Exarsere procul. Stupefacta Lycaonis ursa CITATION VII. Essay, page 41. Illa quidem fugiens, sparsis per terga capillis, tentem Imperio, colique tremunt; quem dite superbus Infaustas e ulas, nosque omnes prodidit hosti. passage. CITATION IX. Essay, page 43. The above passage stands thus in Masenius, in one line: Tiresias cæcus, Thamyrisque, et Daphnis, Homerus. N. B. The verse now cited is in Masenius's Poems, but not in the Sarcotis. CITATION X. Essay, page 46. In medio, turmas inter provectus ovantes PASSAGES INTERPOLATED IN GROTIUS. CITATION I. Essay, page 55. passage. Nam, me judice, CITATION IV. Essay, p. 61, the whole passage. CITATION V. Essay, page 63. Quod illud animal, tramite obliquo means, CITATION VIII. Essay, p. 66, the whole passage. CITATION IX. Essay, ibid. Per sancta thalami sacra, per jus nominis INTERPOLATION IN RAMSAY. CITATION VI. Essay, page 88. INTERPOLATIONS IN STAPHORSTIUS CITATION III. Essay, page 104. Conjugii, sponsi sponsæque jugalia sacra! CITATION VI. Essay, page 109. numen! consorsque Summe Deus! sobolesque Dei ! hova Nec fas; non sic deficimus, nec talia tecum Et domiti tantum placeat cui regia coli. [quam Et Stygiis mutet radiantia lumina flammis. INTERPOLATIONS IN TAUBMAN. Essay, page 132. Tune, ait, imperio regere omnia solus; et una Existens, celebrabo tuas, memorique sonabo rentem, Mic. Cur huc procaci veneris cursu refer? Veniret? Illic summa tenebrarum lues, INTERPOLATION IN BEZA. Stygemque testor, et profunda Tartari, INTERPOLATION IN FLETCHER. Essay, page 124. Nec tamen æternos obliti (absiste timere) For facile, the word voluve was substituted in the Essay. alter [qui Non agit in superis. Mihi jus dabit ille, suum Essay, page 152. Throni, dominationes, principatus, virtutes, potestates, is said to be a line borrowed by Milton from the titlepage of Heywood's "Hierarchy of Angels." But there are more words in Heywood's title; and, according to his own arrangement of his subjects, they should be read thus: Seraphim, cherubim, throni, potestates, angeli, archangeli, principatus, dominationes. These are my interpolations, minutely traced without any arts of evasion. Whether from the passages that yet remain, any reader will be convinced of my general assertion, and allow that Milton had recourse for assistance to any of the authors whose names I have mentioned, I shall not now be very diligent to inquire, for I had no particular pleasure in subverting the reputation of Milton, which I had myself once endeavoured to exalt ;* and of which, the foundation had al Virorum maximus-JOANNES MILTONUS-Poeta celeberrimus-non Anglice modo, soli natalis, verum generis humani ornamentum-cujus eximius liber, Anglicanis versibus conscriptus, vulgo PARADISUS AMISSUS, immortalis illud ingenii monumentum, cum ipsa ferè eternitate perennaturum est opus-Hujus memoriam Anglorum primus, post tantum, pro dolor! ab tanti excessu poeta intervallum, statua eleganti in loco celeberrimo,cœnobio Westmonasteriensi, posita, regum, principum, antistitum, illustriumque Angliæ virorum came terio, vir ornatissimus, Gulielmus Benson prosecutus est, Poetarum Scotorum Musa Sacræ in præfatione, Edinb. 1739. A character, as high and honourable as ever was bestowed upon him by the most sanguine of his admirers", ways remained untouched by me, had not my | it, and resolve, that my first offence shall be my credit and my interest been blasted, or thought last. More I cannot perform, and more thereto be blasted, by the shade which it cast from its fore cannot be required. I intreat the pardon of boundless elevation. all men, whom I have by any means induced to support, to countenance, or patronise my frauds, of which I think myself obliged to declare, that not one of my friends was conscious. I hope to deserve, by better conduct and more useful undertakings, that patronage which I have obtained from the most illustrious aud venerable names by misrepresentation and delusion, and to appear hereafter in such a character, as shall give you no reason to regret that your name is frequently mentioned with that of, Reverend Sir, your most humble servant, WILLIAM LAUDER. About ten years ago, I published an edition of Dr. Johnston's translation of the "Psalms," and having procured from the general assembly of the church of Scotland, a recommendation of its use to the lower classes of grammar-schools, into which I had begun to introduce it, though not without much controversy and opposition; I thought it likely that I should, by annual publications, improve my little fortune, and be enabled to support myself in freedom from the miseries of indigence. But Mr. Pope, in his malevolence to Mr. Benson, who had distinguished himself by his fondness for the same version, destroyed all my hopes by a distich, in which he places Johnston in a contemptuous comparison with the author of "Paradise Lost."