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Ver. 57. This is furely a new and noble thought, to compare the protuberant muscles of a giant to the rocky fhelves under water, that are worn smooth and round by the transparent stream.

Ver. 61. Diomed is thus array'd II. B. 10. This faid, the hero o'er his fhoulder flung A lion's spoils, that to his ancles hung. Pope. Ver. 95. Before trumpets were invented, conchs were used to found the signal for battle. Virgil fays of Mifenus,

Sed tum forte cavâ dum perfonat æquora conchâ. En. B. 5.

Improv'd in spirit to the fight he came.

Ver. 1 39.

454.

Pitt.

Multa viri nequicquam inter fe vulnera jactant, Multa cavo lateri ingeminant, et pectore vaitos Dant fonitus.

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433

II. B. 23. 688.

And painfulfweat from all their membersflows.Pope. Ver. 150. These addreffes to the mufes are fre quent in the best poets.

Pandite nunc Helicona, Deæ, &c. En. 7. 641.
Et meminiftis enim, Divæ, et memorare poteftis,
Ver. 156. Virgil follows very clofe;
Oftendit dextram infurgens Entellus, et alte

Erulit: ille ictum venientem a vertice velox Pravidit, celerique elapfus corpore ceffit.

Ver. 163.

ed, and fubmitted to the difcretion of the victor
thus Turnus in Virgil:

En. B. 5. 443 Vicifti, et victum tendere palmas Aufonii vidêre.
Thine is the conqueft; lo! the Latian bands
Behold their general firetch his fuppliant hands.

Erra:que aures et tempora circum Crebra manus: duro crepitant fab vulnere malæ.

435.

With swift repeated words their hands fly round Their heads and cheeks; their crackling jaws refound.

Pitt.

Pitt.

I fhall finish my obfervations on this Idyllium, with a tranflation of a Greek opinion of Lucillius, fhowing that the confequences of thefe kind of bat

Ver. 162. The Greek verfe confifts of feventeen tles were fometimes very terrible, though the comfyllabies,

Σε τι χείη μέλαν αίμα ένας κράβοιο χανοντας,

and was certainly intended to image the trickling of the blood, which I have endeavoured to preferve in an Alexandrine.

Ver. 169. It was cuftomary in the ancient combats for the vanquished perfon to ftretch out his hands to the conqueror, fignifying that he declin. ed the battle, acknowledged that he was conquer

batants might efcape with their lives and linibs.

On a Conqueror in the Cæftus, Antbol. B. 2. This victor, glorious in his olive wreathe, Had once eyes, eye-brows, nofe and ears, and teeth; But turning cæftus champion, to his coft, Thefe and still worfe! his heritage he lost; For by his brother fu'd, difown'd at last, Confronted with his picture he was caft.

IDYLLIUM XXII.

PART II.

THE ARGUMENT.

CASTOR and Pollux had carried off Phoebe and Talaira, the daughters of Leucippus, brother of the deceased Aphareus, who were betrothed to Lynceus and Idas, the sons of Aphareus; the husbands purfued the ravishers, and claimed their wives; on this a battle enfued, in which Caftor kills Lynceus and Idas is flain by lightning. Ovid relates the event of this combat very differently. See

the Note.

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Oft, though ungrac'd with eloquence and art, Thus have I fpoke the language of my heart :' "Princes, my friends, fhould not on any score "Solicit maids that are efpous'd before:

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Sparta for virgins, Elis for fwift fteeds "Are fam'd, large flocks and herds Arcadia breeds; "Meffene, Argos numerous natives boast, 31 "And fair looks Corinth on the fea-beat coaft: "There nymphs unnumber'd bloom, a lovely race, Acknowledg'd beauties both of mind and face: There ye may gain the dames your fancies choofe; "No parents will the rich and brave refuse. "For you the love of noble deeds infpires; "Ye are the fons of honourable fires. "Let us our nuptials undifturb'd pursue, "And we'll unite to find fit brides for you." 40 My words ne'er mov'd your unrelenting minds, The waves receiv'd them from the driving winds. Yet now, ev'n now your deeds let juftice guide; We both are coufins by the father's fide. But if mad rage impe's you not to yield, And arms mutt fix the fortune of the field; Let Idas and brave Pollux both refrain From the fell combat on the lifted plain: And only I and Caitor prove our might, By birth the youngeft in decifive fight.

