In which a simile in Mr Pope’s period of a mile
introduces as bloody a battle as can possibly be fought
without the assistance of steel or cold iron.
As in the season of rutting (an uncouth phrase,
by which the vulgar denote that gentle dalliance,
which in the well-wooded[*] forest of Hampshire, passes
between lovers of the ferine kind), if, while the
lofty-crested stag meditates the amorous sport, a couple
of puppies, or any other beasts of hostile note, should
wander so near the temple of Venus Ferina that the
fair hind should shrink from the place, touched with
that somewhat, either of fear or frolic, of nicety
or skittishness, with which nature hath bedecked all
females, or hath at least instructed them how to put
it on; lest, through the indelicacy of males, the
Samean mysteries should be pryed into by unhallowed
eyes: for, at the celebration of these rites,
the female priestess cries out with her in Virgil
(who was then, probably, hard at work on such celebration),
_—Procul,
o procul este, profani;
Proclamat vates,
totoque absistite luco._
—Far
hence be souls profane,
The sibyl cry’d,
and from the grove abstain.—DRYDEN.
[*] This is an ambiguous phrase, and may
mean either a forest well
cloathed with wood, or well stript of
it.
If, I say, while these sacred rites, which are in
common to genus omne animantium, are in agitation
between the stag and his mistress, any hostile beasts
should venture too near, on the first hint given by
the frighted hind, fierce and tremendous rushes forth
the stag to the entrance of the thicket; there stands
he centinel over his love, stamps the ground with
his foot, and with his horns brandished aloft in air,
proudly provokes the apprehended foe to combat.
Thus, and more terrible, when he perceived the enemy’s
approach, leaped forth our heroe. Many a step
advanced he forwards, in order to conceal the trembling
hind, and, if possible, to secure her retreat.
And now Thwackum, having first darted some livid lightning
from his fiery eyes, began to thunder forth, “Fie
upon it! Fie upon it! Mr Jones. Is
it possible you should be the person?”—“You
see,” answered Jones, “it is possible
I should be here.”—“And who,”
said Thwackum, “is that wicked slut with you?”—“If
I have any wicked slut with me,” cries Jones,
“it is possible I shall not let you know who
she is.”—“I command you to
tell me immediately,” says Thwackum: “and
I would not have you imagine, young man, that your
age, though it hath somewhat abridged the purpose
of tuition, hath totally taken away the authority
of the master. The relation of the master and
scholar is indelible; as, indeed, all other relations
are; for they all derive their original from heaven.
I would have you think yourself, therefore, as much
obliged to obey me now, as when I taught you your first