* December 20th, 1750. TESTIMONIES CONCERNING MR. LAUDER. From this time all my praises of Johnston became ridiculous, and I was censured with great freedom, for forcing upon the schools, an author whom Mr. Pope had mentioned only as a foil to a better poet. On this occasion, it was Edinb. May 22d, 1734. natural not to be pleased, and my resentment THESE are certifying, that Mr. William Lauder seeking to discharge itself somewhere, was un- passed his course at this university, to the genehappily directed against Milton. I resolved to ral satisfaction of these masters, under whom he attack his fame, and found some passages in studied. That he has applied himself particu cursory reading, which gave me hopes of stigma-larly to the study of humanity* ever since. That tising him as a plagiary. The farther I carried my search the more cager I grew for the discovery, and the more my hypothesis was opposed, the more I was heated with rage. The consequence of my blind passion, I need not relate; it has, by your detection, become apparent to mankind. Nor do I mention this provocation as adequate to the fury which I have shown, but as a cause of anger, less shameful and reproachful than fractious malice, personal envy, or national jealousy. But for the violation of truth, I offer no excuse, because I well know that nothing can excuse it. Nor will I aggravate my crime, by disingenuous palliations. I confess it, I repent and as this was my cool and sincere opinion of that wonderful man formerly, so I declare it to be the same still, and ever will be, notwithstanding all appearances to the contrary, occasioned merely by passion and resentment; which appear, however, by the Postscript to the Essay, to be so far from extending to the posterity of Milton, that I recommend his only remaining descendant, in the warmest terms, to the public. *On two unequal crutches propp'd he came, MILTON'S on this, on that one JOHNSTON's name. Dunciad, Book IV. Benson. This man endeavoured to raise himself to fame, by erecting monuments, striking coins, and procuring translations of Milton; and afterwards by a great passion for Arthur Johnston, a Scots Physician's, version of the Psalms, of which he printed many fine editions. Notes on the Dunciad. for several years past, he has taught with success, students in the Humanity Class, who were recommended to him by the professor thereof. And lastly, has taught that class himself, during the indisposition, and since the death of its late professor; and therefore is, in our opinion, a fit person to teach Humanity in any school or college whatever. J. GOWDIE, S. S. T. MATT. CRAUFURD, S. S. T. et Hist. Ec. Pr. Reg. ROBERT STUART, Ph. Nat. Pr. CHARLES MACKY, Hist. P. A Letter from the Rev. Mr. Patrick Cuming, one of the ministers of Edinburgh, and Regius Professor of Church History in the University there, to the Rev. Mr. Blair, Rector of the Grammar-School at Dundee. D. B.-Upon a public advertisement in the newspapers, of the vacancy of a master's place in your school, Mr. William Lauder, a friend of mine, proposes to set up for a candidate, and goes over for that purpose. He has long taught the Latin with great approbation in this place, and valuable book, two in quarto, two in octavo, and two in given such proofs of his mastery in that lana lesser form, now lie like lumber in the hand of Mr.guage, that the best judges do upon all occasions Vaillant, bookseller, the effects of Mr. Pope's ill-natured recommend him as one who is qualified in the best manner. He has taught young boys and young gentlemen, with great success; nor did I ever hear of any complaint of him from either parents or children. I beg leave to recommend him to you as my friend; what friendship you No fewer than six different editions of that useful and criticism. One of these editions in quarto, illustrated with an interpretation and notes, after the manner of the classic authors in usum Delphini, was by the worthy editor, anno 1741, inscribed to his Royal Highness Prince George, as a proper book for his instruction in principles of piety, as well as knowledge of the Latin tongue, when he should arrive at due maturity of age. To restore this book to credit, was the cause that induced me to engage in this disagreeable controversy, rather than any design to depreciate the just reputation of Milton. *So the Latin tongue is called in Scotland, from the Latin phrase, classis humaniorum literarum, the class or form where that language is taught. in the choice and variety of his metre, it is as plain, that he has given his poetic genius such an unlimited scope, as has in many cases quite disfigured the peculiar and inimitable beauty, simplicity, and energy of the original, which the former, by a more close and judicious version, has constantly and surprisingly displayed. Something like this we ventured to hint in our note upon these