Dialogues upon the usefulness of ancient medals: Especially in relation to the Latin and Greek poets.

DIALOGUE II.

SOME of the finest treatises of the most po∣lite Latin and Greek writers are in Dialogue, as many very valued pieces of French, Itali∣an, and English appear in the same dress. I have sometimes however been very much distasted at this way of writing, by reason of the long Pre∣faces and exordiums into which it often betrays an author. There is so much time taken up in ceremony, that before they enter on their subject the Dialogue is half ended. To avoid the fault I have found in others, I shall not trouble my self nor my Reader with the first salutes of our three friends, nor with any part of their discourse over the Tea-table. We will suppose the China dishes taken off, and a Drawer of Medals supply∣ing their room. Philander, who is to be the He∣roe in my Dialogue, takes it in his hand, and ad∣dressing himself to Cynthio and Eugenius, I will first of all, says he, show you an assembly of the most virtuous Ladies that you have ever perhaps conversed with. I do not know, says Cynthio, re∣garding them, what their virtue may be, but me∣thinks they are a little fantastical in their dress. You will find, says Philander, there is good sense in it. They have not a single ornament that they cannot give a reason for. I was going to ask you, says Eugenius, in what country you find these Ladies. But I see they are some of those

imaginary persons you told us of last night that inhabit old Coins, and appear no where else but on the reverse of a Medal. Their proper coun∣try, says Philander, is the breast of a good man: for I think they are most of them the figures of Virtues. It is a great compliment methinks to the sex, says Cynthio, that your Virtues are gene∣rally shown in petticoats. I can give no other reason for it, says Philander, but because they chanced to be of the feminine gender in the learn∣ed languages.* 1.1 You find however something bold and masculine in the air and posture of the first figure, which is that of Virtue her self, and agrees very well with the description we find of her in Silius Italicus.

Virtutis dispar habitus, frons hirta, nec unquam Compositâ mutata comâ, stans vultus, et ore Incessuque viro propior, laetique pudoris, Celsa humeris, niveae fulgebat stamine pallae. Sil. It. L. 15.

A different form did Virtue wear, Rude from her forehead fell th' unplaited hair, With dauntless mien aloft she rear'd her head, And next to manly was the virgin's tread; Her height, her sprightly blush, the Goddess show, And robes unsullied as the falling snow.

Virtue and Honour had their Temples bordering on each other, and are sometimes both on the same coin,* 1.2 as in the following one of Galba. Silius Italicus makes them companions in the glorious equipage that he gives his Virtue.

[Virtus loquitur.]

Mecum Honor, et Laudes, et laeto Gloria vultu, Et Decus, et niveis Victoria concolor alis. Ibid,

[Virtue speaks.]

With me the foremost place let Honour gain, Fame, and the Praises mingling in her train; Gay Glory next, and Victory on high, White like my self, on snowy wings shall fly.

Tu cujus placido posuere in pectore sedem Blandus Honos, hilarisque (tamén cum pondere) Virtus. Stat. Sil. l. 2.

The head of Honour is crowned with a Laurel, as Martial has adorned his Glory after the same manner, which indeed is but another name for the same person.

Mitte coronatas Gloria maesta comas.

I find, says Cynthio, the Latins mean Courage by the figure of Virtue, as well as by the word it self. Courage was esteemed the greatest perfe∣ction among them, and therefore went under the name of Virtue in general, as the modern Italians give the same name on the same account to the Knowledge of Curiosities. Should a Roman Painter at present draw the picture of Virtue, in∣••••ead of the Spear and Paratonium that she bears ••n old coins, he would give her a Bust in one hand and a Fiddle in the other.

The next, says Philander,* 1.3 is a Lady of a more peaceful character, and had ••er Temple at Rome.

—Salutato crepitat Concordia nido.

She is often placed on the reverse of an Imperi•• coin to show the good understanding betwee•• the Emperor and the Empress. She has alway•• a Cornu-copiae in her hand, to denote that Plent•• is the fruit of Concord. After this short accou•••• of the Goddess, I desire you will give me you•• opinion of the Deity that is described in the fo••¦lowing verses of Seneca, who would have he propitious to the marriage of Jason and Creus: He mentions her by her qualities, and not b•• her name.

—Asperi Martis sanguineas quae cohibet manus, Quae dat belligeris foedera gentibus, Et cornu retinet divite copiam. Sen. Med. Act. 1

Who sooths great Mars the warriour God, And checks his arm distain'd with blood, Who joins in leagues the jarring lands, The horn of Plenty fills her hands.

The description, says Eugenius, is a copy of th•• figure we have before us: and for the future, in stead of any further note on this passage, would have the reverse you have shown us stamp¦ed on the side of it. The interpreters of Seneca says Philander, will understand the precedent ver¦ses as a description of Venus, though in my opi¦nion there is only the first of them that can aptly relate to her, which at the same time agrees as wel•• with Concord: and that this was a Goddess wh••

••ed to interest her self in marriages, we may see the following description.

—Jamdudum poste reclinis, Quaerit Hymen thalamis intactum dicere carmen, Quo vatem mulcere queat; dat Juno verenda Vincula, et insigni geminat Concordia taedâ. Statii Epithalamion. Silv. li. 1.

Already leaning at the door, too long Sweet Hymen waits to raise the nuptial Song, Her sacred bands majestick Juno lends, And Concord with her flaming torch attends.

Peace differs as little in her Dress as in her Character from Concord.* 1.4 You may observe in both these figures that the Vest is gathered up before them, like an Apron, which you must suppose filled with fruits as well as the Cornu-copiae. It is to this part of the Dress that Tibullus alludes.

At nobis, Pax alma, veni, spicamque teneto, Perfluat et pomis candidus antè sinus.

Kind Peace appear, And in thy right hand hold the wheaten ear, From thy white lap th' o'erflowing fruits, shall fall.

Prudentius has given us the same circumstance in his description of Avarice.

—Avaritia gremio praecincta capaci. Prud. Psychomachia.

How proper the emblems of Plenty are to Peace, may be seen in the same Poet.

Interea Pax arva colat, Pax candida primùm Duxit araturos sub'juga curva boves; Pax aluit vites, et succos condidit uvae, Funderet ut nato testa paterna merum: Pace bidens vomerque vigent.— Tibul. El. 10. Lib. 1.

She first, White Peace, the earth with plough∣shares broke, And bent the oxen to the crooked yoke, First rear'd the vine, and hoarded first with ca•• The father's vintage for his drunken heir.

The Olive-branch in her hand is frequently touch∣ed upon in the old Poets as a token of Peace.

Pace orare manu— Virg. Aen. 10.

Ingreditur, ramumque tenens popularis Olivae. Ov. Met. lib. 7.

In his right hand an Olive-branch he holds.

—furorem Indomitum duramque viri deflectere mentem Pacifico sermone parant, hostemque propinquum Orant Cecropiae praelatâ fronde Minervae. Luc. lib. 3.

—To move his haughty soul they try Intreaties, and perswasion soft apply; Their brows Minerva's peaceful branches wear, And thus in gentlest terms they greet his ear.Mr. Rowe.

Which by the way one would think had been spoken rather of an Attila, or a Maximin, than Julius Caesar.

You see Abundance or Plenty makes the same figure in Medals as in Horace.* 1.5

—tibi Copia▪ Manabit ad plenum benigno Ruris honorum opulenta cornu. Hor. Lib. 1. Od. 17.

—Here to thee shall Plenty flow And all her riches show, To raise the honour of the quiet plain. Mr. Creech.

The Compliment on this reverse to Gordianus Pius is expressed in the same manner as that of Horace to Augustus.

—Aurea fruges Italiam pleno diffudit Copia cornu. Hor. Epist. 12. Lib. 1.

—Golden Plenty with a bounteous hand Rich harvests freely scatters o'er our land. Mr. Creech.

But to return again to our Virtues.* 1.6 You have here the picture of Fidelity, who was worshipped as a Goddess among the Romans.

Situ oblitus es at Dij meminerunt, meminit Fides. Catul. ad Alphen.

I should fancy, from the following verses of Vir∣gil

and Silius Italicus, that she was represented under the figure of an old woman.

Cana Fides, et Vesta, Remo cum fratre Quirin•• Jura dabunt— Virg. Aen. Lib. 1

Then banish'd Faith shall once again return, And vestal fires in hallow'd temples burn, And Remus with Quirinus shall sustain The righteous laws, and fraud and force re¦strain. Mr. Dryde••

—ad limina sanctae Tendebat Fidei, secretaque pectora tentat. Arcanis dea laeta, polo tum forte remoto Coelicolum magnas volvebat conscia curas. Ante Jovem generata, decus divumque hom•• numque, Quâ sine non tellus pacem; non aequora norunt, Justitiae consors— Sil. It. Lib.

He to the shrines of Faith his steps addrest. She, pleas'd with secrets rowling in her breast Far from the world remote, revolv'd on high The cares of gods, and counsels of the sky. Ere Jove was born she grac'd the bright abodes Consort of Justice, boast of men and gods; Without whose heavenly aid no peace below The stedfast earth, and rowling ocean know.

* 1.7There is a Medal of Heliogabal•• inscrib'd FIDES EXERCITUS. that receives a great light from the preceding verses. She is posted between two military En∣signs, for the good quality that the Poet ascribes

••her of preserving the publick peace, by keeping the Army true to its Allegiance.

I fancy, says Eugenius, as you have discovered the Age of this imaginary Lady from the descrip∣tion that the Poets have made of her, you may ••nd too the colour of the Drapery that she wore in the old Roman paintings, from that verse in Horace,

Te Spes et albo rara Fides colit Velata panno — Hor. Od. 35. Lib. 1.

Sure Hope and Friendship cloath'd in White, Attend on thee. — Mr. Creech.

One would think, says Philander, by this verse, that Hope and Fidelity had both the same kind of Dress. It is certain Hope might have a fair pre∣tence to White, in allusion to those that were Candidates for an employ.

— quem ducit hiantem Cretata ambitio— Pers. Sat. 5.

And how properly the Epithet of Rara agrees with her, you may see in the transpa∣rency of the next figure.* 1.8 She is here dressed in such a kind of Vest as the ••atins call a Multicium from the fineness of its issue. Your Roman Beaus had their summer ••a of such a light airy make.

Quem tenues decuere togae nitidique capilli. Hor. Ep. 14. Lib. 1.

I that lov'd— Curl'd powder'd locks, a fine and gawdy gow•• Mr. Cree••

I remember, says Cynthio, Juvenal rallys Cre••¦cus, that was otherwise a brave rough fellow, ve¦ry handsomely, on this kind of garment.

— sed quid Non facient alij cum tu multitia sumas, Cretice? et hanc vestem populo mirante peror•• In Proculas et Pollineas. —Juv. Sat.

Acer et indomitus Libertatisque magister, Cretice, pelluces — Ibi••

— Nor, vain Metellus, shall From Rome's Tribunal thy harangues prevail 'Gainst harlotry, while thou art clad so thin, That thro' thy Cobweb-robe we see thy skin, As thou declaim'st — Mr. Tat••

Can'st thou restore old manners, or retrench Rome's pride, who com'st transparent to th•• Bench?Idem

But pray what is the meaning that this trans∣parent Lady holds up her train in her left hand for I find your women on Medals do nothin•• without a meaning. Besides, I suppose there a moral precept at least couch'd under the figur•• she holds in her other hand. She draws bac•• her garment, says Philander, that it may not in cumber her in her march. For she is always drawn in a posture of walking, it being as natu∣ral for Hope to press forward to her proper ob∣jects, as for Fear to fly from them.

••t canis in vacuo leporem cum Gallicus arvo ••idit, et hic praedam pedibus petit, ille salutem: ••lter in-haesuro similis, jam jamque tenere ••perat, et extento stringit vestigia rostro; ••lter in ambiguo est an sit comprensus, et ipsis Morsibus eripitur, tangentiaque ora relinquit: Sic deus et virgo est: hic spe celer, illa timore. De Apol. et Daph. Ov. Met. Lib. 1.

As when th' impatient Greyhound slipt from far, ••ounds o'er the glebe to catch the fearful Hare, She in her speed does all her safety lay: And he with double speed pursues the prey; O'er-runs her at the sitting turn, and licks His chaps in vain, and blows upon the flix: She 'scapes, and for the neighb'ring covert strives, And gaining shelter doubts if yet she lives: — Such was the god, and such the flying fair, She, urg'd by Fear, her feet did swiftly move, But he more swiftly who was urg'd by Love. Mr. Dryden.

This beautiful similitude is, I think, the prettiest Emblem in the world of Hope and Fear in extre∣mity. A flower or blossome that you see in the right hand is a proper ornament for Hope, since they are these that we term in poetical language th•• Hopes of the year.

••ere novo, tunc herba nitens, et roboris expers ••urget et insolida est, et Spe delectat agrestes. Omnia tum florent florumque coloribus almus Ridet ager — Ov. Met. Lib. 15.

The green stem grows in stature and in size, But only feeds with Hope the Farmer's eyes;

Then laughs the childish year with flowre crownd, And lavishly perfumes the fields around. Mr. Dryde••

The same Poet in his De fastis, speaking of •• Vine in flower, expresses it

In spe vitis erat — Ov. de Fast. Lib.

* 1.9The next on the List is a Lady of contrary character, and therefore in quite different posture. As Security is free from pursuits, she is represented leaning carelesly on pillar. Horace has drawn a pretty metaphor fro•• this posture.

Nullum me a labore reclinat otium.

No ease doth lay me down from pain. Mr. Cree••

She rests her self on a pillar, for the same reas•• as the Poets often compare an obstinate resol••¦tion or a great firmness of mind, to a rock th•• is not to be moved by all the assaults of win or waves.

Non civium ardor prava jubentium, No vultus instantis tyranni, Mente quatit solidâ, neque Auster Dux inquietae turbidus Adriae, &c.

The man resolv'd, and steady to his trust, Inflexible to ill, and obstinately just, May the rude rabble's insolence despise, Their senseless clamours and tumultuous cri••

The tyrant's fierceness he beguiles, And the stern brow and the harsh voice defies, And with superior greatness smiles. ••ot the rough whirlwind that deforms ••dria's black gulf—&c.

Mr. Creech.

I am apt to think it was on Devices of this na∣ture that Horace had his eye in his Ode to Fortune. It is certain he alludes to a pillar that figured out Security, or something very like it; and till any body finds out another that will stand better in ••s place, I think we may content our selves with this before us.

••e Dacus asper, te profugi Scythae ••rbesque gentesque et Latium ferox, Regumque matres harharorum, et Purpurei metuunt tyranni: Injurioso nè pede proruas Stantem columnam; neu populus frequens Ad arma cessantes, ad arma Concitet, imperiumque frangat. Ad Fortunam. Hor. Lib. 1. Od. 35.

To thee their vows rough Germans pay, To thee the wandring Scythians bend, Thee mighty Rome proclaims a friend: And for their Tyrant sons The barb'rous Mothers pray ••o thee, the greatest guardian of their Thrones.

They bend, they vow, and still they fear, Lest you should kick their Column down, And cloud the glory of their Crown; They fear that you would raise

The lazy crowd to war, And break their Empire, or confine their prai••.

Mr. Cree••

I must however be so fair as to let you know th•• Peace and Felicity have their pillars in sever•• Medals as well as Security, so that if you do 〈◊〉〈◊〉 like one of them, you may take the other.

* 1.10The next Figure is that of Chas¦ty, who was worshipped as a Go••¦dess, and had her Temple.

—deinde ad superos Astraea recessit Hâc comite, atque duae pariter fugere sorores. De pudicitia. Juv. Sat.

At length uneasy Justice upwards flew, And both the Sisters to the Stars withdrew. Mr. Drya••

Templa pudicitiae quid opus statuisse puellis, Si cuivis nuptae quidlibet esse licet? Tib. Lib

Since wives whate'er they please unblam'd can Why rear we useless Fanes to Chastity?

How her posture and dress become her, you 〈◊〉〈◊〉 see in the following verses.

Ergo sedens velat vultus, obnubit ocellos Ista verecundi signa Pudoris erant. Al••

She sits, her visage veil'd, her eyes conceal'd By marks like these was Chastity reveal'd.

•••• procul vittae tenues, insigne pudoris, Quaeque tegit medios instita long a pedes. Ov. de Art. Aman.

— frontem limbo velata pudicam.Claud. de Theod. Cons.

Hence! ye smooth fillets on the forehead bound, Whose bands the brows of Chastity surround, And her coy Robe that lengthens to the ground.

Sh•••• represented in the habit of a Roman Matron.

••atronae praeter faciem nil cernere possis, ••etera, ni Catia est, demissâ veste tegentis. Hor. Sat. 2. Lib. 1.

