That with its hoary head incurv'd salutes Wild tumult reigns, His rash assault. See, there escap'd, he flies Through all his wide domain; the planted grove, Not such our friends; for here no dark design, 1 And weds them there for life; our social cups O happiness sincere! what wretch would groan Ye guardian powers who make mankind your care, Surround him, hounds, and men. Pierc'd thro' and Trace each mysterous cause, with judgment read thro', On pointed spears they lift him high in air; Rejoice, ye scaly tribes, and leaping dance Our wondering eyes; what can the owner more? Th' expanded volume, and submiss adore Each towering hill, each humble vale below, PERMIT me, sir, to make choice of you for my patron, being the greatest master in the burlesque way. In this indeed you have some advantage of your poetical brethren, that you paint to the eye; yet remember, sir, that we give speech and motion, and a greater variety to our figures. Your province is the town; leave me a small outride in the country, and I shall be content. In this, at least, let us both agree, to make vice and folly the object of our ridicule; and we cannot fail to be of some service to mankind. I am, sir, your admirer, and most humble servant, W. S. PREFACE. NOT TOTHING is more common than for us poor bards, when we have acquired a little reputation, to print ourselves into disgrace. We climb the Aonian mount with difficulty and toil; we receive the bays for which we languished; till, grasping still at more, we lose our hold, and fall at once to the bottom. known. The author of this piece would not thus be felo de se, nor would he be murdered by persons unBut as he is satisfied, that there are many imperfect copies of this trifle dispersed abroad, and as he is credibly informed, that he shall soon be exposed to view in such an attitude, as he would not care to appear in; he thinks it most prudent in this desperate case to throw himself on the mercy of the public, and offer this whimsical work a voluntary sacrifice, in hope that he stands a better chance for their indulgence, now it has received his last hand, than when curtailed and mangled by others. The poets of almost all nations have celebrated the games of their several countries. Homer began, and all the mimic tribe followed the example of that great father of poetry. Even our own Milton, who laid his scene beyond the limits of this sublunary world, has found room for descriptions of this sort, and has performed it in a more sublime manner than any who went before him. His, indeed, are sports; but they are the sports of angels. This gentleman has endeavoured to do justice to his countrymen, the British freeholders, who, when dressed in their holiday clothes, are by no means persons of a despicable figure; but eat and drink as plentifully, and fight as heartily, as the greatest hero in the Iliad. There is also some use in descriptions of this nature, since nothing gives us a clearer idea of the genius of a nation, than their sports and diversions. If we see people dancing, even in wooden shoes, and a fiddle always at their heels, we are soon convinced of the levity and volatile spirit of those merry slaves. The famous bull-feasts are an evident token of the Quixotism and romantic taste of the Spaniards. And a country-wake is too sad an image of the infirmities of our own people: we see nothing but broken heads, bottles flying about, tables overturned, outrageous drunkenness, and eternal squabble. Thus much of the subject; it may not be improper to touch a little upon the style. One of the greatest poets and most candid critics of this age has informed us, that there are two sorts of burlesque. Be pleased to take it in his own words, Spectator, Numb. 242. Burlesque (says he) is of two kinds. The first represents mean persons in the accoutrements of heroes; the other, great persons acting and speakjug like the basest among the people. Don Quixote is an instance of the first, and Lucian's gods of the second. It is a dispute among the critics, whether burlesque runs best in heroic, like the Dispensary; or in doggrel, like that of Hudibras. I think, where the low character is to be raised, the heroic is the most proper measure; but when an hero is to be pulled down and degraded, it is best done in doggrel." Thus far Mr. Addison. If therefore the heroic is the proper measure where the low character is to be raised, Milton's style must be very proper in the subject here treated of; because it raises the low character more than is possible to be done under the restraint of rhyme; and the ridicule chiefly consists in raising that low character. I beg leave to refer to the authority of Mr. Smith, in his poem upon the death of Mr. John Philips. The whole passage is so very fine, and gives so clear au idea of his manner of writing, that the reader will not think his labour lost in running it over. But here it may be objected, that this manner of writing contradicts the rule in Horace : Versibus exponi tragicis res comica non vult. Monsieur Boileau, in his dissertation upon the Joconde of de la Fontaine, quotes this passage in Horace, and observes, Que comme il n'y a rien de plus froid, que de conter une chose grande en stile bas, aussi n'y a-t-il de plus ridicule, que de raconter une histoire comique et absurde en termes graves et serieux. But then he justly adds this exception to the general rule in Horace; à moins que ce