir Robert Howard 88. Sir John Leuson Gore, Bart. 89. Sir Charles Orby 90. Tho. Hopkins, Esq.

ÆNEID XI.

91. Duke of Shrewsbury 92. Sir W. Kirkham Blount, Bart. 93. John Noell, Esq. 94. Marquis of Normanby 95. Lord Berkley 96. Arthur Manwareing, Esq.

ÆNEID XII.

97. Earl of Chesterfield 98. Brigadier Fitzpatrick 99. Dr Tho. Hobbs 100. Lord Guilford 101. Duke of Ormond

THE

NAMES OF THE SECOND SUBSCRIBERS.

A.

Lord Ashley Sir James Ash, Bart. Sir James Ash, Bart. Sir Francis Andrew, Bart. Charles Adderley, Esq. Mrs Ann Ash Edw. Ash, Esq. Mr Francis Atterbury Sam. Atkins, Esq. Tho. Austen, Esq. Ro. Austen, Esq.

B.

Earl of Bullingbrook Sir Ed. Bettenson, Bart. Sir Tho. Pope Blount, Bart. Sir John Bolles Sir Will. Bowes Will. Blathwayt, Esq. Secretary of War Will. Barlow, Esq. Peregrine Bertye, Esq. Will. Bridgman, Esq. Orlando Bridgman, Esq. Will. Bridges, Esq. Char. Bloodworth, Esq. The Hon. Henry Boyl, Esq. Rich. Boyl, Esq. Chidley Brook, Esq. Will. Bromley, Esq. of Warwickshire Mich. Bruneau, Esq. Tho. Bulkley, Esq. Theoph. Butler, Esq. Capt. John Berkeley Mr Jo. Bowes, Prebend. of Durham Mr Jeremiah Ball Mr John Ball Mr Richard Banks Mrs Elizabeth Barry Mr Beckford Mr Tho. Betterton Mrs Catharine Blount Mr Bond Mr Bond Mrs Ann Bracegirdle Mr Samuel Brockenborough Mrs Elizabeth Brown Mr Moses Bruche Mr Lancelot Burton

C.

Earl of Clarendon Lord Henry Cavendish Lord Clifford Lord Coningsby Lord Cutts Lady Chudleigh, of the West The Hon. Char. Cornwallis, son to the Lord Cornwallis Sir Walt. Clarges, Bart. Sir Ro. Cotton Sir Will. Cooper The Hon. Will. Cheyney James Calthorp, Esq. Charles Chamberlayn, Esq. Edmond Clifford, Esq. Charles Cocks, Esq. Tho. Coel, Esq. Tho. Coke, Esq. Hugh Colville, Esq. Jo. Crawley, Esq. Courtney Crocker, Esq. Henry Curwyn, Esq. Capt. James Conoway Mr Will Claret Mr John Claney Mr Will Congreve Mr Henry Cook Mr Will. Cooper Mrs Elizabeth Creede

D.

Duchess of Devonshire Paul Docmenique, Esq. Mountague Drake, Esq. Will. Draper, Esq. Mr Mich. Dahl Mr Davenport Mr Will. Delawn Mrs Dorothy Draycot Mr Edward Dryden

E.

Earl of Essex Sir Edw. Ernle Will. Elson, Esq. Tho. Elyot, Esq. Thomas Earl, Major-General

F.

Sir Edm. Fettiplace, Bart. Sir Will. Forester Sir James Forbys Lady Mary Fenwick The Hon. Col. Finch The Hon. Doctour Finch The Hon. Will. Fielding Rich. Franklin, Postmaster, Esq. Charles Fergesen, Esq. Com. of the Navy Doctor Fuller, D. of Lincoln Henry Farmer, Esq. Tho. Finch, Esq. Tho. Frewin, Esq. Mr George Finch

G.

Sir Bevill Granvill, Bart. Oliver St George, Esq. Tho Gifford, Esq. Rich. Goulston, Esq. Richard Graham, Esq. Fergus Grahme, Esq. Will. Grove, Esq. Dr Gath, M.D. Mr George Goulding Mr Grinlin Guibbons

H.

