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of his are for the moft part more certain, which are made from conjectures, than thofe from ancient copies and manuscripts.

'Twas never my intention to call in question the skill and abilities of one, whofe reputation in learning is so deservedly established: but there was a good piece of advice, (which I cannot so easily país over, because of univerfal use to critics,) offered him, when first he made his design known of publishing his Horace; which was, to admit into the context all thofe better readings, for which he had the authority of ancient manufcripts; but as to meer conjectural corrections, to place them in his notes. His reply to this advice was, as might be expected, "No, for "then who will regard them ?"

Our great critic was too well guarded by his learning, to have his own reply turned as a farcafm against himself, which might fo juftly be turned against many dealers in the critical craft, who, with little or no stock in trade, fet up. for correctors and fucceffors of Ariftarchus. There

3 Of this particular circumstance I was informed by the late learned Mr. Wafs of Aynoe. I will add here a rule of Graevius, in his preface to Cicero's offices: A prifcis libris non recedendum, nifi aut librarii, aut fcioli peccatum fit tam reftatum, ut ab omnibus, qui non caligant in fole, videri poffit.

is one part of their cunning, that I cannot help here mentioning, which is, their intruding their own gueffes and reveries into the context, which, first meeting the reader's eye, naturally prepoffefs his judgment: mean while the author's words are either removed entirely out of the way, or permitted a place in fome remote note, loaden with mifreprefentations and abuse, according to the great goodness of the most gracious critic; who with his dagger of lath on his own ftage, like the old Vice, or modern Harlequin, belabours the poor Devil of his own raifing.

Who is there but will allow greater liberty for altering authors, who wrote before the invention of printing, than fince? Blunders upon blunders of transcribers interpolations-gloffes-omiffions various readings-and what not? But to try thefe experiments, without great caution, on Milton or Shakespeare, though it may be sport to you, as the pelted frogs cried out in the fable, yet, Gentlemen, 'tis death and destruction to the little taft remaining among us.

SECT. II.

HAVE often wondered with what kind of reasoning any one could be fo far impofed on, as to imagine that Shakespeare had no learning;

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when it must at the fame time be acknowledged, that without learning, he cannot be red with any degree of understanding, or taft. At this time of day he will hardly be allowed that ' inspiration, which his brother bards formerly claim'd; and which claim, if the pretenfions were any ways answerable, was generally granted them. However we are well affured from the hiftories of his times, that he was early initiated into the facred company of the Muses, and tho' he might have fmall avocations, yet he foon returned again with greater eagerness to his beloved ftudies. Hence he was poffeffed of fufficient helps, either from abroad, or at home, to midwife into the world his great and beautiful conceptions, and to give them birth and being. That a contrary opinion

1 Cicero pro Arch. Poet. A fummis hominibus eruditifssimifque accepimus-Poetam naturâ ipfâ valere—et quafi divino quodam fpiritu inflari. De Nat. Deor. II. 66. Nema igitur vir magnus fine aliquo afflatu divino unquam fuit. In Plato's Io, there is a great deal to the fame purpose concerning this poetic rapture and enthusiasm; where a certain poet is mentioned, who having made a number of very bad verses, wrote one poem which he himself said was evenμá ro Murar: the poem happened to be a very extraordinary one; and the people took the poet's word, thinking it impoffible, without infpiration, that so bad a poet should write fuch good verfes.

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has ever prevailed, is owing partly to Johnson's jealousy, and partly to the pride and pertness of dunces, who, under fuch a name as Shakespeare's, would gladly fhelter their own. idleness and ignorance.

He was bred in a learned age, when even the 3 court ladies learnt Greek, and the Queen of England among scholars had the reputation of being a scholar. Whether her fucceffor had equal learning and fenfe, is not material to be at prefent enquir'd into; but thus far is certain, that letters, even then, ftood in fome rank of

praise.

2 And though thou hadft fmall Latin and lefs Greek.

'Tis true Johnson says very handsome things of him presently after for people will allow others any qualities, but those which they highly value themselves for.

3 See what Ascham writes of Lady Jane Grey, (who lived fome time before Shakespeare) in his fcholemaster, p. 37. Edit. Lond. 1743. and afterwards, p. 67. of Queen Elizabeth. "It is your fhame (I speak to you all, you young gentlemen of England) that one maid "fhould go beyond you all in excellency of learning, and

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knowledge of divers tongues. Point forth fix of the "best given gentlemen of this court, and all they together "fhew not fo much good will, spend not so much time, "bestow not fo many hours daily, orderly and conftantly, "for the increase of learning and knowledge, as doth the Queen's majesty her felf. Yea I believe that befide her perfect readiness in Latin, Italian, French and Spanish, B 3

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praise. Happy for us, that our poet, and Johnfon, came into life fo early; that they lived not in an age, when not only their art, but every thing elfe that had wit and elegance began to be defpifed; 'till the minds of the people came to be difpofed for all that hypocrify, nonfenfe, and fuperftitious fanaticism, which foon after like a deluge overwhelmed this nation. 'Twere to be wifhed, that with our reftored king fome of that taft of literature had been restored, which we enjoyed in the days of Queen Elizabeth. But when we brought home our frenchified king, we did then, and have even to this day continued to bring from France our models, not only of letters, but

The readeth here now at Windfor more Greek every day, "than fome prebendary of this church doth read Latin in "" a whole week." Sir H. Savil in his latin speech at Oxford thus compliments her ; Illa commemorabo, quæ vulgò minus nota, non minus certe mirabilia ad laudem : te, cum tot literis legendis, tot dictandis, tot manu tua fcribendis fufficias. *** te magnam diei partem in graviffimorum autorum fcriptis legendis, audiendifque ponere: neminem nifi fua lingua tecum loqui; te cum nemine nifi ipforum, aut omnium communibus Latina, Graecague. Omitta plebeios philofophos, quos raro iz manus Jumis. Quoties divinum Platonem animadverti tuis interpretationibus diviniorem effectum ! quoties Ariftotelis obfcuritates principis philofophorum, à principe foeminarum evolutas atque explicatas!

(O shame

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