••sides, a Matron's face is seen alone; ••ut Kate's, that female bully of the town, ••••r all the rest is cover'd with a gown. Mr. Creech.

Th•••• ni Catia est, says Cynthio, is a beauty un∣known to most of our English Satyrists. Ho∣race knew how to stab with address, and to give a thrust where he was least expected Boileau ha•• nicely imitated him in this, as well as his o∣the•• beauties. But our English Libellers are for he••••ng a man down-right, and for letting him see at ••••istance that he is to look for no mercy. I own to you, says Eugenius, I have often admi∣red this piece of art in the two Satyrists you men∣tion and have been surprized to meet with a man in Satire that I never in the least expected to

find there. They have a particular way of hiding their ill-nature, and introduce a criminal rather to illustrate a precept or passage, than out of any seeming design to abuse him. Our English Poets on the contrary show a kind of malice prepense in their Satires, and instead of bringing in the per∣son to give light to any part of the Poem, let you see they writ the whole Poem on purpose to abuse the person. But we must not leave the Ladies thus. Pray what kind of head-dress is that of Piety?

As Chastity, says Philander, appears in the habit of a Roman matron, in whom that Virtue was sup∣posed to reign in its perfection, Piety wears the dress of the Vestal Virgins,* 1.11 who were the greatest and most shining exam∣ples of it. Vittata Sacerdos is you know an Expres∣sion among the Latin Poets. I do not question but you have seen in the Duke of Florence's gallery a beautiful antique figure of a woman standing before an Altar, which some of the Antiquaries call a Piety and others a Vestal Virgin. The woman, Altar and fire burning on it, are seen in marble exactly as in this coin, and bring to my mind a part of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 speech that Religion makes in Phaedrus's fables.

Sed ne ignis noster facinori praeluceat, Per quem verendos excolit Pietas deos. Fab. 10. Li. 4

It is to this Goddess that Statius addresses him∣self in the following lines.

Summa deum Pietas! cujus gratissima coelo Rara profanatas inspectant numina terras, Huc vittata comam, niveaque insignis amictu,

••alis adhuc praesens, nullâque expulsa nocentum ••ude rudes populos atque aurea regna colebas, M••tibus exequiis ades, et lugentis Hetrusci ••••ne pios fletus, laudataque lumina terge. Statius Silv. Li. 3.

C••ief of the Skies, celestial Piety! Whose god-head, priz'd by those of heavenly birth, Re••isits rare these tainted realms of Earth, M••ld in thy milk-white vest, to sooth my friend, With holy fillets on thy brows descend, S••ch as of old (ere chac'd by Guilt and Rage) A••ace unpolish'd, and a golden age, ••••eld thee frequent. Once more come below, M•• in the soft solemnities of woe, S••, see, thy own Hetruscus wastes the day In ••ious grief; and wipe his tears away.

The little trunk she holds in her left hand is the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that you so often find among the Poets, in w••ich the frankincense was preserv'd that Pi∣••ty ••ere supposed to strow on the fire.

D••••tque sacerdoti custodem thuris acerram.Ov. Met. Li. 13.

Haec tibi pro nato plenâ dat laetus acerrâ P••••be — Mart. Li. 4. Epig. 45.

T•• figure of Equity differs but lit∣••e from that our painters make of ••er a•• present.* 1.12 The scales she carries in her hand ••re so natural an emblem of justice, that Persius ••as ••med them into an allegory to express the deci∣••o•• ••f right or wrong.

— Quirites Hoc puto non justumest, illud male, rectius istus Scis etenim justum geminâ suspendere lance Ancipitis Librae. — Socrat. ad Alcibiad. Sat.

— Romans, know, Against right reason all your counsels go; This is not fair; nor profitable that: Nor t'other question proper for debate. But thou, no doubt, canst set the business rig•• And give each argument its proper weight: Know'st with an equal hand to hold the scale, & Mr. Dryde

* 1.13The next figure I present you wi•• is Eternity. She holds in her ha•• a globe with a Phaenix on it. How proper a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Eternity is each of these you may see in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 following quotations. I am sure you will p••••¦don the length of the latter as it is not impro•• to the occasion, and shows at the same time 〈◊〉〈◊〉 great fruitfulness of the Poet's fancy, that co•• turn the same thought to so many different wa••

Haec Aeterna manet, divisque simillima forma•• Cui neque principium est usquam, nec finis: ipso Sed fimilis toto remanet, perque omnia par est de Rotunditate Corporum. Manil. Li.

This form's eternal, and may justly claim A god-like nature, all its parts the same; Alike, and equal to its self 'tis found, No end's and no beginning in a round:

••ought can molest its Being, nought controul, And this enobles, and confines the whole.Mr. Creech.

••ar volucer superis: Stellas qui vividus aequat ••urando, membrisque terit redeuntibus aevum.— ••am pater est prolesque sui, nulloque creante Emeritos artus foecunda morte reformat, Et petit alternam totidem per funera vitam.— O••senium positure rogo, falsisque sepulchris ••atales habiture vices, qui saepe renasci Exitio, proprioque soles pubescere letho. — •• felix, haeresque tui! quo solvimur omnes, ••c tibi suppeditat vires, praebetur origo ••r cinerem, moritur te non pereunte senectus. ••disti quodcunque fuit. Te secula teste ••uncta revolvuntur: nosti quo tempore pontus ••derit elatas scopulis stagnantibus undas: ••is Phaetonteis erroribus arserit annus. E•• clades Te nulla rapit, solusque superstes ••omitâ tellure manes, non stamina Parcae 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Te dura legunt, non jus habuere nocendi. de Phoenice. Claud.

A God-like bird! whose endless round of years Outlasts the stars, and tires the circling spheres;— Begot by none himself, begetting none, Si••e of himself he is, and of himself the son; ••is life in fruitful death renews its date, ••••d kind destruction but prolongs his fate.— ••hou, says he, whom harmless fires shall burn ••y age the flame to second youth shall turn, A•• infant's cradle is thy fun'ral urn. — Thrice happy Phaenix! Heav'n's peculiar care Has made thy self thy self's surviving heir.

By Death thy deathless vigour is supply'd, Which sinks to ruine all the world beside. Thy age, not thee, assisting Phoebus burns, And vital flames light up thy fun'ral Urns. Whate'er events have been thy eyes survey, And thou art fix'd while ages roll away. Thou saw'st when raging ocean burst his b•• O'er-top'd the mountains, and the earth o•• spread; When the rash youth inflam'd the high abo•• Scorch'd up the skies, and scar'd the death Gods. When nature ceases, thou shalt still remain, Nor second Chaos bound thy endless reign Fate's tyrant laws thy happier lot shall bra•• Baffle destruction, and elude the grave.

The circle of rays that you see round the hea•• the Phaenix distinguish him to be the bird and spring of the Sun.

Solis avi specimen — Una est quae reparet seque ipsa reseminet al•• Assyrii Phaenica vocant: non fruge neque h•• Sed Thuris lacrymis, et succo vivit amomi. Haec ubi quinque suae complevit secula vitae, Ilicis in ramis, tremulaeve cacumine palmae, Unguibus et duro sibi nidum construit ore: Quo simul ac casias, ac nardi lenis aristas Quassaque cum falvâ substravit cinnama myr•• Se super imponit, finitque in odoribus aevum Inde ferunt totidem qui vivere debeat anno•• Corpore de patrio parvum phaenica renasci. Cum dedit huic aetas vires, onerique ferend•• Ponderibus nidi ramos levat arboris altae,

••ertque pius cunasque suas, patriumque sepulcrum, ••erque leves auras Hyperionis urbe potitus ••nte fores sacras Hyperionis aede reponit. Ov. Met. Li. 15.

—Titanius ales. Claud. de Phaenice.

— From himself the Phaenix only springs: Self-born, begotten by the parent Flame, In which he burn'd, another and the same. Who not by corn or herbs his life sustains, ••ut the sweet essence of Amomum drains: ••nd watches the rich gums Arabia bears, While yet in tender dew they drop their tears. ••e (his five centuries of life fulfill'd) ••is nest on oaken boughs begins to build, ••r trembling tops of Palm, and first he draws ••he plan with his broad bill and crooked claws, Nature's artificers; on this the pile •••• form'd, and rises round; then with the spoil ••f Casia, Cynamon, and stems of Nard, For softness strew'd beneath) his fun'ral bed is rear'd: ••un'ral and bridal both; and all around ••he borders with corruptless Myrrh are crown'd, On this incumbent; 'till aetherial flame First catches, then consumes, the costly frame; Consumes him too, as on the pile he lies; He liv'd on odours, and in odours dies. An Infant-Phaenix from the former springs, ••is father's heir, and from his tender wings ••••akes off his parent dust, his method he pursues, ••nd the same lease of life on the same terms renews. When grown to manhood he begins his reign, And with stiff pinions can his flight sustain,

He lightens of its load the tree, that bore His father's royal sepulchre before, And his own cradle: This (with pious care Plac'd on his back) he cuts the buxom air, Seeks the Sun's city, and his sacred church, And decently lays down his burthen in porch. Mr. Dry••

Sic ubi foecundâ reparavit morte juventam, Et patrios idem cineres, collectaque portat Unguibus ossa piis, Nilique ad littora tende•• Unicus extremo Phoenix procedit ab Euro: Conveniunt Aquilae, cunctaeque ex orbe volu•• Ut Solis mirentur avem — Claud. de laud. Stil. L.

So when his parent's pile hath ceas'd to bu•• Tow'rs the young Phaenix from the teeming t•• And from the purple east, with pious toil Bears the dear reliques to the distant Nile; Himself a species! Then, the bird of Jove, And all his plumy nation quit the grove; The gay harmonious train delighted gaze, Crowd the procession, and resound his prais

The radiated head of the Phaenix gives us meaning of a passage in Ausonius, which I formerly surprized to meet with in the desc••¦tion of a Bird. But at present I am very well ••tisfied the Poet must have had his eye on the ••gure of this Bird in ancient sculpture and pai••¦ing, as indeed it was impossible to take it fr•• the life.

Ter nova Nestoreos implevit purpura fusos, Et toties terno cornix vivacior aevo,

Quam novies terni glomerantem secula tractûs V••ncunt aeripedes ter terno Nestore cervi, ••es quorum aetates superat Phoebeijus oscen, ••em novies senior Gangeticus anteit ales, ••es cinnameo radiatus tempora nido. Auson. Eidyll. 11.

••canum radiant oculi jubar. igneus ora Cingit honos, rutilo cognatum vertice sidus ••tollit cristatus apex, tenebrasque serenâ I••••ce secat— Claud. de Phaen.

His fiery eyes shoot forth a glitt'ring ray, ••nd round his head ten thousand glories play: ••gh on his crest, a Star celestial bright ••vides the darkness with its piercing light.

— Procul ignea lucet Ales, odorati redolent cui cinnama busti. Cl. de laud. Stil. L. 2.

If you have a mind to compare this scale of Be∣•• with that of Hesiod, I shall give it you in a ••lation of that Poet.

••er binos deciesque novem super exit in annos Justa senescentum quos implet vita virorum. Hos novies superat vivendo garrula Cornix: ••t quater egreditur cornicis saecula cervus. ••lipedem cervum ter vincit Corvus: at illum ••ultiplicat novies Phoenix, reparabicis ales. ••am vos perpetuo decies praevertitis aevo ••mphae Hamadryades: quarum longissima vita est: ••i cohibent fines vivacia fata animantum. Auson. Eidyll. 18.

The utmost age to man the Gods assign Are winters three times two, and ten times nine Poor man nine times the prating Dawes excee•• Three times the Dawe's the Deer's more la••¦ing breed: The Deer's full thrice the Raven's race outru•• Nine times the Raven Titan's feather'd son: Beyond his age, with youth and beauty crown The Hamadryads shine ten ages round: Their breath the longest is the Fates bestow; And such the bounds to mortal lives below.

A man had need be a good Arithmetician, sa•• Cynthio, to understand this Author's works. H•• descriptton runs on like a Multiplication Tab•••• But methinks the Poets ought to have agreed little better in the calculations of a Bird's life th•• was probably of their own creation.

We generally find a great confusion in the ••••¦ditions of the ancients, says Phil••••¦der.* 1.14 It seems to me, from the n•• Medal, it was an opinion among the•• that the Phoenix renewed her self at the beginni•••• of the great year, and the return of the Gold•• Age. This opinion I find touched upon in •• couple of lines in Claudian.

Quicquid ab externis ales longaeva colonis. Colligit, optati referens exordia saecli. Claud. de rapt. Pros. Li.

The person in the midst of the circle is suppos•• to be Jupiter, by the Author that has publish•• this Medal, but I should rather take it for t•• figure of Time. I remember I have seen at Ro••

antique Statue of Time, with a wheel or ••p of marble in his hand, as Seneca describes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and not with a serpent as he is generally re∣p••••••ented.

— properat cursu ••ita citato, volucrique die ••ota praecipitis volvitur anni. Herc. fur. Act. 1.

Life posts away, And day from day drives on with swift career The wheel that hurries on the headlong year.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 the circle of marble in his hand represents the ••mon year, so this that encompasses him is a ••er representation of the great year, which ••e whole round and comprehension of Time. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 when this is finished, the heavenly bodies 〈◊〉〈◊〉 supposed to begin their courses anew, and to ••sure over again the several periods and divi∣••s of years, months, days, &c. into which the ••t year is distinguished.

—consumto, Magnus qui dicitur, anno ••ursus in antiquum venient vaga sidera cursum: Qualia dispositi steterant ob origine mundi. Auson. Eidyl. 18.

When round the great Platonick year has turn'd, ••n their old ranks the wandring stars shall stand' ••s when first marshall'd by th' Almighty's hand.

T•••• sum up therefore the thoughts of this Medal. The inscription teaches us that the whole design ••st refer to the Golden Age which it lively re∣presents,

if we suppose the circle that encompa¦ses Time, or if you please Jupiter, signifies th•• finishing of the great year; and that the Phaen•• figures out the beginning of a new series of tim•• So that the compliment on this Medal to the Em¦peror Adrian, is in all respects the same that V••¦gil makes to Pollio's son, at whose birth he su••¦poses the annus magnus or platonical year 〈◊〉〈◊〉 out, and renewed again with the opening of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Golden Age.

Magnus ab integro saeclorum nascitur ordo; Jam redit et Virgo, redeunt Saturnia regna: Et nova progenies coelo demittitur alto. Virg. Ec.

The time is come the Sibyls long foretold, And the blest maid restores the Age of Gold In the great wheel of Time before enroll'd. Now a new progeny from Heav'n descends Ld. Laudera

— nunc adest mundo dies Supremus ille, qui premat genus impium Coeli ruinâ; rursus ut stirpem novam Generet renascens melior: ut quondam tulit Juvenis tenente regna Saturno poli. Sen. Oet. Act

—The last great day is come, When earth and all her impious sons shall Crusht in the ruines of the falling sky, Whence fresh shall rise, her new-born rea•• to grace, A pious offspring and a purer race,

••uch as ere-while in golden ages sprung, When Saturn govern'd, and the world was young.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 may compare the design of this reverse, if yo•• please, with one of Constantine, so far as the P••••enix is concerned in both. As for the other figure, we may have occasion to speak of it in a∣nother place. Vid. 15 figure. King of France's Medalions.

The next figure shadows out Eter∣ni•••• to us,* 1.15 by the Sun in one hand •• the Moon in the other, which in the lan∣••e of sacred poetry is as-long as the Sun and ••n endureth. The heathens made choice of th••••e Lights as apt symbols of Eternity, because, contrary to all sublunary Beings, though they seem to perish every night, they renew themselves every morning.

••les occidere et redire possunt; Nobis cum semel occidit brevis lux, ••ox est perpetua una dormienda. Catul.

The Suns shall often fall and rise: But when the short-liv'd mortal dies A night eternal seals his eyes.

••ace, whether in imitation of Catullus or not, •• applied the same thought to the Moon: and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 too in the plural number.

Damna tamen celeres reparant coelestia lunae: Nos ubi decidimus

Quò pius Aeneas, quò Tullus dives, et Ancus, Pulvis et umbra sumus. Hor. Od. 7. Lib. ••

Each loss the hastning Moon repairs again. But we when once our race is done, With Tullus and Anchises' son, (Tho' rich like one, like t'other good) To dust and shades, without a Sun, Descend, and sink in dark oblivion's flood. Sir W. Tem••

* 1.16In the next figure Eternity sits a globe of the heavens adorned w•• stars. We have already seen how proper an e••∣blem of Eternity the globe is, and may find ••, duration of the stars made use of by the Poets ••n expression of what is never like to end.

