Page images
PDF
EPUB

This maiden blossom, a subsequent line discovers to mean a Princess Margaret; and the sense requires that the second line should mean the "mangled father" of Margaret; but does not the grammar refer "her mangled father" to Scotland, and so make nonsense?

Canto III. Stanza x. If the Author is as great a friend to the Church, as she professes herself to be to the Constitution of England, I suppose she considered the distance of time a sufficient apology for painting the character of Bp. Beke in the strongest, I will not say the brightest, colours. Might it not have been s well, since she has not confined herself to correct history, not to have dragged into notice, on this occasion at least, those derelictions from the Episcopal character, which the early Historians have not alluded to, and which have escaped the sarcasms even of Hume? In Godwin and Tanner alone can I find the slightest imputation on his name; and I will add, in the true spirit of the Scottish proverb, "There is no sik a word in all Wallace.", As there is a note given by Miss Holford on the Bishop's retinue, it may not be amiss to correct it by the following extract from Holinshed. "The Byshop of Durham, ruling in the second battaile of the Englishemen, consisting of sixe and thirtie standerds or banners, knowing the let of that moss or maris, made toward the Easte side, hasting forth to be the firste that shoulde give the onset." Vol. II. 833. p.

"And his cheek blush'd bright with the flush of fire." Stanza XV.

If this is not tautology, is it not an awkward line? In the next Stanza, only six lines farther, a good one is rather spoiled by the proximity of blushes:

"Blush'd its farewell to expiring day." Canto IV. Stanza vii. xi. xiii. In comparing these, there will be found a repetition of thought and expression that seems to require alteration, besides the unnecessary information, that those who were" mute and still," maintained a "silence dread."

In Canto I. and II. is not the adjective" arching" too conspicuously repeated and has any reader failed to feel his mind oppressed by the weight of the word "pouderous" in its tenfold recurrence?

"And dear to my heart sounds the

mournful swell,

As it swings on the air of thy curfew knell.”
Canto V. St. xxxii. and xxxvii.

I will here suppose the Critick taking
advantage of this description, and
expressing himself in words like the
following: A swell swinging on the
air of a knell!! Preposterous! as if
the knell caused the air for a swell to
swing on. The knell, however, of
Ruskie bell may have resembled a
plaintive or grave air, rendered more
solemn by an occasional swell. Or is
it possible that the Author intended a
more simple painting, and really
meant that the mingled sensations of
pain and pleasure were excited by
the vibrating sound of the Curfew, as
it floated along the liquid air ?

"And to the lips the traitor steep In infamy and scorn." Was the writer, when penning this, in expectation of a dinner party, and had just laid aside Mrs. Glasse's Cookery? This receipt for steeping

a

[ocr errors]

traitor has the unquestionable merit of originality, and deserves insertion in a more palatable book than' "Wallace." Conceive demons of vengeance preparing a grand dejeuné for their fellow-fiends, at which a traitor steeped in infamy and scorn is served up! To complete the dish, "memory,' steeped in tears of blood," would doubtless be found a See very highly approved sauce. Canto II. Stanza xxviii. Who dares to deny to a Critick such privileges as these, when the "Canons of Criti cism" decree, that "He should not allow any poetical licences, which he does not understand?"

But a truce with the Criticks. It now only remains to notice some errors of grammar, and of the press.

Canto III, Stanza xlviii. I. 7, 8. The rhyme has misled the fair Author to confound singular and plural.

Canto IV. Stanza xvi. l. 6, 7. These are probably only misprinted.

Canto V, Stanza Ixi. The first six lines should not be marked with inverted commas,

In Canto V. David says, "'tis thee I love the best." He should say, 'tis thou. See Lowth's Grammar, p. 97. I hope I have not exceeded the limits you affix to articles of this To avoid unnecessary prokind. lixity, I have omitted several remarks S. E. Y. which I had made. Mr.

1

1

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

I

Mr. URBAN,

Sept. 11. PROCEED with the Analysis of Books, which I promised, if the plan met with your approbation.

(Continued from p. 116.)
No. II.

[ocr errors]

Title. "Advice to a Son, or Directions for your better Conduct through the various and most important Encounters of this Life. Under these generall heads. I. Studies, &c. II. Love and Marriage. III. Travell, IV. Government. V. Religion. Conclusion. The fift Edition, Oxford. Printed by H. Hall, Printer to the University, for Thomas Robinson, 1656," 12mo. The Author was Francis Osborn; and as he illustrates his precepts by frequent reference to the manners and characters of his own times, his little book becomes a matter of curiosity, as well as of information.

Preface. "To the Reader, concerning the fourth Edition. This having already (in three quarters of a yeare) thrice run the gantlet, without having received any considerable stripes, I have, in requital of so much candor (denyed to more desert) made a considerable enlargement," &c.

