found to draw forth their latent qualities, I cannot but think it would be highly serviceable to the learned world, both in respect of recovering past knowledge, and promoting the future. Might there not be found certain gentle and artful methods, whereby to endear us to them? Is there no man in the world, whose natural turn is adapted to manage their society, and win them by a sweet similitude of manners? Is there no nation where the men might allure them by a distinguishing civility, and in a manner fascinate them by assimilated motions; no nation, where the women with easy freedoms, and the gentlest treatment, might oblige the loving creatures to sensible returns of humanity? The love I bear my native country prompts me to wish this country might be Great Britain; but, alas! in our present wretched divided condition, how can we hope that foreigners of so great prudence will freely declare their sentiments in the midst of violent parties, and at so vast a distance from their friends, relations, and country? The affection I bear our neighbour state, would incline me to wish it were Holland. Sed læva in parte mamille Nil salit Arcadico. Is it from France then we must expect this restoration of learning, whose late monarch took the sciences under his protection, and raised them to so great a height? May we not hope their emissaries will some time or other have instructions, not only to invite learned men into their country, but learned beasts, the true ancient man-tigers, I mean, of Ethiopia and India? Might not the talents of each of these be adapted to the improvement of the several sciences? The man-tigers to instruct heroes, statesmen, and scholars; baboons, to teach ceremony and address to courtiers; monkeys, the art of pleasing in conversation, and agreeable affectations to ladies and their lovers; apes of less learning, to form comedians and dancing-masters; and marmo sets, court-pages and young English travellers? But the distinguishing each kind, and allotting the proper business to each, I leave to the inquisitive and penetrating genius of the Jesuits in their respective missions. Vale et fruere. VIRGILIUS RESTAURATUS': SEU MARTINI SCRIBLERI, SUMMI CRITICI, CASTIGATIONUM IN ÆNEIDEM SPECIMEN. ENEIDEM totam, Amice Lector, innumerabilibus pæne mendis scaturientem, ad pristinum sensum revocabimus. In singulis fere versibus spuriæ occurrunt lectiones, in omnibus quos unquam vidi codicibus, aut vulgatis aut ineditis, ad opprobrium usque Criticorum, in hunc diem existentes. Interea adverte oculos, et his paucis fruere. At si quæ sint in hisce castigationibus, de quibus non satis liquet, syllabarum quantitates, poλɛyóμɛva nostra libro ipsi præfigenda, ut consulas, moneo. I. SPECIMEN LIBRI PRIMI2. VER. 1. ARMA Virumque cano, Trojæ qui primus ab oris 1 This was written to ridicule Bentley's edition of Milton, and, as the subject is fair, so many of the emendations, in the style of Bentley, are very happy and well conceived. The reason of Pope's anger against Bentley is said to have been,-that soon after the publication of Homer, meeting Bentley at dinner, he said, "I trust you have received my Homer, which I ordered the bookseller to send." Bentley, who wished to have avoided the subject, is said to have replied:-" I have received your translation, but pray do not call it Homer."-Bowles. 2 It is very easy, but very ungrateful, to laugh at collectors of various Littora. multum ille et terris jactatus et alto, Vi superûm— Arma Virumque cano, Trojæ qui primus ab aris Littora. multum ille et terris vexatus et alto, Ab aris, nempe Hercæi Jovis. vide lib. ii. v. 512. 550.-Flatu, ventorum Æoli, ut sequitur-Latina certe littora cum Æneas aderat, Lavina non nisi postea ab ipso nominata, lib. xii. v. 193.-Jactatus terris non convenit. II. VER. 52. Et quisquis Numen Junonis adoret? Longe melius, quam, ut antea, Numen; et proculdubio sic Virgilius. readings, and adjusters of texts, those poor pioneers of literature; who drag forward A waggon load of meanings for one word, While A's depos'd, and B with pomp restor❜d. "Levia To the indefatigable researches of many a Dutch commentator and German editor, are we indebted for that ease and facility with which we now are enabled to read. "I am persuaded," says Bayle, "that the ridiculous obstinacy of the first critics, who lavished so much of their time upon the question, whether we ought to say Virgilius or Vergilius, has been ultimately of great use; they thereby inspired men with an extreme veneration for antiquity; they disposed them to a sedulous inquiry into the conduct and character of the ancient Grecians and Romans, and that gave occasion to their improving by those great examples." Dict. tom. v. p. 795. I have always been struck with the following words of a commentator, who was also a great philosopher, I mean Dr. Clarke; who thus finishes the preface to his incomparable edition of Homer. quidem hæc, et parvi forte, si per se spectentur, momenti. Sed ex elementis constant, ex principiis oriuntur, omnia. Et ex judicii consuetudine in rebus minutis adhibitâ, pendet sæpissimè in maximis vera atque accurata scientia." Real scholars will always speak with due regard of such names, as the Scaligers, Salmasiuses, Heinsiuses, Burmans, Reiskiuses, Marklands, Gesners, Heynes, Toups, Bentleys, and Hares. "Sans ce qu'on appelle les érudits," says Marmontel, very sensibly, "nous serions encore barbares. C'est grace aux lumières qu'ils ont transmises, que leurs écrits ne sont plus de saison." Jortin used frequently to mention this attempt to discredit emendatory criticism with strong marks of derision; and I have now before me, a letter from Toup to Mr. Thomas Warton, in the same strain.-Warton. III. VER. 86. Venti, velut agmine facto, Venti, velut aggere fracto, IV. VER. 117. Fidumque vehebat Orontem. Non fidum. quia Epitheton Achata notissimum Oronti nunquam datur. V. VER. 119. Excutitur, pronusque magister Völvitur in caput. Excutitur: pronusque magis ter Volvitur in caput. Aio Virgilium aliter non scripsisse, quod plane confirmatur ex sequentibus-Ast illum ter fluctus ibidem Torquet. VI. VER. 122. Apparent rari nantes in gurgite vasto Armi hominum: Ridicule antea Arma virúm, quæ, ex ferro conflata, quomodo possunt natare? VII. VER. 151. Mirifice Atque rotis summas leviter perlabitur undas. Atque rotis spumas leviter perlabitur udas. Summas, et leviter perlabi, pleonasmus est. altera lectio Neptuni agilitatem et celeritatem exprimit. simili modo Noster de Camilla, Æn. xi. Illa vel intacta segetis per summa volaret, &c. hyperbolice. |