— Stellas qui vividus aequas Durando — Claud

—Polus dum sidera pascet, Semper honos nomenque tuum laudesque maneb••Virg. Aen. ••

Lucida dum current annosi sidera mundi, &Sen. M

* 1.17I might here tell you that Eter••••¦ty has a covering on her he because we can never find out her beginni•• that her legs are bare, because we see only th•• parts of her that are actually running on; that fits on a globe and bears a scepter in her hand, shew that she is sovereign Mistress of all thing•• but for any of these assertions I have no war•• from the Poets.

You must excuse me, if I have been longer than ordinary on such a subject as Eternity.* 1.18 The next you see is Victo∣ry ••o whom the Medallists as well as ••oets never fail to give a pair of wings.

Adfuit ipsa suis Ales Victoria — Claud. de 6. Cons. Honor.

—dubiis volitat Victoria pennis. Ov·

— niveis Victoria concolor alis. Sil. It.

T•••• palm branch and lawrel were both the re∣w••••••s of Conquerors, and therefore no impro∣per ornaments for Victory.

—lentae Victoris praemia palmae. Ov. Met.

••t palmae pretium Victoribus. Virg. Aen. 5.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 ducibus haetis aderis cum laeta triumphum ••x canet, et longas visent capitolia pompas. Apollo ad Laurum. Ov. Met.

Thou shalt the Roman festivals adorn; Thou shalt returning Caesar's triumphs grace, When pomps shall in a long procession pass. Dryden.

I•• ••••e way you may observe the lower plaits of the ••rapery that seem to have gathered the wind into them. I have seen abundance of antique fi∣gures in Sculpture and Painting, with just the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 turn in the lower foldings of the Vest,

when the person that wears it is in a posture tripping forward.

Obviaque adversas vibrabant flamina Vestes. Ov. Met. Lib.

—As she fled, the wind Increasing spread her flowing hair behind; And left her legs and thighs expos'd to view Dryd••

—tenues sinuantur flamine vestes. Id. Lib

It is worth while to compare this figure of Vic••••¦ry with her Statue as it is described in a very be••••¦tiful passage of Prudentius.

Non aris non farre molae Victoria felix Exorata venit: labor impiger, aspera virtus, Vis animi, excellens ardor, violentia, cura, Hanc tribuunt, durum tractandis robur in a••••, Quae si defuerint bellantibus, aurea quamvis Marmoreo in templo rutilas Victoria pinnas Explicet, et multis surgat formata talentis: Non aderit vestisque offensa videbitur hastis. Quid miles propriis diffisus viribus optas Irrita foemineae tibimet solatia formae? Nunquam pennigeram legio ferrata puellam Vidit anhelantum regeret quae tela virorum. Vincendi quaeris dominam? sua dextra cuique Et Deus omnipotens. Non pexo crine virag Nec nudo suspensa pede, strophioque revincta, Nec tumidas fluitante sinu vestita papillas. Prudentius contra Symm. Lib.

Shall Victory intreated lend her aid For cakes of flower on smoaking Altars la••

••er help from toils and watchings hope to find, From the strong body, and undaunted mind: ••hese be wanting on th' embattel'd plain, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sue the unpropitious maid in vain. ••ough in her marble temples taught to blaze ••er dazling wings the golden dame displays, ••nd many a talent in due weight was told To shape her God-head in the curious mould, Shall the rough soldier of himself despair, And hope for female visions in the air? What legion sheath'd in iron e'er survey'd Their darts directed by this winged maid! Do'st thou the power that gives success demand? '••is He th' Almighty, and thy own right hand; Not the smooth Nymph, whose locks in knots are twin'd, Who bending shows her naked foot behind, Who girds the virgin zone beneath her breast, And from her bosom heaves the swelling vest.

You have here another Victory that I fa••cy Claudian had in his view when he mentions her wings,* 1.19 palm and trophy in the following description. It appears on a Coin of Constantine who lived about an age before Clau∣dian, and I believe we shall find that it is not the only piece of antique sculpture that this Poet has copied out in his descriptions.

—cum totis exurgens ardua pennis 〈◊〉〈◊〉 duci sacras Victoria panderet aedes, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 palma viridi gaudens, et amicta trophaeis. Claud. de Lau. Stil. Li. 3.

On all her plumage rising, when she threw Her sacred shrines wide-open to thy view, How pleas'd for thee her emblems to displ•• With palms distinguish'd, and with trophies

* 1.20The last of our imaginary B•• is Liberty. In her left hand she ••ries the wand that the Latins call the Rud•• Vindicta, and in her right the cap of Lib•• The Poets use the same kinds of metaphor express Liberty. I shall quote Horace for first, whom Ovid has imitated on the same ••¦sion, and for the latter Martial.

—donatum jam rude quaeris Mecaenas iterum antiquo me includere ludo. Hor. Lib. 1. Ep••

—tardâ vires minuente senectâ Me quoque donari jam rude tempus erat. Ov. de Tr. Lib. 4.

Since bent beneath the load of years I stan•• I too might claim the freedom-giving wa••

Quod te nomine jam tuo saluto Quem regem, et dominum priùs vocabam, Nè me dixeris esse contumacem Totis pilea sarcinis redemi. Mar. Lib. 2. Epig.

By thy plain name though now addrest, Though once my King and Lord confest, Frown not: with all my goods I buy The precious Cap of Liberty.

I cannot forbear repeating a passage out of Per∣sius says Cynthio, that in my opinion turns the cer••mony of making a Freeman very handsomely in•••• ridicule. It seems the clapping a Cap on hi•• ••••ead and giving him a Turn on the heel were ne••••ssary circumstances. A Slave thus qualified be••••me a Citizen of Rome, and was honoured w••th a name more than belonged to any of his Forefathers, which Persius has repeated with a great deal of humour.

— Heu steriles veri, quibus una Quiritem ••rtigo facit! hic Dama est, non tressis agaso, ••ppa, et lippus, et in tenui farragine mendax. ••rterit hunc dominus, momento turbinis exit ••arcus Dama. Papae! Marco spondente, recusas ••redere tu nummos? Marco sub Judice palles? Marcus dixit, ita est: assigna, Marce, tabellas. Haec mera libertas: hanc nobis pilea donant. Pers. Sat. 5.

••••at false Enfranchisement with ease is found: ••aves are made Citizens by turning round. ••ow! replies one, can any be more free? Here's Dama, once a Groom of low degree, Not worth a farthing, and a Sot beside; So true a Rogue, for lying's sake he ly'd: But, with a Turn, a Freeman he became; Now Marcus Dama is his Worship's name. ••ood Gods! who wou'd refuse to lend a sum, •• wealthy Marcus surety would become! ••arcus is made a Judge, and for a proof Of certain truth, he said it, is enough. A Will is to be prov'd; put in your claim; 'Tis clear, if Marcus has subscrib'd his name.

This is true liberty, as I believe; What farther can we from our Caps receive, Than as we please without controul to live Mr. Dry

Since you have given us the ceremony of the •• says Eugenius, I'll give you that of the W•• out of Claudian.

Te fastos ineunte quater, sollennia ludit Omina libertas. deductum Vindice morem Lex celebrat, famulusque jugo laxatas herili Ducitur, et grato remeat securior ictu. Tristis conditio pulsata fronte recedit: In civem rubuere genae, tergoque removit Verbera promissi felix injuria voti. Claud. de 4. Cons. H••

The Grato ictu and the felix injuria, says Cyn•• would have told us the name of the Aut•• though you had said nothing of him. T•• is none of all the Poets that delights so much these pretty kinds of contradictions as Clau•• He loves to set his Epithet at variance with substantive, and to surprize his Reader wit•• seeming absurdity. If this Poet were well e•• mined, one would find that some of his gre•• beauties as well as faults arise from the freq•• use of this particular figure.

I question not, says Philander, but you are t•• by this time with the company of so mysteriou•• sort of Ladies as those we have had before •• We will now, for our diversion, entertain •• selves with a sett of Riddles, and see if we •• find a key to them among the ancient Po••

The first of them, says Cynthio, is •• Sh•• under sail,* 1.21 I suppose it has it h•• a metaphor or moral pre∣cep••••or its cargo. This, says Philander, is an ••m of Happiness, as you may see by the in∣••cription it carries in its sails. We find the same Device to express the same thought in several of ••he Poets: as in Horace, when he speaks of the moderation to be used in a flowing fortune, and ••n Ovid when he reflects on his past happiness.

Rebus angustis animosus atque Fortis appare: sapienter idem Co••trahes vento nimiùm secundo Turgida vela. Hor. Od. 10. Lib. 2.

When Fortune sends a stormy wind, Then shew a brave and present mind; And when with too indulgent gales Sh•• swells too much, then furl thy sails. Mr. Creech.

N••minis et famae quondam fulgore trahebar, Dum tulit antennas aura secunda meas. Ov. de Tris. Lib. 5. El. 12.

En ego, non paucis quondam munitus amicis, Dum flavit velis aura secunda meis. Id. Epist. ex Ponto 3. Lib. 2.

••'d the darling Theme of ev'ry tongue, ••e golden Idol of th' adoring throng; G••••rded with friends, while Fortune's balmy gales Wanton'd auspicious in my swelling sails.

Yo•• see the metaphor is the same in the Verses is ••••e Medal, with this distinction only, that

the one is in words and the other in figur•• The Idea is alike in both, though the manner representing it is different. If you would see •• whole Ship made use of in the same sense by old Poet, as it is here on the Medal, you •• find it in a pretty Allegory of Seneca.

Fata si liceat mihi Fingere arbitrio meo, Temperem zephyro levi Vela, nè pressae gravi Spiritu antennae tremant▪ Lenis et modicè fluens Aura, nec vergens latus, Ducat intrepidam ratem. Sen. OEdip. Chor. Act

My fortune might I form at will, My canvas Zephyrs soft should fill With gentle breath, lest ruder gales Crack the main-yard, or burst the sails. By winds that temperately blow The Barque should pass secure and slow, Nor scar me leaning on her side: But smoothly cleave th' unruffled tide.

After having considered the Ship as a Metaph•••• we may now look on it as a Reality, and obser•••• in it the Make of the old Roman vessels, as th•••• are described among the Poets. It is carried •••• by oars and sails at the same time.

Sive opus est velis minimam bene currit ad aura•• Sive opus est remo remige carpit iter. Ov. de. Tris. Li. 1. El. 1••

〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••op of it has the bend that Ovid and Vir∣•• mo••ion.

—puppique recurvae. Ibid. Li. 1. El. 3.

—littora curvae Pr••exunt puppes— Virg.

••u see the description of the Pilot, and the place sits on, in the following quotations.

Ipse ••ubernator puppi Palinurus ab altâ. Virg. Aen. Li. 5.

Ips•• ante oculos ingens a vertice pontus In puppim ferit. excutitur, pronusque magister Vol••••ur in caput.— Id. Aen. Li. 1.

Oro••tes' bark, that bore the Lycian crew, (A ••orrid sight) ev'n in the Hero's view, From stem to stern, by waves was overborn; Th•• ••rembling Pilot from his rudder torn, W•••• headlong hurl'd;— Mr. Dryden.

— Segnemque Menoeten, Oblitus decorisque sui sociûmque salutis, In m••re praecipitem puppi deturbat ab altâ: Ipse ••ubernaclo rector subit. Id. Aen. Li. 5.

••ess of others lives, (so high was grown H•• ••sing rage,) and careless of his own: T•• ••rembling dotard to the deck he drew, A•• ••noisted up, and overboard he threw; This done, he seiz'd the helm— Mr. Dryden.

I have mentioned these two last passages •• Virgil, because I think we cannot have so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 an idea of the Pilot's misfortune in each of th•• without observing the situation of his post, as ••¦pears in ancient Coins. The figure you see the other end of the ship is a Triton, a man in upper parts, and a fish below with a trumpe•• his mouth. Virgil describes him in the s•• manner on one of Aeneas's ships. It was p••••¦bably a common figure on their ancient ve•• for we meet with it too in Silius Italicus.

Hunc vehit immanis Triton, et caerula con•• Exterrens freta: cui laterum tenus hispida•• From hominem praefert, in pristim desinit al•• Spumea semifero sub pectore murmurat und•• Vir. Aen. Li.

The Triton bears him, he, whose trumpet's so Old Ocean's waves from shore to shore rebo•• A hairy man above the waste he shews, A Porpoise tail down from his belly grows The billows murmur, which his breast oppo•• Ld. Laude••

Ducitur et Libyae puppis signata figuram Et Triton captivus. — Sil. It. Li.

I am apt to think, says Eugenius, from cer•• passages of the Poets, that several ships made ch•• of some God or other for their guardians, a¦mong the Roman Catholics every vessel is reco¦mended to the patronage of some particular S•• To give you an instance of two or three.

Est mihi sitque precor flavae tutela Minervae Navis — Ov. de Tris. Li. 1. El.

••men erat celsae puppis vicina Dione. Sil. It. Li. 14.

••mon numen erat Libycae gentile carinae, ••igerâque sedens spectabat caerula fronte. Ibid.

The poop great Ammon Libya's god display'd, Whose horned front the nether flood survey'd.

The figure of the Deity was very large, as I have seen it on other Medals as well as this you have show us, and stood on one end of the vessel that patronised. This may give us an image of a ••ery beautiful circumstance that we meet with in a couple of wrecks described by Silius Italicus, and Hersius.

— Subito cum pondere victus I••••liente mari submergitur alveus undis. ••ta virûm cristaeque, et inerti spicula ferro ••elaeque Deûm fluitant.— Sil. It. Li. 14.

Sunk by a weight so dreadful down she goes, And o'er her head the broken billows close, Bright shields and crests float round the whir∣ling floods. And useless spears confus'd with tutelary Gods.

—trabe ruptâ Bruttia saxa. ••ndit amicus inops, remque omnem surdaque vota C••••didit: Ionio jacet ipse in littore, et unà I••••entes de puppe Dei, jamque obvia mergis ••sta ratis lacerae. — Pers. Sat. 6.

My friend is shipwreck'd on the Brutian stra•• His riches in th' Ionian main are lost; And he himself stands shiv'ring on the coast Where, destitute of help, forlorn and bare, He wearies the deaf Gods with fruitless pray Their images, the relicks of the wrack, Torn from their naked poop, are tided back By the wild waves; and rudely thrown ashe Lie impotent, nor can themselves restore. The vessel sticks, and shews her open'd side And on her shatter'd mast the Mews in umph ride. Mr. Dry••

You will think perhaps I carry my conject•• too far, if I tell you that I fancy they are ti•• kind of Gods that Horace mentions in his Alle••¦rical vessel which was so broken and shattere•• pieces; for I am apt to think that integra reli•• to the Gods as well as the lintea.

—non tibi sunt integra lintea, Non Dii, quos iterum pressa voces malo. Hor. Od. 14. Li••

Thy stern is gone, thy Gods are lost, And thou hast none to hear thy cry, When thou on dang'rous shelves art tost, When billows rage, and winds are high. Mr. Cr••••

Since we are engaged so far in Roman shipping,* 1.22 says Philander, here show you a Medal that has on reverse a Rostrum with three teeth to it: whe•• Silius's trifidum rostrum and Virgil's rostrisque•• dentibus, which in some editions is stridenti••

th•• Editor chusing rather to make a false quantity tha•• to insert a word that he did not know the m••••ing of. Flaccus gives us a Rostrum of the sa•• make.

—volat immissis cava pinus habenis ••finditque salum, et spumas vomit aere tridenti. Val. Flac. Argon. Li. 1.

A Ship-carpenter of old Rome says Cynthio, could not have talked more judiciously. I am afr••••••, if we let you alone, you will find out eve∣ry ••nk and rope about the vessel among the La∣ti•• ••oets. Let us now, if you please, go to the n•••• Medal.

The next, says Philander,* 1.23 is a pair of Scales, which we meet with on several old Coins. They are commonly interpreted as an emblem of the Emperor's Justice. But why may not we suppose that they allude sometimes to the Ba∣lance in the Heavens, which was the reigning con∣stellation of Rome and Italy? Whether it be so or no, the•• are capable methinks of receiving a nobler in∣terpretation than what is commonly put on them, if we suppose the thought of the reverse to be the same with that in Manilius.

Hesperiam sua Libra tenet, quâ condita Roma 〈◊〉〈◊〉 propriis fraenat pendentem nutibus orbem, ••bis et Imperium retinet, discrimina rerum ••ncibus, et positas gentes tollitque premitque: ••a genitus cum fratre Remus hanc condidit urbem. Manil. Lib. 4.

