one would fwear, had a Hill in Tipperary for his Parnaffus, and a Puddle in fome Bog for his Hippocrene m. He has no admirers among those that can distinguish, discern, and judge ". He hath a knack at fmooth verfe, but without either Genius or good Senfe, or any tolerable knowledge of English. The qualities which distinguish Homer are the beauties of his Diction and the Harmony of his Verfification.--But this little Author, who is fo much in vogue, has neither Sense in his Thoughts, nor English in his Expreffions. Mr. POPE understood no Greek. He hath undertaken to tranflate Homer from the Greek, of which he knows not one word, into English, of which he understands as little". I wonder how this Gentleman would look, fhould it be discovered, that he has not translated ten verses together in any book of Homer with justice to the Poet, and yet he dares reproach his fellow-writers with not understanding Greek. He has stuck fo little to his Original as to have his knowledge in Greek called in question'. I fhould be glad to know which it is of all Homer's Excellencies which has fo delighted the Ladies, and the Gentlemen who judge like Ladies '. m Dennis Rem. on Pope's Homer, p. 12. But n Ibid. p. 14. • Character of Mr. P. p. 17. and Remarks on Homer, p. 91. Dennis's Rem. on Homer, p. 12. 9 Daily Journ. April 23, 1728. * Suppl. to the Profund Pref. • Oldmixon, Effay on Criticism, p. 66. The Translator puts in a little burlesque now and then into Virgil, for a Ragout to his cheated Subscribers w. Mr. DRYDEN tricked his Subscribers. I wonder that any man, who could not but be conscious of his own unfitness for it, fhould go to amuse the learned world with such an undertaking! A man ought to value his Reputation more than money; and not to hope that those who can read for themselves, will be imposed upon, merely by a partially and unfeafonably celebrated Name *. Poetis quidlibet audendi fhall be Mr. Dryden's Motto, though it should extend to picking of Pockets'. Names bestowed on Mr. DRYDEN. An APE.] A crafty Ape dreft up in a gaudy gown- Whips put into an Ape's paw, to play pranks with--None but Apish and Papish brats will heed him 2. An Ass.] A Camel will take upon him no more burden than is fufficient for his ftrength, but there is another beast that crouches under all a. A FROG.] Poet Squab endued with Poet Maro's Spirit! an ugly, croaking kind of Vermin, which would fwell to the bulk of an Ox". But he has a notable talent at Burlesque; his genius flides fo naturally into it, that he had burlesqued Homer without defigning it. Mr. POPE tricked his Subscribers. 'Tis indeed somewhat bold, and almost prodigious, for a single man to undertake fuch a work: But 'tis too late to diffuade by demonftrating the madness of the Project. The Subscribers expectations have been raised in proportion to what their Pockets have been drained of ". Pope has been concerned in Jobs, and hired out his Name to Bookfellers w. Names bestowed on Mr. POPE. An APE.] Let us take the initial letter of his Christian name, and the initial and final letters of his furname, viz. APE, and they give you the fame Idea of an Ape as his Face *, &c. An Ass.] It is my duty to pull off the Lion's fkin from this little Afs". A FROG.] A fquab fhort Gentleman-a little creature, that, like the Frog in the Fable, fwells, and is angry that it is not allowed to be as big as an ox". A COWARD.] t Dennis's Rem. p. 28. British Journ. Nov. 25, 1727. May 11, 1728. " Homerides, p. 1, &c. y Dennis, Rem. on Hom. Pref. z Dennis's Rem. on the Rape of the Lock, Pref. p. 9. A COWARD.] A Clinias or a Damaetas, or a Man of Mr. Dryden's own Courage. A KNAVE.] Mr. Dryden has heard of Paul, the Knave of Jesus Christ: And, if I mistake not, I've read fomewhere of John Dryden, Servant to his Majesty'. A FOOL.] Had he not been fuch a felf-conceited Fool-Some great Poets are positive Blockheads f. A THING.] So little a Thing as Mr. Dryden. e Page 176. с & Page 57. A COWARD.] A lurking way-laying coward'. A KNAVE.] He is one whom God and Nature have marked for want of common honesty. A FOOL.] Great Fools will be christened by the names of great Poets, and Pope will be called Homer. A THING.] A little abject Thing". a Char. of Mr. P. page 3. C Dennis, Rem. on Homer, p. 37. b Ibid. d Ibid. p. 8. |