Crine novo Carolus*, pulloque ornatus amictu, Versat, ad exemplum doctus properare paternum; Versaretque pari studio, mihi crede, Philippus, Ni satis hinc dives, musarum sede relictâ, Civiles coleret curas, patriæque paratus Consulere, et lapsis Britonum succurrere votis, Plaudentem alliceret juvenis gravitate Senatum† : Nescis quò valeant sanctæ mysteria Legis -W. Nescio quò valeat RUMMUS, quem præbeat usum. H. Id quæro, dignusne legi sit, necne libellus: IV. Tanquam ad RUM attineat quidquam! — H. Tibi scilicet uni Hæc coëmis?-bene sit fidis, te divite, amicis W. Quid mi igitur suades? - ut scripta vel optima, mî Brindli Pumice munda petam, titulisque, auroque decora, H. Parietibusne datur solis hæc tanta supellex? * Charles Yorke, just called to the Bar. †These compliments to the House of Yorke, and through them to their admirer, the Hero of the Poem, are elegant, and beautiful; but, with all my filial predilection, I confess they are inferior to those of Hawkins Browne, in his Poem on the Soul. There is in that eloge a dignity of taste, which has caught the best manner of the Augustan Poets, and has improved upon it. Mr. Yorke spoke admirably well at his début in the House of Commons. The author and his brother Dr. Hardinge had an ill name for borrowing books, and losing them. A bantering friend of mine, for whom I had left a copy of this Poem on my table, called at my house one day when I was absent, and had brought with him a book which he was to lend me; but, seeing this passage in the Poem, he pocketed the intended loan, and wrote as an apology, "Tutus ab Hardingis !'' Concutiam Concutiam facili vacuus penetralia risu, Restat, ut his ego me valeam recreare libellis. Sæpe queri, et longos in Diras ducere fletus. A hackney coach. + It happens rather whimsically, that WRAY, in the epistolary poem above cited, and in one of his prose letters dated Knoll Hills, a country-seat of Mr. Hardinge, alludes to these characteristic peculiarities of his own, and ascribes them to others. Hackney Coaches off the stand. § A sedan chair. This is mere play; for he had a fountain always at hand in his own genius: unless in quoting well some classical version of his own thought, no man was less a copyist. It is delightful to see how this playful banter upon his friend was received by that friend himself. There is a letter now in the Museum, written by Mr. WRAY to Dr. Birch, dated Wrest, Sept. 21, 1746. in which, alluding to this Dialogue, which had found its way to Mr. Cave, he expresses the hope that he is in The Dialogue between Mr. WRAY and Mr. HARDINGE, on the subject of purchasing old and scarce Books, called RUMS, in which the former took delight. W. I often wish'd, (ye Fates! I ask no more) Of books, no lavish, but an ample store, Which, as my inmates, their old clothes would keep, II. Ye moths! I give you joy; for whom your friend Whom dust, and smoke in chains of durance hold; time, before the Magazine for that month is printed off; and then his words are these: "The Dialogus inter duos Amicos is of too private a nature to "entertain the publick-we desire him to leave it out by all means. "If he will hear no reason, but must fill up his Magazine, beg "him to make use of the inclosed paper*. If any way could be "found for a similar application to the London Magazine, it “would be right. But our friend here (Mr. Yorke) and myself "desire it should not be propagated. The corrections are only "meant as a dernier resort." The inclosure is in these words: "To abbreviate Wrayius, Yorkius, &c. &c. Philippus, Hardingus. "To make the following corrections: Servaret, mecum nova, "&c. &c. ;" and various other verbal corrections. I quote these passages to shew that Mr. Yorke and his friend were possessed of this poem in manuscript, and corrected Mr. Cave's copy by their own. Mr. Yorke's objection to its appearance in the Magazine arose from the modesty of his nature, as the verses in one passage confer a very high, though a very just, compliment upon him. Mr. WRAY appears to have had no objection upon his own account, as the hero of the ridicule. Mr. Cave readily complied'; and omitted all notice of the " Dialogue." The paper contained corrections of Mr. Cave's transcript from the original Manuscript. This application was made, and with effect. VOL. I. E Or Or hung to wind, and rain upon your stall, My RUMS before me with applause H. But you Shall Casimir the harp of Pindar brave? W. What! shall I miss the Bank, and Stock Exchange, Like thee, in Classic numbers to delight, Or, in their idioms vers'd, like thee, to write? And pile upon her shelves what none can read? W. My W. My parlour-doors, tho' dinners they forget, Him, for congenial space, my hopes reserve, As time, and place with Hymen's lamp may serve ; To me, Cervantes might his vein address; And Lopes, could with ease find ample room. Has he to notes of Spain attuu'd thine ear, Nor moves a foot on Time's descending hill. Thy two barbarians, of revolting name, The Henghams great, and small†, thy homage claim, * All these are very antient Law-writers. ↑ Hengham Magna.-Hengham parva. Three volumes of Croke. E 2 H. But |