••he Scales rule Italy, where Rome commands, ••nd spreads its empire wide to foreign lands:

They hang upon her nod, their fates are weigh•• By her, and laws are sent to be obey'd: And as her pow'rful favour turns the poize, How low some nations sink and others rise Thus guide the Scales, and then to fix doom, They gave us * 1.24 Caesar, founder of our Rome Mr. Cree••

* 1.25The Thunderbolt is a reverse Augustus. We see it used by the g••¦test Poet of the same age to express a terrible ••¦irresistable force in battle, which is probably •• meaning of it on this Medal, for in another pl•• the same Poet applys the same metaphor to ••¦gustus's person.

—duo Fulmina belli Scipiadas— Virg. Aen. Lib.

—Who can declare The Scipio's worth, those Thunderbolts of w•• Mr. Dry••

—dum Caesar ad altum Fulminat Euphratem bello — Id. Georg. Li••

While mighty Caesar thund'ring from afar, Seeks on Euphrates' banks the spoils of wa•• Mr. Dry••

I have sometimes wondered, says Eugenius, w•• the Latin Poets so frequently give the Epith•• of trifidum and trisulcum to the Thunderbolt.

am ••ow persuaded they took it from the sculp∣tors and painters that lived before them, and had ge••••••ally given it three forks as in the present fi∣gu••••. Virgil insists on the number three in its de∣scr••••••ion, and seems to hint at the wings we see on it. He has worked up such a noise and ter∣ro•• the composition of his Thunderbolt as cannot be expressed by a pencil or graving-tool.

Tres imbris torti radios, tres nubis aquosae ••diderant, rutili tres ignis, et Alitis Austri. ••gores nunc terrificos sonitumque metumque ••cebant operi, flammisque sequacibus iras. Virg. Aen. Lib. 8.

Three rays of writhen rain, of fire three more, Of winged southern winds, and cloudy store A•• many parts, the dreadful mixture frame, And fears are added, and avenging flame. Mr. Dryden.

Our next reverse is an Oaken Gar∣••and which we find on abundance of ••mperial Coins.* 1.26 I shall not here multiply quo∣••ations to show that the garland of Oak was the ••eward of such as had saved the life of a citizen, ••ut will give you a passage out of Claudian, where ••he compliment to Stilico is the same that we have ••ere on the Medal. I question not but the old Coin•• gave the thought to the Poet.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 erat in veterum castris, ut tempora quer•• ••ret, validis qui fuso viribus hoste ••rum potuit morti subducere civem. At ••ibi quae poterit pro tantis civica reddi ••ibus? aut quantae pensabunt facta coronae? Clau. de Lau. Stil. Lib. 3.

Of old, when in the war's tumultuous strife A Roman sav'd a brother Roman's life, And foil'd the threatning foe, our Sires decree•• An Oaken Garland for the victor's meed. Thou, who hast sav'd whole crowds, who•• towns set free, What groves, what woods, shall furnish crown for thee?

It is not to be supposed that the Emperor h•• actually covered a Roman in battle. It is enoug•• that he had driven out a tyrant, gained a victor•• or restored Justice. For in any of these or t•• like cases he may very well be said to have save the life of a citizen, and by consequence ent••¦tled to the reward of it. Accordingly we fin•• Virgil distributing his Oaken garlands to thos•• that had enlarged or strength'ned the dominio•• of Rome; as we may learn from Statius that t•• statue of Curtius, who had sacrificed himself fo•• the good of the people, had the head surround•• with the same kind of ornament.

Atque umbrata gerunt civili tempora quercu. Hi tibi Nomentum, et Gabios, urbemque Fidena•• Hi Collatinas imponent montibus arces. Virg. Aen. Lib.

But they, who crown'd with Oaken wreath appear, Shall Gabian walls and strong Fidena rear: Nomentum, Bola, with Pometia, found; And raise Colatian tow'rs on rocky ground. Mr. Dryde••

Ipse loci custos, cujus sacrata vorago, ••amosusque lacus nomen memorabile servat, ••numeros aeris sonitus, et verbere crudo ••t sensit mugire forum, movet horrida sancto ••ra situ, meritâque caput venerabile quercu. Statius Sylv. Lib. 1.

The Guardian of that Lake, which boasts to claim A sure memorial from the Curtian name; Rous'd by th' artificers, whose mingled sound From the loud Forum pierc'd the shades pro∣found, The hoary vision rose confess'd in view, And shook the Civic wreath that bound his brow.

The two horns that you see on the ••t Medal are emblems of Plenty.* 1.27

—apparetque beata pleno Copia Cornu. Hor. Car. Saec.

••ur Medallists tell us that two horns on a Coin ••ify an extraordinary Plenty. But I see no ••ndation for this conjecture. Why should •• not as well have stamped two Thunder-bolts, ••o Caduceus's, or two Ships, to represent an ••raordinary force, a lasting peace, or an un∣••nded happiness. I rather think that the dou∣•••• Cornu-copia relates to the double tradition of its original. Some representing it as the horn of A••helous broken off by Hercules, and others as the ho••n of the Goat that gave suck to Jupiter.

—rigidum fera dextéra cornu ••um tenet, infregit; truncâque a fronte revellit.

Naiades hoc, pomis et odoro flore repletum, Sacrârunt; divesque meo bona Copia cornu 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Dixerat: at Nymphe ritu succincta Dianae Una ministrarum, fusis utrinque capillis, Incessit, totumque tulit praedivite cornu Autumnum, et mensas felicia poma secundas. De Acheloi Cornu. Ov. Met. Lib

Nor yet his fury cool'd; 'twixt rage and scor From my maim'd front he bore the stubborn he This, heap'd with flowers and fruits, the Na•• bear, Sacred to Plenty and the bounteous year. He spoke; when lo a beauteous Nymph pears, Girt like Diana's train, with flowing hairs; The horn she brings, in which all Autumn's stor•• And ruddy apples for the second board. Mr. G••

Lac dabat illa Deo: sed fregit in arbore con Truncaque dimidiâ parte decoris erat. Sustulit hoc Nymphe; cinctumque recent•• herbis, Et plenum pomis ad Jovis ora tulit. Ille, ubi res coeli tenuit, solioque paterno Sedit, et invicto nil Jove majus erat, Sidera nutricem, nutricis fertile cornu Fecit; quod dominae nunc quoque nomen ha•• De Cornu Amaltheae. Ov. de Fast. Lib

The God she suckled of old Rhea born; And in the pious office broke her horn, As playful in a rifted Oak she tost Her heedless head, and half its honours lost. Fair Amalthaea took it off the ground, With apples fill'd it and with garlands boun••

Which to the smiling infant she convey'd. He, when the sceptre of the Gods he sway'd, When bold he seiz'd his father's vacant throne, And reign'd the tyrant of the skies alone, Hid his rough nurse the starry Heavens adorn, And grateful in the Zodiac fix'd her Horn.

Betwixt the double Cornu-copia you see Mercury's rod.

Cyllenes coelique decus, facunde minister, Aurea cui torto virga dracone viret. Mart. Lib. 7. Epig. 74.

Descend, Cyllene's tutelary God, With serpents twining round thy golden rod.

It ••••ands on old Coins as an emblem of Peace, by ••on of its stupifying quality that has gained it the title of Virga somnifera. It has wings, for another quality that Virgil mentions in his de∣scription of it.

—hac fretus ventos et nubila tranat. Virg.

Thus arm'd, the God begins his airy race, And drives the racking clouds along the liquid space. Mr. Dryden.

The two heads over the two Cornu-copiae are of the Emperor's children, who are sometimes cal∣led among the Poets the pledges of Peace, as they took away the occasions of war in cutting off all disputes to the succession.

—tu mihi primum ••ot natorum memoranda parens—

Utero toties enixa gravi Pignora pacis. Sen. Octav. Act.

Thee first kind author of my joys, Thou source of many smiling boys, Nobly contented to bestow A pledge of peace in every throe.

This Medal therefore compliments the Emper•• on his two children, whom it represents as pu••¦lic blessings that promise Peace and Plenty to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Empire.

* 1.28The two hands that joyn one an••¦ther are Emblems of Fidelity.

Inde Fides dextraeque datae— Ov. Met. L. 1

Sociemus animos, pignus hoc fidei cape, Continge dextram— Sen. Herc. Fur. Act.

— en dextra fidesque Quem secum patrios aiunt portare penates! Virg. Aen. Lib. ••

See now the promis'd faith, the vaunted nam•• The pious man, who rushing thro' the flame, Preserv'd his Gods— Mr. Dryde••

By the Inscription we may see that they repre¦sent in this place the Fidelity or Loyalty of the public towards their Emperor. The Caduces rising between the hands signifies the Peace tha•• arises from such an union with their Prince, •• the spike of Corn on each side shadows out th•• Plenty that is the fruit of such a peace.

Pax Cererem nutrit, pacis alumna Ceres. Ov. de Fast. Lib. 1.

The giving of a hand, in the reverse of Claudius, is a token of good will.* 1.29 For when, after the death of his nephew Caligula, Claudius was in no small apprehension for his own life, he was, contrary to his expectation, well received among the Praetorian guards, and afterwards declared their Emperor. His recep∣tion is here recorded on a Medal, in which one of the Ensigns presents him his hand, in the same sense as Anchises gives it in the following verses.

Ipse pater dextram Anchises haud multa moratus Dat juveni, atque animum praesenti munere firmat. Virg. Aen. Lib. 3.

The old weather-beaten soldier that carries in his hand the Roman Eagle, is the same kind of offi∣cer that you meet with in Javenal's fourteenth Satire.

Dirue Maurorum attegias, castella Brigantum, Ut locupletem Aquilam tibi sexagesimus annus Afferat — Juv. Sat. 14.

I remember in one of the Poets the Signifer is de∣scribed with a Lion's skin over his head and shoulders, like this we see in the Medal, but at present I cannot recollect the passage. Virgil has given us a noble description of a warrior ma∣king his appearance under a Lion's skin.

—tegmen torquens immane Leonis Terribili impexum setâ, cum dentibus albis

Indutus capiti, sic regia tecta subibat Horridus, Herculeoque humeros indutus amict•• Virg. Aen. Lib.

Like Hercules himself his son appears, In salvage pomp: a Lion's hide he wears; About his shoulders hangs the shaggy skin, The teeth, and gaping jaws severely grin. Thus like the God his father, homely drest, He strides into the hall, a horrid guest! Mr. Dryd••

Since you have mentioned the dress of your Sta••¦dard-bearer, says Cynthio, I cannot forbear •• marking that of Claudius, which was the us•• Roman habit. One may see in this Medal, •• well as in any antique Statues, that the old ••¦mans had their necks and arms bare, and as m•• exposed to view as our hands and faces are at p••••¦sent. Before I had made this remark, I ha•• sometimes wondered to see the Roman Poe•• in their descriptions of a beautiful man, so oft mentioning the Turn of his Neck and Arm•• that in our modern dresses lie out of sight, •• are covered under part of the cloathing. N•• to trouble you with many quotations, Hor•• speaks of both these parts of the body in the begi••¦ning of an Ode, that in my opinion may be rec••¦oned among the finest of his book, for the na••••¦ralness of the thought, and the beauty of the •• pression.

Dum tu Lydia Telephi Cervicem roseam, et cerea Telephi Laudas brachia, vae meum Fervens difficili bile tumet jecur.

When Telephus his youthful charms, His rosy neck, and winding arms, With endless rapture you recite, And in that pleasing name delight; My heart, inflam'd by jealous heats, With numberless resentments beats; From my pale cheek the colour flies, And all the Man within me dies.

It was probably this particular in the Roman ha∣bit that gave Virgil the thought in the following verse, where Remulus, among other reproaches th•• ••he makes the Trojans for their softness and ef∣fe••••acy, upbraids them with the Make of their T••••••ca's that had sleeves to them, and did not leave the arms naked and exposed to the wea∣t•• like that of the Romans.

••t tunicae manicas, et habent ridimicula mitrae.

••il lets us know in another place, that the I∣••ns preserved their old language and habits, ••withstanding the Trojans became their Ma∣••, and that the Trojans themselves quitted the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of their own country for that of Italy. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he tells us was the effect of a prayer that J••••o made to Jupiter.

••llud te, nullâ fati quod lege tenetur, ••ro Latio obtestor, pro majestate tuorum: ••um jam connubiis pacem felicibus (esto;) ••omponent, cum jam leges et foedera jungent; ••e vetus indigenas nomen mutare Latinos, ••eu Troas fieri jubeas, Teucrosque vocari; Aut vocem mutare viros, aut vertere vestes.

Sit Latium, sint Albani per saecula reges: Sit Romana potens Italâ virtute propago: Occidit, occideritque sinas cum nomine Troja. Aen. lib. 12.

This let me beg (and this no Fates withstand) Both for my self and for your father's land, That when the nuptial bed shall bind the peace, (Which I, since you ordain, consent to bless) The laws of either nation be the same; But let the Latins still retain their name: Speak the same language which they spoke be∣fore, Wear the same habits, which their Grandsires wore. Call them not Trojans: perish the renown And name of Troy, with that detested town. Latium be Latium still: let Alba reign, And Rome's immortal Majesty remain. Mr. Dryden.

By the way, I have often admired at Virgil for representing his Juno with such an impotent kind of revenge as what is the subject of this speech. You may be sure, says Eugenius, that Virgil knew very well this was a trifling kind of request for the Queen of the Gods to make, as we may find by Jupiter's way of accepting it,

Olli subridens hominum rerumque repertor: Et germana Jovis, Saturnique altera proles: Irarum tantos volvis sub pectore fluctus? Verum age, et inceptum frustra submitte furorem. Do, quod vis; et me victusque volensque remitto. Sermonem Ausonii patrium moresque tenebunt. Utque est, nomen erit: commixti corpore tantùm

Subsident Teucri: morem ritusque sacrorum Adjiciam, faciamque omnes uno ore Latinos, &c. Aen. Lib. 12.

Then thus the Founder of mankind replies. (Unruffled was his front, serene his eyes,) Can Saturn's issue, and Heav'n's other Heir, Such endless anger in her bosom bear? Be Mistress, and your full desires obtain; But quench the choler you foment in vain. From ancient blood th' Ausonian people sprung, Shall keep their name, their habit, and their tongue. The Trojans to their customs shall be ty'd, I will my self their common rites provide; The natives shall command, the foreigners subside: And shall be Latium; Troy without a name: And her lost sons forget from whence they came. Mr. Dryden.

I am apt to think Virgil had a further view in this request of Juno than what his Commenta∣tors have discovered in it. He knew very well that his Aeneid was founded on a very doubtful story, and that Aeneas's coming into Italy was not uni∣versally received among the Romans themselves. He knew too that a main objection to this story was the great difference of Customs, Language and Habits among the Romans and Trojans. To obviate therefore so strong an objection, he makes this difference to arise from the forecast and prae∣determination of the Gods themselves. But pray what is the name of the Lady in the next Medal? Methinks she is very particular in her Quoiffure.

* 1.30It is the emblem of Fruitfulness, says Philander, and was designed as a com∣pliment to Julia the wife of Septimius Severus, who had the same number of children as you see on this Coin. Her head is crowned with towers in allusion to Cybele the mother of the Gods, and for the same reason that Virgil compares the city of Rome to her.

Felix prole virûm, qualis Berecynthia mater Invehitur curru Phrygias turrita per urbes, Leta Deûm partu — Virg. Aen. Lib. 6.

High as the mother of the Gods in place, And proud, like her, of an immortal race. Then when in pomp she makes a Phrygian round, With golden turrets on her temples crown'd. Mr. Dryden.

The Vine issuing out of the Urn speaks the same sense as that in the Psalmist. Thy wife shall be as the fruitful vine on the walls of thy house. The four Stars overhead, and the same number on the Globe, represent the four children. There is a Medalion of Romulus and Remus sucking the wolf, with a Star over each of their heads, as we find the Latin Poets speaking of the children of Princes under the same metaphor.

Utque tui faciunt sidus juvenile nepotes, Per tua perque sui facta parentis eant. Ov. de. Tris. Lib. 2. El. 1.

—Tu quoque extinctus jaces, Deftende nobis semper, infelix puer,

Modo sidus orbis, columen augustae domûs, Eritannice.— Sen. Octav. Act. 1.

Thou too dear youth, to ashes turn'd, Eritannicus, for ever mourn'd! Thou Star that wont this Orb to grace! Thou pillar of the Julian race!

—Maneas hominum contentus habenis, Undarum terraeque potens, et sidera dones. Stat. Theb. Lib. 1.

—Stay, great Caesar, and vouchsafe to reign O'er the wide earth, and o'er the watry main: Resign to Jove his Empire of the skies, And people Heav'n with Roman Deities. Mr. Pope.

I need not mention Homer's comparing Astyanax to the Morning-star, nor Virgil's imitation of him in his description of Ascanius.

The next Medal was stampt on the marriage of Nero and Octavia;* 1.31 you see the Sun over the head of Nero, and the Moon over that of Octavia. They face one another according to the situation of these two Planets in the Heavens.

