Moderns as a philosopher worthy to rank with the Ancients (see for example Fontenelle's Pluralité des Mondes, 1st dialogue, ed. 1686, pp. 23-4; Temple's Essay, p. 58 of this vol.; Wotton's Refections, Chapters XIV. and XXVII.).
P. 11, l. 8. Hobbes. For the mention of Hobbes compare Temple's Essay, p. 58 of this vol.
the Seven Wise Masters (for an account of the book see Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable). Swift probably mentions the Seven Wise Masters as a sort of modern equivalent to the Seven Sages of the Ancients (cf. T. iii. pp. 458, 494. Of course the Seven Wise Masters has nothing to do with the 'wise men of Gotham').
P. 11, ll. 9, 10. Vergil . . . Dryden . . . Withers. Vergil and Dryden are mentioned together on account of Dryden's tr. of Vergil's works (1697). George Wither (or Withers, as Swift spells the name: cf. Pope, Dunciad i. 296) (1588-1667), is now chiefly remembered for his Shepherd's Hunting, a pastoral. It is for this poem, probably, that he is mentioned with Vergil. Wither was regarded as a typically bad poet in Swift's time. Recently his reputation has revived, and a new edn. of his poetical works has been published by Mr F. Sidgwick.
P. 11, ll. 17, 18. light-horse, lyrical poets; at p. 23 of the Battle the heavy-armed foot are said to be mercenaries; they are the historians; the mercenaries should logically be those authors who write for gain, and this may be Swift's meaning. Craik suggests that they are writers 'who have little interest in the points of the struggle, but, from the accident of their date, fight on the side of the Moderns' (Craik, 423).
P. 11, l. 20, their horses large, refers evidently to the light-horse.
