that of "Let there be light," &c. so much only, as the absolute government of nature yields to the 405 creation of it. But, oh thy ways are wonderful, and lie NOTES ON THE PARAPHRASE. Book of Jol.] It is disputed amongst the critics who was the author of the Book of Job; some give it to Moses, some to others. As I was engaged in this little performance, some arguments occurred to me which favour the former of those opinions; and because I do not find them mentioned by any one else, I have flung them into the following notes, where little else is to be expected. Ver. 1.] The Almighty's speech, chapter xxxviii, &c. which is what I paraphrase in this little work, is by much the finest part of the noblest and most antient poem in the world. Bishop Patrick says, its grandeur is as much above all other poetry, as thunder is louder than a whisper. In order to set this distinguished part of the poem in a fuller light, and give the reader a clearer conception of it, I have abridged the preceding and subsequent parts of the poem, and joined them to it; so that this piece is a sort of an epitome of the whole Book of Job. I use the word paraphrasé, because I want another which might better answer to the uncommon liberties I have taken. I have omitted, added, and transposed. The mountain, the comet, the Sun, and other parts, are entirely added: those upon the peacock, the lion, &c. are much enlarged; and I have thrown the whole into a method more suitable to our notions of regularity. The judicious, if they compare this piece with the original, will, I flatter myself, find the reasons for the great liberties I have indulged myself in through the whole. Longinus has a chapter on interrogations, which shows that they contribute much to the sublime. This speech of the Almighty is made up of them. Interrogation seems, indeed, the proper style of Majesty incensed. It differs from other manner of reproof, as bidding a person execute himself, does from a common execution; for he that asks the guilty a proper question, makes him, in effect, pass sentence on himself. Ver: 41.] The Book of Job is well known to be dramatic, and, like the tragedies of old Greece, is fiction built on truth. Probably this most noble part of it, the Almighty speaking out of the whirlwind (so suitable to the after-practice of the Greek stage, when there happened dignus vindice nodus) is fictitious; but is a fiction more agreeable to the time in which Job lived, than to any since. Frequent, before the Law, were the appearances of the Almighty after this manner, Exod. e. xix. Ezek. c. i. &c. Hence is he said to "dwell in thick darkness and have his way in the whirlwind." The like spirit in these two passages is no bad concurrent argument, that Moses is author of the book of Job. Ver. 191.] Another argument that Moses was the author is, that most of the creatures here are Egyptian. The reason given why the raven is particularly mentioned as an object of the care of Providence, is, because, by her clamorous and importunate voice, she particularly seems always calling upon it; thence zogárow, à zógaž, Ælian. I. ii. c. 48. is "to ask earnestly." And since there were ravens on the bank of the Nile more clamorous than the rest of that species, those probably are meant in that place. Ver. 195.] There are many instances of this bird's stupidity: let two suffice. First, It covers its head in the reeds, and thinks itself all out of sight: Stat lumine clauso CLAUD. Ridendum revolta caput, creditque latere Quæ non ispa videt. Secondly, They that go in pursuit of them, draw the skin of an ostrich's neck on one hand, which proves a sufficient lure to take them with the other. They have so little brain, that Heliogabalus had six hundred heads for his supper. Here we may observe, that our judicious as well as sublime author just touches the great points of distinction in each creature, and then hastens to another. A description is exact when you cannot add, but what is common to another thing; nor withdraw, but something peculiarly belonging to the thing described. A likeness is lost in too much description, as a meaning often in too much illus tration. Ver. 205.] Here is marked another peculiar quality of this creature, which neither flies nor runs directly, but has a motion composed of both, and, using its wings as sails, makes great speed. Vasta velut Libyæ venantum vocibus ales Ver. 206.] Xenophon says, Cyrus had horses that could overtake the goat and the wild ass; but none that could reach this creature. A thousand golden ducats, or a hundred camels, was the stated price of a horse that could equal their speed. Ver. 207.] Though this bird is but just mentioned in my author, I could not forbear going little further, and spreading those beautiful plumes (which are there shut up) in half a dozen lines. The circunstance I have marked of his opening his plumes to the Sun is true: Expandit colores adverso maximè Sole, quia sic fulgentius radiant. PLIN. 1. x. c. 20. Ver. 219.] Thuanus (de Re Accip.) mentions a hawk that flew from Paris to London in a night. And the Eygptians, in regard to its swiftness, made it their