— Phabeis obvia flammis Demet nocti Luna timores. Sen. Thyest. Act. 4.

And to shew that Octavia derived her whole lu∣stre from the friendly aspect of her husband.

Sicut Luna suo tunc tantum deficit orbe, Quum Phoebum adversis currentem non vidit astris. Manil. Lib. 4.

Because the Moon then only feels decay, When opposite unto her brother's ray. Mr. Creech.

But if we consider the history of this Medal, we shall find more Fancy in it than the Medallists have yet discovered. Nero and Octavia were not only husband and wife, but brother and sister, Claudius being the father of both. We have this relation between them marked out in the Tragedy of Octavia, where it speaks of her marriage with Nero.

Fratris thalamos sortita tenet Maxima Juno: soror Augusti Sociata toris, cur à patriâ Pellitur Aula? — Sen. Oct. Act. 1.

To Jove his sister consort wed, Uncensur'd shares her brother's bed: Shall Caesar's wife and sister wait, An Exile at her husband's gate?

Implebit aulam stirpe caelesti tuam Generata divo, Claudiae gentis decus, Sortita fratris, more Junonis, toros. Ibid. Act. 2.

Thy sister, bright with ev'ry blooming grace, Will mount thy bed t'inlarge the Claudian race: And proudly teeming with fraternal love, Shall reign a Juno with the Roman Jove.

They are therefore very prettily represented by the Sun and Moon, who as they are the most glorious parts of the universe, are in a poetical

••nealogy brother and sister. Virgil gives us a ••ght of them in the same position that they regard ••••ch other on this Medal.

Nec Fratris radiis obnoxia surgere Luna. Virg. Georg. 1.

The flattery on the next Medal is in ••e same thought as that of Lucretius.* 1.32

Ipse Epicurus ob••t decurso lumine vitae; Quigenus humanum ingenio superavit, et omneis Praestinxit, stellas exortus uti aetherius Sol. Lucret. Lib. 3.

Nay, Epicurus' race of life is run; That man of wit, who other men outshone; As far as meaner stars the mid-day Sun. Mr. Creech.

The Emperor appears as a Rising Sun, and holds •• Globe in his hand to figure out the Earth that is enlightned and actuated by his beauty.

Sol qui terrarum flammis opera omnia lustras. Virg.

—ubi primos crastinus ortus Extulerit Titan, radiisque retexerit orbem. Id.

When next the Sun his rising light displays, And gilds the world below with purple rays. Mr. Dryden.

On his head you see the rays that seem to grow out of it. Claudian in the description of his in∣fant Titan descants on this glory about his head, but has run his description into most wretched fustian.

Invalidum dextro portat Titana lacerto, Nondum luce gravem, nec pubescentibus altè Cristatum radiis; primo clementior aevo Fingitur, et tenerum vagitu despuit ignem. Claud. de rapt. Pros. Lib.

An infant Titan held she in her arms; Yet sufferably bright, the eye might bear The ungrown glories of his beamy hair. Mild was the babe, and from his cries ther•• came A gentle breathing and a harmless flame.

* 1.33The Sun rises on a Medal of Com¦modus, as Ovid describes him in the sto∣ry of Phaeton

Ardua prima via est, et quà vix manè recentes Enituntur equi— Ov. Met. Lib. 2.

You have here too the four horses breaking through the clouds in their morning passage.

—Pyroëis, et Eöus, et Aethon, Solis equi, quartusque Phlegon — Ibid.

Corripuere viam, pedibusque per aēra motis Obstantes scindunt nebulas — Ibid.

The woman underneath represents the Earth, as Ovid has drawn her sitting in the same figure.

Sustulit omniferos collo tenus arida vultus; Opposuitque manum fronti, magnoque tremore Omnia concutiens paulum subsedit. Ibid.

The earth at length— Uplifted to the heav'ns her blasted head, And clapt her hand upon her brows, and said, (But first, impatient of the sultry heat, Sunk deeper down, and sought a cooler seat)

••he Cornu-copiae in her hand is a type of her ••••itfulness, as in the speech she makes to Jupiter.

Hosne mihi fructus, hunc fertilitatis honorem, Officiique refers? quod adunci vulnera aratri Rastrorumque fero, totoque exerceor anno? Quod pecori frondes, alimentaque mitia fruges Humano generi, vobis quoque thura ministro? Ibid.

And does the plow for this my body tear? This the reward for all the fruits I bear, Tortur'd with rakes, and harrass'd all the year? That herbs for cattle daily I renew, And food for man; and frankincense for you?

So much for the designing part of the Medal; as for the thought of it, the Antiquaries are divided upon it. For my part I cannot doubt but it was made as a compliment to Commodus on his s••ill in the chariot-race. It is supposed that the same occasion furnished Lucan with the same thought in his address to Nero.

Seu te flammigeros Phoebi conscendere currus, Telluremque, nihil mutato sole, timentem Igne vago lustrare juvet — Luc. Lib. 1. ad Neronem.

Or if thou chuse the empire of the day, And make the Sun's unwilling steeds obey; Auspicious if thou drive the flaming team, While earth rejoices in thy gentler beam— Mr. Ro••

This is so natural an allusion, that we find the course of the Sun described in the Poets by me¦taphors borrowed from the Circus.

Quum suspensus eat Phoebus, currumque reflect•• Huc illu•• agiles, et servet in aethere metas. Manil. Lib. 1▪

—Hesperio positas in littore metas. Ov. Met. Lib. 2▪

Et Sol ex aequo metâ distabat utrâque. Idem

However it be, we are sure in general it is •• comparing of Commodus to the Sun, which is •• simile of as long standing as poetry, I had almost said, as the Sun it self.

I believe, says Cynthio, there is scarce a grea•• man he ever shone upon that has not been com∣pared to him. I look on similes as a part of his productions. I do not know whether he raises fruits or flowers in greater number. Horace has turn'd this comparison into ridicule seventeen hundred years ago.

—laudat Brutum, laudatque cohortem, Solem Asiae Brutum appellat— Hor. Sat. 7. Lib. 1.

He praiseth Brutus much and all his train; He calls him Asia's Sun— Mr. Creech.

You have now shown us persons under the dis∣••uise of Stars, Moons and Suns. I suppose we ••ave at last done with the coelestial bodies.

The next figure you see, says Philan∣••er, had once a place in the Heavens,* 1.34 •• you will believe ecclesiastical story. It is the ••••gn that is said to have appeared to Constantine ••efore the battle with Maxentius. We are told ••y a Christian Poet, that he caus'd it to be wrought ••n the military Ensign that the Romans call their Labarum. And it is on this Ensign that we find in the present Medal.

Christus purpureum gemmanti, textus in auro Signabat Labarum.— Prudent. contra Symm. Lib. 1.

A Christ was on th'Imperial standard born, That Gold embroiders, and that Gemms adorn.

By the word Christus he means without doubt ••he present figure, which is composed out of the ••wo initial letters of the name.

He bore the same sign in his standards,* 1.35 ••s you may see in the following Me∣••al and verses.

Agnoscas, Regina, libens mea signa necesse est: In quibus Effigies Crucis aut gemmata refulget, Aut longis solido ex auro praefertur in hastis. Constantinus Romam alloquitur. Ibid.

My Ensign let the Queen of nations praise, That rich in gemms the Christian Cross displays:

There rich in gemms; but on my quiv'ring spean In solid gold the sacred mark appears.

Vexillumque Crucis summus dominator adorat. Id. in Apotheo••••

See there the Cross he wav'd on hostile shores, The Emperor of all the world adores.

* 1.36But to return to our Labarum; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 you have a mind to see it in a state of Paganism you have it on a Coin of Tiberius. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 stands between two other Ensigns, and is the mark of a Roman Colony where the Medal was stamped. By the way you must observe, the where-ever the Romans fixed their standards they looked on that place as their country, and thought themselves obliged to defend it with their lives. For this reason their standards were always carryed before them when they went to settle themselves in a Colony. This gives the meaning of a couple of verses in Silius Italicus, that make a very far-fetcht compliment to Fabius.

Ocyus huc Aquilas servataque signa referte, Hic patria est, murique urbis stant pectore in un••. Sil. It. Li. 7.

* 1.37The following Medal was stamped on Trajan's victory over the Daci, you see on it the figure of Trajan presenting a little Victory to Rome. Between them lies the con∣quered province of Dacia. It may be worth while to observe the particularities in each figure. We see abundance of persons on old Coins that hold a little Victory in one hand, like this of Tra∣jan,

which is always the sign of a Conquest. I ••ave sometimes fancied Virgil alludes to this ••ustom in a verse that Turnus speaks.

Non adeo has exosa manus Victoria fugit. Virg. Aen. Li. 11.

If you consent, he shall not be refus'd, Nor find a hand to Victory unus'd. [Mr. Dryden.

The Emperor's standing in a Gown, and making 〈◊〉〈◊〉 present of his Dacian Victory to the city of Rome, agrees very well with Claudian's chara∣cter of him.

—victura feretur Gloria Trajani; non tam quod, Tigride victo, Nostra triumphati fuerint provincia Parthi, Alta quod invectus stratis capitolia Dacis: Quam patriae quod mitis erat— Claud. de 4to Cons. Honor.

Thy glory, Trajan, shall for-ever live: Not that thy arms the Tigris mourn'd, o'ercome, And tributary Parthia bow'd to Rome, Not that the Capitol receiv'd thy train With shouts of triumph for the Daci slain: But for thy mildness to thy country shown.

The city of Rome carries the Wand in her hand that is the symbol of her Divinity.

Delubrum Romae (colitur nam sanguine et ipsa More Deae) — Prudent, cont. Sym. L. 1.

For Rome, a Goddess too, can boast her shrine, With victims stain'd, and sought with rites divine.

As the Globe under her feet betokens her domi∣nion over all the nations of the earth.

Terrarum Dea, Gentiumque Roma; Cui par est nihil, et nihil secundum. Mart. Li. 12. Epig. 8.

O Rome, thou Goddess of the earth! To whom no rival e'er had birth; Nor second e'er shall rise.

The heap of arms she sits on signifies the Peace that the Emperor had procured her. On old Coins we often see an Emperor, a Victory, the city of Rome, or a slave, sitting on a heap of arms, which always marks out the Peace that arose from such an action as gave occasion to the Me∣dal. I think we cannot doubt but Virgil copied out this circumstance from the ancient Sculptors, in that inimitable description he has given us of Military Fury shut up in the Temple of Janus and loaden with chains.

Claudentur belli portae: Furor impius intus Saeva sedens super arma, et centum vinctus ahenis Post tergum nodis, fremet horridus ore cruento. Virg. Aen. Li. 1.

Janus himself before his fane shall wait, And keep the dreadful issues of his gate, With bolts and iron bars: within remains Imprison'd Fury, bound in brazen chains:

High on a Trophy rais'd of useless arms He sits, and threats the world with dire alarms. Mr. Dryden.

We are told by the old Scholiast, says Eugenius, that there was actually such a statue in the Tem∣ple of Janus as that Virgil has here described, which I am almost apt to believe, since you assure ••s that this part of the design is so often met with on ancient Medals. But have you nothing ••o remark on the figure of the Province? Her posture, says Philander, is what we often meet with in the slaves and captives of old Coins: a∣mong the Poets too, sitting on the ground is a mark of Misery or Captivity.

Multos illa dies incomtis maesta capillis Sederat— Propert. Li. 1.

O utinam ante tuos sedeam captiva penates. Id. L. 4.

O might I sit a captive at thy gate!

You have the same posture in an old Coin that celebrates a victory of Lucius Verus o∣ver the Parthians.* 1.38 The captive's hands are here bound behind him, as a farther instance of his slavery.

Ecce manus juvenem interea post terga revinctum, Pastores magno ad Regem clamore ferebant. Virg. Aen. L. 2.

Mean while, with shouts, the Trojan shepherds bring A captive Greek in bands before the King. Mr. Dryden.

Cui dedit invitas victa noverca manus. Ov. de Fast.

Cùm rudis urgenti brachia victa dedi. Proper. L. 4.

We may learn from Ovid that it was sometimes the custom to place a slave with his arms bound at the foot of the Trophy, as in the figure before us.

Stentque super vinctos trunca trophaea viros. Ov. Ep. ex Ponto L. 4.

You see on his head the cap which the Parthians, and indeed most of the eastern nations, wear on Medals. They had not probably the ceremony of veiling the Bonnet in their salutations, for in Me∣dals they still have it on their heads, whether they are before Emperors or Generals, kneeling, sit∣ting or standing. Martial has distinguished them by this cap as their chief characteristic.

Frustra blanditae venitis ad me Attritis miserabiles labellis, Dicturus dominum, deumque non sum: Jam non est locus hâc in urbe vobis. Ad Parthos procul ite pileatos, Et turpes, humilesque supplicesque Pictorum sola basiate regum. Mart. Ep. 72. L. 10.

In vain, mean flatteries, ye try, To gnaw the lip, and fall the eye; No man a God or Lord I name: From Romans far be such a shame! Go teach the supple Parthian how To veil the Bonnet on his brow: Or on the ground all prostrate fling Some Pict, before his barbarous King.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 cannot hear, says Cynthio, without a kind of indignation, the satyrical reflections that Martial ••as made on the memory of Domitian. It is certain so ill an Emperor deserved all the reproa∣ches that could be heaped upon him, but he ••ould not deserve them of Martial. I must con∣fess I am less scandalised at the flatteries the Epi∣••rammatist paid him living, than the ingratitude ••e showed him dead. A man may be betrayed ••nto the one by an overstrained complaisance, or ••y a temper extremely sensible of favours and obligations: whereas the other can arise from ••othing but a natural baseness and villany of ••oul. It does not always happen, says Philan∣••er, that the Poet and the honest man meet toge∣ther in the same person. I think we need enlarge ••o farther on this Medal, unless you have a mind ••o compare the Trophy on it with that of Me∣••entius in Virgil.

Ingentem quercum decisis undique ramis Constituit tumulo, fulgentiaque induit arma, Mezentî ducis exuvias; tibi, magne, tropaeum, Bellipotens: aptat rorantes sanguine cristas, Telaque trunca viri, et bis sex thoraca petitum Perfossumque locis; clypeumque ex aere sinistrae Subligat, atque ensem collo suspendit eburnum. Virg. Aen. Li. 11.

He bar'd an ancient Oak of all her boughs: Then on a rising ground the trunk he plac'd; Which with the spoils of his dead foe he grac'd. The coat of arms by proud Mezentius worn, Now on a naked Snag in triumph born, Was hung on high; and glitter'd from afar: A trophy sacred to the God of war.

Above his arms, fix'd on the leafless wood, Appear'd his plumy crest, besmear'd with blood; His brazen buckler on the left was seen; Trunchions of shiver'd lances hung between: And on the right was plac'd his Corslet, bor'd, And to the neck was ty'd his unavailing sword. Mr. Dryden.

* 1.39On the next Medal you see the Peace that Vespasian procured the Empire, af∣ter having happily finished all its wars both at home and abroad. The woman with the olive-branch in her hand is the figure of Peace.

— pignora Pacis Praetendens dextrâ ramum canentis olivae. Sil. It. Li. 3.

With the other hand she thrusts a lighted torch under a heap of armour that lies by an Altar. This alludes to a custom among the ancient Ro∣mans of gathering up the armour that lay scatter∣ed on the field of battle, and burning it as an of∣fering to one of their Deities. It is to this custom that Virgil refers, and Silius Italicus has descri∣bed at large.

Qualis eram cùm primam aciem Praeneste sub ipsâ Stravi, scutorumque incendi victor acervos. Virg. Aen. Li. 8.

Such as I was beneath Praeneste's walls; Then when I made the foremost foes retire, And set whole heaps of conquer'd shields on fire. Mr. Dryden.

Ast tibi, Bellipotens, Sacrum, constructus acervo Ingenti mons armorum consurgit ad astra: Ipse manu celsam pinum, flammâque comantem Attollens, ductor Gradivum in vota ciebat: Primitias pugnae, et laeti libamina belli, Hannibal Ausonio cremat haec de nomine victor. Et tibi, Mars genitor, votorum haud surde meorum, Arma electa dicat spirantum turba virorum. Tum face conjectâ, populatur fervidus ignis Flagrantem molem; et ruptâ caligine, in auras Actus apex claro perfundit lumine campos. Sil. It. Li. 10.

