Page:The poetical works of William Blake; a new and verbatim text from the manuscript engraved and letterpress originals (1905).djvu/276

234 Dryden, in rhyme, cries ' Milton only plann'd : ' 5 Every Fool shook his bells throughout the land. Tom Cooke cut Hogarth down with his clean graving: Thousands of connoisseurs with joy ran raving. Thus, Hayley on his Toilette seeing the sope, 9 Cries ' Homer is very much improv'd by Pope.' Some say I've given great Provision to my foes, And that now I lead my false friends by the nose. Flaxman and Stothard, smelling a sweet savour, 13 Cry ' Blakefied drawing spoils painter and Engraver ; ' While I, looking up to my Umbrella, Resolv'd to be a very contrary fellow, Cry, looking quite from skumference to center, 17 ' No one can finish so high as the original Inventor.' Thus Poor Schiavonetti died of the Cromek — A thing that 's tied around the Examiner's neck ! This is my sweet apology to my friends, 21 That I may put them in mind of their latter ends. , 6] Cp. Advertisement (MS. Book, p. 20) : * An example of the contrary arts is written us in the characters of Milton and Dryden as they are given in a poem signed with the name of Nat Lee, which perhaps he never wrote, and perhaps he wrote in a paroxysm of insanity, in which it is said that IMilton's poem is a rough, unfinished piece, and Dryden has finished it. Now let Dryden's Fall and Milton's Paradise be read, and I will assert that everybody of understanding must cry out shame on such niggling and poco-pen as Dryden has degraded Milton with. But at the same time I will allow that stupidity will prefer Dryden, because it is rhyme, and monotonous sing-song sing-song from beginning to end. Such are Bartolozzi, Woollett and Strange.' 7] Cp. Advertisement (MS. Book, p. 57) : 'Cooke wished to give Hogarth what he could take from Rafael, that is, outline, and mass, and colour ; but he could not.' 8 Thousands. , . raving] How many Thousands of Conoisseurs ran raving MS. Book 15/ rdg. del. (p. 62). 9 Thus] An addition ; Then EY. 10 Cries] Says MS. Book 1st idg. del. II, 12 Some. . . nose] ' I've given great Provision to my Foes But now ril lead my false Friends by the Nose.' MS. Book 1st rdg. del. (p. 63). 11 Some say] A marginal addition. great] "EY omit. 12 that] .^ marginal addition ; HY omit. 17 Cry. .. center] Cry Tom Cooke proves from circumference to Center MS. Book 1st rdg. del. (p. 62 19, 20 A reference to Cromek's 'Account of Mr. Schiavonetti,' in the E.vaminer, July i, 1810. 20 around] about EY.