T. WARTON'S POETICAL WORKS. ART. V. The Poetical Works of the late Thomas Warton, B. D. Fellow of Trinity College, Oxford, and Poet-Laureat. Fifth Edition, corrected and enlarged. To which are now added, Inscriptionum Romanarum Delectus, and an Inaugural Speech, &c; together with Memoirs of his Life and Writings, and Notes critical and explanatory. By RICHARD MANT, M.A. Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford. 8vo. 2 vols. pp. about 700. THE memory of the Wartons is deservedly dear to all lovers of English literature. Mr. Mant has performed an acceptable service to the public in thus Warediting the poems of the younger ton; we should rejoice to see the same due tribute paid to the elder brother also. The memoirs of Thomas Warton contain, of course, little incident to create or gratify curiosity; he led an easy, indolent, collegiate life, amusing himself with literary pursuits. Mr. Mant has published his first composition, a letter written when he was nine years old. Dr. Joseph Warton always preserved it as a literary curiosity, and as such we copy it. 'Op Leander's swimming over the Hellespont to Hero: translated by me from the Latin of Martial. "When bold Leander sought his distant fair, Nor could the sea a braver burthen bear,) Thus to the swelling waves he spoke his woe, Drown me on my return,--but spare me as Igo. "I agree with you in thinking that friendhip, like truth, should be without form or mament; and that both appear best in their ishabille. Let friendship, therefore, and ruth, music and poetry, go hand in hand. "The above verses I know are a trifle-but nu will make good-natured allowances for y little young muse; it will be my utmost mbition to make some verses, that you can et to your harpsichord ;-and to shew you pon all occasions how sincerely I am your fuctionate brother, From the School, Nov. 7, 1787. "THOMAS WARTON." The following circumstances appear Dus to prove what has generally been armised. "On the anonymous publication of the Heroic Epistle to Sir William Chambers, bout the year 1776, it is known that varijus opinions were entertained as to who was he author. Mr. Warton being present in a arge company, where it was the subject of conversation, ascribed it to Mason. The declaration was at first made inadvertently. Well,' said he, if I had been Mason, I would not have written it.' When his words were taken up, he was surprised at his having so committed himself; but having once delivered, proceeded to substantiate his opinion. It was founded on the internal evidence of the poem; versification, style, &c. But, Mr. Warton, style is so uncertain a criterion how can you pretend to say that the poem was written by Mason from its style? Just,' he answered, as a hatter would tell you who made that hat.' ་ The opinion, thus delivered and supported, by some means came to the knowledge of Mason; who, having occasion to write to Warton about the time, took notice of it in the following letter: "But while I have the pleasure of writing to you, I feel myself half inclined to add a short expostulation on another subject. I have been told that you have pronounced me very frequently in eompany to be the author of the Heroic Epistle to Sir William Chambers, and I am told too that the premier himself suspects that I am so upon your authority. Surely, sir, mere internal evidence (and you can possibly have no other) can never be sufficient to ground such a determination upon, when you consider how many persons in this rhyming age of ours are possessed of that knack of Pope's versi fication, which constitutes one part of the merit of that poem; and as to the wit, humour, or satire which it contains, no part of my writings could ever lead you, by their analogy, to form so peremptory a judgment. I acquit you, however, in this procedure of every, even the slightest, degree of ill-nature; and believe that what you have said was only to shew your critical acumen. I only mention it, that you may be more cautious of speaking of other persons in like manner, who may throw such anonymous bantlings of their brain into the wide world. To some of these it might prove an essential injury; for though they might deserve the frown of power, (as the author in question certainly does,) yet I am persuaded that your good nature would be hurt if that frown was increased or fixed by your ipse dixit. 