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NOTES

ON

EPISTLES

DESCRIPTIVE AND NARRATIVE.

EPISTLE I.

Page 1. DR. Evans though scarcely known but for some bitter epigrams, was once celebrated at Oxford as a Poet, and is mentioned by Pope, with whom he corresponded, together with Swift and Young. Being admitted of St. John's College, he became fellow and bursar, and was vicar of St. Gyles's in Oxford. -the Epidaurian leech.] Aesculapius. Her squares of Horticulture

8.

10.

By Danby planted] The Physic Garden at Oxford, was the donation of Henry Danvers earl of Danby; who bought for the purpose five acres of ground, surrounded it with a wall which he ornamented with several handsome entrances, and annexed an annual income for its proper cultivation. The institution was further patronized by Dr. Sherard, who on his return from Smyrna, where he had been for some time consul, enriched it with a fine

collection of exotics, added a library of botanical books, and augmented the professor's stipend.

12. Wainfleetdalen College.

-] The founder of Mag

EPISTLE II.

Page 18. The Author of this Epistle was educated at Oxford, for the profession of medicine, but quitted it through a predilection for painting, which he cultivated with attention abroad, and practised for his amusement in private. He had some employment from the crown under the Duke of Buckingham who was attached to him, wrote several lives in the "English School of Painters," translated a Novel from Cervantes, and printed several little poems.An account of VERRIO may be seen in Mr. Walpole's Anecdotes of Painting.

EPISTLE HI.

Page 21. As on the winding banks of Yare I stray.] The river whence Yarmouth derives its name.

22. Nor, blest with Ridley, want Apollo's aid.] GLOSTER RIDLEY, L. L. D. of whose poetical talents several specimens will be given.

ibid. ancient Elmham- -][North] Elmham, now a small village, formerly the bishop's see, which is now at Norwich. WALPOLE.

23. Where Coke's remains, &c.] Tittleshall, a village, in the church of which is the burial-place of the noble family of Coke, and a very fine marble monument of the Right Hon. Sir Edward Coke, lord chief justice of the King's Bench in the reign of King James I. and ancestor to the last Earl of Leicester.

ibid.

-Raynham-
W.

count Townshend.

W.

-] The seat of Lord Vis

25. Laocoon here in pain still seems to breathe,] The statue of Laocoon in bronze by Girardon. W.

ibid. See! the proud Rabbins, at the sumptuous board,] The picture of Mary Magdalen washing Christ's feet, by Sir Peter Paul Rubens, born at Antwerp, 1577, and died 1640. W.

ibid.

On the next cloth behold Van Dyck display
Celestial innocence, immortal day:

His pencil here no more with nature vies,] The Holy Family, with a dance of Angels, by Sir Anthony Van Dyck, a scholar of Rubens, born at Antwerp 1599, and died 1641. W.

These, as Mr. Duncombe remarks, are melancholy mementos, when we reflect that all these noble remains, to us now dead and buried in Russia, are as much lost to the English in general as if they had been carved by Phidias, and painted by Apelles.

26. Behold! where Stephen fainting yields his breath,] The stoning of St. Stephen, by Eustache Le Sueur, born at Paris 1655, and died 1677. W.

26. Here too Albani's pencil charms the eye;] John baptising Christ, by Francis Albani, who died 1660. W.

ibid. Sweet modest charms the Virgin's cheek adorn,] An assumption of the Virgin Mary, by Morellio. W. ibid. The next gay room is known by Carlo's name,] The green-velvet drawing-room is called the Carlo Maratti room, from being filled with pictures by that master and his scholars. W.

Carlo Maratti was born at Rome, 1625; was a scholar of Andrea Sacchi; and died 1713. W.

ibid. Look on yon Pope, nor wonder if he speaks.] A portrait of Clement IX. W.

ibid. Spread sportive Loves and laughing Cherubs Tound;] He painted the Judgment of Paris,

in this room, when he was 83.

W.

27. With summer here the cloth Bassano warms,] The Bassans, father and sons, were very eminent landscape painters about the middle and towards the end of the sixteenth century. W.

28. On the sad cloth the world's great Master dead.] Christ laid in the sepulchre, by Parmegiano. W.

ibid. Whose life insatiate war itself could spare.] Francis Mazzuoli, commonly called Parmegiano, was born 1504, and died 1540. There is a story of this master at the taking of Parma, like that of Archimedes, and also like that of Protogenes, at the taking of Rhodes, while he was painting his famous Ialysus.

W.

28.

Now, as Aeneas in the Stygian glades
Wondering beheld departed heroes shades,

Amidst the forms of worthies dead we range,] In the yellow drawing-room are portraits, by Van Dyck, of lord chief baron Wandesford, lord and lady Wharton, their daughters, archbishop Laud, king Charles the first and his queen. The portrait of the earl of Danby now hangs in the great parlour. W.

ibid. The next great form with melancholy eye,] Charles the first.

W.

29. But see where Kneller now our eye commands] Sir Godfrey Kneller. W.

ibid. See mighty William's fierce determin'd eye,] King William the third on horseback. W.

ibid.

Next in the steady lines of Brunswick's face, Majestic manly honesty we trace ;] George the first on horseback. W.

31. What strokes, what colors, Snyders could command! How great the power of Rubens' daring hand!] The four markets, by Rubens and Snyders. W. ibid. See! Mola next the Roman deeds displays,

That bids our hearts be patriot as we gaze.] The stories of Curtius and Cocles, by Mola, born 1609, died 1665. W.

ibid. Here Julio's wondrous buildings still appear,] A piece of architecture, by Julio Romano, born 1492, died 1546. W.

ibid. Great shade of Poussin! from the Muse receive] Here are the stories of Scipio's continence, and of

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