symbol for the wind; for which reason we may suppose the hawk, as well as the crow above mentioned, to have been a bird of note in Egypt. Ver. 227.] The eagle is said to be of so acute a Ver. 69.] There is a very great air in all that precedes, but this is signally sublime. We are struck with admiration to see the vast and ungovernable ocean receiving commands, and punctually obey-sight, that, when she is so high in air that man ing them; to find it like a managed horse, raging, tossing, and foaming, but by the rule and direction of its master. This passage yields in sublimity to cannot see her, she can discern the smallest fish under water. My author accurately understood the nature of the creatures he describes, and scems to have been a naturalist as well as a poet, which the next note will confirm. Ver. 231.] The meaning of this question is, Knowest thou the time and circumstances of their bringing forth? For to know the time only was easy, and had nothing extraordinary in it; but the circumstances had something peculiarly expressive of God's providence, which makes the question proper in this place. Pliny observes, that the hind with young is by instinct directed to a certain herb called seselis, which facilitates the birth. Thunder also (which looks like the more immediate hand of Providence) has the same effect. Ps. xxix. In so early an age to observe these things, may style our author a naturalist. Ver. 259.] The descripton of the horse is the most celebrated of any in the poem. There is an excellent critique on it in the Guardian. I shall therefore only observe, that in this description, as in other parts of this speech, our vulgar translation has much more spirit than the Septuagint; it always takes the original in the most poetic and exalted sense, so that most commentators, even on the Hebrew itself, fall beneath it. Ver. 289.] Pursuing their prey by night is true of most wild beasts, particularly the lion. Ps. vi. 20. The Arabians have one among their 500 names for the lion, which signifies "the hunter by moon-shine." Ver. 322.] Cephesi glaciale caput quo suetos an helam Ferre sitim Python, amnemque avertere ponto. CLAUD. Pref. in Ruf. Let not then this hyberbole seem too much for an eastern poet, though some commentators of name strain hard in this place for a new construction, through fear of it. Ver. 323.] The taking of the crocodile is most difficult. Diodorus says, they are not to be taken but by iron nets. When Augustus conquered Eygpt, he struck a medal, the impress of which was a crocodile chained to a palm-tree, with this inscription, Nemo antea religavit. Ver. 339.] This alludes to a custom, of this creature, which is, when sated with fish, to come ashore and sleep among the reeds. Ver. 353.] The crocodile's mouth is exceedingly wide. When he gapes, says Pliny, sit totum os, Martial says to his old woman, Cum comparata rictibus tuis ora Ver. 364.] This too is nearer truth than at first view may be imagined. The crocodile, say the naturalists, lying long under water, and being there forced to hold its breath, when it emerges, the breath long represt is hot, and bursts out so violently, that it resembles fire and smoke. The horse suppresses not his breath by any means so long, neither is he so fierce and animated; yet the most correct of poets ventures to use the same metaphor concerning him :: Collectumque premens volvit sub naribus ignem. By this and the foregoing note I would caution against a false opinion of the eastern, boldness from passages in them ill understood. Ver. 377.] "His eyes are like the eye-lids of the morning." I think this gives us as great an image of the thing it would express, as can enter the thought of man. It is not improbable that the Egyptians stole their hieroglyphic for the morning, which is the crocodile's eye, from this passage, though no commentator, I have seen, mentions it. It is easy to conceive how the Egyptians should be both readers and admirers of the writings of Moses, whom I suppose the author of this poem. I have observed already that three or four of the creatures here described are Egyptian; the two last are notoriously so, they are the river-horse and the crocodile, those celebrated inhabitants of the Nile; and on these two it is that our author chiefly dwells. It would have been expected from an author more remote from that river than Moses, in a catalogue of creatures produced to magnify their Creator, to have dwelt on the two largest works of his hand, viz.the elephant and the whale. This is so natural an expectation, that some commentators have rendered behemoth and leviathan, the elephant and whale, though the descriptions in our author will not admit of it: but Moses being, as we may well suppose, under an immediate terrour of the hippopotamus and crocodile, from their daily mischiefs and ravages around him; it is very accountable why he should permit them to take place. ON DR. YOUNG'S TRANSLATION OF PART OF JOB. BY DR. COBDEN. THE poem, which, originally great, Had long sustain'd poor Job's unhappy fate, MISCELLANIES. ON MICHAEL ANGELO'S FAMOUS PIECE OF THE CRUCIFIXON ; WHO IS SAID TO