46 To say more on this trivial subject, would betray a solicitude on my part, very foreign from my present feelings or inclination. My easy and independent circumstances make such a suspicion sit mighty easy upon me; and the minister, nay the whole ministry, are free to think what they "Rev. Sir, "I hold ingratitude to be one of the basest crimes that can stain the human character. I have deemed it therefore my indispensible duty to transmit the inclosed to you, as a testimony of my grateful recollection for the peculiar service you have rendered me, in setting the first example of a joke, by the continuance of which I have already profited so much, and hope to do still more so by the succession of future editions, with which the accompanying effusions will be indispensably honoured in future. Had it not been for the inimitable effort of luxuriant humour which proceeded from you on the occasion I allude to, the world would have been deprived of the most astonishing exhibition of genuine joke, that ever graced the annals of literature, and I should have been still more unhappy to have lost the opportunity of a competent independency. I entreat you, therefore, good sir, to accept my warmest gratitude, and believe me to be ever yours, "The Editor of the Probationary Odes." On this letter Mr. Mant has simply remarked, that his readers may perhaps understand it he should have stigmatized it as it deserves. Every writer lays himself open to public satire as poet-laureat, Warton was almost officially exposed; he himself, with his characteristic good humour, joined honestly in the laugh. But this letter was a private insult, for which, as no provocation had been given, so no palliation can be admitted. Some odd peculiarities of Warton are noticed by his biographer. "It will be no serious imputation on the character of such a man to say, that he had his singularities and imperfections. Biographical justice requires that such things should be noticed; and a sinile may perhaps be excited at the information, that the historian of English Poetry was fond of drinking his ale and smoking his pipe with sons of mean rank and education; that he partook of a weakness which has been attributed to the author of the Rambler, and believed in preternatural apparitions; that, in his fondness for pleasantry and humour, he per delighted in popular spectacles, especially when enlivened by the music of a drum and that such was his propensity to be present at public exhibitions, as to have induced him at a time, when he was desirous of not being discovered, to attend an execution in the dress of a carter." Of his love of the drum we remember an anecdote current at Oxford. He was a member of the Jelly Bag Society, so called because the fellows of that fourdation wore jelly bags on their heads. From the absurdity of this costume the place of meeting was kept secret. It was known that Warton was a member, and a drum was beat through the streets as the best means of discovering him. The bait took, he could not resist the sound, but throwing up the window, thrust out head and jelly bag to see what was passing. "It has been remarked, that during his residence at Winchester he was fond of associating with his brother's scholars: indee! he entered so heartily into their sports and employments, as to have been occasionally involved in rather ludicrous incidents. Be ing engaged with them in some culinary occupation, and alarmed by the sudden proach of Dr. Warton, he has been known has been drawn out from his hiding place, to conceal himself in some dark corner, and to the no small astonishment and amusement of the doctor, who had taken him for some great boy. He would assist the boys in making their exercises, generally contri ing to accommodate his composition to the capacity of him whom he was assisting How many faults?' was a question, the answer to which regulated him; and a bey was perhaps as likely to be flogged for the verses of Mr. Warton as for his own. "I remember that an anecdote used to be told relating to this part of Mr. Wart conduct, which is somewhat characters" of both the brothers. Warton had given boy an exercise; and the doctor thinking too good for the boy himself, and suspecting the truth, ordered him into his study after school, and sent for Mr. Warton. Th exercise was read and approved: And des you think it worth half-a-crown, Mr. Warton?' said his brother: Mr. Warton assented Well then, you shall give the boy o Our author accordingly paid the hall-crow. for his own verses, and the doctor enjoy“, the joke." Rat-hunting was a sport in which delighted to join with the boys; whe one of these expeditions was to be dertaken, he supplied themes and ver for the truants who required them. f will not be wondered at that the nam of Tom Warton should be beloved by all the Wykehamists who remember him. The editor compares the studies and