The celestial Signs, to be obferved by the huf bandman, make a confiderable part of this Book. The Author does not approve that Mr. Dryden should have used twice the word when. Befides, fays he, the word fruitful is a mere Expletive, and an improper one; for, poor foil muft be turned as well as the fruitful. He adds that the words when to fow the corn are perfectly for Rhyme fake, not being in the Original; and that the Subject of the third Book is odly placed before that of the fecond. Thefe improprieties (continues the Author) lye obvious to every eye: nor is it lefs vifible that the sheep, the oxen, and the kine, walk on as quietly, and as regularly in the metre, as if they were going to a Fair. The laft Couplet runs thus: The birth and genius of the frugal Bee, Quanta experientia (fays the Author) is very ftrangely tranflated birth and genius; and this Line, I fing, Mæcenas, and I fing to Thee, is an empty Rant, and conveys no clear idea at all to the mind; but the little that it does imply, is directly oppofite to Virgil's fenfe and modefty. Here follows another obfervation. Mr. Dryden did not fufficiently attend to his Author, when he is Majeftic, and when his ftyle is on purpose Low. That Mr. Dryden did not attend to his Author's ftyle, the paffage juft mention. ed is a plain inftance. Hinc canere incipiam is very cool and fedate; but Mr. Dryden foars as high as ever his wings could carry him. Laftly, the Author obferves that Mr. Dryden did not endeavour to imitate Virgil's Numbers, when the found is ftill a comment on the fenfe. He E 2 bas has paffed over all the beauties of this nature in the Georgics. These are some of the Author's observations upon Mr. Dryden's performance, that are to be found in the Preface. I fhall infert here the firft Lines of the new Verfion, and of that of Mr. Dryden, that my Readers may compare them with the Original. The new Verfion. What may delight the Plains, beneath what Signs Virgil. QUID faciat lætas fegetes, quo Sydere Terram Vertere, MECENAS, Ulmifque adjungere Vites Conveniat; Quæ cura Boum, qui cultus babendo Sit Pecori, Apibus quanta experientia parcis. Mr. Dryden's Verfion. What makes a plenteous harveft, when to turn There are at the end of this Book fome other critical obfervations upon Mr. Dryden's Version. These remarks, as well as thofe which I have already mentioned, fhow that it is a bold attempt to translate all the Works of Virgil into Verse. ARTICLE XII. Cum ANTIQUITATES Prioratus Majoris MALVERNE in Agro Wiccienfi. Chartis originalibus eafdem illuftrantibus, ex Regiftris Sedis Epifcopalis Wigornienfis, nunc primum editis. Londini, apud J. Osborn & T. Longman. 1725. That is, The ANTIQUITIES of the Priory of GREAT MALVERNE in the Diocese of Worcester, with several original Papers concerning that Priory, never before publifhed. London. 1725. in 8vo. pagg. 103. 43. and 197. HIS Book contains a fhort hiftorical account of the Priory of Great Malverne, a description of the Church, and many original Papers relating to that Priory, taken from the Registers of the Epifcopal See of Worcefter. I fhall only obferve out of the hiftorical part, that the Prior William de Ledebury was turned out of his E 3 Priory Priory by his Bishop for his ill life, and among other things, for having lain with two and twen ty women; which was proved undeniably. This fingle inftance fhows how unreasonable it is to deprive the Clergy of the liberty of marrying. The Church of Great Malverne is to be feen ftill, and there are fine paintings upon the windows, reprefenting many hiftories of the Old and New Teftament, and many other things. In one of the windows the Tree of knowledge of good and evil is painted with five golden appies, and Adam plowing the ground, and Eve spinning, with a child upon her knees. One of the windows was formerly adorned with the twelve Prophets, and the twelve Apoftles, each of them with an Article of the Creed. I must obferve here, that the Monks of thofe times believed that the Apoftles met together to compofe the Creed; that St. Peter pronounced the firft Article, Ibelieve in God the Father almighty; another Apoftle the fecond, And in Jesus-Chrift bis only Son; another the third, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and fo on. The Figures juft mentioned, are now either broken or Ipoiled. There is in another window a Monk upon his knees, and behind him feveral unclean Spirits in various fhapes. Hell throws up a child, whom many Devils are ready to catch. An Angel who stands by, prays for him. One may fee in another window the marriage of Joachim and Anne. A golden Angel fays to Anne: Cum veneris ad portam auream, virum tuum obvium babebis: WHEN you come to the golden gate, you will meet your husband. An Angel appears to Joachim he and Anne fit together. The other paintings of that window are loft. In another window, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit lay a crown on the head of the Virgin Mary; and the Choirs of Angels and Saints praife God in heaven upon feveral inftruments. In another part of the fame window, Jefus-Chrift takes Adam by the hand, together with Eve, from among the infernal Spirits. In the fame window, the Trinity is painted, with the Elevation of the Hoft. The Trinity appears again there, with thefe words, Gloria Patri, & Filio, & Spiritui Sancto; and under them the Pope with his Cardinals, and this Saying of our Saviour: Parata funt vobis loca in cœlo. I fuppose we shall find several curiofities of this kind in the Antient Monuments of France, to be publifhed by Father De Montfaucon. The Church of Great Malverne is fituated in a charming Valley defcribed by Mr. William Thomas, to whom we are indebted for the publication of this Book. ARTICLE XIII. PARIS. LA Phyfician of this City published last year a Book intitled, Obfervations upon bleeding in the foot, and purging in the beginning of the fmall Pox. That Work has been criticized by feveral Physicians; which is the reason † It has been mentioned in the first Volume of this Journal, pag. 72. E 4 why |