Parodies of Ballad Criticism | Page 8

The Giant, he owns, looks very probable, because we find 'em swallowing People very fast in almost all Romances.
This Canto concludes with our Hero's Arrival at Court; after he had spent a considerable Part of his Youth in Labours and Fatigues, had been inur'd to nothing else but Hardships and Adventures, we see him receive the Recompence of his Merit, and become the Favourite of his Prince: And here we may perceive all the Fineness of the Gentleman, mixt with all the Resolution and Courage of the Warriour; We may behold him as ready to oblige the Ladies with a Dance, as he was to draw his Sword in their Defence.
Amongst the Deeds of Courtship done, His Highness did command, That he shou'd dance a Galliard brave Upon the Queen's Left Hand. The which he did----
This shews he had all the Accomplishments of Achilles who was undoubtedly one of the best Dancers in the Age he liv'd, according to the Character Homer gives him so frequently of the Agility of his Feet. I have consulted a Master of the Profession of Dancing, who is excellently vers'd in the Chronology of all Dances, he tells me that this Galliard came into Vogue about the latter End of the Reign of Uter Pendragon, and continu'd during that of King Arthur, which is Demonstration to me that our Poet liv'd about that Age.
It is asserted very positively in the later Editions of this Poem, that the four following Lines are a Relation of the King and Tom Thumb's going together an Hunting, but I have took indefatigable Pains to consult all the Manuscripts in Europe concerning this Matter, and I find it an Interpolation. I have also an Arabick Copy by me, which I got a Friend to translate, being unacquainted with the Language, and it is plain by the Translation that 'tis there also interpolated.
Now after that the King wou'd not Abroad for Pleasure go, But still Tom Thumb must go with him Plac'd on his Saddle Bow.
----Ipse Uno graditur comitatus Achate.
There is scarcely any Scene more moving than this that follows, and is such an one as wou'd have shined in *Homer* or *Virgil*. When he was favour'd with his Prince's Ear, and might have ask'd the most profitable and important Posts in the Government, and been indemnified if guilty of a Peculatus; He only used his Interest to relieve the Necessities of his Parents, when another Person wou'd have scarcely own'd 'em for his Relations. This discovers such a Generosity of Soul, such an Humility in the greatest Prosperity, such a tender Affection for his Parents, as is hardly to be met with, but in our Author.
And being near his Highness Heart He crav'd a wealthy Boon, A noble Gift, the which the King Commanded to be done; To relieve his Father's Wants, And Mother being old.
The rest of this Canto relates the Visit to his Father, in which there is something very soft and tender, something that may move the Mind of the most polite Reader, with the inward Meltings of Humanity and Compassion.
The Next Canto of the Tilts and Tournaments, is much like the Fifth Book of Virgil, and tho' we can't suppose our Poet ever saw that Author, yet we may believe he was directed to almost the same Passages, by the same kind of Poetical Genius, and the same Copyings after Nature.
Now he with Tilts and Tournaments, Was entertained so, That all the rest of Arthur's Knights Did him much Pleasure show; And good Sir Lancelot of Lake, Sir Tristram, and Sir Guy; But none like to Tom Thumb For Acts of Chivalry.
Longeque ante omnia Corpora Nisus Emicat----
And agen,
Post Elymus subit, & nunc tertia palma Diores.
In Honour of which noble Day, And for his Lady's Sake, A Challenge in King Arthur's Court, Tom Thumb did bravely make.
Talis prima Dares caput altum in pr?lia tollit, Ostendit[que] humeros latos, alterna[que] Iactat Brachia portendens, & verberat Ictibus auras, Qu?ritur huic alius:----
'Gainst whom those noble Knights did run, Sir Chion and the rest, But, still Tom Thumb with all his Might Did bear away the best.
Et primum ante omnes victorem appellat Acesten.
At the same time our Poet shews a laudable Partiality for his Hero, he represents Sir Lancelot after a manner not unbecoming so bold and brave a Knight.
At last Sir Lancelot of Lake, In manly sort came in, And with this stout and hardy Knight A Battle to begin.
Huic contra ?neas, speculatus in agmine longo Obvius ire parat----
Which made the Courtiers all aghast.
Obstupuere animi----
This Canto concludes with the Presents made by the King to the Champion according to the Custom of the Greeks and Romans in such Cases; only his tumbling thro' the Queen's Ring is observable, and may serve to give some Light into the Original of that