Penny's poetry pages Wiki
in: Articles incorporating Cite DNB template, Articles with authority control information, Created, imported, or updated in 2014,
and 11 more

Joseph Trapp

Edit
Joseph Trapp unknown artist Bodleian Library

Joseph Trapp (1679-1747). Portrait by unknown artist, early 18th century. Courtesy Wikipedia.

Rev. Joseph Trapp (November 1679 - 22 November 1747) was an English poet, cleric, academic, and pamphleteer.

Life[]

Overview[]

Trapp's production as a younger man of occasional verse (some anonymous, or in Latin) and dramas led to his appointment as the 1st Oxford Professor of Poetry in 1708. Later his High Church opinions established him in preferment and position. As a poet he was not well thought of by contemporaries, with Jonathan Swift refusing a dinner in an unavailing attempt to avoid revising a poem of Trapp’s, and Abel Evans making an epigram on his blank verse translation of the Aeneid with a reminder of the commandment against murder.[1]

Youth and education[]

Trapp was born at Cherrington, Gloucestershire, in November 1679, and baptised there on 18 December 1679, the 2nd son of Joseph Trapp (1638-1698), rector of Cherrington from 1662, and grandson of John Trapp.[2]

He was educated at home by his father, and then spent some time at New College School.[2]

He matriculated at Wadham College, Oxford, on 11 July 1695.[2] He was elected Goodridge exhibitioner in 1695 and in subsequent years to 1700, and scholar in 1696. He earned a B.A. 22 April 1699, and an M.A. 19 May 1702, and in 1703 or 1704 became a fellow of his college.[3]

Career[]

Early in his academic career Trapp began to versify for Oxford collections; and he wrote poetical paraphrases and translations which are included in the Miscellanies of John Dryden and Elijah Fenton. His play of Abramule[4] brought him some reputation.

He became the founding professor of poetry at Oxford, a position which he held from 14 July 1708 to 1718. His lectures were delivered in Latin and showed originality, but he was thought to have fawned too much on William Lancaster the vice-chancellor.[3] [5]

Trapp at the same period plunged into politics as a Tory and a high churchman. He assisted Henry Sacheverell at his trial in 1709 and 1710, and on Sacheverell's recommendation became in April 1710 his successor in the lectureship at Newington, Surrey. The preface to a tract[6] on the trial was written by him, and in September 1710 he vindicated Sacheverell's noisy progress into exile in an anonymous pamphlet.[7] Another anonymous pamphlet by Trapp was called The true genuine Tory Address and the true genuine Whig Address set one against another, 1710.[3]

In January 1711 Sir Constantine Phipps, the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, took on Trapp as his chaplain, and Trapp wrote partisan political pieces, incurring scorn from Swift. He married in 1712 a daughter of Alderman White of St. Mary's, Oxford, and resigned as a Fellow of Wadham. That year he was chaplain to Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke, a place Swift claimed he had arranged. On 1 April 1713 Swift would not dine with Bolingbroke because he was expected to "look over a dull poem" of Trapp's; afterwards he did correct the poem, printed anonymously at Dublin, as Peace: A poem. It was set to music by William Croft.[3]

From 1714 to 1722 Trapp held, by the gift of Charles Mordaunt, 3rd Earl of Peterborough, the rectory of Dauntsey in Wiltshire, and through the interest of William Lancaster he obtained in 1715 the lectureship at the church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster. The governors of St. Bartholomew's Hospital elected Trapp on 20 April 1722 as vicar of the united parishes of Christ Church, Newgate Street, and St. Leonard, Foster Lane, and in 1733 he was presented by Lord Bolingbroke to the rectory of Harlington in Middlesex.[8] He also held lectureships in several London churches, and became president of Sion College.

He died of pleurisy at Harlington. He was buried on the north side of the entrance into the chancel.[9]

Controversy[]

Real Nature of Church and Kingdom of Christ, 1717, was a reply to Benjamin Hoadly in the Bangorian Controversy. It was in turn replied to by Gilbert Burnet, son of Bishop Burnet, and by several other writers.[10]