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Why should we give our parents cause to grieve, And their fond arms of all their fons bereave: Let fome furvive our drooping friends to cheer, And mate the virgins whom they held fo dear, The wife with prudence their diffenfions state, And leffer ills conclude the great debate.'

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Thus he, nor thus in vain; for on the ground Pollux and Idas plac'd their arms around. Lynceus first march'd undaunted to the field, And shook his fpear beneath his ample fhield. Caftor to war his brandish'd lance addreft; And on each helmet wav'd the nodding creft. First with their spears began the dreadful ftrife, Each chief explor'd the avenues of life. But thus unhurt the battle they maintain'd, Broke in their fhields the fpears fharp points remain'd: [drew, Then from their sheaths their fhining fwords they And fierce to fight the raging heroes flew : On Lyncens' buckler Caftor boldly prest, And his bright heimet with the triple creft; Lynceus, sharp-fighted, kept his foe at bay, And truck his helmet's purple plume away; Who quick retreating all his art difplay'd, And-top the hand that held the glittering blade: Down drept the fword; to his fire's romb he flew, Where Idas fat the fatal fight to view: Clofe follow'd Caftor, all his force apply'd, And furious drove the faulchion in his fide, Outguth'd his bowels through the gaping wound, And vanquish'd Lynceus preft the gory ground;

70

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In dim, dark mifts the fhades of death arife,
And in eternal flumber feal his eyes.
Nor was brave Idas by his mother led,
Laocoolfa to the nuptial bed:

For he, vindictive of fall'n Lynceus' doom,
Tore up a column from Aphareus' tomb,
Aiming at Caftor, dreadfully he stood,
The bold avenger of his brother's blood;
Jove interpos'd, and with the forked brand
Quick ftruck the polifh'd marble from his hand;
He wreath'd convulfive, fcorch'd on every fide,
And in a peal of rattling thunder dy'd.
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Thus fhall the brothers be with conqueft
crown'd,

Brave of themselves, and fprung from chiefs renown'd.

Hail, Leda's valiant fons! my mufe inspire,
And still preferve the honour of my lyre.
Ye, and fair Helen, to all bards are dear,
With joy the names of those bold chiefs they hear,
Who in the caufe of Menelaus drew
Their conquering fwords, proud Ilium to fub-
due.

Your praife, O kings, the Chian mufe recites
Troy's famous city, and the Phrygian fights,
He fings the Grecian fleet renown'd afar,
And great Achilles, bulwark of the war.
I bring the tribute of a feebler lyre,
Sweet warbling what the rapturous nine inspire,
The best I may; verfe to the gods belongs;
The gods delight in honorary fongs.

100

NOTES ON IDYLLIUM XXII.

Ver. 5. Ovid's account of this battle begins at verfe 700 of the 5th book of his Fafti; "Abftu. lerant raptas Phœben," &c.

The fons of Tyndarus, with conqueft crown'd,
For boxing one, and one for fleeds renown'd,
Had ftol'n, injurious, as their lawful prey,
Leucippus' daughters from their mates away;
Lynceus and Idas claim fuperior right,
Long fince affianc'd, and prepare for fight.
Love urges both to combat on the plain,
Thefe to retake, the others to retain.

The brother-twins might well escape by speed,
But held it bafe by flying to fucceed.
All on an open plain the champions flood,
Aphidna nam'd, fit place for fcenes of blood.
Caftor by Lynceus' fword receiv'd a wound
Deep in his fide, and lifelefs preft the ground;
Avengeful Pollux, quick advancing near,
Through Lynceus' fhoulders drove the forceful
fpear:

On him preft Idas, but Jove's flaming brand
Dafh'd the pois'd javelin from his litted hand.

F. F.

PART II.

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An. 12. 78.

The celebrated ballad called Chevy Chace, has the fame thought;

Let thou and I the battle try,

And let our men afide, &c.

Ver. 51. Thus Nifus addreffes Euryalus in the fame fenfe,

Neu matri miferæ tanti fim caufa doloris.

Æn. 9. 216.
Why should I caufe thy mother's foul to know
Such heart-felt pangs! unutterable woe! Pitt.
Ver. 60. Thus Mezentius in Virgil,
At vero ingentum quatiens Mezentius haftam
Hor. Epode 7. Ingreditur campo.
Æn. 10. 762.

