to own.

they had most abused, namely the greatest and thing to expose the pretenders to wit and poetry, best of all parties. Let me add a further reason, The judges and magistrates may with full as good that, though engaged in their friendships, he reason be reproached with ill-nature for putting never espoused their animosities; and can almost the laws in execution against a thief or impostor. singly challenge this honour, not to have written a The same will hold in the republic of letters, if the line of any man, which, through guilt, through critics and judges will let every ignorant pretender shame, or through fear, through variety of for- to scribbling pass on the world. tune, or change of interests, he was ever unwilling

THEOBALD, LETTER TO MIST, JUNE 22, 1728.

Attacks may be leveiled, either against failures I shall conclude with remarking, what a plea- in genius, or against the pretensions of writing sure it must be to every reader of humanity, to without one. see all along, that our author, in his very laugh

CONCANEN, DED. TO THE AUTHOR OF THE DUNCIAD. ter, is not indulging his own ill-nature, but only punishing that of others. As to his poem, those

A satire opon dulness is a thing that has been

used and allowed in all ages. alone are capable of doing it justice, who, to use the words of a great writer, know how hard it is

Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee,

wicked scribbler ! (with regard both to his subject and his manner) vetustis dare novitatem, obsoletis nitorem, obscuris lucern, fastiditis gratiam. I am

TESTIMONIES OF AUTHORS your most hu:nble servant, St. James's.

WILLIAM CLELAND', Dec. 22d, 1728.

CONCERNING OUR POET AND HIS WORKS

rent seasons.

M. SCRIBLERUS LECTORI S.
MARTINUS SCRIBLERUS

Before we present thee with our exercitations ou HIS PROLEGOMENA AND ILLUSTRATIONS TO THE this most delectable poein (drawn from the many DUACIAD:

volumes of our adversaria on modern authors) we

shall here, according to the laudable usage of WITH THE HYPERCRITICS OF ARISTARCHUS. editors, collect the various judgments of the learned

concerning our poet: various indeed, not only of

different authors, but of the same author at diffe. DENXIS' REMARKS ON PRINCE ARTHUR.

Nor shall we gather only the tesI cannot but think it the most reasonable thing in tinonies of such eminent wits, as would of course the world, to distinguish good writers, by discou- descend to posterity, and consequently be read raging the bad. Nor is it an ill-natured thing, in without our collection; but we shall likewise with relation even to the very persons upon whom the incredible labour seek out for divers others, which, reflections are made. It is true, it may deprive but for this our diligence, could never, at the disthem, a little the sooner, of a short profit and a

tance of a few months, appear to the eye of the transitory reputation ; but then it may have a good most curious. Hereby thou mayest not only reeffect, and oblige them (before it be too late) to

ceive the delectation of variety, but also arrive at decline that for which they are so very unfit, and

a more certain judgment by a grave and circumto have recourse to something in which they may spect comparison of the witnesses with each other,

or of each with himself. Hence also thou wilt be be more successful.

enabled to draw reflections, not only of a critical, CHARACTER OF MR P. 1716.

but a moral nature, by being let into many parThe persons whom Boileau has attacked in his riculars of the person as well as genius, and of writmgs, have been for the most pait authors, and

the fortune as well as merit, of our author : in most of those authors, poets : and the censures he wbich if I relate some things of little concern perhath passed upon thein have been confirmed by all adventure to thee, and some of as little even to Europe.

him; I entreat thee to consider how minutely all GILDON, PREF. TO HIS NEW REHEARSAL.

true critics and commentators are wont to insist It is the common cry of the poetasters of the upon such, and how material they seem to theintonn, and their fautors, that it is an ill-natured selves, it to none other. Forgive me, gentle reader,

if (following learned example) I ever and anon be· This gentleinan was of Scotland, and bred at

come tedious: allow me to take the same pains to the university of l'trecht, with the earl of Mar. find whether my author were good or bad, well or He served in Spain under earl Pivers. After the ill-natured, modest or arrogant; as another, whepeace, he was made one of the commissioners of ther his author was fair or brown, short or tall, customs in Scotland, and then of taxes in England ; or whether he wore a coat or a cassoc. in which, having shown himself for twenty years We proposed to begin with his life, parentage, diligent, punctual, and incorruptible (though with and education: but as to these, even his contemout any other assistance of fortune), he was sud- poraries do exceedingly differ. One saith’, he was denly displaced by the minister, in the sixty-eighth educated at home; another, that he was bred at year of his age ; and died two months after, in St. Omer's, by Jesuits; a third', not at St. Omer's, 1741. He was a person of universal learning, and an enlarged conversation ; no man had a warmer · Giles Jacob's Lives of the Poets, vol. ii. in his heart for his friend, or a sincerer attachment to Life. ? Dennis's Reflections on the Essay on the constitution of his country,

