Page:Homer's Battle of the Frogs and Mice - Parnell (1717).djvu/87

 happen'd to the Royal Family, as an Impertinence that expatiates from the Subject; tho' indeed there seems nothing more proper to raise that Sort of Compassion, which was to inflame his Audience to War. But what appears extreamly pleasant is, that at the same Time he condemns the Passage, he shou'd make Use of it as an Opportunity, to fall into an ample Digression on the various Kinds of Mouse-Traps, and display that minute Learning which every Critick of his Sort is fond to shew himself Master of. This they imagine is tracing of Knowledge thro' its hidden Veins, and bringing Discoveries to Day-light, which Time had cover'd over. Indefatigable and useless Mortals! who value themselves for Knowledge of no Consequence, and think of gaining Applause by what the Reader is careful to pass over unread. What did the Disquisition signify formerly, whether Ulysses's Son, or his Dog, was the elder? or how can the Account of a Vesture, or a Player's Masque, deserve that any shou'd write the Bulk of a Treatise, or others read it when it is written? A Vanity thus poorly supported, which neither affords Pleasure nor Profit, is the unsubstantial Amusement of a Dream to our selves, and a provoking Occasion of our Derision to others.

II. 23. Quills aptly boundFac'd with the Plunder of a Cat they flay'd.] This Passage is something difficult in the Original, which gave the Opportunity of inventing an Expression, which his Followers conceitedly use when any