Page:Tixall Poetry.djvu/394

 P. 38. Then since bare representing is not all, &c.

He means mere narration, or description; in which there is nothing to astonish the mind, or move the heart The sublime and the pathetic are the only genuine sources of real poetry.

P. 39. Had I, like Dr Gibbs a serious trade.

The following amusing account of Dr Gibbs is extracted and abridged from Wood's Athenæ Oxonienses.—

James Gibbs was born at Rouen, in Normandy, about the year 1616. His father was physician to the queen of Charles I. His mother was Mary Stonor, of Stonor-House, in Oxfordshire. At nine years of age he was brought over into England, where, being initiated in his rudiments, he was sent to the English college at St Omers, where he improved himself in the classics, especially in poetry, which was his darling study. Afterwards he took a turn through the Low Countries and Germany; and then settling for a while at Padua, he became a hearer of the celebrated professor of anatomy, J. Veslingius. In 1644, he removed to Rome, and was soon after appointed tutor to Almericus, son of Francis Duke of Modena. Having spent two years in this employment, he was entertained, in quality of physician, by Bernardini, Cardinal Spoda, Bishop of Frescati, and, after his death, was in the family of Prince Justiniani. In the year 1657, Pope Alexander VII., a great patron of learning, made him professor of rhetoric, in the noted school called Sapienza. This employment brought him 501. a year, which, with certain perquisites and a sinecure, made him very easy in his circumstances. All this while he was much admired for his poetical performances, not only by the Italians, but by the Emperor Leopold, who was pleased to honour him with the title of Poet Laureat; at the same time bestowing on him a gold chain and medal, to be worn upon all solemn occasions. The diploma for this dignity bears date May 2d, 1667. In 1668, he published a work, entitled "Carminum Pars Lyrica, ad exemplum Q. Hor. Flacci, &c. Romæ 8°." Opposite the title-page is Dr Gibbs's picture, with an eagle, holding in his beak a laurel over the author's head. Under the picture are two lines, said to be composed by the celebrated Athanasius Kircher, but, as others affirm, by Dr Gibbs himself.