To thee the Warrior-God, aloft in air A mountain-pile of Roman Arms they rear: The Gen'ral grasping in his Victor-hand A pine of stately growth, he wav'd the brand, And cry'd, O Mars! to thee devote I yield These choice first-fruits of Honour's purple field. Join'd with the partners of my toil and praise, Thy Hannibal this vow'd oblation pays; Grateful to thee for Latian laurels won: Accept this homage, and absolve thy son.— Then, to the pile the flaming torch he tost; In smould'ring smoke the light of Heav'n is lost: But when the fire increase of fury gains, The blaze of Glory gilds the distant plains.

As for the heap of Arms, and mountain of Arms, that the Poet mentions, you may see them on two Coins of Mar∣cus Aurelius.* 1.40 DE SARMATIS and DE GERMANIS allude perhaps to the form of words that might be used at the set∣ting fire to them.—Ausonio de nomine. Those

who will not allow of the interpretation I have put on these two last Medals may think it an ob∣jection that there is no torch or fire near them to signifie any such allusion. But they may consi∣der that on several Imperial Coins we meet with the figure of a funeral pile, without any thing to denote the burning of it, though indeed there is on some of them a Flambeau sticking out on each side, to let us know it was to be consumed to ashes.

You have been so intent on the burning of the Arms, says Cynthio, that you have forgotten the Pil∣lar on your 18th Medal. You may find the history of it, says Philander, in Ovid de Fastis. It was from this Pillar that the spear was tossed at the o∣pening of a war, for which reason the little figure on the top of it holds a spear in its hand, and Peace turns her back upon it.

Prospicit à templo summum brevis area Circum: Est ibi non parvae parva columna notae: Hinc solet hasta manu, belli praenuncia, mitti; In regem et gentes cum placet arma capi. Ov. de fast. Li. 6.

Where the high Fane the ample Cirque commands A little, but a noted pillar stands, From hence, when Rome the distant Kings defies, In form the war-denouncing Javelin flies.

* 1.41The different interpretations that have been made on the next Medal seem to be forced and unnatural. I will therefore give you my own opinion of it. The vessel is here represented as stranded. The figure before it

seems to come in to its assistance, and to lift it off the shallows: for we see the water scarce ••eaches up to the knees, though it is the fi∣gure of a man standing on firm ground. His attendants, and the good office he is employed upon, resemble those the Poets often attribute to Neptune. Homer tells us, that the Whales leap∣ed up at their God's approach, as we see in the Medal. The two small figures that stand naked among the waves are Sea-Deities of an inferiour rank, who are supposed to assist their Sovereign in the succour he gives the distressed vessel.

Cymothoë, simul et Triton adnixus acuto Detrudunt naves scopulo; levat ipse tridenti, Et vastas aperit syrtes, et temperat aequor. Virg. Aen. Li. 1.

Cymothoë, Triton, and the sea-green train Of beauteous Nymphs, the daughters of the main, Clear from the rocks the vessels with their hands; The God himself with ready trident stands, And opes the deep, and spreads the moving sands. Mr. Dryden.

Jamplacidis ratis extat aquis, quam gurgite ab imo Et Thetis, et magnis Nereus socer erigit ulnis. Val. Flac. Li. 1.

The interpreters of this Medal have mistaken these two figures for the representation of two persons that are drowning. But as they are both naked and drawn in a posture rather of trium∣phing o'er the waves than of sinking under them, so we see abundance of Water-Deities on other Medals represented after the same manner.

Ite Deae virides, liquidosque advertite vultus, Et vitreum teneris crinem redimite corymbis, Veste nihil tectae: quales emergitis altis Fontibus, et visu Satyros torquetis amantes. Statius de Balneo Etrusci. Lib. 1.

Haste, haste, ye Naiads! with attractive art New charms to ev'ry native grace impart: With op'ning flourets bind your sea-green hair, Unveil'd; and naked let your limbs appear: So from the springs the Satyrs see you rise, And drink eternal passion at their eyes.

After having thus far cleared our way to the Me∣dal, I take the thought of the reverse to be this. The stranded vessel is the Commonwealth of Rome, that by the tyranny of Domitian, and the insolence of the Praetorian Guards under Nerva, was quite run aground and in danger of perish∣ing. Some of those embarked in it endeavour at her recovery, but it is Trajan that by the adoption of Nerva stems the tide to her relief, and like another Neptune shoves her off the quick∣sands. Your Device, says Eugenius, hangs very well together; but is not it liable to the same ex∣ceptions that you made us last night to such expli∣cations as have nothing but the writer's imagina∣tion to support them? To shew you, says Phi∣lander, that the construction I put on this Medal is conformable to the fancies of the old Romans, you may observe, that Horace represents at length the Commonwealth of Rome under the figure of a ship, in the Allegory that you meet with in the fourteenth Ode of his first book.

O Navis, referent in mare te novi Fluctus.—

And shall the raging waves again Bear thee back into the main? Mr. Creech.

Nor was any thing more usual than to represent a God in the shape and dress of an Emperor.

—Apelleae cuperent te scribere cerae, Optassetque novo similem te ponere templo Atticus Elei senior Jovis; et tua mitis Ora Taras: tua sidereas imitantia flammas Lumina, contempto mallet Rhodos aspera Phaebo. Statius de Equo Domitiani Syl. 1.

Now had Apelles liv'd, he'd sue to grace His glowing Tablets with thy godlike face: Phidias, a Sculptor for the Pow'rs above! Had wish'd to place thee with his Iv'ry Jove. Rhodes and Tarentum, that with Pride survey, The Thund'rer This, and That the God of day; Each fam'd Colossus would exchange for Thee, And own thy form the loveliest of the three.

For the thought in general, you have just the same metaphorical compliment to Theodosius in Claudian, as the Medal here makes to Trajan.

Nulla relicta foret Romani nominis umbra, Ni pater ille tuus jamjam ruitura subisset Pondera, turbatamque ratem, certâque levasset Naufragium commune manu. — Claudian. de 4to Cons. Honorii.

Had not thy Sire deferr'd th' impending fate, And with his solid virtue prop'd the state; Sunk in Oblivion's shade, the name of Rome, An empty name! had scarce surviv'd her doom: Half-wreck'd she was, 'till his auspicious hand Resum'd the rudder, and regain'd the land.

I shall only add, that this Medal was stamped in honour of Trajan, when he was only Caesar, as appears by the face of it....SARI TRAIANO.

* 1.42The next is a reverse of Marcus Au∣relius. We have on it a Minerva mounted on a monster, that Ausonius describes in the following verses.

Illa etiam Thalamos per trina aenigmata querens Qui bipes, et quadrupes foret, et tripes omnia solus; Terruit Aoniam Volucris, Leo, Virgo; triformis Sphinx, volucris pennis, pedibusfera, fronte puella.

To form the monster Sphinx, a triple kind, Man, bird, and beast, by nature were combin'd: With feather'd fans she wing'd th' aerial space; And on her feet the Lion-claws disgrace The bloomy features of a Virgin-face. O'er pale Aönia pannic horror ran, While in mysterious speech she thus began: "What animal, when yet the Morn is new, "Walks on Four legs infirm; at Noon on Two: "But day declining to the western skies, "He needs a Third; a Third the Night supplies?

The monster, says Cynthio, is a Sphinx, but for her meaning on this Medal, I am not O Edipus

enough to unriddle it. I must confess, says Phi∣lander, the Poets fail me in this particular. There is however a passage in Pausanias that I will re∣peat to you, though it is in prose, since I know no body else that has explained the Medal by it. The Athenians, says he, drew a Sphinx on the armour of Pallas, by reason of the strength and sagacity of this animal. The Sphinx therefore signifies the same as Minerva herself, who was the Goddess of arms as well as wisdom, and describes the Emperor, as one of the Poets ex∣presses it,

—Studiis florentem utriusque Minervae.

Whom both Minerva's boast t'adopt their own.

The Romans joined both devices together, to make the emblem the more significant, as in∣deed they could not too much extol the learn∣ing and military virtues of this excellent Empe∣ror, who was the best Philosopher and greatest General of his Age.

We will close up this Series of Me∣dals with one that was stamped under Tiberius to the memory of Augustus.* 1.43 Over his head you see the star that his father Julius Caesar was supposed to have been changed into.

Ecce Dionaei processit Caesaris astrum. Virg. Ecl. 9.

See, Caesar's lamp is lighted in the skies. Mr. Dryden.

—micat inter omnes Julium sidus, velut inter ignes Luna minores. Hor.

—Julius Caesar's light appears As, in fair nights and smiling skies, The beauteous Moon amidst the meaner stars. Mr. Creech.

Vix ea fatus erat, mediâ cùm sede senatûs Constitit alma Venus, nulli cernenda, suique Caesaris eripuit membris, nec in aëra solvi Passa recentem animam, coelestibus intulit astris. Dumque tulit lumen capere atque ignescere sensit, Emisitque sinu: Lunâ evolat altius illa, Flammiferumque trahens spatioso limite crinem, Stella micat.— Ov. Met. Li. 15.

This spoke; the Goddess to the Senate flew; Where, her fair form conceal'd from mortal view, Her Caesar's heav'nly part she made her care, Nor left the recent Soul to waste to air; But bore it upwards to its native skies: Glowing with new-born fires she saw it rise; Forth springing from her bosom up it flew, And kindling, as it soar'd, a Comet grew; Above the lunar sphere it took its flight, And shot behind it a long trail of light. Mr. Welsted.

Virgil draws the same figure of Augustus on Ae∣neas's shield as we see on this Medal. The Com∣mentators tell us, that the star was engraven on Augustus's helmet, but we may be sure Virgil means such a figure of the Emperor as he used

••o be represented by in the Roman sculpture, and ••••ch a one as we may suppose this to be that we ••ave before us.

Hinc Augustus agens Italos in praelia Caesar, Cum patribus, populoque, Penatibus, et magnis Diis, Stans celsâ in puppi; geminas cui tempora flammas Laeta vomunt, patriumque aperitur vertice sidus. Virg. Aen. Li. 8.

Young Caesar on the stern in armour bright, Here leads the Romans, and the Gods, to fight: His beamy temples shoot their flames afar; And o'er his head is hung the Julian star. Mr. Dryden.

The thunderbolt that lies by him is a mark of his Apotheosis, that makes him as it were a compa∣••ion of Jupiter. Thus the Poets of his own age ••hat deified him living,

Divisum Imperium cum Jove Caesar habet. Virg.

Hic socium summo cum Jove numen habet. Ov.

— regit Augustus socio per signa Tonante. Manil. Li. 1.

Sed tibi debetur coelum, te fulmine pollens, Accipiet cupidi Regia magna Jovis. Ov. de. Augusto ad Liviam.

He wears on his head the Corona Radiata, which at that time was another type of his Divinity. The spikes that shoot out from the crown were to represent the rays of the Sun. There were

twelve of them, in allusion to the Signs of the Zo∣diac. It is this kind of crown that Virgil describes.

—ingenti mole Latinus Quadrijugo vehitur curru, cui tempora circum Aurati bis sex radii fulgentia cingunt, Solis-avi specimen.— Virg. Aen. Lib. 12.

Four steeds the chariot of Latinus bear: Twelve golden beams around his temples play, To mark his lineage from the God of day. Mr. Dryden.

* 1.44If you would know why the corona radiata is a representation of the Sun, you may see it in the figure of Apollo in the next reverse, where his head is encompassed with such an arch of glory as Ovid and Statius mention, that might be put on and taken off at pleasure.

—at genitor circum caput omne micantes Deposuit radios— Ovid. Met. Lib. 2.

The tender Sire was touch'd with what he said, And flung the blaze of glories from his head.

Imposuitque comae radios — Ibid.

Then fix'd his beamy circle on his head.

—licet ignipedum fraenator equorum Ipse tuis a••te radiantem crinibus arcum Imprimat— Statius. Theb. Lib. 1. ad Domitian.

Tho' Phoebus longs to mix his rays with thine, And in thy glories more serenely shine. [Mr. Pope.

In his right hand he holds the whip with which ••e is supposed to drive the horses of the Sun: as ••n a pretty passage of Ovid, that some of his edi∣••ors must needs fancy spurious.

Colligit amentes, et adhuc terrore paventes, Phoebus equos, stimuloque dolens et verbere saevit: Saevit enim, natumque objectat, et imputat illis. Ov. Met. Lib. 2.

Prevail'd upon at length, again he took The harness'd steeds, that still with horrour shook, And plies 'em with the lash, and whips 'em on, And, as he whips, upbraids 'em with his son.

The double-pointed dart in his left hand is an emblem of his beams, that pierce through such an ••nfinite depth of air, and enter into the very bow∣els of the earth. Accordingly Lucretius calls ••hem the darts of the day, as Ausonius to make a sort of witticism has follow'd his example.

Non rodii solis, neque lucida tela Diei. Lucr.

Exultant udae super arida saxa rapinae, Luciferique pavent letalia tela Diel. de piscibus captis. Aus. Eid. 10.

Caligo terrae scinditur, Percussa solis spiculo. Prud. Hym. 2.

I have now given you a sample of such emble∣matical Medals as are unriddled by the Latin Po∣ets, and have shown several passages in the Latin Poets that receive an illustration from Medals. Some of the Coins we have had before us have

not been explained by others, as many of them have been explained in a different manner. There are indeed others that have had very near the same explication put upon them, but as this explication has been supported by no authority, it can at best be looked upon but as a probable conjecture. It is certain, says Eugenius, there cannot be any more authentic illustrations of Roman Medals, especially of those that are full of fancy, than such as are drawn out of the Latin Poets. For as there is a great affinity between Designing and Poetry, so the Latin Poets, and the Designers of the Roman Medals, lived very near one ano∣ther, were acquainted with the same customs, conversant with the same objects, and bred up to the same relish for wit and fancy. But who are the Ladies that we are next to examine? These are, says Philander, so many Cities, Nations and Provinces that present themselves to you under the shape of women. What you take for a fine Lady at first sight, when you come to look into her will prove a town, a country, or one of the four parts of the world. In short, you have now Afric, Spain, France, Italy, and several other na∣tions of the earth before you. This is one of the pleasantest Maps, says Cynthio, that I ever saw. Your Geographers now and then fancy a coun∣try like a Leg or a Head, a Bear or a Dragon, but I never before saw them represented like wo∣men. I could not have thought your mountains, seas and promontories could have made up an assembly of such well-shaped persons. This therefore, says Philander, is a Geography particu∣lar to the Medallists. The Poets however have sometimes given into it, and furnish us with very

••ood lights for the explication of it.* 1.45 The first Lady you see on the List is Africa, she carries an Elephant's tooth ••y her side.

Dentibus ex illis quos mittit porta Syenes, Et Mauri celeres, et Mauro obscurior Indus: Et quos deposuit Nabathaeo bellua saltu, Jam nimios, capitique graves— Juv. Sat. 11.

She is always quoiff'd with the head of an Ele∣phant, to show that this animal is the breed of that Country, as for the same reason she has a Dragon lying at her feet.

Huic varias pestes, diversaque membra ferarum, Concessit bellis natura infesta futuris; Horrendos angues, habitataque membra veneno, Et mortis partus, viventia crimina terrae; Et vastos Elephantes habet, saevosque Leones, In poenas faecunda suas, parit horrida tellus. Manil. Lib. 4. de Africâ.

Here Nature, angry with mankind, prepares Strange monsters, instruments of future wars; Here Snakes, those Cells of poyson, take their birth, Those living crimes and grievance of the earth; Fruitful in its own plagues, the desart shore Hears Elephants, and frightful Lions roar. Mr. Creech.

Lucan in his description of the several noxious animals of this country, mentions in particular the flying Dragon that we see on this Medal.

Vos quoque, qui cunctis innoxia numina terris Serpitis, aurato nitidi fulgore dracones, Pestiferos ardens facit Africa: ducitis altum Aëra cum pennis, armentaque tota secuti Rumpitis ingentes amplexi verbere tauros. Nec tutus spatio est Elephas. datis omnia letho: Nec vobis opus est ad noxia fata veneno. Luc. Lib. 9.

And you, ye Dragons! of the scaly race, Whom glittering gold and shining armours grace, In other nations harmless are you found, Their guardian Genii and Protectors own'd; In Afric only are you fatal; there, On wide-expanded wings, sublime you rear Your dreadful forms, and drive the yielding air. The lowing Kine in droves you chace, and cull Some master of the herd, some mighty Bull: Around his stubborn sides your tails you twist, By force compress, and burst his brawny chest. Not Elephants are by their larger size Secure, but with the rest become your prize. Resistless in your Might, you all invade, And for destruction need not poison's aid. Mr. Rowe.

The Bull that appears on the other side of the Dra∣gon, shows us that Afric abounds in agriculture.

—tibi habe frumentum, Alledius inquit, O Libye, disjunge boves, dum tuberae mittas. Juv. Sat. 5.

—No more plough up the ground O Libya, where such mushrooms can be found, Alledius cries, but furnish us with store Of mushrooms, and import thy corn no more. Mr. Bowles.

