Part 2 (1/2)

----Ipse Uno graditur comitatus Achate.

There is scarcely any Scene more moving than this that follows, and is _such an one as wou'd have s.h.i.+ned in *Homer* or *Virgil*_. When he was favour'd with his Prince's Ear, and might have ask'd the most profitable and important Posts in the Government, and been indemnified if guilty of a _Peculatus_; He only used his Interest to relieve the Necessities of his Parents, when another _Person_ wou'd have scarcely own'd 'em for his _Relations_. This discovers such a Generosity of Soul, such an Humility in the greatest Prosperity, such a tender Affection for his Parents, as is hardly to be met with, but in our Author.

And being near his Highness Heart He crav'd a wealthy Boon, A n.o.ble Gift, the which the King Commanded to be done; To relieve his Father's Wants, And Mother being old.

The rest of this Canto relates the Visit to his Father, in which there is something very soft and tender, something _that may move the Mind of the most polite Reader, with the inward Meltings of Humanity and Compa.s.sion_.

The Next Canto of the Tilts and Tournaments, is much like the Fifth Book of _Virgil_, and tho' we can't suppose our Poet ever saw that Author, yet we may believe he was directed to almost the same Pa.s.sages, _by the same kind of Poetical Genius, and the same Copyings after Nature_.

Now he with Tilts and Tournaments, Was entertained so, That all the rest of _Arthur_'s Knights Did him much Pleasure show; And good Sir _Lancelot_ of _Lake_, Sir _Tristram_, and Sir _Guy_; But none like to _Tom Thumb_ For Acts of Chivalry.

Longeque ante omnia Corpora Nisus Emicat----

And agen,

Post Elymus subit, & nunc tertia palma Diores.

In Honour of which n.o.ble Day, And for his Lady's Sake, A Challenge in King _Arthur_'s Court, _Tom Thumb_ did bravely make.

Talis prima Dares caput altum in praelia tollit, Ostendit[que] humeros latos, alterna[que] Iactat Brachia portendens, & verberat Ictibus auras, Quaeritur huic alius:----

'Gainst whom those n.o.ble Knights did run, Sir _Chion_ and the rest, But, still _Tom Thumb_ with all his Might Did bear away the best.

Et primum ante omnes victorem appellat Acesten.

At the same time our Poet shews a laudable Partiality for his Hero, he represents Sir _Lancelot_ after a manner not unbecoming so bold and brave a Knight.

At last Sir _Lancelot_ of _Lake_, In manly sort came in, And with this stout and hardy Knight A Battle to begin.

Huic contra aeneas, speculatus in agmine longo Obvius ire parat----

Which made the Courtiers all aghast.

Obstupuere animi----

This Canto concludes with the Presents made by the King to the Champion according to the Custom of the _Greeks_ and _Romans_ in such Cases; only his tumbling thro' the Queen's Ring is observable, and may serve to give some Light into the Original of that ingenious Exercise so much practis'd by the Moderns, of tumbling thro' an Hoop.

The last Canto treats of the Champion's Sickness and Death, and whoever considers the Beauty, Regularity and majestic Simplicity of the Relation, cannot but be surpris'd at the Advances that may be made in Poetry by the Strength of an uncultivated Genius, and may see how far Nature can proceed without the Ornamental Helps and a.s.sistances of Art.

The Poet don't attribute his Sickness to a Debauch, to the Irregularity or Intemperance of his Life, but to an Exercise becoming an Hero; and tho' he dies quietly in his Bed, he may be said in some measure to die in the Bed of Honour. And to shew the great Affection the King had for him, he sends for his Physicians, and orders all the Care imaginable to be taken for the Conservation of his Life.

He being slender and tall, This cunning Doctor took A fine perspective Gla.s.s, with which, He did in Secret look.

It is a Wonder that the learned World shou'd differ so in their Opinions concerning the Invention and Antiquity of Optic Gla.s.ses, and that any one should contend for _Metius_ of _Alcmaer_, or, as Dr. _Plot_ does, for _Fryar Bacon_, when, if this Author had been consulted, Matters might have been so easily adjusted. Some great Men indeed wou'd prove from hence, our Knight was the Inventor of 'em, that his Valet might the more commodiously see to dress him; but if we consider there were no Beau's in that Age, or reflect more maturely on the Epithet here given to the Doctor, we may readily conclude, that the Honour of this Invention belongs more particularly to that ingenious Profession.

How lovely is the Account of the Departure of his Soul from his Body:

And so with Peace and Quietness He left the World below.