The fox obscene to gaping tombs retires, NOTES. 80 Ver. 74.] A fine remain of ancient art and ancient customs, a piece of tapestry, said to be the work of Queen Matilda, is annually exhibited in the cathedral church of Bayeux, in Normandy, representing the expedition of William the Conqueror, and containing a most minute picture of every part of that event, from his landing in England to the battle of Hastings. An engraving of it is given in the tenth volume of the Memoirs of the Academy of Belles Lettres. Warton. Ver. 80.] In St. Foix's entertaining historical Essays on Paris, it is related, p. 95, tom. 5, that just as the body of William I. was going to be put into the grave, a voice cried aloud, "I forbid his interment. When William was only Duke of Normandy, he seized this piece of Land from my father, on which he built this abbey of St. Stephen, without making me a recompence, which I now demand." Prince Henry, who was present, called out the man, who was only a common farrier, and agreed to give him an hundred crowns for this burial-place. Except the former conquest of England by the Saxons, (says Hume, vol. 1.) who were induced, by peculiar circumstances, to proceed even to the extermination of the natives, it would be difficult to find in all history, a revolution VARIATIONS. Ver. 72. And wolves with howling fill, &c.] The author thought this an error, wolves not being common in England at the time of the Conqueror. P. Stretch'd on the lawn his second hope survey, And secret transports touch'd the conscious swain. NOTES. a revolution more destructive, or attended with a more complete subjection of the ancient inhabitants. Warton. The circumstance of William's laying waste so much territory is very doubtful. I believe the fact can be disproved. Bowles. Ver. 81. second hope.] Richard, second son of William the Conqueror. Warburton. Ver. 83.] The moment Walter Tyrrel had shot him, without speaking of the accident, he instantly hastened to the sea-shore and embarked for France, and from thence hurried to Jerusalem to do penance for his involuntary crime. The body of Rufus was found in the forest by a countryman, whose family are still said to be living near the spot, and was buried, without any pomp, before the altar of Winchester cathedral, where the monument still remains. Though the Monkish historians, who hated him, may perhaps have exaggerated his vices, yet he seems really to have been a violent, prodigal, proud, perfidious, ungenerous, and tyrannical prince. There was however something of magnificence in his building the Tower, Westminster-hall, and London-bridge. Warton. The oak, under which Rufus was shot, was standing till within these few years. IMITATIONS. Bowles. Ver. 89. "Miraturque novas frondes et non sua poma." Virg. Fair Liberty, Britannia's Goddess, rears, Her chearful head, and leads the golden years. And purer spirits swell the sprightly flood, VARIATIONS. Ver. 91. O may no more a foreign master's rage, Still spread, fair Liberty! thy heav'nly wings, Breathe plenty on the fields, and fragrance on the springs. P. Ver. 97. When yellow autumn summer's heat succeeds, And into wine the purple harvest bleeds,' Both morning sports and ev'ning pleasures yields. 1 Perhaps the Author thought it not allowable to describe the season by a circumstance not proper to our climate, the vintage. P. Sudden they seize th' amaz'd, defenceless prize, 110 See! from the brake the whirring pheasant springs, And mounts exulting on triumphant wings: 115 The vivid green his shining plumes unfold, With slaught'ring guns th' unweary'd fowler roves, VARIATIONS. Ver. 107. It stood thus in the first Editions: Pleas'd in the Gen'ral's sight, the host lie down The young, the old, one instant makes our prize, And o'er their captive heads Britannia's standard flies. Ver. 126. O'er rustling leaves around the naked groves. This is a better line. Warton. IMITATIONS. Ver. 115. 66 nec te tua plurima, Pantheu, Labentem pietas, vel Apollinis insula texit." Virg. Warburton. He lifts the tube, and levels with his eye; The clam'rous lapwings feel the leaden death: In genial spring, beneath the quiv'ring shade, Intent, his angle trembling in his hand: Now Cancer glows with Phoebus' fiery car: And pawing, seems to beat the distant plain : VARIATIONS. Ver. 129. The fowler lifts his levell'd tube on high. IMITATIONS. P. Ver. 134. "Præcipites alta vitam sub nube relinquunt." Virg. Ver. 151. Th' impatient courser, &c.] Translated from Statius, "Stare adeo miserum est, pereunt vestigia mille Ante fugam, absentemque ferit gravis ungula campum." These lines Mr. Dryden, in his preface to his translation of Fres noy's |