26 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
T HAVE often expreffed a with to my 
clerical friends, to be informed of the 
origin of the phrafe, “ Nolo Epifcopari,” 
commonly fuppofed to be ufed by the- 
clergy on their preferment to the epif- 
copal office ; but without receiving any 
fatisfa€tory account of it. Profeffor 
Chriftian, in his new edition of Black- 
fLone’s Commentaries, vol. 1. p. 380, note 
8, fays, °° Tt is a prevailing vulgar error, 
that, when a bifhop has an offer made 
of a -bifhopric, he affeéts a maiden coy- 
refs, and anfwers, ‘* Nolo Epifcopari.” 
The origin of thefe words, and this 
notion, I have not been able to difcover; 
the bifhops give no fuch refufal at pre- 
fent, and I am inclined to think they 
never did, at any time, in this country.” 
Such is Mr. Chriftian’s note ; now I 
ewn Jam inclined to differ from him, 
becaufe I believe there are none of thofe 
popular, or, if you pleafe, vulgar fayings, 
which may not be traced to fome {pecihe 
and intelligible fource. What can be 
more common, for inftance, than the 
phrafe, «« the grapes are four,” when we 
would affeét to defpife what, in fpite of 
eur defires, we cannot obtain poffeffion 
of; and yet the allufion is palpably di- 
reéted to the well-known table of the 
Fox and the Grapes, which we are 
taught in our childhood. 
If Mr. Chriftian’s opinion be correct, 
that the bifhops never made any fuch 
profeffions, the exprefion muft have been 
erigially invented by fome wag, as 2 
fatire on the rapacity and avarice gene- 
rally imputed to the clerical order, ‘and 
intended fimply to convey this mcaning— 
thar there never was an ecclefiattic who 
had the virtue of felf-denial to fuch a 
deeree, as to pronounce Nolo E/ifcopart. 
Hebruary 16, 1797+ WE. 
SSE —— 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
On THE POFTRY OF SPAIN AND 
PORTUGAL (CONTINUED). «: 
A LONG it of fubftantial titles is an- 
nexed to the name of BARTHOLOME 
EEoNARDO: he was chaplain to. the 
Emprefs Maria, of Aufiria ; canon of the 
church of Zayagoza ; biftorian to. his Ma- 
jefty for the kingdom of Aragon ; and 
reGtor of Willahermofa. The ‘$ Poet's 
. E 
Foie’ has not always been an unfortu- 
-pateone. The rector of Villahermofa 
expreffes clerical comfort in every linea- 
ment ef his face, and proves, in oppo- 
“ Nolo Epifcopari.’’.... On the Poetry of Spain and Poriugal. [ July, 
fition tothe rule of, GEorGE Dyer*> 
that the interefts of mind and body are 
not irreconcileable. 
Lupercio Leonardo de Argenfola was. 
born about 1565, a fhort time before his 
brother Bartholome ; he was fecretary to 
the emprefs Maria, and gentleman of 
the bedchamber to the archduke Albert. 
Equally profperous in life,-and equally 
deferving pfofperity, the names of the: 
Leopardos have defcended together.— 
Among the Spanifh poets no one has 
furpafled them, and Quevedo only may 
be efteemed their equal. — 
‘«< It feems (faid Cervantes) as if thefe 
brethren came from Aragon to reform 
the language of Caftille.”” Of this me- 
rit, which is allowed to them in their 
own country, a foreigner, who is not 
minutely acquainted with the language, 
muft neceffarily be an imperfeét judge. 
I have ftill more to regret the foarcity 
of their works ; the only edition extant 
was publifhed by the fon of Lupercio, 
at Zaragoza, -in 1634, and 1 am obliged - 
to content myfelf with the feleCtions in 
the Parnafo Efpanol and in Gracian. 
The following fonnet of Lupercie 
fimply expreffes a natural reflection : 
The fan has chas’d.away the early fhower, _ 
And now. upon the mountain’s clearer 
height, 
Pours o’er the clouds, aflant, his growing. 
- light. 
‘The hufbandman, lothing the idle hour, 
Starts from his reft, and to his daily toil, 
Light-hearted man, goes forth; and patient 
now. ~ ; 
As the flow ox drags on the heavy plough, 
With the young harveit fills the reeking foil. 
Domeftic love his due return awaits, : 
With the clean board befpread with country, 
cates 5 
And cluf’ring round his knee his children 
refs 5 
His days are pleafant, and his nights fecure. 
Oh, cities! Raunts of power and wretch-_ 
ednefs, 
Who would your bufy vanities endure ? 
‘There is a paflage in Don Quixote re=- 
lative to the Spanifh drama, which for 
a confiderable time excited the euriofity 
and regret of the lovers of poetry in 
Spain. ‘ You willallow (faid the cu- 
cate) that there were three tragedies re- 
prefented in Spain, a few years ago, 
compofed by a famous poet of thefe 
realms, which aftonifhed, delighted, and: 
fufpended all who heard them,.fimple 
as well as gentle, vulgaras well as learn- 

* Alluding to the “ Poet’s Fate’’ of this- 
benevolent writer, his late publication. 
- 
5 ed, 
