by any writer, till I found by reading Malherbe lately, that there is fearce any throughout his poems. I thought your obfervation true enough to be pafs'd into a rule, but not a rule without exceptions, nor that it ever had been reduced to practice: But this example of one of the most correct and beft of their Poets has undeceived me, and confirms your opinion very strongly, and much more than Mr. Dryden's authority, who, tho' he made it a rule, feldom obferv'd it. Your, etc. I LETTER VII. June 10, 1709. Have received part of the verfion of Statius, and return you my thanks for your remarks, which I think to be juft, except where you cry out (like one in Horace's art of Poetry) pulchre, bene, recte! There I have fome fears you are often, if not always, in the wrong. One of your objections, namely on that paffage, The rest revolving years shall ripen into fate, may be well grounded, in relation to its not being the exact sense of the words Certo reliqua ordine ducam. But the duration of the Action of Statius's poem may as well be excepted againft, as many things befides in him: (which I wonder Boffu has not observ'd) for instead of confining his narration to one year, it is manifeftly exceeded in the very first two books: the narration begins with Oedipus's prayer to the Fury to promote difcord betwixt his fons; afterward the Poet exprefsly describes their entering into the agreement of reigning a year by turns; and Polynices takes his flight from Thebes on his brother's refusal to refign the throne. All this is in the first book; in the next Tydeus is fent ambassador to Eteocles, and demands his refignation in thefe terms, * See the first book of Statiùs, v. 302. Afriferum Aftriferum velox jam circulus orlem But Boffu himself is mistaken in one particular, relating to the commencement of the action; saying in book ii. chap. 8. that Statius opens it with Europa's rape, whereas the Poet at moft only deliberates whether he should or Ire, Deae? gentifne canam primordia dirae, but then expressly paffes all this with a longa retro feries and fays limes mihi carminis efto Oedipodae confufa domus. Indeed there are numberlefs particulars blame-worthy in our author, which I have try'd to soften in the version: dubiamque jugo fragor impulit Oeten In latus, et geminis vix fluctibus obftitit Ifthmus, is moft extravagantly hyperbolical: Nor did I ever read a greater piece of tautology than Vacua cum folus in aula Refpiceres jus omne tuum, cunctofque minores, Et nufquam par ftare caput. In the journey of Polynices is fome geographical error, In mediis audit duo litora campis could hardly be; for the Ifthmus of Corinth is full five miles over: And caligantes abrupto fole Mycenas, is not confiftent with what he tells us, in lib. iv. lin. 305, "that "thofe of Mycena came not to the war at this time, "because they were then in confufion by the divifions of "the brothers, Atreus and Thyeftes." Now from the raifing the Greek army against Thebes, back to the time of this journey of Polynices, is (according to Statius's own account) three years. Yours, etc. LETTER TH LETTER VIII. July 17, 1709. HE morning after I parted from you, I found myfelf (as I had prophefied) all alone, in an uneafy Stage-coach; a doleful change from that agreeable company I enjoy'd the night before! without the leaft hope of entertainment but from my last recourse in such cases, a book. I then began to enter into acquaintance with your Moralifts, and had just receiv'd from them fome cold confolation for the inconveniencies of this life, and the uncertainty of human affairs, when I perceiv'd my vehicle to ftop, and heard from the fide of it the dreadful news of a fick woman preparing to enter it. 'Tis not eafy to guefs at my mortification, but being fo well fortify'd with philofophy, 1 ftood refign'd with a ftoical conftancy to endure the worst evils, a fick woman. I was indeed a little comforted to find, by her voice and drefs, that the was young and a gentlewoman; but no fooner was her hood remov'd, but I faw one of the fineft faces I ever beheld, and, to increase my furprize, heard her falute me by my name. I never had more reason to accuse nature for making me fhort-fighted than now, when I could not recollect I had ever seen those fair eyes which knew me fo well, and was utterly at a lofs how to address myself; till with a great deal of fimplicity and innocence the let me know (even before I discover'd my ignorance) that fhe was the daughter of one in our neighbourhood, lately marry'd, who having been confulting her phyficians in town, was returning into the country, to try what good air and a husband could do to recover her. My father, you must know, has fometimes recommended the ftudy of phyfic to me, but I never had any ambition to be a doctor till this inftant. I ventur'd to prescribe fome fruit (which I happen'd to have in the coach) which being forbidden her by her doctors, she had the more inclination to. In fhort, I tempted, and fhe eat; nor was I more like the VOL. III. Y y Devil Devil than fhe like Eve. Having the good fuccefs of the forefaid Tempter before my eyes, I put on the gallantry of the old ferpent, and in fpite of my evil form accofted her with all the gaiety I was mafter of; which had fo good an effect, that in less than an hour fhe grew pleafent; her colour return'd, and fhe was pleas'd to say my prefcription had wrought an immediate cure: In a word, I had the pleasanteft journey immaginable. Thus far (methinks) my letter has something of the air of a romance, tho' it be true. But I hope you will look on what follows as the greateft of truths, that I think myfelf extremely obliged by you in all points; especially for your kind and honourable information and advice in a matter of the utmoft concern to me, which I fhall ever acknowledge as the higheft proof at once of your friendship, juftice and fincerity. At the fame time be affur'd, that Gentleman we fpoke of, fhall never by any alteration in me difcover my knowledge of his mistake ; the hearty forgiving of which is the only kind of return I can poffibly make him for fo many favours: And I may derive this pleafure at leaft from it, that whereas I muft otherwife have been a little uneafy to know my incapacity of returning his obligations, I may now, by bearing his frailty, exercise my gratitude and friendship more, than himself either is, or perhaps ever will be fenfible of. Ille meos, primus qui me fibi junxit, amores Abftulit; ille habeat fecum, fervetque fepulchro ! But in one thing, I must confefs you have yourself obliged me more than any man, which is, that you have fhew'd me many of my faults, to which as you are the more an implacable enemy, by fo much the more are you a kind friend to me. I could be proud, in revenge, to find a few flips in your verfes, which I read in London, and fince in the country, with more application and pleasure the thoughts are very juft, and you are fure not to let them fuffer by the verfification. If you would oblige me with the truft of any thing of yours, I should be glad to execute any commiffions you would give me concerning them. I am here fo perfectly at leifure, that nothing would be fo agreeable an entertainment to me; but if you will not afford me that, do not deny me at leaft the fatisfaction of your letters as long as we are abfent, if you would not have him very unhappy, who is very fincerely Your, etc. Having a vacant fpace here, I will fill it with a fhort Ode on Solitude, which I found yesterday by great accident, and which I find, by the date, was written when I was not twelve years old; that you may perceive how long I have continued in my paffion for a rural life, and in the fame employments of it. Happy the man, whose wish and care A few paternal acres bound, Content to breathe his native air In his own ground. Whofe herds with milk, whofe fields with bread, Bleft, who can unconcern'dly find Hours, days, and years slide soft away, Quiet by day. Sound fleep by night; ftudy and easy, Thus, let me live, unfeen, unknown, |