Poetical Works | Page 8

him "a prolific blockhead," "a huge and fertile
crab-tree;" the second has wielded the knout against his back with
peculiar gusto and emphasis, in a paper on satire and satirists,
published in Blackwood for 1828. Had Churchill been alive, he could
have easily "retorted scorn"--set a "Christophero" over against the
portrait of "Pomposo:" the result had been, as always in such cases, a
drawn battle; and damage would have accrued, not to the special
literateurs, but to the general literary character. Prejudice or private
pique always lurks at the bottom of such reckless assaults, and all men
in the long run feel so. In Johnson's case, the causa belli was
unquestionably political difference; and in Christopher North's it was
the love of Scotland which so warmly glowed in his bosom, and which
created a glow of hatred no less warm against Scotland's ablest, fiercest,
and most inveterate poetical foe.
Churchill's poetry only requires to be better known to be highly
appreciated for its masculine and thoroughly English qualities. In
taking our leave of him, we are again haunted by the signal
resemblance he bears, both in mental characteristics and in history, to
Byron. Both were powerful in satire, and still more so in purely poetic
composition. Both were irregular in life, and unfortunate in marriage.
Both were distinguished by fitful generosity, and careless tenderness.
Both obtained at once, and during all their career maintained, a

pre-eminence in popularity over all their contemporaries. Both were
severely handled by reviewers, and underrated by rivals. Both assumed
an attitude of defiance to the world, and stood ostentatiously at bay.
Both mingled largely in the politics of their day, and both took the
liberal side. Both felt and expressed keen remorse for their errors, and
purposed and in part began reformation. Both died at an untimely age
by fever, and in a foreign land. The dust of both, not admitted into
Westminster Abbey, nevertheless reposes in their native soil, and
attracts daily visitors, who lean, and weep, and wonder over it--partly
in sympathy with their fate--partly in pity for their errors--and partly in
admiration of their genius.

NOTE.--We have not alluded to various anecdotes told about
Churchill's journey to Wales, about his setting up as a cider merchant,
&c., because some of them appear extremely apocryphal. The author of
an article on him in the Edinburgh Review for January 1845 asserts that
he was rejected from Oxford because he had already been married. But,
if so, why was he admitted to Cambridge? Besides, the writer adduces
no proof of his assertion. The paper, otherwise, is worthy of its author
and of the poet.

CONTENTS.
THE ROSCIAD
THE APOLOGY
NIGHT
THE PROPHECY
OF FAMINE
AN EPISTLE TO WILLIAM HOGARTH
THE
DUELLIST
GOTHAM
THE AUTHOR
THE
CONFERENCE
THE GHOST
THE CANDIDATE
THE
FAREWELL
THE TIMES
INDEPENDENCE
THE
JOURNEY
DEDICATION TO CHURCHILL'S SERMONS

LINES WRITTEN IN WINDSOR PARK

THE ROSCIAD.[1]

Unknowing and unknown, the hardy Muse
Boldly defies all mean
and partial views;
With honest freedom plays the critic's part,
And
praises, as she censures, from the heart.
Roscius[2] deceased, each high aspiring player
Push'd all his interest
for the vacant chair.
The buskin'd heroes of the mimic stage
No
longer whine in love, and rant in rage;
The monarch quits his throne,
and condescends
Humbly to court the favour of his friends;
For
pity's sake tells undeserved mishaps,
And, their applause to gain,
recounts his claps.
Thus the victorious chiefs of ancient Rome,
To
win the mob, a suppliant's form assume; 10 In pompous strain fight o'er
the extinguish'd war,
And show where honour bled in every scar.

But though bare merit might in Rome appear
The strongest plea for
favour, 'tis not here;
We form our judgment in another way;
And
they will best succeed, who best can pay:
Those who would gain the
votes of British tribes,
Must add to force of merit, force of bribes.
What can an actor give? In every age
Cash hath been rudely banish'd
from the stage; 20 Monarchs themselves, to grief of every player,

Appear as often as their image there:
They can't, like candidate for
other seat,
Pour seas of wine, and mountains raise of meat.
Wine!
they could bribe you with the world as soon,
And of 'Roast Beef,'
they only know the tune:
But what they have they give; could Clive[3]
do more,
Though for each million he had brought home four?

Shuter[4] keeps open house at Southwark fair,
And hopes the friends
of humour will be there; 30 In Smithfield, Yates[5] prepares the rival
treat
For those who laughter love, instead of meat;
Foote,[6] at Old
House,--for even Foote will be,
In self-conceit, an actor,--bribes with
tea;
Which Wilkinson[7] at second-hand receives,
And at the New,
pours water on the leaves.
The town divided, each runs several ways,

As passion, humour, interest, party sways.
Things of no moment,
colour of the hair,

Shape of a leg, complexion brown or fair, 40 A
dress well chosen, or a patch misplaced,
Conciliate favour, or create
distaste.
From galleries loud peals of laughter roll,
And thunder

Shuter's praises; he's so droll.
Embox'd, the ladies must