two noble versions: to have said more, would have been inconsistent with our designed brevity. We have likewise since seen what your opponent has writ in praise of the one, and derogation of the other, and think you have sufficiently confuted him, and with respect to us, he has been A Letter from Mr. Mac-Laurin, late Professor of Mathe-so far from giving us any cause to retract what we had formerly said, that it has administered an occasion to us of vindicating it, as we have lately done by some critical notes on your excelafter to Mr. A. B. who was pleased to give lent Johnston, which we communicated soon them a place in his last edition of him, and which SIR,-Though unacquainted, I take the liberty of giving you this trouble, from the desire I have always had to see Mr. Lauder provided in a manner suited to his talent. I know him to have made uncommon progress in classical learn-we doubt not you have seen long ago. How ing, to have taught it with success, and never they have been relished among you we know heard there could be any complaint against his not, but with us they have been thought suffimethod of teaching. I am, indeed, a stranger to cient to prove what we have advanced, as well as the reasons of his want of success on former oc casions. But after conversing with him, I have ground to hope, that he will be always advised by you, for whom he professes great esteem, and will be useful under you. I am, Sir, your most obedient, humble servant, COLIN MAC-LAURIN. College of Edinburgh, Nov. 30th, 1742. A Letter from the Authors of the "Universal History," to Mr. Lauder. London, August 12th, 1741. LEARNED SIR,-When we so gladly took the first opportunity of reviving the memory and merit of your incomparable Johnston, in the first volume of our "Universal History," our chief aim was to excite some generous Mecenas to favour the world with a new edition of a poem which we had long since beheld with no small concern, buried, as it were, by some unaccountable fatality, into an almost total oblivion: whilst others of that kind, none of them superior, many vastly inferior, to it, rode unjustly, as we thought, triumphant over his silent grave. your And it is with great satisfaction that we have seen our endeavours so happily crowned in the edition you soon after gave of it at Edinburgh, in your learned and judicious vindication of excellent author, and more particularly by the just deference which your learned and pious convocation has been pleased to pay to that admirable version. We have had since then, the pleasure to see your worthy example followed here, in the several beautiful editions of the honourable Mr. Auditor Benson, with his critical notes upon the work. It was, indeed, the farthest from our thoughts, to enter into the merit of the controversy between your two great poets, Johnston and Buchanan; neither were we so partial to either as not to see, that each had their shades as well as lights; so that, if the latter has been more happy to direct the attentive reader to discover new instances of your author's exactness and elegance, in every page, if not almost in every line. We gratefully accept of the books and kind compliments you were pleased to transmit to us by Mr. Strahan, and had long since returned you our thanks, but for the many avocations which the great work you know us to be engaged in doth of necessity bring upon us; obliging us, or some at least of our society, to make from time to time an excursion to one or other of our two learned universities, and consulting them upon the best method of carrying on this work to the greatest advantage to the public. This has been some considerable part of our employment for these twelve months past; and we flatter ourselves, that we have, with their assistance and approbation, made such considerable improvements on our original plan, as will scarcely fail of being acceptable to the learned world. the world that we have not been idle, though this They will shortly appear in print, to convince sixth volume is like to appear somewhat later in the year than was usual with our former ones. We shall take the liberty to transmit some copies of our new plan to you as soon as they are printed. All we have left to wish with respect to your excellent countryman and his version is, that it may always meet with such powerful and impartial advocates, and that it may be as much esteemed by all candid judges, as it is by, learned Sir, your sincere well-wishers and humble ser vants, The Authors of the "Universal History." A Letter from the learned Mr. Robert Ainsworth, Author of the Latin and English Dictionary, to Mr. Lauder. LEARNED AND WORTHY SIR,-These wait on you to thank you for the honour you have done a person equally unknown as undeserving, in your valuable present, which I did not receive till several weeks after it was sent; and since