which were in disorder when his father died; and is a staunch countryman; fair complexioned, low stature, and 30 years old. He is crooked; he seemed to be a gentleman of good sense and good nature. ANDREW FLETCHER. A gentleman of a fair estate in Scotland, attended with the improvement of a good education. He has written some excellent tracts, but not published in his name; and has a very fine genius; is a low, thin man, brown complexion, full of fire, with a stern, sour look, and 50 years old. A most arrogant, conceited pedant in politics; cannot endure the least contradiction in any of his visions or paradores. EARL OF MIDDLETON. He was against the violent measures of king James's reign, and, for that reason, made no great figure at court while that prince was upon the throne; yet he continued firm to his majesty's interest to the last; was proof against all the offers made him by king William; and, after being frequently imprisoned in England, followed king James to France, when he had the chief administration given him. He is one of the politest gentlemen in Europe; has a great deal of wit, mixed with a sound judgment and a very clear understanding; of an easy, indifferent address, but a Careless way of living. He is a black man, of a middle stature, with a sanguine complexion; and one of the pleasantest companions in the world: toward 60 years old. Sir William Temple told me, he was a very valuable man, and a good scholar. Í once saw him. EARL OF WEEMS. He has not yet been in the administration; is a fine personage, and very beautiful; has good sense, and is a man of honour; about 30 years old. He was a black man, and handsome for a Scot. DR SWIFT'S REMARKS On "The first Fifteen Psalms of David, translated into Lyric Verse. Proposed as an Essay supplying the Perspicuity and Coherence according to the Modern Art of Poetry; not known to have been attempted before in any Language. With a Preface, containing some Observations of the great and general Defectives of || the sent Version in Greek, Latin, and English; by Dr [James] Gibbs. § London, printed by J. Mathews, for J. Bartley, over-against Gray's-Inn, in Holborn, 1701.” pre DR GIBBS. [PSALM or DAVID [1]. Comparing the different state of the righteous and the wicked, both in this and the next world. THRICE happy he that doth refuse With impious (2) sinners to combine; Who ne'er their wicked way pursues, And does the sinners' seat (3) decline. DR SWIFT. (1) I warn the reader that this is a lie, both here and all over this book; for these are not the Psalms of David, but of Dr Gibbs. (2) But, I suppose, with pious sinners a man may combine safely enough. (3) What part of speech is it? * By a memorandum on the first page, it appears that these Remarks were thought valuable by one who must be allowed to have been of no inconsiderable rank, both as a poet and a humourist: "The following manuscript was literally copied from the printed original, found in the library of Dr J. Swift, dean of St Patrick's, Dublin. The marginal notes and parodies were written by the dean's own hand, except such as are distinguished with this mark, (,) with which I am only chargeable. Witness my hand, this 25th day of February, 1745. WILLIAM DUNKIN. "N. B.-The original was by me presented to his excellency Philip Dormer Stanhope, earl of Chesterfield, lord-lieutenant-general and general governor of Ireland. W. D." Nor, I hope, ever will again. § Sternholdides. SWIFT. + Bagpipe. this and The above may serve for a tolerable specimen of Swift's remarks. The whole should be given, if it were possible to make them intelligible, without copying the version which is ridiculed; a labour for which our readers would scarcely thank us. A few detached stanzas, however, with the dean's notes on them, shall be transcribed. DR GIBBS. Why do the heathen nations rise, But those that do thy laws refuse, In pieces thou shalt break; (2) And with an iron sceptre bruise The disobedient (3) neck. Ye earthly kings, the caution hear, Ye rulers, learn the same (4); DR SWIFT. (1) I don't believe that ever kings entered into plots and confederacies against the reign of God Almighty. (2) After a man is bro ken in pieces, it is no great matter to have his neck bruised. (3) Neak. (4) Rulers must learn it, but kings may only hear it. (5) Very proper, to make Serve God with reverence, and with fear (5) a joyful proclamation with His joyful praise proclaim. fear. * Deprease, Loard, Scoticè. (3) He desires God's help, because he is not afraid of his enemies; others, I think, usually desire it when they are afraid. (4) The doctor has a mighty affection for the particle thus: he uses it four times in this (the 3d) Psalm, and 100 times in other places, and always wrong. (5) That is as much as to say, that he that can do all things can defend a man; which I take to be an undonbted truth. (6) Are they malicious out of frailty, or frail out of malice? (7) That is, they say false things falsely. I will discover the doctor's secret of making coherence and connexions in the Psalms, that he brags of in bis title and preface he lays violent hands on certain particles, (such as, and, when, since, for, but, thus, so, &c.) and presses them to his service on all occasions, sore against their wills, and without any regard whether the sense will admit them or not. (8) It is plain the dcotor never requested to be a poet. (9) If your requests be granted, why do you com plain? (10) I have heard of a crown or garland of corn; but a crown of wine is new, and can hardly be explain ed, unless we suppose the wine to be in icicles. |