be used adverbially, for quickly, immediately. It is plainly the old french word, Prefte, quick, or nimble, which fometimes is used adverbially. Dr. Jortin derives it from præfto adeffe. For what art thou That makft thyself his dayes-man to prolong The vengeance PREST? That is," inftant or prefent vengeance." 2. 8. 28. Who him affronting, foone to fight was readie PREST. That is, “ready, quickly.” 4. 3. 22. In which his work he had fixe fervants PREST. 4. 5. 36. That is, "fix ready, or nimble fervants;" or perhaps "present." So hard behind his backe his foe was PREST. 4. 8. 41. That is, "his foe was very near him behind." To warn her foe to battell foone be PREST. That is, "be foon ready to fight with her." 5.7.27. Finding there ready PREST Sir Arthegall. K 2 5. 8. 8. That That is," ready and prefent; ready at hand." He watcht in close await with weapons PREST. 6.6.44 That is," with his weapons ready, prepared." It is used in many of these fenfes by Chaucer. Fame Was throughout Troy ifled with preft wings*. That is," with nimble or ready wings." Also these wickid tonguis ben fo PREST That is, "fo ready to speak, &c." Neither was fowle, that commeth of engendrure, That is," that was not present before her." This word is to be met with in most of our old english poets, particularly Lord Surrey, Wyat, Tuberville, &c. Harrington much ufes it in his Ariofto §. Troil. and Cr. 4. ver. 661. + Ibid. 9. v. 785. Affemble of fowles. See Junii Etymolog. Where alfo what I have obferved of Endlong, Charmes, Herfe, Lair, Sty, may be improved from what is faid of Along, Chirme, Chirre, Hearfe, Laire, Stay, by the author, and his learned editor Mr. Lye. B. vii. SORT occurs perpetually in Spenfer, for flock, troop, company, &c. And like a sORT of bees in clufters fwarmed. That is," a great number, a large affembly of, &c." A SORT of fhepherd-groomes. That is," a company of fhepherds." A SORTE of fhepherds fewing of the chace. That is," a company of fhepherds hunting." 6.9.5. It is not unfrequent in Harrington's Ariosto. We find it in the Pfalms, where few perhaps understand its true sense. "How long will ye imagine mischief * against every man? Ye fhall be flain all the fort "of "of you." i. e. Your whole company or multitude, fhall be flain. The feptuagint render it, Ews ol' wiΤίθεσθε επ' ανθρωπον ; Φονευσεε ΠΑΝΤΕΣ. But I forbear proceeding any further in a subject most happily preoccupied, and which will be difcuffed with so much superior learning and penetration, by a writer who intends fhortly to oblige his country with a dictionary of its language†: a work, for which he is unquestionably qualified, as we may judge from a feries of effays, in which not only criticism, humour, and morality have appeared with new luftre, but from which the english language has received new grace, fpirit, and dignity. *Pfal. 62. 3. This was written juft before the publication of Johnson's dictionary. See his RAMBLER for the rest. SECT. SECT. IX. Mr. Upton's Opinion, concerning feveral paffages in this A Poem, examined. S that part of criticism which consists in reetifying the doubtful readings, and explaining the more obfcure paffages, of antient authors, necefsarily deals much in conjecture; and as those who are employed in this province are often tempted to deduce their determinations, not from what is, but what seems to be, the truth; no difquifition affords a greater diverfity of fentiments concerning the fame thing. It is here that we fee the force of mere OPINION, unsupported by demonftration, in its full extent; while the lucky corrections and illuftrations of one commentator, appear improbable and abfurd to the more fagacious eyes of another. Under thefe confiderations, I hope the mistakes I may have committed in departing from the fentiments of a learned and ingenious critic *, will be received with candour and indulgence. * None of Mr. Upton's criticisms on our author, but such as occur in his Letter to G. Weft, &c. and Observations on Shakespeare, are here confidered. |