In the space of a few weeks in 1726 several Londoners became Catholic converts, and Trapp published a treatise of Popery truly stated and briefly confuted, in 3 parts, which reached a third edition in 1745. In 1727 he renewed the attack in The Church of England defended against the Church of Rome, in Answer to a late Sophistical and Insolent Popish Book.[9] George Whitefield went to Christ Church, Newgate Street, on 29 April 1739, and heard Trapp preach against him 1 of 4 discourses on "the nature, folly, sin, and danger of being righteous overmuch;" they were printed in 1739. Answers to them were published by Whitefield, William Law, Robert Seagrave, and others, and an anonymous reply bore the sarcastic title of Dr. Trapp vindicated from the Imputation of being a Christian. He retorted with The True Spirit of the Methodists and their Allies: in Answer to six out of the seven Pamphlets against Dr Trapp's Sermons (anon.), 1740.[9]

Writing[]

The best remembered of Trapp's works is his translation into blank verse of Virgil, which occupied his leisure hours for 28 years. The 1st volume of the Aeneis came out in 1718, the 2nd in 1720, and the translation of the complete works, "with large explanatory notes and critical observations," which have been much praised, was published in 3 volumes in 1731 and 1735. Freedom is sacrificed to closeness of rendering, a quality which, as Johnson said, "may continue its existence as long as it is the clandestine refuge of schoolboys" (Lives of Poets, ed. Cunningham, i. 374-5).[10]

Trapp monumemt

Trapp monument, St. Peter & St. Paul's Church, Harlington, Middlesex, UK. Courtesy Monuments in Harlington Church, St Peter & St Paul, South Hillingdon, Middlesex.

Johannis Miltoni Paradisus Amissus Latine redditus (vol. i. 1741, vol. ii. 1744) was a Latin translation of John Milton's Paradise Lost, printed at Trapp's own cost, and he lost heavily on it.[10] A modern critical view sees a definite intention in the translation of Virgil into Miltonic blank verse, followed by the translation of Milton into Virgilian hexameters, namely to place Milton as the English Virgil.[11]

Recognition[]

For his anti-Catholic works, Trapp was created a Doctor of Divinity by diploma by the university of Oxford on 1 February 1728.[9]

His poem "Virgil's Tomb, Naples 1741" was included in [[Robert Dodsley}Dodsley's]] Collection of Poems in Six Volumes; by several hands.[12]

There is a monument to Trapp upon the north wall of St. Peter & St. Paul's Church, Harlington. Another, the cost of which was borne by the parishioners, is on the east wall of the chancel of Newgate church.[9]

Publications[]

Poetry[]

  • Aedes Badmintonianae: A poem. [London?]: 1701.
  • A Prologue to the University of Oxford. [London?]: 1703.
  • Peace: A poem. London: John Barber / Henry Clements, 1713; Dublin: J. Hyde, 1713.
  • Thoughts upon the Four Last Things: Death; judgment; heaven; and hell: A poem. London: J. Wright, for Lawton Gilliver, 1734; London: W. Russel, 1745.

Plays[]

Non-fiction[]

