Gen'rous converfe; a foul exempt from pride; And love to praise, with reafon on his fide? Such once were Critics; fuch the happy few, Athens and Rome in better ages knew. The mighty Stagirite first left the shore, 645 Spread all his fails, and durft the deeps explore; He steer'd fecurely, and difcover'd far, Led by the light of the Mæonian Star. VARIATIONS. Between 647 and 648. I found the following lines, fince fuppreft by the author: That bold Columbus of the realms of wit, Like his great Pupil, figh'd, and long'd for more: A boundless empire, and that own'd no fway. NOTES. VER. 643. with REASON on his fide ?] Not only on his fide, but actually exercised in the fervice of his profeffion. That Critic makes but a mean figure, who, when he has found out the excellencies of his author, contents himfelf in offering them to the world, with only empty exclamations on their beauties. His office is to explain the nature of thofe beauties, fhew from whence they arife, and what effects they produce; or, in the better and fuller expreffion of the Poet, Poets, a race long unconfin'd, and free, 658 Receiv'd his laws; and ftood convinc'd 'twas fit, Who conquer'd Nature; fhould prefide o'er Wit. Horace still charms with graceful negligence, And without method talks us into sense, 655 Will, like a friend, familiarly convey The trueft notions in the easiest way: He, who fupreme in judgment, as in wit, 659 Yet judg'd with coolness, tho' he fung with fire; His Precepts teach but what his work pire. Our Critics take a contrary extreme, They judge with fury, but they write with flegm NOTES. VER. 653. Who conquer'd Nature, fhould prefide d'er Wit By this is not meant perfical Nature, but moral. The force of the obfervation confifts in our understanding it in this fenfe. Fot the Poet not only ufes the word Nature for human naturėj throughout this poem; but also, where, in the beginning of it, he lays down the principles of the arts he treats of, he makes the Knowledge of human nature the foundation of all Criticism and Putry. Nor is the obfervation les true than appofite. For, Arifita's natural enquiries were fuperficial, and ill made, tho' extentive: But his frgitzl and incomble. In there he has unfolded the h the receties of the heart and Fies, not only compared N. Not as Dan? Feet the them; but cles. Nor fuffers Horace more in wrong Tranflations The scholar's learning, with the courtier's eafe, 673 COMMENTARY. 482. Thus long fucceeding Critics, etc.] The next pethe true Critic (he tells us) appear'd, was at the Foration of letters in the Welt. This occafions hiftor m683 to 710.] of the decline *ES. Poets, a race long unconfin'd, and free, 650 Receiv'd his laws; and ftood convinc'd 'twas fit, Who conquer'd Nature; fhould prefide o'er Wit. 655 Horace still charms with graceful negligence, And without method talks us into sense, Will, like a friend, familiarly convey The trueft notions in the easiest way: He, who fupreme in judgment, as in wit, 659 Yet judg'd with coolness, tho' he fung with fire; His Precepts teach but what his work pire. Our Critics take a contrary extreme, They judge with fury, but they write with flegma NOTES. VER. 653. Who conquer'd Nature, should prefide o'er Wit By this is not meant phyfical Nature, but moral. The force of the obfervation confifts in our understanding it in this fenfe. For the Poet not only ufes the word Nature for human nature, throughout this poem; but also, where, in the beginning of it, he lays down the principles of the arts he treats of, he makes the knowledge of human nature the foundation of all Criticism and Poetry. Nor is the obfervation lefs true than appofite. For, Ariftotle's natural enquiries were fuperficial, and ill made, tho' extenfive: But his logical and moral works are incomparable. In thefe he has unfolded the human mind, and laid open all the receffes of the heart and understanding; and by his Catego ries, not only conquered Nature, but kept her in tenfold chains: Not as Dulness kept the Mufes, in the Dunciad, to filence them; but as Ariftaus held Proteus in Virgil, to deliver Ora cles. Nor fuffers Horace more in wrong Tranflations The scholar's learning, with the courtier's ease, 675 COMMENTARY. VER. 682. Thus long fucceeding Critics, etc.] The next period in which the true Critic (he tells us) appear'd, was at the revival and reftoration of letters in the Weft. This occafions his giving a fhort hiftory [from 683 to 710.] of the decline NOTES. |