his Effay on Man, in the folemn way, is given us by Lord Bolingbroke; from whom we may learn, that the Effay was written for the good of Chriftianity: as the hangman faid to Don Carlos, when he was going to ftrangle him; "Pray, my Lord, be quiet: it is all for your good." THIRLBY. DR. THIRLEY was once refolved to publish Shakespeare, and talked with me about his project. I told him, that if he perfifted in his refolution, I would read over that Poet, with a view to mark the paffages where he had either imitated Greek and Latin writers; or, at leaft, had fallen into the fame thoughts and expreffions. Upon examining a few of his Plays, I found a great number of fuch allufions, or coincidences. But Thirlby dropped his defign, and I mine. He was, I believe, afraid of entering into fquabbles,-not with Critics, but with Bookfellers: For, though they have the fame right to the copy of Shakespeare, which a highwayman hath to a traveller's purfe, yet they are, fome of them, as troublesome folks to contend with. VOLTAIRE. t VOLTAIRE. "SCANDERBERG, was fon of a Despot, or little Prince of Albany; that is to say, of a vassal Prince— for fo the word Defpot fignified: and it is ftrange, that the word Defpot fhould be appropriated to Monarchs, who have made themfelves abfolute." VOLTAIRE. Efai fur l'Hiftoire. II. 229. What ignorance! to imagine that defpotic or defpotifm had its derivation from the title of these petty rulers. Though tributary Princes have worn the pompous name of Defpot, yet originally Acons is a Lord or Mafter, relatively to Asλos a Slave; and fo defpotifm means, properly and strictly, arbitrary and uncontrolable power. See Philemon, P. 362. A total ignorance of the learned tongues; an acquaintance with modern books, and with tranflations of old ones; fome knowledge of modern languages; a fmattering in natural philofophy, poetical talents, a vivacity of expreffion, and a large flock. of impiety;-these conftitute a Voltaire, or a modern genius of the first rank, fit to be patronized by princes, and careffed by nobles: whilst learned men have leave to go and chufe on what tree they will please to hang themselves, Voltaire Voltaire obferves, that one Comedy of Machiavel is worth all those of Aristophanes; and that Taffo and Ariofto greatly furpafs Homer. Essai, &c.III. 45. One of the caufes which induced him to pafs fuch a judgment is this. He understood fomething of Italian: Greek and Latin he could not read; and fo knew no more of Ariftophanes and Homer than he had learned from French Tranflations. Such men depreciate the Ancients and the learned Moderns, for reasons which are obvious enough. MAXIMS AND REFLEXIONS. THE HE man who is not intelligible is not intelligent. You may depend upon this, as upon a rule which will never deceive you. D, the Controversialist, abuses and expofes himself, as well as thofe whom he attacks: Like the Lion in Homer, who when he fights fcourges himself with his own tail. Ουρῆ δὲ πλευράς Με καὶ ἰχία ἀμφοτέρωθεν Il. T. 170. A defire to fay things which no one ever faid, makes fome people fay things which no one ought to fay. VOL. II. M m Arguments Arguments made ufe of to reclaim very vicious perfons will move them much for a time, and then lofe their effect and be forgotten. A tree bends and yields before a ftrong wind; and, when the blaft is gone, returns again to its former posture. It is a beautiful faying, that Mifery is facred: Res eft facra mifer.* Government, in Church and State, is of God: Forms of Government in Church and State are of men. Men speak more virtuously than they either think or act. It may be faid as truly of a knave as of an honeft man, that his word is as good as his oath. The eighteenth century hath been in our country an age of public charities: But one charity is still wanting; and that is, An Hospital for Scholars. Bacon fays, "If St. John were to write an Epistle to the Church of England, as he did to that of Afia, it would furely contain the claufe, I have a few things against thee." I am not quite of his opinion: I am afraid the claufe would be, "I have not a few things against thee." It is obfervable that Pharaoh, tyrant and perfecutor as he was, never compelled the Hebrews to προς γαρ Διος εισιν απαλες ELIVOL TE, Alwyou. Hoм. Ody. Z. 208. forfake |