This part of the world has always on Medals something to denote her wonderful fruitfulness, ••s it was indeed the great granary of Italy. In the ••wo following figures, the handful of wheat, the Cornu-copiae, and basket of corn, are all emblems of the same signification.

Sed quâ se campis squalentibus Africa tendit, Serpentum largo coquitur faecunda veneno: Felix quà pingues mitis plaga temperat agros; Nec Cerere Ennaeâ, Phario nec victa colono. Sil. It. Lib. 1.

Frumenti quantum metit Africa— Hor. Sat. 3. Lib. 2.

— segetes mirantur Iberas Horrea; nec Libyae senserunt damna rebellis Jam transalpinâ contenti messe Quirites. Claud. in Eutrop. Lib. 1.

* 1.46The Lion on the second Medal marks ••er out for the

—Leonum Arida nutrix. Hor.

The Scorpion on the third is ano∣ther of her productions,* 1.47 as Lucan mentions it in particular, in the long catalogue of her venomous animals.

—quis fata putaret Scorpion, aut vires maturae mortis habere? Ille minax nodis, et recto verbere saevus, Teste tulit coelo victi decus Orionis. Luc. Lib. 9.

Who, that the Scorpion's insect form surveys. Would think that ready Death his call obeys? Threat'ning he rears his knotty tail on high, The vast Orion thus he doom'd to die, And fix'd him, his proud trophy, in the sky. Mr. Rowe.

The three figures you have here shown us, say•• Eugenius, give me an idea of a description or two in Claudian, that I must confess I did not before know what to make of. They represent Africa in the shape of a woman, and certainly allude to the corn and head-dress that she wears on old Coins

— mediis apparet in astris Africa, rescissae vestes, et spicea passim Serta jacent, lacero crinales vertice dentes, Et fractum pendebat ebur— Claud. de Bel. Gild

Next Afric, mounting to the blest Abodes, Pensive approach'd the Synod of the Gods: No arts of dress the weeping Dame adorn; Her garments rent, and wheaten garlands torn: The fillets, grac'd with teeth in Ivory rows, Broke and disorder'd dangle on her brows.

Tum spicis et dente comas illustris eburno, Et calido rubicunda die, sic Africa fatur. Claud. de Cons. Stil. Lib. 2.

I think, says Philander, there is no question but the Poet has copied out in his description the fi∣gure that Africa made in ancient sculpture and painting.* 1.48 The next before us is Egypt. Her basket of wheat shows us the great fruitfulness of the country, which is cau∣sed by the inundations of the Nile.

Syrtibus hinc Libycis tuta est Aegyptus: at inde Gurgite septeno rapidus mare summovet amnis: Terra suis contenta bonis, non indiga mercis, Aut Jovis; in solo tanta est fiducia Nilo. Luc. Lib. 8.

By Nature strengthned with a dang'rous strand, Her Syrts and untry'd channels guard the land. Rich in the fatness of her plenteous soil, She plants her only confidence in Nile. Mr. Rowe.

The instrument in her hand is the Sistrum of the Egyptians, made use of in the worship of the Goddess Isis.

— Nilotica sistris Ripa sonat — Claud. de 4 to Cons. Honor.

On Medals you see it in the hand of Egypt, of ••sis, or any of her Worshippers. The Poets too ••ake the same use of it, as Virgil has placed it ••n Cleopatra's hand, to distinguish her from an Egyptian.

Regina in mediis patrio vocat agmina sistro. Virg. Aen. Lib. 8.

The Queen her self, amidst the loud alarms, With Cymbals toss'd, her fainting soldiers warms. Mr. Dryden.

—restabant Actia bella, Atque ipsa Isiaco certârunt fulmina sistro. Manil. Lib. 1.

—imitataque Lunam Cornua fulserunt, crepuitque sonabile sistrum. de Iside. Ov. Met. Lib. 9.

—The lunar horns, that bind The brows of Isis, cast a blaze around; The trembling Timbrel made a murm'ring sound Mr. Dryden.

Quid tua nunc Isis tibi, Delia? quid mihi prosu•• Ilia tuâ toties aera repulsa manu? Tib. Lib. 1. El. 3.

Nos in templa tuam Romana accepimus Isin, Semideosque canes, et sistra jubentia luctus. Luc. Lib. 8.

Have we with honours dead Osiris crown'd, And mourn'd him to the Timbrel's tinkling sound? Receiv'd her Isis to divine abodes, And rank'd her dogs deform'd, with Roman Gods? Mr. Rowe.

The bird before her is the Egyptian Ibis. This figure however does not represent the living bird, but rather an idol of it, as one may guess by the pedestal it stands upon, for the Egyptians wor∣shipped it as a God.

Quis nescit, Volusi Bithynice, qualia demens Aegyptus portenta colat? crocodilon adorat Pars haec, illa pavet saturam serpentibus Ibin; Effigies sacri nitet aurea Circopitheci. Juv. Sat. 15.

How Egypt, mad with superstition grown, Makes Gods of monsters, but too well is known: One sect devotion to Nile's serpent pays; Others to Ibis, that on serpents preys.

Where, Thebes, thy hundred gates lie unrepair'd, And where maim'd Memnon's magick harp is heard, Where these are mould'ring left, the sots com∣bine With pious care a Monkey to enshrine. Mr. Tate.

Venerem precaris? comprecare et Simiam. Placet sacratus aspis Aesculapii? Crocodilus, Ibis et Canes cur displicent? Prudentius. Pas. 1. Romani.

We have Mauritania on the fifth Me∣dal,* 1.49 leading a horse with something like a thread, for where there is a bridle in old Coins you see it much more distinctly. In her other ••and she holds a switch. We have the design of his Medal in the following descriptions that ce∣••ebrate the Moors and Numidians, Inhabitants of Mauritania, for their horsemanship.

Hic passim exultant Numidae, gens inscia freni: Queis inter geminas per ludum mobilis aures Quadrupedum flectit non cedens virga lupatis: Altrix bellorum bellatorumque virorum, Tellus— Sil. It. Li. 1.

On his hot Steed, unus'd to curb or rein, The black Numidian prances o'er the plain: A wand betwixt his ears directs the course, And as a Bridle turns th' obedient horse.

— an Mauri fremitum raucosque repulsus Umbonum et nostros passuri, comminus enses? Non contra clypeis tectos, galeisque micantes

Ibitis; in solis longè fiducia telis. Exarmatus erit, cum missile torserit, hostis. Dextra movet jaculum, praetentat pallia laevá, Caetera nudus Eques; sonipes ignarus habenae: Virga regit, non ulla fides, non agminis ordo; Arma oneri.— Claud. de Bel. Gildon.

Can Moors sustain the press, in close-fought fields, Of shorten'd fauchions and repelling shields? Against a host of quiv'ring spears ye go, Nor helm nor buckler guards the naked foe; The naked foe, who vainly trusts his art, And flings away his armour in his dart: His dart the right hand shakes, the left uprears His robe, beneath his tender skin appears. Their Steeds un-rein'd, obey the horseman's wand, Nor know their legions when to march, or stand; In the war's dreadful laws untaught and rude, A mob of men, a martial multitude.

The Horse too may stand as an emblem of the warlike genius of the people.

Bello armantur Equi, bella haec armentà minantur. Virg. Aen. Li. 3.

* 1.50From Africa we will cross over into Spain. There are learned Medallists that tell us, the Rabbet which you see before her feet, may signifie either the great multitude of these Animals that are found in Spain, or per∣haps the several mines that are wrought within the bowels of that country, the Latin word Cu∣niculus signifying either a Rabbet or a Mine. But these Gentlemen do not consider, that it is not

the Word but the Figure that appears on the Me∣dal. Cuniculus may stand for a Rabbet or a Mine, but the picture of a Rabbet is not the pi∣cture of a Mine. A pun can be no more engra∣ven than it can be translated. When the word is construed into its idea the double meaning va∣nishes. The figure therefore before us means a real Rabbet, which is there found in vast multi∣tudes.

Cuniculosae Celtiberiae fili. Catul. in Egnatium.

The Olive-branch tell us, it is a country that a∣bounds in Olives, as it is for this reason that Claudian in his description of Spain binds an O∣live branch about her head.

—glaucis tum prima Minervae Nexa comam foliis, fulvâque intexta micantem Veste Tagum, tales profert Hispania voces. Claud. de Laud. Stil. Li. 2.

Thus Spain, whose brows the olive wreaths in∣fold, And o'er her robe a Tagus streams in gold.

Martial has given us the like figure of one of the greatest rivers in Spain.

Boetis oliviferâ crinem redimite coronâ, Aurea qui nitidis vellera tingis aquis: Quem Bromius quem Pallas amat— Mar. Li. 12. Ep. 99.

Fair Boetis! Olives wreath thy azure locks; In fleecy gold thou cloath'st the neighb'ring flocks:

Thy fruitful banks with rival-bounty smile, While Bacchus wine bestows, and Pallas oil.

And Prudentius of one of its eminent towns.

Tu decem sanctos revehes et octo, Caesar Augusta studiosa Christi, Verticem flavis oleis revincta Pacis honore. Prudent. Hymn. 4.

* 1.51France, you see, has a Sheep by her, not only as a sacrifice, but to shew that the riches of the country consisted chiefly in flocks and pasturage. Thus Horace mentioning the commodities of different countries,

Quanquam nec Calabrae mella ferunt apes, Nec Laestrigoniâ Bacchus in amphorâ Languescit mihi, nec pinguia Gallicis Crescunt vellera pascuis. Hor. Od. 16. Li. 3.

Tho' no Calabrian Bees do give Their grateful tribute to my hive; No wines, by rich Campania sent, In my ignoble casks ferment; No flocks in Gallic plains grow fat;— Mr. Creech.

She carries on her shoulders the Sagulum that Virgil speaks of as the habit of the ancient Gauls.

Aurea caesaries ollis, atque aurea vestis: Virgatis lucent sagulis— Virg. Aen. Lib. 8.

The gold dissembled well their yellow hair; And golden chains on their white necks they wear; Gold are their vests— Mr. Dryden.

She is drawn in a posture of sacrificing for the ••afe arrival of the Emperor, as we may learn ••rom the inscription. We find in the several Medals that were struck on Adrian's progress ••hrough the Empire, that at his arrival they offer∣••d a sacrifice to the Gods for the reception of so ••reat a blessing. Horace mentions this custom.

Tum meae (si quid loquar audiendum) Vocis accedet bona pars; et O Sol Pulcher, ô laudande, canam, recepto Caesare felix.— Te decem tauri, totidemque vaccae; Me tener solvet vitulus— Hor. Od. 2. Lib. 4.

And there, if any patient ear My Muse's feeble song will hear My voice shall sound thro' Rome: Thee, Sun, I'll sing, thee, lovely fair, Thee, thee I'll praise, when Caesar's come. —

Ten large fair bulls, ten lusty cows, Must die, to pay thy richer vows; Of my small stock of kine A calf just wean'd — Mr. Creech.

Italy has a Cornu-copiae in her hand,* 1.52 to denote her fruitfulness;

—magna parens frugum Saturnia tellus. Virg. Geor. 3.

and a crown of towers on her head to figure out the many towns and cities that stand upon her. Lucan has given her the like ornament, where he represents her addressing herself to Julius Caesar.

Ingens visa duci patriae trepidantis Imago: Clara per obscuram vultu maestissima noctem, Turrigero canos effundens vertice crines, Caesarie, lacerâ nudisque adstare lacertis, Et gemitu permista loqui— Lucan. Lib. 1.

Amidst the dusky horrors of the night, A wondrous vision stood confest to sight; Her awful head Rome's rev'rend image rear'd, Trembling and sad the Matron form appear'd; A tow'ry crown her hoary temples bound, And her torn tresses rudely hung around: Her naked arms uplifted ere she spoke, Then groaning thus the mournful silence broke. Mr. Rowe.

She holds a sceptre in her other hand, and sits on a globe of the heavens, to shew that she is the Sovereign of nations, and that all the influences of the Sun and Stars fall on her dominions. Claudian makes the same compliment to Rome.

Ipsa triumphatis quae possidet aethera regnis. Claud. in Prob. et Olyb. Cons.

Jupiter arce suâ totum dum spectat in orbem, Nil nisi Romanum quod tueatur habet. Ov. de fast. Lib. 1.

Jove finds no realm, when he the globe surveys, But what to Rome submissive homage pays.

Orbem jam totum victor Romanus habebat, Quà mare, quà tellus, quà sidus currit utrumque. Petron.

Now Rome, sole Empress reigns from pole to pole, Where-ever earth extends, or oceans roll.

The picture that Claudian makes of Rome one would think was copied from the next Medal.* 1.53

—innuptae ritus imitata Minervae: Nam neque caesariem crinali stringere cultu, Colla nec ornatu patitur mollire retorto: Dextrum nuda latus, niveos exerta lacertos, Audacem retegit mammam, laxumque coercens Mordet gemma sinum.— Clipeus Titaná lucessit Lumine, qúem totâ variarat Mulciber arte; Hîc patrius, Mavortis amor, foetusque notantur Romulei. post amnis inest, et bellua nutrix. Claud. in Prob. et Olyb. Cons.

No costly fillets knot her hair behind, Nor female trinkets round her neck are twin'd. Bold on the right her naked arm she shows, And half the bosom's unpolluted snows; Whilst on the left is buckled o'er her breast, In diamond clasps, the military-vest. The Sun was dazled as her shield she rear'd, Where, varied o'er by Mulciber, appear'd The loves of Mars her Sire, fair Ilia's joys, The wolf, the Tyber, and the infant boys.

The next figure is Achaia.* 1.54

I am sorry, says Cynthio, to find you running farther off us. I was in hopes you would have shown us our own nation, when you were so near us as France. I have here, says Philander,* 1.55 one of Augustus's Britan∣nia's. You see she is not drawn like other countries, in a soft peaceful posture, but is adorned with emblems that mark out the milita∣ry genius of her Inhabitants. This is, I think, the only commendable quality that the old Poets have touched upon in the description of our country. I had once made a collection of all the passages in the Latin Poets, that give any account of us, but I find them so very malicious, that it would look like a libel on the nation to repeat them to you. We seldom meet with our fore-fathers, but they are coupled with some epithet or another to blacken them. Barbarous, Cruel and Inhospitable are the best terms they can afford us, which it would be a kind of injustice to publish, since their posterity are become so polite, good-natured, and kind to strangers. To mention therefore those parts only that relate to the pre∣sent Medal. She sits on a globe that stands in water, to denote that she is Mistress of a new world, separate from that which the Romans had before conquered, by the interposition of the sea. I think we cannot doubt of this interpretation, if we consider how she has been represented by the ancient Poets.

Et penitus toto divisos orbe Britannos. Virg. Ec. 1.

The rest among the Britons be confin'd; A race of men from all the world disjoin'd. Mr. Dryden.

Adspice, confundit populos impervia tellus: Conjunctum est, quod adhuc orbis, et orbis erat. Vet. Poet. apud Scalig. Catul.

At nunc oceanus geminos interluit orbes. Id. de Britanniâ et opposito Continente.

—nostro diducta Britannia mundo. Claud.

Nec stetit oceano, remisque ingressa profundum, Vincendos alio quaefivit in orbe Britannos. Id.

The feet of Britannia are washed by the waves, in the same Poet.

—cujus vestigia verrit Coerulus, oceanique aestum mentitur, amictus. Id. de Laud. Stil. Lib. 2.

She bears a Roman Ensign in one of her hands, to confess herself a conquered province.

—victricia Caesar Signa Caledonios transvexit ad usque Britannos. Sidon. Apollin.

But to return to Achaia,* 1.56 whom we left upon her knees before the Emperor Adrian. She has a pot before her with a sprig of Parsly rising out of it. I will not here trouble you with a dull story of Hercules's eating a sal∣lade of Parsly for his refreshment, after his en∣counter with the Nemean Lion. It is certain, there were in Achaia the Nemean Games, and that a garland of Parsly was the Victor's reward. You have an account of these Games in Ausonius.

Quattuor antiquos celebravit Achaia Ludos, Coelicolûm duo sunt, et duo festa hominum. Sacra Jovis, Phoebique, Palaemonis, Archemorique: Serta quibus pinus, malus, oliva, apium. Aus. de Lustral. Agon.

Greece, in four games thy martial youth were train'd; For Heroes two, and two for Gods ordain'd: Jove bade the Olive round his Victor wave; Phoebus to his an Apple-garland gave; The Pine, Palaemon; nor with less renown, Archemorus conferr'd the Parsly-crown.

Archemori Nemeaea colunt funebria Thebae. Id. de locis Agon.

—Alcides Nemeae sacravit honorem. de Auct. Agon. Id.

