conceive, used the word to denote merely the TRIUMPH which arose from superiority. 16. The last, the meanest of your sons inspire.* " "This word last, (says the same commentator,) spoken in his early youth, as it were by chance, seems to have been OMINOUS. I am not persuaded that all true genius died with POPE: for one would be tempted to think, that the Seasons of Thomson, the Leonidas of Glover, the Pleasures of Imagination and the Odes of Akenside, the Night-Thoughts of Young, the Elegy of Gray, and Ode on Eton College, the truly pathetic Monody on Lady Lyttelton, together with many Pieces in Dodsley's Miscellanies, were not published when Dr. Warburton delivered this insinuation of a failure of poetical abilities. 17. So pleas'd at first the tow'ring Alps we try, And the first clouds and mountains seem the last: * Ver. 196, Th' Th' increasing prospect tires our wand'ring eyes; The This comparison is frequently mentioned as an instance of the strength of fancy. images, however, appear too general and indistinct, and the last line conveys no new idea to the mind. The following picture in Shaftesbury, on the same sort of subject, appears to be more full and striking. foot, the rocky country rises into hills, a proper basis of the ponderous mass above; where huge embodied rocks lie piled on one another, and seem to prop the high arch of heaven. See! with what trembling steps poor mankind tread the narrow brink of the deep precipices! From whence with giddy horror they look down, mistrusting even the ground that bears them; whilst they hear the hollow sound of torrents underneath, and see the ruin of the impending rock; with falling trees, which hang with their roots upwards, and seem to draw more ruin after them." See the picturesque description of AnK 4 nibal "Beneath the mountain's * Ver. 225. The MORALISTS. Characteristics, vol. ii, page 253. nibal passing the Alps, in Livy, who is a great poet. 18. A perfect judge will read each work of wit "To be able to judge of poetry, (says Voltaire,) a man must feel strongly, must be born with some sparks of that fire which animates the poet whom he criticises. As in deciding upon the merit of a piece of music, it is not enough, it is, indeed, nothing, to calculate the proportion of sounds as a mathematician, but we must have an ear and a soul for music."† 19. Thus when we view some well proportion'd dome, (The world's just wonder, and ev'n thine, O Rome!) No single parts unequally surprise, All comes united to th' admiring eyes; No monstrous height, or breadth, or length, appear; This is justly and elegantly expressed; and though it may seem difficult to speak of the * Ver. 233. + Ubi supra, page 361. + Ver. 247. same same subject after such a description, yet Akenside has ventured, and nobly succeeded. Mark, how the dread PANTHEON stands Amid the domes of modern hands! Amid the toys of idle state, How simply, how severely great! Then pause !* 20. Once on a time, La Mancha's knight, they say, By this short tale, POPE has shewed us how much he could have excelled in telling a story of humour. The incident is taken from the second part of Don Quixote, first written by Don Alonzo Fernandez de Avellanada, and afterwards translated, or rather imitated, and new-modelled, by no less an author than the celebrated Le Sage.‡ The * Ode to L. Huntingdon. + Ver. 267. Le Sage generally took his plans from the Spanish writers, the manners of which nation he has well imitated. Le Diable Boiteux was drawn from the Diabolo Cojuelo of Guevara; his Gil Blas, from Don Gusman D'Alfarache. Le Sage made a journey into Spain to acquaint himself with the Spanish customs. He is a natural writer, of true humour. He died in a little house near Paris, where he supported himself by writing, 1747. He had been deaf ten years. The book is not so contemptible as some authors insinuate; it was well received in France, and abounds in many strokes of humour and character worthy Cervantes himself. The brevity to which POPE's narration was confined, would not permit him to insert the following humorous dialogue at length. "I am satisfied you'll compass your design, (said the scholar,) provided you omit the combat in the lists. Let him have a care of that, (said Don Quixote, interrupting him ;) that is the best part of the plot. But, Sir, (quoth the Bachelor,) if you would have me adhere to Aristotle's rules, I must omit the combat. totle, (replied the Knight,) I grant, was a man of some parts; but his capacity was not unbounded: and give me leave to tell you, his authority does not extend over combats in the list, which are far above his narrow rules. Would you suffer the chaste queen of Bohemia to perish? For how can you clear her innocence? Believe me, COMBAT is the most honourable method you can pursue; and, besides, it will add such grace to your play, Aris that all the rules in the universe must not stand in competition with it. Well, Sir Knight, (replied the Bachelor,) for your sake, and for the honour 2 |