Ver. 16.

Quo, quo fcelefti, ruitis? aut cur dexteris Aptantur enfes conditi?

Ver. 63. In almost all heroic duels, the combatants first threw their spears, and then made ufe of their fwords. Thus Hector and Achilles, Iliad, B. 20. and 22. Menelaus and Paris, B. 3. and the reft of the heroes attack one another.

Ver. 64.

Partes rimatur apertas,

Quà vulnus lethale ferat.

Ver. 69.

Vaginaque cavâ fulgentem diripit enfem.

Potter.

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Caftor and Pollux, firft in martial force,

Virg. En. B. 11. 748. One bold on foot, and one renown'd for horfe:
My brothers thefe; the fame our native fhore,
One house contain'd us, and one mother bore.
Perhaps the chiefs, from warlike toils at ease,
For diftant Troy refus'd to fail the feas:
Perhaps their fword fome nebler quarrel draws,
Afham'd to combat in their fifter's caufe.

En. B. 10. And from the fheath the shining faulchion drew.

Pitt.

Ver. 71. Horace fays, Non polis oculo quantum contendere Lynceus. B. 1. Ep. 1. Hence the proverb of Lyncean eyes: Pindar tells us, Lynceus could difcover Caftor and Pollux hid in the trunk of a tree from the top of mount Taygerus: nay, he had fo piercing a fight, that if we believe the poets, he could fee what was doing in heaven and hell: the ground of the fable was, that he underflood the fecret powers of nature. Though it may admit of a doubt, whether this is the harp-fighted Lynceus that attended the Argonautic expedition; from the poet's words, Axpres separi Avyzsus, I think it manifeft that he

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Ver. 72.

Sammafq, excuffit vertice criftas. Æn. 12. 492.
But the fwift javelin firikes his plume away.

Ver. 74

Strymonio dextram fulgenti diripit enfe.

The faulchion lops his hand.

Ver. 81.

1

Pitt.

En. B. 10. 414.

So fpoke the fair, nor knew her brother's doom,
Wrapt in the cold embraces of the tomb;
Adorn'd with honours in their native fhore,
Silent they flept, and heard of wars no more.

As Theocritus both here and in the 7th Idyllium, flyles Homer the Chian Bard, Xio Acider, we have reafon to conjecture, that Chios has the honour of being the place of his nativity: Simonides in his Epigram on Human Life, calls him the Man of Chios; for quoting a verfe of Homer, he fays,

Ev de to na22,1509 X103 stiev ang. The Chians pleaded thefe ancient authorities for Homer's being born among them: they mention a race they had, called the Homerida, whom they accounted his pofterity; they caft medals of him; they fhow to this day an Homerium, or temple of Homer, near Boliffus; and clole their arguments with a quotation from the hymn to Apollo (which is acknowledged for Homer's by Thucydides), where he calls himself, "The blind man that inhabits Chios." One cannot avoid being furprised at the prodigious veneration for his character, which could engage mankind with fuch eagerness O dura quies oculos, et ferreus urget in a point fo little effential; that kings fhould fend Sominus; in æternum clauduntur lumira noctem. to oracles for the inquiry of his birth-place; that En. 10. 745. cities fhould be in ftrife about it; that whole lives of learned men fhould be employed upon it; that Hor. B. 4. Ode 4 feme fhould write treatifes, others call up fpirits about it: that thus, in fhort, heaven, earth and hell, fhould be fought to, for the decifion of a queftion which terminates in curiofity only. Thus far Mr. Pope, in his Effay on Homer. Yet, though this point is not effential, and only matter of curiofity, we may observe, that these inquiries, difputes, and contentions, plead strongly in favour of the mufes, and fet the character of a poet in the most eminent and exalted station.

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As unhappy lover, defpairing to gain the affections of his miftrefs, by whom he is defpifed, makes away with himfelf: the cruel fair is foon after killed by the image of Cupid, that fell upon her as The was bathing.

AN amorous thepherd lov'd a cruel fair;
The Laughty beauty plung'd him in despair :

She loth'd the fwain, nor aught her breast could
She fcorn'd the lover, and the god of love; [move

Nor knew the puiffance of his bow and darts,
To tame the stubbornefs of human hearts.
With cold difdain the griev'd the fhepherd fore,
The more he figh'd, the fcorn'd him ftill the more.
No folace fhe afforded, no foft look,

Nor e'er the words of fweet compaffion fpoke: IC
Her eye, her cheek, ne'er glow'd her flame to prove,
No kifs fhe gave, the lenient balm of love:
But as a lion, on the defert plain,

With favage pleasure views the hunter train;
Thus in her fcorn fevere delight fhe took;
Her words, her eyes, were fierce, and death was
in her look.