Archemori Nemeaea colunt funebria Thebae. Id.

One reason why they chose Parsly for a Garland, was doubtless because it always preserves its ver∣dure, as Horace opposes it to the short-lived Lilly.

Neu vivax apium, nec breve lilium. Lib. 1. Od. 36.

Let fading Lillies and the Rose Their beauty and their smell disclose; Let long-liv'd Parsly grace the feast. And gently cool the heated guest. [Mr. Creech.

Juvenal mentions the Crown that was made of it, and which here surrounds the head of Achaia.

—Graiaeque apium meruisse coronae. Juv. Sat. 8.

And winning at a Wake their Parsly crown. Mr. Stepney.

She presents herself to the Emperor in the same posture that the Germans and English still salute the Imperial and Royal family.

— jus imperiumque Phraates Caesaris accepit genibus minor.— Hor. Epis. 12. Li. 1.

The haughty Parthian now to Caesar kneels. Mr. Creech.

Ille qui donat diadema fronti Qaem genu nixae tremuere gentes. Senec. Thyest. Act. 3.

—Non, ut inflexo genu. Regnantem adores, petimus. Id.

Te linguis variae gentes, missique rogatum Foedera Persarum proceres cum patre sedentem, Hac quondam videre domo; positâque tiarâ Submisere genu.— Claud. ad Honorium.

Thy infant Virtue various climes admir'd, And various tongues to sound thy praise conspir'd: Thee next the Sovereign seat, the Persians view'd, When in this Regal Dome for peace they su'd: Each Turban low, in sign of worship, wav'd; And every knee confest the boon they crav'd.

Sicily appears before Adrian in the same posture.* 1.57 She has a bundle of Corn

in her hand, and a Garland of it on her head, as she abounds in wheat, and was consecrated to Ceres.

Utraque frugiferis est Insula nobilis arvis: Nec plus Hesperiam longinquis messibus ullae, Nec Romana complerunt horrea terrae. de Sicilia et Sardinia. Luc. Li. 2.

Sardinia too, renown'd for yellow fields, With Sicily her bounteous tribute yields; No lands a glebe of richer tillage boast, Nor waft more plenty to the Roman coast. Mr. Rowe.

Terra tribus scopulis vatum procurrit in aequor Trinacris, a positu nomen adepta loci, Grata domus Cereri. multas ibi possidet urbes: In quibus est culto fertilis Henna solo. Ov. de Fast. Li. 4.

To Ceres dear, the fruitful land is fam'd For three tall Capes, and thence Trinacria nam'd: There Henna well rewards the tiller's toil, The fairest Champian of the fairest Isle.

* 1.58We find Judaea on several coins of Vespasian and Titus, in a posture that denotes sorrow and captivity. The first figure of her is drawn to the life, in a picture that Seneca has given us of the Trojan matrons bewailing their captivity.

— paret exertos Turba lacertos. Veste remissâ Substringe sinus, uteroque tenus Pateant artus—

— cadat ex humeris Vestis apertis: imumque tegat Suffulta latus. jam nuda vocant Pectora dextras. nunc nunc vires Exprome, Dolor, tuas. Hecuba ad Trojan, chor. Sen. Troas. Act. 1.

—Bare Your arms, your vestures slackly ty'd Beneath your naked bosoms, slide Down to your wastes— —Let From your divested shoulders slide Your garments, down on either side. Now bared bosoms call for blows, Now, Sorrow, all thy pow'rs disclose. Sir Ed. Sherburn.

—apertae pectora matres Significant luctum — Ov. Met. Li. 13.

Who bar'd their breasts, and gave their hair to flow: The signs of grief, and mark of publick woe.

The head is veiled in both figures, as another ex∣pression of grief.

—ipsa tristi vestis obtentu caput Velata, juxta praesides astat Deos. Sen. Herc. fur. Act. 2.

Sic ubi fata, caput ferali obducit amictu, Decrevitque pati tenebras, puppisque cavernis Delituit: saevumque arctè complexa dolorem Perfruitur lacrymis, et amat pro conjuge luct••m. Luc. Li. 9. de Corneliâ.

So said the Matron; and about her head Her veil she draws, her mournful eyes to shade: Resolv'd to shroud in thickest shades her woe, She seeks the ship's deep darksome Hold below: There lonely left, at leisure to complain, She hugs her sorrows, and enjoys her pain; Still with fresh tears the living grief would feed, And fondly loves it, in her husband's stead. Mr. Rowe.

I need not mention her sitting on the ground, be∣cause we have already spoken of the aptness of such a posture to represent an extreme affliction. I fancy, says Eugenius, the Romans might have an eye on the customs of the Jewish nation, as well as of those of their country, in the several marks of sorrow they have set on this figure. The Psalmist describes the Jews lamenting their captivity in the same pensive posture. By the wa∣ters of Babylon we sate down and wept, when we remembred thee, O Sion. But what is more re∣markable, we find Judaea represented as a wo∣man in sorrow sitting on the ground, in a passage of the Prophet that foretells the very captivity re∣ed on this Medal. The covering of the head, and the rending of garments, we find very often in Holy Scripture, as the expressions of a raging grief. But what is the tree we see on both these Medals? We find, says Philander, not only on these, but on several other coins that relate to Judaea, the figure of a Palm-tree, to show us that Palms are the growth of the country. Thus Sili∣us Italicus, speaking of Vespasian's conquest, that is the subject of this Medal.

Palmiferamque senex bello domitabit Idumen. Sil. It. Li. 3.

Martial seems to have hinted at the many pieces of painting and sculpture that were occasioned by this conquest of Judaea, and had generally some∣thing of the Palm-tree in them. It begins an E∣pigram on the death of Scorpus a chariot-driver, which in those degenerate times of the Empire was looked upon as a public calamity.

Tristis Idumaeas frangat Victoria palmas; Plange Favor saeva pectora nuda manu. Mart. Li. 10. Epig. 50.

The man by the Palm-tree in the first of these Medals, is supposed to be a Jew with his hands bound behind him.

I need not tell you that the winged figure on the other Medal is a Victory.* 1.59 She is represented here as on many other coins, writing something on a shield. We find this way of registring a Victory touched upon in Virgil, and Silius Italicus.

Aere cavo clypeum, magni gestamen Abantis, Postibus adversis figo, et rem carmine signo; Aeneas haec de Danais victoribus arma. Virg. Aen. Lib. 3.

I fix'd upon the Temple's lofty door The brazen shield, which vanquish'd Abas bore: The verse beneath my name and actions speaks, "These arms Aeneas took from conqu'ring Greeks. Mr. Dryden.

Pyrettes tumulo clypeum cum carmine figunt; Hasdrubalis spolium Gradivo Scipio victor. Sil. Ital. Li. 15.

High on Pyrene's airy top they plac'd, The captive Shield, with this inscription grac'd; "Sacred to Mars, these votive spoils proclaim "The fate of Asdrubal, and Scipio's fame.

* 1.60Parthia has on one side of her the Bow and Quiver which are so much talked of by the Poets. Lucan's account of the Parthians is very pretty and poetical.

—Parthoque sequente Murus erit, quodcunque potest obstare sagittae— Illita tela dolis, nec Martem comminus unquam Ausa pati virtus, sed longè tendere nervos, Et, quo ferre velint, permittere vulnera ventis. Luc. Li. 8.

Each fence, that can their winged shafts endure, Stands, like a fort, impregnable, secure— To taint their coward darts is all their care, And then to trust them to the flitting air. Mr. Rowe.

—Sagittiferosque Parthos. Catul.

The Crown she holds in her hand, refers to the crown of gold that Parthia, as well as other pro∣vinces, presented to the Emperor Antonine. The presenting a Crown, was the giving up the so∣vereignty into his hands.

Ipse oratores ad me, regnique coronam, Cum sceptro misit— Virg. Aen. Lib. 8.

Tarchon, the Tuscan Chief, to me has sent Their Crown, and ev'ry regal ornament. Mr. Dryden.

Antioch has an Anchor by her,* 1.61 in ••emory of her founder Seleucus, whose ••ace was all born with this mark upon them, if you'll believe Historians. Ausonius has taken notice of it in his verses on this city.

—Illa Seleucum Nuncupat ingenuum, cujus fuit Anchora signum, Qualis inusta solet; generis nota certa, per omnem Nam sobolis seriem nativa cucurrit imago. Aus. Ordo Nobil. Urbium.

Thee, great Seleucus, bright in Grecian fame! The tow'rs of Antioch for their founder claim: Thee Phoebus at thy birth his son confest, By the fair Anchor on the babe imprest; Which all thy genuine off-spring wont to grace, From thigh to thigh transmissive thro' the race.

Smyrna is always represented by an Amazon,* 1.62 that is said to have been her first foundress. You see her here entring into a league with Thyatira. Each of them holds her tutelar Deity in her hand.

Jus ille, et icti foederis testes Deos Invocat.— Sen. Phaenissae. Act. 1.

On the left arm of Smyrna, is the Pelta or Buck∣ler of the Amazons, as the long weapon by her is the Bipennis or Securis.

Non tibi Amazonia est pro me sumenda securis, Aut excisa levi pelta gerenda manu. Ov. Li. 3. Epis. 1. ex Pont.

Lunatis agmina peltis. Virg.

In their right hands a pointed Dart they wield; The left, for ward, sustains the lunar Shield. Mr. Dryden.

Videre Rhaeti bella sub Alpibus Drusum gerentem, et Vindelici; quibus Mos unde deductus per omne Tempus Amazonia securi Dextras obarmet quaerere distuli. Hor. Od. 4. Li. 4.

Such Drusus did in arms appear, When near the Alps he urg'd the war: In vain the Rhaeti did their axes wield, Like Amazons they fought, like women fled the field: But why those savage troops this weapon chuse, Confirm'd by long establish'd use, Historians would in vain disclose.

* 1.63The dress that Arabia appears in, brings to my mind the description Lu∣can has made of these eastern nations.

Quicquid ad Eoos tractus, mundique teporem Labitur, emollit gentes clementia coeli. Illic et laxas vestes, et fluxa virorum Velamenta vides.— Luc. Lib. 8.

While Asia's softer climate, form'd to please, Dissolves her sons in indolence and ease.

Here silken robes invest unmanly limbs, And in long trains the flowing Purple streams. Mr. Rowe.

She bears in one hand a sprig of frankincense.

—solis est thurea virga Sabeis. Virg.

And od'rous frankincense on the Sabaean bough. Mr. Dryden.

Thuriferos Arabum saltus. Claud. de 3. Cons. Hon.

Thurilegos Arabas— Ov. de Fas. Lib. 4.

In the other hand you see the perfumed reed, as the garland on her head may be supposed to be woven out of some other part of her fragrant productions.

Nec procul in molles Arabas terramque ferentem Delicias, variaeque novos radicis honores; Leniter adfundit gemmantia littora pontus, Et terrae mare nomen habet— de sinu Arabico. Manil. Lib. 4.

More west the other soft Arabia beats, Where incense grows, and pleasing odour sweats; The Bay is call'd th' Arabian gulf; the name The country gives it, and 'tis great in fame. Mr. Creech.

Urantur pia thura focis, urantur odores, Quos tener à terrâ divite mittit Arabs. Tibul. Lib. 2. El. 2.

—sit dives amomo, Cinnamaque, costumque suam, sudataque ligno

Thura ferat, floresque alios Panchaïa tellus, Dum ferat, et Myrrham. Ov. Met. Lib. 10.

Let Araby extol her happy coast, Her Cinnamon, and sweet Amomum boast; Her fragrant flowers, her trees with precious tears, Her second harvests, and her double years: How can the land be call'd so bless'd, that Myrrha bears? Mr. Dryden.

—Odoratae spirant medicamina Sylvae. Manil.

The trees drop balsam, and on all the boughs Health sits, and makes it sovereign as it flows. Mr. Creech.

Cinnami sylvas Arabes beatos Vidit— Sen. OEdip. Act. 1.

What a delicious country is this, says Cynthio? a man almost smells it in the descriptions that are made of it. The Camel is in Arabia, I sup∣pose, a beast of burden, that helps to carry off its spices. We find the Camel, says Philander, mentioned in Persius on the same account.

Tolle recens primus piper è sitiente Camelo. Pers. Sat. 5.

—The precious weight Of pepper and Sabaean incense, take With thy own hands from the tir'd Camel's back. Mr. Dryden.

He loads the Camel with pepper, because the a∣nimal and its cargo are both the productions of the same country.

Mercibus hic Italis mutat sub sole recenti Rugosum piper— Id. Sat. 5.

The greedy Merchants, led by lucre, run To the parch'd Indies and the rising Sun; From thence hot pepper, and rich drugs they bear, Bart'ring for spices their Italian ware. Mr. Dryden.

You have given us some quotations out of Persius this morning, says Eugenius, that in my opinion have a great deal of poetry in them. I have often wondered at Mr. Dryden for passing so severe a censure on this Author. He fancies the description of a Wreck that you have already ci∣ted, is too good for Persius, and that he might be helpt in it by Lucan, who was one of his contemporaries. For my part, says Cynthio, I am so far from Mr. Dryden's opinion in this particu∣lar, that I fancy Persius a better Poet than Lucan: and that had he been engaged on the same sub∣ject, he would at least in his Expressions and De∣scriptions have out-writ the Pharsalia. He was indeed employed on subjects that seldom led him into any thing like Description, but where he has an occasion of shewing himself, we find very few of the Latin Poets that have given a grea∣ter beauty to their Expressions. His obscurities are indeed sometimes affected, but they generally arise from the remoteness of the Customs, Per∣sons and Things he alludes to: as Satyr is for this reason more difficult to be understood by those that are not of the same Age with it, than any other kind of Poetry. Love-verses and

Heroics deal in Images that are ever fixed and settled in the nature of things, but a thousand ideas enter into Satyr, that are as changeable and unsteady as the mode or the humours of mankind.

Our three friends had passed away the whole morning among their Medals and Latin Poets. Philander told them it was now too late to enter on another Series, but if they would take up with such a dinner as he could meet with at his Lodgings, he would afterwards lay the rest of his Medals before them. Cynthio and Euge∣nius were both of them so well pleased with the novelty of the subject, that they would not refuse the offer Philander made them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  First Series. FIGURE I.
• * 1.2

  FIG. 2.
• * 1.3

  FIG. 3.
• * 1.4

  FIG. 4.
• * 1.5

  FIG. 5.
• * 1.6

  FIG. 6.
• * 1.7

  FIG. 7.
• * 1.8

  FIG. 8.
• * 1.9

  FIG. 9.
• * 1.10

  FIG. 10.
• * 1.11

  FIG. 11:
• * 1.12

  FIG. 12.
• * 1.13

  FIG. 13.
• * 1.14

  FIG. 14.
• * 1.15

  FIG. 16.
• * 1.16

  FIG. 17.
• * 1.17

  Vid. FIG. 13.
• * 1.18

  FIG. 18.
• * 1.19

  FIG. 19.
• * 1.20

  FIG. 20,
• * 1.21

  Second Series. FIG. 1.
• * 1.22

  FIG. 2.
• * 1.23

  FIG. 3.
• * 1.24

  So Vossius reads it.
• * 1.25

  FIG. 4.
• * 1.26

  FIG. 5.
• * 1.27

  FIG. 8.
• * 1.28

  FIG. 7.
• * 1.29

  FIG. 8.
• * 1.30

  FIG. 9.
• * 1.31

  FIG. 10.
• * 1.32

  FIG. 11.
• * 1.33

  FIG. 12.
• * 1.34

  FIG 13.
• * 1.35

  FIG. 14.
• * 1.36

  FIG. 15.
• * 1.37

  FIG. 16.
• * 1.38

  FIG. 17.
• * 1.39

  FIG. 18.
• * 1.40

  FIG. 19.20.
• * 1.41

  FIG. 21.
• * 1.42

  FIG. 22.
• * 1.43

  FIG. 23.
• * 1.44

  FIG. 24:
• * 1.45

  Third Series. FIG. 1.
• * 1.46

  FIG. 2.
• * 1.47

  FIG. 3.
• * 1.48

  FIG. 4.
• * 1.49

  FIG. 5.
• * 1.50

  FIG. 6.
• * 1.51

  FIG. 7.
• * 1.52

  FIG. 8.
• * 1.53

  FIG. 9.
• * 1.54

  FIG. 10.
• * 1.55

  FIG. 11.
• * 1.56

  FIG. 10.
• * 1.57

  FIG. 12.
• * 1.58

  FIG. 13.
• * 1.59

  FIG. 14.
• * 1.60

  FIG 15.
• * 1.61

  FIG. 16.
• * 1.62

  FIG. 17.
• * 1.63

  FIG. 18.