performances of Warton and Gray, as being contemporaries, between whom there existed more than a general resemblance of talents, pursuits, taste, and acquirements. "Partiality to my author," he says, "shall not lead me to dispute, that as a poet the palm of superiority must be adjudged to Gray. "But in making this concession, some reservation may not unfairly be claimed. It should be remembered that the poems of Gray were uniformly composed on subjects chosen by himself; but that the subjects of some of the best of Warton's were imposed by the duty, and encumbered with the weight, of an official station. Nor is this all-for it may farther be added, that in every point the superiority of Gray is far from manifest; that if Gray has more abstract poetry, Warton has more picturesque imagery; if Gray has more fire, Warton ields not to him in grandeur; if Gray mote frequently strikes the imagination, Warton not less successful in delighting it; and hat if, in the examination of individual pieces, Gray is allowed to be more perfect, Warton, in the general estimate, has cerainly more variety. Not a poem of Gray's can be mentioned, but one of the same kind may be produced from Warton: but several of the poems of Warton are such kinds as Gray has never attemp.ed.” One fault is common to both poets, that of too often substituting sound for sense, swelling out sentences that are as beautiful as bubbles in the sunshine, and as empty, if examined. Mr. Mant might fairly have allowed Warton the praise of more originality; for Gray, with all his merit, is a maker of centos, a putter-together of mosaic pictures; the designs are indeed his own, but he has picked out the materials piece by piece. The editor is mistaken in asserting that Warton, as a commentator on Eng. lish poetry, "possesses the singular me rit of having been the first to illustrate his authors by an examination of the works with which they had been principally conversant." That merit is Theobald's, and it provoked the envy of Pope, who being an indifferent scholar, and a worse commentator, abused Bentley for his learning, and Theobald for his annotations. Mr. Mant's criticism on the poetry of his author, contains no error so important as to need correction, and no obANN. REV. Vol. II, servations of such novelty or utility as to deserve to be extracted. Why does he call our heroic verse the English pentameter? The five-foot Iambic, or the ten-syllable line should be its name : to call it a pentameter because it contains five feet, is mere pedantry. The poems now first published are two translations from Horace, in the metre of Collins's Ode to Evening, and the two following poems. "Solitude, at an Inn, ' (Written May 15, 1769.) But, ah! how alter'd is thy mien Strikes with airy sounds mine ear; Oh spare his youth, O stay thy threat'ning hand, But if his gentle and ingenuous mind, The first of these poems is evidently an uncorrected effusion, but it is pleasing because the feeling which it describes will be recognized by every one. The epitaph is perfectly Irish an address upon a tombstone to Death, requesting him to spare the person who is there interred. We have never seen a more flagrant instance of that vile common-place artifice, which converts a figure of passion into the trick of composition. Mr. Edgeworth may insert the Epitaph in his Essay upon Bulls. From the inaugural lecture we copy Nn the very able estimate of the faults and tamen parce et obscure, ut sentiamus eut merits of Tacitus. "Tandem vero Tacitus, Sallustii imputatas sententiolas, et argutas clausulas, adsectans, quem prius apud eum corruptum invenit stylum, corruptiorem adhuc effecit: multaque insuper nova dictionis aucupia, et obscuram quandam elegantiam, et urbanitates, nescic quas, e declamatorum scholis, quæ tunc Romæ magnopere florebant, cupidissime arripuit. Quo quidem fuco (ut id obiter dicam) nihil perniciosum magis styli historici sanitati accidisse poterat, nihil quod ab ejus nativa indole magis, abhorret. Ut cunque vero Tacitus parum sibi temperaverit ab hisce argutiis et importuna concinnitate, mirifico tamen acumine ca, quæ casum magni et ambitiosissimi imperii comitari solent, delatorum insidias, magnatum conjurationes, civium proscriptiones, suspectam principibus privatorum potentiam, et superbissimæ dominationis occulta concilia, persequitur, investigat, eruit: nec minima etiam præteriens, ut exinde res maximi momenti extricet, et futura occupans et præmonstrans. Quod cum sagacitatis est, et perspicacia summæ, admirandum magis in hujus ingenii scriptore judico, quod tantopere polleat in descriptionibus, ad metum et terrorem