Rome's ancient Genius, o'er its ruins fpread, 699 NOTES. ceeded fo well, as to bring good Letters into fashion: tơ which he gave new fplendor, by preparing for the press correct editions of many of the best ancient writers, both ecclefiaftical and prophane. But having laughed and shamed his age out of one folly, he had the mortification of seeing it run headlong into another. The VIRTUOSI of Italy, in a superftitious dread of that monkifh barbarity which he had fo feverely handled, would now ufe no term (for now almost every man was become a Latin writer) not even when they treated of the highest mysteries of Religion, which had not been confecrated in the Capitol, and difpenfed unto them from the facred hand of CICERO. Erafmus obferved the growth of this claffical folly with the greater concern, as he discovered under all their attention to the language of old Rome, a certain fondness for its religion, in a growing impiety which difposed them to think irreverently of the Chriftian Faith. And he no fooner difcovered it than he fet upon reforming it; which he did fo effectually in the Dialogue, intitled CICERONIANUS, that he brought the age back to that just temper, which he had been, all his life, endeavouring to mark out to it: Purity, but not Pedantry, in LETTERS; and Zeal, but not Bigotry, in RELIGION. In a word, by employing his great talents of genius and literature on fubjects of general importance; and by opposing the extremes of all parties in their turns; he completed the rare character of a TRUE CRITIC and an HONEST MAN. Cremona now shall ever boast thy name, But foon by impious arms from Latium chas'd, IMITATIONS. VER. 708. As next in place to Mantua,] Alluding to COMMENTARY. VER. 709. But foon by impious arms, etc.] This brings us to the third period, after learning had travelled still farther Weft; when the arms of the Emperor, in the fack of Rome by the duke of Bourbon, had driven it out of Italy, and forced it to pafs the Mountains-The examples he gives in this period, are of Boileau in France, and of the Lord Rofcommon and the Duke of Buckingham in England: And thefe were all Poets as well as Critics in verfe. It is true, the last inftance is of one who was no eminent poet, the late Mr. Walsh. This fmall deviation might be well overlooked, were it only for its being a pious office to the memory of his friend But it may be farther juftified, as it was an homage paid in particular to the MORALS of the Critic, nothing being more amiable than the character here drawn of this excellent perfon. He being our Author's Judge and Cenfor as well as Friend, it gives him a graceful opportunity to add him Yet fome there were, among the founder few COMMENTARY. felf to the number of the later Critics; and with a character of his own genius and temper, fuftained by that modesty and dignity which it is fo difficult to make confiftent, this performance concludes. I have here given a fhort and plain account of the Essay on Criticism; concerning which, I have but one thing more to acquaint the reader: That when he confiders the Regularity of the plan, the mafterly Conduct of each part, the penetration into Nature, and the compafs of Learning throughout, he should at the fame time know, it was the work of an Author who had not attained the twentieth year of his age. NOTES. VER. 723. Such was the Mufe-] Essay on Poetry by the Duke of Buckingham. Our Poet is not the only one of his time who complimented this Effay, and its noble Author. Mr. Dryden had done it very largely in the Dedication to his translation of the Æneid; and Dr. Garth in the first Edition of his Dispensary fays, "The Tyber now no courtly Gallus fees, "But fmiling Thames enjoys his Normanbys;" Tho' afterwards omitted, when parties were carried fo high in the reign of Queen Anne, as to allow no commendation to an oppofite in Politics. The Duke was all his life a steddy adherent to the Church of England Party, yet an Enemy to the extravagant Measures of the Court in the reign of Charles II. On which account, after having ftrongly patronized Mr. Dryden, a coolnefs fucceeded between them on that poet's To him the wit of Greece and Rome was known, Such late was Walth--the Mufe's judge and friend, view, The learn'd reflect on what before they knew: Not free from faults, nor yet too vain to mend. NOTES. abfolute attachment to the Court, which carried him fome lengths beyond what the Duke could approve of. This nobleman's true character had been very well marked by Mr. Dryden before, The Mufe's friend, Himself a Mufe. In Sanadrin's debate True to his prince, but not a slave of state. Abf. and Achit. Our Author was more happy; he was honoured very young with his friendship, and it continued till his death in all the circumstances of a familiar esteem. P. VOL. I. |