of them. As for the Greek Poets, if we cannot trace them fo plainly, 'tis perhaps because we have none before them; 'tis evident that moft of them borrow'd from Homer, and Homer has been accus'd of burning thofe that wrote before him, that his Thefts might not be discover'd. The best of the modern Poets in all Languages, are thofe that have the neareft copied the Ancients. Indeed in all the common Subjects of Poetry, the Thoughts are fo obvious (at leaft if they are natural) that whoever writes laft, muft write things like what have been faid before: But they may as well applaud the Ancients for the Arts of eating and drinking, and accufe the Moderns of having ftol'n thofe Inventions from them; it being evident in all fuch cafes, that whoever live first, must first find them out. 'Tis true, indeed, when

271

£aunus & alter Afsuitur pannus,

when there is one or two bright Thoughts ftol'n, and all the reft is quite different from it, a Poem makes a very foolish figure But when 'tis all melted down together, and the Gold of the Ancients fo mixt with that of the Moderns, that none can diftinguish the one from the other, I can never

F 3

find

find fault with it. I cannot however but own to you, that there are others of a different opinion, and that I have shewn your Verfes to fome who have made that objection to them. I have fo much Company round me while I write this, and fuch a noife in my ears, that 'tis impoffible I fhould write any thing but Nonfenfe, fo muft break off abruptly. I am, Sir,

Your most affectionate

and most humble Servant.

Mr. WALSH to Mr. POPE.

A

Sept. 9. 1706. T my return from, the North I receiv'd the favour of your Letter, which had lain there till then. Having been abfent about fix weeks, I read over your Paftorals again, with a great deal of pleasure, and to judge the better read Virgil's Eclogues, and Spenfer's Calendar, at the fame time; and I affure you I continue the fame Opinion I had always of them. By the little hints you take upon all occafions to improve them, 'tis probable you

I

will make them yet better against Winter; tho' there is a mean to be kept even in that too, and a Man may correct his Verfes till he takes away the true Spirit of them; efpecially if he fubmits to the correction of fome who pafs for great Critics, by mechanical Rules, and never enter into the true Defign and Genius of an Author: have seen some of these that would hardly allow any one good Ode in Horace, who cry Virgil wants fancy, and that Homer is very incorrect. While they talk at this rate, one would think them above the common rate of mortals: but generally they are great admirers of Ovid and Lucan, and when they write themselves, we find out all the Mystery. They fcan their Verses upon their Fingers; run after Conceits and glaring Thoughts; their Poems are all made up of Couplets, of which the firft may be laft, or the last first, without any fort of prejudice to their Works; in which there is no Defign, or Method, or any thing Natural or Juft. For you are certainly in the right, that in all Writings whatsoever (not Poetry only) Nature is to be follow'd; and we fhou'd be jealous of our felves for being fond of Similies, Conceits, and what they call faying Fine Things. When we were in the North, my Lord Wharton shew'd

me a Letter he had receiv'd from a certain great* General in Spain; I told him I wou'd by all means have that General recall'd, and fet to writing here at home, for it was impoffible that a Man with fo much Wit as he fhew'd, cou'd be fit to command an Army, or do any other Bufinefs. As for what you fay of Expreffion; 'tis indeed the fame thing to Wit, as Drefs is to Beauty: I have feen many Women over-dreft, and feveral look better in a careless Night-gown, with their hair about their ears, than Mademoiselle Spanheim dreft for a Ball. I do not defign to be in London till towards the Parliament: then I fhall certainly be there; and hope by that time you will have finifht your Paftorals as you would have them appear in the world, and particularly the third of Autumn which I have not yet feen. Your laft Eclogue be ing upon the fame Subject as that of mine on Mrs. Tempeft's Death, I fhou'd take it very kindly in you to give it a little turn, as if it were to the Memory of the fame Lady, if they were not written for fome particular Woman whom you wou'd make immortal. You may take occafion to fhew the difference between Poets Mi-1 ftreffes, and other Men's. I only hint this,

The Earl of P.

which you may either do, or let alone just as you think fit. I fhall be very much pleas'd to fee you again in Town, and to hear from you in the mean time. I am with very much esteem,

Your, &c.

Mr. Po PE to Mr. WALSH.

A

Oct. 22. 1706.

Fter the Thoughts I have already fent you on the fubject of English Verfification, you defire my opinion as to fome farther particulars. There are indeed certain Niceties, which tho' not much obferved even by correct Verfifiers, I cannot but think deserve to be better regarded.

1. It is not enough that nothing offends. the Ear, but a good Poet will adapt the very Sounds, as well as Words, to the things he treats of. So that there is (if one may exprefs it fo) a Style of Sound. As in defcribing a gliding Stream, the Numbers fhou'd run eafy and flowing; in defcribing a rough Torrent or Deluge, fonorous and fwel