- Gronovius thus explains: " Tantum ingemifcit ignis. Hoc miraculi loco addit, tantum ignem non crepare immani ftrepitu, ut folet; fed, quafi reverentiâ Herculis, tenuem quendam et inftar gemitus fonum edere." This is not quite right. The meaning of those words is," It is only the fire that groans." Hercules does not groan, but the Fire groans; as unwilling to confume him, and loth to perform fuch an office. So, Thyeft. 767. impofitas dapes Tranfiliit ignis, inque trepidantes focos STATIUS. STATIUS is a Poet, who had a good deal of Learning, as appears throughout all his works: and Pafchalius judged very right, when he called him omnis antiquitatis peritiffimus. He is obfcure in many places; he has many odd and fingular Expreffions; and a Style peculiar to himfelf,fuum peculiare dicendi genus, as Parthafius obferves. He He is too affected in the Choice of his Words, efpecially of his Epithets, in which he is quite different from Virgil. He is fometimes trifling and childish; his Verfes are founding, numerous and lofty, but fometimes bordering upon the Bombaft. He has many faults, and many beauties, of which I have produced examples in my Obfervations upon him.* His Silve are occafional Poems, inany of which, as himself tells us, were written off hand, and in hafte; and none of which feem to have been revifed and corrected by him. Yet they have found admirers. M. Antonius Sabellicus fays "Velles PAPINIUM STATIUM tam dextro genio Thebas, fortiffimumque Achillem, quam Silvas decantâffe. Si non majus nomen, majorem certè gratiam inde haud dubio reportaffet. Nulli unquam poetarum, quod fciam, magis proprium fuit fubito oeftro incalefcere, atque ubi incaluiffet, fortuis feliciufque debacchari; ut quantumcunque Phœbum hauferit, ac nefcio an etiam majorem, eodem calore confeftim reddat. Cuperes, dixi, omnem ejus operam in Silvis locatam: nihil eft illis amabilius, floridius, magifque poeticum." I cannot be of this Author's opinion. I think that the Silva, though they are not bad poems, are * These are found very numerous, and at great length, throughout the Mifcellaneous Obfervations; and the Editor regrets that it is not practicable to introduce more of them here, for want of room. far far enough from being very good ones. There is an unpleasant Mediocrity that runs through them. all. The Thebais is a thousand times better writ ten. Gevartius has given fome excellent Notes upon the Silve. THE BAIS. Lib. I. 156. The Poet, addreffing himself to the two impious brothers, Eteocles and Polynices, fays, Ab miferi! quid fi peteretur crimine tanto Heinfius, in his notes on Ovid, Fast. III. 399. reads emerfus, which it feems he found in an old MS. But the above is the true reading. When the Sun begins his courfe, he is emifus: It is metaphora Circenfis; a metaphor taken from the Chariot Races. The Horfes cannot ftart, till they are let out; emittuntur. So Theb. VI. 410, where fuch races are defcribed; Emiffos videre, atque agnovere Pelafgi, Silv. 1. 11. 229. -Viadum emiila dies. Ovid, Amor. III. 11. 9. -facro de carcere miffis Infiftam forti mente vehendus equis. Metam. II. 154. Solis equi-binnitibus auras Flammiferis implent, pedibufque repagula pulfant : Ver. 197. Jupiter calls an Affembly of the Gods. After they are feated, the Semidei are allowed to enter. Mox turba vagorum Semidéum; et fummis cognati nubibus Amnes; The Winds make but a filly figure here, compreffa metú fervantes murmura; just like olus in Cotton's Travelty of Virgil: "He lift'ning food, wriggling and fcraping, But durft not bow,-for fear of 'fcaping!" Ver. 548. Jupiter's carrying away Ganymede is defcribed. here in a masterly manner: Hinc Phrygius fulvis venator tollitur alis. One M.S. reads laffant, and Heinfius quotes it on Ovid, Trift. 1. 11. 459. But I think laxant is right. Lib. III. ver. 179. An old Theban, lamenting the miseries of his country, fays Sæpe quidem infelix, varioque exercita ludo Hic gemitus Thebis. "We have often been unhappy, but never fo unhappy as now." Should it be fuit, ver. 180, inftead of ruit? I am doubtful about it. Sidonius hofpes is Cadmus, who fowed the teeth of the ferpent which he had killed, from whence armed men fprung up out of the ground. I be |