Lo! here, enveloped long in Chaos dark, The World shoots upward-from the Sun-a spark! Another spark begets another sphere, (And he will tell you how it fix'd, and where!) 560 Till sparks succeeding sparks like wildfire gleam, Anon a planetary host to beam !— Busby, dost ever, to translate thy Sage, Turn to our Litchfield Deist's glowing page? 'T would save thee trouble,- for atomic laws 565 Should Dr. Busby ever need a motto to his name, or his works, 1 Who deigns permit his softly speaking Son, NOTES. I would, by all means, recommend this, as exemplifying both in a very eminent degree. Endued with a considerable portion of vanity, and with a very moderate share of talent, he has succeeded in drawing the attention of the town upon himself and his son. That this has not been to the advantage of either, I should think, by this time, he is perfectly sensible*; and he is now waiting with considerable impatience the appearance of his Lucretius, to efface, in some degree, the too great eclât of his own as a public orator. Of his work, and the manner in which it has been introduced to the world, I cannot refrain from saying a few words. It was first noticed in the public papers in the following manner: "The learned and ingenious Dr. Busby is at present employed in a translation of Lucretius." This was the puff oblique, and was continued for some time, varying at intervals:-" We are happy to inform our readers," &c. "It is with great pleasure we announce, &c. &c. to be in great forwardness." The next was * This was written early in 1813, before the publication of Dr. Busby's Lucretius. With outstretched arm, and voice serenely clear, (Not to offend an honorable ear,) NOTES. the puff relative (or the puff of the relative) as follows:-" Mr. George Frederick Busby had the honor of reciting to a select party, different passages of his father's elegant translation, &c. &c. which will shortly be laid before the public." As the third and last gradation, the climax of the puff,-prospectuses and proposals have been printed and circulated like a cheap shop's bill of wares all over London. Is this either honorable to his abilities, or flattering to his genius! The Son has also a touch of the "furor scribendi," and is well known by a Serenade in the Monthly or Gentleman's Magazine, (the refuge of all milk-and-water poets, such as Messrs. Taylor, Black, Gatt, Capel Lofft, &c. &c.) and a most delicious unalogue, which, bad as it was, surpassed the monologue of his father. Of his recitation I will only say, Triste de aquel cautivo, Que a escucharos, señor, es condenado ; Que esta muriendo vivo De versos enfadado, Y a decir que son buenos es forzado! DON IIERNANDO de ACUÑA. To spout the efforts of a Father's lyre, And kindred Dulness with the sound inspire; Then bribes some Paper of the coming day To praise the Poet, and his flowing Lay, 575 Tell with what easy grace the wond'rous child Ah, hapless George! when late a British Pit 585 Gazed round the house with well contented air, Bowed low, and cleared his croaking throat with care; In shape of "monologue" the effort ran, And thus, with well-known posture he began:- 590 "When energizing objects men pursue, What are the wonders that they cannot do?” More had he said; but, that th' increasing noise Thrice he essayed, with powers unknown before, Sighed o'er his inj'ries*, and condoled his Sire. That shouting throngs to Bombast have decreed; 595 For swelling nonsense find the proper sphere? 600 For one like him he proudly deems unmeet. 605 NOTES. * The whole of this ridiculous scene is too well known to need repetition. |