Good-humour only teaches charms to last, Still makes new conquefts, and maintains the past; Thus Voiture's early care ftill fhone the fame, NOTES. 65 76 The VER. 69. Thus Voiture's] Mademoiselle Paulet. P. VER. 76. And finds a fairer] Our author's attachment to this lady ended but with his life. Her affectation and ill-temper gave him, however, many hours of uneafinefs and difquiet. When fhe vifited him in his very laft illness, and her company seemed to give him fresh fpirits, the antiquated prude could not be prevailed on to stay and pass the night at Twickenham, because of her reputation. She occafioned an unhappy breach betwixt him and his old friend Allen, because he would not lend his coach to carry her to a masshoufe at Bath during his mayoralty. The characteristical difference betwixt Voiture and Balfac is well expreffed by Boileau, in two letters written under their names, from the Elyfian Fields to the Duc de Vivonne, in p. 155. of vol. iii. of his works. And Boileau, fpeaking often of abfurd readers and critics, loved to relate, that one of his relations, to whom he had prefented his works, faid to him, "Pray, Coufin, VOL. II. Y how The brighteft eyes of France infpir'd his Muse; NOTES. how came you to infert any other person's writings among your own? I find in your works two letters, one from Balfac, and the other from Voiture." Defcartes, who, as well as Leibnitz, was an elegant scholar, wrote a judicious cenfure of Balsac, in admirable Latin. Balfac was, however, fuperior to Voiture. But he was affectedly turgid, pompous, and bloated, on all subjects and on all occafions alike. Yet was he the firft that gave form and harmony to the French profe, which was ftill improved by the provincial letters of Pascal. VER. 80. Befide.] This laft word is a blemish to the piece, otherwife fo correct. EPISTLE TO THE SAME, ON HER LEAVING THE TOWN AFTER THE CORONATION. s fome fond Virgin, whom her mother's care A Drags from the Town to wholesome Country air, Juft when she learns to roll a melting eye, And hear a spark, yet think no danger nigh; From the dear man unwilling fhe must fever, Yet takes one kifs before fhe parts for ever: Thus from the world fair Zephalinda flew, Saw others happy, and with fighs withdrew; Not that their pleasures caus'd her discontent, She figh'd not that they stay'd, but that she went. She went, to plain-work, and to purling brooks, Old-fashion'd halls, dull Aunts, and croaking rooks; She went from Op'ra, Park, Affembly, Play, To morning-walks, and pray'rs three hours a day; Το 5 NOTES. Coronation] Of King George the first, 1715. P. VER. 1. As fome fond Virgin,] There is fo much likeness (to ufe Johnson's words on another poem) in the initial comparison, that there is no illuftration. As one lady lamented the going out of London, fo did another. To part her time 'twixt reading and bohea, Count the flow clock, and dine exact at noon : Húm half a tune, tell ftories to the squire; There starve and pray, for that's the way to heav'n. 25 ; Some Squire, perhaps, you take delight to rack; Whofe game is Whisk, whose treat a toast in fack; Who vifits with a Gun, prefents you birds, Then gives a smacking bufs, and cries,-No words! Or with his hound comes hallooing from the ftable; Makes love with nods, and knees beneath a table Whofe laughs are hearty, tho' his jefts are coarse, And loves you beft of all things-but his horfe. In fome fair ev'ning, on your elbow laid, You dream of Triumphs in the rural shade ; In pensive thought recall the fancy'd scene, See Coronations rife on ev'ry green; Before you pass th' imaginary fights Of Lords, and Earls, and Dukes, and garter'd Knights, While the spread fan o'erfhades your clofing eyes; Then give one flirt, and all the vision flies. r 35 15 20 30 Thus NOTES. VER. 23. Squire,] No country Squire has ever been painted with fuch true and natural features and colours as Addison's Tory Foxhunter, in the Freeholder, except perhaps Weftern, in that capital picture of life, the Hiftory of Tom Jones. Thus vanish fceptres, coronets, and balls, Just when his fancy points your sprightly eyes, Y 3 40 45 NOTES. VER. 46. Of foft Parthenia rife,] It does not feem perfectly gallant to introduce the name of another lady. |