I received it my eyes have been so bad, and my poet, you will permit us to cast the following hand so unstable, that I have been forced to defer my duty, as desirous to thank you with my own hand. I congratulate to your nation the just honour ascribed to it by its neighbours and more distant countries, in having bred two such excellent poets as your Buchanan and Johnston, whom to name is to commend; but am concerned for their honour at home, who being committed together, seem to me both to suffer a diminution, whilst justice is done to neither. But at the same time I highly approve your nation's piety in bringing into your schools sacred instead of profane poesy, and heartily wish that ours, and all christian governments, would follow your example herein. If a mix- Dr. Isaac Watts, D. D. in his late Book, entitled "The ture of utile dulci be the best composition in Improvement of the Mind," Lond. 1741, p. 114. poetry, (which is too evident to need the judg Upon the whole survey of things, it is my opiment of the nicest critic in the art,) surely the nion, that for almost all boys who learn this utile so transcendently excels in the sacred tongue, [the Latin,] it would be much safer to hymns, that a christian must deny his name be taught Latin poesy (as soon, and as far as that doth not acknowledge it: and if the dulce they can need it) from those excellent translaseem not equally to excel, it must be from a tions of David's Psalms, which are given us by vitiated taste of those who read them in their ori-Buchanan in the various measures of Horace; ginal, and in others at second-hand from translations. For the manner of writing in the East and West are widely distant, and which to a paraphrast must render his task exceeding difficult, as requiring a perfect knowledge in two languages, wherein the idioms and graces of speech, caused by the diversity of their religion, laws, customs, &c. are as remote as the inhabitants, wherein notwithstanding your poets have succeeded to admiration. Your main contest seems to me, when stript of persons, whether the easy or sublime in poesy be preferable; if so, Non opis est nostræ tantam componere litem : nor think I it in your case material to be decided. Both these have their particular excellences and graces, and youth ought to be taught wherein (which the matter ought chiefly to determine) the one hath place, and where the other. Now since the hymns of David, Moses, and other divine poets intermixed with them, (infinitely excelling those of Callimachus, Alcæus, Sappho, Anacreon, and all others,) abound in both these virtues, and both your poets are acknowledged to be very happy in paraphrasing them, it is my opinion both of them, without giving the least preference to either, should be read alternately in your schools, as the tutor shall direct. Pardon, learned Sir, this scribble to my age and weakness, both which are very great, and command me wherein I may serve you, as, learned Sir, your obliged, thankful, and obedient ser vant, and the lower classes had better read Dr. Johnston's translation of those Psalms, another elegant writer of the Scots nation, instead of Ovid's Epistles; for he has turned the same Psalms, perhaps with greater elegancy, into elegiac verse, whereof the learned W. Benson, Esq. has lately published a new edition; and I hear that these Psalms are honoured with an increasing use in the schools of Holland and Scotland. A stanza, or a couplet of those writers would now and then stick upon the minds of youth, and would furnish them infinitely better with pious and moral thoughts, and do something towards making them good men and christians. An act of the Commission of the General Assembly of the At Edinburgh, 13th of November, 1740, post meridiem. A petition having been presented to the late General Assembly, by Mr. William Lauder, Teacher of Humanity in Edinburgh, craving, That Dr. Arthur Johnston's Latin Paraphrase on the Psalms of David, and Mr. Robert Boyd, of Trochrig, his Hecatombe Christiana, may be recommended to be taught in all grammarschools; and the assembly having appointed a committee of their number to take the desire of the aforesaid petition into their consideration, and report to the Commission: the said committee offered their opinion, that the Commission should grant the desire of the said petition, and recommend the said Dr. Johnston's Paraphrase to be taught in the lower classes of the schools, and Mr. George Buchanan's Paraphrase on the Psalms, together with Mr. Robert Boyd of Trochrig's Hecatombe Christiana in the higher classes of schools, and Humanity-classes in universities. The Commission having heard the said report, unanimously approved thereof, and did, and hereby do, recommend accordingly. Ex tracted by WILLIAM GRANT,* Cl. Ecl. Sc This honourable gentleman is now his Majesty' Advocate for Scotland. |