Crita Dunciad dissected, p. to

MR. JOHN DENNIS.

but at Oxford! a fourth,' that he had no univer- dramatic poetry, not to mention the French critics, sity education at all. Those who allow him to be I should be very glad to have the benefit of the bred at home, differ as much concerning his tutor: discovery'." one saith?, he was kept by his father on purpose;

He is followed (as in fame, so in judgment) by a second, that he was an itinerant priest; a the modest and simple-minded third', that he was a parson ; ones calleth him

MR. LEONARD WELSTED, a secular clergyman of the church of Rome; ano- Who, out of great respect to our poet, not naming ther, a monk. As little do they agree about his him, doth yet glance at his essay, together with father, whom one supposeth, like the father of the duke of Buckingham's, and the criticisms of Hesiod, a tradesman or merchant; another, a Dryden and of Horace, which he more openly taxhusbandman; another', a hatter, &c. Nor has etb? : “ As to the numerous treatises, essays, arts, an author been wanting to give our poet such a &c. hoth in verse and prose, that have been writo father as Apuleius hath to Plato, Jamblichus to ten by the moderns on this ground-work, they do Pythagoras, and divers to Homer, namely a de- but hackney the same thoughts over again, making mon: for thus Mr. Gildono: “ Certain it is, that them still more trite. Most of their pieces are his origina! is not from Adam, but the devil; nothing but a pert, insipid beap of common-place. and that he wanteth nothing but horns and tail to Horace has, even in his Art of Poetry, thrown out be the exact resemblance of his infernal father." several things which plainly show, he thought añ Finding, therefore, such contrariety of opinions, art of poetry was of no use, even while he was and (whatever be ours of this sort of generation) writing one." not being fund to enter into controversy, we shall

To all which great authorities, we can only opdefer writing the life of our poet, till anthors can

pose that of deterinine among themselves what parents or edu

MR. ADDISON. cation he had, or whether he had any education or

“ The Art of Criticism (saith he) which was parents at all.

published some months since, is a master-piece în Proceed we to what is more certain, his works, its kind. The observations follow one another like though not less uncertain the judgments concerning those in Horace's Art of Poetry, without that methem; beginning with his Essay on Criticism, of thodical regularity which would have been requiwhich hear first the most ancient of critics,

site in a prose writer. They are some of them un

common, but such as the reader must assent to, “ His precepts are false or trivial, or both ; his when he sees them explamed with that ease and thoughts are crude and abortive, his expressions perspicuity irr which they are delivered. As for absurd, his numbers harsh and unmusical, his those which are the most known and the most rerhymes trivial and common ;-instead of majesty, ceived, they are placed in so beautiful a light, and we have something that is very mean : instead of illustrated with such apt allusions, that they have gravity, something that is very boyish ; and in- in them all the graces of novelty ; and make the stead of perspicuity and lucid order, we have but reader, who was before acquainted with them, too often obscurity and confusion.” And in another still more convinced of their truth and solidity. place" What rare numbers are here! Woull And here give me leave to mention what Monsieur not one swear that this youngster had espoused Boileau has so well enlarged upon in the preface some antiquated Muse, who had sued out a divorce to his works : that wit and fine writing doth' not from some superannuated sinner, upon account of consist so much in advancing things that are new, impotence, and who, being poxed by the former as in giving things that are known an agreeable spouse, has got the gout in her ciecrepid age, I turn. It is impossible for us, who live in the latwhich makes ber hobble so damnably 'l.”

ter ages of the world, to make observations in cri. No less peremptory is the censure of our hyper- ticism, morality, or any art or science, which critical historian

have not been touched npon by others; we have

little else left us, but to represent the common “ I dare not say any thing of the Essay on Cri- sense of mankind in more strong, more beautiful, ticisin in verse; but if any more curious reader has or more uncommon lights. If a reader examines discovered in it something new, which is not in Horace's Art of Poetry, he will find but few preDryden's prefaces, dedications, and his essay on cepts in it which he may not meet with in Aris

totle, and which were not commonly known by all Guardian, No. 40. ? Jacob's Lives, &c. the poets of the Augustan age.

