7. It may be convenient to place the Council of Six in fome confpicuous fituation in the Theatre, where, after the manner ufually practifed by compofers in mufick, they may give Signs (before fettled and agreed upon) of Diflike or Approbation. In confequence of thefe Signs the whole Audience shall be required to clap or bifs, that the Town may learn certainly when and how far they ought to be pleased. 8. It is fubmitted whether it would not be proper to diftinguish the Council of Six by fome particular Habit or Gown of an honourable shape and colour, to which may be added a fquare Cap and a white Wand. 9. That to prevent unmarried Actresses making away with their Infants, a competent provifion be allowed for the nurture of them, who fhall for that reafon be deemed the Children of the Society; and that they may be educated according to the Genius of their parents, the faid Actreffes fhall declare upon oath (as far as their memory will allow) the true names and qualities of their feveral fathers. A private Gentleman's Son fhall at the publick expence be brought up a Page to attend the Council of Six: A more ample provision shall be made for the Son of a Poet; and a greater ftill for the Son of a Critick. 10. If it be difcovered that any Actress is got with Child during the Interludes of any Play wherein she hath a Part, it fhall be reckoned a neglect of her bufiness, and she shall forfeit accordingly. If any Actor for the future fhall commit Murder, except upon the stage, he fhall be left to the laws of the land; the like is to be understood of Robbery and Theft. In all other cafes, particularly in thofe for Debt, it is propofed that this, like the other Courts of Whitehall and St. James's, may be held a Place of Privilege. And whereas it has been found, that an obligation to fatisfy paultry Creditors has been a Difcouragement to Men of Letters, if any Perfon of Quality or others fhall fend for any Poet or Critick of this Society to any remote quarter of the town, the said Poet or Critick fhall freely pafs and repass without being liable to an Arrest. 11. The forementioned Scheme, in its several regulations, may be fupported by Profits arifing from every Third-night throughout the year. And as it would be hard to fuppofe that so many persons could live without any food (though, from the former course of their lives, a very little will be deemed fufficient), the masters of calculation will, we believe, agree, that out of those Profits, the faid Persons might be fubfifted in a sober and decent manner. We will venture to affirm further, that not only the proper magazines of Thunder and Lightning, but Paint, Diet-drinks, Spitting-pots, and all other Neceffaries of Life, may in like manner fairly be provided for. 12. If fome of the Articles may at firft view feem liable to objections, particularly those that give so vast a power to the Council of Six (which is indeed larger than any intrufted to the great Officers of State), this may be obviated, by swearing those Six Perfons of his Majesty's Privy Council, and obliging them to pafs every thing of moment previously at that most honour. able Board. CONTENTS TO THE ART OF SINKING IN POETRY. CHAP. I. NTRODUCTION, Hi. I the PAGE. That the Bathos, or Profund, is the natural Taste of 144 VI. Of the feveral Kinds of Genius in the Profund, and 149 VII. Of the Profund, when it confifts in the Thought, 152 159 IX. Of Imitation, and the Manner of Imitating, 162 XI. The Figures continued: Of the magnifying and di- 168 XII. Of Expreffion, and the feveral Sorts of Style of the prefent Age, 174 XIII. A Project for the Advancement of the Bathos, 182 nourable, XV. A Receipt to make an Epick Poem, XVI. A Project for the Advancement of the Stage, 191 VIRGILIUS RESTAURATUS: SE U MARTINI SCRIBLERI, SUMMI CRITICI, CASTIGATIONUM IN AENEIDEM SPECIME N. poene AENEIDEM totam, Amice Lector, innumerabilibus mendis fcaturientem, ad priftinum fenfum revocabimus. In fingulis fere verfibus fpuriae occurrunt lectiones, in omnibus quos unquam vidi codicibus, aut vulgatis aut ineditis, ad opprobrium ufque Criticorum, in hunc diem exiftentes. Interea adverte oculos, et his paucis fruere. At fi quae fint in hifce caftigationibus, de quibus non fatis liquet, fyllabarum quantitates, pohɛyóμeva noftra Libro ipfi praefigenda, ut confulas, moneo. SPECIMEN LIBRI PRIMI. I. VER. 1. ARMA Virumque cano, Trojae qui primus ab oris Italiam, fato profugus, Lavinaque venit Littora. multum ille et terris jactatus et alto, Arma Virumque cano, Trojae qui primus ab aris Littora. multum ille et terris vexatus et alto, Ab aris, nempe Hercaei Jovis, vide lib. ii. ver. 512. 550.-Flatu, ventorum Aeoli, ut fequitur-Latina certe littora cum Aeneas aderat, Lavina non nifi poftea ab ipfo nominata, lib. xii. ver. 193.-Jactatus terris non convenit. II. VER. 52. Et quifquis Numen Junonis adoret ? Longe melius, quam, ut antea, Numen; et proculdubio fic Virgilius. III. VER. 86. Venti, velut agmine facto, Qua data porta ruunt. Venti, velut aggere fracto, Qua data porta ruunt. Sic corrige, meo periculo. IV. VER. 117. Fidumque vehebat Orantem. |