190 As thou preserv'st the dulness of the past!
There, dim in clouds, the poring Scholiasts mark,
Wits, who like owls, see only in the dark,[R 4]
Remarks
- ↑ Ibid. myster wight,] Uncouth mortal.
- ↑ Ver. 188. Wormius hight.] Let not this name, purely fictitious, be conceited to mean the learned Olaus Wormius; much less (as it was unwarrantably foisted into the surreptitious editions) our own Antiquary Mr. Thomas Hearne, who had no way aggrieved our Poet, but on the contrary published many curious tracts which he hath to his great contentment perused.
Most rightly are ancient Words here employed, in speaking of such who so greatly delight in the same. We may say not only rightly, but wisely, yea excellently, inasmuch as for the like practice the like praise is given by Mr. Hearne himself. Glossar. to Rob. of Glocester, Artic. Behett; “Others say behight, promised, and so it is used excellently well by Thomas Norton, in his translation into metre of the 116th Psalm, ver. 14."Where the modern innovators, not understanding the propriety of the word (which is truly English, from the Saxon) have most unwarrantably altered it thus,I to the Lord will pay my vows,
That I to him behight.I to the Lord will pay my vows
With joy and great delight. - ↑ Ver. 188. hight.] "In Cumberland they say to hight, for to promise, or vow; but hight, usually signifies was called; and so it does in the North even to this day, notwithstanding what is done in Cumberland." Hearne, ibid.
- ↑ Ver. 192. Wits, who, like owls, &c.] These few lines exactly describe the right
bominable in any book, much more in a sacred work is ascribed to Thomas Sternhold, John Hopkins, and others; I am confident, were Sternhold and Hopkins now living they would proceed against the innovators as cheats.—A liberty, which, to say no more of their intolerable alterations, ought by no means to be permitted or approved of by such as are for Uniformity, and have any regard for the old English Saxon tongue." Hearne, Gloss. on Rob. of Gloc. artic. Rede.
I do herein agree with Mr. Hearne: Little is it of avail to object, that such words are become unintelligible; since they are truly English, men ought to understand them; and such as are for Uniformity should think all alterations in a language, strange, abominable, and unwarrantable. Rightly therefore, I say, again, hath our Poet used ancient words, and poured them forth as a precious ointment upon good old Wormius in this place. Scribl.