His way of exvol. ii. * Dunciad dissected, p. 4. * Fariner P. pressing, and applying them, not his invention of and his son. 5 Dunciad dissected. Characters them, is what we are chiefly to admire. of the Times, p. 45. - Female Dancia:l, p. ult. “ Longinus, in his Reflections, bas given us the & Dunciad dissected. 9 Roome, Paraphrase on same kind of sublime, uhich he observes in the the 4th of Genesis, printed 1729.

several passages that occasioned them : I cannot 10 Character of Mr. P. and his writings in a Let-nut take notice that our English author has after ter to a friend, printed for S. Popping, 1716, p. 10. the same manner exemplified several of the preCurll, in his key to the Dunciad (tirst elijon said | Cepts in the very precepts themselves?" He then to be printed for A. Dold) in the 10th pase, de produces some instanı es of a parti ular heauty in clared Giklon to be the author of that lib. 1; though the numbers, and concludes with suying, that in the subsequent editions of bis Key he left out there are three poems in our tongue of the same this assertion, and at meki (in the Carliad, p. 1 and 8) that it was written by Dennis only.

Essay on Criticisin in prose, octavo, 1728, by 11 Reflections critient and satirical on a rhaps the author of the Critical History of England, sody, calleci, an Essay on Criticism. Prioted for Trefice to his Poems, p. 19, 53. Bernard Lintot, octavo.

Spectator, No. 453.

MR. OIDMIXON.

.

a

MR. PRIOR

nature, and each a master-picce in its kind! The | the force of several masterly hands.” Indeed the Essay on Translated Verse; the Esay on the Art same gentleman appears to bave changed his senof Poetry; and the Fssay on Criticism."

timents in his Essay on the Art of Sinking in ReOf Windsor Forest, positive is the judgment of putation (printed in Mist's Journal, March 30, the affirmative

17728), where he says thus: “ In order to sink in MR. JOHN DENNIS,

reputation, let him take it into his head to descend " That it is a wretched rhapsody, impudently into Homer (let the world wonder, as it will, how writ in eniulation of the Cooper's Hill of sir John the Devil he got there), and pretend to do him Denham: the author of it is obscure, is ambiguous, into English, so bis version denote his neglect of is affected, is temerarious, is barbarous !,"

the manner how.” Strange variation! We are But the author of the Dispensary,

told in DR. GARTH,

MIS'T'S JOURNAL, JUNE 8, in the preface to his poem of Claremont, differs “ That this translation of the Iliad was not in all from this opinion : “ Those who have seen these respects conforınable to the fine taste of his friend two excellent poeins of Cooper's Hill and Windsor Mr. Addison; insomuch that he employed a Forest, the one written by sir John Denham, the younger Muse in an undertaking of this kind, other by Mr. Pope, will show a great deal of can- which he supervised himself.” Whether Mr. Addour if they approve of this.”

dison did find it conformable to his taste, or not, Of the Epistle to Eloisa, we are told by the ob- best appears from his own testimony the year folscure writer of a poem called Sawney, “ That be- lowing its publication, in these words : cause Prior’s Henry and Emma charned the finest

MR. ADDISON'S FREEHOLDER, NO. 40. tastes, our author writ his Eloisa in opposition to “ When I consider myself as a British freeit; but forgot innocence and virtue: if you take holder, I am in a particular manner pleased with away her tender thoughts, and her fierce desires, the labours of those who have improved our lanall the rest is of no value.” In which, methinks, guage with the translations of old Greek and Latin his judgment resembleth that of a French taylor authors. We have already most of their historians on a villa and gardens by the Thames: “ All this in our own tongue, and, what is more for the hois very fine; but take away the river, and it is nour of our language, it has been taught to express good for nothing."

with elegance the greatest of their poets in each But very contrary hereunto was the opinion of nation. The illiterate among our own countrymen

may learn to judge from Dryden's Virgil of the himself, saying in his Alma,

most perfect epic performance. And those parts O Abelard ! ill-fated youth,

of Homer which have been published already by Thy tale will justify this truth :

Mr. Pope, give us reason to think that the Iliad But well I weet, thy cruel wrong

will appear in English with as little disadvantage Adorns a nobler poet's song:

to that immortal poem.” Dan Pope, for thy misfortune griev'd,

As to the rest there is a slight mistake, for this With kind concern and skill has weav'd

younger Muse was an elder: nor was the gentle. A silken web; and ne'er shall fade

man (who is a friend of our author) employed by Its colours : gently has he laid

Mr. Addison to translate it after him, since he saith The mantle o'er thy sad distress,

himself that he did it before'. Contrariwise, that And Venus shall the texture bless, &c.