Lord Archibald Hamilton Lord Hide Sir Richard Haddock Sir Christop. Hales, Bart. Sir Tho. Hussey Rob. Harley, Esq. Rob. Henley, Esq. M.P. Will. Hewer, Esq. Rodger Hewet, Esq. He. Heveningham, Esq. John Holdworthy, Esq. Matt Holdworthy, Esq. Nath. Hornby, Esq. The Hon. Bern Howard Craven Howard, Esq. Mansel Howe, Esq. Sam. Hunter, Esq. Mr Edward Hastwell Mr Nich. Hawksmore Mr Whitfeild Hayter Mr Peter Henriques Mr Ro. Huckwell

J.

John James, Esq. William Jenkins, Esq. Sam. Jones, Esq. Mr Edw. Jefferyes

K.

Jos. Keally, Esq. Coll. James Kendall Dr Knipe Mr Mich. Kinkead

L.

Sir Berkely Lucy, Bart. Lady Jane Leveson Gower Tho. Langley, Esq. Patrick Lamb, Esq. Will. Latton, Esq. James Long, of Draycot, Esq. Will. Lownds, Esq. Dennis Lydal, Esq. Mr Char. Longueville.

M.

Charles Mannours, Esq. Tho. Mansel, Esq. Bussy Mansel, Esq. Will. Martyn, Esq. Henry Maxwell, Esq. Charles Mein, Esq. Rich. Minshul, Esq. Ro. Molesworth, Esq. The Hon. Henry Mordaunt George Moult, Esq. Christoph. Mountague, Esq. Walter Moyl, Esq. Mr Charles Marbury Mr Chistoph. Metcalf Mrs Monneux

N.

Lord Norris Henry Neville, Esq. Will. Norris, Esq. Mr Will. Nicoll

O.

Ro. Orme, Esq. Dr Oliver, M.D. Mr Mich. Owen

P.

The Right Hon. Charles Earl of Peterborough Sir Henry Pechy, Bart. Sir John Phillips, Bart. Sir John Pykering, Bart. Sir John Parsons Ro. Palmer, Esq. Guy Palmes, Esq. Ben. Parry, Esq. Sam. Pepys, Esq. James Petre, Esq. Will. Pezeley, Esq. Craven Peyton, Esq. John Pitts, Esq. Will. Plowden of Plowden, Esq. Mr Theoph. Pykering, Prebend of Durham Coll. Will. Parsons Capt. Phillips Capt. Pitts Mr Daniel Peck

R.

Duchess of Richmond Earl of Radnor Lord Ranelagh Tho. Rawlings, Esq. Will. Rider, Esq. Francis Roberts, Esq. Mr Rose

S.

Lord Spencer Sir Tho. Skipwith, Bart. Sir John Seymour Sir Charles Skrimpshire J. Scroop of Danby, Esq. Ralph Sheldon, Com. Warw. Esq. Edw. Sheldon, Esq. John Smith, Esq. James Sothern, Esq. The Hon. James Stanley, Esq. Ro. Stopford, Esq. The Hon. Major-Gen. Edward Sackville Col. J. Stanhope Col. Strangways Mr James Seamer Mr William Seeks Mr Joseph Sherwood Mr Laurence Smith Mr Tho. Southern Mr Paris Slaughter Mr Lancelot Stepney

T.

Sir John Trevillion, Bart. Sir Edm. Turner Henry Temple, Esq. Ashburnam Toll, Esq. Sam. Travers, Esq. John Tucker, Esq. Major-Gen. Charles Trelawney Major-Gen. Trelawney Col. John Tidcomb Col. Trelawney Mr George Townsend Mr Tho. Tyldesley Mr Tyndall

V.

John Verney, Esq. Henry Vernon, Esq. James Vernon, Esq.

W.

Lord Marquis of Winchester Earl of Weymouth Lady Windham Sir John Walter, Bart. Sir John Woodhouse, Bart. Sir Francis Windham James Ward, Esq. Will. Wardour, jun. Esq. Will. Welby, Esq. Will. Weld, Esq. Th. Brome Whorwood, Esq. Salw. Winnington, Esq. Col. Cornelius Wood Mrs Mary Walter Mr Leonard Wessel

RECOMMENDATORY POEMS.

TO

MR DRYDEN,

ON HIS EXCELLENT

_TRANSLATION OF VIRGIL_.