comparatis ; in quibus confingendis egregie seligit imagines, et captat circumstantias non nisi maximo poeta vel pictori perspiciendas; hoc ART. VI. Poems, by PETER STOP thief! Mr. Peter Bayley, jun. isa literary sharper, who has obtained credit upon false pretences, and made his way into good company by wearing stolen clothes. Without farther preamble we shall proceed to convict this gentleman of plagiarisms as artful, as dishonourable and as dishonest, as have ever stamped any pretender with infamy. The poem entitled an Evening in the Vale of Festiniog, is made up from the Lyrical Ballads of Mr. Wordsworth. plura apud se sublimiter concepta habere, utens, et levissima lineamenta adhibens, et quæ non vult proferre, et indiciis tantum lectori multa consulte relinquens, ita tamen ut ostendat vel quæ studiose celavit." It only remains to notice the editor's annotations. They are generally trifling and worthless ;-for instance. "V., I meditate my lightsome lay." To meditate my rural minstrelsy,' Comu, v. 547; meditate the muse,' Lycid. v. 66; Musam meditaris,' Virg. Ecl. i. 2." Again, and in the same page, V. 295, "Which sloping hills around inclose." ' meanwhile murm'ring waters fall Down the slope hills.' Par. Lost, iv. 260.” The greater part of these notes are no better. To make such annotations requires no better talent than memory. Boys who cap verses are employed quite as much to their own and to the public improvement. This is the folly of the times, and it has prevailed too long: two centuries ago it was the fashion in Italy, and Spain, and France; England has taken up the absurdity when other countries were weary and ashamed of it. BAYLEY, jun. Esq. 8vo. PP. 208. Nor nursing other feelings have I sought The savage grandeur of yon wilds sublime, The foaming cat'ract, or the softer voice Of bubling hill-streams-To this place 1 come Like rock or stone it is o'ergrown All lovely colours there you see And cups the darlings of the eye, Lyrical Ballads, i. 37. The next instance is more obvious and more offensive, as it is a base and unfeeling parody upon what we shall not scruple to call one of the finest pas sages that ever was or can be written. "Who so unbless'd as to lock up his heart Against the soothing power and sweet illapse Of Nature's voice! For sure there dwells a voice, A moving spirit, and a speaking tongue, A presence that disturbs me with the joy Lyrical Ballads, i. 196. ferred to is most likely the following, in the 70th Sonnet of Petrarch, speaking of Laura: "le parole Sonava altre che pur voce humana that is a living sun, (or as the commentator has it in the notes below, a living. sun of beauty) says Petrarch, "was she whom I saw, and if she be so no longer," that is on account of her age, as the Sonnet goes on," the slackening of the bow does not cure the wound." It occurs again in the 31st Canzonet, and with the same application. After hav. ing spoken of a fountain which boils in the night and becomes cold as the sun rises, he goes on, saying, that it is even so with him, who is a fountain of tears, for 66 Quando 'l bel lume adorno, Ardo allhor; ma se l'oro Petrarch's "living Sun" is then the eyes of Laura, and Mr. Peter Bayley has endeavoured to conceal his theft by falshood. If this had been a single instance, it might have been excused as a pardonable, though not prudent effect of admiration, but of that hereafter. Mr. Peter Bayley is not contented with single imitations; he parodies and he paraphrases; he inserts half a line in one place and the other half in another; he patches in single phrases, such as "sweet skirmishing" applied to the sound of a brook, stolen from the Nightingale, "with whole art of literary thieving might be skirmish and capricious passagings." The illustrated from this single poem. "Yet when the coil, The stir and bustle of the world shall press Heavily on my heart, and when my soul Is sick to death of the incessant hum And ceremonious buzz of social life a resting place. Mr. Peter Bayley, aware that so remarkable a passage as this would be recognised, has affected in one part to imitate Petrarch, and for "the living light of suns" has quoted un vivo sole. A knave is never so knavish as when he affects honesty. Unfortunately for this gentleman, we also understand Italian, and we know that the phrase " un vivo sole" is one of the metaphors common to all rhymers, one of the slang compliments of the Italian poets to their mistresses. The passage which he has re- The presence of a sober joy For my long harass'd thoughts, and thou shalt slake Thy soul's hot fever; thou shalt soothe away Then will thy heart confess |