Page 2. Where wings, &c.] These and the like conceits of putting Poems into several shapes by the different lengths of lines, are frequent in old Poets of most languages. 20. And he's Septimius, and his Acme she :] With such a husband, such a wife, With Acme and Septimius' life. EPISTLE II. COWLEY. Page 21. This, and the Seventh Epistle, to Thomson, were published in Dublin 1733, and reprinted in London in 1734. Commendatory Verses by W. Walsh, of the county of Clare; C. White, B. A. of Trinity College, Dublin; and R. Lloyd, B. A. of Fanstown near Charleville, accompanied them. 22. You fly to deserts but to blaze the more ;] The coming of his Lordship to Ireland. ibid. Sage Temple, -] Sir William. 30. And all those voices make one harmony.] This excellent allegory of Plato, intimates that all things obey the divine law, and concur to produce those effects which are the consequences of the causes that God has established. 31. -Mantegna- -] Born at Padua 1431, was conspicuous for his historical pictures and skill in perspective. The best of his pieces are the Triumphs of Julius Caesar, at Hampton-Court. 32. And from the stone sweet harmony rebounds.] The statue of Memnon, son of Aurora, was made of stone. See Herodotus. 32. Beside his chisel let Mount Athos stand.] It was proposed to Alexander the Great, to turn Mount Athos into the statue of this monarch, with the ocean in a bason in one hand, and a large city in the other. —his carv'd Venus.— -] The Venus de 33. Medicis. ibid. And thunder-bolts descend in figur'd stone ;] This curious representation is on the pillar of Antonine. It exhibits Jupiter raining on the army of Marcus Aurelius, and fulminating on that of his enemies. Hence the Christian Legion was called the thundering. ibid. Here let thy graver through rock-diamond run,] These lines are to be understood of antiques, arms, and cyphers, cut in precious stones. Pyrgoteles, a celebrated sculptor, hardly engraved on aught but jewels. 34. ibid. -him of Tyre.] Hieram. -The Tuscan lifts th' imperial urn.] Trajan's pillar at Rome was the first of this order, the spire of which was appointed for the Emperor's ashes. See Evelyn on Architecture. ibid. —the neat Ionic shaft] Of this order was the famous temple of Diana at Ephesus, which took up two hundred years in building. See Palladio. 36. So wild Lycaon fled his own abode, Chang'd, &c. -] The story of Lycaon might possibly have been taken from that of Nebuchodonosor; for priding himself in those gardens, which he caused to be built for his Queen, who loved the prospects of Media, he was, in the same place and moment, changed to a wild beast. 36. This was the Nymph that did wise Numa please.] Egeria. 39. There Athens' friend Themistocles appears,] See Valerius Maximus, de Pietate erga Patriam. ibid. On Cannae's field see Paulus, &c.] Paulus Emilius. 40. Let Helen's beauty kindle sweet desire, In Zeuxis' colors, and with Homer's fire ;] Zeuxis, from the choice of five naked Virgins, drew that wonderful picture of Helen, which Cicero in his book de Oratore sets before us as the most perfect example of beauty.-Julio Romano formed his taste from the study of Homer. ibid. As long as Kensington with Greenwich vie ;] See the cieling in the great hall of that Hospital, painted by Sir James Thornhill. 42. By architecture last he lays the scheme.] Palladio lays down but five orders of architecture, and Longinus five sources of the sublime. 46. 47. -The best judge and critic of his time.] Longinus. -Consider Plutarch well.] In his tract "Of reading the Poets." 48. The name of Lawson, &c.— on Oratory in Trinity College, Dublin. -] Lecturer 51. "For none have been with admiration read, "But who, beside their learning, were well bred."] "Essay on Translated Verse," by the Earl of Ros common. EPISTLE IV. Page 57. This Epistle was first printed in the year 63. Shall the same cause, which prompts the chatt'ring jay To aim at words, inspire the poet's lay ?] Persius. 66. Behold th' Athenian Sage,- Apologia. -] Platonis EPISTLE VI. Page 78. The writer of this Epistle, published in 1727, "Poems on several Occasions," and "an Essay on Reason," before he had attained his nineteenth year; and aftewards, “an Essay on Satire, particularly the Dunciad," besides some occasional sermons. Becoming vice-principal of St. Mary Hall, and distinguishing himself there as a Tutor, he was recom mended to the late Lord Chesterfield by Pope and Lord Lyttleton, to attend on his Son. With him he travelled, and acquitted himself so well in the discharge of his trust, that he was rewarded with a canonry of Windsor. His other Writings are, "the History of Gustavus Adolphus ;” (- -an uncouth jumble of excellent materials-) "a Treatise on Agriculture," and a volume of Poems, entitled "the Amaranth." He died at Bath in 1773. Page 86. Of this Epistle the Author has given the follow account.-This poem was written last Summer [1712], upon the following occasion: the Spectator's account of the "Distressed Mother" had raised the author's expectation to so high a pitch, that he made an excursion from college to see that tragedy acted, and upon his return was commanded by the Dean to write upon the Art, Rise, and Progress of the English stage; which how well he has performed is now submitted to the judgment of that worthy gentleman to whom it is inscribed. Notwithstanding the account here given by Mr. Webster in the year 1713, Jacob ascribes this production to a Mr. Reynardson of Baliol College, son of a Turkey merchant, collector of the customs at |