(Yet wherefore to this age should names be known, But heard, and then forgotten in their own?)
immediately directs the attention of Rollo to the doors of the house, which are represented in the vision, as opening at that moment to gratify the hero's curiosity; then the prophet suddenly cries out, in the language of ancient Religion,
Turn then, my son, where to thy hallow'd eye Yon doors unfold--Let none profane he nigh!
It seems as if the poet, in the preceding descriptions, had purposely stooped to amuse himself with the Gomgom Pearson, Hucsteria, Major Scott, Mr. Northcote, and the Reverend author of the Scrutineer, that he might rise again with the more striking dignity on this great occasion.
MERLIN now leads ROLLO to the centre of the House,
Conventus trahit in medios, turbamque sonantem.
He points out to him the gallery for strangers to sit in, and members to sleep in; the bar below, and the clock above. Of the clock he observes,
When this shalt point, the hour of question come, Mutes shall find voice, and Orators be dumb. This, if in lengthen'd parle the night they pass, Shall furnish still his opening to DUNDAS; To PITT, when "hear-hims" flag, shall oft supply The chear-trap trick of stale apology; And, strange to tell! in Nature's spite, provoke Hot ARDEN once to blunder at a joke.
The beauty of these lines will be instantly perceived by all who have witnessed the debates; as they cannot but have remarked, how perpetually "_the late hour of night_" occupies the exordiums of Mr. DUNDAS, after eleven o'clock; and how frequently it is introduced by Mr. PITT as a hint, for what is called _chearing_, whenever his arguments and invectives are received by his young friends with the unparliamentary compliment of sacred silence. The miracle of a jest from Mr. ARDEN, happened on the occasion of some Resolutions having passed between the hours of _six_ and _seven_ in the morning; for which reason the Attorney-General facetiously contended, that they were entitled to no respect, "as the house was then at _sixes_ and _sevens_." Any approximation to wit in debate, being perfectly unusual with this gentleman, however entertaining his friends may think him in private, our author very properly distinguishes this memorable attempt by the same kind of admiration, with which poets commonly mention some great prodigy--as for instance, of a cow's speaking: