from my mouth, till a trusty old friend gave me the hint,) they disdainfully leave me in the middle of my recital." It appears, that after this, his memory was restored to him, and he published a poem of thanks to the goddess when he was seventyseven years, three months, and seven days old. VANITY OF FRENCH POETS. SANTEUL, a French canon, was very vain of his poetical talents. When he had finished any poetry, he used to say, "Now I will go and put chains along all the bridges of the town, to prevent my brother bards from drowning themselves." DU PERRIER, a French poet, finding Boileau one day at church, insisted upon repeating to him an ode, even during the elevation of the host! BINET AND RONSARD. THAT one author will flatter another, in hopes to be repaid in kind, is famously instanced in the Life of Ronsard, the French Poet, by Binet. “Ronsard,” says he, "was born on Saturday, the 11th of September, 1524, on which day, King Francis I. was taken before Pavia. It may be made a question whether France received more injury by this unhappy capture, than advantage by this auspicious birth of Ronsard, which was signalized, like that of other great men, by so memorable an incident. Thus, the birth of Alexander the Great was signalized and illuminated, as it were, by the burning of the Temple of Diana, in the city of Ephesus." This must needs be a noble compensation! and the French must have been sufficiently indemnified for the imprisonment of their King, (an incident which brought that kingdom to the brink of ruin,) since a man of wit was born that day amongst them, who has enriched them with the Lord knows how many thousand verses, in sonnets, madrigals, stanzas, hymns, odes, &c. Ronsard had a good opinion of his "Franciad," as appears by the following lines: VOL. I. "Un lit ce livre pour apprendre, L'autre le lit comme envieux : T The sense of which is, "One reads this volume for instruction's sake; MALLET AND GARRICK. THE vanity of David Garrick was insatiate; and being so visible to all, they had but to administer to this weakness, and they achieved their point. Mallet, who wrote the Life of the Duke of Marlborough, wishing to have his tragedy of "Elvira" brought forward, adopted this mode. Having waited upon him one day, after the common salute, Mr. Garrick asked him what it was that employed his studies. "Why, upon my word," said Mallet, "I am eternally fatigued with preparing and arranging materials for the Life of the great Duke of Marlborough; my nights and days are occupied with that history; and you know, Mr. Garrick, that it is a very bright and interesting period in the British annals. But hark'ye, my friend, do you know that I have found out a very pretty snug niche in it for you?"-" Hey! how's that? a niche for me!" said the Manager, turning quickly upon him, his eyes sparkling with unusual fire; "how the devil could you bring me into the history of John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough?"—"That's my business, my dear friend," rejoined Mallet, "but I tell you I have done it." -“Well, faith, Mallet, you have the art of surprising your friends in the most unexpected and the politest manner: but why won't you, now, who are so well qualified, write something for the stage? You should relax, you know! for I am sure the theatre is a mere matter of diversion, a pleasure to you."-" Why, faith," said the other," to tell you the truth, I have, whenever I could rob the Duke of an hour or so, employed myself in adapting La Motte's Ines de Castro,' to the English stage, and— here it is." The Manager embraced " Elvira” with rapture, and brought it forward with all expedition. A gentleman of the law, who could not miss such an opportunity of laughing at Mr. Garrick's preposterous vanity, met him one day, and told him he had been applied to by the booksellers to publish an edition of the Statutes at Large, and he hoped he should find a snug niche in them, to introduce him. EDWARD HOWARD, EARL OF SUFFOLK. WALPOLE says, "I was told the following story of this nobleman, by a gentleman well known in the literary world, who, when he first appeared as an author, was sent for by this noble Lord to his house. His Lordship told him, that he employed many of his idle hours in poetry; but that, having the misfortune to be of the same name with the Hon. Edward Howard, so much ridiculed in the last age, no printer would meddle with his works; which, therefore, he desired the gentleman to recommend to some of the profession of his acquaintThe gentleman excused himself as well as he could. The Earl then began to read some of his verses; but coming to the description of a beautiful woman, he suddenly stopped, and said, 'Sir, I am not like most poets: I do not draw from ideal mistresses; I always have my subject before me;' and, ringing the bell, he said to the footman, 'Call up Fine Eyes.' A woman of the town appeared; ‹ Fine Eyes,' said the Earl, look full on this gentleman:' ance. |