been conjectured that some edition of the Musarum did contain the lines, but that its extreme rarity renders it next to an impossibility to find a copy. But recent researches tend to throw more light on the subject. Mr. Yeowell, an assiduous litterateur (to whom the compiler of this volume is much indebted for information on the point in discussion), in a contribution to "Notes and Queries," in the number of that entertaining publication for July 25, 1863, suggests, with much show of reason, that Goldsmith was the author of the lines. scarce book, published by Newbery in 2 vols. 12mo, 1762, entitled "The Art of Poetry on a New Plan," at page 147, vol. ii., occurs the following passage— "For he who fights and runs away May live to fight another day: Can never rise and fight again!" In a And this is given as a quotation from Butler's Hudibras. "The Art of Poetry on a New Plan" was a compilation by Newbery the publisher, "revised, altered, and enlarged by the critical and poetical taste of Goldsmith, as he acknowledged to Dr. Percy" (see Prior's "Life of Goldsmith," 2 vols. 8vo, 1837, page 389, vol. i.); and Mr. Forster, in his "Life of Goldsmith" (edition 1848, page 241, period 1762) corroborates Prior in his statement. The conclusion drawn by Mr. Yeowell is, that it is to the critical taste of Goldsmith that we are indebted for the alterations in the selections given in "The Art of Poetry," which in the first instance were probably made by Newbery himself. It is thus inferred that Goldsmith, in a lengthy quotation from Hudibras, given in "The Art of Poetry," quotes Butler incorrectly. In Hudibras, Part iii., Canto 3, lines 241-246, we have as follows "To make an honourable retreat, In the illustrative quotation from Butler in "The Art of Poetry," the couplet here marked in italics is omitted altogether, and in its place are substituted the four lines already mentioned. Further investigation, however, shows that, with a slight variation, they were in print some years prior to the publication of "The Art of Poetry." In Ray's "History of the Rebellion," a 12mo volume printed in London by Robert Brown, near Christ's Hospital, 1758, at page 40 we have "He that fights and runs away, May turn and fight another day; Will never rise to fight again." and in another edition of Ray's book, published in Manchester without date, but evidently an earlier publication than the London copy, at page 61 the same lines are found. The passage is not given by Ray as a quotation, but in all likelihood it was so, he quoting it from memory, having doubtless met with it in the course of his reading. Thus the original authorship remains as great a mystery as ever. The date of the first edition of "The Art of Poetry," as has been stated, is 1762, whilst the first edition of Ray's "Rebellion" was published in York in 1749. Mr. A. B. Middleton of Salisbury (to whom the merit of discovering the lines in Ray is due), in an interesting article in "Notes and Queries" (Number for June 3, 1865), quotes them from an edition of Ray printed at Bristol, 1752, exactly as they are here printed from the Manchester and London publications. Thus it appears that the earliest record at present known of these famed lines being in print is in Ray's "History of the Rebellion," and the authorship cannot be further traced. The following is the title, somewhat condensed, of Ray's book, as recorded in the Manchester copy, and the title of the London impression is nearly the same: "A Compleat History of the Rebellion, from its first rise in 1745 to its total suppression at the glorious Battle of Culloden in April 1746. By Mr. James Ray of Whitehaven, Volunteer under his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland." Collet, in his "Relics of Literature," tells the following anecdote:-" These lines," he says, 66 are almost universally supposed to form a part of Hudibras; and so confident have even scholars been on the subject, that in 1784 a wager was made at Bootle's of twenty to one, that they were to be found in that inimitable poem. Dodsley was referred to as the arbiter, when he ridiculed the idea of consulting him on the subject, saying, 'Every fool knows they are in Hudibras.' George Selwyn, who was present, said to Dodsley, Pray, sir, will you be good enough, then, to inform an old fool, who is at the same time your wise worship's very humble servant, in what Canto they are to be found?' Dodsley took down the volume, but he could not find the passage; the next day came with no better success, and the sage bibliopole was obliged to confess that a man might be ignorant of the author of this well-known couplet without being absolutely a fool." RY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA INDEX. -000- ACHILLES' tomb, I've stood on, All is vanity, 226. 181. Acting of a dreadful thing, 65. dvice, a father's, to his son, 2. iry tongues that syllable, 83. . little more than kin, 1. All the world's a stage, 35. All things to all men, 236. Alone, never less than when alone, Ambition, fling away, 63. Ample room and verge enough, Ancient and fish-like smell, 17. Angels' visits, 202. Angels' weep, 22. 40. Appetite, to breakfast with, 62. Avarice, good old gentlemanly vice, 177. Avon, sweet swan of, 141. Ayr, ne'er town surpasses, 87. BABBLED of green fields, 55. Backing your friends, 49. Bacon, wisest of mankind, 100. Approbation from Sir Hubert Bad eminence, 77. Arcades ambo, 181. Art, tender strokes of, 106. Arrow, I've shot o'er the house, 12. Ashes, even in our, 153. Bag, empty, hard to stand, 258. 229. Banish plump Jack, 50. Banners, hang out our, 42. As in a theatre the eyes of men, Banquet, when its o'er, 122. 121. Ass, that he would write me Bated breath, with, 31. down, 25. Assurance double sure, 41. tress, 114. Beast, righteous regardeth, 225. At lovers' perjuries Jove laughs, Bedfellows, strange, 17. 71. Beetle that we tread on, 22. Author never spared another, 119. |
