the critical rasures which are here discovered *. The action of Hector, in lifting his infant in his arms, occasioned Pope much trouble; and at length the printed copy has a different reading. I must not omit noticing, that the whole is on the back of a letter franked by Addison; which cover I have given at one corner of the plate. The parts distinguished by Italics were rejected. Thus having spoke, the illustrious chief of Troy Extends his eager arms to embrace his boy, lovely Stretched his fond arms to seize the beauteous boy; babe The boy clung crying to his nurse's breast, Scar'd at the dazzling helm and nodding crest. With silent pleasure the fond parent smil'd, The glittering terrors unbound, His radiant helmet from his brows unbrac'd, * Dr. Johnson, in noticing the мss. of Milton, preserved at Cambridge, has made, with his usual force of language, the following observation: "Such cliques show how excellence is acquired; what we hope ever to do with ease, we may learn first to do with diligence." M 2 on the ground he And on the ground the glittering terror plac'd, beamy And plac'd the radiant helmet on the ground, lifting Then fondling in his arms his infant heir, dancing Thus to the gods addrest a father's prayer. glory fills O thou, whose thunder shakes th' ethereal throne, deathless And all ye other powers, protect my son! Like mine, this war, blooming youth with every virtue bless, grace The shield and glory of the Trojan race; Like mine his valour, and his just renown, To guard my country, to defend the crown: So when triumphant from the glorious toils Whole hosts may All Troy shall hail him, with deserv'd acclaim, own the son And cry, His mother's conscious heart o'erflows with joy. He said, and gazing o'er his consort's charms, Restor❜d his infant to her longing arms. on Soft in her fragrant breast the babe she laid, to repose Hush'd him to rest, and with a smile survey'd. passion But soon the troubled pleasure mixt with rising fears, dash'd with fear, The tender pleasure soon, chastised by fear, She mingled with the smile a tender tear. The passage appears thus in the printed work. I have marked in Italics the variations. Thus having spoke, the illustrious chief of Troy * Silent in the Ms. (observes a critical friend) is greatly superior to secret, as it appears in the printed work. The glittering terrors from his brows unbound, O thou, whose glory fills th' ethereal throne, He spoke; and fondly gazing on her charms LITERARY FASHIONS. THERE is such a thing as Literary Fashion, and prose and verse have been regulated by the same caprice that cuts our coats, and cocks our hats. Dr. Kippis, who had a taste for literary history, has observed that "Dodsley's Economy of Human Life' long received the most extravagant applause, from the supposition that it was written by a celebrated nobleman; an instance of the power of Literary Fashion; the history of which, as it hath appeared in various ages and countries, and as it hath operated with respect to the different objects of science, learning, art, and taste, would form a work that might be highly instructive and entertaining." The favourable reception of Dodsley's " Economy of Human Life" produced a whole family of œconomies; it was soon followed by a second part, the gratuitous ingenuity of one of those officious imitators, whom an original author never cares to thank. Other œconomies trod on the heels of each other. For some memoranda towards a history of literary fashions, the following may be arranged: At the restoration of letters in Europe, commentators and compilers were at the head of the literati; translators followed, who enriched themselves with their spoils on the commentators. When in the progress of modern literature, writers aimed to rival the great authors of antiquity, the different styles, in their servile imitations, clashed together; and parties were formed, who fought |