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Qf compofition there are different methods. Some employ at once memory and invention, and, with little intermediate: ufe of the pen, form and polifh large maffes by continued medi tation, and write their productions only when, in their own opinion, they have completed them. It is related of Virgil, that his custom was to pour out a great number of verfes in the morning, anddpafs the day in retrenching exuberances and correcting inaccuracies. The method of Pope, as may be collected from his tranflation, was to write his first thoughts in his firft words, and gradually to amplify, decorate, rectify,

and refine them.

With fuch faculties, and fuch difpofitions, he excelled every other writer in poetical prudence; he wrote in fuch a manner as might expofe him to few hazards. He ufed almoft always the fame fabrick of verfe; and, indeed, by thofe few effays which he made of any other, he did not enlarge his reputation. Of this uniformity the certain confequence was readiness and dexterity. By perpetual practice, language had in his mind a fyftematical arrangement; having always the fame ufe for words, he had " words fo felected and combined as to be ready at his call. This increase of facility he confeffed himself to have perceived in the progrefs of his tranfla

tion.

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But

But what was yet of more importance, his effufions were always voluntary, and his fubjects chofen by himfelf. His independence fecured him from drudging at a task, and labouring upon a barren topick: he never exchanged praife for money, nor opened a fhop of condolence or congratulation. His poems, therefore, were fcarce ever temporary. He fuffered coronations and royal marriages to pafs without a fong, and derived no opportunities from recent events, or popularity from the accidental difpofition of his readers. He was never reduced to the neceffity of foliciting the fun to fhine upon a birth-day, of calling the Graces and Virtues to a wedding, or of faying what multitudes

have faid before him. When he could

produce nothing new, he was at liberty to be filent.

His publications were for the fame reason never hafty. He is faid to have fent nothing to the prefs till it had lain two years under his infpection: it is at leaft certain, that he ventured nothing without nice examination. He fuffered the tumult of imagination to fubfide, and the novelties of invention to grow familiar. He knew that the mind is always enamoured of its own productions, and did not truft his firft fondness. He confulted his friends, and liftened. with great willingness to criticifin; and, what was of more importance, he confulted

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court the candour, but dared the judgement of his reader, and expecting no indulgence from others, he fhewed none to himself. He examined lines and words with minute and punctilious obfervation, and retouched every part with indefatigable diligence, till he had left nothing to be forgiven..

For this reafon he kept his pieces very long in his hands, while he confidered and reconfidered them. The only poems which can be fuppofed to have been written with fuch regard to the times as might haften their publication, were the two fatires of Thirty-eight; of which Dodfley told me, that they were brought to him by the author, that they might be fairly copied.

"Every

❝line,"

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