in knowledge, and how sudden a ftop was put to it, by the inundation of prefbyterianism and ignorance; which circumftance alone, exclufive of its other attendant evils, gives us ample caufe to deteft the promoters of that malignant rebellion, which no good man can remember without horror. It may not perhaps be impertinent to remark here, that Milton, who was strongly inclined to puritanism, had good reason to think, that the publication of his Samfon Agonistes, would be highly offenfive to his precise brethren, who held poetry, and particularly that of the dramatic kind, in fuch deep abhorrence. And, upon this account, it is probable, that in order to excuse himself for having engaged in this profcribed and forbidden fpecies of writing, he thought it expedient to prefix to his play a formal DEFENCE OF TRAGEDY *, in which he endeavours to prove, that some of the graveft writers did not fcruple to illuftrate their discourfes from the works of tragic poets, and that many court, where it was placed in the great gallery ; and one of Cromwell's favourite amusements was to be entertained with this inftrument, at leisure hours. It continued there till the Reformation, when it was returned to its original owners, and was the fame that remained in the choir of that college till within these laft twenty years. *The popular clamours of puritanism, in like manner, seem to have extorted from Sydney, his rational and noble DEFENCE OF POESIE. of of the wifeft philofophers, and of the primitive fathers, were not ashamed to write TRAGEDIES. The fubfequent remarks are thrown together without order, which the reader is defired to look upon as a SUPPLEMENT to this concluding SECTION. B. i. c. vi. f. xv. Farre off he wonders what them makes so glad, Hughes reads, "IF Bacchus, &c." but even then there is an obfcurity. The meaning of the paffage is this: "He wonders what makes them fo glad; he "doubts with him felf, whether or no their mirth was not occafioned by wine which they had dif"covered, or whether or no they might not be "driven to madness by Cybele's rites." INVENT is here one of Spenfer's latinisms for discover; as it is alfo in this verfe; Ay me, that ever guile in women was INVENTED. That is, found out. B. v. c. ix. f. xiii. 5. 11. 50. Like as the fowler on his guilefull pipe, Charm Charm is thus ufed again, as Dr. Jortin obferves, in Colin Clouts come home again. The shepherd's boy Sate as his custom was CHARMING his oaten pipe unto his peres. It seems to be used fomewhat in the fame sense, ft. 39. below. That well could CHARME his tongue, and time his fpeech. Again, Here we our flender pipes may fafely CHARME In the Epithalamium, for tempting by enchantment. Her lips like cherries charming men to bite. B. v. c. vii. f. xxxiv. The wicked fhaft guided through th' ayrie WIDE. Ayrie WIDE feems to be used for ayrie VOID. B. vii. c. viii. f. ii. feq. Next Mercurie. Our old poets take all opportunities of displaying their skill in aftronomy. It was the favorite ftudy * October. of of the dark ages, which have left us a very great number of manuscript systems, in various branches of this science. In the ftatutes of a certain college, at Cambridge, founded in the reign of Henry VI. fome of the fellows are directed, "intendere ftudio ASTRO"NOMIÆ." In the magnificent reign of Henry VII. it was not deemed ftrange to exhibit an entertainment before the court, formed on this abftrufe science, in honour of the marriage of prince Arthur, and the princefs Katharine. "In all the devifes and conceits "of the triumphs of this marriage, there was a great "deal of aftronomie. The ladies being refembled to "Hesperus, and the prince to Arcturus; and the old king Alphonfus, that was the greatest astronomer "of kings, and was ancestor to the ladie, was brought "in, to be the fortune-teller of the match. And "whofoever had these toyes in compiling, they were not altogether pedantical *” Camden fays, that queen Elizabeth " expreffed fuch "an inclination towardes the earl of Leicefter, that "fome have imputed her regard to the INFLUENCE "OF THE STARS." A fine ftroke of flattery founded on fuperftition and false philosophy! * Bacon's Hiftorie of Henry VII. fol. 1622. pag. 205. B. v. c. ix. f. xxxiv, Many heinous crimes by her enured. Enured, ufed, committed. Thus Sonnets, ad calc. Fresh againe enured His former crueltie. Ure for ufe was formerly common. Hence it has been proposed to read, in Milton's Comus, ure for curs. Drops that from my fountaine pure I have kept of precious ure. Thus in Brown's Britannia's Paftorals*. The ftaires of rugged ftone feldom in uret. In Sackville's Gordobuck. This tempred youth, with aged father's awe, In the Act of Uniformity, Prim. Eliz. prefixed to the Liturgy: "Ufe the faid fervice, and put the fame "in URE." In later Commott-prayer books it is printed use. Enure is used with greater latitude, 4. 2. 29. That doth ill cause or evill end enure. + Alfo, b. i. f. 5. * B. 1. f. 5. VOL. II. Ii B. ii. |
