"And in HIS [r. THIS, des] mantle muf- "Even at the bafe of Pompey's ftatue, fell." This circumftance of the mantle, which Cafar is Jaid to put on when he conquered the Nervii, is finely feigned, to heighten still the prefent diftrefs, by recalling in the minds of the Romans the victories of their murdered beroe.-There is a very small alteration I would propofe" And in this mantle, "&c." the action and emphafis is highly improved by this eafy change. But let us fee the-Nothingness of what follows. "That day be overcame the Nervii] Here "Shakespeare defcribing a great General makes him "put on his new babit, or robes of triumph, after "bis villory. Homer defcribing a VAIN-GLORI"OUS ONE makes him put them on before the fight, " and while he only expected to overcome, σε δ' ἐνδύνε χιώνα σε Καλὸν νηγάτεον.” Mr.W. I know not which to admire moft, the fagacity or learning of this deep-fighted remark. How accurate too is the citation? δ ̓ ἐνδύνε χιτώνα. As As vor and naì often begin a sentence, fo might ▲ for ought our critic knows to the contrary. Let us confider likewife the reafon for this abufe of the Grecian General; the VAIN-GLORIOUS Agamemnon! but for what? why, for putting on a warm, new, handsome waftcoat, when be arofe early in the morning: for this is all, I affure the reader that the citation proves.—But let us see the passage as it ftands in the original: Agamemnon being roufed by a Dream fent from Jupiter gets up before break of day, and dresses himself first in a foft, handsome and new tunic, or waftcoat [xilva ;] over which be cafts a large cloke [μíľa Qãgos ;] then he puts on a pair of neat Shoes; and over his fhoulders he bangs bis filver-ftudded fword: Μαλακὸν δ ̓ ἔνδυνε χιτῶνα Καλὸν, νη[άτεον περὶ δ ̓ αὖ μέγα βάλλειο φαρος· Thus tranflated by Mr. Pope. "Firft on his limbs a flender veft he drew, By By this time I believe the reader fees how this "Critic by profeffion," was misled by a poet by profession: The regal mantle catches his eye; immediately be turns to the Greek, and then gives us this notable citation, δ ̓ ἐνδύνε χιλώνα καλὸν, νηγάτεον. But, in the name of the Muses, where is THE REGAL MANTLE, THESE ROBES OF TRIUMPH, all this while? Why in δ ̓ ἐνδύνε χιλώνα What! xiluva [as he writes it] a regal mantle, a robe of triumph?—I am weary in refuting fuch trafb.Let the reader now turn to the preface and notes of this late-taught critic, and reflect a little on the bluftering language and Pistol-diction. "But you must learn to know fuch flanders "of the age, or else you may be marvelously mif"taken." But tho' it falls not to our Critic's fhare to be Skilled in the nobler writings of ancient Greece; yet as an English author is the present subject of criticism, to be knowing in the English language and English authors may be deemed fufficient.—There is an English author, which was much studied by Shakespeare, Shakespeare, but very fuperficially by Shakespeare's editors, now lying before me. 'Tis well known that the Coke's Tale of Gamelyn was the original of the play called As you Like it. A Midfummer's Night's Dream bad its origin from The Knight's Tale; which I don't remember to have feen, as yet, taken notice of. There are some paffages of Chaucer's Troilus and Crefeide in a Flay of the fame name by our Tragedian; and feveral imitations there are likewife, very elegantly interfperfed, in other plays, which fome time or other may be pointed out: at prefent I fhall content myself with the following in King Lear, A&t III. Where the Fool thus fpeaks, "I'll speak a prophecy OR ERE Igo. "When Priests are more in words than mat"ter, &c. "OR ERE I go is not English, and should be belped thus, " I'll speak a prophecy OR TWO ERE I go." Mr. W. I am fure our Critic has not helped the measure.But is not OR ERE I GO English? In the Tempest, [A&. I. Sc. 2. p. 6. Mr. W's edition :] Thus I find it printed, << I would "Have funk the fea within the earth; OR ERE "It fhould the good ship fo have fwallow'd." In Cymbeline [At V. Mr. W's edit. p. 334.] Thofe, that would die OR ERE refift, are <c grown "The mortal bugs o'th' field." If this is not English, what shall we say to the moft correct English translation that ever was made? "And the Lions-brake all their bones or ever "they came at the bottom of the den." Dan. VI, 14.But let us fee this humorous prophecy. "When priests are more in words than matter; And cut-purfes come not to throngs; "Then shall the realm of Albion "Come to great confusion : Then comes the time, who lives to fee't "That going fhall be us'd with feet. |