Henry Fielding

“ The commentators have wretchedly blundered here, in their interpretation of the Latin.↑ In the original, Falernian vines and Canusian sheep: for Falernia produced the most delicious wine, and the sheep which came from Canusium, a town or village of Apulia, the finest wool. I know not whether either of the instances by which I have attempted to modernize this passage be at present in fashion, but if they are not, it is probable the only reason is, that we forget Italian vines, as they would require the assistance of artificial heat ”

“ The latter being celebrated in the calends of December, the former in the nones of April.↑ A celebrated prize fighter.↑ She was wife to Fabricius Vejento, a noble rich Roman, who was infamous for his luxury and pride. This last quality was so eminent in him, that he scorned to salute any almost of his fellow citizens; for which he is lashed by our poet, Sat. III. v. 185. He is likewise introduced in the fourth satire. His wife Hippia ran away to Egypt with the gladiator Sergius.↑ In the original Paris, a player of whom Domitian was so fond, that our author was banished for his abusing him. ”

“ The beauty of the original here is inimitable.↑ Our poet here alludes to the story of Niobe, wife of Amphion, king of Thebes, who affronted Latona, in preferring her own fruitfulness to that of the goddess; for which reason Apollo and Diana destroyed all her children; the number of which authors report variously.↑ Which produced thirty pigs at a litter.↑ The Romans were (if I may be allowed such a word) Greecified, at this time, in the same manner as we are Frenchified.↑ The Romans derived from the Greeks an opinion, that their slaves were of a species inferior to themselves. ”

“ We have presumed to violate the quantity of this word.↑ This custom of making presents to rich men who had no children, in order to become their heirs, is little known to us. Mr. Ben Johnson, indeed, hath founded a play on it, but he lays the scene in Venice.↑ We have endeavoured to preserve the beauty of this line in the original. ”

“ The metaphor is taken from the posture of a horse holding forth his neck to the harness.↑ We have here a little departed from the Latin. This Latinus was a player, and used to act the part of the gallant; in which, to avoid the discovery of the husband, he used to be hid in a chest, or clothes-basket, as Falstaff is concealed in the Merry Wives of Windsor. The poet therefore here alludes to that custom.↑ Which the reader may see explained in a most masterly style, and with the profoundest knowledge of antiquity, by Mr. ”

“ Sergius had not, however, yet obtained this favour; our poet hints only, that he was entitled to it.↑ This may be, perhaps, a little applicable to one of Henry VIII.'s wives.↑ A useful woman in the parish of Covent Garden.↑ A young lady of pleasure.↑ This is a phrase by which loose women demand money of their gallants.↑ In Rome, the keepers of evil houses used to dismiss their girls at midnight; at which time those who follow the same trade in the city first light up their candles.↑ That is, her husband's gentleman. ”

“ Warburton, in the first volume of his Divine Legation of Moses vindicated.↑ As the patron of these gentlemen is mentioned in the original, we thought his votaries might be pleased with being inserted in the imitation.↑ The portico's in the original; where both sexes used to assemble.↑ A constant puff at the head of our play-bills ; designed to allure persons to the house, who go thither more for the sake of the company than of the play ”