Whene'er great Virgil's lofty verse I see, The pompous scene charms my admiring eye. There different beauties in perfection meet; The thoughts as proper, as the numbers sweet; And, when wild Fancy mounts a daring height, Judgment steps in, and moderates her flight. Wisely he manages his wealthy store, Still says enough, and yet implies still more: For, though the weighty sense be closely wrought, The reader's left to improve the pleasing thought. Hence we despaired to see an English dress Should e'er his nervous energy express; For who could that in fettered rhyme inclose, Which, without loss, can scarce be told in prose? But you, great Sir, his manly genius raise, And make your copy share an equal praise. Oh! how I see thee, in soft scenes of love, Renew those passions he alone could move! Here Cupid's charms are with new art exprest, And pale Eliza leaves her peaceful rest-- Leaves her Elysium, as if glad to live, } To love, and wish, to sigh, despair, and grieve, } And die again for him that would again deceive. } Nor does the mighty Trojan less appear Than Mars himself, amidst the storms of war. Now his fierce eyes with double fury glow, And a new dread attends the impending blow: The Daunian chiefs their eager rage abate, And, though unwounded, seem to feel their fate. Long the rude fury of an ignorant age, With barbarous spite, profaned his sacred page. The heavy Dutchmen, with laborious toil, Wrested his sense, and cramped his vigorous style. No time, no pains, the drudging pedants spare, But still his shoulders must the burden bear; While, through the mazes of their comments led, We learn, not what he writes, but what they read. Yet, through these shades of undistinguished night, Appeared some glimmering intervals of light; Till mangled by a vile translating sect, Like babes by witches _in effigie_ rackt: Till Ogleby, mature in dulness, rose, And Holbourn doggrel, and low chiming prose, His strength and beauty did at once depose. But now the magic spell is at an end, Since even the dead, in you, have found a friend. You free the bard from rude oppressors' power, And grace his verse with charms unknown before. He, doubly thus obliged, must doubting stand, Which chiefly should his gratitude command-- Whether should claim the tribute of his heart, The patron's bounty, or the poet's art. Alike with wonder and delight we viewed The Roman genius in thy verse renewed: We saw thee raise soft Ovid's amorous fire, And fit the tuneful Horace to thy lyre: We saw new gall embitter Juvenal's pen, And crabbed Persius made politely plain. Virgil alone was thought too great a task-- What you could scarce perform, or we durst ask; A task, which Waller's Muse could ne'er engage; A task, too hard for Denham's stronger rage. Sure of success, they some slight sallies tried; But the fenced coast their bold attempts defied: With fear, their o'ermatched forces back they drew, Quitting the province Fate reserved for you. In vain thus Philip did the Persians storm; A work his son was destined to perform. O! had Roscommon[269] lived to hail the day, And sing loud Pæans through the crowded way, When you in Roman majesty appear, Which none know better, and none come so near; The happy author would with wonder see, His rules were only prophecies of thee: And, were he now to give translators light, He'd bid them only read thy work, and write. For this great task, our loud applause is due; We own old favours, but must press for new: Th' expecting world demands one labour more; And thy loved Homer does thy aid implore, To right his injured works, and set them free From the lewd rhymes of grovelling Ogleby. Then shall his verse in graceful pomp appear, Nor will his birth renew the ancient jar: On those Greek cities we shall look with scorn, And in our Britain think the poet born.

TO

MR DRYDEN,

ON HIS

_TRANSLATION OF VIRGIL_.

I.

We read, how dreams and visions heretofore The prophet and the poet could inspire, And make them in unusual rapture soar, With rage divine, and with poetic fire.

II.

O could I find it now!--Would Virgil's shade But for a while vouchsafe to bear the light, To grace my numbers, and that Muse to aid, Who sings the poet that has done him right.

III.

It long has been this sacred author's fate, To lie at every dull translator's will: Long, long his Muse has groaned beneath the weight Of mangling Ogleby's presumptuous quill.

IV.

Dryden, at last, in his defence arose: The father now is righted by the son; And, while his Muse endeavours to disclose That poet's beauties, she declares her own.

V.

In your smooth pompous numbers drest, each line, Each thought, betrays such a majestic touch, He could not, had he finished his design, Have wished it better, or have done so much.

VI.

You, like his hero, though yourself were free, And disentangled from the war of wit-- You, who secure might others' danger see, And safe from all malicious censure sit--

VII.

Yet, because sacred Virgil's noble Muse, O'erlaid by fools, was ready to expire, To risk your fame again, you boldly chuse, Or to redeem, or perish with your sire.

VIII.

Even first and last, we owe him half to you: For, that his Æneids missed their threatened fate, Was--that his friends by some prediction knew, Hereafter, who, correcting, should translate.

IX.