The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-08-06

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gy for the foiblcs of Steele, Mr.. Thackeray
concluded his lecture by remarking on the
atrocities of the age when poor Dick lived
an age when young ladies, at dinner, actual
ly put their knives into their mouths. The
social peculiarities of the period he Illus
tratcd by a sort of summary Of Swift's Po-
lite Conversation, which led up 10 an ironical
praise of the nineteenth century, as a centu-
ry whose anomalies are unknown"
The fourth lecture on the humorists was
Of Prior, Gay, and Pope, Mr.. Thackcray
choosing 10 consider Pope who was not a
humorist, but wit, the greatest humorist of
all:
MATTHEW PRIOR.
Prior he characterizes as the foremost Of
lucky wits, abounding in good nature and
acuteness. lie loved--hc drank-he sang.
Some verses at Cambridge first rendered him
an object of notice, and by the City Mouse
and Country Mouse which, jointly with
Montague, he. wrote against Dryden, and
which, MIR. Thackeray ironically asserted, all
his hearers knew, of course, by heart be
gained the post of Secretary to the Embassy
at the Hague, in accordance with the usage
then prevalent Of rewarding talent for cor
rect alcaics or biting epigrams with impor-
tant diplomatic appointments. However,bis
fortune was but transient, since he fell with
his patron Montague. AS poet, Mr.. Thack-
cray praised Prior highly, calling him the
most charming of English lyrists, and COM
pairing him with Horace on one side and
Moore on the other. AT the same time he
referred 10 a certain statement that Prior,
after he had spent the evening with the first
men of the day, would retire TO Long-acrc
10 smoke pipe with two very intimate ac-
quantances-a soldier and his wfe-addina
that many of his writings seemed to be un-
der the Influence of his Long-acrc friends"
JOHN GAY.
"Gay was pointed out as remarkable in
stance Of kindliness and good humor, gain
ing the love even of tEe most savage wits of
the day, aod incurring the hatred of none.
The ferocious giant Swift loved him as the
Brohdignag loved CULVER, and was afraid
to open the packet which contained the til
dings OF bis death. This kndliness is an cs>
pccial feature in Gays writings, even in his
BeggarS' Opera, and as Rubini was said to
have, unc larmc dams la voix,' so was there
in all that Gay produced tone of the gem
test paihos. This popularity he illustrated
by reading the well known story of the two
devoted lovers struck dead by lightning. As
for Gay life, it was easy enough. lie failed,
indeed, to make his fortune, but he led
comfortable existence with his noble patrons
tho Duke and Duchess of Queensbury, liv-
ing like a little ronnd French able, eating
and drinking we'll and growing more melan-
choly as he increased in fat"
ALEXANDER POPE.
"For guaranty of Mr. Pope's merits,
Mr.. Thackcray especially referred to the
Rape of The Lock and the Dunciad. lie in |
sisted on his claims 10 admiration as a great
literary artist, always bent on the perfection |
of his work and gladly adopting the thoughts
of others if they would serve 10 complete his
own. This peculiarly of carefulness was
carly shown in the fact that Pope began by |
imitation. The five happiest years of his
life were devoted to the study of the best au-
thors especially poets and the intellectual |
enjoyment was heightened by the feeling |
that genius was throbbing in his heart and |
awakening within him dreams of future glo>
ry. lie too should sing-he too should love.
OF love, indeed, Pope did not make great
deal, aud, as his addresses to Lady Wortley |
Montague were failure, so was his first !
amour sham love for sham mistress. A
particular pleasure in reading the works of
Pope consists in the fact that they bring the
reader into the very best company--a COM
pany whose manners are, to be sure, little
stiff and stately, and whose voices are pitched !
somewhat beyond the ordinary conversation
key, but there is something ennpbIing about
them. Apropos of this peculiarity, Mr..
TLackeray took occasion 10 dwell with great
JUNCTION on the advantages of high society and
said for The benefit of any young hearer who
might be present, Young hearer, keep COM
pany with your berters.' Addison, as we have
seen, is Mr.. Thackeray's moral hero. lie
considers however, that he has one great
blemish in his dislike of Alexander Pope.
The young poet was Too conscious Of his OWE
powers to be a mere attendant at the Court
of King Joseph, and King Joseph did not
like this independence. The support gwen
by the Addison clique 10 Tickells translation
Of Homer might naturally enough oe con-
strued by the Pope faction as proceeding
from an ungenerous wish to depreciaie their
rhieftain's version, and they might easily
suppose that what WINS emulation in Tckell
was envy in Addison. The verses which
Pope wrote on this occasion, and sent TO Ad.
lison, had the satisfactory effect that the
great Joseph was civil ever afterwards. But
still Mr. Thackeray surmised that their sting
was never forgotten, and that the sanity Ad-
lison might be painted as a Sebastian, with
this one arrow sticking in him.
"The causes that led 10 the writing of the
Dunciad were laid down, chiefly with view
Of justifyng the author, though Mr.. Thacke-
ray admitted that Pope's arrows are so sharp
and his slaughter SO wholesale, that the read
er's sympathies are often enlisted on the side
Of the devoted inhabitants of Grub-street.