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20

She look'd her foul; her face was pal'd with ire;
Yet fhe was fair; her frowns but rais'd defire.
At length, he could no more, but fought relief
From tears, the dumb petitioners of grief;
Before her gate he wept, with haggard look,
And, kiffing the bare threshold, thus he fpoke:
Ah, favage fair, whom no entreaties move!
• Hard heart of ftone, unworthy of my love!
Accept this cord, 'tis now in vain to live,
This friendly gift, the last that I fhall give;
I go where doom'd; my love, my life are o'er,
No more I grieve, and you are teaz'd no more;
go the laft kind remedy to prove,
And drink below oblivion to my love.
But, ah! what draughts my fierce defires can
Or quench the raging fury of my flame? [tame,
Adieu, ye doors! eternally adieu!
I fee the future, and I know it true.
Fragrant the rofe, but foon it fades away;
The violet fweet, but quickly will decay;
The lily fair a tranfient beauty wears;
And the white fnow foon weeps away in tears:
Such is the bloom of beauty, cropt by time,
Full foon it fades, and withers in its prime. 40
The days will come when your hard heart shall

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In fcorching flames, yet meet no kind return.

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'Or rather add, "My deareft lover's dead."
With this infcription be the ftone fupplied;
"By Cupid's dart this hapless fhepherd dy'd;
"Ah! paffenger, a little moment spare
"To ftop, and fay, He lov'd a cruel fair."
This faid, he tries against the wall to fhove
A mighty ftone, and to a bean above
Sufpends the cord, impatient of delay,
Fits the dire noofe, and fpurns the ftone away;
Quivering in air he hung, till welcome death
Securely clos'd the avenues of breath.
The fair one, when the pendant fwain she saw,
Nor pity felt, nor reverential awe;
But as fhe pafs'd, for not a tear the fhed,
Her garments were polluted by the dead.
Then to the circus, where the wrestlers fought,
Or the more pleafing bath of love fhe fought:
High on a marble pedestal above,
Frown'd the dread image of the god of love,
Aiming in wrath the meditated blow,
Then fell revengeful on the nymph below;
With the pure fountain mix'd her purple blood-
These words were heard emerging from the flood:
"Lovers, farewell; nor your admirers flight;
Refign' I die, for Heav'n pronounces right."

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31

NOTES ON IDYLLIUM XXIII.

THE argument of this Idyllium is fimilar to the
argument of Virgil's fecond eclogue, though this
is more tragical: I have taken the liberty to make
a general transformation, which renders it a thou-
fand times more natural, decent, and gallant.
Ver. I.

Formofum paftor Corydon ardebat Alexim.
Virg. Ec. 2.

Young Corydon with hopeless love ador'd
The fair Alexis, favourite of his lord. Warton.
Ver. 7. Ovid fays of Anaxareté,
Spernit et irridet; factifque immitibus addit
Verba fuperba ferox; et ipe quoque fraudat aman-
Met. B. 14. 714.

tem.

Ver. 16. The Greek is, Exey avazzav, or, as Heinfius more plaufibly reads, Eider avaynav, "The fooked neceffity," that is, death or fate; thus Horace has,

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Semotique prius tarda neceffitas
Lethi corripuit gradum.

B. 1. 0.3. And, Te femper anteit fæva neceffitas. B. 1 0.35. Which elegant ufe of the word effitas he has taken from the Grecians: Pindar has, aga avayxx and Euripides, dan avayxn, which is exactly the dira neceffitas of Horace, B. 3. O. 24.

Ver. 21. Thus Ovid, fpeaking of Iphis, Non tulit impatiens longi tormenta doloris Iphis, et ante fores hæc verba noviffima dixit. Met. B. 14.

Ver. 30. Virgil fays of fouls that endure tranfmigration,

Lethæi ad fluminis undam
Securos latices, et longa oblivia potant. Æn. B. 6.
To yon dark streams the gliding ghofts repair,
And quaff deep draughts of long oblivion there.

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