serieux ne soit affecté tout exprés pour rendre la chose encore plus burlesque. If the observation of that celebrated critic, Monsieur Dacier, is true, Horace himself, in the same Epistle to the Pisos, and not far distant from the rule here mentioned, has aimed to improve the burlesque by the help of the sublime, in his note upon this verse: Debemur morti nos nostraque; sive receptus And upon the five following verses has this general remark: Toutes ces expressions nobles qu' Horace entasse dans ces six vers servent a rendre plus plaisante celte chute : Ne dum verborum stet honos. Car rien ne contribue tant au ridicule que le grand.. He indeed would be severe upon himself alone, who should censure this way of writing, when he must plainly see, that it is affected on purpose, only to raise the ridicule, and give the reader a more agreeable entertainment. Nothing can improve a merry tale so much, as its being delivered with a grave and serious air. Our imaginations are agreeably surprised, and fond of a pleasure so little expected. Whereas he, who would bespeak our laughter by an affected grimace and ridiculous gestures, must play his part very well indeed, or he will fall short of the idea he has raised. It is true, Virgil was very sensible that it was difficult thus to elevate a low and mean subject: Nec sum animi dubius, verbis ea vincere magnum But tells us for our encouragement in another place, In tenui labor, at tenuis non gloria, si quem Mr. Addison is of the same opinion, and adds, that the difficulty is very much increased by writing in blank verse. "The English and French (says he) who always use the same words in verse as in ordinary conversation, are forced to raise their language with metaphors and figures, or by the pompousness of the whole phrase to wear off any littleness, that appears in the particular parts that compose it. This makes our blank verse, where there is no rhyme to support the expression, extremely difficult to such as are not masters of the tongue; especially when they write upon low subjects." Remarks upon Italy, p. 99. But there is even yet a greater difficulty behind: the writer in this kind of burlesque must not only keep up the pomp and dignity of the style, but an artful sneer should appear through the whole work; and every man will judge, that it is no easy matter to blend together the hero and the harlequin. If any person should want a key to this poem, his curiosity shall be gratified: I shall, in plain words, tell him, "It is a satire against the luxury, the pride, the wantonness, and quarrelsome temper, of the middling sort of people." As these are the proper and genuine cause of that bare-faced knavery, and almost universal poverty, which reign without control in every place; and as to these we owe our many bankrupt farmers, our trade decayed, and lands uncultivated; the author has reason to hope, that no honest man, who loves his country, will think this short reproof out of season: for, perhaps, this merry way of bantering men into virtue may have a better effect than the most serious admonitions; since many, who are proud to be thought immoral, are not very fond of being ridiculous. Proposition. CANTO 1. THE ARGUMENT. HOBBINOL. Invocation addressed to Mr. John Th' obsequious villagers, with looks submiss Phillips, author of the Cider Poem and Splendid When the keen frosts the shivering farmer warn Here, when the distant Sun lengthens the nights, Shilling. Description of the Vale of Evesham. To broach his mellow cask, and frequent blasts The seat of Hobbinol; Hobbinol a great man in Instruct the crackling billets how to blaze, his village, seated in his wicker smoking his pipe. In his warm wicker-chair, whose pliant twigs has one only son. Young Hobbinol's education, In close embraces join'd, with spacious arch bred up with Ganderetta his near relation. Young Vault his thick-woven roof, the bloated churl Hobbinol and Ganderetta chosen king and queen Loiters in state, each arm reclin'd is prop'd of May. Her dress and attendants. The May-With yielding pillows of the softest down. games. Twangdillo the fiddler, his character. In mind compos'd, from short coeval tube The dancing. Ganderetta's extraordinary per-He sucks the vapours bland, thick curling clouds formance. Bagpipes good music in the Highlands. Of smoke around his reeking temples play; Milonides, master of the ring, disciplines the Joyous he sits, and, impotent of thought, mob; proclaims the several prizes. His speech. Puffs away care and sorrow from his heart. Pastorel takes up the belt. His character, his heroic figure, his confidence. Hobbinol, by per- And view with envious eye the downy nest, How vain the pomp of kings' Look down, ye great, mission of Ganderetta, accepts the challenge Where soft Repose, and calm Contentment dwell, vaults into the ring. His honourable behaviour, Unbrib'd by wealth, and unrestrain'd by power. escapes a scowering. Ganderetta's agony. Pas torel foiled. Ganderetta not a little pleased. WHAT old Menalees at his feast reveal'd I sing, strange feats of ancient prowess, deeds, O thou! who late on Vaga's flowery banks In that rich vale 3 where with Dobunian 4 fields 1 Mr. John Philips. 2 Strong Herefordshire cider. Tham. • Simon de Montfort, killed at the battle of Eves One son alone had blest his bridal bed, Thrill'd through thy veins, when, climbing for a kiss, With ease could overtake his dastard foe, |