The THIRD EDITION, Corrected. Satyra quidem tota noftra eft: in qua primus infignem laudem adeptus est Lucilius ; qui quofdam ita deditos fibi adhuc habet amatores, ut eum, non ejusdem modo operis autoribus, fed omnibus poetis, præferre non dubitent. QUINTILIAN. LONDON, MDCCLXXII. PER ERMIT me to break into your retirement, the residence of virtle and literature, and to trouble you with a few reflections on the merits and real character of an admired author, and on other collateral subjects of criticism, that will naturally arise in the course of such an enquiry. No love of fingularity, no affectation of paradoxical opinions, gave rise to the following work. I revere A 2 I revere the memory of Pode, Itespeet and honour his abilities, but I do not think him at the head of his profersion. In other words, in that species of poetry wherein Pope excelled, he is fuperior to all mankind and I lónly fay, that this species of poetry is not the most excellent one of the artitios · We do not, it should seem sufficil ently attend to the difference there is, betwixt a Man op Wit, a MAN OF Sense, and a True Poet. Donne and Swift were undoubtedly men of wit, and men of fense: but what traces have they left of Pure POETRY? It is remarkable, that Dryden says of Donne; He was the greatest wit, tho' not the greatest poet of this nation. Fontenelle and La Motte are entitled to the former character; but what can they urge to gain the / |
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