Mr. Addison engaged our author in this work apCome we now to bis translation of the Iliad, ce-peareth by declaration thereof in the preface to lebrated by numerous pens, yet shall it suffice to the Iliad, printed some time before his death, and mention the indefatigable

by his own letters of October 26, and November 2, SIR RICHARD BLACK MORE, KNT.

1713, where he declares it is his opinion that no Who (though otherwise a severe censurer of our other person was equal to it. author) yet styleth this a " laudable translation 4." Next comes his Shakespeare on the stage: “ Let That ready writer

him (quoth one, whom I take to be MR, OLDMIXON,

MR. THEOBALD, MIST'S JOURNAL, JUNE 8, 1728,) in his forementioned Essay, frequently commends publish such an author as he has least studied, the same. And the painful

and forget to discharge even the dull duty of an MR. LEWIS THEOBALD

editor. In this project let him lend the bookseller thus extols it', " The spirit of Homer breathes all his name (for a competent sum of money) to prothrough this translation.--I am in doubt, whether mote the credit of an exorbitant subscription." I should most admire the justness to the original, Gentle reader, be pleased to cast thine eye on the or the force and beauty of the language, or the proposal below quoted, and on what follows (some sounding variety of the numbers: but when I find months after the former assertion) in the same all these meet, it puts me in mind of what the Journalist of June 8. The bookseller proposed poet says of one of his heroes, that he alone raised the book by subscription, and raised some thouand flung with ease a weighty stone, that two com- sand of pounds for the same : I believe the gentle. mon men could not lift from the ground; just so, man did not share in the profits of this extravaone single person has performed in this transla- gant subscription." tion, what I once despair'd to have seen done by “ After the lliad, he undertook (saith

MIST'S JOURNAL, JUNE 8, 1728,) 1 Letter to B. B. at the end of the Remarks on the sequel of that work, the Odyssey; and having Pope's Homer, 1717. · Printed 1728, p. 12. secured the success by a numerous subscription,

Alma, Cant. 2. * In his Essays, vol. i. printed for E. Curll. ? Vid. pref. to Mr. Tickell's translation of the Censor, vol. ii. n. 33.

Girst book of the Iliad, 4to.

a

TESTIMONIES OF AUTHORS.

293 he employed some underlings to perform what, morality), to wit, plagiarism, from the inventive according to his proposals, should come froin his and quaint-conceited own hands." To which heavy charge we can in

JAMES-MOORE: SMITH, GENT. truth oppose nothing but the words of

“ Upon reading the third volume of Pope's MR. POPE'S PROPOSAL FOR THE ODYYSSEY (PRINTED Miscellanies, I found five lines which I-thought BY J. WATTS, JAN, 10, 1724.)

excellent; and happening to praise them, a gen“ I take this occasion to declare that the subscriptleman produced a modern comedy (the Rival tion for Shakespeare belongs wholly to Mr. Ton- Modes) published last year, where were the same son: and that the benefit of this proposal is not verses to a tittle. solely for my own use, but for that of two of my “ These gentlemen are undoubtedly the first plafriends, who have assisted me in this work.” But giaries, that pretend to make a reputation by these very gentlemen are extolled above our poet stealing from a man's works in his own life-time, himself in another of Mist's Journals, March 30), and out of a public print !.” Let us join to this 1728, saying, “ That he would not advise Mr. what is written by the author of the Rival Modes, Pope to try the experiment again of getting a great the said Mr. James-Moore Smith, in a letter to part of a book done by assistants, lest those ex- our author himself, who had informed him a traneous parts should unhappily ascend to the sub- month before that play was acted, Jan. 27, 1726-7, lime, and retard the declension of the whole.” that “ These verses, which he had before given Behold! these underlings are become good him leave to insert in it, would be known for his, writers!

