EPISTLE IV. Page 57. This Epistle was first printed in the year' 1741. 60. Like Egypt's priests, &c.] Quis nescit- -qualia demens Aegyptus portenta colat? Crocodilon adorat. 62. Fast to the thread of life, &c.] JUVENAL. Sat. 15. BACON, de augmentis Scientiarum. ibid. -Egypt's monarch Philadelphus. -] Ptolemy 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 a 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, History of Gustavus Adolphus ;" jumble of excellent materials -) "the -an uncouth a Treatise on Agriculture," and a volume of Poems, entitled "the Amaranth.' He died at Bath in 1773. 79. "As thy own goddess Epistle to Southernę. -] Fenton's -] Leonardi EPISTLE VIII. 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 Bristol, and author of an excellent ode on Divine Vengeance. 87. Nigh where, &c.] Charing-Cross. ibid. Perhaps the spot where now stands Powell's stage,]· Under the Piazzas of Covent-Garden, See Specta tor, No. 14, ibid. Spanish Fryar. -fat Dominic's the jest.] Dryden's 89. T' have sat at Athens when the Clouds were play'd.] The Clouds,' a play of Aristophanes, where Socrates is throughout satirised, at which, when repre sented, he was present, and shewed not the least con cern. ibid. When Shadwell gives his ideot clown a miss,] Young Hartford, in his Lancashire Witches.' ibid. Go read Quintilian de movendo risu.] Stulta reprehendere facillimum est, nam ex se sunt ridicula, sed rem urbanam facit aliqua ex nobis adjectio. 95. When good Urganda battles for her knight,] His British Enchanters. 96. The free-born Cato, &c.] Though Cato at this time was neither published, nor completed, yet four acts of it had been submitted to the inspection of Friends. 99. Here Bullock's cudgel] Bullock was celebrated in low comedy, and particularly for the parts of testy old men, 100. He, by Religion a Tragedian made, Play'd virtuous parts, and liv'd the parts he play'd.] Such is the universal attestation to the character of Betterton. had an eye in this passage to the the next Epistle. 100. The Laureat sicken'd, 101. Perhaps the Author story of Genest. See -] Colley Cibber. Of this performer Nokes trod the stage, &c.] some idea may be formed from the following extract: -“Nokes was an actor of a quite different genius from any I have ever read, heard of, or seen, since or before his time; and yet his general excellence may be comprehended in one article, viz, a plain and palpable simplicity of nature.-His person was of the middle size, his voice clear and audible; his natural countenance grave and sober; but the moment he spoke, the settled seriousness of his features was utterly discharged, and a dry, drolling, laughing levity took such full possession of him, that I can only refer the idea of him to your imagination. In some of his low characters that became it, he had a shuffling shamble in his gait, with so contented an ignorance in his aspect, and an aukward absurdity in his gesture, that had you not known him, you would not have believed that naturally he could have had a grain of common sense." Cibber's Apology, p. 118. ibid. Barry-Bracegirdle-Powell.] See Cibber's Apology, p. 132, 141, 166. 102. The pleas'd spectator dreads a king in Keene.] Theophilus Keene, not a first rate performer, though praised by many for the majesty of his performance. ibid. We hop'd, alas! we hop'd a nearer view,] The Players, at this time expected at Oxford, were for bidden to come. They, however, went thither again after Cato was brought on the stage. 103. Should Oldfield then, &c.] Afterwards Mrs. Booth, who lived till January 15, 1773. The characters for which she is here celebrated are Andromache, in Philips's Distressed Mother;' and Loveit, in Etherege's Man of Mode.' ibid. 'Tis said young Ammon, &c.] See Plutarch's Life of Alexander.' 104. To see that Hercules, &c.] A new Opera, so called. ibid. The Terence and Vitruvius of his times;] Sir John Vanbrugh. EPISTLE IX. Page 106. This ingenious and sprightly writer was son of Dr. Pierson Lloyd, second master, for many years, of Westminster School; where, and at Trinity College, Cambridge, he was eminently distinguished, for his poetical powers, and his eccentric conduct. Between him and the celebrated Charles Churchill a most cordial attachment subsisted. The generosity of the latter frequently relieved the former's distresses, whilst his death was accelerated by the death of his friend. Poor Lloyd made his exit in the Fleet Prison on the 15th of December 1764. Mr. Wilkes, to whom he was well known has portrayed him, as "mild and affable in private life, of gentle manners, and very engaging in conversation. He was an |