Page:The Dunciad - Alexander Pope (1743).djvu/129

98 Now at his head the dextrous task commence, And, instant, fancy feels th' imputed sense; Now gentle touches wanton o'er his face, He struts Adonis, and affects grimace: Rolli the feather to his ear conveys, Then his nice taste directs our Operas: Bentley his mouth. 205. Bently his mouth, &c.] Not spoken of the famous Dr. Richard Bentley, but of one Thom. Bentley, a small critic, who aped his uncle in a little Horace. The great one was intended to be dedicated to the Lord Hallifax, but (on a change of the Ministry) was given to the Earl of Oxford; for which reason the little one was dedicated to his son the Lord Harley. A taste of this Classic Elocution may be seen in his following Panegyric on the Peace of Utrecht. Cupinus Patrem tuum, fulgentissimum illud Orbis Anglicani jubar, adorare. O ingens Reipublicæ ''nostræ columen! O fortunatam tante Heroe Britanniam! Illi tali tantoque viro  per Omnia adsuisse, manumque ejus & mentem direxisse'',. Hujus enim Unius ferme opera, æquisimis & perhonorificis conditionibus'', diuturno, heu nimium! bello, finem impositum videmus. O Diem æterna memoria dignissimam! qua terrores Patriæ omnes excidit, Pacemque diu ex eptatam toti fere Europae restituit, ille Populi Anglicani Amor, Harleius''. Thus critically (that is verbally) translated: "Thy Father, that most refulgent star of the Anglican Orb, we much desire to adore! Oh mighty Column of our Republic! Oh Britain, fortunate in such an Hero! That to such and so great a Man was ever present, in every thing, and all along directed both his hand and his heart, is a Most Absolute Certainty! For it is in a manner by the operation of this Man alone, that we behold a War (alas! how much too long an one!) brought at length to an end, on the most just and most honourable Conditions. Oh Day eternally to be memorated! wherein All the Terrors of his Country were ended, and a  (long wish'd for by almost all Europe) was restored by, the Love and Delight of the People of England." But that this Gentleman can write in a different style, may be seen in a letter he printed to Mr. Pope, wherein several with classic flatt'ry opes, And the puff'd orator bursts out in tropes.