Each genius that can past events recall But none have yet appear'd, whose wondrous art The hall I late describ'd had Merlin wrought 20 25 admired and courted by all the princes and states in Europe, and particularly by our Henry VIII. who would have brought him over to England: he lived in the greatest splendor; but his passion for the fair sex destroyed him in the flower of his age; for being taken with a burning fever, and having concealed from his physicians the true cause of his distemper, he was improperly dealt with, and died in the year 1520, on the same day that he was born, in the thirty-seventh year of his age. Cardinal Bembo wrote his epitaph, in which are these lines, which Mr. Pope has translated, and with the most injudicious flattery applied to his friend Sir Godfrey Kneller. Hic est ille Raphaël, timuit quo sospite vinci Living, great Nature fear'd he might outvie Ariosto was himself contemporary with all the modern artists here mentioned: he knew Titian well, who drew his picture. The author of the Essay on Pope, in an anecdote taken from Richardson, mentions, that Raphael with great modesty consulted his friend Ariosto, who was an excellent scholar, on the characters, lives, and countries of the persons whom he was to introduce in the picture of Theology. All that Raphael is ever known to have written, is four letters and a sonnet addressed to Ariosto. Essay on Pope, vol. ii. p. 462. From shades infernal, by his book compell'd, But turn we now to where the noble band The powers that France beyond the Alps shall send 30 35 40 45 Before th' events by many a hundred year. Dispatch'd from Britain's king the prophet came 50 Ver. 31. the shades that hide Nursinia's caves,---] The poet here alludes to those fabulous and imaginary caves or grottos said to be in the mountains of Norcia, and to have been inhabited by the Sybils, of which many fictions are related. Petrarch tells us, that in these mountains is an opening that leads to the grotto of the Cumaan Sybil, where she resided with many of her virgins, all whom every Friday assumed the form of serpents; that whoever entered the cave should not return till a year, a month, and a day were expired, and that if he should, through forgetfulness, not depart at the end of that time, he would remain there for ever. Ver. 49. ---Marcomir---] The name of a king, said to have reigned in France before Pharamond. King Pharamond, who with his numerous host By raging pestilence and famine slain : 70 Short is their time to joy, and long to mourn, With little gain, with mighty loss they turn From fruitful fields, where not a venturous hand See! Pharamond on him so far depend, 75 He seeks on other foes his arms to bend ; When Merlin at his will (so goes the fame) Ver. 51. ---Pharamond---} Pharamond, king of France, reported to be the first who established the Salic law: he lived about the year 418; he has been always held up as a great prince, but his history is much involved in fable. That every eye might pictur'd here behold Such rash design must seal their certain doom, He spreads his troops, whose inroad to sustain See Eutar comes, and with resistless force And dreadful slaughter stops their daring course. 80 85 90 95 Ver. 90. Sigisbert he show'd,] Mauritius, emperor of Constantinople and successor to Tiberius, being desirous to drive the Lombards out of Italy, incited Sigisbert, with large offers, to undertake the expedition. Sigisbert, with a vast army, passed the mountains and entered Cisalpine Gaul; but Eutar, king of the Lombards, feigning a retreat, attacked him unawares, and cut all his army to pieces. Eugenioo. Ver. 92. ---Jove's steep mount --] A mountain of the Alps, one of the passes into Italy. Ver. 97. Sce mighty Clovis-] Clovis V. king of France marched with a great army into Italy against the Lombards, and though, by taking advantage of the civil discords that had sprung up amongst See Bonivento's gallant duke oppose, Of Pepin now, and now of Charles he speaks, 100 105 110 them, to obtain an easy conquest. Grimaoldo, duke of Bonivento, having few forces to oppose him, feigned at first an intention of attacking him, and then, retreating, left his camp full of provisions and wine. The Franks entering the camp, the soldiers gave themselves to excess till they grew intoxicated, and Grimaoldo coming upon them in the night, when they were asleep, killed every man. Porcacchi. Ver. 105. See Childibert-] Childibert, uncle of Clovis, desirous of revenging the death of his nephew, sent three generals, with three great armies, into Lombardy, against Grimaoldo: one general dying, his army joined the other two: but a dreadful distemper breaking out amongst them, and they being disappointed of the succours which they expected from the emperor, the remainder returned home. Porcacchi. Ver. 113. Of Pepin now,--] Stephano the second, being raised to the papal chair, Astolpho, king of Lombardy, disturbed the trauquillity of the church: the pope, endeavouring to conciliate him with gifts, had recourse to Pepin king of France for assistance, who passed into Italy, and compeled Alphonso to sue for peace. Pepin, |