  • The Mischiefs of Changes in Government. Oxford, UK: The Theatre, for John Stephens, 1705.
  • The Practice of Confounding the Distinction between Good and Evil Consider'd, and Expos'd: In a sermon. London: printed by H. Hills, 1708.
  • Most Faults on One Side. London: J. Morphew, 1710.
  • An Ordinary Journy No Progress; or, A man doing his own business no mover of sedition. London: 1710.
  • The True Genuine Tory Address. London: 1710.
  • Prælectiones Poeticæ: In schola naturalis philosophiæ Oxon. habitæ. Oxford, UK: Bernard, Lintott, London. Volume I, 1711; Volume II, 1722
  • The Character and Principles of the Present Set of Whigs. London: John Morphew, 1711.
  • A Sermon Preach'd at Christ-Church in Dublin, before Their Excellencies the Lords Justices. London: Hen. Clements, 1711.
  • To ... Mr. Harley. London: John Morphew, 1711.
  • Her Majesty's Prerogative in Ireland. London: Henry Clements, 1712.
  • A sermon ... [on] the general fast. London: Henry Clements, 1712.
  • The Nature and Influence of the fear of God. London: J.L., for Henry Clements, 1713.
  • A Preservative against Unsettled Notions. London: Henry Clements, 1715.
  • The Real Nature of the Church or Kingdom of Christ. London: Henry Clements, 1717.
  • Reality without Existence ... a sermon. London: 1717.
  • The Dignity and Benefit of the Priesthood. London: Jonah Bowyer, 1721.
  • The Case of the Patron and Rector of St. Andrews. London: Jonah Bowyer, 1722.
  • A Preservative against Unsettled Notions and Want of Principles in Religion: In several discourses. London: Jonah Bowyer, 1722.
  • The Honour and Virtue ... of building churches. London: Jonah Bowyer, 1723.
  • Popery Truly Stated, and Briefly Confuted: In three parts. London: Joseph Smith / Jonah Bowyer / J. Batley, 1726; London : Printed for S. Austen, 1745.
  • The Church of England Defended against the Calumnies and False Reasonings, of the Church of Rome. London: J. Smith / W. Mears / J. Batley, 1727.
  • A Sermon Preached before ... the Lord Mayor. London: L. Gilliver, for A. Dodd, 1729.
  • The Doctrine of ... the Trinity. London: J. Brotherton / J. Hazard / W. Meadows / T. Cox / et al, 1730.
  • Religion the Great Support ... of Government. London: 1730.
  • The Ministerial Virtue. London: J. Purser, 1738.
  • The Royal Sin; or, Adultery rebuk'd. London: J. Huggonson, 1738.
  • The Nature, Folly, Sin, and Danger of Being Righteous Over-Much: With a particular view to the doctrines and practices of certain modern enthusiasts. London: S. Austen / Lawton Gilliver / J. Clarke, 1739.
  • The Nature, Usefulness, and Regulation, of Religious Zeal: A sermon preached at St. Mary's, Oxon. London: Lawton Gilliver, 1739.
  • The True Spirit of the Methodists. London: Lawton Gilliver, 1740.
  • Lectures on Poetry (translated from Pratt's Latin). London: C. Hitch & C. Davis, 1742;[13] Hildesheim, Germany: G. Olms, 1969; New York: Garland, 1970; London: Routledge, 1994.
  • A Sermon ... [on] children in charity schools. London: printed by M. Downing, 1742.
  • Concio ad Clerum Londinensem. London: S. Austen, 1743.
  • Explanatory Notes upon the Four Gospels: In a new method. London: W. Russel, 1748.
  • Sermons on Moral and Practical Subjects. Reading, UK: C. Micklewright, for S. Birt / E. Wicksteed / W. Russel, London, 1752.

Translated[]

  • Virgil, The Aeneis. (2 volumes), London: 1718.
  • Virgil, Works. (3 volumes), London: J. Brotherton / J. Hazard / W. Meadows / T. Cox / et al, 1731, 1735; 4th edition, London: W. Meadows / S. Birt, 1755. ;;Volume II
  • John Milton, Paradisus Amissus Latine Redditus. (2 volumes), London: Lawton Gilliver, 1741.
  • Anacreon, Anacreontis Carmina Accurate Edita. London: Samuel Birt / John Clarke / William Russel, 1742.


Except where noted, bibliographical information courtesy WorldCat.[14]

See also[]

Preceded by
- 		Oxford Professor of Poetry
1708-1718 		Succeeded by
Thomas Warton

References[]

Notes[]

  1. ↑ Joseph Trapp, Wikipedia, Janary 1, 2021. Web, 27 Apr., 2021.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Courtney, 155.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Courtney, 156.
  4. ↑ Abramule: or Love and Empire. A Tragedy acted at the New Theatre in Little Lincoln's Inn Fields (printed without his name in 1704, and often reissued.
  5. ↑ The first volume of these Praelectiones Poeticae came out in 1711, the second in 1715, and the third edition is dated 1736. An English translation by the Rev. William Clarke of Buxted and William Bowyer was published 'with additional notes' in 1742.
  6. ↑ A Letter out of the Country to the Author of the Managers Pro and Con
  7. ↑ An Ordinary Journey no Progress
  8. ↑ http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22365
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Courtney, 157.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Courtney, 158.
  11. ↑ David Fairer, "Creating a National Poetry: The tradition of Spenser and Milton," Cambridge Companion to Eighteenth-century Poetry (edited by John E. Sitter), 2001), 184. Print.
  12. ↑ Joseph Trapp, Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive. Web, Apr. 28, 2021.
  13. ↑ Lectures on Poetry, Project Gutenberg. Web, Apr. 27, 2021.
  14. ↑ Search results = au:Joseph Trapp, WorldCat, OCLC Online Computer Library Center Inc. Web, Dec. 22, 2016.

External links[]

Poems
Books
About

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain, the Dictionary of National Biography (edited by Leslie Stephen & Sidney Lee). London: Smith, Elder, 1885-1900. Original article is at: Trapp, Joseph

Authority control
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.