some copies being got abroad. He desires, neverIf any say, that before the said proposals were theless, that since the lines had been read in his printed, the subscription was begun without de- comedy to several, Mr. P. would not deprive it claration of such assistance; verily those who set of them,” &c. Surely, if we add the testimoit on foot, or (as the term is) secured it, to wit, nies of the lord Bolingbroke, of the lady to whom' the right honourable the lord viscount Harcourt, the said verses were originally addressed, of Hugh were he living, would testify, and the right ho- Bethel, Esq. and others, who knew them as our noarable the lord Bathurst, now living, doth tes- author's, long before the said gentleman composed tify, the same is a falsehood.

his play; it is hoped, the ingenuous, that affect Sorry I am, that persons professing to be learn- not errour, will rectify their opinion by the suffrage ed, or of whatever rank of authors, should either of so honourable personages, falsely tax, or be falsely taxed. Yet let us, who And yet followeth another charge, insinuating are only reporters, be impartial in our citations, no less than his enmity both to church and state, and proceed.

which could come from no other informer than MIST'S JOURNAL, June 8, 1728.

the said “ Mr. Addison raised this author from obscu

MR. JAMES-MOORE SMITH. rity, obtained him the acquaintance and friendship

The Memoirs of a Parish Clerk was a very of the whole body of our nobility, and transferred dull and unjust abuse of a person who wrote in his powerful interests with those great men to this defence of our religion and constitution, and who rising bard, who frequently levied by that means has been dead many years ?.” This seemeth also unusual contributions on the public,” Which most untrue; it being known to divers that these surely cannot be, if, as the author of the Dunciad Memoirs were written at the seat of the lord Hara

Dissected reporteth, Mr. Wycherley had before court in Oxfordshire, before that excellent person introduced him into a familiar acquaintance with (bishop Burnett's) death, and many years before the greatest peers and brightest wits then liv- the appearance of that history, of which they are ing."

pretended to be an abuse. Most true it is, that “ No sooner (saith the same journalist) was his Mr. Moore had such a design, and was himself the body lifeless, but this author, reviving his resent- man who prest Dr. Arbuthnot and Mr. Pope to ment, libelled the memory of his departed friend; assist him therein; and that he borrowed those and what was still more heinous, made the scan- memoirs of our author, when that history came dal public.” Grievous the accusation! unknown forth, with intent to turn them to such abuse. the accuser! the person accused, no witness in his But being able to obtain from our author but ona own cause ; the person, in whose regard accused, single hint, and either changing his mind, or havdead! But if there be living any one nobleman ing more mind than ability, he contented himself whose friendship, yea any one gentleman whose to keep the said memoirs, and read them as his subscription, Mr. Addison procured to our author, own to all his acquaintance. A noble person thera let him stand forth, that truth may appear! | is, into whose company Mr. Pope once chanced Amicus Plato, amicus Socrates, sed magis amica to introduce him, who well remembereth the converitas. In verity, the whole story of the libel is versation of Mr. Moore to have turned upon the a lie; witness those persons of integrity, who, se. contempt he had for the work of that reverend veral years before Mr. Addison's decease, did see prelate, and how full he was of a design he deand approve of the said verses, in no wise a libel, clared himself to have of exposing it.” This non but a friendly rebuke sent privately in our author's ble person is the earl of Peterborough. own hand to Mr. Addison himself, and never made Here in truth should we crave pardon of all the public, till after their own journals, and Curll had foresaid right honourable and worthy personages, printed the same. One name alone, which I am for having mentioned them in the same page with here authorised to declare, will sufficiently evince such weekly riff-raff railers and rhymers; but that this truth, that of the right honourable the earl of we had their ever-bonour'd commands for the Burlington.

Next is he taxed with a crime (in the opinion of Daily Journal, March 18, 1728. some authors, I doubt, more heinous than any in : Daily Journal, April 3, 1728

him :

same ; and that they are introduced not as wit- | To the same tune also singeth that learned clerk, nesses in the controversy, but as witnesses that of Suffolk, cannot be controverted : not to dispute, but to

MR. WILLIAM BROOME, decide.

