66 66 I cannot too often and too earnestly repeat, (as; even among sensible men, there is still so much misunderstanding on the subject,) that there is not, nor ever has been, a QUESTION about the old story of ART and NATURE,” with reference to the poetry of Pope. The subject of “ Art and Nature” was originally a mere incidental half-sentence, leading to the main proposition, respecting Pope, that “ Satires and Moral Essays, however “perfectly executed, could not entitle the writer to the FIRST 6 and highest rank in poetry, the eternal basis of whick “ is founded on the unchangeable PASSIONS of the HUMAN HEART, not on varying manners and modes of ARTI“ FICIAL LIFE.” It was Lord BYRON who rang the peal on NATURE and AŘT! As Lord Byron, in his unsubstantiated but shewy rhetoric, brought various instances to prove, that in every instance enumerated, from the ship on the sea to the fallen temples of Athens, poetry derived her most interesting materials from works of art; it was necessary to prove that all his instances, so far from establishing his position, established the contrary: for instance, that a sailing ship became chiefly a beautiful poetical object from its association 66 with the sea,--the light the wind, the storm,--the air,moral associations of power over the vast element on which it moved. The sympathies excited, when the objects of a distant voyage to unknown lands, 8c. were contemplated these added to the poetical interest. So also in buildings, as the Pyramids, 8c. such objects derive their poetical interest from moral associations, traditions, time, antiquity, solitudes, 8c. I was thus obliged, as it were, in self-defence, to follow Lord Byron's instances, and shew him it was the same in all. No farther than this have I ever been concerned about the question of Nature " and Art.” I thought it right to say this, because I have found, among the most sensible minds, that the idea of the ETERNAL discussion of " NATURE and ART" starts up, when any thing is mentioned about Pope ; and, as usual, I have the blame for pursuing a subject, ad nauseam; when the onus probandi was imposed on me, in self-defence, of shewing all Lord Byron's fallacies on the subject!! In the following pages there is scarcely a word on this subject; but some things, I trust, will be found, not only substantially justifying myself as Editor of Pope, but further and materially illustrating passages and characters in the works of this distinguished poet. Dedication. TO THE REV. RICHARD WARNER, Author of Practical Sermons ; Illustrations of the Scotch Novels ; History of Bath, and of Glastonbury Abbey : &c. &c. MY DEAR FRIEND, I Take the liberty of addressing to you, as a well-known Scholar, Clergyman, and Gentleman, in the neighbourhood of Bath, the following pages; not merely to express my respect and regard, but, chiefly, because you are personally acquainted with the Gentleman who wrote out the extracts from Roscoe's Pope for me, “ even to the tiring of his , *fingers!" This Gentleman, so amiable in private life, and so highly esteemed, is unwilling to have his name brought before the public; not that he fears fair and just criticism, but because he shrinks from contumelious and illiberal insinuations! No human being but one, who must have JUDGED from his own FEELINGS, and have been nurtured from |