HAVE STABBED A PERSON THAT HE WHILST his Redeemer on his canvass dies, 1 Though the report was propagated without the least truth, it may be sufficient ground to justify a poetical fancy's enlarging on it. TO MR. ADDISON, ON THE TRAGEDY OF CATO. WHAT do we see? Is Cato then become HISTORICAL EPILOGUE TO THE BROTHERS. A TRAGEDY. An Epilogue, through custom, is your right, What ample vengeance gluts Demetrius' shade; Perseus surviv'd, indeed, and fill'd the throne, But ceaseless cares in conquest made him groan : Nor reign'd he long; from Rome swift thunder flew, And headlong from his throne the tyrant threw : Thrown headlong down, by Rome in triumph led, For this night's deed his perjur'd bosom bled: When, rob'd in black, his children round him And their rais'd arms in early sorrow wrung; EPITAPH ON LORD AUBREY BEAUCLÈRK1, WHILST Britain boasts her empire o'er the deep, And Spain still felt him, when he breath'd no more. Lord Aubrey Beauclerk was the eighth son of the duke of St. Alban's, who was one of the sons of king Charles the Second. He was born in the year 1711; and, being regularly bred to the sea service, in 1731 he was appointed to the command of his majesty's ship the Ludlow Castle; and be commanded the Prince Frederick at the attack of the harbour of Carthagena, March 24, 1741. This young nobleman was one of the most promising commanders in the king's service. When on the desperate attack of the castle of Bocca Chica, at the entrance of the said harbour, he lost his life, both his legs being first shot off. The prose part of the inscription on his monument was the production of Mrs. Mary Jones of Oxford; who also wrote a poem on his death, printed in her Miscel lanies, 8vo. 1752. R. Thy wonted aid, my dear companion! bring, Who greatest excellence of thought could boast, Ausonia soon receiv'd her wondering guest, Now the wide field of Europe he surveys, Lord Sommers procured a pension for Mr. Addison, which enabled him to prosecute his travels. R Full-blown ere noon her fragrant pride displays, When loose from public cares the grove he sought, A chance amusement, polish'd half an age. What he has sung, how early, and how well, No fuller proof of power th' Almighty gave, Nought can the genius of his works transceud, But their fair purpose and important end; To rouse the war for injur'd Europe's laws, To steel the patriot in great Brunswick's cause; With virtue's charms to kindle sacred love, Or paint th' eternal bowers of bliss above. Where hadst thon room, great author! where to roll The mighty theme of an immortal soul? [brought Through paths unknown, unbeaten, whence were Thy proofs so strong for immaterial thought? One let me join, all other may excel, "How could a mortal essence think so well?" But why so large in the great writer's praise? More lofty subjects should my numbers raise; In him (illustrious rivalry! contend The statesman, patriot, Christian, and the friend! 2 In joy once join'd, in sorrow now for years, Partner in grief, and brother of my tears, Tickell! accept this verse, thy mournful due; Thou further shalt the sacred theme pursue; And, as thy strain describes the matchless man, Thy life shall second what thy Muse began. Though sweet the numbers, though a fire divine Dart through the whole, and burn in every line, Who strives not for that excellence he draws, Is stain'd by fame, and suffers from applause. But haste to thy illustrious task; prepare The noble work well trusted to thy care, The gift bequeath'd by Addison's command, To Craggs made sacred by his dying hand. Collect the labours, join the various rays, The scatter'd light in one united blaze; Then bear to him so true, so truly lov'd, In life distinguish'd, and in death approv'd, Th' immortal legacy. He hangs a-while In generous anguish o'er the glorious pile; With anxious pleasure the known page reviews, And the dear pledge with falling tears bedews. What though thy tears, pour'd o'er thy godlike Thy other cares for Britain's weal suspend? (friend Think not, O patriot! while thy eyes o'erflow, Those cares suspended for a private woe; Thy love to him is to thy country shown ; He mourns for her, who mourns for Addison. * The publication of his Works REFLECTIONS ON THE PUBLIC SITUATION And, like a vast Colossus, towering stands OF THE KINGDOM. INSCRIBED TO THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE. HOLLES! immortal in far more than fame! Such deeds the minister, the prince adorn; Prudence for all things points the proper hour, Though some seem more importunate and great. Though Britain's generous views and interests spread Beyond the narrow circle of her shores, And their grand entries make on distant lands; Though Britain's genius the wide wave bestrides, With one foot planted on the continent; Though such high cares should call as call'd of late; Thus Walsingham and Raleigh (Britain's boasts !), And Death's approach makes politicians wise. His gasping grandeur! naked on the strand, A land that starts at such a land as this, Britain that word pronounc'd is an alarm; Embattled, round me, blaze the pomps of war! Up starts Old Britain; crosiers are laid by; |