Eriglish Hiffer -15-40 70087 MY DEAR P. YOU feem to wifh that I would collect my scattered effays into a body, and go fo far as to say, that the whole together would make a refpectable volume; in which even men of letters might perhaps pick up fomething of novelty and entertainment. I have fo far complied with these flattering suggestions, as to take the last five letters, printed in the European Magazine, on LITERARY RESEMBLANCE; to which I have added a few others on the fame fubject, and prefent them, in this more regular form,-to You, with certain expectation of a favorable reception:-not without diffidence to the PUBLIC. To the Reverend PETER FORSTER, Rector of Hedenham, Norfolk, &c. Adieu. SPECIMENS OF LITERARY RESEMBLANCE. LETTER I. MY DEAR P. THE HE remarks, which I fent you a few days ago, on a paffage in Pope's tranflation of Homer, have engaged me fo far in the confideration of LITERARY RESEMBLANCE or IMITATION, and the subject is fo curious and interefting, that perhaps you will indulge me while I pursue it a page or two further. In a periodical' paper, begun 1752, are cited many paffages from Pope, faid never to have been taken notice of, as evidently B 2 66 "evidently borrowed, though they are 66 improved." Superior Beings, when of late they faw Effay on Man, Ep. II. V. 31. Utque movet nobis imitatrix fimia rifum, Sic nos cœlicolis, quoties cervice fuperbâ Again, Simia cœlicolûm rifufque jocufque Deorum eft Tunc homo, quum temere ingenio confidit, et audet Palingenitis. When the loofe mountain trembles from on high, Effay on Man, Ep.IV. V. †23. If a good man be paffing by an infirm building just in the article of falling, can it be expected that God thoulá fafpend the force of gravitation till he is gone by, in or'der to his deliverance? Wollafton, Rel. Nat. Chabs of thought and passion, all confused, Created half to rife, and half to fall, Great lord of all things, yet a prey to all; Sole |