Thus, nobly rising in fair Virtue's cause, Certain it is, that dividing our writers into two From thy own life transcribe th' unerring laws'. classes, of such who were acquaintance, and of And, to close all, hear the reverend dean of St. such who were strangers to our author; the for- | Patrick's : mer are those who speak well, and the other those

“A soul with every virtue fraught, who speak evil of him. Of the first class, the

By patriots, priests, and poets taught. most noble

Whose filial piety excells
JOHN DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM

Whatever Grecian story tells. sums up his character in these lines :

A genius for each business fit, And yet so wondrous, so sublime a thing,

Whose meanest talent is his wit," &r. As the great Iliad, scarce could make me sing,

Let us now recreate thee by turning to the other Unless I justly could at once commend

side, and showing his character drawn by those A good companion, and as firm a friend;

with whom he never conversed, and whose counOne moral, or a mere well-natur'd deed,

tenances he could not know, though turned against Can ail desert in sciences exceed'.

first again commencing with the high So also is he decyphered by the honourable

voiced and never enough quoted SIMON HARCOURT.

MR. JOHN DENNIS, Say, wondrous youth, what column wilt thou

Who, in his Reflections on the Fssay on Criticism, chuse,

thus describeth him : “ A little affected hypoWhat laurel'd arch, for thy triumphant Muse?

crite, who has nothing in his mouth but candour, Though each great ancient court thee to his

truth, friendship, good-nature, humanity, and shrine,

magnanimity. He is so great a lover of falsehood, Though every laurel through the dome bethine,

that, whenever he has a mind to calumniate his Go to the good and just, an awful train ! Thy soul's delight?,

contemporaries, he brands them with some defect Recorded in like manner for his virtuous disposi- for which all their friends and acquaintance com

which was just contrary to some good quality, tion, and gentle bearing, by the ingenious

mended them. He seems to have a particular MR. WALTER HART,

pique to people of quality, and authors of that in this apostrophe : Oh! ever worthy, ever crown'd with praise ! rank.--He must derive his religion from St.

Omer's."-But in the character of Mr. P. and Blist in thy life, and blest in all thy lavs,

his writings (printed by 8. Popping, 1716) he Add, that the Sisters every thought refine, And ev'n thy life be faultless as thy line,

saith, “ 'Though he is a professor of the worst reYet Envy still with fiercer rage pursues,

ligion, yet he laughs at it;" but that,

theless, he is a virulent papist; and yet a pillar Obscures the virtue, and defames the Muse,

for the church of England.” A soul like thine, in pain, in grief, resign'd,

Of both which opinions Views with just scorn the malice of mankind ? 'The witty and moral satirist

seems also to be; declaring in Mist's Journal of DR. EDWARD YOUNG,

June 22, 1718, " That, if he is not shrewdly wishing some check to the corruption and evil abuseid, he inale it his practice to cackle to both manners of the times, calleth out upon our poet to parties in their own sentiments.” But, as to his undertake a task so worthy of his virtue :

pique against people of quality, the same jourWhy slumbers Pope, who leads the Muses'

nalist doth not agree, but saith (May 8, 1728), train, Nor hears that Virtue, which he loves, com

He bad by some means or other, the acquaintance and friendship of the whole body of our no

bility." MR. MALLET,

[lays; in his Epistle on Verbal Criticism :

However contradictory this may appear, Mr.

Dennis and Gildon, in the character last cited, Whose life, severely scann'd, transcends his

make it all plain, by assuring us, “ That he is a For wit supreme, is but his second praise.

creature that reconciles all contradictions : he is MR. HAMMOND, that delicate and correct imitator of Tibullus, in writer (at one and the saine time) of Guardians

a beast, and a man; a Wlig, and a Tory; a his Lore Elegies, Elegy xiv.

and Examiners ? ; an asserter of liberty, and of the Now, fir'd by Pope nd Virtue, leave the age, In low pursuit of self-undoing wrong,

dispensing power of kings; a jesuitical professor

of truth; a base and a foul pretender to candour." And trace the author through liis moral page, Whose blameless life still answers to his song.

So that, upon the whole arcount, we must con.

clude him either to have been a great hypocrite, MR. THOMSON, in his elegant and pliilosophical poem of the Sea- both parties, or very moderate to either.

or a very honest man; a terrible imposer upon

Be it as to the judicious reader shall seem good. Although not sweeter his own Homer sings,

Sure it is, he is little favoured of certain authors, Yet is his life the more endearing sung.

whose wrath is perilous : for one declares he ought 1 Verses to Mr. P. on his translation of liomer.

to have a price set on his head, and to be hunted 2 Porm prefixed to bis works. ' In: bis poenis, printed for B. Lintot.

In nis poems, and at the end of the Odyssey. 1 Universal Passion, Sat. i.

2 The names of two weekly papers.

never

MR. LEWIS THEOBALD

plain * ?