nor with less fear and circumspection; when at a distance they might perceive two shining suits of armour, hanging upon an oak, and the owners not far off in a profound sleep. The two friends drew lots, and the pursuing of this adventure fell to B-ntly. On he went, and in his van Confusion and Amaze, while Horror and Affright brought up the rear. As he came near, behold two heroes of the Ancient's army, Phalaris and Aesop, lay fast asleep. B-ntly would fain have dispatched them both; and stealing close, aimed his flail at Phalaris's breast. But then the goddess Affright interposing, caught the Modern in her icy arms, and dragged him from the danger she foresaw; for both the dormant heroes happened to turn at the same instant, though soundly sleeping and busy in a dream 27). For Phalaris was just that minute dreaming, how a most vile poetaster had lampooned him, and how he had got him roaring in his bull; and Aesop dreamed, that as he and the Ancient chiefs were lying on the ground, a wild ass broke loose, ran about trampling and kicking, and dunging in their faces. B-ntl-y leaving the two heroes sleeping, seized on both their armours, and withdrew in quest of his darling W-tt-n.

He in the mean time had wandered long in search of some enterprise, till at length he arrived at a small rivulet that issued from a fountain hard by; called, in the language of mortal men, Helicon. Here he stopped, and parched with thirst, resolved to allay it in this limpid stream. Thrice with profane hands he essayed to raise the water to his lips, and thrice it slipped all through his fingers. Then he stooped prone on his breast; but ere his mouth had kissed the liquid crystal, Apollo came, and in the channel held his shield betwixt the Modern and the fountain, so that he drew up nothing but mud. For although no fountain on earth can compare with the clearness of Helicon, yet there lies at bottom a thick sediment of slime and mud; for so Apollo begged of Jupiter, as a punishment to those who durst attempt to taste it with unhallowed lips, and for a lesson to all, not to draw too deep, or far from the spring.

97) Diess bezieht sich auf Homer, der die Träume derer erzählt, die im Schlafe ermordet worden waren.

At the fountain head, W-tt-n discerned two heroes. The one he could not distinguish; but the other was soon known for Temple, general of the allies to the Ancients. His back was turned, and he was employed in drinking large draughts in his helmet, from the fountain, where he had withdrawn himself to rest from the toils of the war. W-tt-n, observing him with quaking knees and trembling hands, spoke thus to himself. „Oh, that I could kill this destroyer of our army! what renown should I purchase among the chiefs! But to issue out against him, man for man, shield against shield, and lance against lance, what Modern of us dare? for he fights like a god; and Pallas „or Apollo are ever at his elbow. But, Oh, mother 98)! if ,,what fame reports be true, that I am the son of so great a goddess, grant me to hit Temple with this lance, that the stroke „may send him to hell, and that I may return in safety and 66 triumph, laden with his spoils. The first part of his prayer the gods granted, at the intercession of his mother and of Momus; but the rest, by a perverse wind, sent from Fate, was scattered in the air. Then W-tt-n grasped his lance, and brandishing it thrice over his head, darted it with all his might; the goddess, his mother, at the same time, adding strength to his arm. Away the lance went hissing, and reached even to the belt of the averted Ancient; upon which, lighty grasing, it fell to the ground. Temple neither felt the weapon touch him, nor heard it fall. And W-tt-n might have escaped to his army, with the honour of having emitted his lance against so great a leader, unrevenged; but Apollo, enraged, that a javelin, flung by the assistance of so foul a goddess, should pollute his fountain, put on the shape of, and softly came to young Boyle, who then accompanied Temple. He pointed first to the lance, then to the distant Modern that flung it, and commanded the young hero to take immediate revenge. Boyle, clad in a suit of armour which had been given him by all the gods ""), immediately advanced against the trembling foe, who

9

98) Er versteht hier seine Mutter Kritik. 99) Boyle hatte einen Beistand in diesem Streite an dem Dechanten Aldrich, Dr. Alterbury, nachherigem Bischof von Rochester, und andern, wegen ihrer Gelehrsamkeit berühmten Männern in Oxford.

now fled before him. As a young lion in the Libyan plains, or Arabian desert, sent by his aged sire to hunt for prey, or health, or exercise; he scours along, wishing to meet some tyger from the mountains, or a furious boar; if chance a wild ass, with brayings importune, affronts his ear, the generous beast, though loathing to distain his claws with blood so vile, yet much provoked at the offensive noise, which Echo, foolish nymph, like her ill judging sex, repeats much louder, and with more delight than Philomela's song; he vindicates the honour of the forest, and hunts the noisy long-eared animal; so W-tt-n fled, so Boyle pursued. But W-tt-n heavy armed, and slow of foot, began to slack his course; when his lover B-ntl-y appeared, returning laden with the spoils of the two sleeping Ancients. Boyle observed him well, and soon discovering the helinet and shield of Phalaris, his friend, both which he had lately with his own hands new polished and gilded; rage sparkled in his eyes; and leaving his pursuit after W-tt-n, he furiously rushed on against this new approacher. Fain would he be revenged on both; but both now fled different ways. And as a woman in a little house, that gets a painful livelihood by spinning; if chance her geese be scattered over the common, she courses round the plain from side to side, compelling here and there the stragglers to the flock; they cackle loud, and flutter over the champion; so Boyle pursued, so fled this pair of friends. Finding at length their flight was vain, they bravely joined, and drew themselves in phalanx. First, B-ntl-y threw a spear with all his force, hoping to pierce the enemy's breast. But Pallas came unseen, and in the air took off the point, and clapped on one of lead, which, after a dead bang against the enemy's shield, fell blunted to the ground. Then Boyle, observing well his time, took a lance of wondrous length and sharpness; and as this pair of friends compacted stood close side to side, he wheeled him to the right, and with unusual force darted the weapon. B-ntly. saw his fate approach; and flanking down his arms close to his ribs, hoping to save his body, in went the point, passing through arm and side; nor stopped, or spent its force, till it had also pierced the valiant W-tt-n; who, going to sustain his dying friend, shared his

fate. As when a skilful cook has trussed a brace of woodcocks, he, with iron skewer, pierces the tender sides of both, their legs and wings close pinioned to their ribs; so was this pair of friends transfixed, till down they fell, joined in their lives, joined in their deaths; so closely joined, that Charon would mistake them both for one, and waft them over Styx for half his fare. Farewell, beloved, loving pair; few equals have you left behind; and happy and immortal shall you be, if all my wit and eloquence can make you so.

And now,

*

Desunt caetera.

END OF THE BATTLE OF THE BOOKS.

Verbesserungen und Zusätze.

S. 1. Anmerk. 2. lese man Rauhheit.

17.

26.

68. fehlt noch: Vgl. Laurentii Vallae de falso credita et ementița Constantini Magni donatione, bei Drakenborch in Livii Op. tom. VII. praef. p. 9., bei Flacius p. 320, 324. Vgl. Reichlin - Meldegg Gesch. des Christenthums. 1. Bd. 1. Abthl. S. 116. Freiburg 1830.

S, 72. Anmerk. 12. fehlt noch zum Schlusse: Vgl. Hufeland's Makrobiotik, oder die Kunst, das menschliche Leben zu verlängern. Berlin 1823, S. 84. Anmerk. 42. lese man statt:

5. Aufl. S, 11 ff.

when writing, so viel

als etc.