I. Studies." Though I can never pay enough to your grandfather's memory for his tender care in my education, yet I must observe in it this mistake, that by keeping me at home, where I was one of my young Masters, I lost the advantage of my most docile time. For, not undergoing the same discipline, I must needs come short of their experience that are bred up in Free-schools; who, by plotting to rob an orchard, &c. run thro' all the subtilties required in taking of a town, under no higher penalty than a whipping.-A mixt education sutes imployment best. I have observed in Collegiate discipline, that all the reverence to superiors, learned in the Hall or Chapell, is lost in the irreverent discourse you have of them in your chambers: by this you leave the principall businesse of youth neglected; which is, to be perfect in patience and obedience: habits no where so exactly learned, as in the foundations of the Jesuites, could they be fatcht thence without prejudice to religion or freedome.-Auge volumes, like the oxe roasted whole at Bartholmew Faire, may proclaime plenty of labour and invention, but

1

afford less of what is delicate, savory, and well concocted, then smaller peices.-Books flatly writ debase your stile: the like may truly be objected to weak preachers and ignorant company. Pennes improving, like children's leggs, proportionably to their exercise. This appeared in the late K. Charles, who, after his more imperions destiny had placed him under the tutorage of an unavoidable necessity, attained a pen more majesticall then the Crown he lost. And tho' K. James had such an over-csteeme of his owne learning, that he imagined all who deserved in that kind, rob'd the monument he sought to build to his fame: the foundation of which he fondly conceited to have laid in the opinion of the world by his printed Bookes, believing they would be vaued by impartiall posterity, at the same rate his flatterers set them up to in his life-time; yet in this he was so far exceeded by his Son, that all that come after may learn, Experience is a better tutor than Buchanan.-Avoid words and phrases likely to be learned in base company, lest you fall into the error the late Archbishop Laud did; who, tho' no ill speaker, blunted his repute, by saying in the Starchamber, Men entered the Church, as a Tinker and his bitch do an ale

house: But this may easily be declined by those who read for their imitation the incomparable lines of the late King, written in a stile as free from affectation as levity.---In a case of importance heare the reasons of others pleaded, but be sure not to be so implicitly led by their judgements, as to neglect a greater of youre owne: As Charles of England did, to the loss of his crown."

II. Love, &c. "To cure youth wholly of this desire, were as uneasy a task as to devest it of humanity: Therefore I expect you should be tossed in this storme, but would not have you ship-wrack't, by contracting yourself to the Ocean, unlesse, with the Duke of Venice, you might yearely repeat the ceremony to as great an advantage." [Against some of the Author's observations on this subject, the Writer enters his protest; and proceeds.]

III. Travel. "They, and they only, advantage themselves by travell, who, well fraught with the experience their own country affords,

carry

[graphic]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

carry over with them large and thriv ing talents, as those servants did, commended by our Saviour.-Let not the irreligion of any place breed in you a neglect of divine duties: remembring, God heard the prayers of Daniel in Babylon, with the same attention he gave to David's in Sion. -Consort with none who scoffe at their own religion, but shun them as spies or atheists."

"Contract not

IV. Government. the common distemper, incident to vulgar braines, who still imagine more ease from some untried government than that they lye under.-Be not the pen or mouth of a multitude, congregated by the gingling of their own fetters; lest a pardon or compliance knock them off, and leave you to the vengeance of an exasperated power: but rather have patience, and see the tree sufficiently shaken, before you run to scamble for the fruit; lest, in stead of profit and honour, you meet with a cudgell, or a stone.-'Tis not dutiful nor safe, to drive your prince by a witty answer, beyond all possibility of reply. This a Carver at Court, formerly in good esteem with K. James, found to his prejudice, who being laught at by him for saying the wing of a rabbit, maintained it as congruous as the fore-legge of a capon, a phrase used in Scotland, and by himself here: which put the King so out of patience, as he never looked on the gentleman more. The like I have been told of a Bishop, who being reproved by the same Prince for preaching against the Papists, during the treaty with Spaine, replyed, He could never say more than his Majesty had writ. Goe thy way, quoth the King, and expect thy next translation in heaven, not from me.---At a conference, to speak last is no small advantage, as Mr. John Hampden wisely observed, who made himself still the Gaol-keeper of his party, giving his opposites leasure to loose their in the loud and less significant tempest, commonly arising upon a first debate: thus by confounding the weaker, and tiring out the acuter judgements, he seldom failed to at taine his ends."

V. Religion. "Read the Book of God with reverence, and in things doubtful, take fixation from the authority of the Church.---Be content GENT. MAG. October, 1810,

3

to let your judgement wade, rather than swim, in the sense of the Scriptures: because our deep plungers have often been observed to bring up sandy assertions. For, if Brightman, known by myself pious and learned, could be so out in his calcu lations for the Pope's fall, as to the time; what encouragement remains for you to perplex your studies or expectation, when those hieroglyfical obscurities shall be performed ?---Be not easily drawn to lay the foule imputation of witchcraft upou any, much lesse to assist at their condemnation, too common among us: for who is sufficient for such things ?---Be not hasty to register all you understand not in the black Calendar of Hell, -as some have done the weapon-salve, passing by the cure of the King's Evil, altogether as improbable to sense; neither rashly condemn all you meet with that contradicts the common received opinion, lest you should remain a foole upon record, as the Pope doth, that anathematized the Bishop of Saltzburg for maintaining Antipodes; and the Consistory, that may possibly attain the same honour, for decreeing against the probable opinion of the Earth's "motion ; since the branding of one truth imports more dis-repute than broaching of ten errors, these being only lapses in the search of new reason, without which there can be no addition to knowledge: that, a mur dering of it, when by others greater wit and industry it is begotten; not to be accounted less than an unpardonable sin against the spirit of learning. Therefore mingle charity with judgement, and temper your zele with discretion; so may your own be preserved, without intrenching upon that of others."

the

Conclusion. "Beare alwaies a filial reverence to your deare Mother, and let not her old age, if she attain it, seem tedious unto you; since that little she may keep from you, will be abundantly recompensed, not only by her prayers, but by the tender care she hath, and ever will have, of you: Therefore, in case of my death (which weariness of the world will not suffer me to adjourn, so much as by a wish), doe not proportion your respect by the mode of other sons, but to the greatness of her desert,

beyond

« PreviousContinue »