cellencies of Homer are (by the confent of the best critics of all nations), first in the manners, (which include all the fpeeches, as being no other than the representations of each perfon's manners by his words :) and then in that rapture and fire, which carries you away with him, with that wonderful force, that no man who has a true poetical fpirit is mafter of himself, while he reads him. Homer makes you interefted and concerned before you are aware, all at once; whereas Virgil does it by foft degrees. This, I believe, is what a tranflator of Homer ought principally to imitate; and it is very hard for any tranflator to come up to it, becaufe the chief reafon why all tranfla tions fall fhort of their originals is, that the very constraint they are obliged to, renders them heavy and difpirited. "The great beauty of Homer's language, as I take it, confifts in that noble fimplicity, which runs through all his works; (and yet his diction, contrary to what one would imagine confiftent with fimplicity, is at the fame time very copious.) I don't know how I have run into this pedantry in a Letter, but I find I have faid too much, as well as fpoken too inconfiderately; what farther thoughts I have upon this fubject, I fhall be glad to communicate to you (for my own improvement) when we meet; which is a happiness I very earneftly defire, as I do likewife fome op portunity THE Criticism upon Pope's Epitaphs, which was printed in The Vifitor, is placed here, being too minute and particular to be inserted in the Life. EVERY Art is beft taught by example. Nothing contributes more to the cultivation of propriety than remarks on the works of thofe who have moft excelled. I fhall therefore endeavour, at this vifit, to entertain the young students poetry, with an examination of Pope's Epitaphs. in To define an epitaph is useless; every one knows that it is an infcription on a tomb. An epitaph, therefore, implies no particular character of writing, but may be composed in verse or prose. It is indeed commonly panegyrical; because we are seldom diftinguished with a ftone but by our friends; but it has no rule to restrain or modify it, except this, that it ought not to be longer than common beholders may be expected to have leifure and patience to peruse. I. On CHARLES Earl of DORSET, in the Church of Wythyham in Suffex. Dorset, the grace of courts, the Mufe's pride, Patron of arts, and judge of nature, dy'd. The fcourge of pride, tho' fanctify'd or great, Of fops in learning, and of knaves in state; Yet foft in nature, tho' fevere his lay, His anger moral, and his wifdom gay. Bleft fatyrift! who touch'd the mean so true, As fhow'd, Vice had his hate and pity too. Bleft courtier! who could king and country please, Yet facred kept his friendship, and his ease. |